Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic role of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in operable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

AIM To determine the prognostic significance of preoperative serum neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS Data from 371 eligible patients with ESCC who had undergone surgery with curative intent at our institution between October 2000 and May 2007 were retrospectively recruited for analysis. The cutoff value of NLR was 3.0 as determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve, which discriminated between survival and death; the area under the curve was 0.709, and the sensitivity and specificity were 66.1% and 69.1%, respectively, at the cutoff point. The correlation between the NLR and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed using a χ(2) test. The prognostic influence of the NLR and other clinicopathological factors on cancer-specific survival (CSS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) was studied using the Kaplan-Meier method. To evaluate the independent prognostic value of NLR, multivariate Cox regression models were applied. RESULTS The median age of the patients was 57.0 years, and 276/371 (74.4%) patients were male. The NLR was ≤ 3.0 in 80.1% (297/371) of the patients, and the remaining 19.9% (74/371) had an NLR > 3.0. Median postoperative follow-up was 66.0 mo [interquartile range (IQR): 49.0-76.0 mo], with a follow-up rate of 94%. Follow-up was not significantly different between patients with an NLR ≤ and > 3.0 (63.13 ± 1.64 vs 61.52 ± 3.66, P = 0.711). However, higher preoperative serum NLR was associated with significantly increased risks of higher pathological tumor status (P = 0.007). A significant, independent association between high preoperative serum NLR and poor clinical outcome was identified in a multivariate analysis for CSS (HR = 1.591; P = 0.007) and RFS (HR = 1.525; P = 0.013). Moreover, when patients were stratified by pathological tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging, the adverse effects of preoperative serum NLR on CSS (HR = 2.294; P = 0.008) and RFS (HR = 2.273; P = 0.008) were greatest in those patients with stage IIIA disease. CONCLUSION Preoperative serum NLR is a useful prognostic marker to complement TNM staging for operable ESCC patients, particularly in patients with stage IIIA disease.
The Efficacy of a Modified ACTSEB (Anterior Chamber Tube Shunt to an Encircling Band) Procedure

PurposeTo evaluate the efficacy of a modified anterior chamber tube shunt to an encircling band (ACTSEB) procedure for treating intractable glaucoma after scleral buckling procedure. MethodsA retrospective review of medical records was performed on 7 eyes of 5 patients who underwent a modified ACTSEB procedure to treat intractable glaucoma after an encircling procedure. The modified ACTSEB procedure was performed using a silicone tube with its distal end inserted into the fibrous capsule around a scleral buckle and its proximal end inserted into the anterior chamber. Preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), number of antiglaucoma medications, visual acuity, and complications were recorded. Success was defined as a final IOP of >6 mm Hg and <21 mm Hg with or without medication. Among them qualified success was defined as a final IOP of <22 mm Hg with antiglaucoma medication, and complete success as the same IOP without medication. ResultsThe overall success rate was 86% (6/7). Qualified success rate was 71% (5/7), and the complete success rate 14% (1/7). No case of hypotony, shallow anterior chamber, fibrous tube occlusion, tube obstruction by lens or iris, conjunctival wound leak, hyphema, or epithelial ingrowth occurred. The only complication was of inferior migration of the silicone tube into the anterior chamber in 2 cases. One of these led to corneal decompensation and subsequent tube removal due to tube migration, and the other underwent tube repositioning at 14 months postoperatively. ConclusionsThe modified ACTSEB procedure provides an efficient means of treating intractable glaucoma after scleral buckling procedure.
Sociodemographic determinants of complicated unsafe abortions in a semi-urban Nigerian town: a four-year review.

BACKGROUND Abortions performed by persons lacking the requisite skills or in environments lacking minimal medical standards or both are considered unsafe. It is estimated that over 20 million unsafe abortions are performed annually and about 70 000 women die globally as a result, with the majority occurring in the developing world. This study aims to determine the sociodemographic factors involved in complicated unsafe abortions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The study is a four-year retrospective evaluation of all cases of complicated unsafe abortions managed at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Bayelsa state, Nigeria between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2010. RESULTS The incidence of unsafe complicated abortions over the study period was 4.10% of total deliveries and contributed 14.0% of gynaecological admissions: 34.92% occurred in adolescents less than 20 years of age, of which the majority (55.55%) were secondary school students. There were 55.45% of patients who were nulliparae, 60.32% were unemployed and 69.80% were unmarried. A total of 87.30% had never used any form of contraceptive. Abortion mortality rate was 256/100 000 deliveries and the case fatality was 4.76%. It constituted 30.0% of all gynaecological deaths and 17.64% of maternal deaths during the study period. The commonest cause of death was septicaemia (66.66%). CONCLUSION Unfavourable sociodemographic factors are major determinants of the high incidence of unsafe abortion in the Niger Delta despite strict abortion laws. Concrete measures must be put in place to address these, as unsafe abortion and its complications are a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the environment.
Safety aspects of 36 months of administration of long-acting intramuscular testosterone undecanoate for treatment of female-to-male transgender individuals.

DESIGN Testosterone treatment is essential for the induction and maintenance of virilization of female-to-male (FTM) transsexuals. Aim To test the safety of a novel testosterone preparation for this purpose. METHODS Parenteral long-acting testosterone undecanoate (TU) was administered to 17 FTM transsexuals over 36 months. Observations were made while subjects received treatment. RESULTS Serum testosterone rose from 0.50+/-0.25 to 6.2+/-1.3 ng/ml at 6 months and remained stable thereafter. The testosterone profiles were largely identical with those in hypogonadal receiving TU. There were no side effects. Over the 36 months of the study, there was a small but significant decrease in plasma cholesterol (from 218+/-47 to 188+/-42 mg/dl) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (from 139+/-48 to 139+/-48 mg/dl), while plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides did not change significantly. Liver enzymes did not change during treatment. There was an increase of both levels in hemoglobin (from 13.6+/-1.2 to 16.0+/-1.5 g/dl) and hematocrit (from 41+/-4 to 46+/-4) upon administration but they remained almost without exception within the physiological range. No special measures were needed. Breast and gonads/internal genitalia did not show pathological changes over the observation period. CONCLUSION This study reports that TU is suited for induction of virilization in FTM transsexuals without significant side effects over a longer term.
The Place Coverage (TPC) - Three-Stage User Association and Rate Maximization for 5G SD-RAN Systems

This paper analyzes the problem of optimum user association and sum rate maximization for software defined radio access networks (SD-RANs) with access node diversity for fifth generation (5G) wireless networks. We consider four complementary types of access nodes namely, a massive multiple- input multiple-output (MIMO) base station (BS), MIMO BSs, small cells (SCs), and indoor and outdoor distributed antenna systems (DAS). The SDRAN user association problem is solved through a novel three-stage optimization scheme called the place coverage (TPC). TPC divides the user equipment (UEs) into two sets of indoor and outdoor UEs. Initially, TPC associates indoor UEs with the indoor DAS access nodes. Next, outdoor UEs are associated with the outdoor DAS access nodes, SCs, MIMO BSs, and the massive MIMO BS. Finally, the remaining resources of indoor and outdoor access nodes are used to serve the UEs that have not been served. The scope of TPC is multifold. First, TPC reflects the closest model to a real-world diverse 5G network. Secondly, servicing the indoor UEs with iDAS antennas results in lower power load per user for the access network resulting in better coverage, quality, and data speed. Thirdly, TPC provides reduced radiation levels for indoor UEs. Numerical results show that TPC provides significant sum rate and fairness gains over the received signals strength (RSS) based association schemes [1]. Moreover, TPC provides comparable performance levels as the optimum association scheme based on exhaustive search while bringing significant complexity reduction.
The ABCG2 resistance network of glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal primary brain tumor variant. It exhibits heterogeneity at both the morphologic and genetic levels, with a complex combination of somatic alterations rendering the tumor class difficult to adequately treat. The role of so-called “cancer stem-cells” (CSCs) in the resistance of high-grade gliomas like GBM to conventional treatment regimens has received much recent attention, especially with regard to the enhanced ability of stem-like cells to activate survival pathways, repair DNA damage, and expel cytotoxic drugs. Furthermore, the biology of GBM is actually even more convoluted, characterized by a constantly changing microenvironment that greatly influences tumor growth and response to therapy. Herein we review the most recently reported genetic events in human glioma patients and their influence on treatment response, particularly in relation to O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase methylation status. We aim to present evidence for a role for cancer stem-like cells and their unique microenvironment in therapy resistance and forward our views on glioma initiation and origin. Finally, given the recent interest in “side population” (SP) cells as a model of CSCs in gliomagenesis, we further describe the function of ABCG2 transporters, the mediators of the SP phenotype, at both the blood-brain barrier and in stem-like tumor cells.
Characterization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Homolog of the Melatonin Rhythm Enzyme Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.87)*

Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT, serotonin N-acetyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.87) plays a unique transduction role in vertebrate physiology by converting information about day and night into a hormonal signal: melatonin. Only vertebrate members of the AANAT family have been functionally characterized. Here a putative AANAT from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (scAANAT) was studied to determine whether it possessed the catalytic activity of the vertebrate enzyme. scAANAT is 47% similar to ovine AANAT, but lacks the regulatory N- and C-terminal flanking regions conserved in all vertebrate AANATs. It was found to have enzyme activity generally typical for AANAT family members, although the substrate preference pattern was somewhat broader, the specific activity was lower, and the pH optimum was higher. Deletion of scAANAT reduced arylalkylamine acetylation by S. cerevisiaeextracts, indicating that scAANAT contributes significantly to this process. The scAANAT sequence conformed to the three-dimensional structure of ovine AANAT catalytic core; however, an important structural element (loop 1) was found to be shorter and to lack a proline involved in substrate binding. These differences could explain the lower specific activity of scAANAT, because of the importance of loop 1 in catalysis. Data base analysis revealed the presence of putative AANATs in other fungi but not in the nearly complete genomes of Drosophila melanogaster or Caenorhabditis elegans. These studies indicate that the catalytic and kinetic characteristics of fungal and vertebrate enzymes can be considered to be generally similar, although some differences exist that appear to be linked to changes in one structural element. Perhaps the most striking difference is that fungal AANATs lack the regulatory domains of the vertebrate enzyme, which appear to be essential for the regulatory role the enzyme plays in photochemical transduction.
Prevalence of oral lesions in relation to habits: Cross-sectional study in South India.

BACKGROUND Smoking, drinking and chewing tobacco product, common habits in India have been positively associated with oral lesions. No study has been conducted in this part of Tamilnadu regarding the prevalence of oral lesions in relation to habits. METHODS A hospital based cross-sectional study was carried out at Ragas Dental College, Chennai. Already existing data of two thousand and seventeen consecutive patients from sub-urban areas of Chennai, who attended the outpatient department, at Ragas Dental College, for dental complaints during a period of three months in 2004, who underwent oral examination and interviewer based questionnaire was used. RESULTS Oral soft tissue lesions were found in 4.1% of the study subjects. The prevalence of leukoplakia, OSF and oral lichen planus was 0.59%, 0.55%, and 0.15% respectively. The prevalence of smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and chewing was 15.02%, 8.78% and 6.99% respectively. Smoking and chewing were significant predictors of leukoplakia in this population. DISCUSSION The prevalence of leukoplakia, OSF and oral lichen planus in our study population is similar to those found in other populations. The prevalence of consumption of alcoholic beverages in our study population was higher when compared to the Indian National Sample Survey study. However the prevalence of smoking and chewing was found to be lower. Smokers were more likely to develop smoker's melanosis compared to other lesions. Among those who consumed alcoholic beverages alone, the prevalence of leukoplakia was higher compared to other lesions. OSF was the most prevalent lesion among those who chewed panmasala or gutkha or betel quid with or without tobacco.
Critical Periods of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Development of the Chicken Cochleovestibular Ganglionin Vitro


The temporal roles of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in the development of sensory neurons have been studied in a cell culture preparation which models normal embryonic inner ear development (normocytic). Previous studies showed that FGF-2 stimulated migration and differentiation of ganglion cells for the first 2 days in vitro, but after 5 days led to degeneration, implicating other factors in their later development. To see if BDNF could be such a factor, otocysts were explanted from white leghorn embryos at the time when ganglion cell precursors normally start migrating from the otic epithelium. Cultures were grown in a defined medium, either with or without human recombinant FGF-2 for 2 days or with BDNF. On Day 3, FGF-2 was replaced either with BDNF in defined medium or with defined medium only. Measurements of neuroblast migration and neurite outgrowth were made by time-lapse imaging in living cultures. In cultures receiving BDNF on Day 3, cell migration and neurite outgrowth from the explant increased for more than 3 weeks but not in cultures receiving only defined medium from Day 3. Cultures did not survive more than 3-4 days when receiving either BDNF in defined medium or defined medium alone from the first day. A neutralizing antibody to BDNF inhibited neuronal migration and neurite outgrowth, and it also blocked the effects of exogenous BDNF. BDNF did not enhance the effects of FGF-2 by interacting with it. These experiments defined a temporal sequence in which FGF-2 acts early in development, while BDNF affects a later stage.
Plasma levels of extracellular superoxide dismutase in an Australian population: genetic contribution to normal variation and correlations with plasma nitric oxide and apolipoprotein A-I levels.

Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is a major superoxide scavenger and may be important to normal vascular function and cardiovascular health. We analyzed family data from 610 healthy Australians to detect and quantify the effects of genes on normal variation in plasma levels of EC-SOD and to test for pleiotropy with plasma nitric oxide (NO) and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I). Using maximum-likelihood-based variance decomposition methods, we determined that sex, age, and plasma levels of HDL cholesterol, apoA-I, and creatinine accounted for 38.6% of the variance in plasma EC-SOD levels and that additive genes accounted for 35% (P<0.00002). Multivariate analyses of plasma levels of EC-SOD, NO(x) (a measure of basal NO production), and apoA-I detected significant genetic correlations, indicating pleiotropy between EC-SOD and apoA-I (genetic correlation [rho(G)]=-0.45) and between NO(x) and apoA-I (rho(G)=0.58) but not between EC-SOD and NO(x). Genes shared by EC-SOD and apoA-I account for 20% of the genetic variance and, respectively, 7% and 9% of the phenotypic variance in both traits. Shared genes also account for >33% of the genetic variance and 5% and 15% of the respective phenotypic variance in NO(x) and apoA-I. In healthy individuals, over a third of the variance in EC-SOD plasma levels is due to the additive effects of genes. Some genes influence EC-SOD and apoA-I levels. The same is true of NO(x) and apoA-I but not of EC-SOD and NO(x). These patterns of pleiotropy can guide subsequent attempts to identify the genes and physiological mechanisms underlying them.
Resistance to Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics in Aquatic Systems: Anthropogenic Activities Modulate the Dissemination of bla CTX-M-Like Genes

ABSTRACT We compared the resistomes within polluted and unpolluted rivers, focusing on extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes, in particular bla CTX-M. Twelve rivers from a Portuguese hydrographic basin were sampled. Physicochemical and microbiological parameters of water quality were determined, and the results showed that 9 rivers were classified as unpolluted (UP) and that 3 were classified as polluted (P). Of the 225 cefotaxime-resistant strains isolated, 39 were identified as ESBL-producing strains, with 18 carrying a bla CTX-M gene (15 from P and 3 from UP rivers). Analysis of CTX-M nucleotide sequences showed that 17 isolates produced CTX-M from group 1 (CTX-M-1, -3, -15, and -32) and 1 CTX-M that belonged to group 9 (CTX-M-14). A genetic environment study revealed the presence of different genetic elements previously described for clinical strains. ISEcp1 was found in the upstream regions of all isolates examined. Culture-independent bla CTX-M-like libraries were comprised of 16 CTX-M gene variants, with 14 types in the P library and 4 types in UP library, varying from 68% to 99% similarity between them. Besides the much lower level of diversity among CTX-M-like genes from UP sites, the majority were similar to chromosomal ESBLs such as bla RAHN-1. The results demonstrate that the occurrence and diversity of bla CTX-M genes are clearly different between polluted and unpolluted lotic ecosystems; these findings favor the hypothesis that natural environments are reservoirs of resistant bacteria and resistance genes, where anthropogenic-driven selective pressures may be contributing to the persistence and dissemination of genes usually relevant in clinical environments.
High serum des‐gamma‐carboxy prothrombin level predicts poor prognosis after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma

Currently, surgical resection is considered the first‐line treatment for early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been an alternative choice for unresectable HCC. However, RFA is expected to have similar therapeutic efficacy for early stage HCC with fewer invasions.
Epidemiologic characteristics of children hospitalized for Kawasaki disease in California

Objective. To evaluate the epidemiologic pattern of Kawasaki disease (KD) in California. Methods. Statewide hospital discharge data from California from 1995 through 1999 were used. Children 0 through 17 years old who had a discharge diagnosis of KD (by ICD9-CM code 446.1) were identified. Precipitation and temperature data of climate divisions of the state were used to determine their possible association with incidences of KD. Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors related to the KD incidence of the counties. Results. There were 2325 patients admitted to 194 California hospitals during the 5-year study period. The male-to-female ratio was 1.62. Median age was 30 months; peak incidence by year of age was in the second year of life. Overall annual incidence was 15.3 cases per 100 000 children <5 years old and 3.2 cases per 100 000 children 5 through 9 years old. Compared with 1995 and 1996, the incidence for children <5 years old increased by 30% in 1997 and 1998 (P < 0.01). In contrast the incidence for children 5 through 9 years old remained relatively unchanged. Asians had the highest incidence of 35.3 cases per 100 000 children <5 years old, followed by blacks (24.6) and whites (14.7) (P < 0.01). The number of cases peaked in March and had its nadir in September. In a multiple regression analysis, no association was found between KD incidence and temperature or precipitation. KD incidence was not related to average family size, proportion of Asians in the population, population density or whether the county is in northern or southern California. There was no in hospital death. The median length of hospital stay was 2 days. Conclusions. The incidence of Kawasaki disease in patients <5 years old increased in 1997 and 1998. Asians had the highest KD incidence compared with other races. Peak incidence was in March, and the lowest incidence was in September. KD incidence was not associated with temperature, precipitation, family size or population density.