Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cisplatin+Vinorelbine Treatment of Recurrent or Metastatic Salivary Gland Malignancies (RMSGM): A Final Report on 60 Cases

Objectives: Recurrent or metastatic salivary gland malignancies (RMSGM) are not suitable for conventional treatment. We report the clinical outcomes of 60 patients affected by RMSGM who were treated with DDP+VNB as a first-line or second-line scheme. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients between 2001 and 2008, affected by RMSGM were enrolled in this cohort prospective study; they received the following first-line or second-line chemotherapy (CT), for a maximum of 6 cycles: DDP at 80 mg/m2 on day 1+VNB at 25 mg/m2 on day 1 and 8, at 3-week intervals. Results: Seventy percent of the patients received DDP+VNB as the first-line CT and 30% of them received it as the second-line CT. After 5 cycles (median) of first-line DDP+VNB, 7% of the patients achieved a complete response, 24% achieved a partial response, 33% achieved an no change, and 36% achieved a PD. After 4 cycles (median) of second-line CT, 0 patients achieved a CR, 5% achieved a PR, 33% achieved an NC, and 62% achieved a PD. The median overall survival period was 10 months for those who received the first-line CT and 4 months for those who received the second-line CT. The best ORR (54%) and median survival were observed, during first-line treatment, in adenocarcinomas, whereas undifferentiated tumours were unresponsive with a poor median survival (4.6 mo). Conclusions: Adenocarcinomas show the best response and prognosis with DDP+VNB scheme that seems to be an effective and well-tolerated first-line CT for RMSGM, whereas it has only low palliative activity as a second-line CT.
Non-uniform expression of alpha subunit isoforms of the Na+/K+ pump in rat dorsal root ganglia neurons.

Tissue sections and antibodies selectively recognizing isoforms of the alpha subunit of the Na+/K+ pump were used to determine the expression of alpha1, alpha2 and alpha3 pump isoforms in the plasma membrane of adult rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. There was no detectable membrane signal from DRG neurons that were probed with antibodies to the alpha2 isoform of the Na+/K+ pump. The alpha1 isoform of the Na+/K+ pump was found in most (77+/-4%) studied DRG neurons, regardless of cell size. Only 16+/-7% of the neurons expressed a detectable level of the alpha3 Na+/K+ pump and all were apparently from a subpopulation of large DRG neurons. Comparison of cell size distributions and a study of neurons identified in serial sections suggested that of the alpha3 positive DRG neurons about 75% coexpressed the alpha1 isoform of the Na+/K+ pump. These data show that the expression of the protein of the alpha subunit isoforms of the Na+/K+ pump is not uniform throughout the population of DRG neurons and that alpha1 is the predominant isoform in the plasma membrane of these neurons.
Correlates of sleep-wake patterns among children and young adolescents in Taiwan.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To determine correlates of morning and evening sleep-wake patterns in a community sample of children. DESIGN A school-based cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS Sample included 1572 students, grades 4 to 8 (response rate, 98.4%), using a multistage sampling method. INTERVENTIONS N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Student participants completed a Sleep Habits Questionnaire, which included sleep schedules, a mood scale, substance use, the morningness/eveningness (M/E) scale, pubertal development scale, sleep disturbance scale, and parental monitoring scale. The morning (n = 367) and evening (n = 364) groups were operationally defined as participants who scored in the top or bottom 25% of the M/E scale, respectively. Linear mixed and tree-based classification models were used to explore correlates of sleep-wake patterns. Our results showed the evening type was associated with older school grade level, increased coffee drinking, moodiness, decreased parental monitoring, daytime sleepiness, and several sleep disturbances, including early insomnia, fear of sleeping in darkness, bedwetting, and going to bed later than 3 am. The 2 most potent discriminators between evening and morning subtypes were higher grade level, an index of age, and moodiness. The association of moodiness with the evening type was greater in boys than girls. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that further research should address explanations for the association between evening type and mood and anxiety symptoms, including order of the effects, developmental factors, environmental determinants of sleep time such as school start time and parental bedtime monitoring, and circadian maturation.
THE USE OF CENTRAL VENOUS PRESSURE AS A GUIDE TO VOLUME REPLACEMENT IN SHOCK.

A prompt hemodynamic diagnosis in shock can be made by measuring the central venous pressure and observing the response to transfusion. Patients with low CVP have either volume deficit or, rarely, peripheral pooling. If transfusion restores See Image in the PDF File the CVP and blood pressure to normal, a volume deficit existed. If repeated transfusion fails to restore blood pressure and CVP, strong evidence exists that pooling is occurring in the periphery, probably in the capillaries and venules of the circulation. Patients with a high CVP (over 10 cm. of water) and low blood pressure have a cardiac deficit. Isoproterenol will greatly increase cardiac output and blood pressure at the same or lower CVP in these patients. Measurement of CVP facilitates prompt treatment of shock, decreases the number of patients taken to surgery with an inadequate blood volume, and is a safe guide to blood volume replacement. Patients can be transfused to a CVP of 15 cm. of water with safety. Mirroring as it does changes in tone of peripheral blood vessels and volume of venous return to the heart, the CVP represents blood volume as seen from the right side of the heart. In addition, as the cardiac filling pressure, it determines to a large extent the initial stretch of cardiac muscle fiber and thus the force of cardiac contraction. It, therefore, provides the clinician with an inside view of the heart and circulation. Blood volume measurement, on the other hand, is based on age and weight or surface area of normal subjects. It is a static measurement having little relationship to the minute-to-minute changes in the circulatory dynamics of patients in shock.
Chronic stress affects PERIOD2 expression through glycogen synthase kinase-3&bgr; phosphorylation in the central clock

Mood disorders are considered to be associated with altered circadian rhythms, but the correlation between them has remained obscure. The mood stabilizer, lithium, is an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3&bgr; (GSK-3&bgr;), which is a modulator of the circadian clock system. Here, we show that chronic restraint (CR) stress diminishes behavioral activity and rhythmicity in mice. CR stress elevated GSK-3&bgr; phosphorylation and blunted the rhythmic expression of PERIOD2 (PER2) in the brain. Moreover, lithium, when administered to the stress-imposed mice, reduced GSK-3&bgr; phosphorylation and restored PER2 expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus in a nighttime-specific manner. These data suggest that CR stress altered the circadian behavioral rhythm through a change in circadian gene expression of PER2 and GSK-3&bgr; phosphorylation in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
Demodex flagellurus sp. n. (Acari: Demodicidae) from the preputial and clitoral glands of the house mouse, Mus musculus L.

An extremely large new demodicid, Demodex flagellurus sp. n. , is described in all stages of its life cycle from the house mouse, Mus musculus L. Its habitat, the preputial and clitoral glands, is reported as new for demodicid mites. Adaptations to habitat, host transfer, and the potential of this species as a useful model in experimental studies on demodicid biology are discussed.
The quadrivalent approach to influenza vaccination.

Antigenic distinctions between influenza A and B viruses, among various influenza A subtypes and strains, and between influenza B viruses of different lineages have posed major challenges to the development of widely effective influenza vaccines. The overall impact of disease caused by influenza B has not been fully appreciated until recently. Although less extensive than that caused by influenza A, the burden of influenza B is nonetheless substantial, and it has been responsible for both outbreaks and for severe disease, particularly in children and young adults [1–3]. Antigenic diversity is also believed to be less problematic among influenza B than among influenza A viruses. However, influenza B variants of 2 antigenically distinct lineages have been recognized since the early 1980s: prototypesB/Victoria/2/87(Victorialineage) and B/Yamagata/16/88 (Yamagata lineage). B/Yamagata was the major circulating lineage until the 1980s when B/ Victoria emerged. Since then, both influenza B virus lineages with drift variants have circulated globally, with variation as to which of the 2 influenza B lineages would be preeminent in a particular year. Historically, influenza vaccines have contained influenza B components of only 1 lineage, while having components of 2 influenzaAsubtypessince1977(A/H3N2
Soluble E-selectin is increased in inflammatory synovial fluid.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the hypothesis that soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) may be detected in synovial fluid (SF) and play a role in inflammatory arthritis. METHODS We used a sandwich ELISA to measure sE-selectin in the SF of 58 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 9 with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), 30 with osteoarthritis (OA), 13 with gout, and 9 with calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease (CPPD). RESULTS SF sE-selectin values in RA (mean 1.49 ng/ml, 0.18-3.90) and PsA (mean 1.36 ng/ml, 0.88-2.31) were significantly higher than those with OA (mean 0.83 ng/ml, 0.00-1.83), gout (mean 1.04 ng/ml, 0.11-3.42), or CPPD (mean 0.80 ng/ml, 0.20-1.47). Elevated SF sE-selectin was associated with elevated serum sE-selectin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and SF white blood cell count. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that endothelial cell activation and E-selectin may contribute to the development of inflammatory processes.
Content validity of the Harris Infant Neuromotor Test.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to assess the content validity of the Harris Infant Neuromotor Test (HINT), a new screening tool designed to detect early signs of cognitive and neuromotor delays in infants with known risk factors. SUBJECTS A multidisciplinary panel of 26 international experts, including researchers and clinicians in physical therapy, occupational therapy, developmental pediatrics, child neurology, and psychology, was selected to assess, review, and suggest modifications to the HINT. METHODS A validity questionnaire that was keyed to the three parts of the HINT (background information, parent questionnaire, and infant assessment) and to individual items within each part was mailed to the selected content experts. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS Twenty experts completed the validity questionnaires, and the remaining 6 experts provided written comments. The experts generally agreed that the items on the initial development edition of the HINT were clearly worded and free of cultural bias. Based on written feedback, additional background information items were added, a fifth question was added to the parent questionnaire portion, and 20 of the 22 infant assessment items were modified. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION After receiving questionnaire responses and written comments from a panel of 26 experts, the original version of the HINT was modified and printed as development edition 2 in November 1993. This revised edition is currently being used to examine the reliability and validity of the HINT in assessing infants at risk.
Clinical and Laboratory Predictors of Esophageal Varices in Children and Adolescents With Portal Hypertension Syndrome

Objectives: To determine the clinical and laboratory parameters that may predict the presence of esophageal varices in children and adolescents with portal hypertension. Patients and Methods: Overall, 111 patients with portal hypertension and no previous history of digestive bleeding underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for detection of esophageal varices. A univariate analysis initially was carried out, followed by a logistic regression analysis to identify the independent variables associated with the presence of esophageal varices. Sensitivity and specificity rates, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and the accuracy of the predictive variables identified among cirrhotic patients were calculated with the esophagogastroduodenoscopy as the reference test. Results: Sixty percent of patients had esophageal varices on the first esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Patients with portal vein thrombosis and congenital hepatic fibrosis were 6.15-fold more likely to have esophageal varices than cirrhotic patients. When we analyzed 85 cirrhotic patients alone, splenomegaly and hypoalbuminemia remained significant indicators of esophageal varices. Only spleen enlargement showed appropriate sensitivity and negative predictive value (97.7% and 91.7%, respectively) to be used as a screening test for esophageal varices among cirrhotic patients. Conclusions: In reference services and research protocols, endoscopic screening should be performed in all patients with portal vein thrombosis and congenital hepatic fibrosis. Among cirrhotic patients, the indication should be conditioned to clinical evidence of splenomegaly or hypoalbuminemia. For clinicians, the recommendation is to emphasize the orientations given to guardians of patients with portal vein thrombosis and congenital hepatic fibrosis as to the risk of digestive bleeding. Cirrhotic patients with hypoalbuminemia and splenomegaly should receive the same orientations.
Cancer Stem Cells: Foe or Reprogrammable Cells for Efficient Cancer Therapy?

Embryonic development and carcinogenesis share many molecular pathways and regulatory molecules. While the induction of a pluripotent state involves a significant oncogenic risk, as in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), the embryonic environment in vivo has been shown to suppress tumor development. In this review, we discuss the subtle equilibrium between the nanotopography (niche) of the hosting tissue resident stem cells and their biological dynamics, including the transformation in cancer stem cells. We review consistent findings indicating the potential for modulating the biology of human cancer stem cells by the aid of naturally occurring or synthetic molecules, including developmental stage zebrafish embryo extracts, hyaluronan, butyric acid (BA) and retinoic acid (RA), hyaluronan mixed esters of BA and RA, melatonin, vitamin D3, and endorphin peptides. Within this context, we dissect the multifaceted mechanisms orchestrated by endorphinergic systems, including paracrine cellto-cell communication, as well as the establishment of autocrine and intracrine (intracellular) peptide actions driving transcriptional responses and self-sustaining loops that behave as long-lived signals imparting features characteristic of differentiation, growth regulation and cell memory. Based upon the remarkable action of electromagnetic fields and mechanical vibration on (stem) cell signaling, differentiation, and senescence, we also consider the potential for using these physical energies as a tool to afford a fine tuning of cancer stem cell fate.
Forecasting of daily global solar radiation using wavelet transform-coupled Gaussian process regression: Case study in Spain

This work presents a successful application of a new hybrid model in forecasting daily global solar radiation for a site in Spain using time series of solar radiation. The hybrid model incorporates the wavelet transform (WT) and Gaussian process regression (GPR). The WT is used to extract meaningful time-frequency information by decomposing the clearness index time series into a set of well-designed subseries. The future behavior of clearness index is forecasted with the trained GPR model using inputs of those subseries. The daily global solar radiation is obtained by multiplying the forecasted clearness index with extraterrestrial solar radiation. The normalized root mean square error (nRMSE), 9.36%, demonstrates the model's excellent capability in forecasting daily global solar radiation. The proposed model outperforms some other well-established models, including autoregressive moving average (ARMA), non-wavelet GPR, wavelet coupled and non-wavelet artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector regression (SVR) models.
FAM20A Mutations Associated with Enamel Renal Syndrome

We identified two families with an autosomal-recessive disorder manifested by severe enamel hypoplasia, delayed and failed tooth eruption, misshapen teeth, intrapulpal calcifications, and localized gingival hyperplasia. Genetic analyses identified novel FAM20A mutations associated with the disease phenotype in both families. The proband of Family 1 had an altered splice junction in Intron 1 (g.502011G>C; c.405-1G>C) and a missense mutation in Exon 8 (g.65094G>A; c.1207G>A; p.D403N). The missense mutation is notable because D403 is strictly conserved among FAM20A homologues, and the corresponding defect in FAM20C caused osteosclerotic bone dysplasia and a loss of kinase activity. The proband at age 12 yrs tested negative for nephrocalcinosis. The proband and her affected father in Family 2 were homozygous for a single nucleotide deletion that altered a splice junction in Intron 10 (g.66622del; c.1361+4del). Minigene analyses demonstrated that this alteration precluded normal splicing. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of mouse maxillary first molars localized FAM20A in secretory-stage ameloblasts, in odontoblasts, and in the eruption pathway. IHC of kidneys localized FAM20A in the renal tubules. We conclude that FAM20A is likely a secretory pathway kinase and that loss-of-function mutations cause pathology where its phosphorylations are necessary for normal development or homeostasis.
Correlation between anthropometrics measurements, prealbumin level and transferin serum with Child-Pugh classification in evaluating nutritional status of liver cirrhosis patient.

AIM to evaluate nutritional status by using anthropometrics and biochemistry examination and to determine the correlation between albumin, prealbumin and transferin serum level with anthropometrics measures in liver cirrhosis patient according to Child-Pugh classification. METHODS study was conducted on 30 patients with liver cirrhosis Child-Pugh A, B and C. There were 8 patient of Child-Pugh A, 18 Child-Pugh B and 4 Child-Pugh C. Every patient underwent anthropometrics and biochemistry examination including ideal body weight (IBW), body mass index (BMI), triceps skin-fold thickness (TSF), mid-arm circumference (MAC), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), albumin, prealbumin and transferin serum. We used statistical analysis Spearman and Pearson correlation test. RESULTS by IBW and BMI measurement, most of liver cirrhosis patients indicated normal results. By MAMC measurement, there was no liver cirrhosis patient with good nutritional status. Most of them have slight and moderate malnutrition. There was no significant correlation between anthropometrics measurement with Child-Pugh score, with [p > 0.01]. And also, there was no significant relationship between albumin, prealbumin and serum transferin with anthropometrics measures, but there was significant correlation between prealbumin and transferin level with Child-Pugh score, with [p < 0.01]. CONCLUSION the conclusion of this study is prealbumin and transferin level may be used to evaluate nutritional status of liver cirrhosis patient, and on the contrary with anthropometrics measures. There was no correlation between anthropometrics measures with albumin, prealbumin and transferin level.
Prevention of stroke with ticlopidine

We examined the baseline characteristics of patients in the Ticlopidine Aspirin Stroke Study (TASS) to determine if the effects of the two treatments in preventing stroke differed in various subgroups. Patients with the following characteristics did less well on aspirin: elevated creatinine, hypertension or diabetes requiring treatment, or treatment with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs prior to their qualifying TIA or stroke. Women and patients with vertebrobasilar symptoms did particularly well on ticlopidine. We performed arteriography in 1,188 patients with carotid qualifying events. The frequency of stroke in patients with abnormal arteriograms ipsilateral to their symptoms was slightly higher than in those with normal carotid arteries. Ticlopidine was more effective in patients without carotid stenosis. Ticlopidine is more effective than aspirin in preventing strokes in patients having warning TIAs. The patients who benefit most from ticlopidine may be women, those who have vertebrobasilar symptoms, those with cerebral ischemic symptoms while on aspirin or anticoagulant therapy, and patients with diffuse atherosclerotic disease rather than high-grade carotid stenosis.
Higher expression of fab antibody fragments in a CHO cell line at reduced temperature

A chimeric Fab was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells under the control of the CMV promoter in a two‐stage production process. Cells were first grown to 90% confluence at 37°C in a proliferation phase, followed by a production phase at either 37°C or 28°C. Medium supplemented with serum and medium free from serum was tested in the production phase at both temperatures. Comparison of Fab expression revealed that reducing the temperature to 28°C resulted in a 14‐fold increase in product yield when cells were cultivated in serum‐containing medium, and in a 38‐fold increase in product yield when serum‐free medium was applied. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 84: 433–438, 2003.
Random forests and artificial neural network for predicting daylight illuminance and energy consumption

Predicting energy consumption and daylight illuminance plays an important part in building lighting control strategies. The use of simplified or data-driven methods is often preferred where a fast response is needed e.g. as a performance evaluation engine for advanced real-time control and optimization applications. In this paper we developed and then compared the performance of the widely-used Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with Random Forest (RF), a recently developed ensemble-based algorithm. The target application was predicting the hourly energy consumption and daylight illuminance values of a classroom in Cardiff, UK. Overall, RF performed better than ANN for predicting daylight illuminance; with coefficients of determination (R^2) of 0.9881 and 0.9799 respectively. On the energy consumption testing dataset, ANN performed marginally better than RF with R^2 values of 0.9973 and 0.9966 respectively. RF performs internal cross-validation and is relatively easy to tune as it has few tuning parameters. The paper also highlighted possible future research directions.
Brief report: Predictors of parenting stress among parents of children with biochemical genetic disorders.

OBJECTIVE To examine predictors of parenting stress in parents whose children were diagnosed with a biochemical genetic disorder clinically or through newborn screening. METHODS Parents of 263 children with biochemical genetic disorders (139 identified by newborn screening, 124 identified clinically) completed interviews focused on child health, medical service use, satisfaction with services, parenting stress, and family functioning. RESULTS Multiple regression analyses suggested that child adaptive functioning, parental satisfaction with support, and difficulties parents experienced meeting their child's health care needs were associated with scores on the Parenting Stress Index (R2 =.51). CONCLUSIONS Initiatives to improve child adaptive functioning and parental support as well as practical assistance to help parents meet their child's health needs may reduce parental stress and family disruption in this population.