Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive factors of late biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy

Objective To assess the characteristics of biochemical recurrence in the late period (>5 years after radical prostatectomy) and the differences in the predictors of biochemical recurrence in different periods, we conducted a multicenter retrospective study. Methods We reviewed 478 men who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. All of the patients were followed up for at least 5 years. The cohort was then divided into three groups; no recurrence group, recurrence <5 years after surgery group and recurrence ≥5 years after surgery group. The background characteristics of each group were compared using the χ2 test. A Cox multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the predictors of biochemical recurrence in each period. Results Biochemical recurrence occurred in 135 men. In 113 (84%) of the patients, biochemical recurrence occurred at <5 years after surgery; in 22 (16%), it occurred at ≥5 years after surgery. The proportion of men with a low preoperative prostate-specific antigen level was significantly larger in the latter group (P = 0.0023). A preoperative prostate-specific antigen level and a positive surgical margin were significant predictors of biochemical recurrence at <5 years after surgery (hazard ratio: 1.03 and 3.20). A positive surgical margin was also a significant predictor of biochemical recurrence at ≥5 years after surgery (hazard ratio: 3.03); however, a high preoperative prostate-specific antigen level was not. Conclusions Biochemical recurrence occurred at ≥5 years after surgery in 16% of the patients. A positive surgical margin predicted biochemical recurrence in both the early and late periods.
Evidence of Different Profiles of Side Effects and Drug–Drug Interactions among the Quinolones _ The Pharmacokinetic Standpoint

Recent pharmacokinetic data, interaction profiles, and specific tolerance problems associated with the fluoroquinolones are reviewed. Oral absorption was highest for levofloxacin (99–100%), and 500 mg oral levofloxacin achieved a much higher initial concentration than either sparfloxacin (400 mg) or ciprofloxacin (500 mg, b.i.d.), with a slow drop in concentration over 24 h. The Cmax achieved after an oral 250-mg dose ranged from a low of 1.2 µg/ml/70 kg for ciprofloxacin, to 1.71 for gatifloxacin and 2.17 for moxifloxacin, to a high of 2.48 for levofloxacin (p < 0.01). Ciprofloxacin had the lowest AUC of 4.6 µg/ml/70 kg, gatifloxacin 15, levofloxacin 17.9, and moxifloxacin 19.7 µg/ml/70 kg (p < 0.01). All fluoroquinolones interact with multivalent cation-containing products and bioavailability is reduced by 50% when co-administered with iron compounds (ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin are more affected than levofloxacin or gemifloxacin). The interaction between theophylline and fluoroquinolones is most marked with enoxacin, pefloxacin, and ciprofloxacin, with no such interaction reported for levofloxacin. Sparfloxacin is associated with cardiac manifestations of QTc prolongation and has a high phototoxicity potential. Moxifloxacin is currently under observation concerning QTc effects. Levofloxacin has no QTc prolongation and a very low phototoxic potential, making it one of the safest new fluoroquinolones.
Glutamate modulation of dendrite outgrowth: Alterations in the distribution of dendritic microtubules

Glutamate can both facilitate and inhibit dendrite outgrowth in vitro. The major effects of low levels of glutamate occur only on the dendrites (not the axon) of pyramidal neurons and may be important for modulating dendrite outgrowth during neuronal development in vivo. Cytoskeletal changes resulting from glutamate exposure must underlie these changes in dendrite outgrowth. In the present study, hippocampal neuron cultures were used to measure the outgrowth of both axons and immature dendrites in the presence or absence of 50 μM glutamate. Subsequently, neurons were extracted and fixed for immunofluorescent labeling of microtubules and rhodamine phalloidin labeling of microfilaments. Additionally, neurons were prepared for electron microscopy to examine dendritic microtubules at the ultrastructural level. Glutamate led to increased dendrite outgrowth in the short term (4 hr) and dendrite retraction in the long term (8 hr). After short‐term glutamate exposures, no obvious morphological changes occur in either the microtubules or microfilaments. However, longer glutamate exposure causes a decrease in the number of microtubules in the distal region of retracting dendrites, and causes an increase in microtubule number in the dendritic shaft of both retracting and growing dendrites. Thus, the microtubule cytoskeleton may be involved in producing the changes in dendrite outgrowth caused by glutamate exposure. J. Neurosci. Res. 52:599–611, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An Animal Model for Psychopharmacological Research with Relevance to Psychiatry *

The concept is presented that animal models for psychopharmacological research should take into account clinical methods if they are to yield information which is relevant to psychiatry. Animal species with appropriate behavioural characteristics should be selected, drugs should be administered chronically and groups of animals should be used if social interaction is to be observed. Some of the relevant pharmacological, behavioural and environmental factors are presented and illustrated with examples taken from a study on groups of squirrel monkeys who had received parachlorophenylalanine or alpha-methylparatyrosine to lower specific brain amines. It is noted that social interaction may affect the expression of the drug effect.
Investigating Public Facility Characteristics from a Spatial Interaction Perspective: A Case Study of Beijing Hospitals Using Taxi Data

Services provided by public facilities are essential to people’s lives and are closely associated with human mobility. Traditionally, public facility access characteristics, such as accessibility, equity issues and service areas, are investigated mainly based on static data (census data, travel surveys and particular records, such as medical records). Currently, the advent of big data offers an unprecedented opportunity to obtain large-scale human mobility data, which can be used to study the characteristics of public facilities from the spatial interaction perspective. Intuitively, spatial interaction characteristics and service areas of different types and sizes of public facilities are different, but how different remains an open question, so we, in turn, examine this question. Based on spatial interaction, we classify public facilities and explore the differences in facilities. In the research, based on spatial interaction extracted from taxi data, we introduce an unsupervised classification method to classify 78 hospitals in 6 districts of Beijing, and the results better reflect the type of hospital. The findings are of great significance for optimizing the spatial configuration of medical facilities or other types of public facilities, allocating public resources reasonably and relieving traffic pressure.
Journey to the center of the cell: role of the receptosome.

Fibroblasts contain a specific internalization pathway that carries hormones as well as some proteins and viruses from the cell surface to the cell interior. Initially, the ligands bind to mobile receptors that are randomly distributed on the cell surface. Next the ligand-receptor complexes are trapped and concentrated in specialized regions of the membrane termed bristle-coated pits. From the pit a smooth-walled vesicle containing the ligand forms and carries the ligand to the cell interior. Because of its role in receptor-mediated endocytosis, this vesicle has been termed a "receptosome. "
3DTV rendering from multiple cameras

In this paper we present a framework for the rendering of scenes for 3DTV applications. The goal of our work is to investigate ways to generate virtual views of a scene captured using a relatively small number of real cameras. The approach adopted uses per-pixel operations and therefore is suitable for fast parallel implementation. A depth map is implicitly generated for every of the virtual viewpoints. The approach is refined by the use of camera proximity weights and an outlier removal method. The rendering system can handle occlusions and can cope with a broad range of different sceneries. Our framework allows for flexible and scalable generation of a virtual view, in terms of the number of capturing cameras.
Regulation of alternative pre-mRNA splicing during erythroid differentiation

Although the mature enucleated erythrocyte is no longer active in nuclear processes such as pre-mRNA splicing, the function of many of its major structural proteins is dependent on alternative splicing choices made during the earlier stages of erythropoiesis. These splicing decisions fundamentally regulate many aspects of protein structure and function by governing the inclusion or exclusion of exons that encode protein interaction domains, regulatory signals, or translation initiation or termination sites. Alternative splicing events may be partially or entirely erythroid-specific, ie, distinct from the splicing patterns imposed on the same transcripts in nonerythroid cells. Moreover, differentiation stage-specific splicing “switches” may alter the structure and function of erythroid proteins in physiologically important ways as the cell is morphologically and functionally remodeled during normal differentiation. Derangements in the splicing of individual mutated pre-mRNAs can produce synthesis of truncated or unstable proteins that are responsible for numerous erythrocyte disorders. This review will summarize the salient features of regulated alternative splicing in general, review existing information concerning the widespread extent of alternative splicing among erythroid genes, and describe recent studies that are beginning to uncover the mechanisms that regulate an erythroid splicing switch in the protein 4.1R gene.
Chromatin organization at meiosis

From 1956, when the complex ultrastructure of meiotic chromosomes was discovered, 1 until 1985, when the isolation of meiotic chromosome cores was reported, knowledge of the molecular structure of the meiotic chromosome was at best a dream. The dissection of meiotic chromosome structures has become a realistic challenge through the arrival of isolated symptonemal complexes (SCs), monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against SCs, the possibility for screening expression libraries for genes that encode SC proteins, the isolation of SC‐associated DNA, and the development of techniques for the in situ recognition of DNA sequences in the context of the meiotic chromosome structure.
Thyroid metastasectomy

Metastases to the thyroid gland are uncommon. Renal, lung, breast, and colon cancer and melanoma are the most common primary diseases implicated. Few retrospective series have been reported. Treatment decisions must be individualized, and will depend on the state of systemic disease. Selected patients could benefit from surgical treatment. Although most patients selected for surgery will not be cured, the aim of surgery is to avoid the complications of uncontrolled central neck disease. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 109:36–41. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Features of the metabolic syndrome are associated with objectively measured physical activity and fitness in Danish children: the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS).

OBJECTIVE Features of the metabolic syndrome are becoming increasingly evident in children. Decreased physical activity is likely to be an important etiological factor, as shown previously for subjective measures of physical activity in selected groups. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the metabolic syndrome and objectively measured physical activity and whether fitness modified this relationship. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 589 Danish children (310 girls, 279 boys, mean [+/-SD] age 9.6 +/- 0.44 years, mean weight 33.6 +/- 6.4 kg, mean height 1.39 +/- 0.06 m) were randomly selected. Physical activity was measured with the uni-axial Computer Science & Applications accelerometer (MTI actigraph) worn at the hip for at least 3 days (>/=10 h/day) and fitness with a maximal bike test. As outcomes, we measured sitting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, degree of adiposity (sum of four skinfolds), and, finally, insulin, glucose, triglicerides, and HDL cholesterol in fasting blood samples. The outcome variables were statistically normalized and expressed as the number of SDs from the mean. (i.e., Z scores). A metabolic syndrome risk score was computed as the mean of these Z scores. Multiple linear regression was used to test the association between physical activity and metabolic risk, adjusted primarily for age, sex, sexual maturation, ethnicity, parental smoking, socioeconomic factors, and the Computer Science & Applications unit, as well as for fitness. Robust SEs were computed by clustering on school. RESULTS All children were in the nondiabetic range of fasting glucose. Metabolic risk was inversely related to physical activity (P = 0.008). The relationship was weakened after adjustment for fitness, but there was a significantly positive interaction between physical activity and fitness. CONCLUSIONS Physical activity is inversely associated with metabolic risk, independently of potential confounders. The interaction between physical activity and fitness suggests that the potential beneficial effect of activity may be greatest in children with lower cardiorespiratory fitness.
Design of Energy Aware Adder Circuits Considering Random Intra-Die Process Variations

Energy consumption is one of the main barriers to current high-performance designs. Moreover, the increased variability experienced in advanced process technologies implies further timing yield concerns and therefore intensifies this obstacle. Thus, proper techniques to achieve robust designs are a critical requirement for integrated circuit success. In this paper, the influence of intra-die random process variations is analyzed considering the particular case of the design of energy aware adder circuits. Five well known adder circuits were designed exploiting an industrial 45 nm static complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) standard cell library. The designed adders were comparatively evaluated under different energy constraints. As a main result, the performed analysis demonstrates that, for a given energy budget, simpler circuits (which are conventionally identified as low-energy slow architectures) operating at higher power supply voltages can achieve a timing yield significantly better than more complex faster adders when used in low-power design with supply voltages lower than nominal.
Immune response in vitro to Salmonella H-antigens, not affected by anti-theta serum.

Treatment of mouse spleen cells with antiserum cytotoxic to theta antigens does not affect the subsequent immune response in vitro to Salmonella H-antigens. Similarly treated cells fail to initiate an immune response to sheep erythrocytes. This finding represents a strong argument for the existence of immune responses to certain antigens which do not require thymus-derived cells.
Transvagınal Ultrasound And Computed Tomography Combıned Wıth Ca-125 Determınatıons In Preoperatıve Evaluatıon Of Ovarıan Masses In Premenopausal Women

Özet: Amaç: Çalışmanın amaçları premenopozal kadınlardaki ovaryen kitlelerin preoperatif teşhisinde i) transvaginal ultrason (TVUS) ve kompüterize tomografi (CT) ve ii) bu görüntüleme yöntemleri ile kombine olarak CA-125 değerlerinin doğruluğunu karşılaştırmaktı. Gereç-yöntem: Adneksiyal kitleden şüphe edilen 91 premenopozal kadın çalışma kapsamına alındı. Hastaların TVUS, CT ölçümleri ile CA-125 değerleri saptandı. Daha sonra değerler histopatolojik sonuçlarla kıyaslandı. Test sonuçlarındaki genel kanı ve kesin sonuçlar kappa istatistiği ile hesaplandı. Bulgular: Histoloji sonuçlarına göre ovaryen tümorlerin 12si malign ve 79si benign idi. Aşağıdaki sonuçlar TVUS, CT ve TVUS ve CT nin CA-125 ile kombinasyonu olarak hesaplandı; sensitivite sırasıyla, 83%, 91%, 100%; spesifisite, 92%, 96%, 97% idi. Aynı zamanda, TVUS ve CT nin CA-125 ile kombinasyonu tek başına TVUS ve CT e göre daha yüksek doğruluk oranına sahipti ( sırasıyla 0.90, 0.76 ve 0.89). Sonuç: TVUS ovaryen lezyonların teşhisinde kost –effektif olmasına rağmen, sonografide kanser şüphelenilen vakalarda CT ve CA-125 ölçümleri yayılımı göstermede ve preoperatif evrelemede yararlıdır.
Uremic Toxins: Do We Know Enough to Explain Uremia?

Background: The uremic syndrome is characterized by a complex clinical picture, whereby the function of multiple organ systems is affected by the retention of a host of solutes. Recent research of the last decade has helped to unravel multiple pathophysiologic mechanisms and to identify as yet unknown responsible compounds. Methods: The literature was screened to appreciate which compounds play the most important pathophysiologic role. Results: The picture that ensues is that the main role is played by molecules which are so-called ‘difficult to remove by dialysis’. The knowledge of uremic toxicity is still far from complete and we need extra information about responsible compounds and mechanisms, eventually leading to a classification of the most important culprits, to allow the development of efficient removal strategies and of pharmacologic methods to counteract pathophysiologic mechanisms. Conclusions: Uremic retention is a complex phenomenon and the most toxic compounds are difficult to remove by dialysis. Furthermore, our knowledge of the responsible pathways is still incomplete, and needs to be extended to develop new and more efficient treatment strategies.
Transporters in Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination

During the past decades, pharmacokinetics has been defined as the study of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME), when the drug is introduced into a biological system, such as the human body. Pharmacokinetics is now challenged by the growing importance of transporters, a relatively new and potentially major factor in drug ADME. The recent intrusion of drug transporters means that there is no single mechanism by which drugs permeate through membranes. The presence of transporters in membranes modulates the traditional theory of ‘diffusional pharmacokinetics’ towards ‘vectorial pharmacokinetics’ in which ADME processes are governed more deterministically. Drug transporters are also clinically important. They can modulate the pharmacological activity of drugs by affecting their intracellular concentrations and causing toxicity in specific organs due to intracellular drug accumulation. Finally, they are key players in drug–drug interactions, where they are as important as the drug metabolizing enzymes.
A survey of medical quality assurance programs in Ontario hospitals.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and types of medical quality assurance practices in Ontario hospitals. DESIGN Survey. SETTING All teaching, community, chronic care, rehabilitation and psychiatric hospitals that were members of the Ontario Hospital Association as of May 1990. PARTICIPANTS The person deemed by the chief executive officer of each hospital to be most responsible for medical administration. INTERVENTION A questionnaire to obtain information on each hospital's use of criteria audit, indicators inventory, occurrence screening and reporting, and utilization review and management (URM) activities. OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence of the use of the quality assurance activities, the people responsible for the activities and the relative success of the URM program in modifying physicians' performance. RESULTS Of the 245 member hospitals participants from 179 (73%) responded. Criteria audits were performed in 136 (76%), indicators inventory in 43 (24%), occurrence screening in 44 (25%), occurrence reporting in 61 (34%) and URM in 123 (69%). In-hospital deaths were reviewed in 157 (88%) of the hospitals. In all, 87 (55%) of the respondents from hospitals that had a URM program or were developing one indicated that their program was successful in modifying physicians' practices, and 29 (18%) reported that it was not successful; 26 (16%) stated that the effect was still unknown, and 16 (10%) did not respond. Seventy (40%) stated that results of tissue reviews were reported at least 10 times per year and 94 (83%) that medical record reviews were reported at least as often. The differences in the prevalence of the quality assurance activities between the hospitals were not found to be significant. CONCLUSIONS Many Ontario hospitals are conducting a wide variety of quality assurance activities. Further study is required to determine whether the differences in prevalence of these activities between hospitals would be significant in a larger, perhaps national, sample. Strategies are needed to ensure universal involvement and participation in the improvement of the quality of care and the assessment of the cost-effectiveness of health care treatments. Recommendations to achieve these objectives are suggested.
Topical amitriptyline combined with ketamine for the treatment of erythromelalgia: a retrospective study of 36 patients at Mayo Clinic.

BACKGROUND Erythromelalgia is an uncommon neurovascular disorder characterized by redness, increased skin temperature, and pain that usually occurs in the extremities. Treatment remains challenging because of its varying response to medical therapy. The objective of this study was to assess the response of erythromelalgia to compounded topical amitriptyline-ketamine. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated 36 patients with erythromelalgia who were treated with compounded topical amitriptyline-ketamine from January 1, 2004, through January 31, 2011. RESULTS Thirty-two patients (89%) were female. Mean (standard deviation) age was 44.7 (15.8) years (range, 5-74 years). Patients applied the medication 1 to 6 times per day (median, 5 times). One patient (3%) had complete relief from symptoms, 14 (39%) had substantial relief, 12 (33%) had some relief, 7 (19%) had no relief, and 2 (6%) had local worsening of symptoms. No patients had systemic adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS A majority of patients with erythromelalgia (75%) reported improvement in pain with topical application of a compounded amitriptyline-ketamine formulation. The medication was well tolerated.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Symbiotic Bacterium, Rhizobium vignae CCBAU 05176T

ABSTRACT The Rhizobium vignae strain CCBAU 05176T was isolated from a root nodule of Astragalus dahuricus grown in Hebei Province, China. It grows on yeast mannitol agar (YMA) supplemented with 0 to 2% (wt/vol) NaCl. We report the annotated genome sequence of this strain in a 6.34-Mb scaffold.