Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stimulus for Organ Donation: A Survey of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons Membership

Federal legislation has been proposed to modify the National Organ Transplant Act in a way that would permit government‐regulated strategies, including financial incentives, to be implemented and evaluated. The Council and Ethics Committee of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons conducted a brief web‐based survey of its members’ (n = 449, 41.6% response rate) views on acceptable or unacceptable strategies to increase organ donation. The majority of the membership supports reimbursement for funeral expenses, an income tax credit on the final return of a deceased donor and an income tax credit for registering as an organ donor as strategies for increasing deceased donation. Payment for lost wages, guaranteed health insurance and an income tax credit are strategies most strongly supported by the membership to increase living donation. For both deceased and living donation, the membership is mostly opposed to cash payments to donors, their estates or to next‐of‐kin. There is strong support for a government‐regulated trial to evaluate the potential benefits and harms of financial incentives for both deceased and living donation. Overall, there is strong support within the ASTS membership for changes to NOTA that would permit the implementation and careful evaluation of indirect, government‐regulated strategies to increase organ donation.
Prevention and treatment of hepatitis C in injection drug users

Injection drug users constitute the largest group of persons infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the United States, and most new infections occur in drug users. Controlling hepatitis C in the U.S. population, therefore, will require developing, testing, and implementing effective prevention and treatment strategies for persons who inject drugs. Fortunately, a substantial body of research and clinical experience exists on the prevention and management of chronic viral diseases among injection drug users. The need to implement interventions to stop the spread of HCV among drug users is critical. The capacity of substance‐use treatment programs need to be expanded to accommodate all who want and need treatment. Physicians and pharmacists should be educated in how to provide access to sterile syringes and to teach safe injection techniques, both of which are lifesaving interventions. The treatment of hepatitis C in drug users requires an interdisciplinary approach that brings together expertise in treating hepatitis and caring for drug users. Treatment decisions should be made individually by patients with their physicians, based on a balanced assessment of risks and benefits and the patient's personal values. Physicians should carefully assess, monitor, and support adherence and mental health in all patients, regardless of whether drug use is known or suspected. Research is needed to better understand how best to prevent and treat hepatitis C in substance users. In the meantime, substantial progress can be made if existing knowledge and resources are brought to bear.
Relationships between biophasic disposition and pharmacokinetic behavior in nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs.

The time course of biophasic amounts of two nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs (naproxen and oxyphenbutazone) after an intravenous dose of both drugs in rats (5 and 20 mg/kg, respectively) and their relationships with the drug amounts in central and peripheral compartments as defined through blood level data obtained after the same intravenous dose of the drug, are described. To assess the first point, the carrageenin-induced rat paw edema method is employed. Through previously established dose-response curves obtained after administration of different i.v. doses, the conversion of responses to biophasic amounts is achieved by means of the corresponding model equations. To calculate kinetic parameters through the fitting of the concentration-time data, a least-squares method based on the Marquardt algorithm is used on a computer. It can be concluded that the biophasic compartment cannot be identified as the "central" or the "peripheral" kinetic ones, being, however, the output biophasic rate constant not significantly different from the terminal disposition rate constant, beta or lambda 2.
The course of newly presented unexplained complaints in general practice patients: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE Newly presented unexplained complaints (UCs) are common in general practice. Factors influencing the transition of newly presented into persistent UCs have been scarcely investigated. We studied the number and the nature of diagnoses made over time, as well as factors associated with UCs becoming persistent. Finally, we longitudinally studied factors associated with quality of life (QoL). METHODS Prospective cohort study in general practice of patients presenting with a new UC. Data sources were case record forms, patient questionnaires and electronic medical registries at inclusion, 1, 6 and 12 months. Presence of complaints and diagnoses made over time were documented. Potential risk factors were assessed in mixed-effect logistic and linear regression models. RESULTS Sixty-three GPs included 444 patients (73% women; median age 42) with unexplained fatigue (70%), abdominal complaints (14%) and musculoskeletal complaints (16%). At 12 months, 43% of the patients suffered from their initial complaints. Fifty-seven percent of the UCs remained unexplained. UCs had (non-life-threatening) somatic origins in 18% of the patients. QoL was often poor at presentation and tended to remain poor. Being a male [odds ratio (OR) 0.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4-0.8] and GPs' being more certain about the absence of serious disease (OR 0.9; 95% CI 0.8-0.9) were the strongest predictors of a diminished probability that the complaints would still be present and unexplained after 12 months. The strongest determinants of complaint persistence [regardless of (un)explicability] were duration of complaints >4 weeks before presentation (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.6-4.3), musculoskeletal complaint at baseline (OR 2.3; 1.2-4.5), while the passage of time acted positively (OR 0.8 per month; 95% CI 0.78-0.84). Musculoskeletal complaints, compared to fatigue, decreased QoL on the physical domain (4.6 points; 2.6-6.7), while presence of psychosocial factors decreased mental QoL (5.0; 3.1-6.9). CONCLUSION One year after initial presentation, a large proportion of newly presented UCs remained unexplained and unresolved. We identified determinants that GPs might want to consider in the early detection of patients at risk of UC persistence and/or low QoL.
Extent of principals’ support services for teachers’ job commitment in public and private secondary schools in Anambra State

This study was conducted in secondary schools in Anambra State. One research question and one hypothesis guided the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population of the study consists of 3395 teachers in the six education zones in the state. The sample for the study comprised 1,733 teachers in public and 1,662 teachers in private secondary schools in Anambra State respectively. The sample consisted 30% of the entire population. The instrument for data collection was researchers-developed questionnaire titled “Support Services for Teachers’ Job Commitment Questionnaire” (SSTJCQ). The face and content validity of the instruments was established by three experts and the reliability of the instrument was determined using the split-half method. Cronbach’s alpha method was used to obtain correlation co-efficient of 0.85 for the instrument. The researchers collected the data from the respondents. The research questions were answered using mean ratings and the t- test statistic was used to test the hypotheses at.05 level of significance. Findings indicate that the teacher support services in both the public secondary schools and private schools in Anambra State were limited in order to impact on teachers’ job commitment in schools. Also, in the private secondary schools, teacher support services impacting teachers’ job commitment were not prevailing. It was recommended among others that the State government should set up policies and programmes that will improve the working conditions of teachers, likewise give room for adequate teacher support services and empowerment for both public and private schools. Keywords: Principals, Teachers, Support Services, Job Commitment, Public School, Private School
Determinants of change in stroke-specific quality of life after distributed constraint-induced therapy.

OBJECTIVE We identified the predictive factors of change in quality of life (QOL) after a distributed form of constraint-induced therapy (dCIT) among stroke survivors. METHOD Seventy-four participants were treated with dCIT. We identified eight potential determinants of change: age, gender, side of lesion, time since stroke, cognitive status, motor impairment of the upper extremity, activities of daily living (ADLs), and instrumental ADLs (IADLs). The Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) was used to assess QOL. RESULTS Right-sided lesion and onset >17 mo earlier determined greater improvement in the SS-QOL Energy domain. Onset >10 mo earlier, poorer IADL performance, and age >68 yr predicted improvement in the Family Role, Mobility, and Mood domains, respectively. CONCLUSION Side of lesion, time since stroke, IADL performance, and age were the most important determinants of QOL in patients receiving stroke motor rehabilitation.
Rectal balloon training as add‐on therapy to pelvic floor muscle training in adults with fecal incontinence: A randomized controlled trial

Fecal incontinence (FI) is embarrassing, resulting in poor quality of life. Rectal sensation may be more important than sphincter strength to relieve symptoms. A single‐blind, randomized controlled trial among adults with FI compared the effectiveness of rectal balloon training (RBT) and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) versus PFMT alone.
Pendrin and NIS antibodies are absent in healthy individuals and are rare in autoimmune thyroid disease: evidence from a Danish twin study

Antibodies against thyroglobulin, thyroid peroxidase and the TSH receptor are accepted as pathophysiological and diagnostic biomarkers in autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). In contrast, the prevalence, aetiology and clinical relevance of autoantibodies against the human sodium‐iodine symporter (NISAb) and pendrin (PenAb) remain unclear. The objectives of the study were to investigate the presence of NISAb and PenAb in Danish twins, with and without AITD, to study whether the published variations in NISAb and PenAb frequencies were related to differences in methodology or study populations, and to evaluate whether the presence of NISAb or PenAb most likely results from genetic or nongenetic factors.
Validity of the Patient Generated Index as a quality-of-life measure in radiation oncology.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To evaluate psychometric properties of an instrument designed to measure individualized health-related quality of life (HRQOL). DESIGN Repeated measures of self-reported quality of life. SETTING An outpatient radiation therapy department in the western part of the United States. SAMPLE 86 adults with cancer receiving their first course of radiation therapy. METHODS The Patient Generated Index (PGI), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's Distress Thermometer (DT), and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire-Core-30 (QLQ-C30). MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Convergent validity, responsiveness, sensitivity, and response shift. FINDINGS PGI scores were inversely correlated with scores on the DT (r = -0.49, -0.55, -0.44; p < 0.001), as well as the role (r = 0.31, 0.4, 0.38; p < 0.01), emotional (r = 0.33, 0.41, 0.33; p < 0.01), social functioning (r = 0.27, 0.49, 0.42; p < 0.05), pain (r = -0.29, -0.39, -0.39; p < 0.01), and fatigue (r = -0.35, -0.25, -0.47; p < 0.05) QLQ-C30 subscales at all measurement times. The PGI was responsive to those reporting high or low DT scores (t = 4.42, 3.32, 2.9; p < 0.05). A small-to-moderate effect size was detected in those who had an increase (effect size = 0.51) or decrease (effect size = 0.38) in HRQOL over time. Participants reconceptualized HRQOL over time. CONCLUSIONS Data supported the PGI as a valid measure of individualized HRQOL. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING The PGI potentially provides a more patient-centered measure of HRQOL in patients with cancer. Additional testing is needed in larger, more diverse groups.
Risk‐based prenatal screening for trisomy 18 using alpha‐fetoprotein, unconjugated oestriol and human chorionic gonadotropin

Nine centres collaborated to examine the feasibility of a screening method for trisomy 18 that was based on assigning individual risk, using a combination of maternal age and measurements of alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP), unconjugated oestriol (uE3), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Second‐trimester measurements of these analytes were obtained from 94 trisomy 18 pregnancies. In the 89 pregnancies without an associated open defect, the median levels for AFP, uE3, and hCG were 0.65, 0.43 and 0.36 multiples of the unaffected population median, respectively. The strongest individual predictor of risk for trisomy 18 was uE3, followed by hCG, AFP, and maternal age, in that order. Using a method of individual risk estimation that is based on the three markers and maternal age, 60 per cent of pregnancies associated with trisomy 18 would be detected at a risk cut‐off level of 1:100, with a false‐positive rate of about 0.2 per cent. One in nine pregnancies identified as being at increased risk for trisomy 18 would be expected to have an affected pregnancy. This risk‐based screening method is more efficient than an existing method that is based on fixed analyte cut‐off levels. Even though the birth prevalence of trisomy 18 is low, prenatal screening can be justified when performed in conjunction with Down syndrome screening and when a high proportion of women offered amniocentesis have an affected fetus.
Patient-reported Outcome in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Comparison of Web-based Versus Paper-completed Questionnaires

Objective. Patients followed in observational cohorts often complete patient-reported outcomes on paper questionnaires. With advances in technology, Web-based (WB) formats have been developed. The aims of our study were to determine whether WB and paper-based questionnaires (PB) completed by patients followed in the psoriatic arthritis (PsA) clinic are comparable; whether there is a patient preference for one method or the other; and whether any preference is related to patient characteristics. Methods. Consecutive patients followed at the PsA clinic completed the Health Assessment Questionnaire, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36, fatigue scale, Dermatology Life Quality Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Instrument, and EQ-5D both on paper (PB) and on computer by Internet (WB). Patients were also asked to complete questionnaires regarding their preference for one method or the other. Descriptive statistics and interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated. Results. Of 110 patients who agreed to participate, 67 (57.3%) successfully completed both PB and WB questionnaires. These patients did not differ from those who did not complete the questionnaires. WB and PB questionnaires took the same length of time to complete, with 20% of the patients complaining of more pain following completion of the questionnaires, more so with the PB. There was excellent agreement between the PB and WB (ICC 0.89–0.97) for all questionnaires. Conclusion. The PB and WB versions of 10 standardized self-administered questionnaires in patients with PsA were comparable. The WB format was well accepted by PsA outpatients. Patients may thus be offered a choice of format as well as the choice to complete the questionnaires either in the clinic or remotely by Internet.
Transcriptional regulation of prfA and PrfA‐regulated virulence genes in Listeria monocytogenes

The ActA protein, the lecithinase PlcB and listeriolysin are the major PrfA‐dependant proteins synthesized when brain‐heart infusion (BHI)‐cultured Listeria monocytogenes is shifted to minimum essential medium (MEM) In the presence of the transcriptional inhibitor rifampicin. Enhanced synthesis of all three proteins under these conditions depends, however, on a short incubation (about 5 min) of the bacteria in MEM without rifampicin, suggesting that induction of these proteins in MEM requires de novo transcription. The enhanced synthesis of these three proteins is observed in the L. monocytogenes wild‐type strains EGD and NCTC 7973, both of which belong to the serotype 1/2a. A significant induction of the bicistronic mRNA for ActA and PlcB is observed in both strains shortly after shifting the bacteria from BHI to MEM. This mRNA as well as the monocistronic listeriolysin (hly)‐specific mRNA is highly stable in L. monocytogenes NCTC 7973 shifted to MEM. In contrast to the actA‐plcB mRNA, no enhanced transcription in MEM is observed for the regulatory prfA gene or for the PrfA‐controlled virulence genes hlyA and plcA in strain NCTC 7973. However, transcription of these genes is induced in strain EGD. Transcriptional induction of the mpl gene is observed in neither strain NCTC 7973 nor in strain EGD. The life‐time of the prfA, plcA, and mpl transcripts is short. ActA was also found to be the most abundant newly synthesized surface protein when the two wild‐type strains of L. monocytogenes replicated within the phagocytic cell line J774. ActA synthesis seemed to be induced in the cytoplasm since the non‐haemolytic mutant M3 did not induce ActA when taken up by J774 cells.
Risk perception of alcohol consumption.

A review is given of general principles of risk perception, with some historical highlights of the field. It is pointed out that the risk target is of great importance (i.e., that personal risks are almost always perceived as smaller than risks to others). The implications of perceived personal and general risks are different, with general risks being more important for policy attitudes. The concepts needed to investigate risk perception are different, depending on what kind of risk is studied. Alcohol consumption risks give rise to uniquely strong risk denial, closely tied to control notions. Consumption of alcohol is found to be related to personal alcohol risk in a positive manner; the larger the consumption, the larger is the perceived risk. However, no such relationship is found for general risk. At the societal level, alcohol was the most common explanation that people gave for the prevalence of violence.
Collaborative evaluation of antigen detection by a commercial latex agglutination test and enzyme immunoassay in the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis

The Cand-Tec Candida detection system and enzyme immunoassay for serum mannan were retrospectively compared in a controlled collaborative evaluation of antigen detection in 32 patients with candidiasis proven by biopsy or culture from a normally sterile site and with sera drawn within 7 days of inclusion. With a threshold titer of 1/8, which excluded false-positive results in 17 hospitalized patients without candidiasis, sensitivities for all 32 patients with candidiasis were 44% for the Cand-Tec assay and 17% for the enzyme immunoassay. Both assays provided greater sensitivity when sera were drawn within 24 h of inclusion in the study and in the category of patients with invasive candidiasis (57% by Cand-Tec and 33% by enzyme immunoassay). The Cand-Tec assay gave false-positive results (titer, greater than or equal to 1/8) in 4 of 6 patients with transient candidemia, in 1 of 20 otherwise healthy patients with rheumatoid factor, and in 1 patient with a positive cryptococcal latex agglutination test. Three serum specimens from 3 of 32 patients with candidiasis contained rheumatoid factor and gave titers of greater than or equal to 1/8 by the Cand-Tec assay. Detection of serum mannan by enzyme immunoassay was less sensitive but more specific than the Cand-Tec Candida detection system for the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis.
Patterns of symptoms and functional impairments in children with cancer

Children with cancer experience multiple symptoms due to their disease and as a result of treatment. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility and potential utility of using latent profile analysis (LPA), a type of cluster analysis, in children with cancer to identify groups of patients who experience similar levels of symptom severity and impairment of physical function.
Rodeo injuries and prevention

Rodeo is a fast-moving sport with highly talented and tough athletes. Prevalence of injury is high, especially in rough stock events, which include bareback, saddle bronc, and bull riding. In bull riding, the incidence of injury is reported at 32.2 injuries per 1000 competitor-exposures. While a number of different injuries can occur during bull riding, concussions are often the most alarming. However, they may also be the most amenable to prevention, despite resistance from rodeo cowboys and organization rulemakers to the use of protective headgear and lack of adherence to recovery guidelines. Rodeo athletes want to return to their sport despite injuries and rarely seek medical care; nonetheless, arena-side health care is still utilized and appreciated by rodeo cowboys. This article addresses the need for greater use of preventative equipment, the importance of allowing full recovery from concussions, and the need to make medical care more available to the rodeo athlete.
Comparison of Diagnostic Performance of Three-Dimensional Positron Emission Mammography versus Whole Body Positron Emission Tomography in Breast Cancer

Objective To compare the diagnostic performance of three-dimensional (3D) positron emission mammography (PEM) versus whole body positron emission tomography (WBPET) for breast cancer. Methods A total of 410 women with normal breast or benign or highly suspicious malignant tumors were randomized at 1 : 1 ratio to undergo 3D-PEM followed by WBPET or WBPET followed by 3D-PEM. Lumpectomy or mastectomy was performed on eligible participants after the scanning. Results The sensitivity and specificity of 3D-PEM were 92.8% and 54.5%, respectively. WBPET showed a sensitivity of 95.7% and specificity of 56.8%. After exclusion of the patients with lesions beyond the detecting range of the 3D-PEM instrument, 3D-PEM showed higher sensitivity than WBPET (97.0% versus 95.5%, P = 0.913), particularly for small lesions (<1 cm) (72.0% versus 60.0%, P = 0.685). Conclusions The 3D-PEM appears more sensitive to small lesions than WBPET but may fail to detect lesions that are beyond the detecting range. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee (E2012052) at the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital (Tianjin, China). The instrument positron emission mammography (PEMi) was approved by China State Food and Drug Administration under the registration number 20153331166.