Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic significance of lymphovascular infiltration in overall survival of gastric cancer patients after surgery with curative intent

Objective Lymphovascular infiltration (LVI) is frequently detected in gastric cancer (GC) specimens. Studies have revealed that GC patients with LVI have a poorer prognosis than those without LVI. Methods In total, 1,007 patients with curatively resected GC at Department of Gastric Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were categorized into two groups based on the LVI status: a positive group (PG; presence of LVI) and a negative group (NG; absence of LVI). The clinicopathological factors corrected with LVI and prognostic variables were analyzed. Additionally, a pathological lymphovascular-node (lvN) classification system was proposed to evaluate the superiority of its prognostic prediction of GC patients compared with that of the eighth edition of the N staging system. Results Two hundred twenty-four patients (22.2%) had LVI. The depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis were independently associated with the presence of LVI. GC patients with LVI demonstrated a significantly lower overall survival (OS) rate than those without LVI (42.8% vs. 68.9%, respectively; P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, LVI was identified as an independent prognostic factor for GC patients (hazard ratio: 1.370; 95% confidence interval: 1.094−1.717; P=0.006). Using strata analysis, significant prognostic differences between the groups were only observed in patients at stage I−IIIa or N0−2. The lvN classification was found to be more appropriate to predict the OS of GC patients after curative surgery than the pN staging system. The −2 log-likelihood of lvN classification (4,746.922) was smaller than the value of pN (4,765.196), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=18.434, P<0.001). Conclusions The presence of LVI influences the OS of GC patients at stage I−IIIa or N0−2. LVI should be incorporated into the pN staging system to enhance the accuracy of the prognostic prediction of GC patients.
Does in vitro selection of biocontrol agents guarantee success in planta? A study case of wheat protection against Fusarium seedling blight by soil bacteria

Biological control is a great hope for reducing the overutilization of pesticides in agricultural soils. It often involves microorganisms or molecules produced by microorganisms that will be able to interact with either a plant or pathogens of this plant to reduce the growth of the pathogen and limit its negative impact on the host plant. When new biocontrol products are developed, strains were mostly selected based on their ability to inhibit a pathogen of interest under in vitro conditions via antagonistic effects. Strains with no in vitro effect are often discarded and not tested in planta. But is the in vitro selection of bacterial agents according to their antagonism activities towards a plant pathogen the best way to get effective biocontrol products? To answer this question, we used wheat and the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum as a study pathosystem model. A library of 205 soil bacteria was screened in 2 types of in vitro growth inhibition tests against F. graminearum, and in an in planta experiment. We find strains which do not have inhibition phenotypes in vitro but good efficacy in planta. Interestingly, some strains belong to species (Microbacterium, Arthrobacter, Variovorax) that are not known in the literature for their ability to protect plants against fungal pathogens. Thus, developing a biocontrol product against F. graminearum must be preferentially based on the direct screening of strains for their protective activity on wheat plants against fungal diseases, rather than on their in vitro antagonistic effects on fungal growth.
A magazine study of eating disorders in India: a puzzling failure?

An attempt was made to study the extent of the problem of eating disorder in Indian women using the method of placing a notice in a women's magazine and on Facebook and referring respondents to questions on a website. The method was based upon a study conducted in the UK by Fairburn and Cooper over 30 years ago. In the UK study there were many respondents. In our study there were few. The reasons for this difference are not clear.
Immediate clinical and microbiological evaluation of the effectiveness of 0.5% versus 3% sodium hypochlorite in root canal treatment. A quasi-randomized controlled trial.

AIM To test the hypothesis that in the daily routine of a specialist clinic in endodontics that irrigation during root canal preparation with 3.0% NaOCl will result in fewer postoperative samples with cultivable bacteria than irrigation with 0.5% buffered NaOCl but, at the same time, will not result in a higher frequency of postoperative pain nor swelling. METHODOLOGY Two hundred ninety-eight patients were enrolled in the study and were randomly assigned into two groups-0.5% NaOCl and 3% NaOCl. All endodontic diagnoses were included. Root canal treatment was performed, and bacterial sampling was carried out prior to root filling. The patients were requested to complete a form regarding pain and swelling seven days postoperatively. The Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Mantel-Haenszel chi-squared and the chi-squared test with a significance level of P < 0.05 were used for statistical analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. RESULTS In the 0.5% NaOCl group, 18 (13.4%) of the root canal samples were positive; in the 3% NaOCl group, the corresponding number was 24 (18.6%). The mean difference of -5.2% (95% CI: -14.8-4.4) was not significant (p = 0.33). In the 0.5% NaOCl group, 57 (53.8%) patients reported some pain; in the 3% group, the corresponding number was 56 (53.3%). The mean difference of 0.4 (95% CI: -14.0-14.8) was not significant (p = 1.0). In the 0.5% NaOCl group, 5 (5.1%) patients reported swelling; in the 3% NaOCl group, the corresponding number was 18 (17.8%). The mean difference was 12.7 (95% CI: 3.1-22.4), which was significant (p = 0.0084). CONCLUSIONS The difference in the concentration of NaOCl (0.5% versus 3%) had no significant impact on the number of positive cultures and did not influence either the frequency or magnitude of postoperative pain. A significantly higher incidence of postoperative swelling was recorded for patients who received a greater concentration (3% NaOCl).
Psychometric Evaluation of the Korean Version of the Personhood in Dementia Questionnaire Using Rasch Analysis

There is an increasing awareness of the need to promote behaviors consistent with the understanding that individuals with dementia deserve adequate respect. Person-centered attitudes on the part of a care facility’s staff can affect care practices and relationships with residents. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Personhood in Dementia Questionnaire (KPDQ), which measures staff’s person-centered attitudes toward individuals with dementia. The KPDQ was translated and adapted based on commonly used guidelines from the World Health Organization. For psychometric testing, the data obtained from a total of 269 participants in 13 long-term care facilities were analyzed. Factor analysis, item fit, convergent validity, and known-group validity were examined. Reliability and differential item functioning (DIF) based on Rasch analysis were also assessed. The KPDQ consists of 20 items with three subscales (“agency”, “respect for personhood” and “psychosocial engagement”). Item fit statistics indicated that each item fits well with the underlying construct. The KPDQ demonstrated satisfactory convergent validity, known-group validity and internal consistency reliability. There was no DIF by subgroup according to age or educational status. Results indicated that the KPDQ is a reliable and valid tool for measuring long-term care staff’s beliefs about personhood.
Loss of Endothelial Endoglin Promotes High-Output Heart Failure Through Peripheral Arteriovenous Shunting Driven by VEGF Signaling

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Rationale: ENG (endoglin) is a coreceptor for BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) 9/10 and is strongly expressed in endothelial cells. Mutations in ENG lead to the inherited vascular disorder hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia characterized by local telangiectases and larger arteriovenous malformations (AVMs); but how ENG functions to regulate the adult vasculature is not understood. Objective: The goal of the work was to determine how ENG maintains vessel caliber in adult life to prevent AVM formation and thereby protect heart function. Methods and Results: Genetic depletion of endothelial Eng in adult mice led to a significant reduction in mean aortic blood pressure. There was no evidence of hemorrhage, anemia, or AVMs in major organs to explain the reduced aortic pressure. However, large AVMs developed in the peripheral vasculature intimately associated with the pelvic cartilaginous symphysis—a noncapsulated cartilage with a naturally high endogenous expression of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor). The increased blood flow through these peripheral AVMs explained the drop in aortic blood pressure and led to increased cardiac preload, and high stroke volumes, ultimately resulting in high-output heart failure. Development of pelvic AVMs in this region of high VEGF expression occurred because loss of ENG in endothelial cells leads to increased sensitivity to VEGF and a hyperproliferative response. Development of AVMs and associated progression to high-output heart failure in the absence of endothelial ENG was attenuated by targeting VEGF signaling with an anti-VEGFR2 (VEGF receptor 2) antibody. Conclusions: ENG promotes the normal balance of VEGF signaling in quiescent endothelial cells to maintain vessel caliber—an essential function in conditions of increased VEGF expression such as local hypoxia or inflammation. In the absence of endothelial ENG, increased sensitivity to VEGF drives abnormal endothelial proliferation in local regions of high VEGF expression, leading to AVM formation and a rapid injurious impact on heart function.
Men and women differ in their perception of gender bias in research institutions

There is extensive evidence of gender inequality in research leading to insufficient representation of women in leadership positions. Numbers revealing a gender gap in research are periodically reported by national and international institutions but data on perceptions of gender equality within the research community are scarce. In the present study, a questionnaire based on the British Athena Survey of Science, Engineering and Technology (ASSET 2016) was distributed among researchers working in Spain. Consistent with the original UK-based study, women in research perceived a greater degree of gender inequality than men. This difference was consistent from junior to senior positions, within public and private universities as well as research centres, and across all research disciplines. When responses were compared with the existing UK-based questionnaire, researchers in Spain felt that women and men are treated more equally in the workplace, yet they perceived their home departments to be less supportive regarding matters of gender equality. The results of this study provide clear evidence that men and women do not share the same perceptions of gender equality in science and that their differing perceptions are relatively consistent across two major European countries. The fact that men occupy the majority of senior positions while not perceiving the same inequality as women do, may be critical when it comes to ensuring the fair ascent of women to senior positions in an academic system. These data encourage the implementation of measures to ensure that both men and women are aware of gender biases in research.
HRQOL related to urinary diversion in Radical Cystectomy: a systematic review of recent literature

ABSTRACT Introduction: The health-related QoL is a patient-centered evaluation covering several aspects. This evaluation seems to be particularly important in patients submitted to radical cystectomy (RC) and urinary diversion with ileal conduit (IC) or a neobladder (NB). Objective: Review all recent data comparing QoL outcomes after radical cystectomy with NB and IC diversions. Evidence Acquisition: A systematic search in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement in December 2018. All articles published from January 01, 2012 to December 31, 2018, were included. A study was considered relevant if it compared QoL outcomes using validated questionnaires (EORTC QLQ C30, FACT-G, FACT-BL, FACT-VCI, and BCI). Evidence Synthesis: In 11 included studies, a total of 1389 participants were accounted (730 NB and 659 IC cases). The studies were conducted in 8 different countries, two were prospective, and none was randomized. There were two studies favoring results with a neobladder, 3 with incontinent diversion and 6 with no differences. The EORTC-QLQ-C30 was the most used instrument (5 studies) followed by FACT VCI and BCI (3 studies each). Given the heterogeneity of data and lack of prospective studies, a meta-analysis was not performed. Conclusion: No superiority of one urinary diversion was characterized. It seems that the choice must be individualized with an extensive preoperative orientation of the patient and their relatives. That will probably influence how the patient accepts the new condition.
Targeting treatable traits in severe asthma: a randomised controlled trial

Rationale Treatable traits have been proposed as a new paradigm for airway disease management. Objectives To characterise treatable traits in a severe asthma population and to determine the efficacy of targeting treatments to these treatable traits in severe asthma. Methods Participants (n=140) with severe asthma were recruited to a cross-sectional study and underwent a multidimensional assessment to characterise treatable traits. Eligible participants with severe asthma (n=55) participated in a 16-week parallel-group randomised controlled trial to determine the feasibility and efficacy of management targeted to predefined treatable traits, compared to usual care in a severe asthma clinic. The patient-reported outcome of health-related quality of life was the trial's primary end-point. Main results Participants with severe asthma had a mean±sd of 10.44±3.03 traits per person, comprising 3.01±1.54 pulmonary and 4.85±1.86 extrapulmonary traits and 2.58±1.31 behavioural/risk factors. Individualised treatment that targeted the traits was feasible and led to significantly improved health-related quality of life (0.86 units, p<0.001) and asthma control (0.73, p=0.01). Conclusions Multidimensional assessment enables detection of treatable traits and identifies a significant trait burden in severe asthma. Targeting these treatable traits using a personalised-medicine approach in severe asthma leads to improvements in health-related quality of life, asthma control and reduced primary care acute visits. Treatable traits may be an effective way to address the complexity of severe asthma. Treatable traits is a new paradigm for the management of airway disease. Managing patients with severe asthma using this approach improves health-related quality of life, and validates this as a useful management paradigm for severe asthma. http://bit.ly/2R9xRJh
Impact of total thyroidectomy on quality of life at 6 months: the prospective ThyrQoL multicentre trial.

OBJECTIVE This study is to determine the impact of complications after total thyroidectomy on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), and to identify significant predictive factors of HR-QoL changes. HR-QoL is usually impaired in patients with thyroid diseases compared to the general population. Thyroidectomy is largely performed in case of benign thyroid benign, and can be associated with long-term complications (vocal cord palsy, hypoparathyroidism). DESIGN The prospective ThyrQoL multicentre trial (NCT02167529) included 800 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for benign or malignant non-extensive disease in seven French referral hospitals between 2014 and 2016. METHODS HR-QoL was assessed using the MOS 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) self-questionnaire with a 6-month follow-up. RESULTS We observed a significant improvement of HR-QoL 6 month after surgery (p< 0.0001). Postoperative complications were associated with a non-significant impairment of HR-QoL. In multivariate analysis, Graves' disease was associated with a significant improvement of HR-QoL (OR = 2.39 1.49; 3.84) and thyroid malignant disease with an impairment of HR-QoL (OR = 1.44 0.99; 2.08) after thyroidectomy. CONCLUSIONS We observed a significant improvement of HR-QoL 6 month after total thyroid surgery for benign thyroid disease.
Treatment of Older Patients With Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL): Long-Term Follow-Up of the Randomized European MCL Elderly Trial.

PURPOSE In an update of the randomized, open-label, phase III European Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) Elderly trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00209209), published in 2012, we aimed to confirm results on long-term outcome focusing on efficacy and safety of long-term use of rituximab maintenance. PATIENTS AND METHODS Five hundred sixty patients with newly diagnosed MCL underwent a first random assignment between rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) and rituximab, fludarabine, and cyclophosphamide (R-FC) induction, followed by a second random assignment in 316 responders between rituximab and interferon alfa maintenance, to be continued until progression. We compared progression-free survival from the second randomization and overall survival (OS) from the first or second randomizations. RESULTS After a median follow-up time of 7.6 years, the previously described difference in OS between the induction arms persisted (median, 6.4 years after R-CHOP [n = 280] v 3.9 years after R-FC [n = 280]; P = .0054). Patients responding to R-CHOP had median progression-free survival and OS times of 5.4 and 9.8 years, respectively, when randomly assigned to rituximab (n = 87), compared with 1.9 years (P < .001) and 7.1 years (P = .0026), respectively, when randomly assigned to interferon alfa (n = 97). In 58% and 32% of patients treated with R-CHOP, rituximab maintenance was still ongoing 2 and 5 years from start of maintenance, respectively. After R-FC, rituximab maintenance was associated with an unexpectedly high cumulative incidence of death in remission (22% at 5 years). Toxicity of rituximab maintenance was low after R-CHOP (grade 3-4 leukopenia or infection < 5%) but more prominent in patients on rituximab maintenance after R-FC, in whom grade 3-4 leukopenia (up to 40%) and infections were frequent (up to 15%). CONCLUSION The excellent results of R-CHOP followed by rituximab maintenance until progression for older patients with MCL persisted in a mature follow-up. Prolongation of rituximab maintenance beyond 2 years is effective and safe.
Feasibility Study of a Therapeutic Mobility Summer Camp for Children with Severe Cerebral Palsy: Power Fun

Abstract Aim: Powered mobility has positive effects on development of children with limited independent locomotion, but many are deprived of this opportunity due to their limitations. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of Power Fun, a therapeutic summer camp, for students with severe cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: Five students with CP, ages 11–15, received personally adapted powered wheelchairs and participated daily in the camp. The camp ran five days a week during three weeks and included two mobility sessions daily. Assessments were conducted three weeks prior to the camp (T1), at baseline (T2), post-intervention (T3) and six weeks follow-up (T4). Measures used were Power Mobility Program (PMP), Assessment of Learning Power mobility use (ALP), Wheelchair Outcome Measure for Young People (WhOM-YP), Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) and Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire (DMQ). Results: All participants finished the camp. Outcome measures showed no change between T1-T2 but improved significantly (p<.05) after the intervention (T2-T3), and gains were maintained at T4 (Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Goals improved to slightly above the expected outcome (GAS average 0.11). Conclusions: Power Fun shows good feasibility and significant improvement in mobility skills and goals of children with severe CP. Further studies are warranted.
Stress and Ways of Coping as Reported by Five-Year Associate Degree Nursing Students of an Institute Technology in Relation to The Pediatric Clinical Experience in Taiwan

This study assessed sources of stress and ways of coping in the pediatric clinical experience of students in the five-year associate degree nursing (ADN) program of an institute of technology. In this correlational study, 120 students in a five-year ADN program in Taiwan completed the investigator-developed Stress of Pediatric Clinical Experiences Scale (SPCES), and Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ). The analytical results identified the primary source of stress as having family members interfere with care. In addition, identified by the students, assignments were ranked highest in the category of other sources of stress. Significant differences existed between amount of stress and being afraid of harming children by making mistakes/ previous experience effects (p ＜ .05), negative interactions with patients (p ＜ .01), staff nurses (p ＜ .05), and instructors (p ＜ .05). The predominant way of cooping among nursing students in pediatric clinical experiences was positive reappraisal. The mean response to the eight ways of coping subscales revealed that students used seeking social support most frequently. The analytical results provide important information for instructors using positive coping strategies to reduce or avoid student stress, and also can help instructors create caring, supportive learning environments.
Novel technique of explantation of rigid phakic iris-claw lens and cataract extraction by sutureless manual small-incision surgery

A 38-year-old patient presented to us with complaints of blurred vision and photophobia in the left eye with an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/400, improving to 20/60 with pinhole. The patient underwent phakic iris-claw lens surgery 15 years ago for high myopia. On examination, there was anterior chamber rigid phakic iris-claw lens along with complicated cataract. We planned for sutureless self-sealing 6.5 mm sclerocorneal tunnel for explantation of rigid phakic iris-claw lens along with cataract extraction with irrigating vectis. There was postoperative reduction in astigmatism due to incision planned on steep axis, and visual acuity improved to 20/30 uncorrected. This technique provides significant advantages from the previously described techniques in terms of decreased postop astigmatism, no need for sutures, no issues of chamber instability and iris trauma and without the need for phacoemulsification.