Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new admission method may select applicants with a distinct personality profile

Abstract Background: There is little data to suggest that a specific admission method can select students with a distinct personality profile. We have recently introduced a new admission process that combines a computerized personality test, with a single interview. The purpose of the current study was to find whether the new method selects applicants with a different personality profile and attitudes compared with the previous method. Method: Using a validated personality questionnaire (HEXACO) and attitudes questionnair, that were filled anonymously between November 2014 and May 2015, the authors compared two groups of students: group A comprising students accepted with the new method (first and second year) with group B comprising students accepted with the previous method (third to sixth year). Results: In group A, 157 responded out of 250 (63%), while in group B 194 out of 352 (55%). Group A students ranked significantly higher in honesty-humility, extraversion, agreeableness and openness to experience, and lower in emotionality. Physicians’ role in society was perceived to be more meaningful among Group A students (M = 4.19, SD = 0.50, N = 152) compared to Group B students (M = 3.86, SD = 0.57, N = 184). Conclusions: The new method may select applicants with a distinct personality profile and different attitudes toward the physicians' role in the society.
Quality of life in patients with myasthenia gravis

We read with great interest the article by Paul and colleagues recently published in the journal. We have performed a similar study on Italian patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). To evaluate whether the Osserman classification and our conventional measurements of MG are related to the patient’s quality of life, we performed a multidimensional study through traditional parameters and a validated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measurement. Forty-six consecutive patients with MG admitted to our neurological department (mean age 50.7 years, range 11– 77, 17 males, 29 females) were evaluated by means of (1) the 36-item Medical Outcomes Study short form (SF36), (2) clinical examination, (3) Osserman grade at the moment of the evaluation (OSS), (4) acetycholine receptor antibody (AChR assay), and (5) repetitive nerve stimulation. According to the OSS measurement, two patients were included in grade 1, 19 in grade 2a, 14 in grade 2b, 8 in grade 3, and 0 in grade 4. Three patients were asymptomatic at the time of clinical evaluation (and were scored “0”). Table 1 summarizes patient-oriented results and their correlations (Spearman’s R test) with the other conventional measurements; moreover, statistical comparison of SF-36 scores between our sample and that enrolled by Paul et al. is reported (difference between two means computed from two samples). We observed significant relationships between the Osserman grade and patient-oriented assessment (Table 1). Unexpectedly, facial-ocular impairments (superior and inferior facial nerve functions, ptosis, and diplopia) were not related to a deterioration of the HRQoL. This result confirms the opinion of Paul and colleagues about the necessity of a disease-specific measure for MG. The mental aspects of the quality of life in our sample was scarcely related, or not related at all, to conventional measurements of MG. As observed by Paul et al., comparison of SF-36 mean scores in our MG sample versus the Italian normal population at the same age showed high differences in all scores, especially, as expected, with regards to physical roles. One of the most important advantages of using standardized validated measurements is the possibility to compare outcome of samples enrolled in different centers or in different countries. Comparison of SF-36 mean scores (one sample t-test) in our Italian MG population with that in the American MG population showed significantly higher mental impairment in the Italian sample. This could be due to the greater severity of MG in the Italian population according to the Osserman classification. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that other reasons underlie this different pattern, e.g., different information on the disease and different stages of the disease (most patients in our study were enrolled during admission to hospital with worsening symptoms, which probably caused more severe psychological distress). We believe that such studies and comparisons between samples will lead to a better understanding of the disease and improve therapeutic approaches to it.
A comparison of the effects of various smooth muscle relaxants on the electrical and mechanical activity of rat uterus.

The effects of epinephrine, papaverine, tetracaine and nitroglycerin were studied on the electrical and mechanical activity of isolated segments of myometrium. All four drugs, in concentrations which reduced the force of contractions, decreased the frequency of spontaneous action potential discharge ( i.e. , pacemaker frequency) accompanying each contraction. Tetracaine, papaverine and nitroglycerin also diminished the rising velocity of the individual action potentials, whereas epinephrine increased the rats of rise. The decrease in rising velocity was sometimes accompanied by varying degrees of conduction block. All agents were effective in reducing the contractions elicited by supramaximal electrical field stimulation and the contractures caused by isotonic potassium solutions. Thus, these drugs can exert part of their actions independently of their effects on the electrical activity of the membrane. The inhibitory effects of all four drugs in spontaneously contracting and field-stimulated musclcs were antagonized by increasing the calcium concentration in the bathing medium. In spontaneously contracting muscles, the inhibitory actions of epinephrine and tetracaine on pacemaker frequency and force of contraction and the depressant effect of tetracaine on the rising velocity of the action potentials were also antagonized by the elevated calcium concentration. When the concentration of tetracaine was increased, in the presence of elevated calcium, to a point at which pacemaker frequency was depressed by the drug, the force of contraction was also diminished. However, even at this concentration tetracaine failed to alter the rising velocity of the spikes. It was concluded that, in normally polarized muscles contracting spontaneously, the most important effect of these drugs is a reduction in pacemaker discharge resulting in a decreased action potential frequency, with a subsequent reduction in contractile force. This action may be reinforced in some cases by alteration in cell-to-cell conduction within the muscle.
Effect of xylanase and β-glucanase supplementation of wheat- or wheat- and barley-based diets on the performance of male turkeys

1. The efficiency of a mixture of xylanase and β-glucanase enzymes was evaluated in two separate experiments on growing turkeys offered diets based on wheat or wheat and barley. 2. In the first experiment, the addition of 560 and 2800 IU of xylanase and β-glucanase, respectively, per kg of diet significantly improved feed efficiency in turkeys fed on wheat- and barley-based diet throughout the entire experiment (42 d). 3. In the second experiment, the enzyme mixture significantly increased N-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AMEN) by approximately 5%. 4. Furthermore, the combination of xylanase and β-glucanase significantly improved body weight gain and feed efficiency. Feed efficiency was increased by 2·94, 2·47 and 5·91% in diets based on 500 then 540 g of wheat/kg of diet, 394 then 384 g of wheat and 100 then 150 g of barley/kg of diet and 180 g of wheat and 300 then 350 g of barley/kg of diet, respectively. 5. This enzyme mixture decreased in vitro viscosity of wheat, barley and soybean meal, the effect being larger for wheat and barley than for soybean meal. 6. In conclusion, the supplementation of diets based on wheat and barley with xylanase and β-glucanase significantly improved body weight gain and feed efficiency. Therefore, wheat and barley could be used more efficiently by turkeys in the presence of an appropriate enzyme preparation.
Pulse pressure does not predict the response of diabetic nephropathy to glucose-lowering therapy

We aimed to study whether pulse pressure (PP) predicts the response of diabetic nephropathy to glucose-lowering treatment. Patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes were followed for decrease in albuminuria after insulin/oral-hypoglycemic treatment. A total of 143 patients were followed for a median time of 10.5 months in a cohort study. Fasting blood sugar and HbA1C significantly decreased, while systolic, diastolic and pulse pressures remained constant during intervention. Median albuminuria decreased from 18.4 mg/day [10–40] to 16.4 mg/day [9–28] at the end of study (p-value < 0.005). The number of patients with normo/micro/macro-albuminuria changed from 98/36/9 to 108/31/4 (p-value < 0.001). No significant difference in baseline PP (47.5 ±1.61 vs. 45.9 ±1.81 mmHg; p-value = 0.51) or final PP (47.0 ±2.41 vs. 49.4 ±2.38 mmHg; p-value = 0.47) existed between those with decreased and increased albuminuria. PP was not a significant predictor of albuminuria changes in receiver operating characteristic curve (p-value = 0.77) and regression (p-value = 0.98) analyses. Benefits of glycemic control in diabetic nephropathy are independent of PP.
Identification of eight novel mutations in a collaborative analysis of a part of the second transmembrane domain of the CFTR gene.

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), the gene responsible, when mutated, for cystic fibrosis (CF), spans over 230 kb on the long arm of chromosome 7 and is composed of 27 exons. The most common mutation responsible for CF worldwide is the deletion of a phenylalanine amino acid at codon 508 in the first nucleotide-binding fold and accounts for approximately 70% of CF chromosomes studied. More than 250 other mutations have been reported through the CF Genetic Analysis Consortium. The majority of the mutations previously described lie in the two nucleotide-binding folds. To explore exhaustively other regions of the gene, particularly exons coding for transmembrane domains, the authors have initiated a collaborative study between different laboratories to screen 369 non-[Delta]F508 CF chromosomes of seven ethnic European populations (Belgian, French, Breton, Irish, Italian, Yugoslavian, Russian). Among these chromosomes carrying an unidentified mutation, 63 were from Brittany, 50 of various French origin, 45 of Irish origin, 56 of Italian origin, 41 of Belgian origin, 2 of Turkish origin, 38 of Yugoslavian origin, 22 of Russian origin, and 52 of Bulgarian origin. Diagnostic criteria for CF included at least one positive sweat test and pulmonary disease with or without pancreatic disease. Using amore » denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) assay, they have identified eight novel mutations in exon 17b coding for part of the second transmembrane domain of the CFTR and they describe them in this report. 8 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab. « less
Adrenalectomy for Familial Pheochromocytoma in the Laparoscopic Era

ObjectiveTo report the results of treatment of patients with familial pheochromocytomas in the laparoscopic era. Summary Background DataThe optimal surgical management of pheochromocytomas that arise in familial neoplasia syndromes may be complicated by bilateral involvement and associated endocrinopathies. MethodsTwenty-one patients with familial pheochromocytomas (15 with multiple endocrine neoplasia [MEN] 2A, 4 with MEN 2B, 1 each with von Hippel-Lindau and neurofibromatosis type 1) underwent adrenalectomy between December 1993 and July 2001. Clinical, biochemical, and pathologic data were obtained by retrospective review of perioperative medical records, postoperative biochemical testing, and patient questionnaire. ResultsMean age at diagnosis was 37 ± 11 years. Twenty of the 21 patients had elevated urine catecholamines, and all had radiographic evidence of an adrenal tumor or tumors. Pheochromocytoma-related symptoms were present in 11 patients (52%). One patient with MEN 2B underwent open adrenalectomy due to previous adrenal surgery and megacolon. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was attempted in the remaining 20 patients (9 right, 11 left, 2 bilateral). Two patients (9.1%) were converted to open adrenalectomy. Intraoperative hypertensive episodes occurred in 15 patients (71%) and were easily controlled medically. Mean operative time was 216 ± 57 minutes, mean postoperative length of stay was 3.1 ± 1.3 days, and mean tumor size was 3.1 ± 1.0 cm. Minor complications occurred in three patients (14.3%) and major complications in two patients (9.5%). During a mean follow-up of 57 months, a contralateral pheochromocytoma developed in four patients with MEN 2 (33%); three of them underwent adrenalectomy. There have been no long-term complications related to hypertension or adrenalectomy. ConclusionsThis study is the largest series of patients with familial pheochromocytoma undergoing adrenalectomy during the laparoscopic era. The results suggest that the laparoscopic approach is safe and effective for managing unilateral or bilateral adrenal medullary disease in this population.
Spatiotemporal mapping of sex differences during attentional processing

Functional neuroimaging studies have increasingly aimed at approximating neural substrates of human cognitive sex differences elicited by visuospatial challenge. It has been suggested that females and males use different behaviorally relevant neurocognitive strategies. In females, greater right prefrontal cortex activation has been found in several studies. The spatiotemporal dynamics of neural events associated with these sex differences is still unclear. We studied 22 female and 22 male participants matched for age, education, and nicotine with 29‐channel‐electroencephalogram recorded under a visual selective attention paradigm, the Attention Network Test. Visual event‐related potentials (ERP) were topographically analyzed and neuroelectric sources were estimated. In absence of behavioral differences, ERP analysis revealed a novel frontal‐occipital second peak of visual N100 that was significantly increased in females relative to males. Further, in females exclusively, a corresponding central ERP component at around 220 ms was found; here, a strong correlation between stimulus salience and sex difference of the central ERP component amplitude was observed. Subsequent source analysis revealed increased cortical current densities in right rostral prefrontal (BA 10) and occipital cortex (BA 19) in female subjects. This is the first study to report on a tripartite association between sex differences in ERPs, visual stimulus salience, and right prefrontal cortex activation during attentional processing. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of CP-99,219, a new fluoroquinolone, for treatment of experimental penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant pneumococcal meningitis

CP-99,219 is a new fluoroquinolone that has excellent activity against gram-positive organisms including penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains. In our well-established rabbit model of meningitis, we conducted experiments to determine the concentrations of CP-99,219 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after intravenous administration and its ability to eradicate two penicillin-resistant pneumococcal isolates. The peak and trough concentrations of CP-99,219 in the CSF were from 19 to 25% of the concentrations simultaneously obtained in serum and were unaffected by concomitant dexamethasone administration. Compared with untreated (control) animals, three doses of CP-99,219 given 5 h apart significantly reduced the bacterial count in CSF by 5 to 6 log10 CFU at 10 h. Although 47% of the dexamethasone-treated animals and 18% of those not given the steroid had positive cultures at 24 h (14 h after administration of the last antibiotic dose), the mean bacterial counts did not change from those observed at 10 h. Additionally, only results for animals infected with one of the two pneumococcal strains appeared to be affected by concomitant dexamethasone therapy.
Five-year sequential changes in secondary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori in Taiwan.

AIM To determine changes in the antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in southern Taiwan after failure of first-line standard triple therapy. METHODS We analyzed 137 H. pylori-infected isolates from patients who experienced eradication failure after standard first-line triple therapy from January 2010 to December 2014. The H. pylori strains were tested for susceptibility to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, metronidazole and tetracycline using the E-test method. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the agar dilution test. MIC values of ≥ 0.5, ≥ 1, ≥ 1, ≥ 4 and ≥ 8 mg/L were considered to be the resistance breakpoints for amoxicillin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, tetracycline and metronidazole, respectively. RESULTS A high resistance rate was found for clarithromycin (65%-75%) and metronidazole (30%-40%) among patients who failed first-line standard therapy. The resistance levels to amoxicillin and tetracycline remained very low; however, levofloxacin resistance was as high as 37.5% in 2010 but did not increase any further during the past 5 years. The rates of resistance to these antibiotics did not show a statistically significant upward or downward trend. CONCLUSION Antibiotic resistance of H. pylori remains a problem for the effective eradication of this pathogen and its associated diseases in Taiwan. High clarithromycin resistance indicated that this antibiotic should not be prescribed as a second-line H. pylori eradication therapy. Moreover, levofloxacin-based second-line therapy should be used cautiously, and the local resistance rates should be carefully monitored.
Enhancement of Phosphorescence by Surface‐Plasmon Resonances in Colloidal Metal Nanoparticles: The Role of Aggregates

The spectroscopic and near‐field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) studies of phosphorescent films doped with colloidal gold nanoparticles (NPs) are presented. Films with a high concentration of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18‐octaethyl‐21H,23H‐porphine platinum(II) dispersed in a neutral polymer poly[(methyl methacrylate)‐co‐(ethyl acrylate)] demonstrate a twofold increase of the phosphorescence quantum yield after the addition of aggregated NPs. In materials doped with unaggregated particles, a decrease of the emission yield is observed. Theoretical modeling of the phosphorescence transients suggests a minimization of the triplet–triplet quenching owing to the presence of fast processes that decrease the concentration of chromophores in the excited state and may be both of radiative and non‐radiative origin. NSOM examination of the films reveals increased light emission around large NP clusters. This observation demonstrates significant enhancement of the spontaneous emission rates by the large aggregates, although unaggregated NPs introduce mostly phosphorescence quenching sites.
"Responsabilidad Social Universitaria": una nueva filosofía de gestión ética e intenigentes para las universidades

El movimiento de la Responsabilidad Social ha llegado a la Universidad y suscita ahora un amplio debate. Para no caer en estrechas visiones ideologicas en pro o contra, sino entender desde que exigencia etica se interpela a las IES, y de que desafios para la gestion academica y administrativa la RSU nos habla, es bueno tener primero un enfoque teorico solido. El presente articulo responde a esta necesidad, partiendo de un marco teorico que refiere la responsabilidad social a un sistema de gestion de los impactos de la universidad, en sus cuatro procesos esenciales que son su Gestion, Formacion academica, Produccion de conocimientos y Participacion social. Lejos de ser solo un agregado, o la mera repeticion con otras palabras del “compromiso social” de siempre de la universidad latinoamericana, la RSU, si se la comprende bien, puede ser una oportunidad de innovacion academica, coherencia institucional y pertinencia social.
Humoral immunity and bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a common complication of primary antibody deficiency but the incidence of antibody deficiency as an underlying cause of bronchiectasis is largely undefined. In this study the humoral immune status of a cohort of bronchiectatic patients was investigated to detect the frequency of significant antibody deficiency and to determine the extent of immunological investigation which is appropriate for routine assessment of bronchiectasis patients. Fifty‐six out‐patients (with a mean age of 59·6 years) had serum immunoglobulins, IgG subclasses and specific antibodies to capsular polysaccharides of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae measured. Where specific antibody levels were low, where possible, appropriate immunization with pneumococcal or conjugated Haemophilus polysaccharide vaccines was offered and the responses quantified. Three of 56 patients had low total serum IgG levels. Thirteen of 56 had deficiencies of either a single IgG subclass or combinations of two or more subclasses, with IgG4 being most frequently implicated (9/56). Twenty‐nine of 56 had low basal specific polysaccharide antibody levels. Test immunization, where performed, produced satisfactory responses in all cases except one, where a specific defect of responsiveness to pneumococcal polysaccharide was identified. This study indicates that antibody deficiency is an uncommon aetiological/underlying factor in the causation of bronchiectasis beyond the fourth decade and that detailed investigation of humoral immune status as a routine in bronchiectasis patients, at least at this age, is not generally justified.