Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Mental disorders in the parents of bipolar patients].

OBJECTIVE It is well known that bipolar disorder has familial transmission. Studies indicate that first-degree relatives of bipolar patients also have higher incidences of other mental disorders than the general population. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of mental disorders in the parents of bipolar patients. METHOD Parents of 35 probands who were treated for their bipolar disorders and 35 age and gender matched healthy subjects' parents were assessed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV (SCID-I), and a questionnaire for the parents. RESULTS Past and current mental disorders were present in 27.1% of the parents of bipolar patients but in 14.2% of the parents of normal controls; the difference between the groups is statistically significant. The most prevalent mental disorder in both groups is major depressive disorder. The parents of bipolar patients were more likely to have a family history of mental disorder (44.2%) than the control group (12.8%). Parents who had a current or past mental disorder were more likely to have a family history of mental disease. Offspring of in-bred families had more bipolar siblings. Bipolar children of parents who had a family history of mental disorder tended to have an earlier age of onset. CONCLUSION The findings of this study indicate that there is an increased prevalence of bipolar disorders and other mental disorders in the parents of bipolar patients when compared to the parents of healthy controls.
Traumatic bone cyst: a retrospective study of 21 cases.

OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical and radiological characteristics, and surgical findings of traumatic bone cysts. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective observational study was made of 21 traumatic bone cysts. The diagnosis was based on the anamnesis, clinical exploration, and complementary tests. Panoramic and periapical X-rays were obtained in all cases, together with computed tomography as decided by the surgeon. A descriptive statistical analysis was made of the study variables using the SPSS v12.0 for Windows. RESULTS There was a clear female predominance (14:7). The mean age was 26.5 years (range 8-45 years). The cysts in all cases constituted casual findings during routine radiological exploration. In those cases where computed tomographic images were available, preservation of the vestibular and lingual cortical layers was observed. Five of the 21 patients (23.8%) reported a clear antecedent of traumatism in the affected zone. All the lesions were subjected to surgery, and the cavities were found to be vacant in 90.5% of the cases. In only two patients were vascular contents seen within the cavity. Two of the patients presented postoperative paresthesia of the inferior dental nerve that subsided within two weeks. The 19 patients in whom adequate postoperative follow-up proved possible all showed complete bone healing. CONCLUSIONS Traumatic bone cysts were a casual finding. During the surgery, most cases showed to be vacant cavity without an ephitelial lining. Careful curettage of the lesion favors progressive bone regeneration, offering a good prognosis and an almost negligible relapse rate. Other treatment options only would be justified in cases of relapse.
Pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin in cystic fibrosis

We studied the pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin in 12 adult males with and 12 adult males without cystic fibrosis (CF). In a randomized crossover sequence, the subjects received 200 mg intravenously or 750 mg orally. With intravenous dosing, subjects also received 651 mg of iothalamate, a marker of glomerular filtration, and 700 mg of antipyrine, an indicator of hepatic oxidative drug metabolism. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by model independent methods. In the CF subjects, the ciprofloxacin concentration in serum during the first hour after intravenous administration was higher, and the oral absorption rate was slower. Other parameters did not differ between the groups. Mean concentrations in serum 5 min postinfusion were 3.08 and 2.14 micrograms/ml, and mean peak concentrations after oral dosing were 3.24 and 3.34 micrograms/ml in subjects with and without CF, respectively. Mean values for elimination half-life in all subjects were 4.8 and 5.0 h after intravenous and oral administration, respectively. The mean renal clearances in all subjects after intravenous and oral administration were 19.4 and 14.5 liters/h and accounted for 64 and 47% of the total clearance, respectively. These values were significantly greater than renal iothalamate clearance, indicating that tubular secretion contributed to the renal clearance of ciprofloxacin. A total of 69 and 35.4% of the administered ciprofloxacin was recovered from the urine within 48 h after intravenous and oral administration, respectively. The mean bioavailability was 71.2% and did not differ between the groups. We conclude that similar dosing regimens can be used to treat patients with CF and their normal counterparts.
Further studies on the regulation of FSH secretion.

In the present study we wished to determine: a) the physiological importance of the dorsal hypothalamic area (DAHA) in the regulation of the ovulatory discharge of LH/FSH, and b) whether the DAHA is involved in the negative feedback action of estradiol on pituitary FSH secretion. Large bilateral lesions were produced in the DAHA and the animals were maintained (18–20 days) until vaginal cyclicity had resumed. In such rats at proestrus, temporal patterns of LH\FSH were identical to normal controls but peak plasma concentrations were reduced. All DAHA-lesioned rats ovulated fully (8–12 eggs). In control Nembutal®-anesthetized proestrous rats which were sequentially bled for 6 h beginning at 1300 h, plasma LH/FSH remained at basal concentrations. Two other groups of Nembutal-blocked rats were either ovariectomized (OVX) or a bolus of purified rat LH was injected iv at 1300 h. In both studies, FSH rose significantly from baseline within 3 h and thereafter increased linearly for the next 3 h. Basal plasma LH l.
Predictors of Severity and Survival in Acute Pancreatitis: Validation of the Efficacy of Early Warning Scores

Objectives: Early Warning Scores (EWS) is a widely used scoring system monitoring patient progress, which we have previously shown to predict outcome from acute pancreatitis. This study examined EWS from a larger group of patients to confirm if this predictive value held true. Methods: The EWS scores were compared with the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, modified organ dysfunction scores, Imrie scores, computed tomography grading scores, and Ranson criteria for 181 admissions with acute pancreatitis. The accuracy of EWS in predicting outcome was determined by receiver operator characteristics. Results: A total of 181 patients were identified with acute pancreatitis. On day 1 of admission, APACHE II scores were the most accurate predictor of mortality with an area under curve (AUC) values of 0.876, closely followed by EWS (AUC, 0.827). By day 2 and 3 after admission, the EWS was the most accurate predictor of mortality (AUC, 0.910 and 0.934, respectively). The APACHE II was the second most accurate scoring system at 48 and 72 hours (AUC, 0.892 and 0.911, respectively). Conclusions: The EWSs on days 2 and 3 after admission are sensitive and specific in predicting mortality from acute pancreatitis. It is as accurate as the APACHE II scores and easier to implement in daily practice.
Demographically Corrected Normative Standards for the English Version of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery

Abstract Demographic factors impact neuropsychological test performances and accounting for them may help to better elucidate current brain functioning. The NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) is a novel neuropsychological tool, yet the original norms developed for the battery did not adequately account for important demographic/cultural factors known to impact test performances. We developed norms fully adjusting for all demographic variables within each language group (English and Spanish) separately. The current study describes the standards for individuals tested in English. Neurologically healthy adults (n=1038) and children (n=2917) who completed the NIH Toolbox norming project in English were included. We created uncorrected scores weighted to the 2010 Census demographics, and applied polynomial regression models to develop age-corrected and fully demographically adjusted (age, education, sex, race/ethnicity) scores for each NIHTB-CB test and composite (i.e., Fluid, Crystallized, and Total Composites). On uncorrected NIHTB-CB scores, age and education demonstrated significant, medium-to-large associations, while sex showed smaller, but statistically significant effects. In terms of race/ethnicity, a significant stair-step effect on uncorrected NIHTB-CB scores was observed (African American<Hispanic<White). After applying normative corrections, NIHTB-CB no longer demonstrated any significant associations with demographic factors. The previously developed norms still maintained significant associations with demographic factors, and demonstrated more variable impairment rates in segments of the healthy normative sample. Similar to other neuropsychological tests, demographic factors demonstrated significant associations with unadjusted NIHTB-CB scores. Application of fully corrected scores will help account for unwanted variance that is associated with non-clinical factors to more accurately reflect effects of disease-related changes in brain function. (JINS, 2015, 21, 378–391)
Is subjective hyperhidrosis assessment sufficient enough? Prevalence of hyperhidrosis among young Polish adults

The aim of this work was to assess the prevalence of palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis among young Polish adults. Additionally, this work aimed at comparing the subjective and objective (gravimetric) method of hyperhidrosis assessment. Healthy medical students, volunteering to take part in this study, were included. The participants filled out a questionnaire assessing the occurrence and subjective intensity of hyperhidrosis in different areas of the body. Additionally, the students were subjected to gravimetric assessment in four localizations: the face, palms, axillae and abdomino‐lumbar area. Two hundred and fifty‐three students (102 males and 151 females, mean age 24.3 ± 3.21 years) were included in the study. Forty‐two (16.7%) participants declared that they suffer from hyperhidrosis. Out of the 42 students declaring any type of hyperhidrosis, only 20 (47.6%) exceeded the gravimetric reference values. From among the students that exceeded the normative values for palmar hyperhidrosis, only 10 (55.6%) were aware of their hyperhidrosis. In the group of students that exceeded the normative values for axillary hyperhidrosis, 16 (39%) were aware of their hyperhidrosis. Subjectively declared hyperhidrosis incidence may significantly exceed the real‐life occurrence of this disease. Basing studies solely on data gathered from questionnaires, may lead to false results. It is imperative, when assessing patients suffering from hyperhidrosis, to use both objective and subjective methods of evaluation.
[The CIS20R Questionnaire and its suitability for prolonged fatigue studies].

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to validate the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS20R) questionnaire for the assessment of prolonged fatigue in workers and to define its psychometric properties and fatigue standards for the population of Poland. The questionnaire contains 20 statements, scored on a seven-point scale (1-7), reflecting four aspects of fatigue: subjective feeling of fatigue, reduction of concentration, reduction of motivation, and reduction of physical activity. The outcome yielded by the questionnaire is expressed by the sum of all points scored in responding to all statements and mean values of its components. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was carried out in a group (325 men and 363 women) of workers employed in industrial plants, hypermarkets and municipal services; workers of research institutes (81 men and 205 women) and pregnant women (20 persons). Based on the calculated coefficients of correlation between responses to each statement and the total score, strong discriminative power of individual statements was observed. Crombach's alpha was used to assess the consistence of the questionnaire. The coefficient value for the total score was 0.912 and for the fatigue components it ranged from 0.611 to 0.879, which indicates satisfactory reliability of the method. In addition, norms were elaborated using a sten scale. The total value of 40 indicates the borderline between low and moderate and the value of 84 between medium and high level of fatigue. RESULTS The level of the risk for chronic fatigue was estimated on the basis of investigations among industrial, trade and municipal services workers. In the group of men, the necessity of prolonged standing during work, high physical effort during work, lack of fitting to physical effort during work, and stress connected with responsibility (component of occupational stress) were the risk-increasing factors. In the group of women, they were: lack of fitting to physical effort during work, noise disturbing reasoning of speech and stress connected with psychic load and lack of social support (components of occupational stress). In both groups, sleep disturbances proved to be responsible for increasing risk of the incidence of chronic fatigue. In the group of men--the diet, and in the group of women - exercise during leisure time were found to be protective factors. CONCLUSIONS The study revealed that the CIS20R questionnaire is a good research tool to study chronic fatigue. It was also found that the level of fatigue in the population of Poland is much higher than that in the Netherlands, the country where the questionnaire has been developed. In the Dutch studies, the value of 76 was found to be a borderline between "normal fatigue" and fatigue occurring in people with impaired health. In our studies this value corresponds with six stens, which means that it is still within the range of moderate values.
Muscle Structure with Low- and High-Fat Diets in Well-Trained Male Runners

Endurance capacity, maximal oxygen uptake capacity (VO2max) and quantitative muscle ultrastructural composition was analyzed in 7 well-trained male runners (mean age 37.1 years, mean VO2max 60 ml/min/kg) after a one month period of a low-fat diet (dietary fat intake 18.4% and a similar period of a high-fat diet (dietary fat intake 40.6%). Between these two interventional periods a washout period of one month was interspersed in which the nutritional fat content was approx. 32%; close to the average American Diet. During all three periods protein content of the nutrition was kept nearly constant at 15%. After the high-fat diet time to exhaustion in the endurance test increased significantly by 21% while VO2max remained unchanged. Muscle mitochondrial volume density remained unchanged while the intramyocellular fat content increased by 60%. Due to large interindividual differences in this variable this difference did not become statistically significant. While some 20% of the mitochondria are located in a subsarcolemmal location, only 10% of the lipid stores are associated with these mitochondria. Less than 2% of the mitochondrial outer surface are in contact with lipid droplets whereas 25-35% of the lipid surface is in contact with mitochondria. None of these variables is significantly altered after a high-fat diet. It is concluded that the change in endurance capacity of the subjects cannot be explained based on the structural changes observed in skeletal muscle tissue. This may be related to methodological problems associated with the determination of intramyocellular fat content.
Intra-Regional vs. Extra-Regional Trade Liberalization in Central America

ABSTRACT Although the Central American countries trade very extensively with the USA, the remarkable growth of their intra-regional exports is prone to create more internal added value for the region. Taking this background into account, we use and compare a standard, perfectly competitive and an imperfectly competitive GTAP CGE model based on the GTAP 9 database, to assess different scenarios. Our simulations evaluate the elimination of all existing import taxes and export subsidies in 2011, both at the intra-regional level and vis-à-vis the USA. The results emphasize the preference by most of the Central American countries for the completion of the Customs Union at the expense of a deepening of the DR-CAFTA agreements.
A model of expanding HIV/AIDS education in Chinese rural areas

The aim of the present study is to explore an effective model of HIV/AIDS health education for a rural Chinese population. Students in two middle schools were given HIV/AIDS health education. The education in Tiechang town was carried out in the form of delivering multimedia lectures, video tapes and brochures, while in Daping town brochures were distributed to students. After receiving health education, each student extended the health education to three peasants who were their relatives or neighbours. After the education was provided, the test scores of AIDS knowledge increased significantly in the students of Tiechang town (0.50 baseline, 0.69 post-test1, 0.68 post-test2). For the expansion subjects, the scores increased significantly (0.56 baseline versus 0.74 post-test) in the Tiechang group, and also increased mildly (0.52 baseline versus 0.59 post-test) in the Daping group. Empowering secondary school students to teach others about AIDS was a highly effective model for spreading AIDS prevention knowledge among the rural Chinese population.
Transmission and Infectious Dose of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Swine

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli O157:H7 is only occasionally isolated from healthy swine, but some experimentally infected animals will shed the organism in their feces for at least 2 months. Potential explanations for the paucity of naturally occurring infections in swine, as compared to cattle, include a lack of animal-to-animal transmission so that the organism cannot be maintained within a herd, a high infectious dose, or herd management practices that prevent the maintenance of the organism in the gastrointestinal tract. We hypothesized that donor pigs infected with E. coli O157:H7 would transmit the organism to naïve pigs. We also determined the infectious dose and whether housing pigs individually on grated floors would decrease the magnitude or duration of fecal shedding. Infected donor pigs shedding <104 CFU of E. coli O157:H7 per g transmitted the organism to 6 of 12 naïve pigs exposed to them. The infectious dose of E. coli O157:H7 for 3-month-old pigs was approximately 6 × 103 CFU. There was no difference in the magnitude and duration of fecal shedding by pigs housed individually on grates compared to those housed two per pen on cement floors. These results suggest that swine do not have an innate resistance to colonization by E. coli O157:H7 and that they could serve as a reservoir host under suitable conditions.
Valdecoxib Is as Efficacious as Diclofenac in the Treatment of Acute Low Back Pain

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of valdecoxib 40 mg q.d. (with a second dose on day 1) with diclofenac 75 mg b.i. d. in the treatment of acute low back pain. MethodsThis was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind study. Patients with acute low back pain, class 1a or 2a (Quebec Task Force), with a visual analog scale score ≥50 mm (on a 100-mm scale) and moderate to severe pain on a categorical scale, were randomized to valdecoxib 40 mg q.d. (with a second dose on day 1) or diclofenac 75 mg b.i. d. for 7 days (170 patients per group). The primary efficacy end point was change in pain intensity (visual analog scale, mm) from baseline to day 3 for the per-protocol population. ResultsLeast squares mean reductions in pain intensity from baseline to day 3 were similar for valdecoxib (−42.02 mm) and diclofenac (−41.43 mm). Valdecoxib was comparable to diclofenac as the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval of the estimated difference (0.59 mm; 95% confidence interval, −3.40 to 4.59 mm) was within the prespecified noninferiority margin of –10 mm. The overall incidence of adverse events was similar for valdecoxib (28%) and diclofenac (26%). No statistically different moderate or severe upper gastrointestinal adverse events were reported, although they were numerically greater for diclofenac (8) than for valdecoxib (3). DiscussionValdecoxib 40 mg q.d. (with a second dose on day 1) provides effective relief for acute low back pain, and was at least as efficacious as diclofenac 75 mg b.i. d. , with a nonsignificant but numerically lower incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events.
Functional Dilator Capacity is Independently Associated with Insulin Sensitivity and Age in Central Obesity and is not Improved by High Dose Statin Treatment

Please cite this paper as: Clough, L’Esperance, Turzyniecka, Walter, Chipperfield, Gamble, Krentz and Byrne (2011). Functional Dilator Capacity is Independently Associated with Insulin Sensitivity and Age in Central Obesity and is not Improved by High Dose Statin Treatment. Microcirculation18 (1), 74–84.
CDS and the forecasting of bank default

A partir d’une analyse du defaut des banques et de la regulation au travers des notations de credits (et des agences de notation), des modeles portant sur les CDS, de Bâle III et du capital insurance, nous trouvons que les specificites des CDS en font un bon candidat pour prevoir (et idealement empecher) les defauts potentiels des banques. En effet, grâce aux proprietes (financieres et economiques) des CDS, ainsi qu’aux resultats d’etudes empiriques, nous montrons qu’ils refletent correctement le comportement des risques des banques et qu’ils ont capte les changements informationnels plus rapidement que les notations de credits qui sont restees relativement constantes durant 2007 et 2008.Ainsi, en utilisant un declencheur ad hoc base sur les CDS et l’action appropriee si le declencheur venait a s’activer, nous pourrions empecher le defaut d’une banque. Et la comprehension du mecanisme afferent au capital contingent est d’un grand interet pour atteindre cet objectif qui optimise le monitoring mis en oeuvre par les banques et les regulateurs.
Variation in satellite DNA profiles—causes and effects

Heterochromatic regions of the eukaryotic genome harbour DNA sequences that are repeated many times in tandem, collectively known as satellite DNAs. Different satellite sequences co‐exist in the genome, thus forming a set called a satellite DNA library. Within a library, satellite DNAs represent independent evolutionary units. Their evolution can be explained as a result of change in two parameters: copy number and nucleotide sequence, both of them ruled by the same mechanisms of concerted evolution. Individual change in either of these two parameters as well as their simultaneous evolution can lead to the genesis of species‐specific satellite profiles. In some cases, changes in satellite DNA profiles can be correlated with chromosomal evolution and could possibly influence the evolution of species.