Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A pilot study to test the efficacy of oral administration of interferon-alpha lozenges to patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

BACKGROUND Complications from Sjögren's syndrome-induced xerostomia may cause a significant disruption in daily routines such as speech and eating habits. In addition, the reduction in salivary output may lead to increased incidence of caries, oral ulcers, sialadenitis, periodontal problems, and Candida infections. Interferon-alpha has been suggested as an effective drug therapy to increase salivary output. OBJECTIVE The objective was to test the efficacy of interferon-alpha lozenges in relieving the symptoms of dry mouth and dry eyes when administered orally to patients with Sjögren's syndrome in double-blind placebo-controlled and open-label trials. STUDY DESIGN Twelve patients with a diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome were provided an Institutional Review Board-approved, written informed-consent form. During the double-blind placebo-controlled study they were randomized to receive 150 IU of interferon-alpha (8 patients) or placebo (4 patients) for 24 weeks with 6-week reevaluations. Five patients who received interferon-alpha in the double-blind placebo-controlled trial were treated in an open-label study for another 24 weeks. Whole saliva was measured during each visit, and symptoms were assessed by questionnaires and visual analog scales. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to detect significant changes for each variable. RESULTS The results indicated that, by the end of 24 weeks, patients who received interferon-alpha had a statistically significant improvement in unstimulated salivary flow rate (P < .05), and statistically significant changes were observed in the median ocular dryness visual analog scale (P < .05) and oral dryness visual analog scale (P < .05). No significant changes were observed among the placebo patients. By the end of 48 weeks, medicated patients had better results than they had at the end of the double-blind placebo-controlled study and showed improvements in whole stimulated salivary flow rate, conditions of throat, and swallowing dry food. CONCLUSION Oral administration of 150 IU interferon-alpha 3 times a day for the patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome improved saliva production, relieved symptoms of xerostomia and xerophthalmia, and was well tolerated by the patients.
[Response to the treatment of brucellosis among children. Evaluation with Huddleson reaction and PCR].

INTRODUCTION Brucellosis poses a significant public health problem and requires meticulous diagnosis; the outcome has frequent relapses even when the treatment is appropriate. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the response to the treatment in children with brucellosis by means of Huddleson seroaglutination test and PCR. METHODS Using a prospective design, a cohort of children with brucellosis was followed up by carrying out Huddleson seroaglutination test of and PCR for Brucella at 6, 12 and 24 weeks. Most of children were treated with trimetoprim + sulfametoxazole and rifampicine. The progress towards therapeutic failure or relapse was evaluated. RESULTS Twenty-three children fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The median age was 4.7 years; 61 % had consumed potentially infected milk or dairy products. The duration of symptoms ranged from 7 days to 1 year. Brucella sp. was isolated in blood culture in two of 21 children and Brucella melitensis in myeloculture in one of four children. 69 % had positive Huddleson serological test from 1:160 to >1:12000. PCR tested positive in 100% of children when entering to the study. Six weeks after beginning treatment 17% of children had therapeutic failure. At 12 weeks, three children (13 %) persisted with positive PCR and their antimicrobial treatment was modified. At 24 weeks, five children (21.7 %) presented relapse. A child persisted positive in spite of modifying the antimicrobial scheme. The agreement between the two tests was low in the three follow-up periods (k = 0.08, k = 0.12 and k = 0.28 respectively). CONCLUSIONS A 6-week treatment cannot be enough to eliminate Brucella. PCR test can be used to early identify relapses.
Essays on intangible capital and economic development

This thesis consists of six chapters that examine issues on intangible capital and economic development. Chapter 1 assesses the role of intangible capital in sectoral economic growth in China based on data from Input-Output Tables, and identifies the type of disaggregated intangible capital that has the largest effect on economic growth in each sector group. Chapter 2 studies the determinants of intangible investment in Chinese firms as well as the relationship between firm-level productivity and various types of intangible investment, and finds that firm size, human capital and institutional quality as well as market competition all play important roles in determining firms’ intangible investment. Chapter 3 investigates the role of organization capital in the production of Chinese listed firms, compares the contributions of organization capital to firms’ financial performance between listed state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and non-SOEs and finds that SOEs invest more in organization capital but have lower returns from the investment. Chapter 4 analyses the effect of intangible capital in reducing sectoral energy intensity as well as how this effect varies across sectors and economies of different development stages, which provides some useful policy implications. Chapter 5 compares the changing output elasticity as well as heterogeneity in the productivity spillover effect of intangible capital across various sectors and economy of different income level, and finds some interesting patterns. Chapter 6, which is the last chapter, revisits the lost decades of the Japanese economy based on an extended neoclassical growth model with intangible investment incorporated and finds that unmeasured intangible investment actually plays an important role in explaining the business cycles during the Japanese lost decades. Table of
Screening for social anxiety disorder with the self‐report version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale

Objective: This study examined whether the self‐report version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS‐SR) could accurately identify individuals with social anxiety disorder and individuals with the generalized subtype of social anxiety disorder. Furthermore, the study sought to determine the optimal cutoffs for the LSAS‐SR for identifying patients with social anxiety disorder and its generalized subtype. Methods: Two hundred and ninety‐one patients with clinician‐assessed social anxiety disorder (240 with generalized social anxiety disorder) and 53 control participants who were free from current Axis‐1 disorders completed the LSAS‐SR. Results: Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses revealed that the LSAS‐SR performed well in identifying participants with social anxiety disorder and generalized social anxiety disorder. Consistent with Mennin et al.'s [2002: J Anxiety Disord 16:661–673] research on the clinician‐administered version of the LSAS, cutoffs of 30 and 60 on the LSAS‐SR provided the best balance of sensitivity and specificity for classifying participants with social anxiety and generalized social anxiety disorder, respectively. Conclusions: The LSAS‐SR may be an accurate and cost‐effective way to identify and subtype patients with social anxiety disorder, which could help increase the percentage of people who receive appropriate treatment for this debilitating disorder. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhalation of PM2.5 does not modulate host defense or immune parameters in blood or lung of normal human subjects.

We tested the hypothesis that exposure of healthy volunteers to concentrated ambient air particles (CAPS) between 0.1 and 2.5 microm in diameter is associated with modulation of human alveolar macrophage (AM) function, cytokine production, and immune phenotype in both blood and lung. Thirty-eight volunteers were exposed to either filtered air or CAPS from the immediate environment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency human studies facility in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. Particle concentrations in the chamber during the exposures ranged from 23.1 to 311.1 microg/m3. No symptoms were noted by volunteers after the exposure. Eighteen hours after exposure, analysis of cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) showed a mild increase in neutrophils in both the bronchial (8.4 +/- 2%) and alveolar fractions (4.2 +/- 1.7%) in subjects exposed to the highest concentration of CAPS compared to neutrophils in the fluids of those exposed to filtered air (bronchial fraction 2.7 +/- 0.6%; alveolar fraction 0.8 +/- 0.3%). There was no change in the percentage of lymphocytes or AMs recovered in the lavage after inhalation of the highest particle levels (mean 207 microg/m3). There was also no change in the proportion of lymphocytes in the BAL expressing CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, nor activation markers CD25 or CD69. Particle inhalation did not affect the expression of CD11b, CD64, CD16, CD14, CD71 on AM, nor was there an effect on phagocytosis or oxidant generation following stimulation with zymosan A. IL-6 and IL-8 levels detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay in the BAL were unrelated to inhaled particle levels. The distribution of lymphocyte subsets in blood obtained 18 hr after exposure to CAPS did not differ from that found before exposure. We conclude that ambient air particles are capable of inducing a mild inflammation in the lower respiratory tract but have no effect on immune phenotype or macrophage function under the conditions tested.
Chronic melatonin treatment prevents age-dependent cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction in senescence-accelerated mice

Heart mitochondria from female senescence-accelerated (SAMP8) and senescence-resistant (SAMR1) mice of 5 or 10 months of age, were studied. Mitochondrial oxidative stress was determined by measuring the levels of lipid peroxidation, glutathione and glutathione disulfide and glutathione peroxidase and reductase activities. Mitochondrial function was assessed by measuring the activity of the respiratory chain complexes and ATP content. The results show that the age-dependent mitochondrial oxidative damage in the heart of SAMP8 mice was accompanied by a reduction in the electron transport chain complex activities and in ATP levels. Chronic melatonin administration between 1 and 10 months of age normalized the redox and the bioenergetic status of the mitochondria and increased ATP levels. The results support the presence of significant mitochondrial oxidative stress in SAM mice at 10 months of age, and they suggest a beneficial effect of chronic pharmacological intervention with melatonin, which reduces the deteriorative and functional oxidative changes in cardiac mitochondria with age.
Synergistic Use of Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) and “Capillary Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)” for High Sensitivity and Fast Assays

Using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on “capillary enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)”, we produced highly sensitive and rapid assays, which are the major attributes for point-of-care applications. First, in order to understand the size effect of AuNPs, AuNPs of varying diameters (5 nm, 10 nm, 15 nm, 20 nm, 30 nm, and 50 nm) conjugated with Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP)-labeled anti-C reactive protein (antiCRP) (AuNP•antiCRP-HRP) were used for well-plate ELISA. AuNP of 10 nm produced the largest optical density, enabling detection of 0.1 ng/mL of CRP with only 30 s of incubation, in contrast to 10 ng/mL for the ELISA run in the absence of AuNP. Then, AuNP of 10 nm conjugated with antiCRP-HRP (AuNP•antiCRP-HRP) was used for “capillary ELISA” to detect as low as 0.1 ng/mL of CRP. Also, kinetic study on both 96-well plates and in a capillary tube using antiCRP-HRP or AuNP•antiCRP-HRP showed a synergistic effect between AuNP and the capillary system, in which the fastest assay was observed from the “AuNP capillary ELISA”, with its maximum absorbance reaching 2.5 min, while the slowest was the typical well-plate ELISA with its maximum absorbance reaching in 13.5 min.
In vivo hip joint contact distribution and bony impingement in normal and dysplastic human hips

Our objectives were to clarify the 3D articular contact areas of the in vivo normal hip joint and acetabular dysplasia during specific positions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), voxel‐based registration, and proximity mapping. Forty‐two normal and 24 dysplastic hips were examined. MRI was performed at four positions: neutral; 45° flexion; 15° extension; and the Patrick position. Femur and pelvis bone models were reconstructed at the neutral position and superimposed over the images of each different position using voxel‐based registration. The inferred cartilage contact and bony impingement were investigated using proximity mapping. The femoral head translated in the anterior or posteroinferior, anterosuperior, and posteroinferior direction from neutral to 45° flexion, 15° extension, and the Patrick position, respectively. Multiple regression analyses showed age, femoral head sphericity, and acetabular sphericity to be associated with higher hip instability. The present technique using subject‐specific models revealed the in vivo hip joint contact area in a population of healthy individuals and dysplastic patients without radioactive exposure. These results can be used for analyzing disease progression in the dysplastic hip and pathogenesis of acetabular labral tear. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:1611–1619, 2013
Femoral Intramedullary Nailing: Comparison of Fracture-Table and Manual Traction A Prospective, Randomized Study

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare manual traction and fracture-table traction for the reduction and nailing of femoral shaft fractures. We evaluated the quality of the reduction, operative time, complications, and functional status of the patient.Methods: Eighty-seven consecutive adult patients with a unilateral fracture of the femoral diaphysis that did not extend into the knee joint or proximal to the lesser trochanter were enrolled in the study. Patients who were transferred to our institution more than forty-eight hours after injury; those with multiple-system injuries, injury to the ipsilateral lower extremity, or pathological fracture; and those who were unable or unwilling to provide consent or to return for follow-up were excluded. Forty-five patients were randomized to manual traction and forty-two, to fracture-table traction; all were treated in the supine position. The number of surgical assistants, operative and fluoroscopy time, complications, functional scores, and other outcomes were recorded.Results: There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to age, gender, Glasgow Coma Score, Injury Severity Score, side or mechanism of injury, fracture type, or time from injury to treatment. Internal malrotation was significantly more common when the fracture table had been used: twelve (29%) of the forty-two femora were internally rotated by >10° compared with three (7%) of the forty-five treated with manual traction (p = 0.007). Total operative time, from the beginning of the patient positioning to the completion of the skin closure, was decreased from a mean of 139 minutes (range, 100 to 212 minutes) when the fracture table was used to a mean of 119 minutes (range, sixty-five to 180 minutes) when manual traction was used (p = 0.033). There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups with regard to the number of assistants per case (mean two; range, zero to three), fluoroscopy time, other complications including femoral shortening or lengthening, or functional status of the patient at one year.Conclusions: Compared with fracture-table traction with the patient in a supine position, manual traction for intramedullary nailing of isolated fractures of the femoral shaft is an effective technique that decreases operative time and improves the quality of the reduction.
Temporal Activation of Ca2+-Calmodulin-sensitive Protein Kinase Type II Is Obligate for Adipogenesis*

Differentiation of 3T3-L1 embryonic fibroblasts to adipocytes in response to induction by dexamethasone and isobutylmethylxanthine is blocked by inhibitors of Ca2+-calmodulin-sensitive protein kinase type II, but not by inhibitors of protein kinase A or protein kinase C. CaM kinase II displays a biphasic increase in autonomous activity, rising after an initial transient peak from 1 to 15 h, declining at 24 h, followed by a sustained rise from 24 to 48 h, which is 2.5-fold greater than basal values at induction of adipogenesis. Adipogenesis was blocked effectively by CaM kinase II inhibitors, either KN-62 or KN-93, if the inhibitors are introduced at 6 h and maintained until 12 h of induction of adipogenesis. Equally effective, however, is inhibition of CaM kinase II activity at 24-48 h after induction, during the later phase of autonomous CaM kinase activity. Inhibition of cultures with KN-62 or KN-93 either for 0 to 6 h or for 12 to 24 h failed to influence adipogenesis. Two temporally-distinct phases of CaM kinase II activation, either 6 to 12 h or 24 to 48 h, if inhibited with either KN-62 or KN-93, blocked the conversion to adipocytes. Thus, a biphasic activation of CaM kinase II is obligate for the progression of the embryonic fibroblasts to adipocytes. Inhibition of either phase of CaM kinase activity blocks adipogenesis and expression of several intermediate early gene products.
Influence of recipient cytoplasm cell stage on transcription in bovine nucleus transfer embryos

Nucleus transfer for the production of multiple embryos derived from a donor embryo relies upon the reprogramming of the donor nucleus so that it behaves similar to a zygotic nucleus. One indication of nucleus reprogramming is the RNA synthetic activity. In normal bovine embryogenesis, the embryo relies upon maternally derived RNA transcripts up to the 8‐cell stage, at which time it begins to transcribe its own RNA.
Angiotensin-(1-7) upregulates (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1) ABCA1 expression through cyclic AMP signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

OBJECTIVES ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) plays a crucial role in reverse cholesterol transport and anti-atherosclerosis. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) could increase the ABCA1 expression. Angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) can protect endothelial cells, inhibit smooth muscle cell growth, ameliorate inflammation and exert anti-atherosclerotic effects. In this study, we attempted to clarify the effect of Ang-(1-7) on expression of ABCA1, and explored the role of cAMP in the regulation of ABCA1 in RAW 264.7 macrophages. MATERIALS AND METHODS RAW 264.7 macrophages were cultured. Then the macro-phages were incubated with different concentration Ang-(1-7) or 10 mM MDL respectively, or 10 mM adenylate cyclase inhibitor MDL-12330A (MDL) plus 1000 nM Ang-(1-7) for 24 h. The expression of ABCA1 was examined by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot analyses. cAMP expression was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay. Cellar cholesterol efflux from RAW 264.7 macrophages was analyzed using liquid scintillation counting assays. The cellular total cholesterol and free cholesterol were performed to determine by High Performance Liquid Chromatography assays. RESULTS Our results showed that Ang-(1-7) increased ABCA1 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner. Consequently, the increase in cholesterol efflux was consistent with an ABCA1 expression increase. The cAMP expression was up-regulated by Ang-(1-7). When being treated with MDL and Ang-(1-7), the ABCA1 expression, cellular cholesterol efflux and cholesterol content were partially reversed by MDL. CONCLUSIONS Ang-(1-7) could increase ABCA1 expression partially due to the cAMP pathway.
Self‐Reported Goals of Older Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objectives: New diabetes mellitus guidelines from the American Geriatrics Society promote the individualization of treatment goals and plans for patients aged 65 and older. Communicating with older patients about such complex medical decisions presents new challenges for providers. The self‐reported healthcare goals, factors influencing these goals, and self‐care practices of older patients with diabetes mellitus were explored.
Exploring tourists’ soundscape emotion and its impact on sustainable tourism development

ABSTRACT Despite the long-standing appeal for tourism researchers to pay more attention to the effects of soundscape, there remains a serious lack of in-depth studies on the topic. Drawing on moderating effects of tourists’ soundscape emotion, this study examines certain determinants of tourists’ pro-environmental behaviour. Kulangsu was used as a source of empirical data for its abundant soundscape resources. The results revealed the explicit connections of human-environmental relationships to pro-environmental behaviour. All the paths are more significant when grouped with positive soundscape emotions than with their negative counterparts. This demonstrates the importance of soundscape to promote sustainable development in tourist destinations.
Clinical and Radiological Features of Rotavirus Cerebellitis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neurological manifestations, such as benign convulsions and encephalitis/encephalopathy have been reported in patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis. However, cerebellitis has not attracted much attention. The purpose of this study was to identify and report the clinical and radiologic features of rotavirus cerebellitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis exhibiting cerebellar lesions on MR imaging were collected from multiple centers in Japan. Their clinical, laboratory, and radiologic data were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: A diagnosis of acute cerebellitis concurrent with encephalitis was made for 11 of 13 patients identified. Two patients who were diagnosed as having injury due to hypovolemic shock were excluded from the study. All 11 patients with acute cerebellitis had disorders of consciousness with onset on days 2 to 4, followed by mutism in 10 patients. Other cerebellar symptoms included dysarthria following the mutism, hypotonia, ataxia, tremor, nystagmus, and dysmetria. MR imaging lesions in the vermis or cerebellar cortex were seen at some point (day 5 to 1 year) in 10 patients. A reversible splenial lesion (3 isolated and 3 with concurrent cerebellar lesions) was found in 6 patients scanned between days 4 and 6. Transient lesions in the cerebellar white matter/nuclei manifesting reduced diffusion were seen in 6 patients during days 5 through 7. The final MR imaging performed after 1 month showed cerebellar atrophy in 10 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The 11 patients with rotavirus cerebellitis exhibited nearly identical clinical and MR imaging features. Involvement of the cerebellar white matter/nuclei may be associated with the mutism. An isolated splenial lesion with homogeneously reduced diffusion is not always a benign sign indicative of complete clinical and radiologic recovery in patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis.