Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bowel Obstruction in Patients with Alpers-Huttenlocher Syndrome

Abstract Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome (AHS) is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder. AHS is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the nuclear gene encoding mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma (POLG, chromosome 15q25). Most patients become symptomatic before the age of 2 years. We report 3 patients who were treated in our clinic between 2007 and 2010. All patients suffered from myoclonic seizures and had at least one refractory convulsive status which led to the diagnosis. All of them had varying degrees of developmental delay, 2 of them additionally ataxia. Gastrointestinal motility problems were severe in all patients despite only mildly deranged liver function. While in most aspects our patients present with typical AHS features, they also share intestinal problems, a feature that has not been recognized as typical for AHS before. AHS is a multisystem disorder that does affect all cell systems. Liver and brain are organs with the highest energy demand and are therefore usually affected early in the disease course of AHS. However, constipation and bowel obstruction should be regarded as typical complications in AHS and patients should be monitored and treated to improve quality of life. Regarding treatment options for epilepsy in AHS ketogenic diet as well as lacosamide might be considered.
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus affects eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) are often affected by chronic infections; however, antibiotic absorption may be influenced by the disease. Helicobacter pylori, the most common gastric infection worldwide, is the main acquired factor in the pathogenesis of gastritis and peptic ulcer. The aim of the study was to compare the H. pylori eradication rate obtained with a standard 7-day antibiotic regimen in a group of IDDM H. pylori infected patients and in a control group of infected dyspeptic patients. METHODS Thirty-one patients (18 male, 13 female, 39+/-12 years) affected by IDDM and H. pylori infection, and 50 dyspeptic infected patients (23 male, 17 female, 37+/-10 years) were evaluated. H. pylori infection was assessed through 13C-urea breath test. A triple therapy with amoxycillin (1 g b.i.d.), clarithromycin (250 mg t.i.d.) and pantoprazole (40 mg b.i.d.) was given to both groups at the time of diagnosis for 7 days. Cure was defined as the absence of H. pylori infection, assessed by 13C-urea breath test, 6 weeks after completing anti-microbial therapy. Effects of H. pylori eradication on gastrointestinal symptoms (pyrosis, epigastric pain, belching, bloating, halitosis and nausea) were also evaluated. RESULTS All enrolled patients completed the study. When compared to dyspeptic patients, the eradication rate was significantly lower in IDDM patients: 92% (46/50) versus 65% (20/31), respectively (P < 0.002). IDDM patients infected by H. pylori showed a different prevalence of some of the gastrointestinal symptoms assessed when compared to the infected dyspeptic patients; in particular, pyrosis, epigastric pain and belching were significantly more prevalent in the infected dyspeptic group. After H. pylori eradication, both groups showed a significant reduction of the intensity of all the gastrointestinal symptoms evaluated, except for nausea. CONCLUSIONS IDDM patients showed a significantly lower H. pylori eradication rate when compared to that observed in dyspeptic subjects. The dosage and/or the duration of a standard eradication regimen does not appear to be sufficient to eradicate the infection in IDDM patients. The impairment of the gastrointestinal mucosa microvasculature with a reduction of antibiotic absorption, or the frequent use of antibiotics for other infections with development of resistant strains, may be the mechanisms underlying the observation.
Addressing Adolescent Oral Health: A Review

Oral health is one of the most unmet health care needs of adolescents. Oral disease can have a profound effect on overall health, including pain, missed school, heart disease, and even death. Adolescents have specific needs pertaining to oral health in addition to the usual lifelong issues of caries management, sports injury prevention, and dental referrals. Teen years are a higher risk time for oral piercings, increased sugar intake, nicotine initiation, and orthodontic considerations. Adolescents need a unique approach to motivate them about their oral health issues. This is particularly important because lifelong health habits are created during these formative years, and prevention opportunities for sealants and varnish are only available at this age.
Cutaneous flexion reflex in human neonates: a quantitative study of threshold and stimulus‐response characteristics after single and repeated stimuli

The cutaneous flexion reflex has been used to study spinal sensory processing in 68 infants (37 female, 31 male) aged between 28 and 42 weeks postconceptional age (PCA). Mechanical and electrical stimuli were singularly and repeatedly applied to the foot, and single‐surface EMG responses were recorded from the biceps femoris muscle. A clear correlation was demonstrated between the mechanical stimulus intensity and latency and the amplitude of the reflex. Mechanical threshold normally increased with age, but the flexion‐reflex threshold was lowered by local limb‐tissue damage in the contralateral limb. The incidence of response to repeated mechanical stimulation at 2.8 x threshold decreased significantly with increasing age. Repeated mechanical stimulation at 2.8 threshold caused a build‐up in the size of the response followed by a diminution. The flexion reflex can, therefore, be used to investigate sensory processing in the neonate, and the effects of tissue damage. The importance of using natural rather than electrical stimulation is highlighted.
Combining colour and grey-level co-occurrence matrix features: a comparative study

Grey-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) is a widely used texture feature descriptor that is extracted from grey-level images. A considerable amount of work in the literature has been done trying to combine colour with GLCM features. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of integrating colour with GLCM. To this end, 14 descriptors that have been proposed in literature based on different colour combining approaches, four Convolutional Neural Networks-based, two aggregation-based, and five other handcrafted descriptors have been engaged in this comparison. Five widely known data sets have been used to experimentally evaluate each descriptor. The evaluation has been conducted for image classification and image retrieval. Results indicated that there is no co-occurrence-matrix-based descriptor that overcomes all the others in all data sets. Nevertheless, some descriptors have shown a remarkably higher performance than the others.
Growth velocity during infancy and onset of asthma in school‐aged children

To cite this article: Flexeder C, Thiering E, Brüske I, Koletzko S, Bauer C. ‐P, Wichmann H. ‐E, Mansmann U, von Berg A, Berdel D, Krämer U, Schaaf B, Lehmann I, Herbarth O, Heinrich J. Growth velocity during infancy and onset of asthma in school‐aged children. Allergy 2012; 67: 257–264.
Attitudes towards abortion among physicians working at obstetrical and paediatric departments in Denmark

The purpose of this study was to describe the attitudes among physicians working in perinatal medicine towards abortion for social reasons or because of abnormal prenatal diagnostic results. A questionnaire was sent to all physicians registered as employed at obstetrical or paediatric departments in Danish hospitals with a neonatal function. Of 994 questionnaires, 687 (69 per cent) were completed and returned. There was strong consensus among all participants that abortion is acceptable until week 21 in the case of trisomy 13 and at least until week 19 in the case of cystic fibrosis. Furthermore, there was strong consensus that abortion in the first trimester is acceptable in the case of an unwanted pregnancy in a 16‐year‐old girl and in the case of Down syndrome. Major controversy was found in connection with abortion in the case of Turner syndrome until week 21, abortion in week 13 in the case of polycystic kidney disease, abortion in week 24 in the case of Down syndrome, and abortion for social reasons in week 21. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PENGARUH LIKUIDITAS, SOLVABILITAS, DAN MANAJEMEN ASET TERHADAP KINERJA KEUANGAN PADA PERUSAHAAN GO PUBLIK YANG TERDAFTAR DALAM KOMPAS 100 DI INDONESIA

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk untuk mengetahui pengaruh pengaruh likwiditas, solvabilitas dan manajemen asset terhadap kinerja keuangan pada perusahaan go public yang terdaftar dalam kompas 100 Indonesia. Teknik penentuan sampel dalam penelitian ini adalah dengan menggunakan purposive sampling. Ada beberapa kriteria yang harus dipenuhi perusahaan yang terdaftar dalam Kompas 100 untuk dapat menjadi sampel dalam penelitian ini. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan analisa regresi berganda yang digunakan untuk mengetahui pengaruh variabel bebas terhadap variabel terikatnya secara bersama-sama dan secara parsial. Dari hasil uji F diketahui bahwa likwiditas, solvabilitas dan manajemen asset secara bersama-sama berpengaruh signifikan terhadap variabel kinerja keuangan pada perusahaan go publik yang terdaftar dalam Kompas 100 di Indonesia. Dari hasil uji t diketahui bahwa likwiditas dan manajemen asset secara parsial berpengaruh signifikan terhadap variabel kinerja keuangan pada perusahaan go publik yang terdaftar dalam Kompas 100 di Indonesia, sedangkan solvabilitasi tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap kinerja keuangan pada perusahaan go publik yang terdaftar dalam Kompas 100 di Indonesia. Kata kunci : likwiditas, solvabilitas, manajemen aset dan kinerja keuangan
Circulation anomalies in the mid–high latitudes responsible for the extremely hot summer of 2018 over northeast Asia

ABSTRACT This study investigated the contributions of mid–high-latitude circulation anomalies to the extremely hot summer (July and August; JA) of 2018 over Northeast Asia (NEA). The JA-mean surface air temperature in 2018 was 1.2°C higher than that of the 1979–2018 climatology, with the amplitude of such an anomaly almost doubling the interannual standard deviation, making 2018 the hottest year during the analysis period 1979–2018. The abnormal warming over NEA was caused by a local positive geopotential height anomaly reaching strongest intensity in JA 2018. Further investigation suggested that the upper-tropospheric circulation anomalies over northern Europe and the Caspian Sea were crucial to forming this NEA circulation anomaly through initiating downstream wave trains. Particularly, the geopotential heights over these two regions were concurrently at their highest in JA 2018, and therefore jointly contributed to the profound circulation anomaly over NEA and the hottest summer on record. Due to these two teleconnection patterns, the temperature anomalies in NEA are closely related to those in both northern Europe and the Caspian Sea, where the similarly extreme warming also happened in 2018. Graphical abstract
An electrical method to determine hematocrits.

It has been determined that the electrical conductance of whole blood is a very accurate index of its hematocrit. The new instrument described here fills a need for a quick, accurate portable hematocrit meter. This meter can be used at the patient's side for an instantaneous determination, and wherever a portable instrument is required. The advantages of this new instrument are its speed of operation, direct reading, small sample of blood required, and the inherent accuracy of the electrical determination. The last fact could well result in greater clinical significance of the hematocrit measurement.
Daily Rhythms in Renal Blood Flow and Urine Production Rate in the Near-Term Sheep Fetus

Daily rhythmicity of renal blood flow (RBF) and urine flow (UF) was studied in fetal sheep between 121–125 d of gestation. Fetal arterial blood pressure, heart rate, UF, and right RBF were measured continuously for 24-h periods in 10 sheep. Rhythmic variations during a 24-h period were found for all variables studied. The rhythms of arterial blood pressure and heart rate were highly correlated, whereas an inverse correlation was found between arterial blood pressure with RBF and between arterial blood pressure with UF. These findings indicate that fetal RBF is not blood pressure dependent. Furthermore, fetal UF appears not to be mediated by pressure-dependent diuresis.
Evidence for multiple AMPA receptor complexes in hippocampal CA1/CA2 neurons

The AMPA receptor, which is involved in most fast glutamatergic transmission in the mammalian brain and is expressed in most neurons, is made up of four subunits, GluR1–4. In situ hybridzation, immunocytochemistry studies, and single-cell PCR analyses show that the number and type of AMPA receptor subunits expressed vary among neuronal populations and that two to four subunits usually are expressed in each neuron. Neurons that express two or more subunits theoretically could produce multiple pentameric receptor complexes that differ in their subunit compositions, and these complexes could be targeted to different synaptic populations. To determine whether a single neuronal population produces multiple AMPA receptor complexes, we used a preparation of CA1/CA2 hippocampal pyramidal neurons and immunoprecipitation with subunit-specific antibodies to characterize the receptor complexes. The CA1/CA2 pyramidal neurons express high levels of GluR1–3 and receive multiple excitatory inputs, offering the possibility that distinct receptor complexes may be assembled and expressed selectively at different synaptic populations. Our results suggest the presence of two major populations of AMPA receptor complexes: those made up of GluR1 and GluR2 and those made up of GluR2 and GluR3. Very few complexes contained both GluR1 and GluR3, whereas approximately 8% of the total AMPA receptor complexes was homomeric GluR1. The integrity of the receptor complex was verified by measuring [3H]AMPA binding activity in the immunoprecipitated fractions. These results show that AMPA receptor complexes with different subunit compositions are present in CA1/CA2 pyramidal neurons and suggest an additional mechanism to regulate receptor expression in neurons.
The role of dopamine in bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE Despite effective pharmacological treatments for bipolar disorder, we still lack a comprehensive pathophysiological model of the illness. Recent neurobiological research has implicated a number of key brain regions and neuronal components in the behavioural and cognitive manifestations of bipolar disorder. Dopamine has previously been investigated in some depth in bipolar disorder, but of late has not been a primary focus of attention. This article examines the role of dopamine in bipolar disorder, incorporating recent advances into established models where possible. METHODS A critical evaluation of the literature was undertaken, including a review of behavioural, neurochemical, receptor, and imaging studies, as well as genetic studies focusing on dopamine receptors and related metabolic pathways. In addition, pharmacologic manipulation of the central dopaminergic pathways and comparisons with other disease states such as schizophrenia were considered, principally as a means of exploring the hypothesised models. RESULTS Multiple lines of evidence, including data from pharmacological interventions and structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies, suggest that the dopaminergic system may play a central role in bipolar disorder. CONCLUSION Future research into the pathophysiological mechanisms of bipolar disorder and the development of new treatments for bipolar disorder should focus on the dopaminergic system.
The Gender Effect of Health-Related Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients

Dear Editor, We read with great interest the recent published outstanding article in your esteemed journal by Rostami et al. (1) entitled “Health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients: an Iranian multi-center study”. The message of this valuable and huge study focused on drawing the attention to the biographic, socio-economic, and biochemical factors, which can influence on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of hemodialysis (HD) patients. The impact of gender on quality of life (QoL) has remained a challenge yet. Although Rostami and coworkers (1) showed that men had better QoL than women, other studies found that females had better (2) or equal (3) QoL when compared to males. There are some important subjects to note about gender effects on QoL which can help this matter: 1) higher prevalence and severity of psychological disorders such as major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder in females cause poorer HRQoL in women than men (4). 2) It seems females are more capable than males in providing and receiving emotional support. 3) Women benefit more from family support, but men receive more support from health care professionals (5). 4) Females with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have lower handgrip force, lower exercise tolerance, greater arm fat region, and less muscle area than males (6). 5) Higher prevalence of viral hepatitis in males on hemodialysis (7) can influence HRQoL in them. 6) It has been shown that other chronic disorders in HD patients can influence HRQoL (3). Anyway, it is important to note that there is a different for perception of QoL among various countries, areas, religious, ethnic groups, and races between both genders. It seems that a meta-analysis is needed to evaluate whether gender has any influence on QoL in HD patients. Although Rostami et al. (1) showed no difference between QoL among HD patients with and without diabetes , Anees et al. (8) found the QOL of HD patients with diabetes was poor in comparison to patients without diabetes. In addition, they showed HD patients with non-diabetic causes of CKD had a better QOL in physical health scope than HD patients with diabetes (8). Patients with diabetes have multiorgan damage such as vision and cardiac problem, renal failure, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular disease, which can lead to amputation and diminished physical health. Moreover, high rate of sleep disorders were demonstrated in patients with diabetes (9). Hence, it seems that HD patients who suffer from diabetes have worse QoL than others. We agree that QoL in HD patients are poorer than normal population. It seems that besides preparing these patients for kidney transplantation and treatment of biochemical disorders, HD patients counseling can improve QoL. Abraham and coworkers (10) conducted a study to evaluate the effect of patients counseling on QoL and concluded patients counseling would improve QoL of HD patients in all domains; therefore, we can help these patients with our attention and counseling in addition to focus on treatment only.
Differential Calcium Regulation by Hydrogen Peroxide and Superoxide in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells from Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

We investigated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (•O2−) in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and vascular contraction and assessed whether redox-dependent Ca2+ signaling and contraction are altered in hypertension. VSMCs and mesenteric arteries from Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were studied. Cells were stimulated with H2O2 (10−4 mol/l) or LY83583 (•O2− generator, 10−5 mol/l). [Ca2+]i and cytosolic •O2 − were measured by fura-2AM and tempo-9-AC fluorescence respectively. L-type and T-type Ca2+ channels were assessed using verapamil/diltiazem and mibefradil respectively and mRNA and protein expression of these channels was assessed by real-time PCR and immunoblotting respectively. H2O2 time-dependently increased [Ca2+]i and contraction with significantly greater effects in SHR versus WKY (P < 0.001). LY83583 increased [Ca2+]i in both strains, but responses were blunted in SHR. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ abrogated [Ca2+]i responses to H2O2 and •O2−. Verapamil and diltiazem, but not mibefradil, significantly decreased H2O2 -induced [Ca2+]i responses with greater effects in SHR (P < 0.01). L-type and T-type Ca2+ channel inhibition reduced LY83583-mediated [Ca2+]i increase only in WKY cells. Both types of Ca2+ channels were expressed (mRNA and protein) in VSMCs from WKY and SHR, with greater abundance in SHR than WKY (2- to 3-fold). These results demonstrate that ROS increase vascular [Ca2+]i and contraction, primarily via extracellular Ca2+ influx. Whereas responses to H2O2 are enhanced, •O2− -mediated actions are blunted in SHR. These effects may relate to differential activation of Ca2+ channels by H2O2 and •O2 −. Enhanced activation of L-type Ca2+ channels and increased Ca2+ influx by H2O2 may contribute to increased Ca2+ signaling in VSMCs from SHR.
Nurses' needs in delivering palliative care for long-term conditions.

This study addressed the question 'What are the needs of community nurses in delivering palliative care to people with long-term conditions? ' A qualitative exploratory descriptive design was employed. Ten community nurses (Band 5-7) were recruited from a purposive sample following a process of randomised stratified sampling, according to geographical area and Band for matched numbers. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken and audio recorded with written informed consent. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using an adapted Burnard's framework. The study found that establishing therapeutic relationships, having access to resources, co-ordination and provision of clinical care and collaborative working were all highlighted by the community nurses as needs in delivering palliative care. If these four needs were met, the community nurses believed they could deliver palliative care to their patients. Issues around a lack of resources, community nurses' educational needs and the late referral of patients with non-malignant long-term conditions to community nursing were also identified.
Clinical significance of circulating interleukin‐23 as a prognostic factor in breast cancer patients

Little is known about specific IL‐23 alterations associated with breast cancer and the data available are still controversial. Therefore, the evaluation of changes in serum IL‐23 levels may add further information on the role of this cytokine in breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate prospectively the prognostic importance of circulating IL‐23 in patients with untreated breast cancer, respect to healthy controls, and the association with clinico‐pathological variables. The study involved 50 women diagnosed with stages I–IV breast cancer and 38 healthy controls. Of the 50 breast cancer patients, 37 women were recruited prior to their initial adjuvant chemotherapy and 13 prior to receive first line chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Adjuvant chemotherapy patients were at least in their 4th week post‐surgery. IL‐23 serum concentrations were measured by a quantitative enzyme immunoassay technique. We found a statistically significant higher systemic cytokine value in women with cancer in comparison with the control group (14.52 ± 11.39 pg/ml vs. 6.35 ± 4.63 pg/ml, P < 0.0001). Patients with shorter overall survival presented higher IL‐23 values, suggesting a negative prognostic correlation. There was no significant differences in IL‐23 levels among patients according to the biomolecular characteristics, the different subtypes and the presence of metastatic disease. This work investigated, for the first time, the role of IL‐23 in breast cancer patients showing a significant increase respect the control group. However, further validations are needed in larger studies to better investigate the implications of IL‐23 increase in these patients. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 2122–2125, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.