Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The safety and efficacy of red cell transfusions in neonates: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Premature neonates commonly receive red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. This study systematically identified and appraised randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where the intervention was ‘transfusion of red blood cells’ from searches of multiple databases. Primary review outcomes were mortality, neurodevelopmental and respiratory endpoints. Two reviewers extracted data and assigned overall quality. Twenty‐seven RCTs were identified and grouped into four predefined categories: trials comparing RBC transfusion versus no transfusion/placebo (n = 3); different thresholds for transfusion (n = 6); differing doses or administration schedule (n = 4), or different types or products of RBC (n = 14). In the threshold group of trials, enrolling 679 neonates, no significant differences in mortality (relative risk 1·22, 95% confidence interval 0·84–1·75) or chronic lung disease were found. Only two trials assessed neurodevelopment outcomes, both within the threshold group, but with differing results. The largest subgroup of RCTs by number evaluated different media for storage of red cells (n = 7), enrolling 221 neonates. The methodological quality of many RCTs was poor. The design of future RCTs can be informed by the lessons from this review. Many trials failed to report on outcomes that would be considered of primary importance to clinicians. Consistent reporting of adverse events is required, and endpoints need to include neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Women's Representation in Parliament

Parties vary substantially in the proportion of women they send to parliament. I examine how party characteristics affect women's representation in the parliamentary parties of 12 advanced industrial nations over time. Four party-level factors have some explanatory power: organizational structure, ideology, women party activists and gender-related candidate rules. A temporal sequence is proposed in which these factors and electoral rules directly and indirectly affect women's representation. Women party activists and gender-related rules are the more direct mechanisms affecting women's legislative representation. Further, New Left values and high levels of women activists within the party both enhance the likelihood that gender-related candidate rules will be implemented.
In vivo coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering imaging of sciatic nerve tissue

We report in vivo nonlinear optical imaging of mouse sciatic nerve tissue by epidetected coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering and second harmonic generation microscopy. Following a minimally invasive surgery to open the skin, coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering imaging of myelinated axons and second harmonic generation imaging of the surrounding collagen fibres were demonstrated with high signal‐to‐background ratio, three‐dimensional spatial resolution, and no need for labelling. The underlying contrast mechanisms of in vivo coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering were explored by three‐dimensional imaging of fat cells that surround the nerve. The epidetected coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering signals from the nerve tissues were found to arise from interfaces as well as back reflection of forward coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering.
Susceptibility of oral obligate anaerobes to telithromycin, moxifloxacin and a number of commonly used antibacterials.

INTRODUCTION Obligate anaerobes are closely involved in the pathogenesis of oral and focal infections. The objective of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility profiles of obligate anaerobes of oral origin to telithromycin (TLM), moxifloxacin (MXF), and other antibiotics that are commonly used in dentistry. METHODS The study sample comprised 172 obligate anaerobes isolated from the saliva of 43 adult volunteers. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by the agar dilution technique in Brucella agar medium supplemented with vitamin K, haemin and 5% (volume/volume) laked sheep blood, and incubated under anaerobic conditions. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute methodology was followed and its criteria were used for the qualitative interpretation of the results. The antibiotics evaluated were: amoxicillin (AMX), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AMX-CLA), clindamycin (CM), metronidazole (MTZ), azithromycin (AZM), TLM and MXF. RESULTS Resistance to AMX (MIC(90) > or = 16 mg/l) was observed in 45.3% of the obligate anaerobes and resistance to CM (MIC(90) > or = 16 mg/l) was found in 18.6%. All the isolates were sensitive to MTZ (MIC(90) = 1 mg/l) and 98.8% were sensitive to AMX-CLA (MIC(90) = 2 mg/l). The MIC(90) values for AZM, TLM and MXF were > or =16, > or =8 and > or =2 mg/l, respectively. CONCLUSION Pathogenic, opportunistic and non-pathogenic obligate anaerobes showed high percentages of resistance to AMX and CM, and high MIC values for AZM in the absence of recently administered antibiotics. MXF showed a higher activity than TLM, similar to that detected for AMX-CLA and MTZ. In consequence, MXF could represent a possible alternative antimicrobial against obligate anaerobes of oral origin, particularly in those patients with allergy, intolerance or lack of response to AMX-CLA or MTZ.
Discrepancies and Rates of Publication in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Abstracts

Background Presentations of clinically relevant data at AOSSM national meetings are presented yearly and may influence clinical decision making. Hypothesis The incidence of presentations that do not subsequently get published is high, and the numbers of major and minor inconsistencies, once published, are also high. Study Design Systematic review. Methods A database was created of all abstracts presented at AOSSM meetings from 1999 to 2001 from official program books. To assess whether each abstract had been followed by publication in a peer-reviewed journal, a PubMed search was conducted to include a 5-year follow-up for each conference. Minor inconsistencies included differences in title, authors, presentation of all outcomes, and authors’ interpretation of data. Major inconsistencies included discrepancies in study objective and/or hypothesis, study design, primary and secondary outcome measures, sample size, statistical analysis, results, and standard deviations/confidence intervals. Results Overall, 98 of the 165 abstracts presented at AOSSM national meetings from 1999 to 2001 were published in a peer-reviewed journal within 5 years, a publication rate of 59.4%. The median time to publication for all articles was 21 (range, 1–60) months. The majority of articles (61) were published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine (62.2%). The median number of major and minor inconsistencies from abstract to publication was 1 (range, 0–5) and 1 (range, 0–4), respectively. Sixty-two of the 98 published abstracts (63%) had at least 1 major inconsistency, while 79 (81 %) had at least 1 minor inconsistency. In 5 manuscripts (5%), the authors’ interpretation of the data had changed, and in 2 (2%), the change essentially invalidated the abstract. Conclusion A large number of scientific presentations do not get published in a peer-reviewed journal. In addition, those published have a significant number of changes that, in a small percentage of cases, alter the validity of the original presentation. Clinical Relevance Orthopaedic surgeons and other attendees as well as nonattendees who reference conference abstracts need to exercise good judgment when considering the implications of oral presentations of unpublished materials. When reviewing meeting presentation abstracts, readers should remember that the material being presented is often not in its definitive or ultimate form.
Minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy for papillary carcinoma: a prospective study of its completeness.

BACKGROUND The effectiveness of minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) in papillary thyroid carcinoma is still debated. Some are concerned about this procedure in patients with thyroid cancer. This prospective study aimed to demonstrate that near-total thyroidectomy can be performed by MIVAT with similar results compared with open thyroidectomy. METHODS A total of 33 patients with a thyroid nodule proven to be a papillary thyroid carcinoma underwent a near-total thyroidectomy. They were randomly assigned to group A (n = 16) or group B (n = 17) who were treated either by MIVAT or conventional near-total thyroidectomy, respectively. Iodine-131 thyroid bed uptake and serum thyroglobulin were measured 1 month after operation. Data were analyzed by unpaired t test and Mann-Whitney statistic methods. RESULTS . Mean iodine-131 uptake was 5.1 +/- 4.9% in group A and 4.6 +/- 6.7% in group B. Mean thyroglobulin serum levels were 5.3 +/- 5.8 ng/mL in group A and 7.6 +/- 21.7 ng/mL in group B. The differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study showed that the completeness obtained with MIVAT is similar to that obtained with open thyroidectomy, with the great advantage of a minimal neck wound. No conclusions can be drawn in terms of influence of MIVAT on the outcome of the patients with small papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Motor neuronal repletion of the NMJ organizer, Agrin, modulates the severity of the spinal muscular atrophy disease phenotype in model mice

Abstract Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common and often fatal neuromuscular disorder caused by low levels of the Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein. Amongst the earliest detectable consequences of SMN deficiency are profound defects of the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). In model mice these synapses appear disorganized, fail to mature and are characterized by poorly arborized nerve terminals. Given one role of the SMN protein in orchestrating the assembly of spliceosomal snRNP particles and subsequently regulating the alternative splicing of pre‐mRNAs, a plausible link between SMN function and the distal neuromuscular SMA phenotype is an incorrectly spliced transcript or transcripts involved in establishing or maintaining NMJ structure. In this study, we explore the effects of one such transcript—Z+Agrin—known to be a critical organizer of the NMJ. We confirm that low SMN protein reduces motor neuronal levels of Z+Agrin. Repletion of this isoform of Agrin in the motor neurons of SMA model mice increases muscle fiber size, enhances the post‐synaptic NMJ area, reduces the abnormal accumulation of intermediate filaments in nerve terminals of the neuromuscular synapse and improves the innervation of muscles. While these effects are independent of changes in SMN levels or increases in motor neuron numbers they nevertheless have a significant effect on the overall disease phenotype, enhancing mean survival in severely affected SMA model mice by ˜40%. We conclude that Agrin is an important target of the SMN protein and that mitigating NMJ defects may be one strategy in treating human spinal muscular atrophy.
Altered metabolism and mitochondrial genome in prostate cancer

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA are frequent in cancer and the accompanying mitochondrial dysfunction and altered intermediary metabolism might contribute to, or signal, tumour pathogenesis. The metabolism of human prostate peripheral zone glandular epithelial cells is unique. Compared with many other soft tissues, these glandular epithelial cells accumulate high concentrations of zinc, which inhibits the activity of m-aconitase, an enzyme involved in citrate metabolism through Krebs cycle. This causes Krebs cycle truncation and accumulation of high concentrations of citrate to be secreted in prostatic fluid. The accumulation of zinc also inhibits terminal oxidation. Therefore, these cells exhibit inefficient energy production. In contrast, malignant transformation of the prostate is associated with an early metabolic switch, leading to decreased zinc accumulation and increased citrate oxidation. The efficient energy production in these transformed cells implies increased electron transport chain activity, increased oxygen consumption, and perhaps, excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) production compared with normal prostate epithelial cells. Because ROS have deleterious effects on DNA, proteins, and lipids, the altered intermediary metabolism may be linked with ROS production and accelerated mitochondrial DNA mutations in prostate cancer.
A randomized, placebo-controlled 12-month trial of divalproex and lithium in treatment of outpatients with bipolar I disorder. Divalproex Maintenance Study Group.

BACKGROUND Long-term outcomes are often poor in patients with bipolar disorder despite treatment; more effective treatments are needed to reduce recurrences and morbidity. This study compared the efficacy of divalproex, lithium, and placebo as prophylactic therapy. METHODS A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group multicenter study of treatment outcomes was conducted over a 52-week maintenance period. Patients who met the recovery criteria within 3 months of the onset of an index manic episode (n = 372) were randomized to maintenance treatment with divalproex, lithium, or placebo in a 2:1:1 ratio. Psychotropic medications were discontinued before randomization, except for open-label divalproex or lithium, which were gradually tapered over the first 2 weeks of maintenance treatment. The primary outcome measure was time to recurrence of any mood episode. Secondary measures were time to a manic episode, time to a depressive episode, average change from baseline in Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Change Version subscale scores for depression and mania, and Global Assessment of Function scores. RESULTS The divalproex group did not differ significantly from the placebo group in time to any mood episode. Divalproex was superior to placebo in terms of lower rates of discontinuation for either a recurrent mood episode or depressive episode. Divalproex was superior to lithium in longer duration of successful prophylaxis in the study and less deterioration in depressive symptoms and Global Assessment Scale scores. CONCLUSIONS The treatments did not differ significantly on time to recurrence of any mood episode during maintenance therapy. Patients treated with divalproex had better outcomes than those treated with placebo or lithium on several secondary outcome measures.
Current Trends and Results of Endovascular Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms at a Single Institution in the Flow-Diverter Era

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: During the past several years, the number of unruptured aneurysms treated with endovascular techniques has increased. Traditionally, coil embolization was the treatment of choice for these lesions; however, recently flow diversion has become a viable, and in some cases superior, treatment option. The current single-center study presents results and trends of endovascular treatment with flow diversion and coil embolization in an unselected group of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms in a “real world“ setting during the flow-diverter era. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred ten patients with 318 treated unruptured aneurysms from June 2009 to May 2015 were included. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, aneurysm/treatment characteristics, and outcomes were collected prospectively. We studied the following: intensive care unit admission/reasons, perioperative and mid-/long-term complications, target aneurysm rupture, retreatment/recurrence rates, and long-term neurologic outcome using the mRS. RESULTS: The flow-diverter group had a larger mean aneurysm size (12.3 ± 8.6 mm versus 8.7 ± 6.3 mm, P < .0001). There were no significant differences in the immediate (P = .43) and mid-/long-term complication rates (P = .54) between groups. Periprocedural neurologic morbidity and mortality rates were 2.1% and 0.5% in the coiling group and 2.5% and 1.6% in the flow-diverter group. Patients with coiling were more likely to be retreated than those with flow diversion (14.8% versus 5.7%, P = .009). Worsening of the mRS due to the target aneurysm was noted in only 3.2% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The endovascular treatment of unruptured aneurysms can be performed with very low rates of neurologic complications. Both flow-diverter and coil therapy were safe and effective.
Fluorescence‐guided surgery improves outcome in an orthotopic osteosarcoma nude‐mouse model

In order to develop a model for fluorescence‐guided surgery (FGS), 143B human osteosarcoma cells expressing red fluorescent protein (RFP) were injected into the intramedullary cavity of the tibia in nude mice. The fluorescent areas of residual tumors after bright‐light surgery (BLS) and FGS were 10.2 ± 2.4 mm2 and 0.1 ± 0.1 mm2, respectively (p < 0.001). The BLS‐treated mice and BLS + cisplatinum (CDDP)‐treated mice had significant recurrence. In contrast, the FGS mice and FGS + CDDP mice had very little recurring tumor growth. Disease‐free survival (DFS) in the BLS‐, BLS + CDDP‐, FGS‐, and FGS + CDDP‐treated mice was 12.5%, 37.5%, 75.0%, and 87.5%, respectively. The FGS‐treated mice had a significantly higher DFS rate than the BLS‐treated mice (p = 0.021). The FGS + CDDP‐treated mice had significantly higher DFS rate than the BLS + CDDP‐treated mice (p = 0.043). Although chemotherapy significantly reduced multiple metastases (p = 0.033), there was no significant correlation between FGS and lung metastasis. FGS significantly reduced the recurrence of the primary tumor but did not reduce lung metastasis. The combination of FGS and adjuvant CDDP reduced tumor recurrence and prevented multiple metastases. FGS and adjuvant chemotherapy should be performed as early as possible in the disease to prevent both recurrence and metastatic development. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:1596–1601, 2014.
Cavernous hemangioma of the liver: anatomic resection vs. enucleation.

HYPOTHESIS Patient outcome and the development of major intra-abdominal postoperative complications following removal of cavernous hemangiomas of the liver are affected by methods of resection. DESIGN Case-control study. SETTING Hepatobiliary surgery and liver transplantation unit in a tertiary care referral medical center. PATIENTS Between December 1, 1987, and December 1, 1997, 28 patients underwent the surgical removal of cavernous hemangioma either by hepatic resection or enucleation. Indications for the operation were pain, enlarging tumors, uncertain diagnosis, or rupture. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The technique of tumor removal, hospital course, and the development of intra-abdominal complications. Independent factors influencing the development of complications were ascertained by multivariate analysis. RESULTS Twenty-four female and 4 male patients (age, 47.5+/-12.4 [mean +/- SD] years) underwent either enucleation (n = 23) or liver resection (n = 5). Lesions ranged from 2 to 16 cm in their postresection diameter. No surgical (30-day) mortality was observed. Four major intra-abdominal complications were found: 1 episode of intraoperative bleeding requiring abdominal packing and 3 intra-abdominal fluid collections requiring percutaneous drainage. Enucleation was the only independent factor found by univariate and multivariate analyses to be associated with a reduction in the number of intra-abdominal complications (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS Cavernous hemangiomas of the liver can be removed safely by either hepatic resection or enucleation. Enucleation is associated with fewer intra-abdominal complications and should be the technique of choice when tumor location and technical factors favor enucleation.
Levels of disability among U.S. adults with arthritis.

This article studies the excess levels of disability experienced by persons with arthritis, compared to persons without the disease. The data set is the Supplement on Aging (1984 National Health Interview Survey); it has information for a national probability sample of community-dwelling persons ages 55 + (N = 16,148). (1) Arthritis people have more difficulty in physical functions, personal care, and household care than do nonarthritis persons. The excess disability is greatest for physical functions (walking, reaching, stooping, etc.). Disabled arthritis people have especially high degrees of difficulty in physical activities that require endurance and strength. (2) Various models are tested for walking, grasping, shopping, and light housework to show how comorbidity propels disability for arthritis people and to show arthritis' own contribution to disability in the presence of other chronic conditions. Difficulties escalate for arthritis people when they have other concurrent conditions. These models affirm that arthritis has a pronounced effect on physical dysfunctions, but these are not readily translated into personal and household care problems. Apparently, arthritis people often make successful accommodations so their roles and daily activities are not seriously affected by the disease.
Supporting LDCs' Transformation: How can ODA Contribute to the Istanbul Programme of Action in the Post-2015 Era?

Many intergovernmental processes, including the Istanbul Programme of Action, the post-2015 Development Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda call for a significant increase in ODA toward LDCs. However, even if the commitments were fulfilled, their effectiveness could be minimal if no significant changes are made in the way in which donors allocate and provide ODA. LDCs are among countries with higher levels of aid-dependency, proliferation of donors and aid fragmentation. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role that ODA can play in the development process of LDCs and the way in which aid should be allocated among countries.
Paclitaxel and filgrastim for hematopoietic progenitor cell mobilization in patients with hematologic malignancies after failure of a prior mobilization regimen

Paclitaxel and G-CSF have been evaluated for HPC mobilization in breast cancer and found to have tolerable toxicity with a predictable time to initiate leukapheresis. However, this approach has not been reported in patients with hematologic malignancies failing prior mobilization. We report a case-series of 26 adults given paclitaxel and G-CSF for HPC mobilization after failure of an initial mobilization. Patients received paclitaxel 250 mg/m2 followed by G-CSF 10 – 16 mcg/kg/day. Compared to the initial regimen, paclitaxel mobilization produced greater CD34+ cell yields (median 1.53×106 CD34+ cells/kg vs. 0.79×106 CD34+ cells/kg, p = 0.004). Seventy-six percent of patients initiated leukapheresis on day 8, the remainder on day 9 or 10. Three patients developed febrile neutropenia resulting in one death prior to leukapheresis. Overall, 73% of patients proceeded with autologous HPC transplant. This case-series suggests paclitaxel may be an option for HPC mobilization in patients failing prior regimens.