Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Total Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Oncologic Advantages Over Open Approaches?

Objective:To directly compare the oncologic outcomes of TLPD and OPD in the setting of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Background:Total laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (TLPD) has been demonstrated to be feasible and may have several potential advantages over open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD), including lower blood loss and shorter hospital stay. Whether potential advantages could allow patients to recover in a timelier manner and pursue adjuvant treatment options remains to be answered. Methods:We reviewed data for all patients undergoing TLPD (N = 108) or OPD (N = 214) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma at our institution between January 2008 and July 2013. Results:Neoadjuvant therapy, tumor size, node positivity, and margin-positive resection were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Median length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the OPD group (9 days; range, 5–73 days) than in the TLPD group (6 days; range, 4–118 days; P < 0.001). There was a significantly higher proportion of patients in the OPD group (12%) who had a delay of greater than 90 days or who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy at all compared with that in the TLPD group (5%; P = 0.04). There was no significant difference in overall survival between the 2 groups (P = 0.22). A significantly longer progression-free survival was seen in the TLPD group than in the OPD group (P = 0.03). Conclusions:TLPD is not only feasible in the setting of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma but also has advantages such as shorter hospital stay and faster recovery, allowing patients to recover in a timelier manner and pursue adjuvant treatment options. This study also demonstrated a longer progression-free survival in patients undergoing TLPD than those undergoing OPD.
Self-Setting Calcium Orthophosphate Formulations: Cements, Concretes, Pastes and Putties

In early 1980s, researchers discovered self-setting calcium orthophosphate cements, which are a bioactive and biodegradable grafting material in the form of a powder and a liquid. Both phases after mixing form a viscous paste that after being implanted sets and hardens within the body as either a non-stoichiometric calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) or brushite, sometimes blended with un-reacted particles and other phases. As both CDHA and brushite are re- markably biocompartible and bioresorbable (therefore, in vivo they can be replaced with a newly forming bone), self-setting calcium orthophosphate cements represent a good correction technique of non-weight-bearing bone fractures or defects and appear to be very promising materials for bone grafting applications. Besides, these cements possess an excel- lent osteoconductivity, molding capabilities, and easy manipulation. Nearly perfect adaptation to the tissue surfaces in bone defects and a gradual bioresorption followed by new bone formation are additional distinctive advantages of calcium or- thophosphate cements. Besides, reinforced formulations are available; those are described as calcium orthophosphate con- cretes. Furthermore, formulations with high viscosity, such as pastes and putties are also known. The discovery of self-setting formulations has opened up a new era in the medical application of calcium orthophosphates; several commer- cial compositions have already been introduced as a result. Many more formulations are in experimental stages. In this re- view, an insight into the self-setting calcium orthophosphate formulations, as excellent biomaterials suitable for both dental and bone grafting applications, has been provided.
Regulation of Bovine Endometrial Secretion of Prostaglandins and Synthesis of 2′,5′‐Oligoadenylate Synthetase by Interferon‐α Molecules

ABSTRACT: Experiments were performed to (1) verify the inhibitory effect of bovine trophoblast protein‐1 (bTP‐1) on uterine prostaglandin synthesis, (2) evaluate whether other interferon‐α (IFN‐α) molecules also inhibit prostaglandin secretion, and (3) test whether the enzyme 2′,5′‐oligoadenylate synthetase (2‐5A synthetase) can be induced in endometrium by interferon‐α. In experiment 1, all interferon molecules (bTP‐1, oTP‐1, bIFN‐α and hIFN‐α) equally inhibited secretion of PGF and PGE2 from endometrial explant cultures obtained at day 17 of the estrous cycle. In experiment 2, endometrial explants obtained from day 17 of the cycle were cultured with and without bovine serum albumin (BSA; 50 μg/ml) and bIFN‐α (0, 0.84, 4.2, and 42 nM). Addition of BSA to the culture medium greatly enhanced the accumulation of PGF into the medium. The bIFN‐α inhibited accumulation of PGF and PGE2 in both the presence or absence of BSA by 12 h. All three concentrations of bIFN‐α were equally effective in inhibiting prostaglandin accumulation. Additionally, all concentrations of bIFN‐α increased the amounts of 2‐5A synthetase in endometrium. In conclusion, these results confirm the inhibitory effect of bTP‐1 on PGF release from endometrium and demonstrate that bTP‐1 can also inhibit PGE2 secretion. Furthermore, other interferon‐α molecules, including bIFN‐α, hIFN‐α, and oTP‐1, also reduced PGF and PGE2 secretion in culture. It is likely, therefore, that conceptus and other interferon‐α molecules exert similar effects on endometrium in vitro and that the antiluteolytic effects of bIFN‐α in vivo are mediated in part by changes in endometrial prostaglandin synthesis.
Changes in colloid osmotic pressure as a function of anesthesia and surgery in the presence and absence of isotonic fluid administration in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To determine how a combination of anesthetic drugs; including pre-medication, induction agents and inhalational agents; affect colloid osmotic pressure (COP) in the presence and absence of isotonic fluid administration. Secondarily, to determine if changes in total plasma protein (TPP) correlate with COP in anesthetized patients. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, randomized clinical study. ANIMALS Ten female dogs, 4 months to 4 years of age and >8 kg undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy. METHODS All dogs were anesthetized in a similar fashion. After induction, five dogs received lactated ringer's solution (LRS) at 10 mL kg(-1) hour(-1) and five dogs received no fluid therapy during anesthesia. Blood samples were collected prior to pre-medication, prior to induction, immediately post-induction/prior to the inhalational agent, 30 minutes post-induction, at the time of recovery and 45 minutes post-discontinuation of inhalant. TPP and COP were measured from each sample. RESULTS Administration of fluids resulted in a decrease in COP and TPP over time that did not return to baseline by 45 minutes after recovery. Anesthesia without the administration of fluids also resulted in a significant decrease in COP over time, that was rebounding by recovery (but still significantly less than baseline). TPP had variable correlation with COP at different time points with or without fluid administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Anesthetic drugs alter COP similarly in the presence and absence of isotonic fluids. These changes in COP did not have a simple relationship to TPP and so the latter could not be used to predict COP in this patient population.
Transcriptomic and Epigenetic Changes in the Hypothalamus Are Involved in an Increased Susceptibility to a High-Fat-Sucrose Diet in Prenatally Stressed Female Rats

Disturbances in the prenatal period are linked to metabolic disorders in adulthood, implying the hypothalamic systems of appetite and energy balance regulation. In order to analyze the central effects of a high-fat-sucrose (HFS) diet in prenatally stressed (PNS) female adult rats, Wistar dams were exposed to chronic-mild-stress during the third week of gestation and were then compared with unstressed controls. Adult female offspring were fed a chow or HFS diet for 10 weeks. Changes in body weight, adiposity as well as expression and methylation levels of selected hypothalamic genes were analyzed. PNS induced lower birthweight and body length with no changes in body fat mass. After the HFS diet, the expected overweight model was observed accompanied by higher adiposity and insulin resistance, which was worsened by PNS. The stress model induced higher energy intake in adulthood. Hypothalamic gene expression analysis revealed that the HFS diet decreased Slc6a3 (dopamine active transporter), NPY (neuropeptide Y) and IR (insulin receptor) and increased POMC (pro-opiomelanocortin). Hypothalamic DNA methylation levels in the promoter region of Slc6a3 revealed that Slc6a3 was hypermethylated by the HFS diet in CpG site –53 bp to the transcription start site. HFS diet also hypermethylated CpG site –167 bp of the POMC promoter only in nonstressed animals. No correlations were found between gene expression and DNA methylation levels. These results imply that early-life stress in females increased predisposition to diet-induced obesity in adulthood.
Tattoos and body piercings as indicators of adolescent risk-taking behaviors.

PURPOSE This study assessed tattoos and body piercings as markers of risk-taking behaviors in adolescents. METHODS A 58-question survey, based on the 1997 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey, was offered to all adolescent beneficiaries that came to the Adolescent Clinic. The survey contained standard Youth Risk Behavior Survey questions that inquire about eating behavior, violence, drug abuse, sexual behavior, and suicide. Questions about tattoos and body piercings were added for the purposes of this study. RESULTS Participants with tattoos and/or body piercings were more likely to have engaged in risk-taking behaviors and at greater degrees of involvement than those without either. These included disordered eating behavior, gateway drug use, hard drug use, sexual activity, and suicide. Violence was associated with males having tattoos and with females having body piercings. Gateway drug use was associated with younger age of both tattooing and body piercing. Hard drug use was associated with number of body piercings. Suicide was associated with females having tattoos and younger age of both tattooing and body piercing. Tattoos and body piercings were found to be more common in females than males. CONCLUSIONS Tattoos and/or body piercings can alert practitioners to the possibility of other risk-taking behaviors in adolescents, leading to preventive measures, including counseling. Tattoo and body piercing discovery should be an important part of a health maintenance visit to best direct adolescent medical care.
Economic evaluation of palliative management versus peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease: evidence for coverage decisions in Thailand.

OBJECTIVE To examine the value for money of including peritoneal dialysis (PD) or hemodialysis (HD) into the universal health insurance scheme of Thailand. METHODS A probabilistic Markov model applied to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients aged 20 to 70 years was developed to examine the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of palliative care versus 1) providing PD as an initial treatment followed by HD if complications/switching occur; and 2) providing HD followed by PD if complications/switching occur. Input parameters were extracted from a national cohort, the Thailand Renal Replacement Therapy Registry, and systematic reviews, where possible. The study explored the effects of uncertainty around input parameters, presented as cost-effectiveness acceptability frontier, as well as the value of obtaining further information on chosen parameters, i.e., partial expected value of perfect information. RESULTS Using a societal perspective, the average ICER of initial treatment with PD and the average ICER of initial treatment with HD were 672,000 and 806,000 Baht per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained (52,000 and 63,000 purchasing power parity [PPP] US$/QALY) compared with palliative care. Providing treatments for younger ESRD patients resulted in a significant improvement of survival and gain of QALYs compared with the older aged group. The cost-effectiveness and cost-utility ratios of both options for the older age group were relatively similar. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that offering PD as initial treatment was a better choice than offering HD, but it would only be considered a cost-effective strategy if the social willingness-to-pay threshold was at or higher than 700,000 Baht per QALY (54,000 PPP US$/QALY) for the age 20 group and 750,000 Baht per QALY (58,000 PPP US$/QALY) for age 70 years.
Obfuscated malicious JavaScript detection by Causal Relations Finding

JavaScript code is often obfuscated; given such code, can we tell whether if it is malicious or benign? We propose Obfuscating Causal Relations Finding (OCRF), which addresses this problem. The contributions are the following: (1) careful feature extraction, using domain knowledge (2) no need for de-obfuscation, since our method can be applied to the obfuscated script directly, (3) combined obfuscation detection, with malicious obfuscated code detection (4) improved detection accuracy and significantly reduced false positives (while the average false positive rate of competitors is between 0.18 and 0.30. Our method decreases it between 0.03 and 0.1). Moreover, our method is easy to be implemented as a plug-in for Web browsers.
The role of body temperature in controlling ventilation during exercise in one normal subject breathing oxygen

The body temperature rises during exercise (Pembrey & Nicol, 1898) and in proportion to the increase in metabolism (Christensen, 1931). At rest, a rise in body temperature increases pulmonary ventilation and depresses the alveolar C02 tension (Haldane, 1905). During exercise the effect oftemperature on ventilation has not been studied in detail, but the ventilation at a constant PCO2 has been shown to increase with the severity of exercise (Nielsen, 1936). This finding may be explained in terms of a rise in body temperature (Gray, 1950), but there is little direct evidence for the hypothesis (Comroe, 1944; Barltrop, 1954). Recently Bannister, Cunningham & Douglas (1954) have produced indirect evidence to support it. In the present investigation the body temperature has been lowered during exercise and the effect of this procedure upon ventilation observed. One subject only was studied in the time available so that the conclusions to be drawn from the findings are not necessarily generally applicable.
Contextualizing the Education Effect on Women's Employment: A Cross‐National Comparative Analysis

The authors examine how and why the effect of education on women's employment varies cross-nationally. First, they present a theoretical model that (a) outlines the micro-level mechanisms underlying education effects on women's employment in the couple context and (b) proposes contextual moderators at the country level. Second, they test the theoretical model against survey data from the United Nations' Generations and Gender Programme for 5 European countries (Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, and Norway). The data comprise 10,048 educationally homogamous heterosexual couples involving a woman age 20–45. The results indicate that more highly educated couples are more likely to have dual-earner arrangements in each country, yet the strength of education effects varied substantially between countries and across the family life cycle. In contrast to prior work, the authors find that education effects are not generally smaller in countries that are supportive of women's employment. This relation holds only for later child-rearing phases. (Author's abstract)
Syndecan-4 Proteoglycan Cytoplasmic Domain and Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate Coordinately Regulate Protein Kinase C Activity*

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is involved in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton by regulating actin-associated proteins. The transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan syndecan-4 also plays a critical role in protein kinase C (PKC) signaling in the formation of focal adhesions and actin stress fibers. The cytoplasmic domain of syndecan-4 core protein directly interacts with and potentiates PKCα activity, and it can directly interact with the phos- phoinositide PIP2. We, therefore, investigated whether the interaction of inositol phosphates and inositol phospholipids with syndecan-4 could regulate PKC activity. Data from in vitro kinase assays using purified PKCαβγ show that in the absence of phosphatidylserine and diolein, PIP2 increased the extent of autophosphorylation of PKCαβγ and partially activated it to phosphorylate both histone III-S and an epidermal growth factor receptor peptide. This activity was dose-dependent, and its calcium dependence varied with PKC isotype/source. Addition of the cytoplasmic syndecan-4 peptide, but not equivalent syndecan-1 or syndecan-2 peptides, potentiated the partial activation of PKCαβγ by PIP2, resulting in activity greater than that observed with phosphatidylserine, diolein, and calcium. This study indicates that syndecan-4 cytoplasmic domain may bind both PIP2 and PKCα, localize them to forming focal adhesions, and potentiate PKCα activity there.
Macroprudential Bank Capital Regulation in a Competitive Financial System

We propose a tractable general equilibrium framework to analyze the eectiveness of bank capital regulations when banks face competition from public markets. Our analysis shows that increased competition can not only render previously optimal bank capital regulations ineective but also imply that, over some ranges, increases in capital requirements cause more banks to engage in value-destroying risk-shifting. Our model generates a set of novel implications that highlight the dependencies between optimal bank capital regulation and the comparative advantages of various players in the nancial system.
COMPARISON OF PREOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE ACTH CONCENTRATIONS AFTER BILATERAL ADRENALECTOMY IN CUSHING'S DISEASE

Up to one‐third of subjects who have had bilateral adrenalectomy for treatment of Cushing's disease will develop Nelson's syndrome. To examine the value of pre‐operative ACTH assays in predicting outcome, we have studied fifteen cases of Cushing's disease treated by bilateral adrenalectomy and pituitary irradiation. Three patients developed Nelson's syndrome. There was no significant correlation between preoperative ACTH level, either 8 am ‘basal’or during metyrapone testing, and ACTH concentration post‐treatment. Plasma ACTH concentration in the first year after treatment, however, showed a highly significant correlation with the latest postoperative value (n= 14, r= 0·684, P < 0·01), even more marked when subjects with duration of follow‐up < 3 years were excluded (n= 11, r= 0·836, P < 0·002). In nine of fifteen patients, plasma ACTH showed either no change or a definite fall during subsequent follow‐up. We conclude that plasma ACTH measurement in the first post‐operative year is a good indicator of eventual outcome. The continued fall in plasma ACTH shown in many patients after the first year of treatment suggests an effect of irradiation on the pituitary.
Hydrogen migration in polycrystalline silicon.

Hydrogen migration in solid-state crystallized and low-pressure chemical-vapor-deposited (LPCVD) polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) was investigated by deuterium diffusion experiments. The concentration profiles of deuterium, introduced into the poly-Si samples either from a remote D plasma or from a deuterated amorphous-silicon layer, were measured as a function of time and temperature. At high deuterium concentrations the diffusion was dispersive depending on exposure time. The dispersion is consistent with multiple trapping within a distribution of hopping barriers. The data can be explained by a two-level model used to explain diffusion in hydrogenated amorphous silicon. The energy difference between the transport level and the deuterium chemical potential was found to be about 1.2{endash}1.3 eV. The shallow levels for hydrogen trapping are about 0.5 eV below the transport level, while the deep levels are about 1.5{endash}1.7 eV below. The hydrogen chemical potential {mu}{sub H} decreases as the temperature increases. At lower concentrations, {mu}{sub H} was found to depend markedly on the method used to prepare the poly-Si, a result due in part to the dependence of crystallite size on the deposition process. Clear evidence for deuterium deep traps was found only in the solid-state crystallized material. The LPCVD-grown poly-Si, with columnar grains extending through themore » film thickness, displayed little evidence of deep trapping, and exhibited enhanced D diffusion. Many concentration profiles in the columnar LPCVD material indicated complex diffusion behavior, perhaps reflecting spatial variations of trap densities, complex formation, and/or multiple transport paths. Many aspects of the diffusion in poly-Si are consistent with diffusion data obtained in amorphous silicon. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society. }« less
Detection of foreign bodies of the head with digital volume tomography.

OBJECTIVES Foreign bodies occur as a sequela of trauma or therapeutic interventions. If the risks are not too high, therapy of choice is the removal of the foreign body. This is only possible if the existence of a foreign body is detected and it is localized accurately. METHODS The suitability of digital volume tomography (DVT) for the detection and localization of foreign bodies was investigated. Samples of various materials that are typically found as foreign bodies in the head and neck region were used. RESULTS All materials investigated are principally detectable with DVT. Highly radiopaque material was detectable down to small sizes. The detectability of less radiopaque substances like wood and resins was poor when located in soft tissue. CONCLUSION DVT is an appropriate tool for the detection of radiopaque foreign bodies. However, foreign bodies made of wood and resin, although detectable by DVT, can be missed when located in muscular tissue. The detectability decreases further when the foreign body is located adjacent to a highly radiopaque tissue like bone. This has to be taken into consideration when using DVT for foreign body detection.
Epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition is involved in BCNU resistance in human glioma cells

Chemotherapy has been considered as an effective treatment for malignant glioma; however, it becomes increasingly ineffective with tumor progression. Epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process whereby cells acquire morphologic and molecular alterations that facilitate tumor metastasis and progression. Emerging evidence associates chemoresistance with the acquisition of EMT in cancer. However, it is not clear whether this phenomenon is involved in glioma. We used the previously established human glioma cell lines SWOZ1, SWOZ2 and SWOZ2‐BCNU to assess cellular morphology, molecular changes, migration and invasion. We found that BCNU‐resistant cells showed multiple drug resistance and phenotypic changes consistent with EMT, including spindle‐shaped morphology and enhanced pseudopodia formation. Decreased expression of the epithelial adhesion molecule E‐cadherin and increased expression of the mesenchymal marker vimentin were observed in BCNU‐resistant SWOZ1 and SWOZ2‐BCNU cells compared to SWOZ2 cells. Migratory and metastatic potentials were markedly enhanced in SWOZ1 and SWOZ2‐BCNU cells compared to SWOZ2 cells. These data suggest that there is a possible link between drug resistance and EMT induction in glioma cells. Gaining further insight into the mechanisms underlying chemoresistance and EMT may enable the restoration of chemosensitivity or suppression of metastasis.