Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The ABO blood group genotype and factor VIII levels as independent risk factors for venous thromboembolism

Summary Factor VIII (FVIII), von Willebrand factor (vWF) and the ABO blood groups have been associated with thrombosis. The ABO locus has functional effects on vWF and FVIII levels and is genetically correlated with FVIII, vWF and thrombosis. We carried out a case-control study to assess the role of FVIII, vWF and ABO types on thrombotic risk. We analyzed 250 patients with venous thrombosis and 250 unrelated controls. FVIII, vWF and other factors related to thrombophilia were measured, ABO groups were analyzed by genotyping. FVIII and vWF were higher in non-O individuals. Group O was more frequent in the controls (44.3% v 23.3%; difference 21.1%; 95% CI: 13.0–29.3%) and Group A in patients (59.2% v. 41.5%; difference 17.7%, 95% CI: 9.1–26.4%). Individuals carrying the A1 allele had a higher risk of thrombosis (OR 2.6; 95% CI, 1.8–3.8). The risk attributed to vWF disappeared after adjusting for the ABO group. Patients with FVIII above the 90th percentile had a high thrombotic risk (adjusted OR 3.7; 95%CI, 2.1–6.5), and a high risk of recurrence (OR 2.3; 95%CI: 1.3–4.1). In conclusion, high FVIII levels and non-O blood groups, likely those with the A1 allele, are independent risk factors for venous thromboembolism and should be considered in evaluating of thrombophilia.
Vanadium-Binding Ability of Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase from the Vanadium-Rich Fan Worm, Pseudopotamilla occelata

Polychaete fan worms and ascidians accumulate high levels of vanadium ions. Several vanadiumbinding proteins, known as vanabins, have been found in ascidians. However, no vanadium-binding factors have been isolated from the fan worm. In the present study, we sought to identify vanadiumbinding proteins in the branchial crown of the fan worm using immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. A nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDK) homolog was isolated and determined to be a vanadium-binding protein. Kinase activity of the NDK homologue, PoNDK, was suppressed by the addition of V(IV), but was unaffected by V(V). The effect of V(IV) on PoNDK precedes its activation by Mg(II). This is the first report to describe the relationship between NDK and V(IV). PoNDK is located in the epidermis of the branchial crown, and its distribution is very similar to that of vanadium. These results suggest that PoNDK is associated with vanadium accumulation and metabolism in P. occelata.
The Relationship between Trade Openness and Inflation in Turkey

Both in Turkey and in the world in 1980 was a year of major structural transformations. Globalization has been accelerated in this time and countries have implemented some liberal policies for opening borders to foreign capital. Economies began to be led by export-oriented industrialization and liberalization policies after 1980 and these policies continue since then. Turkey is one of these countries that began liberalization after 1980. While decreasing trade barriers exerts a downward pressure on prices trade liberalization represents a structural break. In this article, I estimated the relation between inflation and trade openness and tested the negative openness versus inflation hypothesis for the years between 1980 and 2010 for Turkey by using OLS method.
The Cost of Euro Adoption in Poland

The paper investigates potential effects of euroization on the economy of Poland. It develops an empirical framework to provide estimations of the euro adoption costs arising from a loss of exchange rate regime as a macro-stabilization tool. The paper quantifies how a replacement of zloty with the euro, and thus the elimination of exchange rate would affect output fluctuations in Poland. Our analysis of the forecast error variance decomposition confirms that the real exchange rate served as an external shock absorber for Polish economy in 1990-2014. We find that external shocks on average explain up to 12-13% of the exchange rate variation and up to 5% in variation of Polish log-transformed output. We also find that over the past two decades the Polandâ€™s economy has become more resilient to external shocks, and thus it is reasonable to expect the cost of euro adoption to decline with further EU integration.
Association between plasma BPDE-Alb adduct concentrations and DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes among coke oven workers

Objectives: Coke oven emissions COE containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs can induce both benzoapyrene-r-7, t-8, t-9,c-10-tetrahydotetrol-albumin BPDE-Alb adducts and DNA damage. However, the relation between these biomarkers for early biological effects is not well documented in coke oven workers. Methods: In this study, the authors recruited 207 male workers exposed to COE and 102 controls not exposed to COE in the same steel plant in northern China. They measured BPDE-Alb adduct concentrations in plasma with reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography and DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes with alkaline comet assay. Results: The results showed that the median concentration of BPDE-Alb adducts in the exposed group 34.36 fmol/mg albumin was significantly higher than that in the control group 21.90 fmol/mg albumin, p0.012. The mean Olive tail moment Olive TM of DNA damage in the exposed and control groups were 1.20 and 0.63, respectively p0.000. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio OR for BPDE-Alb adduct and Olive TM associated with the exposure were 1.72 95 CI 1.06 to 2.81 and 1.96 95 CI 1.20 to 3.19, respectively. These results show significant correlations between the concentrations of BPDE-Alb adduct and Olive TM levels in exposed group r0.235, p0.001 but not in control group r0.093, p0.353. Conclusion: The results suggest that occupational exposure to COE may induce both BPDEAlb adducts and DNA damage in the lymphocytes of coke oven workers and that these two markers are useful for monitoring exposure to COE in the workplace.
Aromatase inhibitor-induced carpal tunnel syndrome: results from the ATAC trial.

PURPOSE Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition in which the median nerve is compressed, leading to pain and muscle weakness in the fingers and hand. Aromatase inhibitors lead to profound estrogen suppression and may be expected to increase the risk of CTS in postmenopausal women receiving adjuvant therapy for early breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS The current analyses were based on the 100-month median follow-up data in postmenopausal women in the two monotherapy arms (anastrozole, n = 3,092; tamoxifen, n = 3,094). Here, we investigate the natural history of patients who presented with CTS during adjuvant treatment for breast cancer and the relative importance of a range of known risk factors for CTS. RESULTS After 100 months of follow-up, 80 cases (2.6%) of CTS were reported in the anastrozole arm, compared with 23 cases (0.7%) in the tamoxifen arm (P < .0001). The majority of CTS cases were reported as mild to moderate intensity and occurred early. None of the women stopped treatment medication as a result of CTS. CTS was significantly increased for women who used prior hormone replacement therapy (P = .007) or received prior chemotherapy (P = .01). Those who were 60 years of age or older at entry were at lower risk of CTS compared with their counterparts (P = .002). CONCLUSION Although the use of anastrozole is associated with a greater incidence of CTS, it is rare, and most cases were of mild to moderate intensity and short duration. CTS has little impact on the overall risk-to-benefit ratio for the use of anastrozole in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer.
Sequential Protein Synthesis Following Vaccinia Virus Infection

Inhibition of HeLa cell protein synthesis and the sequential synthesis of viral proteins were followed by pulse-labeling infected cells with 14C-phenylalanine. Proteins were resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The viral origin of native proteins was confirmed by immunodiffusion. The inhibition of host protein synthesis and the synthesis of early viral proteins occur 1 to 3 hr after infection. This early sequence of events also occurs in the presence of 5-fluorodeoxyuridine, an inhibitor of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis. Other viral proteins are synthesized at a later time. Those proteins which are not made in the absence of viral deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis can be further subdivided into intermediate and late classes. The intermediate protein is synthesized before the late proteins but does not appear to be a precursor of them. Many more viral polypeptides were resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after solubilization of the entire cytoplasmic fraction with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Virion and nonvirion proteins were identified. Kinetic experiments suggested that certain structural proteins as well as certain nonstructural proteins are made early, whereas others of both classes are made primarily at later times.
Cross-talk between LOX-1 and PCSK9 in vascular tissues.

AIMS Lectin-like ox-LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) plays an important role in inflammatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) modulates LDL receptor degradation and influences serum LDL levels. The present study was designed to investigate the possible interaction between PCSK9 and LOX-1. METHODS AND RESULTS In the first set of experiments, human vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells were studied at baseline and after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment (to create an inflammatory state). Both PCSK9 and LOX-1 were strongly induced by LPS treatment. To define the role of PCSK9 in LOX-1 expression, cells were transfected with siRNA against PCSK9, which resulted in reduced LOX-1 expression and function. On the other hand, cells exposed to recombinant hPCSK9 revealed enhanced LOX-1 expression (P < 0.05). To determine whether LOX-1 also regulates PCSK9, cultured cells in which LOX-1 was knocked down by siRNA expressed less PCSK9, whereas those transfected with hLOX-1 cDNA showed increased PCSK9 expression. The second set of experiments was carried out in wild-type (WT) and gene knockout (KO; LOX-1 and PCSK9) mice; LOX-1 KO mice showed much less PCSK9 (P < 0.05 vs. WT mice). PCSK9-KO mice showed much less LOX-1 (P < 0.05 vs. WT mice). Furthermore, we observed that mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) plays an initiating role in the LOX-1/PCSK9 interaction, since mtROS induction enhanced and its inhibition reduced the expression of both PCSK9 and LOX-1. We also found that both LOX-1 and PCSK9 regulate adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression. Finally, oxidized low-density lipoprotein and tumour necrosis factor-α, pro-inflammatory stimuli besides LPS, regulated PCSK9 expression that is mediated by the NF-κB signalling pathway. CONCLUSIONS These observations suggest that LOX-1 and PCSK9 positively influence each other's expression, especially during an inflammatory reaction. mtROS appear to be important initiators of PCSK9/LOX-1 expression.
Antibodies to Loop 6 of the P2 Porin Protein of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Are Bactericidal against Multiple Strains

ABSTRACT The P2 porin protein is the most abundant protein in the outer membrane of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI). Analysis of sequences of P2 from different strains reveals the presence of both heterogeneous and conserved surface-exposed loops of the P2 molecule among strains. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that antibodies to a conserved surface-exposed loop are bactericidal for multiple strains of NTHI and could thus form the basis of vaccines to prevent infection due to NTHI. Polyclonal antiserum to a peptide corresponding to loop 6 was raised and was immunopurified over a loop 6 peptide column. Analysis of the antibodies to whole organisms and peptides corresponding to each of the eight loops of P2 by immunoassays revealed that the antibodies were highly specific for loop 6 of P2. The immunopurified antibodies bound to P2 of 14 of 15 strains in immunoblot assays. These antibodies to loop 6 demonstrated complement-mediated bactericidal killing of 8 of 15 strains. These results support the concept of using conserved regions of the P2 protein as a vaccine antigen.
3rd Generation Alumina-on-Alumina in Modular Hip Prosthesis: 13 to 18 Years Follow-up Results

Introduction Ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) couplings are alternative bearings surfaces that have been reported to reduce osteolysis, wear debris and aseptic loosening compared to the use of polyethylene. Early experiences with ceramics had poor results, but they have led to many improvements in the manufacture and design of subsequent implants. Methods We analysed medical files of 300 CoC total hip arthroplasty (THA) with a modular neck performed during period 1995-2000 by a single surgeon for a minimum follow-up of 13 years, evaluating clinical and radiological outcome. Results The mean clinical Merle d'Aubigne and Postel hip score at the final follow-up is 17.4, against a pre-operative value of 11.4. Overall survivorship with an endpoint of revision is 93.2% (95% CI, 89.0%-97.3%) at 15 years, while considering only prosthesis failures related to aseptic loosening and ceramic breakage, survival rate at 15 years is 97.2% (95% CI, 94.8%-100%). We observed complications that led to revision surgery in 11 patients (4%) (periprosthetic fractures, liner ruptures, septic loosening of the implant, aseptic loosening of the cup, aseptic loosening of the stem). The occurrence of squeaking is low (1.6%, 4 cases) and we analysed the characteristics of these patients. Discussion Our study shows an excellent long term survivorship of third generation alumina CoC THA. We reiterate the importance to have a stable implant to maximise the advantage of ceramic and to avoid complications.
Effects of transcutaneous electrical stimulation combined with locomotion-like movement in the treatment of post-stroke gait disorder: a single-case study. Short report

Purpose. This study was designed to examine the effects of electrical stimulation combined with locomotion-like movement (ES/LM) for improving gait disorder in a stroke patient. Method. A four-phase ABAB single-subject design with five therapy sessions per phase was employed. In the intervention phases, transcutaneous electrical stimulation was applied to the tibialis anterior (at the end of the hip extension phase and in the initial hip flexion phase) and the soleus (in the initial hip extension phase) during passive hip flexion and extension. To assess improvement, the soleus H-reflex and the ambulatory function were measured (gait velocity and step length). Results. Application of ES/LM resulted in a decrease of the soleus H-reflex and significant increase of gait velocity and step length. Conclusion. These findings suggest that ES/LM is a feasible treatment method for impaired ambulatory function in stroke patients at the subacute stage after the event.
Evaluation of a Commercially Available Immunoglobulin M Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Kit for Diagnosing Acute Dengue Infections

ABSTRACT Recently, commercially available kits for the detection of anti-dengue virus (anti-DEN) immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies have been developed. These standardized assays have greatly enhanced our ability to effectively diagnose DEN infections. We conducted an evaluation of a test kit manufactured by MRL Diagnostics Inc. that is designed to detect anti-DEN IgM antibodies. Eighty paired samples from DEN-infected individuals were tested by the MRL DEN Fever Virus IgM Capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the PanBio Duo ELISA, the PanBio Rapid Immunochromatographic Test (PRIT), and the IgM-IgG antibody capture (MAC/GAC) ELISA. All infections were confirmed by either PCR-assisted detection of DEN transcripts or by DEN isolation in C6/36 cells. Seventeen paired samples from individuals with no evidence of acute DEN infection were used as negative controls. The PRIT had the best sensitivity (100%), whereas the MAC/GAC ELISA and the PanBio Duo assay had the highest levels of specificity. The MRL ELISA and the PanBio Duo assay were the top performers when taking into consideration both sensitivity and specificity. All assays were able to detect DEN-specific antibodies in samples from patients with either primary or secondary infections, regardless of the infecting DEN serotype.
Results of surgical resection of stage IIIa (N2) non small cell lung cancer, according to the site of the mediastinal metastases.

Out of a series of 1563 consecutive patients submitted to thoracotomy for lung cancer between 1980 and 1990, 278 patients underwent a resection for a non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with mediastinal node metastases (N2). Selection of cases for surgery was carried out using CT from 1983 and mediastinoscopy for the patients with mediastinal lymph nodes larger than 1.5 cm from 1985: all patients with positive mediastinoscopy were excluded from thoracotomy, but 10 cases underwent a resection after neoadjuvant radio-chemotherapy. The surgical procedures were pneumonectomy (106), lobectomy (146) and atypical resection (8) with ipsilateral mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Resection was complete in 236 patients (84.8%) and incomplete in 42 patients (15.2%). Postoperative mortality was 3.2%. Almost all patients received radiotherapy after surgery. Actuarial 5-year survival was 13.7% for the entire group and 18.5% for the patients who underwent curative resection; no patients survived 5 years after palliative resection (p < 0.05). There were no differences with regard to prognosis according to the histology of the tumors and to surgical procedures. A better prognosis is associated with: completeness of resection, involvement of only one level, low T classification. Five-year survival rate of patients with metastases only in upper mediastinum was 25%; on the contrary 5-year survival rate of patients with metastases in the lymph nodes of the lower mediastinum was only 8% (p < 0.05). In our opinion better results among the patients with metastases in the upper mediastinum depends on the selection obtained with mediastinoscopy. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Time-Structure Based Reconstruction of Physiological Independent Sources Extracted From Noisy Abdominal Phonograms

The abdominal phonogram is a signal recorded by a sensitive acoustic sensor positioned on the maternal womb. The signal conveys information that is valuable for fetal surveillance (e.g., heart sounds), but hidden by maternal and environmental noises. To recover such information, earlier work successfully used single-channel independent component analysis (SCICA) to decompose the phonogram into independent components (ICs). After that, knowing that some ICs belong to the same process, similar ICs were grouped using K -means through similarities in their spectral content, a step that misclassified some fetal and maternal ICs, and consequently, distorted the recovered sources and made them virtually useless for studying fetal condition. Here, the rich time structure of the physiological components underlying the abdominal phonogram is exploited to automatically classify similar components and retrieve the independent sources corresponding to maternal activity (respiration and cardiovascular), fetal heart sounds, and noise. To do so, a periodicity-based analysis scheme is proposed and tested on a dataset composed of 750 ICs extracted by SCICA from segments of 25 single-channel phonograms recorded at fetal gestational ages between 29 and 40 weeks. Based on autocorrelation and power spectral density analysis, this scheme not only manages to quickly and automatically group similar ICs, but also correlates the recovered sources with specific physiological phenomena (either maternal or fetal), which is a further advantage. Further research will be conducted on more phonograms and explore alternatives for dimensional reduction and reconstruction of entire time series suitable for surveillance, not only for fetal well-being, but also for maternal condition.
An evaluation of salmeterol in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

BACKGROUND Salmeterol has been shown a useful drug for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, its positioning in the current treatment of COPD remains to be defined. The present study was carried out to evaluate its role as an add-on drug to the current first-line drug, ipratropium. METHODS A double-blind randomized, parallel group, placebo-controlled design was used in an outpatient setting. Thirty-three patients with moderate or severe COPD were included. After a run-in period of two weeks on 40 microg four-times-daily ipratropium and 400 microg twice-daily beclomethasone dipropionate, they were randomized into two groups to receive either salmeterol (50 microg twice daily) or placebo for eight weeks. The outcome parameters were: (i) spirometry, (ii) six-minute walking test, (iii) SF-36 health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire score, (iv) baseline dyspnoea index (BDI), (v) patient's self-assessment and (vi) supplemental use of salbutamol. RESULTS The mean FEV1 and FVC increased significantly over the initial values in the salmeterol group but not in the placebo group. Salmeterol produced greater improvements in almost all the dimensions of HRQoL as well as in the BDI and the supplemental use of salbutamol was lower in this group. However, the six-minute walk distance was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that eight weeks treatment with salmeterol 50 microg twice-daily added to the existing regimen of ipratropium bromide and beclomethasone dipropionate provides greater symptomatic relief and improvement in lung function than placebo. This is accompanied by an improvement in the health-related quality of life.
Consumers demand for products with animal welfare attributes: Evidence from homescan data for Scotland

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess Scottish consumers’ demand for animal welfare and organic pork. The paper also tried to answer the following questions: first, are animal-friendly pork and organic-pork complements or substitutes (competing)? Second, what is the relationship between pork products with different animal welfare labels (i.e. “freedom food” pork vs “specially selected pork”)? Third, does the demand for animal-friendly and organic pork vary with the level of deprivation of the area where consumers are living? Design/methodology/approach – The dataset used in the analysis is the Kantar Worldpanel dataset for Scotland, which contains weekly data of food and drink purchases for consumption at home, covering the period 2006-2011. The panel is representative of the Scottish population and covers about 3,694 households. The linear version of the almost ideal demand system was estimated. Then, the own- and the cross-price elasticities as well as the expenditure elasticities for the 22 .