Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The cementless anatomic medullary locking femoral component: an independent clinical and radiographic assessment.

OBJECTIVE To review the clinical performance of the anatomic medullary locking (AML) femoral stem in total hip arthroplasty. DESIGN A clinical and radiographic review. SETTING A tertiary lower limb joint replacement centre. PATIENTS Two hundred and twenty-one patients with noninflammatory gonarthrosis. INTERVENTIONS Two hundred and twenty-seven primary total hip arthroplasties with the noncemented AML component completed by two surgeons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Independent review by two experienced reviewers of the postoperative Harris hip score, radiographs of component fixation, size and degree of diaphyseal fill. RESULTS Harris hip score was 84 (range from 43 to 98); component fixation showed bone ingrowth in 41%, stable fixation with fibrous ingrowth in 56% and unstable fixation in 3%; severe thigh pain in 4% of cases correlated with unstable fixation, and there was mild thigh pain in 20% of cases. CONCLUSION The AML femoral stem performs well in replacement arthroplasty compared with other noncemented stems.
Prognostic Factors, Pattern of Recurrence and Survival in a Danish Bladder Cancer Cohort Treated with Radical Cystectomy

A cohort of 248 consecutive patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy between 1992 and 98 was retrospectively followed from diagnosis until death. Prognostic factors, pattern of recurrence and survival were analysed. Pathological T and N, angiolymphatic and perineural invasion had an independent prognostic influence on survival. Patients without muscle-invasive tumour (Ta, T1) had a good prognosis, whereas patients with primarily superficial tumour progressing to muscle-invasive tumour had a significantly poorer outcome. Forty-six percent of these patients developed recurrences in the follow-up period, with a median time from recurrence to death of 5 months. The 5-year disease-specific survival for all 248 patients was 57%. Patients with pT4b or N+ all died within 3 years. Patients with positive lymph nodes or T4b were not curable with cystectomy alone. Patients with advanced T or with perineural/vessel invasion are in need of improved treatment options. Patients with superficial tumours at high risk of progression should be offered early cystectomy.
Cl‐IB‐MECA inhibits human erythropoiesis

Candidate drugs are being sought for the suppression of human erythropoiesis. Cl‐IB‐MECA [2‐chloro‐N6‐(3‐iodobenzyl)‐adenosine‐5′‐N‐methyluronamide] is a derivative of adenosine that inhibits the growth of leukaemic cell lines. To determine the effects of Cl‐IB‐MECA upon erythropoiesis, studies were performed by using an ex vivo culture system of primary human CD34+ cells. Cl‐IB‐MECA suppressed erythroblast growth and maturation at doses ≥50 μmol/l through a mechanism of cell cycle inhibition and accumulation of cells in the G1/G0 phase. These findings demonstrate that Cl‐IB‐MECA inhibits human erythropoiesis, and suggest that further consideration of this drug is warranted for patients with erythrocytosis or polycythemia syndromes.
Spinal μ-Opioid Receptor-Expressing Dorsal Horn Neurons: Role in Nociception and Morphine Antinociception

The role of spinal cord μ-opioid receptor (MOR)-expressing dorsal horn neurons in nociception and morphine analgesia is incompletely understood. Using intrathecal dermorphin-saporin (Derm-sap) to selectively destroy MOR-expressing dorsal horn neurons, we sought to determine the role of these neurons in (1) normal baseline reflex nocifensive responses to noxious thermal stimulation (hotplate, tail flick) and to persistent noxious chemical stimulation (formalin) and (2) the antinociceptive activity of intrathecal and systemic morphine in the same tests. Lumbar intrathecal Derm-sap (500 ng) produced (1) partial loss of lamina II MOR-expressing dorsal horn neurons, (2) no effect on MOR-expressing dorsal root ganglion neurons, and (3) no change in baseline tail-flick and hotplate reflex nocifensive responses. Derm-sap treatment attenuated the antinociceptive action of both intrathecal and systemic morphine on hotplate responses. Derm-sap treatment had two effects in the formalin test: (1) increased baseline nocifensive responding and (2) reduced antinociceptive action of systemic morphine. We conclude that MOR-expressing dorsal horn neurons (1) are not essential for determining nocifensive reflex responsiveness to noxious thermal stimuli, (2) are necessary for full antinociceptive action of morphine (intrathecal or systemic) in these tests, and (3) play a significant role in the endogenous modulation of reflex nocifensive responses to persistent pain in the formalin test. Thus, one would predict that altering the activity of MOR-expressing dorsal horn neurons would be antinociceptive and of interest in the search for new approaches to management of chronic pain.
Low dose capsule based 13c-urea breath test compared with the conventional 13c-urea breath test and invasive tests.

CONTEXT One of the limitations of 13C-urea breath test for Helicobacter pylori infection diagnosis in Brazil is the substrate acquisition in capsule presentation. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate a capsule-based 13C-urea, manipulated by the Pharmacy Division, for the clinical practice. METHODS Fifty patients underwent the conventional and the capsule breath test. Samples were collected at the baseline and after 10, 20 and 30 minutes of 13C-urea ingestion. Urease and histology were used as gold standard in 83 patients. RESULTS In a total of 50 patients, 17 were positive with the conventional 13C-urea (75 mg) breath test at 10, 20 and 30 minutes. When these patients repeated breath test with capsule (50 mg), 17 were positive at 20 minutes and 15 at 10 and 30 minutes. The relative sensitivity of 13C-urea with capsule was 100% at 20 minutes and 88.24% at 10 and at 30 minutes. The relative specificity was 100% at all time intervals. Among 83 patients that underwent capsule breath test and endoscopy the capsule breath test presented 100% of sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS Capsule based breath test with 50 mg 13C-urea at twenty minutes was found highly sensitive and specific for the clinical setting.
Store depletion and store‐operated Ca2+ current in human prostate cancer LNCaP cells: involvement in apoptosis

1 In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms involved in the induction of apoptosis by the Ca2+‐ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (TG), in androgen‐sensitive human prostate cancer LNCaP cells. 2 Exposure of fura‐2‐loaded LNCaP cells to TG in the presence of extracellular calcium produced an increase in intracellular Ca2+, the first phase of which was associated with depletion of intracellular stores and the second one with consecutive extracellular Ca2+ entry through plasma membrane, store‐operated Ca2+ channels (SOCs). 3 For the first time we have identified and characterized the SOC‐mediated membrane current (Istore) in prostate cells using whole‐cell, cell‐attached, and perforated patch‐clamp techniques, combined with fura‐2 microspectrofluorimetric and Ca2+‐imaging measurements. 4 I store in LNCaP cells lacked voltage‐dependent gating and displayed an inwardly rectifying current‐voltage relationship. The unitary conductance of SOCs with 80 mM Ca2+ as a charge carrier was estimated at 3.2 ± 0.4 pS. The channel has a high selectivity for Ca2+ over monovalent cations and is inhibited by Ni2+ (0.5–3 mM) and La3+ (1 μM). 5 Treatment of LNCaP cells with TG (0.1 μM) induced apoptosis as judged from morphological changes. Decreasing extracellular free Ca2+ to 200 nM or adding 0.5 mM Ni2+ enhanced TG‐induced apoptosis. 6 The ability of TG to induce apoptosis was not reduced by loading the cells with intracellular Ca2+ chelator (BAPTA‐AM). 7 These results indicate that in androgen‐sensitive prostate cancer cells the depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores may trigger apoptosis but that there is no requirement for the activation of store‐activated Ca2+ current and sustained Ca2+ entry in induction and development of programmed cell death.
Absence of Attachment Representations (AAR) in the adult years: The emergence of a new AAI classification in catastrophically traumatized Holocaust child survivors

In the present study we present a new and rare type of discourse in the AAI which is characterized by absence of attachment representations during adulthood. Forty-eight women, who as children lost both parents as a result of the Holocaust, were administered the AAI in their late adulthood. Two cases in this sample could not be assigned to any of the traditional AAI classification system (F, Ds, E, CC), mainly because they were unable to associate themselves with any significant attachment figure throughout their life. We raise the possibility that some devastating experiences during childhood might cause an unrecoverable crash in already established patterns of attachment to an extent that adulthood will be characterized by state of mind that bears no emotional tie to even a single attachment figure. We illustrate this state of mind by presenting the life history as well as quotations from the AAI of two women, and we discuss the possibility of a new AAI classification, namely Absence of Attachment Representations – AAR. The possible effects of the AAR classification on parental caregiving behaviors are discussed.
High-dose intravenous melphalan: a review.

PURPOSE To review the clinical pharmacology and clinical trials that have used intravenous (IV) high-dose melphalan (HDM). METHODS We reviewed the mechanism of action, clinical pharmacology, and clinical studies of HDM with and without autologous bone marrow support (ABMT) or peripheral-blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) in the following disease areas: myeloma, ovarian cancer, malignant lymphoma, breast cancer, neuroblastoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and acute leukemia. RESULTS HDM has a distribution half-life (t1/2 alpha) of 5 to 15 minutes and an elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) of 17 to 75 minutes at doses of 140 to 180 mg/m2, with significant intrapatient variability. At these doses, a wide range of areas under the concentration/time curve (AUC) have been reported, ie, 146 to 1,515 mg/min/mL. HDM has significant clinical activity in patients with multiple myeloma in relapse or when used as consolidative therapy in relapsed ovarian cancer, relapsed Hodgkin's disease, breast cancer, and relapsed neuroblastoma. Additional studies are required to determine the activity of HDM in Ewing's sarcoma or acute leukemia. Toxicities of HDM include myelosuppression, moderate nausea and vomiting, moderate to severe mucositis and diarrhea, and, infrequently, hepatic venoocclusive disease. CONCLUSION HDM has become an established and effective salvage regimen for children with relapsed neuroblastoma, as well as an effective consolidative treatment for children with high-risk disease (stage IV). HDM is emerging as an active and effective mode of treatment in patients with stage II and III myeloma. The favorable toxicity profile of HDM and the availability of PBPCs allows for repetitive therapy.
Immunoregulatory T Cell Subsets in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection: The Influence of Homosexuality

The purposes of this study were 2‐fold: (i) To enumerate peripheral immunoregulatory T cell subsets in untreated patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and (ii) to examine the relationship between disturbances in the balance of lymphocyte subsets with liver disease and the presence of homosexuality. Circulating T lymphocyte subsets were evaluated by monoclonal antibodies to the following cell antigens: OKT3 (total T cells), OKT4 (helper/inducer T cells), and 0KT8 (suppressor/cytotoxic T cells). The following groups of subjects were examined: (i) 16 heterosexuals with HBV‐associated chronic active hepatitis (CAHB); (ii) 10 heterosexual, healthy HBsAg carriers, and (iii) 16 male homosexuals with CAHB. Controls included 51 healthy heterosexuals and 12 healthy, noninfected male homosexuals.
Ovariectomy‐induced bone loss occurs independently of B cells

Estrogen withdrawal is associated with a significant expansion in B cell precursor and mature B cell populations. However, despite significant circumstantial evidence the role of B lineage cells in ovariectomy‐induced bone loss in vivo is unclear. In vitro studies have demonstrated that mature B cells have the potential to both positively and negatively impact osteoclastogenesis by virtue of their capacity to secrete pro‐osteoclastogenic cytokines including receptor activator of NFκB ligand (RANKL), as well as anti‐osteoclastogenic cytokines such as osteoprotegerin (OPG) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ). Although several studies have suggested that expansion of the B lineage following ovariectomy may play a key role in the etiology of ovariectomy‐induced bone loss, in vivo studies to directly test this notion have yet to be conducted. In this study, we performed ovariectomy on µMT(−/−) mice which are specifically deficient in mature B cells. Analysis of bone mineral density (BMD) by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) and micro‐computed tomography (CT) demonstrate that mature B cell‐deficient mice undergo an identical loss of bone mass relative to wild‐type (WT) control mice. Our data demonstrate that mature B cells are not central mediators of ovariectomy‐induced bone loss in vivo. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 1370–1375, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Obtaining Outpatient Referrals for Clinical Research

Two methods of recruiting patients with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) were compared. One hundred general practitioners in the immediate neighbourhood of a major urban hospital were approached for referrals, and an article on generalised anxiety asking for volunteers was placed in the evening newspaper. The former resulted in ten doctor-initiated referrals, two of whom fulfilled DSM-Ill criteria for GAD. The latter resulted in over 500 volunteers. In a random selection of 136 volunteers who secured their doctors' approval, 56 fulfilled GAD criteria. The majority of the remainder had a depressive illness. The newspaper article was more economical of researchers' time and more successful in finding suitable subjects than directly approaching general practitioners.
Museums of Europe: Tangles of Memory, Borders, and Race

In this article I investigate the making of two new museums of Europe—Marseille's Museum of the Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean and Berlin's Museum of European Cultures—by focusing on the kinds of “Europe” envisioned in their exhibitions. I argue that museums represent an important site where the geopolitical imaginary of a bounded, culturalized Europe is produced, even if by default. I explore how these older national folklore collections were strategically rebranded as museums of Europe to give a second life to their nearly obsolete displays. National projects and geopolitics play a key role in such memorial Europeanization. These insights challenge taken-for-granted understandings of scale in memory studies and offer a more nuanced understanding of how Europeanization is playing out within cultural institutions. Amid multiple European crises, “Europe” is increasingly imagined as a diverse but essentially united cultural space—however fuzzy and contested its cultural content may be—while this spatial imaginary is racialized in subtle ways.
Cardiac and Metabolic Effects of Dietary Selenomethionine Exposure in Adult Zebrafish

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient involved in important metabolic functions for all vertebrate species. As Se is reported to have a narrow margin between essentiality and toxicity, there is growing concern surrounding the adverse effects of elevated Se exposure caused by anthropogenic activities. Recent studies have reported that elevated dietary exposure of fish to selenomethionine (Se-Met) can alter aerobic metabolic capacity, energetics and swimming performance. This study aims to further investigate mechanisms of sublethal Se-Met toxicity, particularly potential underlying cardiovascular implications of chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of dietary Se-Met in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Adult zebrafish were fed either control food (1.1 μg Se/g dry mass [d.m.]) or Se-Met spiked food (10.3 or 28.8 μg Se/g d.m.) for 90 d at 5% body weight per day. Following exposure, ultrahigh resolution B-mode and Doppler ultrasound was used to characterize cardiac function. Chronic dietary exposure to elevated Se-Met significantly reduced ventricular contractile rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output. Exposure to Se-Met significantly decreased mRNA expression of methionine adenosyltransferase 1 alpha and glutathione-S-transferase pi class in liver, and a key cardiac remodelling enzyme, matrix metalloproteinase 2, in adult zebrafish heart. Se-Met significantly increased echodensity at the junction between atrium and ventricle, and these results combined with increased matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression are consistent with cardiac remodelling and fibrosis. The results of this study suggest that chronic exposure to dietary Se-Met can negatively impact cardiac function, and such physiological consequences could reduce the aerobic capacity and survivability of fish.
Using digital surveillance to examine the impact of public figure pancreatic cancer announcements on media and search query outcomes.

BACKGROUND Announcements of cancer diagnoses from public figures may stimulate cancer information seeking and media coverage about cancer. This study used digital surveillance to quantify the effects of pancreatic cancer public figure announcements on online cancer information seeking and cancer media coverage. METHODS We compiled a list of public figures (N = 25) who had been diagnosed with or had died from pancreatic cancer between 2006 and 2011. We specified interrupted time series models using data from Google Trends to examine search query shifts for pancreatic cancer and other cancers. Weekly media coverage archived on Google News were also analyzed. RESULTS Most public figures' pancreatic cancer announcements corresponded with no appreciable change in pancreatic cancer search queries or media coverage. In contrast, Patrick Swayze's diagnosis was associated with a 285% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 212 to 360) increase in pancreatic cancer search queries, though it was only weakly associated with increases in pancreatic cancer media coverage. Steve Jobs's death was associated with a 197% (95% CI: 131 to 266) increase in pancreatic cancer queries and a 3517% (95% CI: 2882 to 4492) increase in pancreatic cancer media coverage. In general, a doubling in pancreatic cancer-specific media coverage corresponded with a 325% increase in pancreatic cancer queries. CONCLUSION Digital surveillance is an important tool for future cancer control research and practice. The current application of these methods suggested that pancreatic cancer announcements (diagnosis or death) by particular public figures stimulated media coverage of and online information seeking for pancreatic cancer.
Medicare Managed Care Enrollment by Disability-Eligible and Age-Eligible Veterans

Objective:To assess factors associated with enrollment in a Medicare advantage (MA) plan versus Medicare fee-for-service plan in 2000–2004 by Medicare-eligible veterans. We also assessed whether these factors differed between disability-eligible veterans and age-eligible veterans. Methods:Medicare claims data, VA administrative data, and 2000 census data were constructed in a retrospective cohort study of 20,581 age-eligible veterans and 7541 disability-eligible veterans. MA enrollment in 2000–2004 was estimated in a logistic regression in a pooled sample of age-eligible and disability-eligible veterans that controlled for demographic, socioeconomic, and disease risk factors. Separate logistic regressions also were estimated for age-eligible and disability-eligible veterans. Results:Minority veterans and veterans with lower disease risk scores were more likely to be enrolled in an MA plan in 2000–2004 than white veterans or veterans with higher risk scores. Age-eligible veterans were more likely to be enrolled if aged 75 or older, female, able to receive free VA care, or not enrolled in Medicaid. Disability-eligible veterans were more likely to be enrolled if they were married or elderly. Conclusions:Medicare Advantage plans appeared to benefit from favorable selection of Medicare-eligible veterans.
Trachoma in Indigenous Settlements in Brazil, 2000–2008

ABSTRACT Purpose: Trachoma, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory disease that affects the cornea and conjunctiva. Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of avoidable blindness worldwide. Its prevalence is higher among individuals of low socioeconomic status, and trachoma is common in indigenous communities. The present study presents aspects of the epidemiological profile of trachoma in indigenous communities in Brazil. Methods: We analyzed data from two databases collected during trachoma screening activities among the population of indigenous settlements in Brazil between 2000 and 2008. Trachoma cases were detected by ocular examination in accordance with the World Health Organization simplified trachoma grading system. Results: According to the surveillance database, a total of 9582 individuals in six different states were examined. Among children aged 1–9 years, the prevalence of follicular trachomatous inflammation (TF) was 35.2%. In individuals aged ≥15 years, the prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) was 1.2% in individuals and the sex-specific prevalence was 0.8% in males and 1.6% in females (p = 0.02). In a survey of two states, 2301 indigenous schoolchildren were examined. In the age bracket 5–9 years, the prevalence of TF was 4.9 (95% confidence interval 3.8–6.0%). Conclusion: In Brazil, trachoma appears to be a serious public health problem in indigenous settlements, which should therefore be given priority in programs aimed at the elimination of trachoma in the country.
Acceleration of Germination of Super-Hard Rice Cultivar EM10 by Soaking with Red Onion

Red onion accelerated the germination of rice seeds and inhibited microbial infestation during germination. After germination with red onion for 16 h at 35 °C, super-hard rice EM10 showed a higher germination ratio (2.3 times), and it contained more GABA (2.3 times) and glucose (2.9 times) than that soaked without onion. Due to soaking with red onion, germinated EM10 was fortified with quercetin (18 mg/100 g).
Phase behaviour and structural properties of two members of biphenylyl benzoate chiral mesogenic series

ABSTRACT Phase behaviour and structural properties of two members of biphenylyl benzoate chiral mesogenic series (2F3R and 3F3R) have been investigated. While both the compounds exhibit SmC* phase over a wide temperature range, 2F3R forms orthogonal SmA* from tilted SmC* on heating but 3F3R melts directly to the isotropic phase. The SmA* phase of 2F3R is found to have de vries characteristics with small effective layer contraction. Both the samples on cooling form hexagonal SmF* phase below SmC* phase. On further cooling soft crystal like hexagonal SmJ* phase is formed in 2F3R, undergoing a change in the tilt direction, but in 3F3R, SmG* phase is formed without any change in the tilt direction. A coexistence phase of (SmC*+SmF*) is also observed in a certain temperature range. Slight differences in the dipole moment and molecular conformation of the two molecules give rise to a subtle change in the intermolecular interaction and play an important role in the appearance of different phases in the two compounds. Cell parameters of SmF*, SmG*, SmJ* phases have also been determined. Layer spacings, tilt angles, average intermolecular spacings and correlation lengths have been measured. How some of these properties compare with other members of the series has been discussed. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT