Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving patient survival with the colorectal cancer multi‐disciplinary team

Objective There is little information on the impact of the colorectal multi‐disciplinary team (MDT) in the United Kingdom. Our single operator presented his patients before and after the inception of an MDT meeting in June 2002. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of this on his patients’ survival, and trends in the use of adjuvant chemotherapy.
Adoptive Transfer of MAGE-A4 T-cell Receptor Gene-Transduced Lymphocytes in Patients with Recurrent Esophageal Cancer

Purpose: Preparative lymphodepletion, the temporal ablation of the immune system, has been reported to promote persistence of transferred cells along with increased rates of tumor regression in patients treated with adoptive T-cell therapy. However, it remains unclear whether lymphodepletion is indispensable for immunotherapy with T-cell receptor (TCR) gene–engineered T cells. Experimental Design: We conducted a first-in-man clinical trial of TCR gene-transduced T-cell transfer in patients with recurrent MAGE-A4–expressing esophageal cancer. The patients were given sequential MAGE-A4 peptide vaccinations. The regimen included neither lymphocyte-depleting conditioning nor administration of IL2. Ten patients, divided into 3 dose cohorts, received T-cell transfer. Results: TCR-transduced cells were detected in the peripheral blood for 1 month at levels proportional to the dose administered, and in 5 patients they persisted for more than 5 months. The persisting cells maintained ex vivo antigen-specific tumor reactivity. Despite the long persistence of the transferred T cells, 7 patients exhibited tumor progression within 2 months after the treatment. Three patients who had minimal tumor lesions at baseline survived for more than 27 months. Conclusions: These results suggest that TCR-engineered T cells created by relatively short-duration in vitro culture of polyclonal lymphocytes in peripheral blood retained the capacity to survive in a host. The discordance between T-cell survival and tumor regression suggests that multiple mechanisms underlie the benefits of preparative lymphodepletion in adoptive T-cell therapy. Clin Cancer Res; 21(10); 2268–77. ©2015 AACR.
Harmonic Iron Loss Analysis of Electrical Machines for High-Speed Operation Considering Driving Condition

In this paper, we proposed new harmonic iron loss calculation methods for electrical machines. The new methods based on the concept of variable loss coefficients due to their flux density and frequency estimate harmonic iron loss in the time domain and the frequency domain. In order to verify the performance of the proposed method, we calculated the iron loss with conventional methods. Then, the estimated iron losses were compared with the experimental data. It was clarified that the proposed methods are more effective than the conventional methods at high-speed operation. Based on these newly proposed methods, we analyzed the iron loss of the machine for electric vehicle (EV) according to its driving condition. From the analysis results, it was shown that the harmonic iron losses of stator are larger than before at field-weakening region. In addition, it was revealed that rotor iron loss mainly induced by stator slot ripples does not show strong dependence on the current angle and only varied primarily according to the speed.
Analysis of fine-needle aspiration biopsies by flow cytometry in kidney transplant patients.

BACKGROUND Peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) analysis by flow cytometry has been inconsistently reported as an adjunctive method for diagnosing acute kidney transplant rejection. However, there is good evidence that lymphocytes infiltrating renal grafts differ from those found at the peripheral level. We hypothesized that the study of aspiration biopsy samples in conjunction with PBL by flow cytometry would enable us to diagnose acute rejection crisis reliably. METHODS Lymphocytes from PBL and aspiration biopsies of kidney transplant patients were analyzed. Fifty-one stable patients, rejection-free for the first 6 months, were studied on day 7 and day 30 after transplantation and were compared with 32 patients with 40 acute rejection episodes. RESULTS Significant differences were observed for several lymphocyte subpopulations on aspiration biopsy samples comparing stable patients with rejection patients. In contrast, PBL analysis was not helpful in differentiating the two groups of patients. By combining the expression of several activation markers inside the graft with CD3DR and CD3CD25 aspiration biopsy to peripheral blood ratios, we obtained very good values for sensitivity and specificity-83.9% and 90.5%, respectively. The positive predictive value for rejection among dysfunctional grafts reached 85.8%. CONCLUSIONS Flow cytometry study of aspiration biopsy samples of kidney transplant patients is a reliable and powerful method to diagnose acute rejection episodes, although it is needed to consider several lymphocyte phenotypes; cytofluorometric analysis of PBL is important because it provides graft-infiltrating cell to peripheral blood lymphocyte ratios. This safe and rapid test may significantly improve the management of kidney transplant patients.
The Weak Tie Between Natural Gas and Oil Prices

Abstract Several recent studies establish that crude oil and natural gas prices are cointegrated. Yet at times in the past, and very powerfully in the last two years, many voices have noted that the two price series appear to have “decoupled”. We explore the apparent contradiction between these two views. We find that recognition of the statistical fact of cointegration needs to be tempered with two additional points. First, there is an enormous amount of unexplained volatility in natural gas prices at short horizons. Hence, any simple formulaic relationship between the prices will leave a large portion of the natural gas price unexplained. Second, the cointegrating relationship does not appear to be stable through time. The prices may be tied, but the relationship can shift dramatically over time. Therefore, although the two price series may be cointegrated, the confidence intervals for both short and long time horizons are large.
Secondary Prevention of Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Factors Influencing the Prescription of Oral Anticoagulation at Discharge

Background: Oral anticoagulation (OAC) is the only treatment that has shown a significant benefit to reduce the risk of recurrence in patients with ischemic stroke and nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, OAC is still underused, even at discharge from neurological centers. The objective of this study was to identify the reasons underlying the prescription of OAC at discharge after an ischemic stroke in patients with NVAF. Methods: We investigated the reasons why ischemic stroke patients with NVAF were not treated with OAC at discharge from 40 centers located in 5 European countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, and Portugal). Results: Of 320 ischemic stroke survivors at discharge, 186 (58.1%) received OAC, while 260 (81.3%) patients were theoretically eligible according to guidelines and the absence of contraindications. There were significant differences between countries and the logistic regression analysis found being already under OAC before stroke, having no leukoaraiosis, having no potential contraindication, being younger than 75 years, being married and suffering from angina pectoris as independent predictors of being discharged under OAC. Conclusion: This study suggests that besides patient-related factors, the prescription of OAC is also significantly influenced by the social environment and national practices.
Etiology of community‐acquired pneumonia in 254 hospitalized children

Background. Childhood community‐acquired pneumonia is a common illness, but there have been relatively few comprehensive studies of the viral and bacterial etiology in developed countries. The aim of the present investigation was to determine the etiology of community‐acquired pneumonia in hospitalized children by several laboratory methods. Methods. In a 3‐year prospective study a nasopharyngeal aspirate for viral studies and acute and convalescent serum samples for viral and bacterial serology were taken from 254 children with symptoms of acute infection and infiltrates compatible with pneumonia in the chest radiograph. The role of 17 microbes was investigated. Results. A potential causative agent was detected in 215 (85%) of the 254 patients. Sixty‐two percent of the patients had viral infection, 53% had bacterial infection and 30% had evidence of concomitant viral‐bacterial infection. Streptococcus pneumoniae (37%), respiratory syncytial virus (29%) and rhinovirus (24%) were the most common agents associated with community‐acquired pneumonia. Only one patient had a positive blood culture (S. pneumoniae) of 125 cultured. A dual viral infection was detected in 35 patients, and a dual bacterial infection was detected in 19 patients. Conclusions. The possible causative agent of childhood community‐acquired pneumonia can be detected in most cases. Further studies are warranted to determine what etiologic investigations would aid in the management of pneumonia. With effective immunization for S. pneumoniae and respiratory syncytial virus infections, more than one‐half of the pneumonia cases in this study could have been prevented.
In vitro and in vivo Evaluation of Triptolide-loaded Pluronic P105 Polymeric Micelles

Abstract Thin film method was applied successfully to prepare Triptolide (TP)-loaded micelles system. With a dynamic light scattering sizer and a transmission electron microscopy, it was shown that the TP-loaded micelles had a mean size of 84.3±6.4 nm with a spherical shape. The in vitro release profiles indicated that the release of TP from the micelles exhibited a sustained release behavior. A similar phenomenon was also observed in a pharmacokinetic study in rats, in which AUC of the micelles formulation were 4.7-fold higher than that of TP injection. The biodistribution study in rats showed that the TP-loaded micelles not only decreased drug uptake by liver, but also increased distribution of drug in ovary. The present work demonstrated the feasibility of controlled delivery of TP utilizing micelles system.
Ultraviolet B Irradiation Modulates the Immune System of Fish (Rutilus rutilus, Cyprinidae) II: Blood

Abstract The effects of a single dose of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation (0.4 J/cm2) on immunological functions by blood leukocytes and on hematological parameters was studied in roach (Rutilus rutilus), a teleostean fish. The respiratory burst of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulated whole blood phagocytes increased significantly after UVB irradiation but spontaneous cytotoxicity of blood leukocytes toward 51chromium-labeled K562 target cells was not markedly altered. Differential cell counting revealed that UVB exposure significantly increased the proportion of granulocytes and significantly decreased the proportion of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, whereas hematocrit and the total number of white and red blood cells were unchanged. Plasma cortisol concentration increased in UVB-exposed fish. Severe handling stress caused similar, although not as potent, effects on the measured parameters of fish blood as UVB irradiation. These observations suggest that in fish UVB brings about a stress response, which may account for the observed alterations in the immune parameters and leukocyte composition of blood. Exposure of fish to strong visible light induced no alterations in immunological or hematological parameters, making it unlikely that ultraviolet radiation mediates its effects through visual perception.
Bone Mineral Density Loss After Combat-Related Lower Extremity Amputation

Objectives: Determine the incidence, severity, and associated risk factors for the development of low bone mineral density (BMD) after combat-related lower extremity amputation. Design: Retrospective case–control comparison. Setting: Tertiary care military treatment facility. Patients/Participants: One hundred fifty-six lower extremity amputees, representing 182 amputations (121 unilateral, 35 bilateral). Intervention: All patients underwent dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scanning during the treatment period. Main Outcome Measurements: The Z score was the main outcome measure. We identified all patients with low BMD (Z < −1.0) and conducted multivariate analysis to identify significant risk factors for low BMD development. Results: The observed rate of low BMD was 42%. The average Z score was −0.6 ± 1.1 among unilateral amputations and −1.2 ± 1.0 among bilateral amputations (P = 0.005). Risk factors for the development of low BMD were prolonged time to first ambulation [odds ratio (OR) = 1.39; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.003–1.93; P = 0.048], prolonged time to dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.02–1.18; P = 0.009), and more proximal amputation level (OR = 7.27; 95% CI: 3.21–16.49; P < 0.001). Among unilateral amputees, we detected a significant difference in the BMD of the intact and amputated limbs (−1.0; 95% CI: −1.1 to −0.8; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Proximal amputation level and delayed ambulation demonstrated a significant relationship with low BMD after traumatic and trauma-related amputation. We conclude that transfemoral amputees are at greater risk of BMD loss and that disuse atrophy is a primary factor in the development of low BMD. Prevention should focus on early and aggressive weight bearing rehabilitation and assessing levels and appropriately supplementing calcium and vitamin D. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
An Update on Substance Use and Treatment following Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity among young adults. Substance abusers constitute a disproportionate percentage of these patients. A history of substance abuse predicts increased disability, poorer prognosis, and delayed recovery. While consensus in the literature indicates that substance‐abuse rates decline following injury, conflicting literature shows a significant history of brain injury in addicts. We reviewed the literature on substance abuse after TBI to explore the state of knowledge on TBI as a risk factor for substance abuse. While recent reviews regarding substance abuse in TBI patients concur that substance‐abuse rates decline even after mild TBI, an emerging literature suggests mild TBI may cause subtle impairments in cognitive, executive, and decision‐making functions that are often poorly recognized in early diagnosis and treatment. When combined with difficulties in psychosocial adjustment and coping skills, these impairments may increase the risk for chronic substance abuse in a subset of TBI patients. Preliminary results from veterans indicate these patterns hold in a combat‐related post‐traumatic stress disorder population with TBI. This increasingly prevalent combination presents a specific challenge in rehabilitation. While this comorbidity presents a challenge for the successful treatment and rehabilitation of both disorders, there is sparse evidence to recommend any specific treatment strategy for these individuals. Mild TBI and substance abuse are bidirectionally related both for risks and treatment. Further understanding the neuropsychiatric pathology and different effects of different types of injuries will likely improve the implementation of effective treatments for each of these two conditions.
Friction of conventional and silica-insert ceramic brackets in various bracket-wire combinations.

OBJECTIVE To compare the level of friction resistance (FR) of conventional and silica-insert ceramic brackets using various bracket-wire combinations and angulations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four types of ceramic brackets were examined: (1) polycrystalline alumina bracket (PCA-C), (2) polycrystalline alumina bracket with a stainless steel (SS) slot (PCA-M), (3) polycrystalline alumina bracket with a silica layer (PCA-S), and (4) monocrystalline sapphire bracket (MCS). A conventional SS bracket was used as the control. The static and kinetic FR in four bracket-wire angulations (0 degrees, 5 degrees, 10 degrees, and 15 degrees) was examined using SS and beta-titanium (beta-Ti) orthodontic wires, 0.019 x 0.025 inches in size, under elastic ligature in the dry state. RESULTS The FR generated by the PCA-S bracket was significantly lower than that generated with the other ceramic brackets, and was similar to that of the SS bracket. The PCA-S bracket showed the lowest FR with both the SS and the beta-Ti wires at zero bracket angulation. The FR to sliding increased rapidly and nonlinearly when the bracket wire angulation was >5 degrees. The PCS-S bracket showed the lowest FR from 5 degrees to 15 degrees of angulation. The MCS bracket demonstrated the highest increase in FR from 0 degrees to 15 degrees of angulation, showing the highest FR at 15 degrees of angulation. CONCLUSION PCA-S showed minimal FR among the ceramic brackets, and was comparable to the conventional SS bracket. The silica layer and rounded edges of the ceramic slot lowered FR considerably.
Determination of virulence of different strains of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua by oral inoculation of pregnant mice

A pregnant mouse model was developed to follow the course of infection after peroral inoculation with six different strains of Listeria monocytogenes and one strain of Listeria innocua. Tissues were sampled and analyzed by microbiologic and histologic methods for 5 days postinoculation. In gnotobiotic pregnant BALB/c mice, L. monocytogenes Scott A (SA), serotype 4b, colonized the gastrointestinal tract, translocated to the livers and spleens of mice by day 1 postinoculation, and multiplied in these tissues until day 4. Infection of the placental tissues occurred by days 3 and 4 and was followed by infection of the fetuses. Little damage of colonic and cecal tissues was evident by histologic examination. Livers and spleens showed a cellular immune response; a similar immune response was not detected in the placentas or fetuses. A rough variant of L. monocytogenes SA which was as virulent as the parent strain in mice when injected intraperitoneally was less virulent perorally and did not consistently infect the fetuses. L. monocytogenes ATCC 19113, serotype 3a, did not colonize the gastrointestinal tract, nor was it isolated from any internal tissue. L. monocytogenes strains of serotypes 1/2a and 1/2b behaved like the SA strain in this mouse model. L. innocua colonized the gastrointestinal tract and translocated to the livers and spleens but did not survive in these organs and rapidly disappeared without infecting placental and fetal tissues. In comparison with gnotobiotic mice, conventional pregnant mice inoculated with L. monocytogenes strains showed less consistent infection. These results suggest that the gnotobiotic pregnant mouse is a useful model for detecting differences in virulence relating to colonization, invasiveness, and uteroplacental infection which cannot be detected by intraperitoneal inoculation of mice.
The Dissociative Experiences Taxon Is Related to Fantasy Proneness

Some authors have argued that nonpathological dissociation should be distinguished from a taxon form of pathological dissociation, which is indexed by the Dissociative Experiences Scale Taxon (DES-T). We tested to what extent DES-T scores are independent from fantasy immersion and whether DES-T scores are uniquely related to trauma self-reports. To this end, subsamples of undergraduate students (n = 930), healthy adults (n = 20), schizophrenic patients (n = 22), borderline personality disordered patients (n = 20), patients with mood disorder without psychosis (n = 19), and women with a history of childhood sexual abuse (n = 55) completed the Dissociative Experiences Scale and a measure of fantasy immersion. DES-T scores were related to absorption and fantasy immersion to a lesser extent than the original DES. However, the fact that nontrivial percentages within all groups, except for the healthy adults, were classified as taxon members casts doubts on the assumption that DES-T is a reliable index of pathological dissociation. Also, we found that the DES-T was not exclusively related to reports of childhood sexual abuse.
Autoregulation of luxR: the Vibrio harveyi lux‐operon activator functions as a repressor

Mobility‐shift assays have been used to demonstrate that the activator of the Vibrio harveyi lux operon, LuxR, binds independently, and with similar affinity, to two sites upstream of its own open reading frame. One site was located between 52 and 107 bp upstream of, and the other site in a region 25 bp downstream of, the transcriptional start site. The luxR promoter, in a transcriptional fusion with the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (cat) gene, could readily be expressed in Escherichia coli as well as V. harveyi in the absence of LuxR. In both species, the presence of the luxR gene product resulted in repression of luxR promotion. These results show that LuxR directly regulates its own expression by functioning as an autorepressor. A mechanism for this repression is suggested by evidence showing that LuxR has a negative effect on RNA polymerase binding to the luxR promoter. In light of the fact that LuxR is also part of a regulatory family of repressors, the mechanism by which LuxR functions as a transcriptional activator of the lux operon has been re‐examined.
Treatment of Painful Osteoporotic or Traumatic Vertebral Compression Fractures by Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation Procedures: A Nonrandomized Comparison Between Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty

ObjectiveVertebroplasty (PV) and balloon kyphoplasty (KP) are minimally invasive vertebral augmentation procedures involving injection of polymethyl methacrylate cement under radiologic control into a fractured vertebral body. They strengthen the bone and improve the intense pain caused by fracture secondary to osteoporosis, metastasis, or trauma and refractory to conservative therapies such as analgesic use, bed rest, and bracing. Aim of the study is to investigate and compare safety and efficacy of KP and PV on pain and mobility in patients with vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis or trauma. MethodsTwenty-one patients have been enrolled in a prospective nonrandomized controlled study with painful vertebral compression fractures resistant to common therapies. Patients underwent KP or PV. A Visual Analog Scale has been used to measure pain status at different time up to 6 months; the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was chosen to evaluate functional activity before procedure and 6 months later. ResultsMean pain scores decreased significantly from pretreatment to posttreatment with KP and PV as did the ODI scores. No significant differences could be found between both groups for the mean VAS and ODI scores preprocedure and postprocedure. Cement extravasation occurred only during PV. No other adverse events correlated to both techniques have been reported. DiscussionOur results suggest that both PV and KP offer therapeutic benefit significantly reducing pain and improving mobility in patients with vertebral fracture without significant differences between groups in term of quality. The leakage of cement has been observed only during PV.