Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Record Linkage in the Cancer Registry of Tyrol, Austria

Summary Objective: Record linkage of patient data originating from various data sources and record linkage for checking uniqueness of patient registration are common tasks for every cancer registry. In Austria, there is no unique person identifier in use in the medical system. Hence, it was necessary and the goal of this work to develop an efficient means of record linkage for use in cancer registries in Austria. Methods: We adapted the method of probabilistic record linkage to the situation of cancer registries in Austria. In addition to the customary components of this method, we also took into consideration typing errors commonly occurring in names and dates of birth. The method was implemented in a program written in DELPHITM with interfaces optimised for cancer registries. Results: Applying our record linkage method to 130,509 linkages results in 105,272 (80.7%) identical pairs. For these identical pairs, 88.9% of decisions were performed automatically and 11.1% semi-automatically. For results decided automatically, 6.9% did not have simultaneous identity of last name, first name and date of birth. For results decided semi-automatically, 48.4% did not have an identical last name, 25.6% did not have an identical date of birth and 83.1% did not have simultaneous identity of last name and date of birth and first name. Conclusions: The method implemented in our cancer registry solves all record linkage problems in Austria with sufficient precision.
The Prognostic Relevance of Fascin Expression in Human Gastric Carcinoma

Objective: Fascin, an actin-bundling protein that is found in membrane ruffles, microspikes, and stress fibers, induces membrane protrusions and increases cell motility in various transformed cells. The expression of fascin in epithelial neoplasms has been described only recently, and its role in gastric cancer is still unknown. Methods: Paraffin sections of gastric carcinoma from 214 patients were immunohistochemically investigated using monoclonal antifascin antibody. Staining more than 5% of tumor cells was recorded as positive immunoreactivity. Results: Overall, fascin immunoreactivity was detected in 54 out of a total of 214 patients (25%). 26 patients were classified as 1+ (5–25% immunoreactive tumor cells) and 28 were 2+ (>25%). In these patients, 7 tumors showed high (>75%) fascin immunoreactivity. Increased immunoreactivity of fascin was sometimes seen at the edge of the tumor. Fascin immunoreactivity was increased according to the extent of primary tumor (p = 0.026). Fascin expression was correlated with age (p = 0.005), serosal invasion (p = 0.013), positive lymph node metastasis (p = 0.006), histopathological grading (p = 0.019), TNM stage (p = 0.003) and recurrence (p = 0.006); however, it was not correlated with distant metastasis (p = 0.108), Lauren’s type (p = 0.205), or R classification (p = 0.056). Among 166 patients with T1, T2, T3 or T4, those with fascin-positive tumors had a significantly poorer prognosis than those with fascin-negative tumors (p = 0.029). Multivariate analysis showed that fascin expression was not an independent poor prognostic factor. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the immunohistochemical detection of fascin could provide useful information as one of the prognostic factors in gastric cancer patients.
Autoimmune disease concomitance among inflammatory bowel disease patients in the United States, 2001‐2002

Background: Recent studies suggest that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may share an underlying pathogenesis with other autoimmune diseases. Methods: Two United States data sets with patient‐level medical and drug claims were used to explore the occurrence of autoimmune diseases in patients with IBD, particularly Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), with that in controls. From 2001 to 2002 IBD patients were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, diagnosis codes in the IMS Health Integrated Administration Claims Database and the Market Scan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database. Controls were selected by matching on sex, age, Census Bureau region, and length of previous medical insurance coverage. Odds ratios (ORs) evaluated the risk relationship between IBD patients and controls within an estimated Mantel‐Haenszel 95% confidence interval. Sensitivity analysis tested the case identification method used to select IBD patients. Results: The risk for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) was substantially increased across both data sets: OR (95% confidence interval [CI]) of 7.8 (5.6–10.8) in IMS Health and 5.8 (3.9–8.6) in MarketScan. The risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was 2.7 (2.4–3.0) and 2.1 (1.8–2.3), respectively; for multiple sclerosis (MS); the ORs were 1.5 (1.2–1.9) and 1.6 (1.2–2.1), respectively. There was no increased risk for type 1 diabetes mellitus, and the results for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) were inconsistent. The sensitivity analysis supported these findings. Conclusions: A much higher risk for RA, AS, PsA, and MS was observed in IBD patients compared with controls. Prospective epidemiologic studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore the pathogenic mechanism of this relationship.
Isolation of Chemical Constituents of Centaurea virgata Lam. and Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Activity of the Plant Extract and Compounds.

BACKGROUND Centaurea virgata Lam. is a species widely used in the traditional medicine in Turkey for the treatment of diabetes, allergy and gastric ulcers. The rationale of its use in the therapy has not been studied previously, therefore the present work aimed at the chemicalpharmacological evaluation of the plant. OBJECTIVE The xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity of the MeOH extract and its subextracts (n-hexane, CHCl3 and remaining MeOH-H2O) prepared from C. virgata was investigated in vitro. Moderate activity was exerted in case of the CHCl3 extract (98.9 ± 15.8 μg/mL), therefore constituents of this extract were analysed. METHOD Different purification steps, such as VLC, CPC, PLC and crystallization were used for the isolation, and ESIMS, NMR, LC-MS and authentic standards were applied for identification of the compounds. XO inhibitory and DPPH assays were used for evaluation of the bioactivities. RESULTS Sesquiterpenes [8α-hydroxysonchucarpolide, 8α-(3,4-dihydroxy-2-methylenebutanoyloxy)- dehydromelitensine, and cnicin], flavones (apigenin, hispidulin, salvigenin, eupatorin, 3'-methyleupatorin), and the flavonol isokaempferide were isolated from the active extract. The XO-inhibitory activity of these compounds was analyzed using allopurinol as a positive control (IC50 7.49 ± 0.29 μM). It was found that sesquiterpenes and flavonoids, containing 7- OMe group, are inactive. CONCLUSION 7-Hydroxyflavones (apigenin and hispidulin) exerted significant XO inhibitory effect with IC50 values of 0.99 ± 0.33 μM and 4.88 ± 1.21 μM, respectively. Therefore, these compounds are responsible for the XO-inhibitory effect of the extract. The free radical scavenging activity of the isolated flavonoids was determined by DPPH assay, and it was stated that none of the compounds have substantial antioxidant activity, therefore the reduced generation of reactive oxygen species may be the consequence only of XO inhibition.
A reconfigurable unequal filtering power divider based on switched-filter matching network

This paper presents a new reconfigurable unequal filtering power divider. Three operating modes, one power divider mode (2:1) and two transmission modes (1:0 and 0:1), can be obtained with the proposed circuit. Moreover, the circuit can also provide a second-order bandpass filter response while operating in the divider mode. The experimental results for the divider mode show that the insertion losses (|S<inf>21</inf>| and |S<inf>31</inf>|) are about 1.8 dB and the isolation (|S<inf>32</inf>|) is 22 dB at the center frequency of 0.96 GHz. In the transmission mode, the measured insertion losses are 0.7–0.83 dB with isolations of 44–48 dB.
From glass ceiling to inequality regimes Du plafond de verre aux régimes d ’ inégalité

Women are extremely under-represented in top management and professional positions in all countries, although cross-national variations exist. Women from minority ethnic and racial groups suffer from greater under-representation than do majority group women. The “Glass Ceiling” is a metaphor that describes the gender barriers that produce these patterns. This article suggests that “Inequality Regimes” is a more accurate metaphor, as it stands for gender, race and class barriers that obstruct women’s opportunities for advancement at all levels of organizational hierarchy. The article discusses the components of inequality regimes and briefly assesses some efforts to change these practices. © 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
Orofacial Pain: A Guide for the Headache Physician

Orofacial pain represents a significant burden in terms of morbidity and health service utilization. It includes very common disorders such as toothache and temporomandibular disorders, as well as rare orofacial pain syndromes. Many orofacial pain conditions have overlapping presentations, and diagnostic uncertainty is frequently encountered in clinical practice. This review provides a clinically orientated overview of common and uncommon orofacial pain presentations and diagnoses, with an emphasis on conditions that may be unfamiliar to the headache physician. A holistic approach to orofacial pain management is important, and the social, cultural, psychological and cognitive context of each patient needs to be considered in the process of diagnostic formulation, as well as in the development of a pain management plan according to the biopsychosocial model. Recognition of psychological comorbidities will assist in diagnosis and management planning.
Serie Research Memoranda The Relation Between Unemployment and Interest Rate : Some international evidence

In Bierens (1987) a Granger causal relation was found between unemployment and the interest rate for the Netherlands. In the present paper we will investigate whether there exists a simüar Granger causal relation between unemployment and interest rate for a number of other countries. It appears that, with our ARMAX modeling approach, this relationship is not confined to the Netherlands, but also holds for the USA, Canada, Japan, Germany, the UK and France. For these countries the interest rate is the main explanatory variable, together with industrial production (the latter with one exception), whereas for most countries the wage rate is of minor or no importance as a determinant of unemployment. A number of economie theories can explain these phenomena of which the revenue maximization theory of Baumol (1959) augmented with a flexible labor effort rate seems quite realistic. Helpful comments of two anonymous referees are greatfully acknowledged.
Constrained Shared Locks for Increased Concurrency in Databases

In this paper, we extend the traditional relationships between locks, i.e., shared and non-shared, to permit sharing in a constrained manner. The new relationship between locks enables us to develop a family of locking protocols, the least permissive of which is two phase locking while the most permissive accepts all order-preserving conflict serializable histories. The latter protocol also accepts all conflict serializable histories without reordering read and write operations. Instances of the family of protocols can cope with a variety of database recovery problems.
Alcohol consumption and cognitive impairment in older men

Objective: To determine whether alcohol consumption is causally associated with cognitive impairment in older men as predicted by mendelian randomization. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a cohort study of 3,542 community-dwelling men aged 65 to 83 years followed for 6 years. Cognitive impairment was established by a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 23 or less. Participants provided detailed information about their use of alcohol during the preceding year and were classified as abstainers, occasional drinkers, and regular drinkers: mild (<15 drinks/wk), moderate (15–27 drinks/wk), heavy (28–34 drinks/wk), and abusers (≥35 drinks/wk). We genotyped the rs1229984 G→A variant of the alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B) gene, which is associated with lower prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence. Other measures included age, education, marital status, smoking and physical activity, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Results: At study entry, rs1229984 G→A polymorphism was associated with lower prevalence of regular use of alcohol and decreased consumption among regular users. Six years later, 502 men (14.2%) showed evidence of cognitive impairment. Abstainers and irregular drinkers had higher odds of cognitive impairment than regular drinkers (odds ratio [OR] = 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00–1.51, after adjustment for other measured factors). The rs1229984 G→A polymorphism did not decrease the odds of cognitive impairment (AA/GG OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 0.29–6.27; GA/GG OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.71–1.55). Conclusions: Alcohol consumption, including heavy regular drinking and abuse, is not a direct cause of cognitive impairment in later life. Our results are consistent with the possibility, but do not prove, that regular moderate drinking decreases the risk of cognitive impairment in older men.
Long‐term potentiation in the perirhinal‐hippocampal pathway is NMDA dependent

THE putative memory mechanism known as long-term potentiation (LTP) has been described in both NMDA-dependent and non-NMDA-dependent forms. The aim of the present study was to determine which of these forms described the LTP generated between perirhinal cortex (PRC) and hippocampus, two structures which have previously been implicated in learning and memory processes. In urethane-anaesthetized rats, high-frequency stimulation of the PRC induced a significant potentiation of PRC—hippocampal field potentials which was blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801. These data demonstrate that perirhinal-hippocampal LTP is NMDA-dependent and, moreover, that hippocampal-dependent learning which occurs during blockade of the NMDA receptor cannot be attributed to LTP of this pathway.
Studies in developmental cytomechanic.

One of the most promising trends in modern developmental and cell biology, recently defined as <<cyto>>, or <<morphomechanics>>, is directed towards revealing the role of mechanical stresses, chemomechanical transduction and active stress responses of cells antissues of developing embryos. We review here the results obtained in this field by our research group and compare them with those from other labs. Our studies relate to the buds of hydroid polypes and to amphibian embryos. We describe the space-temporal patterns of mechanical stresses in these species, analyze their morphogenetical role and the tissue responses to the experimental modulations of stress patterns. In hydroid polypes we explore also the molecular events involved in mechanochemical coupling. A model, linking the passive mechanical stresses with the active stress-responses of embryonic tissues is suggested. We consider these investigations as a first approach to a developing embryo as to an <<active solid body>>.
Guidance for engineering of synthetic methylotrophy based on methanol metabolism in methylotrophy

Methanol is increasingly becoming an attractive substrate for production of different metabolites, such as commodity chemicals, and biofuels via biological conversion, due to the increment of annual production capacity and decrement of prices. In recent years, genetic engineering towards native menthol utilizing organisms – methylotrophy has developed rapidly and attracted widespread attention. Therefore, it is vital to elucidate the distinct pathways that involve methanol oxidation, formaldehyde assimilation and disassimilation in the different methylotrophies for future synthetic work. In addition, this will also help to genetically construct some new and non-native methylotrophies. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the methanol metabolism pathways in methylotrophy, discusses and compares different pathways on methanol utilization, and finally presents the strategies to integrate the methanol metabolism with other chemicals, biofuels or other high value-added product formation pathways.
EMG changes in respiratory and skeletal muscles during isometric contraction under normoxic, hypoxemic, or ischemic conditions

The consequences of general hypoxemia (PaO2 = 51 mmHg) on two muscle groups (adductor pollicis and diaphragm) sustaining 80% maximal isometric voluntary contraction were studied in healthy individuals. For adductor pollicis, contractions were also executed after 10−s or 3−min rest ischemia. Compared to control, i.e., normoxic, sustained isometric workloads, significant shortening of endurance time occurred only when adductor pollicis contracted under hypoxemic conditions. In both muscle groups, a 3‐min ischemia test as well as hypoxemia reduced the rate of changes in integrated surface EMG in a low frequency band and lowered, or did not modify, the rate of change in the high above low frequency ratio. Recovery of normal patterns of EMG changes was prolonged only after the adductor pollicis contracted under hypoxemic conditions. The present data show that both hypoxemia and prolonged rest ischemia reduced the rate of changes in quantitative EMG activity, with the more significant effects being measured under hypoxemia. © 1994 John & Sons, Inc.
Double-blind, fixed-dose, placebo-controlled study of paroxetine in the treatment of panic disorder.

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to determine the minimum paroxetine dose effective for treating panic disorder. METHOD Of 425 patients with DSM-III-R panic disorder with or without agoraphobia who underwent a 2-week drug-free screening period, 278 patients were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with a 10-week course of placebo or paroxetine at a dose of 10, 20, or 40 mg/day. RESULTS At 40 mg/day, paroxetine was superior to placebo across the majority of outcome measures. Despite a mean of 9.5 to 11.6 full panic attacks during the screening period, 86.0% of the patients taking 40 mg of paroxetine, 65.2% of those taking 20 mg, 67.4% of those taking 10 mg, and 50.0% of the placebo-treated patients were free of full panic attacks during the 2 weeks ending at week 10. The 40-mg paroxetine group experienced significantly greater global improvement than the placebo group and significantly greater improvement in frequency of full and limited-symptom panic attacks, intensity of full panic attacks, phobic fear, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, usually evident by week 4. All doses of paroxetine were well tolerated, and adverse effects were consistent with those associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS Paroxetine is an effective and well-tolerated short-term treatment of panic disorder. The minimum dose demonstrated to be significantly superior to placebo was 40 mg/day, although some patients did respond at lower doses.
Prevalence of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use among elderly people in the rural field practice area of a medical college in Karnataka

Background: With the rise in proportion of elderly people in India, various problems related to their health are also on the rise. An estimated 50% elderly people in India suffer from at least one chronic disease that requires lifelong medication. Objective: To assess the prevalence of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use among elderly people in the rural field practice area of a medical college in Karnataka, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in rural field practice area of a medical college in Karnataka, India. By house-to-house visit, all these individuals were interviewed after obtaining written and informed consent. Information on polypharmacy and PIM use was obtained using the Beers criteria 2012. Data were entered and analyzed using Epi info, version 4.0. Results: Mean (±SD) number of medication use was 2.57 (±1.47). Prevalence of polypharmacy was 73.93% (minor = 81.15%, major = 18.85%). About 17.5% were taking PIMs according to Beers criteria. Conclusion: Prevalence of polypharmacy in our study was comparatively less to previous similar hospital-based studies. Minor polypharmacy was more prevalent. A significant number of elderly people were using PIMs according to Beers criteria.
Mathematische Modellierung und vergleichende Untersuchungen zur Beschreibung von transienten Ein- und Mehrphasenströmungen in Rohrleitungen

Kommerziell erhältliche Programme zur Beschreibung von Zweiphasenströmungen verwenden zumeist das Standard 6-Gleichungsmodell mit jeweils zwei Massen-, Impulsund Energiebilanzen oder das „homogenous equilibrium model“ mit je einer Bilanz für die Erhaltungsgrößen. Die für die Berechnung der Strömungsprozesse relevanten Massenund Impulsbilanzen werden hinsichtlich ihrer Stabilität analysiert und die berechneten Eigengeschwindigkeiten experimentell bestimmten Druckwellenausbreitungsgeschwindigkeiten gegenübergestellt, wobei eine Unterscheidung anhand der Strömungsform getroffen wird.
Reductions in disease activity in the AMPLE trial: clinical response by baseline disease duration

Objectives To evaluate clinical response by baseline disease duration using 2-year data from the AMPLE trial. Methods Patients were randomised to subcutaneous abatacept 125 mg weekly or adalimumab 40 mg bi-weekly, with background methotrexate. As part of a post hoc analysis, the achievement of validated definitions of remission (Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) ≤2.8, Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) ≤3.3, Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) ≤3.0, Boolean score ≤1), low disease activity (CDAI <10, SDAI <11, RAPID3 ≤6.0), Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index response and American College of Rheumatology responses were evaluated by baseline disease duration (≤6 vs >6 months). Disease Activity Score 28 (C-reactive protein) <2.6 or ≤3.2 and radiographic non-progression in patients achieving remission were also evaluated. Results A total of 646 patients were randomised and treated (abatacept, n=318; adalimumab, n=328). In both treatment groups, comparable responses were achieved in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (≤6 months) and in those with later disease (>6 months) across multiple clinical measures. Conclusions Abatacept or adalimumab with background methotrexate were associated with similar onset and sustainability of response over 2 years. Patients treated early or later in the disease course achieved comparable clinical responses. Trial registration number NCT00929864, Post-results.
Characterization of Flavonoids and Naphthopyranones in Methanol Extracts of Paepalanthus chiquitensis Herzog by HPLC-ESI-IT-MSn and Their Mutagenic Activity

A HPLC-ESI-IT-MSn method, based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray negative ionization multistage ion trap mass spectrometry, was developed for rapid identification of 24 flavonoid and naphthopyranone compounds. The methanol extracts of the capitulae and scapes of P. chiquitensis exhibited mutagenic activity in the Salmonella/microsome assay, against strain TA97a.