Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cilengitide combined with standard treatment for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma and methylated O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoter: Key results of the multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled, phase III CENTRIC study.

LBA2009 Background: Cilengitide (CIL) is a selective αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrin inhibitor. In a phase II study in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, CIL added to standard temozolomide (TMZ) and radiotherapy (RT) was well tolerated and appeared to confer improved survival in patients with glioblastoma and methylated MGMT gene promoter (Stupp et al. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28:2712-8). METHODS This multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label, phase III study randomized (1:1) patients (≥ 18 years) with newly diagnosed, histologically proven supratentorial glioblastoma (WHO Grade IV) and centrally determined MGMT gene promoter methylation. Treatment consisted of CIL 2000 mg twice weekly i.v. plus standard TMZ/RT→TMZ (concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide and radiotherapy; Stupp et al. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:987-96) or standard TMZ/RT→TMZ alone. CIL was to be administered for ≥ 18 months, or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS); secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS) per investigator read and safety. RESULTS 272 patients received CIL plus TMZ/RT→TMZ, and 273 were treated with TMZ/RT→TMZ alone (intention-to-treat population). 54% and 52% of patients were male, and 42% and 44% had ECOG-PS ≥ 1, respectively. 75% of patients of both arms were ≥ 50 years old. Overall, baseline characteristics were well balanced across treatment arms. Median OS was 26.3 months in both arms (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 1.02 [95%CI: 0.81-1.29], p = 0.86). Median PFS per investigator read was 13.5 months in the CIL arm and 10.7 months in the control arm (HR = 0.93 [95%CI: 0.76-1.14], p = 0.48). Treatment was generally well tolerated and the known safety profile of CIL was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS CIL failed to prolong PFS or OS in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma and methylated MGMT gene promoter. The previously reported safety profile of CIL in addition to standard therapy was confirmed. CLINICAL TRIAL INFORMATION NCT00689221.
Autoradiographic localization of 5‐HT2A receptors in the human brain using [3H]M100907 and [11C]M100907

M100907 (MDL 100907, R‐(+)‐α‐(2,3‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐1‐[2‐(4‐fluorophenyl)ethyl]‐4‐piperidinemethanol) is a new selective antagonist of 5‐HT2A receptors. The compound has been labeled with 11C and proved useful for in vivo studies of 5‐HT2A receptors using positron emission tomography (PET). In the present study the distribution of 5‐HT2A receptors was examined in the postmortem human brain using whole hemisphere autoradiography and [3H]M100907 and [11C]M100907. The autoradiograms showed very dense binding to all neocortical regions, whereas the hippocampus was only weakly labeled with [3H]M100907. Other central brain regions, such as the basal ganglia and thalamus, showed low [3H]M100907 binding, reflecting low densities of 5‐HT2A receptors. The cerebellum or structures of the brain stem were virtually devoid of 5‐HT2A receptors. [11C]M100907 gave images qualitatively similar to those of [3H]M100907, although with lower spatial resolution. The labeling of human 5‐HT2A receptors with [3H]M100907 was inhibited by the addition of the 5‐HT2A receptor blockers ketanserin or SCH 23390 (10 μM), leaving a very low background of nonspecific binding. The 5‐HT1A receptor antagonist WAY‐100635 and the D2‐dopamine receptor antagonist raclopride had no effect on the binding of [3H]M100907. The selective labeling of 5‐HT2A receptors with [3H]M100907 clearly shows that this compound is suitable for further studies of the human 5‐HT2A receptor subtype in vitro. The in vitro autoradiography of the distribution of 5‐HT2A receptors obtained with radiolabeled M100907 provides detailed qualitative and quantitative information on the distribution of 5‐HT2A‐receptors in the human brain as well as reference information for the interpretation of previous initial results at much lower resolution in humans in vivo with PET and [11C]M100907. Synapse 38:421–431, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Meta-Analysis of Estimates of the Impact of Technical Barriers to Trade

A meta-analysis explains the variation in estimated trade effects of technical barriers to trade broadly defined, using available estimates from the empirical international trade literature, and accounting for data sampling and methodology differences. Agriculture and food industries tend to be more impeded by these barriers than other sectors. SPS regulations on agricultural and food trade flows from developing exporters to high-income importers tend to impede trade. Not controlling for “multilateral resistance” barriers increase the likelihood to overstate the trade impeding effect of technical measures and not accounting for their potential endogeneity with trade does the opposite. Studies using direct maximum residue limits tend to find more trade impeding effects than other measures and clearer policy implications. Other technical measures proxies tend to muddle results and increase the likelihood of inconclusive results and few policy implications.
The estimation of food portion sizes: a comparison between using descriptions of portion sizes and a photographic food atlas by children and adults.

BACKGROUND Food Photographs and standard portion sizes have been used with adults to assess portion size when recording dietary intake. The effectiveness of these methods may be reduced when memory/recall is required and children may have problems using these techniques. METHODS Adults (47) and children (37) were recruited from amongst university personnel, their children and children's friends to assess portion sizes of nine self-served amounts of selected food items using food photographs and standard descriptions of portion sizes. Portion sizes were estimated directly after self-serving and three - 4 days later. RESULTS Substantial differences in the estimate of portion sizes were observed for most foods regardless of the method used or the age of the subjects, median difference range: -52-100%. For children there were greater errors using both methods than for adults. Significant differences were found between the two methods of estimating weight. The food atlas provided higher median estimated weights for the majority of the food items. There were very few differences in the estimation of portion sizes between the two testing periods. CONCLUSION The findings would suggest that either an alternative method or a modification of the methods used here for estimating portion sizes in young subjects, for example standard food portion sizes for children of different ages such as those that are being developed by the Food Standards Agency, would be more appropriate.
Fast Evaluation of the Horizontal Electric Field of Lightning With Cooray–Rubinstein Formula in Time Domain Using a Piecewise Quadratic Convolution Technique

The Cooray-Rubinstein formula has been widely utilized for evaluating the horizontal component of the electric field generated by a lightning return stroke. A fast time-domain implementation of Cooray-Rubinstein formula in time domain, by means of the piecewise quadratic convolution technique and the use of a quadrature routine of a truncated integral instead of polynomial approximations of the Bessel functions, is presented in this paper. The advantages of the proposed approach can be summarized as follows. First, the issue of the numerical overflow and the cancellation error for calculating the lightning horizontal electric field is avoided; second, the horizontal electric field of a lightning can be evaluated quickly, because the convolution has been expressed in a closed-form expression. The numerical examples demonstrate the efficiency and validity of the proposed approach.
Effect of Progesterone as a Tocolytic and in Maintenance Therapy during Preterm Labor

Aims: To assess the efficacy of vaginal micronized natural progesterone as a tocolytic and in maintenance therapy during threatened preterm birth. Methods: Eighty-three women with symptoms of threatened preterm birth were either randomized to study groups receiving tocolytic treatment combined with intravaginal micronized natural progesterone (200 mg daily) or to a control group receiving only tocolysis. Results: Micronized natural progesterone treatment resulted in a prolonged latency period of 32.1 ± 17.8 versus 21.2 ± 16.3 days in the control group and heavier birth weights of 2,982.8 ± 697.8 g versus 2,585.3 ± 746.6 g. No significant differences were found between the groups in admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, stay at the neonatal intensive care unit, need for a mechanical ventilator, respiratory distress syndrome or neonatal sepsis. Conclusion: The treatment of threatened preterm birth with tocolytics combined with intravaginal micronized natural progesterone significantly prolonged pregnancy and increased birth weight. However, an improvement in adverse perinatal outcomes was not observed.
Do older adults with cancer fall more often? A comparative analysis of falls in those with and without cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To examine whether a history of cancer increased the likelihood of a fall in community-dwelling older adults, and if cancer type, stage, or time since diagnosis increased falls. DESIGN A longitudinal, retrospective, cohort study. SETTING A home- and community-based waiver program in Michigan. SAMPLE 862 older adults aged 65 years or older with cancer compared to 8,617 older adults without cancer using data from the Minimum Data Set-Home Care and Michigan cancer registry. METHODS Reports of falls were examined for 90-180 days. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare differences between the groups. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Cancer, falls, patient characteristics, comorbidities, medications, pain, weight loss, vision, memory recall, and activities, as well as cancer type, stage, and time since diagnosis. FINDINGS A fall occurred at a rate of 33% in older adults with cancer compared to 29% without cancer (p < 0.00). Those with a history of cancer were more likely to fall than those without cancer (adjusted odds ratio 1.16; 95% confidence interval [1.02, 1.33]; p = 0.03). No differences in fall rates were determined by cancer type or stage, and the odds of a fall did not increase when adding time since cancer diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS The fall rate was higher in older adults with cancer than in older adults without cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Nurses need to assess fall risk and initiate fall prevention measures for older adults at the time of cancer diagnosis. KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION When caring for older adults with cancer, nurses should be aware of an increased risk for falls. Healthcare staff also should be aware of an increased risk for falls in that population during cancer treatment. Evidence-based fall prevention measures should be included in care plans for older adult cancer survivors.
Preferences of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru and optimal monetary rules in the inflation targeting regime

This study aims to identify the preferences of the monetary authority in the Peruvian regime of inflation targeting through the derivation of optimal monetary rules. To achieve that, we used a calibration strategy based on the choice of values of the parameters of preferences that minimize the square deviation between the true interest rate and interest rate optimal simulation. The results showed that the monetary authority has applied a system of flexible inflation targeting, prioritizing the stabilization of inflation, but without disregarding gradualism in interest rates. On the other hand, concern over output stabilization has been minimal, revealing that the output gap has been important because it contains information about future inflation and not because it is considered a variable goal in itself. Finally, when the smoothing of the nominal exchange rate is considered in the loss function of the monetary authority, the rank order of preferences has been maintained and the smoothing of the exchange rate proved insignificant.
The influence of baical skullcap root ( Scutellaria baicalensis radix) in the diet of broiler chickens on the chemical composition of the muscles, selected performance traits of the animals and the sensory characteristics of the meat

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the baical skullcap root ( Scutellaria baicalensis radix) on the performance, chemical composition of the muscles and sensory characteristics of the meat of broiler chickens. 120 one-day old Hubbard Hi-Y broiler hybrids were assigned to four groups of 30 each and fed either a basal diet (control) or a basal diet supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0% or 1.5% ground root of skullcap. The body weight, weight gain, feed consumption and feed : gain ratio were calculated after 42 days. The addition of the ground baical skullcap root to the fodder had no effect on the quality or chemical composition of the breast and leg muscles of the broiler chickens. However, it positively influenced some of the performance characteristics of the chickens.
Survival of female Anopheles gambiae Giles through a 9-month dry season in Sudan.

The dry-season biology of a member of the Anopheles gambiae complex (probably species B) was studied in 2 areas in the Khartoum region of Sudan. It was found that in the valley of the White Nile the species maintained itself by low-level breeding, as shown by the continuing presence of larvae, male mosquitos and parous females through the dry months (9 months in the year). In the scattered villages of arid areas situated more than 20 km from the Nile Valley, on the other hand, regular sampling through the cool dry and hot dry months of the year failed to detect any An. gambiae except nulliparous females. These were found in occupied huts, deserted huts, dry wells and animal burrows.The great majority of 213 females collected in the 11 dry months between November 1966 and December 1967 had fresh or older blood-meals but the abdomen was never found fully distended in the dry season. Examination of the ovaries showed that they did not develop beyond Christophers' stage II in the period from November to February, stage III in March and April, or beyond stage IV in May. But, in June and July stage IV and V ovaries predominated and few specimens remained in stage late-II.It is inferred from these observations that the local population of An. gambiae is highly adapted to survive in the adult stage through the severe drought and heat of the arid zone of Sudan. Some feeding activity continues but ovarian development is extremely retarded, and only one batch of eggs matures during the whole 9-month period. Evidence collected in the Nile Valley indicated that female An. gambiae in that area were not subjected to similar retardation of the ovarian cycle; in fact, clear evidence was obtained there of continuous year-round breeding by the mosquito.
Pattern of Deaths in the Adult Accident and Emergency Department of a Sub-Urban Teaching Hospital in Nigeria

To review and highlight the demographic patterns of mortality and to determine the frequency and causes of accident and emergency deaths in a sub-urban tertiary care centre of a developing country and suggest measures that might improve the standard of care offered to patients within the adult Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. We conducted a retrospective chart review over a 3 year period (January 2005-December 2007) for all patients who died in the A&E department of Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSU TH), Orlu. Casualty records including attendance registers, Nurses' report books and death certificates were used to extract demographic indices and causes of death. The data generated were analyzed using SPSS version 11 software. A total of 5754 attendances were recorded and 281 deaths occurred over the period with crude mortality rate of 4.88%. Male mortalities were 195(69.40%) and females 86(30.60%), ratio 2:3:1. The age ranged from 19 to 100 years averaging 47.32±4.5 years, with more deaths occurring in 41-50 years age group. The most frequent cause of death was Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) with 23.13 %. Most deaths occurred within 10 to 26 hours of arrival at the A&E. Trauma deaths were within the age group of 20-30 years. The need for provision of continuous experienced senior casualty officers with rapid access to appropriate facilities is advocated as well as establishment of an audit protocol. Effective pre-hospital transportation system should be put in place by the government in order to reduced access time to the hospital.
An objective method for assessing adherence to prophylaxis in adults with severe haemophilia

Severe haemophilia is often managed by prophylactic factor infusions in developed countries. The benefits of secondary prophylaxis in adults are currently being studied and adherence to the prescribed prophylactic factor regimen is vital to decreasing bleeding episodes. The aim of this study was to measure discrepancy between the physicians' prescription for prophylactic factor usage, and the actual factor usage obtained through infusion logs. During this method subjects with severe haemophilia A or B (FVIII or FIX ≤2%), from a single haemophilia clinic with complete medical and infusion records from July 01, 2009 to June 30, 2011, were evaluated. Continuous prophylaxis ≥4 weeks were included in the analysis. A scoring system for adherence to prescribed dosing and frequency was developed. A global scale of adherence was performed by two independent nurses using visual analogue scale. Thirty‐one subjects, all with haemophilia A, with a median age of 26 years (range 18–56) were included. Results showed that the median (IQR) adherence rate to prescribed frequency and dosage, respectively, was 76% (67;85) and 93% (73;97). In multivariate analysis, only the length of time on prophylaxis during the study period showed a positive correlation with adherence whereas age, number of co‐infections, number of bleeds and number of joints with chronic arthropathy did not. Global nursing assessments were in general agreement with the score. In conclusion, we observed a moderately good level of adherence based on score and by the nurse global assessment. Better adherence was found in subjects with longer exposure to prophylaxis.
Long-term Outcomes of Carotid Artery Stenting for Radiation-Associated Stenosis

Background: In Taiwan, the prevalence of head and neck cancer is relatively high. Because radiation-associated carotid stenosis is a significant risk factor for stroke, carotid artery stenting (CAS), instead of carotid endarterectomy, is indicated in patients with radiation-associated carotid stenosis. We sought to evaluate the effect of neck radiotherapy (XRT) on the long-term outcome of patients undergoing CAS. Methods: From March 2001 to November 2011, 147 CAS procedures were performed on 129 patients (n = 43 for XRT, n = 86 for non-XRT). Mean follow-up was 42.7 ± 20.5 months (median: 52 months; range: 1-60 months). Duplex velocity criterion for > 50% restenosis after CAS was defined as peak systolic velocity > 175 cm/s. Endpoints included 5-year freedom from mortality, ipsilateral recurrent stroke, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: The mean age of XRT patients was significantly lesser than that of non-XRT patients (61 ± 8 vs. 71 ± 8, p < 0.001). There was significantly less coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular co-morbidities in XRT patients. No significant differences were noted in the composite 30-day ipsilateral stroke/myocardial infarction/mortality (XRT: 8.6% vs. non-XRT: 6%, p > 0.05) and 5-year freedom from mortality, ipsilateral recurrent stroke, and MACE (p > 0.05) between the two groups. Intra-stent carotid restenosis > 50% was significantly higher in the XRT group on follow-up. Conclusion : Long-term outcomes of CAS for radiation-associated stenosis were not altered by a history of neck XRT, except for asymptomatic carotid restenosis.
Primary site management following induction chemotherapy with cis‐platinum, 5‐fluorouracil, and leucovorin

A phase II clinical trial was initiated in 1987 to evaluate a new induction regimen of cis‐platinum, 5‐fluorouracil, and leucovorin (PFL) for patients with stages III–IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Ninety patients were treated and followed for a median duration of 18 months. The median age was 55 and 87% of the patients had stage IV disease. The rates of complete and overall clinical response following three cycles of PFL were 57% and 80%, respectively; the rate of complete response at the primary site was 72%. Eighty‐four percent of patients were treated to the primary site with radiation alone (median dose 68 Gy in daily 1.8‐Gy fractions) irrespective of the location of the primary site or initial T‐stage. The acute tolerance to full‐course radiation following PFL was acceptable. The actuarial rate of primary site control for patients treated, with radiation was 67% at 36 months. An important prognostic indicator for primary site control was a complete clinical response to induction PFL. For patients who achieved a complete response, radiation or surgery followed by radiation controlled primary site disease equally well at 70%. Patients with a partial response did less well. For these patients, surgery and radiation appeared slightly better than radiation alone.
Miniaturized quasi-asymmetric forward-wave coupled-line coupler with arbitrary coupling level

A design method is demonstrated for quasi-asymmetric forward-wave coupled-line couplers. By loading a symmetric coupled line asymmetrically with shunt capacitors, a miniaturized forward-wave coupler is constructed with an arbitrary maximum coupling level. Most importantly, elimination of lengthy impedance transformers makes the method the most effective miniaturization method. Experimental results are provided for a 3-dB coupler with a miniaturization rate of 92.9% at 5 GHz.