Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, surveillance, and management of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with vascular liver disease

Vascular liver disease (VLD) presents special challenges in the diagnosis, surveillance, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC arising in the setting of vascular liver disease is often thought to be due to elevated hepatic arterial blood flow, rather than progressive fibrosis from chronic inflammation as with other chronic liver conditions such as viral hepatitis, autoimmune, and metabolic liver diseases. Vascular alteration inherent in VLD often impedes HCC non‐invasive diagnosis and loco‐regional treatment that depend on vascular properties found in typical liver environment. Benign and pre‐malignant liver nodules such as focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatocellular adenoma are also more common in certain VLDs, further adding to surveillance and diagnostic challenges. In this synopsis, we aimed to review available literature on the epidemiology, surveillance, diagnosis, and management of HCC in patients with VLD and specifically Budd–Chiari syndrome, congenital porto‐systemic shunts, Fontan‐associated liver disease, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.
Evaluation and fetal intervention in severe fetal hydronephrosis

Purpose of review Fetal hydronephrosis secondary to congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) can adversely affect neonates in the postnatal period with long-term consequences. A prenatal diagnosis of CAKUT can have an early fetal intervention to minimize these consequences. This review aims to provide an overview of the possible fetal intervention with severe hydronephrosis. Recent findings Clinical course and outcomes of CAKUT are predicted based on biochemical markers and radiological findings. In spite of advancements and accurately diagnosing the severity of hydronephrosis, there are many controversies surround on selection of cases with antenatal hydronephrosis (ANH) that will benefit from fetal intervention. Despite better diagnosis and techniques fetal intervention is limited to mainly lower urinary tract obstruction patients to improve amniotic fluid volume and assist in lung development. Summary ANH can potentially detect the severity of congenital renal anomalies but unable to recognize a specific disease. A multidisciplinary approach is required to diagnose and properly stage cases of severe CAKUT and potential surgical intervention can be considered.
The Net Clinical Benefit of Rivaroxaban Compared to Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin in the Treatment of Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) carries significant morbidity and mortality. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) remains the standard of care, with recent systematic studies suggesting the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in the treatment of CAT. Uncertainty, however, remains regarding rivaroxaban efficacy and safety in real-world settings. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing rivaroxaban to LMWH. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. The primary outcome was the net clinical benefit (NCB), while rates of major bleeding (MB), venous thromboembolism (VTE), clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (CRNMB), and all-cause mortality events were secondary outcomes. Seventeen studies were included in the final analysis. Rivaroxaban had a better NCB (relative risk [RR] = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.75-0.89, Q = 10.51, I 2 = 0%), less VTE events (RR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.65-0.82, Q = 6.76, I 2 = 0%), and lower all-cause mortality (RR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.57-0.91, Q = 32.8, I 2 = 79%) compared to LMWH. Additionally, comparable MB events (RR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.85-1.33, Q = 16.9, I 2 = 11%). However, CRNMB events were higher in the rivaroxaban group (RR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.46-2.80, Q = 9.9, I 2 = 19%). Additional analyses demonstrated consistency of results. Our review encompassing data from randomized and real-world data suggested rivaroxaban superiority compared to LMWH in terms of a better NCB, fewer VTE events, lower all-cause mortality, and comparable MB risk while carrying a higher risk of CRNMB. These findings support the use of rivaroxaban in the treatment of CAT. Additionally, it warrants a sizable randomized controlled study testing the superiority of rivaroxaban versus LMWH formulation and ascertaining bleeding outcomes according to cancer type and site.
Pediatric Brain Tumors: Descriptive Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Future Directions

Brain tumors are the most common solid tumors in children and remain a significant contributor to death by disease in this population. Pediatric brain tumors (PBT) are broadly classified into two major categories: glial and neuronal tumors. Various factors, including tumor histology, tumor location, and demographics, influence the incidence and prognosis of this heterogeneous group of neoplasms. Numerous epidemiologic studies have been conducted to identify genetic and environmental risk factors for these malignancies. Thus far, the only established risk factors for PBTs are exposure to ionizing radiation and some rare genetic syndromes. However, relatively consistent evidence of positive associations for birth defects, markers of fetal growth, advanced parental age, maternal dietary N-nitroso compounds, and exposure to pesticides have been reported. The genetic variants associated with susceptibility to PBTs were predominantly identified by a candidate-gene approach. The identified genetic variants belong to four main pathways, including xenobiotic detoxification, inflammation, DNA repair, and cell-cycle regulation. Conducting large and multi-institutional studies is warranted to systematically detect genetic and environmental risk factors for different histologic subtypes of PBTs. This, in turn, might lead to a better understanding of etiology of PBTs and eventually developing risk prediction models to prevent these clinically significate malignancies.
The PROMova study comparing active and passive use of patient-reported outcome measures in ovarian cancer follow-up: effect on patient-perceived involvement, satisfaction with care, and usefulness

Abstract Background Patients with ovarian cancer often experience substantial health problems and side effects resulting in reduced quality of life (QoL). Different models of using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) during follow-up may improve the quality of care. This national, multicenter observational study investigated the effect of active use of PROMs on patient-perceived involvement, satisfaction with care, unmet needs, and QoL during follow-up of ovarian cancer. Material and methods Ovarian cancer patients were recruited at the end of primary treatment at eight centers in Denmark. During 18 months of follow-up patients repeatedly completed European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaires covering health related QoL and symptoms. At the sites using PROMs actively (ACT), the clinician had access to an overview of the patient's scores during the clinical encounter. Clinicians using PROMs passively were alerted in case of severe development of symptoms. Following each encounter, patients evaluated their health service experience by completing the CollaboRATE scale of involvement in decision making, the Patient Experience Questionnaire, and ad hoc questions covering patient-perceived usefulness of the PROMs. Results A total of 223 patients were enrolled, i.e., 168 (75.3%) at five sites using ACT and 53 (23.8%) at three sites using them passively. We found no statistically significant difference in involvement in the decision making, satisfaction with care, unmet needs, and QoL between the two groups. The majority of patients found it useful to complete the PROMs, although it did not seem to significantly support them in raising issues with the oncologist. Conclusion Active use of PROMs did not improve patients’ experience of involvement in follow-up care as compared to passive use.
Effectiveness and toxicity of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

ABSTRACT Objective: Adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) improves survival of patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the cisplatin-vinorelbine regimen has been associated with a significant risk of clinically relevant toxicity. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and feasibility of AC for NSCLC patients in a real-world setting. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of patients with stage I-III NSCLC undergoing surgery with curative intent between 2009 and 2018. AC was administered at the discretion of physicians. The patients were divided into two groups: AC group and no AC (control) group. Study outcomes included overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), as well as the safety profile and feasibility of the cisplatin-vinorelbine regimen in a real-world setting. Results: The study involved 231 patients, 80 of whom received AC. Of those, 55 patients received the cisplatin-vinorelbine regimen. Survival analyses stratified by tumor stage showed that patients with stage II NSCLC in the AC group had better RFS (p = 0.036) and OS (p = 0.017) than did those in the no AC group. Among patients with stage III NSCLC in the AC group, RFS was better (p < 0.001) and there was a trend toward improved OS (p = 0.060) in comparison with controls. Of those who received the cisplatin-vinorelbine regimen, 29% had grade 3-4 febrile neutropenia, and 9% died of toxicity. Conclusions: These results support the benefit of AC for NSCLC patients in a real-world setting. However, because the cisplatin-vinorelbine regimen was associated with alarming rates of toxicity, more effective and less toxic alternatives should be investigated.
What gait features influence the amount and intensity of physical activity in people with multiple sclerosis?

Abstract Although the mutual relationship between ambulation and physical activity (PA) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) has been described in several studies, there is still a lack of detailed information about the way in which specific aspects of the gait cycle are associated with amount and intensity of PA. This study aimed to verify the existence of possible relationships among PA parameters and the spatio-temporal parameters of gait when both are instrumentally assessed. Thirty-one pwMS (17F, 14 M, mean age 52.5, mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score 3.1) were requested to wear a tri-axial accelerometer 24 hours/day for 7 consecutive days and underwent an instrumental gait analysis, performed using an inertial sensor located on the low back, immediately before the PA assessment period. Main spatio-temporal parameters of gait (i.e., gait speed, stride length, cadence and duration of stance, swing, and double support phase) were extracted by processing trunk accelerations. PA was quantified using average number of daily steps and percentage of time spent at different PA intensity, the latter calculated using cut-point sets previously validated for MS. The existence of possible relationships between PA and gait parameters was assessed using Spearman rank correlation coefficient rho. Gait speed and stride length were the parameters with the highest number of significant correlations with PA features. In particular, they were found moderately to largely correlated with number of daily steps (rho 0.62, P< .001), percentage of sedentary activity (rho = –0.44, P < .001) and percentage of moderate-to-vigorous activity (rho = 0.48, P < .001). Small to moderate significant correlations were observed between PA intensity and duration of stance, swing and double support phases. The data obtained suggest that the most relevant determinants associated with higher and more intense levels of PA in free-living conditions are gait speed and stride length. The simultaneous quantitative assessment of gait parameters and PA levels might represent a useful support for physical therapists in tailoring optimized rehabilitative and training interventions.
Interaction between nitrogen and sulfur by foliar application and its effects on flour bread-making quality

BACKGROUND: Optimization of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) nutrition of wheat influences the bread-making quality of grain. This study was conducted to determine whether the application of N and S in winter wheat at anthesis stage during two field trials could influence the absorption and distribution of N and S in grain and flour bread-making quality RESULTS: The incorporation of 15N and 34S tracers in various plant parts (leaves, stems, spikes) was determined by isotopic ratio mass spectrometry coupled with an elemental analyser (EA-IRMS). The effects of foliar fertilization on percentage of 15N and 34S recovery in various plant parts, grain yield, flour protein content, and dough properties were investigated after a combination of treatments: N (urea), S (micronized elemental S) and NS (both urea and micronized elemental S). Nitrogen (70–80%) and S (35–55%) were quickly assimilated during the days following application. Sixty days after application, 42–68% N and 6–12% S were recovered in the grain. When N and S fertilizers were applied simultaneously, N and S recoveries (68% and 12%), N/S ratios (11–14), flour protein content (115 g kg−1) and dough strength (310 × 10−4 J), swelling (21.8 mmH2O) and extensibility (96.4 mm) were increased. CONCLUSION: A synergistic effect between the foliar applied N and S fertilizers appears to increase N and S assimilation in grain and may improve bread-making qualities. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Emerging Roles of Metallothioneins in Beta Cell Pathophysiology: Beyond and above Metal Homeostasis and Antioxidant Response

Simple Summary Defective insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells is key for the development of type 2 diabetes but the precise mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Metallothioneins are metal binding proteins whose precise biological roles have not been fully characterized. Available evidence indicated that Metallothioneins are protective cellular effectors involved in heavy metal detoxification, metal ion homeostasis and antioxidant defense. This concept has however been challenged by emerging evidence in different medical research fields revealing novel negative roles of Metallothioneins, including in the context of diabetes. In this review, we gather and analyze the available knowledge regarding the complex roles of Metallothioneins in pancreatic beta cell biology and insulin secretion. We comprehensively analyze the evidence showing positive effects of Metallothioneins on beta cell function and survival as well as the emerging evidence revealing negative effects and discuss the possible underlying mechanisms. We expose in parallel findings from other medical research fields and underscore unsettled questions. Then, we propose some future research directions to improve knowledge in the field. Abstract Metallothioneins (MTs) are low molecular weight, cysteine-rich, metal-binding proteins whose precise biological roles have not been fully characterized. Existing evidence implicated MTs in heavy metal detoxification, metal ion homeostasis and antioxidant defense. MTs were thus categorized as protective effectors that contribute to cellular homeostasis and survival. This view has, however, been challenged by emerging evidence in different medical fields revealing novel pathophysiological roles of MTs, including inflammatory bowel disease, neurodegenerative disorders, carcinogenesis and diabetes. In the present focused review, we discuss the evidence for the role of MTs in pancreatic beta-cell biology and insulin secretion. We highlight the pattern of specific isoforms of MT gene expression in rodents and human beta-cells. We then discuss the mechanisms involved in the regulation of MTs in islets under physiological and pathological conditions, particularly type 2 diabetes, and analyze the evidence revealing adaptive and negative roles of MTs in beta-cells and the potential mechanisms involved. Finally, we underscore the unsettled questions in the field and propose some future research directions.
Two new phenolic compounds from the lichen Parmotrema cristiferum growing in Vietnam

Abstract Two new phenolic compounds, cristiferides A-B (1-2) together with six known compounds, 2,4-dihydroxyphthalide (3), lecanoric acid (4), orsellinic acid (5), 5-chloroorsellinic acid (6), methyl haematommate (7), and methyl β-orsellinate (8) were isolated from the lichen Parmotrema cristiferum (Taylor) Hale (Parmeliaceae). The structures of isolated compounds were identified from its spectroscopic data and by comparison with the literatures. Compounds 1-3 and 6-8 were evaluated for alpha-glucosidase inhibition. Compounds 2 and 7 revealed potent activity with IC50 values of 72.66 μM and 48.73 μM, respectively. Graphical Abstract
Auditory perception of self and others in zebra finches: evidence from an operant discrimination task

ABSTRACT Vocal communication is essential for social interactions in many animal species. For this purpose, an animal has to perceive vocal signals of conspecifics and is often also required to discriminate conspecifics. The capacity to discriminate conspecifics is particularly important in social species in which individuals interact repeatedly. In addition, auditory perception of self plays an important role for vocal learners. A vocal learner has to memorise vocalisations of conspecifics and to subsequently modify its own vocalisations in order to match the memorised vocalisations. Here, we investigated auditory perception of self and others in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), a highly gregarious songbird species and vocal learner. We used laboratory colonies in which founder males had been previously trained to produce the same song type. This resulted in artificial dialects in the song of founders and their offspring. We investigated whether those birds would be able to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics based on song. Furthermore, we examined whether they would classify their own song as familiar or unfamiliar. We found that birds were able to discriminate between songs of familiar versus unfamiliar conspecifics, despite the fact that all songs were imitations of the same song type. This suggests that such discrimination is possible even based on songs with a high acoustic similarity. None of the subjects classified their own song as unfamiliar. Three out of eight males classified their own song as familiar. Thus zebra finches might recognise their own song. Further experiments are needed to confirm such self-recognition. Highlighted Article: Zebra finches can discriminate vocalisations of familiar from those of unfamiliar conspecifics even when all sing the same song; some classified their own song as familiar and might thus have recognised themselves.
The accuracy of age estimation using transition analysis in the Hamann-Todd collection.

OBJECTIVES Reconstructing demography of past populations using skeletal data is challenging when analyzing adults because the process of biological aging does not always reflect the individual's chronological age. A proposed solution to address the limitations of traditional age estimation methods is transition analysis (TA), a multifactorial method of age estimation. However, despite its methodological refinement, TA has varying degrees of accuracy when applied to different known-age skeletal samples. This study assesses TA's accuracy by comparing age estimates to known age at death in the Hamann-Todd Collection. MATERIALS AND METHODS We contrasted the maximum likelihood age estimates generated by the ADBOU program to the known ages of 221 individuals. The absolute error was calculated for the entire sample, and compared between sex and ancestry. RESULTS The mean absolute error in the sample is 11.6 (SD = 10.3) years, with white individuals' errors (14.1 years) being significantly higher than black individuals' (9.1 years; p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between sexes (p = 0.621). A weak to moderate positive correlation was found between known age and absolute error for white males (R = 0.607; p < 0.001), white females (R = 0.509; p < 0.001), and black males (R = 0.371; p = 0.006). The accuracy of TA age estimates varied when each anatomical region was analyzed independently, but the combination of all three anatomical regions yielded the most accurate age estimates. DISCUSSION These findings further support that TA accuracy depends on the prior distribution used and, in the Hamann-Todd Collection, the accuracy for white individuals is more influenced by this limitation than when black individuals are analyzed.
A remark on uniform expansion

For every U ⊂ Diffvol(T) there is a measure of finite support contained in U which is uniformly expanding. 0. Introduction Let μ be a probability measure in Diff(M) where M is a closed manifold of dimension d := dim(M). We denote μ(1) = μ and μ(n) = μ∗μ(n−1). Note that μ(n) is the pushforward by the composition of the product measure μ in (Diff(M))n. Definition 0.1 ([8, 4]). A probability measure μ in Diff(M) is uniformly expanding if there exists N > 0 such that for every (x, v) ∈ T 1M one has that ∫ log ‖Dxfv‖ dμ(N)(f) > 2. This is a robust1 condition on μ. This notion as well as similar ones have been studied extensively recently, as it allows one to describe quite precisely the stationary measures for random walks with μ as law (see below for more discussion). Here we will make a remark (which can be related to some results, e.g. in [3, 6, 14]) that points in the direction of the abundance of uniform expansion. Theorem 0.2. For every open set U in Diffvol(T) there is a finitely supported probability measure μ whose support is contained in U and μ is uniformly expanding. As a consequence of the results of [5, 13, 6] one deduces that: Corollary 0.3. For every U ⊂ Diffvol(T) there is a probability measure μ finitely supported in U such that the orbit of every point under the random walk on T2 produced by μ equidistributes in T2. Moreover, for every μ′ close to μ in the weak-∗ 2020 Mathematics Subject Classification. 37H15. Rafael Potrie was partially supported by CSIC 618, FCE-1-2017-1-135352. This work was started while the author was a Von Neumann fellow at IAS, funded by the Minerva Research Foundation Membership Fund and NSF DMS-1638352. 1To be precise, if μ has compact support, then there is a neighborhood U of its support such that any measure μ′ which has support in U and is weak-∗-close to μ, is also uniformly expanding (see (3.1) below).
Monitoring Phenolic Composition of Maturing Maize Stover by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Pyrolysis/Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry*

Maize stovers collected every 14 days over an 84-day growth period were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector (HPLC-ED) and pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (PY/GC/MS) in order to monitor changes in the phenolic composition. Prior to HPLC-ED analyses, ground samples were sequentially extracted with (i) methanol, (ii) 0.1 M sodium hydroxide and (iii) 2 M sodium hydroxide in the presence of nitrobenzene to separate, respectively, free phenolic monomers, alkali-labile phenolic monomers and alkali-resistant lignin. In turn, solution (ii) was treated with alkaline nitrobenzene to obtain (iv) alkali-labile lignin. Pyrolysis was carried out on ground native samples by using a platinum heated filament pyrolyser. Increases in the absolute phenolic concentrations in the residues of 0.1 M sodium hydroxide extraction and in the ratio of alkali-resistant lignin vs total lignin were observed by HPLC-ED during the first 28-42 days of maturation, reaching a steady level in the remaining maturation period. A linear increase of syringyl units vs guaiacyl units was for found the alkali-resistant lignin fraction over the entire period of maturation. Similar trends were showed by PY/GC/MS with regard to relative lignin content and syringyl/guaiacyl ratio. Both techniques showed their usefulness to gauge changes in the phenolic composition during the lignification process.