Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural priming of adjective – noun structures in hearing and deaf children

0022-0965/$ see front matter 2009 Elsevier In doi:10.1016/j.jecp. 2009.05. 002 * Corresponding author. Fax: +31 24 3616211. E-mail address: l.vanbeijsterveldt@pwo.ru. nl (L We examined priming of adjective–noun structures in Dutch hearing and deaf children. In three experiments, hearing 7and 8-yearolds, hearing 11and 12-year-olds, and deaf 11and 12-year-olds read a prenominal structure (e.g., the blue ball), a relative clause structure (e.g., the ball that is blue), or a main clause (e.g., the ball is blue). After reading each prime structure, children described a target picture in writing. Half of the target pictures contained the same noun as the prime structure and half contained a different noun. Hearing 7and 8-year-olds and 11and 12-year-olds, as well as deaf 11and 12-year-olds, showed priming effects for all three structures in both the same-noun and different-noun conditions. Structural priming was not boosted by lexical repetition in the hearing and deaf 11and 12-year-olds; a lexical boost effect was observed only in the 7and 8-year-olds and only in the relative clause structure. The findings suggest that hearing and deaf children possess abstract representations of adjective–noun structures independent of particular lexical items. 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Prospective Analysis of Complication Rate Using Two Types of Adult Halo Skull Pins

The halo vest is used successfully to address clinical situations requiring cervical spine immobilization. Several studies have addressed the topic of complications associated with halo immobilization, and the strategies to improve them. Skull pin loosening is the most common complication. Complications of pin loosening include infection, periorbital cellulitits, loss of anatomic stability, halo dislodgement, and possible perforation of the inner table of the skull with abscess and disfiguring scars. Two study groups were utilized to test two different types of halo pins, the standard halo skull pin and the new trochar-style HIFix™ pin (DePuy AcroMed, Raynham, MA). The standard pin is designed with a sharp conical tip that flares into a rounded shoulder. The HIFix pin is designed with a cylindrical tip and a cutting edge. Forty patients treated with a halo-vest were prospectively monitored for complications. Half received the standard pins and half received the HIFix pins. Data were collected on the basis of a clinical evaluation of the patient as well as a questionnaire that addressed the patient's subjective experiences while immobilized in the halo-vest. The use of the HIFix halo pins produced a clinical improvement with respect to pin loosening. Results showed that the HIFix pin was clinically superior, with an incidence of 30% loosening as compared with 60% with the standard pins and this correlated with decrease in the number of halo-vest complications.
Human β‐defensin‐2 expression is increased in chronic wounds

First identified in psoriatic epidermis and subsequently in other inflammatory cutaneous lesions, human β‐defensin‐2 (hβD‐2) is one of two endogenous antimicrobial peptides related to defensins in plants and animals. Our objective was to determine the expression of hβD‐2 after injury and in chronic wounds. Biopsies of normal ipsilateral thigh skin and wound edges were taken from nine consecutive patients with venous leg ulcers (day 1) and from the same biopsy sites 2 days later (day 3). Sequential samples were also obtained from intact or meshed bilayered bioengineered skin consisting of neonatal human keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts in a collagen matrix. Specimens were processed and immunostained for hβD‐2 using a polyclonal rabbit antibody. In both human tissues and bioengineered skin, staining for hβD‐2 was confined to the upper epidermal layers, sparing the basal cells. Analysis of 26 tissue samples from patients showed that normal skin had no hβD‐2 expression but that marked up‐regulation occurred after wounding by day 3. Conversely, chronic ulcers showed moderate‐to‐strong immunostaining for hβD‐2 at baseline on day 1, with little or no change in intensity after wounding by day 3. In vitro, bioengineered skin showed increased distribution of cytoplasmic hβD‐2 immunostaining after meshing. We conclude that the expression of hβD‐2 is up‐regulated after injury. Chronic wounds uniformly show a constitutively high baseline expression of hβD‐2, possibly due to ongoing tissue injury and bacterial colonization.
The impact of the within my reach relationship training on relationship skills and outcomes for low-income individuals.

A federal grant was awarded to provide the Within My Reach healthy relationships curriculum to low-income, at-risk individuals involved with various social service agencies. The effectiveness of this curriculum was evaluated for 202 participants through measures of training and relationship outcomes pre-, immediately post- and 6 months posttraining. Participants experienced high levels of training satisfaction; significant increases in knowledge, communication/conflict resolution skills, and relationship quality; as well as a trend in the reduction of relationship violence. An important implication of this research is that MFTs may broaden their service delivery to at-risk individuals by collaborating with community agencies to adapt established relationship enhancement programs, evidence-based tools, and principles that complement traditional couples therapy.
Calcium and vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of fractures in postmenopausal women

Evaluation of: Jackson RD, LaCroix AZ, Gass M et al.: Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the risk of fractures. N. Engl. J. Med. 352, 669–683 (2006) [1]. This randomized, controlled trial compared the use of 1000 mg of elemental calcium with 400 international units of vitamin D3 daily versus placebo in postmenopausal women aged 50–79 years enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative trial. The follow-up period averaged approximately 7 years. In the active-treatment group, there was a small but statistically significant increase in hip-bone density, but no reduction in the overall rate of hip fracture (primary outcome) compared with the placebo group. Calcium and vitamin D3 appeared to be well tolerated, but there was an increased risk of kidney stones in women receiving treatment.
Improving kindergarten readiness in children with developmental disabilities: Changes in neural correlates of response monitoring

ABSTRACT Among children diagnosed with developmental delays, difficulties in self-regulation are prominent and have been linked to school readiness problems. The current study sought to examine the impact of the Kids in Transition to School (KITS) school readiness intervention program on self-regulation, with a specific focus on response monitoring skills, among children with developmental delays. Children (n = 20 in the KITS group and n = 21 in a services as usual group) were administered a flanker task during which event-related potential data were collected to examine group differences in response monitoring. Findings indicated that children in the KITS group showed significant enhancement of a neural index of response monitoring post-intervention. Specifically, the KITS group showed a significant change in the magnitude of their feedback-related negativity in response to negative performance feedback from baseline to post-intervention, whereas children in the services as usual group did not. There were no significant differences between the groups for the error-related negativity or the error-related positivity on incorrect trials nor were there group differences in behavioral performance on the task at the post-intervention assessment. Overall, these findings provide support for the plasticity of response monitoring skills in young children and support the growing literature demonstrating improved self-regulation outcomes via intervention that enhances children’s response monitoring.
Stress turns on the heat: Regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and UCP1 by ROS in adipocytes

ABSTRACT Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative stress (OS) in adipose tissue are associated with obesity and insulin resistance (IR). The nature of this relationship i.e., cause and effect or consequence has not been clearly determined. We provide evidence that elevated mitochondrial ROS generated by adipocytes from mice with diet-induced obesity (DIO) represents an adaptive mechanism that precipitates fatty acid oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mitochondrial uncoupling in an effort to defend against weight gain. Consistent with that, mice with adipocyte-specific deletion of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) exhibit increased adipocyte superoxide generation and are protected from weight gain and insulin resistance which otherwise develops in wild-type (WT) mice that consume an obesogenic diet. The defense mechanism displayed by MnSOD-deficiency in fat cells appears to be mediated by a dual effect of ROS on inefficient substrate oxidation through uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis. The aim of this commentary is to summarize and contextualize additional evidence supporting the importance of mitochondrial ROS in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and the modulation of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression and activation in both white and brown adipocytes.
Value of Combined Treatment of Retroperitoneal Sarcomas

The aim of the study was to determine treatment results in patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas, especially as respects the value of combined therapy. Material and methods. The study group included 37 patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas who underwent treatment at the Department of Oncological Surgery, Oncology Center in Gliwice during the period between 1992 and 2005. The study group included 25 women and 12 men, aged between 21 and 68 years (mean age – 56.2 years). Adjuvant therapy after the operation was performed in the case of 15 patients. Nine received adjuvant teleradiotherapy (RT) at an average dose of 47.5 Gy (one patient after a non-resective procedure). Four received intraoperative brachytherapy (BT) at a dose of 15.8 Gy in combination with postoperative teleradiotherapy at a dose of 39 Gy. One patient was subjected to intraoperative brachytherapy. One female patient received adjuvant chemotherapy (Iphosphamid + Adriamycin). Results. The cumulative five-year total survival period of the analysed group was 40.7% according to Kaplan-Meier’s method. Twenty patients died and four were diagnosed with recurrence, while 13 continue to live without recurrence. The type of resection had a significant effect on total survival (p=0.013): the five-year survival after radical procedures was 52.1%. We observed no five-year survivals after nonradical procedures. In order to determine the efficacy of combined treatment, patients who underwent to radical therapy were divided into three groups: patients without adjuvant therapy (group 1: 22 patients, 62.9%), patients subjected to adjuvant RT and BT therapy after the primary operation (group II: 5 patients, 14.25%), and patients who underwent the above-mentioned treatments after surgery, due to recurrence (group III: 8 patients, 22.85%). The total five-year survival in group I was 34.8%, in group II, 80%, and in group III, 72.9%. These differences were statistically insignificant (p=0.440). These results were probably influenced by the small number of patients, considering particular groups. Conclusions. 1. The most important prognostic factor in the treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas is surgical margine type surgical margin. 2. Adjuvant radiotherapy, especially in combination with intraoperative brachytherapy, seems to be a promising method for the management of retroperitoneal sarcomas, and improves treatment results. 3. Treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas should be undertaken in specialized centers adequately prepared for combined therapy.
Prevalências do HBsAg, do anti-HBc e do anti-HCV na população de candidatos a doadores de sangue do Hemocentro-Campinas

Among 29833 donors evaluated we have found a prevalence of 1.52% for HBsAg and 11% for anti-HBc. The co-positivity anti-HBc/anti-HBs in 2783 donors HBsAg negative/anti-HBc positive was 81.9%. The prevalence for HBsAg is low among Campinas donors, while anti-HBc presents high prevalence when compared to that of other countries. The anti-HCV detection in blood donors of Campinas has shown a positivity of 2.6% which is much higher than that of USA and Europe. About 36% of the anti-HCV positive donors are anti-HBc reagent, leading to the conclusion that these two "viruses" infect simultaneous or sequentially Brazilian blood donors.
Identification of CD245 as myosin 18A, a receptor for surfactant A: A novel pathway for activating human NK lymphocytes

ABSTRACT CD245 is a human surface antigen expressed on peripheral blood lymphocytes, initially delineated by two monoclonal antibodies DY12 and DY35. Until now, CD245 molecular and functional characteristics remained largely unknown. We combined immunological and proteomic approaches and identified CD245 as the unconventional myosin 18A, a highly conserved motor enzyme reported as a receptor for the surfactant protein A (SP-A), that plays a critical role in cytoskeleton organization and Golgi budding. We report that the recruitment of CD245 strongly enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity. Further, we show that the enhancement of the NK lymphocytes killing ability toward CD137-ligand expressing target cells could result from the induction of CD137 expression following CD245 engagement. The SP-A receptor could therefore represent a novel and promising target in cancer immunotherapy.
Spring-Assisted Cranioplasty for the Correction of Nonsyndromic Scaphocephaly: A Quantitative Analysis of 100 Consecutive Cases

Background: Spring-assisted cranioplasty has been proposed as an alternative to total calvarial remodeling for sagittal craniosynostosis. Advantages include its minimally invasive nature, and reduced morbidity and hospital stay. Potential drawbacks include the need for a second procedure for removal and the lack of published long-term follow-up. The authors present a single-institution experience of 100 consecutive cases using a novel spring design. Methods: All patients treated at the authors’ institution between April of 2010 and September of 2014 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients with isolated nonsyndromic sagittal craniosynostosis were included. Data were collected for operative time, anesthetic time, hospital stay, transfusion requirement, and complications in addition to cephalic index preoperatively and at 1 day, 3 weeks, and 6 months postoperatively. Results: One hundred patients were included. Mean cephalic index was 68 preoperatively, 71 at day 1, and 72 at 3 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. Nine patients required transfusion. Two patients developed a cerebrospinal fluid leak requiring intervention. One patient required early removal of springs because of infection. One patient had a wound dehiscence over the spring and one patient sustained a venous infarct with hemiplegia. Five patients required further calvarial remodeling surgery. Conclusions: The authors’ modified spring design and protocol represents an effective strategy in the management of single-suture sagittal craniosynostosis with reduced total operative time and blood loss compared with alternative treatment strategies. In patients referred within the first 6 months of birth, this technique has become the authors’ procedure of choice. In a minority of cases, especially in the older age groups, further remodeling surgery is required. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.
TLR4-mediated immunomodulatory properties of the bacterial metalloprotease arazyme in preclinical tumor models

ABSTRACT Despite the recent approval of new agents for metastatic melanoma, its treatment remains challenging. Moreover, few available immunotherapies induce a strong cellular immune response, and selection of the correct immunoadjuvant is crucial for overcoming this obstacle. Here, we studied the immunomodulatory properties of arazyme, a bacterial metalloprotease, which was previously shown to control metastasis in a murine melanoma B16F10-Nex2 model. The antitumor activity of arazyme was independent of its proteolytic activity, since heat-inactivated protease showed comparable properties to the active enzyme; however, the effect was dependent on an intact immune system, as antitumor properties were lost in immunodeficient mice. The protective response was IFNγ-dependent, and CD8+ T lymphocytes were the main effector antitumor population, although B and CD4+ T lymphocytes were also induced. Macrophages and dendritic cells were involved in the induction of the antitumor response, as arazyme activation of these cells increased both the expression of surface activation markers and proinflammatory cytokine secretion through TLR4-MyD88-TRIF-dependent, but also MAPK-dependent pathways. Arazyme was also effective in the murine breast adenocarcinoma 4T1 model, reducing primary and metastatic tumor development, and prolonging survival. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a bacterial metalloprotease interaction with TLR4 and subsequent receptor activation that promotes a proinflammatory and tumor protective response. Our results show that arazyme has immunomodulatory properties, and could be a promising novel alternative for metastatic melanoma treatment.
Copper(ii) complexes of macrocyclic and open-chain pseudopeptidic ligands: synthesis, characterization and interaction with dicarboxylates.

Mono- and dinuclear Cu(ii) complexes were prepared with pseudopeptidic open chain and macrocyclic ligands, respectively. They were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, EPR, HRMS and X-ray diffraction. The Cu(ii) cation is coordinated by two amines and two deprotonated amides, in a slightly distorted square planar coordination geometry. The complexes interact with several substituted dicarboxylates, as shown by UV-vis titrations and EPR experiments. The interaction of both mono- and dinuclear complexes with very similar dicarboxylates of biological interest (malate and aspartate) resulted in strikingly different outcomes: in the first case a ternary complex [ligand.metal. dicarboxylate] was obtained almost quantitatively, while in the latter, the Cu(ii) displacement to form Cu(Asp)2 was predominant.
Effects of sevoflurane and propofol on oxygenation and lung perfusion during one-lung ventilation in an animal model: A-288

Background. Thoracic surgery often requires one-lung ventilation. During one-lung ventilation, arterial oxygenation depends on the distribution of lung perfusion between the ventilated and the non-ventilated lung. Objectives. This study investigates the effects of sevoflurane and propofol on pulmonary perfusion and arterial oxygenation during one-lung ventilation in living animals at comparable mean arterial pressures. Material and Methods. A prospective study with a crossover design involving 12 pigs was carried out at the Institute for Experimental Animals, University of Jena, Germany. After the induction of anesthesia, a left-sided double-lumen tube was inserted via tracheotomy. One-lung ventilation was started with 1.0 FiO2, and anesthesia was continued with either propofol or sevoflurane (2.6% end-tidal concentration). After stabilization, the hemodynamic parameters and oxygenation were recorded, and differential lung perfusion was measured with colored microspheres. Then the anesthetic was changed and, after another stabilization period, the measurements were repeated. Results. The arterial oxygenation, mixed venous pO2, non-ventilated lung perfusion and shunt fraction were comparable during one-lung ventilation with both agents, whereas cardiac output was reduced during sevoflurane anesthesia (p < 0.05). Conclusions. In a clinically relevant animal model of one-lung ventilation, sevoflurane, as compared with propofol, did not increase the non-ventilated lung perfusion and shunt fraction and did not worsen arterial oxygenation (Adv Clin Exp Med 2011, 20, 3, 249–253).
MDA-7/IL-24 Expression and Its Relation with Clinicopathologic Factors in Lung Adenocarcinomas of 3 cm or Less in Diameter.

Purpose: The melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (MDA-7) protein, also known as interleukin 24 (IL-24), is a novel candidate of tumor suppressor that has been found to experimentally induce apoptosis and growth inhibition in a variety of human malignant cells. However, there have been few studies about its role in lung adenocarcinoma. Even at the same stage and with similar pathologic characteristics, lung adenocarcinomas with a diameter of 3 cm or less can have a variable prognosis depending on their biologic characteristics. The purpose of this study is to define the relationship between MDA-7/IL-24 expression and the progression of small-sized lung adenocarcinomas. Materials and Methods: We performed immunohistochemical detection of MDA-7/ IL-24 in forty-seven tissue samples from primary lung adenocarcinomas of ≤3 cm in diameter by using tissue microarray. Results: MDA-7/IL-24 immunoreactivity was observed in 20 (42.6%) of the 47 adenocarcinoma cases. MDA-7/IL-24 expression was positive in 66.7% of the adenocarcinomas ≤2 cm, and in 31.3% of the adenocarcinomas ＞2 cm or ≤3 cm in diameter. A statistically significant association was found between MDA-7/IL-24 expression and tumor size (p=0.03). Although this difference did not reach statistical significance, tumors with a negative MDA-7/IL-24 expression tended to more frequently show lymph node metastasis (p=0.07). There were no significant associations for other clinicopathologic characteristics. Conclusion: These results suggest the possible involvement of MDA-7/IL-24 in the growth and progression of small-sized lung adenocarcinoma. MDA-7/IL-24 immunoreactivity could be used to identify a subset of adenocarcinomas of the lung of 3 cm or less in diameter that have different biologic behavior. (J Lung Cancer 2012;11(2): 71�� 76)
TARP vaccination is associated with slowing in PSA velocity and decreasing tumor growth rates in patients with Stage D0 prostate cancer

ABSTRACT T-cell receptor alternate reading frame protein (TARP) is a 58-residue protein over-expressed in prostate and breast cancer. We investigated TARP peptide vaccination's impact on the rise in PSA (expressed as Slope Log(PSA) or PSA Doubling Time (PSADT)), validated tumor growth measures, and tumor growth rate in men with Stage D0 prostate cancer. HLA-A*0201 positive men were randomized to receive epitope-enhanced (29-37-9V) and wild-type (27-35) TARP peptides administered as a Montanide/GM-CSF peptide emulsion or as an autologous peptide-pulsed dendritic cell vaccine every 3 weeks for a total of five vaccinations with an optional 6th dose of vaccine at 36 weeks based on immune response or PSADT criteria with a booster dose of vaccine for all patients at 48 and 96 weeks. 41 patients enrolled with median on-study duration of 75 weeks at the time of this analysis. Seventy-two percent of patients reaching 24 weeks and 74% reaching 48 weeks had a decreased Slope Log(PSA) compared to their pre-vaccination baseline (p = 0.0012 and p = 0.0004 for comparison of overall changes in Slope Log(PSA), respectively). TARP vaccination also resulted in a 50% decrease in median tumor growth rate (g): pre-vaccine g = 0.0042/day, post-vaccine g = 0.0021/day (p = 0.003). 80% of subjects exhibited new vaccine-induced TARP-specific IFNγ ELISPOT responses but they did not correlate with decreases in Slope Log(PSA). Thus, vaccination with TARP peptides resulted in significant slowing in PSA velocity and reduction in tumor growth rate in a majority of patients with PSA biochemical recurrence.