Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Present status of outcome prediction of invasive coronary treatment by using genetic markers

A growing number of studies suggest that the outcome after invasive coronary treatment may be in part genetically determined. Here, we review the present status of outcome prediction of invasive coronary treatments by using genetic markers. Although some studies found an association between one or another genetic marker with one or another clinical endpoint, many other studies found no such relations; to date, none of the genetic markers that have been investigated in association studies are used in routine clinical practice to prospectively assess the prognosis following invasive coronary treatment or to decide upon therapeutic strategies. Many associations between genetic markers and certain clinical endpoints were initially reported in small studies but could not be confirmed in larger ones. Some of these discrepancies may be explained by publication bias. Some genetic variants may have true effects on clinical endpoints, which, albeit biologically interesting, do not bear much clinical relevance. On the other hand, many—if not most—studies that have been published to date are more or less grossly underpowered and very rarely report on the results of an a priori power analysis. Thus, there is still a need for further high‐quality studies designed to investigate the specific contribution of genetic factors to the outcome after invasive coronary interventions. Hum Mutat 27(4), 307–322, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Complex HBV populations with mutations in core promoter, C gene, and pre‐S region are associated with development of cirrhosis in long‐term renal transplant recipients

Long‐term immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection often develop liver cirrhosis (LC) and end‐stage liver disease (ESLD). This study investigated accumulation and persistence of specific HBV mutants in relation to the clinical course in these patients (n = 38; mean follow‐up, 3.5 years). HBV was analyzed longitudinally via length polymorphism of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragments (median, 6.5 serum samples per patient) as well as by cloning and partial sequencing of 346 full‐length HBV genomes. Fourteen patients (group 1) developed LC or died from ESLD, whereas 24 patients (group 2) showed no evidence of LC during follow‐up. Development of LC and ESLD was associated with persistence of HBV mutant populations characterized by deletions/insertions in core promoter plus deletions in the C gene and/or deletions in the pre‐S region (86% of group 1 vs. 17% of group 2; P < .0001). HBV without these mutations or with core promoter mutations alone were predominantly found in group 2 (14% of group 1 vs. 75% of group 2). In patients infected with core promoter mutants, the additional appearance and persistence of deletions in the C gene and/or the pre‐S region were accompanied or followed by development of LC and ESLD. The mutations were distributed on individual genomes in various combinations, leading to a high complexity of the virus population. In conclusion, these data suggest that accumulation and persistence of specific HBV populations characterized by mutations in 3 subgenomic regions play a role in pathogenesis of LC and ESLD in long‐term renal transplant recipients.
The Power of Citizen-Group Public-Policy Advertising

ABSTRACT Issue advertisements are advertisements designed to change public opinion about a social issue rather than advocate or oppose a candidate or ballot question or sell a product or service. What effect do these advertisements have on perceived importance of the advertised issue and attitudes and knowledge about the featured policy? Results from an online experiment studying the effect of online issue advertisements suggest that issue advertisements can increase the salience of and knowledge about an issue. Issue advertisements can also persuade about the merits of a policy but only among individuals without attachments to major political parties.
CgII cleaves DNA using a mechanism distinct from other ATP-dependent restriction endonucleases

Abstract The restriction endonuclease CglI from Corynebacterium glutamicum recognizes an asymmetric 5′-GCCGC-3′ site and cleaves the DNA 7 and 6/7 nucleotides downstream on the top and bottom DNA strands, respectively, in an NTP-hydrolysis dependent reaction. CglI is composed of two different proteins: an endonuclease (R.CglI) and a DEAD-family helicase-like ATPase (H.CglI). These subunits form a heterotetrameric complex with R2H2 stoichiometry. However, the R2H2·CglI complex has only one nuclease active site sufficient to cut one DNA strand suggesting that two complexes are required to introduce a double strand break. Here, we report studies to evaluate the DNA cleavage mechanism of CglI. Using one- and two-site circular DNA substrates we show that CglI does not require two sites on the same DNA for optimal catalytic activity. However, one-site linear DNA is a poor substrate, supporting a mechanism where CglI complexes must communicate along the one-dimensional DNA contour before cleavage is activated. Based on experimental data, we propose that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis by CglI produces translocation on DNA preferentially in a downstream direction from the target, although upstream translocation is also possible. Our results are consistent with a mechanism of CglI action that is distinct from that of other ATP-dependent restriction-modification enzymes.
An Empirical Analysis of On-Demand Ride Sharing and Traffic Congestion

Sharing economy, which leverages information technology to re-distribute unused or underutilized assets to people who are willing to pay for the services, has received tremendous attention in the last few years. Its creative business model has disrupted many traditional industries (e.g., transportation, hotel) by fundamentally changing the mechanism to facilitate the matching of demand with supply in real time. In this research, we investigate how Uber, a peer-to-peer mobile ride-sharing platform, affects traffic congestion in the urban areas of the United States. Combining data from Uber and the Urban Mobility Report, we empirically examine whether and how the entry of Uber car services affect traffic congestion using a difference-in-difference framework. Findings from this research provide evidence on the potential effect of ride sharing services in the transportation industry, contributing to the understanding of the sharing economy and government policy decisions.
MICROBIAL ADHESION OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM PARVUM SPOROZOITES: PURIFICATION OF AN INHIBITORY LIPID FROM BOVINE MUCOSA

Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan pathogen of humans and livestock worldwide. Its ability to infect a wide range of species raises questions as to the involvement of a specific host cell receptor for parasite–host recognition. To investigate the mechanism of parasite–host cell recognition, we have developed an in vitro cell suspension binding assay to investigate adhesion of C. parvum sporozoites to host cells. Morphologic features of binding events observed with this assay were identical to those described in natural infections. Glycoconjugates, Madin Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cell fractions, and plasma membrane vesicles (PMVs) were screened for their ability to block binding of sporozoites to MDBK cells. Mucins, MDBK cell fractions, and PMVs exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of sporozoite binding. The major inhibitory fraction from MDBK cells was found to be insoluble in aqueous medium, nonsaponifiable, and lacking carbohydrate moieties, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Its inhibitory effect was resistant to heat, protease digestion, and glycosidase treatment, suggesting that the inhibitory activity is a lipid or a lipid-like component. The inhibitory activity was purified from MDBK cells, and in larger amounts from bovine small intestinal mucosa, by organic solvent extraction, semipreparative high-pressure liquid chromatography, and preparative high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Biochemical analyses, thin-layer chromatography staining techniques, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis were used to partially characterize the purified lipid. These results indicate that a host intestinal lipid(s) or a lipid-like component(s) may play an important role in the early stages of host cell invasion by C. parvum.
How Does a City Benefit from Culture? Evidence from Milan

Cultural amenities are the expression of a cultural environment, given by a combination of aesthetics factors, styles, rhythms, behaviours, which contribute to make vibrant and more enjoyable a neighbourhood. Within the theoretical framework of the hedonic approach, we propose an empirical strategy to capture the multiple effects of cultural amenities. The results are used to determine whether cultural amenities are optimally provided by the municipality of Milan. It turns out that government should devote far more resources to culture.
Differential inhibition of epidermal growth factor signaling pathways in rat hepatocytes by long-term ethanol treatment.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Long-term ethanol intake suppresses liver regeneration in vivo and ethanol interferes with epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced DNA synthesis in vitro. Therefore, the effects of long-term ethanol treatment on EGF-activated signaling reactions in rat hepatocytes were investigated. METHODS Hepatocytes from long-term ethanol-fed rats and pair-fed controls were stimulated with EGF (0.5-20 nmol/L) for 15-120 seconds. Tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF receptor (EGFR), Shc, and phospholipase-C gamma1 (PLC gamma), and growth factor receptor binding protein 2 (Grb2) coprecipitation with EGFR and Shc were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS EGFR autophosphorylation was suppressed at all EGF concentrations in ethanol-fed cells compared with pair-fed cells, without significant differences in total EGFR protein or EGFR tyrosine kinase activity detected in cell lysates, suggesting that intracellular factors suppressed EGFR function. EGF-induced PLC gamma tyrosine phosphorylation and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) formation were suppressed, but cytosolic [Ca2+]c elevation was little affected, indicating enhanced InsP3-mediated intracellular Ca2+ release in ethanol-fed cells. Grb2 binding to EGFR was suppressed, but EGF-induced Shc tyrosine phosphorylation and Grb2 association with Shc were not significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS Long-term ethanol feeding suppressed EGF-induced receptor autophosphorylation in rat hepatocytes with differential inhibition of downstream signaling processes mediated by PLC gamma, Shc, and Grb2. Altered patterns of downstream signals emanating from EGFR may contribute to deficient liver regeneration in chronic alcoholism.
Access of tumor‐derived macromolecules and cells to the blood: An electron microscopical study of structural barriers in microvessel clusters in highly malignant primary prostate carcinomas

The neo‐angiogenetic microvessels forming a major reactive stromal element in highly malignant prostate neoplasms may exhibit fine‐structural features relevant to our understanding of the passage of macromolecules from tumor to blood, on the one hand, and of events facilitating the metastatic cascade, on the other hand.
Culture of Piscirickettsia salmonis on enriched blood agar

Piscirickettsia salmonis is the etiologic agent of piscirickettsiosis, an economically significant disease offish. Isolation of P. salmonis by culturing on fish cell lines has been the standard technique since the initial isolation of the organism. The ability to grow P. salmonis on artificial media would relieve facilities of the cost of maintaining cell lines, permit isolation at fish culture sites with fewer contamination problems, and allow easier transport of isolates to diagnostic facilities for confirmation assays. This report describes the successful culture of P. salmonis on enriched blood agar.
Protective role of melatonin in myocardial oxidative damage induced by mercury in murine model

This study was designed to investigate the electrophysiological, hemodynamic and biochemical parameters of mercuric chloride and methylmercury exposure on cardiovascular functions and its modulation by melatonin in vivo. Wistar albino rats were divided into six group containing 10 animals each. Mercuric chloride (3.75 µM/L) in drinking water and methylmercury (0.5 mg/kg/day) through gavage, given for 1 month, induced a statistically significant increase (p < 0.001) in left ventricular end diastolic pressure, blood and cardiac tissue mercury content and myocardial lipid peroxides compared to control. Significant attenuation (p < 0.05) of baroreflex sensitivity and depletion of myocardial endogenous antioxidants (p < 0.001) viz. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were also found in the mercury-exposed groups as compared to control group. Mercury exposure followed by subacute treatment with melatonin (4 µg/mL/day) in drinking water for 1 month significantly lowered (p < 0.01) left ventricular end diastolic pressure and lipid peroxide levels and increased baroreceptor sensitivity (p < 0.001) and also levels of GSH and SOD (p < 0.001) as compared to mercury-exposed rats. The results of our study provide clear evidence that elevated oxidative stress and altered baroreflex mechanisms caused by mercury intoxication may be the contributing factors responsible for impairment of cardiovascular functions and melatonin may exhibit cardioprotective property against subacute heavy metal intoxication and enhance the antioxidant defense against mercury-induced oxidative myocardial injury in rats.
Changes in healthcare workers' knowledge about tuberculosis following a tuberculosis training programme.

BACKGROUND In resource-limited countries, health policy makers and practitioners need to know whether healthcare workers have sufficient knowledge of tuberculosis and its management. OBJECTIVES We conducted a study to: (1) measure knowledge changes among healthcare workers who participated in a tuberculosis training programme; and (2) make recommendations about future tuberculosis training for healthcare workers in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health. METHODS A cross-sectional study conducted in 2007 measured changes in tuberculosis knowledge of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers after a training programme based on World Health Organization tuberculosis training modules. Data were collected before and after training using a self-administered, 98-item questionnaire covering eight components. RESULTS A total of 267 healthcare workers, mean age 40.7 years, answered both pre- and post-training questionnaires. Mean total knowledge scores were low despite significant changes (p<0.001) from a pre-training score of 59.5% to a post-training score of 66.5%. Nurses showed significant improvements in mean total knowledge scores (p<0.001) but had the lowest mean total knowledge score post-training, 63.2%. Doctors had significantly better pre-training (p<0.001) and post-training (p<0.001) mean total knowledge scores compared to nurses. CONCLUSIONS Improvement in healthcare workers' overall knowledge of tuberculosis during a training programme was not clinically significant. Periodic field training and supervision should be considered to ensure tuberculosis knowledge improvements.
Inverse association between soya food consumption and insulin resistance in Japanese adults

Abstract Objective The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between soya food consumption and insulin resistance using baseline data of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study in Tokushima, Japan. Design This cross-sectional study included 1274 subjects, aged 34–70 years at baseline, living in Tokushima Prefecture between 2008 and 2013. Fasting blood samples were collected and information on lifestyle characteristics including soya food intake and medical history were obtained using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was measured and those with HOMA-IR≥2·5 were defined as having insulin resistance. Multiple logistic regression models were used to analyse the association between soya product intake and the prevalence of insulin resistance. Setting Rural communities located in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, between 2008 and 2013. Subjects A total of 1148 adults (565 men and 583 women), aged 34–70 years. Results The frequency of intake of miso soup, total non-fried soya products and total soya products showed significant inverse dose–response relationships with insulin resistance, after adjustments for potential confounders. When soya product intake was calculated as soya protein and isoflavone, the odds ratios of insulin resistance decreased significantly as the estimated intake of soya protein increased. Furthermore, significant inverse dose–response relationships were observed for total non-fried soya products and total soya products, after adjustment for total vegetable or total fibre consumption. Conclusions The present results indicate that the intake of soya products and non-fried soya products is associated with reduced insulin resistance in the Japanese population.
Perennial toxigenic Planktothrix agardhii bloom in selected lakes of Western Poland

The presence of toxigenic blooms dominated by filamentous cyanobacterium Planktothrix agardhii with estimation of microcystins (MCs) concentration and toxicity was measured in two lakes: Bytynskie and Lubosinskie situated in Western Poland. Investigations were carried out in summer, autumn, and winter of 2007/2008 and early spring of 2008. In both lakes, a domination of P. agardhii in relation to the total cyanobacterial biomass oscillated, throughout the year, almost on the same level between 75 and 99%. The PCR analysis of mcyE gene indicated a presence of toxigenic strains in all collected samples. In addition, the result of semiquantification of mcyE gene band showed that both lakes seem to have variable, throughout the seasons, toxigenic potential with the highest density of mcyE gene in spring. Two separate methods were used: protein phosphatase inhibition assay for estimation of MCs toxicity (biological activity) and high‐performance liquid chromatography for determination of MCs concentration (quantity). The highest seasonal MCs toxicity (15.8 μg/L Bytynskie and 21.9 μg/L Lubosinskie) and concentration (34.6 μg/L Bytynskie and 52.2 μg/L Lubosinskie) were determined in autumn and indicated on a Second Alert Level, according to WHO guidelines for bathing water. The results showed the ability of toxigenic strains of cyanobacteria dominated by P. agardhii to remain and produce MCs during the whole year. This was confirmed by significant correlations between P. agardhii biomass and MCs concentrations in both lakes (r = 0.84, Bninskie and r = 0.79, Lubosinskie; P < 0.05). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 26: 10–20, 2011.
Optimizing the docker container usage based on load scheduling

In this project we introduce an energy-aware processing model used for balancing the load of docker container and job scaling using docker(1). The approach used is to create an energy optimal regime within which the containers operate. An important strategy for energy reduction is concentrating the load on the containers. When the load increases, then by api call a new container can be spawned which can the allocated with jobs to process. The container can be created automatically based upon threshold conditions. This ensures that the rest of the container is not over-loaded with jobs. When the load decreases that container can be killed to save energy. The Energy-Aware scaling algorithm is used which ensures that the largest possible number of containers operate within their respective operational domain.
Use of internet resources by patients awaiting gastroenterology consultation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The purpose of this study is to understand how outpatients awaiting initial gastroenterology consultation seek medical information on the Internet and how wait times affect Internet usage. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional survey of 87 gastroenterology outpatients awaiting consultation was performed at a tertiary care center. RESULTS Fifty-two patients (60%) utilized the Internet for medical information. The mean age of patients using the Internet was 41 years, whereas the mean age of those not using the Internet was 60 years (p<0.0001). The Internet was used by 71% of females and 47% of males (p<0.05). Regarding the educational level, the Internet was sought by 33% of the patients possessing less than secondary school education, 59% possessing secondary school education, 66% with an undergraduate degree, and 100% with a postgraduate degree (p=0.14). The mean wait time for consultation for patients who utilized the Internet was 158 days, and for patients who did not was 147 days (p=0.60). The most common websites searched were medical, 71%. The most common medical information sought was symptoms and diagnosis by 85% of patients. The reasons for Internet use were wait times for 36% of patients and recommendation by a physician for 10%. Eighty seven percent of the patients who utilized the Internet believed that they suffered from an unidentified disease, whereas 46% of patients who did not utilize the Internet believed the same (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION Younger patients and females were more likely to use the Internet, but wait times did not affect Internet usage. The Internet is a powerful patient resource; however, further physician guidance is required to help patients identify reliable resources.
Time to diagnosis in systemic sclerosis: is sex a factor?

OBJECTIVE To determine whether sex plays a role in the time to diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS In the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group registry, dates of onset of Raynaud's phenomenon, the first non-Raynaud's disease symptom, and diagnosis were recorded based on patient reports. Association between sex and time to diagnosis was assessed for the group as a whole and stratified based on extent of skin involvement, either limited or diffuse. RESULTS Of the 408 patients studied (347 women, 61 men, 44% with diffuse cutaneous SSc), the time to diagnosis after the onset of Raynaud's phenomenon was significantly longer for women than men (log rank P = 0.001), but not significantly different after the onset of the first non-Raynaud's disease manifestation. In an analysis stratified by limited or diffuse status, the time to diagnosis from onset of Raynaud's phenomenon was also significantly longer for women than men with diffuse cutaneous SSc (log rank P = 0.008). A trend toward a longer period between onset of Raynaud's phenomenon and SSc diagnosis was observed in women compared with men with limited cutaneous SSc (median 4.6 years in women versus 2.1 years in men; P = 0.085), and there was no sex difference in time to diagnosis after the onset of the first non-Raynaud's disease manifestation. CONCLUSION In SSc, the time to diagnosis is longer for women than men after the onset of Raynaud's phenomenon, suggesting that there may be possible biologic differences in the progression of disease or in the health care trajectories of men and women with early SSc.