Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of hepatoblastoma: an update

Purpose of review To summarize the current standards and guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hepatoblastoma, a rare pediatric liver tumor. Recent findings Hepatoblastoma is the most common malignant liver tumor in childhood. International collaborative efforts have led to uniform implementation of the pretreatment extent of disease (PRETEXT) staging system as a means to establish consensus classification and assess upfront resectability. Additionally, current histopathological classification, in light of more advanced molecular profiling and immunohistochemical techniques and integration of tumor biomarkers into risk stratification, is reviewed. Multimodal therapy is composed of chemotherapy and surgical intervention. Achievement of complete surgical resection plays a key role in successful treatment for hepatoblastoma. Overall, outcomes have greatly improved over the past four decades because of advances in chemotherapeutic agents and administration protocols as well as innovations of surgical approach, including the use of vascular exclusion, ultrasonic dissection techniques, and liver transplantation. Challenges remain in management of high-risk patients as well as patients with recurrent or metastatic disease. Summary Eventually, a more individualized approach to treating the different types of the heterogeneous spectrum of hepatoblastoma, in terms of different chemotherapeutic protocols and timing as well as type and extent of surgery, may become the basis of successful treatment in the more complex or advanced types of hepatoblastoma.
Minority stress predictors of HIV risk behavior, substance use, and depressive symptoms: results from a prospective study of bereaved gay men.

OBJECTIVE Minority stress is the most frequently hypothesized risk factor for the increased rates of adverse behavioral and mental health outcomes among sexual minorities. However, there is a paucity of longitudinal research addressing this hypothesis. DESIGN Prospective, community-based cohort of 74 bereaved gay men. Participants were assessed before the partner or close friend died of AIDS and then at 1, 6, 13, and 18 months postloss. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES HIV risk behavior (unprotected anal intercourse), substance use and abuse symptoms, and depressive symptoms. RESULTS Hierarchical Linear Modeling analyses revealed that changes in internalized homophobia, discrimination experiences, and expectations of rejection were differentially associated with HIV risk behavior, substance use, and depressive symptoms, respectively. In contrast to the significant effects of minority stress, bereavement-related stressors (e.g., length of partner illness, quality of relationship with deceased) were largely unrelated to these outcomes. CONCLUSION The results provide evidence for the predictive validity of minority stress, even in the context of a major life stressor, and suggest the importance of targeting minority stress experiences in HIV and mental health interventions with gay men. Future studies are needed to assess the mechanisms through which minority stress is associated with adverse health outcomes.
State Governments’ Response to the AIDS Crisis: An Advertising Perspective

AIDS in the United Slates may be the most urgent public health issue facing public policy makers today. Since there is currently no chemical cure or vaccine for the AIDS virus, the only weapons available for prevention are public information and education. This study assesses the role of advertising in disseminating information during the AIDS crisis by interviewing the state AIDS coordinators in each of the 48 contiguous United States. The results of the study summarize what the states are currently doing with their AIDS advertising campaigns. Additionally, state AIDS coordinators’ perceptions are presented on advertising's role during the AIDS crisis, and what can be done to improve current AIDS advertising campaigns. Finally, implications for public policy makers are discussed.
Computerized Method for Automatic Evaluation of Lean Body Mass from PET/CT: Comparison with Predictive Equations

CT has become an established method for calculating body composition, but it requires data from the whole body, which are not typically obtained in routine PET/CT examinations. A computerized scheme that evaluates whole-body lean body mass (LBM) based on CT data from limited-whole-body coverage was developed. The LBM so obtained was compared with results from conventional predictive equations. Methods: LBM can be obtained automatically from limited-whole-body CT data by 3 means: quantification of body composition from CT images in the limited-whole-body scan, based on thresholding of CT attenuation; determination of the range of coverage based on a characteristic trend of changing composition across different levels and pattern recognition of specific features at strategic positions; and estimation of the LBM of the whole body on the basis of a predetermined relationship between proportion of fat mass and extent of coverage. This scheme was validated using 18 whole-body PET/CT examinations truncated at different lengths to emulate limited-whole-body data. LBM was also calculated using predictive equations that had been reported for use in SUV normalization. Results: LBM derived from limited-whole-body data using the proposed method correlated strongly with LBM derived from whole-body CT data, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.991 (shorter coverage) to 0.998 (longer coverage) and SEMs of LBM ranging from 0.14 to 0.33 kg. These were more accurate than results from different predictive equations, which ranged in correlation coefficient from 0.635 to 0.970 and in SEM from 0.64 to 2.40 kg. Conclusion: LBM of the whole body could be automatically estimated from CT data of limited-whole-body coverage typically acquired in PET/CT examinations. This estimation allows more accurate and consistent quantification of metabolic activity of tumors based on LBM-normalized standardized uptake value.
Molecular connexin partner remodeling orchestrates connexin traffic: From physiology to pathophysiology

Connexins, through gap junctional intercellular communication, are known to regulate many physiological functions involved in developmental processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and apoptosis. Strikingly, alterations of connexin expression and trafficking are often, if not always, associated with human developmental diseases and carcinogenesis. In this respect, disrupted trafficking dynamics and aberrant intracytoplasmic localization of connexins are considered as typical features of functionality failure leading to the pathological state. Recent findings demonstrate that interactions of connexins with numerous protein partners, which take place throughout connexin trafficking, are essential for gap junction formation, membranous stabilization and degradation. In the present study, we give an overview of the physiological molecular machinery and of the specific interactions between connexins and their partners, which are involved in connexin trafficking, and we highlight their changes in pathological situations.
Predictors of Sub-Optimal CD4 Recovery during the First Six Months of Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) in HIV Infected Children: A Retrospective Cross Sectional Study from Tikur Anbessa Tertiary Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background: Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has brought significant change in reducing morbidity and mortality among children living with HIV/AIDS. Decisions concerning initiation and/or shifting of antiretroviral therapy (ART) are guided by monitoring the laboratory parameters of plasma HIV RNA (viral load) and CD4+ T cell count in addition to the patient’s over all clinical response. The demonstrations of the prognostic value of the CD4 cell count was of major importance in the development of therapeutic strategies. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess factors predicting suboptimal CD4 cell recovery during first six months of ART. Methods: The study is retrospective cross sectional study to assess factors predicting suboptimal CD4 cell recovery. Medical records of patients’ were retrieved and important variables are captured to standard questionnaire tool. T-test is used to assess changes in CD4 cell count after initiation of ART. Binary logistic and multiple regressions were used to assess factors predicting CD4 cell recovery. Results: Data of 360 children were analyzed. CD4 cell count at the start of HAART ranged from 3-2003 cell/mL with an interquartile range of 231-317 cell/mL. After 6 months of HAART, the CD4 cell count has increased ranging from 71-2300 cell/mL with inter quartile range of 458-612 cell/mL and mean CD4 cell count difference of 230, 95%CI (199.414-260.613); P<0.001. Advanced clinical stage of the disease, severe degree of immunosupression, presence of anemia, presence of chronic diarrhea at base line, poor weight gain during first six months of HAART adversely affect the trends of CD4 recovery. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that advanced clinical stage of the disease, severe degree of immunosupression, presence of anemia at baseline and presence of chronic diarrhea, poor weight gain during first six months of HAART were factors adversely affect the trends of CD4 recovery.
Degeneration of retinal neuronal processes and pigment epithelium in the early stage of the streptozotocin‐diabetic rats

Early pathological and electro‐physiological changes of the retina in the streptozotocin (STZ)‐diabetic rats were investigated through optical and electron microscopy in two strains and electro‐retinography in one strain. In Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats 1 month after the onset of diabetes, the thickness of the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and photoreceptor segment layer (PSL) was significantly reduced by 9.9% and 18.9%, respectively (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In Brown–Norway (BN) rats STZ‐diabetic for 1 month, the thickness of the IPL was also significantly reduced by 15.7% (P < 0.05). Cytochemical study using peanut agglutinin (PNA), a lectin binding selectively to the cone photoreceptor‐associated domains of the inter‐photoreceptor matrix, revealed a marked reduction in intensity, number and length of the PNA‐binding cone photoreceptors. Electron microscopy showed deepened hollows in the basal infoldings of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of STZ‐rats diabetic for 1 month and large concavities into the cytoplasm in STZ‐rats diabetic for 6 months. Blood vessels in the retina and choroid were unremarkable. Single‐flash electro‐retinogram revealed a reduction in the amplitudes of a‐ and b‐waves of electro‐retinogram (ERG) of 1 month STZ BN rats (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that the degeneration of rods/cones in the PSL and RPE are the most prominent pathological alteration sites in the early stage of diabetic rats.
Selective Targeting of Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibition in Post-Infarction Myocardial Remodeling

Background: A cause-effect relationship has been established between MMP activation and left ventricular (LV) remodeling following myocardial infarction. The goal of the present study was to examine a selective MMP inhibitor (sMMPi) strategy that effectively spared MMP-1, -3, and -7 with effect to regional and global left ventricular remodeling in a pig model of myocardial infarction. Methods and Results: Pigs instrumented with coronary snares and radiopaque markers within the area at risk were randomized to myocardial infarction-only (n = 10) or sMMPi (PGE-530742, 1 mg/kg TID) begun 3 days prior to myocardial infarction. Ten weight-matched noninstrumented pigs served as reference controls. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume in the myocardial infarction-only group was increased from baseline (81 ± 3 mL versus 55 ± 4 mL, respectively, P < 0.05) but was attenuated with sMMPi (67 ± 3 mL, P < 0.05). Fractional area of shortening of marker area was decreased in the myocardial infarction-only group (change from baseline −63 ± 10%, P < 0.05) but this effect was attenuated with sMMPi (−28 ± 14%, P < 0.05), indicative of less dyskinesis of the infarct region with sMMPi. Wall stress was reduced within both the septal and posterior wall regions with sMMPi. Myocardial MMP-2 activity was decreased in both remote and border areas of sMMPi-treated samples compared with myocardial infarction-only values, consistent with pharmacologic MMP inhibition. Conclusions: Selective MMP inhibition favorably affected regional myocardial geometry and decreased left ventricular dilation post-myocardial infarction. This study suggests that a strategy of selective MMP inhibition of a limited array of MMPs may be an achievable goal in preventing pathologic left ventricular remodeling post-myocardial infarction.
Enhancing Aggregate Productivity Through Export Subsidy

Since the WTO began, export subsidies are primarily prohibited. This paper aims to investigate whether there exists a mechanism to lift national welfare through enhancing aggregate industry productivity where export subsidy can serve as an incentive. A scheme can be contrived not for increasing the total amount of exports quantitatively but for enhancing aggregate industry productivity qualitatively. According to Melitz (2003), access to trade liberalization should positively affect aggregate industry productivity. Theoretically, this paper showed that aggregate industry productivity can be enhanced through a tactic which arouses competition among firms for export subsidy. Notably, redistribution of collected taxes for rewarding more productive firms can encourage the entire industry. With redistribution, any dispute can be avoided because there is no realized market extortion. In the context of the world, it can be a case that a country might have an industry struggling from inefficient production. For example, the agricultural industry in Korea is relatively less robust to trade liberalization than other industries. In this case, export subsidy as an incentive scheme can be a solution for enhancing aggregate industry productivity.
From Defibrillation Theory to Clinical Implications

Background: Our defibrillation theory claims that the mean voltage threshold is a hyperbolic function of pulse duration and that voltages below rheobase should be avoided as being counterproductive. Truncation of the pulse just at rheobase level yields minimal stored energy thresholds. To verify or falsify this theory, animal experiments were carried out.
Expression of the catalytic domain of myosin light chain kinase increases paracellular permeability.

Contractile events resulting from phosphorylation of the 20-kDa myosin light chain (MLC20) have been implicated in the regulation of epithelial tight junction permeability. To address this question, Madin-Darby canine kidney cells were transfected with a murine leukemia retroviral vector containing DNA encoding either the catalytic domain of myosin light chain kinase (tMK) or the beta-galactosidase gene (beta-gal). Autoradiograms of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of myosin immunoprecipitated from 32Pi-labeled transfected cells demonstrated that MLC20 phosphorylation was increased 3.1 +/- 0.9-fold in cells expressing tMK compared with cells expressing beta-gal. Phosphopeptide mapping confirmed that myosin light chain kinase was responsible for the increased MLC20 phosphorylation. Transepithelial electrical resistance, a measurement of barrier function, of tMK cell monolayers was consistently < 10% (123 +/- 20 omega.cm2) of that of monolayers comprised of wild-type cells (1,456 +/- 178 omega.cm2) or cells expressing beta-gal (1,452 +/- 174 omega.cm2). Dual 22Na+ and [3H]mannitol flux studies indicated that the decrease in resistance in tMK cells was attributable to increased paracellular flow. These data support the idea that MLC20 phosphorylation by myosin light chain kinase is involved in regulating epithelial tight junction permeability.
Deep convolution neural network with stacks of multi-scale convolutional layer block using triplet of faces for face recognition in the wild

Recently, deep convolutional neural networks have set a new trend in fields of face recognition by improving the state-of-the-art performance. By using deep neural networks, much more sophisticated and high level abstracted features can be learned automatically. In this paper, we propose a method for face recognition using multi-scale convolution layer blocks and triplets of faces in unconstrained environments. We use the ensemble of deep convolution neural networks trained on differently scaled and aligned face images. This extracts low dimensional but high-level abstraction and discriminative features for face recognition. With these features, we employ the jointly Bayesian model and transfer learning which adapts the knowledge trained from the source domain to target domain. Experiment shows that our proposed method achieves 98.33% pair-wise verification accuracy on the LFW dataset.
Triplet combinations in relapsed/refractory myeloma: update on recent phase 3 trials

ABSTRACT Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a rare hematologic disease of antibody-secreting plasma cells. Our understanding of the pathogenesis of this malignancy has improved greatly, and at the same time, we have access to new and more effective treatments options. Over the last 5 years, a spectrum of novel therapies with different mechanisms of action, including third-generation immunomodulatory drugs (pomalidomide), second generation proteasome inhibitors (carfilzomib and ixazomib), a histone deacetylase inhibitor (panobinostat) and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (elotuzumab and daratumumab) has transformed our approach to the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM). Areas covered: In this review, we will summarize the characteristics of the new drugs used in RRMM with a specific focus on recent phase 3 trials of triplet combinations in this setting and the rationale behind the selection of one regimen over another. Expert commentary: Several recent phase III trials conducted with patients with RRMM have demonstrated that triplet combinations are associated with a deeper response and an increased duration of response compared to standard treatments. These effective regimens may control the emerging drug resistant clones leading to progression. However, they have distinct toxicity profiles, which need to be taken into account by patients and care givers. The landscape of RRMM is changing rapidly, and new standards of care are proposed.
Genotypic and Phenotypic Studies of Murine Intestinal Lactobacilli: Species Differences in Mice with and without Colitis

ABSTRACT Lactobacilli represent components of the commensal mammalian gastrointestinal microbiota and are useful as probiotics, functional foods, and dairy products. This study includes systematic polyphasic analyses of murine intestinal Lactobacillus isolates and correlation of taxonomic findings with data from cytokine production assays. Lactobacilli were recovered from mice with microbiota-dependent colitis (interleukin-10 [IL-10]-deficient C57BL/6 mice) and from mice without colitis (Swiss Webster and inducible nitric oxide synthetase-deficient C57BL/6 mice). Polyphasic analyses were performed to elucidate taxonomic relationships among 88 reference and murine gastrointestinal lactobacilli. Genotypic tests included single-locus analyses (16S ribosomal DNA sequencing and 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region PCR) and genomic DNA profiling (repetitive DNA element-based PCR), and phenotypic analyses encompassed more than 50 tests for carbohydrate utilization, enzyme production, and antimicrobial resistance. From 20 mice without colitis, six Lactobacillus species were recovered; the majority of the mice were colonized with L. reuteri or L. murinus (72% of isolates). In contrast, only, L. johnsonii was isolated from 14 IL-10-deficient mice. Using an in vitro assay, we screened murine isolates for their ability to inhibit tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) secretion by lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages. Interestingly, a subpopulation of lactobacilli recovered from mice without colitis displayed TNF-α inhibitory properties, whereas none of the L. johnsonii isolates from IL-10-deficient mice exhibited this effect. We propose that differences among intestinal Lactobacillus populations in mammals, combined with host genetic susceptibilities, may account partly for variations in host mucosal responses.
Opsonization with C1q and Mannose-Binding Lectin Targets Apoptotic Cells to Dendritic Cells1

Deficiencies of early components of the classical complement pathway, particularly C1q, are strongly associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus. Recent data link this predisposal to autoimmunity to an inappropriate clearance of apoptotic cells, which could lead to a loss of self-tolerance. In the present study, we demonstrate that opsonization of apoptotic cells with C1q and mannose-binding lectin allows and facilitates their uptake not only by macrophages but also by human immature dendritic cells (DCs). Both C1q and mannose-binding lectin enhance the uptake of apoptotic cells by DCs in a dose-dependent way. The uptake of C1q-opsonized apoptotic cells, but not nonopsonized apoptotic cells, by DCs stimulated the production of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, without an effect on IL-12p70. We conclude that these recognition molecules of the complement system do not sequester apoptotic cells from DCs, but rather promote their uptake by immature DCs. Therefore, we propose that early complement components support safe clearance of cellular debris by facilitating phagocytosis and possibly by immunomodulatory mechanisms, thus preventing autoimmunity.
Influence of Iron Status on Cadmium and Zinc Uptake by Different Ecotypes of the Hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens 1

We have previously identified an ecotype of the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens (Ganges), which is far superior to other ecotypes (including Prayon) in Cd uptake. In this study, we investigated the effect of Fe status on the uptake of Cd and Zn in the Ganges and Prayon ecotypes, and the kinetics of Cd and Zn influx using radioisotopes. Furthermore, the T. caerulescens ZIP (Zn-regulated transporter/Fe-regulated transporter-like protein) genes TcZNT1-G andTcIRT1-G were cloned from the Ganges ecotype and their expression under Fe-sufficient and -deficient conditions was analyzed. Both short- and long-term studies revealed that Cd uptake was significantly enhanced by Fe deficiency only in the Ganges ecotype. The concentration-dependent kinetics of Cd influx showed that theV max of Cd was 3 times greater in Fe-deficient Ganges plants compared with Fe-sufficient plants. In Prayon, Fe deficiency did not induce a significant increase inV max for Cd. Zn uptake was not influenced by the Fe status of the plants in either of the ecotypes. These results are in agreement with the gene expression study. The abundance ofZNT1-G mRNA was similar between the Fe treatments and between the two ecotypes. In contrast, abundance of theTcIRT1-G mRNA was greatly increased only in Ganges root tissue under Fe-deficient conditions. The present results indicate that the stimulatory effect of Fe deficiency on Cd uptake in Ganges may be related to an up-regulation in the expression of genes encoding for Fe2+ uptake, possibly TcIRT1-G.