Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction of root surface caries in patients treated for advanced periodontal disease.

The present investigation was undertaken (1) to analyze the prevalence of root surface caries prior to and after periodontal treatment and (2) to determine the feasibility of using simple clinical criteria for predicting a patient's risk of developing root surface caries following periodontal therapy. Thirty-one patients were given advanced periodontal treatment including periodontal surgery. At baseline they were examined for oral hygiene status, root surface caries experience and number of lactobacilli per ml saliva as evaluated by the Dentocult dip-slide method. Follow-up examinations 1, 2 and 4 years after baseline showed that a majority of the patients were treated successfully and maintained in periodontal health. Root surface caries developed in approximately two-thirds of the patients during the 4-year observation period. However, the total increment of root lesions during these years was mostly extremely low, i.e. less than 5% of exposed root surfaces. In higher risk patients developing new root surface caries, significant correlations were demonstrated with initial pretreatment scorings from (1) their previous root surface caries experience, (2) high lactobacillus counts and (3) advancing age. In addition, root surface caries incidence and low saliva secretion rats were found to correlate significantly during the course of the study.
Preschoolers' physical activity, screen time, and compliance with recommendations.

PURPOSE Little evidence exists about the prevalence of adequate levels of physical activity and of appropriate screen-based entertainment in preschool children. Previous studies have generally relied on small samples. This study investigates how much time preschool children spend being physically active and engaged in screen-based entertainment. The study also reports compliance with the recently released Australian recommendations for physical activity (≥3 h·d(-1)) and screen entertainment (≤1 h·d(-1)) and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education physical activity guidelines (≥2 h·d(-1)) and American Academy of Pediatrics screen-based entertainment recommendations (≤2 h·d(-1)) in a large sample of preschool children. METHODS Participants were 1004 Melbourne preschool children (mean age = 4.5 yr, range = 3-5 yr) and their families in the Healthy Active Preschool Years study. Physical activity data were collected by accelerometry during an 8-d period. Parents reported their child's television/video/DVD viewing, computer/Internet, and electronic game use during a typical week. A total of 703 (70%) had sufficient accelerometry data, and 935 children (93%) had useable data on time spent in screen-based entertainment. RESULTS Children spent 16% (approximately 127 min·d(-1)) of their time being physically active. Boys and younger children were more active than were girls and older children, respectively. Children spent an average of 113 min·d(-1) in screen-based entertainment. Virtually no children (<1%) met both the Australian recommendations and 32% met both the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations. CONCLUSIONS The majority of young children are not participating in adequate amounts of physical activity and in excessive amounts of screen-based entertainment. It is likely that physical activity may decline and that screen-based entertainment may increase with age. Compliance with recommendations may be further reduced. Strategies to promote physical activity and reduce screen-based entertainment in young children are required.
TETRACHLOROETHYLENE (TCE) REMOVAL DURING ANAEROBIC GRANULATION IN AN UPFLOW ANAEROBIC SLUDGE BLANKET (UASB) REACTOR

ABSTRACT The anaerobic biotransformation of TCE was investigated during the granulation process by reducing the HRT and increasing the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and TCE loadings in a 2 l laboratory-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. Anaerobic unacclimated sludge and glucose were used as seed and primary substrate, respectively. Initial granules were developed after 1.5 months of start-up, which grew at an accelerated pace for 7 months and then became fully grown. The effect of operational parameters such as influent TCE concentrations, COD and TCE loading, food to microorganism (F/M) ratio and specific methanogenic activity (SMA) were also considered during granulation. The granular sludge cultivated had a maximum diameter of 2.5 mm and SMA of 1.32 gCOD (gTSS day)−1 while 94% COD and 90% TCE removal efficiencies were achieved when the reactor was operating at loading rates as high as 160 mgTCE (l day)−1 and 14 gCOD (l day)−1, respectively after 230 days of continuos operation. This corresponds to HRT of 0.28 day and F/M ratio of 0.60 gCOD (gTSS day)−1. Kinetic coefficients of k (maximum specific substrate utilization rate), K s (half velocity coefficient), Y (growth yield coefficient) and b (decay coefficient) were determined to be 2.38 mgCOD (mgTSS day)−1, 108 mgCOD l−1, 0.17 mgTSS (mgCOD)−1 and 0.015 day−1, respectively during TCE biotransformation based on glucose-COD during granulation.
Hepatitis C viral quasispecies and liver damage in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

To clarify the virological differences in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with and without liver damage, we assessed HCV markers in 306 patients from a rural area of Japan. Genotypes of HCV RNA were determined by polymerase chain reaction, and levels of RNA were determined by branched DNA signal‐amplification assay. All patients had undergone annual tests for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels from 1986 to 1995. Patients were categorized into three groups: group A, 121 patients (39.5%) with normal ALT levels on all occasions for 10 years; group B, 127 patients (41.5%) with intermittently abnormal ALT levels; and group C, 58 patients (19.0%) with consistently abnormal ALT levels. There were no significant differences in serum RNA levels or distribution of genotypes among the three groups. We selected 10 patients from group A with normal ALT levels and 10 from group C with abnormal levels for sequence analysis of the HCV core region (nt 169‐378) of five clones from each patient. More mutations were found in the 50 clones from the 10 patients from group C than in the 10 patients from group A. In group A, all mutations were synonymous so that the deduced amino acid sequences were identical among clones from each patient, whereas in group C 16 of 57 mutations were nonsynonymous so that the deduced amino acid sequences showed differences in the five clones of eight of 10 patients. In conclusion, the HCV core region was highly conserved in patients with normal liver biochemical test results but not in those with abnormal results. Our results suggest that abnormal liver biochemical test results in patients with chronic HCV infection may be associated with high degrees of virus quasispecies diversity.
Assessment of DNA strand breaks induced by bleomycin in barley by the comet assay

Comet assay was applied to study induction and repair of DNA damage produced by bleomycin in barley genome. Experimental conditions were adapted to achieve efficient detection of both DNA single‐ and double‐strand breaks. Substantial increase of the parameter “% of DNA in tail” was observed coupled with almost linear dependence from bleomycin concentration, more pronounced for the induction of DNA double‐strand breaks. Data obtained at different recovery periods displayed rapid restoration of breakage, revealing that efficient mechanisms for repair of strand discontinuities induced by bleomycin are functional in barley DNA loop domains. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. , 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Smoking and prognosis in women with breast cancer

The hypothesis was that smokers might have more aggressive types of breast cancer because of either delayed diagnosis or higher grade and hence have a worse prognosis. A cohort of breast cancer patients completed a lifestyle questionnaire at the time of diagnosis, including whether they were current smokers, ex‐smokers or lifelong non‐smokers. Ex‐smokers were asked when they had stopped. The participants were 166 women with stage I/II invasive breast cancer diagnosed between October 1984 and March 1987. Participants were divided into three groups: current smokers, ex‐smokers and non‐smokers. Survival curves were produced by using Cox proportional hazards analysis, with outcome variables for overall and breast cancer‐specific survival together with distant relapse‐free survival. Smoking was the third most important predictor of distant relapse‐free, breast cancer‐specific and overall survival after stage and age at diagnosis. These results suggest that smokers are not only more likely to die of other diseases, but also have a higher mortality from breast cancer, compared with those with the disease who have never smoked. The best prognosis, however, was found in those who had given up smoking.
Magnetization transfer imaging of traumatic brain injury

Magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) has been shown to be sensitive for the detection of white matter abnormalities in entities such as multiple sclerosis, progressive multifocal leukencephalopathy, and wallerian degeneration. Our hypothesis was that MTI would detect traumatic white matter abnormalities (TWMA) and provide information additional to that obtainable with routine spin‐ and gradient‐echo imaging. We hypothesized that the presence of TWMA defined by MTI would correlate with outcome following TBI. Twenty‐eight victims of head trauma and 15 normal controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging including MTI. Magnetization transfer ratios (MTR) were calculated for areas of shearing injury and for normal‐appearing white matter (NAWM) in locations frequently subject to diffuse axonal injury. Abnormal MTRs were detected in NAWM in eight patients. All eight had persistent neurologic deficits, including cognitive deficits, aphasia, and extremity weakness. Seven of the 28 patients had no abnormal findings on neurologic exam at discharge, transfer, or follow‐up. None of these patients had an abnormal MTR in NAWM. In the remaining 13 patients, who had persistent neurologic deficits, no regions of abnormal MTR were detected in NAWM. MTI is a sensitive method for the detection of TWMA. Detection of abnormal MTR in NAWM that is prone to axonal injury may predict a poor patient outcome. The presence of normal MTR in NAWM in these areas does not necessarily confer a good outcome, however. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2000;11:1–8. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Therapeutic drug monitoring of patients on risperidone depot

Risperidone depot is the first long-acting atypical antipsychotic to be registered in Norway. The combination of antipsychotic efficacy for negative symptoms, reduction of adverse effects and assured delivery of medication is expected to improve patient compliance and thus reduce the rate of hospitalization. Nevertheless, clinicians have reported that risperidone depot has shown poor antipsychotic response in a number of patients. We therefore performed a retrospective, naturalistic study in search of a pharmacokinetic explanation for this reported lack of response. The study is based on data from therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of 46 patients on risperidone depot and 50 patients on oral risperidone. There was a significantly lower mean total serum drug level of risperidone and its active metabolite 9-OH risperidone among patients receiving standard doses of risperidone depot (25–50 mg/14 days) compared with patients on oral risperidone (2–6 mg/day). About 25% of patients receiving risperidone depot showed total serum drug levels below established reference range (30–120 nmol/l), even when steady state was presumed. In contrast, only 6% of patients on oral risperidone had a total serum drug level under this reference range. There was a wide range in total serum drug levels among patients in both groups. Explanations for these findings may be skewed selection of patients, flaws in the injection procedure, or unpredictable absorption of the active moiety from injection site. There is, however, only a presumed relationship between serum drug level and antipsychotic efficacy for risperidone.
Rosa Mosqueta Oil Prevents Oxidative Stress and Inflammation through the Upregulation of PPAR-α and NRF2 in C57BL/6J Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.

Background: Rosa mosqueta (RM) oil is characterized by high concentrations of antioxidants and α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3n-3). We have previously demonstrated in male C57BL/6J mice that RM decreases hepatic steatosis, a condition strongly associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.Objective: We studied the molecular mechanisms that underlie the role of RM in preventing high-fat diet (HFD)-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice aged 28 d and weighing 12-14 g were divided into the following groups and fed for 12 wk: control diet (CD; 10% fat, 20% protein, and 70% carbohydrates); CD + RM (1.94 mg ALA ⋅ g body weight-1 ⋅ d-1 administered by oral gavage); HFD (60% fat, 20% protein, and 20% carbohydrates); and HFD + RM. General parameters (body weight, visceral fat, and histology); glucose metabolism [homeostasis model assessment and blood glucose area under the curve (AUC)]; oxidative stress [hepatic nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like-2 (NRF2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) concentrations]; and inflammation [hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α) and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 (ACOX1) concentrations, blood tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) concentrations, and Tnfa and Il1b mRNA expression in liver and visceral adipose tissue] were evaluated.Results: In the HFD + RM mice, the final body weight (24.8 ± 1.1 g) was 19% lower than in the HFD mice (30.6 ± 2.8 g) (P < 0.05). Visceral fat was 34% lower in the HFD + RM mice than in the HFD mice (P < 0.05). The blood glucose AUC was 29% lower and Tnfa and Il1b expression levels were 47% and 59% lower, respectively, in the HFD + RM mice than in the HFD mice (P < 0.05). HFD + RM mice had 40% less hepatic steatosis (P < 0.05) and lower upregulation of PPAR-α (33%), ACOX1 (50%), NRF2 (39%), and HO-1 (68%) protein concentrations than did the HFD mice (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that RM supplementation prevents the obese phenotype observed in HFD-fed mice by downregulating inflammatory cytokine expression and secretion and stimulating hepatic antioxidant and fatty acid oxidation markers.
Structural and optical properties of silicon rich oxide films in graded-stoichiometric multilayers for optoelectronic devices

Silicon nanocrystals (Si-ncs) are excellent candidates for the development of optoelectronic devices. Nevertheless, different strategies are still necessary to enhance their photo and electroluminescent properties by controlling their structural and compositional properties. In this work, the effect of the stoichiometry and structure on the optical properties of silicon rich oxide (SRO) films in a multilayered (ML) structure is studied. SRO MLs with silicon excess gradually increased towards the top and bottom and towards the center of the ML produced through the variation of the stoichiometry in each SRO layer were fabricated and confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Si-ncs with three main sizes were observed by a transmission electron microscope, in agreement with the stoichiometric profile of each SRO layer. The presence of the three sized Si-ncs and some oxygen related defects enhances intense violet/blue and red photoluminescence (PL) bands. The SRO MLs were super-enriched with additional ex.
Functional connectivity and cognitive decline over 3 years in Parkinson disease

Objective: To evaluate fMRI whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity changes in relation to cognitive decline in Parkinson disease (PD) over a 3-year period. Methods: Resting-state fMRI scans were acquired in 55 patients with PD (mean age 65.8 years, SD 6.37; average disease duration 9.24 years, SD 3.96) and 15 matched controls (mean age 64.4 years, SD 8.65). We first performed overall (i.e., 1 whole-brain mean) as well as regional (i.e., for all individual regions of interest) functional connectivity analyses, in which we compared subject groups cross-sectionally. After a 3-year follow-up period, 36 patients with PD and 12 controls were rescanned to study functional connectivity changes over time and correlate the changes in functional connectivity with deteriorating cognitive and motor function in the PD sample. Results: In the cross-sectional analysis, we found widespread decreases of resting-state functional connectivity in patients with PD in comparison to controls. Subsequent comparison between the 2 timepoints revealed that patients with PD displayed further decreases in functional connectivity independent of aging effects. These functional connectivity changes were most prominent for posterior parts of the brain and correlated across time with clinical measures of disease progression, especially cognitive decline. Conclusions: In this fMRI study in PD, we demonstrated a progressive loss of resting-state functional connectivity over a period of 3 years for multiple brain regions, especially in posterior parts of the brain. The strong correlation with decreasing cognitive performance supports the pathophysiologic role of reduced functional connectivity in cognitive decline and the development of dementia in PD.
Ethnicity and route of HCV infection can influence the associations of HLA with viral clearance in an ethnically heterogeneous population

Summary. Approximately 20% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected individuals clear the virus. Host factors that influence the course of HCV infection are still under investigation, and the data on the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and HCV clearance are scarce and controversial. The aims of this study were to investigate whether HLA alleles are associated with clearance of HCV infection in a highly admixed Brazilian population and whether these associations could be influenced by ethnicity and route of infection. HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C, ‐DRB1 and ‐DQB1 genotyping were performed in 135 HCV‐infected Brazilian patients among which 45 cleared HCV infection (cases) and 90 had persistent viral infection (controls). Controls were matched by sex, ethnicity (withes and non‐whites) and route of infection (high infectious dose or low infectious dose). No significant association was identified between HLA alleles and the outcome of HCV infection when analyzing the sample as a single group. However, a new protective association of HLA‐DQB1*04 (P = 0.006; Pc = 0.030) and a rarely described association of HLA‐DRB1*08 (P = 0.004; Pc = 0.048) were found only among white patients. The DRB1*11 allele, previously reported in homogeneous population, was associated with HCV clearance (P = 0.020) only among patients with expected high‐dose exposure. These findings confirm the influence of ethnicity on the associations of HLA with spontaneous viral clearance of HCV infection and emphasize the possible influence of route of infection in this process.
Magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of cystic pancreatic lesions: differentiation of benign and malignant lesion status

Purpose: To characterize cystic pancreatic lesions and tumors with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to assess the value of morphological criteria in differentiating pseudocysts versus cystic tumors and benign versus malignant cystic tumors. Material and Methods: Twenty-three patients with cystic pancreatic tumors or lesions underwent plain and contrast-material-enhanced MRI, including magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). The MR findings were characterized and analyzed by two readers, and the role of various imaging criteria and combinations thereof for final lesion assignment were assessed. Final diagnoses were obtained from the results of open surgery (n = 19) and/or biopsy (n = 4). Results: Final diagnoses included cystic tumors (n = 11) and pseudocysts (n = 12). The lesions were located in the head (56%) and body or tail (44%). Lesion diameters ranged from 7 to 50 mm. Various lesion contrast enhancement patterns were observed for both benign and malignant lesions. Serous cystadenomas were located in the head, they were lobulated, and had wall diameters⩽2 mm; with the combination of these characteristics all patients with serous cystadenoma could be identified, whereas in no other patient was this constellation observed. Conclusion: MRI facilitated the diagnosis of serous cystadenomas, although no definite morphologic criterion for the differentiation between pseudocysts and mucinous cystadenomas was identified. In consideration of the substantial therapeutic consequences, either diagnostics in unclear cystic pancreatic lesions should comprise cyst fluid analysis if necessary, or eligible patients should be referred for surgical resection.
Developing the Coach Analysis and Intervention System (CAIS): Establishing validity and reliability of a computerised systematic observation instrument

Abstract We outline the evolution of a computerised systematic observation tool and describe the process for establishing the validity and reliability of this new instrument. The Coach Analysis and Interventions System (CAIS) has 23 primary behaviours related to physical behaviour, feedback/reinforcement, instruction, verbal/non-verbal, questioning and management. The instrument also analyses secondary coach behaviour related to performance states, recipient, timing, content and questioning/silence. The CAIS is a multi-dimensional and multi-level mechanism able to provide detailed and contextualised data about specific coaching behaviours occurring in complex and nuanced coaching interventions and environments that can be applied to both practice sessions and competition.
Subgroup analysis of the non-interventional study VIVALDI: Agomelatine in treatment-naïve patients, in combination therapy and after treatment switch

Abstract Objective. Agomelatine has demonstrated antidepressant efficacy in randomized, controlled trials. This non-interventional study VIVALDI evaluated agomelatine treatment under practice conditions. Methods. Psychiatrists documented the treatment of 3,317 patients over 12 weeks. According to the treatment condition three subgroups were selected: Agomelatine in treatment-naïve patients as mono-therapy (A), in pretreated patients as add-on-therapy (B), and in pretreated patients switched to agomelatine (C). Effect on depressive symptoms was evaluated via svMADRS and CGI. Daytime functioning and sleep–wake rhythm were assessed by a patient-questionnaire. Results. The svMADRS decreased from values > 30 at baseline to 12.8 (total population), 10.3 (A), 15.1 (B), and 13.5 (C). 76.1%, 55.7%, and 62.5% of patients were responders in subgroups A, B, and C, respectively, 65.8% in the total population. Remission was achieved in 66.5% (A), 44.7% (B), and 50.9% (C) of patients. After 12 weeks, subjective sleep quality and daytime functioning improved in the majority of patients. Adverse drug reactions (ADR/serious ADR) were reported for 6.0%/0% (A), 11.0%/0.2% (B), and 12.6%/0.3% (C) of patients. Overall, 25.8% of patients discontinued treatment prematurely, 5.2% due to ADR. Conclusion. Agomelatine improved depressive symptoms, daytime functioning, and sleep–wake rhythm, and demonstrated good tolerability also in pretreated patients and combination therapy under routine practice.