Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Financial Burden of Pediatric Cancer for Patients and Their Families.

PURPOSE Cancer treatment may cause financial stress for pediatric oncology patients and their families. We evaluated pediatric cancer caregivers' perceived financial burden related to socioeconomic factors (eg, parental employment) and health care use factors (eg, unexpected hospitalizations). METHODS A single-site, cross-sectional survey of primary caretakers of patients with childhood cancer was performed from July 2010 to July 2012. Eligible patients were treated at a pediatric cancer hospital, diagnosed at age ≤ 21 years and were ≤ 5 years from diagnosis (N = 254). Financial burden was rated on a visual analog scale of 0 to 100. Multivariable linear regression models were used to calculate coefficients and 95% CIs of financial burden by time since diagnosis. RESULTS Mean age at diagnosis was 6.8 years (SD = 5.5 years), and average time since diagnosis was 1.6 years (SD = 1.4 years). The most common diagnosis was leukemia (41.9%). When adjusted for sex, age at diagnosis, insurance status, and rural residence, caregivers whose child was 1 to 5 years from diagnosis with ≥ 5 unexpected hospitalizations experienced 24.9 (95% CI, 9.1 to 40.7; P < .01) points higher financial burden than those with no unexpected hospitalizations. In addition, when compared with families without employment disruptions, families of children 1 to 5 years from diagnosis in which a caregiver had quit or changed jobs reported 13.4 (95% CI, 3.2 to 23.6; P = .01) points higher financial burden. CONCLUSIONS Efforts to reduce unexpected hospitalizations and employment disruptions by providing more comprehensive supportive care for pediatric patients with cancer could help ease families' financial burden.
Respiratory virology and microbiology in intensive care units: a prospective cohort study

Our aim was to determine the frequency of 12 common respiratory viruses in patients admitted to intensive care units with respiratory symptoms, evaluate the clinical characteristics and to compare the results to routine microbiological diagnostics. Throat swabs from 122 intensive care‐patients >18 years with acute respiratory symptoms were collected upon admission and analysed with multiplex real‐time polymerase chain reaction, for 12 community respiratory viruses. Blood and respiratory tract specimens were analysed for bacteria and fungi upon clinicians' request. Clinical and paraclinical data were collected. Viruses were detected in 19 (16%) of the 122 study patients. Five virus‐positive patients (26%) had possible clinically relevant bacteria or fungi co‐detected. Patients with exacerbation in COPD were associated with a viral infection (p = 0.02). Other comorbidities, clinical and paraclinical parameters, and death were independent of a viral infection or co‐detection of bacteria/fungi. In conclusion, respiratory viruses were frequently detected in the patients. The investigated clinical and paraclinical parameters were not different in viral infections compared to other agents, thus respiratory viruses likely have similar impact on the clinical course as other agents. In 25% of the virus‐positive patients, polymicrobial aetiology was identified. Comprehensive and sensitive diagnostic methods should be emphasized to enhance respiratory diagnostics.
Individual's Perception of Career Development and Job Burnout Among Flight Attendants in Taiwan

The purpose of this study was to examine whether an individual's perception of career development influences job burnout. The career development dimension included career choice satisfaction, career satisfaction, and confidence of career future. As for the job burnout dimension, it consisted of exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficacy. Survey data collected from 358 Taiwan flight attendants indicated that with the exception that career satisfaction did not show a significant effect on professional efficacy, career choice satisfaction and confidence of career future were significantly predictive of all three dimensions of job burnout. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Silicone Suction Socket (3s) Versus Supracondylar Ptb Prosthesis with Pelite Liner: Transtibial Amputees' Preferences

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to evaluate the preference of transtibial amputees for the Silicone Suction Socket (3S) versus the supracondylar PTB prosthesis with pelite liner and to explore the reasons for their preferences. Eight patients with residual-limb problems were asked to wear each type of prosthesis for a minimum of 10 weeks (except if no definitive 3S was made due to problems with the trial socket) and subsequently were asked to complete questionnaires to discuss comfort, ambulation and activities of daily life, working conditions, and sports activities with the prostheses. Two patients did not receive a definitive 3S because they could not walk comfortably on the trial socket Two of the six amputees who used both socket designs preferred the 3S, two preferred the supracondylar PTB with pelite liner, and two were satisfied with both prostheses.
RB1 gene in Merkel cell carcinoma: hypermethylation in all tumors and concurrent heterozygous deletions in the polyomavirus‐negative subgroup

Sequestration of the tumor suppressor retinoblastoma protein (RB) by the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) is a crucial step in the pathogenesis of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). RB expression is frequently lost, particularly in MCV‐negative MCC tumors, through yet unknown mechanisms. We compared the genomic copy number changes of 13 MCV‐positive and 13 ‐negative MCC tumors by array comparative genomic hybridization. The analysis revealed increased genomic instability, amplification of 1p34.3–1p34.2, and losses of 11p in the absence of MCV infection. Deletions of the RB1 locus were also detected at high rates in MCV‐negative tumors. None of the tumors with heterozygous RB1 losses expressed RB in immunohistochemistry. RB1 promoter hypermethylation was studied with a methylation‐specific multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification technique. The RB1 promoter was methylated in all tumor specimens at CpG islands located close to the ATG start codon, albeit at low levels. The pattern of hypermethylation was similar in all MCC samples, despite RB expression, survival or MCV status. In conclusion, the frequent heterozygous losses of the RB1 locus could partly explain the decreased RB expression in MCV‐negative MCC tumors, although the effects of RB1 mutations, coinciding promoter hypermethylation and, for example, miRNA regulation, cannot be excluded.
Development of a novel glutathione repleting agent, L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (Procysteine®)

A number of disease states are associated with episodes of acute or chronic oxidative stress, including Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Under conditions of oxidative stress, glutathione, a central component of the body's antioxidant defence system, is often depleted and damage to cells and tissues from reactive oxygen species can result. Therapies which replete glutathione may prevent or alleviate such damage. Several approaches to glutathione repletion are under investigation including delivering glutathione in an esterified form and increasing the supply of cysteine, which limits glutathione synthesis. L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (OTC), a cysteine prodrug, is metabolised to cysteine intracellularly, where glutathione synthesis occurs. Extensive preclinical research has demonstrated that OTC increases glutathione levels in animal models in which glutathione was depleted by oxidative stress or chemical means. In toxicology studies, Pro.
Description of the population structure and genetic diversity of tuberculosis in Estado de México, a low prevalence setting from Mexico

In order to identify the genetic characteristics of the strains of mycobacteria circulating in the Estado de México, one of the states with the lowest prevalence of tuberculosis in Mexico, spoligotyping and 12‐loci MIRU‐VNTR typing were used to genotype tuberculosis clinical isolates. The average age of the 183 patients analyzed was 50 (± 17) years, drug resistance was noted in 57 (31%) and multidrug resistance in 22 (12%) individuals. The results from the isolates recovered showed that 80% were located in four major Euro‐American lineages: Haarlem (17%), LAM (15%), T (20%) and X (29%). Other lineages found in lower proportions were: EAI, S, Beijing, West African, Turkey, Vole and Bovis. Eighteen isolates were orphans. Only 57 isolates were grouped in nine clusters and the SIT119 (X1) showed the highest number of members (23). The LAM lineage showed an increased risk for development of drug resistance (RR=4, IC: 95%: 1.05–14.2, p = 0.03). Despite the important prevalence of four major lineages found and the diversity of strains circulating in the population, we found the presence of one of the largest populations of isolates clustered to the X lineage in a setting from a Latin American country.
Keeping exotic pets

PETER Scott ( VR , January 11, 2014, vol 174, pp 51-52), in response to our letter expressing concerns about the keeping of exotic pets ( VR , December 7, 2013, vol 173, p 558), stated that it is not true that the UK is ‘being swamped by exotic pets ripped from the wild’. There is a dearth of evidence concerning the numbers and origins of the animals traded to become exotic pets. However, as pointed out by Elaine Toland ( VR , January 11, 2014, vol 174, p 52) and Richard Kock ( VR , January 18, 2014, vol 174, p 75), the evidence available indicates that a substantial proportion of imported exotic pets – a large number of animals – might be wild caught. We ask Mr Scott to provide evidence to support his assertion to the contrary. Mr Scott …
Comparison of chemiluminescent immunoassay and ELISA for measles IgG and IgM

In the context of measles elimination, the identification of recent infections is important for clinical laboratories. Serological diagnosis is achieved by detecting specific IgG and IgM. Recently an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) (Liaison, DiaSorin, Italy) has been used to quantify the measles antibody. The aim of this study was to compare this assay with Enzygnost ELISA (Siemens, Germany), with final classification of discrepancies by indirect immunofluorescence (Euroimmun, Germany). For measles IgM, 204 sera were analyzed: 50 IgM‐positive, 104 IgM‐negative/IgG‐positive, and 50 from other viral infections (B19V, rubella, mumps, CMV, and EBV). For the measles IgG assay, 162 samples were tested: 106 were positive and 56 were negative. For measles IgM, the sensitivity and specificity of CLIA against ELISA were 94% (95% CI: 83.2–98.6) and 100% (95% CI: 97.1–100), respectively; the corrected figures after the final classification of discrepancies were 100% (95% CI: 91.0–100) and 99.4% (95% CI: 96.1–100), respectively. In relation to IgG, the sensitivity and specificity of CLIA against ELISA were, respectively, 97.2% (95% CI: 91.7–99.4) and 92.9% (95% CI: 82.5–97.7), and 95.5% (95% CI: 89.5–98.3) and 100% (95% CI: 91.8–100) after the final classification. CLIA showed excellent sensitivity and specificity in detecting measles IgG and IgM antibodies, eliminating the need to aliquot specimens before carrying out the assay.
Dancing for life: an evaluation of a UK rural dance programme

This study is an independent evaluation of a programme of dance activities provided in rural Lincolnshire in the UK over a 30-month period. Mixed methods were used including a questionnaire to elicit demographic data as well as attitudes about health and well-being; individual interviews and focus groups. A total of 34 new dance classes were established, 13 new leaders were trained and 1964 adults participated. The majority of participants were women over the age of 50 who were not in work. The evidence indicates that the participants developed strong personal, physical and social outcomes, especially a sense of improved well-being, new friendships and enjoyment. Community-based dance activities can be effective in promoting a sense of well-being in rural communities. This particular programme has been delivered over a wide geographic area and across socio-economic boundaries. There is evidence from this independent evaluation that the programme has been successful in meeting its aims.
Accumulation in the blood of a deuterium tracer added to hot and cold beverages

Deterium (2H) accumulation in the circulation was determined in 10 subjects after they ingested 7 ml · kg−1 of a dilute glucose‐electrolyte solution that contained 10 g of 2H2O and was hot (50°C) on one occasion and cold (4°C) on another. In addition, 7 subjects repeated their first trial on a third occasion. Subjects fasted overnight and remained seated at rest during the experiment Blood 2H concentration was significantly greater at 5 min after ingestion of the hot as compared with the cold treatment and at 60 min for the cold as compared with the hot treatment The rate of blood 2H accumulation was not different when the same solution was ingested on different days. The results indicate that the rate of 2H accumulation is: 1) similar for hot and cold solutions and 2) reproducible when the same solution is ingested on different days. This implies that the rate at which dilute glucose‐electrolyte solutions are made available to the body is not much influenced by the temperature at which they are ingested.
Long‐term treatment with the oncolytic ECHO‐7 virus Rigvir of a melanoma stage IV M1c patient, a small cell lung cancer stage IIIA patient, and a histiocytic sarcoma stage IV patient‐three case reports

Oncolytic virotherapy is a recent addition to cancer treatment. Here, we describe positive treatment outcomes in three patients using Rigvir virotherapy. One of the patients is diagnosed with melanoma stage IV M1c, one with small cell lung cancer stage IIIA, and one with histiocytic sarcoma stage IV. The diagnoses of all patients are verified by histology or cytology. All patients started Rigvir treatment within a few months after being diagnosed and are currently continuing Rigvir treatment. The degree of regression of the disease has been determined by computed tomography. Safety assessment of adverse events graded according to NCI CTCAE did not show any value above grade 1 during Rigvir® treatment. Using current standard treatments, the survival of patients with the present diagnoses is low. In contrast, the patients described here were diagnosed 3.5, 7.0, and 6.6 years ago, and their condition has improved and been stabile for over 1.5, 6.5, and 4 years, respectively. These observations suggest that virotherapy using Rigvir can successfully be used in long‐term treatment of patients with melanoma stage IV M1c, small cell lung cancer stage IIIA, and histiocytic sarcoma stage IV and therefore could be included in prospective clinical studies.
A Preliminary Assessment of Health and Disease in Human Skeletal Remains from Shi San Hang: A Prehistoric Aboriginal Site on Taiwan.

A preliminary assessment of the health and disease of 23 (15 males and eight females) of the most complete and best preserved adult skeletons from the Shi San Hang site (ca 1800-500 B.P.), Taipei Prefecture, Taiwan, is made. Overall, the prehistoric inhabitants of Shi San Hang were relatively healthy. Adult mean statures indicate that the Shi San Hang adults were slightly taller than living Taiwan aboriginals. While moderately high frequencies of dental enamel hypoplasia (37.1%) and cribra orbitalia (38.9%) are observed in these remains, the overall health of these prehistoric inhabitants was good. Low frequencies of premortem tooth loss (0.3%), dental caries (1.0%), and dental abscessing (0.7%), and moderately low frequencies of periodontal disease observed in these remains suggest a mixed economy. Sex differences in the frequencies of some indicators in this prehistoric Taiwan aboriginal skeletal series suggest possible gender-related occupational/cultural uses of teeth. With the exception of spondylolysis in three individuals, bone trauma is rare. There is no evidence of general or specific infectious disease in these remains. Degenerative joint disease is not marked in the specimens examined. Limited comparisons of the results of this study are made with modern and prehistoric skeletal series from surrounding regions of Asia and the Pacific.
Comparing schizophrenia symptoms in the Iban of Sarawak with other populations to elucidate clinical heterogeneity

The symptom profile of schizophrenia can vary between ethnic groups. We explored selected symptom variables previously reported to be characteristic of schizophrenia in the Iban of Sarawak in transethnic populations from Australia, India, and Sarawak, Malaysia. We tested site differences to confirm previous research, and to explore implications of differences across populations for future investigations.
Response of Epinephrine on Electrocardiogram During Thiopental and Methoxyflurane Anesthesia in Sheep

Abstract Edjtehadi, M. and Mehrabani, D. 2003. Response of epinephrine on electrocardiogram during thiopental and methoxyflurane anesthesia in sheep. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 24: 89–94. Due to lack of information concerning thiopental and methoxyflurane- induced myocardium sensitizing to epinephrine in sheep, it was decided to choose sheep as an experimental animal model. The effects of epinephrine on electrocardiograms in thiopental-anesthetized animals showed a significant increase in heart rate, while in methoxyflurane anesthetized, animals no such increase was observed. The EKG intervals such as P, PR, QRS, QT, T and ST were significantly reduced in unanesthetized (non- treated) animals. But, in thiopental-anesthetized animals, the decrease was not observed in QRS and T intervals, but in methoxyflurane-anesthetized animals no decrease was observed in P, PR, QRS and T interval. Highly significant increase (P<0.01) was observed in T amplitude in untreated and, thiopental-anesthetized animals. The arrhythmogenic effects of epinephrine observed in this study were augmented with thiopental anesthetic; while the effect of epinephrine was not augmented by methoxyflurane anesthetic and it was able to prevent this effect. It. is concluded that intravenous use of epinephrine and methoxyflurane concomitantly in clinical circumstances is not hazardous as it is in man due to lack of sensitization of myocardium and/or potentiality for epinephrine effects.
Parallel Scheduling for Early Completion

This chapter assumes knowledge of some basic scheduling terminology provided in Part I of this book.We are concerned in this chapter with classical deterministic parallel scheduling with the objectiveof minimizing the makespan. Both preemptive and nonpreemptive schedules are considered. Therecan be precedence relationships between jobs. Excluded from consideration in this chapter are paral-lel scheduling models of other typical job characteristics, on-line and randomized algorithms, all of whichare covered in separate chapters of this book. We will address the following aspects of the schedulingproblems: Polynomial solvability and approximability Enumerative algorithms Polynomial-time approximationsAlthough we also consider scheduling jobs of different release dates, we will mainly concentrate onmodels of equal job release dates. The reason is as follows. If all jobs are not released at the same time, thenthe scheduling problems of minimizing the makespan can be viewed as special cases of the correspondingproblems of minimizing maximum lateness, which is dealt with in a separate chapter. To see this, notethat due to schedule symmetry on the time axis, there is an equivalence relationship (with respect to theobjective value) between scheduling of the former objective and that of the latter: To a schedule
Sporotrichosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Peruvian Patients: Two Case Reports and Literature Review

Two cases of sporotrichosis in persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are reported. Both patients traveled and/or lived in rural areas recognized either as endemic or from where some other non HIV-related cases were reported. In the first case, the patient had a systemic disease with cutaneous, subcutaneous, bone marrow and multiple joint involvement. In the second case, disseminated tuberculosis was concomitantly diagnosed by the time of sporotrichosis diagnosis. Both patients had a good clinical response to intravenous amphotericin B used as primary therapy. Discussions about the clinical aspects and probable pathogenesis and a review of current literature are conducted.
The efficacy and safety of ezetimibe coadministered with statin therapy in various patient groups

Abstract Various guidelines for cholesterol management recognize LDL cholesterol (LDL‑C) lowering as the primary target of lipid‑lowering therapy (LLT) and statin therapy as an important approach to reducing LDL‑C levels. Guidelines advocate more intensive statin therapy and/or combination therapy for higher‑risk patients who do not achieve recommended LDL‑C levels. However, many individuals do not attain guideline‑recommended LDL‑C levels, particularly those at higher cardiovascular risk. Response to and tolerability of LLT can also vary by patient characteristics, such as age, gender and race‑related factors, as well as medical conditions including diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, familial hypercholesterolemia, aortic valve stenosis and chronic kidney disease. Consideration of such characteristics is important in optimizing LLT for patients with these abnormalities. Coadministration of the cholesterol absorption inhibitor, ezetimibe, with statins improves LDL‑C lowering, other lipid parameters and high‑sensitivity CRP levels more than statins alone across diverse patient populations. The combination also reduces ischemic events in patients with chronic kidney disease and aortic valve stenosis. In clinical studies, ezetimibe plus statin therapy has been generally well tolerated in >22,000 patients during 6–24 weeks and in >11,000 patients in studies up to 4 years in duration. This article summarizes the treatment recommendations for subgroups at increased cardiovascular risk and reviews the available information relating to the efficacy and safety provided by ezetimibe in combination with statins in these and other specific patient subpopulations.
PTSD and Depression Among Combat and Noncombat Israeli Veterans

The study aims to differentiate between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among Israeli combat and noncombat veterans by examining the perception of support resources, perception of their lives, emotional pain, and sociodemographic variables. A total of 155 veterans were divided into groups: PTSD, depressed, and control. The results yielded apparent differences between PTSD and depression groups according to the hypotheses. PTSD combat and noncombat veterans are different from the controls on all variables and appear to be in the worst psychological state.
Parkinson's disease: emerging pharmacotherapy

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. The prevalence is increasing with age and averages approximately 0.3% in the entire population. The clinical picture is dominated by the cardinal motor symptoms such as tremor at rest, bradykinesia, muscular rigidity, stooped posture and postural instability. Psychiatric comorbidity is common, comprising dementia, depression, anxiety and psychosis. Although many drugs have been developed and introduced into the market to provide symptomatic treatment, there is still no cure for PD and not even solid evidence for disease-modifying strategies. In addition, motor complications in advanced stages of the disease, side effects of the dopaminergic therapy, and non-motor symptoms remain huge challenges during long-term therapy. Thus, new therapeutic agents are desperately needed. Here, we describe current therapies and possible future developments that we hope will contribute to sustaining quality of life in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease for many years.