Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptation of Problem-Solving Treatment for Prevention of Depression Among Low-Income, Culturally Diverse Mothers

Adapting evidence-based interventions to be more accessible and culturally sensitive to the needs of diverse populations is a potential strategy to address disparities in mental health care. We adapted an evidence-based depression-treatment strategy, Problem-Solving Treatment, to prevent depression among low-income mothers with vulnerable children. Intervention adaptations spanned 3 domains: (1) the intervention's new prevention focus, (2) conducting a parent-focused intervention in venues oriented to children; and (3) cultural competency. The feasibility of adaptations was assessed through 2 pilot-randomized trials (n = 93), which demonstrated high participant adherence, satisfaction, and retention, demonstrating the feasibility of our adaptations.
Aerobic Exercise Promotes a Decrease in Right Ventricle Apoptotic Proteins in Experimental Cor Pulmonale

Abstract: Pulmonary arterial hypertension is characterized by progressive increases in resistance and pressure in the pulmonary artery and Cor pulmonale. The effect of exercise on hydrogen peroxide–dependent signaling in the right ventricle (RV) of Cor pulmonale rats was analyzed. Rats were divided into sedentary control (SC), sedentary monocrotaline (SM), trained control (TC), and trained monocrotaline (TM) groups. Rats underwent exercise training (60% of VO2 max) for 5 weeks, with 3 weeks after monocrotaline injection (60 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Pulmonary resistance was enhanced in SM (2.0-fold) compared with SC. Pulmonary artery pressure was increased in SM (2.7-fold) and TM (2.6-fold) compared with their respective controls (SC and TC). RV hypertrophy indexes increased in SM compared with SC. Hydrogen peroxide was higher in SM (1.7-fold) than SC and was reduced by 47% in TM compared with SM. p-Akt was increased in TM (2.98-fold) compared with SM. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase 3 were also increased (2.9-fold and 3.9-fold, respectively) in SM compared with SC. Caspase 3 was decreased in TM compared with SM (P < 0.05). Therefore, exercise training promoted a beneficial response by decreasing hydrogen peroxide concentrations, and consequently, apoptotic signaling in RV.
Triiodo-L-Thyronine Promotes the Maturation of Cardiomyocytes Derived From Rat Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Abstract: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) can differentiate into cardiomyocytes and be used in cardiac tissue engineering for heart regeneration. However, the effective clinical application of cardiomyocytes derived from BMMSCs is limited because of their immature phenotype. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) to drive cardiomyocytes derived from BMMSCs to a more mature state. BMMSCs were divided into 3 groups: untreated controls, differentiated, and T3 treated. The differentiation potential was evaluated by immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Data were represented as the numbers of cells positive for the troponin I (cTnI), &agr;-actinin, GATA4, and the connexin-43 (Cx-43). The mRNA levels of these specific markers of cardiomyocytes were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The levels of cardiomyocytes markers protein and octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct-4) were determined by Western blot analyses. Our data demonstrate that T3 treatment leads to a significant increase in cells positive for cTnI, GATA4, Cx-43, and &agr;-actinin. The mRNA and protein expression levels of these specific markers of cardiomyocytes were also increased after T3 treatment. At the same time, the protein expression level of Oct-4 was substantially downregulated in T3-treated cells. These results demonstrate that T3 treatment increases the differentiation of BMMSCs induced to cardiomyocytes and promotes their maturation.
Interferon γ Enhances the Effectiveness of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis–Inducing Ligand Receptor Agonists in a Xenograft Model of Ewing’s Sarcoma

Tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces selective apoptosis in a variety of tumors, including most cell lines derived from Ewing’s sarcoma family of tumors, an aggressive sarcoma that afflicts children and young adults. To determine the in vivo efficacy of TRAIL receptor agonists in Ewing’s sarcoma family of tumors, mice with orthotopic xenografts were treated with anti-TRAIL-R2 monoclonal antibody or TRAIL/Apo2L in a model that can identify effects on both primary tumors and metastases. Administration of either agonist slowed tumor growth in 60% of animals and induced durable remissions in 11 to 19% but did not alter the incidence of metastatic disease. Response rates were not improved by concurrent doxorubicin treatment. Cells recovered from both TRAIL receptor agonist–treated and nontreated tumors were found to be resistant to TRAIL-induced death in vitro unless pretreated with interferon (IFN) γ. This resistance coincided with a selective down-regulation of TRAIL receptor expression on tumor cells. In vivo treatment with IFNγ increased tumor expression of TRAIL receptors and caspase 8, but did not increase the antitumor effect of TRAIL receptor agonists on primary tumors. However, IFNγ treatment alone or in combination with a TRAIL receptor agonist significantly decreased the incidence of metastatic disease and the combination of TRAIL receptor agonist therapy with IFNγ-mediated impressive effects on both primary tumors and metastatic disease. These data demonstrate that in vivo growth favors TRAIL resistance but that TRAIL receptor agonists are active in Ewing’s sarcoma family of tumors and that the combination of TRAIL receptor agonists with IFNγ is a potent regimen in this disease capable of controlling both primary and metastatic tumors.
Day zero quantitative mRNA analysis as a prognostic marker in pulmonary tuberculosis category II patients on treatment.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis m-RNA quantitation in sputum of pulmonary tuberculosis patients before starting supervised treatment was evaluated as a surrogate for response. Sputum specimens were collected from 50 patients (DOTS category II treatment; 303 specimens, day 0 to fourth month) and 16 controls (non-tubercular lung disorders). Microscopy, reverse-transcriptase PCR and DNA-PCR were compared with culture using the BACTEC 460 system. TaqMan real-time RT-PCR quantitated the mRNA levels. RT-PCR (sensitivity, 10 organisms/mL) and culture results were concordant. mRNA declined with time and correlated with culture clearance. Thirty-nine (78%) patients were smear, culture and RT-PCR negative at 2 months of treatment. Day 0 mRNA levels had statistically significant correlation with time to culture conversion and drug resistance (p 0.041). Of seven patients with sensitive isolates but high m-RNA levels, four presented with re-infection/mixed infection later, while three presented with relapse (ninth to twentieth month). The control group specimens were negative for the above tests. M. tuberculosis mRNA in the sputum is a useful prognostic marker and its quantitation an early and reliable indicator for monitoring response, prediction of culture conversion, drug resistance, re-infection and relapse. mRNA quantitation may prove to be of great value for evaluating the response to new drugs under trial.
Mitochondrial DNA Variability in Slovaks, with Application to the Roma Origin

To gain insight into the mitochondrial gene pool diversity of European populations, we studied mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variability in 207 subjects from western and eastern areas of Slovakia. Sequencing of two hypervariable segments, HVS I and HVS II, in combination with screening of coding region haplogroup‐specific RFLP‐markers, revealed that the majority of Slovak mtDNAs belong to the common West Eurasian mitochondrial haplogroups (HV, J, T, U, N1, W, and X). However, a few sub‐Saharan African (L2a) mtDNAs were detected in a population from eastern part of Slovakia. In addition, about 3% of mtDNAs from eastern Slovakia encompass Roma‐specific lineages. By means of complete mtDNA sequencing we demonstrate here that the Roma‐specific M‐lineages observed in gene pools of different Slavonic populations (Slovaks, Poles and Russians), belong to Indian‐specific haplogroups M5a1 and M35. Moreover, we show that haplogroup J lineages found in gene pools of the Roma and some Slavonic populations (Czechs and Slovaks) belong to new subhaplogroup J1a, which is defined by coding region mutation at position 8460.
Preconditioning and Postconditioning by Cardiac Glycosides in the Mouse Heart

Ouabain preconditioning (OPC) initiated by low concentrations of the cardiac glycoside (CG) ouabain binding to Na/KATPase is relayed by a unique intracellular signaling and protects cardiac myocytes against ischemia/reperfusion injury. To explore more clinically applicable protocols based on CG properties, we tested whether the FDA-approved CG digoxin could trigger cardioprotective effects comparable with those of ouabain using PC, preconditioning and PostC, postconditioning protocols in the Langendorff-perfused mouse heart subjected to global ischemia and reperfusion. Ouabain or digoxin at 10 mmol/L inhibited Na/KATPase activity by approximately 30% and activated PKCe translocation by approximately 50%. Digoxin-induced PC (DigPC), initiated by a transient exposure before 40 minutes of ischemia, was as effective as OPC as suggested by the recovery of left ventricular developed pressure, end-diastolic pressure, and cardiac Na/KATPase activity after 30 minutes of reperfusion. DigPC also significantly decreased lactate dehydrogenase release and reduced infarct size, comparable with OPC. PostC protocols consisting of a single bolus injection of 100 nmoles of ouabain or digoxin in the coronary tree at the beginning of reperfusion both improved significantly the recovery of left ventricular developed pressure and decreased lactate dehydrogenase release, demonstrating a functional and structural protection comparable with the one provided by OPC. Given the unique signaling triggered by OPC, these results suggest that DigPostC could be considered for patients with risk factors and/or concurrent treatments that may limit effectiveness of ischemic PostC.
Social support and psychological adjustment to SARS: The mediating role of self-care self-efficacy

The study tested the model of perceived support from medical staff and family/friends on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) survivors’ mental health as mediated by self-care self-efficacy. One hundred and forty-three SARS survivors recruited from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority following 18 months recovery were surveyed by trained interviewers using structured questionnaires. Based on structural equation modeling, findings showed that self-care self-efficacy completely mediated the effects of perceived medical staff support and perceived family/friends support on mental health status. The model achieved a satisfactory fit, CFI = 0.98, NNFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.06, and explained 75.2% of the variance in mental health status. The study is the first attempt in understanding long-term psychological adjustment of SARS survivors. Findings may be applicable to other infectious disease outbreaks in informing psychosocial factors that are important to long-term recovery.
A Variable‐Sized Sliding‐Window Approach for Genetic Association Studies via Principal Component Analysis

Recently with the rapid improvements in high‐throughout genotyping techniques, researchers are facing the very challenging task of analysing large‐scale genetic associations, especially at the whole‐genome level, without an optimal solution. In this study, we propose a new approach for genetic association analysis that is based on a variable‐sized sliding‐window framework and employs principal component analysis to find the optimum window size. With the help of the bisection algorithm in window‐size searching, our method is more computationally efficient than available approaches. We evaluate the performance of the proposed method by comparing it with two other methods—a single‐marker method and a variable‐length Markov chain method. We demonstrate that, in most cases, the proposed method out‐performs the other two methods. Furthermore, since the proposed method is based on genotype data, it does not require any computationally intensive phasing program to account for uncertain haplotype phase.
Effect of L-2286, a Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase Inhibitor and Enalapril on Myocardial Remodeling and Heart Failure

Increased activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzyme has been implicated in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic myocardial dysfunction. We have demonstrated the protective effect of PARP inhibitors against postinfarction myocardial remodeling and heart failure. The primary aim of our recent work was to compare the effect and efficacy of a potent PARP-inhibitor (L-2286) to enalapril, a widely used angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. in experimental heart failure model. Both L-2286 and enalapril were tested in a rat model of chronic heart failure after isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. After a 12-week treatment period, echocardiography was performed, cardiac hypertrophy and interstitial collagen deposition were assessed, and the phosphorylation state of Akt-1/GSK-3β pathway as well as the PKC and MAPK kinases were determined. Both PARP and ACE inhibition reduced the progression of postinfarction heart failure by attenuating cardiac hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis. More importantly, PARP inhibition increased the activity of the prosurvival signal transduction factors (Akt-1/GSK-3β pathway, PKCϵ). Due to these effects, L-2286 improved the systolic left ventricular function. Enalapril treatment exerted a similar, but weaker protective effect against postinfarction myocardial remodeling and heart failure. In conclusion, we demonstrated in an experimental heart failure model that L-2286 decreased the postinfarction myocardial remodeling more effectively than enalapril treatment.
Heritability of Obesity‐related Phenotypes and Association with Adiponectin Gene Polymorphisms in the Chinese National Twin Registry

The purpose of this study was to estimate the heritability of obesity‐related phenotypes and investigate the association of adiponectin gene polymorphisms +45T>G and +276G>T with these measures in Chinese twins. 1260 twin pairs were recruited from two cities through the Chinese National Twin Registry System from 2001 to 2005. Two SNPs at the adiponectin locus (+45T>G and +276G>T) were genotyped. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to estimate heritability and the best‐fitting variance component model. The regular association among all twins was analysed with generalised estimating equations (GEE). Sib‐transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) within dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs discordant for their genotype was performed using SEM. Additive genetic, common and unique environmental (ACE) model‐based heritability of body mass index (BMI) was 61%, while additive genetic and unique environmental (AE)‐model‐based heritability of waist circumference (WC) and waist‐hip ratio (WHR) were 75% and 61%, respectively. There was no association of adiponectin gene +45T>G and +276G>T genotypes with obesity‐related phenotypes in all twins or discordant DZ twins. Our twins data did not support that there was an association between adiponectin gene polymorphisms +45T>G and +276G>T and the obesity‐related phenotypes. Further studies are required to better understand the role of adiponectin gene polymorphisms in obesity.
Replication of GWAS Associations for GAK and MAPT in Parkinson's Disease

In the investigation of disease aetiology, the genome‐wide association study (GWAS) provides a hypothesis‐free investigation of the broader human genome and, as with all scientific investigations, replication is essential to validate any findings. To date, six GWAS have been performed to investigate the influence of common genetic variation in Parkinson's disease (PD) and only two associations have been replicated: alpha synuclein (SNCA) and microtubule‐associated protein tau (MAPT), both PD candidate genes before GWAS. In our population‐based study, we genotyped four of the top single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from a previous study. By using the identical analytic method and genetic model in our independent sample, we provide evidence for replication of rs1724425 near MAPT (OR = 0.74, P= 0.0163) and rs1564282 in cyclin G‐associated kinase (GAK; OR = 1.61, P= 0.0151); rs3775478 of multimerin 1 (MMRN1) (P= 0.30) and rs356229 of SNCA (P= 0.14) did not replicate in our study population. While MAPT has been considered a PD candidate gene and has been observed in association with PD in other GWAS, GAK is a new candidate for investigation in future studies.
Gender role conflict and emotional approach coping in men with cancer

The utility of emotional approach coping (EAC), or expressing and processing emotions, has been equivocal for men. Gender role conflict, or the negative cognitive, emotional and behavioural consequences associated with male gender role socialisation, likely shape coping responses and may negatively affect the efficacy of men's emotion-directed coping efforts and adjustment to cancer. Perceptions of receptiveness of one's interpersonal environment may be particularly important to the effectiveness of EAC. This study examined the relationships among EAC, gender role conflict, and distress in a group of 183 men with cancer. Structural equation modelling revealed that higher gender role conflict was associated with lower emotional expression, which in turn was associated with greater distress. Gender role conflict was not related to emotional processing. Higher gender role conflict also was associated directly with more distress. In subsequent analyses, social constraints and age were examined as possible moderators of EAC. Emotional expression was related to more psychological distress for those in highly constrained environments; and emotional processing was associated with more distress with younger age. Emotional expression may be particularly affected by social influences related to gender and social receptivity. More research is needed to better distinguish constructive and unconstructive emotional processing.
End of living: maintaining a lifeworld during terminal illness

The narrative responses of 32 people with AIDS or cancer with survival prognoses of 6 months to a year to monthly interview questions about their daily lives were analysed with a team-based qualitative methodology. Two groups emerged: (a) a Maintained Lifeworld Group characterised by one or more of the following: continued engagement with family, friends, and community; the ability to relinquish untenable goals and substitute new, realistic ones; engagement in spirituality and a spiritual practice; and, (b) a Lifeworld Interrupted Group characterised by one or more of the following: relocation just before or during the study, cognitive impairment, commitment to untenable goals, ongoing substance abuse. Understanding how people with a terminal illness can maintain a lifeworld and experience well-being while also managing the physical challenges of their illness could help inform the support offered by professional and family caregivers to improve care recipients’ quality of life.
DETERMINATION AND INTERPRETATION OF CHANGES IN LUNG VOLUMES IN CERTAIN HEART LESIONS

The development of the pathology of the circulation is one of the most interesting chapters in the history of medical science, first, because the diseases of the heart always have attracted the attention of many of the foremost clinicians; secondly, because the relation between the clinical studies of these diseases and the more fundamental medical sciences early became very intimate, and, thirdly because disturbances in the circulation usually do not remain confined to the circulatory organs. When disturbancein the function of the heart or, as we now know, in the function also of the capillaries reaches a certain intensity, changes in other organs (such as the lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys and subcutaneous tissue) occur. Such remote disturbances may be brought about in different ways, and may assume different characteristic features. They may in their very beginning remain confined to the vascular part of the organs. However, if the stasis lasts
A Genome‐Wide Search for Non‐UGT1A1 Markers Associated with Unconjugated Bilirubin Level Reveals Significant Association with a Polymorphic Marker Near a Gene of the Nucleoporin Family

Variants in the UGT1A1 gene and its promoter are known to determine levels of unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), but do not explain all cases of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. To discover associations with variants in genes other than UGT1A1, we undertook a genome‐wide association study. We recruited 200 participants to cover the entire range of quantitative variation in UCB level. The data set – after data curation, including analyses for population stratification and cryptic relatedness – comprised genotypes at 512,349 SNP loci on 182 individuals. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) association analyses were performed, after adjusting the UCB level for effects of age, gender, and genotype at the dinucleotide (TA) insertion locus in UGT1A1 that is known to significantly modulate UCB level. A significant association of a polymorphic marker (rs2328136) near the NUP153 gene (which produces a 153 kDa nucleoporin) was obtained (p = 0.002, after multiple‐testing correction). The frequency of the variant allele (A) at the rs2328136 locus in our study population is 40%, higher than most global populations. NUP153, whose product is a major regulatory factor in bidirectional transport of biomolecules across nucleus to cytosol, is associated with the transport of biliverdin reductase, which is important for bilirubin conjugation.
Hot or not: Visceral influences on coping planning for weight loss attempts

The current studies aimed to examine how either or not being hungry (hot vs. cold state) affects uninformed (i.e. without specific instructions) coping planning for maintaining goal-directed behaviour in weight loss attempts. We hypothesised that being hungry is beneficial both for (1) increasing awareness of potentially challenging situations and for (2) planning how to cope with these situations. The first hypothesis was supported, whereas the second was not, as it was found that satiated participants constructed better quality coping plans than hungry participants. It appears that awareness of potentially challenging situations when hungry does not necessarily translate into better coping planning. Although coping planning appears to be a promising strategy for maintaining goal-directed behaviour, future research should focus on visceral states to improve its use.