Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epithelioid cells from foreign‐body granuloma selectively express the calcium‐binding protein MRP‐14, a novel down‐regulatory molecule of macrophage activation

The S‐100 proteins MRP‐8 and MRP‐14 are expressed by cells of the myelomonocytic lineage, either alone or simultaneously during certain stages of cellular differentiation. We demonstrate that MRP‐14 but not MRP‐8 was detected by immunostaining in the cytoplasm of epithelioid cells on the surface of round coverslips implanted for 14 days into the subcutaneous tissue of mice. Using this experimental model, our laboratory has previously shown that epithelioid macrophages are poor phagocytic cells that release a macrophage‐deactivating factor (MDF) in short‐term cultures. The full chemical characterization of MDF has not been achieved so far. We provide evidence that the calcium‐binding protein MRP‐14 was also released by epithelioid macrophages in short‐term cultures and that its neutralization from the culture medium after addition of monoclonal antibody anti‐MRP‐14 abolished the MDF activity of the conditioned medium. Purified or recombinant human MRP‐14 but not MRP‐8 inhibits the respiratory burst of BCG‐activated macrophages. Recombinant mouse MRP‐14 also down‐regulate macrophage activation in vitro, and PMA does not revert the inhibitory effect induced by MRP‐14. It is thus concluded that epithelioid cells from foreign‐body granuloma express and release MRP‐14 in short‐term cultures and that this molecule is endowed with MDF activity. J. Leukoc. Biol. 62: 852–858; 1997.
The perception of body verticality (subjective postural vertical) in peripheral and central vestibular disorders.

The perception of body verticality (subjective postural vertical, SPV) was assessed in normal subjects and in patients with peripheral and central vestibular lesions and the data were compared with conventional neuro-otological assessments. Subjects were seated with eyes closed in a motorized gimbal which executed cycles of tilt at low constant speed (1.5 degrees s-1), both in the frontal (roll) and sagittal (pitch) planes. Subjects indicated with a joystick when they entered and left verticality, thus defining a sector of subjective uprightness in each plane. The mean angle of tilt (identifying a bias of the SPV) and the width of the sector (defining sensitivity of the SPV) were then determined. In normal subjects, the angle of the "verticality' sector was 5.9 degrees for pitch and roll. Patients with bilateral absence of vestibular function, patients with vertigo, i.e. acute unilateral lesions, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and Ménière's disease, and patients with positionally modulated up-/downbeat nystagmus all had enlarged sectors (i.e. loss in sensitivity). Mean sector angle in these groups ranged from 7.8 to 11 degrees and the abnormality was present both in pitch and roll, regardless of the direction of nystagmus or body sway. Patients with chronic unilateral peripheral vestibular lesions and those with position-independent vertical nystagmus had normal sensitivities. No significant bias of the SPV was found in any patient group, not even those with acute unilateral vestibular lesions who had marked tilts of the subjective visual vertical (SVV). Complementary experiments in normal subjects tested under galvanic vestibular or roll-plane optokinetic stimulation also failed to show biases of the SPV. In contrast, a significant bias in the SPV could be induced in normal subjects by asymmetric cycles of gimbals tilt, presumably by proprioceptive adaptation. The following conclusions can be drawn. (i) The perception of body verticality whilst seated is mainly dependent on proprioceptive/contact cues but these are susceptible to tilt-mediated adaptation. (ii) Vestibular input improves the sensitivity of the SPV, even in vestibular disorders, as long as the abnormality is stable. (iii) There can be marked dissociation between vestibulo-motor (ocular and postural) phenomena and the perception of body verticality, and between the SPV and SVV. (iv) The postural sway asymmetries in patients with peripheral and central vestibular lesions, like those induced by galvanic or optokinetic stimulation in normal subjects, are not consequences of changes of the SPV.
Recurrent tuberculosis in Houston, Texas: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE To determine the predictors of recurrence of tuberculosis (TB), the drug resistance pattern of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains recovered from recurrent TB patients, and the frequency of re-infection with a new M. tuberculosis strain among patients with recurrent disease. DESIGN A population-based, retrospective case-control study using the Houston Tuberculosis Initiative database. RESULTS We found that, among 100 patients with recurrent TB who completed adequate therapy for a first episode of TB, not receiving directly observed therapy, pulmonary disease, HIV/AIDS diagnosis, not having a family physician, being unemployed and using public transportation were predictors of recurrent disease. There was a significant increase in drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains in the second episode of disease compared to the first episode (21.3% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.04). Exogenous re-infection with a new strain of M. tuberculosis was found to cause 24-31% of recurrent TB. CONCLUSION Recurrent TB in Houston is associated with a significant increase in drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains. Re-infection with a new M. tuberculosis strain causes a significant proportion of recurrent TB in an area of low TB incidence. Patients with HIV/AIDS constitute a population at increased risk of disease recurrence.
Clinical value of ezrin expression in primary osteosarcoma.

PURPOSE Ezrin is a membrane cytoskeletal linker protein and it is known to be associated with metastasis of primary osteosarcoma. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between an ezrin expression and several key clinical parameters and to elucidate its potential prognostic value for patients with osteosarcoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy patients with histologically confirmed osteosarcoma and who had no distant metastasis were enrolled between 1995 and 2005 at Yonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Korea. The clinical parameters were retrospectively reviewed and immunohistochemical staining (IHC) for ezrin was performed using the surgically resected specimens. RESULTS Of the 70 tumor specimens, 39 (55.7%) revealed an ezrin expression. More of an osteoblastic histology and an elevated initial ALP level were observed in the ezrin positive patients than in the ezrin negative patients (p=0.008 and 0.001, respectively). The proportion of patients who favorably responded to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (≥or=90% necrosis) was significantly higher in the group of ezrin positive patients than that in the group of ezrin negative patient (72.2% vs 45.2%, respectively, p=0.024). The ezrin positive patients showed more frequent recurrence than did the ezrin negative patients (64.1% vs 35.5%, respectively, p=0.017). The patients with an ezrin expression also demonstrated poorer survival than did those patients without ezrin expression (5-year EFS: 31.7% vs 61.3%, respectively, p=0.023, 5-year OS: 53.4% vs 71.0%, respectively, p=0.022). When comparing EFS according to both an ezrin expression and chemoresponsiveness, there were trends that the ezrin negative/chemoresponsive group showed the best 5-year EFS (71.4%), followed by the ezrin negative/chemoresistant group (52.9%), the ezrin positive/chemoresponsive group (38.1%) and the ezrin positive/chemoresistant group (13.6%). These trends were statistically significant (p=0.036). CONCLUSION The expression of ezrin by IHC staining was found in 55.7% of the patients with metastasis-free osteosarcoma. Immunoreactivity to ezrin is a negative prognostic factor for survival for the patients suffering with osteosarcoma. Identifying an ezrin expression might offer a valuable piece of information when treating patients with primary osteosarcoma.
Critical parameter of random loop model on trees

We give estimates of the critical parameter for random loop models that are related to quantum spin systems. A special case of the model that we consider is the interchange- or random-stirring process. We consider here the model defined on regular trees of large degrees, which are expected to approximate high spatial dimensions. We find a critical parameter that indeed shares similarity with existing numerical results for the cubic lattice. In the case of the interchange process, our results improve on earlier work by Angel and by Hammond, in that we determine the second-order term of the critical parameter.
Clinical experience with baclofen in the management of alcohol-dependent patients with psychiatric comorbidity: a selected case series.

AIMS To illustrate the potential indications for, and adverse effects of, baclofen pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence in patients with co-existing psychiatric illness. METHODS Audit of the files of alcohol-dependent patients treated for comorbid non-psychotic psychiatric illness in a specialist detoxification unit with integrated outpatient treatment. Files were selected of patients who had been offered treatment with baclofen because other alcohol pharmacotherapies had previously been unsuccessful in preventing relapse or were contraindicated. RESULTS Of the 21 selected patients, 13 attended for outpatient treatment, with follow-up periods ranging from 4 days to 27 months, and the outcomes could be rated. Prescribed baclofen doses ranged from 30 to 275 mg daily. Common side effects at lower doses included tiredness and sedation; one patient on 120 mg/day developed reversible severe back pain, and a patient taking up to 275 mg/day developed somnolence, dizziness and incontinence. Seven patients maintained significant periods of abstinence, and one patient reduced daily consumption to non-problematic levels. Two patients consumed an overdose of other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, while taking baclofen in the first week of treatment, were briefly unwell, were given emergency monitoring, but made a full recovery. CONCLUSION While more than half the patients reported significant reduction in alcohol use, it is not possible to draw definite conclusions about the effectiveness of baclofen, given that it was combined with other psychiatric and alcohol treatments, and because there was no control or comparison group. We recommend caution when offering baclofen to patients with a history of recurrent overdosing or a history of other substance misuse. When prescribing in conjunction with other medications with CNS depressant action, close monitoring is recommended at initiation and during dose escalation.
The contents of visual working memory on visual search

There has been a controversy on whether the contents of visual working memory can affect visual search. Some researchers found that the contents of visual working memory influenced what was attended in visual search (Meijer& Theeuwes, 2006), whereas other researchers failed to report any evidence of such capture effects by visual working memory (Woodman&Luck, 2007). Using visual search task paradigm and 2-D abstractly symmetric shapes, this study explored the effect of visual working memory to visual search. The results showed that the information which was stored in working memory affected the visual search efficiency and different display sizes did not change the trend of result.
Neonatal hearing screening with an automated auditory brainstem response screener in the infant's home

Universal neonatal hearing screening is essential if all infants with congenital or perinatally acquired hearing impairment are to begin treatment before the age of 6 months to facilitate development of speech, language, communication and academic skills. Screening cannot always take place in hospital because of the increase in very short‐stay deliveries. Therefore screening in the home may be necessary to achieve a high level of screening. We describe a feasibility study with an automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) screener in the infant's home as part of the service offered by the Well Baby Clinics in the Netherlands. Of the 277 infants who completed the screening 266 had the result “pass”, 7 “refer” and 4 had inconclusive results. The mean time needed per screening was 18 min. This study shows that neonatal hearing screening by nurses using an AABR infant screener in the home is feasible.
Correlation between bone marrow edema and collapse of the femoral head in steroid-induced osteonecrosis.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to clarify whether bone marrow edema is detectable on initial MR imaging of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Forty-eight hips with osteonecrosis were examined consecutively with MR imaging and radiography. In a previously reported screening program, osteonecrosis was diagnosed on MR imaging when subchondral bands of abnormal signals were present. In the screening program, the MR images of 200 hips of 100 patients receiving high-dose steroid therapy were examined prospectively. Subchondral bands were detected in 48 hips at a mean of 14 weeks after the initiation of steroid therapy. RESULTS On follow-up MR imaging of 47 hips (one hip excluded) bone marrow edema was initially observed in 13 hips after the onset of hip pain. MR imaging of the remaining 34 hips did not reveal bone marrow edema and the patients were all asymptomatic. MR imaging of 31 of the 34 hips continued to show subchondral bands and MR imaging of the other three hips indicated that the subchondral bands had disappeared. When bone marrow edema was detectable, abnormal findings on radiography were slight but 11 (85%) of the 13 hips progressed to advanced osteonecrosis. Bone marrow edema was highly correlated with the subsequent collapse of the femoral head (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION Bone marrow edema was not present on initial MR imaging of osteonecrosis. Bone marrow edema should be considered a marker for potential progression to advanced osteonecrosis, and careful examinations for osteonecrosis are necessary when bone marrow edema is seen.
The Independence of Insulin Release and Ambient Insulin In Vitro

The effect of insulin on its own secretion was tested in three independent experimental models using insulin concentrations that approached physiologic values. The collected secretions from glucose-stimulated islet tissue had no effect on insulin release from other islets. Perifused insulin had no effect on the release of endogenous insulin even when the assay was completely controlled for dilutional effects. Perifused insulin had no effect on the release of prelabeled insulin from glucose-stimulated islets. Similarly, proinsulin did not affect insulin release. Porcine insulin did not affect the function of porcine or canine islets. These studies strongly support the independence of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and ambient insulin.
Price premiums for ecolabelled seafood: MSC certification in Germany

Whether ecolabelled seafood actually provides incentives to improve the management of fisheries remains a controversial issue. A number of stated preference studies indicate a substantial willingness to pay for ecolabelled seafood. Early evidence from actual market data supports the existence of a premium, while more recent papers provide a more nuanced picture. In this paper, a hedonic price model for whitefish species on the German market is estimated that includes information on Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) labelling, the leading seafood ecolabel in Germany. The model also allows the potential premium to vary by species. Results indicate that MSC premiums in Germany vary substantially between species, from a hefty 30.6 per cent for the high-end species cod, to a 4 per cent premium for Alaska pollock, and no premiums for saithe.
Comparison of six quantitative methods for the measurement of bone turnover at the hip and lumbar spine using 18F-fluoride PET-CT

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between different quantification methods used for the measurement of bone plasma clearance (Ki) using 18F-PET at the hip and lumbar spine. Methods Twelve healthy postmenopausal women aged 52–71 years were recruited. Each participant underwent 60-min dynamic 18F-PET scans at the lumbar spine and hip on two separate occasions with an injected activity of 90 and 180 MBq, respectively. Image-derived input functions were obtained at the aorta from the lumbar spine scans. Ki was evaluated using a three-compartment four-parameter model (Ki-4k), three-compartment three-parameter model (Ki-3k), Patlak analysis (Ki-Pat), spectral analysis (Ki-Spec) and deconvolution (Ki-Decon). Standardized uptake values (SUVs) were also measured. Results The Pearson correlation between Ki-4k and Ki-3k, Ki-Pat, Ki-Spec, Ki-Decon and SUV were 0.91, 0.97, 0.94, 0.95 and 0.93, respectively, with a significance of P less than 0.0001. The differences between the correlations measured using Fisher’s Z-test were not significant (P>0.05). Bland–Altman analysis showed that the limits of agreement for Ki measured as the SD of the differences were 0.0082 (25.9%), 0.0062 (11.7%), 0.0098 (20.1%) and 0.0056 (25.5%) ml/min/ml, respectively, and the biases were −0.0081 (−23.8%), −0.0075 (−23.7%), −0.0107 (−29.5%) and −0.0015 (0.8%) ml/min/ml, respectively. Conclusion All five methods of quantification (Ki-3k, Ki-Pat, Ki-Spec, Ki-Decon and SUV) strongly correlated with Ki-4k. Although systematic differences of up to 29% were found between Ki-4k and the other methods (Ki-3k, Ki-Pat, Ki-Spec and Ki-Decon), these should not affect the conclusions of clinical studies, provided the methods are applied consistently. However, care should be taken when comparing reports that use different methods of quantification.
Phase code to mitigate the copolar correlation coefficient bias in PPAR weather radar

One of the main challenges to the use of phased array radar for weather observations is the implementation of dual-polarization with acceptable levels of cross-polar fields induced by the antenna. For example, to achieve acceptable differential reflectivity bias (i.e., less than 0.1 dB) using simultaneous transmission and reception of horizontally and vertically polarized waves, the isolation between coaxial cross-polar and copolar beams needs to be in excess of 50 dB. This presents a formidable challenge because sufficient isolation cannot be achieved at an affordable price by antenna hardware alone. Hence, additional approaches are required to reduce the differential reflectivity bias due to cross-polar fields. One proposed approach is a 180 deg pulse-to-pulse phase change of signals injected in either the horizontal or vertical ports of the transmission elements. This mitigates the differential reflectivity bias but may increase the bias of the copolar correlation coefficient estimates and in some cases the bias of the differential phase estimates. Herein, a modified phase code is proposed which maintains the differential reflectivity bias suppression but mitigates the copolar correlation coefficient and differential phase bias with respect to the originally proposed phase code.
Slow and Steady Does Not Always Win the Race: Investigating the Effect of Processing Speed across Five Naming Tests.

OBJECTIVE This retrospective study investigated the effect of processing speed on confrontation naming performance via five naming tests with varying time components. METHOD The effect of processing speed, as measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition Processing Speed Index (PSI), and cognitive impairment were examined using Boston Naming Test, Neuropsychological Assessment Battery Naming Test, Visual Naming Test (VNT), Auditory Naming Test (ANT), and Woodcock-Johnson III Rapid Picture Naming (RPN) performance among a mixed clinical sample of 115 outpatient veterans. RESULTS PSI scores accounted for 5%-26% of the total variance in naming test performances. Comparison of cognitively impaired versus unimpaired participants found significant differences and medium to large effect sizes (η2 = .08-.20) for all naming measures except ANT tip-of-the-tongue responses. After controlling for the effect processing speed, VNT tip-of-the-tongue responses also became non-significant, whereas significant group differences remained present for all other naming test scores, albeit with notably smaller effects sizes (η2 = .06-.10). CONCLUSIONS Confrontation naming test performance is related to cognitive processing speed, although the magnitude of this effect varies by the demands of each naming test (i.e., largest for RPN; smallest for VNT). Thus, results argue that processing speed is important to consider for accurate clinical interpretation of naming tests, especially in the context of cognitive impairment.
Diagnosis and management of video game addiction

For many, the concept of video game addiction seems far fetched particularly if their concepts and definitions of addiction involve the use of drugs. Despite the pre dominance of drug based definitions of addiction, there is now a growing movement that views a number of behaviors as potentially addictive including many behaviors that do not involve the ingestion of a psy choactive drug (e.g., gambling, computer game play ing, exercise, sex, Internet use). Such diversity has led to new all encompassing definitions of what constitutes addictive behavior. The notion of “video game addiction” as being a genuine addiction has started to have some credence in the medical community. For example, in June 2007, the American Medical Association (AMA) recom mended that the American Psychiatric Association reconsider its position with respect to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) revi sion in 2012; however, there are some problems with this that have resulted in the AMA “backtracking” over the issue of medical insurance. Some medical experts define addictions—such as alcoholism—as diseases. As a consequence, some sufferers receive insurance com pensation for treatment. Given there is very little evi dence that excessive or addictive computer gaming leads to any permanent problems, then it could lead to parents explicitly (or implicitly) encouraging their chil dren to play to claim insurance money. This evades the question, if it is classified as an addiction, how long will someone have to play excessively to be diagnosed as
Lines in the Sand

This study identifies social representations in interviews about alcohol and substance use in the discourse of 129 young adults, who were interviewed for 2.5 to 3.5 hr each for their life histories and use or nonuse of alcoholic beverages and drugs. Respondents spontaneously delineated their substance use boundaries, creating a continuum of behaviors with boundary points separating acceptable from unacceptable behaviors. They used signaling expressions to indicate go and stop signs and movement along the substance use continuum and reported negotiating substance use boundaries both internally and with peers. A ubiquitous narrative element was the cautionary tale, in which a negative exemplar goes too far with alcohol and/or drugs, providing an example of the possible negative outcomes of transgressing boundaries. In general, the narratives revealed complex relationships to alcohol and other drugs that may be useful in refining messages for more effective communication in prevention and intervention programs.
Institutional Framing of the Right to Education Act Contestation, Controversy and Concessions

RTE Act were reported in the media and publicly discussed, this paper reports data from semi-structured interviews with key education officials and implementers, some of whom were responsible for drafting the Act, and traces successive iterations of draft bills. The paper exposes contestation, controversy and concessions that were made in policy backrooms throughout the processes framing the Act.