Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Laser Thermal Ablation for Metastases Failing Radiosurgery: A Multicentered Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND Radiosurgical failure following stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases can be attributed to tumor regrowth or radiation necrosis. MRI‐guided laser thermal ablation (LTA) therapy has emerged as an option for treatment; however, previous literature demonstrates variable results across centers. OBJECTIVE To assess the outcomes of LTA in the treatment of metastases failing radiosurgery across multiple centers and to determine if any treatment factors are predictive of outcome. METHODS Clinical data for 30 patients across 4 centers were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were included if they received LTA therapy following radiosurgical failure due to radiation necrosis or tumor regrowth. Demographics, surgical data, and follow‐up imaging and clinical information were collected. Linear regression analyses were performed to determine treatment factors that were associated with post‐LTA outcome. RESULTS The large majority of patients responded favorably to LTA treatment with low complication rates (23%), short length of stay (53% ≤ 2 d) and reductions in perilesional edema (63%). A total of 73.3% of patients stopped steroids and 48% saw improvement of their preoperative symptoms. Patients with better pre‐LTA Karnofsky Performance Status had better survival. Patients who had lesions with more perilesional T2 change post‐LTA had a better chance of weaning off steroids and obtaining symptomatic relief. CONCLUSION MRI‐guided laser thermal ablation therapy serves as a viable alternative to traditional treatment options for metastatic brain lesions failing radiosurgery. Although this study is limited by size and is retrospective, LTA therapy may result in symptomatic improvement and a more prominent reduction in fluid‐attenuated inversion‐recovery signal for larger lesions.
A conformal hydrogel nanocomposite for local delivery of paclitaxel

Abstract Conventional surgical methods can not completely remove the tumor cells, and an inevitable recurrence always results in death. In this study, we prepared a conformal hydrogel nanocomposite with potential to inhibit the recurrence of glioma. Based on the MRI of a patient’s brain tumor cavity (BTC), we 3D-printed a mould for preparing the customized implants that could match the resection cavity. The obtained macroporous hydrogel, containing Paclitaxel (PTX) nanoparticles, could sustained release PTX. From the confocal microscopy image, we could detect that the hydrogel nanocomposite combined with nanoparticles uniformly. The nanoparticles were fabricated through a self-assembled process with PTX. Moreover, the in vitro studies showed that nanoparticles could release PTX slowly and efficiently inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells. This work prepared a conformal hydrogel nanocomposite for local delivery of paclitaxel, which could inspire the development of future protocols for precision therapy of residual glioma after surgical resection.
Performance comparison of exploiting different millimetre-wave bands in 5G cellular networks

Millimetre-wave (mm-wave) bands are considered an interesting candidate in the fifth generation (5G) mobile networks due to the high available bandwidth at these bands. Understanding the propagation performance of different mm-wave frequencies is an important issue to enhance the futuristic cellular networks. This paper investigates and compares the propagation performance of different mm-wave bands with the ultra-high frequency (UHF) by evaluating coverage and rate trends. The proposed scenario applied a map-based model for the base stations (BSs) deployment in university campus with a random distribution of users. The path loss models are determined by specifying the actual buildings' locations within the real campus map. Simulation results showed that the dense deployment of BSs will enhance the coverage of all mm-wave frequency bands and will offer limited noise networks. Comparison results showed that although the 73 GHz bands could provide good coverage with the lowest interference effects, it is still limited to small cell size. Also the 73 GHz bands results showed the higher rate achieved due to the large available bandwidth in this band.
Ginsenoside Rb1 exerts antidiabetic action on C2C12 muscle cells by leptin receptor signaling pathway

Abstract Context: Ginsenoside Rb1 improves insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in muscle cells via different signaling pathways; however, it is not clear that it has any effect on leptin signaling in skeletal muscle. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on leptin receptors expression and main signaling pathways of leptin (STAT3, PI3 kinase and ERK kinase) in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Materials and methods: C2C12 myotubes were incubated with various concentrations of Rb1 (0.1, 1 and 10 μM) for different incubation times (1–12 h). Leptin receptors expression and GLUT-4 translocation were analyzed using realtime PCR and western blot analyses, respectively. PI3 and ERK kinases were blocked using their specific inhibitors (wortmannin and PD98059) in the presence and absence of RB1 to determine the main signaling pathway related to leptin receptor activation in C2C12 cells. Results: Rb1 could maximally stimulate both leptin receptors (OBRa and OBRb) mRNA and protein expression and phosphorylation of STAT3, PI3K and ERK2 in C2C12 myotubes at 10 μM for 3 h. Rb1 induced GLUT4 translocation was inhibited by the silencing of OBRb mRNA, demonstrated that glucose uptake was mediated via leptin receptor activation. GLUT4 recruitment to the cell surface induced by Rb1 was inhibited by wortmannin, an inhibitor of PI3K in combination with OBRb siRNA, but not by PD98059 an ERK2 kinase-1 inhibitor, indicating that GLUT4 translocation induced by Rb1 was associated with the leptin receptor upregulation and subsequent activation of PI3K. Conclusions: Our results suggest that Rb1 promote translocation of GLUT4 by upregulation of leptin receptors and activation of PI3K.
Microparticle manipulation in viscoelastic liquids: towards a modular microfluidics

Microfluidics have received great attention in the last decades due to its wide applicability in molecular analysis, biodefense, molecular biology and microelectronics. In the molecular analysis field, in particular, several ap- plications such as particles/cells counting and separation are explored. For these applications, particles or cells are commonly suspended in Newtonian liquids. More recently, an increasing interest in using viscoelastic fluids in microfluidic devices is observed. Indeed, it has been recently proven that the non-Newtonian rheological properties of the fluid allow to perform several of the above mentioned operations by using simpler apparati as compared to the case with a Newtonian liquid. In most applications, microchannels with a square cross-section are used, due to the ease of fabrication. In this thesis, we study the effect of fluid rheology on the suspended par- ticle motion, in square-shaped microchannels. To this aim, several fluids are considered. Elastic, constant-viscosity fluids promote particle migration towards the channel centreline, achieving the so-called 3D focusing. For shear-thinning fluid, in contrast, the migration phenomenon is more com- plex: at low flow rates, i.e. in the constant viscosity region, particles still migrate towards the channel centreline, while at high flow rates, i.e. in the shear-thinning region, the migration reverts direction, and the particles are driven towards the corners of the channel cross-section. In addition, our re- sults highlight the weak effect of inertia on particle migration as compared to viscoelastic effects, even for low elasticity suspending liquids. In the second part of this thesis, we exploit the viscoelasticity-induced parti- cle migration to design a microrheometer capable of estimating the relaxation time of viscoelastic fluids, down to milliseconds. A remarkable improvement in the accuracy of the measure of the relaxation time is found, when comparing our results with experimental data obtained from shear or elongational experiments available in literature. Good agreement of our results with available theoretical predictions is also found. Finally, we design and fabricate a microfluidic device for deflection of mag- netic particles from a contaminated streamflow into a clean one. This device is made of two modules: a first one (a straight channel), where magnetic particles are 3D focused on the channel centreline; a second one (a H-shaped channel), where a permanent magnet is used to displace the magnetic beads from the original to the buffer stream. When viscoelastic focusing and magnetophoresis are combined, by applying the two moduli in series, a deflection efficiency of ∼ 96% can be achieved.
Information needs of physicians, care coordinators, and families to support care coordination of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN)

Objectives Identify and describe information needs and associated goals of physicians, care coordinators, and families related to coordinating care for medically complex children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Materials and Methods We conducted 19 in-depth interviews with physicians, care coordinators, and parents of CYSHCN following the Critical Decision Method technique. We analyzed the interviews for information needs posed as questions using a systematic content analysis approach and categorized the questions into information need goal types and subtypes. Results The Critical Decision Method interviews resulted in an average of 80 information needs per interview. We categorized them into 6 information need goal types: (1) situation understanding, (2) care networking, (3) planning, (4) tracking/monitoring, (5) navigating the health care system, and (6) learning, and 32 subtypes. Discussion and Conclusion Caring for CYSHCN generates a large amount of information needs that require significant effort from physicians, care coordinators, parents, and various other individuals. CYSHCN are often chronically ill and face developmental challenges that translate into intense demands on time, effort, and resources. Care coordination for CYCHSN involves multiple information systems, specialized resources, and complex decision-making. Solutions currently offered by health information technology fall short in providing support to meet the information needs to perform the complex care coordination tasks. Our findings present significant opportunities to improve coordination of care through multifaceted and fully integrated informatics solutions.
Sexual life of women in the climacterium: A community-based study

ABSTRACT Our purpose of conducting this community-based study was to determine sexual functions of women in climacterium and effects of menopausal symptoms on sexual functions. It was descriptive, cross-sectional, and community-based. The study sample consisted of 282 climacteric women. Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women (SSS-W) were used for data collection. The total score was 13.42 ± 8.82 for MRS, 18.73 ± 9.79 for FSFI, and 82.56 ± 18.07 for SSS-W. Seventy-nine-point four percent of the women had sexual dysfunction. While complaints typical of the climacteric period increased, sexual functions and satisfaction decreased.
Cost‐effectiveness of routine viral load monitoring in low‐ and middle‐income countries: a systematic review

Routine viral load monitoring for HIV‐1 management of persons on antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to identify treatment failure. However, viral load testing represents a substantial cost in resource constrained health care systems. The central challenge is whether and how viral load monitoring may be delivered such that it maximizes health gains across the population for the costs incurred. We hypothesized that key features of program design and delivery costs drive the cost‐effectiveness of viral load monitoring within programs.
Sleep-Related Rhythmic Movement Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Five Adult Patients.

ABSTRACT Sleep-related rhythmic movements (SRRMs) are typical in infancy and childhood, where they usually occur at the wake-to-sleep transition. However, they have rarely been observed in adults, where they can be idiopathic or associated with other sleep disorders including sleep apnea. We report a case series of 5 adults with sleep-related rhythmic movement disorder, 4 of whom had a previous history of SRRMs in childhood. SRRMs mostly occurred in consolidated sleep, in association with pathological respiratory events, predominantly longer ones, especially during stage R sleep, and recovered in 1 patient with continuous positive airway pressure therapy. We hypothesize that sleep apneas may act as a trigger of rhythmic motor events through a respiratory-related arousal mechanism in genetically predisposed subjects.
Cancer and Cognitive Function: The PATH Through Life Project

Background A limited number of studies have shown that cancer diagnosis plays a protective role in Alzheimer's disease. However, the effect of the cancer diagnosis on general cognitive function/cognitive decline has not been previously examined. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cancer diagnosis and cognitive function and mild cognitive impairment/disorders (MCI/MCD), adjusting for cancer treatments. Methods These data were drawn from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Study, a population-based Australian cohort study. A total of 2,547 participants (age range 60-66 years; 48.4% women) who answered cancer-related questions were included in analyses. Random effects linear and logistic models were used to analyze 8-year follow-up data. Results Participants who were diagnosed with cancer at or prior to baseline (n = 166) had higher levels of physical conditions and depression compared with those who received cancer diagnoses during follow-ups (n = 346) and those who reported no cancer history (n = 2,035). A main effect suggested an improvement in processing speed (p < .01), working memory (p < .05), and simple reaction time (p < .05) for those who received the cancer diagnosis after baseline when compared with those without a cancer diagnosis. However, these group differences were no longer significant when adjusted for cancer treatments. Those with a cancer diagnosis at or prior to baseline reported poorer processing speed when compared with those without a cancer diagnosis, even after adjusting for the treatments. Conclusions A cancer diagnosis alone did not play a protective role for cognitive function and cognitive impairment in this population of older community-living individuals.
Low Risk of Primary Clostridium difficile Infection With Tetracyclines: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis

Background The choice of antibiotics for systemic infections in patients with a high risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) remains a clinical practice dilemma. Although some studies suggest that tetracyclines may be associated with a lower risk of CDI than other antibiotics, other results are conflicting. We conducted a systematic review and metaanalysis of studies that assessed the risk of CDI with tetracyclines compared to other antibiotics. Methods We conducted a systematic search of Medline, Embase, and Web of Science from January 1978 through December 2016 to include studies that assessed the association between tetracycline use and risk of CDI. Weighted summary estimates were calculated using generalized inverse variance with a random-effects model using RevMan 5.3. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results Six studies (4 case control, 2 cohort) with patient recruitment between 1993 and 2012 were included. Metaanalysis using a random-effects model, demonstrated that tetracyclines were associated with a decreased risk of CDI (odds ratio [OR], 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47-0.81; P < .001). There was significant heterogeneity, with an I2 of 53% with no publication bias. Subgroup analysis of studies that evaluated the risk of CDI with doxycycline alone also demonstrated a decreased risk of CDI (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.40-0.75; P < .001). Conclusions Metaanalyses of existing studies suggest that tetracyclines may be associated with a decreased risk of CDI compared with other antimicrobials. It may be reasonable to use tetracyclines whenever appropriate to decrease CDI associated with antibiotic use.
The basics of CAR T design and challenges in immunotherapy of solid tumors — Ovarian cancer as a model

ABSTRACT Chimeric antigen receptor T cells are T cells genetically engineered with CAR constructs which mainly contain scFV and TCR zeta chain. With promising development in blood cancers, CAR T trials are also applied in solid cancers. However, the treatment effect in solid cancers is lower than expected. This review summarizes difference of CAR T applications in solid and blood cancers. Future challenges of CAR T cell treatment in solid cancer are also discussed using ovarian cancer as an example.
Calcium silicate/calcium aluminate composite biocement for bone restorative application: Synthesis, characterisation and in vitro biocompatibility

Pure β-dicalcium silicate and monocalcium aluminate powder were prepared by Pechini method. A series of calcium silicate/calcium aluminate cements (CSC/CAC) were prepared. The setting time, crystalline phases, microstructures, compressive strength, cells attachment and silicon release of the cements were investigated. The results indicate that the setting time of CSC/CAC was shorter than that of either CSC or CAC. The hydration products in CSC/CAC composite are gehlenite (Ca2Al2SiO7·8H2O), calcium aluminate hydrate (Ca3Al2O6 × H2O), and katoite (Ca2Al2O6·6H2O). Platelike crystals were found in the microstructure. The liquid to powder ratio has a significant effect on the porosity and the strength of CSC/CAC. The MC3T3 cells attached well to the surfaces of CSC/CAC. However, the cells proliferation on the surface of 7S3A was better than that of 3S7A due to its higher silicon release. In general, CSC/CAC exhibits good biocompatibility and relative high strength, and may be suitable for some non-load bearing bone restorative applications.
(−)-Epiafzelechin Protects against Ovariectomy-induced Bone Loss in Adult Mice and Modulate Osteoblastic and Osteoclastic Functions In Vitro

The present study was designed to characterize the bone protective effects of (−)-epiafzelechin (EAF), a flavan-3-ol, in mature ovariectomized mice model and its ability to stimulate osteoblastic activity and inhibit osteoclastic activity. Mature C57BL/6 mice (three to four months old) were either ovariectomised (OVX) or sham-operated and subjected to treatment (vehicle, 17β-oestradiol (E2, 200 μg/kg/day) or EAF (500 μg/kg/day) orally for six weeks. EAF and E2 significantly reduced urinary calcium (Ca) excretion, serum osteocalcin (OCN), and urinary deoxy-pyridinoline (DPD); increased bone mineral density (BMD); and improved micro-architectural properties in OVX mice. EAF significantly increased cell viability, alkaline phosphatise (ALP) activity, and collagen content, as well as runt-related transcriptional factor 2 (Runx2) mRNA expression in murine osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. In addition, EAF significantly reduced the viability of osteoclast precursor murine leukemia monocyte RAW 264.7 cells and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activities in mature osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells. EAF is a bioactive flavan-3-ol that protects estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss in OVX mice and exerts direct modulating effects in bone cells in vitro.
Quality of life predicts overall survival in women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer: an AURELIA substudy

Background Women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer are a heterogeneous group whose median overall survival is 12 months. We hypothesized that their quality of life (QoL) scores would be prognostic. Patients and methods Data from AURELIA (n = 326), a randomized trial of chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab, were used to identify baseline QoL domains [EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer) QLQ-C30 and OV28] that were significantly associated with overall survival in multivariable Cox regression analyses. Patients were classified as having good, medium, or poor risk. Cutpoints were validated in an independent dataset, CARTAXHY (n = 136). Multivariable analyses of significant QoL domains on survival were adjusted for clinicopathological prognostic factors. The additional QoL information was assessed using C statistic. Results In AURELIA, all domains, except cognitive function, predicted overall survival in univariable analyses. Physical function (P < 0.001) and abdominal/gastrointestinal symptom (P < 0.001) scores remained significant in multivariable models. In high (score <67), medium (67-93), and low (>93) risk categories for physical function, median overall survival was 11.0, 14.7, and 19.3 months, respectively (P < 0.001). In CARTAXHY, median overall survival was 7.9, 16.2, and 23.9 months (P < 0.001), respectively. For high- (>44), medium- (13-44), and low- (<13) risk categories for abdominal/gastrointestinal symptoms, median overall survival was 11.9, 14.3, and 19.7 months in AURELIA (P < 0.001) and 10.5, 19.6, and 24.1 months in CARTAXHY (P = 0.02). Physical function (P = 0.02) and abdominal/gastrointestinal symptoms (P = 0.03) remained independent prognostic factors after adjustment for clinicopathological factors. The C statistic of the full model was 0.71. For QoL factors alone, patient factors alone and disease factors alone, the C statistics were 0.61, 0.61, and 0.67 respectively. Conclusions Physical function and abdominal/gastrointestinal symptom scores improved predictions of overall survival over clinicopathological factors alone in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. This additional prognostic information could improve trial stratification, patient-doctor communication about prognosis, and clinical decision-making. Clinical trial registration NCT00976911.
NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF STRAIN DISTRIBUTION DURING CYCLIC EXPANSION EXTRUSION (CEE)

Received 07 February 2015 Accepted 09 June 2015 Available online 30 June 2015 Strain distribution of Al 1100 was numerically investigated during cyclic expansion extrusion (CEE) process using finite element method (FEM). Die angle, corner fillet radius and die chamber diameter were considered as die parameters and friction factor and number of passes as process parameters. The effects of these parameters were investigated on the effective strain and strain homogeneity in the CEE process. Results showed that the decrease of friction factor along with the increase of die angle, corner fillet radius and number of passes lead to more homogeneous strain distribution, while chamber diameter has an optimal effect on the homogeneity. Material flow diagram of the deformation zone demonstrated that shear strains have a significant contribution to accumulated effective strain especially adjacent to the outer region of the sample. In comparison, in the central region of the CEE processed sample, normal strains exist as a dominant deformation route. Also, the results revealed that all the parameters except corner fillet radius (r) influence on the equivalent strain value.