Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
V600E BRAF mutations are alternative early molecular events in a subset of KIT/PDGFRA wild-type gastrointestinal stromal tumours

Background: A small subset (10–15%) of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) lack mutations in KIT and PDGFRA (wild-type GIST). Recently, a novel BRAF exon 15 mutation (V600E) was detected in imatinib-naive wild-type high-risk intestinal GISTs (4%). However, the frequency and distribution of BRAF mutations within the spectrum of GISTs, and whether they might represent secondary events acquired during tumour progression, remain unknown. Methods: 69 GISTs (39 KIT mutants, 2 PDGFRA mutants and 28 wild-type) were analysed for mutations in BRAF exon 15 and KRAS exon 2. To assess the stage at which these mutations might occur in GIST, a considerable number of incidental gastric (n = 23) and intestinal (n = 2) tumours were included. Results: BRAF mutations (V600E) were detected in 2 of 28 wild-type GISTs (7%), but in none of the 41 KIT/PDGFRA mutants. No KRAS mutation was detected. The two BRAF-mutated GISTs measured 4 mm in diameter and originated in the gastric body and the jejunum in two men (mean age, 76 years). Both tumours were mitotically inactive KIT-positive spindle-cell GISTs that were indistinguishable histologically from their more common KIT-mutated counterparts. Conclusion: BRAF mutations represent an alternative molecular pathway in the early tumorigenesis of a subset of KIT/PDGFRA wild-type GISTs and are per se not associated with a high risk of malignancy. Mutations in KIT, PDGFRA and BRAF were mutually exclusive in this study. Results from this and a previous study indicate that BRAF-mutated GISTs show a predilection for the small bowel (four of five tumours), but this needs further evaluation in larger studies.
Alcohol based tissue fixation as an alternative for formaldehyde: influence on immunohistochemistry

Background Formaldehyde is commonly used in histopathology to fix tissue. Not only are the carcinogenic properties of this solution a hazard to the people in the workplace, it is also a major burden on the environment, and it crosslinks molecular groups that hinder immunohistochemistry. Aims The influence of two new alcohol based non-crosslinking fixatives on immunohistochemical staining properties was tested on various tissues. Methods Fresh tissue samples were cut into three equal pieces, which were then fixed in the alcohol based fixatives Boonfix or RCL2, or in neutral buffered formaldehyde (NBF) as control. After fixation, tissue was routinely processed to paraffin sections. Deparaffinised slides were blocked for endogenous peroxidase and subsequently submitted to the usual NBF based immunohistochemical protocols for 85 different common antibodies either not requiring antigen retrieval (AR), or AR in citrate buffer, EDTA or pepsin. Results NBF fixed tissues provided significantly better immunostaining results (84% good staining) than RCL2 (66% good) and Boonfix (60%). The lesser performance of RCL2 and Boonfix was especially caused by pepsin AR which caused significant tissue damage. Omission of pepsin AR resulted in better immunostaining for these antibodies for RCL2 fixed tissues which were overall no longer significantly worse than NBF fixed tissue. Conclusion Tissues fixed in non-crosslinking alcohol based fixatives can successfully be immunohistochemically stained for most antibodies following the usual NBF based protocols. Omission of pepsin pretreatment seems to be important to retain proper morphology of immunostained tissues preserved in alcohol based fixatives. Therefore, when switching to less toxic and non-carcinogenic alcohol-based fixatives like RCL2, no major changes in the daily routine of immunohistochemistry are anticipated.
Abnormal lymphatic vessel development is associated with decreased decidual regulatory T cells in severe preeclampsia

The lymphatic vasculature controls leukocytes trafficking and limits the adaptive immune response. In previous models of preeclampsia (PE), defective immune function caused by disruption of lymphangiogenesis was shown to be involved in the disease pathophysiology. Especially, the dysfunction of regulatory T cells (Treg) at the maternal‐fetal interface may be one of the causes of severe PE. In particular, activation of Tregs to obtain immune tolerance requires adequate antigen presentation through the lymphatic system. We hypothesized that impaired lymphangiogenesis and imbalanced Tregs at the maternal‐fetal interface are associated with the pathophysiology of severe PE. However, the current research addressing this hypothesis is limited. Therefore, to compare differences in lymphangiogenesis in severe PE and normal conditions, we aimed to examine the location of lymphatics at the maternal‐fetal interface and to investigate the association between lymphangiogenesis and Tregs in severe PE.
Implementation of multiple-valued multiplier on GF(3/sup m/) using current mode CMOS

The multiplication algorithm of two polynomials on finite fields GF(3/sup m/) is presented. The 3-valued multiplier of the serial-in/parallel-out modular structures on GF(3/sup 3/) to be performed on the presented multiplication algorithm is implemented by current-mode CMOS. The current-mode CMOS 3-valued multiplier is implemented two GF(3) multipliers and two GF(3) adders. Performances of the proposed circuits are evaluated using Pspice simulations with 2.0 /spl mu/m standard CMOS device parameters, 20 /spl mu/A unit current level and 3.3 V V/sub DD/ voltage supply.
Infliximab therapy downregulation of basic fibroblast growth factor/syndecan 1 link: a possible molecular pathway of mucosal healing in ulcerative colitis

Background It is known that syndecan 1 in inflammatory bowel diseases is able to migrate from epithelial basolateral site to the stromal area and apical surface of epithelium with a consequent activation and modulation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and this process sustains mucosal healing of ulcers. On the other hand, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α mucosal levels are directly related to the entity of the damage in these disorders. Aim of the study A ‘post-hoc’ retrospective study was performed to estimate mucosal TNF α in rectal biopsies of subjects with ulcerative colitis (UC) before and after effective infliximab therapy and its relationship with syndecan 1, bFGF and endoscopic mucosal healing. Material and methods Paraffin-embedded rectal samples from 12 patients with UC responders to infliximab were analysed for TNF α, syndecan 1 and bFGF before and 6 months after therapy using a real-time reverse transcriptase polymersase chain reaction. Additionally, syndecan 1 location was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Samples from 12 subjects with irritable bowel symptoms without endoscopic/histological abnormalities represented the control group. Mucosal healing induced by the treatment was defined by an endoscopic Mayo subscore changing from 2–3 to 0. ANOVA plus Student–Newman–Keuls was used for statistical analysis. Results The authors found that in the active disease, an increase in TNF α (p<0.001) is accompanied by raised levels of both syndecan 1 (p<0.005) and bFGF (p<0.005) compared with the control group. Infliximab-induced TNF α decrease to levels similar to controls is associated with both endoscopic mucosal healing and adhesion molecule/growth factor significant reduction. Additionally, syndecan 1 location, which is predominant in the stromal cells and apical epithelium in the active disorder, is quite exclusively located at the basolateral epithelial area in both healed mucosa and controls. Conclusions Balanced interaction among TNF α inhibition by infliximab, syndecan 1 migration, bFGF repair modulation and final adhesion molecule reversal to its normal location might represent a suitable molecular pathway of endoscopic mucosal healing in UC.
Occupational Therapy as Documented in Patients' Records: Part II. What is Proper Documentation? Contradictions and Aspects of Concern from the Perspective of OTs

Documentation in patients' records is one of the most important professional elements supporting interventions with clients. However, it is unclear what constitutes proper documentation among OTs. This study of 11 OTs focused on the meanings attached to the concept of proper documentation in geriatric occupational therapy. The study revealed five different contradictions that the OTs perceived within the process of providing proper documentation: contradictions between everyday language and professional language, between highly structured documentation and communicating a comprehensive picture of the patient, between juridical and ethical demands and environmental conditions, among different expectations of the various recipients of the notes and between occupational therapy reasoning and medical reasoning. These contradictions could also be described as professional dilemmas. The findings, although limited to only 11 interviews, provide insight into professional OT concerns regarding documentation, and e.
Rates and correlates of HIV treatment adherence among late middle-aged and older adults living with HIV disease

A growing number of older adults in the USA are contracting new HIV infections, and more persons living with HIV are living longer due to medical treatment advances. New treatments for HIV disease can improve immune functioning and decrease AIDS-related mortality. However, older persons living with HIV may not respond well to treatment and may experience difficulties adhering to complex medication regimens. One hundred and thirteen late middle-aged and older adults living with HIV (aged 47-69 years) were administered measures of demographic, medical and psychological characteristics. Eighty-four of these patients were currently prescribed antiretroviral medication for treatment of HIV, and this sub-set of participants completed brief self-report measures of medication adherence. Nearly one-third (31%) of older adults reported skipping medication doses in the past week. Education level, satisfaction with patient-provider relationships, physical wellbeing, alcohol use, perceptions of life stressor burden, anxiety and somatization distinguished patients reporting consistent versus inconsistent adherence. Less education, poorer relationships with physicians, greater alcohol use and higher levels of somatization uniquely predicted adherence problems in a multivariate model. Reasons for nonadherence most frequently cited by older adults are presented and recommendations are offered regarding adherence-related domains that should be monitored and addressed among older adults receiving HIV care.
Assessment of Hairline EEG as a Screening Tool for Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus

Summary: Purpose: Because of the high incidence of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), the attraction of a “quick and easy” screening electroencephalogram (EEG) is obvious. Previous studies have shown utility of hairline EEG in diagnosing epilepsy. However, this technique has not been evaluated as a screening tool for NCSE. We wanted to provide proof of principle that a screening hairline EEG has sufficient sensitivity to use as a screening tool for diagnosing NCSE.
Association between offspring intelligence and parental mortality: a population-based cohort study of one million Swedish men and their parents

Background: An inverse association of IQ with mortality has been observed in previous studies. Analyses of associations between offspring’s IQ and parental mortality in biological and non-biological family relations may shed light on genetic and environmental influences. Methods: In a target cohort of 1 235 375 Swedish men, 931 825 (75%) men had complete data on all variables used. IQ of offspring was measured at age 18 and mothers and father were followed, on average, for 21.2 years and 19.7 years, respectively, with respect to all-cause and cause-specific mortality (cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes). The analyses were conducted by proportional hazards regression with adjustment for parental occupation, education and income. Results: In adjusted analyses using IQ as a continuous variable over a standard nine-point scale, hazards ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality was 0.96 (95% CI 0.96 to 0.96) for fathers and 0.95 (0.95 to 0.95) for mothers. The corresponding HRs were 0.99 (0.97 to 1.00) for step-fathers and 0.97 (0.95 to 0.99) for step-mothers. In adjusted analyses, HRs for CVD mortality among fathers and mothers were 0.97 (0.96 to 0.97) and 0.94 (0.93 to 0.94) respectively. The corresponding HRs for diabetes mortality were 0.91 (0.89 to 0.92) among fathers and 0.85 (0.83 to 0.87) among mothers. Conclusions: The associations found in non-biological family relationships suggest shared environmental influences and/or assortative mating. Stronger IQ-mortality associations in biological than non-biological relationships suggest genetic influences. Stronger inverse offspring IQ–parental mortality associations in mothers than in fathers might be due to environmental factors or epigenetic mechanisms.
Examining cultural, psychosocial, community and behavioural factors in relationship to socioeconomic inequalities in limiting longstanding illness among the Arab minority in Israel

Background: Few studies have examined the explanatory pathways to social inequalities in health within ethnic minorities. The current study examined the relative contributions of specific pathways explaining the associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and limiting longstanding illness (LLI) among the Arab minority in Israel. Methods: A cross-sectional study of a random sample of 902 individuals aged 30–70 selected in a multistage sampling procedure. SES was measured by education, land ownership and relative family income. Five-stage logistic regressions assessed the attenuations in the odds of LLI among those with lower SES compared to higher SES after including relevant groups of explanatory factors: psychosocial, behavioural and community, and their integration. Results: Rates of LLI were significantly higher in participants with lower SES. Inclusion of groups of explanatory variables attenuated all SES–LLI associations in a similar pattern: psychosocial factors played a main explanatory role, yielding 15–40% attenuation in odds ratios (OR). The contribution of community indicators was modest (10–21%); health behaviours had a marginal contribution (6–7%). Cultural factors were not associated with SES or LLI. The integrative model contributed up to 49% reduction in the OR. Conclusions: The significant associations between SES and LLI suggest that formative policy to reduce SES–LLI disparities should emphasise creating opportunities for economic development to improve SES, which was the main predictor of inequalities. Combining strategies of community capacity building and reinforcement of individual inner resources might be complementary. Such conclusions might apply to other minorities in a similar context, for which future studies are required.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination for Hong Kong elderly in long-term care facilities

Background: To compare cost and quality-adjusted life–years (QALYs) gained by influenza vaccination with or without pneumococcal vaccination in the elderly living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Methods: Cost-effectiveness analysis based on Markov modelling over 5 years, from a Hong Kong public health provider’s perspective, on a hypothetical cohort of LTCF residents aged ⩾65 years. Benefit–cost ratio (BCR) and net present value (NPV) of two vaccination strategies versus no vaccination were estimated. The cost and QALYs gained by two vaccination strategies were compared by Student’s t-test in probabilistic sensitivity analysis (10 000 Monte Carlo simulations). Results: Both vaccination strategies had high BCRs and NPVs (6.39 and US$334 for influenza vaccination; 5.10 and US$332 for influenza plus pneumococcal vaccination). In base case analysis, the two vaccination strategies were expected to cost less and gain higher QALYs than no vaccination. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, the cost of combined vaccination and influenza vaccination was significantly lower (p<0.001) than the cost of no vaccination. Both vaccination strategies gained significantly higher (p<0.001) QALYs than no vaccination. The QALYs gained by combined vaccination were significantly higher (p = 0.030) than those gained by influenza vaccination alone. The total cost of combined vaccination was significantly lower (p = 0.011) than that of influenza vaccination. Conclusion: Influenza vaccination with or without pneumococcal vaccination appears to be less costly with higher QALYs gained than no vaccination, over a 5-year period, for elderly people living in LTCFs from the perspective of a Hong Kong public health organisation. Combined vaccination was more likely to gain higher QALYs with lower total cost than influenza vaccination alone.
The ethnic density effect on alcohol use among ethnic minority people in the UK

Background Despite lower alcohol drinking rates of UK ethnic minority people (excluding Irish) compared with those of the white majority, events of racial discrimination expose ethnic minorities to unique stressors that elevate the risk for escapist drinking. Studies of ethnic density, the geographical concentration of ethnic minorities in an area, have found racism to be less prevalent in areas of increased ethnic density, and this study hypothesises that ethnic minority people living in areas of high ethnic density will report less alcohol use relative to their counterparts, due to decreased experienced racism and increased sociocultural norms. Methods Multilevel logistic regressions were applied to data from the 1999 and 2004 Health Survey for England linked to ethnic density data from 2001 census. Results Respondents living in non-White area types and areas of higher coethnic density reported decreased odds of being current drinkers relative to their counterparts. A statistically significant reduction in the odds of exceeding sensible drinking recommendations was observed for Caribbeans in Black area types, Africans in areas of higher coethnic density and Indian people living in Indian area types. Conclusion Results confirmed a protective ethnic density effect for current alcohol consumption, but showed a less consistent picture of an ethnic density effect for adherence to sensible drinking guidelines. Previous research has shown that alcohol use is increasing among ethnic minorities, and so a greater understanding of alcohol-related behaviour among UK ethnic minority people is important to establish their need for preventive care and advice on safe drinking practices.
An analysis of falls experienced by older adult patients diagnosed with cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To examine themes associated with falls specific to older adult patients diagnosed with cancer. DESIGN Prospective, exploratory, qualitative study. SETTING A senior adult oncology program at a cancer and research center in the southeastern United States. SAMPLE Men and women aged 70 years and older with any cancer diagnosis who had experienced a fall within three months. METHODS Patients were telephoned after research consent to participate in an interview about their falls. Frequencies were conducted on the biographic data. Themes were identified and grouped according to topic. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, cancer site, cancer treatment modality, location of fall, and fear of falls. FINDINGS Mean age was 76.2 years. Most falls occurred at home (75%). The themes of physical problems, general weakness, and walking were found to be the most common motivations for falls. Themes associated with self-imposed activities as a result of falls included "being more careful" and "using an assistive device. " CONCLUSIONS Perceptions of physical problems, general weakness, and difficulty walking should be included in an oncology nursing fall-risk assessment. Exploration of perceptions concerning activities that have potentially caused a past fall and self-imposed activities also should be included. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Beyond the boundaries of a fall-risk assessment, conducting a subjective interview to identify the individualities of falls and fall risk is vital to constructing a realistic plan of care.
A RAM cache approach using host memory buffer of the NVMe interface

This paper proposes new methods with Host Memory Buffer to improve IO performance in NVMe interface. Although Host Memory Buffer is a versatile memory architecture, it has been considered limitedly as metadata cache such as Logical-to-Physical table. The proposed architecture uses Host Memory Buffer as data cache with modification of an NVMe command process and the additional DMA path between system memory and Host Memory Buffer. The proposed architecture improves the performance of IO request by 23% in case of sequential writes compared to a device buffer architecture.
Hardware design exploration of fully-connected deep neural network with binary parameters

This paper describes the exploration and analysis to design hardware of the fully connected deep neural network with binary weight value. The fully connected deep neural network is a promising reference model in order to implement fully hardwired classifier in mobile and IoT (Internet of Things) device. So, we analyzed its learning accuracy according to the number of layers and nodes through environment of reference simulation. And we analyzed hardware complexity and usage in terms of FPGA. We used Caffe framework to extract parameter and accuracy as reference model. We used Xilinx Vivado 2015.2 as synthesis tool for hardware design exploration.
CMOS energy efficient integrated radios for emerging low power standards

This paper describes IEEE 802.15. 6 standard compliant 2.36-2.484GHz transmitter and receiver frontends suitable for emerging low power standards. The transmitter digitally multiplexes the appropriate phases from an 800MHz poly-phase filter output to generate π/4 DQPSK signals at 2.4GHz. Modulation at 1/3rd the RF frequency reduces the total power consumption and enables channel selection using a PLL running at 800MHz. The prototype transmitter has an energy efficiency of 2.5nJ/bit at 1.2Mbps while delivering -10dBm RF power. The receiver uses a passive coupling based frequency translated mutual noise cancellation technique which allows for low supply operation thereby saving power. The FOM is 10dB higher than the state-of-the-art and the power consumption is 194μW which is 0.5X lower than the state-of-the-art.