Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A phase I trial of arsenic trioxide chemoradiotherapy for infiltrating astrocytomas of childhood.

BACKGROUND Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has demonstrated preclinical evidence of activity in the treatment of infiltrating astrocytomas. METHODS We conducted a phase I trial of ATO given concomitantly with radiation therapy in children with newly diagnosed anaplastic astrocytoma, glioblastoma, or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. Eligible patients received a fixed daily dose of 0.15 mg/kg of ATO once a week, with each subsequent cohort of patients receiving an additional dose per week up to a planned frequency of ATO administration 5 days per week as tolerated. Twenty-four children were enrolled and 21 children were evaluable. RESULTS ATO was well tolerated throughout the entire dose escalation, resulting in confirmation of safety when administered 5 days per week during irradiation. CONCLUSIONS The recommended dose of ATO during conventional irradiation is 0.15 mg/kg given on a daily basis with each fraction of radiation therapy administered.
Comparison of pancreatic histology specimens obtained by EUS 19G versus 22G core biopsy needles: A prospective multicentre study among experienced pathologists

Background and aim Scanty data about inter-observer agreement (IOA) among pathologists in the evaluation of pancreatic samples acquired with EUS histology needle are available. The aim of this study was to determine IOA on adequacy of pancreatic histology specimens obtained with a 22G needle by a panel of experienced pathologist, in comparison with the 19G needle. Methods This multicentre prospective study involved 73 pancreatic specimens prepared using histology needles of different calibres. Five pathologists independently reviewed all the samples, assessing the presence of a core, specimen adequacy and the possibility to perform additional analyses. IOA determined by Fleiss’ Kappa statistic was used as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome was to compare 22G versus 19G needle results. Results A core was present in 57% of pancreatic specimens obtained by 22G needle. The specimens were considered adequate in 72% of cases, with poor agreement among pathologists (p = 0.02, Fleiss’ κ = 0.26). The possibility to perform further analyses was rated as ‘positive’ in 66% of cases without significant difference among observers (p = 0.80). When comparing the results, the presence of a core and the adequacy of tissue slides were significantly better for the 19G needle (57% vs. 84% p = 0.002; 72% vs. 83% p = 0.004, respectively). Reproducibility in the assessment of pancreatic sample adequacy was significantly better with the 19G needle (κ = 0.26 for 22G samples vs. κ = 0.81 for 19G samples). Conclusions Our results suggest that histology sampling of pancreatic masses should be performed with a 19G histology needle, since is able to provide a core in the majority of cases, with 83% of adequate specimens and excellent results in term of reproducibility among pathologists.
Site-specific and patterned growth of TiO2 nanotube arrays from e-beam evaporated thin titanium film on Si wafer

Growth of TiO2 nanotubes on thin Ti film deposited on Si wafers with site-specific and patterned growth using a photolithography technique is demonstrated for the first time. Ti films were deposited via e-beam evaporation to a thickness of 350–1000 nm. The use of a fluorinated organic electrolyte at room temperature produced the growth of nanotubes with varying applied voltages of 10–60 V (DC) which remained stable after annealing at 500 °C. It was found that variation of the thickness of the deposited Ti film could be used to control the length of the nanotubes regardless of longer anodization time/voltage. Growth of the nanotubes on a SiO2 barrier layer over a Si wafer, along with site-specific and patterned growth, enables potential application of TiO2 nanotubes in NEMS/MEMS-type devices.
Helicobacter pylori Recurrence in Developed and Developing Countries: Meta‐Analysis of 13C‐Urea Breath Test Follow‐Up after Eradication

Objective: Recurrence of Helicobacter pylori infection after eradication is rare in developed countries and more frequent in developing countries. Most recurrent cases are attributed to recrudescence (recolonization of the same strain within 12 months) rather than to reinfection (colonization with a new strain after more than 12 months). The aim of the study was to analyze recurrence rates in developed and developing countries and to deduce the relative roles of recrudescence and reinfection.
Elevated vulnerability to oxidative stress‐induced cell death and activation of caspase‐3 by the Swedish amyloid precursor protein mutation

The Swedish double mutation (KM670/671NL) of amyloid precursor protein (APPsw) is associated with early‐onset familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) and results in from three‐ to sixfold increased β‐amyloid production. The goal of the present study was to elucidate the effects of APPsw on mechanisms of apoptotic cell death. Therefore, PC12 cells were stably transfected with human APPsw. Here we report that the vulnerability of APPsw‐bearing PC12 cells to undergo apoptotic cell death was significantly enhanced after exposure to hydrogen peroxide compared to human wild‐type APP‐bearing cells, empty vector‐transfected cells, and parent untransfected cells. In addition, we have analyzed the potential influence of several mechanisms that can interfere with the execution of the apoptotic cell death program: the inhibition of cell death by the use of caspase inhibitors and the reduction of oxidative stress by the use of (±)‐α‐tocopherol (vitamin E). Interestingly, oxidative stress‐induced cell death was significantly attenuated in APPsw PC12 cells by pretreatment with caspase‐3 inhibitors but not with caspase‐1 inhibitors. In parallel, caspase‐3 activity was markedly elevated in APPsw PC12 after stimulation with hydrogen peroxide for 6 hr, whereas caspase‐1 activity was unaltered. In addition, oxidative stress‐induced cell death could be reduced after pretreatment of APPsw cells with (±)‐α‐tocopherol. The protective potency of (±)‐α‐tocopherol was even greater than that of caspase‐3 inhibitors. Our findings further emphasize the role of mutations in the amyloid precursor protein in apoptotic cell death and may provide the fundamental basis for further efforts to elucidate the underlying processes caused by FAD‐related mutations. J. Neurosci. Res. 64:183–192, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Control of the wetting properties of an AISI 316L stainless steel surface by femtosecond laser-induced surface modification

A simple and effective method without vacuum to control the wetting properties of AISI 316L stainless steel using femtosecond laser pulses at high repetition rate has been developed. Both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces were formed by creating micro-conical structures on the surface with femtosecond laser irradiation in air. The scan speed was found to be an effective parameter in controlling micro-cone morphology, size and number densities and contact angles during surface wettability experiments. It was found during surface wettability experiments that the contact angle of water varied from 0° (superhydrophilic) to 113° on laser micro-cone textured surfaces depending on processing conditions. Additionally, a superhydrophobic AISI 316L stainless steel surface was created (contact angle ∼150°) with a functionalized silane coating on already hydrophobic surface geometry.
Evaluation of the hygienic performances of the processes for beef carcass dressing at 10 packing plants

The hygienic performances of the carcass dressing processes at 10 beef packing plants were assessed from small sets of microbiological data. For each process, a single sample was obtained from a randomly selected site on each of 25 randomly selected beef sides leaving the process. In addition, during a period of about a year, a further nine such sets of samples were obtained from each of two of those processes. The aerobic bacteria, coliforms and Escherichia coli recovered from each sample were enumerated. For each set of 25 counts, values for the mean log and standard deviation were calculated on the assumption that the log values were normally distributed, and the log of the arithmetic mean was estimated for each set from the mean log and the standard deviation. The processes were ranked with respect to the log mean numbers of E. coli, coliforms and total counts estimated for the products. Log mean numbers of E. coli, coliforms and total counts ranged from about 2 to <100 cm−2, from about 3 to <100 cm−2, and from about 5 to about 2 cm−2, respectively. For one of the processes, 8, 7, and 8 of the log mean values for the replicated sets of aerobic, coliform and E. coli counts, respectively, differed by <1 log unit. For the other process 5, 7, and 9 of the log mean values for the replicated sets of aerobic, coliform and E. coli counts, respectively, differed by <1 log unit. These results indicate that the first process was generally consistent in the contamination of carcasses with aerobes, coliforms and E. coli. The contamination of carcasses in the second process with coliforms and E. coli was also generally consistent, but contamination of those carcasses with aerobes was inconsistent. The findings suggest that beef carcass dressing processes can be operated consistently with respect to the bacterial contamination of carcasses, and that log mean numbers of 1 ± 0·5 to 100 cm−2, 1 ± 0·5 to 100 cm−2 and 3 ± 0·5 cm−2 for E. coli, coliform and total counts, respectively, may be appropriate, commercially attainable acceptance criteria for the hygienic performance of beef carcass dressing processes.
Genetic characterization of a novel Phomopsis sp., a putative biocontrol agent for Carthamus lanatus

A large number of isolates of Phomopsis sp. have been collected from the weed Carthamus lanatus (saffron thistle) in Australia, and their potential as biological control agents for weeds of the Asteraceae has been demonstrated. An analysis of their genetic diversity and a multigene phylogenetic analysis were undertaken to ascertain whether these isolates were distinct from other species of Phomopsis that commonly attack crop species in Australia. Minimal variation was found between the Phomopsis spp. isolated from saffron thistle, except two isolates that appeared to share identity with Diaporthe helianthii and P. viticola. Analysis of the selected isolates from saffron thistle with the nucleotide sequence of the partial ITS and tef1-α regions demonstrated that the sequences were distinct from all other species of Phomopsis so far described from crops in Australia. These findings provide strong support for the recognition of these isolates as a separate species of Phomopsis. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to biological control of saffron thistle.
Analysis of avian lymphocyte proliferation by a new, simple, nonradioactive assay (lympho-pro).

An assessment of T-cell-mediated immune functions (i.e., lymphocyte proliferation assay) in the chicken, unlike the determination of antibody levels, is not routinely performed. This is primarily because of difficulties in the isolation of relatively pure populations of lymphocytes and the use of radioactive isotopes. To address these issues, the goals of our study were to optimize a method for isolating and enriching avian lymphocyte populations and to develop a nonradioactive lymphocyte proliferation assay. To accomplish these goals, we used a multiple slow-speed centrifugation technique combined with a "swirl" collection technique for lymphocyte isolation from chicken peripheral blood. After a fraction enriched with lymphocytes was obtained, a simple, rapid colorimetric and fluorometric assay (lympho-pro) to indirectly determine mitogen-induced proliferation was adapted and compared with the "Gold Standard" [3H]thymidine. Chickens of different ages and two genetic strains were used in this study. Lymphocytes were stimulated with various concentrations of concanavalin A (Con A, T-cell mitogen) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate + ionomycin (pan lymphocyte mitogen). Our studies showed that the pattern of lymphocyte proliferation assessed by the Alamar blue-based lympho-pro assay was similar to the [3H]thymidine incorporation assay. Younger birds had higher levels of mitogen-induced proliferation when compared with adults of the same genetic strain. Because the lympho-pro assay, unlike [3H]thymidine, does not require lysis of cells to assess proliferation, cells that have undergone stimulation/proliferation can be subsequently characterized by staining with antibodies against cell surface antigens and analysis by flow cytometry. Another notable advantage of the lympho-pro assay is the rapidity of assessment and nontoxicity. In conclusion, this assay may be of value in assessing some aspects of T-cell-mediated immunity in both avian research and avian medicine diagnostic settings.
Saliva cotinine as an indicator of cigarette smoking in adolescents.

Summary Saliva cotinine and expired-air carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations were measured in 508 girls aged 11–16 years attending an inner London comprehensive school. A saliva cotinine cut-point of 14.7 ng/ml detected 99% of regular daily smokers and performed better than expired-air CO (cut-point 7 ppm) in identifying smoking (69% versus 54%). The mean saliva cotinine among the regular daily smokers was 200.8 ng/ml, and comparisons with adult smokers suggested that these adolescents were inhaling a similar dose of nicotine per cigarette. Within our sample no evidence was found for an increase in smoke inhalation per cigarette with increasing age suggesting that inhalation develops early in the smoking career.
A simple rule for the evolution of fast dispersal at the edge of expanding populations

Evolution by natural selection is commonly perceived as a process that favors those that replicate faster to leave more offspring; nature, however, seem to abound with examples where organisms forgo some replicative potential to disperse faster. When does selection favor invasion of the fastest? Motivated by evolution experiments with swarming bacteria we searched for a simple rule. In experiments, a fast hyperswarmer mutant that pays a reproductive cost to make many copies of its flagellum invades a population of mono-flagellated bacteria by reaching the expanding population edge; a two-species mathematical model explains that invasion of the edge occurs only if the invasive species’ expansion rate, v! , which results from the combination of the species growth rate and its dispersal speed (but not its carrying capacity), exceeds the established species’, v! The simple rule that we derive, v! > v! , appears to be general: less favorable initial conditions, such as smaller initial sizes and longer distances to the population edge, delay but do not entirely prevent invasion. Despite intricacies of the swarming system, experimental tests agree well with model predictions suggesting that the general theory should apply to other expanding populations with trade-offs between growth and dispersal, including non-native invasive species and cancer metastases.
Drug Usage and Health Characteristics in Noninstitutional Retired Persons *

ABSTRACT: A study was made of total drug usage (prescription, over‐the‐counter, social), health characteristics, and life satisfaction in 55 noninstitutional retired men and women whose average age was 70 years. The sample was purposively selected on the basis of involvement in peer group interaction networks. Among those using drugs, the average number taken per person was 2.0 prescription, 1.8 over‐the‐counter, and 1.8 social (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine), for a total of 5.6 drugs. For men the average was 7.5, and for women 4.7 drugs. Although drug interaction hazards from prescription drugs alone appeared to be minimal, examination of total drug usage indicated potential interactive hazards. Despite the number of chronic illnesses and physical impairments (5 and 1 per person respectively) and the number of drugs ingested, the respondents usually expressed overall satisfaction with their life condition. A commonly expressed dissatisfaction (males 75 percent, females 35 percent) was with government officials. Respondents had confidence in both their physicians' diagnoses and the effectiveness of the drugs prescribed. The findings that women reported more chronic diseases and physical impairments, and were relatively more dissatisfied with their life condition than were men, may be associated with their greater acquiescence with self‐disclosure.
Tiempo libre, ocio y actividad física en los adolescentes. La influencia de los padres

Existe una relacion estadisticamente significativa entre la opinion acerca de la realizacion de actividad fisica por parte los padres/madres y la adscripcion a una escuela deportiva por parte de los hijos/as. Los ninos y ninas inscritos en alguna actividad fisica organizada afirman en mayor proporcion que sus progenitores realizan actividad fisico deportiva. A juicio del alumnado, el 58,6% de las madres que realizan actividad fisica se encuentra entre aquellos ninos y ninas inscritos en actividades fisicas organizadas, porcentaje que llega al 61% de aquellos que lo afirman acerca de sus padres. Encontramos, por tanto, que el porcentaje de padres y madres no practicantes es superior entre los escolares no inscritos en actividades fisicas organizadas. Descubrimos de igual manera, que el menor el porcentaje de padres y madres activos se halla en el grupo de alumnos que nunca han estado inscritos en una practica organizada.
The Bystander Effect in C3H 10T Cells and Radon-Induced Lung Cancer

Abstract Little, M. P. and Wakeford, R. The Bystander Effect in C3H 10T½ Cells and Radon-Induced Lung Cancer. Radiat. Res. 156, 695–699 (2001). Bystander effects, whereby cells that are not directly exposed to radiation exhibit adverse biological effects, have been observed in a number of experimental systems, including C3H 10T½ cells exposed to α-particle radiation. The bystander effect implies that risks from exposure to low doses of radiation obtained by linear extrapolation from data for high-dose exposures might be substantial underestimates. The best estimate of the ratio of the lung cancer risk among persons exposed to low (residential) doses of radon daughters to that among persons (underground miners) exposed to high doses of radon daughters is in the range of 2.4–4.0, with an upper 95% confidence limit of about 14. Assuming that the bystander effect observed in the in vitro C3H 10T½ cell system applies to human lung cells in vivo, these epidemiological data imply that the central estimate of the number of neighboring cells that can contribute to the bystander effect is between 0 and 1, with an upper 95% confidence limit of about 7. As a consequence, the bystander effect observed in the experimental C3H 10T½ cell system probably does not play a large part in the process of radon-induced lung carcinogenesis in humans.
A NEW GYMNOPHALLID TREMATODE FROM THE INTESTINE OF MICE INFECTED WITH METACERCARIAE FROM THE RAZOR CLAM SINONOVACULA CONSTRICTA

Meiogymnophallus sinonovaculae n. sp. (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) is described from metacercariae found in the razor clam, Sinonovacula constricta, in the Republic of Korea, and adults recovered from the small intestine of experimentally infected mice. The worms are characterized by paired clusters of vitelline follicles, a well-developed pars prostatica with abundant prostate cells, a voluminous undivided seminal vesicle (in adults and metacercariae), and large, grouped, domelike sensory papillae on the ventral surface anterior to the ventral sucker (in metacercariae). This new species resembles the type species Meiogymnophallus affinis, but differs in having compact, elliptical, and 4–5-lobed vitellaria, and an excretory vesicle with bicornuated anterior arms reaching to the oral sucker. This is the second documentation of the presence of a species of Meiogymnophallus in the Republic of Korea.
Spatial agglomeration, technology and outsourcing of knowledge-intensive business services: empirical insights from Italy

The opinions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the position of Summary Aim of this paper is to explore the main drivers of outsourcing of knowledge intensive business services by Italian manufacturing firms. While anecdotal and empirical evidence has emphasized labour cost and scale economies as behind firms' choices to outsource production or service activities, here we focus on spatial agglomeration and technology as important factors. Using microeconomic data on a repeated cross-section of Italian manufacturing firms for the period 1998-2003, we develop a two-stage model in order to avoid selection bias: first, we estimate the determinants of the firm's decision to outsource business-related services; second, we estimate the main factors underlying the intensity and complexity of KIBS outsourcing, expressed by the number of service activities that are externalized. Our results show that labour cost-savings are not relevant in driving the decision to outsource KIBS, but ICT, R&D and location within a dense and technologically developed industrial district have very positive effects.
LATG with extracorporeal esophagojejunostomy: is this minimal invasive surgery for gastric cancer?

BACKGROUND This retrospective study determined whether extracorporeal esophagojejunostomy after laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) for gastric cancer can be considered minimally invasive surgery, compared to the conventional open total gastrectomy (OTG). PATIENTS AND METHODS This retrospective study involved 60 patients seen between January 2004 and July 2006. Twenty-seven patients underwent LATG, and 33 patients had OTG. The surgical procedure included the use of five ports with an upper vertical midline incision. In all patients, reconstruction was performed by using a Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy through the minilaparotomy site. In all cases, the jejunojejunostomy was performed extracorporeally as the conventional method. In OTG, a Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy was performed with an upper midline incision. RESULTS The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was smaller and the mean operating time was longer in the LATG group. The postoperative hospital course was similar in both groups. In the LATG group, the mean length of the minilaparotomy incision was 8.0+/-1.2 cm (maximum length, 11 cm), and a direct relationship was observed between the distance from the xiphoid process to the esophageal hiatus (DisXE) and the minilaparotomy incision length (Spearman's correlation of rank coefficient: 0.386; P=0.046). CONCLUSIONS With the concept of minimal invasiveness, if the patient's DisXE exceeds 9 cm, the length of the minilaparotomy incision in laparoscopic surgery could be disadvantageous. Nevertheless, we consider LATG the treatment of choice for early gastric cancer. If the patient's DisXE exceeds 9 cm, we consider intracorporeal anastomosis with the laparoscopic total gastrectomy. The type of esophagojejunostomy may be determined preoperatively by using three-dimensional abdominal computed tomography.
Antibiotic treatment for bacterial meningitis in children in developing countries

Abstract Bacterial meningitis causes 125,000 deaths each year in infants and young children and 96% of these occur in less developed countries where up to 50% of children with this disease die and 25–50% of survivors have neurological sequelae. Although 3rd-generation cephalosporins are optimal empirical therapy for bacterial meningitis, they are unaffordable in many developing countries. The majority of children worldwide are currently treated with cheaper alternatives. This paper reviews the challenges facing clinicians treating bacterial meningitis in developing countries, highlighting the problem of changing patterns of antibiotic resistance. In particular, it details the evidence for the use of chloramphenicol and 3rd-generation cephalosporins.