Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combined anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic strategies for cancer

Background: In recent years, anti-angiogenic treatments have been shown to synergize with traditional chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic regimens. Combining anti-angiogenesis with targeted anti-proliferative agents might also be synergistic. Several lines of evidence point to the validity of this approach, and preliminary results of ongoing and recent studies support it. Objective: The background and current status of anti-angiogenic and anti-proliferative treatments will be summarized, as well as the evidence supporting and antagonizing their combined use in the clinic. Methods: Relevant literature was reviewed using PubMed search, and recent major conference proceedings and other relevant data were searched through internet publications. Results/conclusion: Combining anti-angiogenic and anti-proliferative treatments seems a promising approach, although not in all clinical circumstances.
Epidemiologic Features of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Belgian Children: Passive Surveillance Is Not Enough

BACKGROUND. Reliable epidemiologic surveillance of infectious diseases is important for making rational choices for public health issues such as vaccination strategies. In Belgium, as in most European countries, surveillance relies on voluntary passive reporting from microbiology laboratories; therefore, reported incidence rates are probably inaccurate. METHODS. We conducted national, active, laboratory-based and clinically based surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease in young children. RESULTS. During the study period, the incidences of invasive pneumococcal disease in children <2 years of age (104.4 cases per 105 person-years and 16.1 cases per 105 person-years for invasive pneumococcal disease and meningitis, respectively) and in children 0 to 59 months of age (59.5 cases per 105 person-years for invasive pneumococcal disease and 7.7 cases per 105 person-years for meningitis) were twice those reported previously through the passive surveillance system. Overall, 67% of the Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from children <5 years of age belonged to 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine serotypes and 18% to vaccine-related serotypes (mainly serotype 19A). Erythromycin resistance was frequent, especially among children <2 years of age (59%). CONCLUSIONS. Under-reporting can explain the reported low incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease in countries (such as Belgium) that depend on a passive epidemiologic surveillance system, which could lead to erroneous choices in vaccination policies. There is a need for an active system of epidemiologic surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases such as invasive pneumococcal disease, at the national or European level.
Decreased hippocampal volume, indirectly measured, is associated with depressive symptoms and consolidation deficits in multiple sclerosis

Background: The human hippocampus plays a role in episodic memory and depression. Recently, it has been shown, using manual tracings, that the hippocampus is smaller in volume in MS patients compared with healthy controls, and that, at least for depression, hippocampal atrophy correlates with symptom severity. Methods: Because manual tracing of the hippocampus is time consuming, we used a semi-automatic procedure for temporal horn volumetry in 72 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 16 control subjects as an indirect measure of hippocampal volume. We analysed memory performance with the California Verbal Learning Test (using separate indices for encoding, consolidation and retrieval) and depressive mood with the Beck’s Depression Inventory (distinguishing between psychic and somatic aspects). Results: MS patients had significantly larger temporal horn volumes and volume correlated with psychic symptoms of depressive mood. Temporal horn volume was also associated with consolidation, in particular in the most impaired group. Conclusions: Temporal horn volume can be measured relatively easily and appears to correlate with two major clinical problems in MS patients: memory performance and depressive mood. The link between temporal horn volume, consolidation and depression may be hippocampal atrophy, as suggested by their adjacent neuroanatomical localization, and by the similarity in functional loss following impairment of these two structures.
Determinants of continued use of the WWW: an integration of two theoretical models

This study examines motivational factors influencing one's intention to continue using WWW applications. Social cognitive theory is adapted and integrated with expectancy disconfirmation theory and empirical findings from prior studies about continued use of information systems. Research hypotheses derived from this model are empirically validated using the responses to a survey on WWW usage, collected from 235 users. Results suggest that users’ continuance intention is determined by their satisfaction with prior use, internet self‐efficacy, and outcome expectations. Outcome expectation, in turn, is influenced by their satisfaction with prior use and prior perceived confirmation. This study draws attention to the substantial differences between acceptance and continuance. Implications for practice and further research are considered.
Use of a physiological profile to document motor impairment in ageing and in clinical groups

Ageing decreases exercise performance and is frequently accompanied by reductions in cognitive performance. Deterioration in the physiological capacity to stand, locomote and exercise can manifest itself as falling over and represents a significant deterioration in sensorimotor control. In the elderly, falling leads to serious morbidity and mortality with major societal costs. Measurement of a suite of physiological capacities that are required for successful motor performance (including vision, muscle strength, proprioception and balance) has been used to produce a physiological profile assessment (PPA) which has been tracked over the age spectrum and in different diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease). As well as measures of specific physiological capacities, the PPA generates an overall ‘score’ which quantitatively measures an individual's cumulative risk of falling. The present review collates data from the PPA (and the physiological capacities it measures) as well as its use in strategies to reduce falls in the elderly and those with different diseases. We emphasise that (i) motor impairment arises via reductions in a wide range of sensorimotor abilities; (ii) the PPA approach not only gives a snapshot of the physiological capacity of an individual, but it also gives insight into the deficits among groups of individuals with particular diseases; and (iii) deficits in seemingly restricted and disparate physiological domains (e.g. vision, strength, cognition) are funnelled into impairments in tasks requiring upright balance. Motor impairments become more prevalent with ageing but careful physiological measurement and appropriate interventions offer a way to maximise health across the lifespan.
Combination Antidepressants are not yet Proven Therapy in the Treatment of Depression

public health/societal approach is probably the better way to reduce the suicide rate of a community. As those with mental disorders are (as a group) at greater risk, it is appropriate to provide special care for those group members who demonstrate many risk factors. However, ‘‘detecting those at risk of suicide is very difficult’’. It is unfair and damaging when mental health professionals are unduly criticized in the aftermath of suicide.
In Vitro Susceptibilities of Zygomycetes to Combinations of Antimicrobial Agents

ABSTRACT Combinations of antimicrobial agents were tested against 35 strains of zygomycetes. The interaction between amphotericin B and rifampin was synergistic or additive. Flucytosine alone was inactive and, upon combination with amphotericin B, synergy was not achieved. The combination of amphotericin B with terbinafine was synergistic for 20% of strains, and the interaction between terbinafine and voriconazole was synergistic for 44% of strains. Antagonism was not observed.
Molecular characterization of Wilms' tumor from a resource‐constrained region of sub‐Saharan Africa

Sub‐Saharan African children have an increased incidence of Wilms' tumor (WT) and experience alarmingly poor outcomes. Although these outcomes are largely due to inadequate therapy, we hypothesized that WT from this region exhibits features of biological aggressiveness that may warrant broader implementation of high‐risk therapeutic protocols. We evaluated 15 Kenyan WT (KWT) for features of aggressive disease (blastemal predominance and Ki67/cellular proliferation) and treatment resistance (anaplasia and p53 immunopositivity). To explore the additional biological features of KWT, we determined the mutational status of the CTNNB1/β‐catenin and WT1 genes and performed immunostaining for markers of Wnt pathway activation (β‐catenin) and nephronic progenitor cell self‐renewal (WT1, CITED1 and SIX2). We characterized the proteome of KWT using imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). The results were compared to histology‐ and age‐matched North American WT (NAWT) controls. For patients with KWT, blastemal predominance was noted in 53.3% and anaplasia in 13%. We detected increased loss to follow‐up (p = 0.028), disease relapse (p = 0.044), mortality (p = 0.001) and nuclear unrest (p = 0.001) in patients with KWT compared to controls. KWT and NAWT showed similar Ki67/cellular proliferation. We detected an increased proportion of epithelial nuclear β‐catenin in KWT (p = 0.013). All 15 KWT specimens were found to harbor wild‐type CTNNB1/β‐catenin, and one contained a WT1 nonsense mutation. WT1 was detected by immunostaining in 100% of KWT, CITED1 in 80% and SIX2 in 80%. IMS revealed a molecular signature unique to KWT that was distinct from NAWT. The African WT specimens appear to express markers of adverse clinical behavior and treatment resistance and may require alternative therapies or implementation of high‐risk treatment protocols.
Four Convergent Patterns of Input from the Six Semicircular Canals to Motoneurons of Different Neck Muscles in the Upper Cervical Cord

This study was performed to investigate the pattern of input and the pathways from the six semicircular canals to motoneurons of various neck muscles in anesthetized cats. Intracellular postsynaptic potentials from neck motoneurons were recorded in response to electrical stimulation of the six ampullary nerves. The results showed that motoneurons of a particular neck muscle have a homogeneous convergent pattern of input from the six semicircular canals; there are four patterns of input from the six semicircular canals to motoneurons of various neck muscles; and the trisynaptic connection between the semicircular canal nerves and neck motoneurons was identified in addition to the disynaptic connection.
Cladribine: Mode of Action and Implications for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. The inflammation is driven significantly by autoreactive lymphocytes, which recruit cells of the innate immune system such as macrophages that contribute to subsequent tissue damage, ultimately resulting in demyelination and axonal damage that are characteristic in MS lesions. Cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine [2-CdA]) is a synthetic chlorinated deoxyadenosine analog that is biologically active in selected cell types and provides targeted and sustained reduction of circulating T and B lymphocytes implicated in the pathogenesis of MS. The biologic activity of cladribine depends on the preferential accumulation of cladribine phosphates in cell types with a high intracellular ratio of deoxycytidine kinase to 5&vprime;-nucleotidases. Cladribine-phosphates interfere with DNA synthesis and repair through incorporation into DNA and through inhibition of enzymes involved in DNA metabolism, including DNA polymerase and ribonucleotide reductase. This in turn leads to DNA strand breaks and ultimately cell death. This review explores the mechanism of action of cladribine further, in the context of recent clinical data, after completion of the phase III, 96-week, placebo-controlled CLARITY study. In this study, cladribine tablets demonstrated significant efficacy on clinical and neuroimaging outcomes in relapsing-remitting MS.
Isolation and Identification of Persistent Chlorinated Organophosphorus Flame Retardant-Degrading Bacteria

ABSTRACT Tris(2-chloroethyl) and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphates are chlorinated persistent flame retardants that have recently emerged as environmental pollutants. Two bacterial strains that can degrade the compounds when they are the sole phosphorus sources have been isolated and identified as members of the sphingomonads. The strains can be useful for the bioremediation of environments contaminated with these compounds.
Modified distally based sural neuro‐veno‐fasciocutaneous flap: Anatomical study and clinical applications

The distally based sural neuro‐veno‐fasciocutaneous flap has been used widely for reconstruction of foot and ankle soft‐tissue defects. The distal pivot point of the flap is designed at the lowest septocutaneous perforator from the peroneal artery of the posterolateral septum, which is, on average, 5 cm (4–7 cm) above the lateral malleolus. A longer neuro‐veno‐adipofascial pedicle would be needed to reversely reach the distal foot defect when the flap is dissected based on this perforating branch, which may result in more trauma in flap elevation and morbidity of the donor site. In this article, we explored new pivot points for this distally based flap in an anatomic study of 30 fresh cadavers. The results showed that the peroneal artery terminates into two branches: the posterior lateral malleolus artery and lateral calcaneal artery. These two branches also send off cutaneous perforators at about 3 and 1 cm above the tip of lateral malleolus, respectively, which can be used as arterial pivot points for the flap. A communicating branch between the lesser saphenous vein and the peroneal venae comitantes was found, accompanied by the perforator of the posterior lateral malleolus artery. This modified, distally based sural flap with lower pivot points was successfully transferred for repair of soft‐tissue defects in 21 patients. The size of flaps ranged from 4 × 3 cm to 18 × 12 cm. All flaps survived without complications. Neither arterial ischemia nor venous congestion was noted. In conclusion, the vascular pivot point of a distally based sural flap can be safely designed at 1.5 cm proximal to the tip of the lateral malleolus. This modified flap provides a valuable tool for repair of foot and ankle soft‐tissue defects. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 25:543–550, 2005.
Evaluation of melatonin on the precocious puberty: a pilot study

Objective. To evaluate the effect of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin on the sleep quality of girls with precocious puberty. Study design. Ninety-nine girls were divided into three groups: GI, precocious puberty; GII, normal prepubescent; GIII, normal puberty. Questionnaires containing demographic and clinical data were applied. Blood was collected for hormonal evaluation for 6-sulphatoxymelatonin. The modified Rush Sleep Diary was used. Results. The levels of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin were highest in the group without pubertal development (75.23 ± 10.84 ng/ml), second highest in the group with normal puberty (45.66 ± 3.87 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and lowest in the group with true precocious puberty (37.04 ± 5.47 ng/ml). The amount of day sleep was greater in the group without pubertal development compared to other groups. Conclusion. Despite the sleep data, melatonin may be involved in the precocious puberty process.
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor acutely depresses excitatory synaptic transmission to GABAergic neurons in visual cortical slices

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) acutely modulates synaptic transmission to excitatory neurons in hippocampus and neocortex. The question of whether BDNF acts similarly on excitatory synaptic transmission to GABAergic neurons was eluded in previous studies using cortical slices. To address this question, we used transgenic mice in which expression of green fluorescence protein (GFP) is regulated by glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) promoter. In cortical slices prepared from these GAD67‐GFP knock‐in mice, we could detect GABAergic neurons under a fluorescent microscope. An application of BDNF rapidly depressed excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) evoked by layer IV stimulation in most GFP‐positive neurons in layer II/III of the cortex. This effect was seen at synapses activated during the BDNF application and blocked by anti‐TrkB IgG, indicating that the acute inhibitory action of BDNF is activity‐dependent and mediated through TrkB. Paired‐pulse ratios of the amplitude of EPSCs to paired stimulation at intervals of 10–100 ms were not significantly changed after BDNF application, suggesting that the site of depression may be postsynaptic. Responses to directly applied glutamate were also depressed by BDNF in most of neurons, being consistent with the interpretation of postsynaptic action of BDNF. The depressive action of BDNF was blocked by an intracellular injection of a Ca2+ chelator, suggesting that a rise in Ca2+ is involved in the acute depression of EPSCs. This action of BDNF was seen in 67% of parvalbumin (PV)‐positive neurons, but in only 19% of PV‐negative neurons, indicating that the depressive action is biased to PV‐positive GABAergic neurons.
Life table of the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

Domates guvesi’nin hayat tablosu laboratuar kosullarinda (25±1oC, %65±5) ortaya konulmustur. Bu amacla, Domates guvesi’nin ergin oncesi donemleri gelisme sureleri ve olum oranlari, ergin hayat uzunlugu, fekondite ve ovipzisyon suresi belirlenmistir. Elde edilen sonuclara gore, birinci, ikinci, ucuncu ve dorduncu larva donemi kafa kapsulleri genisligi sirasiyla 0.157, 0.293, 0.391 and 0.751 mm olarak belirlenmistir. Kalitsal ureme yetenegi, rm=0.132323, ureme gucu siniri, ? =1.1415, net ureme gucu, ro=042.01, ortalama dol suresinin, To=28.25 gun oldugu ortaya konulmustur. Yeni konulan yumurtalarin hayat uzunlugu 42.60 gun olarak tespit edilmistir. Calisma 2013 yilinda Zirai Mucadele Merkez Arastirma Enstitusu’nde yapilmistir.
Female Physicians: Balancing Career and Family

Dr. Verlander is a former Child Psychiatry Fellow at the University of ColoradoHealth Sciences Center (UCHSC,Denver, Colorado. Address correspondence toDr. Verlander, GeneralDelivery, Silverthorne, CO 80498; gleseann@yahoo.com (E-mail). Copyright 2004 Academic Psychiatry. Finding an acceptable balance between career and family is a difficult challenge for many physicians. Medicine is a profession in which dedication to the wellbeing of others is of paramount importance. Careers in medicine historically demanded a selfless emphasis on caring for one’s patients, sometimes at the expense of one’s marriage, children, and personal life. Such a skewed focus worked more easily in the past when the vast majority of physicians were men. When male physicians spent long hours at work or traveling to meetings, their wives were home to run the household and care for the children. As women entered themedical field in increasing numbers, however, the tensions between career and family became more prominent. In trying to balance personal and professional responsibilities, female physicians face a difficult task in striving to “have it all. ” As a physician and single mother of four children, I know that it can be done successfully, but there are many challenges that female physicians must confront in balancing their multiple roles as physician, mother, and spouse. The number of females pursuing careers in medicine is steadily increasing. In 1997, women constituted 43% of medical students in the United States and 22% of practicing physicians (1). In 2001, those numbers reached 45.8% for female medical students and 28% for female academic medical faculty (2). Women are expected to comprise 30% of practicing doctors by the year 2010 (3), and 50% by the year 2040 (4). Despite the dramatic surge in the number of female physicians, hospitals and medical centers have moved slowly to provide support for women who pursue medical careers while managing families and raising children (5–7). The difficulties of balancing family and medicine affect women’s choices of specialty (8), advancement in academic medicine (9), health (4, 10), and decisions regarding whether to have children. Professional women in many families remain responsible for the majority of domestic and child-related duties (11–13), which makes it difficult to devote the necessary hours at work to obtain promotions and tenure. Most medical institutions furthermore remain oriented toward traditional families of the past, rather than today’s dual-career parents, with rare availability of onsite daycare and little opportunity for creative scheduling or job-sharing.
Dental Arch Dimensions of Patients with Class III Malocclusion of Iraqi Sample Aged (14-24) (A comparative study)

Information regarding arch dimensions in human populations is important to clinicians in orthodontics, prosthodontics, and oral surgery. It also is of interest to anthropologists and other students of human oral biology. The aim of this study was to compare the transverse dimensions of the dental arches of Class III groups with a group of untreated normal occlusion subjects. This study was performed using measurements of dental casts of 41 Class III malocclusion (21 males and 20 females) and 50 normal Class I occlusion (25 males and 25 females), of Iraqi adult samples aged (14-24 )in Hilla city. The dental and arch width dimensions measured were intercanine, intermolar, and molar alveolar in both arches were taken and independent-samples t-test was applied for comparing the groups. The finding from this investigated indicated that,(1) there are no significant differences in all measurements between Class I and Class III overall samples except for the maxillary molar alveolar width (UA6-6) are found to be significantly larger in Class I than in Class III overall samples and the mandibular intercanine width (L 3-3) are found to be significantly larger in Class III than in Class I overall (2) there are no significant differences in all measurements between Class I and Class III male samples except for the mandibular intercanine width (L 3-3) are found to be significantly larger in Class III than in Class I males (3) the lower intermolar width (L6-6) and the lower molar alveolar width (LA6-6) are significantly larger in Class III than in normal Class I female samples while the Class I are significantly larger than Class III females in the upper intercanine widths (U3-3) and in the upper molar alveolar width (UA6-6), whereas the lower intercanine widths (L3-3) and the upper intermolar width (U6-6) show no significant difference between normal Class I and Class III female samples (4) the upper intercanine widths (U3-3) ; the upper intermolar width (U6-6); and the lower intercanine widths (L3-3) are significantly larger in males than in females of Class III samples while the upper molar alveolar width (UA6-6); the lower intermolar width (L6-6) ; and the lower molar alveolar width (LA6-6) show no significant difference between males and females of Class III samples.