Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Coronary Artery Disease in Nondiabetic Hemodialysis Patients: A Matched Case-Control Study

Background/Aims. The aim of this matched case-control study was to evaluate the determinants of coronary artery disease (CAD) other than conventional risk factors in nondiabetic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods. Among 312 consecutive patients on regular HD, 26 nondiabetic patients with angiographically defined coronary artery disease (20 men, 6 women; mean age 57.0 ± 13 years) constituted the case group (group 1). A subject group of the same gender, smoking status, and hypertension with similar ages and body mass indexes who had normal electrocardiography and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy served as controls (20 men, 6 women; mean age 54.1±12 years, group 2). Demographics, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), erythrocytes dimentation rate (ESR), hematocrit-corrected ESR, beta-2 microglobulin, cardiac troponin I, parathyroid hormone, albumin, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), Ca × P, and lipid profiles were compared between the groups. Results. Patients in group 1 had higher hs-CRP and troponin I (18.0±12 vs. 7.2±5 mg/L, p < 0.001; 0.36±0.16 vs. 0.22±0.05 ng/mL, p < 0.001, respectively) and lower HDL cholesterol levels than group 2 (37.0±10mg/dL vs. 46.3±17mg/dL, p = 0.02). Backwards stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that high hs-CRP and troponin I levels (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01) and low HDL cholesterol levels (p = 0.02) were independently related with CAD. Conclusion. According to these results, in nondiabetic patients on regular hemodialysis, high hs-CRP, troponin I levels and low HDL-cholesterol were the determinants of CAD.
The Long‐Term Impacts of the Cultural Revolution: A Micro‐Analysis

This paper provides a micro‐analysis of the long‐term impacts of a particular historical event: the Cultural Revolution in urban labor market of China. Using the life‐cycle models and synthetic cohort approach, I demonstrate that the Cultural Revolution produced a lasting negative effect on permanent income for the subjected birth cohorts and this effect was amplified from the middle 1990s to the early 2000s as the Chinese market economy increasingly evolved. Channels in the mechanism of the impact includes productivity determinants (educational attainment, work experience, and health), marriage, and personality. The conclusions are robust to a variety of controls for family background as well as contamination factors, examinations with various control groups, contemporaneous comparisons, and placebo tests.
Assessing the effect of patterns of cocaine and alcohol use on the risk of adverse acute cocaine intoxication.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Although, in the laboratory, most acute adverse effects of cocaine are dose-dependent and alcohol potentiates some of these effects, there are few observational studies, and scarce awareness that the risk of acute cocaine intoxication (ACI) can increase as the amounts of cocaine and alcohol consumed increase. Our objectives were to assess if the risk of ACI increases with the level cocaine use, both in chronic and binge use; and also to determine whether it increases when a cocaine binge is combined with binge drinking or with regular excessive drinking. DESIGN AND METHODS Hypotheses were evaluated using logistic regression and case-crossover analyses in a sample of 720 young regular cocaine users who did not regularly use heroin, recruited at drug scenes in 2004-2006. All data on ACI, predictor and confounding variables were obtained through a computer-assisted personal interview. RESULTS The annual prevalence of ACI was 21%. In the last year 10.3% of the participants reported cocaine binges (≥ 0.5 g in 4 h). ACI risk increased considerably in the 4 h following a cocaine binge (odds ratio = 34.6; 95% confidence interval 11.5-170.8). Also, it increased with increases in the average level of cocaine used over a long period and when users regularly drank excessively. Finally, the results suggest that the high risk of ACI associated with cocaine binge may increase even more when combined with binge drinking. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Awareness of the dose-dependent effect of cocaine on ACI risk, as well as the possible synergistic effect of alcohol, ought to be incorporated into preventive and care strategies.
The Influence of Group Diversity on Intergroup Bias Following Recategorization

Although recategorization in laboratory studies of nominal groups has received considerable support, some researchers have criticized such efforts as impossible when demographic diversity is the source of group identification. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of diversity on intergroup bias among groups where recategorization efforts had occurred. The author gathered data from 162 undergraduate students (as either 54 3-participant groups or 27 6-participant groups; 107 men and 55 women). Results of moderated regression analysis indicated that, although diversity did not influence participants' perceptions of the aggregate as a single group, diversity did influence intergroup bias. Specifically, bias was highest when more homogeneous groups merged with more diverse groups. The author discussed results in terms of theoretical contributions and implications for managing diversity.
Morphometric Analysis of Collagen: a Comparative Study in Cow and Pig Skins

The detailed ultrastructure of skin has not yet been determined, partly because of the problems involved in quantifying age variation in the collagen fibril diameter distribution with increasing depth below the epidermis and in quantifying the variations that occur with anatomical site. In the present study, we investigated the correlation between subfibrillar architecture and collagen fibril diameter in dermis samples taken from three different regions of the skin of clinically normal adult animals. However, further studies are needed to determine the correlation between the age variation in collagen fibril diameters and the subfibrillar architecture.
Opsin transcripts of predatory diving beetles: a comparison of surface and subterranean photic niches

The regressive evolution of eyes has long intrigued biologists yet the genetic underpinnings remain opaque. A system of discrete aquifers in arid Australia provides a powerful comparative means to explore trait regression at the genomic level. Multiple surface ancestors from two tribes of diving beetles (Dytiscidae) repeatedly invaded these calcrete aquifers and convergently evolved eye-less phenotypes. We use this system to assess transcription of opsin photoreceptor genes among the transcriptomes of two surface and three subterranean dytiscid species and test whether these genes have evolved under neutral predictions. Transcripts for UV, long-wavelength and ciliary-type opsins were identified from the surface beetle transcriptomes. Two subterranean beetles showed parallel loss of all opsin transcription, as expected under ‘neutral’ regressive evolution. The third species Limbodessus palmulaoides retained transcription of a long-wavelength opsin (lwop) orthologue, albeit in an aphotic environment. Tests of selection on lwop indicated no significant differences between transcripts derived from surface and subterranean habitats, with strong evidence for purifying selection acting on L. palmulaoides lwop. Retention of sequence integrity and the lack of evidence for neutral evolution raise the question of whether we have identified a novel pleiotropic role for lwop, or an incipient phase of pseudogene development.
Associations of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Objective. To study whether the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism or serum homocysteine concentration is associated with carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT), carotid artery compliance (CAC) or brachial artery flow mediated dilatation (FMD) in a healthy Finnish adult population. Methods. Cross‐sectional data obtained in 2001 for the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study were used. Carotid artery IMT, CAC and brachial FMD were measured by ultrasound and serum homocysteine concentrations using a commercial immunoassay kit. We studied 1,440 subjects (aged 24–39 years). Genotyping was performed using the 5′ nuclease TaqMan assay. Results. Homocysteine values differed between genotypes in women and men (ANOVA, p<0.001 for both sex groups): the genotype raised values in the order of CC, CT, TT. There was a significant difference in CAC values between the MTHFR genotypes in men (ANOVA, p = 0.008), and the CC genotype had the lowest values. In multivariate linear regression analysis adjusted for other major coronary risk factors (e.g. age, smoking, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, C‐reactive protein), the association remained significant (R2 = 25.8 %, beta = 0.091; p = 0.02). Homocysteine level was directly associated with CAC in the whole population (R2 = 18.0 %, beta = 0.012; p = 0.014) and in women (R2 = 9.3%, beta = 0.02; p = 0.013), but not in men (R2 = 15.2 %, beta = 0.004; p = 0.444). We found no association between homocysteine level or the MTHFR polymorphism and carotid IMT or brachial artery FMD. Conclusions. The findings suggest that the MTHFR polymorphism does not influence IMT or FMD, but that the T allele may have an effect on CAC in men.
The African, Caribbean and European (ACE) Pathways to Care study: a qualitative exploration of similarities and differences between African-origin, Caribbean-origin and European-origin groups in pathways to care for psychosis

Objectives This paper reports on a qualitative exploration of the reasons for differences in pathways to care and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) in the African, Caribbean and European (ACE) Pathways to Care study from the perspective of respondents to the study and their families. Setting Ontario, Canada. Participants Thirty-four participants in total. Twenty-five young people who had experienced a first episode of psychosis and nine family members. Participants were part of the ACE Pathways to Care study. Design We implemented six focus groups. Furthermore, we implemented four in-depth interviews with two African-origin young women, one Caribbean-origin woman, and one European-origin woman with lived experience of psychosis. Results Factors that influenced help-seeking delays across the three groups were: personal awareness of symptoms, family members’ knowledge of psychotic symptoms and knowledge of mental health services. Youth and their family members described how stigma played a key role in pathways to care by stopping them from asking for help. The way in which stigma operated on the three groups’ members, from feeling ashamed to feeling guilty for their mental illnesses, helped to explain differences in DUP between the groups. Guilt feelings emerged as a prominent theme among members from the African and Caribbean groups and it was not discussed in the European focus group. Delay in entering into first-episode psychosis programmes was also influenced by the stigma perceived by young people in healthcare settings. This had an impact on the therapeutic relationships, disclosure of symptoms and overall trust in the healthcare system. Conclusions The findings of this paper suggest that stigma, especially internalised stigma, may operate in different ways in European-origin, African-origin and Caribbean-origin groups. These findings could inform the development of more equitable services for people in early stages of psychosis.
Alveolar and bronchial nitric oxide output in healthy children

Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) concentration is a marker of pulmonary inflammation. It is usually measured at a single exhalation flow rate. However, measuring exhaled NO at multiple flow rates allows assessment of the flow‐independent NO parameters: alveolar NO concentration, bronchial NO flux, bronchial wall NO concentration, and bronchial diffusing capacity of NO. Our aim was to determine the flow‐independent NO parameters in healthy schoolchildren and to compare two different mathematical approaches. Exhaled NO was measured at four flow rates (10, 50, 100, and 200 ml/sec) in 253 schoolchildren (7–13 years old). Flow‐independent NO parameters were calculated with linear method (flows ≥50 ml/sec) and non‐linear method (all flows). Sixty‐six children (32 boys and 34 girls) with normal spirometry and no history or present symptoms of asthma, allergy, atopy or other diseases were included in the analysis. Median bronchial NO flux was 0.4 nl/sec (mean ± SD: 0.5 ± 0.3 nl/sec) and median alveolar NO concentration was 1.9 ppb (2.0 ± 0.8 ppb) with the linear method. Bronchial NO flux correlated positively with height (r = 0.423; P < 0.001), FEV1 (r = 0.358; P = 0.003), and FVC (r = 0.359; P = 0.003). With the non‐linear method, median bronchial wall NO concentration was 49.6 ppb (68.0 ± 53.3 ppb) and bronchial diffusing capacity of NO was 10.0 pl/sec/ppb (11.8 ± 7.5 pl/sec/ppb). The non‐linear method gave lower alveolar NO concentration (1.4 [1.5 ± 0.7] ppb, P < 0.001) and higher bronchial NO flux (0.5 [0.6 ± 0.3] nl/sec, P < 0.001) than the linear method, but the results were highly correlated between the two methods (r = 0.854 and r = 0.971, P < 0.001). In conclusion, the multiple flow rate method is feasible in children but different mathematical methods give slightly different results. Reference values in healthy children are of value when applying bronchial and alveolar NO parameters in the diagnostics and follow‐up of inflammatory lung diseases. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1242–1248. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Difficultés psychologiques périnatales : facteurs de risque et développement d’un modèle multifactoriel en population générale. Résultats de l’Etude Longitudinale Française depuis l’Enfance (ELFE)

Les difficultes psychologiques pouvant apparaitre chez les meres au cours de la periodeperinatale se revelent frequentes et potentiellement graves pour la mere et l’enfant. Ces troublessemblent etre insuffisamment reperes et l’acces aux soins psychiques des femmes en periodeperinatale reste un enjeu de sante publique majeur. Peu de travaux se sont interesses auxinterrelations et processus sous jacents entre des facteurs de risque de survenue de symptomesdepressifs postnataux. L’objectif principal de notre travail etait d’etudier l’impact de diversfacteurs de risque de survenue de difficultes psychologiques au cours de la grossesse et/ou lepostpartum, au sein d’un vaste echantillon de meres en population generale. Le second objectifetait de developper un « modele multifactoriel de la symptomatologie depressive postnatale »,base sur les travaux theoriques de Milgrom, Martin & Negri (1999). Deux etudes ont ete menees a partir des donnees de la cohorte ELFE (Etude LongitudinaleFrancaise depuis l’Enfance). La premiere etude (n=15 143) a permis de mettre en evidence quedes vulnerabilites socioeconomiques et un ensemble de caracteristiques de la grossesse,notamment celles concernant le suivi prenatal et les complications obstetricales, etaientindependamment associees a la presence de difficultes psychologiques prenatales. Environ 13%des femmes declaraient avoir presente de telles difficultes et un quart d’entre elles avaientconsulte un specialiste de la sante mentale. Le jeune âge, un niveau educatif intermediaire et etrenee a l’etranger etaient independamment associes a une plus faible probabilite d’acceder a dessoins de sante mentale. La seconde etude (n=11 643) a permis le developpement d’un modelemultifactoriel de la symptomatologie depressive maternelle postnatale. Les resultats montrent uneffet direct du soutien antenatal de la part du conjoint et des capacites d’autoregulation du bebesur l’intensite de la symptomatologie depressive postnatale. Des effets indirects du niveausocioeconomique et de la comprehension maternelle des pleurs du bebe medies respectivementpar le soutien antenatal et les capacites d’autoregulation du bebe sont demontres.En depit des strategies de sante publique visant a promouvoir un depistage organise et desstrategies de prevention des vulnerabilites psychosociales perinatales, le manque d’acces auxsoins psychiques au cours de la periode perinatale demeure un enjeu majeur de sante publique.Notre travail confirme l’hypothese que les symptomes depressifs postnataux ont des originesmultifactorielles, qui evoluent au sein d’un modele interactif complexe. Le soutien antenatal de lapart du conjoint et les caracteristiques liees au bebe semblent avoir une place centrale.
A Bayesian Approach to Modeling Time-Varying Cointegration and Cointegrating Rank

A multivariate model that allows for both a time-varying cointegrating matrix and time-varying cointegrating rank is presented. The model addresses the issue that, in real data, the validity of a constant cointegrating relationship may be questionable. The model nests the submodels implied by alternative cointegrating matrix ranks and allows for transitions between stationarity and nonstationarity, and cointegrating and noncointegrating relationships in accordance with the observed behavior of the data. A Bayesian test of cointegration is also developed. The model is used to assess the validity of the Fisher effect and is also applied to equity market data.
The Electoral Allure of Direct Democracy: The Effect of Initiative Salience on Voting, 1990-96

Do salient ballot initiatives stimulate voting? Recent studies have shown that initiatives increase voter turnout, but some methodological concerns still linger. These studies have either relied solely on aggregate data to make inferences about individual-level behavior or used a flawed measure of initiative salience. Using individual-level data from the National Election Studies, I find that ballot question salience indeed stimulated voting in the midterm elections of 1990 and 1994. In an election with moderately salient ballot questions, a person's likelihood of voting can increase by as much as 30 percent in a midterm election. On the other hand, consistent with most prior research, I find no statistically significant relationship between ballot question salience and voting in presidential elections.
[Blood glucose profile in children and adolescents in Beijing area].

OBJECTIVE There are scant data about normal reference values of blood glucose (BG) in children. This study was conducted to learn the BG profile of children and adolescents in Beijing area. METHOD The population for survey was selected as a stratified cluster sample from 8 urban and 10 rural areas in Beijing. Fasting capillary blood glucose (FCBG) was determined in 19,593 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years in 4 urban and 3 rural areas using haemosaccharometer model II [Roche Diagnostic, (Shanghai) Ltd]. RESULTS There were 1 9112 (97.5%) individuals with complete records, the mean age was 12.1 +/- 3.3 years (ranged from 6 to 18.9 years); 9514 (49.8%) were boys, 9598 (50.2%) were girls, 9792 were (51.2%) from urban areas and 9320 (48.8%) from rural areas. The average level of FCBG in boys was higher than that in girls (4.7 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.5 +/- 0.5, u = 28.0, P < 0.01). Among urban children, the trend of variation of FCBG was similar between boys and girls, the levels of FCBG increased with age, the peak of FCBG was reached at 12-13 years in urban girls, and from the age of 15 years, the level of FCBG declined. In boys, the FCBG level increased slowly from 13 years of age, there was no significant variation until 17 years old, and declined at the age of 18. Among suburban children, the trend of variation of FCBG was similar between boys and girls, both of them had two peaks, from 6 to 11 years old, FCBG of both boys and girls increased with age, and both reached the first peak at the age of 11 years. While at 13 years of age, there was an obvious drop in FCBG level. From 14 years of age on, there was a rise of FCBG in both boys and girls, and the second peak of FCBG was reached at 15 and 16 years of age in girls and boys respectively. The FCBG level of urban children was higher than that of rural children (4.7 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.6 +/- 0.5, u = 13.8, P < 0.01). The level of FCBG in overweight and obese children was higher than that of normal children. More boys, more obese and more urban children had abnormal FCBG. CONCLUSIONS The blood glucose level of children was associated with age, gender, obesity and district.
Political Career Building and the Electoral Effect of Incumbency: Evidence from Brazil

In a political environment wherein the development of a political career might encompass frequent transitions between offices, it is usually unclear how winning a given position may ultimately affect subsequent electoral performances and career formation. We exploit regression discontinuity designs in Brazilian elections to estimate the electoral effect derived by incumbents of several positions both when running for reelection to the same held position, and in the event of attempting to attain another elective office. We document that the incumbency of legislative offices at the state and federal levels is associated with a strong positive effect on the probability of winning the same position in the following election, whereas officeholders in diverse branches of local governments do not appear to electorally benefit from their incumbency status and may even be harmed by it when displaying low political experience. Moreover, we find that state deputies also receive an incumbency advantage when running for the position of federal deputy, and that such a cross-office effect, along with all incumbency effects on winning the same position, is not due to selection into candidacy. Aside from the transition from state deputy to federal deputy, however, incumbents of any position tend to be less likely than their defeated counterparts to run for, and win, other positions.
Dose-related effects of dexmedetomidine on immunomodulation and mortality to septic shock in rats.

BACKGROUND Dexmedetomidine has already been used in septic patients as a new sedative agent, few studies have examined its effects on immunomodulation. Therefore, the authors have designed a controlled experimental study to characterize the immunomodulation effects of dexmedetomidine in the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model in rats. METHODS After CLP, 48 Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups: (1) CLP group; (2) small-dose treatment group (2.5 μg·kg-1·h-1); (3) medium-dose treatment group (5.0 μg·kg-1· h-1); and (4) large-dose treatment group (10.0 μg·kg-1·h-1). HLA-DR and plasma cytokine (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α) levels were measured, and the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), arterial blood gases, lactate concentrations and mortality were also documented. RESULTS The HLA-DR level, inflammatory mediator levels, MAP and HR had no obvious changes among Dexmedetomidine treatment groups (DEX groups). Compared with the CLP group, the DEX groups exhibited decreased HLA-DR levels (Pgroup=0.0202) and increased IL-6 production, which was increased at 3 h (P= 0.0113) and was then attenuated at 5 h; additionally, the DEX groups exhibited decreased HR (P<0.001) while maintaining MAP (Pgroup=0.1238), and remarkably improving lactate (P<0.0001). All of these factors led to a significant decrease in the mortality, with observed rates of 91.7%, 66.7%, 25% and 18% for the CLP, DEX2.5, DEX5.0, DEX10.0 groups, respectively. CONCLUSION Dexmedetomidine treatment in the setting of a CLP sepsis rat model has partially induced immunomodulation that was initiated within 5 h, causing a decreased HR while maintaining MAP, remarkably improving metabolic acidosis and improving mortality dose-dependently.