Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical and histological differences in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE To report our experience in patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and try to establish differences between cases in which the histological study showed that there was an associated thyroid carcinoma and those that were strictly anaplastic or pure. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING University hospital, Spain. SUBJECTS 14 patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer treated over a period of 26 years; 7 presented with associated thyroid tumours and 7 were pure. MEAN OUTCOME MEASURES Clinical data (age, sex, symptoms), treatment, histological study (associated thyroid disease, spread, involved lymph nodes) and follow-up. RESULTS 13 of the 14 tumours had spread locally. 5 patients were treated by total thyroidectomy, 3 subtotal thyroidectomy, 5 excision of the tumour, and 1 patient had a biopsy alone. There were associated thyroid tumours in 7 cases: 2 follicular, 2 tall cell papillary, 1 solid papillary, 1 medullary and 1 Hurthle cell tumour. 12 patients died. Another 2 are still alive having survived 61 and 70 months respectively, both with associated anaplastic cancers (follicular and solid). The mean survival was 14 months (24 for associated anaplastic carcinoma and 4 for pure anaplastic carcinoma). CONCLUSION There is a subgroup of anaplastic cancers in which a better differentiated thyroid carcinoma coexists with the anaplastic carcinoma. The prognosis in this subgroup is better than that for primary pure anaplastic carcinoma.
TLR2-Dependent Activation of β-Catenin Pathway in Dendritic Cells Induces Regulatory Responses and Attenuates Autoimmune Inflammation

Dendritic cells (DCs) sense microbes via multiple innate receptors. Signals from different innate receptors are coordinated and integrated by DCs to generate specific innate and adaptive immune responses against pathogens. Previously, we have shown that two pathogen recognition receptors, TLR2 and dectin-1, which recognize the same microbial stimulus (zymosan) on DCs, induce mutually antagonistic regulatory or inflammatory responses, respectively. How diametric signals from these two receptors are coordinated in DCs to regulate or incite immunity is not known. In this study, we show that TLR2 signaling via AKT activates the β-catenin/T cell factor 4 pathway in DCs and programs them to drive T regulatory cell differentiation. Activation of β-catenin/T cell factor 4 was critical to induce regulatory molecules IL-10 (Il-10) and vitamin A metabolizing enzyme retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (Aldh1a2) and to suppress proinflammatory cytokines. Deletion of β-catenin in DCs programmed them to drive Th17/Th1 cell differentiation in response to zymosan. Consistent with these findings, activation of the β-catenin pathway in DCs suppressed chronic inflammation and protected mice from Th17/Th1-mediated autoimmune neuroinflammation. Thus, activation of β-catenin in DCs via the TLR2 receptor is a novel mechanism in DCs that regulates autoimmune inflammation.
Necessary Conditions in Nonsmooth Optimization

The paper contains four theorems concerning first order necessary conditions for a minimum in nonsmooth optimization problems in Banach spaces: a Lagrange multiplier rule for a mathematical programming problem in which an infinite dimensional equality constraint is included in the constraints, a general maximum principle for nonsmooth optimal control problems with state constraints, and a kind of multiplier rule for mathematical programming problems which applies when only finitely many equality constraints are present but when the Lipschitz continuity assumptions are removed. A summary of relevant background results from analysis is provided.
Solutions able to reproduce in vivo surface-structure changes in bioactive glass-ceramic A-W.

High-strength bioactive glass-ceramic A-W was soaked in various acellular aqueous solutions different in ion concentrations and pH. After soaking for 7 and 30 days, surface structural changes of the glass-ceramic were investigated by means of Fourier transform infrared reflection spectroscopy, thin-film x-ray diffraction, and scanning electronmicroscopic observations, in comparison with in vivo surface structural changes. So-called Tris buffer solution, pure water buffered with trishydroxymethyl-aminomethane, which had been used by various workers as a "simulated body fluid," did not reproduce the in vivo surface structural changes, i.e., apatite formation on the surface. A solution, ion concentrations and pH of which are almost equal to those of the human blood plasma--i.e., Na+ 142.0, K+ 5.0, Mg2+ 1.5, Ca2+ 2.5, Cl- 148.8, HCO3- 4.2 and PO4(2-) 1.0 mM and buffered at pH 7.25 with the trishydroxymethyl-aminomethane--most precisely reproduced in vivo surface structure change. This shows that careful selection of simulated body fluid is required for in vitro experiments. The results also support the concept that the apatite phase on the surface of glass-ceramic A-W is formed by a chemical reaction of the glass-ceramic with the Ca2+, HPO4(2-), and OH- ions in the body fluid.
Determinants of Knowledge Sharing Behaviour among Academics in United Arab Emirates

The main objectives of this research are to (i) investigate the practice of knowledge sharing among academics, and (ii) examine the relationship between knowledge sharing behaviour and its predictors based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Data were collected through an online survey using a questionnaire from academics in public universities. Using SPSS and PLS-SEM, data analysis process involved (i) analysis of descriptive statistics to evaluate knowledge sharing practice, (ii) assessment of the measurement model to evaluate items reliability and validity, and (iii) assessment of the structural model to evaluate its validity, path coefficients, and test the hypotheses. The results showed a great extent of knowledge sharing practice. They proved that academics' knowledge sharing behaviour is significantly influenced by intention, which is influenced by attitude, subjective norms, and self-efficacy. Contrary to the theory, the results showed that controllability does not influence intention.
Corpus callosum atrophy is strongly associated with cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: Results of a 17-year longitudinal study

Background: Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and may be subtle. The corpus callosum is essential for connectivity-demanding cognitive tasks and is significantly affected in MS, therefore it may serve as a marker for cognitive function. Objective: The objective of this paper is to longitudinally study the normalized corpus callosum area (nCCA) as a marker of cognitive function and disability in MS. Methods: Thirty-seven MS patients were followed from 1996 with follow-ups in 2004 and 2013. A healthy matched control group was recruited. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) were assessed. The nCCA was measured on T2-weighted images. Volumetry was performed with FreeSurfer. Results: Disease duration spanned five decades (1.6–46 years). Annual corpus callosal atrophy rate decreased with disease duration. nCCA was strongly correlated with SDMT (r = 0.793, p < 0.001) and moderately correlated with EDSS (r = −0.545, p < 0.001) after adjusting for disease duration, age and sex. The correlations of brain parenchymal fraction, white matter fraction, gray matter fraction and normalized lesion volume were less strong. Conclusions: The nCCA correlates well with physical and cognitive disability in time perspectives close to two decades, outperforming volumetric measurements. The nCCA is fast and could be feasible for clinical implementation where it may help identify patients in need of neuropsychological evaluation.
Mesenteric blood flow is related to disease activity and risk of relapse in Crohn's disease: a prospective follow-up study

Objective:The diagnostic significance of increased splanchnic blood flow in Crohn's disease is unclear. This prospective study was therefore undertaken to define the role of Doppler sonography in the assessment of disease activity and in the prediction of early relapse.Methods:Splanchnic flowmetry was performed in 59 patients with Crohn's disease and 20 healthy volunteers during fasting and 30 min after ingestion of a standardized meal. Twenty-one patients measured during the active state and in clinical remission were followed-up for 6 months. Hemodynamic parameters of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries and the portal vein were related to clinical (Crohn's disease activity index [CDAI]), laboratory (C-reactive protein), and endoscopic (Crohn's Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity) parameters of disease activity.Results:The postprandial mean velocity of the superior mesenteric artery correlated closest with clinical activity (CDAI, p < 0.005) and C-reactive protein (p < 0.01), but was unrelated to endoscopic activity. All patients in remission after 6 months (9/9) showed an increase in postprandial pulsatility index of the superior mesenteric artery, compared with an initial measurement during active disease (+28%). In contrast, the majority of patients with later relapse or surgery (11/12) had decreased pulsatility index during initial remission (−20%). The positive predictive value of this index for maintenance of remission was 0.82. Conclusion:Postprandial flow measurements in the superior mesenteric artery are closely related to clinical but not endoscopic disease activity in patients with Crohn's disease. The repeated measurement of the postprandial pulsatility index allows estimation of the risk of recurrence.
of a on Fruit and Vegetable

What is already known on this topic? Fruit and vegetable prescription programs increase access and affordabil- ity of healthy foods among adults, but their effect on children’s dietary behavior is not known. What is added by this report? Among families with children who were overweight or had obesity (n = 883, 1 child per household) in a 4- to 6-month prescription program at federally qualified health centers, we found a dose propensity–adjusted in- crease in fruit and vegetable consumption of 0.32 cups per day for each additional visit, with an equal portion attributed to changes in vegetable consumption and fruit consumption. What are the implications for public health practice? Clinically based fruit and vegetable prescription programs with nutrition education may be an effective way to improve diets for children in low-income households.
Lightning Strike Fusion: Extreme Reduction and Metal-Silicate Liquid Immiscibility

A glassy fulgurite, formed recently on a morainal ridge in southeastern Michigan, contains micrometer- to centimeter-sized metallic globules rich in native silicon, which unmixed from a silica-rich liquid. The unusual character of these globules and their potential for elucidating conditions of fulgurite formation prompted further study. Thermodynamic calculations indicate that temperatures in excess of 2000 K and reducing conditions approaching those of the SiO2-Si buffer were needed to form the coexisting metallic and silicate liquids. The phases produced are among the most highly reduced naturally occurring materials known. Some occurrences of other highly reduced minerals may also be due to lightning strike reduction. Extreme reduction and volatilization may also occur during high-temperature events such as lightning strikes in presolar nebulae and impacts of extraterrestrial bodies. As a result of scavenging of platinum-group elements by highly reduced metallic liquids, geochemical anomalies associated with the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary may have a significant terrestrial component even if produced through bolide impact.
Hybrid coronary revascularization for the treatment of left main coronary stenosis: A feasibility study

Objective: To determine the feasibility of a hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) approach for the treatment of left main (LM) coronary artery stenosis. Background: The recommended therapy for significant LM stenosis is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of unprotected LM lesions is reserved for patients at high risk for complications with CABG. HCR in LM disease has not been studied. Methods: Twenty‐two consecutive patients with LM stenosis >70% underwent staged HCR. Following a robotic or thoracoscopic‐assisted minimally invasive left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to left anterior descending artery (LAD) coronary bypass, PCI of the LM, and non‐LAD targets was performed after angiographic confirmation of LIMA patency. Intravascular ultrasound confirmed optimal stent deployment. Thirty‐day adverse outcomes and long term follow up was obtained. Results: In the 22 patients with LM lesions, 6 were ostial, 5 mid, and 11 distal. LIMA patency was FitzGibbon A in all cases. LM stenting was successful in all patients with drug‐eluting stents (DES) placed in 21 of 22 cases. Three patients underwent stent implantation in the right coronary artery. There were no 30‐day major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events. At a mean of 38.8 ± 22 months postprocedure, 21 patients were alive without reintervention; one death occurred at 454 days. Conclusions: HCR for LM coronary disease is a feasible alternative to CABG and unprotected LM PCI. This approach combines the long‐term durability of a LIMA‐LAD bypass with the less invasive option of PCI in non‐LAD targets with DES. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quality of reporting of randomized controlled trials in ten academic Indian dental journals

Background: Biased results from poorly reported trials can mislead decision-making in health care at all levels, from treatment decisions for the individual patient to formulation of national public health policies. Objective: To evaluate the quality of reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in ten Indian dental journals over the period 2011–2012. Materials and Methods: This study included all RCTs published as full-text articles reported in ten Indian dental journals over the period from 2011 to 2012. The relevant trials were identified by searching Medline. Hand searching of the journals was also carried out by three of the authors to check if any potential trial was missing. Each article was assessed against the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials criteria tool, as described by Schulz et al. (2010). Results: The mean number of criteria present per article was 12.2 (standard deviation [SD] =2.2) and only 5 of 106 articles got total possible score. Most of the articles (69%) did not mention about justification for sample size calculation, 89% of the articles did not mention about allocation concealment, 86% of the articles did not mention about funding and 63% of the articles did not mention about limitations of the study. Conclusion: The quality of reporting of Randomized clinical trials in ten Indian academic journals was poor.
Aprendizaje basado en proyectos: método para el diseño de actividades

La Declaracion de Bolonia supuso el punto de partida para la construccion del Espacio Europeo de Educacion Superior (EEES). Entre las directrices que emanan de la Declaracion de Bolonia (y sucesivas) figuran, entre otras: el aprendizaje por competencias, la ensenanza centrada en el estudiante y el aprendizaje activo. Entre las metodologias de aprendizaje activo tiene un lugar singular el aprendizaje basado en proyectos (ABPt). En Espana, esta metodologia ha tenido un exito relativo. En las ultimas decadas se han llevado a cabo un numero importante de iniciativas, pero, en la mayoria de los casos, se limitan a implementaciones en asignaturas individuales, sin alcance en el curriculo de las titulaciones. Y es que esta metodologia no esta exenta de dificultades.
MIMO Performance of a Dual Polarized Antenna in a LOS Channel

A way to increase the channel capacity in 2times2 MIMO systems for wireless communication is to exploit polarization diversity. This contribution demonstrates the stability of the channel capacity for a simple LOS channel using planar-logarithmically periodic (log. per.) antennas at 2.45 GHz even when the polarization planes are not separated. This scenario will be derived theoretically and verified by a measurement of the complex scattering parameters of a simple wireless transmission link.
Expression of Estrogen Receptor Coactivators in the Rat Uterus1

Abstract Nuclear receptor coactivators associate in a ligand-dependent manner with estrogen receptors (ER) and other nuclear receptors, and they enhance ligand-dependent transcriptional activation. This study examined basal coactivator expression in rat uterus to investigate if expression of these genes is regulated by estradiol-17β or tamoxifen. Ovariectomized mature and immature rats were injected with estradiol-17β, tamoxifen, or vehicle (i.e., sesame oil) alone. Uteri were collected and analyzed for changes in coactivator mRNA expression using Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses. Constitutive uterine mRNA expression of switch protein for antagonist (SPA), SRC-1, GRIP1, RAC3, RIP140, and p300 mRNAs was observed in control uteri, and treatment with ER ligands did not alter coactivator mRNA levels. The data suggest that expression of these coactivator genes is not sensitive to estradiol or tamoxifen in the rat uterus. No cell type-specific pattern of expression was apparent in uterine sections from mature and immature rats; however, silver grains were more abundant in luminal and glandular epithelial cells compared with the stroma and myometrium, indicating that coactivator mRNA levels vary among the uterine compartments. Thus, to our knowledge, we show for the first time that there is constitutive expression of several uterine nuclear receptor coactivators in a physiological setting that remains insensitive to estrogenic regulation. Furthermore, we speculate that higher constitutive levels of coactivator expression in glandular and luminal epithelial cells may be associated with increased hormonal responsiveness by these uterine compartments.
Evidence That Urea Is a Better Surrogate Marker of Uremic Toxicity Than Creatinine

The protein equivalent of nitrogen appearance normalized to standard weight was determined from urea nitrogen appearance (nPNA U) and from total Kjeldahl nitrogen appearance (nPNA K) in dialysate and/or urine in 45 predialysis patients (pre D) and in 95 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Correlations with weekly Kt/Vurea and creatinine clearance (Ccr, L/wk/1.73 m2) were determined; renal contributions of Ccr in both populations were calculated both as total Ccr (A) and as CCr by GFR (Ccr [B], mean of renal CCr and Curea). Correlations with weekly Kt/Vurea were significant in individual (pre D: nPNA U 0.57, p < 0.01, and nPNA K 0.37, p < 0.01; CAPD:nPNA U 0.50, p < 0.01, and nPNA K 0.43, p < 0.01) and pooled populations (nPNA U 0.54, p < 0.01 and nPNA K 0.37, p < 0.01). Correlations with neither Ccr (A) nor Ccr (B) were significant. The data also allowed comment on mathematical coupling. Ccr vs nPNA K correlations share even more mathematical couplers than does the nPNA K vs Kt/Vurea correlation, yet the correlation of nPNA K with Ccr is quite low. The authors conclude that urea is a better surrogate marker of small molecular weight toxins that inhibit protein intake in uremia, and correlations of nPNA with Kt/Vurea represent more than simple mathematical coupling. ASAIO Journal 1997; 43:M858-M861.
Protective effects of escin against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in mice

Abstract Escin, a natural mixture of triterpenoid saponin isolated from the seed of the horse chestnut, is reported to have a potent antiulcer activity against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions. This study investigated the possible mechanisms underlying the gastroprotective effect of escin against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in mice. Gastric ulceration was induced by a single intragastric administration of indomethacin (18 mg/kg). The mice underwent intragastric treatment with escin at doses of 0.45, 0.9 or 1.8 mg/kg. Gastric lesion was estimated morphometrically and histopathologically 6 h after the indomethacin administration. The antioxidative parameters in gastric mucosa were measured. Moreover, the activity of myeloperoxidase and the contents of TNF-α, P-selectin and VCAM-1 in gastric tissues were determined. The results showed that escin protected gastric tissues against indomethacin-induced gastropathy as demonstrated from a reduction in the ulcer index and an attenuation of histopathologic changes. Escin caused significant reductions of the contents of malondialdehyde, TNF-α, P-selectin, VCAM-1 and myeloperoxidase activity. The altered activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the stomach tissues were also ameliorated by escin treatment. The present study demonstrated that escin had a protective effect against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in mice, not only by virtue of its antioxidant potential, but also due to its anti-inflammatory effect.
125 years after Robert Koch's discovery of the tubercle bacillus: the new XDR-TB threat. Is “science” enough to tackle the epidemic?

March 24, 2007 will mark the 125th anniversary of Robert Koch's discovery of the tuberculosis (TB) bacillus (figs 1⇓ and 2⇓). This anniversary comes after a year of major achievements for the international TB community. Fig. 1— Robert Koch (1843–1910), who discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 1882. Nobel Laureate Physiology or Medicine, 1905. Fig. 2— The title page of Robert Koch's original article published in Berliner Klinische Wochenschrift on April 10, 1882 1. This journal is no longer in existence. Provided courtesy of H.L. Rieder (Tuberculosis Division, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France). Firstly, in 2006, the new Stop TB Strategy was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO), following intensive exploration and discussion with TB control programme managers in high burden countries and partner organisations, including technical agencies and donors 2. The DOTS strategy (consisting of five key elements: government commitment, diagnosis through microscopy, standardised and supervised treatment, uninterrupted drug supply, and regular programme monitoring), which greatly contributed to the improvement of global TB control over the last 10 yrs 3, was revisited to pursue DOTS expansion while making explicit six additional components that must be implemented to reach the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) relevant to TB control. Thus, the new Stop TB Strategy consists of: 1) the pursuit of high-quality DOTS expansion and enhancement; 2) addressing TB/HIV, multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB and other challenges; 3) contribution to the strengthening of health systems; 4) engaging all care providers; 5) the empowerment of people and communities with TB; and 6) enabling and promoting research. The MDGs relevant to TB aim at combating HIV, malaria and other diseases. Its target 8 consists of halting TB by 2015 and beginning to reverse the incidence of disease; indicator 23 addresses TB prevalence and mortality; and indicator 24 is the proportion of cases detected …