Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phase II trial of 5-fluorouracil, interferon-alpha and continuous infusion interleukin-2 for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of 5-fluorouracil, interferon-alpha, and interleukin-2 for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. METHODS Previously untreated patients with a Zubrod performance status of < or =2; adequate cardiac, pulmonary, and renal function; and absence of brain metastases were eligible. One course of therapy was 28 days. 5-fluorouracil was administered at a dose of 600 mg/m2/day as a continuous infusions on Days 1-5. Interleukin-2 also was administered as a continuous infusion on Days 1-5 at a dose of 2 million Roche U/m2/day. Interferon-alpha was given as a daily subcutaneous injection of 4 million U/m2/day. RESULTS Fifty-five patients were enrolled in the trial and 52 were evaluable for response. All patients experienced fever and flu-like symptoms. Grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic toxic effects included hypertension (48%), dermatitis (12%), stomatitis (11%), and altered mental status (9%). There was one toxic death. Four complete responses and 12 partial responses were observed for a total response rate of 31% (95% confidence interval, 18-46%). The survival of responding patients was significantly better than that of nonresponding patients. The improvement in survival was even more significant when comparing patients with at least stable disease with those who progressed through treatment. CONCLUSIONS The three-drug combination described in this study demonstrates activity. However, it appears to be more toxic than other regimens with similar response rates and cannot be recommended for standard practice. Changing the interleukin-2 route to subcutaneous administration may permit more continuous administration with less toxic effects.
Application of Bio-Oss in tissue regenerative treatment prior to implant installation: literature review

Objetivo: Bio-Oss is a xenogene bone graft in which all organic components are removed while retaining their natural mineral architecture. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate, through a literature review, the benefits of using Bio-Oss for tissue regenerative treatment prior to implant placement. Material and Methods: a search was performed in Pubmed (Medline) in order to identify articles published in English between January 1, 2000 and June 31, 2018, where the Bio-Oss graft was used prior to implantation of implants in humans. A total of 40 studies were selected for detailed analysis. From this analysis, 18 articles were identified for inclusion in this review. Results: the articles analyzed in the review showed several beneficial effects of this xenograft, such as: positive osteoconductive properties, recovery of bone heights at sites with severe atrophies, slow xenograft reabsorption suggesting long term stability, survival rates and success of implants placed in grafted sites ranging from 91 to 100% in several studies. Conclusion: the use of bio-oss as a bone substitute is a viable alternative in the placement before dental implants, being used in clinical practice and with proved efficacy in several studies, due to its similarity with the bone and its high level of osteoconductivity.KeywordsBio-Oss; Bone Graft; Implants.
Pulmonary tuberculosis in children in a developing country.

OBJECTIVE We evaluated the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of Peruvian children presenting with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) to determine whether features predictive of confirmed PTB could be identified. STUDY DESIGN This was a cross-sectional study of 135 children (mean age: 6.8 years) presenting to the Hospital del Niño in Lima, Peru, with presumptive diagnosis of PTB. Clinical, epidemiologic, and laboratory findings were compared between 3 groups of pediatric patients with a presumptive diagnosis of PTB: those with positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) cultures, those likely to have PTB based on clinical criteria but with negative cultures, and those who did not meet clinical diagnostic criteria or have positive cultures. RESULTS A total of 50 (37%) patients were diagnosed with definitive PTB based on positive sputum culture. Another 55 (47%) patients were classified as having probable PTB based on meeting at least 2 of the following criteria: cough lasting for at least 2 weeks, typical chest radiograph changes, purified protein derivative (PPD) >/=10 mm, or history of tuberculosis family contact. Patients with definitive or probable PTB were significantly older than patients without clinical PTB, and those with symptomatic disease were significantly older than those with asymptomatic disease. Patients with PTB diagnosed by culture were significantly more likely than those diagnosed using clinical criteria to have cough lasting >/=2 weeks, fever, and a PPD >/=10 mm. CONCLUSIONS The typical presentation of PTB in Peruvian children includes symptoms of active pulmonary disease similar to those seen in adults. This presentation differs significantly from that reported in developed countries, where many children have minimal or no symptoms at the time of presentation. The diagnostic criteria for pediatric PTB must be modified in hyperendemic developing country environments where features may differ from those described in the United States. The triad of cough lasting >/=2 weeks, fever, and a PPD >/=10 mm was highly predictive for culture-positive PTB among children in this low-income Peruvian population.
Affective Variables and Japanese L2 Reading Ability.

This study investigates how 17 affective factors are related to Japanese second language (L2) reading comprehension and kanji knowledge test scores of 43 university students in advanced Japanese courses. Major findings are that: a) reading comprehension ability and kanji knowledge have direct associations with self-perception of Japanese reading ability, perceived difficulty in learning kanji, and the intensity of motivation for reading Japanese; b) self-perception of Japanese reading ability is correlated more strongly with demonstrated kanji knowledge than with reading comprehension ability; c) students who are more determined to learn Japanese in general seem to have higher intrinsic or extrinsic orientation for reading Japanese, but only those with stronger intrinsic orientation for reading Japanese are more likely to work at reading Japanese; and d) intolerance of ambiguity and disengagement from the analytical study of kanji may be signs of lack of intrinsic orientation and motivation for reading Japanese.
Fine‐scale spatial variability in anatoxin‐a and homoanatoxin‐a concentrations in benthic cyanobacterial mats: implication for monitoring and management

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the variability in anatoxin‐a (ATX) and homoanatoxin‐a (HTX) concentrations in benthic cyanobacterial mats within sampling sites and to assess the applicability of using a PCR‐based approach to determine ATX‐ and HTX‐production potential.
Performance Analysis of a Broadband Second-Order Mode Converter Based on Multimode Interference Coupler and Phase Shifter

A novel mode converter with broad bandwidth, high mode conversion efficiency, and large fabrication tolerance is proposed and fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. By using a modified 3 × 3 multimode interference coupler and an enlarged butterfly-shaped phase shifter, mode conversion from the fundamental mode (TE0) to second-order mode (TE2) is achieved numerically and experimentally. Performance analysis of the mode converter is carried out numerically, and the results show high performance of the mode converter with mode conversion efficiency larger than 91% (i.e., insertion loss less than 0.40 dB) in the whole C-band. In addition, the mode converter has large fabrication tolerance. For example, the width and the length deviations of the multimode interference coupler can be as large as 50 and 250 nm, respectively, whereas the width and the length deviations of the phase shifter can be up to 25 and 400 nm, respectively.
Family-Mediated Exercises (FAME): An Exploration of Participant’s Involvement in a Novel Form of Exercise Delivery After Stroke

Abstract Background: Family members and caregivers play a significant supporting role in the rehabilitation process after stroke, a role that may increase with the growing trend of providing stroke rehabilitation in the individual’s own home after discharge from the hospital. Objective: To explore the impact of family involvement in exercise delivery after stroke from the perspective of the individual with stroke and his or her family member. Methods: A qualitative research design was used in which in-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out with participants who had taken part in an 8-week family-mediated exercise program (FAME). A phenomenological theoretical framework and a grounded theory methodology were used to inform the data analysis. Results: Fifteen individuals with acute stroke and 15 designated “family” members participated in the study after completion of an 8-week, individually tailored, family-mediated exercise intervention. An overarching concept of patient-centeredness emerged after data analysis, which detailed the extent to which individuals with stroke and their families felt that their rehabilitation was enhanced by the active role of their families. Four key themes that expanded the concept of patient-centeredness were identified: personalized nature of the reported benefits, therapeutic value of the program, family involvement, and caregiver commitment to program. Conclusion: This research serves to increase our understanding of the role of family members in the rehabilitation process after stroke, particularly in relation to exercise delivery, from the perspective of the individuals with stroke and their family members.
Relative Contribution of Nedd4 and Nedd4-2 to ENaC Regulation in Epithelia Determined by RNA Interference*

Epithelial Na+ transport is regulated in large part by mechanisms that control expression of the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) at the cell surface. Nedd4 and Nedd4-2 are candidates to control ENaC surface expression, but it is not known which of these proteins contributes to ENaC regulation in epithelia. To address this question, we used RNA interference to selectively reduce expression of Nedd4 or Nedd4-2. We found that endogenous Nedd4-2, but not Nedd4, negatively regulates ENaC in two epithelial cell lines (Fischer rat thyroid and H441); small interfering RNA (siRNA) against Nedd4-2 increased amiloride-sensitive Na+ current (compared with control siRNA), but Nedd4 siRNA did not. A mutation associated with Liddle's syndrome (βR566X) abolished the effect of Nedd4-2 siRNA, suggesting that a defect in ENaC regulation by Nedd4-2 contributes to the pathogenesis of this inherited form of hypertension. Previous work found that Nedd4-2 is phosphorylated by serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase, a Ser/Thr kinase induced by steroid hormones. Here we found that Nedd4-2 phosphorylation contributes to ENaC regulation by steroid hormones. Consistent with this model, ENaC stimulation by dexamethasone was reduced by Nedd4-2 siRNA and by overexpression of a mutant Nedd4-2 lacking serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase phosphorylation sites. Thus, endogenous Nedd4-2 negatively regulates ENaC in epithelia and is a component of a signaling pathway by which steroid hormones regulate ENaC. Defects in this regulation may contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension.
A double-blind comparative study of Trimethoprim-Polymyxin B versus Trimethoprim-Sulfacetamide-Polymyxin B otic solutions in the treatment of otorrhea

Abstract This was a double-blind randomized study to compare the safety and efficacy of timethoprim-polymyxin B (TP) and trimethoprim-sulfacetamide-polymyxin B (TSP) drops in the treatment of otorrhea. The 68 cases treated suffered from external otitis, recurrent otitis, recurrent otitis media with tympanic membrance perforation, or infected mastoid cavities and post-operative tympanoplasties. The TP ototopical solution was successful in 60·6 per cent of cases compared to 88·6 per cent of cases with TSP. These rates were statistically different using the Chi Square with Yates' correction method. There were no sings of ototoxicity, fungal infection overgrowth or local sensitivity to either of the solutions. The study has shown that both drugs are equally safe and that TSP is significantly more effective in the treatment of otorrhea.
[No-scalpel vasectomy. Profile of acceptance and results].

BACKGROUND Men have few effective methods for birth control. The surgical method vasectomy is highly safe and effective, although in Mexico represents only 2.4% of all contraceptive methods used. OBJECTIVE To determine the characteristics, complications and results of the men who requested and underwent no-scalpel vasectomy in the Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes, in México. MATERIAL AND METHOD Retrospective cohort study with data of clinical records of men who underwent no-scalpel vasectomy from 2003 to 2007. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, and complications reported as well as espermatobioscopy data were included. Descriptive analysis was performed of different variables and chi squared test between proportions. RESULTS A total of 596 no-scalpel vasectomies were performed. The average age was 36.5 years and 13.4 of schooling, 86.9% were married with 9.6 years of union. Socioeconomic status was as follows: medium (25%), middle high (20.1%), and high (24.7%). The 94.3% of men requested the no-scalpel vasectomy because of satisfied fertility and 5.7% by morbidity in his couple. The complications were as follows: epididymitis (2.2%), mild haematoma (1.5%) and contact dermatitis (0.2%). The surgical complications were significantly more frequent for the group with varicocele compared with the normal men group (p < 0.05). Azoospermia was achieved in 99.1% of men at 18 weeks after the no-scalpel vasectomy. Early recanalization occurred in 0.5% of men. There were no pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS The profile of men who requested no-scalpel vasectomy was in a great proportion healthy, in the fourth decade of life, with high school or greater, satisfied fertility and high socioeconomic status. No-scalpel vasectomy is a method of fertility planning very effective with low morbidity.
The Impossible Takes Longer

The outpouring of good wishes that I received from so many friends, colleagues, former and present students at the celebration event and symposium on occasion of my retirement was overwhelming. This encourages me to give in the following a very personal account of my life and my career. I will try to give credit to all who have fostered me and enriched my path of life through their love, friendship and collaboration. I don’t have to emphasize that it is a delicate task to write an autobiographical text. Diving into the waters of mnemosyne for the treasures of memory, capturing them in the drift-net of language and reason the essential may slip away. Going back to my early childhood in remembrance of things past, islands of memory are surfacing, showing myself as a little boy with my parents at the countryside where woods were lovely, dark, and deep and the meadows and the heaven were bright. The solitariness of early recollections is in a peculiar contrast to the wide extension of the subjective time scale into the past. The origin is empty and infinite. The mind is setting up, creating space and time, and begins to order experience and thoughts in images and language and assembles the constituents of imagination and conceptual thinking. I was born in 1943 in Vienna where I grew up in the Schottenfeldgasse. Looking at an old family photograph from 1950 gives a sense of how time passed by
Psychosocial aspects of physical activity.

309 The health benefits of regular physical activity have been studied and are well described in the literature (1). The psychosocial benefits of regular physical activity, which are considered to be as important as the health benefits, are less clear (2). The current data regarding the impact of physical activity on children’s psychosocial health confirm an associative, rather then a causal link in many studies (3). Definitive research is also made difficult by the Hawthorne effect. The Hawthorne effect refers to subjects who change their behaviour as a result of being part of a study (4). Additionally, the type, duration or intensity of physical activity among the paediatric population that is necessary to achieve optimal, positive emotional and mental benefits, are poorly defined (2). The intention of the present commentary is to scrutinize current thinking regarding the psychosocial aspects of regular physical activity. It will address the role of physical activity in:
Immunoblot analysis of immunoglobulin G response to the Lyme disease agent (Borrelia burgdorferi) in experimentally and naturally exposed dogs

Immunoblots were used to study the immunoglobulin G response to Borrelia burgdorferi in experimentally and naturally exposed dogs. Adsorption studies confirmed that the antibodies were specific for B. burgdorferi. Experimentally exposed dogs were asymptomatic. Naturally exposed dogs included both asymptomatic animals and animals showing signs compatible with Lyme disease. Naturally exposed dogs were from four geographic regions of the country. No differences were detected between immunoblot patterns of naturally exposed symptomatic or asymptomatic dogs from different areas of the country. The immunoblot patterns obtained with sera from experimentally exposed dogs were different from those obtained with sera from naturally exposed dogs and were characterized by reactivity to fewer and different protein bands. Immunoblot analysis using an OspA-protein-producing Escherichia coli recombinant showed that experimentally exposed dogs produced antibodies to OspA, whereas naturally exposed dogs did not. Modifications of the immune response over time, different routes of antigen presentation, and strain variation are factors postulated to account for the observed differences.
Patterns of Recurrence After Resection of IPMN: Who, When, and How?

Objective: To describe the patterns of recurrence after resection of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) of the pancreas. Background: IPMNs represent an increasing indication for pancreatic resection, but little is known about the actual incidence and the patterns of recurrence after surgical excision. Methods: Retrospective review of 412 resected IPMNs from 1990 to 2013 who have had near-complete follow-up. Results: Median age of the cohort was 68 years, 56% had branch duct (BD)-IPMN and 21% had invasive cancers. Nineteen patients (5%) had distinct pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and were excluded from the recurrence analysis. After a median of 58 months, 65 of 381 patients (17%) experienced recurrence of the IPMN, and 5- and 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 82% and 78%, respectively. Only 2 patients (0.5%) developed metachronous PDAC. In 33 patients (9%), a residual BD-IPMN was left in the pancreatic remnant, but none of these significantly grew or required reoperation. Invasive component and resection margin positive for IPMN were predictors of recurrence (P < 0.05). Invasive IPMN recurred in 45% of cases, whereas noninvasive in only 9% and later (P < 0.001), but patterns depended on IPMN subtypes. Only 9 patients required reoperation for recurrence, with good long-term outcome particularly for oncocytic IPMNs. Conclusions: Recurrence of noninvasive BD-IPMN is infrequent and surveillance may be avoided in selected cases. In invasive IPMN recurrence depends on N status, pancreatic margin, and invasive type.
Economic evaluation of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir for the treatment of chronic genotype 1 hepatitis c virus infection

Abstract Objectives: To estimate clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir ± ribavirin (OMB/PTV/r + DSV ± RBV) compared with treatment regimens including pegylated interferon (PegIFN) for patients with chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methods: An Excel spreadsheet Markov model tracking progression through stages of liver disease was developed. Costs and patient utilities for liver disease stages were taken from published studies. Rates of disease progression were based on studies of untreated HCV infection and long-term follow-up of those achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) after drug treatment. Impact of OMB/PTV/r + DSV ± RBV and other drug regimens on progression was estimated through SVR rates from clinical trials. Analyses were performed for treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients. Impact of alternative scenarios and input parameter uncertainty on the results were tested. Results: For genotype 1 treatment-naive HCV patients, for OMB/PTV/r + DSV ± RBV, PegIFN + ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV), sofosbuvir + PegIFN/RBV, telaprevir + PegIFN/RBV, boceprevir + PegIFN/RBV, lifetime risk of decompensated liver disease was 5.6%, 18.9%, 7.4%, 11.7%, and 14.9%; hepatocellular carcinoma was 5.4%, 9.2%, 5.7%, 7.0%, and 7.4%; and death from liver disease was 8.7%, 22.2%, 10.4%, 14.8%, and 17.6%, respectively. Estimates of the cost-effectiveness of OMB/PTV/r + DSV ± RBV for treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients indicated that it dominated all other regimens except PegIFN/RBV. Compared with PegIFN/RBV, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were £13,864 and £10,258 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) for treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients, respectively. The results were similar for alternative scenarios and uncertainty analyses. Limitations: A mixed-treatment comparison for SVR rates for the different treatment regimens was not feasible, because many regimens did not have comparator arms; instead SVR rates were based on those from recent trials. Conclusions: OMB/PTV/r + DSV ± RBV is a cost-effective oral treatment regimen for chronic genotype 1 HCV infection compared with standard treatment regimens and is estimated to reduce the lifetime risks of advanced liver disease.
The Association of Physical Fitness With Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference in Filipino Preadolescents

Aim. The objective of this study is are to examine the association of preadolescent obesity using body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with health-related physical fitness components. Methods. Grades 4 to 6 students in 2 private schools in Manila were included in this study. Height, weight, WC, and BMI were obtained. Physical fitness field tests were sit-and-reach test, 1-minute sit-ups, standing broad jump, 40-m sprint, and 20-m shuttle run. Results. Obese subjects had poorer scores in the field tests except in the sit-and-reach test. BMI and WC were significantly negatively associated with all the physical fitness parameters, except for the 40-m sprint where positive correlation was observed, and in the sit-and-reach test where no correlation was seen. Conclusion. In the management of preadolescent overweight and obesity, exercise programs should therefore be designed toward enhancing these fitness parameters, while not sacrificing enjoyment and creativity.