Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Beliefs about medications: a questionnaire survey of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES To investigate beliefs about medications held by people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), what factors are related to these specific medication beliefs, and whether these beliefs influence adherence. METHODS The design was a cross-sectional postal questionnaire survey of people with RA. The Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire was used to assess beliefs about the necessity of medication and concerns about it. Questionnaires were mailed to 600 out-patients with RA. RESULTS The response rate was 57.3%. Most (74.3%) respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their arthritis medications are necessary for their health. However, 47.4% were concerned about potential adverse consequences. The overall necessity score (mean 19.2, s.d. 3.13) was higher than the concerns score (mean 15.84, s.d. 3.53; P<0.001). Greater disability was associated with higher necessity scores (r = 0.36; P<0.001). Greater helplessness correlated with higher concerns scores (r = 0.49; P<0.001). There was no association between RA knowledge and beliefs about medications (necessity scale, r = 0.02, P = 0.66; concerns scale, r=-0.08, P = 0.14). Concerns scores for non-adherent participants (mean 17.88, s.d. 3.29) were higher than for the adherent group (mean 15.64, s.d. 3.51; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Most people with RA have positive beliefs about the necessity of their medication. However, levels of concern are high and associate with helplessness and non-adherence. The Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire may identify people at risk of poor adherence and provide a focus for patients to discuss their beliefs, providing opportunities to improve adherence.
Prediction of prognosis of estrogen receptor‐positive breast cancer with combination of selected estrogen‐regulated genes

Estrogen receptor (ER)‐positive breast cancer is a distinct subpopulation of breast cancer exhibiting a high response rate to endocrine therapy. However, not all ER‐positive patients respond to the therapy, and a subgrouping of ER‐positive patients based on the physiology of estrogen signaling is expected to be useful for predicting the prognosis. This study has revealed that selected estrogen‐regulated genes (ERGs) are useful in identification of a poor‐prognosis population among ER‐positive breast cancer patients. First, the expression levels of 11 ERGs, selected based on our earlier microarray study in cultured cells, were analyzed by means of real‐time reverse transcription‐PCR in 14 ER‐positive human breast cancer tissues. The patients were clearly divided into two groups in cluster analysis. Then, we examined the expression levels of two representative ERGs, histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) and insulin‐like growth factor binding protein 4 (IGFBP‐4), In 62 ER‐positive patients with immunohistochemistry to assess the impact of ERG expression on prognosis (median follow‐up 4409 days). Positive HDAC6 staining was significantly correlated with a lower disease‐free survival rate. Moreover, when the expression level of HDAC6 was assessed in combination with IGFBP‐4 expression in the nucleus, the poor‐prognosis patients were more accurately identified. This study has identified new candidate ERGs for prediction of prognosis, and we suggest that combined assessment of the expression levels of these ERGs will contribute to the clinically useful stratification of ER‐positive breast cancer patients.
PERSISTENT MISCONCEPTIONS CONCERNING NULL HYPOTHESIS SIGNIFICANCE TESTING

ABTRACT The Null Hypothesis Significance Test is a popular testing procedure used mainly in the social sciences and occasionally in the natural sciences. The procedure has been criticized on several grounds. Firstly, opponents have attacked the procedure itself, claiming that it either does not tell the researcher what he or she wants to know; and/or that the procedure is not logically valid. Secondly, opponents argue that the concept of statistical significance is flawed on the ground that is it either too arbitrary or, that statistical significance cannot confer substantive significance. This paper argues that critics of Null Hypothesis Significance Test either lack a proper understanding of how and why the test works, or they apply the test in an incomplete manner.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of geriatric horses: 467 cases (1989-1999).

OBJECTIVE To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of a population of geriatric horses. DESIGN Retrospective study. ANIMALS 467 horses that were > or = 20 years of age. PROCEDURE Medical records of 539 geriatric horses that were evaluated at a university large animal hospital between 1989 and 1999 were reviewed. Data collected included signalment, reason for evaluation, specific diagnoses, surgical procedures, inpatient or outpatient care, duration of hospitalization, and outcome. RESULTS 467 horses met the criteria for inclusion in the study. Horses that were > or = 20 years of age comprised 2.2 and 12.5% of horses evaluated during 1989 and 1999, respectively. Pony breeds were significantly overrepresented in the > or = 30-years-of-age group. Gastrointestinal tract, musculoskeletal, and respiratory tract problems were most frequently reported. Colic was the most common clinical sign, followed by lameness. Diagnoses made most frequently included pituitary dysfunction, strangulating lipoma of the small intestine, laminitis, heaves, large colon impaction, and gastric ulcers. Pituitary dysfunction was significantly more prevalent in horses that were > 30 years of age. Laminitis was significantly associated with the presence of pituitary dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE It was difficult to assess association of age with illnesses identified in these horses. Demographic data and information regarding common diseases of horses that are > or = 20 years of age are limited but will become increasingly important as this geriatric population increases.
Interpreting Cardiac Biomarkers in the Setting of Chronic Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common, particularly in those of advanced age. Because patients with CKD frequently have cardiac comorbidities and acute or chronic symptoms that may represent heart failure or an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), testing for concentrations of cardiac troponins and natriuretic peptides is frequent. Interpretation of these biomarkers can be challenging when differentiating acute from chronic processes, potentially resulting in missed opportunities to direct appropriate treatment. CONTENT This review is designed to provide clinicians and laboratorians a platform to understand cardiac specific biomarker interpretation in patients with CKD by summarizing the extensive literature base that has developed specific to this population. First we review the epidemiology and unique contributions of CKD to cardiac pathophysiology. Next we consider the interpretation of cardiac troponin tests for the diagnosis AMI and the prognostic significance of chronic increases across the spectrum of CKD including those requiring renal replacement therapy. Last, we consider the caveats of interpreting natriuretic peptide results for the diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure in addition to the short- and long-term prognostic implications of increased natriuretic peptide concentrations and CKD in a patient with heart failure. SUMMARY CKD is common and associated with acceleration of cardiovascular disease. Cardiac biomarker concentrations are often increased even in an absence of symptoms; typically reflecting the extent of underlying cardiovascular disease rather than impairment of renal clearance. Thoughtful interpretation of cardiac biomarkers in those with CKD can continue to provide important diagnostic and prognostic information.
Prenatal imaging and postnatal presentation, diagnosis and management of congenital lung malformations

Purpose of review Congenital lung malformations (CLMs) vary in their clinical presentation and severity. Increases in prenatal diagnosis, observed regression of certain lesions, and prognostic uncertainty are driving an evolution in management. Recent findings There has been an increase in the early diagnosis of these malformations, a change that is attributable to the routine use of prenatal ultrasound. Although prenatal diagnosis of CLMs using ultrasound and MRI has increased, chest radiography and computed tomography still play important roles in diagnosis. The management of these lesions depends on the type of malformation and symptoms. The treatment of asymptomatic patients with lung malformations is controversial, because the prognosis of these lesions is largely unknown. Proponents of early intervention argue that the complications of CLM, which may include infection, pneumothorax, bleeding and malignant transformation, justify surgery. Advocates of conservative management note that some CLMs disappear postnatally, and that the long-term complication rate following surgery is unknown. There is a need to obtain natural history data regardless of the therapeutic recommendations. Summary This article reviews the prenatal radiographic features and postnatal clinical findings of various CLMs and the dilemmas regarding treatment.
The granzyme B inhibitor proteinase inhibitor 9 (PI9) is expressed by human mast cells

The activity of granzyme B, a main effector molecule of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer cells, is regulated by the human intracellular serpin proteinase inhibitor 9 (PI9). This inhibitor is particularly expressed by CTL and dendritic cells, in which it serves to protect these cells against endogenous and locally released granzyme B. Moreover, PI9 expression by neoplastic cells may constitute one of the mechanisms for tumors to escape immune surveillance. Here we show that PI9 is also expressed by human mast cells. In immunohistochemical studies using a PI9‐specific monoclonal antibody, strong cytoplasmic staining for PI9 was found in normal mast cells in various tissues throughout the body. In addition, in 80% of all cases of cutaneous and systemic mastocytosis tested the majority of the mast cells expressed PI9. As an in vitro model for PI9 expression by mast cells, we studied expression by the human mast cell line HMC‐1. Stimulation of HMC‐1 with PMA and the calcium ionophore A23187 resulted in a marked increase of PI9 expression. Thus, PI9 is expressed by activated mast cells. We suggest that this expression serves to protect these cells against apoptosis induced by granzyme B released during initiation of the local inflammatory response.
Evaluation of Posttetanic Motor Evoked Potentials—The Influences of Repetitive Use, the Residual Effects of Tetanic Stimulation to Peripheral Nerve, and the Variability

Background Recently, we developed a new technique to augment myogenic motor evoked potentials (MEPs), called as posttetanic MEPs (p-MEPs), in which tetanic stimulation is applied to peripheral nerve before transcranial stimulation. However, the data on p-MEPs are limited. This study was conducted; (1) to evaluate the influences of repetitive use of p-MEPs on p-MEP amplitudes, (2) to evaluate the residual effects of use of p-MEPs on subsequent conventional MEPs (c-MEPs), and (3) to compare the variability of p-MEPs with that of c-MEPs. Methods Sixty patients under propofol/fentanyl anesthesia with partial neuromuscular blockade were enrolled. For p-MEP measurements, tetanic stimulation was applied to posterior tibial nerve 1 second before transcranial stimulation. In study 1, p-MEPs were repetitively recorded with intervals of 10 or 60 seconds. In study 2, the amplitudes of c-MEPs recorded 15, 30, 60, and 120 seconds after p-MEP recordings were compared with those of control. In study 3, the coefficients of variation of c-MEP and p-MEP responses were compared. Results The repetitive use of p-MEP with an interval of 10 seconds, but not 60 seconds, induced a significant reduction of p-MEP amplitude. Amplitudes of c-MEP were significantly increased when applied within 60 seconds after p-MEP recordings. The coefficient of variations of p-MEPs was similar to those of c-MEPs. Conclusions The results indicated that the amplitudes of p-MEP and c-MEP might be affected when applied with a short interval after p-MEP recording.
Uptake of Sulfate but Not Phosphate by Mycobacterium tuberculosis Is Slower than That for Mycobacterium smegmatis

ABSTRACT Knowledge of the metabolic pathways used by Mycobacterium tuberculosis during infection is important for understanding its nutrient requirements and host adaptation. However, uptake, the first step in the utilization of nutrients, is poorly understood for many essential nutrients, such as inorganic anions. Here, we show that M. tuberculosis utilizes nitrate as the sole nitrogen source, albeit at lower efficiency than asparagine, glutamate, and arginine. The growth of the porin triple mutant M. smegmatis ML16 in media with limiting amounts of nitrate and sulfate as sole nitrogen and sulfur sources, respectively, was delayed compared to that of the wild-type strain. The uptake of sulfate was 40-fold slower than that of the wild-type strain, indicating that the efficient uptake of these anions is dependent on porins. The uptake by M. tuberculosis of sulfate and phosphate was approximately 40- and 10-fold slower than that of M. smegmatis, respectively, which is consistent with the slower growth of M. tuberculosis. However, the uptake of these anions by M. tuberculosis is orders of magnitude faster than diffusion through lipid membranes, indicating that unknown outer membrane proteins are required to facilitate this process.
CREATIVITY AND PARTICIPATORY ARTWORK FOR CIVIC AWARENESS

This paper discusses our reflections on the potential of creativity as an enabler of crosscultural conversation and collaboration, within a Participatory Design experience. We build reflections upon our own experience in organizing and facilitating ConstellACTION, a two days design workshop for the creation of a participatory artwork, during the 2014 edition of the Participatory Design Conference, held in Windhoek, Namibia. The goal was two-fold: raising awareness on civic participation in Namibia, and facilitating participation in generating ideas to tackle those challenges. The ConstellACTION experience enabled participation and awareness on social issues, showing features and fruitful potential of an art-combined participatory workshop. We discuss the dynamics that follow our considerations of how civic awareness arise in a mixed setting.
Monetary Policy under Fiscal Dominance and Implicit Inflation Target in Iran: A DSGE Approach

هديكچ تسايس يراذگ ـبنج رتشيب هك تسا يوحن هب ناريا داصتقا رد يلوپ ة اد يديدحلاـص در و يـنتبم رـب اـي هدـعاق فده تسين يصاخ يراذگ . اب نيا تسا ملسم هچنآ لاح ، نآ همانرب رد هشيمه هك تسا ياه عسوت ة جنپ هلاـس ، هب مانرب زا ريغ ة مجنپ ، تسا هدش نييعت يداصتقا دشر و مروت يارب يفده . اما شسرپ فادها ايآ هك تسا نيا نييعت مانرب رد هدش ه اه ار تسايس تياعر يداصتقا ناراذگ هدرك دنا ريخ اي . لدـم زا هدافتـسا اـب هعلاطم نيا رد ليدعت دش ة يفداـصت يايوپ يمومع لداعت دركيور زا هدافتسا اب و ناريا داصتقا يارب ديدج يزنيك ) DSGE ( وحن هب ات هدش يعس ة تسايس يراذگ طلس ياضف رد يلوپ ة فده و يلام ديدش ينمـض يراذـگ مروـت داـصتقا دوـش هـتخادرپ نارـيا . ناـشن جياـتن يـم دـهد هـك تـسايس يلوـپ ناراذـگ رود رتـشيب رد ه اـه ، فدـه راذـگ ي تروص همانرب رد هتفرگ ياه هعسوت ار ن تياعر هدرك دنا . سكع عبات هـب رداـق رتـشيب زـين يلوـپ تـسايس لـمعلا حيضوت هد رد يلوپ تسايس نداد ة 1380 يـسمش تـسا . ـجيتن ة لدـم رـگيد نآ لـصاف هـك تـسا ة ناـمز نيـب هژورپ بيوصت ياه هيامرس ژورـپ مامتا نامز ات تلود يراذگ ه اـه ، ريثأـت فرـصم و دـيلوت يور رـب يراداـنعم دراد .
Coelomic cells show apoptosis via Fas/FasL system: a comparative study between healthy human pregnancies and missed miscarriages.

BACKGROUND The Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) system represents one of the main apoptotic pathways controlling placental apoptosis throughout gestation. In the current study, we have examined the Fas/FasL protein expression and the apoptotic incidents of coelomic cells, amniotic cells and trophoblastic tissue in first trimester human pregnancies and missed miscarriages (MM). METHODS Protein expression was determined by immunofluoresence, western blotting analysis, immunohistochemistry and indirectly by RT-PCR, whereas apoptotic cell death was assessed by in situ DNA fragmentation analysis. RESULTS Coelomic cells express Fas/FasL proteins, can undergo apoptosis and were the only cells in which apoptosis, Fas protein expression and FasL protein expression were accordingly increased along with gestational age (P = 0.001, P = 0.008; P = 0.012, respectively). In contrast, amniotic cells and trophoblast showed a consistency in the expression levels of Fas/FasL proteins in healthy pregnancies. MM were accompanied by increased Fas/FasL protein expression in all examined samples (P < 0.001). The increase of Fas/FasL protein expression was accompanied by proportional increase of apoptotic incidents among the coelomic cell population (P = 0.023, P = 0.009, respectively), whereas amniotic cells and trophoblast appeared to be resistant to Fas-induced apoptosis. The lowest expression of Fas/FasL proteins and the minimum occurrence of apoptotic incidents were detected in the trophoblast. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that there is a different regulation and function of the Fas/FasL system in early human pregnancies. Aberration of the Fas-mediated apoptosis may represent one of the execution-step necessary for pregnancy loss in MM cases.
Comparative Analysis of Antiviral Responses in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells and in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ANTIVIRAL RESPONSES IN MOUSE EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS AND IN MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS by Jundi Wang August 2013 Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are cells that have unlimited capacity for selfrenewal and differentiation. These properties make ESCs a great cell source for application in regenerative medicine. When used for cell therapy, ESC-derived cells could be placed in a wounded area that is likely to be exposed to various pathogens. However, it is not well-understood whether ESCs and ESC-derived cells have active antiviral responses against infectious agents from the environment. To answer this important question, I comparatively analyzed the antiviral responses of ESCs and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs, C3H10Tl/2 cell line) to infectious agents. Using the expression of type I interferon (IFN) as a benchmark of antiviral responses, our results indicated that the type I IFN were robustly induced in C3Hl0Tl/2 cells, but not in ESCs, when they were exposed to polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C), a dsRNA viral analog) and La Crosse Virus (LACV). Our results also showed that TLR3, RIG! and MDA5, the receptors for viral RNA, are expressed at lower levels in mouse ESCs (mESCs) than in C3H10Tl/2 cells. However, mESCs are susceptible to LACV infection resulting in cell death, which can be reduced by IFNP pretreatment. Furthermore, IFNP induced expression of ISG 15, PKR and dsRNA receptor genes that play key roles in antiviral responses. In conclusion, mESCs are deficient in type I IFN expression, but they have functional mechanisms that mediate the antiviral effects of type I IFN. 11 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Yanlin Guo, who has supported me since I joined his lab in the summer of 2010. Without his support and guidance, I would not have the opportunity to acquire a higher education and a solid training in the field of Biological Sciences. I would like to thank him for mentoring me and I believe that the approach of thinking I learned from him will help in the future. I would also like to thank Dr. Fengwei Bai and Dr. Faqing Huang, the members of my committee, for all of their guidance and encouragement. I am also grateful to other faculty and staff in the department, Dr. Shahid Karim and Baobin Kang, for their support and guidance. I would like to give special thanks and appreciation to my lab colleagues, Ruoxing Wang, William D' Angelo, Joseph Spangler, and Dhiraj Acharya for providing experimental suggestions and proofreading the draft of my thesis. I would also like to thank Amber Paul and Y ongliang Shi for their encouragement in these years. Finally, my most heartfelt thanks go to my parents for their unconditional love, support, and encouragement throughout these three years. During my twenty-six years of life, my parents taught me how to be an honest and industrious person. No matter where I go, I will always remember their education and unconditional love.
Downstream of human NDR kinases: Impacting on c-myc and p21 protein stability to control cell cycle progression

The mammalian genome encodes four members of the NDR/LATS kinase family: NDR1 (STK38), NDR2 (STK38L), LATS1 and LATS2, which are highly conserved from yeast to man. Members of the NDR/LATS kinase family have been implicated in a variety of biological processes ranging from cell division and morphology to apoptosis and tumor suppression. In mammals, LATS1/2 function as central parts of the HIPPO tumor suppressor pathway by restricting the activity of the YAP/TAZ proto-oncogenes. Recent evidence suggested that NDR1/2 are also part of an extended HIPPO tumor suppressor pathway. Apart from functions in apoptosis signaling and tumor suppression, NDR1/2 have been implicated in controlling centrosome duplication and mitotic chromosome alignment downstream of the HIPPO kinase homologs MST1 and MST2. Significantly, we also reported recently that NDR1/2 are controlling G1/S transition downstream of a third MST family member MST3. Intriguingly, this newly described MST3-NDR1/2 axis promotes G1 progression by stabilizing c-myc and preventing p21 accumulation, indicating a potential pro-tumorigenic role for NDR kinases. Here, we discuss these novel cell cycle functions of NDR kinases in a broader context and elaborate on possible explanations for the opposing functions of NDR kinases in normal and tumor biology.
Genetic polymorphism of CYP2D6 in patients with cardiovascular disease – a cohort study

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are complex diseases that are influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. CYP2D6 found in the brain and the heart is involved in the metabolism of many environmental and some endogenous substances and neurotransmitters responsible for maintaining homeostasis. This raises an interesting hypothesis that it may have a role in the development of or protection against cardiovascular diseases.
Beyond Language — Speculations on the Prefrontal Cortex and Schizophrenia

Changes to the structural complexity of the spoken language of schizophrenic patients have been demonstrated in three recent studies. The speculation is offered that these changes could result from dorsolateral prefrontal cortical dysfunction. Impairment of the executive functions of this part of the brain could theoretically explain both the varied symptomatology of schizophrenia and its unique pattern of ages of onset.