Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes in the DP-Gram During the Preterm and Early Postnatal Period

Objectives: To describe and define changes in the infant DP-gram during an age continuum from the preterm period through the first 6 mo of postnatal life. This information provides normative guidelines for audiologists or hearing screeners using DPOAEs to monitor infant hearing status. Design: In this retrospective study, 2f1 − f2 DP-grams (DPOAE level × f2) were recorded with primary tones at 65/55 dB SPL, f2/f1 = 1.2, and f2 frequencies ranging from 1500 to 9000 Hz. Results from one ear of 290 healthy infants ranging in age from 31 wks postconceptional age to 6-mo-old were examined. Data were collected using both longitudinal design (repeated tests on the same infant over time) and cross-sectional methodology (a different group of subjects representing each age category). Subjects were divided into three groups according to age and experimental design. The effects of age and frequency on DPOAE level were analyzed in the three groups separately. Results: The combined results from the three databases indicate that (1) DPOAE level increased for mid-frequencies throughout the preterm period, from 31 to 33 wks until the time period associated with term birth. This change was significant for 4500 and 6000 Hz; (2) DPOAE level decreased as f2 frequency increased. In many infants, a shallow trough was observed with peak amplitude at 1500 Hz, a reduction in response amplitude through 4500 Hz, and a second peak around 6000 Hz; (3) during the postnatal period from birth through 6 mo, DPOAE level did not change significantly as a function of age and the DP-gram was relatively flat across f2 frequency; and (4) infants showed mean DPOAE levels that were 4 to 12 dB higher than adult levels. Conclusions: The results indicate a frequency-dependent increase in DPOAE level during the preterm period in human infants. After birth, there is little change in amplitude through 6 mo. The infant DPOAE remains larger than adult amplitude at all ages tested, as shown in other reports, well into childhood, suggesting continued changes in DPOAE level during the first decade of life. Recent research suggests that immaturities of the conductive pathway may account for infant–adult differences in DPOAE level; however, it is not yet clear whether other sources contribute.
Allometry (scaling) of blood components in mammals : connection with economy of energy?

Hematocrit (HCT), blood hemoglobin (HGB), and serum concentrations of 14 commonly measured serum con- stituents in mammals were extracted from 131 publications published within the last 35 years and then subjected to allo- metric study (Y = aW b , where Y is the characteristic studied, W is body mass, and b is the scaling exponent). HCT and HGB values decreased (b 0 ;p 0; respectivement p < 0,02 et p < 0,001) croissent en fonction de W. On peut assumer que les associations des valeurs de HCT, de HGB, de glucose, de tri- glycerides et d'uree avec W coo¨ncident avec la reduction bien connue du taux metabolique par unitede masse chez les mammiferes lorsque W augmente. La reduction des valeurs de K + (p < 0,001) restent encore aexpliquer adequatement. Meme si le rapport de la masse musculaire et de W est constant chez les mammiferes, grands et petits, les concentrations de creatinine augmentent (b = 0,14; p < 0,0001) en fonction de W. Cela laisse croire a un taux de renouvellement plus im- portant de la phosphocreatinine dans les muscles avec une augmentation de W, ce qui, a son tour, peut etre relieal'effi- caciteplus grande signalee dans les muscles des jambes chez les animaux plus grands; cela peut vraisemblablement affecter la mesure du taux metabolique et expliquer son echelonnage chez les mammiferes. (Traduit par la Redaction)
Pioglitazone therapy in progressive differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Summary Aim: Rosiglitazone achieved promising results in progressive differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) with redifferentiative and antiproliferative effects, but has been taken off the market. Thus we evaluated another glitazone, pioglitazone, expecting similar positive results. Patient, materials, methods: Five patients with progressive DTC and no or only negligible iodine uptake were enrolled. Oral pioglitazone treatment was applied for 6 months. The re-differentiative effect was assessed by 124I-NaI PET/CT dosimetry and the anti-proliferative effect by 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. Results: A redifferentiative effect of pioglitazone could not be shown. Lesion dosimetry indicated that 3/5 patients had unchanged no lesion absorbed dose per administered activity (LDpA) in any tumour lesion, 2/5 patients had a deterioration of LDpA within some lesions, thus radioiodine therapy was not performed in any patient. Volumetric analysis, using RECIST criteria, revealed progressive disease in 3/5 patients and stable disease in 2/5 patients. Metabolic changes, using EORTC criteria, revealed 3/5 patients with progressive metabolic disease, 1/5 patient with stable metabolic disease and 1/5 patients with partial metabolic response. The medication was well-tolerated, and no patient developed clinically important toxicity associated with the treatment. Conclusion: Pioglitazone revealed some positive effects in radioiodine negative and progressive DTC patients but it did not fulfill the expectations given by the results of rosiglitazone therapy.
Ultrasonographic assessment of skeletal muscle mass and diaphragm function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A case–control study

Background: Although muscle dysfunction is a major contributor to morbidity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), assessment of skeletal muscle, and diaphragm function is not routinely performed in COPD patients.Objectives: (1) The aim is to assess muscle dysfunction in COPD by measuring the zone of apposition of diaphragm, diaphragm excursion, thickness of diaphragm, and rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RFCSA) with ultrasonography. (2) To correlate the above assessments with spirometric parameters; notably forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). Methods: Twenty-four consecutive stable COPD patients and 18 controls were included after obtaining written informed consent. Demographic and clinical data, spirometric values, 6-min walk distance, and sonographic parameters mentioned above were compiled for the analysis. Results: All included participants were male with a mean age of 62.5 ± 8.4 years. The mean FEV1in cases was 1.12 ± 0.4 L versus 2.41 ± 0.5 L in controls. The diaphragm thickness (1.8 ± 0.5 mm vs. 2.2 ± 0.6 mm;P = 0.005) and RFCSA was significantly lower in COPD patients (4.8 ± 1.3 cm[2] vs. 6.12 ± 1.2 cm[2];P = 0.02). However, diaphragm excursion (5.35 ± 2.8 cm vs. 7 ± 2.6 cm) although lower in COPD patients, was not significantly different between the groups. Correlation between FEV1and ultrasound diaphragm measurements and RFCSA by Spearman's Rho correlation was poor (ρ= 0.2). Conclusion: Ultrasonographic assessment of the diaphragm and rectus femoris can be used as markers to assess skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD as diaphragmatic function and RFCSA were lower in COPD patients.
Clinical features and outcomes in 348 patients with polyarteritis nodosa: a systematic retrospective study of patients diagnosed between 1963 and 2005 and entered into the French Vasculitis Study Group Database.

OBJECTIVE Previous studies of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) included patients with microscopic polyangiitis, because these entities were not distinguished prior to the Chapel Hill Consensus Conference (CHCC). This study was undertaken to describe the main characteristics of and long-term outcomes in patients with well-characterized PAN diagnoses. METHODS We conducted a systematic retrospective study of 348 patients who were diagnosed as having PAN between March 1963 and October 2005, were registered in the French Vasculitis Study Group database, and satisfied the American College of Rheumatology and CHCC criteria. Patient characteristics and outcomes were analyzed and compared according to hepatitis B virus (HBV) status. RESULTS At diagnosis, the mean +/- SD age was 51.2 +/- 17.3 years. The most frequent findings were general symptoms (93.1%), neurologic manifestations (79%), skin involvement (49.7%), abdominal pain (35.6%), and hypertension (34.8%); 66.2% had renal artery microaneurysms; 70.1% had histologically proven PAN. Patients with HBV-related PAN (n = 123) had more frequent peripheral neuropathy, abdominal pain, cardiomyopathy, orchitis, and hypertension compared with patients with non-HBV-related PAN (n = 225). During a mean +/- SD followup of 68.3 +/- 63.5 months, 76 patients (21.8%) relapsed (63 with non-HBV-related PAN [28%] versus 13 with HBV-related PAN [10.6%]; P < 0.001); 86 patients (24.7%) died (44 with non-HBV-related PAN [19.6%] versus 42 with HBV-related PAN [34.1%]; P = 0.003). Five-year relapse-free survival rates were 59.4% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 52.6-67.0) versus 67.0% (95% CI 58.5-76.8) for non-HBV-related PAN and HBV-related PAN, respectively. Multivariate analysis retained age >65 years, hypertension, and gastrointestinal manifestations requiring surgery or at least consultation with a surgeon as independent predictors of death, whereas patients with cutaneous manifestations or non-HBV-related PAN had a higher risk of relapse. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that the rate of mortality from PAN remains high, especially for the elderly, and relapses do occur, particularly in patients with non-HBV-related PAN with cutaneous manifestations.
IL‐17 plays a central role in initiating experimental Candida albicans infection in mouse corneas

The pathogenesis of fungal infection in the cornea remains largely unclear. To understand how the immune system influences the progression of fungal infection in corneas, we inoculated immunocompetent BALB/c mice, neutrophil‐ or CD4+ T‐cell‐depleted BALB/c mice, and nude mice with Candida albicans. We found that only immunocompetent BALB/c mice developed typical Candida keratitis (CaK), while the other mouse strains lacked obvious clinical manifestations. Furthermore, CaK development was blocked in immunocompetent mice treated with anti‐IL‐17A or anti‐IL‐23p19 to neutralize IL‐17 activity. However, no significant effects were observed when Treg cells, γδ T cells, or IFN‐γ were immunodepleted. Upon infection, the corneas of BALB/c mice were infiltrated with IL‐17‐producing leukocytes, including neutrophils and, to a lesser degree, CD4+ T cells. In contrast, leukocyte recruitment to corneas was significantly diminished in nude mice. Indeed, nude mice produced much less chemokines (e.g. CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL10, CXCL12, CCL2, and IL‐6) in response to inoculation. Remarkably, addition of CXCL2 during inoculation restored CaK induction in nude mice. In contrast to its therapeutic effect on CaK, neutralization of IL‐17 exacerbated Candida‐induced dermatitis in skin. We conclude that IL‐17, mainly produced by neutrophils and CD4+ T cells in the corneas, is essential in the pathogenesis of CaK.
The Pratylenchus penetrans Transcriptome as a Source for the Development of Alternative Control Strategies: Mining for Putative Genes Involved in Parasitism and Evaluation of in planta RNAi

The root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans is considered one of the most economically important species within the genus. Host range studies have shown that nearly 400 plant species can be parasitized by this species. To obtain insight into the transcriptome of this migratory plant-parasitic nematode, we used Illumina mRNA sequencing analysis of a mixed population, as well as nematode reads detected in infected soybean roots 3 and 7 days after nematode infection. Over 140 million paired end reads were obtained for this species, and de novo assembly resulted in a total of 23,715 transcripts. Homology searches showed significant hit matches to 58% of the total number of transcripts using different protein and EST databases. In general, the transcriptome of P. penetrans follows common features reported for other root lesion nematode species. We also explored the efficacy of RNAi, delivered from the host, as a strategy to control P. penetrans, by targeted knock-down of selected nematode genes. Different comparisons were performed to identify putative nematode genes with a role in parasitism, resulting in the identification of transcripts with similarities to other nematode parasitism genes. Focusing on the predicted nematode secreted proteins found in this transcriptome, we observed specific members to be up-regulated at the early time points of infection. In the present study, we observed an enrichment of predicted secreted proteins along the early time points of parasitism by this species, with a significant number being pioneer candidate genes. A representative set of genes examined using RT-PCR confirms their expression during the host infection. The expression patterns of the different candidate genes raise the possibility that they might be involved in critical steps of P. penetrans parasitism. This analysis sheds light on the transcriptional changes that accompany plant infection by P. penetrans, and will aid in identifying potential gene targets for selection and use to design effective control strategies against root lesion nematodes.
Mechanisms causing sustained ventricular tachycardia with multiple QRS morphologies: results of mapping studies in the infarcted canine heart.

BACKGROUND Sustained reentrant ventricular tachycardias (VTs) with different QRS morphologies have been observed to occur spontaneously and during programmed stimulation in human hearts. We determined mechanisms that can cause tachycardias with multiple morphologies in a canine model of myocardial infarction by mapping reentrant circuits. METHODS AND RESULTS Reentrant VT with multiple QRS morphologies was induced in 11 canine hearts with 4-day-old infarcts. Comparison of activation maps of the reentrant circuits in the epicardial border zone associated with each morphology indicated two basic mechanisms. Less frequently, VTs of different morphologies in the same heart were caused by reentrant circuits in different regions of the infarct. Most commonly, the reentrant circuits associated with different morphologies were in the same region. Three different factors caused different exit routes from circuits in the same region, leading to the multiple morphologies. (1) The reentrant wave front for each morphology rotated around the same line of block but in different directions. (2) Reentrant circuits associated with each morphology were similar, but there were small changes in the extent of the central line of block. (3) Reentrant circuits with completely different sizes and shapes caused different morphologies. CONCLUSIONS In this canine model, tachycardias with multiple morphologies most commonly arise from reentrant circuits in the same region of the infarct, suggesting that most often only one area has electrophysiological properties necessary to sustain reentry.
Une réalite complexe : sexualités entre hommes et prévention du sida au sénégal

Cette these s’appuie sur une ethnographie de l’experience et du vecu des hommes aux identites sexuelles multiples. Ce faisant, ce travail vise a articuler analyse du contexte economique et sociopolitique dans lequel s’articule l’experience de l’homosexualite au Senegal a celle de l’ordinaire de ceux dont il est question dans ce volume. L’analyse des discours, ecrits et violences souligne la necessite de replacer la controverse sur l’homosexualite dans un contexte politique et historique plus large. La controverse sur l’homosexualite dans l’espace public releve de logiques et dynamiques liees au passe notamment colonial, mais aussi aux enjeux du present relatifs au contexte du Senegal contemporain. Les reactions violentes contre l’homosexualite depuis 2008 temoignent de la difficulte pour les hommes rencontres de vivre une sexualite non orthodoxe et de l’existence d’identites sexuelles multiples. Ces realites multiples doivent se comprendre en raison des representations faites sur les pratiques sexuelles entre hommes et de l’illegitimite de ces pratiques presente dans plusieurs secteurs de la societe senegalaise. Ces logiques de dissimulation mettent a jour les problemes auxquels se confronte une politique de prevention ciblee en direction de ceux qui sont nommes dans le contexte du sida MSM [Men who have sex with men]. Les differentes formes de violence et les inegalites sociales dans lequel s’insere le vecu des hommes aux identites sexuelles multiples nous renseignent sur leur rapport a la sexualite (avec les hommes et les femmes) et a la maladie. En outre, l’analyse ethnographique permet de rendre compte de la multiplicite des experiences relatives a l’homosexualite. Elle revele divers degres de connaissance et de reconnaissance de l’homosexualite au Senegal. Cela permet ainsi d’envisager conjointement experience du mepris et de la violence d’une part et formes de reconnaissance sociale d’autre part.
Endoscopic Therapy is Effective for Recurrent Anastomotic Biliary Strictures after Orthotopic Liver Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION Orthotopic liver transplantation anastomotic biliary strictures (OLT ABS) are managed with endoscopic biliary stent therapy but the recurrence rate is substantial. Our aims were to retrospectively determine the recurrence rates of OLT ABS after initial successful stent therapy, characterize the management of recurrences and identify associated variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS Clinical data from 943 patients receiving non-living donor OLT at our institution from 2005-2012 were reviewed, and 123 OLT ABS patients receiving stent therapy were identified. Features of their endoscopic stent therapy and other pertinent clinical information were evaluated. RESULTS ABS recurred in 25.5% of patients (24/94) after an initial successful course of stent therapy. Recurrences were received a second course of endoscopic stent therapy and 67% of patients (16/24) achieved long-term remediation of ABS. Six patients underwent a third course of endoscopic stent therapy with 4 patients achieving remediation. Overall remediation rate among ABS recurrences was 83.3% (20/24). A bivariate comparison demonstrated HCV infection, age, median months of maximal stenting and a lower maximum cumulative stent diameter were risk factors for ABS recurrence. Using a Cox regression model, only HCV status proved to be a risk factor for recurrence. DISCUSSION In conclusion repeat stent therapy achieved high stricture remediation rates. Recurrence after the first or even second course of stenting should not imply failure of endoscopic therapy. A positive HCV status may be associated with higher stricture recurrence rates and this association should be further investigated.
Neural Correlates of Memory for Items and for Associations: An Event-related Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Although results from cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, and behavioral neuroscience clearly suggest that item and associative information in memory rely on partly different brain regions, little is known concerning the differences and similarities that exist between these two types of information as a function of memory stage (i.e., encoding and retrieval). We used event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess neural correlates of item and associative encoding and retrieval of simple images in 18 healthy subjects. During encoding, subjects memorized items and pairs. During retrieval, subjects made item recognition judgments (old vs. new) and associative recognition judgments (intact vs. rearranged). Relative to baseline, item and associative trials activated bilateral medial temporal and prefrontal regions during both encoding and retrieval. Direct contrasts were then performed between item and associative trials for each memory stage. During encoding, greater prefrontal, hippocampal, and parietal activation was observed for associations, but no significant activation was observed for items at the selected threshold. During recognition, greater activation was observed for associative trials in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and superior parietal lobules bilaterally, whereas item recognition trials showed greater activation of bilateral frontal regions, bilateral anterior medial temporal areas, and the right temporo-parietal junction. Post hoc analyses suggested that the anterior medial temporal activation observed during item recognition was driven mainly by new items, confirming a role for this structure in novelty detection. These results suggest that although some structures such as the medial temporal and prefrontal cortex play a general role in memory, the pattern of activation in these regions can be modulated by the type of information (items or associations) interacting with memory stages.
P-glycoprotein

P-glycoprotein consists of two homologous halves, each composed of a transmembrane domain and a nucleotide-binding domain. In order to understand how the domains interact in P-glycoprotein, we expressed each domain as a separate polypeptide and tested for associations using coimmunoprecipitation assays. We found that the interactions between the two halves of P-glycoprotein were mediated through associations between the two transmembrane domains as well as through the nucleotide-binding domains. In addition, the nucleotide-binding domain also associated with the transmembrane domain in each half of the molecule. By contrast, we could not detect any association either between the first nucleotide-binding domain and the second transmembrane domain, or between the second nucleotide-binding domain and the first transmembrane domain. We then tested whether individual domains associated with molecular chaperones, since biogenesis of P-glycoprotein appears to involve the chaperones calnexin and Hsc70. We found that calnexin associated only with the transmembrane domains, while Hsc70 associated only with the nucleotide-binding domains. These results suggest that noncovalent interaction between the domains of P-glycoprotein can contribute to structure and function of P-glycoprotein and that chaperones may participate in the folding of each domain.
Retinal phenotype-genotype correlation of pediatric patients expressing mutations in the Norrie disease gene.

OBJECTIVE To correlate the ophthalmic findings of patients with pediatric vitreoretinopathies with mutations occurring in the Norrie disease gene (NDP). METHODS One hundred nine subjects with diverse pediatric vitreoretinopathies and 54 control subjects were enrolled in the study. Diagnoses were based on retinal findings at each patient's first examination. Samples of DNA from each patient underwent polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing of the NDP gene. RESULTS Eleven male patients expressing mutations in the NDP gene were identified in the test group, whereas the controls demonstrated wild-type NDP. All patients diagnosed as having Norrie disease had mutations in the NDP gene. Four of the patients with Norrie disease had mutations involving a cysteine residue in the cysteine-knot motif. Four patients diagnosed as having familial exudative vitreoretinopathy were found to have noncysteine mutations. One patient with retinopathy of prematurity had a 14-base deletion in the 5' untranslated region (exon 1), and 1 patient with bilateral persistent fetal vasculature syndrome expressed a noncysteine mutation in the second exon. CONCLUSION Mutations disrupting the cysteine-knot motif corresponded to severe retinal dysgenesis, whereas patients with noncysteine mutations had varying degrees of avascular peripheral retina, extraretinal vasculature, and subretinal exudate. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Patients exhibiting severe retinal dysgenesis should be suspected of carrying a mutation that disrupts the cysteine-knot motif in the NDP gene.