Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Authors’ Response

To the Editor: We read with interest “Effect of cumulative bortezomib dose on survival in multiple myeloma patients receiving bortezomib–melphalan–prednisone in the phase III VISTA study” [1]. Mateos et al. reported a retrospective post hoc analysis by using data from a randomized phase III trial, VISTA [2], which showed improved outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed myeloma who were ineligible for high-dose therapy by adding bortezomib to melphalan–prednisone. Furthermore, Mateos et al. found that the transplantineligible myeloma patients who received a cumulative bortezomib dose of more than the median (39 mg/m) had better overall survival (OS). This study provides new evidence that an increased cumulative bortezomib dose could improve OS in transplant-ineligible untreated myeloma patients. However, according to protocol, patients had to survive at least 151 days to have a cumulative bortezomib dose of 39 mg/m. If the data was analyzed by using a log-rank test or time-independent Cox proportional hazards model, it would be likely that an “immortal time bias” could interfere with these results [3–6]. “Immortal time” implies to a time interval during the follow-up period in which death cannot occur because of exposure definition. For instance, mortality “cannot” occur in the first five months of follow-up in the patients who had received at least 30 doses of protocol bortezomib. In conventional survival analysis using the likelihood ratio or log-rank tests, the immortal time bias can confer a spurious survival advantage to patients with a higher cumulative dose. The authors further performed a landmark analysis of OS that was conducted at 180 days post-randomization that might be unable to avoid this bias. In contrast, the results should be analyzed by using time-dependent analysis [3,6], such as Cox regression with the cumulative dose of bortezomib as a time-dependent covariate. Furthermore, the planned dose of bortezomib in the VISTA trial was 67.6 mg/m [2]. Patients who had a cumulative bortezomib dose of less than 39 mg/m had higher probability of serious adverse effects and disease progression, both of which were correlated to death. Obviously, patients who had better response to bortezomib can live longer and have a chance to receive more doses of bortezomib. Reverse causality means that Y might exert a causal effect on X, in addition to the effects of X on Y [7]. In this study, a longer OS might also offer a causal effect on higher cumulative dose of bortezomib, which could not be solved by a 180-day landmark or time-dependent analysis. We believe that the best way to evaluate the effect of cumulative dose of bortezomib on survival of multiple myeloma patients is a randomized controlled study while the cut-off value of the cumulative dose was best determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.
Subsyndromal symptomatic depression: A new concept

Although DSM‐IV acknowledged the clinical significance of some subthreshold forms of unipolar depression, such as minor depression (MinD) and recurrent brief depression (RBD), clinicians continued to struggle with the concept of “subthreshold” depression. A substantial number of patients continued to present with depressive symptoms that still did not satisfy any DSM‐IV diagnosis. Generally, these patients failed to complain of anhedonia and depressed mood, a criterion that DSM‐IV mandates for any diagnosis of depression. Therefore, researchers reexamined the question of whether this cluster of depressive symptoms, in the absence of anhedonia and depressed mood, was clinically significant. Some researchers labeled this cluster of symptoms, “subsyndromal symptomatic depression” (SSD). Specifically, SSD is defined as a depressive state having two or more symptoms of depression of the same quality as in major depression (MD), excluding depressed mood and anhedonia. The symptoms must be present for more than 2 weeks and be associated with social dysfunction. Using Medline Search, the authors reviewed the literature on the epidemiology, demographics, clinical characteristics, and psychosocial impairment of SSD. SSD is found to be comparable in demographics and clinical characteristics to MD, MinD, and dysthymia. SSD is also associated with significant psychosocial dysfunction as compared with healthy subjects. Further, it has significant risk for suicide and future MD. Few studies have been conducted on the treatment of SSD. The high prevalence of SSD, the significant psychosocial impairment associated with it, and the chronicity of its course make subsyndromal symptomatic depression a matter for serious consideration by clinicians and researchers. Depression and Anxiety 12:30–39, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ancylostoma ceylanicum in the hamster: observations on the host—parasite relationship during primary infection

SUMMARY The course of primary infection with a hamster-adapted strain of Ancylostoma ceylanicum was studied in inbred DSN and randomly bred WO/GD and WO/CR hamsters. Infective larvae were administered orally and began to develop in the small intestine without embarking on a tissue migration. Only the occasional larva was detected in other organ sites. It was concluded that the developing larvae moulted on days 3–4 and again to the pre-adult stage about 9–11 days post-infection. Worm burdens in infected hamsters were stable for at least 11 weeks after infection. There was no sudden expulsive phase and some adult worms survived for over 200 days. Overall the sex ratio of worms in groups of hamsters killed concurrently was about 50% although occasionally the ratio was biased in favour of one sex in individual animals. The blood packed cell volume (PCV) was significantly depressed 2 weeks following infection and continued to decline until a point of stability was achieved 4–5 weeks post-infection. The PCV subsequently remained depressed throughout the period of observation. Infected hamsters lost weight if kept in groups, but not when housed in separate cages. Groups of animals which lost weight did not recover to normal values within 11 weeks of infection. It is suggested that this model of hookworm infection has scope for exploring aspects of the host-parasite relationship which the canine models cannot fulfill adequately.
Are Social Welfare Policies "Pro-Life"? An Individual-Level Analysis of Low-Income Women

This paper tests the hypothesis that low-income women's likelihood of choosing abortion will decrease as their access to and participation in social welfare programs increases. Though an affirmative finding could challenge the coherence of a morally and fiscally conservative Republican coalition and thus improve prospects for the safety net? s political future, findings from a sample of low-SES, urban mothers do not support this hypothesis. Welfare program participation and state welfare generosity are positively associated with the likelihood of choosing abortion. The existence and magnitude of this relationship, however, is mediated by the rules of state welfare bureaucracies and also varies by women's race and marital status. Limitations on abortion access appear to reduce abortions, while the nongovernmental safety net does not affect abortion decisions.
Quantitative PET of Human Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor with 64Cu-DOTA-AE105: Implications for Visualizing Cancer Invasion

Expression levels of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) represent an established biomarker for poor prognosis in a variety of human cancers. The objective of the present study was to explore whether noninvasive PET can be used to perform a quantitative assessment of expression levels of uPAR across different human cancer xenograft models in mice and to illustrate the clinical potential of uPAR PET in future settings for individualized therapy. Methods: To accomplish our objective, a linear, high-affinity uPAR peptide antagonist, AE105, was conjugated with DOTA and labeled with 64Cu (64Cu-DOTA-AE105). Small-animal PET was performed in 3 human cancer xenograft mice models, expressing different levels of human uPAR, and the tumor uptake was correlated with the uPAR expression level determined by uPAR enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The tumor uptake pattern of this tracer was furthermore compared with 18F-FDG uptake, and finally the correlation between sensitivity toward 5-fluorouracil therapy and uPAR expression level was investigated. Results: The uPAR-targeting PET tracer was produced in high purity and with high specific radioactivity. A significant correlation between tumor uptake of 64Cu-DOTA-AE105 and uPAR expression was found (R2 = 0.73; P < 0.0001) across 3 cancer xenografts, thus providing a strong argument for specificity. A significantly different uptake pattern of 64Cu-DOTA-AE105, compared with that of 18F-FDG, was observed, thus emphasizing the additional information that can be obtained on tumor biology using 64Cu-DOTA-AE105 PET. Furthermore, a significant correlation between baseline uPAR expression and sensitivity toward 5-fluorouracil was revealed, thus illustrating the possible potentials of uPAR PET in a clinical setting. Conclusion: Our results clearly demonstrate that the peptide-based PET tracer 64Cu-DOTA-AE105 enables the noninvasive quantification of uPAR expression in tumors in vivo, thus emphasizing its potential use in a clinical setting to detect invasive cancer foci and for individualized cancer therapy.
Evaluation of salivary sialic acid levels in acute lymphoblastic leukemic children and its correlation with dental caries experience.

AIM The aim of present study was to evaluate the salivary sialic acid levels in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemic (ALL) children and to correlate it with dental caries experience. METHOD A total of 120 children aged 4-10 yrs were divided into 4 groups of 30 each. Dental caries experience was recorded followed by un-stimulated saliva collection. RESULTS The mean salivary sialic acid levels of the study group were much higher when compared with the control group, which was statistically significant. A linear relationship between salivary sialic acid levels and dental caries in leukemic children was observed. CONCLUSION The findings of our study conclude that salivary sialic acid levels may have a potent activity in dental caries process and can be used as a useful marker in cancer
A short form of the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE): development and cross-validation

Synopsis Data from four studies were used to assess the psychometric properties of the 26 IQCODE items. The items were assessed in terms of item–total correlations, test–retest reliabilities, correlations with indicators of current cognitive functioning and correlations with indicators of pre-morbid cognitive functioning. These data were used to develop a 16-item short form. The short form was cross-validated in a new sample using dementia/delirium diagnosis as the validity standard. It was found to perform as well as the long form.
Inclusion of immigrant status in smoking prevalence statistics.

OBJECTIVES Data from the 1995-1996 and 1998-1999 Current Population Survey tobacco use supplements were used to examine smoking prevalence statistics by race/ethnicity and immigrant status. METHODS Smoking prevalence statistics were calculated, and these data were decomposed by country of birth for Asian immigrants to illustrate the heterogeneity in smoking rates present within racial/ethnic groups. RESULTS Except in the case of male Asian/Pacific Islanders, immigrants exhibited significantly lower smoking prevalence rates than nonimmigrants. However, rates varied according to country of birth. CONCLUSIONS This research highlights the need to disaggregate health statistics by race/ethnicity, sex, immigrant status, and, among immigrants, country of birth. Data on immigrants' health behaviors enhance the development of targeted and culturally sensitive public health smoking prevention programs.
Antimicrobial Activity of Elephant Garlic Oil against Vibrio cholerae in Vitro and in a Food Model

Vibrio cholera is a major foodborne pathogen in Thailand. It is present in raw and lightly cooked foods, and it causes cholera. Natural products inhibiting it can be used to improve the safety of foods. In this study, elephant garlic oil was studied for its major diallyl sulfide content and its antimicrobial activity against V. cholerae. The oil had a very low concentration of diallyl monosulfides (1.62%) in comparison with the other diallyl sulfides (25.09% for diallyl disulfide, 16.04% for diallyl trisulfide, and 10.58% for diallyl tetrasulfide). In an in vitro study, the oil was found to have a bacteriocidal effect on all tested strains of V. cholerae, with varied minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 3.13 to 25 μg/ml. It was also found that elephant garlic oil retarded the growth of the bacteria or reduced the bacterial cell load in the food model, depending on its concentration.
Effects of intravenous administration of lidocaine on the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane in horses.

OBJECTIVE To determine effects of a continuous rate infusion of lidocaine on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane in horses. ANIMALS 8 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES Horses were anesthetized via IV administration of xylazine, ketamine, and diazepam; anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane in oxygen. Approximately 1 hour after induction, sevoflurane MAC determination was initiated via standard techniques. Following sevoflurane MAC determination, lidocaine was administered as a bolus (1.3 mg/kg, IV, over 15 minutes), followed by constant rate infusion at 50 μg/kg/min. Determination of MAC for the lidocaine-sevoflurane combination was started 30 minutes after lidocaine infusion was initiated. Arterial blood samples were collected after the lidocaine bolus, at 30-minute intervals, and at the end of the infusion for measurement of plasma lidocaine concentrations. RESULTS IV administration of lidocaine decreased mean ± SD sevoflurane MAC from 2.42 ± 0.24% to 1.78 ± 0.38% (mean MAC reduction, 26.7 ± 12%). Plasma lidocaine concentrations were 2,589 ± 811 ng/mL at the end of the bolus; 2,065 ± 441 ng/mL, 2,243 ± 699 ng/mL, 2,168 ± 339 ng/mL, and 2,254 ± 215 ng/mL at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes of infusion, respectively; and 2,206 ± 329 ng/mL at the end of the infusion. Plasma concentrations did not differ significantly among time points. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Lidocaine could be useful for providing a more balanced anesthetic technique in horses. A detailed cardiovascular study on the effects of IV infusion of lidocaine during anesthesia with sevoflurane is required before this combination can be recommended.
Genome-Wide Identification and Evolutionary Analysis of Arabidopsis Sm Genes Family

Abstract Sm proteins are members of a family of small proteins that are widespread in biosphere and found associated with RNA metabolism. To date, to our knowledge, only Arabidopsis SAD1 gene has been studied functionally in plant. In this study, 42 Sm genes are identified through comprehensive analysis in Arabidopsis. And a complete overview of this gene family is presented, including the gene structures, phylogeny, chromosome locations, selection pressure and expression. The results reveal that gene duplication contributes to the expansion of the Sm gene family in Arabidopsis genome, diverse expression patterns suggest their functional differentiation and divergence analysis indicates purifying selection as a key role in evolution. Our comparative genomics analysis of Sm genes will provide the first step towards the future experimental research on determining the functions of these genes.
Enteric‐type adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavity. An electron microscopic and immunocytochemical study

A primary adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavity with light microscopic, electron microscopic, and immunocytochemical features of an enteric‐type carcinoma is presented. The carcinoma contained a variety of dense‐core granules similar to those seen in enterochromaffin cells of different functional types. Some granules demonstrated an immunoreactivity with serotonin, cholecystokinin, gastrin, somatostatin and leu‐enkephalin antibodies. It is suggested that the endocrine cells in the neoplasm belong to the non‐neuroectodermal paraneurone system.
Trichothecene mycotoxins in aerosolized conidia of Stachybotrys atra

Stachybotrys atra is the etiologic agent of stachybotryotoxicosis, and this fungus and its trichothecene mycotoxins were recently implicated in an outbreak of unexplained illness in homes. S. atra was grown on sterile rice, autoclaved, dried, and then aerosolized by acoustic vibration. The distribution of particles (mass and number) was monitored on an aerodynamic particle sizer interfaced with a computer. Dust was collected on preweighed glass-fiber filters and extracted with 90% aqueous methanol. Extracts were tested for the ability to inhibit protein synthesis in rat alveolar macrophages, the ability to inhibit the proliferation of mouse thymocytes, and the presence of specific trichothecene mycotoxins. Virtually all of the particles were less than 15 micron in aerodynamic diameter, and the mass median diameter was 5 micron. Thus, most of the particles were respirable. Microscopic analysis of the generated dust revealed that ca. 85% of the dust particles were conidia of S. atra, another 6% were hyphal fragments, and the remainder of the particles were unidentifiable. Thus, greater than 90% of the particles were of fungal origin. The extracts strongly inhibited protein synthesis and thymocyte proliferation. Purified satratoxin H was also highly toxic in the same systems. Each of the individual filters contained satratoxin H (average, 9.5 ng/mg of dust). Satratoxin G and trichoverrols A and B were found in lesser amounts in some, but not all, of the filters. The limit of analysis is ca. 50 ng. These results establish that the conidia of S. atra contain trichothecene mycotoxins. In view of the potent toxicity of the trichothecenes, the inhalation of aerosols containing high concentrations of these conidia could be a potential hazard to health.
MULTIPLE ORGANISM SEPTICEMIA IN ACUTE LEUKEMIA; ANALYSIS OF 54 EPISODES.

ORGANISMS of low pathogenicity often cause serious infections in patients with acute leukemia. Septicemia is a major problem and often proves fatal. Although usually only one organism is recovered from the blood, the isolation of multiple organisms is not infrequent. We have reviewed our experience with 54 episodes of multiple organism septicemia in 52 patients with acute leukemia. Methods Four hundred twenty patients with acute leukemia were admitted to the National Institutes of Health from October 1953 to August 31, 1963. The clinical records and autopsy protocols of these patients were examined. Patients were included in the study if more than one organism was grown from their blood in a single culture or from separate cultures during any two-week period, but not if they contained obvious contaminants such as Staphylococcus albus , diphtheroids, α-hemolytic Streptococcus or group D Streptococcus . Postmortem heart blood cultures were not included unless a morphologically consistent site
Estimation of snow and glacier melt contribution to Liddar stream in a mountainous catchment, western Himalaya: an isotopic approach

ABSTRACT Snow- and glacier-dominated catchments in the Himalayas are important sources of fresh water to more than one billion people. However, the contribution of snowmelt and glacier melt to stream flow remains largely unquantified in most parts of the Himalayas. We used environmental isotopes and geochemical tracers to determine the source water and flow paths of stream flow draining the snow- and glacier-dominated mountainous catchment of the western Himalaya. The study suggested that the stream flow in the spring season is dominated by the snowmelt released from low altitudes and becomes isotopically depleted as the melt season progressed. The tracer-based mixing models suggested that snowmelt contributed a significant proportion (5–66 %) to stream flow throughout the year with the maximum contribution in spring and summer seasons (from March to July). In 2013 a large and persistent snowpack contributed significantly (∼51 %) to stream flow in autumn (September and October) as well. The average annual contribution of glacier melt to stream flow is little (5 %). However, the monthly contribution of glacier melt to stream flow reaches up to 19 % in September during years of less persistent snow pack.
Lifetime Effects of Intratracheally Instilled Nickel Subsulfide on B 6 C 3 F 1 Mice

A nickel subsulf ide (Ni3S2) lung tumor model for the s tudy of metal carcinogenesis was evaluated using intratracheally dosed B6C3F 1 mice. A preliminary s tudy of the survival of mice 14 days after a single intratracheal dose of Ni3S z displayed an LDs0 of 4 mg/kg. A lifetime s tudy was then initiated using five graded doses of Ni3S z or saline alone; administered once a week for 4 weeks. Animals which survived more than 60 days after the final dose were evaluated by histopathology. The s tudy was terminated 27 mon ths after initiation when 5 0 % of the control animals had died. There was no increase in neoplastic or nonneoplast ic lesions observed in animals treated with Ni3S 2 nor was there evidence of damage to the organs of the respiratory tract f rom this t reatment . The lack of significant biological response appears to be the result of relatively low tolerated dose, efficient lung clearance, and repair of early lung lesions. © 1986 Academic Press, Inc.
CT Enterography for Surveillance of Anastomotic Recurrence within 12 Months of Bowel Resection in Patients with Crohn's Disease: An Observational Study Using an 8-Year Registry

Objective To investigate the diagnostic yield and accuracy of CT enterography (CTE) for early (< 12 postoperative months) surveillance of anastomotic recurrence after bowel resection for Crohn's disease (CD). Materials and Methods We analyzed 88 adults (60 males and 28 females; mean age, 31.4 ± 9.6 years) who underwent bowel surgery for CD that created ileocolic anastomosis without enteric stoma, and underwent CTE for surveillance of CD recurrence/aggravation within 12 post-operative months. The CD activity index (CDAI) at the time of CTE was < 150 (i.e., clinically silent) in 51 patients, and ≥ 150 in 37 patients. Diagnostic yields of CTE regarding CD recurrence in the ileocolic anastomosis and extraluminal penetrating complications were determined. CTE-related step-up therapy was recorded. These outcomes were compared between the two CDAI groups after accounting for major risk factors for CD recurrence. In a subgroup of 31 patients who underwent both CTE and ileocolonoscopy within 1 month, CTE accuracy for anastomotic recurrence was assessed using the Rutgeerts scoring as the reference standard. Results CTE diagnostic yield was 35.2% (31/88) for the anastomotic recurrence and 9.1% (8/88) for penetrating complications. 20.5% (18/88) of the patients underwent step-up therapy after CTE detection of anastomotic recurrence. These outcomes were not significantly different between CDAI < 150 and CDAI ≥ 150, except that CTE yield for extraluminal penetrating complications was significantly higher in CDAI ≥ 150 (16.2% [6/37] vs. 3.9% [2/51]; multivariable-adjusted p = 0.029). CTE showed 92.3% (12/13) sensitivity and 83.3% (15/18) specificity for anastomotic recurrence. Conclusion CTE may be a viable option for the early postsurgical surveillance of recurred disease in CD patients.