Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intravenous immunoglobulin G reduces MRI activity in relapsing multiple sclerosis

We wanted to assess whether intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) decreases disease activity on MRI in relapsing MS. Previous trials of IVIG in relapsing-remitting MS demonstrated a reduction of acute relapses, but these studies did not include MRI. We treated 26 patients in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study of IVIG 1 g/kg daily or placebo on 2 consecutive days every month during two 6-month treatment periods. The primary end point was the number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions on monthly serial MRI. Secondary efficacy variables were the occurrence of exacerbations, clinical neurologic ratings, total MS lesion load on T2-weighted MRI, and multimodal evoked potentials. Eighteen patients completed the entire trial; eight patients did not. Twenty-one patients completed the first treatment period and at least two MRI examinations in the second treatment period and were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. On serial MRI, we observed fewer enhancing lesions per patient per scan during IVIG treatment (median, 0.4; range, 0 to 9.3) than during placebo treatment (median, 1.3; range, 0.2 to 25.7; p = 0.03). During IVIG treatment, 15 patients were exacerbation free compared with only 7 on placebo (p = 0.02). The total number of exacerbations in the IVIG period was 11 and in the placebo period, 19 (not significant). None of the remaining secondary efficacy measures were significantly different between the two treatment periods. The number of adverse events, in particular eczema, was significantly higher during IVIG therapy than during placebo treatment. These results suggest that IVIG treatment is beneficial to patients with relapsing MS.
Improved one-to-many authentication scheme for access control in pay-TV systems

Mutual authentication is important in a mobile pay-TV system. Traditional authentication schemes make use of one-to-one delivery, that is, one authentication message per request is delivered from a head-end system to subscriber. This delivery occupies too much bandwidth and therefore is inefficient and costly. One-to-many authentication scheme for access control in mobile pay-TV systems was proposed by Sun et al. in 2009. In one-to-many authentication scheme, only one authentication message for multiple requests is broadcasted from the head-end system (HES) to subscribers. Sun et al. claimed that their scheme is secure and provides anonymous authentication for protecting user privacy. However, the authors demonstrate that their scheme has a critical weakness. An attacker without any secret information can not only successfully impersonate mobile set (MS) to cheat the HES but also impersonate HES to cheat MS. The authors result is important for security engineers who design and develop user authentication systems. Afterwards, the authors design a novel one-to-many authentication scheme from bilinear pairings. They give the formal security proof in the random oracle model. In addition, they present the performance analysis of our scheme. The analysis results showed that their novel authentication scheme has shorter transmission message and can be applied in the environment which has limited bandwidth. At the same time, their scheme is also the first secure one-to-many authentication scheme for access control in pay-TV systems.
Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase Kinase 2 Regulates Macrophage-mediated Inflammatory Responses*

Background: Calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase 2 (CaMKK2) acts, at least in part, in the hypothalamus to alter food intake and energy. Results: CaMKK2 is expressed in macrophages and regulates the TLR4-mediated response to lipopolysaccharide. Conclusion: CaMKK2 regulates macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses to nutrient excess and pathogens. Significance: CaMKK2 is an attractive target for drugs that function to prevent inflammation associated with metabolic disorders and autoimmunity. Calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase 2 (CaMKK2) plays a key role in regulating food intake and energy expenditure at least in part by its actions in hypothalamic neurons. Previously, we showed that loss of CaMKK2 protected mice from high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and glucose intolerance. However, although pair feeding HFD to WT mice to match food consumption of CAMKK2-null mice slowed weight gain, it failed to protect from glucose intolerance. Here we show that relative to WT mice, HFD-fed CaMKK2-null mice are protected from inflammation in adipose and remain glucose-tolerant. Moreover, loss of CaMKK2 also protected mice from endotoxin shock and fulminant hepatitis. We explored the expression of CaMKK2 in immune cells and found it to be restricted to those of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. CaMKK2-null macrophages exhibited a remarkable deficiency to spread, phagocytose bacteria, and synthesize cytokines in response to the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Mechanistically, loss of CaMKK2 uncoupled the TLR4 cascade from activation of protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2; also known as PTK2B). Our findings uncover an important function for CaMKK2 in mediating mechanisms that control the amplitude of macrophage inflammatory responses to excess nutrients or pathogen derivatives.
Kinnier Wilson’s puzzling features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

It is more than 150 years since Jean-Martin Charcot (1825–1893) published the first descriptions of the adult neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 1 Though an unmistakable clinical syndrome in its classical form, ALS has been increasingly understood as representing a complex clinical and molecular syndrome that overlaps with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). 2 Samuel Alexander Kinnier Wilson (1878–1937) (figure 1) is perhaps best known for his eponymous hepatolenticular degenerative syndrome linked to copper dysregulation.3 He is also distinguished as the founding editor, in 1920, of the Journal of Neurology & Psychopathology , which then became the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry . 4 It is, however, his two-volume textbook Neurology published posthumously in 1940 that stands as the greatest testament to the breadth of his clinical and scientific insight. Chapter 64 demonstrates his extraordinary understanding of the clinical heterogeneity of ALS, in which he highlights five ‘puzzling features’: Figure 1 Samuel Alexander Kinnier Wilson (1878–1937) was the founding editor, in 1920, of what became the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry . 1. implication of certain afferent tracts and of ventro-lateral columns in the cord; 2. irregular degree of morbid change as between spinal nerve cell, nerve fibre and muscle, respectively; 3. similar disparity as regards Betz cell and pyramidal fibre lesions; 4. the acuteness of many cases, suggesting a toxic and diffuse process, yet the lesions appear to be systematised; 5. occasional discord between clinical and pathological findings. Intrigued by the issues raised by each of his five comments, we here discuss them in light of developments in understanding of the syndrome of ALS during the subsequent 75 years.5 ### Implication of afferent tracts and ventro-lateral columns in the cord Kinnier Wilson set out his thoughts on ALS nearly half a century after Charcot’s description. The latter recognised ALS as what he considered to be a uniquely ‘deuteropathic’ condition, one characterised by combined lower motor neuron (LMN) and …
Documentation and coding of medical records in a tertiary care center: a pilot study

BACKGROUND Since the medical record is the major source of health information, it is necessary to maintain accurate, comprehensive and properly coded patient data. We reviewed 300 medical records from patients at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, representing four departments (medicine, surgery, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology). METHODS The records were audited following the guidelines of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) for accuracy and completeness of documentation and coding of primary and secondary diagnoses and procedures performed. RESULTS Of 1051 items abstracted, 876 (83.3%) were accurately documented, 41 (3.9%) were inaccurately documented, and 134 (12.7%) were not documented. Of the items abstracted, 736 (70%) were assigned a correct code, 110 (10.5%) were assigned an incorrect code, and 205 (19.5%) were not coded. More items classified as accurately documented were coded correctly (71.1%) than items inaccurately documented (49.7%) (P<0.0001). The difference in comprehensiveness of documentation, which reflects physician performance, was not statistically significant among the four departments (P value <0.234). The difference in the accuracy of coding, which reflects coder performance, was statistically significant (P value < 0.036). CONCLUSIONS Only 60% of the audited records met the benchmark for good quality medical records with regards to documentation and coding. A positive correlation between the accurate documentation and correct coding was noted, which supports the conclusion that high quality documentation enhances coding accuracy. These data, although encouraging, suggest room for improvement, which can be achieved through the collaboration of clinicians, who have extensive clinical experience, and coding professionals, who have comprehensive classification system expertise.
The impact of geographical indications on the competitiveness of traditional agri-food products

The main objective of this paper was to determine whether producers of traditional agri - food products in Croatia are familiar with geographical indications and to examine their expectations about the impact of geographical indications on the competitiveness of their products. A telephone survey was conducted with 120 producers of four traditional agri - food product (Pag Cheese, meat of Zagorje Turkey, Slavonian kulen sausage and Virovitica Pepper). At the time of the research from April to June 2008 all four products were in the PDO/PGO registration procedure. Data collected by the survey were analyzed by use of the SPSS v.17. 0 software. The results show that only a small numbers of respondents are fully familiar with geographical indications and their benefits. Majority of respondents have positive expectations about geographical indications; most of them expected that protection will increase consumer confidence in safety of their product, will increase familiarity with the protected product and reduce abuse of the product. Most positive expectations have been noted by highly educated producers as well as the younger ones. The results of this study show/indicate there is a need to better inform and educate producers about the benefits and advantages of protecting geographical indications. This protection schemes could improve market and tourist offer and hence income of farmers - producers of protected products, all of which contribute to the economic development of Croatian rural areas.
A Comparison of the Attitudes Shown by General Practitioners, Hospital Doctors and Medical Students towards Alternative Medicine

The aim of this study was to compare and contrast the views of general practitioners (GPs), hospital doctors and medical students to alternative medicine. A questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 100 GPs and 100 hospital doctors in the South West Thames Regional Health Authority (SWTRHA). A convenience sample of 237 pre-clinical medical students at St George's Hospital Medical School was also given a questionnaire. Eighty-seven GPs and 81 hospital doctors replied. Five therapies were investigated: acupuncture; chiropractice; homoeopathy; naturopathy; and osteopathy. All respondents were asked about their attitude towards and knowledge of these therapies. Doctors were asked how often they referred patients for such treatment and whether they practised it themselves. GPs and hospital doctors had similar levels of knowledge of the therapies. Medical students were the least informed but the most enthusiastic respondents. Seventy per cent of hospital doctors and 93% of GPs had, on at least one occasion, suggested a referral for alternative treatment. GPs were making these referrals more frequently and earlier. Twelve per cent of hospital doctors and 20% of GPs were practising alternative medicine. The majority of the respondents felt that alternative medicine should be available on the National Health Service (NHS) and that medical students should receive some tuition about alternative therapies. A considerable proportion of those doctors referring patients to alternative practitioners were ignorant of their official qualifications.
Predisposed to prejudice but responsive to intergroup contact? Testing the unique benefits of intergroup contact across different types of individual differences

Recent research demonstrates that intergroup contact effectively reduces prejudice even among prejudice-prone persons. But some assert that evidence regarding the benefits of contact among prejudice-prone individuals is “mixed,” particularly for those higher in social dominance orientation (SDO), one of the field’s most important individual differences. Problematically, person variables are typically considered in isolation despite being intercorrelated, leaving the question of which unique psychological aspects of prejudice proneness (e.g., authoritarianism, antiegalitarianism, cognitive style) are responsive to intergroup contact unresolved. To address this shortcoming, in a large sample of White Americans (N = 465) we simultaneously examined the contact–attitude association at varying levels of ideological (SDO, right-wing authoritarianism), cognitive style (need for closure), and identity-based (group identification) indicators of prejudice proneness. Examining a broad range of intergroup criterion measures (e.g., racism, support for racial profiling) we reveal that greater contact quality is associated with lower levels of intergroup hostility for those both lower and higher on a variety of indicators of prejudice proneness, simultaneously considered.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of MCA

The mucin-like carcinoma-associated antigen (MCA) is a mucin with a molecular weight of 350 - 500 kD. It circulates in the serum and its serum content can be determined with the Cobas Core MCA EIA test. Patients with breast cancer show elevated MCA serum levels. The molecule has a polypeptide backbone consisting of three parts: the C-terminus the N-terminus and the transmembrane sequences. The protein is heavily glucosylated with carbohydrate side chains that contain fucose, galactose and N-acetyl galactosamine. The antibody b-12 recognizes a repetitive epitope on the peptide portion of the MCA molecule. The epithelial mucin, which is coded by a unique gene, was cloned using PCR technology. Peptides corresponding to the N- and C-terminus were expressed in E. coli. Analysis of the purified peptides revealed molecular weights of 12 and 18 kD.
Cross-Cultural Differences in Risk Perception,But Cross-Cultural Similarities in Attitudes Towards Perceived Risk

In this study, respondents from the P.R. C. , U.S.A. , Germany, and Poland were found to differ in risk preference, as measured by buying prices for risky financial options. Chinese respondents were significantly less risk-averse in their pricing than Americans when risk preference was assessed in the traditional expected-utility framework. However, these apparent differences in risk preference were associated primarily with cultural differences in the perception of the risk of the financial options rather than with cultural differences in attitude towards perceived risk. In all cultures, an equal proportion (the majority) of respondents was willing to pay more for options perceived as less risky, i.e., were perceived-risk averse. These results are most naturally explained within a risk-return conceptualization of risky choice. They have practical implications for cross-cultural negotiation and commerce by suggesting the locus of cultural differences in risky choice that may allow for the creation of joint gains.
Prevalence, infectivity, and risk factor analysis of hepatitis C virus infection in prostitutes

A population of 622 prostitutes in Taiwan was tested for antibodies to the hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) using a synthetic peptide assay composed of representative determinants from capsid and nonstructural (NS) viral proteins. Seventy-four (12%) were positive and the remaining 548 (88%) were negative. Seventy-nine samples were retested by a second-generation anti-HCV assay composed of recombinant capsid and NS proteins of HCV. Both assays had a nearly perfect agreement (Kappa value = 0.91). Of the positive cases, 31% were positive for reactivity to capsid only. Most (60/74, 81%) of the cases positive for synthetic peptide assay were HCV RNA positive, indicating potential infectivity. On the basis of the results of synthetic peptide assay, univariate analysis showed that history of paid sex for longer than 6 months, blood transfusion, acupuncture, intravenous drug abuse, and age over 20 years were significant risk factors of HCV infection (P < 0.01). Elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (> 40 U/L) were positively associated with anti-HCV, while the presence of serum hepatitis B surface antigen was a negatively associated factor. Multivariate analysis revealed that history of paid sex for longer than 6 months and blood transfusion were positively associated with anti-HCV (P < 0.001). The latter only accounted for less than one fifth of the HCV-infected prostitutes. This study indicates strongly that sexual transmission is an important route for HCV infection in prostitutes. This risk group may spread HCV to other populations as a sexually transmitted disease.
Social anxiety in adolescents: the effect of video feedback on anxiety and the self-evaluation of performance.

BACKGROUND A negative self-generated image is thought to play a role in the development and maintenance of social anxiety. Video feedback (VF) is an effective therapeutic technique for correcting this distorted image with adults during stressful social tasks. This study investigated the effectiveness of VF with adolescents. METHOD Thirty-six highly socially anxious adolescents (13 to 17-year-olds) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: VF or no VF. Both groups gave two brief speeches to a video camera. Self-rated measures of anticipatory anxiety, predicted performance and actual performance during the speeches were completed at several time points. The speeches were also rated by two independent observers. RESULTS Adolescents who received VF, in comparison with control participants, developed more positive appraisals of their performance during the first speech. Predictions of their performance on the second speech also improved, and a reduction in state anxiety was observed. Furthermore, a more positive appraisal of performance was generalized to the second speech. The independent observers could not distinguish between the participants who received VF and those who did not. CONCLUSIONS When used with socially anxious adolescents, VF may be a beneficial therapeutic technique in correcting a distorted self-perception of performance, reducing anxiety prior to entering a stressful social task and enhancing predictions of performance for future tasks.
Ionised calcium in rheumatoid arthritis: effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Infirmary and St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, for consideration for haemodialysis. Her haemoglobin concentration was 8-8 g/dl, blood urea concentration 30 mmolll (180-7 mg/100 ml), blood creatinine concentration 740 pmol/l (8-4 mg/100 ml), creatinine clearance 5 ml/min, serum albumin concentration 27 g/l; proteinuria 3 glday, plasma calcium concentration 1-5 mmol/l (6 mg/100 ml), plasma phosphate concentration 1-8 mmol/l (5-6 mg/100 ml), serum alkaline phosphatase activity 65 IU/1, and plasma urate concentration 0-6 mmol/l (10-1 mg/100 ml). Her blood pressure was 150/100mm Hg, rising to 170/110mm Hg. She was treated with methyldopa 1-5 g/day and a diet containing 50 g protein, 50 mmol (mEq) sodium, and 10-5 MJ (2500 kcal). Result§ of ultrasound scanning and radiography confirmed fetal gestation of X weeks. Urinary oestriol excretions were 15 and 24 pmol/day (4-3 and 6-9 mg/day; normal value over 40 ,umol/day (11-5 mg/day)). One week later the blood urea concentration was 33 mmol/l (198-8 mg/100 ml), creatinine concentration 800 Fimol/l (9-0 mg/100 ml), and creatinine dearance 3 ml/min. She entered spontaneous labour and delivered a 1600 g boy. The placenta (350 g) was macroscopically normal. The infant suffered respiratory distress syndrome, complicated by a pneumothorax requiring ventilation. His blood urea concentration on delivery was 29-4 mmol/l (177-1 g/100 ml), falling to normal in three days. One month later he was discharged well and weighing 2000 g. After delivery the patient's blood pressure rose, requiring methyldopa 500 mg three times daily, hydralazine 25 mg three times daily, and atenolol 100 mg daily. When she was discharged three weeks after delivery her creatinine clearance was only 3 ml/min. Renal function continued to deteriorate, and she was awaiting dialysis. Intravenous pyelography seven weeks after delivery showed small smooth kidneys. Investigation detected no underlying systemic disorder. Renal biopsy was not performed.
Natural and Experimental Evidence of Melt Lubrication of Faults During Earthquakes

Melt produced by friction during earthquakes may act either as a coseismic fault lubricant or as a viscous brake. Here we estimate the dynamic shear resistance (τf) in the presence of friction-induced melts from both exhumed faults and high-velocity (1.28 meters per second) frictional experiments. Exhumed faults within granitoids (tonalites) indicate low τf at 10 kilometers in depth. Friction experiments on tonalite samples show that τf depends weakly on normal stress. Extrapolation of experimental data yields τf values consistent with the field estimates and well below the Byerlee strength. We conclude that friction-induced melts can lubricate faults at intermediate crustal depths.
A evolução da família e suas implicações no cuidado dos filhos

Este estudo objetiva fazer uma reflexao sobre o papel da familia no cuidado dos filhos. Resgata as transformacoes ocorridas na instituicao familiar desde a instituicao patriarcal a atualidade, enfocando as implicacoes destas mudancas no processo de cuidado dos filhos.
Fibrosis, Vascular Activation, and Immune Abnormalities Resembling Systemic Sclerosis in Bleomycin‐Treated Fli‐1–Haploinsufficient Mice

Fli‐1, a potential predisposing factor for systemic sclerosis (SSc), is constitutively down‐regulated in the lesional skin of patients with SSc by an epigenetic mechanism. To investigate the impact of Fli‐1 deficiency on the induction of an SSc phenotype in various cell types, we generated bleomycin‐induced skin fibrosis in Fli‐1+/− mice and investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying its phenotypic alterations.