Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunosuppressive treatment for myocarditis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background Immunosuppressive treatment for myocarditis is controversial. Several small-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported inconsistent outcomes for patients with myocarditis. Methods We searched on the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases for articles in English language between January 1966 and May 2013, as well as on the China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI, 1979 to May 2012) and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM, 1978 to May 2013) for articles in Chinese language. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.0. Results Nine articles were finally selected, in which 342 patients were in immunosuppressive treatment group and 267 patients in conventional treatment group. The immunosuppressive treatment group showed a significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction at both short-term (⩽3 months) [difference: 0.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05–0.10) and long-term (difference: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.00–0.21)] follow-up. Moreover, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension decreased significantly in the immunosuppressive treatment group after short-term follow-up (difference: −1.85 mm, 95% CI: −3.18 to −0.52 mm), but a long-term beneficial effect was not sustained (difference: −5.79 mm, 95% CI: −15.30 to 3.72 mm). There was no difference, however, between the two groups in the rate of death or heart transplantation (odds ratio: 1.33, 95% CI: 0.77, 2.31). Conclusion Immunosuppressive treatment might be beneficial for improving left ventricular systolic function and remodeling in patients with myocarditis, which could be considered as a therapeutic alternative when optimal conventional therapy is not effective. More large RCTs, however, are required.
MRI versus bone scintigraphy

Summary Aim: This study was set up to determine the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and bone scintigraphy (BS) for the diagnosis of stress injuries in athletes, and furthermore to assess reliability and prediction of healing time. Patients, methods: Imaging data was analyzed retrospectively from 28 athletes who had received MRI and BS examinations for suspected stress injuries. MRI- and BSdata were rated by three specialists each in a blinded read, using a 5-point score (i.e. 0–4: inconspicuous to high-grade stress fracture). An interdisciplinary expert truth-panel set the reference standard. Standard statistical parameters, Fleiss' kappa (κ), and group comparisons were calculated. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for detection of stress injuries were 71.4%, 85.7%, 78.6%, 83.3% and, 75.0%, for MRI and 92.9%, 73.8%, 83.3%, 78.0% and, 91.2% for BS, respectively. Interobserver reliability for the diagnosis of a stress injury was κ = 0.9 for BS and κ = 0.85 for MRI. Mean healing times of mild (grades 1 and 2) and severe (grades 3 and 4) stress injuries were 88 days (d) versus 142d for BS and 57d versus 116d for MRI. No significant difference in healing time could be shown. Conclusions: MRI and BS reliably detect stress injuries. MRI is to be recommended as the primary imaging modality due to its potential for assessment of differential diagnoses and the lack of radiation exposure, the value of BS lies in the exclusion of stress fractures after inconclusive MRI examinations.
13C Methacetin Breath Test for Assessment of Microsomal Liver Function: Methodology and Clinical Application

Assessment of the liver function, and the need of constant monitoring of the organ's capacity, concerns not only patients with primary liver diseases, but also those at risk of hepatopathies secondary to other chronic diseases. Most commonly, the diagnostics is based on measurements of static biochemical parameters, which allow us to draw conclusions only indirectly about the function and the degree of damage of the organ. On the other hand, liver biopsy is an invasive procedure and therefore it is associated with a considerable risk of complications. Dynamic tests enable us to assess quantitatively the organ's functional reserve by analyzing the kinetics of the metabolization of the substrate by the liver. In practice applied are breath tests using substances such as aminopyrine, caffeine, methacetin, erythromycin (for assessment of the microsomal function); phenylalanine, galactose (for assessment of the cytosolic function); methionine, octanoate, ketoisocaproic acid (for assessment of the mitochondrial function). The test with 13C methacetin belongs to the best described and most widely applied methods in noninvasive liver function assessment. Due to the rising availability of this method, knowledge concerning its limitations and controversies regarding the methodology, as well as its usefulness in chosen groups of patients, seems to be vital.
A Cross-Country Comparison of Labor Market Frictions

In this paper we define and estimate measures of labor market frictions using data on job durations. We compare different estimation methods and different types of data. We propose and apply an unconditional inference method that can be applied to aggregate duration data. It does not require wage data, it is invariant to the way in which wages are determined, and it allows workers to care about other job characteristics. The empirical analysis focuses on France, but we perform separate analyses for the USA, the UK, Germany and the Netherlands. We quantify the monopsony power due to search frictions and we examine the policy effects of the minimum wage, unemployment benefits and search frictions.
Antibody reactions with retina and cancer-associated antigens in 10 patients with cancer-associated retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE Our objectives were to determine what clinical characteristics are common to the form of cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR) encountered in patients with small-cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL). Is the 23-kd retinal CAR antigen/antibody reaction present in other forms of retinopathy? Can an antigen identical or similar to the 23-kd retinal CAR antigen be identified in an established culture of SCCL? METHODS Ten patients with CAR who had SCCL were identified by their antibody reactivity with the 23-kd retinal CAR antigen. We inquired into common clinical characteristics by means of questionnaires to the referring physicians. We looked for antigen/antibody reactions with the 23-kd retinal CAR antigen in patients with diabetic and age-related macular degenerations and in a continuous, in vitro propagated culture of SCCL (HTB 119) obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. RESULTS We encountered many similar signs and symptoms in our patient population. These included rapid vision loss, night blindness, color loss, vitreous cells, and either flat or greatly reduced electroretinograms. No corollary to the 23-kd CAR antigen/antibody could be identified in unrelated retinopathies or cultured SCCL. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that patients with SCCL-related CAR consistently produce antibodies against the 23-kd retinal CAR antigen. This immunologic reaction was not found in patients with unrelated retinopathies and may possibly represent a cancer marker for SCCL.
Genetic analysis of Puumala hantavirus strains from Austria

Sequences of the Small (S) and the Medium (M) genome segments of Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) were recovered from bank voles Clethrionomys glareolus trapped at 2 locations, Klippitztörl (Carinthia) and Ernstbrunn (Lower Austria). Lung tissue samples from 12 rodents earlier found hantavirus antibody-positive were further screened for the presence of hantaviral N-antigen using immunoblotting. RNA purified from 7 N-Ag-positive samples was subjected to the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with primers designed to recover the complete S segment sequence of PUUV. The amplicons of expected size (approximately 1800 bp) have been recovered from 2 samples, 1 from Klippitztörl and another from Ernstbrunn. From the same 2 samples, PCR amplicons corresponding to the partial M segment sequence (nt 2140 to 2594), have been prepared. The S and M amplicons were sequenced and subjected to genetic analyses. Recovered hantavirus genome sequences undoubtedly belonged to PUUV genotype and the corresponding wild-type hantavirus strains were designated as PUU/Klippitztörl/Cg9/1995 and PUU/Ernstbrunn/Cg641/1995. Phylogenetic analysis placed 2 Austrian PUUV strains within a distinct genetic lineage that also included strains from the neighbouring Slovenia and Croatia. This Alpe-Adrian lineage, previously designated as ‘Balkan lineage’, was well supported on both S and M phylogenetic trees.
Comparative efficacy of cetirizine and fexofenadine in the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria

objectives: Antihistamines are the first line of therapy for chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). The present study was designed considering the lack of reports comparing the efficacy and safety of commonly prescribed cetirizine and fexofenadine in the treatment of CIU. methods: A total of 116 patients, aged 17 to 65 years, with CIU (urticarial wheals for at least two days per week for six consecutive weeks before entry) were enrolled in this randomised double‐blind study. Study period was 28 days with patient visits on days 14 and 28 for investigator evaluation of the clinical response. Patient evaluation was on the basis of an analogue scale. Final response to treatment was judged as symptom free, partial improvement, and no improvement. results: Ninety‐seven patients (52 cetirizine, 45 fexofenadine) completed the study. The response to treatment in both the groups at the end of treatment period was as follows; symptom free {cetirizine 27(51.9%), fexofenadine 2(4.4%)}, partial improvement {cetirizine 19(36.5%), fexofenadine 19(42.2%)}, no improvement {cetirizine 6(11.5%), fexofenadine 24(53.3%)}. Side effects noted were mild with no significant difference between the two. conclusion: Cetirizine seems to have therapeutic advantage over fexofenadine in the treatment of CIU.
Gastrografin Versus Dilute Barium for Colonic CT Examination: A Blind, Randomized Study

Fifty patients receiving oral contrast medium the day of their CT examinations were studied to evaluate colonic opacification. Two groups were given small volumes (20 versus 30 ml) of nondilute diatrizoate meglumine/diatrizoate sodium (Gastrografin) the night prior to examination and were compared with groups receiving no contrast medium (control) or a large volume (600 ml) of dilute barium the night prior to examination. Frequency of total colonic opacification was as follows: 30 ml Gastrografin. 92%; 20 ml Gastrografin. 71%; dilute barium. 46%; and control. 9%; Significant artifact was infrequent in all groups. Administration of small volumes of nondilute Gastrografin is a well tolerated, inexpensive, and effective method for opacifying the colon for CT.
P2Y receptors play a critical role in epithelial cell communication and migration

Cellular injury induces a complex series of events that involves Ca2+ signaling, cell communication, and migration. One of the first responses following mechanical injury is the propagation of a Ca2+ wave (Klepeis et al. [ 2001 ] J Cell Sci 114(Pt 23):4185–4195). The wave is generated by the extracellular release of ATP, which also induces phosphorylation of ERK (Yang et al. [ 2004 ] J Cell Biochem 91(5):938–950). ATP and other nucleotides, which bind to and activate specific purinergic receptors were used to mimic injury. Our goal was to determine which of the P2Y purinergic receptors are expressed and stimulated in corneal epithelial cells and which signaling pathways are activated leading to changes in cell migration, an event critical for wound closure. In this study, we demonstrated that the P2Y1, P2Y2, P2Y4, P2Y6, and P2Y11 receptors were present in corneal epithelial cells. A potency profile was determined by Ca2+ imaging for nucleotide agonists as follows: ATP ≥ UTP > ADP ≥ UDP. In contrast, negligible responses were seen for β,γ‐meATP, a general P2X receptor agonist and adenosine, a P1 receptor agonist. Homologous desensitization of the Ca2+ response was observed for the four nucleotides. However, P2Y receptor internalization and degradation was not detected following stimulation with ATP, which is in contrast to EGFR internalization observed in response to EGF. ATP induced cell migration was comparable to that of EGF and was maximal at 1 μM. Cells exposed to ATP, UTP, ADP, and UDP demonstrated a rapid twofold increase in phosphorylation of paxillin at Y31 and Y118, however, there was no activation elicited by β,γ‐meATP or adenosine. Additional studies demonstrated that wound closure was inhibited by reactive blue 2. These results indicate that P2Y receptors play a critical role in the injury repair process. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Physical Activity Curricula in Medical Schools

Regular physical activity has many known health benefits, yet relatively few physicians counsel their patients about physical activity or exercise. The cited barriers to performing this type of counseling include lack of knowledge and skill, and data show that physicians are more likely to counsel patients about physical activity if they have adequate knowledge of the subject. Health promotion and disease prevention are watchwords in medical education today, yet with regard to these there are relatively few data on exercise or physical activity curriculum in medical schools. A recent survey showed that only 13% of U.S. medical schools provide a curriculum in physical activity. The authors discuss the need for changing the medical school curriculum to increase knowledge of the benefits of physical activity and develop counseling skills for modifying patients' behaviors.
Oliceridine, a Novel G Protein–Biased Ligand at the μ‐Opioid Receptor, Demonstrates a Predictable Relationship Between Plasma Concentrations and Pain Relief. II: Simulation of Potential Phase 3 Study Designs Using a Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Model

Oliceridine is a novel G protein–biased ligand at the μ‐opioid receptor that differentially activates G protein coupling while mitigating β‐arrestin recruitment. Unlike morphine, oliceridine has no known active metabolites; therefore, analgesic efficacy is predictably linked to its concentration in the plasma. Oliceridine is primarily hepatically metabolized by CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. Using a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model relating oliceridine plasma concentrations to its effect on pain intensity as measured by numeric pain‐rating scale (NPRS) scores, we have simulated potential dosing regimens using both fixed‐dose regimens and as‐needed (prn) dosing regimens in which various doses of oliceridine were administered if NPRS scores indicated moderate to severe pain (≥4 on a 0‐10 scale). In addition, regimens in which oliceridine was self‐administered via a patient‐controlled analgesia device were also simulated. The simulated population included 10% CYP2D6 poor metabolizers (PM). The simulation results suggest that oliceridine doses of 1‐3 mg prn should be effective in reducing NPRS scores relative to placebo. The simulations also revealed that a 1‐mg “supplemental dose” given 0.25 hour after the loading dose would decrease NPRS scores further in almost one‐third of patients. In addition, if oliceridine is administered prn, a longer interval between doses is observed in simulated PM patients, consistent with their reduced oliceridine clearance. Because this longer average dosing interval is predicted to decrease oliceridine exposure in PM patients, the need to know the patient's CYP2D6 genotype for dosing is effectively obviated.
The Effects of Worksite Stress Management Intervention on Changes in Coping Styles

In this study the effects of a worksite stress management intervention on changes in coping styles were examined. Ninety-five participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group participating in the intervention or to a control group with a delayed intervention. The stress management intervention was structured on enhancing so-called positive coping styles focused on problem solving and social diversion and on decreasing negative—emotion-focused and distraction—coping. The results showed that in the experimental group the level of positive coping styles significantly increased. The effect of decreased negative coping styles due to the intervention was observed only in the group of participants with a high level of negative affectivity.
Proper local scoring rules

We investigate proper scoring rules for continuous distributions on the real line. It is known that the log score is the only such rule that depends on the quoted density only through its value at the outcome that materializes. Here we allow further dependence on a finite number $m$ of derivatives of the density at the outcome, and describe a large class of such $m$-local proper scoring rules: these exist for all even $m$ but no odd $m$. We further show that for $m\geq2$ all such $m$-local rules can be computed without knowledge of the normalizing constant of the distribution.
Isokinetic evaluation of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: quadriceps tendon versus patellar tendon.

AIM The goal of this prospective randomized study was to compare the isokinetic recovery of thigh strength after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction by using patellar or quadriceps tendon as graft at the 6th month follow-up. METHODS The authors evaluated 48 patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using patellar tendon (PT group) or quadriceps tendon (QT group) as autograft after a 6 months follow-up undergoing the following tests: the Ergojump Bosco System springboard and Universal's FITNET computerized isokinetic system. RESULTS The counter movement jump (CMJ) test showed a 24% (p<0.01) strength deficit in patients operated with patellar tendon and 11% in the quadriceps tendon group. Also in the leg press test the greater differences in strength (p<0.05) were verified in the patellar tendon group, above all the peak torque (PT) test carried out at 3 repetitions (15%). CONCLUSIONS The strength deficit found in the subjects operated with quadriceps tendon were statistically lower in comparison to that verified in the patellar tendon group. A good recovery in thigh strength after 6 months in patients operated with quadriceps tendon could encourage the use of this kind of graft in order to achieve an easier rehabilitation and a faster release of the patient to daily and sports activity.
Evaluation of cefoxitin 5 and 10 microg discs for the detection of methicillin resistance in staphylococci.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate cefoxitin 5 and 10 microg discs for detection of methicillin resistance in staphylococci. METHODS Six hundred and forty-one Staphylococcus aureus (261 mecA-negative and 380 mecA-positive) and 344 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (132 mecA-negative and 212 mecA-positive) were investigated. The CoNS represented nine species, Staphylococcus epidermidis being the most frequent (n = 231). All isolates were tested using semi-confluent growth on Iso-Sensitest agar (ISA), and Mueller-Hinton agar (MH) using a 5 and a 10 microg cefoxitin disc and overnight incubation in ambient air at 35-37 degrees C. RESULTS For S. aureus, both cefoxitin discs performed with high accuracy on both media. The sensitivity and specificity for the following proposed interpretive zone diameters were: ISA 5 microg, R < 14 mm (99.5% and 98.1%); ISA 10 microg, R < 22 mm (99.5% and 98.1%); MH 5 microg, R < 12 mm (99.7% and 98.1%); and MH 10 microg, R < 18 mm (99.5% and 98.9%), respectively. All four variants were superior to oxacillin using the former SRGA methodology. In CoNS, a substantial overlap was seen for all variants. However, by avoiding primary interpretation in the overlapping interval, highly accurate results could be obtained for 81%, 80%, 91% and 97% of the isolates, respectively. CONCLUSION For S. aureus, cefoxitin 5 and 10 microg discs performed with high accuracy on both ISA and MH using semi-confluent growth and standard incubation conditions. With the introduction of a defined interval in which primary interpretation should be avoided, the method could also be used for CoNS.
Challenges to addressing student mental health in embedded counselling services: a survey of UK higher and further education institutions

ABSTRACT With reports continually demonstrating increased demand and severity of student mental health needs, it is important to gain a fuller understanding of the impact on embedded student counselling services. The aims of this research were to identify (a) service similarities, (b) factors which impact on services, (c) characteristics of service users, and (d) the use of therapeutic technology (e.g. online self-help). An online survey was completed by 113 heads of UK student counselling services across Higher Education (HE), Further Education (FE), and Sixth Form Colleges (SFCs), to capture service data from the academic year 2013/14. Students predominantly received high-intensity support (e.g. counselling) and referrals increased over 3 years. Challenges to embedded counselling services and their implications for development are discussed.
Managing large-scale science and technology projects at the edge of knowledge: the Manhattan Project as a learning organisation

Few projects have had such a profound and lasting effect on the world as the Manhattan Project. Today, after it was approved 70 years ago by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, its legacy is felt in nuclear medicine, military defence, terrorist threats, and the production of energy. What was remarkable about this project was that to succeed it had to push through the frontiers of knowledge in ways that are impressive even by today's standards. This paper includes a short history of the project and the challenges that had to be overcome. But the paper is primarily about a very large organisation that was forced to learn quickly, compress each stage in the project in a race against time, and pass knowledge, which was often incomplete, from one phase to the next. As such, it makes a theoretical contribution to the literature on the management of large–scale science projects and provides insight into the problems that these projects face today.
Hepatitis in Mice Receptor 2 Mediates T Cell-Dependent Parenchymal, But Not Leukocyte, TNF

TNF- (cid:1) is a central mediator of T cell activation-induced hepatitis in mice, e.g., induced by Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PEA). In this in vivo mouse model of T cell-dependent hepatitis, liver injury depends on both TNFRs. Whereas TNFR1 can directly mediate hepatocyte death, the in vivo functions of TNFR2 in pathophysiology remained unclear. TNFR2 has been implicated in deleterious leukocyte activation in a transgenic mouse model and in enhancement of TNFR1-mediated cell death in cell lines. In this study, we clarify the role of hepatocyte- vs leukocyte-expressed TNFR2 in T cell-dependent liver injury in vivo, using the PEA-induced hepatitis model. Several types of TNFR2-expressing leukocytes, especially neutrophils and NK cells, accumulated within the liver throughout the pathogenic process. Surprisingly, only parenchymal TNFR2 expression, but not the TNFR2 expression on leukocytes, contributed to PEA-induced hepatitis, as shown by analysis of wild-type 3 tnfr2 ° and the reciprocal mouse bone marrow chimeras. Furthermore, PEA induced NF- (cid:2) B activation and cytokine production in the livers of both wild-type and tnfr2 ° mice, whereas only primary mouse hepatocytes from wild-type, but not from tnfr2 °, mice were susceptible to cell death induced by a combination of agonistic anti-TNFR1 and anti-TNFR2 Abs. Our results suggest that parenchymal, but not leukocyte, TNFR2 mediates T cell-dependent hepatitis in vivo. The activation of leukocytes does not appear to be disturbed by the absence of TNFR2. The Journal of Immunology, 2003, 170: 2129–2137. PharMingen), PE-labeled PharMingen), PE-labeled Ly-6G PharMingen),