Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apolipoprotein E ε4 and the pattern of regional brain atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease

Background: Although the APOE ε4 allele increases the risk of developing AD, the effects of the ε4 allele on brain atrophy in clinical AD patients are controversial. Objective: To investigate a possible relationship between the genetic variants of APOE and brain atrophy in patients with AD. Methods: Using MRI-based volumetry techniques, the authors compared the volumes of the hippocampal formation, amygdaloid complex, and whole brain in probable AD patients (based on criteria of the National Institute for Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke/Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association) with different APOE alleles. One group (n = 46) had the ε3/3 allele, one group (n = 46) had the ε3/4 allele, and one group (n = 46) had the ε4/4 allele. The three groups were matched for age, sex, disease duration, education level, and severity of dementia represented by their score of the Mini-Mental State Examination. A possible difference in pattern of cognitive deficits with dose of the APOE ε4 allele was also examined. Results: The normalized hippocampal volume was correlated with the number of APOE ε4 alleles (r = −0.285, p = 0.0007). The amygdalar volume was also correlated with the number of APOE ε4 alleles (r = −0.178, p = 0.037). The number of APOE ε4 alleles was positively correlated with the whole-brain volume (r = 0.185, p = 0.030). It was also correlated with Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Revised performance IQ (r = 0.203, p = 0.017) and with Wechsler Memory Scale–Revised attention/concentration score (r = 0.191, p = 0.025). Conclusions: Different patterns of regional brain atrophy were found among patients of different APOE genotypes. The effect of APOE ε4 allele on the brains of AD patients may have regional specificity.
Empirical Antibiotic Treatment Does Not Improve Outcomes in Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection: Prospective Cohort Study

Background Catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the most common healthcare-associated acquired infection. We aimed to describe the short- and long-term survival of patients with CAUTI and the impact of the empirical antibiotic treatment on survival rates. Methods In this prospective observational study we included consecutive adult patients with a chronic indwelling catheter-associated UTI and sepsis hospitalized in medical departments. The primary outcomes were 30-days all-cause mortality and long-term survival at end of the follow-up. A multivariate analysis using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard model was performed to identify independent risk factors for an adverse outcome. A propensity-score model for receiving appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy was constructed and used to match patients. Results Overall, 315 consecutive patients with CAUTI were enrolled. The cohort consisted of elderly to very old patients (mean age 79.2 ± 11.5). The crude 30-day all-cause mortality rate was 30.8% (97/315). The median survival time was 82 days (interquartile range [IQR] 22-638). Appropriate early empirical treatment had no statistically significant association with 30-day mortality, propensity score-matched odds ratio (OR) 1.39 (0.76-2.55). Similarly, in the propensity-matched cohort, appropriate empirical treatment was not statistically associated with long-term survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75-1.3). Conclusions In our setting, patients with CAUTI had poor short- and long-term prognosis regardless of appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment. Avoiding empirical antibiotics for CAUTI might be an important antibiotic stewardship intervention in hospitals.
Relative versus absolute quantitation in disease glycomics

The glycome of a diagnostic biological material such as blood, urine, saliva, tissue, or cell cultures comprises of a vast array of structurally distinct glycans attached to the protein complement. Aberrant glycan structures and distributions result from changes in specific glycosyltransferase activities and have different biological significance, making proper quantitation of glycans highly important. In this review, common HPLC/CE and LC‐MS/MS‐based methods for glycomics, their advantages and disadvantages, will be discussed with respect to the main quantitative strategies. With the increasing interest in absolute quantitation for glycomics, we discuss absolute and relative glycome quantitation and how it affects the resulting conclusions drawn from glycomics studies. We argue that while absolute quantitation of glycomes may be attractive for some areas of clinical glycomics, relative quantitation of glycans remains the most informative and time/cost‐effective method to obtain biological insight into the regulation of the cellular glycosylation machinery and the synthesis of the resultant glycan structures in most research questions due to the enzymatic relatedness of the biosynthesized glycans. Recent developments in multiplexing of glycomes by the introduction of stable isotopic labeling of glycans show promise for providing another level of information to the existing benefits of relative quantitation.
Recent research trend of economic‐lot scheduling problems

Purpose - This research note aims to present a summary of research concerning economic-lot scheduling problem (ELSP). Design/methodology/approach - The paper's approach is to review over 100 selected studies published in the last 15 years (1997-2012), which are then grouped under different research themes. Findings - Five research themes are identified and insights for future studies are reported at the end of this paper. Research limitations/implications - The motivation of preparing this research note is to summarize key research studies in this field since 1997, when the ELSP problems have been verified as NP-hard. Originality/value - ELSP is an important scheduling problem that has been studied since the 1950s. Because of its complexity in delivering a feasible analytical closed form solution, many studies in the last two decades employed heuristic algorithms in order to come up with good and acceptable solutions. As a consequence, the solution approaches are quite diversified. The major contribution of this paper is to provide researchers who are interested in this area with a quick reference guide on the reviewed studies. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Approach to the Investigation and Management of Patients With Candida auris, an Emerging Multidrug-Resistant Yeast

Candida auris is an emerging, multidrug-resistant yeast that can spread in healthcare settings. It can cause invasive infections with high mortality and is difficult to identify using traditional yeast identification methods. Candida auris has been reported in more than a dozen countries, and as of August 2017, 112 clinical cases have been reported in the United States. Candida auris can colonize skin and persist in the healthcare environment, allowing for transmission between patients. Prompt investigation and aggressive interventions, including notification to public health agencies, implementation of contact precautions, thorough environmental cleaning and disinfection, infection control assessments, contact tracing and screening of contacts to assess for colonization, and retrospective review of microbiology records and prospective surveillance for cases at laboratories are all needed to limit the spread of C. auris. This review summarizes the current recommended approach to manage cases and control transmission of C. auris in healthcare facilities.
Screening and brief intervention for hazardous alcohol use within Indigenous populations: Potential solution or impossible dream?

Despite the increasing popularity of screening and brief intervention (SBI) for hazardous drinking within the wider population, there is a paucity of SBI research directed at Indigenous populations. In Canada, Aboriginal drinkers are less than half as likely to drink on a weekly/daily basis but more than twice as likely to binge drink compared to the general drinking population. As a result, there is a high rate of alcohol related deaths and hospitalisations compared to the non-Aboriginal population. Modification of these patterns and levels of hazardous drinking – especially binge drinking – among Aboriginal drinkers should markedly improve health outcomes. Although the efficacy of SBI has been demonstrated across a range of health care settings and sociocultural groups, there are potential systemic and cultural barriers to implementation of SBI for Aboriginal hazardous drinkers including the historic impact of alcohol on Aboriginal communities. Implementation of SBI must address these barriers and be sensitive to the historic relationship between Aboriginals and alcohol.
Pathomorphological characteristics of abomasal ulcers in high-yielding dairy cows

The aim of this paper was to investigate the morphology, localization and typization of abomasal ulcers in high-yielding dairy cows, as a contribution to the existing knowledge on the subject. A total of ten high-yielding dairy cows which died during the period of early puerperium and two Holstein heifers which died in late pregnancy after transport to a new location were investigated in this study. Samples of altered abomasal tissue were taken at necropsy for further histopathology and mycology investigations. The disclosed ulcerations of the abomasums in twelve investigated animals differed among them not only as far as localization and morphology are concerned, but also in the degree of intramural penetration. Such differences distinguished them into four types. Ulcerations of type one and type two, recorded in two heifers and six cows, as well as in one cow with lymphoma of the abomasum. Perforating ulcer of type three, with circumscripted peritonitis was diagnosed in one cow in the corpus of the abomasum close to the curvatura major. An interesting finding was the simultaneous occurrence of type four perforating ulcer and ulcer-type one, which were located next to each other. Histopathological examination of the structure of the ulcerated abomasum dyed with the hematoxylin-eosin method showed that coagulation necrosis in the area of the ulceration revealed a moderate inflammatory infiltrate in the lamina propria. In the cow affected with lymphoma, a copious tumorous lymphoid infiltrate was concurrent. Mycotic ulcerative abomasitis was described in a cow seven days after calving. In these lesions Aspergillus fumigatus and Mucor spp. were isolated. Histopathological analysis of tissue samples dyed with the Grocott method, described septed and nonsepted hyphae in the blood vessels and surrounding tissue of the tunica mucosa and submucosa.
Identification of potential protein quality markers in pathogen inactivated and gamma‐irradiated red cell concentrates

Post‐collection manipulations (PCMs) aim to increase blood product safety. However, PCMs improve safety at a cost to quality, causing elevated hemolysis. As hemolysis is linked to red blood cell membrane integrity, a quantitative proteomics approach was employed to assess membrane proteome alterations induced by PCMs.
Quantitative proteomic profiling of paired cancerous and normal colon epithelial cells isolated freshly from colorectal cancer patients

The heterogeneous structure in tumor tissues from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients excludes an informative comparison between tumors and adjacent normal tissues. Here, we develop and apply a strategy to compare paired cancerous (CEC) versus normal (NEC) epithelial cells enriched from patients and discover potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for CRC.
Coordinating global inter-firm product development

Purposes – Global product development requires complex international inter‐firm coordination between suppliers and manufacturers. Prior research on the impact of opportunities and risks of supplier‐manufacturer partnership in the context of global product development is relatively limited. The purpose of this article is to explore the rich interactions among global supplier‐manufacturer relationships.Design/methodology/approach – Based on the extensive review of global product development practices, an integrative framework of the global supplier‐manufacturer partnership is presented.Findings – Effective inter‐firm practices require firstly, global inter‐firm interaction practices that balance opportunities and risks; and secondly, specific process and product outcome measures.Research limitations/implications – This research model needs further empirical validation.Practical implications – Managers may identify opportunities and risks associated with supplier‐manufacturer partnership and translate them i.
Clinical Mental Health Outreach to Older Adults: Serving the Hard-to-Serve

ABSTRACT Older adults with severe and persistent psychological difficulties can have trouble taking care of their basic needs, protecting themselves, and maintaining adequate housing. Traditional community mental health interventions, as well as almost all supportive services, are refused by this subgroup of elders. The project described in this article expands mental health services to older adults who, because of the severe nature of their psychological difficulties, are at risk of eviction, homelessness, premature institutionalization, premature guardianship, elder abuse including self-neglect, and decreased quality of life. The project utilizes psychological skills in personalized, flexible, time-intensive interventions that are delivered in community settings. Foundational to the interventions are careful clinician recruitment and established working relationships with community gatekeepers. Initial contacts include informal needs assessment and often require several hours per week. Ongoing clinical interventions are stepwise and may expand to include case management and traditional psychotherapy. Community consultation supports sustained interdisciplinary assistance to hard-to-serve elders. Outcomes included 508 persons served, of which 304 received long-term assistance. Positive changes included elders receiving services previously refused, decreasing isolation, avoiding eviction, reducing need for emergent services, decreasing delusional material, and setting limits in relationships. Ongoing issues such as burnout prevention and informed consent are addressed.
Effect of Core Strengthening Exercise Programs on Symmetric Double Limb Support and Balance Ability for the Elderly

The purpose of this study effectiveness of core strengthening exercise programs on symmetric double limb support and balance ability for elderly. The subjects that 30 persons between the ages of 65~80 elderly participated were divided into two groups randomly for 8 weeks. Tetrax interactive balance system and Berg`s balance scale were used to assess support and stability. Paired t-tests were used to evaluate the changes before and after intervention. The difference between the groups was compared using an independent t-test. The experimental group showed significantly increase weight support, stability, balance(p .05). In a variation, experimental and control groups showed significantly increased rate of weight support, stability, balance(p<.05). Consequently, core strengthening exercise program should be considered as a therapeutic method for the elderly to improve the balance ability and effectiveness on falls.
An alpha‐synuclein MRM assay with diagnostic potential for Parkinson's disease and monitoring disease progression

The alpha‐synuclein (α‐syn) level in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as measured by immunoassays, is promising as a Parkinson's disease (PD) biomarker. However, the levels of total α‐syn are inconsistent among studies with large cohorts and different measurement platforms. Total α‐syn level also does not correlate with disease severity or progression. Here, the authors developed a highly sensitive MRM method to measure absolute CSF α‐syn peptide concentrations without prior enrichment or fractionation, aiming to discover new candidate biomarkers.
Peripheral Neuropathy is Associated With Increased Serum Levels of Uric Acid in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

We assessed serum uric acid (SUA) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with or without peripheral neuropathy (diagnosed by the Neuropathy Disability score [NDS]). We enrolled 64 patients with T2DM with peripheral neuropathy (group A: 31 men, mean age 63.0 ± 2.8 years) and 66 age-, gender-, renal function- and T2DM duration-matched patients without neuropathy (group B: 32 men, mean age 62.4 ± 3.1 years). Serum uric acid was significantly higher in group A (P < .001). There was a significant correlation between SUA and NDS in both groups (group A: rs = .93, P < .001; group B: r s = .95, P < .001). C-reactive protein (CRP) was also significantly higher in group A (P < .001) and correlated significantly with SUA in both groups (group A: rs = .93, P < .001; group B: rs = .87, P < .001). Serum uric acid is increased in patients with T2DM with neuropathy versus those without. Whether SUA is involved in the pathogenesis of T2DM peripheral neuropathy remains to be established.
Tratamiento del cáncer de próstata en función de la esperanza de vida, la comorbilidad y las guías de práctica clínica

Fundamento. Describir el tratamiento de pacientes con cancer de prostata en funcion de esperanza de vida, riesgo y comorbilidad, explorar el grado de seguimiento de las guias de practica clinica (GPC) y registrar los efectos secundarios tras un ano. Metodo. Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes diagnosticados y tratados de cancer de prostata en un hospital el 2011. Se recogieron variables sociodemograficas, comorbilidad (indice de Charlson), del tumor, del tratamiento y efectos secundarios. Se realizo analisis bivariante con Ji cuadrado. Resultados. Se identificaron 114 pacientes. El 92,1% tenia esperanza de vida mayor de 10 anos; el 50% comorbilidad baja, el 36% media y el 14% alta. Se practico cirugia en el 56,2%, mas en pacientes de riesgo medio y comorbilidad baja; radioterapia en el 13,2%, mas en pacientes de riesgo alto y comorbilidad baja; hormonoterapia en el 21,9%, mas en comorbilidad media, y tratamiento diferido en el 12,3%. El no seguimiento de la GPC alcanzo el 38,6% y en riesgo alto el 58,1% El 70% de los tratados con cirugia presentaron incontinencia urinaria y el 48,3% disfuncion erectil. De los tratados con hormonoterapia, un 17,15% presento enfermedades cardiovasculares y un 32,5% agravamiento de factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Conclusiones. El tratamiento del cancer de prostata tiene en cuenta el riesgo y la comorbilidad, pero el seguimiento de las GPC puede mejorarse, principalmente en pacientes de riesgo alto. Es necesario adoptar medidas preventivas para reducir efectos secundarios cardiovasculares en pacientes sometidos a hormonoterapia.
Social networking services adoption in corporate communication: the case of China

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore empirically the adoption of social networking services in corporate communication within the context of China.Design/methodology/approach – After reviewing the extant literature on technology adoption, the paper proposes a conceptual model for studying the adoption of social networking in corporate communication. Based on this model a quantitative survey is carried out within the Chinese context to examine the key factors influencing consumers’ adoption of social networking services to engage with organisations.Findings – The conceptual model proposed in this study offers a comprehensive overview of the adoption of social networking services through identifying various factors associated with ease of use, perceived usefulness, trust and loyalty and advertisement. Through adopting an empirical research strategy focusing on China, which has a high level of technology adoption, this study contributes towards providing a good understanding of how new technolog.
0280 Occupational risk factors for prostate cancer: a case-control study in Guadeloupe (French West Indies)

Objectives To study the associations between occupation, industry and prostate cancer risk in Guadeloupe, a high incidence area. Method Incident cases of prostate cancer (707 cases) and 722 population controls were included. Information on lifetime occupational history and other potential risk factors was collected by interview. Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds-ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results A significantly decreased risk was observed in farmers (OR=0.5; CI 0.4–0.7), whereas marginally elevated ORs were found for farm workers, especially in sugarcane and banana farming. Banana plantation workers had been exposed to chlordecone, an estrogenic insecticide previously found to be associated with prostate cancer risk in this population. Significantly increased risks of prostate cancer were found in stock clerks (OR=2.7; CI 1.0–7.2), fishermen (OR=2.0; CI 1.0–4.0), mail distribution clerks (OR=7.7; CI 1.7–34.4) and electricians employed for more than 20 years (OR=4.0; CI 1.0–15.8), as well as in public administration (OR=1.8; CI 1.2–2.9), retail trade (OR=2.6; CI 1.1–6.0) and manufacture of food products (OR=2.0; CI 1.1–3.9), particularly sugar (OR=13.2; IC 1.6–108). Non-significantly elevated ORs were also seen for construction workers and transport equipment operators. Conclusions Although the overall findings suggest that occupational factors have only a limited role in prostate cancer aetiology, elevated risks of prostate cancer were found in several occupations or industries. Exposure to pesticides, solvents, traffic-related air pollution, low physical activity, whole-body vibration may explain some of these increased risks.
Acute knee haemarthrosis: a case report describing diagnosis and management for a patient on anticoagulation medication.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE A 63-year-old woman was referred to physical therapy with a 3 day history of constant anterior left knee pain that was atraumatic in nature. The patient was taking anticoagulation medication for chronic atrial fibrillation. Her international normalized ratio (INR) was within normal limits when assessed 3 weeks prior to her initial physical therapy evaluation. METHOD Physical examination revealed an antalgic gait, moderate left knee effusion, limited painful knee range of motion, normal ligamentous testing and negative joint line or patellofemoral joint palpation. The patient was instructed in the use of a single-point cane, use of ice, positional comfort and relative rest from weight-bearing activities. Upon re-assessment 2 days later, the patient's knee pain and effusion had worsened despite compliance with day 1 instructions. Given that there was no clear mechanism of injury and the worsening nature of the disorder, the physical therapist discussed the case with the patient's physician, and immediate appointments for laboratory testing and potential knee aspiration were obtained. RESULTS Laboratory testing demonstrated that INR values had elevated to a supratherapeutic level of anticoagulation. Fluid from the patient's left knee was aspirated, revealing a haemarthrosis. The patient's symptoms immediately improved following aspiration. After suspending her anticoagulation medication dose for 1 day, her INR value returned to therapeutic range. She was symptom free within 3 weeks with physical therapy intervention and had remained symptom free at 1 year following the knee haemarthrosis. CONCLUSION We recommend that physical therapists screen all patients for whether or not they are taking anticoagulation medications, especially before implementation of manual therapy or therapeutic exercise interventions.