Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recognition of elder abuse by home care workers and older people in Romania

ABSTRACT Background: No previous studies have considered elder abuse in Eastern Europe. We aimed to determine the proportion of home care workers and older people receiving care in a Romanian home care service who correctly identified elder abuse in a vignette, and who had detected elder abuse at work. Methods: In 2009, care workers and clients of a non-government home care organization serving four areas in Romania completed the Caregiver Scenario Questionnaire to measure ability to identify abuse. We asked the professionals whether they had detected a case of abuse. Results: 35 (100%) professionals and 79 (65.8%) older people took part. Four (11.4%) professionals had encountered a case of elder abuse, two (5.7%) in the last year. No staff and only one older person correctly identified all four abusive strategies in a vignette. Staff with more professional caregiving experience recognized fewer abusive strategies (r = −0.46, p = 0.007). Conclusion: Rates of identification were worryingly low among all professionals, and this was more marked if they had worked longer, suggesting their experiences may have reduced their ability to detect it. Mandatory abuse training for care professionals, and strategies to support reporters of suspected abuse, could help improve the management of elder abuse in all countries.
Are Results of Fibrinogen Measurements Transferable?

Abstract Fibrinogen concentration is routinely measured by several methods and the results may influence diagnostic and treatment strategies. It is therefore necessary that results are compatible and transferable between laboratories. In the present study, it is shown that commonly used immuno-nephelometric methods, a commercial variant of the Clauss clotting rate method, and the classical syneresis method, do not differ significantly using patient material, in the interval 2–12 g/l. A research ELISA method that measures intact fibrinogen is not linearly correlated to the syneresis method. The commutability of available calibrators and reference materials (including the WHO 2nd IS) was only 50–80% except for one of the calibrators for which the virtual concentration coincided with that obtained by the
The Effects of Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication on Chronic GERD Patients: 12-Month Prospective Multicenter Experience

Purpose:This study aimed to assess the impact of transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) on patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) at 12-month follow-up. Methods:Clinical outcomes of 100 consecutive patients with chronic GERD who underwent TIF between January 2010 and February 2011 were analyzed. Results:There were no major complications reported. Esophageal acid exposure was normalized in 14/27 (52%) of patients who underwent 12-month pH testing. Seventy-four percent of all patients were off proton pump inhibitors versus 92% on daily proton pump inhibitors before TIF, P<0.001. Daily bothersome heartburn and regurgitation symptoms were eliminated in 66/85 (78%) and 48/58 (83%) of patients. Median reflux symptom index score was reduced from 20 (0 to 41) to 5 (0 to 44), P<0.001. Two patients reported de novo dysphagia and 1 patient reported bloating (scores 0 to 3). Six patients underwent revision; 5 laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and 1 TIF. Conclusions:TIF provided a safe and effective therapeutic option for carefully selected patients with chronic GERD.
The Mouse Brown (b/Tyrp1b ) Allele Does Not Affect Pheomelanin Synthesis in Mice

B (Tyrp1 +), the wild type allele at the mouse brown locus, produces black eumelanin, while b (Tyrp1b ), the recessive allele, produces brown eumelanin and exhibits lower tyrosinase (Tyr)-related protein 1 (Tyrp1) activity. However, it is unknown whether melanocyte proliferation and differentiation are affected by the Tyrp1b mutation. The proliferation rate of brown (C57BL/10JHir (B10)-Tyrp1b / Tyrp1b ) melanocytes cultured in a serum-free melanocyte proliferation medium (MDMD) was similar to that of black (B10-Tyrp1+/Tyrp1+ ) melanocytes. Although brown melanocytes exhibited normal morphology, their pigmentation was lower than that of black melanocytes. However, Tyr activity in brown melanocytes was increased both in vivo and in vitro. Melanosomes of cultured brown melanocytes were mostly spherical stage III melanosomes with granular depositions of pigments, whereas those of cultured black melanocytes were mostly stage IV ellipsoidal melanosomes with pigment depositions in intraluminal fibrils. Chemical analysis of melanin present in dorsal hairs of 5-week-old mice from the F2 generation between brown and recessive yellow (B10-Mc1re/Mc1re ) or agouti (B10-A/A) mice showed that eumelanin content was greatly decreased in brown and brown agouti (cinnamon) mice, whereas pheomelanin contents in brown recessive yellow and cinnamon mice did not differ from the corresponding Tyrp1+/- mice. These results suggest that the brown allele greatly inhibits eumelanin, but not pheomelanin synthesis.
Why Do the Youths in Northeast India Use Tobacco?

This study is an assessment of the influence of parent's tobacco use on prospective tobacco use trajectories among young offspring. The study is based on unit level data from District Level Household and Facility Survey-4 (2012-2013) comprising 27,706 youths in 15–24 years' age group from northeastern states of India and used multilevel regression to identify the potential risk factors of tobacco consumption. The likelihood of using tobacco was found to be 3.4 and 1.14 times more, respectively, for the youths coresiding with mothers who use tobacco and fathers who use tobacco, in comparison to youths staying with parents not taking tobacco. The significant effect of peers on tobacco consumption among youths was also observed. School-going youths had significantly lower risk of tobacco use. The estimated likelihood of a young person from a household to use any tobacco, use smokeless tobacco, and smoke was found to be 28, 12, and 17 percent, respectively. There is an urgent need to extend National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) to the community level involving civil societies and young and adult generations for spreading awareness about the health hazards of tobacco use, providing support and facilitating quitting tobacco use.
Effect of altered osmotic pressure on the growth of Sindbis virus

Since reducing the osmotic pressure of the medium lowers the yield of influenza virus (M. Eaton and R. Scala, Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med. 92:289, 1956) and polio virus (E. A. Tolskaya, V. I. Agol, M. K. Vorishilova, and G. Y. Lipskaya, Virology 29:613, 1966), we hoped that a study of the effect of osmotic pressure on the growth of Sindbis virus would contribute to better understanding of arboviruses. We found that hypotonic medium apparently affects a terminal step in Sindbis virus maturation. Methods for virus growth and titration have been described (E. R. Pfefferkorn and H. S. Hunter, Virology 20:433, 1963); the osmotic pressure of the medium was adjusted by varying the amount of NaCl, and was recorded as the percentage of normal. We measured the synthesis of virus-specific ribonucleic acid (RNA) by incorporation of 3H-uridine in the presence of 1 ,ug of actinomycin D per ml. Figure 1 shows that altering the osmotic pressure of the medium reduced the virus yield. High osmotic pressures inhibited viral RNA synthesis and growth to the same extent. At low osmotic pressures, these two parameters were clearly dissociated: at 60% osmotic pressure, the virus yield was reduced from 8,000 to 15 plaqueforming units per cell, while the synthesis of cell-associated, virus-specific RNA was greater than the control. Release of viral RNA in the form of virions cannot account for this difference since, even in normal infection, most of the virusspecific RNA remains cell-associated (unpublished data). Preliminary experiments have shown that the viral RNA synthesized at 60% osmotic pressure is infectious; thus, a late function in viral growth must be sensitive to low osmotic pressure. To localize this function, monolayers incubated at 60% osmotic pressure for various periods of time after infection were placed in normal medium, and virus production was observed (Fig. 2). Control cultures, incubated in normal medium throughout, released virus at a linear rate beginning 3 hr after infection. The cul-
DIABETIC STUDIES The Review of Atherogenic Dyslipidemia and Combination Pharmacotherapy in Diabetes : Recent Clinical Trials

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are at a markedly increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dyslipidemia is a common risk factor and a strong predictor of CVD in T2D patients. Although statins decrease the incidence of CVD in T2D, residual cardiovascular risk remains high despite the achievement of optimal or near-optimal plasma lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations. This may, in part, be due to uncorrected atherogenic dyslipidemia. Hypertriglyceridemia, the driving force behind diabetic dyslipidemia, results from hepatic overproduction and/or delayed clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. In patients treated with a statin to LDL-cholesterol goals, the addition of ezetimibe, fenofibrate, niacin, or n-3 fatty acid ethyl esters may be required to correct the persistent atherogenic dyslipidemia. Clinical trial evidence describing best practice is limited, but recent data supports the strategy of adding fenofibrate to a statin, and suggests specific benefits in dyslipidemic patients and in the improvement of diabetic retinopathy. However, based on results from a recent clinical trial, niacin should not be added to a statin in individuals with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and very well controlled LDL-cholesterol. Further evidence is required to support the role of ezetimibe and n-3 fatty acids in treating residual CVD risk in statin-treated T2D patients.
Lexik in der spontanen, gesprochensprachlichen Interaktion: eine anwendungsorientierte Annäherung aus der DaF-Perspektive

DaF-Lernende sollen – laut z. B. dem „Gemeinsamen europaischen Referenzrahmen fur Sprachen“ – auf C1 Niveau uber lexikalische Kompetenzen in der Interaktion verfugen und aus einem Repertoire von Diskursmitteln eine geeignete Wendung fur konkrete Kommunikationsbedurfnisse auswahlen konnen. Wir betrachten diese Annahme im vorliegenden Beitrag als Ausgangspunkt und stellen darauf aufbauend die Frage, welche Diskursmittel und lexikalischen Einheiten typisch fur die mundliche Interaktion sind und daher auch spezifische Beachtung im DaF-/DaZ-Unterricht finden sollten. Zu hinter-fragen ist, wie die Anforderungen an DaF-Lernende zu lexikalischen Besonderheiten im Mundlichen in Richtlinien wie dem GeR oder „Profile Deutsch“ formuliert werden und wie diese Anforderungen in Lehr- und Nachschlagewerken fur diese Zielgruppe aufgegriffen werden. Unsere Untersuchungen zeigen, dass die Moglichkeiten noch ausbaufahig sind, was aus unserer Sicht zum Beispiel uber eine verstarkte Nutzung der inzwischen vorhandenen Korpora zum gesprochenen Deutsch denkbar sein kann. In diesem Zusammenhang wird auch eine direkte Verbindung zu dem Forschungsprojekt LeGeDe (IDS Mannheim) hergestellt, das u. a. die Konzipierung einer innovativen korpusbasierten Ressource zur Lexik des gesprochenen Deutsch in der Interaktion als Prototyp anvisiert und damit einen Ausschnitt aus einem Repertoire an standardnahen lexikalischen Elementen und Diskursmitteln zusammen mit lexikalisch und interaktions-linguistisch relevanten Informationen in multimedialer Form anbieten mochte. Dieses Vorhaben kommt, laut der Ergebnisse entsprechender Befragungen, u. a. auch den Erwartungen der Probanden aus der Lernerperspektive entgegen und findet daher sowohl fur die Forschung als auch fur die Lehre entsprechende Anwendungsmoglichkeiten.
Synaptically Activated Ca2+ Waves in Layer 2/3 and Layer 5 Rat Neocortical Pyramidal Neurons

Calcium waves in layer 2/3 and layer 5 neocortical somatosensory pyramidal neurons were examined in slices from 2‐ to 8‐week‐old rats. Repetitive synaptic stimulation evoked a delayed, all‐or‐none [Ca2+]i increase primarily on the main dendritic shaft. This component was blocked by 1 mm (R,S)‐α‐methyl‐4‐carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG), 10 μm ryanodine, 1 mg ml−1 internal heparin, and was not blocked by 400 μm internal Ruthenium Red, indicating that it was due to Ca2+ release from internal stores by inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) mobilized via activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors. Calcium waves were initiated on the apical shaft at sites between the soma to around the main branch point, mostly at insertion points of oblique dendrites, and spread in both directions along the shaft. In the proximal dendrites the peak amplitude of the resulting [Ca2+]i change was much larger than that evoked by a train of Na+ spikes. In distal dendrites the peak amplitude was comparable to the [Ca2+]i change due to a Ca2+ spike. IP3‐mediated Ca2+ release also was observed in the presence of the metabotropic agonists t‐ACPD and carbachol when backpropagating spikes were generated. Ca2+ entry through NMDA receptors was observed primarily on the oblique dendrites. The main differences between waves in neocortical neurons and in previously described hippocampal pyramidal neurons were, (a) Ca2+ waves in L5 neurons could be evoked further out along the main shaft, (b) Ca2+ waves extended slightly further out into the oblique dendrites and (c) higher concentrations of bath‐applied t‐ACPD and carbachol were required to generate Ca2+ release events by backpropagating action potentials.
A Comparison of Proliferative Activity and Atypical Mitoses in Cervical Condylomas with Various HPV Types

SummaryCervical condylomas associated with HPV types 6/11 rarely progress to dysplasia; this progression is more commonly seen in cervical condylomas with HPV types 16/18/31/33/35. This investigation was undertaken to determine if more frequent atypical mitotic figures (MFs) and higher proliferative activity are seen in high-risk condylomas. HPV types present in cervical condylomas were determined by in situ hybridization with biotinylated probes. The cases were also stained immunohistochem-ically for MIB1. The percentage staining of basal, parabasal, and suprabasal cells was determined by counting 100 cells in the most intensely stained areas. MFs and atypical MFs were counted per 10 high-power-fields (HPFs). Condylomas with HPV 6/11 showed higher MIB1 expression in the basal layer than condylomas with HPV 16/18 and 31/33/35 (p = 0.013). Atypical MFs were seen more frequently in condylomas with HPV types 16/18/31/33/35 (p = 0.02). Differences in mitotic activity and in MIB1 expression in parabasal and suprabasal layers did not reach statistical significance. The presence of atypical MFs may make a greater contribution than increased proliferative activity to progression to dysplasia in cervical condylomas.
Alpha-1-antitrypsin functions as a protective factor in preeclampsia through activating Smad2 and inhibitor of DNA binding 4

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is one of the most common reason for high morbidity and mortality of maternal and prenatal infants. Production from oxidative stress results in maternal ROS system and anti-oxidation defense system imbalance to promote tissue ischemia and hypoxia, and ultimately impairs the maternal organs and placenta. Our previous study showed that exogenous Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) and overexpression of AAT in umbilical vein cell (HUVEC) hypoxia-reoxygenation model could increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and played a protective role in preeclampsia animal model. In this study, we aim to investigate the underlying mechanism by which AAT prevents PE progress. Whole-exome sequencing was performed to screen the genes altered by AAT. We found that AAT knockdown altered the expression of Smad family and Id family genes, and further demonstrated that AAT positively regulated Id4 expression through activating Smad2. Reduced Id4 expression and Smad2 phosphorylation were observed in preeclampsia animal model, which was also confirmed in human placenta tissues. In addition, AAT protected HUVEC cells from hypoxia/reoxygenation injury and relieved preeclampsia symptoms through Smad2/Id4 axis. Our data illustrate AAT/Smad2/Id4 axis is an important mediator of placenta and vascular function during pregnancy. These findings provide insights into events governing pregnancy-associated disorders, such as preeclampsia.
Release of aldosterone and catecholamines from the interrenal gland of Triturus carnifex in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) administration

The influence of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on the interrenal gland of Triturus carnifex was investigated by in vivo administration of synthetic ACTH. The effects were evaluated by examination of the ultrastructural morphological and morphometrical features of the tissues as well as the circulating serum levels of aldosterone, noradrenaline (NA), and adrenaline (A). In June and November, ACTH administration increased aldosterone release (from 281.50 ± 1.60 pg/ml in carrier‐injected newts to 597.02 ± 3.35 pg/ml in June; from 187.45 ± 1.34 pg/ml in carrier‐injected animals to 651.00 ± 3.61 pg/ml in November). The steroidogenic cells showed clear signs of stimulation, together with a reduction of lipid content in June and an increase of lipid content in November. Moreover, ACTH administration decreased the mean total number of secretory vesicles in the chromaffin cells in June (from 7.73 ± 0.60 granules/μm2 in carrier‐injected animals to 5.91 ± 0.40 granules/μm2) and November (from 7.78 ± 0.75 granules/μm2 in carrier‐injected newts to 4.87 ± 0.40 granules/μm2). In June, however, when T. carnifex chromaffin cells contain almost exclusively NA granules (NA: 7.42 ± 0.86 granules/μm2; A: 0.32 ± 0.13 granules/μm2), ACTH decreased NA content (5.52 ± 0.32 granules/μm2) increasing NA release (from 639.82 ± 3.30 pg/ml in carrier‐injected to 880.55 ± 4.52 pg/ml). In November, when both catecholamines, NA (3.92 ± 0.34 granules/μm2) and A (3.84 ± 0.33 granules/μm2), are present in the chromaffin cells, ACTH administration reduced A content (1.02 ± 0.20 granules/μm2), enhancing adrenaline secretion (from 681.30 ± 3.62 pg/ml in carrier‐injected newts to 1,335.73 ± 9.03 pg/ml). The results of this study indicate that ACTH influences the steroidogenic tissue, eliciting aldosterone release. The effects on the chromaffin tissue, increase of NA or A secretion, according to the period of chromaffin cell functional cycle, may be direct and/or mediated through the increase of aldosterone release. Finally, the lack of an increase of A content in the chromaffin cells, or A serum level, following ACTH administration in June might suggest an independence of PNMT enzyme on corticosteroids. J. Morphol. 262:692–700, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Histopathologic Study of Connective Tissue Diseases of Skin

Cutaneous involvement is a prominent feature in connective tissue disease and the skin lesions are extremely important in diagnosing and subclassifying patients with these conditions. Fifty cases of connective tissue diseases of skin were studied over a period of two years to analyze overlapping of histopathological features, possible transformation of one disease to the other and co-existing conditions. Routine Haematoxyline and Eosin (H&E) sections were studied along with special stains like Periodic Acid Schiff(PAS) and Verhoeff Vangiesson (VVG) wherever necessary. Fifty cases studied included 18 morphea, 9 systemic sclerosis (SS), 9 discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), 7 acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (ACLE), 4 subacute lupus erythematosus (SCLE), 2 lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSet A) and 1 case of poikiloderma atrophicans vasculare (PAV). Considerable overlapping of features were observed among skin lesions in acute, subacute and chronic lesions of lupus erythematosus and in cutaneous lesions of systemic sclerosis and morphea. In conclusion, as there is a considerable overlapping of histopathologic features in connective tissue diseases of skin, often it is necessary to use other diagnostic tools like serological and immunological study in conjunction with histopathology with the background of clinical history for a conclusive diagnosis.
Laparoscopy and Robotics Biochemical Recurrenceefree Survival After Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic vs Open Radical Prostatectomy for Intermediate- and High-risk Prostate Cancer

a 2014 Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved risk (IR) and high-risk (HR) patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) vs open radical prostatectomy (ORP). MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective study on 1336 men with D’Amico IR or HR prostate cancer who underwent RALP or ORP between 2003 and 2009. Exclusion criteria were use of neoadjuvant therapy, <6 months of follow-up, and insufficient clinicopathologic data. We compared demographic, clinical, and pathologic variables between groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to compare the 5-year BCR-free survival between groups. Multivariate models were developed to determine whether surgical approach influences BCR. RESULTS A total of 979 IR and HR patients (237 ORP and 742 RALP patients) met inclusion criteria. Median follow-up was shorter for RALP (43 vs 63 months; P <.001). ORP patients had a higher median prostate-specific antigen level (7.9 vs 6.7 ng/mL; P <.002), significantly more Gleason sum 8-10 tumors, and more adverse pathologic features overall. There was no difference in positive surgical margins between groups. Pathologic features including extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle involvement, lymph node involvement, pathologic Gleason sum, and positive surgical margin were significant independent predictors of BCR in multivariate analysis. Surgical approach (RALP vs ORP) did not predict BCR when controlling for other known predictors of BCR. CONCLUSION Among IR and HR prostate cancer patients, the oncologic outcomes are similar between RALP and ORP. Not surprisingly, adverse pathologic features are harbingers of BCR. UROLOGY 83: 1309e1315, 2014. 2014 Elsevier Inc.