Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
alpha-Methylacyl coenzyme A racemase as a tissue biomarker for prostate cancer.

CONTEXT Molecular profiling of prostate cancer has led to the identification of candidate biomarkers and regulatory genes. Discoveries from these genome-scale approaches may have applicability in the analysis of diagnostic prostate specimens. OBJECTIVES To determine the expression and clinical utility of alpha-methylacyl coenzyme A racemase (AMACR), a gene identified as being overexpressed in prostate cancer by global profiling strategies. DESIGN Four gene expression data sets from independent DNA microarray analyses were examined to identify genes expressed in prostate cancer (n = 128 specimens). A lead candidate gene, AMACR, was validated at the transcript level by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and at the protein level by immunoblot and immunohistochemical analysis. AMACR levels were examined using prostate cancer tissue microarrays in 342 samples representing different stages of prostate cancer progression. Protein expression was characterized as negative (score = 1), weak (2), moderate (3), or strong (4). Clinical utility of AMACR was evaluated using 94 prostate needle biopsy specimens. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Messenger RNA transcript and protein levels of AMACR; sensitivity and specificity of AMACR as a tissue biomarker for prostate cancer in needle biopsy specimens. RESULTS Three of 4 independent DNA microarray analyses (n = 128 specimens) revealed significant overexpression of AMACR in prostate cancer (P<.001). AMACR up-regulation in prostate cancer was confirmed by both RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated an increased expression of AMACR in malignant prostate epithelia relative to benign epithelia. Tissue microarrays to assess AMACR expression in specimens consisting of benign prostate (n = 108 samples), atrophic prostate (n = 26), prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (n = 75), localized prostate cancer (n = 116), and metastatic prostate cancer (n = 17) demonstrated mean AMACR protein staining intensity of 1.31 (95% confidence interval, 1.23-1.40), 2.33 (95% CI, 2.13-2.52), 2.67 (95% CI, 2.52-2.81), 3.20 (95% CI, 3.10-3.28), and 2.50 (95% CI, 2.20-2.80), respectively (P<.001). Pairwise comparisons demonstrated significant differences in staining intensity between clinically localized prostate cancer compared with benign prostate tissue, with mean expression scores of 3.2 and 1.3, respectively (mean difference, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.7-2.1; P<.001). Using moderate or strong staining intensity as positive (score = 3 or 4), evaluation of AMACR protein expression in 94 prostate needle biopsy specimens demonstrated 97% sensitivity and 100% specificity for detecting prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS AMACR was shown to be overexpressed in prostate cancer using independent experimental methods and prostate cancer specimens. AMACR may be useful in the interpretation of prostate needle biopsy specimens that are diagnostically challenging.
Use of state sequence analysis for care pathway analysis: The example of multiple sclerosis

The concept of care pathways is increasingly being used to enhance the quality of care and to optimize the use of resources for health care. We here propose an innovative method in epidemiology that is derived from social sciences: state sequence analysis (SSA). This method takes into account the chronology of care consumption and allows for identification of specific patterns. A process for using SSA in the health area is proposed and discussed. The main steps are: data coding, measurement of dissimilarities between sequences (focusing on optimal matching methods and the choice of related costs), and application of a clustering method to obtain a typology of sequence patterns. As an example of its use in the health area, SSA was employed to analyse care pathways of a random sample of patients with multiple sclerosis. This sample has been selected from the main French healthcare database covering the period 2007 to 2013 (n = 1 000). A five-cluster typology was obtained which allowed distinction of care consumption groups. Overall, about half of the patients had low care consumption, about one quarter had medium to high consumption, and another quarter had high consumption. We conclude that state sequence analysis is an innovative and flexible methodology that is worth considering in health care research.
The Impact of Quality Perception and Consumer Valuation Change on Manufacturer's Optimal Warranty, Pricing, and Market Coverage Strategies

We consider a manufacturer who produces and sells a new product in a monopoly market. The new product quality is unobservable to consumers before purchase. Consumers make purchase decisions based on their perception of product quality. In addition, consumer valuation towards the product will be reduced if a product failure is experienced. We formulate a two-period model to analyze the impact of consumer quality perception and consumer valuation change on manufacturer’s optimal decisions over quality, warranty, price and market coverage strategies. We find that it is optimal for the manufacturer to offer warranty compensation that is higher than the purchase price when he has a low quality reputation but is offering a high quality product. We also identify the optimal strategy for the manufacturer in terms of market coverage. Specifically, when the consumer valuation discount factor due to product failure experience is high, it is optimal for the manufacturer to serve only the high segment in the second period. Otherwise, serving both the high and the low segments generates more profit. We further investigate consumer welfare and identify win-win conditions, where the optimal strategy of the manufacturer benefits the consumers as well.
Effect of Surgical Treatment of Mandibular Fracture: Electromyographic Analysis, Bite Force, and Mandibular Mobility

Abstract This study aimed to examine individuals undergoing surgery for the treatment of the fractured mandibular angle, using bite force, mandibular mobility, and electromyographic (EMG) analysis in many different clinical conditions, after 2 months postoperatively. Bite force was recorded with a digital dynamometer, model IDDK. The EMG activity (Myosystem-Br1) included the analysis of the masseter and temporal muscles. Mandibular mobility was measured using a digital pachymeter. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: G1, mandibular angle fracture (n = 7); G2, condylar process fracture (n = 5); and G3, control (n = 12). Data were tabulated and submitted to statistical analysis using the repeated-measure test carried out over time and the Student’s t-test (P < 0.05), using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, version 19 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL). G1 and G2 had an increase in bite force. In G1, there was a regular decrease in the EMG activity in the second postoperative month. G2 presented an irregular pattern in EMG data during the period tested. Regarding the mandibular mobility, both groups obtained amplitude of all mandibular movements with a high percentage, when compared with control. A good functional recovery was achieved by the individuals who had a mandible angle fracture or condylar process fracture, after 2 postoperative months.
Decreased Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection in HIV Patients with AIDS defining Diseases

Various clinical studies indicated a lower prevalence of HP infection in HIV patients. The present study was initiated to determine whether the decreased frequency of HP infections in HIV patients might be associated with the stage of the underlying HIV disease or concomitant drug regimens the patients had received. 60 randomly selected HIV outpatients were stratified according to the stage of their HIV infection (CDC classification), their CD4 cell count and to the drug regimens they were given. Within these subgroups of patients, HP infection prevalence was separately investigated by serological and C13 breath testing. Data were compared to a reference population of 30 healthy volunteers. No difference in HP infection prevalence was found between the HIV infected patients in general and the reference cohort. A significantly lower proportion of HP infected individuals was observed among those HIV patients who had AIDS-defining diseases. Furthermore, a substantial but insignificant decrease of HP infection prevalence was noted in HIV patients with an extensive decline of CD4 cell count (< 100/microl). HIV patients who had received antimicrobial or H2-antagonizing drugs within 12 months prior to the study commencement also were found to have a remarkably decreased frequency of HP infections independently of their CD4 cell count. No association between HP infection prevalence and patients age, sex, risk group and the type of their antiretroviral treatment was found.We concluded from these results that the decreased HP infection prevalence in HIV patients may, apart from frequent antibiotic treatment, be correlated to the stage of HIV-mediated immune suppression.
Making Deferred Taxes Relevant

Abstract We analyse the conceptual problems in current accounting for deferred taxes and provide solutions derived from the literature in order to make International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) deferred tax numbers value-relevant. In our view, the empirical results concerning the value relevance of deferred taxes should find their way into the accounting standard-setting process. We conclude that deferred taxes should only be recognised for temporary differences that will result in real future tax payments and/or tax receipts. Temporary differences for which the tax cash flow has already occurred have valuation implications for the underlying asset or liability and should, therefore, be accounted for based on the valuation adjustment approach. Furthermore, we conclude that partial allocation should replace comprehensive allocation in order to better align deferred taxes with expected future cash flows and thus increase their relevance and understandability. Finally, we conclude that deferred tax balances should be measured on a discounted basis to address time value.
Risk of Early-Onset Proliferative Retinopathy in IDDM Is Closely Related to Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy

Determinants of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) that occur during the 2nd decade of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) (early-onset PDR) were investigated in a nested case-control study. From an inception cohort of patients with juvenile-onset IDDM that now has 15–21 yr diabetes duration, the patients with PDR (cases, n = 74) were selected for study along with a random sample of the patients in the cohort without PDR (control subjects, n = 88). The risk of PDR was associated with poor glycemic control during the first 12 yr of diabetes. Relative to patients in the first quartile of the index of hyperglycemia, those in higher quartiles and nonattenders had a four- to fivefold risk of developing PDR. A striking relationship with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) was found. Relative to patients without CAN, patients with significant and mild CAN had odds ratios of 77.5 and 34.6, respectively. Patients with albumin excretion rates > 30 μgrams/min had moderately increased risk of PDR (ranging from 4-fold for microalbuminuria to 7-fold for proteinuria). In contrast, patients with impaired renal function had an extremely high risk of PDR. All 20 of these patients were cases, therefore the odds ratio was infinite. All three factors (poor glycemic control, CAN, and various stages of nephropathy) were associated with PDR in multiple logistic regression analysis. However, in models including glycemic control, the association between microalbuminuria or proteinuria and PDR was weakened. In conclusion, our findings are consistent with a hypothesis that the level of glycemia is a primary determinant of early-onset PDR. Autonomic neuropathy, almost universal amongcases, may be a strong risk factor for or a risk indicator of an etiologic process underlying the development of PDR. Conditions associated with advanced diabetic nephropathy, on the other hand, may accelerate the progression of nonproliferative retinopathy to PDR.
Conversational Maxim View of Politeness: Focus on Politeness Implicatures Raised in Performing Persian Offers and Invitations

This study reviewed the criticisms against Brown and Levinson’s (1987) claim about necessity of violation of cooperative principles (CP) in giving rise to politeness implicatures. To support these critiques, evidences from Persian offers and invitations were provided from the texts of 10 Iranian movies. As no alternative framework for analysing the content of these implicatures has been proposed so far, the researchers adopted two politeness principles namely ‘tact’ and ‘generosity’ maxims as well as the cost-benefit and directness-indirectness scales proposed by Leech (1983) to fill this gap in the area of Persian pragmatics. The results of this study showed that both generosity and tact maxims are the main reasons behind both direct and indirect offers and invitations. Besides, the results showed that cost-benefit scale can explain the politeness implicatures raised in performing these speech acts better than directness-indirectness scale.
Bounded rationality and the adoption of weather index insurance: Evidence from an extra-laboratory experiment with farmers in Germany

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to check which role-bounded rationality might play as an explanation for farmers’ missing willingness to adopt weather index insurance (WII). WII is an innovative risk management instrument that causes low administration and regulation costs. Moreover, index insurance is plagued neither by moral hazard nor by adverse selection. Nonetheless, WII has been little used to date in agriculture. Design/methodology/approach - An extra-laboratory experiment in the form of a multi-period, single-person business simulation game is conducted with farmers as experimental subjects to investigate the reasons for the low willingness to adopt WII. Findings - First, the demand for WII decreases as the premium loading increases. Second, a transparent communication of the loading reduces demand, indicating that farmers refrain from transactions if they feel that the other party earns (too) much money. Third, communicating to farmers that the index insurance has been subsidized raises demand even though insurance costs in terms of loading are kept constant. This can be taken as an indication that farmers interpret subsidies as a signal for profitable action. Originality/value - Using an experimental approach and going beyond observational research, this study investigates the prominent question of farmers’ risk management and innovation adoption behavior, and, in particular, the behavioral effect of subsidies. Using a randomized controlled trial, the real behavior of real subjects with real incentives is studied under controlled experimental conditions. Compared to prior studies, the external validity of the experiment is improved by recruiting farmers instead of a convenience group of students.
Clinical aspects of inflammation in Alzheimer's disease

In Alzheimer's disease (AD) there is increasing evidence that neurotoxicity is mediated by CNS inflammatory processes. These processes involve activation of microglia by amyloid-β leading to release of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α among others. Neurotoxic processes mediated by these cytokines may include direct neuronal death by enhancement of apoptosis, decreased synaptic function as evidence by inhibition of long-term potentiation, and inhibition of hippocampal neurogenesis. Central nervous system (CNS) inflammation may predate the development of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in AD and may prove to be a more sensitive marker of prodromal AD. New developments in measuring CNS inflammation include measuring cytokine release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the development of PET markers of microglial activation. There is epidemiological evidence that circulating serum IL-6 is associated with poorer cognition. While epidemiological studies suggest a protective effect of NSAIDs against development of AD, controlled trials of NSAIDs to date have not shown any protective effect of drug. New anti-inflammatory agents for treating or preventing AD may include novel NSAIDs and opioid antagonists. These developments provide an alternative or potential adjunct to anti-amyloid therapies for AD.
Lower motor neuron syndromes defined by patterns of weakness, nerve conduction abnormalities, and high titers of antiglycolipid antibodies

We studied 74 patients with progressive, asymmetrical lower motor neuron syndromes. Clinical features of these patients, including age, sex, disease duration, patterns of weakness, and reflex changes, were evaluated by review of records. In each patient the clinical features were compared to the type of nerve conduction abnormalities and to the specificities of high‐titer serum antiglycolipid antibodies. Antibody specificities were determined by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay using purified glycolipids and carbohydrates as substrates. Our results show that high titers of antibodies to glycolipids are common in sera of patients with lower motor neuron syndromes. Selective patterns of reactivity indicate that specific carbohydrate epitopes on the glycolipids are the targets of the high‐titer antibodies in individual patients with lower motor neuron syndromes. Several distinct lower motor neuron syndromes can be identified based on clinical, physiological, and antiglycolipid antibody characteristics. These syndromes include multifocal motor neuropathy with evidence of multifocal conduction block on motor, but not sensory, axons and frequent (84 ) high titers of anti‐GM1 ganglioside antibodies; a lower motor neuron syndrome with predominantly distal weakness early in the disease course, no conduction block, and a high incidence (64%) of anti‐GM1 antibodies; and a lower motor neuron syndrome with predominant early weakness in proximal muscles and serum antibodies to asialo GM1 that do not cross‐react with GM1 ganglioside.
In vitro and in vivo MR evaluation of internal gradient to assess trabecular bone density

Here we propose a new magnetic resonance (MR) strategy based on the evaluation of internal gradient (Gi) to assess the trabecular bone (TB) density in spongy bone. Spongy bone is a porous system characterized by a solid trabecular network immersed in bone marrow and characterized by a different relative percentage of water and fats. Using a 9.4 T MR micro-imaging system, we first evaluated the relative water and fat Gi as extracted from the Spin-Echo decay function in vitro of femoral head samples from calves. Indeed, the differential effects of fat and water diffusion result in different types of Gi behavior. Using a clinical MR 3T scanner, we then investigated in vivo the calcanei of individuals characterized by different known TB densities. We demonstrate, on these samples, that water is more prevalent in the boundary zone, while fats are rearranged primarily in the central zone of each pore. In vitro experiments showed that water Gi magnitude from the samples was directly proportional to their TB density. Similar behavior was also observed in the clinical measures. Conversely, fat Gi did not provide any information on spongy-bone density. Our results suggest that water Gi may be a reliable marker to assess the status of spongy bone.
Ultrasound may decrease the emergency surgery rate of incarcerated inguinal hernia

Objective Manual reduction is the standard procedure for incarcerated inguinal hernia reduction. The role of ultrasound in incarcerated inguinal hernia reduction has not been defined. The aim of this study was to determine whether ultrasound can improve the ability to reduce incarcerated inguinal hernia safely when manual reduction fails and thereby decrease the emergency surgery rate. Material and methods Between January 1994 and December 2003, 112 adult patients with incarcerated inguinal hernias were admitted to a university medical center and classified into two groups. Group I consisted of 61 patients who received emergency surgical reduction after the failure of two attempts at manual reduction. In Group II, comprising 51 patients, ultrasound-guided reduction was performed when two attempts at manual reduction failed. Emergency surgical reduction was scheduled if both ultrasound-guided reduction and two attempts at manual reduction failed. The difference in emergency surgery rates between groups I and II was compared. Results In group I, manual reduction was successful in 55 cases (90.2%) and 6 patients underwent emergency surgery. In group II, manual reduction was successful in 45 cases, ultrasound-guided reduction in 4 cases, 1 reduction was avoided after ultrasonic examination, and 1 patient underwent emergency surgery. The emergency surgery rates in groups I and II were 9.8% and 2.0%, respectively. Conclusions Ultrasound can improve the ability to reduce incarcerated inguinal hernia safely when manual reduction fails and may decrease the rate of emergency surgery.
Idiopathic itch, rash, and urticaria/angioedema merit serum vitamin D evaluation: a descriptive case series.

BACKGROUND Vitamin D insufficiency is epidemic. Rarely are cutaneous consequences attributed to low vitamin D. METHODS A retrospective case series of 63 patients describes an association of pruritus, rash, and urticaria/angioedema with low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D <32 ng/mL). The 90% (57/63) of patients with low vitamin D were treated with 8 to 12 weeks of vitamin D 50,000 IU weekly followed by daily supplementation. Concurrent diagnoses were treated routinely. Complete resolution of cutaneous symptoms defined response. RESULTS Patients were 3 to 80 years of age. The 90% (57/63) with low vitamin D (25[OH]D < 32 ng/mL) had a mean age of 47 (11 to 80) years old, 70% were atopic, and 77% were female. Median duration of idiopathic cutaneous symptoms was 18 months. Mean 25[OH]D was 18.0 ng/mL. With vitamin D treatment 70% (40/57) had complete resolution of symptoms. Mean 25[OH]D for vitamin D responsive patients (16.8 ng/mL) was significantly lower than for vitamin D non-responsive treated patients (20.9 ng/mL, P = 0.02 by unpaired t-Test). Resolution of cutaneous symptoms with vitamin D supplementation occurred in a mean of 4.2 weeks. Symptom recurrence was seen in subsequent months only if vitamin D insufficiency recurred. CONCLUSION This retrospective case-series, with a 70% (40/57) vitamin D treatment success, suggests that vitamin D status should be assessed in patients with idiopathic cutaneous symptoms. If vitamin D is low, symptom resolution is often possible with oral supplementation of vitamin D. Controlled clinical studies are required to confirm these associations.