Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apolipoprotein E and central nervous system disorders: Reviews of clinical findings

Dementia is a major health problem in developed countries with over 25 million people affected worldwide and probably over 75 million people at risk during the next 20 years. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia (50–70%), followed by vascular dementia (30–40%), and mixed dementia (15–20%). AD pathogenesis is still to be elucidated but it is believed to be the complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors in later life. Three causative genes for familial AD have been identified: amyloid precursor protein, presenilin‐1, and presenilin‐2. There are 150 genes involved with increased neuronal vulnerability to premature death in the AD brain. Among these susceptibility genes, the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene is the most prevalent as a risk for AD pathogenic process in which complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors are involved, leading to a cascade of pathogenic events converging in final pathways to premature neuronal death. Some of these mechanisms are common to several neurodegenerative disorders that differ depending upon the genes affected and the involvement of environmental conditions.
Peritoneal Catheters and Exit-Site Practices toward Optimum Peritoneal Access: A Review of Current Developments

Objective This review updates the 1998 International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) recommendations for peritoneal dialysis catheters and exit-site practices (Gokal R, et al. Peritoneal catheters and exit-site practices toward optimum peritoneal access: 1998 update. Perit Dial Int 1998; 18:11–33.) Design Data Sources: The Ovid and PubMed search engines were used to review the Medline databases of January 1980 through June 2003. Searches were restricted to human data; primary key word searches included dialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis cross referenced with access, catheter, dialysis catheter, peritoneal dialysis catheter, and Tenckhoff catheter. Related searches were provided via the PubMed related articles link. Study Selection: Reports were selected if they provided identifiable information on catheter design, catheter placement technique, and survival or placement complications. Reports without such data were excluded from review. Each study was then categorized by its characteristics: single-center or multicenter; retrospective or prospective; controlled trial, with or without random patient assignment; or review article. Main Results There are few randomized controlled evaluations testing how catheter design and/or placement influence long-term survival and function, and these are typically conducted at a single center. The majority of reports represent retrospective single-center experiences, and these are supplemented by occasional multicenter data registries. Conclusions There is substantial variability in catheter outcomes between centers, and this variability is more closely correlated with operator and center characteristics than with catheter design. Some catheter designs appear to impact long-term catheter success, and, in some cases, specific patient characteristics and dialysis formats combine with specific catheter designs to influence catheter survival. Most reporters prefer two-cuff designs and placement of the deep cuff at an intramuscular location. Intramuscular cuff placement results in fewer pericatheter leaks and hernias, but makes catheter removal more difficult. High-risk patients (those with previous pelvic surgery) benefit from visual inspection of the peritoneum during catheter placement, and in randomized controlled trials, catheters with pre-shaped arcuate subcutaneous segments (“swan neck” designs) reduce the risk of early drainage failure via “migration. ”
MRI changes during water loading in patients with polydipsia and intermittent hyponatremia.

OBJECTIVE Patients with polydipsia and intermittent hyponatremia have greater ventricle-brain ratios (VBRs) than matched patients without polydipsia and intermittent hyponatremia and normal subjects. Unlike previous studies, this study controlled for the impact of water loading when examining the volume of intracranial structures. METHOD Under controlled conditions, eight male schizophrenic patients with polydipsia and intermittent hyponatremia were first assigned to either normal fluid intake or oral water loading and then the alternative condition the following day. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetric measurements were made with the use of a standardized protocol. RESULTS During water loading, total VBR and lateral ventricle volume significantly decreased by 13.1% and 12.6%, respectively. A strong association between change in serum sodium concentration and change in VBR was noted across conditions. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that 1) water loading does not account for the diminished brain volume observed in patients with polydipsia and intermittent hyponatremia in previous studies, and 2) hyponatremia can significantly alter brain morphology on MRI.
Inhibition of Biofilm Formation by Esomeprazole in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are common nosocomial pathogens responsible for biofilm-associated infections. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI), such as esomeprazole, may have novel antimicrobial properties. The objective of this study was to assess whether esomeprazole prevents sessile bacterial growth and biofilm formation and whether it may have synergistic killing effects with standard antibiotics. The antibiofilm activity of esomeprazole at 0.25 mM was tested against two strains each of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Bacterial biofilms were prepared using a commercially available 96-peg-plate Calgary biofilm device. Sessile bacterial CFU counts and biomass were assessed during 72 hours of esomeprazole exposure. The killing activities after an additional 24 hours of vancomycin (against S. aureus) and meropenem (against P. aeruginosa) treatment with or without preexposure to esomeprazole were also assessed by CFU and biomass analyses. P. aeruginosa and S. aureus strains exposed to esomeprazole displayed decreased sessile bacterial growth and biomass (P < 0.001, each parameter). After 72 h of exposure, there was a 1-log10 decrease in the CFU/ml of esomeprazole-exposed P. aeruginosa and S. aureus strains compared to controls (P < 0.001). After 72 h of exposure, measured absorbance was 100% greater in P. aeruginosa control strains than in esomeprazole-exposed strains (P < 0.001). Increased killing and decreased biomass were observed for esomeprazole-treated bacteria compared to untreated controls exposed to conventional antibiotics (P < 0.001, each parameter). Reduced biofilm growth after 24 h was visibly apparent by light micrographs for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus isolates exposed to esomeprazole compared to untreated controls. In conclusion, esomeprazole demonstrated an antibiofilm effect against biofilm-producing S. aureus and P. aeruginosa.
Primary health care nursing staff in Crete: an emerging profile.

BACKGROUND In 2001, the newly established Regional Health and Welfare System of Crete commissioned the first needs' assessment study of nursing personnel employed in the public sector of primary health care (PHC). AIM To capture the profile and professional needs of nursing staff working in Health Centers throughout the island of Crete and explore variations in nursing practice by educational preparation. METHODS A newly developed, psychometrically tested questionnaire, was administered to all nursing staff in 14 rural Health Centers. FINDINGS Vacancy rates are high, indicating a serious staffing deficit. The type of degree earned (2-year vs. 3 or 4-year program) does not differentiate nursing practice, with only two exceptions (obtaining a patient's history and counselling patients). The majority of respondents assess their existing knowledge and skills as 'adequate' while indicating a strong desire for continuing education. Job satisfaction is high in terms of interactions with clients and community recognition, while it is rated 'low' in terms of daily interactions with colleagues and support from work environment. CONCLUSION Cretan nursing staff in PHC operate within a restricted and task-orientated framework. Their educational preparation has little effect in practice role variations and professional needs. The Regional Health and Welfare System of Crete should address daily supervision and support issues, on-the-job training, continuing education needs, while taking immediate action to avoid potential turnover of existing staff and to aggressively recruit young, qualified nursing staff who will choose a career in PHC nursing.
The Role of Executive Functions in Classroom Instruction of Studentswith Learning Disabilities

In this article, we describe executive functions and their role in determining student academic success. We focus on the executive function difficulties of students with learning disabilities and explain how executive dysfunctions can negatively affect different academic areas (e.g., reading comprehension, mathematics). Finally, we offer ways teachers can modify their instruction to better address the diverse needs of students with learning disabilities who are struggling to perform various academic tasks.
Mood and anxiety disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis

Objective. This study aims to investigate the current prevalences of mood and anxiety disorders, as well as the sociodemographic and clinical features associated with these disorders in multiple sclerosis (MS). Method. A total of 74 patients with relapsing–remitting MS (42 patients in exacerbation phase, 32 patients in remission phase) were included in the study. Mood and anxiety disorders were diagnosed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I). The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used to determine degree of disability due to MS. Results. Forty-five (60.8%) patients met the criterion of at least one mood or anxiety disorder. Major depression (33.8%) was the most common psychiatric diagnosis. Generalized anxiety disorder (18.9%), specific phobia (18.9%) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (14.9%) were other frequent psychiatric disorders. Major depression, panic disorder and OCD were significantly more common among patients in the exacerbation phase compared to patients in the remission phase. The predictors of any depressive disorder were presence of exacerbation phase of MS and higher disability level, and the predictors of any anxiety disorder were presence of exacerbation phase of MS and shorter disease duration. Conclusions. Our results suggest that the patients with relapsing–remitting MS, particularly during exacerbation phase have high prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders.
Diagnostic value of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae and antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies in inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVES:Correct diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially the differentiation between Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is highly important toward treatment and prognosis. Serological markers are noninvasive diagnostic tools that could be of value in differentiating CD from UC, in cases of indeterminate colitis, and in the identification of subgroups in IBD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic (pANCA) and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) for IBD.METHODS:ASCA and pANCA were studied in a large cohort of consecutive IBD patients (n = 582: 407 CD, 147 UC, and 28 indeterminate colitis), patients with non-IBD diarrheal illnesses (n = 74), and healthy controls (n = 157). An indirect immunofluorescence technique and a standardized ELISA were performed for detection of pANCA and ASCA, respectively.RESULTS:Prevalence of ASCA and pANCA was high in CD patients (59.7%) and UC (49.7%) patients, respectively. Positivity for both markers was significantly lower in healthy and non-IBD controls. Accuracy data (sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV, respectively) for differentiating IBD from controls are as follows: ASCA+: 60% (243/407), 91% (345/378), 88% (243/276), and 68% (345/509); pANCA+: 50% (73/147), 95% (605/638), 69% (73/106), and 89% (605/679); ASCA+/pANCA−: 56% (229/407), 94% (355/378), 91% (229/252), and 67% (355/533); and pANCA+/ASCA−: 44% (65/147), 97% (620/638), 78% (65/83), and 88% (620/702). CONCLUSIONS:Specificity of serological markers for IBD is high, but low sensitivity makes them less useful as diagnostic tests. The combination of tests is probably more powerful, although, clinical subgroups still need to be defined. The usefulness of these markers in indeterminate colitis needs to be studied prospectively.
Associations between healthy lifestyle behaviors and proteinuria and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

AIM The aim was to investigate the respective associations between lifestyle and proteinuria and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). METHODS The lifestyle habits of 25,493 middle-aged participants were investigated in a cross-sectional study to find habits that are associated with a low eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) and/or the presence of proteinuria. The lifestyle habits of the participants were evaluated using a questionnaire. Unhealthy lifestyle habits were defined as follows: 1. obesity, 2. being a current/former smoker, 3. eating irregular meals, 4. having less than 5 hours sleep, 5. exercising less than once a week, and 6. drinking more than once a week. The associations among unhealthy habits, eGFR, and proteinuria were evaluated using multivariate analysis. RESULTS The following lifestyle factors were significantly and independently associated with proteinuria: obesity (odds ratio (OR): 1.18, 95%C.I: 1.04-1.34), being a current/former smoker (OR: 1.26, 95%C.I: 1.11-1.42), eating irregular meals (OR: 1.40, 95%C.I: 1.22-1.61), sleeping less than 5 hours (OR: 1.38, 95%C.I: 1.15-1.65), and exercising less than once a week (OR: 1.18, 95%C.I: 1.05-1.33). In contrast, the following unhealthy lifestyle factors were not clearly associated with a low eGFR: obesity (OR: 1.05, 95%C.I: 0.95-1.17), being a current/former smoker (OR: 0.76, 95%C.I: 0.69-0.84), eating irregular meals (OR: 0.91, 95%C.I: 0.79-1.04), sleeping less than 5 hours (OR: 1.02, 95%C.I: 0.85-1.22), and exercising less than once a week (OR: 0.91, 95%C.I: 0.83-0.99). CONCLUSION Associations between proteinuria and unhealthy lifestyle habits were observed in our cross-sectional study. Unhealthy lifestyles should be monitored during the management of CKD patients with proteinuria.
Diagnosis of Congenital Chagas Disease Using an Iron Superoxide Dismutase Excreted as Antigen, in Mothers and Their Children During the First Year of Life

Background: Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is endemic in Latin America. Human infection is mainly spread by Triatominae insects. Other forms of transmission are congenital, blood transfusion and organ transplantation. Methods: Anti-T. cruzi antibodies were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot (WB) in 155 serum samples from mothers and their babies. Indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) and a commercial test were used to validate efficacy of a specific ELISA–iron-excreted superoxide dismutase assay. Sera from babies were collected at 6 and 12 months, whereas maternal samples were obtained after delivery. Calostrum and umbilical cord samples were simultaneously obtained. Results: Anti-T. cruzi antibodies were detected in 8 (5.16%) mothers by ELISA-WB, in 7 (4.51%) using IFA and in 1 (0.64%) by a commercial kit. Nine (5.80%) 6-month-old children were positive by ELISA-WB and 7 (4.51%) by IFA; negative results were obtained when the commercial kit was used. At 12 month of age, 15 (9.67%) children were positive by ELISA-WB, 13 (8.38%) by IFA and 1 (0.64%) by the commercial test. Antibodies were detected in 4 mothers whose children were serologically negative. Four other mothers and their children were positive, but only one of them had detected antibodies in umbilical cord up to 12 months, thus assuming vertical transmission. Conclusions: The use of iron-excreted superoxide dismutase as antigen in serologic tests for detection of T. cruzi yielded promising results as diagnostic procedure.
Cooption of an appendage-patterning gene cassette in the head segmentation of arachnids

Significance In the fruit fly, ventral appendage (leg) identity is specified by a gene network including Wnt-1/wg, Sp6-9, and Dll, but little is known about the conservation of this network beyond insects. We disrupted Wnt signaling and Sp6-9 in a spider, a member of Chelicerata, the sister group to all remaining arthropods. Our results provide support for the conservation of a leg development gene regulatory network across Arthropoda. Dll has previously been reported to have a role in head segmentation that is restricted to spiders, and we show here that the Sp6-9/Dll cassette has been independently coopted for arachnid head segmentation. The jointed appendages of arthropods have facilitated the spectacular diversity and success of this phylum. Key to the regulation of appendage outgrowth is the Krüppel-like factor (KLF)/specificity protein (Sp) family of zinc finger transcription factors. In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, the Sp6-9 homolog is activated by Wnt-1/wingless (wg) and establishes ventral appendage (leg) fate. Subsequently, Sp6-9 maintains expression of the axial patterning gene Distal-less (Dll), which promotes limb outgrowth. Intriguingly, in spiders, Dll has been reported to have a derived role as a segmentation gap gene, but the evolutionary origin and regulation of this function are not understood because functional investigations of the appendage-patterning regulatory network are restricted to insects. We tested the evolutionary conservation of the ancestral appendage-patterning network of arthropods with a functional approach in the spider. RNAi-mediated knockdown of the spider Sp6-9 ortholog resulted in diminution or loss of Dll expression and truncation of appendages, as well as loss of the two body segments specified by the early Dll function. In reciprocal experiments, Dll is shown not to be required for Sp6-9 expression. Knockdown of arrow (Wnt-1 coreceptor) disrupted segmentation and appendage development but did not affect the early Sp6-9 expression domain. Ectopic appendages generated in the spider “abdomen” by knockdown of the Hox gene Antennapedia-1 (Antp-1) expressed Sp6-9 comparably to wild-type walking legs. Our results support (i) the evolutionary conservation of an appendage-patterning regulatory network that includes canonical Wnt signaling, Sp6-9, and Dll and (ii) the cooption of the Sp6-9/Dll regulatory cassette in arachnid head segmentation.
ANTIBIOGRAM PROFILE OF PATHOGENIC FUNGI ON SEIDENFIA RHEEDII LEAF EXTRACTS

Antibiogram profile of various pathogenic fungi on different solvent extracts of Seidenfia rheedii leaf were evaluated using the paper disc agar diffusion method by measuring the diameter of the growth inhibition zones. Among various solvent extracts tested, ethanol leaf extracts exhibited greater inhibition followed by ethyl acetate and chloroform solvent extracts. The petroleum ether, ethanol (1: 1) showed a low degree of inhibition on test fungi whereas no activity was associated with aqueous extract of Seidenfia rheedii. The zones of inhibition for each extract was compared with standard antibiotics. The inhibition zones of each solvent extracts found to be either less than or nearly equal to the inhibition zones of standard antibiotics. The leaf extracts showed greater inhibition than the other parts used). From the results achieved there appears to be a rationale for the use of this plant to combat infectious diseases, Seidenfia rheedii had an inhibitory effect on the pathogenic fungi causing infections in human beings. Hence, Seidenfia rheedii would be the effective plant as it demonstrated good activity against fungi. This would add merit to its traditional use in the treatment of infectious diseases.
A unique seroepidemiological pattern of HBV, HCV and HTLV-I in Nenets and Komi in northwestern Russia.

An epidemiological study of hepatitis viruses type B (HBV) and type C (HCV) and human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) was carried out among 105 residents (male:female=19:86) regarded as Nenets partly mixed with Komi, in the region of Krasnoe, the Nenets Autonomous District of the Arkhangelsk Region, in northwestern Russia in 2004. Blood was drawn from apparently healthy volunteers at ages of 41.6+/-16.5 (range 14-85) years. HBsAg, HBsAb, HBcAb, HBeAb and HCV Ab were measured by microparticle enzyme-immunoassay, and HTLV-I Ab was measured by particle agglutination. Prevalences of HBsAg(+), HBsAb(+), HBcAb(+) and HBeAb(+) were 0.0%, 29.5. %, 20.0% and 7.6%, respectively. The overall HBV infection rate (positive HBsAb or HBcAb) was 34.3%, while no positive HCV or HTLV-I Abs could be detected. A serological subgroup with positive HBsAb and negative HBcAb, consisting of 15(14.3%) females, contrasted sharply to other serological subgroups in sex, age, parent's ethnicity, positive HBeAb rate, and HBcAb inhibition%. We conclude that HBV is prevalent with unique serological patterns among the Nenets, while HCV and HTLV-I infections are negligible.
“It is not an easy decision on HIV, especially in Zambia”: opting for silence, limited disclosure and implicit understanding to retain a wider identity

Abstract As universal testing moves onto the HIV agenda, there is a need for more understanding of the relatively low uptake of HIV testing and the dynamics of disclosure in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the expanding provision of anti-retroviral therapy in Zambia since 2004, disclosure of HIV status – beyond a closed network – remains limited. Drawing on 20 years of living and working in a high HIV prevalence country, research on HIV-related stigma and existing literature on disclosure, this paper explores the reasons that lie behind limited disclosure. Unravelling why HIV disclosure remains “a navigation in a moral field”, the pattern of silence around HIV and the routine and often subtle presence of HIV in daily life reveals two key dynamics. The first dynamic is shifting public/private boundaries and retaining a wider identity. People living with HIV juggle the pragmatic advantages of disclosing to a limited circle with the importance of maintaining not only their moral integrity, status and (for some) professional and group identity but also of maintaining their privacy. A more public disclosure (“speaking it” more widely) shifts private–public boundaries and can be threatening, dangerous and can fix identity. Furthermore, disclosure carries obligations which, given high levels of poverty, can be hard to meet. The second dynamic is a pattern of implicit understanding. It can be easier in a context of high HIV prevalence to opt for silence, in its various forms, with the presence of HIV implicitly understood but not often explicitly spoken about. Although this gives more room for manoeuvre and for respect, silence too can be dangerous and certain situations dictate that it is better to breach the silence. More aggressive promotion of HIV testing needs to both respect and consider how to work within these existing dynamics to facilitate safe disclosure.