Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder: A Neglected Comorbidity

Objective: We describe a consecutive clinical sample of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder to define the pattern of comorbid anxiety and externalizing disorders (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] and conduct disorder [CD]) and to explore the possible influence of such a comorbidity on their cross-sectional and longitudinal clinical characteristics. Methods: The sample comprised 43 outpatients, 26 boys and 17 girls, (mean age 14.9 years, SD 3.1; range 7 to 18), with bipolar disorder type I or II, according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. All patients were screened for psychiatric disorders using historical information and a clinical interview, the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents-Revised (DICA-R). To shed light on the possible influence of age at onset, we compared clinical features of subjects whose bipolar onset was prepubertal or in childhood (< 12 years) with those having adolescent onset. We also compared different subgroups with and without comorbid externalizing and anxiety disorders. Results: Bipolar disorder type I was slightly more represented than type II (55.8% vs 44.2%). Only 11.6% of patients did not have any other psychiatric disorder; importantly, 10 subjects (23.5%) did not show any comorbid anxiety disorder. Comorbid externalizing disorders were present in 12 (27.9%) patients; such comorbidity was related to the childhood onset of bipolar disorder type II. Compared with other subjects, patients with comorbid anxiety disorders more often reported pharmacologic (hypo)mania.
Assessing the Accuracy of Forward-Looking Information in Debt Contract Negotiations: Management Forecast Accuracy and Private Loans

We examine a possible mechanism by which the lender can evaluate the borrower's ability to produce accurate forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is important to lenders to project the borrower's future performance and the loan's expected payoff. However, unlike historical financial statements, forward-looking information cannot be verified by lenders or external auditors. We contend that the borrower's past forecast accuracy provides a measure that allows the lender to assess the borrower's ability to produce accurate forward-looking information, allowing the lender to gain greater confidence in the borrower's projections of future value. Consistent with this argument, we find that the borrower's past forecast accuracy is negatively associated with the loan's initial interest spread. We also find that this relation is concentrated among non-relationship loans and borrowers with greater earnings volatility. Finally, we find that debt contracts to borrowers with more accurate managerial forecasts exhibit less interest rate mispricing. JEL Classifications: G30; M40; M41.
The early inflammatory response after flexor tendon healing: A gene expression and histological analysis

Despite advances in surgical techniques over the past three decades, tendon repairs remain prone to poor clinical outcomes. Previous attempts to improve tendon healing have focused on the later stages of healing (i.e., proliferation and matrix synthesis). The early inflammatory phase of tendon healing, however, is not fully understood and its modulation during healing has not yet been studied. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to characterize the early inflammatory phase of flexor tendon healing with the goal of identifying inflammation‐related targets for future treatments. Canine flexor tendons were transected and repaired using techniques identical to those used clinically. The inflammatory response was monitored for 9 days. Temporal changes in immune cell populations and gene expression of inflammation‐, matrix degradation‐, and extracellular matrix‐related factors were examined. Gene expression patterns paralleled changes in repair‐site cell populations. Of the observed changes, the most dramatic effect was a greater than 4,000‐fold up‐regulation in the expression of the pro‐inflammatory factor IL‐1β. While an inflammatory response is likely necessary for healing to occur, high levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines may result in collateral tissue damage and impaired tendon healing. These findings suggest that future tendon treatment approaches consider modulation of the inflammatory phase of healing. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:645–652, 2014.
Antineuronal Antibodies: Tics and Obsessive‐Compulsive Symptoms

ABSTRACT. Fluorescent serum antibody determinations were used to examine whether children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or less pervasive obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) would show evidence of caudate nucleus involvement. Recent studies of OCD have documented smaller caudate nucleus volumes in adults with childhood onset than in normal controls, but not smaller putamen volumes. Thirty-eight cases were recruited from an ongoing study of childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. Nineteen samples from clinical cases had existing or previously documented OCS and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with or without concomitant tics. Nineteen additional clinical controls with ADHD, but without tics or OCS, were identified. The sera from clinical cases showed antibodies directed against caudate [odds ratio (OR) 2.0; 95% confidence interval (Cl) 1.0 to 4.1], putamen (OR 3.0; 95% Cl 1.5 to 5.8), or both (OR 2.9; 95% Cl 1.58 to 5.7) at a rate significantly higher than that of clinical controls, providing evidence of basal ganglia involvement in OCS. These preliminary data do not support a differential effect against caudate compared to putamen for these children, but suggest a more generalized central nervous system response. J Dev Behav Pediatr 15:421–425, 1994. Index terms: antineuronal antibodies, Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Cellular distribution and biological activity of epidermal growth factor receptors in A431 cells are influenced by cell‐cell contact

The potential significance of cell‐cell interactions on EGF receptor (EGFR) activity was investigated in cultured adherent A431 cells seeded as single‐cell suspensions with different initial cell densities. In dense cultures, EGFRs were mainly localised at cell boundaries and in microvilli as shown by immunofluorescence analysis with an EGFR‐specific antibody while in sparse cultures the distribution of EGFRs was more diffuse. Scatchard analysis showed that as cell density decreased the number of high‐affinity receptors increased considerably. Upon treatment of adherent intact cells with EGF all cells in sparse cultures contained activated EGFRs as demonstrated by immunofluorescence analysis with a phosphotyrosine‐specific antibody, while in dense cultures mainly cells at the periphery of a cluster and especially at their expanding borders exhibited activated EGFRs. EGF‐induced phosphorylation in intact cells was greatly enhanced in sparse compared with dense cultures as demonstrated by immunoprecipitation with a phosphotyrosine‐specific antibody. In contrast to intact cells, in cytoskeleton preparations, obtained after mild detergent treatment of adherent cells, EGFRs were able to undergo EGF‐independent phosphorylation. Pretreatment of cells with EGF led to enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of cytoskeletal‐associated proteins. Our observations suggest that cell density has a considerable effect on the subcellular localisation as well as biological activity of the EGFR. Thus, in intact A431 cells growing with extensive cell‐cell interactions some negative control mechanisms preventing EGFR activation may be exerted by adjacent cells.
Dynamic CT of hepatic abscesses: significance of transient segmental enhancement.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate dynamic CT findings of hepatic abscesses, especially segmental hepatic enhancement, and to clarify the cause. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-four abscesses in eight patients were examined by early (30 sec) and late phase (90 sec) dynamic CT. Patients underwent abscess drainage (n = 1), hepatic resection (n = 2), or antibiotic therapy (n = 5). CT during arterial portography and CT during hepatic arteriography were performed in one patient. We retrospectively observed the frequency and changes of segmental hepatic enhancement on dynamic CT and determined its cause using radiologic and pathologic correlation. RESULTS Sixteen abscesses (67%) showed transient segmental hepatic enhancement and three abscesses showed only segmental hepatic enhancement in the early phase. Four abscesses in one patient who underwent CT during arterial portography and CT during hepatic arteriography showed a segmental perfusion defect on CT during arterial portography and segmental enhancement on CT during hepatic arteriography. On follow-up dynamic CT performed 10-17 days after the initial CT, segmental hepatic enhancement surrounding hepatic abscesses decreased or disappeared in all abscesses. Pathologic examination of two patients showed marked inflammatory cell infiltration with stenosis of portal venules within the portal tracts surrounding hepatic abscesses without definite inflammation in the liver parenchyma. CONCLUSION Segmental hepatic enhancement on dynamic CT is frequently associated with hepatic abscesses and may be caused by decreased portal flow resulting from inflammation of the portal tracts.
Pollution and corporate valuation: evidence from China

ABSTRACT Environmental pollution brings severe challenges in the context of a high growing economy of China. Pollution events bring serious ecological cost to the environment, direct costs from sanction, and reputational damage to the listed firms. We study the market reaction to 145 pollution events in China during Jan 2008 and Feb 2015. We find that the 2-day cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) of pollution events are significantly negative, which shows the disciplining effect of the stock market on the listed firms. In addition, pollution events with sanctions have lower CARs than otherwise, which are heterogeneous among different sanction types such as shutting down, fines and rectification. Finally, water pollution has lower CARs than other pollution types. We find that direct economic loss is an important reason for the negative market reactions to pollution events.
'Tethered ligand' derived pentapeptide agonists of thrombin receptor: a study of side chain requirements for human platelet activation and GTPase stimulation.

Proteolytic action of alpha-thrombin on human thrombin receptor results in cleavage of a portion of the N-terminus, thereby generating a 'tethered ligand' at the newly exposed N-terminus, which then activates the receptor in an intramolecular fashion. Agonist peptides incorporating the amino acid sequence of the newly exposed N-terminal portion of the cleaved receptor cause receptor activation without requiring prior cleavage of the receptor by thrombin. The pentapeptide amide Ser-Phe-Leu-Leu-Arg-NH2, which retains the N-terminal sequence of the 'tethered ligand' of the receptor, has been shown to be the minimum sequence to cause receptor activation. To understand the importance of the side chains of various residues within the pentapeptide amide, we carried out an extensive structure-activity study of the ability of peptides to stimulate gel-filtered platelet aggregation. In this study 106 pentapeptide amides were synthesized, utilizing naturally occurring L-amino acids, unnatural amino acids, D-amino acids and N-methyl amino acids for replacements. At position-1, charged residues (acidic or basic) were not tolerated, and the size and shape of the residue were important. Position-2 tolerated only aromatic residues. Position-3 accommodated various residues. A significant finding of this study was that two very different residues, [3-(2-naphthyl)]-L-alanine and L-arginine, when substituted for leucine residue at position-3, resulted in more active agonists. At position-4 aromatic and aliphatic residues were well tolerated, whereas basic and acidic residues were less tolerated. Position-5 mimicked position-3 in its ability to tolerate a wide range of residues. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Propofol requirement is decreased in patients with large supratentorial brain tumor.

BACKGROUND The anesthetic requirement is decreased in animals with head injury, but there are no data regarding the effect of intracranial tumor on the potency for intravenous anesthetics. The authors compared the quantal dose-response curves for propofol in patients having large (> or = 30 mm, mass effect) brain tumor with those having smaller (< 30 mm) lesions and with control patients undergoing noncranial surgery. METHODS Sixty patients in each group were randomly assigned to receive one of the six doses of propofol (0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.3, 1.8, or 2.5 mg/kg) over 10 s. Two minutes after drug administration, patients were asked to open their eyes as a test for response to verbal command. Patients who failed to respond were given a 10-s, 50-Hz, 80-mA transcutaneous tetanic electrical current to the ulnar nerve as a test for response to painful stimulus. Purposeful movement indicated positive response. Log dose-response curves for loss of response to verbal command and tetanic stimulus were calculated after logit transformation. RESULTS The median effective doses (ED50s; 95% confidence interval) for suppressing response to verbal command and tetanic stimulus were 0.75 (0.65-0.86) mg/kg and 1.28 (1.11-1.49) mg/kg, respectively, in patients with large brain tumor. These values were significantly less than the corresponding ED50s in patients with small tumor, 1.01 (0.88-1.15) mg/kg and 1.76 (1.51-2.07) mg/kg, or healthy control subjects, 0.98 (0.86-1.12) mg/kg and 1.89 (1.62-2.23) mg/kg. CONCLUSIONS The doses of propofol required to suppress response to verbal command and tetanic stimulus were 23% less and 32% less in patients with large brain tumor compared with control subjects. Small tumor did not affect potency of propofol.
Diversification and senescence of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

The fate of Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells responding during autoimmunity is not well defined. We observed a marked elevation in KLRG1+ (where KLRG1 stands for killer cell lectin‐like receptor G1) CNS‐infiltrating Treg cells in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), and assessed their origin and properties. KLRG1+ Treg cells showed increased activation marker expression, Foxp3 and CD25 levels, and more rapid cell cycling than KLRG1− cells. KLRG1− Treg cells converted into KLRG1+ cells and this was increased in autoimmune inflammation. Conversion was unidirectional; KLRG1+ Treg cells did not revert to a KLRG1− state. KLRG1+ but notKLRG1−Treg cells survived poorly, indicative of terminal differentiation. This was associated with diminished BCL2 and increased apoptosis of isolated cells. KLRG1 was also upregulated on iTreg cells after transfer and EAE induction or on iTreg cells developing spontaneously during EAE. KLRG1+ Treg cells produced more IL‐10 and had altered effector cytokine production compared with their KLRG1− counterparts. Despite their differences, KLRG1+ and KLRG1− Treg cells proved similarly potent in suppressing EAE. KLRG1+ and KLRG1− populations were phenotypically heterogeneous, with the extent and pattern of activation marker expression dependent both on cellular location and inflammation. Our results support an extensive diversification of Treg cells during EAE, and associate KLRG1 with altered Treg‐cell function and senescence.
Thermo-sensitive response based on the membrane fluidity adaptation in Paramecium multimicronucleatum

SUMMARY Relationships between the thermo-sensitive response and membrane lipid fluidity were studied using a ciliated protozoan, Paramecium multimicronucleatum. Paramecium elicits a transient membrane depolarization in response to a cooling stimulus (temperature drop). The depolarization amplitude was largest when the cooling stimulus was started from the culture temperature, whilst when cooling started at a temperature more than 5°C higher or lower than the culture temperature, only a small depolarization was induced. Therefore, the cooling-induced response was dependent on the culture temperature and its sensitivity to the cooling stimulus was highest at the culture temperature. Membrane fluidity measurements of living cells using the fluorescent dye 6-lauroyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (laurdan) showed that the fluidity measured at the culture temperature was almost constant irrespective of the temperature at which the cells had been cultured and adapted, which is consistent with homeoviscous adaptation. The constant fluidity at the culture temperature quickly decreased within a few seconds of application of the cooling stimulus, and the decreased fluidity gradually readapted to a constant level at the decreased temperature within 1 h. When the constant fluidity at culture temperature was modified by the addition of procaine or benzyl alcohol, the cooling-induced depolarization was completely abolished. These results suggest the possibility that the adaptation of fluidity to a constant level and its quick decrease below the constant level activate cooling-sensitive channels to elicit the transient depolarization.
Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis with Probiotics: An Alternative Approach

Allergic rhinitis is a skewed immune reaction to common antigens in the nasal mucosa; current therapy is not satisfactory and can cause a variety of complications. In recent decades, the incidence of allergic rhinitis is increasing every year. Published studies indicate that probiotics are beneficial in treating allergic rhinitis. This review aims to help in understanding the role of probiotics in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. We referred to the PubMed database as data source. This review focuses on the following aspects: The types of probiotics using in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, approaches of administration, its safety, mechanisms of action, treating results, and the perspectives to improve effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. This review reports the recent findings regarding the role of probiotics in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Probiotics are a useful therapeutic remedy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, but its underlying mechanisms remain to be further investigated.
Anti‐ischemic effects of inotropic agents in experimental right ventricular infarction

Background: Right ventricular (RV) function is an important determinant of survival after myocardial infarction. The efficacy of reperfusion therapy might be increased by the cardioprotective action of inotropic agents, which are used for symptomatic therapy in situations with compromised hemodynamics. Therefore, we used a porcine model of RV ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury to study the influence of milrinone, levosimendan and dobutamine on the extent and degree of myocardial injury.
Phase 1 first-in-human dose escalation study of cp-751,871, a specific monoclonal antibody against the insulin like growth factor 1 receptor.

7609 Background: Multiple lines of evidence indicate that the Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor (IGF-1R) plays a key role in the progression of multiple myeloma (MM). IGF-1 is a growth factor for MM cells. It promotes survival to the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy in animal models of MM and its blood levels has been shown to correlate with those of paraprotein in MM patients. CP-751,871, a fully human monoclonal antibody, is a highly specific and potent inhibitor of the autophosphorylation of IGF-1R. METHODS Based on its mechanism of action and the potential relevance of IGF-1R in MM, a Phase 1 First-in-Human dose escalation study was initiated with the objective to define the safety and tolerability, and to characterize the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of CP-751,871 in this patient population. Patient's eligibility included previously treated multiple myeloma in relapse or refractory phase and/or less than complete remission following autologous stem cell transplant or tandem transplant. RESULTS Following informed consent and screening, 10 dose-escalation cohorts of patients received from 0.025 to 10 mg/kg of CP-751,871 by iv infusion on Day 1 of 4-week cycles. In patients with a suboptimal response to CP-751,871 alone, oral dexamethasone was added to the treatment regimen. Patients received up to 14 cycles of CP-751,871 therapy, alone or in combination with dexamethasone. No dose limiting toxicities have been identified to date. Plasma CP-751,871 exposure increases with dose, and the pharmacokinetic characteristics are consistent with target-mediated disposition. Pharmacodynamic measurements indicate complete target saturation by CP-751,871 for the complete length of the dosing period. One near CR and 2 PR in combination with dexamethasone have been reported. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that CP-751,871 is well tolerated and may constitute a therapeutic approach for patients with multiple myeloma. [Table: see text].
A risk prediction model for post-stroke depression in Chinese stroke survivors based on clinical and socio-psychological features

Background Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a frequent complication that worsens rehabilitation outcomes and patient quality of life. This study developed a risk prediction model for PSD based on patient clinical and socio-psychology features for the early detection of high risk PSD patients. Results Risk predictors included a history of brain cerebral infarction (odds ratio [OR], 3.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.22-6.70; P < 0.0001) and four socio-psychological factors including Eysenck Personality Questionnaire with Neuroticism/Stability (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.12-1.20; P < 0.0001), life event scale (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-0.99; P = 0.0007), 20 items Toronto Alexithymia Scale (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.10; P = 0.002) and Social Support Rating Scale (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.90; P < 0.001) in the logistic model. In addition, 11 rules were generated in the tree model. The areas under the curve of the ROC and the accuracy for the tree model were 0.85 and 0.86, respectively. Methods This study recruited 562 stroke patients in China who were assessed for demographic data, medical history, vascular risk factors, functional status post-stroke, and socio-psychological factors. Multivariate backward logistic regression was used to extract risk factors for depression in 1-month after stroke. We converted the logistic model to a visible tree model using the decision tree method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to evaluate the performance of the model. Conclusion This study provided an effective risk model for PSD and indicated that the socio-psychological factors were important risk factors of PSD.
An Empirical Estimate of Inflation and Economic Growth: Evidence from Nigeria

This paper investigated the relationship between inflation and economic growth in Nigeria for the period 1980-2010.Using ex-post facto research methodology. The study employed, Augmented Dickey fuller (ADF) and Phillip Perron (PP). Unit root test as well as Johansen Cointegration test and followed by utilizing Error, Correction Model (ECM). The empirical results lend very strong support to the existence of three long-run relationships between the variables. The results shows that RGDP is influenced by changes in Money Supply (MS) and thus, promotes economic growth in Nigeria, while Inflation(INF) have a negative impact on economic growth, both in the short run and long run in Nigeria. These results as they stand indicate that inflation does not promote economic growth in Nigeria. The study therefore, amongst others recommends that monetary authorities should effectively control inflation rate in the country so as to achieve the desired Macroeconomic stability and output in Nigeria. Keywords: Cointegration, Error correction model, Inflation, Money supply.