Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Clinical manifestation and prognosis of myocardial bridge].

OBJECTIVE To study the clinical manifestation, angiographic features, and prognosis of myocardial bridge. METHODS A retrospective analysis was made on the data of the clinical manifestation, coronary angiography, and prognosis of 35 patients with myocardial bridge, 29 males and 6 females, with an average age of 52.0 +/- 9.5 years, out of 2 871 patients undergoing coronary angiography 1 January 1996 - 20 February 2001. RESULTS The detection rate of myocardial bridge, mostly in the middle or distal parts of left anterior descending branch and 24 being isolated myocardial bridge, was 1.22% in coronary angiography. There was a significant difference in the extent of diameter stenosis during systolic stage between the group with atherosclerosis (68% +/- 15%, n = 15) and the group without atherosclerosis (54% +/- 14%, n = 20) in the vessel proximal to myocardial bridge (P < 0.01). The systolic diameter stenosis was more severe in the abnormal ECG group (63% +/- 13%, n = 12) than in the normal ECG group (54% +/- 14%, n = 12), P < 0.05. However, the systolic stenosis extent of myocardial bridge in the patients with typical angina pectoris (58% +/- 15%, n = 11) was not significantly different from that in the patients with atypical angina pectoris (54% +/- 15%, n = 13). The systolic stenosis extent of myocardial bridge were 69% +/- 9% (n = 7) and 58% +/- 16% (n = 26) in the patients with and without left ventricular wall hypertrophy respectively (P = 0.09). No malignant event occurred during the follow-up period of 3 - 50 months. CONCLUSION (1) The more severe the extent of systolic diameter stenosis, the more severe the myocardial ischemia and the more the possibility of abnormal ECG. (2) Myocardial bridge tends to promote or accelerate the atherosclerosis of the vessels proximal to it. (3) Left ventricular wall hypertrophy may promote the formation of myocardial bridge clinically. (4) The prognosis of myocardial bridge is good.
Mastoparan peptide causes mitochondrial permeability transition not by interacting with specific membrane proteins but by interacting with the phospholipid phase

The mastoparan peptide is known as an inducer of the mitochondrial permeability transition. Although mastoparan was suggested to interact with a proteinaceous target in mitochondria to induce this transition, the action sites of mastoparan have not yet been investigated. To clarify whether specific interactions of mastoparan with receptors or enzymes are associated with the induction of this permeability transition, we examined the effects of d‐isomeric peptides, which were synthesized using d‐amino acids assembled in endogenous (inverso mastoparan) and reverse (retro‐inverso mastoparan) orientations. When we added inverso mastoparan to isolated mitochondria, the peptide caused the permeability transition in a partially cyclosporin A‐sensitive manner at lower doses and in a cyclosporin A‐insensitive manner at higher ones. The manners of action and the potencies of inverso mastoparan were close to those of parent mastoparan, indicating that the targets of mastoparan for induction of the permeability transition were neither receptors, nor enzymes in the mitochondria. Retro‐inverso mastoparan also had the same effect on the mitochondria as mastoparan, although the potencies of the effect were weaker. Not only on mitochondria, but also on phospholipid vesicles, mastoparan and inverso mastoparan showed massive permeabilization effects at the same potencies, although retro‐inverso mastoparan showed weaker ones. These results indicate that mastoparan interacted with the phospholipid phase of the mitochondrial membrane (and not with specific proteins) to induce the permeabilization in cyclosporin A‐sensitive and ‐insensitive manners.
Melasma: A Review

ObjectiveTo better understand melasma, a review of its etiologic factors, classification, pathogenesis, and treatment was undertaken.MethodsArticles discussing the above aspects of melasma were used to demonstrate what is currently known about the disease and how to treat it.ResultsMelasma is associated with many etiologic factors, most importantly, sun exposure. It occurs in three distributions and has four reported patterns of pigmentation. Among the many differences between melasma and normal skin, melasma skin contains increased melanin, melanocytes, and melanosomes, as well as increased synthesis of tyrosinase. Its pathogenesis remains largely unknown. Treatment consists of phenolic and nonphenolic depigmenting agents, chemical peels, lasers, and dermabrasion.ConclusionMelasma is a common skin disorder. Although melasma has been studied, its pathogenesis remains largely unknown and its treatment is still met with difficulty. Randomized controlled trials involving larger numbers of patients and comparing treatments, as well as studying combination therapies, would be beneficial.SommaireObjectifAfin d’améliorer notre compréhension des mélasmes, nous avons examiné leurs facteurs étiologiques, leur classification, leur pathogenèse et leurs traitements. MéthodeDes articles traitant des aspects sus-mentionnés des mélasmes ont été utilisés afin de définir ce que nous savons déjà sur cette affection et les moyens de la traiter. RésultatsLes mélasmes sont associés à un grand nombre de facteurs étiologiques, surtout I’exposition au soleil. Trois sites et quatre types de pigmentation ont été recensés. Parmi les nombreuses différences entre une peau saine et une peau affectée, notons que la peau présentant des mélasmes contient un taux plus élevé de mélanine, de mélanocytes et de mélanosomes, ainsi qu’une plus forte synthèse de la tyrosinase. Sa pathogenèse reste généralement inconnue. Parmi les traitements on retrouve les agents dépigmentants phènoliques et non phénoliques, le peeling chimique, le traitement au laser et la dermabrasion.ConclusionLe mélasme est une affection cutanée commune. Malgré toutes les études, sa pathogenèse demeure inconnue et il reste difficile à traiter. Des essais contrôlés randomisés sur un plus grand nombre de patients, qui permettent la comparaison des résultats, de même que I’étude des polythérapies seraient bénéfiques.
Effect of corruption on FDI: evidence from junk-science

Abstract The empirical evidence on the effect of corruption on foreign direct investment is a mixed bag as the results show positive, negative or no effect. These results, which are typically based on cross-sectional and panel data, are highly sensitive to the selected set of explanatory variables, model specification and variable measurement. Hence, these results are subject to the Leamer critique that a regression model with a large number of potential explanatory variables can be used to prove almost anything. In a situation like this, researchers are in a position to prove prior beliefs and produce results (after extensive data mining) that support the theory they like. It is concluded that the empirical evidence on the underlying issue must be taken with a big grain of salt because it is a product of the junk-science of econometrics.
Pharmacological Treatment of Depression in Cancer Patients

Background Depression has a reported mean prevalence of 24% in patients diagnosed with cancer. However, little systematic research on the efficacy of antidepressants in patients with cancer has been performed. Method The efficacy and safety of mianserin were studied in 55 depressed women with breast cancer (stage I or II and without known metastases), in a randomised, double-blind, six-week, placebo-controlled study. Results Statistically significant differences in the decrease in score from baseline on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the number of responders, favouring mianserin, were present after 28 and 42 days of treatment Significantly more placebo-treated patients prematurely terminated the study due to lack of efficacy while the safety profile of mianserin was similar to that of placebo. Conclusions Treatment with mianserin resulted in a significant improvement in depressive symptoms in cancer patients, and was well tolerated.
Nucleosome disassembly during human non-homologous end joining followed by concerted HIRA- and CAF-1-dependent reassembly

The cell achieves DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair in the context of chromatin structure. However, the mechanisms used to expose DSBs to the repair machinery and to restore the chromatin organization after repair remain elusive. Here we show that induction of a DSB in human cells causes local nucleosome disassembly, apparently independently from DNA end resection. This efficient removal of histone H3 from the genome during non-homologous end joining was promoted by both ATM and the ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeler INO80. Chromatin reassembly during DSB repair was dependent on the HIRA histone chaperone that is specific to the replication-independent histone variant H3.3 and on CAF-1 that is specific to the replication-dependent canonical histones H3.1/H3.2. Our data suggest that the epigenetic information is re-established after DSB repair by the concerted and interdependent action of replication-independent and replication-dependent chromatin assembly pathways. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.15129. 001
Audit Market Structure and Audit Pricing

SYNOPSIS: Extant literature finds mixed evidence on the association between audit market concentration and audit fees. We re-examine this issue using a large sample of U.S. audit clients covering 90 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) spanning 2000–2013. We find that audit market concentration is associated with significantly higher audit fees, consistent with the concerns of regulators and managers. We also find that increases in audit market concentration are associated with fewer initial engagement fee discounts (i.e., reduced lowballing), particularly for non-Big 4 clients. We reconcile our findings with those of prior research and find that our divergent findings are attributable to controls for MSA fixed effects. In supplemental analyses, we find that audit market concentration is associated with higher audit quality. We also find that concentration is associated with higher audit quality for first-year engagements, but only if the auditor does not lowball on the engagement. Our results are releva.
Control method for ripple current reduction and grid current correction in a single phase DC-AC DAB converter

A LLC circuit is developed in this paper to reduce the DC source 100Hz ripple current in a DC-AC dual active bridge (DAB) converter by regulating the duty cycle of the primary side full bridge converter without utilizing additional switches. However, heavy duty cycle changes with relatively small capacitor of LLC circuit will result in the grid current distortion. To address this issue, a repetitive control is proposed to improve the quality of the grid current and related THD. Modulation scheme and ZVS turn-on conditions for both the primary and secondary converters are presented. A control model and a decoupling control strategy in synchronous dq frame for the DC-AC DAB converter are proposed. The proposed methods are examined through simulation tests and the results are presented.
To Migrate With or Without Ones' Children in China - That is the Question

Where should Chinese internal migrant parents locate their school-aged children: migrate with them or leave them behind? And should they invest in private education of their children? Empirical evidence based on the 2009 wave of the Rural-Urban Migration Survey in China (RUMiC) data is inconclusive. We use an overlapping generations model to find a theoretical optimum that maximizes parents’ utility which includes the children’s educational performance. Depending on the educational investment parents make and the relocation cost of children, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for migrant parents to take their children to migrate and whether they should provide their children with private education. As the choices of migrant parents affect not only their children’s human capital accumulation, but also on the economic potential of their descendants, we present both short- and long-term consequences of the parents decision.
Transfection of Escherichia coli spheroplasts. VI. Transfection of nonpermissive spheroplasts by T5 and BF23 bacteriophage DNA carrying amber mutations in DNA transfer genes

DNA was extracted from T5 and BF23 phage carrying amber mutations in genes A2, A1, or D9 and tested for its ability to transfect su minus spheroplasts. DNA from T5 am231, defective in gene A2, transfects Escherichia coli su minus recB minus spheroplasts with an efficiency of 16% of that of wild-type T5 DNA, whereas DNA from T5 am16d or BF23 am57, both defective in gene A1 or its equivalent, transfects E. coli su minus recB minus spheroplasts with an efficiency of 1.4% of that of wild-type T5 DNA, provided E. coli su+ bacteria is used as the indicator in all cases. More than 95% of the progeny from the am231, am16d, and am57 DNA that transfects su minus recB minus spheroplasts is still amber mutant. From these efficiencies of transfection we conclude that the product of gene A2 functions mainly in the mechanism of transfer of phage DNA to intact host cells, and that this function is not essential for transfection of spheroplasts. We also conclude that gene A1 controls functions in addition to DNA transfer, in agreement with previous studies which show that mutations in gene A1 have a pleiotropic effect. Apparently, the absence of these additional functions controlled by gene A1 leads to a high frequency of abortive infection. DNA from amber mutants defective in either gene A1 or A2 does not appreciably transfect su minus rec+ spheroplasts, indicating that the products of these two genes may both be needed to protect T5 DNA from the very active rec BC nuclease in spheroplasts.
Histopathologic Diagnosis of Fungal Infections in the 21st Century

SUMMARY Fungal infections are becoming more frequent because of expansion of at-risk populations and the use of treatment modalities that permit longer survival of these patients. Because histopathologic examination of tissues detects fungal invasion of tissues and vessels as well as the host reaction to the fungus, it is and will remain an important tool to define the diagnostic significance of positive culture isolates or results from PCR testing. However, there are very few instances where the morphological characteristics of fungi are specific. Therefore, histopathologic diagnosis should be primarily descriptive of the fungus and should include the presence or absence of tissue invasion and the host reaction to the infection. The pathology report should also include a comment stating the most frequent fungi associated with that morphology as well as other possible fungi and parasites that should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Alternate techniques have been used to determine the specific agent present in the histopathologic specimen, including immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and PCR. In addition, techniques such as laser microdissection will be useful to detect the now more frequently recognized dual fungal infections and the local environment in which this phenomenon occurs.
Activation of Myosin Light Chain Phosphatase in Intact Arterial Smooth Muscle During Nitric Oxide-induced Relaxation*

We investigated whether myosin light chain phosphatase activity changes during nitric oxide-induced relaxation of contracted intact carotid media and how changes in phosphatase activity mediate this relaxation. We also investigated one mechanism for regulating this phosphatase. Myosin phosphatase activity, myosin light chain phosphorylation, guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) concentration, and phosphorylation of the inhibitory protein CPI-17 were all assayed in homogenates of one carotid media ring at each time point during nitric oxide-induced relaxation. The application of sodium nitroprusside to histamine-contracted media caused rapid declines in light chain phosphorylation and force. These were temporally correlated with a rapid elevation of cGMP and a large transient increase in myosin phosphatase activity. During the early response to nitroprusside, when force declined, increases in myosin phosphatase activity, concurrent with cGMP-mediated decreases in calcium and myosin light chain kinase activity, could accelerate light chain dephosphorylation. CPI-17 was dephosphorylated upon application of nitroprusside at the same time that myosin phosphatase activity increased, suggesting that the removal of inhibition by phospho-CPI-17 contributed to the increase in myosin phosphatase activity. After 20 min of nitroprusside, myosin phosphatase activity had declined to basal levels, however low force was sustained. Additional light chain phosphorylation-independent mechanisms may be involved in sustaining the relaxation.
Ethnography and filmmaking for Indigenous anti tobacco social marketing

The smoking rates of 82% in Aboriginal communities of North East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia are the highest in the country (Robertson et al. 2013). Macassan traders introduced tobacco as a trading commodity (Berndt, 1954) in Aboriginal communities in the 18th century and has since become part of culture. The influence of the Methodist Mission (Cole 1979) has also had a profound effect on tobacco consumption. Anti tobacco social marketing that is sensitive to Indigenous culture and history supports a more complex and gradual approach to reducing uptake amongst young people. The limitations of the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Planned Behaviour commonly used for social marketing in this context are due to the cultural value of tobacco in traditional reciprocal relationships and ceremonial practice. Through a combination of ethnography and filmmaking, this project was able to capture and showcase the cultural and historical factors of smoking in a format that is respectful to local culture, specifically in Indigenous anti tobacco social marketing. The use of ethnography and Consumer Culture Theory (CCT) (Arnould and Thompson 2005) for social marketing in this context, addresses the dynamic relationships between consumer actions, the marketplace, and cultural meanings in a culturally relevant and conceptually meaningful manner. The ethnographic film is a collection of interviews as a result of introspection found in postmodern consumer research and combines insider and outsider views to provide deeper insights (Goulding, 2005) into the challenge of tackling smoking in the region.
Adipokine Gene Expression in a Novel Hypothalamic Neuronal Cell Line: Resistin-Dependent Regulation of Fasting-Induced Adipose Factor and SOCS-3

Adipokines such as leptin, resistin, and fasting-induced adipose factor (FIAF) are secreted by adipocytes, but their expression is also detectable in the brain and pituitary. The role of central adipokines remains elusive, but we speculate that they may modulate those hypothalamic signaling pathways that control energy homeostasis. Here we describe experiments to test this in which we exploited a novel hypothalamic neuronal cell line (N-1) that expresses a variety of neuropeptides and receptors that are known to be implicated in appetite regulation. Using real-time RT-PCR, we confirmed that N-1 neurons express resistin (rstn) and fiaf, as well as suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (socs-3), a feedback inhibitor of leptin signaling. Treating N-1 cells with recombinant resistin (200 ng/ml, 30 min) reduced both fiaf (25%, p < 0.005) and socs-3 (29%, p < 0.005) mRNA levels, and similar reductions in fiaf (40%, p < 0.001) and socs-3 (25%, p < 0.001) resulted following the overexpression of resistin. Conversely, when RNA interference (RNAi) was used to reduce endogenous rstn levels (–60%, p < 0.005), fiaf and socs-3 expression was increased (46 and 65% respectively, p < 0.005). A similar reduction in rstn mRNA was achieved using RNAi in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and this manipulation also reduced fiaf and socs-3 expression (–53, –21 and –20% respectively, p < 0.005). In contrast, although RNAi successfully reduced fiaf mRNA by 50% (p < 0.001) in N-1 cells and 40% (p < 0.001) in 3T3-L1 cells, there was no effect on rstn or socs-3 mRNA. These data suggest that resistin exerts a novel autocrine/paracrine control over fiaf and socs-3 expression in both 3T3-L1 adipocytes and N-1 neurons. Such a mechanism could be part of the central feedback system that modulates the effects of adipokines, and other adiposity signals, implicated in hypothalamic energy homeostasis. However, it remains to be determined whether these in vitro results can be translated to the control of adipokine expression in brain and adipose tissue.
Impact of two or three daily subcutaneous injections of hexarelin, a synthetic growth hormone (GH) secretagogue, on 24-h GH, prolactin, adrenocorticotropin and cortisol secretion in humans.

OBJECTIVE To extend the insights on the action of GH secretagogues (GHS) on pituitary function, we studied the impact of intermittent daily s.c. administration of a peptidyl GHS, hexarelin (HEX), on 24-h GH, PRL, ACTH and cortisol release in healthy volunteers. DESIGN We investigated the impact of two or three times daily s.c. administration of a short-acting peptidyl GHS, the hexapeptide HEX (1.5 microg/kg) on 24-h GH, PRL, ACTH and cortisol secretion (sampling every 20 min) in six normal young men. To monitor possible down-regulation, the effect of 1 microg/kg i.v. HEX at the end of each 24-h sampling period was studied. METHODS Multi-parameter deconvolution analysis was used to quantitate pulsatile GH, PRL, ACTH and cortisol secretion and estimate the corresponding hormone half-lives. Complementary to deconvolution analysis, approximate entropy was used as a scale- and model-independent statistic to quantify the serial orderliness or pattern regularity of hormone measurements. RESULTS Mean and integrated (24-h) serum GH concentrations were increased from baseline values to the same extent by two and three HEX injections. Both HEX schedules equally increased GH secretory burst mass (but not burst frequency), mean daily GH production rate, GH half-life and irregularity of GH release patterns. No change occurred in the secretion of IGF-I, PRL, ACTH and cortisol. Intravenous HEX at the end of each spontaneous 24-h profile induced a significant rise in GH, PRL, ACTH and cortisol. Prior HEX administration blunted the GH response, abolished that of ACTH and cortisol and did not modify the PRL increase. CONCLUSIONS The study showed that two or three daily s.c. injections of HEX augmented 24-h GH secretion equally, amplifying selectively GH secretory pulse mass without altering lactotroph and corticotroph secretion. IGF-I levels were not modified by these 1-day HEX treatment schedules.