Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correlates of Pediatric CPAP Adherence.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common pediatric condition characterized by recurrent partial or complete cessation of airflow during sleep, typically due to inadequate upper airway patency. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a therapeutic option that reduces morbidity. Despite efforts to promote use, CPAP adherence is poor in both pediatric and adult populations. We sought to determine whether demographics, insurance status, OSA severity, therapeutic pressure, or comorbid conditions were associated with pediatric CPAP adherence. METHODS A retrospective review of adherence download data was performed on all pediatric patients with initiation or adjustment of CPAP treatment over a one-year period with documented in-laboratory CPAP titration. Patients were grouped as CPAP adherent or non-adherent, where adherence was defined as > 70% nightly use and average usage ≥ 4 hours per night. Differences between the groups were analyzed by χ(2) test. RESULTS Overall, nearly half of participants were CPAP adherent (49%, 69/140). Of the demographic data collected (age, ethnicity, sex, insurance status), only female sex was associated with better adherence (60.9% vs 39.5% of males adherent; odds ratio [OR] = 2.41, 95%CI = 1.20-4.85; p = 0.01). Severity of OSA (diagnostic apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] and degree of hypoxemia), therapeutic pressure, and residual AHI did not impact CPAP adherence (p > 0.05). Patients with developmental delay (DD) were more likely to be adherent with CPAP than those without a DD diagnosis (OR = 2.55, 95%CI = 1.27-5.13; p = 0.007). Female patients with trisomy 21 tended to be more adherent, but this did not reach significance or account for the overall increased adherence associated with female sex. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that adherence to CPAP therapy is poor but suggests that female sex and developmental delay are associated with better adherence. These findings support efforts to understand the pathophysiology of and to develop adherence-promoting and alternative interventions for pediatric OSA.
Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells are both targets and effectors for the angiogenic cytokine, VEGF

Former vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)–head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) studies have focused on VEGF's contributions toward tumor‐associated angiogenesis. Previously, we have shown that HNSCC cells produce high levels of VEGF. We therefore hypothesized that VEGF serves a biphasic role, that is, pro‐angiogenic and pro‐tumorigenic in HNSCC pathogenesis. Western blots confirmed the presence of VEGF's primary mitogenic receptors, VEGFR‐2/KDR and VEGFR‐1/Flt‐1 in cultured HNSCC cells. Subsequent studies evaluated VEGF's effects on HNSCC intracellular signaling, mitogenesis, invasive capacities, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activities. Introduction of hrVEGF165 initiated ROS‐mediated intracellular signaling, resulting in kinase activation and phosphorylation of KDR and Erk1/2. As high endogenous VEGF production rendered HNSCC cells refractory to exogenous VEGF's mitogenic effects, siRNA was employed, inhibiting endogenous VEGF production for up to 96 h. Relative to transfection vector matched controls, siRNA treated HNSCC cells showed a significant decrease in proliferation at both 30 and 50 nM siRNA doses. Addition of exogenous hrVEGF165 (30 and 50 ng/ml) to siRNA‐silenced HNSCC cells resulted in dose‐dependent increases in cell proliferation. Cell invasion assays showed VEGF is a potent HNSCC chemoattractant and demonstrated that VEGF pre‐treatment enhanced invasiveness of HNSCC cells. Conditioned media from VEGF challenged HNSCC cells showed a moderate increase in gelatinase activity. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that HNSCC cells are both targets and effectors for VEGF. These data introduce the prospect that VEGF targeted therapy has the potential to fulfill both anti‐angiogenic and anti‐tumorigenic functions. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 1202–1210, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Oral submucous fibrosis a disease with malignant potential: report of two Cases

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a high risk precancerous condition characterized by changes in the connective tissue fibers of the lamina propria and deeper parts leading to stiffness of the mucosa and restricted mouth opening. Patients with severe cases have distinct difficulties in chewing, swallowing and speaking. It predominantly occurs in Indians and other population of the Indian subcontinent with certain oral habits. In patients with submucous fibrosis, the oral epithelium becomes atrophic and thereby becomes more vulnerable to carcinogens. It is now accepted that chewing areca is the most important aetiological factor for developing OSF. The atrophic epithelium shows first an intercellular edema and later epithelial atypia associated with moderate epithelial hyperplasia. From then on, carcinoma may develop any time. It is suggested that submucous fibrosis should be regarded as a condition that causes predisposition to the development of oral cancer. Here we are presenting two cases of oral submucous fibrosis showing malignant potential and development of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
The Proliferation and Gene Expression in MC3T3-E1 under Simulated Microgravity

To clarify the effect of microgravity on the function of osteoblasts, mouse osteoblast-like cells MC3T3-E1 were cultured under short-term simulated microgravity in this study to investigate the effects of simulated microgravity on the proliferation and gene expression in osteoblasts. Rotary cell culture system (RCCS) was used to stimulate microgravity and the stationary culture (1G) was for control. On the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th day, cells were taken out to be investigated for cell proliferation by MTT. On the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th day, cells were taken out to be measured for the mRNA level of type I collagen, osteopontin (OPN) and c-fos by RT-PCR Except on 1st day, cell proliferation under simulated microgravity was much lower than control cells on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th day. From the 1st to 7th day, the mRNA level of type I collagen became lower while OPN became higher in both simulated microgravity group and stationary control. However, the mRNA expression of type I collagen and OPN in stimulated group were lower than that in control. The trend of c-fos mRNA expression was a little complicated. At beginning, it increased sharply and then decreased in stimulated group. As to the stationary control, the mRNA level of c-fos was almost zero except on 1st day, on which the mRNA level of c-fos was higher than that in stimulated group. Type I collagen secreted by osteoblast is the main component in bone matrix and can be used to evaluate the osteoblastic activity of osteoblast. OPN was suggested to have a role in bone remodeling by mediating osteoclast attachment, c-fos is known as the immediate early gene that responds to the mechanical stress. This study indicates that microgravity can not only affect bone formation directly and also affect bone resorption indirectly through osteoblast and discovered the different expression model of c-fos under simulated microgravity compared to the stationary condition. It is necessary also interesting to do further experiment to explain it.
Breast cancer early detection: differences between African American and white women's health beliefs and detection practices.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To identify differences in African American and white women's health beliefs and practices regarding early detection of breast cancer. DESIGN AND SETTING Descriptive survey of educators employed by one public school system in one southern state. SAMPLE One hundred seventeen African American and 157 white female professional educators. METHODS Subjects completed a survey questionnaire consisting of investigator-developed items and an adapted version of Champion's Health Belief Model Scales. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Reported frequency of use of mammography, clinical breast examination (CBE), and breast self-examination (BSE); health beliefs about these procedures. FINDINGS No significant difference in frequency of use of mammography and CBE was found between the two groups. The difference for BSE frequency approached significance (p = 0.058); African American women had performed BSE significantly more times (p = 0.028) than white women during the preceding 12 months. White women had a significantly higher mean score (p = 0.002) for barriers to mammography. The difference between the two groups for barriers to CBE and control with CBE reached the 0.05 level of significance; in both cases, white women had the higher mean score. No significant difference was found in mean scores for beliefs about BSE. CONCLUSIONS The contribution of health beliefs about breast cancer, mammography, CBE, and BSE to frequency of use of these procedures by race remains unclear. IMPLICATIONS Efforts to inform women of the need to adopt an early breast cancer detection program should continue. Additional studies are needed to validate present study findings and to expand the knowledge base for healthcare providers.
Modulation of EcoKI restriction in vivo: role of the lambda Gam protein and plasmid metabolism

Two novel types of alleviation of DNA restriction by the EcoKI restriction endonuclease are described. The first type depends on the presence of the gam gene product (Gam protein) of bacteriophage lambda. The efficiency of plating of unmodified phage lambda is greatly increased when the restricting Escherichia coli K-12 host carries a gam+ plasmid. The effect is particularly striking in wild-type strains and, to a lesser extent, in the presence of sbcC and recA mutations. In all cases, Gam-dependent alleviation of restriction requires active recBCD genes of the host and recombination (red) genes of the infecting phage. The enhanced capacity of Gam-expressing cells to repair DNA strand breaks might account for this phenomenon. The second type is caused by the presence of a plasmid in a restricting host lacking RecBCD enzyme. Commonly used plasmids such as the cloning vector pACYC184 can produce such an effect in strains carrying recB single mutations or in recBC sbcBC strains. Plasmid-mediated restriction alleviation in recBC sbcBC strains is independent of the host RecF, RecJ, and RecA proteins and phage recombination functions. The presence of plasmids can also relieve restriction in recD strains. This effect depends, however, on the RecA function in the host. The molecular mechanism of the plasmid-mediated restriction alleviation remains unclear.
Necrotic pulp tissue dissolution by passive ultrasonic irrigation in simulated accessory canals: impact of canal location and angulation.

AIM To evaluate whether passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) of 2.5% NaOCl would dissolve necrotic pulp tissue from simulated accessory root canals (SACs) better than passive placement of the irrigant, when temperature was equilibrated between the two treatments. METHODOLOGY Transparent root canal models (n = 6) were made from epoxy resin. SACs of 0.2 mm diameter were placed at defined angles and positions in the mid-canal and apical area. SACs were filled with necrotic bovine pulp tissue. PUI was performed five times for 1 min each with irrigant replenishment after every minute. Main canal temperature was measured after each minute, and a digital photograph was taken. In control experiments, mock treatments were performed with the same set-up without activation of the file using heated NaOCl to mimic the temperature created by PUI. Experiments were repeated five times. Digital photographs were analysed for the distance of dissolved tissue into the SACs in mm. Overall comparison (sum of dissolved tissue from all five accessory canals) between treatments was performed using paired t-test. Differences between SAC angulation and position after PUI were investigated using anova/Bonferroni (alpha < 0.05). RESULTS Passive ultrasonic irrigation caused a rise in irrigant temperature in the main canal to 53.5 +/- 2.7 degrees C after the fifth minute. PUI dissolved a total of 6.4 +/- 2.1 mm, mock treatment controlled for heat: 1.4 +/- 0.6 mm (P < 0.05). No significant influence of SAC position or angulation was found. CONCLUSIONS Passive ultrasonic irrigation promotes positive tissue-dissolving effects beyond a rise in irrigant temperature.
Identification and Characterization of Tunneling Nanotubes for Intercellular Trafficking

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are thin membranous channels providing direct cytoplasmic connection between remote cells. They are commonly observed in different cell cultures and increasing evidence supports their role in intercellular communication and pathogen transfer. However, the study of TNTs presents several pitfalls (e.g., difficulty in preserving such delicate structures, possible confusion with other protrusions, structural and functional heterogeneity, etc.) and therefore requires thoroughly designed approaches. The methods described in this unit represent a guideline for the characterization of TNTs (or TNT‐like structures) in cell culture. Specifically, optimized protocols to (1) identify TNTs and the cytoskeletal elements present inside them; (2) evaluate TNT frequency in cell culture; (3) unambiguously distinguish them from other cellular connections or protrusions; and (4) monitor their formation in living cells are provided. Finally, this unit describes how to assess TNT‐mediated cell‐to‐cell transfer of cellular components, which is a fundamental criterion for identifying functional TNTs. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Towards a predictive model for post-stroke delirium

Primary objective: To assess predisposing and precipitating risk factors and create a predictive model for post-stroke delirium. Research design: A prospective observational study in a cohort of consecutive patients with ischemic stroke or intracerebral haematoma admitted within 24 hours of stroke onset. Methods: Patients were assessed daily for delirium during the first week by means of DSM-IV criteria and risk factors were recorded. Results: One hundred patients completed a 7-day evaluation (47 women and 53 men, median age 77 years). An episode of delirium was detected in 43 patients (43%). Using multivariate logistic regression, a predictive statistical model was developed that utilized independent risk factors: age (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.02–1.15); intracerebral haemorrhage (OR = 6.11; 95% CI = 1.62–22.98), lesion volume > 40 ccm (OR = 3.99; 95% CI = 1.29–12.39) and either elevated gamma-glytamyl transferase (OR = 4.88; 95% CI = 1.45–16.35) and elevated serum bilirubin (OR = 3.70; 95% CI = 1.32–10.38) or maximum sequential organ failure assessment score >2 (OR = 3.33; 95% CI = 1.06–10.45) with acceptable sensitivity and specificity (69.0% and 80.7%). In ischemic strokes, total anterior circulation infarctions were more frequently associated with delirium (73.3% developed delirium) compared with the remainder of the groups combined (p = 0.004; OR = 6.66; 95% CI = 1.85–24.01). Conclusion: Higher age, metabolic disturbances, intracerebral haemorrhage and larger ischemic hemispheric strokes increase the risk of post-stroke delirium.
Deterioration of perennial sea ice in the Beaufort Gyre from 2003 to 2012 and its impact on the oceanic freshwater cycle

Time series of ice draft from 2003 to 2012 from moored sonar data are used to investigate variability and describe the reduction of the perennial sea ice cover in the Beaufort Gyre (BG), culminating in the extreme minimum in 2012. Negative trends in median ice drafts and most ice fractions are observed, while open water and thinnest ice fractions (<0.3 m) have increased, attesting to the ablation or removal of the older sea ice from the BG over the 9 year period. Monthly anomalies indicate a shift occurred toward thinner ice after 2007, in which the thicker ice evident at the northern stations was reduced. Differences in the ice characteristics between all of the stations also diminished, so that the ice cover throughout the region became statistically homogenous. The moored data are used in a relationship with satellite radiometer data to estimate ice volume changes throughout the BG. Summer solid fresh water content decreased drastically in consecutive years from 730 km3 in 2006 to 570 km3 in 2007, and to 240 km3 in 2008. After a short rebound, solid fresh water fell below 220 km3 in 2012. Meanwhile, hydrographic data indicate that liquid fresh water in the BG in summer increased 5410 km3 from 2003 to 2010 and decreased at least 210 km3 by 2012. The reduction of both solid and liquid fresh water components indicates a net export of approximately 320 km3 of fresh water from the region occurred between 2010 and 2012, suggesting that the anticyclonic atmosphere-ocean circulation has weakened.
Balance Sheet Conservatism and Audit Reporting Conservatism

Financial reports are prepared on a going-concern (GC) basis rather than a liquidation basis even when companies are highly distressed. This allows distressed companies to report book values of assets that greatly exceed their liquidation values, implying a lack of conservatism in the balance sheet. We argue that auditors issue going-concern opinions in order to warn investors about this lack of balance sheet conservatism. This argument leads to two testable hypotheses. First, for companies that are at risk of bankruptcy, auditors are more likely to issue GC opinions when the book values of assets under the GC assumption are high relative to the expected liquidation values of assets (i.e., when the GC assumption causes the balance sheet to lack conservatism). Second, for companies that enter bankruptcy, the issuance of a prior GC opinion has predictive information content with respect to the wedge between the book values of assets and the future liquidation values of those same assets. Our results strongly support both hypotheses. The findings are important because they indicate that conservative audit reporting helps to compensate for a lack of conservatism in the balance sheet, which arises because the GC assumption permits the book values of assets to exceed their liquidation values.
The predictors and consequences of fatigue in prevalent kidney transplant patients

Publisher Rights Statement: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Transplantation. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Transplantation, Vol 96, Issue 11, 2013. DOI: 10.1097/TP.0b013e3182a2e88b
The end of the beginning: a requiem for the categorization of mental disorder?

The well regarded Section of the World Psychiatric Association, on Epidemiology and Public Health, held its biennial meeting at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore in June 2001. A new feature of the meeting was the ‘work group’, an opportunity to debate topical but unresolved issues. There was standing room only for a discussion on why the differences between self-report and clinician-rated measures of psychopathology matter (Brugha et al. 1999a). This is one of several topics increasingly debated in the context of the seemingly unremitting disparities between epidemiological estimates of the prevalence of psychiatric disorders (Regier et al. 1998). Recent comparisons of clinician and lay (self-report) measures suggest that dichotomous diagnostic categories cannot be measured reliably in large scale community surveys against a clinical standard measure (Brugha, et al. 1999b, 2001; Eaton et al. 2000).
Strictly Positive Real Matrices and the

In this note we give necessary and sufficient conditions in the frequency domain for rational matrices to be strictly positive real. Based on this result, the matrix form of the Lefschetz-KalmanYakubovich lemma i s proved, which gives necessary and sufficient conditions for strictly positive real transfer matrices in the state-space realization form.
Child Education and Work Choices in the Presence of a Conditional Cash Transfer Programme in Rural Colombia

The paper studies the effects of Familias en Accion, a conditional cash transfer programme implemented in rural areas in Colombia in 2002, on school enrolment and child labour. Using a quasi-experimental approach, our methodology makes use of an interesting feature of the data, which allows us to identify anticipation effects. Our results show that the programme increased school participation of 14 to 17 year old children quite substantially, by between 5 and 7 percentage points, and had lower, but non-negligible effects on enrolment of younger children of between around 1.5 and 2.5 percentage points. In terms of work, the effects are generally largest for younger children whose participation in domestic work decreased by around 10 to 12 percentage points after the programme but whose participation in income-generating work remained largely unaffected by the programme. We also find evidence of school and work time not being fully substitutable, suggesting that some, but not all, of the increased time at school may be drawn from children's leisure time.
Antibacterial Activity of Selected Australian Native Plant Extracts

Thirty nine methanolic extracts from twenty five Australian native plants were investigated for their antibacterial activity against two Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis) and two Gram negative (Aeromonas hydrophilia, Pseudomonas fluorescens) bacterial species using the disc diffusion assay. Twenty eight of the thirty nine extracts tested (72%) inhibited the growth of one or more bacteria. B. cereus was the most susceptible bacteria with twenty one extracts (54%) inhibiting its growth. In comparison, fifteen extracts (38%) inhibited the growth of P. fluorescens, thirteen extracts (33%) inhibited the growth of B. subtilis, and ten extracts (26%) inhibited the growth of A. hydrophilia. Backhousia citriodora and Callistemon citrinus were particularly effective antibacterial agents, being capable of inhibiting the growth of all four bacteria. Acacia aulacocarpa, Buckinghamia celsissima, Callistemon salignus, Allocasuarina littoralis, Eucalyptus major, Leptospermum bracteata, Leptospermum juniperium and Syzygium australe were also good antibacterial agents, each being capable of inhibiting the growth of the majority of bacteria tested.