Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Technical quality of root canal treatment performed by undergraduate students using hand instrumentation: a meta‐analysis

The technical quality of root canal treatment (RCT) may impact on the outcome. The quality of education received during undergraduate school may be linked to the quality of treatment provided in general dental practice. In this context, the aim of this systematic review was to answer the following focused questions: (i) What is the frequency of acceptable technical quality of root fillings, assessed radiographically, performed by undergraduate students? (ii) What are the most common errors assessed radiographically and reported in these treatments? For this purpose, articles that evaluated the quality of root fillings performed by undergraduate students were selected. Data were collected based on predetermined criteria. The key features from the included studies were extracted. GRADE-tool assessed the quality of the evidence. MAStARI evaluated the methodological quality, and a meta-analysis on all studies was conducted. At the end of the screening, 24 articles were identified. Overall frequency of acceptable technical quality of root fillings was 48%. From this total, 52% related to anterior teeth, 49% to premolars and 26% to molars. The main procedural errors reported were ledge formation, furcation perforation, apical transportation and apical perforation. The heterogeneity amongst the studies was high (84-99%). Five studies had a high risk of bias, eight had a moderate risk, and 11 had low risk. The overall quality of evidence identified was very low. The conclusion was that technical quality of root fillings performed by undergraduate students is low, which may reveal that endodontic education has limited achievement at undergraduate level. A plan to improve the quality of root fillings, and by extrapolation the overall quality of root canal treatment, should be discussed by the staff responsible for endodontic education and training.
Spatial and seasonal variations of fine particle water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) over the southeastern United States: implications for secondary organic aerosol formation

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in the south- eastern US is investigated by analyzing the spatial-temporal distribution of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and other PM2.5 components from 900 archived 24-h Teflon fil- ters collected at 15 urban or rural EPA Federal Reference Method (FRM) network sites throughout 2007. Online mea- surements of WSOC at an urban/rural-paired site in Georgia in the summer of 2008 are contrasted to the filter data. Based on FRM filters, excluding biomass-burning events (levoglu- cosan < 50 ng m 3 ), WSOC and sulfate were highly corre- lated with PM2.5 mass (r 2 0.7). Both components com- prised a large mass fraction of PM2.5 (13 % and 31 %, re- spectively, or 25 % and 50 % for WSOM and ammonium sulfate). Sulfate and WSOC both tracked ambient tempera- ture throughout the year, suggesting the temperature effects were mainly linked to faster photochemistry and/or synoptic meteorology and less due to enhanced biogenic hydrocarbon emissions. FRM WSOC, and to a lesser extent sulfate, were spatially homogeneous throughout the region, yet WSOC was moderately enhanced (27 %) in locations of greater pre- dicted isoprene emissions in summer. A Positive Matrix Fac- torization (PMF) analysis identified two major source types for the summer WSOC; 22 % of the WSOC were associated with ammonium sulfate, and 56 % of the WSOC were as- sociated with brown carbon and oxalate. A small urban ex- cess of FRM WSOC (10 %) was observed in the summer of 2007, however, comparisons of online WSOC measurements at one urban/rural pair (Atlanta/Yorkville) in August 2008 showed substantially greater difference in WSOC (31 %) rel- ative to the FRM data, suggesting a low bias for urban fil- ters. The measured Atlanta urban excess, combined with the estimated boundary layer heights, gave an estimated Atlanta daily WSOC production rate in August of 0.55 mgC m 2 h 1 between mid-morning and mid-afternoon. This study charac- terizes the regional nature of fine particles in the southeastern US, confirming the importance of SOA and the roles of both biogenic and anthropogenic emissions.
Twelve-week combined resistance and aerobic training confers greater benefits than aerobic training alone in nondialysis CKD.

There is a growing consensus that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) should engage in regular exercise, but there is a lack of formal guidelines. In this report, we determined whether combined aerobic and resistance exercise would elicit superior physiological gains, in particular muscular strength, compared with aerobic training alone in nondialysis CKD. Nondialysis patients with CKD stages 3b-5 were randomly allocated to aerobic exercise {AE, n = 21; 9 men; median age 63 [interquartile range (IQR) 58-71] yr; median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 24 (IQR 20-30) ml·min-1·1.73 m-2} or combined exercise [CE, n = 20, 9 men, median age 63 (IQR 51-69) yr, median eGFR 27 (IQR 22-32) ml·min-1·1.73 m-2], preceded by a 6-wk run-in control period. Patients then underwent 12 wk of supervised AE (treadmill, rowing, or cycling exercise) or CE training (as AE plus leg extension and leg press exercise) performed three times per week. Outcome assessments of knee extensor muscle strength, quadriceps muscle volume, exercise capacity, and central hemodynamics were performed at baseline, following the 6-wk control period, and at the end of the intervention. AE and CE resulted in significant increases in knee extensor strength of 16 ± 19% (mean ± SD; P = 0.001) and 48 ± 37% ( P < 0.001), respectively, which were greater after CE ( P = 0.02). AE and CE resulted in 5 ± 7% ( P = 0.04) and 9 ± 7% ( P < 0.001) increases in quadriceps volume, respectively ( P < 0.001), which were greater after CE ( P = 0.01). Both AE and CE increased distance walked in the incremental shuttle walk test [28 ± 44 m ( P = 0.01) and 32 ± 45 m ( P = 0.01), respectively]. In nondialysis CKD, the addition of resistance exercise to aerobic exercise confers greater increases in muscle mass and strength than aerobic exercise alone.
The impact of health information technology on patient safety

Since the original Institute of Medicine (IOM) report was published there has been an accelerated development and adoption of health information technology with varying degrees of evidence about the impact of health information technology on patient safety. This article is intended to review the current available scientific evidence on the impact of different health information technologies on improving patient safety outcomes. We conclude that health information technology improves patient’s safety by reducing medication errors, reducing adverse drug reactions, and improving compliance to practice guidelines. There should be no doubt that health information technology is an important tool for improving healthcare quality and safety. Healthcare organizations need to be selective in which technology to invest in, as literature shows that some technologies have limited evidence in improving patient safety outcomes.
Cross talk between β subunits, intracellular Ca2+ signaling, and SNAREs in the modulation of CaV2.1 channel steady‐state inactivation

Modulation of CaV2.1 channel activity plays a key role in interneuronal communication and synaptic plasticity. SNAREs interact with a specific synprint site at the second intracellular loop (LII‐III) of the CaV2.1 pore‐forming α1A subunit to optimize neurotransmitter release from presynaptic terminals by allowing secretory vesicles docking near the Ca2+ entry pathway, and by modulating the voltage dependence of channel steady‐state inactivation. Ca2+ influx through CaV2.1 also promotes channel inactivation. This process seems to involve Ca2+‐calmodulin interaction with two adjacent sites in the α1A carboxyl tail (C‐tail) (the IQ‐like motif and the Calmodulin‐Binding Domain (CBD) site), and contributes to long‐term potentiation and spatial learning and memory. Besides, binding of regulatory β subunits to the α interaction domain (AID) at the first intracellular loop (LI‐II) of α1A determines the degree of channel inactivation by both voltage and Ca2+. Here, we explore the cross talk between β subunits, Ca2+, and syntaxin‐1A‐modulated CaV2.1 inactivation, highlighting the α1A domains involved in such process. β3‐containing CaV2.1 channels show syntaxin‐1A‐modulated but no Ca2+‐dependent steady‐state inactivation. Conversely, β2a‐containing CaV2.1 channels show Ca2+‐dependent but not syntaxin‐1A‐modulated steady‐state inactivation. A LI‐II deletion confers Ca2+‐dependent inactivation and prevents modulation by syntaxin‐1A in β3‐containing CaV2.1 channels. Mutation of the IQ‐like motif, unlike CBD deletion, abolishes Ca2+‐dependent inactivation and confers modulation by syntaxin‐1A in β2a‐containing CaV2.1 channels. Altogether, these results suggest that LI‐II structural modifications determine the regulation of CaV2.1 steady‐state inactivation either by Ca2+ or by SNAREs but not by both.
Culturally Tailoring a Patient Empowerment and Diabetes Education Curriculum for the African American Church

Purpose The African American church has long been recognized as a valuable partner for health interventions in the community. While an extensive literature exists documenting the potential efficacy of diabetes education programs in church settings, there has yet to be an effort to leverage spiritual beliefs and practices to promote diabetes self-management and shared decision making within a faith-based framework that is culturally tailored to the African American church. The purpose of this article is to describe the translation of a clinic-based diabetes education program into faith-based education curriculum tailored for use in the African American church. Conclusions Themes extracted from focus groups and input from a faith-based community partner provided a methodical and patient-informed foundation for culturally tailoring and piloting a diabetes self-management curriculum for the African American church setting. This study illustrates how spirituality can be incorporated into interventions to enhance health promotion and behavioral change among African Americans with diabetes. Participants in our study described how religious beliefs play an active role in many aspects of diabetes care, including self-management behaviors, coping strategies, and patient/provider communication. In addition, this intervention can serve as a model for the development of patient-centered health interventions.
Local vs. systemic modifications of soybean (Glycine max) defense signals in response to soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) infestation

Soybean aphids, Aphis glycines, are a specialized phloem-feeding pest of soybeans. They are known to employ different mechanisms to bypass plant defenses and reduce soybean plant yields of up to 50% a year. Once attacked or sensing distress, soybeans induce the oxylipin pathway, a biosynthetic pathway that produces key plant hormones. Among these hormones is jasmonic acid (JA), which is produced from linolenic acid (18:3). Jasmonic acid can signal the production of protease inhibitors as one of the products that obstructs the attackers’ ability to digest protein. Previous studies show that levels of three key fatty acid precursors (palmitic, 16:0; linoleic, 18:2; linolenic, 18:3) to JA biosynthesis are changed by aphids. We are interested in determining if the change in these fatty acid levels induced by soybean aphids is only a localized response or whether the changes are also triggered systemically. We found that accumulation of 16:0 and a decrease in levels of 18:3 only occurs at the local site of infestation. We also studied the expression levels of FAD6, a gene encoding for a fatty acid desaturase catalyzing the dehydration of oleate (18:1) to 18:2, and found that FAD6 expression levels are also decreased only locally. In addition to the oxylipin pathway, we are also interested in the abscisic acid (ABA) pathway, which is involved in pathogen and abiotic induced stress and is proposed to be antagonistic to the JA pathway in soybean. We used expression of the SCOF-1 gene as a marker for ABA signaling, and found SCOF-1 to be induced both locally and systemically in the presence of aphids.
The processing of images of biological threats in visual short-term memory

The idea that there is enhanced memory for negatively, emotionally charged pictures was examined. Performance was measured under rapid, serial visual presentation (RSVP) conditions in which, on every trial, a sequence of six photo-images was presented. Briefly after the offset of the sequence, two alternative images (a target and a foil) were presented and participants attempted to choose which image had occurred in the sequence. Images were of threatening and non-threatening cats and dogs. The target depicted either an animal expressing an emotion distinct from the other images, or the sequences contained only images depicting the same emotional valence. Enhanced memory was found for targets that differed in emotional valence from the other sequence images, compared to targets that expressed the same emotional valence. Further controls in stimulus selection were then introduced and the same emotional distinctiveness effect obtained. In ruling out possible visual and attentional accounts of the data, an informal dual route topic model is discussed. This places emphasis on how visual short-term memory reveals a sensitivity to the emotional content of the input as it unfolds over time. Items that present with a distinctive emotional content stand out in memory.
Relevance of cardiac parvovirus B19 in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy: review of the literature

Over the last decade, parvovirus B19 (B19V) has frequently been linked to the pathogenesis of myocarditis (MC) and its progression towards dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The exact role of the presence of B19V and its load remains controversial, as this virus is also found in the heart of healthy subjects. Moreover, the prognostic relevance of B19V prevalence in endomyocardial biopsies still remains unclear. As a result, it is unclear whether the presence of B19V should be treated. This review provides an overview of recent literature investigating the presence of B19V and its pathophysiological relevance in MC and DCM, as well as in normal hearts. In brief, no difference in B19V prevalence is observed between MC/DCM and healthy control hearts. Therefore, the question remains open whether and how cardiac B19V may be of pathogenetic importance. Findings suggest that B19V is aetiologically relevant either in the presence of other cardiotropic viruses, or when B19V load is high and/or actively replicating, which both may maintain myocardial (low‐grade) inflammation. Therefore, future studies should focus on the prognostic relevance of the viral load, replicative status and virus co‐infections. In addition, the immunogenetic background of MC/DCM patients that makes them susceptible to develop heart failure upon presence of B19V should be more thoroughly investigated.
First experiences with a tool to measure the level of clinical information present in adverse drug reaction reports

ABSTRACT Background: To make a proper causality assessment of an adverse drug reaction (ADR) report, a certain level of clinical information is necessary. A tool was developed to measure the level of clinical information present in ADR reports. The aim of this study was to test the validity and reliability of the clinical documentation tool (ClinDoc) in an international setting. Methods: The tool was developed by a panel of pharmacovigilance experts. It includes four domains: ADR, chronology of the ADR, suspected drug and patient characteristics. The final score categorizes reports into: excellent, well, moderately or poorly documented. In two rounds, eight pharmacovigilance assessors of different countries made a total of 224 assessments using the tool, with the expert panels judgement as a standard. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results: The tool with four outcome-categories demonstrated low sensitivity. A lack of distinctiveness was demonstrated between the categories moderate and well. Results for the second round were re-analysed using three categories. This demonstrated a better validity. Conclusion: This is the first tool to give insight in the level of relevant clinical information present in ADR reports. It can be used internationally to compare reports coming from different reporting methods and different types of reporters in pharmacovigilance.
Epichloë festucae endophytic growth in florets, seeds, and seedlings of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

ABSTRACT Many symbiotic Epichloë species are seed-transmitted in their grass hosts. For a detailed investigation of Epichloë festucae colonization throughout the life cycle of its host, the authors transformed strain Fl1 with a fungal-active gene for enhanced cyan-fluorescent protein (eCFP), introduced it into perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and used confocal microscopy to track its growth in the shoot apex, floral primordium, floral organs, seeds, and seedlings. Hyphae intercellularly colonized leaf sheaths, blades, true stems, and leaf primordia, and among floral primordia the endophyte exhibited different levels of colonization. In preanthesis florets, E. festucae colonized the pistil and stamen, but not pollen grains, and ramified throughout the ovule nucellus, but not the integument or embryo sac. Generally, only a single hypha was observed extended from the ovary placenta into the ovule. Within 4 d after anthesis, fungal hyphae had ramified throughout the developing seed and embryo. As the embryo matured, fungal hyphae became abundant between the testa and aleurone layer, and around the shoot apex and radical of the embryonic axis. During germination, hyphae accumulated in the mesocotyl and invaded the newly formed shoot apex near the meristem. In this host-fungus symbiosis, transmission to seedlings averaged 41% in 2010 and 76% in 2011. Each year, the frequency of ovary infection was similar to the frequency of infecting embryos and seedlings, indicating that colonization of the ovary and embryo was required for seed transmission.
The model barnacle Balanus balanus Linnaeus, 1758 (Crustacea: Maxillopoda: Sessilia) mitochondrial genome and gene rearrangements within the family Balanidae

Abstract Balanus balanus Linnaeus, 1758, the model organism in the order Sessilia (Crustacea: Maxillopoda) is a cold water acorn barnacle in the family Balanidae distributing over the entire northern hemisphere. We present complete mitochondrial genome of this barnacle and analyze mitochondrial genomic characters of the family Balanidae. The length of mitochondrial genome is 15,955 bp, which is larger than those of the other barnacles in the same family. An inversion of a six-gene block (trnPro- nad4L- nad4- trnHis- nad5- trnPhe) is found between B. balanus and two Megabalanus (M. ajax and M. volcano). Three types of mitochondrial gene arrangements revealed in Balanidae have indicated the non-conserved gene orders even at intrafamilial level. Compared to pancrustacean ground pattern, large-scale gene rearrangements are found in B. balanus. Translocations of at least six tRNAs (trnAla, trnGlu/trnSer(AGY), trnPro/trnThr, trnLys, trnGln and trnCys) are identified and translocation and inversion occurred simultaneously in one tRNAs (trnTyr).
Association of Gitelman’s Syndrome and Focal Glomerulosclerosis

This article is also accessible online at: http://BioMedNet.com/karger Dear Sir, Gitelman’s syndrome, also known as the hypocalciuric variant of Bartter’s syndrome or familial hypokalemia-hypomagnesemia, is a primary renal tubular disorder characterized by chronic hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, metabolic alkalosis, hypocalciuria with normocalcemia, hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism and normal renal function [1, 2]. It has been suggested that the primary defect is in the loop of Henle in Bartter’s syndrome and in the distal tubulus in Gitelman’s syndrome [3]. A 21-year-old male patient was admitted with complaints of lassitude, dizziness, syncopal attacks, occasional numbness in the hands and feet, and muscle cramps. Physical examination was not remarkable. Blood pressure was 90/60 mm Hg, plasma potassium levels ranged between 2.9 and 3.2 mEq/l. Serum magnesium and calcium levels were 1.5 and 9.8 mg/dl, respectively. On analysis of blood gases, pH was found to be between 7.495 and 7.528. Calcium excretion was 7.2 mg/day. The plasma renin level was 9.4 ng/ml (normal values ! 5.6 ng/ml) and the plasma aldosterone level was 325.3 pg/ ml (normal values between 35 and 300 pg/ ml). Serum urea (45 mg/dl) and creatinine (1.2 mg/dl) levels were normal. Considering these data this patient was diagnosed as having Gitelman’s syndrome. This syndrome is known as a benign disorder [1]. However, long-term hypokalemia may have some deteriorating effects on the kidney [4]. Apart from this point of view, with the informed consent of the patient, a renal biopsy was performed. The renal biopsy revealed focal glomerulosclerosis, and it was thought that this histopathologic diagnosis may be the result of long-term hypokalemia in Gitelman’s syndrome. Because focal glomerulosclerosis progresses to end-stage renal failure, this observation suggests that patients with Gitelman’s syndrome should be evaluated for the presence of this type of glomerulopathy. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The RAISE Connection Program: Psychopharmacological Treatment of People With a First Episode of Schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the adherence of psychiatrists to the Schedule of Recommended First and Second Line Antipsychotic Medications ("Antipsychotic Schedule"), which was implemented in two Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) Connection Program Implementation and Evaluation Study clinics. METHODS Sixty-five individuals with a first episode of psychosis were enrolled in the RAISE Connection Program clinics. Two psychiatrists received training and ongoing consultation on use of a shared decision-making approach to prescribing antipsychotic medications according to the Antipsychotic Schedule. Information about participants, prescribed antipsychotic medications, and completion of side-effect assessments were obtained from standardized research assessments and chart extractions. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the extent to which patterns of antipsychotic prescribing and side-effect monitoring were consistent with the Antipsychotic Schedule. RESULTS Ninety-two percent of participants were prescribed an antipsychotic medication and received the medication on 76%±35% of the days they were in treatment. Seventy-seven percent of participants were prescribed at least one Antipsychotic Schedule first-line antipsychotic, 20% were prescribed olanzapine, and 10% received a trial of clozapine. Regarding monitoring for metabolic side effects, 92% of participants had at least one weight recorded, 72% had at least one blood glucose measure recorded, and 62% had at least one lipid profile recorded. CONCLUSIONS In the context of a study in which training and ongoing clinical supervision by experts was provided to psychiatrists and shared decision making was encouraged, antipsychotic prescribing patterns closely adhered to recommendations established by the RAISE Connection Program.