Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of atypical cranial meningiomas, part 2: predictors of progression and the role of adjuvant radiation after subtotal resection.

BACKGROUND The efficacies of adjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for atypical meningiomas (AMs) after subtotal resection (STR) remain unclear. OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical, histopathological, and radiographic features associated with progression in AM patients after STR. METHODS Fifty-nine primary AMs after STR were examined for predictors of progression, including the impact of SRS and EBRT, in a retrospective cohort study. RESULTS Twenty-seven patients (46%) progressed after STR (median, 30 months). On univariate analysis, spontaneous necrosis positively (hazard ratio = 5.2; P = .006) and adjuvant radiation negatively (hazard ratio = 0.3; P = .009) correlated with progression; on multivariate analysis, only adjuvant radiation remained independently significant (hazard ratio = 0.3; P = .006). SRS and EBRT were associated with greater local control (LC; P = .02) and progression-free survival (P = .007). The 2-, 5-, and 10-year actuarial LC rates after STR vs STR/EBRT were 60%, 34%, and 34% vs 96%, 65%, and 45%. The 2-, 5-, and 10-year actuarial progression-free survival rates after STR vs STR/EBRT were 60%, 30%, and 26% vs 96%, 65%, and 45%. Compared with STR alone, adjuvant radiation therapy significantly improved LC in AMs that lack spontaneous necrosis (P = .003) but did not improve LC in AMs with spontaneous necrosis (P = .6). CONCLUSION Adjuvant SRS or EBRT improved LC of AMs after STR but only for tumors without spontaneous necrosis. Spontaneous necrosis may aid in decisions to administer adjuvant SRS or EBRT after STR of AMs.
The Topology of Performance Curves during 72 Hours of Sleep Loss: A Memory and Search Task

Three levels of working memory load of a visual search (Memory and Search) task were tested in a 72-hour sleep deprivation paradigm. General performance and accuracy decrease over time with monotonic and rhythmic components. The signal detection discriminability index, d', decreases monotonically with rhythmic variations. The index of response bias, β, shows no monotonic trend, but significant circadian rhythmicity. The extent of the monotonic and rhythmic changes in accuracy and in d’ is directly related to the level of working memory load. The amplitude of the circadian component of accuracy and d’ is enhanced for the higher levels of working memory load. The implication of potentiated circadian rhythmicity as a function of cumulative sleep loss is discussed.
Highly Nonlinear t-resilient Functions

High resilient and high nonlinear Boolean functions are desirable for secure key generators in stream ciphers, for example. This paper rst shows that there exists a tradeo between resiliency and nonlinearity. Then we show a new simple design method for high resilient and high nonlinear Boolean functions. Our method gives higher nonlinearity than [Zhang and Zheng 95] while their method gives larger resiliency than our method. Further, the proposed method provides a tradeo between resiliency t and nonlinearity NF by using an intermediate parameter l. If we choose a large l, then a small t and a large NF are obtained. If we choose a small l, then a large t and a small NF are obtained.
Multicenter validation study of the sentinel lymph node concept in cervical cancer: AGO Study Group.

PURPOSE Single-institution case series have demonstrated the feasibility of the sentinel concept in cervical cancer. However, the diagnostic accuracy remains to be validated. We evaluated detection rate and diagnostic accuracy to predict the histopathologic pelvic nodal status in patients with cervical cancer of all stages. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a hypothesis-based, prospective, multicenter cohort study, patients underwent lymph node detection after labeling with technetium, patent blue, or both. After systematic pelvic and, if indicated, para-aortic node dissection, all lymph nodes were histopathologically examined. Detection rate, sensitivity, and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. RESULTS According to the protocol, 590 patients were eligible. Detection rate of pelvic sentinel nodes was 88.6% (95% CI, 85.8% to 91.1%) and was significantly higher for the combination of technetium and patent blue (93.5%; 95% CI, 90.3% to 96.0%). Of 106 patients with pelvic lymph node metastases, 82 had pelvic sentinel node metastases. The overall sensitivity was 77.4% (95% CI, 68.2% to 85.0%), which was lower than 90%, the predefined noninferiority margin (P < .001). Sensitivity in women with tumors <or= 20 mm (90.9%), with bilateral detection (87.2%), or with both substances applied (80.3%) was higher compared with the total population. The overall NPV was 94.3% (95% CI, 91.6% to 96.4%) and was higher in patients with tumors <or= 20 mm (99.1%; 95% CI, 96.6% to 100%) compared with patients with tumors more than 20 mm (88.5%; 95% CI, 82.9% to 92.8%; P < .001). CONCLUSION In our cohort (all stages), sensitivity of the sentinel concept was low. However, patients with tumor diameter <or= 20 mm may profit from this concept.
Identification of two new antigenic subgroups within the genus Mobiluncus

Classifications of 48 atypical clinical isolates of Mobiluncus spp. were determined on the basis of biochemical reactions, morphology, antigenic profiles, and DNA hybridization studies. Two new subgroups with unique antigenic profiles are described. Like typical Mobiluncus species, the antigenic variant of M. mulieris is associated with bacterial vaginosis. The atypical isolates of M. curtisii were frequently recovered from women with normal vaginal flora and were also recovered from sterile body sites. These isolates may be incorrectly identified if current biochemical and morphological criteria are used for identification. Gram stain morphology, however, correctly identifies these isolates to the species level. The characterization of these atypical isolates has important implications for future investigations in which serological methods are used for diagnosis, epidemiology, and determination of pathogenicity of Mobiluncus spp.
Demonstration of inferior vena cava compression by probe pressure during subxiphoid echocardiography

We sought to compare the inferior vena cava diameter measured by transthoracic echocardiography and by transesophageal echocardiography in human and animals. Transthoracic echocardiography yielded lower inferior vena cava diameter values than transesophageal echocardiography. Adult and pediatric intensivists should pay attention to the risk of false measurement of the inferior vena cava anterior‐posterior diameter that may be due to compression of the inferior vena cava by the sonographic probe when the subxiphoid view is used. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2011
Discordance between Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive-Unit-Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Typing and IS6110 Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Genotyping for Analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing Strains in a Setting of High Incidence of Tuberculosis

ABSTRACT IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) genotyping is the most widely used genotyping method to study the epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, due to the complexity of the IS6110 RFLP genotyping technique, and the interpretation of RFLP data, mycobacterial interspersed repetitive-unit-variable-number tandem-repeat (MIRU-VNTR) genotyping has been proposed as the new genotyping standard. This study aimed to determine the discriminatory power of different MIRU-VNTR locus combinations relative to IS6110 RFLP genotyping, using a collection of Beijing genotype M. tuberculosis strains with a well-established phylogenetic history. Clustering, diversity index, clustering concordance, concordance among unique genotypes, and divergent and convergent evolution were calculated for seven combinations of 27 different MIRU-VNTR loci and compared to IS6110 RFLP results. Our results confirmed previous findings that MIRU-VNTR genotyping can be used to estimate the extent of recent or ongoing transmission. However, molecular epidemiological linking of cases varied significantly depending on the genotyping method used. We conclude that IS6110 RFLP and MIRU-VNTR loci evolve independently and at different rates, which leads to discordance between transmission chains predicted by the respective genotyping methods. Concordance between the two genotyping methods could be improved by the inclusion of genetic distance (GD) into the clustering formulae for some of the MIRU-VNTR loci combinations. In summary, our findings differ from previous reports, which may be explained by the fact that in settings of low tuberculosis incidence, the genetic distance between epidemiologically unrelated isolates was sufficient to define a strain using either marker, whereas in settings of high incidence, continuous evolution and persistence of strains revealed the weaknesses inherent to these markers.
Delayed Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Young Patients With Previous Anterior Tibial Spine Fractures

Background: Avulsion fractures of the anterior tibial spine in young athletes are injuries similar to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in adults. Sparse data exist on the association between anterior tibial spine fractures (ATSFs) and later ligamentous laxity or injuries leading to ACL reconstruction. Purpose: To better delineate the incidence of delayed instability or ACL ruptures requiring delayed ACL reconstruction in young patients with prior fractures of the tibial eminence. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: We identified 101 patients between January 1993 and January 2012 who sustained an ATSF and who met inclusion criteria for this study. All patients had been followed for at least 2 years after the initial injury and were included for analysis after completion of a questionnaire via direct contact, mail, and/or telephone. If patients underwent further surgical intervention and/or underwent later ACL reconstruction, clinical records and operative reports pertaining to these secondary interventions were obtained and reviewed. Differences between categorical variables were assessed using the Fisher exact test. The association between time to revision ACL surgery and fracture type was assessed by Kaplan-Meier plots. The association between need for revision ACL surgery and age, sex, and mechanism of surgery was assessed using logistic regression. Results: Nineteen percent of all patients evaluated underwent delayed ACL reconstruction after a previous tibial spine fracture on the ipsilateral side. While there were a higher proportion of ACL reconstructions in type II fractures, there was not a statistically significant difference in the number of patients within each fracture group who went on to undergo later surgery (P = .29). Further, there was not a significant association between fracture type, sex, or mechanism of injury as it related to the progression to later ACL reconstruction. However, there was a significant association between age at the time of injury and progression to later ACL reconstruction (P = .02). For every year increase in age at the time of injury, the odds of going on to undergo delayed ACL reconstruction were greater by a factor of 1.3 (95% CI, 1.1-1.6). Conclusion: Although an ATSF is a relatively rare injury, our cohort of patients suggests that a subset of young patients with all types of tibial spine fractures will require later ACL reconstruction. There is a need to counsel patients that a delayed ACL rupture is a potential risk after an ATSF, especially as children approach skeletal maturity. Further patient follow-up and prospective studies are required.
Unusual Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Reactions*

Cytochrome P450 enzymes primarily catalyze mixed-function oxidation reactions, plus some reductions and rearrangements of oxygenated species, e.g. prostaglandins. Most of these reactions can be rationalized in a paradigm involving Compound I, a high-valent iron-oxygen complex (FeO3+), to explain seemingly unusual reactions, including ring couplings, ring expansion and contraction, and fusion of substrates. Most P450s interact with flavoenzymes or iron-sulfur proteins to receive electrons from NAD(P)H. In some cases, P450s are fused to protein partners. Other P450s catalyze non-redox isomerization reactions. A number of permutations on the P450 theme reveal the diversity of cytochrome P450 form and function.
Evaluation of Digital Tomographic Filters

Recently, a technique has been proposed to filter conventional radiographs in order to obtain depth-dependent information by simulating standard tomography. This technique has been referred to as tomographic filtering or tomographic filtration process (TFP). It takes advantage of the finite size of the X-ray source, so that after processing the image of a particular layer is improved, while the others are degraded. This paper briefly reviews this technique and then concentrates on its analytical evaluation. A comparative assessment of tomographic filtering is produced taking as benchmarks two well established radiologic procedures: standard tomography and conventional radiology. The comparison is made on the basis of the following evaluation criteria: the exposure angle, the thickness of the cut, the rate of change of the transfer function, the signal-to-noise ratio, and the radiation dose. Practical evaluations are also shown.
Decreasing Homologous Blood Transfusion in Spinal Surgery by Use of the Cell Saver and Predeposited Blood

Blood loss and blood replacement are necessities in spinal surgery. They also have increasing risks. Three blood replacement options and combinations were investigated in patients undergoing major spinal deformity surgery. In Section 1, intraoperative replacement from harvested cell saver blood was investigated in 35 patients. This group averaged 40% (20-60%) return of the red cell mass lost intraoperatively. In Section 2, intraoperative replacement via predeposited autologous blood was investigated in 41 patients. The predeposited blood replaced 64% of the intraoperative red cell mass lost. In Section 3, ten single-stage and ten two-stage spinal surgery cases using both cell saver and autologous predeposited blood were investigated. With this program, 90% of the single-stage patients did not require additional homologous blood, while 80% of the two-stage patients did. In Section 4,65 patients undergoing six general types of spinal surgery were examined to determine the number of predeposited autologous units needed to avoid homologous blood during hospitalization. Guidelines for determining optimal donation were developed assuming the use of intraoperative cell saver use.
Cytoarchitectural distribution of calcium binding proteins in midbrain dopaminergic regions of rats and humans

The present study compares the distribution of three calcium binding proteins, calbindin‐D28k, calretinin, and parvalbumin, in the midbrain tegmentum of rats and humans. In order to compare the distributions of these proteins directly, the cytoarchitecture of this region was evaluated by using immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase and substance P in serial sections in both transverse and horizontal planes.
IDH1 mutations in low-grade astrocytomas predict survival but not response to temozolomide

Background: Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1 and IDH2) have been implicated in tumorigenesis of gliomas. Patients with high-grade astrocytomas with IDH1 or IDH2 mutations were reported to have a better survival, but it is unknown if this improved survival also holds for low-grade astrocytoma and whether these mutations predict outcome to specific treatment. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the correlation of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations with overall survival and response to temozolomide in a cohort of patients with dedifferentiated low-grade astrocytomas treated with temozolomide at the time of progression after radiotherapy. Results: IDH1 mutations were present in 86% of the 49 progressive astrocytomas. No mutations in IDH2 were found. Presence of IDH1 mutations were early events and significantly improved overall survival (median survival 48 vs 98 months), but did not affect outcome of temozolomide treatment. Conclusion: These results indicate that IDH1 mutations identify a subgroup of gliomas with an improved survival, but are unrelated to the temozolomide response.
Permuted tRNA Genes Expressed via a Circular RNA Intermediate in Cyanidioschyzon merolae

A computational analysis of the nuclear genome of a red alga, Cyanidioschyzon merolae, identified 11 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes in which the 3′ half of the tRNA lies upstream of the 5′ half in the genome. We verified that these genes are expressed and produce mature tRNAs that are aminoacylated. Analysis of tRNA-processing intermediates for these genes indicates an unusual processing pathway in which the termini of the tRNA precursor are ligated, resulting in formation of a characteristic circular RNA intermediate that is then processed at the acceptor stem to generate the correct termini.
3D‐micro‐MR angiography of mice using macromolecular MR contrast agents with polyamidoamine dendrimer core with reference to their pharmacokinetic properties

Four novel macromolecular MRI contrast agents, all of which had the same chemical composition but different molecular weights, were prepared using generation‐3, ‐4, ‐5, and ‐6 polyamidoamine (PAMAMTM) dendrimers conjugated with a bifunctional diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid derivative to change the blood retention, tissue perfusion, and excretion. Size‐dependent changes in the pharmacokinetics were observed in the biodistribution study. 153Gd‐labeled generation‐6 PAMAMTM‐conjugates remained in the blood significantly longer than all of the other preparations (P < 0.001). The increase in blood‐to‐organ ratio of the preparations was found to correlate with increasing molecular size (P < 0.001). Additionally, 3D‐micro MR images and angiography of mice of high quality and detail were obtained using PAMAMTM‐(1B4M‐Gd)x as a macro‐molecular MRI contrast agent with a 1.5‐T clinical MRI instrument. Numerous fine vessels of ∼200 μm diameter were visualized on subtracted 3D‐MR angiographms with G6D‐(1B4M‐Gd)192. The quality of the images was sufficient to estimate the microvasculature of cancerous tissue for anti‐angiogenesis therapy and to investigate knockout mice. Magn Reson Med 45:454–460, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Factors Associated with Premature Hair Graying in a Young Indian Population

Context: Although the primary cause of premature hair graying (PHG) is considered to be genetic, certain environmental factors also play a role. Trace element deficiencies such as Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3, and calcium may also be associated with PHG. However, India-specific data are relatively sparse. Aims: The present study aimed at identifying factors associated with PHG in Indian patients. Settings and Design: A case–control study was conducted at a trichology clinic in Bengaluru between October 2013 and April 2014 with a total of 37 cases of PHG and 37 age- and gender-matched controls. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 subjects were investigated for various parameters such as hemoglobin, serum ferritin, zinc, copper, calcium, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D after obtaining informed consent. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test was used to compare proportions between groups. Means were compared between groups using Student's t-test.Results: Serum ferritin levels were lower in patients with PHG as compared to the control group and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Furthermore, as compared to the controls, patients with PHG had lower serum Vitamin B12 levels (P < 0.001). Individuals with PHG had significantly lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Significant proportions of patients with PHG had a sedentary lifestyle and admitted to having irregular eating habits. Conclusion: PHG is associated with low serum ferritin, Vitamin B12, and HDL-C levels in Indian patients aged <25 years. However, studies with large sample sizes may be required to conclusively define these putative associations.
Optimal Control of Interface Problems with hp-finite Elements

ABSTRACT We investigate the optimal control of elliptic partial differential equations with jumping coefficients. As discretization, we use interface concentrated finite elements on subdomains with smooth data. In order to apply convergence results, we prove higher regularity of the optimal solution using the concept of quasi-monotone coefficients and a domain that is injective modulo polynomials of degree 1 at each vertex. Numerical results are presented for a semi-linear control problem with a non-local radiation operator, which models the production process of silicon carbide single crystals.
Deficit of hand preshaping after muscimol injection in monkey parietal cortex

In order to assess the functional role of the parietal hand movement region, the anterior part of the lateral bank of the intraparietal sulcus (IPS), area AIP, in the visual guidance of hand grasping, we reversibly inactivated several parts of this area with microinjections of Muscimol in a monkey trained to grasp objects of different shapes, sizes and orientations. During the local inactivation, some of the skilled patterns of finger movements were disrupted in the contralateral hand, due to the lack of preshaping to adjust the finger posture to the object; however, no major deficits in visual reaching were observed. The results suggest that area AIP plays a crucial role in the visual guidance of goal-directed hand movements.
Synovial cyst of spinal facet. Case report.

✓The authors report a case in which a true synovial cyst was found attached to a cervical facet joint. The differential diagnosis involving herniated cervical disc as well as other types of extradural cyst is discussed. The anatomically oriented term “juxta-facet cyst” is proposed to include both ganglion and synovial cysts seen in this area.
Mechanism of action of aflatoxin B1 in Bacillus megaterium

Bacillus megaterium cells from various growth phases were equally susceptible to the lethal effects of aflatoxin B1. Known surfactants (EDTA and Tween-80) accentuated the effects of aflatoxin B1. Viability and inulin uptake in aflatoxin B1-exposed cells decreased considerably. The effect was concentration dependent. A straight-line relationship observed in the death curve indicated a single target for aflatoxin B1 action in B. megaterium. Leakage of intracellular constituents in B. megaterium was also concentration dependent, and this can be related to the extent of cell membrane damage.
Tropical climate described as a distribution of weather states indicated by distinct mesoscale cloud property mixtures

An analysis approach that uses the patterns of cloud property joint distributions at mesoscale (cloud type mixtures) from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project to identify distinct weather states of the tropical atmosphere is extended to the whole tropics covering the period 1983–2004. These patterns can be used as the basis for multi‐scale, multi‐variate compositing of other observations to understand how tropical cloud systems affect the atmospheric diabatic heating and interact with the large scale circulation. We illustrate how variations of the tropical climate on longer time scales can be described in terms of the changes in the frequency of occurrence of these weather states with their associated multi‐variate relationships.