Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Duration of bisphosphonate treatment: results of a non-randomised study in patients previously treated with local irradiation for bone metastases from breast cancer

SUMMARY Purpose: To assess whether disodium pamidronate (DP) once started should be given life-long in women with lytic bone metastases. Patients and methods: One hundred and three women with breast cancer who had at least one osteolytic lesion received 180 mg of DP as a 2-h intravenous infusion given every 4 weeks for a life-time, following local radiotherapy. After six cycles, 26 out of 103 patients (25%) refused to continue their bisphosphonate-treatment. Thus two groups were constituted: non-stop (group A) and premature discontinued (group B). The new skeletal complication free survival (NSCFS) was the primary endpoint verified during extramural review. Performance status, pain-score and biochemical markers were secondary endpoints. Results: Generally DP was well tolerated. At 36 months, the proportion of patients having had any skeletal complication was 54.5 and 84.6% in group A and B, respectively. The median time of NSCFS was apparently longer for group A. In group A, the pain score and the ECOG status were significantly lower, while the overall survival appeared to be longer. Multivariate analysis revealed age, nodal status and interruption of treatment as prognostic factors to NSCFS, with relative risk 1.05, 2.3 and 1.5 respectively. Conclusion: Data concerning the suspension of new skeletal complications, as well as the apparent improvement of overall survival, pain score and ECOG status, suggest that the pamidronate-treatment should not be stopped once started. These results should be confirmed in a randomised trial.
The Interprofessional Showcase: Evaluating an Event to Increase Professional Understanding and Collaboration.

Traditional didactic instruction is not an effective means to provide the interprofessional education that health and human services professional students need. This paper describes a college event aimed at engaging undergraduate and graduate students from several academic departments in interprofessional collaboration. Participants toured and interacted in academic spaces of other professional disciplines to gain an understanding of these professional roles. Interprofessional collaboration was demonstrated and experienced in these spaces and in the group discussions that followed these activities. A series of microvignettes, questions, and road blocks provided problems for participants to solve in interprofessional groups. Pre-post comparison surveys indicated that participants increased in their understanding of their professional roles and the roles of others in health care and community settings. An improved understanding of the benefits and challenges of interprofessional teams was achieved and participants felt more confident in their ability to work in these teams at job or internship sites.
Human papillomavirus and survival in patients with base of tongue cancer

The incidence of base of tongue cancer is increasing in Sweden and the proportion of human papillomavirus (HPV) positive cancer has increased in Stockholm, Sweden. Between 2006 and 2007, 84% of base of tongue cancer cases in Stockholm were HPV‐positive. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of HPV status on prognosis for base of tongue cancer patients. One‐hundred and nine patients were diagnosed with base of tongue cancer between 1998 and 2007 in Stockholm County and 95 paraffin‐embedded diagnostic tumor biopsies were obtained and tested for HPV by PCR. Eighty‐seven patients had available biopsies, were treated with intention to cure and could be included in the survival analysis. Age, sex, TNM‐stage, stage, treatment and survival were recorded from patient charts. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to present survival data. In multivariable analyses, a Cox proportional hazards model was used to adjust for covariates. In total 68 (78%) tumor biopsies from the 87 included patients were HPV DNA positive. Kaplan–Meier estimates showed that the overall survival for patients with HPV‐positive cancer was significantly better (p = 0.0004), (log‐rank test) than that of patients with HPV‐negative cancer. Patients with HPV‐positive tumors also had significantly better disease‐free survival (p = 0.0008), (log‐rank test) than those with HPV‐negative tumors. These results further strengthen the option to consider HPV‐status when planning prospective studies on treatment for base of tongue cancer.
Correlates of Hip Cartilage Defects: A Cross-sectional Study in Older Adults

Objective. Knee cartilage defects are a key feature of osteoarthritis (OA) but correlates of hip defects remain unexplored. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to describe the correlates of hip cartilage defects. Methods. The study included 194 subjects from the Tasmanian Older Adult Cohort who had right hip short-tau inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Hip cartilage defects were assessed and categorized as grade 0 = no defects, grade 1 = focal blistering or irregularities on cartilage or partial thickness defect, and grade 2 = full thickness defect. Hip pain was determined by Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Hip structural changes were measured on MRI, and hip radiographic OA (ROA) was assessed. Leg strength and physical activity were assessed using dynamometer and pedometers, respectively. Data were analyzed using log binomial and linear regression. Results. Of 194 subjects, 24% (n = 48) had no defects, 34% (n = 66) had grade 1, and 41% (n = 80) had grade 2. In multivariable analyses, any hip defects were associated with greater hip pain [prevalence ratio (PR) 1.20, 95% CI 1.02–1.35] and lower mean leg strength (men; mean ratio 0.83, 95% CI 0.67–0.98). Grade 1 defects were associated with hip bone marrow lesions (BML; PR 1.42, 95% CI 1.03–1.96) and high cartilage signal (men; PR 1.84, 95% CI 1.27–2.70), but not with hip pain or other structural findings. Grade 2 defects were associated with greater hip pain (PR 1.40, 95% CI 1.09–1.80), hip BML (PR 1.45, 95% CI 1.15–1.85), hip effusion cross-sectional area (PR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.30), hip ROA (men; PR 1.60, 95% CI 1.13–2.25), and steps/day (PR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96–0.99). Conclusion. Grade 2 defects in both sexes and grade 1 defects (mostly in men) are associated with clinical, demographic, and structural factors relevant for OA. Damage to the hip cartilage could be one of the major causes of rapid disease progression and pathophysiology of hip defects. The topic needs further study.
Anthropometric Measurements and Body Proportions Among Chinese Children

There are significant racial differences in body proportions. Such data are not readily available for Chinese children. This article reports a cross section study of body proportions of 2193 Hong Kong Chinese children, ages 4 to 16 years, with equal gender distribution. Standing height, sitting height, and arm span were measured with standard equipment and methodology. Lower segment height was calculated as the difference between standing height and sitting height. Statistical analysis of the results showed a high linear correlation of the standing height with arm span, sitting height, and lower segment height, with a correlation coefficient ranging from 0.965 to 0.983 for both genders. When expressed as the ratio of standing height to arm span, the value was relatively constant and changed only linearly from 1.03 to 1 in girls and 1.03 to 0.98 in boys ages 4 to 16 years. The ratio of sitting height to lower segment height varied from a mean of 1.4 to 1.14 in boys and 1.36 to 1.18 in girls ages 4 to 16 years. The Chinese children were found to have a proportional limb segmental length relative to the trunk that differed significantly from the proportionally longer limbs in whites and blacks.
Genetic competence in Escherichia coli requires poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate/calcium polyphosphate membrane complexes and certain divalent cations

In earlier studies of genetic competence in Escherichia coli induced with calcium-containing buffers, a strong correlation was found between transformation efficiency and the formation of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate/calcium polyphosphate (PHB/Ca2+/PPi) complexes in the plasma membranes. In this study, we replaced Ca2+ with one of a number of other cations--monovalent, divalent, and trivalent--and found significant numbers of transformants (transformation efficiency, > 10(5)/micrograms of pBR322 DNA) only when the cells had high levels of PHB/Ca2+/PPi and the medium contained at least one of the divalent cations Ca2+, Mn2+, Sr2+, or Mg2+. Cells with high levels of the complexes were not competent when the medium did not contain these cations, but the cations were also ineffectual when the cells had few complexes. Surprisingly, Mn, Sr, and Mg were not incorporated into the complexes in place of Ca. These results indicate that PHB/Ca2+/PPi complexes and the above-mentioned divalent cations each have essential but disparate roles in genetic competence. Moreover, the strong selectivity of PHB/PPi for Ca2+ suggests the binding sites in the complexes are ionophoretic.
Effects of blood pressure lowering on outcome incidence in hypertension: 2. Effects at different baseline and achieved blood pressure levels – overview and meta-analyses of randomized trials

Background: Relevant clinical questions not approached by randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of blood pressure (BP)-lowering treatment can be explored by meta-analyses stratified by clinical criteria. Objectives: Investigating whether all grades of hypertension benefit from BP-lowering treatment and which are the target BP levels to maximize outcome reduction. Methods: Of the 68 RCTs of intentional and nonintentional BP-lowering, those without baseline antihypertensive drugs were stratified by the average baseline SBP and DBP (hypertension grades 1, 2, and 3). RCTs with or without baseline treatment were considered for investigating the effects of mean achieved SBP/DBP across three SBP cutoffs and two DBP cutoffs. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) (random-effects model), standardized to 10/5 mmHg SBP/DBP reduction, and absolute risk reductions of seven fatal and nonfatal outcomes were calculated. Differences between relative and absolute risk reductions in the different strata of baseline or achieved SBP/DBP were evaluated by trend or heterogeneity analyses. Results: In 32 RCTs (104 359 individuals), significant outcome reductions were found independently of the hypertension grade, with no trend toward risk ratio changes with increasing baseline BP. A secondary analysis limited to RCTs on grade 1 hypertension at low-to-moderate risk showed significant outcome reductions [risk ratio: stroke 0.33 (0.11–0.98), coronary events 0.68 (0.48–0.95), and death 0.53 (0.35–0.80)]. In 32 RCTs (128 232 individuals), relative and absolute outcome reductions were significant for the SBP differences across 150 and 140 mmHg cutoffs. Below 130 mmHg, only stroke and all-cause death were significantly reduced. Absolute outcome reduction showed a significant trend to decrease, the lower the SBP cutoff considered. In 29 RCTs (107 665 individuals), outcomes were significantly reduced across DBP cutoffs of 90 and 80 mmHg. After excluding RCTs with baseline DBP less than 90 mmHg, only stroke reduction was significant at achieved DBP less than 80 mmHg. Conclusion: Meta-analyses favor BP-lowering treatment even in grade 1 hypertension at low-to-moderate risk, and lowering SBP/DBP to less than 140/90 mmHg. Achieving less than 130/80 mmHg appears safe, but only adds further reduction in stroke.
The Effects of Blood Glucose Testing Versus Urine Sugar Testing on the Metabolic Control of Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Children

Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c was measured in 43 insulin-dependent diabetic children before and after training in blood glucose testing. These measurements were compared with those obtained from a group of matched controls who tested urine sugars for the same period. Mean HbA1c measurements for the blood glucose testing group were significantly improved at 6 mo after training in blood glucose testing, and were significantly lower than those measured in the urine sugar testing group. However, HbA1c levels in the blood glucose testing group were well above levels for nondiabetic persons, and were generally higher than those reported for adult insulin-dependent diabetic persons following training in blood glucose testing. Explanations for this difference were considered. It was noted that 81% of the trained children accepted and continued to use blood glucose testing for at least 9 mo after training.
The use of radiography and the apex locator in endodontic treatment within the UK: a comparison between endodontic specialists and general dental practitioners.

AIM To investigate the attitudes of general dental practitioners (GDPs) and specialist endodontists working in the UK in the use of radiography and apex locators during root canal treatment and to see if use was related to respondent's age and the year of graduation. METHODOLOGY A postal questionnaire was sent to 857 randomly selected GDPs and all endodontic specialists working in the UK (170). Non-responders were sent a further two mailings. Chi-squared tests were used to compare both groups at the P < 0.05 level of significance. For nonparametric data, the Mann-Whitney U test was employed. RESULTS The overall response rate was 73%. There were significant differences between endodontic specialists and GDPs in the prescription of the preoperative, the cone-fit and the postoperative radiograph. A total of 114 (86.4%) endodontic specialists and 321 (53.2%) GDPs reported using an apex locator (P < 0.001). Eighty-eight (66.7%) endodontists and 217 (36%) GDPs used an apex locator and a radiograph to determine the working length for a single-rooted tooth (P < 0.001). For multi-rooted teeth, 91 (68.9%) endodontists and 229 (38%) GDPs used a combined approach of an electronic apex locator and a working-length radiograph (P < 0.001). One-millimetre short of the radiographic apex was employed by 56.2% of respondents as the apical limit. There were significant differences (P < 0.001) between the two groups with regard to routine radiographic follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Both endodontists and GDPs were found to be observing national guidelines when performing root canal treatment. Greater use of apex locators was found amongst endodontists who tended to use a combined approach of an apex locator and periapical radiography.
Financial Markets Effects of ECB Unconventional Monetary Policy Announcements

This paper provides empirical evidence about the announcement effects of the ECB unconventional monetary policies carried out during the period September 2014 - July 2017. The variables considered are selected looking at the various transmission channels through which unconventional measures operate. We find that monetary policy news had significant effects on the exchange rate and sovereign long term yields, especially in those countries that were most severely hit by the crisis. Unlike previous studies, we look at the impact of announcements over different sub-periods in order to identify time-varying effects possibly due to different market conditions, policy instruments and communication strategies. We find that the strongest effects on the exchange rates and on sovereign bonds occurred in the initial phase of the Asset Purchase Programme; over the more recent period a statistically significant rise of inflation expectations was instead detected.
Convexity, Disposability and Returns to Scale in Production Analysis

Adequate modelling of undesirable outputs is a key aspect for any performance analysis of economic systems. A nonparametric approach assuming jointly weak disposability of desirable and undesirable outputs inspired by Shephard (1974) has gained substantial popularity in addressing this issue. Recently, researchers were offered an alternative that is to use multiple scaling factors (rather than a single one as in the Shephardâ€™s (1974) approach) when imposing weak disposability in practice. In this paper we discover new properties and relationships between the two approaches, which in turn sheds some new light on the problem and offers reconciling solutions.
Genetic diversity of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing family based on multiple genotyping profiles

SUMMARY Among the most prevalent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains worldwide is the Beijing genotype, which has caused large outbreaks of tuberculosis (TB). Characteristics facilitating the dissemination of Beijing family strains remain unknown, but they are presumed to have been acquired through evolution of the lineage. To explore the genetic diversity of the Beijing family Mtb and explore the discriminatory ability of mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) loci in several regions of East Asia, a cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 163 Beijing strains collected from registered TB patients between 1 June 2009 and 31 November 2010 in Funing County, China. The isolated strains were analysed by 15-MIRU-VNTR loci typing and compared with published MIRU-VNTR profiles of Beijing strains. Synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms at 10 chromosomal positions were also analysed. The combination of SNP and MIRU-VNTR typing may be used to assess Mtb genotypes in areas dominated by Beijing strains. The modern subfamily in Shanghai overlapped with strains from other countries, whereas the ancient subfamily was genetically differentiated across several countries. Modern subfamilies, especially ST10, were prevalent. Qub11b and four other loci (MIRU 26, Mtub21, Qub26, Mtub04) could be used to discriminate Beijing strains.
The kinetics of pre‐antral follicle development in ovaries of CBA/Ca mice during the first 14 weeks of life

Abstract The kinetics of ovarian follicle growth and death have been estimated in virgin inbred mice using a compartmental model and data obtained from differential follicle counts in histologically sectioned ovaries. The results showed that both growth and death rates are dependent on stage of development, defined by the compartments, and age, indicated in the model by step functions with transitions at 20 and 60 days of age. During the initial phase of postnatal ovarian development, large numbers of follicles disappeared from the non‐growing reserve as a result of the combined effects of follicle death and recruitment into the growing population. The reduced death rate after 20 days led to a secondary peak in the numbers of follicles at intermediate stages. In contrast to these fluctuations, the number of large follicles, including pre‐ovulatory types, were remarkably constant after this age and the rate of outflow stabilized at two to three follicles per day after an initially high value. This rate is sufficient for the normal ovulation rate in a 4‐day oestrous cycle with a small surplus of follicles undergoing atresia. The rates of migration through successive stages of development decreased during ageing as large follicles began to emerge at the approach of puberty: this result may indicate that the recruitment of small growing follicles is influenced by a feedback effect.
Arabidopsis PCR2 Is a Zinc Exporter Involved in Both Zinc Extrusion and Long-Distance Zinc Transport[W]

This work shows that PCR2 is a membrane protein implicated in two processes, namely, the detoxification of zinc in the presence of high concentrations of zinc and the transfer of zinc from the root to the shoot. This dual role is likely made possible by PCR2’s expression pattern that differs in different parts of the root. Plants strictly regulate the uptake and distribution of Zn, which is essential for plant growth and development. Here, we show that Arabidopsis thaliana PCR2 is essential for Zn redistribution and Zn detoxification. The pcr2 loss-of-function mutant was compromised in growth, both in Zn-excessive and -deficient conditions. The roots of pcr2 accumulated more Zn than did control plants, whereas the roots of plants overexpressing PCR2 contained less Zn, indicating that PCR2 removes Zn from the roots. Consistent with a role for PCR2 as a Zn-efflux transporter, PCR2 reduced the intracellular concentration of Zn when expressed in yeast cells. PCR2 is located mainly in epidermal cells and in the xylem of young roots, while it is expressed in epidermal cells in fully developed roots. Zn accumulated in the epidermis of the roots of pcr2 grown under Zn-limiting conditions, whereas it was found in the stele of wild-type roots. The transport pathway mediated by PCR2 does not seem to overlap with that mediated by the described Zn translocators (HMA2 and HMA4) since the growth of pcr2 hma4 double and pcr2 hma2 hma4 triple loss-of-function mutants was more severely inhibited than the individual single knockout mutants, both under conditions of excess or deficient Zn. We propose that PCR2 functions as a Zn transporter essential for maintaining an optimal Zn level in Arabidopsis.
Andes Virus Disrupts the Endothelial Cell Barrier by Induction of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Downregulation of VE-Cadherin

ABSTRACT Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) are severe diseases associated with hantavirus infection. High levels of virus replication occur in microvascular endothelial cells but without a virus-induced cytopathic effect. However, virus infection results in microvascular leakage, which is the hallmark of these diseases. VE-cadherin is a major component of adherens junctions, and its interaction with the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor, VEGF-R2, is important for maintaining the integrity of the endothelial barrier. Here we report that increased secreted VEGF and concomitant decreased VE-cadherin are seen at early times postinfection of human primary lung endothelial cells with an HPS-associated hantavirus, Andes virus. Furthermore, active virus replication results in increased permeability and loss of the integrity of the endothelial cell barrier. VEGF binding to VEGF-R2 is known to result in dissociation of VEGF-R2 from VE-cadherin and in VE-cadherin activation, internalization, and degradation. Consistent with this, we showed that an antibody which blocks VEGF-R2 activation resulted in inhibition of the Andes virus-induced VE-cadherin reduction. These data implicate virus induction of VEGF and reduction in VE-cadherin in the endothelial cell permeability seen in HPS and suggest potential immunotherapeutic targets for the treatment of the disease.