Comment on "Research on values of GDF-15 level in the diagnosis of primary liver cancer and evaluation of chemotherapeutic effect"

Comment on research on values of GDF-15 level in the diagnosis of primary liver cancer and evaluation of chemotherapeutic effec

A novel clustering methodology based on modularity optimisation for detecting authorship affinities in Shakespearean era plays

© 2016 Naeni et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. In this study we propose a novel, unsupervised clustering methodology for analyzing large datasets. This new, efficient methodology converts the general clustering problem into the community detection problem in graph by using the Jensen-Shannon distance, a dissimilarity measure originating in Information Theory. Moreover, we use graph theoretic concepts for the generation and analysis of proximity graphs. Our methodology is based on a newly proposed memetic algorithm (iMA-Net) for discovering clusters of data elements by maximizing the modularity function in proximity graphs of literary works. To test the effectiveness of this general methodology, we apply it to a text corpus dataset, which contains frequencies of approximately 55,114 unique words across all 168 written in the Shakespearean era (16th and 17th centuries), to analyze and detect clusters of similar plays. Experimental results and comparison with state-of-the-art clustering methods demonstrate the remarkable performance of our new method for identifying high quality clusters which reflect the commonalities in the literary style of the plays

Polymer viscosity, particle coalescence and mechanical performance in high-temperature laser sintering

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-9761-6High-temperature laser sintering (HT-LS) is an additive manufacturing technology whose potential could be limited by the restricted number of materials optimised for the process. Poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) with different melt viscosity values, PEEK 150PF and PEEK 450PF, have been used in parallel with the commercial grade, poly ether ketone (PEK) HP3, to investigate the role of material viscosity on particle coalescence, structure and mechanical performance of components manufactured in HT-LS. The material with lower viscosity, PEEK 150PF, was found to exhibit faster coalescence and lower tensile strength than the grades with higher viscosities, PEEK 450PF and PEK HP3

Adapting to Cancer with Body, Mind, and Heart: Psychological,Psychophysiological Assessment and Management in Sample of Ovarian Cancer Survivors

Objective: Ovarian cancer survivors often develop severe psychological disorders and impairments in social, familial, and sexual functioning. They experience a withdrawal from intimate relationship, fear and body shame, and a condition of unrelenting distress. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a physiological parameter that, when reduced, is index of higher distress. The quantitative observational study aimed at understanding the relationship between psychological adjustment, distress, and quality of life. Methods: 44 women, consecutively recruited at the Oncological service of the Gynecological Dept., filled questionnaires investigating social support, body image, coping strategies and quality of life and recorded short-term HRV. Results: significant correlations appeared between: quality of life functioning scales and body image, perceived social support and coping strategies; perceived support from the significant other and HRV (r=339 p <05), role functioning and HRV (r=479 p<001). Simple regressions on HRV showed the effect of the significant other’s support (F=4.27 p<05) and of role functioning (F=9.810 p<001), while body image showed its effect on quality of life (F=4.18 p<05). Multiple regression on HRV showed the effect of body image (β=453), support from friends (β=-435) and avoidance (β=-391) while fatalism showed an effect on quality of life (β=364, p<05). Conclusion: Higher concerns on body image seem linked to a worsened day-to-day life. Reporting these concerns contributes to raise HRV, while better emotive disclosure reduces emotional distress. Social support positively influences quality of life and HRV. Fatalism facilitates cancer acceptance process. Proper emotive disclosure may have a positive impact on life quality

Multimodal approach of advanced gastric cancer: Based therapeutic algorithm

Gastric cancer (GC) is the third leading cause of cancer death in both sexes worldwide, with the highest estimated mortality rates in Eastern Asia and the lowest in Northern America. However, the availability of modern treatment has improved the survival and the prognosis is often poor due to biological characteristics of the disease. In oncology, we are living in the "Era" of target treatment and, to know biological aspects, prognostic factors and predictive response informations to therapy in GC is mandatory to apply the best strategy of treatment. The purpose of this review, according to the recently published English literature, is to summarize existing data on prognostic aspects and predictive factors to response to therapy in GC and to analyze also others therapeutic approaches (surgery and radiotherapy) in locally, locally advanced and advanced GC. Moreover, the multidisciplinary approach (chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy) can improve the prognosis of GC

Nutrition in oncologic patients during antiblastic treatment.

Cancer may induce weight loss and cachexia, and cancer treatment may contribute to nutritional impairment. Here, we review the literature on the mechanisms of cancer cachexia and the pharmacological interventions both in use in clinical practice and currently under development. Based on this analysis, several nutritional proposals for cancer patients are suggested and the importance of good nutritional status in candidates for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is highlighted

Effect of Winter Grazing Management of Stockpiled Native Pastures of Basaltic Soils of Uruguay on Daily Gains of Heifers

The effect of three grazing systems of fall stockpiled native pastures on the winter gains of 66 Hereford heifers (135 kg) was studied. Treatments were: continuos grazing (CG); (C7) the plot was divided in 12 and each was grazed for 7 days and (C28), the plot was divided in 3 and each were grazed for 28 days. Heifers were weighed every 14 days and grazing behaviour was recorded. Stockpiled HM was greater (P\u3c 0.05) in C7 and C28 than in CG (988, 912, and 604 kg DM/ha, respectively). Herbage allowance (HA) was greater (P\u3c 0.01) in CG followed by C28 and C7 (11.7, 6.6 and 5.9 kg DM/100 kg LW, respectively). Post-grazing HM was greater (P0.05) in all pastures (CP 10.2%, NDF 71.2%, ADF 41.3% and ash 14.4%). Final LW of heifers were similar (P\u3e 0.05) (167, 162 and 160 kg for CG, C7 and C28, respectively). A very mild winter favoured exceptional gains which tended to be higher in CG (0.353 kg/day) than in C7 (0.305 kg/day) and C28 (0.278 kg/day). Grazing time was greater (P\u3c 0.05) in CG and bite rate was lower in C28 than in C7 and CG heifers. Grazing management did not affect daily gains. Nevertheless, total remaining HM in C28 and more so in C7 more than doubled that in CG, where more animals could have grazed with increasing total productivity

Unveiling Clusters of RNA Transcript Pairs Associated with Markers of Alzheimer's Disease Progression

Background: One primary goal of transcriptomic studies is identifying gene expression patterns correlating with disease progression. This is usually achieved by considering transcripts that independently pass an arbitrary threshold (e.g. p<0.05). In diseases involving severe perturbations of multiple molecular systems, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), this univariate approach often results in a large list of seemingly unrelated transcripts. We utilised a powerful multivariate clustering approach to identify clusters of RNA biomarkers strongly associated with markers of AD progression. We discuss the value of considering pairs of transcripts which, in contrast to individual transcripts, helps avoid natural human transcriptome variation that can overshadow disease-related changes. Methodology/Principal Findings: We re-analysed a dataset of hippocampal transcript levels in nine controls and 22 patients with varying degrees of AD. A large-scale clustering approach determined groups of transcript probe sets that correlate strongly with measures of AD progression, including both clinical and neuropathological measures and quantifiers of the characteristic transcriptome shift from control to severe AD. This enabled identification of restricted groups of highly correlated probe sets from an initial list of 1,372 previously published by our group. We repeated this analysis on an expanded dataset that included all pair-wise combinations of the 1,372 probe sets. As clustering of this massive dataset is unfeasible using standard computational tools, we adapted and re-implemented a clustering algorithm that uses external memory algorithmic approach. This identified various pairs that strongly correlated with markers of AD progression and highlighted important biological pathways potentially involved in AD pathogenesis. Conclusions/Significance: Our analyses demonstrate that, although there exists a relatively large molecular signature of AD progression, only a small number of transcripts recurrently cluster with different markers of AD progression. Furthermore, considering the relationship between two transcripts can highlight important biological relationships that are missed when considering either transcript in isolation. © 2012 Arefin et al

Focus on the use of Green Tea in cancer setting: between lights and shadows

Green tea (GT) is a beverage derived from the unfermented leaves of Camellia sinensis, a plant native to Asia. Green tea extract is marketed as an antioxidant and dietary supplement to support cardiovascular, metabolic, cognitive, and cellular health. Data on the use of GT in oncology are controversial, mainly because of the risk of interference with anticancer drugs. To date, the use of GT is recommended as supportive treatment in most oncological diseases

The role of nutrition in the development of esophageal cancer: What do we know?

Cancer of the esophagus is the eighth most common cancer by incidence worldwide and ranks sixth as the most common cause of cancer death. It is unique among the gastrointestinal tract malignancies because it embodies two distinct histopatologic types, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Which type of cancer occurs in a given patient or predominates in a given geographic area depends on many variables, including individual lifestyle, socioeconomic pressures, environmental factors and diet and nutrition. Generally for both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus case-control studies provide evidence of a protective effect of fruits and vegetables. Here we review the role of nutrition in the etiology of esophageal cancer