Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sharing patient data: competing demands of privacy, trust and research in primary care.

BACKGROUND Patient privacy may conflict with the advancement of knowledge through data sharing. The data contained in primary care records are uniquely comprehensive. AIM To explore the knowledge and attitudes of patients and members of the primary healthcare team regarding the sharing of data held in primary care records, with particular reference to data sharing for research and the impact that this may have on trust between patients and health professionals. DESIGN OF STUDY Qualitative study using quota sampled, semi-structured interviews. SETTING Five general practices in Leicestershire, UK. METHOD Grounded theory and framework methodology were used. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. RESULTS Twenty patients and 15 healthcare professionals and managers were interviewed. Patients had limited knowledge of the type of information held in their general practice records and the ways in which these data are shared, but appeared ready to form preliminary views on issues such as data sharing for audit and disease registration. In this climate of limited awareness, there was no suggestion that concern about data sharing for research adversely affects patient trust or leads patients to withhold relevant information from health professionals in primary care. Interviews carried out with staff suggested a lack of clear practice policies regarding data sharing. CONCLUSIONS General practices may need to develop policies on data sharing, bring these to the attention of their patient population and improve patient awareness about the nature of the data contained in their records. Researchers should ensure that patients are adequately informed about the nature of data contained in patient records when seeking consent for data extraction.
Synthesis of fault tolerant architectures for molecular dynamics

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations play an important role in the study of conformations and dynamics of proteins and nucleic acids. This paper suggests ways of mapping the molecular dynamics calculations to various types of parallel architectures, e.g. mesh array, linear array, such that the inherent redundancy involved in the simulation algorithm can be used to make the computation fault tolerant without much overhead. <<ETX>>
A self-report scale predictive of drug compliance in schizophrenics: reliability and discriminative validity

Synopsis Schizophrenic patients' self-reports of their experience of neuroleptic treatment were used as the basis for the construction of a scale predictive of drug compliance. Reliability analysis of the responses of 150 patients indicated high internal consistency in the 30-item scale, and preliminary validation in the form of discriminant classification accurately assigned 89% of the sample to compliant and non-compliant groupings. Both discriminant and factor analyses suggest that maximum variability in responding is accounted for by items reflecting how the patient feels on medication, rather than what he knows or believes about medication.
VDRL v/s TPHA for diagnosis of syphilis among HIV sero-reactive patients in a tertiary care hospital

HIV and syphilis co-infection is complex and diagnosis of syphilis is more difficult among HIV positive patients. HIV can alter the clinical picture of syphilis and can cause more serious complications. Unusual serological responses like high titre as well as false negative reactions have been reported in VDRL tests in HIV reactive patients, therefore specif ic tests such as TPHA or FTA -ABS should always be done in all HIV reactive patients. We conducted this study to know the prevalence of syphilis among HIV reactive patients in a tertiary care hospital and to test the adequacy of VDRL as a screening test for the diagnosis of syphilis in HIV patients. Our study showed 11.4% of HIV serum samples reactive with TPHA, while out of TPHA reactive samples only 37.5% were VDRL reactive. 0.3% samples gave non- treponemal false positive reactions, i.e. VDRL reactive but TPHA non-reactive. CD4 count was correlated in TPHA reactive patients and most of the patients (62.2%) were having CD4 count <400 cells/cu.mm. In light of the findings in our study, there is a need to formulate a strict policy to diagnose syphilis especially in HIV sero-reactive patients. Diagnosis on the basis of single non -specific test cannot rule out syphilis, therefore combination of non-specific test along with specific test is required for proper diagnosis of syphilis. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of syphilis is essential not only to lower transmission rates, but also to avoid the complications seen in the later stages of the disease.
Status of cryopreservation technologies in plants (crops and forest trees).

Summary Over the past decades, plant cryopreservation technologies have been evolving rapidly, opening the door to the possibility of long-term storage of valuable genetic resources of many crop and forest species. From the original slow-cooling approach, research has moved to easier and more reproducible techniques which allow a complete vitrification of extra- and intra-cellular liquids through the direct immersion of explants in liquid nitrogen. This report describes concisely most of the procedures which have been proposed in time for the cryopreservation of a wide range of tissues and organs, such as cell suspensions, embryogenic callus, pollen, meristematic tissues, seeds and embryo axes. Also the most important achievements in the cryopreservation of herbaceous, hardwood and softwood species are discussed.
Safety and feasibility of the adjunct of local chemotherapy with biodegradable carmustine (BCNU) wafers to the standard multimodal approach to high grade gliomas at first diagnosis.

AIM Among physicians there is still a reluctant attitude in the employment of combined treatment with surgery and intraoperative placement of carmustina 7.7 mg wafers (Gliadel®), followed by standard adjuvant treatment with radiotherapy and concomitant and subsequent chemiotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ), for supratentorial high grade gliomas at first diagnosis. To determine the safety and feasibility of this multimodality sequential adjuvant therapy, we reviewed our single-institution experience, in the light to provide more insights on this continuous multi-stage chemotherapy approach to such a challenging disease as glioblastoma multiforme. METHODS From February 2006 to January 2008, 32 patients were treated at our institution for cerebral supratentorial high grade glioma with surgery and intraoperative placement of carmustine wafers. No postsurgical complications could be observed. After a median time of 4,8 weeks all patients began adjuvant concomitant radiotherapy with a mean of 60 Gy and TMZ chemotherapy 75 mg/m2 during which weekly hematologic assessments were performed. After 3 to 6 weeks patients commenced adjuvant TMZ, administered 5 days every 28, 200 mg/m2 for not less than 12 cycles. A contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was routinely performed. Median follow-up after surgery was of 6.5 months, ranging from 4 to 23 months. RESULTS The mean presurgical KPS was of 80 (range: from 60 to 100), and it remained unmodified after adjuvant therapies even at suspension of steroids. In 4 cases there was a radiologic evidence of progression of the disease and the necessity of steroids, with a progression-free survival (PFS) of 6, 8, 9,5 and 13,6 months. One case died 14 months after first operation. All other patients are still alive. CONCLUSION The integration of local chemiotherapy with carmustine wafers and the standard adjuvant regimen with radiotherapy and concomitant chemiotherapy appears to be safe and feasible, without any adjunctive complication. Promising results on the efficacy require more follow up to be quantified.
Phospholipase C Activation by VIP1 and VIP2 Receptors Expressed in COS 7 Cells Involves a Pertussis Toxin‐Sensitive Mechanism

The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) receptors belong to the secretidcalcitonidparathyroid hormone receptor family. This is a family of seven-transmembrane spanning G-protein-coupled receptors distinct from the rhodopsin and metabotropic glutamate receptor families. ' Although all the known members of this family couple to adenylyl cyclase and a number have been shown to couple to phospholipase C (PLC),'" their ability to couple to other second-messenger pathways remains largely to be elucidated. When expressed in COS 7 cells the VIP, and VIP2 receptors efficiently activate adenylyl cyclase (AC)' and also phospholipase D (PLD) (D.A. McCulloch, unpublished data). VIP and PACAP have also been shown to stimulate nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in gastric smooth muscle cells through a common receptor and a mechanism involving a pertussis toxin (PTx)-sensitive G-proteh8 We therefore investigated VIP, and VIP2 receptor coupling to PLC and PLD and the potential PTx-sensitivity of these responses. In this paper we demonstrate PTx-sensitive coupling of the VIP, and VIPz receptors to PLC.
A GPS Velocity Sensor: How Accurate Can It Be? - A First Look

To obtain accurate velocity information, traditional optical velocity sensors and RTK-GPS positioning are common but expensive solutions. However, velocity information can be obtained from the time-differential method using a stand-alone single-frequency receiver without resolving carrier phase ambiguities. In dynamic vehicle testing, such a GPS sensor is attractive because it enables a single person to conduct performance tests quickly and easily. We have investigated the feasibility of a low-cost GPS velocity sensor for applications such as vehicle testing. We developed post-processing software which uses the first order central difference approximation of the carrierphase rate. The advantage of this approximation is simplicity, which facilitates implementation of algorithms into the receiver. In this paper, we mainly focus on the scientific aspects of the GPS velocity determination. We investigated the potential accuracy which can be achieved with low-cost receivers, and evaluated the error budget present in the estimation. The algorithms consider specifically data smoothing, multipath, and modeling of ionospheric effects as well as efficient handling of cycle slips and other data anomalies. We conducted field tests to evaluate the performance of Furuno's low-cost single-frequency GPS receiver for a static and a kinematic case. In static mode, the user velocity has been estimated to be better than 1 cm/s (2sigma) in a high-multipath environment. In kinematic mode, we observed the increase of receiver dynamics in the residuals. However, we did not experience any long signal interruption even under high multipath. Using the Doppler measurements (either the receivergenerated Doppler or the carrier-phase derived Doppler) observed from a moving platform, it is easy to determine the velocity of the platform as long as the satellite velocity is precisely known. From our early results, we confirmed that the satellite velocity predicted by using the broadcast ephemeris in the navigation message is comparable to the velocity of NGA (National Geospatial Intelligence agency) SP3 precise ephemeris. The errors in the position of a moving vehicle cause an error in the calculation of radial velocity. For stand-alone velocity determination, in order to achieve a solution at the mm/s level, satellite positions have to be known better than 10 m. This paper describes the algorithm developed at UNB, results and analysis of the field tests and future work to be done.
BACTERIAL TRANSLOCATION: STUDIES OF MICE AND MEN

Bacterial translocation, which is defined as the passage of enteric bacteria from the intestinal lumen through the intact intestinal wall into mesenteric lymph nodes, the bloodstream, the liver, and other organs, is a critical concept in gastroenterology. It is key to our understanding of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hemorrhagic shock, and the multiorgan failure syndrome, and is involved in diverse gastrointestinal lesions such as malnutrition, intestinal obstruction, and biliary obstruction, all of which promote bacterial translocation.
An allelic variant of the chromosomal gene for class A beta-lactamase K2, specific for Klebsiella pneumoniae, is the ancestor of SHV-1

Fecal Klebsiella isolates from neonates in 22 Swedish special care units were examined by a PCR we developed for detection of the SHV-1 beta-lactamase gene. All 105 K. pneumoniae isolates and all 11 K. pneumoniae reference strains (including the K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae, ozaenae, and rhinoscleromatis type strains) tested were positive, whereas all 67 K. oxytoca isolates and the K. oxytoca, K. planticola, and K. terrigena type strains tested were negative. Resistance to beta-lactams in K. pneumoniae was not transferable by conjugation, and the beta-lactamase gene was never found on a plasmid. Southern blot analysis showed that the gene had a defined chromosomal location. Isoelectric focusing and sequencing of 231-bp PCR amplicons from different isolates revealed many variants of the enzyme, with the two main groups being SHV-1 like (pI 7.6; 68 isolates) and LEN-1 like (pI 7.1; 14 isolates). Clavulanic acid markedly reduced the MICs of ampicillin for all the K. pneumoniae isolates tested. This fact, MIC profiles (penicillin rather than cephalosporin resistance), pIs, and sequence data showed that the chromosomal beta-lactamase of K. pneumoniae is a class A, group 2 enzyme distinct from the chromosomal AmpC enzymes found in several other gram-negative bacteria and from the chromosomal beta-lactamase K1 of K. oxytoca. We propose that the chromosomal beta-lactamase of K. pneumoniae be designated K2 and suggest that an allelic pI 7.6 variant of this enzyme is the ancestor of the SHV family of plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases.
Permeating protons contribute to tachyphylaxis of the acid‐sensing ion channel (ASIC) 1a

The homomeric acid‐sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is a H+‐activated ion channel with important physiological functions and pathophysiological impact in the central nervous system. Here we show that homomeric ASIC1a is distinguished from other ASICs by a reduced response to successive acid stimulations. Such a reduced response is called tachyphylaxis. We show that tachyphylaxis depends on H+ permeating through ASIC1a, that tachyphylaxis is attenuated by extracellular Ca2+, and that tachyphylaxis is probably linked to Ca2+ permeability of ASIC1a. Moreover, we provide evidence that tachyphylaxis is probably due to a long‐lived inactive state of ASIC1a. A deeper understanding of ASIC1a tachyphylaxis may lead to pharmacological control of ASIC1a activity that could be of potential benefit for the treatment of stroke.
Utilization of Tunisian Bentonite as Ion-Exchange and Sorbent Material in The Removal of Lead From Aqueous Solution

The adsorption characteristics of Pb(II) ions using the Tunisian bentonite were investigated. Experimental parameters affecting the adsorption process such as pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage and temperature were studied. Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) models were applied to describe the biosorption isotherms. The adsorption capacity of bentonite for Pb(II) ions was found to be 36.23 mg/g. From the D–R isotherm model, the mean free energy was calculated as 11. kJ/mol, indicating that the adsorption of Pb(II) ions was ta ken place by ion-exchange process. The calculated thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption of Pb(II) ions onto bentonite was feasible, spontaneous and exothermic in nature. Kinetics data were best described by pseudo -second- order model. Infrared (IR) spectra of the bentonite sample showed that the positions and shapes of the fundamental vibrations of the OH and Si–O groups were influenced by the adsorbed Pb(II) cations. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra indicated that the Pb(II) adsorption onto the bentonite samples led to changes in unit cell dimensions and symmetry of the parent bentonite.
Bipolar spectrum disorders in primary care: optimising diagnosis and treatment.

Depression is an extremely common presentation in primary care and the public health importance of depressive disorders are now very well established.1,2 Patients with bipolar affective disorder (who experience episodes of depression alternating with episodes of mania or hypomania), frequently present to their GPs with difficult-to-treat depressive episodes. Indeed, for most of these patients, depressive symptoms (rather than manic symptoms) dominate the long-term clinical course of their illness. Bipolar disorder type I (BD-I; depression alternating with mania) affects around 1% of the population and bipolar disorder type II (BD-II; depression alternating with hypomania) affects a further 2–3%. 3 Although the clinical features of BD-I and BD-II are widely known, it is less well recognised that the boundary between bipolar disorder and recurrent unipolar depression is far from clear-cut.4 A significant proportion of patients with unipolar depression experience mild or brief episodes of hypomania which fall below the threshold for a formal diagnosis of BD-I or BD-II.5–7 These ‘bipolar spectrum’ patients often have patterns of depressive episodes, comorbidities, and treatment responses that differ from those with more straightforward unipolar depression and which, therefore, require a different approach to diagnosis and management. This generally under-recognised issue has far-reaching implications for the way in which clinicians, particularly GPs, approach the assessment and management of all of their depressed patients. Within the research community, there is an emerging consensus that the diagnostic criteria for hypomania are overly restrictive and result in many patients with significant bipolar symptoms being placed within the broad diagnostic category of …
Beta Cell Failure in Diet-Induced Obese mice stratified according to body weight gain : secretory dysfunction and altered islet lipid metabolism without steatosis or reduced beta cell mass

Additional information for this article can be found in an online appendix at http://diabetes.diabetesjournals. org Submitted 30 September 2009 and accepted 30 May 2010. This is an uncopyedited electronic version of an article accepted for publication in Diabetes. The American Diabetes Association, publisher of Diabetes, is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it by third parties. The definitive publisher-authenticated version will be available in a future issue of Diabetes in print and online at http://diabetes.diabetesjournals. org. Diabetes Publish Ahead of Print, published online June 14, 2010
Interleukin 1: an immunological perspective.

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is a hormone-like polypeptide that apparently performs many roles in inflammation and immunity. Originally described as a product released from activated macrophages (MCI», IL-1-like factors have now been detected in the culture supernatants of many types of cells. Historically, IL-1 has been rediscovered a number of times based on the diversity of its actions: the endogenous mediator of f ever (1), the comitogen for thymocytes (2), the stimulant of the acute-phase response (3), cartilage resorption (4), and muscle wasting (5). Each of these properties was initially ascribed to a distinct soluble factor, usually with its own acr�mym. Only recently have they all been attributed to a single mediator, IL-l. The immunological discovery ofIL-l sprang from serendipitous findings during the course of early studies on suppressor T cells (Ts). The possibility was being tested that Ts, which had been elicited in mice by sheep erythrocyte (srbc) antigens, might suppress the mitogenic response of T cells stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA). One experimental control consisted of adding human erythrocytes to mouse thymocytes plus PHA. These erythrocyte preparations were often (but not always) quite mitogenic for thymocytes. This variability in stimulation of mitogenesis was eventu-
High‐efficiency gene targeting in hexaploid wheat using DNA replicons and CRISPR/Cas9

The ability to edit plant genomes through gene targeting (GT) requires efficient methods to deliver both sequence-specific nucleases (SSNs) and repair templates to plant cells. This is typically achieved using Agrobacterium T-DNA, biolistics or by stably integrating nuclease-encoding cassettes and repair templates into the plant genome. In dicotyledonous plants, such as Nicotinana tabacum (tobacco) and Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), greater than 10-fold enhancements in GT frequencies have been achieved using DNA virus-based replicons. These replicons transiently amplify to high copy numbers in plant cells to deliver abundant SSNs and repair templates to achieve targeted gene modification. In the present work, we developed a replicon-based system for genome engineering of cereal crops using a deconstructed version of the wheat dwarf virus (WDV). In wheat cells, the replicons achieve a 110-fold increase in expression of a reporter gene relative to non-replicating controls. Furthermore, replicons carrying CRISPR/Cas9 nucleases and repair templates achieved GT at an endogenous ubiquitin locus at frequencies 12-fold greater than non-viral delivery methods. The use of a strong promoter to express Cas9 was critical to attain these high GT frequencies. We also demonstrate gene-targeted integration by homologous recombination (HR) in all three of the homoeoalleles (A, B and D) of the hexaploid wheat genome, and we show that with the WDV replicons, multiplexed GT within the same wheat cell can be achieved at frequencies of ~1%. In conclusion, high frequencies of GT using WDV-based DNA replicons will make it possible to edit complex cereal genomes without the need to integrate GT reagents into the genome.
Early Response Assessment Using 3′-Deoxy-3′-[18F]Fluorothymidine-Positron Emission Tomography in High-Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Purpose: To evaluate 3′-deoxy-3′-[18F]fluorothymidine-positron emission tomography (FLT-PET) for early monitoring response of high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma to treatment with cyclophosphamide-adriamycin-vincristine-prednisone chemotherapy with or without rituximab immunotherapy (R-CHOP/CHOP). Experimental Design: Twenty-two patients with histologically proven high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma scheduled to undergo first line treatment with R-CHOP/CHOP were included. All patients received baseline imaging before therapy with FLT-PET. For noninvasive assessment of treatment response, FLT-PET was repeated at following time points: group 1 (n = 6), 1 and 6 weeks after R-CHOP/CHOP; group 2 (n = 16), 2 days after rituximab and 2 days after CHOP application. Emission images were acquired 45 min after injection of 300 to 370 MBq of FLT. FLT uptake was quantified by region-of-interest technique on a lesion basis. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUV) for FLT were calculated using circular region of interest (diameter, 1.5 cm). Results: In all patients, morphologically proven lesions showed initially high FLT uptake (mean SUV, 8.1 ± 3.9). In group 1, mean FLT SUV decreased 7 days after R-CHOP/CHOP by 77% (P < 0.001), the reduction in FLT SUV from baseline was 85% after 40 days (P = 0.003). In group 2, FLT uptake in patients without dexamethasone pretreatment revealed no significant reduction after rituximab (P = 0.3) but significantly decreased 2 days after CHOP to 32% compared with the baseline value (P = 0.004). Conclusions: Administration of R-CHOP/CHOP is associated with an early decrease in lymphoma FLT uptake. Interestingly, there was no reduction of FLT uptake after rituximab alone, indicating no early antiproliferative effect of immunotherapy. FLT-PET seems to be promising for early evaluation of drug effects in lymphoma.