Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gene polymorphism affecting α1‐antichymotrypsin and interleukin‐1 plasma levels increases Alzheimer's disease risk

Plasma levels of α1‐antichymotrypsin (ACT) and inter‐leukin‐1β (IL‐1β) were increased in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). A common polymorphism within ACT and IL‐1β genes affected plasma levels of ACT or IL‐1β, and AD patients with the ACT T,T or IL‐1β T,T genotype showed the highest levels of plasma ACT or IL‐1β, respectively. The concomitant presence of the ACT T,T and IL‐1β T,T genotypes increased the risk of AD (odds ratio: 5.606, confidence interval: 1.654–18.996) and decreased the age at onset of the disease. Ann Neurol 2000;48:388–391
Phase II study of personalized peptide vaccination for castration‐resistant prostate cancer patients who failed in docetaxel‐based chemotherapy

Docetaxel‐based chemotherapy (DBC) showed limited clinical efficacy for castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients. To explore cancer vaccine as a new treatment modality, we conducted a phase II study of personalized peptide vaccine (PPV) for DBC‐resistant CRPC patients.
Partial purification and characterization of chiIO8, a novel antifungal chitinase produced by Bacillus cereus IO8

To investigate the distribution of chitinase IO8 in Bacillus cereus strains, the enhancing effects of the chitinase‐producing B. cereus strains on biocontrol potential by dual culture assay and in vivo assay against Botrytis cinerea and also the enhancing effects of the chiIO8 on disinfectant properties against seed‐borne diseases. Moreover, the application of chiIO8 treatment was also observed to improve the germinative energy.
PYR/RCAR Receptors Contribute to Ozone-, Reduced Air Humidity-, Darkness-, and CO2-Induced Stomatal Regulation1[C][W][OA]

Signaling through abscisic acid PYR/RCAR receptors plays a fundamental role in controlling whole-plant stomatal conductance and affects stomatal closure in response to low air humidity, darkness, O3, and elevated CO2. Rapid stomatal closure induced by changes in the environment, such as elevation of CO2, reduction of air humidity, darkness, and pulses of the air pollutant ozone (O3), involves the SLOW ANION CHANNEL1 (SLAC1). SLAC1 is activated by OPEN STOMATA1 (OST1) and Ca2+-dependent protein kinases. OST1 activation is controlled through abscisic acid (ABA)-induced inhibition of type 2 protein phosphatases (PP2C) by PYRABACTIN RESISTANCE/REGULATORY COMPONENTS OF ABA RECEPTOR (PYR/RCAR) receptor proteins. To address the role of signaling through PYR/RCARs for whole-plant steady-state stomatal conductance and stomatal closure induced by environmental factors, we used a set of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants defective in ABA metabolism/signaling. The stomatal conductance values varied severalfold among the studied mutants, indicating that basal ABA signaling through PYR/RCAR receptors plays a fundamental role in controlling whole-plant water loss through stomata. PYR/RCAR-dependent inhibition of PP2Cs was clearly required for rapid stomatal regulation in response to darkness, reduced air humidity, and O3. Furthermore, PYR/RCAR proteins seem to function in a dose-dependent manner, and there is a functional diversity among them. Although a rapid stomatal response to elevated CO2 was evident in all but slac1 and ost1 mutants, the bicarbonate-induced activation of S-type anion channels was reduced in the dominant active PP2C mutants abi1-1 and abi2-1. Further experiments with a wider range of CO2 concentrations and analyses of stomatal response kinetics suggested that the ABA signalosome partially affects the CO2-induced stomatal response. Thus, we show that PYR/RCAR receptors play an important role for the whole-plant stomatal adjustments and responses to low humidity, darkness, and O3 and are involved in responses to elevated CO2.
Early and Delayed Myocardial Infarction after Abdominal Aortic Surgery

Background: Although postoperative myocardial infarction (PMI) after vascular surgery has been described to be associated with prolonged ischemia, its exact pathophysiology remains unclear. Methods: The authors used intense cardiac troponin I (cTnI) surveillance after abdominal aortic surgery in 1,136 consecutive patients to better evaluate the incidence and timing of PMI (cTnI ≥ 1.5 ng/ml) or myocardial damage (abnormal cTnI < 1.5 ng/ml). Results: Abnormal cTnI concentrations was noted in 163 patients (14%), of which 106 (9%) had myocardial damage and 57 (5%) had PMI. In 34 patients (3%), PMI was preceded by a prolonged (> 24 h) period of increased cTnI (delayed PMI), and in 21 patients (2%), the increase in cTnI lasted less than 24 h (early PMI). The mean times from end of surgery to PMI were 37 ± 22 and 74 ± 39 h in the early PMI and delayed PMI groups, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean time between the first abnormal cTnI and PMI in the delayed PMI group was 54 ± 35 h, during which the cTnI profiles of the myocardial damage and delayed PMI groups were identical. In-hospital mortality rates were 24, 21, 7, and 3% for the early PMI, delayed PMI, myocardial damage, and normal groups, respectively. Conclusions: Intense postoperative cTnI surveillance revealed two types of PMI according to time of appearance and rate of increase in cTnI. The identification of early and delayed PMI may be suggestive of different pathophysiologic mechanisms. Abnormal but low postoperative cTnI is associated with increased mortality and may lead to delayed PMI.
Innovations, Rents and Risk

This research was conducted within the Paul Woolley Research Initiative on Capital Market Dysfunctionalities at IDEI, Toulouse. Support from the Europlace Institute of Finance is gratefully aknowledged. Many thanks to participants in the first conference of the Centre for the Study of Capital Market Dysfunctionality at the London School of Economics, the Pompeu Fabra Conference on the Financial Crisis, the third Banco de Portugal conference on Financial Intermediation, the Europlace Institute of Finance 7th Annual Forum, as well as seminar participants at London Business School, Frankfurt University, the European Central Bank and Amsterdam University, especially Sudipto Bhattacharya, Arnoud Boot, John Boyd, Markus Brunnermeier, Catherine Casamatta, Zvi Eckstein, Guido Friebel, Alex Gumbel, Philipp Hartmann, Augustin Landier, Thomas Mariotti, John Moore, Liliana Pellizzon, Enrico Perotti, Ludovic Phalippou, Guillaume Plantin and Steve Schaefer.
Exercise training bradycardia: the role of autonomic balance.

We used an algebraic model of resting heart rate (HRr), HRr-mn (HRo), to compare resting parasympathetic (n) and sympathetic (m) influence, intrinsic heart rate (HRo), and resting autonomic balance (Abal) in ten endurance-trained (ET) and ten nontrained (NT) men. The values of m, n, and Abal were determined by selective pharmacological blockade with atropine and metoprolol. HRo was obtained during double blockade with atropine and metoprolol. HRo and HRr were significantly lower (P less than or equal to 0.04 and P less than or equal to 0.01, respectively) in the ET subjects (79.5 +/- 2.8 beats.min-1 and 54.7 +/- 3.0 beats.min-1, respectively) when compared to the NT subjects (86.6 +/- 2.5 beats.min1 and 70.2 +/- 3.1 beats.min-1, respectively). Parasympathetic influence (n) was greater in the ET subjects (P less than or equal to 0.04), while sympathetic influence (m) was slightly (P less than or equal to 0.05) less in the ET subjects. Consequently, the value of Abal was significantly less in the ET subjects (P less than or equal to 0.02), indicating that resting parasympathetic predominance was significantly greater in the ET subjects. We concluded that the exercise training bradycardia, observed in this group of subjects, was due to both a lower HRo and an Abal with an augmented parasympathetic dominance.
Graph-theoretic construction of low-density parity-check codes

This article presents a graph-theoretic method for constructing low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes from connected graphs without the requirement of large girth. This method is based on finding a set of paths in a connected graph, which satisfies the constraint that any two paths in the set are either disjoint or cross each other at one and only one vertex. Two trellis-based algorithms for finding these paths are devised. Good LDPC codes of practical lengths are constructed and they perform well with iterative decoding.
The neutralization of the mouse-adapted Lansing strain of poliomyelitis virus by the serum of patients and contacts.

Two hundred and eighty-seven sera from acute cases of poliomyelitis occurring in several epidemic areas over a period of four years were tested for neutralizing antibodies to the Lansing strain of virus. One hundred and one, or 35 per cent, were found to be positive. The percentage of positive individuals in the different samplings varied from 89 to 0 and, in general, the groups having more positives were of a higher average age. The average age of the positive individuals was greater than that of the negatives. There was no correlation between the average day after onset for the bleeding with the percentage of positive individuals. Tests with 234 sera from acute cases between the ages of 1 and 15 years showed a statistically significant lower per cent of individuals positive for Lansing virus neutralizing antibodies than a group of 221 healthy children in the same age range studied by Turner, Young and Maxwell. Thirty-eight, or 73 per cent, of 52 associates had antibodies for the Lansing virus, closely approximating the percentage found in healthy non-associates. In a study on 74 pairs of acute and convalescent sera, 39 or 52 per cent, were found to be positive in the acute stage. In 19 of these the titer remained the same for the later bleeding, in 3 the titer increased but in 17 there was a decrease in neutralizing antibody titers. Of the 35 individuals who were negative in the acute state, 30 remained negative and 5 developed antibodies during convalescence. The significance of these phenomena is discussed.
Effects of prolonged robot-assisted training on upper limb motor recovery in subacute stroke.

BACKGROUND High intensity and early initiation of rehabilitation have been extensively demonstrated to enhance neural plasticity and motor recovery after stroke. However, the optimal duration of rehabilitation programs in order to have the highest impact on motor outcomes has not been established. OBJECTIVES To evaluate motor outcomes in subacute stroke survivors with moderate to severe upper limb paresis over an extended period of rehabilitation consisting of usual care augmented with a large number of upper limb robot-assisted sessions (54 ± 13 sessions). METHODS Retrospective study in 10 inpatients. RESULTS The results showed a gradual decrease in motor and functional impairments throughout the training period with a clinically meaningful increase in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores and in the Motor Status Scores (1st vs 37th day of the training, FMA,+ 48%, p = 0.018, MSS,+ 64%, p = 0.012; 37th vs. 79th day, FMA,+ 23%, p = 0.012, MSS,+ 30%, p = 0.017). In addition, there were improvements in hand kinematics recorded by the robot during a pointing task, with quantitative improvement (1st vs 40th day, movement efficacy,+ 97%, p = 0.0499; hand velocity,+ 335%, p = 0.013) prior to qualitative improvement (1st vs 80th day, number of hand trajectory reversals, -50%, p = 0.028; root mean square error of the trajectory/linear displacement, -52%, p = 0.059). CONCLUSIONS Although this study was a retrospective analysis of a small sample of patients, the results suggested that a prolonged period of intensive upper limb rehabilitation, including robot-assisted training incorporated into a multidisciplinary program throughout the subacute phase after stroke resulted in significant improvements in patients with moderate to severe motor impairments.
Sclerostin inhibition promotes TNF-dependent inflammatory joint destruction

Blocking the Wnt inhibitor sclerostin leads to inflammatory joint destruction through enhanced activation of TNF receptor–mediated signaling, implicating sclerostin as protective in TNFα-dependent chronic inflammation. A surprising role for sclerostin in arthritis Antibodies that block the activity of sclerostin, a bone destruction molecule, are in clinical trials for the treatment of osteoporosis. But these antibodies may not be safe for certain patients: those with inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Wehmeyer et al. were surprised to find that sclerostin inhibition did not stop bone loss and actually aggravated disease in an animal model of RA that was dependent on tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα); two other rodent RA models with minimal or no dependence on this inflammatory cytokine were unaffected. The authors found that sclerostin blocks TNFα-induced p38 and NFκB activation—key steps in RA development. Thus, sclerostin appears to have a protective role in TNF-mediated chronic inflammation, and inhibiting it would be contraindicated in a subset of RA patients. This study therefore has immediate implications for current clinical trials involving patients with inflammatory bone loss. Sclerostin, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, has anti-anabolic effects on bone formation by negatively regulating osteoblast differentiation. Mutations in the human sclerostin gene (SOST) lead to sclerosteosis with progressive skeletal overgrowth, whereas sclerostin-deficient (Sost−/−) mice exhibit increased bone mass and strength. Therefore, antibody-mediated inhibition of sclerostin is currently being clinically evaluated for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in humans. We report that in chronic TNFα (tumor necrosis factor α)–dependent arthritis, fibroblast-like synoviocytes constitute a major source of sclerostin and that either the lack of sclerostin or its antibody-mediated inhibition leads to an acceleration of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)–like disease in human TNFα transgenic (hTNFtg) mice with enhanced pannus formation and joint destruction. Inhibition of sclerostin also failed to improve clinical signs and joint destruction in the partially TNFα-dependent glucose-6-phosphate isomerase–induced arthritis mouse model, but ameliorated disease severity in K/BxN serum transfer–induced arthritis mouse model, which is independent of TNF receptor signaling, thus suggesting a specific role for sclerostin in TNFα signaling. Sclerostin effectively blocked TNFα- but not interleukin-1–induced activation of p38, a key step in arthritis development, pointing to a previously unrealized protective role of sclerostin in TNF-mediated chronic inflammation. The possibility of anti-sclerostin antibody treatment worsening clinical RA outcome under chronic TNFα-dependent inflammatory conditions in mice means that caution should be taken both when considering such treatment for inflammatory bone loss in RA and when using anti-sclerostin antibodies in patients with TNFα-dependent comorbidities.
Early loading at 21 days of non-submerged titanium implants with a chemically modified sandblasted and acid-etched surface: 3-year results of a prospective study in the posterior mandible.

BACKGROUND This study evaluates 3-year success rates of titanium screw-type implants with a chemically modified sandblasted and acid-etched surface (mod SLA), which were functionally loaded after 3 weeks of healing. METHODS A total of 56 implants, inserted in the posterior mandibles of 39 partially edentulous patients, underwent undisturbed healing for 3 weeks. At day 21, the implants were fully loaded with provisional crowns. Definitive metal ceramic restorations were fabricated after 6 months of healing. Clinical measurements regarding soft tissue parameters and radiographs were obtained at different time points up to 36 months after implant placement. The soft tissue and radiographic parameters for the mod SLA implants after 3 years in function were compared to a historic control group of implants with an SLA surface using an early loading protocol after 6 weeks. RESULTS None of the implants failed to integrate. However, two implants were considered "spinners" at day 21 and were left unloaded for an extended period. Therefore, 96.4% of the inserted implants were loaded according to the protocol tested. All 56 implants, including the "spinners," showed favorable clinical and radiographic findings at the 3-year follow-up examination. All 56 implants were considered successfully integrated, resulting in a 3-year survival and success rate of 100%. Dental implants with a mod SLA surface demonstrated statistically significant differences for probing depths and clinical attachment level values compared to the historic control group, with the mod SLA surface implants having overall lower probing depths and clinical attachment level scores. CONCLUSION This prospective study using an early loading protocol demonstrates that titanium implants with the mod SLA surface can achieve and maintain successful tissue integration over a period of 3 years.
Towards real-time detection of myocardial infarction by digital analysis of electrocardiograms

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most common sudden-onset heart diseases. Early diagnosis and management of heart ischemia result in good prognosis. Early changes in the heart muscle activity after ischemia reflect in ST segment elevation on electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings. With the development of signal processing techniques and the portable devices, there is a need to develop a real-time algorithm that accurately detects MI non-invasively. In this paper, we propose a computer algorithm that employs digital analysis scheme towards the real-time detection of MI. The proposed algorithm extract features based on clinical diagnosis conditions allowing the continuous analysis of ST segment and simultaneous detection of abnormal heart activity resulting from MI. Using an online ECG library of patient data, the signals were filtered for high frequency noise, baseline drift then features of interest (Q, R, S waves and J points) were extracted. These were used to measure the ST segment elevation and depression as an important indicator of MI defined in clinical guideline for MI diagnosis. The developed algorithm was capable of detecting MI with 85% sensitivity and 100% specificity in a test set of 40 ECG recordings.
The Effect of Workload on Biological Monitoring of Occupational Exposure to Toluene and N-Hexane: Contribution of Physiologically Based Toxicokinetic Modeling

A physiologically based toxicokinetic model was used to examine the impact of work load on the relationship between the airborne concentrations and exposure indicator levels of two industrial solvents, toluene and n-Hexane. The authors simulated occupational exposure (8 hr/day, 5 days/week) at different concentrations, notably 20 ppm and 50 ppm, which are the current threshold limit values recommended by ACGIH® for toluene and n-hexane, respectively. Different levels of physical activity, namely, rest, 25 W, and 50 W (for 12 hr followed by 12 hr at rest) were simulated to assess the impact of work load on the recommended biological exposure indices: toluene in blood prior to the last shift of the workweek, urinary o-cresol (a metabolite of toluene) at the end of the shift, and free (nonhydrolyzed) 2,5-hexanedione (a metabolite of n-hexane) at the end of the shift at the end of the workweek. In addition, urinary excretion of unchanged toluene was simulated. The predicted biological concentrations were compared with the results of both experimental studies among human volunteers and field studies among workers. The highest predicted increase with physical exercise was noted for toluene in blood (39 μg/L at 50 W vs. 14 μg/L at rest for 20 ppm, i.e., a 2.8-fold increase). The end-of-shift urinary concentrations of o-cresol and toluene were two times higher at 50 W than at rest (for 20 ppm, 0.65 vs. 0.33 mg/L for o-cresol and 43 vs. 21 μg/L for toluene). Urinary 2,5-hexanedione predicted for 50 ppm was 1.07 mg/L at 50 W and 0.92 mg/L at rest (+16%). The simulations that best describe the concentrations among workers exposed to toluene are those corresponding to 25 W or less. In conclusion, toxicokinetic modeling confirms the significant impact of work load on toluene exposure indicators, whereas only a very slight effect is noted on n-hexane kinetics. These results highlight the necessity of taking work load into account in risk assessment relative to toluene exposure.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus CROSS Technique With 100% Trichloroacetic Acid Versus Combined Skin Needling and Platelet Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scars: A Comparative Study

BACKGROUND Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous preparation of platelets in concentrated plasma that may be beneficial in the treatment of atrophic acne scars by promoting collagen deposition. Skin needling is a technique that uses a sterile dermaroller to puncture the skin and release growth factors. The combination of skin needling and PRP could enhance the efficacy of both modalities. Chemical reconstruction of skin scars technique consists of focal application of high concentration of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) on the acne scars to stimulate collagen production. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intradermal injection of PRP, 100% focal TCA, and combined skin needling plus topical PRP in the treatment of atrophic acne scars. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-five patients with atrophic acne scars were randomly assigned to 3 equal groups; Group A received intradermal injection of PRP, Group B received chemical reconstruction of skin scars technique with TCA 100%, and Group C was treated by combined skin needling and PRP. Each patient underwent 3 sessions at 2-week interval. RESULTS All the patients completed the study. The 3 groups showed statistically highly significant improvement in the degree of acne scars after treatment (p < .001). No major adverse effects were observed in the studied groups. CONCLUSION This is the first study to use intradermal injection of PRP alone for the treatment of atrophic acne scars. The 3 modalities showed a promising efficacy and safety in the treatment of atrophic acne scars.
An exploration of the promotion signaling distortion

Beginning with Waldman (Rand 1984), it is well understood that in a world characterized by asymmetric learning promotions can serve as a signal of worker ability which can, in turn, lead to an inefficiently small number of promotions. In this paper we explore two related issues. First, how robust is the finding of a promotion signaling distortion to different ways of modeling the promotion process? Second, what are the various forms that the promotion signaling distortion can take? Our first conclusion is that a promotion signaling distortion exists across a wide range of settings, including some for which earlier work suggests no distortion. Our second conclusion is that, even if there is no inefficiency concerning the number of promotions, there can still be a promotion distortion that takes the form of inefficiencies concerning who is promoted.
Strategies for Enrolling Diverse Older Women in an Osteoporosis Trial

Objectives: This study reviewed a consumer-oriented process for recruiting research volunteers age 65 or older for an osteoporosis clinical trial. Methods: Odds ratios were used to estimate the relative importance of methods to enroll research volunteers from three racial or ethnic groups. Results: Nine hundred and four women were screened; 168 African American, White, and Hispanic women enrolled. Mailings and media were effective when the target population was large and knowledgeable about the disease and treatment being investigated. Efficiency of mailings was increased when individuals in the mailing list were familiar with research and the research center. An interpersonal approach was more effective than a media-based approach when the target population was small, unaware of their personal risk of the disease, and unfamiliar with research and research center. Discussion: Information on the characteristics of potential volunteers and their communities will enable readers to evaluate the applicability of recruitment methods used.