Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High Blood Pressure After Acute Ischemic Stroke Is Associated With Poor Clinical Outcomes: Fukuoka Stroke Registry

The relationship between the poststroke blood pressure (BP) and functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke is still controversial. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the impact of the poststroke BP on the clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke. Among the patients in the Fukuoka Stroke Registry, 1874 patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke (within 24 hours of onset) who had been functionally independent before onset were prospectively enrolled in the present study. The poststroke BP levels were defined as the average values during the 48 hours after onset. The study outcomes were a good neurological recovery, neurological deterioration, and a poor functional outcome. The higher poststroke BP levels were significantly associated with a lower probability of a good neurological recovery and elevated risks of neurological deterioration and a poor functional outcome after adjusting for potential confounding factors. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) in the highest quintile of systolic BP (versus the lowest quintile as a reference) were 0.51 (0.37–0.71) for a good neurological recovery, 1.92 (1.15–3.27) for neurological deterioration, and 2.51 (1.69–3.74) for a poor functional outcome. Similar associations were observed when we applied the poststroke diastolic BP or pulse pressure. No evidence of the J-curve phenomenon was observed for each association. These results suggest that a high poststroke BP was significantly associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke. There was no evidence of the J-curve phenomenon between the poststroke BP levels and the clinical outcomes.
Attentional modulation of firing rate and synchrony in a model cortical network : a critical analysis

Attention plays an important role in helping us to make sense of our environment. By selectively attending to behaviourally relevant features we can improve the sensitivity of our perception of these features, at the expense of a reduction in the sensitivity for other features. Directing attention towards a visual stimulus has been shown to increase the firing rate of V4 neurons by increasing the effective stimulus strength [1] as well as increasing gamma frequency synchronization [2]. Here I describe a model by Buia et. al. which replicates these findings in a model neural network, where changes in attentional state and stimulus contrast are hypothesized to vary the input drive to the inhibitory and excitatory neuronal populations respectively [3]. I review the experimental evidence for such a mechanism, as well as suggesting further experiments to investigate the questions raised by their results. Finally, I discuss ways in which their model could be extended in order to account for other experimentally observed effects of attention, such as modulation of orientation tuning curves and the spatial integration properties of neurons in the visual cortex, and biasing of the neural response to competing sensory stimuli.
Identification of Atropine- and P2X1 Receptor Antagonist-Resistant, Neurogenic Contractions of the Urinary Bladder

Acetylcholine and ATP are excitatory cotransmitters in parasympathetic nerves. We used P2X1 receptor antagonists to further characterize the purinergic component of neurotransmission in isolated detrusor muscle of guinea pig urinary bladder. In the presence of atropine (1 μm) and prazosin (100 nm), pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonic acid (PPADS) (0.1–100 μm) and suramin (1–300 μm) inhibited contractions evoked by 4 Hz nerve stimulation in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 of 6.9 and 13.4 μm, respectively). Maximum inhibition was 50–60%, which was unaffected by coadministration of the ectonucleotidase inhibitor ARL67156 (6-N,N-diethyl-d-β,γ-dibromomethyleneATP) (100 μm). The remaining responses were abolished by tetrodotoxin (1 μm). PPADS and suramin also reduced contractions to exogenous ATP (300 μm) by 40–50%, but abolished those to the P2X1 agonist α,β-methyleneATP (α,β-meATP) (1 μm). The P2X1 antagonists reactive blue 2, NF279 (8,8′-[carbonylbis(imino-4,1-phenylenecarbonylimino-4,1-phenylenecarbonylimino)] bis-1,3,5-naphthalenetrisulfonic acid), MRS2159 (pyridoxal-α5-phosphate-6-phenylazo-4′-carboxylic acid) (100 μm), and NF449 [4,4′,4,4-(carbonylbis(imino-5,1,3-benzenetriylbis(carbonylimino)))tetrakis-benzene-1,3-disulfonic acid] (3 μm) abolished contractions to α,β-meATP (1 μm; n = 4–5), but only reduced contractions evoked by 4 Hz nerve stimulation by ∼40–60% (n = 4–6) and ATP by 30–60% (n = 4–7). However, prolonged exposure to α,β-meATP (50 μm) abolished contractions evoked by all three stimuli (n = 5–12). PPADS (100 μm) and suramin (300 μm) reduced the peak neurogenic contraction of the mouse urinary bladder to 30–40% of control. At the same concentrations, the P2X1 antagonists abolished the nonadrenergic, purinergic component of neurogenic contractions in the guinea pig vas deferens (n = 4–5). Thus, P2X1 receptor antagonists inhibit, but do not abolish, the noncholinergic component of neurogenic contractions of guinea pig and mouse urinary bladder, indicating a second mode of action of neuronally released ATP. This has important implications for treatment of dysfunctional urinary bladder, for which this atropine- and P2X1 antagonist-resistant site represents a novel therapeutic target.
In-depth phenotyping of lymphoblastoid cells suggests selective cellular vulnerability in Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome

SIL1 is a ubiquitous protein of the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) acting as a co-chaperone for the ER-resident chaperone, BiP. Recessive mutations of the corresponding gene lead to vulnerability of skeletal muscle and central nervous system in man (Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome; MSS) and mouse. However, it is still unclear how loss of ubiquitous SIL1 leads to selective vulnerability of the nervous system and skeletal muscle whereas other cells and organs are protected from clinical manifestations. In this study we aimed to disentangle proteins participating in selective vulnerability of SIL1-deficient cells and tissues: morphological examination of MSS patient-derived lymphoblastoid cells revealed altered organelle structures (ER, nucleus and mitochondria) thus showing subclinical vulnerability. To correlate structural perturbations with biochemical changes and to identify proteins potentially preventing phenotypical manifestation, proteomic studies have been carried out. Results of proteomic profiling are in line with the morphological findings and show affection of nuclear, mitochondrial and cytoskeletal proteins as well as of such responsible for cellular viability. Moreover, expression patterns of proteins known to be involved in neuromuscular disorders or in development and function of the nervous system were altered. Paradigmatic findings were confirmed by immunohistochemistry of splenic lymphocytes and the cerebellum of SIL1-deficient mice. Ataxin-10, identified with increased abundance in our proteome profile, is necessary for the neuronal survival but also controls muscle fiber apoptosis, thus declaring this protein as a plausible candidate for selective tissue vulnerability. Our combined results provide first insights into the molecular causes of selective cell and tissue vulnerability defining the MSS phenotype.
Internet Cognitive Testing of Large Samples Needed in Genetic Research

Abstract Quantitative and molecular genetic research requires large samples to provide adequate statistical power, but it is expensive to test large samples in person, especially when the participants are widely distributed geographically. Increasing access to inexpensive and fast Internet connections makes it possible to test large samples efficiently and economically online. Reliability and validity of Internet testing for cognitive ability have not been previously reported; these issues are especially pertinent for testing children. We developed Internet versions of reading, language, mathematics and general cognitive ability tests and investigated their reliability and validity for 10- and 12-year-old children. We tested online more than 2500 pairs of 10-year-old twins and compared their scores to similar internet-based measures administered online to a subsample of the children when they were 12 years old (> 759 pairs). Within 3 months of the online testing at 12 years, we administered standard paper and pencil versions of the reading and mathematics tests in person to 30 children (15 pairs of twins). Scores on Internet-based measures at 10 and 12 years correlated . 63 on average across the two years, suggesting substantial stability and high reliability. Correlations of about . 80 between Internet measures and in-person testing suggest excellent validity. In addition, the comparison of the internet-based measures to ratings from teachers based on criteria from the UK National Curriculum suggests good concurrent validity for these tests. We conclude that Internet testing can be reliable and valid for collecting cognitive test data on large samples even for children as young as 10 years.
Oxy-helium treatment of severe spinal decompression sickness after air diving.

Spinal cord injury in DCS after air diving is relatively frequent and often has late sequelae. U.S. Navy oxygen tables are sometimes not satisfactory. The advantage of using helium in these cases is based theoretically on its physical properties and has been demonstrated in animal models. We have introduced the Comex-30 (CX-30) oxy-helium table as an integral part of our treatment protocol for severe spinal DCS. We summarize here our clinical experience with seven cases. A case was considered severe if clinical assessment suggested progressive neurologic injury to the spinal cord or roots. Except for one case, the initial treatment was CX-30 followed by HBO sessions as indicated. Of the seven patients treated, five made a full recovery and the remaining two were left with mild neurologic sequelae.
Temporal Profile of Amygdala Gamma Oscillations in Response to Faces

Neuroimaging studies have reported greater activation of the human amygdala in response to faces than to nonfacial stimuli, yet little is known about the temporal profile of this activation. We investigated this issue by recording the intracranial field potentials of the amygdala in participants undergoing preneurosurgical assessment (n = 6). Participants observed faces, mosaics, and houses in upright and inverted orientations using a dummy target detection task. Time–frequency statistical parametric mapping analyses revealed that the amygdala showed greater gamma-band activity in response to faces than to mosaics at 200–300 msec, with a peak at 255 msec. Gamma-band activation with a similar temporal profile was also found in response to faces versus houses. Activation patterns did not differ between upright and inverted presentations of stimuli. These results suggest that the human amygdala is involved in the early stages of face processing, including the modulation of subjective perception of faces.
Characterisation and Classification of the Neural Anatomy in the Human Hip Joint

Hip arthroscopy remains a useful surgical intervention for labral injuries. The literature has predominantly focused on structural and vascular considerations of the hip joint, with few studies examining the neurohistology of the surrounding periarticular tissues. We mapped and identified the periarticular neural anatomy, to identify the presence of sensory nerve fibres and mechanoreceptors within the hip joint. Eight human cadaveric hips were dissected into a total of ten specimens per hip. Histological staining was used to identify neural structures taken from the superolateral, anterior, inferior, and posterior positions of the hip joint. The frozen sections were analyzed by light microscopy to calculate relative concentrations of mean neural fibres per high power field (mnf/hpf). Neural end organs were found in the hip capsule, acetabular labrum, ligamentum teres and transverse acetabular ligament. The highest levels of mechanoreceptors were found in the superolateral aspect of the hip capsule (9.6 mnf/hpf). The labrum showed highest levels of sensory fibres (3.4 mnf/hpf) and mechanoreceptors (4.3mnf/hpf) within the anterior zone. Sensory fibres and mechanoreceptors densely populate the acetabular labrum, capsule and transverse acetabular ligament. The anterior zone of the labrum contained the highest relative concentration of sensory fibres, specifically Ruffini corpuscles.
Disturbed sleep in attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not a question of psychiatric comorbidity or ADHD presentation

Attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a heterogeneous psychiatric disorder with three different presentations and high levels of psychiatric comorbidity. Serious sleep complaints are also common, but the role of the presentations and comorbidity in sleep is under‐investigated in ADHD. Consequently, the goal of the study was to investigate sleep problems in medicine‐naive school‐aged children (mean age = 9.6 years) with ADHD compared to controls using objective methods and to examine the role of comorbidity and presentations. Ambulatory polysomnography results suggested that children with ADHD (n = 76) had significantly more sleep disturbances than controls (n = 25), including a larger percentage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and more sleep cycles, as well as lower mean sleep efficiency, mean non‐REM (NREM) sleep stage 1 and mean NREM sleep stage 3. No significant between‐group differences were found on the multiple sleep latency test. Stratifying for comorbidity in the ADHD group did not reveal major differences between groups, but mean sleep latency was significantly longer in children with ADHD and no comorbidity compared to controls (36.1 min; SD = 30.1 versus 22.6 min; SD = 15.2). No differences were found between ADHD presentations. Our results support the presence of night‐time sleep disturbances in children with ADHD. Poor sleep does not appear to be attributable to comorbidity alone, nor do sleep disturbances differ within ADHD presentations.
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology Open Access Global Gene Expression Analysis and Regulation of the Principal Genes Expressed in Bovine Placenta in Relation to the Transcription Factor Ap-2 Family

Background: Cell-cell communication is an important factor in feto-maternal units during placentogenesis. The placenta produces pivotal hormones and cytokines for communication between cotyledonary villi and the maternal caruncle. Gene expression in bovine placenta throughout pregnancy was comprehensively screened by a cDNA microarray, and we searched for a common transcription factor in a gene cluster that showed increasing expression throughout gestation in cotyledonary villi and caruncle.
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in a Large Group of β-Thalassemia Patients Using Right Heart Catheterization

The β-thalassemias constitute a group of inherited disorders of hemoglobin synthesis primarily existing in the lowor middle-income countries of the tropical belt stretching from sub-Saharan Africa, through the Mediterranean region and the Middle East, to South and Southeast Asia. Continued migration has also greatly expanded the reach of these diseases into large, multiethnic cities in Europe and North America, thus making such disorders a global public health concern. Distinction of the various forms of β-thalassemia relies on clinical grounds. Patients with β-thalassemia major present to medical attention in early childhood with severe anemia requiring life-long transfusion and iron chelation therapy for survival. Conversely, patients with β-thalassemia intermedia present later in childhood with milder anemia and remain largely transfusion-independent. Such variation in phenotype has been attributed to several environmental and genetic factors that alter the α/β-chain imbalance and subsequent ineffective erythropoiesis and peripheral hemolysis, the hallmarks of disease process in β-thalassemia.
The effects of local administration of lactoferrin on inflammation in murine autoimmune and infectious arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether lactoferrin can modify articular inflammation in murine models of autoimmune and septic arthritis. METHODS Collagen arthritis was induced in DBA/1 mice and Staphylococcus aureus septic arthritis in Swiss mice. Joints with established inflammation were injected periarticularly with 0.5 mg or 1 mg of human lactoferrin, and arthritis was monitored for 3 days. RESULTS DBA/1 mice injected with lactoferrin showed significantly suppressed local inflammation for up to 3 days, achieving up to 71% of the effect of corticosteroid. Periarticular injection of 125I-lactoferrin confirmed that 25% of lactoferrin was retained in paws after 6 hours. Serum levels of interleukin-6, however, were not significantly reduced, suggesting a predominantly local antiinflammatory effect. Similarly, local, periarticular administration of lactoferrin into S aureus-infected Swiss mice significantly suppressed paw inflammation and did not enhance bacterial survival. CONCLUSION Lactoferrin may have clinical utility in reducing articular inflammation, particularly in septic arthritis, in which antiinflammatory effects may be achieved without promoting bacterial survival.
Optical measurements for quality control in photodynamic therapy

Optical measurements for quality control in photodynamic therapy Paulo Rodrigues Bargo OGI School of Science and Engineering Oregon Health and Science University Supervising Professor: Steven L. Jacques The evolution of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) to a fully developed treatment modality requires the development of appropriate dosimetry to ensure proper quality control during treatments. The parameters measured for PDT quality control were the drug accumulation and the optical penetration depth. These methods were tested in vitro in photochemical assays and in tissue simulating phantoms. Pilot clinical trials were conducted and in vivo measurements were perform in patients undergoing endoscopic screening for esophageal diseases and photodynamic therapy of esophagus, lung, oral cavity
“So Much of This Story Could Be Me”: Men’s Use of Support in Online Infertility Discussion Boards

Past research has suggested that social support can reduce the negative psychological consequences associated with infertility. Online discussion boards (ODBs) appear to be a novel and valuable venue for men with fertility problems to acquire support from similar others. Research has not employed a social support framework to classify the types of support men are offered and receive. Using template, content, and thematic analysis, this study sought to identify what types of social support men seek and receive on online infertility discussion boards while exploring how men having fertility problems use appraisal support to assist other men. One hundred and ninety-nine unique users were identified on two online infertility discussion boards. Four types of social support (appraisal, emotional, informational, and instrumental) were evident on ODBs, with appraisal support (36%) being used most often to support other men. Within appraisal support, five themes were identified that showed how men communicate this type of support to assist other men: “At the end of the day, we’re all emotionally exhausted”; “So much of this could be me, infertility happens more than you think”; “I’ve also felt like the worst husband in the world”; “It’s just something that nobody ever talks about so it’s really shocking to hear”; “I say this as a man, you’re typing my thoughts exactly. ” These findings confirm how ODBs can be used as a potential medium to expand one’s social network and acquire support from people who have had a similar experience.
Secrecy Capacity of the Primary System in a Cognitive Radio Network

With fast growth of wireless services, secrecy has become an increasingly important issue for wireless networks. In this paper, we investigate the secrecy capacity of the primary system in a cognitive radio system based on artificial noise, which has been proposed for dealing with the eavesdropper. We first consider a special case of one eavesdropper and two regimes of the eavesdropping channel condition. Specifically, we analyze the impact of interference generated by a secondary system toward the primary system in a cognitive radio system. The channel state information (CSI) of the primary channel is assumed to be perfectly known at both the primary transmitter and receiver, whereas that of the eavesdropper is partially known. Under these assumptions, we derive analytical expressions for the ergodic secrecy capacity in the cases of strong eavesdropping channel and weak eavesdropping channel and analyze the impact of the secondary system on the primary ergodic secrecy capacity. Moreover, we extend the analysis to the general case of arbitrary eavesdropping channel condition and arbitrary number of eavesdroppers. Some numerical results will be also presented to verify the analysis.
Variability of expression of oral-facial-digital syndrome type I in 15 Saudi girls: Why is there a high rate of median cleft lip in the phenotype?

Background It is well known that the incidence of nonsyndromal cleft lip and palate varies greatly according to ancestry: 0.3 to 0.4 per 1000 live births in blacks, one in 1000 in Caucasians, and two in 1000 in Asians and individuals from the central province of Saudi Arabia. Median cleft lip is a variable feature in oral-facial-digital syndrome type I (OFD-I). Objective To test the hypothesis that genetic factors may determine the lip phenotype in OFD-I patients. Methods A study involving 15 Saudi girls (from the central province of Saudi Arabia) with OFD-I showed a high rate (93.3%) of median cleft lip and palate. This rate in OFD-I patients is known to range from 33% to 56% in Caucasians and also known to be very low in blacks. The authors compared the rate of median cleft lip with or without cleft palate in the Arabian series (93.3%) with the rate in Caucasians and blacks. Results The difference in median cleft lip with or without cleft palate among the three groups was significant. Conclusion This supports the hypothesis that ancestral genetic factors may determine the lip phenotype in OFD-I patients.
Prevalence of dental trauma and use of mouthguards in rugby union players.

BACKGROUND There is a high prevalence of orofacial trauma in rugby union players. Mouthguards reduce complications following dental injuries, should dental injuries occur. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of oral trauma and the significance of mouthguard use in adult amateur rugby union players in New South Wales, Australia. METHODS Questionnaires were distributed to players in rugby union clubs. It questioned players about their mouthguard use and orofacial trauma experience; the type of injury, complications, if a mouthguard was worn, where treatment was sought and outcome. RESULTS The prevalence of orofacial trauma in rugby union players is 64.9%. The most common injury was laceration to intraoral and extraoral soft tissues at 44.5%. Of all orofacial injuries reported, 41.9% were to the dentition. Following dental injury, loss of the tooth was the most common complication (34.7%). 76.9% of players wore mouthguards. By wearing a mouthguard, the risk reduction for ongoing complications following dental injuries was 18.5% (p-value = 0.009). Of these, 10.4% (p-value = 0.45) represented loss of the tooth. CONCLUSIONS Rates of orofacial trauma and complications in amateur rugby union players are high in Australia. Use of mouthguards results in significant risk reduction for complications following dental injuries, including loss of tooth.