Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The association between body mass index and osteoporosis in patients referred for a bone mineral density examination.

PURPOSE Osteoporosis affects 4-6 million (13%-18%) postmenopausal white women in the United States. Most studies to date on risk factors for osteoporosis have considered body mass index (BMI) only as a possible confounder. In this study, we assess the direct relationship between BMI and osteoporosis. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study among women aged 50-84 years referred by their physicians for a bone mineral density (BMD) examination at Baystate Medical Center between October 1998 and September 2000. BMI was determined prior to the BMD examination in the clinic. Information on other risk factors was obtained through a mailed questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression was used to model the association between BMI and osteoporosis, controlling for confounding factors. RESULTS BMI was inversely associated with BMD status. After adjustment for age, prior hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use, and other factors, odds ratios (OR) for low, high, and obese compared with moderate BMI women were 1.8 (95% CI 1.2-2.7), 0.46 (95% CI 0.29- 0.71), and 0.22 (95% CI 0.14-0.36), respectively, with a significant linear trend (p < 0.0001) across BMI categories. Evaluating BMI as a continuous variable, the odds of bone loss decreased 12% for each unit increase in BMI (OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.85-0.91). CONCLUSIONS Women with low BMI are at increased risk of osteoporosis. The change in risk associated with a 1 unit change in BMI ( approximately 5-8 lb) is of greater magnitude than most other modifiable risk factors. To help reduce the risk of osteoporosis, patients should be advised to maintain a normal weight.
Section 14. Combination of Entecavir Plus Low-Dose On-Demand Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin is Effective With Very Low Hepatitis B Recurrence After Liver Transplantation

Background and Aims Antiviral prophylaxis with hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) plus lamivudine reduces the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after HBV-related liver transplant (LT). However, HBIg is expensive, and lamivudine therapy is limited by drug resistance. This study assessed a pilot study of entecavir plus low-dose, on-demand HBIg in preventing HBV recurrence after LT. Methods Between 2006 and May 2011, approximately 145 patients undergoing HBV-related LT and receiving entecavir plus low-dose, on-demand HBIg were enrolled and followed for a median of 36 months. A historical control group of 171 patients undergoing HBV-related LT between 1998 and 2010 and receiving lamivudine plus HBIg were followed for a median of 77 months. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with recurrent HBsAg-positivity. Results In the entecavir cohort, 2 (1.37%) of 145 patients experienced HBV recurrence, none of which had evidence of viral resistance. In the lamivudine cohort, 11 (6.4%) of 171 cases of HBV recurrence were observed, 5 of which were associated with lamivudine resistance. The cumulative probabilities of HBV recurrence were significantly different between both cohorts (P=0.055). HBsAg recurrence was associated with lower overall survival (P<0.001), even in patients with undetectable HBV DNA. Using pooled data from both cohorts, predictors of HBV recurrence were nucleoside selection, pre-LT hepatocellular carcinoma, post-LT low anti-HBs, male sex, and HBsAg-positivity in the explant liver tissue. Conclusions Entecavir plus low-dose, on-demand HBIg resulted in a low rate of HBV recurrence without evidence of resistance development and provided an effective and cost-saving strategy for patients having HBV-related LT.
On-site programmatic attendance to cardiac rehabilitation and the healthy-adherer effect

Background On-site attendance to prescheduled cardiac rehabilitation visits has been shown to be associated with improved outcomes following cardiac rehabilitation. The extent to which on-site programmatic attendance represents a healthy-adherer effect remains unknown. Methods This retrospective cohort study consisted of 17,000 consecutively referred patients to a cardiac rehabilitation program in Ontario, Canada. On-site attendance at prescheduled visits was our primary exposure variable. The primary outcome was all-cause death or hospitalization at two years following the expected program completion date, irrespective of drop-out. Secondary outcomes included adherence to statins, health-seeking preventative health visits, and changes in clinical risk-profiles. Cox proportional hazards adjusted for baseline sociodemographic, clinical and comorbid characteristics. Results Among the 12,440 patients who attended at least one prescheduled on-site visit, on-site attendance was inversely correlated with baseline smoking rates and body mass index at program entry. After adjustment for baseline factors, the risk of death or hospitalization progressively fell with incremental increases in on-site attendance (adjusted hazard ratio for each 10% increase in on-site attendance: 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 0.93–0.99, p = 0.007). Such associations were driven predominantly by differences in non-cardiovascular hospitalizations. Incremental increases in on-site attendance were associated with improvements in cardiopulmonary fitness and body mass index (both p < 0.001), better attendance of preventative care physician visits (p < 0.001) and higher medication adherence to statins (p = 0.007). Conclusions Associations between on-site attendance at cardiac rehabilitation and outcomes may represent a healthy-adherer effect. Future research must evaluate the clinical utility of on-site attendance as a behavioral health-adherence metric for cardiac rehabilitation monitoring and surveillance.
Characteristics of Triple Material Gate AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistor

A two dimensional simulation study has been executed to explore the characteristics of a newly proposed AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) device with triple material gate (TMG) structure. Surface potential and electric field distribution along the device channel are comprehensively examined and compared with those of dual material gate (DMG) and single material gate (SMG) HEMT. TMG HEMT shows better suppression of drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL) and hot carrier effect (HCE) due to the formation of two steps screening effect in channel potential and less amount of electric field peak at the drain terminal. Effect of different device parameters e.g. individual channel length related to different gate material, total channel length and externally applied voltage on the surface potential and electric field are also explored and proper choice of the device parameters and bias voltages is optimized to improve device performance, achieve high speed and reduce short channel effects (SCE) effectively.
[CagA status and virulence of Helicobacter pylori strains. Results of a French multicentric prospective study].

UNLABELLED Previous experimental and epidemiological studies with few patients suggested that the presence of the cagA gene was a virulence factor for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). AIM To establish in this large epidemiological cohort study the relationship between the histological virulence of H. pylori infection and the cagA status of the bacteria. METHODS This prospective cohort study (6 month follow-up) was conducted on adult patients undergoing endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal symptoms. The cagA status of H. pylori-positive patients was established using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method on an antral biopsy. A score of histological virulence (inflammation, activity) was recorded on the basis of the Sydney system (on antral, angular and fundic biopsies). Eradication treatment given was not imposed and a clinical follow-up was performed at 3 and 6 months. H. pylori eradication was verified by a 13C urea breath test at 3 months. RESULTS Four hundred and twenty two centers recruited 652 patients (mean age: 51 +/- 15 years, 55% female). Upper GI endoscopy was abnormal in 80% of the patients of whom 68% had a gastritis aspect; 38% were infected by H. pylori, and among them 51% were cagA-positive. The histological virulence scores associated with the cagA-positive strains were significantly higher than those associated with the cagA-negative strains, globally (P = 0.0035), in the antrum (P = 0.0063), and in the angulus (P = 0.046), but not in the fundus (P = 0.05). The cagA status was correlated neither with the symptom severity at inclusion and at 6 months (P > 0.05), nor with the H. pylori eradication rate at 3 months (75% in cagA-positive and 70% in cagA-negative strains, P = 0.52). CONCLUSION This study on a large cohort of patients confirms the greater histological virulence of H. pylori cagA-positive strains. However, this virulence was not associated with more severe symptoms nor with an increase in resistance to H. pylori eradication treatment.
What Drives the Price Convergence between Credit Default Swap and Put Option: New Evidence

Credit default swaps (CDSs) and deep out-of-the-money put (DOOMP) options can be used for credit protection, but these markets are not perfectly integrated. The differences in implied hazard rates depend on the deviations of consensus rating-based hazard rate curves in the two markets, and a residual component related to market frictions. We show that both components diminish over time, but their convergence is asynchronous. A trading strategy based on a joint signal from the curve and residual differences outperforms a conventional trading approach that relies on the absolute differences between the implied hazard rates.
Syncytia Formation Induced by Coronavirus Infection Is Associated with Fragmentation and Rearrangement of the Golgi Apparatus

Abstract Coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) possesses a membrane glycoprotein (M) which is targeted to the Golgi apparatus (GA). We used immunocytochemistry with an organelle-specific antiserum to investigate the morphologic changes of the GA during infection of L2 murine fibroblasts with MHV-A59. Twenty-four hours after infection the GA was fragmented and translocated in the center of syncytia, while the microtubular network was also rearranged displaying radiating elements toward the center of syncytia. Two fusion-defective mutants, which contain an identical amino acid substitution in the cleavage signal sequence of the spike glycoprotein (S), induced fragmentation of the GA. However, the GA migrated only partially to the centers of syncytia during infection with these mutants. Revertant viruses, in which the above mutation was corrected, had fusion properties and GA staining similar to wtMHV-A59. Experiments with brefeldin A (BFA), which induces redistribution of the GA into the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), revealed that an intact GA for a period of 4–16 hr postinfection, is required for coronavirus replication and syncytia formation. Thus, during MHV infection, syncytia formation is associated with fragmentation of the GA, followed by a previously undescribed phenomenon of migration of the organelle into the centers of syncytia. The fragmentation of the GA, however, may occur without the formation of syncytia. Therefore, two distinct mechanisms may be responsible for the fragmentation of the GA and its subsequent migration to the center of syncytia.
Balinese Traditional Landscape in Heritage Places: Its Roles and Challenges for Tourism Development

This Balinese traditional landscape has an important role for tourism development in Denpasar City, as one most growing city in Bali Province. Denpasar City faces land use change from agriculture to other functions such as settlement, commercial and business area during the last five years. Traditionally, Balinese traditional landscape consists of several elements that has functions to enhance the beauty of environment, health as well as improve economic of the city. There are natah, telajakan, lebuh, cemetery, melasti precinct, temple boundary, alun-alun green open space and cemetery. Denpasar City has many heritages including tangible and intangible that have been inherited since long time ago. Along with increasing development of technology and globalization that affect people to live in modern way that has resulted less concern in implementation of traditional values in landscape of built environment and heritage places. The research aims to seek how far Balinese people implements traditional landscape and its challenges in heritage places for tourism development purposes. Case study is conducted through observation in some heritage places that are still exist in Denpasar City as a cultural city. The observation investigates how far the traditional values of Balinese landscape have been adopts in heritage places. The research recommend that awareness of community to conserve traditional norms and values of traditional landscape to create identity of the city especially in the heritage places for tourism development in Denpasar City. Keywords—Balinese traditional landscape heritage, roles and challenges, tourism development)
The Viral Nucleoprotein Determines Mx Sensitivity of Influenza A Viruses

ABSTRACT Host restriction factors play a crucial role in preventing trans-species transmission of viral pathogens. In mammals, the interferon-induced Mx GTPases are powerful antiviral proteins restricting orthomyxoviruses. Hence, the human MxA GTPase may function as an efficient barrier against zoonotic introduction of influenza A viruses into the human population. Successful viruses are likely to acquire adaptive mutations allowing them to evade MxA restriction. We compared the 2009 pandemic influenza A virus [strain A/Hamburg/4/09 (pH1N1)] with a highly pathogenic avian H5N1 isolate [strain A/Thailand/1(KAN-1)/04] for their relative sensitivities to human MxA and murine Mx1. The H5N1 virus was highly sensitive to both Mx GTPases, whereas the pandemic H1N1 virus was almost insensitive. Substitutions of the viral polymerase subunits or the nucleoprotein (NP) in a polymerase reconstitution assay demonstrated that NP was the main determinant of Mx sensitivity. The NP of H5N1 conferred Mx sensitivity to the pandemic H1N1 polymerase, whereas the NP of pandemic H1N1 rendered the H5N1 polymerase insensitive. Reassortant viruses which expressed the NP of H5N1 in a pH1N1 genetic background and vice versa were generated. Congenic Mx1-positive mice survived intranasal infection with these reassortants if the challenge virus contained the avian NP. In contrast, they succumbed to infection if the NP of pH1N1 origin was present. These findings clearly indicate that the origin of NP determines Mx sensitivity and that human influenza viruses acquired adaptive mutations to evade MxA restriction. This also explains our previous observations that human and avian influenza A viruses differ in their sensitivities to Mx.
Managing Loss and Change

Dementia caregivers often experience loss and grief related to general caregiver burden, physical, and mental health problems. Through qualitative content analysis, this study analyzed intervention strategies applied by therapists in a randomized-controlled trial in Germany to assist caregivers in managing losses and associated emotions. Sequences from 61 therapy sessions that included interventions targeting grief, loss, and change were transcribed and analyzed. A category system was developed deductively, and the intercoder reliability was satisfactory. The identified grief intervention strategies were recognition and acceptance of loss and change, addressing future losses, normalization of grief, and redefinition of the relationship. Therapists focused on identifying experienced losses, managing associated feelings, and fostering acceptance of these losses. A variety of cognitive–behavioral therapy–based techniques was applied with each strategy. The findings contribute to understanding how dementia caregivers can be supported in their experience of grief and facilitate the development of a manualized grief intervention.
BRL 17421, a novel beta-lactam antibiotic, highly resistant to beta-lactamases, giving high and prolonged serum levels in humans

BRL 17421 is a new semisynthetic beta-lactam antibiotic with an unusual spectrum of antibacterial activity. The compound exhibits exceptional stability to a wide range of bacterial beta-lactamases and is active against the majority of Enterobacteriaceae, including strains highly resistant to many of the penicillins and cephalosporins currently available. Among the clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae tested, the frequency of strains resistant to BRL 17421 was found to be low, and there was a slow rate of emergence of resistance during in vitro studies. BRL 17421 was highly active against Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including beta-lactamase-producing strains. The compound was markedly less active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacteroides fragilis than against the Enterobacteriaceae. Against the gram-positive bacteria, BRL 17421 showed a very low level of activity. BRL 17421 was found to be 85% bound to human serum, and the antibacterial activity was diminished two- to fourfold in the presence of human serum. Against experimental infections in mice, the activity of BRL 17421 reflected the properties observed in vitro. Studies in human volunteers showed unusually high and prolonged serum concentrations of the compound after parenteral dosage, with a serum half-life of about 5 h, and approximately 85% of the dose was recovered unchanged in the urine. BRL 17421 was poorly absorbed after oral administration. The compound was well tolerated after intramuscular and intravenous administration in volunteers, with no adverse side effects.
Single-Channel Currents of the Permeability Transition Pore from the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane of Rat Liver and of a Human Hepatoma Cell Line

Single-channel currents were recorded from inner mitochondrial membranes of HepG2 hepatoma cells and of normal rat liver cells by means of patch-clamp techniques. The current events showed variable amplitudes of up to 1.1 ± 0.2 nS (n = 35) at room temperature (24 °C) and of up to 1.5 ± 0.2 nS (n = 10) at 34 °C including large numbers of subconductance states. Voltages of -40 mV and below closed the channels usually with a delay of about 2 min. Increasing Ca2+ concentrations activated the channels, whereas cyclosporin A (100 nM) blocked. The concentration-response relation for the Ca2+-effect could be fitted best using an EC50 of 10 µM and a Hill coefficient of 1.5. Taken together the results indicate that we recorded from the permeability transition pore (PTP). As PTP activity may be related to apoptosis we tested if lysate from differently treated T-lymphocytes (Jurkat cells) was able to induce PTP activity in HepG2 cells. Lysate of untreated cells completely abolished the activity at a Ca2+ concentration of 18 nM (buffered by EGTA), i.e. three orders of magnitude below the EC50. Under these conditions the lysate is not likely to contain stable factors that could open the PTP. Preliminary experiments show PTP activity in CD95-activated lysate.
Fluidization of tissues by cell division and apoptosis

During the formation of tissues, cells organize collectively by cell division and apoptosis. The multicellular dynamics of such systems is influenced by mechanical conditions and can give rise to cell rearrangements and movements. We develop a continuum description of tissue dynamics, which describes the stress distribution and the cell flow field on large scales. In the absence of division and apoptosis, we consider the tissue to behave as an elastic solid. Cell division and apoptosis introduce stress sources that, in general, are anisotropic. By combining cell number balance with dynamic equations for the stress source, we show that the tissue effectively behaves as a viscoelastic fluid with a relaxation time set by the rates of division and apoptosis. If the system is confined in a fixed volume, it reaches a homeostatic state in which division and apoptosis balance. In this state, cells undergo a diffusive random motion driven by the stochasticity of division and apoptosis. We calculate the expression for the effective diffusion coefficient as a function of the tissue parameters and compare our results concerning both diffusion and viscosity to simulations of multicellular systems using dissipative particle dynamics.
Nitric oxide mechanisms of nebivolol

β-blockers are among the most widely used drugs in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, although they are associated with increased peripheral resistance. Third-generation β-blockers avoid this adverse effect by inducing vasodilation through different mechanisms. In particular, nebivolol, a highly selective blocker of β 1-adrenergic receptors, is the only β-blocker known to induce vascular production of nitric oxide, the main endothelial vasodilator. The specific mechanism of nebivolol is particularly relevant in hypertension, where nitric oxide dysfunction occurs. Indeed, nebivolol is able to reverse endothelial dysfunction. Nebivolol induces nitric oxide production via activation of β 3-adrenergic receptors, which can explain the good metabolic profile observed after treatment with this drug. Moreover, nebivolol can also stimulate the β 3-adrenergic receptor-mediated production of nitric oxide in the heart, and this stimulation can result in a greater protection against heart failure. In conclusion, nebivolol has a unique profile among antihypertensive drugs, adding to a very high selectivity against β 1 adrenergic receptors, and an agonist action on β 3 receptors and nitric oxide (NO), which has led to clinically significant improvements in hypertensive patients.
Neonatal brain pathology predicts adverse attention and processing speed outcomes in very preterm and/or very low birth weight children.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine attention and processing speed outcomes in very preterm (VPT; < 32 weeks' gestational age) or very low birth weight (VLBW; < 1,500 g) children, and to determine whether brain abnormality measured by neonatal MRI can be used to predict outcome in these domains. METHOD A cohort of 198 children born < 30 weeks' gestational age and/or < 1,250 g and 70 term controls were examined. Neonatal MRI scans at term equivalent age were quantitatively assessed for white matter, cortical gray matter, deep gray matter, and cerebellar abnormalities. Attention and processing speed were assessed at 7 years using standardized neuropsychological tests. Group differences were tested in attention and processing speed, and the relationships between these cognitive domains and brain abnormalities at birth were investigated. RESULTS At 7 years of age, the VPT/VLBW group performed significantly poorer than term controls on all attention and processing speed outcomes. Associations between adverse attention and processing speed performances at 7 years and higher neonatal brain abnormality scores were found; in particular, white matter and deep gray matter abnormalities were reasonable predictors of long-term cognitive outcomes. CONCLUSION Attention and processing speed are significant areas of concern in VPT/VLBW children. This is the first study to show that adverse attention and processing speed outcomes at 7 years are associated with neonatal brain pathology.