Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Methodology and Instrumentation for Follicular Unit Extraction: Lower Follicle Transection Rates and Expanded Patient Candidacy

BACKGROUND Follicular unit extraction (FUE), as described in the literature for harvesting follicular units, is technically demanding, has limited patient candidacy, and can potentially result in high rates of follicle transection. Although FUE has potential advantages, such as faster surgical recovery, less postoperative pain, less noticeable scarring, and possible expansion of the donor area, the acceptance of the technique is limited by the problems noted above. The proposed methodology and instrumentation may allow widespread adoption of FUE. OBJECTIVE To present the SAFE (Surgically Advanced Follicular Extraction) System, a new methodology and novel instrumentation for FUE. This article presents the efficacy of this methodology and addresses patient candidacy. METHODS Twenty-two patients undergoing standard strip excision were enrolled in a pilot study to assess follicle transection rates using the SAFE System. Based on the success of the pilot study, an additional 37 patients receiving a total of 6,947 grafts were examined. Transection rates were recorded, and patients were examined for complications or adverse reactions. RESULTS The average follicle transection rate was 6.14%, with a range of 1.7 to 15%. The only adverse reaction was the occurrence of two buried grafts, resulting in inflammatory subcutaneous cysts requiring excision. CONCLUSION It appears that the SAFE System provides the methodology and instrumentation to enhance current FUE techniques and expand patient candidacy. The transection rate of this method compares favorably with traditional microscope graft dissection. Physicians with a modicum of technical skills can use the technique, and there does not appear to be a significant adverse reaction rate.
Low levels of tissue factor pathway inhibitor increase the risk of cerebral venous thrombosis

Background: Decreased concentration of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is a risk factor for development of deep venous thrombosis and coronary heart disease, but there is no evidence for the relationship between TFPI and cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVST). The aim of this study was to determine the level of TFPI in healthy population and in patients with CVST. Materials and Methods: We determined the plasma level of TFPI in 20 patients with CVST (cases) and 31 healthy volunteer subjects (as control group) by enzyme linked immunoassay method. We also examined the association between TFPI and the risk of CVST. Continuous variables were compared between groups using Student′s t test, and odds ratio was calculated by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The mean TFPI was significantly lower in the CVST group compared with the control group (8.60 ± 4.05 ng/mL; 14.6 ± 8.6 ng/mL; P = 0. 005), respectively. The odds ratio for CVST associated with low (<25 th percentile) levels of TFPI was 5.429 (95% CI, 1.487-19.82, P = 0.012). Conclusion: Our investigation demonstrates that reduced TFPI may be one of the risk factors of CVST and associated with increasing the risk of developing CVST.
An intelligent and secure system for predicting and preventing Zika virus outbreak using Fog computing

ABSTRACT Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease that spreads very quickly in different parts of the world. In this article, we proposed a system to prevent and control the spread of Zika virus disease using integration of Fog computing, cloud computing, mobile phones and the Internet of things (IoT)-based sensor devices. Fog computing is used as an intermediary layer between the cloud and end users to reduce the latency time and extra communication cost that is usually found high in cloud-based systems. A fuzzy k-nearest neighbour is used to diagnose the possibly infected users, and Google map web service is used to provide the geographic positioning system (GPS)-based risk assessment to prevent the outbreak. It is used to represent each Zika virus (ZikaV)-infected user, mosquito-dense sites and breeding sites on the Google map that help the government healthcare authorities to control such risk-prone areas effectively and efficiently. The proposed system is deployed on Amazon EC2 cloud to evaluate its performance and accuracy using data set for 2 million users. Our system provides high accuracy of 94.5% for initial diagnosis of different users according to their symptoms and appropriate GPS-based risk assessment.
Short Term Administration of Costimulatory Blockade and Cyclophosphamide Induces Remission of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Nephritis in NZB/W F1 Mice by a Mechanism Downstream of Renal Immune Complex Deposition1

NZB/W F1 mice with established nephritis were treated with a single dose of cyclophosphamide with or without a 2-wk course of murine CTLA4Ig, either alone or in combination with anti-CD154. Sixty to 80% of treated mice entered remission, and remission could be reinduced following relapse. A decrease in the frequency of anti-DNA-producing B cells and activated T cells was observed in treated mice, but this effect lasted only 3–6 wk, while remissions were sustained for up to 20 wk. Light microscopy of the kidneys of mice in remission revealed less glomerular inflammation, less tubular damage, and less infiltration of inflammatory cells. By immunofluorescence, however, IgG and C3 staining of glomeruli was no different in treated mice vs controls. Since chemokines and their receptors play an important role in inflammatory cell infiltration of affected organs in autoimmune diseases, we examined chemokine expression in the kidneys. Decreases in the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were evident in mice in the early stages of remission, but these differences were no longer present in late remission. Increased expression of CXCL13 was detected in the inflammatory infiltrates of the control NZB/NZW mice. Strikingly, we could not detect any CXCL13 in the kidneys of the treated group even in late remission. These findings suggest that costimulatory blockade together with cyclophosphamide influence the activation state of renal CD11c-positive cells and therefore lead to less B and T cell infiltration and nephritis.
Comprehensive karyotyping of the HT‐29 colon adenocarcinoma cell line

The tumor cell line HT‐29 was derived from a primary adenocarcinoma of the rectosigmoid colon. HT‐29 is hypertriploid (3n+) and has accumulated numerous chromosomal structural aberrations. To identify material involved in chromosome rearrangements, we performed a comprehensive cytogenetic analysis using G‐banding, spectral karyotyping (SKY), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The combination of molecular cytogenetic techniques enabled us to define the first comprehensive karyotype for HT‐29. Seventeen marker chromosomes were found in 75–100% of metaphase cells, generally in a single copy per cell. We confirmed the composition of eight previously described markers, refined the classification of seven others, and identified two novel marker chromosomes. Notable aberrations included a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 6 and 14 and an unusual, large derivative chromosome 8 composed entirely of 8q material. The telomere status, evaluated by FISH, revealed telomeric signals at the termini of all chromosomes. No interstitial telomeric sequences were observed in any cell. Although numerous chromosomal aberrations are present in HT‐29, the cell line appears to have retained a high level of genomic stability during passage in culture since undergoing transformation. The excellent resolving power of SKY, coupled with additional information obtained from molecular cytogenetic analyses, will improve our ability to identify genetic lesions characteristic of cancer. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Variability in strength of red yeast rice supplements purchased from mainstream retailers

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced manufacturing standards for dietary supplements, including red yeast rice, to assure their identity, purity, strength, and composition. One supplement commonly used to self-treat high cholesterol, red yeast rice, may contain monacolin K, an ingredient identical to prescription lovastatin. We examined whether FDA’s manufacturing standards led to standard concentrations of the statin monacolin K in red yeast rice supplements. We analyzed 28 brands of red yeast rice supplements by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry for monacolin K content. Monacolin K was not detected in two brands. In the 26 brands that contained monacolin K, the quantity ranged more than 60-fold from 0.09 to 5.48 mg per 1200 mg of red yeast rice. Following the manufacturers’ recommendations for daily servings, the quantity of monacolin K consumed per day would range more than 120-fold from 0.09 to 10.94 mg. Despite FDA manufacturing standards, strength and composition of red yeast rice supplements sold at mainstream retail stores in the United States remains unpredictable.
Heat shock protein inhibitors and vaccines as new agents in cancer treatment.

BACKGROUND Heat shock proteins (HSP) play an essential role as molecular chaperones by assisting correct holding and folding in human cells. At the same time they present implications in tumor cell proliferation, differentiation, matrix invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis and cell death. They also possess the ability to present tumor molecules to the immune system and elicit an immune response. New agents targeting HSP, as anticancer treatment, are under clinical evaluation. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review is to explore the role of HSP90 inhibitors as anticancer agents as well as to evaluate the benefit from the use of autologous HSP vaccines in both the adjuvant setting and first-line treatment. METHODS The latest evidence regarding the use of geldanamycin analogues or newer water-soluble and synthetics molecules that inhibit the binding of HSP90 to client proteins was reviewed. Immunization using tumor-derived HSP in several cancer types was also evaluated. CONCLUSIONS HSP90 inhibitors represent a promising therapeutic option although further evaluation in larger clinical trials is needed. On the other hand, HSP vaccination has already an established role in our armory against cancer.
Decreased Toll-like receptor-5 (TLR-5) expression in the mucosa of ulcerative colitis patients.

OBJECTIVE Although there is a convincing evidence supporting an important role for microorganisms in the pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) which comprises ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), the specific mechanisms involved remain unclear. Toll-like receptors (TLR) recognize various molecules of microbiota including flagellin, the principal protein of motile comensal and pathogenic bacteria implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD. AIM To investigate the expression of the TLR-5 receptors at the mRNA and protein levels in the mucosa of UC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS TLR-5 mRNA was quantified by the validated real-time PCR (QPCR) in mucosal biopsies of 99 UC patients and 34 control patients and TLR-5 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 57 UC and 10 control patients. RESULTS Significantly decreased TLR-5 gene expression at mRNA and protein level was found in the mucosa of patients with moderate and severe disease activity as compared to patients with low UC activity and control. TLR-5 immunoreactivity was found in the mucosa of UC patients and normal controls in the cytoplasm of enterocytes and at their basolateral domain. However, the intensity of the IHC reaction in specimens from UC patients was substantially lower than in control samples. CONCLUSION The decreased expression of TLR-5 gene and protein in the mucosa of UC patients suggests that down-regulation of TLR-5 is probably caused by the increased number of ligand molecules in the proximity of epithelial cells in the inflamed tissue.
28-kDa Mammalian Heat Shock Protein, a Novel Substrate of a Growth Regulatory Protease Involved in Differentiation of Human Leukemia Cells (*)

Because of their differentiating effects in neoplastic cells in vitro, the use of retinoids in the treatment of various malignant and premalignant conditions is under investigation. To date, signal transduction pathways involved in retinoid-induced differentiation remain poorly understood. Differentiation of HL-60 cells by all-trans-retinoic acid (tRA) is directly mediated by down-regulation of the serine protease myeloblastin (mbn). In this report, we investigate the possibility that the 28-kDa heat shock protein (hsp28), previously linked to differentiation of normal and neoplastic cells including HL-60, may be regulated by mbn. Using NB4 promyelocytic leukemic cells as a differentiative model, we show that tRA induces initial suppression and subsequent up-regulation of hsp28 protein, mirroring tRA-induced changes in mbn protein. The progressive reduction in hsp28 mRNA levels in response to tRA suggests that changes in hsp28 protein levels might be posttranscriptionally mediated, raising the possibility that hsp28 may be targeted by mbn. To address this, we developed an assay using purified mbn and recombinant hsp28 and now show that hsp28 is hydrolyzed by mbn but not its homologue, human neutrophil elastase. Moreover, mbn does not indiscriminately hydrolyze other proteins. Identifying hsp28 as a substrate of mbn strongly suggests that hsp28 may be a key component of the tRA signaling pathway involved in regulating cell differentiation.
Population-Based Use of Sphincter-Preserving Surgery in Patients With Rectal Cancer: Is There Room for Improvement?

BACKGROUND: Treatment of rectal cancer in North America has been associated with lower rates of sphincter-preserving surgery in comparison with other regions. It is unclear if these lower rates are due to patient, tumor, or treatment factors; thus, the potential to increase the use of sphincter-preserving surgery is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with the use of sphincter-preserving surgery and to quantify the potential for an increase in sphincter preservation. DESIGN: This population-based retrospective cohort study used patient-level data collected through a comprehensive, standardized review of hospital inpatient and outpatient medical records and cancer center charts. SETTINGS: This study was conducted in all hospitals providing rectal cancer surgery in a Canadian province. PATIENTS: All patients with a new diagnosis of rectal cancer from July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2006 who underwent potentially curative radical surgery were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with receiving a permanent colostomy. Patients were categorized as having received an appropriate or potentially inappropriate colostomy based on a priori determined patient, tumor, operative, and pathologic criteria. RESULTS: Of 466 patients who underwent radical surgery, 48% received a permanent colostomy. There was significant variation in the rate of sphincter-preserving surgery among the 10 hospitals that provided rectal cancer care (12%–73%, p = 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, male sex, low tumor height, and increasing tumor stage were associated with the receipt of a permanent colostomy. Among patients who received a permanent stoma, 65 of 224 (29%) patients received a potentially inappropriate stoma. On multivariate analysis, male sex and treatment in a medium- or low-volume hospital was associated with the receipt of a potentially inappropriate colostomy. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its retrospective design. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the receipt of a permanent colostomy by many patients with rectal cancer may be inappropriate, and there is potential to increase the use of sphincter-preserving surgery in patients with rectal cancer.
Dosimetric variances anticipated from breathing- induced tumor motion during tomotherapy treatment delivery

In their classic paper, Yu et al (1998 Phys. Med. Biol. 43 91) investigated the interplay between tumor motion caused by breathing and dynamically collimated, intensity-modulated radiation delivery. The paper's analytic model assumed an idealized, sinusoidal pattern of motion. In this work, we investigate the effect of tumor motion based on patients' breathing patterns for typical tomotherapy treatments with field widths of 1.0 and 2.5 cm. The measured breathing patterns of 52 lung- and upper-abdominal-cancer patients were used to model a one-dimensional motion. A convolution of the measured beam-dose profiles with the motion model was used to compute the dose-distribution errors, and the positive and negative dose errors were recorded for each simulation. The dose errors increased with increasing motion magnitude, until the motion was similar in magnitude to the field width. For the 1.0 cm and 2.5 cm field widths, the maximum dose-error magnitude exceeded 10% in some simulations, even with breathing-motion magnitudes as small as 5 mm and 10 mm, respectively. Dose errors also increased slightly with increasing couch speed. We propose that the errors were due to subtle drifts in the amplitude and frequency of breathing motion, as well as changes in baseline (exhalation) position, causing both over- and under-dosing of the target. The results of this study highlight potential breathing-motion-induced dose delivery errors in tomotherapy. However, for conventionally fractionated treatments, the dose delivery errors may not be co-located and may average out over many fractions, although this may not be true for hypofractionated treatments.
The Estimation of Serum Fructosamine: An Alternative Measurement to Glycated Haemoglobin

A method is presented for the estimation of fructosamine using a Cobas Bio centrifugal analyser. The effect of three different preparations of human serum albumin used for construction of calibration curves of 1-deoxy-1-morpholinofructose is described. The selection of serum albumin and the concentration used in the standard solutions is critical since the dose-response curve is affected differently and will therefore influence the estimated values. Normal ranges were obtained for non-diabetic subjects with normal protein status and for a group of females with reduced albumin levels due to pregnancy or oestrogen therapy. There was no significant difference between fructosamine levels in these populations. Fructosamine was also estimated in 250 patients attending a diabetic out-patient department and this correlated well with haemoglobin A1 estimated simultaneously. The method is rapid, technically simple and inexpensive and may prove to be a useful and reliable alternative to HbA1 estimation.
Assessment of Diabetic Neuropathy Using a Point-of-Care Nerve Conduction Device Shows Significant Associations With the LDIFLARE Method and Clinical Neuropathy Scoring

Background: Accurate assessment of diabetes polyneuropathy (DPN) is important in the prevention of foot ulcerations and amputations. Simple screening methods including the 10 g monofilament and the 128-Hz tuning fork are not sensitive enough nor intended for detection of early neuropathy, while more confirmatory tests such as nerve conduction studies are not universally available. We evaluated a rapid, low-cost, point-of-care nerve conduction device (POCD; NC-stat®|DPNCheck™) for the assessment of DPN and compared it with the LDIFLARE technique—an established method for early detection of small fibre dysfunction. Methods: A total of 162 patients with diabetes (DM) and 80 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Based on the 10-point Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS), DPN was categorized into none (<2), mild (3-5) moderate (6-7), and severe (8-10). The LDIFLARE was performed in all patients according to previously described methodology. The associations between POCD outcomes and the LDIFLARE within the NDS categories were evaluated using regression analysis. Results: In HC and DM, SNCV measured with the POCD correlated significantly with the LDIFLARE technique (r < 0.90 and r = 0.78, respectively) as did SNAP (r = 0.88 and r = 0.73, respectively); in addition, significance was found in all categories of DPN (r = 0.64 to 0.84; p= ≤ 0.03). ROC curves within each category of DPN showed that the POCD was sensitive in the assessment of DPN. Conclusion: We report highly significant linear relationships between the POCD with both comparators—the LDIFLARE technique and clinical neuropathy scores. Thus, the NC-stat|DPNCheck™ system appears to be an excellent adjunctive diagnostic tool for diagnosing DPN in the clinical setting.
Testing for Statistical Discrimination Based on Gender

This paper develops a model which incorporates the two most commonly cited strands of the literature on statistical discrimination, namely screening discrimination and stereotyping. The model is used to provide empirical evidence of statistical discrimination based on gender in the labour market. It is shown that the implications of both screening discrimination and stereotyping are consistent with observable wage dynamics. In addition, it is found that the gender wage gap decreases in tenure but increases in job transitions and that the fraction of women in high-ranking positions within a firm does not affect the level of statistical discrimination by gender.
The effect of age on the association between body-mass index and mortality.

BACKGROUND The effect of age on optimal body weight is controversial, and few studies have had adequate numbers of subjects to analyze mortality as a function of body-mass index across age groups. METHODS We studied mortality over 12 years among white men and women who participated in the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study I (from 1960 through 1972). The 62,116 men and 262,019 women included in this analysis had never smoked cigarettes, had no history of heart disease, stroke, or cancer (other than skin cancer) at base line in 1959-1960, and had no history of recent unintentional weight loss. The date and cause of death for subjects who died were determined from death certificates. The associations between body-mass index (defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) and mortality were examined for six age groups in analyses in which we adjusted for age, educational level, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. RESULTS Greater body-mass index was associated with higher mortality from all causes and from cardiovascular disease in men and women up to 75 years of age. However, the relative risk associated with greater body-mass index declined with age. For example, for mortality from cardiovascular disease, the relative risk associated with an increment of 1 in the body-mass index was 1.10 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.16) for 30-to-44-year-old men and 1.03 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.05) for 65-to-74-year-old men. For women, the corresponding relative risk estimates were 1.08 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.05 to 1.11) and 1.02 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.03). CONCLUSIONS Excess body weight increases the risk of death from any cause and from cardiovascular disease in adults between 30 and 74 years of age. The relative risk associated with greater body weight is higher among younger subjects.