Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Valproate Metabolites and Hepatotoxicity in an Epileptic Population

Summary: Idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity, although rare, is of major concern when one is treating patients with valproate (VPA). Several clinical criteria are associated with an increased risk of developing this complication, but more specific predictors are needed. It has been postulated that 4‐en‐ VPA or one of its further metabolites may be responsible for the hepatic toxicity and that under certain conditions the metabolism of VPA is shifted to this product. We postulated that measurement of serum concentrations of 4‐en‐VPA or another metabolite might be a simple technique that would be predictive of risk for developing idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity. Because this complication is rare, we chose to analyze our data by a multiple linear regression model, exploring associations between VPA or three of its metabolites and clinical risk factors for hepatotoxicity. 4‐en‐VPA correlated with older age and absence of encephalopathy. 4‐en‐VPA was only seen in patients receiving polytherapy; all patients were also receiving CBZ. 2‐en‐VPA correlated with poor nutritional status. We conclude that routine measurement of serum 4‐en‐VPA is unlikely to be a useful predictor of risk for developing fatal hepatotoxicity. Serum concentrations of 4‐en‐VPA may not reflect presence or effects in the liver as it may be metabolized to further intermediates or be bound to tissue. Thus, serum levels of 4‐en‐VPA do not reflect its important role in the pathogenesis of hepatotoxicity. This metabolite was détécted only in patients receiving polytherapy, a potent risk factor for developing this rare complication.
ACUTE INFANTILE HEMORRHAGIC EDEMA : A CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE ( REPORT OF SEVEN CASES )

Acute infantile hemorrhagic edema (AIHE) is an uncommon cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis characterized by large purpuric skin lesions, acral edema and fever. In spite of violent onset, spontaneous recovery without any sequelaes occurs within a few weeks. The causes of AIHE are unknown and there is no specific treatment. In this article, we have presented seven cases with AIHE admitted to our hospital between 2003-2006. We evaluated the effect of antihistaminic treatment on the course of the disease and we also reviewed the features of AIHE distinguishable from other purpuric diseases.
Microdeletion 22q11 and oesophageal atresia

Oesophageal atresia (OA) is a congenital defect associated with additional malformations in 30-70% of the cases. In particular, OA is a component of the VACTERL association. Since some major features of the VACTERL association, including conotruncal heart defect, radial aplasia, and anal atresia, have been found in patients with microdeletion 22q11.2 (del(22q11.2)), we have screened for del(22q11.2) by fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) in 15 syndromic patients with OA. Del(22q11.2) was detected in one of them, presenting with OA, tetralogy of Fallot, anal atresia, neonatal hypocalcaemia, and subtle facial anomalies resembling those of velocardiofacial syndrome. The occurrence of del(22q11.2) in our series of patients with OA is low (1/15), but this chromosomal anomaly should be included among causative factors of malformation complexes with OA. In addition, clinical variability of del(22q11.2) syndrome is further corroborated with inclusion of OA in the list of the findings associated with the deletion.
Hydatid cyst of the pterygopalatine-infratemporal fossa

Abstract Hydatid disease is caused by the parasitic tapeworm Echinococcus. This parasite in larval stage can thrive in many parts of the body, most commonly in the liver and the lung. Hydatid disease in the head and neck region is rare. An unusual location for hydatid disease in the pterygopalatine fossa-infratemporal fossa is presented. The patient did not have evidence of any other cyst on a ten-year follow-up.
ABO‐incompatible organ transplantation

Increases in the patients on the organ transplant wait list have far out paced the number of available organs. This has lead to longer time awaiting transplantation and thus increased morbidity and mortality associated with it. Making more organs available for transplantation remains critical, and hence, extended criteria donors and ABO‐incompatible organs are being utilized. Recent reports on the use of conventional immunosuppressive regimens for ABO‐incompatible grafts suggest outcomes can be obtained similar to those of ABO‐compatible transplants. The delay in the development of natural antibodies to ABO antigens in infants provides an ‘immunological window’ that allows for successful ABO‐incompatible transplants in this age group. This also allows for a unique mechanism long‐term tolerance to the graft in infants. ABO incompatibility may no longer be a contraindication in case of kidney transplantation and paediatric heart transplantation. Increased utilization of ABO‐incompatible grafts can alleviate the shortage for organs and decrease waitlist times and associated morbidity. In this review, we will discuss the current status of ABO‐incompatible transplantation in adult and paediatric solid organ transplantation with attention on recent developments on understanding the mechanisms of graft acceptance in these ABO‐incompatible organs.
Evidence that the central canal lining of the spinal cord contributes to oligodendrogenesis during postnatal development and adulthood in intact rats

Two waves of oligodendrogenesis in the ventricular zone of the spinal cord (SC‐VZ) during rat development, which take place between embryonic days 14 and 18 (E14–E18) and E20–E21, have been described. In the VZ of the brain, unlike the SC‐VZ, a third wave of oligodendrogenesis occurs during the first weeks of postnatal development. Using immunofluorescence staining of intact rat SC tissue, we noticed the presence of small numbers of Olig2+/Sox‐10+ cells inside the lining of the central canal (CC) during postnatal development and adulthood. Olig2+/Sox‐10+ cells appeared inside the lining of the CC shortly after birth, and their number reached a maximum of approximately 0.65 ± 0.14 cell/40‐μm section during the second postnatal week. After the latter development, the number of Olig2+/Sox‐10+ cells decreased to 0.21 ± 0.07 (P36) and 0.18 ± 0.1 cell/section (P120). At P21, Olig2+/Sox‐10+ cells inside the CC lining started to express other oligodendroglial markers such as CNPase, RIP, and APC. Olig2+/Sox‐10+ cells usually did not proliferate inside the CC lining and were only rarely found to be immunoreactive against oligodendrocyte progenitor markers such as NG2 or PDGFRα. Using 5‐bromo‐2‐deoxyuridine administration at P2, P11, P22, or P120–P125, we revealed that these cells arose in the CC lining during postnatal development and adulthood. Our findings confirmed that the CC lining is the source of a small number of cells with an oligodendroglial phenotype during postnatal development and adulthood in the SC of intact rats. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:3194–3207, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Alzheimer’s Disease: Frequency and Relationship with Duration and Severity of the Disease

The occurrence of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) is currently recognized as an important aspect of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We evaluated the frequency and severity of BPSD with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory across the various degrees and phases of the disease in 50 consecutive AD outpatients. Apathy, aberrant motor activity, dysphoria and anxiety were the symptoms most frequently reported by the caregivers, ranging in the whole study sample from 46 to 74%. A clear trend towards increasing frequency with the severity of disease was found for delusions, hallucinations and aberrant motor activity. A major effect of the duration of the disease was found in the probability of developing hallucinations and aberrant motor activity. Apart from hallucinations, all BPSD were present starting from a mild degree of dementia. A better understanding of the global spectrum of BPSD in AD is warranted in order to improve the allocation of health resources toward the treatment of dementia.
Lack of familial clustering of hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND Although transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) through parental exposure is well documented, it is still controversial whether familial clustering of HCV occurs. METHODS To investigate risk factors for HCV infection, 109 cases and 84 non-infected controls were studied. In addition, 250 family members (104 men, 146 women) of cases and 170 family members of controls (64 men, 106 women) were tested for HCV infection using an anti-HCV antibody, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and reverse transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS In the case-control analysis, people aged > or =60 were almost three times more likely to be infected by HCV than those aged <40. Risk of HCV infection was most strongly related to a history of blood transfusion (OR = 12.6, 95% CI: 4.3-36.5) followed by a history of jaundice (OR = 4.1, 95% CI: 1.3-12.6). Only one family member of cases and no-one related to the controls had HCV infection. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that, in Korea, age and parenteral exposure, such as a blood transfusion, are risk factors for HCV infection and familial clustering of HCV infection, if it occurs, is rare.
Cadherin expression in the developing chicken cochlea

In this study, we demonstrate that eight classic cadherins are differentially expressed in distinct anatomical regions of the cochlea during late stages of chicken embryonic development. Cadherin‐6B is expressed in hair cells and spindle‐shaped cells, while cadherin‐8 mRNA is found only in supporting cells. Cadherin‐11 is widely expressed not only in mesenchymal cell around the cochlea, but also in supporting cells and homogene cells. N‐cadherin is found in the sensory epithelium, the neurons of the acoustic ganglion and on their neurites that target the hair cells. Three closely related cadherins (cadherin‐7, cadherin‐19, and cadherin‐20) are expressed in a partially complementary manner in spindle‐shaped cells and acoustic ganglion cells. R‐cadherin is observed in homogene cells, acoustic ganglion cells, and their projections to hair cells. The expression of classic cadherins in the developing cochlea suggests a role for cadherins in the development of the cochlea. Developmental Dynamics 236:2331–2337, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characteristics, behaviors and association between Human African Trypanosomiasis and HIV seropositivity among volunteer blood donors in a semi-rural area: A survey from Kikwit, the Democratic Republic of Congo

Blood safety is a major element in the strategy to control the HIV epidemic. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the associated factors of a positive HIV test among blood donors and its association between Human African Trypanosomiasis in Kikwit, the Democratic Republic of Congo. A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2012 and May 2013. An anonymous questionnaire was designed to extract relevant data. The average mean age of participants was 30 years. The majority were man (67.8%). The overall prevalence of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human African trypanosomiasis was respectively 3.2%, 1.9%, 1.6%, 1.3% and 1.3%. Alcohol intake, casual unprotected sex, not using condoms during casual sex, sex after alcohol intake and seroprevalence of human African trypanosomiasis were significantly associated with a positive HIV test result (p<0.05). In this study, sexual risk behaviors were the major risk factors associated with positive HIV tests in blood donors living in Kikwit. It is important to raise awareness about HIV and voluntary blood donation in response to some observations noted in this study such as the low educational level of the blood donors, the low level of knowledge of HIV prevention methods.
Development of a new head and neck cancer-specific comorbidity index.

BACKGROUND Most patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are older and may have coexistent or comorbid diseases. OBJECTIVES To determine the prognostic impact of individual comorbid conditions in patients with head and neck cancer, to combine the individual comorbid conditions to form a new a head and neck-specific comorbidity instrument, and to compare it with the Modified Kaplan-Feinstein Index to determine if the new disease-specific instrument offers any improvement in survival prediction over a general comorbidity index. DESIGN Retrospective review of medical records. POPULATION The study population comprised 1153 patients with biopsy-proven, newly diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or larynx. RESULTS Seven comorbid conditions (congestive heart disease, cardiac arrhythmia, peripheral vascular disease, pulmonary disease, renal disease, cancer controlled, and cancer uncontrolled) were significantly related to survival. These comorbid conditions were assigned integer weights to reflect their relative prognostic importance and combined to create the new Washington University Head and Neck Comorbidity Index (WUHNCI). Survival was significantly related to levels of comorbidity severity as defined by the WUHNCI. The WUHNCI predicted survival better than the Modified Kaplan-Feinstein Index despite containing far fewer ailments. CONCLUSIONS Comorbidity is an important feature of the patient with head and neck cancer. The WUHNCI can be used for retrospective review or prospective outcomes research.
Using Web 2.0 Technologies: Exploring Perspectives of Students, Teachers and Parents

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to explore the perspectives of students, teachers, and parents in using Web 2.0 technologies.Design/methodology/approach – This study is based on the focus group interview data collected from two groups of students, two groups of teachers, and one group of parents in a secondary school in Hong Kong.Findings – The findings indicate that there is no divide in terms of access to computer hardware and the Internet. However, the results suggest that there are different types and levels of usage given to such technologies. The students were found to use Web 2.0 technologies very frequently but seldom for educational purposes. The parents appeared to know less about the Web 2.0 technologies although they are more concerned about the influence of such technologies on their children's development. The teachers used Web 2.0 technologies merely for observing students' online behaviors.Research limitations/implications – Due to limited sample participants and the weakness of the .
Protein S Thr103Asn Mutation Associated with Type II Deficiency Reproduced In Vitro and Functionally Characterised

Summary Protein S functions as a cofactor to activated protein C (APC) in the degradation of FVa and FVIIIa. In protein S, the thrombin sensitive region (TSR) and the first EGF-like domain are important for expression of the APC cofactor activity. A naturally occurring Thr103Asn (T103N) mutation in the first EGF-like domain of protein S has been associated with functional (type II) protein S deficiency. To elucidate the functional consequences of the T103N mutation, recombinant protein S mutant was expressed in mammalian cells and functionally characterised. The expression level of protein S T103N from transiently transfected COS 1 cells was equal to that of wild type protein S. The mutant protein S and wild type protein S were also expressed in 293 cells after stable transfection, and the recombinant proteins purified. In APTT-and PT-based coagulation assays, the mutant protein demonstrated approximately 50% lower anticoagulant activity as compared to wild type protein S. The functional defect was further investigated in FVa-and FVIIIa-degradation assays. The functional defect of mutant protein S was attenuated at increasing concentrations of APC. The results demonstrate the region around residue 103 of protein S to be of functional importance, possibly through a direct interaction with APC.
Extended and compact X-ray emission in powerful radio galaxies

We report ROSAT X-ray observations of two powerful radio galaxies. 3C 280 provides evidence for a mixture of unresolved and extended emission, with the latter produced by hot plasma of insufficient pressure to confine the radio lobes and insufficient density for a cooling flow to have begun. 3C 220.3 gives only an X-ray upper limit, but one consistent with our interpretation of the X-ray emission from powerful radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in terms of obscured and unobscured components.
Songbirds and the Revised Avian Brain Nomenclature

Abstract: It has become increasingly clear that the standard nomenclature for many telencephalic and related brainstem structures of the avian brain is based on flawed once‐held assumptions of homology to mammalian brain structures, greatly hindering functional comparisons between avian and mammalian brains. This has become especially problematic for those researchers studying the neurobiology of birdsong, the largest single group within the avian neuroscience community. To deal with the many communication problems this has caused among researchers specializing in different vertebrate classes, the Avian Brain Nomenclature Forum, held at Duke University from July 18‐20, 2002, set out to develop a new terminology for the avian telencephalon and some allied brainstem cell groups. In one major step, the erroneous conception that the avian telencephalon consists mainly of a hypertrophied basal ganglia has been purged from the telencephalic terminology, and the actual parts of the basal ganglia and its brainstem afferent cell groups have been given new names to reflect their now‐evident homologies. The telencephalic regions that were incorrectly named to reflect presumed homology to mammalian basal ganglia have been renamed as parts of the pallium. The prefixes used for the new names for the pallial subdivisions have retained most established abbreviations, in an effort to maintain continuity with the pre‐existing nomenclature. Here we present a brief synopsis of the inaccuracies in the old nomenclature, a summary of the nomenclature changes, and details of changes for specific songbird vocal and auditory nuclei. We believe this new terminology will promote more accurate understanding of the broader neurobiological implications of song control mechanisms and facilitate the productive exchange of information between researchers studying avian and mammalian systems.
Trends in Seoul (1778–2004) summer precipitation

Precipitation data for Seoul, Korea, have been recorded since 1778, representing one of the world's longest instrumental measurements of daily precipitation. Trends in summer precipitation amount, intensity, and indices of climate extremes are studied. The detected trends were tested using trend‐to‐noise ratio test, nonparametric Mann–Kendall rank statistic and Monte Carlo simulation procedure. Over the past 227 years and in the twentieth century, the June–September total precipitation amount has a trend significant at 95% confidence level; the numbers of torrential rainy days with precipitation greater than 75 mm, the highest one‐day rainfall amount, the number of extremely wet days defined as the 99 percentile of the distribution of daily precipitation, and the precipitation amount falling in the extremely wet days, all have a trend significant at 99% confidence level. An intensity index that captures the combined effects of precipitation frequency and intensity, calculated as the number of heaviest rainy days that constitute 67% of the total precipitation shows a decreasing trend significant at 99% confidence level, suggesting an increase in precipitation intensity. However, the trends calculated for the pre‐1950 period (1778–1949) are all insignificant except the intensity index, suggesting that real trends occur only in the recent 55 years. Nevertheless, the pronounced recent increasing trends since 1950 are unprecedented. What give rise this trend remain elusive.
Performance of five commercially available tooth color-measuring devices.

PURPOSE Visual tooth color assessment is neither accurate nor precise due to various subjective and objective factors. As newly developed tooth color-measuring devices for dental application provide the possibility of a more objective means of color determination, their performances in vitro and in vivo must be evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and precision of five commercially available tooth color-measuring devices in standardized and in clinical environments. MATERIALS AND METHODS In an in vitro study, standards (A1, A2, A3, A3.5, and A4 shade tabs of Vita Lumin) were measured five times with five electronic devices (ShadeScan, Easyshade, Ikam, IdentaColor II, and ShadeEye) by two operators. In an in vivo study, the right upper central incisors of 25 dental students were measured with the same electronic devices by a single operator. Vita shade tab codes were expressed as CIE (International Commission on Illumination) L*a*b* values and in terms of the precision and accuracy of DeltaE color differences. The Mann-Whitney statistical test was used to analyze the differences between the two operators in the in vitro study, and the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance on ranks with the post-hoc Tukey test was used to analyze the accuracy and precision of electronic devices. RESULTS No statistically significant difference was found between the different operators in the in vitro study. The obtained precision was Easyshade > ShadeScan approximately equal Ikam > IdentaColor II > ShadeEye. The obtained accuracy was Easyshade > ShadeScan approximately equal Ikam > ShadeEye > IdentaColor II. In the in vivo study, the Easyshade and the Ikam were the most precise, and the ShadeEye and the IdentaColor II were more precise than the ShadeScan. With respect to accuracy, there was no statistical difference between the ShadeScan, Ikam, and the Easyshade. The IdentaColor II was considered inaccurate (DeltaE(a)= 3.4). CONCLUSIONS In the clinical setting, the Easyshade and Ikam systems were the most reliable. The other devices tested were more reliable in vitro than in vivo.
Food insecurity is associated with poor sleep outcomes among US adults.

BACKGROUND Although food insecure (FI) adults are at risk of chronic conditions, little research attention is given to their health behaviors, such as sleep. OBJECTIVE We examined the associations between adult food security status and sleep duration, sleep latency, and sleep complaints reported to a health care professional. METHODS Our population-based sample included 5637 men and 5264 women (≥22 y) who participated in the NHANES 2005-2010. Food security status was assessed with USDA's 10-item adult Food Security Survey Module. Self-reported information about sleep duration, sleep latency, and sleep complaints to a health care professional were used as sleep outcomes. Multiple linear, stratified by sex, and logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between food security status and the 3 sleep outcomes. RESULTS Very low food secure (FS) women reported significantly shorter sleep duration than fully FS women (difference: -30 ± 5.2 min; P < 0.01); however, no relation to sleep duration was observed among men. Among men, participants who were marginally FS (4 ± 1.1 min), low FS (4 ± 1.7 min), and very low FS (5 ± 1.8 min) reported significantly longer sleep latency than fully FS men (P < 0.05), but no association with sleep latency was observed among women. The divergent patterns in sleep duration and latency were likely because of our reference groups reporting undesirable sleep outcomes; fully FS men reported inadequate sleep and fully FS women reported long sleep latency. Among both men and women, marginally FS (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.24, 2.16), low FS (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.30), and very low FS (OR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.36, 2.92) participants were more likely to report sleep complaints than their fully FS counterparts (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Poor sleep quantity and quality may predispose FI adults to adverse health outcomes.