Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expanded use of aggressive therapies improves survival in early and intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Despite the increasing annual incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the USA, now estimated at 2.7 cases per 100 000 population, only a small proportion of patients receive treatment and 5-year survival rates range from 9% to 17%. OBJECTIVES The present study examines the effects of multimodal treatment on survival in a mixed-stage HCC cohort, focusing on the impact of radical therapy in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B disease. METHODS A retrospective review of the medical records of 254 patients considered for HCC treatment between 2003 and 2011 at a large tertiary referral centre was conducted. RESULTS A total of 195 (76.8%) patients were treated with a median of two liver-directed interventions. Median survival time was 16 months. In proportional hazards analysis, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and resection were associated with significantly improved 1- and 5-year survival among patients with BCLC stage 0-A disease. In patients with BCLC stage B disease, RFA conferred a survival benefit at 1 year and resection was associated with significantly improved survival at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS As one of few studies to track the complete course of sequential HCC therapies, the findings of the present study suggest that HCC patients with intermediate-stage (BCLC stage B) disease may benefit from aggressive interventions not currently included in societal guidelines.
PATE, a gene expressed in prostate cancer, normal prostate, and testis, identified by a functional genomic approach

To identify target antigens for prostate cancer therapy, we have combined computer-based screening of the human expressed sequence tag database and experimental expression analysis to identify genes that are expressed in normal prostate and prostate cancer but not in essential human tissues. Using this approach, we identified a gene that is expressed specifically in prostate cancer, normal prostate, and testis. The gene has a 1.5-kb transcript that encodes a protein of 14 kDa. We named this gene PATE (expressed in prostate and testis). In situ hybridization shows that PATE mRNA is expressed in the epithelial cells of prostate cancers and in normal prostate. Transfection of the PATE cDNA with a Myc epitope tag into NIH 3T3 cells and subsequent cell fractionation analysis shows that the PATE protein is localized in the membrane fraction of the cell. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of PATE shows that it has structural similarities to a group of proteins known as three-finger toxins, which includes the extracellular domain of the type β transforming growth factor receptor. Restricted expression of PATE makes it a potential candidate for the immunotherapy of prostate cancer.
Knockdown of Cyclin-dependent Kinase Inhibitors Induces Cardiomyocyte Re-entry in the Cell Cycle*

Proliferation of mammalian cardiomyocytes stops rapidly after birth and injured hearts do not regenerate adequately. High cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI) levels have been observed in cardiomyocytes, but their role in maintaining cardiomyocytes in a post-mitotic state is still unknown. In this report, it was investigated whether CKI knockdown by RNA interference induced cardiomyocyte proliferation. We found that triple transfection with p21Waf1, p27Kip1, and p57Kip2 siRNAs induced both neonatal and adult cardiomyocyte to enter S phase and increased the nuclei/cardiomyocyte ratio; furthermore, a subpopulation of cardiomyocytes progressed beyond karyokynesis, as assessed by the detection of mid-body structures and by straight cardiomyocyte counting. Intriguingly, cardiomyocyte proliferation occurred in the absence of overt DNA damage and aberrant mitotic figures. Finally, CKI knockdown and DNA synthesis reactivation correlated with a dramatic change in adult cardiomyocyte morphology that may be a prerequisite for cell division. In conclusion, CKI expression plays an active role in maintaining cardiomyocyte withdrawal from the cell cycle.
A Coordinated Strategy Providing Zero-Sequence Circulating Current Suppression and Neutral-Point Potential Balancing in Two Parallel Three-Level Converters

In two parallel three-level T-type converters (3LT2Cs) with the sharing dc bus and ac bus directly, the neutral-point (NP) potential balancing and the zero-sequence circulating currents (ZSCCs) have to be considered to ensure normal operation of parallel system. In the conventional control scheme, the distribution factor of small vectors with space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) strategies (or the injected zero-sequence voltage with SPWM strategies) has to carry out two tasks simultaneously: NP potential balancing and ZSCCs suppression. However, the common challenge is how to coordinately control ZSCCs and NP potential due to only one controllable degree of freedom for two different targets. In this paper, the conventional scheme is investigated comprehensively. Theoretical analysis shows that the control authority over ZSCCs and NP potential is limited. Furthermore, a coordinated control strategy is proposed as follows: the distribution factor of one converter is in charge of the common NP potential balancing with the auxiliary NP bus, while the distribution factor of the other converter is in charge of ZSCCs regardless of NP potential. Based on the strategy, the distribution factor of every individual converter only needs to control one target, achieving the independent control of NP potential and ZSCCs. Theoretical analysis shows that NP potential balancing and ZSCCs suppression can be achieved simultaneously in two parallel 3LT2Cs. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed strategy is verified by experimental results.
Combination of STOP-Bang Score with Mallampati Score fails to improve specificity in the prediction of sleep-disordered breathing.

BACKGROUND Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is closely associated with perioperative complications. STOP-Bang score was validated for preoperative screening of SDB. However, STOP-Bang Score lacks adequately high specificity. We aimed to improve it by combining it with the Mallampati Score. METHODS The study included 347 patients, in which we assessed both STOP-Bang and Mallampati scores. Overnight oxygen saturation was measured to calculate ODI4%. We calculated the sensitivity and specificity for AHI and ODI4% of both scores separately and in combination. RESULTS We found that STOP-Bang Score ≥3 was present in 71%, ODI≥5/h (AHI ≥5/h) in 42.6% (39.3%) and ODI≥15/h (AHI ≥15/h) in 13.5% (17.8%). For ODI4%≥5/h (AHI ≥5/h) we observed in men a response rate for sensitivity and specificity of STOP-Bang of 94.5% and 17.1% (90.9% and 12.5%) and in women 66% and 51% (57.8% and 46.9%). For ODI4%≥15/h (AHI≥15/h) it was 92% and 12% (84.6% and 10.3%) and 93% and 49% (75% and 49.2%). For ODI4%≥5 (AHI≥5) sensitivity and specificity of Mallampati score were in men 38.4% and 78.6% (27.3% and 68.2%) and in women 25% and 82.7% (21.9% and 81.3%), for ODI≥15 (AHI ≥15/h) 38.5% and 71.8% (26.9% and 69.2%) and 33.3% and 81.4% (17.9% and 79.6%). In combination, for ODI4%≥15/h, we found sensitivity in men to be 92.3% and in women 93.3%, specificity 10.3% and 41.4%. CONCLUSIONS STOP-Bang Score combined with Mallampati Score fails to increase specificity. Low specificity should be considered when using both scores for preoperative screening of SDB.
[Prevalence of hyperglycemia and related factors among rural adults aged 35 years old and above in Yuhuan County, Zhejiang Province].

OBJECTIVE To describe the prevalence of hyperglycemia among rural adults aged 35 years old and above in Yuhuan, China. METHOD A cross-sectional study was carried out as a baseline study of Rural Yuhuan Health Population Cohort in all communities in Yuhuan County, Zhejiang Province, China. A total of 125 479 subjects aged 35 years old or above participated in this study to collect the general demographics and measure hypertension, fast glucose and etc. In SPSS 16.0, non-conditional Logistic regression model was used for related factors analysis. RESULT Among 118 274 eligible subjects, the average fasting glucose was (5.4 ± 1.8) mmol/L and the average for men was higher than that for women. The crude prevalences of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose and hyperglycemia were 10.1%, 19.4% and 29.5%(the age and sex standardized one was 9.3%, 19.8% and 29.1%), respectively. There were significant gender differences in both the average level of fasting glucose and the prevalence of hyperglycemia (P < 0. 001). The prevalences of hyperglycemia varied statistically over different age groups from 19.9% in the lowest group of 35 - 39 years old to 36.4% in the highest group of 60 - 64 years old. In the non-conditional logistic regression model, age, sex, farmer, regular exercise, smoking, alcohol drinking and body mass index were related to hyperglycemia after the adjustment of other covariates. CONCLUSION Hyperglycemia was common in adults aged 35 years old and above living in rural China.
Regulation of the catechol 1,2-dioxygenase- and phenol monooxygenase-encoding pheBA operon in Pseudomonas putida PaW85

In Pseudomonas putida PaW85, the ortho-cleavage pathway is used for catechol degradation. The 11.4-kb XhoI fragment cloned from phenol degradation plasmid pEST1226 into pKT240 (recombinant plasmid pAT1140) contains the inducible pheBA operon that encodes catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (gene pheB) and phenol monooxygenase (gene pheA), the first two enzymes for the phenol degradation pathway. The promoter of the pheBA operon is mapped 1.5 kb upstream of the pheB gene. The plasmid pAT1140, when introduced into P. putida PaW85, enables the bacteria to use the hybrid plasmid-chromosome-encoded pathway for phenol degradation. The synthesis of the plasmid-encoded phenol monooxygenase and catechol 1,2-dioxygenase is induced by cis,cis-muconate. The expression studies of the deletion subclones derived from pAT1140 revealed that the transcription of the pheBA operon is positively controlled by a regulatory protein that is chromosomally encoded in P. putida. cis,cis-Muconate in cooperation with positive transcription factor CatR activates the transcription of the chromosomal ortho-pathway genes catA and catBC in P. putida (R. K. Rothmel, T. L. Aldrich, J. E. Houghton, W. M. Coco, L. N. Ornston, and A. M. Chakrabarty, J. Bacteriol. 172:922-931, 1990). The inability to express the pheBA operon in a P. putida CatR- background and activation of transcription of the pheBA operon in Escherichia coli in the presence of the catR-expressing plasmid demonstrated that the transcription of the pheBA operon in P. putida PaW85 carrying pEST1226 is controlled by the chromosomally encoded CatR.
Nitric oxide–cGMP–protein kinase G pathway negatively regulates vascular transient receptor potential channel TRPC6

We investigated the inhibitory role of the nitric oxide (NO)–cGMP–protein kinase G (PKG) pathway on receptor‐activated TRPC6 channels in both a heterologous expression system (HEK293 cells) and A7r5 vascular myocytes. Cationic currents due to TRPC6 expression were strongly suppressed (by ∼70%) by a NO donor SNAP (100 μm) whether it was applied prior to muscarinic receptor stimulation with carbachol (CCh; 100 μm) or after G‐protein activation with intracellular perfusion of GTPγS (100 μm). A similar extent of suppression was also observed with a membrane‐permeable analogue of cGMP, 8Br‐cGMP (100 μm). The inhibitory effects of SNAP and 8Br‐cGMP on TRPC6 channel currents were strongly attenuated by the presence of inhibitors for guanylyl cyclase and PKG such as ODQ, KT5823 and DT3. Alanine substitution for the PKG phosphorylation candidate site at T69 but not at other sites (T14A, S28A, T193A, S321A) of TRPC6 similarly attenuated the inhibitory effects of SNAP and 8Br‐cGMP. SNAP also significantly reduced single TRPC6 channel activity recorded in the inside‐out configuration in a PKG‐dependent manner. SNAP‐induced PKG activation stimulated the incorporation of 32P into wild‐type and S321A‐mutant TRPC6 proteins immunoprecipitated by TRPC6‐specific antibody, but this was greatly attenuated in the T69A mutant. SNAP or 8Br‐cGMP strongly suppressed TRPC6‐like cation currents and membrane depolarization evoked by Arg8‐vasopressin in A7r5 myocytes. These results strongly suggest that TRPC6 channels can be negatively regulated by the NO–cGMP–PKG pathway, probably via T69 phosphorylation of the N‐terminal. This mechanism may be physiologically important in vascular tissues where NO is constantly released from vascular endothelial cells or nitrergic nerves.
A fault tolerant sliding mode controller for accommodating actuator failures.

This paper addresses the actuator failure compensation problem, and considers an uncertain linear plant which is supposed to undergo unknown failures causing the plant input components to be stuck at some uncertain but bounded time functions. A control policy, based on sliding mode, is presented, which guarantees the detection of the fault and the identification of the failed component by means of a suitable test input. Once the failed component has been identified, the control law is reconfigured, redistributing the control activity among the controllers still working. The proposed controller has been tested by simulation on a benchmark problem.
Near Convex Region Adjacency Graph and Approximate Neighborhood String Matching for Symbol Spotting in Graphical Documents

This paper deals with a sub graph matching problem in Region Adjacency Graph (RAG) applied to symbol spotting in graphical documents. RAG is a very important, efficient and natural way of representing graphical information with a graph but this is limited to cases where the information is well defined with perfectly delineated regions. What if the information we are interested in is not confined within well defined regions? This paper addresses this particular problem and solves it by defining near convex grouping of oriented line segments which results in near convex regions. Pure convexity imposes hard constraints and can not handle all the cases efficiently. Hence to solve this problem we have defined a new type of convexity of regions, which allows convex regions to have concavity to some extend. We call this kind of regions Near Convex Regions (NCRs). These NCRs are then used to create the Near Convex Region Adjacency Graph (NCRAG) and with this representation we have formulated the problem of symbol spotting in graphical documents as a sub graph matching problem. For sub graph matching we have used the Approximate Edit Distance Algorithm (AEDA) on the neighborhood string, which starts working after finding a key node in the input or target graph and iteratively identifies similar nodes of the query graph in the neighborhood of the key node. The experiments are performed on artificial, real and distorted datasets.
Sucrose uptake and compartmentation in sugar beet taproot tissue.

Active sucrose uptake by discs of mature sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. cv GW-D2 and USH-20) root tissue shows a biphasic dependence on external sucrose. At concentrations up to 20 millimolar sucrose, the active uptake mechanism appears to approach saturation, with an apparent K(m) of 3.6 millimolar. At higher external sucrose concentrations, a linear dependence becomes obvious indicating the probable presence of a nonsaturable, metabolically dependent uptake component. Active transport was not observed at external sucrose concentrations that caused tissue plasmolysis. Passive sucrose uptake in unplasmolyzed tissue showed a linear dependence on external sucrose concentration. The mitochondrial and/or suspected vacuolar ATPase inhibitors oligomycin, diethylstilbestrol, and N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide strongly inhibited active sucrose uptake, whereas the putative plasmalemma-specific ATPase inhibitor orthovanadate was without effect.Sucrose efflux patterns from root discs indicated three distinct sucrose compartments having efflux kinetics consistent with those for cell wall, cytoplasm, and vacuole with the vacuole being the slowest releasing compartment. The sucrose contents and volumes of the compartments indicated that sucrose uptake into the vacuole was against a concentration gradient. Combined sucrose uptake/efflux analyses indicated that sucrose uptake into the vacuole is primarily an active transport process while transport into the cytoplasm is apparently passive, at least at external sucrose concentrations above 20 millimolar. We discuss the possibility that active sucrose uptake into the vacuoles of sugar beet storage cells is rate limited by passive sucrose transport to the active uptake site.
Peakedness Effects in Near-Nadir Radar Observations of the Sea Surface

The simulation and interpretation of microwave sea radar return in the near-nadir region are still issues in view of the limitations of the geometrical optics approximation and the multiscale and non-Gaussian nature of the surface. We show that an unambiguous and fully consistent physical approach can be reached in the framework of the physical optics. The model is developed on the basis of various satellite and airborne C-, Ku-, and Ka-band measurements using different reference surface roughness spectra. As found, the introduction of a peakedness correction based upon the excess kurtosis of slopes is necessary to obtain consistent analysis across the microwave frequency range. The model yields accurate simulations for the omnidirectional near-nadir normalized radar cross section in different frequency bands, provided the spectrum satisfies some a priori constraints on the distribution of the total and filtered slopes.
Parent-adolescent communication and sexual risk behaviors among African American adolescent females.

OBJECTIVE To examine associations between parent-adolescent communication about sex-related topics and the sex-related communication and practices of African American adolescent females with partners, as well as their perceived ability to negotiate safer sex. DESIGN A theory-guided survey and structured interview were administered to 522 sexually active African American females 14 to 18 years old. Recruitment sites were neighborhoods with high rates of unemployment, substance abuse, violence, and sexually transmitted diseases. Multivariate analyses, controlling for observed covariates, were used to identify the association of less frequent parent-adolescent communication with multiple assessed outcomes. RESULTS Less frequent parent-adolescent communication (scores below the median) was associated with adolescents' non-use of contraceptives in the past 6 months (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.7) and non-use of contraceptives during the last 5 sexual encounters (AOR = 1.6). Less communication increased the odds of never using condoms in the past month (AOR = 1.6), during the last 5 sexual encounters (AOR = 1.7), and at last intercourse (AOR = 1.7). Less communication was also associated with less communication between adolescents and their sex partners (AOR = 3.3) and lower self-efficacy to negotiate safer sex (AOR = 1.8). CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrate the importance of involving parents in human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy prevention efforts directed at female adolescents. Pediatricians and other clinicians can play an important role in facilitating parent-adolescent communication about sexual activity.
Mutations in DnaA protein suppress the growth arrest of acidic phospholipid‐deficient Escherichia coli cells

Cell growth arrests when the concentrations of anionic phospholipids drop below a critical level in Escherichia coli, with the insufficient amounts of acidic phospholipids adversely affecting the DnaA‐dependent initiation of DNA replication at the chromosomal origin (oriC). Mutations have been introduced into the carboxyl region of DnaA, including the portion identified as essential for productive in vitro DnaA‐acidic phospholipid interactions. Expression of DnaA proteins possessing certain small deletions or substituted amino acids restored growth to cells deficient in acidic phospholipids, whereas expression of wild‐type DnaA did not. The mutations include substitutions and deletions in the phospholipid‐interacting domain as well as some small deletions in the DNA‐binding domain of DnaA. Marker frequency analysis indicated that initiation of replication occurs at or near oriC in acidic phospholipid‐ deficient cells rescued by the expression of DnaA having a point mutation in the membrane‐binding domain, DnaA(L366K). Flow cytometry revealed that expression in wild‐type cells of plasmid‐borne DnaA(L366K) and DnaA(Δ363–367) reduced the frequency with which replication was initiated and disturbed the synchrony of initiations.
Anticandidal activity and biocompatibility of a rechargeable antifungal denture material.

OBJECTIVES Candida-associated denture stomatitis is a recurrent and debilitating oral mucosal disease. Development of anticandidal denture materials represents a promising strategy to manage this condition. We have previously shown that miconazole incorporated in methacrylic acid (MAA) copolymerized diurethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) denture materials has long-term anticandidal activity. In this study, we examined the ability of culture medium conditioned with drug-free- or miconazole-MAA-UDMA discs to prevent Candida infection in an in vitro oral epithelial cell/Candida albicans coculture system. MATERIALS AND METHODS Candida albicans (C. albicans)-induced OKF6/TERT-2 cell damage was quantified by the release of lactate dehydrogenase from epithelial cells, cytokine production was quantified using protein cytokine arrays, and the expression of C. albicans genes was measured by RT-qPCR. RESULTS Candida albicans had limited growth with altered expression levels of secreted aspartyl proteinase-2 and -5 in culture medium conditioned by miconazole-MAA-UDMA discs. Significantly, the ability of C. albicans to induce oral epithelial cell damage and trigger epithelial proinflammatory cytokine production was also inhibited by miconazole disc conditioned media. CONCLUSION Miconazole released from MAA-UDMA denture materials effectively prevents the development of candidal infection in an in vitro oral epithelial system. Further characterization of this drug-rechargeable denture material is warranted.
Impairment of natural killer (NK) cytotoxic activity in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection

In the present study, we evaluated the NK cell cytotoxic activity in a group of HCV‐infected individuals. Although the number of NK cells present in the peripheral blood of the HCV‐infected patients was comparable to non‐infected individuals, spontaneous NK cytotoxicity was four‐fold lower (P < 0.001) than in normal donors. This functional impairment was not overcome by depletion of adherent or B cells, and it was partially restored by short‐term (18 h) stimulation with IL‐2. However, long‐term stimulation (72 h) with this lymphokine induced activated killer cell (LAK) activity comparable to normal controls. The reduction in NK cytotoxic response does not seem to be due to soluble suppressive factors, since incubation of normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with infectious HCV serums for a 4‐h period does not affect NK spontaneous cytotoxic activity. Successful in vitro infection of PBMC with HCV infectious serum also resulted in an impairment of NK cytotoxicity, suggesting that altered NK function is associated with HCV infection and may be responsible, at least in part, for the chronicity of the infection.