Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Significance of Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism for Risk and Disease Severity of Prostate Cancer and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Japanese

Objective: Recent studies have demonstrated an association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) genotype and prostate cancer. Currently, there is a scarcity of data regarding the association of VDR genotype with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The purpose of this study was to investigate the TaqI VDR polymorphism in Japanese prostate cancer patients, Japanese BPH patients and Japanese controls in order to determine if an association exists between VDR genotype and the risk of developing prostate cancer and BPH as well as disease severity. Methods: 110 prostate cancer patients, 83 BPH patients and 90 male age-matched controls were genotyped for a previously described TaqI restriction fragment length polymorphism at codon 352 in exon 9 of the VDR gene. Products were digested into T allele or t allele according to the absence or presence of a TaqI restriction site with individuals being classified as TT, Tt or tt. Results: The frequency of the genotype tt was higher in the control group (6.7%) compared to patients with prostate cancer (1.8%) and BPH (3.6%) but this was not statistically significant. However, the frequency of the genotype TT was significantly higher among prostate cancer patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease (T3/ T4/N1/M1) compared to controls (p = 0.001). In addition, the genotype TT was significantly higher among prostate cancer patients with a high Gleason grade of tumor (grade 5) compared to controls (p = 0.0001). In addition, the genotype TT was statistically higher in BPH patients with high prostate volume (volume >50 cm3) compared to controls (p = 0.001). Conclusion: These data demonstrate that VDR genotype plays an important role in determining the risk of more advanced and aggressive prostate cancer as well as prostatic enlargement in Japanese men.
Rethinking Intervention Strategies in Stroke Family Caregiving

&NA; Stroke is a condition that affects both patients and family members who provide care and support. Because stroke is an unexpected traumatic event that suddenly forces family members into a caregiving role, caregivers often experience an overwhelming sense of burden, depression, and isolation; a decline in physical and mental health; and reduced quality of life. Caregiver health is inextricably linked to a stroke survivor's physical, cognitive, and psychological recovery. Evidence suggests that informational interventions alone are not as effective in meeting the complex needs of stroke caregivers as interventions that combine information with other support services. This article discusses issues related to stroke caregiving and proposes comprehensive strategies designed to meet the poststroke recovery needs of both patients and caregivers. Suggested strategies include a comprehensive assessment specific to caregiver needs, skills, and resources and case management services designed to provide continuity of care across the stroke‐recovery trajectory.
Maternal and neonatal seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in a hospital based population in South-South, Nigeria

Despite the existence of a safe and effective vaccine, Nigeria has remained a hyper-endemic area for hepatitis B virus infection, with estimated 12% of the total population being chronic carriers. Vertical transmission is an important route of transmission for hepatitis B virus infection. Neonates who contact hepatitis B virus infection will have an almost 90% risk of developing chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier state and chronic liver disease. The objectives of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B Virus among pregnant women, rate of vertical transmission and identifying potential risk factors associated with the infection. This study was an observational crosssectional study of 250 pregnant women who presented to the labour ward of the University of PortHarcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Blood samples from all consenting pregnant women and corresponding umbilical cord blood were collected at delivery. A structured proforma designed for this purpose was used to obtain socio-demographic information and the presence of risk factors. Data collated was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 17.0 for windows ® statistical software with P<0.05 at 95% confidence interval. The mean age of the pregnant women studied was 33.5±0.8 years, while the mean parity was 1.58 ± 0.5. HBsAg was detected in 15 women, giving a seroprevalence rate of 6% and a neonatal seroprevalence rate of 3.2%. All HBsAgpositive babies were born to HBsAg-positive mothers with a vertical transmission rate of 53.3%. Hepatitis B virus infection amongst parturients was more in patients with history of termination of pregnancy and multiple sexual partners (P<0.05). An intermediate prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection was identified which justifies the need for routine screening in pregnancy in order to identify and treat the infection, thus reducing the risk of vertical transmission of the virus. Contraceptive options aimed at prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI) should be encouraged.
[Treating tobacco addiction. Praxis and barriers amongst Icelandic general practitioners.].

OBJECTIVE To assess praxis and identify the most common barriers for engaging in tobacco prevention in general practice in the Nordic countries. MATERIAL AND METHODS All 167 practicing general practitioners in Iceland received a questionnaire at home assessing praxis and barriers for systematic involvement in tobacco prevention. RESULTS The over all response rate was 77%. Few general practitioners asked patients if they smoked if the patient had no smoking related symptoms. Few supported patients who wanted to stop smoking. However, a big majority agreed that tobacco prevention was a part of their job. The main reasons for not engaging in tobacco prevention was lack of time and the feeling that the time spent may not be worth the effort since few patients quit. A big majority stated that they would prefer to reefer smokers to smoking cessation specialist. CONCLUSIONS Smoking cessation expertise needs to be more accessible to Icelandic patients and doctors.
Effective Connectivity Measured Using Optogenetically Evoked Hemodynamic Signals Exhibits Topography Distinct from Resting State Functional Connectivity in the Mouse

Abstract Brain connectomics has expanded from histological assessment of axonal projection connectivity (APC) to encompass resting state functional connectivity (RS-FC). RS-FC analyses are efficient for whole-brain mapping, but attempts to explain aspects of RS-FC (e.g., interhemispheric RS-FC) based on APC have been only partially successful. Neuroimaging with hemoglobin alone lacks specificity for determining how activity in a population of cells contributes to RS-FC. Wide-field mapping of optogenetically defined connectivity could provide insights into the brain’s structure–function relationship. We combined optogenetics with optical intrinsic signal imaging to create an efficient, optogenetic effective connectivity (Opto-EC) mapping assay. We examined EC patterns of excitatory neurons in awake, Thy1-ChR2 transgenic mice. These Thy1-based EC (Thy1-EC) patterns were evaluated against RS-FC over the cortex. Compared to RS-FC, Thy1-EC exhibited increased spatial specificity, reduced interhemispheric connectivity in regions with strong RS-FC, and appreciable connection strength asymmetry. Comparing the topography of Thy1-EC and RS-FC patterns to maps of APC revealed that Thy1-EC more closely resembled APC than did RS-FC. The more general method of Opto-EC mapping with hemoglobin can be determined for 100 sites in single animals in under an hour, and is amenable to other neuroimaging modalities. Opto-EC mapping represents a powerful strategy for examining evolving connectivity-related circuit plasticity.
Relationship of dietary vitamin A and ascorbic acid intake to the risk for cancers of the lung, bladder, and prostate in Hawaii.

This report presents preliminary findings from 3 case-control studies in Hawaii in which we are examining the relationship of dietary vitamin A and ascorbic acid intake to the risk for cancers of the lung, bladder, and prostate. All 3 studies involved home interviews of cancer patients and neighborhood controls and use of quantitative dietary history method. In the lung cancer study, we found an inverse dose-response effect for total vitamin A intake in males only, with an odds ratio of 1.8 (P less than .05) for the lowest intake quartile relative to the highest; we found no association for ascorbic acid. In the bladder cancer study, we found lower (but not statistically significant) mean intakes of both vitamins in patients compared with controls, with the effect stronger for ascorbic acid. In the prostate cancer study, no effect was detected for total vitamin A or ascorbic acid in men less than 70 years old, but a direct association of vitamin A only with a dose-response gradient was found for men 70 years or older (odds ratio = 1.87; P less than .05, for the highest relative to the lowest intake quartile). Our findings at present indicate that vitamin A has a protective effect against lung and bladder cancers but not against prostate cancer and that ascorbic acid has a protective effect against bladder cancer as well. In our later analyses, we will examine the possibility that the effects of vitamin A vary with histologic type and that this may account for the lack of an association with lung cancer in women.
Statistical Interpretation of the Density Fluctuations From the High-Speed Visible Images of Edge Turbulence on QUEST

Edge turbulence has been imaged on QUEST at high temporal resolution (50 kHz) using a fast framing visible camera. Statistical features of fluctuations including blobs are investigated in both open and closed magnetic configurations. Higher order moments of fluctuations including blobs and their mutual relationships are investigated. Close resemblance of the density pdf with Gaussian or beta distributions has earlier been predicted. Hence, an attempt has been made to characterize the density pdf with respect to the Pearson system to ascertain the implications of the stochastic forces.
Distribution of PGP 9.5, TH, NPY, SP and CGRP immunoreactive nerves in the rat and guinea pig atrioventricular valves and chordae tendineae

The distribution of nerves immunoreactive to protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) antisera was investigated in the atrioventricular valves of the Sprague–Dawley rat and the Dunkin–Hartley guinea pig using confocal and epifluorescence microscopy. No major differences were noted between the innervation of the mitral and tricuspid valves in either species. For all antisera the staining was more extensive in the guinea pig valves. Two distinct nerve plexuses separated by a ‘nearly nerve free’ zone were identified in both species with each antiserum tested. This was most apparent on the anterior cusp of the mitral valve. The major nerve plexus extends from the atrioventricular ring through the basal, intermediate and distal zones of the valves towards the free edge of the valve cusp. These nerve bundles, arranged as primary, secondary and tertiary components, ramify to the free edge of the valve and extend to the attachment of the chordae. They do not contribute to the innervation of the chordae tendineae. The second, minor chordal plexus, runs from the papillary muscles through the chordae tendineae and passes parallel to the free edge of the cusp. The nerves of this minor plexus are interchordal, branching to terminate mainly in the distal zone, free edge of the valve cusp and adjacent chordae tendineae. Some interchordal nerve fibres loop from a papillary muscle up through a chorda, along the free edge and pass down an adjacent chorda into another papillary muscle. The nerve fibres of the major and minor plexuses intermingle although no evidence was found for interconnectivity between them. In the distal zone between the major plexus which extends from the base of the valve and the minor chordal plexus there is a zone completely free of nerves staining with antisera to TH and NPY. Occasional nerves which stained positive for PGP 9.5, SP and CGRP immunoreactivities crossed this ‘nearly nerve free zone’ passing either from the chordal/free edge nerves to the intermediate and basal zones or vice versa. An additional small nerve plexus which displayed immunoreactivity to CGRP antiserum extended from the atrioventricular ring into the basal zone of the valve cusp. Not all chordae tendineae displayed immunoreactive nerve fibres. It is concluded that the innervation patterns of the sensory and sympathetic neurotransmitters and neuropeptides examined in the atrioventricular valves of the rat and guinea pig are ubiquitous in nature. The complexity of the terminal innervation network of the mammalian atrioventricular valves and chordae tendineae may contribute to the complex functioning of these valves in the cardiac cycle.
The mandibular repositioning device: role in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

The role of oral appliances in the routine treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is not well defined. This prospective study attempts to clarify the clinical role of a specific oral appliance, the mandibular repositioning device (MRD). This study evaluated the demographic, polysomnographic, and cephalometric radiographic findings predictive of treatment success or failure with the MRD. Twenty-nine patients were diagnosed with mild to severe OSA by nocturnal polysomnography. The majority of these patients were intolerant to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and all were fitted with a MRD. Twenty-three of these patients were compliant initially with MRD use and received post-treatment nocturnal polysomnogrpahy at a mean of 104 days after receiving the device. The respiratory disturbance index (RDI) decreased with MRD use (37 +/- 23 versus 18 +/- 20 events/hour, p < 0.001), and 16 of the 23 patients (69%) were considered responders (decrease in RDI > or = 50% and posttreatment RDI < or = 20). Measurements of subjective and objective daytime sleepiness, nocturnal oxygen desaturation, and snoring were all improved with MRD use. A pre-treatment RDI > 40 was present in four of the seven (67%) non-responders. Age, body mass index, and cephalometric radiographic measurements were not predictive of treatment outcome. Sixteen of 23 patients (70%) continue to use the MRD after 3.4 +/- 0.7 years. This study suggests that the MRD is useful in the long-term treatment of patients with OSA of mild to moderate severity.
Identification of both general and region-specific embryonic CNS enhancer elements in the nestin promoter.

In this report, we investigate how nestin expression is controlled in neural progenitor cells of the embryonic CNS. A 374-bp region in the second intron of the human nestin gene is sufficient, and a 120-bp sequence in this region is required, to express the lacZ reporter gene throughout the developing CNS of E9.5-10.5 transgenic mouse embryos. The 120-bp element region contains putative binding sites for nuclear hormone receptors and we show that TRs, RXR, RAR, and COUP-TF bind to these motifs. A separate enhancer, located most probably 5' to the 120-bp sequence in the second intron, controls midbrain expression at E10.5. In conclusion, our data show that the nestin enhancer in the second intron contains elements both for general and for region-specific CNS progenitor cell expression and suggest that nuclear hormone receptors play a role in the regulation of nestin expression in the early CNS.
A Select Combination of Neurotrophins Enhances Neuroprotection and Functional Recovery following Spinal Cord Injury

Previously, we have shown that topical application of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) given within 5 to 30 min after a focal trauma to the rat spinal cord attenuates spinal cord injury (SCI)–induced breakdown of the blood–spinal cord barrier (BSCB), edema formation, motor dysfunction, and cell injury. This investigation was undertaken to find out whether a combination of select neurotrophins (BDNF, glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF], neurotrophin 3 [NT‐3], or nerve growth factor [NGF]) will further enhance the neuroprotective efficacy of growth factors in SCI. The neurotrophins (0.1–1 μg/10 μL in phosphate‐buffered saline) were applied 30, 60, or 90 min after injury topically over the traumatized spinal cord either alone or in combination. The SCI was performed by making a unilateral incision into the right dorsal horn of the T10–T11 segment under Equithesin anesthesia. The rats were allowed to survive 5 h after trauma. Topical application of BDNF, GDNF, or NGF 30 min after SCI in high concentration (0.5 μg and 1 μg) significantly improved the motor functions and reduced the BSCB breakdown, edema formation, and cell injury seen at 5 h. These beneficial effects of neurotropins were absent when administered separately either 60 or 90 min after SCI. However, a combination of BDNF and GDNF (but not with NT‐3 or NGF) given either 60 or 90 min after SCI significantly reduced the motor dysfunction and spinal cord pathology at 5 h. These novel observations suggest that a select group of neurotrophins in combination have potential therapeutic value for the treatment of SCI in clinical situations.
Presenting the Problem in Pediatric Encounters: "Symptoms Only" Versus "Candidate Diagnosis" Presentations

This article examines 2 practices that are used to present children's problems to their pediatricians in acute care encounters. Using the methodology of conversation analysis, this article examines the alternative stances embodied by problem presentations, which offer "symptoms only" versus problem presentations, which also include a "candidate diagnosis. " This article suggests that parents who offer only symptoms in their problem presentations are hearable as adopting a stance that they are primarily seeking medical evaluations of their children. By contrast, a parent who includes a candidate diagnosis of the problem is hearable as adopting a stance that he or she is seeking confirmation of the diagnosis and treatment for that illness condition. This communication practice may be treated by physicians as placing pressure on them to prescribe treatment-in particular antibiotic treatment. The implications of this are discussed.
The influence of the speed of food intake on multichannel impedance in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Background There is a general belief that gastro-oesophageal reflux increases after meals and especially following a rapid intake. Objective To evaluate the impact of rapid vs. slow food intake on gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) patients. Materials and methods Forty-six GORD patients with heartburn and / or acid regurgitation once a week or more often common were included in this study. Participants were asked to eat the same standard meal within either 5 or 30 minutes under observation in a random order on 2 consecutive days. A total of 28 hours of recording were obtained by intraoesophageal impedance pH and number of liquid and mixed reflux episodes within 3 hours of the slow- and fast-eating postprandial periods were calculated. Results While all patients defined GORD symptoms, 10 (21.7%) had pathological 24-h intraoesophageal impedance measurement, 15 (32.6%) had pathological DeMeester and 21.7% had erosive oesophagitis. No difference has been shown according to the eating speed when all reflux episodes were taken together (754 vs. 733). Speed of food intake also did not have an impact on patients with normal vs. pathological 24-h intraoesophageal impedance or erosive vs. non-erosive. During the first postprandial hour, approximately half of the reflux events were non-acid, compared to 34.2% during the second hour and 26.8% during the third hour (p < 0.001). The number of acid reflux episodes was significantly higher than non-acid reflux especially during the second and third hours and in total for 3 hours. Conclusions This first study addressing the effect of eating speed on reflux episodes in GORD patients did not support the general belief that reflux increases following fast eating. Acid and non-acid reflux were similar at the first postprandial hour, then acid reflux episodes were predominantly higher, which implicate the importance of acid pockets.
Learning from complex and heterogeneous experiences: the role of knowledge codification

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study organizational learning from complex and heterogeneous experiences. According to March (2010), this kind of high intellect learning is difficult to accomplish because it requires deliberate investments in knowledge transfer and creation. Zollo and Winter (2002) emphasized how knowledge codification can facilitate this process, as long as it is “well-performed”. However, knowledge management scholars have yet to explore what is meant by well-performed codification and how to achieve it. Design/methodology/approach – This paper addresses this gap and provides a conceptual analysis based on two related but previously disconnected research areas: organizational learning and knowledge management. Findings – This paper contributes to the literature in three ways. First, a new understanding of different types of experiences and their effects on learning is proposed. Then the codification process using a critical realist paradigm to overcome the epistemological boun.
Information Technology Impacts on Firm Performance: An Extension of Kohli and Devaraj (2003)

Despite the importance of investing in information technology, research on business value of information technology (BVIT) shows contradictory results, raising questions about the reasons for divergence. Kohli and Devaraj (2003) provided valuable insights into this issue based on a meta-analysis of 66 BVIT studies. This paper extends Kohli and Devaraj by examining the influences on BVIT through a meta-analysis of 303 studies published between 1990 and 2013. We found that BVIT increases when the study does not consider IT investment, does not use profitability measure of value, and employs primary data sources, fewer IT-related antecedents, and larger sample size. Considerations of IT alignment, IT adoption and use, and interorganizational IT strengthen the relationship between IT investment on BVIT, whereas the focus on environmental theories dampens the same relationship. However, the use of productivity measures of value, the number of dependent variables, the economic region, the consideration of IT assets and IT infrastructure or capability, and the consideration of IT sophistication do not affect BVIT. Finally, BVIT increases over time with IT progress. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.