Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of bazedoxifene on mammographic breast density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Objective: This study aimed to assess quantitative changes in mammographic breast density after 24 months of therapy with bazedoxifene compared with raloxifene or placebo in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Methods: This was a retrospective, ancillary study of a subset of women enrolled in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo- and active-controlled phase 3 trial evaluating bazedoxifene for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Participants were randomly assigned to receive bazedoxifene 20 or 40 mg, raloxifene 60 mg, or placebo once daily for 3 years. To be eligible for breast density evaluation, participants had to be 62 years or younger and completed 24 months of treatment, with mammograms at baseline and 24 months. Original mammogram pairs (left craniocaudal views) for each participant were digitized and analyzed by a radiologist. Breast density was measured using interactive thresholding to segment the mammogram, and percent density was determined using a validated software program. Results: Mammogram pairs were obtained from 444 participants. Baseline and demographic characteristics were similar among groups (mean age, 58.7 y). After 24 months, the mean percent changes in breast density from baseline were low (bazedoxifene 20 mg, −1.2%; bazedoxifene 40 mg, −0.4%; raloxifene 60 mg, −0.5%; placebo, −0.2%) and not significantly different among groups. Conclusions: Treatment with bazedoxifene for 2 years did not affect age-related changes in breast density in this population of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The changes in breast density with bazedoxifene 20 or 40 mg were similar to those with raloxifene 60 mg or placebo.
Thermocompaction decreases long-term push-out bond strength of methacrylate-based sealers

Abstract Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate and long-term bond strengths to root dentin of Epiphany/Resilon and AH Plus/gutta-percha fillings, after using either lateral condensation or Tagger’s hybrid thermomechanical compaction techniques. Materials and methods. Eighty human single-rooted teeth were used. The root canals were prepared by means of hand crown-down technique up to a #45 K-file and irrigation with 1% sodium hypochlorite was performed. Samples were randomly divided into eight (n = 10) experimental groups divided according to filling material (gutta-percha/AH Plus and Resilon/Epiphany), obturation technique (Lateral compaction and Tagger’s hybrid thermomechanical compaction) and storage time (24 h and 6 months). During storage, the samples were kept at 37°C and 100% humidity. After the two experimental periods, each root was sectioned perpendicular to its long axis into three serial slices and push-out tests were carried out using a universal testing machine. Statistical significant differences were set by ANOVA and Tuckey post-hoc (p < 0.05). Results. Using thermocompaction technique, the samples filled with Epiphany/Resilon decreased significantly the bond strength after a 6 months storage-period (p < 0.05) and the ones filled with AH Plus/gutta-percha presented a tendency to lower values of the push-out test, although not statistically significant. For both materials, dentin bond strength of the specimens filled by means of lateral condensation remained stable throughout the experimental periods. Conclusion. Under the limitations of the current study, it can be concluded that the thermocompaction technique and the storage time can inﬂuence push-out bond strength when used with methacrylate-based sealers.
DNA Methylome Analyses Implicate Fallopian Tube Epithelia as the Origin for High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) is the most common and lethal form of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Two distinct tissues have been suggested as the tissue of origin: ovarian surface epithelia (OSE) and fallopian tube epithelia (FTE). We hypothesized that the DNA methylome of HGSC should more closely resemble the methylome of its tissue of origin. To this end, we profiled HGSC (n = 10), and patient-matched OSE and FTE (n = 5) primary fresh-frozen tissues, and analyzed the DNA methylome using Illumina 450K arrays (n = 20) and Agilent Sure Select methyl-seq (n = 7). Methylomes were compared using statistical analyses of differentially methylated CpG sites (DMC) and differentially methylated regions (DMR). In addition, methylation was evaluated within a variety of different genomic contexts, including CpG island shores and Homeobox (HOX) genes, due to their roles in tissue specification. Publicly available HGSC methylome data (n = 628) were interrogated to provide additional comparisons with FTE and OSE for validation. These analyses revealed that HGSC and FTE methylomes are significantly and consistently more highly conserved than are HGSC and OSE. Pearson correlations and hierarchal clustering of genes, promoters, CpG islands, CpG island shores, and HOX genes all revealed increased relatedness of HGSC and FTE methylomes. Thus, these findings reveal that the landscape of FTE more closely resembles HGSC, the most common and deadly EOC subtype. Implications: DNA methylome analyses support the hypothesis that HGSC arise from the fallopian tube and that due to its tissue-specificity and biochemical stability, interrogation of the methylome may be a valuable approach to examine cell/tissue lineage in cancer. Mol Cancer Res; 14(9); 787–94. ©2016 AACR.
The Eyes Have it: A Perceptual Investigation of Eyespots

Previous work with non-human species has shown that eyespots function as sign stimuli for defensive behaviour. But it is unknown to what extent eyespots are a dominant feature of objects for human perceptual responses. We examined whether young children perceive eyespots as a dominant object feature. One hundred and nineteen children from the first, second, and third grades were presented with small manikins, called “Joopes” that varied in the number, type, and arrangement of facial features. Four kinds of Joope heads were used: single element (eyes, mouth, or beak only), monovalent (spatially concordant eyes and mouth, or eyes and beak), ambivalent (asymmetrical eyes and beak, or eyes and mouth), and cyclopean (single eye with orthogonal beak). Two task groups (Peepers and Gobs) ‘helped’ the Joopes to either ‘see’ their food or ‘eat’ it, by placing food in one of 24 feeding dishes. Results indicated that responses made to the ambivalent Joopes differed, with greater ‘drift’ shown by the ‘eating’ group towards the ‘seeing’ responses than by the ‘seeing’ group towards the ‘eating’ responses. The dominant role of eyespots was thus confirmed for children in the second and third grades, but response inconsistencies in the youngest group suggested difficulties in handling incongruent stimuli. The implications of these results for understanding basic perceptual processes are discussed.
Expression of a chimeric ribozyme gene results in endonucleolytic cleavage of target mRNA and a concomitant reduction of gene expression in vivo.

The subclass of catalytic RNAs termed ribozymes cleave specific target RNA sequences in vitro. Only circumstantial evidence supports the idea that ribozymes may also act in vivo. In this study, ribozymes with a hammerhead motif directed against a target sequence within the mRNA of the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (npt) were embedded into a functional chimeric gene. Two genes, one containing the ribozyme and the other producing the target, were cotransfected into plant protoplasts. Following in vivo expression, a predefined cleavage product of the target mRNA was detected by ribonuclease protection. Expression of both the ribozyme gene and the target gene was driven by the CaMV 35S promoter. Concomitant with the endonucleolytic cleavage of the target mRNA, a complete reduction of NPT activity was observed. An A to G substitution within the ribozyme domain completely inactivates ribozyme‐mediated hydrolysis but still shows a reduction in NPT activity, albeit less pronounced. Therefore, the reduction of NPT activity produced by the active ribozyme is best explained by both hydrolytic cleavage and an antisense effect. However, the mutant ribozyme‐‐target complex was more stable than the wildtype ribozyme‐‐target complex. This may result in an overestimation of the antisense effect contributing to the overall reduction of gene expression.
Perioperative change in peripheral blood monocyte count may predict prognosis in patients with colorectal liver metastasis after hepatic resection

Prognostic value of perioperative change in peripheral blood leukocyte subset count of cancer patients have not been fully investigated. Therefore, we retrospectively investigated the relation between perioperative change in peripheral blood monocyte count and disease‐free as well as overall survival after hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM).
Match-fixing in European grassroots football

ABSTRACT Research question: As empirical evidence on match-fixing within the European grassroots football context is scarce, this paper seeks to demonstrate that match-fixing is a serious organizational problem for the grassroots of football. Moreover, it aims to detect protective organizational capacities – alone and in concert – against match-fixing and explain them theoretically. Research methods: Match-fixing is discussed from a sociological and economic perspective and analyzed within the organizational capacity framework. The empirical evaluation is based on n = 3004 European grassroots football clubs in five countries. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression models demonstrate the effects of organizational capacities alone and in concert. Results and Findings: Empirical evidence on scale and dispersion of the organizational problem match-fixing is provided. Results from the regression models indicate that particularly revenue diversification and socio-structural capacities are protective capacities. Implications: It is important to analyze both, individual and in concert effects of organizational capacities on the problem of match-fixing. Practical recommendations are provided.
Human immune response to an iron-repressible outer membrane protein of Bacteroides fragilis

Under conditions of iron starvation, Bacteroides fragilis expresses various iron-repressible outer membrane proteins (IROMPs). A 44-kDa protein appears to be one of the major outer membrane proteins (OMPs) in B. fragilis under iron stress and plays a role in heme uptake by this bacterium. To determine whether the 44-kDa IROMP of B. fragilis is expressed in vivo and whether this protein is immunogenic, we used Western immunoblotting to examine serum samples from patients with an infection caused by Bacteroides species. All the serum samples from patients and from normal controls showed reactivity with several proteins of B. fragilis. Only serum samples from patients infected with B. fragilis showed immunoreactivity with the 44-kDa protein. We also used a rat infection model to study the immune response against this protein during the process of an intra-abdominal infection in these animals. During the first 8 days of infection a gradual increase of antibodies to the 44-kDa protein in the rat was detected. These results suggest that the 44-kDa IROMP is expressed in vivo, since it induces an antibody response in patients and animals. We also analyzed 85 strains of the B. fragilis group for the presence of proteins antigenically related to the B. fragilis 44-kDa protein. The data indicate that this protein was conserved in B. fragilis strains and was absent in the other bacterial strains tested.
A Study of Tea Tree Oil Ototoxicity

Tea tree oil shows promise as an effective treatment for a number of micro-organisms commonly associated with otitis externa and otitis media, but its possible ototoxicity has not been previously assessed. The ototoxicity of tea tree oil was examined in the guinea pig by measuring the thresholds of the compound auditory nerve action potential (CAP) to tone bursts before and after instillation of the oil into the middle ear. After 30 min of instillation, 100% tea tree oil caused a partial CAP threshold elevation at 20 kHz. A lower concentration of oil [2% tea tree oil dissolved in saline using 0.5% detergent (Tween-80)] did not cause any significant lasting threshold change after middle ear instillation for the same period of time. The latter concentration of oil is greater than the minimum inhibitory concentration reported for most micro-organisms in the effective spectrum of the oil and this suggests that this concentration may be safe and effective provided only short exposures (about 30 min) are used. The results suggest that high concentrations of tea tree oil applied to the round window for a relatively short time are to some extent ototoxic to the high-frequency region of the cochlea. Hence further study is needed to establish whether tea tree oil can be used with safety in the treatment of external and middle ear infections.
Global regulation by the small RNA‐binding protein CsrA and the non‐coding RNA molecule CsrB

Csr (carbon storage regulator) is a recently discovered global regulatory system that controls bacterial gene expression post‐transcriptionally. Its effector is a small RNA‐binding protein referred to as CsrA or, in phytopathogenic Erwinia species, RsmA (repressor of stationary phase metabolites). Numerous genes whose expression occurs in the stationary phase of growth are repressed by csrA/rsmA, and csrA activates certain exponential‐phase metabolic pathways. Glycogen synthesis and catabolism, gluconeogenesis, glycolysis, motility, cell surface properties and adherence are modulated by csrA in Escherichia coli, while the production of several secreted virulence factors, the plant hypersensitive response elicitor HrpNEcc and, potentially, other secondary metabolites are regulated by rsmA in Erwinia carotovora. CsrA represses glycogen synthesis by binding to and destabilizing glgCAP mRNA and is hypothesized to repress other genes by a similar mechanism. The second component of the Csr system is CsrB (AepH in Erwinia species), a non‐coding RNA molecule that forms a large globular ribonucleoprotein complex with approximately 18 CsrA subunits and antagonizes the effects of CsrA in vivoHighly repeated sequence elements found within the loops of predicted stem–loops and other single‐stranded segments of CsrB RNA may facilitate CsrA binding. Current information supports a model in which CsrA exists in an equilibrium between CsrB and CsrA‐regulated mRNAs, which predicts that CsrB levels may be a key determinant of CsrA activity in the cell. The presence of csrA homologues in phylogenetically diverse species further suggests that this novel kind of regulatory system is likely to play a broad role in modulating eubacterial gene expression.
The need to quantify right-to-left shunt in acute ischemic stroke: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Although right-to-left shunt (RLSh) has been reported to be significantly more frequent in young stroke patients with cryptogenic stroke, its relevance in a nonselected population of acute ischemic stroke is not well known. The aim of this study was to determine the importance of the RLSh magnitude as a risk factor for stroke in nonselected patients. METHODS Two hundred eight patients hospitalized consecutively with transient ischemic attack or acute cerebral infarction and 100 healthy control subjects were studied. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) was performed in both middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) after intravenous application of agitated saline solution. The magnitude of RLSh was quantified by counting the number of signals in 1 MCA during a Valsalva maneuver. RLSh was classified as "no shunt," "small" (< 10 signals), and "large" (> 10 signals), with the latter including the "shower" (> 25 signals) and "curtain" (uncountable signals) patterns. Extensive investigations, including contrast transesophageal echocardiography, were carried out on patients diagnosed as suffering from stroke of an uncertain etiology. The importance of RLSh for stroke was assessed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Contrast TCD detected a large RLSh in 40 (19.7%) patients and in 21 (21%) control subjects, all with cardiac RLSh characteristics. A large RLSh was present in 4.7% of atherothrombotic strokes, 10.5% of cardioembolic strokes, 15.4% of lacunar strokes, and 45.3% of cryptogenic strokes (P<0.001). Although the overall frequency of RLSh was not significantly different between patients and control subjects, the detection of curtain or shower patterns by contrast TCD was associated with a higher risk of stroke (odds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.29 to 9.87), particularly with cryptogenic stroke (odds ratio, 12.4; 95% confidence interval, 4.08 to 38.09) after adjustment for concomitant vascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS It is essential to quantify RLSh by contrast TCD during the Valsalva maneuver given that only those with shower and curtain patterns are associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke in a nonselected population.
Inhibition of p42 MAPK using a nonviral vector-delivered siRNA potentiates the anti-tumor effect of metformin in prostate cancer cells.

AIMS The aim of this work was to study if a G1-polyamidoamine dendrimer/siRNA dendriplex can remove the p42 MAPK protein in prostate cancer cells and to potentiate the anti-tumoral effect of the antidiabetic drug metformin and taxane docetaxel. MATERIAL & METHODS The dendriplex uptake was studied using flow cytometry analysis. Transfection efficiency was determined by measuring p42 MAPK mRNA and protein levels. Anti-tumoral effects were determined by measuring cellular proliferation and damage. RESULTS The dendriplex siRNA/G1-polyamidoamine dendrimer decreased both p42 MAPK mRNA and protein levels by more than 80%, which potentiates the anti-tumoral effects of metformin. CONCLUSION Blockade of the MAPK pathway using a dendrimer-vehiculized siRNA to block the MAPK signaling pathway in prostate cancer cells can potentiate the anti-tumoral activity of anticancer drugs, indicating that the combination of siRNA-mediated blockade of survival signals plus anti-tumoral therapy might be a useful approach for cancer therapy.
Postpartum hemorrhage from non-uterine arteries: clinical importance of their detection and the results of selective embolization

Background Identification of the source of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is important for embolization because PPH frequently originates from non-uterine arteries. Purpose To evaluate the clinical importance of identifying the non-uterine arteries causing the PPH and the results of their selective embolization. Material and Methods This retrospective study enrolled 59 patients who underwent embolization for PPH from June 2009 to July 2016. Angiographic findings and medical records were reviewed to determine whether non-uterine arteries contributed to PPH. Arteries showing extravasation or hypertrophy accompanying uterine hypervascular staining were regarded as sources of the PPH. The results of their embolization were analyzed. Results Of 59 patients, 19 (32.2%) underwent embolization of non-uterine arteries. These arteries were ovarian (n = 7), vaginal (n = 5), round ligament (n = 5), inferior epigastric (n = 3), cervical (n = 2), internal pudendal (n = 2), vesical (n = 1), and rectal (n = 1) arteries. The embolic materials used included n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n = 9), gelatin sponge particles (n = 8), gelatin sponge particles with microcoils (n = 1), and polyvinyl alcohol particles (n = 1). In 13 patients, bilateral uterine arterial embolization was performed. Re-embolization was performed in two patients with persistent bleeding. Hemostasis was achieved in 17 (89.5%) patients. Two patients underwent immediate hysterectomy due to persistent bleeding. One patient experienced a major complication due to pelvic organ ischemia. One patient underwent delayed hysterectomy for uterine infarction four months later. Conclusion Non-uterine arteries are major sources of PPH. Detection and selective embolization are important for successful hemostasis.
[Relationship between antibacterial activity of aloe and its anthaquinone compounds].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between the antibacterial activity of aloe and its contents of anthaquinone compounds, measure and compale antibacterial activities of aloin and aloe-emodin, and analyse the effect of glycoside on the antibacterial activity of aloin. METHOD The antibacterial activities of the extracts from the outer leaf of Aloe saponaria Haw, aloin and aloe-emodin against three Gram-negative and two Gram-positive bacteria were investigated with the method of agar diffusion. The antibacterial effect of aloin on E. coli was further studied with scanning electron microscopy. RESULT The antibacterial activities of aloe showed to be dependent on the dose of anthraquinone, aloin (1 g x L(-1)) exhibited higher antibacterial activity [inhibition diameter > (7. 1 +/- 0.15) mm] than Aloe-emodin (inhibition diameter < 5.0 mm), and aloin changed the morphology of E. coli and damaged the outer cell structrue. CONCLUSION Anthraquinone compounds are the active antibacterial components in aloe and aloin is the main active compound. The glycoside makes it easy for aloin to invade cells and enhances its activity.
Longitudinal association between adolescent attachment, adult romantic attachment, and emotion regulation strategies

Attachment security towards parents and peers in adolescence, and romantic attachment styles and emotion regulation strategies in young adulthood, were evaluated using an eight-year longitudinal design. Fifty-six young adults completed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA) at age 14, and then, at age 22, the Experience in Close Relationships (ECR) and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), an emotion regulation questionnaire concerning coping strategies, including task-oriented versus emotion-oriented foci. Results indicated that greater insecurity to parents and peers in adolescence predicted a more anxious romantic attachment style and greater use of emotion-oriented strategies in adulthood. Concurrently, anxious adult attachment style was related to more emotion-oriented strategies, whereas an avoidant attachment style was related to less support-seeking. Analyses also identified emotion-oriented coping strategies as a partial mediator of the link between adolescent attachment insecurity to parents and adult anxious attachment, and a complete mediator of the association between adolescent attachment insecurity to peers and adult anxious attachment. These findings support the core assumption of continuity in attachment theory, where relationships to parents influence close romantic relationships in adulthood.