Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors related to the choice of family medicine: a reassessment and literature review.

BACKGROUND Recent decreases in the number of students entering family medicine has prompted reconsideration of what is known about the factors affecting specialty choice. METHODS Thirty-six articles on family medicine specialty choice published since 1993 were reviewed and rated for quality. RESULTS Rural background related positively and parents' socioeconomic status relates negatively to choice of family medicine. Career intentions at entry to medical school predict specialty choice. Students who believe primary care is important, have low income expectations, and do not plan a research career are more likely to choose family medicine. The school characteristic related to choice of family medicine is public ownership. Large programs to increase numbers entering primary care seem effective. Required family medicine time in clinical years is related to higher numbers selecting family medicine. Faculty role models serve both as positive and negative influences. Students rejecting family medicine are concerned about prestige, low income, and breadth of knowledge required. Students planning on a career in a disadvantaged or rural area are more likely to enter family medicine. CONCLUSIONS Multiple factors are consistently shown to be related to the choice of the specialty of family medicine.
SU011248, a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor, shows antitumor activity in second-line therapy for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: Results of a phase 2 trial.

4500 Background: SU011248 is an oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor with anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic activity through inhibition of PDGFR, VEGFR, KIT and FLT3. METHODS 63 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were treated with repeat cycles of SU011248 orally at 50 mg daily for 4 weeks followed by a 2-week rest period. Eligibility included measurable disease, ECOG performance status of 0 or 1, failure of one prior cytokine-based therapy, and adequate cardiac function. RESULTS The median age of patients was 60 years and 58 patients (92%) had prior nephrectomy. Best response to SU011248 as assessed by RECIST: [Figure: see text] Of 15 (24%) patients who achieved a PR, 1 patient progressed at 5 months and 14 remain progression-free with median duration of response of 6+ months. Of 29 patients with best response of SD, 5 (8%) patients had reduction of unidimensional measurement of at least 30% and await confirmation of response status. Currently there are 32 patients on treatment with continued PR/SD with median follow-up of 6+ months. Safety data on 63 patients indicates an acceptable toxicity profile with mostly grade 1/2 events including fatigue/asthenia (78%), nausea (56%), diarrhea (51%), and stomatitis (44%). Grade 3/4 toxicities include lymphopenia (30%), elevated lipase (21%) and amylase (8%) without clinical signs of pancreatitis, and fatigue/asthenia (8%). Two patients were taken off the study for decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction > 20% without clinical symptoms. CONCLUSIONS SU011248 administered in repeat cycles of 50 mg daily for 4 weeks followed by a 2-week rest period exhibits promising antitumor activity as second-line therapy for patients with metastatic RCC. Additional studies are planned to further assess the role of SU011248 in the treatment of metastatic RCC. [Table: see text].
Childhood growth, physical activity, and peak bone mass in women

Peak bone mass is an important determinant of the risk of osteoporotic fracture, and preventive strategies against osteoporosis require a clear understanding of the factors influencing bone gain in early life. We report a longitudinal study aiming to identify the relationships between childhood growth, lifestyle, and peak bone mass in women. One hundred and fifty‐three women born in a British city during 1968–1969 were traced and studied in 1990. Data on their growth in childhood was obtained from linked birth and school health records; current bone mineral measurements were made by dual X‐ray absorptiometry. There were statistically significant associations between weight at 1 year and BMC (but not BMD) at the lumbar spine (r = 0.32, p < 0.01) and femoral neck (r = 0.26, p < 0.01). These remained significant after adjusting for current weight. There were also strong relationships between childhood height measurements and adult BMC at the two skeletal sites. Physical activity was the major lifestyle determinant of BMD after allowing for body build. We conclude that infant growth and physical activity in childhood are important determinants of peak bone mass in women. Growth primarily determines the size of the skeletal envelope, and its trajectory is established by age 1 year. Activity, in contrast, modulates the mineral density within the skeletal envelope and may contribute to the consolidation of bone following the end of linear growth.
Sensor-Driven Wireless Lighting Control: System Solutions and Services for Intelligent Buildings

We consider a wireless networked, sensor-driven lighting system as an enabling infrastructure for providing system solutions and services in intelligent buildings. The lighting system in an office space consists of multiple luminaires, with each luminaire having a co-located presence sensor, light sensor, and wireless radio for communication to a central controller. Information from these wireless sensors is used for realizing three specific solutions and services: 1) adaptive illumination control; 2) indoor positioning; and 3) building usage information maps. Using occupancy and light measurements from the multiple sensors, a multivariable controller is designed to determine dimming levels of the luminaires so as to achieve an illumination distribution adapted to changing occupancy and daylight. The wireless sensor transmissions to the central controller are captured by a user mobile device in terms of radio signal strength measurements. Using these measurements, the user position is determined by a device-centric positioning algorithm, in turn offering access to location-based building services to the user. Finally, sensor values at the central controller are stored in a database and processed by an analytics engine to offer building usage information services. As an embodiment service, we use presence sensor data for constructing occupancy maps and, in conjunction with light sensor data, to analyze the energy consumption patterns of lighting systems.
Behavioural interventions for preventing and treating obesity in adults

The purpose of this study was to review existing behavioural interventions for preventing and treating obesity in adult population that were published between 2000 and September 2006. A total of 23 interventions were found. Most of these interventions targeted both physical activity and nutrition behaviours. Majority of the interventions were not based on any explicit behavioural theory. In terms of duration, the interventions ranged from 3 weeks to 9 years. Approximately half of the interventions were less than 6 months in duration. Most of the interventions were implemented by the researchers themselves. However, some interventions were implemented by nurse educators, nutritionists, trained public health nurses, dietitians, healthcare providers, fitness workers and certified diabetic educators. Most of the interventions used group sessions as the predominant method to deliver the programme. Three of the interventions used media. Majority of the interventions were implemented in patient care settings with some in community settings. The most common determinant for measuring impact of the interventions has been body mass index. Fifteen interventions showed positive change in adiposity indices while six showed no change in adiposity indices. Recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of behavioural interventions for prevention of obesity are presented.
Remediation of 'working attention' in mild traumatic brain injury

Several studies have reported beneficial effects of treatments for attentional deficits following traumatic brain injury. Improvements in speed of processing appear to be less robust than improvements on non-speeded tasks, while several studies suggest greater benefits of training more complex forms of attention. The present study presents preliminary results concerning the effectiveness of an intervention for attentional deficits after mild traumatic brain injury. The treatment was based upon the conceptualization of deficits and interventions as a function of the central executive component of working memory, or 'working attention'. A prospective, case-comparison design was employed comparing four treatment participants with an untreated comparison sample. Treatment tasks were derived from experimental procedures which have been demonstrated to elicit working memory demands, consisting of 'n-back', random generation, and dual-task procedures. The intervention emphasized the conscious and deliberate use of strategies to effectively allocate attentional resources and manage the rate of information during task performance. Treatment participants were more likely to exhibit clinically significant improvement on measures of attention and reduction of self-reported attentional difficulties in their daily functioning. Further analysis suggested that the principal effect of the intervention was on working memory, i.e. the ability to temporarily maintain and manipulate information during task performance, with no direct effect on processing speed. The results are consistent with a strategy training model of remediation, in which the benefits of treatment are due to participants' improved ability to compensate for residual deficits and adopt strategies for the more effective allocation of their remaining attentional resources.
Different Photoperiods Affect Proliferation of Lymphocytes but Not Expression of Cellular, Humoral, or Innate Immunity in Hamsters

In seasonal mammals, photoperiod change is associated with a suite of alterations in physiology. It has recently been proposed that the immune response is one of the systems regulated by changes in photoperiod, although this hypothesis has not been rigorously challenged by assays of functional immune responses. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that photoperiod modulates immune responsiveness in Syrian (Mesocricetus auratus) and Siberian (Phodopus sungorus) hamsters. Consistent with previously reported data, short-day-housed (SD) animals exhibited a significant increase in lymph node cell (LNC) numbers and increased cellular proliferation in response to the polyclonal mitogen concanavalin Acompared to long-day-housed (LD) animals. In contrast, LNC numbers from intact or gonadectomized SD animals that had been sensitized with the antigen dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) exhibited a reduced ex vivo proliferative response and reduced production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) compared to LD animals. In vivo studies of the contact hypersensitivity response of animals that had previously been sensitized, and subsequently challenged, with DNFB were similar in SD and LD animals, as was the proliferative activity of LNC recovered from these animals. There were also no photoperiodic differences in the antidinitrophenyl antibody response of animals sensitized with DNFB, or the anti–sheep red blood cell (srbc) response of animals immunized with srbc. Furthermore, no differences could be detected in the activity of natural killer cells from spleens of LD and SD Siberian hamsters, or in lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-6 production by LD and SD Syrian hamsters in vivo. Thus, although photoperiod is able to influence factors regulating the gross number and non-antigen-specific proliferation of lymphocytes in seasonally breeding mammals, day length does not directly influence activation of an effective immune response. The authors conclude, therefore, that expression of the immune response is not directly modified or compromised by photoperiod in these seasonally breeding hamster species.
Chromatid cohesion defects may underlie chromosome instability in human colorectal cancers

Although the majority of colorectal cancers exhibit chromosome instability (CIN), only a few genes that might cause this phenotype have been identified and no general mechanism underlying their function has emerged. To systematically identify somatic mutations in potential CIN genes in colorectal cancers, we determined the sequence of 102 human homologues of 96 yeast CIN genes known to function in various aspects of chromosome transmission fidelity. We identified 11 somatic mutations distributed among five genes in a panel that included 132 colorectal cancers. Remarkably, all but one of these 11 mutations were in the homologs of yeast genes that regulate sister chromatid cohesion. We then demonstrated that down-regulation of such homologs resulted in chromosomal instability and chromatid cohesion defects in human cells. Finally, we showed that down-regulation or genetic disruption of the two major candidate CIN genes identified in previous studies (MRE11A and CDC4) also resulted in abnormal sister chromatid cohesion in human cells. These results suggest that defective sister chromatid cohesion as a result of somatic mutations may represent a major cause of chromosome instability in human cancers.
[Co-delivery of exogenous protein and DNA into mammalian cells with Lactococcus lactis].

AIM To develop a co-delivery system of exogenous protein and DNA into mammalian cells using Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis). METHODS We constructed E.coli-L.lactis shuttle plasmid, pMG36e-RFP/eGFP, containing a L.lactis expression cassette with the cDNA of red fluorescent protein (RFP) gene and a eukaryotic expression cassette with the cDNA of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP), then electrotransformated it into L.lactis cells, and co-cultured with 293T cells to evaluate the role of the system in the improvement of gene delivering efficiency after L.lactis cells were pretreated with glycine. RFP and GFP expressed in 293T cells was monitored by fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS Fluorescence microscopy revealed that the RFP and GFP was expressed in 293T cells. CONCLUSION The co-delivery system of protein and DNA into mammalian cells using L.lactis was constructed successfully.
[The clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome of macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the drug resistance of Mycoplasma pneumoniae among children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), and to explore the clinical and radiological characteristics of and the role of azithromycin in the treatment of of macrolide-resistant (MR) Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. METHODS Cases of CAP in children (n = 179) were prospectively enrolled in the Pediatric ward of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from 1st September, 2010 to 31st August 2011. Pharyngeal swabs were collected for detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA. Mycoplasma pneumoniae culture and in vitro susceptibility testing were also performed. RESULTS Eighty-three cases met the diagnostic criteria of mycoplasma pneumonia, accounting for 46% of the CAP patients. Mycoplasma pneumoniae culture was positive in 45 cases, including 44 highly resistant to macrolides (MR) in vitro, and 1 sensitive. The 44 cases caused by MR pathogen presented with fever for (8 ± 3) d and cough for (17 ± 5) d, with higher fever (39.5 ± 0.7) °C and more irritating dry cough. In most of the children, peripheral blood leukocytes (8 ± 4)×10(9)/L were normal, with normal or elevated (0.60 ± 0.94) neutrophils, normal or slightly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate [(24 ± 14) mm/1 h] and CRP (12.8 mg/L). Chest X-ray showed lobar consolidation in 10 cases (23%, 10/44), among them 3 in the lower left lung, 2 in the left lung, 3 in the right lower lung, 2 in the right upper lung. Pleural effusion (small amount), combined with right lower lung consolidation, was found in 1 case. Patchy shadows were found in 27 cases, and interstitial lung infiltrate in 7 cases. Of the 44 cases caused by MR Mycoplasma pneumoniae, 19 had lung computed tomography (CT) scanning, among them 13 had lobar or segmental consolidation. Azithromycin therapy started in an average of 4.0 days after onset of illness, with duration of therapy averaging (9 ± 4) d. Cephalosporin or penicillin (n = 1) was the initial antibiotic choice in 12 of them, while combination therapy with azithromycin and cephalosporin or penicillin antibiotics was given in 41 of them. The duration of fever averaged (6 ± 3) d after treatment of azithromycin and duration of cough averaged (17 ± 5) d after treatment. Among patients with MR Mycoplasma pneumonia, those with lobar consolidation had longer duration of fever after treatment with azithromycin, compared with those without consolidation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The macrolide resistance rate was 98% (44/45) in our patients. Fever and duration of therapy with azithromycin in MR infection was longer in patients with lobar consolidation. The 44 children with MR Mycoplasma pneumonia recovered with no serious complications.
Macrophages and dendritic cells in normal and regenerating murine skeletal muscle

Mononuclear phagocytes and MHC class II+ dendritic cells (DC) were identified in frozen sections of skeletal muscle using a panel of pan‐specific antimacrophage (MOMA‐2, SER‐4, Mac‐1, F4/80), anti‐major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II (M5/114) and anti‐DC (NLDC‐145, N418, M342) monoclonal antibodies. Uninjured and regenerating skeletal muscle were investigated in SJL/J and BALB/c mice, strains with known differences in muscle regenerative capacity. Resident tissue macrophages and MHC class II+ DC were present within uninjured mouse muscle. A subpopulation of DC were positive for the pan‐DC markers, N418 and M342, and negative for the lymphoid DC marker NLDC‐145. Following crush injury, the macrophage population increased by day 2, became marked by day 3, and had decreased by day 6. In contrast, the number of MHC class II+ cells around the injury site increased steadily after injury and remained high at day 6. The numbers of macrophages and DC detected by immunohistochemical staining were consistently higher in SJL/J than BALB/c muscles. This study confirms that macrophages are a significant component of normal murine skeletal muscle and that these cells increase dramatically after injury. Furthermore the data also reveal for the first time that DC are present in normal skeletal muscle and that MHC class II+ cells, including DC, increase after injury. The presence of DC in muscle has important implications for the understanding of the immunobiology of muscle and immune‐mediated processes such as the host versus graft responses following muscle transplants and autoimmune diseases affecting this tissue. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve, 20, 158–166, 1997.
SRAM device and cell co-design considerations in a 14nm SOI FinFET technology

We report a systematic study on the impact of process and statistical variability on SRAM design in a 14nm SOI FinFET technology node. A comprehensive statistical compact modelling strategy is developed for the early delivery of reliable PDK model, which enables TCAD-based transistor-cell co-design and path finding during the early phase of a technology node.
The Keith Edward scoring system: A case control study

Objective: The World health organization (WHO) has accepted Keith Edward scoring system for the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis (TB). In the present study, we evaluated this scoring system. Methods and Results: We included 53 children with confirmed TB involving different organs, admitted in NB Medical College, during two years period as cases; and 50 randomly selected, age, sex, and organ matched confirmed non-TB cases as controls. We noticed 15.1% false negative and 22% false positive results in our study, and the scoring system had 84.9% sensitivity, 78% specificity, and 80.36% positive predictive value. Likelihood ratio positive (LR+) was 3.86, likelihood ratio negative (LR–) was 0.19, and overall agreement was 81.55%. We observed that Keith Edward scoring system was less effective in children suffering from non-TB chronic diseases (false positive rate: 45.5%). We found no significant difference in nutritional status between study and control groups (P = 0.65). We noticed that more than 15-mm indurations for tuberculin test were specific for TB in children. Conclusion: We concluded that Keith Edward scoring system is good for public health purpose, but there is a scope for improvement, and further study is required for this purpose.
Asthma in Latin America: the dawn of a new epidemic

Purpose of reviewAsthma is a heterogeneous disease with high morbidity worldwide. Unlike the low prevalence of asthma and allergy found in many developing countries, especially in rural settings, its prevalence in Latin America is high. In these sites, nonatopic asthma seems to be the most common phenotype observed among school-age children. Therefore, it seems that asthma in Latin America has some particular characteristics that will be presented and discussed in this article. Recent findingsThe prevalence of asthma-like symptoms in childhood is high in many populations studied in Latin America with similar frequencies to those reported in more developed countries. However, the mechanisms and risk factors associated with nonatopic asthma, which is the most prevalent phenotype in this region, have been scarcely studied. SummaryThe better understanding of asthma phenotypes that prevail in Latin America and the investigation of determining factor studies may help establish new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. These findings should affect public health policies for this new asthma epidemic through the combination of the atopic and nonatopic phenotypes. We hope that this article sheds some new light into these important and most relevant questions.
Factors associated with the health care utilization of homeless persons.

CONTEXT Homeless persons face numerous barriers to receiving health care and have high rates of illness and disability. Factors associated with health care utilization by homeless persons have not been explored from a national perspective. OBJECTIVE To describe factors associated with use of and perceived barriers to receipt of health care among homeless persons. DESIGN AND SETTING Secondary data analysis of the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients. SUBJECTS A total of 2974 currently homeless persons interviewed through homeless assistance programs throughout the United States in October and November 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Self-reported use of ambulatory care services, emergency departments, and inpatient hospital services; inability to receive necessary care; and inability to comply with prescription medication in the prior year. RESULTS Overall, 62.8% of subjects had 1 or more ambulatory care visits during the preceding year, 32.2% visited an emergency department, and 23.3% had been hospitalized. However, 24.6% reported having been unable to receive necessary medical care. Of the 1201 respondents who reported having been prescribed medication, 32.1% reported being unable to comply. After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, medical illness, mental health problems, substance abuse, and other covariates, having health insurance was associated with greater use of ambulatory care (odds ratio [OR], 2.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-5.42), inpatient hospitalization (OR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.16-5.81), and lower reporting of barriers to needed care (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.90) and prescription medication compliance (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.14-0.85). Insurance was not associated with emergency department visits (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.47-1.75). CONCLUSIONS In this nationally representative survey, homeless persons reported high levels of barriers to needed care and used acute hospital-based care at high rates. Insurance was associated with a greater use of ambulatory care and fewer reported barriers. Provision of insurance may improve the substantial morbidity experienced by homeless persons and decrease their reliance on acute hospital-based care.