Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B virus reactivation in lymphoma patients with prior resolved hepatitis B undergoing anticancer therapy with or without rituximab.

PURPOSE Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a well-recognized complication in cancer patients with chronic HBV (hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] positive) undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy. In patients who have resolved HBV (HBsAg negative and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen [anti-HBc] +/- antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen [anti-HBs] positive), such incidence has been much less common until recent use of rituximab. In this study on HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive lymphoma patients, the objectives were to determine the HBV reactivation rate in patients treated with rituximab-containing chemotherapy and to compare it with the rate in patients treated without rituximab. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between January 2003 and December 2006, all patients diagnosed with CD20(+) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) had HBsAg determined before anticancer therapy. They were treated with either cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) alone or rituximab plus CHOP (R-CHOP). HBsAg-negative patients had anti-HBc determined; serum was stored for anti-HBs and HBV DNA. All patients were observed for HBV reactivation, which was defined as detectable HBV DNA with ALT elevation during and for 6 months after anticancer therapy. RESULTS Among 104 CD20(+) DLBCL patients, 80 were HBsAg negative. Of the latter, 46 patients (44.2%) were HBsAg negative/anti-HBc positive; 25 of these patients were treated with CHOP, and none had HBV reactivation. In contrast, among the 21 patients treated with R-CHOP, five developed HBV reactivation, including one patient who died of hepatic failure (P = .0148). Exploratory analysis identified male sex, absence of anti-HBs, and use of rituximab to be predictive of HBV reactivation. CONCLUSION Among HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP, 25% developed HBV reactivation. Close monitoring until at least 6 months after anticancer therapy is required, with an alternative approach of prophylactic antiviral therapy to prevent this potentially fatal condition.
A month of breastfeeding associated with greater adherence to paediatric nutrition guidelines

Background: Research has shown that both breastfeeding and delaying the introduction of solids or liquids other than breast milk protect against obesity later in early childhood. Objectives: To compare whether breastfeeding mothers adhere to more of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) feeding recommendations for infants. Method: This longitudinal study compared the breastfeeding knowledge, intentions and practices as well as complementary feeding choices of 163 ethnically diverse, primiparous women over the first 18 months of motherhood. Results: Although almost all women (98%) knew about the health benefits of breastfeeding and intended to breastfeed (98%), only 85% initiated and 51% continued beyond 4 weeks. Breastfeeding for longer durations was associated with better feeding choices. Mothers who breastfed for more weeks were more likely to adhere to AAP guidelines on feeding infants liquids other than breast milk at 4, 6 and 12 months, and introducing solids, liquids other than breast milk and other complementary foods at later ages. Furthermore, mothers who breastfed for less than 1 month were more likely to introduce solids by 2 months in comparison to mothers who breastfed for 1 month or more (OR = 3.22). Conclusion: Knowledge and intentions do not explain breastfeeding initiation or continuation. However, when women committed to more weeks of breastfeeding, especially more than 4 weeks, they made better nutrition choices for their infants.
[Use of coronary angiography after acute myocardial infarction in Germany: a comparison of daily clinical practice with international guidelines. MITRA Study].

OBJECTIVES Two third of patients with acute myocardial infarction are admitted to hospitals without cardiac catheterization facilities. Whether a postinfarction patient will undergo cardiac catheterization or not is more often decided by general physicians than by cardiologists. The purpose of this presentation is to investigate the determinants for decision making to use cardiac catheterization in patients after myocardial infarction. METHODS MITRA is a prospective, multicenter registry, which enrolls all consecutive patients with acute Q wave infarction admitted to 54 hospitals in Southwestern Germany. During the pilot phase 949 consecutive survivors of acute myocardial infarction were included, and inhospital outcome as well as therapeutic strategies were registered. RESULTS Only half of the patients underwent cardiac catheterization regardless of whether a catheterization facility was available or not. In 63% of the patients under 65 years of age coronary angiography was performed; however, every fourth patient with age above 70 years was transferred to an invasive therapeutic strategy. The percentage of male patients was twice a high in the invasive group, whereas patients with prior infarction, clinical signs of congestive heart failure, patients with moderately or severely impaired left ventricular function, and finally patients with a prehospital delay of more than 4 hours were more frequent in the conservative group. The following three parameters were calculated to be independent determinants of an invasive strategy: pathological stress ECG (OR: 2.8; CI: 1.80-4.60), patients < 70 years without stress ECG (OR: 2.18; CI: 1.5-3.18), and male gender (OR: 1.45: CI: 1.10-2.00). Independent factors of a conservative strategy were primary PTCA (OR: 0.2; CI: 0.09-0.46), prehospital delay > 4 hours (OR: 0.71; CI: 0.51-0.97), and the combination of age > 70 years and the absence of a stress ECG (OR: 0.78; CI: 0.55-1.11). CONCLUSIONS In Germany, patients with acute myocardial infarction are less likely to undergo cardiac catheterization compared to patients in other Western countries (e.g. , the United States). Despite recommended guidelines, invasive strategies are more frequent in low risk groups (younger patients, male gender) than in postinfarction patients at high risk (severely impaired left ventricular function, clinical signs of congestive heart failure, the elderly).
Atsdr Evaluation of Health Effects of Chemicals

This document provides public health officials, physicians, toxicologists, and other interested individuals and groups with an overall perspective of the toxicology of mirex and chlordecone. It contains descriptions and evaluations of toxicological studies and epidemiological investigations and provides conclusions, where possible, on the relevance of toxicity and toxicokinetic data to public health. Additional substances will be profiled in a series of manuscripts to follow.
Increased production of nitric oxide correlates with tumor growth in Algerian patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is thought to arise because of chronic inflammation. The correlation between nitric oxide (NO) production, a biomarker of inflammation and NPC development remains unexplored. To investigate this question, we performed a profile analysis on plasma collected from untreated, treated, remissive, cured and relapsing patients. Nitrites were measured to assess NO activity. We observed that increased nitrites concentrations in untreated and relapsing patients associated with tumor development. Moreover, nitrites levels were similar in remissive, cured and healthy individuals. Altogether, our results suggest that NO might be an interesting blood biomarker to monitor tumor growth in NPC patients.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Extracorporeal Albumin Dialysis in Pediatric Patients with Sepsis and Multi-Organ Dysfunction Syndrome

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used in managing patients with potentially reversible cardio-respiratory failure refractory to conventional methods. Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS), usually due to sepsis, remains the main cause of mortality in such patients. We report a series of six pediatric patients with sepsis-induced MODS where extracorporeal albumin dialysis (EAD) was used while the patients were on ECMO. The age of the patients ranged between 1 month and 17 years. The mean pediatric index of mortality (PIM) score at admission was 67.5%. All these patients further deteriorated with MODS and EAD was used as rescue therapy. At institution of EAD, 4 patients had dysfunction of 4 organs and 2 patients had dysfunction of 5 organs. The number of EAD cycles ranged between 1 and 3. Three out of the 6 patients (50%) survived to discharge from the intensive care unit and two of the six patients (33%) survived to hospital discharge. According to our previous experience and published results, all these patients would have been expected to die. The present results suggest that EAD may prove to have a role in the treatment of pediatric patients with sepsis-induced MODS. Further research is required to identify the group of patients who would benefit most by EAD as well as understand the clearance of inflammatory mediators and other mechanisms involved with the use of EAD.
Distributed token circulation in mobile ad hoc networks

This paper presents several distributed algorithms that cause a token to continually circulate through all the nodes of a mobile ad hoc network. An important application of such algorithms is to ensure total order of message, delivery in a group communication service. Some of the proposed algorithms are aware of, and adapt to changes in the ad hoc network topology. When using a token circulation algorithm, a round is said to complete when every node has been visited at least once. Criteria for comparing the algorithms include the average time, required to complete a round, number of bytes sent per round, and number of nodes visited per round. Comparison between the proposed algorithms is performed using simulation results obtained from a detailed simulation model (with ns-2 simulator). We also give a rigorous worst-case analysis of the proposed LR algorithm, which gives the best overall performance in the simulation.
WellDoc mobile diabetes management randomized controlled trial: change in clinical and behavioral outcomes and patient and physician satisfaction.

BACKGROUND Less than 63% of individuals with diabetes meet professional guidelines target of hemoglobin A1c <7.0%, and only 7% meet combined glycemic, lipid, and blood pressure goals. The primary study aim was to assess the impact on A1c of a cell phone-based diabetes management software system used with web-based data analytics and therapy optimization tools. Secondary aims examined health care provider (HCP) adherence to prescribing guidelines and assessed HCPs' adoption of the technology. METHODS Thirty patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited from three community physician practices for a 3-month study and evenly randomized. The intervention group received cell phone-based software designed by endocrinologists and CDEs (WellDoc Communications, Inc., Baltimore, MD). The software provided real-time feedback on patients' blood glucose levels, displayed patients' medication regimens, incorporated hypo- and hyperglycemia treatment algorithms, and requested additional data needed to evaluate diabetes management. Patient data captured and transferred to secure servers were analyzed by proprietary statistical algorithms. The system sent computer-generated logbooks (with suggested treatment plans) to intervention patients' HCPs. RESULTS The average decrease in A1c for intervention patients was 2.03%, compared to 0.68% (P < 0.02, one-tailed) for control patients. Of the intervention patients, 84% had medications titrated or changed by their HCP compared to controls (23%, P = 0.002). Intervention patients' HCPs reported the system facilitated treatment decisions, provided organized data, and reduced logbook review time. CONCLUSIONS Adults with type 2 diabetes using WellDoc's software achieved statistically significant improvements in A1c. HCP and patient satisfaction with the system was clinically and statistically significant.
Geographic map and evolution of primary Helicobacter pylori resistance to antibacterial agents

Antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori is the major cause of eradication failure. Primary H. pylori susceptibility patterns, however, are becoming less predictable. Currently, high (≥20%) clarithromycin resistance rates have been observed in the USA and in developed countries in Europe and Asia, while the highest (≥80%) metronidazole-resistance rates have been reported in Africa, Asia and South America. Primary quinolone-resistance rates of 10% or more have already been reported in developed countries in Europe and Asia. Primary amoxicillin resistance has been low (0 to <2%) in Europe but higher (6–59%) in Africa, Asia and South America. Similarly, tetracycline resistance has been absent or low (<5%) in most countries and higher (9–27%) in Asia and South America. The increasing clarithromycin and quinolone resistance, and multidrug resistance detected in 0 to less than 5% in Europe and more often (14.2%) in Brazil are worrying. Growing resistance often parallels national antibiotic consumption and may vary within patient groups according to the geographic region, patient’s age and sex, type of disease, birthplace, other infections and other factors. The geographic map and evolution of primary H. pylori resistance are clinically important, should be considered when choosing eradication regimens, and should be monitored constantly at national and global levels in an attempt to reach the recently recommended goal of eradication of more than 95%.
Relationship of baseline serum bilirubin to efficacy and toxicity of single-agent irinotecan in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE To examine the predictive value of baseline serum bilirubin measurement for chemotherapy-related toxicity or efficacy among patients receiving irinotecan for metastatic colorectal cancer. METHODS We performed a secondary analysis of a cohort of 287 patients treated in a multicenter, phase III study with single-agent irinotecan administered either weekly or once every 3 weeks. Patients were grouped into three categories of baseline bilirubin measurements (0 to 0.4, 0.5 to 0.9, and 1.0 to 1.5 mg/dL). We performed analyses of overall survival, time to progression, and treatment-related toxicity based on bilirubin category, as well as using bilirubin as a continuous variable. RESULTS With a median follow-up of 15.8 months, baseline serum bilirubin was not predictive of 1-year survival (42.4%, bilirubin 0 to 0.4; 42.3%, bilirubin 0.5 to 0.9; 48.1%, bilirubin 1.0 to 1.5 mg/dL), median overall survival (10.1, 9.7, and 15.6 months, respectively; P =.5), or median time to progression (2.8, 3.0, and 4.1 months, respectively; P =.5). Patients with elevated bilirubin had a significantly greater risk grade 3 to 4 neutropenia; however, this was limited to patients treated on a weekly schedule (P trend =.03) and not once every 3 weeks (P trend =.8). Other toxicities were not significantly different by initial bilirubin measurement. CONCLUSION Although modest elevations of bilirubin (1.0 to 1.5 mg/dL) are associated with increased grade 3 to 4 neutropenia in patients treated with weekly irinotecan, baseline serum bilirubin does not reliably predict overall irinotecan-related toxicity or efficacy. Additional methods, including potential application of pharmacogenetic information, are needed to optimize irinotecan dosing and tailor therapy to individual patients.
COMPARISON BETWEEN VISUAL INSPECTION OF CERVIX WITH ACETIC ACID (VIA) AND PAP SMEAR IN SCREENING OF CERVICAL CANCER IN RURAL SETUP

INTRODUCTION: In developing country like India cervical malignancy is a common, preventable and curable cause of morbidity and mortality . Worldwide pap smear is the most commonly used screening test for cervical lesions . VIA guided biopsy has been defined to be the gold standard method in diagnosing precancerous lesions of the cervix & used in evaluation and management of cervical lesions. In present study we compare clinical performance of Visual Inspection With acetic acid (VIA), as a simple screening test and if it (VIA) would be an adequate alternative to PAP SMEAR , in the screening for cancer cervix in low resource settings. METHOD: A cross sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care referral institute in 100 symptomatic women of 30-70 years. PAP smears were performed by the conventional method and VIA was done for all 100 women who came with complaints of white discharge per vagina, intermenstrual, or postcoital bleeding, etc. Final correlation of the PAP smear and VIA were based on biopsy reports. RESULT: VIA has more sensitivity but low specificity(76%)&(33%) than PAP smear(26%) &(88.26%) CONCLUSION: It is evident that VIA is definitely more sensitive and accurate than pap smear. By combining pap smear with VIA, we can maximize the sensitivity and specificity of cancer cervix screening.
The minimum effective dose of lignocaine to prevent injection pain due to propofol in children

In a single‐blind study of 100 children aged 1 to 10 years, the minimum effective dose of lignocaine required to prevent injection pain due to propofol was 0.2mg. kg−1 when veins on the dorsum of the hand were used. This is more than twice the adult value. We concluded that injection pain should not limit the use of propofol in children if an adequate amount of lignocaine is mixed immediately prior to injection.
IT's Impact on Organizational Performance: A Meta-Analysis

Despite the constant stream of research investigating IT business value, IT capabilities, and competitive advantage, researchers are calling for a more coherent understanding of the firm-level impacts of IT, and how those firm-level impacts can be measured. The purpose of this study is to investigate the multitude of organization-level studies of the impact of information technology. A meta-analysis approach was used spanning five years (2003-2008) and 60 articles concerning the impact of information technology at the organizational level. The findings are synthesized into an overarching framework of the impact of IT at the organization level. The study finds that IS research on organizational impacts of IT is diverse, with a multitude of variables and constructs as antecedents and measures of the impact of IT. The framework categorizes measures of the impact of IT into organizational productivity, financial performance, and intangible benefits, while the antecedents of IT impact are categorized into business alignment, IT resources, IT capabilities, and external forces.
On the application of a modified k-epsilon model for predicting hydrodynamic and thermal turbulent Microchannel flow

In the present work turbulent thermal and hydrodynamic behaviors of fluid flow in microchannel is investigated numerically using modified k-epsilon model. Different micro-geometries are adopted in this study such as microtubes, isothermal micro two fixed plates and micro Couette flow. The numerical procedure is developed in the present work based on the control volume approach proposed by Patankar. Validation between numerical and experimental or analytical hydrodynamics and thermal behaviors is investigated. It is found that this numerical technique gives the same predictions which are given by the experimental or analytical.
Polarization-independent optical demultiplexing by conventional nonlinear optical loop mirror in a polarization-diversity loop configuration

All-optical demultiplexing schemes based on cross-phase modulation in a conventional nonlinear optical fiber loop mirror (NOLM) switch generally suffer from a polarization dependence. In this letter, we propose a polarization-diversity loop configuration that allows polarization-independent all-optical demultiplexing by a conventional NOLM switch. We demonstrate polarization-independent all-optical demultiplexing of 40 Gbit/s signal pulses using the proposed scheme.
CenSES working paper 2 / 201 5 ISBN : 978-82-93198-15-4 A Multi-Stage Multi-Horizon Stochastic Equilibrium Model of Multi-Fuel Energy Markets

We develop a multi-horizon stochastic equilibrium model for analyzing energy markets, with particular attention to infrastructure development and renewable energy policies in perfect and imperfect market structures. By decoupling short-term operational decisions feedback from long-term strategic investment decisions, the multi-horizon approach allows to consider long-term and short-term uncertainties while maintaining favorable computational complexity. We illustrate for a representative stylized example how considering long and short-term uncertainty affects infrastructure development and trade patterns and look into the Value of Stochastic Solution (VSS). Although the VSS values are modest, the impact of addressing uncertainty is significant in infrastructure sizing and timing decisions. We illustrate how in a perfect market much higher expansions occur in production, transmission and generation compared to an imperfect market. Independent of market structure, more uncertainty generally favors gas production and gas-fired power generation, with some small but insightful exceptions. As such, the model provides a two-fold contribution to the literature, as it is the first stochastic multi-energy equilibrium model, as well as the first multi-horizon equilibrium model.
Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 is functionally altered in pregnancy plasma.

In a variety of physio-pathological conditions, but also in the normal state, calcium-dependent serine protease(s) partially proteolyze proportions of circulating insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). This occurs without disrupting the 150-kilodalton (kDa) complexes in which IGFBP-3 carries of most of the IGF-I and IGF-II in serum. In this work we show that the 150-kDa complex is functionally altered during pregnancy, which is when the largest proportion of IGFBP-3 is proteolyzed. After preincubation at 4 C with [125I]IGF-I or -II with or without 1 microgram unlabeled IGF-I or -II, pooled plasma samples were gel filtered at pH 7.4. Larger proportions of labeled IGFs were found in the 150-kDa complexes of the third trimester pregnancy plasma pool than in those of the normal plasma pool, suggesting increased binding capacity. Nevertheless, competitive binding experiments using [125I]IGF-I and -II and IGFBP-3 preparations from each of the plasma pools showed that the competitive potencies of IGF-II and especially IGF-I were lower in pregnancy IGFBP-3 than in normal IGFBP-3. Scatchard analysis revealed a 2-fold loss of affinity for IGF-II and a 10-fold loss for IGF-I compared with that for normal plasma IGFBP-3. In studies at 37 C of the kinetics of dissociation of [125I]IGF-I and -II bound to IGFBP-3, IGF-II was dissociated 6 times faster, and IGF-I 10 times faster from pregnancy plasma IGFBP-3 than from normal plasma IGFBP-3. After incubation of individual plasma samples at 37 C and gel filtration at room temperature (in the presence of EDTA), IGFs were assayed in the three circulating pools (150-kDa and 40-kDa complexes and free IGFs), revealing a redistribution of pregnancy plasma IGFs. The proportion of total IGF-I in free form was nearly three times greater in pregnancy than in normal plasma (11.4% vs. 4.1%, P < 0.005), whereas that of free IGF-II was slightly smaller (1.5% vs. 2%). In the 150-kDa complexes, the proportion of total IGF-I was significantly smaller in pregnancy than in normal plasma, and that of IGF-II was greater. In the 40-kDa complexes, the proportion of total IGF-II was significantly smaller. The mean ratios of molar concentrations of free IGF-I/IGF-II were 0.43 in normal plasma and 2.23 in pregnancy plasma (P < 0.005). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)