Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endovascular Reconstruction with the Neuroform Stent as Monotherapy for the Treatment of Uncoilable Intradural Pseudoaneurysms

OBJECTIVE:Intradural pseudoaneurysms have a malignant natural history and can be difficult to treat if parent vessel deconstruction is not feasible. These lesions often involve a long arterial segment and lack a defined saccular component that would safely accommodate the introduction of embolization coils. The current report describes the successful endovascular treatment of these lesions using a strategy of Neuroform stent reconstruction. METHODS:A retrospective review of the prospectively maintained Neuroform databases from our two institutions identified all intracranial aneurysms treated with the Neuroform stent alone, without embolization coils. The clinical charts, procedural data, and angiographic results were reviewed. RESULTS:Over a 38-month study period (10/02–2/06), 266 aneurysms were treated with the Neuroform stent. Of these, 10 were small “uncoilable” intradural pseudoaneurysms associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage. These lesions were treated using a strategy of endovascular stent reconstruction of the diseased vascular segment with one or more Neuroform stents (without concomitant coil embolization). Seven pseudoaneurysms were treated in the context of acute or subacute subarachnoid hemorrhage, and three were associated with a remote history of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Periprocedural complications occurred in two patients (clinically silent, intraprocedural thromboembolic event successfully treated with intra-arterial abciximab, symptomatic postprocedural stent thrombosis with successful thrombolysis, and excellent neurological recovery). Both complications occurred in patients with ruptured aneurysms and could be attributed to inadequate platelet inhibition at the time of the initial procedure. Follow-up conventional angiographic examinations were available for all 10 patients with pseudoaneurysms (1–18.5 mo; average, 9.0 mo). In nine cases, the aneurysms improved at follow-up, with either complete (n = 5) or near complete (n = 4) resolution. In one case, short-term follow-up (1 mo) demonstrated no significant change. No patient has rehemorrhaged after treatment. CONCLUSION:Endovascular Neuroform stent reconstruction represents an optimal strategy for the management of intradural pseudoaneurysms that require a constructive treatment strategy and are too small to accommodate the introduction of embolization coils. Nine out of 10 patients in the current series treated with this strategy demonstrated some degree of endovascular remodeling with either complete (n = 5) or partial (n = 4) angiographic resolution at follow-up. No rehemorrhages were encountered. Adequate antiplatelet therapy, even in the setting of acute subarachnoid hemorrhage, is prerequisite for the avoidance of thromboembolic complications.
Clinical risk factors for pre-eclampsia determined in early pregnancy: systematic review and meta-analysis of large cohort studies

Objective To develop a practical evidence based list of clinical risk factors that can be assessed by a clinician at ≤16 weeks’ gestation to estimate a woman’s risk of pre-eclampsia. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Data sources PubMed and Embase databases, 2000-15. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Cohort studies with ≥1000 participants that evaluated the risk of pre-eclampsia in relation to a common and generally accepted clinical risk factor assessed at ≤16 weeks’ gestation. Data extraction Two independent reviewers extracted data from included studies. A pooled event rate and pooled relative risk for pre-eclampsia were calculated for each of 14 risk factors. Results There were 25 356 688 pregnancies among 92 studies. The pooled relative risk for each risk factor significantly exceeded 1.0, except for prior intrauterine growth restriction. Women with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome had the highest pooled rate of pre-eclampsia (17.3%, 95% confidence interval 6.8% to 31.4%). Those with prior pre-eclampsia had the greatest pooled relative risk (8.4, 7.1 to 9.9). Chronic hypertension ranked second, both in terms of its pooled rate (16.0%, 12.6% to 19.7%) and pooled relative risk (5.1, 4.0 to 6.5) of pre-eclampsia. Pregestational diabetes (pooled rate 11.0%, 8.4% to 13.8%; pooled relative risk 3.7, 3.1 to 4.3), prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) >30 (7.1%, 6.1% to 8.2%; 2.8, 2.6 to 3.1), and use of assisted reproductive technology (6.2%, 4.7% to 7.9%; 1.8, 1.6 to 2.1) were other prominent risk factors. Conclusions There are several practical clinical risk factors that, either alone or in combination, might identify women in early pregnancy who are at “high risk” of pre-eclampsia. These data can inform the generation of a clinical prediction model for pre-eclampsia and the use of aspirin prophylaxis in pregnancy.
Placebo-Controlled , Double-Blind , Prospective , Randomized Study on the Effect of Octreotide LAR in the Control of Tumor Growth in Patients With Metastatic Neuroendocrine Midgut Tumors : A Report From the PROMID Study Group

Purpose Somatostatin analogs are indicated for symptom control in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The ability of somatostatin analogs to control the growth of well-differentiated metastatic NETs is a matter of debate. We performed a placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase IIIB study in patients with well-differentiated metastatic midgut NETs. The hypothesis was that octreotide LAR prolongs time to tumor progression and survival. Patients and Methods Treatment-naive patients were randomly assigned to either placebo or octreotide LAR 30 mg intramuscularly in monthly intervals until tumor progression or death. The primary efficacy end point was time to tumor progression. Secondary end points were survival time and tumor response. This report is based on 67 tumor progressions and 16 observed deaths in 85 patients at the time of the planned interim analysis. Results Median time to tumor progression in the octreotide LAR and placebo groups was 14.3 and 6 months, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] 0.34; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.59; P .000072). After 6 months of treatment, stable disease was observed in 66.7% of patients in the octreotide LAR group and 37.2% of patients in the placebo group. Functionally active and inactive tumors responded similarly. The most favorable effect was observed in patients with low hepatic tumor load and resected primary tumor. Seven and nine deaths were observed in the octreotide LAR and placebo groups, respectively. The HR for overall survival was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.30 to 2.18). Conclusion Octreotide LAR significantly lengthens time to tumor progression compared with placebo in patients with functionally active and inactive metastatic midgut NETs. Because of the low number of observed deaths, survival analysis was not confirmatory. J Clin Oncol 27:4656-4663. © 2009 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
Programming the Drosophila embryo.

A critical step in understanding the mechanisms of development is in defining the steps at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels in the developmental program for a given organism-so that given the egg one can predict not only how the embryo will develop but also how that embryo evolved from its ancestors. Using methods employed by chemists and engineers in modeling hierarchical systems, I have integrated current theory and experiment into a calculational method that can model early Drosophila embryogenesis on a personal computer. This quantitative calculation tool is simple enough to be useful for experimentalists in designing experiments yet detailed enough for theoreticians to derive new insights on the evolution of developmental genetic networks. By integrating the strengths of theoretical and experimental methods into a single engineering model that can compute the cascade of genetic networks in a real organism, I provide a new calculational tool that can apply current theory to current experimental data to study the evolution of developmental programs.
Robot-aided neurorehabilitation in sub-acute and chronic stroke: does spontaneous recovery have a limited impact on outcome?

BACKGROUND Robotic neurorehabilitation, thanks to high dosage/intensity training protocols, has the potential for a greater impact on impairment. OBJECTIVE We aimed to analyze how time since the acute event may influence the motor recovery process during robot-assisted rehabilitation of the upper limb. METHODS A total of 41 patients after stroke were enrolled: 20 in subacute phase, i.e. ≤ 6 months elapsed since their unilateral cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and 21 at chronic stage, i.e. > 6 months since CVA. All subjects underwent 30 minutes of robot-aided rehabilitation twice a day, 5 days a week for at least three weeks of training. Patients were evaluated at the start and end of treatment using the Fugl-Meyer and Modified Ashworth clinical scales and by a set of robot measured kinematic parameters. The time interval from stroke was considered as a grouping factor to analyze its impact on time course of recovery. RESULTS After training both groups significantly improved their impairment (F = 44.25, p < 0.001) but sub-acute patients showed a greater improvement on the Fugl-Meyer scale than chronic patients. The time course of recovery of the kinematic variables showed higher time constants of motor improvement in the sub-acute than chronic group, but they were one order lower than spontaneous recovery time constants. CONCLUSIONS Spontaneous recovery seems to have a limited impact on the improvement of sub-acute patients, most of their changes being likely due to re-learning during rehabilitation. In addition, a longer recovery time was required to maximize outcome in sub-acute than in chronic patients.
Influence of organically or conventionally produced wheat on health, performance and mycotoxin residues in tissues and bile of growing pigs

From 1999 – 2001 three different varieties of wheat [Contur (susceptible to Fusarium), Batis and Petrus (less susceptible to Fusarium)] were cultivated under organic and conventional conditions in order to determine mycotoxin burden. Soil quality, preceding crop and weather conditions were comparable in the different production systems. The wheat batches were analysed for moulds, and the contents of zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON). Feeding trials were carried out with growing pigs (n = 96; average initial live weight 22.2 ± 1.5 kg [mean ± SD]) to examine a possible influence on the animal performance and on mycotoxin residues. The data recorded were clinical conditions, performance, biochemical and hematological data. Residues of ZEN, α- and β-zearalenol (ZEL) and of DON were determined in bile, liver and muscle after slaughtering. Conventionally cultivated wheat was more frequently contaminated with Fusarium and contained more frequently ZEN and DON in higher concentrations than the organically produced wheat. Hematological and biochemical parameters of pigs fed with organically cultivated diets were not different from those of conventionally fed pigs. Pigs fed with organically produced wheat showed a slightly higher daily weight gain, but a lower carcass yield than the conventionally fed animals. The highest residues of DON and total-ZEN (ZEN + α-ZEL + β-ZEL) were found in bile. Bile samples of organically fed pigs contained lower concentrations of total-ZEN than those of conventionally fed pigs. Altogether, these data suggest that wheat from an organic farming does not have higher mycotoxin-contamination than wheat from the conventional farming system.
Increase of histaminergic tuberomammillary neurons in narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is caused by loss of the hypothalamic neurons producing the orexin/hypocretin neuropeptides. One key target of the orexin system is the histaminergic neurons of the tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN), an essential wake‐promoting system. As cerebrospinal fluid histamine levels may be low in patients with narcolepsy, we examined histaminergic neurons in patients with narcolepsy and in 2 mouse models of narcolepsy.
Vitamin D(3) is more potent than vitamin D(2) in humans.

BACKGROUND Current unitage for the calciferols suggests that equimolar quantities of vitamins D(2) (D2) and D(3) (D3) are biologically equivalent. Published studies yield mixed results. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to compare the potencies of D2 and D3. DESIGN The trial used a single-blind, randomized design in 33 healthy adults. Calciferols were dosed at 50,000 IU/wk for 12 wk. Principal outcome variables were area under the curve for incremental total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and change in calciferol content of sc fat. RESULTS Incremental mean (sd) 25(OH)D area under the curve at 12 wk was 1366 ng · d/ml (516) for the D2-treated group and 2136 (606) for the D3 (P < 0.001). Mean (sd) steady-state 25(OH)D increments showed similar differences: 24 ng/ml for D2 (10.3) and 45 ng/ml (16.2) for D3 (P <0.001). Subcutaneous fat content of D2 rose by 50 μg/kg in the D2-treated group, and D3 content rose by 104 μg/kg in the D3-treated group. Total calciferol in fat rose by only 33 ng/kg in the D2-treated, whereas it rose by 104 μg/kg in the D3-treated group. Extrapolating to total body fat D3, storage amounted to just 17% of the administered dose. CONCLUSION D3 is approximately 87% more potent in raising and maintaining serum 25(OH)D concentrations and produces 2- to 3-fold greater storage of vitamin D than does equimolar D2. For neither was there evidence of sequestration in fat, as had been postulated for doses in this range. Given its greater potency and lower cost, D3 should be the preferred treatment option when correcting vitamin D deficiency.
Gaps-in-noise (GIN©) test results in children with and without reading disabilities and phonological processing deficits

Abstract Objective: To determine if the gaps-in-noise (GIN©) test could differentiate children with dyslexia and significant phonological awareness deficits from a group of children with normal reading skills. Design: A prospective study of GIN test performance in two groups of children. Participants were administered routine audiological tests, a phonological processing test, and an auditory temporal resolution test (GIN test). Statistical testing was completed to determine if significant differences existed between groups on GIN test results and phonological processing measures, and to examine potential relationships between these test measures. Routine clinical analysis procedures examined the performance of the two groups from a clinical perspective. Study sample: Participants included 61 children between the ages of 8 years, 1 month and 9 years, 11 months, separated into two groups: children with dyslexia and significant phonological deficits (Group I); normal-reading peers with age-appropriate phonological skills (Group II). Results: Children in Group I showed longer gap detection (GD) thresholds and lower gap identification scores than did the children in Group II. Results of statistical and clinical testing revealed significant differences between the groups. Conclusion: An auditory temporal processing deficit is a factor to be considered in children presenting with dyslexia and phonological processing disorders.
Projection of the mammalian superior colliculus upon the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus: Organization of tectogeniculate pathways in nineteen species

Anterograde and retrograde transport methods have been used to analyze the projection of the superior colliculus upon the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus in 19 mammalian species. Our retrograde findings reveal that tectogeniculate neurons are relatively small, and lie dorsally within the superficial gray. These small tectogeniculate neurons are spatially related to a dense tier of W‐cell retinal input.
Intronic SNPs of TP53 gene in chronic myeloid leukemia: Impact on drug response

Background: TP53, located on chromosome 17p13, is one of the most mutated genes affecting many types of human cancers. Thus, we aimed at investigating the association of SNPs in TP53 gene with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Materials and Methods: A total of 236 CML and 157 control samples were analysed for mutations in TP53 gene using polymerase chain reaction followed by direct sequencing. Results: Sequencing analysis for mutations in exons 7–9 of the TP53 gene revealed four SNPs, three in intron 7 (C14181T, T14201G, and C14310T) and one SNP in intron 6 (A13463G) of TP53 gene. The mutation C14181T is located at position 72 base pairs downstream of the 3′-end of exon 7 of the P53 gene. This mutation is in complete linkage disequilibrium with a T14201G mutation, 20 base pairs further downstream occurring at position 14201. This mutation occurred only in the presence of C14181T mutation and these mutations showed association with advanced phase and cytogenetic poor response. Another two novel mutations, C14310T in intron 7 and A13463G in intron 6 were also found to be associated with cytogenetic poor response. Conclusion: Our study suggests that TP53 intronic SNPs might have a strong influence on disease progression and poor response in CML patients.
Polarization properties of long-period gratings prepared by high-intensity femtosecond 352-nm pulses

We inscribed long-period gratings in a hydrogenated single-mode fiber (SMF-28) by high-intensity femtosecond near-ultraviolet pulses via a three-photon absorption mechanism. Due to energy deposition in the fiber cladding, such gratings are similar to those fabricated by CO/sub 2/ laser induced heating, mechanical pressure, or electric arc. We found that these gratings exhibit significant polarization properties.
Face perception in schizophrenia: a specific deficit

ABSTRACT Introduction. Patients with schizophrenia have a large-scaled and severe cognitive impairment. This study examines whether a well-established deficit in face recognition in schizophrenia is a part of this general cognitive impairment or is specific to faces per se. Method. The differential deficit in matching upright faces as compared with two psychometrically matched control tasks (matching inverted faces and matching none-face objects) was assessed in two well-matched samples of schizophrenics (n = 40) and controls (n = 40). Results. Indicating a generalised cognitive deficit, schizophrenics were impaired in all tasks. Importantly, however, the deficit in matching upright faces was stronger in magnitude (15.6%) than the deficits in matching inverted faces (10.1%) and non-face objects (10.2%). Consistently, schizophrenics showed weaker face inversion effects, indicating a configural processing dysfunction. Conclusion. These results provide compelling evidence for a face-specific deficit in schizophrenia that may be associated with, but separable from, a generalised cognitive impairment.
Dendritic cells and the assessment in vitro of skin sensitizing potential

It is now well established that dendritic cells (DC) play pivotal roles in the initiation and orchestration of adaptive immune responses, including cutaneous immune responses to chemical allergens that drive the acquisition of skin sensitization. It is not unexpected, therefore, that a large number, and wide variety, of proposed approaches for the identification of skin sensitizing chemicals in vitro are based upon the use of cultured DC or DC-like cells. The use of DC in this context is legitimate. However, with our rapidly increasing understanding of the diversity of cutaneous DC with respect to both phenotype and function, it is timely now to review briefly the potential limitations and interpretive difficulties that are associated with the use of DC-based assays. Among the important considerations are the fact that chemical-induced changes in the characteristics and function of cultured DC will not necessarily reflect accurately the events that that support the development of skin sensitization in vivo. In addition, most DC-based assays are predicated on a view that cutaneous DC have as their primary function the initiation of adaptive immune responses. However, it is now appreciated that cutaneous DC, and in particular epidermal Langerhans cells (LC), may also play important immunoregulatory roles that serve to limit and contain skin immune responses. Notwithstanding these considerations there is reason to believe that at least some in vitro DC-based assays are of value, and indeed some are currently the subject of a formal validation process. However, it is appropriate that such assays are configured and interpreted carefully, and with an appreciation of the complexity of DC biology.
Étude comparative des pronoms démonstratifs neutres anglais et français à l'oral : référence indexicale, structure du discours et formalisation en grammaire notionnelle dépendancielle

Cette these explore le fonctionnement indexical des pronoms demonstratifs anglais this, that et it d’une part, et des pronoms demonstratifs francais, en particulier ca, d’autre part, en vue d’une comparaison entre ces deux systemes. L’ensemble des phenomenes referentiels et discursifs observes sont ramenes a certaines caracteristiques syntactico-semantiques propres a chaque demonstratif, alors formalisees dans le cadre de la Grammaire Notionnelle Dependancielle. Les occurrences de this, that, it et ca analysees etant issues de conversations orales spontanees et enregistrees selon le protocole des projets PAC et PFC, notre etude apporte un questionnement sur les avantages et les limites des grands corpus oraux pour les recherches en linguistique theorique.
[Cocaine-related localized necrotic livedo].

INTRODUCTION The cutaneous signs of toxicomania are better known since the last two decades. We describe an original case of segmental necrotic and chronic livedo of the right arm associated with cocaine use. OBSERVATION A 31 year-old intravenous cocaine user presented a necrotic and painful livedo of the right arm. Two years before referral, localized recurrent edema was noted without general involvement. No local (infectious, vascular) or general (dysimmunity, coagulation abnormalities) aetiologies could be found. An amorphic substance composed of mineral bodies was found in the dermis, without damage to the vessels. Dramatic improvement was obtained with simple supportive care, while intravenous injections were stopped. DISCUSSION The vasoconstrictive properties of cocaine have been demonstrated in Raynaud's phenomenon, ischemia, focal necrosis of the extremities, and also in liver and kidney disorders. This drug has pharmacological effects on endothelial cells and coagulation, explaining the arterial and venous thrombosis reported. The foreign bodies found in our patient probably came from an intraarterial injection. The progressive and chronic evolution, without any evidence of thrombosis at the time of examination, are suggestive of the vasoconstrictive action of chronic dermal deposits.