Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cancer cell traffic from the lungs to the liver: An example of metastatic inefficiency

It is probable that metastasis is an inefficient process in terms of cancer cells. One cause of this inefficiency may be that cancer cells temporarily arrested in one organ are «processed» by it, so that they die before or shortly after arrival in another organ. In the present experiments, the lung‐to‐liver traffic of [125I]dUrd‐labelled W‐256 cancer cells is examined over the course of 27 h in tumor‐bearing and non‐tumor‐bearing rats, following injection into, and sampling from, various points in the cardiovascular system. Following tail‐vein injections, W‐256 are temporarily arrested in the lungs and slowly released; some of the released cells are then temporarily arrested in the liver. Two percent of the cells detected in the lungs are non‐viable compared with approximately half of those in the liver; these measurements of viability correlate with a higher (10:I) incidence of lung transplants over liver transplants, and with the observation that extrapulmonary metastases are uncommon with this tumor. Direct injections of cancer cells into the liver indicate that the reduced viability of cancer cells at this site is not due to an inherently hostile hepatic environment. Injections into and sampling from, other sites indicate that only small proportions of cells were killed on their way to the lungs, during their arrest in the pulmonary capillaries and arterioles, or between the left ventricle, aorta, hepatic artery and liver. Pretreatment of W‐256 cells with neuraminidase, which is expected to make them more deformable, did not affect the viability of cells in the liver, thereby arguing against «processing» occurring during transit in the pulmonary circulation distal to the initial arrest sites. By a process of elimination it is concluded that a significant amount of trauma resulting in cancer cell death occurs during the events culminating in their release from temporary arrest sites at the pulmonary vascular endothelium. As the lungs are commonly the first organ encountered by circulating tumor cells, it is suggested that the low viability of cells released from the lungs contributes to metatastic inefficiency.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy guidelines for conjunctival melanoma.

We believe that certain groups of patients with conjunctival melanoma are more likely to benefit from treatment guided by sentinel node biopsy than other patients assuming that sentinel node biopsy is found to be beneficial by ongoing and future controlled studies. Patients with a primary conjunctival melanoma no more than 2-mm thick have, in our experience, approximately 5% cumulative incidence of initial lymph node metastasis in 10 years and an equal likelihood of initial systemic metastasis [2]. Thus, no more than one in 10 sentinel node biopsies would likely be positive, even if all systemic metastases are preceded by occult lymph node metastases (in clinical practice, conjunctival melanoma metastasizes initially to regional lymph nodes in 45–80% of patients who develop metastases, see Ref. [2]). Likewise, the 10-year cumulative incidences of initial lymph node and systemic metastasis were less than 10% if the primary melanoma was limbally located. As the patients with a limbal melanoma who developed metastases usually had had nonlimbal recurrences, a patient with a primary limbal melanoma probably has a smaller than one in 10 chance of having a positive sentinel node.
Mini review: Biomimetic models and bioinspired surfaces for fouling control

Nature provides many examples of mechanisms to control fouling. These defences can be copied (biomimetic) or tailored (bioinspired) to solve problems of fouling on manmade structures. With increasing research in this area over the last two decades, it is timely to review this burgeoning subject, in particular as the biofouling field shifts focus towards novel, physical mechanisms to prevent and control fouling. This change is being promoted by advances in nano- and micro-scale patterning as well as in a variety of nano-biotechnologies, which are transforming the translation of natural surfaces into experimental materials. In this article, research on the defence of marine organisms against fouling and the technologies they are defining is reviewed.
The neural crest and the acoustic ganglion.

Although the origin of the acoustic ganglion has been the subject of numerous studies there is no unanimity of opinion about it. Most of the earlier investigators (Bartelmez, 1922; Adelman, 1925), using mammalian embryos, believed that it arose from the neural crest, but the experiments of Campenhout (1935) and Yntema (1937) on amphibian embryos led them to the view that it was largely, if not wholly, of placodal origin. This view was supported by Halley (1955), who worked on the cat, and later by Batten (1958), who worked on the sheep. In fact Batten stated categorically that the otic placode was the sole source of the acoustic ganglion. It was thought that an entirely new approach to the problem, namely the use of mutant genes, might help to resolve the difference of opinion. The most suitable mutant for the present purpose seemed to be piebald-lethal (symbol s 1; Lane, 1966).
Infective Endocarditis: Report of a Prospective Study in an Indian Hospital

Forty-six patients who fulfilled the Duke's clinical diagnostic criteria for infective endocarditis (IE) were evaluated. Thirty-five (76%) patients were below 40 years of age with rheumatic heart disease being the most common underlying heart lesion affecting 26 (56%). An obvious predisposing cardiac lesion could not be ascertained in 22%. Blood culture positivity was 44% with streptococcus heading the list. The incidence of the staphylococcal (25%) and Gram negative bacillary endocarditis (15%) were found to be increasing. Streptococci were susceptible to penicillin with minimum bactericidal concentration:minimum inhibitory concentration within acceptable limits. However, the appearance of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus and high level gentamicin resistant enterococcus as aetiological agents of infective endocarditis were found to add to the complexity of the problem. With the emergence of drug-resistant organisms as causative agents of IE, whenever medical therapy is the primary method of treatment of this condition, the selection of antibiotics should depend upon extensive in vitro testing and in vivo monitoring of clinical efficacy.
Maternal white blood cell count cannot identify the presence of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity or intra-amniotic inflammation in women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes

Objective The main aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the maternal white blood cell (WBC) count at the time of hospital admission in pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) and the presence of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) and/or intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI). The second aim was to test WBC diagnostic indices with respect to the presence of MIAC and/or IAI. Methods Four hundred and seventy-nine women with singleton pregnancies complicated by PPROM, between February 2012 and June 2017, were included in this study. Maternal blood and amniotic fluid samples were collected at the time of admission. Maternal WBC count was assessed. Amniotic fluid interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration was measured using a point-of-care test, and IAI was characterized by an IL-6 concentration of ≥ 745 pg/mL. MIAC was diagnosed based on a positive polymerase chain reaction result for the Ureaplasma species, Mycoplasma hominis, and/or Chlamydia trachomatis and/or for the 16S rRNA gene. Results Women with MIAC or IAI had higher WBC counts than those without (with MIAC: median, 12.8 × 109/L vs. without MIAC: median, 11.9 × 109/L; p = 0.0006; with IAI: median, 13.7 × 109/L vs. without IAI: median, 11.9 × 109/L; p < 0.0001). When the women were divided into four subgroups based on the presence of MIAC and/or IAI, the women with both MIAC and IAI had a higher WBC count than those with either IAI or MIAC alone, and those without MIAC and IAI [both MIAC and IAI: median, 14.0 × 109/L; IAI alone: 12.1 × 109/L (p = 0.03); MIAC alone: 12.1 × 109/L (p = 0.0001); and without MIAC and IAI: median, 11.8 × 109/L (p < 0.0001)]. No differences in the WBC counts were found among the women with IAI alone, MIAC alone, and without MIAC and IAI. Conclusion The women with both MIAC and IAI had a higher maternal WBC count at the time of hospital admission than the remaining women with PPROM. The maternal WBC count at the time of admission showed poor diagnostic indices for the identification of the presence of both MIAC and IAI. Maternal WBC count at the time of admission cannot serve as a non-invasive screening tool for identifying these complications in women with PPROM.
Coping strategies of HIV patients with peripheral neuropathy

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between coping strategies and reports of with pain and distress in patients with HIV-related peripheral neuropathy. Seventy-eight HIV seropositive subjects completed the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ), a self-report measure that assesses seven factors, the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Bivariate correlations revealed that younger patients used more Praying-Hoping (r=−.23, p<.04) and Catastrophizing (r=−.30, p<.007). t-tests demonstrated that women used more Praying-Hoping (t(76) = 3.42, p<. 01), while Hispanic and African American patients used more Praying-Hoping more than Caucasians (F (1,77) = 22.11, p=. 0005). Catastrophizing significantly predicted higher scores on the BDI (t=2.968, p=.004), the Global Severity Index (GSI) of the Brief Symptom Inventory BSI (t=2.400, p=.02); and pain interference on the Brief Pain Inventory BPI (t=2.996, p=.004) controlling for age, gender, and ethnic background. These results demonstrate that coping strategies may differ according to age, gender, and ethnic background in an HIV population, and that Catastrophizing predicts distress and interference with functioning in this sample.
Comparative Study of Multifocal Versus Monofocal Lenses after Cataract Extraction Surgery

The lens is a highly organised, transparent structure that has evolved to alter the refractive index of light entering the eyes. With the practice of cataract extraction surgery and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation good unaided distance visual acuity is now a realistic expectation post-surgery. Monovision does not allow full advantages of binocularity, including stereopsis at near. Multifocal lenses provide multiple ‘point of focuses’ and thus provides a good distance and near visual acuity. The aim of this study was to compare and assess the effect of multifocal and monofocal IOL with reference to visual acuity both distant and near, to compare and assess the effect of multifocal and monofocal IOL with reference to contrast sensitivity, to compare and assess the effect of multifocal and monofocal IOL with reference to spectacle independence, and to compare and assess the effect of multifocal and monofocal IOL with reference to complaints of glare and halos and patient’s visual satisfaction. Thus it was concluded that the distance vision without glasses was almost similar in both groups, near vision without glasses was better in the multifocal group, complaints of reduced contrast sensitivity were found in the multifocal IOL group as compared to monofocal IOL group at low contrast levels, patients with multifocal IOL implant achieved spectacle independence more often, there was no significant difference between the multifocal and monofocal IOL groups with respect to complaints of halos and glare, patients overall satisfaction with vision was high and equal across the two groups, and revealing that adequate counselling can lead to patient satisfaction regardless of spectacle independence or photic phenomena.
Clinical Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Variant III ( EGFRvIII ) Positivity in EGFR-Ampli fi ed Glioblastomas : Prognostic Role and Comparison between Primary and Recurrent Tumors

Purpose: Approximately 40% of all glioblastomas have amplified the EGFR gene, and about half of these tumors express the EGFRvIII variant. The prognostic role of EGFRvIII in EGFR-amplified glioblastoma patients and changes in EGFRvIII expression in recurrent versus primary glioblastomas remain controversial, but such data are highly relevant for EGFRvIII-targeted therapies. Experimental Design: EGFR-amplified glioblastomas from106 patients were assessed for EGFRvIII positivity. Changes in EGFR amplification and EGFRvIII status from primary to recurrent glioblastomas were evaluated in 40 patients with EGFR-amplified tumors and 33 patients with EGFR–nonamplified tumors. EGFR single-nucleotide variants (SNV) were assessed in 27 patients. Data were correlated with outcome and validated in 150 glioblastoma patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) consortium. Results: Sixty of 106 EGFR-amplified glioblastomas were EGFRvIII-positive (56.6%). EGFRvIII positivity was not associated with different progression-free or overall survival. EGFRvIII status was unchanged at recurrence in 35 of 40 patients with EGFR-amplified primary tumors (87.5%). Four patients lost and one patient gained EGFRvIII positivity at recurrence. None of 33 EGFR-nonamplified glioblastomas acquired EGFR amplification or EGFRvIII at recurrence. EGFR SNVs were frequent in EGFRamplified tumors, but were not linked to survival. Conclusions: EGFRvIII and EGFR SNVs are not prognostic in EGFR-amplified glioblastoma patients. EGFR amplification is retained in recurrent glioblastomas. Most EGFRvIII-positive glioblastomas maintain EGFRvIII positivity at recurrence. However, EGFRvIII expression may change in a subset of patients at recurrence, thus repeated biopsy with reassessment of EGFRvIII status is recommended for patients with recurrent glioblastoma to receive EGFRvIII-targeting agents. Clin Cancer Res; 23(22); 1–10.
Non-surgical management of uterine fibroids.

BACKGROUND Efforts to develop alternatives to surgery for management of symptomatic uterine fibroids have provided new techniques and new medications. This review summarizes the existing literature on uterine artery embolization (UAE) and investigational studies on four newer approaches. METHODS PubMed, Cochrane and Embase were searched up to December 2007. Studies reporting side-effects and complications and presenting numerical data on at least one outcome measure were included. RESULTS Case studies report 50-60% reduction in fibroid size and 85-95% relief of symptoms following UAE. The largest of these studies reported an in-hospital complication rate of 2.7% (90 of 3041 patients) and a post-discharge complication rate of 26% (710 of 2729 patients). Eight studies compared UAE with conventional surgery. Best evidence suggested that UAE offered shorter hospital stays (1-2 days UAE versus 5-5.8 days surgery, 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs)) and recovery times (9.5-28 days UAE versus 36.2-63 days surgery, 3 RCTs) and similar major complication rates (2-15% UAE versus 2.7-20% surgery, 3 RCTs). Four studies analysing cost-effectiveness found UAE more cost-effective than surgery. There is insufficient evidence regarding fertility and pregnancy outcome after UAE. Five feasibility studies after transvaginal temporary uterine artery occlusion in 75 women showed a 40-50% reduction in fibroid volume and two early studies using magnetic resonance guided-focused ultrasound showed symptom relief at 6 months in 71% of 109 women. Two small RCTs assessing mifepristone and asoprisnil showed promising results. CONCLUSIONS Good quality evidence supports the safety and effectiveness of UAE for women with symptomatic fibroids. The current available data are insufficient to routinely offer UAE to women who wish to preserve or enhance their fertility. Newer treatments are still investigational.
Low thymic output in the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome measured by CCR9+CD45RA+ T cell counts and T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles

Thymic hypoplasia is a frequent feature of the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, but we know little about patients' age‐related thymic output and long‐term consequences for their immune system. We measured the expression of T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TREC) and used flow cytometry for direct subtyping of recent thymic emigrant (RTE)‐related T cells in 43 patients (aged 1–54 years; median 9 years) from all over Norway and in age‐matched healthy controls. Thymic volumes were estimated by ultrasound in patients. TREC levels correlated well with RTE‐related T cells defined by co‐expression of CD3, CD45RA and CCR9 (r = 0·84) as well as with the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subtypes. RTE‐related T cell counts also paralleled age‐related TREC reductions. CD45RA+ T cells correlated well with absolute counts of CD4+ (r = 0·87) and CD8+ (r = 0·75) RTE‐related T cells. Apart from CD45RA‐ T cells, all T cell subsets were lower in patients than in controls. Thymic volumes correlated better with RTE‐related cells (r = 0·46) than with TREC levels (r = 0·38). RTE‐related T cells and TREC levels also correlated well (r = 0·88) in patients without an identifiable thymus. Production of RTEs is impaired in patients with a 22q11.2 deletion, and CCR9 appears to be a good marker for RTE‐related T cells.
Comparative Review of the Pharmacokinetics of Vitamin D Analogues

This article reviews the pharmacokinetic characteristics of calcitriol, paricalcitol, and doxercalciferol, and provides an overview of the metabolism of vitamin D. Calcitriol and paricalcitol have similar pharmacokinetic profiles, with terminal half‐lives ranging from 5 to 10 hours in healthy subjects to 15–30 hours in patients undergoing dialysis. Both are active on intravenous administration and little of the active agent remains in the circulation after 24 hours, although they are normally given every 48–72 hours. Doxercalciferol is a prohormone, requiring hepatic metabolism to the active metabolite 1α,25‐(OH)2D2. The half‐life of 1α,25‐(OH)2D2 is about 34 hours in healthy subjects and about 45 hours in dialysis patients, resembling physiologic blood concentrations of endogenous vitamin D. More studies are warranted to determine the disposition of the vitamin D analogues, especially in selected populations such as pediatric and geriatric dialysis patients.
Serum concentrations of mast cell tryptase are reduced in heavy drinkers.

BACKGROUND Baseline serum tryptase concentrations are commonly used in clinical practice as a marker of the body's mast cell burden. This study aimed to investigate serum tryptase concentrations in heavy drinkers. METHODS Serum tryptase concentrations were determined in 126 heavy drinkers (75% males, median age 47 years) who were admitted to the hospital because of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (n = 60), general symptoms with abnormalities on biochemical tests that indicated acute liver disease (n = 19), complications of advanced liver disease (n = 33), and miscellaneous reasons (n = 14). Results were compared with those of 70 healthy controls (66% males, median age 40 years). RESULTS Serum tryptase concentrations were lower in heavy drinkers than in healthy controls (median 2.23 μg/l vs. median 3.25 μg/l, p < 0.001). Ten heavy drinkers (7.9%) had undetectable (<1 μg/l) serum tryptase levels versus none of the healthy controls (p = 0.01). The association of low tryptase levels with heavy drinking was independent of age, gender, and smoking status. Among heavy drinkers, the lowest tryptase concentrations were observed in patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome and patients with general symptoms with abnormalities on biochemical tests that indicated acute liver disease. Furthermore, serum tryptase concentrations were negatively correlated with markers of acute liver damage or alcohol consumption (serum aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase). Atopy (skin prick test positivity) was not associated with serum tryptase concentrations in heavy drinkers. CONCLUSIONS Serum concentrations of mast cell tryptase are lower in heavy drinkers than in healthy controls.
Lumbar Fusion in Octogenarians: The Promise of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Study Design. Retrospective chart review of prospectively collected data from 2 nonrandomized, nonconcurrent cohorts. Objective. Early results of 2 lumbar interbody fusion procedures—open posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and minimally invasive (extreme lateral interbody fusion [XLIF])—were compared in octogenarians to demonstrate the safety of each in the extreme elderly populations. Summary of Background Data. Although spinal pathologies are common in the elderly patients, additional health conditions often preclude operative treatment because anesthesia, blood loss, and recovery are too demanding. Minimally invasive approaches reduce procedure-related morbidity and recovery time. Methods. In our single-site prospective series of XLIF patients, 40 were identified as those aged ≥80 years with a minimum of 3-month follow-up. A complete, retrospective review of surgical patients treated in the same practice with traditional open posterior (PLIF) approach found 20 patients aged ≥80 years. Comparisons were made between groups to identify differences in morbidity and mortality rates. Results. No clinically significant differences in demographics, diagnoses, or comorbidities were found between groups. Complication rate, blood loss/transfusion rate, and hospital stay were significantly lower in the minimally invasive surgery (MIS) group (P < 0.0001). MIS patients left the hospital an average of 4 days earlier than the open PLIF patients, most discharged home (92.5% XLIF vs. 0% PLIF) rather than to skilled nursing facilities. Six deaths occurred in the PLIF follow-up, 3 within 3 months postoperatively; there was 1 death at 6 months postoperatively XLIF. Conclusion. Surgical treatment need not be withheld on the basis of age; elderly patients can successfully be treated using MIS techniques, and are—in our experience—among the most satisfied with their outcomes, enjoying significant improvements in pain, mobility, and quality of life.
Lipid metabolism in acute and chronic renal failure.

Abstract In acute renal failure, fasting plasma triglyceride and plasma free fatty acids (F.F.A.) may be high, and plasma cholesterol may be low. The abnormality in the latter two measurements appears related to the severity of the condition. Very high plasma F.F. A. levels in acute renal failure are dramatically reduced by hemodialysis. In chronic renal failure, fasting plasma triglyceride may be high; F.F. A. and cholesterol are usually normal. In acute and chronic renal failure abnormal glucose tolerance is usual, and intravenous glucose produces a greater fall in plasma F.F. A. which persists for a longer time than in normal subjects. In acute renal failure glucose tolerance and the response of plasma F.F. A. to intravenous glucose return toward normal when clinical improvement occurs. It is suggested that plasma F.F. A. levels may be used in patients with renal failure to determine if carbohydrate intake is sufficient to prevent utilization of body fat stores.