Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of risk for periodontal disease. II. Risk indicators for alveolar bone loss.

This study examined the risk indicators for alveolar bone loss associated with periodontal infection. A cross-section of 1,361 subjects aged 25 to 74 years, from Erie County, NY were evaluated for interproximal alveolar bone loss and potential explanatory variables including age, gender, history of systemic diseases, smoking, and presence of 8 subgingival bacteria. Interproximal alveolar bone loss was measured from the alveolar crest to the CEJ and a mean computed for each subject. The mean bone loss per subject (BL) ranged from 0.4 to 8.8 mm, and this outcome variable was grouped into 4 ordered categories. The degree of association between the explanatory variables and BL was examined utilizing an ordinal stepwise logistic regression model. Factors which were positively associated with more severe bone loss included subgingival colonization with B. forsythus (O.R. 2.52; 95% CI: 1.98 to 3.17) or P. gingivalis (O.R. 1.73; 95% CI: 1.27 to 2.37), race (Native American, Asian, or Pacific Islanders) with an O.R. 2.40 (95% CI: 1.21 to 4.79), and gender with males having higher odds than females. Smokers had greater odds for more severe bone loss compared to non-smokers ranging from 3.25 (95% CI: 2.33 to 4.54) to 7.28 (95% CI: 5.09 to 10.31) for light and heavy smokers, respectively. Individuals at older ages also showed more severe levels of bone loss. History of kidney disease (O.R. 0.55; 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.89) and history of allergies (O.R. 0.76; 95% CI: 0.59 to 0.98) were inversely associated with severity of bone loss. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Prognostic Value of Volumetric Parameters Measured by Pretreatment 18F FDG PET/CT in Patients With Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma

Purpose of the Report This study was performed to evaluate the prognostic relevance of metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) measured using 18F FDG PET/CT in patients with primary cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective review (July 2005 to November 2010) of 41 patients with a histological diagnosis of CMM who underwent pretreatment 18F FDG PET/CT. PET parameters (maximum standardized uptake value [SUVmax], MTV, and TLG) of the primary tumor were measured. Clinical variables such as age, sex, clinical stage, location and thickness of the primary lesion, and existence of ulceration were also assessed. Univariate and multivariate analyses for disease-free survival (DFS) and melanoma-specific survival (MSS) were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models. Results SUVmax and TLG were found to be significantly higher in patients with recurrence than in patients without recurrence (3.98 ± 2.91 vs 1.89 ± 1.35, P = 0.0145; 9.16 ± 8.44 vs 3.72 ± 3.64, P = 0.0249). SUVmax and TLG were also found to be significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors (4.21 ± 3.06 vs 2.00 ± 1.46, P = 0.0260; 10.53 ± 8.83 vs 3.67 ± 3.44, P = 0.0170). The optimal cutoff values for DFS determined using a time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were 1.8 for SUVmax, 6.07 cm3 for MTV, and 4.046 for TLG. Sixteen (39%) of the 41 patients experienced recurrence during the follow-up period. In univariate analysis, age (P = 0.0382), male sex (P = 0.0187), ulceration of the primary lesion (P = 0.0001), stage ≥ III (P = 0.0011), SUVmax greater than 1.8 (P = 0.0006), MTV greater than 6.07 cm3 (P = 0.0136), and TLG greater than 4.046 (P = 0.0010) affected DFS, whereas the other variables (location of the primary lesion and thickness of primary lesion) did not. After adjustment for the effects of the clinical parameters (age, sex, clinical stage, and existence of ulceration), SUVmax, MTV, and TLG were all significant predictors of DFS, and the best predictive factor was SUVmax. Thirteen (32%) of the 41 patients died because of CMM during the follow-up period. The optimal cutoff values for MSS determined using a time-dependent ROC curve were 2.2 for SUVmax, 4.02 cm3 for MTV, and 4.352 for TLG. In univariate analysis, ulceration of the primary lesion (P = 0.0005), SUVmax greater than 2.2 (P = 0.0001), MTV greater than 4.02 cm3 (P = 0.0071), and TLG greater than 4.352 (P = 0.0001) affected MSS, whereas the other variables (age, sex, clinical stage, primary lesion site, and thickness of the primary lesion) did not. After adjustment for the effect of the clinical parameter (existence of ulceration), MTV and TLG were significant predictors of MSS, and the best predictive factor of MSS was TLG. Conclusions Pretreatment MTV and TLG may be useful in stratifying the likelihood of recurrence and melanoma-specific death, and TLG was found to be the best predictive marker for predicting melanoma-specific death.
Localization of Long-Term Memory Within the Drosophila Mushroom Body

The mushroom bodies, substructures of theDrosophila brain, are involved in olfactory learning and short-term memory, but their role in long-term memory is unknown. Here we show that the alpha-lobes-absent (ala) mutant lacks either the two vertical lobes of the mushroom body or two of the three median lobes which contain branches of vertical lobe neurons. This unique phenotype allows analysis of mushroom body function. Long-term memory required the presence of the vertical lobes but not the median lobes. Short-term memory was normal in flies without either vertical lobes or the two median lobes studied.
FOREVER YOUNG FLOWER Negatively Regulates Ethylene Response DNA-Binding Factors by Activating an Ethylene-Responsive Factor to Control Arabidopsis Floral Organ Senescence and Abscission1

A MADS box gene that affects ethylene signaling also regulates floral organ senescence and abscission. In this study of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), we investigated the relationship between FOREVER YOUNG FLOWER (FYF) and Ethylene Response DNA-binding Factors (EDFs) and functionally analyzed a key FYF target, an Ethylene-Responsive Factor (ERF), that controls flower senescence/abscission. Ectopic expression of EDF1/2/3/4 caused promotion of flower senescence/abscission and the activation of the senescence-associated genes. The presence of a repressor domain in EDFs and the enhancement of the promotion of senescence/abscission in EDF1/2/3/4+SRDX (converting EDFs to strong repressors by fusion with the ERF-associated amphiphilic repression motif repression domain SRDX) transgenic plants suggested that EDFs act as repressors. The significant reduction of β-glucuronidase (GUS) expression by 35S:FYF in EDF1/2/3/4:GUS plants indicates that EDF1/2/3/4 functions downstream of FYF in regulating flower senescence/abscission. In this study, we also characterized an ERF gene, FOREVER YOUNG FLOWER UP-REGULATING FACTOR1 (FUF1), which is up-regulated by FYF during flower development. Ectopic expression of FUF1 caused similar delayed flower senescence/abscission as seen in 35S:FYF plants. This phenotype was correlated with deficient abscission zone formation, ethylene insensitivity, and down-regulation of EDF1/2/3/4 and abscission-associated genes in 35S:FUF1 flowers. In contrast, significant promotion of flower senescence/abscission and up-regulation of EDF1/2/3/4 were observed in 35S:FUF1+SRDX transgenic dominant-negative plants, in which FUF1 is converted to a potent repressor by fusion to an SRDX-suppressing motif. Thus, FUF1 acts as an activator in suppressing EDF1/2/3/4 function and senescence/abscission of the flowers. Our results reveal that FYF regulates flower senescence/abscission by negatively regulating EDF1/2/3/4, which is the downstream gene in the ethylene response, by activating FUF1 in Arabidopsis.
Sex Differences in Intergroup Competition , Aggression , and Warfare The Male Warrior Hypothesis

The social science literature abounds with examples of human tribalism, the tendency to categorize individuals on the basis of their group membership and treat in-group members benevolently and out-group members malevolently. I argue that this tribal inclination is an evolved response to the threat of intergroup violence and warfare that was endemic in ancestral human environments (and is still common today). Here I hypothesize that intergroup conflict has profoundly affected the social psychology of human males in particular—the male warrior hypothesis—and present evidence consistent with this claim. I also discuss implications of this hypothesis for managing intergroup relations in our society.
Aortic Stiffness, Ambulatory Blood Pressure, and Predictors of Response to Antihypertensive Therapy in Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND Arterial stiffness is associated with elevated blood pressure (BP), but it is unclear whether it also makes hypertension more resistant to treatment. Among hypertensive dialysis patients, this study investigated whether aortic stiffness determines ambulatory BP and predicts its improvement with therapy. STUDY DESIGN Post hoc analysis of the Hypertension in Hemodialysis Patients Treated With Atenolol or Lisinopril (HDPAL) trial. SETTINGS & PARTICIPANTS 179 hypertensive hemodialysis patients with echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy. PREDICTOR Baseline aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV). OUTCOME Baseline and treatment-induced change in 44-hour ambulatory BP at 3, 6, and 12 months. MEASUREMENTS Aortic PWV was assessed with an echocardiographic-Doppler technique (ACUSON Cypress, Siemens Medical), and 44-hour interdialytic ambulatory BP monitoring was performed with a Spacelabs 90207 monitor. RESULTS Mean baseline aortic PWV was 7.6±2.7 (SD) m/s. Overall treatment-induced changes in ambulatory systolic BP (SBP) were -15.6±20.4, -18.9±22.5, and -20.0±19.7 mmHg at 3, 6, and 12 months. Changes in SBP were no different among tertiles of baseline PWV. Aortic PWV was associated directly with baseline ambulatory SBP and pulse pressure (PP) and inversely with diastolic BP (DBP). After adjustment for several cardiovascular risk factors, each 1-m/s higher PWV was associated with 1.34-mm Hg higher baseline SBP (β=1.34±0.46; P=0.004) and 1.02-mm Hg higher PP (β=1.02±0.33; P=0.002), whereas the association with DBP was no longer significant. Baseline PWV did not predict treatment-induced changes in SBP (Wald test, P=0.3) and DBP (Wald test, P=0.7), but was a predictor of an overall improvement in PP during follow-up (Wald test, P=0.03). LIMITATIONS Observational design; predominantly black patients were studied. CONCLUSIONS Because aortic PWV is not a predictor of treatment-induced change in ambulatory BP among hypertensive dialysis patients, it indicates that among these patients, hypertension can be controlled successfully regardless of aortic stiffness.
Expression analysis of ovostatin 2 reveals its involvement in proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis of cutaneous malignant melanoma

The relationship of ovostatin 2 (OVOS2) expression with the clinicopathological features of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) was investigated to identify OVOS2 expression in cutaneous melanocytic lesions, and to reveal whether OVOS2 has a function in melanoma progression. Eight specimens of CMM and paracancerous tissue were analyzed using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blot for the mRNA and protein expression of OVOS2, respectively. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on 52 CMM and 62 nevi, followed by clinicopathological significance analysis. The proliferative cells were visualized by staining with Ki‐67 antibody. The intensity of angiogenesis was assessed by staining with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Real‐time PCR and western blot analyses showed that OVOS2 was significantly upregulated in cutaneous melanoma than in paired normal skins. Immunohistochemistry showed that 86.5% (45/52) of malignant cases showed OVOS2 cytoplasmic expression compared with 29% (18/62) in benign nevi. OVOS2 expression was significantly higher in invasive and metastatic melanoma than in in situ melanoma (P < 0.01). Furthermore, OVOS2 expression was positively correlated with the known prognostic variables of melanoma including clinical stage, Clark level and Breslow depth. It was also significantly associated with ulcer status, Ki‐67 labeling index and VEGF expression in primary melanoma. OVOS2 expression was significantly increased in CMM, which increased incrementally from benign nevi to melanoma and appeared to be involved in the progression of melanoma.
The Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Its Association with Unexplained Medical Symptoms and Other Functional Disorders

292 JCOM May 2006 Vol. 13, No. 5 www.turner-white.com The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the best known of the functional gastrointestinal tract disorders, all characterized by chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal tract symptoms not explained by structural abnormalities, infection, or metabolic changes on routine testing [1]. Patients with IBS suffer from chronic abdominal pain, usually in the lower abdomen, with a disturbed bowel pattern. The latter can be constipation, diarrhea, or alternating constipation and diarrhea. Although the range of prevalence rates for IBS in studies conducted throughout the world is broad (2%–25%), in the Western world it is generally agreed that 10% to 20% of adults meet diagnostic criteria for IBS [2,3]. Approximately 60% to 70% of IBS patients are women [4], making it a serious women’s health concern. The burden of IBS on society is substantial. As many as 28% of referrals for gastroenterology consultations are for IBS [5]. Absenteeism rates from work or school are significantly higher among patients with IBS than healthy individuals [4]. The cost of health services for patients with IBS is very high [6,7]. Although the overall impact of IBS in terms of daily physical and emotional functioning, interpersonal relationships, and psychologic distress is probably immeasurable, disease-specific health-related quality of life instruments have been developed in an attempt to estimate its individual and societal impact [8,9]. When associated with other, nongastrointestinal, functional disorders in the same patient, the burden on health care resources and the negative impact on quality of life is often increased [10,11].
Isoform-specific Inhibition of TRPC4 Channel by Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate*

Full-length transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channel TRPC4α and shorter TRPC4β lacking 84 amino acids in the cytosolic C terminus are expressed in smooth muscle and endothelial cells where they regulate membrane potential and Ca2+ influx. In common with other “classical” TRPCs, TRPC4 is activated by Gq/phospholipase C-coupled receptors, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Little is also known about any isoform-specific channel regulation. Here we show that TRPC4α but not TRPC4β was strongly inhibited by intracellularly applied phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). In contrast, several other phosphoinositides (PI), including PI(3,4)P2, PI(3,5)P2, and PI(3,4,5)P3, had no effect or even potentiated TRPC4α indicating that PIP2 inhibits TRPC4α in a highly selective manner. We show that PIP2 binds to the C terminus of TRPC4α but not that of TRPC4β in vitro. Its inhibitory action was dependent on the association of TRPC4α with actin cytoskeleton as it was prevented by cytochalasin D treatment or by the deletion of the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif (Thr-Thr-Arg-Leu) that links TRPC4 to F-actin through the sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor and ezrin. PIP2 breakdown appears to be a required step in TRPC4α channel activation as PIP2 depletion alone was insufficient for channel opening, which additionally required Ca2+ and pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi/o proteins. Thus, TRPC4 channels integrate a variety of G-protein-dependent stimuli, including a PIP2/cytoskeleton dependence reminiscent of the TRPC4-like muscarinic agonist-activated cation channels in ileal myocytes.
Glucocorticoid therapy‐induced skin atrophy

Abstract: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are highly effective for the topical treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. Their long‐term use, however, is often accompanied by severe and partially irreversible adverse effects, with atrophy being the most prominent limitation. Progress in the understanding of GC‐mediated molecular action as well as some advances in technologies to determine the atrophogenic potential of compounds has been made recently. It is likely that the detailed mechanisms of GC‐induced skin atrophy will be discovered and in vitro models for the reliable prediction of atrophy will be established in the foreseeable future. This knowledge will not only facilitate safety profiling of established drugs but will also foster further drug discovery by improving compound characterization processes. New insights into GC modes of action will guide optimization strategies aiming at novel GC receptor ligands with improved effect/side effect profile.
Adolescents' exposure to violence and associated symptoms of psychological trauma.

OBJECTIVE To examine the extent to which adolescents are exposed to various types of violence as either victims or witnesses, and the association of such exposure with trauma symptoms; specifically, the hypotheses that exposure to violence will have a positive and significant association with depression, anger, anxiety, dissociation, posttraumatic stress, and total trauma symptoms. DESIGN AND SETTING The study employed a survey design using an anonymous self-report questionnaire administered to students (grades 9 through 12) in six public high schools during the 1992-1993 school year. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-eight percent of the students attending the participating schools during the survey participated in the study (N = 3735). Ages ranged from 14 to 19 years; 52% were female; and 35% were African American, 33% white, and 23% Hispanic. RESULTS All hypotheses were supported. Multiple regression analyses of the total sample revealed that violence exposure variables (and to a lesser extent, demographic variables) explained a significant portion of variance in all trauma symptom scores, including depression (R2 = .31), anger (R2 = .30), dissociation (R2 = .23), posttraumatic stress (R2 = .31), and total trauma (R2 = .37). CONCLUSIONS A significant and consistent association was demonstrated linking violence exposure to trauma symptoms within a diverse sample of high school students. Our findings give evidence of the need to identify and provide trauma-related services for adolescents who have been exposed to violence.
Identifying gender differences in reported occupational information from three US population-based case–control studies

Objectives Growing evidence suggests that gender-blind assessment of exposure may introduce exposure misclassification, but few studies have characterised gender differences across occupations and industries. We pooled control responses to job-specific, industry-specific and exposure-specific questionnaires (modules) that asked detailed questions about work activities from three US population-based case–control studies to examine gender differences in work tasks and their frequencies. Methods We calculated the ratio of female-to-male controls that completed each module. For four job modules (assembly worker, machinist, health professional, janitor/cleaner) and for subgroups of jobs that completed those modules, we evaluated gender differences in task prevalence and frequency using χ2 and Mann–Whitney U tests, respectively. Results The 1360 female and 2245 male controls reported 6033 and 12 083 jobs, respectively. Gender differences in female:male module completion ratios were observed for 39 of 45 modules completed by ≥20 controls. Gender differences in task prevalence varied in direction and magnitude. For example, female janitors were significantly more likely to polish furniture (79% vs 44%), while male janitors were more likely to strip floors (73% vs 50%). Women usually reported more time spent on tasks than men. For example, the median hours per week spent degreasing for production workers in product manufacturing industries was 6.3 for women and 3.0 for men. Conclusions Observed gender differences may reflect actual differences in tasks performed or differences in recall, reporting or perception, all of which contribute to exposure misclassification and impact relative risk estimates. Our findings reinforce the need to capture subject-specific information on work tasks.
Phase I trial evaluating the concurrent combination of radiotherapy and capecitabine in rectal cancer.

PURPOSE To establish the feasibility of concurrent radiotherapy and capecitabine and define the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) in patients with rectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-six patients with rectal cancer received treatment in the adjuvant, neoadjuvant, or palliative setting with a total irradiation dose of 50.4 Gy with 1.8 Gy/d in approximately 6 weeks. Capecitabine was administered at escalating doses from 250 to 1,250 mg/m(2) bid (including weekends) for the duration of radiotherapy. The MTD was defined when two or more patients in a cohort of three or six patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities. RESULTS Dose-limiting grade 3 hand-foot syndrome was observed in two of six patients treated at a capecitabine dose of 1,000 mg/m(2) bid. Other toxicities were generally rare and/or mild, with only one case of non-dose-limiting grade 3 diarrhea and a single patient with grade 3 skin toxicity. Myelosuppression consisted mainly of leukocytopenia, with a maximum severity of grade 2. Thus, a dosage of 825 mg/m(2) bid is the recommended dose level for further evaluation. One pathologic complete remission of a T3N1 tumor and nine partial remissions were observed in 10 patients treated in the neoadjuvant setting. CONCLUSION The recommended dose for phase II evaluation is capecitabine 825 mg/m(2) bid, administered without break during a conventional radiotherapy period of about 6 weeks. This combined-modality approach proved to be a feasible and well-tolerated treatment option with promising preliminary efficacy results in rectal cancer.
High‐frequency ventilation compared to conventional positive‐pressure ventilation in the treatment of hyaline membrane disease in primates

High-frequency ventilation (HFV) has been suggested as an alternative to conventional positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) in the treatment of infants with hyaline membrane disease (HMD). Using a previously validated primate model of HMD, 15 baboon fetuses were delivered at 75% of gestation and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 ventilator treatment groups: (a) PPV, (b) HFV delivered by an oscillator (HFO), or (c) HFV delivered by a flow interrupter (HFFI). All animals had clinical and radiographic evidence of HMD. At 96 h of life, all animals were sacrificed and clinical and pathologic findings were analyzed. During the first 10 h of the experiment, the HFO animals required higher mean proximal airway pressures than either the HFFI or PPV groups. However, both the HFFI and HFO animals had higher PaO2/PAO2 ratios than the PPV controls, suggesting earlier saccular recruitment. Thus, HFV is as effective as PPV in the treatment of HMD in baboons. Whether it will decrease the risk of bron-chopulmonary dysplasia is not known.