Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

Objective Laryngeal verrucous carcinoma (LVC) is a rare, locally invasive neoplasm comprising 1% to 3.4% of laryngeal carcinomas. Management strategies are a topic of ongoing conversation, and no definitive treatment protocol based on T stage and presentation exists. This review examines characteristics, treatment modalities, and patient outcomes of LVC. Data Sources PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Methods Databases were searched through October 29, 2015, for literature detailing individual patient cases of LVC. Variables analyzed included patient demographics, tumor characteristics, tumor size, treatment, and outcomes. Results Thirty-seven articles with 369 cases were included. LVC was found more commonly in males (13.8:1), at an average age of 58.7 years, and located in the glottis (74.0%). Most patients had local disease at presentation (94.9%). The most common presenting symptom was hoarseness (92.3%). The most common primary treatment was surgery alone (72.3%), with local excision as the most common technique (56.8%). In patients with data available on both surgical modality and T stage, most patients who presented as T1 and were managed surgically underwent local excision (79.2%). Surgical treatment alone led to high rates of disease-free survival at follow-up (86.8%). A large number of patients presenting with T1 disease were disease free at follow-up (88.6%). Overall survival was 80.3%. Conclusion LVC is most often managed surgically. The extent of surgical resection may be guided by T stage, with smaller tumors resected via local excision and larger tumors via partial or total laryngectomy. Regardless of T stage or therapy, LVC has a good posttreatment prognosis.
Comparison of disease activity measures for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis

Aim: Currently, several different instruments are used to measure disease activity and extent in clinical trials of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, leading to division among investigative groups and difficulty comparing study results. An exercise comparing six different vasculitis instruments was performed. Methods: A total of 10 experienced vasculitis investigators from 5 countries scored 20 cases in the literature of Wegener granulomatosis or microscopic polyangiitis using 6 disease assessment tools: the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), The BVAS for Wegener granulomatosis (BVAS/WG), BVAS 2003, a Physician Global Assessment (PGA), the Disease Extent Index (DEI) and the Five Factor Score (FFS). Five cases were rescored by all raters. Results: Reliability of the measures was extremely high (intraclass correlations for the six measures all = 0.98). Within each instrument, there were no significant differences or outliers among the scores from the 10 investigators. Test/retest reliability was high for each measure: range = 0.77 to 0.95. The scores of the five acute activity measures correlated extremely well with one another. Conclusions: Currently available tools for measuring disease extent and activity in ANCA-associated vasculitis are highly correlated and reliable. These results provide investigators with confidence to compare different clinical trial data and helps form common ground as international research groups develop new, improved and universally accepted vasculitis disease assessment instruments.
The administration of oseltamivir results in reduced effector and memory CD8+ T cell responses to influenza and affects protective immunity

The clinical benefits of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) are well established, but the effects of antiviral treatment on the immune response are poorly understood. By use of flow cytometric analyses and the mouse model, we thoroughly investigated the impact of such a treatment on the immune response and the generation of protective immunity to influenza. We demonstrated that influenza‐specific CD8+ effector T cell recruitment was reduced up to 81% in the lungs of mice treated with oseltamivir (5 or 50 mg/kg twice daily; EC50 49 nM in vitro) compared to saline controls, but cell generation was unaffected in draining lymph nodes. Importantly, we showed that oseltamivir administration significantly decreased the pools of tissue‐resident and circulating effector memory (93.7%) and central memory CD8+ T cells (45%) compared to saline controls. During heterologous secondary infection, a decreased memory CD8+ T cell pool combined with reduced generation of secondary influenza‐specific effectors in the lymph nodes resulted in 10‐fold decreased CD8+ T cell recall responses, which increased mouse morbidity and delayed viral clearance. Furthermore, antiviral administration led to a significant 5.7‐fold decreased production of functional anti‐influenza antibodies. Thus, our study demonstrates that antiviral treatment affects the development of the adaptive immune response and protective immunity against influenza. —Marois, I. , Cloutier, A. , Garneau, É. , Lesur, O. , Richter, M. V. , The administration of oseltamivir results in reduced effector and memory CD8+ T cell responses to influenza and affects protective immunity. FASEB J. 29, 973–987 (2015). www.fasebj. org
PM2.5 induces embryonic growth retardation: Potential involvement of ROS‐MAPKs‐apoptosis and G0/G1 arrest pathways

Airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an “invisible killer” to human health. There is increasing evidence revealing the adverse effects of PM2.5 on the early embryonic development and pregnancy outcome, but the molecular mechanism underlying PM2.5‐induced embryotoxicity is largely unknown. Previous studies have documented that exposure to PM triggers ROS generation, leads to subsequent activation of MAPKs signaling, and results in corresponding cell biological changes including enhanced apoptosis and altered cell cycle in the cardiopulmonary system. Here, we investigated whether ROS‐MAPKs‐apoptosis/cell cycle arrest pathways play an important role in PM2.5‐induced embryotoxicity using the rat whole embryo culture system. The results showed that PM2.5 treatment led to embryonic growth retardation at concentrations of 50 μg/ml and above, as evidenced by the reduced yolk sac diameter, crown‐rump length, head length and somite number. PM2.5‐induced embryonic growth retardation was accompanied by cell apoptosis and G0/G1 phase arrest. Furthermore, ROS generation and subsequent activation of JNK and ERK might be involved in PM2.5‐induced apoptosis and G0/G1 phase arrest by downregulating Bcl‐2/Bax protein ratio and upregulating p15INK4B, p16INK4A, and p21WAF1/CIP1 transcription level. In conclusion, our results indicate that ROS‐JNK/ERK‐apoptosis and G0/G1 arrest pathways are involved in PM2.5‐induced embryotoxicity, which not only provides insights into the molecular mechanism of PM2.5‐induced embryotoxicity, but also may help to identify specific interventions to improve adverse pregnancy outcomes of PM2.5. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 2028–2044, 2016.
Towards a kala azar risk map for Sudan: mapping the potential distribution of Phlebotomus orientalis using digital data of environmental variables

Summary The need to define the geographical distribution of Phlebotomus orientalis results from its importance as the dominant vector of kala azar (visceral leishmaniasis) in Sudan. Recent epidemics of this disease in southern and eastern Sudan caused an estimated 100000 deaths and have renewed the impetus for defining the ecological boundaries of the vector. This information is an essential prerequisite to the production of a risk map for kala azar. This study uses data on the presence and absence of P. orientalis from 44 collecting sites across the central belt of Sudan. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the probability of the presence of P. orientalis at each collecting site as a function of climatic and environmental variables (rainfall; temperature; altitude; soil type and the satellite‐derived environmental proxies – Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Land Surface Temperature). The logistic regression model indicates mean annual maximum daily temperature and soil type as the most important ecological determinants of P. orientalis distribution. An initial risk map was created in a raster‐based geographical information system which delineates the area where P. orientalis may occur. This map was then refined using a mask layer indicating the known rainfall‐based boundaries of the distribution of Acacia‐Balanites woodland – a woodland type known to be associated with the distribution of this vector. The predictive performance of the risk map is discussed.
PERSONAL DIGITAL VIDEO: A METHOD TO MONITOR DRUG REGIMEN ADHERENCE DURING HUMAN CLINICAL INVESTIGATIONS

1 Maintaining patient adherence to a drug regimen has proven to be difficult. Missed doses can impact drug efficacy and disease control, leading to increased health‐care costs. 2 During clinical drug trials, poor adherence could lead to false conclusions regarding drug efficacy. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the feasibility of using personal digital video cameras to monitor adherence to a medication regimen during a clinical investigation. 3 Older men and women (60–78 years) participated in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial to determine the effect of ibuprofen or paracetamol on skeletal muscle adaptations to chronic resistance exercise training. Patients took three daily doses of either a placebo or the maximal daily over‐the‐counter dose of ibuprofen (1.2 g/day) or paracetamol (4.0 g/day) for 12 weeks. Prior to beginning the study, subjects were trained to use a personal digital video camera to record their drug consumption. 4 Subjects correctly recorded 4956 of 5375 doses, resulting in an average camera compliance rate of 92% (71–100%). 5 We describe a method of monitoring adherence to a prescribed drug regimen during a clinical investigation. Camera compliance rates, which directly confirm drug consumption, were higher than what is typically obtained with other methods of monitoring adherence. This camera compliance method provides the investigator with a simple and convenient means to generate direct evidence of drug consumption.
Liquidity in Asian markets: Intensity of Regional and global linkages

ABSTRACT This study investigates cross-market linkages and the intensity of liquidity spillovers across nine Asian markets and five developed markets during 2006 to 2016. Further, the study examines the contagion caused by recent global financial crisis and its impact on the market liquidity. The direction and intensity of spillovers has been measured using forecast error variance decomposition method as suggested by Diebold and Yilmaz (2012). Among the developed markets, the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom significantly affect liquidity changes in Asian countries like India, China, Singapore and Japan. The results revels that on average, each Asian market receives 7% spillover from the global markets and 16% from regional markets. During the financial crisis, the average regional spillover increased to 20% and the global spillover increased to 11%. Thus, in Asia, the regional spillover is higher than the global spillover. Our results support the demand side hypothesis and suggest that it is the trade and portfolio investments that drive the liquidity spillovers. Our findings have potential implications for international investors, policy makers and market regulators.
Mechanisms of neutrophil and eosinophil accumulation in vivo.

The accumulation of leukocytes into tissues is a characteristic feature of inflammatory reactions. This process is triggered by chemical signals generated in a tissue in response to an inflammatory stimulus e.g., invading microbes, other foreign organisms, allergens, or damaged tissue cells. The mechanisms involved in neutrophil and eosinophil accumulation in vivo are complex and dependent on an initial interaction between the leukocytes and the microvascular endothelial cells. This response is regulated by the coordinated expression and/or activation of leukocyte and endothelial cell adhesion molecules. The precise mechanisms that control the selective accumulation of eosinophils, as opposed to neutrophils, in certain inflammatory reactions (e.g., in IgE-mediated allergic reactions) remain unclear. This may be explained partly by the generation of eosinophil-specific inflammatory mediators and activation of selective adhesion pathways such as the VLA-4/VCAM-1 interaction. Although the neutrophil and eosinophil have distinct roles in host defense, they have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of inflammatory disorders. Thus, a better understanding of the events mediating and regulating neutrophil and eosinophil accumulation in vivo will be of considerable value in the development of therapeutic strategies for inflammatory disease states.
Neurodevelopmental origins of lifespan changes in brain and cognition

Significance Brain and cognition change with age, with early gains and later declines. Attempts have been made to identify age-specific mechanisms, focusing on when and how declines begin in adults. However, even though general cognitive ability declines with age, there is a high stability in individuals’ cognitive ability relative to their same-age peers. Here we show that the relation between brain and cognition appears remarkably stable through the human lifespan. The cortical area change trajectories of higher and lower cognitive ability groups were parallel through life. Birth weight and parental education were identified as predictors, which provides novel evidence for stability in brain–cognition relationships throughout life, and indicates that early life factors impact brain and cognition for the entire life course. Neurodevelopmental origins of functional variation in older age are increasingly being acknowledged, but identification of how early factors impact human brain and cognition throughout life has remained challenging. Much focus has been on age-specific mechanisms affecting neural foundations of cognition and their change. In contrast to this approach, we tested whether cerebral correlates of general cognitive ability (GCA) in development could be extended to the rest of the lifespan, and whether early factors traceable to prenatal stages, such as birth weight and parental education, may exert continuous influences. We measured the area of the cerebral cortex in a longitudinal sample of 974 individuals aged 4–88 y (1,633 observations). An extensive cortical region was identified wherein area related positively to GCA in development. By tracking area of the cortical region identified in the child sample throughout the lifespan, we showed that the cortical change trajectories of higher and lower GCA groups were parallel through life, suggesting continued influences of early life factors. Birth weight and parental education obtained from the Norwegian Mother–Child Cohort study were identified as such early factors of possible life-long influence. Support for a genetic component was obtained in a separate twin sample (Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging), but birth weight in the child sample had an effect on cortical area also when controlling for possible genetic differences in terms of parental height. Our results provide novel evidence for stability in brain–cognition relationships throughout life, and indicate that early life factors impact brain and cognition for the entire life course.
The Role of Daylighting in Skilled Nursing Short-Term Rehabilitation Facilities

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the best placement of windows in short-term rehabilitation facilities in terms of daylighting and outdoor views by exploring the impact of windows on resident perception of stress, mood, activities, and satisfaction. Background: The physiological and psychological benefits of daylighting have made it an increasingly important topic in multidisciplinary research. Although multiple studies have been written about the impact of daylight on physiological responses, few investigations have been made into the nonvisual effects related to resident mood, satisfaction, and stress level. In addition, researchers typically propose recommendations for quantitative aspects of illuminance, rather than addressing the behavioural outcomes. Methods: A combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used to address the research questions. Thirty-four participants, who were living temporarily in the inpatient rehabilitation units of two skilled nursing facilities, were subjects in semistructured interviews and a 7-question 5-scale survey. While residents expressed the need to have direct visual access to the outdoors, they indicated that daylight was of even higher benefit. Additionally, they noted that size and location of windows impacted their stress levels, moods, and activities. More than half of the facility residents reported changing their postures for either better outdoor views or less light disturbance while sleeping. Conclusions: The results of this study emphasize the importance of daylighting for residents in rehabilitation units. Architects should acknowledge the role of daylighting and window views in the design of rehabilitation facilities.
Prevalence of Risky Behaviors and Related Factors among Students of Dezful

Objective: There is a likelihood of risky behaviors such as drug abuse, risky sexual behavior, and adaptability issues in young ages. The present study aimed at investigating the prevalence of risky behaviors among students of Dezful University of Medical Sciences in 2014. Method: This was a descriptive-analytical cross sectional study, with a random sampling approach. Scale of measuring risky behaviors was used to measure the risky behaviors (high speed driving, maim, drug use, and sexual behaviors) and related factors. The mean, standard deviation, Chi-square tests, t tests, and ANOVA were used for data analysis. Results: The study was conducted on 150 (50%) female and 150 (50%) male students. Most of the participants aged 20 to 24 years. A statistically significant difference was obtained between the average scores of risky behaviors among female and male students (p˂0.05). The results of the present study revealed that the prevalence of risky behaviors, high speed driving, and drug consumption was different among the students of various study fields (p˂0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of risky behaviors among students of Dezful University was relatively low, and the prevalence of these behaviors in female students was far less than in male students. Risky behaviors were associated with background variables, except for mother's occupation.
Local lymph node assay: differentiating allergic and irritant responses using flow cytometry.

The murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) is a method for assessing the contact sensitization potential of chemicals. Based on events that occur during the induction phase of a contact sensitization response, the LLNA measures the in vivo proliferation of cells in the draining lymph nodes (DLNs) of mice following topical exposure to chemicals. In terms of predictive identification of important skin sensitizers, the LLNA has been shown to be at least as sensitive as, and much more reliable than, current guinea pig tests. However, proliferation has also been observed following treatment with some irritants. In an attempt to distinguish allergic from irritant-induced proliferation, flow cytometric techniques have been used to examine the phenotype of lymphocyte subsets in the DLNs as well as markers of T-lymphocyte activation and memory. Mice were treated on the ears for 3 consecutive days with allergens or irritants. The DLNs were harvested 72 h after the final treatment. Single-cell suspensions were prepared, counted, and stained for analysis of the percentages of T cells and B cells and T-cell expression of two adhesion molecules that have been associated with differentiating naïve and activated/memory T cells, CD62L (L-selectin) and CD44 (H-cam). Increases in lymph node cellularity were observed in both allergen- and irritant-treated mice relative to naïve and vehicle-treated animals. Mice treated with allergens showed a preferential increase in the percentage of B220(+) B cells compared with irritant-treated mice. Treatment with allergens, but not irritants, resulted in a selective increase in the percentages of CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells expressing the T-cell activation/memory phenotype CD62L(lo)CD44(hi). Taken together, flow cytometric analysis of cell phenotype and expression of T-cell activation/memory markers may provide important information for differentiating allergen- and irritant-induced proliferative responses in the DLNs of chemically treated mice.
Gluten-related disorders: certainties, questions and doubts

Abstract In the last decade, the ingestion of gluten, a heterogeneous complex of proteins present in wheat, rice, barley and probably in oats, has been associated with clinical disorders, such as celiac disease, wheat allergy and recently to non-celiac gluten sensitivity or wheat intolerance syndrome. Gluten-related disorders, which are becoming epidemiologically relevant with an estimated global prevalence of about 5%, require the exclusion of gluten from the diet. For the past 5 years, an important shift in the availability of gluten-free products, together with increased consumption in the general population, has been recorded and is estimated to be about 12–25%. Many people follow a self-prescribed gluten-free diet, despite the fact that the majority have not first been previously excluded, or confirmed, as having gluten disorders. They rely on claims that a gluten-free diet improves general health. In this review, we provide an overview of the clinical disorders related to gluten or wheat ingestion, pointing out the current certainties, open questions, possible answers and several doubts in the management of these conditions. KEY MESSAGE Incidence of gluten-related disorders is increased in the last decade and self-diagnosis is frequent with inappropriate starting of a gluten-free diet. Gluten and wheat are considered as the most important triggers to coeliac disease, wheat allergy and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Pediatricians, allergologist and gastroenterologist are involved in the management of these conditions and appropriate diagnostic protocols are required.