Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact and recognition of cognitive impairment among hospitalized elders.

BACKGROUND Older adults are predisposed to developing cognitive deficits. This increases their vulnerability for adverse health outcomes when hospitalized. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and impact of cognitive impairment (CI) among hospitalized elders based on recognition by lCD-coding versus screening done on admission. DESIGN Observational cohort study. SETTING Urban public hospital in Indianapolis. PATIENTS 997 patients age 65 and older admitted to medical services between July 2006 and March 2008. MEASUREMENTS Impact of CI in terms of length of stay, survival, quality of care and prescribing practices. Cognition was assessed by the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). RESULTS 424 patients (43%) were cognitively impaired. Of those 424 patients with CI, 61% had not been recognized by ICD-9 coding. Those unrecognized were younger (mean age 76.1 vs. 79.1, P <0.001); had more comorbidity (mean Charlson index of 2.3 vs.1.9, P = 0.03), had less cognitive deficit (mean SPMSQ 6.3 vs. 3.4, P < 0.001). Among elders with CI, 163 (38%) had at least one day of delirium during their hospital course. Patients with delirium stayed longer in the hospital (9.2 days vs. 5.9, P < 0.001); were more likely to be discharged into institutional settings (75% vs. 31%, P < 0.001) and more likely to receive tethers during their care (89% vs. 69%, P < 0.001), and had higher mortality (9% vs. 4%, P = 0.09). CONCLUSION Cognitive impairment, while common in hospitalized elders, is under-recognized, impacts care, and increases risk for adverse health outcomes.
Increasing confidence in vergence as a cue to distance

Multiple cues contribute to the visual perception of an object's distance from the observer. The manner in which the nervous system combines these various cues is of considerable interest. Although it is accepted that image cues play a significant role in distance perception, controversy exists regarding the use of kinaesthetic information about the eyes' state of convergence. We used a perturbation technique to explore the contribution of vergence to visually based distance estimates as a function of both fixation distance and the availability of retinal information. Our results show that the nervous system increases the weighting given to vergence as (i) fixation distance becomes closer; and (ii) the available retinal image cues decrease. We also identified the presence of a strong contraction bias when distance cues were studied in isolation, but we argue that such biases do not suggest that vergence provides an ineffectual signal for near–space perception.
Relationship between adiponectin, obesity and insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVES the conditions of obesity and overweight pose a major risk for a number of comorbidities, including clinical syndromes resulting from atherosclerotic disease. Recent studies strongly indicate that adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ that secretes bioactive factors such as adipokines. Adiponectin appears to have a regulatory role in the mechanism of insulin resistance and in the development of atherosclerosis. This systematic review aims to evaluate the anti-atherogenic effects of adiponectin and its properties to improve and mimic metabolic and vascular actions of insulin and its influence on endothelial function. METHODS a qualitative, exploratory and literature review was performed in the PubMed, Portal Capes and Scielo databases using as key-words "adiponectin", "obesity", "insulin resistance", "anti-inflammatory", "therapeutic strategies" and "future prospects". RESULTS evidence suggests that adiponectin has anti-atherogenic properties with anti-inflammatory effects on the vascular wall. Moreover, it modifies the vascular intracellular signaling and has indirect antioxidant effects on the human myocardium. On the other hand, there are studies suggesting that increased levels of adiponectin are paradoxically associated with a worse prognosis in heart failure syndrome, although the mechanisms are not clear. CONCLUSION it is not clear whether adiponectin levels have any clinical significance for risk stratification in cardiovascular disease or if they simply reflect the activation of complex underlying mechanisms. Changes in lifestyle and some drug treatments for hypertension and coronary heart disease have shown significant effect to increase adiponectin levels, and simultaneously decrease in insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction.
Reactivation of mutant p53 and induction of apoptosis in human tumor cells by maleimide analogs.

Vladimir J. N. Bykov, Natalia Issaeva, Nicole Zache, Alexandre Shilov, Monica Hultcrantz, Jan Bergman, Galina Selivanova, and Klas G. Wiman We would like to acknowledge that the controls shown in Fig. 5, B and C, and Fig. 6C have also been used in a previous publication (Bykov, V. J., Issaeva, N., Shilov, A., Hultcrantz, M., Pugacheva, E., Chumakov, P., Bergman, J., Wiman, K. G., and Selivanova, G. (2002) Restoration of the tumor suppressor function to mutant p53 by a low-molecularweight compound. Nat. Med. 8, 282–288). In Fig. 5, B and C, the control lanes in the gel shift assays, i.e. no treatment and supershift with PAb421 or PAb1801 antibody in the absence of test compound, are the same as those shown in the previous paper. Likewise, in Fig. 6C, the p53 immunostaining and Hoechst staining of untreated control cells is the same as that shown in the previous paper. The reason for this mistake is that we examined the two novel mutant p53-targeting compounds PRIMA-1 and MIRA-1 side by side in several assays and then decided to publish our results in two separate papers. However, it should be noted that these controls can serve equally well as controls for both compounds. Therefore, this does not change the validity of the data nor the conclusions from the experiments. ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS
Glutamine Synthetase, Heat shock Protein-70, and Glypican-3 in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma and Tumors Metastatic to Liver

Introduction:Glutamine synthetase (GS), heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70), and glypican-3 (GPC-3) are markers best characterized in hepatocellular lesions, where they are useful in distinguishing hepatocellular carcinoma from dysplastic nodules. Their staining patterns in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IH-ChCa) and metastatic tumors in liver are not well described. Methods:Tissue microarrays containing 41 IH-ChCa and 24 metastatic tumors in liver were stained with commercially available antibodies to GS, HSP-70, and GPC-3. Five percent staining of tumor cells was considered positive for HSP-70 and GPC-3. For GS, 50% was the cut-off. Results:GS reactivity was present in 31 of 41 IH-ChCa (76%), with the median amount of staining being 65% of tumor cells. HSP-70 reactivity was present in 36 of 41 IH-ChCa (88%) with the median amount of staining being 75% of tumor cells. GPC-3 reactivity was absent from all IH-ChCa. Twenty-seven of 41 IH-ChCa cases were positive for both GS and HSP-70 (66%). GS reactivity was present in 17 of 24 tumors metastatic to liver (71%), with the median amount of staining being 50% of tumor cells. HSP-70 reactivity was present in 21 of 24 tumors metastatic to liver (88%) with the median amount of staining being 80% of tumor cells. GPC-3 reactivity was present in 2 of 24 tumors metastatic to liver (8%) with one showing 5% staining and the other showing 50% staining of tumor cells. Fifteen of 24 cases were positive for both GS and HSP-70 (63%), and 2 cases were positive for all 3 markers (8%). Discussion:Of the panel of immunostains currently commonly used to distinguish hepatocellular carcinoma from dysplastic hepatocytic nodules, only GPC-3 did not react frequently with metastatic tumors and IH-ChCa, although there was staining in 2 metastatic tumors. GS and HSP-70 are typically positive in IH-ChCa and metastatic tumors. Nothing should be inferred about the histogenesis of a tumor based on positive staining with either of these 2 markers, which currently have no role in tumor of unknown origin panels.
An Adaptive Fault Location Technique Based on PMU for Transmission Line

A new adaptive fault location technique based on Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) for transmission line is presented in this paper. Voltage and current phasors of both terminals of the transmission line are obtained through PMU. The online parameter-calculation algorithm is adopted to obtain the practical operating parameters when fault occurs, solving the problems that parameters provided by electric power company is different from the practical parameters because of the running environment and the operation history. The suddenly changed voltage and current are utilized to obtain suddenly changed positive voltage and current components to solve the system's impedance at the fault time. The on-line calculated system's impedance and parameters of the line are employed in the fault location equation and the fault location accuracy is high. The proposed fault location method is applied in single transmission line, parallel transmission line as well as teed transmission line. Extensive EMTP simulations as well as practical system data testing results have shown that the proposed technique accurately locate the fault point adaptively, not influenced by factors such as operation mode, fault resistance at fault point, fault type, prefault load and fault distance.
Reduced Writing and Reading Speed and Age-related Changes in Verbal Fluency Tasks

The present study examined the influence of age-related decline in psychomotor speed on verbal fluency tasks. Reading speed, handwriting speed, written fluency, oral fluency, vocabulary, and years of formal education were measured in a sample of healthy volunteers (N =101) ranging in age from 20 to 88 years. Multiple regression analyses revealed that reading and handwriting speed strongly predicted verbal fluency performance. These measures, together with vocabulary skills and mental status, were significant predictors of performance on the fluency tasks. Present results suggest that decrement in verbal fluency performance in the aged may, at least partially, be due to reduced psychomotor speed rather than to decline in linguistic or cognitive functions.
Artemisinin Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy in Uncomplicated-Malaria Patients Treated with Two Different Dosage Regimens

ABSTRACT The immediate efficacies of two oral dosage regimens of artemisinin were investigated in 77 male and female adult Vietnamese falciparum malaria patients randomly assigned to treatment with either 500 mg of artemisinin daily for 5 days (group A; n = 40) or artemisinin at a dose of 100 mg per day for 2 days, with the dose increased to 250 mg per day for 2 consecutive days and with a final dose of 500 mg on the fifth day (group B; n = 37). Parasitemia was monitored every 4 h. The average parasite clearance time was longer in group B than in group A (means ± standard deviations, 50 ± 23 and 34 ± 14 h, respectively; P < 0.01). Artemisinin concentrations in saliva samples obtained on days 1 and 5 were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The average oral clearance, based on saliva drug concentrations in group B patients, was twofold higher than that in group A patients on day 1 (P < 0.01), with no differences in drug half-lives (P = 0.40), indicating a saturable first-pass metabolism. Female patients had higher oral clearance values on day 1. Artemisinin's pharmacokinetic parameters were similar on day 5 in both groups, although a significant increase in oral clearance from day 1 to day 5 was evident. Thus, artemisinin exhibited both dose- and time-dependent pharmacokinetics. The escalating dose studied did not result in higher artemisinin concentrations toward the end of the treatment period.
Maternal Nrf2 and gluthathione-S-transferase polymorphisms do not modify associations of prenatal tobacco smoke exposure with asthma and lung function in school-aged children

Background Maternal smoking during pregnancy has detrimental effects on the respiratory health of infants and children. Polymorphisms of antioxidant genes including glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) have been proposed as candidates for asthma and reduced lung function in children. Methods Women enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children reported smoking habits during pregnancy. Asthma status in their children was established at age 7.5 years from parental reports and lung function was measured by spirometry at age 8.5 years. Maternal and child DNA were genotyped for deletions of GSTM1 and GSTT1 and functional polymorphisms of GSTP1 and Nrf2 genes. Associations of prenatal tobacco smoke exposure with asthma and lung function in children were stratified by maternal genotype. Results In 6606 children, maternal smoking during pregnancy was negatively associated with maximal mid expiratory flow (FEF25-75) (−0.05 SD units, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.03, p<0.001). There was little evidence for interactions between maternal smoking and any maternal genotype considered on children's asthma or lung function. Maternal smoking was associated with reduced childhood FEF25-75 only in mother-child pairs (n=1227) with both copies of GSTM1 deleted (−0.08 SD units, 95% CI −0.14 to −0.02, p=0.01) or (n=2313) at least one copy of GSTT1 present (−0.05 SD units, 95% CI −0.09 to 0, p=0.03). Conclusion This study confirms a detrimental effect of intrauterine tobacco smoke exposure on childhood lung function but no strong evidence of modification by maternal genotype for important antioxidant genes. Adverse effects of fetal exposure to tobacco smoke on the respiratory health of children may be mediated by pathways other than oxidative stress.
Effects of Black Raspberry on Lipid Profiles and Vascular Endothelial Function in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) has been known for its anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidant effects. However, short‐term effects of black raspberry on lipid profiles and vascular endothelial function have not been investigated in patients with metabolic syndrome. Patients with metabolic syndrome (n = 77) were prospectively randomized into a group with black raspberry (n = 39, 750 mg/day) and a placebo group (n = 38) during a 12‐week follow‐up. Lipid profiles, brachial artery flow‐mediated dilatation (baFMD), and inflammatory cytokines such as IL‐6, TNF‐α, C‐reactive protein, adiponectin, sICAM‐1, and sVCAM‐1 were measured at the baseline and at the 12‐week follow‐up. Decreases from the baseline in the total cholesterol level (−22.8 ± 30.4 mg/dL vs. −1.9 ± 31.8 mg/dL, p < 0.05, respectively) and total cholesterol/HDL ratio (−0.31 ± 0.64 vs. 0.07 ± 0.58, p < 0.05, respectively) were significantly greater in the group with black raspberry than in the placebo group. Increases in baFMD at the 12‐week follow‐up were significantly greater in the group with black raspberry than in the placebo group (0.33 ± 0.44 mm vs. 0.10 ± 0.35 mm, p < 0.05, respectively). Decreases from the baseline in IL‐6 (−0.4 ± 1.5 pg/mL vs. −0.1 ± 1.0 pg/mL, p < 0.05, respectively) and TNF‐α (−2.9 ± 4.7 pg/mL vs. 0.1 ± 3.6 pg/mL, p < 0.05, respectively) were significantly greater in the group with black raspberry. The use of black raspberry significantly decreased serum total cholesterol level and inflammatory cytokines, thereby improving vascular endothelial function in patients with metabolic syndrome during the 12‐week follow‐up. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predicting adolescent smoking: a prospective study of personality variables.

OBJECTIVE We investigated how personality variables measured at 5th grade predict daily smoking in 12th grade. METHODS A group of 3130 fifth graders was assessed for a propensity toward Rebelliousness, Risk Taking, Problem Helplessness, Affect Regulation, and Early Maturation and susceptibility to Peer Compliance and Peer Approval. Daily smoking status was determined for 94.7% of them 7 years later, in 12th grade. RESULTS Rebelliousness and Risk Taking were the most significant predictors of smoking. There was no statistical evidence that the extent of prediction depended on gender or history of early smoking. No predictive evidence was seen for the other personality measures, including those describing susceptibility to peer influences. CONCLUSIONS These results show that propensity toward rebelliousness and risk taking in childhood predicts adolescent smoking. They suggest that smoking prevention programs would do well to address the needs and expectations of rebellious and risk-taking youth.
Explosive Pleistocene diversification and hemispheric expansion of a “great speciator”

Factors that influence speciation rates among groups of organisms are integral to deciphering macroevolutionary processes; however, they remain poorly understood. Here, we use molecular phylogenetic data and divergence time estimates to reconstruct the pattern and tempo of speciation within a widespread and homogeneous bird family (white-eyes, Zosteropidae) that contains an archetypal “great speciator. ” Our analyses show that the majority of this species-rich family constitutes a clade that arose within the last 2 million years, yielding a per-lineage diversification rate among the highest reported for vertebrates (1.95–2.63 species per million years). However, unlike most rapid radiations reported to date, this burst of diversification was not limited in geographic scope, but instead spanned the entire Old World tropics, parts of temperate Asia, and numerous Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean archipelagos. The tempo and geographic breadth of this rapid radiation defy any single diversification paradigm, but implicate a prominent role for lineage-specific life-history traits (such as rapid evolutionary shifts in dispersal ability) that enabled white-eyes to respond rapidly and persistently to the geographic drivers of diversification.
Handbook of Arabic Literacy: Insights and Perspectives

Elinor Saiegh-Haddad & R. Malatesha Joshi (Eds.). (2014). Handbook of Arabic Literacy: Insights and Perspectives. Dordrecht: Springer. 408 pp. Hb ( 9789401785440 ) Reviewed by Abdessattar Mahfoudhi, Australian College of Kuwait & Centre for Child Evaluation & Teaching, Kuwait
Cortical lesions and atrophy associated with cognitive impairment in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND Neuropsychological deficits in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been shown to be associated with the major pathological substrates of the disease, ie, inflammatory demyelination and neurodegeneration. Double inversion recovery sequences allow cortical lesions (CLs) to be detected in the brain of patients with MS. Modern postprocessing techniques allow cortical atrophy to be assessed reliably. OBJECTIVE To investigate the contribution of cortical gray matter lesions and tissue loss to cognitive impairment in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SETTING Referral, hospital-based MS clinic. Patients Seventy patients with relapsing-remitting MS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Neuropsychological performance was tested using the Rao Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests, version A. Patients who scored 2 SDs below the mean normative values on at least 1 test of the Rao Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests, version A, were considered to be cognitively impaired. A composite cognitive score (the cognitive impairment index) was computed. T2 hyperintense white matter lesion volume, contrast-enhancing lesion number, CL number and volume, normalized brain volume, and normalized neocortical gray matter volume were also assessed. RESULTS Twenty-four patients with relapsing-remitting MS (34.3%) were classified as cognitively impaired. T2 hyperintense white matter lesion volume and contrast-enhancing lesion number were not different between cognitively impaired and cognitively unimpaired patients. Cognitively impaired patients had a higher CL number (P = .01) and volume (P < .001) and decreased normalized brain volume (P = .02) and normalized neocortical gray matter volume (P = .002) when compared with cognitively unimpaired patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that age (beta = 0.228; P = .02), CL volume (beta = 0.452; P < .001), and normalized neocortical gray matter volume (beta = 0.349; P < .001) were independent predictors of the cognitive impairment index (r(2) = 0.55; F = 23.903; P < . 001). CONCLUSION The burden of CLs and tissue loss are among the major structural changes associated with cognitive impairment in relapsing-remitting MS.
Full-field electroretinography and marked variability in clinical phenotype of Alström syndrome.

OBJECTIVES To characterize the clinical phenotype and to study the course of disease in patients with Alström syndrome, with an emphasis on retinal function assessed with full-field electroretinography (ERG). METHODS Three age- and sex-matched patients with Alström syndrome were selected from our retinitis pigmentosa register for repeated ophthalmologic examinations that included tests for color vision and visual fields using Goldmann perimetry and for repeated assessment of full-field ERGs. RESULTS Electroretinography demonstrated cone-rod degeneration in all 3 patients. A concomitant impairment of color vision and visual fields was also observed as well as marked variation in retinal function and in disease severity. CONCLUSIONS Full-field ERGs confirmed that Alström syndrome is associated with a cone-rod type of retinal degeneration. In this study, we have shown a striking variability in retinal function and disease onset and severity, which has, to our knowledge, not been described previously in Alström syndrome.
Advances in Brief Glutathione S-Transferase Amplification is Associated with Cisplatin Resistance in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines and Primary Tumors

Purpose: The purpose is to evaluate the association of glutathione S-transferase (GST) amplification and cisplatin resistance in head and neck cancer. Experimental Design: An analysis of chromosomal abnormalities in 10 head and neck cancer cell lines by comparative genomic hybridization was performed. GSTamplification and expression were evaluated in head and neck cell lines and paraffin-embedded tissue by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry. Results: Changes in the DNA copy number were seen in all 10 cell lines by comparative genomic hybridization. The most frequent chromosomal alterations were: gain at 3q; loss at 3p; gain at 8q; loss of 18q; gain at 20q; loss at 8p; and gain of 11q11-q13. Using FISH, 9 of 10 cell lines showed increased GSTcopy number. GSTamplification was detected in 7 of 10 cell lines. Five were relatively cisplatin resistant, and 2 were relatively cisplatin sensitive (mean IC50, 11.2 and 2.75 M). Two relatively cisplatinsensitive cell lines showed GSTgain and another relatively cisplatinsensitive cell line had predominantly two copies of the gene. In 10 tumor specimens, 4 had two copies of GST. All 4 had a complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 3 of whom are alive >50 months from treatment compared with 2 patients showing GSTamplification. Neither responded to chemotherapy, and both died of disease <9 months from diagnosis. Conclusions: Using FISH, GSTamplification is a common event in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and may be associated with cisplatin resistance and poor clinical outcomes in head and neck cancer patients treated with cisplatin-based therapy.