Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical and Laboratory Investigations Metastatic pathways and time courses in the orderly progression of cutaneous melanoma

Background It is known that two-thirds of patients who develop clinical metastases following treatment of a primary cutaneous melanoma initially present with locoregional metastases and one-third initially present with distant metastases. However, few reports in the literature give detailed figures on different metastatic pathways in cutaneous melanoma. Objectives The aim of the present study was to perform a detailed analysis of the different metastatic pathways, the time course of the development of metastases and the factors influencing them. Methods In a series of 3001 patients with primary cutaneous melanoma at first presentation, 466 subsequently developed metastasis and were followed-up over the long term at the University of Tuebingen, Germany between 1976 and 1996. Different pathways of metastatic spread were traced. Associated risk factors for the different pathways were assessed. Differences in survival probabilities were calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method and evaluated by the log-rank test. Results In 50Æ2% of the patients the first metastasis after treatment of the primary tumour developed in the regional lymph nodes. In the remaining half of the patient sample the first metastasis developed in the lymphatic drainage area in front of the regional lymph nodes, as satellite or in-transit metastases (21Æ7%) or as direct distant metastases (28Æ1%). Anatomical location, sex and tumour thickness were significant risk factors for the development of metastasis by different pathways. The most important risk factor appeared to be the location of the primary tumour. The median intervals elapsing before the first metastasis differed significantly between the different metastatic pathways. The direct distant metastases became manifest after a median period of 25 months, thus later than the direct regional lymph node metastases (median latency period, 16 months) and the direct satellite and in-transit metastases (median latency period, 17 months). In patients who developed distant metastases the period of development was independent of the metastatic route. The time at which the distant metastases developed was roughly the same (between 24 and 30 months after the detection of the primary tumour), irrespective of whether satellite or in-transit metastases, lymph node metastases or distant metastases were the first to occur. Conclusions The time course of the development of distant metastasis was more or less the same irrespective of the metastatic pathway; this suggests that in patients with in-transit or satellite metastasis or regional lymph node metastasis, haematogenic metastatic spread had already taken place. Thus, the diagnostic value of sentinel lymph node biopsy and the therapeutic benefit of elective lymph node dissection may be limited, as satellite and in-transit metastases or direct distant metastases will not be detected and haematogenous spread may already have taken place when the intervention is performed.
Toward full carbon interconnects: High conductivity of individual carbon nanotube to carbon nanotube regrowth junctions

A versatile chemical vapor deposition (CVD) based method for the fabrication and electrical measurement of individual carbon nanotube junctions was developed. ferritin or Fe particles were grafted on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and used as catalysts for the subsequent growth of secondary MWNT by CVD. Junctions were then individually connected. The conductivities of the MWNTs and of the junction were measured. Statistical data show that the conductance of the MWNT-MWNT junction is similar to that of MWNT. This result paves the way for the use of carbon nanotubes as electrical interconnects in electronic applications.
Nifedipine for hypertensive emergencies.

To the Editor. —The article by Dr Grossman and colleagues 1 documents several important points regarding the treatment of hypertensive emergencies and urgencies. The myth of the superiority of sublingual over oral nifedipine is dispelled nicely, and the adverse effects of sublingual nifedipine are equally well illustrated. The concept of a pseudoemergency, in which there is asymptomatic, excessive elevation of blood pressure, is presented to emphasize the prudence in not treating these patients aggressively. However, the conclusion to abandon the routine use of short-acting nifedipine capsules in hyper
Combined effects of fasting and alanine on liver function recovery after cold ischemia

Abstract. The effect of donor nutritional status on hepatic function recovery after cold ischemia is still debated. We demonstrated previously that a 48-h fast diminished the survival rate of liver-transplanted rats and that the deleterious effect of fasting was prevented by infusion of alanine to the recipient at reperfusion. Whether the duration of fasting influenced the protective effect of alanine and whether this effect was metabolic were not known, and the elucidation of these questions is the aim of this study. The effect on hepatic function recovery of fasting periods of 24 h, 48 h and 72 h prior to cold ischemia were studied in a model of isolated, perfused rat liver. After a cold-ischemic time of 24 h in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution at 4°C, livers were reperfused for 3 h. The combined effect of alanine (8 mM) infusion at liver reperfusion was evaluated for each prior fasting period. The addition of pyruvate (8 mM), a metabolic intermediary of alanine, was only tested in the 72-h fasting group. The evaluation criteria were: liver weight after reperfusion, release of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the perfusate, bile production, vascular resistance and liver histology after reperfusion. The enzyme release at reperfusion was significantly higher when livers were harvested from rats submitted to a 48-h fast (ALT) or a 72-h fast (ALT, AST, LDH), as compared to those from fed rats. Vascular resistance was increased in 72-h fasted livers. An addition of alanine (8 mM) at reperfusion lowered the release of AST, ALT and LDH. This effect was more obvious when the fasting duration was increased. By contrast, the addition of pyruvate at reperfusion did not improve the recovery of livers submitted to a 72-h fasting period before preservation. A long fasting period is deleterious as compared to feeding; however, this effect can be compensated by infusion of alanine at reperfusion. The mechanism involved is not metabolic. In a clinical setting, the infusion of alanine to the recipient at reperfusion may be a convenient way to compensate for donor undernutrition, especially after a long stay in an intensive care unit.
Abnormal Brain Connectivity in Children After Early Severe Socioemotional Deprivation: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study

OBJECTIVES. We previously reported that children who were subjected to early socioemotional deprivation in Romanian orphanages showed glucose hypometabolism in limbic and paralimbic structures, including the orbital frontal gyrus, infralimbic prefrontal cortex, hippocampus/amygdala, lateral temporal cortex, and the brainstem. The present study used diffusion tensor imaging tractography to examine the integrity of white matter tracts that connect these brain regions. METHODS. Fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient for uncinate fasciculus, stria terminalis, fornix, and cingulum were measured in 7 right-handed children (5 girls and 2 boys; mean age: 9.7 ± 2.6 years) with a history of early severe socioemotional deprivation in Eastern European orphanages and compared with similar measurements in 7 right-handed normal children (4 girls and 3 boys; mean age: 10.7 ± 2.8 years). RESULTS. Neuropsychological assessment of the orphans verified the relatively mild specific cognitive impairment and impulsivity consistent with previous studies of children who were adopted from Romanian orphanages. Fractional anisotropy values in the left uncinate fasciculus were decreased significantly in the early deprivation group compared with control subjects. Apparent diffusion coefficient values for the early deprivation group tended to be greater than that in control subjects in all of the tracts measured, without reaching statistical significance. CONCLUSION. Our study demonstrates in children who experienced socioemotional deprivation a structural change in the left uncinate fasciculus that partly may underlie the cognitive, socioemotional, and behavioral difficulties that commonly are observed in these children.
Mesenchymal differentiation of cell lines obtained from human gliomas inoculated into nude mice

Tumor formation in nude mice (nu/nu Balb c outbred) inoculated with cells from four new permanent human glioma cell lines was studied. Three of these lines had previously been shown to display features of striated muscle in vitro. Histochemical and immunochemical techniques together with electron microscopic study confirmed that striated muscle differentiation continued to be expressed in vivo. Two of the cell lines arguably showed greater striated muscle differentiation in vivo, whereas one has lost this ability. In one of the two, further mesodermal differentiation was evident with the formation of cartilage.
A Competitiveness Model of Textile & Fashion MICE Based on Customer Value

Based on customer value, a competitiveness structural equation model of Textile &Fashion MICE (meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition) and the main dimensional research hypotheses were developed. After data processing of questionnaires by LISREL 8.7 and the tool of SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) technology, the three dimensions of function value and the five dimensions of customer value were proved. The relationships among the dimensions were also analyzed and the importance of them as to Textile & Fashion MICE competitiveness in order was given. Keywords-Textile&Fashion MICE; competitiveness; customer value; structural equation modeling; exhibitor
Inhibition of glucosyltransferase activities of Streptococcus mutans by a monoclonal antibody to a subsequence peptide

Preliminary analysis indicated that a 19-amino-acid peptide sequence (435 to 453 of GtfC) within a highly conserved region of the glucosyltransferases of the cariogenic streptococci might be functionally important (J.-S. Chia, S.-W. Lin, T.-Y. Hsu, J.-Y. Chen, H.-W. Kwan, and C.-S. Yang, Infect. Immun. 61:1563-1566, 1993). To obtain antipeptide monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), the 19-amino-acid peptide was conjugated to bovine serum albumin and used as an antigen in BALB/c mice. Six immunoglobulin G-secreting hybridoma clones, CJSm18-S1 to -S6, specifically reacted with this peptide and with purified GtfC and GtfD but not with bovine serum albumin in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The concentrated hybridoma supernatant of all six MAbs inhibited GtfC enzymatic activity but failed to inhibit GtfD, although GtfD contains the same peptide sequence. Further analysis of a purified immunoglobulin G2b MAb from one of the clones, CJSm18-S3, confirmed that this MAb specifically inhibited GtfC enzymatic activity for insoluble-glucan synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. CJSm18-S3, even at high concentrations, had no effect on GtfD, which synthesizes water-soluble glucan exclusively. Furthermore, the in vitro sucrose-dependent adherence of Streptococcus mutans was also inhibited by CJSm18-S3 in a dose-dependent manner. Our results indicate that the peptide containing the N-terminal conserved region of glucosyltransferases is functionally important for both enzymatic activity and bacterial adherence.
Electromagnetic — Thermal coupled optimization of high power traction drive induction machines

In the electrical machines, operated in railway traction drives, the growth of power density requires overproportional more heat to be discharged which leads to the need for more and more advanced cooling techniques. A novel optimization and evaluation approach for internal air cooled traction machines will be presented in this paper. It analyses and investigates the thermo-aero- and thermodynamic cooling performance combined with the electromagnetic performance. As a first step, analytical models are used to speed up calculation time for obtaining pressure drop, volume flow distribution and heat transfer as well as iron stack temperature. The results are validated using CFD (computational fluid dynamics simulations) of several iron stack cooling duct geometries. Finally, an approach is presented about on the optimization can be implemented, by coupling the analytic thermal model, CFD tool and electromagnetic losses obtained by finite element analysis.
New horizons in prevention and treatment of ischaemic injury to kidney transplants.

Ischaemia–reperfusion injury to the kidney is a major insult in kidney transplantation and is responsible for delayed graft function in post-mortal donation. The incidence has been reported to be approximately one-quarter in kidneys obtained from deceased donors and up to 50% of kidneys after cardiac death procedures (non-heart beating donors). In the latter group, it causes primary graft failure in 10% of the donors [1]. Despite its great clinical relevance, few therapeutic options have evolved over the years to improve recovery of acute ischaemic renal injury or to successfully prevent it. In this review, we will first discuss briefly the pathophysiology of ischaemic injury to the donor kidney and then review new therapeutic options, such as growth factor therapy and cell therapy, with respect to their potential to modulate this pathophysiology. This review is not a comprehensive and complete review, but rather aims to put the new therapeutic options that are emerging into a clinical and pathophysiological framework.
Caractérisation des céphalées dans les malformations d’Arnold-Chiari de type 1

Une malformation d’Arnold Chiari de type 1 (CM1) est une affection frequente, le plus souvent congenitale. Il s’agit d’une ptose de plus de 5mm des amygdales cerebelleuses dans le foramen magnum. La prise en charge est chirurgicale par decompression de la fosse posterieure. La cephalee est la plainte principale des patients et est classiquement occipitale et exacerbee par la toux et/ou manœuvres de Valsalva. L’IHS a etabli des criteres de cephalee « attribuee au Chiari ». Neanmoins, les cephalees des patients presentant un CM1 sont souvent polymorphes. L’imputabilite du CM1 dans les cephalees moins typiques est difficile a etablir. En l’absence de recommandations pour poser l’indication chirurgicale, des outils pronostics sont necessaires pour stratifier la probabilite d’amelioration postoperatoire. Recemment, un score pronostic predictif, le Chiari Severity Index (CSI), a ete mis au point, gradue de 1 a 3. L’objectif principal de ce travail retrospectif etait d’evaluer les facteurs cliniques et radiologiques predictifs d’amelioration postoperatoire des cephalees des patients CM1. Les objectifs secondaires etaient de classer les cephalees selon les criteres de l’IHS, de comparer les differents groupes, de mesurer le CSI sur notre cohorte et enfin d’evaluer la qualite de vie en postoperatoire. 49 patients consecutifs, presentant un CM1 et cephalalgiques avant chirurgie, ont ete inclus au CHU de Rouen entre le 01/01/2011 et le 31/06/2016. Des questionnaires telephoniques standardises sur les caracteristiques avant et apres chirurgie des cephalees, ont ete menes. Une analyse des IRM pre et postoperatoires a ete realise en aveugle par un neuroradiologue. Une bonne evolution est definie par une amelioration de plus de 50% de la frequence des crises de cephalee. Les facteurs predictifs de regression des cephalees en postoperatoire, en analyse multivariee, etaient le declenchement des cephalees a la toux (p= 0.003), la severite de la crise (p = 0.05), la localisation occipitale (p= 0.05) et le grand nombre de jours de crise par mois (p=0.04). Le facteur le plus pertinent etait une courte duree de crise (p = 0.001, Odd Ratio = 15). Ces facteurs font partie des criteres de l’IHS des cephalees attribuees au Chiari Aucun facteur predictif radiologique n’a ete mis en evidence. Vingt et un patients (42.8%) ont ete classes « Cephalees attribuees au Chiari » selon l’IHS et s’amelioraient significativement plus que les autres types (p Notre etude confirme la pertinence des criteres IHS pour l’identification des cephalees attribuees au Chiari. Leur regression en postoperatoire dans 95% des cas prouve l’imputabilite du CM1 dans le developpement de ces cephalees. Nous proposons l’utilisation systematique d’un questionnaire integrant ces criteres IHS en preoperatoire. Ce travail suggere un lien entre le CM1 et les cephalees primaires chroniques. Elles s’amelioraient dans 46.6 % des cas apres intervention. Une etude prospective est necessaire pour confirmer ce lien.
Three-dimensional solution structure of the complex of alpha-bungarotoxin with a library-derived peptide.

The solution structure of the complex between alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) and a 13-residue library-derived peptide (MRYYESSLKSYPD) has been solved using two-dimensional proton-NMR spectroscopy. The bound peptide adopts an almost-globular conformation resulting from three turns that surround a hydrophobic core formed by Tyr-11 of the peptide. The peptide fills an alpha-BTX pocket made of residues located at fingers I and II, as well as at the C-terminal region. Of the peptide residues, the largest contact area is formed by Tyr-3 and Tyr-4. These findings are in accord with the previous data in which it had been shown that substitution of these aromatic residues by aliphatic amino acids leads to loss of binding of the modified peptide with alpha-BTX. Glu-5 and Leu-8, which also remarkably contribute to the contact area with the toxin, are present in all the library-derived peptides that bind strongly to alpha-BTX. The structure of the complex may explain the fact that the library-derived peptide binds alpha-BTX with a 15-fold higher affinity than that shown by the acetylcholine receptor peptide (alpha185-196). Although both peptides bind to similar sites on alpha-BTX, the latter adopts an extended conformation when bound to the toxin [Basus, V. , Song, G. & Hawrot, E. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 12290-12298], whereas the library peptide is nearly globular and occupies a larger surface area of alpha-BTX binding site.
Molecular Cloning: and Characterization of the cDNA Coding for thCBiotin-Containing Subunit of the Chloroplastic Acetyl-Coenzyme A Carboxylase'

We report the molecular cloning and sequence of the cDNA coding for the biotin-containing subunit of the chloroplastic acetylcoenzyme A (COA) carboxylase (ACCase) of Arabidopsis tbaliana (CAC7). l h e 3' end of the CAC7 sequence, coding for a peptide of 94 amino acids, which includes a putative biotinylation motif, was expressed in Escbericbia coli as a glutathione-S-transferase (CST) fusion protein. The resulting CST-CAC1 fusion protein was biotinylated in vivo, indicating that CACl codes for a biotin-containing protein. Antibodies generated to the CST-CAC1 protein reacted solely with the 38-kD biotin-containing polypeptide of Arabidopsis. Furthermore, these antibodies inhibited ACCase activity in extracts from Arabidopsis leaves. The deduced amino acid sequence of CACl has an apparent N-terminal chloroplast-targeting transit peptide. l h e CACl protein is coded by a single Arabidopsis gene, and its mRNA accumulates to the highest levels in organs that are undergoing rapid growth. l h e amino acid sequence of the CACl protein is most similar to the biotin carboxyl-carrier protein component of eubacterial ACCases. lhese characterizations identify CACl as the biotin-containing subunit of the plastidic, heteromeric ACCase of Arabidopsis. l h e results support the ancient origin of the two structurally distinct ACCases of plants.
Safety and efficacy of partial nephrectomy for all T1 tumors based on an international multicenter experience.

PURPOSE We compared cancer specific survival of patients undergoing partial and radical nephrectomies for T1N0M0 renal tumors according to tumor size in a large multicenter series. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis of 1454 patients undergoing partial or radical nephrectomy for T1N0M0 renal tumors from 7 international academic centers was performed. Data were obtained for each patient including TNM stage (determined according to the 2002 TNM criteria), tumor size, type of surgery (partial versus radical nephrectomy) and cancer specific survival. Recurrence events were recorded when available. RESULTS Partial and radical nephrectomies were performed in 379 (26.1%) and 1075 (73.9%) cases, respectively. Mean followup +/- SD was 62.5 +/- 51.8 months. Recurrence data were available on 544 patients. There were no significant differences in local or distant recurrence rates between patients undergoing partial or radical nephrectomy for either T1a (p = 0.6) or T1b tumors (p = 0.5). For patients with T1a tumors, there was no significant difference in the rate of cancer specific deaths between the partial (314) and radical (499) nephrectomy groups (2.2% versus 2.6%, respectively, p = 0.8). For patients with T1b tumors there was also no significant difference in the rate of cancer specific deaths between patients undergoing partial (65) and patients undergoing radical (576) nephrectomy (6.2% versus 9%, respectively, p = 0.6). CONCLUSIONS Partial nephrectomy is becoming the gold standard for renal tumors less than 4 cm but this treatment is much more controversial for larger T1 tumors. This large multicenter study suggests that it is safe to expand the indications of partial nephrectomy to include patients with T1N0M0 tumors up to 7 cm. However, careful patient selection remains necessary.
Associations between tissue fatty acid composition and physiological traits of performance and metabolism in the seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

SUMMARY Seabass were fed for 4 months with diets where the lipid was provided as either canola oil (CO), palm oil (PO) or fish oil (FO), to generate diversity in their tissue fatty acid (FA) composition and investigate how this influenced major traits of exercise performance, cardiac performance and respiratory metabolism. In particular, based upon previous observations, we investigated the hypothesis that enriching the fish tissues with oleic and linoleic acids (OA, 18:1n-9 and LA, 18:2n-6, respectively) from the CO and PO diets would improve maximum exercise and cardiac performance, and increase aerobic metabolic scope. This proved to be the case; exercise respirometry on bass fitted with cardiac flow probes revealed that those fed CO and PO diets had a significantly higher critical swimming speed (Ucrit) than those fed the FO diet. The improved swimming performance in the CO and PO groups was accompanied by a higher maximum cardiac output (Q̇) and net cardiac scope, and a higher active metabolic rate (AMR) and aerobic scope (AS) than in the FO group. Analysis of tissue FA composition revealed that the fish fed the CO and PO diets had accumulated significantly higher levels of OA and LA in their heart and muscle than the fish from the FO group, which had significantly higher levels of highly unsaturated FA of the n-3 series, such as EPA and DHA (20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, respectively). Principal components analysis revealed significant positive associations between tissue OA and LA content and Ucrit, maximum Q, the increase in Q during exercise, AMR and aerobic scope. There was a negative association between these physiological traits and tissue content of EPA. Therefore, diet composition is an environmental factor that can generate significant phenotypic diversity in major physiological traits of performance and metabolism in the seabass, with increased intake of FAs such as OA and LA leading to improved cardiorespiratory performance.