Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of emotional valence on hemispheric processing of metaphoric word pairs

Recent theories of metaphor comprehension discuss the cognitive substrates involved in processing metaphors. However, the role of valence perception during metaphor comprehension has received little attention. The present study aims to examine the effect of emotional valence on metaphor processing, as well as the interaction between this effect and hemispheric differences. Metaphoric, literal, and meaningless word pairs were presented to 43 participants who performed a semantic judgment task. Results showed that processing of metaphors with negative valence was faster when done in the right hemisphere as compared with the left hemisphere. These findings indicate that emotional valence interacts with cognitive processes of metaphor comprehension. We discuss valence with respect to the class inclusion model and the fine versus coarse semantic coding model of metaphor processing.
Understanding The Neuropsychological Profile Of Hiv+ Participants With Low Literacy: Role Of The General Ability Measure For Adults (Gama)

The WRAT-3 Reading subtest (WRS) may be inappropriate in diseases having disproportionate impact on populations with educational disadvantages (i.e., HIV/AIDS). To understand how low literate individuals would perform on an IQ test requiring minimal education, the General Ability Measure for Adults (GAMA) was studied. HIV+ participants completed WRS, GAMA, and neuropsychological tests. Participants with low WRS (<80 SS) but higher GAMA (≥80 SS) had significantly better overall neuropsychological functioning than those with <80 SS on both tests. The GAMA may be a useful test when disparities in educational quality render reading-based measures of IQ a poor surrogate of premorbid function.
New Findings in Six-degrees-of-freedom Kinematics during Stationary Steppingin Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Background: Frontal plane knee kinematics are more likely associated with the development or progression of knee osteoarthritis. However, detailed frontal plane knee kinematics remain unclear. Previous studies examined movement during gait, squatting or stair stepping which allowed compensatory motion. However, biomechanical parameters in gait analyses can be modified. Therefore, we analyzed movement during stationary stepping activity while holding a handrail. The purpose was to determine: 1) detailed 6-degrees-of-freedom kinematics during stationary stepping activity in subjects with severe knee osteoarthritis; and 2) the association between unloading and black-loading phases. Methods: Twenty-four patients (32 knees) with severe medial knee osteoarthritis awaiting total knee arthroplasty were enrolled in this study. Knee kinematics was analyzed using a 3D-to-2D registration technique. Results: Knee adduction motion and tibial lateral translation increased from the unloading to weight-loading phase (P=0.027, P<0.001), but tibial internal-rotation motion was not increased (P=0.204). Knee adduction motion and tibial lateral translation motion were significantly correlated (r=0.400, P=0.023). Knee flexion angle during the weight-loading phase was negatively correlated with tibial lateral translation motion (r=0.597, P<0.001). Conclusions: A few studies that demonstrated detailed frontal plane knee kinematics have focused on the femoro-tibial motion. Severe knee osteoarthritis induced a greater knee adduction angle during the unloading phase, but the angle showed a smaller increase than that previously reported. Tibial lateral translation also increased during stationary stepping activity. Further work is needed to determine the association between femoro-tibial motion and varus thrust, and the association between knee flexion angle and intra-joint kinematics such as contact points. Level of Evidence: Cross-sectional study Level III
The Impact of Financial Sector Development on Economic Growth: Analysis of the Financial Development Gap between Cameroon and South Africa

African countries are developing better economic and monetary reforms so as to gain the status of an emergent country over a certain period of time, Cameroon is not left behind, she wants to be emergent by 2035. This study seeks to verify the short-run and long-run impact of financial sector development on economic growth and also to verify the gap of financial development that separates Cameroon and an emergent country like South Africa. The vector error correction model was used, in Cameroon a long-run relationship between economic growth and financial development was noticed while for South Africa there is a short-run relationship between bank deposits and economic growth, there is also a long-run relationship between economic growth and financial development. The South African economy moves towards its long-run equilibrium faster after economic shocks thanks to its good financial developed economy. We also notice that there is a gap of 0.26, this means that for the economy of Cameroon to be emergent, the speed of long-run adjustment should increase by 0.26.
Use of organotypic cultures of Corti's organ to study the protective effects of antioxidant molecules on cisplatin-induced damage of auditory hair cells.

HYPOTHESIS Cisplatin causes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which interferes with the antioxidant defense system of Corti's organ and results in damage to the hair cells. BACKGROUND Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent with the dose-limiting side effect of ototoxicity. Evidence is accumulating that cisplatin interferes with the antioxidant defense system of Corti's organ. METHODS Organotypic explants of P-3 rat organ of Corti were the in vitro model system. Presence of intact auditory hair cells and stereocilia bundle integrity was assayed by phalloidin-FITC staining. Fluorescent dye probes detected H2O2 and intracellular thiol [e.g., glutathione (GSH)]. Spectrophotometric analysis determined antioxidant enzyme levels. RESULTS There was a rapid dose-dependent cisplatin cytotoxicity in the explants after 48 h of exposure. An accumulation of H2O2 and a reduction of GSH levels were observed within cisplatin-exposed hair cells. L-buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of GSH formation, enhanced cisplatin ototoxicity, whereas N6-(2-phenylisopropyl) adenosine, an adenosine agonist, elevated antioxidant enzyme levels and ameliorated cisplatin toxicity. The following molecules protected hair cells from cisplatin-induced damage: GSH; glutathione diethyl ester (GSHe); ebselen (EBS); 4-methylthiobenzoic acid (MTBA); and D-methionine (D-MET). EBS, MTBA, and D-MET in vitro protection correlates with in vivo protection in rats. CONCLUSIONS Organotypic culture of Corti's organ has been validated as a model for studying cisplatin toxicity and for screening otoprotective molecules. Some of the events that contribute to cisplatin's ability to damage auditory hair cells are generation of ROS (e.g., H2O2), depletion of intracellular GSH, and interference with antioxidant enzymes within the cochlea. Agents that bolster the cochlea's antioxidant system can prevent cisplatin destruction of auditory hair cells. Identified protective agents may prove to be clinically useful in limiting or completely protecting from cisplatin ototoxicity.
Cardiac disease in children with mild-to-moderate chronic kidney disease

Purpose of reviewStudies in pediatric populations may provide sensitive insights into the prevalence, evolution and underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular complications of chronic kidney disease, without confounding factors such as aging and diabetes. This review reflects on recent echocardiographic studies assessing left-ventricular mass, geometry and function in children with mild-to-moderate chronic kidney disease. Recent findingsA cross-sectional assessment of a large pediatric cohort established a 33% prevalence of left-ventricular hypertrophy in children with chronic kidney disease stages 2–4. Concentric and eccentric geometry are found equally frequently, suggesting variable contributions of enhanced left-ventricular preload and afterload and/or nonhemodynamic mechanisms. Concentric left-ventricular hypertrophy is frequently associated with systolic dysfunction as evidenced by impaired circumferential shortening at the myocardial midwall level. Left-ventricular mass and dysfunction tend to be inversely correlated with glomerular filtration rate. Furthermore, male sex, obesity, anemia and inflammation appear to be associated with left-ventricular hypertrophy, whereas blood pressure shows surprisingly little association with left-ventricular mass, geometry or function. SummarySignificant abnormalities of cardiac morphology and function are observed in children with early chronic kidney disease, demonstrating a marked intrinsic impact on the cardiovascular system. Regular echocardiographic screening appears indicated in the pediatric population with chronic kidney disease.
Large-scale epileptic network in a mouse-model of temporal lobe epilepsy

Dans l'epilepsie du lobe temporal mesial, il est communement admis qu'une region cerebrale appelee "foyer epileptique" (FE) est responsable des crises epileptiques et des symptomes interictaux. Cependant, plusieurs observations soutiennent l'hypothese que d'autres regions cerebrales participent a l'expression de la maladie, comme la persistance de crises epileptiques apres chirurgie ou l'existence de deficits neurologiques inexpliques par les dysfonctions du FE. L'existence d'alterations fonctionnelles en-dehors du FE n'a toutefois jamais ete demontree. Dans ce travail, nous demontrons l'existence et le developpement d'un reseau epileptique a large-echelle s'etendant au-dela du FE. Dans la phase chronique de la maladie, il devient impossible de controler le reseau en supprimant pharmacologiquement l'activite du FE. Le fait que ceci soit possible dans la phase precoce indique que le reseau evolue durant la maladie et devient independant du FE, a terme. Nos donnees encouragent une intervention precoce dans la prise en charge des patients epileptiques.
Costello syndrome and related disorders

Purpose of review Costello syndrome is a rare congenital disorder affecting multiple organ systems, encompassing severe failure to thrive, cardiac anomalies including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and atrial tachycardia, tumor predisposition, and cognitive impairment. Costello syndrome shares findings with cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome and the diagnosis can be challenging. The discovery of gene mutations underlying these and other closely related disorders allows for molecular confirmation of a clinical diagnosis. Recent findings The identification of germline HRAS mutations in Costello syndrome, and mutations in BRAF, MEK1 and MEK2 in cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome, uncovered the biologic mechanism for the shared phenotypic findings based on the close interaction of the gene products within the Ras–mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Changes in other genes encoding mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway proteins are responsible for Noonan syndrome and the KRAS mutation phenotype. Summary Costello syndrome is caused by heterozygous de-novo point mutations in HRAS, resulting in increased activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Despite their overlapping presentation, Costello syndrome and its related disorders are distinct, and the phenotypes become more distinctive with age. Molecular testing is available and a clinical diagnosis should be reconsidered if it is inconsistent with the molecular result.
Analysis of HSF4 Binding Regions Reveals Its Necessity for Gene Regulation during Development and Heat Shock Response in Mouse Lenses*

Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) regulate gene expression in response to heat shock and in physiological conditions. In mammals, HSF1 is required for heat-mediated induction of classic heat shock genes; however, we do not know the molecular mechanisms by which HSF4 regulates gene expression or the biological consequences of its binding to chromatin. Here, we identified that HSF4 binds to various genomic regions, including the introns and distal parts of protein-coding genes in vivo in mouse lenses, and a substantial numbers of the regions were also occupied by HSF1 and HSF2. HSF4 regulated expression of some genes at a developmental stage when HSF1 and HSF2 expression decreased. Although HSF4 binding did not affect expression of many genes, it induces demethylated status of histone H3K9 on the binding regions. Unexpectedly, a lot of HSF4 targets were induced by heat shock treatment, and HSF4 is required for induction of a set of non-classic heat shock genes in response to heat shock, in part by facilitating HSF1 binding through chromatin modification. These results suggest novel mechanisms of gene regulation controlled by HSF4 in non-classic heat shock response and in lens development.
Association between pregnancy losses in women and risk of atherosclerotic disease in their relatives: a nationwide cohort study†.

AIMS A common underlying mechanism with a genetic component could link pregnancy losses with vascular disease. We examined whether pregnancy losses (miscarriages and stillbirths) and atherosclerotic outcomes co-aggregated in families. METHODS AND RESULTS Using Danish registers, we identified women with pregnancies in 1977-2008, and their parents (>1 million) and brothers (>435 000). We followed parents for incident ischaemic heart disease (IHD), myocardial infarction (MI), and cerebrovascular infarction (CVI), and brothers for a broader combined atherosclerotic endpoint. Using Cox regression, we estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for each outcome by history of pregnancy loss in daughters/sisters. Overall, parents whose daughters had 1, 2, and ≥3 miscarriages had 1.01 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99-1.04], 1.07 (95% CI 1.02-1.11), and 1.10 (95% CI 1.02-1.19) times the rate of MI, respectively, as parents whose daughters had no miscarriages. For parents with ≥3 daughters, the HRs were 1.12 (95% CI 1.02-1.24), 1.29 (95% CI 1.13-1.48), and 1.33 (95% CI 1.12-1.57). Effect magnitudes did not differ for fathers and mothers. We observed similar patterns for IHD and CVI (parents) and the atherosclerotic endpoint (brothers). Parents whose daughters had stillbirths had 1.14 (95% CI 1.05-1.24) and 1.07 (95% CI 0.96-1.18) times the rates of MI and CVI, respectively, as parents whose daughters had no stillbirths. CONCLUSION Certain pregnancy losses and atherosclerotic diseases in both heart and brain may have a common aetiologic mechanism. Women in families with atherosclerotic disease may be predisposed to pregnancy loss; conversely, pregnancy losses in first-degree relatives may have implications for atherosclerotic disease risk.
Hypothermia Pediatric Head Injury Trial: The Value of a Pretrial Clinical Evaluation Phase

Background: The utility of a pretrial clinical evaluation or run-in phase prior to conducting trials of complex interventions such as hypothermia therapy following severe traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents has not been established. Methods: The primary objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the ability of investigators to adhere to the clinical protocols of care including the cooling and rewarming procedures as well as management guidelines in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤8) treated with 24 h of hypothermia therapy. A secondary objective was to evaluate the ability of study research assistants to complete the study case report form using a procedures manual. The study was conducted at 18 sites in Canada, the United Kingdom and France prior to proceeding to a randomized controlled trial (RCT). After 2 patients were enrolled at each center, an independent clinical evaluation committee examined the process of care and the completeness of data collection. Centers were permitted to enroll patients in the RCT once they met pre-established adherence criteria. Results: Seventeen of the 18 centers completed the pretrial clinical evaluation phase demonstrating compliance with study procedures and proceeded to an RCT of hypothermia therapy. One center enrolled only 1 patient in the pretrial clinical evaluation phase due to small numbers of patients with traumatic brain injury, and therefore, did not proceed to the RCT. Three centers were required to enroll more than 2 patients in the pretrial clinical evaluation phase prior to proceeding to the RCT because of problems with adherence to the clinical protocols at two centers and the training of new study personnel at another center. Of the 39 patients enrolled during the pretrial clinical evaluation phase, 8 (20.5%) died and 22 (62.9%) had a good outcome defined as normal, mild or moderate disability assessed using the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category score at 6 months following injury. Discussion: The pretrial clinical evaluation phase was useful to ensure compliance with complex hypothermia therapy and consensus-based clinical management guidelines of care successfully implemented across 17 of 18 centers. This study maneuver allowed us to complete a subsequent RCT in 225 children following severe traumatic brain injury.
Optimization of Reverse Transcriptase PCR To Detect Viable Shiga-Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The ability of reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) to detect viable Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was investigated. Four primer sets, each targeting a specific region in the slt-II operon, were evaluated for their stringency and specificity for slt-II mRNA. STEC were evaluated for toxin expression under various conditions, including cell growth phase, growth medium, incubation temperature, and aeration. Following primer optimization, STEC were inoculated into Trypticase soy broth and cooked ground beef enrichments. Cells were harvested and RNA or DNA was extracted at 4, 8, 12, and 24 h. RT-PCR or PCR was conducted, and the products were visualized by gel electrophoresis and by Southern blots. mRNA targets were detected in 12-h cooked ground meat enrichments with an initial inoculum of 1 CFU/g. These results indicate that RT-PCR of E. coli slt-II mRNA is useful for detection of viable STEC in ground beef.
Evaluation of NSAIDs for treating post-endodontic pain

Although many studies have evaluated analgesic strategies for control of postendodontic pain, there have been no systematic reviews of this literature. This article describes the process for conducting a systematic review and uses this method to analyze the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for treatment of postendodontic pain.
Alcohol Marketing on Twitter and Instagram: Evidence of Directly Advertising to Youth/Adolescents.

AIMS Assess whether alcohol companies restrict youth/adolescent access, interaction, and exposure to their marketing on Twitter and Instagram. METHODS Employed five fictitious male and female Twitter (n = 10) and Instagram (n = 10) user profiles aged 13, 15, 17, 19 and/or 21. Using cellular smartphones, we determined whether profiles could (a) interact with advertising content-e.g. retweet, view video or picture content, comment, share URL; and/or (b) follow and directly receive advertising material updates from the official Instagram and Twitter pages of 22 alcohol brands for 30 days. RESULTS All user profiles could fully access, view, and interact with alcohol industry content posted on Instagram and Twitter. Twitter's age-gate, which restricts access for those under 21, successfully prevented underage profiles from following and subsequently receiving promotional material/updates. The two 21+ profiles collectively received 1836 alcohol-related tweets within 30 days. All Instagram profiles, however, were able to follow all alcohol brand pages and received an average of 362 advertisements within 30 days. The quantity of promotional updates increased throughout the week, reaching their peak on Thursday and Friday. Representatives/controllers of alcohol brand Instagram pages would respond directly to our underage user's comments. CONCLUSION The alcohol industry is in violation of their proposed self-regulation guidelines for digital marketing communications on Instagram. While Twitter's age-gate effectively blocked direct to phone updates, unhindered access to post was possible. Everyday our fictitious profiles, even those as young as 13, were bombarded with alcohol industry messages and promotional material directly to their smartphones.
Needle-stick injuries and blood contacts during invasive radiologic procedures: frequency and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE Possible nosocomial transmission of blood-borne pathogens is a serious concern for health care workers and patients alike. Needle-stick injuries and blood contacts pose a risk of pathogen transmission during procedures. We performed a study to determine the frequency of injuries and blood contacts during invasive radiologic procedures and to examine procedure-related factors that may increase risk of injury or exposure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A prospective study of needle-stick injuries and blood contacts during invasive radiologic procedures was performed. During a 10-week period, information about procedures was recorded by technologists or physicians, and needle-stick injuries and exposures to patients' blood and body fluids were noted. Data were analyzed with the SAS statistical package. RESULTS Accidental exposure to patients' blood and body fluids occurred in 15 of 501 cases (3.0%; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-4.9%). Of 729 operators at risk, 15 were exposed (2.0%; 95% confidence interval 1.1-3.3%). Exposure was parenteral in one case and cutaneous in 14. Risk of exposure was correlated with procedure duration (p = .003), but not with emergency vs elective procedure status (p = .796), procedure type (p = .275), or operator experience level (p = .554). Three needle-stick injuries (0.6% of cases) occurred, all with sterile instruments; bleeding occurred in two cases. Risk of injury was correlated only with procedure type (p = .046). In no case was a patient exposed to a physician's blood. CONCLUSION Whereas cutaneous exposure of physicians to patients' blood was not infrequent, parenteral exposure was rare in this series. Most of the exposures in this study could have been prevented by the use of protective equipment. Patients' contact with physicians' blood did not occur in this study.
Anaerobic myocardial metabolism.

Metabolic changes occurring during coronary insufficiency were studied in ten dogs by progressively reducing the rate of blood flow to the perfused left main coronary artery, while maintaining aortic pressure constant. Seven animals exhibited a net myocardial lactate production at low coronary flows, averaging 2.8 mg/min. The remaining animals showed a decreased lactate uptake which fell from an average 40 to 1.8% at the lowest flows. A rise in left atrial pressure occurred coincident with the alteration of lactate metabolism in all animals. Calculated coronary vascular resistance fell from an average 2.33 to 1.24 units, and in each case reached the minimum value at the onset of the metabolic changes. These results indicate that left ventricular failure, anaerobic myocardial metabolism, and maximal coronary arteriolar dilatation occur at the same time during inadequate myocardial blood flow.
Évaluation de la qualité de vie liée à la santé et des problèmes de santé prioritaires chez les patients atteints du cancer de la prostate : stratégie de définition du rôle des infirmières en pratique avancée

Un cadre regissant l’institution et l’evaluation des roles en pratique infirmiere avancee (PIA) souligne l’importance de l’adoption d’une approche methodique dans le developpement de roles bases sur l’evaluation des besoins de sante des patients. Cette etude visait a determiner la qualite de vie liee a la sante (QVLS) chez les patients atteints du cancer de la prostate afin de comparer les perceptions, de cerner les problemes de sante les plus graves et les plus frequents et enfin, de degager les perceptions des patients, le tout en vue d’eclairer le developpement du role en matiere de soins de soutien des infirmieres de formation avancee en oncologie aupres des patients atteints d’un cancer de la prostate avance.