Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biomarkers for Cognitive Aging Part I

Chronological age is used as a marker for age-associated changes in cognitive function. However, there is great interindividual variability in cognitive ability among people of the same age. Physiological age rather than chronological age should be more closely associated with age-related cognitive changes because these changes are not universal and are likely dependent on several factors in addition to the number of years lived. Cognitive function is associated with successful self-management, and a biological marker that reflects physiological age and is associated with cognitive function could be used to identify risk for failure to self-manage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between telomere length, a known biomarker of age; blood pressure; cognitive assessments; and adherence to antihypertensive medication among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults. The authors administered a battery of cognitive assessments to 42 participants (M = 69 years of age), collected blood samples, and isolated peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes for genomic DNA. The authors determined relative telomere length using Cawthon’s method for real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and measured medication adherence using an electronic medication monitoring system (MEMS by Aardex) over 8 weeks. Findings indicate that telomere length was inversely associated with systolic blood pressure (r = −.38, p < .01) and diastolic blood pressure (r = −.42, p < .01) but not with cognitive assessments or adherence. The authors discuss the nonsignificant findings between telomere length and cognitive assessments including the potential modifying role of gender.
Intra-Op Complications : Primary Versus Repeat Cesarean

Introduction: Caesarean section (CS) is one of the most common obstetric procedures worldwide and an increased rate of caesarean section has been observed in recent studies. Maternal mortality and morbidities associated with repeat caesarean section is an important health problem worldwide.The present study aims at knowing the various intraoperative complications encountered during repeat caesarean sections with respect to those undergoing primary CS. Materials & Methods: A total of 200 patients who underwent delivery by CS at a tertiary care centre were included in the study. They was then divided into: Group A(100 women undergoing primary CS) and Group B (100 women undergoing repeat CS). Feto-maternal results and intra-op surgical complications were evaluated and compared between the groups. Results:The mean age of the study subjects was 26.94 years with subjects of repeat CS being significantly older (28.67 vs 25.21 years; p<0.05). Time taken for surgery was significantly long in repeat CS group (55.43 vs 46.89 mins; p<0.05). Complications like presence of Adhesions and thinning of scar was seen in 35% and 19% of the subjects with previous CS (p<0.05). Conclusion: An increasing number of CSs is accompanied by serious maternal complications. Decreasing the number of cesarean sections is required to decrease relevant complications. Vaginal birth after CS is an option that should be recommended to the patient.
Case report of a tongue worm (Linguatula serrata) in the anterior chamber.

Parasitic infestation as an etiology of uveitis was seldom considered in the temperate climate zone prior to 1950. This view had to be changed when Wilder, 1 in the histological study of pseudoglioma, found nematode larva. Only recently Ashton, 2 in England, reported 24 cases of uveitis secondary to toxocara proven by histological study. Although intraocular parasites are one of the leading causes of blindness in Africa, finding a worm in the eye in this country remains an ophthalmological curiosity. This case is presented to add another such unique case to the literature. Report of Case This 8-year-old Negro female was first seen by her ophthalmologist on April 11, 1961, with a history of having been hit in the right eye with a ball approximately 4 days previously. Following the injury, the patient developed pain, redness, and blurred vision of the affected eye. On first observation, the vision was reduced
Effects of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril in cats with induced renal insufficiency.

OBJECTIVE To determine effects of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril in cats with induced renal insufficiency. ANIMALS 32 cats. PROCEDURE Renal mass was surgically reduced, and cats were assigned to 1 of 4 eight-cat groups. Group 1 received placebo, whereas groups 2, 3, and 4 received benazepril hydrochloride orally once daily for approximately 6.5 months at the following doses: group 2, 0.25 to 0.50 mg/kg of body weight; group 3, 0.50 to 1.00 mg/kg; and group 4, 1.00 to 2.00 mg/kg. Arterial blood pressures, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and renal plasma flow were determined before treatment and during the treatment period. Other determinants of renal hemodynamics were measured by use of micropuncture techniques. Renal biopsy specimens were examined microscopically. RESULTS Compared with cats that received placebo, mean systolic arterial blood pressure was significantly less and GFR significantly greater in cats that received benazepril. Glomerular capillary pressure and the ratio of efferent to afferent arteriolar vascular resistance were also significantly less in treated cats. However, histologic differences in renal specimens were not detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Treatment with benazepril sustained single nephron GFR in remnant nephrons of cats with induced renal insufficiency. Administration of benazepril was also associated with a small but significant reduction in degree of systemic hypertension and an increase in whole kidney GFR. Benazepril may be an effective treatment to slow the rate of progression of renal failure in cats with renal disease.
Mechanisms of Heavy Metal Neurotoxicity: Lead and Manganese

Human exposure to heavy metals is a global public health problem. Heavy metals which cause neurological toxicity, such as lead (Pb2+) and manganese (Mn), are of particular concern due to the long-lasting and possibly irreversible nature of their effects. Pb2+ exposure in childhood can result in cognitive and behavioral deficits in children. These effects are long-lasting and persist into adulthood even after Pb2+ exposure has been reduced or eliminated. While Mn is an essential element of the human diet and serves many cellular functions in the human body, elevated Mn levels can result in a Parkinson’s disease (PD)-like syndrome and developmental Mn exposure can adversely affect childhood neurological development. Due to the ubiquitous presence of both metals, reducing human exposure to toxic levels of Mn and Pb2+ remains a world-wide public health challenge. In this review we summarize the toxicokinetics of Pb2+ and Mn, describe their neurotoxic mechanisms, and discuss common themes in heavy metal toxicology.
Computer versus lecture: a comparison of two methods of teaching oral medication administration in a nursing skills laboratory.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of both an interactive, multimedia CD-ROM and a traditional lecture for teaching oral medication administration to nursing students. A randomized pretest/posttest experimental design was used. Forty-two junior baccalaureate nursing students beginning their fundamentals nursing course were recruited for this study at a large university in the midwestern United States. The students ranged in age from 19 to 45. Seventy-three percent reported having average computer skills and experience, while 15% reported poor to below average skills. Two methods were compared for teaching oral medication administration--a scripted lecture with black and white overhead transparencies, in addition to an 18-minute videotape on medication administration, and an interactive, multimedia CD-ROM program, covering the same content. There were no significant (p < .05) baseline differences between the computer and lecture groups by education or computer skills. Results showed significant differences between the two groups in cognitive gains and student satisfaction (p = .01), with the computer group demonstrating higher student satisfaction and more cognitive gains than the lecture group. The groups were similar in their ability to demonstrate the skill correctly. Importantly, time on task using the CD-ROM was less, with 96% of the learners completing the program in 2 hours or less, compared to 3 hours of class time for the lecture group.
Frequent genomic abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome with normal karyotype

In this study, single-nucleotide polymorphism microarray analysis was employed to identify hidden genomic abnormalities in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. The findings suggest that at least one half of cases with normal karyotype have readily identifiable genomic abnormalities. Background Acute myeloid leukemia is a clonal hematopoietic malignant disease; about 45–50% of cases do not have detectable chromosomal abnormalities. Here, we identified hidden genomic alterations and novel disease-related regions in normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome samples. Design and Methods Thirty-eight normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome samples were analyzed with high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism microarray using a new algorithm: allele-specific copy-number analysis using anonymous references (AsCNAR). Expression of mRNA in these samples was determined by mRNA microarray analysis. Results Eighteen samples (49%) showed either one or more genomic abnormalities including duplication, deletion and copy-number neutral loss of heterozygosity. Importantly, 12 patients (32%) had copy-number neutral loss of heterozygosity, causing duplication of either mutant FLT3 (2 cases), JAK2 (1 case) or AML1/RUNX1 (1 case); and each had loss of the normal allele. Nine patients (24%) had small copy-number changes (< 10 Mb) including deletions of NF1, ETV6/TEL, CDKN2A and CDKN2B. Interestingly, mRNA microarray analysis showed a relationship between chromosomal changes and mRNA expression levels: loss or gain of chromosomes led, respectively, to either a decrease or increase of mRNA expression of genes in the region. Conclusions This study suggests that at least one half of cases of normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome have readily identifiable genomic abnormalities, as found by our analysis; the high frequency of copy-number neutral loss of heterozygosity is especially notable.
Administrator Observation and Feedback: Does It Lead Toward Improvement in Inquiry-Oriented Math Instruction?

Purpose: This study examines the content and efficacy of instructional leaders’ expectations and feedback (press) in relation to the improvement of middle school mathematics teachers’ instruction in the context of coherent systems of supports. Research Method/Approach: This mixed methods study is a part of a larger, 8-year longitudinal study in four large urban school districts across the United States. We used transcripts of interview data, surveys, and video recordings of instruction of 271 cases, over 4 years, to determine the content of administrator press, as reported by teachers, and the relationship between the content and change (if any) in instruction. To do so we used qualitative coding of interview transcripts, and ran a series of statistical models to examine the nature of the variance in and impact of administrative press. Findings: Most of the administrators’ press, as reported by teachers, was not targeted toward specific teachers’ mathematics instruction in ways that would likely lead toward improvement in those practices. Rather, the press focused on content-neutral instructional practices or classroom management and organization. Implications for Research and Practice: The instructional leadership practice of administrator observation and feedback is widespread, yet understudied as it relates to changes in teacher practice. Our findings indicate that current policies that mandate principals to spend substantial time in classrooms are unlikely to result in significant improvements in the quality of instruction unless meaningful resources are invested to support administrator learning.
Neuropeptide Y receptors Y1 and Y2 are present in neurons and glial cells in rat retinal cells in culture.

PURPOSE Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is one of the most abundant peptides in the central nervous system (CNS), including the retina. This peptide activates various different G-coupled receptors (NPY Y(1), Y(2), Y(4), and Y(5)) that are also present in the retina. However, the localization of NPY receptors in the several types of retinal cells is not completely known. In this study, we have looked at the distribution of NPY Y(1) and Y(2) receptors in rat retinal cells to reveal new perspectives on the role of NPY receptors in retina physiology. METHODS Rat retinal neural cell cultures were prepared from newborn Wistar rats (P3-P5) and pure rat Müller cell culture was obtained after treatment of these cells with ascorbic acid. The presence of NPY Y(1) and Y(2) in retinal cell types was studied by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS We show that NPY Y(1) and Y(2) receptors are present on every cell type of rat retinal cell cultures. Neurons, as photoreceptors, bipolar, horizontal, amacrine, and ganglion cells, express these two types of NPY receptors. NPY Y(1) and Y(2) receptors are also located in macroglial cells (Müller cells and astrocytes) and microglial cells. CONCLUSIONS We have clarified the presence of the NPY Y(1) and Y(2) receptors in all different cell types that constitute the retina, which we believe will help open new perspectives for studying the physiology and the potential pathophysiologic function of NPY and its receptors in the retina.
The engagement of children with disabilities in health-related technology design processes: Identifying methodology

Purpose. This review aims to identify research methodology that is suitable for involving children with disabilities in the design of healthcare technology, such as assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment. Method. A review of the literature included the identification of methodology that is available from domains outside of healthcare and suggested a selection of available methods. Results. The need to involve end users within the design of healthcare technology was highlighted, with particular attention to the need for greater levels of participation from children with disabilities within all healthcare research. Issues that may arise when trying to increase such involvement included the need to consider communication via feedback and tailored information, the need to measure levels of participation occurring in current research, and caution regarding the use of proxy information. Additionally, five suitable methods were highlighted that are available for use with children with disabilities in the design of healthcare technology. Conclusion. The methods identified in the review need to be put into practice to establish effective and, if necessary, novel ways of designing healthcare technology when end users are children with disabilities.
How to Deal With Anterior Knee Pain in the Active Young Patient

Context: Anterior knee pain (AKP) represents the most common reason to consult with a clinician who specializes in the knee. Despite the high incidence of the disorder, however, its etiology is still controversial. Many unnecessary surgeries that may damage the patient are done for this clinical entity. Evidence Acquisition: A PubMed search from 1995 through June 2016. Study Design: Clinical review. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Results: The etiology of AKP is multifactorial, and patients with AKP may therefore be divided into several subpopulations. The whole picture must be addressed for each patient to identify all potentially modifiable factors and to achieve better outcomes. Both pelvifemoral dysfunction and psychological factors that may affect the development and symptoms of AKP must be considered to identify therapeutic targets within the context of treatment. Patients presenting with AKP frequently respond well to load restriction that protects their knee and reduces pain during rehabilitation. Surgery should only be considered in very select cases. In a patient who has undergone previous patellar realignment surgery and experienced increased pain, iatrogenic medial patellar instability should be considered. Conclusions: The etiology of AKP is multifactorial, and several subpopulations of AKP patients exist and their treatment must be personalized. Normally, the focus is on the knee of a patient with AKP, and only that joint is examined. However, that focus can lead to overlooking other important etiological factors that may be present.
Mitotic Phosphorylation of Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 4G1 (eIF4G1) at Ser1232 by Cdk1:Cyclin B Inhibits eIF4A Helicase Complex Binding with RNA

ABSTRACT During mitosis, global translation is suppressed, while synthesis of proteins with vital mitotic roles must go on. Prior evidence suggests that the mitotic translation shift involves control of initiation. Yet, no signals specifically targeting translation initiation factors during mitosis have been identified. We used phosphoproteomics to investigate the central translation initiation scaffold and “ribosome adaptor,” eukaryotic initiation factor 4G1 (eIF4G1) in interphase or nocodazole-arrested mitotic cells. This approach and kinase inhibition assays, in vitro phosphorylation with recombinant kinase, and kinase depletion-reconstitution experiments revealed that Ser1232 in eIF4G1 is phosphorylated by cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1):cyclin B during mitosis. Ser1232 is located in an unstructured region of the C-terminal portion of eIF4G1 that coordinates assembly of the eIF4G/-4A/-4B helicase complex and binding of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal-integrating kinase, Mnk. Intense phosphorylation of Ser1232 in mitosis strongly enhanced the interactions of eIF4A with HEAT domain 2 of eIF4G and decreased association of eIF4G/-4A with RNA. Our findings implicate phosphorylation of eIF4G1(Ser1232) by Cdk1:cyclin B and its inhibitory effects on eIF4A helicase activity in the mitotic translation initiation shift.
The Development of New Tools to Investigate Alphavirus Replication Kinetics

Members of the alphavirus genus pose a serious or potential threat to public health in many areas of the world. Nearly all alphaviruses are maintained in nature by transmission cycles that involve alternating replication in a susceptible vertebrate and invertebrate host. The maintenance of this transmission cycle depends on the establishment of a life-long persistent infection in the invertebrate vector host. Although alphavirus replication has been extensively studied in vertebrate models, the strand-specific replication kinetics of alphaviruses during persistent infections of the invertebrate host have not been reported. We investigated the strandspecific replication of different alphavirus genotypes in invertebrate cells. By comparing different detection strategies and chemistries, we identified an optimal ssqPCR assay design for strand-specific quantification of viral RNAs in infected cells and tissues. We found that primer sets incorporating the use of a non-target tag sequence were able to avoid real-time PCR detection of amplicons that were falsely-primed during reversetranscription. We also determined that DNA hydrolysis probes increased the sensitivity of ssqPCR assays when compared to a double-stranded DNA-specific dye, SYBR Green. Using this information, we determined the replication kinetics of two different genotypes of o'nyong nyong virus (ONNV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in infected mosquito cells. We found that (-) strand viral RNAs persisted in invertebrate cells for up to 21 days after infection. We also found that significantly less (-) strand RNA was present in cells infected with opal variants of both ONNV and CHIKV than sense variants at several time points post infection, suggesting that the opal codon has a functional role in (-) strand RNA regulation. We also report the development of an ONNV replicon expression system. In total, the tools we developed for this report will facilitate future replication studies in the mosquito that may shed light on questions regarding the regulatory role of the opal codon and the persistence of (-) strand RNAs during long-term infections. The strand-specific replication kinetics of ONNV and CHIKV genotypes reported here will serve as a foundation for such
The effect of syringe size on reliability and safety of low-flow infusions

Objective: To determine the effect of syringe size on safety and reliability of low-flow infusions at rates relevant to hemodynamically unstable infants. Design: In vitro study using readily available clinical equipment. Setting: Medical–surgical pediatric intensive care unit of a university-affiliated hospital. Patients/Subjects: None. Interventions: Three-, 12-, and 60-mL syringes (Kendall Monoject) with extension tubing were mounted in identical Baxter AS50 infusion pumps. We determined time to alarm after occlusion of the distal tubing. We described and validated a method using capillary tubes to determine startup time to reach steady-state flow and variability of steady-state flow. Data were analyzed using single-factor analysis of variance or linear regression, as appropriate. Measurements and Main Results: At 5 mL/hr flow, time to alarm occlusion (mean ± sd) was 1:08 ± 0:42, 3:35 ± 0:58, and 27:06 ± 3:26 minutes for 3-, 12-, and 60-mL syringes, respectively (p < .00001). At a lower flow of 0.2 mL/hr, none of the pumps alarmed despite 30 mins of distal occlusion, regardless of syringe size. Validation testing of the capillary tube volumetric method revealed a sd <5% of the average fluid column displacement. Startup time to reach steady-state flow of 0.2 mL/hr for 60-mL syringes was 76 ± 40 mins and significantly exceeded 24 ± 10 mins for 3-mL syringes (p = .041). In one test using a 60-mL syringe, flow remained below 20% of steady state for >3 hrs. Average steady-state flow was similar for the three syringe sizes (p = .2861), but sd of steady-state flow was directly related to syringe size and regressed to a line with r2 = 1. Conclusions: Syringe size is related to time to reach steady-state flow, time to alarm occlusion, and variability of low-flow infusions.