Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Association between HLA antigens and leukemia in the population of Vojvodina].

INTRODUCTION One of the most fascinating areas of research within the field of histocompatibility at present time concerns an observation that a major human histocompatibility system, HLA, is deeply involved in development of a great number of diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS HLA class I antigens were investigated in 225 cases with various kinds of leukemia: 112 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), 31 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 44 with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) and 38 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Applying method of microlymphocytotoxicity, 13, 19 and 8 antisera were used for A, B and C loci respectively. Control group comprised 300 unrelated persons, whose phenotypic frequencies were used to calculate the relative risk (RR), while for values of RR greater than 1, we calculated etiologic fraction (EF), and for negative RR values we calculated preventive fraction (PF). RESULTS Results of investigation showed that RR in AML was: for A2 = 1.144, for A3 = 1.038, for A29 = 1.814, for A34 = 2.69, for B7 = 1.06, for B14 = 1.74, for B17 = 1.65 and for B21 = 2.49 and B35 = 1.77 with value of chi 2 test of 4.62 and 4.63; that RR in ALL was: for A1 = 1.61, for A2 = 1.1, for A10 = 1.23, for A11 = 1.57, for A30 = 1.4, for A32 = 2.2, for B7 = 2.81 with value of chi 2 test 4.39; that RR in CML was: for A2 = 1.21, for A32 = 1.89, for B7 = 1.52, for B12 = 1.2 and for B15 = 3.28 with value of chi 2 test of 5.89; and that RR in CLL was: for A1 = 1.35 with value of chi 2 test of 3.973, RR for A2 = 1.02, for A28 = 1.97, for A32 = 1.25, for B5 = 1.44, for B8 = 1.27, for B13 = 1.91 without statistically significant differences of frequencies except for A1. Investigation of differences between haplotype frequencies among controls and patients showed statistically significant difference of A10 B40 haplotype in CML with RR value 7.24, while there were no statistically significant differences between controls and other leukemias. DISCUSSION Our results of investigation showed statistically significant differences between HLA frequencies in the control group and investigated diseases, and that the relative risk is under 1, and values of chi 2 test under borderline values for B21 and B35 in AML, for B7 in ALL, for B15 in CML and for A1 in CLL. CONCLUSION Results of this investigation point to an association between HLA system and leukemias. This association is of great importance because it provides a new tool for investigation of genetics and etiology of abovementioned diseases.
Downregulation of IRS-1 expression causes inhibition of corneal angiogenesis.

PURPOSE The antiangiogenic effect of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) targeting insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 was evaluated on rat corneal neovascularization. METHODS Eyes with neovessels were treated with subconjunctival injections of IRS-1 antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN), IRS-1 sense ODN (SODN), or PBS. At 8 and 24 hours after the first subconjunctival injection, the expression of IRS-1, VEGF, and IL-1beta mRNA was evaluated. IRS-1 protein levels were also measured at 8 hours by Western blot analysis (n = 4/group). On day 10, corneal neovascularization was quantified in flatmount corneas of rats treated daily from days 4 to 9. RESULTS On day 10, new vessels covered 95.5% +/- 4% of the corneal area in PBS-treated eyes, 92% +/- 7% in SODN-treated eyes and 59% +/- 20% in ASODN-treated eyes (P < 0.001). In the ASODN-treated group, the expression and synthesis of IRS-1 were significantly downregulated when compared with the control groups. ASODN did not significantly affect the expression of VEGF but significantly decreased the expression of IL-1beta at 24 hours (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Subconjunctival injections of IRS-1 antisense ODN significantly inhibit rat corneal neovascularization. This effect may be mediated by a downregulation of IL-1beta. IRS-1 proteins may be interesting targets for the regulation of angiogenesis mediated by insulin, hypoxia, or inflammation.
Ipsilateral Cochlear Implantation After Cochlear Nerve Preserving Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery in Patients With Neurofibromatosis Type 2

Objective To investigate the outcomes from ipsilateral simultaneous or sequential cochlear implantation in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) after vestibular schwannoma removal with cochlear nerve preservation. Study Design Retrospective case series. Setting Single tertiary referral NF2 center. Patients Six patients with NF2. Intervention Removal of vestibular schwannoma (VS) with preservation of the cochlear nerve and cochlear implantation. Four patients had their surgery via a translabyrinthine approach. Two patients had a retrosigmoid approach. A cochlear implant was inserted at the same time as tumor removal in 4 cases and sequentially in 2 cases. Main Outcome Measures Surgical and audiometric outcomes using Bamford-Kowal-Bench (BKB) and City of New York University (CUNY) sentence scores. Results The average age at implantation was 24 years (range, 15–36 yr). Follow-up ranged from 5 to 93 months, with an average of 38 months. All patients had useful hearing in the contralateral ear before surgery. One patient gained no benefit from cochlear implantation and proceeded to have an auditory brainstem implant. Of those that had functional cochlear nerves, the average BKB score in quiet was 64%, BKB score in noise was 42%, and CUNY score with lipreading was 97%. Results varied within the group, but all patients gained significant benefit and continue to use their CI at least intermittantly. Conclusion The present series demonstrates that in selected cases, cochlear implantation can be successful after a translabyrinthine approach for VS removal and for restoring hearing after failed retrosigmoid hearing preservation surgery. All patients found the cochlear implant offered useful hearing even in the presence of contralateral hearing.
Fine structure of degeneration in the cochlear nucleus of the chinchilla after acoustic overstimulation

To study plastic changes in the cochlear nucleus after acoustic stimulation, adult chinchillas were exposed once to a 4‐kHz octave‐band noise at 108 dB SPL for 3 hr. After survival times of 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks, samples were taken for electron microscopy from a part of the cochlear nucleus, where cochlear nerve fibers degenerated after the noise exposure. Progressive changes in fine structure were characterized as early, intermediate, and late stages of degeneration. Freshly occurring synaptic degeneration appeared in each period from 1–16 weeks. Endings with large round vesicles, putative excitatory synapses of the cochlear nerve, displayed progressive increases in neurofilaments and enlarged synaptic vesicles. Compared to controls, synaptic vesicles seemed fewer, often in small clusters in the interior of endings, and smaller in the synaptic zone. These early changes progressed to mitochondrial disintegration and overt “watery” degeneration. Some surviving endings, however, were shrunken and displaced partially by enlarged spaces in the synaptic complex. Dense‐cored vesicles gathered in these endings. In terminals with pleomorphic and flattened vesicles, presumed inhibitory endings, cytological changes appeared within 1 week and persisted for months. The synaptic endings darkened, some vesicles disintegrated, and many smaller flatter vesicles collapsed into heaps. Especially at the presynaptic membrane, vesicles were shriveled, but a few mitochondria were preserved. Without overt signs of synaptic degeneration, some of these cytological changes presumably reflect reduced synaptic activity in the inhibitory endings. These changes may contribute to a continuing process associated with abnormal auditory functions, including hyperacusis and tinnitus. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Managing the house: the Presidency, agenda control and policy activism in the European Commission

ABSTRACT Although the importance of international organizations is well-established, the specific contribution made to their policy outputs by administrative as opposed to political actors is rarely investigated. Still less attention is paid to how intra-organizational factors within international administrations affect the latter’s capacity to influence those outputs. Even in the case of the European Union, where the European Commission’s power over decisional outputs has been a long-standing interest, this issue has not been fully explored. Scholars have focused on horizontal factors, but have not addressed how vertical relations affect the Commission’s policy activism and therefore its influence on EU outputs. By examining how the transformation of power relations within the Commission has changed as a consequence of the strengthening of the Commission Presidency, this contribution fills that lacuna. Showing how a strong President has been able to control the Commission’s output, it demonstrates the importance of vertical relations as a variable.
The burden of age-related macular degeneration: a value-based medicine analysis.

PURPOSE To assess the quality-of-life loss and the macroeconomic financial consequences associated with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). METHODS Time tradeoff utility analysis was performed to assess the quality-of-life diminution caused by ARMD (both dry and neovascular) in cohorts consisting of (1) patients with ARMD, (2) ophthalmologists asked to assume they had various degrees of severity of ARMD, (3) healthcare providers asked to assume they had various degrees of severity of ARMD, and (4) participants from the general community asked to assume they had various degrees of severity of ARMD. ARMD was classified according to vision in the better-seeing eye as (1) mild: 20/20 to 20/40, (2) moderate: 20/50 to 20/100, (3) severe: < or = 20/200, or (4) very severe: < or = 20/800. RESULTS Mild ARMD caused a 17% decrement in the quality of life of the average patient, similar to that encountered with moderate cardiac angina or symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus syndrome. Moderate ARMD caused a 32% decrease in the average patient's quality of life, similar to that associated with severe cardiac angina or a fractured hip. Severe ARMD caused a 53% decrease in quality, more than that of dialysis, and very severe ARMD caused a 60% decrease in the average ARMD patient's quality of life, similar to that encountered with end-stage prostate cancer or a catastrophic stroke that leaves a person bedridden, incontinent, and requiring constant nursing care. Patients with varying degrees of severity of ARMD were found to have quality-of-life impairment ranging from 96% to 750% greater than that estimated by treating ophthalmologists for the same condition. An economic analysis based upon losses to the gross domestic product suggests that ARMD has approximately a $30 billion annual negative impact. The return on investment is therefore potentially high for both treatment with current ARMD therapies and the research costs invested in the development of new ARMD treatment modalities. CONCLUSIONS ARMD is a major public health problem that has a devastating effect upon patients and marked adverse financial consequences for the economy.
Comparative immunocytochemical assessment of isolated carcinoma cells in lymph nodes and bone marrow of patients with clinically localized prostate cancer

After radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer, biochemical progression is seen in up to 40% of the patients due to persistent local and/or systemic remnants. Isolated disseminated carcinoma cells, undetectable by current staging methods, are of special interest as potential precursors of subsequent overt metastases. In the present study, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to evaluate simultaneously the frequency of occult carcinoma cells in both lymph nodes (LNs) and bone marrow (BM) obtained from the iliac crests of 45 prostate cancer patients with untreated stage T1‐3 pN0 M0 prostatic carcinoma. IHC using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against epithelial cytokeratins was performed on 521 paraffin‐embedded LNs histopathologically classified as tumorfree (pN0), as well as on BM cytospin preparations. To confirm the prostatic origin of positive cells in LNs, additional IHCs for prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) and epithelial glycoproteins were performed. In total, isolated tumor cells in LNs and/or BM were detected in 17 of the 45 patients. Parameters such as tumor stage, grade and volume of the primary tumor as well as blood serum PSA levels could not detect patients harboring disseminated single tumor cells in LNs or BM. Following a median observation time of 24.9 months, no significant correlation between IHC positivity and PSA progression as a measure of early relapse was observed. Although the overall incidence of occult tumor cell spread corresponds to similar incidence of relapses after radical prostatectomy as reported by others, the fate of these cells needs to be evaluated in longer follow‐up studies. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.) 84:145–149, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sustained benefits of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion

Aim To evaluate the efficacy and safety of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), and its impact on glycaemic control, insulin doses and auxological parameters in children with diabetes over a 4-year period. Method A retrospective analysis of all patients treated with CSII. Data on HbA1c, height, weight, insulin doses, hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) were analysed. Results 67 patients, aged 1–16 years showed a mean (±SD) HbA1c pre-CSII of 8.2%, decreasing to 7.3% (±0.8%) at 6 months (p<0.01), 7.7% (±0.99) at 2 years (p<0.05), 7.4% (±0.94) at 3 years (n=9, p=0.15) and 7.6% (±0.97) at 4 years (n=4, p=1.0). Insulin doses reduced significantly with a trend towards reduced BMI SDS. Nine preschool children showed HbA1c reduction from 8.4% (±0.94) to 7.4% (±0.32, p<0.01) over 20 months with no episodes of severe hypoglycaemia or DKA. Conclusion The authors demonstrate that CSII is associated with significantly improved sustained glycaemic control, especially in preschool children with diabetes in motivated families.
Comparison of morphine and ropivacaine following knee arthroscopy.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of ropivacaine, a new local amidic anesthetic, compared with morphine as an intra-articular drug in controlling pain in patients after arthroscopic knee surgery. TYPE OF STUDY Randomized trial. METHODS We enrolled 90 patients scheduled to undergo elective knee arthroscopy. Patients were homogenous regarding demographic data and ASA physical status. Procedures included were diagnostic arthroscopies, lateral and medial meniscectomies, meniscal repair, and removal of loose bodies. All cases were treated by the same surgeon, under general anesthesia, using the same procedure. Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups. The first group received ropivacaine 75 mg in 20 mL of saline solution, the second group received 2 mg morphine in 20 mL of saline solution, and the third group received 20 mL of saline solution. No other oral or injectable analgesic administration was allowed. A blind observer assessed the patients' postoperative pain using a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS), ranging from no pain (0) to unbearable pain (10). Scores were taken at 0, 1, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours after drug injection. VAS scores were analyzed using analysis of variance; significance was set at P <. 005. RESULTS None of the patients treated with ropivacaine or morphine needed administration of any other oral or injectable analgesic. No adverse reaction was noted in ropivacaine group. VAS score analysis in the first 4 postoperative hours showed greater effectiveness for ropivacaine versus morphine or placebo with highly significant results (P <.001). In the first 24 postoperative hours, the ropivacaine group versus the morphine group showed no significant differences (P =.207). CONCLUSIONS Although its cost is very high compared with morphine, ropivacaine is a safe, site-specific, and long lasting anesthetic drug with an earlier onset than morphine and almost the same duration, covering the whole postoperative period (24 hours).
Exercise for the management of cancer-related fatigue in adults.

BACKGROUND Cancer-related fatigue is now recognised as an important symptom associated with cancer and its treatment. A number of studies have investigated the effects of physical activity in reducing cancer-related fatigue with no definitive conclusions regarding its effectiveness. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of exercise on cancer-related fatigue both during and after cancer treatment. SEARCH STRATEGY The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL/CCTR), MEDLINE (1966 to July 2007), EMBASE (1980 to July 2007), CINAHL (1982 to July 2007), British Nursing Index (January 1984 to July 2007), AMED (1985 to July 2007), SIGLE (1980 to July 2007), and Dissertation Abstracts International (1861 to July 2007) were all searched using key words. Reference lists off all studies identified for inclusion and relevant reviews were also searched. In addition, relevant journals were hand searched and experts in the field of cancer-related fatigue were contacted. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effect of exercise on cancer-related fatigue in adults were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently assessed the methodological quality of studies and extracted data based upon predefined criteria. Where data were available meta-analyses were performed for fatigue using a random-effects model. MAIN RESULTS Twenty-eight studies were identified for inclusion (n = 2083 participants), with the majority carried out on participants with breast cancer (n = 16 studies; n = 1172 participants). A meta-analysis of all fatigue data, incorporating 22 comparisons provided data for 920 participants who received an exercise intervention and 742 control participants. At the end of the intervention period exercise was statistically more effective than the control intervention (SMD -0.23, 95% Confidence Interval (CIs) -0.33 to -0.13). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Exercise can be regarded as beneficial for individuals with cancer-related fatigue during and post cancer therapy. Further research is required to determine the optimal type, intensity and timing of an exercise intervention.
Weight and body composition in a cohort of HIV-positive men and women

Abstract Objective: At issue is whether weight loss in HIV infection is a cachectic process, characterised by loss of lean body mass with conservation of fat, or a process of starvation. We present data on body composition from 516 persons at different stages of HIV infection as determined by CD4 counts. Design: Cross-sectional analyses of body composition in relation to CD4 count. Setting: The baseline data from a prospective cohort study of outcomes in HIV/AIDS in relation to nutritional status in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Subjects: The first 516 subjects with HIV/AIDS to enrol in the study. Results: Differences in weight in relation to CD4 counts were present only at CD4 counts of 600 or less (slope below CD4=600: 1.9 kg per 100 CD4 cells, P<0.0001). On average, 68% of the difference in weight over CD4 counts was fat (slope: 1.3 kg fat per 100 CD4 cells, P<0.0001). Conclusions: This cross-sectional analysis suggests that weight loss consists principally of fat loss in those persons with adequate fat stores. This observation will need to be confirmed in longitudinal analyses.
Kinematics of the Normal Knee during Dynamic Activities: A Synthesis of Data from Intracortical Pins and Biplane Imaging

Few studies have provided in vivo tibiofemoral kinematics of the normal knee during dynamic weight-bearing activities. Indeed, gold standard measurement methods (i.e., intracortical pins and biplane imaging) raise ethical and experimental issues. Moreover, the conventions used for the processing of the kinematics show large inconsistencies. This study aims at synthesising the tibiofemoral kinematics measured with gold standard measurement methods. Published kinematic data were transformed in the standard recommended by the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB), and a clustering method was applied to investigate whether the couplings between the degrees of freedom (DoFs) are consistent among the different activities and measurement methods. The synthesised couplings between the DoFs during knee flexion (from 4° of extension to −61° of flexion) included abduction (up to −10°); internal rotation (up to 15°); and medial (up to 10 mm), anterior (up to 25 mm), and proximal (up to 28 mm) displacements. These synthesised couplings appeared mainly partitioned into two clusters that featured all the dynamic weight-bearing activities and all the measurement methods. Thus, the effect of the dynamic activities on the couplings between the tibiofemoral DoFs appeared to be limited. The synthesised data might be used as a reference of normal in vivo knee kinematics for prosthetic and orthotic design and for knee biomechanical model development and validation.
Firm Entry and Financial Shocks

This article shows that firm entry dynamics are an important part of the propagation of financial shocks to the real macroeconomy. A VAR documents empirically that adverse financial shocks are associated with significant declines in both new firm creation and equity values. A DSGE business cycle model combining endogenous firm entry and financial frictions, where firms have a choice of financing entry through debt or equity, can explain these facts. The model implies that adjustment in firm numbers can moderate the impact of financial shocks on aggregate output, as it buffers the equity value and financial stance of surviving firms.
Contribution of Fetal Tricuspid Regurgitation in First-Trimester Screening for Major Cardiac Defects

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the potential value of fetal assessment for tricuspid regurgitation at 11–13 weeks of gestation in the prediction of major cardiac defects. METHODS: We screened for aneuploidies by measuring fetal nuchal translucency thickness as well as assessing blood flow across the tricuspid valve for evidence of tricuspid regurgitation and in the ductus venosus for evidence of reversed A-wave at 11 0/7 to13 6/7 weeks of gestation. The estimated performance of different combinations of increased fetal nuchal translucency, tricuspid regurgitation, and ductus venosus reversed A-wave in screening for major cardiac defects was examined. RESULTS: The study population of euploid fetuses included 85 cases with major cardiac defects and 40,905 with no cardiac defects. Fetal nuchal translucency above the 95th percentile, tricuspid regurgitation, or ductus venosus reversed A-wave was observed in 30 (35.3%), 28 (32.9%), and 24 (28.2%) of the fetuses with cardiac defects, respectively, and in 1,956 (4.8%), 516 (1.3%), and 856 (2.1%) of those without cardiac defects. Any one of the three markers was found in 49 of the fetuses with cardiac defects (57.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 47.0–67.6%) and in 3,265 of those without cardiac defects (8.0%, 95% CI 7.7–8.2%). CONCLUSION: Assessment of flow across the tricuspid valve improves the performance of screening for major cardiac defects by fetal nuchal translucency and ductus venosus flow. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II