Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biomass production, nutrient cycling, and carbon fixation by Salicornia brachiata Roxb.: A promising halophyte for coastal saline soil rehabilitation

ABSTRACT In order to increase our understanding of the interaction of soil-halophyte (Salicornia brachiata) relations and phytoremediation, we investigated the aboveground biomass, carbon fixation, and nutrient composition (N, P, K, Na, Ca, and Mg) of S. brachiata using six sampling sites with varying characteristics over one growing season in intertidal marshes. Simultaneously, soil characteristics and nutrient concentrations were also estimated. There was a significant variation in soil characteristics and nutrient contents spatially (except pH) as well as temporally. Nutrient contents in aboveground biomass of S. brachiata were also significantly differed spatially (except C and Cl) as well as temporally. Aboveground biomass of S. brachiata ranged from 2.51 to 6.07 t/ha at maturity and it was positively correlated with soil electrical conductivity and available Na, whereas negatively with soil pH. The K/Na ratio in plant was below one, showing tolerance to salinity. The aboveground C fixation values ranged from 0.77 to 1.93 C t/ha at all six sampling sites. This study provides new understandings into nutrient cycling—C fixation potential of highly salt-tolerant halophyte S. brachiata growing on intertidal soils of India. S. brachiata have a potential for amelioration of the salinity due to higher Na bioaccumulation factor.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Efficacy of C1-C2 Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide (SNAG) Versus Posterior Anterior Vertebral Mobilization (PAVMs) in the Management of Cervicogenic Headache

Objectives : To determine the effect of a C1-C2 sustained natural apophyseal glide (SNAG) as compare to posterior anterior (PA) vertebral mobilization on cervicogenic headache. Study Design : Randomized Control Trial. Method : The study was conducted on 60 patients with CGH. In this study, patients were divided into two groups, group A and group B equally. Group A of 30 patients received SNAG and at the same time Group B of 30 patients were treated with PAVMs. A pre tested and structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS 19. Outcome Measures : Pain and disability was measured on Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (0-10) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) before and after the treatment. Results : The study showed significant results for both the interventions in the treatment of CGH but SNAG mobilization has been more effective in reducing pain in CGH patients. Conclusions : On the basis of this study, it is proved that cervical SNAGS is more effective for the treatment of cervicegenic headaches as compared to PAVMs.
Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony-stimulating Factor Autoantibodies and Increased Intestinal Permeability in Crohn Disease

Background:Alterations in intestinal permeability have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Crohn disease (CD). We have reported that granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is required for mucosal barrier function in mice, and elevated neutralizing GM-CSF autoantibodies (Ab) are associated with stricturing ileal disease and surgery in patients with CD. We hypothesized that children with CD with elevated GM-CSF Ab would exhibit increased intestinal permeability. Patients and Methods:Subjects were divided into 3 groups: 15 with CD and high GM-CSF Ab (≥1.6 μg/mL, GM-CSF Ab Hi), 12 with CD and low GM-CSF Ab (<1.6 μg/mL, GM-CSF Ab Lo), and 15 healthy controls. Subjects ingested a lactulose:mannitol (L:M) solution, and urinary excretion of LM was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Serum GM-CSF Ab, endotoxin core Ab (EndoCAb), and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), and fecal S100A12 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:The CD groups did not vary by age, sex, disease location, or activity. Neither systemic (serum LBP) nor mucosal (fecal S100A12) inflammation differed between the CD groups. Intestinal permeability as measured by the urine L:M ratio and endotoxin exposure as measured by serum EndoCAb were increased in the GM-CSF Ab Hi group compared to the GM-CSF Ab Lo group and controls. Conclusions:Patients with CD with elevated GM-CSF Ab exhibit an increase in bowel permeability relative to patients with CD with lower levels of GM-CSF Ab in the absence of differences in systemic or intestinal inflammation. Therapies that target the mucosal barrier may be of particular benefit in this subgroup of patients with CD.
Alcohol and aggressive behavior in men–moderating effects of oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) polymorphisms

We explored if the disposition to react with aggression while alcohol intoxicated was moderated by polymorphic variants of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). Twelve OXTR polymorphisms were genotyped in 116 Finnish men [aged 18–30, M = 22.7, standard deviation (SD) = 2.4] who were randomly assigned to an alcohol condition in which they received an alcohol dose of 0.7 g pure ethanol/kg body weight or a placebo condition. Aggressive behavior was measured using a laboratory paradigm in which it was operationalized as the level of aversive noise administered to a fictive opponent. No main effects of the polymorphisms on aggressive behavior were found after controlling for multiple testing. The interactive effects between alcohol and two of the OXTR polymorphisms (rs4564970 and rs1488467) on aggressive behavior were nominally significant and remained significant for the rs4564970 when controlled for multiple tests. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimental study suggesting interactive effects of specific genetic variants and alcohol on aggressive behavior in humans.
Behavioral actions of alcohol: phenotypic relations from multivariate analysis of mutant mouse data

Behavioral studies on genetically diverse mice have proven powerful for determining relationships between phenotypes and have been widely used in alcohol research. Most of these studies rely on naturally occurring genetic polymorphisms among inbred strains and selected lines. Another approach is to introduce variation by engineering single‐gene mutations in mice. We have tested 37 different mutant mice and their wild‐type controls for a variety (31) of behaviors and have mined this data set by K‐means clustering and analysis of correlations. We found a correlation between a stress‐related response (activity in a novel environment) and alcohol consumption and preference for saccharin. We confirmed several relationships detected in earlier genetic studies, including positive correlation of alcohol consumption with saccharin consumption and negative correlations with conditioned taste aversion and alcohol withdrawal severity. Introduction of single‐gene mutations either eliminated or greatly diminished these correlations. The three tests of alcohol consumption used (continuous two‐bottle choice and two limited access tests: drinking in the dark and sustained high alcohol consumption) share a relationship with saccharin consumption, but differ from each other in their correlation networks. We suggest that alcohol consumption is controlled by multiple physiological systems where single‐gene mutations can disrupt the networks of such systems.
Risk Factors for Parenteral Nutrition–associated Liver Disease Following Surgical Therapy for Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Objective:The aim of the study was to prospectively determine risk factors for the development of parenteral nutrition–associated liver disease (PNALD) in infants who underwent surgery for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), the most common cause of intestinal failure in children. Patients and Methods:From February 2004 to February 2007, we diagnosed 464 infants with NEC, of whom 180 had surgery. One hundred twenty-seven patients were available for full analysis. PNALD was defined as serum direct bilirubin ≥2 mg/dL or ALT ≥2 × the upper limit of normal in the absence of sepsis after ≥14 days of exposure to PN. Results:Median gestational age was 26 weeks and 68% were boys. Seventy percent of the cohort developed PNALD and the incidence of PNALD varied significantly across the 6 study sites, ranging from 56% to 85% (P = 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified small-bowel resection or creation of jejunostomy (odds ratio [OR] 4.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.97–12.51, P = 0.0007) and duration of PN in weeks (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.56–3.60, P < 0.0001) as independent risk factors for PNALD. Preoperative exposure to PN was also associated with the development of PNALD; the risk of PNALD was 2.6 (95% CI 1.5–4.7; P = 0.001) times greater in patients with ≥4 weeks of preoperative PN compared with those with less preoperative PN use. Breast milk feedings, episodes of infection, and gestational age were not related to the development of PNALD. Conclusions:The incidence of PNALD is high in infants with NEC undergoing surgical treatment. Risk factors for PNALD are related to signs of NEC severity, including the need for small-bowel resection or proximal jejunostomy, as well as longer exposure to PN. Identification of these and other risk factors can help in the design of clinical trials for the prevention and treatment of PNALD and for clinical assessment of patients with NEC and prolonged PN dependence.
Mice with reduced NMDA receptor expression: more consistent with autism than schizophrenia?

Reduced NMDA‐receptor (NMDAR) function has been implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disease, most strongly in schizophrenia but also recently in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). To determine the direct contribution of NMDAR dysfunction to disease phenotypes, a mouse model with constitutively reduced expression of the obligatory NR1 subunit has been developed and extensively investigated. Adult NR1neo−/− mice show multiple abnormal behaviors, including reduced social interactions, locomotor hyperactivity, self‐injury, deficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI) and sensory hypersensitivity, among others. Whereas such phenotypes have largely been interpreted in the context of schizophrenia, these behavioral abnormalities are rather non‐specific and are frequently present across models of diseases characterized by negative symptom domains. This study investigated auditory electrophysiological and behavioral paradigms relevant to autism, to determine whether NMDAR hypofunction may be more consistent with adult ASD‐like phenotypes. Indeed, transgenic mice showed behavioral deficits relevant to all core ASD symptoms, including decreased social interactions, altered ultrasonic vocalizations and increased repetitive behaviors. NMDAR disruption recapitulated clinical endophenotypes including reduced PPI, auditory‐evoked response N1 latency delay and reduced gamma synchrony. Auditory electrophysiological abnormalities more closely resembled those seen in clinical studies of autism than schizophrenia. These results suggest that NMDAR hypofunction may be associated with a continuum of neuropsychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia and autism. Neural synchrony abnormalities suggest an imbalance of glutamatergic and GABAergic coupling and may provide a target, along with behavioral phenotypes, for preclinical screening of novel therapeutics.
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy and the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors agents

Current gold standard treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) aimed at reducing the drive for new vessel proliferation. The focus is now changing to include the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents in conjunction with the gold standard in order to improve efficacy and reduce known side-effects associated with PRP, thus providing better outcomes for this group of advanced retinopathy. This paper aims to summarize our current knowledge behind the development of PDR, with review of treatment with anti-VEGF agents. Systematic search of both PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed to identify relevant articles. Only articles in the English-language were selected for review. The use of anti-VEGF agents in conjunction with PRP has been shown to be beneficial in the regression of new vessels, reduction of macular edema as well as reduced duration of vitreous hemorrhage. In addition, its use during surgical intervention for PDR can reduce the duration of surgery and early postoperative complications. Despite the lack of large randomized controlled trials in this area there is significant evidence from case series showing the beneficial as well as the adverse effects of this treatment modality. The need for a large randomized controlled trial is an important development for diabetic retinopathy management.
The causal effects of home care use on institutional long-term care utilization and expenditures.

Limited evidence exists on whether expanding home care saves money overall or how much institutional long-term care can be reduced. This paper estimates the causal effect of Medicaid-financed home care services on the costs and utilization of institutional long-term care using Medicaid claims data. A unique instrumental variable was applied to address the potential bias caused by omitted variables or reverse effect of institutional care use. We find that the use of Medicaid-financed home care services significantly reduced but only partially offset utilization and Medicaid expenditures on nursing facility services. A $1000 increase in Medicaid home care expenditures avoided 2.75 days in nursing facilities and reduced annual Medicaid nursing facility costs by $351 among people over age 65 when selection bias is addressed. Failure to address selection biases would misestimate the substitution and offset effects.
Cadmium accumulation and main rhizosphere characteristics of seven French marigold (Tagetes patula L.) cultivars.

The study was conducted to determine Cd accumulation and Cd fraction in the rhizosphere soil of seven Tagetes patula cultivars (Little Hero Orange, Durango Yellow, Janie Yellow Bright, Lucifer Yellow, Hero Flame, Hongyun Red, Konghuang Yellow). T. patula cultivars showed strong tolerance and accumulation to Cd. The highest Cd concentration (273.77 mg kg-1) in shoots was observed in Little Hero Orange when treated with Cd100. For most cultivars, Cd treatments significantly affected rhizosphere pH values, but had a slight effect on dissolved organic carbon (DOC). pH were negatively correlated with Cd accumulation and Cd percentages in the exchangeable fraction in the rhizosphere soil of Little Hero Orange, Durango Yellow, and Konghuang Yellow. No significant correlation was observed between DOC, Cd accumulation and Cd percentage in the exchangeable fraction in the rhizosphere soil, except for Konghuang Yellow. The results suggested that pH might be related to Cd bioavailability and their uptake by T. patula. Among seven cultivars, Little Hero Orange showed the greatest pH decrease, highest shoot Cd accumulation and Cd percentage in the exchangeable fraction, suggesting the difference in pH responses to Cd levels among T. patula might be responsible for their different ability of Cd activation.
Are Immunoglobulin A Anti-gliadin Antibodies Helpful in Diagnosing Coeliac Disease in Children Younger Than 2 Years?

ABSTRACT The usefulness of immumoglobulin (Ig) A antibodies to gliadin (AGA-IgA) in addition to IgA anti-endomysium and tissue transglutaminase antibodies was evaluated in 4122 children younger than 2 years with a suspicion of coeliac disease (CD). Eight percent (312/4122) displayed IgA anti-endomysium and/or IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase, whereas 2.1% (85/4122) displayed only AGA-IgA. Clinical data were obtained for 62 of 85 children with isolated AGA-IgA, and 33 children underwent a duodenal biopsy. Histologically proven CD was established for 5 patients, whereas 57 children were diagnosed to experience other diseases. The systematic detection of AGA-IgA using native gliadin conferred no additional diagnostic benefit for the diagnosis of CD in children younger than 2 years of age, except for rare cases.
Science and Innovation: The US Pharmaceutical Industry During the 1980s

As with other industries, the driving force behind the pharmaceutical industry is economic. However, the economic influences affecting pharmaceutical companies differ markedly from those affecting other industries. Among the major differences are price controls imposed in some countries and threatened in others; the substitution of generic products for the innovator's product, once the original patent runs out; and the shrinking number of customers for drugs. Purchasing decisions are now being made primarily by formulary committees of hospitals, consortia, and managed care institutions. This book, written by a professor of economics, focuses on economics, but none of the topics mentioned above is discussed in any depth. Rather, the author discusses the economics of drug discovery and, to a lesser degree, drug development. Precise economic models of drug discovery and development are presented. Gambardella describes the transition of drug discovery during this century from random screening and trial-and-error methods to the more
Antiepileptic drugs in pediatric epilepsy

The epilepsies are socially handicapping disorders and even a single seizure occurring in certain circumstances may have disastrous effect. The impact of epilepsy on every aspect of both the lives of the child and family is significant. Issues such as mental retardation, subtle neuropsychologic disturbances, cognitive problems, behavioral problems and learning difficulties are major factors affecting the children with epilepsy. Drug treatment is the major form of therapy for a vast majority of children with epilepsy. The choice of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in a child depends on the type of seizures, syndrome diagnosis, age of the patient and its consequent adverse effects. The metabolism of AED also differs according to the pediatric age group, requiring different dose regimens. Here, a brief review of AED used in the pediatric age group is presented.
Pattern of cigarette smoking effect on periodontal pocketing and attachment loss: a retrospective study.

AIM The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the local effects of smoking on periodontium and to assess the patterns of periodontitis (pocket depths and attachment loss) in smokers and non-smokers. METHODS In this study, records of 126 non-smokers and 51 smokers (≥ 5 cigarettes/day) periodontitis patients were evaluated and probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP) data were collected from clinical patients records. Patients' data were subject to two sample t-tests to assess the difference between the groups and to analysis of variance using the generalized linear model to seek associations between smoking and site positions, age and clinical parameters. RESULTS The difference between CAL of smokers and non-smokers was greatest at the anterior maxillary palatal sites (P = 0.002) and reached 1 mm. When the effect of different site positions as well as smoking as a between subject variable and age as a co-variate on the attachment level measurements were assessed using analysis of variance, significant effects for smoking, jaw (lower versus upper) and anterior-posterior position as well as age were detected. No significant interactions were found between smoking and any of the three position variables. CONCLUSION Lack of interaction between smoking and any of the three position variables indicates that the destructive effects of smoking on the periodontal tissues maybe mainly from systemic side-effects and almost independent of the site position within the mouth, although some additional local effects may be present in areas such as anterior palatal sites.
Harper et al. Respond to “Measuring Social Disparities in Health”

Like Messer (1), we have suggested using measures of absolute disparity, at least as a starting point for discussions of the size of health disparities, because they quantify the absolute burden of disease among disadvantaged populations and the potential gains to overall population health from reducing absolute disparities (3, 4). However, by way of clarification, her argument that absolute measures are preferable because they indicate the fraction of the disadvantaged population adversely affected is not necessarily true. Houweling et al. (5) show that absolute disparities and disease levels tend to have an inverse U-shaped association (differences tend to be larger when overall rates of disease are average and smaller at the extremes), whereas ratio measures generally decline with increasing overall prevalence. Relative disparity indicators may be useful when comparing disparities across outcomes measured on different scales. For example, Keppel (6) recently ranked relative disparities across hundreds of Healthy People 2010 objectives to identify the 10 ‘‘largest’’ health disparities for five race-ethnic groups. However, his paper also highlights the potential utility of the summary measures of health disparity that we surveyed, as it is difficult to think about how to prioritize an ordering of 50 race-ethnic-specific disparity measures, even for a single time period. Despite the appeal of relative measures for comparing across outcomes, an exclusive focus on relative measures can nevertheless lead to counterintuitive conclusions. For instance, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke mortality do not appear on Keppel’s top 10 list of health disparities for any race-ethnic group, despite the fact that they still account for one third of US deaths and make large contributions to race-ethnic differences in life expectancy (7).
Effectiveness of a mouthrinse containing active ingredients in addition to chlorhexidine and triclosan compared with chlorhexidine and triclosan rinses on plaque, gingivitis, supragingival calculus and extrinsic staining.

OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of three different mouthrinses--chlorhexidine, triclosan + sodium fluoride and chlorhexidine + triclosan + sodium fluoride + zinc chloride--on plaque, calculus, gingivitis and stains and to evaluate the occurrence of adverse effects with these three treatments. METHODS Forty-eight healthy subjects participated in a double-blind, randomized, parallel experiment and were randomly allocated to any one of the three experimental mouthrinses: group A (0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) gluconate), group B (0.03% triclosan + 0.025% sodium fluoride (NaF) + 12% ethyl alcohol) or group C (0.2% CHX + 0.3% triclosan + 0.3% NaF + 0.09% Zn chloride (ZnCl(2)). All the subjects were assessed for gingivitis, plaque, supragingival calculus and extrinsic stains at baseline and at the end of the 21-day experimental period. RESULTS There was a significant difference (P = 0.046) in the effectiveness for the prevention of gingivitis and plaque, with subjects of group A and group C presenting least and highest gingival and plaque scores, respectively. Significant differences (P = 0.03) were observed for the accumulation of supragingival calculus where the deposition of calculus in group A was nearly double that of the group B, and group B was most effective in the prevention of supragingival calculus. Highest deposition of extrinsic stains was in the group A followed by group C and group B. There was no significant difference between the three treatments for adverse events' occurrence. CONCLUSIONS CHX mouthrinse was most effective in controlling plaque and gingivitis but caused greatest deposition of extrinsic stains. Supragingival calculus deposition was least in triclosan + NaF group followed by CHX + triclosan + NaF + ZnCl(2) and CHX. More than half of the subjects reported adverse events during the experimental phase.