Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surgical Management of Facial Neuromas: Lessons Learned

Objective: Primary tumors of the facial nerve are rare, representing 1% of all intrapetrous lesions. We analyzed the management and surgical outcomes of 16 patients with multisegment facial neuromas treated at our institution during a 16-year period. Study Design: A retrospective chart review. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: All patients included in the study had surgical management of their facial neuroma. There were 9 women and 7 men. The mean age was 46 years, with a mean follow-up period of 3 years. Intervention: Surgical excision (n = 15) or decompression (n = 1) of facial neuroma. Main Outcome Measures: Tumor location, presenting symptoms, hearing outcomes, and facial function. Results: Thirteen (81%) patients had facial paresis as their presenting symptom. Unilateral hearing loss was present in 9 (56%) patients. Most tumors (n = 15) involved multiple segments of the facial nerve and ranged in size from 1.5 to 7 cm. Fifteen (94%) patients had the tumor completely excised, and 1 (6%) patient underwent needle decompression of the cystic component of the tumor. The geniculate ganglion was the most commonly involved (11 patients, 69%) segment of the nerve, followed by the labyrinthine and tympanic segments. Despite multiple types of reconstructive options used, the best recovery of facial function was a House-Brackmann Grade III in 12 patients. Conclusion: Treatment of facial neuromas depends on the extent of tumor, degree of facial paresis, and hearing function. We advocate complete resection of tumor when facial palsy exists. Patients with normal facial function and hearing may be advised on a more conservative treatment option such as radiologic observation, drainage of any cystic component of the tumor for histologic diagnosis, and/or bony decompression of the tumor.
Primary leptomeningeal lymphoma

We describe 9 patients who presented with a neoplastic meningitis of lymphomatous origin. No evidence of parenchymal central nervous system or systemic tumor was identified either at the time of presentation or throughout the course of their disease. We have chosen to call this entity “primary leptomeningeal lymphoma” (PLML). This unusual form of neurologic lymphoma must be differentiated from the more common clinical situations of primary parenchymal lymphoma with meningeal involvement and systemic lymphoma complicated by lymphomatous meningitis.
Human papillomavirus DNA sequences in penile carcinomas in Brazil

To detect the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in penile cancers, 18 squamous‐cell carcinomas were studied by Southern blot analysis. All specimens were from Brazilian patients ranging in age from 31 to 78 years. Of these, 7 harbored DNA sequence homology. Most positive specimens contained more than 100 copies of viral DNA. No HPV 16 was detected in our samples. Presence of HPV DNA sequences in the samples studied was not correlated with the patients' age or race, nor with extent or progress of disease.
Severe and extensive neonatal hearing loss in cats results in auditory cortex plasticity that differentiates into two regions

We examined the response characteristics of primary auditory cortex (A1) neurons in adult cats partially but extensively deafened by ototoxic drugs 2–8 days after birth. The damage evoked extensive A1 topographic map reorganization as also found by others, but a novel finding was that in the majority of cats with low‐frequency edges to the cochlear lesion, the area of reorganization segregated into two areas expressing the same novel frequency inputs but differentiated by neuronal sensitivity and responsiveness. Immediately adjacent to normal A1 is an approximately 1.2‐mm‐wide area of reorganization in which sensitivity and responsiveness to sound are similar to that in normal A1 in the same animals and in unlesioned adult animals. Extending further into deprived A1 is a more extensive area of reorganization where neurons have poorer sensitivity and responsiveness to new inputs. These two areas did not differ in response‐area bandwidth and response latency. We interpret these novel changes as the cortical consequences of severe receptor organ lesions extending to low‐frequency cochlear regions. We speculate that the two areas of A1 reorganization may reflect differences in the transcortical spatial distribution of thalamo‐cortical and horizontal intracortical connections. Qualitatively similar changes in response properties have been seen after retinal lesions producing large areas of visual cortical reorganization, suggesting they might be a general consequence of receptor lesions that deprive large regions of cortex of normal input. These effects may have perceptual implications for the use of cochlear implants in patients with residual low‐frequency hearing.
Comparison of clinical performances among Roche Cobas HPV, RFMP HPV PapilloTyper and Hybrid Capture 2 assays for detection of high‐risk types of human papillomavirus

The cervical cancer screening guidelines suggest that early detection of HPV16 and HPV18 is helpful for identifying women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade two or higher. We comparatively evaluated three HPV DNA assays, Roche Cobas HPV, RFMP HPV PapilloTyper, and Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2). A total of 861 cervical swab samples from women over 30 years of age were classified into two groups, that is, high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and non‐HSIL, according to cervical cytology results and analyzed by three assays. The results of direct sequencing or Linear array HPV genotyping test were considered true when the three assays presented discrepancies. The concordance rates between Roche Cobas HPV versus RFMP HPV PapilloTyper, RFMP HPV PapilloTyper versus HC2, and Roche Cobas versus HC2 were 94.5%, 94.3%, and 95.9%, respectively. For detection of HPV16 and HPV18, Roche Cobas HPV showed the concordance rates of 98.3% (κ = 0.73) and 99.4% (κ = 0.40) with the confirmation tests, respectively; and RFMP HPV PapilloTyper showed the concordance rates of 99.5% (κ = 0.92) and 100.0% (κ = 1.00), respectively. In conclusion, Roche Cobas HPV, RFMP HPV PapilloTyper, and HC2 showed high agreement rates. Roche Cobas HPV and RFMP HPV PapilloTyper are particularly useful, since both provide HPV specific genotypes, HPV16 and HPV18. J. Med. Virol. 87:1587–1593, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The short-term impact of albendazole treatment on Oesophagostomum bifurcum and hookworm infections in northern Ghana

Abstract In November–December 2002, stool samples from a random sample of the human population (N = 190) in the Garu area of northern Ghana were checked for intestinal helminths, using a single Kato smear and duplicate coprocultures for each subject. All 190 subjects were subsequently treated with a single, 400-mg dose of albendazole and 146 of them were successfully re-examined 21–28 days post-treatment. Prior to treatment, 75.5% of the Kato smears were found to contain 'hookworm-like' eggs (with a geometric mean egg count among the positives of 578 eggs/g faeces), and the third-stage larvae of Oesophagostomum bifurcum and hookworm were found in the cultures of stools from 34.2% and 77.4% of the subjects, respectively. Among the subjects who had positive Kato smears before treatment, albendazole treatment led to a cure 'rate' of 79.0% and an egg-reduction 'rate' of 73.5%. The results from the coprocultures indicated cure 'rates' of 98.0% for O. bifurcum but only 51.3% for hookworm. Only one subject was still positive for O. bifurcum after treatment. Among those still positive for hookworm after treatment, the larva-reduction 'rate' was 79.8%. The egg-/larva-reduction 'rates' among those with heavy infections prior to treatment were >90%, whether the data analysed came from the Kato smears or the coprocultures. It may be concluded that a single dose of albendazole is very likely to cure an O. bifurcum infection and to reduce greatly the intensity (but not the prevalence) of any hookworm infections.
Fas (CD95) May Mediate Delayed Cell Death in Hippocampal CA1 Sector after Global Cerebral Ischemia

Cell death–regulatory genes like caspases and bcl-2 family genes are involved in delayed cell death in the CA1 sector of hippocampus after global cerebral ischemia, but little is known about the mechanisms that trigger their expression. The authors found that expression of Fas and Fas-ligand messenger ribonucleic acid and protein was induced in vulnerable CA1 neurons at 24 and 72 hours after global ischemia. Fas-associating protein with a novel death domain (FADD) also was upregulated and immunoprecipitated and co-localized with Fas. Caspase-10 was activated and interacted with FADD protein to an increasing extent as the duration of ischemia increased. Moreover, caspase-10 co-localized with both FADD and caspase-3. These findings suggest that Fas-mediated death signaling may play an important role in signaling hippocampal neuronal death in CA1 after global cerebral ischemia.
Lewis X-carrying N-Glycans Regulate the Proliferation of Mouse Embryonic Neural Stem Cells via the Notch Signaling Pathway*

Background: Glycosylation is known to be altered upon differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). Results: NSC-specific Lewis X-carrying N-glycans up-regulated the expression of Musashi-1 and the consequent cell proliferation. Conclusion: Lewis X operates as an activator of the Notch signaling pathway for the maintenance of NSC stemness. Significance: The well known undifferentiation glycomarker of NSCs is actively involved in their fate determination. Neural stem cells (NSCs) possess high proliferative potential and the capacity for self-renewal with retention of multipotency to differentiate into brain-forming cells. Several signaling pathways have been shown to be involved in the fate determination process of NSCs, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the maintenance of neural cell stemness remain largely unknown. Our previous study showed that human natural killer carbohydrate epitopes expressed specifically by mouse NSCs modulate the Ras-MAPK pathway, raising the possibility of regulatory roles of glycoprotein glycans in the specific signaling pathways involved in NSC fate determination. To address this issue, we performed comparative N-glycosylation profiling of NSCs before and after differentiation in a comprehensive and quantitative manner. We found that Lewis X-carrying N-glycans were specifically displayed on undifferentiated cells, whereas pauci-mannose-type N-glycans were predominantly expressed on differentiated cells. Furthermore, by knocking down a fucosyltransferase 9 with short interfering RNA, we demonstrated that the Lewis X-carrying N-glycans were actively involved in the proliferation of NSCs via modulation of the expression level of Musashi-1, which is an activator of the Notch signaling pathway. Our findings suggest that Lewis X carbohydrates, which have so far been characterized as undifferentiation markers, actually operate as activators of the Notch signaling pathway for the maintenance of NSC stemness during brain development.
On the Ergodic Achievable Rates of Spectrum Sharing Networks with Finite Backlogged Primary Users and an Interference Indicator Signal

Spectrum sharing networks are communication setups in which unlicensed secondary users (SUs) are permitted to work within the spectrum resources of licensed primary users (PUs). This paper aims to study the ergodic achievable rates of spectrum sharing networks with finite backlogged primary user and an interference indicator signal. Here, in contrast to the standard interference-avoiding schemes, the secondary user activity is not restricted within the primary user inactive periods. Considering both fading and nonfading channels, the unlicensed user ergodic achievable rate is obtained for different unlicensed user transmission power and licensed user received interference power or signal-to-interference-and-noise (SINR) constraints. In the case of fading channels, the results are obtained for both short- and long-term primary user quality-of-service requirements. Further, the results are generalized to the case of multiple interfering users. In terms of unlicensed user ergodic achievable rate, analytical results indicate that while the standard interference-avoiding approach is the optimal transmission scheme at low secondary user or high primary user transmission powers, higher rates can be achieved via simultaneous transmission at high secondary user SINRs. Moreover, numerical results show that, using an interference indicator signal, there is considerable potential for data transmission of unlicensed users under different licensed users quality-of-service requirements.
Impulsive behavior in a consumer culture

INTRODUCTION : Compulsive shopping behaviour has recently received long overdue attention as a clinical issue. Curiosity about this condition has led to questions about its identification, characterization as a disorder, and treatment. METHOD : This article presents two case vignettes illustrating diagnostic criteria and points that distinguish this disorder from OCD hoarding or mania. These issues are discussed. RESULTS : The authors present some suggested treatment approaches CONCLUSION : Greater awareness of the prevalence and social consequences of compulsive shopping behaviour highlights the need for treatment and for educational resources for clinicians and the general public. (Int J Psych Clin Pract 2002; 6: 65-68)
The joint impact of microeconomic parameters and job insecurity perceptions on commitment towards one’s job, occupation and career: A multilevel approach

This study investigates the relationship of microeconomic parameters and subjective job insecurity perceptions with vocational commitment, i.e. commitment towards one’s job, occupation and career in a sample of 236 individuals, nested in 47 German administrative districts. Applying a multilevel approach, job insecurity (quantitative and qualitative) and vocational commitment indicators (operationalized via job involvement, occupational commitment and career satisfaction) were measured at the individual level, whereas microeconomic parameters were collected at the level of administrative district. In addition to regional unemployment rates, we included two further economic parameters, namely change in gainful employment (i.e., change in a district’s number of gainful workers) and change in economic growth (i.e., change in a district’s GDP). It is worth noting that our findings only revealed spillover effects from economic parameters on qualitative (not quantitative) job insecurity on a bivariate level (not after considering controls in multilevel regressions). Cross-level interactions further indicated that environmental economic conditions are important for the relationship between subjective job insecurity perceptions and outcomes.
Bloodstream infection after positive catheter cultures: What are the risks in the intensive care unit when catheters are routinely cultured on removal?*

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess whether an isolated positive catheter culture is predictive of a subsequent bloodstream infection in intensive care unit patients. Design: Retrospective clinical study between 2000 and 2007. Setting: Intensive care unit of a university hospital. Subjects: All arterial, central venous, and dialysis catheters yielding selected pathogenic microorganisms from isolated positive catheter cultures. Positive catheter culture was defined by a catheter tip culture performed with the Brun-Buisson technique yielding ≥103 colony-forming units/mL; isolated positive catheter culture by a positive catheter culture without concomitant bloodstream infection due to the microorganism of the positive catheter culture evidenced within 48 hrs before or after catheter removal; and subsequent bloodstream infection by a bloodstream infection developing between 48 hrs and 30 days after catheter removal and due to a selected pathogenic microorganism of an isolated positive catheter culture. Active antibiotic therapy was active if at least one of the antibiotics administered was effective against the selected pathogenic microorganism of the positive catheter culture. Intervention: None. Measurement and Main Results: The end point of the study was the ratio of the number of subsequent bloodstream infections to that of selected pathogenic microorganisms isolated from positive catheter culture 30 days after catheter removal. A total of 138 isolated positive catheter cultures for 149 selected pathogenic micro-organisms was included in the study. Only two cases (1.3%) of subsequent bloodstream infection were evidenced, one resulting from Escherichia coli and the other from Staphylococcus epidermidis. The incidence of subsequent bloodstream infection did not differ with regard to the presence or absence of active antibiotics at catheter removal: zero of 23 vs. two of 121 (p = 1), respectively. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the risk of subsequent bloodstream infection in intensive care unit patients when the Brun-Buisson technique is used to define isolated positive catheter culture is low.
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia: Endogenous Activation of Nicotinic Receptors Mediates Respiratory Modulation of Brainstem Cardioinhibitory Parasympathetic Neurons

Abstract— The heart rate increases during inspiration and decreases during expiration. This respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) occurs by modulation of premotor cardioinhibitory parasympathetic neuron (CPN) activity. However, RSA has not been fully characterized in rats, and despite the critical role of CPNs in the generation of RSA, little is known about the mechanisms that mediate this cardiorespiratory interaction. This study demonstrates that RSA in conscious rats is similar to that in other species. The mechanism of RSA was then examined in vitro. Rhythmic inspiratory-related activity was recorded from the hypoglossal rootlet of 700- to 800-&mgr;m medullary sections. CPNs were identified by retrograde fluorescent labeling, and neurotransmission to CPNs was examined using patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques. During inspiratory bursts, the frequency of both spontaneous &ggr;-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) and spontaneous glycinergic synaptic events in CPNs was significantly increased. Focal application of the nicotinic antagonist dihydro-&bgr;-erythroidine in an &agr;4&bgr;2-selective concentration (3 &mgr;mol/L) abolished the respiratory-evoked increase in GABAergic frequency. In contrast, the increase in glycinergic frequency during inspiration was not altered by nicotinic antagonists. Prenatal nicotine exposure exaggerated the increase in GABAergic frequency during inspiration and enhanced GABAergic synaptic amplitude both between and during inspiratory events. Glycinergic synaptic frequency and amplitude were unchanged by prenatal nicotine exposure. This study establishes a neurochemical link between neurons essential for respiration and CPNs, reveals a functional role for endogenous acetylcholine release and the activation of nicotinic receptors in the generation of RSA, and demonstrates that this cardiorespiratory interaction is exaggerated in rats prenatally exposed to nicotine.
Prevalence of Nondiabetic Renal Disease in Diabetic Patients

Background: Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the USA, yet most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are not formally evaluated with a renal biopsy. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of nondiabetic renal disease (NDRD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to determine common clinical indicators suggestive of NDRD. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on biopsy reports of patients who had undergone native renal biopsy between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2005. Results: After exclusion of 57 patients, 233 patients with DM2 were included in our analysis. Mean age at the time of biopsy was 58.1 ± 13.7 years, and 53.0% of the study population were male. There were 124 cases (53.2%) with a pathologic diagnosis of NDRD, 64 (27.5%) with pure diabetic glomerulosclerosis (DGS) and 45 (19.3%) with concurrent NDRD and DGS (CD). Patients with NDRD tended to be younger than those with DGS and had significantly less associated diabetic retinopathy. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was the most common lesion found in patients with NDRD and accounted for 21.0% of all NDRD, followed by minimal-change disease (15.3%). IgA nephropathy (15.6%) and membranous glomerulonephritis (13.3%) were the most prevalent lesions found in patients with CD. Conclusions: The high prevalence of NDRD found in our population underscores the need for clinicians to consider renal biopsy in diabetic patients with an atypical clinical course, since additional disease-specific therapies may be helpful for this subset of the population.
Attitudes toward Immigrants and Immigration Policy in United Kingdom

Although recent research found substantial variation in the strength of anti- immigrant opinions across new and old countries of immigration, most studies determined that the public increasingly supports restrictive immigration policies. This paper explores several sources of attitudes toward immigrants in United Kingdom and attempts to simultaneously test some of the most important theoretical explanations of public attitudes toward immigration issues when the family immigration history is taken into account. Results are based on a quantitative analysis of data from the European Social Survey (Round 4/2008). Even if when compared to persons from families with at least one foreign-born member natives express the strongest opposition to flexible migration policies and are more likely to have negative views regarding the immigrants' role in the British society, opinions vary significantly among groups differentiated by political preferences, socioeconomic attributes, and demographic characteristics. While for native Britons findings support the economic self-interest theory, education and social attachment (i.e., interpersonal and institutional trust) appear to be the strongest predictors of positive attitudes toward immigrants and opposition to restrictive immigration policies.
What We Are Like When We Are at Our Best: Appreciative Stories of Staff in a Community Mental Health Center

Appreciative Inquiry is an organizational change methodology that discovers what works well in an organization and then pursues strategies to enhance those factors. The initial discovery process itself provides data ripe for qualitative analysis. Narratives were collected from 27 community mental health staff about times when they were at their best. An emergent, consensus-based analysis was used to understand the stories and exemplary work—with competent, caring staff and elements needed to support them. Findings are discussed in light of self-determination theory that people are at their best with a sense of mastery, connection, and autonomy.