Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stress increases dynorphin immunoreactivity in limbic brain regions and dynorphin antagonism produces antidepressant‐like effects

Rats exposed to learned helplessness (LH), an animal model of depression, showed a recovery following an intracerebroventricular injection of nor‐binaltorphimine dihydrochloride (norBNI; a κ‐opioid antagonist). To investigate the potential role of dynorphin A and dynorphin B, we examined the effects of different stress/depression models on dynorphin A and dynorphin B immunoreactivity in hippocampus and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Immobilization stress (3 h) caused an increase in levels of dynorphin A and dynorphin B immunoreactivity in the hippocampus and the NAc. Forced swim stress also temporally increased dynorphin A levels in the hippocampus. Furthermore, exposure to LH produced a similar increase in dynorphin A and dynorphin B in the hippocampus and NAc. Infusions of norBNI into the dentate gyrus or CA3 regions of hippocampus and into the shell or core regions of NAc produced antidepressant‐like effects in the LH paradigm. The degrees of norBNI's effects were stronger in the CA3 region and NAc shell and less effective in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus and NAc core. These results indicate that both dynorphin A and dynorphin B contribute to the effects of stress, and suggest that blockade of κ‐opioid receptors may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of depression.
Relationship between Herpes Simplex Virus Type- 1 and periodontitis

Background: HSV-1 is responsible for the most commonly occurring viral infections of the mouth and perioral soft tissues, HSV-1which primarily is associated with oral and labial lesions, . and it causes a recurrent infection, which commonly occurs in the mouth. Additionally, HSV infection has been associated with periodontitis. The HSV-1 may cause periodontal pathosis as a direct result of virus infection and replication, or as a consequence of virally induced impairment of the periodontal immune defense, resulting in heightened virulence of resident bacterial pathogens.The aims of the study are to show the relationship between HSV-1 and periodontitis, and to determine HSV-1 Antigen in saliva of periodontitis patients by immunoflourescent, as well as to determine HSV-1 antibodies immunoglobulin G (IgG) in saliva samples by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Materials and methods: Thirty periodontitis patients and thirty periodontitis patients and have recurrent herpes labials (RHL) compare with thirty healthy control subjects were included in this study. Saliva samples were taken from all subjects (patients and healthy) and examined by direct immunofluorescent and ELISA test. Two swabs from patients with oral herpes labials were considered as a positive control. Results: The present study indicated that there is relationship between HSV-1 and periodontitis and the herpes simplex virus type-1 was detected in periodontitis patients by ELISA and immunofluoresecent method. Conclusion: The study revealed positive association between HSV-1 and periodontitis and the virus may play a role in the pathogenesis of the periodontitis.
Failure of regeneration of the steatotic rat liver: disruption at two different levels in the regeneration pathway

Hepatic resection or transplantation in patients with fatty liver is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The regenerative capacity of fatty livers after major tissue loss is unknown. Interleukin 6 (IL‐6) is a potent inducer of hepatic regeneration in normal and ischemic livers. Therefore, we studied hepatic regeneration at day 1, day 2, and day 4 in a model of 70% hepatectomy in obese and lean Zucker rats, and obese Zucker rats pretreated with recombinant interleukin 6 (rIL‐6). The mitotic cycle in hepatocytes was investigated by 4 different markers of regeneration representing distinct phases of mitosis (proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA] = G1 phase, bromodeoxy uridine [BrdU] = S phase, mitotic index, and regenerated liver weight = M phase). Obese Zucker rats had significantly decreased regenerative capacity compared with lean Zucker rats (PCNA, BrdU, mitotic index, regenerated liver weight) at days 1 and 2 after surgery. Four days after resection fatty animals showed an increase in the mitotic index indicating a delay of regeneration in steatotic livers. Animal survival after 70% hepatectomy was significantly decreased in obese rats compared with lean animals. Pretreatment of obese animals with rIL‐6 normalized PCNA expression (G1 phase) in steatotic hepatocytes but failed to increase DNA synthesis (BrdU, S phase), mitosis (mitotic index and regenerated liver weight, M phase), and animal survival. These results indicate major impairment of hepatic regeneration in steatotic livers. Two different blockages of regeneration must be present, one rIL‐6 sensitive, at the level of IL‐6 or upstream, and a second, rIL‐6 resistant, at the level of G1 /S‐phase transition.
Boarder belly: Splenic injuries resulting from ski and snowboarding accidents

Objective: Snowboarding has increased in popularity worldwide, with an associated increase in injuries suffered by its participants with a significant proportion of these injuries being severe. We sought to understand the risk of sustaining a splenic injury in snowboarders as compared to skiers, and whether there are noteworthy differences in their characteristics at hospital admission.
Rescue Monotherapy in Lamivudine-Resistant Hepatitis B e Antigen-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B: Adefovir versus Entecavir

Background The efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) or entecavir (ETV) rescue monotherapy has not been directly compared in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)- positive patients with lamivudine (3TC)-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We compared the efficacy of ADV and ETV rescue monotherapy in HBeAg-positive patients with confirmed genotypic 3TC resistance. Methods A total of 160 HBeAg-positive patients with confirmed 3TC resistance underwent switch therapy (91 ADV and 59 ETV). Parameters assessed included alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization, HBeAg serocon-version, undetectable serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA by PCR (lower detection limit <300 copies/ml), virological breakthrough and initial virological response (IVR) at 3 (IVR-3) and 6 (IVR-6) months. Results Following 52 weeks of treatment in the ADV and ETV groups, serum HBV DNA became undetectable in 25 (27.5%) and 21 (35.6%; P=0.292) patients, ALT normalization occurred in 67/78 (85.9%) and 43/47 (91.5%; P=0.351), HBeAg seroconversion in 4 (4.4%) and 1 (1.7%; P=1.000), IVR-3 in 19 (20.9%) and 18 (30.5%), IVR-6 in 40 (44.0%) and 25 (42.4%) and virological breakthrough in 2 (2.2%) and 1 (1.7%; P=1.000) patients, respectively. Conclusions ADV and ETV revealed comparable efficacy after 52 weeks of treatment in HBeAg-positive patients with 3TC resistance. Undetectable HBV DNA in serum following 52 weeks of treatment was predictable with IVR-3 and IVR-6 in both groups.
Relationships Between Physical Symptoms, Emotional Distress, and Pain Appraisal in Fibromyalgia: The Moderator Effect of Alexithymia

ABSTRACT Alexithymia is a personality construct that is frequently identified in fibromyalgia (FM). Previous studies have explored the relationship between alexithymia and emotional distress in this disease. Yet, the additional link with factors of pain appraisal is unknown. This study examined the moderating effect of alexithymia in the relationship between emotional distress and pain appraisal in 97 FM women. A control group of 100 healthy women also participated in the study. All participants completed several self-reports about pain experience, sleep quality, impairment, emotional distress, pain appraisal, and alexithymia. FM women showed significantly more difficulty in identifying and describing feelings, but less externally oriented thinking than healthy women. In the clinical group, difficulty in identifying feelings and difficulty in describing feelings significantly correlated with lower sleep quality, higher anxiety and depression, and increased pain catastrophizing and fear of pain. Difficulty in describing feelings significantly correlated with higher pain experience and vigilance to pain. Externally oriented thinking was not correlated with any of the clinical variables. Difficulty in identifying feelings moderated the relationship between anxiety and pain catastrophizing, and difficulty in describing feelings moderated the relationship between anxiety and fear of pain. Implications of the findings for the optimization of care of FM patients are discussed.
Testosterone and Repression in Non‐Democracies: Evidence from a Sample of Russian Governors

The paper examines the role of testosteroneâ€ driven aggressive behavior in the politics of nonâ€ democratic regimes and, in particular, its influence on the extent of repressiveness of these regimes. To measure testosterone exposure, we apply the facial widthâ€ toâ€ height metric (fWHR) â€“ a standard proxy widely used in the psychological literature â€“ and look at a sample of Russian regional governors. We find a positive relationship between the fWHR of the governor and the level of repression in his region. Testosteroneâ€ related behavior is, however, more widespread among younger governors and among governors with shorter tenure in office. Thus, the paper contributes to the recent trend of integrating insights of behavioral economics in political economics research.
Stopping Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Treatment in Patients With Established Rheumatoid Arthritis in Remission or With Stable Low Disease Activity: A Pragmatic Multicenter, Open‐Label Randomized Controlled Trial

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) biologic agents are an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unclear whether patients whose disease is in remission or who have stable low disease activity need to continue use of TNFi or can stop this treatment. This study was undertaken to assess whether patients with established RA who are in remission or have stable low disease activity can effectively and safely stop their TNFi therapy.
Assessing the effect of organic-food short storytelling on consumer response

ABSTRACT This study explores the influence of organic food storytelling on consumer response. A random sampling method was used to select organic food retail stores and markets, and then collected 578 valid samples by a quota sampling method. Four storytelling types, including individual story, environmental story, price story, and food therapy story, were based on interview results. Based on partial least squares results, organic food storytelling indeed led consumers to prefer natural food, with food therapy storytelling being the most important factor that influenced their preference for natural food. This was followed by environmental story, price story, with the individual story being the last one. Except for the individual story type, the other three story types established more positive consumer attitudes toward organic food. The preference for natural food increased consumers’ purchase intention, followed by attitude toward organic food, and finally by individual story.
Predictors of Mortality among HIV-infected Women in Kigali, Rwanda

OBJECTIVE To better characterize the natural history of disease due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in African women. DESIGN Prospective cohort study over a 2-year follow-up period. PARTICIPANTS A total of 460 HIV-seropositive women and a comparison cohort of HIV-seronegative women recruited from prenatal and pediatric clinics in Kigali, Rwanda in 1988. MEASUREMENTS Clinical signs and symptoms of HIV disease, AIDS, and mortality. MAIN RESULTS Follow-up data at 2 years were available for 93% of women who were still alive. At enrollment, many seropositive women reported symptoms listed in the World Health Organization (WHO) clinical case definition of AIDS, but these were nonspecific and often improved over time. The 2-year mortality among HIV-infected women by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was 7% (95% CI, 5% to 10%) overall, and 21% (CI, 8% to 34%) for the 40 women who fulfilled the WHO case definition of AIDS at entry. In comparison, the 2-year mortality in women not infected with HIV was only 0.3% (CI, 0% to 7%). Independent baseline predictors of mortality in seropositive women by Cox proportional hazards modeling were, in order of descending risk factor prevalence: a body mass index of 21 kg/m2 or less (relative hazard, 2.3; CI, 1.1 to 4.8), low income (relative hazard, 2.3; CI, 1.1 to 4.5), an erythrocyte sedimentation rate exceeding 60 mm/h (relative hazard, 4.9; CI, 2.2 to 10.9), chronic diarrhea (relative hazard, 2.6; CI, 1.1 to 5.7), a history of herpes zoster (relative hazard 5.3; CI, 2.5 to 11.4), and oral candida (relative hazard, 7.3; CI, 1.6 to 33.3). Human immunodeficiency virus disease was the cause of death in 38 of the 39 HIV-positive women who died, but only 25 met the WHO definition of AIDS before death. CONCLUSIONS Human immunodeficiency virus disease now accounts for 90% of all deaths among child-bearing urban Rwandan women. Many symptomatic seropositive patients may show some clinical improvement and should not be denied routine medical care. Easily diagnosed signs and symptoms and inexpensive laboratory tests can be used in Africa to identify those patients with a particularly good or bad prognosis.
Improvement of Heart Rate Variability by Eurythmy Therapy After a 6-Week Eurythmy Therapy Training

Background. Eurythmy therapy (EYT) is a mind–body therapy used in anthroposophic medicine. Recently, the authors were able to show that at comparable workloads, EYT stimulated heart rate variability (HRV) whereas conventional ergometer training attenuated HRV. Furthermore, a long-term improvement of quality of life (QoL) and stress coping strategies by EYT could be shown. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of EYT training on HRV. Design: A total of 23 healthy women (mean age = 44.57 ± 8.04 years) performed 10 hours of EYT over a period of 6 weeks. Electrocardiograms were recorded before and after the EYT trial. HRV was quantified by the extent of high (HF), low (LF), very low (VLF), and ultra low frequency (ULF) oscillations of heart rate. Results. Autonomic regulation was significantly changed following the EYT training compared with baseline. Especially the proportion referring to the total power (P) of HF/P and LF/P increased, whereas ULF/P and (ULF+VLF)/P decreased after the training period. Conclusion. EYT shifted the autonomic regulation proportionally referring to the total power mainly caused by changes of ULF and VLF components of HRV. The LF and HF spectral components were also decreased following EYT while their proportion in relation to the total variance of the power spectrum was increased. The proportional enhancement of the higher frequency and the decrease of the ULF and VLF components are probably an indicator of an improvement of autonomic regulation processes by more relaxed physical activity after the EYT training, thus supporting the plausibility of the improved QoL and better stress coping strategies.
Effects of precooling on thermoregulation during subsequent exercise.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a decreased body core temperature before a simulated portion of a triathlon (swim,15 min; bike, 45 min) and examine whether precooling could attenuate thermal strain and increase subjective exercise tolerance in a warm environment (26.6 degrees C/60% relative humidity (rh)). METHODS Six endurance trained triathletes (28+/-2 yr, 8.2+/-1.7% body fat) completed two randomly assigned trials 1 wk apart. The precooling trial (PC) involved lowering body core temperature (-0.5 degrees C rectal temperature, Tre) in water before swimming. The control trial (CON) was identical except no precooling was performed. Water temperature and environmental conditions were maintained at 25.6 degrees C and 26.6 degrees C/60% rh, respectively, throughout all testing. RESULTS Mean time to precool was 31+/-8 min and average time to reach baseline Tre during cycling was 9+/-7 min. Oxygen uptake (VO2), HR, skin temperature (Tsk), Tre, RPE, and thermal sensation (TS) were recorded following the swim segment and throughout cycling. No significant differences in mean body (Tb) or Tsk were noted between PC and CON, but a significant difference (P < 0.05) in Tre between treatments was noted through the early phases of cycling. No significant differences were reported in HR, VO2, RPE, TS, or sweat rate (SR) between treatments. Body heat storage (S) was negative following swimming in both PC (-92+/-6 W x m2) and CON (-66+/-9 W x m2). A greater S occurred in PC (109+/-6 W x m2) vs CON (79+/-4 W x m2) during cycling (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Precooling attenuated the rise in Tre, but this effect was transient. Therefore, precooling is not recommended before a triathlon under similar environmental conditions.
Much ado about nothing? The (non-) politicisation of the European Union in social media debates on migration

The widespread view that the refugee crisis has sparked unprecedented levels of European Union politicisation has rarely been backed by systematic empirical evidence. We investigate this claim using a novel dataset of several thousand user comments posted below articles of German regional media outlets on Facebook. Despite considerable European Union authority in the policy area, extensive media coverage of the crisis and the rise of a populist party in Germany, our results suggest that the politicisation of Europe remains low among social media users, especially when compared to national and subnational levels of governance. When talking about Europe, users hardly refer to European Union institutions or policies. Instead, other member states and notions of the geographic or cultural space dominate the debate.
A General Equilibrium Appraisal of Capital Shortfall

We quantify the capital shortfall that results from a global financial crisis by using a macro-finance dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model that captures the interactions between the financial and real sectors of the economy. We show that a crisis similar to that observed in 2008 generates a capital shortfall (or stressed expected loss, SEL) equal to 2.8% of euro-area GDP, which corresponds to approximately 250 billion euros. We also find that using a cycle-dependent capital ratio that combines concern for both credit growth and SEL has a positive effect on output growth while mitigating the excessive risk taking of the banking system. Finally, our estimates confirm that most of the variability of the macroeconomic and financial variables at business cycle frequencies is due to investment and risk shocks.
A mismatch between population health literacy and the complexity of health information: an observational study.

BACKGROUND Low health literacy is associated with poorer health and higher mortality. Complex health materials are a barrier to health. AIM To assess the literacy and numeracy skills required to understand and use commonly used English health information materials, and to describe population skills in relation to these. DESIGN AND SETTING An English observational study comparing health materials with national working-age population skills. METHOD Health materials were sampled using a health literacy framework. Competency thresholds to understand and use the materials were identified. The proportion of the population above and below these thresholds, and the sociodemographic variables associated with a greater risk of being below the thresholds, were described. RESULTS Sixty-four health materials were sampled. Two competency thresholds were identified: text (literacy) only, and text + numeracy; 2515/5795 participants (43%) were below the text-only threshold, while 2905/4767 (61%) were below the text + numeracy threshold. Univariable analyses of social determinants of health showed that those groups more at risk of socioeconomic deprivation had higher odds of being below the health literacy competency threshold than those at lower risk of deprivation. Multivariable analysis resulted in some variables becoming non-significant or reduced in effect. CONCLUSION Levels of low health literacy mirror those found in other industrialised countries, with a mismatch between the complexity of health materials and the skills of the English adult working-age population. Those most in need of health information have the least access to it. Efficacious strategies are building population skills, improving health professionals' communication, and improving written health information.
The Diagnostic Utility of Cell Blocks Prepared From Residual SurePath Pap Material for Detection of Human Papilloma Virus

This study was undertaken to determine if tissue sections from cell block prepared from the residual cellular sediment of Pap test vials could be used for immunohistochemistry (IHC) or in situ hybridization (ISH) for the detection of human papilloma virus (HPV) and to determine if these stains could clarify the nature of atypical cases in certain cases. Cases included in this retrospective study are categorized into 3 groups. Group 1 included 12 positive and 10 negative cases that were used to optimize the IHC and ISH staining protocol for the detection of HPV. Cases selected in group 2 were included to validate and verify the IHC and ISH stains. We validated 20 negative and 37 positive cases. Group 3 included 37 atypical cases. Unused material from the corresponding liquid-based (SurePath) Pap test specimens were retrieved and used to prepare paraffin-embedded cell blocks. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained cell-block sections were evaluated for abnormal cells. The IHC and ISH stain protocols for detection of HPV DNA were successfully optimized, validated, and verified. The sensitivity for the detection of HPV DNA using IHC in atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance was 80% and in atypical squamous cell, cannot rule out high grade, was 78% whereas the specificity was 100% in both lesions. Both the sensitivity and specificity for the detection of HPV DNA using the ISH were 100%. This study demonstrated that cell-block sections prepared from residual SurePath Pap test material could be used for detection of HPV DNA by both IHC and ISH and clarify the nature of atypical cells on cell-block sections.
Information Densification of Social Constructs via Behavior Analysis of Social Media Users - A Study on Twitter

Title: Information Densification of Social Constructs via Behavior Analysis of Social Media Users – A Study on Twitter Author: Diogo F. Pacheco Advisor: Ronaldo Menezes, Ph.D. Co-Advisor: Fernando Buarque de Lima Neto, Ph.D. We live in a digital era where everyday activities are increasingly being replaced by online interactions. In addition, technology advances and data availability are changing the way we expand our knowledge about ourselves, society, and the environment. The increasing availability of data, especially social media data, has called the attention of researchers, and we have been witnessing an outbreak in studies relying on this rich source of information. However, most social media research is tuned to improve the outcomes of specific problems. Therefore, the reuse of techniques used in different areas is limited to data specialists. We propose a straightforward data-driven methodology to perform exploratory analysis of social media data by processing the unstructured stream of social data into user characterization. Emergent collective behaviors are obtained by aggregating individual characterizations. The structured representations are analyzed using Statistics and Data Science techniques. The results highlight the methodology generalization capacity, since we apply it in three different domains: (i) sports, characterizing football supporters; (ii) culture, characterizing languages; and (iii) health, characterizing organ donation awareness. Finally, the knowledge extracted from these applications (experience) serve as input to further research; we propose a measure for social disorganization using the diversity of supporters in a region, and we show language network centralities as proxy for quality of life. iii