Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Europeanization of politics: the formation of a European electorate and party system in historical perspective

Two observations suggest themselves from this book. The first is the negative impact of long periods in government. It limits the government’s capacity to engage in a creative way with the wider world and leads to groupthink. This and arrogance led to the dismal performance during the recession. The second is about the electorate and its unwillingness to change political priorities or attitudes even in the face of crisis. If nothing really changes, as Murphy implies, the likelihood of another government sleep-walking into a major crisis remains high.
The influence of exercise on the functioning of the pituitary–gonadal axis in physically active older and younger men

Age is a meaningful factor modulating the functioning of the human endocrine system. In our research, the factor stimulating the pituitary–gonadal axis was a 400 m race. In this type of effort, glycolytic and lactic acid transformations are dominant and a fundamental increase in lactic acid concentration is noted. The aim of the research was to compare the response of the pituitary–gonadal axis in physically active men of various ages after a 400 m race. Nine men aged 21.7 ± 0.7 years and nine men aged 60.0 ± 3.4 years took part in the study. Blood samples were taken from the elbow vein before the race at 08.00 and immediately after the effort. The levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone and free testosterone were determined in blood sera. The concentration of lactic acid was measured in full blood at 5 min after the race. Before the effort, statistically significant differences in the concentration of FSH and free testosterone between the two age groups were observed (higher FSH in older men but lower free testosterone). No differences in the level of LH, total testosterone and lactic acid were observed. Immediately after the effort, no changes in the level of FSH were found in both groups; a statistically significant decrease in LH concentration was noted only in the group of younger men. In both groups, statistically significant increases in total testosterone, free testosterone and lactic acid concentrations were observed after the race. In the group of younger men, compared to the older, larger increases in free testosterone and lactic acid concentrations, as well as shorter race time, were revealed after the effort test. Analysis of the two groups after the race showed statistically significant differences in FSH, free testosterone and lactic acid concentrations. A positive correlation (r = 0.57) was demonstrated between the after-effort increase in the concentration of free testosterone and lactic acid, and negative correlation (r = –0.66) between the after-effort increase in the concentration of free testosterone and the time of the 400 m race. In older men, the concentration of free testosterone may play an important function in lowering strength capacities. It must be stressed that the 400 m race was a more significant stimulus for changes in hormone concentrations of the pituitary–gonadal axis in younger men (greater changes in the level of the investigated parameters) than in the older. The results obtained allow us to conclude that, in older men, as compared to the younger ones, the response of the pituitary–gonadal axis to an effort stimulus is to some extent different.
The ACGME outcome project: retrospective and prospective

Background: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education began an initiative in 1998 to improve resident physicians’ ability to provide quality patient care and to work effectively in current and evolving healthcare delivery systems. Aims: This initiative, called the Outcome Project, seeks changes in residency programs that focus education on the competency domains, enhance assessment of resident performance and increase utilization of educational outcomes for improving residents’ education. Increased emphasis on educational outcome measures in accreditation is another important goal. Results: A considerable amount of development, dissemination and educational activity has been carried out to support project implementation. Thus far, observed effects include changes to accreditation requirements and information collection and enhancements of the educational environments and curriculum of residency education programs. Conclusion: Prospects for meaningful change are good. Further development of assessment methods is needed to advance in-training evaluation of residents and the ACGME goals for utilizing performance data in accreditation and linking education and patient care quality.
Prevalences of lifetime histories of self‐cutting and suicidal ideation in Japanese adolescents: Differences by age

We examined differences in the prevalence of a lifetime history of self‐cutting and suicidal ideation by age among junior and senior high‐school students. Histories of self‐cutting and suicidal ideation were reported by 9.9% and 40.4% of the students. Among early teens, females were more likely to report suicidal ideation than males, and among late teens, females were more likely than males to report self‐cutting.
Support for portfolio in the initial years of the undergraduate medical school curriculum: what do the tutors think?

Background: Personal and Professional Development portfolios have recently been introduced into phase 1 (years 1 and 2) of the undergraduate medical curriculum in the School of Medicine in Manchester. As the large student numbers at Manchester precluded the use of an individual mentoring system, students are supported in their portfolio development by tutor facilitators, in groups of 10–12. Aims: The aims of this study were to investigate the views of these tutor facilitators on the delivery and support of portfolios in this way. Methods: A mixed method approach was used with data collected from both questionnaires and a focus group meeting. Results: Tutor facilitators were generally positive about their roles in the support of portfolio development in group sessions and identified several advantages to this type of tutoring – namely the value of group discussion and discussion between peers to encourage reflection, and the practical ability to integrate portfolio sessions more closely with clinical experiences – which would not be possible in one to one tutor/student meetings. With the training and guidance notes provided tutors were confident that they understood the support they should give students and felt that they could encourage reflection. Conclusions: Thus, tutors perceived that the support of portfolio in groups is an effective way of developing portfolios for large numbers of students.
Japanese dental trainees’ perceptions of educational environment in postgraduate training

Background: Compulsory postgraduate dental training was introduced in April 2006 to meet social requirements in Japan. Aim: The aim of the present study was to identify the difference in trainees’ perception of the educational environment in two different training settings in the Hiroshima University Hospital postgraduate training program: (1) main hospitals, in Hiroshima's case, the University Hospital: (2) community dental hospitals or offices (cooperating hospitals). Methods: In order to determine how trainees perceive their educational environment, the Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM) Inventory was administered to 50 vocational dental trainees for two different training settings, both of which all trainees had experienced. Result: The mean total PHEEM score in the main hospital was 102.4, and that in cooperating hospitals was 108.5. The scores for each of the three subscales were as follows: ‘Perception of role autonomy’: 33.9/56 (main hospital), 36.8/56 (cooperating hospitals); ‘Perception of teaching’: 38.1/60 (main hospital), 41,9/60 (cooperating hospitals), and ‘Perception of social support’: 30.4/44 (main hospital), 29.8/44 (cooperating hospitals) respectively. Conclusions: PHEEM provided meaningful diagnostic information on the educational environment, and showed that cooperating hospitals met trainees’ needs more than main hospitals.
Dopamine D2/3 receptor binding potential and occupancy in midbrain and temporal cortex by haloperidol, olanzapine and clozapine

Aims: Aberrant dopamine transmission in extrastriatal brain regions has been repeatedly illustrated among patients with schizophrenia. Differences between typical and second‐generation antipsychotics in dopamine D2 receptor modulation within various brain areas remain a topic for debate. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate dopamine D2/3 receptor apparent binding potential (BPapp) and occupancy in midbrain and temporal cortex among clozapine‐, olanzapine‐ and haloperidol‐treated schizophrenia patients.
An intraoral periapical radiographic study of nutrient canals as a diagnostic aid in systemic diseases and pathological conditions

Objectives: To correlate the prevalence of nutrient canals in healthy dentulous with healthy edentulous, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and periodontally compromised patients. Methods: Study was conducted on 500 subjects in the age group of 21-70 years. They were clinically and radiographically examined using intraoral periapical radiographs, and were statistically analyzed. Results: On Comparing with control group, prevalence of nutrient canals was observed to be highly significant in diabetes (27%, P<0.001), significant in edentulous (22%, P<0.01), hypertensive (21%, P<0.01) and periodontitis (17%, P<0.05) groups. Highly significant age wise prevalence was observed in edentulous and periodontitis groups and a significant increase in diabetes and hypertensive groups. Interpretation and Conclusion: Significant correlation was observed in diabetes, edentulous, hypertensive and periodontitis groups, when compared with healthy subjects. Increase in prevalence of nutrient canals on mandibular anterior IOPAR can be used as an adjunct diagnostic aid in systemic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and periodontitis.
Scope of Global Health Training in U.S. Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Programs

OBJECTIVE: To enumerate global health training activities in U.S. obstetrics and gynecology residency programs and to examine the worldwide distribution of programmatic activity relative to the maternal and perinatal disease burden. METHODS: Using a systematic, web-based protocol, we searched for global health training opportunities at all U.S. obstetrics and gynecology residency programs. Country-level data on disability-adjusted life-years resulting from maternal and perinatal conditions were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease study. We calculated Spearman's rank correlation coefficients to estimate the cross-country association between programmatic activity and disease burden. RESULTS: Of the 243 accredited U.S. obstetrics and gynecology residency programs, we identified 41 (17%) with one of several possible predefined categories of programmatic activity. Thirty-three residency programs offered their residents opportunities to participate in one or more elective-based rotations, eight offered extended field-based training, and 18 offered research activities. A total of 128 programmatic activities were dispersed across 64 different countries. At the country level, the number of programmatic activities had a statistically significant association with the total disease burden resulting from maternal (Spearman's &rgr;=0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.14–0.57) and perinatal conditions (&rgr;=0.34, 95% CI 0.10–0.54) but not gynecologic cancers (&rgr;=−0.24, 95% CI −0.46 to 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There are few global health training opportunities for U.S. obstetrics and gynecology residents. These activities are disproportionately distributed among countries with greater burdens of disease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
Anxiety, neuroticism and oxidative stress: Cross‐sectional study in non‐smoking college students

Aims: Oxidative stress has gained attention recently in psychiatric medicine and has been reported to be associated with various diseases. However, the psychosocial factors involved in oxidative stress are still not well understood. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine whether anxiety levels and neuroticism were associated with serum oxidative and anti‐oxidative status in healthy college students.
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor as a biomarker for mood disorders: An historical overview and future directions

Mood disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BPD), are the most prevalent psychiatric conditions, and are also among the most severe and debilitating. However, the precise neurobiology underlying these disorders is currently unknown. One way to combat these disorders is to discover novel biomarkers for them. The development of such biomarkers will aid both in the diagnosis of mood disorders and in the development of effective psychiatric medications to treat them. A number of preclinical studies have suggested that the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of MDD. In 2003, we reported that serum levels of BDNF in antidepressant‐naive patients with MDD were significantly lower than those of patients medicated with antidepressants and normal controls, and that serum BDNF levels were negatively correlated with the severity of depression. Additionally, we found that decreased serum levels of BDNF in antidepressant‐naive patients recovered to normal levels associated with the recovery of depression after treatment with antidepressant medication. This review article will provide an historical overview of the role played by BDNF in the pathophysiology of mood disorders and in the mechanism of action of therapeutic agents. Particular focus will be given to the potential use of BDNF as a biomarker for mood disorders. BDNF is initially synthesized as a precursor protein proBDNF, and then proBDNF is proteolytically cleaved to the mature BDNF. Finally, future perspectives on the use of proBDNF as a novel biomarker for mood disorders will be discussed.
Pluripotency and the endogenous retrovirus HERVH: Conflict or serendipity?

Remnants of ancient retroviral infections during evolution litter all mammalian genomes. In modern humans, such endogenous retroviral (ERV) sequences comprise at least 8% of the genome. While ERVs and other types of transposable elements undoubtedly contribute to the genomic “junk yard”, functions for some ERV sequences have been demonstrated, with growing evidence that ERVs can be important players in gene regulatory processes. Here we focus on one particular large family of human ERVs, termed HERVH, which several recent studies suggest has a key regulatory role in human pluripotent stem cells. Remarkably, this is not the first instance of an ERV controlling pluripotency. We speculate as to why this convergent evolution might have come about, suggesting that it may reflect selection on the virus to extend the time available for transposition. Alternatively it may reflect serendipity alone.
Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment Strategies for Angular Limb Deformities in the Foal

Incomplete ossification is an important parameter to keep in mind in newly born foals with angular limb deformities (ALD). Because these animals need immediate veterinary attention, client education is of pivotal interest. In most other inciting causes of ALD, time is not as important. Many deformities may correct on their own as long as skeletal maturity is present. Especially in foals with mild to moderate valgus deformities of the carpal region treatment may be postponed until 8 to 10 months of age, because at this time some accelerated growth is usually noted at the lateral aspect of the radius, correcting the deformity. Varus deformities of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bones (McIII/MtIII) should be diagnosed in the first couple of months of age and treated immediately, because around 3 months of age, the distal physis of these bones closes. After that time surgical growth manipulations are ineffective. Care should be taken to also evaluate the proximal phalanx, because frequently an opposing deformity develops in this bone, seemingly straightening the limb axis, but orienting the joint not parallel to the ground, which results in an abnormal ambulation of the foal and disproportionate loads exerted on the medial versus lateral aspect of the joint and subsequent development of arthritis. Some foals are born with “offset” or bench knees. This conformational defect may prevent some foals from ever becoming successful athletes. There is some controversy among specialists as to the development of this deformity. One school of thought is a lateral displacement of the small carpal bones within the carpal region, whereas the other explains the deformity as a combination of a valgus deformity of the radius with a varus deformity of McIII. The purpose of this article is to critically discuss the development and treatment strategies of ALD. The actual management of the different problems is discussed in a subsequent article.
Assessment of association of periodontal disease status with obesity and various other factors among a population of South India

Background: Growing prevalence of obesity has raised significant public health concern. Obesity has been implicated as a risk for several chronic health conditions. The association between obesity and periodontal disease (PD) has been shown in many studies. The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between obesity and PD among a population of north Karnataka. Materials and Methods: A total of 2,000 subjects aged 20 years and above was enrolled for the study. Periodontal status of the subjects was recorded using community periodontal index. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were used as measures to assess obesity. Other variables like age, occupation, smoking status, tobacco chewing, diabetic status, educational status, previous visit to dentist, sedentary/nonsedentary lifestyle, daily exercise and physical activity, family history of obesity were also recorded. Results: A significant association between measures of body fat and PD was found among the study subjects. In younger age group the prevalence of PD was significantly higher in obesity type-I category (odds ratio [OR] = 12.72 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.54-24.75) and obesity type-II category (OR = 10.83 and 95% CI 2.63-44.65), in middle age group the prevalence of PD was significantly higher in obesity type-I category (OR = 11.19 and 95% CI 4.85-25.84) and obesity type-II category (OR = 3.45 and 95% CI 1.46-8.15) and in older age group the prevalence of PD was significantly higher in overweight at risk category (OR = 12.52 and 95% CI 2.85-54.94) and obesity type-I category (OR = 2.47 and 95% CI 0.79-7.74) as compared to normal range BMI category. Conclusion: The prevalence of PD is higher among obese subjects. Obesity could be a potential risk factor for PD in all age groups.
Describing medical student curiosity across a four year curriculum: An exploratory study

Abstract Background: Intellectual curiosity can be defined as a desire for knowledge that leads to exploratory behavior and consists of an inherent and stable trait (i.e. trait curiosity) and a variable context-dependent state (i.e. state curiosity). Although intellectual curiosity has been considered an important aspect of medical education and practice, its relationship to medical education has not been empirically investigated. The purpose of this exploratory study was to describe medical students’ intellectual curiosity across a four-year undergraduate program. Methods: We employed a cross-sectional design in which medical students, across a four-year undergraduate program at McGill University, completed the Melbourne Curiosity Inventory as a measure of their state and trait intellectual curiosity. A Mixed Models ANOVA was used to compare students across year of training. Results: Four hundred and two out of 751 students completed the inventory (53.5%). Trait curiosity was significantly higher than state curiosity (M = 64.5, SD = 8.5 versus M = 58.5, SD = 11.6) overall, and within each year of training. Conclusions: This study is the first to describe state and trait intellectual curiosity in undergraduate medical education. Findings suggest that medical students’ state curiosity may not be optimally supported and highlight avenues for further research.
Incorporation of vancomycin-supplemented bone allograftsRadiographical, histopathological and immunohistochemical study in pigs

We compared the incorporation of bone allografts with or without vancomycin in tibial defects of 18 pigs. High-quality radiographs, histological examination, immunological expression of metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGFß2) indicated that there was no significant difference in bone allograft incorporation between up to 220 times the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) in bone allografts with 1 g of vancomycin in each 300 g of allograft or without this supplement.
Receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand, macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α, and the proteasome

The bone destruction in myeloma patients is largely responsible for the clinical features of the disease. However, only recently has attention focused on identifying and developing drugs targeted specifically at the osteolysis. Receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand (RANKL), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)‐1α, and proteasomal function have been implicated in the pathogenesis of myeloma and associated bone disease. We provide “proof of principle” in preclinical myeloma models that these are indeed valid molecular targets in development of novel therapeutics.
Aesthetic surgery indications at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu

Background : Aesthetic surgery is not well developed in Nigeria. It forms a small part of plastic surgery service at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu. Few reports of the scope of aesthetic surgery are available from the sub region. We report our experience of aesthetic surgery in our centre, a Nigerian sub regional apex hospital specializing in plastic, orthopaedic and trauma surgery, and make pertinent recommendations. Patients and methods : Retrospective analysis records of consecutive patients attended to between January 2000 and December 2005. Results : Elective plastic surgical procedures performed were 3,759, of which 68 (1.81%) were for aesthetic indications. Fifteen of the clients (22.06%) were male and 53 (77.94%) female. Fifty procedures (73.53%) were performed on the face, nine on the limbs, six on the trunk, two on the skull and one on the neck. Fifty four of these (79.41%) were scar revisions, six mammoplasties, and three were otoplasties, two cranioplasties, and one lip augmentation, one abdominoplasty and one rhinoplasty. Forty nine were carried out by consultants and nineteen by senior residents; seventeen of those procedures being scar revision. Specialized instruments such as lasers and cannulae for liposuction or liposculpture were not available. Conclusion : Aesthetic surgery is still underdeveloped in our practice.