A Dataset for Greek Traditional and Folk Music: Lyra

Studying under-represented music traditions under the MIR scope is crucial, not only for developing novel analysis tools, but also for unveiling musical functions that might prove useful in studying world musics. This paper presents a dataset for Greek Traditional and Folk music that includes 1570 pieces, summing in around 80 hours of data. The dataset incorporates YouTube timestamped links for retrieving audio and video, along with rich metadata information with regards to instrumentation, geography and genre, among others. The content has been collected from a Greek documentary series that is available online, where academics present music traditions of Greece with live music and dance performance during the show, along with discussions about social, cultural and musicological aspects of the presented music. Therefore, this procedure has resulted in a significant wealth of descriptions regarding a variety of aspects, such as musical genre, places of origin and musical instruments. In addition, the audio recordings were performed under strict production-level specifications, in terms of recording equipment, leading to very clean and homogeneous audio content. In this work, apart from presenting the dataset in detail, we propose a baseline deep-learning classification approach to recognize the involved musicological attributes. The dataset, the baseline classification methods and the models are provided in public repositories. Future directions for further refining the dataset are also discussed

Skin rash associated with intravitreal bevacizumab in a patient with macular choroidal neovascularization

Ioannis D Ladas, Marilita M Moschos, Thanos D Papakostas, Athanasios I Kotsolis, Ilias Georgalas, Michail ApostolopoulosDepartment of Ophthalmology, “G. Gennimatas” Hospital of Athens, University of Athens, Athens, GreecePurpose: The purpose of this observational case report is to describe a case of skin rash after intravitreal use of bevacizumab.Methods: A 50-year-old man with choroidal neovascularization in the right eye due to age-related macular degeneration was treated with three intravitreal injections of bevacizumab.Results: Twelve days after the first injection, the patient developed a maculopapular rash on his forehead and on both temporal regions around his eyes. The rash disappeared eight days after treatment with topical corticosteroids. A skin rash with the same distribution reappeared 14 days after the second and 10 days after the third injection. Similarly, it disappeared five and seven days after the use of the same treatment. The follow-up period was 15 months after the third injection. During the follow-up period the rash did not reappear.Conclusion: This case report may initiate further investigation of similar cases to support this observation, as there are a lack of reports of skin rash after intravitreal administration of bevacizumab.Keywords: skin rash, bevacizumab, age-related macular degeneratio

Arthroplasty versus internal fixation for femoral neck fractures in the elderly

We studied 140 patients with femoral neck fractures treated from January 1999 to December 2006. There were 68 men and 72 women with a mean age of 72 years (range 60–80 years). Seventy patients were treated with closed reduction and internal fixation (group A), and 70 patients with hip arthroplasty (group B). The duration of surgery, length of hospitalization, complications, postoperative Harris hip score, and need for reoperation were recorded. Group B had significantly higher blood loss, increased surgical time and length of hospitalization compared to group A patients. The Harris hip score was significantly higher in group B at the 3, 6, and 12-month follow-up evaluations; however, the differences were no longer significant at the 24-month evaluation. The overall complications rate was 18.6% (13 patients) in group A compared to 25.7% (18 patients) in group B; this was not statistically significant (P = 0.309). A statistically significant difference was found regarding reoperation rate in group A (11.4%, eight patients) compared to group B (1.4%, one patient) (P = 0.016). Arthroplasty compared to internal fixation for displaced femoral neck fractures is associated with a significantly higher functional score and lower risk of reoperation at the cost of greater infection rates, blood loss, and operative time

Potential value of PTEN in predicting cetuximab response in colorectal cancer: An exploratory study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is over-expressed in 70–75% of colorectal adenocarcinomas (CRC). The anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody cetuximab has been approved for the treatment of metastatic CRC, however tumor response to cetuximab has not been found to be associated with EGFR over-expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The aim of this study was to explore EGFR and the downstream effector phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) as potential predictors of response to cetuximab.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>CRC patients treated with cetuximab by the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology group, whose formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue was available, were included. Tissue was tested for EGFR and PTEN by IHC and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eighty-eight patients were identified and 72 were included based on the availability of tissue blocks with adequate material for analysis on them. All patients, except one, received cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 53 months from diagnosis and 17 months from cetuximab initiation. At the time of the analysis 53% of the patients had died. Best response was complete response in one and partial response in 23 patients. In 16 patients disease stabilized. Lack of PTEN gene amplification was associated with more responses to cetuximab and longer time to progression (p = 0.042).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>PTEN could be one of the molecular determinants of cetuximab response. Due to the heterogeneity of the population and the retrospective nature of the study, our results are hypothesis generating and should be approached with caution. Further prospective studies are needed to validate this finding.</p

Topoisomerase I but not thymidylate synthase is associated with improved outcome in patients with resected colorectal cancer treated with irinotecan containing adjuvant chemotherapy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Thymidylate synthase (TS) and Topoisomerase I (Topo I) are significant biomarkers in colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to study the expression of TS and Topo I in patients with resected CRC who received adjuvant chemotherapy and correlated it with clinical outcome.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All patients diagnosed with CRC between 1989 and 2007 and treated with adjuvant chemotherapy within Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group's (HeCOG) protocols, were identified. Archival paraffin-embedded tumor tissues were used for immunohistochemical detection of TS and Topo I. Immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue microarray slides using monoclonal antibodies against TS and Topo I. The results were correlated with survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A cohort of 498 patients with a median age of 61 years and Dukes' stage B (49%) and C (51%) fulfilled the criteria of the study. All patients received adjuvant 5-FU-based chemotherapy, 38% irinotecan-containing. Positive TS and Topo I expression was found in 43% and 48% of cases, respectively. Five-year OS was 74% and DFS was 68%. In univariate analysis no association of TS and Topo I expression with OS and DFS was identified. In multivariate analysis however, Topo I expression was associated with a reduced risk of death (HR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.42-0.88, p = 0.009). In the irinotecan-treated subgroup, those patients who expressed Topo I had a better OS (HR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.94, p = 0.033).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Patients with resected CRC expressing Topo I seem to benefit from irinotecan-containing adjuvant chemotherapy. However randomised prospective trials are needed to confirm these results.</p

The conflicting landscape of the Orphans places (Refugees’ Houses and Pedion of Areos) in Alexandras Avenue

Τhe thesis deals with the conflicting landscape that develops in an urban vacancy, inthe heart of the city, on the occasion of the issue of claiming housing in sheltered oropen, public spaces, on a main road, and specifically on Alexandras Avenue. Thefield of research is located in the refugee residences on the upper side of the avenueand by the park “Pedion tou Areos” at the other end of it. Interestingly, on AlexandrasAvenue are also located buildings that function as a symbols of the state power, suchas the Police Headquarters (GADA) and the Supreme Court (Areios Pagos). Thethesis begins with the assumption that the city has always been a place heterogeneityand diversity. Every metropolis, like Athens during the period of the crisis, hostspeople who are socially, ethnically and culturally "Strangers" to each other, forcingthem to coexist in a setting with stereotypes and prejudices that inevitably createconflicts. The devaluation of life from a primary good to a need of survival is theflammable material of the conflicting relationships that develop in the urban spaceand contribute to the social construction of a newly defined place. Thus emerges aconflicting landscape that concerns all participants in the form of social segregationand discomfort developed towards the "other" that constitutes the threat of everydaylife. The highlighting of the confrontational landscape of the study cases, "Refugees"and "Park" is analyzed through the speech and actions of their users, as they arereflected by the on-site observation of the researcher but also the use of open and in-depth interviews with the actors (users and the State). Concepts and words such asindifference, solidarity economy, direct democracy, insecurity, disobedience,autonomy, hope, heterotopia, common, social boundaries, housing stock, utopia,collectivities, coexistence, and fear, create a puzzle that refers to the development ofthe confrontational picture in the two cases of study of Alexandras Avenue. It is this16image that catalyzes the marginalization of the collective reactions of the "mob" andoffers an alibi for working hypotheses.H διατριβή ασχολείται με το συγκρουσιακό τοπίο που αναπτύσσεται σε ένα αστικόκενό, στην καρδιά της πόλης, με αφορμή το ζήτημα της διεκδίκησης στέγης σεστεγασμένους ή μη, δημόσιους χώρους, σε ένα κεντρικό οδικό άξονα, καισυγκεκριμένα στην λεωφόρο Αλεξάνδρας. Το πεδίο έρευνας εντοπίζεται στιςπροσφυγικές κατοικίες (Προσφυγικά) στην πάνω πλευρά της Λεωφόρου και στοΠεδίον του Άρεως, (Πάρκο), στο άλλο άκρο της, μιας λεωφόρου που ταυτόχροναφιλοξενεί καταλήψεις, όπως τα «Προσφυγικά» και κτίρια σύμβολα της επιβολής τηςκρατικής εξουσίας στην πόλη, όπως η «ΓΑΔΑ» και ο «Άρειος Πάγος.» Η διατριβήξεκινά με την παραδοχή οτι η πόλη αποτελεί διαχρονικά χώρο ετερογένειας καιποικιλομορφίας. Μεγαλουπόλεις σαν την Αθήνα της κρίσης, φιλοξενούν ανθρώπουςκοινωνικά, εθνοτικά και πολιτισμικά «ξένους» μεταξύ τους, επιβάλλοντας τους τηνσυμβίωση σε ένα σκηνικό με στερεότυπα και προκαταλήψεις που αναπόφευκταδημιουργεί συγκρούσεις. Η υποτίμηση της ζωής από πρώτιστο αγαθό σε ανάγκηαπλής επιβίωσης αποτελεί το εύφλεκτο υλικό των συγκρουσιακών σχέσεων πουαναπτύσσονται στον αστικό χώρο και συμβάλουν στην κοινωνική κατασκευή τουνέο-οριζόμενου τόπου. Έτσι προκύπτει ένα συγκρουσιακό τοπίο που αφορά όλουςτους συμμετέχοντες στο σχήμα του κοινωνικού διαχωρισμού και της δυσφορίας πουαναπτύσσεται απέναντι στον «άλλο» που αποτελεί την απειλή της καθημερινότητας..Η ανάδειξη του συγκρουσιακού τοπίου των περιπτώσεων μελέτης, «Προσφυγικά»και «Πάρκο» αναλύεται μέσα από το λόγο και τις δράσεις των χρηστών τους, όπωςαυτές αποτυπώνονται από την επιτόπια παρατήρηση του ερευνητή αλλά και τη χρήσηανοιχτών και σε βάθος συνεντεύξεων με τους δρώντες (χρήστες και Πολιτεία).Έννοιες και λέξεις όπως αδιαφορία, αλληλέγγυα οικονομία, άμεση δημοκρατία,ανασφάλεια, ανυπακοή, αυτονομία, ελπίδα, ετεροτοπία, κοινά, κοινωνικά όρια,οικιστικό απόθεμα, ουτοπία, συλλογικότητες, συμβίωση, και φόβος, δημιουργούν έναπάζλ που αναφέρεται στην ανάπτυξη της συγκρουσιακής εικόνας στις δυοπεριπτώσεις μελέτης της Λεωφόρου Αλεξάνδρας. Είναι αυτή η εικόνα που καταλύειτην περιθωριοποίηση των συλλογικών αντιδράσεων του «όχλου» και προσφέρειάλλοθι σε υποθέσεις εργασίας

The effect of thyroid hormones on sciatic nerve regeneration in Lewis rats

Εισαγωγή: Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης είναι η μελέτη της δράσης της θυρεοειδικής ορμόνης στην ανάπλαση μετά από τραυματική βλάβη του ισχιακού νεύρου επίμυων. Μεθοδος: Σαράντα άρρενες επίμυες τύπου Lewis τυχαιοποιήθηκαν σε τέσερρις ομάδες. Στις δύο πρώτες ομάδες έγινε διατομή του δεξιού ισχιακού νεύρου και γεφύρωση του χάσματος με σωλινίσκο σιλικόνης. Το δημιουργηθέν χάσμα μεταξύ των κολοβωμάτων ηταν μήκους έξι χιλιοστών. Στην πρώτη ομάδα χρησιμοποιήθηκε για την πλήρωση του σωλινίσκου θυρεοειδική ορμόνη ενώ στη δεύτερη χρησιμοποιήθηκε ουδέτερο ρυθμιστικό διάλυμα. Στην τρίτη ομάδα αποτελούμενη από δέκα επίμυες διενεργήθηκε χειρουργική τομή και παρασκευή του ισχιακού νεύρου χωρίς όμως οποιαδήποτε άλλη παρέμβαση. Στην τελευταία ομάδα έξι επίμυων διενεργήθηκε χειρουργική παρασκευή του νεύρου, εκτομή τμήματος ενός εκατοστού αυτού και αναστροφή των κολοβωμάτων έτσι ώστε να αποκλειστεί το ενδεχόμενο ανάπλασης. Η πρόοδος της νευρωνικής ανάπλασης αξιολογήθηκε με λειτουργικές μεθόδους. Η γωνία στην ποδοκνημική στη φάση του mid-stance ήταν ο κινητικός δείκτης και το αντανακλαστικό της απόσυρσης χρησιμοποιήθηκε για την αξιολόγηση της αισθητικής λειτουργίας. Με το πέρας των λειτουργικών αξιολογήσεων έγινε ιστολογική και ανοσοϊστοχημική μελέτη των νεοσχηματισμένων δομών. Αποτελέσματα: Μετά την αξιολόγηση των λειτουργικών δεικτών μεταξύ των ομάδων της μελέτης αναδείχτηκε στατιστικώς σημαντική διαφορά στην πρόοδο της αποκατάστασης της αισθητικής λειτουργίας με τη δράση της θυρεοειδικής ορμόνης. Συγκεκριμένα στην τρίτη αξιολόγηση στις εννέα εβδομάδες μετεγχειρητικά, το εύρος των αποτελεσμάτων του αισθητικού λειτουργικού δείκτη της ομάδας με τη θυρεοειδική ορμόνη, διέφερε στατιστικώς σημαντικά από το αντίστοιχο της ομάδας με το ρυθμιστικό διάλυμα.. Ανάλογη πρόοδος δεν σημειώθηκε κατα την αξιολόγηση του κινηματικού δείκτη της ποδοκνημικής. Συμπέρασμα: Φαίνεται ότι η θυροειδική ορμόνη επιταχύνει την επάνοδο της αισθητικότητας μετά από πλήρη διατομή και γεφύρωση με σωλινίσκο σιλικόνης του ισχιακού νεύρου σε επίμυες τύπου Lewis. Αυτή της η δράση μπορεί να έχει θεραπευτική σημασία.Introduction: The aim of the current study was the examination of the action of thyroid hormones in peripheral nerve regeneration after controlled traumatic lesion of the sciatic nerves in rats. Methods: Forty adult male Lewis rats were randomised in four groups. In the first two groups a complete transection of the right sciatic nerves was bridged with silicone tubes. After operations the gap between the stumps was six millimeters in length. In the first group T3 solution was used to fill the tube while a sterile buffer solution was used in the second group. In the third group of ten animals there was a sham operation with surgical incision and mobilisation of the sciatic nerve without any other intervention. In the last group of six animals a 1cm segment of the nerve was excised and the stumps were reversed to exclude the possibility of regeneration. The process of peripheral nerve regeneration was assessed by functional indices. The midstance angle at the ankle was used as a kinematic index and the withdrawal reflex was used to evaluate the return of sensory function. At the end of the functional evaluations, histologic and immunocytochemical evaluation of the newly formed structures were undertaken. Results: The evaluation of the functional indexes revealed a statistical significant difference in the return of sensory function with the use of T3. On the third evaluation at nine weeks postoperatively, the sensory results of the T3 group were significantly different from the buffer control group. The results of the kinematic indexes were not different between the two groups. Conclusion: T3 seems to accelarate the return of sensory function after complete transection of the sciatic nerves in Lewis rats. This may be of important therapeutic relevance