Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of implantable cardioverter defibrillators for arrhythmias: A systematic review and economic evaluation

Objectives: The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) for arrhythmias was assessed. Methods: A systematic review of the literature of systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials that reported mortality outcomes associated with implantable cardioverter defibrillators compared with antiarrhythmic drug therapy in people at risk of sudden cardiac death due to arrhythmias was undertaken. Economic evaluations were also sought. Inclusion criteria, data extraction, and quality assessment were undertaken by standard methodology. A decision analytic model was constructed using best available evidence to determine cost-effectiveness in a UK setting. Results: Eight randomized controlled trials, two systematic reviews, and a meta-analysis met the inclusion criteria and were of variable quality. Evidence suggests that ICDs reduce mortality in both secondary and primary prevention, although the magnitude of benefit depends on baseline risk for sudden cardiac death. Incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year ranged from £52,000 ($98,000) to over £200,000 ($379,000), depending on mortality risk and assumptions made. Conclusions: Evidence suggests that ICDs reduce total mortality but may be cost-effective only in some subgroups of patients at high risk of ventricular arrhythmias. Further research is needed on risk stratification of patients in whom ICDs are most likely to be clinically and cost-effective.
AT THE ANNUAL CLOSED MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL HIP SOCIETY Hip Damage Occurs at the Zone of Femoroacetabular Impingement

Although current concepts of anterior femoroacetabular impingement predict damage in the labrum and the cartilage, the actual joint damage has not been verified by computer simulation. We retrospectively compared the intraoperative locations of labral and cartilage damage of 40 hips during surgical dislocation for cam or pincer type femoroacetabular impingement (Group I) with the locations of femoroacetabular impingement in 15 additional hips using computer simulation (Group II). We found no difference between the mean locations of the chondrolabral damage of Group I and the computed impingement zone of Group II. The standard deviation was larger for measures of articular damage from Group I in comparison to the computed values of Group II. The most severe hip damage occurred at the zone of highest probability of femoroacetabular impact, typically in the anterosuperior quadrant of the acetabulum for both cam and pincer type femoroacetabular impingements. However, the extent of joint damage along the acetabular rim was larger intraoperatively than that observed on the images of the 3-D joint simulations. We concluded femoroacetabular impingement mechanism contributes to early osteoarthritis including labral lesions. Level of Evidence: Level II, diagnostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The MET Oncogene as a Therapeutical Target in Cancer Invasive Growth

The MET proto-oncogene, encoding the tyrosine kinase receptor for Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) regulates invasive growth, a genetic program that associates control of cell proliferation with invasion of the extracellular matrix and protection from apoptosis. Physiologically, invasive growth takes place during embryonic development, and, in post-natal life, in wound healing and regeneration of several tissues. The MET oncogene is overexpressed and/or genetically mutated in many tumors, thereby sustaining pathological invasive growth, a prerequisite for metastasis. MET is the subject of intense research as a target for small molecule kinase inhibitors and, together with its ligand HGF, for inhibitory antibodies. The tight interplay of MET with the protease network has unveiled mechanisms to be exploited to achieve effective inhibition of invasive growth.
Forces Charging the Orbital Floor After Orbital Trauma

Abstract The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate different fracture mechanisms for orbital floor fractures and (ii) to measure forces and displacement of intraorbital tissue after orbital traumata to predict the necessity of strength for reconstruction materials. Six fresh frozen human heads were used, and orbital floor defects in the right and left orbit were created by a direct impact of 3.0 J onto the globe and infraorbital rim, respectively. Orbital floor defect sizes and displacement were evaluated after a Le Fort I osteotomy. In addition, after reposition of the intraorbital tissue, forces and displacement were measured. The orbital floor defect sizes were 208.3 (SD, 33.4) mm2 for globe impact and 221.8 (SD, 53.1) mm2 for infraorbital impact. The intraorbital tissue displacement after the impact and before reposition was 5.6 (SD, 1.0) mm for globe impact and 2.8 (SD, 0.7) mm for infraorbital impact. After reposition, the displacement was 0.8 (SD, 0.5) mm and 1.1 (SD, 0.7) mm, respectively. The measured applied forces were 0.061 (SD, 0.014) N for globe impact and 0.066 (SD, 0.022) N for infraorbital impact. Different fracture-inductive mechanisms are not reflected by the pattern of the fracture. The forces needed after reposition are minimal (∼0.07 N), which may explain the success of PDS foils [poly-(p-dioxanone)] and collagen membranes as reconstruction materials.
Resource categories and performance in Portuguese non-profit sports clubs

The resource-based view (RBV) explores the role of key resources identified as tangible, personnel-based, and intangible resources in creating superior organizational performance. The RBV posits that an organization’s success is mainly driven by resources that possess Barney’s VRIO (valuable, rare, inimitable, and organized) framework. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the relationship between the three categories of resources and organizational performance. The data was analyzed with a two-stage structural equation modelling approach. The sample included Portuguese sports management staff from non-profit clubs which composed of 375 men and 102 women. The results of the structural model demonstrated that, intangible resources can significantly influence organizational performance while, personnel-based resources influence tangible and intangible resources. The results show that “staff competence”, “reputation”, and “financial capital” were the most essential resources, and that is core for non-profit clubs and their strategy to recognize, develop, and leverage VRIO resources. These findings also have considerable implications for sport managers, and suggestions for possible future research were given.
Pathological case of the month. Diabetic nephropathy in cystic fibrosis.

A 15-YEAR-OLD WHITE BOY was diagnosed as having cystic fibrosis (CF) at age 4 years after symptoms of projectile vomiting, bulky stools, and anemia. Of 32 alleles tested, his genotype is N1303K/unidentified allele. He had multiple hospital admissions through age 2 years and only 4 until 1991, age 7 years. In 1994, he had a biliary tract obstruction requiring endoscopic intervention. In February 1991, he was diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus (DM) glucose intolerance. Subsequently, a therapeutic regimen of glipizide and a diet with no concentrated sweets was begun. Later that year, during a hospitalization, he had sustained elevated serum glucose levels while receiving prednisone. His hemoglobin A1c level was 6.1 mg/dL. Urine protein was monitored regularly from 1991 through 1994, and traces began to appear in June 1992 but did not reach high levels until 1994. At hospital admission, he was receiving glipizide by mouth, 5 mg every morning and 10 mg every evening. He had a history of noncompliance with daily glucose monitoring, and many spot glucose measurements were taken, measuring in the 16.7-mmol/L (300-mg/dL) range. After urine protein levels reached 1528 mg/24 h in August 1994, a renal biopsy was performed. Hemoglobin A1c levels were 12.3 in February 1994 and 8.2 in August 1994. The patient never had clinical symptoms of glomerulonephritis (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5).
Recombinant Factor IX

Despite the introduction of recombinant preparations of factor VIII and recombinant factor VII and VIIa, patients with other forms of hemophilia, especially hemophilia B, have remained at increased risk for blood borne viruses because of a lack of clinically utilizable preparations of recombinant factor IX. This report describes the state of current tests with a recently licensed preparation of recombinant factor IX, BeneFix, from Genetics Institute. Structurally, functionally, and therapeutically, recombinant factor IX is comparable to monoclonal plasma-derived factor IX. The only observed difference between recombinant and plasma factor IX is the recovery in pharmacokinetic studies where recombinant factor IX recovery was approximately 72% that of a plasma factor IX product. This difference is attributed to be due to minor differences in the post-translational modification of recombinant factor IX compared to plasma. These studies demonstrate that recombinant factor IX is effective in the treatment of hemophilia B and has the safety profile expected from a product prepared by recombinant technology.
Estimation of age‐specific sensitivity and sojourn time in breast cancer screening studies

This study investigates statistical approaches to quantitatively describing the age effect on screening sensitivity and sojourn time distribution in breast cancer screening studies. Such an investigation is directly motivated by the need to understand the inherent relationships between age and these important quantities. We incorporate the age effect through generalized linear models under a progressive disease modelling framework and obtain the corresponding parameter estimators using the maximum likelihood method. Among a set of potential models, we use Akeike's information criterion and likelihood ratio test in model selection and inferences. Extensive simulation studies show that the estimators have reasonable accuracy and the model selection criterion works well. The proposed methods are illustrated using data from two large breast cancer screening trials. The results show that the screening sensitivity increases with age at screening examinations based on these two trials. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Image Matching Using SIFT, SURF, BRIEF and ORB: Performance Comparison for Distorted Images

Fast and robust image matching is a very important task with various applications in computer vision and robotics. In this paper, we compare the performance of three different image matching techniques, i.e., SIFT, SURF, and ORB, against different kinds of transformations and deformations such as scaling, rotation, noise, fish eye distortion, and shearing. For this purpose, we manually apply different types of transformations on original images and compute the matching evaluation parameters such as the number of key points in images, the matching rate, and the execution time required for each algorithm and we will show that which algorithm is the best more robust against each kind of distortion. Index Terms-Image matching, scale invariant feature transform (SIFT), speed up robust feature (SURF), robust independent elementary features (BRIEF), oriented FAST, rotated BRIEF (ORB).
GABA and glutamate in mating‐activated cells in the preoptic area and medial amygdala of male gerbils

The posterodorsal medial amygdala (MeApd), the posterodorsal preoptic nucleus (PdPN), and the medial cell group of the sexually dimorphic preoptic area (mSDA) contain cells that are activated specifically at ejaculation as assessed by Fos expression. The mSDA also expresses Fos early in the mating context. Because little is known about the neurotransmitters of these activated cells, the possibility that they use γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) or glutamate was assessed. Putative glutamatergic cells were visualized with immunocytochemistry (ICC) for glutamate and its neuron‐specific transporter. Their distributions were compared with those of GABAergic cells visualized with ICC for the 67‐kDa form of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) and in situ hybridization for GAD67 messenger RNA (mRNA). Colocalization of Fos and GAD67 mRNA in recently mated males indicated that half of the activated cells in the PdPN, mSDA, and lateral MeApd are GABAergic. Colocalization of Fos and glutamate suggested that a quarter of the activated mSDA and lateral MeApd cells are glutamatergic. The PdPN does not appear to have glutamatergic cells. In the lateral MeApd, the percentage of activated cells that are GABAergic (45%) matches the percentage that project to the principal part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST; 43%), and the percentage likely to be glutamatergic (27%) matches the percentage projecting to the mSDA (27%). The latter could help to trigger ejaculation. The distribution of GABAergic and putative glutamatergic cells in the caudal preoptic area, caudal BST, and medial amygdala of male gerbils is also described. J. Comp. Neurol. 459:290–300, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thyroid hormone modulates rabbit proximal straight tubule paracellular permeability.

Proximal straight tubules (PST) from both neonatal and hypothyroid adult rabbits have a lower rate of passive volume absorption when perfused with a high-chloride solution simulating late proximal tubular fluid than adult rabbit PST. We hypothesized that the maturational increase in serum thyroid hormone levels mediates the developmental changes in PST paracellular permeability. Neonatal tubules had lower chloride permeability, higher transepithelial resistance, but comparable mannitol permeability compared with adult PST. The present in vitro microperfusion study directly examined whether thyroid hormone affects passive solute flux and whether thyroid hormone could explain the developmental changes in PST paracellular permeability. Passive chloride transport was 62.1 +/- 4.5, 23.1 +/- 7.7, and 111.6 +/- 5.6 pmol.mm(-1). min(-1) in PST from euthyroid, hypothyroid, and hypothyroid animals that received thyroid treatment, respectively (control different from hypothyroid and thyroid treatment at P < 0.05). This was due to a thyroid hormone-mediated change in chloride permeability (P(Cl)). Mannitol permeability was 3.65 + 1.03, -0.19 + 0.72, and 3.60 + 1.12 x 10(-6) cm/s in PST from euthyroid animals, hypothyroid animals, and hypothyroid rabbits that received thyroid replacement, respectively (P < 0.05 hypothyroid vs. euthyroid and thyroid replacement). We demonstrate that PST from hypothyroid animals have a higher passive P(Na)/P(Cl) and P(HCO3)/P(Cl) than euthyroid controls. Finally, we examined whether these changes in permeability were paralleled by a change in PST paracellular resistance. Resistance was measured by current injection and cable analysis. The resistance in PST from hypothyroid rabbits was 6.3 +/- 0.8 Omega.cm(2), which was not different from control of 4.8 +/- 0.7 Omega.cm(2), or 7.0 +/- 0.7 Omega.cm(2) in hypothyroid animals that received thyroid replacement. Therefore, the maturational increase in thyroid hormone levels does not fully explain the developmental changes in the paracellular pathway.
Specific inhibition of hepatitis C viral gene expression by antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides

The inhibitory effect of antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (S‐ODN) on hepatitis C viral gene expression was analyzed in an in vitro test system and in cell culture. S‐ODN were directed against different stem loop structures in the 5′noncoding region (NCR) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and against a nucleotide stretch, including the start codon of the polyprotein precursor. The inhibitory effect of these S‐ODN was quantified employing a viral RNA consisting of the first 407 nucleotides of a HCV type 1b genome fused to the coding sequence of the firefly luciferase gene. For in vitro assays this RNA was generated by in vitro transcription and used as a template in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate in vitro translation system. The production of active luciferase in the absence or presence of S‐ODN was monitored using an enzymatic assay. The best results were obtained with S‐ODN 4 directed against nucleotides 326 to 348, comprising the start AUG of the poly‐protein coding sequence. With this oligonucleotide, a specific and dose‐dependent effect was observed with a maximal inhibition of 96 ± 1% at a S‐ODN concentration of 4.14 μmol/L. For cell culture experiments, the hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2 was transfected with a plasmid expressing the HCV‐luciferase fusion RNA. In this assay system S‐ODN 2, complementary to nucleotides 264 to 282 of the HCV RNA, and S‐ODN 4 were most efficient and reduced the viral translation by 96 ± 0.4% and 94 ± 0.7%, respectively, at a concentration of 0.3 μmol/L. The inhibition was specific (1) because the expression of the HCV‐luciferase fusion RNA was not significantly impaired by the control S‐ODN and (2) because the expression of an unrelated messenger RNA was not or only slightly downregulated. These data suggest that HCV gene expression can be inhibited effectively by antisense S‐ODN. Therefore, this approach represents a promising perspective for the treatment of hepatitis C. (Hepatology 1995; 22:707–717.)
Unilateral Transforaminal Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF): Indications, Technique, and 2-Year Results

A prospective analysis of consecutive cases of lumbar fusion using the unilateral transforaminal posterior lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) technique with pedicle screw fixation. The objective of the study was to assess the clinical and radiographic outcome of TLIF and describe the technique and indications in the treatment of degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. Forty patients treated with TLIF for degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine were followed up for a minimum of 2.5 years (mean: 36 months; range: 30–42 months). Twenty-three patients had degenerative disc disease alone, 13 had associated isthmic or degenerative spondylolisthesis, and 4 had recurrent disc herniations at the L4–L5 level. Thirty-six (90%) had solid fusions radiographically at latest follow-up. Seventy-nine percent had excellent or good clinical outcomes. Our patients demonstrated high fusion rates and patient satisfaction.
The Eye and Its Diseases

The title of this work suggests, and the preface informs one, that its aim is to present the essentials of ophthalmology to physicians, surgeons, neurologists, medical students and those entering the practice of ophthalmology, to give an account of the more important recent advances in the art and science of this specialty and, in general, to put in the hands of the reader, whether neophyte or expert, a practical reference book. To this end over fourscore specialists of repute, American and European, have contributed almost as many chapters to a stately volume in which their treatises have been combined and arranged by the talented and ambitious editor, who himself has translated a number of the presentations and contributed the section on the surgery of the eye. These chapters take in a field which includes not only the diseases, but also the embryology, biology, heredity, injuries and comparative anatomy, of
Audit Committee Structure and Earnings Management in Asia Pacific

: The relationships between the audit committee structure and earnings management is quite complicated. They are not simply bivariate correlations. Rather, there may be mediating effects or moderating influences on these casual associations. Nonetheless, previous research has not investigated these complicated relationships in emerging markets with an advanced economy. This paper aims to examine the mediating impact of audit committee structure and earnings management in Australia, Malaysia, and Pakistan. The results suggest that audit committee size is positively associated with financial reporting quality. We also noted that, instead of adding value, audit committee independence is negatively associated with reporting quality. The results indicate that the audit committee is a less significant factor in corporate governance than suggested by many previous researchers and policy makers. This paper contributes to the literature on corporate governance and earnings management by introducing a framework for identifying and analyzing moderating variables that affect the relationship between the audit committee structure and earnings management.
Comparative analysis of the plaque removal ability of .007 and .008 toothbrush bristles.

A two-phase study was conducted to compare the plaque-removal effectiveness of a . 007 toothbrush and a . 008 toothbrush when used in an unsupervised home-care program. In the first phase of the study, two children's toothbrushes, a . 007 toothbrush (POH Junior #8) and a . 008 toothbrush (Allie-Croc), were compared in a population of third through sixth grade children. The . 007 group had a greater reduction of plaque from pretest to post-test than the . 008 group in all grades, with statistically significant differences favoring the . 007 toothbrush for fourth and sixth grades. In phase two a . 007 adult toothbrush (POH #4) was compared to a . 008 adult toothbrush (Oral B 40) in a population of nursing and dental hygiene students. Both toothbrushes performed equally well with a significant decrease in plaque and gingival inflammation observed from pretest to post-test regardless of toothbrush used. Any changes in soft-tissue abrasion were negligible and not statistically significant. Based on the results of this study, both brushes appear to be safe and effective and can be recommended with confidence.
Individualized prediction of colon cancer recurrence using a nomogram.

PURPOSE Estimates of recurrence after curative colon cancer surgery are integral to patient care, forming the basis of cancer staging and treatment planning. The categoric staging system of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) is commonly used to convey risk by grouping patients based on anatomic elements. Although easy to implement, there remains significant heterogeneity within each stage grouping. In the era of multimodality treatment, a more refined tool is needed to predict recurrence. METHODS An institutional database of 1,320 patients with nonmetastatic colon cancer was used to develop a nomogram to estimate recurrence after curative surgery. Prognostic factors were assessed with multivariable analysis using Cox regression, whereas nonlinear continuous variables were modeled with cubic splines. The model was internally validated with bootstrapping, and performance was assessed by concordance index and a calibration curve. RESULTS The colon cancer recurrence nomogram predicted relapse with a concordance index of 0.77, improving on the stratification provided by either the AJCC fifth or sixth staging scheme. Factors in the model included patient age, tumor location, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen, T stage, numbers of positive and negative lymph nodes, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and use of postoperative chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Using common clinicopathologic factors, the recurrence nomogram is better able to account for tumor and patient heterogeneity, thereby providing a more individualized outcome prognostication than that afforded by the AJCC categoric system. By identifying both the high- and low-risk patients within any particular stage, the nomogram is expected to aid in treatment planning and future trial design.