Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ENDOTHELIAL PROGENITOR CELLS IN MYELOPROLIFERATIVE NEOPLASMS – PRELIMINARY REPORT

Celem niniejszej pracy byla ocena liczby i funkcji komorek progenitorowych środblonka w przewleklej bialaczce szpikowej (PBS), czerwienicy prawdziwej (CzP), nadplytkowości samoistnej (NS). Badaniem objeto 21 pacjentow z nowotworami mieloproliferacyjnymi (średnia wieku 61,77), hospitalizowanych w Oddziale Klinicznym Hematologii i Chorob Rozrostowych Ukladu Krwiotworczego Szpitala Uniwersyteckiego nr 2 im. Jana Biziela w Bydgoszczy. M a t e r i a l i m e t o d y . Badania przeprowadzono u 12 chorych na ET, 4 chorych na CML i 5 chorych na PV. Grupe kontrolną stanowilo 25 zdrowych ochotnikow. Materialem do badan byla krew pobrana w godzinach porannych z naklucia zyly lokciowej do probowki zawierającej wersenian dwupotasowy (EDTA). Po inkubacji z odpowiednimi odczynnikami dokonana zostala analiza cytometryczna przy uzyciu cytometru przeplywowego FACS Calibur (Becton Dickinson, San Diego, USA) z zastosowaniem programu komputerowego CellQuest. Wy n i k i . U chorych na przewlekle nowotwory mieloproliferacyjne stwierdzono istotnie statystyczną zwiekszoną liczbe EPCs w porownaniu z grupą kontrolną. U chorych z PV i ET stwierdzono nieznacznie zwiekszoną liczbe EPCs w porownaniu do grupy kontrolnej, a roznica ta okazala sie nieistotna statystycznie. Najwyzszą liczbe EPCs stwierdzono u pacjentow z CML i roznica ta byla istotna statystycznie. Wn i o s k i . Zwiekszenie liczby EPCs w grupie chorych na przewlekle nowotwory mieloproliferacyjne świadczy o aktywacji procesow angiogenezy w tych nowotworach i prawdopodobnie czynnym udziale tych komorek w procesie nowotworzenia naczyn.
Soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products and risk of liver cancer

Binding of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) to their receptor (RAGE) increases oxidative stress and inflammation and may be involved in liver injury and subsequent carcinogenesis. Soluble RAGE (sRAGE) may neutralize the effects mediated by the AGE/RAGE complex. Epidemiologic studies examining sRAGE or AGEs in association with liver cancer are lacking. We examined the associations between prediagnostic serum concentrations of sRAGE or Nϵ‐(carboxymethyl)‐lysine (CML)‐AGE and hepatocellular carcinoma in a case‐cohort study within a cohort of 29,133 Finnish male smokers who completed questionnaires and provided a fasting blood sample between 1985 and 1988. During follow‐up beginning 5 years after enrollment through April 2006, 145 liver cancers occurred. Serum concentrations of sRAGE, CML‐AGE, glucose, and insulin were measured in case subjects and 485 randomly sampled cohort participants. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) were available in most cases and in a subset of the study population. Weighted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for age, years of smoking, and body mass index. sRAGE and CML‐AGE concentrations were inversely associated with liver cancer. Further adjustment for glucose and insulin or exclusion of case subjects with chronic HBV or HCV did not change the associations. Conclusion: Our results support the hypothesis that sRAGE is inversely associated with liver cancer. The findings need confirmation, particularly in populations that include women and nonsmokers. (HEPATOLOGY 2013 )
Sleep Deprivation and Chronic Health Conditions Among Sexual Minority Adults

ABSTRACT Objectives: To examine associations between sleep duration and health outcomes among distinct groups of sexual minority adults. Methods: Using data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we compared sleep duration (very short: ≤ 5 hr; short: 6 hr; normal: 7–8 hr; and long: ≥ 9 hr per day) between cisgender straight adults and distinct groups of sexual minorities. We further examined associations between sleep duration and 10 chronic health conditions among sexual minorities. Results: Of 146,893 respondents, 142,507 (96.2%) were cisgender straight, and 4,386 (3.8%) were lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT). Overall, 17.3% of LGBT respondents reported very short sleep per day, compared with 12.2% for cisgender straight respondents (p < 0.0001). Among LGBT populations, the prevalence of very short sleep varied significantly among distinct groups, ranging from 13.2% among transgender female to male adults to 35.5% among transgender gender nonconforming adults. Very short sleep was further associated with increased odds of having stroke (aOR = 4.1, 95% CI [2.2–7.6]), heart attack (aOR = 3.0, CI [1.6–5.8]), coronary heart disease (aOR = 3.1, 95% CI [1.5–6.2]), asthma (aOR = 1.7, 95% CI [1.1–2.4]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (aOR = 2.5, CI [1.5–4.0]), arthritis (aOR = 2.1, CI [1.4–3.0]), and cancer (aOR = 1.8, 95% CI [1.0–3.2]) among sexual minorities. Disparities in the prevalence of stroke, heart attack, coronary health disease, COPD, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, and cancer were found among LGBT populations. Conclusions: Sexual minorities have a higher prevalence of sleep deprivation as compared with their straight counterparts. Sleep deprivation varies by sexual identity and gender. Very short sleep duration is associated with some chronic health conditions among LGBT populations. Promotion of sleep health education and routine medical assessment of sleep disorders are critically needed for sexual minority adults.
The Effects of Horizontal Violence and Bullying on New Nurse Retention

Horizontal violence and bullying are pervasive throughout nursing. New graduate nurses are at higher risk. Challenged with the task of making the transition from student to practitioner, new graduates often lack the confidence and social connectivity that may ward off interpersonal conflict. Continued interpersonal violence directed at new graduates may lead to negative physical and psychological consequences, high turnover rates, or abandonment of the profession. This article describes possible strategies to break the chain of violence.
Inhaled Steroids and Risk of Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Higher risk of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has been detected in chronic respiratory patients since early studies in the general population. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and those with bronchiectasis or previous tuberculosis lesions, among others, have 1.2 to 4 times higher risk of suffering from CAP than individuals without these conditions, and the risk increases with severity of the disease. At the same time, during the last few years debate has arisen concerning the effect of certain respiratory drugs currently used for treatment of these diseases. These treatments include oral medication–such as theophyllines, acetylcysteine, corticosteroids, or determined antibiotics and inhaled medication with adrenergic agonists, muscarinic cholinergic agonists, corticosteroids, or even oxygen. Controversial results and their interpretation have been recently discussed in several articles and letters in publications. We review the effect of treatments used in chronic respiratory disease, especially of inhaled steroids on the risk of CAP, and describe some questions awaiting further scientific evidence to be answered.
Innate immune responses in hepatitis C virus‐exposed healthcare workers who do not develop acute infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection typically results in chronic disease with HCV outpacing antiviral immune responses. Here we asked whether innate immune responses are induced in healthcare workers who are exposed to small amounts of HCV, but do not develop systemic infection and acute liver disease. Twelve healthcare workers with accidental percutaneous exposure to HCV‐infected blood were prospectively studied for up to 6 months for phenotype and function of natural killer T (NKT) and NK cells, kinetics of serum chemokines, and vigor and specificity of HCV‐specific T‐cell responses. Eleven healthcare workers tested negative for HCV RNA and HCV antibodies. All but one of these aviremic cases displayed NKT cell activation, increased serum chemokines levels, and NK cell responses with increased CD122, NKp44, NKp46, and NKG2A expression, cytotoxicity (as determined by TRAIL and CD107a expression), and interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) production. This multifunctional NK cell response appeared a month earlier than in the one healthcare worker who developed high‐level viremia, and it differed from the impaired IFN‐γ production, which is typical for NK cells in chronic HCV infection. The magnitude of NKT cell activation and NK cell cytotoxicity correlated with the magnitude of the subsequent HCV‐specific T‐cell response. T‐cell responses targeted nonstructural HCV sequences that require translation of viral RNA, which suggests that transient or locally contained HCV replication occurred without detectable systemic viremia. Conclusion: Exposure to small amounts of HCV induces innate immune responses, which correlate with the subsequent HCV‐specific T‐cell response and may contribute to antiviral immunity. (Hepatology 2013;58:1621–1631)
Obesity in COPD: Revealed and Unrevealed Issues

ABSTRACT The interactions between obesity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are being increasingly explored. In part, this is due to the globally increasing prevalence rates of obesity. The prevalence of obesity in COPD patients is variable, and it seems that obesity is more common in COPD patients compared with subjects who do not have COPD. However, further studies are encouraged in this area due to observed inconsistencies in the current data. In this review, we focus on the knowledge of the effects of obesity on dyspnea, pulmonary function, exercise capacity and exacerbation risk. Reduction of dyspnea is one of the main therapy targets in COPD care. There is still no consensus as to whether obesity has a negative or even a positive effect on dyspnea in COPD patients. It is hypothesized that obese COPD patients might benefit from favourable respiratory mechanics (less lung hyperinflation). However, despite less hyperinflation, obesity seems to have a negative influence on exercise capacity measured with weight-bearing tests. This negative influence is not seen with weight-supported exercise such as cycling. With respect to severe exacerbations, obesity seems to be associated with better survival. In summary, it is concluded that due to differences in study methodology and cohort selection, there are still too many knowledge gaps to develop guidelines for clinical practice. Further exploration is needed to get conclusive answers.
Emphysematous Phenotype is Characterized by Low Blood Eosinophils: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Sputum and blood eosinophils are proposed as candidate biomarkers for the identification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients at risk for exacerbation and treatment response. In this study, we evaluated the associations of eosinophils with the presence of emphysema in COPD patients. Induced sputum and blood eosinophil measurements were performed in consecutive COPD patients. Patients underwent lung function testing and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest and the presence of emphysema was quantified. Patients with emphysematous lesions in ≥15% of the pulmonary parenchyma were considered having significant emphysema. Ninety-eight patients were included in the study. Patients with significant emphysema had lower blood eosinophil counts compared to patients without emphysema [median (IQR) 34.6 (0.0, 63.0) vs. 169.0 (110.0, 260.0) cells/µL, p < 0.001]; similar results were observed for the percentage (%) of blood eosinophils, but no difference was observed for sputum eosinophils. The differences were evident in frequent and non-frequent exacerbators and irrespective of the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Patients with significant emphysema in HRCT present lower levels of blood eosinophils and these differences were present irrespective of the frequent exacerbator history or the use of ICS. Blood eosinophils may not represent a clinically relevant biomarker in the presence of emphysema.
Validation Study of the Recovery-Promotion Relationship Scale (RPRS) for Koreans with Mental Illness

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Recovery-Promotion Relationship Scale(RPRS). Methods:The participantsinthisstudywere151adultswithpsychiatricillnesseswho were usingoneof 10CommunityMentalHealthCenters or 2 SocialRehabilitationCentersin Gyeonggi province. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, item analysis, factor analysis, and reliability test with the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. Results: For the final scale, 24 items were selected, and categorized into 4 factors explaining 68.47% of the total variance. The factorswere labeledas helpingtoaccept self and reality(10items), helping to have hope and empowerment (6 items), giving respect and trust (5 items), understanding and encouraging(3items). TheCronbach's coefficient for the24itemswas. 96. ⍺ Conclusion:Thesefindingsindicate that the RPRS is valid and reliable for professionals to assess the competency level in mental health recovery promoting relationship when used with Korean adults with mental illness.
Protothecosis: A Report of Two Cases: Protothekose/Bericht über zwei Fälle

Summary: Two cases of protothecosis caused by Prototheca wickerhamii with different clinical features are reported. The first case had a severe infection due to impairment of humoral and cellular immunity from systemic lupus erythematosus treated with immunsuppressive agents, exhibiting disseminated ulcerative nodules on both legs. Amphotericin B was used with satisfactory result. The second patient who was healthy without known immunological defects, had only a single granulomatous skin lesion on the medial side of the left calf. Surgical removal of the lesions was performed with skin‐grafting and there was no recurrence after one year of follow‐up. The routes of infection in both cases were undetermined.
Emergency presentation of emboli to multiple sites from an atrial myxoma

A middle aged man presented to our ED with back pain and confusion, had evidence of acute arterial insufficiency to his lower limbs and myocardial infarction on initial ECG. His workup included an urgent CT, which revealed a filling defect in his dilated left atrium, renal and splenic infarcts, and an embolism in his left internal iliac artery. Urgent embolectomy and fasciotomy could not save his left lower limb, and emergency cardiac surgery was required to excise an atrial myxoma. A brief narrative review of the literature is also presented, with this case being unusual in causing such widespread concurrent multiple organ damage, including stroke and myocardial infarct.
Mean Commute Time for Random Walks on Hierarchical Scale-Free Networks

In recent years, there has been a surge of research interest in networks with scale-free topologies, partly due to the fact that they are prevalent in scientific research and real-life applications. In this paper, we study random-walk issues on a family of two-parameter scale-free networks, called (x, y)-flowers. These networks, which are constructed in a deterministic recursive fashion, display rich behaviors such as the small-world phenomenon and pseudofractal properties. We derive analytically the mean commute times for random walks on (x, y)-flowers and show that the mean commute times scale with the network size as a power-law function with exponent governed by both parameters x and y. We also determine the mean effective resistance and demonstrate that it changes sharply between different choices of x and y. Furthermore, we compare mean commute times for (x, y)-flowers with those for Erdős–Rényi random graphs. Our theoretical results are verified by numerical studies.
Looking After Chronically III Dogs: Impacts on the Caregiver's Life

ABSTRACT Studies in human medicine show that care of chronically ill family members can affect the caregiver's life in several ways and cause “caregiver burden. ” Companion animals are offered increasingly advanced veterinary treatments, sometimes involving home care. Owners choosing such treatments could thus face similar challenges when caring for their animals. This qualitative study uncovers impacts on an owner's life, when attending to the care of an aged or chronically ill dog and reflects on the differing roles of caregivers with animal and human patients. Twelve dog owners were selected for in-depth interviews based on the dogs' diagnoses, and the choice of treatments and care expected to affect the owner's life. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed qualitatively. The dog owners reported several changes in their lives due to their dog's condition: practicalities like extra care, changes in use of the home, and restrictions relating to work, social life, and finances. These were time-consuming, tough, and annoying, but could often be dealt with through planning and prioritizing. Changes in the human–dog relationship and activities caused sadness and frustration, which in turn led to feelings of guilt, and in some cases created a feeling of loss. Also, concerns about the progress of the dog's condition, it's welfare, and euthanasia brought emotional distress and many doubts. The owners did, however, respond to the changes differently and as a result experienced different effects on their own life. This study confirms that the situations of caregivers with human and animal patients are in some ways similar, yet the study also identifies and reflects on some of the differences. These include the caregiver role and the options of assistance as well as euthanasia. Veterinary staff are urged to inform owners about possible impacts on their lives when considering careconsuming treatments, and to be aware of the need for support during treatment as well as in decisions about euthanasia.
Regulation of cholesterol and bile acid homeostasis by the cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase/steroid response element‐binding protein 2/microRNA‐33a axis in mice

Bile acid synthesis not only produces physiological detergents required for intestinal nutrient absorption, but also plays a critical role in regulating hepatic and whole‐body metabolic homeostasis. We recently reported that overexpression of cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase (CYP7A1) in the liver resulted in improved metabolic homeostasis in Cyp7a1 transgenic (Cyp7a1‐tg) mice. This study further investigated the molecular links between bile acid metabolism and lipid homeostasis. Microarray gene profiling revealed that CYP7A1 overexpression led to marked activation of the steroid response element‐binding protein 2 (SREBP2)‐regulated cholesterol metabolic network and absence of bile acid repression of lipogenic gene expression in livers of Cyp7a1‐tg mice. Interestingly, Cyp7a1‐tg mice showed significantly elevated hepatic cholesterol synthesis rates, but reduced hepatic fatty acid synthesis rates, which was accompanied by increased 14C‐glucose‐derived acetyl‐coenzyme A incorporation into sterols for fecal excretion. Induction of SREBP2 also coinduces intronic microRNA‐33a (miR‐33a) in the SREBP2 gene in Cyp7a1‐tg mice. Overexpression of miR‐33a in the liver resulted in decreased bile acid pool, increased hepatic cholesterol content, and lowered serum cholesterol in mice. Conclusion: This study suggests that a CYP7A1/SREBP2/miR‐33a axis plays a critical role in regulation of hepatic cholesterol, bile acid, and fatty acid synthesis. Antagonism of miR‐33a may be a potential strategy to increase bile acid synthesis to maintain lipid homeostasis and prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes, and obesity. (Hepatology 2013;53:1111–1121)
Ideological Schisms about HIV/AIDS Helping Systems in the African American Community, With an Emphasis on Women

This article is an initial exploration about the impact of ideological beliefs on helping services in the African American community. Newly infected HIV/AIDS cases place African Americans at 45% of such new cases, with African American women becoming infected at a rate 18 times that of Whites. Yet, helping services that are organic to African American women should be stronger through a discussion of cultural beliefs held in the community, where the genesis of helping services exists. Values and beliefs should be at the center of community partnerships, public media strategies, generalist-practice curricula in macro-level systems, and creating more space for relationship dialogue between African American men and women, which includes gender and racial distortions. Given the exponentially high numbers of HIV/AIDS cases in the African American community, a more earnest examination of values and beliefs is warranted.
NK cells of mice phagocytose hMSCs

mediated inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated bone marrow cell cultures. Although this well-controlled in vitro system partially mimics the real-life IRI scenario, we find it useful in addressing mechanistic questions raised by in vivo observations. We are aware of somewhat conflicting data on inflammasome signaling in other IR-stressed organ systems. Although ASC absence failed to protect mice from renal IRI in one study, others reported that ASC-deficient kidneys were largely resistant against IRI. A more severe epithelial injury after 30-minute renal ischemia in the latter study may have progressed through an ASC-dependent mechanism (versus an ASC-independent pathway after 25-minute ischemia in the former study). There may also be organ-specific differences in inflammasome sensitivity in IR-triggered immune cascades. The fact that the severity of liver IRI peaks at 6 hours of reperfusion in our model, whereas that of kidney IRI lasts for days, may explain these discrepancies as well. Moreover, the liver might be unique in TLR/ inflammasome activation in such a way that endogenous ligands may readily tolerize the hepatic, but not the renal, innate immune environment. As to the role of IL-1b, consistent with our findings, others have provided evidence that IL-1 receptor blockade ameliorated hepatocellular damage in rat liver IRI models.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and overlap in utah children: Epidemiology and natural history

The epidemiology and natural history of pediatric primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (ASC), and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are not well characterized. Using multiple, overlapping search strategies followed by a detailed records review, we identified all cases of pediatric PSC, ASC, AIH, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a geographically isolated region of the United States. We identified 607 cases of IBD, 29 cases of PSC, 12 cases of ASC, and 44 cases of AIH. The mean age at diagnosis was 13.0 years for PSC, 11.3 years for ASC, and 9.8 years for AIH. The incidence and prevalence of PSC, ASC, and AIH were 0.2 and 1.5 cases, 0.1 and 0.6 cases, and 0.4 and 3.0 cases per 100,000 children, respectively. The mean duration of follow‐up was 5.9 years. The probability of developing complicated liver disease within 5 years of the diagnosis of liver disease was 37% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 21%‐58%] for PSC, 25% (95% CI = 7%‐70%) for ASC, and 15% (95% CI = 7%‐33%) for AIH. The 5‐year survival rates with the native liver were 78% (95% CI = 54%‐91%) for PSC, 90% (95% CI = 47%‐99%) for ASC, and 87% (95% CI = 71%‐95%) for AIH. Cholangiocarcinoma developed in 2 of the 29 PSC patients (6.9%). PSC occurred in 9.9% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and in 0.6% of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). ASC occurred in 2.3% of UC patients and 0.9% of CD patients. AIH occurred in 0.4% of UC patients and in 0.3% of CD patients. Liver disease occurred in 39 of 607 IBD patients (6.4%) overall. Conclusion: Immune‐mediated liver diseases are important sources of morbidity in children. Using a population‐based design, this study quantifies the burden and natural history of immune‐mediated liver disease in children. (Hepatology 2013;58:1392–1400)