Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Marijuana Smoking and Head and Neck Cancer

A recent epidemiological study showed that marijuana smoking was associated with an increased risk of head and neck cancer. Among high school students and young adults, the prevalence of marijuana use was on the rise in the 1990s, with a simultaneous decline in the perception that marijuana use is harmful. It will be a major public health challenge to make people aware of the harmful effects of marijuana smoking, when some people view it as the illicit drug with the least risk. The carcinogenicity of Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is not clear, but according to laboratory studies, it appears to have antitumor properties such as apoptosis as well as tumor‐promoting properties such as limiting immune function and increasing reactive oxygen species. Marijuana tar contains similar carcinogens to tar from tobacco cigarettes, but each marijuana cigarette may be more harmful than a tobacco cigarette since more tar is inhaled and retained when smoking marijuana. More molecular alterations have been observed in bronchial mucosa specimens of marijuana smokers compared to nonsmokers. Field cancerization may be occurring on the bronchial epithelium due to marijuana smoking exposure. Several case studies were suggestive of an association of marijuana smoking with head and neck cancers and oral lesions. However, in a cohort study with 8 years of follow‐up, marijuana use was not associated with increased risks of all cancers or smoking‐related cancers. Further epidemiological studies are necessary to confirm the association of marijuana smoking with head and neck cancers and to examine marijuana smoking as a risk factor for lung cancer. It will also be of interest to examine potential field cancerization of the upper aerodigestive tract by marijuana and to explore marijuana as a risk factor for oral premalignant lesions.
The North-South divide in Great-Britain : an examination of the evidence

Recently there has been a renewed interest in spatial inequalities and the North-South divide. Evidence on the geographical dimensions of selected inequalities in Britain is examined. The existence of a North-South divide, alongside other divisions is established but the exact location of the divide is shown to vary from one indicator to another. The claims of those refuting the existence of a North-South divide are investigated. It is contended that acceptance of the existence of a North-South divide does not necessarily imply that the North is uniformly poor and the South uniformly prosperous. Rather, it is claimed that the concept of a North-South divide in Britain is valid despite the existence of local variations because of the concentration and more entrenched nature of deprivation in the North than in the South and evidence that persons with otherwise similar characteristics fare better in the South than in the North. In the final section possible ways of breaking down and overcoming the North-South divide are reviewed.
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of citalopram for the prevention of major depression during treatment for head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether prophylactic treatment with the antidepressant citalopram hydrobromide, compared with placebo, could prevent major depressive disorder in patients undergoing therapy for head and neck cancer (HNC). DESIGN Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING Academic medical center. PATIENTS Thirty-six subjects were randomized, and 23 completed the study. INTERVENTIONS Subjects were randomized to receive 40 mg of citalopram hydrobromide or matching placebo (herein after, citalopram group and placebo group, respectively) for 12 weeks with a final visit at 16 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, psychiatric interview, and the University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QOL) and Clinician Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scales. RESULTS The numbers of subjects who met predefined cutoff criteria for depression during the 12 weeks of active study were 5 of 10 (50%) taking placebo and 2 of 12 (17%) taking citalopram (Fisher exact test, P = .17). No patients in the citalopram group became suicidal, compared with 2 in the placebo group. Global mood state at the conclusion of the study as measured by the CGI-S scale was rated as at least mildly ill in 15% of those receiving citalopram compared with 60% in the placebo group (Fisher exact test, P = .04). Quality of life, measured by the UW-QOL, deteriorated in both groups from baseline but less so in the citalopram group. CONCLUSIONS This study reports data from the first depression prevention trial in HNC and suggests that prophylactic treatment may decrease the incidence of depression during HNC therapy. The clinical significance of the reduction in depression was best demonstrated by the CGI-S scale, which showed a notable difference in global psychiatric and physical well-being.
A Comparative Study of Perfusion Measurement in Brain Tumours at 3 Tesla MR: Arterial Spin Labeling versus Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast-Enhanced MRI

Purpose: To prove the feasibility of arterial spin labeling (ASL) to explore brain tumors by comparing dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MRI to ASL at 3T MR. Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven patients were included presenting 9 gliomas, 10 metastases and 8 meningiomas. All were explored by a pseudo-continuous ASL and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced T2* perfusion sequence. Two neuroradiologists analyzed the cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps to assess feasibility, examination quality and quantitative comparison. The Spearman nonparametric correlation test and the Bland-Altman graphic test were used to analyze our quantitative results. Results: 92% of ASL CBF maps were informative. ASL detected all lesions as well as dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MRI. Both sequences provide relative quantitative CBF values closely correlated. Conclusion: On a 3T MR unit, ASL is a good alternative to dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MRI when contrast medium is contraindicated or intravenous injection is not possible. Its results on relative CBF parameters are similar to contrast-injected perfusion.
Muslim entrepreneurs in public life between India and the Gulf: making good and doing good

Muslim entrepreneurs from Kerala, South India, are at the forefront of India's liberalizing economy, keen innovators who have adopted the business and labour practices of global capitalism in both Kerala and the Gulf. They are also heavily involved in both charity and politics through activity in Kerala's Muslim public life. They talk about their `social mindedness? as a combination of piety and economic calculation, the two seen not as excluding but reinforcing each other. By promoting modern education among Muslims, entrepreneurs seek to promote economic development while also embedding economic practices within a framework of ethics and moral responsibilities deemed to be `Islamic? Inscribing business into the rhetoric of the `common good? also legitimizes claims to leadership and political influence. Orientations towards self-transformation through education, adoption of a `systematic? lifestyle, and a generalized rationalization of practices have acquired wider currency amongst Muslims following the rise of reformist influence and are now mobilized to sustain novel forms of capital accumulation. At the same time, Islam is called upon to set moral and ethical boundaries for engagement with the neoliberal economy. Instrumentalist analyses cannot adequately explain the vast amounts of time and money which Muslim entrepreneurs put into innumerable `social? projects, and neither `political Islam? nor public pietism adequately captures the possibilities or motivations for engagement among contemporary reformist-orientated Muslims.
A comparative analysis of Lean practices and performance in the UK manufacturing and service sector firms

For the last two decades, Lean has been primarily used to improve manufacturing processes. However, Lean is now increasingly applied to a wide range of service operations as well. This realisation of Lean among service firms is an important progress, as there are potentially more benefits to be accomplished in this sector rather than in traditional manufacturing, where decades of good work have already paid off. To look beyond the manufacturing sector, this paper empirically analyses the difference in Lean practices as well as their relationship to firm performance between manufacturing and service sectors in the UK. Though this study supports the proposition concerning the applicability of Lean practices in the service sector, these practices need to be further adapted to suit service operations. Specifically, the empirical results affirm that service firms are interested in the soft practices of Lean such as people and customer involvement while they are found underperforming in manufacturing-related practices such as total productive maintenance, set-up time and supplier feedback. Moreover, the results show a positive relationship between Lean practices and firm performance in both sectors, also the degree of effect on performance was found to be identical between the two sectors.
8 Encephalopathy Associated with Psychotropic Drug Therapy

All therapeutic interventions are double-edged swords with benefits and adverse effects, and pharmacotherapy is not an exception. Shortly after the introduction of conventional antipsychotic drugs into clinical practice, relatively rare but serious complications with hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, autonomic instability, and disturbed mental status were recognized to develop in some patients treated with antipsychotics. This type of encephalopathy induced by the use of antipsychotics was referred to as neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), and almost all physicians prescribing antipsychotics are nowadays aware of this adverse phenomenon. Another well-known type of encephalopathy associated with psychotropic drug therapy is serotonin toxicity (ST) or serotonin syndrome (SS), which is characterized by autonomic and neuromuscular symptoms and altered mental status. In contrast with the idiosyncratic nature of NMS, ST is a spectrum pathophysiological state assumed to derive from excess serotonergic neural transmission caused by serotonin-related psychotropic agents. In these two decades, pharmacotherapy with psychotropic drugs for mentally ill patients has been dramatically changed, and classical prototypal antipsychotics and antidepressants have been replaced with atypical antipsychotics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), respectively. These newly developed psychotropic drugs are generally safer and more tolerable than older drugs. However, atypical antipsychotics are not free of the risk of development of NMS, and the explosive prevalence of SSRIs prescribed not only for depression but also for a number of psychiatric diagnoses such as anxiety, eating, impulse-control, and personality disorders may increase the incidence of ST. Therefore, these two pathological states still remain as major adverse effects of psychotropic drugs involving altered functioning of the central nervous system (CNS), to which all clinicians prescribing psychoactive drugs should pay attention. The popularity of SSRIs also increased the case reports of patients suffering from discontinuation syndrome, which sometimes includes CNS symptoms like anxiety and irritability. In this chapter, the author provides a comprehensive overview of the abovementioned adverse effects affecting the CNS function associated with psychotropic pharmacotherapy. In addition, several other pathological conditions potentially causing encephalopathic symptoms in psychiatric patients treated with psychotropic drugs, e.g., hyponatremia, valproate-induced hyperammonemia, transient splenial lesion of the corpus callosum, and so on, are also described.
Squash cytology in neurosurgical practice: a useful method in resource-limited setting with lack of frozen section facility.

BACKGROUND Intra-operative cytology is an important diagnostic tool. It has shown to play an important role especially in the diagnosis of central nervous system tumours. The study was done to assess the feasibility of squash cytology as standalone diagnostic test in setting where frozen section facility is not available. MATERIALS AND METHODS Total 48 patients with various intracranial lesions were initially enrolled in the study. Patients were investigated by various radio-imaging techniques and routine blood investigations. Forty-one patients were operated at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose medical college, Jabalpur. Intra-operative squash cytology diagnosis was performed and was correlated with histology diagnosis as gold standard. RESULTS Out of 41 patients, inflammatory lesions were diagnosed in nine patients while benign lesions [most common neurilemmoma and meningioma] were observed in 21 and malignant lesions [astrocytoma was most common] were diagnosed in 11 patients. Diagnostic accuracy of intra-operative squash cytology irrespective of lesion & site was 95%. We were able to inform about the diagnosis to neurosurgeon in 15 minutes in all cases and within 12 minutes in >85% cases CONCLUSION Squash smear cytology is reliable and rapid standalone diagnostic method and it can assist for intra-operative decision-making diagnosis of intracranial lesions in resource-limited settings where frozen section facility is not available.
A function of DivIVA in Listeria monocytogenes division site selection

The cell division protein DivIVA influences protein transport via the accessory SecA2 secretion route in Listeria monocytogenes. In contrast, DivIVA from the closely related bacterium Bacillus subtilis contributes to division site selection via the MinCDJ system. However, no classical min phenotype, i.e. filamentation and minicell production was observed with a listerial ΔdivIVA mutant. This has prompted the speculation that division site selection is DivIVA‐independent in L. monocytogenes. We addressed this question with genetic, cytological and bacterial two‐hybrid experiments and the data obtained correct this view. DivIVA not only binds to MinJ but also directly interacts with MinD. Experiments with fluorescently tagged proteins showed that localization of MinC and MinD was clearly DivIVA‐dependent, whereas localization of MinJ was not. An impact of DivIVA on cell division was confirmed by careful comparisons of cell size distributions of divIVA and secA2 mutants. Gene deletion studies and epistasis experiments consistently reinforced these findings, and also revealed that MinJ must have a DivIVA‐independent function. The frequency of minicell formation is low in L. monocytogenes min mutants. However, since listerial minicells might be useful as carriers for the introduction of therapeutic compounds into eukaryotic cells, we present a strategy how minicell frequency can be increased.
The art of perception: Patients drawing their vestibular schwannoma

Drawings made by patients are an innovative way to assess the perceptions of patients on their illness. The objective of this study, at a university tertiary referral center, on patients who have recently been diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma, was to examine whether patients’ illness perceptions can be assessed by drawings and are related to their quality of life.
The Role of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Polymorphism, Factor-V-Leiden, and Prothrombin-20210 Mutations in Pulmonary Thromboembolism

Polymorphism in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene is suggested to be associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene polymorphism and its coexistence with factor-V-Leiden and prothrombin-20210 mutations in pulmonary thromboembolism. The authors investigated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G/5G polymorphism, factor-V-Leiden, and prothrombin-20210 mutations in 143 pulmonary thromboembolism patients and 181 controls. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G/4G, 4G/5G, and 5G/5G gene polymorphisms and prothrombin-20210 mutations were not different between cases and controls. Factor-V-Leiden mutation was present in 21.0% and 7.7% of the cases and controls, respectively, P = . 001. Neither different plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 genotypes and 4G allele nor coexistence of the allele with factor-V-Leiden or prothrombin-20210 was associated with the risk of recurrence. As a result, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene polymorphism or its concomitant presence with mentioned mutations was not found to be associated with increased risk for pulmonary thromboembolism or recurrent disease in this study.
“Welcome In, But Check Your Rights at the Door” : The James Bay and Nis[vBar ]ga'a Agreements in Canada

The signing of the Nis[vBar ]ga'a Final Agreement in August of 1998 was an event of singular importance in the history of “First Nations relations” in Canada. It marked the completion of the first treaty negotiations in British Columbia in the twentieth century and will soon be followed by many others as nearly province–wide negotiations redefine the relationship between First Nations, the province and Canada. Given a political climate hostile to Aboriginal rights, the treaty is a significant achievement and deserves the support of fair–minded Canadians. It certainly does not “give too much” to the Nis[vBar ]ga'a Nation as its critics in the Liberal and Reform parties of British Columbia frequently assert.
Effect of submucosal injection of dexamethasone on post-operative sequelae of third molar surgery.

OBJECTIVE This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of a single pre-operative sub-mucosal injection of dexamethasone after third molar surgery to see the effects on post-operative discomfort. METHODS This study was a prospective, double-blind, randomized, clinical trial. The subjects were forty patients who underwent surgical removal of the mandibular impacted third molar under local anesthesia and after being randomly assigned to receive either an 8 mg dexamethasone as submucosal injection or a normal saline injection into the lower buccal vestibule adjacent to the third molar. The maximum interincisal distance and facial contours were measured at the baseline and post-surgically on Day 2 and 7. Post-operative pain was evaluated subjectively using a visual analog scale and objectively by counting the number of analgesic tablets used. All subjects were operated upon by the same investigator to minimize the difference from inter-operator variability. RESULTS There was a significant difference in the measurements of the degree of swelling and trismus between the two groups on the 2nd post-operative day. In contrast, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups on the 7th post-operative day. The test group also used fewer analgesics post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS Submucosal injection of dexamethasone after third molar surgery is effective in reducing postoperative swelling and trismus. It also delays the onset of post-operative pain.
Low frequency of MAP kinase pathway alterations in KIT and PDGFRA wild‐type GISTs

Aims: Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are commonly driven by oncogenic mutations in KIT and PDGFRA. However, 10–40% of these patients are wild‐type for these genes. The prognostic significance of wild‐type GISTs is controversial, and they rarely respond to imatinib. The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular lesions underlying wild‐type GISTs tumorigenesis.
Re‐empowering the empowered – the ultimate challenge?

Evidence to date shows a divergence in the methods and approaches used by companies to introduce empowerment and indeed a wide debate as to the meaning and appropriateness of the term itself. The popularity of the concept has led many organisations to “dive in at the deep end”, wanting to experience the benefits of empowerment without perhaps stopping to consider the wider implications and consequences. This paper reports on the approach that one hotel company adopted to re‐introduce empowerment, a previous attempt having failed. It provides an insight into differing perceptions of the meaning of empowerment between employees and managers; the positive and negative experiences of those working in an empowerment culture and the changes required for a renewed attempt at introducing empowerment to be successful. The authors conclude that “quick fix” strategies will rarely be successful and urge the development of a longer‐term, more sustainable, approach.
The red blood cell distribution width is associated with serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone in the general population

We have previously reported that the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is positively associated with serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in women (Montagnana et al., 2008), hypothesizing that the premature aging of erythrocytes in the circulation, the increased lipolytic potency of red blood cells (RBCs) characteristic of hyperthyroid patients, or alteration in the amount or distribution of lipids in the erythrocytes’ membranes could play a role in determining this association (Davidson et al., 1984). However, the relationship between another hematological parameter, namely the RBC Distribution Width (RDW) and TSH, has not been investigated so far to the best of our knowledge. The RDW is the width of the frequency distribution curve of the RBC volume (one SD) divided by the mean RBC volume. RDW reflects variability in the size of circulating red blood cells (anisocytosis) (Dixon, 1997), shows an age-dependent trend (Cheng et al., 2004) and it may be influenced by several metabolic factors. An increased RDW is traditionally associated with nutritional deficiency (i.e., iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid) (Grant et al., 2003). It is known that a low hemoglobin (Hb) level is associated with an increase in RDW (Mahu, Leclercq & Suquet, 1990) and that there is an inverse relation between RDW and pulmonary function (Grant et al., 2003). To evaluate the potential relationship between RDW and thyroid dysfunctions, we retrospectively analyzed results of RDW and TSH, along with MCV, hematocrit (Ht) and Hb tests, which have been performed on 8477 consecutive Caucasian outpatients referred to our laboratory for routine medical check-up over the past 3 years (2019 males, 6458 females; mean age 51.2 ± 19.0 years). Serum TSH was quantified by a third generation assay (functional sensitivity of 0.01–0.02 mIU/l) on the Immulite 2000 analyzer (Diagnostic Products Corporation, Los Angeles, CA, USA). The reference range (0.2–2.5 mIU/l) was established in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Guidelines Committee of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (Baloch et al. 2003). Hematological testing was performed on the ADVIA 120 (Bayer Diagnostics, Newbury, Berkshire, UK). Statistical analyses were performed using spss version 12.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) and the level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Data are presented as median and 90-percentile distribution. LETTER TO THE EDITOR INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LABORATORY HEMATOLOGY