Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Nodal Status for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma: Location, Number, or Ratio of Involved Nodes

Objective:To analyze lymph node status in resected perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, to clarify which index (ie, location, number, or ratio of involved nodes) is better for staging, and to determine the minimum requirements for node examination. Background:In the TNM classification for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, the number or ratio of involved nodes is not considered for nodal staging. The minimum requirement for histologic examination of lymph nodes is arbitrary. Methods:This study involved 320 patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma who underwent resection from January 2000 to December 2009 at Nagoya University Hospital. The relationship between lymph node status and patient survival was retrospectively analyzed. Results:Total lymph node counts (TLNCs), ie, the number of lymph nodes examined histologically, averaged 12.9 ± 8.3 (range: 1–59). Lymph node metastasis was found in 146 (45.6%) patients and was an independent, powerful prognostic factor. The survival rates were not significantly different between patients with regional node metastasis alone and those with distant node metastasis (19.2% vs 11.5% at 5 years, P = 0.058). The survival for patients with multiple node metastases was significantly worse than that for patients with single metastasis (12.1% vs 27.6% at 5 years, P = 0.002), regardless of the presence or absence of distant lymph node metastasis. The survival for patients with lymph node ratios (LNRs) of 0.2 or less was significantly better than that for patients with LNRs greater than 0.2 (21.4% vs 13.5% at 5 years, P = 0.032). Upon multivariate analysis of the 146 patients with lymph node metastasis, the number of involved nodes (single vs multiple) was identified as an independent prognostic factor (RR of 1.61, P = 0.045), whereas the locations (regional alone vs distant) and ratios (LNR ⩽ 0.2 vs LNR > 0.2) of involved nodes were not. When the 148 pN0-R0 patients were divided into 3 groups (ie, those with TLNC ≥ 8, with TLNC = 5, 6, or 7, and with TLNC ⩽ 4), survivals were identical between the first and second groups, whereas they were largely different between the former two and the third. Conclusions:Lymph node metastasis is a powerful, independent prognostic factor in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and is better classified based not on location but on the number of involved nodes. To adequately assess nodal status, histologic examination of 5 or more nodes is recommended.
eDiary and Female Sexual Distress Scale© in Evaluating Distress in Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)

Sex-related distress is integral to the diagnosis of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). This article describes the results of three prospective, non-treatment validation studies (two North American and one European), each testing over 200 participants with HSDD, other types of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), or no FSD in which the 12-item Female Sexual Distress Scale© (FSDS©), the 13-item FSDS–Revised©(FSDS–R©), and a single question asked using a daily electronic diary (the eDiary For HSDD Trials©; eDiary) were used to measure sex-related distress. FSDS results with 30- and seven-day recall were equivalent. The results observed with FSDS–R Item 13 (a single question assessing concern due to low sexual desire) were comparable to the FSDS. Mean eDiary monthly distress scores were closer to the minimum possible score (equivalent to “a little bit” of distress) and were about twice as variable as FSDS or FSDS–R Item 13 scores in participants with HSDD. All three measures confirmed that there is more distress in women with HSDD compared to women with no sexual dysfunction at all time points, demonstrating discriminant validity.
State of the Art Anti-Aging Practice : Diagnostic Difficulties of the Andropause

Even before contemplating hormonal replacement for men, practitioners should be certain of a diagnosis of low testosterone causing andropause-related symptoms. This is partly because accurate diagnose may be confounded due to factors such as clinical depression, hypothyroidism, anemia, alcoholism, psychological states, and side effects of medications. There is undeniable evidence that bioavailable testosterone declines with age. However, there are variations in testosterone measures based on timing and method used for quantification, and this will be explored in this chapter. There are limitations of blood and saliva measurements of testosterone, and andropause should be diagnosed only in conjunction with a clinical assessment, as it is a complex syndrome. The decline of testosterone leads to hypogonadism, which can present with symptoms in older men. However, like in the menopause, not all older men present with transitional symptoms as they enter the andropause. The long-term effects of andropause in men may be similar to menopause, as decline in androgens can affect libido, musculoskeletal, cardiac, and cognitive functions. In addition, in contrast to menopause, men in andropause do not necessarily suffer from infertility as sperm production continues. The evidence of the impact of low testosterone on the aging male's physiology will be examined. Androgen supplementation in the form of testosterone may be effective for some individuals who are symptomatic. At the present time, is no routine recommendation for androgen replacement in all males. The practitioner should select his patient carefully based on symptoms and biochemical evidence of hypogonadism. Monitoring of side effects of androgens, including changes in prostate, hemoglobin levels, etc., is mandatory.
Deposited in DRO : 23 August 2017 Version of attached le : Published Version Peer-review status of attached

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Blockade of the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibits transforming growth factor alpha-induced but not estrogen-induced growth of hormone-dependent human breast cancer.

Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), a polypeptide that binds to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, is expressed and secreted by human breast cancer cells and has been proposed as an autocrine growth factor and as a mediator of the mitogenic effect of estrogen. We investigated the potential importance of secreted TGF alpha in estrogen-responsive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells using monoclonal (528ab and 225ab) and polyclonal antibodies that block the EGF/TGF alpha receptor. Confirming other studies, these MCF-7 cells expressed TGF alpha with mRNA transcripts of 4.8 kilobases identified by Northern analysis, and they secreted TGF alpha activity measured by normal rat kidney colony-forming assay and an EGF RRA of conditioned medium. This activity was increased 3-fold by 1 nM 17 beta-estradiol and decreased by 1 microM tamoxifen. 528ab and 225ab bound to EGF receptors in MCF-7 cells with high affinity [dissociation constant (Kd) 0.1-0.5 nM] and blocked the binding of EGF/TGF alpha. These antibodies failed to inhibit baseline DNA synthesis or growth of MCF-7 cells although they were potent inhibitors of EGF/TGF alpha-induced growth of these cells. We hypothesized that if secreted TGF alpha mediates estrogen-induced growth, then EGF/TGF alpha receptor blockade should inhibit estrogen stimulation. MCF-7 cells were first treated with tamoxifen to inhibit growth and to reduce TGF alpha expression. Under these conditions, estrogen replenishment induced a marked dose-dependent rescue of TGF alpha secretion, DNA synthesis, and cell proliferation. Exogenous TGF alpha also partially restored growth of tamoxifen-inhibited cells. Although the simultaneous addition of 528ab or 225ab blocked TGF alpha-induced rescue of MCF-7 cells, it had no effect on rescue by estradiol. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Female mouthbrooders in control of pre- and postmating sexual selection

The fertilization mode determines which sex has greater control over the offspring's sires. With internal fertilization, females can strongly influence the chances of different males' ejaculates to fertilize their eggs by the postmating sexual selection process referred to as cryptic female choice. In contrast, when fertilization is external and multiple males compete in this process, the outcome of pre- and postmating sexual selection is largely determined by the competitive quality of males and their sperm. Intermediate modes of fertilization as found in mouthbrooding fishes might allow for a greater maternal influence on her offspring's sire. Here, we show that in the maternal mouthbrooder Ophthalmotilapia ventralis, females collect sperm from different males in their mouth, and males can successfully fertilize eggs even if the female did not lay eggs with them. In the field, 25 of 30 clutches had multiple sires, and the fertilization success was significantly biased toward particular males in most clutches. A mate choice experiment revealed that females prefer to spawn with males possessing strongly elongated pelvic fins, a conspicuous secondary sexual character of males in this cichlid. Additionally, the body length of males partly explained their success in sperm competition within the females' mouth, a factor without apparent influence on female choice of partners with which to lay eggs. Hence, successful sires are determined by a 2-step process that is largely under female control; females select which males to spawn with and from which males they collect additional ejaculates for the subsequent sperm competition in their mouth. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.
Chromogranin A as an Alternative to 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid in the Evaluation of Symptoms during Treatment of Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors

Background: Urinary 5-HIAA excretion is a well-known marker in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), but it has a low sensitivity and the 24-hour collection is inconvenient for patients. Chromogranin A (CgA) is a promising marker, but a thorough evaluation during follow-up is still lacking. Methods: 39 patients with metastatic gastrointestinal NETs were monitored during treatment with the long-acting octreotide SandostatinLAR®. A comparison was made between serum CgA and urinary 5-HIAA in relation to quality of life (HRQL) assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire, supplemented with questions specific to carcinoid symptoms. Survival analyses were performed to examine the association between the markers and survival time. Results: Correlations were found between CgA and physical functioning (p = 0.01) and quality of life (p = 0.03), while no significant correlations were observed between 5-HIAA levels and any of the self-reported health outcomes. Cox regression showed an association between CgA levels and survival time (p = 0.02), while no significant association was observed between 5-HIAA levels and survival time. Conclusion: Stronger correlations of CgA compared to 5-HIAA with physical functioning and wellbeing, the convenience of measuring in blood, as well as the prognostic value of CgA for survival, makes CgA the recommended marker in the management of patients with metastatic NETs.
Differentiable approximation and extension of convex functions

Las funciones convexas y, en particular, las funciones convexas diferenciables juegan un papel fundamental dentro del Analisis Matematico y tienen una gran cantidad de aplicaciones en otras disciplinas como la Geometria Diferencial, la teoria de EDP’S (por ejemplo, las ecuaciones de Monge-Ampere), las Dinamicas No Nineales, la Computacion Cuantica o la Economia. Por tanto, es sin duda util cualquier herramienta que permita aproximar o extender por funciones convexas diferenciables en distintos espacios de Banach. Si tenemos una funcion convexa y acotada en conjuntos acotados definida en un espacio de Banach con dual LUR, se sabe por los resultados de D. Azagra que esta funcion puede aproximarse por funciones convexas diferenciables uniformemente en todo el espacio. Sin embargo, puesto que existen ejemplos defunciones convexas continuas no acotadas en conjuntos acotados, es deseable eliminar esta restriccion de la funcion que deseamos aproximar. En esta tesis se elimina esta restriccion y se demuestra que las funciones convexas y continuas definidas en abiertos convexos de espacios de Banach con dual LUR, pueden aproximarse uniformemente por funciones convexas diferenciables uniformemente en todo el espacio. Esto es consecuencia de un resultado mas general que muestra que el problema de aproximacion uniforme de funciones convexas por funciones convexas de una cierta clase de diferenciabilidad puede reducirse al caso en el que las funciones a aproximar son, ademas, Lipschitzianas.
Targeting of biotinylated oligonucleotides to prostate tumors with antibody-based delivery vehicles

Specific delivery of therapeutic agents to tumor sites remains a problem and requires a nontoxic carrier able to bind a specific tumor cell marker. Although antibodies have been utilized as protein carriers for different types of drugs, they have not been employed for delivery of antisense oligonucleotides (ODNs). In this study, we modified monoclonal antibodies to target biotinylated ODNs to prostatic tumors which express prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA). Modified antibodies retained immunoreactivity and demonstrated an ability to form complexes with ODNs. Biodistribution of 35S-oligonucleotide–antibody complexes was also examined in nude mice bearing human derived LNCaP prostatic tumors. Delivering ODNs with modified prostate specific antibodies produced greater tissue uptake and higher blood levels with both PSA and PSMA directed antibodies. While tumor uptake was not significantly improved after 24 h, the overall results of this study provide some additional insights into the complexity of the antibody-mediated delivery of ODNs in vivo. The strategies employed here for the selective delivery of ODNs warrant further investigation.
Morphological and functional classification of ion-absorbing mitochondria-rich cells in the gills of Mozambique tilapia

SUMMARY To clarify ion-absorbing functions and molecular mechanisms of mitochondria-rich (MR) cells, Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) were acclimated to artificial freshwaters with normal or lowered Na+ and/or Cl– concentration: (1) normal Na+/normal Cl– (control); (2) normal Na+/low Cl–; (3) low Na+/normal Cl–; and (4) low Na+/low Cl–. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that concave and convex apical surfaces of MR cells predominantly developed in low Na+ and low Cl– waters, respectively, whereas small apical pits predominated in control conditions. Expression of Na+/H+ exchanger-3 (NHE3) mRNA in the gills was increased in low Na+ waters (low Na+/normal Cl– and low Na+/low Cl–), whereas that of Na+/Cl– cotransporter (NCC) expression was upregulated in low Cl–, but not in low Na+/low Cl–. Immunofluorescence staining showed that enlarged NHE3-immunoreactive apical regions were concave or flat in low Na+ waters, whereas NCC-immunoreactive regions were enlarged convexly in low Cl– waters. Using SEM immunocytochemistry the distribution of NHE3/NCC was compared with SEM images obtained simultaneously, it was further demonstrated that NHE3 and NCC were confined to concave and convex apical surfaces, respectively. These results indicated that small apical pits developed into concave apical surfaces to facilitate Na+ uptake through NHE3, and into convex apical surfaces to enhance Na+/Cl– uptake through NCC. Our findings integrated morphological and functional classifications of ion-absorbing MR cells in Mozambique tilapia.
A multidimensional framework for SME e-business progression

Purpose – This paper sets out to critique the applicability of e‐commerce staged models in explaining the progression of small and medium‐sized businesses (SMEs) in their use of internet technologies. The premise of this study is that examining the evolution of web sites over time gives us insights into actual evolving strategies and motivations behind internet investments.Design/methodology/approach – An alternative multidimensional framework is proposed that combines three different dimensions of organizational change (process, content, and drivers). The content or categories of the dimensions are defined and justified. A study of 192 web sites and their evolution is described. This helps to demonstrate the relevance and applicability of the dimensions of the framework.Findings – The study describes the different approaches (monitoring, content analysis and case studies) and the characteristics of changes on these web sites. It was found that the main evolution strategies were “content updates” and “dor.
Variations in feeding behaviour of high-yielding dairy cows in relation to parity during early to peak lactation

The objective of this study was to compare the feeding behaviour of high-yielding dairy cows in relation to parity during early to peak lactation and to determine whether or not there was any relationship between variables describing their feeding behaviour and total feed intake. Information concerning feed intake of each individual dairy cow is especially valuable for the herd management, particularly in early lactation. However, technical requirements for implementation are rarely given. Therefore, relationships between feed intake and time-related feeding behaviour parameters are of special interest. Time-related parameters could be recorded on farm conditions adapted sensor technology. Seventy high-yielding lactating dairy cows in different parities (23 in the 1st lactation, 17 in the 2nd lactation, and 30 in the 3rd-and-more-lactation) with an average of 11 000 kg milk yield per year were fed using automatic feeders from the 2nd to the 15th week of lactation. 222 231 recorded visits were analysed in three equal periods (period 1 = 7-39, period 2 = 40-72, and period 3 = 73-105 days in milk [DIM]) during early to peak lactation. Visits were clustered in meals based on the estimated meal criterion (28.5 min). The present study yielded the following values for meal frequency, number of visits per meal, meal duration, meal size, daily mealtime, daily dry matter intake (DMI), and feeding rate over the course of the study were 7.61 ± 1.7 (mean ± SD) meals/d, 4.02 ± 1.68 visits/meal, 37.07 ± 13.77 min/meal, 2.96 ± 0.92 kg DM/meal, 272.18 ± 82.14 min/d, 21.46 ± 4.29 kg DM/d, and 85.56 ± 28.77 g DM/min, respectively. Younger cows had more meals per day, more number of visits per meal, longer daily mealtime but a smaller meal size, lower daily DMI, and lower feeding rate compared to older cows (P<0.001). Meal duration and meal size were highly related to the number of visits at feeder per meal (R 2 =0.55-0.63; P<0.001, R 2 =0.25-0.39; P<0.001 respectively). In addition, meal size was highly related to meal duration (R 2 =0.59-0.72; P<0.001). Results from this study, which analysed data based on meal criterion, showed a higher correlation between the selected parameters of feeding behaviour and feed intake. The high correlation between meal duration and meal size could be used to estimate feed intake.
Fritz Two-Stage Implant Systems

Since the advent of osseointegration approximately 20 years ago, there has been a great deal of scientific data developed on two-stage integrated implant systems. Although these implants were originally designed primarily for fixed prostheses in the mandibular arch, they have been used in partially dentate patients, in patients needing overdentures, and in single-tooth restorations. In addition, this implant system has been placed in extraction sites, in bone-grafted areas, and in maxillary sinus elevations. Often, the documentation of these procedures has lagged. In addition, most of the reports use survival criteria to describe results, often providing overly optimistic data. It can be said that the literature describes a true adhesion of the epithelium to the implant similar to adhesion to teeth, that two-stage implants appear to have direct contact somewhere between 50% and 70% of the implant surface, that the microbial flora of the two-stage implant system closely resembles that of the natural tooth, and that the microbiology of periodontitis appears to be closely related to peri-implantitis. In evaluations of the data from implant placement in all of the above-noted situations by means of meta-analysis, it appears that there is a strong case that two-stage dental implants are successful, usually showing a confidence interval of over 90%. It also appears that the mandibular implants are more successful than maxillary implants. Studies also show that overdenture therapy is valid, and that single-tooth implants and implants placed in partially dentate mouths have a success rate that is quite good, although not quite as high as in the fully edentulous dentition. It would also appear that the potential causes of failure in the two-stage dental implant systems are periimplantitis, placement of implants in poor-quality bone, and improper loading of implants. There are now data addressing modifications of the implant surface to alter the percentage of osseointegration. New types of reinforcements for dental implants and the use of growth factors to augment bone regeneration so that implants can be placed more easily are now being actively investigated.
Hyperuricemia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Recently there has been a growing interest in the association of uric acid levels with hyperglycemia. Insulin deficiency or subnormal functioning of insulin may induce possible alterations in purine nucleotide metabolism, specifically uric acid turnover. Studies have indicated that a close relationship do exists between plasma uric acid levels and glucose utilisation in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Though there are reports showing elevated plasma uric acid levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus but the origin of raised uric acid is still obscure. Hence a study was undertaken to assess the origin of raised plasma uric acid levels in diabetes mellitus. The type 2 diabetic subjects attending the OPD of Subbaiah Medical College Hospital, Purale, Shimoga were randomly selected. A fasting Blood sample was collected and the plasma samples were employed for estimation of glucose, uric acid, adenosine deaminase and 5'-nucleotidase levels. The results indicate a parallel raise in the plasma levels of adenosine deaminase and in 5'nucleotidase along with plasma uric acid levels in type 2 diabetic subjects suggesting the raised plasma uric acid in type 2 diabetic subjects is due to increased purine catabolism.
PENGARUH MODAL SOSIAL DAN LEADER MEMBER EXCHANGE TERHADAP KINERJA MELALUI KOMITMEN ORGANISASIONAL

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh Modal Sosial dan Leader Member Exchange terhadap Kinerja melalui Komitmen Organisasional studi pada perusahaaan Batik Kisnala Jenggot Kota Pekalongan. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah karyawan pada perusahaaan Batik Kisnala Kota Pekalongan sebanyak 150 orang. Pengambilan sampel penelitian ini menggunakan teknik pengambilan sampel proportional random sampling yaitu suatu cara pengambilan sampel dengan menyeleksi setiap unit sampling yang sesuai dengan ukuran unit sampling sehingga sampel penelitian yaitu berjumlah 100 orang. Pengujian hipotesis ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan uji hipotesis langsung dan uji hipotesis tidak langsung atau uji mediasi. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Modal Sosial tidak berpengaruh terhadap Komitmen Organisasional, Leader Member Exchange (LMX) berpengaruh signfikan dan positif terhadap Komitmen Organisasional. Modal Sosial berpengaruh signifikan dan positif terhadap Kinerja, Leader Member Exchange (LMX) tidak berpengaruh terhadap Kinerja. Komitmen Organisasional berpengaruh signifikan dan positif terhadap Kinerja