Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maternal separation blunted spatial memory formation independent of peripheral and hippocampal insulin content in young adult male rats

This study explores the effects of maternal separation as a chronic early life stress (ELS) on pancreatic islets insulin content and secretion, and their potential relationship with the hippocampus insulin content and spatial memory in young adulthood. Male rat offspring were divided into two groups: stress (STR) and non-stress (non-STR) groups. The animals of the STR group were separated from their mothers during postnatal days (PND) 1 to 21. During the weaning time, that is, PND-0 to PND-21, the body weight and length of the pups were measured. Blood samples were collected on PND-1, 21, 29 and 34 and during young adulthood (53±2 days) to determine plasma corticosterone and insulin levels. The young adult animals were also tested for spatial memory. One day after the memory test, the animals were decapitated and their pancreases were removed to measure the islets insulin content and secretion. Finally, the animals’ hippocampi were isolated to determine their insulin content and insulin receptor protein amounts. During the period of weaning, the body weight and length of pups belonging to the STR group were significantly lower as compared to those in the non-STR group. Maternal separation did not change the plasma levels of insulin but increased plasma corticosterone levels from PND-21 to young adulthood and also reduced the islets insulin content but did not affect insulin secretion and the hippocampus insulin content and insulin receptor protein amount. Although, at the end of the memory tests, rats of the STR group reached the escape box at almost the same time and distance and with the same errors as rats of the non-STR group, the distance traveled to reach the escape box showed a steep reduction in the non-STR group as compared to the STR group after the first trial. Moreover, as compared to the STR group, the non-STR group showed an increasing trend for direct strategy to find the escape box. The islets insulin content and secretion, and the plasma insulin concentration were not significantly correlated with the hippocampus insulin content. From the results of the present study, it appears that the main behavioral effect of the maternal separation stress in the spatial memory task was to impair the strategy used by the animals to reach the escape box. This may indicate that maternal separation stress affects brain regions other than the hippocampus. Moreover, due to the reduction of the body weight and length of offspring belonging to the STR group, it should be further considered that both maternal separation and early life malnutrition are directly (and mechanistically) linked to cognitive alterations later in life in ways that are not dependent on peripheral and hippocampal insulin content.
Brief review of sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem, chronic disease of unknown etiology, which is characterized by non-caseating granulomas (Sharma and Izumi, 1990; Hunninghake et al., 1980; Hunninghake and Crystal, 1981). Sarcoidosis involving the thyroid gland is rare (Sharma and Izumi, 1990; Winnacker et al., 1968; Harach and Williams, 1990), with first case described in 1938 (Spencer and Warren, 1938). Incidences could be up to 4% in some autopsy series (Bacci et al., 1991; Maycock et al., 1963). Women are more affected than men. Patient with sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland can present hyperthyroidism (Papi et al., 2006), hypothyroidism (Winnacker et al., 1968; Antonelli et al., 2006), subclinical hyperthyroidism (Antonelli et al., 2006), and subclinical hypothyroidism (Antonelli et al., 2006). Hypothyroidism is caused by infiltration by epithelioid granulomas (Brun et al., 1959). Patient also might present goiter (Papi et al., 2006; Antonelli et al., 2006; Porter et al., 2003). Thyroid sarcoidosis mimicking malignancy has also been reported (Mizukami et al., 1994; Weiss et al., 1989). An autoimmune phenomenon was mentioned before in patients with sarcoidosis (Hunninghake et al., 1980; Hunninghake and Crystal, 1981). Anti-thyroid antibodies percentage ranged from 1.3 to 54.5% in patients with thyroid sarcoidosis in different studies (Nakamura et al., 1997; Hugues et al., 1997). Some studies showed that antithyroglobulin antibodies were more common than TPO antibodies (Rubinstein et al., 1985; Ilias et al., 1998), while other studies showed the prevalence of TPO antibodies to be higher (Nakamura et al., 1997; Papadopoulos et al., 1996).
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials and Visually Evoked Potentials in Young Patients With IDDM

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether young IDDM patients develop central nervous dysfunction and to establish a possible relationship with various disease parameters. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Thirty-two patients, aged 13.5 ± 2 years, with disease duration of 6 ± 2.6 years and age of onset of 7.7 ± 3.2 years (group 1), and 21 patients with short-term disease, age 9.7 ± 3.5 years, duration of disease < 2 years and age of onset of 9.4 ± 3.3 years (group 2) were compared with age- and sex-matched control subjects. Exclusion criteria were clinical signs of neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, or hearing impairment. Neurophysiological studies included auditory and visually evoked potentials (EPs). RESULTS Patients in group 1 revealed increased P100 latencies of visually EPs (103.4 ± 4.5 vs. 96.8 ± 3.7 ms) and interpeak latencies I-V of auditory EPs (4.16 ± 0.10 vs. 3.99 ± 0.09 ms) and had abnormal latencies (values outside 2.5 SD) in 37%. However, short-term patients (group 2) had results within normal limits compared with control subjects. In group 1, longer disease duration and younger age at onset correlated with an increase of P100 latency (P < 0.001) and IPL I-V (P < 0.001). Patients with a history of severe hypoglycemic episodes had increased latencies compared with patients without hypoglycemia (P < 0.05). Furthermore, metabolic control during the last 2 years was related to P100 latencies (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS EPs noninvasively detect subclinical central nervous system involvement in children and adolescents with IDDM. Most important risk factors are duration of disease and frequency of severe hypoglycemia.
Study of Genetic Prediabetic South Indian Subjects: Importance of hyperinsulinemia and β-cell dysfunction

OBJECTIVE To study 1) whether abdominal adiposity was present in adult offspring of two NIDDM parents, 2) whether abdominal adiposity was associated with the development of glucose intolerance, and 3) the association of pancreatic β-cell function with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and NIDDM in these groups. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS One hundred offspring whose parents both had NIDDM were studied (60 men, 40 women, mean age 34 ± 6.9 years, BMI 27.4 ± 4.1 kg/m2). None had a history of glucose intolerance. Nondiabetic control subjects with no family history of diabetes were also studied for comparison (21 men, 19 women, age 36 ± 10.3 years, BMI 26 ± 3.7 kg/m2). A standard oral glucose tolerance test was done for all, and plasma glucose, C-peptide, and insulin responses were measured. Abdominal fat measurements at L4-L5 were made using a computed axial tomography scan. Subcutaneous fat (SF), visceral fat (VF), and total fat (TF) areas were measured and VF/SF ratio was calculated. An index of insulin secretion (Δ I/G) was derived as the ratio of incremental insulin at 30 min divided by 30-min plasma glucose. RESULTS IGT was detected in 32 offspring and diabetes in 21 offspring. Diabetic men had a higher TF area than the other groups. SF, VF, and VF/SF ratios were similar in control men and in offspring with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), IGT, or diabetes. Among control subjects, women had significantly lower VF than men. Female offspring had higher VF than the control subjects, but intragroup variations were absent. Fasting insulin and all C-peptide responses were higher in NGT compared with control subjects (P < 0.02). The 2-h insulin and C-peptide responses were higher in IGT subjects (P < 0.005). In diabetic subjects, the insulin-to-glucose ratio, C-peptide-to-glucose ratio, and Δ I/G were significantly low compared with all other groups (P < 0.005). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the area of insulin response had a positive association and Δ I/G had a negative association with diabetes, while age, sex, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, abdominal fat areas, fasting and 2-h insulin, area of insulin, and the C-peptide measurements did not show independent associations. Two-hour insulin showed a positive association with IGT, while increasing area of insulin showed a negative association. CONCLUSIONS Visceral adiposity seemed to precede glucose intolerance only in women, but it had no independent association with IGT or NIDDM. Insulin resistance, indicated by higher plasma insulin response, and insulin secretory defect, indicated by low Δ I/G at 30 min, were associated with diabetes. β-cell defect was not independently associated with IGT. Increased abdominal visceral adiposity does not appear to be a prerequisite for development of IGT or diabetes in Asian Indians with a strong genetic predisposition for diabetes.
Effect of multiple patient reminders in improving diabetic retinopathy screening. A randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether multiple mailed patient reminders can produce an increase in the rate of diabetic retinal examinations (DRE) over that seen with a single reminder. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS All diabetic members > or = 18 years who were enrolled in a large network-based health maintenance organization (HMO) in California from August 1996 to July 1997 were identified using claims and pharmacy databases. Members who had no record of DRE in the HMO's claims database were then randomized into two groups. Both groups received mailed educational materials and a reminder to obtain the examination. Their physician groups also received a letter explaining the program, current guidelines for DRE, and a list of their diabetes patients with their DRE status. The single intervention group received no additional reminders. The multiple intervention group received additional reminders at 3, 6, and 9 months after baseline if they continued with no record of service, as determined from the claims database. RESULTS The study cohort comprised 19,523 diabetic members, which were randomized into single (n = 9,614) and multiple (n = 9,909) intervention groups. There was an increase in monthly DRE rates after the intervention in August 1996 for both intervention groups. After the second reminder was sent to the multiple intervention group, the percentage of diabetic members receiving DRE was higher than the single intervention group. Rates before and after the third intervention were not significantly different, nor were monthly differences found. There was a significant difference in overall annual DRE rates between the groups (P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS Multiple patient reminders are more effective than single reminders in improving DRE rates in a managed care setting. However, the improvement noted was clinically small and appeared only after the second reminder; no incremental improvement was seen with additional reminders. Resources used for multiple reminders aimed at diabetic retinopathy might better be spent on other approaches to reducing complications of diabetes.
A study on bio-medical waste management and universal precautions among health care personnel working in a phc area”.

To assess knowledge, attitude and practices of medical officers, staff nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacist and field staff regarding BMW (Bio-medical Waste Management and UP (Universal Precautions). To know the difference in the levels of awareness and practice regarding BMW & UP between trained and untrained health care personnel.To provide recommendations for proper BMW Management and Universal Precautions.Material & Methods: This was a Cross-Sectional study conducted among health care personnel working at the Primary Health Centre with 25 sub-centers in Penamaluru Mandal, Krishna district, AP. A total of 63 health care personnel comprising of Medical Officers, Staff nurses, Pharmacist, CHO, PHN, male and female MPHA and MPHW participated. Data was collected with a pre-designed and pretested proforma with a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Only 44 (69.8%) of HCP could define what BMW is. Only 21 (33.3%) knew that there is a legislation regarding the management of BMW. Only 54 (85.71%) were aware of the common types of wastes disposed and 52 (82.5%) were able to identify color codes of bins for waste disposal. 26 (41.2%) had some knowledge about hazards of improper disposal of BMW but only 18 (28.57%) were practicing them properly. Correct knowledge regarding Universal Precautions was found among 36 (57.14%) HCP. The level of difference of KAP between trained and untrained personnel was observed but not statistically significant.Conclusion: KAP regarding various aspects of BMWM and UP was inadequate among health care personnel of Primary health centre . The present study revealed the necessity of training with a periodic follow-up and monitoring.
The Therapeutic Efficacy of Human Insulin (recombinant DNA) in Patients with Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus: A Comparative Study with Purified Porcine Insulin

The therapeutic efficacy of human insulin (recombinant DNA) was compared with that of purified porcine insulin (PPI) in seven male subjects with previously treated insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In a random crossover design the patients received either PPI or human insulin during one of two consecutive 7-day periods of intensive insulin therapy. Control was evaluated on days 6 and 13. Tissue sensitivity and responsiveness to the study insulins were determined by insulin dose-response studies performed using the euglycemic glucose clamp on days 7 and 14. Insulin dose and all measures of control on days 6 and 13 were not statistically different between treatments. When the insulin dose-response studies during each treatment were compared there were no differences between them. Thus, in previously treated patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, undergoing brief but intensive insulin therapy with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, human insulin is as clinically efficacious as PPI. Furthermore, insulin sensitivity and responsiveness, as assessed by dose-response studies during the euglycemic glucose clamp were equivalent for both insulins.
“Is a picture really worth a thousand words?”: A case study on classifying user attributes on Instagram

Because using social media has become a major part of people’s daily lives, many of their personal characteristics are often implicitly or explicitly reflected in the content they share. We present a study of two personal characteristics—age and gender—related to user engagement on Instagram that can be determined through the characterization of images and tags. We demonstrate the strong influence of age and gender on Instagram use in terms of topical and content differences. We then build age and gender classification models that yield F1 scores of up to 88% and 74% in the detection of age and gender, respectively, and that better characterize users by images than by tags. We further demonstrate the robustness of our models using a new set of test data, with which the models exhibit greater overall performance than human raters. Our study highlights that future research should look to exploit images to a greater degree because they complement text and there are many unexamined images with no embedded text available.
Genetic structuring of the coastal herb Arthropodium cirratum (Asparagaceae) is shaped by low gene flow, hybridization and prehistoric translocation

We examined the genetic structuring of rengarenga (Arthropodium cirratum; Asparagaceae), an endemic New Zealand coastal herb, using nuclear microsatellite markers. This species was brought into cultivation by Māori within the last 700–800 years for its edible roots and was transplanted beyond its natural distribution as part of its cultivation. We found very high levels of genetic structuring in the natural populations (FST = 0.84), indicating low levels of gene flow. Reduced genetic diversity was found in the translocated populations, suggesting a large loss of genetic diversity early in the domestication process. The data indicates that rengarenga was brought into cultivation independently at least three times, with the sources of these introductions located within a narrow area encompassing about 250km of coastline. Hybridization was inferred between A. cirratum and the closely related A. bifurcatum, despite A. birfucatum not occurring in the vicinity.
Avaliação da situação atual dos Serviços Residenciais Terapêuticos no SUS

The Sheltered Homes to egress of long psychiatric internment have been solidifying itself as an efficient strategy to the dis-institutionalization of patients who have been interned for years in psychiatric hospitals. However, the number of these equipments is lower than necessary, once we consider the potential beneficiary clienteles. In the present article, we sought identifying and discussing determinant questions about the non-matching steps between the potential clientele and the offer of these Homes in the many different cities of the country. In this matter, we considered what important social citizens say, such as managers and assistance workers, through analysis of texts written by them or that show their respective debates carried through the present theme. We can conclude that the established factors, since the beginning, as main goal of the psychiatric reform ­ the necessity of mentalities transformation regarding madness and the implication of the cities' managers ­ is still current and determine the impediment of the expansion of the Sheltered Homes in Brazil.
GWAS analysis in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) for morphological traits exposed to drought

Association analysis based on linkage disequilibrium has become a common and powerful approach for detection of QTLs underlying complex agronomic traits including drought tolerance. To determine marker/trait association, 148 modern European spring barley cultivars were evaluated under drought stress. Associations of morphological traits with AFLP/SSR markers were investigated based on the mixed linear model using the TASSEL3.0. Population structure was estimated using various methods including Bayesian clustering model by STRUCTURE software, PCoA analysis, NJ dendrogram and Hierarchical Clustering. Linkage disequilibrium patterns were explored among the whole genome and each chromosome separately. All the analysis for population structure divided the population into two sub-groups. Linkage disequilibrium analysis showed that by increasing genetic distance, LD decreases. Totally, 167 significant marker trait associations were found which delineated into 65 QTLs in both treatments. Two stable QTLs on 5H at 86.880 cM were detected for Internode Length and on 3H at 126.421 cM for flag leaf length in drought stress treatment. Fourteen QTLs were co-localized with previously reported QTLs and others were novel. The results indicate that these putative genomic regions contain genes that have pleiotropic effects on morphological traits in drought condition.
Suscetibilidade aos agentes quimioterapicos de isolados de Schistosoma mansoni oriundos de pacientes tratados com oxamniquine e praziquantel de nao curados

Ten inhabitants of Itaquara, Bahia, Brazil treated with oxamniquine and subsequently praziquantel were not cured. Schistosoma mansoni isolates derived from these patients were studied. Snails were infected with miracidia derivedfrom the feces of these patients and the cercariae produced used to infect albino mice. The animals were then treated with a single oral dose of oxamniquine (25, 50 and 100mg/kg) or praziquantel (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg). Tloe response to chemotherapy was significantly different in some of the isolates although it was not possible to characterize any of them as resistant, hi addition, DNA analysis of the isolates by means of "Random Amplified Polymorfhic DNA ''indicated a low degree of variability as compared with a laboratory strain, LE. Thus, it was not possible to characterize these organisms at a genetic level as a distinct strain.
Injuries at Johannesburg high school rugby festivals

Background. Injuries occurring at the popular schoolboy rugby festivals in South Africa have not previously been evaluated. A rugby festival is a unique event with multiple matches occurring over a 5-day period and a potentially increased risk of injury compared with adult games. Objectives. To analyse the prevalence and type of injuries over 2 years of a Johannesburg High School rugby festival, to compare the injuries between the 2 years and to compare the injuries between the 3 days of the festivals. Methods. The study design was a retrospective, descriptive and observational study. The study population were participating rugby players at the two rugby festivals in 2010 and 2011 who came to the medical tent provided. A standardised medical form was used to capture data. Results. A total of 626 players participated with 100 injury data sets analysed over the 2 years. The injury rate per player was 17% in year 1 and 15% in year 2. There was no statistical difference (p=0.65) in the injury numbers between the 2 years. The injury profiles between the respective days and between the 2 years were not statistically different. Most injuries were to the head/face (30%), with the majority being concussion related (6%). Tackles were the most common mechanism of injury. Overall 24% of injuries were deemed severe enough to stop the players from continuing play. Few injuries required referral for investigations or specialist physician care (19% and 2%, respectively) and most were managed with simple first aid at the primary care level. Conclusion. The number, nature and mechanisms of rugby injuries at this rugby festival were similar to numerous local and international studies of schoolboy rugby players. Adequate standardised record keeping is recommended to increase knowledge and monitor trends.
Rehabilitation Outcome in 305 Turkish Patients With Cerebral Palsy

The aim of this stduy was to evaluate the eitology, clinical distribution, complications, progress and hospitalization time of the cerebral palsy patients treated at Ankara Rehabilitation Center during the last 2.5 years. Clinical grouping was done according to the John F. Kennedy Institute system of clasification. Degrees of head control, sitting balance, ability to crawl, balance on hands and knees, standing balance, gait and ambulation on admission and discharge were compared. The study group consisted of 305 patients (ages 2-14, mean 5.8; 129 girls and 176 boys). Perinatal factors were the most common etiologic factors in cerebral palsy. The clinical distributions of the patients were as follows: 221 patients had spastic CP, 30 had extrapyramidal CP and 54 had mixed forms. 149 patients had deformities of the lower extremities. Physiotherapy programs consisting of therapeutic exercise and neurodevelopmental techniques were performed. The duration of the stay of patients at the center was 69.8 days. Twenty-five of the patients were ambulatory at admission, while 187 were ambulatory with the aid of orthosis and assistive devices. Many studies report physiotherapy results with development in posture and gait, range of motion in the joint and activities of daily living. Our results are in agreement with such studies.