Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patterns of Recurrence and Their Significance in Patients with Endometrial Carcinoma —For Improved Follow-Up after Initial Treatment

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the patterns of recurrence and their significance in patients with endometrial carcinoma (EMCA). Patients and Methods: After a search of the medical records from single institutions, a total of 49 patients with relapsed endometrial carcinoma were retrospectively evaluated. Various clinical information was examined, including the site of recurrence, detection procedure, and presence or absence of any symptom at the time of recurrence. Furthermore, the postrecurrence survival analysis was based on the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The median follow-up period of all patients was 39.4 months (5.8 - 293.1). In all, twenty-five (51.0%) patients experienced recurrence within 12 months after the final treatment. At the time of recurrence, 15 (30.6%) and 34 (69.4%) patients were symptomatic and asymptomatic, respectively. Among the 34 asymptomatic patients, recurrence was detected by CT scan in 14 (28.6%), tumor markers alone in 14 (28.6%), and pelvic examination/ultrasound scan in 5 (10.2%). There was no relapsed case detected by vaginal vault cytology alone. The 5-year postrecurrence survival rates in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were 57.5 and 36.6 months, respectively (P = 0.2973). After recurrence, 12 patients underwent debulking surgery, and 37 received salvage chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The postrecurrence survival of patients receiving surgery did not differ from that of those with chemotherapy/radiotherapy (P = 0.9198). Conclusion: Although imaging studies and tumor marker measurement contributed to the early detection of recurrence, they did not necessarily improve the prognosis postrecurrence.
Botulinum neurotoxin-A for treatment of refractory neck pain: a randomized, double-blind study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of Botulinum neurotoxin-A (BoNT-A) in the patients with refractory neck pain. BACKGROUND An analgesic effect is suggested for BoNT-A by a number of animal studies. Two blinded studies suggested efficacy of BoNT-A in a chronic neck pain. METHODS Forty-seven subjects were enrolled in a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. A total of 150 to 300 units of BoNT-A were injected into the neck and shoulder muscles based on pain localization. Subjects completed the visual analog scale (VAS), Pain Frequency Questionnaire and the Modified Oswestry Pain Questionnaire (MOPQ) at baseline, 3 and 8 weeks after the treatment. The primary outcomes consisted of: 1) > or =50% improvement on the VAS; and 2) > or =30% reduction in pain day frequency. The secondary outcome was an improvement of ADL in MOPQ. Excellent responders (ERs) were those who met all three outcomes. RESULTS At 2 months, a significant reduction in the mean VAS (pain intensity) was noted in the BoNT-A group compared with the placebo (P = 0.0018, CI 95% from 2.51 to 7.89). At 2 months, there were six ERs in the BoNT-A group and one ER in the placebo group (P = 0.0152). CONCLUSION Administration of BoNT-A into the neck and shoulder muscles for treatment of chronic refractory neck pain met one of the two primary outcomes: reduction in pain intensity. More ERs were noted in the Botox group.
Comparison of procedures to assess non‐linear and time‐varying effects in multivariable models for survival data

The focus of many medical applications is to model the impact of several factors on time to an event. A standard approach for such analyses is the Cox proportional hazards model. It assumes that the factors act linearly on the log hazard function (linearity assumption) and that their effects are constant over time (proportional hazards (PH) assumption). Variable selection is often required to specify a more parsimonious model aiming to include only variables with an influence on the outcome. As follow‐up increases the effect of a variable often gets weaker, which means that it varies in time. However, spurious time‐varying effects may also be introduced by mismodelling other parts of the multivariable model, such as omission of an important covariate or an incorrect functional form of a continuous covariate. These issues interact. To check whether the effect of a variable varies in time several tests for non‐PH have been proposed. However, they are not sufficient to derive a model, as appropriate modelling of the shape of time‐varying effects is required. In three examples we will compare five recently published strategies to assess whether and how the effects of covariates from a multivariable model vary in time. For practical use we will give some recommendations.
Enterobacter agglomerans lipopolysaccharide-induced changes in pulmonary surfactant as a factor in the pathogenesis of byssinosis

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Enterobacter agglomerans and pulmonary surfactant mixtures were centrifuged in discontinuous sucrose gradients to determine whether LPS bound to surfactant and examined in a Langmuir trough with a Wilhelmy balance to determine whether LPS altered the surface activity of surfactant. The LPS was found to bind to the surfactant and altered its surface tension properties. The binding of LPS to surfactant in the lung may change the physiological properties of surfactant and be a possible mechanism for the pathogenesis of byssinosis.
SAR evaluation based on required BER performance for 400 MHz implant BANs

Implant body area networks (BANs) have so far drawn considerable attention in biomedical applications. Although implant BANs require high throughput performance of wireless communication due to real-time data transmission, the transmit power is strictly regulated in order to satisfy a safety guideline in terms of specific absorption rate (SAR). In this paper, we evaluate the local peak SAR based on required bit error rate (BER) performance for implant BANs at 400 MHz medical implant communication service (MICS) band. To begin with, we first perform finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations for implant BAN propagation with a numerical human body model, and derive the propagation characteristic of implant BAN signals. Then, we calculate the BER performance under this implant propagation channel and derive the required transmit power to secure a permissible BER. Finally, we calculate the local peak SAR under the required transmit power when the implant transmitter moves along the digestive organs. Based on such an approach, we attempt to determine a threshold transmit power which could be used to ensure the induced SAR not exceeding the safety guideline.
Bartonella henselae associated uveitis and HLA-B27

AIM To investigate the frequency of HLA-B27 in patients with presumedBartonella henselae associated uveitis and to describe the clinical characteristics of HLA-B27 positive patients with uveitis and presumed ocular bartonellosis (POB). METHODS The diagnosis of POB was considered in 19 patients with unexplained uveitis (except for the HLA-B27 association) and high positive IgG (titre ⩾1:900) and/or IgM (titre ⩾1:250) antibodies against B henselae. In addition to B henselaeserology and HLA-B27 typing, all patients underwent an extensive standard diagnostic screening procedure for uveitis and in all cases the results were within the normal limits. The control group consisted of 25 consecutive patients with panuveitis and negativeB henselae serology. RESULTS HLA-B27 was positive in six of the 19 patients (32%) with POB in contrast to the 4% frequency of HLA-B27 in the control group (p=0.03) and 8% prevalence of HLA-B27 in the Dutch population (p=0.003). At the time of positive Bartonella serological testing five of six HLA-B27 positive patients with POB had severe posterior segment involvement with papillitis, macular oedema, and vitreitis. The duration of intraocular inflammatory activity was more than 6 months in five HLA-B27 positive patients. Although four of the six HLA-B27 positive patients had previous recurrent attacks of acute anterior uveitis, the clinical presentation at the time of positiveBartonella serology differed, as illustrated by the involvement of the posterior segment and chronic course of the ocular disease. CONCLUSIONS The frequency of HLA-B27 in patients with uveitis and serological characteristics of acute infection with B henselae is higher than in the general Dutch population. The findings of this study also suggest a relation between infection withBartonella species and HLA-B27.
Developmental Instability in Leaves and Flowers of NICOTIANA TABACUM.

O R G A N S which are periodically repeated in plants show a more or less quantitative variation in spite of being governed by the same genotype. This variation is considered to be due, in addition to local fluctuation in environmental conditions outside and/or inside the plant body, to mistakes in the developmental course of organs resulting probably from the intrinsic nature of the organisms. That the magnitude of such quantitative variability of a given organ is genotype-dependent and susceptible to selection pressure has been demonstrated experimentally for the lateral asymmetry of sternopleural chaeta number in Drosophila (MATHER 1953; REEVE 1960, and other publications). In plants, Nicotiana rustica was used for the study of within-line variability in plant height, flowering time, leaf length and number of capsules per plant ( JINKS and MATHER 1955) or the study of intra-individual variability of stamen and pistil length and leaf shape (PAXMAN 1956). It was concluded from those investigations that the within-genotype variability in those characters was again genotype-dependent. The intragenotypic variability of quantitative characters which is considered to result from errors in developmental processes, though it might involve effects of undiscernible environmental influences, is called developmental instability, a phenomenon interesting from the viewpoint of genetics and evolution. For example, developmental instability in some traits of a panicle of rice induced SAKAI and SHIMAMOTO ( 1965) to investigate developmental relationships among them. It is also of great interest to inquire into what role developmental instability might play in adaptation, survival or fitness as well as production of higher organisms. For the last few years, the writers have conducted a few experimental studies on developmental instability in foliar and floral organs of Nicotiana tabacum L. This paper deals with the results of those studies which were carried out under the financial support of Japan Monopoly Bureau, to which our thanks are due.
A comparison of the accuracy of fit of 2 methods for fabricating implant-prosthodontic frameworks.

PURPOSE To compare the in vitro 3-dimensional (3D) accuracy of fit of laser-scanned Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC)-milled implant titanium frameworks to that of conventional cast frameworks. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nine cast frameworks were fabricated on the mandibular master casts of 9 patients with 5 implants each following the well-established conventional fabrication technique. The frameworks were then laser scanned, and 9 CNC-milled titanium frameworks matching the outline of the conventional frameworks were fabricated. The accuracy of fit of both framework types was measured using a contact-type coordinate measuring machine and a computer program developed specifically for this purpose. Statistical analysis was done by a series of paired ttests. RESULTS The laser-scanned CNC-milled frameworks showed significantly less distortion along the x-axis (transversal, d(x)) compared with the conventional frameworks (means: 33.7 microm and 49.2 microm, respectively) (P = .011). The titanium frameworks also demonstrated significantly less distortion on the horizontal plane compared with the conventional frameworks (means: 56 microm and 85 microm, respectively) (P = .012). The d(y) (sagittal) and d(z) (vertical) axes and total 3D distortion (square root of dx(2) + dy(2) + dz(2)) showed less distortion overall in the laser-scanned CNC-milled frameworks, but this was not statistically significant (mean: 22.3 vs 35.6 microm, 13.3 vs 59.2 microm, 51 vs 114.1 microm, respectively, for y, z, and 3D distortion). CONCLUSION Within the limitations of this study, fabrication of an implant-prosthodontic framework using the CNC milling technique yields a more accurate fit than the currently used cast technique. In vivo studies are needed to investigate the clinical significance of this recorded difference.
Immunohistochemical Study on Distribution of Mast Cell Phenotypes in Human Laryngeal Mucosa: Evidence for Laryngeal Type I Allergy

It is controversial whether or not type I allergic reactions can occur in the human laryngeal mucosa. To clarify this issue, we studied the distribution of mast cell phenotypes in the human laryngeal mucosa using the immunohistochemical staining method with antihuman tryptase and chymase antibodies. A large number of mast cells are present in the superficial layer of subepithelial connective tissue (SECT) of the epiglottis, arytenoid, and subglottis. Although mast cells containing both tryptase and chymase are predominant in the deep layer of the SECT, the majority of mast cells containing tryptase alone are located in both the epithelial layer and the superficial layer of the SECT. We conclude that the human laryngeal mucosa has the potential to induce type I allergic reaction.
Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis in Children

Background: Human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) is a tick-borne illness caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Data about disease in children have been largely derived from case reports or small case series. Methods: A retrospective review of all medical and laboratory records from 6 sites located in the “tick belt” of the Southeastern United States was carried out. Demographic, history and laboratory data were abstracted from the identified medical records of patients. Bivariate statistical comparisons were performed using Fisher exact test or Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results: Common clinical signs and symptoms of patients with HME (n = 32) included fever (100%), headache (69%), myalgia (69%), rash (66%), nausea/vomiting (56%), altered mental status (50%) and lymphadenopathy (47%). Only 48% had a complaint of fever, headache and rash. Common laboratory abnormalities included thrombocytopenia (94%), elevated aspartate aminotransferase (90%), elevated alanine aminotransferase (74%), hypoalbuminemia (65%), lymphopenia (57%), leukopenia (56%) and hyponatremia (55%). The median number of days of illness before the initiation of antirickettsial therapy was 6. Patients who received sulfonamides before starting doxycycline therapy developed a rash, were admitted to the hospital, and started doxycycline at a later date. Twenty-two percent of patients were admitted to the intensive care unit with 12.5% of patients requiring ventilatory and blood pressure support. Conclusions: Although HME has been recognized among children for almost 20 years, there is only a limited knowledge about its clinical course. Even among physicians practicing in endemic regions, few cases are diagnosed each year. More work is needed to understand the true burden of disease and the natural history among asymptomatically and symptomatically infected children.
The PI‐3 kinase/Akt pathway and T cell activation: pleiotropic pathways downstream of PIP3

Summary Ligation of the T cell receptor for antigen (TCR) and/or costimulatory receptor CD28 results in rapid activation of phosphoinositide‐3 kinase (PI‐3 kinase). It remains unclear, however, precisely how this activation occurs and also how the newly generated phospholipid products trigger the various events associated with T cell activation. Here we discuss the current understanding of how PI‐3 kinase is activated by the TCR and CD28 and what roles its products play in T cell activation. We also review recent advances in understanding the function of Akt in particular, especially its role in CD28 costimulation. Several functional targets of Akt are discussed in this regard: inducible transcription, cell survival, glucose metabolism, and the cellular translational machinery. These pathways have been associated with TCR/CD28 costimulation, and they have also been implicated as targets of Akt.
COMMUTATORS OF A∞ STRUCTURES

This note will be for the most part of an expository nature; many of the results here have appeared elsewhere. We would like however, to highlight the connection between Jim Stasheff’s early work on A∞ algebras in the 1960’s and the notion of sh Lie algebras (L∞ algebras) which is currently popular in mathematical physics; see, for example, [1] and [7]. This connection involves some work of Victor Gugenheim and Larry Lambe who were two of Jim’s colleagues over the years. We will first review the concepts of cofree coalgebras and cofree cocommutative coalgebras; the next idea that we will require is that of a coderivation of such coalgebras. We will then relate these concepts to A∞ and L∞ algebras and show that “commutators on A∞ algebras yield L∞ algebras”. I would like to thank Jim Stasheff for igniting my interest in higher homotopy structures years ago and for encouraging a continuation of it. It has been an honor as well as a pleasure working with him and with some of his colleagues who are included in the bibliography of this note.
Diurnal variation of phenylalanine concentrations in tyrosinaemia type 1: should we be concerned?

BACKGROUND Tyrosinaemia type 1 (HT1) is treated with a tyrosine and phenylalanine-restricted diet, amino acids free of phenylalanine and tyrosine, and nitisinone (NTBC). Treatment guidelines recommend plasma tyrosine between 200-400 μm and phenylalanine at least >30 μm. There is little information on the diurnal variation of plasma tyrosine or phenylalanine in HT1. Low plasma phenylalanine <30 μm may be associated with poor growth and cognitive delay. The present study aimed to document diurnal variation of tyrosine and phenylalanine plasma concentrations and growth in children with HT1. METHODS Median tyrosine and phenylalanine plasma concentrations were reviewed retrospectively over 3 years in 11 subjects (median age 4 years) with HT1. Subjects routinely collected morning fasting blood samples but afternoon nonfasted samples were taken in the clinic (<10% of samples). Growth Z-scores were calculated. RESULTS The percentage of all plasma phenylalanine concentrations <30 μm was 8.6% and <40 μm was 13.6%. Only 2% of fasting morning phenylalanine concentrations were <30 μm, compared to 83% of nonfasting afternoon samples. All but one child had a height Z-score <0. CONCLUSIONS Blood phenylalanine concentrations were consistently lower in the afternoon. Taking blood samples at variable time points in the day may lead to variation in interpreting dietary control. A detailed study is necessary to examine the 24-h diurnal variation of plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine in HT1. It is possible that phenylalanine concentrations may be very low for a substantive time over 24 h and the potential impact that this may have on cognitive development and growth in children is unknown.
Structure–function relationships of two paralogous single-stranded DNA-binding proteins from Streptomyces coelicolor: implication of SsbB in chromosome segregation during sporulation

The linear chromosome of Streptomyces coelicolor contains two paralogous ssb genes, ssbA and ssbB. Following mutational analysis, we concluded that ssbA is essential, whereas ssbB plays a key role in chromosome segregation during sporulation. In the ssbB mutant, ∼30% of spores lacked DNA. The two ssb genes were expressed differently; in minimal medium, gene expression was prolonged for both genes and significantly upregulated for ssbB. The ssbA gene is transcribed as part of a polycistronic mRNA from two initiation sites, 163 bp and 75 bp upstream of the rpsF translational start codon. The ssbB gene is transcribed as a monocistronic mRNA, from an unusual promoter region, 73 bp upstream of the AUG codon. Distinctive DNA-binding affinities of single-stranded DNA-binding proteins monitored by tryptophan fluorescent quenching and electrophoretic mobility shift were observed. The crystal structure of SsbB at 1.7 Å resolution revealed a common OB-fold, lack of the clamp-like structure conserved in SsbA and previously unpublished S-S bridges between the A/B and C/D subunits. This is the first report of the determination of paralogous single-stranded DNA-binding protein structures from the same organism. Phylogenetic analysis revealed frequent duplication of ssb genes in Actinobacteria, whereas their strong retention suggests that they are involved in important cellular functions.
Resistance to butyrate-induced cell differentiation and apoptosis during spontaneous Caco-2 cell differentiation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS The short-chain fatty acid butyrate induces cell cycle arrest, differentiation, and apoptosis in colon cancer cells, but often induces opposite effects in normal colonic epithelial cells. We determined whether response to butyrate is dependent on the basal differentiation status of colonic epithelial cells. METHODS Caco-2 cells at progressive stages of differentiation were treated with butyrate, and endpoints were measured. RESULTS Response of Caco-2 cells to butyrate was dependent on their differentiation status. Butyrate maximally stimulated cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, alkaline phosphatase activity, transepithelial resistance, cell migration, urokinase receptor expression, and interleukin 8 secretion in undifferentiated Caco-2 cells, whereas differentiated Caco-2 cells were essentially resistant to these effects. Consistently, butyrate selectively induced histone hyperacetylation in undifferentiated Caco-2 cells. This resistance was also observed during HT29cl.19A cell differentiation, but not in the nondifferentiating SW620 cell line. Finally, the rate of butyrate use significantly increased as Caco-2 cells underwent spontaneous differentiation. CONCLUSIONS Colonic epithelial cells become progressively more refractory to the effects of butyrate during absorptive cell differentiation. We postulate that this resistance is caused by the rapid use of butyrate by differentiated Caco-2 cells, which likely results in low intracellular concentrations and subsequently in its inability to inhibit histone deacetylase.
Disorders he role of treatment delivery factors in exposure-based cognitive ehavioral therapy for panic disorder with agoraphobia

Treatment delivery factors (i.e., therapist adherence, therapist competence, and therapeutic alliance) are considered to be important for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for panic disorder and agoraphobia (PD/AG). In the current study, four independent raters conducted process evaluations based on 168 two-hour videotapes of 84 patients with PD/AG treated with exposure-based CBT. Two raters evaluated patients’ interpersonal behavior in Session 1. Two raters evaluated treatment delivery factors in Session 6, in which therapists provided the rationale for conducting exposure exercises. At the 6-month nterpersonal behavior anic disorder with agoraphobia
Quantifying the Primary's Guard Zone under Cognitive User's Routing and Medium Access

In this article, we derive a closed form expression for the radius of a guard zone (re) required at a primary receiver operating in the presence of a cognitive radio network while ensuring the primary's desired quality of service (QoS). We demonstrate that re is not only strongly coupled with the primary's QoS requirement but it is also dependent upon the secondary network's connectivity, medium access, QoS and routing mechanisms.