Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Urate-oxidase in the prevention and treatment of metabolic complications in patients with B-cell lymphoma and leukemia, treated in the Société Française d'Oncologie Pédiatrique LMB89 protocol.

PURPOSE To evaluate the frequency of metabolic complications and dialysis due to tumor lysis syndrome in patients with B-cell advanced-stage non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and L3 leukemia at initiation of chemotherapy including the use of urate-oxidase. PATIENTS AND METHODS Retrospective review of the clinical records of 410 patients with stage III and IV B-cell NHL and L3 leukemia treated in France and prospectively registered in the LMB89 protocol. RESULTS During the first week of chemotherapy, only 34 of 410 patients recorded metabolic problems that included hypocalcemia (< 70 mg/dl) in 24 patients, hyperphosphatemia (> 6.5 mg/dl) in 28 and elevation of creatinine > or = 2 SD in 16. Six patients underwent dialysis for life-threatening problems and a seventh as a preventive measure. In the other 27 cases, metabolic problems were successfully resolved using urate-oxidase in combination with alkaline hyperhydration. Among the 410 patients, one case of hemolysis was reported and there was no severe allergic reaction to urate-oxidase. CONCLUSIONS Only 1.7% of patients in our study receiving urate-oxidase during their induction chemotherapy needed renal dialysis. Urate-oxidase was well tolerated, and used as prophylaxis and/or treatment of hyperuricemia and tumor lysis syndrome consistently gave a lower rate of renal and metabolic complications than in other series of similar patients.
Gene expression profiles in the acutely dissected human aorta.

OBJECTIVES heritable connective tissue abnormalities and arterial hypertension may predispose to aortic dissection. This study evaluates gene expression profiles in the acutely dissected human aorta. DESIGN, MATERIALS AND METHODS Atlas Human Broad Arrays I, II, and III (Clontech) were used to compare gene expression in acutely dissected (6 patients) and normal ascending aortas (6 multiorgan donors). The tissues were also compared macroscopically. RESULTS of 3537 genes analysed, 1250 (35%) were expressed in aortic tissue. For statistical analysis we focused on 627 genes, which had an intensity>0.95 of the mean patients or controls. Dissected and adjacent macroscopically intact aorta displayed similar gene expression patterns. On the contrary, 66 genes were expressed significantly different in dissected aorta, compared with undiseased control aorta of multiorgan donors. Genes, predominantly upregulated in dissection, are involved in inflammation, in extracellular matrix proteolysis, in proliferation, translation and transcription. Predominantly downregulated genes code for extracellular matrix proteins, adhesion proteins and cytoskeleton proteins. CONCLUSION our results demonstrate for the first time the complexity of the dissecting process on a molecular level. The ultimate dissection seems to be the dramatic endpoint of a long-lasting process of degradation and insufficient remodelling of the aortic wall. Altered patterns of gene expression suggest a pre-existing structural failure of the aortic wall, resulting in dissection.
An integrated approach to the assessment of family adjustment to acute lymphocytic leukemia in children

This study evaluated psychological distress, social support and adjustment to the disease of 69 parents of 35 children suffering from acute lymphocytic leukemia. The study dealt with the initial phase of the disease. The following rating scales were used: the Symptom Distress Checklist‐90, the Social Support Questionnaire and the Family Adjustment Scale. Psychological distress of the mothers was negatively correlated with their and their child's adjustment to the disease. A similar trend was found for fathers but the correlations reached statistical significance only for fathers' adjustment. Social support as evaluated by the 2 parents was positively correlated with their and their child's adjustment to the disease experience.
Cannon–Thurston fibers for iwip automorphisms of FN

For any atoroidal iwip φ∈ Out (FN), the mapping torus group Gφ=FN⋊φ〈t〉 is hyperbolic, and, by a result of Mitra, the embedding ι:FN⟶⊲Gφ induces a continuous, FN ‐equivariant and surjective Cannon–Thurston map ι^:∂FN→∂Gφ .
Interaction of morphine and naltrexone on oral ethanol self‐administration in rhesus monkeys

Opioid antagonists, such as naltrexone (NTX), reduce ethanol consumption and opioid agonists increase or decrease ethanol consumption in rats depending upon the dose. If the opioid antagonist and agonist effects on ethanol consumption are mediated by mu‐opioid receptors, then NTX doses that reduce ethanol consumption should be similar to the doses necessary to antagonize the effects of opioid agonists on ethanol consumption. The purpose of these experiments was: (1) to determine whether morphine increases ethanol consumption in rhesus monkeys as it does in rodents; (2) to determine if the mu‐receptor mediates the effects of morphine on ethanol consumption by conducting a p K B analysis using NTX; and (3) to determine if the mu‐receptor also mediates the NTX‐induced decreases in ethanol consumption by making comparisons between the NTX doses that affect ethanol consumption and the NTX doses that block the effects of morphine on ethanol consumption. Three male rhesus monkeys responded for 2% ethanol and water for 2 h/day on a fixed‐ratio 4 schedule of reinforcement. Morphine doses as low as 0.0032 mg/kg failed to increase ethanol fluid deliveries, whereas higher doses produced a dose‐related decrease in ethanol fluid deliveries. Although 0.01 mg/kg NTX alone had no effect on ethanol fluid deliveries, it reduced the suppressant effects of morphine with a mu‐receptor p K B of 8.21 (8.08–8.34). When given alone, 0.1 mg/kg NTX decreased ethanol fluid deliveries but failed to reverse the suppression caused by 1 mg/kg morphine. Therefore, monkeys may differ from rats in their response to morphine when ethanol consumption is the dependent variable. Furthermore, because the NTX dose that reduced the effects of morphine on responding for ethanol was smaller than the NTX doses that suppressed ethanol‐reinforced responding when given alone, NTX may exert these two effects through different mechanisms.
Development of the chick olfactory nerve

Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) is produced and secreted by neurons dispersed throughout the septal‐preoptic and anterior hypothalamic areas in adult birds and mammals. These neurons, essential for a functional brain‐pituitary‐gonadal axis, differentiate in the olfactory placode, the superior aspect of which forms the olfactory epithelium. To reach their final placement within the brain, GnRH neurons migrate out of the epithelium and along the olfactory nerve to the CNS. This nerve is essential for the entrance of GnRH neurons into the CNS. Due to the importance of the nerve for the proper migration of these neurons, we have used immunocytochemistry, DiI labeling and 1μm serial plastic‐embedded sections to characterize the nerve's earliest development in the embryonic chick (stages 17–21). Initially (stage 17) the zone between the placode and prosencephalon is a cellular mass contiguous with the placode. This cluster, known as epithelioid cells, is positive for some but not all neuronal markers studied. The epithelium itself is negative for all neuronal and glial markers at this early stage. By stage 18, the first neurites emerge from the epithelium; this was confirmed at stage 19 by examination of serial 1μm plastic sections. There is sequential acquisition of immunoreactivity to neuronal markers from stage 18 to 21. The glial component of the nerve appears at stage 21. Axons originating from epithelium, extend to the border of the CNS as confirmed by DiI labeling at stage 21. Small fascicles have entered the CNS at this stage. As previously reported, GnRH neurons begin their migration between stages 20–21 and have also arrived at the border of the brain at stage 21. Despite the penetration of neurites from the olfactory nerve into the CNS, GnRH neurons pause at the nerve‐brain junction until stage 29 (2½ days later) before entering the brain. Subsequent studies will examine the nature of the impediment to continued GnRH neuronal migration. Dev Dyn 1999;214:349–360. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Prospective Study on Obstetric Performance in Uterine Anomalies

Developmental anomalies of the mullerian ducts represent some of the most fascinating disorders that the obstetricians and gynecologists encounter. Incidence varies between0.110%. Our objective is to study the incidence and reproductive outcome in women with uterine anomalies. Reproductive performance of 74 women with uterine anomalies delivered in Modern Government and Maternity Hospital (MGMH), Petlaburj over a period of 1.5 yrs from Jan 2009-Aug 2010 is analyzed. Total deliveries during the period were 34416. Uterine anomalies were 74(0.25%). Bicornuate uteri were 40(54.05%), unicornuate 12(16.25%), septate 9(12.16%), arcuate 10(13.5%) and didelphys were 3(4.05%). Primigravidae were 37 (50%). Mal-presentation was the commonest indication (50%) for caesarean section followed by Prolonged labor, Impending scar dehiscence, Previous lower segment caesarean section and fetal distress. To conclude women with uterine anomalies have increased incidence of pregnancy wastage like abortions, preterm deliveries and stillbirths. High index of suspicion for uterine anomalies in the reproductive age group prevents dreaded complications and improves obstetric outcome in these women.
Students’ experience of prison health education during medical school

Background: Social responsibility and accountability can be important core values in medical education. At the University of British Columbia, undergraduate medical students engage in prison health community service-learning opportunities in regional correctional facilities. Methods: To describe the impact of prison health exposure on pre-clinical medical students, in-depth individual interviews were conducted with individuals who had participated in a prison health medical education program. All interviews were transcribed verbatim, and interpretive descriptive methods were used to inductively derive thematic findings to describe students’ experiences. Results: Major themes emerged as students reported how (1) exposure to incarcerated populations increases students’ insight into issues that diverse marginalized sub-populations encounter; (2) positive interactions with the incarcerated individuals enhances relationship building; (3) collaboration reinforces teamwork skills and (4) community placements garner important learning opportunities within the medical school curriculum. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that pre-clinical exposure to incarcerated individuals and prison health education provided a unique setting for medical students to develop an increased sense of social responsibility and accountability.
Population and biomarker responses of Daphnia magna towards anticholinesterase exposures

Abstract Context: Cholinesterase (ChE) had long been employed for revealing environmental existence of anticholinesterases, and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGase) is a newly developed biomarker of aquatic arthropods. Still, population consequences of ChE inhibition and the consequences in terms of NAGase remained unclear. Objective: To quantify relationship between level of ChE and that of NAGase deliberated from chemical suppressed population of Daphnia magna. Methods: A set of macrophyte-dominated systems were established indoor to test insecticide chlorpyrifos. Antibodies were developed for quantifying content of ChE in bodies and content of NAGase in media, which was achieved by indirect-competitive and indirect-noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Results: Lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) of chlorpyrifos, as it was counted by actual concentrations, was 0.128, <0.011, 0.092, and 0.092 µg/L for population density, inherent activity of ChE, apparent activity of ChE, and content of NAGase, respectively. Corresponding to 0.90–0.48 U/µg declination in inherent activity of ChE, atrophy of −1.65 to 23% in population and that of −4.1 to 24.89% in NAGase was detected, respectively. Conclusion: Population impact of an anticholinesterase could be predicted, with adequate accuracy, by either ChE or NAGase.
Risky investment decisions: How are individuals influenced by their groups?

We investigate the effect of group versus individual decision-making in the context of risky investment decisions in which all subjects are fully informed of the probabilities and payoffs. Although there is full information, the lottery choices pose cognitive challenges so that people may not be sure of their expected utility-maximizing choice. Making such decisions in a group context provides real-time information in which group members can observe others’ choices and revise their own decisions. Our experimental results show that simply observing what others in the group do has a significant impact on behavior. Coupling real-time information with group decisions based on the median value, i.e., majority rule, makes the median investment choice focal, leading people with low values to increase investments and those with high values to decrease investments. Group decisions based on the minimum investment amount produce more asymmetric effects.
Parenteral and enteral feeding in preterm piglets differently affects extracellular matrix proteins, enterocyte proliferation and apoptosis in the small intestine

The preterm intestine is immature and responds differently to total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and enteral nutrition, compared with the term intestine. We hypothesised that in preterms, diet composition and feeding route affect mucosal morphology, enterocyte mitosis and apoptosis, and the distribution of laminin-1, fibronectin and collagen IV (extracellular matrix proteins (ECMP)). Preterm piglets (93·5 % of gestation) were delivered via caesarean section and birth weight-matched allocated to one of the four experimental groups: the piglets were either euthanised immediately after delivery, after 3 d of TPN or after 2 d enteral feeding with colostrum or milk formula, following 3 d of TPN. We combined immunohistochemistry, image analysis and stereological measurements to describe the intestinal mucosal layer. No significant changes occurred after 3 d of TPN. Feeding colostrum or milk replacer for 2 d after TPN was associated with an increased crypt depth. Only enteral feeding with colostrum resulted in an increased villus height and mitotic index. Neither TPN nor enteral feeding changed the distribution pattern of ECMP or the occurrence of bifid crypts. The immature distribution pattern of ECMP in TPN-fed piglets, coupled with unchanged enterocyte mitosis and apoptosis indices, illustrates that feeding preterm pigs 3 d TPN does not lead to mucosal atrophy. Despite the invariable distribution of ECMP, colostrum was associated with crypt hyperplasia resulting in an increased villus height. These data illustrate that some mechanisms regulating cell turnover are immature in preterms and may in part explain the abnormal gut responses to TPN and enteral feeding in prematurely born pigs.
On the homotopy multiple-variable method and its applications in the interactions between nonlinear gravity waves

In this talk, a homotopy-based multiple-variable method is proposed to investigate the interactions of fully-developed periodic traveling primary waves. This method does not depend upon any small physical parameters at all and thus is more general than the famous multiple-scale technique in perturbation methods. By means of this technique, it is found that, for a fully developed wave system, the amplitudes of all wave components are constant even if the wave resonance condition given by Phillips (1960) is exactly satisfied. Besides, it is revealed that there exist multiple solutions for the resonant waves, and that the amplitudes of resonant wave may be much smaller than those of primary waves. Furthermore, a generalized resonance condition for arbitrary number of periodic traveling waves is given, which logically contains Phillips’ resonance condition and opens a way to investigate the interaction of more than four traveling waves. References: 1. S.J. Liao, Beyond Perturbation, 2003, CRC Press. 2. S.J. Liao and Y. Tan, A general approach to obtain series solution of nonlinear differential equations, Studies in Applied Mathematics, 119:257-354 (2007). 3 J. Cheng, J. Cang and S.J. Liao, On the interaction of deep water waves and exponential shear currents, ZAMP, 60:450-478 (2009)
Five-year results of elastin and collagen markers as predictive tools in the management of small abdominal aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) do rupture and only half of AAAs above 5 cm would have ruptured unoperated. Furthermore, conservative treatment of AAAs may cause psychological side effects and impaired quality of life. To optimise the indication and time for operation for AAAs, we analysed whether serum elastin peptides (EP), procollagen-IIIN-terminal propeptide (PIIINP), and the initial AAA size could predict operation for AAAs in initially conservatively treated AAA. MATERIAL AND METHODS in 1994, 4404 65-73 year old males were invited to hospital-based screening for AAAs by ultrasonography. Seventy-six percent attended. One hundred and forty-one (4.2%) had AAAs (def: +30 mm). Nineteen were offered operation (AAA +50 mm), and 112 were followed with annual control scans for 1-5 years (mean 2.5 years). Of these, 99 had their EP (ng/ml) and PIIINP (ng/ml) determined using ELISA and RIA techniques. Two observers and one scanner were used. RESULTS the mean expansion rate was 2.7 mm/year. The initial AAA size (r =0.46; 0.26-0.61), EP ( r =0.31; 0.11-0.49), and NPIIIP ( r =0.24; 0.02-0.44) was independently significant associated to expansion rate in a multiple linear regression analysis including the three mentioned variables. The multivariate formula could by ROC curve analysis predict cases reaching 5 cm in diameter within 5 years with a sensitivity and specificity of 91% and 87%, respectively, increasing to 91% and 94%, respectively, by accepting a 2 mm variation in those measurements. Twenty-three were lost to follow up, 21 of these due to death or severe illness. Of these, seven would have been predicted to reach an AAA size recommendable for surgery. If all 23 were included in the analysis, the sensitivity and specificity would have been 87% and 85%, respectively. CONCLUSION a predictive model using EP, PIIINP, and initial AAA size seems capable of predicting nine out of 10 AAAs that will be operated on within 5 years. However, a larger sample size is needed for clinical recommendations.
Study of Comparison between Autonomic Dysfunction and Dyslipidemia in Healthy Postmenopausal Women

Background: Obesity, physical inactivity, and altered estrogen levels play an important role in contributing to disease risk profile and autonomic dysfunction in healthy postmenopausal women. This study was conducted to test the correlation between autonomic dysfunction and dyslipidemia in healthy postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on sixty healthy postmenopausal women before the age of 65 years, without any gross systemic disease. The following five autonomic functional tests were performed on the study group: heart rate response to deep breathing, heart rate response to Valsalva maneuver, heart rate response to standing up from supine position, blood pressure response to sustained hand grip, and blood pressure response to standing up from supine position. Fasting lipid profile of the study group was tested. Results and Conclusion: In the present study, autonomic dysfunction was found in 67% of healthy postmenopausal women. Among the sixty female healthy postmenopausal women included in the study, 68% were found to have dyslipidemia. In our study, there is a statistically significant correlation between autonomic dysfunction and dyslipidemia in healthy postmenopausal women. In these healthy postmenopausal women with increased serum cholesterol, serum low-density lipoprotein, and serum triglycerides, there was autonomic dysfunction which is statistically significant. There is no statistical significance on comparing serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol with autonomic dysfunction in healthy postmenopausal women.
Optimal time to repair a broken server

We consider a single-server queueing system with Poisson arrivals and general service times. While the server is up, it is subject to breakdowns according to a Poisson process. When the server breaks down, we may either repair the server immediately or postpone the repair until some future point in time. The operating costs of the system include customer holding costs, repair costs and running costs. The objective is to find a corrective maintenance policy which minimizes the long-run average operating costs of the system. The problem is formulated as a semi-Markov decision process. Under some mild conditions on the repair time and service time distributions and the customer holding cost rate function, we prove that there exists an optimal stationary policy which is characterized by a single threshold parameter: a repair is initiated if and only if the number of customers in the system exceeds this threshold. We also show how the average cost under such policies may be computed and how an optimal policy may efficiently be determined.
Fragmenting the Chieftain: A practice-based study of Early Iron Age Hallstatt C elite burials in the Low Countries

elite burials in the Low Countries There is a cluster of Early Iron Age (800–500 BC) elite burials in the Low Countries in which bronze vessels, weaponry, horse-gear and wagons were interred as grave goods. Mostly imports from Central Europe, these objects are found brought together in varying configurations in cremation burials generally known as chieftains’ graves or princely burials. In terms of grave goods they resemble the Fürstengräber of the Hallstatt Culture of Central Europe, with famous Dutch and Belgian examples being the Chieftain’s grave of Oss, the wagon-grave of Wijchen and the elite cemetery of Court-St-Etienne.
Influence of CD80, Interleukin-2, and Interleukin-7 Expression in Human Renal Cell Carcinoma on the Expansion, Function, and Survival of Tumor-Specific CTLs

Purpose: A renal cell carcinoma (RCC) line, RCC-26, has been identified as a suitable candidate for development of an allogeneic tumor cell vaccine based on its expression of a variety of tumor-associated antigens (TAA). To improve immunogenicity, RCC-26 cells were genetically engineered to express CD80 alone or in combination with interleukin (IL)-2 or IL-7. The effect of these modifications on proliferation, function, and survival of autologous and allogeneic tumor-specific CTLs was assessed. Experimental Design: RCC-26 sublines expressing different transgenes were tested for their capacity to reactivate cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity in autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, to improve proliferation and survival of tumor-associated T cells present in autologous peripheral blood, and to induce tumor-associated responses in naive allogeneic lymphocytes. The expression of several common TAA was quantitated in the RCC-26 sublines using reverse transcription-PCR to identify surrogate markers for immune monitoring in clinical trials. Results: Gene-modified RCC-26 cells showed enhanced immunogenicity. CD80 expression was necessary to induce RCC-associated CTL in blood of healthy allogeneic donors. It also improved proliferation of autologous effector-memory T cells. Further enhancement was achieved with IL-2 through induction of the antiapoptosis protein Bcl-xL. The candidate vaccine lines overexpressed several common TAA that are suitable markers for immune monitoring. Conclusions: RCC-26 cells coexpressing CD80 and cytokine transgenes display improved immunogenic characteristics, supporting their use as allogeneic tumor cell vaccines for HLA-A2-matched patients with metastatic RCC.