Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vascularity and angiogenesis as predictors of growth in optic pathway/hypothalamic gliomas.

OBJECT The authors' aim in conducting this study was to investigate retrospectively the prognostic significance of angiogenic features in optic pathway/hypothalamic gliomas (OPHGs) in children. METHODS Patients were identified in whom a diagnosis of OPHG was made using pathological analysis at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children between 1985 and 2002. Tumor specimens were reviewed for diagnostic accuracy and adequacy of the specimen. Sections were immunostained with factor VIII to assess microvessel density (MVD). A ratio of alpha-smooth muscle actin to factor VIII immunostaining was calculated to arrive at a vascular maturity index (VMI). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor (VEGFR) immunostaining were performed to evaluate angiogenic factors. In addition, the MIB-1 labeling index (LI) was used to assess proliferation. These factors were evaluated with respect to progression-free survival (PFS). Forty-one of 60 patients originally identified had adequate samples and follow up for inclusion in the study. Of these, eight patients had coexisting neurofibromatosis Type 1. Twenty-eight patients experienced tumor progression after the initial treatment (surgery with or without adjuvant treatment). Thirty-eight patients are still alive. A high MVD (> 21 vessels/1.2 mm2) was associated with a significantly higher rate of progression compared with a low MVD (< 21 vessels/1.2 mm2; p = 0.017). Microvessel density was also predictive of reduced PFS on multivariate analysis stratified for extent of resection (p = 0.04), and VMI as well as intensity and distribution of VEGF and VEGFR staining and the MIB-1 LI were not significantly associated with PFS. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that MVD is the best current predictor of PFS in incompletely resected OPHGs. This information highlights the importance of angiogenesis in regard to low-grade gliomas.
Integration of Cognitive Impairment in the Expanded Disability Status Scale of 215 Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Estimates of the prevalence of cognitive impairment among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) range between 40 and 70%. The current cerebral functional system (CFS) of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is subjective. Aim: To define a new cerebral functional system (NCFS) based on neuropsychological evaluation (NE). Methods: We prospectively included 215 MS patients. NE evaluated cognitive functions. Fatigue was assessed with the Fatigue Impact Scale. The NCFS was devised with grades from 0 to 5, excluding depression but including fatigue. Grade 1 of the NCFS was integrated in the EDSS as other functional scores. The NCFS and new EDSS including the NCFS were compared with the current CFS and EDSS. Results: 215 patients (69% women, 67% with relapsing-remitting MS, median EDSS 3.0) were assessed. 98% of these patients presented fatigue and/or cognitive impairment with the NCFS compared to 62% with the CFS. The NCFS was higher than the CFS, and the EDSS had changed in 31% of the 113 patients with an EDSS <3.5. Change in functional score was not correlated to current age or age at onset of MS. Conclusions: We propose a new CFS grading based on NE, including fatigue, and integrating grade 1 at EDSS.
Multiresolution decomposition for triangular mesh geometry coding based on structuring surrounding vertices

A novel coding method using multiresolution decomposition for triangular mesh is proposed. We have proposed surrounding vertices structuring on a 2-D plane to obtain 2-D structured geometry data. In this paper, non-separable component decomposition is proposed to decompose the structured geometry data in consideration of correlations among neighboring vertices. The structured data are decomposed into four components depending on whether each vertex was located at even or odd positions along the horizontal and vertical axes. And a prediction and update are performed. In the prediction process the predicted value is obtained from the non-processed vertices neighboring to the target vertex in the 3-D space. By repeating the decomposition process for the update component, octave-decomposed coefficients are obtained. The vector SFQ is introduced to remove redundancies among the coefficients at similar positions in different resolution levels. Experiments showed that the proposed method gave better coding performances comparing to conventional coding schemes.
Efficacy of Rilpivirine-Based Regimens as Switch Therapy From Nevirapine-Based Regimens in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients With Virological Suppression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Background Nevirapine (NVP)-based antiretroviral therapy continues to be used in some human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Rilpivirine (RPV) could be used as an alternative to NVP. We studied the efficacy of RPV-based regimens as switch therapy. Methods A randomized controlled noninferiority trial was conducted in HIV-infected patients who received NVP-based regimens and had undetectable plasma viral loads (VLs). Patients were randomized to a continuation arm (NVP was continued) or a switch arm (NVP was switched to RPV). Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) plus lamivudine or emtricitabine were the backbone of the regimens. The primary endpoint was an HIV VL <40 copies/mL at week 48. Results A total of 106 patients were enrolled, 55 patients were in the continuation arm and 51 patients were in the switch arm. The mean (standard deviation) age was 49.1 (9.2) years and 51.9% were females. The median (interquartile range) baseline CD4 count was 561 (443–732) cells/mm3. At week 48, 52 patients (94.6%) in the continuation arm and 50 patients (98.0%) in the switch arm had an HIV VL <40 copies/mL, with an efficacy difference of 3.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], −13.0 to 5.6; P = .619). Decreases in total cholesterol and triglyceride were observed in the switch arm (−17.1 mg/dL, 95% CI = −29.7 to −4.4, P = .008 and −36.0 mg/dL, 95% CI = −71.0 to −1.1, P = .044, respectively). Conclusions Switching from NVP to RPV can maintain virological suppression and decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride at week 48. In patients virologically suppressed with NVP-based regimens, RPV-based regimens can be a switch option.
Autofluorescence as a measure of senescence in C. elegans: look to red, not blue or green

In C. elegans, intestinal autofluorescence (sometimes referred to as lipofuscin or “age pigment”) accumulates with age and is often used as a marker of health or the rate of aging. We show that this autofluorescent material is spectrally heterogeneous, and that materials that fluoresce under different excitation wavelengths have distinct biological properties. Red autofluorescence (visible with a TRITC filterset) correlates well with an individual's remaining days of life, and is therefore a candidate marker of health. In contrast, blue autofluorescence (via a DAPI filterset) is chiefly an indicator of an individual's incipient or recent demise. Thus, population averages of blue fluorescence essentially measure the fraction of dead or near-dead individuals. This is related to but distinct from the health of the living population. Green autofluorescence (via a FITC or GFP filterset) combines both properties, and is therefore ill suited as a marker of either death or health. Moreover, our results show that care must be taken to distinguish GFP expression near the time of death from full-body green autofluorescence. Finally, none of this autofluorescence increases after oxidative stress, suggesting that the material, or its biology in C. elegans, is distinct from lipofuscin as reported in the mammalian literature.
ICRF-187 permits longer treatment with doxorubicin in women with breast cancer.

PURPOSE To test potential protection by ICRF-187 against cumulative doxorubicin-dose-related cardiac toxicity, we conducted a randomized clinical trial in 150 women with advanced breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients received fluorouracil (5FU) 500 mg/m2, doxorubicin 50 mg/m2, and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 every 21 days intravenously (IV) (control regimen, 74 patients), or the same regimen preceded by ICRF-187 1,000 mg/m2 IV (experimental regimen, 76 patients). RESULTS We previously reported that ICRF-187 in this dose and schedule provides cardiac protection and does not substantially alter the noncardiac toxicity or antitumor efficacy of the control regimen. In this updated analysis of the entire patient cohort, we provide additional support for these findings and demonstrate that patients in the ICRF-187 group received more cycles (median, 11) and higher cumulative doses (median, 500 mg/m2) of doxorubicin than patients in the control group (median, nine cycles, P less than .01; and 441 mg/m2, P less than .05). Twenty-six patients in the ICRF-187 group received doxorubicin doses of at least 700 mg/m2, and among them, 11 patients received 1,000 mg/m2 or more. Only three patients in the control group received doxorubicin doses of 700 mg/m2; the maximum dose administered to one patient in this group was 950 mg/m2. ICRF-187 cardiac protection was demonstrated by difference in incidence of clinical congestive heart failure (CHF; two patients in the ICRF-187 group v 20 in the control group; P less than .0001) and by differences in resting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) determined by multigated radionuclide (MUGA) scan from baselines and that required patient removal from study (five patients in the ICRF-187 group had a decrease in LVEF to less than 0.45 or a decrease from the baseline LVEF of 0.20 or more v 32 in the control group; P less than .000001). Among the 30 patients who had an assessable endomyocardial biopsy at cumulative doxorubicin 450 mg/m2, none of 16 in the ICRF-187 group and six of 14 in the control group had a score of 2 (P less than .05). ICRF-187 cardiac protection was observed in patients with and without prior chest-wall radiation or other risk factors for developing doxorubicin cardiac toxicity. CONCLUSION By protecting against cumulative doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity, ICRF-187 permits significantly greater doses of doxorubicin to be administered to patients with greater safety.
Feature-based control of visibility error: a multi-resolution clustering algorithm for global illumination

In this paper we introduce a new approach to controlling error in hierarchical clustering algorithms for radiosity. The new method provides control mechanisms which attempt to ensure that just enough work is done to meet the user's quality criteria. To this end the importance of traditionally ignored visibility error is identified, and the concept of {\it features} is introduced as a way to evaluate the quality of an image. A methodology to evaluate error based on features is presented, which leads to the development of a {\it multi-resolution visibility} algorithm. An algorithm to construct a suitable hierarchy for clustering and multi-resolution visibility is also proposed. Results of the implementation show that the multi-resolution approach has the potential of providing significant computational savings depending on the choice of feature size the user is interested in. They also illustrate the relevance of the feature-based error analysis. The proposed algorithms are well suited to the development of interactive lighting simulation systems since they allow more user control. Two additional mechanisms to control the quality of a simulation are presented: The evaluation of internal visibility in a cluster produces more accurate solutions for a given error bound; A progressive multi-gridding approach is introduced for hierarchical radiosity, allowing continuous refinement of a solution in an interactive session.
Fluorofenidone Attenuates Diabetic Nephropathy and Kidney Fibrosis in db/db Mice

Background/Aims: Fluorofenidone [1-(3-fluorophenyl)-5-methyl-2-(1H)-pyridone, AKF-PD], a novel pyridone agent, showed potent antifibrotic properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of AKF-PD on diabetic nephropathy and kidney fibrosis, and to obtain an insight into its mechanisms of action. Methods: We administered AKF-PD to diabetic db/db mice for 12 weeks. Moreover, we performed in vitro cultures using murine mesangial cells exposed to high ambient glucose concentrations. Results: AKF-PD reduced renal hypertrophy, mesangial matrix expansion and albuminuria in the db/db mice. The upregulated expression of α1(I)- and α1(IV)-collagen and fibronectin mRNAs, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) mRNAs and proteins was inhibited by AKF-PD treatment in the renal cortex of db/db mice. The maximal effective dose of AKF-PD was about 500 mg/kg body weight. AKF-PD inhibited the upregulated expression of α1(I)- and α1(IV)-collagens, TGF-β1, TIMP-1 and α-SMA induced by high glucose concentrations in cultured mesangial cells. Conclusions: Our data indicate that AKF-PD diminishes the abnormal accumulation of mesangial matrix through the inhibition of upregulated expression of TGF-β target genes in kidneys of db/db mice, resulting in attenuation of renal fibrosis and amelioration of renal dysfunction despite persistent hyperglycemia. Therefore, AKF-PD, a potent antifibrotic agent, holds great promise in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
HIGHLIGHTED TOPIC : Central CO 2 Chemoreception in Cardiorespiratory Control Cardiorespiratory and neural consequences of rats brought past their aerobic dive limit

Panneton WM, Gan Q, Dahms TE. Cardiorespiratory and neural consequences of rats brought past their aerobic dive limit. J Appl Physiol 109: 1256–1269, 2010. First published August 12, 2010; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00110. 2010. —The mammalian diving response is a dramatic autonomic adjustment to underwater submersion affecting heart rate, arterial blood pressure, and ventilation. The bradycardia is known to be modulated by the parasympathetic nervous system, arterial blood pressure is modulated via the sympathetic system, and still other circuits modulate the respiratory changes. In the present study, we investigate the submergence of rats brought past their aerobic dive limit, defined as the diving duration beyond which blood lactate concentration increases above resting levels. Hemodynamic measurements were made during underwater submergence with biotelemetric transmitters, and blood was drawn from cannulas previously implanted in the rats’ carotid arteries. Such prolonged submersion induces radical changes in blood chemistry; mean arterial PCO2 rose to 62.4 Torr, while mean arterial PO2 and pH reached nadirs of 21.8 Torr and 7.18, respectively. Despite these radical changes in blood chemistry, the rats neither attempted to gasp nor breathe while underwater. Immunohistochemistry for Fos protein done on their brains revealed numerous Fos-positive profiles. Especially noteworthy were the large number of immunopositive profiles in loci where presumptive chemoreceptors are found. Despite the activation of these presumptive chemoreceptors, the rats did not attempt to breathe. Injections of biotinylated dextran amine were made into ventral parts of the medullary dorsal horn, where central fibers of the anterior ethmoidal nerve terminate. Labeled fibers coursed caudal, ventral, and medial from the injection to neurons on the ventral surface of the medulla, where numerous Fos-labeled profiles were seen in the rats brought past their aerobic dive limit. We propose that this projection inhibits the homeostatic chemoreceptor reflex, despite the gross activation of chemoreceptors.
Milnacipran Remediates Impulsive Deficits in Rats with Lesions of the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex

Background: Deficits in impulse control are often observed in psychiatric disorders in which abnormalities of the prefrontal cortex are observed, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder. We recently found that milnacipran, a serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, could suppress impulsive action in normal rats. However, whether milnacipran could suppress elevated impulsive action in rats with lesions of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which is functionally comparable with the human prefrontal cortex, remains unknown. Methods: Selective lesions of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex were made using quinolinic acid in rats previously trained on a 3-choice serial reaction time task. Sham rats received phosphate buffered saline. Following a period of recovery, milnacipran (0 or 10mg/kg/d × 14 days) was orally administered 60 minutes prior to testing on the 3-choice task. After 7 days of drug cessation, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, electrophysiological analysis, and morphological analysis were conducted. Results: Lesions of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex induced impulsive deficits, and repeated milnacipran ameliorated the impulsive deficit both during the dosing period and after the cessation of the drug. Repeated milnacipran remediated the protein levels of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor and postsynaptic density-95, dendritic spine density, and excitatory currents in the few surviving neurons in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex of ventromedial prefrontal cortex-lesioned rats. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that milnacipran treatment could be a novel strategy for the treatment of psychiatric disorders that are associated with a lack of impulse control.
Latency Bounds of Packet-Based Fronthaul for Cloud-RAN with Functionality Split

The emerging Cloud-RAN architecture within the fifth generation (5G) of wireless networks plays a vital role in enabling higher flexibility and granularity. On the other hand, Cloud-RAN architecture introduces an additional link between the central, cloudified unit and the distributed radio unit, namely fronthaul (FH). Therefore, the foreseen reliability and latency for 5G services should also be provisioned over the FH link. In this paper, focusing on Ethernet as FH, we present a reliable packet-based FH communication and demonstrate the upper and lower bounds of latency that can be offered. These bounds yield insights into the trade-off between reliability and latency, and enable the architecture design through choice of splitting point, focusing on high layer split between PDCP and RLC and low layer split between MAC and PHY, under different FH bandwidth and traffic properties. Presented model is then analyzed both numerically and through simulation, with two classes of 5G services that are ultra reliable low latency (URLL) and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB).
Prevalence and management of rheumatoid arthritis in the general population of Greece--the ESORDIG study.

OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence and management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the general adult population of Greece. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted on the total adult population (> or =19 yrs old) of seven communities (8,547 subjects), and on 2,100 out of 5,686 randomly selected subjects in two additional communities. The study, based on a standardized questionnaire and clinical evaluation and laboratory investigation when necessary, was carried out by rheumatologists who visited the target population at their homes. Diagnosis of RA was based on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987 criteria. RESULTS A total of 8,740 subjects participated (response rate 82.1%). RA was diagnosed in 59 individuals. The prevalence of RA was 0.68% (95% CI 0.51-0.85); it was significantly higher in females than males (P< 0.0005), and increased significantly with age up to and including the 50-59-yr-old group (P< 0.002), and then decreased slightly. On their first medical visit, 19% (95% CI 9.7-30.9) of the RA patients had consulted a rheumatologist, while during the first year after disease onset, 61% (95% CI 48.6-73.4) had done so. Early consultation with a rheumatologist and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) combination therapy were negatively associated with ACR functional classes II-IV [adjusted odds ratios 0.18 (95% CI 0.04-0.85) and 0.17 (95% CI 0.04-0.72), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of RA in the general adult population of Greece is similar to that in many other European countries; early consultation with a rheumatologist and DMARD combination therapy are associated with a better RA outcome.
Multimedia Support for Complex Multidimensional Data Mining

ISO-3D project aims to develop tools in order to analyse and represent business information from large collection of data. The designed tools are mainly representation tools using 3D graphics, sound and animation. In this paper, we will present two of the graphic representation tools which use also sound and animated picture. We will exp lain why and how we use sound and animation with graphical representation in this data mining approach.
Antitumor Activity of Nifurtimox Observed in a Patient With Neuroblastoma

Background Chemotherapy-resistant neuroblastoma is a difficult disease to treat with poor survival. Observations We treated a patient with neuroblastoma who had progressed on conventional chemotherapy. This 5-year-old girl with chemotherapy-resistant neuroblastoma developed Chagas disease at the start of salvage chemotherapy for which she was also started on nifurtimox. The neuroblastoma response to these treatments resulted in clinical remission. In vitro, treatment of a neuroblastoma cell line with nifurtimox resulted in decreased cell viability whereas no effect was seen on an endothelial cell line. Conclusions Nifurtimox shows promise as a potential new treatment for neuroblastoma and warrants further testing.
Interactions between Brain Endothelial Cells and Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1-Infected Lymphocytes: Mechanisms of Viral Entry into the Central Nervous System

ABSTRACT Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is associated with a variety of clinical manifestations, including tropical spastic paraparesis or HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM). Viral detection in the central nervous system (CNS) of TSP/HAM patients demonstrates the ability of HTLV-1 to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To investigate viral entry into the CNS, rat brain capillary endothelial cells were exposed to human lymphocytes chronically infected by HTLV-1 (MT2), to lymphocytes isolated from a seropositive patient, or to a control lymphoblastoid cell line (CEM). An enhanced adhesion to and migration through brain endothelial cells in vitro was observed with HTLV-1-infected lymphocytes. HTLV-1-infected lymphocytes also induced a twofold increase in the paracellular permeability of the endothelial monolayer. These effects were associated with an increased production of tumor necrosis factor alpha by HTLV-1-infected lymphocytes in the presence of brain endothelial cells. Ultrastructural analysis showed that contact between endothelial cells and HTLV-1-infected lymphocytes resulted in a massive and rapid budding of virions from lymphocytes, followed by their internalization into vesicles by brain endothelial cells and apparent release onto the basolateral side, suggesting that viral particles may cross the BBB using the transcytotic pathway. Our study also demonstrates that cell-cell fusion occurs between HTLV-1-infected lymphocytes and brain endothelial cells, with the latter being susceptible to transient HTLV-1 infection. These aspects may help us to understand the pathogenic mechanisms associated with neurological diseases induced by HTLV-1 infection.