Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GABAergic neurons and axon terminals in the brainstem auditory nuclei of the gerbil

The anatomical localization of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the synthesizing enzyme for GABA, was analyzed in the brainstem auditory nuclei of the adult gerbil. GAD‐positive terminals and somata were present in the cochlear nucleus, superior olivary complex, lateral lemniscus, and inferior colliculus in varying concentrations and patterns. One of the highest densities of GAD‐positive terminals is found in the superficial layers of the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), whereas the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) has somewhat fewer terminals that are arranged in pericellular plexuses. GAD‐positive neurons occur mainly in the superficial and fusiform layers of the DCN and are scattered throughout the VCN. Within the superior olivary complex, the highest concentration of immunoreactive terminals and neurons occurs in the ventral and lateral nuclei of the trapezoid body. In contrast, the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body and the medial superior olive contain fewer GAD‐positive puncta and probably no immunoreactive somata. The lateral superior olive and superior periolivary nucleus contain a few immunoreactive puncta but a large number of immunoreactive somata. In the midbrain, the nuclei of the lateral lemniscus contain a moderate number of GAD‐positive puncta and a large number of different types of GAD‐positive neurons. The inferior colliculus also contains a heterogeneous population of labeled somata, most of which are multipolar neurons. In addition, a high concentration of immunoreactive puncta occurs in this region. These data demonstrate a diverse distribution of GAD‐positive neurons and puncta throughout the brainstem auditory nuclei and suggest that GABA might be an important neurotransmitter in the processing of auditory information.
Breast Cancer

It has been firmly established in epidemiological studies that early full-term pregnancy affords lifetime protection against the development of breast cancer. This phenomenon can be mimicked in rat and mouse models of mammary cancer in which the hormones estrogen and progesterone are given for 21 days. Carcinogen-induced proliferation is blocked as a consequence of hormone pretreatment. Among several genes implicated by molecular studies to be differentially expressed is the tumor suppressor gene p53. Both immunohistochemical and Western blot studies indicate that p53 protein expression is increased in hormone-pretreated mice and rats. The p53-regulated gene p21Cip1 is also increased concomitantly with p53. To test directly the causative role of p53 in conferring a protective phenotype, we examined the hormone-induced protective effect in BALB/c p53 null mammary epithelium. In the mammary epithelium, the absence of p53 gene expression abrogated the protective effect of prior pregnancy. The tumor incidence curves were superimposable in p53 null mammary epithelium that were treated with 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene or pregnancy plus 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene. These results demonstrate that p53 plays a pivotal role in hormone-induced protection and raises the question of the mechanisms by which the steroid hormones, estrogen and progesterone, functionally activate p53.
Retracted - miR-423-5p knockdown enhances the sensitivity of glioma stem cells to apigenin through the mitochondrial pathway

This study aimed to investigate the effect of miR-423-5p on the sensitivity of glioma stem cells to apigenin and to explore the potential mechanism. Previous research indicated that apigenin can effectively inhibit the proliferation of many cancer cells, including glioma cells, though our data unexpectedly showed that apigenin had no effect on glioma stem cell apoptosis. As many studies have reported that malignant transformation and progression of glioma are due to glioma stem cells, an anti-glioma stem cell approach has become an important direction for glioma treatment. In this study, we found miR-423-5p to be overexpressed in glioma tissues and corresponding glioma stem cells. Downregulation of miR-423-5p repressed glioma stem cell growth but did not cause apoptosis. Based on the concept of "Pharmaco-miR," this study further demonstrated that the combination of miR-423-5p knockdown and apigenin had a notable additive effect on inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis in glioma stem cells. Hoechst staining showed higher apoptosis rates and typical apoptotic morphological changes of the cell nucleus, and JC-1 (5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimi-dazolylcarbocya-nine iodide) staining revealed reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. Further research demonstrated that the mechanism is associated with a shift in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, an increased cytochrome c level, Apaf-1 induction, and caspase-3 activation. In conclusion, this study indicates that downregulation of miR-423-5p enhances the sensitivity of glioma stem cells to apigenin through the mitochondrial pathway.
Can machine learning approaches predict corporate bankruptcy? Evidence from a qualitative experimental design

Bankruptcy prediction has received a growing interest in corporate finance and risk management recently. Although numerous studies in the literature have dealt with various statistical and artificial intelligence classifiers, their performance in credit risk forecasting needs to be further scrutinized compared to other methods. In the spirit of Chen, Härdle and Moro (2011, Quantitative Finance), we design an empirical study to assess the effectiveness of various machine learning topologies trained with big data approaches and qualitative, rather than quantitative, information as input variables. The experimental results from a ten-fold cross-validation methodology demonstrate that a generalized regression neural topology yields an accuracy measurement of 99.96%, a sensitivity measure of 99.91% and specificity of 100%. Indeed, this specific model outperformed multi-layer back-propagation networks, probabilistic neural networks, radial basis functions and regression trees, as well as other advanced classifiers. The utilization of advanced nonlinear classifiers based on big data methodologies and machine learning training generates outperforming results compared to traditional methods for bankruptcy forecasting and risk measurement.
Outcome of relapse in lupus nephritis: roles of reversal of renal fibrosis and response of inflammation to therapy.

BACKGROUND Renal relapse in lupus nephritis has been shown to have ominous prognostic significance with the majority of patients progressing to doubling of serum creatinine (CRX2). However, not all patients do so. This report explores the roles of response of inflammation to therapy and of glomerular scarring and interstitial fibrosis and their potential reversal to outcome of renal relapse. METHODS Renal biopsies from 71 patients with lupus nephritis with an initial biopsy (Bx1) and systematic control biopsy (Bx2) after six months of therapy, as well as subsequent biopsies for clinical indications, were studied. The relationships of morphologic factors to renal relapse and its outcome as well as to CRX2 and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to assess association of morphologic variables with outcomes. RESULTS Renal interstitial fibrosis and glomerular segmental scarring were partially reversible in 17 and 11 patients, respectively. This decline was associated with an excellent prognosis, with only one patient in each group (5.9% and 9.1% respectively) progressing to CRX2. All 18 patients who progressed to CRX2 either failed to respond to therapy (7 patients) as defined by normalization of serum creatinine (SCr) and reduction of proteinuria to < or =1 g/day, or relapsed after initial response (11 patients), as defined by recent rise of SCr > 50% and/or proteinuria > 3.5 g/day. However, relapse also occurred in 11 of 47 other patients without progression to CRX2. These patients showed a greater initial response of inflammation and deposits to therapy and fibrous lesions partially reversed in the period prior to relapse, so that active lesions were superimposed on a lower level of chronic lesions. By contrast, chronic lesions mounted steadily in those who progressed to CRX2. Cox proportional hazards modeling indicated a strong association of inflammatory variables with renal relapse, CRX2 and ESRD. However, the extent of immunoglobulin deposits was not significantly associated with any outcome. Finally, we found that failure of disease to remit also is associated with a high rate of CRX2 (64.8% vs. 13.0%, P = 0.00034). CONCLUSIONS Interstitial fibrosis and glomerular scarring in systemic lupus erythematosus are partially reversible, and this reversal is attended by an excellent outcome. The outcome of renal relapse is determined by the initial response of inflammatory and chronicity elements to therapy, those with prior partial reversal of interstitial and glomerular scarring having a good outcome, and those in whom fibrotic lesions have continued to increase and have a poor outcome. Inflammatory variables appear to be more important in determining outcome than immunoglobulin deposits.
An Overview of Regular Dialysis Treatment in Japan (As of 31 December 2007)

A nationwide statistical survey of 4098 dialysis facilities was conducted at the end of 2007, and 4052 facilities (98.88%) participated. The number of patients undergoing dialysis at the end of 2007 was determined to be 275 242, an increase of 10 769 patients (4.1%) compared with that at the end of 2006.The number of dialysis patients per million at the end of 2007 was 2154. The crude death rate of dialysis patients at the end of 2007 from the end of 2006 was 9.4%. The mean age of new patients begun on dialysis was 66.8 years and the mean age of the entire dialysis patient population was 64.9 years. For the primary diseases of new patients begun on dialysis, the percentages of patients with diabetic nephropathy and chronic glomerulonephritis were 43.4% and 23.8%, respectively. The percentages of facilities that achieved the control standard of endotoxin concentration in the dialysate solution of <0.05 EU/mL and those that achieved a bacterial count of <100 cfu/mL in the dialysate solution, as specified by the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy, were 93.6% and 97.4%, respectively. The percentage of patients positive for the hepatitis C virus antibody among the entire dialysis population significantly decreased from 15.95% at the end of 1999 to 9.83% at the end of 2007. The mean hemoglobin concentration in all the dialysis patients at the end of 2007 was 10.27 (±1.32, SD) g/dL, which has scarcely changed over the last three years. The numbers of male and female patients with a history of hip fracture were 142.9 and 339.0 per 10 000 dialysis patients, respectively, showing an extremely high prevalence among female patients. A history of hip fracture correlates with a low body mass index, serum albumin concentration, and a history of diabetes. The serum creatinine level of patients upon introduction to dialysis was 8.34 (±3.55) mg/dL, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate was 5.43 (±3.43) mL/min/1.73 m2 for the patients who were newly begun on dialysis in 2007.
Co‐ingestion of aspirin and acetaminophen promoting fulminant liver failure: A critical review of Reye syndrome in the current perspective at the dawn of the 21st century

In the paediatric population, there is some evidence of possible interaction, synergism, and co‐toxicity of aspirin and acetaminophen. The toxicity of salicylates such as aspirin in this population is well known and documented, specifically in the form of Reye syndrome. The possible toxic synergism with aspirin and acetaminophen, however, is not previously described; though case reports suggest such co‐toxicities with low levels of aspirin and other compounds can exist. In vitro studies into mechanistic processes of salicylate toxicity propose that there is a bi‐directional link and potentiation with glutathione (GSH) depletion and salicylate toxicity. Data may suggest a plausible explanation for salicylate and acetaminophen toxic synergism. Further studies investigating this potential toxic synergism are warranted. Given the lack of awareness in the clinical community about potential toxic synergism between these relatively common medications, caution is advised in the co‐administration of these drugs, particularly in communities using natural or alternative therapy.
Examining the Asymmetric Effect of Multi-Shopping Tourism Attributes on Overall Shopping Destination Satisfaction

Based on impact range performance analysis and impact asymmetry analysis, this study aims to (1) examine the asymmetric effect of shopping tourism attributes on shopping destination satisfaction from the perspective of Chinese tourists and (2) prioritize attributes by identifying them as frustrators, dissatisfiers, hybrids, satisfiers, and delighters. The asymmetric relationships between shopping tourism attributes and shopping destination satisfaction offer an expanded view of the dynamic effects of attributes, while destination-specific attributes allow the researchers to examine the unexplored roles of government promotions and Korean pop culture/media in shopping tourism.
Efficacy and safety of finasteride therapy for androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review.

CONTEXT Androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of alopecia in men. OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy and safety of finasteride therapy for patients with androgenetic alopecia. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Registers, and LILACS were searched for randomized controlled trials reported in any language that evaluated the efficacy and safety of finasteride therapy in comparison to treatment with placebo in adults with androgenetic alopecia. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION Two reviewers independently evaluated eligibility and collected the data, including assessment of methodological quality (Jadad score). Outcome measures included patient self-assessment, hair count, investigator clinical assessment, global photographic assessment, and adverse effects at short term (≤12 months) and long term (≥24 months). Heterogeneity was explored by testing a priori hypotheses. DATA SYNTHESIS Twelve studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria (3927 male patients), 10 of which demonstrated a Jadad score of 3 or more. The proportion of patients reporting an improvement in scalp hair was greater with finasteride therapy than with placebo treatment in the short term (relative risk [RR], 1.81 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.42-2.32]; I², 64%) and in the long term (RR, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.15-2.53]; I², 16%); both results were considered to have moderate-quality evidence. The number needed to treat for 1 patient to perceive himself as improved was 5.6 (95% CI, 4.6-7.0) in the short term and 3.4 (95% CI, 2.6-5.1) in the long term. Moderate-quality evidence suggested that finasteride therapy increased the mean hair count from baseline in comparison to placebo treatment, expressed as a percentage of the initial count in each individual, at short term (mean difference [MD], 9.42% [95% CI, 7.95%-10.90%]; I², 50%) and at long term (MD, 24.3% [95% CI, 17.92%-30.60%]; I², 0%). Also, the proportion of patients reported as improved by investigator assessment was greater in the short term (RR, 1.80 [95% CI, 1.43-2.26]; number needed to treat, 3.7 [95% CI, 3.2-4.3]; I², 82%) (moderate-quality evidence). Moderate-quality evidence suggested an increase in erectile dysfunction (RR, 2.22 [95% CI, 1.03-4.78]; I², 1%; number needed to harm, 82.1 [95% CI, 56-231]) and a possible increase in the risk of any sexual disturbances (RR, 1.39 [95% CI, 0.99-1.95]; I², 0%). The risk of discontinuing treatment because of sexual adverse effects was similar to that of placebo (RR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.51-1.49]; I², 5%) (moderate-quality evidence). CONCLUSION Moderate-quality evidence suggests that daily use of oral finasteride increases hair count and improves patient and investigator assessment of hair appearance, while increasing the risk of sexual dysfunction.
Malaria and HIV infection in Mozambican pregnant women are associated with reduced transfer of antimalarial antibodies to their newborns.

BACKGROUND Malaria and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection during pregnancy affect the transplacental transfer of antibodies against several pathogens from mother to fetus, although the effect of malaria and HIV infection on the transfer of antimalarial antibodies remains unclear. METHODS Levels of total immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and IgG subtypes against the following Plasmodium falciparum antigens were measured in 187 pairs of mother-cord plasma specimens from Mozambique: 19-kDa fragment of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP119), erythrocyte binding antigen 175 (EBA175), apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1), and parasite lysate. Placental antibody transfer was defined as the cord-to-mother ratio (CMR) of antibody levels. RESULTS Maternal malaria was associated with reduced CMR of EBA175 IgG (P = .014) and IgG1 (P = .029), AMA1 IgG (P = .002), lysate IgG1 (P = .001), and MSP1 IgG3 (P = .01). Maternal HIV was associated with reduced CMR of MSP1 IgG1 (P = .022) and IgG3 (P = .023), lysate IgG1 (P = .027) and IgG3 (P = .025), AMA1 IgG1 (P = .001), and EBA175 IgG3 (P = .001). Decreased CMR was not associated with increased adverse pregnancy outcomes or augmented risk of malaria in the infant during the first year of life. CONCLUSIONS Placental transfer of antimalarial antibodies is reduced in pregnant women with malaria and HIV infection. However, this decrease does not contribute to an increased risk of malaria-associated morbidity during infancy.
Cell Death in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Development

ABSTRACT Bacteria growing in biofilms often develop multicellular, three-dimensional structures known as microcolonies. Complex differentiation within biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa occurs, leading to the creation of voids inside microcolonies and to the dispersal of cells from within these voids. However, key developmental processes regulating these events are poorly understood. A normal component of multicellular development is cell death. Here we report that a repeatable pattern of cell death and lysis occurs in biofilms of P. aeruginosa during the normal course of development. Cell death occurred with temporal and spatial organization within biofilms, inside microcolonies, when the biofilms were allowed to develop in continuous-culture flow cells. A subpopulation of viable cells was always observed in these regions. During the onset of biofilm killing and during biofilm development thereafter, a bacteriophage capable of superinfecting and lysing the P. aeruginosa parent strain was detected in the fluid effluent from the biofilm. The bacteriophage implicated in biofilm killing was closely related to the filamentous phage Pf1 and existed as a prophage within the genome of P. aeruginosa. We propose that prophage-mediated cell death is an important mechanism of differentiation inside microcolonies that facilitates dispersal of a subpopulation of surviving cells.
Equol in milk of dairy cows is derived from forage legumes such as red clover

The intake of isoflavones and the resulting equol contents of both plasma and milk of the same red clover-fed cows are reported for the first time in cyclic change-over design study. Cows were fed four different red clover silages and two timothy–meadow fescue silages as controls. The red clover silages contained daidzein, formononetin, biochanin A and genistein, whereas the timothy–meadow fescue silages contained no isoflavones. We found a strong association (y = 0·071x+2·75, R 2 0·71) between the formononetin intake (x) and equol concentration (y) in the plasma, while the formononetin intake and milk equol concentration were weakly associated (y = 0·0035x+0·358, R 2 0·20). This means that a small part of the total formononetin in the silage is secreted into milk as equol. The mean equol contents in plasma and milk of cows fed red clover silage diets were in the range of 4·6–8·4 mg/l and 458–643 μg/l, respectively, while the respective values for the control diets were in the range of 0·8–1·5 mg/l and 171–287 μg/l. We showed that shorter growing periods of red clover resulted in higher silage formononetin contents and plasma and milk equol contents, suggesting that the equol content of milk can be manipulated by varying the harvesting strategy of red clover. We conclude that milk equol is derived from the formononetin of red clover silage and that milk from red clover-fed cows can be considered as a source of equol in human nutrition.
Gene expression profiling and network analysis of peripheral blood monocytes in a chronic model of allergic asthma

The Aspergillus fumigatus mouse model of asthma mimics the characteristics of human fungal asthma, including local and systemic inflammation. Monocyte/macrophage lineage cells direct innate immune responses and guide adaptive responses. To identify gene expression changes in peripheral blood monocytes in the context of fungal allergy, mice were exposed to systemic and intranasal inoculations of fungal antigen (sensitized), and naïve and sensitized animals were challenged intratracheally with live A. fumigatus conidia. Microarray analysis of blood monocytes from allergic versus non‐allergic mice showed ≥ twofold modulation of 45 genes. Ingenuity pathway analysis revealed a network of these genes involved in antigen presentation, inflammation, and immune cell trafficking. These data show that allergen sensitization and challenge affects gene expression in peripheral monocytes.
Notes on the implementation of the IREQ model for the assessment of extreme cold environments

This paper has been devoted to the difficulties that practitioners, skilled ergonomists or occupational health experts could find in the assessment of cold environments by means of (insulation required) IREQ model at the base of the (International Standardization Organization) ISO 11079 Standard. The in-depth analysis discussed here has underlined several difficulties about: (a) the graphical calculation of the predicted limit exposures; (b) some differences in both IREQ and (duration limit exposure) DLE values reported in ISO 11079; and (c) some errors and incongruities in the program available online for the assessment of DLEs. These occurrences lead to the systematic overestimation of the DLE that exceed up to 4 h, those obtained by means of the figures reported in the Standard with the consequent unreliable assessment. Such matters justify the need to promote, in the whole scientific community involved in the ergonomics of the thermal environment, an in-depth discussion on the best practice to be followed for the assessment of extreme cold environments by means of IREQ model. Practitioner summary: Incongruities in IREQ model and errors in the code suggested by ISO 11079 Standard prevent a reliable assessment of cold environments with DLE systematically overestimated. Therefore IREQ model has been theoretically investigated trying to help both neophytes and skilled ergonomists on the best practice to be followed.
An innovative web-based peer support system for medical students in Hong Kong

Background: Psychological morbidity is commonly found in medical students. Aims: The Mental Health Support Group (MSG), a student-initiated and student-run web-based peer support service aims to provide mental health information, e mail counseling and an online forum for medical students. Methods: The development process of MSG is described in the paper with presentation of preliminary evaluation results. Results: Preliminary evaluation shows promising results. Student members of MSG acquired valuable skills in counseling, communication, webpage design and maintenance of an online forum. Conclusions: Future challenges include succession issues, strategies to keep up the momentum, enhancement of publicity and further diversification of service to meet the needs of our students.