Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The prevalence of migraine in meniere's disease

This study attempted to determine the prevalence of migraine in unilateral classic Meniere's disease and vestibular Meniere's disease. Diagnostic criteria for these three entities were identified and charts of patients with episodic vertigo were reviewed. A questionnaire was designed to assess the prevalence of migraine using criteria established previously by other authors. Questionnaires were mailed to patients with classic Meniere's disease, patients with vestibular Meniere's disease, and a normal control group The response rates from the questionnaires in the three groups were 75%, 70%, and 36%. The percentages of the respondents who met the predetermined criteria for migraine in the three groups were 22%, 81%, and 33%. The significant difference in migraine prevalence between classic and vestibular Meniere's disease suggests the possibility of different etiologies for the two entities.
The cognitive performance of patients with multiple sclerosis during periods of high and low fatigue

The objective of this study was to examine whether multiple sclerosis (MS)-related fatigue affects patients’ cognitive performance. Thirty patients who had substantial fatigue in conjunction with MS and who reported marked diurnal variability in the severity of their fatigue were tested on two occasions: during a period of high fatigue and during a period of relatively low fatigue. The order of these sessions was counterbalanced across patients. During both sessions, patients completed a questionnaire concerning their present state of fatigue and a battery of neuropsychological tests of planning, selective attention, and paired associate learning. A lthough patients confirmed greater fatigue during the period of high fatigue and felt they had performed more poorly during this period, there were no differences in cognitive performance that could be attributed to fatigue. Instead, all subjects showed improvement from the first to the second session regardless of whether the latter entailed a period of high or low fatigue. In contrast to studies reporting fatigue-related declines in MS patients’ cognitive performance, no differences in performance were found when MS patients were tested during periods of high versus low fatigue. These contrasting results, stemming from differences in experimental design, are discussed in terms of their implications for assessing cognitive function in patients with MS.
Veratridine block of rat skeletal muscle Nav1.4 sodium channels in the inner vestibule

Veratridine (VTD) is an alkaloid toxin found in Liliaceae plants. VTD causes persistent opening of the voltage‐gated Na+ channel and reduces its single‐channel conductance by 75 %. The mechanisms for these different VTD actions are unknown. Recent reports indicate that the VTD receptor aligns closely with the local anaesthetic (LA) receptor, which resides at D1S6, D3S6 and D4S6 of the Na+ channel α‐subunit. To study this alignment, we created a mutant with cysteine substitutions at three S6 residues (rNav1.4‐N434C/L1280C/F1579C). Under voltage‐clamp conditions, amitriptyline and bupivacaine remained as potent blockers of this mutant channel when expressed in human embryonic kidney cells, whereas VTD completely failed to cause persistent opening. Unexpectedly, VTD at 100 μm progressively blocked mutant currents by 90.4 ± 1.6 % (n= 5), as assayed at 0.1 Hz for 15 min. This VTD block was reversed little during wash‐off: ∼70 % of mutant currents did not return in 30 min. An increase in channel opening either by repetitive pulses at 1 Hz or by the inhibition of the fast inactivation hastened the VTD block. Co‐application of amitriptyline or bupivacaine, which targeted the LA receptor, prevented this VTD block. Our data suggest that (a) the VTD receptor and the LA receptor overlap extensively, (b) receptor‐bound VTD lies in the inner vestibule, and (c) VTD blocks this mutant channel as a bona fide Na+ channel blocker. We propose that VTD likewise blocks the wild‐type open Na+ channel, albeit partially, to decrease the unitary conductance and to stabilize the open conformation for persistent opening.
Functional genetic variation in the Rev‐Erbα pathway and lithium response in the treatment of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by disruptions in circadian rhythms such as sleep and daily activity that often normalize after lithium treatment in responsive patients. As lithium is known to interact with the circadian clock, we hypothesized that variation in circadian ‘clock genes' would be associated with lithium response in BD. We determined genotype for 16 variants in seven circadian clock genes and conducted a candidate gene association study of these in 282 Caucasian patients with BD who were previously treated with lithium. We found that a variant in the promoter of NR1D1 encoding Rev‐Erbα (rs2071427) and a second variant in CRY1 (rs8192440) were nominally associated with good treatment response. Previous studies have shown that lithium regulates Rev‐Erbα protein stability by inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). We found that GSK3β genotype was also suggestive of a lithium response association, but not statistically significant. However, when GSK3β and NR1D1 genotypes were considered together, they predicted lithium response robustly and additively in proportion to the number of response‐associated alleles. Using lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with BD, we found that both the NR1D1 and GSK3β variants are associated with functional differences in gene expression. Our findings support a role for Rev‐Erbα in the therapeutic mechanism of lithium and suggest that the interaction between Rev‐Erbα and GSK3β may warrant further study.
FLT3-ITD confers poor prognosis in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with AIDA protocols: long-term follow-up analysis

Internal tandem duplication (ITD) of the fms-like tyro-sine kinase 3 gene ( FLT3 /ITD) occurs in 20–30% of young adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is associated with poor prognosis. [1][1]–[4][2] FLT3 /ITD mutation is detected in 35–40% of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients
Missed opportunities in educating Aboriginal Australians about bowel cancer screening: Whose job is it anyway?

Abstract Background: A culturally relevant educational flipchart targeting Aboriginal people was distributed across Western Australia to support education on bowel cancer screening and encourage participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. Methods: Respondents sampled from the flipchart distribution list were surveyed on the appropriateness, usefulness, and the extent to and manner in which they used the flipchart for educating Aboriginal clients. Results: Despite praising the resource, few respondents used the flipchart as intended for various reasons, including the view that Aboriginal health education was the responsibility of Aboriginal health workers. Conclusions: Greater recognition by all health service providers is needed of their potential role in Aboriginal health education. Promoting a national health program of under-appreciated importance for a marginalised population is challenging. Effective utilisation of an educational tool is predicated on factors beyond its production quality and wide dissemination. Intended users require awareness of the underlying problem, and adequate time for and specific training in implementation of the tool.
Bacterial Contamination of Computer Keyboards and Mice in a University Setting

In order to investigate the status of bacterial contamination of computer components , 50 samples (25 from keyboards and 25 from mice ) were collected from the main internet center located in Al-Mustansiriya University, Baghdad ,Iraq. Depending on the cultural, microscopic and biochemical examinations , A total of 59 isolates comprising 9 bacterial species were recovered from these samples ,the frequencies of occurrence of the species were; Bacillus spp. (25.42%), Staphylococcus aureus (18.64%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (10.17%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16.95%), Shigella spp. (15.25%), Klebsilla spp. (5.1% ), Salmonella spp. (3.39% ), Proteus spp. (3.39% ), and Citrobacter spp. (1.7%). These results indicate that the computer keyboards and mice might act as environmental vehicles for the transmission of potentially pathogenic bacteria in the university settings and also indicate the need for increasing awareness among computer users on cleaning of such surfaces or disinfection and adequate hand-washing hygiene. Keywords: Bacterial contamination , computer keyboards, computer mice, university setting ,Iraq.
Individual mares bias investment in sons and daughters in relation to their condition

The Trivers-Willard hypothesis (TWH) predicts that a mother will treat a son or daughter differently depending on her ability to invest and the impact of her investment on offspring reproductive success. Although many studies have investigated the hypothesis, few have definitively supported or refuted it because of confounding factors or an inappropriate level of analysis. We studied maternal investment in sons and daughters in feral horses, Equus caballus, which meet the assumptions of the TWH with a minimum of confounding variables. Population level analyses revealed no differences in maternal behaviour towards sons and daughters. When we incorporated mare condition, we found that sons were more costly to mares in good condition, whereas daughters were more costly to mares in poor condition, although no differences in maternal behaviour were found. However, since the TWH makes predictions about individual mothers, we examined investment by mares who reared both a son and a daughter in different years of the study. Mares in good condition invested more in their sons in terms of maternal care patterns, costs to maternal body condition and costs to future reproduction. Conversely, mares in poor condition invested more in daughters. Therefore, with an appropriate level of analysis in a species in which confounding variables are minimal, the predictions of the Trivers-Willard hypothesis are supported. Copyright 2000 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptides Derived from Cereals

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are chronic, lifelong diseases caused by interactions among genetic predisposition, health behaviors and the environment, and are currently the leading cause of mortality and disease burden worldwide. Due to lifestyle and dietary factors, Canadians are at high risk of developing CVD, with nine out of ten individuals over the age of 20 having at least one of the major risk factors. A conservative estimate is that 1.6 million Canadians currently have heart disease or are living with the effects of a stroke, and the number of CVD cases is expected to double by 2025. In 2000, CVD was the second most costly contributor to total health costs in Canada ($22.2 billion). Many risk factors for CVD depend considerably on dietary habits, and thus dietary modification is the cornerstone of primary prevention for CVD. By 2025 it is estimated that CVD including coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease and stroke will become the leading cause of death and disability worldwide [1]. High blood pressure or hypertension is a major, yet controllable, risk factor of CVD. The renin-angiotensinaldosterone system is considered to play a central role in the maintenance of blood pressure (BP). Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is a multifunctional enzyme present in the renninangiotensin system that elevates blood pressure by generating the vasoconstrictor, angiotensin II, in conjunction with degrading the vasodilator bradykinin [2]. Inhibition of ACE activity leads to a decrease in the concentration of angiotensin II, which decreases the tensionin blood vesseles and consequently reduces blood pressure [3]. The influence of ACE on blood pressure has made it an ideal target, and various synthetic medications such as captopril, enalapril, and lisinopril that inhibit angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) are widely prescribed in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, these drugs are often accompanied by undesirable side effects, including a persistent dry cough that has been reported in up to 44% of patients, as well as less common but more serious side effects such as allergic reactions triggering anaphylaxis, retention of potassium (hyperkalemia) and difficulty swallowing or breathing due to angioedema [4]. In contrast to the synthetic ACE inhibitor drugs, no such side effects have been observed for ACE inhibitors derived from food peptides [5]. In this respect, the search for dietrelated preventive agents for hypertension is obviously of interest within the scope of functional foods. Food-derived ACE inhibitory peptides are just the ideal candidates for such products; offering many advantages including safety of the natural product, low cost, and the additional nutritional benefits of the peptides as source of Abstract
Vulnerability and resilience after early institutional care: The Greek Metera study

Abstract The aim of the study was to examine possible influences on individual differences in adolescence in response to early institutional care in infancy not involving either generalized privation or subnutrition. Fifty-two adopted adolescents aged 13 years who received institutional care in infancy at the Metera Babies Centre and 36 adolescents of the same age who were raised in their biological families participated in the study. Adolescents' attachment relationships, cognition, behavioral adjustment and use of psychological services were assessed. Marked heterogeneity in outcomes was found. No predictive effects were found for preinstitutional features or for adoptive circumstances. By contrast a large effect was found for institutional care extending beyond the age of 2 years and for quality of institutional care as experienced at an individual level. There was a close association between prolonged institutional care and disorganized attachment while in the institution, but the main institutional effect derived from the length of time in the institution.
Metabolically active components of fat‐free mass and resting energy expenditure in humans: recent lessons from imaging technologies

Imaging technologies, i.e. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT) and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA), are precise and accurate techniques used to study lean body mass and adipose tissue distribution. CT and MRI can also be used to assess metabolically active components of fat‐free mass (FFM). (Throughout this article, metabolic activity is defined with respect to oxidative metabolism.) To date a total of 116 in vivo measurements of organ masses (OM), in combination with the measurement of resting energy expenditure (REE), have been reported. These data suggest that MRI‐ or CT‐derived OM explains part (≈5–10%) of the interindividual variance in REE. The data also suggest that REE can be reconstructed from detailed body composition analysis. Calculating REE from the sum of individual OM multiplied by a constant organ tissue‐respiration rate showed a high correlation between calculated and measured REE, with only small and non‐significant differences of 83–96 kJ d–1. In addition to CT‐ and MRI‐derived OM, data are available of 244 obese and non‐obese subjects regarding the association between regional components of lean body mass (LBM, assessed by DEXA) and REE. These results suggest that measurement of LBM distribution also provides the opportunity to adjust for the non‐linearity of REE on body mass. Assessment of metabolically active components of FFM or LBM may also add to our understanding of malnutrition‐, obesity‐ and disease states‐related variance in REE. There is need for [1] standardization of imaging technology in body composition research; [2] reference data on detailed body composition, also including more recent autopsy data; [3] reducing the number of assumptions in model‐based predictions; and [4] a combination of imaging technologies with in vivo measurements of individual OM respiration.
WORKSHEET for Evidence-Based Review of Science for First Aid

Is this question addressing an intervention/therapy, prognosis or diagnosis? INTERVENTION State if this is a proposed new topic or revision of existing worksheet: NEW TOPIC Conflict of interest specific to this question Do any of the authors listed above have conflict of interest disclosures relevant to this worksheet? NO INDUSTRIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST POTENTIAL INTELLECTUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Coordinator of the European Reference Centre for First Aid Education, National Medical Advisor of the French Red Cross, Member of the board of the French Resuscitation Council, Co-chair of the BLS-AED working group of ERC.
Ventricular arrhythmias in patients with newly diagnosed nonischemic cardiomyopathy: Insights from the PROLONG study

Patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) reportedly have low incidence of appropriate shocks from wearable cardioverter‐defibrillators (WCDs). A recent study questions the benefit from primary preventive implantation of implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators in NICM. We therefore analyzed a subgroup of patients with NICM from the PROLONG study.
Studies on cellular immunity and its serum‐mediated inhibition in moloney‐virus‐induced mouse sarcomas

A colony‐inhibition technique was used to demonstrate lymph‐node cell (LNC) mediated immune reactions against tumor‐specific transplantation antigens of primary, Moloney sarcoma virus induced mouse sarcomas. Lymph‐node cells from mice in which Moloney sarcomas had regressed spontaneously (regressors), as well as LNC from mice carrying progressively growing tumors (progressors), induced by virus inoculation at an age of 14 days or older, reduced the plating efficiency of Moloney sarcoma target cells.
Human CD4+ T lymphocytes with increased intracellular cAMP levels exert regulatory functions by releasing extracellular cAMP

We have previously shown that cholera toxin (CT) and other cAMP‐elevating agents induce up‐regulation of the inhibitory molecule CTLA‐4 on human resting T lymphocytes. In this study, we evaluated the function of these cells. We found that purified human CD4+ T lymphocytes pretreated with CT were able to inhibit proliferation of autologous PBMC in a dose‐dependent manner. It is interesting that this phenomenon was not mediated by inhibitory cytokines such as IL‐10, IL‐4, or TGF‐β but was in part caused by the release of extracellular cAMP by the CD4+ T lymphocytes. Purified CD4+ T cells pretreated with forskolin, a transient cAMP inducer, or with dibutyryl cAMP, an analog of cAMP, did not exert suppressive functions, suggesting that a sustained production of cAMP, such as that induced by CT, was required to identify a novel regulatory function mediated by CD4+ T cells. Our results show that CD4+ T lymphocytes can exert regulatory functions through the release of extracellular cAMP and that the cyclic nucleotide acts as a primary messenger, which could play a biological role in the modulation of immune responses.
Towards the assessment of adolescent problem drinking.

Longitudinal data were obtained from a nonclinical sample of 1,308 male and female adolescents covering the age range from 12 to 21. Factor analyses of 52 symptoms and/or consequences of alcohol use yielded three problem dimensions. In addition, a unidimensional, 23-item scale (the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index, RAPI) was constructed with an internal consistency of . 92. Correlations between RAPI and alcohol-use intensity were moderately strong for all age groups at each test occasion (ranging from .20 to .57), yet low enough to suggest that identification of problem drinkers requires both types of measures. The results suggest that the RAPI may be a useful tool for the standardized and efficient assessment of problem drinking during adolescence.
Evidence that Class Size Matters in 4th Grade Mathematics: An Analysis of TIMSS 2007 Data for Colombia

Like students in most developing countries, Colombian students in 4th grade performed poorly in the TIMSS 2007 test of mathematics skills, achieving an average score of 355 relative to an international mean of 500. After controlling for other factors and misreporting error, I find that large classes have substantial adverse effects on student achievement. Increases in class size from 20 to 53 students reduce test scores by about 80 points, or 2.4 points for each additional student in the class. Most likely this is the cumulative effect of class size in grades one to four on achievement in 4th grade.
Evaluation of propofol for repeated prolonged deep sedation in children undergoing proton radiation therapy.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and sufficiency of a fixed dose rate propofol infusion for repeated prolonged deep sedation in children for proton radiation therapy (PRT). METHODS With ERB approval, we recorded anaesthesia monitoring data in children undergoing repeated prolonged propofol sedation for PRT. Sedation was introduced with a single bolus of i.v. midazolam 0.1 mg kg(-1) followed by repeated small boluses of propofol until sufficient depth of sedation was obtained. Sedation was maintained with fixed dose rate propofol infusion of 10 mg kg(-1) h(-1) in all patients up to the end of the radiation procedure. Patient characteristics, number and duration of sedation, propofol induction dose, necessity to alter propofol infusion rate, and heart rate, mean arterial pressure, respiratory rate were noted at the end of the radiation procedure before cessation of the propofol infusion. Data are mean (sd) or range (median) as appropriate. RESULTS Eighteen children aged from 1.4 to 4.2 yr (2.6 yr) had 27.6 (sd 2.0) (497 in total) radiation procedures within 44.1 (4.0) days lasting 55.7 (8.8) min. Propofol bolus dose for induction, monitoring, and positioning was 3.7 (1.0) mg kg(-1). Propofol bolus requirements were quite stable over the successive weeks of treatment and variability was larger between individuals than over time. In none of the children did propofol infusion rate need to be changed from the pre-set 10 mg kg(-1) h(-1) flow rate because of haemodynamic state, respiratory conditions or inadequate anaesthesia. CONCLUSIONS Repeated prolonged deep sedation over several weeks in very young children using a fixed rate propofol infusion was safe and adequate for all patients.