Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differences in Transmission Properties and Susceptibility to Long-Term Depression Reveal Functional Specialization of Ascending Axon and Parallel Fiber Synapses to Purkinje Cells

An understanding of the patterns of mossy fiber transmission to Purkinje cells, via granule cell axons, is fundamental to models of cerebellar cortical signaling and processing. Early theories assumed that mossy fiber input is widely disseminated across the cerebellar cortex along beams of parallel fibers, which spread for several millimeters across the cerebellar cortex. Direct evidence for this has, however, proved controversial, leading to the development of an alternative hypothesis that mossy fiber inputs to the cerebral cortex are in fact vertically organized such that the ascending segment of the granule axon carries a greater synaptic weight than the parallel fiber segment. Here, we report that ascending axon synapses are selectively resistant to cerebellar long-term depression and that they release transmitter with higher mean release probabilities and mean quantal amplitudes than parallel fiber synapses. This novel specialization of synapses formed by different segments of the same axon not only explains the reported patterns of granule cell→ Purkinje cell transmission across the cerebellar cortex but also reveals an additional level of functionality and complexity of cerebellar processing. Consequently, ascending axon synapses represent a new element of cortical signal processing that should be distinguished from parallel fiber synapses in future experimental and theoretical studies of cerebellar function.
Revascularization of Left Main Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease with left main stenosis is associated with the highest mortality of any coronary lesion. Studies in the 1970s and 1980s comparing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and medical therapy showed a significant survival benefit with revascularization. In the angioplasty era, initial experience with percutaneous intervention was associated with poor clinical outcomes. As a result, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was restricted to patients who were considered inoperable, or those with prior CABG with a functional graft to the left anterior descending or circumflex artery (“protected left main disease”). With the introduction of drug-eluting stents, there are new studies demonstrating comparable survival in patients who were revascularized using PCI and CABG, although percutaneous revascularization is associated with a higher rate of repeat revascularization. In the SYNTAX (Synergy between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) trial, the combined incidence of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke was similar between the CABG and PCI groups; however, the stroke rate was higher in the CABG group. The degree and extent of disease as defined by the SYNTAX scoring system has allowed for stratification of risk and improved assignment of patients with left main stenosis to either PCI or CABG.
Dealing with information overload when using social media for emergency management: Emerging solutions

Several recent studies point the way to enabling emergency response managers to be able to find relevant posts and incorporate them into their sensemaking and decision making processes. Among the approaches that have improved the ability to find the most relevant information are the social conventions of creating topic groups and tags and of “retweeting;” the use of trained volunteers to filter and summarize posts for responders; automated notifications of trending topics; natural language processing of posts; techniques for identifying posts from the disaster site; and the use of GIS and crisis maps to visually represent the distribution of incidents.
Determinants of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with aortic stenosis.

The determinants of left ventricular (LV) mass were evaluated in 150 patients with aortic stenosis. All patients underwent M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiography. Peak aortic gradients ranged from 9 mmHg to 144 mmHg (mean 52.3 mmHg). The degree of left ventricular hypertrophy, as determined by LV mass index, was compared to several variables, including age, systolic blood pressure, left ventricular function, peak and mean pressure gradients, relative wall thickness, estimated LV systolic pressure, and aortic valve area. The LV mass index varied from 114.1 to 547.2 g/m2 (mean, 159.4 g/m2). Multiple regression analysis revealed that both age and LV function were highly significant predictors of LV mass index. Moreover, LV mass index and systolic blood pressure were significantly greater in patients older than 65 years (P less than .01; P less than .0001, respectively). These results suggest that the severity of left ventricular hypertrophy in the presence of aortic stenosis is multifactorial and not affected only by the hemodynamic severity of aortic stenosis as assessed by aortic valve area or pressure gradient estimation. Patient age, systolic blood pressure, and ventricular function should all be considered when evaluating the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with aortic stenosis.
Determinants of Adult Day Center Attendance Among Older Adults With Functional Limitations

Objective: To examine factors related to regularity of adult day center (ADC) attendance among seniors with functional limitations. Methods: Using data collected as part of a larger study, we identified the proportion of scheduled days attended among 101 ADC users in Montréal and identified determinants of this attendance. Results: More regular attendance was associated with previous profession of ADC participant or spouse in a sector other than health care, receiving formal help for activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living on days of expected ADC participation, participating for the whole day rather than half a day, lower participation in prevention and health-promotion activities, and lower caregiver burden among persons with cognitive impairments and higher caregiver burden among persons without cognitive impairments. Discussion: To enhance ADC intervention effects, levels of participation should be maximized. Study findings suggest ways to promote more regular attendance.
Memory While Shadowing

Subjects were asked to repeat verbally (shadow) English words which were presented to one ear. They were then tested for their memory of two-digit numbers which were presented to their other ear. It is demonstrated that subjects have no memory for these digits if they must continue to shadow for 20 sec. before being tested on their memory for the digits. However, if tested immediately after the digit presentation, they do remember some digits. Hence, verbal material presented on non-attended channels gets into a short-term memory, but is not transferred into long-term memory.
Black-pigmented Bacteroides spp. in human apical periodontitis

The incidence of black-pigmented (BP) Bacteroides spp. in 62 human dental root canal infections (35 acute and 27 clinically asymptomatic cases of apical periodontitis) in 57 adults was studied. Altogether 37 strains of BP Bacteroides were found in 31 infections, always in mixed anaerobic infections. Two different BP Bacteroides species were present in six infections. B. intermedius was most frequently isolated (15 of 62 canals; 24%) followed by B. denticola which was present in 12 cases. Asaccharolytic BP Bacteroides species, B. gingivalis and B. endodontalis, were found in eight cases. BP Bacteroides species were found both from symptomatic and asymptomatic infections, but there were also several symptomatic cases from which BP Bacteroides species were not isolated. B. gingivalis and B. endodontalis were present only in acute infections, B. intermedius was found both in symptomatic and asymptomatic infections, and B. denticola occurred mostly in asymptomatic infections. BP Bacteroides species were isolated initially from 9 of the 11 teeth with symptoms at 1 week, but only from 22 of the 51 teeth that were symptomless at 1 week. Two strains of B. denticola were resistant to penicillin G at a concentration of 2.4 micrograms/ml, but the MIC of penicillin G for all other strains was 0.6 micrograms/ml or lower. Forty-two randomly selected patients received penicillin V (oral administration, 650 mg, three times daily) during the first week of endodontic therapy. Penicillin had no effect on the occurrence of symptoms after 1 week compared with the control group (20 patients).
A 14‐Year Retrospective Review of Angiosarcoma: Clinical Characteristics, Prognostic Factors, and Treatment Outcomes with Surgery and Chemotherapy

PURPOSEAngiosarcoma is a rare vascular malignancy, and there are few published data to guide chemotherapy treatment decisions. We present a retrospective analysis of angiosarcoma encompassing all anatomic sites of disease presenting to a single institution over a 14-year period. Characteristics at presentation and prognostic factors are reviewed. For patients with unresectable disease, progression-free survival with various chemotherapy regimens is described. PATIENTS AND METHODSPathological confirmation of all cases was performed before they were included in this analysis. One hundred twenty-five patients with angiosarcoma were seen and treated between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2003. RESULTSAngiosarcoma showed marked variation by anatomic site regarding gender ratio, median age at diagnosis, overall survival, and response to chemotherapy. Overall 5-year survival was 31% for angiosarcoma. Superficial depth and negative microscopic surgical margins correlated with longer overall survival, but tumor size did not reach significance as a prognostic factor. For unresectable angiosarcoma, doxorubicin-based regimens yielded progression-free survival of 3.7–5.4 months. Paclitaxel achieved a progression-free survival of 6.8 months for scalp angiosarcoma and 2.8 months for sites below the clavicle. DISCUSSIONAngiosarcoma is an aggressive malignancy characterized by biologic heterogeneity at different anatomic sites and relative sensitivity to paclitaxel and doxorubicin.
Protecting Health from Climate Change in the WHO European Region

“How far are we in the WHO European Region in implementing action to counter the health impacts of climate change? ” This was the question posed to representatives of Member States in the WHO European Region of in the WHO working group on health in climate change (HIC). Twenty-two Member States provided answers to a comprehensive 2012 questionnaire that focused on eight thematic areas (governance; vulnerability, impact and adaptation (health) assessments (VIA); adaptation strategies and action plans; climate change mitigation; strengthening health systems; raising awareness and building capacity; greening health services; and sharing best practices). Strong development has been in climate change vulnerability and impact assessments, as well as strengthening health systems and awareness raising. Areas where implementation would benefit from further action are the development of national health adaptation plans, greening health systems, sharing best practices and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in other sectors. At the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Parma, Itatly in 2010, the European Commitment to Act on climate change and health and the European Regional Framework for Action to protect health from climate change were endorsed by the fifty-three European Member States. The results of this questionnaire present the most comprehensive assessment so far of progress made by European Member States to protect public health from climate change since the Parma Conference agreements.
Neo-sex Chromosomes in the Maculipennis Species Group (Dichroplus: Acrididae, Melanoplinae): The Cases of D. maculipennis and D. vittigerum

South American melanopline grasshoppers display a disproportionate number of derived karyotypes, including many cases of neo-sex chromosome systems. This is especially true of the genus Dichroplus and its Maculipennis species group. We analyzed the karyotype and neo-sex chromosomes in mitosis and meiosis of Dichroplus maculipennis and D. vittigerum from Argentina using conventional and fluorescent cytogenetic protocols in order to elucidate the behavior and origin of these neo-XY systems in relation to the current phylogeny of this group. Our results showed that D. maculipennis (2n = 22♂/22♀; neoXY/neoXX) and D. vittigerum, whose karyotype is described here for the first time (2n = 18♂/18♀; neoXY/neoXX), show highly evolved neo-XY systems, although with significant differences between them. Furthermore, both species differ for two autosomal fixed Robertsonian fusions present in D. vittigerum. Analysis of karyotypic character state optimization strongly suggests the independent origin and evolution of neo-sex systems within this species group.
Comparison of post-operative pain, stress response, and quality of life in port access vs. standard sternotomy coronary bypass patients.

OBJECTIVE Although it has been postulated that minimally invasive cardiac surgery using the port access method would reduce operative stress and postoperative pain and accelerate postoperative recovery to a good quality of life, few data are currently available to document this intuitively appealing claim. Therefore, this study was designed to examine differences in stress response, postoperative pain, rapidity of recovery, and quality of life after port access (PA) isolated coronary artery bypass surgery compared with standard sternotomy (STD) isolated coronary bypass surgery. METHODS Fourteen PA and 15 STD coronary bypass patients were studied postoperatively for pain score, FEV, catecholamine and cortisol levels, resumption of activity, and Duke Activity Scale ratings. The surgical approach was based on the surgeon's preference. Although the PA patients were younger, there were no other differences between the groups in gender or preoperative risk factors. RESULTS There were no operative deaths and no differences between the groups in perioperative complications. Repeated measures analysis of variance showed lower pain scale ratings over the first 4 postoperative weeks in the PA group (P < 0.001). The PA patients also had less muscle soreness, shortness of breath, fatigue, and poor appetite at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks (P < 0.05), better FEV at 1 day (1.59 vs. 0.97 l/s; P < 0.02) and 3 days (2.20 vs. 1.49 l/s; P < 0.03), and lower norepinephrine levels at days 1, 2, and 3 (P = 0.005). The Duke Activity Scale questionnaire results demonstrated that more PA patients were able to walk 1-2 blocks at 1 week, climb stairs at 1 and 2 weeks, perform light or moderate housework at 1 and 2 weeks, and engage in moderate recreational activities and perform heavy housework at 4 and 8 weeks (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS These results show that compared with STD coronary bypass patients PA patients enjoyed significant postoperative physiologic and quality of life advantages with less pain, less early stress response, better pulmonary function, and superior Duke Activity scores during the first 2 postoperative months.
Somatostatin receptor subtypes 2 and 4 affect seizure susceptibility and hippocampal excitatory neurotransmission in mice

We have investigated the role of somatostatin receptor subtypes sst2 and sst4 in limbic seizures and glutamate‐mediated neurotransmission in mouse hippocampus. As compared to wild‐type littermates, homozygous mice lacking sst2 receptors showed a 52% reduction in EEG ictal activity induced by intrahippocampal injection of 30 ng kainic acid (P < 0.05). The number of behavioural tonic–clonic seizures was reduced by 50% (P < 0.01) and the time to onset of seizures was doubled on average (P < 0.05). Seizure‐associated neurodegeneration was found in the injected hippocampus (CA1, CA3 and hilar interneurons) and sporadically in the ipsilateral latero‐dorsal thalamus. This occurred to a similar extent in wild‐type and sst2 knock‐out mice. Intrahippocampal injection of three selective sst2 receptor agonists in wild‐type mice (Octreotide, BIM 23120 and L‐779976, 1.5–6.0 nmol) did not affect kainate seizures while the same compounds significantly reduced seizures in rats. L‐803087 (5 nmol), a selective sst4 receptor agonist, doubled seizure activity in wild‐type mice on average. Interestingly, this effect was blocked by 3 nmol octreotide. It was determined, in both radioligand binding and cAMP accumulation, that octreotide had no direct agonist or antagonist action at mouse sst4 receptors expressed in CCl39 cells, up to micromolar concentrations. In hippocampal slices from wild‐type mice, octreotide (2 µm) did not modify AMPA‐mediated synaptic responses while facilitation occurred with L‐803087 (2 µm). Similarly to what was observed in seizures, the effect of L‐803087 was reduced by octreotide. In hippocampal slices from sst2 knock‐out mice, both octreotide and L‐803087 were ineffective on synaptic responses. Our findings show that, unlike in rats, sst2 receptors in mice do not mediate anticonvulsant effects. Moreover, stimulation of sst4 receptors in the hippocampus of wild‐type mice induced excitatory effects which appeared to depend on the presence of sst2 subtypes, suggesting these receptors are functionally coupled.
Physiology and Gene Expression Characteristics of Carcinogen‐Initiated and Tumor‐Transformed Glial Progenitor Cells Derived from the CNS of Methylnitrosourea (MNU)‐Treated Sprague‐Dawley Rats

Glial progenitors from the brain of normal adult Sprague-Dawley rats were compared to their initiated and malignant counterparts that were isolated from apparently normal brains of animals exposed to methylnitrosourea (MNU). Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A or -B induced differentiation of normal progenitors to a pro-astrocytic or oligodendrocytic morphology, respectively, whereas the combination of these factors resulted in their terminal differentiation to oligodendrocytes and senescence. In contrast, initiated progenitors did not exit the cell cycle when stimulated with PDGF and/or FGF-2. cDNA oligoarray analysis and RT-PCR verification showed an early upregulation/ induction of growth factor/receptors, PDGF-A, PDGFR-β, IGFR-1, IGF-1 and -2, IL-6, MEGF-5, FRAG-1, IRS-2, HSPG, and FGFR-1, followed by a late increase in the expression IGFBP-6, PDGF-α, FGFR-4A, c/ERB-A, and FGFR-4, 2, and 1 during the tumorigenic progression. Western blot analyses demonstrated that MNU exposure caused progressive reduction of p21 protein levels, an increase of Rb phosphorylation, activation of AKT and CDK2, and upregulation of FGF receptors. Double immunofluorescence labeling showed progressive increase in nuclear colocalization of FGFR1, 2, and 4, which peaked in malignant lines. It is postulated that transition of normal rat glial progenitors to an initiated state is driven by IGF-1 and 2, IL-6, and the upregulation of the receptors PDGFR-β and FGFR-1, 2, and 4. Deregulation of the cell cycle in this state involves reduction of p21 protein, concomitant upregulation of CDC2, and an increase in Rb phosphorylation that favors expression and nuclear translocation of FGFR-4 and FRAG-1 and 2. These events are associated with progressive activation of AKT and RAS. Malignant transformation is enhanced by near elimination of p21 and PC3, induction of AP-1 (upregulation of JUN-B, c-JUN, FRA-1), activation of the NF-kB pro-survival pathway, and inhibition of the TGF-β pro-apoptotic pathway possibly in response to changes in the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) I-A and NGFI-B. These data demonstrate that the events leading to malignancy in the rat brain in response to MNU treatment are to a great extent similar to those described for secondary glial malignancies in humans.
Cognitive Impairment Is Not Equal in Patients with Epileptic and Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures

Summary: Purpose: Patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) and those with epileptic seizures (ES) purportedly have roughly equal neurocognitive deficits. However, recent findings suggest that patients with somatoform disorders exhibit more variable effort on neurocognitive testing than do controls. We reexamined neurocognitive function in patients with ESs and PNES by using symptom validity testing to control for variability in effort.
Physical Complaints, Medical Service Use, and Social and Employment Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A 6–Month Longitudinal Study

Using a prospective, dual-cohort study design in which selected preinjury factors were controlled, we present outcomes of 235 patients in a case cohort and 235 patients in a comparison cohort following emergency-department-diagnosed mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Symptoms, medical services use, and social and employment concerns were evaluated 6 months after the injury. After adjusting for preinjury characteristics, headaches, dizziness, vision difficulties, memory or learning problems, and alcohol intolerance were found to occur significantly more often in the MTBI cohort than in the comparison cohort. Problems sleeping, use of prescribed medications, and changes in employment were less likely in the MTBI cohort. Although MTBI is not life threatening, our findings suggest that 6 months after injury persons still have related health problems that require routine medical management.
MEANING CONSTRUCTS AS PREDICTORS OF BEREAVEMENT ADJUSTMENT: A REPORT FROM THE SCOTT & WHITE GRIEF STUDY

Nine unique meaning constructs were derived from a content analysis of free essays written by 85 mourners in response to the question, “What does the death of your loved one mean to you? ” These constructs were then treated as predictor variables in a quantitative analysis of several indices of bereavement adjustment including (a) risk factors of grief pathogenesis and psychometric measures of negative grief affect and (b) indicators and correlates of personal growth. Mourners who expressed one or more constructs connoting positive themes of hope and recovery in their narrative essays fared better on several indicators of bereavement adjustment than those expressing solely themes of pain and suffering. As a single meaning category, Focusing on Negativity carried the strongest statistical relation to outcome measures and correlated with poorer adjustment. Implications for combining qualitative and quantitative data are discussed together with potential applications to clinical practice.