Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term follow-up for locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer patients treated with multimodality therapy.

PURPOSE To determine long-term event-free (EFS) and overall survival (OS) for patients with stage III breast cancer treated with combined-modality therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1980 and 1988, 107 patients with stage III breast cancer were prospectively enrolled for study at the National Cancer Institute and stratified by whether or not they had features of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Patients were treated to best response with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, methotrexate, fluorouracil, leucovorin, and hormonal synchronization with conjugated estrogens and tamoxifen. Patients with pathologic complete response received definitive radiotherapy to the breast and axilla, whereas patients with residual disease underwent mastectomy, lymph node dissection, and radiotherapy. All patients underwent six additional cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS OS and EFS were obtained with a median live patient follow-up time of 16.8 years. The 46 IBC patients had a median OS of 3.8 years and EFS of 2.3 years, compared with 12.2 and 9.0 years, respectively, in stage IIIA breast cancer patients. Fifteen-year OS survival was 20% for IBC versus 50% for stage IIIA patients and 23% for stage IIIB non-IBC. Pathologic response was not associated with improved survival for stage IIIA or IBC patients. Presence of dermal lymphatic invasion did not change the probability of survival in clinical IBC patients. CONCLUSION Fifteen-year follow-up of stage IIIA and inflammatory breast cancer is rarely reported; IBC patients have a poor long-term outlook.
Stressed, Overworked, and Not Sure Whom to Trust: The Impacts of Recent Immigration Enforcement on our Public School Educators

In the past year, stepped up immigration enforcement policy has negatively impacted our K-12 public school communities. Students from immigrant backgrounds as well as their non-immigrant peers have been affected by the increased threat and enforcement of detention and deportation. Missing from the discourse, however, are the educators—the teachers, administrators, and staff—who work closely with these students. In this study, we investigate the ways in which educators who work with immigrant students nationwide are affected by the recent intensification of immigration enforcement. We find that educators have been deeply affected by the trauma experienced by their students and school communities. To understand the depths and levels of these impacts, we ask the following questions:
Antibiotics for treating bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND Bacterial vaginosis is an imbalance of the normal vaginal flora with an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria and a lack of the normal lactobacillary flora. Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy has been associated with poor perinatal outcome and, in particular, preterm birth. Identification and treatment may reduce the risk of preterm birth and its consequences. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of antibiotic treatment of bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register (May 2004). SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized trials comparing antibiotic treatment with placebo or no treatment, or comparing two or more antibiotic regimens in pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis or intermediate vaginal flora. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two reviewers assessed trials and extracted data independently. We contacted study authors for additional information. MAIN RESULTS Thirteen trials involving 5300 women were included; all were of good quality. Antibiotic therapy was effective at eradicating bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy (odds ratio (OR) 0.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.19 to 0.24, nine trials of 3895 women). Treatment was not significant in reducing the risk of preterm birth before 37 weeks (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.03, thirteen trials of 5300 women, and there was significant heterogeneity between trials, p-value 0.002), preterm birth before 34 weeks (OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.67 to 2.19, five trials of 851 women), preterm birth before 32 weeks (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.70, four trials of 3565 women), or the risk of preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.28, four trials of 2579 women). In women with a previous preterm birth, treatment did not affect the risk of subsequent preterm birth (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.17, five trials of 622 women, with significant heterogeneity between these trials); however, it may decrease the risk of preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.38, two trials of 114 women, and low birthweight (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.75, two trials of 114 women). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Antibiotic treatment can eradicate bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy. However, this review provides little evidence that screening and treating all pregnant women with asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis will prevent preterm birth and its consequences. For women with a previous preterm birth, there is some suggestion that treatment of bacterial vaginosis may reduce the risk of preterm prelabour rupture of membranes and low birthweight.
Evaluation of thermal- and photo-crosslinked biodegradable poly(propylene fumarate)-based networks.

Biodegradable networks of poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) and the crosslinking reagent poly(propylene fumarate)-diacrylate (PPF-DA) were prepared with thermal- and photo-initiator systems. Thermal-crosslinking was performed with benzoyl peroxide (BP), which is accelerated by N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine (DMT) and enables injection and in situ polymerization. Photo-crosslinking was accomplished with bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phenylphosphine oxide (BAPO), which is activated by long-wavelength UV light and facilitates material processing with rapid manufacturing techniques, such as stereolithography. Networks were evaluated to assess the effects of the initiators and the PPF/PPF-DA double bond ratio on the mechanical properties. Regardless of the initiator system, the compressive properties of the PPF/PPF-DA networks increased as the double bond ratio decreased from 2 to 0.5. BAPO/UV-initiated networks were significantly stronger than those formed with BP/DMT. The compressive modulus of the photo- and thermal-crosslinked PPF/PPF-DA networks ranged from 310 +/- 25 to 1270 +/- 286 MPa and 75 +/- 8 to 332 +/- 89 MPa, respectively. The corresponding fracture strengths varied from 58 +/- 7 to 129 +/- 17 MPa and 31 +/- 13 to 105 +/- 12 MPa. The mechanical properties were not affected by the initiator concentration. Characterization of the network structures indicated that BAPO was a more efficient initiator for the crosslinking of PPF/PPF-DA, achieving a higher double bond conversion and crosslinking density than its BP counterpart. Estimated average molecular weights between crosslinks (Mc) confirmed the effects of the initiators and PPF/PPF-DA double bond ratio on the mechanical properties. This work demonstrates the capability to control the properties of PPF/PPF-DA networks as well as their versatility to be used as an injectable material or a prefabricated implant.
A genetic screen for modifiers of Deformed homeotic function identifies novel genes required for head development.

Only a few genes have been identified that participate in the developmental pathways which modulate homeotic (HOX) protein specificity or mediate HOX morphogenetic function. To identify more HOX pathway genes, we screened for mutations on loci on the Drosophila second chromosome that interact with the homeotic gene Deformed (Dfd). Genetic and molecular tests on the eight genes isolated in the screen place them in three general categories. Two genes appear to encode trithorax group functions, i.e. they are general activators of Hox gene expression or function. Four genes encode abundant, widely expressed proteins that may be required to mediate Dfd morphogenetic functions in certain tissues, including two genes for collagen IV protein variants. Finally, two of the genes are required for the development of a subset of embryonic Dfd-dependent structures, while leaving many other segmental structures intact. We cloned and characterized one of these two, which we have named apontic (apt). apt is required for the elaboration of dorsal and ventral head structures. It encodes a 484-amino-acid protein with no significant similarity to known protein sequences. The apt transcript pattern is normal in Dfd and Scr mutants, and the Dfd and Scr transcript patterns are normal in apt mutants. We propose that apt acts in parallel to, or as a cofactor with, HOX proteins to regulate homeotic targets in the ventral gnathal region.
Urinary Tract Physiological Conditions Promote Ciprofloxacin Resistance in Low-Level-Quinolone-Resistant Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli isolates carrying chromosomally encoded low-level-quinolone-resistant (LLQR) determinants are frequently found in urinary tract infections (UTIs). LLQR mutations are considered the first step in the evolutionary pathway producing high-level fluoroquinolone resistance. Therefore, their evolution and dissemination might influence the outcome of fluoroquinolone treatments of UTI. Previous studies support the notion that low urine pH decreases susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (CIP) in E. coli. However, the effect of the urinary tract physiological parameters on the activity of ciprofloxacin against LLQR E. coli strains has received little attention. We have studied the activity of ciprofloxacin under physiological urinary tract conditions against a set of well-characterized isogenic E. coli derivatives carrying the most prevalent chromosomal mutations (ΔmarR, gyrA-S83L, gyrA-D87N, and parC-S80R and some combinations). The results presented here demonstrate that all the LLQR strains studied became resistant to ciprofloxacin (according to CLSI guidelines) under physiological conditions whereas the control strain lacking LLQR mutations did not. Moreover, the survival of some LLQR E. coli variants increased up to 100-fold after challenge with a high concentration of ciprofloxacin under UTI conditions compared to the results seen with Mueller-Hinton broth. These selective conditions could explain the high prevalence of LLQR mutations in E. coli. Furthermore, our data strongly suggest that recommended methods for MIC determination produce poor estimations of CIP activity against LLQR E. coli in UTIs.
The Benefits of International Student Perspectives in a Global Cancer Workshop

A recent opportunity to facilitate a faculty and student workshop in Global Health and Cancer Prevention allowed us, an international group of graduate students, to reflect on cancer disparities in our home countries as well as our understanding of these differences. This included discussing the complexity of achieving equitable cancer prevention globally, and learning from our shared and disparate experiences of public health systems across the world. It became clear through this process that being an international student, and working with other international students with distinct backgrounds, can result in an enriched learning environment. Our discussions highlighted gaps in our knowledge regarding other cultures, and gave each of us a new perspective on aspects of our own cultures, related to cancer, cancer- related risk factors, and more broadly. This forum demonstrated to us the benefits of the diversity international students can bring to the learning space.
Implicit Probability Distribution for WTI Options: The Black Scholes vs. The Semi-Nonparametric Approach

Este documento contribuye a la literatura sobre la estimacion de la funcion de Densidad de Riesgo Neutral (RND) modelando los precios de las opciones del crudo West Texas Intermediate (WTI) que se comercializaron en el periodo comprendido entre enero de 2016 y enero de 2017. Para estas series, se extrae la RND implicita en los precios de las opciones aplicando el modelo tradicional Black & Scholes (1973) y el modelo semi-no parametrico (SNP) propuesto por Backus, Foresi, Li y Wu (1997). Los resultados obtenidos muestran que cuando el precio promedio del mercado se compara con el precio teorico promedio, la especificacion lognormal tiende a subestimar sistematicamente la estimacion. Por el contrario, el modelo de fijacion de precios SNP, que se ajusta explicitamente a la asimetria negativa y al exceso de curtosis, da como resultado una precision marcadamente mejorada.
Chronic pain in a large community sample of persons with multiple sclerosis

Introduction: This study examined the prevalence, intensity, interference, and biopsychosocial correlates of pain in a large community-based sample of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Mail surveys were returned by 442 members of the King C ounty (WA) MS Association. Average pain intensity, pain-related activity interference, depressive symptoms and severity of MS were assessed. Results: Forty-four percent reported persistent, bothersome pain in the three months prior to completing the survey. Participants with pain reported an average pain intensity rating of 5.2 (SD =2.3) on the 0 (no pain) to 10 (pain as bad as could be) scale. Twenty-seven percent reported severe pain (score of 7-10), while 51% of those with pain rated the interference of their pain with daily activities as none to minimal. Twenty percent reported severe interference in activities as a result of pain. In multivariate modeling, MS illness severity, marital status, and self-ratings of overall health were significantly associated with pain-related interference with activities. Conclusions: A pproximately a fourth of this sample described having a chronic pain problem characterized by severe pain intensity and significant pain-related interference with activities. Disability due to pain may be more important than previously recognized for the MS population.
Competency-based medical education in postgraduate medical education

With the introduction of Tomorrow's Doctors in 1993, medical education began the transition from a time- and process-based system to a competency-based training framework. Implementing competency-based training in postgraduate medical education poses many challenges but ultimately requires a demonstration that the learner is truly competent to progress in training or to the next phase of a professional career. Making this transition requires change at virtually all levels of postgraduate training. Key components of this change include the development of valid and reliable assessment tools such as work-based assessment using direct observation, frequent formative feedback, and learner self-directed assessment; active involvement of the learner in the educational process; and intensive faculty development that addresses curricular design and the assessment of competency.
Single Stock Futures and Their Impact on Risk Characteristics of the Underlying Stocks: A Dynamic CAPM Approach

The concern regarding destabilizing ability of trading in futures markets in terms of increase in risk is still unresolved in developed and developing economies. This discussion also prevailed in Pakistan after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). To investigates this concern with respect to Single Stock Futures (SSFs) and their impact on the underlying stocks, this study made use of data from 1999 to 2008. Speci cally, this study investigates the introduction of SSFs in relevance to their impact on the systematic and unsystematic risk of their counterparts. The statistical results of the study show that introduction of SSFs does not enhance the overall risk of the underlying stocks. Therefore, it can be concluded that SSFs cannot be blamed for any apparent volatility in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) at and before GFC. There could be some other reasons for change in risk level (accounting and macroeconomic fundamentals or industry speci fic etc.). The results of this study are in line with a category of earlier studies, which show that introduction of futures do not destabilize the underlying market. The study implies that flexible regulated futures markets can improve price discovery and liquidity of the market, while acting as an agent for hedgers.
Sialidase Activity in Nuclear Membranes of Rat Brain

Abstract: A highly purified nuclear membrane preparation was obtained from adult rat brain and examined for sialidase activity using GM3, GD1a, GD1b, or N‐acetylneuramin lactitol as the substrate. The nuclear membranes contained an appreciable level of sialidase activity; the specific activities toward GM3 and N‐acetylneuramin lactitol were 20.5 and 23.8% of the activities in the total brain homogenate, respectively. The sialidase activity in nuclear membranes showed substrate specificity distinct from other membrane‐bound sialidases localized in lysosomal membranes, synaptosomal plasma membranes, or myelin membranes. These results strongly suggest the existence of a sialidase activity associated with the nuclear membranes from rat brain.
Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in proteoglycan induced arthritis

Objectives To explore the immunosuppressive effect and mechanism of action of intraperitoneal (ip) and intra-articular (ia) mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) injection in proteoglycan induced arthritis (PGIA). Methods MSC were administered ip or ia after establishment of arthritis. We used serial bioluminescence imaging (BLI) to trace luciferase-transfected MSC. Mice were sacrificed at different time points to examine immunomodulatory changes in blood and secondary lymphoid organs. Results Both ip and local ia MSC injection resulted in a beneficial clinical and histological effect on established PGIA. BLI showed that MSC ip and ia in arthritic mice are largely retained for several weeks in the peritoneal cavity or injected joint respectively, without signs of migration. Following MSC treatment pathogenic PG-specific IgG2a antibodies in serum decreased. The Th2 cytokine IL-4 was only upregulated in PG-stimulated lymphocytes from spleens in ip treated mice and in lymphocytes from draining lymph nodes in ia treated mice. An increase in production of IL-10 was seen with equal distribution. Although IFN-γ was also elevated, the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in MSC treated mice was opposite to the ratio in (untreated) active PGIA. Conclusions MSC treatment, both ip and ia, suppresses PGIA, a non-collagen induced arthritis model. MSC are largely retained for weeks in the injection region. MSC treatment induced at the region of injection a deviation of PG-specific immune responses, suggesting a more regulatory phenotype with production of IL-4 and IL-10, but also of IFN-γ, and a systemic decrease of pathogenic PG-specific IgG2a antibodies. These findings underpin the potential of MSC treatment in resistant arthritis.
Fatness and fitness: exposing the logic of evolutionary explanations for obesity

To explore the logic of evolutionary explanations of obesity we modelled food consumption in an animal that minimizes mortality (starvation plus predation) by switching between activities that differ in energy gain and predation. We show that if switching does not incur extra predation risk, the animal should have a single threshold level of reserves above which it performs the safe activity and below which it performs the dangerous activity. The value of the threshold is determined by the environmental conditions, implying that animals should have variable ‘set points’. Selection pressure to prevent energy stores exceeding the optimal level is usually weak, suggesting that immediate rewards might easily overcome the controls against becoming overweight. The risk of starvation can have a strong influence on the strategy even when starvation is extremely uncommon, so the incidence of mortality during famine in human history may be unimportant for explanations for obesity. If there is an extra risk of switching between activities, the animal should have two distinct thresholds: one to initiate weight gain and one to initiate weight loss. Contrary to the dual intervention point model, these thresholds will be inter-dependent, such that altering the predation risk alters the location of both thresholds; a result that undermines the evolutionary basis of the drifty genes hypothesis. Our work implies that understanding the causes of obesity can benefit from a better understanding of how evolution shapes the mechanisms that control body weight.
Russia's influence is much more than propaganda and fake news

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Identification of early recurrence of primary central nervous system tumors by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography

As aggressive neurosurgery and adjuvant therapy have become standard care for most patients with primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors, limitations of posttreatment neuroimaging techniques have become more apparent. Interpretation of computed cranial tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with brain tumors is complicated by changes related to surgery, corticosteroids, radiation, and chemotherapy. We investigated the role of 18F‐2‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) in these difficult diagnostic situations by obtaining FDG‐PET scans in 5 patients following temporal lobectomy for epilepsy, in 5 patients with recurrent anaplastic gliomas before and after corticosteroid therapy, and in 5 patients after the development of histologically confirmed radionecrosis. We also obtained postoperative FDG‐PET scans in 32 consecutive patients undergoing initial resection of a primary brain tumor. Our results indicate that glucose uptake as detected by FDG‐PET scanning with[18F]fluorodeoxyglucose is not increased in the postoperative period; is not affected by steroid therapy; and accurately predicts early recurrence of tumor, supplementing other predictors of tumor behavior, including extent of resection, histological diagnosis, and postoperative CT. Thus PET using [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose can contribute to the optimum management of patients with primary brain tumors.
Influence of Radiation Dose Rate and Lung Dose on Interstitial Pneumonitis after Fractionated Total Body Irradiation: Acute Parotitis May Predict Interstitial Pneumonitis

This study evaluated patients for the influence of the dose rate and lung dose of fractionated total body irradiation (TBI) in preparation for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) on the subsequent development of interstitial pneumonitis (IP). Sixty-six patients at our institute were treated with TBI followed by BMT. All of the patients received a total TBI dose of 12 Gy given in 6 fractions over 3 days and were divided into 3 groups according to the radiation dose rate and lung dose: group A, lung dose of 8 Gy (n = 18); group B, lung dose of 12 Gy at 8 cGy/min (n = 25); and group C, lung dose of 12 Gy at 19 cGy/min (n = 23). The overall survival rate, the cumulative incidence of relapse, and the cumulative incidence of IP were evaluated in relation to various potential indicators of future IP. There were no significant differences in survival and relapse rates between patient group A and combined groups B and C. Clinically significant IP occurred in 13 patients. The cumulative incidence of IP was significantly higher in patients who developed acute parotitis as indicated by either an elevation in the serum amylase level or parotid pain of grade 1 to 2. There was no difference in IP incidence among groups A, B, and C. There was no significant difference in IP incidence between lung dose values of 8 Gy (with lung shielding) and 12 Gy (without lung shielding) and between dose rate values of 8 cGy/min and 19 cGy/ min, at least when TBI was given in 6 fractions. The presence of acute parotitis during or just after TBI may be a predictor of IP.