The proper representation of textual documents has been the greatest challenge in text mining applications. In this paper, a knowledge-based representation model for text analysis applications is introduced. The proposed functionalities of the system are achieved by integrating structured knowledge in the core components of the system. The semantic, lexical, syntactical and structural features are identified by the pre-processing module. The enrichment module is introduced to identify contextually similar concepts and concept maps for improving the representation. The information content of documents and the enriched contents are then fused (merged) into the graphical structure of a semantic network to form a unified and comprehensive representation of documents. The 20Newsgroup and Reuters-21578 datasets are used for evaluation. The evaluation results suggest that the proposed method exhibits a high level of accuracy, recall and precision. The results also indicate that even when a small portion of the information content is available, the proposed method performs well in standard text mining applications.

Background: Delayed graft function (DGF) and slow graft function (SGF) are complications after kidney transplantation that resulted in poor short-term outcome. Objectives: In this study, we evaluate a new model for deceased kidney transplantation to reduce the cold ischemia time and its effect on DGF and SGF as short-term outcomes. Methods: Wehave included 814 deceased kidney transplanted patients in this study. All of the donors were local, while the recipients were both local and nonlocal. Kidney recipient’ s outcomes (included mortality rate as well as DGF and SGF), age, gender, BMI, blood group, Rh, allograft renal function, transplantation date, kidney transplantation history, PPD, positive history of rheumatologic disorders, the distance between home of recipient and the transplantation center, cardiovascular disease, and dialysis duration was evaluated for all patients. Results: The incidence of DGF and SGF were 24. 8% and 20. 5%, respectively. There were no statistical differences in the rate of DGF and SGF between local and distant recipients (P > 0. 21). The rate of DGF was significantly higher in females as well as 40-65 year old recipients (P < 0. 05). In logistic regression multivariate analysis, DGF and SGF were significantly correlated with BMI, blood group, the history of kidney transplantation, and dialysis duration. Conclusions: This study showed the feasibility of using a local donor for a distant recipient as well as reduction of cold ischemia time and lower rate of DGF. It is obvious that the shorter CIT, which resulted from usage of local donor, can lead to better kidney transplant outcomes.

Purpose: It is crucial to subdivide Vogt– Koyanagi– Harada (VKH) disease into two subentities, initial-onset disease versus chronically evolving disease. For early diagnosis and precise follow‑ up of VKH choroiditis, the “ Revised criteria for VKH” are no more sufficient for the appraisal of VKH and new biomarkers for disease activity are needed. It has been shown that, if initial-onset disease is treated promptly within the “ therapeutic window of opportunity” and long enough with dual steroidal and non-steroidal immunosuppression, the disease can be cured in a large proportion of cases, an approach still contested. The proportion of chronic evolution and/or sunset-glow fundus (SGF) following steroidal monotherapy versus dual steroidal and non-steroidal immunosuppression was compared. Methods: A literature search was performed, identifying studies on initial-onset VKH treated either by steroidal monotherapy or dual immunosuppression. Evolution toward chronicity and/or SGF was compared in both groups. Results: Twenty studies were identified with reported long‑ term outcomes. In 16 studies, 802 patients received steroidal monotherapy, while in 4 studies, 172 patients received dual steroidal and non-steroidal immunosuppression. Chronic evolution and SGF occurred, respectively, in 44% and 59% in the corticosteroid‑ alone group versus 2. 3% and 17. 5% in the dual therapy group with no chronic evolution in three studies and no SGF in two studies. Conclusions: Chronic evolution and SGF are significantly less frequent in initial‑ onset VKH when treated with immediate dual steroidal and non-steroidal immunosuppression with a high proportion of healed cases. This combined approach seems recommended in the management of initial-onset VKH disease.

An ideal drug delivery system (DDS) releases an appropriate drug at specific locations and times. Colonic drugs delivery has gained an increased importance not just for the delivery of the drugs for the treatment of local diseases associated with the colon but also for its potential for the delivery of proteins and therapeutic peptides. Biocompatible copolymeric hydrogels based on N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NVP) and methacrylic acid (MAA) were designed and synthesized Because of the growing importance of pH sensitive hydrogels as drug delivery systems, these hydrogels were investigated for oral drug delivery. The copolymeric hydrogel was synthesized by free-radical polymerization. Azabisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) was the free-radical initiator employed and Cubane-1, 4-dicarboxylic acid (CDA) linked to two 2- hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) groups was the cross linking agent (CA) used for hydrogel preparations. The hydrogels were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and FT-IR. Equilibrium swelling studies were carried out in enzyme-free simulated gastric and intestinal fluids (SGF and SIF, respectively). The gels swelled more in SIF than in SGF The model drugs, penicillin G, gentamycin tetracyclines and erythromycin were entrapped in these gels and the in vitro release profiles were established separately in both enzyme-free SGF and SIF The drug-release profiles indicate that the amount of drug release depends on their degree of swelling and cross linking.      

Introduction. The genetic variations of co-stimulatory molecules can affect the extent of T cell activity during T-cell mediated immunity, especially in transplant patients. This study aimed to investigate the association of programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1) and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PDCD1LG1) gene polymorphisms with clinical outcome of kidney transplantation. Materials and Methods. A total of 122 patients with a kidney transplant were included in this retrospective study. Patients were classified into two groups of biopsy-proven acute allograft rejection (AAR) and stable graft function (SGF) during the 5-year followup period. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms in PDCD1 and PDCD1LG1 were determined in the groups of patients as well as in 208 healthy control individuals. Results. The frequencies of PD-1. 3 (+7146 G > A), PD-1. 9 (+7625 C > T), PD-L1 (8923 A > C), and PD-L1 (+6777 C > G) genotypes and alleles were not significantly different between the AAR and SGF groups. In comparison with healthy controls, PD-1. 9 (+7625 C > T) genotype and T allele were significantly more frequent in all of the patients and in those with SGF. Overall, 27 of 122 kidney allograft recipients experienced delayed graft function, and a higher frequency of PD-1. 9 (+7625 C > T) genotype and T allele was observed in this group versus those without delayed graft function. Similarly, a significant high frequency of this genotype was found among the AAR subgroup of patients with delayed graft function. Conclusions. Our results indicate that potentially functional genetic variation in PDCD1 can influence the outcome of kidney transplantation.

The tensile properties of multiscale, hybrid, thermoplastic-based nanocomposites reinforced with nano-CaCO3 particles and micro– short glass fibers (SGF) were predicted by a two-step, three-dimensionalmodel using ANSYS finite element (FE) software. Cylindrical and cuboid representative volume elements were generated to obtain the effective behavior of the multiscale hybrid composites. In the first step, the mechanical performance of co-polypropylene/CaCO3 nanocomposite was analyzed. The thickness of the interphase layer around the nanoparticles was estimated by using differential scanning calorimetry data. In the second step, the nanocomposite (co-polypropylene/CaCO3) was considered as an effective matrix, and then the effect of micro-SGF inclusion on the corresponding effective matrix was evaluated. The FE and experimental stress-strain curves of multiscale, hybrid composites were compared at different weight fractions of the nanoparticle. The proposed two-step method can easily predict the tensile properties of multiscale, hybrid, thermoplastic-based nanocomposites.