Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive value of positron emission tomography for the prognosis of molecularly targeted therapy in solid tumors

Objective This study aimed at comprehensively exploring the value applying positron emission tomography (PET) to predict the effect of molecularly targeted therapy in solid tumors. Materials and methods A systematic search was performed for potentially relevant studies from the time of inception to February 2017. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and time to progression (TTP). The results were analyzed by Review Manager version 5.3 (RevMan 5.3) statistical software. Subgroup analyses were implemented based on the type of molecularly targeted agents (monoclonal antibodies arm and small molecular targeted agents arm), mechanism (erlotinib/gefitinib arm and bevacizumab arm), radioactive tracers, type of tumor, and reevaluated PET timing. Results Twenty-six studies incorporating 865 individuals were eligible. Compared with PET nonresponse group, PET response group displayed a decrease in maximal standard uptake value (SUVmax), which was associated with a significantly prolonged PFS (HR =0.41, 95% CI [0.29, 0.59]; P<0.00001), OS (HR =0.52, 95% CI [0.40, 0.67]; P<0.00001), and TTP (HR =0.30, 95% CI [0.14, 0.66]; P=0.003). Similar results were obtained in the subgroup analyses of PFS in erlotinib/gefitinib arm and small molecular targeted agents arm; and OS in lung cancer arm, erlotinib/gefitinib arm, bevacizumab arm, small molecular targeted agents arm, monoclonal antibodies arm, 18F-fluorodeoxythymidine (18F-FLT) arm, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) arm, and early PET timing arm. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that PET was a favorable approach to predict the prognosis of molecularly targeted therapy for solid tumors. PET assessment within 2 weeks could be useful to predict clinical outcome.
A case series of benign transient hyperphosphatasemia from a pediatric endocrinology reference health facility in Turkey

Introduction Benign transient hyperphosphatasemia (BTH), even a known condition, is not very well managed by primary care physicians. The diagnostic criteria for BTH were alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels above 3-5 times greater than the age adjusted upper limit of normal among children under 5 years with no evidence of liver or bone disease whose ALP values resolved within 4 months. Methods This study involved 15 patients aged 0-5 years, who were referred to the pediatric endocrinology clinic for elevated ALP levels. They were diagnosed with BTH. We examined demographic and biochemical parameters including ALP and ALP isoenzymes, liver enzymes, calcium, phosphate, and parathormone (PTH) levels to rule out liver or bone disease as a cause for hyperphosphatasaemia. Results Of 15 patients 7 were male and 8 were female. Mean age was 2.45 ± 1.09 (range 1.2-4.6) years. Mean serum ALP level was 2315 ± 1028 IU/L (1102-4662), while liver enzymes, calcium, phosphate, PTH and vitamin D3 levels were in normal ranges. The mean normalization period of ALP was 2.4 ± 1.1 (0.5-4) months, and all were normal at the end of 4 months without any treatment. Conclusion This study and literature knowledge related to BTH has shown that being aware of BTH is very important for a primary care physician. Paediatricians can conveniently manage the differential diagnosis and follow up this period of elevated ALP.
Olfactory Dysfunction and Its Relationship with Clinical Symptoms of Alzheimer Disease

Our study aimed to analyse the olfactory dysfunction (OD) evaluations between self-report, the Hyposmia Rating Scale (HRS) and the Sniffin’ Sticks test, and the relationship between OD and clinical features of AD. Sixty patients with AD dementia, 37 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD and 30 healthy controls were consecutively recruited. Olfactory function was evaluated by self-report, HRS and Sniffin’ Sticks test. Patients were divided into AD with OD (AD-OD) and AD with no OD (AD-NOD) groups based on the results of the Sniffin’ Sticks test. Cognitive symptoms and neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed by corresponding scales, and activities of daily living (ADL) were assessed by the ADL scale. In the control, MCI due to AD and AD dementia groups, the frequency of OD was 10.0%, 13.5% and 18.3%, respectively, by self-report; 6.7%, 24.3% and 48.3%, respectively, by HRS; and 3.3%, 13.5% and 65.0%, respectively, by the Sniffin’ Sticks test. Compared to the results of the Sniffin’ Sticks test, the diagnostic coincidence rates of OD by HRS in patients with MCI due to AD and AD dementia were 89.2% and 66.7%, respectively. Compared to the AD-NOD group, the scores of global cognition and memory, visuospatial ability and attention were all decreased (P<0.05), the apathy score was increased (P<0.05), and the ADL score was elevated (P<0.01). The frequency and accuracy of OD by self-report is relatively low. HRS can be used for screening olfaction in patients with MCI due to AD. The Sniffin’ Sticks test can be used for validating OD in AD patients. AD-OD patients have severe impairments in global cognition and multiple cognitive domains of memory, visuospatial ability and attention, as well as neuropsychiatric symptoms of apathy, and thus have seriously compromised ADL.
Processing Escape Mechanisms Through Altered Proteasomal Cleavage of Epitopes Affect Immune Response in Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumors

Background: Immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibition, is one of the most sophisticated approaches in cancer therapy. Immune checkpoint inhibition has already been successfully applied for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and various other entities. Unfortunately, 60% of the cases show signs of therapy resistance. Additionally, a proportion of cases shows initial insensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibition. We consider a novel escape mechanism in association with deficient proteasomal epitope processing to be one prominent reason for initial insensitivity and therapy resistance. Therefore, we aim to identify mutations in association with these so-called processing escapes, in a highly diverse collective of pulmonary neuroendocrine lung tumors. Materials and Methods: Seventy representative tumor specimens of pulmonary neuroendocrine lung tumors were analyzed retrospectively via immunohistochemical detection of CD4, CD8, CD68, and CD20 as well as programmed cell death protein 1 and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 for tumor immune infiltration and composition. Afterward, samples were screened for alterations in 48 genes, including 221 known mutational hotspots by massive parallel sequencing using the Illumina TruSeq Amplicon-Cancer Panel. For prediction of proteasomal cleavage probabilities, an R implementation of the machine learning tool NetChop 3.1 was utilized. Results: Immune cell infiltration of different compositions could be found in the majority of tumors. Deficient epitope processing was revealed to be a common event in those with steady distribution across all different subtypes. Despite immune infiltration, no significant antitumor response could be detected. Conclusion: Since it is widely acknowledged that tumors need to avoid the immune system to ensure their survival, processing escapes should already be present during primary tumor development. In line, processing escapes can be found in all tumors, regardless of subtype and mutational burden. Furthermore, there is solid evidence that processing escapes have a negative impact on the antitumor activity of tumor infiltrating immune cells.
The link between idiopathic intracranial hypertension, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome: exploration of a shared pathophysiology

Purpose Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IICH) is a condition characterized by raised intracranial pressure (ICP), and its diagnosis is established when the opening pressure measured during a lumbar puncture is elevated >20 cm H2O in nonobese patients or >25 cm H2O in obese patients. Papilledema is caused by forced filling of the optic nerve sheath with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Other common but underappreciated symptoms of IICH are neck pain, back pain, and radicular pain in the arms and legs resulting from associated increased spinal pressure and forced filling of the spinal nerves with CSF. Widespread pain and also several other characteristics of IICH share notable similarities with characteristics of fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), two overlapping chronic pain conditions. The aim of this review was to compare literature data regarding the characteristics of IICH, FM, and CFS and to link the shared data to an apparent underlying physiopathology, that is, increased ICP. Methods Data in the literature regarding these three conditions were compared and linked to the hypothesis of the shared underlying physiopathology of increased cerebrospinal pressure. Results The shared characteristics of IICH, FM, and CFS that can be caused by increased ICP include headaches, fatigue, cognitive impairment, loss of gray matter, involvement of cranial nerves, and overload of the lymphatic olfactory pathway. Increased pressure in the spinal canal and in peripheral nerve root sheaths causes widespread pain, weakness in the arms and legs, walking difficulties (ataxia), and bladder, bowel, and sphincter symptoms. Additionally, IICH, FM, and CFS are frequently associated with sympathetic overactivity symptoms and obesity. These conditions share a strong female predominance and are frequently associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Conclusion IICH, FM, and CFS share a large variety of symptoms that might all be explained by the same pathophysiology of increased cerebrospinal pressure.
Educational Case: Membranous Nephropathy

The following fictional case is intended as a learning tool within the Pathology Competencies for Medical Education (PCME), a set of national standards for teaching pathology. These are divided into three basic competencies: Disease Mechanisms and Processes, Organ System Pathology, and Diagnostic Medicine and Therapeutic Pathology. For additional information, and a full list of learning objectives for all three competencies, see http://journals.sagepub. com/doi/10.1177/2374289517715040.
Effect of Sarcopenia on Postoperative Mortality in Osteoporotic Hip Fracture Patients

Background Few studies have investigated the effects of sarcopenia on postoperative outcomes including mortality rates following surgery for osteoporotic hip fractures. The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia and the relationship between sarcopenia and 1- and 5-year mortality rates in a consecutive series of patients with osteoporotic hip fractures. Methods Among patients who underwent hip surgery for osteoporotic hip fractures, this study included 91 patients subjected to abdominal computed tomography within 1 year of hip surgery. We defined sarcopenia using sex-specific cut-off points for the skeletal muscle index at the level of the third lumbar vertebra. All patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of sarcopenia and the 1- and 5-year mortality rates were compared. To confirm factors affecting mortality in addition to sarcopenia, we examined patient age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, location of fracture, type of surgery, and bone mineral density. Results The 1- and 5-year mortality rates were 20.9% and 67.2%, respectively. Among the 45 patients with sarcopenia, the 1- and 5-year mortality rates were 22.2% and 82.7%, respectively. Of the 46 patients without sarcopenia, the 1- and 5-year mortality rates were 19.6% and 52.7%, respectively. Results of the Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that sarcopenia did not affect the 1-year mortality rate (P=0.793), but had a significant effect on the 5-year mortality rate (P=0.028). Both perioperative sarcopenia (P=0.018) and osteoporosis (P=0.000) affected the 5-year mortality rate. Conclusions Sarcopenia increases the risk of 5-year mortality in patients with osteoporotic hip fractures.
Which Index for Muscle Mass Represents an Aging Process?

Background Although studies and interest in sarcopenia have increased, it is still a matter of debate which muscle mass index better represents the aging process. We compared 3 indices for muscle mass (appendicular skeletal muscle mass [ASM]/weight, ASM/height2, and the body mass index [BMI]-adjusted muscle mass index [ASM/BMI]) to determine which better reflected the aging process in terms of the decline in bone mineral density (BMD), visual acuity (VA), hearing power, renal function, pulmonary function, and handgrip strength. Methods We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the Korean population. Between 2008 and 2011, a total of 14,415 men and 17,971 women aged 10 years or older participated in the study. We plotted the changes in the 3 indices of muscle mass and compared these with changes in BMD, VA, hearing power, renal function, pulmonary function, and handgrip strength according to each age group. Results The ASM/BMI showed similar changes in terms of surrogate markers of the aging process, while the ASM/weight and ASM/height2 showed no correlation. Conclusions Among muscle indices for sarcopenia, only the ASM/BMI represented the aging process.
Growth, production and nutrients in coriander cultivated with biofertilizer.

Crescimento, producao e nutrientes no coentro cultivado com biofertilizante. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de doses de um biofertilizante de materiais vegetais (BMV) sobre o crescimento, producao e nutrientes no coentro "Verdao".
Wheeled robot for rural environment.

In this paper solutions are proposed to improve the performance of a wheeled robot for rural environment. These solutions can be used for a wheeled mobile robot that moves upon curved surfaces, surfaces with irregularities and small coefficient of static friction between the wheels and the surface. The design and control of the robot are based on a new concept of a wheeled mobile robot, which can work in two different modes.
Transitional free convection flows induced by thermal line sources

In the present study the usefullness of a large eddy simulation for transition is examined. Numerical results of such simulations are presented from a study to determine the characteristics of a flow induced by a thermal line source. The first bifurcation to time dependent motion and the route to chaos are considered. Qualitatively these features are in good agreement with theory. The governing equations, the concept of large eddy simulation and the numerical code that was used are described extensively. Also the results from a literature survey are presented. Special attention is paid to analytical solutions for the boundary layer equations for laminar flow and the stability of these solutions. It includes also overall conservation principles for turbulent plumes and results obtained by experiments.
Stability of some thermoelastic systems with internal time-varying delay

In this paper we consider a thermoelastic type system with Cattaneo’s law and internal time-varying delay. Under suitable assumption on the weigh of delay, we prove the exponential stability of this system by using suitable energy functionals. More we show that the exponential stability of thermoelastic system with Cattaneo’s law implies a polynomial stability of the corresponding thermoelastic system with the Fourier’s law, where the result for the polynomial stability was proved recently by BorichevTomilov in [1].
Determinants of childhood diarrhea in West Gojjam, Northwest Ethiopia: a case control study

Introduction Childhood diarrhea is a global public health problem that affects both developed and developing countries including Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess determinants of childhood diarrhea among children under-five years of age in West Gojjam Zone, northwest Ethiopia. Methods A community-based case control study was conducted in four districts of West Gojjam in the northwest of Ethiopia from July to August, 2015. A randomly selected sample of 118 cases and 351 controls who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire through face to face interview. Independent variables which had p-value less than 0.2 at an unadjusted model were candidate for the final model. Adjusted odds ratio was used to control confounding effects and to determine predictors of an outcome. Results Unimproved water sources (AOR, 1.88; 95 % CI: 1.17-3.03), lack of hand washing at critical times (AOR, 2.38; 95 % CI: 1.42-3.99) and a deepening method to take water from a water storage container (AOR, 2.11; 95 % CI: 1.28-3.47), presence of two or more young siblings (AOR, 4.15; 95 % CI: 2.57-6.70), rural residence (AOR,2.11 95 % CI: 2.21-3.68), and not using latrine for disposal of child feces (AOR, 1.90; 95 % CI: 1.12-3.22) were predictors of diarrhea among children under the age of five. Conclusion The majority of the causes of childhood diarrhea in the study area were preventable. Thus, health extension workers should give tailored health information to mothers or caregivers on the importance of sanitation, personal and environmental hygiene and drinking water handling methods.
A Fast Input Method for Tibetan Based on Word in Unicode

The database is essential resources for an intelligent Tibetan language inputting system in Unicode. This article mentions Tibetan language input system database including syllable and vocabulary. The database of syllable and vocabulary are established by the code rule of Latin Transcribing and root Latin Transcribing, respectively, and the frequency of words are the statistics based on the Tibetan language corpus of 60M. Searching possible syllables and words based on inputted Latin Transcribing string or root Latin Transcribing string; matching the template syllables and words according to the arithmetic of optimal match, the key assignments of input code can be able to obtain. Then the key assignment point to the linked list of the syllables or words corresponding, and same code syllables or words are sent to the candidate windows in the linked list, thereby inputting of searches of syllables, Sanskrits and words are implemented. So far the input method of Tibetan language is a very fast and efficient in Unicode.
Dietary patterns, metabolic risk and survival in older adults

Title of Document: DIETARY PATTERNS, METABOLIC RISK AND SURVIVAL IN OLDER ADULTS Amy L. Anderson, Ph.D., 2008 Directed By: Nadine R. Sahyoun, Ph.D., R.D. Department of Nutrition and Food Science Background: Recent evidence suggests that older adults‟ diets can appreciably impact their health. Dietary patterns may better capture the multifaceted effects of diet on health than individual nutrients or foods. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the dietary patterns of a cohort of older adults, and examine relationships with body composition, insulin sensitivity, systemic inflammation, and survival. The influence of a polymorphism in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) gene was considered. Design: The Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study is a prospective cohort study of 3075 older adults. Participants‟ body composition, genetic variation, glucose metabolism, systemic inflammation, and vital status were evaluated in detail. Food intake was assessed with a modified Block food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and dietary patterns were derived by cluster analysis. Results: Six clusters were identified, including a „Healthy foods‟ cluster characterized by higher intake of lowfat dairy products, fruit, whole grains, poultry, fish and vegetables. An interaction was found between dietary pattern and PPAR-γ Pro12Ala genotype in relation to body composition. While Pro homozygotes in the „Healthy foods‟ cluster did not differ significantly in body composition from those in other clusters, men with the Ala allele in the „Healthy foods‟ cluster had significantly lower adiposity than those in other clusters. The „Healthy foods‟ cluster had lower fasting insulin and HOMA-IR values than the „High-fat dairy products‟ and „Breakfast cereal‟ clusters, while no differences were found in fasting or 2-hour glucose. With respect to inflammation, the „Healthy foods‟ cluster had lower levels of IL-6 than the „High-fat dairy products‟ and „Sweets and desserts‟ clusters, and did not differ in CRP or TNF-α. The „Healthy foods‟ cluster also had a lower risk of mortality than the „High-fat dairy products‟ and „Sweets and desserts‟ clusters, and more years of healthy life and more optimal nutritional status than the other clusters. Conclusion: A dietary pattern consistent with current guidelines to consume relatively high amounts of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, poultry, fish and lowfat dairy products may reduce the metabolic risk and improve the nutritional status, quality of life and survival of older adults. DIETARY PATTERNS, METABOLIC RISK AND SURVIVAL IN OLDER ADULTS
Antioxidant Effect of Microwave-assisted Extracts of Olive Leaves on Sunflower Oil

The antioxidant properties and total phenols’ content of 80% methanol, acetone and water extracts of olive leaves procured through Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) were examined . Two varieties of olive namely: Cronaiky and Roghani were the ones studied. Various experimental models were employed for antioxidant activity evaluation of the extracts. The results revealed the highest phenolic content (230.50 mg tannic acid equivalent g -1 extract) and the lowest IC 50 in DPPH (86.81 µg ml -1 of extract), reducing power (166.45 µg ml -1 extract) and total antioxidant capacity (128.32 µg ml -1 of extract) indices were attributed to the methanol extract of Cronaiky variety. The efficacy of the extracts at three experimental levels (200, 500, 1,000 ppm) in blocking the oxidation process was investigated using peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid index for sunflower oil during its heating at 70°C (oven test method). The lowest peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid index was observed for the methanol extract of Cronaiky at its 1,000 ppm concentration. This extract was competitively comparable with BHA and BHT at either of the tested levels (100, 200 ppm). Thus, methanol extract of Cronaiky olive variety can be employed in place of synthetic antioxidants to establish oxidation stability in edible oils.
Seafloor geomagnetic sounding near the 85°E ridge in the bay of Bengal

Seafloor geomagnetic field variations in three components were recorded in the Bay of Bengal near the 85°E ridge, to investigate whether the negative gravity anomaly over the ridge is due to thick sedimentary deposit or due to a thick crust. Comparison of the X-, Y-and Z-variations in the vicinity of the 85°E ridge and near the continental margin suggests that a resistive thick crust underlies the 85°E ridge. The validity of conclusions arrived at from a simple inspection of magnetograms is supported by numerical calculations using a thin sheet approximation.