Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Respiratory diseases are associated with molar-incisor hypomineralizations.

The objective of our study was to evaluate the association of molar-incisor hypomineralizations (MIHs) with prospectively collected potential causative factors from the first 4 years of life, e.g. respiratory diseases, breastfeeding, maternal smoking and parental education. A total of 692 children (10 years old) from the GINI birth cohort study participated. The dental examination included the registration of enamel hypomineralizations (EHs) according to the EAPD criteria. Children with EH were sub-categorized into those with at least one EH (MIH/1), those with a minimum of one EH on at least one first permanent molar (MIH/2) and those with EH on at least one first permanent molar and a permanent incisor (MIH/3). All relationships between causative factors and caries or MIH were evaluated using simple and multiple logistic regression analyses. EHs were observed in 37.9% (MIH/1), 14.7% (MIH/2) and 9.2% (MIH/3) of all subjects. After adjustment for confounding factors, 10-year-old children with at least one episode of respiratory disease had a significantly higher risk (2.48 times, adjusted OR) for the development of MIH/3. In case of breastfeeding, a non-significant association was observed. None of the tested factors was associated with either MIH/1 or MIH/2. Early respiratory diseases seem to be directly or indirectly related to MIH/3 only. The role of (systemic) medications used for treatment of these diseases needs to be investigated in future studies.
Effects of Insulin‐Like Growth Factor‐1 Gene Transfer on Myosin Heavy Chains in Denervated Rat Laryngeal Muscle

Objectives/Hypothesis: To determine whether the myotrophic activity of human insulin‐like growth factor (hIGF)‐1 promotes restoration of normal myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition after nerve injury, MHC composition was analyzed after hIGF‐1 gene transfer in denervated rat laryngeal muscle.
Mechanical parameters and flight phase characteristics in aquatic plyometric jumping

Abstract Plyometric jumping is a commonly prescribed method of training focused on the development of reactive strength and high-velocity concentric power. Literature suggests that aquatic plyometric training may be a low-impact, effective supplement to land-based training. The purpose of the present study was to quantify acute, biomechanical characteristics of the take-off and flight phase for plyometric movements performed in the water. Kinetic force platform data from 12 young, male adults were collected for counter-movement jumps performed on land and in water at two different immersion depths. The specificity of jumps between environmental conditions was assessed using kinetic measures, temporal characteristics, and an assessment of the statistical relationship between take-off velocity and time in the air. Greater peak mechanical power was observed for jumps performed in the water, and was influenced by immersion depth. Additionally, the data suggest that, in the water, the statistical relationship between take-off velocity and time in air is quadratic. Results highlight the potential application of aquatic plyometric training as a cross-training tool for improving mechanical power and suggest that water immersion depth and fluid drag play key roles in the specificity of the take-off phase for jumping movements performed in the water.
Variation in US Hospital Emergency Department Admission Rates by Clinical Condition

Background:Variation in hospitalization rates have been described for decades, yet little is known about variation in emergency department (ED) admission rates across clinical conditions. We sought to describe variation in ED risk-standardized admission rates (RSAR) and the consistency between condition-specific ED admission rates within hospitals. Methods:Cross-sectional analysis of the 2009 National Emergency Department Sample, an all-payer administrative, claims dataset. We identify the 15 most frequently admitted conditions using Clinical Classification Software. To identify conditions with the highest ED RSAR variation, we compared both the ratio of the 75th percentile to the 25th percentile hospital and coefficient of variation between conditions. We calculate Spearman correlation coefficients to assess within-hospital correlation of condition-specific ED RSARs. Results:Of 21,885,845 adult ED visits, 4,470,105 (20%) resulted in admission. Among the 15 most frequently admitted conditions, the 5 with the highest magnitude of variation were: mood disorders (ratio of 75th:25th percentile, 6.97; coefficient of variation, 0.81), nonspecific chest pain (2.68; 0.66), skin and soft tissue infections (1.82; 0.51), urinary tract infections (1.58; 0.43), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.57; 0.33). For these 5 conditions, the within-hospital RSAR correlations between each pair of conditions were >0.4, except for mood disorders, which was poorly correlated with all other conditions (r<0.3). Conclusions:There is significant condition-specific variation in ED admission rates across US hospitals. This variation appears to be consistent between conditions with high variation within hospitals.
Experimental Analysis of Progressive Necrosis after Spinal Cord Trauma in the Rat: Etiological Role of the Inflammatory Response

Progressive tissue necrosis is a unique reaction to spinal cord trauma in which the site of injury is gradually transformed into a large, cavity-filled lesion. The earliest histopathological changes after injury include a widely disseminated extravasation of erythrocytes and neutrophils. To test whether such an inflammatory reaction might initiate progressive necrosis, we examined the effects of the following anti-inflammatory treatments: allopurinol (Ap) to inhibit injury-induced xanthine oxidase, indomethacin (I) or naproxen to inhibit constitutive and inducible cyclooxygenase, aminoguanidine (Ag) to inhibit inducible nitric oxide synthase, pregnenolone (P) as a precursor steroid, and a bacterial lipopolysaccharide (L) to stimulate secretory activities of glial cells and macrophages. The spinal cord of adult rats was crushed at T8 with jeweler's forceps and, after 3 or 21 days of treatment, the cords were studied quantitatively by light microscopical image analysis. Ag, Ag+I, or Ap significantly reduced the size of the primary lesion at 3 days postoperatively, while P+L+I did so only after 21 days of treatment. A secondary lesion developed in the dorsal column and gradually extended for many millimeters rostral and caudal from the primary lesion. The size of the dorsal column lesion was diminished by 3-day treatment with Ap and by 21-day treatment with Ap or P+L+I, but Ag or Ag+I had no effect. We conclude that (a) progressive necrosis is initiated and maintained by inflammatory mechanisms and (b) for this reason, treatment with specific anti-inflammatory agents selectively attenuates various components of the necrotizing process.
Clinical features, predictive correlates, and pathophysiology of immune-related adverse events in immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments in cancer: a short review

Identification and characterization of T-cell regulatory mechanisms, or checkpoints, have led to a wave of drug development aimed at inhibiting these targets to “remove the brakes” of the immune system. This class of anticancer therapeutics, termed immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has harnessed the potential of the body’s own immune system to recognize cancerous cells and selectively eliminate them, in some cases with alarming success. This new breakthrough, however, has not been without its drawbacks. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are adverse events encountered during treatment with ICIs that are thought to be mediated through the patient’s immune system which can manifest with a variety of symptoms which often resemble autoimmunity. These events range widely in presentation and severity and are reported frequently. Here, we will discuss a large selection of case reports in order to inform the clinician, laboratorian, and researcher of the scope of organ systems affected, the severity of the conditions being encountered, and the responses of these events to treatment, as well as explore the use of ICIs in the setting of preexisting autoimmunity. We will also consider the ability to detect autoantibodies before and during irAEs as well as the correlations that irAEs have with clinical outcomes. Finally, we will conclude by exploring the possibility that two distinct pathways may be contributing to the phenomenon of irAEs within this class of drugs, and the role that this might play in future research and clinical practice.
Smoking among Secondary School Students in Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia--Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND Smoking is a learnt behavior during adolescence and understanding the factor/s associated with smoking will assist in identifying suitable measures in combating the rising prevalence of smoking among adolescents. This research aimed to identify the factor/s associated with smoking among form four students in Kota Tinggi, Johor. Multistage sampling was used to select a representative sample of students in 2008 and data were collected using a self-administered validated questionnaire. This study revealed that the overall smoking prevalence was 19.0% with a significantly higher proportion of male smokers (35.8%) as compared to females (3.15%). Adolescents who were male (aOR 6.6, 95%CI 2.61-16.4), those who had peer/s who smoked (aOR 4.03, 95% CI 1.31-12.4), and those who studied in rural areas and Felda Settlements ( aOR 4.59, 95 CI 1.11-18.0; aOR 9.42, 95%CI 3.91-29.1) were more likely to smoke in the past one week. On the other hand, adolescents with better knowledge on the hazards of smoking and negative attitudes towards smoking were less likely to smoke (aOR 0.51, 95%CI 0.37-0.72; aOR 0.67, 95%CI 0.46-0.99). Future promotional and interventional programmes on smoking should be considered and the above identified risk factors integrated to reduce smoking prevalence among students of school-going ages in Kota Tinggi. Johor.
Conductance and kinetic properties of single nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channels in rat sympathetic neurones.

1. The unitary conductance of nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor channels in rat sympathetic neurones has been studied. Conductance estimates varied from 26‐48 pS with a mean of 36.8 pS in 1 mM‐Ca2+. The main conductance level varied from patch to patch and the presence (or absence) of additional conductance levels also varied. 2. The channels showed large open channel noise and experiments with 300 mM‐NaCl in the patch pipette substantially increased the open channel noise. The appearance of detectable step‐like transitions within this noise strongly suggested the existence of closely spaced discrete levels. 3. Removal of divalent cations from the external solution increased the unitary channel conductance. Altering the main permeant ion in divalent‐free solutions gave the following conductance sequence: K+ (93 pS) greater than Cs+ (61 pS) greater than Na+ (51 pS) greater than Li+(23 pS). 4. Replacement of Na+ by Cs+ in the external solution considerably reduced the current evoked by ACh in whole‐cell recordings and the channel‐opening frequency in outside‐out patches. 5. The kinetic properties of channels activated by ACh and 1,1‐dimethyl‐4‐phenylpiperazinium iodide (DMPP) were also studied. At low concentrations of ACh and DMPP the gap distributions were complex and best fitted by the sum of four exponential components. Individual activations (bursts) were interrupted by the two shortest closed periods the briefer of which had time constants of 36 microseconds for ACh and 67 microseconds for DMPP. 6. The distribution of burst lengths had two components for each agonist, each component making up about 50% of the total area under the distribution. For ACh, the time constant of the longer component (12.2 ms) was similar to the decay time constant of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSCs) at similar temperature and potential. For DMPP the time constant of the longer component was 17.6 ms. 7. The relative number of brief gaps per long burst was much larger for ACh than for DMPP. Therefore the corrected mean open time for ACh (0.86 ms) was much shorter than that for DMPP (2.3 ms). 8. In terms of receptor mechanism, the values of the channel opening equilibrium constant (beta/alpha) estimated from these numbers (ACh, 23; DMPP, 25) suggest that both agonists are efficaceous. 9. DMPP is a potent blocker of the channel with an equilibrium dissociation constant (KB) of around 50 microM and blockage gaps of around 1 ms duration. ACh also blocks the channel but with a higher KB of around 470 microM. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Effects of background stress and anxiety on postoperative recovery

The effects of background stress and anxiety on both short‐ and long‐term recovery were measured in 30 healthy patients undergoing general anaesthesia for day‐case dental extractions. Standardised questionnaires presented pre‐operatively, assessed psychological status in terms of trait and state anxiety and stress levels. State anxiety was again measured postoperatively; recovery was assessed with pre‐ and postoperative batteries of cognitive tasks. Correlation coefficients revealed that the level of background stress in the preceding 6 months correlated with physical parameters of recovery such as time taken for patients to open their eyes, perceived pain and increased postoperative morbidity. The study also demonstrated that high levels of state anxiety after surgery correlated with postoperative pain. Trait and state anxiety before surgery did not correlate with any parameters of recovery or postoperative morbidity.
Phylogeography of Caribbean lizard malaria: tracing the history of vector‐borne parasites

The Anolis lizards of the eastern Caribbean islands are parasitized by several species of malaria parasites (Plasmodium). Here I focus on two species of Plasmodium, using molecular data (mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences) to recover the phylogeography of the parasites throughout the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico. The two parasites were originally described as a single species, P. azurophilum, which infects both red and white blood cells. Here the two species are termed P. azurophilum Red and P. azurophilum White based on their host cell type. Six haplotypes were found in 100 infections sequenced of P. azurophilum Red and six in 45 infections of P. azurophilum White. Nested clade analysis revealed a significant association of geographical location and clades as well as a pattern of past fragmentation of parasite populations. This is consistent with the hypothesis that vector‐borne parasites such as malaria may be subject to frequent local extinctions and recolonizations. Comparison of the phylogeography of the lizard and parasites shows only weak concordance; that is, the parasites colonized the lizards in the islands, but dispersal events between islands via vectors or failed lizard colonizations were present. The two parasites had different histories, P. azurophilum Red colonized the islands from both the north and south, and P. azurophilum White originated in the central Lesser Antilles, probably from P. azurophilum Red, then moved to both north and south. This is the first study to examine the biogeography of a pair of sibling species of vector‐borne parasites within an island archipelago system.
Microalbuminuria screening by reagent strip predicts cardiovascular risk in hypertension

Objective We tested the hypothesis that qualitative microalbuminuria (MAU) screening in a practice setting would identify non-diabetic hypertensive patients at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Design We enrolled general practitioners throughout Germany, who obtained histories, physical examinations, and routine laboratory values as clinically indicated on treated or non-treated hypertensive, non-diabetic patients. MAU was measured with a albumin-sensitive, immunoassay test strip. We studied 11 343 non-diabetic hypertensive patients. Results The patients' mean age was 57 years, 51% were men and mean hypertension duration was 69 months. Twenty-five per cent had coronary artery disease, 17% had left ventricular hypertrophy, 5% had had a stroke, and 6°/o had peripheral vascular disease. MAU was present in 32% of men and 28% of women (P<0.05). In patients with MAU, 31% had coronary artery disease, 24% had left ventricular hypertrophy, 6% had had a stroke, and 7% had peripheral vascular disease. In patients without MAU, these rates were 22%, 14%, 4%, and 5% respectively: lower in every category (P< 0.001). Further, in patients with coronary artery disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease, MAU was significantly greater than in patients who did not have these complications (P< 0.001). MAU increased with age, severity of hypertension and duration of hypertension, was associated with higher plasma creatinine values, and was more common in patients with hyperlipidemia (P<0.05). Conclusion On the basis of our survey, we conclude that qualitative MAU determinations identify hypertensive patients with particular cardiovascular risk in a practice setting.
Genes involved in the immediate early response and epithelial–mesenchymal transition are regulated by adipocytokines in the female reproductive tract

Obesity increases the risk of female reproductive tract cancers, but the underlying mechanistic link between the two is ill‐defined. Thus, the objective of the current study was to identify obesity‐dependent changes in the expression of immediate early (IE) genes that contribute to cell proliferation and differentiation, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes that promote cell migration. When HeLa cells were treated for 0–48 hr with IGF‐1, leptin, TNFα, or IL‐6, each individual adipocytokine altered the abundance of IE (cJUN, cFOS, and cMYC) and EMT (SNAI1, SNAI2, and TWIST1) mRNA abundance. For example, IGF‐1 increased cJUN and cFOS and decreased cMYC; leptin increased cFOS; IL‐6 increased cFOS and cMYC; and TNFα increased cJUN and cFOS mRNA abundance. Likewise, EMT gene expression was altered by IGF‐1, TNFα, and IL‐6. SNAI1 was increased by IGF‐1 and IL‐6; SNAI2 was increased by IGF‐1 and TNFα; and TWIST1 was increased by TNFα and IL‐6. Chronic exposure to adipocytokines also altered EMT gene expression in the whole uterus of obese compared to normal‐weight mice. Specifically, there was no difference in cJun, cFos, or cMyc mRNA abundance between normal‐weight and obese animals. Snai1, Snai2, and Twist1 mRNA abundance, however, was increased in the uterus of obese females and correlated with increased circulating IGF‐1 levels. These data indicate that obesity‐dependent alterations in adipocytokine levels regulate the expression of genes associated with cell proliferation and migration, and therefore may provide a plausible mechanism for obesity‐dependent increases in cancers of the female reproductive tract. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79:128–137, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Abnormal bone geometry at the metacarpal bone shaft of rheumatoid arthritis patients with maintained muscle–bone relationship

Metacarpal juxtaarticular bone is altered in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, a detailed analysis of disease‐related geometric adaptations of the metacarpal shaft is missing. The aim of the present study was to assess the role of RA disease, forearm muscle cross‐sectional area (CSA), age, and sex on bone geometry at the metacarpal shaft.
Extramural vascular invasion is an adverse prognostic indicator of survival in patients with colorectal cancer

Background/aims Extramural vascular invasion (EVI) in colorectal cancer is reported to be a stage‐independent adverse prognostic factor, and is a core item in the Royal College of Pathologists minimum data set for colorectal cancer histopathology reporting. The detection of EVI is also highly variable amongst pathologists. Our aims were to analyse both the frequency of EVI in colorectal cancer resections, and the effect of EVI on survival, in patients operated on over a 5‐year period.
Alpha brain-wave neurofeedback training reduces psychopathology in a cohort of male and female Canadian aboriginals.

OBJECTIVE The study was conducted to determine if alpha brain-wave neurofeedback training can have positive psychological results by reducing anxiety and other psychopathology. METHOD The cohort participated in alpha brain-wave neurofeedback training for 76 minutes (day 1) to 120 or more minutes (days 5-7) daily for 7 days. Electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes were attached to the head with conductive gel according to the 10-20 International Electrode Placement System. During training, participants were seated in a comfortable armchair within a soundproof and lightproof room. Brain-wave signals were amplified for processing by analog-to-digital converters and polygraphs, then filtered to the pure delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands as well as subbands of these bands of the EEG. For 2-minute epochs, trainees sat with their eyes closed in the dark listening to their feedback tones as the filtered alpha brain-wave EEG signals controlled the loudness of the tones. Then a "ding" sounded and the tones stopped. For 8 seconds, a monitor lit up with dimly illuminated, static numbers, indicating the strength of their alpha brain waves, after which the feedback tones resumed and the process was repeated. PARTICIPANTS 40 adult volunteers were recruited from the aboriginal population (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) of Canada. The cohort ranged in age from 25 to 60 years and included males and females. SETTING The study was conducted at Biocybernaut Institute of Canada in Victoria, British Columbia. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES Data was obtained to determine the effectiveness of this training by giving four psychological tests (Minnesota Multi-Phasic Personality Inventory, and the trait forms of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List, Clyde Mood Scale, and Profile of Mood States) on the first day prior to commencing training and on the seventh day upon completion of the training. EEG data was also compiled throughout the training and analyzed as a factor of the training process. RESULTS Postintervention data showed positive results with reduction of psychopathology when compared to the data from testing prior to the training. Analysis of this data showed improvement in several areas of psychopathology. CONCLUSION Alpha brain-wave neurofeedback training daily for 7 days does have positive psychological results in adult male and female Canadian aboriginals as measured by data from four psychological tests on the participants.