Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning, attention/hyperactivity, and conduct problems as sequelae of excessive daytime sleepiness in a general population study of young children.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Although excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a common problem in children, with estimates of 15%; few studies have investigated the sequelae of EDS in young children. We investigated the association of EDS with objective neurocognitive measures and parent reported learning, attention/hyperactivity, and conduct problems in a large general population sample of children. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING Population based. PARTICIPANTS 508 children from The Penn State Child Cohort. INTERVENTIONS N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Children underwent a 9-h polysomnogram, comprehensive neurocognitive testing, and parent rating scales. Children were divided into 2 groups: those with and without parent-reported EDS. Structural equation modeling was used to examine whether processing speed and working memory performance would mediate the relationship between EDS and learning, attention/hyperactivity, and conduct problems. Logistic regression models suggest that parent-reported learning, attention/hyperactivity, and conduct problems, as well as objective measurement of processing speed and working memory are significant sequelae of EDS, even when controlling for AHI and objective markers of sleep. Path analysis demonstrates that processing speed and working memory performance are strong mediators of the association of EDS with learning and attention/hyperactivity problems, while to a slightly lesser degree are mediators from EDS to conduct problems. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that in a large general population sample of young children, parent-reported EDS is associated with neurobehavioral (learning, attention/hyperactivity, conduct) problems and poorer performance in processing speed and working memory. Impairment due to EDS in daytime cognitive and behavioral functioning can have a significant impact on children's development.
Premorbid personality and behavioral and psychological symptoms in probable Alzheimer disease.

OBJECTIVES Previous research investigating the influence of premorbid personality on behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) has produced mixed findings. Addressing some limitations of previous studies, the authors aimed to investigate whether some of the common individual symptoms of BPSD (depression, anxiety, irritability, and aggression) were associated with key aspects of previous personality (neuroticism and agreeableness); and also to perform an exploratory investigation into the broader influence of personality factors on behavioral and psychological syndromes. METHODS Two hundred eight patients with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer disease were assessed for the presence of BPSD over the disease course using the caregiver-rated Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). One or two knowledgeable informants rated patients' midlife personalities using a retrospective version of the NEO-FFI questionnaire. RESULTS Premorbid neuroticism was correlated with anxiety and total NPI score, although not with depression. Premorbid agreeableness was negatively correlated with agitation and irritability. Principal components analysis of the 10 NPI behavioral domains identified three syndromes: "agitation/apathy," "psychosis," and "affect. " In stepwise linear regression analyses, including personality domains from the Five-Factor Model and a range of potential confounders as independent variables; the only significant personality predictor of a behavioral syndrome was "agitation/apathy," predicted by lower premorbid agreeableness. CONCLUSION Lower premorbid agreeableness is associated with agitation and irritability symptoms in Alzheimer disease and also predicts an "agitation/apathy" syndrome. The relationship between premorbid neuroticism and BPSD is less straightforward, and premorbid neuroticism does not appear to be associated with depression in Alzheimer disease or predict an "affect" syndrome.
An epidemiologic study of burns: Standards of care and patients’ outcomes

Background: Many people suffer from burn injuries every year, and burns make the patients undergo surgeries and years of rehabilitation. Burns lead to more years of disability, compared to cancer or heart diseases. Epidemiologic studies are needed to reveal the span, impact, and related factors of burns to help take appropriate efforts to reduce its mortality and morbidity. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in two phases. The first phase was a descriptive retrospective study conducted on 836 burn patients who were admitted to the main special burn hospital of Isfahan, Iran. Data were collected from archived patients’ files using a checklist approved by the faculties of epidemiology and nursing. In the second phase, a survey was done based on the professional task checklist of burn ward nurses to assess the fulfillment of each task by the nurses. Results: Burns were found to occur more among those in the age groups of 20-30 (26.2%) and 0-10 years (22.9%). The most common causes of burns were flammables and gas explosions due to imprudence at home and workplaces, or self-infliction. Mortality rate was 21.7% due to sepsis, shock, and inhalation injuries, respectively. Nurses gave 19.78 out of 50 points (39.56%) to their performance in the prevention of sepsis. Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that there is still an increasing need for safety education and using environmental safety measures, as well as developing high-quality methods to transport burn patients and administer care to decrease the mortality and morbidity associated with burns.
Inpatient Length of Stay in Twin Cities Health Plans

In this paper we examine the relationship between inpatient length of stay and the patient's type of health insurance. The data consist of discharges in seven diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) from community hospitals in Minneapolis and St. Paul during 1982. After controlling for the effects of the patient's age, sex, medical condition, and severity of illness, as well as the hospital's size, teaching and ownership status, and average annual occupancy rate, we must reject the null hypothesis that the patient's type of health plan is unrelated to inpatient length of stay in Twin Cities community hospitals. We find that, in most cases, patients in prepaid group practices and independent practice associations exhibit significantly shorter lengths of stay than similar patients in Blue Cross and commercial health insurance plans, while Medicare and Medicaid patients exhibit significantly longer lengths of stay than those of similar commercially insured patients
A Locus on Mouse Chromosome 6 That Determines Resistance to Herpes Simplex Virus Also Influences Reactivation, While an Unlinked Locus Augments Resistance of Female Mice

ABSTRACT During studies to determine a role for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection using TNF receptor null mutant mice, we discovered a genetic locus, closely linked to the TNF p55 receptor (Tnfrsf1a) gene on mouse chromosome 6 (c6), that determines resistance or susceptibility to HSV-1. We named this locus the herpes resistance locus, Hrl, and showed that it also mediates resistance to HSV-2. Hrl has at least two alleles, Hrlr, expressed by resistant strains like C57BL/6 (B6), and Hrls, expressed by susceptible strains like 129S6 (129) and BALB/c. Although Hrl is inherited as an autosomal dominant gene, resistance to HSV-1 is strongly sex biased such that female mice are significantly more resistant than male mice. Analysis of backcrosses between resistant B6 and susceptible 129 mice revealed that a second locus, tentatively named the sex modifier locus, Sml, functions to augment resistance of female mice. Besides determining resistance, Hrl is one of several genes involved in the control of HSV-1 replication in the eye and ganglion. Remarkably, Hrl also affects reactivation of HSV-1, possibly by interaction with some unknown gene(s). We showed that Hrl is distinct from Cmv1, the gene that determines resistance to murine cytomegalovirus, which is encoded in the major NK cell complex just distal of p55 on c6. Hrl has been mapped to a roughly 5-centimorgan interval on c6, and current efforts are focused on obtaining a high-resolution map for Hrl.
Administration of Recombinant Rhesus Interleukin-12 during Acute Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) Infection Leads to Decreased Viral Loads Associated with Prolonged Survival in SIVmac251-Infected Rhesus Macaques

ABSTRACT The ability of recombinant rhesus interleukin-12 (rMamu-IL-12) administration during acute simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac251 infection to influence the quality of the antiviral immune responses was assessed in rhesus macaques. Group I (n = 4) was the virus-only control group. Group II and III received a conditioning regimen of rMamu-IL-12 (10 and 20 μg/kg, respectively, subcutaneously [s.c.]) on days −2 and 0. Thereafter, group II received 2 μg of IL-12 per kg and group III received 10 μg/kg s.c. twice a week for 8 weeks. On day 0 all animals were infected with SIVmac251 intravenously. While all four group I animals and three of four group II animals died by 8 and 10 months post infection (p.i.), all four group III animals remained alive for >20 months p.i. The higher IL-12 dose led to lower plasma viral loads and markedly lower peripheral blood mononuclear cell and lymph node proviral DNA loads. During the acute viremia phase, the high-IL-12-dose monkeys showed an increase in CD3− CD8α/α+ and CD3+ CD8 α/α+ cells and, unlike the control and low-IL-12-dose animals, did not demonstrate an increase in CD4+ CD45RA+ CD62L+ naive cells. The high-IL-12-dose animals also demonstrated that both CD8α/α+ and CD8α/β+ cells produced antiviral factors early p.i. , whereas only CD8α/β+ cells retained this function late p.i. Long-term survival correlated with sustained high levels of SIV gag/pol and SIV env cytotoxic T lymphocytes and retention of high memory responses against nominal antigens. This is the first study to demonstrate the capacity of IL-12 to significantly protect macaques from SIV-induced disease, and it provides a useful model to more precisely identify correlates of virus-specific disease-protective responses.
Electrophysiological and histopathological effects of mesenchymal stem cells in treatment of experimental rat model of sciatic nerve injury.

AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate electrophysiological and histopathological effects of mesenchymal stem cells in treatment of sciatic nerve injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-two female Spraque-Dawley rat were used in this study. Eight rats were used as a reference group in electrophysiological analysis for evaluation of non-injured nerve recordings (Control Group). Twenty-four rats were used for experimental evaluation. Twelve rats were anastomosed without treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (Sham Group) and twelve other rats were anastomosed and treated with mesenchymal stem cells (Stem Cell Group). Surgicel and bioglue were used in anastomosed line in both Groups. Eight weeks after the surgery, electrophysiological evaluation of rats was performed and, then, rats were decapitated under anesthesia and specimens including sciatic nerves and anastomosed line were taken for histopathological evaluation. Electromyography and nerve conduction velocity testing and histopathological scoring including rate of Wallerian degeneration, and neuroma and scar formation were evaluated for both Groups. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences between Sham and Stem Cell Groups with respect to histopathological evaluation. However, nerve conduction velocity showed significant difference between groups (P = 0.001). Nerve conduction velocity was significantly improved in Stem Cell Group when compared to Sham Group. CONCLUSION In this study, based on nerve conduction velocity data, it was concluded that treatment with mesenchymal stem cells during end-to-end anastomosis improves functional regeneration.
Temporal changes in sphingolipids and systemic insulin sensitivity during the transition from gestation to lactation

Reduced insulin action develops naturally during the peripartum to ensure maternal nutrient delivery to the fetus and neonate. However, increased insulin resistance can facilitate excessive lipolysis which in turn promotes metabolic disease in overweight dairy cattle. Increased fatty acid availability favors the accumulation of the sphingolipid ceramide and is implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, however, the relationship between sphingolipid metabolism and insulin resistance during the peripartum remains largely unknown. Our objectives were to characterize temporal responses in plasma and tissue sphingolipids in lean and overweight peripartal cows and to establish the relationships between sphingolipid supply and lipolysis, hepatic lipid deposition, and systemic insulin action. Twenty-one multiparous lean and overweight Holstein cows were enrolled in a longitudinal study spanning the transition from gestation to lactation (d -21 to 21, relative to parturition). Plasma, liver, and skeletal muscle samples were obtained, and sphingolipids were profiled using LC/MS/MS. Insulin sensitivity was assessed utilizing intravenous insulin and glucose challenges. Our results demonstrated the following: first, insulin resistance develops postpartum concurrently with increased lipolysis and hepatic lipid accumulation; second, ceramides and glycosylated ceramides accumulate during the transition from gestation to lactation and are further elevated in overweight cows; third, ceramide accrual is associated with lipolysis and liver lipid accumulation, and C16:0- and C24:0-ceramide are inversely associated with systemic insulin sensitivity postpartum; fourth, plasma sphingomyelin, a potential source of ceramides reaches a nadir at parturition and is closely associated with feed intake; fifth, select sphingomyelins are lower in the plasma of overweight cows during the peripartal period. Our results demonstrate that dynamic changes occur in peripartal sphingolipids that are influenced by adiposity, and are associated with the onset of peripartal insulin resistance. These observations are in agreement with a putative potential role for sphingolipids in facilitating the physiological adaptations of peripartum.
Founders’ human capital and external knowledge sourcing: Exploring the absorptive capacity of start-up firms

ABSTRACT This study highlights the importance of founders’ human capital on firms’ absorptive capacity for explaining the external knowledge sourcing (licensing-in and joint R&D) of start-up firms, using panel data from original questionnaire surveys conducted in Japan. The results of a probit model with an endogenous regressor show that firms managed by founders with a high level of specific human capital, measured as prior innovation experience and industry-specific work experience, tend to engage in external knowledge sourcing because of their superior absorptive capacity. The findings indicate that this type of human capital also promotes research and development (R&D) investment. Contrariwise, this study finds that firms managed by founders with a high level of general human capital, measured as educational attainment, tend to invest more in R&D, which enhances their absorptive capacity and thereby promotes external knowledge sourcing. Finally, the implications of these findings are discussed from the perspective of public policy.
Effects of fluoride varnish on color of esthetic restorative material.

PURPOSE This study determined the color stability of a compomer, hybrid ionomer, and composite after staining with three fluoride varnishes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five disks (10 mm in diameter, 2 mm thick) of each material were prepared in a mold and incubated at 100% relative humidity at 37 degrees C for 24 hours. Duraphat, Duraflor, FluorProtector, and water (control) were applied to the disks, which were subsequently brushed with a soft toothbrush and dentifrice. Color was measured at baseline, after staining, and after brushing using CIE L*a*b* (source C) against white background on a reflection spectrophotometer, and color change (delta E*) was calculated. Means (n = 5) and standard deviations were calculated and compared using a repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Tukey-Kramer intervals (p = .05) were calculated to compare means. RESULTS Varnishes Duraflor and Duraphat caused perceptible color changes (delta E* > 3.3) in compomer, hybrid ionomer, and composite after application; however, FluorProtector did not affect the color of the materials. After brushing, none of the materials exhibited perceptible values of delta E*, except the composite with Duraflor (delta E* = 5.4).
Noninvasive monitoring of fetal heart rate during the last ten days of gestation in sows.

OBJECTIVE To develop and evaluate a noninvasive technique for monitoring and analyzing porcine fetal heart rate (FHR) during late gestation. ANIMALS 8 fetuses of 8 pluriparous sows in late gestation. PROCEDURE With the sow positioned in lateral recumbency, the most caudal fetus was identified, using real time ultrasonography, and its heart rate was recorded for 60 minutes by use of Doppler cardiography. The same fetus was identified and monitored repeatedly during the last 10 days of gestation, excluding the 24 hours before delivery. Visual inspection and computerized analysis of the recordings were performed. RESULTS 66 one-hour recordings were obtained from 8 fetuses, 1 in each of 8 sows. Mean signal loss was 37.5%. Episodes of low FHR and low FHR variation (FHR pattern A) alternated with episodes of high FHR and high FHR variation (FHR pattern B). This cyclic alternation between 2 distinct. FHR patterns was observed in 46 of 66 (69.7%) recordings, and suggests the presence of different behavioral states in fetal pigs. Basal FHR decreased toward parturition in 7 fetuses, but increased in 1 fetus with abdominal ascites. Basal FHR and long-term FHR variation were negatively correlated (r[S] = -0.73; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Noninvasive monitoring of FHR is possible and feasible during late gestation in pigs. This method permits longitudinal studies under pathophysiologic conditions and the evaluation of the effects of endogenous and exogenous influences on porcine FHR.
Growth hormone is effective in treatment of short stature associated with short stature homeobox-containing gene deficiency: Two-year results of a randomized, controlled, multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND The short stature homeobox-containing gene, SHOX, located on the distal ends of the X and Y chromosomes, encodes a homeodomain transcription factor responsible for a significant proportion of long-bone growth. Patients with mutations or deletions of SHOX, including those with Turner syndrome (TS) who are haplo-insufficient for SHOX, have variable degrees of growth impairment, with or without a spectrum of skeletal anomalies consistent with dyschondrosteosis. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine the efficacy of GH in treating short stature associated with short stature homeobox-containing gene deficiency (SHOX-D). DESIGN AND METHODS Fifty-two prepubertal subjects (24 male, 28 female; age, 3.0-12.3 yr) with a molecularly proven SHOX gene defect and height below the third percentile for age and gender (or height below the 10th percentile and height velocity below the 25th percentile) were randomized to either a GH-treatment group (n = 27) or an untreated control group (n = 25) for 2 yr. To compare the GH treatment effect between subjects with SHOX-D and those with TS, a third study group, 26 patients with TS aged 4.5-11.8 yr, also received GH. Between-group comparisons of first-year and second-year height velocity, height sd score, and height gain (cm) were performed using analysis of covariance accounting for diagnosis, sex, and baseline age. RESULTS The GH-treated SHOX-D group had a significantly greater first-year height velocity than the untreated control group (mean +/- se, 8.7 +/- 0.3 vs. 5.2 +/- 0.2 cm/yr; P < 0.001) and similar first-year height velocity to GH-treated subjects with TS (8.9 +/- 0.4 cm/yr; P = 0.592). GH-treated subjects also had significantly greater second-year height velocity (7.3 +/- 0.2 vs. 5.4 +/- 0.2 cm/yr; P < 0.001), second-year height sd score (-2.1 +/- 0.2 vs.-3.0 +/- 0.2; P < 0.001) and second-year height gain (16.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 10.5 +/- 0.4 cm; P < 0.001) than untreated subjects. CONCLUSIONS This large-scale, randomized, multicenter clinical trial in subjects with SHOX-D demonstrates marked, highly significant, GH-stimulated increases in height velocity and height SDS during the 2-yr study period. The efficacy of GH treatment in subjects with SHOX-D was equivalent to that seen in subjects with TS. We conclude that GH is effective in improving the linear growth of patients with various forms of SHOX-D.
Diurnal Change of Thyroid‐Stimulating Hormone mRNA Expression in the Rat Pars Tuberalis

Thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH)‐producing cells (TSH cells), which account for a large fraction of the cells in the rat pars tuberalis (PT), have been found to express MT1 melatonin receptor and mammalian clock genes at high densities. Although these findings suggest that TSH production in the rat PT is regulated by melatonin and/or the biological clock, there have been no studies focusing on the diurnal change and regulation mechanism of TSH production in the rat PT. Therefore, in the present study, we examined diurnal changes of in TSHβ and α‐glycoprotein subunit (αGSU) mRNA expression and TSH immunoreactivity (‐ir) in the rat PT, and also examined the relationship between melatonin and TSH production in vivo. Both TSHβ mRNA expression and αGSU mRNA expression in the PT showed diurnal variations: the expression levels were lowest at the light phase [Zeitgeber time (ZT)4] and high at the dark phase (ZT12 and ZT20). TSH‐ir in the PT showed the lowest level at ZT4, as was found for mRNA expression. Interestingly, TSH‐ir, which was confined to the Golgi apparatus at ZT4, spread to the cytoplasm, and most of the TSH cells in the PT were uniformly immunostained in the cytoplasm at ZT20. Despite the fact that chronic administration of melatonin suppressed TSHβ and αGSU mRNA expression, TSH‐ir in the PT was significantly enhanced. These findings results clearly show that there are diurnal changes in TSH expression and accumulation in rat PT‐TSH cells and suggest that these fluctuations are regulated by melatonin.
Divergent muscle sympathetic responses to dynamic leg exercise in heart failure and age‐matched healthy subjects

People with diminished ventricular contraction who develop heart failure have higher sympathetic nerve firing rates at rest compared with healthy individuals of a similar age and this is associated with less exercise capacity. During handgrip exercise, sympathetic nerve activity to muscle is higher in patients with heart failure but the response to leg exercise is unknown because its recording requires stillness. We measured sympathetic activity from one leg while the other leg cycled at a moderate level and observed a decrease in nerve firing rate in healthy subjects but an increase in subjects with heart failure. Because these nerves release noradrenaline, which can restrict muscle blood flow, this observation helps explain the limited exercise capacity of patients with heart failure. Lower nerve traffic during exercise was associated with greater peak oxygen uptake, suggesting that if exercise training attenuated sympathetic outflow functional capacity in heart failure would improve.