Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Medullary sponge kidney associated with congenital hemihypertrophy (asymmetry). A case report and survey of the literature.

The concomitant occurrence of medullary sponge kidney and hemihypertrophy (asymmetry) appears to be a rare event. A case is reported and added to 5 previous cases found in the literature.The precise etiologies of these disorders are unknown; however, both are suspected of being congenital in origin, arising during embryonic development, and representing mesodermal dysgenesis.
Transient trimethylaminuria in childhood

Trimethylaminuria, also called fish‐odour syndrome, is an inherited disorder caused by deficient N‐oxidation and increased excretion of trimethylamine. This study reports on two unrelated and otherwise healthy children with transient trimethylaminuria, a hitherto unknown abnormality, without N‐oxidation deficiency. This demonstrates that a diagnosis offish‐odour syndrome should include the analysis of urinary excretion not only of trimethylamine but also of trimethylamine‐N‐oxide. Since transient trimethylaminuria may be a common condition and no cause for it can presently be recognized, such patients will require careful follow‐up.
Antigenic Profile of Avian H5N1 Viruses in Asia from 2002 to 2007

ABSTRACT Antigenic profiles of post-2002 H5N1 viruses representing major genetic clades and various geographic sources were investigated using a panel of 17 monoclonal antibodies raised from five H5N1 strains. Four antigenic groups from seven clades of H5N1 virus were distinguished and characterized based on their cross-reactivity to the monoclonal antibodies in hemagglutination inhibition and cell-based neutralization assays. Genetic polymorphisms associated with the variation of antigenicity of H5N1 strains were identified and further verified in antigenic analysis with recombinant H5N1 viruses carrying specific mutations in the hemagglutinin protein. Modification of some of these genetic variations produced marked improvement to the immunogenicity and cross-reactivity of H5N1 strains in assays utilizing monoclonal antibodies and ferret antisera raised against clade 1 and 2 H5N1 viruses, suggesting that these sites represent antigenically significant amino acids. These results provide a comprehensive antigenic profile for H5N1 virus strains circulating in recent years and will facilitate the recognition of emerging antigenic variants of H5N1 virus and aid in the selection of vaccine strains.
ALK Rearrangements Are Mutually Exclusive with Mutations in EGFR or KRAS: An Analysis of 1,683 Patients with Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements define a distinct molecular subset of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Recently, several case reports and small series have reported that ALK rearrangements can overlap with other oncogenic drivers in NSCLC in crizotinib-naïve and crizotinib-resistant cancers. Experimental Design: We reviewed clinical genotyping data from 1,683 patients with NSCLC and investigated the prevalence of concomitant EGFR or KRAS mutations among patients with ALK-positive NSCLC. We also examined biopsy specimens from 34 patients with ALK-positive NSCLC after the development of resistance to crizotinib. Results: Screening identified 301 (17.8%) EGFR mutations, 465 (27.6%) KRAS mutations, and 75 (4.4%) ALK rearrangements. EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements were mutually exclusive. Four patients with KRAS mutations were found to have abnormal ALK FISH patterns, most commonly involving isolated 5′ green probes. Sufficient tissue was available for confirmatory ALK immunohistochemistry in 3 cases, all of which were negative for ALK expression. Among patients with ALK-positive NSCLC who acquired resistance to crizotinib, repeat biopsy specimens were ALK FISH positive in 29 of 29 (100%) cases. Secondary mutations in the ALK kinase domain and ALK gene amplification were observed in 7 of 34 (20.6%) and 3 of 29 (10.3%) cases, respectively. No EGFR or KRAS mutations were identified among any of the 25 crizotinib-resistant, ALK-positive patients with sufficient tissue for testing. Conclusions: Functional ALK rearrangements were mutually exclusive with EGFR and KRAS mutations in a large Western patient population. This lack of overlap was also observed in ALK-positive cancers with acquired resistance to crizotinib. Clin Cancer Res; 19(15); 4273–81. ©2013 AACR.
JUDGMENT OF CONTINGENCY BETWEEN RESPONSES AND OUTCOMES.

Contingencies are different from commitments. It is the implied obligation that is expected to take place depending on the outcome of the future event. Hence, one can say that contingencies are those obligations that may or may not become liabilities to the company because of the uncertainty of the.Risk responses identified using contingent response strategy is called contingency plans. As per the PMBOK Guide Contingent Response is "Some responses are designed for use only if certain events occur. We execute these Risk contingency response plans only when certain events occur.
Probiotics for induction of remission in ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is an inflammatory condition affecting the colon with an incidence of approximately 10-20 per 100,000 per year. No existing intervention is effective in all patients with a proportion requiring colectomy. There are significant proportion of patients who experience adverse effects with current therapies. Consequently, new alternatives for the treatment of UC are constantly being sought. Probiotics are live microbial feed supplements that may beneficially affect the host by improving intestinal microbial balance, enhancing gut barrier function and improving local immune response. OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of probiotics compared with placebo or standard medical treatment (5-aminosalicylates, sulfasalazine or corticosteroids) for the induction of remission in active ulcerative colitis. SEARCH STRATEGY A comprehensive search for relevant randomised controlled trials (RCT's) was carried out using MEDLINE (1966-January 2006), EMBASE (January 1985- 2006) and CENTRAL. The Cochrane IBD/FBD Review Group Specialised Trials Registrar was also searched. The Australasian Medical Index, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Latin American Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and the Japan Information Centre of Science and Technology File on Science, Technology and Medicine (JICST-E) were also used to identify abstracts. Conference proceedings from the Falk Symposium, Digestive Disease Week (DDW) and the United European Digestive Disease week were hand-searched. Authors of relevant studies and drug companies were contacted regarding ongoing or unpublished trials that may be relevant to the review. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of probiotics compared to standard treatments in the induction of remission of active ulcerative colitis DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data for analysis. Data were analysed using RevMan 4.2. 7. A formal meta-analysis was not preformed due to differences in probiotics, outcomes and trial methodology. MAIN RESULTS None of the included studies reported any statistically significant differences in remission or clinical improvement rates between probiotic and placebo or active comparator groups. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Conventional therapy combined with a probiotic does not improve overall remission rates in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. However, there is limited evidence that probiotics added to standard therapy may provide modest benefits in terms of reduction of disease activity in patients with mild to moderately severe ulcerative colitis. Whether probiotics are as effective in patients with severe and more extensive disease and whether they can be used as an alternative to existing therapies is unknown. Further well designed, larger randomised controlled trials are needed to determine whether probiotics can be used as an alternative to current treatment modalities.
Analyseren in kwalitatief onderzoek - five years on

In deze rubriek worden zowel methodologieboeken besproken als onderzoeksrapportages, bij voorkeur van Nederlandstalige auteurs. Auteurs krijgen de gelegenheid om op de recensie te reageren. Op de website www.kwalon. nl worden regelmatig boeken ter recensie aangeboden. Wie een boek wil bespreken (al dan niet uit dat aanbod) kan zich richten tot redacteur Famke van Lieshout: f.vanlieshout@fontys.nl.
A pan-HER approach for cancer therapy: background, current status and future development

Background: The human EGF receptor (EGFR or HER) family and its cognate ligands contribute significantly to the aggressiveness of many human malignancies, and are therefore therapeutic targets with great clinical potential. Objective: Currently approved single-targeted agents, like mAbs, (e.g., trastuzumab, cetuximab, or pertuzumab) or small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs, e.g., gefinitib and erlotinib), are limited by their exquisite specificity (mAbs) or lack thereof (TKIs). Therefore, therapeutics are needed that target multiple HER family members and HER ligands to circumvent these limitations. Methods: We summarize therapeutic mechanisms of action, analyze tumor resistance to current anti-HER therapies, and introduce a novel pan-HER ligand sequestering agent for cancer treatment. Conclusion: RB200, a bispecific (EGFR/HER3) ligand binding trap, has been developed to address the need for a pan-HER therapy in human cancer.
Poster Abstract: Encrypted Malware Traffic Detection Using Incremental Learning

Even though the growing adoption of TLS protocol empowers web traffic to secure privacy, attackers also leverage the TLS to evade from detection, and this makes detecting threats from the encrypted traffic a crucial task. In this paper, we propose an effective encrypted malware traffic detection method that maintains sufficient performance level by periodic updates using machine learning. The proposed method employs incremental algorithms trained by 31 flow features from TLS, HTTP, and DNS. Experimental results show that the incremental Support Vector Machine with Stochastic Gradient Descent algorithm is suitable for the detection method amongst three algorithms, by off-line and on-line accuracy at a low false discovery rate.
Meningiomas of the Lateral Skull Base: Neurotologic Manifestations and Patterns of Recurrence

The eradication of basicranial meningiomas by traditional surgical techniques is often hindered by neoplastic entanglement with critical neurovascular structures. Apparent, complete tumor resection is frequently followed by extensive, yet clinically silent, recurrent disease with local infiltration of bone, cranial nerves, and brain. Fifty-five cases of sphenoid wing or parasellar meningioma were analyzed to identify clinical manifestations suggestive of early tumor recurrence. Regrowth patterns were then defined according to preoperative radiographic and intraoperative surgical findings. Medial tumor regrowth, involving the cavernous sinus, caused neurapraxia of cranial nerves III, IV, or VI, with associated diplopia or ophthalmoplegia. Inferior (caudal) regrowth of disease involved the infratemporal fossa, pterygomaxillary space, or paranasal sinuses by bony erosion of the middle cranial fossa floor or through natural anatomic foramina and fissures. Such inferior extension was manifested clinically by facial hypesthesia, trismus, and referred otalgia caused by trigeminal nerve involvement and by autophony or serous otitis media related to eustachian tube obstruction. Posterior tumor regrowth occurred along the petrous bone and horizontal carotid canal, resulting in internal auditory meatus erosion and cerebellopontine angle extension with associated tinnitus, hearing loss, unsteadiness, and occasional facial twitching. While the clinical and radiographic evaluations of any patient with a suspected recurrent basicranial meningioma are critical in planning the method and magnitude of reoperation, an understanding of potential recurrence patterns can be used in devising more extensive, combined approaches that may allow complete tumor extirpation at the initial surgical intervention.
SALICE project: Satellite-Assisted Localization and Communication Systems for Emergency Services

Restoring the connectivity in the emergency areas and providing NAV/COM services able to support and coordinate the rescue teams represent two of the main telecommunication needs for efficient emergency situation management. The SALICE (Satellite-Assisted LocalIzation and Communication system for Emergency services) Project aimed at identifying the system architecture and the most suitable solutions to be adopted in the future integrated reconfigurable NAV/COM systems and to analyze their feasibility in realistic emergency scenarios. The article analyzes the proposed strategies and the most significant project results in pursuing both the global coverage of the emergency areas and the development of a reconfigurable and cooperative NAV/COM system.
Themenmonitoring in Twitter aus der Perspektive des Issue Managements

3m5. Media GmbH, Dresden Communardo Software GmbH, Dresden GI-Regionalgruppe, Dresden FERCHAU Engineering GmbH, Dresden IBM, Dresden itsax.de | pludoni GmbH, Dresden Kontext E GmbH, Dresden objectFab GmbH, Dresden queo GmbH, Dresden Robotron Datenbank-Software GmbH, Dresden SALT Solutions GmbH, Dresden SAP AG, Resarch Center Dresden Saxonia Systems AG, Dresden T-Systems Multimedia Solutions GmbH, Dresden Transinsight GmbH, Dresden xima media GmbH, Dresden
Practical aspects of long-term treatment with lithium

There is no increase in the overall mortality of patients undergoing long-term lithium treatment compared with those receiving short-term treatment. Lithium causes a reduction in the incidence of suicide in patients suffering from manic depressive illness. Long-term treatment with lithium is more effective than treatment with imipramine or amitriptyline. Drug interactions may cause problems during long-term therapy with lithium. A reduction in plasma levels of lithium should be considered in stable patients on long-term prophylaxis. Discontinuation of therapy often results in a relapse. The toxicity of lithium is related to its effects on calcium transport.
Genome analysis of food-processing stressful-resistant probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BF052, and its potential application in fermented soymilk

In this study, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BF052 was demonstrated the growth capability in soymilk and could be thus supplemented as a probiotic starter that employed soymilk as one of its food vehicles. The complete genome sequence of BF052 was therefore determined to understand the genetic basis of BF052 as a technological and functional probiotic starter. The whole genome sequence of BF052 consists of a circular genome of 1938 624 bp with a G+C content of 60.50%. This research highlights relevant genes involving in its adaptive responses to industrial and/or environmental stresses and utilization of α-galacto-oligosaccharides in BF052 strain compared with other representative bifidobacterial genomes.
Effects of probe placement on tissue oxygenation levels during reflectance measurements for different types of tissues in a clinical setting

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) have been investigated as an alternate technique to tissue histopathology for the early detection of premalignant lesions in a wide variety of tissues. Spectroscopic techniques require a fiber optic probe to be kept in contact with a biological tissue at an optimal distance to illuminate and receive light during spectral measurements. This probe-contact pressure introduces artifacts in optical properties depending on the biological and morphological status of the tissue. The objective of this investigation is to study the effects of probe pressure on different types of tissues with varying anatomical structures on tissue oxygenation levels during reflectance measurements.
Alternative vascularization mechanisms in cancer: Pathology and therapeutic implications.

Although cancer cells are not generally controlled by normal regulatory mechanisms, tumor growth is highly dependent on the supply of oxygen, nutrients, and host-derived regulators. It is now established that tumor vasculature is not necessarily derived from endothelial cell sprouting; instead, cancer tissue can acquire its vasculature by co-option of pre-existing vessels, intussusceptive microvascular growth, postnatal vasculogenesis, glomeruloid angiogenesis, or vasculogenic mimicry. The best-known molecular pathway driving tumor vascularization is the hypoxia-adaptation mechanism. However, a broad and diverse spectrum of genetic aberrations is associated with the development of the "angiogenic phenotype. " Based on this knowledge, novel forms of antivascular modalities have been developed in the past decade. When applying these targeted therapies, the stage of tumor progression, the type of vascularization of the given cancer tissue, and the molecular machinery behind the vascularization process all need to be considered. A further challenge is finding the most appropriate combinations of antivascular therapies and standard radio- and chemotherapies. This review intends to integrate our recent knowledge in this field into a rational strategy that could be the basis for developing effective clinical modalities using antivascular therapy for cancer.
Glial‐derived arginine, the nitric oxide precursor, protects neurons from NMDA‐induced excitotoxicity

Excitotoxic neuronal cell death is characterized by an overactivation of glutamate receptors, in particular of the NMDA subtype, and the stimulation of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), which catalyses the formation of nitric oxide (NO) from l‐arginine (L‐Arg). At low L‐Arg concentrations, nNOS generates NO and superoxide (O2•–), favouring the production of the toxin peroxynitrite (ONOO–). Here we report that NMDA application for five minutes in the absence of added L‐Arg induces neuronal cell death, and that the presence of L‐Arg during NMDA application prevents cell loss by blocking O2•– and ONOO– formation and by inhibiting mitochondrial depolarization. Because L‐Arg is transferred from glial cells to neurons upon activation of glial glutamate receptors, we hypothesized that glial cells play an important modulator role in excitotoxicity by releasing L‐Arg. Indeed, as we further show, glial‐derived L‐Arg inhibits NMDA‐induced toxic radical formation, mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. Glial cells thus may protect neurons from excitotoxicity by supplying L‐Arg. This potential neuroprotective mechanism may lead to an alternative approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases involving excitotoxic processes, such as ischemia.
A soluble form of CD137 (ILA/4‐1BB), a member of the TNF receptor family, is released by activated lymphocytes and is detectable in sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

CD137 (ILA/4‐1BB) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family and regulates activation, proliferation and programmed cell death in T lymphocytes. Here we show the existence of a soluble form of CD137 (sCD137) of 16 kDa. sCD137 is released by activated lymphocytes, and in contrast to membrane‐bound CD137, expression of sCD137 seems to be restricted to lymphocytes. sCD137 is generated by alternative splicing and two splice variants were identified. sCD137 is present at low levels in sera of some healthy donors (5/12; mean = 0.18 ng/ml) and is significantly enhanced in sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (12/12; mean = 3.58 ng/ml).
Study of the lungs of fetal and newborn rabbits. Morphologic, biochemical, and surface physical development.

THE sTAIILrry of the lung depends primarily on the presence of surfactant. Saline extracts of minced lung and of tracheal lavage fluid form a surfactant film which exhibits low surface tension on compression of the surface and higher tension on expansion. When surfactant is defi-cient or inactivated, the resulting high surface tension at the end of ex-piration necessarily forces more air out of the lungs. Thus, atelectasis occurs.1 mg. lecithin) was added to the purified total lecithin and excess cold acetone (O° C.) added by drops until no more milky precipitate formed. After centrifugation, the supernatant was decanted into another tube. To the precipitated lecithin was added cold acetone (1 ml./mg.) and both tubes placed in the freezer (0O5° C.) overight The precipitates were collected the following day. Phosphorus determinations were done by the method of Bartlett.3 Each purified phospholipid was made up as 100 mg. /100 ml. of chloroform and an aliquot containing 25 tg. was gently layered on the surface of saline in the trough of a modified Wilhelmy balance. A purified phospholipid was considered surface-active if a minimum surface tension of 0-6 dynes/cm. was thus recorded.
Weak One-Dimensional Field Confinement Silica Waveguides

A novel weak one-dimensional field confinement silica waveguide (WCSW) with a large horizontal and vertical aspect ratio and low refractive index difference is proposed and fabricated via sol-gel technique. This new type of waveguide exhibits properties of high lithography tolerance, low polarization dependence, low propagation loss and low coupling loss with a single-mode fiber. More importantly, WCSW can provide extremely large evanescent field in vertical direction. The measured propagation loss and coupling loss are as low as 0.81 dB/cm and 0.71 dB/facet, respectively. In addition, high efficiency vertical coupling with a 1.9 μm gap between a WCSW bus waveguide and a WCSW based high Q (5.4 × 104) ring resonator is achieved, which demonstrates that vertical integration of WCSW is potentially applicable.
2 × 2 stacked patch array with corporate SIW feeding network

A linearly polarized 2×2 patch array fed by a corporate Substrate Integrated Waveguide network for Ku band is presented. The utilization of a corporate topology in the feeding network prevents the antenna from suffering an unintended main lobe tilt dispersion. Nevertheless, the inter-element spacing increases, and so does the Side-Lobe Level. Reducing this spacing implies closer discontinuities, such as bends and T-junctions. This degrades the reflection coefficient. Hence, a tradeoff solution has been designed and manufactured, achieving a Side-Lobe Level better than -11 dB and a measured bandwidth similar to the e×pected in the simulation stage, being 4.1 % at -10 dB. The measured gain reaches 13.27 dB, which corresponds to an 86% radiation efficiency.
Emerging experience with meningococcal serogroup B protein vaccines

ABSTRACT Introduction: The successful development of two broadly protective vaccines targeting Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB); 4CMenB and rLP2086, is the most significant recent advance in meningococcal disease prevention. Areas covered: Here we review the principles underlying the development of each vaccine and the novel methods used to estimate vaccine coverage. We update clinical and post-licensure experience with 4CMenB and rLP2086. Expert commentary: The immunogenicity and acceptable safety profile of 4CMenB and rLP2086 has been demonstrated in clinical trials. Continuing uncertainties exist around the appropriate age groups to be immunized, the degree and duration of efficacy, and the impact on nasopharyngeal carriage which has implications for strategies to interrupt transmission and maximize herd protection effects. Universal vaccination programs such as those undertaken in Quebec and the United Kingdom are providing important information on these issues. The potential for MenB vaccines to prevent infection by other serogroups appears promising, and the impact of MenB vaccines on other pathogenic neisserial species with similar surface proteins warrants further investigation.