Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Avaliação da linfangiogênese em carcinoma de células escamosas de boca e de sua associação com metástases nodais

Estudos recentes tem mostrado que o comportamento metastatico de alguns tumores pode ser facilitado pela linfangiogenese, seja no tumor primario ou nos linfonodos drenantes. Neste trabalho, para o estudo da linfangiogenese foram utilizados 36 especimes cirurgicos de carcinoma de celulas escamosas de boca (CCEB) e linfonodos associados emblocados em parafina. As densidades vascular linfatica (LVD) e microvascular (MVD) tumoral e linfonodais foram avaliadas imunoistoquimicamente usando os anticorpos D2-40 e CD105 respectivamente. Avaliou-se tambem a expressao de D2-40, VEGF-C e VEGFR-3 pelas celulas neoplasicas no tumor primario e linfonodo metastatico. LVD, MVD e as expressoes de D2-40, VEGF-C e VEGFR-3 nas celulas neoplasicas, foram associadas com a metastase nodal e as demais caracteristicas clinicopatologicas do tumor por meio de testes de associacao. O impacto das variaveis estudadas na sobrevida global dos pacientes foi tambem analisado, por modelos uni e multivariados de sobrevida. Alta LVD peritumoral foi mais frequente nos tumores metastaticos e mostrou-se fortemente associada com o tamanho do tumor e localizacao. MVD mostrou significância estatistica com a presenca de metastase e houve uma associacao significativa entre os fatores linfangiogenicos e a densidade de vasos na regiao intratumoral. Nenhum dos tumores bem diferenciados mostraram expressao de podoplanina no fronte. LVD e MVD nos linfonodos metastaticos mostraram-se significativamente maiores quando comparadas as densidades nos linfonodos nao metastaticos. Observamos ainda, uma tendencia dos tumores indiferenciados e tumores com alta MVD peritumoral se mostrarem como indicadores de um pior prognostico em pacientes portadores de CCEB. Sinais da ocorrencia da linfangiogenese no CCEB foram demonstrados e a presenca de uma rede vascular aumentada nos linfonodos metastaticos reforca estudos previos da ocorrencia da linfangiogenese no linfonodo. Alem disso, a expressao da podoplanina pelas celulas tumorais mais indiferenciadas no fronte invasivo, sugere sua expressao como um indicador de agressividade tumoral.
The quest for significance.

I t is a profound honor for me to be here today at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), to speak to the class of 2010 on their commencement day. This is the most significant event in my medical and surgical career, which spans two decades. It is so significant because the invitation to join you came from medical students, students who give me true hope for the future of medicine in this great country of ours, hope that American medicine’s best days are still ahead, that its most lasting accomplishments are still to be realized, and that one day the best health care in the world will be available to all our citizens without regard to financial means, personal circumstances, or status in society.
Chronic rejection in vascularized composite allografts

Purpose of reviewTo convey key issues surrounding chronic rejection in vascularized composite tissue allotransplantation (VCA), and to highlight pathologic features consistent with VCA chronic rejection. Recent findingsFeatures consistent with chronic rejection have been reported in three VCA animal models, and have been observed in a paucity of human knee and hand transplants. These features include transplant vasculopathy with intimal hyperplasia, tertiary lymphoid follicles, graft fibrosis, and graft edema. Transplant vasculopathy has been the most consistent finding across cases, and has resulted in graft dysfunction and loss. Antibody-mediated rejection has not been conclusively reported in animal models or human subjects, although some cases have demonstrated donor-specific antibody in conjunction with C4d deposition. Multiple immunologic and non-immunologic mechanisms of VCA chronic rejection have been proposed. SummaryAs in solid organ transplantation, chronic rejection in VCA remains ill-defined. Transplant vasculopathy appears to be a key feature of chronic VCA rejection, whereas tertiary lymphoid follicles, graft fibrosis, and graft edema appear to be less-specific findings. Intimal hyperplasia can be detected with advanced imaging modalities.
A new method for partial scan design based on propagation and justification requirements of faults

Scan design can be viewed as scanning flip-flops, so that faults, otherwise aborted, are detected by meeting propagation and justification requirements. In this paper, we propose a new method which identifies justification and propagation requirements of aborted faults through combinational test generation and selects flip-flops to meet the requirements. Two procedures, optimal and heuristic, were considered in the process. We implemented the heuristic procedure in a program called BELLONA. BELLONA selects flip-flops progressively to lead to high fault efficiency. Our experimental results show that BELLONA achieves 100% fault efficiency for all circuits experimented with, on average, 19% of flip-flops selected.
THE IMPACT OF HUMAN CAPITAL ON THE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN MACEDONIA

The role of human capital in a country’s growth process is of great importance. As a separate factor of production, it contributes to solving key economic problems in the process of globalization, especially in economies based on knowledge. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the impact of human capital on the economic growth of Macedonia in the period from 2000 to 2016 through the usage of an econometric analysis of time series of human capital indicators which are widely accepted in theory and empirical research. It is about education and health, i.e. the educational qualifications of employees and their life expectancy. For that purpose, a regression analysis followed by an examination of stationarity of time series is used, as well as the necessary conditions for selecting the best model from all of the available alternatives. The results show that there is a positive link between human capital and economic growth in Macedonia. Also, educational qualifications and life expectancy have a positive effect on GDP per capita in Macedonia for the analyzed period. All of the variables show statistical significance, but higher education qualifications have proved to be an indicator of human capital with the greatest impact on the economic growth in Macedonia. Therefore, the economic policy-makers should accept and promote education and health as healthy economic investments which raise not only the quality of life, but also increase the productivity of the market and thus the output in the country.
Análisis espectral de la señal de flujo aéreo como ayuda al diagnóstico del síndrome de apnea-hipopnea del sueño en niños

Este estudio evalúa la capacidad diagnóstica de la señal de flujo aéreo monocanal para ayudar a identificar el Síndrome de Apnea-Hipopnea del Sueño (SAHS) pediátrico. Se han analizado 501 registros procedentes de niños (6.21±3.41 años). Se ha propuesto una metodología en tres etapas: (i) análisis espectral, (ii) selección de características relevantes y no redundantes empleando el algoritmo Fast Correlation-Based Filter (FCBF) y (iii) clasificación binaria mediante regresión logística (RL). Se obtuvieron tres bandas espectrales de interés: BW1 (0.2685-0.3128 Hz), BW2 (0.4059-0.4883 Hz) y BW3 (0.6637-0.8529 Hz), con diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p<0.01) entre sujetos con SAHS y sin SAHS. El modelo RL alcanzó una alta precisión diagnóstica (87.3%) respecto a otros estudios del estado del arte. Estos resultados señalan que el análisis espectral de la señal de flujo aéreo es de utilidad para ayudar a identificar la presencia de SAHS en sujetos pediátricos.
Fluid Mechanics in the anterior- and vitreous chamber of the eye

The work presented has been carried in collaboration with: Rodolfo Repetto DICCA, University of Genoa, Italy; Krystyna Isakova, Peyman Davvalo Khongar, Damiano Natali DICCA, University of Genoa, Italy; Jennifer Siggers Imperial College London, UK; Mario Romano Department of Neurosciences, University of Naples Federico II, Italy Tom Williamson St Thomas Hospital, London, UK Jan-Willem Beenakker Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands Paolo Soleri Ophtec BV, The Netherlands
Sensitization by 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine of leukaemia cells with MLL abnormalities to induction of differentiation by all‐trans retinoic acid and 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3

Most chromosomal abnormalities associated with breakage at 11q23 in acute leukaemia involve the MLL gene, and the presence of this breakage strongly predicts a poor clinical outcome. We assessed the possibility of differentiation‐inducing therapy for acute leukaemias with chromosomal translocations involving 11q23. Among the cell lines with MLL translocations that we examined, KOCL48 and KOPN‐1 cells were induced to differentiate into granulocytes by all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) or into monocytes by 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3). These cells expressed p16 mRNA before treatment with 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine (5‐AZA), an inhibitor of DNA methylation. On the other hand, differentiation was not induced in SN‐1, KOCL33, KOCL51 or KOCL44 cells by ATRA or VD3, and these cells did not express mRNA of this gene. However, these cells were effectively induced to differentiate by ATRA or VD3 in the presence of 5‐AZA, and concomitantly exhibited p16 gene expression, suggesting an association between DNA demethylation and restoration of sensitivity to differentiation‐inducing activity of ATRA or VD3 in leukaemia cells with MLL abnormalities. Based on these findings, combined treatment with ATRA or VD3 plus 5‐AZA may be clinically useful in therapy for acute leukaemia with MLL abnormalities.
Regulation of Dendritic Cell Function by NK Cells: Mechanisms Underlying the Synergism in the Combination Therapy of IL-12 and 4-1BB Activation1

The interactions between NK cells and dendritic cells (DCs) have been previously demonstrated in vitro. In this report, the in vivo cross-regulation between NK cells and DCs was studied in tumor-bearing mice treated with adenoviral vector expressing IL-12 and agonistic anti-4-1BB Abs. NK cells are essential for both tumor rejection and CTL development in the combination therapy (IL-12 plus anti-4-1BB). The numbers and functional activities of both NK cells and DCs in tumor-infiltrating leukocytes were synergistically increased in the IL-12 plus anti-4-1BB-treated mice compared with treatment with either reagent alone. NK depletion in vivo resulted in a significant decrease in the number of DCs in tumor-infiltrating leukocytes, strongly suggesting that NK cells are involved in the activation and expansion of DCs. The mechanism by which IL-12-activated NK cells regulate DC functions is, in part, mediated through the secretion of IFN-γ that leads to the up-regulation of 4-1BB by DCs. Furthermore, 4-1BB activation in conjunction with IL-12 gene delivery increased tumor infiltration of green fluorescence protein-labeled DCs and enhanced their MHC class II expression. The activation of DCs by NK cells and the subsequent development of antitumoral CTL responses facilitated by 4-1BB-activated DCs may account for the synergistic effects observed in the combination therapy in comparison to adenoviral vector expressing IL-12 or anti-4-1BB treatment alone.
[Different stimulation intensities of acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) for central facial nerve paralysis after ischemic stroke: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) on central facial nerve paralysis after ischemic stroke, and explore dose-effect relationship among different stimulation intensities of acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) as well as its optimal treatment plan. METHODS According to different acupuncture stimulation intensities which were based on treatment time and needle insertion direction, fifty patients were randomly divided into a Hegu 1 group, a Hegu 2 group, a Hegu 3 group, a Hegu 4 group and a control group, ten cases in each one. Different stimulation intensities of acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) combined with facial paralysis acupoints, including Yingxiang (LI 20), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6) and Quanliao (SI 18), were applied in Hegu 1 to 4 groups; meanwhile acupuncture at stroke acupoints, including Neiguan (PC 6), Shuigou (GV 26) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), and medication treatment were adopted. Except acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4), the treatment of the control group was identical as Hegu groups. The treatment duration lasted for 14 days. The House-Brackmann facial never grading systems (H-B), Toronto facial grading system (TFGS), degrees of facial never paralysis (DFNP), facial disability index (FDI) and clinical efficacy were compared among groups. RESULTS (1) Compared before the treatment, H-B, TFGS, DFNP and physical function score in FDI were all improved significantly in the Hegu 1 to 4 groups (all P < 0.05), but social function score in FDI was not obviously improved (all P > 0.05); all the scores in the control group were not evidently changed (all P > 0.05). (2) Compared with the control group, differences of H-B before and after treatment in the Hegu 1 to 4 groups, differences of TFGS in the Hegu 2 group and differences of DFNP in the Hegu 1 and Hegu 2 group were significantly improved (all P < 0.05). The differences of any scale among Hegu 1 to 4 groups were not significant (all P > 0.05), in which the most evident change was found in Hegu 2 group. (3) The total effective rate was 90.0% (9/10), 100.0% (10/10), 90.0% (9/10) and 80.0% (8/10) in Hegu 1 to 4 groups, which were significantly higher than 60.0% (6/10) in the control group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) has affirmative clinical efficacy on central facial nerve paralysis after ischemic stroke, in which oblique insertion along the opposite direction of meridian for 5 s of twirling manipulation has the best clinical effect.
International collaboration in primary care: A win–win situation

More than a hundred years ago Virchow argued that democracy and socio-economic reform would enable states to empower people to attain better health [The following popper user interface control may not be accessible. Tab to the next button to revert the control to an accessible version.Destroy user interface control1]. More than 20 years ago the fall of the Berlin Wall and associated political changes had catapulted reform to the top of the international agenda and by 2004 the Baltic States had joined the European Union. Throughout this upheaval and beyond, Scandinavian countries have been steadfast in support of their neighbours, not least in the field of primary health care, as the paper by Wilkens et al. shows
Tempol Supplementation Restores Diaphragm Force and Metabolic Enzyme Activities in mdx Mice

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by striated muscle weakness, cardiomyopathy, and respiratory failure. Since oxidative stress is recognized as a secondary pathology in DMD, the efficacy of antioxidant intervention, using the superoxide scavenger tempol, was examined on functional and biochemical status of dystrophin-deficient diaphragm muscle. Diaphragm muscle function was assessed, ex vivo, in adult male wild-type and dystrophin-deficient mdx mice, with and without a 14-day antioxidant intervention. The enzymatic activities of muscle citrate synthase, phosphofructokinase, and lactate dehydrogenase were assessed using spectrophotometric assays. Dystrophic diaphragm displayed mechanical dysfunction and altered biochemical status. Chronic tempol supplementation in the drinking water increased diaphragm functional capacity and citrate synthase and lactate dehydrogenase enzymatic activities, restoring all values to wild-type levels. Chronic supplementation with tempol recovers force-generating capacity and metabolic enzyme activity in mdx diaphragm. These findings may have relevance in the search for therapeutic strategies in neuromuscular disease.
Dielectric properties of CVD graphene/BaTiO3/polyvinylidene fluoride nanocomposites fabricated through powder metallurgy

The Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene/ BaTiO3(BT)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanocomposites were prepared by powder metallurgy. SEM results show that CVD GS and BT are well dispersed within the PVDF matrix. Compared with binary CVD graphene sheets (GS)/PVDF and BT/PVDF nanocomposites, the dielectric properties of the CVD GS/BT/PVDF nanocomposites exhibit a better dielectric performance. The powder metallurgic method is an effective way to fabricate multiple components composites and avoid serious inhomogeneity and aggregation of fillers in the polymer matrix.
Effect of Dronabinol on Central Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study

Rintala DH, Fiess RN, Tan G, Holmes SA, Bruel BM: Effect of dronabinol on central neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury: A pilot study. Objective:To test the efficacy and safety of a cannabinoid, dronabinol, compared with an active control, diphenhydramine, in relieving neuropathic pain in persons with spinal cord injury. Design:A randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover pilot study. Results:Seven adults with spinal cord injury and neuropathic pain below the level of injury participated. Two participants withdrew while receiving dronabinol, their first medication. For the remaining five participants, change in pain on a scale of 0–10 from baseline to the end of the maintenance phase did not differ significantly between the two medications (mean change, dronabinol: 0.20 ± 0.837, range = −1.00 to 1.00; diphenhydramine: −1.80 ± 2.490, range = −6.00 to 0; Wilcoxon Z = 1.63, P = 0.102). Similar results were found when the average of the two ratings during the maintenance phase was used (dronabinol: −0.20 ± 0.671, range = −0.50 to 1.00; diphenhydramine: −1.40 ± 1.245, range = −3.50 to −0.50; Wilcoxon Z = 1.60, P = 0.109). The most common side effects were dry mouth, constipation, fatigue, and drowsiness for both medications. Conclusions:On average, dronabinol was no more effective than diphenhydramine for relieving chronic neuropathic pain below the level of injury.
TACE versus TAE as therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) improves survival in cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The optimal schedule, best anticancer agent and best technique are still unclear. TACE may not be better than transarterial embolization (TAE). HCC is very chemoresistant, thus embolization may be more important than chemotherapy. Lipiodol cannot be considered as an embolic agent and there are no data to show that it can release chemotherapeutic agents slowly. It can mask residual vascularity on CT imaging and its use is not recommended. Both TACE and TAE result in hypoxia, which stimulates angiogenesis, promoting tumor growth; thus combination of TACE with antiangiogenic agents may improve current results. To date, there is no evidence that TACE pre-liver transplantation or resection helps to expand current selection criteria for patients with HCC, nor results in less recurrence after surgery. Combination with other techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation and drugs, may enhance the effect of TACE. New trials are being conducted to clarify these issues.
Diagnostic usefulness of a T-cell based assay for extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND Diagnosing extrapulmonary tuberculosis (E-TB) remains a challenge. A recently developed Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific region of difference 1 gene-based assay for diagnosing tuberculosis infection showed promising results. However, the diagnostic usefulness of this assay remains to be determined compared with tuberculin skin test (TST) in patients with suspected E-TB in clinical practice. METHODS All patients with suspected E-TB were prospectively enrolled in a tertiary care hospital during a 9-month period. In addition to the conventional tests for diagnosing E-TB, the interferon gamma-producing T-cell responses to early secreted antigenic target 6 and culture filtrate protein 10 by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay were performed. Final diagnosis in patients having suspected E-TB was classified by clinical category. RESULTS Seventy-two patients with suspected E-TB were enrolled; 34 (47%) had immunosuppressive conditions. Of 72 patients, 32 (44%) were classified as having E-TB, including 22 with confirmed tuberculosis and 10 with probable tuberculosis, and 35 (49%) were classified as not having tuberculosis. The remaining 5 (7%) had possible tuberculosis and were excluded from the final analysis. Chronic caseating granulomas, acid-fast bacilli stain, M tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction, and cultures for M tuberculosis were positive in 22 (69%), 5 (16%), 15 (47%), and 18 (56%), respectively, of 32 patients with E-TB. The sensitivity and specificity of the TST (induration size, > or =10 mm) were 47% (95% confidence interval [CI], 29%-65%) and 86% (95% CI, 70%-95%), respectively. By comparison, the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISPOT assay were 94% (95% CI, 79%-99%; P < .001 between TST and ELISPOT) and 88% (95% CI, 72%-97%; P =.99 between TST and ELISPOT), respectively. CONCLUSION The ELISPOT assay is a useful adjunct test for diagnosing E-TB.
LABOR USE IN SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE IN MALAWI: SIX VILLAGE CASE STUDIES

Based on village surveys in diverse regions of Malawi, this paper explores the features of labor use in smallholder agricultural production in Malawi. Labor contracts found in the study villages were interrelated with the high risks in agricultural production and the problem of food deficit, and provided a means for risk sharing for the employers and food security for the laborers. In addition, the relations between the users and providers of casual labor were interwoven into the wealth differences among households. The low productivity of maize among the households whose members engaged in task-contracted casual labor was not caused by the low levels of family labor input. Analysis of labor use by female-headed households revealed that the female household heads, with their children, spent more days on farm work than did the members of male-headed households in order to cope with the lack of labor. The lower income of female heads of households forced them to rely more on agricul- tural wage income than their male counterparts.
Optimum Broadcasting and Personalized Communication in Hypercubes

Four different communication problems are addressed in Boolean n-cube configured multiprocessors: (1) one-to-all broadcasting: distribution of common data from a single source to all other nodes; (2) one-to-all personalized communication: a single node sending unique data to all other nodes; (3) all-to-all broadcasting: distribution of common data from each node to all other nodes; and (4) all-to-all personalized communication: each node sending a unique piece of information to every other node. Three communication graphs (spanning trees) for the Boolean n-cube are proposed for the routing, and scheduling disciplines provably optimum within a small constant factor are proposed. With appropriate scheduling and concurrent communication on all ports of every processor, routings based on these two communication graphs offer a speedup of up to n/2, and O( square root n) over the routings based on the spanning binomial tree for cases (2)-(4) respectively. All three spanning trees offer optimal communication times for cases (2)-(4) and concurrent communication on all ports of every processor. Timing models and complexity analysis are verified by experiments on a Boolean-cube-configured multiprocessor. >