Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do we eradicate Helicobacter pylori in hospitalized patients with peptic ulcer disease?

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori infection is the most common chronic infection in humans. It is a major contributor to the cause of duodenal and gastric ulcers worldwide. Its eradication has been shown to reduce rates of H pylori-related ulcers as well as other complications such as gastric cancer. OBJECTIVE To determine the rate of appropriate treatment in patients following a diagnosis of H pylori infection on biopsy during esophagoduodenoscopy for upper gastrointestinal bleeding over a four-year period at a tertiary centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. Also evaluated was the rate of eradication confirmation using the urea breath test. METHODS A retrospective review of 1501 inpatients who underwent esophagoduodenoscopy for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (January 2006 to December 2010) was undertaken. Patients who were biopsy stain positive for H pylori were selected for drug review either via a provincial database (PharmaNet) or via records from patients' family practitioners. Data were also obtained via two provincial laboratories that perform the urea breath test to determine the rates of confirmation of eradication. RESULTS Ninety-eight patients had biopsy-proven H pylori. The mean (± SD) age was 56.13±17.9 years and 65 were male. Data were not available for 22 patients; the treatment rate was 52.6% (40 of 76). Of those treated, 12 patients underwent a post-treatment urea breath test for eradication confirmation. CONCLUSION There was substantial discrepancy between the number of diagnosed H pylori infections and the rate of treatment as well as confirmation of eradication. Numerous approaches could be taken to improve treatment and eradication confirmation.
Fluoride gels for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND Topically applied fluoride gels have been widely used as a caries-preventive intervention in dental surgeries and school-based programs for over two decades. OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness and safety of fluoride gels in the prevention of dental caries in children and to examine factors potentially modifying their effect. SEARCH STRATEGY Multiple electronic database searches, reference lists of articles, journal handsearch, selected authors and manufacturers. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials with blind outcome assessment, comparing fluoride gel with placebo or no treatment in children up to 16 years during at least one year. The main outcome was caries increment measured by the change in decayed, missing and filled tooth surfaces (D(M)FS). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Inclusion decisions, quality assessment and data extraction were duplicated in a random sample of one third of studies, and consensus achieved by discussion or a third party. Study authors were contacted for missing data. The primary outcome measure was the prevented fraction (PF), that is the caries increment in the treatment group expressed as a percentage of the control group. Random effects meta-analyses were performed where data could be pooled. Potential sources of heterogeneity were examined in random effects meta-regression analyses. MAIN RESULTS Twenty-five studies were included, involving 7747 children. For the 23 that contributed data for meta-analysis, the D(M)FS pooled prevented fraction estimate was 28% (95% CI, 19% to 37%; p<0.0001). There was clear heterogeneity, confirmed statistically (p<0.0001). The effect of fluoride gel varied according to type of control group used, with D(M)FS PF on average being 19% (95% CI, 5% to 33%; p<0.009) higher in non-placebo controlled trials. A funnel plot of the 23 studies indicated a relationship between prevented fraction and study precision. Only two trials reported on adverse events. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS There is clear evidence of a caries-inhibiting effect of fluoride gel. The best estimate of the magnitude of this effect, based on the 14 placebo-controlled trials, is a 21% reduction (95% CI, 14 to 28%) in D(M)FS. This corresponds to an NNT of 2 (95% CI, 1 to 3) to avoid 1 D(M)FS in a population with a caries increment of 2.2 D(M)FS/year, or an NNT of 24 (95% CI, 18 to 36) based on an increment of 0.2 D(M)FS/year. There is little information concerning deciduous dentition, on adverse effects or on acceptability of treatment. Future trials should include assessment of potential adverse effects.
Unified Distributed Control for DC Microgrid Operating Modes

This paper proposes a unified distributed control strategy for DC microgrid operating modes, without bus voltage signaling or mode detection mechanisms that are normally required for decentralized control strategies. The proposed control strategy is based on the novel integration of distributed controllers for energy balancing between DC microgrid energy storage systems with distributed controllers used to regulate the average DC microgrid bus voltage, and a new method for controlling the grid connected rectifier that maintains the distributed control structure. Under the proposed control strategy, seamless mode transitions are achieved between qualitatively different operating modes, namely, 1) grid connected operation with the rectifier providing load balancing, 2) grid connected operation with the rectifier charging the energy storage systems, and 3) islanded operation. In all operating modes, the average DC microgrid bus voltage is regulated to the microgrid voltage reference, and the energy storage systems are controlled independently of the operating mode to achieve and maintain a balanced energy level. Simulations are presented demonstrating the performance of the proposed control strategy for a 380 VDC datacenter with intermittent photovoltaic generation and communication delays expected from a WiFi control network implementation.
INFLUENCE OF ALPHA AND GAMMA RADIATIONS AND NON-RADIATION RISK FACTORS ON THE INCIDENCE OF MALIGNANT LIVER TUMORS AMONG MAYAK PA WORKERS

This Mayak worker-based study focuses on evaluating possible associations between malignant liver cancers and chronic alpha irradiation, chronic gamma irradiation, and non-radiation risk factors (alcohol consumption, smoking, viral hepatitis, chemical exposure, and chronic digestive diseases). This is the first multivariate study related to liver cancer among Mayak workers. The study was performed using the nested, case-control approach and includes 44 cases of malignant liver tumors diagnosed from 1972 to 1999, and 111 matched controls. Adjusted odds ratio (ORad) was evaluated relative to a group of workers with alpha radiation doses to liver (D&agr;) < 2.0 Gy. Dose estimates of D&agr; > 2.0 Gy (corresponding 239Pu body burden estimates >20.4 kBq) were significantly associated (p < 0.003) with the occurrence of hemangiosarcomas (HAS) but only marginal significance (0.05 < p < 0.1) was found for hepatocellular cancers (HCC). The ORad for HAS was 41.7 [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.6, 333] for a group with D&agr; in the range >2.0–5.0 Gy and was 62.5 (7.4, 500) for a group with D&agr; > 5.0–16.9 Gy. The attributable risk (AR) was calculated as 82%. For HCC, ORad was estimated as 8.4 (0.8, 85.3; p < 0.07) for a group with D&agr; in the range >2.0–9.3 Gy. For the indicated group, the AR was 14%. An association with high external gamma-ray doses (D&ggr;) to the total body was revealed for both HCC and for combined liver cancers when dose was treated as a continuous variable. However, we find no evidence that chronic low doses of gamma rays are associated with liver cancer occurrence. Cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) was not associated with either alpha- or gamma-ray exposure. As expected, an association between alcohol abuse and HCC was inferred [ORad = 3.3 (1.2, 9); AR = 41%] but not for CHC or HAS.
Studies of semitransparent optoelectronic position sensors

Semitransparent optoelectronic position sensors (ALMY sensors) have been developed for high-precision multipoint position and angle measurements of collimated laser beams over a large measurement range. The sensors provide a position resolution in the order of a micrometer over sensitive areas of several square centimeters. They consist of a thin film of amorphous silicon deposited on a glass substrate between two transparent layers of crossed strip electrodes. A transmittance of 80%-90% has been achieved for 780-nm laser light produced by diode lasers. We report about recent optimizations of the sensor performance and tests of the long-term stability under laser illumination and of the radiation tolerance at high neutron doses. As expected, the radiation hardness of the amorphous silicon sensors exceeds the one of crystalline silicon devices. The custom-designed readout electronics allow for operation at sufficiently low laser intensities in order to prevent significant degradation of the performance of the amorphous silicon sensors under illumination with laser light.
Intrauterine growth retardation and brainstem auditory‐evoked response in preterm infants

Intrauterine growth retardation is frequently associated with intrauterine undernutrition, and can deleteriously affect brain function. Twenty‐eight premature small for gestational age infants were compared with 28 premature appropriate for gestational age infants to determine whether intrauterine growth retardation was associated with abnormalities in the auditory pathway in the early neonatal period. The auditory pathway was studied between 4‐18 wk of life by analysis of brainstem auditory‐evoked potentials elicited by a 10/s 75 decibel above normal adult hearing level (dB nHL) click stimulus presented at the infants'ears. Peak latencies of components I, III and V, and interpeak latencies I‐III, III‐V and I‐V, yielded no statistically significant differences between groups. The present study indicates that intrauterine growth‐retarded premature infants may not have abnormalities of brainstem auditory‐evoked response in the early neonatal period.
Stereotype threat reduces false recognition when older adults are forewarned

Exposing older adults to ageing stereotypes can reduce their memory for studied information—a phenomenon attributed to stereotype threat—but little is known about stereotype effects on false memory. Here, we assessed ageing stereotype effects on the Deese-Roediger-McDermott false memory illusion. Older adults studied lists of semantically associated words, and then read a passage about age-related memory decline (threat condition) or an age-neutral passage (control condition). They then took a surprise memory test with a warning to avoid false recognition of non-studied associates. Relative to the control condition, activating stereotype threat reduced the recognition of both studied and non-studied words, implicating a conservative criterion shift for associated test words. These results indicate that stereotype threat can reduce false memory, and they help to clarify mixed results from prior ageing research. Consistent with the regulatory focus hypothesis, threat motivates older adults to respond more conservatively when error-prevention is emphasised at retrieval.
Comparison of Craniofacial Measurements of Young Adult African-American and North American White Males and Females

Surgical correction of craniofacial disfigurements depends for its success on precise knowledge of the craniofacial norms of the patient's racial/ethnic groups. The norms of North American whites should be restricted to patients of Caucasian origin and not applied to members of other races. This study therefore sought to determine differences in anthropometric measurements of the craniofacial complex between African-American and North American white subjects of both sexes and of similar age (18–25 years old). The study group consisted of healthy young adult African-Americans, 50 males and 50 females. The analysis of craniofacial morphology was based on 51 anthropometric measurements: 9 cranial, 10 facial, 8 orbital, 14 nasal, 4 oral and 6 auricular. The results were compared with 51 norms previously established for North American whites in the same age group, generally based on 109 males and 200 females, fewer in comparisons of some nasal measurements (ac-ac, sbal-sbal, ac-sn, nostril axis). Highly significant differences between groups were found in every craniofacial region, especially in the orbital and nasal areas, and confirmed the need to establish separate norms for African-Americans to guide corrective surgery of the head and face.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia-associated autoimmune hemolytic anemia

The clinical course of patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is often made complicated by autoimmune phenomena which mainly target the blood cells. Among them, the autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is the most common form. On the other hand, it is believed that CLL is the most common of the known causes of AIHA. The source of any putative autoantibody (bystander nonmalignant cells or tumor cells) is not clear yet. Recently, it has been hypothesized that leukemic B-cells may also act as professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). With respect to the management of CLL-associated AIHA, steroids still represent the first-line treatment option. Intravenous immunoglobulin, immunosuppressive drugs, and splenectomy are also frequently used for steroid-refractory forms. Furthermore, although the case series is still too small, encouraging data is now supporting the use of monoclonal antibodies, in particular anti-CD20 rituximab, in managing this often life-threatening autoimmune complication of CLL.
Rapidly progressive hepatic alveolar echinococcosis in an ABO‐incompatible renal transplant recipient

M. Geyer, J. Wilpert, T. Wiech, C. Theilacker, M. Stubanus, A. Kramer‐Zucker, K. ‐G. Fischer, O. Drognitz, A. Frydrychowicz, W. Kern, G. Walz, P. Pisarski. Rapidly progressive hepatic alveolar echinococcosis in an ABO‐incompatible renal transplant recipient. Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 278–284. All rights reserved
LncRNA BCAR4 promotes proliferation, invasion and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer cells by affecting epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

OBJECTIVE Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in various cellular biological processes. It is also involved in the occurrence and development of the tumor. BCAR4 is reported to be highly expressed in breast cancer and promotes cell proliferation. However, the biological effects of BCAR4 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS qRT-PCR was performed for detecting BCAR4 expression in 76 pairs of NSCLC tissues and corresponding cancer-adjacent tissues and 6 NSCLC cell lines. BCAR4 expression was knocked down, and its effects on NSCLC cell proliferation, cycle, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis were studied via MTT, clone formation, flow cytometry, TUNEL and Transwell assay. Metastatic tumor model of nude mice was established to investigate its effects on NSCLC cell metastasis. BCAR4 downstream target gene protein expression was detected using Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS BCAR4 was higher in NSCLC tissues than that in cancer-adjacent tissues and was positively correlated with tumor size, clinical stage, and distant metastasis, suggesting that BCAR4 can be used as an independent predictor of prognosis. Results also showed that BCAR4 knockdown could inhibit tumor cell invasion, metastasis, and proliferation, induce cell cycle arrest and increase cell apoptosis. BCAR4 knockdown inhibits the metastasis and invasion of tumor cells via regulating Vimentin, N-cadherin and E-cadherin in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). CONCLUSIONS BCAR4 promotes the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC via regulating EMT and BCAR4/EMT interaction can be used as a new target for the diagnosis and therapeutics of NSCLC.
Immunocytochemical Staining of Serous Effusions With the Monoclonal Antibody Ber‐Ep4

Cytospin preparations were made from 102 serous effusions for immunocytochemical staining using a panel of monoclonal antibodies including a new monoclonal antibody Ber‐EP4. On cytological examination, 32 fluids were reported to contain tumour cells consistent with metastatic adenocarcinoma; 66 contained benign cells only and three were reported to contain cells suspicious of malignancy. One eifusion contained tumour cells consistent with malignant mesothelioma. Positive staining of the tumour cells with Ber‐EP4 was observed in the 32 effusions (100%) which contained adenocarcinoma cells. No staining of the mesothelial cells in these 32 specimens was observed. Carcinoembryonic antigen, epithelial membrane antigen Ca2 and CD 15 staining of tumour cells was noted in 53%, 50%, 50% and 9% of these cases, respectively. None of the mesothelial cells in the benign effusions stained with Ber‐EP4. Nor did the malignant mesothelial cells in the only case of malignant mesothelioma. These findings suggest that Ber‐EP4 is a valuable addition to antibodies available for the differential diagnosis of mesothelial cells and adenocarcinoma cells in serous effusions.
Frequency of the erythrogenic toxin B and C genes (speB and speC) among clinical isolates of group A streptococci

DNA probes corresponding to the internal region of the erythrogenic toxin B and C genes, speB and speC, were used in hybridization studies with clinical isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes to determine the frequency of occurrence of these genes in a large population of group A streptococci. More than 500 strains from different geographical locations throughout the world were used in this study. The results from colony-lift hybridization experiments indicated that the frequency of occurrence of each toxin gene among all of these strains was 100% for speB and 50% for speC. Division of these strains into subgroups of general group A strains and strains associated with scarlet fever or rheumatic fever resulted in a frequency of occurrence of speC of about 50% for all subgroups. The speC gene was found to be more frequently associated with serotype M2, M4, and M6 strains and less frequently associated with serotype M1, M3, and M49 strains. The results from a similar study with the speA gene have been previously reported (C.-E. Yu and J.J. Ferretti, Infect. Immun. 57:3715-3719, 1989).
Is pathological gambling in Parkinson's disease reduced by amantadine?

There is no doubt that the development of diagnostic criteria has contributed greatly to epidemiological research in prion diseases, and Heath and colleagues emphasize this in surveillance studies of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). We caution, however, against a more broad application in clinical practice, particularly in governing decisions about clinical diagnosis, communication with patients/caregivers, and access to experimental therapies. The physician looking after a young patient with an unexplained rapidly progressive neuropsychiatric syndrome, dementia, or ataxia needs to make prompt clinical decisions. There are treatable alternative diagnoses, and an early firm diagnosis is essential. The pulvinar sign on magnetic resonance imaging is often not identified when patients are first imaged, and a requirement for a clinical duration of 6 months or greater makes a probable diagnosis impossible in the early stages of disease. Physicians who have cared for families affected by vCJD are aware of the complicated psychological issues generated by the perceived mismanagement of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy epidemic, which are often exacerbated by a delay or equivocation about diagnosis. Several families also choose experimental intracerebroventricular pentosan polysulfate therapy, which requires neurosurgery. In the context of these issues, the role of tonsillar biopsy is underemphasized by Heath et al and the criteria. In our experience of 60 biopsies, by far the largest series worldwide, tonsillar biopsy has 100% sensitivity and specificity, at any stage of the disease. Prion protein deposition in the tonsil can be patchy, and at least 20 germinal centers need to be examined. The number examined in 1 French case reported by Heath et al may not have been adequate to avoid a false-negative result. It is notable that of the 6 most recent patients suspected clinically of having vCJD in the United Kingdom, 3 did not meet epidemiological criteria for probable vCJD while alive. Two of these patients would have been misdiagnosed as sporadic CJD according to the updated clinical diagnostic criteria for sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease criteria; typical vCJD was diagnosed at autopsy in both. In a third patient, with a heterozygous codon 129 genotype reported by Kaski et al, the pulvinar sign was not thought to be present by all neuroradiologists, and no tissue was examined. It is reasonable to expect that tonsillar biopsy may have made the correct diagnosis in each of these cases. Given experience with transfusion-associated secondary vCJD, vCJD prions are likely to be present in significant titer in human blood, a diagnostic blood test based on detection of the infectious agent is clearly possible in principle, and if technologically achieved, will necessitate a complete revision of how we approach diagnosis in this disease.
Novel catalytic activity associated with positive-strand RNA virus infection: nucleic acid-stimulated ATPase activity of the plum pox potyvirus helicaselike protein

The cylindrical inclusion protein of potyviruses contains the so-called nucleoside triphosphate binding motif, an amino acid sequence motif present in proteins encoded by most positive-strand RNA viruses, some double-strand RNA viruses, apparently all groups of double-strand DNA viruses, and also several single-strand DNA viruses. Further sequence analysis has allowed to include the cylindrical inclusion protein of potyviruses as a member of a superfamily of helicaselike proteins. In this paper we show that the purified cylindrical inclusion protein of plum pox potyvirus interacts with RNA and ATP and copurifies with a nucleic acid-stimulated ATPase activity. To our knowledge, this is the first time that this kind of enzymatic activity has been experimentally associated with a positive-strand RNA virus-encoded protein.
Regulation of pelvic patch water flow in Bufo marinus: role of bladder volume and ANG II.

This report examines the importance of bladder volume in regulating cutaneous water uptake (Jv, cm3.cm-2.s-1 x 10(-7)) across the ventral pelvic patch and examines the role of angiotensin II (ANG II) and circulation as the regulatory mechanism. Jv in empty-bladder Bufo marinus (bladder volume 3.89 +/- 1.49%, n = 7) was 1,671 +/- 68 (n = 7). Injection of Ringer solution into the bladder (12.8 +/- 2.2%, n = 7) decreased Jv to 1,025 +/- 202 (n = 7). ANG II injected into toads with filled bladders increased Jv in a dose-dependent manner. At 5 micrograms/100 g toad Jv increased by 136 +/- 63 (n = 6), at 50 micrograms/100 g toad by 432 +/- 82 (n = 7), and at 200 micrograms/100 g toad by 620 +/- 142 (n = 5). Saralasin (200 micrograms/100 g toad) completely inhibited the response to ANG II (50 micrograms/100 g toad) and at 1 mg/100 g toad decreased Jv in empty-bladder toads. These experiments indicate that 1) bladder volume participates in the regulation of Jv in the ventral pelvic patch; 2) ANG II increases the Jv in toads with full bladders; 3) saralasin inhibits the high Jv in empty bladder toads; 4) the high Jv, associated with an empty bladder, requires an intact circulation to be maintained; 5) without an intact circulation, the high water flow associated with an empty bladder causes the Na+ content of the tissue in the ventral patch to be reduced; and 6) ANG II causes only a minimal increases in water permeability in the isolated pelvic patch skin.