Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationships between T‐cell‐mediated immune response and Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and As concentrations in blood of nestling white storks (Ciconia ciconia) and black kites (Milvus migrans) from Doñana (southwestern Spain) after the Aznalcóllar toxic spill

In the Aznalcóllar mining accident (April 1998), nearly six million cubic meters of toxic wastes were spilled in the surroundings of the Doñana National Park (southwestern Spain). The present study focused on the likely effects of metal pollution on the immune system of nestling white storks (Ciconia ciconia) and black kites (Milvus migrans) sampled in the nearby area. Using the phytohaemagglutinin skin test, we examined cell‐mediated immune response (CMI) in relation to Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and As concentrations in blood of 281 nestling white storks and of 89 black kites. The former species was monitored along a four‐year period (1999, 2001–2003), while black kites were sampled in 1999. Overall, average levels of heavy metals and As were relatively low when compared to those reported for birds in metal‐polluted areas. Copper showed a negative effect on CMI in both species, although the relationship was significant only for white storks in 2002. We found no evidence that environmental exposure to Pb, Zn, As, and Cd had any effect on nestlings' CMI. Interannual consistency is revealed as an important factor, supporting the need of long‐term studies when assessing the immunotoxic effects of metal exposure in the wild.
Hepatitis G Virus Infection in Haemodialysis and in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

The aim of this study was to detect hepatitis G virus RNA (HGV RNA) and antibodies against the virus envelope protein E2 (anti-E2) in 107 patients either on maintenance haemodialysis (n = 78) or peritoneal dialysis (n = 29) to evaluate the prevalence of HGV infection and to establish its role in liver disease. The total prevalence of HGV infection was of 15.4% among haemodialysis patients, whereas it was 10.3% among peritoneal dialysis patients. HGV RNA was detected in 2 haemodialysis patients (2.6%) and in 3 peritoneal dialysis patients (10.3%). Anti-E2 was found in 10 haemodialysis patients (7.8%), whilst all peritoneal dialysis patients resulted negative. In only 1 patient the alanine aminotransferase level was elevated. This patient underwent liver biopsy that did not reveal evidence of chronic hepatitis. The lower HGV prevalence in haemodialysis patients, when compared with data reported by other European authors, should be related to the lower rate of polytransfused patients in our series (29.5%). Multiple blood transfusions should be considered as the main factor to explain the different prevalence of HGV infection among various European dialysis centres. Detection of both antibody and viraemia is important to establish the real rate of the infection.
Koncepcja holonowego modelu doskonalenia jakości w małych i średnich przedsiębiorstwach

The article refers to the ability of continuous improvement of processes and their assessment in Polish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The research problem emerges from the lack of a clear and understandable model of self-assessment for this group of enterprises and also a minimal ability to precisely define areas for improvement. The way to competitiveness in these organizations usually starts with implementation of pro-quality management standards respondent to ISO 9001 standard requirements. The next steps are usually quite chaotic and do not employ a systematic approach and holistic view of an enterprise. Polish Quality Award and EFQM excellence models are too general at this stage of a SME organizations maturity. Thus, the main goal of the authors paper was to develop and verify the idea of a modularized measuring model of an organizations excellence. The article presents the results of literature research, the developed simplified diagram of the theoretical model and, consequently, focused research  a revised model of excellence for small and medium-sized enterprises. The model consists of five modules defined by terms as: quality, maintenance, ergonomics and OSH, environment and logistics, and for each of the modules offers six evaluation criteria: policy and strategy, preventive measures, teamwork, staff qualifications, and communication (internal and external). Dr in¿. Ma3gorzata JASIULEWICZ-KACZMAREK dr in¿. Agnieszka MISZTAL dr in¿. Marcin BUTLEWSKI Wydzia3 In¿ynierii Zarz1dzania Politechnika Poznañska malgorzata.jasiulewicz-kaczmarek@put.poznan. pl agnieszka.misztal@put.poznan. pl marcin.butlewski@put.poznan. pl
Utilization of papanicolaou smears by South Asian women living in the United States

AbstractOBJECTIVES: Papanicolaou (Pap) smears are an underutilized screening modality among racial and ethnic minorities. However, no data exist on Pap smear utilization among South Asians, a rapidly growing population in the United States, whose country of origin includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. We determined rates and identified variables associated with Pap smear receipt by South Asians. DESIGN: A self-administered survey instrument was mailed to a random sample of South Asians nationwide over a 3-month time period. South Asian households were identified by surnames that were used to search white pages in telephone directories, Department of Motor Vehicle records, and voter registries. Questions regarding Pap smear receipt were taken from the 1999 National Health Interview Survey. Socio-demographic information and measures of acculturation were obtained. PARTICIPANTS: A nationwide nonprobability sample of South Asian women. INTERVENTION: Cross-sectional observational study. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The overall response rate was 42%. In this sample, South Asians belonged to a high socioeconomic strata (SES), with 45% having a household income of >$80,000 and 42% having a master’s degree. Three quarters of the respondents (73%) reported having a Pap smear in the last 3 years. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, South Asian women had greater odds of having had a Pap smear if they were married (P<.001), more educated (P=.004), had a usual source of care (P=.002), and were more acculturated (P=.004). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high SES of South Asian women, their rates of Pap smear receipt were lower than national recommendations. Marital status, socioeconomic status, and acculturation are all associated with Pap smear receipt. South Asian communities should be targeted for outreach to promote Pap smear utilization.
Evaluating New Regional Policies

Regional development theories and policies have now moved into new arenas. Today, the competitive advantages of regions put a premium on social capital, hence, the significant role played by localized learning and the construction of knowledge networks and institutional capacity. These are necessary and complementary assets to factors traditionally thought to influence regional development. The evaluation of these new regional policies is an important challenge, but classical evaluation models do not adapt well to the specific characteristics of these policies. As a consequence, it is necessary to seek new evaluation approaches to assess the regional impact of these new policies, understand how they work and why, generate knowledge and, also, mobilize regional communities to act, empowering local agents and enhancing learning capacity.
Community-acquired pneumonia in adults: guidelines for management. The Infectious Diseases Society of America.

This is part of the series of practice guidelines commissioned by the Infectious Diseases Society of America through its Practice Guidelines Committee. The purpose of this guideline is to provide assistance to clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia. The targeted providers are internists and family practitioners. The targeted groups are immunocompetent adult patients. Criteria are specified for determining whether the inpatient or outpatient setting is appropriate for treatment. Differences from other guidelines written on this topic include use of laboratory criteria for diagnosis and approach to antimicrobial therapy. Panel members and consultants are experts in adult infectious diseases. The guidelines are evidence based where possible. A standard ranking system is used for the strength of the recommendations and the quality of the evidence cited in the literature reviewed. The document has been subjected to external review by peer reviewers as well as by the Practice Guidelines Committee and was approved by the IDSA Council. An executive summary and tables highlight the major recommendations. The guidelines will be listed on the IDSA home page at http://www.idsociety. org.
Perineural Tumor Spread in Malignant Head and Neck Tumors

Perineural tumor spread (PNS) of head and neck malignancies is a course of disease in which tumor metastasizes along the endoneurium or perineurium. Perineural tumor spread is a potentially devastating complication of head and neck cancer and has a high impact on the therapeutical management and overall prognosis. Imaging plays an important role in the detection of this condition, especially in view of a large number of clinically asymptomatic patients with PNS. Magnetic resonance imaging is the modality of choice in the assessment of PNS because of its multiplanar capability and its superior soft-tissue contrast. Knowledge of normal cranial nerve anatomy and the imaging appearance of perineural tumor extension is imperative in the evaluation of PNS which represents a special challenge in head and neck radiology.
Cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and Fluorouracil versus dose-dense epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by Paclitaxel versus Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by Paclitaxel in node-positive or high-risk node-negative breast cancer.

PURPOSE Cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and fluorouracil (CEF) and doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by paclitaxel (T) are commonly used adjuvant regimens in women with early breast cancer. In a previous trial in women with locally advanced breast cancer, 3 months of high-dose epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (EC) administered every 2 weeks (dose-dense) was equivalent to 6 months of CEF. We hypothesized that 3 months of paclitaxel after dose-dense EC (EC/T) would be superior to CEF or AC/T. METHODS After lumpectomy or mastectomy, women 60 years of age or younger with axillary node-positive or high-risk node-negative breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive CEF, EC/T, or AC/T for 6 months. This article reports the interim analysis for recurrence-free survival (RFS), which was planned after 227 recurrences. Results A total of 2,104 patients were enrolled. The median follow-up is 30.4 months. Hazard ratios for recurrence are as follows: AC/T versus CEF, 1.49 (95% CI, 1.12 to 1.99), P = . 005; AC/T versus EC/T, 1.68 (95% CI, 1.25 to 2.27), P = . 0006; and EC/T versus CEF, 0.89 (95% CI, 0.64 to 1.22), P = . 46. Three-year RFS rates for CEF, EC/T, and AC/T are 90.1%, 89.5%, and 85.0%, respectively. There was more febrile neutropenia with CEF (22.3%) and EC/T (16.4%) compared with AC/T (4.8%), but more neuropathy with the last two regimens. CONCLUSION Three-weekly AC/T is significantly inferior to CEF or EC/T in terms of RFS. It is too early to detect any difference between CEF and dose-dense EC/T.
Current trends in pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia presented on the XIV World Congress of Psychiatry

The authors present the summary of current trends in the pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia presented during the XIV World Congress of Psychiatry (Prague, Czech Republic, 19-25 September 2008). The results of studies presented during the Congress, recommendations and new trends may be divided into two groups of actions: (1) aimed at increasing patients’ compliance and adherence; and (2) aimed at promoting depot antipsychotics. The problem of the metabolic syndrome was also stressed as it remains a significant clinical complication of the treatment with antipsychotics, particularly with atypical ones. Moreover, it was also emphasized that clinical tools used to evaluate treatment efficacy should include scales which evaluate quality of life, for example SWN (Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptics) scale.
Immunohistochemical Expression of Glypican-3 in Pediatric Tumors: An Analysis of 414 Cases

Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a proteoglycan thought to play an important role during development. Germline GPC3 mutations are seen in the rare Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS), which predisposes patients to Wilms tumor, hepatoblastoma, and neuroblastoma. While numerous adult tumors have been evaluated by immunohistochemistry for GPC3, no comprehensive assessment has been done in pediatric tumors. We therefore investigated GPC3 expression in 143 pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors and 271 non-CNS tumors. Among non-CNS tumors, GPC3 expression was seen in 9/9 (100%) hepatoblastomas, 4/6 (67%) malignant rhabdoid tumors, 5/13 (38%) Wilms tumors, 11/37 (30%) alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas, and 8/45 (18%) embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas. All 136 neuroblastomas, 14 Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumors, and 11 synovial sarcomas were immunonegative for GPC3. Among CNS tumors, GPC3 had restricted expression, with positivity in 6/6 (100%) atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors and 1/4 (25%) craniopharyngiomas. The remaining 136 CNS tumors—23 medulloblastomas, 21 pilocytic astrocytomas, 13 gangliogliomas, 12 ependymomas, 12 glioblastomas, 11 choroid plexus neoplasms, 10 diffuse astrocytomas (grade II/III), 10 meningiomas, 8 dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors, 8 oligodendrogliomas, 3 craniopharyngiomas, 3 germinomas, and 2 neurocytomas—were entirely negative for GPC3. These results showed GPC3 positivity in a number of non-CNS tumors, with no consistent discrimination between tumors that were or were not associated with SGBS. Within the CNS, GPC3 positivity was limited to a small subset of CNS neoplasms and may thus serve as a useful positive diagnostic biomarker (P < 0.0001) in addition to negative INI1/BAF47/SMARCB1 staining to differentiate atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors from other high-grade pediatric brain tumors.
Anti-inflammatory Effects of Nortrachelogenin in Murine J774 Macrophages and in Carrageenan-Induced Paw Edema Model in the Mouse

Abstract Nortrachelogenin is a pharmacologically active lignan found in knot extracts of Pinus sylvestris. In previous studies, some lignans have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which made nortrachelogenin an interesting candidate for our study. In inflammation, bacterial products and cytokines induce the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1. These enzymes synthesize factors, which, together with proinflammatory cytokines, are important mediators and drug targets in inflammatory diseases. The effects of nortrachelogenin on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 as well as on the production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, and cytokines interleukin-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 were investigated in the murine J774 macrophage cell line. In addition, we examined the effect of nortrachelogenin on carrageenan-induced paw inflammation in mice. Interestingly, nortrachelogenin reduced carrageenan-induced paw inflammation in mice and inhibited the production of inflammatory factors nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in J774 macrophages in vitro. Nortrachelogenin inhibited microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 protein expression but had no effect on cyclooxygenase-2 protein levels. Nortrachelogenin also had a clear inhibitory effect on inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression but none on its mRNA levels, and the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin reversed the effect of nortrachelogenin on inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, suggesting a post-transcriptional mechanism of action. The results revealed hitherto unknown anti-inflammatory properties of nortrachelogenin, which could be utilized in the development of anti-inflammatory treatments.
Muscle Strain Injuries

One of the most common injuries seen in the office of the practicing physician is the muscle strain. Until recently, little data were available on the basic science and clinical application of this basic science for the treatment and prevention of muscle strains. Studies in the last 10 years represent action taken on the direction of investigation into muscle strain injuries from the laboratory and clinical fronts. Findings from the laboratory indicate that certain muscles are susceptible to strain injury (muscles that cross multiple joints or have complex architecture). These muscles have a strain threshold for both passive and active injury. Strain injury is not the result of muscle contraction alone, rather, strains are the result of excessive stretch or stretch while the muscle is being activated. When the muscle tears, the damage is localized very near the muscle-tendon junction. After injury, the muscle is weaker and at risk for further injury. The force output of the muscle returns over the following days as the muscle undertakes a predictable progression toward tissue healing. Current imaging studies have been used clinically to document the site of injury to the muscle-tendon junction. The commonly injured muscles have been described and include the hamstring, the rectus femoris, gastrocnemius, and adductor longus muscles. Injuries inconsistent with involvement of a single muscle-tendon junction proved to be at tendinous origins rather than within the muscle belly. Important information has also been provided regarding injuries with poor prognosis, which are potentially repairable surgically, including injuries to the rectus femoris muscle, the hamstring origin, and the abdominal wall. Data important to the management of common muscle injuries have been published. The risks of reinjury have been documented. The early efficacy and potential for long-term risks of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents have been shown. New data can also be applied to the field with respect to the beneficial effects of warm-up, temperature, and stretching on the mechanical properties of muscle. These benefits potentially reduce the risks of strain injury to the muscle. Fortunately, many of the factors protecting muscle, such as strength, endurance, and flexibility, are also essential for maximum performance. Future studies should delineate the repair and recovery process emphasizing not only the recovery of function, but also the susceptibility to reinjury during the recovery phase.
Intercell Interference Coordination for LTE Systems

Intercell interference coordination (ICIC) techniques not only help improve cellular data coverage but allow more efficient use of a valuable wireless spectrum as well. This paper investigates soft frequency reuse (SFR), which is a form of ICIC, for long-term evolution (LTE) systems. By analyzing the throughput of the SFR scheme, we find that classifying cell-edge users and cell-center users is critical. Thus, we develop low-complexity decentralized SFR scheduling algorithms that include optimal user classification and balance throughput and fairness among multiusers. We also propose suboptimal methods to reduce computational complexity. Computer simulation demonstrates that gains of the proposed SFR algorithm can improve the fifth percentile user throughput by 26% while maintaining the same cell average throughput, compared with a non-ICIC system.
A Monte Carlo study for the calculation of the average linear energy transfer (LET) distributions for a clinical proton beam line and a radiobiological carbon ion beam line

Fluence, depth absorbed dose and linear energy transfer (LET) distributions of proton and carbon ion beams have been investigated using the Monte Carlo code Geant4 (GEometry ANd Tracking). An open source application was developed with the aim to simulate two typical transport beam lines, one used for ocular therapy and cell irradiations with protons and the other for cell irradiations with carbon ions. This tool allows evaluation of the primary and total dose averaged LET and predict their spatial distribution in voxelized or sliced geometries. In order to reproduce the LET distributions in a realistic way, and also the secondary particles’ contributions due to nuclear interactions were considered in the computations. Pristine and spread-out Bragg peaks were taken into account both for proton and carbon ion beams, with the maximum energy of 62 MeV/n. Depth dose distributions were compared with experimental data, showing good agreement. Primary and total LET distributions were analysed in order to study the influence of contributions of secondary particles in regions at different depths. A non-negligible influence of high-LET components was found in the entrance channel for proton beams, determining the total dose averaged LET by the factor 3 higher than the primary one. A completely different situation was obtained for carbon ions. In this case, secondary particles mainly contributed in the tail that is after the peak. The results showed how the weight of light and heavy secondary ions can considerably influence the computation of LET depth distributions. This has an important role in the interpretation of results coming from radiobiological experiments and, therefore, in hadron treatment planning procedures.
DENTAL AND EARLY-STAGE SKELETAL FLUOROSIS IN CHILDREN INDUCED BY FLUORIDE IN BRICK-TEA

SUMMARY: Fluorosis from brick-tea was discovered during the last decade in western and northern parts of China. Dental fluorosis has a high prevalence among children in these brick-tea endemic areas, but skeletal fluorosis does not normally become apparent until adulthood. In July 2002 we examined 132 primary school children, age 8 to 13 years, in a low-fluoride-water area of Naqu County, Tibet, and found that 111 of the children (84.1%) had dental fluorosis from drinking traditional brick-tea. Among these 111 children, 96 (86.5%) were found by radiological examination to have developmental skeletal abnormalities in the wrist. We view these findings as warning signs of early-stage skeletal fluorosis indicating that dental fluorosis in children should be considered more than a matter of cosmetic concern.