Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy Affects T Regulatory Cells by Increasing Their Suppressive Function

Intravenous Ig therapy (IVIg) is reported to be a useful regimen in treating autoimmune diseases. In this study, we asked whether IVIg (in vitro) could increase the expression of TGF-β, IL-10, and the transcription factor FoxP3 in T regulatory (Treg) cells, and the idea that IVIg could enhance suppressive properties of these cells. CD4+ T cells from 12 healthy individuals were cultured in the presence or absence of IVIg vs human control IgG during 16, 24, and 36 h. Using FACS analysis and gating on CD4+CD25high Treg cells, we assessed the expression of intracellular TGF-β, IL-10, and FoxP3. In addition, the production of TNF-α by stimulated CD4+ T cells alone or in culture with CD25+ by itself or together with IVIg was also assessed. The presence of IVIg with Treg cells in culture significantly increased the intracellular expression of TGF-β (17.7 ± 8.5% vs 29.8 ± 13%; p = 0.02), IL-10 (20.7 ± 4.7% vs 34.2 ± 5.2%; p = 0.008) and FoxP3 (20.8 ± 5.2% vs 33.7 ± 5.9%; p = 0.0006) when compared with cells cultured alone or with control human IgG. The suppressive effect of CD4+CD25+ T cells presented as the decrease of TNF-α production by stimulated CD4+CD25− (effector T cells) was further increased by adding IVIg to cell culture. We hereby demonstrate an additional mechanism by which IVIg could maintain self-tolerance and decrease immune-mediated inflammation.
Association Rule Mining of Relational Data

Most data of practical relevance are structured in more complex ways than is assumed in traditional data mining algorithms, which are based on a single table. The concept of relations allows for discussing many data structures such as trees and graphs. Relational data have much generality and are of significant importance, as demonstrated by the ubiquity of relational database management systems. It is, therefore, not surprising that popular data mining techniques, such as association rule mining, have been generalized to relational data. An important aspect of the generalization process is the identification of challenges that are new to the generalized setting.
Using drug claims data to assess the relationship of medication adherence with hospitalization and costs.

OBJECTIVE This naturalistic study used claims data to examine the relationship of medication nonadherence to hospital use and costs among severely mentally ill clients in Wisconsin. METHODS Data for 619 clients were obtained from Medicaid drug and hospital claims, county records, and case managers as part of a larger study in eight county-based mental health systems. Study participants were eligible for Medicaid, had a severe and persistent mental illness, were 18 years or older, and were receiving neuroleptics, lithium, or antidepressants. Drug claims were analyzed for a 12-month period to determine how regularly clients obtained their medications. Regression analyses were used to assess the effects of irregular medication use on any hospitalization for psychiatric problems, the number of days hospitalized, and hospital costs. The analyses controlled for several risk factors. RESULTS Among clients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, 31 percent used medications irregularly. The rates were 33 percent among those with bipolar disorder and 41 percent among those with other severe mental illnesses. In the total sample, irregular users had significantly higher rates of hospitalization than regular users (42 percent versus 20 percent), more hospital days (16 days versus four days), and higher hospital costs ($3,992 versus $1,048). Irregular medication use was one of the strongest predictors of hospital use and costs even after the analyses controlled for diagnosis, demographic characteristics, baseline functioning, and previous hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS The availability of drug claims data and the ability to use them in predictive analyses make them a potentially useful data source in studies of medication adherence among persons with severe mental illness.
Relationships between cause of cancer and breast cancer-related factors in breast cancer survivors.

AIMS The purposes of this study were to (1) to identify the causes of cancer in breast cancer survivors in Taiwan; and (2) to investigate the influence of demographic characteristics and breast cancer-related factors on the cause of cancer. MATERIALS AND METHOD This study details the related investigative results on survivors with breast cancer using a descriptive and correlational design. A convenience sampling approach was employed. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the participants. RESULTS A total of 230 breast cancer survivors completed the questionnaire. Low-scoring cause of cancer participants were older adults (OR = 2.49, p<0.05) who were already of menopausal status (OR = 2.28, p < 0.05). Around 72% of participants agreed high responsibility. Our breast cancer survivors felt stress had caused their breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS These findings are helpful in understanding the relationship between cause of cancer and related factors in breast cancer survivors.
Arbeitswelt 4.0: Wohlstandszuwachs oder Ungleichheit und Arbeitsplatzverlust – was bringt die Digitalisierung?

Die Arbeitswelt befindet sich erneut im Umbruch. In der offentlichen Debatte werden Befurchtungen geausert, dass der technologische Wandel und insbesondere die Digitalisierung zu Arbeitsplatzverlusten fuhren. Ist diese Sorge berechtigt, oder bringt die »Arbeitswelt 4.0« sogar neue Jobs und Wohlstandszuwachse? Oliver Stettes, Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Koln, weist auf die Schwierigkeiten hin, die Substituierbarkeit von Arbeitsplatzen durch digitale Technologie zu schatzen. So prominent die Sorge sei, dass Algorithmen, Computer oder Roboter massenweise den Menschen in der Arbeitswelt ersetzen, lasse sich derzeit fur diese Hypothese (noch) kaum empirische Ruckendeckung erkennen. Melanie Arntz, Terry Gregory und Ulrich Zierahn, Zentrum fur Europaische Wirtschaftsforschung (ZEW), Mannheim, sehen vor allem einen massiven Strukturwandel als Folge der Digitalisierung. Neue Technologien wurden zwar Arbeit verdrangen, aber gleichzeitig wurden sie neue Arbeit entstehen lassen, wobei in der jungeren Vergangenheit der positive Effekt dominiere. Auch Katharina Dengler, Institut fur Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nurnberg, sieht gegenwartig keinen massiven Beschaftigungsabbau im Zuge der Digitalisierung. Wichtig seien aber die Weiterbildung und das lebenslange Lernen. Daniel Veit, Universitat Augsburg und MUNCHNER KREIS, betont den entstehenden Handlungsbedarf fur Gesellschaft und Politik, der seiner Ansicht nach neben Bildung und Weiterbildung in erster Linie die Entwicklung von Metakompetenzen beinhaltet. Kreativitat und Experimentierfreudigkeit starker zu fordern, werde dabei eine wesentliche Aufgabe der Akteure im Bildungssektor sein. Werner Eichhorst und Ulf Rinne, Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit (IZA), Bonn, finden die mit der Digitalisierung verbundenen Risiken »durchaus beherrschbar«. Die derzeit verfugbare empirische Evidenz lege nahe, dass fur »Alarmismus und ubertriebene Angste kein Anlass« bestehe. Aktuell gabe es die Chance, tatig zu werden und geeignete »Leitplanken« fur die Arbeitswelt der Zukunft zu schaffen. Das Zeitfenster fur diesen bedeutenden Gestaltungsauftrag schliese sich allerdings.
Reported biomedical causes and associated medical conditions for mental retardation among 10‐year‐old children, metropolitan Atlanta, 1985 to 1987

This report describes biomedical causes of mental retardation(MR) among school‐age children and associated medical conditions in children for whom no cause was reported. This study involved 715,10‐year‐old children with MR (intelligence quotient [IQ] 70 or less) born between 1975 and 1977. We determined biomedical causes of MR using a hierarchical approach based on the timing of the event (i.e. prenatal, perinatal, or postneonatal). Among, children with no identified biomedical cause the occurrence of associated medical conditions was examined. No reported biomedical cause could be found in 78% of children with MR (87% mild, IQ 50 to 70; 57% severe, IQ<50). Prenatal causes were present in 12%, perinatal causes in 6%, and postneonatal causes in 4%. On the basis of these findings it was concluded that intensive use of public health prevention strategies can reduce the number of children who receive a diagnosis of MR.
Inductive power coupling for an electric highway system

A Dual Mode Electric Transportation (DMET) system is under development in which energy is electromagnetically transferred from a powered roadway to moving vehicles. Energy from the roadway can be used for high-speed, long-range travel and for replenishing energy stored in the vehicle in batteries or flywheels. The stored energy is then available for short-range travel off the powered highway network. The power coupling between roadway and vehicle is functionally similar to a transformer. A source is embedded in the roadway flush with the surface. When the vehicle's pickup is suspended over the source, energy is magnetically coupled through the clearance air gap between pickup and roadway source. The electromagnetic coupling mechanism has been extensively studied through computer models, circuit analyses and by tests of a full-size physical prototype. The results of these tests are described.
Clinical relevance of brain atrophy assessment in multiple sclerosis. Implications for its use in a clinical routine

ABSTRACT Introduction: Brain atrophy measurement in multiple sclerosis (MS) has become an important outcome for determining patients at risk for developing physical and cognitive disability. Areas covered: In this article, we discuss the methodological issues related to using this MRI metric routinely, in a clinical setting. Understanding trajectories of annualized whole brain, gray and white matter, thalamic volume loss, and enlargement of ventricular space in specific MS phenotypes is becoming increasingly important. Evidence is mounting that disease-modifying treatments exert a positive effect on slowing brain atrophy progression in MS. Expert Commentary: While there is a need to translate measurement of brain atrophy to clinical routine at the individual patient level, there are still a number of challenges to be met before this can actually happen, including how to account for biological confounding factors and pseudoatrophy, standardize acquisition and analyses parameters, which can influence the accuracy of the assessments.
Energy drinks: what teenagers (and their doctors) should know.

1. Kwabena L. Blankson, MD* 2. Amy M. Thompson, DO† 3. Dale M. Ahrendt, MD‡ 4. Vijayalakshmy Patrick, MD§ 1. *Maj, US Air Force, Adolescent Medicine, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA. 2. †Maj, US Army, Adolescent Medicine Fellow, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC), San Antonio, TX. 3. ‡Lt Col, US Air Force, Program Director, Adolescent Medicine, Fellowship, SAUSHEC, San Antonio, TX. 4. §Psychiatrist, Brooke Army Medical Center Associate Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX. Hundreds of different energy drinks are available and are marketed to adolescents, carrying the potential for substance abuse that involves caffeine and alcohol. Clinicians must be educated to deal with their patients’ use of these products. After reading this article, readers should be able to: 1. Understand the size and scope of the energy drink market and recognize common energy drink brands. 2. Know that adolescents are high consumers of energy drinks and use them as performance enhancers. 3. Know the contents of energy drinks and their adverse effects and safety concerns. 4. Know that energy drinks can be a cause of tachycardia, hypertension, obesity, and other medical problems in adolescents. 5. Know the dangers of mixing energy drinks with alcohol. 6. Understand the relationship between caffeine tolerance/dependence and alcohol tolerance/dependence. 7. Understand the importance of screening teenagers for energy drink use in the office setting and offering appropriate counseling. Energy drinks are caffeinated beverages advertised as boosting the immune system, enhancing performance, and creating a “buzz” or a “high. ” Some of these drinks contain alcohol, and sometimes consumers mix them with alcoholic beverages. This article reviews current information about the content, benefits, and risks of the use of these energy drinks by adolescents. Adolescents are no strangers to energy drinks, and over the past 2 years, media reports have heightened the awareness of doctors, parents, and lawmakers. In 2010, nine university students in Washington State were hospitalized and one almost died; their illness was attributed to a fruit-flavored, caffeinated alcoholic drink. A month earlier, on a college campus in New Jersey, 23 students were hospitalized after becoming intoxicated, again reportedly after drinking the same …
Novel regulation by Rac 1 of glucose-and forskolin-induced insulin secretion in INS-1-cells

Li, Jingsong, Ruihua Luo, Anjaneyulu Kowluru, and GuoDong Li. Novel regulation by Rac1 of glucoseand forskolin-induced insulin secretion in INS-1 -cells. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 286: E818–E827, 2004. First published January 21, 2004; 10.1152/ ajpendo.00307. 2003. —Stimulation of insulin secretion by glucose and other secretagogues from pancreatic islet -cells is mediated by multiple signaling pathways. Rac1 is a member of Rho family GTPases regulating cytoskeletal organization, and recent evidence also implicates Rac1 in exocytotic processes. Herein, we report that exposure of insulin-secreting (INS) cells to stimulatory glucose concentrations caused translocation of Rac1 from cytosol to the membrane fraction (including the plasmalemma), an indication of Rac1 activation. Furthermore, glucose stimulation increased Rac1 GTPase activity. Time course study indicates that such an effect is demonstrable only after 15 min stimulation with glucose. Expression of a dominant-negative Rac1 mutant (N17Rac1) abolished glucose-induced translocation of Rac1 and significantly inhibited insulin secretion stimulated by glucose and forskolin. This inhibitory effect on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was more apparent in the late phase of secretion. However, N17Rac1 expression did not significantly affect insulin secretion induced by high K . INS-1 cells expressing N17Rac1 also displayed significant morphological changes and disappearance of F-actin structures. Expression of wildtype Rac1 or a constitutively active Rac1 mutant (V12Rac1) did not significantly affect either the stimulated insulin secretion or basal release, suggesting that Rac1 activation is essential, but not sufficient, for evoking secretory process. These data suggest, for the first time, that Rac1 may be involved in glucoseand forskolin-stimulated insulin secretion, possibly at the level of recruitment of secretory granules through actin cytoskeletal network reorganization.
Autoregulation of Human Inner Ear Blood Flow During Middle Ear Surgery with Propofol or Isoflurane Anesthesia During Controlled Hypotension

We used controlled hypotension to obtain a bloodless cavity during middle ear surgery under an optical microscope.No previous study has assessed the effect of controlled hypotension on inner ear blood flow (IEF) autoregulation in humans receiving propofol or isoflurane anesthesia. In the present study, the IEF autoregulation was determined using laser Doppler flowmetry in combination with transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) during controlled hypotension with sodium nitroprusside in 20 patients randomly anesthetized with propofol or isoflurane. A coefficient of IEF autoregulation (Ga) was determined during controlled hypotension, with a Ga value ranging between 0 (no autoregulation) and 1 (perfect autoregulation). During controlled hypotension with propofol, IEF remained stable (1% +/- 6%; P > 0.05) but decreased by 25% +/- 8% with isoflurane (P < 0.05). The Ga was higher during propofol anesthesia (0.62 +/- 0.03) than during isoflurane anesthesia (0.22 +/- 0.03; P < 0.0001). Under propofol anesthesia, there were individual relationships between TEOAE amplitude and change in IEF in four patients. Such a correlation was not observed under isoflurane anesthesia. These results suggest that human IEF is autoregulated in response to decreased systemic pressure. Furthermore, isoflurane has a greater propensity to decrease cochlear autoregulation and function than propofol. Implications: The present study shows that inner ear blood flow is autoregulated under propofol, but not isoflurane, anesthesia during controlled hypotension in humans during middle ear surgery. Further studies are needed to explore the postoperative auditory functional consequences of the choice of the anesthetic drug used in middle ear surgery. (Anesth Analg 1998;87:1002-8)
Glioma‐Associated Stem Cells: A Novel Class of Tumor‐Supporting Cells Able to Predict Prognosis of Human Low‐Grade Gliomas

Background: Translational medicine aims at transferring advances in basic science research into new approaches for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Low‐grade gliomas (LGG) have a heterogeneous clinical behavior that can be only partially predicted employing current state‐of‐the‐art markers, hindering the decision‐making process. To deepen our comprehension on tumor heterogeneity, we dissected the mechanism of interaction between tumor cells and relevant components of the neoplastic environment, isolating, from LGG and high‐grade gliomas (HGG), proliferating stem cell lines from both the glioma stroma and, where possible, the neoplasm. Methods and Findings: We isolated glioma‐associated stem cells (GASC) from LGG (n=40) and HGG (n=73). GASC showed stem cell features, anchorage‐independent growth, and supported the malignant properties of both A172 cells and human glioma‐stem cells, mainly through the release of exosomes. Finally, starting from GASC obtained from HGG (n=13) and LGG (n=12) we defined a score, based on the expression of 9 GASC surface markers, whose prognostic value was assayed on 40 subsequent LGG‐patients. At the multivariate Cox analysis, the GASC‐based score was the only independent predictor of overall survival and malignant progression free‐survival. Conclusions: The microenvironment of both LGG and HGG hosts non‐tumorigenic multipotent stem cells that can increase in vitro the biological aggressiveness of glioma‐initiating cells through the release of exosomes. The clinical importance of this finding is supported by the strong prognostic value associated with the characteristics of GASC. This patient‐based approach can provide a groundbreaking method to predict prognosis and to exploit novel strategies that target the tumor stroma. Stem Cells 2014;32:1239–1253
HIV-1 Vpr Protein Enhances Proteasomal Degradation of MCM10 DNA Replication Factor through the Cul4-DDB1[VprBP] E3 Ubiquitin Ligase to Induce G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest*

Background: MCM10 regulates initiation of eukaryotic genome replication. Results: HIV-1 Vpr enhances proteasomal degradation of MCM10. Conclusion: HIV-1 Vpr-mediated degradation of MCM10 is essential for induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest. Significance: Our study reveals a novel protein target for HIV-1 Vpr whose degradation is involved in the induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest by the virus. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpr is an accessory protein that induces G2/M cell cycle arrest. It is well documented that interaction of Vpr with the Cul4-DDB1[VprBP] E3 ubiquitin ligase is essential for the induction of G2/M arrest. In this study, we show that HIV-1 Vpr indirectly binds MCM10, a eukaryotic DNA replication factor, in a Vpr-binding protein (VprBP) (VprBP)-dependent manner. Binding of Vpr to MCM10 enhanced ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of MCM10. G2/M-defective mutants of Vpr were not able to deplete MCM10, and we show that Vpr-induced depletion of MCM10 is related to the ability of Vpr to induce G2/M arrest. Our study demonstrates that MCM10 is the natural substrate of the Cul4-DDB1[VprBP] E3 ubiquitin ligase whose degradation is regulated by VprBP, but Vpr enhances the proteasomal degradation of MCM10 by interacting with VprBP.
Efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab for stage 3+ retinopathy of prematurity.

BACKGROUND Retinopathy of prematurity is a leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide. Peripheral retinal ablation with conventional (confluent) laser therapy is destructive, causes complications, and does not prevent all vision loss, especially in cases of retinopathy of prematurity affecting zone I of the eye. Case series in which patients were treated with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors suggest that these agents may be useful in treating retinopathy of prematurity. METHODS We conducted a prospective, controlled, randomized, stratified, multicenter trial to assess intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy for zone I or zone II posterior stage 3+ (i.e., stage 3 with plus disease) retinopathy of prematurity. Infants were randomly assigned to receive intravitreal bevacizumab (0.625 mg in 0.025 ml of solution) or conventional laser therapy, bilaterally. The primary ocular outcome was recurrence of retinopathy of prematurity in one or both eyes requiring retreatment before 54 weeks' postmenstrual age. RESULTS We enrolled 150 infants (total sample of 300 eyes); 143 infants survived to 54 weeks' postmenstrual age, and the 7 infants who died were not included in the primary-outcome analyses. Retinopathy of prematurity recurred in 4 infants in the bevacizumab group (6 of 140 eyes [4%]) and 19 infants in the laser-therapy group (32 of 146 eyes [22%], P=0.002). A significant treatment effect was found for zone I retinopathy of prematurity (P=0.003) but not for zone II disease (P=0.27). CONCLUSIONS Intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy, as compared with conventional laser therapy, in infants with stage 3+ retinopathy of prematurity showed a significant benefit for zone I but not zone II disease. Development of peripheral retinal vessels continued after treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab, but conventional laser therapy led to permanent destruction of the peripheral retina. This trial was too small to assess safety. (Funded by Research to Prevent Blindness and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00622726.).
UTILIZATION OF DIET CONTAINING POULTRY EXCRETA BY CATTLE AND BUFFALO RUMEN MICROORGANISMS IN VITRO

A trail was conducted to determine utilization of diet containing poultry excreta with different sources of nitrogen by cattle or buffalo rumen microorganisms in vitro. The aim was to find alternative sources of protein and low prices ruminant diets. Commercial broiler house excreta were used as 10% of a ration. Supplemented diets were basal diet with 10% poultry excreta alone or either with 3 g/kg yeast or 1.5 g urea/kg feed or both as well as 2% molasses. The basal diet comprised 40% concentrates and 60% wheat straw on dry matter (DM) basis as a control diet. All diets were inoculated with rumen fluid of cattle or buffalo. Digestibility of DM was not significantly influenced by both species and diets. However, organic matter (OM) digestion varied significantly with different diets, the highest value was obtained by yeast, urea, poultry excreta and molasses group (64.70%). Species and diets showed significant differences in neutral digested fiber (NDF) digestion. The highest values were obtained by buffalo and the yeast, urea, poultry excreta and molasses group (65.09%). Ammonia production was significantly increased by adding urea to the diet (12.64 and 13.79). Total volatile fatty acid and acetic acid % were produced significantly higher by cattle and the group of poultry excreta only. A buffalo rumen fluid produced higher propionic acid% and less acetic: propionic percent than cattle. The total number of microorganisms influenced significantly by diet only, as yeast, urea, poultry excreta and molasses group obtained the highest number.