Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Investigation of the Relationship Between Alcohol Use and Major Depressive Disorder Across Hispanic National Groups.

BACKGROUND There has been consistent epidemiological evidence of the association between drinking, alcohol dependence, and depression. However, most of the research has ignored potential diversity across Hispanic national subgroups. This study examines the prevalence of depression and explores its association with volume of drinking, age at first drink, binge drinking, and alcohol dependence across Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and South/Central American Hispanic national groups. METHODS Data from more than 19,000 Hispanic adults were obtained from the 2010 to 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Survey logistic regression methods were used to test for differences in the relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol consumption across national groups. RESULTS The prevalence of MDD varied significantly across Hispanic national groups (χ(2) = 67.06, p < 0.001). Puerto Ricans (14%) and Mexican Americans (9%) were most likely to have MDD. Mexican Americans had the highest prevalence of alcohol dependence, volume of consumption, and youngest age at first drink compared to Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and Central/South Americans. Multivariate results suggest that the odds of alcohol dependence were nearly 4 times greater among Hispanics with MDD compared to Hispanics who did not meet the criteria for MDD. Hispanic national origin did not modify the association between MDD and alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS Although significant differences in the prevalence rates of MDD and alcohol-use measures emerged across Hispanic national groups, there was no evidence that the relationships between these measures were different across Hispanic national groups. Further research should investigate the root causes of these variable MDD prevalence rates to inform detection and intervention efforts targeted toward specific national groups.
Cost of diabetes: comparison of disease-attributable and matched cohort cost estimation methods

Abstract Objective: To estimate and compare the annual direct healthcare cost among Type 1 (T1DM) and Type 2 (T2DM) diabetes patients using two cost estimation methods: (1) DM-attributable cost and (2) all cause case–control cost. Research design and methods: An administrative claims cohort study using the HealthCore Integrated Research Database (HIRD®) identified T1DM and T2DM patients age ≥18 and <65 years between 1/1/2006 – 12/31/2006. DM patients (cases) were matched 1:1 with non-DM patients (controls) by age, gender, state, and commercial plan type (HMO, PPO, POS). All patients had continuous eligibility for calendar years 2006–07. DM-attributable cost was assessed by summing medical claims for DM (ICD-9-CM codes 250.xx) and pharmacy claims for anti-hyperglycemic agents, and all cause health care cost was assessed for cases and controls, for the calendar year 2007. Results: A total of 12,096 T1DM and 256,245 T2DM cases and matched controls were identified. T1DM and T2DM cases had significantly higher average baseline comorbidities and Deyo–Charleson Comorbidity scores than controls (2.17 vs. 0.23 and 1.62 vs. 0.39, respectively, p < 0.0001 for both). While DM attributable cost estimation resulted in a mean annual cost of $6247 for T1DM and $3002 for T2DM in 2007, the mean annual (per patient) all-cause total cost estimation using the case–control method resulted in a difference of $10,837 ($14,060 for cases, vs. $3223 for controls) for T1DM; and $4217 ($8070 for cases, vs. $3853 for controls) for T2DM. Conclusions: The DM-attributable cost method underestimated costs by 42% for T1DM and 29% for T2DM compared to the case–control method. The difference was smaller but still significant (33% for T1DM and 14% for T2DM) when multivariate technique was used. Patients with DM may use a substantial amount of medical and pharmacy services not directly attributable to DM, and attributable cost method may underestimate the total cost of DM. This study has limitations inherent to the retrospective claims data analysis and generalizability of results is limited to those from similar population.
Alcohol: A Simple Nutrient with Complex Actions on Bone in the Adult Skeleton.

BACKGROUND Alcohol is an important nonessential component of diet, but the overall impact of drinking on bone health, especially at moderate levels, is not well understood. Bone health is important because fractures greatly reduce quality of life and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Regular alcohol consumption is most common following skeletal maturity, emphasizing the importance of understanding the skeletal consequences of drinking in adults. METHODS This review focuses on describing the complex effects of alcohol on the adult skeleton. Studies assessing the effects of alcohol on bone in adult humans as well as skeletally mature animal models published since the year 2000 are emphasized. RESULTS Light to moderate alcohol consumption is generally reported to be beneficial, resulting in higher bone mineral density (BMD) and reduced age-related bone loss, whereas heavy alcohol consumption is generally associated with decreased BMD, impaired bone quality, and increased fracture risk. Bone remodeling is the principal mechanism for maintaining a healthy skeleton in adults and dysfunction in bone remodeling can lead to bone loss and/or decreased bone quality. Light to moderate alcohol may exert beneficial effects in older individuals by slowing the rate of bone remodeling, but the impact of light to moderate alcohol on bone remodeling in younger individuals is less certain. The specific effects of alcohol on bone remodeling in heavy drinkers are even less certain because the effects are often obscured by unhealthy lifestyle choices, alcohol-associated disease, and altered endocrine signaling. CONCLUSIONS Although there have been advances in understanding the complex actions of alcohol on bone, much remains to be determined. Limited evidence implicates age, skeletal site evaluated, duration, and pattern of drinking as important variables. Few studies systematically evaluating the impact of these factors have been conducted and should be made a priority for future research. In addition, studies performed in skeletally mature animals have potential to reveal mechanistic insights into the precise actions of alcohol and associated comorbidity factors on bone remodeling.
The Adventitia - The New Frontier in Coronary Atherosclerosis Imaging

Coronary artery adventitia was long considered to be a purely supportive and nutritive tissue, and its role in the natural history of coronaropathy was thus neglected. However, recent studies have highlighted a dynamic role played by the adventitia, and especially by its vasa vasorum (VV), in the genesis of atherosclerosis,1‐3 atherothrombotic events4,5 and restenosis following balloon angioplasty.6-9 The adventitia would appear to be an important element to be taken into account in the understanding and study of human atherosclerosis, with a special focus on vulnerable plaque assessment. The role of the adventitia in atherothrombotic coronary evolution, as promoter or mere bystander, now needs to be discussed and evaluated.
Dietary Fisetin Supplementation Protects Against Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice.

BACKGROUND Overproduction of reactive oxygen species is associated with the development of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Plant polyphenols have been used as dietary interventions for multiple diseases including ALD. The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary supplementation with fisetin, a novel flavonoid, exerts beneficial effect on alcohol-induced liver injury. METHODS C57BL/6J mice were pair-fed with the Lieber-DeCarli control or ethanol (EtOH) diet for 4 weeks with or without fisetin supplementation at 10 mg/kg/d. RESULTS Alcohol feeding induced lipid accumulation in the liver and increased plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, which were attenuated by fisetin supplementation. The EtOH concentrations in the plasma and liver were significantly elevated by alcohol exposure but were reduced by fisetin supplementation. Although fisetin did not affect the protein expression of alcohol metabolism enzymes, the aldehyde dehydrogenase activities were significantly increased by fisetin compared to the alcohol alone group. In addition, fisetin supplementation remarkably reduced hepatic NADPH oxidase 4 levels along with decreased plasma hydrogen peroxide and hepatic superoxide and 4-hydroxynonenal levels after alcohol exposure. Alcohol-induced apoptosis and up-regulation of Fas and cleaved caspase-3 in the liver were prevented by fisetin. Moreover, fisetin supplementation attenuated alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis through increasing plasma adiponectin levels and hepatic protein levels of p-AMPK, ACOX1, CYP4A, and MTTP. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that the protective effect of fisetin on ALD is achieved by accelerating EtOH clearance and inhibition of oxidative stress. The data suggest that fisetin has a therapeutical potential for treating ALD.
Effects of Sex, Drinking History, and Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids Dysregulation on the Onset of Liver Injury in Very Heavy Drinking Alcohol-Dependent Patients.

BACKGROUND Heavy alcohol consumption frequently causes liver inflammation/injury, and certain fatty acids (FAs) may be involved in this liver pathology. In this study, we evaluated the association of heavy drinking and the changes in the FA levels involved in the ω-6 (pro-inflammatory) and ω-3 (anti-inflammatory) state in alcohol-dependent (AD) patients who had no clinical manifestations of liver injury. We aimed to identify sex-based differences in patients with mild or no biochemical evidence of liver injury induced by heavy drinking. METHODS A total of 114 heavy drinking AD female and male patients aged 21 to 65 years without clinical manifestations of liver injury, who were admitted to an alcohol dependence treatment program, were grouped by the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels: ≤40 IU/l, as no liver injury (GR.1), and >40 IU/l, as mild liver injury (GR.2). Patients were actively drinking until the day of admission. Comprehensive metabolic panel, comprehensive FA panel, and drinking history data were evaluated. RESULTS Elevated ALT and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) showed close association with markers of heavy alcohol intake. In the patients with mild biochemical liver injury (GR.2), females showed significantly higher AST level than males. Significant association of AST and total drinks in past 90 days (TD90) in females, and AST and heavy drinking days in past 90 days (HDD90) in males was observed. The ω-6:ω-3 ratio showed a significant pro-inflammatory response only in females with mild liver injury (GR.2) when adjusted by drinking history marker, TD90. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were increased in males with liver injury, while females did not show any comparable rise in EPA; and DHA levels were lower. CONCLUSIONS Measures of heavy drinking, TD90 and HDD90, predicted changes in liver injury. Changes in the ω-3 and ω-6 FA levels and the ω-6:ω-3 ratio showed a pro-inflammatory shift in patients with biochemical liver injury with a significant effect in females. Changes in FAs involved in the inflammatory state may represent one mechanism for liver inflammation/injury in response to heavy alcohol drinking.
A psychiatric patients tracking system

This paper presents an RFID based psychiatric patient tracking system in a psychiatric patient care center. In this system, RFID field generators and readers are installed in the environment, near the entrance and exit points for tracking the patients. Every patient is required to wear the tag. When a tag receives the call from a field generator, it responds to a reader with the ID of the field generator issuing the calling. Based on the field generator IDs a tag responds, the location of the patient associated with the tag can be approximately estimated. By so doing, not only the patient's moving patterns can be recorded but also the event of the patient leaving the main gate of the care center be detected. Besides the localization issue, in this paper we also employed a graphic coloring approach for solving the interference caused from field generator located one near another. Experimental results show that this algorithm has significantly improved the reliability of the tracking system
Early Adolescent Trajectories of Impulsiveness and Sensation Seeking in Children of Fathers with Histories of Alcohol and Other Substance Use Disorders.

BACKGROUND Problem substance use often begins in adolescence. This vulnerability likely stems, at least partially, from relatively rapid increases in sensation seeking occurring in early to mid-adolescence and more gradual improvements in impulse control occurring through later adolescence. Better understanding how these processes develop in high-risk youth may lead to enhanced substance use disorder treatment and prevention strategies. METHODS We characterized trajectories of self-reported impulsivity and sensation seeking in 305 FH+ youths who at minimum had a father with a history of alcohol or other drug use disorders and 81 youths with no family histories of substance use disorders (FH-). Assessments started at ages 10 to 12 and continued at 6-month intervals for up to 42 months. In addition, a subset of 58 FH+ youths who began alcohol or other drug use before age 15 (FH+ Users) were compared to 58 FH+ propensity-matched adolescents who did not initiate substance use before age 15 (FH+ Non-Users). RESULTS Compared to FH- youths at preadolescence, FH+ youths reported higher general impulsivity and higher impulsivity related to poor planning and attention. Over time, there were no differential effects of FH status on changes in impulsivity or sensation seeking across adolescence. FH+ Users had smaller decreases in general impulsivity and impulsivity related to restlessness and fidgeting across adolescence than FH+ Non-Users. FH+ Users also had greater increases in sensation seeking across adolescence than FH+ Non-Users. CONCLUSIONS Increased impulsivity in FH+ youths may make them less able to regulate sensation seeking drives that peak in adolescence, which may contribute to their high risk for developing substance use disorders. Additionally, FH+ adolescents who initiate early use may be at increased risk in part due to increased impulsivity coupled with greater increases in sensation seeking.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome: Here We Are, Where Must We Go?

ABSTRACT Objective: To present the current state of knowledge of myofascial pain syndrome [MPS] and to point the direction for new research. Findings: MPS was first defined clinically by Janet Travell, MD, and later by David Simons, MD. Pain neurophysiology has only recently provided the basis for understanding the sensorimotor manifestations of MPS. This article reviews the current state of knowledge concerning MPS. MPS is a form of myalgia characterized by local regions of muscle hardness and tenderness that cause referred pain. The signature feature is the trigger point, a tender, taut band of muscle that can be painful spontaneously or when stimulated. The active trigger point has identifiable pathophysiologic changes. Levels of substance P, calcitonin gene related peptide, bradykinin, and assorted cytokines, are elevated, indicating a chemical inflammation. Trigger point milieu pH is low, about pH 5, consistent with hypoxia and ischemia. Persistent, low-amplitude, high-frequency electrical discharges that look like endplate potentials characteristic. The taut band can be visualized using high definition ultrasonograpy and magnetic resonance sonography. Central sensitization in MPS has been documented in humans by functional magnetic resonance image scanning. The role of MPS in headache and pelvic pain has been extensively studied in the last few years. Conclusion: Although great progress has been made, studies are still needed to substantiate the energy crisis hypothesis of trigger point formation, to understand the nature of sustained muscle contraction that forms the taut band and of referred pain in humans, and to develop a more rationale and effective treatment.
Exercício aeróbico ou com pesos melhora o desempenho nas atividades da vida diária de mulheres idosas

Este estudo aleatorizado nao controlado teve como objetivo determinar o efeito de um protocolo de exercicio com pesos ou aerobico no desempenho das atividades da vida diaria em mulheres idosas. Para tanto, a amostra foi constituida por 41 mulheres idosas aparentemente saudaveis na faixa etaria de 60 a 85 anos de idade (x: 65,1 ± 7,9 anos) divididas aleatoriamente em grupo exercicio com pesos (n: 22) ou aerobico (n: 19). O grupo exercicio com pesos consistiu na execucao de tres series de oito a 12 repeticoes a 60% de uma repeticao maxima no exercicio leg press 45o. O grupo exercicio aerobico consistiu em pedalar em cicloergometro durante 40 minutos a 60% da frequencia cardiaca de reserva. Os dois protocolos foram realizados tres vezes por semana durante cinco semanas. As atividades da vida diaria selecionadas foram velocidade para se levantar de uma posicao sentada (VLPS), velocidade para se levantar de uma posicao deitada (VLPD), velocidade para subir escada (VSE) e velocidade para calcar e amarrar o tenis (VCAT). O grupo exercicio aerobico melhorou significativamente o desempenho em VCAT (19,1%), enquanto o exercicio com pesos incrementou significativamente o desempenho em VSE (4,3%) e VLPS (8,9%). Os resultados deste estudo permitem concluir que tanto o exercicio com pesos como o aerobico induziram efeito positivo nas atividades da vida diaria, sugerindo que ambas as modalidades de exercicio devem ser associadas a um programa adequado de exercicios para a melhora da capacidade funcional de pessoas idosas.
Long-term raloxifene for postmenopausal osteoporosis

Abstract Background: Due to the chronic nature of osteoporosis and the risk of invasive breast cancer, raloxifene 60 mg/day (raloxifene) is intended to be used for long-term treatment (treatment >3 years). Scope: We review available information concerning long-term use of raloxifene, present several new analyses, and report new data from patients who underwent iliac crest bone biopsies after 8 years of raloxifene therapy. The most important studies were the Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation (MORE) followed by the Continued Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation (CORE). Findings: The primary endpoint in MORE was incidence of vertebral fracture, and the difference between the raloxifene and placebo groups for this endpoint widened during 4 years of therapy, with the relative risk reduction during the fourth year of the study being similar to the relative risk reduction during years 0 to 3 of the study. Continued raloxifene treatment is necessary to preserve bone mineral density (BMD). In MORE, raloxifene lowered markers of bone turnover to a premenopausal reference interval. Biopsies from three patients treated with raloxifene for 8 years showed normal bone and bone cells and double label in all specimens. Invasive breast cancer risk is a clinical consideration in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, and invasive breast cancer risk reduction was the primary endpoint in CORE. In MORE and CORE, the benefit of raloxifene versus placebo in incidence of invasive breast cancer increased with greater duration of therapy up to 8 years. Conclusions: The long-term use of raloxifene has been evaluated through changes in fracture risk reduction, BMD, markers of bone turnover, iliac crest bone biopsies, and invasive breast cancer risk reduction.
Validating Harmful Alcohol Use as a Phenotype for Genetic Discovery Using Phosphatidylethanol and a Polymorphism in ADH1B

BACKGROUND Although alcohol risk is heritable, few genetic risk variants have been identified. Longitudinal electronic health record (EHR) data offer a largely untapped source of phenotypic information for genetic studies, but EHR-derived phenotypes for harmful alcohol exposure have yet to be validated. Using a variant of known effect, we used EHR data to develop and validate a phenotype for harmful alcohol exposure that can be used to identify unknown genetic variants in large samples. Herein, we consider the validity of 3 approaches using the 3-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test consumption measure (AUDIT-C) as a phenotype for harmful alcohol exposure. METHODS First, using longitudinal AUDIT-C data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Biomarker Study Cohort (VACS-BC), we compared 3 metrics of AUDIT-C using correlation coefficients: (i) AUDIT-C closest to blood sampling (closest AUDIT-C), (ii) the highest value (highest AUDIT-C), (iii) and longitudinal trajectories generated using joint trajectory modeling (AUDIT-C trajectory). Second, we compared the associations of the 3 AUDIT-C metrics with phosphatidylethanol (PEth), a direct, quantitative biomarker for alcohol in the overall sample using chi-square tests for trend. Last, in the subsample of African Americans (AAs; n = 1,503), we compared the associations of the 3 AUDIT-C metrics with rs2066702 a common missense (Arg369Cys) polymorphism of the ADH1B gene, which encodes an alcohol dehydrogenase isozyme. RESULTS The sample (n = 1,851, 94.5% male, 65% HIV+, mean age 52 years) had a median of 7 AUDIT-C scores over a median of 6.1 years. Highest AUDIT-C and AUDIT-C trajectory were correlated r = 0.86. The closest AUDIT-C was obtained a median of 2.26 years after the VACS-BC blood draw. Overall and among AAs, all 3 AUDIT-C metrics were associated with PEth (all p < 0.05), but the gradient was steepest with AUDIT-C trajectory. Among AAs (36% with the protective ADH1B allele), the association of rs2066702 with AUDIT-C trajectory and highest AUDIT-C was statistically significant (p < 0.05), and the gradient was steeper for the AUDIT-C trajectory than for the highest AUDIT-C. The closest AUDIT-C was not statistically significantly associated with rs2066702. CONCLUSIONS EHR data can be used to identify complex phenotypes such as harmful alcohol use. The validity of the phenotype may be enhanced through the use of longitudinal trajectories.
Hepatitis B virus X protein: TRIMming antiviral defences in hepatocytes

Humans and viruses have coevolved over thousands of years; however, very few viruses are able to manifest as chronic infections with most being cleared after an acute course. Consequently, success of the human species has relied on a functional immune system that is capable of fighting off most viral pathogens. The heptatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most successful viruses to establish chronic infection in man with over 300 million individuals currently infected worldwide and over 2 billion humans having been infected by this virus.1 These numbers underscore the tremendous ability of HBV to thwart the human immune system and establish chronic infection. In this issue of Gut , Lim et al 2 have provided evidence for a new mechanism through which HBV is able to establish and maintain chronic infection. They specifically examine the role of the enigmatic HBx protein3 in the regulation of TRIM22, a protein that has increasingly become associated with innate antiviral responses.4 5 Previous studies have demonstrated that HBx, a virally encoded protein that plays unusual roles in its life cycle, can block the antiviral response in addition …