Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Comparative characteristics of specific autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis].

AIM To assess diagnostic informative value of specific autoantibodies (AAB)--antikeratin antibodies (AKA), antiperinuclear factor (APF) and antibodies to cyclic peptide containing citrullin (CCP) from the family of antifilaggrine autoantibodies (AFA)--in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 121 patients with RA and 45 patients with seronegative spondylarthropathies. Rheumatoid factor was detected with latex agglutination. AKA and APF were estimated with indirect immunofluorescence the substrate of which was series frozen sections of rat esophagus in the middle third of 4 mcm and cells of the epithelium of the internal surface of healthy donor's cheek. For detection of antibodies to cyclic peptide, the test DIASTAT Anti-CCP ELISA (Axis Shield, Great Britain) was made. RESULTS The RF was detected in 67.8% patients with RA; AKA, APF and antibodies to CCP--in 43.6, 52.9 and 68.0% patients, respectively. AKA were most specific for RA (100%) while the RF was least specific among the AAB studied (87%). Simultaneous use of RF and AFA allows AAB detection in 84% RA patients at early stages of the disease. AFA were detected in patients with high clinico-laboratory activity of the process, high indices of functional joint insufficiency. 95% of all cases of destructive arthritis were detected in patients with RF, AKA, APF and antibodies to CCP. CONCLUSION For RA patients it is necessary to determine both RF and AFA. Detection of AFA allows early diagnosis of RA as well as to single out patients with more aggressive course of the disease and unfavourable prognosis.
Which Part of the Chinese Art Market Is More Worth Investing In? Applying the Quantile Regression to Analyze Chinese Oil Paintings 2000–2014

ABSTRACT This article uses a quantile regression approach to analyze the structure of the hedonic characteristics of 12,701 Chinese oil paintings sold at auctions in China and Hong Kong during the period 2000–2014. A hedonic model for both the full sample and the 0.20, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80, and 0.95 quantiles of the price distribution is estimated. The result indicates that noticeable differences exist in painting characteristics across different price ranges. The empirical evidence also suggests that highly priced Chinese oil paintings have both higher expected returns and less risk than those that are priced lower, which appear to be favorable assets to invest in.
A Co-Integration Analysis of Pakistan Stock Market with Asian Pacific Markets

Globalization increases integration among markets which provide room to taste fruit of higher profitability at lowest cost by holding diversified portfolios internationally. This study is conducted to identify stock markets from Asian Pacific region, for those investors who hold investment in Pakistani stock market and want to diversify their portfolios. Weekly data of closing stock market indices is used in study ranging from 1997 to 2014. Unit root test confirmed that all variables are stationary at first difference. Johnson Week co-integration is confirmed through Johnson Co-integration test, correlation analysis is performed to check short run association and granger causality for causality between markets. It is observed that week long term association is contagion effect of US subprime crisis. Result indicated that best possible options for short term investment are Japan, Taiwan and China. Bi-variate analysis confirmed that Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore are available options for portfolio diversification for long term horizon.
Comparison of anti-agalactosyl IgG antibodies, rheumatoid factors, and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in the differential diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and its mimics.

OBJECTIVE Anti-agalactosyl IgG antibodies [anti-Gal(0) IgG] have been regarded as a useful serological marker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our aim was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of anti-Gal(0) IgG in the differential diagnosis of rheumatic disorders that mimic RA compared to rheumatoid factors (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP). METHODS Sera were collected from 39 patients with RA, 49 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSjS), 47 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 65 patients with chronic hepatitis B viral infection (HBV), 68 patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) and 19 normal individuals. RF-IgM was measured by the nephelometeric method, and RF-IgA, anti-Gal(0) IgG and anti-CCP were measured by the respective ELISA assays. RESULTS Anti-Gal(0) IgG titers were remarkably elevated in patients with RA (191.0 +/- 250.8 AU/ml) compared to pSjS (37.9 +/- 42.6 AU/ml), SLE (10.3 +/- 13.6 AU/ml), chronic HBV with (36.1 +/- 38.4 AU/ml) or without rheumatic symptoms (9.6 +/- 19.4 AU/ml), RF(+) chronic HCV without rheumatic symptoms (19.0 +/- 14.8 AU/ml), chronic HCV with rheumatic symptoms (15.2 +/- 17.4 AU/ml) and healthy individuals (2.6 +/- 0.7 AU/ml). The specificity of anti-Gal(0) IgG could be greatly enhanced by elevating the cut-off value from 12 AU/ml to 40 AU/ml (68.6% vs. 85.6%, p < 0.001) without significantly compromising its sensitivity (76.9% vs. 61.5%, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION The serum titer of anti-Gal(0) IgG is much higher in rheumatoid arthritis than in mimicking diseases. The specificity of anti-Gal(0) IgG is enhanced when the cut-off value is raised. However, anti-CCP remains the most specific biomarker for RA.
Quality Investing in Asian Stock Markets

We examine two quality investing strategies using gross profitability (GP) or FSCORE, respectively, over the period of 2000–2016 in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan stock markets. We find that the high‐quality stocks generally earn positive returns in these markets. Both FSCORE and GP are significantly positively associated with subsequent stock returns in the cross‐sectional regressions. We also find that financial institutions as sophisticated investor concern about stock quality. The actively managed institutions buy significantly more high‐quality stocks than low‐quality stocks in each of five Asian markets. The trading pattern is not significant in passively managed institutions.
Convergence of PRC GAAP with IFRS, and the Comparative Value Relevance Between the Two Sets of Reporting Standards: The Case of Dual-Listed Chinese Companies

We evaluate the level of convergence of Chinese accounting standards (PRC GAAP) with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) since the establishment of the “new PRC GAAP” in 2007. Further, wet examine the value relevance of accounting measures under PRC GAAP as compared with IFRS. The tests use data from dual-listed companies on both mainland China’s A-share exchange (using PRC GAAP) and Hong Kong’s H-share exchange using IFRS. The results indicate that adoption of the new PRC GAAP eliminated significant differences between the two accounting standards. Further, the value relevance of accounting information under PRC GAAP increases through the sample years. The value relevance of PRC GAAP became higher than IFRS for the last two years, implying that current PRC GAAP incorporates the traits of IFRS and Chinese accounting practices that are most useful in Chinese stock markets.
Association of rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility gene with lipid profiles in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE RA patients have an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease, although the mechanisms are unclear. As RA and CV disease may be associated through lipid profiles, we examined whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with RA susceptibility were associated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels in RA subjects. METHODS Patients (n = 763) enrolled in the Veterans Affairs RA registry who were not on hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor were genotyped for human leukocyte antigen shared epitope (HLA-DRB1-SE) and SNPs in the following genes: CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4), IL-10, PTPN22 (protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 22), REL (c-Rel), STAT4 (signal transducer and activator of transcription protein), TNF- and TRAF1 (TNF receptor-associated factor 1). Other covariates included patient characteristics (age, gender, race, smoking status, education, BMI, modified CharlsonDeyo comorbidity index), CV characteristics (hypertension, diabetes, alcohol abuse), pharmacologic exposures (MTX, anti-TNF, glucocorticoids) and RA severity/activity markers (RA disease duration, mean DAS, CRP, RF positivity, anti-CCP positivity). Multivariate linear regression was performed to determine the factors associated with LDL, HDL and TG levels. RESULTS The REL SNP rs9309331 homozygous minor allele was associated with higher LDL levels. Caucasian race and increasing BMI were associated with lower HDL. Factors associated with higher TG were diabetes, Caucasian race and higher BMI. CONCLUSION The REL SNP rs9309331 was associated with LDL levels in our study. This association is a possible explanation of the increased risk of RA patients for CV disease and requires further inquiry.
Positivity for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide is associated with a better response to abatacept: data from the ‘Orencia and Rheumatoid Arthritis’ registry

Objectives Very limited data are available regarding the efficacy of abatacept (ABA) in real life. The aims of this study were to determine the efficacy of ABA in rheumatoid arthritis and predicting factors of efficacy in common practice. Methods The Orencia and Rheumatoid Arthritis” (ORA) prospective registry, promoted by the French Society of Rheumatology, has included 1003 patients with RA. Results 773 patients had already fulfilled the 6-month follow-up visit. Only 21.3% of patients would have fulfilled inclusion criteria used in pivotal controlled trials. The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response, was observed in 330 (59.1%) of the 558 assessed patients (good response: 20.4%, moderate response: 38.7%) and was similar in patients who did and in patients who did not fulfill inclusion criteria of controlled trials. Among EULAR responders, initial 28-joint disease activity score (5.4 (4.7-6.5) in responders vs 4.9 (4.0-6.0) in non responders, p< 0.0001), the proportion of rheumatoid factor (75.6% vs 66.7%, p= 0.03) and the proportion of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP)-positivity (75.9% vs 62.2%, p= 0.001) were significantly higher. In multivariate analysis adjusted on initial 28-joint disease activity score and CRP, anti-CCP positivity was associated with EULAR response (OR=1.9;95% CI=1.2 to 2.9, p=0.007), but not rheumatoid factor (OR=1.0;95% CI=0.6 to 1.6, p=0.9). Anti-CCP positivity was also significantly associated with a higher ABA retention rate at 6 months. Conclusions Real life efficacy of ABA in the ORA registry was similar as that reported in clinical trials. Anti-CCP positivity was associated with a better response to ABA, independently from disease activity.
Molecular Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Genotypes and Serotypes in Patients with Chronic HBV Infection in Korea

Objectives: Although hepatitis B virus (HBV) is endemic to Korea, no large-scale survey of HBV genotypes and serotypes based on sequence analysis has been performed. Methods: In the present study, we genotyped and serotyped HBV strains from 209 patients in two Korean regions, Seoul (107 patients) and Jeju (102 patients), an island off the southeastern Korean coast. Analyses were conducted using the direct sequencing method targeting the partial surface (S) gene (541 bp). Results: Phylogenetic analysis showed that all HBV strains from the 209 patients belonged to genotype C2 (100%). Of the 209 patients, 193 (92.3%), 12 (5.7%) and 1 (0.5%) were found to have the adr, adw and ayr serotypes, respectively. The other three strains (1.5%) showed unique serotype and were not typeable by sequence analysis. No HBV strains characteristic of Jeju island were observed. Conclusions: The extraordinary predominance of genotype C2 in chronic Korean patients, which is known to be associated with more severe liver disease than genotype B, suggests that the clinical manifestations of Korean HBV chronic patients are likely to differ from those found in other Asian countries, especially in Japan and Taiwan, where genotypes B and C coexist.
Single‐centre experience with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in childhood: similar survival after matched‐related and matched‐unrelated donor transplants

Summary. Seventy percent of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) who may benefit from bone marrow transplant (BMT) lack a human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐matched related donor (MRD). For these children, BMT from a matched unrelated donor (MUD) represents a therapeutic option. We reviewed the course of 62 children with ALL who received fully matched marrow allografts at our institution between 1990 and 1998: 36 with MRDs and 26 with MUDs. Clinical characteristics were similar in the two groups. The interval from attainment of pre‐BMT complete remission to transplant was significantly longer in the MUD group. Conditioning (etoposide/total body irradiation) and graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis regimens were the same for all patients, and all received T cell‐replete bone marrow. There was no significant difference in probability of engraftment, or time to engraftment, in the two groups. MUD BMT recipients had a significantly greater incidence of grade II–IV acute GVHD (58% versus 24% in the MRD group; P= 0·02), and demonstrated a trend towards more chronic GVHD (39% versus 15%; P= 0·06). Three years post BMT, the probabilities of transplant‐related mortality were 33 ± 11% and 20 ± 8% in MUD and MRD groups respectively (P = 0·38); the probabilities of relapse were 28 ± 12% and 41 ± 9% respectively (P = 0·19). Lansky or Karnofsky performance scores in event‐free survivors were 90–100 in 87% of the MUD group and 83% of the MRD group. With a median follow up of 38 months (range, 3–97), 3‐year event‐free survival was 49 ± 11% and 47 ± 9% in the MUD and MRD BMT groups respectively (P = 0·71). These results suggest that MUD BMT is a valuable therapy for children with ALL in whom BMT is indicated, and underscore the importance of efforts aimed at expediting unrelated donor searches for patients lacking a MRD.
Up-regulated dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (CD26) on monocytes was unaffected by effective DMARD treatment in early steroid and DMARD-naive rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES To study the CD26 density on monocytes and CD4+ T-lymphocytes in steroid and DMARD-naïve, early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to analyse for correlations with disease activity, including long-term radiographic progression. METHODS Forty patients with active, early steroid and DMARD naïve RA (<6 months' duration) were randomised to treatment with methotrexate (MTX) versus MTX and cyclosporine A (CYA). Controls were 15 healthy age and gender matched subjects. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analysed for CD26 density by flow cytometry at baseline and after 52 weeks. Radiographic progression was scored by delta total Sharp-van der Heijde score (TSS) from 0 to 5 years. RESULTS The density of CD26 on monocytes (CD3-CD14+) in RA was up-regulated compared to healthy controls (p<0.0001) and remained unaffected by clinically effective DMARD treatment after 52 weeks. In anti-CCP positive RA patients (n=18) baseline CD26 density on monocytes correlated to 5-year radiographic progression (p=0.008, r=0.60). The density of CD26 did not correlate to DAS28, the swollen or tender joint count or CRP-level at baseline or at year one. The CD26 density on CD4+ T-lymphocytes at week 0 was comparable to healthy controls (p=0.34). CONCLUSIONS The up-regulated density of CD26 on monocytes in steroid and DMARD naïve active early RA was unaffected by 52 weeks of effective DMARD treatment and correlated to 5-year radiographic progression.
LEAP projects: Concept and challenges

The Liquefaction Experiment and Analysis Project (LEAP), an international research collaboration among researchers from the US, UK, Japan, China and Taiwan, is a validation campaign to assess the capabilities of existing numerical/constitutive models for liquefaction analysis by using laboratory experiments and centrifuge tests. The nature, goals, and scope of the project are presented in this paper. The goals of the planning phase of the project that is currently ongoing in the US are briefly discussed. The main components of the validation campaign and their corresponding challenges are outlined. © 2015 Taylor & Francis Group, London.
A threshold-based earthquake early warning using dense accelerometer networks

Most earthquake early warning systems (EEWS) developed so far are conceived as either ‘regional’ (network-based) or ‘on-site’ (stand-alone) systems. The recent implementation of nationwide, high dynamic range, dense accelerometer arrays makes now available, potentially in real time, unsaturated waveforms of moderate-to-large magnitude earthquakes recorded at very short epicentral distances (<10–20 km). This would allow for a drastic increase of the early warning lead-time, for example, the time between the alert notification and the arrival time of potentially destructive waves at a given target site. By analysing strong motion data from modern accelerograph networks in Japan, Taiwan and Italy, we propose an integrated regional/on-site early warning method, which can be used in the very first seconds after a moderate-to-large earthquake to map the most probable damaged zones. The method is based on the real-time measurement of the period (τ_c) and peak displacement (Pd) parameters at stations located at increasing distances from the earthquake epicentre. The recorded values of early warning parameters are compared to threshold values, which are set for a minimum magnitude 6 and instrumental intensity VII, according to the empirical regression analyses of strong motion data. At each recording site the alert level is assigned based on a decisional table with four alert levels defined upon critical values of the parameters Pd and τ_c, which are set according to the error bounds estimated on the derived prediction equations. Given a real time, evolutionary estimation of earthquake location from first P arrivals, the method furnishes an estimation of the extent of potential damage zone as inferred from continuously updated averages of the period parameter and from mapping of the alert levels determined at the near-source accelerometer stations. The off-line application of the method to strong motion records of the M_w 6.3, 2009 Central Italy earthquake shows a very consistent match between the rapidly predicted (within a few seconds from the first recorded P wave) and observed damage zone, the latter being mapped from detailed macroseismic surveys a few days after the event. The proposed approach is suitable for Italy, where, during the last two decades, a dense network of wide dynamic-range accelerometer arrays has been deployed by the Department of Civil Protection (DPC), the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) and other regional research agencies.
Association Between Cholangiocarcinoma and Proton Pump Inhibitors Use: A Nested Case-Control Study

Background: The present study aimed to examine the odds of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in patients with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) use. Methods: A nested case-control study design was employed using data obtained from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. In total, 2,293 patients with confirmed diagnosis of CCA were identified and served as the CCA group. The CCA patients were propensity score-matched with 2,293 subjects without CCA who served as the control group. The cumulative defined daily dose (DDD) of PPIs was calculated based on the total supply in days and quantity of individual PPIs. Univariable and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the odds of CCA, and calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to assess PPIs use and odds of CCA. Results: The overall adjusted OR of PPIs use-associated CCA was 2.58 (95% CI 2.27, 2.93). The adjusted OR of CCA by cumulative DDD dose of PPIs and CCA was analyzed and revealed those odds of CCA are associated with all types of PPIs. Conclusions: There were odds of intrahepatic and extrahepatic CCA among PPIs users. All PPIs use was associated with odds of CCA. Analyses of larger numbers of cases are needed to confirm these findings.
Current status of insecticide resistance in rice planthoppers in Asia

In 2003, the development of insecticide resistance against neonicotinoids (mainly imidacloprid) in the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) (Homoptera: Delphacidae), was first observed in Thailand and has since been found in other Asian countries such as Vietnam, China, and Japan. However, the LD 50-values of BPH and the whitebacked planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera (Horvath), against both neonicotinoid and phenylpyrazole insecticides have been poorly reported in many Asian countries. We thus determined and compared the insecticide susceptibility (topical LD 50s) of BPH and WBPH that were collected in Japan from 2005 to 2007 and from East and Southeast Asian countries in 2006. Species-specific changes in insecticide susceptibility were found in Asian rice planthoppers (i.e., BPH for imidacloprid and WBPH for fipronil). The topical LD 50-values for imidacloprid in the BPH populations collected from East Asia (Japan, China, Taiwan) and Vietnam in 2006 were significantly higher than in those collected from the Philippines, suggesting that insecticide resistance in BPH against imidacloprid occurred in East Asia and Indochina, but not in the Philippines. The BPH populations indicated a positive cross-resistance between imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. Almost all the WBPH populations from Japan, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines had extremely large LD 50-values for fipronil, suggesting that insecticide resistance in WBPH against fipronil occurred widely in East and Southeast Asia.
Contagious Effects Of Oil Prices On Asian Stock Markets’ Behaviour

The main objective of this study is to examine the stock markets’ shock due to the effect of the price of oil in the East Asia Region. Particularly, this study examines if there is stock market interdependence during global oil price shocks (sudden changes) for a sample of five total oil importers (the Philippines, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan), four net oil importers (Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and China), and one net oil exporter (Malaysia) between 1999 and 2014. From the result, an oil price change is collectively found to have a small but significant positive impact on the stock markets, in particular where a sudden decrease in oil prices tends to cause a stock market downturn and volatility. The world economy’s spending, financial investments in oil futures and foreign investment by oil rich nations are some underlying motives for inducing this oil-stock positive relation. The same direction of time-varying conditional correlations is found across East Asian stock markets during negative oil price shocks. The integration among East Asian stock markets is inducing the oil shock contagion to be transmitted from direct oil-affected countries (South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore) to non-direct oil affected countries’ (Japan and Taiwan) stock markets. In spite of a long practiced ASEAN+3 macroeconomics surveillance process and Early Warning System (EWS) which can be customized for stock markets to prevent or detect the oil risk, hedging against initial oil-affected stock markets and a stronger influence by the East Asian countries in the global world of oil and capital investment are strongly suggested. Keywords : oil price; capital market integration; stock market behaviour