Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impaired Comprehension of Affective Prosody in Elderly Subjects Is Not Predicted by Age-Related Hearing Loss or Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Impairments in the ability of elderly people to comprehend affective prosody have been reported, but little is known about the relationship between affective prosodic comprehension and age-related changes in hearing and cognition. The Aprosodia Battery, which included an assessment of attitudinal comprehension, was used to compare affective-prosodic comprehension in young and elderly subjects and to investigate the relationship of results to selected hearing and neuropsychological measures. As a group, the healthy elderly subjects were impaired relative to young subjects on all tasks assessing comprehension of affective prosody. Variability within the elderly group was not predicted by mild to moderate peripheral hearing loss and was only marginally predicted by traditional cognitive measures. These findings along with those of other researchers suggest that loss of affective-prosodic comprehension in elderly persons is related to a specific aging effect that impairs right hemisphere function. (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2005; 18:25-32)
Out of Animals and Back Again: Schistosomiasis as a Zoonosis in Africa

Schistosomiasis is one of the world’s most widely distributed and prevalent parasitic diseases, with approximately 700 million people at risk of infection. The vast majority of human cases of the disease are found in Africa, with distribution in virtually all corners of the continent, bar the Sahara and Namib deserts and the depths of the Congo jungle (Hotez et al., 2009). Preprubescent children, and particularly boys, are the age group most at risk from adverse clinical symptoms and are frequently targeted for treatment interventions, yet even with readily available drugs (namely praziquantel), the pervasiveness of the intermediate host snails and the ease at which re-infection occurs has hampered attempts to manage the disease in many places (Standley et al., 2009, Fenwick, 2009). Less widely recognized is that some species of Schistosoma, including several which commonly affect man, can also be infective in other mammalian species, and particularly in non-human primates. Given current high levels of research interest into emerging zoonotic diseases, the status of schistosomiasis as a zoonotic infection is in need of re-appraisal, especially in light of advances in application of molecular epidemiological methods; it has been 20 years since the last formal review was published (Ouma and Fenwick, 1991), with earlier appraisals fully half a century ago (Nelson, 1960, Nelson et al., 1962). By comparing historical accounts to on-going, cutting edge research using molecular tools, it will be possible to gain an insight into the dynamics of schistosomiasis in human and other hosts and whether this relationship is changing as a result of anthropogenic activities. As such, this chapter provides an overview of zoonoses involving schistosomiasis, focusing on Africa where the burden of the disease is highest, and also discusses the ways in which this information can be integrated into more effective conservation management and human disease control strategies. The emphasis will be on the most common forms of human schistosomiasis and how animals not only may suffer clinical manifestations from infection, but may also act as reservoirs for schistosomiasis, thus confounding control efforts that focus mainly on the treatment of humans.
Evaluation of biofilm removal activity of Quercus infectoria galls against Streptococcus mutans

Background: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases affecting humans of all ages. Streptococcus mutans has an important role in the development of dental caries by acid production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and biofilm disinfective effects of the oak tree Quercus infectoria galls against S. mutans. Materials and Methods: The bacterial strain used in this study was S. mutans (ATCC: 35668). Two kinds of galls, Mazouj and Ghalghaf were examined. Galls were extracted by methanol, ethanol and acetone by Soxhlet apparatus, separately. Extracts were dissolved in sterile distilled water to a final concentration of 10.00, 5.00, 2.50, 1.25, 0.63, 0.31, and 0.16 mg/ml. Microdilution determined antibacterial activities. The biofilm removal activities of the extracts were examined using crystal violet-stained microtiter plate method. One-way ANOVA was used to compare biofilm formation in the presence or absence of the extracts. Results: The methanolic, ethanolic, and acetonic extracts of Q. infectoria galls showed the strong inhibitory effects on S. mutans (P < 0.05). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values for the Mazouj and Ghalghaf gall extracts against S. mutans were identical. The MIC values ranged from 160 μg/ml to 320 μg/ml, whereas the MBC values ranged from 320 μg/ml to 640 μg/ml. All extracts of Q. infectoria galls significantly (P < 0.05) reduced biofilm biomass of S. mutans at the concentrations higher than 9.8 μg/ml. Conclusion: Three different extracts of Q. infectoria galls were similar in their antibacterial activity against S. mutans. These extracts had the highest biofilm removal activities at 312.5 μg/ml concentration. The galls of Q. infectoria are potentially good sources of antibacterial and biofilm disinfection agent.
Residual periodontal defects distal to the mandibular second molar 6-36 months after impacted third molar extraction.

AIM This retrospective study investigated the periodontal conditions distal to mandibular second molars 6-36 months after routine surgical extraction of adjacent impacted third molars. METHOD Subjects were randomly selected by systematic sampling from computer records of 3211 surgical mandibular third molar extractions in the Hong Kong dental teaching hospital. Records and pre-extraction radiographs of the selected cases were retrieved. Selected subjects (n = 283) were invited for an interview followed by a clinical examination. Community Periodontal Index (CPI) protocol was used for the assessment of the general periodontal status (excluding the mandibular second molar of interest, i.e. the subject tooth) followed by a detailed periodontal examination of the subject tooth. RESULTS In all, 158 subjects, aged 29 +/- 7 years, were examined with only 6% (nine subjects) having a highest CPI score of 4 (excluding the subject tooth), but local periodontal defects were prevalent at the distal surface of subject mandibular second molars: mean probing pocket depth (PPD) was 5.4 +/- 1.9 mm with 67% (106 subjects) exhibiting PPD >or= 5 mm and 23% (36 subjects) exhibiting PPD >or= 7 mm; mean recession was 0.8 +/- 1.0 mm; bleeding on probing 96% and suppuration on probing 5%. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyse the effects of 12 independent variables on the PPD at the distal surface of the involved mandibular second molar. Three possible risk indicators (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.27) associated with localised increased PPD at the distal surface of the mandibular second molars were identified: 1) third molar 'mesio-angular' impaction; 2) pre-extraction crestal radiolucency and 3) inadequate post-extraction local plaque control. CONCLUSION The results suggest that periodontal breakdown initiated and established on the distal surface of a mandibular second molar in the vicinity of a 'mesio-angular' impacted third molar evidenced by pre-extraction crestal radiolucency in association with inadequate plaque control after extraction can predispose to a persistent localised periodontal problem.
Thrombosis following Phlebography with Ionic and Non-Ionic Contrast Media

The side-effects at phlebography of the lower limb were evaluated using an ionic contrast medium, meglumine-metrizoate, and a non-ionic contrast medium, metrizamide. A post-phlebographic accumulation of 125I-fibrinogen was found in 6 patients examined with meglumine-metrizoate indicating a post-phlebographic thrombosis. Ten patients were examined with metrizamide with no post-phlebographic increase in 125I-fibrinogen uptake. Though the groups are small the difference is statistically significant at the 0.2 per cent level.
Phenotypic analyses of limbal epithelial cell cultures derived from donor corneoscleral rims

Grafted cultures of limbal epithelial cells aid repair of the corneal epithelium, but their phenotype is unclear. In this study, the phenotype of cultures that were similar in age to those used clinically were analysed. Limbal epithelial cells were isolated from donor corneoscleral rims and grown in various media, including those designed for keratinocytes. Successful cultures in each medium developed predominantly small (10 μm) tightly packed cells. Immunocytochemistry and western blotting revealed expression of keratins 3, 14 and 19. Expression of these keratins in situ was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Basal limbal epithelial cells were positive for keratins 14 and 19, and suprabasal cells were positive for keratin 3. However, intense staining for keratin 14 was also observed at the inner cut edge of corneoscleral rims. These findings demonstrate the potential importance of keratins 14 and 19 as markers of epithelial cell differentiation in the human cornea.
How Rotavirus Causes Diarrhea

MICROBIAL DISEASESRotavirus infections can be deadly in infants because they cause the intestine to secrete copious amounts of fluid, leading to death by dehydration. Just rotavirus triggers this excess fluid secretion has long been mysterious, however. Now, on [491][1], researchers show that, in mice, the virus activates the enteric nervous system, the nerves that control the intestine's movements and its fluid absorption and secretion. The activated nerves apparently stimulate cells of the intestinal lining to boost their water secretion, resulting in diarrhea. Understanding what causes the excess fluid secretion in rotavirus diarrhea is an important first step in figuring out how to block it with drugs. [1]: http://www.sciencemag. org/cgi/content/short/287/5452/491
Terminal sedation and euthanasia: a comparison of clinical practices.

BACKGROUND An important issue in the debate about terminal sedation is the extent to which it differs from euthanasia. We studied clinical differences and similarities between both practices in the Netherlands. METHODS Personal interviews were held with a nationwide stratified sample of 410 physicians (response rate, 85%) about the most recent cases in which they used terminal sedation, defined as administering drugs to keep the patient continuously in deep sedation or coma until death without giving artificial nutrition or hydration (n = 211), or performed euthanasia, defined as administering a lethal drug at the request of a patient with the explicit intention to hasten death (n = 123). We compared characteristics of the patients, the decision-making process, and medical care of both practices. RESULTS Terminal sedation and euthanasia both mostly concerned patients with cancer. Patients receiving terminal sedation were more often anxious (37%) and confused (24%) than patients receiving euthanasia (15% and 2%, respectively). Euthanasia requests were typically related to loss of dignity and a sense of suffering without improving, whereas requesting terminal sedation was more often related to severe pain. Physicians applying terminal sedation estimated that the patient's life had been shortened by more than 1 week in 27% of cases, compared with 73% in euthanasia cases. CONCLUSIONS Terminal sedation and euthanasia both are often applied to address severe suffering in terminally ill patients. However, terminal sedation is typically used to address severe physical and psychological suffering in dying patients, whereas perceived loss of dignity during the last phase of life is a major problem for patients requesting euthanasia.
The effect of a training program combined with augmented afferent feedback from the feet using shoe insoles on gait performance and muscle power in older adults: a randomised controlled trial

Background. Aged-related loss of afferent feedback of the feet plays an important role in gait performance. Although strength, balance and gait training can significantly improve the muscle power and functional abilities of older individuals, it remains unclear whether training effects can be enhanced by augmenting afferent feedback from the feet adding shoe insoles complementary to conventional training. Objective. The current study investigated the effect of physical exercise combined with wearing MedReflex® shoe insoles on the gait performance and muscle power in older adults. Methods. Twenty-eight independent living, older adults aged 65–91 years were randomly assigned to either an insole group (IG; n = 14) or a training group (TG; n = 14). Further 14 subjects matched to the IG and TG were recruited as a control group (CG; n = 14) (no exercise). The IG and TG completed the same training program consisting of aerobic exercises, progressive resistance strength training and stretching exercises twice per week for 12 weeks, whereas, the IG wore the insoles during everyday life and during training sessions. Assessments included the Falls Efficacy Scale – International (FES-I), gait analysis and muscle power measurements of the knee and ankle joint at pre- and post-training. Results. There were significant time × group interactions in walking speed, step length and in several muscle power measurements. The positive effects of gait parameters ranged between 1% and 12% and between 1% and 8% and the trend to improvements of muscle power ranged between 15–79% and 20–79% for the IG and TG, respectively. The IG and TG did not differ significantly in their improvements. The CG showed a trend to deteriorations between 0% and −5% for gait parameters and between −4% and −14% for muscle power. No significant change in FES-I score occurred in neither groups. Conclusions. The results of this study provide evidence of significant improvements in gait performance and muscle power after a conventional training program in independent living, older adults. However, there is no additional effect of long-term adaptation of gait caused by wearing insoles concurrent to physical training.
Polytetrafluoroethylene neochordae is noninferior to leaflet resection in repair of isolated posterior mitral leaflet prolapse: a multicentre study.

OBJECTIVES Resection techniques are the established method for posterior mitral valve leaflet repair in degenerative mitral valve disease. However, implantation of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) neochordae is gaining acceptance. The aim of this study was to compare the durability and clinical outcome following mitral valve repair using ePTFE neochordae or leaflet resection. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted of 224 patients who had undergone isolated mitral valve repair for degenerative posterior mitral leaflet prolapse from 1998 to 2012 at two cardiothoracic centres, one in Sweden and one in Denmark. Follow-up was performed in February 2013 and was 100% complete for survival (1184 patient-years; mean 5.9 ± 3.9 years). Event rates were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS The 30-day mortality rate was 0.5%. Repair was successful in 215 patients (96.0%). Leaflet resection was performed in 146 (72.6%), whereas 55 (27.4%) underwent ePTFE neochordae repair. All patients received an annuloplasty with a mean size of 33 ± 4 mm in the ePTFE group and 31 ± 3 mm in the resection group (P = 0.001). The 5-year survival rate was 98.2 ± 1.8% in the ePTFE group and 93.9 ± 2.1% in the resection group (P = 0.67). At 5 years, the rate of freedom from recurrent moderate or severe mitral regurgitation was 91.9 ± 5.5% in the ePTFE group and 95.8 ± 2.1% in the resection group (P = 0.20), and the rate of freedom from all-cause reoperation was 100% in the ePTFE group and 97.9 ± 1.2% in the resection group (P = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS ePTFE neochordae is noninferior to resection repair for posterior mitral leaflet prolapse. Both techniques have comparable early and mid-term postoperative outcomes with low mortality, and a low incidence of reoperation and recurrent mitral regurgitation.
Epigenetics as a Driver of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease: Did We Forget the Fathers?

What are the effects of our environment on human development and the next generation? Numerous studies have provided ample evidence that a healthy environment and lifestyle of the mother is important for her offspring. Biological mechanisms underlying these environmental influences have been proposed to involve alterations in the epigenome. Is there enough evidence to suggest a similar contribution from the part of the father? Animal models provide proof of a transgenerational epigenetic effect through the paternal germ line, but can this be translated to humans? To date, literature on fathers is scarce. Human studies do not always incorporate appropriate tools to evaluate paternal influences or epigenetic effects. In reviewing the literature, I stress the need to explore and recognize paternal contributions to offspring's health within the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis, and coin this new concept the Paternal Origins of Health and Disease paradigm (POHaD). A better understanding of preconceptional origins of disease through the totality of paternal exposures, or the paternal exposome, will provide evidence‐based public health recommendations for future fathers.
Premenstrual syndrome and fibromyalgia: the frequency of the coexistence and their effects on quality of life

Abstract Objective: We aimed to investigate the association between Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), to assess common symptoms and quality of life (QOL) of them. Methods: Patients with PMS formed the PMS group and age-matched healthy normal controls were included in the control group. The diagnosis of the FMS and PMS were based on new American College of Rheumatology FMS criteria and DSM-IV PMS criteria. FMS-related symptoms assessed by visual analog scale and number of tender points (TePs) were analyzed. QOL, PMS severity and FMS severity were assessed with SF-36, fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) and premenstrual assessment form (PAF), respectively. Patients with PMS were divided into two subgroups according to coexistence of FMS or not. Results: The frequency of FMS in PMS and control group were 20 and 0%, respectively (p = 0.002). FMS-related symptoms, number of TePs in the PMS group were higher than those in the control group. The mean mental component summary (MCS) score of SF-36 was low in the PMS group. The mean PAF score in PMS with FMS subgroup was higher than those in without FMS subgroup. The mean physical component summary of SF-36 was low in the PMS patient with FMS. There was correlation between PAF score and FIQ score (r = 0.476, p < 0.001). Conclusion: FMS was common among the patients with PMS and frequently seen in the PMS patients having severe premenstrual complaints. Mental QOL was distressed in the patients with PMS but while FMS accompanied to PMS, the physical QOL was decreased.
Immunomodulation of murine cytomegalovirus-induced myocarditis in mice treated with lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor.

Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection of BALB/c mice produces acute and chronic myocarditis similar to clinical disease in humans. In contrast, MCMV-infected C57BL/6 mice develop only mild acute myocarditis. We have investigated the effect of administration of the immunomodulator lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the development of postviral myocarditis in mice. LPS exacerbated heart inflammation in both strains of MCMV-infected mice, with normally resistant C57BL/6 mice developing chronic myocarditis. Autoantibodies to cardiac myosin were enhanced with LPS treatment in both MCMV-infected mouse strains. LPS treatment also increased the production of TNF in the sera without affecting virus titers in the spleen, liver, or salivary glands, a target organ most affected during persistent virus infection. In LPS/MCMV-infected BALB/c mice, TNF, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were detected in cultures of heart infiltrating cells but not in splenocytes. Importantly, administration of the bioactive synthetic TNF peptide (amino acids 114-130) increased myocarditis in C57BL/6 mice, similar to that seen with LPS treatment. TNF peptide/MCMV-infected BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice showed distinct differences in the expression pattern of IFN-gamma, IL-10, and TNF. These data show that the disease may be partly regulated by TNF among other select cytokines and autoantibodies to cardiac myosin. The immunopathological nature of MCMV-induced myocarditis is thus highlighted.
The reb1-1 Mutation of Arabidopsis. Effect on the Structure and Localization of Galactose-Containing Cell Wall Polysaccharides1[W]

The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) root epidermal bulger1-1 (reb1-1) mutant (allelic to root hair defective1 [rhd1]) is characterized by a reduced root elongation rate and by bulging of trichoblast cells. The REB1/RHD1 gene belongs to a family of UDP-d-Glucose 4-epimerases involved in the synthesis of d-Galactose (Gal). Our previous study showed that certain arabinogalactan protein epitopes were not expressed in bulging trichoblasts of the mutant. In this study, using a combination of microscopical and biochemical methods, we have investigated the occurrence and the structure of three major Gal-containing polysaccharides, namely, xyloglucan (XyG), rhamnogalacturonan (RG)-I, and RG-II in the mutant root cell walls. Our immunocytochemical data show that swollen trichoblasts were not stained with the monoclonal antibody CCRC-M1 specific for α-l-Fucp-(1→2)-β-d-Galp side chains of XyG, whereas they were stained with anti-XyG antibodies specific for XyG backbone. In addition, analysis of a hemicellulosic fraction from roots demonstrates the presence of two structurally different XyGs in reb1-1. One is structurally similar to wild-type XyG and the other is devoid of fuco-galactosylated side chains and has the characteristic of being insoluble. Similar to anti-XyG antibodies, anti-bupleuran 2IIC, a polyclonal antibody specific for galactosyl epitopes associated with pectins, stained all root epidermal cells of both wild type and reb1-1. Similarly, anti-RG-II antibodies also stained swollen trichoblasts in the mutant. In addition, structural analysis of pectic polymers revealed no change in the galactosylation of RG-I and RG-II isolated from reb1-1 root cells. These findings demonstrate that the reb1-1 mutation affects XyG structure, but not that of pectic polysaccharides, thus lending support to the hypothesis that biosynthesis of Gal as well as galactosylation of complex polysaccharides is regulated at the polymer level.
Electrically Small Magnetic Dipole Antennas With Quality Factors Approaching the Chu Lower Bound

We investigate the quality factor Q for electrically small current distributions and practical antenna designs radiating the TE10 magnetic dipole field. The current distributions and the antenna designs employ electric currents on a spherical surface enclosing a magneto-dielectric material that serves to reduce the internal stored energy. Closed-form expressions for the internal and external stored energies as well as for the quality factor Q are derived. The influence of the sphere radius and the material permeability and permittivity on the quality factor Q is determined and verified numerically. It is found that for a given antenna size and permittivity there is an optimum permeability that ensures the lowest possible Q, and this optimum permeability is inversely proportional to the square of the antenna electrical radius. When the relative permittivity is equal to 1, the optimum permeability yields the quality factor Q that constitutes the lower bound for a magnetic dipole antenna with a magneto-dielectric core. Furthermore, the smaller the antenna the closer its quality factor Q can approach the Chu lower bound. Simulated results for the TE10-mode multiarm spherical helix antenna with a magnetic core reach a Q that is 1.24 times the Chu lower bound for an electrical radius of 0.192.