Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developing a register of randomised controlled trials in primary care.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the number, nature, site of publication, and feasibility of identifying randomised controlled trials relevant to primary care. DESIGN--Review of literature using three strategies: approaching journal editors, Medline search, and manual search of individual journals. SETTING--Journals containing publications of studies based in primary care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--The number, site of publication, and subject of trials identified. RESULTS--No journal had a system which enabled identification of all the randomised controlled trials it published. 266 trials relevant to primary care were identified from 110 different journals during 1987-91 by Medline. Of these, only 62 trials were published in primary care journals. Hand searching of seven major primary care research journals showed that between 13% and 38% of the trials had been missed by the Medline search. Of the trials identified, 47 (18%) were concerned with mental disease (including neuroses, tobacco misuse and alcohol misuse) and 43 (16%) were concerned with hypertension. CONCLUSION--Given the diversity of publication sources and topics, this supports the need for a centrally based register of randomised controlled trials that may be relevant to primary care overviews in the future.
On Plancherel's identity for a two-dimensional scattering transform

We consider the -Dirac system that Ablowitz and Fokas used to transform the defocussing Davey–Stewartson system to a linear evolution equation. The nonlinear Plancherel identity for the associated scattering transform was established by Beals and Coifman for Schwartz functions. Sung extended the validity of the identity to functions belonging to and Brown to L2-functions with sufficiently small norm. More recently, Perry extended to the weighted Sobolev space and here we extend to with 0 < s < 1.
Bacillus subtilis citB gene is regulated synergistically by glucose and glutamine

The activity of aconitase in Bacillus subtilis is greatly reduced in cells cultured in media containing rapidly metabolized carbon sources (e.g., glucose). Thus, expression of this enzyme appears to be subject to a form of catabolite repression. Since the product of the citB gene of B. subtilis is required for aconitase activity, we cloned the wild-type allele of this gene and used this DNA as a probe for transcription of citB in cells grown in various media. The steady-state level of RNA that hybridized to this probe was about 10-fold higher in B. subtilis cells grown in citrate-glutamine medium than in cells grown in glucose-glutamine medium. This result correlates well with the steady-state levels of aconitase activity. Two transcripts were shown to initiate within the cloned DNA; the steady-state level of one of these transcripts varied in the same way as did aconitase activity when cells were grown in media containing different carbon sources. This is the first demonstration of regulation by the carbon source of the level of a vegatative-cell transcript in B. subtilis.
Hypothalamic function in response to 2-deoxy-D-glucose in long-term abstinent alcoholics.

BACKGROUND The body adapts to diverse stressful stimuli with a response characterized by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Chronic alcohol consumption can cause changes in the function of this neuroendocrine system. Although many studies have examined this phenomenon in drinking and recently sober alcoholics, few studies have examined HPA axis function in long-term sober alcoholics. METHODS To characterize HPA axis function in long-term sober alcoholics, we used a challenge paradigm with 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG). An infusion of 2-DG (a nonmetabolizable glucose analog) induces a well-characterized stress response. In a previous study, our laboratory found an exaggerated corticotropin and cortisol response in alcoholics abstinent 3 weeks; in this investigation we compared the effects of an infusion of 2-DG on 19 healthy volunteers and 20 community-living alcoholics who had been abstinent more than 6 months. RESULTS In contrast to the previous study, long-term sober alcoholics did not have an exaggerated corticotropin and cortisol response after 2-DG. CONCLUSIONS Previously observed abnormalities in cortisol regulation in 3-week-sober alcoholics may be related to the acute effects of recent alcohol consumption and withdrawal. Future investigations into the metabolic function of alcoholics, particularly investigations involving the HPA system, should consider the possibility that normalization may not occur until long-term abstinence has been achieved.
Recursive-Least-Squares-Based Real-Time Estimation of Supercapacitor Parameters

The letter suggests utilizing a recursive-least-squares identification algorithm for real-time estimation of supercapacitor equivalent capacitance and resistance. Estimation is required since both parameters are subject to age, temperature, and terminal-voltage-based variations in addition to typical 20% tolerance of manufacturer provided values. The proposed approach allows calculating the device instantaneous state of energy used as a fuel gauge instead of the commonly adopted state of charge. Experimental results are given to verify the feasibility of the proposed method.
Quantum Many-Body Dynamics of Coupled Double-Well Superlattices

We propose a method for controllable generation of nonlocal entangled pairs using spinor atoms loaded in an optical superlattice. Our scheme iteratively increases the distance between entangled atoms by controlling the coupling between the double wells. When implemented in a finite linear chain of 2N atoms, it creates a triplet valence bond state with large persistency of entanglement of the order of N. We also study the nonequilibrium dynamics of the one-dimensional ferromagnetic Heisenberg Hamiltonian and show that the time evolution of a state of decoupled triplets on each double well leads to the formation of a highly entangled state where short-distance antiferromagnetic correlations coexist with longer-distance ferromagnetic ones. We present methods for detection and characterization of the various dynamically generated states. These ideas are a step forward toward the use of atoms trapped by light as quantum-information processors and quantum simulators.
Association of uraemic pruritus with inflammation and hepatitis infection in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Chronic inflammation and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have been implicated in the pathogenesis of uraemic pruritus in haemodialysis (HD) patients. However, each one's independent roles have not been previously studied. METHODS A total of 321 HD patients diagnosed with end-stage renal disease with maintenance HD for >3 months were included. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to subjectively measure the severity of itching. Based on the VAS score, patients were divided into three groups: Group 1, no pruritus (VAS = 0); Group 2, mild to moderate pruritus (VAS 0-5) and Group 3, severe pruritus (VAS >5). RESULTS There were 120 (37.4%) patients without any pruritus, 141 (43.9%) with mild to moderate pruritus and 60 (18.7%) with severe pruritus. Forty-six (14.3%) had hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and 37 (11.5%) had hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The average serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level was 0.58 mg/dl. Patients with severe pruritus had a significantly higher serum hsCRP level and more HBV or HCV infection (all P < 0.05). In the multi-variable logistic regression model, higher levels of hsCRP (OR = 3.54, P = 0.008) and HCV infection (OR = 2.77, P = 0.014) were both significant independent predictors for severe pruritus. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated the heavy burden of pruritus in HD patients and corroborated the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of uraemic pruritus. HCV infection is associated with severe uraemic pruritus but is independent of the serum hsCRP level in HD patients.
Evaluation of Prognostic Factors in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

A retrospective analysis of 115 consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis was conducted to evaluate the effect on outcome of variables including previous sinus surgery, allergy, asthma, and computed tomography stage of disease. Outcome was assessed in each patient by a survey in which the patient rated the benefit of surgery in terms of percent improvement in different symptoms compared with symptoms before surgery. Outcome was also assessed by the need for revision surgery and the presence of endoscopic criteria for failure. The results indicate that allergy and previous sinus surgery are associated with lower individual symptom scores, but no variable was associated with overall symptomatic failure. Previous sinus surgery was strongly associated with the need for subsequent revision surgery. The computed tomography stage was strongly associated with endoscopic evidence of failure. In conclusion, both history of previous sinus surgery and computed tomography stage of disease are correlated to poor outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery.
HYPOLIPEMIC AGENTS FOR STROKE PREVENTION

An important issue for stroke prevention is identification and treatment of risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia. The four reasons to test hypolipidemic agents in stroke prevention are: (i) a statistical link between elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) or decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and ischemic stroke; (ii) a reduction in vascular risk in randomized trials in patients with coronary heart disease; (iii) evidence of a decreased plaque progression under statins, (iv) pooled analyses of primary and secondary prevention trials showing that reduction of total serum cholesterol reduces the incidence of stroke, especially with the highest rate of cholesterol reduction, and in patients with the highest risk of stroke (i.e., with statins in secondary prevention trials), and (v) prophylactic neuroprotection induced by hypolipidemic agents in animal models of cerebral ischemia. Data provided by trials conducted in subjects with coronary heart disease and in asymptomatic individuals should now be confirmed in stroke patient.
HOW INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL AFFECTS A FIRM’S PERFORMANCE?

The impact of intellectual capital on firm performance is still poorly defined. In this paper, we try to find the relationship between intellectual capital and business performance from the standpoint of financial performance, the marketplace and economics. We conduct a study of the literature on this subject and we announce our research hypotheses. Our empirical study use a sample of 25 companies listed on the stock market in Tunisia. By using a panel’s data we perform the necessary tests for obtaining robust results. The main objective of this study is to determine an exact impact of intellectual capital on the performance of these companies.
Causality orientations among individuals with first-episode psychosis

There is growing recognition that motivation among individuals with psychosis may influence both participation in, and response to, psychosocial interventions. Consequently, there is an increasing call for organizing treatment settings in ways that increase motivation among individuals with psychosis. However, empirical evidence suggests that whether a specific setting/event promotes motivation depends upon individuals’ idiosyncratic interpretation (i.e. causality orientation) of that setting/event. Thus, the goal of this study is to examine causality orientations among individuals with first-episode psychosis and compare these to causality orientations among individuals without psychosis. Our results suggest that, similar to persons without psychosis, individuals with first-episode psychosis show a bias toward interpreting environmental events and personal behavior as determined by personal choice/goals. However, the magnitude of this bias is smaller among individuals with first-episode psychosis, such that they are more likely to perceive events as uncontrollable or regulated by external factors than individuals without psychosis.
Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Wound Healing after Glaucoma Filtration Surgery in Rabbits

Purpose: To investigate the protein and mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), gelatinolytic activity and localization of MMP activity in wounds after glaucoma filtration surgery in rabbits. Methods: Sixty eyes of 30 rabbits were removed 1, 3, 7, 14 and 120 days after the surgery and used for this experiment. Protein and mRNA expressions were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and laser capture microdissection/real-time RT-PCR, respectively. The gelatinolytic activity was analyzed by gelatin zymography and the localization was studied using in situ zymography. Results: By immunohistochemistry, expression of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9 and MT1-MMP was detected in the wounds, most markedly 3 days after the surgery. MMP-positive cells were predominantly macrophages. Expression of MMP-9 and MT1-MMP mRNAs was verified by RT-PCR. Gelatinolytic activities corresponding to proMMP-2 and the active form of MMP-2 were detected in the wounds 3 and 7 days after surgery. In situ zymography localized gelatinolytic activities at the wound site. These activities were almost completely abolished by an MMP inhibitor, indicating that the gelatinolytic activity belongs to metalloproteinases. Conclusions: MMPs, particularly MMP-2/MT1-MMP, play important roles in the degradation of the extracellular matrix in the wound healing process after glaucoma filtration surgery and may represent an important target for therapeutic intervention after glaucoma filtration surgery.
Use of biological assignment in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation clinical trials

Background: When comparing treatments for a specific illness, it is sometimes impractical or impossible to conduct a randomized clinical trial (RCT). Biological assignment trials are one alternative design. In hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) trials, a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling donor is considered optimal, but such donors are available for only 20—30% of otherwise eligible patients. Rather than randomizing only those with a matched sibling donor, in a recent multiple myeloma trial, the type of HCT each patient received was biologically based, i.e., chosen according to whether or not the patient had a matched sibling donor. Purpose: This article describes the design and implementation of biological assignment trials as well as their advantages and disadvantages. Methods: We focus on several aspects of such trials, including efficiency of trial duration, ethical issues, and potential sources of bias. Statistical issues are considered including sample size calculations, monitoring for biased enrollment, and adjustments for imbalances in patient characteristics. A multiple myeloma trial is used as an illustration. Results: Although they often require a larger sample size, biological assignment trials can provide substantial efficiency in terms of study duration over randomized trials when accrual to a randomized trial would be slow. Determination of sample size requires consideration of the anticipated proportion of patients with a biologically favored (HLA-matched sibling) donor. An add-on randomization of patients without a matched sibling donor may alleviate ethical concerns about applicability of study results to all patients regardless of whether the biological assignment groups differ with respect to outcome. Limitations: Prognostic factor imbalance and enrollment bias can occur in a biological assignment trial. Statistical adjustment for potential imbalance in prognostic factors is important, as is monitoring center accrual for enrollment bias and performing an appropriate intention-to-treat analysis. Conclusions: A biological assignment trial can be a reasonable way to compare treatments which are biologically based, such as HLA-matched sibling transplants, when the gold-standard randomized trial design is impractical or impossible. Implementing such a trial requires careful consideration of the ethical issues and potential biases.
Emergence of nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi resistant to ciprofloxacin in India.

Fluoroquinolones have good in vitro and clinical activity against isolates of Salmonella spp. and are often the treatment of choice in cases of life-threatening salmonellosis due to multi-drug resistant strains (Miller et al., 1995). The literature includes a few reports of fluoroquinolone-resistant salmonella strains in humans (Chiu et al., 2002; Marimon et al., 2004; Mehta et al., 2001). In recent years, several treatment failures with fluoroquinolones have also been reported, due to decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (Asna et al., 2003; Threlfall & Ward, 2001). Isolates with decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin appear susceptible with routine disc diffusion tests (Asna et al., 2003; Le Lostec et al., 1997). Routine application of these tests for each strain is not convenient, and the literature suggests that resistance to nalidixic acid may be an indicator of decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (Asna et al., 2003; Hakanen et al., 1999; Kapil & Das, 2002; Threlfall et al., 2001). AIDS has become a worldwide epidemic and a multitude of opportunistic infections have been documented in virtually every organ system of patients afflicted with the condition, due to defective cellular and humoral immune responses. The gastrointestinal tract is a major target for pathogens in HIV infection. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) is endemic in India. Until the mid-1980s, ampicillin, chloramphenicol or co-trimoxazole was the standard treatment for typhoid fever (Asna & Haq, 2000). Since then ciprofloxacin or third generation cephalosporins, namely ceftriaxone, have become the first line of treatment for typhoid fever. Nalidixic acid-resistant S. Typhi (NARST) with decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin has already been reported from India (Jesudason et al., 1996), Vietnam (Wain et al., 1997), Tajikistan (Murdoch et al., 1998) and the UK (Threlfall et al., 1999, 2001). However, NARST resistant to ciprofloxacin have not been reported until now. We describe the isolation of five clinical strains of S. Typhi from HIV-infected patients that were also resistant to ciprofloxacin, another quinolone derivative.
Effect of epidermal growth factor on the cumulus expansion, meiotic maturation and development of buffalo oocytes in vitro

SEVERAL growth factors have been shown to have a possible role in oocyte maturation and postfertilisation embryonic development in cattle (Heyner and others 1993). The addition of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) to the in vitro maturation (IvM) medium has been recently shown to stimulate nuclear maturation and postfertilisation embryonic development of cumulus-enclosed buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes (Chauhan and others 1998). Although buffalo embryos produced by in vitro maturation, fertilisation and culture (IVMFC) produce pregnancies and live calves following transfer to recipients, the production oftransferable blastocysts and the pregnancies obtained is very low in the buffalo (Madan and others 1994, 1996, Chauhan and others 1997). The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of the addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to the ivM medium on cumulus expansion, meiotic maturation, fertilisation and subsequent embryonic development of cumulusenclosed buffalo oocytes in an IVMFC system to explore the possibility of improving embryo yields. Buffalo cumulus-oocyte complexes (cocs) were collected as described by Chauhan and others (1997). Only those cocs which had an unexpanded cumulus mass with five or more layers of cumulus cells, and with homogeneous cytoplasm were used in the study. The maturation media consisted of TCM-l99 supplemented with: 1) 10 per cent fetal bovine serum (FBS) (control medium); 2) 10 per cent FBS + 5,g/ml follicle stimulating hormone-P (FSH-P); and 3) 10 per cent FBS + 20 ng/ml EGF. ivM and evaluation of nuclear maturation were carried out as described by Chauhan and others (1998). The criteria used for assessing the degree of cumulus expansion after 24 hours of IVM were as follows.
Alprazolam and Exposure for Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia

Patients with panic disorder plus agoraphobia had 8 weeks of drug treatment (alprazolam or placebo) plus psychological treatment (exposure or relaxation). At the end of treatment at week 8, 40 patients who had become much/very much improved rated how much their gains were attributable to medication or to their own efforts. During the tapering-off to week 16, and treatment-free follow-up to week 43, patients who at week 8 had attributed their gains to medication and felt less confident in coping without tablets had more severe withdrawal symptoms and greater loss of gains than did patients who at week 8 had attributed their gains to their own efforts during treatment. Baseline illness severity, greater age, higher expectations from drug treatment, and more side-effects of drugs during treatment all predicted more external attributions (i.e. to the effect of drugs) but did not independently predict relapse. Patients on alprazolam compared with placebo had more drug attributions. Though drug attributions predicted relapse in both alprazolam and placebo groups, predictions were stronger in the alprazolam group.
Is Pancreatic Core Biopsy Sufficient to Diagnose Autoimmune Chronic Pancreatitis?

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the adequacy of pancreatic core biopsy in histological diagnosis of autoimmune chronic pancreatitis (AIP). Methods: Histopathologic study as well as immunohistochemical staining using anti-IgG4 antibody was done with pancreatic tissue specimens of 26 AIP patients (19 transabdominal ultrasound (US)-guided core biopsies, 3 intraoperative wedge biopsies, and 4 surgical resections). Eight patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis and 10 patients with pancreatic cancer served as controls. Results: Lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP) histology was observed in 26% (5/19) of US-guided core biopsy specimens, 33% (1/3) of open biopsy specimens, and all 4 resection specimens in AIP patients. None of the patients in the control group showed the full spectrum of changes of LPSP. Abundant IgG4-positive cells (>10 cells/high-power field) in the pancreas were observed in 21% (4/19) of AIP patients with US-guided core biopsy specimen. Abundant IgG4-positive cells in the pancreas were also observed in 2 of 8 patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis and 1 of 10 patients with pancreatic cancer. Conclusions: Transabdominal US-guided pancreatic core biopsy may not provide enough tissue to evaluate characteristic histopathologic features of AIP that include LPSP or abundant IgG4-positive cell infiltration. The LPSP histology may be specific to AIP, but abundant IgG4-positive cells in the pancreas may not.