Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Waiting time to lymph node biopsy is dependent on referral method: don't write, phone!

INTRODUCTION Patients with lymphadenopathy are commonly referred to general surgeons for diagnostic lymph node biopsy. We were concerned at potential long waits for this service in our hospital and thus wanted to compare the efficiency of written and telephone referral with a view to identifying the optimum care pathway for these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty patients were included in a 2-year retrospective review (excluding referrals associated with breast lumps which were managed separately). Hospital Episode Statistics data were used to analyse notes for the source and method of referral, waiting time to biopsy, clinic attendance and diagnosis. RESULTS Of referrals, 33% were from haematology and 28% from general practice. Overall, 47% of patients were referred by letter; of these, 64% were seen in clinic before biopsy. Personal referral between clinicians, by direct discussion, e-mail or fax led to a mean wait of 4 days, compared to 51 days when patients were referred by letter. Clinic attendance had no significant bearing on diagnostic accuracy or complication rate. Neoplasia accounted for 43% of diagnoses and infection (including four cases of tuberculosis) for 10%. Of biopsies, 33% showed benign changes, 8% were unrecorded and 5% were incorrect. CONCLUSIONS In this study, 43% of biopsies revealed malignancy and we advise that lymph node biopsy requests should be managed on a fast-track pathway, expedited by direct personal request. Following this study, we have implemented a fast-track pathway for such patients.
The Effects of Macroeconomic Shocks on the Distribution of Provincial Output in China: Estimates from a Restricted VAR Model

The extent of inter-regional disparities is an important policy issue in China and the sources of these disparities have been subject to considerable empirical research. Yet we have relatively little empirical knowledge of the effects on the regional distribution of output of shocks to national macroeconomic variables such as GDP and investment. This is an important gap in the empirical literature since much government policy seeks to influence variables such as GDP or uses variables such as investment expenditure as a macroeconomic instrument. It is likely that national shocks will have differential regional impacts and policy-makers need to know the sign, size and timing of such effects before making policy decisions at the national level. We simulate the effects of aggregate shocks on individual provinces’ GDP within the framework of a vector autoregressive (VAR) model restricted in a manner following Lastrapes (Economics Letters, 2005). We use annual data from 1953 to 2012 to estimate the model which includes 28 of China’s provinces and simulate the effects of shocks to aggregate output and investment on provincial outputs. We find great diversity of effects across the provinces and also variability across the effects of different aggregate shocks but little evidence of a systematic influence of aggregate shocks on the distribution of their effects across the provinces.
Changes in blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance do not predict microvascular structure during treatment of mild essential hypertension

Background: Essential hypertension is characterized by small artery remodeling and increased systemic vascular resistance (SVR). We hypothesized that changes in SVR index (SVRI) were associated with measures of small artery structure as reflected by minimum coronary and forearm vascular resistance (C-Rmin and F-Rmin, respectively). Also, we investigated how F-Rmin is related to C-Rmin, coronary flow reserve (CFR), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and blood pressure (BP). Method: Sixty-six never-treated patients with uncomplicated mild essential hypertension had the following measured at baseline: 24-h blood BP, LVMI, CFR and C-Rmin (echocardiography), F-Rmin (forearm plethysmography) and SVRI determined by a gas re-breathing method. After 6 months of antihypertensive therapy administered by the general practitioner, the patients returned for follow-up measurements. Results: Changes in SVRI did not correlate to changes in F-Rmin (r = 0.001, P = 0.98) or C-Rmin (r = 0.13, P = 0.39) but did correlate to changes in CFR (r = 0.30, P = 0.04). Further analysis was performed by assigning the patients into two groups according to the median of drop in F-Rmin. When adjusted in a multivariate model, changes in F-Rmin (−8.1 ± 3.2%) were significantly associated with changes in C-Rmin (−9.3 ± 4.9%) and LVMI (−6.9 ± 1.7%) (P < 0.01), but not to either 24-h BP, SVRI or CFR. Conclusion: The results show that changes in neither BP nor SVRI reflected changes in minimum vascular resistance. However, changes in the forearm and coronary microcirculation occurred in parallel. Moreover, we demonstrated that neither BP nor SVRI reduction can predict changes in microvascular structure in hypertension. Thus, direct measurements of microvascular structure are needed to determine whether improvement is obtained.
Testosterone Enhances GABA and Taurine but not N‐Methyl‐D,L‐Aspartate Stimulation of Gonadotropin Secretion in the Goldfish: Possible Sex Steroid Feedback Mechanisms

The effects of gonadal steroids on GABA‐, taurine (TAU)‐ and N‐methyl‐D, L‐aspartate (NMA)‐induced gonadotropin‐II (GTH‐II) release were investigated in male and female goldfish in vivo. In sexually regressed goldfish (both sexes mixed), intraperitoneal implantation for 5 to 10 days with solid Silastic pellets containing testosterone (100 μg/g), oestradiol (100 μg/g) or progesterone (100 μg/g) was previously shown to elevate serum sex steroid levels to values comparable to those in sexually mature animals, and to potentiate gonadotropin‐releasing hormone‐stimulated GTH‐II release. In the present study, testosterone but not oestradiol or progesterone enhanced the stimulatory effects of exogenous GABA (100 μg/g) on GTH‐II release in vivo. TAU (1 mg/g) stimulated GTH‐II release in sexually regressed mixed sex and sexually recrudescent male goldfish, and both testosterone and oestradiol implantation enhanced GTH‐II release induced by TAU. The glutamate agonist NMA (25 to 50 μg/g) was also found to stimulate GTH‐II release; however it was relatively less effective in elevating serum GTH‐II levels than GABA and TAU, and its effects were not modulated by sex steroid treatments. Pretreatment of goldfish with α‐methyl‐p‐tyrosine to deplete brain and pituitary catecholam‐ines did not affect NMA action on GTH‐II release. Our results indicate that GABA, TAU and NMA are involved in the neuroendocrine regulation of GTH‐II release in goldfish, and support the idea that testosterone participates in the positive feedback regulation of pituitary gonadotropin release in a non‐mammalian vertebrate by enhancing GABA‐ and TAU‐stimulated GTH release in vivo.
Occult HBV infection may represent a major risk factor of non‐response to antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is common in chronic hepatitis C patient. However, its significance and consequences are still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of occult HBV among HCV chronic carriers in France and to assess its impact on liver histology and response to antiviral therapy. To this end a cohort of 203 patients with chronic hepatitis C without hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has been examined. Serum HBV‐DNA was detected using a highly sensitive PCR with primers located in the S and X genes. HBV viraemia levels were further determined by real‐time PCR. Results showed that 47 of 203 (23%) patients had occult HBV infection with a low HBV load (102–104 copies/ml) but significantly higher HCV‐RNA titers (P < 0.05). No significant difference in age, gender, serum ALT level, HCV genotypes, and the presence of anti‐HBc was observed between patients with or without HBV‐DNA. When compared histologically, patients with occult HBV infection had higher activity (A2‐A3 in 53% vs. 38%, P < 0.01) and more advanced fibrosis (60% vs. 33%, P < 0.001) than HBV‐DNA negative cases. Sustained response to combination therapy against Chronic hepatitis C was achieved in 11 (28%) of 40 HBV‐DNA positive cases, compared with 65 (45%) of the 144 HBV‐DNA negative cases (P < 0.05). Among the 144 HBV‐DNA negative HCV patients those with genotype 1 responded less frequently to therapy as compared to other genotypes infected patients (38% vs. 55%, P < 0.05). Surprisingly, when considering all patients studied, irrespective to the HBV‐DNA status no significant difference was observed in response to combination therapy regarding HCV genotypes (39% vs. 44%, P > 0.05). In conclusion, HBV‐DNA is found in 1/4 of French chronic hepatitis C patients regardless of the presence of anti‐HBc. Such an occult HBV co‐infection is associated with more severe liver disease, higher HCV viral load and decreased response to antiviral therapy irrespective of HCV genotypes. J. Med. Virol. 79: 1075–1081, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prostaglandin E2 Affects Proliferation and Collagen Synthesis by Human Patellar Tendon Fibroblasts

Objective:To determine the effect of prostaglandin E2 on proliferation and collagen synthesis by human patellar tendon fibroblasts. Design and Setting:Controlled laboratory study. Methods:Human patellar tendon fibroblasts were treated with different concentrations (1, 10, 100 ng/mL) of prostaglandin E2 in cultures. Fibroblasts without prostaglandin E2 treatment were used as the control group. The fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis were measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and Sircol collagen assay, respectively. Main Outcome Measured:Changes in proliferation and collagen production of human patellar tendon fibroblasts. Results:At 1 ng/mL of prostaglandin E2, there was no significant effect on fibroblast proliferation compared with the control group. At concentrations of 10 ng/mL and 100 ng/mL prostaglandin E2, however, fibroblast proliferation significantly decreased, by 7.3% (P = 0.002) and 10.8% (P < 0.0001), respectively, compared with the control group. At 1 ng/mL of prostaglandin E2, collagen production of the tendon fibroblasts was unaffected. However, at both 10 ng/mL and 100 ng/mL prostaglandin E2, collagen production was significantly decreased, by 45.2% (P < 0.0001) and 45.7% (P < 0.0001), respectively, compared with the control group. The levels of collagen production between these 2 dosages did not differ significantly. Conclusions:Prostaglandin E2 affects the proliferation of and collagen production by human patellar tendon fibroblasts in a dosage-dependent manner. Clinical Relevance:Based on these in vitro findings, we speculate that production of prostaglandin E2 in tendons might play some role in the acellularity and matrix disorganization seen in exercise-induced tendinopathy.
Performance Management Systems of Congestion Management Networks

The central research question in this article asks how performance management systems are employed in interorganizational governance networks designed to mitigate traffic congestion. Congestion management networks (CMNs) adopt performance management systems across regionally bound networks of state, regional, and local actors; and within these networks, performance data are often assumed to be directing policy strategy and tool selection. Drawing on existing frameworks for categorizing performance measures and policy strategies used within congestion management networks, the authors present data from case studies of four regional networks. The CMNs studied here were indelibly shaped by the funded mandates of the U.S. Department of Transportation with guidance from the major transportation reauthorization bills since the early 1990s. No uniform performance management system exists in the regional CMSs that were studied. Rather, the CMNs' performance management systems are a construct of discrete and overlapping performance management subsystems. Making comparisons more difficult, CMN performance measures are tied to multiple policy domains (including economic, environmental health, and quality of life). Left unanswered are questions relating to the collection and analysis of performance data in terms of administrative and political drivers and the extent to which congestion management is ultimately the policy frame that drives action in these networks. Some suggestions are offered that may eventually lead to answering some of these questions through further empirical inquiry and modeling.
Stress-induced amorphization of silicon crystal by mechanical scratching.

The damaged layer induced in a silicon crystal by surface scratching at room temperature under a light load was found, by transmission electron miocroscopy, to be a small amorphous region surrounded by a dislocated crystalline region. No dent was detected on the surface and no crack was developed around the scratch. The amorphous region seems to be formed by phase transformation and not as the result of heavy plastic deformation of the crytal
Reversible Toxic Effects of the Dietary Supplement Indole-3-Carbinol in an Immune Compromised Rodent Model: Intestine as the Main Target

ABSTRACT Dietary supplements are widely used in the United States, but the safety issue remains unresolved. Immuno-deficient or immuno-compromised patients, estimated to exceed 10 million in the United States, are known to use dietary supplements. This population potentially may be susceptible to supplements’ adverse effects. The cruciferous vegetable-derived indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is known for its possible protective effects against a number of chronic diseases and is commercially available as a dietary supplement. However, the safety of orally consumed I3C in the general population and particularly in immuno-compromised individuals remains unknown. In this study, rodent model of immune-deficient male BALB/c nu/nu athymic mice were given diets supplemented with 0-100 μmoles I3C/g diet for 4 weeks. We found that BALB/c nu/nu mice were not viable after three days on a 100 μmoles I3C/g supplemented diet. Switching to the control diet (without I3C) after first detection of stress resulted in a 75% recovery of mice. Mice fed with 10-50 μmoles I3C/g supplemented diet survived but showed concentration-dependent adverse effects. More importantly, the intestine appeared to be the target of I3C toxicity. Number and width of intestinal villi were significantly altered by I3C, which associated with a dose-dependent reduction in cell proliferation and increase in apoptosis. Other molecular effects observed for I3C include activation of multiple xenobiotic metabolism pathways. This is the first study to report hazardous effects of I3C supplementation that are specific to the gastrointestinal tract in an immuno-compromised model and should serve as a caution in using I3C as dietary supplements.
Gender and Family Systems in the Fertility Transition

This paper reviews the evidence on the role of gender and family systems in fertility transition and traces the implications for future trends in fertility. It discusses how prevailing family and gender systems in pretransitional societies affect the "readiness" of the population to begin the fertility transition. Three intermediate factors that influence such readiness include: the number of surviving children that family systems can accommodate; the onset and speed of mortality decline; and the availability and costs of postnatal forms of family-size control. Following this the relationship between changes in traditional family and gender systems and the onset and speed of the transition is analyzed. The intermediate variables considered are the demand for children the supply of them and the costs of using fertility limitation. Finally the paper examines the influence of family and gender systems on post- transitional changes or variations in fertility. It is noted that neither family nor gender systems can be considered master determinants of fertility transitions but in interaction with other factors they appear to play important roles.
Enterotoxin Escherichia coli STa activates a nitric oxide‐dependent myenteric plexus secretory reflex in the rat ileum.

1. Mucosally added enterotoxin Escherichia coli STa increased the electrogenic Cl‐ secretion measured as the short‐circuit current (Isc) across isolated muscle‐stripped and muscle‐unstripped rat mid‐ilea incubated in vitro. 2. Pretreatment with serosal L‐NAME (N omega‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester) or tetrodotoxin (TTX) significantly reduced the maximum Isc and the duration of action of STa in the unstripped but not stripped ilea. D‐NAME (serosal), indomethacin or 5‐hydroxy‐tryptamine‐desensitization was ineffective on STa‐induced Isc in either stripped or unstripped ilea. 3. Serosal capsaicin reduced the maximum Isc of STa and its duration of action in unstripped ilea. 4. L‐Arginine induced a significantly larger increase in the Isc across unstripped ilea than across stripped ilea; this could be significantly reduced by serosal L‐NAME or TTX, although these were ineffective in stripped ilea. 5. Pretreatment of anaesthetized rats with I.P. L‐NAME suppressed the fluid secretion induced by luminal STa in ilea in vivo but had no effect on that induced by luminal carbachol. 6. Mucosal STa increased electrogenic Cl‐ secretion across intact rat ileum in vitro by activating a capsaicin‐sensitive, nitric oxide‐dependent myenteric plexus‐mediated secretory reflex. The suppression by L‐NAME of STa induced ileal fluid secretion in vivo probably involves the inhibition of this reflex.
Effective User Interface Designs to Increase Energy-efficient Behavior in a Rasch-based Energy Recommender System

People often struggle to find appropriate energy-saving measures to take in the household. Although recommender studies show that tailoring a system's interaction method to the domain knowledge of the user can increase energy savings, they did not actually tailor the conservation advice itself. We present two large user studies in which we support users to make an energy-efficient behavioral change by presenting tailored energy-saving advice. Both systems use a one-dimensional, ordinal Rasch scale, which orders 79 energy-saving measures on their behavioral difficulty and link this to a user's energy-saving ability for tailored advice. We established that recommending Rasch-based advice can reduce a user's effort, increase system support and, in turn, increase choice satisfaction and lead to the adoption of more energy-saving measures. Moreover, follow-up surveys administered four weeks later point out that tailoring advice on its feasibility can support behavioral change.
DnaB, DnaD and DnaI proteins are components of the Bacillus subtilis replication restart primosome

Phenotypes of Bacillus subtilis priA mutants suggest that they are deficient in the restart of stalled chromosomal replication forks. The presumed activity of PriA in the restart process is to promote the assembly of a multiprotein complex, the primosome, which functions to recruit the replication fork helicase onto the DNA. We have proposed previously that three proteins involved in the initiation of replication at oriC in B. subtilis, DnaB, DnaD and DnaI, are components of the PriA primosome in this bacterium. However, the involvement of these proteins in replication restart has not yet been studied. Here, we describe dnaB mutations that suppress the phenotypes of B. subtilis priA mutants. In a representative mutant, the DnaC helicase is loaded onto single‐stranded DNA in a PriA‐independent, DnaD‐ and DnaI‐dependent manner. These observations confirm that DnaB, DnaD and DnaI are primosomal proteins in B. subtilis. Moreover, their involvement in the suppression of priA phenotypes shows that they participate in replication fork restart in B. subtilis.
The Urban–Rural Divide

A vast literature has related perceptions of income inequality to individuals' income: the higher the level of income, the less inequality is perceived. Here, examining the perceptions of income and social inequality, we argue that rural or urban residence affects both inequality perceptions and the impact of income on these perceptions. We test the theory using survey data from 12 Central and Eastern European countries and we find that income negatively affects inequality perceptions but only in urban areas. These findings confirm the importance of accounting for urbanity to understand what drives individuals' perceptions of inequality.
Immunohistochemical expression of aromatase and estrogen, androgen and progesterone receptors in normal and neoplastic human meningeal cells

Evidence suggests that sex hormones may play a role in the tumorigenesis of meningiomas, and studies have demonstrated the expression of hormone receptors in these tumors. Aromatase expression has been detected in several normal tissues, including neurons in the CNS, and tumor tissues. We aim to assess the expression of aromatase (ARO) and of progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) in both normal and neoplastic meningeal cells. A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 126 patients diagnosed with meningioma (97 women and 29 men; mean age, 53.6 years) submitted to neurosurgery at Hospital São José, Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, southern Brazil. Control sections of normal meningeal cells, 19 patients, were obtained by evaluating the arachnoid tissue present in the arachnoid cyst resected material. Immunohistochemistry was applied to assess ARO, PR, ER and AR. Aromatase expression was detected in 100% of the control patients and in 0% of the patients with meningioma. ER was present in 24.6% of the meningiomas and in 0% of the controls, AR in 18.3% of the meningiomas and in 0% of the controls, and PR in 60.3% of the meningiomas and in 47.4% of the controls. A positive association was observed between the presence of AR and ER (OR 3.7; P = 0.01) in meningiomas. There were no significant differences in the presence of hormone receptors between meningioma histological subtypes. PR expression in women with meningioma was significantly higher than that found in men (OR 2.3; P = 0.08). Behavior pattern differences observed between aromatase expression, present in normal tissues and absent in meningiomas, and estrogen and androgen hormone receptors, absent in normal tissues and present in meningiomas, suggest that there is heterogeneity in modulation by sex steroids in the development of these tumors.