Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender and glaucoma: what we know and what we need to know

Purpose of review With growing aging populations and an increase in cases of glaucoma and glaucoma blindness worldwide, aging populations are particularly at higher risk of glaucoma and glaucoma blindness. Awareness of the gender differences might increase attention toward populations at risk. Recent findings Women not only outlive men, but also outnumber men in glaucoma cases worldwide. Women are at higher risks for angle closure glaucoma, but there is no clear gender predilection for open angle glaucoma. Of interest, there is some evidence suggesting that female sex hormones might be protective of the optic nerve. In addition, it is hypothesized that decreased estrogen exposure is associated with increased risk for open angle glaucoma, yet population-based studies present inconsistent results. Presently, there is insufficient evidence to support hormonal replacement therapy use in glaucoma prevention. In addition, it appears that women carry a larger burden of glaucoma blindness due to longevity and disadvantages in socioeconomic/health beliefs. Summary Current evidence suggests that older women are at risk for glaucoma and glaucoma blindness. Further interdisciplinary research involving investigators, specialized in glaucoma, women's health and health disparities, will lead to better understanding of gender health disparities in glaucoma and better targeting populations at risk.
A novel three‐dimensional model system for keloid study: Organotypic multicellular scar model

We developed a three‐dimensional organotypic multicellular spheroid scar model to mimic the microenvironment of human keloid tissues. Keloid tissues were cultured for 7 days. Changes in total cellularity and apoptotic index in the primary keloid spheroid cultures were evaluated histologically and with a TUNEL assay, respectively. The expression profiles of transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), collagen I, collagen III, elastin, fibronectin, matrix metalloproteinase‐2, and matrix metalloproteinase‐9 were examined with immunohistochemistry. In addition, these expression profiles were investigated after treating primary keloid spheroids with triamcinolone acetonide. Cell viability and morphology of ex vivo cultured keloid spheroids were maintained, and the apoptotic index did not increase for up to 1 week in culture. Keloid spheroids cultivated ex vivo retained the major characteristics of keloids, such as high levels of collagen I and TGF‐β expression for up to 7 days. The biological activity of keloids responding to TGF‐β was also maintained during ex vivo culture. Moreover, ex vivo triamcinolone acetonide treatment of cultivated keloid spheroids significantly reduced collagen I, collagen III, elastin, and fibronectin expression levels, in accordance with clinical observations. The three‐dimensional organotypic multicellular spheroid keloid culture will allow investigators to study keloid pathogenesis and test potential keloid therapeutic agents.
Survival benefit of levetiracetam in patients treated with concomitant chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide for glioblastoma multiforme

A chemosensitizing effect of levetiracetam (LEV) has been suggested because LEV inhibits O‐6 methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). However, the survival benefit of LEV has not been clinically documented. The objective of this study was to assess the survival benefit of LEV compared with other antiepileptic drugs as a chemosensitizer to temozolomide for patients with glioblastoma.
Safety and efficacy of Ofatumumab in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Objectives: Increasing numbers of clinical studies have been carried out to investigate the therapeutic effect of Ofatumumab for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) but no studies have yet reported a pooled estimate of the treatment effect. We performed a meta-analysis of evidence from 13 clinical trials to assess effectiveness and safety of Ofatumumab-based therapy in patients with CLL. Methods: Relevant publications from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched. The primary efficacy outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The second endpoint was the adverse events. Results: The pooled efficacy analysis showed that there were no significant difference in PFS [hazard ratios (HR) = 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.47–1.63, p = 0.677, I2 = 94.9%] and OS (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.70–1.36, p = 0.878, I2 = 58.7%) between Ofatumumab-based therapy and non-Ofatumumab therapy. The pooled toxicity analysis showed that Ofatumumab-based therapy was associated with an increased risk of infusion-related reaction but decreased risk of thrombocytopenia and anemia compared with non-Ofatumumab-based therapy. Moreover, infections, and infusion-related reaction occurred more frequently in participants with single Ofatumumab studies. Discussion: Our analysis showed PFS was statistically significantly improved with Ofatumumab-based treatments (including Ofatumumab alone, Ofatumumab plus chemotherapy) for CLL compared with observation or chemotherapy-based regimen groups. Ofatumumab had no statistically significant improvement on the OS of patients with CLL. The Ofatumumab-based therapy could generally decrease the risk of adverse effects except infusion-related reaction and infections.
Positron emission tomography computed tomography features of monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma

ABSTRACT Objective: To define the positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) features of monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL), a rare malignancy in European and North American populations and the most common form of primary intestinal T-cell lymphoma in Asian populations. Methods: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT findings of a cohort of MEITL patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Eight men and four women with MEITL investigated by PET/CT at diagnosis and relapse were retrospectively analyzed. On presentation, the primary involved sites were the small bowel (N = 8), large bowel (N = 2), stomach (N = 1) and small and large bowels (N = 1). The uninvolved small bowel did not show increased FDG-avidity to suggest enteropathy. On presentation, lymph nodes and other organs were involved in seven cases (58%). The primary lesions were hypermetabolic except in one case, where the colonic lesion was eumetabolic. At relapse, the stomach and large bowel might be involved even if the primary tumours arose from the small bowel, and multiple extra-intestinal metastases occurred. Interestingly, thoracic structures and the brain were frequently involved (50% and 25% respectively). Conclusion: These findings showed that in contrast to classical enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, where the small bowel is the exclusive primary site (owing to its origin from coeliac disease) and distant metastases even during relapse are exceptional, MEITL might on presentation and during relapse involve any part of the gut, and metastasize to multiple extra-intestinal sites.
Multivariate analysis of prognosis for patients with natural killer/T cell lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

ABSTRACT Objective: A major cause of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is malignant neoplasms of the blood system, among which NK/T cell lymphoma is one of the most common risk factors. Patients with NK/T cell lymphoma hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (NK/T-LAHS) have a worse prognosis and higher mortality. We aimed to explore the factors that affect the prognosis of NK/T-LAHS. Methods: Clinical data of 42 patients with NK/T-LAHS diagnosed by Beijing Friendship Hospital from June 2008 to June 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The survival time was counted until 1 August 2016. Results: For the 42 NK/T-LAHS patients, 1-month survival rate was 48.9%, 2-month survival rate was 36.7%, 3-month survival rate was 28.8%, 6-month survival rate was 23.0%, and 12-month survival rate was 15.4%. NK/T-LAHS patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT) (p = 0.000), exhibited peripheral blood Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-positivity (p = 0.004), and achieved overall response (OR) remission after initial induction therapy (p = 0.007) had statistical significance. Conclusion: NK/T-LAHS is a disease of poor prognosis and high mortality. NK/T-LAHS patients who achieved OR remission after the initial induction therapy had a better prognosis than non-remission patients and Allo-HSCT was an effective way to prolong the survival of NK/T-LAHS patients. However, EBV positivity in peripheral blood was a poor prognostic factor in NK/T-LAHS patients.
COGNITIVE RESERVE: IMPLICATIONS FOR PREVENTION OFALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Background: Activation of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARg) has been found to improve behavioural deficits and neuropathological changes in murine models of Alzheimer‘s disease by suppressing neuroinflammation, increasing microglial Ab clearance and direct modulation of beta-secretase-1 promotor activity. Pioglitazone is a PPARg agonist, widely used for the treatment of non-insulin dependent type II diabetes. Based on the above preclinical data, we hypothesized that sustained medication with pioglitazone would reduce the risk of dementia.Methods: Using routine data of the German largest public sickness fund of the years 2004 until 2010 we studied the association of pioglitazone and the onset of dementia in a prospective cohort study of 145,717 subjects aged 60 years or above who were free of dementia at baseline. The information on prescriptions of pioglitazone on a quarterly basis were implemented as a linear variable covering the time-dependent number of quarters of prescriptions which range between zero and 28 quarters. We performed a Cox proportional hazard model to explore the transition into dementia and to calculate the relative risk of dementia dependent on the use of pioglitazone adjusted for sex, age, use of NSAIDs, use of rosiglitazone, use of metformin and cardiovascular comorbidities including diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular diseases, hypertension, ischemic heart diseases, atrial fibrillation and hypercholesterolemia. Results: During the follow-up period 13,841 subjects developed dementia. The relative risk of dementia reduced significantly (HR1⁄40.94, p1⁄40.004) with each additional quarter of pioglitazone prescription. Further analysis are done by converting numbers of quarters with prescriptions into prescribed doses of pioglitazone using the daily defined dose (DDD). Also these results support the initial hypothesis. Conclusions: The long-term use of pioglitazone reduces the risk of dementia incidence in health claims data. One possible pathway is via suppressing neuroinflammation.
Estimated glomerular filtration rate changes in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Chronic use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) may lead to previously unrecognized adverse events. This study evaluated the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in chronic‐phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients treated with imatinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib.
Systematic review of acupuncture to control hot flashes in cancer patients

Hot flashes (HFs) are a common side effect of cancer treatment. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate evidence related to the use of acupuncture for HFs in cancer patients. EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane (all databases), PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scopus were searched from their inception through December 2014. Included studies had to be randomized controlled trials with a usual‐care and/or placebo comparison group that investigated acupuncture to treat HFs in cancer patients. No language limits were applied. The risk of bias (ROB) was rated as low, high, or unclear according to Cochrane criteria. Both within‐group and between‐group changes were evaluated. Four hundred two items were identified, and 192 duplicates were omitted; this left 210 publications to be screened. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, and all involved women with breast cancer. All studies showed significant within‐group improvement from the baseline for true acupuncture (TA). One study showed significant improvement in favor of TA over sham acupuncture (SA; P < .001), 1 study found in favor of TA over SA for nighttime HFs only (P = .03), and 1 study found in favor of TA over SA or untreated controls (P < .01 and P < .001, respectively). Between‐group (TA vs SA) effect size (ES) estimates for daytime and nighttime HFs were calculated (ES range, 0.04‐0.9) whenever possible. No studies were rated with a low ROB. In conclusion, the current level of evidence is insufficient to either support or refute the benefits of acupuncture for the management of HFs in cancer patients. Future studies should provide within‐group and between‐group ES estimates in addition to P values. Cancer 2015;121:3948–3958. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Salivary cortisol and cognitive development in infants from low-income communities

Abstract Early stress exposure is proposed to have significant lasting effects on cognitive development. The glucocorticoid hormone cortisol, a product of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, is a particular focus of research, however, the majority of past research has been based on studies of older children and adults. Evidence linking cortisol levels in infancy with cognitive development is lacking. In a large cohort sample of infants (N = 1091) oversampled for psychosocial risk, we tested whether basal cortisol levels and cortisol reactivity to emotional stressors administered at 7 and 15 months of age were associated with cognitive development measured at 15 months. Cognitive development was measured using the Mental Development Index of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Multiple regression analyses indicated that basal cortisol levels at 15 months, and to a lesser extent at seven months, were inversely associated with infant cognitive development after adjusting for psychosocial and obstetric risk. The findings provide some of the first evidence that HPA axis activity in infancy is associated with early cognitive development.
Effect of prenatal restraint stress and morphine co-administration on plasma vasopressin concentration and anxiety behaviors in adult rat offspring

Abstract Stressful events and exposure to opiates during gestation have important effects on the later mental health of the offspring. Anxiety is among the most common mental disorders. The present study aimed to identify effects of prenatal restraint stress and morphine co-administration on plasma vasopressin concentration (PVC) and anxiety behaviors in rats. Pregnant rats were divided into four groups (n = 6, each): saline, morphine, stress + saline and stress + morphine treatment. The stress procedure consisted of restraint twice per day, two hours per session, for three consecutive days starting on day 15 of pregnancy. Rats in the saline and morphine groups received either 0.9% saline or morphine intraperitoneally on the same days. In the morphine/saline + stress groups, rats were exposed to restraint stress and received either morphine or saline intraperitoneally. All offspring were tested in an elevated plus maze (EPM) on postnatal day 90 (n = 6, each sex), and anxiety behaviors of each rat were recorded. Finally, blood samples were collected to determine PVC. Prenatal morphine exposure reduced anxiety-like behaviors. Co-administration of prenatal stress and morphine increased locomotor activity (LA) and PVC. PVC was significantly lower in female offspring of the morphine and morphine + stress groups compared with males in the same group, but the opposite was seen in the saline + stress group. These data emphasize the impact of prenatal stress and morphine on fetal neuroendocrine development, with long-term changes in anxiety-like behaviors and vasopressin secretion. These changes are sex specific, indicating differential impact of prenatal stress and morphine on fetal neuroendocrine system development. Lay Summary Pregnant women are sometimes exposed to stressful and painful conditions which may lead to poor outcomes for offspring. Opiates may provide pain and stress relief to these mothers. In this study, we used an experimental model of maternal exposure to stress and morphine in pregnant rats. The findings indicated that maternal stress increased anxiety in offspring while morphine decreased such effects, but had negative effects on the levels of a hormone controlling blood pressure, and activity of offspring. Hence morphine should not be used in pregnancy for pain and stress relief.
Greater avoidance behavior in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms

Abstract While avoidance is a core symptom of PTSD, little is known about whether individuals with PTSD show a general cognitive bias to acquire and express avoidance, in situations not related to trauma or fear. Here, we used a computer-based task to examine operant acquisition and extinction of avoidance in participants with and without severe self-reported PTSD symptoms. A total of 119 participants (77 male, 42 female; 74 veteran, 45 civilian) with symptoms (PTSS; n = 63) or with few/no symptoms (noPTSS; n = 56) performed a task, in which they controlled a spaceship and could shoot a target to gain points or hide in “safe areas” to escape or avoid on-screen aversive events. Results show that participants with PTSS exhibited more avoidance across trials than noPTSS participants, particularly due to more avoidance behavior in PTSS females compared to noPTSS females. Avoidance behavior decreased across extinction trials but interactions with PTSS and gender fell short of significance. Overall, PTSD symptoms were associated with propensity to acquire and express avoidance behavior, in both civilians and veterans, and even in a cognitive task that does not explicitly involve trauma or fear. This effect was more pronounced in females, highlighting the role of gender differences in PTSD symptomatology. Importantly, this study also demonstrates the potential of an objective assessment of avoidance behavior, which could be used to supplement the common but limited self-report tools.
Current ophthalmologic treatment strategies for acute and chronic Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis

Purpose of review To review the newer, effective ophthalmologic treatments for acute Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) as well as the emerging treatment options for patients with chronic, severe ocular surface damage from the disease. Recent findings Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) applied to the eyes and eyelids in the acute phase of SJS can prevent the devastating scarring and visual problems that characterize the chronic phase of the disease. The severity of ocular inflammation in the acute phase does not always correlate to the severity of skin and systemic involvement. Thus, it is crucial that all patients with SJS be evaluated by an ophthalmologist familiar with the current management of the disease, the potential urgency of the situation and the option of AMT. Although challenging, the severe, chronic ocular problems of SJS can be at least partially alleviated with autologous serum drops, mucous membrane grafting to replace scarred tarsal conjunctiva, specialized contact lenses (PROSE), conjunctival replacement surgery (COMET), limbal stem cell transplantation and kerotoprostheses. Summary Early AMT is an effective treatment of acute SJS. Emerging treatments offer increased hope for those who have already suffered damage from SJS, but emphasis on the prevention of damage in the acute phase is most crucial.
A study to evaluate the role of suction drains in orthopedic surgery

Background : There is controversy in routine use of suction drain in orthopedic surgeries. Devastating postoperative infection and years of treatment had forced on extra measures of postoperative wound care and use of drains. Objective: To find out the necessity of intraoperative drains in routine orthopedic surgery. Methods : Thirty patients were enrolled in the study. All of the patients were followed up on 2nd, 14th days and 3 monthly till one year of period. All the demographic data and preoperative investigations and intraoperative and postoperative parameters were recorded in standard proforma. Data were analysed using appropriate statistical method. Results : All the patients were followed up to one year period. Six patients had superficial infection on 2nd postoperative day. They were managed with antibiotics and no patient showed signs of infections on 14th postoperative day and thereafter. No patient needed postoperative reinforcement of dressing. Conclusion : Routine use of intraoperative drain in hip surgeries has beneficial effect of decreasing reinforcement of postoperative dressing. Keywords : orthopedic surgery; suction drain; BPKIHS DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/hren.v9i2. 4980 Health Renaissance 2011: Vol.9 (No.2): 91-94
Ocular genetic disease in the Middle East

Purpose of review Centered on the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East encompasses Northern Africa to Western Asia. Primarily Arab and historically tribal, populations from this region often practice customary intrafamilial marriage (consanguinity), intratribal marriage (endogamy), and a preference for many offspring. These social factors increase the frequency of homozygosity, including homozygosity for gene mutation and thus for recessive ocular disease. This review highlights recent studies of ocular genetic disease in the Middle East. Recent findings Among modern molecular genomic/genetic strategies, homozygosity mapping as a method to guide candidate gene analysis has been a powerful technique for the Middle East. Studies from the region have enhanced our understanding of ocular genetic conditions that are more common worldwide (such as pediatric glaucoma, pediatric cataract, and retinal dystrophy/dysfunction), rare worldwide (such as cornea plana, brittle cornea syndrome, and posterior microphthalmos), and currently only reported on the Arabian Peninsula (such as microcornea with myopic chorioretinal degeneration and telecanthus, familial retinal arterial macroaneurysms, and spherophakia with short stature). For some patients diagnosed with non-syndromic cataract or retinal dystrophy, genomic/genetic analysis uncovered recessive mutation in a syndrome gene and phenotypic reassessment confirmed the presence of the undiagnosed syndrome in the tested patients. Summary Recent studies from the Middle East, many of which employed homozygosity mapping, have improved phenotype–genotype correlations for common and rare ocular genetic disease. In some instances genetic diagnosis revealed an undiagnosed syndrome. Reports of ocular genetic conditions thus far unique to the region have suggested novel ocular developmental pathways.
Impact of oncogene rearrangement patterns on outcomes in patients with double‐hit non‐Hodgkin lymphoma

Double‐hit lymphomas (DHLs) are collectively defined as B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphomas harboring rearrangements of MYC as well as B‐cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and/or B‐cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6). To the authors' knowledge, the impact of specific oncogene rearrangements on outcomes of patients with DHL who are treated with immunochemotherapy has not been previously described.