Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Completion Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Hereditary Pancreatitis After Prior Puestow Procedure: A Case Report

Abstract Background: Hereditary pancreatitis (HP) is an uncommon condition resulting from an imbalance of pancreatic proteases. Most commonly, protease serine 1 genetic mutations are causative for HP and often result in recurrent early onset episodes of acute pancreatitis typically progressing to chronic pancreatitis, with a high risk of pancreatic cancer. Case Presentation: A 46-year-old female with HP, confirmed by genetic testing, presented with a 7-month history of recurrent pancreatitis. She had previously undergone a distal pancreatectomy and Puestow procedure in 1992 at 21 years of age, after having pancreatitis as a teenager. The patient now had a completion pancreaticoduodenectomy and celiac ethanol nerve block. Conclusion: A completion pancreatectomy in patients with HP can be performed after previous pancreatic surgical intervention to treat disease manifestations and as a prophylaxis against an increased risk of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Metabolites from the Paracel Islands Soft Coral Sinularia cf. molesta

Five new oxygenated sesquiterpenes, molestins A–D (1, 3–5) and epi-gibberodione (2), three new cyclopentenone derivatives, ent-sinulolides C, D, and F ((+)-9–(+)-11), one new butenolide derivative, ent-sinulolide H ((+)-13), and one new cembranolide, molestin E (14), together with 14 known related metabolites (6–8, (–)-9–(–)-11, (±)-12, (–)-13, 15–19) were isolated from the Paracel Islands soft coral Sinularia cf. molesta. The structures and absolute configurations were elucidated based on comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, quantum chemical calculations, and comparison with the literature data. Compound 5 is the first example of a norsesquiterpene with a de-isopropyl guaiane skeleton isolated from the genus Sinularia. Molestin E (14) exhibited cytotoxicities against HeLa and HCT-116 cell lines with IC50 values of 5.26 and 8.37 μM, respectively. Compounds 4, 5, and 8 showed significant inhibitory activities against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) with IC50 values of 218, 344, and 1.24 μM, respectively.
A Computational Model of Dual Competition between the Basal Ganglia and the Cortex

Abstract We propose a model that includes interactions between the cortex, the basal ganglia (BG), and the thalamus based on a dual competition. We hypothesize that the striatum, the subthalamic nucleus (STN), the internal globus pallidus (GPi), the thalamus, and the cortex are involved in closed feedback loops through the hyperdirect and direct pathways. These loops support a competition process that results in the ability of BG to make a cognitive decision followed by a motor one. Considering lateral cortical interactions, another competition takes place inside the cortex allowing the latter to make a cognitive and a motor decision. We show how this dual competition endows the model with two regimes. One is driven by reinforcement learning and the other by Hebbian learning. The final decision is made according to a combination of these two mechanisms with a gradual transfer from the former to the latter. We confirmed these theoretical results on primates (Macaca mulatta) using a novel paradigm predicted by the model.
Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Pancreas in a Patient with BRCA2 Mutation: A Case Report

Abstract Background: Pancreatic adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) is an uncommon subtype of pancreatic neoplasm, representing 1–4% of all pancreatic cancers. Given the rarity of this tumor, there is no well-established standard of care regarding treatment. We present the case of a BRCA2-deficient patient who responded tremendously well to a combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin therapy. Case presentation: A 66-year-old Caucasian man presented with a 2-week duration of progressively worsening clay-colored stools, tea-colored urine, and jaundice. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a 4-cm mass at the head of the pancreas. Preoperative carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 was 255 U/mL (normal <37 U/mL). The patient underwent an uncomplicated pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with pathology revealing 11/12 positive lymph nodes, positive resection margins, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and positive disease in two distant perihepatic lymph nodes. The patient received one cycle of combination of gemcitabine and abraxane, was subsequently found to be BRCA2 deficient, and completed five cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin thereafter. CA 19-9 before chemotherapy was 203 U/mL. Postchemotherapy CA 19-9 was 13 U/mL. As of today, the patient continues to do well 22 months postresection without radiographical or gross evidence of disease. Conclusion: Gemcitabine in combination with a platinum agent shows promise in the treatment of pancreatic ASC, particularly in setting of BRCA2 deficiency.
Association of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Monoubiquitinated FANCD2-DNA Damage Repair Pathway Genes With Breast Cancer in the Chinese Population

Objective: The aim of the study was to estimate breast cancer risk conferred by individual single-nucleotide polymorphisms of breast cancer susceptibility genes. Methods: We analyzed the 48 tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms of 8 breast cancer susceptibility genes involved in the monoubiquitinated FANCD2–DNA damage repair pathway in 734 Chinese women with breast cancer and 672 age-matched healthy controls. Results: Forty-five tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms were successfully genotyped by SNPscan, and the call rates for each tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms were above 98.9%. We found that 13 tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms of 5 genes (Parter and localizer of Breast cancer gene2 (PALB2), Tumour protein 53 (TP53), Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1, Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10 (PTEN), and Breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1-interacting protein 1)) were significantly associated with breast cancer risk. A total of 5 tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs2299941 of PTEN, rs2735385, rs6999227, rs1805812, and rs1061302 of Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1) were tightly associated with breast cancer risk in sporadic cases, and 5 other tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs1042522 of TP53, rs2735343 of PTEN, rs7220719, rs16945628, and rs11871753 of BRCA1-interacting protein 1) were tightly associated with breast cancer risk in familial and early-onset cases. Conclusions: Some of the tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms of 5 genes (PALB2, TP53, Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1, PTEN, and BRCA1-interacting protein 1) involved in the monoubiquitinated FANCD2–DNA damage repair pathway were significantly associated with breast cancer risk.
Testing a Novel Attract-and-Kill Strategy for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Management

Abstract The invasion of the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, across the Americas and Europe has led to increased insecticide applications to protect fruit crops. This insecticide usage conflicts with integrated pest management programs, as well as harvest, export, and pollination services in the affected crops. A novel management tool was assessed against D. suzukii that may mitigate these conflicts. HOOK SWD, an attract-and-kill (A&K) formulation applied as a sprayable bait, was evaluated for three growing seasons in two berry crops in New Jersey and California. In blueberry crops treated with HOOK SWD, fruit infestations by D. suzukii were 2–8 times lower than in untreated crops. In trials in commercial raspberry fields, weekly or biweekly HOOK SWD applications combined with a single grower standard D. suzukii-targeted cover spray resulted in nearly 2–5 times fewer fruit infestations compared to the grower standard cover spray alone. Assays of the residual activity of HOOK SWD resulted in more than 78–93% adult D. suzukii mortality when exposed to raspberry leaves after the formulation had aged for 35 d in the field under plastic hoop houses. These results suggest that this A&K strategy can be integrated in D. suzukii management programs.
C-Reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio and Prognostic Nutritional Index Are Strong Prognostic Indicators of Survival in Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Abstract Purpose: We evaluated the clinical importance, such as the occurrence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) or prognosis, of preoperative serum markers of chronic inflammation, nutrition, and immunity, as well as that of serum tumor markers after curative resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). Methods: Between 2006 and 2015, 43 patients with PDACs underwent curative resection at Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital. We analyzed which preoperative indicators (i.e., C-reactive protein/albumin ratio [CAR], neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio [NLR], prognostic nutritional index [PNI], carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA], and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 [CA 19-9]) were the most relevant risk factors for occurrence of POPF and poor patient survival. Results: POPF was detected in 8/43 (18.6%) patients. One patient died of pancreatic fistula at 2 months postoperatively. Among nine candidate factors (operative procedure, operation time, tumor stage, preoperative serum amylase, preoperative CAR, NLR, PNI, CEA, and CA 19-9), we did not identify any significant risk factor for the occurrence of POPF. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of the 43 patients was 22.4%, and the overall median survival time was 21 months. The multivariate OS analysis demonstrated that high CAR and low PNI were strong preoperative markers of poor prognosis independently of tumor stage. Conclusions: Preoperative CAR and PNI are useful prognostic markers for patients with operable PDACs.
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors Complicated by Sinistral Portal Hypertension: Insights into Pathogenesis

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the association between pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (panNETs) and sinistral portal hypertension (SPH) and provide insights into the pathogenesis. Methods: A retrospective review of panNETs was conducted from our institution for 12 years. Medical imaging findings were analyzed to determine any association with splenic vein thrombosis (SVT) at diagnosis. The cases were further selected based on the criteria for SPH, namely, (1) presence of SVT, (2) gastric varices, (3) patent portal vein, and (4) normal liver function tests. Results: There were 61 patients with panNETs and 8 (8/61) had SVT and gastric varices at diagnosis. Four (4/8) met the strict criteria for SPH while the other four had more conventional portal hypertension. The four with SPH had large tumors located in the tail with splenic vein invasion and three of four presented with bleeding gastric varices. All four patients underwent surgical resection. Mean follow-up was 8.5 years and the hematemesis never recurred. The other four patients (four of eight) with gastric varices had unresectable disease and all died after a mean survival of 29 months. Conclusion: PanNETs appear to be more commonly associated with SVT and SPH compared with other tumors. This could be related to their relatively indolent nature and their intrinsic vascularity. From a surgical viewpoint, the decision to operate depends on many factors including but not limited to the size/stage, grade, and functionality of the tumor and comorbidities. These considerations notwithstanding, the association between panNETs and SPH suggests that there is benefit in timely resection of panNETs located in the tail.
The noncoding RNA revolution—three decades and still going strong!

Revolutions bring great changes to societies. The noncoding RNA revolution began with the seminal discovery of Caenorhabditis elegans small noncoding RNAs, known as microRNAs, by Ambros, Ruvkun, and colleagues in 1993; this revolution has wrought huge changes in all fields of biology and medicine by identifying a new layer of gene regulation. The most unbiased proof of their impact is the publication of over 100 000 papers on the topic of short or long noncoding RNAs, reporting their roles in cell fate, tissue organization, organism homeostasis, and circadian rhythms, their use as biomarkers, their involvement in a plethora of disease mechanisms, and, starting recently, their potential as drugs or drug targets in several clinical trials for various disorders. Due to this unprecedented coverage of the role of noncoding RNAs in almost all aspects of biology and pathology, this special issue of Molecular Oncology on the topic of noncoding RNAs is focused on specific issues that have practical significance, rather than trying to encompass the full biology of these molecules.
Quantitative Metastatic Lymph Node Regions on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Are Superior to AJCC N Classification for the Prognosis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Purpose Quantitative lymph node burden has been demonstrated to be a critical prognosticator in various malignancies, yet it was seldom explored in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study aimed to investigate the impact of the number of metastatic lymph node regions (LRN) on prognosis of NPC and to establish a new N classification system based on LRN. Methods and Materials The magnetic resonance images (MRI) of 354 nondisseminated NPC patients before radical treatment were retrospectively evaluated. The regions with positive lymph nodes (LNs) were quantified according to 2013 updated guidelines for neck node levels. Prognostic value of LRN on distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) was analyzed using multivariable Cox model after adjusting for other nodal characteristics and therapeutic factors. Results LRN strongly correlated with the size, laterality, level, extracapsular extension (ECE), and necrosis of LNs. Risk of distant metastasis significantly escalated with increased LRN (P<0.001). 5-year DMFS for LRN 0-1, 2-6, and ⩾7 was 97.0%, 86.7%, and 69.7%, respectively. In multivariable Cox analysis, LRN (HR 2.45; 95% CI 1.55-3.88; P<0.001) and maximal LN diameter (MLD) >6cm (HR 4.11; 95% CI 2.23-7.56; P<0.001) were identified as independent predictors of DMFS. Laterality and level showed no prognostic significance when accounting for LRN. A novel N classification scheme was derived by recursive partitioning analysis based on LRN and MLD. Compared with the 7th and 8th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) systems, the new stratification exhibited better accuracy in predicting survivals. Conclusions LRN is a promising quantitative predictor of survival in NPC, eclipsing other classic LN characteristics in prognostic value. The simplified N classification scheme with LRN and MLD is predictive and practical, thus warranting further validation in future.
Semiautomatic Three-Dimensional Threshold-Based Cardiac Computed Tomography Ventricular Volumetry in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: Comparison with Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective To assess the accuracy and potential bias of computed tomography (CT) ventricular volumetry using semiautomatic three-dimensional (3D) threshold-based segmentation in repaired tetralogy of Fallot, and to compare them to those of two-dimensional (2D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods This retrospective study evaluated 32 patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot who had undergone both cardiac CT and MRI within 3 years. For ventricular volumetry, semiautomatic 3D threshold-based segmentation was used in CT, while a manual simplified contouring 2D method was used in MRI. The indexed ventricular volumes were compared between CT and MRI. The indexed ventricular stroke volumes were compared with the indexed arterial stroke volumes measured using phase-contrast MRI. The mean differences and degrees of agreement in the indexed ventricular and stroke volumes were evaluated using Bland-Altman analysis. Results The indexed end-systolic (ES) volumes showed no significant difference between CT and MRI (p > 0.05), while the indexed end-diastolic (ED) volumes were significantly larger on CT than on MRI (93.6 ± 17.5 mL/m2 vs. 87.3 ± 15.5 mL/m2 for the left ventricle [p < 0.001] and 177.2 ± 39.5 mL/m2 vs. 161.7 ± 33.1 mL/m2 for the right ventricle [p < 0.001], respectively). The mean differences between CT and MRI were smaller for the indexed ES volumes (2.0–2.5 mL/m2) than for the indexed ED volumes (6.3–15.5 mL/m2). CT overestimated the stroke volumes by 14–16%. With phase-contrast MRI as a reference, CT (7.2–14.3 mL/m2) showed greater mean differences in the indexed stroke volumes than did MRI (0.8–3.3 mL/m2; p < 0.005). Conclusion Compared to 2D MRI, CT ventricular volumetry using semiautomatic 3D threshold-based segmentation provides comparable ES volumes, but overestimates the ED and stroke volumes in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.
Simultaneous Detection of Beta and Gamma Human Herpesviruses by Multiplex qPCR Reveals Simple Infection and Coinfection Episodes Increasing Risk for Graft Rejection in Solid Organ Transplantation

Herpesviruses are common components of the human microbiome that become clinically relevant when a competent immunosurveillance is compromised, such as in transplantation. Members of the beta and gamma subfamilies are associated with a wide diversity of pathologies, including end-organ disease and cancer. In this study, we developed a multiplex qPCR technique with high specificity, sensitivity, efficiency and predictability that allowed the simultaneous detection and quantification of beta and gamma human herpesviruses. The technique was tested in a cohort of 34 kidney- or liver-transplanted pediatric patients followed up for up to 12 months post-transplant. Viral load was determined in 495 leukocyte-plasma paired samples collected bi-weekly or monthly. Human herpesvirus (HHV) 7 was the herpesvirus most frequently found in positive samples (39%), followed by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (20%). Also, EBV and HHV7 were present in the majority of coinfection episodes (62%). The share of positive samples exclusively detected either in leukocytes or plasma was 85%, suggesting that these herpesviruses tended to take a latent or lytic path in an exclusive manner. Infection by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and HHV6, as well as coinfection by EBV/HHV7 and EBV/HHV6/HHV7, were associated with graft rejection (RR = 40.33 (p = 0.0013), 5.60 (p = 0.03), 5.60 (p = 0.03) and 17.64 (p = 0.0003), respectively). The routine monitoring of beta and gamma herpesviruses should be mandatory in transplant centers to implement preventive strategies.
Superior Visual Timing Sensitivity in Auditory But Not Visual World Class Drum Corps Experts

Visual Abstract World class drum corps require cooperation among performance artists to render precisely synchronized and asynchronized events. For example, drum corps visual aesthetics often feature salient radial and rotational motion displays from the color guard. Accordingly, extensive color guard training might predict superior visual timing sensitivity to asynchronies in radial and rotational motion displays. Less intuitively, one might instead predict superior visual timing sensitivity among world class drum corps musicians, who regularly subdivide musical tempos into brief time units. This prediction arises from the possibility that auditory training transfers cross-modally. Here, we investigated whether precise visual temporal order judgments (TOJs) more strongly align with color guard’s visual training or musicians’ auditory training. To mimic color guard visual displays, stimuli comprised bilateral plaid patterns that radiated or rotated before changing direction asynchronously. Human participants indicated whether the direction changed first on the left or right, called a TOJ. Twenty-five percussionists, 67 brass players, and 29 color guard members from a world class drum corps collectively completed 67,760 visual TOJ trials. Percussionists exhibited significantly lower TOJ thresholds than did brass players, who exhibited significantly lower TOJ thresholds than did the color guard. Group median thresholds spanned an order of magnitude, ranging between 29 ms (percussionists judging rotational asynchronies) and 290 ms (color guard judging radial asynchronies). The results suggest that visual timing can improve more by training cross-modally than intramodally, even when intramodal training and testing stimuli closely match. More broadly, pre-existing training histories can provide a unique window into the timing sensitivity of the nervous system.
Identification of the Genetic Variation and Gene Exchange between Citrus Trifoliata and Citrus Clementina

To identify the genetic variation between Citrus trifoliata and Citrus clementina, we performed genome resequencing on the two citrus species. Compared with the citrus reference genome, a total of 9,449,204 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 846,615 insertion/deletion polymorphisms (InDels) were identified in the two citrus species, while 1,868,115 (19.77%) of the SNPs and 190,199 (22.47%) of the InDels from the two citrus species were located in the genic regions. Meanwhile, a total of 8,091,407 specific SNPs and 692,654 specific InDels were identified in the two citrus genotypes, yielding an average of 27.32 SNPs/kb and 2.34 InDels/kb. We identified and characterized the patterns of gene exchanges in the grafted citrus plants by using specific genetic variation from genome resequencing. A total of 4396 transporting genes across graft junctions was identified. Some specific genetic variation and mobile genes was also confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Furthermore, these mobile genes could move directionally or bidirectionally between the scions and the rootstocks. In addition, a total of 1581 and 2577 differentially expressed genes were found in the scions and the rootstocks after grafting compared with the control, respectively. These genetic variations provide fundamental information on the genetic basis of important traits between C. trifoliata and C. clementina, as the transport of genes would be applicable to horticulture crops.
SARS-Like Coronavirus WIV1-CoV Does Not Replicate in Egyptian Fruit Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like WIV1-coronavirus (CoV) was first isolated from Rhinolophus sinicus bats and can use the human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. In the current study, we investigate the ability of WIV1-CoV to infect Rousettus aegyptiacus bats. No clinical signs were observed throughout the experiment. Furthermore, only four oropharyngeal swabs and two respiratory tissues, isolated on day 3 post inoculation, were found positive for viral RNA. Two out of twelve bats showed a modest increase in coronavirus specific antibodies post challenge. In conclusion, WIV1-CoV was unable to cause a robust infection in Rousettus aegyptiacus bats.