Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Atorvastatin, a New HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor as Monotherapy and Combined With Colestipol

Background: Atorvastatin, a new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in clinical development has demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and marked cholesterol and triglyceride reduction at doses ranging from 10-80 mg/day. Since bile acid sequestering resins are often used in combination with HMGRIs to enhance cholesterol reduction, this trial was conducted to explore the use of atorvastatin alone and combined with colestipol in patients with primary hyperlipidemia. Methods and Results: One hundred six patients with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol > 4.1 mM/L (160 mg/dL) and plasma triglycerides < 3.9 mM/L (350 mg/dL) were randomized to treatment consisting of 20 g/day colestipol, 10 mg/day atorvastatin, or 10 mg/day atorvastatin plus 20 g/day colestipol for 12 weeks. Percent change from baseline in lipid variables was measured. The atorvastatin group showed a significant reduction in LDL cholesterol of 35% after 12 weeks. Combination therapy provided an additional 10% reduction in LDL cholesterol over that observed for atorvastatin alone. Twenty-one percent of all patients in the atorvastatin monotherapy group experienced associated adverse events compared with 60% in the combination therapy group. Ninety percent of atorvastatin monotherapy patients were compliant at every visit compared with 75% receiving combination therapy. Conclusions: Although the combination of atorvastatin plus colestipol was more effective in lowering LDL cholesterol than atorvastatin alone, atorvastatin 10 mg/day monotherapy provided a better safety profile and improved patient compliance. which may result in improved long-term cholesterol control. Conclusions: Although the combination of atorvastatin plus colestipol was more effective in lowering LDL cholesterol than atorvastatin alone, atorvastatin 10 mg/day monotherapy provided a better safety profile and improved patient compliance. which may result in improved long-term cholesterol control.
BK virus nephritis: risk factors, timing, and outcome in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND BK virus nephritis (BKVN) has emerged as an important cause of renal transplant failure. Quantified analysis of its timing and clinical course is generally lacking. We have thus quantified the timing, risk factors, evolution of renal function, and transplant graft outcome in renal transplant recipients with BKVN from our center. METHODS A total of 41 cases of BKVN were diagnosed in 1001 renal and renal/pancreas transplant recipients. There were 2 groups: group I (N= 16), with diagnosis based on renal biopsy alone from January 1996 to August 2001, and group II (N= 25), with diagnosis based on quantitative blood BKV-PCR and biopsy from September 2001 to December 2003. The demographics, the clinical course, immunosuppressive therapy, renal function, and graft outcome were quantified. Donor, recipient, and transplant risk variables were studied using a univariate analysis. Actuarial graft survival was calculated. An immunosuppressive scale created to evaluate the degree of immunosuppression in these patients and its reduction after the diagnosis of BKVN. RESULTS The median time from transplant to BKVN diagnosis was 318 days (range 48-1356). The actuarial graft survival in patients with BKVN at 6 months, 1, 3, and 5 years was 97%, 90%, 58%, and 47%. The corresponding values for those without BKVN were 94%, 92%, 83%, and 76%, respectively, P < 0.001. Graft loss occurred in 46% of patients. The rate of decline of renal function in group II (N= 25) patients in the 4 months preceding BKVN was rapid (4.8 mL/min/month) and this declined to 0.7 mL/min/month at 3 months' post-BKVN diagnosis, P= 0.004. In those who recovered, the time to stabilization of renal function was a median of 112 days. The immunosuppressive scale score was 7 units at the time of diagnosis of BKVN and decreased to 3.5 units at 3 months' post-BKVN. Reduction in the dose of calcineurin inhibitors but not the overall reduction in dose of immunosuppression correlated with recovery of renal function in these patients. CONCLUSION BKVN is a relatively late complication of renal transplantation. Despite reduction in immunosuppression, graft loss occurred in 46% of patients. There was a steep decline in renal function in months preceding the diagnosis of BKVN, and reduction in calcineurin inhibitor dose, but not overall immunosuppression, correlated with stabilization of renal function.
Intergroup Reconciliation: Effects of Adversary's Expressions of Empathy, Responsibility, and Recipients' Trust

The present study explores the effects of expressions of empathy for the ingroup's conflict-related suffering and assumed responsibility for causing it by a representative of the rival outgroup on recipient's willingness for reconciliation. It is suggested that such positive expressions by an adversary will have positive effects on reconciliation only in the presence of a basic level of trust in the outgroup. In two studies, Israeli-Jewish participants were exposed to a Palestinian leader who either expressed or did not express empathy and/or Palestinian responsibility for Israelis' suffering. After reading the speech, participants completed a questionnaire that measured their attitudes toward reconciliation with Palestinians. Results of both studies show that whereas expression of empathy led to more positive attitudes when trust was high, it tended to have adverse effects when trust was low. Similar effects were not found for assumed responsibility. Implications for research on intergroup conflict and reconciliation are discussed.
Does Practice Make Perfect?: Part II: The Relation Between Volume and and Outcomes and Other Hospital Characteristics

The effect of a greater volume of patients with similar conditions being treated at a hospital on the outcomes achieved is investigated for almost 500,000 selected surgical and medical patients treated in over 1,200 nonfederal United States hospitals. In Part I the authors found strong and consistent evidence for surgical patients that high volume is associated with better outcome; evidence for medical patients was mixed. In this paper the authors include other hospital variables related both to volume and outcome—hospital size, teaching status, and expenditures—to determine whether they mask the true relationship; still, strong and consistent evidence that greater volume produces better outcome was found for both surgical and medical patients. This relation was significant for low-, medium-, and high-risk patients. Among the hospital variations added, only size was consistently and strongly related to outcome; greater size was associated with poorer outcome after accounting for volume. The potential importance of the findings for reducing deaths and days in hospital on a national level is discussed. The evidence is strongly supportive of the need for policies that would promote greater regionalization of a given service, and not greater size, to obtain better quality outcome for patients treated.
Stability of crestal bone level at platform-switched non-submerged titanium implants: a histomorphometrical study in dogs.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the influence of platform switching on crestal bone level changes at non-submerged titanium implants over a period of 6 months. MATERIAL AND METHODS Titanium implants (n=72) were placed at 0.4 mm above the alveolar crest in the lower jaws of 12 dogs and randomly assigned to either matching or non-matching (circumferential horizontal mismatch of 0.3 mm) healing abutments. At 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks, dissected blocks were processed for histomorphometrical analysis. Measurements were made between the implant shoulder (IS) and the apical extension of the long junctional epithelium (aJE), the most coronal level of bone in contact with the implant (CLB), and the level of the alveolar bone crest (BC). RESULTS At 24 weeks, differences in the mean IS-aJE, IS-CLB, and IS-BC values were 0.2 +/- 1.2, 0.3 +/- 0.7, and 0.3 +/- 0.8 mm at the buccal aspect, and 0.2 +/- 0.9, 0.3 +/- 0.5, and 0.3 +/- 0.8 mm at the lingual aspect, respectively. Comparisons between groups revealed no significant differences at either the buccal or the lingual aspects. CONCLUSIONS It was concluded that (i) bone remodelling was minimal in both groups and (ii) platform switching may not be of crucial importance for maintenance of the crestal bone level.
Cultural Distance, Immigrants' Identity, and Labour Market Outcomes

Consistent estimates of the effect of ethnic identity on labor market outcomes is complicated by the endogenous relationship between performance on the labor market and attitudes towards ethnic identity. This paper uses measures of genetic and linguistic distance between an immigrants' home and host countries as instruments for ethnic identity. We find some evidence for adverse effects of home country identity on male immigrants' unemployment likelihood. Our results also suggest that a stronger host country identity only has a systematic effect on female employment and job satisfaction. Overall, ethnic identity appears to play only a negligible role in immigrants' labour market performance.
Optical precursors in transparent media

We theoretically study the linear propagation of a stepwise pulse through a dilute dispersive medium when the frequency of the optical carrier coincides with the center of a natural or electromagnetically induced transparency window of the medium (slow-light systems). We obtain fully analytical expressions of the entirety of the step response and show that, for parameters representative of real experiments, Sommerfeld-Brillouin precursors, main field and second precursors ('postcursors') can be distinctly observed, all with amplitudes comparable to that of the incident step. This behavior strongly contrasts with that of the systems generally considered up to now.
Behaviour in a Two-Stage Public Goods Experiment

In a two-stage two-public good experiment, we study the effect that subjects’ possibility of contributing to a public good in the first stage of the game has on the voluntary contributions to the second public good. Our results show that subjects do not follow either the Nash strategy or the Pareto efficient strategy and that they perceive the two public goods as substitutes.
KINAESTHETIC ABILITIES OF CLUMSY CHILDREN

Kinaesthesis was examined in 80 clumsy and 80 control children aged between six and nine years. Seven tasks were administered which required passive and active movements in both kinaesthetic and kinaesthetic‐visual modes. Clumsy children performed inferiorly on three tasks which involved passive or active demands. A range of tasks appears to be necessary to identify kinaesthetic dysfunction.
Associative Factors for Birth Asphyxia at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital—Malawi

Background: Birth asphyxia is one of the major causes of neonatal deaths worldwide. Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) neonatal ward records indicate that 36.5% of neonates admitted in the ward from April to September 2012 had birth asphyxia. This study was conducted to explore associative factors for birth asphyxia at QECH. Methodology: The study design was descriptive cross sectional that employed quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. Data sources were case notes of neonates and their mothers. Sample size was 87 neonates with birth asphyxia and 87 neonates admitted with conditions other than birth asphyxia as controls. Data were collected from November to December 2013. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version16.0 was used to analyze data. Results: Findings revealed that there were no maternal associative factors for birth asphyxia, however, foetal distress, prolonged first and second stage of labour were significant associative factors for birth asphyxia. Conclusion: Associative factors for birth asphyxia at QECH are Foetal distress, prolonged first and second stage of labour. These factors can be prevented if quality care is provided to women in labour through close monitoring of foetal heart, appropriate use of the partograph, prompt decision making and early interventions.
Non-Obese Type 2 Diabetes Animals Models

Diabetes mellitus is classified into two categories, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D or IDDM; Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus) is characterized by a loss of insulin secretion due to pancreatic β-cell degeneration, leading to autoimmune attack. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D or NIDDM; Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus) is metabolic disorder that is caused by insufficient insulin secretion and/or insulin resistance in peripheral and liver tissues. It is known that 90-95% of diabetes is diagnosed as T2D [2]. Development of T2D is usually caused by several factors, which are combined with lifestyle, genetic defects, virus infection, and drugs [3, 4]. Sustained hyperglycemia causes severe diabetic microvascular complications, such as retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and nephropathy. In the diabetic states, multiple mechanisms have been implicated in glucosemediated vascular damage and contribute to diabetic microvascular complications. In addition, postprandial state is also an important factor in the development of macroangiopathy. In diabetes, the postprandial phase is characterized by an exaggerated rise in blood glucose levels. It has recently been shown that postprandial hyperglycemia is relevant to onset of cardiovascular complications. From this evidence, treatment of diabetes has become a part of the strategies for the prevention of diabetic vascular complications.
AGING, CONTEXT MEMORY AND BINDING: A COMPARISON OF “WHAT, WHERE AND WHEN” IN YOUNG AND OLDER ADULTS

There is evidence that age-related memory decline does not effect all types of episodic information to an equal extent, but that especially contextual memory and the integration of multiple features in memory deteriorate. The current study investigates contextual memory in a group of healthy young (N = 40) and older (N = 40) adults without dementia. All participants performed a computerized memory task assessing target memory (objects only), contextual memory (positions only) and memory for the combinations of two features (object, space, temporal order), that is, binding of target-context or context-context features. The results showed age-related decline on all task conditions. Furthermore, the performance on conditions requiring the binding of target and context features was affected to a greater extent in older adults compared to younger adults. These findings support the notion that a decline in contextual memory and binding might underlie poorer episodic memory in older participants.
An Edge-Set Representation Based on a Spanning Tree for Searching Cut Space

The encoding or representation scheme in evolutionary algorithms is very important because it can greatly affect their performance. Most previous evolutionary algorithms for solving graph problems have traditionally used a vertex-based encoding in which each gene corresponds to a vertex. In this paper, addressing the well-known maximum cut problem, we introduce an edge-set encoding based on the spanning tree - a kind of edge-based encoding. In our encoding scheme, each gene corresponds to an edge subset derived from a spanning tree. In contrast to a traditional edge-based encoding in which each gene corresponds to only one edge, our encoding scheme has the advantage of representing only feasible solutions, so there is no need to apply a repair step. We present a genetic algorithm based on this new encoding. We have conducted various experiments on a large set of test graphs including commonly used benchmark graphs and have obtained performance improvement on sparse graphs, which frequently appear in real-world applications such as social networks and systems biology, in comparison with a scheme using a vertex-based encoding.
Bupropion Overdose: QTc Prolongation and its Clinical Significance

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cardiotoxicity of bupropion hydrochloride in deliberate self-poisoning. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in a national poisons information center (PIC) of cases of adult deliberate self-poisoning with medical record follow-up of the patients. Fifty-nine cases of bupropion deliberate self-poisoning managed in the hospital, in which the New South Wales PIC was contacted for advice, were evaluated from November 2000 through July 2001. Clinical effects and electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters (QRS, QT, QTc) were the main outcome measures. RESULTS: ECGs were available for 17 of the 59 patients for analysis, 9 patients (53%) were women, and median patient age was 28 years (interquartile range 22–37). The mean ± SD ingested bupropion dose was 3.8 ± 3.1 g. Tachycardia occurred in 13 patients (76%; 95% CI 50 to 93) and hypertension in 8 patients (47%). There were no reports of hypotension or arrhythmias. There was a significantly increased QTc of 461 ± 34 msec in the patients with bupropion overdose compared with previously developed controls; 13 of the 17 cases had a QTc >440 msec (76%; 95% CI 50 to 93). The uncorrected QT interval did not differ from that of controls. CONCLUSIONS: A moderately prolonged QTc (>440 msec) is common in bupropion overdose. However, this may not be a result of intrinsic cardiac toxicity, but overcorrection of the QTc due to the tachycardia that occurs. It is important that the QTc is interpreted with caution in overdoses of agents that cause significant tachycardia (>100 beats/min).
Amyloidogenic processing of β-amyloid precursor protein in intracellular compartments

Trafficking and proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) have been the focus of numerous investigations in the past two decades, since the identification of Aβ as the principal component of brain senile plaques and the cloning of APP cDNA. Tremendous progress has been made in the recent past toward the characterization of β- and γ-secretases. Here, we review the salient features of Alzheimer disease amyloidogenesis, and discuss the current knowledge on APP trafficking and amyloidogenic processing of APP in intracellular membrane compartments and microdomains.
KARL MENGER AS A PHILOSOPHER*

Anyone glancing through Menger's selected papers will be immediately struck by the range of the topics discussed. These include inter alia: intuitionism, set theory, optative and imperative logic, theory of variables, the design of intelligence tests, probabilistic micro-geometry, uncertainty in economics. On careful reading, however, it becomes clear that, from this apparent diversity, a surprising unity emerges. Whatever the subjectmatter, Menger's treatment of it is inspired by a single, coherent, philosophical view-point. The present volume of selected papers is particularly well-designed for bringing out this viewpoint, since, although Menger gives interesting descriptions of some of his technical achievements, the emphasis is never on the technicalities as such, but rather on the related philosophical problems. What then is Karl Menger's unified philosophical outlook ? Not surprisingly for a member of the Vienna Circle, it is logical positivism, and this label actually fits Menger better than it does some other members of the Circle. Menger is a Machian positivist in that he holds that a good science should consist of laws which state correlations between sensations, and which are well-confirmed by observation and experiment. However,
Comparison of Urovirulence Factors and Genotypes for Bacteria Causing Acute Lobar Nephronia and Acute Pyelonephritis

Background: Acute lobar nephronia (ALN) is a severe renal parenchymal inflammatory disease that has been diagnosed with increasing frequency as a result of newer noninvasive diagnostic modalities. Escherichia coli is the most common bacterial pathogen isolated from the urine samples of ALN patients. This prospective study was conducted to elucidate and distinguish the bacterial virulence factors associated with ALN and acute pyelonephritis (APN) in pediatric patients. Methods: Patients included in the present study were those suspected of an upper urinary tract infection who underwent ultrasonographic, computed tomographic and technetium 99m-dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphic evaluation to distinguish between ALN and APN. The E. coli isolates from the urine samples of patients were screened with polymerase chain reaction analysis for various urovirulence genes. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to analyze the genetic association of the isolates. Results: A total of 88 patients were enrolled. Forty-six patients were diagnosed with ALN and 42 with APN. Demographic characteristics and clinical results were similar except for longer fever duration before admission, longer fever continuation following antibiotic treatment and higher C-reactive protein values noted in the ALN group. Diverse genotypes were found among the E. coli isolates in both groups. Among the pathogenetic determinants examined, multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that a papG II allele was the only significant urovirulence factor associated with ALN (P < 0.005; odds ratio, 17.16). This association was independent of the presence of VUR. Conclusions: While no specific genetic lineage was identified among the E. coli isolates studied, a papG II gene was found to be strongly associated with the cause of ALN among pediatric patients.
Enhancing Dignity for Older Inpatients: The Photograph-Next-to-the-Bed Study

ABSTRACT Objectives: Older inpatients compromised by illness and cognitive decline may be stripped of physical and cultural identifiers, making them vulnerable to erosion of dignity. This study explored the experiences of patients, carers and clinical staff in response to a simple intervention that could enhance the dignity of care for older inpatients. Methods: All patients in a rehabilitation ward were encouraged to have a photograph of themselves next to their bed. Of those who participated, focus groups were recruited for patients, family members and staff to explore their reflections. Discussions were transcribed and analyzed using a deductive approach to capture evolving themes relating to patient care. Results: All groups reported that the photograph provided “connection” and means of communication between patients and staff. Staff spoke positively of gaining additional insights into patients’ lives. Benefits included enrichment of inter-personal relationships between patients and staff, between staff and families and between patients themselves. Conclusions: A bedside photograph improved connections between staff, patients and carers, promoting patients’ dignity of identity. Clinical Implications: Displaying a bedside photograph as a visual reminder of the patient in the pre‑illness state helps preservation of an individual’s dignity, a core concept in patient‑centered care.