Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A dynamic intracellular distribution of Vangl2 accompanies cell polarization during zebrafish gastrulation

During vertebrate gastrulation, convergence and extension movements elongate embryonic tissues anteroposteriorly and narrow them mediolaterally. Planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling is essential for mediolateral cell elongation underlying these movements, but how this polarity arises is poorly understood. We analyzed the elongation, orientation and migration behaviors of lateral mesodermal cells undergoing convergence and extension movements in wild-type zebrafish embryos and mutants for the Wnt/PCP core component Vangl2 (Trilobite). We demonstrate that Vangl2 function is required at the time when cells transition to a highly elongated and mediolaterally aligned body. vangl2 mutant cells fail to undergo this transition and to migrate along a straight path with high net speed towards the dorsal midline. Instead, vangl2 mutant cells exhibit an anterior/animal pole bias in cell body alignment and movement direction, suggesting that PCP signaling promotes effective dorsal migration in part by suppressing anterior/animalward cell polarity and movement. Endogenous Vangl2 protein accumulates at the plasma membrane of mesenchymal converging cells at the time its function is required for mediolaterally polarized cell behavior. Heterochronic cell transplantations demonstrated that Vangl2 cell membrane accumulation is stage dependent and regulated by both intrinsic factors and an extracellular signal, which is distinct from PCP signaling or other gastrulation regulators, including BMP and Nodals. Moreover, mosaic expression of fusion proteins revealed enrichment of Vangl2 at the anterior cell edges of highly mediolaterally elongated cells. These results demonstrate that the dynamic Vangl2 intracellular distribution is coordinated with and necessary for the changes in convergence and extension cell behaviors during gastrulation. Summary: During gastrulation, the PCP protein Vangl2 first accumulates at cell membranes, in response to both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and then becomes asymmetrically localized in highly polarized cells.
Calcium Use During In-hospital Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Report From the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

OBJECTIVES. Specific patterns of calcium use during in-hospital pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation have not been reported since publication of pediatric advanced life support guidelines by the American Heart Association in 2000 recommended that calcium use during cardiopulmonary resuscitation be limited to select circumstances. We hypothesized that calcium is used frequently during in-hospital pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation and that its use is associated with worse survival to hospital discharge. METHODS. We reviewed 1477 consecutive pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation index events (for patients younger than 18 years) submitted to the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation from January 2000 through July 2004. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included survival of event and neurologic outcome. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to analyze the association between calcium use and outcomes. RESULTS. Calcium was used in 659 (45%) of 1477 events. Calcium was more likely to be used during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the settings of pediatric facilities, ICUs, cardiac surgery, cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration of ≥15 minutes, asystole, and concurrently with other advanced life support medications: epinephrine, vasopressin, sodium bicarbonate, and magnesium sulfate. The use of calcium during cardiopulmonary resuscitation adjusted for confounding factors was associated with decreased survival to discharge and was not associated with favorable neurologic outcome. CONCLUSIONS. Calcium is used frequently during in-hospital pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Although epidemiologic associations do not necessarily indicate causality, calcium use during cardiopulmonary resuscitation is associated with decreased survival to hospital discharge and unfavorable neurologic outcome.
Health-care Spending: Prospect and Retrospect

In recent years, there has been mounting concern that Canada’s health-care system will be unable to meet the future demands posed by population ageing. This study sheds light on the sustainability question by providing a detailed decomposition of historical health spending growth and long-terms projections of future health spending. The projections show sizeable increases in total health-care spending as a share of GDP over the next forty years. However, scenarios believed to be most plausible appear manageable from a fiscal standpoint. Resume
Urinary Prostanoid Metabolites and Serum Thromboxane Following Recovery from Cyclooxygenase Inhibition with Aspirin

A previous study that measured urinary nary 11-dehydro-TXB2, 114.4 ± 13.8%, and urinary thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-PGF1α after with- TXB2, 106.0 ± 12% (all not significant compared with drawal of aspirin found evidence of a rebound in urinary control). The urinary 6-keto-PGF1α level 14 days after prostanoid excretion above control levels 14 days after aspirin withdrawal was 96.9 ± 17.8% of control (NS). aspirin administration ceased. This study aimed to con- Twenty-one days after aspirin withdrawal, TXB2 metab firm these findings using a wider range of prostanoid me- olites as a percentage of control were, respectively, se tabolites. The subjects were 17 young, healthy volunteers rum TXB2, 154 ± 39%; urinary TXB2, 114 ± 11% (both who had taken 100 mg of enteric-coated aspirin daily for NS compared with control; and urinary 11-dehydro- 7 days followed by 650 mg of enteric-coated aspirin for a TXB2, 127.2 ± 11.9% (p = 0.037 compared with control). further 7 days as part of another study. They showed Urinary 6-keto-PGF 1α 21 days after aspirin withdrawal signs of the expected inhibition of TXB2 metabolites at was 159.9 ± 46.2% of control (NS). Overall there would the end of aspirin treatment. After 650 mg aspirin, serum appear to be a trend to increased production of prostanoid generation of TXB 2 by clotting blood was 0.77 ± 0.2% of metabolites 14 and 21 days after aspirin withdrawal, but it control (p < 0.0001), urinary 11-dehydro-TXB 2 was 21.8 reached statistical significance only for 11-dehydro-TXB 2 ± 2.8% of control (p < 0.0001), and urinary TXB2 was at 21 days' withdrawal. As platelets are the major source 33.7 ± 4.2% of control (p < 0.0001). Fourteen days after of this metabolite, this finding would suggest that in- aspirin withdrawal, TXB2 metabolites as a percentage of creased platelet generation of TXB2 plays a part.
Human pancreas development

A wealth of data and comprehensive reviews exist on pancreas development in mammals, primarily mice, and other vertebrates. By contrast, human pancreatic development has been less comprehensively reviewed. Here, we draw together those studies conducted directly in human embryonic and fetal tissue to provide an overview of what is known about human pancreatic development. We discuss the relevance of this work to manufacturing insulin-secreting β-cells from pluripotent stem cells and to different aspects of diabetes, especially permanent neonatal diabetes, and its underlying causes. Summary: This Review presents a human-centric view of the latest advances in our understanding of pancreas development and the relevance of these insights from a clinical perspective.
Overweight and Obesity among Adolescent School Students in Mansoura, Egypt

Introduction: Obesity is increasing among adolescents worldwide. this article aims to estimate the prevalence and predictors of overweight/obesity among adolescent students in public secondary schools in Mansoura, egypt. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 953 adolescent students. thirty clusters were selected to cover both general and vocational public schools of both sexes in urban and rural areas. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data about sociodemographic features of the students and their families, as well as behavioural and eating habits of students. Weight and height were measured and body mass index was calculated. Results: the overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 25.6%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the most inde i 0.3-0.6), OR = 0.5, Ci 0.4-0.7, and OR = 0.6, Ci 0.4-0.9), respectively). Conclusions: this data may be useful for early detection of students at risk of overweight/obesity and targeting them by appropri -
Strategies for evaluating information visualization tools: multi-dimensional in-depth long-term case studies

After an historical review of evaluation methods, we describe an emerging research method called Multi-dimensional In-depth Long-term Case studies (MILCs) which seems well adapted to study the creative activities that users of information visualization systems engage in. We propose that the efficacy of tools can be assessed by documenting 1) usage (observations, interviews, surveys, logging etc.) and 2) expert users' success in achieving their professional goals. We summarize lessons from related ethnography methods used in HCI and provide guidelines for conducting MILCs for information visualization. We suggest ways to refine the methods for MILCs in modest sized projects and then envision ambitious projects with 3-10 researchers working over 1-3 years to understand individual and organizational use of information visualization by domain experts working at the frontiers of knowledge in their fields.
Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies: A Case Study of an Older Adult

ABSTRACT Falls are the leading cause of injuries and deaths in adults over the age of 65. The purpose of this case study is to explore the use of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) to improve the mechanisms of balance, postural sway, fear of falling (FOF), and participation in older adults (OA). The participant (a 76-year-old woman), completed 10 Adaptive riding (AR) sessions over a six-week period, led by a Level II therapist (COTA/L and PATH certified riding instructor). Changes in function were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), Activity Card Sort (ACS), and Video Motion Capture (VMC) system. Results indicated improved static standing balance, postural stability, and greater dynamic head and trunk control. Additionally, the participant expressed decreased FOF, decreased back pain, the ability to recover self after a fall, and an increase in activity participation as indicated in the ACS.
Effects of a higher versus a lower dexamethasone dose on pulmonary and neurodevelopmental sequelae in preterm infants at risk for chronic lung disease: a meta-analysis

Objectives: Systemic postnatal dexamethasone reduces the risk of chronic lung disease (CLD) in preterm infants, but may also be associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. As it is unknown whether these effects are modulated by the cumulative dexamethasone dose, we systematically reviewed the available randomized evidence on the effects of a lower versus a higher cumulative dexamethasone dose in terms of mortality, pulmonary morbidity, and neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing a higher versus a lower dosage regimen of dexamethasone in ventilated preterm infants were identified by searching the main electronic databases, references from relevant studies and abstracts from the Societies for Pediatric Research (1990 onwards). Eligibility and quality of trials was assessed and data were extracted on study design, patient characteristics and the relevant outcomes. Results: Six studies enrolling a total of 209 participants were included; two studies contrasted the cumulative dexamethasone dose in the higher ranges (> 2.7 mg/kg in the higher dose regimen) and 4 in the lower ranges (≤ 2.7 mg/kg in the higher dose regimen). Meta-analysis revealed no effect of dexamethasone dose on mortality and neurodevelopmental sequelae in these two subgroups. Subgroup analysis of the studies contrasting the dexamethasone dose in the higher ranges showed that the highest dose of dexamethasone was more effective in reducing CLD than the lower dose (typical RR 0.67: 95% CI 0.45, 0.99). Interpretation of these data is hampered by small sample of randomized children, heterogeneity on study populations and designs, use of late rescue glucocorticoids and lack of long term neurodevelopmental data in some studies. Conclusions: Recommendations for optimal dexamethasone doses in preterm infants at risk for CLD cannot be based on current evidence. A well designed large RCT is urgently needed to establish the optimal dexamethasone dosage regimen.
Disability Adjusted Life Years and acute onset disorders: Improving estimates of the non-fatal burden of injuries and infectious intestinal disease

textabstractThe population's health faces an array of diseases and injuries. Limited resources compel policy-makers everywhere to focus on threats that are regarded most relevant in terms of public health. The World Health Organization and Worldbank developed an innovative concept which expresses the burden of disease in Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY). The DALY provides knowledge on the size of health problems and the potential benefit of proposed measures set against similar and comparable data of other problems. However, apart from the obvious advantages, the DALY-concept has been criticized concerning key aspects of the methodology. This thesis addressed four of these controversial aspects: namely (1) deriving disability weights for disorders with complex and heterogeneous recovery patterns, (2) the disregard of comorbid diseases, (3) the arbitrariness of the in- and exclusion of long-term sequelae, and (4) the absence of a criterion to identify cases that are relevant from a public health perspective. These controversial aspects were addressed with regards to two health (care) domains where these aspects are particularly problematic. Both health domains, injuries and infectious intestinal disease, are featured by heterogeneous health outcomes, including the extremes of the severity spectrum and duration, with all types of time-severity relations. This thesis demonstrated satisfactory alternative solutions to these four controversial issues of the DALY concept. As a result, the DALY-concept may be used for burden of disease studies of conditions in which these controversial issues emerge in particular. Application of alternative solutions proposed in this thesis may improve burden of disease estimates considerably.
Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Risk in Midadult Life: The Role of Childhood Adversity

OBJECTIVE. Child abuse has been associated with poorer physical health in adulthood, but less is known about childhood adversity more broadly, including neglect and family problems, or the pathways from adversity to adult disease. We have examined how different stressful emotional or neglectful childhood adversities are related to adiposity and glucose control in midadulthood, taking into account childhood factors, and whether the relationships are mediated by adult health behaviors and socioeconomic position. METHODS. This was a prospective longitudinal study of 9310 members of the 1958 British birth cohort who participated in a biomedical interview at 45 years of age. Primary outcomes consisted of continuous measures of BMI, waist circumference, and glycosylated hemoglobin at 45 years and categorical indicators: total obesity (BMI ≥ 30), central obesity (waist circumference: ≥102 cm for men and ≥88 cm for women), and glycosylated hemoglobin level of ≥6. RESULTS. The risk of obesity increased by 20% to 50% for several adversities (physical abuse, verbal abuse, witnessed abuse, humiliation, neglect, strict upbringing, physical punishment, conflict or tension, low parental aspirations or interest in education, hardly takes outings with parents, and father hardly reads to child). Adversities with the strongest associations with adiposity (eg, physical abuse) tended to be associated with glycosylated hemoglobin levels of ≥6, but in most cases associations were explained by adjustment for adulthood mediators such as adiposity. Effects of other adversities reflecting less severe emotional neglect and family environment were largely explained by childhood socioeconomic factors. CONCLUSIONS. Some childhood adversities increase the risk of obesity in adulthood and thereby increase the risk for type 2 diabetes. Research is needed to understand the interrelatedness of adversities, the social context of their occurrence, and trajectories from adversity to adult disease.
Executive Functioning in the First Year After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE. Children with traumatic brain injuries often show impaired executive function (the ability to carry out goal-directed behavior). The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, a caregiver-report questionnaire, measures executive function in everyday activities. In this study, our goal was to use the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function to document changes in children's executive function in the first year after traumatic brain injury and identify child, family, and injury variables associated with greater dysfunction. We predicted that children with traumatic brain injury would have more executive dysfunction than children hospitalized for orthopedic fractures and that more severe traumatic brain injury would predict greater dysfunction. Children's premorbid functioning and family characteristics were expected to moderate their executive function. PATIENTS AND METHODS. Caregivers of children aged 5 to 15 years (330 mild-to-severe traumatic brain injury, 103 control orthopedic fractures) enrolled onto a longitudinal study of executive function. Caregivers completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function by telephone at baseline (obtained retrospectively) and 3 months and 1 year after the injury. RESULTS. Traumatic brain injury groups and controls showed no baseline differences in Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function scores. Three months after the injury, children with traumatic brain injury had more dysfunction than controls on the Global Executive Composite. One year after injury, all traumatic brain injury groups differed from the controls on the Behavioral Regulation Index, Metacognition Index, and Global Executive Composite. The working memory scale was the only scale to discriminate between the control group and all 3 traumatic brain injury severity groups at both 3 and 12 months after injury. Executive-function ratings remained stable from 3 to 12 months after injury. Across time points, preexisting learning/behavior problems, lower respondent education, and poor family functioning predicted greater Global Executive Composite dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS. Between 18% and 38% of the children with traumatic brain injury had significant executive dysfunction in the first year after injury, with greater dysfunction reported for children with more severe traumatic brain injury. Our findings support previous reports that preinjury learning and behavior problems, limited family resources, and poor family functioning adversely affect executive function. These results suggest a need for more systematic screening for executive dysfunction after traumatic brain injury to increase recognition of cognitive disability and improve access to appropriate services.
Volatile constituents and antioxidant activity of Aucoumea klaineana Pierre essential oil

Laboratoire de chimie des substances naturelles, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Bangui, BP 908 Bangui République Centrafricaine or 01 BP 134 Ouagadougou 01 Burkina Faso. Centre de Recherche en Sciences Biologiques, Alimentaires et Nutritionnelles, Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Biotechnologie, Université de Ouagadougou 03 BP7131 Ouagadougou Burkina Faso. Centre International de Recherche Médicale du Gabon (CIRMF) Franceville,Gabon. Ecole Normale Supérieure, laboratoire pluridisciplinaire de chimie, BP 7131 Libreville, Gabon.LEXVA analytique, 460 rue du Montant, 63110 Beaumont, France. Laboratoire de chimie des hétérocycles et des glucides. Chimie des huiles essentielles, les Cezeaux, 63177 Aubière, France.
Benefit of Magnesium Sulfate Given Before Very Preterm Birth to Protect Infant Brain

Brain protection remains a challenge in infants who are born very preterm. Given its potential neuroprotective properties, magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) has been one of the rare pharmacologic interventions used in randomized trials.1,2 Our PREMAG Trial Collaborative Group found nonsignificantly decreased risks of short-term severe white matter injury, mortality before hospital discharge, and their combined outcome.2 In this letter we report results from the 2-year follow-up of the PREMAG Trial.
Consenso brasileiro para a abordagem clínica e tratamento do hipotireoidismo subclínico em adultos: recomendações do Departamento de Tireoide da Sociedade Brasileira de Endocrinologia e Metabologia

INTRODUCTION: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), defined as elevated concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) despite normal levels of thyroid hormones, is highly prevalent in Brazil, especially among women and the elderly. Although an increasing number of studies have related SCH to an increased risk of coronary artery disease and mortality, there have been no randomized clinical trials verifying the benefit of levothyroxine treatment in reducing these risks, and the treatment remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: This consensus, sponsored by the Thyroid Department of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism and developed by Brazilian experts with extensive clinical experience with thyroid diseases, presents these recommendations based on evidence for the clinical management of SCH patients in Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After structuring the clinical questions, the search for evidence in the literature was initially performed in the MedLine-PubMed database and later in the Embase and SciELO - Lilacs databases. The strength of evidence was evaluated according to the Oxford classification system and established based on the experimental design used, considering the best available evidence for each question and the Brazilian experience. RESULTS: The topics covered included SCH definition and diagnosis, natural history, clinical significance, treatment and pregnancy, and the consensus issued 29 recommendations for the clinical management of adult patients with SCH. CONCLUSION: Treatment with levothyroxine was recommended for all patients with persistent SCH with serum TSH values > 10 mU/L and for certain patient subgroups.