Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Factors Predict the Response of Larger Brain Metastases to Radiosurgery?

BACKGROUND:Approximately 20 to 40% of patients with systemic malignancies develop brain metastases. OBJECTIVE:To assess the potential role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for larger metastatic brain tumors, we reviewed our recent experience. METHODS:Between 2004 and 2008, 70 patients with a metastatic brain tumor larger than 3 cm in maximum diameter underwent Gamma knife SRS. Thirty-three patients had received previous whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) and 37 received only SRS. RESULTS:The overall median follow-up was 8.1 months. At the first planned imaging follow-up at 2 months, 29 (41%) tumors had >50% volume reduction, 22 (31%) had 10 to 50% volume reduction, and 19 (28%) were stable or larger. We also evaluated brain edema using MRI T2 images. In 11 patients (16%) the peritumoral edema volume was reduced by more than 50%, in 25 (36%) it was reduced by 10 to 50%, in 21 (30%) it was stable, and in 13 (19%) it was increased. Twenty (36%) discontinued corticosteroids by the time of first imaging follow-up. Because of persistent symptoms, 7 patients (10%) required a craniotomy to remove the tumor. Tumor volume reduction (>50%) was associated with a single metastasis (P = .012), no previous WBRT (P = .002), and a tumor volume <16 cm3 (P = .002). The better peritumoral edema volume reduction (>50%) was associated with a single metastasis (P = .024), no previous WBRT (P = .05), and breast cancer histology (P = .044). CONCLUSION:Surgical resection remains the primary approach for larger brain metastases if feasible. Tumor volume is a better indicator than maximum diameter. Tumor volume and edema responded better in patients who underwent SRS alone.
Assessment of arterial distensibility by monitoring the timing of Korotkoff sounds.

The timing of Korotkoff sounds, blood pressure, and heart rate can now be monitored in the ambulatory patient: the QKD interval is the time between the onset of the depolarization on the electrocardiogram (Q) and detection of the last Korotkoff sound (K) at the level of brachial artery during cuff deflation, corresponding to diastolic blood pressure (D). Because this interval is inversely related to pulse wave velocity, this recently developed device enables evaluation of the influence of blood pressure on arterial rigidity, providing valuable information on the properties of the arteries. In this study, we examined the influence of hypertension and age on the above parameters and their correlations to left ventricular mass. QKD interval, blood pressure, and heart rate were monitored over a period of 24 h (four measurements/hour) in 33 normotensive and 70 untreated essential hypertensive patients. The slopes of the plots of QKD interval versus systolic and pulse pressure during the 24 h were calculated for each patient. The influence of age and hypertension on these slopes was tested by comparison of matched groups and multivariate analysis. Moreover the relationships between these parameters and echocardiographically assessed left ventricular mass were studied in 37 patients. We found a reduction in mean QKD interval with age and hypertension, reflecting the recognized higher pulse wave velocity in these patients. The slopes of the plots of QKD interval versus blood pressure were also lower in these patients, indicating the smaller influence of a change in blood pressure on pulse wave velocity in patients with stiffer arteries. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Serum gonadotropin levels in the ovariectomized rabbit: effect of acute and chronic administration of estradiol.

Long term ovariectomized (OVX) rabbits were treated with estradiol: acutely by single injections of estradiol benzoate (EB) i.m. or i.v. and chronically by s.c. implantation of silastic capsules containing crystalline estradiol-1 7(3 (E2). A single injection of EB induced, within hours, a decrease in both LH and FSH levels. Serum LH and FSH were depressed following implantation of E3. The patterns of the two gonadotropin responses differed in that estrogen administration was able to decrease LH levels to precastration values while FSH levels remained significantly higher, regardless of dose or route of administration used. This finding suggests that in the female rabbit estradiol plays a major role in the negative feedback control of LH secretion while another factor may be required for regulating FSH. In addition, the ability of estrogen to stimulate LH secretion was tested in E2 -implanted OVX does: only 2 of 8 animals responded to a single injection of EB by a monophasic LH peak with no correspondent change in FSH. These results suggest that E2-implanted OVX does may not provide a suitable model for studying the stimulatory effect of estrogen on LH secretion.
Jaundice at onset signifies a good prognosis in anti‐D‐associated HCV infection

Introduction: Acute hepatitis presenting with jaundice occurs in less than a quarter of patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). These patients may be associated with a more benign clinical course than those who are asymptomatic. Objective: To compare and contrast the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) status, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and histological scores in age, disease duration and viral load matched HCV anti‐D recipients with and without a history of jaundice. Methods: HCV status was confirmed by detecting HCV‐RNA by PCR and antibodies to HCV using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and RIBA‐3. Serum ALT levels were measured in all patients and a liver biopsy was performed in 26/34 patients. All patients were genotyped. Results: Fourteen out of 17 jaundiced patients were PCR negative and only 4/17 had RIBA scores greater than 9, whereas all non‐jaundiced patients were PCR positive and all 17 had RIBA scores greater than 9. Thirteen out of 17 jaundiced patients had normal ALT values, 3/17 mildly elevated (41‐100) and 1/17 greater than 100; 6/17 non‐jaundiced patients had normal ALT levels, 9/17 mildly elevated (41‐100) and 2/17 greater than 100; 7/9 jaundiced patients had mild histological scores, 0/9 moderate and 2/9 severe; 5/17 non‐jaundiced patients had mild, 9/17 moderate and 3/17 severe histological scores. All 34 patients were of genotype 1b. Conclusion: Patients with jaundice had lower antibody scores, increased PCR negativity, normal serum ALT levels and low/normal histological scores. Jaundice at onset was an indicator of good prognosis.
Low brain CB1 receptor occupancy by a second generation CB1 receptor antagonist TM38837 in comparison with rimonabant in nonhuman primates: A PET study

Both central and peripheral cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) have been considered to be among the key targets for obesity treatment. First generation CB1R antagonists/inverse agonists such as rimonabant and taranabant exhibited severe CNS side effects such as anxiety and depression, which are considered to be related to the compounds' ability to access central CB1R. Recently, several compounds have been developed as second generation antagonists with a profile of restriction to peripheral CB1R. We evaluated the distribution of TM38837, a second generation CB1R antagonist, using brain and whole body PET in three cynomolgus monkeys, and established the relationship between CB1R occupancy and dose/plasma concentration of TM38837 in comparison with rimonabant. A brain PET study was performed using [11C]MePPEP, a PET radioligand for CB1R, to evaluate the brain CB1R occupancy of TM38837 at various plasma concentrations in comparison with rimonabant at known efficacious plasma concentrations. A whole body PET study was performed to investigate the change of peripheral distribution of [11C]MePPEP by TM38837 administration, which indirectly estimated the effects to the peripheral CB1R by TM38837. CB1R occupancy by both TM38837 and rimonabant increased in a dose/plasma concentration‐dependent manner. However, in vivo affinity by plasma level was more than 100 times lower for TM38837. Peripherally, [11C]MePPEP accumulation decreased in gall bladder and brown adipose tissue by TM38837 administration. TM38837 showed rather lower CB1R occupancy than rimonabant at the expected therapeutic plasma level, which is expected to reduce CNS side effects in clinical situations. Further clinical development of TM38837 is warranted. Synapse 68:89–97, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Adolescents’ Internalizing Behaviors after Extreme Violence Exposure: A Comparison of Race and Gender for African American and Asian American Youth

This study compares African American and Asian American adolescents in their rates of extreme community violence exposure and consequent internalizing behaviors. Using information from a national longitudinal survey this study found substantial violence exposure rates for both groups. Also, gender differences in exposure rates and adolescent reports of internalizing behaviors after violence exposure were detected. Male African American adolescents had the highest exposure rate, while female Asian American adolescents reported the highest level of internalizing behaviors. These findings suggest further research is needed to better understand the effect of violence exposure on various ethnic minority adolescents. Moreover, social workers and other professionals involved in adolescent services could use these results to improve outreach methods to vulnerable adolescents.
Orthogonally protected sugar diamino acids as building blocks for linear and branched oligosaccharide mimetics.

Sugar amino acids (SAAs), which are carbohydrate derivatives with both an amino group and a carboxyl group connected to the carbohydrate frame, have found wide application as building blocks for oligosaccharide and peptide mimetics, as secondary-structure inducing elements, and as pharmacophore-presenting scaffolds for the generation of combinatorial libraries. Used as monomers with a rigid pyran ring, functional pharmacophoric groups attached to the hydroxy, amino, and carboxyl groups can be presented in a distinct spatial arrangement as was demonstrated in seminal studies by Hirschmann et al. Linear and cyclic oligomers of SAAs have been synthesized, taking advantage of well-established peptide chemistry, and in certain cases they adopt defined secondary structures. Sugar amino acids with an additional amino group, that is, sugar diamino acids, would be an attractive extension of this concept, giving access to novel branched oligomeric structures. However, their synthesis has not been reported until now. Here we introduce the protected derivatives 1 and 2 of 2,6-diamino-2,6-dideoxy-b-d-glucopyranosyl carboxylic acid,
Feasibility and outcome of complete secondary tumor resection for patients with advanced ovarian cancer

From November 1981 to July 1985, 124 women with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage III ovarian cancer were treated in prospective studies of surgery and chemotherapy in our institution. Patients with no macroscopic cancer after primary surgery (n = 16) received five cycles of adjuvant cis‐platinum; those with residual cancer after primary laparotomy (n = 108) underwent a second surgical debulking after three or five cycles of cis‐platinum‐based cytoreductive chemotherapy. Total macroscopic tumor clearance was achieved in 26 of these 108 patients. Fourteen patients with total tumor excision at primary laparotomy remain in complete clinical remission a minimum of 36 months after diagnosis, but the median progression‐free interval for the other two groups was 9 and 17 months, respectively. The survival for women who have total tumor clearance only at secondary surgery after chemotherapy is inferior to that for women with primary macroscopic tumor excision followed by chemotherapy.
The effects of clopidogrel and omeprazole on platelet function in normal dogs

Omeprazole is used concurrently with clopidogrel to reduce gastrointestinal adverse effects. In humans, the concurrent use of these two drugs can reduce the antiplatelet efficacy of clopidogrel. Our objective was to determine the effects of omeprazole and clopidogrel on platelet function in healthy dogs. A crossover study utilized turbidimetric aggregometry (ADP and collagen) and the PFA-100® with the collagen/ADP cartridge to evaluate platelet function in eight healthy dogs during the administration of clopidogrel (1 mg/kg/24 h p.o.), omeprazole (1 mg/kg/24 h p.o.), and a combination of clopidogrel and omeprazole. Drug metabolite concentrations were also measured. Compared to pretreatment, on Days 3 and 5, with ADP as the agonist, there was a significant decrease in maximum amplitude on aggregometry for both clopidogrel and clopidogrel/omeprazole groups. The following revealed no significant differences between clopidogrel and clopidogrel/omeprazole groups when compared on Days 3 and 5: maximum amplitude on aggregometry with ADP or collagen agonists, and PFA-100® closure times. When compared to the clopidogrel group, clopidogrel metabolite concentrations in the clopidogrel/omeprazole group were significantly higher on Days 3 and 5. The concurrent administration of omeprazole and clopidogrel in healthy dogs was associated with an increase in the plasma concentration of an inactive metabolite of clopidogrel, but does not significantly alter the antiplatelet effects of clopidogrel.
Identification of bovine and novel interferon‐τ alleles in the American plains bison (bison bison) by analysis of hybrid cattle x bison blastocysts

The objective of this study was to generate bison x cattle hybrid embryos by in vitro fertilization, to assess their developmental potential, to determine the pattern of secretion of the embryonic signaling molecule interferon‐τ (IFN‐τ), and to identify novel IFN‐τ mRNA polymorphism in the American plains bison. A total of 600 bovine oocytes were inseminated with frozen‐thawed bison semen. Of these, 40.7% cleaved and 14.8% proceeded to the blastocyst stage. Individual blastocysts were cultured on a basement membrane (Matrigel) and their ability to attach and form outgrowths was monitored. A total of 36 blastocysts were cultured of which 22 formed outgrowths. During individual culture, medium samples were collected and their IFN‐τ concentration was measured. On day 6 after onset of individual culture, attached outgrowths produced significantly more IFN‐τ than unattached viable or degenerate blastocysts. At this time, female conceptuses also produced significantly more IFN‐τ than their male cohorts. However, by day 12 this difference had disappeared. Total mRNA was extracted from three individual outgrowths and analyzed by RT‐PCR. Subsequent sequencing of 28 clones showed several known bovine IFN‐τ sequences as well as two novel sequences termed bisIFN‐τ1 and 2. To determine the origin of these, DNA was extracted from bison semen and analyzed by PCR. One bovine IFN‐τ sequence (bovIFN‐τ1d) as well as bisIFN‐τ2 and a third novel sequence bisIFN‐τ3 were detected. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using hybrid embryos for the analysis of developmentally regulated gene expression in species where embryos may not be available. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 70: 228–234, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Emotion Classification in Arousal Valence Model using MAHNOB-HCI Database

Emotion recognition from physiological signals attracted the attention of researchers from different disciplines, such as affective computing, cognitive science and psychology. This paper aims to classify emotional statements using peripheral physiological signals based on arousal-valence evaluation. These signals are the Electrocardiogram, Respiration Volume, Skin Temperature and Galvanic Skin Response. We explored the signals collected in the MAHNOB-HCI multimodal tagging database. We defined the emotion into three different ways: two and three classes using 1-9 discrete self-rating scales and another model using 9 emotional keywords to establish the three defined areas in arousal-valence dimensions. To perform the accuracies, we began by removing the artefacts and noise from the signals, and then we extracted 169 features. We finished by classifying the emotional states using the support vector machine. The obtained results showed that the electrocardiogram and respiration volume were the most relevant signals for human’s feeling recognition task. Moreover, the obtained accuracies were promising comparing to recent related works for each of the three establishments of emotion modeling.
Towards the normalization of cybercrime victimization: A routine activities analysis of cybercrime in europe

This study investigates the relationships between users' routine activities and socio-economic characteristics and three forms of cybercrime victimization of 1) online shopping fraud, 2) online banking fraud and 3) cyber-attacks (i.e. DDoS attacks). Data from the Eurobarometer, containing a sample of 17,811 online European citizens was analyzed. The results generally support the Routine Activities Theory. There were few differences by sex. Younger respondents were more at risk of online purchase fraud, but older respondents more of online banking fraud. Few economic characteristics were related to victimization. The three forms of victimization were interrelated relatively strongly. The characteristic of victims of online crime differ from those of traditional crime. We propose that digitalization leads to a ‘normalization of victims’ of cybercrime.
Acute and Subacute Toxicity Tests of Madder Root, Natural Colorant Extracted From Madder (Rubia Tinctorium), in (C57Bij6 x c3H)F1 Mice

As part of the safety assessment of madder root (MR), a food colorant extracted from madder (Rubia tinctorium), toxicity tests were undertaken using (C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 mice of both sexes. An acute toxicity test was performed by 14-day administration of MR dissolved in distilled water by gavage at doses of 0, 500, 2000, 3500, and 5000 mg/kg body weight to groups of each sex. One male mouse dosed at 5000 mg/kg body weight was dead before the end of the study, indicating that the maximum tolerated dose of MR was between 3500 and 5000 mg/kg body weight. A subacute toxicity test of MR was performed using 62 mice of each sex, mixing their diets with MR at concentrations of 0, 0.3, 0.6, 1.25, 2.5, and 5% for 90 days. All mice tolerated these doses of MR well. The body weight gains of either sex were not affected by the treatment. None of the mice treated with MR showed clinical signs of toxicity. Histopathological examinations showed retention cysts of the kidneys and epidermal vaginal cysts in a few of the treated or control mice. No hyperplastic, preneoplastic, and neoplastic lesions and no pathological findings of toxicity were found. These results suggest that dietary exposure of MR at these doses has no acute or subacute toxic effects on mice.
An improved ZVS-PWM buck converter with ZCS auxiliary circuit

This paper presents a soft switching technique to improve the efficiency of isolated and non-isolated power converters in the high-frequency range. The designed converter uses two switches i.e. main switch and auxiliary switch which are operated in Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) and Zero Current Switching (ZCS) respectively. Here, different circuit modes of ZVS PWM buck converter with the proposed ZCS auxiliary circuit is analyzed. The operating principle is also discussed with generalized auxiliary circuit. The PWM pulse for main switch and auxiliary switch with desired delay has been generated using analog circuit. A 35 W, 200 kHz ZVS-ZCS buck converter is simulated in Matlab/Simulink environment and experimentally verified.
Bone marrow-derived CD 11 b + Jagged-2 + cells promote epithelial to mesenchymal transition and metastization in colorectal cancer

Angiogenesis Lab, CIPM, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, IPOLFG, EPE, Lisbon, Portugal; Gastroenterology Department, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, IPOLFG, EPE, Lisbon, Portugal; Histopathology Unit, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, IPOLFG, EPE, Lisbon, Portugal; 4 Division of Stem Cell Dynamics, Center for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan; 5 Department of Immunology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Japan; Laboratory of Stem Cell Regulation, Center for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan; 7 Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Portugal.
SPECTROSCOPIC STABILITY OF CHLOROPHYLLS a AND b AND CERTAIN ANALYTICAL CONSIDERATIONS.

Since the spectroscopic properties of chlorophylls a and b in ether solution have been accurately determined (6, 18) and their analytical value demonstrated by successful direct application to the spectrophotometric analysis of plant extracts (2, 3, 4), it is important for the practical use of this method that further limiting factors be considered. This paper presents observations over considerable periods of time on the spectroscopic stability of chlorophylls a and b in the purified condition, in extracts, and in plant material. More extensive observations are now available than in the studies reported earlier (4, 18). Effects of acid anid solvent impurities on spectroscopic properties of chlorophyll were also studied.
Examination of interoception along the suicidality continuum.

OBJECTIVE Interoception deficits have been associated with various points on the suicidality continuum. Most research, however, has focused on general, rather than specific facets of, interoception. This study compared individuals with lifetime suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts using a multidimensional assessment of interoception. METHOD A total of 537 adults completed measures of their interoception and lifetime suicide histories. RESULTS Individuals with lifetime suicidal ideation reported more worry about their bodily sensations. Those with lifetime suicide attempts reported a greater tendency to distract themselves from bodily sensations and less self-regulation using bodily sensations. Individuals at all points of the suicidality continuum reported less trust of their bodily sensations. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that interoception may be impaired in those with a history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Longitudinal designs are needed to parse apart the interplay of these variables and directionality of these relationships.