Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sulfated polysaccharides identified as inducers of neuropilin-1 internalization and functional inhibition of VEGF165 and semaphorin3A.

Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) and NRP2 are cell surface receptors shared by class 3 semaphorins and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Ligand interaction with NRPs selects the specific signal transducer, plexins for semaphorins or VEGF receptors for VEGF, and promotes NRP internalization, which effectively shuts down receptor-mediated signaling by a second ligand. Here, we show that the sulfated polysaccharides dextran sulfate and fucoidan, but not others, reduce endothelial cell-surface levels of NRP1, NRP2, and to a lesser extent VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, and block the binding and in vitro function of semaphorin3A and VEGF(165). Administration of fucoidan to mice reduces VEGF(165)-induced angiogenesis and tumor neovascularization in vivo. We find that dextran sulfate and fucoidan can bridge the extracellular domain of NRP1 to that of the scavenger receptor expressed by endothelial cells I (SREC-I), and induce NRP1 and SREC-I coordinate internalization and trafficking to the lysosomes. Overexpression of SREC-I in SREC-I-negative cells specifically reduces cell-surface levels of NRP1, indicating that SREC-I mediates NRP1 internalization. These results demonstrate that engineered receptor internalization is an effective strategy for reducing levels and function of cell-surface receptors, and identify certain sulfated polysaccharides as "internalization inducers. "
Women Caregivers of Persons with Brain Tumour: A Psychosocial Needs Assessment in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangalore

The diagnosis of a brain tumour poses severe challenges to patients as well as their caregivers. As caregivers, women play an important role. However, most of the literature on brain tumours has failed to emphasise the invaluable services of women caregivers, and their psychosocial needs have been overlooked. The current study aims to highlight this neglected aspect. Thirty women caregivers were selected through purposive sampling and their needs were assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire under five heads such as, professional service needs, informational needs, psychological/emotional needs, personal and spiritual needs and social support needs. It was found that some of their needs were unmet, especially their psychological/emotional and informational needs. Thus, gender-specific interventions are recommended across neuro-oncological settings.
Facial cutaneous metastasis of colorectal adenocarcinoma

Facial cutaneous metastasis from carcinoma is a rare and late clinical finding that is associated with disseminated disease and a poor prognosis. Skin metastases predominantly originate from primary tumours of the lung and melanoma. Skin metastases from colon tumours occur in only 4–6.5% of cases of metastatic colorectal cancer. They are most often located on the abdominal skin. We present an unusual case in which a primary colorectal adenocarcinoma metastasised to the face. This cutaneous lesion occurred 4 years after diagnosis of the primary tumour. This case highlights the importance of prompt investigation of new or evolving skin lesions in patients with a history of malignancy. Early detection and initiation of treatment may prevent development of widespread skin metastases and extend life expectancy.
The effect of dietary supplementation in continuing-care elderly people: nutritional, anthropometric and biochemical parameters

The effectiveness of dietary supplementation for frail elderly subjects in continuing care was assessed by using nutritional measures of anthropometry and biochemistry and an 8-week period of nutritional supplementation. Of 20 recruits six died and the remaining subjects were divided into treatment and control groups. The treatment group were supplemented with a nutritionally complete drink. Build Up, 2 units daily, and up to 1500 k) daily from glucose polymer. Food intake was measured for 3 days at the start and end of the study using validated food-intake records. Significant differences were seen in anthropometric measures triceps skin fold thickness and arm muscle circumference in the supplemented cohort (P<0.05), but for no other anthropometric and biochemical measures. Glucose polymer intake varied greatly between individuals, range 539–1396 kJ, mean 931 kJ ± 113.7. Before supplementation dietary intake did not reach current recommendations for most nutrients, but after supplementation only vitamin D intake was inadequate. The study concludes a role exists for dietary supplementation in frail elderly, but further studies to outline benefits and optimum methods are required.
Radial basis function neural network with sliding mode control for robotic manipulators

In this paper, radial basis function network (RBFN) with sliding-mode controller (SMC) is designed to the joint position control of two-link robot manipulators for periodic motion and predefined trajectory tracking control. Radial basis function uses curve fitting mode to obtain the nonlinear mapping. The unavoidable learning procedure degrades its transient performance in the existence of disturbance. Sliding-mode control is effective in overcoming uncertainties and has a fast transient response, while the control effort is discontinuous and creates chattering. For this defect, a saturation function is utilized to improve it. The back-propagation (BP) algorithm and Lyapunov stability theorem are used to decide a suitable update law and sliding-mode switch gain, respectively. Thus, the satisfied performance will be obtained, which better than the controller with single RBFN controller, sliding mode controller. The simulated results of a two-link robotic manipulator for the joint frictions, changing link masses and adding external disturbances are provided to show that the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Adenocarcinoma of the lung presenting with atypical cystic brain lesions

Brain metastases occur in up to 10–30% of patients with cancer. Metastatic lesions are usually diagnosed as multiple mass lesions at the junction of the grey and white matter with associated perilesional vasogenic oedema. Cysticercosis is an endemic disease in underdeveloped countries of Africa, Central and South America and is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system. The classical radiological finding of neurocysticercosis is cystic lesions showing the scolex in the brain parenchyma. We report a case of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung presenting with cystic brain lesions mimicking neurocysticercosis.
Preoperative site marking for eye surgery may be transferred from patient to patient or moved, increasing the potential for wrong site surgery

It is often stated that atropine drops should not be used, or are contraindicated, in children with Down syndrome.1 2 Some authors have stated that the mydriatic and cycloplegic effects are overly prolonged,3 whereas others have expressed apprehension regarding potential systemic toxicity.2 4 No evidence exists, however, to support either of these concerns. It is plausible that previous investigators4 might have believed that the allegedly prolonged cycloplegic effect of atropine in Down syndrome patients could …
AirPiano: Enhancing music playing experience in virtual reality with mid-air haptic feedback

We present AirPiano, an enhanced music playing system to provide touchable experiences in HMD-based virtual reality with mid-air haptic feedback. AirPiano allows users to enjoy enriched virtual piano-playing experiences with touchable keys in the air. We implement two haptic rendering schemes to mimic the resisting force of piano keys using ultrasonic vibrations. Constant Feedback is designed to provide short and intense feedback whereas Adaptive Feedback is designed to follow the changes in feedback from a real keypress. A user study is conducted using three simple musical pieces. Results show that adding mid-air haptic rendering can significantly improve the user experience on the virtual piano. Adaptive Feedback further increases clarity, reality, enjoyment, and user satisfaction, when compared to circumstances in which no haptic feedback is being generated. Our design of AirPiano can shed light on the introduction of a touchable musical playing system in virtual reality with mid-air haptic feedback.
Patterned Growth algorithm using Hub-Averaging without pre-assigned weights

The concept of finding frequent itemsets without pre-assigned weights is of great importance in Association Rule Mining (ARM). The prime advantage of this approach is that weights can be derived from the dataset itself rather than being given by domain expert. The modification of Apriori algorithm for Weighted Association Rule Mining (WARM) without pre-assigned weights using HITS algorithm has been attempted in the past. However, drift effect is a major limitation of HITS algorithm. In this paper, a new approach HAP-Growth (Hub-Averaging Pattern-Growth) has been proposed for WARM without pre-assigned weights. HAP-Growth algorithm generates frequent itemsets using Hub-Averaging in conjunction with pattern tree approach. Performance of the proposed algorithm has been compared with HITS algorithm in conjunction with pattern tree approach and the existing algorithm. Experimental studies have been carried out on large number of synthetic datasets of varying sizes (generated using IBM Synthetic Data Generator) and real life datasets (taken from UCI Machine Learning Repository and other sources). It is observed that for large datasets, there is drastic reduction in the computational time for the proposed algorithm and at the same time drift effect is reduced to a great extent.
The effect of glasses on visual function following cataract surgery in a cataract camp

Aim: To investigate visual and functional impact of glasses following cataract surgery in a high-volume cataract camp as measured by the World Health Organization Prevention of Blindness Visual Function Questionnaire (WHO/PBD-VFQ-20). Method: Subjects were administered the WHO/PBD-VFQ three times: (1) preoperatively; (2) 3 months postoperatively, before glasses; and (3) 6 months postoperatively, after 3 months with glasses. Patients were given prescription glasses or +2.50 readers at the 3-month follow-up. Results: 315 patients enrolled in the study; 113 patients had complete WHO/PBD-VFQ and visual acuity data from all three administrations. The mean preoperative visual acuity in the surgical eye was 20/327. Following cataract surgery but before glasses, visual acuity improved to 20/57. Total WHO/PBD-VFQ and subscale scores improved significantly at the 3-month point. With glasses, visual acuity improved to 20/43. Total WHO/PBD-VFQ scores did not change following glasses, although the overall and near vision subscales did improve significantly. Glasses were worn once per week or less in 56% of patients. Conclusion: Postoperative glasses result in modest improvements in visual acuity. Total WHO/PBD-VFQ scores did not change significantly following glasses, but the overall and near vision subscales did improve. The net beneficial effect of glasses was small relative to cataract surgery itself.
Iron‐depletion limits intracellular bacterial growth in macrophages

Many intracellular pathogens are known to infect macrophages and these pathogens require iron for growth. Here we demonstrate in vitro that the intracellular growth of Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia trachomatis and Legionella pneumophila is regulated by the levels of intracellular iron. Macrophages that express cell surface ferroportin, the only known iron exporter, limit the intracellular growth of these bacteria. Hepcidin is an anti‐microbial peptide secreted by the liver in response to inflammation. Hepcidin binds to ferroportin mediating its internalization and degradation. Changes in ferroportin levels are of particular importance in macrophages as they are continually turning over red blood cells and thus acquiring iron. Addition of the exogenous hepcidin to infected macrophages enhanced the intracellular growth of these pathogens. Flatiron mouse macrophages, a mouse model of Ferroportin disease, showed enhanced intracellular bacterial growth independent of the presence of exogenous hepcidin. Macrophages, from wild type or flatiron mice, incubated with the oral iron chelators deferriprone or desferasirox showed reduced intracellular bacterial growth suggesting that these chelators might be therapeutic in chronic intracellular bacterial infections.
Ocular adnexal lymphoma. What is the evidence for an infectious aetiology?

Ocular adnexal lymphoma is classified as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the most common primary subtype of which is the low-grade extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the MALT type (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue). 1 MALT lymphomas were first recognised in 1983;2 they occur in tissues normally devoid of lymph nodes such as the skin, gastric mucosa, lung, thyroid and salivary gland.3 The incidence increases with age and is highest among Asians and Pacific Islanders.4 Since 1975, the incidence of ocular NHL has increased approximately 6% per year, and ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma is increasing more rapidly than MALT lymphoma at other sites.4 It is possible that this may be related to a new infectious aetiology. Many MALT lymphomas at non-ocular sites are associated with an infectious aetiology supporting the model of antigen-driven lymphomagenesis.3 An infection triggers chronic antigen stimulation of B cells and the production of antibodies; later, the proliferation of B cell clones becomes antigen-independent, and with uncontrolled proliferation, malignant transformation can occur.3 Borrelia burgdorferi and Campylobacter jejuni have been associated with marginal zone lymphoma of the skin and small intestine, respectively.5 6 However, the most frequently cited example is that of gastric MALT lymphoma where eradication of Helicobactor pylori, a cause of chronic gastritis, results in the resolution of early stage gastric MALT lymphoma.7 Interestingly, some extra-gastric, non-ocular MALT lymphomas have regressed following H pylori -eradicating antibiotic therapy.8 9 This finding led many to speculate that H pylori may have a role in ocular adnexal lymphoma. Although Ferreri and associates10 showed that H pylori antibiotic eradication was not effective treatment for ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma (OA MALT lymphoma), there is some published evidence for the role of H pylori in OAL. Chan et al …
Decompensated liver cirrhosis secondary to iron overload in non-blood transfusion dependent patients with sickle cell disease (SCD): report of two cases.

The prevalence of sickle cell disease (SCD) is high in the southwest region of Saudi Arabia. Liver involvement in patients with SCD represents a challenging medical problem in clinical practice and carrying a high morbidity and mortality rates. We reported two cases of young patients (19 year male and 22 year female), both of them were known to be non-blood transfusion SCD patients. They have had almost the same clinical presentation with advanced decompensated liver cirrhosis and severe progressive jaundice. Early screening of SCD patients for iron overload, beside commencement of iron chelating agents can prevent the long-term sequel of iron overload.
Jumping Technique Alters Limb Kinematics in Showjumping Horses

Introduction Showjumping (SJ) horses are at increased risk of distal forelimb soft tissue injuries; generally attributed to limb loading on landing. This study investigated relationships between the back, trailing limb angles at take-off, in flight and at landing. Methods Eight showjumpers jumped a 140 cm vertical obstacle (part of a 15-fence course). Two-dimensional high-speed motion-capture (250 Hz) was used to measure limb and regional back kinematics in the dorsoventral plane from markers placed at predetermined locations. Pearson's correlation tests were used to determine associations between limb and back angles at take-off, in flight and upon landing. Results All markers were clearly visible throughout. Greater head-neck ventroflexion at take-off was associated with decreased hock flexion (r = -0.81, P = 0.0141), and decreased neck-trunk angle on landing (r = 0.77, P = 0.03). Greater head-neck ventroflexion at landing, 50% and 75% flight was associated with decreased carpal extension on landing (r = 0.81, 0.84, 0.73; P = 0.02, 0.01, 0.04 respectively). Increased thoracolumbar and lumbosacral flexion at take-off was associated with decreased metatarsophalangeal joint extension upon landing (r = 0.78, 0.75; P = 0.03). Greater lumbosacral flexion at 50 and 75% flight (r = -0.73, −0.77; P = 0.04, 0.03 respectively) and greater thoracolumbar flexion at 25, 50 and 75% flight was associated with decreased elbow flexion on landing (r = -0.87, −0.78, −0.76; P = 0.01, 0.02, 0.03 respectively). Conclusions Decreasing head-neck angle and increasing thoracolumbar and lumbosacral flexion at take-off and in flight appeared to alter peak joint flexion and extension on landing. This suggests that optimising jumping technique in training may be beneficial to reduce the strain placed on the limbs at landing, which could potentially be valuable given the risk of distal limb soft tissue injuries in SJ horses. Ethical Animal Research The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons confirmed that the procedures carried out were not Controlled Procedures under UK animal experimentation legislation. Explicit owner informed consent for participation in this study is not stated. Sources of funding: The World Class Development Programme is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, through Exchequer and National Lottery funds, via UK Sport. Competing interests: none.
Analysis of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 secreted from cultured corneal and oral mucosal epithelial cell sheets in vitro

Background: In clinical trials, eyes transplanted with cultured oral mucosal epithelial cell sheets have shown increased neovascularisation compared with eyes treated with cultured corneal epithelial cell sheets. As reported recently, soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (soluble VEGFr-1) is a main factor to maintain a corneal avascularity. Aim: To investigate soluble VEGFr-1 of cultured corneal epithelial cells (CCE) and cultured oral mucosal epithelial cells (COE) in vitro. Methods: Rabbit corneal and oral mucosal epithelial cells were co-cultured with mitomycin C-treated NIH/3T3 cells on culture plates. After CCE and COE were multilayered, culture medium was replaced by basal medium and incubated. Protein secretion of soluble VEGFr-1 was assessed in conditioned medium from CCE and COE by ELISA. Angiogenic potential was examined by invasion, migration assays with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in addition to recombinant soluble VEGFr-1. Results: CCE secreted a significantly higher amount of soluble VEGFr-1 than did COE. Recombinant soluble VEGFr-1 significantly suppressed HUVEC migration induced by COE, without suppression in CCE. In conclusion, these findings suggest that low protein levels of soluble VEGFr-1 may lead to corneal neovascularisation after COE sheet transplantation.
Clinical significance of minimal residual disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its relationship to other prognostic factors: a Children's Oncology Group study.

Minimal residual disease (MRD) is an important predictor of relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but its relationship to other prognostic variables has not been fully assessed. The Children's Oncology Group studied the prognostic impact of MRD measured by flow cytometry in the peripheral blood at day 8, and in end-induction (day 29) and end-consolidation marrows in 2143 children with precursor B-cell ALL (B-ALL). The presence of MRD in day-8 blood and day-29 marrow MRD was associated with shorter event-free survival (EFS) in all risk groups; even patients with 0.01% to 0.1% day-29 MRD had poor outcome compared with patients negative for MRD patients (59% +/- 5% vs 88% +/- 1% 5-year EFS). Presence of good prognostic markers TEL-AML1 or trisomies of chromosomes 4 and 10 still provided additional prognostic information, but not in National Cancer Institute high-risk (NCI HR) patients who were MRD(+). The few patients with detectable MRD at end of consolidation fared especially poorly, with only a 43% plus or minus 7% 5-year EFS. Day-29 marrow MRD was the most important prognostic variable in multi-variate analysis. The 12% of patients with all favorable risk factors, including NCI risk group, genetics, and absence of days 8 and 29 MRD, had a 97% plus or minus 1% 5-year EFS with nonintensive therapy. These studies are registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as NCT00005585, NCT00005596, and NCT00005603.
Morphological and functional analysis of the loading regimen with intravitreal ranibizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Aim To quantify and correlate the morphological and functional effects of the recommended loading regimen with intravitreal ranibizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods In a prospective, interventional clinical trial, 29 consecutive patients (29 eyes) with choroidal neovascularisation secondary to AMD received three initial monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab. During this loading regimen, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and microperimetry (MP) testing, as well as optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography (FA), were performed using a standardised protocol and the results correlated. Results Significant morphological and functional therapeutic effects were observed as early as 1 week following the first treatment. Throughout the loading-dose period, central retinal thickness, including intraretinal cysts and subretinal fluid, decreased fast and significantly (p<0.01); pigment epithelial detachment resolved less rapidly. The mean leakage area by FA decreased (p<0.01) and retinal function (BCVA and MP) increased significantly (both p<0.01). However, the change in morphology and function was only significant between baseline and week 1. There was no significant additional morphological or functional benefit following the second and third injection. Conclusion The initial administration of intravitreal ranibizumab in neovascular AMD induced a significant effect on intra- and subretinal fluid and visual function; subsequent injections had a less pronounced effect. It remains to be determined whether this loading regimen should be mandatory in all patients or if a single dose regimen would lead to a comparable functional and morphological retinal improvement.