Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EEG Correlates of Methylphenidate Response in ADHD: Association With Cognitive and Behavioral Measures

The authors examined the association between EEG correlates of medication response and concomitant cognitive and behavioral changes among children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Subjects were 36 children with ADHD, aged 8 to 12 years. EEG activity was recorded from nine active electrodes during placebo and medication conditions. Medication administration resulted in increased alpha activity in central and parietal regions during both the baseline and cognitive activation conditions. Children who were medication responders exhibited increased frontal beta activity whereas nonresponders showed decreased beta activity in the same region. Increased frontal beta activity was significantly correlated with medication-related improvement in performance on Conners'Continuous Performance Test and parent behavior ratings in attention and hyperactivity. Decreased right frontal theta activity was associated with improvements in parent-rated attention, but not in CPT performance. Stimulant medication increases beta activity in children with ADHD, particularly in frontal regions. Increased cortical arousal and activation in the frontal cortex is strongly associated with sustained attention and response inhibition and with parent-rated attention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.
Novel YAP1‐TFE3 fusion defines a distinct subset of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

Conventional epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas (EHE) have a distinctive morphologic appearance and are characterized by a recurrent t(1;3) translocation, resulting in a WWTR1‐CAMTA1 fusion gene. We have recently encountered a fusion‐negative subset characterized by a somewhat different morphology, including focally well‐formed vasoformative features, which was further investigated for recurrent genetic abnormalities. Based on a case showing strong transcription factor E3 (TFE3) immunoreactivity, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis for TFE3 gene rearrangement was applied to the index case as well as to nine additional cases, selected through negative WWTR1‐CAMTA1 screening. A control group, including 18 epithelioid hemangiomas, nine pseudomyogenic HE, and three epithelioid angiosarcomas, was also tested. TFE3 gene rearrangement was identified in 10 patients, with equal gender distribution and a mean age of 30 years old. The lesions were located in somatic soft tissue in six cases, lung in three and one in bone. One case with available frozen tissue was tested by RNA sequencing and FusionSeq data analysis to detect novel fusions. A YAP1‐TFE3 fusion was thus detected, which was further validated by FISH and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). YAP1 gene rearrangements were then confirmed in seven of the remaining nine TFE3‐rearranged EHEs by FISH. No TFE3 structural abnormalities were detected in any of the controls. The TFE3‐rearranged EHEs showed similar morphologic features with at least focally, well‐formed vascular channels, in addition to a variably solid architecture. All tumors expressed endothelial markers, as well as strong nuclear TFE3. In summary, we are reporting a novel subset of EHE occurring in young adults, showing a distinct phenotype and YAP1‐TFE3 fusions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Glucose intolerance and risk of cardiovascular disease in Iranian men and women: Results of the 7.6-year follow-up of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS)

Background: Despite the high prevalence of diabetes, limited information is available about the impact of impaired glucose regulation on the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among Middle East populations. Aims: To determine the risk of CVD in an urban Iranian population according to glucose tolerance status. Material and methods: The study population consisted of 1752 men and 2273 women, aged ≥40 yr, free of CVD at baseline. Incident CVD was ascertained over a median of 7.6 yr of follow-up. Results: A total of 340 CVD events occurred (197 in men and 143 in women). At baseline, there was no difference between newly diagnosed and known diabetes regarding the Prospective Cardiovascular Münster (PROCAM) risk score and prevalence of metabolic syndrome in both genders. Applying the 1997 American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria, compared with those with normal glucose tolerance, after controlling traditional risk factors, hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for CVD in women with known and newly diagnosed diabetes were 3.30 (2.09–5.21) and 1.93 (1.16–3.21) and the corresponding values for men were 1.90 (1.11–3.25) and 1.69 (1.12–2.54), respectively. Impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance was associated with 56% increased risk of CVD in women (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.45), in the age-adjusted analysis, considering the 2003 ADA criteria. Conclusions: All diabetic subjects, whether newly diagnosed or known cases, should receive intensive primary prevention for CVD regardless of risk factors, in particular females with abnormal glucose regulation.
Early modern human diversity suggests subdivided population structure and a complex out-of-Africa scenario

The interpretation of genetic evidence regarding modern human origins depends, among other things, on assessments of the structure and the variation of ancient populations. Because we lack genetic data from the time when the first anatomically modern humans appeared, between 200,000 and 60,000 years ago, instead we exploit the phenotype of neurocranial geometry to compare the variation in early modern human fossils with that in other groups of fossil Homo and recent modern humans. Variation is assessed as the mean-squared Procrustes distance from the group average shape in a representation based on several hundred neurocranial landmarks and semilandmarks. We find that the early modern group has more shape variation than any other group in our sample, which covers 1.8 million years, and that they are morphologically similar to recent modern humans of diverse geographically dispersed populations but not to archaic groups. Of the currently competing models of modern human origins, some are inconsistent with these findings. Rather than a single out-of-Africa dispersal scenario, we suggest that early modern humans were already divided into different populations in Pleistocene Africa, after which there followed a complex migration pattern. Our conclusions bear implications for the inference of ancient human demography from genetic models and emphasize the importance of focusing research on those early modern humans, in particular, in Africa.
Analysis of attendance rates at Soweto dental clinics 1995-2002.

BACKGROUND Patient attendance rates at Soweto dental clinics increased during the year after the implementation of free primary oral health care in 1995. OBJECTIVE This study was performed to examine if the attendance rates continued to increase between April 1995 and March 2002. MATERIALS AND METHODS Monthly clinic records were used to record casual (pain and sepsis treatment) and booked patient attendance (restorative, prosthetic and orthodontic treatment) and number of dental operators in the nine primary health care clinics and one hospital clinic in Soweto. Data were analysed with SAS and Prism software. RESULTS Total patient attendances in the primary health care clinics significantly increased from 6,161 in 1995 to 10,519 in 2002 (P<0.05) due to an increase in casual patients Booked patients decreased and patients treated per operator increased. In the hospital clinic the casual patient attendances decreased but booked patients significantly increased (P<0.005). CONCLUSIONS Patient attendance rates increased between 1995 and 2002 with an increase in dental operator workload.
Effects of high-dose oral insulin on immune responses in children at high risk for type 1 diabetes: the Pre-POINT randomized clinical trial.

IMPORTANCE Exposing the oral mucosa to antigen may stimulate immune tolerance. It is unknown whether treatment with oral insulin can induce a tolerogenic immune response in children genetically susceptible to type 1 diabetes. OBJECTIVE To assess the immune responses and adverse events associated with orally administered insulin in autoantibody-negative, genetically at-risk children. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The Pre-POINT study, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation, phase 1/2 clinical pilot study performed between 2009 and 2013 in Germany, Austria, the United States, and the United Kingdom and enrolling 25 islet autoantibody-negative children aged 2 to 7 years with a family history of type 1 diabetes and susceptible human leukocyte antigen class II genotypes. Follow-up was completed in August 2013. INTERVENTIONS Children were randomized to receive oral insulin (n = 15) or placebo (n = 10) once daily for 3 to 18 months. Nine children received insulin with dose escalations from 2.5 to 7.5 mg (n = 3), 2.5 to 22.5 mg (n = 3), or 7.5 to 67.5 mg (n = 3) after 6 months; 6 children only received doses of 22.5 mg (n = 3) or 67.5 mg (n = 3). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES An immune response to insulin, measured as serum IgG and saliva IgA binding to insulin, and CD4+ T-cell proliferative responses to insulin. RESULTS Increases in IgG binding to insulin, saliva IgA binding to insulin, or CD4+ T-cell proliferative responses to insulin were observed in 2 of 10 (20% [95% CI, 0.1%-45%]) placebo-treated children and in 1 of 6 (16.7% [95% CI, 0.1%-46%]) children treated with 2.5 mg of insulin, 1 of 6 (16.7%[ 95% CI, 0.1%-46%]) treated with 7.5 mg, 2 of 6 (33.3% [95% CI, 0.1%-71%]) treated with 22.5 mg, and 5 of 6 (83.3% [ 95% CI, 53%-99.9%]) treated with 67.5 mg (P = .02). Insulin-responsive T cells displayed regulatory T-cell features after oral insulin treatment. No hypoglycemia, IgE responses to insulin, autoantibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase or insulinoma-associated antigen 2, or diabetes were observed. Adverse events were reported in 12 insulin-treated children (67 events) and 10 placebo-treated children (35 events). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this pilot study of children at high risk for type 1 diabetes, daily oral administration of 67.5 mg of insulin, compared with placebo, resulted in an immune response without hypoglycemia. These findings support the need for a phase 3 trial to determine whether oral insulin can prevent islet autoimmunity and diabetes in such children. TRIAL REGISTRATION isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN76104595.
Serum lipids and disease severity in children with severe meningococcal sepsis*

Objective:To evaluate the role of cholesterol and lipoproteins in children with severe meningococcal sepsis. Design:Retrospective observational study. Setting:A university-affiliated pediatric intensive care unit. Patients:Fifty-seven patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with meningococcal sepsis or septic shock. Interventions:Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations were measured in serum samples drawn within 6 hrs after admission to the pediatric intensive care unit and 12, 24, 48, 72 hrs, 7 days, and 1–3 months afterward. Standard deviation scores of these variables (sd scores) were calculated to correct for age-related differences. To assess disease severity, the Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score, the Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and the Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) score were determined as well as selected laboratory variables. Measurements and Main Results:Ten patients died. Total serum cholesterol on admission was very low in all patients. This hypocholesterolemia was caused by low HDL concentrations but in particular by low LDL cholesterol levels. Eight patients had undetectable LDL levels on admission. Total cholesterol levels were significantly lower in nonsurvivors than in survivors (0.97 vs. 1.60, p = .013), whereas levels of LDL and HDL did not significantly differ between both groups. Total cholesterol sd scores were similar between survivors and nonsurvivors. Within survivors, cholesterol sd score was significantly lower in patients with shock compared with those with sepsis. The total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL levels correlated with clinical variables of disease severity and with levels of cytokines. Total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL levels normalized rapidly in survivors and were completely normal 1–3 months after admission. Conclusions:Extremely low levels of total serum cholesterol, HDL, and LDL are found in the initial phase of children with severe meningococcal disease. Total cholesterol levels are significantly lower in nonsurvivors than in survivors, but not the sd score. Total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL levels on admission are inversely associated with disease severity. Hypocholesterolism is associated with hypocortisolism. The concentrations of total cholesterol and lipoproteins steadily increase after 24 hrs in survivors and are normalized 1–3 months after pediatric intensive care unit admission.
Self-assessment of the quality of vision: association of questionnaire score with objective clinical tests.

PURPOSE To investigate the association of a quality of life-visual function questionnaire with an objective clinical test of visual function. METHODS We have developed a questionnaire to assess self-reported visual satisfaction in ophthalmic patients suffering from chronic eye conditions causing visual impairment. The questionnaire was administered to 120 patients suffering from age-related cataract, chronic open angle glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, branch retinal vein occlusion, and presbyopia or minor refractive defects. All the participants also underwent determination of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, glare, and visual field. RESULTS The questionnaire has a good reproducibility, a high internal consistency, and is able to discriminate between the different groups of patients. The total questionnaire score is significantly associated with the results of all visual function tests with the exception of glare. When entered into a multiple linear regression model, near visual acuity and contrast sensitivity are still considerably associated with the total questionnaire score. The psychological attitude of the patient towards his/her health problem is also associated with the total average score. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the model explains 49% of the variance in the average questionnaire score.
Long term average speech spectra of Turkish

Abstract Long-term average speech spectra (LTASS) are a voice analysis method that is recommended to be used in various areas, such as hearing aid fittings, automatic speaker recognition and voice disorders. Evaluations of LTASS in different languages have been published; however, this analysis has not been conducted for the Turkish. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to conduct this analysis, generate normative values and compare the obtained LTASS curve for the Turkish with those obtained for other languages reported in the literature. To achieve this objective, 40 adults with healthy hearing and speech characteristics were evaluated. Long-term spectral shape is presented in a graphical form, with visual comparisons to other research findings. Spectral differences by gender were analyzed, with statistically significant differences observed between gender groups and overall LTASS. The LTASS curve for the Turkish is similar to those reported for other languages, but there are also observable differences. Use of generated speech signals in hearing aid fitting procedures is recommended.
Denture wearer's perception of ambient care, part 1: validation of a preliminary scale

Abstract Objective. The aim of the present study was to investigate if a preliminary Ambient Care Scale (ACS), intended to measure ambient care in complete denture wearers, had acceptable reliability and validity. Materials and methods. A sample of 117 patients who had received complete dentures in both jaws in the period 1997–2005 at Bergen School of Dentistry completed a questionnaire containing eight items regarding the patients’ relationship with the student and clinical personnel, to what extent they were informed and consulted during treatment, waiting times and cost. In addition, information was gathered regarding demographics, The Psychological General Well-Being index (WHO−5), global ambient care, satisfaction with dentures and how patients viewed their oral health. Results. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.76 for the ACS, indicating acceptable internal consistency. From principle component analysis, three factors were extracted, correlating with ACS with coefficients of 0.72, 0.58 and 0.59, respectively. Acceptable construct validity was indicated by the fact that items were formulated by common agreement among three experienced prosthodontists, the extremely low frequency of missing data (<2%) and that ACS, as expected, was able to discriminate between patients satisfied and dissatisfied with their dentures (p = 0.005) and oral health (p = 0.042), but not between those who had high or low WHO-5 scores (p = 0.77). Conclusions. The ACS appears to have acceptable psychometric properties.
Significantly higher number of fetal cells in the maternal circulation of women with pre‐eclampsia

Although the pathophysiology of pre‐eclampsia is unknown, several studies have indicated that abnormal placentation early in pregnancy might play a key role. It has recently been suggested that this abnormal placentation may result in transfusion of fetal cells (feto‐maternal transfusion) in women with pre‐eclampsia. In the present study, fetal nucleated red blood cells were isolated from 20 women with pre‐eclampsia and 20 controls using a very efficient magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) protocol. The number of male cells was determined using two‐color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for X and Y chromosomes. Significantly more XY cells could be detected in women with pre‐eclampsia (0.61±1.2 XY cells/ml blood) compared to women with uncomplicated pregnancies (0.02±0.04 XY cells/ml blood) (Mann–Whitney U‐test, p<0.001). These results suggest that fetal cell trafficking is enhanced in women with pre‐eclampsia, and this finding may contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prediction of obliteration after gamma knife surgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

OBJECTIVE To define the factors of importance for the obliteration of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), thus making a prediction of the probability for obliteration possible. METHODS In 945 AVMs of a series of 1319 patients treated with the gamma knife during 1970 to 1990, the relationship between patient, AVMs, and treatment parameters on the one hand and the obliteration of the nidus on the other was analyzed. RESULTS The obliteration rate increased both with increased minimum (lowest periphery) and average dose and decreased with increased AVM volume. The minimum dose to the AVMs was the decisive dose factor for the treatment result. The higher the minimum dose, the higher the chance for total obliteration. The curve illustrating this relation increased logarithmically to a value of 87%. A higher average dose shortened the latency to AVM obliteration. For the obliterated cases, the larger the malformation, the lower the minimum dose used. This prompted us to relate the obliteration rate to the product minimum dose (AVM volume)1/3 (K index). The obliteration rate increased linearly with the K index up to a value of approximately 27, and for higher K values, the obliteration rate had a constant value of approximately 80%. For the group of 273 cases treated with a minimum dose of at least 25 Gy, the obliteration rate at the study end point (defined as 2-yr latency) was 80% (95% confidence interval = 75-85%). If obliterations that occurred beyond the end point are included, the obliteration rate increased to 85% (81-89%). CONCLUSION The probability of obliteration of AVMs after gamma knife surgery is related both to the lowest dose to the AVMs and the AVM volume, and it can be predicted using the K index.
Role of N-linked oligosaccharides in the biosynthetic processing of the cystic fibrosis membrane conductance regulator

The epithelial chloride channel CFTR is a glycoprotein that is modified by two N-linked oligosaccharides. The most common mutant CFTR protein in patients with cystic fibrosis, ΔF508, is misfolded and retained by ER quality control. As oligosaccharide moieties of glycoproteins are known to mediate interactions with ER lectin chaperones, we investigated the role of N-linked glycosylation in the processing of wild-type and ΔF508 CFTR. We found that N-glycosylation and ER lectin interactions are not major determinants of trafficking of wild-type and ΔF508 from the ER to the plasma membrane. Unglycosylated CFTR, generated by removal of glycosylation sites or treatment of cells with the N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin, did not bind calnexin, but did traffic to the cell surface and exhibited chloride channel activity. Most importantly, unglycosylated ΔF508 CFTR still could not escape quality control in the early secretory pathway and remained associated with the ER. However, the absence of N-linked oligosaccharides did reduce the stability of wild-type CFTR, causing significantly more-rapid turnover in post-ER compartments. Surprisingly, the individual N-linked carbohydrates do not play equivalent roles and modulate the fate of the wild-type protein in different ways in its early biosynthetic pathway.
Induction of apoptosis in rat lung epithelial cells by multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the most promising material with unique characteristics, find its application in different fields ranging from composite materials to medicine and from electronics to energy storage. However, little is known about the mechanism behind the interaction of these particles with cells and their toxicity. So, here we investigated the adverse effects of multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs) in rat lung epithelial (LE) cells. The results showed that the incubation of LE cells with 0.5–10 μg/mL of MWCNTs caused a dose‐ and time‐dependent increase in the formation of free radicals, the accumulation of peroxidative products, the loss of cell viability, and antioxidant depletion. The significant amount of incorporation of dUTPs in the nucleus after 24 h confirms the induction of apoptosis. It was also observed that there is an increase in the activity of both caspases‐3 and caspase‐8 in cells, with increases in time and the concentration of MWCNTs. No significant incorporation of dUTPs was observed in cells, incubated with z‐VAD‐fmk, which confirmed the role of caspases in DNA fragmentation. The present study reveals that MWCNTs induced oxidative stress and stimulated apoptosis signaling pathway through caspase activation in rat LE cell lines. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 23:333–344, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20296