Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Participation in a colorectal cancer screening programme: influence of the method of contacting the target population

We assessed the effect of two different methods of contacting the target population on the rate of participation in a colorectal cancer screening programme. All individuals aged between 50 and 74 years enlisted in one primary health care centre in Barcelona (Spain) were included in a prospective randomized controlled trial. An invitation letter signed by a doctor together with two containers for faecal sample collection were sent by post to subjects in the ‘standard’ group (n = 1060), while subjects in the ‘study’ group (direct contact, n = 965) were visited by a trained non-health professional who supplied them with the same documentation as the standard group. The screening test consisted of an immunological method for the detection of faecal blood which does not require any prior specific dietary measures. Specimens were collected on two successive days. A significantly higher participation was observed in the study group (557/965, 57.7%) compared with the standard group (388/1060, 36.5%, P < 0.005). Specimen collection correctness was also higher in the study group (419/557, 75.1%) compared with the standard group (262/388, 67.5%, P < 0.014). There were no differences in terms of either age group or sex for the participation, nor for degree of correctness of specimen collection. Participation and specimen collection can be raised in colorectal cancer screening programmes by means of an invitation made through direct contact by a suitably trained non-health professional.
Attention Alters Feature Space in Motion Processing

Attending to a particular feature modulates the activity of neurons throughout the visual field with the result that relevant features are enhanced while irrelevant features are suppressed. Do these modulatory influences merely lead to a gating of relevant features, or does attention have a direct impact on the representation of feature space, leading to a different percept depending on the content of attention? We observed that direction estimates of the static motion aftereffect drastically change when human observers attend to a stimulus whose motion direction differs from the one of the adaptor. This observation suggests that feature-based attention might operate by local magnifications of feature space between relevant and irrelevant features.
A study of the biological receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand inhibitor, denosumab, in patients with multiple myeloma or bone metastases from breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) is essential for the differentiation, function, and survival of osteoclasts, which play a key role in establishment and propagation of skeletal disease in patients with multiple myeloma or bone metastases as well as many other skeletal diseases. Denosumab (AMG 162), a fully human monoclonal antibody to RANKL, was developed to treat patients with skeletal diseases. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: This was a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-controlled, multicenter study to determine the safety and efficacy of denosumab in patients with breast cancer (n = 29) or multiple myeloma (n = 25) with radiologically confirmed bone lesions. Patients received a single dose of either denosumab (0.1, 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/kg s.c.) or pamidronate (90 mg i.v.). Bone antiresorptive effect was assessed by changes in urinary and serum N-telopeptide levels. Pharmacokinetics of denosumab also were assessed. RESULTS: Following a single s.c. dose of denosumab, levels of urinary and serum N-telopeptide decreased within 1 day, and this decrease lasted through 84 days at the higher denosumab doses. Pamidronate also decreased bone turnover, but the effect diminished progressively through follow-up. Denosumab injections were well tolerated. Mean half-lives of denosumab were 33.3 and 46.3 days for the two highest dosages. CONCLUSIONS: A single s.c. dose of denosumab given to patients with multiple myeloma or bone metastases from breast cancer was well tolerated and reduced bone resorption for at least 84 days. The decrease in bone turnover markers was similar in magnitude but more sustained than with i.v. pamidronate.
Non‐random chromosome rearrangements in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands

The chromosomal findings in 10 adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) of the salivary glands are described. Clonal numerical deviations as the sole anomaly were detected in four cases and structurally rearranged stemlines and sidelines in four cases. An apparently identical t(6;9)(q23;p21) was found in two tumors; in one case the translocation was part of the abnormal stemline and in the other case it was the sole anomaly in a single variant cell. A similar or identical t(6;9)(q21‐24;p13‐23) has recently been reported in three of 15 previously published cases of ACC. The three remaining tumors with abnormal stemlines all had rearrangements of chromosome 9, including t(1;9)(q21;p21‐22), der(9)i(9)(q10)inv(9)(q12q 13), and der(X)t(X;9)(p21;p22‐23), respectively. The latter case also had a t(17;18)(p12;q11.2) that was common to both abnormal clones present in this tumor. In addition to other abnormalities, the clone with der(X)t(X;9) also showed a del(6)(q13q21). In two cases fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used for further characterization of the marker chromosomes. A survey of the present findings together with previous results from 15 ACC clearly demonstrates that rearrangements of 6q21‐24 (deletions or translocations in 11 cases), 9p13‐23 (translocations in seven cases), and 17p12‐13 (translocations in three cases) are recurrent, and often primary, in ACC, and that the t(6;9)(q21‐24;p13‐23), found in five tumors, is a non‐random, primary aberration. Genes Chromosom Cancer 10:115–121 (1994). © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Does attitude hinder or help selecting evaluation questions?

Background: Positive attitude leads to a more successfully implementation of a change. We investigated the effect of attitudes of stakeholders toward a program on their prioritization of the program components for selecting the key question of a theory-driven evaluation with concept mapping method. Materials and Methods: During a brainstorming session, stated statements defined the program components. Then they were sorted and rated regarding the importance and feasibility of them. In addition, the attitudes of participants were assessed by a 30 items questionnaire extracted from a pool named as “50 reasons not to change. ” We determined and compared the consensus points of participants both with and without of considering their attitudes toward the program. Results: The participants were divided into two groups of high (45% - above the mean) and low (55% - below the mean) attitude. Brainstorming discussions generated a pool of almost 120 statements which were subsequently refined to 44 statements. Matching the rating scores between two attitude groups yielded a consensus at a higher priority than the other method. Conclusion: In the concept mapping procedure, it is crucial to reach the consensus with respect to the participants’ attitude, rather than the similarity of mean scores of feasibility and importance.
Kidney dysfunction after cardiac transplantation: does early acute kidney injury translate into inferior long‐term patient and renal outcomes?

Both cardiac and kidney diseases are extremely common in the population and are intimately interconnected. First, both conditions share several etiological factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes mellitus). Second, a steady stream of studies has highlighted the negative heart–kidney interaction in such a way that any acute or chronic dysfunction of the former may affect the latter, and reciprocally, as part of the cardiorenal syndromes [1]. Heart failure emerged as the cardiovascular condition that most closely associated with kidney disease [2]. Therefore, the noxious interactions between the heart and kidney systems have become a matter of great concern in cardiac transplantation where kidney disease is an increasingly recognized complication [3]. Kidney failure, both in the acute and chronic settings, increases the complexity of patient management and significantly contributes to both early and late post-transplant morbidity and mortality [4]. Due to underlying comorbidities, including pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD), complications of surgery (e.g., acute tubular necrosis secondary to sepsis, shock, and radiographic contrast), and the use of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), cardiac transplant recipients are at risk for developing acute kidney injury (AKI) in the early postoperative period [5]. Although AKI is a frequent complication and established risk factor for CKD and mortality after nontransplantation cardiac surgery [6], little has been known about the shortand long-term prognosis of kidney dysfunction after cardiac transplantation. In two retrospective studies of the same [Correction added on 17 August 2017 after first online publication: Title and reference are now updated in this version. ]
Immunization with Amyloid-β Attenuates Inclusion Body Myositis-Like Myopathology and Motor Impairment in a Transgenic Mouse Model

Inclusion body myositis (IBM), the most common muscle disease to afflict the elderly, causes slow but progressive degeneration of skeletal muscle and ultimately paralysis. Hallmark pathological features include T-cell mediated inflammatory infiltrates and aberrant accumulations of proteins, including amyloid-β (Aβ), tau, ubiquitinated-proteins, apolipoprotein E, and α-synuclein in skeletal muscle. A large body of work indicates that aberrant Aβ accumulation contributes to the myodegeneration. Here, we investigated whether active immunization to promote clearance of Aβ from affected skeletal muscle fibers mitigates the IBM-like myopathological features as well as motor impairment in a transgenic mouse model. We report that active immunization markedly reduces intracellular Aβ deposits and attenuates the motor impairment compared with untreated mice. Results from our current study indicate that Aβ oligomers contribute to the myopathy process as they were significantly reduced in the affected skeletal muscle from immunized mice. In addition, the anti-Aβ antibodies produced in the immunized mice blocked the toxicity of the Aβ oligomers in vitro, providing a possible key mechanism for the functional recovery. These findings provide support for the hypothesis that Aβ is one of the key pathogenic components in IBM pathology and subsequent skeletal muscle degeneration.
Small hepatocellular carcinoma in Child A cirrhotic patients: Hepatic resection versus transplantation

Hepatic resection (HR) is the treatment of choice for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a noncirrhotic liver, whereas liver transplantation (LT) offers better results in patients with impaired hepatic function (Child B and C). However, it is still debated whether HR or LT is the best strategy for patients with Child A cirrhosis. We conducted a retrospective study on 37 consecutive patients with Child A cirrhosis and small HCC, treated between 1991 and 1999. Seventeen of these patients, who underwent LT, were compared with 20 patients who underwent HR, and prognostic factors for survival and tumor recurrence were analyzed. The primary endpoints were the intention‐to‐treat, 3‐ and 5‐year survival, and 3‐ and 5‐year recurrence‐free survival. Three‐ and 5‐year patient survival rate both were significantly (P = .04) higher in the LT group (87% and 71%, respectively) than in the HR group (67 and 36% respectively). Similarly, the 3‐ and 5‐ year recurrence‐free survival rates were 87% and 80% for the LT group, and 52% and 40% for the HR group (P = .03). Absence of microscopic vascular invasion was the only other prognostic factor correlated with significantly better recurrence‐free survival (P = .02). Therefore, we concluded that in patients with Child A cirrhosis and small HCC, liver transplantation resulted in better overall and disease‐free survival than HR.
An alternative theory on relaxation rates in cuprate superconductors

Transport properties of high transition temperature (high-Tc) superconductors apparently demonstrate two distinct relaxation rates in the normal state. We propose that this superficial inconsistence can be resolved with an effective carrier (quasiparticle) density n almost linear in temperature T. Experimental evidence both for and against this explanation is analyzed and we conclude that this offers a clear yet promising scenario. Band structure calculation was utilized to determine the Fermi surface topology of the cuprate superconductor versus doping. The results demonstrate that an electron-like portion of the Fermi surface exists in a wide range of doping levels even for a p-type superconductor, exemplified by La2−xSrxCuO4−δ (LSCO). Such electron-like segments have also been confirmed in recent photoemission electron spectroscopy. The Coulomb interaction between electron-like and hole-like quasiparticles then forms a bound state, similar to that of an exciton. As a result the number of charge carriers upon cooling temperature is decreased. A quantum mechanical calculation of scattering cross section demonstrates that a T2 relaxation rate is born out of an electron–hole collision process. Above the pseudogap temperature T* the normal state of high-Tc cuprates is close to a two-component Fermi liquid. It, however, assumes non-Fermi-liquid behavior below T*.
Characterization of the binding of endothelin ETB selective ligands in human and rat heart

1 We determined competition binding characteristics of endothelin ETB receptor selective ligands in human left ventricle and compared these values to those obtained with rat left ventricle. Sarafotoxin S6c, ET‐3, BQ788 and IRL2500 competed against [125I]‐BQ3020 (ETB selective radioligand; Molenaar et al., 1992) with high affinity and against [125I]‐PD151242 (ETA selective radioligand) with low affinity in human left ventricle, confirming the ETB selectivity of these compounds. 2 ET‐3 competed with moderate selectivity for ETB over ETA receptors in human left ventricle and with slightly higher selectivity in rat left ventricle (460 and 1,400 fold, respectively). There was a small difference in the affinity of ETA receptors for ET‐3 (KD ETA in human left ventricle = 0.07 ± 0.02 μm; KD ETA in rat left ventricle = 0.27 ± 0.08 μm; P = 0.05) but no difference in the affinity of ETB receptors for this ligand (KD ETB in human left ventricle = 0.15 ± 0.06 nM; KD ETB in rat left ventricle = 0.19 ± 0.03 nM). 3 The selectivity of sarafotoxin S6c for ETB over ETA receptors in human left ventricle was 5,900 fold compared with 59,400 fold in rat left ventricle. The affinity of ETA receptors for sarafotoxin S6c was higher in human than in rat left ventricle (KD ETA = 2.00 ± 0.20 μm and 3.50 ± 0.26 μm, respectively; P = 0.03), while the affinity of ETB receptors for this ligand was higher in rat left ventricle (KD ETB = 0.06 ± 0.02 nM) than in human left ventricle (KD ETB = 0.34 ± 0.13 nM) (P = 0.02). The affinity of ETB receptors for sarafotoxin S6c in rat left ventricle determined in the absence or presence of GTP was the same indicating that differing affinity states of ETB receptors in human and rat left ventricle do not account for the variation observed between species. 4 There was no difference in the affinity of ETA receptors for BQ788 (KD ETA = 1.01 ± 0.20 μm and KD ETA = 1.39 ± 0.35 μm) or for the novel ETB selective antagonist, IRL2500 (KD ETA = 30.0 ± 20.8 μm and KD ETA = 55.6 ± 9.93 μm) in human and rat left ventricle, respectively. ETB receptors had a significantly higher affinity for BQ788 (KD ETB = 9.8 ± 1.3 nM and KD ETB = 31.0 ± 5.4 nM; P = 0.02) and IRL2500 (KD ETB = 78.2 ± 9.7 nM and KD ETB = 300.0 ± 75.1 nM; P = 0.03) in human and rat left ventricle, respectively. The synthetically synthesized ETB selective antagonist RES‐701‐1 (0.1–3 μm) failed to inhibit [125I]‐ET‐1 binding in either tissue. 5 In conclusion, we have compared equilibrium dissociation constants for a number of ETB selective compounds in human and rat heart. The affinity of ETB receptors for sarafotoxin S6c, BQ788 and IRL2500 differed in human and rat left ventricle. No difference in affinity was detected for ET‐3 binding at ETB receptors. Sarafotoxin S6c binding was unaffected by GTP indicating that the different receptor affinities in human and rat heart cannot be explained by differing ETB receptor affinity states. This study highlights the need to consider differences in binding characteristics that may arise from the use of tissues obtained from different species.
Dual mobility bearings withstand loading from steeper cup‐inclinations without substantial wear

Steep cup abduction angles with adverse joint loading may increase traditional polyethylene bearing wear in total hip arthroplasties. However, there have been few reports evaluating the effect of cup inclination on the wear of dual‐mobility devices. In a hip joint simulation, we compared the short‐term wear of two‐sizes of modular highly cross‐linked dual‐mobility bearings (28 mm femoral head diameter/42 mm polyethylene insert outer diameter/54 mm acetabular shell diameter; 22.2 mm femoral head diameter/36 mm polyethylene insert outer diameter/48 mm acetabular shell diameter) at 50 and 65° of cup inclination with modular 28 mm femoral head on 54 mm cup diameter metal‐on‐highly cross‐linked polyethylene bearings. Increasing inclination from 50–65° had no changes in volumetric wear of 28/42/54 mm (mean, 1.7 vs. 1.2 mm3/million cycles, respectively; p = 0.50) and 22.2/36/48 mm (mean, 1.7 vs. 1.2 mm3/million cycles, respectively; p = 0.48) dual mobility bearings. At 65°, 22.2/36/48 mm dual‐mobility bearings had lower volumetric loss (mean, 2.2 vs. 6.3 mm3; p = 0.03) and wear rates (mean, 1.2 vs. 2.7 mm3/million cycles; p = 0.02) compared to metal‐on‐highly cross‐linked polyethylene bearings. Modern‐generation dual‐mobility designs with highly cross‐linked polyethylenes may potentially withstand edge‐loading from steeper cup‐inclinations without substantial decreases in wear. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:? –? , 2015.
Public attitude towards psychiatric treatment

Past research on help‐seeking behaviour and compliance among the mentally ill has mainly been focused on the examination of individual and structural determinants, while the impact of the socio‐cultural context has been largely neglected. To examine this impact, we conducted a representative survey among German citizens who were eligible to vote. By means of vignettes describing different mental disorders we recorded the lay public's for various treatment methods, together with their subjective reasons for voicing these particular preferences. While we found that psychotherapy was generally held in high esteem by the lay public, psychopharmacotherapy was rejected by the vast majority of respondents. This pattern was observed for all of the mental disorders included in our survey. While the public's image of psychotherapy is largely determined by popular views on psychoanalysis, public opinion about psychotropic drugs is strongly influenced by characteristics associated with tranquillizers. Among the different psychotherapeutic approaches, psychoanalysis is the preferred method among respondents in the western part of Germany, while the lay public in the eastern part tends to endorse group therapy. Finally, our research showed a considerable difference between the conceptions held by the lay public and those of psychiatric experts with regard to the adequate treatment of mental disorders. This, in turn, should not be without consequence for help‐seeking behaviour and patient compliance.
Role of group A streptococcal IgG‐binding proteins in triggering experimental glomerulonephritis in the rabbit

Our previous studies have indicated that the IgG‐binding M‐family proteins (IgGBP) of group A streptococci may be involved in eliciting experimental acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) in the rabbit. These surface proteins were also found to trigger production of anti‐IgG, which might conceivably act to enhance renal deposition of immune complexes (IC). In the present study, a clinical isolate of serotype M22 (strain AL168), an isogenic double mutant deficient for both the IgGBPs Mrp and Emm, as well as mutants deficient in only one of the proteins were tested for capacity to induce glomerulonephritis. Streptococci to be used for injecting rabbits were heat‐killed. Surface‐bound IgG was removed by 1 M KSCN and cells were then repeatedly washed in PBS before use. Rabbits were injected intravenously with 109 cells three times a week for 8 weeks and, following one month of rest, for another 6 weeks. Deposits of IgG and C3 as well as induced chemokines TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐6 were traced in cryostat sections using specific antibodies and appropriate peroxidase‐labelled anti‐antibodies. In four rabbits immunized with the double mutant strain, no deposits were found, and as examined by TEM, only subtle and transient renal changes were observed. In contrast, the original strain AL168 induced pronounced inflammatory and degenerative glomerular changes in all four rabbits injected, and deposits of TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐6 were found in mesangial and endothelial cells. Similar deposits and glomerular changes were seen in all eight rabbits injected with the mrp−emm+ mutant and in four out of seven animals receiving the mrp+emm− mutant. There was a highly significant correlation between high levels of circulating anti‐IgG and development of APSGN. These results confirm an important role of streptococcal IgGBP in triggering experimental APSGN as earlier proposed by our group.
Scaffolding reflective learning in clinical practice: A comparison of two types of reflective activities

Abstract Background: The development of reflective learning skills is a continuous process that needs scaffolding. It can be described as a continuum, with the focus of reflection differing in granularity from recent, concrete activities to global competency development. Aim: To explore learners’ perceptions regarding the effects of two reflective writing activities designed to stimulate reflection at different degrees of granularity during clinical training. Methods: Totally 142 respondents (students and recent graduates) completed a questionnaire. Quantitative and qualitative data were triangulated. Results: Immediate reflection-on-action was perceived to be more valuable than delayed reflection-on-competency-development because it facilitated day-to-day improvement. Delayed reflection was perceived to facilitate overall self-assessment, self-confidence and continuous improvement, but this perception was mainly found among graduates. Detailed reflection immediately after a challenging learning experience and broad reflection on progress appeared to serve different learning goals and consequently require different arrangements regarding feedback and timing. Conclusions: Granularity of focus has consequences for scaffolding reflective learning, with immediate reflection on concrete events and reflection on long-term progress requiring different approaches. Learners appeared to prefer immediate reflection-on-action.
γδ T Cell Homeostasis Is Controlled by IL-7 and IL-15 Together with Subset-Specific Factors1

Among T cell subsets, γδ T cells uniquely display an Ag receptor-based tissue distribution, but what defines their preferential homing and homeostasis is unknown. To address this question, we studied the resources that control γδ T cell homeostasis in secondary lymphoid organs. We found that γδ and αβ T cells are controlled by partially overlapping resources, because acute homeostatic proliferation of γδ T cells was inhibited by an intact αβ T cell compartment, and both populations were dependent on IL-7 and IL-15. Significantly, to undergo acute homeostatic proliferation, γδ T cells also required their own depletion. Thus, γδ T cell homeostasis is maintained by trophic cytokines commonly used by other types of lymphoid cells, as well as by additional, as yet unidentified, γδ-specific factors.