Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sarcoidosis with pulmonary fibrosis: CT patterns and correlation with pulmonary function.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to identify CT patterns of pulmonary fibrosis in patients with sarcoidosis and to correlate these patterns with pulmonary function tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of CT scans of 80 patients with proven sarcoidosis and evidence of fibrotic changes on chest radiographs. RESULTS Three main CT patterns were identified: bronchial distortion (n = 38, 47%), mainly central; honeycombing (n = 23, 29%), mainly peripheral; and linear (n = 19, 24%), mainly diffuse. In most cases, a pattern was clearly identified as shown by the good agreement between observers (kappa = 0.87). Nodules were significantly associated with the linear (87%) and distorted (71%) patterns, but not with the honeycomb pattern (35%). The honeycomb pattern was most often associated with restriction and decreased lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. Patients with bronchial distortion had lower expiratory airflow rates. The linear pattern was generally associated with the least functional impairment. CONCLUSION CT may be a useful tool for defining subgroups of patients with fibrotic pulmonary sarcoidosis. CT reveals three main patterns that may reflect different distributions of fibrotic lesions in the lung with different functional pulmonary impairments. The persistence of active pulmonary lesions suggested by the presence of nodular lesions was often associated with linear and distorted patterns.
A Scorecard for Indexed Government Debt

Within the last five years, Canada, Sweden, and New Zealand have joined the ranks of the United Kingdom and other countries in issuing government bonds that are indexed to inflation. Some observers of the experience in these countries have argued that the United States should follow suit. This paper provides an overview of the issues surrounding debt indexation, and it tries to answer three empirical questions about indexed debt. First, how different would the returns on indexed bonds be from the returns on existing U.S. debt instruments? Second, how would indexed bonds affect the government's average financing costs? Third, how might the Federal Reserve be able to use the information contained in the prices of indexed bonds to help formulate monetary policy? The paper concludes with a more speculative discussion of the possible consequences of increased use of indexed debt contracts by the private sector.
Sentinel Node in Oral Cancer: The Nuclear Medicine Aspects. A Survey from the Sentinel European Node Trial

Purpose Nuclear imaging plays a crucial role in lymphatic mapping of oral cancer. This evaluation represents a subanalysis of the original multicenter SENT trial data set, involving 434 patients with T1-T2, N0, and M0 oral squamous cell carcinoma. The impact of acquisition techniques, tracer injection timing relative to surgery, and causes of false-negative rate were assessed. Methods Three to 24 hours before surgery, all patients received a dose of 99mTc-nanocolloid (10–175 MBq), followed by lymphoscintigraphy. According to institutional protocols, all patients underwent preoperative dynamic/static scan and/or SPECT/CT. Results Lymphoscintigraphy identified 723 lymphatic basins. 1398 sentinel lymph nodes (SNs) were biopsied (3.2 SN per patient; range, 1–10). Dynamic scan allowed the differentiation of sentinel nodes from second tier lymph nodes. SPECT/CT allowed more accurate anatomical localization and estimated SN depth more efficiently. After pathological examination, 9.9% of the SN excised (138 of 1398 SNs) showed metastases. The first neck level (NL) containing SN+ was NL I in 28.6%, NL IIa in 44.8%, NL IIb in 2.8%, NL III in 17.1%, and NL IV in 6.7% of positive patients. Approximately 96% of positive SNs were localized in the first and second lymphatic basin visualized using lymphoscintigraphy. After neck dissection, the SN+ was the only lymph node containing metastasis in approximately 80% of patients. Conclusions Best results were observed using a dynamic scan in combination with SPECT/CT. A shorter interval between tracer injection, imaging, and surgery resulted in a lower false-negative rate. At least 2 NLs have to be harvested, as this may increase the detection of lymphatic metastases.
Eritoran: the evidence of its therapeutic potential in sepsis

Introduction: Sepsis and its sequelae are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. The burden to healthcare economies is also considerable. As the pathophysiology of sepsis is better defined, interventions aiming to treat sepsis are emerging. Eritoran (E5564), a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-directed endotoxin antagonist, is one such emerging therapeutic option for treatment of sepsis. Aims: This review assesses evidence for the potential therapeutic value of eritoran in the management of sepsis. Evidence review: Evidence from a single phase II trial of eritoran usage in sepsis suggests that it is a safe and effective therapeutic option for patients with sepsis, and is especially beneficial for patients at high risk of mortality. However, the cost effectiveness of eritoran and its place in therapy compared with other available treatment options and those currently in development remains to be determined. Clinical potential: Eritoran is a potential therapeutic option for management of sepsis and other TLR4- and lipopolysaccharide-mediated disorders with a reasonable safety and tolerability profile that must be validated by several rigorous, blinded, placebo-controlled, adequately powered, multicenter, randomized clinical trials.
Effect of the ratio of free to total prostate-specific antigen on interassay variability in proficiency test samples.

BACKGROUND Up to sevenfold differences were observed between total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) methods for New York State Proficiency Test samples prepared with seminal fluid PSA in human female serum. Because the PSA was mainly in its free form under these conditions, we wanted to determine whether a defined mixture of free and complexed PSA would reduce the interassay differences. METHODS We prepared a series of five solutions of 60 g/L bovine serum albumin with 10 microgram/L total PSA consisting of varied proportions of free, noncomplexible PSA, and alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin (ACT)-complexed PSA from 0% to 100%. Two hundred seventy laboratories measured the total PSA in these samples, and 16 laboratories also analyzed the samples for free PSA. The results were used to calculate free/total PSA ratios. RESULTS Interassay CVs for total PSA measurements were approximately 7% at 10-15% free PSA but became gradually larger as the free/total PSA ratio increased. Measured free-PSA concentrations were similar within each sample (mean CV, 12%), and the results were relatively independent of the proportion of free PSA in the samples. Twofold discrepancies between actual and expected ratios were observed with some methods at 100% free PSA and to a lesser degree at 30% free PSA. At 100% free PSA, the relatively higher total-PSA values measured by nonequimolar methods yielded low free/total PSA ratios of 50-60%. In contrast, the lower total PSA values obtained by equimolar methods yielded ratios close to the expected 100%. CONCLUSIONS Preparing proficiency test samples with a 10:90 mixture of free, noncomplexible PSA:PSA-ACT is a viable alternative to the use of seminal fluid PSA. Furthermore, the method used to measure total PSA may have a substantial impact on the calculated proportion of free PSA and hence may have clinical relevance.
Clinical relevance of different muscle strength indexes and functional impairment in women aged 75 years and older.

BACKGROUND Muscle mass index has long been used as a useful index to evaluate the risks of developing functional impairments. However, there is evidence that other indexes (particularly muscle strength-based indexes) may be more relevant. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare the association between different indexes of muscle mass or strength with self-reported and measured functional performance to determine which index would be clinically relevant to detect individuals at risk of functional impairments. METHODS Data are from 1,462 women aged 75 years and older recruited in the Toulouse EPIDémiologie de l'OStéoporose cohort. Body composition (assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry), handgrip, and knee extension strength were assessed. Physical function was measured using the chair stand test as well as the usual and fast gait speed tests. Participants were also asked if they experienced any difficulty at performing functional tasks. RESULTS Results showed that knee extension strength relative to body weight was the strongest correlate of physical function measures (.30 < r < .40). Women in the lowest quartile of knee extension strength relative to body weight were 5.9-, 24.7-, 12.1-, and 20.9-fold, respectively, more likely to present impairments at self-reported activities, chair stand test, and usual and fast gait speed compared with women in the highest quartile, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Knee extension strength relative to body weight appears to be well associated with self-reported difficulties and functional impairments. A threshold between 2.78 and 2.86 (knee extension strength [kPa]/body weight [kg]), determined using receiver operating characteristics curves analysis, may be a potential cut point to discriminate women presenting higher functional impairments.
Disease-modifying therapies in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

Clinical question What is the best current disease-modifying therapy for relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis? Results The evidence shows that the most effective disease-modifying therapy for delaying short- to medium-term disability progression, prevention of relapses, reducing the area and activity of lesions on magnetic resonance imaging, with the least side effects, is high-dose, high-frequency subcutaneous interferon-β1a 44 μg three times per week. Implementation The pitfalls in treatment of MS can be avoided by remembering the following points: The most effective therapy to prevent or delay the appearance of permanent neurological disability with the fewest side effects should be chosen, and treatment should not be delayed. Adherence to treatment should be monitored closely, and needs comprehensive patient information and education to establish long-term adherence, which is a critical determinant of long-term outcome. The correct approach to the disease includes disease management, symptom management, and patient management. A combination of tools is necessary to ease the various symptoms, which fall into three broad categories, i.e. rehabilitation, pharmacological, and procedural. It is important to understand that no treatment modality should be used alone, unless it is in itself sufficient to remedy the particular symptom/problem.
Segregation Analysis of Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index in a Rural US Community

To assess evidence for a gene with large effect on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and body mass index (BMI), we conducted segregation analyses on 261 nuclear families collected from a rural Caucasian community in Michigan. The families were ascertained through a hypertensive proband. Each phenotype was adjusted for significant covariate effects (e.g., gender and age). We used class D regressive models to conduct the segregation analyses. Our analysis results support the segregation of a major gene for BMI, but not for SBP or DBP. A recessive locus effect provided the best explanation for BMI where ~>43% of the variance of BMI was due to this gene.
Actin disruption inhibits bombesin stimulation of focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK) in prostate carcinoma.

UNLABELLED Jasplakinolide is a member of a new class of antitumor agents targeting the actin cytoskeleton with activity against prostate cancer. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an actin-associated mediator of mitogenic peptides. We hypothesized that the neuropeptide bombesin would activate FAR in prostate carcinoma, and that disruption of the actin network would block FAK activation and inhibit cell growth. METHODS PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells were exposed to 50-200 nM jasplakinolide (Jas) or cytochalasin E (CyE) in cytotoxicity experiments. FAK phosphorylation was measured in cells stimulated with 0.01-10 nM bombesin; separate cells were pretreated 6 hr with 50-500 nM Jas or CyE. Cell lysates and anti-FAK immunoprecipitates were subjected to SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and detection with anti-actin or anti-phosphotyrosine. Depolymerized G-actin was separated from total actin by ultracentrifugation. Cytoskeletal changes were confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS Jas (GI50 = 47 +/- 7 nM) and CyE (GI50 61 +/- 20 nM) potently inhibited PC-3 growth (P < 0.01 vs control). Bombesin rapidly stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK in a dose dependent manner. FAK phosphorylation was inhibited to near-basal levels (50% of bombesin stimulated) by 500 nM Jas (63%) and 500 nM CyE (61%). CONCLUSIONS Bombesin stimulated FAK in prostate carcinoma cells. Jasplakinolide, which induced over-polymerization of actin, and CyE, which depolymerizes actin, both inhibited bombesin-stimulated phosphorylation of FAK and inhibited PC-3 cell growth. Actin-disrupting agents block FAK signal transduction, which may be critical to their antitumor activity in prostate carcinoma.
The CLiP Style of Literate Programming

Literate programming is a method to integrate programs with their documentation. Compilable modules are no separate entities, but they are extracted from the documentation. Most literate programming tools use explicit commands in the formatter input files to guide the extraction process. The CLiP approach presented in this paper relies on coding style instead. This makes the code extraction completely independent of the text processing environment. Thus CLiP can even be used in combination with a modern wordprocessor. In addition the CLiP mechanism is independent of programming languages as well, and the CLiP style is easily adapted to any language.
Systematic transcriptome analysis reveals elevated expression of alcohol‐metabolizing genes in NAFLD livers

Obese animals and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients exhibit elevated blood alcohol, suggesting potential contributions of alcohol metabolism to the development of NAFLD. Liver gene expression in patients with biopsy‐proven mild (N = 40) and severe (N = 32) NAFLD were compared to that in healthy liver donors (N = 7) and alcoholic hepatitis (AH; N = 15) using microarrays. Principal components analyses (PCA) revealed similar gene expression patterns between mild and severe NAFLD which clustered with those of AH but were distinct from those of healthy livers. Differential gene expression between NAFLD and healthy livers was consistent with established NAFLD‐associated genes and NAFLD pathophysiology. Alcohol‐metabolizing enzymes including ADH, ALDH, CYP2E1, and CAT were up‐regulated in NAFLD livers. The expression level of alcohol‐metabolizing genes in severe NAFLD was similar to that in AH. The NAFLD gene expression profiles provide new directions for future investigations to identify disease markers and targets for prevention and treatment, as well as to foster our understanding of NAFLD pathogenesis and pathophysiology. Particularly, increased expression of alcohol‐metabolizing genes in NAFLD livers supports a role for endogenous alcohol metabolism in NAFLD pathology and provides further support for gut microbiome therapy in NAFLD management. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley © Sons, Ltd.
Image Inpainting Through Metric Labeling via Guided Patch Mixing

In this paper, we present a novel formulation of exemplar-based image inpainting as a metric labeling problem, and solve it through the simulated annealing algorithm. Due to their greedy nature, exemplar-based methods sometimes produce inpainted images, which are visually inconsistent. These methods are highly dependent upon the initialization. To solve these problems, we generate five images with a different initialization. A suitable mixture of these five images produces a good inpainted image. The cost function of the proposed metric labeling problem consists of three components, namely, neighbor cost, total variation cost, and structure cost. A linear combination among these components is used to maintain better visual consistency in the inpainted region having smooth transition from the bordering regions of the source image. We use a quality measure to this end. Our experiments on a wide variety of images demonstrate that the proposed technique produces better inpainting images as compared with some other state-of-the-art techniques.
Attachment in the preschool years: Theory, research, and intervention.

This collection of original articles by leading specialists in child development brings together work from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to establish, for the first time, the importance of the preschool period (eighteen months to four years)for parent-child attachment relationships. Balancing theoretical, research-oriented, and clinical papers, "Attachment in the Preschool Years" provides valuable data and approaches for those working in a wide range of fields, including developmental psychology and psychopathology, child psychiatry, family therapy, pediatrics, nursing, and early childhood education. "There is a wealth of information and thought in this book; it does not have a weak or uninteresting chapter, starting with the Preface by Emde, and as a whole, it forms a sort of seminar. " John E. Bates, "Contemporary Psychology""
Learning to Match using Local and Distributed Representations of Text for Web Search

Models such as latent semantic analysis and those based on neural embeddings learn distributed representations of text, and match the query against the document in the latent semantic space. In traditional information retrieval models, on the other hand, terms have discrete or local representations, and the relevance of a document is determined by the exact matches of query terms in the body text. We hypothesize that matching with distributed representations complements matching with traditional local representations, and that a combination of the two is favourable. We propose a novel document ranking model composed of two separate deep neural networks, one that matches the query and the document using a local representation, and another that matches the query and the document using learned distributed representations. The two networks are jointly trained as part of a single neural network. We show that this combination or 'duet' performs significantly better than either neural network individually on a Web page ranking task, and significantly outperforms traditional baselines and other recently proposed models based on neural networks.
Associations between CDH13 Variants and the Initiation of Alcohol and Sexual Behavior with High-risk Hispanic and Caucasian Youth

Early initiation of risk behavior has been associated with more adverse health outcomes for adolescents. One improtant factor in early initiation may be the role of genetics. The study examined how contextual factos and alleles within the T-Cadherin gene (CDH13) may be related to the age of initiation of alcohol and sexual behavior. Findings indicated the relevance of considering the interplay between cadherin risk alleles and contextual factors on adolescents' initiation of alcohol and sexual behavior, as well as the consonance of these relations across high-risk Hispanic and Caucasian youth.
Grand Canyon, A Century of Change: Rephotography of the 1889-1890 Stanton Expedition

Photographs made in Grand Canyon a century ago may provide us today with a sense of history; photographs made a century later from the same vantage points give us a more precise picture of change in this seemingly timeless place. Between 1889 and 1890, Robert Brewster Stanton made photographs every 1-2 miles through the river corridor for the purpose of planning a water-level railroad route and produced the largest collection of photographs of the Colorado River at one point in time. Robert Webb, a USGS hydrologist conducting research on debris flows in the Canyon, obtained the photographs and from 1989 to 1995 replicated all 445 of the views captured by Stanton, matching as closely as possible the original camera positions and lighting conditions. Grand Canyon, a Century of Change assembles the most dramatic of these paired photographs to demonstrate both the persistence of nature and the presence of humanity. Unexpected longevity of some plant species, effects of animal grazing, and expansion of cacti are all captured by the replicate photographs. More telling is evidence of the impact of Glen Canyon Dam: increased riparian vegetation, new marshes, aggraded debris fans, and eroded sand bars. In the accompanying text, Webb provides a thorough analysis of what each pair of photographs shows and places the project in its historical context. Complementing his narrative are six sidebar articles by authorities on Canyon natural history that further attest to a century of change. The level of detail obtained from the photographs represents one of the most extensive long-term monitoring efforts ever conducted in a national park; it is the most detailed documentation effort ever performed using repeat photography. Much more than simply a picture book, Grand Canyon, a Century of Change is an environmental history of the river corridor, a fascinating book that clearly shows the impact of human influence on Grand Canyon and warns us that its future is very much in our hands.
Chronic rhinosinusitis, race, and ethnicity

Background Little is known regarding the epidemiology of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. This study was designed to comprehensively evaluate the current prevalence of CRS across various treatment settings to identify possible disparities in health care access and use between racial and ethnic populations. Methods The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) database registries were extracted to identify the national prevalence of CRS in race/ethnic populations and resource use in ambulatory care settings. Systematic literature review identified studies reporting treatment outcomes in minority patients electing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Data were supplemented using a multi-institutional cohort of patients undergoing surgical treatment. Results National survey data suggest CRS is a significant health condition for all major race/ethnic groups in the United States, accounting for a sizable portion of office, emergency, and outpatient visits. Differences in insurance status, work absenteeism, and resource use were found between race/ethnic groups. Despite its prevalence, few published studies include information regarding minority patients with CRS. Most (90%) cohort studies did not provide details of race/ethnicity for ESS outcomes. Prospective cohort analysis indicated that minority surgical patients accounted for only 18%, when compared with national census estimates (35%). Conclusion CRS is an important health condition for all major race/ethnic groups in the United States. Significant differences may exist across racial and ethnic categories with regard to CRS health status and health care use. Given current demographic shifts in the United States, specific attention should be given to understanding CRS within the context of racial and ethnic populations. Public clinical trial registration (www.clinicaltrials.gov) I.D. No. NCT00799097.