Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Partners in School: An Innovative Parent-Teacher Consultation Model for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

ABSTRACT Little research examines the best ways to improve communication between parents and teachers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its effect on child outcomes. The present study tests an innovative parent-teacher consultation model, entitled Partners in School. The goal of Partners in School is to improve parent-teacher communication about evidence-based practices (EBPs) and, subsequently, outcomes for children with ASD. Participants were 26 teachers and 49 parents of children with ASD from a large urban public school district. Parents and teachers completed measures of their communication and child outcomes prior to and after receiving consultation through Partners in School. Results indicated that parents and teachers perceived improvements in child outcomes after participation in Partners in School. Changes in parent-teacher communication also were associated with changes in some child outcomes. Discussion highlights the important role of communication in consultations targeting family–school partnerships for children with ASD.
Assessment of Skin Physiology Change and Safety After Intradermal Injections With Botulinum Toxin: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Split-Face Pilot Study in Rosacea Patients With Facial Erythema.

BACKGROUND Botulinum toxin (BTX) has been used cosmetically with good clinical efficacy and tolerable safety. OBJECTIVE This randomized, double-blind, split-face clinical study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of intradermal BTX in patients with rosacea. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-four participants were enrolled and randomly given intradermal injections of BTX and normal saline in both cheeks. Clinician Erythema Assessment (CEA) score, Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) score, skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), melanin content, erythema index, elasticity, and sebum secretions were evaluated at baseline and 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. RESULTS On the BTX-treated side, the CEA score significantly decreased and the GAIS score significantly increased. The erythema index decreased at Weeks 4 and 8. Skin elasticity was improved at Weeks 2 and 4 and skin hydration, at Weeks 2, 4, and 8. However, TEWL and sebum secretion did not show significant differences. CONCLUSION Intradermal BTX injections significantly reduced the erythema on both cheeks and improved skin elasticity and hydration, but not TEWL and sebum secretion. Intradermal BTX injections reduced erythema and rejuvenated the skin effectively and safely in patients with rosacea.
The Effect of Patient Characteristics on 1 to 2-Year and Minimum 5-Year Outcomes After Total Ankle Arthroplasty

Background: Total ankle arthroplasty has shown durable improvements in patient-reported outcomes. However, the impact of common comorbidities and patient factors has not been fully characterized. The purpose of this study was to identify patient comorbidities and characteristics that impact outcomes after total ankle arthroplasty. Methods: Patients who underwent a total ankle arthroplasty between January 2007 and December 2016 were enrolled into a prospective study at a single academic center. Patients completed outcome measures before the surgical procedure and at the time of follow-up: a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA). Patient and operative factors, along with prevalent preoperative comorbidities, were analyzed for association with preoperative to postoperative changes in 1 to 2-year and minimum 5-year outcomes. Comorbidities that met a significance threshold of p < 0.05 in adjusted analyses were incorporated into multivariable outcome models. Results: A total of 668 patients with a mean 1 to 2-year follow-up (and standard deviation) of 1.6 ± 0.5 years (range, 10 months to 2 years and 2 months) were included. Patients’ pain and function significantly improved across all outcomes (p < 0.05). However, depression, staged bilateral ankle arthroplasty, increased length of stay, a prior surgical procedure, increased American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, and particular implant types were associated with significantly smaller improvements in at least 1 patient-reported outcome after total ankle arthroplasty in the 1 to 2-year follow-up, although the effects were relatively small. At a minimum 5-year follow-up, smoking, depression, implant type, and staged bilateral ankle arthroplasty were associated with worse outcomes, and a prior surgical procedure, a simultaneous bilateral surgical procedure, and obesity were associated with improved outcomes. Conclusions: Patients who underwent total ankle arthroplasty had significant improvement in patient-reported outcomes, although several factors were associated with a small, but significant, negative impact on improvement, including depression, increased ASA score, current smoking, increased length of stay, a prior surgical procedure, and staged bilateral total ankle arthroplasty. Current smoking, obesity, and depression are potentially modifiable risk factors that could be improved prior to total ankle arthroplasty. Patients with these characteristics should be counseled on their risk of limited improvement in ankle pain and disability after total ankle arthroplasty. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Risk of Dementia and Mortality in Lower to Middle Income Countries

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major disease burden which accounts for 5% of all deaths globally, with most of those (>90%) occurring in lower to middle income countries (LMIC). It is also emerging as an important modifiable dementia risk factor. Objective: To address the knowledge gap surrounding the nature of the associations between COPD, dementia, and mortality, and the geographical variation of those associations in LMIC. Methods: Data from the 10/66 study surveying 15,394 participants (mean age 74 years, 62% female) across 8 countries was used to estimate the prevalence of self-reported COPD and its association with incident dementia and premature death. Proportional sub-hazards models using a cumulative incidence function were applied to identify the probability of incident dementia onset given the risk of premature death, with estimates pooled across countries via random effect meta-analysis. Results: Over the 3-year follow-up, almost 10% of participants developed dementia and 14% were deceased. COPD was not significantly associated with dementia incidence except in Cuba. However, fully adjusted models indicated that individuals with COPD were at a 28% increased risk of premature death, a trend present across most countries when analyzed individually. Conclusion: The link between COPD and dementia is currently somewhat different and weaker in LMIC than in developed countries. This may be because premature death in the populations studied mask the development of clinical dementia. Given the global trend toward increased life expectancy, it is critical that the disease burden associated with COPD be addressed without delay if a further rise in dementia prevalence associated with COPD is to be avoided in LMIC.
Efficacy of a new pathogen‐reduced cryoprecipitate stored 5 days after thawing to correct dilutional coagulopathy in vitro

Fibrinogen supplementation during bleeding restores clot strength and hemostasis. Cryoprecipitate, a concentrated source of fibrinogen, has prolonged preparation time for thawing, a short shelf life resulting in frequent wastage, and infectious disease risk. This in vitro study investigated the efficacy of a new pathogen‐reduced cryoprecipitate thawed and stored at room temperature for 5 days (PR Cryo) to treat dilutional hypofibrinogenemia, compared to immediately thawed standard cryoprecipitate (Cryo) or fibrinogen concentrate (FC).
Neuroendocrine Mechanisms Involved in Male Sexual and Emotional  Behavior

Objective The aim of this narrative review was to analyze the role played by brain areas, neurohormones and neurotransmitters in the regulation of emotional and sexual behavior in the male. Methods We analyzed the currently available literature dealing with brain structures, neurotransmitters and neurohormones involved in the regulation of emotional and sexual behavior in the male. Results A common brain pathway is involved in these two aspects. The Hippocampus seems to control the signals coming from the external environment, while the amygdala and the hypothalamus control the response to social stimuli. Stimulation of amygdala in the animal models increases sexual performance, while it triggers violent emotional responses. Stimulation of the hypothalamus causes reactions of violent anger and increases sexual activity. Catecholaminergic stimulation of the amygdala and hypothalamus increases emotional and sexual behavior, while serotonin plays an inhibitory role. Cholinergic inhibition leads to a suppression of copulatory activity, while the animal becomes hyperemotive. Opioids, such as β-endorphin and met-enkephalin, reduce copulatory activity and induce impotence. Gonadal steroid hormones, such as estrogen in female and testosterone in male, which play a major role in the control of sexual behavior and gender difference have been highlighted in this review. Vasopressin, oxytocin and their receptors are expressed in high density in the “social behavior neural network” and play a role as signal system controlling social behavior. Finally, the neuropeptide kisspeptin and its receptors, located in the limbic structures, mediate olfactory control of the gonadotropic axis. Conclusion Further studies are needed to evaluate possible implications in the treatment of psychosexual and reproductive disorders.
Classification of disease severity in retinitis pigmentosa

Aim To develop a simple and easily applicable classification of disease severity in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Methods This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Visual acuity (VA), visual field width (VF) and ellipsoid zone width (EZ) were obtained from medical records of patients with RP. A scoring criterion was developed wherein each variable was assigned a score from 0 to 5 depending on its distribution. The cumulative score (from 0 to 15) was used to classify disease severity from grade 0 to 5. The scores were correlated with each other and the final grade. The grades were then correlated with age and disease duration. Results The median age (range) of patients (n=93) was 55 (12–87) years, 51% were female, 70% had been diagnosed within 10 years, and 50% had autosomal recessive disease. Most eyes (n=181) at least had a VA of 20/40 (67%), a VF of 20° (75%) and an EZ of 5° (76%). All scores were correlated with each other (r=0.509–0.613; p<0.001 for all) and with the final grade (r=0.790–0.869; p<0.001 for all). Except for grade 0 (5%), all grades were evenly distributed: 21% for grade 1, 23% for grade 2, 22% for grade 3, 17% for grade 4 and 12% for grade 5. Grades were correlated with both age (r=0.252; p<0.001) and disease duration (r=0.383; p<0.001). Conclusions We present a simple, objective and easy to use disease severity classification for RP which can be used to categorise and compare patients.
Intermediate-Term Transoceanic Shipments of Fresh Beef.

Use of a NaOCl rinse did not consistently affect (P >.05) weight losses or visual scores for appearance of beef cuts and quarters shipped from Seattle, Washington to Anchorage, Alaska. Wrapping of beef with PVC film greatly enhanced (P < .05) overall appearance of beef but also increased (P < .05, six of 24 comparisons) microbial counts and increased (P < .05, 12 of 23 comparisons) extent of visual microbial damage. Microbial counts did not increase (P > .05) on PVC film-wrapped beef shipped in modified atmosphere (60% CO2, 25%O2, 15%N2) vans. Surface discoloration was minimized and overall appearance was enhanced (P < .05) for hindquarters as a result of the combined (additive) effects of NaOCl rinsing, PVC film wrapping, and shipment in a van with modified atmosphere.
Humoral response to natural influenza infection in solid organ transplant recipients

The humoral immune response of transplant recipients to influenza vaccination has been studied in detail. In contrast, the hemagglutinin inhibiting (HI) antibody response evoked by natural influenza infection and its impact on viral kinetics is unknown. In this prospective, multicenter, cohort study of natural influenza infection in transplant recipients, we measured HI antibody titers at presentation and 4 weeks later. Serial nasopharyngeal viral loads were determined using a quantitative influenza A polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We analyzed 196 transplant recipients with influenza infection. In the cohort of organ transplant patients with influenza A (n = 116), seropositivity rates for strain‐specific antibodies were 44.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 31.5‐53.2%) at diagnosis and 64.7% (95% CI 55.4‐72.9%) 4 weeks postinfection. Seroconversion was observed in 32.8% (95% CI 24.7‐41.9%) of the cases. Lung transplant recipients were more likely to seroconvert (P = .002) and vaccine recipients were less likely to seroconvert (P = .024). A subset of patients (n = 30) who were unresponsive to prior vaccination were also unresponsive to natural infection. There was no correlation between viral kinetics and antibody response. This study provides novel data on the seroresponse to influenza infection in transplant patients and its relationship to a number of parameters including a prior vaccination status, virologic measures, and clinical variables.
Thalamic‐Caudal Zona Incerta Deep Brain Stimulation for Refractory Orthostatic Tremor: A Report of 3 Cases

Orthostatic tremor (OT) is a rare, disabling movement disorder characterized by the development of a high‐frequency tremor of the lower limbs and feelings of unsteadiness upon standing, which compel the patient to sit down or walk. Medical therapy is often unsatisfactory. Previous reports suggest that deep brain stimulation of the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus may improve clinical outcomes. The authors report 3 patients who had intractable orthostatic tremor treated with bilateral deep brain stimulation of the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus‐caudal zona incerta, resulting in improved and sustained clinical improvements in symptoms, although there were no apparent changes in the underlying tremor frequency or onset.
Functional Outcomes After Fracture-Dislocation of the Ankle

Background. Fracture dislocation of the ankle represents a substantial injury to the bony and soft tissue structures of the ankle. There has been only limited reporting of functional outcome of ankle fracture-dislocations. This study aimed to compare functional outcome after open reduction internal fixation in ankle fractures with and without dislocation. Methods. A retrospective chart review of surgically treated ankle fractures over a 3- year period was performed. Demographic data, type of fracture, operative time and complications were recorded. Of 118 patients eligible for analysis, 33 (28%) sustained a fracture-dislocation. Mean patient age was 46.6 years; 62 patients, who had follow-up of at least 12 months, were analyzed for functional outcome assessed by the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). The median follow-up time was 37 months. Demographic variables and FAOS were compared between ankle fractures with and without dislocation. Results. The average age of patients sustaining fracture-dislocation was greater (53 vs 44 years, P = .017); a greater percentage were female (72.7% vs 51.8%, P = .039) and diabetic (24.2% vs 7.1%, P = .010). Wound complications were similar between both groups. FAOS was generally poorer in the fracture-dislocation group, although only the pain subscale demonstrated statistical significance (76 vs 92, P = .012). Conclusion. Ankle fracture-dislocation occurred more frequently in patients who were older, female, and diabetic. At a median of just > 3-year follow-up, functional outcomes in fracture-dislocations were generally poorer; the pain subscale of FAOS was worse in a statistically significant fashion. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level III
Targeting Glioblastoma Stem Cells with 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (2-DG) Potentiates Radiation-Induced Unfolded Protein Response (UPR)

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, and despite optimized treatment options, median survival remains dismal. Contemporary evidence suggests disease recurrence results from expansion of a robustly radioresistant subset of GBM progenitor cells, termed GBM stem cells (GSCs). In this study, we utilized transmission electron microscopy to uncover ultrastructural effects on patient-derived GSC lines exposed to supratherapeutic radiotherapy levels. Elevated autophagosome formation and increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) internal diameter, a surrogate for ER stress and activation of unfolded protein response (UPR), was uncovered. These observations were confirmed via protein expression through Western blot. Upon interrogating genomic data from an open-access GBM patient database, overexpression of UPR-related chaperone protein genes was inversely correlated with patient survival. This indicated controlled UPR may play a role in promoting radioresistance. To determine if potentiating UPR further can induce apoptosis, we exposed GSCs to radiation with an ER stress-inducing drug, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), and found dose-dependent decreases in viability and increased apoptotic marker expression. Taken together, our results indicate GSC radioresistance is, in part, achieved by overexpression and overactivation of ER stress-related pathways, and this effect can be overcome via potentiation of UPR, leading to loss of GSC viability.
Dissection of Complex, Fitness-Related Traits in Multiple Drosophila Mapping Populations Offers Insight into the Genetic Control of Stress Resistance

The ability to survive periods without food is an important component of individual fitness, and genetic dissection can provide insight into the mechanisms and evolution of starvation resistance. Everman et al. use several genome-wide. We leverage two complementary Drosophila melanogaster mapping panels to genetically dissect starvation resistance—an important fitness trait. Using >1600 genotypes from the multiparental Drosophila Synthetic Population Resource (DSPR), we map numerous starvation stress QTL that collectively explain a substantial fraction of trait heritability. Mapped QTL effects allowed us to estimate DSPR founder phenotypes, predictions that were correlated with the actual phenotypes of these lines. We observe a modest phenotypic correlation between starvation resistance and triglyceride level, traits that have been linked in previous studies. However, overlap among QTL identified for each trait is low. Since we also show that DSPR strains with extreme starvation phenotypes differ in desiccation resistance and activity level, our data imply multiple physiological mechanisms contribute to starvation variability. We additionally exploited the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) to identify sequence variants associated with starvation resistance. Consistent with prior work these sites rarely fall within QTL intervals mapped in the DSPR. We were offered a unique opportunity to directly compare association mapping results across laboratories since two other groups previously measured starvation resistance in the DGRP. We found strong phenotypic correlations among studies, but extremely low overlap in the sets of genomewide significant sites. Despite this, our analyses revealed that the most highly associated variants from each study typically showed the same additive effect sign in independent studies, in contrast to otherwise equivalent sets of random variants. This consistency provides evidence for reproducible trait-associated sites in a widely used mapping panel, and highlights the polygenic nature of starvation resistance.
Timing and Indications for Colectomy in Chronic Ulcerative Colitis: Surgical Consideration

Total proctocolectomy (TPC) cures a patient of the intestinal manifestation of chronic ulcerative colitis. The timing of surgery during the illness will influence the choice of operation, the frequency of post-operative complications, and the long-term functional outcomes. Surgery is divided into emergency, urgent, and elective procedures. Emergency cases are performed for complications of fulminant colitis: hemorrhage, perforation, toxic megacolon or sepsis. A subtotal colectomy (STC) with a Brooke ileostomy (BI) is the procedure of choice. STC removes the bulk of the disease, allows the patient’s health to be restored, medication to be withdrawn, and permits a future restorative operation. Urgent operations occur in hospitalized patients with continued symptoms after seven days of maximal medical therapy. Once again the preferred operation is a STC-BI. Indications for elective colectomy include: persistent symptoms despite maximal medical therapy, medication side-effects, persistent chronic disease state, dysplasia/malignancy. Elective surgical options include TPC-BI, TPC with ileal-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA), or STC-BI. The choice of operation is based upon patient preference and preoperative physiologic and functional status. Factors associated with increased post-operative complications are weight loss >10%, multiple preoperative blood transfusions, albumin <3.0 gm/dl, and degree of immuno-suppression. In high-risk patients, STC-BI should be performed. IPAA can be performed later after the patient’s health is restored. In conclusion, numerous factors affect the timing and choice of operation in patients with CUC. Avoiding complications in IPAA patients is essential as they negatively impact the long-term function and durability of the IPAA.