Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Compliance with follow-up and the informative value of diagnostic whole-body scan in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma given recombinant human TSH.

OBJECTIVE Protocols for monitoring patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) include measurement of serum Tg and, for most patients, whole-body scan (WBS) with low radioiodine activities ('diagnostic' WBS). Recently, recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) has become available to provide the TSH stimulation necessary for these procedures, whilst avoiding thyroid hormone withdrawal and hypothyroid complications. In addition, the inclusion of diagnostic WBS in DTC follow-up has recently become controversial. We have assessed the compliance with withdrawal-aided monitoring and the informative value of diagnostic WBS in consecutive tertiary referral center patients. DESIGN Forty-eight patients received rhTSH (0.9 mg) in two consecutive daily injections, with radioiodine administration 24 h, diagnostic WBS 48 h, and serum Tg testing prior to and 72 h later. METHODS Compliance with withdrawal-aided monitoring was assessed with a questionnaire provided by the referring physician, patient record analysis, and patient interview. The informative value of diagnostic WBS was assessed by comparing findings against serum Tg measurements in light of physical and other radiological examinations. RESULTS Forty of the forty-eight patients were female, the mean age was 43.9 years and the median follow-up from diagnosis was 4.5 years (range 1-19 years). Twenty-seven (56%) patients were compliant and 12 (25%) were non-compliant; compliance was not known in nine. Of 17 patients with clinically suspicious or significant findings on any available modality, four had uptake outside the thyroid bed on WBS but stimulated Tg <2.5 ng/ml on immunometric assay, while five had a negative WBS with serum Tg >2.5 ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS Thyroid hormone withdrawal substantially impairs, and rhTSH administration substantially promotes, compliance with DTC monitoring. rhTSH-aided WBS is informative and should be included in the follow-up of unselected patients with DTC.
Implicit attitudes towards romantic partners predict well‐being in stressful life conditions: Evidence from the antenatal maternity ward

An idiographic variant of the Implicit Association Test (IAT; Greenwald, McGhee, & Schwartz, 1998) was used to investigate how implicit attitudes towards romantic partners are related to explicit attitudes, relationship‐related variables such as adult attachment and relationship satisfaction, and psychological well‐being as a potential outcome of relationship quality. The validity of the Partner‐IAT was investigated using a known group approach that contrasted abused women currently living in a refuge (N = 22), women who had recently fallen in love (N = 19), women who were currently hospitalized due to pregnancy complications (N = 48), and a control group of female students (N = 52). Across the whole sample, the Partner‐IAT showed satisfactory internal consistency (α = .83). As expected, the analysis of group differences revealed that abused women living in a refuge showed more negative implicit and explicit attitudes toward (ex‐)partners than women belonging to the other three groups. Women in love sho.
A MISDATED MANUSCRIPT OF LIVY

Some years ago, when I was investigating the transmission of Livy 21-30, I tentatively concluded that many Italian manuscripts of the 14th and 15th century derived from another manuscript that I had no reason for not regarding as Italian, Leiden Voss. Lat. F 21. The earliest of them appeared to be Holkham 344, written and decorated, as experts assured me, before 1320. Other experts, however, had assigned the Vossianus itself to the end of the 14th century. In order to prove that it was indeed the head of the family, I should have needed more evidence, and too many other manuscripts were waiting to be assessed. Consequently, I restricted myself to asking 'does it really belong to s. xiv2? ' and expressing disbelief1. Recently, when I turned to the transmission of Livy 1-10, the Vossianus confronted me once again. The oldest of the medieval manuscripts, Τ (Paris Β. N. Lat. 5726, s. ix1), has many corrections, and J. Dianu, who in an exemplary monograph published a description and collation, pointed out that the corrections often agreed with three manuscripts cited by Drakenborch, among them the Vossianus (Voss. 1) and Holkham 344 (Lovel. I)2. Dianu inferred that the corrector used a relative of these manuscripts, but I have argued from their agreement in error sometimes with the corrector, sometimes with the original text of T, that on the contrary they derive from the corrected state of T3. I can now add that the Vossianus is not a direct copy of T. The scribe omitted 10.29. 11 aciem ipsam . 31.3 quattuor milia, which does not occupy a unit of layout in Τ but begins in the middle of one page (f. 154r) and ends in the middle of another (f. 155r). Even a distracted scribe would hardly have resumed in the middle of the wrong page without checking what point he had reached. A connected accident con-
Aflatoxins in spices marketed in Portugal

Seventy-nine prepackaged samples of 12 different types of spice powders (five cardamom, five cayenne pepper, eight chilli, five cloves, seven cumin, five curry powder, five ginger, five mustard, 10 nutmeg, 12 paprika, five saffron and seven white pepper) were selected from supermarkets and ethnic shops in Lisbon (Portugal) for estimation of aflatoxins by immmunoaffinity column clean-up followed by HPLC. Aflatoxin B (AFB1) was detected in 34 samples of prepackaged spices (43.0%). All of the cayenne pepper samples were contaminated with levels ranging from 2 to 32 µg AFB1/ kg. Three nutmeg samples contained levels ranging from 1 to 5 µg/kg, three samples had levels ranging from 6 to 20 µ g/kg, and there were two with 54 µg/kg and 58 µg/ kg. Paprika contained levels of aflatoxin B1 ranging from 1 to 20 µg/kg. Chilli, cumin, curry powder, saffron and white pepper samples had levels ranging from 1 to 5 µg/kg. Aflatoxins were not detected in cardamom, cloves, ginger and mustard. None of the samples analysed contained aflatoxins B2, G1 and G2.
Ganglionic Immunoreactive Atrial Natriuretic Factor in Rat Experimental Hypertension

Because previous data have suggested a dependence of ganglionic atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) content on preganglionic cholinergic input, we investigated the possibility that the increased neural activity observed in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) may be reflected by ganglionic immunoreactive ANF levels. Four-week-old normotensive SHR had celiac ganglionic immunoreactive ANF values comparable to those of Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). When they became hypertensive, however, at 12 weeks of age, the SHR manifested higher immunoreactive ANF levels in celiac ganglia than the WKY group (25.3 ± 2.6 vs 14.5 ± 1.7 pg/ganglion; p < 0.01), but there were no differences in levels in the superior cervical and nodose ganglia. The values in celiac ganglia were quadrupled on the average in hypertensive Dahl salt-sensitive rats under the influence of an 8% salt intake for 5 weeks, but no difference was noted in any of these ganglia between this group and their salt-resistant partners. The celiac and superior cervical ganglionic immunoreactive ANF content in normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats was higher with high salt than with normal salt intake. Hypertensive rats treated with deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt and sham-treated controls showed immunoreactive ANF concentrations in celiac ganglia similar to those detected in Dahl rats but, again, no differences were found between groups. Thus, hypertensive SHR, compared to WKY, have higher celiac ganglionic immunoreactive ANF levels, unlike Dahl salt-sensitive and DOCA-salt animals relative to their respective controls. This increase is unique to SHR (although all three models have elevated plasma immunoreactive ANF when they are hypertensive) and to the celiac ganglia. In hypertensive SHR, celiac ganglia (Th8-L2 roots) carry the most evidently enhanced neural splanchnic traffic, which may be reflected by increased immunoreactive ANF concentrations.
Experimental gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection: training in a porcine model

Background Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) requires special skills and a long procedure time for a quality-controlled procedure. A universal training system remains to be established. Hands-on courses in animal models before advancing to the human colon appear to be essential, especially in Europe. The learning curve is a prerequisite in ESD, in order to improve technical outcomes and decrease the rate of procedural adverse events. Methods In the experimental research center of ELPEN Pharmaceuticals, 18 European endoscopists, inexperienced at ESD, performed gastric ESDs in porcine models. The course lasted two days and was conducted under the supervision of experts. Results A total of 72 of 76 ESDs were completed en bloc (94.7%). The procedural time and cutting speed differed significantly between the first and second day: 48±4.4 vs. 43±4.8 min (P=0.0045), and 1.38±0.20 vs. 1.63±0.23 cm2/min (P=0.0033), respectively. The complications were not significantly different between the two groups: five (13.88%) vs. four (11%) episodes of bleeding (P>0.05). The perforation rate was similar, at two episodes per day (5.55%). We documented an acceptable rate of en bloc resections and complications. Conclusion ESD demands a new level of endoscopic skills in Europe. A formal sequential training program, using porcine models, may benefit countries with a low volume of cases.
δ‐cells and β‐cells are electrically coupled and regulate α‐cell activity via somatostatin

We used a mouse expressing a light‐sensitive ion channel in β‐cells to understand how α‐cell activity is regulated by β‐cells. Light activation of β‐cells triggered a suppression of α‐cell activity via gap junction‐dependent activation of δ‐cells. Mathematical modelling of human islets suggests that 23% of the inhibitory effect of glucose on glucagon secretion is mediated by β‐cells via gap junction‐dependent activation of δ‐cells/somatostatin secretion.
Private Sector Participation in Asian Ports

Asian container ports suffer from a number of problems including insufficient port and/or terminal capacity, inefficient management and bureaucratic administration. This may be due in part to the fact that the majority of the region’s ports are controlled and/or operated by public entities. To deal with these problems, port authorities of a number of countries in the region have launched programs that aim to attract private capital into both the existing and new facilities. As a consequence, these schemes have kick-started a revolutionary new operating milieu where inter- and even intra-port competition is rife. In many instances, this has engendered the perception that organizational restructuring (including privatization) is not only desirable, but necessary. A key claim made with respect to organizational reforms is that the transformation of ownership from public to private sector will improve economic efficiency, as well as general welfare. Associated economic theories and existing empirical studies, however, fail to establish clear-cut evidence supporting this claim. Indeed, econometric analysis of the relative productive efficiency of the port sector pre- and post-privatization seems to suggest that ownership itself does not seem to be categorically related to efficiency in port operations. It may well be the case, as proposed by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD, 1995a), that the apparent absence of a clear-cut theoretical and empirical relationship may reflect, to some extent, the unique socio-political situation in which these business entities undertake their economic activities. Against this conceptual background, this paper analyses the administrative and ownership structures of the major container ports in Asia by relating them to the ‘port function matrix’ and assesses their relative efficiency.
Interrelation between ABH Blood Group 0, Lewis(b) Blood Group Antigen, Helicobacter pylori Infection, and Occurrence of Peptic Ulcer

Background: Helicobacter pylori H. pylori H. pylori Patients and Methods: H. pylori Results: H. pylori H. pylori H. pylori Conclusion: H. pylori Einleitung: Helicobacter pylori H. pylori Patienten und Methodik: Ergebnisse: H. pylori H. -pylori Schlussfolgerungen: H. -pylori
Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring for Spinal Cord Tumor Surgery: Comparison of Motor and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials According to Tumor Types

Objective To identify which combination of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) is most reliable for postoperative motor deterioration during spinal cord tumor surgery, according to anatomical and pathologic type. Methods MEPs and SEPs were monitored in patients who underwent spinal cord tumor surgery between November 2012 and August 2016. Muscle strength was examined in all patients before surgery, within 48 hours postoperatively and 4 weeks later. We analyzed sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of each significant change in SEPs and MEPs. Results The overall sensitivity and specificity of SEPs or MEPs were 100% and 61.3%, respectively. The intraoperative MEP monitoring alone showed both higher sensitivity (67.9%) and specificity (83.2%) than SEP monitoring alone for postoperative motor deterioration. Two patients with persistent motor deterioration had significant changes only in SEPs. There are no significant differences in reliabilities between anatomical types, except with hemangioma, where SEPs were more specific than MEPs for postoperative motor deterioration. Both overall positive and negative predictive values of MEPs were higher than the predictive values of SEPs. However, the positive predictive value was higher by the dual monitoring of MEPs and SEPs, compared to MEPs alone. Conclusion For spinal cord tumor surgery, combined MEP and SEP monitoring showed the highest sensitivity for the postoperative motor deterioration. Although MEPs are more specific than SEPs in most types of spinal cord tumor surgery, SEPs should still be monitored, especially in hemangioma surgery.
Comparison of foraminiferal cleaning procedures for Mg/Ca paleothermometry on core material deposited under varying terrigenous‐input and bottom water conditions

A down‐core comparison of two commonly applied foraminiferal cleaning procedures for Mg/Ca paleothermometry has been conducted using well‐preserved Globigerinoides ruber white (250–300 μm) from core material deposited under varying terrigenous‐input and bottom water conditions. This study demonstrates that in the majority of investigated core materials, both cleaning methods yield fairly comparable results of Mg/Ca ratios. However, Fe and Mn phases are effectively removed by the cleaning procedure containing a reductive step. In a core interval indicating gradual transition of terrigenous deposition and pore water conditions, the cleaning procedure without a reductive step results in anomalously higher Mg/Ca ratios accompanied by high Fe/Ca and Mn/Ca ratios, indicating the presence of high‐Mg contaminants. Considering that the Mg/Ca deviation of the comparison study is the cumulative sum of (1) the difference in cleaning efficiency of the applied methods, (2) the cleaning‐method‐dependent partial dissolution of Mg, and (3) the heterogeneity of subsamples, we suggest that selective Mg loss from well‐preserved Globigerinoides ruber shells caused by the reductive sample treatment is not substantial enough to significantly bias paleotemperature estimation. Thus, for core material deposited under varying sources and amounts of terrigenous material and bottom water conditions favorable for formation of authigenic mineral phases, the use of cleaning methods that do include a reductive step yields more effective cleaning results by successful removal of mineral phases that may contain high Mg.
Khat Use: Lifestyle or Addiction?

Abstract The khat plant contains psychoactive alkaloids with psychostimulant properties, and has been used for centuries as a recreational and religious drug, mainly in some African and Middle Eastern countries. With changing migrationpatterns, epidemiological and clinical outcomes may have changed. The aim of this article is to review current knowledge on pharmacological, epidemiological and clinical aspects of khat use. Khat use is still highly prevalent in the countries mentioned, and in African and Yemeniemigrant groups. Preclinical and clinical data confirm its addictivepotential as well as possible psychological, psychiatric and medical consequences related to stimulant use; however, existing epidemiological studies do not focus on the prevalence of problematic use or dependence. There are no indications of high prevalence of khat use in other cultural and ethnic groups. Data are lacking on possible increased psychotogenic risks when khat is used outside of the original cultural context. As with alcohol use in many countries, khat use can be considered as a lifestyle in some specific countries, covering the spectrum from nonproblematic use to problematic use and dependence. Khat dependence is associated with high morbidity and societal and economical costs.
Ofatumumab monotherapy in fludarabine-refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia: final results from a pivotal study

While fludarabine-based regimens are a standard for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), patients who become refractory to fludarabine have had low response rates with salvage therapy and poor survival outcomes. [1][1]–[3][2] We reported that ofatumumab, a human monoclonal antibody that
A randomised controlled trial of three aesthetic full-coronal restorations in primary maxillary teeth.

AIM This randomised clinical trial (RCT) compared the clinical outcomes of three aesthetic full-coronal restorations (composite strip crowns, pre-veneered stainless steel crowns (SSCs) and pre-fabricated primary zirconia crowns) in carious and traumatised primary maxillary incisors. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and twenty nine teeth in 39 children aged between 3 to 5 years were included. Children were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups using a permuted block randomisation technique with a total of 43 teeth in each group. After trainee calibration, restorations were placed and evaluated after 6 months. Outcomes evaluated were restoration failure, tooth wear of opposing teeth and gingival health. RESULTS The retention rate was highest for zirconia crowns (100%) followed by pre-veneered SSCs (95%). Strip crowns were the least retentive (78%). Zirconia crowns showed low grade abrasion in four opposing teeth. Teeth restored with resin composite and pre-veneered SSC showed an increase in mean gingival index score, while corresponding values decreased in zirconia crowns. CONCLUSION Resin composite strip crown is a highly sensitive technique leading to lower retention rate. Pre-veneered stainless steel crowns showed increased incidence of facial veneer fracture. Zirconia crowns are highly retentive and biocompatible but cause low grade of abrasion of their opposing natural dentition at the 6-month follow-up.
Leachability testing of sludge from street gullies

Sludge from gullies, on two types of streets with different traffic intensity, was investigated using two recommended EU methods for leachability testing of waste: a two-stage batch test and an up-flow percolation test. The main purpose of this investigation was to gain more knowledge about these leaching test methods to be able to make future decisions on the general applicability of the proposed tests. A number of parameters were determined in the sludge as well as in the eluates obtained from the two leaching tests. These include pH, conductivity, dissolved organic carbon and inorganic ions as chloride ions. A number of metals as Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni and Zn, were determined by inductive coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and organic compounds were screened by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array UV detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. It was found that the concentrations of metals and organic compounds in the sludge were several orders of magnitudes higher than the actual eluate concentrations. For all metals the concentrations were well below the proposed limit values for non-hazardous waste included in the Council decision document 2003/33/EC. Generally, concentrations obtained in batch test were equal or higher than from percolation tests. The repeatability of the percolation and the batch test were in average 28 and 17%, respectively.
Human Vision Favors Centrifugal Motion

Reaction times to motion onset were measured for targets in the peripheral field. Horizontal motion away from fixation evoked faster reactions than did motion toward fixation. The difference between motion toward fixation and motion away from fixation (i) increases with stimulus eccentricity, (ii) is not found when motion is along a vertical axis, and (iii) fails to affect contrast thresholds. The anisotropy between centrifugal and centripetal motion is correlated with differences in the apparent speed of targets moving in the two directions.
Urinary Testosterone Response to 72‐Hr. Avoidance Sessions in the Monkey

&NA; Urinary testosterone levels show a biphasic response in association with 72hr. avoidance sessions in the monkey, characterized by an initial decline during avoidance followed by a rebound elevation during the recovery period. The duration of the two response phases, the primary lowering and the secondary elevation, may vary from one experiment to the next, but the general configuration of the response curve remains the same. Similar testosterone response curves were obtained both with a double‐isotope derivative and a gas chromatographic method, although the latter method gave considerably lower absolute values. Preliminary data indicate that urinary epitestosterone levels also change in relation to avoidance in a pattern similar to the testosterone response. While the mean testosterone curve closely resembles that previously described for urinary androsterone, etiocholanolone, and dehydroepiandrosterone levels, some instances were noted in the present experiments in which there was at least transitory dissociation between the urinary excretion of testosterone and its metabolites. Future study will be required to determine whether this dissociation may possibly be related to eovariation in urinary volume responses, to relatively greater adrenal contribution to androgen metabolite excretion in some experiments, or to other factors. Preliminary experience with gas chromatographic analysis of other individual 17‐ketosteroid compounds indicates that the 11‐oxy‐17‐ketosteroids (C19O3‐17‐ketosteroids) may show a different response pattern than do androsterone and other C19O2‐17‐ketosteroid compounds. The pertinence of this observation to the continued use of total urinary 17‐ketosteroid determination is discussed, and the need for further psychoendocrine studies of androgen levels with the use of increasingly refined endocrinological methods is emphasized.