Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Qualitative Assay of Synovial MAGE-1 m-RNA as a New Trend in Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the commonest inflammatory joint disease, affectingnearly 1% of the adult population worldwide. Its diagnosis depends on clinicalsymptoms, laboratory investigations and imaging. The emphasis in the managementof this disease is early diagnosis and intervention. Diagnostic specificity ofrheumatoid factor (RF) for RA is poor since it is also found in many other rheumaticand non-rheumatic diseases. Anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) was reportedto have a high specificity for RA diagnosis, especially in patients with early disease.However, it was found to have lower sensitivity than RF in RA diagnosis. This studyaimed to evaluate the expression of MAGE-1 mRNA by the synovial fluid cells frominflamed joints, and the serum levels of anti-CCP as biochemical markers for theearly diagnosis of RA. The study included 30 subjects of both sexes: 10 controlswith traumatic knee joint effusion and 20 rheumatoid arthritis patients. BothSerum RF and anti-CCP were determined quantitatively by enzyme-linkedimmune-sorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of MAGE-1 mRNA by the synovialfluid cells obtained from the inflamed joints is evaluated by applying reversetranscription-PCR amplification. MAGE-1 mRNA was detected in synovial fluid cellsof all patients but not in controls. There was significant increase (P < 0.01) ofboth serum RF IgM and anti-CCP in rheumatoid patients group when compared tocontrol one. There was significant positive correlation (r = 0.928; P = < 0.01)between serum RF IgM and anti-CCP. The specificity of MAGE-I, Anti-CCP and RFin RA diagnosis was 100%, and the sensitivity of both MAGE-I and Anti-CCP was100% while that of RF was 85%. Conclusively, the expression results of MAGE-1transcript in synovial fluid were 100% positive encouraging its utilization as abiochemical marker for RA diagnosis. The combined use of serum anti-CCP andMAGE-1 transcript in the synovial fluid cells is recommended for early diagnosis ofRA.
Repository Comparing the Effects of Different Body Armor Systems on the Occupational Performance of Police

Policing duties may inherently be dangerous due to stab, blunt trauma and ballistic threats. The addition of individual light armor vests (ILAVs) has been suggested as a means to protect officers. However, the addition of the extra load of the ILAV may affect officer ability to conduct occupational tasks. The purpose of this study was to determine if wearing any of three different ILAVs made by different companies with their preferred materials and designs (ILAV A, 4.68 percent body weight, ILAV B, 4.05 percent body weight, & ILAV C, 3.71 percent body weight) affected occupational task performance when compared to that in normal station wear. A prospective, within-subjects repeated measures design was employed, using a counterbalanced randomization in which each ILAV was worn for an entire day while officers completed a variety of occupationally relevant tasks. These tasks included a victim drag, car exit and 5-meter sprint, step down and marksmanship task. To compare the effects of the ILAVs on these tasks, a multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted, with post hoc pairwise comparisons using a Bonferroni adjustment. Results showed that performance in each task did not vary between any of the ILAV or normal station wear conditions. There was less variability in the marksmanship task with ILAV B, however. The results suggest that none of the ILAVs used in this study were heavy enough to significantly affect task performance in the assessed tasks when compared to wearing normal station wear.
Property Rights , and Economic Growth in Asia

Recent empirical studies link modern economic performance to institutions transplanted by European colonizers in the Western Hemisphere, Africa and India. In this paper, we extend this line of work to 23 former Japanese colonies in Asia. By the late 1800s Japan had a system of secure property rights in land and later imposed this legal system on colonies such as Taiwan, Korea, and Palau, which initially had features of tenure that impeded loans. Palau makes an excellent natural experiment for study. To identify the causal impact of new institutions, we use two instruments for estimating the degree of transfer: the number of years of Japanese occupation and whether Japan conducted a formal land survey. The instrumental variable estimates show that the quality of institutions was critical for economic growth. Our results are confirmed when using a similar approach with British Colonies in Asia. Finally, historical analysis shows that special features of land as “immovable and everlasting” made it attractive to banks as collateral for loans if secure title and well-defined boundaries were part of a central information system. In the early twentieth century land was the most important asset in these colonies, and its collateralization had the power to jump start credit markets that led to economic development. More specifically, secure property rights attracted outside capital, made access to credit easier, lowered interest rates, encouraged investment, and fostered new technology.
Transformation of excess mortality in people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in Taiwan

Background Given the concerns regarding the adverse health outcomes associated with weight gain and metabolic syndrome in relation to use of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), we aimed in this study to explore whether the increase in the use of SGAs would have any impacts on the trend of excess mortality in people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BPD). Method Two nationwide samples of individuals with schizophrenia and BPD were identified in Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database in 2003 and in 2008, respectively. Age- and gender-standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for each of the 3-year observation periods. The SMRs were compared between the calendar year cohorts, by disease group, and by causes of death. Results The mortality gap for people with schizophrenia decreased slightly, revealing an SMR of 3.40 (95% CI 3.30–3.50) for the 2003 cohort and 3.14 (3.06–3.23) for the 2008 cohort. The mortality gap for BPD individuals remained relatively stable with only those aged 15–44 years having an SMR rising significantly from 7.04 (6.38–7.76) to 9.10 (8.44–9.79). Additionally, in this group of BPD patients aged 15–44 years, the natural-cause-SMR increased from 5.65 (4.93–6.44) to 7.16 (6.46–7.91). Conclusions Compared with the general population, the gap in the excess mortality for people with schizophrenia reduced slightly. However, the over 200% difference between the cohorts in the excess mortality for BPD individuals aged 15–44 years could be a warning sign. Future research to further examine the related factors underlying those changes is warranted.
Molecular testing and treatment patterns for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: PIvOTAL observational study

Background The goals of this multinational retrospective study were to describe treatment patterns and survival outcomes by receipt of molecular testing and molecular status of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods This chart review study, conducted in Italy, Spain, Germany, Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Brazil, included 1440 patients with newly diagnosed advanced (stage IIIB/IV) NSCLC initiating systemic therapy from January 2011 through June 2013, with follow-up until July 2016. We evaluated treatment patterns and survival by histology, line of therapy, molecular testing, and test results for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation and/or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement. Country-specific data were analyzed descriptively and presented as ranges (lowest to highest country). Overall survival (OS) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. Results Patients with ≥1 molecular test varied from 43% (Brazil) to 85% (Taiwan). Numerically greater proportions of patients who were female, Asian, or never/former-smokers, and those with nonsquamous histology or stage-IV NSCLC, received a test. Testing was common for nonsquamous NSCLC (54%, Brazil, to 91%, Taiwan), with positive EGFR and ALK tests from 17% (Brazil and Spain) to 67% (Taiwan) and from 0% (Brazil) to 60% (Taiwan), respectively. First-line treatment regimens for nonsquamous NSCLC with positive EGFR/ALK tests included targeted therapy for 30% (Germany) to 89% (Japan); with negative/inconclusive test results, platinum-based combinations for 88% (Japan) to 98% (Brazil); and if not tested, platinum-based combinations for 80% (Australia) to 95% (Japan), except in Taiwan, where 44% received single agents. Median OS from first-line therapy initiation was 10.0 (Japan) to 26.7 (Taiwan) months for those tested and 7.6 (Australia/Brazil) to 19.3 (Taiwan) months for those not tested. Conclusions We observed substantial variation among countries in testing percentages, treatment patterns, and survival outcomes. Efforts to optimize molecular testing rates should be implemented in the context of each country’s health care scenario.
Contrasting the Motivations of Using Social Networking Sites between Western and Eastern Countries

As social networking sites have become more popular, numerous studies have investigated users’ desired benefits and behaviors. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have systematically investigated the relations between desired benefits and goal values obtained from usage. Although social networking site use is a global phenomenon, few studies have compared the behaviors and desired benefits of users in different countries. This study attempts to address this gap through the following goals: (1) classify user motivations into value (high abstract level) and benefit (low abstract level) levels and systematically analyze the cognitive representation of relations among values, benefits, and attributes of social networking systems; (2) compare the differences between China, the United States and Taiwan and explain the differences found based on Eastern and Western perspectives.
Pathogenecity of Pseudomonas anguilliseptica Infection in Goldfish (Cyprinus Carpio)

Pseudomonas anguilliseptica was firstly identified in 1972 as the cause of Red Spot Disease or “Sekitenbyo”at aquaculture of Anguilla japonica in Japan [1]. Pseudomonas anguilliseptica was also the etiology of“Winter Disease Syndrome”[2-5]. The disease could attack Anguilla japonica, Anguilla anguilla, Lates calcalifer, Plecoglossus altivelis, Carrassius auratus, Oreochromis niloticus, Pangasiusspp, and Cyprinus carpio. Distribution of Ps. Anguilliseptica infection was Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Europe, until Indonesia including Yogyakarta, Bali, Nabire, Nangroe Aceh Darussalam, West Kalimantan and South Sumatera[6]. Symptoms of disease were ascites, petechiae hemorrhage, darker skin, exophthalmia, and loosing scale. Liver was pale, hemorrhage of kidney, congestion of intestine and fibrinous exudates[4,7].
Comparative analysis of primer-probe sets for the laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is newly emerging human infectious diseases, which is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, also previously known as 2019-nCoV). Within two months of the outbreak, more than 80,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide. Since the human to human transmission occurred easily and the human infection is rapidly increasing, the sensitive and early diagnosis is essential to prevent the global outbreak. Recently, World Health Organization (WHO) announced various primer and probe sets for SARS-CoV-2 previously developed in China, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, and USA. In this study, we compared the ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA among the seven primer-probe sets for N gene and the three primer-probe sets for Orf1 gene. The result of the comparative analysis represented that the ‘2019-nCoV_N2, N3’ of USA and the ‘ORF1ab’ of China are the most sensitive primer-probe sets for N and Orf1 genes, respectively. Therefore, the appropriate combination from ORF1ab (China), 2019-nCoV_N2, N3 (USA), and NIID_2019-nCOV_N (Japan) sets should be selected for the sensitive and reliable laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2.
The rs3129882/rs4248166 in HLA-DRA and rs34372695 in SYT11 are not associated with sporadic Parkinson’s disease in Central Chinese population

Abstract Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Up to now, several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in virulence gene sites have been reported linked to PD. Candidate gene association studies and genome-wide association studies have identified rs3129882, rs4248166 in HLA-DRA and rs34372695 in SYT11 as risk factors for familial or sporadic PD. However, the association between variants of HLA-DRA, SYT11 and PD are still controversial, especially in the Central Chinese population. We here performed a case-control study to investigate whether HLA-DRA and SYT11 genes could predispose to sporadic PD in the Chinese population. Methods We investigate 486 PD patients and 457 age- and sex-matched controls from Central China to assess this association. Results In the allele model, the odds ratio (OR) result of rs3129882 was 0.905 (p = 0.287). Moreover, no significant difference was observed in the association between rs424816 (OR = 0.864, p = 0.106) and rs34372695 (p = 1.0) with PD risk. Genotypic analysis in SNP rs3129882, rs4248166 and rs34372695 indicated no significant association with PD. Subgroup analysis of our data showed age-onset and gender were not associated with either genotype or minor allele frequencies of rs3129882 and rs4248166. Moreover, the negative results were also observed in a meta-analysis of studies of rs3129882 from mainland China and Taiwanese population. Conclusions Our results reveal that rs3129882, rs4248166 and rs34372695 do not confer significant risks for sporadic PD in the Central Chinese population.
Behavioral sex differences and activity patterns of captive humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti)

Three female and two male captive Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) were observed in an enclosed exhibit over a period of 10 months to examine behavioral sex differences and to establish whether captive Humboldt penguins exhibit behavioral activity patterns. There were no statistically significant differences between the behaviors of males and females in six categories: resting, self-maintenance, locomoting, lack of visibility, agonistic behaviors, or pair-directed behaviors. Although not statistically significant, the pair-directed activities of bowing and ecstatic displaying were found to have potential use for sexual identification. Females bowing to males accounted for 77% of the observed bows. Further, males were observed performing 68% of the observed ecstatic displays, while females performed only 32%. Four behavioral phases were defined: molting, proximity, nesting, and “other. ” Statistically significant behavioral differences occurred between the four phases for all ethogram behaviors with the exception of agonistic and pair-directed behaviors. Although housed under natural daylight and in an exhibit simulating their habitat in the wild, the captive birds failed to demonstrate a breeding season but bred throughout the study. However, this may have been influenced by one or more of the following factors: a ready supply of food; an air-filtered, temperature-controlled atmosphere; and the presence of an adequate number of nesting sites.
Herb induced liver injury after using herbal medicine

Abstract In Taiwan, traditional herbal medication was included in Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) system since 1996 and in 9 out of 10 hospitals have developed their own departments of traditional medicine. This study aims to address the herb-induced liver injury (HILI) after using herbal medicine on the relationship between age, gender, epidemiology, laboratory data, pathogenesis, mobility, and mortality. We searched the PubMed database with “hepatitis after herbal medicine” and “in human” till 2018 April and returned 163 articles in a systemic review manner. Two cases reports describing in-vitro liver injury were excluded. Reviews and articles without the detailed report, laboratory data and history were excluded from this study. In the end, there were 53 articles enrolled in this study. These enrolled literatures are from France (n = 13), Germany (n = 12), Switzerland (n = 5) United States of America (n = 4), Korea (n = 4), Hong Kong (n = 4), Greece (n = 3), China (n = 2), Canada (n = 1), Italy (n = 1), Thailand (n = 1), Finland (n = 1), Taiwan (n = 1), and Japan (n = 1). The data were analyzed with a commercial statistical software Stata/SE 12.0 program Stata Corporation, College Station, TX, USA. Statistical &khgr;2 tests were performed and the significance was set at a P value of less than . 05 (2-tailed). The ages are ranged from 15 to 78 years with the mean ± SD (standard deviation) of 48.3 ± 16.2 years old. The majority of cases are female (n = 37). In elderly, man is more commonly seen than female in HILI (37.5% vs 10.5%, P = .02). Female is vulnerable to cholestatic type of HILI than male (21.1% vs 0.0%, P = .04). Of all the cases in HILI, using pure substance are more commonly seen than mixed substance (P = .02). In gender, male patients have higher alanine aminotransferase (GPT) (IU/L) level in HILI than female ones (1560 ± 819 vs 1047 ± 706, P = .03). In HILI, the female is more commonly seen than male, but less than male in the elderly. The pure substance more often happens to HILI than mixture substance. Female is predominant in the cholestatic type of HILI. The major prevalence of HILI is in Europe rather than Asia. HILI cases in Europe is 2.75-fold than in Asia. This could be due to fewer reports of the herb induced liver injury in Asia compared to Europe. Prevention of HILI is the best policy, because it needs to take 78 ± 59 days to recover.
The effectiveness and safety of sofosbuvir‐ledipasvir for patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 2 infection

Sofosbuvir‐ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) had been proved to achieve high sustained virologic response (SVR) rate for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection. As for patients with HCV genotype 2 (HCV‐2) infection, SOF combined with weight‐based ribavirin was recommended based on earlier guidelines. In Asia‐Pacific region, the pooled analysis of three clinical studies in Taiwan, Japan, and New Zeeland, respectively, revealed that the SVR12 rate of SOF/LDV for with HCV‐2 infected patients without decompensated cirrhosis could be higher than 95%. Based on these results, SOF/LDV had been reimbursed for treating patients with HCV‐2 infection since Oct 2018 in Taiwan. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of SOF/LDV for HCV‐2 infected patients. A total of 298 HCV‐2 infected patients without decompensated cirrhosis who received SOF/LDV for 12 weeks in Chia‐Yi Christian Hospital between January 2019 and December 2019 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The effectiveness was defined as SVR at 12 weeks off treatment (SVR12). The SVR12 rates of different categorical patients were also assessed. Adverse effects, laboratory abnormalities, and evolution of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were evaluated. The SVR12 rate of SOF/LDV for 12 weeks in HCV‐2 infected patient without decompensated cirrhosis was 98.3% (293/298, 95% CI: 96.1%‐99.3%) and 99.3% (293/295, 95% CI: 97.6%‐99.8%) in intention‐to‐treat and per‐protocol analysis, respectively. None had premature discontinuity of drugs induced by serious adverse effect in our study. The worsening of eGFR from baseline to 12 weeks off treatment was found in CKD‐staged 1 patients with a quadratic trend. SOF in combination with ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) for 12 weeks could provide good SVR12 rate with good tolerability for HCV‐2 infected patients without decompensated cirrhosis.
Variability Studies in Fruits and Seed Characters of Aquilaria malaccensis

Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. is one of the 15 tree species in the Indo-malaesian genus Aquilaria belongs to family Thymelaeaceae (Ng et al., 1997). The tree grows in natural forests at an altitude of a few meters above sea level to about 1000 m, and it grows best around 500 m in locations with average daily temperatures of 20 to 22°C (Keller and Sidiyasa, 1994; Wiriadinata., 1995). The tree is traded internationally for the agarwood, which produced in its trunk to protect the tree when it is wounded and infected by fungus (Liu Y. et al., 2013; Mohamed et al., 2014) and has been used for incense as well as a traditional sedative, an analgesic and digestive medicine (Yagura et al., 2005). In India, A. malaccensis grows mostly in the foothills of the North-eastern region (Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura) and West Bengal up to an altitude of 1000 m. In Assam and Meghalaya, it occurs sporadically in the International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 9 Number 11 (2020) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Global Incidence of Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma: A Systematic Review

Objective Ubiquitous throughout the literature and during patient counseling, vestibular schwannoma is often quoted to affect about 1 per 100,000 people. Yet, reports from distinct international populations suggest that the incidence is likely much higher. The objective of the current work was to systematically characterize the global incidence of sporadic vestibular schwannoma. Data Sources Scopus, Embase, and PubMed. Review Methods Population-based studies reporting incidence rates of sporadic vestibular schwannoma between January 2010 and August 2020 were searched with language restrictions requiring reports to be published in Chinese, English, German, Italian, or Spanish. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021228208) prior to commencement of data collection. PRISMA guidelines for transparent reporting of systematic reviews were followed. Results Among 424 citations, 6 publications covering 4 distinct populations from Denmark, the Netherlands, Taiwan, and the United States met inclusion criteria. Most recent incidence rates of among all ages ranged between 3.0 and 5.2 per 100,000 person-years. Highest incidence rates were reported among patients aged ≥70 years, peaking at 20.6 per 100,000 person-years. One study from the United States reported the incidence of asymptomatic, incidentally diagnosed tumors at a rate of 1.3 per 100,000 person-years from 2012 to 2016. Conclusions Recent international incidence rates of sporadic vestibular schwannoma exceed the commonly quoted “1 per 100,000” figure by up to 5-fold among all ages and by up to 20-fold among age groups at highest risk. Based on modern incidence rates, the lifetime prevalence of developing sporadic vestibular schwannoma likely exceeds 1 per 500 persons.