Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Engaging in the audit of acupuncture practice.

OBJECTIVES A pilot study was undertaken to examine the feasibility of auditing and developing a national database of acupuncture practice in the United Kingdom. METHODS One hundred forty-five (145) practitioners, members of the British Acupuncture Council, were invited to participate in the study. Those who accepted were given training and then asked to record demographic and treatment outcomes data on new patients attending their practices over a 3-month period. Two questionnaires, the Measure Your Own Medical Outcomes Profile and the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine outcome questionnaire, were compared. Baseline health status was assessed and repeated patient feedback questionnaires employed. RESULTS Of the 31 (21%) of practitioners who responded, only 9 (6%) eventually contributed data. A total of 69 patients participated in the study: 43 (68%) of the patients were female, and 46 (73%) were aged between 30 and 59. More than half (52%) had had their presenting problem for over 5 years and most (78%) were affected daily by it. Nineteen (30%) had had prior acupuncture treatment for their condition. The main categories of complaints reported were musculoskeletal and psychologic. Thirty-two (32) out of 41 (78%) patients with completed final outcomes data recorded moderate or major benefit in their main complaint, with no reports of deterioration. CONCLUSIONS Although willing to be involved, practitioners found the research process time-consuming and were concerned how it could be balanced against the demands of a busy practice and the interests of patients. For a national audit study to succeed, the process would have to be simplified and practitioners encouraged to engage; collection of such information could then help to provide much-needed data on acupuncture treatment in the United Kingdom.
Comparison between two real-time PCR assays and a nested-PCR for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK In recent years, the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis has been improved by Real-time PCR assays. In this study we compared the performances of two Real-time PCRs (FRET and TaqMan protocols) already described in the literature, and one nested-PCR, currently used in our laboratory for the molecular diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. METHODS We evaluated the sensitivity and the specificity of a FRET- and a TaqMan-based Real-time PCRs targeting a 529 bp repeat region and the 18S RNA gene, respectively, and a nested-PCR, targeting the B1-gene of Toxoplasma gondii. We also tested, through nested-PCR, 46 biological samples obtained during a period of 29 months from pregnant women or immunocompromised patients with suspected T. gondii infection. RESULTS The analytical sensitivity of nested and TaqMan PCRs was approximately 10(3) tachyzoites/ml. FRET assay showed a sensitivity of 102 tachyzoites/ml. Three out of 46 biological samples were nested-PCR-positive and these results were also confirmed by both Real-time PCRs. CONCLUSIONS Nested- and real-time PCRs evaluated in this study resulted very sensitive and specific; in particular FRET PCR resulted more sensitive than the other assays, probably because of the greater copy number of the target sequence. Real-time PCR assays are easy-to-use, producing results faster than conventional PCR systems and reducing contamination risks.
Furan-Induced Hepatic Cholangiocarcinomas in Fischer 344 Rats

In a 2-yr carcinogenicity bioassay, 0, 2, 4, or 8 mg furan/kg body weight (BW) was administered to male and female Fischer (F344) rats and resulted in an 86-100% incidence of cholangiocarcinomas with occasional metastasis. In a separate but concurrent study, male F344 rats dosed with 30 mg furan/kg BW for 90 days developed marked cholangiofibrosis and cholangiohepatitis and, when subsequently maintained without further treatment for an additional 6, 12, or 18 months, the cholangiofibrosis progressed to yield a 100% incidence of cholangiocarcinomas. Transplantation of 21 primary cholangiocarcinomas into syngeneic recipients resulted in growth from 4 donors. The 4 transplanted lines were successfully transferred through 8 serial passages and resulted in metastases in the recipients. The progressive growth of these proliferative hepatocholangial lesions over time, their transplantability, and the development of metastases in some of the cases provide biological evidence of the malignant potential of the furan-induced liver changes.
Hypopigmented mycosis fungoides in Egyptian patients

Hypopigmented mycosis fungoides (HMF) is uncommon clinical variant that was commonly observed in dark‐skinned individuals. We described the clinical characteristics, pathological features, immunohistochemical profile and prognosis of HMF in Egyptian patients. During the period from January 2004 to December 2011, we were able to diagnose and follow up 27 patients with HMF. The study included 18 males (66.7%) and 9 females (33.3%) with a mean age of 35.39 ±13.13 years. The duration ranged from 1 to 6 years with a mean of 3.26 ±1.7 years. The majority of patients were skin type IV (63%) and presented with multiple (88.9%), asymptomatic (74.1%), ill‐defined (70.4%) and non‐scaly (77.8%) lesions distributed on the trunk (81.5%). Histologically, epidermotropic lymphocytes were observed in 100%, basal alignment of lymphocytes in 81.5%, Pautrier's microabscesses in 29% and folliculotropism in 18.5%. Immunostaining showed predominance of epidermal CD8+ cells in 51.9% while in 29.6% CD4+ cells were predominant. Phototherapy was effective in 86.7% of patients with success rate 66.7% of narrow band (NB) ultraviolet‐B and 80% of psoralen ultraviolet‐A. HMF among Egyptians could be classified as non‐aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic CD8+ variant. It is common among middle age males with skin type IV and mostly well respond to phototherapy.
Randomised trial of mycophenolate mofetil versus azathioprine for treatment of chronic active Crohn’s disease

BACKGROUND Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the alimentary tract. Azathioprine is an effective agent in the management of chronic active Crohn’s disease leading to long term remission of disease activity. Such treatment leads to limited efficacy or side effects in a small subset of patients. AIMS To compare efficacy and side effects of treatment with azathioprine plus corticosteroids versus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) plus corticosteroids in patients with chronic active Crohn’s disease. METHODS Seventy patients with chronic active Crohn’s disease (Crohn’s disease activity index (CDAI) greater than 150) were randomised for treatment with azathioprine/cortisone or MMF/cortisone. Corticosteroid dosage was tapered according to a standard protocol. Disease activity was monitored by clinical scores after one, two, three, and six months. RESULTS Treatment of patients with moderately active (CDAI 150–300) Crohn’s disease with MMF/cortisone led to a significant reduction in clinical activity scores comparable to treatment with azathioprine/cortisone. Treatment of patients with highly active Crohn’s disease (CDAI greater than 300) with MMF/cortisone caused significant suppression of clinical activity earlier than azathioprine/cortisone treatment. Treatment with MMF/cortisone was associated with few adverse effects. CONCLUSION Treatment of chronic active Crohn’s disease with MMF plus cortisone appears to be effective and well tolerated and should be considered in patients allergic to azathioprine or in whom azathioprine has failed.
Pharmacologic agents for type 2 diabetes therapy and regulation of adipogenesis

Abstract The close link between type 2 diabetes and excess body weight highlights the need to consider the effects on weight of different treatments used for correction of hyperglycaemia. Indeed, specific currently available diabetes therapies can cause weight gain, including insulin and its analogues, sulphonylureas, and thiazolidinediones, while others, such as metformin and the GLP-1 receptor agonists, can promote weight loss. Excess body weight in patients with diabetes is largely due to expansion of adipose tissue, and these drugs could interfere with the mechanisms underlying the expansion and differentiation of adipocyte precursors. Almost all anti-diabetes drugs could also potentially affect adipocyte metabolism directly, by modulating lipogenesis, lipolysis, and fat oxidation. This review will examine the available evidence for specific effects of various anti-diabetes drugs on adipose tissue development and function with the ultimate goal of increasing our understanding of how pharmacological agents can modulate energy balance and body fat.
Dissolved phosphorus concentrations and sediment interactions in effluent – dominated Ozark streams

Phosphorus (P) loads from point sources have a significant influence on dissolved P concentrations in streams and sediment-water column dynamics. The goal of this study was to quantify dissolved P concentrations and sediment-P interactions in Ozark (USA) headwater streams with high point source P loads. Specifically, the objectives were to: (1) compare soluble reactive P (SRP) upstream and downstream from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent discharges; (2) examine longitudinal gradients in SRP downstream from WWTPs; (3) evaluate the effect of WTTP P inputs on sediment-water column P equilibrium and sediment exchangeable P. Water and sediment samples were collected, extracted and analyzed from July 2002 through June 2003 at these Ozark streams. Mean SRP concentrations in the select Ozark streams were significantly greater downstream from effluent discharges (0.08–2.10 mg L−1) compared to upstream (0.02–0.12 mg L−1). Effluent discharge from the WWTPs increased equilibrium concentrations between stream sediments and the water column; mean sediment equilibrium P concentration (EPC0) was between 0.01–0.07 mg L−1 upstream from WWTP and the increase downstream was proportional to that observed in water column SRP. Sediment exchangeable P (EXP) was greater downstream from the effluent discharges (0.3–6.8 mg kg−1) compared to upstream (0.03–1.4 mg kg−1), representing a substantial transient storage of P inputs from WWTPs. Furthermore, P was generally not retained in these stream reaches when dilution was considered using a hydrologic tracer and was released in one stream reach where effluent P concentrations decreased over the study period. Thus, the effect of the WWTPs was profound in these streams increasing water column and sediment-bound P, and also reducing the ability of these stream reaches to retain P. In P-enriched streams, effluent P discharges likely regulate sediment and aqueous phase P equilibrium and sediment bioavailable P, not the sediments. Published by Elsevier B.V. Mention of a trade name, proprietary product, or specific equipment does not constitute a guarantee or warranty by the USDA and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may be suitable. ∗ Corresponding author. Tel. : +1 479 575 2879; fax: +1 479 575 2846. E-mail address: haggard@uark.edu (B.E. Haggard). 0925-8574/$ – see front matter. Published by Elsevier B.V. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng. 2006.01. 002 376 e c o l o g i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g 2 6 ( 2 0 0 6 ) 375–391
Safety Culture and Hand Hygiene: Linking Attitudes to Behavior

Camila Quartim de Moraes Bruna, MS; Flavia Morais Gomes Pinto, MS; Kazuko Uchikawa Graziano, PhD 10. operative Standards and Recommended Practices. Denver, CO: AORN, 2008:577. SOBECC (Sociedade brasileira de enfermeiros de centro cirurgico, recupera^o anestesica e central de materials e esteriliza9ao). Prdticas Recomendadas. Sao Paulo: SOBECC, 2009:270. Mayworm D. Sterile shelf life and expiration dating. / Hosp Supply 1984;2(6):32-35. Klapes A, Greene VW, Langholz AC, Hunstiger C. Effect of longterm storage on sterile status of devices in surgical packs. Infect Control 1987;8(7):289-293. Webster J, Lloyd W, Ho P, Burridge C, George N. Rethinking sterilization practices: evidence for event-related outdating. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2003;24(8):622-623. European Committee for Standardization. EN 868-5:2009. Sterilizers for medical purposes—packaging for terminally sterilized medical devices. Part 5: sealable pouches and reels of porous materials and plastic film construction—requirements and test methods. Brussels, Belgium: European Committee for Standardization, 2009.
El sector del juguete: caracterización sectorial y dinámica productiva

En este trabajo se lleva a cabo un estudio especifico del sector juguete, caracterizado por un fuerte componente territorial y sometido durante las ultimas decadas a un importante proceso de adaptacion ante la creciente exigencia de competitividad derivada de un mercado mas globalizado. Con la pretension de conocer de manera detallada la situacion economica-financiera de las empresas del sector, asi como su evolucion durante los ultimos anos, se ha realizado un estudio sobre la base de la informacion correspondiente a 93 empresas fabricantes de juguetes ubicadas en Espana. Los datos utilizados proceden de las cuentas depositadas en el Registro Mercantil y el periodo de analisis se situa entre 1995 y 2002. Los resultados de explotacion muestran una evolucion favorable, unida a una notable reduccion de los gastos financieros. Ello ha conducido a una significativa mejora de los resultados ordinarios antes de impuestos. Tanto el ratio de solvencia como el de beneficios por empleado experimentan una importante mejora entre 1995 y 2002.
High efficiency operation of membrane distributed-reflector laser with reduced index coupling coefficient structure

High efficiency operation of membrane distributed-reflector laser was demonstrated by both an improvement in differential quantum efficiency and a reduction of differential resistance. A threshold current of 0.44 mA, an external differential quantum efficiency for the front-side output of 36%, and a maximum power conversion efficiency of 14.6% were obtained for a device with a DFB section length of 40 μm.
Systematic reviews in rehabilitation for stroke: issues and approaches to addressing them

Objectives: To describe the problems encountered when undertaking systematic reviews of rehabilitation and to give advice to reviewers about ways of addressing these issues. Background: Evidence-based practice has become established as a way of linking clinical practice with research evidence. The most robust evidence is usually considered to be that from randomized controlled trials, and from systematic reviews of these trials. However, most reviews have focused on drug and surgical interventions, and few reviews have been produced in the field of rehabilitation. This may be due to the unique difficulties that are posed by reviews in this area. Experience of systematic reviews in aphasia: We describe the challenges that occurred when carrying out systematic reviews of speech and language therapy for aphasia following stroke, and of ways to deliver rehabilitation services to people who have suffered a stroke. Issues arose at all stages of the reviews and included: using expertise; planning the review; defining the health care problem, patients, outcomes and interventions of interest; searching for, interpreting and synthesizing the results of the studies identified; and deriving implications from the review. Suggestions made to address these challenges include: developing a suitable team of reviewers; using inclusive and broad criteria for inclusion of trials to a review; developing appropriate search strategies; and using caution in arriving at conclusions. It is important to be explicit about decisions made during the review process concerning how to handle the challenges. Practical advice about carrying out reviews in the field of stroke rehabilitation is likely to be helpful to reviewers of other rehabilitative interventions. There are likely to be relatively few studies available for such reviews, and limitations in drawing specific practical conclusions. Such undertakings are, however, useful in setting the agenda for further research.
Isoflurane causes anterograde but not retrograde amnesia for pavlovian fear conditioning.

BACKGROUND Production of retrograde amnesia by anesthetics would indicate that these drugs can disrupt mechanisms that stabilize memory. Such disruption would allow suppression of memory of previous untoward events. The authors examined whether isoflurane provides retrograde amnesia for classic (Pavlovian) fear conditioning. METHODS Rats were trained to fear tone by applying three (three-trial) or one (one-trial) tone-shock pairs while breathing various constant concentrations of isoflurane. Immediately after training, isoflurane administration was either discontinued, maintained unchanged, or rapidly increased to 1.0 minimum alveolar concentration for 1 h longer. Groups of rats were similarly trained to fear context while breathing isoflurane by applying shocks (without tones) in a distinctive environment. The next day, memory for the conditioned stimuli was determined by presenting the tone or context (without shock) and measuring the proportion of time each rat froze (appeared immobile). For each conditioning procedure, the effects of the three posttraining isoflurane treatments were compared. RESULTS Rapid increases in posttraining isoflurane administration did not suppress conditioned fear for any of the training procedures. In contrast, isoflurane administration during conditioning dose-dependently suppressed conditioning (P < 0.05). Training to tone was more resistant to the effects of isoflurane than training to context (P < 0.05), and the three-trial learning procedure was more was more resistant than the one-trial procedure (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Isoflurane provided intense dose-dependent anterograde but not retrograde amnesia for classic fear conditioning. Isoflurane appears to disrupt memory processes that occur at or within a few minutes of the conditioning procedure.
Density of some ti ~ um-Bering silicate liquids and the ~ omposition ~ depeudence of the partial molar volume of Ti 02

The densities of thirteen silicate liquids along the NaZSiOs-TiOz and CaSiOs-TiOZ joins and six other titanium-bung silicate liquids of the general formula X ;$,TiSiO, (where X = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Ba) have been measured in equilibrium with air using the double Pt bob Archimedean method. The NazSiOj-TiOz join was investigated from lo-50 mole% Ti02 in the temperature range lOOOI 150°C whereas the CaSi03-TiOz join was investigated from lo-80 mole% Ti02 in the temperature range of 14OO-1625’C. Density increases with TiOz content along both joins. Partial molar volumes of the binary endmembers, Na2Si03 and CaSi4, and of Ti02 have been computed. The partial molar volume of Na2Si03 agrees well with that determined by BOCKRIS et al. ( 1955). The partial molar volume of Casio, is in disagreement with that OfTOMLINSON et al. ( 1958). The partial molar volume of Ti02 derived from a linear fit to the Na2Si03-Ti02 join is 27.6( 3) cm3/mole at 1150°C. The partial molar volume of TiO* derived from linear extrapolation of the CaSiOs-TiOz data to TiOz at 1600°C is 24.3(4) cm3/mole. Comparison of the partial molar volume data from these binary joins with Ti02 liquid density data ( DINGWELL, 199 1) requires the existence of a large positive excess vdume in the Na$iOj-TiOz system at 1150°C.
Trends and geographic differentials in mortality under age 60 in India

The study examines overall and region-specific mortality changes and regional mortality variation in India since the 1970s, using data from the Sample Registration System (SRS). An evaluation of the quality of SRS data confirms their reliability for children and adults under age 60. The results suggest the convergence of mortality across the regions of India with important inter-state differences in the pace of health improvements over time. After spectacular progress during the 1970s and the 1980s, many Indian states have witnessed slower mortality improvements in both young and adult age groups. India faces difficulties in making further reductions in infant mortality and in the burden of chronic and man-made diseases at adult ages.
Remote Extracochlear versus Intracochlear Recordings in the Guinea Pig

A comparison was made of the whole-nerve action potential recorded from a wire electrode placed on the tympanic membrane (TM) (remote extracochlear recording) and that recorded from intracochlear electrodes in the first and third turn scala tympani of the guinea pig. Cochlear microphonics and summating potentials were also studied. The expected decreased sensitivity at the TM site was observed in all responses, although the microphonic (CM) was diminished more than the action potential (AP) as compared to the responses monitored via the ST1 electrode. Nevertheless, the TM-recorded cochlear potentials largely mimicked the ST1-recorded potentials in a qualitative manner, i.e., similar configurations of the CM pseudo-threshold functions. It was consistently observed that the N2 of the AP is proportionally larger (relative to N1) in the TM recording than in the ST1 recording, These phenomena were attributed to the complex spread of the bioelectrical potentials in the nonhomogeneous volume conductor formed by the tissues of the temporal bone. It was suggested that the observed change in the N1/N2 ratio at the different sites of recording is due to the different contributions of second-order neuronal discharges to the compound AP. In effect, the TM electrode “sees” proportionally more activity from second-order fibers than does the ST1 electrode, and the ST3 electrode, less.
Impact of tumor architecture on disease recurrence and cancer-specific mortality of upper tract urothelial carcinoma treated with radical nephroureterectomy

Upper tract urinary carcinoma (UTUC) is a relatively uncommon but aggressive disease. Recent publications have assessed the prognostic significance of tumor architecture in UTUC, but there is still controversy regarding the significance and importance of tumor architecture on disease recurrence. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 101 patients with clinical UTUC who had undergone surgery. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with disease recurrence and cancer-specific mortality. As our single center study and the limited sample size may influence the clinical significance, we further quantitatively combined the results with those of existing published literature through a meta-analysis compiled from searching several databases. At a median follow-up of 41.3 months, 25 patients experienced disease recurrence. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that tumor architecture was found to be positively correlated with the tumor location and the histological grade. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that patients with sessile tumor architecture had significantly poor recurrence free survival (RFS) and cancer specific survival (CSS). Furthermore, multivariate analysis suggested that tumor architecture was independent prognostic factors for RFS (Hazard ratio, HR = 2.648) and CSS (HR = 2.072) in UTUC patients. A meta-analysis of investigating tumor architecture and its effects on UTUC prognosis was conducted. After searching PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases, 17 articles met the eligibility criteria for this analysis. The eligible studies included a total of 14,368 patients and combined results showed that sessile tumor architecture was associated with both disease recurrence with a pooled HR estimate of 1.454 and cancer-specific mortality with a pooled HR estimate of 1.416. Tumor architecture is an independent predictor for disease recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy for UTUC. Therefore, closer surveillance is necessary, especially in patients with sessile tumor architecture.