Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vestibular Rehabilitation for Dizziness and Balance Disorders After Concussion

Background and Purpose: Management of dizziness and balance dysfunction is a major challenge after concussion. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of vestibular rehabilitation in reducing dizziness and to improve gait and balance function in people after concussion. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 114 patients (67 children aged 18 years and younger [mean, 16 years; range, 8-18 years]; 47 adults older than 18 years [mean, 41 years; range, 19-73 years]) referred for vestibular rehabilitation after concussion was performed. At the time of initial evaluation and discharge, recordings were made of outcome measures of self-report (eg, dizziness severity, Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory) and gait and balance performance (eg, Dynamic Gait Index, gait speed, and the Sensory Organization Test). A mixed-factor repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to test whether there was an effect of vestibular rehabilitation therapy and age on the outcome measures. Results: The median length of time between concussion and initial evaluation was 61 days. Of the 114 patients who were referred, 84 returned for at least 1 visit. In these patients, improvements were observed in all self-report, gait, and balance performance measures at the time of discharge (P < .05). Children improved by a greater amount in dizziness severity (P = .005) and conditions 1 (eyes open, fixed support) and 2 (eyes closed, fixed support) of the Sensory Organization Test (P < .025). Discussion: Vestibular rehabilitation may reduce dizziness and improve gait and balance function after concussion. For most measures, the improvement did not depend on age, indicating that vestibular rehabilitation may equally benefit both children and adults. Conclusions: Vestibular rehabilitation should be considered in the management of individuals post concussion who have dizziness and gait and balance dysfunction that do not resolve with rest.
Enrichment of Anti-Glomerular Antigen Antibody-Producing Cells in the Kidneys of MRL/MpJ-Faslpr Mice1

Lupus nephritis is characterized by immune complex deposition and infiltration of inflammatory cells into the kidney including Ab-producing cells (AbPCs). Although AbPCs play a central role in the pathogenesis of immune complex glomerulonephritis in lupus, the specificity and pathogenic role of AbPCs infiltrating into the kidneys in lupus are poorly understood. To characterize AbPCs present in lupus kidneys, we isolated AbPCs from diseased MRL/MpJ-Faslpr (MRL/lpr) mouse kidneys. ELISPOT assays, using glomerular Ag (GA) extracts as Ag, demonstrated significant enhancement of anti-GA AbPCs in the kidneys as compared in peripheral blood or spleen of the same mouse. We isolated hybridomas with anti-GA specificity from MRL/lpr mouse kidneys. All the anti-GA mAbs had polyreactive binding to ssDNA, dsDNA, and IgG (i.e., rheumatoid factor), but not to histones or Sm. Sequence analysis of anti-GA Abs suggested the occurrence of somatic mutations and amino acid replacement in complementarity-determining regions with a high replacement to silent ratio resulting in charged amino acids. Intravenous administration of the monoclonal anti-GA Abs into BALB/c mice resulted in graded deposition in glomeruli paralleling their ELISA anti-GA reactivity. These results suggest that AbPCs infiltrating the kidneys in MRL/lpr mice accumulate as a result of Ag selection and likely play a pathologic role in lupus nephritis.
Seroprevalence of Mycoplasma synoviae and Mycoplasma gallisepticum in one day old broiler chickens in Libya.

The aim of this study was to carry out a serological survey of antibodies against Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) in 1500 one day old broiler chickens sera were examined by serum plate agglutination test. Antibodies against MG and MS were detected 3.4% and 6.4%, respectively. The seroprevalence of MG was 5.2% in chickens from imported fertile eggs and 0% in chickens from local fertile eggs, whereas for MS was 9.3% in chickens from imported fertile eggs and 0.8% in chicks from local fertile eggs.
Effects of substrate metallization on the degradation of flip chip interconnects under electromigration

Effects of substrate metallization, i.e. Ni/Au vs. Cu-OSP, are studied to characterize the electromigration resistance of under-bump-metallization (UBM) and solder bumps of a flip-chip package under high temperature operation life test (HTOL). UBM is a thin film Al/Ni (V)/Cu metal stack of 1.5 /spl mu/m; while bump material consists of eutectic Sn/Pb solder. Current densities of 5,000 A/cm/sup 2/ and ambient temperatures of 125 to 150 C are applied as conditions of current and thermal stressing. It is observed that flip-chip packages with Cu-OSP substrates are having 13-fold improvement in Mean-Time-To-Failure (MTTF) than that of packages using Ni/Au as substrate surface finishes. Both Ni and Au influence the consumption and electromigration of UBM; therefore accelerate solder bump damage. Measured resistance increase is from bumps with electrical current flowing upward into UBM/bump interface (cathode), while bumps having opposite current polarity cause only minor resistance change. The identified failure sites and modes from aforementioned high resistance bumps reveal structural damages at the region of UBM and UBM/bump interface in forms of solder cracking or delamination. Effects of substrate metallization, current polarity, and crowding are key factors to electromigration behavior of flip-chip interconnect.
Energy expenditure assessed by heart rate and doubly labeled water in young athletes.

PURPOSE To compare total energy expenditure (TEE) estimated by the FLEX heart rate (HR) method with that measured by the doubly labeled water (DLW) technique in young speed skaters. We hypothesized that the accuracy of FLEX HR-estimated TEE would be affected by a) the definition of the FLEX HR and b) the type of training regimen. METHODS Eight young athletes (mean age 18.2 +/- 1.3 yr) underwent measurements during two 10-d training periods: an off-season period with voluntary training (predominantly running) and a preseason period mainly focused on skating technique training. TEE was measured simultaneously by the DLW and FLEX HR methods. FLEX HR1 was defined as the mean of the HRs during all resting calibration activities and the lowest HR during exercising calibration activities. FLEX HR2 was defined as the mean of the highest HR during resting activities and the lowest HR during exercising. RESULTS ANOVA showed that FLEX HR1 was significantly lower than FLEX HR2 (mean of both periods; 77 +/- 5 vs 84 +/- 6 beats.min(-1); P = 0.004). TEE values obtained by DLW were 16.8 +/- 3.8 and 16.9 +/- 2.9 MJ.d(-1) in the two periods, respectively. TEE values calculated from FLEX HR1 were 17.8 +/- 3.6 and 17.4 +/- 2.6 MJ.d(-1), and those from FLEX HR2 17.1 +/- 3.1 and 17.0 +/- 2.7 MJ.d-1, respectively. No significant period (P = 0.83) or method (P = 0.44) effect on TEE was observed. CONCLUSION FLEX HR-estimated TEE was not affected by the definition of the FLEX HR or by the type of training regimen as compared with TEE measured by the DLW method in young athletes.
A comparison of different lysis buffers to assess allele dropout from single cells for preimplantation genetic diagnosis

Single cell polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) requires high efficiency and accuracy. Allele dropout (ADO), the random amplification failure of one of the two parental alleles, remains the most significant problem in PCR‐based PGD testing since it can result in serious misdiagnosis for compound heterozygous or autosomal dominant conditions. A number of different strategies (including the use of lysis buffers to break down the cell and make the DNA accessible) have been employed to combat ADO with varying degrees of success, yet there is still no consensus among PGD centres over which lysis buffer should be used (ESHRE PGD Consortium, 1999 ). To address this issue, PCR amplification of three genes (CFTR, LAMA3 and PKP1) at different chromosomal loci was investigated. Single lymphocytes from individuals heterozygous for mutations within each of the three genes were collected and lysed in either alkaline lysis buffer (ALB) or proteinase K/SDS lysis buffer (PK). PCR amplification efficiencies were comparable between alkaline lysis and proteinase K lysis for PCR products spanning each of the three mutated loci (ΔF508 in CFTR 90% vs 88%; R650X in LAMA3 82% vs 78%; and Y71X in PKP1 91% vs 87%). While there was no appreciable difference between ADO rates between the two lysis buffers for the LAMA3 PCR product (25% vs 26%), there were significant differences in ADO rates between ALB and PK for the CFTR PCR product (0% vs 23%) and the PKP1 PCR product (8% vs 56%). Based on these results, we are currently using ALB in preference to PK/SDS buffer for the lysis of cells in clinical PGD. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Epstein-Barr virus PCR correlated with viral histology and serology in pediatric liver transplant patients.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated illnesses in posttransplant patients are difficult to diagnose. Attempts to aid in the diagnosis of such illnesses using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for EBV have met with variable success due to the potential exquisite sensitivity of the assay. We have designed a relatively insensitive EBV PCR assay and compared the results with objective evidence of EBV activity including serologic response and in situ hybridization for the EBV genome. Eighty-five specimens from 65 patients were analyzed by the EBV PCR using DNA from whole blood. EBV serologic evaluation was done on 53 of the samples and in situ hybridization for EBV (EBER-1 mRNA) on 46 paired liver biopsies. Of 85 samples, 25 (29%) were positive for EBV using the PCR assay. Intensity of amplification was graded 0.5-1+ (weak) to 3+ (strong). Using these criteria, 19 EBV PCR-positive samples were graded 0.5-1+, 5 were graded 2+, and 1 was graded 3+. Of the moderate to strongly positive samples (2+ or 3+), five of six had two or more EBER-1-positive cells in the liver biopsies. Of the remaining 40 liver biopsies with either negative or weak positive PCR results, 3 had only single cells positive for EBER-1; the remainder were negative. In addition, PCR-positive results correlated with increasing EBV anti-early antigen antibody (P = .005) and viral capsid antigen IgG immunoglobulin G VCA (P = .05) EBV-positive results using the PCR assay correlated with objective evidence for increased EBV burden in children after liver transplantation. These preliminary data suggest that this PCR test may be useful to help guide immunosuppressive therapy in the posttransplant patient. Further evaluation using larger numbers of patients will be necessary to confirm this.
Children's well-being 11 years after the Chornobyl catastrophe.

BACKGROUND The psychological effects of technological disasters have rarely been studied in children. This study assessed the aftermath of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster in children evacuated to Kyiv from the contaminated zone surrounding the nuclear power facility. METHODS In 1997, we evaluated three hundred 10- to 12-year-old children in Kyiv who were in utero or infants at the time of the disaster and who had resided near Chornobyl (evacuees) and 300 sex-matched homeroom classmates who had never lived in a radiation-contaminated area. Response rates were 92% (evacuees) and 85% (classmates). Data were obtained from children, mothers, and teachers using standard measures of well-being and risk factors for childhood psychopathology. The children also received physical examinations and basic blood tests. RESULTS The evacuees and classmates perceived their mental health similarly except for Chornobyl-related anxiety symptoms and perceived scholastic competence. No differences were found on the Iowa Conners' Teacher Rating Scale. Although the physical examination and blood test results were normal, the evacuee mothers rated their children's well-being as significantly worse, especially with respect to somatic symptoms on the Children's Somatization Inventory and Child Behavior Checklist. The most important risk factors for these ratings were maternal somatization and Chornobyl-related stress. CONCLUSIONS Given the multiple stressful experiences to which evacuee families were exposed, the small differences in the children's self-reports suggest that there are protective factors in the lives of these children. The trauma experienced by the mothers was reflected in their perceptions of their children's well-being, particularly somatic symptoms, but was not transmitted to the children themselves.
Quinoline-2-carbonitrile–fumaric acid (1/0.5)

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C10H6N2·0.5C4H4O4, consists of one quinoline-2-carbonitrile molecule and a half-molecule of fumaric acid, which lies on an inversion center. The quinoline-2-carbonitrile molecule is almost planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.008 (1) Å. The acid and base are linked together via pairs of intermolecular C—H⋯O and O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming R 2 2(8) ring motifs. In the crystal, the carbonitrile molecules are further linked by intermolecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, generating R 2 2(10) ring motifs, resulting in zigzag chains running along the c axis.
Short-term anteroposterior treatment effects of functional appliances and extraoral traction on class II malocclusion. A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the anteroposterior short-term skeletal and dental effects on Class II malocclusion in growing patients following treatment with functional appliances (activators or twin block), extraoral traction, or combination appliances (appliances with both functional and extraoral traction components), based on published data. MATERIALS AND METHODS A literature search was carried out identifying a total of nine prospective clinical trials. The data provided in the publications underwent meta-analysis using the random effects model with regard to SNA, SNB, ANB, and overjet. RESULTS All appliance groups showed an improvement in sagittal intermaxillary relationships (decrease in ANB) when compared to untreated subjects. Activators and twin block appliances accomplish this mainly by acting on the mandible (increases in SNB) while twin block appliances also seem to act on the maxilla (decrease in SNA). Extraoral traction appliances achieve this by acting on the maxilla (decreases in SNA). Combination appliances mainly act on the mandible (increase in SNB). Activators, twin block, and combination appliances also reveal a decrease in overjet, which is not the case in the singular use of extraoral traction. CONCLUSIONS Intermaxillary changes being present in all appliance groups, anteroposterior treatment response following the use of functional appliances and/or extraoral traction in growing class II malocclusion patients is most evident in one of the two jaws (mandible for activators and combination appliances and maxilla for extraoral traction) except for the twin block group, which shows changes on both jaws.
Blocking tumorigenic activities of colorectal cancer cells by a splicing RON receptor variant defective in the tyrosine kinase domain

Altered expression of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase, accompanied by generation of splicing variants, contributes to the pathogenesis of epithelial cancers such as invasive growth of colorectal caners. In this study, we have studied a novel RON variant (designated as RONΔ170) that regulates tumorigenic activities of colorectal cancer cells by blocking RON-mediated tumorigenic signals. RONΔ170 is a splicing variant with a deletion of exon 19 that encodes 46 amino acids in the catalytic kinase domain. This deletion also causes a reading-frame shift and creates a new stop codon, which effectively eliminates the multi-functional docking site and truncates the RON C-terminus. As a RON variant without kinase activities and the C-terminal docking domain, RONΔ170 acts as a variant receptor that negatively regulates biochemical and biological activities mediated by RON or its oncogenic variant RONΔ160. In NIH3T3 expressing RONΔ160, RONΔ170 formed a complex with RONΔ160 and prevented RONΔ160-mediated activation of signaling proteins such as Erk1/2 and AKT. These effects resulted in decreased cell proliferation, reduced colony formation, and diminished cell migration. These negative activities were also observed in colorectal cancer cells naturally expressing RON or RONΔ160 including HT-29, HCT116, and SW620. Introduction of RONΔ170 into HCT116 cells blocked MSP-induced Erk1/2 and AKT phosphorylation, reduced cytoplasmic β-catenin accumulation, restored glycogen synthase kinase-3β activity, and attenuated various tumorigenic activities. Moreover, RONΔ170 expression significantly reduced SW620 cell-mediated tumor growth in vivo. Thus, RONΔ170 is a naturally occurring variant with dominant negative activities and has potential for inhibiting RON-mediated tumorigenic activities in colorectal cancer cells.
Detection and measurement of urinary 2-hydroxyestradiol 17-sulfate, a potential placental antioxidant during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND Preeclampsia is associated with a quantitative imbalance between lipid peroxide and an antioxidant coproduced in the placenta. To investigate our hypothesis that 2-hydroxyestradiol 17-sulfate (2-OH-ES) is the placental antioxidant during pregnancy, we developed an assay for 2-OH-ES in urine and studied samples from women with and without preeclampsia. METHODS The detection and measurement of 2-OH-ES in the urine of pregnant women were performed by RIA using highly specific antiserum to 2-OH-ES. To confirm the reliability of the RIA method, the same samples were analyzed by HPLC using an electrochemical detector. RESULTS Urinary 2-OH-ES values obtained by RIA showed a close relationship to those obtained by HPLC (y = 1.1x - 0.01; r = 0.96). The urinary 2-OH-ES concentrations during the first, second, and third trimesters were 2. 0 +/- 0.6 (mean +/- SE, n = 13), 5.3 +/- 1.3 (n = 21), and 15.3 +/- 2.0 microg/mg creatinine (n = 54), respectively, and <0.15 microg/mg creatinine (n = 10) at 2-24 h after delivery. The concentrations in preeclamptic women during the third trimester were significantly lower, 3.9 +/- 1.9 microg/mg creatinine (mean +/- SE, n = 12). CONCLUSIONS RIA can be used to measure urinary 2-OH-ES during pregnancy. The increase in urinary 2-OH-ES during gestation, its decrease after delivery, and the lower values in preeclampsia are consistent with a role of 2-OH-ES as a placental antioxidant.
The Pathways of Cell Death: Oncosis, Apoptosis, and Necrosis

The pathways and identification of cell injury and cell death are of key importance to the practice of diagnostic and research toxicologic pathology. Following a lethal injury, cellular reactions are initially reversible. Currently, we recognize two patterns, oncosis and apoptosis. Oncosis, derived from the Greek word "swelling," is the common pattern of change in infarcts and in zonal killing following chemical toxicity, e.g., centrilobular hepatic necrosis after CC14 toxicity. In this common reaction, the earliest changes involve cytoplasmic blebbing, dilatation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), swelling of the cytosol, normal or condensed mitochondria, and chromatin clumping in the nucleus. In apoptosis, the early changes involve cell shrinkage, cytosolic shrinkage, more marked chromatin clumping, cytoplasmic blebbing, swollen ER on occasion, and mitochondria that are normal or condensed. Following cell death, both types undergo postmortem changes collectively termed "necrosis. " In the case of oncosis, this typically involves broad zones of cells while, in the case of apoptosis, the cells and/or the fragments are often phagocytized prior to their death by adjacent macrophages or parenchymal cells. In either case, the changes converge to a pattern that involves mitochondrial swelling, mitochondrial flocculent densities and/or calcification, karyolysis, and disruption of plasmalemmal continuity. The biochemical mechanisms of cell death are currently under intense study, particularly concerning the genes involved in the process. Pro-death genes include p53, the ced-3/ICE proteases, and the Bax family. Anti-death genes include ced-9/Bcl-2 and the adenovirus protein E1B. It is clear that ion deregulation, particularly that of [Ca 2+]1 plays an important role in cell death following either apoptosis or oncosis. Genetic evidence strongly indicates that activation of proteases is an important step, possibly very near to the point where cell death occurs.
Intrarenal artery superoxide is mainly NADPH oxidase-derived and modulates endothelium-dependent dilation in elderly patients.

AIMS The present study was performed to investigate the contribution of NADPH oxidases (Nox) to superoxide formation in human renal proximal resistance arteries and to test whether superoxide formation contributes to acute vasoconstrictor responses and endothelium-dependent vasodilation in these vessels. METHODS AND RESULTS Arcuate and proximal interlobular artery segments were from patients who underwent nephrectomy because of a renal tumour. Vessels were dissected from tumour-free parts of the kidneys. Additional intrarenal arteries were obtained from rats. Superoxide formation was measured by lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence, expression of Nox isoforms was analysed by RT-PCR, and functional studies were performed by small vessel wire myography. Sixty per cent of superoxide formation in human arcuate and proximal interlobular arteries was due to Nox activity. mRNA expression analyses revealed the presence of Nox2 and Nox4 but not Nox1. Phenylephrine and endothelin-1 induced powerful concentration-dependent vasoconstrictions that were unaffected by superoxide scavengers. Vasopressin elicited small and variable vasoconstrictions with signs of tachyphylaxis. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was blunted by tiron and Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester but not by superoxide dismutase or catalase. Exogenous hydrogen peroxide elicited vasoconstriction. CONCLUSION Nox activity is the major source of superoxide formation in renal proximal resistance arteries from elderly patients. Acute vasoconstrictor responses to alpha1-adrenoreceptor activation and to endothelin-1 do not depend on superoxide formation, while endothelium-dependent vasodilation in intrarenal arteries is reactive oxygen species-dependent.
Mountains, valleys, and rivers: The transmission of raccoon rabies over a heterogeneous landscape

Landscape features may serve as either barriers or gateways to the spread of certain infectious diseases, and understanding the way geographic structure impacts disease spread could lead to improved containment strategies. Here, we focus on the spacetime diffusion of a raccoon rabies outbreak across several states in the Eastern United States. While focusing on pattern, we move toward closer links between pattern and process by considering statistical estimation of local pattern features to gain insight on landscape influences on the underlying process. Specifically, we quantify the impact that landscape features, such as mountains and rivers, have on the speed of infectious disease diffusion. This work combines statistical modeling with operations in a geographic information system (GIS) to link observed patterns of disease diffusion with local landscape values. We explore three analytic approaches. First, we use spatial prediction (kriging) to provide a descriptive pattern of the spread of the virus. Second, we use Bayesian areal wombling to detect barriers for infectious disease transmission and examine spatial coincidence with potential features. Finally, we input landscape variables into a hierarchical Bayesian model with spatially varying coefficients to obtain model-based estimates of their local impacts on transmission time in counties.