Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical utility of cognitive‐behavioural treatment for panic disorder. results obtained in different settings: a research centre and a public mental health care unit

Cognitive-Behavioural programmes have become the treatment of choice for Panic Disorder (PD). However, although its effectiveness has been widely demonstrated, there are still some limitations regarding the possibility of offering this type of treatment to all panic sufferers. Some researchers are studying ways to make these programmes more available. This study deals with the application and testing of treatment programmes for PD in sites where patients usually look for help for their psychological problems, i.e. mental health care centres. Our work follows a strategy of benchmarking, and the results obtained after applying the treatment in habitual clinical contexts are compared with the results obtained after applying it in research contexts. In the present work, we analyse the possibility of ‘transporting’ a group cognitive-behavioural programme for PD, developed in a research context, to a more natural setting, a public mental health unit. In this work we present data, using a benchmarking strategy, on one hand, on the differential effectiveness of a group cognitive-behavioural treatment for PD applied in two different settings: a research setting—a clinical unit at the university; and a natural setting—a public mental health unit. On the other hand, we compare our results with those achieved by other studies carried out in research settings in different countries and a study carried out in a natural setting. Results indicated that our treatment was equally effective in both settings and that effectiveness was comparable to that achieved by the other studies in research and natural settings. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Work and Family Environments and the Adoption of Computer-Supported Supplemental Work-at-Home

Abstract This research compares the work, family, and work–family environments of adopters and nonadopters of computer-supported supplementary work-at-home (e.g., work done at home, after regular office hours, using computer technology). Subjects consisted of 307 men and 147 women. These individuals were married, in managerial or professional positions, used a computer in their job, and had a spouse who had a full-time managerial or professional job. The results show that adopters of computer-supported work-at-home have higher task variety, role overload, interference, and stress than nonadopters. Interestingly, there were no significant differences in marital or family satisfaction despite concerns that computer technology would create computer widows and be perceived as a major intrusion of the office into the home. Our results indicate that computer-supported supplemental work-at-home may provide benefits for organizations who facilitate their employees’ acquisition of home technology.
Incidence of Torus Palatinus in Yugoslav Skulls

LE INCIDENTIA DE TORUS PALATIN IN CRANIOS DE YUGOSLAVOS. —In un serie de 400 cranios de yugoslavos (200 mascule e 200 feminin), 201 esseva sin torus, 182 habeva un micre torus (usque a 3 mm in elevation ab le palato) ein 17 le torus esseva grande. Le torus palatin esseva presente in 115 cranios ab femininas e in 84 ab masculos. Nulle significative differentia in le occurrentia del torus palatin esseva notate inter le varie gruppos de etate. Esseva constate un alte procentage de occurrentia de torus palatin in cranios con un basse palato ossee (59,7 pro cento) e in cranios in le quales le arco alveolar del maxilla habeva crures convergente (58,1 pro cento).
Modulation of CA3 Afferent Inputs by Novelty and Theta Rhythm

Models of hippocampal function suggest that the modulation of CA3 afferent input during theta rhythm allows for a rapid alternation between encoding and retrieval states, with each phase enhancing either extrinsic or intrinsic CA3 afferents, favoring either encoding or retrieval, respectively. Here, we show that during the initial exploration of a novel environment by rats, intrinsic CA3-CA3 synaptic inputs are attenuated on CA3 theta peaks, favoring extrinsic CA3 inputs, whereas extrinsic perforant path-CA3 synaptic inputs are attenuated on CA3 theta troughs, favoring intrinsic CA3 inputs. This modulation is absent when animals are re-exposed to the same environment 2 or 48 h later and thus habituates with familiarity, suggesting a process involved in learning. Modulation of CA3 synaptic inputs during novelty was blocked by atropine at a dose that blocks type 2 theta rhythm. Re-exposure to the same novel environment 48 h later in the absence of atropine did not result in habituation, but instead modulated CA3 synaptic responses as though the environment were novel and explored for the first time. The NMDA receptor antagonist (±)-3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP), administered in a dose that blocks long-term potentiation induction, did not alter CA3 synaptic modulation during initial exploration. However, like atropine, CPP blocked the habituation of synaptic modulation normally observed with re-exposure, as though the environment were novel and explored for the first time. Thus, as predicted theoretically, recurrent and cortical CA3 afferents are differentially modulated during phases of theta rhythm. This modulation is atropine sensitive and habituates in an NMDA receptor-dependent manner, suggesting an NMDA receptor-dependent process that, in conjunction with theta rhythm, contributes to encoding of novel information in the hippocampus.
Opportunistic intestinal parasites and TCD4+ cell counts in human immunodeficiency virus seropositive patients.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent in AIDS, is fast becoming a major threat in the Indian subcontinent, with an estimated 5.2 million persons being infected with HIV (UNAIDS, 2006). Infections of the gastrointestinal tract play a critical role in HIV pathogenesis, reaching a rate of up to 50 % in developed countries and 95 % in developing countries (Smith, 1993). The progressive decline in immunological and mucosal defensive mechanisms predisposes HIV-positive individuals to gastro-intestinal infections thus increasing susceptibility to a number of opportunistic intestinal pathogens, among which protozoan and coccidian parasites such as Cryptosporidium sp. , Cystoisospora sp. and Cyclospora sp. , amongst others, are frequently detected (Tarimo et al., 1996; Mohandas et al., 2002). Intestinal parasitic infections in the HIV-infected population can result in faster disease progression, which can be attributed to their role in immune activation (Feitosa et al., 2001). TCD4 cell counts are crucial in defining the immune status of HIV-infected individuals. Previous studies have suggested that lower counts of TCD4 are related to increased incidences of opportunistic parasitic infections in HIVseropositive patients (Certad et al., 2005). The present study aimed to screen opportunistic intestinal parasites in HIVinfected individuals who were freshly diagnosed and presented with diarrhoea or a previous history of diarrhoea. Stool specimens were initially screened routinely and later were screened after use of a concentration technique, and the results were compared. The absolute TCD4 counts were calculated and correlated with the opportunistic intestinal parasitic infection.
Lifetime history of alcohol consumption and K‐ras mutations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), evidence on the etiopathogenic role of alcohol consumption in the occurrence of K‐ras mutations is scant, and the role of alcohol in pancreatic carcinogenesis is not well established. We analyzed the relation between lifetime consumption of alcohol and mutations in codon 12 of the K‐ras oncogene in patients with PDA.
A star-struck service: impact of the admission of a celebrity to an inpatient unit.

The celebrity shares features of the VIP or special patient. The celebrity, however, who refuses to remain anonymous within a hospital setting, often evokes more intense and even specific inappropriate reactions in those around him. His presence creates what the authors call the "star-struck phenomenon. " The authors discuss the dynamics that produce this phenomenon.
Gramsci, Doke and the Marginalisation of the Ndebele Language in Zimbabwe

Clement M. Doke's 1929–1930 research on Zimbabwean languages has played a key role in shaping the tribalised and politicised linguistic terrain that characterises modern Zimbabwe. Doke, professor of linguistics at the University of Witwaters-rand, was commissioned in 1929 by the government of Southern Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe) to research the language varieties spoken by Zimbabwean natives. His work, which was premised on the quest for standardised, monolithic and homogeneous linguistic categories, marked the genesis of language politics in Zimbabwe. The Dokean legacy left an indelible mark on the terrain of language treatment and language policy formulation in postcolonial Zimbabwe. This paper uses Antonio Gramsci's hegemony theory to interrogate and problematise the contribution of Doke's pioneering work to language politics and language margin-alisation in Zimbabwe. Gramsci's theory of hegemony posits that dominant social groups impose their supremacy over weaker groups either by overt coercion or by using more intellectual means of realising their dominance. The paper concludes by observing that the marginalisation of Ndebele in contemporary Zimbabwe cannot be fully understood outside the context of this Dokean legacy.
Amblyopia: Current Evidence-based Therapeutic Options

Amblyopia, from the Greek amblus (dull) and ops (eye), is a common cause of vision loss affecting between 1% and 3% of the population. It has been reported to be more common in left eyes than right eyes and is, according to the National Eye Institute, the leading cause of unilateral vision loss in the under-70 population. Amblyopia affects both near and distance visual acuity equally. Early detection and treatment improve multiple quality of life indicators and treatments are very cost-effective in terms of benefits derived compared with costs of care. A wide variety of treatment regimens are available for amblyopia and many ophthalmologists are not aware of the relative advantages and disadvantages of each. In this article, we will summarize many of the important recent research studies comparing various therapeutic options. Our goal is to give the reader a better idea of the differences between various therapies in the hope that treatment success rates can be improved. While this article is up-to-date at the time of this writing, numerous studies are being performed currently that may change our thinking about amblyopia. We as ophthalmologists are indebted to the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) for the multiple high-quality studies they have done and are doing to further our knowledge about this disorder. Amblyopia therapy, for most cases, begins with refractive correction if necessary. After any refractive error has been corrected, optical penalization of the sound eye is often the next step. The most common penalization techniques include patching, pharmacologic blurring, or filter placement. The amount of time spent daily on penalization and the relative benefits of the various types of penalization have been the subject of considerable research. It should be noted that even with
A probabilistic model for early prediction of abnormal clinical events using vital sign correlations in home-based monitoring

Chronic diseases are major causes of deaths in Australia and throughout the world. This necessitates the need for a self-care, preventive, predictive and protective assisted living system where a patient can be monitored continuously using wearable and wireless sensors. In real-time home monitoring system, various biological signals of a patient are obtained continuously using a mobile device (smart phone or tablet) and sent to the cloud to discover patient-specific abnormalities. The objective of this work is to develop a probabilistic model that identifies the future clinical abnormalities of a patient using recent and past values of multiple vital signs (e.g. heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate). Chronic patients living alone in home die of various diseases for the lack of an efficient automated system having prior prediction ability in the irregularities of vital signs. In this paper, Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is adopted to predict different clinical onsets using the temporal behaviours of six biosignals. The HMM models are trained and evaluated using continuous monitoring data of more than 1000 patients collected from the MIMIC-II database of MIT physiobank archive. The best models are selected using expectation maximisation (EM) algorithm and used in personalized remote monitoring system to forecast the most probable forthcoming clinical states of a continuously monitored patient. The scalable power of cloud computing is utilized for fast learning of various clinical events from large samples. The results obtained from the innovative home-based monitoring application show a new approach of detecting clinical anomalies using multi-parameter trends.
Adult Outcomes for Children of Teenage Mothers

Using data from the British Household Panel Survey, this study examines the relationship between several outcomes in early adulthood (e.g., education, inactivity, earnings, and health) and being born to a teenage mother. Besides standard cross-sectional multivariate regression estimates, we also present evidence from nonparametric estimates and from estimates that account for unmeasured family background heterogeneity by comparing siblings born to the same mother who timed their births at different ages. Regardless of the econometric technique, being born to a teenage mother is usually associated with worse outcomes. An important channel of transmission of this adverse effect is childhood family structure, which plays a more powerful role than childhood family poverty. Albeit smaller, some of the detrimental effects are also found for children of mothers who gave birth in their early twenties.
ATVB In Focus Redox Mechanisms in Blood Vessels

In the vasculature, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by both mitochondrial respiration and enzymatic sources serve as integral components of cellular signaling and homeostatic mechanisms. Because ROS are highly reactive biomolecules, the cellular redox milieu is carefully maintained by small-molecule antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes to prevent the deleterious consequences of ROS excess. When this redox balance is perturbed, because of either increased ROS production or decreased antioxidant capacity, oxidant stress is increased in the vessel wall and, if not offset, vascular dysfunction ensues. A number of heritable polymorphisms of pro-oxidant enzymes, including 5-lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase-2, nitric oxide synthase-3, and NAD(P)H oxidase, have been identified and found to modulate ROS production and, thereby, the risk of atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease in individuals with these genetic polymorphisms. Similarly, heritable deficiency of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidases, glutathione-S-transferases, heme oxygenase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase favors ROS accumulation, and has been associated with an increased risk of vascular disease. Individually, each of these polymorphisms imposes a state of uncompensated oxidant stress on the vasculature and collectively comprise the oxidative enzymopathies. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2005;25:1332-1340.)
Faithful to uncertainty: Catholic schools and an evangelisation of hope for the poorest

Abstract In this paper, the author continues an earlier exploration of the challenges facing Australian Catholic schools with regard to honouring the mandate to be ‘schools for all’ and to serve those who are poorest and most vulnerable in society. She reports on statistics which indicate that the poorest Catholics do not choose Catholic schools, despite the strong discourse around having a priority for the poor. This is not new. Previous writers have researched and explored this issue over at least 30 years. The author maintains that because of the strong position and status which Australian Catholic schools presently enjoy, this is an appropriate time for Catholic education leaders in that country to reconsider in more radical ways how the invitation to the poor might be enhanced.
Serum levels of angiogenin, basic fibroblast growth factor and endostatin in patients receiving intensive chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia

Angiogenesis seems to be important both in the pathogenesis of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and for the susceptibility of AML blasts to chemotherapy. Recent clinical studies even suggest that antiangiogenic therapy can induce disease control in patients with AML relapse. In this context we have investigated the profile of the systemic component of angiogenic regulation in AML by characterizing the serum levels of (i) the angiogenic regulators angiogenin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and endostatin; (ii) the endothelial cell marker soluble (s) E‐selectin. Patients with untreated AML had increased levels of angiogenin, endostatin and sE‐selectin, whereas the levels of bFGF were not significantly altered. The systemic levels of the proangiogenic bFGF, the antiangiogenic endostatin and the endothelial cell marker sE‐selectin showed significant correlations, whereas angiogenin and sE‐selectin levels were not correlated. Furthermore, intensive chemotherapy resulted in decreased systemic levels of the 2 proangiogenic mediators angiogenin and bFGF, whereas endostatin levels remained high after treatment. Although angiogenin normally is a part of the acute phase reaction, its systemic levels were not altered when patients with chemotherapy‐induced cytopenia developed complicating bacterial infections. Our results suggest that intensive chemotherapy can modulate the systemic component of angiogenic regulation in AML patients. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Role of NSAIDs in Breast Cancer Prevention and Relapse: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives

Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have received considerable interest as potential chemopreventive agents. The aim of this review is to summarize the accumulated knowledge on the effect of NSAIDs on breast cancer incidence and natural history, and the underlying pathophysiology. NSAIDs mainly block inflammation by inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes, leading to lower prostaglandin synthesis. The latter has been reported to affect breast cancer risk through hormonal and inflammation-related pathways. Intensity, dose, frequency, duration, and timing of administration may also be significant. There is currently enough evidence to support a role of NSAIDs in breast cancer prevention and relapse, which deserves further large-scale experimental and clinical investigation.
Voz e disfunção temporomandibular em professores

OBJETIVO: Verificar a presenca e possivel correlacao entre alteracao vocal e disfuncao temporomandibular (DTM), em professores, a partir de dados de avaliacao auto-referida, fonoaudiologica, otorrinolaringologica e odontologica. JUSTIFICATIVA: Esta pesquisa foi planejada partindo do pressuposto de que pode haver correlacao entre a presenca de alteracao de voz e DTM. Na presenca dessa correlacao, atividades que envolvam a promocao de saude e prevencao de alteracoes, tanto relacionadas a DTM quanto a voz, auxiliarao os professores a melhorar suas condicoes de saude e, consequentemente, de trabalho. METODO: Participaram deste estudo, de natureza transversal observacional, 29 professores de uma escola da rede publica do ensino fundamental e medio, do municipio de Sorocaba/SP. O estudo foi desenvolvido por uma equipe multidisciplinar, composta por um medico otorrinolaringologista, duas fonoaudiologas e um odontologo (especialista em cirurgia bucomaxilofacial). Todos os professores responderam questionario auto-referido (adaptado de BIANCHINI, 2000 e FERREIRA et al., 2007), que contou com questoes relativas a identificacao, aspectos concernentes a alteracoes vocais e queixas referentes a disfuncao da articulacao temporomandibular. Em seguida, passaram por quatro avaliacoes: qualidade de voz (avaliacao perceptivo-auditiva); exames de laringe (videonasolaringoscopia), motricidade orofacial e odontologico. Foi considerado como alteracao de voz e de DTM aquele que apresentou tres ou mais sinais e/ou sintomas no questionario, avaliacoes de motricidade orofacial e odontologica. Na analise estatistica dos dados, foram empregados o Teste Exato de Fisher e o de Concordância Kappa. RESULTADOS: 82,8% dos participantes fizeram auto-referencia a alteracao vocal e 62,1% de sintomas de DTM; 51,7%, alteracao de voz na otorrinolaringologica e 65,5%, alteracao de DTM na avaliacao odontologica. Na comparacao das propostas de avaliacao de alteracao de voz e DTM foi registrada tendencia significativa para a aplicacao do questionario. Por outro lado, tanto na analise da relacao, quanto na de concordância foi a avaliacao fonoaudiologica (perceptivo-auditiva da voz e de motricidade orofacial para DTM) que se mostrou significativa
Influence of vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration on the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

BACKGROUND Vancomycin treatment failure in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia is not uncommon, even when MRSA is susceptible to vancomycin. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration has any influence on the mortality associated with MRSA bacteremia. METHODS A total of 414 episodes of MRSA bacteremia were prospectively followed-up from 1991 through 2005. MIC of vancomycin for the first isolate was determined by E-test. Clinical variables recorded were age, comorbidity, prior administration of vancomycin, use of corticosteroids, prognosis of underlying disease, source of bacteremia, the need for mechanical ventilation, shock, and mortality. A "treatment group" variable was created and defined as follows: (1) receipt of empirical vancomycin and an isolate with a vancomycin MIC of 1 microg/mL (38 episodes), (2) receipt of empirical vancomycin and an isolate with a vancomycin MIC of 1.5 microg/mL (90 episodes), (3) receipt of empirical vancomycin and an isolate with a vancomycin MIC of 2 microg/mL (40 episodes), and (4) receipt of inappropriate empirical therapy (246 episodes). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS Episodes caused by strains with a vancomycin MIC of 2 microg/mL were independently associated with a lower risk of shock (odds ratio [OR], 0.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15-0.75). Multivariate analysis selected receipt of empirical vancomycin and an isolate with a vancomycin MIC of 2 microg/mL (OR, 6.39; 95% CI, 1.68-24.3), receipt of inappropriate empirical therapy (OR, 3.62; 95% CI, 1.20-10.9), increasing age (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00-1.04), use of corticosteroids (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.04-3.29), an ultimately (OR, 10.2; 95% CI, 2.85-36.8) or rapidly (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.06-3.10) fatal underlying disease, high-risk (OR, 3.60; 95% CI, 1.89-6.88) and intermediate-risk (OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.17-4.04) sources of bacteremia, and shock (OR, 7.38; 95% CI, 4.11-13.3) as the best predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS Mortality associated with MRSA bacteremia was significantly higher when the empirical antibiotic was inappropriate and when vancomycin was empirically used for treatment of infection with strains with a high vancomycin MIC (>1 microg/mL).