Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Liver transplantation for colorectal liver metastases: revisiting the concept

Liver transplantation (Lt) for colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastases is no more considered due to the poor outcome observed up to the 1990s. According to the European Liver Transplant Registry (ELTR), 1‐ and 5‐year patient survival following Lt for CRC liver metastases performed prior to 1995 was 62% and 18%, respectively. However, 44% of graft loss or patient deaths were not related to tumor recurrence. Over the last 20 years there has been dramatic progress in patient survival after Lt, thus it could be anticipated that survival after Lt for CRC secondaries today would exceed from far, the outcome of the past experience. By utilizing new imaging techniques for proper patient selection, modern chemotherapy and aggressive multimodal treatment against metastases, long term survivors and even cure could be expected. Preliminary data from a pilot study show an overall survival rate of 94% after a median follow up of 25 months. While long term survival after the first Lt is 80% all indications confounded, 5‐year survival after repeat Lt is no more than 50% to 55%. If patients transplanted for CRC secondaries can reach the latter survival rate, it could be difficult to discriminate them in the liver allocation system and live donation could be an option.
An incidence study on thyroglossal duct cysts in adults.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the incidence of the asymptomatic thyroglossal duct anomalies and to review the literature and make comments on the significance of this condition. METHODS A total of 80 cadavers were dissected in the present study. This study was carried out during 2005, where the cadavers were randomly included from the criminal laboratories of the Ministry of Justice, Republic of Turkey in Istanbul. None of the cadavers had laryngeal and cervical injuries resulting from a trauma or the cause of their death. The examined cadavers included 59 men and 21 females, and their age were ranged from 35-80 years old. The larynges were removed and fixed in 10% formalin and then dissected. The sections were examined using surgical SMZ 10 Nikon stereomicroscope. We evaluated the presence, localization, and diameter of the cysts with regard to age and sex of the cadavers. RESULTS We observed a total of 12 different localization of thyroglossal ducts and cysts among the dissected 80 cadavers. Ten of these ducts cysts were found in males with an age range of 35-68 years and 2 in female cadavers aged 46-65 years. In 6 cases, the thyroglossal ducts and cysts were located in the left of the midline of the neck, while 3 cases were from the right of the midline, and the remaining was located on the midline of the neck. In all cases, thyroglossal ducts and cysts were complete and restricted to the infrahyoid region; all of them had connection with the hyoid bone, but not with the perichondrium of the cartilage. In addition, the thyroglossal ducts had connection with the left lobe of the thyroid glands in 3 cases, one case in the right lobe, and 2 cases with the isthmus of the thyroid gland. Finally, in 5 cases thyroglossal ducts were complete and had well-developed cysts. CONCLUSION Thyroglossal duct remnants are one of the most often seen congenital asymptomatic masses of the neck region (7%). The presence of these duct remnants may lead to abnormal phonation and epithelial carcinomas. Therefore, correlation of the rate of thyroglossal duct remnants in a population together with the related clinical symptoms can lead to an early diagnosis and better treatment chances for these problems.
Up‐regulation of VGLUT2 expression in hypothalamic‐neurohypophysial neurons of the rat following osmotic challenge

A second vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT2) has been reported to be expressed in neurosecretory neurons of the hypothalamic‐neurohypophysial system. To study its role in the neurosecretory neurons, we evaluated the expression of the VGLUT2 gene in the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei as well as the immunoreactivity in the neurohypophysis under euhydrated and chronic hyperosmotic conditions with in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. The intensity of hybridization signals in the PVN, SON and thalamus of rats subjected to water deprivation for 7 days, or drinking 2% NaCl for 4 or 7 days, was compared with that of euhydrated rats (control). The overall intensity in the entire PVN or SON, but not the thalamus, was higher in osmotically stimulated rats than in controls. Within the PVN, a significantly higher intensity of signals than that of controls was found only in the dorsolateral posterior magnocellular region in 4‐day salt‐loaded rats and in all subregions in water‐deprived or 7‐day salt‐loaded rats. The intensity in the SON was higher in the stimulated rats than in controls, regardless of subregions. In the neurohypophysis, VGLUT2 staining was frequently localized in vasopressin terminals of control rats and was apparently reduced in stimulated rats. These results indicate that VGLUT2 is principally expressed in magnocellular vasopressin neurons, suggesting some local effect of intrinsic glutamate on neurohypophysial hormone secretion.
Increased CYP3A4 copy number in TONG/HCC cells but not in DNA from other humans

Two recent screens for copy-number variations in the entire human genome found 12.4 gene copy number variations per person, including 2.5% of individuals with gains between 7q21.1 and 7q22.1, the chromosomal location of CYP3A4. CYP3A4 is involved in the metabolism of approximately 50% of all drugs, including many cancer chemotherapeutic agents. CYP3A4 gene copy was determined in DNA from 143 individuals: normal human livers, primary and secondary liver tumors, human hepatic cell lines, and immortalized cell lines representing eight ethnically diverse populations. CYP3A4 gene copy was normal in all but one sample, a primary human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (TONG/HCC). Southern blots of TONG/HCC DNA revealed an approximate 10-fold increase in CYP3A and a corresponding increase in CYP3A mRNA expression and catalytic activity. Fluorescent in situ hybridization of TONG/HCC revealed specific amplification of the CYP3A4 gene on chromosome 7q21 but no amplification of the MDR1 gene that localizes 11.9 Mb upstream of CYP3A4. High resolution analysis of DNA copy number by comparative genomic hybridization confirmed amplification at 7q21.3–7q22. The amplicon spanned 1.7 Mb and contained 30 known genes, including the entire CYP3A locus. To determine whether CYP3A4 expression affected chemotherapeutic toxicity, LLC-PK1 cells were transduced with adenoviruses expressing CYP3A4 and P450 reductase. CYP3A4 conferred resistance to taxol, vinblastine and topotecan. These studies demonstrate that CYP3A4 copy number differences do not contribute to the normal variation in CYP3A4 expression. Tumors with increased CYP3A copy number (via amplification or increased chromosome 7q) would be expected to show reduced cytotoxicity to some chemotherapeutic drugs and potentially an increase in the outgrowth of drug resistant tumors.
Mitochondrial b-oxidation

Mitochondrial b-oxidation is a complex pathway involving, in the case of saturated straight chain fatty acids of even carbon number, at least 16 proteinswhich are organized into two functional subdomains; one associated with the inner face of the inner mitochondrial membrane and the other in the matrix. Overall, the pathway is subject to intramitochondrial control at multiple sites. However, at least in the liver, carnitine palmitoyl transferase I exerts approximately 80% of control over pathway flux under normal conditions. Clearly, when one or more enzyme activities are attenuated because of a mutation, the major site of flux control will change.
Discrepancy rates of on-call radiology residents' interpretations of CT angiography studies of the neck and circle of Willis.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to determine the discrepancy rates of radiology residents' interpretations of emergent CT angiography (CTA) studies of the neck and circle of Willis and to assess any adverse clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five hundred thirty-eight CTA studies (287 circle of Willis and 251 neck) ordered emergently after hours and given preliminary readings by radiology residents from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2007, were retrospectively reviewed. Discrepancies between the interpretations of radiology residents and the final reports of neuroradiology attending physicians were classified as either false-negatives (failure to recognize abnormalities) or false-positives (misinterpreting normal scans as abnormal). Discrepancies that could affect patient care or clinical care were considered major. RESULTS Overall, the discrepancy rate was 13.6% for circle of Willis CTA and 13.5% for neck CTA. The misinterpretation rate of first-year residents was 19.5%, which was statistically significant compared with more senior-level residents (p = 0.05). There were 57 false-negative interpretations. The most common misses were stenosis greater than 50% (n = 16) and aneurysm (n = 15), and the most common false-positive was overcalling a potential intracranial aneurysm (n = 7). No adverse clinical outcomes were detected. CONCLUSION The discrepancy rate between interpretations by on-call radiology residents and attending physicians of neuroradiology CTA studies was higher than expected at 13.6%, with a statistically significant greater miss rate among the most junior residents, which may be mitigated by recent changes with respect to the radiology residents' overnight call. No adverse clinical outcome was detected.
Effects of caffeine on heart rate and QT variability during sleep

Administration of caffeine in the evening produces poor sleep. Patients with insomnia have characteristic electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, including increased heart rate (HR), increased sympathetic activity, and decreased parasympathetic activity. Fifteen young adult normal subjects slept in the laboratory for several nights prior to randomization into a caffeine protocol where subjects received caffeine 400 mg 30 min prior to one night of sleep and placebo randomly prior to another night. ECG was sampled at a rate of 500 Hz and recorded onto a PC. Data samples of 256‐s periods of the ECG trace were taken from wake (before sleep), stage II, and REM for placebo and caffeine conditions. A peak detection algorithm was used to identify the R‐R intervals (in milliseconds) from the ECG. A common QT variability algorithm was used to find the QT interval for each beat using the time‐stretch model. The powers for HR and QT series were integrated in the bands of LF (low frequency: 0.04–0.15 Hz) and HF (high frequency: 0.15–0.5 Hz) bands. There was a significant caffeine by sleep stage interaction for LF/HF ratios (F=4.0; df=2, 18; P=.04). LF/HF ratios were significantly higher during REM following caffeine administration. There was also a significant caffeine by sleep stage interaction for QTvi (QT variability normalized for mean QT interval divided by HR variability normalized for mean HR; F=5.6; df=2, 12; P=.02). QTvi was also significantly higher during REM following caffeine administration. The higher LF/HF ratios and QTvi during REM are most likely due to the sympathetic effects of caffeine. These findings suggest that excessive caffeine intake may result in adverse cardiovascular events in vulnerable subjects. Depression and Anxiety 22:150–155, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Personal and Family Challenges to the Successful Transition From Welfare to Work

This paper answers these questions about the challenges welfare-to-work programs face as more of their Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) caseload becomes subject to work requirements: (1) What challenges will hinder a welfare recipient's move into employment? (2) What is known about the prevalence of barriers to employment? (3) When the presence of multiple barriers is considered, what fraction of the AFDC caseload is likely to experience at least one barrier to employment? (4) What is known about the relationship between work barriers and work experience? (5) What are the implications for designing and delivering welfare-to-work programs?
An Approach to Fault-Tolerant Three-Phase Matrix Converter Drives

Despite numerous research efforts in matrix converter-based drives, a study of fault-tolerant topology and control strategy for a matrix converter drive has not been presented in the literature. This paper proposes a matrix converter structure and a modulation technique for the remedial operation in case of opened switch faults and single-phase open circuits. The fault compensation is achieved by reconfiguring the matrix converter topology with the help of a connecting device. Based on the redefined converter structure, a fault-tolerant modulation algorithm is developed to reshape output currents of two unfaulty phases for obtaining continuous operation. The proposed method allows improved system reliability and fault-tolerant capability with no backup leg and no parallel redundancy. Simulation and experimental results are shown to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed fault-tolerant approach to the matrix converter drives.
Toll-Like Receptor 2 Deficiency Results in Impaired Antibody Responses and Septic Shock during Borrelia hermsii Infection

ABSTRACT Overwhelming bacteremia is a leading cause of death. To understand the mechanisms involved in protective antibody and pathological inflammatory responses during bacteremia, we have been studying the murine model of Borrelia hermsii infection. Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling plays an important role in generating the rapid anti-B. hermsii antibody responses required for the resolution of bacteremia. Using NF-κB reporter assays, we found that B. hermsii activates TLR2 and TLR9. However, TLR2−/− TLR9−/− mice exhibited an impairment in anti-B. hermsii antibody responses similar to that of TLR2−/− mice. Moreover, the impairment in the antibody responses of TLR2−/− mice or TLR2−/− TLR9−/− mice coincides with an order-of-magnitude-higher bacteremia, and death results from septic shock, as evidenced by a dysregulated systemic cytokine response and characteristic organ pathology. Since TLR2 appears to be the major extracellular sensor stimulated by B. hermsii, we hypothesized that during elevated bacteremia the activation of intracellular sensors of bacteria triggers dysregulated inflammation in TLR2−/− mice. Indeed, blocking the internalization of B. hermsii prevented the induction of inflammatory cytokine responses in TLR2-deficient cells. Furthermore, we found that B. hermsii activates the cytoplasmic sensor nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2). Macrophages deficient in both TLR2 and NOD2 have impaired cytokine responses to B. hermsii compared to cells lacking TLR2 alone, and B. hermsii-infected TLR2−/− NOD2−/− mice exhibited improved survival compared to TLR2−/− mice. These data demonstrate that TLR2 is critical for protective immunity and suggest that, during heightened bacteremia, recognition of bacterial components by intracellular sensors can lead to pathological inflammatory responses.
Maternal antibodies in human neonatal sera.

Three hundred and sixty-three pairs of neonatal and maternal sera collected at delivery just after an influenza A2/Hongkong virus epidemic, were tested by complement fixation for influenza A2 antibodies. The results confirm an earlier suggestion. In this study the neonatal serum level of IgG class antibodies exceeded that of the mother in 109 of 329 cases, when the maternal value was low or normal, but in the case of a high maternal titre, the newborn had a higher titre than that of the mother in only four of thirty-four cases.
Quality factors, antioxidant activity, and sensory properties of jet-tube dried rabbiteye blueberries.

BACKGROUND Rabbiteye blueberries are an excellent source of nutrients and phytochemicals. They are often dried, which can degrade health-promoting compounds. Means of shortening exposure to high-temperature drying air are desirable. Five cultivars of rabbiteye blueberries ('Premier', 'Tifblue', 'Brightwell', 'Alapaha', and 'Powderblue') were dried in a jet-tube fluidized bed air dryer with varying pretreatments including mechanical abrasion and osmotic dehydration. RESULTS Drying time ranged from 66 to 95 min at 107 °C, achieving a final water activity of 0.347-0.605. Prior osmotic dehydration significantly reduced the drying time. Vacuum osmotic dehydration for 70 min achieved similar moisture contents to soaking blueberries for 24 h. Jet-tube dried blueberries exhibited greater color saturation than commercially available blueberries. While drying reduced the total monomeric anthocyanin (TMA) content, this occurred to a lesser extent than by other processing methods. The total phenolics content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (H-ORACFL values) increased after drying. 'Premier' was the most preferred vacuum-infused dried blueberry, with a water activity (aw) of 0.53 and 157 g H2O kg(-1). 'Tifblue' was most preferred amongst the overnight-infused and also unsweetened dried blueberries. CONCLUSION Jet-tube drying can substantially reduce drying times while yielding blueberries with good color, sensory properties, TMA, TPC, and H-ORACFL values. Furthermore, some cultivars produce better-quality dried blueberries than others.
Diffuse axonal injury and traumatic coma in the primate

Traumatic coma was produced in 45 monkeys by accelerating the head without impact in one of three directions. The duration of coma, degree of neurological impariment, and amount of diffuse axonal injury (DAI) in the brain were directly related to the amount of coronal head motion used. Coma of less than 15 minutes (concussion) occurred in 11 of 13 animals subjected to sagittal head motion, in 2 of 6 animals with oblique head motion, and in 2 of 26 animals with full lateral head motion. All 15 concussed animals had good recovery, and none had DAI. Conversely, coma lasting more than 6 hours occurred in none of the sagittal or oblique injury groups but was present in 20 of the laterally injured animals, all of which were severely disabled afterward. All laterally injured animals had a degree of DAI similar to that found in severe human head injury. Coma lasting 16 minutes to 6 hours occurred in 2 of 13 in the sagittal group, 4 of 6 in the oblique group, and 4 of 26 in the lateral group; these animals had less neurological disability and less DAI than when coma lasted longer than 6 hours. These experimental findings duplicate the spectrum of traumatic coma seen in human beings and include axonal damage identical to that seen in severe head injury in humans. Since the amount of DAI was directly proportional to the severity of injury (duration of coma and quality of outcome), we conclude that axonal damage produced by coronal head acceleration is a major cause of prolonged traumatic coma and its sequelae.
Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (pure and mixed type) compared with moderately and poorly differentiated endometrioid carcinoma. A clinicopathologic study.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic features and the outcome in patients with pure and mixed type uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC), and to compare these parameters with those observed in patients with moderately and poorly differentiated endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (MPD-EEC). METHODS The charts of 34 patients with UPSC and 30 patients with MPD-EEC, operated on between January 1995 and December 2000, were retrospectively reviewed. The UPSC group included ten cases of pure and 24 cases of mixed type UPSC (admixed with endometrioid component). All patients had undergone full surgical staging. Clinical features, surgicopathological findings, recurrence rate and recurrence-free interval were compared between the study groups. RESULTS Significantly more patients with MPD-EEC than with UPSC were operated on in FIGO stage I and II (p = 0.001). MPD-EEC patients were significantly older and more obese (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively) as compared with the UPSC patients. Significantly more patients with MPD-EEC presented with postmenopausal bleeding (p = 0.02), had a second primary cancer in the past (p = 0.03) and had a first degree relative with history of malignant disease (p = 0.0001). Conversely, the rates of positive abdominal cytology and cervical involvement were significantly higher in the group of UPSC (p = 0.02 and p = 0.02, respectively). Significantly more patients with UPSC were treated with adjuvant therapy (p = 0.01). No significant difference between the two study groups was observed comparing the recurrence rate, the recurrence free interval and the 3-year survival. There was also no significant difference between the pure and the mixed type UPSC, considering the clinical features and the follow-up data. CONCLUSION The current study presented no significant difference in the outcome of MPD-EEC as compared with the pure and the mixed type UPSC, yet prospective studies are needed to evaluate the role of adjuvant therapy in each study group.
Social phobia subtyping with the MMPI-2.

The present article examines the utility of the MMPI-2 for the subtyping of social phobia (SP). Cluster analysis was conducted on the MMPI-2 profiles of 109 patients with SP. Clusters were compared on demographic and clinical variables prior to treatment, as well as following completion of cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT). Three distinct clusters emerged. The first is characterized by an absence of significant scale elevations and appears to be consistent with the reported "circumscribed" subtype of SP. It is associated with a significantly later age at onset of SP, a higher proportion of married individuals, and lower scores on pretreatment clinical variables. Significant elevations on Scales 2 (Depression) and 7 (Psychasthenia) and moderately high scores on pretreatment clinical variables characterize the second cluster. The third cluster is characterized by significantly high elevations on Scales 8, 7, and 2, and the highest scores on pretreatment clinical variables. Patients from all three groups improved significantly following a course of CBGT.
Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in Vigabatrin‐exposed patients

Vigabatrin‐associated visual field loss (VAVFL) occurs in 25 to 50% of exposed patients and is routinely monitored using perimetry, which has inherent limitations. Using optical coherence tomography (OCT), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning has been described in a small number of vigabatrin‐exposed patients. We explored the relationship between RNFL thickness and visual field size, to determine whether OCT is a suitable tool to use in patients exposed to vigabatrin.