Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quimioterapia en linfoma no Hodgkin: 17 años de experiencia en el Hospital General de México

Resumen Introducción: El linfoma no Hodgkin (LNH) es la neoplasia hematológica más frecuente en el Hospital General de México (HGM); no existe suficiente revisión demográfica y terapéutica sobre esta población. Objetivos: Determinar la respuesta, la supervivencia general y la supervivencia libre de evento asociadas a la aplicación de los esquemas CHOP (ciclofosfamida, vincristina, doxorrubicina, prednisona) y DEP (dexametasona, etopósido, cisplatino) en pacientes con LNH del HGM en los últimos 17 años. Métodos: Se revisaron los expedientes de pacientes mayores de 16 años con LNH diagnosticados y tratados en el periodo de 1992 al 2009. Resultados: Se evaluaron 632 casos. La tasa de respuesta completa con CHOP fue de 60%, con supervivencia general a tres y cinco años de 66% y 56%, respectivamente. La supervivencia libre de evento con CHOP fue de 59% a tres años y de 46% a cinco años. Con DEP la tasa de remisión completa fue de 47%, con supervivencia general a tres años de 56% y a cinco años de 24% y una supervivencia libre de evento de 27% y 7%, para tres y cinco años, respectivamente. Conclusiones: La quimioterapia con CHOP continúa siendo la mejor terapia inicial. Con esquema DEP las respuestas son equiparables a las obtenidas con otros esquemas de tratamiento más tóxicos y caros.
Fine-Scale Genetic Diversity among Burkholderia pseudomallei Soil Isolates in Northeast Thailand

ABSTRACT Burkholderia pseudomallei soil isolates from northeast Thailand were genotyped using multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). MLVA identified 19 genotypes within three clades, while MLST revealed two genotypes. These close genetic relationships imply a recent colonization followed by localized expansion, similar to what occurs in an outbreak situation.
The meiotic stage of nondisjunction in trisomy 21: determination by using DNA polymorphisms.

We have studied DNA polymorphisms at loci in the pericentromeric region on the long arm of chromosome 21 in 200 families with trisomy 21, in order to determine the meiotic origin of nondisjunction. Maintenance of heterozygosity for parental markers in the individual with trisomy 21 was interpreted as resulting from a meiosis I error, while reduction to homozygosity was attributed to a meiosis II error. Nondisjunction was paternal in 9 cases and was maternal in 188 cases, as reported earlier. Among the 188 maternal cases, nondisjunction occurred in meiosis I in 128 cases and in meiosis II in 38 cases; in 22 cases the DNA markers used were uninformative. Therefore meiosis I was responsible for 77.1% and meiosis II for 22.9% of maternal nondisjunction. Among the 9 paternal nondisjunction cases the error occurred in meiosis I in 2 cases (22.2%) and in meiosis II in 7 (77.8%) cases. Since there was no significant difference in the distribution of maternal ages between maternal I error versus maternal II error, it is unlikely that an error at a particular of maternal ages between maternal I error versus maternal II error, it is unlikely that an error at a particular meiotic stage contributes significantly to the increasing incidence of Down syndrome with advancing maternal age. Although the DNA polymorphisms used were at loci which map close to the centromere, it is likely that rare errors in meiotic-origin assignments may have occurred because of a small number of crossovers between the markers and the centromere. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Is Speech Arrest during Wada Testing a Valid Method for Determining Hemispheric Representation of Language?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The intracarotid amobarbital procedure, or Wada test, is the method of choice to determine hemispheric representation of language, and is routinely used in the presurgical evaluation for intractable epilepsy. Some investigators perform comprehensive language assessments, but others base language lateralization solely on speech arrest. This study sought to determine whether speech arrest alone during Wada testing provides valid data regarding language lateralization. METHODS The subjects (previously reported) were 21 patients evaluated for intractable epilepsy, who underwent language lateralization by Wada testing and functional MRI (FMRI). For each patient, language representation was determined by calculating: (1) a Wada laterality index based exclusively on speech arrest; (2) a Wada laterality index based on comprehensive language assessment; and (3) an FMRI laterality quotient. Correlation coefficients and categorical classifications were analyzed. RESULTS There was no significant correlation between the Wada laterality quotient derived from duration of speech arrest and either the comprehensive Wada language laterality score (r =.35, p =.12) or FMRI language laterality score (r =.32, p =.16). Categorical classification as left, right or bilateral language also showed marked discordance between speech arrest and the other two methods. CONCLUSION Duration of speech arrest during Wada testing is not a valid measure of language dominance.
Human fetal optic nerve: Overproduction and elimination of retinal axons during development

We have estimated the number of axons in the optic nerves of human fetuses ranging in gestational age from approximately 10 to 33 weeks. At 10–12 weeks of gestation there were an estimated 1.9 million axons in the optic nerve. A peak count of 3.7 million axons was obtained from a specimen of 16–17 weeks gestation. The estimated number of axons then declined, stabilizing at an estimated 1.1 million axons by about week 29 of gestation. This figure is in close agreement with an estimate of 1.1–1.3 million optic axons in the human adult optic nerve. The results indicate that at least 70% of optic axons generated during development of the primary visual pathway are lost during fetal life. Part of this loss probably occurs as a result of the refinement of the terminal distribution of ganglion cell projections within their target nuclei. The significance of the relatively prolonged period of axonal loss is discussed.
Echo Separation in Multidimensional Waveform Encoding SAR Remote Sensing Using an Advanced Null-Steering Beamformer

In order to reap the potential benefits that waveform diversity can provide for spaceborne synthetic aperture radar remote sensing, echoes from different subpulses constituting a complete transmit waveform should be effectively separated at first. This paper presents a new separation approach implemented by an advanced null-steering beamformer on satellite. Compared with common null-steering beamforming, our approach will take into account the characteristics of echo signal from the scene and accordingly embed the finite-impulse response (FIR) filtering process into the modified null-steering beamformer to deal with the issue of pulse extension. In this paper, echo signals generated by multidimensional encoded waveform will be analyzed in detail; based on this analysis, FIR filter and the new null-steering beamformer are derived. Simulation results show that much better separation performance can be obtained by our approach than by conventional null-steering beamforming.
Factor XIII Val34Leu polymorphism, factor XIII antigen levels and activity and the risk of deep venous thrombosis

Summary. Varying results on the effect of factor XIII (FXIII) Val34Leu on venous thrombotic risk have been reported. The probability of a true association between this polymorphism and venous thrombotic risk would be enhanced by a laboratory phenotype associated with this polymorphism and with the thrombotic risk. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of FXIII Val34Leu, FXIII activity and subunit levels on venous thrombotic risk in a large case–control study, The Leiden Thrombophilia study (LETS). We found higher FXIII activity for 34Leu carriers (Leu/Leu: 158·0, Val/Val: 95·0). FXIII subunit levels were not associated with genotype. Higher FXIII activity was associated with a slightly decreased thrombotic risk [Odds ratio (OR): 0·8, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0·5–1·3]. This effect was not present for elevated FXIII subunit levels. Higher FXIII activity was also associated with a higher dissociation index (percentage A2B2 complex dissociated after activation by thrombin for a fixed time interval). This index was higher for FXIII 34Leu carriers. The risk of deep venous thrombosis was slightly decreased for carriers of the 34Leu allele [OR: 0·9 (95%CI: 0·7–1·1)]. For homozygous 34Leu carriers the OR was 0·7 (95%CI: 0·4–1·3). This finding, suggesting a weak protective effect, was completely restricted to men. An overall estimate of thrombotic risk was calculated by using earlier reports on the risk of FXIII Val34Leu. The overall risk estimate for homozygous 34Leu carriers was 0·8 (95%CI: 0·6–1·0). In this study, a weak protective effect against venous thrombosis was found, of FXIII 34Leu as well as of increased FXIII activity.
Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of spotted fever group Rickettsiae isolated from Catalan Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks

Eighty-nine Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks and 21 Rhipicephalus bursa ticks collected in Catalonia were tested by the hemolymph test to establish their infection rate with spotted fever group rickettsiae. By Giménez staining, 11.2% of the R. sanguineus isolates and 0% of the R. bursa isolates were found to contain rickettsia-like organisms. Six spotted fever group rickettsial strains (Bar29, Bar31, Gir4, Tar1, Tar2, and Tar3) were isolated from these ticks and were characterized by phenotypic and genotypic analyses. PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis showed that the six strains were identical and were characterized by the same restriction profiles as a strain, Mtu5, previously isolated from Rhipicephalus turanicus ticks in the South of France. Microimmunofluorescence serotyping, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified organisms, and Western blot (immunoblot) assay with mouse polyclonal sera confirmed this observation. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis of the whole genome of three of the strains showed that, although closely related, the profile of Tar1 was slightly different from that of the Bar strains. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this new rickettsial sero- and genotype, which will be named the "Catalan strain," is closely related to Rickettsia massiliae. This strain shows an unexpected resistance to rifampin. The epidemiological implications of these findings are considered.
Consumers' response to offensive advertising: a cross cultural study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how Chinese and German consumers react to print advertisements that are potentially offensive.Design/methodology/approach – Using culture theories about information context, individualism and feminine consciousness, the paper hypothesizes that Chinese consumers will be less accepting of the advertisements than German consumers. It also compares the dimensions of consumer perceptions for both countries and how consumer perceptions are related with intentions to reject the products and the brands because of the ads. A survey of 563 respondents aged 17‐58 from urban China (Shanghai) and Germany was conducted in October 2005 and June 2006. A questionnaire with six print advertisements containing sexism and other themes was constructed. Data were collected through five universities.Findings – Findings on perceptions of the offensive advertisements among Chinese and German respondents were mixed. Overall, as expected, Chinese respondents were less accepting of o.
Purification and characterization of a calcium-calmodulin-dependent phospholamban kinase from canine myocardium.

A Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase was purified to apparent homogeneity from the cytosolic fraction of canine myocardium, with phospholamban as substrate. Purification involved sequential chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, calmodulin-agarose, DEAE-Bio-Gel A, and phosphocellulose. This procedure resulted in a 987-fold purification with a 5.4% yield. The purified enzyme migrated as a single band on native polyacrylamide gels, and it exhibited an apparent molecular weight of 550,000 upon gel filtration. Gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions revealed a single protein band with Mr 55,000. The purified kinase could be autophosphorylated in a Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent manner, and under optimal conditions, 6 mol of Pi was incorporated per mole of 55,000-dalton subunit. The activity of the enzyme was dependent on Ca2+, calmodulin, and ATP.Mg2+. Other ions which could partially substitute for Ca2+ in the presence of Mg2+ and saturating calmodulin concentrations were Sr2+ greater than Mn2+ greater than Zn2+ greater than Fe2+. The substrate specificity of the purified Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase for cardiac proteins was determined by using phospholamban, troponin I, sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes, myofibrils, highly enriched sarcolemma, and mitochondria. The protein kinase could only phosphorylate phospholamban and troponin I either in their purified forms or in sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes and myofibrils, respectively. Exogenous proteins which could also be phosphorylated by the purified protein kinase were skeletal muscle glycogen synthase greater than gizzard myosin light chain greater than brain myelin basic protein greater than casein. However, phospholamban appeared to be phosphorylated with a higher rate as well as affinity than glycogen synthase. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Management strategies for intraprocedural coil migration during endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms

Migration of a coil during endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysm occurs in 2–6% of cases. The consequences of coil migration vary significantly from minor flow alterations of the parent artery which are asymptomatic to thromboembolic occlusion of major intracranial vessels resulting in large territory infarcts. We performed a comprehensive literature review and identified 37 reported cases of migrated coil retrieval consisting of 10 case reports and six case series. Most of the aneurysms presented with rupture (65%) and were located in the anterior circulation (70%). The endovascular treatment approaches were coil embolization alone (57%), stent-assisted coiling (26%) and balloon remodeling (17%). Endovascular retrieval was performed with microwires, the Alligator Retrieval device, Merci devices, snares and stentrievers. There was a single report of microsurgical extraction following failed endovascular removal and three cases of coil fracture in which the coil fragments were secured to the vessel walls with stents.
Perfusion CT vascular parameters do not correlate with immunohistochemically derived microvessel density count in colorectal tumors.

PURPOSE To determine whether perfusion computed tomography (CT)-derived vascular parameters-namely, blood flow, mean transit time (MTT), volume transfer constant (K(trans)), permeability-surface area product (PS), extracellular extravascular space volume, and vascular volume-correlate with the immunohistologic markers of angiogenesis in colorectal tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study was approved by the Regional Ethics and Research and Development Committees. The perfusion CT protocol was incorporated in the staging CT after informed consent in 29 patients (14 men, 15 women; mean age, 70 years; age range, 55-94 years). The perfusion parameters were calculated over two regions of interest (ROIs), at the invasive and luminal site defined by two radiologists independently. Accurate representative data were captured manually by correcting for motion artifacts and were analyzed by using Matlab software. The vascular heterogeneity between ROIs was assessed by using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Perfusion CT parameters were correlated with the microvessel density (MVD) count at both corresponding sites obtained by means of immunohistochemical staining of the selected histologic slide with factor VIII and CD105 antigens by using Spearmen rank coefficient. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference found between perfusion CT vascular parameters at the two ROIs by either of the radiologists. The Pearson coefficient for blood flow, MTT, K(trans), and PS at the two ROIs demonstrated good to moderate interobserver variability (for the two ROIs, 0.46 and 0.44; 0.67 and 0.64; 0.41 and 0.72; and 0.86 and 0.56, respectively). None of these parameters correlated with MVD count at the invasive or the luminal site for either of the two antigens. CONCLUSION Perfusion CT measurements may measure vascularity of colorectal tumors, however, correlation with MVD, which is a morphologic measure, appears inappropriate. © RSNA, 2013.
Endothelial Injury and Repair: A Novel Theory for Atherosclerosis

The traditional view of atherosclerosis as a pathological lipid deposition within the artery wall has been redefined by a more complex theory in which the presence of a dysfunctional endothelium plays a pivotal role. The discovery of progenitor cells of myeloid origin, which are able to replace old or injured mature endothelial cells and are able to differentiate into healthy and functional endothelial cells, has offered the prospect of merging the traditional theories on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis with the evolving concept of a role of these progenitor cells in the repair of the injured vessel wall and the neovascularization of ischemic tissues. This article summarizes current knowledge about the biology of atherosclerosis with emphasis on the balance between endothelial injury and repair and on the concept that the turnover and replacement of endothelial cells is a major determinant in the maintenance of vascular integrity.
Pharmacist-led interventions to reduce unplanned admissions for older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

PURPOSE medication problems are thought to cause between 10 and 30% of all hospital admissions in older people. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions led by hospital or community pharmacists in reducing unplanned hospital admissions for older people. METHODS eighteen databases were searched with a customised search strategy. Relevant websites and reference lists of included trials were checked. Randomised controlled trials were included that evaluated pharmacist-led interventions compared with usual care, with unplanned admissions or readmissions as an outcome. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed methodological quality. RESULTS twenty-seven randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were identified; seven trials were excluded. The 20 included trials comprised 16 for older people and 4 for older people with heart failure. Interventions led by hospital pharmacists (seven trials) or community pharmacists (nine trials) did not reduce unplanned admissions in the older population (risk ratios 0.97 95% CI: 0.88, 1.07; 1.07 95% CI: 0.96, 1.20). Three trials in older people with heart failure showed that interventions delivered by a hospital pharmacist reduced the relative risk of admissions. However, these trials were heterogeneous in intensity and duration of follow-up. One trial had a high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS evidence from three randomised controlled trials suggests that interventions led by hospital pharmacists reduce unplanned hospital admissions in older patients with heart failure, although these trials were heterogeneous. Data from 16 trials do not support the concept that interventions led by hospital or community pharmacists for the general older population reduces unplanned admissions.
Use of a composite nonlinear model including microbubbles and tissue to examine effects for ultrasonic propagation and backscatter in complex tissues: nonlinear ultrasonic waves in composite tissues

Several numerical modeling studies have examined nonlinear propagation of ultrasound in tissue (KZK equation). Similarly, other investigations have studied nonlinear backscatter characteristics from ultrasound contrast microbubbles (RP equation). However, very few reports on combined tissue-bubble models are available, especially in the area of nonlinear contribution of microbubbles to ultrasonic propagation and backscatter in complex tissue where both blood vessels and surrounding soft tissue are incorporated. Results from such studies should contribute further to the continuing optimization of harmonic imaging techniques. In this study, the well-known KZK equation is adapted to include tissue and blood vessels with microbubbles. A composite approach utilizing the equivalent nonlinearity and attenuation parameters for the blood vessel with varying amount of contrast (volume fraction of bubbles to blood: 10/sup -8/ to 10/sup -6/) provides the resultant equation which is then solved using a time-domain finite difference technique. Harmonic analysis of tissue propagation shows that the microbubbles induce significant nonlinearity in the propagating wave, which influences both harmonic generation and waveform distortion by causing spatial shifts of the harmonic focal points (2/sup nd/ and 3/sup rd/ harmonics) and production of higher amplitude harmonic wave components. Wave-diffraction patterns of the multi-harmonic components varied mainly as a function of bubble concentration within the local blood vessel. These results provide a means for understanding harmonic effects in a realistic composite tissue-blood vessel model and should provide pathways to improve signal-to-noise ratio in harmonic imaging.
The place of pneumococcal vaccination

Vaccination against pneumococcal infection was introduced in the UK in 1979. Currently, the vaccine is recommended by the Department of Health for patients at high risk of developing pneumococcal infection.1 Here we discuss the epidemiology of pneumococcal infection and consider the effectiveness of the vaccines available and their use in clinical practice.
Comparison of bone loss induced by ovariectomy and neurectomy in rats analyzed by in vivo micro‐CT

We hypothesized that osteoporosis due to estrogen deficiency progresses faster than due to disuse and that at the same amount of bone loss, disuse leads to less favorable bone structure and mechanical properties than estrogen deficiency. Adult rats were either ovariectomized (OVX) (n = 9) or neurectomized (NX) (n = 8). At week 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, in vivo micro‐CT scans were made of the proximal tibia. Segmented CT‐scans at weeks 0 and 4 were used to build a 3D voxel‐based micro finite element model (FEM). Displacement in the longitudinal direction was prescribed at the proximal end leading to a compression step of 1%. The severe reduction in metaphyseal bone volume fraction was not significantly different between OVX and NX. Epiphyseal bone loss was less severe in both groups, and BV/TV was significantly lower after NX. Trabecular separation and degree of anisotropy in the metaphysis and connectivity and trabecular number in the epiphysis were significantly more deteriorated after NX. FEM‐derived stiffness decreased in both groups, but more after NX. Osteoporosis due to estrogen‐deficiency progressed overall at a rate similar to osteoporosis due to disuse. At the same amount of induced bone loss, disuse led to more deteriorated bone structure and mechanical properties than estrogen deficiency. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27:1521–1527, 2009