Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychiatric Comorbidity Among Children and Adolescents With and Without Persistent Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Objectives: The aims of the present study were to examine the current psychiatric comorbidity among children and adolescents with and without persistent attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as compared to school controls, and to determine the factors predicting psychiatric comorbidity. Method: The sample included 296 patients (male, 85.5%), aged 11–17, who were diagnosed with DSM-IV ADHD at the mean age of 6.7 ± 2.7 years and 185 school controls. The ADHD and other psychiatric diagnoses were made based on clinical assessments and confirmed by psychiatric interviews. The ADHD group was categorized into 186 patients (62.8%) with persistent ADHD and 110 (37.2%) without persistent ADHD. Results: Compared to the controls, the two ADHD groups were more likely to have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), tics, mood disorders, past and regular use of substances, substance use disorders and sleep disorders (odds ratios (ORs) = 1.8–25.3). Patients with persistent ADHD had higher risks for anxiety disorders, particularly specific phobia than the controls. Moreover, patients with persistent ADHD were more likely to have ODD than their partially remitted counterparts. Advanced analyses indicated that more severe baseline ADHD symptoms predicted ODD/CD at adolescence; longer methylphenidate treatment duration was associated with an increased risk for tics and ODD/CD at adolescence; and older age predicted higher risks for mood disorders and substance use disorders. Conclusion: Reduced ADHD symptoms at adolescence may not lead to decreased risks for psychiatric comorbidity, and identification of severe ADHD symptoms at childhood and age-specific comorbid patterns throughout the developmental stage is important to offset the long-term adverse psychiatric outcomes of ADHD.
Brief Report: Dolutegravir Plus Abacavir/Lamivudine for the Treatment of HIV-1 Infection in Antiretroviral Therapy-Naive Patients: Week 96 and Week 144 Results From the SINGLE Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract:The SINGLE study was a randomized, double-blind, noninferiority study that evaluated the safety and efficacy of 50 mg dolutegravir + abacavir/lamivudine versus efavirenz/tenofovir/emtricitabine in 833 ART-naive HIV-1 + participants. Of 833 randomized participants, 71% in the dolutegravir + abacavir/lamivudine arm and 63% in the efavirenz/tenofovir/emtricitabine arm maintained viral loads of <50 copies per milliliter through W144 (P = 0.01). Superior efficacy was primarily driven by fewer discontinuations due to adverse events in the dolutegravir + abacavir/lamivudine arm [dolutegravir + abacavir/lamivudine arm, 13 (3%); efavirenz/tenofovir/emtricitabine arm, 48 (11%)] through W144. No treatment-emergent integrase or nucleoside resistance was observed in dolutegravir + abacavir/lamivudine recipients through W144.
Progelatinase A is produced and activated by rat hepatic stellate cells and promotes their proliferation

Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are a potential source of gelatinase A, which accumulates in fibrotic livers. Progelatinase A activation requires its binding to a complex of membrane‐type matrix metalloproteinase (MT‐MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)‐2. These studies examine gelatinase A, MT1‐MMP, and TIMP‐2 synthesis by HSCs during activationin vitroand the potential role of gelatinase A in promoting HSC proliferation. Gelatinase A, MT1‐MMP, and TIMP‐2 messenger RNA (mRNA) were all upregulated in HSCs activated on plastic over 5 to 14 days. Gelatinase A expression was maximal at 7 days of culture, coinciding with the peak of HSC proliferation and the onset of procollagen I and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) mRNA expression. Active forms of gelatinase A of 62 kd and 66 kd were secreted by activated HSCs and reached a maximum of 12.1% of total enzyme in 14‐day culture supernatants. Treatment of HSCs with concanavalin A (con A) induced activation of MT1‐MMP and enhanced secretion of activated gelatinase A, which reached a maximum of 44.4% of the total enzyme secreted into culture supernatants using 30 μg/mL con A. [14C]‐gelatin degradation assays confirmed the presence of gelatinolytic activity in activated HSC supernatants, which reached a maximum level at 7 days of culture. Antisense oligonucleotide inhibition of endogenous progelatinase A production, or the MMP inhibitor 1,10‐phenanthroline inhibited 3H‐thymidine incorporation into HSC DNA by greater than 50%. We conclude that HSCs produce progelatinase A during activation in vitroand activate this enzyme coincident with MT1‐MMP and TIMP‐2 synthesis. Gelatinase A activity is required for maximal proliferation of HSCsin vitrosuggesting this metalloproteinase is an autocrine proliferation factor for HSCs.
Mutual Fund Flows and Fluctuations in Credit and Business Cycles

Abstract Several measures of credit-market booms are known to precede downturns in real economic activity. We offer an early indicator for all known measures of credit booms. Our measure is based on intra-family flow shifts towards high-yield bond mutual funds. It predicts indicators such as growth in financial intermediary balance sheets, increase in shares of high-yield bond issuers, and downturns of various measures of credit spreads. It also directly predicts the business cycle by positively predicting GDP growth and negatively predicting unemployment. Our results provide support for the investor demand-based narrative of credit cycles and can be useful for policymakers.
On the Infiniband subnet discovery process

InfiniBand is becoming an industry standard both for communication between processing nodes and I/O devices, and for interprocessor communication. Instead of using a shared bus, InfiniBand employs an arbitrary (possibly irregular) switched point-to-point network. InfiniBand specification defines a basic management infrastructure that is responsible for subnet configuration, activation, and fault tolerance. After the detection of a topology change, management entities collect the current subnet topology. The topology discovery algorithm is one of the management issues that are outside the scope of the current specification. Preliminary implementations obtain the entire topological information each time a change is detected. In this work, we present and analyze an optimized implementation, based on exploring only the region that has been affected by the change.
Simple and complex genetics of colorectal cancer susceptibility

There are several hereditary conditions associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). These include well‐characterized autosomal dominant syndromes, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). A novel autosomal recessive form of FAP, caused by mutations in the base excision repair gene MYH, has recently been recognized. This discovery has provided further evidence for the importance of DNA repair mechanisms in CRC development, already documented by the involvement of the mismatch repair in HNPCC. Additional CRC‐predisposing conditions, such as hyperplastic polyposis and hereditary mixed polyposis syndrome, are being outlined. Heterogeneity of genetic mechanisms has important consequences for counseling and surveillance in hereditary CRC. Nevertheless, classical mendelian conditions represent only a minor share of the total CRC population burden. Alleles of the same genes that are involved in hereditary syndromes might also act as low penetrance variants, as shown for APC 1307K in the Ashkenazi. However, the level of complexity of multifactorial CRC is such that current tools appear inadequate to pinpoint all the involved components. A combination of different strategies, including careful clinical observation, analysis of homogeneous patient populations, and critical evaluation of data derived from experimental models, along with methodological improvements in nucleic acid analysis, will probably be necessary to unravel the basis of nonmendelian CRC. Once this is achieved, it will be possible to realize the ultimate goal of targeted CRC prevention, with the adoption of measures tailored according to individual risk levels. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF THYROTOXICOSIS IN NEW ZEALAND: INCIDENCE AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION IN NORTH CANTERBURY, 1983–1985

In a 3‐year (1983‐1985) epidemiological study of thyrotoxicosis in North Canterbury, New Zealand, the annual incidence was 25.8 per 100 000 (female 40.7, male 10.5). Thyroid scintiscanning showed that 64% had diffuse hyperplasia (DH), 27% toxic multinodular goitre (TMG), 7% toxic uninodular goitre (TUG), and 2% zero uptake. The calculated annual incidence of toxic diffuse goitre (DH) was 15 per 100 000, and for toxic nodular goitre (TMG and TUG combined) was 8 per 100 000. The age‐related incidence for toxic diffuse goitre peaked in middle life whereas toxic nodular goitre showed an increasing incidence with age. There was no significant seasonal variation or rural/urban difference in incidence. Analysis of geocoded addresses did not identify areas of high incidence. The variable duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis limits the search for possible environmental trigger factors. North Canterbury was an endemic goitre area prior to the introduction of iodized salt 50 years ago, and the incidence of toxic nodular goitre is likely to fall in future.
Evaluation of heavy metals contamination and its genotoxicity in agricultural soil of Amritsar, Punjab, India.

The present study investigated physico-chemical parameters as well as the heavy metal in agricultural soil samples collected from four different zones of Amritsar, Punjab (India). pH of different soil samples ranged from 7.4 to7.8 whereas in control pH was found to be 6.6. Alkalinity was observed in the range of 201-354 meq100g -1 . The content of nitrate (NO3 - ) ranged from 0.25-0.33 mg/kg -1 slightly less than control (0.38 mgKg -1 ). A wide variation of metal concentration was observed in all studied samples. Fe (2809-5692 mgKg -1 ) was found one of the predominant heavy metal in soil followed by Zn (73-320 mgKg -1 ) Mn (154-194 mgKg -1 ), Pb (7.7-118 mgKg -1 ), Ni (9.67-24.32 mgKg - 1 ), Cu (8.4-24 mgKg -1 ) and Cd (0.55-1.39 mgKg -1 ). All the samples also induced significant genotoxicity in Allium cepa test system. The levels of all essential and toxic metals were compared well with other parts of the world.
Asthma in the older adult: presentation, considerations and clinical management

Asthma affects older adults to the same extent as children and adolescents. However, one is led to imagine that asthma prevalence decreases with aging and becomes a rare entity in the elderly. From a clinical perspective, this misconception has nontrivial consequences in that the recognition of the disease is delayed and the treatment postponed. The overall management of asthma in the elderly population is also complicated by specific features that the disease develops in the most advanced ages, and by the difficulties that the physician encounters when approaching the older asthmatic subjects. The current review article aims at describing the specific clinical presentations of asthma in the elderly and highlights the gaps and pitfalls in the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Relevant issues with regard to the clinical management of asthma in the elderly are also discussed.
Flow Cytometry for Diagnosis and Assessment of Prognosis in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Abstract The Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) comprises a spectrum of hematopoietic stem cell disorders. Identification of additional parameters that might distinguish different risk groups or entities would be useful. Flow cytometric studies have begun to characterize individual or composite immunophenotypic abnormalities as well as light scatter properties that may be helpful for diagnosis and of prognostic value for the natural course of the disease and for outcome after therapy. Here we review the current state of the art of the use of flow cytometry in patients with MDS.
Studies of the roles of ADP‐ribosylation factors and phospholipase D in phorbol ester‐induced membrane ruffling

In this study, we have explored the roles of ADP‐ribosylation factors (ARFs), phospholipase D (PLD) isozymes, and arfaptins in phorbol ester (PMA)‐induced membrane ruffling in HeLa cells. PMA stimulation induced ruffling and translocated cortactin to the plasma membrane. The cortactin translocation was inhibited by dominant negative (DN)‐ARF6, DN‐ARF1, and DN‐Rac1, but not by DN‐RhoA and DN‐Cdc42. The inability of DN‐forms of ARF6, ARF1, and Rac1 to affect PLD activity in response to PMA indicated that this enzyme was not activated via these small G proteins and that its activation was not essential for the induction of ruffling. Endogenous‐ARF1, ‐ARF6, and ‐Rac1 existed in the ruffling region along with cortactin after PMA stimulation. DN‐ARF1 had no effect on the ruffling induced by DA‐ARF6 or DA‐Rac1, and DN‐ARF6 had no effect on that induced by DA‐ARF1 or DA‐Rac1. On the other hand DN‐Rac1 suppressed the effect of DA‐ARF6 but not that of DA‐ARF1. These results suggest that PMA causes membrane ruffling via an ARF6‐Rac1 pathway and also an ARF1 pathway operating in parallel. Overexpression of PLD1 and PLD2 inhibited PMA‐induced cortactin translocation and actin–cortactin complex formation, supporting the view that these enzymes are not required for ruffling, but actually suppress it. We conclude that PMA‐induced membrane ruffling is caused via ARF6‐Rac1 and ARF1 pathways operating in parallel and that PLD may be inhibitory. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Congenital Heart Disease Aortic Valve Disease in Turner Syndrome

Results Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a normal tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) in 172 and a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) in 66 subjects. Transthoracic echocardiography could not visualize the aortic valve in 15 of 253 or 6%. Magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed 12 of 15 of these cases (8 BAV and 4 TAV), so that only 3 of 253 (1.2%) could not be visualized by either modality. The aortic valve was bicuspid in 74 of 250 (30%) adequately imaged subjects. The prevalence was equal in pediatric ( 18 years, n 89) and adult populations. Over 95% of abnormal aortic valves in TS resulted from fusion of the right and left coronary leaflets. Ascending aortic diameters were significantly greater at the annulus, sinuses, sinotubular junction, and ascending aorta in the BAV group, with aortic root dilation in 25% of subjects with BAV versus 5% of those with TAV.
The NOD2 3020insC Mutation and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer

Several predispositions to colorectal cancer have been identified, but little is known about genetic susceptibilities to disease in older persons. Colorectal cancer is a risk in Crohn’s disease and is believed to be associated with an inappropriate inflammatory response. Recently, the NOD2 gene has been associated with Crohn’s disease, which further strengthens the notion that the inflammatory response plays a crucial role in this disease. Several mutations have been identified in the NOD2 gene, which appear with significantly higher frequency in patients with the disease. One such mutation (3020insC) is believed to be clearly causative because it results in a prematurely truncated protein with a predicted reduction in functional efficiency. In this report, we have examined the frequency of the 3020insC mutation in a series of 856 individuals including 556 patients with colorectal cancer. The frequency of the 3020insC mutation in a consecutive series of 250 non-hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer patients >50 years of age was significantly elevated compared with the control population (odds ratio, 2.23; P = 0.0046). The results indicate that NOD2 may be a predisposing factor to colorectal cancer characterized by an older average age of disease onset in persons who do not harbor any other genetic predisposition to disease.
Nucleoplasmin cDNA sequence reveals polyglutamic acid tracts and a cluster of sequences homologous to putative nuclear localization signals.

Nucleoplasmin is the most abundant protein in the Xenopus oocyte nucleus. It is involved in histone storage and chromatin assembly and it has been used extensively to study the transport of proteins into the cell nucleus. We have isolated lambda gt11 phage containing nucleoplasmin cDNA and have determined the sequence of the entire protein coding region of 200 amino acids for one of the two genes. The translation product of the sp6 transcript of this cDNA has the same electrophoretic mobility as nucleoplasmin and is able to form pentamers. The protein sequence shows remarkable clusters of charged residues including a long polyglutamic acid tract which presumably constitutes the histone binding site. The short C‐terminal domain which specifies nuclear entry contains four regions which are homologous to putative nuclear localization signals including two regions of homology to the nuclear migration signal of SV40 large T antigen.
The major surface protein complex of Treponema denticola depolarizes and induces ion channels in HeLa cell membranes

The oral spirochete Treponema denticola is closely associated with periodontal diseases in humans. The 53-kDa major surface protein (Msp) located in the outer membrane of T. denticola serovar a (ATCC 35405) has both pore-forming activity and adhesin activity. We have used standard patch clamp recording methods to study the effects of a partially purified outer membrane complex containing Msp on HeLa cells. The Msp complex was free of the chymotrypsin-like proteinase also found in the outer membrane of T. denticola. Msp bound to several HeLa cell proteins, including a 65-kDa surface protein and a 96-kDa cytoplasmic protein. The Msp complex depolarized and increased the conductance of the HeLa cell membrane in a manner which was not strongly selective for Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Cl- ions. Cell-attached patches of HeLa cell membrane exposed to Msp complex exhibited short-lived channels with a slope conductance of 0.4 nS in physiologically normal saline. These studies show that Msp binds both a putative epithelial cell surface receptor and cytoplasmic proteins and that the Msp complex can form large conductance ion channels in the cytoplasmic membrane of epithelial cells. These properties may contribute to the cytopathic effects of T. denticola on host epithelial cells.
Common Anorectal Disorders for the Intensive Care Physician

Although anorectal disorders such as abscess, fissure, and hemorrhoids are typically outpatient problems, they also occur in the critically ill patient population, where their presentation and management are more difficult. This article will provide a brief review of anorectal anatomy, explain the proper anorectal examination, and discuss the current understanding and treatment concepts with regard to the most common anorectal disorders that the intensive care unit clinician is likely to face.
Quantitative Estimates of Risk for Noncancer Endpoints

While quantitative estimates of risk have been a standard practice in cancer risk assessment for many years, no similar practice is evident in noncancer risk assessment. We use two recent examples involving methylmercury and arsenic to illustrate the negative impact of this discrepancy on risk communication and cost‐benefit analysis. We argue for a more balanced treatment of cancer and noncancer risks and suggest an approach for reaching this goal.
Reduction of Cr(VI) by immobilized cells of Desulfovibrio vulgaris NCIMB 8303 and Microbacterium sp. NCIMB 13776.

Hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen and mutagen, can be reduced to Cr(III) by Desulfovibrio vulgaris NCIMB 8303 and Microbacterium sp. NCIMB 13776. This study examined Cr(VI) reduction by immobilized cells of the two strains in a common solution matrix using various entrapment matrices. Chitosan and PVA-borate beads did not retain integrity and supported low or no reduction of Cr(VI) by the cells. A commercial preparation (Lentikats) was stable but also did not support Cr(VI) reduction. K-carrageenan beads were stable in batch suspensions but gel integrity was lost after only 5 h in a flow-through system in the presence of 100 microM Cr(VI). The best immobilization matrices were agar and agarose, where the initial rates of reduction of Cr(VI) (from 500 microM solution) for D. vulgaris NCIMB 8303 and Microbacterium sp. NCIMB 13776 were 127 (agar) and 130 (agarose), and 15 (agar) and 12 (agarose) nmol h(-1) mg dry cell wt(-1), respectively. The higher removal of Cr(VI) by D. vulgaris was also seen in 14-mL packed-bed flow-through columns, where, at a flow rate of 2.4 mL h(-1), the percentage removal of Cr(VI) was approximately 95% and 60% for D. vulgaris and Microbacterium sp. , respectively (agar-immobilized cells). The Cr(VI) reducing activities of D. vulgaris and Microbacterium sp. were lost after 159 and 140 h, respectively. Examination of the beads for structural integrity within the columns in situ using magnetic resonance imaging after 24 and 100 h of continuous operation against Cr(VI) (with negligible Cr retained within the columns) showed that agar beads were more stable with time. The most appropriate system for development of a continuous bioprocess is thus the use of D. vulgaris NCIMB 8303 immobilized in an agar gel matrix.
Segregation and Recombination in Inter-Gene Pool Crosses of Phaseolus Vulgaris L.

Variation for segregation ratios and recombination rates was analyzed in crosses involving 13 common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes from different gene pools and races. The segregation of RFLP, isozyme, and phaseolin markers belonging mostly to linkage groups D5 and D7 was analyzed in 11 F2 populations derived from Middle American x Andean, and Andean x Andean crosses. An average level of 10.4% segregation distortion for RFLPs was observed compared with 19.2% for isozyme markers. Preferential transmission of Middle American alleles was detected in crosses between the two gene pools. Levels of recombination were highly variable among a subset of four of the 11 F2 populations analyzed. These data, and comparisons with data published previously, suggest that recombination in common bean is under genetic control, although environmental factors may also affect it.