Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal Effects of Age at Onset and First Drinking Situations on Problem Drinking

The purpose of this study was to describe aspects of the first alcohol-use experience, and examine the predictive relations among age of first use, context of alcohol use initiation, and problem drinking with and without controls for psychosocial risk factors. Data were from the Rutgers Health and Human Development Project, a five-wave, prospective study of substance-use behaviors in a community sample. Respondents, who were first interviewed at age 12 (1979–81) and most recently at age 30 or 31 (1999–2000) (N = 371), reported on their first drinking experience, and on a range of known risk factors for alcohol abuse. Most alcohol initiation occurred during a family gathering. Regardless of initiation context, youth who drank at an early age were more likely than youth who initiated later to become problem drinkers, although the risk was relatively greater for the youth who first drank outside a family gathering. Based on multivariate logistic regressions, feeling drunk at initiation was the only onset-related variable significantly associated with problem drinking; other significant risks factors included male gender, delinquency, and family history of alcoholism. Because most initiation occurs at a family gathering, alcoholism prevention research may benefit from examining the role that drinking in family contexts could play with regard to socializing young drinkers to less risky drinking behaviors in adulthood. In particular, further research focusing on the subjective effects experienced by youth when they first drink may be merited.
Cytokine Release in Healthy Donors and Patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease upon Stimulation with Aspergillus fumigatus

The release of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 upon stimulation with non-viable conidia and hyphal fragments from Aspergillus fumigatus was investigated in an ex vivo whole-blood model. In healthy volunteers, high numbers of conidia (between 10(6) and 3 x 10(8)/ml) induced a moderate release of TNF-alpha and IL-6. Hyphal fragments (2.5 x 10(5)/ml) were more potent in stimulating the release of these pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although some IL-10 release was observed upon stimulation with either conidia or hyphal fragments, it was not significantly different from that in unstimulated controls. In comparison, in whole blood obtained from 4 patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a high release of pro-inflammatory cytokines together with a significantly higher IL-10 release than in the healthy controls was seen after stimulation with A. fumigatus. In conclusion, A. fumigatus can trigger the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a human whole-blood system, which is likely to be central to the activation of antifungal defence mechanisms. In contrast, A. fumigatus stimulates a higher release of anti-inflammatory cytokines in CGD patients, which may suggest that a dysregulation between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines contributes to the increased susceptibility to invasive aspergillosis in this patient group.
Synergistic regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase gene by CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein β and nuclear factor‐κB in hepatocytes

Nitric oxide (NO) has diverse activities under physiological and pathophysiological conditions in many types of cells. In cultured hepatocytes, NO is produced by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in response to interleukin (IL)‐1β. Cis‐controlling elements and transcription factors which were involved in iNOS gene expression in hepatocytes have been unclear.
[Changes in plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide, endothelin-1 and von Willebrand factor among newborns with persistent pulmonary hypertension].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the changes in plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF), and their significance among newborns with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH). METHODS Sixty-six newborns with PPH (case group) (mild: 26 cases; moderate: 21 cases; severe: 19 cases), as well as 40 newborns without PPH (control group) who were hospitalized in the same period, were enrolled. The control group underwent echocardiography on admission. The case group underwent echocardiography before treatment (with refractory hypoxemia) and after 7 days of treatment for measurement of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). Meanwhile, plasma levels of ANP, ET-1 and vWF were measured using ELISA. RESULTS Before treatment, the case group had significantly higher plasma levels of ANP, ET-1 and vWF than the control group (P<0.05), and these indices increased as PASP rose. After 7 days of treatment, the children with mild or moderate PPH showed normal PASP, and their plasma levels of ANP, ET-1 and vWF were not significantly different from those of control group. The children with severe PPH had significant decreases in all indices, but they were significantly higher than those of the control group. Plasma levels of ANP, ET-1 and vWF were significantly positively correlated with PASP before and after treatment (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Changes in plasma levels of ANP, ET-1 and vWF can reflect PASP in newborns with PPH during treatment. Dynamic monitoring of these indices can help to judge the severity of PPH and guide treatment.
Effects of follicle size and stages of maturation on mRNA expression in bovine in vitro matured oocytes

Transcription in bovine oocytes: The goal of this study was to unravel the dynamics of transcripts thought to be critically involved in oocyte maturation. The relative abundance (RA) of DYNLL1 (cytoplasmic dynein light chain LC8), DYNC1I1 (cytoplasmic dynein 1 intermediate chain), DCTN1 (dynactin 1; pGlued homolog, the activator of the cytoplasmic dynein complex 1), PMSB1 (proteasome beta subunit 1), PMSA4 (proteasome alfa subunit 4), PAP (poly‐A polymerase) and Cx43 (connexin 43) were determined by semi‐quantitative endpoint RT‐PCR at different stages of IVM, that is, GV, GVBD, MI and MII in oocytes collected from follicles of two different size categories, that is, <2 mm and 2–8 mm. The RA of DYNLL1 and DYNC1I1 were significantly higher in immature oocytes from bigger follicles than in oocytes from small follicles. Messenger RNA expression levels were similar for DCTN1, PMSB1, PMSA4, PAP, and Cx43 in the two groups during the maturation process. RA of DYNLL1, DYNC1I1 and PMSB1 decreased significantly during IVM in oocytes from follicles 2 to 8 mm. The RA for DYNLL1 was significantly higher in GVBD and MI in the oocytes from follicles 2 to 8 mm in size compared to the other group. The higher mRNA expression of DYNLL1 and DYNC1I1 and the diverging dynamics of DYNLL1, DYNC1I1, and PMSB1 mRNA expression during IVM in oocytes from the different follicle categories could be related to the developmental capacity, that is, development to blastocysts after IVF. The differences found between groups of oocytes could serve as a marker to assess the developmental capacity of bovine oocytes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 17–25, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of inhaled formaldehyde on learning and memory of mice.

UNLABELLED In this study, we investigated the effect of inhaled formaldehyde on learning and memory capacity. After exposure to 0 (control), 1 and 3 mg/m(3) of gaseous formaldehyde respectively, the behavior of mice in a Morris water maze, the expression of NR1, NR2B mRNA and oxidative damage levels in mice brain were analyzed. The water maze performance, the activities of dismutase superoxide (SOD) and levels of glutathione (GSH) decreased significantly in 3 mg/m(3) group (P < 0.01, compared with control group); while malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and expression of NR1 and NR2B genes increased significantly after exposure to 3 mg/m(3) of gaseous formaldehyde (P < 0.05, <0.01, <0.01, compared with control group). These findings indicate that inhaled formaldehyde negatively affects learning and memory at 3 mg/m(3) of gaseous formaldehyde but not at lower levels. Oxidative stress-induced neuron damages in the brain may be the possible mechanism for these effects. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS This study indicates that inhaled formaldehyde starts to negatively affect learning and memory at a middle concentration of formaldehyde without interference of other indoor air pollutants. Oxidative damage, and the alteration of NMDA receptor expression, which were induced by formaldehyde inhalation, may be the possible mechanism for gaseous formaldehyde-induced neurotoxicity.
Consistent Study of Graphene Structures Through the Direct Incorporation of Surface Conductivity

An efficient 3-D FDTD formulation for the precise analysis of electromagnetic phenomena in graphene structures is presented in this paper. The new concept considers the surface nature of graphene's conductivity and encompasses it directly into the integral form of Maxwell's equations, avoiding the necessity to discretize the material's transverse dimension via a subcell process. Hence, the proposed technique is much easier to implement and combined with existing FDTD codes, as it requires less computational time. Numerical verification involving comparisons with closed-form solutions and the results of other schemes, exhibits the high accuracy of the algorithm.
Solubilisation of the armadillo‐repeat protein β‐catenin using a zwitterionic detergent allows resolution of phosphorylated forms by 2DE

β‐catenin is a member of the armadillo repeat family of proteins and has important functions in cell–cell adhesion and Wnt signalling. Different protein species of β‐catenin have been shown to exist in the cell and the relative proportions of these species are altered upon stimulation of cells with Wnt‐3a (Gottardi and Gumbiner, 2004). In order to determine whether posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of β‐catenin underlie these different protein species, we have used 2DE separation and immunoblotting with an antibody specific for β‐catenin. High‐resolution separation of differentially modified species of β‐catenin in 2DE required the addition of ASB‐16, a zwitterionic detergent that can solubilise integral membrane proteins. ASB‐16 was also necessary for focussing of other armadillo repeat proteins, such as γ‐catenin and p120‐catenin. 2DE using ASB‐16 allowed detection of a previously unreported phosphorylation site in the transcriptionally active form of β‐catenin that binds to GST‐Tcf in response to Wnt signalling.
FGFR3–TACC3 cancer gene fusions cause mitotic defects by removal of endogenous TACC3 from the mitotic spindle

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3–transforming acidic coiled-coil containing protein 3 (FGFR3–TACC3; FT3) is a gene fusion resulting from rearrangement of chromosome 4 that has been identified in many cancers including those of the urinary bladder. Altered FGFR3 signalling in FT3-positive cells is thought to contribute to cancer progression. However, potential changes in TACC3 function in these cells have not been explored. TACC3 is a mitotic spindle protein required for accurate chromosome segregation. Errors in segregation lead to aneuploidy, which can contribute to cancer progression. Here we show that FT3-positive bladder cancer cells have lower levels of endogenous TACC3 on the mitotic spindle, and that this is sufficient to cause mitotic defects. FT3 is not localized to the mitotic spindle, and by virtue of its TACC domain, recruits endogenous TACC3 away from the spindle. Knockdown of the fusion gene or low-level overexpression of TACC3 partially rescues the chromosome segregation defects in FT3-positive bladder cancer cells. This function of FT3 is specific to TACC3 as inhibition of FGFR3 signalling does not rescue the TACC3 level on the spindle in these cancer cells. Models of FT3-mediated carcinogenesis should, therefore, include altered mitotic functions of TACC3 as well as altered FGFR3 signalling.
Marked Differences in Acute Cellular Rejection Rates between Living-Donor and Deceased-Donor Liver Transplant Recipients

Background. Due to ongoing organ donor shortage, an increasing number of adult live-donor liver transplants (LDLT) are being performed. The aims of this study were to compare the incidence of ACR between recipients of live- and deceased-donor liver transplants, and to note any differences in ACR among related and unrelated living-donor recipients. Methods. Sixty-four adults undergoing LDLT between 1998-2001 were closely matched with a deceased recipient. Statistical comparisons in ACR between the live- and deceased-donor groups were based on the differences between the ACR rates of each LDLT patient and the corresponding matched deceased recipient. Analyses were performed separately for pairs in which the living donor was not related to the recipient, was a nonsibling relative, or was a sibling. Results. Live- and deceased-donor recipients underwent a similar number of liver biopsies. In all, 16/50 (32%) of the biopsied LDLT patients had ACR compared to 36/49 (73%) of the deceased-donor recipients. ACR rates of living donors and their deceased-donor matches did not differ significantly for the unrelated living donors, but did differ for the nonsibling related (P=0.03) and the sibling LDLT (P=0.03). The results were similar when comparing rates of high-degree ACR for unrelated, nonsibling related, and sibling pairs. High-degree ACR differences in the sibling LDLT group were significantly greater than in the nonsibling group (P=0.05). Conclusions. Rates of ACR and high-degree ACR are decreased in living-related liver transplant recipients. This difference is likely genetically related as ACR rates are lower in recipient-donor pairs of increasing genetic similarity.
Lessons learned from microsatellite development for nonmodel organisms using 454 pyrosequencing

Microsatellites, also known as simple sequence repeats (SSRs), are among the most commonly used marker types in evolutionary and ecological studies. Next Generation Sequencing techniques such as 454 pyrosequencing allow the rapid development of microsatellite markers in nonmodel organisms. 454 pyrosequencing is a straightforward approach to develop a high number of microsatellite markers. Therefore, developing microsatellites using 454 pyrosequencing has become the method of choice for marker development. Here, we describe a user friendly way of microsatellite development from 454 pyrosequencing data and analyse data sets of 17 nonmodel species (plants, fungi, invertebrates, birds and a mammal) for microsatellite repeats and flanking regions suitable for primer development. We then compare the numbers of successfully lab‐tested microsatellite markers for the various species and furthermore describe diverse challenges that might arise in different study species, for example, large genome size or nonpure extraction of genomic DNA. Successful primer identification was feasible for all species. We found that in species for which large repeat numbers are uncommon, such as fungi, polymorphic markers can nevertheless be developed from 454 pyrosequencing reads containing small repeat numbers (five to six repeats). Furthermore, the development of microsatellite markers for species with large genomes was also with Next Generation Sequencing techniques more cost and time‐consuming than for species with smaller genomes. In this study, we showed that depending on the species, a different amount of 454 pyrosequencing data might be required for successful identification of a sufficient number of microsatellite markers for ecological genetic studies.
Trajectories of lung function during childhood.

RATIONALE Developmental patterns of lung function during childhood may have major implications for our understanding of the pathogenesis of respiratory disease throughout life. OBJECTIVES To explore longitudinal trajectories of lung function during childhood and factors associated with lung function decline. METHODS In a population-based birth cohort, specific airway resistance (sRaw) was assessed at age 3 (n = 560), 5 (n = 829), 8 (n = 786), and 11 years (n = 644). Based on prospective data (questionnaires, skin tests, IgE), children were assigned to wheeze phenotypes (no wheezing, transient, late-onset, and persistent) and atopy phenotypes (no atopy, dust mite, non-dust mite, multiple early, and multiple late). We used longitudinal linear mixed models to determine predictors of change in sRaw over time. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Contrary to the assumption that sRaw is independent of age and sex, boys had higher sRaw than girls (mean difference, 0.080; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.049-0.111; P < 0.001) and a higher rate of increase over time. For girls, sRaw increased by 0.017 kPa ⋅ s(-1) per year (95% CI, 0.011-0.023). In boys this increase was significantly greater (P = 0.012; mean between-sex difference, 0.011 kPa ⋅ s(-1); 95% CI, 0.003-0.019). Children with persistent wheeze (but not other wheeze phenotypes) had a significantly greater rate of deterioration in sRaw over time compared with never wheezers (P = 0.009). Similarly, children with multiple early, but not other atopy phenotypes had significantly poorer lung function than those without atopy (mean difference, 0.116 kPa ⋅ s(-1); 95% CI, 0.065-0.168; P < 0.001). sRaw increased progressively with the increasing number of asthma exacerbations. CONCLUSIONS Children with persistent wheeze, frequent asthma exacerbations, and multiple early atopy have diminished lung function throughout childhood, and are at risk of a progressive loss of lung function from age 3 to 11 years. These effects are more marked in boys.
Left Subclavian Artery Management in Endovascular Repair of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Aortic Dissections

Abstract Purpose: The purpose is to report our experience and revise our previously published results in endovascular repair of short‐necked thoracic aortic aneurysms or aortic type B dissections, in which the left subclavian artery (LSA) was occluded by the stent graft intentionally. Methods: Seven patients with an aortic type B dissection and three patients who had a thoracic aortic aneurysm were treated endovascularly with stent grafts. In all patients the ostium of the LSA was occluded by the stent graft, only in two patients a primary, prophylactic revascularization of the LSA was performed by transposition to the left common carotid artery (LCA). Two types of stent grafts were used: the Talent® (Medtronic) and the Excluder® (Gore) stent graft. Results: In all patients the sealing of the entry tear in aortic dissections and the exclusion of existing thoracic aortic aneurysms were achieved. No immediate neurological deficit or left arm ischemia occurred. Nevertheless, during a mean follow‐up of 18 months (2 to 31 months) in three patients a second surgical intervention had to be performed due to subclavian steal syndrome, left arm ischemia, or continuing perfusion of the dissected false aortic channel. Conclusion: Intentional occlusion of the LSA in stent‐graft repair of thoracic aortic diseases seems to be a safe procedure. Close follow‐up is needed due to arising subclavian steal syndrome, arm ischemia, or persistent perfusion of the false channel via LSA in aortic dissections after patients' discharge, requiring surgical intervention.
Do neuroleptic drugs hasten cognitive decline in dementia? Prospective study with necropsy follow up

Abstract Objective: To investigate the contribution of neuroleptic drugs to cognitive decline in dementia. Design: Two year prospective, longitudinal study consisting of interviews every four months, with necropsy follow up. Setting: Community settings in Oxfordshire. Subjects: 71 subjects with dementia, initially living at home with informant. Main outcome measures: Cognitive function (score from expanded minimental state examination); behavioural problems (physical aggression, hallucinations, persecutory ideas, and disturbance of diurnal rhythm); and postmortem neuropathological assessment (cortical Lewy body pathology). Results: The mean (SE) decline in cognitive score in the 16 patients who took neuroleptics was twice that in the patients who did not (20.7 (2.9) v 9.3 (1.3), P=0.002). An increased rate of decline was also associated with aggression, disturbed diurnal rhythm, and persecutory ideas. However, only use of neuroleptics and severity of persecutory ideas were independently associated with more rapid cognitive decline when all other variables were adjusted for. The start of neuroleptic treatment coincided with more rapid cognitive decline: median rate of decline was 5 (interquartile range 8.5) points per year before treatment and 11 (12) points per year after treatment (P=0.02). Cortical Lewy body pathology did not account for association between neuroleptic use and more rapid decline. Conclusions: Neuroleptic drugs that are sometimes used to treat behavioural complications of dementia may worsen already poor cognitive function. Randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm a causal relation. Key messages Neuroleptic drugs are used to treat behavioural problems in patients with dementia, but they may cause more rapid decline in cognitive function In our longitudinal study of patients with dementia we found that the rate of cognitive decline in patients taking neuroleptics was twice that in those not taking neuroleptics Furthermore, the start of neuroleptic treatment was associated with an increase in the rate of cognitive decline Cortical Lewy body pathology at necropsy did not account for the association between neuroleptic use and more rapid decline Although our study does not prove a causal relation, we suggest that there should be regular review of the need for patients to continue taking neuroleptic drugs
Difficulty of Discrimination Modulates Attentional Capture by Regulating Attentional Focus

Attentional capture for distractors is enhanced by increasing the difficulty of discrimination between the standard and the target in the three-stimulus oddball paradigm. In this study, we investigated the cognitive mechanism of this modulation of attentional capture. Event-related brain potentials were recorded from participants while they performed a visual three-stimulus oddball paradigm (frequent standard, rare target, and rare distractor). The discrimination difficulty between standard and target was manipulated in the central location. Distractor stimuli were presented in the central or surrounding locations. The P3a component was elicited by distractor stimuli and was used as a measure of attentional capture. The results revealed that discrimination difficulty had opposite effects on the P3a response between central and surrounding locations. With an increase in the difficulty of discrimination, the P3a response was enhanced when distractor stimuli were presented in the central location. In contrast, the P3a response was reduced when distractor stimuli were presented in a surrounding location. This finding suggests that spatial attention was focused by the difficulty of discrimination, and deviant processing was increased within its focus but decreased outside its focus. Therefore, attentional capture for deviant distractors is modulated by top–down controlled attentional focus.
Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS)

Do not include accidental self-injury (due e.g. to dementia or severe learning disability); the cognitive problem is rated at Scale 4 and the injury at Scale 5. Do not include illness or injury as a direct consequence of drug/alcohol use rated at Scale 3 (e.g. cirrhosis of the liver or an injury resulting from drink-driving are rated at Scale 5). (a) Rate each scale in order from 1-12. 2= Mild but definite problem (e.g. has lost the way in a familiar place or failed to recognise a familiar person); sometimes mixed up about simple decisions. (b) Do not include information rated in an earlier item, except for Item 10 which is an overall rating.