Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hypertension and Migraine in the Northern Manhattan Study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between migraine and hypertension in the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS), a multiethnic community-based sample. DESIGN Cross-sectional cohort study. PARTICIPANTS 1338 NOMAS participants (mean age 68.1 ± 9.6 years, 37% male, 15% non-Hispanic White, 19% non-Hispanic Black, 67% Hispanic). SETTING Northern Manhattan community. INTERVENTION Participants were assessed for migraine symptoms using a self-report questionnaire based on criteria from the International Classification of Headache Disorders. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg, the patient's self-reported hypertension, or use of anti-hypertensive medications. Duration (≤9 years vs >9 years) and control (BP<140/90) of hypertension were examined. We estimated the association between hypertension and migraine (overall and with/without aura) using logistic regression, adjusting for sociodemographic and vascular risk factors. RESULTS The majority of participants (80%) had no migraine, 6% had migraine with aura, and 15% had migraine without aura. Hypertension was present in 76% of the study population (7% had controlled hypertension ≤9 years duration, 5% controlled hypertension >9 years duration, 41% uncontrolled hypertension ≤9 years duration, 23% uncontrolled hypertension >9 years duration). Hypertension was associated with migraine (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.21-2.54), both with and without aura. This association was particularly apparent for those with uncontrolled and long duration hypertension. CONCLUSION Hypertension, particularly uncontrolled and of long duration, is associated with migraine, both with and without aura, in a predominantly Hispanic community-based cohort.
[Proportion and significance of CD1d(hi)CD5⁺CD19⁺ regulatory B cell in peripheral blood of patients with neuromyelitis optica].

OBJECTIVE To detect the proportion of CD1d(hi)CD5⁺CD19⁺ regulatory B cells (Bregs) in peripheral blood of the patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), and explore whether CD1d(hi)CD5⁺CD19⁺ Bregs can play a role as a biomarker in the diagnosis of NMO versus multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS Flow cytometry was performed to detect the proportion of CD1d(hi)CD5⁺CD19⁺ Bregs in peripheral blood from 44 cases of NMO, 38 cases of MS, and 30 healthy controls. The serum level of aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab) of patients with NMO was detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS The proportion of CD1d(hi)CD5⁺CD19⁺ Bregs in CD19⁺ B cells and lymphocytes was significantly lower in NMO group than in MS and control groups; however, there was no significant difference between MS group and control group. The proportion of CD1d(hi)CD5⁺CD19⁺ Bregs in CD19⁺ B cells and lymphocytes was lower in AQP4-Ab-positive NMO patients than in AQP4-Ab-negative NMO patients, and the difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION CD1d(hi)CD5⁺CD19⁺ Bregs may be a biomarker in the differential diagnosis of NMO versus MS.
Community sensitization and decision- making for trial participation: A mixed- methods study from The Gambia

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Injury induced c‐Jun expression and phosphorylation in the dopaminergic nigral neurons of the rat: correlation with neuronal death and modulation by glial‐cell‐line‐derived neurotrophic factor

This study was designed to determine whether induction and phosphorylation of the transcription factor c‐Jun is associated with lesion‐induced death of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta, and if this cellular response is modulated by glial‐cell‐line‐derived neurotrophic factor. In adult rats, delayed dopaminergic neuron cell death induced by intrastriatal 6‐hydroxydopamine injection led to a marked increase in the number of both c‐Jun‐ and phosphorylated c‐Jun‐immunoreactive nuclei in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The response was maximal before any significant loss of nigral neurons could be detected (on day 7 post lesion) and was confined to the dopaminergic neurons. Similarly, 6‐hydroxydopamine lesion of the striatal dopaminergic terminals or excitotoxic lesion of the striatal target neurons in neonatal rats resulted in an increased number of c‐Jun‐ and phosphorylated c‐Jun‐immunoreactive nigral nuclei that preceded the loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons. By contrast, after an excitotoxic lesion of the striatal target neurons in the adult rat, resulting in atrophy but not cell death of the nigral dopaminergic neurons, no upregulation of either c‐Jun or phosphorylated c‐Jun was found. A single injection of 10 µg of glial‐cell‐line‐derived‐neurotrophic factor given at day 3 after the intrastriatal 6‐hydroxydopamine lesion reduced the number of c‐Jun‐ and phosphorylated c‐Jun‐immunoreactive nuclei in the substantia nigra and protected the dopaminergic neurons from the ensuing cell death. We conclude that c‐Jun induction and phosphorylation may be involved in the cellular events leading to death of nigral dopaminergic neurons in vivo and that this response can be modulated by glial‐cell‐line‐derived‐neurotrophic factor.
Chelation Therapy in Cardiovascular Disease: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid, Deferoxamine, and Dexrazoxane

This review was conducted to assess whether there is sufficient evidence for the clinical use of chelation therapy in cardiovascular disease based on original articles and abstracts published in the last 30 years, with emphasis placed on the most recent placebo‐controlled studies. Articles postulating the mechanisms of chelation also were included. The majority of the literature focused on three chelators in particular, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), deferoxamine, and dexrazoxane (ICRF‐187). Historically, much has been written on the beneficial effects of EDTA. However, there are few controlled studies, and the mechanism of action of EDTA is poorly understood. Although studies of deferoxamine are more recent, most of the research is limited to animals and ex vivo models. Recently, dexrazoxane was approved, but only for parenteral use for reducing the incidence and severity of cardiomyopathy associated with doxorubicin administration in women with metastatic breast cancer. Given these limitations, it is concluded that more controlled studies are required to determine the efficacy of chelation therapy in cardiovascular disease before it can be used broadly in the clinical setting.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: the hepatic consequence of obesity and the metabolic syndrome

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the most common liver disease in both adults and children worldwide. As a disease spectrum, NAFLD may progress from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. An estimated 20–35% of the general population has steatosis, 10% of whom will develop the more progressive non-alcoholic steatohepatitis associated with markedly increased risk of cardiovascular- and liver-related mortality. Development of NAFLD is strongly linked to components of the metabolic syndrome including obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and type 2 diabetes. The recognition that NAFLD is an independent risk factor for CVD is a major public health concern. There is a great need for a sensitive non-invasive test for the early detection and assessment of the stage of NAFLD that could also be used to monitor response to treatment. The cellular and molecular aetiology of NAFLD is multi-factorial; genetic polymorphisms influencing NAFLD have been identified and nutrition is a modifiable environmental factor influencing NAFLD progression. Weight loss through diet and exercise is the primary recommendation in the clinical management of NAFLD. The application of systems biology to the identification of NAFLD biomarkers and factors involved in NAFLD progression is an area of promising research.
Myosin VI Regulates Actin Dynamics and Melanosome Biogenesis

Myosin VI has been implicated in various steps of organelle dynamics. However, the molecular mechanism by which this myosin contributes to membrane traffic is poorly understood. Here, we report that myosin VI is associated with a lysosome‐related organelle, the melanosome. Using an actin‐based motility assay and video microscopy, we observed that myosin VI does not contribute to melanosome movements. Myosin VI expression regulates instead the organization of actin networks in the cytoplasm. Using a cell‐free assay, we showed that myosin VI recruited actin at the surface of isolated melanosomes. Myosin VI is involved in the endocytic‐recycling pathway, and this pathway contributes to the transport of a melanogenic enzyme to maturing melanosomes. We showed that depletion of myosin VI accumulated a melanogenic enzyme in enlarged melanosomes and increased their melanin content. We confirmed the requirement of myosin VI to regulate melanosome biogenesis by analysing the morphology of melanosomes in choroid cells from of the Snell's waltzer mice that do not express myosin VI. Together, our results provide new evidence that myosin VI regulates the organization of actin dynamics at the surface of a specialized organelle and unravel a novel function of this myosin in regulating the biogenesis of this organelle.
Locomotion characteristics of an SMA-actuated micro robot simulating a medicinal leech in a pipeline

Research into the locomotion principle of a new micro peristaltic robot simulating a medicinal leech in a pipeline, and a subsequent kinematic model, inform this article. The effects of structure on robot performance are analyzed; also presented is the basis for the robot's redesign, parameterized design, and optimal design. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sonic hedgehog enhances the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells

MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) may be promising seed cells for tissue regeneration because of their self‐renewal and multi‐differentiation potential. Shh (sonic hedgehog) is involved in the skeletal formation during embryo development and skeletal regeneration. However, how Shh regulates the biological characteristics of BM‐MSCs (bone marrow‐derived MSCs) is poorly understood. We have investigated the effect of rShh‐N (recombinant N‐terminal Shh) on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rBM‐MSCs (rat BM‐MSCs) in vitro. rBM‐MSCs were treated with rShh‐N at concentrations up to 200 ng/ml. Proliferation and colony‐forming ability of rBM‐MSCs were increased in a dose‐dependent manner. rShh‐N increased the ratio of cells in S and G2/M phase, as well as the number of Ki‐67+ cells. In addition, ALP (alkaline phosphatase) activity and matrix mineralization were enhanced by 200 ng/ml rShh‐N. Real‐time PCR showed that rShh‐N (200 ng/ml) up‐regulated the expression of genes encoding Cbfa‐1 (core‐binding factor α1), osteocalcin, ALP and collagen type I in rBM‐MSCs. This information reveals some potential of rShh‐N in the therapeutics of bone‐related diseases.
Correlative Analysis of Vertebral Trabecular Bone Microarchitecture and Mechanical Properties: A Combined Ultra-high Field (7 Tesla) MRI and Biomechanical Investigation

Study Design. High-resolution imaging and biomechanical investigation of ex-vivo vertebrae. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess bone microarchitecture of cadaveric vertebrae using ultra-high field (UHF) 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to determine whether the corresponding microarchitecture parameters were related to bone mineral density (BMD) and bone strength assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and mechanical compression tests. Summary of Background Data. Limitations of DXA for the assessment of bone fragility and osteoporosis have been recognized and criteria of microarchitecture alteration have been included in the definition of osteoporosis. Although vertebral fracture is the most common osteoporotic fracture, no study has assessed directly vertebral trabecular bone microarchitecture. Methods. BMD of 24 vertebrae (L2, L3, L4) from eight cadavers was investigated using DXA. The bone volume fraction (BVF), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp) of each vertebra were quantified using UHF MRI. Measurements were performed by two operators to characterize the inter-rater reliability. The whole set of specimens underwent mechanical compression tests to failure and the corresponding failure stress was calculated. Results. The inter-rater reliability for bone microarchitecture parameters was good with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.82 to 0.94. Failure load and stress were significantly correlated with BVF, Tb.Sp, and BMD (P < 0.05). Tb.Th was only correlated with the failure stress (P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the combination of BVF and BMD improved the prediction of the failure stress from an adjusted R2 = 0.384 for BMD alone to an adjusted R2 = 0.414. Conclusion. We demonstrated for the first time that the vertebral bone microarchitecture assessed with UHF MRI was significantly correlated with biomechanical parameters. Our data suggest that the multimodal assessment of BMD and trabecular bone microarchitecture with UHF MRI provides additional information on the risk of vertebral bone fracture and might be of interest for the future investigation of selected osteoporotic patients. Level of Evidence: N /A
The mathematical achievements of deaf children from different educational environments.

Summary. The performances of 465 hearing and 540 hearing-impaired school-leavers on the Vernon-Miller Graded Arithmetic-Mathematics test are reported. A previous study revealed that hearing-impaired children in special schools and partially hearing units scored approximately three years below their hearing peers. Somewhat paradoxically, however, degree of hearing loss was not a major determinant of performance in the hearing-impaired sample. One possible explanation for these findings is that children in special education follow a different and less demanding curriculum than hearing children. To explore this possibility, 135 hearing-impaired children attending ordinary schools were tested. Multiple regression analysis reveals that while this ‘mainstreamed’ sample performed better than those in special education, educational placement per se is not an important determinant of achievement. No sex differences emerge for any hearing-impaired group and hearing loss remains a significant (r = ×0.26, P < 0.001) but weak predictor of performance.
Simulated patients and the assessment of medical students' interpersonal skills

While the use of simulated patients for the assessment of medical students' skills is increasing there is little data on whether students perform differently vs real patients. The present study examined this issue using second‐year medical students' ability to empathize with simulated and genuine patients. Forty second‐year students each conducted two interviews which were audio‐recorded and later rated by raters who had achieved a high degree of reliability using the 9‐point accurate empathy scale ( Truax, 1967 ). Ten students saw a genuine patient for each interview while ten students saw simulators on both occasions. Of the remaining twenty students, ten saw genuine patients at the first interview and simulated patients at the second session. This order was reversed for the remaining ten students. No significant differences were found in the levels of empathy between students' interaction with genuine or simulated patients. As the students were also unable to discriminate between the two groups of patients it was concluded that simulators represent a viable procedure given the skill to be assessed in the present research and the experience of the students.
Dysregulation of the in vivo production of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Pathogenetic implications.

OBJECTIVE Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have defective hypothalamic responses to inflammation, possibly because of excessive production of cytokine inhibitor, which could blunt the effects of cytokines on the hypothalamus, or because of an imbalance between interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), which could create a mainly proinflammatory state. The present study was undertaken to investigate these possibilities. METHODS The in vivo kinetics of IL-1 beta and IL-1Ra secretion were studied in patients with RA, osteoarthritis (OA), and chronic osteomyelitis (OM), and in normal controls before and after surgery. RESULTS The 24-hour levels of IL-1Ra were significantly increased in RA (P < 0.001), but there was no diurnal variation in any group. Preoperative levels of IL-1Ra were higher in RA and OA sera (P = 0.001). After surgery, IL-1Ra behaved like an acute-phase reactant protein in all subjects. IL-1 beta was 10-20 times higher in RA than in OM and OA patients at baseline, but the percentage increase in all groups postoperatively was the same. RA patients had an IL-1Ra:IL-1 beta ratio of 26.2 +/- 3.7 (mean +/- SEM) at baseline (OM patients 89.2 +/- 5.8 and OA patients 1,310 +/- 363); this increased to 66.5 +/- 19.8 after surgery (OM patients 120 +/- 6.7 and OA patients 325.8 +/- 106). CONCLUSION RA patients have a dysregulation of IL-1Ra production, and it seems unlikely that the defective hypothalamic response seen in RA is due to a functional deficit of IL-1 beta.
Giant males or dwarf females : what determines the extreme sexual size dimorphism in Lamprologus callipterus?

In the Lake Tanganyika cichlid Lamprologus callipterus, males were >12 times heavier than females, the most extreme sexual size dimorphism in this direction among animals. L. callipterus males construct nests of empty snail shells in which the females breed. If the ancestors of L. callipterus were small cichlids, both sexes may have used shells for shelter. If the ancestors were larger, snail shells could not be used as shelters and would be important only for reproduction. In the field and the laboratory, females bred only in shells and the largest spawned in the largest shells. In the field, females chose larger shells than the average available in males' territories and did not copy the mate choice of other females. They never hid from predators in snail shells and they occurred commonly in areas without any potential shell shelters. In laboratory experiments females used shells only for reproduction and hardly for shelter. Therefore, it seems unlikely that L. callipterus descended from small shell-brooding cichlids which used shells for shelter, but more likely that the ancestors were of large or intermediate size, and that female size is constrained by the sizes of snail shells, which appear to be optimal breeding substrata.
Balance Confidence Improves with Resistance or Agility Training

Background: While the fear of falling is a common psychological consequence of falling, older adults who have not fallen also frequently report this fear. Fear of falling can lead to activity restriction that is self-imposed rather than due to actual physical impairments. Evidence suggests that exercise can significantly improve balance confidence, as measured by falls-related self-efficacy scales. However, there are no prospective reports that correlate change in balance confidence with changes in fall risk and physical abilities as induced by participating in a group-based exercise program. Objective: The primary purpose of this prospective study was to examine the relationship between the change in balance confidence and the changes in fall risk and physical abilities in older women with confirmed low bone mass after 13 weeks of exercise participation. The secondary purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the change in balance confidence and the change in physical activity level. Methods: The sample comprised 98 women aged 75–85 years with low bone mass. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: resistance training (n = 32), agility training (n = 34), and stretching (sham) exercises (n = 32). The 50-min exercise classes for each study arm were held twice weekly at a local YMCA community centre. Results: Both resistance training and agility training significantly improved balance confidence by 6% from baseline after 13 weeks. However, the change in balance confidence was only weakly correlated with improved general physical function and not significantly correlated with the changes in fall risk score, postural stability, gait speed, or physical activity level. As well, we observed balance confidence enhancement in the presence of increased fall risk or deterioration in physical abilities. Conclusions: Two different types of exercise training improved balance confidence in older women with low bone mass. This change in balance confidence was significantly correlated with change in general physical function. Because of the observation of discordance between balance confidence change and changes in fall risk and physical abilities, those who design group-based exercise programs for community-dwelling older adults may wish to consider including an education component on factors that influence fear of falling. Objective changes in fall risk factors cannot be assumed to mirror change in fear of falling and physical abilities in older adults in the short-term.
Effects of Gate Line Width Roughness on Threshold-Voltage Fluctuation Among Short-Channel Transistors at High Drain Voltage

We have experimentally evaluated the effects of the gate line width roughness (LWR) on the electrical characteristics of scaled n-MOSFETs. A larger gate LWR enhances the fluctuation in the subthreshold leakage current in short-channel n-MOSFETs even when the average gate length is maintained. Consequently, suppressing the gate LWR effectively reduces the variability in the threshold voltage of the scaled n-MOSFETs for a high drain voltage.
Robust Convolutional Neural Networks for Image Recognition

Recently image recognition becomes vital task using several methods. One of the most interesting used methods is using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). It is widely used for this purpose. However, since there are some tasks that have small features that are considered an essential part of a task, then classification using CNN is not efficient because most of those features diminish before reaching the final stage of classification. In this work, analyzing and exploring essential parameters that can influence model performance. Furthermore different elegant prior contemporary models are recruited to introduce new leveraging model. Finally, a new CNN architecture is proposed which achieves state-of-the-art classification results on the different challenge benchmarks. The experimented are conducted on MNIST, CIFAR-10, and CIFAR-100 datasets. Experimental results showed that the results outperform and achieve superior results comparing to the most contemporary approaches.