gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Systematic review of systemic adjuvant therapy for patients at high risk for recurrent melanoma (2006)

The authors examined the role of systemic adjuvant therapy in patients with high-risk, resected, primary melanoma. Outcomes of interest included overall survival, disease-free survival, adverse effects, and quality of life. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to locate randomized controlled trials, practice guidelines, meta-analyses, and reviews published between 1980 and 2004. Thirty-seven randomized controlled trials, 2 meta-analyses, and 1 systematic review were identified that investigated interferon, levamisole, vaccine, or chemotherapy as adjuvant therapy. For high-dose interferon-alpha, the results from 3 randomized trials conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group were pooled, and a meta-analysis of 2-year death rates yielded a risk ratio of 0.85 (95% confidence interval, 0.73-0.99; P = .03). Five randomized trials comparing low-dose interferon-alpha with observation only after surgery did not detect a statistically significant improvement in overall survival. A meta-analysis of 4 levamisole trials did not demonstrate a significant survival benefit for levamisole over control; similarly, no survival benefit was demonstrated by data from randomized controlled trials with vaccines (9 trials) or with chemotherapy (10 trials). In this review of the available literature, no systemic adjuvant therapy was identified that conferred a significant overall survival benefit in patients with high-risk, resected, primary melanoma. However, high-dose interferon should be considered in the treatment of these patients, because such therapy is associated with a significant improvement in disease-free survival and a reduction in 2-year mortality. Until the results of ongoing trials are available, the authors could not state with confidence whether such therapy benefits patients with microscopically detected, sentinel lymph node-positive disease.
Measuring methods for groundwater – surface water interactions: a review (2006)

Abstract. Interactions between groundwater and surface water play a fundamental role in the functioning of riparian ecosystems. In the context of sustainable river basin management it is crucial to understand and quantify exchange processes between groundwater and surface water. Numerous well-known methods exist for parameter estimation and process identification in aquifers and surface waters. Only in recent years has the transition zone become a subject of major research interest; thus, the need has evolved for appropriate methods applicable in this zone. This article provides an overview of the methods that are currently applied and described in the literature for estimating fluxes at the groundwater – surface water interface. Considerations for choosing appropriate methods are given including spatial and temporal scales, uncertainties, and limitations in application. It is concluded that a multi-scale approach combining multiple measuring methods may considerably constrain estimates of fluxes between groundwater and surface water.
The role of fenofibrate in clinical practice (2007)

Clinical guidelines highlight the importance of dyslipidaemia management for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. While statins represent the main focus of therapy, there is increasing evidence that the addition of a fibrate such as fenofibrate provides further reduction in risk. Fenofibrate also offers a number of benefits beyond lipid modification; these are mediated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) activation and appear to be independent of effects of glucose and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, as shown by the Fenofibrate Intervention for Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study, fenofibrate treatment has promising effects in preventing progression of diabetes-related microvascular complications. PPARalpha is critical to lipid metabolism in the liver. Recent findings which showed that pioglitazone, a PPARgamma agonist with weak PPARalpha activity, improved fatty liver disease in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes have prompted interest in whether more potent PPARalpha agonists, such as fenofibrate, may have a role in the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The combination of fenofibrate and a statin is well tolerated, with no apparent increase in the risk of myopathy, unlike gemfibrozil-statin combination therapy. In overview, the available evidence indicates that the combination of fenofibrate with a statin is a useful approach for optimising reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, as well as delaying the progression of diabetes-related microvascular complications. Data are awaited from the ongoing Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) study to evaluate the outcome benefits of this approach.
Hydroxy fatty acids and prostaglandin formation in diseased human periodontal pocket tissue (1986)

The lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase products of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism are known to play a key role in the development of inflammatory signs and symptoms. Periodontal pocket tissues (PPT) provide an ideal model to study the nature of mediators of inflammation in periodontal disease. Eight individual PPT samples were obtained from patients with advanced periodontitis and incubated separately with 14 C‐AA. The tissue lipid extracts were analyzed by means of TLC and HPLC. It was found that PPT in all samples metabolizes AA mainly through the lipoxygenase pathways and that 12‐HETE and 15‐HETE are the major lipoxygenase products formed. Cyclooxygenase products PGE 2 , TXB 2 , and 6‐keto‐PGF 1α were detected in much smaller amounts than the lipoxygenase products. Since both lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase products are associated with inflammatory processes, the findings suggest that in treatment of inflammation in periodontal disease, drugs which inhibit the formation of both lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase metabolites of AA would be more beneficial than those which inhibit only the cyclooxygenase products, PGs.
A Variant of the HTRA1 Gene Increases Susceptibility to Age-Related Macular Degeneration (2006)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss in the developed world and has a strong genetic predisposition. A locus at human chromosome 10q26 affects the risk of AMD, but the precise gene(s) have not been identified. We genotyped 581 AMD cases and 309 normal controls in a Caucasian cohort in Utah. We demonstrate that a single-nucleotide polymorphism, rs11200638, in the promoter region of HTRA1 is the most likely causal variant for AMD at 10q26 and is estimated to confer a population attributable risk of 49.3%. The HTRA1 gene encodes a secreted serine protease. Preliminary analysis of lymphocytes and retinal pigment epithelium from four AMD patients revealed that the risk allele was associated with elevated expression levels of HTRA1 mRNA and protein. We also found that drusen in the eyes of AMD patients were strongly immunolabeled with HTRA1 antibody. Together, these findings support a key role for HTRA1 in AMD susceptibility and identify a potential new pathway for AMD pathogenesis.
Competitive enzyme immunoassay for antibodies to a 43,000-molecular-weight Francisella tularensis outer membrane protein for the diagnosis of tularemia (1989)

Antibodies against a 43,000-molecular-weight Francisella tularensis outer membrane (OM) protein (43K protein) were measured in paired serum specimens from 23 patients with tularemia and matched against antibodies in sera from 25 patients with nontularemic infectious diseases and from 25 blood donors. Antibodies were measured by a competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay which tested the ability of human serum to compete with rabbit anti-43K protein antibodies for its binding to the F. tularensis OM coat. The sera from nontularemic patients and from blood donors, in dilutions of 1:16 and 1:64, respectively, showed no or very low levels of antibodies. All of the tularemia patients showed positive tests with the first, the second, or both of the serum specimens examined. For instance, with serum diluted 1:64, each of the serum specimens showed a sensitivity of 95.7% and a specificity of 96%. When used for antibody competition in Western blotting (immunoblotting), the rabbit anti-43K selectivity blocked the binding of human serum antibodies to the 43,000-molecular-weight protein. This protein was immunoaccessible in Formalin-killed F. tularensis. These data indicate an important role of the 43,000-molecular-weight OM protein in the immunobiology of tularemia and emphasize its potential usefulness as an antigen in serodiagnostic tests.
Selective inhibition of NF-κB activation prevents dopaminergic neuronal loss in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (2007)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Despite intense investigations, no effective therapy is available to stop its onset or halt its progression. The present study evaluates the ability of peptide corresponding to the NF-kappaB essential modifier-binding domain (NBD) of IkappaB kinase alpha (IKKalpha) or IKKbeta to prevent nigrostriatal degeneration in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD and establish a role for NF-kappaB in human parkinsonism. First, we found that NF-kappaB was activated within the substantia nigra pars compacta of PD patients and MPTP-intoxicated mice. However, i.p. injection of wild-type NBD peptide reduced nigral activation of NF-kappaB, suppressed nigral microglial activation, protected both the nigrostriatal axis and neurotransmitters, and improved motor functions in MPTP-intoxicated mice. These findings were specific because mutated NBD peptide had no effect. We conclude that selective inhibition of NF-kappaB activation by NBD peptide may be of therapeutic benefit for PD patients.
Activated Stat Related Transcription Factors in Acute Leukemia (1997)

Cell proliferation and differentiation are under the control of cytokines and growth factors. Different signaling pathways are involved in the transmission of a specific signal through successive phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins leading to gene transcription necessary for growth and differentiation. The cytokines and growth factors activate the Stat family of transcription factors. The Jak-Stat pathway is essential for cytokine signal transduction. Dysregulation of this cascade might lead to uncontrolled hematopoiesis. Studies have been carried out to examine the functionality of this pathway in cells from patients with acute leukemia. Members of the Stat protein family (Stat1, Stat3 and Stat5) are constitutively activated in cells collected from some acute leukemias suggesting dysregulation of the Jak-Stat pathway. Evidence of the existence of constitutively activated spliced variants of Stat3 and Stat5 proteins are described. The mechanisms of such activation remain to be clarified.
Mesenchymal stem cells with downregulated Hippo signaling attenuate lung injury in mice with lipopolysaccharide‑induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (2018)

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)‑mediated repair of injured alveolar epithelial cells is a promising potential cure for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); however, the repairing effect of MSCs is limited by poor homing and differentiation. Our previous study revealed that the inhibition of the Hippo signaling pathway promotes the proliferation, migration and differentiation of MSCs in vitro, leading to the hypothesis that MSCs with downregulated Hippo signaling could further ameliorate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑induced ARDS in vivo. In the current study, mouse bone marrow‑derived MSCs (mMSCs) with downregulated Hippo signaling were constructed by shRNA‑mediated knockdown of large tumor suppressor kinase 1 (Lats1) and were intratracheally administered to LPS‑induced mouse models of ARDS. The inhibition of Hippo signaling increased the retention of mMSC in ARDS lung tissue and their differentiation toward alveolar type II epithelial cells. Furthermore, mMSCs with downregulated Hippo signaling led to a decreased lung wet weight/body weight ratio, decreased total protein and albumin concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, decreased levels of proinflammatory factors and increased levels of anti‑inflammatory factors. Finally, mMSCs with downregulated Hippo signaling improved pathological changes and decreased pulmonary fibrosis in lungs of mice with ARDS. These results suggest that the inhibition of the Hippo signaling pathway in mouse mMSCs by knockdown of Lats1 could further improve the protective effects of mMSCs against epithelial damage and the therapeutic potential of mMSCs on mice with ARDS.
Obeticholic acid, a synthetic bile acid agonist of the farnesoid X receptor, attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (2016)

Bile acids are ligands for the nuclear hormone receptor, farnesoid X receptor (FXR). The bile acid-FXR interaction regulates bile acid synthesis, transport, and cholesterol metabolism. Recently, bile acid-FXR regulation has been reported to play an integral role in both hepatic and intestinal inflammation, and in atherosclerosis. In this study, we found that FXR knockout mice had more disease severity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Obeticholic acid (6α-ethyl-chenodeoxycholic acid, 6-ECDCA), a synthetic FXR agonist, is an orally available drug that is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and primary biliary cirrhosis. When we treated mice exhibiting established EAE with 6-ECDCA, or the natural FXR ligand chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), clinical disease was ameliorated by (i) suppressing lymphocyte activation and proinflammatory cytokine production; (ii) reducing CD4(+) T cells and CD19(+) B cell populations and their expression of negative checkpoint regulators programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA); (iii) increasing CD8(+) T cells and PD1, PDl-1, and BTLA expression; and (iv) reducing VLA-4 expression in both the T- and B-cell populations. Moreover, adoptive transfer of 6-ECDCA- or CDCA-treated donor cells failed to transfer disease in naive recipients. Thus, we show that FXR functions as a negative regulator in neuroinflammation and we highlight that FXR agonists represent a potential previously unidentified therapy for MS.
Current status of the phase change memory and its future (2004)

With the increasing challenge of scaling floating gate nonvolatile memory technology to beyond 65 nm, alternative memory technologies are being investigated. Chalcogenide based phase change memory (R. Neale et al, Electronics, p56-60, 1970) is one of the alternative memory candidates. In this review, the physics and operation of phase change memory are first presented, followed by a discussion of the current status of development. Finally, the scaling capability of the technology is presented. The scaling projection shows that there is no physical limit to scaling down to the 22 nm node, with a number of technical challenges being identified.
Analysis of 24-hour plasma profiles of growth hormone (GH)-binding protein, GH/GH-binding protein-complex, and GH in healthy children. (1993)

Human blood contains a high affinity GH binding protein (GHBP) which corresponds to the extracellular domain of he GH-receptor. It has been suggested that GHBP can modify the biological actions of GH, and alter the distribution of GH in the body. To study the hormonal regulation of growth, it is therefore necessary to measure GHBP as well as GH. We recently developed a ligand-mediated immunofunctional assay (LIFA) which allows separate quantitation of total GHBP (free and GH-bound) and the complex formed by GH and GHBP (GH/GHBP-complex) in human blood. We have now used the ligand-mediated immunofunctional assay to measure GHBP levels in plasma profiles from healthy children. GH was measured by immunoradiometric assay. Fifteen 24-h plasma profiles from 12 healthy children (3 girls and 9 boys) of different ages (6-15 yr), heights (-2.5 to +3.0 SD scores) and pubertal stages (1-4) were examined. Blood was withdrawn continuously for 24 h and collected in 20-min fractions. Time series for GH, GHBP, and GH/GHBP-complex were analyzed by cross-correlation and Fourier analysis. GH was secreted in a pulsatile fashion in all subjects. The concentration of the GH/GHBP-complex varied during the sampling period, and the changes correlated significantly with the GH pulses with correlation coefficients reaching maximum at zero time lag. In contrast, the changes in the total GHBP concentration were minor (coefficients of variation approximately 10%), and not correlated to GH pulses. Fourier analysis showed similar spectral power patterns for GH and GH/GHBP-complex, suggesting a diurnal rhythm (12- to 24-h periods) as well as components of higher frequencies (around 4-h periods). Although there were only subtle fluctuations in the total GHBP concentration, Fourier transformation revealed a diurnal rhythm with nadir during the night, while components of higher frequencies were much less abundant. We conclude that variations in total GHBP as measured by LIFA during a 24-h sampling period are small and that the concentration can be estimated from a single random blood sample.
The properties of perfluoropolyethers used for space applications (1993)

Some plant lectins, Concanavalin agglutinin (Con A), succinyl Con A and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) increased the adhesion of dissociated embryonic cells of the sea urchin,Pseudocentrotus depressus, to the substratum (plastic and glass surface) in vitro. Other plant lectins,Ulex europeus agglutinin (UEA) andDolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) had no effect on the cell-to-substratum interaction. A specific monocarbohydrate inhibitor of lectins, α-methyl-D-mannoside, inhibited the Con A-induced cell-to-substratum adhesion of dissociated embryonic cells. This observation suggests that the Con A-induced cell-to-substratum adhesion may be attributed to the Con A-carbohydrate interaction. In Millipore-filtered sea water (MPFSW) containing Con A (0.1 mg/ml), dissociated embryonic cells adhered to the substratum for more than 6 h at 18°C, while in MPFSW as control, almost all the dissociated cells were released from the substratum after 1 h. A scanning electron microscopic study showed that dissociated embryonic cells adhered to the substratum were surrounded by an extracellular fibrous material, when the cells were cultured in MPFSW containing Con A. The induction of the extracellular fibrous material by Con A was inhibited by α-methyl-D-mannoside. The appearance of this material may be related to the cell-to-substratum adhesion of dissociated cells. Sequential extractions of Con A-treated dissociated cells with Triton X 100 and urea solubilized most of the cellular components, leaving the fibrous material on the surface. Biochemical conponents of the isolated fibrous material included sea urchin fibronectin, Con A and minor components (88 and 140 kilodalton proteins). Fibronectin preformed in the cells was excreted after the dissociation, while the 88 and 140 kilodalton proteins were synthesized and released to the extracellular space.
A retrospective study: clinical experience using vacuum-assisted closure in the treatment of wounds. (2004)

We report the results of our wound care experience using the wound vac as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of sternal, spinal, and lower-extremity wounds. This is a retrospective study in which 42 patients were evaluated between 1999 and 2002 for nonhealing sternal, spinal, and lower-extremity wounds. There were 12 patients with sternal wounds with a variety of pathogens who were treated with antimicrobials along with the wound VAC. The VAC was applied for an average of 12 days, and all 12 patients went onto complete closure by the end of four weeks. There were 14 patients in the lower-extremity wound group, again, with a variety of pathogens. The VAC was placed for an average of 29.3 days to achieve closure along with the wound VAC. There were 16 spinal wound patients with a variety of pathogens. All the patients received antimicrobial therapy, with the average duration of the VAC beings 27.6 days and closure taking about eight weeks. The wound VAC, along with appropriate antimicrobial therapy and surgery, appears to help reduce the number of days to healing, along with a reduction in the number hospital days and possibly costs to the health system.
Large-scale preparation of highly purified, frozen/thawed CD34+, HLA-DR- hematopoietic progenitor cells by sequential immunoadsorption (CEPRATE SC) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting: implications for gene transduction and/or transplantation. (1994)

The purification of early hematopoietic progenitor cells for autologous transplantation is based on two rationales: (1) elimination of clonogenic tumor cells, and/or (2) gene transfer into indefinitely self-replicating hematopoietic stem cells. Primitive CD34+ stem cells can be separated from more mature stem cells, or probably from clonogenic tumor cells, by differences in HLA-DR surface antigen expression. The objective of this study was to establish a large-scale technique for purification of CD34+, DR- progenitor cells from a large volume marrow harvest. In five different experiments, CD34+ cells were purified to between 76% and 91% by avidin-biotin immunoadsorption (CEPRATE SC) as a first step. This was followed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting to separate DR+ and DR- cells, which resulted in the generation of between 1.75 and 11.3 x 10(5) CD34+, DR- cells. The purity of DR- cells increased from between 0.5% and 4.3% in the immuno-adsorbed fraction up to 99% in the DR- sorted fraction. As shown in a single experiment, the purity of CD34+, DR- cells immediately after thawing increased from 0.01% to 94.3% while losing 99% of those early progenitor cells during the multistep purification procedure. We were able to physically separate one CD34+, DR- cell from up to 8000 nucleated cells in the prepurified cell suspension. One million highly purified CD34+, DR- progenitor cells is potentially an adequate cell dose for autologous transplantation equivalent to what is contained in an unselected and functioning marrow autograft.
A Large Case‐Control Study of Cervical Cancer Risk Associated with Human Papillomavirus Infection in Japan, by Nucleotide Sequencing–Based Genotyping (2004)

Using nucleotide sequencing-based genotyping, we conducted a case-control study to examine cervical cancer risk associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in a Japanese population. A consensus primer pair was used to amplify DNA from the L1 region of HPV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). By PCR, 311 of 356 patients with cervical cancer and 333 of 3249 control individuals were positive for HPV. By the direct sequencing of PCR products, nucleotide sequences of 30 genotypes were obtained. A high incidence of type 52 and a low incidence of type 16 were characteristic of the control group. Odds ratios were estimated for 18 genotypes. Types 71, 90, and 91, previously uncharacterized, were classified as low-risk genotypes, which is consistent with predictions made on the basis of phylogeny. The present study is the first large case-control study of its kind to use nucleotide sequencing-based genotyping.
Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy of the Thyroid: An Appraisal (1993)

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is safe, accurate, and cost-effective. The procedure has a central role in the management of thyroid nodules and should be used as the initial diagnostic test.