Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Association Studies of Chemotherapeutic Toxicities: Genomics of Inequality

With an estimated global population of cancer survivors exceeding 32 million and growing, there is a heightened awareness of the long-term toxicities resulting from cancer treatments and their impact on quality of life. Unexplained heterogeneity in the persistence and development of toxicities, as well as an incomplete understanding of their mechanisms, have generated a growing need for the identification of predictive pharmacogenomic markers. Early studies addressing this need used a candidate gene approach; however, over the last decade, unbiased and comprehensive genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have provided markers of phenotypic risk and potential targets to explore the mechanistic and regulatory pathways of biological functions associated with chemotherapeutic toxicity. In this review, we provide the current status of GWAS of chemotherapeutic toxicities with an emphasis on examining the ancestral diversity of the representative cohorts within these studies. Persistent calls to incorporate both ancestrally diverse and/or admixed populations into genomic efforts resulted in a recent rise in the number of studies utilizing cohorts of East Asian descent; however, few pharmacogenomic studies to date include cohorts of African, Indigenous American, Southwest Asian, and admixed populations. Through comprehensively evaluating sample size, composition by ancestry, genome-wide significant variants, and population-specific minor allele frequencies as reported by HapMap/dbSNP using NCBI PubMed and the NHGRI-EBI GWAS Catalog, we illustrate how allele frequencies and effect sizes tend to vary among individuals of differing ancestries. In an era of personalized medicine, the lack of diversity in genome-wide studies of anticancer agent toxicity may contribute to the health disparity gap. Clin Cancer Res; 23(15); 4010–9. ©2017 AACR.
Diet for Diabetics and their Limitations

Diabetes affects different people in different ways depending on their degree of diabetic complication. Diabetes is the leading cause of premature deaths. Diabetes is a disorder in which the body does not use the sugars in food in the usual way. Diabetics produce too little insulin or none at all, or cannot use insulin properly. Type I diabetes always requires insulin, diet, and exercise. Insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents are only prescribed for Type II diabetics. Whatever type of diabetes it may be the key to proper control is balancing the glucose and the insulin in the blood. Good management of diabetes needs healthy food intake and also fitness.
Life-Threatening Complications Associated with the Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Sunitinib Malate

Adverse events associated with sunitinib, such as cardiac toxicities, renal damage, and hemostatic complications, are well known. The authors report 3 cases in which patients experienced severe life-threatening complications after commencing sunitinib treatment. One patient developed heart failure with dilation of the left ventricle and decrease in the ejection fraction after one cycle of sunitinib and required treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, loop diuretics, and dobutamine. Another patient developed coronary artery stenosis after one cycle of sunitinib and was managed through percutaneous coronary intervention. Although follow-on coronary angiography revealed normal findings after 6 further cycles of sunitinib, this patient eventually expired due to multi-organ failure. The third patient had chronic renal failure before sunitinib treatment and required hemodialysis due to acute-on-chronic renal failure after commencing sunitinib treatment.
Metabolic Syndrome and Depressive Symptoms in a Primary Health Care Setting in Turkey

Background: The possible association between depressive symptoms and metabolic syndrome (MetS) has recently become an important topic of discussion. There is some limited and inconsistent evidence in the literature concerning whether or not depression and metabolic syndrome are associated. The aim of this study was to examine the association between depressive symptoms and metabolic syndrome. Methods: This is a cross-sectional community-based study. The setting is a family practice unit in an urban area which serves about 3,600 people. The participants were 250 individuals aged 18 and over, selected randomly from all enrolled patients in this family practice unit. National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP- ATP-III) criteria were used for the classification of metabolic myndrome (MetS). The Beck Depression Inventory was filled out by the participants for the evaluation of depressive symptoms. Results: The prevalence of MetS was similar for men (48.8%) and women (48.1%) and increased with age in both sexes. Participants with only primary education were found to be 2.2 times more at risk of developing MetS than participants with a higher education. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher among women (31.0%) than men (9.9%). Statistical analyses revealed no statistically significant association between MetS and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The prevalence of MetS was found to be high in both sexes. Women had a 3.8 times higher risk of developing depressive symptoms than men. We found no association of depressive symptoms with MetS or with any of the MetS criteria.
Cationic Host Defence Peptides: Multifaceted Role in Immune Modulation and Inflammation

Host defence peptides (HDPs) are innate immune effector molecules found in diverse species. HDPs exhibit a wide range of functions ranging from direct antimicrobial properties to immunomodulatory effects. Research in the last decade has demonstrated that HDPs are critical effectors of both innate and adaptive immunity. Various studies have hypothesized that the antimicrobial property of certain HDPs may be largely due to their immunomodulatory functions. Mechanistic studies revealed that the role of HDPs in immunity is very complex and involves various receptors, signalling pathways and transcription factors. This review will focus on the multiple functions of HDPs in immunity and inflammation, with special reference to cathelicidins, e.g. LL-37, certain defensins and novel synthetic innate defence regulator peptides. We also discuss emerging concepts of specific HDPs in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including the potential use of cationic peptides as therapeutics for immune-mediated inflammatory disorders.
Residential segregation and disparities in health-related quality of life among Black and White cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVE Studies of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Black and White cancer survivors have been based on small convenience samples and yielded inconsistent results. We examined Black-White disparities in survivors' HRQOL with a population-based sample, and tested the hypothesis that area-level segregation accounts for those disparities. DESIGN A sample of survivors of 10 types of cancer was drawn from 11 U.S. state cancer registries and surveyed 12-15 months after diagnosis. The current sample consisted of 5195 survivors (415 Black, 4780 White) who resided in 584 counties. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES SF-36 General Health subscale scores were used as the measure of HRQOL. RESULTS Bivariate results revealed that Black survivors had significantly poorer HRQOL than did White survivors. Multilevel regression including individual-level (gender, age, marital status, education, cancer type, stage at diagnosis, cancer progression, comorbidities, race/ethnicity) and area-level (county segregation and poverty) variables found that HRQOL was poorer among survivors who resided in high-Black-segregated counties, whereas race/ethnicity was no longer significant. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that Black-White disparities in HRQOL among cancer survivors might be a function, not of race/ethnicity, but of area-level variables associated with race/ethnicity. The strong role of segregation highlights the need for interventions to target Black-segregated areas.
Domestic violence and multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARACs): a scoping review

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the potential and limits of the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) in supporting adults with social care needs who also experience domestic violence. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reports on a scoping review as part of a wider research project entitled: to identify and assess the effectiveness of social care's contribution to the development of MARAC and the protection of adults facing domestic violence. Findings – An understanding of the workings of MARAC could support social care practice with high-risk victims of domestic violence. However, the conception of risk assessment and management central to the process also poses ethical dilemmas for practitioners. Practical implications – Social care is ideally placed to support, in an holistic manner, a group of vulnerable service-users with complex needs. However, the current climate of austerity could jeopardise this work. Originality/value – There is little in the profess.
The Price of everything The Value of Nothing: A (Truly) External Review Of BERL’s Study Of Harmful Alcohol and Drug Use

In March 2009, Business and Economic Research Limited ("BERL") published “Costs of Harmful Alcohol and Other Drug Use,” a report jointly commissioned by the Ministry of Health and ACC. BERL was asked to measure the costs of drug and alcohol abuse to New Zealand society, but not to evaluate specific interventions. BERL calculated annual social costs of alcohol and illicit drug consumption of $6.8 billion, including $4.8 billion in social costs from alcohol alone. The report was cited by Law Commission President Sir Geoffrey Palmer as evidence in support of greater regulation, gaining considerable media coverage. We find substantial flaws in BERL’s method that together account for well over 90% of BERL’s calculated costs of alcohol use. Corrected external costs of alcohol use amount to $662 million and are roughly matched by the $516 million collected in alcohol excise taxes. The BERL report is wholly inadequate for use in assisting policy development.
Safeguarding patients against stem cell tourism.

The globalisation of health care1 has exposed patients to novel treatments they may never have previously encountered, such as stem cell therapy. The practice is for the most part illegal in the UK, but the proliferation of stem cell clinics in countries such as India, China, Mexico, and Germany, and their subsequent marketing efforts has attracted ‘stem cell tourists’ — patients in search of a cure for their illness. The lack of clinical evidence to support stem cell therapy puts patients at risk of receiving at best ineffective,2 and at worst unsafe or even harmful treatments,3 raising calls for a campaign to raise awareness and educate patients about these dangers. This issue has recently become urgent. Media frenzy surrounding the case of Dr Trossel and his dismissal following his controversial advice, and offer of unregulated stem cell treatment to a multiple sclerosis patient,4 led the General Medical Council (GMC) to conclude he had breached medical practice by ‘exploiting vulnerable patients’. It has been reported that nine patients were involved in the case, and that Dr Trossel allegedly injected a substance containing stem cells into at least five of them in his Rotterdam clinic. Large sums of money, of at least £10 000 per patient, had been forwarded to him in advance of the treatment. Following some investigation, it is doubted whether the substance used contained any form of stem cells at all. The GMC's stance is that this …
Everyday movement and use of the arms: Relationship in children with hemiparesis differs from adults.

PURPOSE In adults with hemiparesis amount of movement of the more-affected arm is related to its amount of use in daily life. In children, little is known about everyday arm use. This report examines the relationships between everyday movement of the more-affected arm and its (a) everyday use and (b) motor capacity in children with hemiparesis. METHODS Participants were 28 children with a wide range of upper-extremity hemiparesis subsequent to cerebral palsy due to pre- or peri-natal stroke. Everyday movement of the more-affected arm was assessed by putting accelerometers on the children's forearms for three days. Everyday use of that arm and its motor capacity were assessed with the Pediatric Motor Activity Log-Revised and Pediatric Arm Function Test, respectively. RESULTS Intensity of everyday movement of the more-affected arm was correlated with its motor capacity (rs ≥ 0.52, ps ≤ 0.003). However, everyday movement of that arm was not correlated with its everyday use (rs ≤ 0.30, ps ≥ $ 0.126). CONCLUSIONS In children with upper-extremity hemiparesis who meet the study intake criteria amount of movement of the more-affected arm in daily life is not related to its amount to use, suggesting that children differ from adults in this respect.
"They Are Kind of Like Magic": Why U.S. Mothers Use Baby Videos With 12- to 24-Month-Olds

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no “screen time” for children under age of two, parents in the US are ignoring this edict. Routinely, mothers are exposing their babies to media crafted specifically for this age group. This study seeks to ascertain the reason. What beliefs do mothers hold regarding the marketing of such media and the expected benefits to their young ones? How does the use of videos such as Baby Einstein benefit the mother? Although mothers reported that video creators want them to think the videos are educational, they are skeptical. However, they continue to let babies watch this “safe” content. Among the 28 mothers interviewed for this project, only four claimed to always watch with their child; the remainder used “video time” to do household chores. Overwhelmingly, mothers heard positive comments about videos from fellow parents, but rarely heard from their pediatricians about possible negative effects on the under-two’s.
Assessment of Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as an early biomarker for detection of renal impairment in hypertensive patients

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is probably the most important problem of public health in advanced countries. Kidneys are often damaged as a result of high blood pressure. One of our main concerns in patients with hypertension is early detection of kidney disorders. The routine biomarkers such as creatinine have some limitation for this purpose, however recent studies suggest plasma NGAL to be a better marker. Therefor in this study we assessed the diagnostic value of plasma NGAL and compared it with serum creatinine in hypertensive patients. This study was performed on 42 hypertensive patients and 30 healthy Volunteer, both with normal serum creatinine and urea concentration who referred to Shohada Tajrish Hospital, plasma NGAL were measured subsequently using ELISA method and eGFR was considered as the gold standard method(cut off value of 0.97 mg/dl). Our findings indicate that NGAL is a better indicator of kidney impairment in the early stages of CKD as compared with serum creatinine in hypertensive patients.
The Effect of a Multi-Modal Preparation Package on Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography

Background: There are differences in studies on the effect of non-pharmacological methods of anxiety reduction in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of implementing a multimodal preparation package on anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Patients and Methods: This single blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 100 patients undergoing coronary angiography. The patients were equally assigned to an intervention and a control group. The preparation package was implemented about two hours prior to angiography. Spielberger’s anxiety inventory was used for measuring anxiety. The patients’ anxiety level was measured the day before, immediately before, and after implementing the preparation package and 30 minutes before angiography. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software, version 11.5 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, The USA) and analyzed using T-test and repeated measures ANOVA. Chisquare test was also used to compare the two groups’ demographic characteristics. P values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: The results revealed no significant difference between the control group (34.36 ± 5.56) and the intervention group (34.64 ± 4.71) regarding baseline anxiety mean scores (P = 0.787). This score increased in the control group (38.14 ± 7.36) as well as in the intervention group (38.94 ± 5.36) 2 hours before angiography (P = 0.536). However, the mean anxiety score decreased to 34.16 ± 2.75 in the intervention group and to 40.38 ± 8.16 in the control group immediately after applying the preparation package (P = 0.001). Conclusions: The preparation package reduced anxiety before angiography. Considering the beneficial effects of this preparation package on reducing anxiety, this method is recommended for preparation of patients for coronary angiography.
Trends in knowledge, risk behaviour, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) symptoms and associated factors among truckers and helpers in South India over a 12-year span

Prevalence of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among truckers and helpers (TH) is 10 times higher than in the general population. TH are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviour that makes them vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV. This paper aims to comprehend the trends in knowledge, risk behaviours, reported STIs and associated factors among TH over 12 years. Data from 12 rounds of Behavioural Surveillance Surveys (BSS) conducted since 1997 were used. A sample of 800 TH in the ratio of 70:30 was included from 5 districts of Tamil Nadu in all the 12 rounds. A structured interview schedule was used to collect data. The surveys indicated a higher knowledge level, but reported a lower level of knowledge without misconception. Sex with paid partners increased from 26.5 to 45.1%. But, other factors such as decreasing number of paid partners (from an average of 8 to 4), increasing consistent condom use (CCU) (44.8 to 85.6%), and treatment seeking behaviour indicate positive protective trends. Low level of knowledge without misconception and self-risk perception are prime concerns. As TH are potential and vulnerable bridge population, it is vital to have intensive HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) interventions among them.
High Anthocyanin Intake Is Associated With a Reduced Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Young and Middle-Aged Women

Background— Our current knowledge of modifiable risk factors to prevent myocardial infarction (MI) in young and middle-aged women is limited, and the impact of diet is largely unknown. Dietary flavonoids exert potential beneficial effects on endothelial function in short-term trials; however, the relationship between habitual intake and risk of MI in women is unknown. Methods and Results— We followed up 93 600 women 25 to 42 years of age from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) II who were healthy at baseline (1989) to examine the relationship between anthocyanins and other flavonoids and the risk of MI. Intake of flavonoid subclasses was calculated from validated food-frequency questionnaires collected every 4 years using an updated and extended US Department of Agriculture database. During 18 years of follow-up, 405 cases of MI were reported. An inverse association between higher intake of anthocyanins and risk of MI was observed (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.49–0.96; P=0.03, highest versus lowest quintiles) after multivariate adjustment. The addition of intermediate conditions, including history of hypertension, did not significantly attenuate the relationship (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.50–0.97; P=0.03). Combined intake of 2 anthocyanin-rich foods, blueberries and strawberries, tended to be associated with a decreased risk of MI (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.40–1.08) in a comparison of those consuming >3 servings a week and those with lower intake. Intakes of other flavonoid subclasses were not significantly associated with MI risk. Conclusions— A high intake of anthocyanins may reduce MI risk in predominantly young women. Intervention trials are needed to further examine the health impact of increasing intakes of commonly consumed anthocyanin-rich foods.
Serum n-6 fatty acids and lipoprotein subclasses in middle-aged men: the population-based cross-sectional ERA-JUMP study.

BACKGROUND The associations of serum omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids with lipoprotein subclasses at the population level are uncertain. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine associations between major n-6 fatty acids [ie, linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6)] and the lipoprotein subclasses VLDL, LDL, and HDL. DESIGN We conducted a cross-sectional study in 1098 participants using population-based data from US white, Japanese American, Japanese, and Korean men aged 40-49 y. Serum fatty acids were analyzed by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Lipoprotein subclasses were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Multiple linear regression models as a function of each fatty acid were used after adjustment for age, population, body mass index, pack-years of smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, hypertension, and omega-3 (n-3) and trans fatty acids. RESULTS Serum LA was inversely associated with large VLDL (beta = -0.62, P < 0.001), total LDL (beta = -22.08, P < 0.001), and small LDL (beta = -31.89, P < 0.001) particle concentrations and VLDL size (beta = -0.72, P < 0.001). Serum LA was positively associated with large HDL particle concentration (beta = 0.21, P < 0.001) and HDL size (beta = 0.03, P < 0.001). The patterns of association of AA with large VLDL and large HDL particle concentrations were comparable with those of LA. CONCLUSIONS At the population level, higher serum concentrations of LA were significantly associated with lower concentrations of total LDL particles. Higher serum concentrations of LA and AA were significantly associated with a lower concentration of large VLDL particles and a higher concentration of large HDL particles. These associations were consistent across the population groups. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00069797.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proviral DNA from Peripheral Blood and Lymph Nodes Demonstrates Concordant Resistance Mutations to Zidovudine (Codon 215) and Didanosine (Codon 74)

Genotypes that confer drug resistance were evaluated in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) proviral DNA obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and lymphoid tissue at baseline and after 8 weeks of therapy with zidovudine alone or in combination with didanosine from 22 patients (8 zidovudine-naive and 14 zidovudine-experienced). There was evidence of zidovudine resistance at codon 215 in 27.3% (6/22) of patients. All 20 patients evaluable for codon 74 (site of didanosine resistance) had virus that remained wild type during the 8-week study period. When HIV proviral DNA from PBMC was compared with that from lymphoid tissue, 94.7% (18/19) of evaluable samples were concordant at codon 215 at baseline, while 85.7% (12/14) were concordant at week 8. Resistance in PBMC (but not in lymphoid tissue) developed in 1 of 8 zidovudine-naive patients; an increased proportion of resistant strains in PBMC (but not in lymphoid tissue) was observed in 2 of 14 zidovudine-experienced patients. These results suggest high concordance for drug resistance mutations in HIV proviral DNA from blood and lymph node tissue.