Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary vascular steal in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

After pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, performed for relief of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, perfusion lung scans have frequently disclosed new perfusion defects in segments served by undissected pulmonary arteries. Our hypotheses were that these new postoperative defects occurred with great frequency and did not represent postoperative vessel occlusion. We retrospectively reviewed the preoperative and postoperative perfusion scans of 33 consecutive patients undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. New postoperative perfusion defects were noted in 23 of 33 patients. The incidence of new defects was increased tenfold in segments that had (1) normal preoperative angiographic findings, (2) normal preoperative radionuclide perfusion, and (3) not been entered at the time of surgery. Postoperative angiograms, available in 15 of 33 patients, documented the nonembolic, nonocclusive nature of the new perfusion scan defects. The most plausible alternate explanation for this previously undescribed finding is a redistribution of pulmonary arterial resistance induced by the thromboendarterectomy, namely, a pulmonary vascular "steal. "
Response of Biogenic Silica Production in Lake Baikal and Uranium Weathering Intensity in the Catchment Area to Global Climate Changes

Takuma Murakami1,6, Nagayoshi Katsuta2, Takejiro Takamatsu3, Masao Takano1, Koshi Yamamoto1, Toshio Nakamura4 and Takayoshi Kawai5 1Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, 2Faculty of Education, Gifu University, 3National Institute for Environmental Studies, 4Center for Chronological Research, Nagoya University, 5Association of International Research Initiative for Environmental Studies, 6Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Institute of Nature, Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Japan
Étude des effets endocriniens produits par les organochlorés en lien avec la carcinogenèse mammaire

92 Introduction. 93 Materials and methods . 94 Results. 97 Discussion. 100 Reference List . 103 Figure legends. 107 Table 1. Composition of the organochlorine mixture. 109 Table 2. Cell lines characteristics . 110 Chapitre 3. 115 Le p,p’-dichlorodiphényldichloroéthylène perturbe l’équilibre entre les voies de communication estrogéniques et androgéniques qui contrôlent la prolifération des cellules tumorales mammaires hormono-dépendantes . 115 Contribution . 116 Résumé. 117 Abstract. 120 Introduction. 121 Materials and methods . 122 Figure legends. 139 Conclusion générale. 150 Activités endocriniennes évaluées par l’activation d’un gène rapporteur . 150 Prolifération des lignées cellulaires hormonoet non hormono-dépendantes . 152 Mécanisme d’induction de la prolifération. 156 Perspectives . 159 Bibliographie . 161
Acetic acid iontophoresis for the treatment of insertional Achilles tendonitis

Posterior heel pain is a constellation of pathologies that may include retrocalcaneal bursitis, insertional tendonitis, paratenonitis and tendonosis among others.1 The diagnosis of insertional Achilles tendonitis can be established clinically and radiographically and must be differentiated from retrocalcaneal bursitis and Haglund's deformity.2 Patients present clinically with chronic pain of gradual onset typically relieved when the patient is unshod and it may be painful to perform a single leg raise.3 ,4 Calcaneal exostoses of the Achilles tendon may be evident on radiograph. Exostoses composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) are exposed to the more chemically active acetate radical and replace the carbonate forming the blood soluble calcium acetate molecule (Ca(C3H3O2)2). 5 A treatment algorithm has been developed for posterior heel pain.3 Initial therapeutic modalities include physical therapy, orthotic management and anti-inflammatory medications.3 …
STUDY ON PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF PHENOL-FORMALDEHYDE-CHINESE FIR LIQUEFACTION COPOLYMER RESIN

A new zero-waste and zero-pollution composite adhesive labeled Chinese fir-based adhesive for exterior plywood was synthesized by blending alkaline Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) liquid with a small amount of phenol-formaldehyde (PF). The free phenol and free formaldehyde content of the Chinese fir-based adhesive were sharply decreased compared to normal PF resin by more than 50%. The synthetic adhesive show with excellent water resistance and environmental friendliness, which had a 28h boil-dry-boil wet bonding strength of 1,73MPa according to standard JIS K6806-2003 and a formaldehyde emission of 0,045mg/L according to standard JIS A1460-2003. The structural properties and their thermal properties of cured adhesives were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The FT-IR analysis confirmed the expected chemical structure as the Chinese fir liquid reacted with formaldehyde and phenol which occurred at the wavenumbers of 1733, 1698, 1652cm-1 and 1077, 1048 cm-1. Although the DSC results indicated that the Chinese fir-based adhesive's curing need higher temperature than the control PF resin, the higher curing temperature hardly cripple the availability of Chinese fir-based resin in the plywood production.
Polistes wasps and their social parasites: an overview

Cervo, R. 2006: Polistes wasps and their social parasites: an overview. — Ann. Zool. Fennici 43: 531–549. Severe brood care costs have favoured the evolution of cheaters that exploit the parental services of conspecifics or even heterospecifics in both birds and social insects. In Polistes paper wasps, three species have lost worker castes and are dependent on hosts to produce their sexuals, while other species use hosts facultatively as an alternative to caring for their own brood. This paper offers an overview of the adaptations, strategies and tricks used by Polistes social parasites to successfully enter and exploit host social systems. Moreover, it also focuses on the analogous solutions adopted by the well-known brood parasite birds, and stresses the evolutionary convergence between these two phylogenetically distant taxa. A comparative analysis of life-history patterns, as well as of phylogenetic relationships of living facultative and obligate parasitic species in Polistes wasps, has suggested a historical framework for the evolution of social parasitism in this group. As with avian brood parasites, the analysis of adaptation and counter adaptation dynamics should direct the future approach for the study of social parasitism in Polistes wasps. The Polistes parasite–host system seems a suitable candidate for a model system in coevolutionary arms race studies, just as Polistes paper wasps have been considered for many years a model organism for sociobiological studies.
Massive intraabdominal bleeding due to a retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma

Retroperitoneal leiomyosarcomas are rare and show a tendency toward large size, cystic degeneration, bleeding, and extensions by infiltration to the adjacent structures. An unusual case of a retroperitoneal cystic leiomyosarcoma with massive intraabdominal bleeding is presented.
Snipper, an Eri1 homologue, affects histone mRNA abundance and is crucial for normal Drosophila melanogaster development

The conserved 3′–5′ RNA exonuclease ERI1 is implicated in RNA interference inhibition, 5.8S rRNA maturation and histone mRNA maturation and turnover. The single ERI1 homologue in Drosophila melanogaster Snipper (Snp) is a 3′–5′ exonuclease, but its in vivo function remains elusive. Here, we report Snp requirement for normal Drosophila development, since its perturbation leads to larval arrest and tissue‐specific downregulation results in abnormal tissue development. Additionally, Snp directly interacts with histone mRNA, and its depletion results in drastic reduction in histone transcript levels. We propose that Snp protects the 3′‐ends of histone mRNAs and upon its absence, histone transcripts are readily degraded. This in turn may lead to cell cycle delay or arrest, causing growth arrest and developmental perturbations.
Paternal alcohol exposure affects sperm cytosine methyltransferase messenger RNA levels.

BACKGROUND Although paternal alcohol exposure has been shown to affect the growth and behavior of offspring, the mechanisms underlying these effects still remain to be elucidated. This study examines one possible mechanism, namely, altered genomic imprinting as reflected by changes in sperm cytosine methyltransferase messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. METHODS Male rats were treated with alcohol for 9 weeks before breeding. Resulting fetuses were counted and weighed, and paternal sperm was examined for changes in cytosine methyltransferase mRNA levels. RESULTS Alcohol did not affect mating, fecundity, or litter size, but it did result in significantly decreased mean fetal weight, increased fetal runt incidence in offspring, and decreased cytosine methyltransferase mRNA levels in paternal sperm, compared with pair-fed and ad libitum controls. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol-induced reductions in cytosine methyltransferase mRNA levels may reflect altered genomic imprinting caused by reduced DNA methylation, which, in turn, may lead to the expression of normally silent paternal alleles and may be a mechanism for paternal alcohol effects.
Imaging techniques in Parkinson's disease

Our understanding of the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been based largely on studies of postmortem brain tissue, and on observations of animal models. Although x-ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging have made it possible to correlate in vivo anatomical abnormalities with disease processes, these structural neuroimaging techniques have thus far contributed little to our knowledge of PD, for which the changes within the brain relate more to neurochemistry and function than to structure. With the development of positron emission tomography (PET) has come the ability to study cerebral function, on a regional basis, with anatomical resolution sufficient to separate major subcortical structures such as the thalamus, caudate, and putamen. PET is a quantitative imaging technique that permits regional measurement of radioactivity after the administration of positron-emitting isotopes. By using appropriately labeled compounds, a tomographic section corresponding to an image of regional radioactivity in the brain may be reconstructed. The distribution of radioactivity depends on the tracer compound administered and on local cerebral physiological and biochemical processes, which may then be quantified by applying the principles of tracer kinetic analysis. Quantifiable processes that have been studied by PET include regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and blood volume, and metabolism of oxygen (rCMRO,) and glucose (rCMRG). The major energy-consuming process in the brain is that of the ion transport mechanisms that maintain the electrochemical gradients necessary for the generation of action potentials. The mapping of rCMRO, or rCMRG with PET, therefore, provides an image of functional (i.e., energy-consuming) brain activity. Because rCBF is thought to be closely coupled to tissue metabolic demands, mapping of rCBF provides a similar image of brain function. In addition, it is now possible to assess abnormalities
Reverse Methanogenesis: Testing the Hypothesis with Environmental Genomics

Microbial methane consumption in anoxic sediments significantly impacts the global environment by reducing the flux of greenhouse gases from ocean to atmosphere. Despite its significance, the biological mechanisms controlling anaerobic methane oxidation are not well characterized. One current model suggests that relatives of methane-producing Archaea developed the capacity to reverse methanogenesis and thereby to consume methane to produce cellular carbon and energy. We report here a test of the “reverse-methanogenesis” hypothesis by genomic analyses of methane-oxidizing Archaea from deep-sea sediments. Our results show that nearly all genes typically associated with methane production are present in one specific group of archaeal methanotrophs. These genome-based observations support previous hypotheses and provide an informed foundation for metabolic modeling of anaerobic methane oxidation.
The significance of fibrinolysis occurring in patients with metastatic cancer of the prostate

t HAVE RECENTLY REPORTED observations W ot fibrinolysis occurring in two patients with metastatic cancer of the prostate. In these two patients the presence of fibrinolysis was associated with hemorrhagic manifestations. It was postulated that the enzyme responsible for fibrinolysis in these two patients originated in the prostatic cancer tissue from which it was released into the blood stream. " This paper presents additional instances of the occurrence of fibrinolysis in patients with metastatic cancer of the prostate, as well as studies of the prothrombin time (one stage) and fibrinogen levels in the plasma of these patients. Evidence will also be presented indicating that the prostatic cancer tissue contains large amounts of a proteolytic enzyme similar to that tound in the blood of such patients. This is true whether the cancer tissue is obtained from the primary tumor or from the metastases.
Long-term effect of interferon-α combined with homoharringtonine on chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase

Abstract To evaluate the efficacy of interferon-α (IFN-α) combined with homoharringtonine (HHT) in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), an IFN-α combined with HHT scheme was used as induction and maintenance therapy for 42 patients with CML in chronic phase. Thirty-five patients treated with IFN-α alone were used as the control group. It was found that the cytogenetic response rate and estimated 2-year survival rate were higher in the IFN-α + HHT group than in the IFN-α group (52.4% vs. 28.6% and 90% vs. 73%, respectively). No grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicity, severe infections, hemorrhage or non-hematological adverse reactions were observed. From this research it can be concluded that an IFN-α combined with HHT scheme is safe and effective for CML induction and long-term maintenance therapy. It may be a good choice for patients with CML who cannot accept a hematopoietic stem cell transplant and imatinib or who fail IFN-α therapy.
Requirement of IL-17 Receptor Signaling in Radiation-Resistant Cells in the Joint for Full Progression of Destructive Synovitis1

IL-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine suspected to be involved in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. In the present study, we report that IL-17R signaling is required in radiation-resistant cells in the joint for full progression of chronic synovitis and bone erosion. Repeated injections of Gram-positive bacterial cell wall fragments (streptococcal cell wall) directly into the knee joint of naive IL-17R-deficient (IL-17R−/−) mice had no effect on the acute phase of arthritis but prevented progression to chronic destructive synovitis as was noted in wild-type (wt) mice. Microarray analysis revealed significant down-regulation of leukocyte-specific chemokines, selectins, cytokines, and collagenase-3 in the synovium of IL-17R−/− mice. Bone marrow (BM) chimeric mice revealed the need for IL-17R expression on radiation-resistant joint cells for destructive inflammation. Chimeric mice of host wt and donor IL-17R−/− BM cells developed destructive synovitis in this chronic reactivated streptococcal cell wall arthritis model similar to wt→wt chimeras. In contrast, chimeric mice of host IL-17R−/− and donor wt BM cells were protected from chronic destructive arthritis similar as IL-17R−/−→IL-17R−/− chimeras. These data strongly indicate that IL-17R signaling in radiation-resistant cells in the joint is required for turning an acute macrophage-mediated inflammation into a chronic destructive synovitis.
Performance Analysis and Design of (3,&#961;) &#8212; Regular Quasi Cyclic LDPC Codes

In this paper we construct a novel family of (3,rho)-regular quasi-cyclic (QC) low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, derived from permutation theorem for Latin squares, when used over binary input additive white Gaussian noise (BIAWGN) channel. The codes have high code rate, girth absence of 4, good minimum distance, and sparse parity check matrices. They are designed to perform well when iteratively decoding with sum-product decoding algorithm and to allow low complexity encoding
Impact of Diagnosis Disclosure on Adolescents with Borderline Personality Disorder.

OBJECTIVE Establishing a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in adolescents is often met with controversy, in part, due to potential stigmatizing effects. We wished to explore the adolescent patient experience of being diagnosed with BPD. METHOD The Impact of Diagnosis Scale (IODS) is a self-report measure we developed with questions targeting patients' subjective experience of receiving a diagnosis of BPD. The IODS was administered to 23 adolescents approximately one month after a diagnosis of BPD had been disclosed to them. RESULTS Twenty-one participants had analyzable data. The internal consistency of the measure demonstrated Cronbach's alpha of 0.66. We found wide variability in responses. Patients tended to view the diagnosis as an accurate representation of their symptoms. CONCLUSION The IODS represents a novel means by which clinicians might better appreciate how disclosing the diagnosis of BPD may impact a patient's understanding of one's difficulties.
Effects of inhalational anaesthetics in experimental allergic asthma

We evaluated whether isoflurane, halothane and sevoflurane attenuate the inflammatory response and improve lung morphofunction in experimental asthma. Fifty‐six BALB/c mice were sensitised and challenged with ovalbumin and anaesthetised with isoflurane, halothane, sevoflurane or pentobarbital sodium for one hour. Lung mechanics and histology were evaluated. Gene expression of pro‐inflammatory (tumour necrosis factor‐α), pro‐fibrogenic (transforming growth factor‐β) and pro‐angiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor) mediators, as well as oxidative process modulators, were analysed. These modulators included nuclear factor erythroid‐2 related factor 2, sirtuin, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Isoflurane, halothane and sevoflurane reduced airway resistance, static lung elastance and atelectasis when compared with pentobarbital sodium. Sevoflurane minimised bronchoconstriction and cell infiltration, and decreased tumour necrosis factor‐α, transforming growth factor‐β, vascular endothelial growth factor, sirtuin, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, while increasing nuclear factor erythroid‐2‐related factor 2 expression. Sevoflurane down‐regulated inflammatory, fibrogenic and angiogenic mediators, and modulated oxidant–antioxidant imbalance, improving lung function in this model of asthma.
Phlebography in Varicocele Scroti

The veins of the spermatic cord are abnormally wide and tortuous in both primary and secondary varicocele. The primary form is by far the more common; among the causes of secondary varicocele are renal tumor (SPITTEL et coIl. 1959), hydronephrosis (WHITE 1914), aberrant renal artery (CAMPBELL 1944), and arching of the spermatic artery over the renal vein (NOTKOVICH 1955). The pathogenesis of primary variococele has not been clarified. BRODNY et coIl. (1955) stated that it most often starts at puberty and occurs in about 10 % of the male population, on the left side in about 90 %, bilaterally in 8 % and on the right side in 2 % of these. The clinical importance and treatment of the condition as well as the pathogenesis are dealt with in another report by the present authors (FRITjOFSSON et coll.). The scrotal veins may be considered as lying in two groups: a deep group and a surface network group (JAVERT & CLARK 1944). The deep system comprises the pampiniform plexus, the internal and external spermatic veins and the ductus deferens veins. The pampiniform plexus consists of a network of veins which originate in the testis and epididymis; it is drained by the three aforementioned larger vessels. The internal spermatic vein passes through the
Combination of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin is an effective second-line therapy for patients with relapsed testicular germ cell tumors.

PURPOSE The efficacy of paclitaxel was evaluated in combination with ifosfamide and cisplatin as second-line chemotherapy for patients with relapsed testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs). PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-six patients with progressive metastatic GCTs were treated with paclitaxel and ifosfamide plus cisplatin (TIP) as second-line therapy. Eligibility required that patients have both a testis primary tumor site and a prior complete response (CR) to a first-line chemotherapy program, which had been identified previously as favorable prognostic factors to conventional-dose salvage chemotherapy. RESULTS Thirty-two (70%) of 46 patients achieved a CR to treatment. Three patients (7%) who achieved a CR relapsed after TIP chemotherapy. Twenty-nine patients are continuously disease free at a median follow-up time of 69 months, resulting in a 63% durable CR rate and a 2-year progression-free survival rate of 65% (95% CI, 51% to 79%). CONCLUSION Four cycles of TIP as second-line therapy achieved a durable CR rate in a high proportion of patients with relapsed testicular GCT. The high CR rate emphasizes the importance of patient selection according to prognostic factors to achieve a favorable outcome to conventional-dose salvage therapy.
Ossifying fibromyxoid tumor of the retroperitoneum

A case of ossifying fibromyxoid tumor (OFMT) in an unusual site, the retroperitoneum, in a 71 year old Japanese man Is reported. The well demarcated tumor contained a large amount of mature bony tissue within the tumor. The tumor cells were round to spindle‐shaped, and showed a high cellularity in some areas and were loosely arranged in other areas. Although the majority of tumor cells expressed vimentin, neuron specific enolase and Leu‐7, there were no tumor cells positive for S‐100 protein, myogenic or epithelial markers. We would like to emphasize that tumors classified as OFMT contain a wide spectrum of histologic features and heterogeneity.
What Should a Support Program for People with Lung Cancer Look Like? Differing Attitudes of Patients and Support Group Facilitators

Introduction: Patients with lung cancer have higher levels of unmet need for psychosocial support than those with other cancers. However, uptake of existing support programs by patients with lung cancer is low. We explored this issue by seeking the views of patients and support group facilitators. Methods: Surveys of a convenience sample of 100 patients with lung cancer and all support group facilitators registered with Cancer Council Victoria (n = 145) were performed. Respondents were asked about preferred content, location, running, and potential barriers to attendance of a lung cancer support program. Results: The response rate from facilitators was 51%. Fifty-three percent of patients reported willingness to attend a support program, although only 12% had previously attended a group. Patients showed a preference for any program to be held at a hospital (p = 0.01), whereas facilitators preferred a community setting (p < 0.001). Patients preferred facilitation by a health professional, rather than a volunteer p < 0.001), whereas facilitators preferred a volunteer. Patients preferred sessions primarily focused on cancer information provision rather than emotional support, whereas facilitators rated emotional support as highly as cancer information. Overall, patients perceived fewer barriers to attendance than facilitators. Both agreed that a group environment, discussing their cancer, parking, and travel were barriers to attendance. Conclusions: Disparities in the views of patients and facilitators about the preferred location, type of facilitator, and content of a support program may in part explain the poor uptake of existing support programs by patients with lung cancer and should be considered in the design of future programs.