Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Communicating Bad News: A Pediatric Department's Evaluation of a Simulated Intervention

Objective. To determine if pediatric residents and emergency department (ED) fellows could improve their ability to counsel and inform standardized patients (SPs) about bad news. Methodology. A crossover, self-controlled design in which trainees were their own control individuals, and SPs provided feedback after the first interview. The setting was the consultation room in the ED of a large children's hospital. The outcome measures included examining the counseling and informing skills of study participants. Results. Trainees improved their informing skills after being provided feedback in the broad areas of communication and follow-up and in the total number of content areas asked. Their counseling skills improved in two areas: 1) promoting more trust and 2) making parents feel less dependent. Those trainees who scored higher on counseling skills discussed more total and critical content issues with SPs in the study. Trainee feedback revealed a very high rating of the educational process, and the trainees also felt much more confident about their skills after the first and second sessions. Conclusions. Using SPs to teach residents and ED fellows to give bad news is an effective educational process that provides trainees with interactions that simulate real-life experience
Hodný, zlý a ošklivý (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) : The representation of three minority groups in printed media discourse from the Czech Republic

Syftet med detta arbete ar att gora en kvantitativ, korpusbaserad undersokning av den sprakliga andrafieringen av tre minoritetsgrupper: romer, vietnameser och ukrainare, i den tjeckiska mediad .
Reversibility of trastuzumab-related cardiotoxicity: new insights based on clinical course and response to medical treatment.

PURPOSE Trastuzumab is an important biologic agent with significant activity in breast cancers that overexpress the HER2/neu marker. However, trastuzumab is associated with cardiotoxicity that has not yet been fully explored. We present our experience with patients who developed trastuzumab-related cardiotoxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS Over a 4-year period, 38 patients with HER2/neu-positive breast cancer were referred for suspected trastuzumab-related cardiotoxicity. All patients had previously received anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Results After doxorubicin but before trastuzumab, the mean (+/- standard deviation) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 0.61 +/- 0.13, and the LVEF decreased to 0.43 +/- 0.16 after trastuzumab (P < .0001). After withdrawal of trastuzumab, the LVEF increased to 0.56 +/- 0.11. Mean time to recovery of LVEF was 1.5 months and was temporally associated with medical treatment in 32 (84%) of the 38 patients but occurred without treatment in six patients (16%). Increases in LVEF were noted in 37 of the 38 patients. Twenty-five of these patients were re-treated with trastuzumab; three patients had recurrent left ventricular dysfunction, but 22 patients (88%) did not. All re-treatment patients continued on their therapeutic regimen for heart failure when rechallenged with trastuzumab. Nine patients underwent endomyocardial biopsy. Ultrastructural changes were not seen. CONCLUSION Patients who develop cardiotoxicity while receiving trastuzumab therapy generally improve on removal of the agent. The mechanism of trastuzumab-related cardiac dysfunction is different from that of anthracycline cardiotoxicity, in part, demonstrated by the absence of anthracycline-like ultrastructural changes. Reintroducing trastuzumab may be appropriate for some individuals who previously have experienced trastuzumab-related cardiac dysfunction.
Biochemical characterization of avian T lymphocytespecific antigens

Sera from rabbits injected with quail thymocytes were absorbed on quail bursal and liver cells. The absorbed sera reacted with avian T but not B lymphocytes in an immunofluorescence assay. Material precipitated by the anti‐T antisera from lysates of radioiodinated chicken or quail thymocytes was analyzed by one‐ and two‐dimensional electrophoresis. Of two anti‐T cell antisera studied in detail, one reacted mainly with a protein of an apparent molecular weight of 45000–55000, and the other with a protein of an apparent molecular weight 65000–70000. These proteins may be homologues of previously described mammalian T lymphocyte‐specific antigens.
Autosomal and X chromosome Alu insertions in Bolivian Aymaras and Quechuas: Two languages and one genetic pool

Thirty‐two polymorphic Alu insertions (18 autosomal and 14 from the X chromosome) were studied in 192 individuals from two Amerindian populations of the Bolivian Altiplano (Aymara and Quechua speakers: the two main Andean linguistic groups), to provide relevant information about their genetic relationships and demographic processes. The main objective was to determine from genetic data whether the expansion of the Quechua language into Bolivia could be associated with demographic (Inca migration of Quechua‐speakers from Peru into Bolivia) or cultural (language imposition by the Inca Empire) processes. Allele frequencies were used to assess the genetic relationships between these two linguistic groups. Our results indicated that the two Bolivian samples showed a high genetic similarity for both sets of markers and were clearly differentiated from the two Peruvian Quechua samples available in the literature. Additionally, our data were compared with the available literature to determine the genetic and linguistic structure, and East–West differentiation in South America. The close genetic relationship between the two Bolivian samples and their differentiation from the Quechua‐speakers from Peru suggests that the Quechua language expansion in Bolivia took place without any important demographic contribution. Moreover, no clear geographical or linguistic structure was found for the Alu variation among South Amerindians. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Attention in 3-Year-Old Children with VLBW and Relationships with Early School Outcomes

ABSTRACT Aim: To compare attention skills of children with a very low birth weight (VLBW) with children with a normal birth weight (NBW) when entering primary school, and explore the association of attention skills with school career 2 years later. Methods: Participants were 151 children with VLBW and 41 with NBW. Attention was assessed at 3 years and 8 months of corrected age (CA) and school career at 5½ years of CA. Children performed two tests, parents completed three questionnaires, and an assessor systematically observed children's attention. Results: Children with VLBW had significantly lower mean scores on five of the six measures. Significantly more children with VLBW had scores in the clinical range on the Child Behavior Checklist completed by the parents (13% versus 0%) and scores representing dysfunction on assessor observations (19% versus 2%). At 5½ years of age, 36% of the children with VLBW followed special education or had grade retention. Dysfunctional attention as observed by the assessor was most strongly associated with need for learning support at 5½ years of age. Conclusions: At preschool age, children with VLBW have attention difficulties. Attentive behavior at preschool age is a predictor of school career 2 years later.
The effect of cobaltous ions on the formation of toxin and coproporphyrin by a strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Several cations have been shown to affect protein and porphyrin formation by the G 12/6 strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Cobaltous ion (Co++), at concentrations only slightly inhibiting growth, caused a marked inhibition of toxin formation. This effect was not produced by vitamin B,, or annulled by increases of cysteine or histidine concentration. Only a small proportion of added CO++, at concentrations above 0.2 pg. /ml. , was found in washed organisms, and the effect of Co++ was more marked than that of Fe++when based on the weight of metal in the organisms. No appreciable proportion of the Co++ existed as a porphyrin complex. The growth inhibition caused by 5 pg. Co++/ml. was annulled by 0.6 pg. Fe++/ml. Co++ caused no increase in the cytochrome b content of the organism, nor did i t affect the iron concentration required for maximum toxin formation. The combined toxin-inhibitory effect of Fe++ + Co++ was considerably less than the sum of their independent effects. The bearing of these findings on the thesis that diphtheria toxin is the apoenzyme of cytochrome b is discussed.
Can Haemophilus influenzae type b-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine be combined with diphtheria toxoid-pertussis vaccine-tetanus toxoid?

OBJECTIVE To assess the side effects and immune responses after three serial doses of PRP-T vaccine (a Haemophilus influenzae type b [Hib]-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine) given concurrently or mixed with adsorbed DPT vaccine (diphtheria toxoid-pertussis vaccine-tetanus toxoid). DESIGN Multicentre randomized controlled trial. SETTING Four public health units in western Canada. PARTICIPANTS Healthy infants 8 to 15 weeks old at entry who were able to receive routine primary vaccinations. Of 444 infants enrolled, 433 (98%) completed the study. INTERVENTIONS All infants received PRP-T and DPT vaccines at 2, 4 and 6 months of age: half received them mixed in one injection and the others as separate, bilateral injections. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Side-effects 24 and 48 hours after each dose and serologic responses to each vaccine component. RESULTS Follow-up was obtained after all 1312 vaccinations. Fever was infrequent in the two treatment groups. Local adverse effects of the PRP-T vaccine were infrequent and mild (e.g., redness was noted in 5.9% of cases and the area of redness was more than 2.5 cm in diameter in 0.8%). The incidence rate of local effects of the DPT-containing vaccines was the same in the two groups except for tenderness, which was more frequent in the group given the mixed vaccine (26.6% v. 17.9%, p < 0.001). Serologic data were available for 97% of the subjects. After the three doses 98.1% of the subjects had a PRP antibody level of 0.15 micrograms/mL or more, and 87.9% had a level of 1.0 micrograms/mL or more, both levels compatible with protection against Hib. Responses to PRP-T were comparable between the treatment groups as were responses to the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. Pertussis agglutinin titres were reduced after administration of one of two PRP-T lots mixed with DPT vaccine, but responses to four other pertussis antigens were not impaired. CONCLUSION PRP-T vaccine is well tolerated and immunogenic. Combined PRP-T and DPT vaccines performed satisfactorily and may be the preferred method of administration.
Interstrain Gene Transfer in Chlamydia trachomatis In Vitro: Mechanism and Significance

ABSTRACT The high frequency of between-strain genetic recombinants of Chlamydia trachomatis among isolates obtained from human sexually transmitted infections suggests that lateral gene transfer (LGT) is an important means by which C. trachomatis generates variants that have enhanced relative fitness. A mechanism for LGT in C. trachomatis has not been described, and investigation of this phenomenon by experimentation has been hampered by the obligate intracellular development of this pathogen. We describe here experiments that readily detected LGT between strains of C. trachomatis in vitro. Host cells were simultaneously infected with an ofloxacin-resistant (Ofxr) mutant of a serovar L1 strain (L1:Ofxr-1) and a rifampin-resistant (Rifr) mutant of a serovar D strain (D:Rifr-1). Development occurred in the absence of antibiotics, and the progeny were subjected to selection for Ofxr Rifr recombinants. The parental strains differed at many polymorphic nucleotide sites, and DNA sequencing was used to map genetic crossovers and to determine the parental sources of DNA segments in 14 recombinants. Depending on the assumed DNA donor, the estimated minimal length of the transferred DNA was ≥123 kb in one recombinant but was ≥336 to ≥790 kb in all other recombinants. Such trans-DNA lengths have been associated only with conjugation in known microbial LGT systems, but natural DNA transformation remains a conceivable mechanism. LGT studies can now be performed with diverse combinations of C. trachomatis strains, and they could have evolutionary interest and yield useful recombinants for functional analysis of allelic differences between strains.
Marginal Railway Infrastructure Costs in a Dynamic Context

In this paper, dynamic aspects of railway infrastructure operation and maintenance costs in Sweden are explored. Econometric cost functions are estimated to check the robustness of previous marginal cost estimates by introducing lags and leads of both dependent and independent variables. We find support for a forward-looking behaviour within the Swedish National Rail Administration (Banverket) as both infrastructure operation and maintenance costs are reduced prior to a major renewal. There are also indications of both lagged traffic and costs affecting the cost structure.
On pinning control of scale-free networks

A non-uniform pinning control strategy is suggested for stabilizing large-scale complex networks with scale-free property. A scale-free dynamical network model is first introduced. Then, based on this model, the pinning strategy for controlling scale-free complex networks is derived analytically. Finally, a numerical simulation example is provided to show that the control method is effective.
Lipoadenofection-mediated gene delivery to the corneal endothelium: prospects for modulating graft rejection.

BACKGROUND Gene transfer to the corneal endothelium has potential for the prevention or reversal of corneal allograft rejection. Previous work has examined adenoviral vectors for gene transfer to endothelium. These have a number of theoretical and practical disadvantages, both for experimental and clinical applications. We have therefore used lipoadenofection, in which plasmid DNA is delivered using a combination of liposomes and adenovirus, to transfer marker genes to the cornea. METHODS Corneas were obtained from New Zealand White rabbits and cultured ex vivo using standard conditions. The corneas were transfected using either lipofection or lipoadenofection with plasmids encoding marker genes. The efficiency of gene transfer and the location and kinetics of gene expression were determined. We also investigated the delivery of a gene construct containing an inducible promoter that is activated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF), to determine whether expression of the relevant genes could be controlled by exogenous factors such as cytokines. RESULTS This study shows that gene expression is limited to the endothelium and that expression is transient. Furthermore, we have shown that expression of a gene controlled by an inducible promoter only occurs when TNF is present. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that lipofection is an efficient method to transfer therapeutic genes to the corneal epithelium, and that it can be used to transfer constructs that utilize an inducible promoter controlled by TNF. As TNF is present in the aqueous humor during allograft rejection, and this is in contact with the corneal endothelium, this has the potential to restrict expression of a therapeutic gene to rejection episodes in the cornea.
Synthesis of R-plasmid-coded beta-lactamase in minicells and in an in vitro system

beta-Lactamase encoded by a small, nontransferring R-plasmid, NTP1, conferring ampicillin resistance to its host bacteria, was purified. NTP1 plasmid-coded beta-lactamase was found to be periplasmically located in the host Escherichia coli cell, to have a molecular weight of about 25,000, and to show a relatively low activity against oxacillin and methicillin compared with benzylpenicillin. These characteristics indicate that NTP1 plasmid-coded beta-lactamase is very similar or identical to the "TEM-type" beta-lactamase, which is the most common beta-lactamase coded by R-plasmids in enteric bacteria. In minicells containing NTP1 plasmids, at least six plasmid-specific proteins were synthesized, and beta-lactamase was synthesized in a greater amount than other plasmid-coded proteins. In a cell-free transcription-translation coupled system from E. coli, NTP1 plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid directed the synthesis of several species of plasmid-specific proteins, including active beta-lactamase. The in vitro system also showed preferential synthesis of beta-lactamase, as was observed in minicells containing NTP1 plasmids.
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Containing Exosomes Induce Tumor-Specific Regulatory T Cells

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has a close relation to lung cancer; its role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer is to be further elucidated. The results of this study indicate that about 80% exosomes purified from the LC biopsies contained EGFR; only about 2% exosomes contained EGFR in the samples from chronic lung inflammation. The purified exosomes induced tolerogenic DCs. Coculture of the tolerogenic DCs and Th0 cells generated the tumor antigen-specific regulatory T cells (Treg). The Tregs could suppress the tumor antigen specific CD8+ T cells.
Interaural Differences of Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission Amplitudes in Patients with Unilateral Tinnitus

Objective We aimed to determine whether abnormalities in outer hair cell (OHC) function were related to tinnitus through interaural comparison of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). Study Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Tertiary care university teaching hospital. Participants Twenty-seven patients with unilateral tinnitus and pure-tone average of both ears ≤25 dB hearing loss (HL) at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz were included. Subjects and Methods Pure-tone thresholds observed at 500 to 16,000 Hz and DPOAE amplitudes at f2 frequencies of 1001 to 6348 Hz were compared between the tinnitus ears and nontinnitus ears in patients with unilateral tinnitus. Results The pure-tone averages (13 ± 6 dB HL) in the nontinnitus ears were similar to those (15 ± 6 dB HL) in the tinnitus ears. There were no differences in pure-tone averages at all frequencies tested. While the DPOAE amplitudes measured at f2 frequencies of 1001 to 3174 Hz in tinnitus ears were not different from those in the nontinnitus ears, the tinnitus ears showed significantly reduced DPOAE amplitudes when compared with the nontinnitus ears at frequencies of 4004 to 6348 Hz. Conclusion OHC dysfunction was correlated with tinnitus at high frequencies, and DPOAE amplitudes can provide additional information about cochlear dysfunction, which is complementary to pure-tone audiometry.
Optimal Timing of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Nonculprit Vessel in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Multivessel Disease

Background and Objectives In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease (MVD), the optimal timing of staged percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear. Subjects and Methods This study was a retrospective analysis of 753 STEMI patients with MVD who were treated by multivessel PCI in the Convergent Registry of Catholic and Chonnam University for Acute myocardial infarction (MI). Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the time from initial to staged PCI: group 1 (n=316, multivessel PCI performed during the index procedure), group 2 (n=360, staged PCI within 1 week), and group 3 (n=77, staged PCI after 1 week). The endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), including all-cause mortality, non-fatal MI, and repeat PCI during 3.4 years follow-up. Results The incidence of composite MACEs was higher in group 3 than in group 1 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06 to 3.18, p=0.031). However, the risk of MACEs in groups 1 and 2 was comparable (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.70 to 1.46, p=0.950). In multivariate logistic regression, independent predictors of 3-year MACEs were high Killip class (OR: 2.72, 95% CI: 1.38 to 5.37, p=0.004), left ventricular ejection fraction <45% (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.06 to 2.32, p=0.024), and group 3 (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.06 to 3.18, p=0.009). Conclusion Deferred staged PCI after one week index PCI was associated with the highest MACE, as compared to both simultaneous multivessel PCI and early staged PCI <1 week.
Laparoscopic repair of hernia in children: Comparison between ligation and nonligation of sac

Aim: The essence of the current techniques of laparoscopic hernia repair in children is suture ligation of the neck of the hernia sac at the deep ring with or without its transection. Some studies show that during open hernia repair, after transection at the neck it can be left unsutured without any consequence. This study was aimed to see if the same holds true for laparoscopic hernia repair. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients (52 boys and eight girls, 12-144 months) with indirect inguinal hernia were randomized for laparoscopic repair either by transection of the sac alone (Group I) or transection plus suture ligation of sac at the neck (Group II). Outcome was assessed in terms of time taken for surgery, recurrence, and other complications. Result: Thirty-eight hernia units in 28 patients were repaired by transection alone (Group I) and 34 hernia units in 29 patients were repaired by transection and suture ligation (Group II). Three patients were found to have no hernia on laparoscopy. Recurrence rate and other complications were not significantly different in the two groups. All recurrences occurred in hernias with ring size more than 10 mm. Conclusion: Laparoscopic repair of hernia by circumferential incision of the peritoneum at the deep ring is as effective as incision plus ligation of the sac.
A Fuzzy Logic Approach to Assessing Materiality

Auditors may encounter misstatements during the course of an audit, each of which requires a binary materiality assessment. We propose a fuzzy expert system approach that assesses materiality as a continuous characteristic by allowing a misstatement to possess a degree of materiality between 0 and 1. This potentially allows the auditor more flexibility and precision in materiality assessment, and greater insight regarding subsequent testing and investigation. We demonstrate that a fuzzy expert system can help the auditor incorporate qualitative factors into the materiality assessment of each misstatement and identify which misstatements are most worthy of further investigation. The auditor may compare the materiality assessments of all misstatements to plan an audit strategy. By providing a formal model structure, the fuzzy expert system formalizes and documents the materiality assessment process. This may facilitate better communication within the audit team and with the client, and enhances process cons.