Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of cooperative learning in the training of junior hospital doctors: a study of paediatric senior house officers

While it is recognized that a variety of educational opportunities exist for junior hospital doctors, this study was designed to assess the incidence and ensuing benefit of cooperative learning. Postal questionnaires were sent to senior house officers (n = 60) working in Paediatric Medicine in nine Northern Ireland hospitals and additional data were collected from focus group interviews held in four of these hospitals. With a response rate of 80%, the questionnaire indicated that the SHOs were positive about working and learning as members of a team and that communication and cooperation were necessary skills. In addition to the different learning situations that occur in hospital, the focus groups highlighted the facts that team working and group learning improve patient care and knowledge acquisition. Findings show that not only do professional networking and group-assisted learning occur in hospital training, but that these were considered to be of great benefit to the SHOs.
Name Disambiguation in AMiner: Clustering, Maintenance, and Human in the Loop.

AMiner 1 is a free online academic search and mining system, having collected more than 130,000,000 researcher profiles and over 200,000,000 papers from multiple publication databases [25]. In this paper, we present the implementation and deployment of name disambiguation , a core component in AMiner. The problem has been studied for decades but remains largely unsolved. In AMiner, we did a systemic investigation into the problem and propose a comprehensive framework to address the problem. We propose a novel representation learning method by incorporating both global and local information and present an end-to-end cluster size estimation method that is significantly better than traditional BIC-based method. To improve accuracy, we involve human annotators into the disambiguation process. We carefully evaluate the proposed framework on real-world large data and experimental results show that the proposed solution achieves clearly better performance (+7-35% in terms of F1-score) than several state-of-the-art methods including GHOST [5], Zhang et al. [33], and Louppe et al. [17]. Finally, the algorithm has been deployed in AMiner to deal with the disambiguation problem at the billion scale, which further demonstrates both effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed framework.
Trajectories in use of substance abuse and mental health services among stimulant users in rural areas.

OBJECTIVE This study examined substance abuse and mental health service utilization during a three-year period among stimulant users living in rural areas. METHODS Participants (N=710) were interviewed at baseline and every six months for 36 months. One-step transition probabilities were constructed between the two types of service use for each consecutive pair of interviews to examine the resulting steady-state probabilities among multiple one-step transition matrices. RESULTS Most participants received no substance abuse or mental health services. On average, the probabilities of reporting use of the same types of services during the 36-month follow-up were 82% for receiving neither service, 9% for receiving only mental health treatment, 6% for receiving only substance abuse treatment, and 2% for receiving both services. CONCLUSIONS Further study is needed to determine factors that affect the decision to seek mental health or substance abuse treatment among residents of rural communities.
The Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada Registry for Spondyloarthritis

The Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Cananda (SPARCC) is a transdiscliplinary research network of investigators interested in spondyloarthritis. The group has been supported by a new research initiative by The Arthritis Society. SPARCC aims to address the genetic basis of susceptibility of the disease and develop and validate clinical and imaging outcomes to assess disease activity and structural damage over time, the response to therapy, and the clinical burden of illness in terms of quality of life and disability. The first step was to develop a database that would allow ascertainment of phenotype for genetic studies, as well as accurate and detailed longitudinal information for disease expression and outcome studies. This article describes the SPARCC database and outlines difficulties and possible solutions for maintaining such a database.
Predicting clinical progression or death in subjects with early-stage human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection : A comparative analysis of quantification of HIV RNA, soluble tumor necrosis factor type II receptors, neopterin, and β2-microglobulin

Quantification of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA by branched-chain DNA signal amplification, measurement of soluble tumor necrosis factor type II receptors (sTNFR-II), neopterin, beta2-microglobulin, or CD4 cell counts can be used to predict the risk of clinical progression or death in HIV infection but have not been compared in the same study. Ninety subjects were categorized into progression groups by their rate of CD4 cell decline and matched into triplets by initial CD4 cell count, age, race, and calendar time. By matched logistic regression, only the sTNFR-II and HIV RNA values were predictive of outcome across the progression groups. Categorization of baseline HIV RNA and sTNFR-II resulted in differences in progression to several clinical outcomes. sTNFR-II concentrations were the only immune marker examined that increased the prognostic utility of HIV RNA determination in early-stage subjects. Further studies in later stages of disease or after therapy are indicated.
The Natural Time Course of Membrane Alterations During Peritoneal Dialysis Is Partly Altered by Peritonitis

♦ Background: The quality of the peritoneal membrane can deteriorate over time. Exposure to glucose-based dialysis solutions is the most likely culprit. Because peritonitis is a common complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD), distinguishing between the effect of glucose exposure and a possible additive effect of peritonitis is difficult. The aim of the present study was to compare the time-course of peritoneal transport characteristics in patients without a single episode of peritonitis—representing the natural course—and in patients who experienced 1 or more episodes of peritonitis during long-term follow-up. ♦ Methods: This prospective, single-center cohort study enrolled incident adult PD patients who started PD during 1990–2010. A standard peritoneal permeability analysis was performed in the first year of PD treatment and was repeated every year. The results in patients without a single episode of peritonitis (“no-peritonitis group”) were compared with the results obtained in patients who experienced 1 or more peritonitis episodes (“peritonitis group”) during a follow-up of 4 years. ♦ Results: The 124 patients analyzed included 54 in the no-peritonitis group and 70 in the peritonitis group. The time-course of small-solute transport was different in the groups, with the peritonitis group showing an earlier and more pronounced increase in the mass transfer area coefficient for creatinine (p = 0.07) and in glucose absorption (p = 0.048). In the no-peritonitis group, the net ultrafiltration rate (NUFR) and the transcapillary ultrafiltration rate (TCUFR) both showed a steep increase from the 1st to the 2nd year of PD that was absent in the peritonitis group. Both groups showed a decrease in the NUFR after year 3. A decrease in the TCUFR occurred only in the peritonitis group. That decrease was already present after the year 1 in patients with severe peritonitis. The time-course of free water transport showed a continuous increase in the patients without peritonitis, but a decrease in the patients who experienced peritonitis (p < 0.01). No difference was observed in the time-course of the effective lymphatic absorption rate. The time-courses of immunoglobulin G and α2-macroglobulin clearances showed a decrease in both patient groups, with a concomitant increase of the restriction coefficient. Those changes were not evidently influenced by peritonitis. The two groups showed a similar decrease in the mesothelial cell mass marker cancer antigen 125 during follow-up. ♦ Conclusions: On top of the natural course of peritoneal function, peritonitis episodes to some extent influence the time-course of small-solute and fluid transport—especially the transport of solute-free water. Those modifications increase the risk for overhydration.
Optic nerve and optic radiation neurodegeneration in patients with glaucoma: in vivo analysis with 3-T diffusion-tensor MR imaging.

PURPOSE To evaluate, with high-field-strength diffusion-tensor (DT) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the axonal architecture of the optic nerves and optic radiations in patients with glaucoma and determine whether DT MR imaging-derived parameters correlate with disease severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was approved by the institutional review board. All participants provided written informed consent. Sixteen patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were examined. Glaucoma severity was clinically assessed with use of a six-stage system based on static threshold visual field parameters. Ten healthy individuals served as control subjects. DT MR imaging was performed with a 3-T MR unit. Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps were automatically created. Regions of interest were positioned on the MD and FA maps, and mean MD and mean FA values were calculated for each optic nerve and each optic radiation. RESULTS The optic radiations and optic nerves of patients with glaucoma, as compared with control subjects, had significantly higher MD and significantly lower FA. The mean MD values for the optic nerves and the glaucoma stages varied consistently (r = 0.8087, P < .0001). A negative correlation between mean FA for the optic nerves and glaucoma stage (r = -0.7464, P < .0001) was observed. CONCLUSION Glaucoma is a complex neurologic disease that affects optic nerves and optic radiations. The finding that DT MR imaging-derived MD and FA in the optic nerves correlate with glaucoma severity suggests that these parameters could serve as complementary indicators of disease severity.
A study of thrombocytopenia in hospitalized vivax malaria patients

Objective: To assess the occurrence and severity of thrombocytopenia in hospitalized vivax malaria patients. Design and setting: Retrospective and descriptive hospital based case series from March 2005 to March 2007, conducted in the medical unit of Al Khor Hospital. Patients and methods: Seventy-eight patients with peripheral smear positive were enrolled in the study. Peripheral smear examination for malaria parasites was used as the method of choice for the diagnosis of malaria. Hematological parameters were determined by using an automated analyzer. Low platelet counts were re-evaluated by manual methods. Results: Study sample was 78 patients, of which 65 patients (83.3%) were thrombocytopenic. Of these, 41 patients (52.6%) had mild thrombocytopenia, 23 patients (29.5%) had moderate thrombocytopenia and 1 patient (1.3%) had severe thrombocytopenia. All patients (100%) were male. Conclusion: High prevalence of thrombocytopenia was seen in vivax malaria patients, making it a common hematological feature .
Factor VIII-eGFP fusion proteins with preserved functional activity for the analysis of the early secretory pathway of factor VIII

Summary Considering the difficulty in detecting factor (F)VIII in vivo, fluorescently labelled FVIII protein provides a tool to analyse the intracellular localisation, bio distribution, and pharmacokinetics of the protein in living organisms. Here, we report the use of FVIII full length and B-domain deleted proteins, fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) at the C-terminus of the coagulation protein via a nine amino acid spanning linker. Comparison of the FVIII-eGFP fusion proteins to their unlabelled counterparts showed no impairment with respect to recombinant expression levels, intracellular processing, specific coagulant activity and decay at physiological temperature. Confocal live cell imaging demonstrated ER-Golgi-transport of B-domain deleted FVIII-eGFP in vesicular tubular carriers. Using temperature blocks and release experiments, imaging of FVIII-eGFP fusion proteins enabled for the first time the visualisation of the early secretory pathway of B-domain deleted FVIII in living cells and in particular highlighted the apparent deficit of active transport carriers, an observation consistent with the low rates of FVIII secretion seen in recombinant expression systems.
Wild-Type P53 Induces Sodium/Iodide Symporter Expression Allowing Radioiodide Therapy in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Aims: Anaplastic thyroid cancer(ATC) is one of the most aggressive solid tumors. Mutations in the p53 gene are common in anaplastic thyroid cancer, but the effects of p53 mutations are yet to be elucidated. Here, we investigated the role of p53 in ATC. Methods: p53 mutation was detect by immunohistochemistry in ATC tissues. Expression of NIS were measured using immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence in ATC tissues and cell line 8505c. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to examine the effect of wild-type p53 on NIS. Radioiodide uptake assay and flow cytometry analysis were used to detect the role of wild-type p53 on radioiodide uptake.and cell apoptosis in ATC cell line. Results: We showed that the p53 mutation can be detected in ATC tissues. Furthermore, we demonstrated that wild-type p53 transactivated the NIS promoter. In 8505c cells transfected with wild-type p53, treatment with radioiodine resulted in increased radioiodine uptake and increased apoptotic cell death compared with 8505c cells harboring the p53 mutation. Conclusion: In summary, transfection with wild-type p53 can increase the therapeutic effect of radioiodine by regulating the expression of the NIS.
Insurance Status and Racial Disparities in Cancer-Specific Mortality in the United States: A Population-Based Analysis

Background: Cancer-specific mortality (CSM) is known to be higher among blacks and lower among Hispanics compared with whites. Private insurance confers CSM benefit, but few studies have examined the relationship between insurance status and racial disparities. We sought to determine differences in CSM between races within insurance subgroups. Methods: A population-based cohort of 577,716 patients age 18 to 64 years diagnosed with one of the 10 solid malignancies causing the greatest mortality over 2007 to 2012 were obtained from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results. A Cox proportional hazards model for CSM was constructed to adjust for known prognostic factors, and interaction analysis between race and insurance was performed to generate stratum-specific HRs. Results: Blacks had similar CSM to whites among the uninsured [HR = 1.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.96–1.05], but higher CSM among the Medicaid (HR = 1.04; 95% CI, 0.01–1.07) and non-Medicaid (HR = 1.14; 95% CI, 1.12–1.16) strata. Hispanics had lower CSM compared with whites among uninsured (HR = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.76–0.85) and Medicaid (HR = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.85–0.91) patients, but there was no difference among non-Medicaid patients (HR = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.97–1.01). Asians had lower CSM compared with whites among all insurance types: uninsured (HR = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.76–0.85), Medicaid (HR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.77–0.85), and non-Medicaid (HR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.83–0.87). Conclusions: The disparity between blacks and whites was largest, and the advantage of Hispanic race was absent within the non-Medicaid subgroup. Impact: These findings suggest that whites derive greater benefit from private insurance than blacks and Hispanics. Further research is necessary to determine why this differential exists and how disparities can be improved. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(6); 869–75. ©2017 AACR.
Estimation de la pollution particulaire naturelle de l’air en 2003 à Niamey (Niger) à partir de données de visibilité horizontale

Il est actuellement incontestable que l’augmentation de la concentration atmospherique en particules en suspension totales (PST) et en particules respirables, a savoir celles dont la taille est inferieure a 10 μm (PM 10), a un grand nombre de consequences nefastes sur la sante humaine. La deterioration de la qualite de l’air causee ponctuellement par la forte concentration en poussieres minerales d’origine africaine affecte differents pays occidentaux pourtant tres distants du Sahara. Cependant, aucune etude sur les niveaux de concentration en particules solides dans l’air des regions limitrophes du Sahara n’a ete realisee. Sur la base de mesures de la visibilite horizontale reduite par les lithometeores, les niveaux de concentration en particules solides sont estimes a la station synoptique de Niamey-Aeroport (Niger), en utilisant differentes relations disponibles dans la litterature. Il apparait que les concentrations en poussieres minerales sont tres importantes tant du point de vue de leur magnitude que de leur frequence. En effet, une concentration annuelle moyenne de 103 μg. m -3 et de 67 μg. m -3 est estimee respectivement pour les PST et les PM 10. Ces fortes concentrations en poussieres dans l’air posent un reel probleme de sante publique qui devrait retenir l’attention des decideurs politiques nationaux et internationaux.
NEUROPATHOLOGIC CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH EXPERIMENTAL ANAPHYLAXIS IN THE MONKEY

Although pathologic investigations on various tissues and organs of animals subjected to experimental anaphylaxis have been numerous, only a few papers can be found in the literature on morphologic changes of the nervous system due to anaphylactic reactions. Two of these papers are concerned with the pathologic changes associated with the Arthus phenomenon in the brain. Davidoff, Seegal and Seegal, 1 in rabbits prepared with multiple sensitizing injections of horse serum and shocked by one intracerebral injection, observed an extensive inflammatory lesion in the brain characterized by hemorrhage, edema, leukocytic infiltration and serum exudate. Alexander and Campbell 2 used a single intraperitoneal injection of horse serum in guinea pigs, followed by reinjection of the antigen intracerebrally. A lesion resulted characterized by "hemorrhage, vascular thrombosis, necrosis, demineralization, scavenger cells and reaction of microglia, oligodendroglia and astrocytes. " These investigations leave little doubt as to the occurrence of a typical Arthus phenomenon in
Effect of an educational program on a family caregiver's prevention and management of pressure ulcers in bedridden patients after discharge from hospitals in Palestine

Background: Pressure ulcer affects approximately 9% of all hospitalized patients and 23% of all nursing home patients, thereby posing to be a serious problem. However, prompt and effective treatment can minimize these dangerous effects and speed recovery. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of an educational program on a family caregiver's prevention and management of pressure ulcers of bedridden patients after discharge from EL-Wafa Medical Rehabilitation Hospital, Gaza Strip, Palestine. Materials and Methods: Preexperimental, prospective, with pretest and posttest, design was followed. The study recruited a convenient sample of 80 caregivers of the bedridden patients who were admitted to EL-Wafa Medical Rehabilitation Hospital. Pretest questionnaire was administered for the eligible subjects. The educational training package was delivered in three sessions within 1 week. Posttest questionnaire was filled after 3 weeks to assess the effectiveness. Results: About 58.8% of the caregivers were women and 53.8% aged younger than 30 years. The performance of the caregivers has significantly improved after the program in most of the items (P < 0.05). Scores of subscales: wound care and dressing, proper nutrition, maintaining personal hygiene, incontinence training and knowledge about ulcers were all significantly higher after training (P < 0.05). The difference between the total domains after the program (M = 3.47) was significantly higher than the total domains before the program (M = 3.30; t test 4.87; P = 0.00). Conclusion: The study revealed a high effectiveness of this educational-training program in managing and preventing pressure ulcers for bedridden patients by caregivers at their homes. Application of this preventive program should be extended to cover all rehabilitative and governmental hospitals in Palestine to reduce the burden of pressure ulcers on the families and the health-care system.
Chemical Dependency Treatment Outcomes of Residents in Anesthesiology: Results of a Survey

Substance abuse is a potentially lethal occupational hazard confronting anesthesiology residents. We present the results of a survey sent to all United States anesthesiology training programs regarding experience with and outcomes of chemically dependent residents from 1991 to 2001. The response rate was 66%. Eighty percent reported experience with impaired residents and 19% reported at least one pretreatment fatality. Despite this familiarity, few programs required pre-employment drug testing or used substance abuse screening tools during interviews. The majority of impaired residents attempted reentry into anesthesiology after treatment. Only 46% of these were successful in completion of anesthesiology residency. Eventually, 40% of residents who underwent treatment and returned to medical training entered another specialty. The mortality rate for the remaining anesthesiology residents was 9%. Long-term outcome was reported for 93% of all treated residents. Of these, 56% were successful in some specialty of medicine at the end of the survey period. We hypothesize that specialty change afforded substantial improvement in the overall success rate and avoided significant mortality. Redirection of rehabilitated residents into lower-risk specialties may allow a larger number to achieve successful medical careers.
microRNA-16 represses colorectal cancer cell growth in vitro by regulating the p53/survivin signaling pathway.

Dysregulated expression of microRNAs (miRNA) is a hallmark of cancer. miR-16 has been reported to be downregulated and to act as a tumor suppressor in different cancer types. In the present study, we sought to investigate the possible roles and mechanisms of miR-16 and its relationship with p53 and survivin in CRC cells. We showed that miR-16 was downregulated in 67% of CRC tissues and was correlated with the degree of histological differentiation. Experiments in vitro showed that overexpression of miR-16 inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of CRC cells through the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. We further showed that miR-16 repressed survivin expression at both the mRNA and protein levels and the survivin gene was a direct target of miR-16. In addition, miR-16 reduced p53 expression and p53 increased miR-16 levels, with downregulation of miR-16 targets survivin, cyclin D1 and CDK6. Our findings suggest that miR-16 represses colorectal cancer cell growth in vitro by regulating the p53/survivin signaling pathway. Our findings provide further evidence for the involvement of dysregulated miRNAs in CRC, and miR-16 could serve as a molecular target for CRC therapy.