Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A proposal on the identification, histologic reporting, and implications of intraductal prostatic carcinoma.

CONTEXT Prostatic adenocarcinoma growing within acinar-ductal spaces (intraductal carcinoma) in contrast to high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PIN) impacts negatively on patient outcome. There is currently no generally accepted definition of this lesion nor is it classified in the current prostate cancer grading system (Gleason). OBJECTIVE To define intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P) with major and minor diagnostic criteria that clearly separate it from HG-PIN. The implications of such a lesion are discussed with proposals to incorporate this entity into the Gleason grading system. DATA SOURCES We reviewed all published data referring to intraductal spread of prostate carcinoma. Articles discussing endometrial, endometrioid, and ductal carcinoma are included. CONCLUSIONS Intraductal carcinoma of the prostate as defined by major criteria that include enlarged gland structures, neoplastic cells spanning the gland lumen, central comedonecrosis, and further supported by minor diagnostic criteria including molecular biological markers, separate this entity from HG-PIN. Despite its perimeter basal cells, IDC-P should be interpreted as biologically equivalent to Gleason pattern 4 or 5 adenocarcinoma. Several hypotheses are proposed as to the evolution of IDC-P, which is almost always a late event in prostate carcinoma progression. Diagnosis of IDC-P on needle biopsy should prompt therapeutic intervention rather than surveillance or repeat biopsy, as is the case for HG-PIN.
Clinician-Initiated HIV Risk Reduction Intervention for HIV-Positive Persons: Formative Research, Acceptability, and Fidelity of the Options Project

ObjectiveTo conduct research on levels and dynamics of HIV risk behavior among HIV-positive patients in clinical care, use this research to design a clinician-initiated HIV prevention intervention for HIV-positive patients, and evaluate the acceptability of the intervention to clinicians and patients and the fidelity with which it can be delivered by clinicians. MethodsStudy 1 (elicitation research) involved focus groups with HIV-positive patients and HIV care clinicians to understand the dynamics of HIV risk behavior among HIV-positive patients and how to integrate HIV prevention into routine clinical care. Study 2 (acceptability and intervention fidelity) involved the evaluation of 1455 medical visits by experimental intervention patients (N = 231) for acceptability and fidelity of the clinician-initiated HIV prevention intervention. ResultsElicitation research with patients and clinicians identified critical HIV prevention information, motivation, and behavioral skills deficits in HIV-positive patients as well as risky sexual behavior. These findings were integrated into a theory-based HIV prevention intervention initiated by clinicians that proved acceptable to clinicians and patients and that clinicians were able to implement with adequate fidelity. ConclusionHIV prevention interventions by clinicians treating HIV-positive patients can and should be integrated into routine clinical care.
Quality metric for H.264/AVC scalable video coding with full scalability

Scalable Video Coding (SVC) is one of the promising techniques to ensure Quality of Service (QoS) in multimedia communication through heterogeneous networks. SVC compresses a raw video into multiple bitstreams composed of a base bitstream and enhancement bitstreams to support multi scalabilities such as SNR, temporal and spatial. Therefore, it is able to extract an appropriate bitstream from original coded bitstream without re-encoding to adapt a video to user environment. In this flexible environment, QoS has appeared as an important issue for service acceptability. Therefore, there has been a need for measuring a degree of video quality to guarantee the quality of video streaming service. Existing studies on the video quality metric have mainly focused on temporal and SNR scalability. In this paper, we propose an efficient quality metric, which allows for spatial scalability as well as temporal and SNR scalability. To this end, we study the effect of frame rate, SNR, spatial scalability and motion characteristics by using the subjective quality assessment, and then a new video quality metric supporting full scalability is proposed. Experimental results show that this quality metric has high correlation with subjective quality. Because the proposed metric is able to measure a degree of video quality according to the variation of scalability, it will play an important role at the extraction point for determining the quality of SVC.
Influence of Humic Substances on Bacterial and Viral Dynamics in Freshwaters

ABSTRACT Bacterial and viral abundances were measured in 24 lakes with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations ranging from 3 to 19 mg of C liter−1. In addition, a laboratory experiment was performed to test the effects of different sources of carbon (i.e., glucose and fulvic acids) and nutrients on the dynamics of viruses and bacteria. In the lake survey, no correlation was found between virus abundance and DOC concentration, yet there was a significant positive correlation between bacterial abundance and DOC concentration. A negative correlation was found between the virus-to-bacteria ratio and DOC level. These results are in agreement with our findings in the laboratory, where virus counts were significantly lower in treatments with fulvic acid additions than in a control (mean, 67.4% ± 6.5% of the control). Virus counts did not differ significantly among the control and treatments with glucose, indicating that it was the type of organic carbon and not quantity which had an impact on viruses. Results from this study suggest that the way viruses control bacterial assemblages in humic lakes is different from the mechanism in clear water systems.
Avian malaria parasites ( Plasmodium spp . ) in Dunedin and on the Otago Peninsula , southern New Zealand

There is concern that avian malaria maybe partly responsible for fluctuations in yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) populations in New Zealand. Recent findings, however, have provided no evidence of avian malaria parasites infecting yellow-eyed penguins on the Otago Peninsula, raising questions as to whether this area is currently free of such parasites. To test this possibility we collected blood samples from 109 individuals of five nonnative bird species known to carry malarial parasites elsewhere in New Zealand. Molecular screening by polymerase chain reaction revealed 6% of the sampled birds were positive for malarial parasites, indicating that a local reservoir of infection is present. Sequence data revealed a generalist strain of Plasmodium is present, one that infects a number of native and non-native bird species elsewhere in the country. The absence of this generalist strain in yellow-eyed penguins, some of which were sampled during the same period as the current study, may be due to low levels of mosquito vectors of disease during the study period, low densities of non-native birds around yellow-eyed penguin colonies, or infected penguins dying before they could be sampled. Continued monitoring of mosquito populations and the factors that affect their densities should be included in the future management of native birds in this area. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Successful Treatment of Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis with Anti-Tumor-Necrosis-Factor-Alpha: Preliminary Observations

Tumor necrosis factor α neutralization seems a rational therapy for myositis because this proinflammatory cytokine has been implicated in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Until now, we have treated 2 patients with a chimeric anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody (infliximab). Both patients demonstrated a marked and sustained subjective and objective improvement without the occurrence of any side effects. These preliminary results suggest that anti-TNF-α treatment with infliximab is a safe and rapidly effective therapy for myositis.
Peripheral blood flow rates and microvascular responses to orthostatic pressure changes in claudicants before and after revascularisation.

OBJECTIVES To study the effect of arterial reconstruction for occlusive atherosclerotic disease with intermittent claudication on blood flow rate during rest and on microvascular responses to orthostatic pressure changes in the pulp skin of the first toe where arteriovenous anastomoses are numerous. MATERIAL Eleven patients with Fontaine IIa claudication (ankle blood pressure index > 0.30) before and 7 (range: 2-11) months after intervention. METHODS Blood flow rate was measured by the heat washout method with the toe at heart level and after passive lowering to 50 cm below this level using a Clark type electrode with thermostatically controlled cap that was fixed to the pulp of the first toe by adhesive tape. RESULTS At heart level, blood flow rate was lower in claudicants before reconstruction as compared to a group of previously published control subjects (p = 0.0076, Wilcoxon), blood flow rate increased in claudicants from before to after intervention (p = 0.0128), and postoperative blood flow rate was like that of normals (N.S.). Before surgery, blood flow rate in claudicants increased in median with a factor of 1.79 during lowering (p < 0.0051). CONCLUSIONS The disturbance of the microcirculatory responses to orthostatically induced pressure changes in claudicants reverted towards normal after arterial reconstruction.
Treatment of major depression with nortriptyline and paroxetine in patients with ischemic heart disease.

OBJECTIVE This study compared the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of paroxetine and nortriptyline in depressed patients with ischemic heart disease. METHOD After a 2-week, single-blind placebo lead-in phase, 81 outpatients with DSM-III-R-defined nonpsychotic unipolar major depression and ischemic heart disease were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with paroxetine or nortriptyline for 6 weeks. Paroxetine was administered at a fixed-flexible dose of 20-30 mg/day. Nortriptyline dose was adjusted with the use of blood-level monitoring to reach a plasma concentration of 50-150 ng/ml. RESULTS Twenty-seven of the 41 patients who started treatment with paroxetine and 29 of the 40 patients who started treatment with nortriptyline had an improvement of at least 50% in their Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores. Significantly more patients taking nortriptyline discontinued treatment prematurely (35% versus 10%), and more patients taking nortriptyline had adverse events resulting in termination (25% versus 5%). CONCLUSIONS Both treatments were efficacious. Sixty-three percent of all patients improved at least 50%, and of these, 90% met the criteria for remission. Paroxetine was better tolerated than nortriptyline and less likely to produce cardiovascular side effects.
Is Arm Span an Accurate Measure of Height in Young and Middle-Age Adults?

Height is used to determine many important clinical measurements, but height may be difficult or impossible to measure accurately in some patients. The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of arm span as a measure of height in young and middle-age adults. A sample of 83 people between the ages of 20 and 61 years participated in this anthropometric study. Height and arm span were measured with a metal rule. A prediction equation was derived from regression analysis. Arm span is a valid measure of height in young and middleage adults, and the accuracy is improved when using the prediction equation.
Demonstration of a Novel Glycolytic Pathway in the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Thermococcus zilligii by13C-Labeling Experiments and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Analysis

ABSTRACT The operation of a novel glycolytic pathway was demonstrated in nongrowing cells of Thermococcus zilligii by analysis of the isotopic enrichment in the end products derived from fermentation of 13C-labeled glucose. The new pathway involved the formation of formate, derived from C-1 in glucose, via cleavage of a six-carbon carboxylic acid.
Efficient method of micropropagation and in vitro rooting of teak (Tectona grandis L.) focusing on large-scale industrial plantations

Multiple shoots of high quality were produced in vitro from nodal expiants of Tectona grandis. An average of about 4 shoots/uninodal expiant was obtained within 4 weeks of culture on Murashige and Skoog’s (mMS) medium modified by 50% reduction in NH4NO3 concentration, supplemented with benzylaminopurine (1.5 mg L−1); indole-3-butyric acid (0.01 mg L−1) and gibberellic acid (0.1 mg L−1). The latter was applied both in the medium and by soaking the nodal segments for 10 s. in a gibberellic acid solution of 100 mg L−1. Hundred percent of shoots rooted cultured on modified MS medium containing IBA (0.5 mg L−1) and putrescine (160 mg L−1). Putrescine promoted both strong and highly ramified roots and fast growing shoots during the rooting phase, conditioning the plantlets for a good survival and quality. Plantlets were transferred to jiffy pots for a short acclimatization stage in greenhouse where they survived at 100%. This highly reproducible procedure can be adopted for large scale teak propagation. RésuméDes pousses multiples de haute qualité ont été produites in vitro à partir d’expiants nodaux de Tectona grandis. Une moyenne d’environ 4 pousses par explant uninodal a été obtenue dans un délai de 4 semaines de culture sur un milieu de Murashige et Skoog modifié (mMS, NH4NO3 réduit de moitié), complété avec la benzylaminopurine (BA, 1.5 mg L−1), l’acide indole-3-butyric (IBA, 0.01 mg L−1) et l’acide gibbérélique (GA3, 0.1 mg L−1) dans le milieu et en imbibant les segments nodaux pendant 10 s dans la solution 100 mg L−1 de GA3. Cent pour cent d’enracinement in vitro des explants a été obtenu par la culture sur le même milieu de base mMS contenant IBA (0.5 mg L−1) et putrescine (160 mg L−1). La présence de la putrescine a permis d’obtenir des racines fortes et ramifiées, des pousses à croissance rapide pendant l’enracinement, donnant des plantes de qualité aptes à une bonne survie. Les plantes ont été endurcies et transférées dans des Jiffy pots pour une acclimatation brève en conditions de serre ayant pour résultat 100% de survie. Ce procédé hautement reproductible peut être adapté à grande échelle dans la propagation de teak du fait de l’efficacité du nombre de pousses obtenues (prolifération), de l’enracinement, de l’acclimatation et du bon développement des plantes.
Bone marrow transplant conditioning intensified with liposomal clodronate to eliminate residual host antigen presenting cells fails to ameliorate GVHD and increases PERI-BMT mortality.

BACKGROUND Graft versus host disease (GVHD) mediated by allogeneic donor T cells may be initiated and/or exacerbated by residual host antigen presenting cells (APC) which survive the transplant conditioning regimen. We examined whether the depletion of hepatic and splenic APC could reduce the severity of hepatic GVHD after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). METHODS Recipient mice were depleted for hepatic and splenic phagocytic APCs by i.v. injection of clodronate- (dichloromethylene diphosphonate) containing liposomes before fully allogeneic or MHC-matched, minor Ag-mismatched BMT. Severity of hepatic GVHD was scored on histological sections 2, 3, 4, or 9 weeks after BMT. RESULTS No differences in the severity of GVHD were observed between APC-depleted mice and control mice. APC-depleted mice had increased peritransplant mortality due to sepsis. Bacterial clearance assays showed that APC-depleted mice were unable to efficiently clear bacteria, although nondepleted, transplanted mice were able to clear bacteria as quickly as naive control mice. CONCLUSIONS Residual host phagocytic APC do not appear to play a role in the induction of GVHD after BMT. They are, however, essential for prevention of sepsis in the transplant host.
Ion‐induced conformational and stability changes in Nereis sarcoplasmic calcium binding protein: Evidence that the APO state is a molten globule

Nereis sarcoplasmic Ca2+‐binding protein (NSCP) is a calcium buffer protein that binds Ca2+ ions with high affinity but is also able to bind Mg2+ ions with high positive cooperativity. We investigated the conformational and stability changes induced by the two metal ions. The thermal reversible unfolding, monitored by circular dichroism spectroscopy, shows that the thermal stability is maximum at neutral pH and increases in the order apo < Mg2+ < Ca2+. The stability against chemical denaturation (urea, guanidinium chloride) studied by circular dichroism or intrinsic fluorescence was found to have a similar ion dependence. To explore in more detail the structural basis of stability, we used the fluorescent probes to evaluate the hydrophobic surface exposure in the different ligation states. The apo‐NSCP exhibits accessible hydrophobic surfaces, able to bind fluorescent probes, in clear contrast with denatured or Ca2+/Mg2+‐bound states. Gel filtration experiments showed that, although the metal‐bound NSCP has a hydrodynamic volume in agreement with the molecular mass, the volume of the apo form is considerably larger. The present results demonstrate that the apo state has many properties in common with the molten globule. The possible factors of the metal‐dependent structural changes and stability are discussed. Proteins 2000;40:177–184. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chemoradiation for Definitive, Preoperative, or Postoperative Therapy of Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

AbstractOver the last few decades, the integration of chemotherapy and radiation has played a crucial role in the management of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Locally advanced NSCLC is a very heterogeneous disease. Because of this heterogeneity, advanced NSCLC can be managed in various ways depending on the bulk of disease, the comorbidities of the patient, and the expertise and resources of the treating physicians and facilities. This review describes the evolution of current treatment strategies and predicted future changes for the management of locally advanced NSCLC.
Cognitive‐behavioral screening in elderly patients with new‐onset epilepsy before treatment

Cognitive comorbidity at epilepsy onset reflects disease severity and provides a baseline estimate of reserve capacities with regard to the effects of epilepsy and its treatment. Given the high incidence of epilepsy at an older age, this study analyzed objective and subjective cognition as well as quality of life in elderly patients with new‐onset focal epilepsy before initiation of anti‐epileptic treatment.
Constructivism About Reasons

Given constructivism’s enduring popularity and appeal, it is perhaps something of a surprise that there remains considerable uncertainty among many philosophers about what constructivism is even supposed to be. My aim in this chapter is to make some progress on the question of how constructivism should be understood. I begin by saying something about what kind of theory constructivism is supposed to be. Next, I consider and reject both the standard proceduralist characterization of constructivism and Sharon Street’s ingenious standpoint characterization. I then suggest an alternative characterization according to which what is central is the role played by certain standards of correct reasoning. I conclude by considering the implications of this account for evaluating the success of constructivism. I suggest that certain challenges raised against constructivist theories are based on dubious understandings of constructivism, whereas other challenges only properly come into focus once a proper understanding is achieved.
Relationship between periodontal pocket sulfide levels and subgingival species.

BACKGROUND Many species implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). This investigation examined the relationship between levels of sulfide and subgingival bacterial species in the same periodontal pockets. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty chronic periodontitis subjects were measured clinically at six sites per tooth for plaque, gingivitis, bleeding on probing, suppuration, pocket depth and attachment level. Subgingival plaque samples, taken from the mesial aspect of each tooth, were individually analyzed for their content of 40 bacterial species using checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization. Sulfide levels were measured at the same sites using a Diamond Probe/Perio 2000 system. Clinical and microbiological data were averaged for sulfide-positive and -negative sites separately in each subject and then averaged across subjects. Significance differences in clinical and microbial parameters between sulfide-positive and -negative sites were sought using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test. RESULTS Mean total DNA probe counts (x10(5), +/-SEM) at sulfide-negative and -positive sites were 44.0 +/- 9.9 and 65.0 +/- 13.3, respectively (p < 0.01). Seventeen species were found at significantly higher levels in sulfide-positive than -negative sites. These included abundant producers of VSC such as members of the genera Fusobacterium, Campylobacter, Prevotella, Treponema and Eubacterium, and Bacteriodes forsythus, Selenomonas noxia and Propionibacterium acnes. Prevotella intermedia, Bacteriodes forsythus, Prevotella nigrescens, Fusobacterium nucleatum ss vincentii and Treponema denticola exhibited the greatest difference in mean counts between sulfide-negative and -positive sites. Orange and red complex species were at higher counts at shallow (< 4 mm) sulfide-positive than shallow sulfide-negative sites. Although not statistically significant, mean clinical parameters were somewhat higher at sulfide-positive than sulfide-negative sites. CONCLUSIONS Intra-pocket sulfide levels reflect the levels of sulfide-producing species and may provide useful diagnostic information.
Fas-Mediated Acute Lung Injury Requires Fas Expression on Nonmyeloid Cells of the Lung1

Fas (CD95) is a membrane surface receptor, which, in the lungs, is expressed in macrophages, neutrophils, and epithelial cells. In mice, Fas activation leads to a form of lung injury characterized by increased alveolar permeability. We investigated whether Fas-mediated lung injury occurs primarily as a result of Fas activation in myeloid cells (such as macrophages) or in nonmyeloid cells (such as epithelial cells). Chimeric mice lacking Fas in either myeloid or nonmyeloid cells were generated by transplanting marrow cells from lpr mice (which lack Fas) into lethally irradiated C57BL/6 mice (MyFas− group) or vice versa (MyFas+ group). Additional mice transplanted with marrow cells from their same strain served as controls (Fas+ ctr and Fas− ctr groups). Sixty days after transplantation, the mice received intratracheal instillations of the Fas-activating mAb Jo2 (n = 10/group), or an isotype control Ab (n = 10/group), and were euthanized 24-h later. Only animals expressing Fas in nonmyeloid cells (Fas+ ctr and MyFas−) showed significant increases in lung neutrophil content and in alveolar permeability. These same mice showed tissue evidence of lung injury and caspase-3 activation in cells of the alveolar walls. Despite differences in the neutrophilic response and lung injury, there was no statistical difference in the lung cytokine concentrations (KC and MIP-2) among groups. We conclude that Fas-mediated lung injury requires expression of Fas on nonmyeloid cells of the lungs. These findings suggest that the alveolar epithelium is the primary target of Fas-mediated acute lung injury, and demonstrate that apoptotic processes may be associated with neutrophilic inflammation.