Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Saskatchewan Health and Back Pain Survey: The Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Related Disability in Saskatchewan Adults

Study Design. Population‐based, cross‐sectional, mailed survey. Objectives. To determine the lifetime, 6‐month period, and point prevalence of low back pain and its related disability among Saskatchewan adults and to investigate the presence and strength of selective response bias. Summary of Background Data. There have been many reports of the prevalence of low back pain in different populations, and the estimates vary widely depending on case definition. However, most studies fail to differentiate between trivial and disabling back pain, which raises the issue of the usefulness of these estimates. No studies have yet documented the prevalence of graded low back pain severity and its related disability in a North American, general, population‐based survey. Methods. The Saskatchewan Health and Back Pain Survey was mailed to a probability sample of 2184 Saskatchewan adults between 20 and 69 years of age. Fifty‐five percent of the eligible population responded to the survey. Respondents were compared with nonrespondents, and the presence of selective response bias by back pain status was investigated by wave analysis. The point and lifetime prevalence of low back pain was determined by simple questions, and the 6‐month period prevalence of low back pain was determined by the Chronic Pain Questionnaire. All estimates were age‐standardized to the Saskatchewan population. Results. The authors estimate that at the time of the survey 28.4% (95% confidence interval, 25.6‐31.1) of the Saskatchewan adult population were experiencing low back pain, and 84.1% (95% confidence interval, 81.9‐86.3) had experienced it during their lifetime. Overall, 48.9% (95% confidence interval, 45.9‐52.0) of the population had experienced low‐intensity/low‐disability low back pain in the previous 6 months, 12.3% (95% confidence interval, 10.3‐14.4) had experienced high‐intensity/low‐disability low back pain, and an additional 10.7% (95% confidence interval, 8.8‐12.5) had experienced high‐disability low back pain in the previous 6 months. There was little variation in the estimates over age groups, but women experienced more high‐disability back pain than men. There was no evidence of selective response bias by low back pain status in the survey. Conclusion. Low‐intensity/low‐disability low back pain is a common problem in the general population. Approximately 11% of the adult population studied had been disabled by low back pain in the previous 6 months.
Lansoprazole for the prevention of recurrences of ulcer complications from long-term low-dose aspirin use.

BACKGROUND The role of gastric acid suppression in preventing the recurrence of ulcer complications after the eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients taking long-term low-dose aspirin is uncertain. METHODS We enrolled 123 patients who had ulcer complications after using low-dose aspirin continuously for more than one month and who had H. pylori infection. After the ulcers had healed and the H. pylori infection was eradicated, the patients were randomly assigned to treatment with 30 mg of lansoprazole daily or placebo, in addition to 100 mg of aspirin daily, for 12 months. The primary end point was the recurrence of ulcer complications. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 12 months, 9 of the 61 patients in the placebo group (14.8 percent), as compared with 1 of the 62 patients in the lansoprazole group (1.6 percent), had a recurrence of ulcer complications (adjusted hazard ratio, 9.6; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.2 to 76.1). Of these 10 patients, 4 had evidence of a recurrence of H. pylori infection and 2 had taken nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs before the onset of complications. Patients in the lansoprazole group were significantly less likely to have a recurrence of ulcer complications than patients in the placebo group (P=0.008). There was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS In patients who had ulcer complications related to the long-term use of low-dose aspirin, treatment with lansoprazole in addition to the eradication of H. pylori infection significantly reduced the rate of recurrence of ulcer complications.
Navigating the Oil Bubble: A Non-linear Heterogeneous-agent Dynamic Model of Futures Oil Pricing

We investigate short-term futures oil pricing over the 2003-2019 time-period in order to analyze the bubble-like dynamics, which characterizes the 2007-2009 years according to a large body of recent literature. Our research, based on the LPPL methodology and a flexible three-agent model (hedgers, fundamentalist speculators and chartists), confirms the presence of a bubble price pattern, which we attribute to the strong destabilizing behavior of speculators. In our view, this can be related to incorrect interpretation of market signals (or to the inability of trading against the market), especially by fundamentalists, combined with imitation across different categories of agents. This sets off positive feedback reactions along with self-reinforced herding of the kind best detected by the LPPL methodology.
High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Detection of Carotid Plaques

OBJECTIVE: We report our experience using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify carotid plaques and also discuss these MRI findings while comparing them with carotid endarterectomy specimens. METHODS: Eighteen carotid plaques from 17 different patients were observed using plaque MRI. The patients included 14 men and 3 women, aged 53 to 75 years (mean, 68.6 yr). Eight patients experienced a stroke and four patients experienced transient ischemic attack. The remaining five patients did not experience any neurological symptoms. Two-dimensional time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography; T1-weighted imaging; fat-suppressed, cardiac gated, black-blood proton density imaging; and T2-weighted imaging were obtained with a 1.5-T MRI. RESULTS: Symptomatic plaques showed either vast or partially dotted high signals for each contrast. The high signal intensity on time-of-flight and T2-weighted imaging predicted the instability of the plaques (100% sensitivity and specificity). In particular, time-of-flight imaging predicted intraplaque hemorrhaging with 100% sensitivity and 80% specificity. MRI revealed that three of four asymptomatic lesions were unstable plaques. CONCLUSION: High-resolution MRI was able to detect various signal patterns related to the plaque components, and it was thus considered to be very useful for evaluating plaque instability. The application of plaque MRI therefore may positively affect the decision-making process when selecting optimal therapeutic strategies to treat with carotid plaques.
Glycosaminoglycan Interactions with Chemokines Add Complexity to a Complex System

Chemokines have two types of interactions that function cooperatively to control cell migration. Chemokine receptors on migrating cells integrate signals initiated upon chemokine binding to promote cell movement. Interactions with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) localize chemokines on and near cell surfaces and the extracellular matrix to provide direction to the cell movement. The matrix of interacting chemokine–receptor partners has been known for some time, precise signaling and trafficking properties of many chemokine–receptor pairs have been characterized, and recent structural information has revealed atomic level detail on chemokine–receptor recognition and activation. However, precise knowledge of the interactions of chemokines with GAGs has lagged far behind such that a single paradigm of GAG presentation on surfaces is generally applied to all chemokines. This review summarizes accumulating evidence which suggests that there is a great deal of diversity and specificity in these interactions, that GAG interactions help fine-tune the function of chemokines, and that GAGs have other roles in chemokine biology beyond localization and surface presentation. This suggests that chemokine–GAG interactions add complexity to the already complex functions of the receptors and ligands.
Does smart tourism technology matter? Lessons from three smart tourism cities in South Korea

ABSTRACT Based on smart tourism technology attributes and destination services, we examine how the smart tourism satisfaction and service satisfaction affect the overall satisfaction of smart tourism city by using structural equation model. Results of survey from Seoul, Busan and Jeju in South Korea revealed a slight difference in destination services and service satisfaction relationship among three cities. Multigroup analysis was conducted on the commonly adopted paths. The results also suggest that, smart tourism technology attributes have a positive effect on smart tourism satisfaction in all cities. From the results, we suggest customized discussion by the cities.
Phase 3 study of recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein in hemophilia B.

BACKGROUND Prophylactic factor replacement in patients with hemophilia B improves outcomes but requires frequent injections. A recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein (rFIXFc) with a prolonged half-life was developed to reduce the frequency of injections required. METHODS We conducted a phase 3, nonrandomized, open-label study of the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of rFIXFc for prophylaxis, treatment of bleeding, and perioperative hemostasis in 123 previously treated male patients. All participants were 12 years of age or older and had severe hemophilia B (endogenous factor IX level of ≤2 IU per deciliter, or ≤2% of normal levels). The study included four treatment groups: group 1 received weekly dose-adjusted prophylaxis (50 IU of rFIXFc per kilogram of body weight to start), group 2 received interval-adjusted prophylaxis (100 IU per kilogram every 10 days to start), group 3 received treatment as needed for bleeding episodes (20 to 100 IU per kilogram), and group 4 received treatment in the perioperative period. A subgroup of group 1 underwent comparative sequential pharmacokinetic assessments of recombinant factor IX and rFIXFc. The primary efficacy end point was the annualized bleeding rate, and safety end points included the development of inhibitors and adverse events. RESULTS As compared with recombinant factor IX, rFIXFc exhibited a prolonged terminal half-life (82.1 hours) (P<0.001). The median annualized bleeding rates in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 3.0, 1.4, and 17.7, respectively. In group 2, 53.8% of participants had dosing intervals of 14 days or more during the last 3 months of the study. In groups 1, 2 and 3, 90.4% of bleeding episodes resolved after one injection. Hemostasis was rated as excellent or good during all major surgeries. No inhibitors were detected in any participants receiving rFIXFc; in groups 1, 2, and 3, 73.9% of participants had at least one adverse event, and serious adverse events occurred in 10.9% of participants. These events were mostly consistent with those expected in the general population of patients with hemophilia. CONCLUSIONS Prophylactic rFIXFc, administered every 1 to 2 weeks, resulted in low annualized bleeding rates in patients with hemophilia B. (Funded by Biogen Idec; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01027364.).
Randomized clinical trial of the impact of a nutritional supplement "multimixture" on the nutritional status of children enrolled at preschools.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of adding a nutritional supplement "multimixture" to school meals on the nutritional status of children enrolled at municipal preschools. METHODS Longitudinal, controlled intervention study of 24 preschools which were compared before and after an intervention. The control and intervention groups were defined by drawing lots to choose schools that had previously been paired for nutritional status. The intervention consisted of the addition of 10 g of multimixture to the meals provided to children attending the 12 schools in the intervention group. Outcome measures include changes in z scores for the three nutritional indices and hemoglobin values over the 6-month period during which the supplement was added. A multilevel model was used for analyses. RESULTS Mean z scores for weight for age at the end of follow-up were 0.40 (+/-1.34) and 0.31 (+/-1.32), for the intervention and control groups respectively. The multilevel analysis demonstrated non-significant differences in favor of the intervention in mean z scores for weight for age (beta 0.05; 95%CI -0.03 to 0.12) and height for age (beta 0.02; 95%CI -0.06 to 0.09). Mean change in hemoglobin was against the intervention, but this was also without significance (beta -0.01; 95%CI -0.36 to 0.34). CONCLUSIONS Supplementation with 10 g of multimixture did not have a significant effect on any of the nutritional indices or measurements of the municipal preschool pupils studied here.
A case report: Concurrent chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and T‐cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia‐type clonal proliferation as detected by multiparametric flow cytometry

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a subtype of myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm. Although several studies have reported concurrent myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and T‐cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T‐LGL), coexistence of CMML and T‐LGL has not been characterized. We describe here a unique case of CMML plus an underlying T‐LGL‐type clonal proliferation in a patient with a long standing history of severe anemia and recent pancytopenia.
A systems approach defining constraints of the genome architecture on lineage selection and evolvability during somatic cancer evolution

Summary Most clinically distinguishable malignant tumors are characterized by specific mutations, specific patterns of chromosomal rearrangements and a predominant mechanism of genetic instability but it remains unsolved whether modifications of cancer genomes can be explained solely by mutations and selection through the cancer microenvironment. It has been suggested that internal dynamics of genomic modifications as opposed to the external evolutionary forces have a significant and complex impact on Darwinian species evolution. A similar situation can be expected for somatic cancer evolution as molecular key mechanisms encountered in species evolution also constitute prevalent mutation mechanisms in human cancers. This assumption is developed into a systems approach of carcinogenesis which focuses on possible inner constraints of the genome architecture on lineage selection during somatic cancer evolution. The proposed systems approach can be considered an analogy to the concept of evolvability in species evolution. The principal hypothesis is that permissive or restrictive effects of the genome architecture on lineage selection during somatic cancer evolution exist and have a measurable impact. The systems approach postulates three classes of lineage selection effects of the genome architecture on somatic cancer evolution: i) effects mediated by changes of fitness of cells of cancer lineage, ii) effects mediated by changes of mutation probabilities and iii) effects mediated by changes of gene designation and physical and functional genome redundancy. Physical genome redundancy is the copy number of identical genetic sequences. Functional genome redundancy of a gene or a regulatory element is defined as the number of different genetic elements, regardless of copy number, coding for the same specific biological function within a cancer cell. Complex interactions of the genome architecture on lineage selection may be expected when modifications of the genome architecture have multiple and possibly opposed effects which manifest themselves at disparate times and progression stages. Dissection of putative mechanisms mediating constraints exerted by the genome architecture on somatic cancer evolution may provide an algorithm for understanding and predicting as well as modifying somatic cancer evolution in individual patients.
Detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

PURPOSE The present study was designed to detect the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to evaluate the susceptibility pattern. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred forty-eight isolates of P. aeruginosa were analyzed for the presence of ESBL enzyme by double disc synergy test. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of ESBL-positive P. aeruginosa was determined. RESULTS Of the 148 isolates tested, 30 (20.27%) were found to be positive. Maximum ESBL production was found in sputum and tracheostomy swabs (28.57%), followed by pus (24.13%), urine (19.04%), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and other sterile body fluids (15.38%) and blood (7.14%). All the ESBL-producing P. aeruginosa isolates were multi-drug-resistant. Isolates were 100% sensitive to imipenem. Ofloxacin was the second most (70%) effective drug. CONCLUSION From this study, we conclude the presence of ESBL-positive P. aeruginosa in our hospital. This has important implications as carbapenems remain the only choice of treatment for infections caused by these organisms. The control measures include judicious use of antibiotics and implementation of appropriate infection control measures to control the spread of these strains in the hospital.
Efficient distributed XML data management for mobile commerce

XML is becoming a standard for information representation and exchange for electronic and mobile commerce. While almost all of these applications require an XML storage, e.g., for managing their transaction data, messages, or metadata, low-cost XML database management systems are not widely available. In particular, for mobile commerce, most of these databases are not designed for handling mobile XML data and messages. This paper describes an XML database engine that can be easily built on top of any existing RDBMS such as an open source, free relational database and performs efficiently. It has also been designed such that large databases can be partitioned, stored in multiple mobile devices and yet viewed as a single source with data transmitting in an efficient and seamless manner.
High dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow or stem cell transplantation versus conventional chemotherapy for women with early poor prognosis breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Overall survival rates are disappointing for women with early poor prognosis breast cancer. There is a hypothesis that high dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow or stem cell transplant (autograft) may improve survival rates by permitting higher doses of adjuvant chemotherapy to be given. OBJECTIVES To compare the effectiveness of high dose chemotherapy and autograft versus conventional chemotherapy for women with early poor prognosis breast cancer. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group specialised register, The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2002), MEDLINE (1966 to Aug. 2002), EMBASE (1980 to Aug. 2002), PsycINFO (1984 to Aug. 2002), Cinahl (1982 to July 2002), the websites of co-operative research groups and ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncologists) and reference lists of articles found. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials comparing the effectiveness of high dose chemotherapy and autograft versus conventional chemotherapy for women with early poor prognosis breast cancer. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We identified nine trials that met the inclusion criteria. Three independent reviewers extracted data. MAIN RESULTS In total 1758 women were randomised to receive high dose chemotherapy with autograft and 1767 women were randomised to receive conventional chemotherapy. There were 48 non cancer-related deaths on the high dose arm and four on the conventional dose arm (RR 7.74, 95% CI (3.43, 17.50). Since many studies have not completed follow-up, overall survival rates were in most cases based on results to date. There was no statistically significant difference in overall survival between women who received high dose chemotherapy with autograft and women who received conventional chemotherapy, either at three years (RR 1.02, 95% CI (0.98, 1.06)), or at five years (RR 0.98, 95% CI (0.93, 1.05)). There was a statistically significant benefit in event-free survival at three years for the group who received high dose chemotherapy (RR 1.11, 95% CI (1.05, 1.18)). However at five years there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (RR 1.00, 95% CI (0.92, 1.08)). Side-effects were more common and more severe in the high dose group though most were reversible. Women in the high dose group reported significantly worse quality of life scores immediately after treatment but at one year there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in quality of life scores. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS There is insufficient evidence to support the routine use of high dose chemotherapy with autograft for women with early poor prognosis breast cancer.
Inactivation of Rho GTPases by p190 RhoGAP reduces human pancreatic cancer cell invasion and metastasis

A number of small GTPases are involved in cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion, acting as molecular switches that cycle between GTP‐ and GDP‐bound states. GTPase‐activating proteins (GAPs) have been established as a major class of negative regulators of Rho GTPase signaling. To investigate the biological function of p190 RhoGAP toward RhoA in cancer cell invasion and metastasis, we generated a chimera made of the RhoGAP domain of p190 and the C‐terminus of RhoA (p190‐RhoA chimera), and transfected it into human pancreatic cancer cells, AsPC‐1. Epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐induced activation of RhoA, as well as RhoB and RhoC, to a lesser extent, was significantly inhibited in p190‐RhoA chimera‐transfected AsPC‐1 cells compared with that of control cells (mock‐infected), when assessed by pull‐down assay for GTP‐bound RhoA, RhoB, and RhoC, respectively. EGF‐induced invasion of p190‐RhoA chimera transfectants was significantly inhibited compared with that of mock‐infected cells in a modified Boyden chamber assay. Furthermore, the mice injected intrasplenically with AsPC‐1 cells that overexpressed the p190‐RhoA chimera had a marked reduction in the number and size of metastatic nodules in the liver. These data suggest that the inhibitory action of p190 RhoGAP toward RhoA offers a novel approach to the treatment of invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. (Cancer Sci 2006; 97: 848–853)
Serum adiponectin in gestational diabetes and its relation to pregnancy outcome

Abstract We investigated adiponectin levels in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) at 24–28 gestational weeks. Fasting serum adiponectin, glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were determined in 88 pregnant women, 44 with GDM and 44 with NGT. Pre-pregnancy and current body mass indices (BMI), weight gain and pregnancy outcomes were investigated. Serum adiponectin was significantly reduced in GDM compared with the NGT group (p = 0.000). Adiponectin was negatively correlated with age (r = –0.419, p = 0.000); glucose (r = –0.263, p = 0.013); HbA1c (r = –0.274, p = 0.01); BMI (pre-pregnancy and current) (r = –0.317, p = 0.003 and r = –0.303, p = 0.004) and positively correlated with gestational age at delivery (r = 0.278, p = 0.009). The GDM group delivered significantly earlier than the NGT group (p = 0.001). Adverse pregnancy outcomes and abdominal delivery were higher in the GDM group (p = 0.000, p = 0.033, respectively), and adiponectin was significantly reduced in patients with adverse outcomes (p = 0.003) and abdominal delivery (p = 0.032). Adiponectin is reduced in patients with GDM. Association of adiponectin with adverse pregnancy outcomes remains to be elucidated.