Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The clinical application of etanercept in Chinese patients with rheumatic diseases

Over a 2-year period, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of biologic agents, etanercept (25 mg twice per week, s.c.) was used to treat 57 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, 9 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, 6 psoriatic arthritis (PSA) patients, and 4 juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) patients. In addition to inflammatory arthritis, I have used this tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker in other rheumatic diseases including idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), Behçet's disease with intractable oral ulcer, fibromyalgia syndrome, and systemic lupus erythematosis with intractable pleural effusion and acute lumbar disc herniation. For RA, after 6 months of etanercept treatment, all the parameters including number of swollen joints, number of tender joints, disease activity score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and global health status were rapidly improved (P < 0.001 or P < 0.0001). The anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody and rheumatoid factor also significantly declined. For spondyloarthropathy, it also gave a similar effect as to RA. Both Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index also improved. One of the two cases with Behçet's disease with intractable oral ulcer had a long-term remission after etanercept. The other Behçet's disease patient with oral ulcer and another with ITP obtained a good response temporarily. The short-term use of etanercept (<3 months) did not bring a significant effect for cases of fibromyalgia syndrome, pleural effusion, and lumbar disc herniation. In conclusion, a dramatic and rapid clinical response in different kinds of arthritis patients can be achieved by etanercept. Moreover, the TNF-α inhibitor also can treat other severe rheumatic-related symptoms. In general, except for a few cases with infection and two cases with malignancy, etanercept was safe in our arthritis patients. We need to study a larger number of patients in order to better understand the efficacy and safety of etanercept.
Housing older people : an international perspective

Two global trends are occurring concurrently: urbanization and population ageing. Today, almost half of the world's population lives in cities, and by the year 2025, city dwellers are projected to account for more than two-thirds of the world's population. At the same time, populations throughout the world are ageing, . Although this occurs at different rates, in practically every country, unproved sanitation, health care, and education have increased longevity. Our cities and towns will increasingly be populated with more people, and with people who will live longer than before. Regardless of culture, housing is the single most important environmental factor associated with life expectancy. Generally, elderly people living in a family situation have fewer housing problems that those who live alone, though the quality of housing depends on a variety of factors related to other members of the household. It also depends on a variety of other social, economic, and political factors. There are two major public policy debates now raging. The first is who is responsible for the care of elderly people. The second is how income health, housing, and social services should be Integrated. How these questions are answered has implications for housing and services available to older people. The solutions vary as much as countries vary; but a common feature is the desire to promote a supportive environment to ageing populations. Published as a special issue of Ageing International, the official journal of the International Federation of Ageing, this volume surveys the status of housing policies for elderly populations worldwide. Countries covered include Australia, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Taiwan. Contributors are researchers with extensive knowledge of the elderly and housing policies in the countries. This volume will be of special interest to professionals working with the elderly, urban affairs specialists, and those interested in comparative social policy.
Taxane-induced scleroderma-like skin changes – review of the literature and case report

Abstract: Taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel) are antineoplastic agents used in advanced ovarian, breast, lung, head and neck cancer. Diverse cutaneous adverse reactions associated with taxane administration have been reported such as bullous eruption, onycholysis, acral erythema, erythema multiforme, pustular eruption, scleroderma-like skin changes of both upper and lower extremities. Here, we report a case of 48-year-old female patient, who presented for consultation with rheumatologist with complaints of hand and finger oedema and stiffness. Oedema and mild skin thickening of the fingers and hands were evident at physical examination. Inflammatory joint pain, synovitis, Raynaud’s phenomenon and trophic changes were not present. Standard laboratory tests i.e., complete blood count and biochemistry tests were within normal values. The patient was euthyroid. Immunological tests were negative (antinuclear antibodies; antibodies against extractable nuclear antigens – dsDNA, Sm, RNP, Scl-70; antiphospholipid antibodies – anticardiolipin, anti-beta-2-glycoprotein; anti-CCP antibody and rheumatoid factor). Capillaroscopic examination did not reveal signs of microangiopathy. Skin biopsy was perfomed in the area of a proximal phalanx and the histological examination revealed dermal oedema and superficial scant perivascular infiltrate containing lymphocytes and histiocytes. The patient had undergone an operation for breast cancer 13 years ago and subsequent second operation because of cancer recurrence 7 years ago. After the second operation chemotherapy was performed that included 1 cycle with paclitaxel and 4 cycles with docetaxel. The analysis of the case led to the conclusion that the scleroderma-like skin changes of the fingers and hands are induced by taxane administration in the past. The patient received corticosteroid treatment for 7 months with gradual resolution of symptoms.
HIV transmission to female sexual partners of HIV antibody-positive hemophiliacs.

To study heterosexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 21 HIV antibody-positive hemophiliacs and their 21 spouses-sexual partners were evaluated. None belonged to other AIDS risk groups. HIV antibody was detected in four (19 percent) of the female partners. HIV was isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes of one hemophiliac (4.8 percent), and one female partner (4.8) was antibody-positive. None of the couples engaged in anal intercourse. Compared with HIV antibody-negative female partners, HIV antibody-positive female partners were younger (P less than .05), had younger hemophiliac partners (P less than .05), and were likely (although not significantly so) to engage in oral sex (P = .08) and to have had more than one sexual partner in the previous 5 years (P = .08). Condoms were used all the time by only eight couples (40 percent), and pregnancy occurred in two other couples (9.5 percent), despite prior counseling. These data confirm the low frequency of heterosexual transmission of HIV from HIV antibody-positive hemophiliacs to their female sexual partners and suggest, moreover, that this may be due to the low rate of HIV infectivity in HIV seropositive hemophiliacs exposed to HIV. Further, these data document the need to design more effective educational programs to prevent heterosexual transmission of HIV.
The Clinical Value of Serum Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Serum

Hastalar ve yöntemler: Çalışma Beijing Pediatri Capital Enstitüsü'nde Şubat 2009 Aralık 2009 tarihleri arasında yapıldı. Yetmiş iki JIA hastasında (33 erkek, 39 kız; ort. yaş 7.6±3.9 yıl; dağılım 2-15.9 yıl), 65 RA hastasında (14 erkek, 51 kız; ort. yaş 47±14.3 yıl; dağılım 17-75 yıl) ve 22 sağlıklı çocuk hastada (10 erkek, 12 kız; ort. yaş 14.1±0.4 yıl; dağılım 6.1 to 15.7 yıl) serum anti-CCP antikor düzeyleri, enzim bağlı immünosorbent testi (ELISA) ile ölçüldü. Elde edilen veriler, klinik veriler ile birlikte analiz edildi.
Inflammation and autoantibody markers identify rheumatoid arthritis patients with enhanced clinical benefit following rituximab treatment.

OBJECTIVE Rituximab significantly improves the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and slows the progression of joint damage. The aim of this study was to identify clinical characteristics and biomarkers that identify patients with RA in whom the clinical benefit of rituximab may be enhanced. METHODS The study group comprised 1,008 RA patients from 2 independent randomized placebo-controlled phase III clinical trials (REFLEX [Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Efficacy of Rituximab in Rheumatoid Arthritis] and SERENE [Study Evaluating Rituximab's Efficacy in Methotrexate Inadequate Responders]). A novel threshold selection method was used to identify baseline candidate biomarkers present in at least 20% of patients that enriched for placebo-corrected American College of Rheumatology 50% improvement (ACR50 response; a high clinical efficacy bar) at week 24 after the first course of rituximab. RESULTS The presence of IgM rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF), IgG-RF, IgA-RF, and IgG anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies together with an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level were associated with enhanced placebo-corrected ACR50 response rates in the REFLEX patients with RA who had an inadequate response to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies. These findings were independently replicated using samples from patients in SERENE who had an inadequate response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drug treatment. The combination of an elevated baseline CRP level together with an elevated level of any RF isotype and/or IgG anti-CCP antibodies was further associated with an enhanced benefit to rituximab. CONCLUSION The presence of any RF isotype and/or IgG anti-CCP autoantibodies together with an elevated CRP level identifies a subgroup of patients with RA in whom the benefit of rituximab treatment may be enhanced. Although the clinical benefit of rituximab was greater in the biomarker-positive population compared with the biomarker-negative population, the clinical benefit of rituximab compared with placebo was also clinically meaningful in the biomarker-negative population.
SMAD3 rs17228212 Gene Polymorphism Is Associated with Reduced Risk to Cerebrovascular Accidents and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Anti-CCP Negative Spanish Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex polygenic inflammatory disease associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Previous genome-wide association studies have described SMAD3 rs17228212 polymorphism as an important signal associated with CV events. The aim of the present study was to evaluate for the first time the relationship between this gene polymorphism and the susceptibility to CV manifestations and its potential association with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis assessed by the evaluation of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in patients with RA. Methods One thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven patients fulfilling classification criteria for RA were genotyped for SMAD3 rs17228212 gene polymorphism through TaqMan genotyping assay. Also, subclinical atherosclerosis determined by the assessment of cIMT was analyzed in a subgroup of these patients by carotid ultrasonography. Results No statistically significant differences were observed when allele frequencies of RA patients with or without CV events were compared. Nevertheless, when RA patients were stratified according to anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) status, we found that in RA patients who were negative for anti-CCP antibodies, the presence of C allele of SMAD3 rs17228212 polymorphism conferred a protective effect against the risk of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) after adjustment for demographic and classic CV risk factors (HR [95%CI]=0.36 [0.14–0.94], p=0.038) in a Cox regression model. Additionally, correlation between the presence of C allele of SMAD3 rs17228212 polymorphism and lower values of cIMT was found after adjustment for demographic and classic CV risk factors (p-value=0.0094) in the anti-CCP negative RA patients. Conclusions Our results revealed that SMAD3 rs17228212 gene variant is associated with lower risk of CVA and less severe subclinical atherosclerosis in RA patients negative for anti-CCP antibodies. These findings may have importance to establish predictive models of CV disease in RA patients according to anti-CCP status.
Influence of internet exposure on sexual behaviour of young persons in an urban district of Southwest Nigeria

INTRODUCTION The proportion of young people exposed to pornographic materials through the internet in Nigeria is increasing. However, the influence of the exposure on their sexual behaviour has not been fully explored. This study therefore explored the effects of internet exposure on the sexual behaviour of young persons in Ibadan North Local Government Area of southwest Nigeria. METHODS A survey of 413 young persons was done using a pretested self-administered questionnaire which included questions on internet exposure and its influence on behaviour. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression. RESULTS Mean age of males was 21.7 ± 3.4 years while that of females was 20.9 ± 3.2 years. Forty-nine percent of the respondents used the internet for the first time between the ages of 15-19 years. Main source of information about the internet was friends (63.3%) and 99.3% accessed the internet from cybercafé. Seventy-two percent had ever stumbled on pornographic sites. Reactions included glancing through before closing (45.2%), closure of the sites (38.5%), and minimizing page to view later (12.5%). Post-exposure influence on behaviour included engagement in oral sex (48.3%), body tattoo (18.3%), having multiple sexual partners (11.6%) and homosexuality (5.0%). More males (95% CI OR =1.245-6.465) and frequent users (95% CI OR =1.168-3.497) were likely to report a change in sexual behaviour. CONCLUSION Internet use was common among the young persons. Interventions aimed at reducing exposure to sexual content on internet targeting young persons especially the males and cybercafé operators are advocated.
Internet addiction: prevalence, discriminant validity and correlates among adolescents in Hong Kong

Background Despite increasing concern over the potential adverse effects of excessive internet use, especially in young people, there is some debate over its definition, magnitude and discriminant validity. Aims To examine the prevalence of adolescents' internet addiction in Hong Kong, China; to test its differentiation from other correlates; and to examine its relationships with correlates in a representative community sample of adolescents. Method A two-wave panel household survey with 208 adolescents (aged 15–19 years) was conducted. Participants were asked to self-report their patterns of internet usage, symptoms of internet addiction, suicidal ideation, psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial conditions during the study period. Results The prevalence rate for having five or more symptoms of internet addiction was estimated to be 6.7% (95% CI 3.3–10.2). The discriminatory characteristic of internet addiction was marginally demonstrated. Positive dose–response relationships were found between the number of symptoms of internet addiction and 1-year changes in scores for suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms. Conclusions Evidence supports the specificity of internet addiction and its symptoms seem to co-occur with individuals' suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms.
Targets of Violence: Evidence from India's Naxalite Conflict

This paper considers how shocks to rural incomes intensify violence in India's Naxalite insurgency. Using variation in annual rainfall in a panel of district level fatal incidents between 2005 and 2011, I find that deficient rainfall generally spurs targeted violence against civilians, but the number of Maoist attacks against security forces only increases in mining districts. This finding consistent with the idea that the relationship between income shocks and conflict depends on the type of targets and the revenue sources of the rebels. In particular, the fighting capacity of rebel groups against government forces could benefit more from negative rural income shocks if the group's resources are sufficiently independent from the agricultural economy, as is the case in mining areas.
Connecting the red corridor Infrastructure development in conflict zones

We introduce a unique, integrated dataset on Maoist activity, three flagship programmes for rural infrastructure development (PMGSY, RGGVY, and USOF), and a dedicated programme targeted at India’s Left Wing Extremism (LWE) regions. Our data reveals that Maoist affected villages were not targeted differentially for the flagship programmes, but did attract more Integrated Action Plan (IAP) projects. The relationship between Maoist activity (at the village or district level) and programme performance appears to be complex. Regression results are partially in line with a large body of qualitative evidence on the importance of disruption. Nevertheless, we note some cases in which programme completion is faster (USOF) or appears to be cheaper (PMGSY and IAP) in Maoist affected areas.
Relatives without rheumatoid arthritis show reactivity to anti-citrullinated protein/peptide antibodies that are associated with arthritis-related traits: studies of the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To examine reactivity to anti-citrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPAs) and determine associations between ACPAs and other rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related autoantibodies and clinically assessed swollen or tender joints in unaffected first-degree relatives of RA patients. METHODS Serum samples were obtained from first-degree relatives without RA according to the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the 2010 ACR/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria. A bead-based assay was used to measure 16 separate ACPAs in sera from 111 antibody-positive first-degree relatives who were positive on at least 1 visit for any of 5 RA-related autoantibodies (rheumatoid factor [RF], anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide 2 [anti-CCP-2], and RF isotypes), and sera from 99 antibody-negative first-degree relatives who were never autoantibody positive. Cutoffs for positivity for each ACPA were determined using receiver operating characteristic curves derived from data on 200 RA patients and 98 blood donor controls, in which positivity for ≥9 ACPAs had 92% specificity and 62% sensitivity for RA. In first-degree relatives, ACPA reactivity was assessed, and associations between ACPAs (number positive, and positivity for ≥9 ACPAs) and RA-related characteristics were examined. RESULTS Fifty-seven percent of anti-CCP-2-positive first-degree relatives and 8% of anti-CCP-2- negative first-degree relatives were positive for ≥9 ACPAs. After adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, and pack-years of smoking, an increasing number of ACPAs was directly associated with the presence of ≥1 tender joint on examination (odds ratio [OR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.04-1.34), with the greatest risk of having ≥1 tender joint seen in first-degree relatives positive for ≥9 ACPAs (OR 5.00, 95% CI 1.37-18.18). CONCLUSION RA-free first-degree relatives (even those negative for RF and anti-CCP-2) demonstrate reactivity to multiple ACPAs, and the presence of an increasing number of ACPAs may be associated with signs of joint inflammation. Prospective evaluation of the relationship between these findings and the progression of classifiable RA is warranted.
Cross-cultural differences in self-reported decision-making style and confidence

The Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire (Mann, Burnett, Radford, & Ford, 1997) measures selfreported decision-making coping patterns. The questionnaire was administered to samples of University students in the US (N = 475), Australia (N = 262), New Zealand (N = 260), Japan (N = 359), Hong Kong (N = 281), and Taiwan (N = 414). As predicted, students from the three Western, individualistic cultures (US, Australia, and New Zealand) were more con® dent of their decision-making ability than students from the three East Asian, group-oriented cultures (Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan). No cross-cultural differences were found in scores on decision vigilance (a careful decision-making style). However, compared with Western students, the Asian students tended to score higher on buck-passing and procrastination (avoidant styles of decision making) as well as hypervigilance (a panicky style of decision making). Japanese students scored lowest on decision self-esteem and highest on procrastination and hypervigilance. It was argued that the con¯ ict model and its attendant coping patterns is relevant for describing and comparing decision making in both Western and Asian cultures.
Total Factor Productivity Growth in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan

We present total factor productivity growth (TFPG) calculations for Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, using a consistent methodology and data sets. We reassess the productivity growth experience of Korea and Taiwan, as compared to Japan and to previous work on Latin American countries. We conclude that Korea and Taiwan's experience is not explained simply by factor accumulation, as has recently been suggested by Krugman (1994), nor was TFPG in these countries similar to Latin America.
Long-Term and Short-Term Equity Market Price Interactions between Australia and the Chinese States

This study investigates the extent and manner of long-term and short-term price interaction between the equity market of Australia and those of China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan taking into account the effect of the Asian financial crisis. It uses cointegration and generalised forecast variance and impulse response analyses. The study finds no long-term price relationship between the equity markets of Australia and the Chinese states. The short-term evidence indicates that Australia was only significantly interdependent with Hong Kong during the pre-Asian crisis period and with Hong Kong and Singapore during the post-crisis period. Australia and these markets react to a shock from each other immediately during the first day and complete this reaction by day two. These findings are useful for investors and policy makers, especially in light of the economic importance of these nations and China's recent admittance to the World Trade Organisation.
Markets and Income Inequality in Rural China: Political Advantage in an Expanding Economy

When market reform generates rapid growth in an agrarian subsistence economy, changes in inequality may be due to economic growth and structural change rather than to the intrinsic features of markets. The case of post-Mao China is examined using nationally representative survey data gathered in 1996 to address unresolved questions about findings from 1980s’ surveys. Well into reform's second decade, political officeholding has a large net impact on household income—comparable to that of operating a private enterprise. Contrary to findings based on earlier surveys and expectations about the impact of growth, cadre household advantages are stable across levels and forms of economic expansion. Returns to entrepreneur ship, however, decline sharply with the spread of wage employment. Future declines in relative returns to political position are therefore unlikely to occur due to the further spread of private household entrepreneurship, and theories of change based on this mechanism appear untenable.