Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mentoring in Occupational Therapy: One State's Status

Although mentoring is considered a powerful tool for professional development and critical to strengthening the profession of occupational therapy little is known about the frequency among practitioners with which it occurs or the supports needed to sustain it. This study describes the status of Ohio Occupational Therapy State Association members with active E-mail addresses who were selected randomly and responded to a telephone survey. Of the 130 respondents, the incidence of serving as a mentor or mentee in the past was higher than the current rate. More respondents currently not serving in either role desired to serve in the role of mentor than mentee. Supports for participating in a mentoring relationship included identification of ideal mentor and/or mentee “characteristics,” “linkage” to connect the two parties, and “resources” such as knowledge, time, positive environment, and incentives. The results of this study may serve useful to those involved in facilitating and supporting mentoring initiatives as mentoring strengthens not only individual practitioners but the profession as a whole.
The 3D structure of the Virgo cluster from H-band Fundamental Plane and Tully—Fisher distance determinations

We undertook a surface photometry survey of 200 galaxies in the Virgo cluster (complete to B<14.0 mag) carried out in the near-infrared (NIR) H band. Combining velocity dispersion measurements from the literature with new spectroscopic data for 11 galaxies, we derive distances of 59 early-type galaxies using the Fundamental Plane (FP) method. The distances of another 75 late-type galaxies are determined using the Tully--Fisher (TF) method. For this purpose we use the maximum rotational velocity, as derived from H I spectra from the literature, complemented with new Hα rotation curves of eight highly H I-deficient galaxies. The zero-points of the FP and TF template relations are calibrated assuming the distance modulus of Virgo μ0=31.0, as determined with the Cepheids method. Using these 134 distance determinations (with individual uncertainties of 0.35 mag (TF) and 0.45 mag (FP)) we find that the distance of cluster A, associated with M87, is μ0=30.84 ± 0.06. Cluster B, offset to the south, is found at μ0=31.84 ± 0.10. This subcluster is falling on to A at about 750 km s-1. Clouds W and M are at twice the distance of A. Galaxies on the north-west and south-east of the main cluster A belong to two clouds composed almost exclusively of spiral galaxies with distances consistent with A, but with significantly different velocity distributions, suggesting that they are falling on to cluster A at approximately 770 km s-1 from the far side and at 200 km s-1 from the near side respectively. The mass of Virgo inferred from the peculiar motions induced on its vicinity is consistent with the virial expectation.
Cortisol Effects on Averaged Evoked Potential, Alpha‐Rhythm, Time Estimation, and Two‐Flash Fusion Threshold

&NA; Eighteen normal male subjects, each serving as his own control, were tested with acute cortisol and placebo intravenous infusions on separate days. Previous studies have shown that enhancement of the amplitude of the averaged‐evoked‐potential by random flashes reflects selective attention. Cortisol administration was accompanied by a significant decrease in this enhancement. It is therefore hypothesized that cortisol may be acting to decrease the subject's ability to attend differentially to visual stimuli. Cortisol significantly increased the latency of the averaged‐evoked‐potential resulting from flashes when the subject attended to flashes. Several measures reflecting time perception were significantly changed by cortisol in a direction comparable with a slowed “internal clock”‐‐ie, produced intervals were longer with the drug. Cortisol produced no changes in two‐flash fusion threshold, mood adjective check list scores, and &agr;‐rhythm.
Successful Aging as Management of Resources: The Role of Selection, Optimization, and Compensation

One of the central tenets of life-span psychology is that the process of development entails gains and losses that occur over the entire life span. Thus, Paul and Margret Baltes (1990) conceptualized successful aging as a lifelong process of maximizing gains and minimizing losses by means of three processes: selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC). This article reviews empirical studies that have investigated the use of SOC during adulthood with different methodological approaches and have found evidence for the importance of SOC for successfully managing one's resources. The article highlights the importance of prioritizing goals (selection) according to their importance for increasing gains (optimization) and avoiding losses (compensation) in consideration of currently available resources. Age-related changes in resource availability and time perspective can also result in a shift in goal orientation towards gains or losses and in goal focus on the process or the outcome of goal pursuit. Taken together, the action-theoretical approach to the SOC framework suggests that selection, optimization, and compensation can be seen as key concepts for understanding successful aging.
Red blood cell distribution width and the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality

Summary Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been shown to predict cardiovascular mortality in various populations, but studies were less conclusive regarding cardiovascular morbidity. We aimed at evaluating the prognostic effect of RDW on cardiovascular morbidity and allcause mortality in the largest community cohort to date. We utilised the computerised database of a large community based healthcare maintenance organization (HMO) in Israel to identify a cohort of 225,006 eligible patients aged 40 or above who performed a blood count during 2006. We evaluated the relationship between 1% increments of RDW values and major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality over a period of five years. A total of 21,939 incident cases of a major cardiovascular event and 4,287 deaths were documented during a total of six years of follow up, respectively. In comparison with patients with RDW level <13%, the hazard ratio for total mortality gradually increased to 4.57 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.35–6.24, p<0.001) among male patients and to 3.26 (95% CI: 2.49–4.28, p<0.001) among female patients with a RDW of 17% or above. Similar results were evident in anaemic and non-anaemic populations. RDW above 17% was also associated with a modest increased risk of major cardiovascular events in females 1.26 (95% CI: 1.03–1.52, p=0.021), while in men it was not significant, 1.08 (95% CI: 0.82–1.41, p=NS). In conclusion, increasing RDW levels significantly increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality. Our observation is evident in both anaemic and non-anaemic patients.
QUINAPRIL‐ASSOCIATED ACUTE PSYCHOSIS IN AN OLDER WOMAN

To the Editor: We report a case of visual hallucinations and paranoid delusions during treatment of congestive heart failure with quinapril. Quinapril has been known to cause symptoms of major depression. 1 However, to our knowledge, there has been only one previous case report in the literature of striking visual hallucinations in an older woman (aged 92) after the use of quinapril.2 The following case provides additional evidence that these adverse effects may be ascribed to this angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. The patient, a 93-year-old woman, had a history of congestive heart failure, a thoracic aortic aneurysm, a pacemaker implant, and right hip hemiarthroplasty complicated by the subsequent development of distal venous thrombosis. She was admitted to the Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation on May 10,2000, for rehabilitation. On admission, the patient scored 30/30 on the Mini-Mental Status Exam. She remained consistently alert, oriented, and cooperative for the initial 2 weeks of her stay. Her medications included acetaminophenlhydrocodone, lansoprazole, aspirin, calcium carbonate, furosemide, potassium chloride, spironolactone, nitroglycerin patch, and metolazone. She had no prior psychiatric history except for an episode of hallucinations in 1998 while taking a /3-blocker, which resolved promptly with discontinuation of the drug. On June 9, 2000, at about 5 p.m. , the patient was started on quinapril 2.5 mg BID for congestive heart failure. Two hours after receiving the first dose she was noted to be confused, disoriented, and anxious. During the night, her daughter and seven other family members received multiple frantic telephone calls from the patient complaining that she was being assaulted. Her symptoms of anxiety, disorientation, and visual hallucinations continued for 5 days as noted by physicians, family and the hospital staff. Thorough physical examination and laboratory work-up did not reveal any other potential etiology for her manifestations. Given the documented close chronology of administration of the drug and onset of symptoms, and the patient's history of having had a similar psychotic event when prescribed a 13-blocker, quinapril was discontinued at 10 a.m. on June 13, 2000. That evening she appeared less disoriented and paranoid, although she was still somewhat confused and did not sleep well. Over the course of the next day the staff and the family noted that she regained full orientation. The patient herself denied any new visual or other hallucinations. · The pharmacokinetics and lipophilic property of quinapril support the feasibility of its provoking the observed central nervous system effects. The onset of action is 1 hour, peak effect is within 2 to 4 hours, and duration of action is up to 24 hours, all temporally consistent with the initiation and cessation of the patient's symptoms. In addition, the lipophilic nature of quinapril allows penetration of the blood brain barrier and potential CNS disturbances. The effect could not be explained by concomitant drug ingestion alone since the other drugs remained unchanged.
Loss of small peripheral sensory neurons in Fabry disease. Histologic and morphometric evaluation of cutaneous nerves, spinal ganglia, and posterior columns.

Quantitative histologic studies of peripheral sensory neurons at the peripheral nerve (sural nerve) and spinal ganglion (L-3) levels showed preferential loss of small myelinated and unmyelinated fibers and of small cytons (cell bodies) of spinal ganglia in a patient with long-term Fabry disease. Myelinated fiber density in the fasciculus gracilis of the spinal cord (C-1 and C-8) initially was less than in a control specimen. However, further analysis in three additional controls indicated that fiber density fell within the normal range. In a second typical case, sural nerve biopsy showed a selective decrease of small myelinated and unmyelinated fibers. Painfulness and loss of sweating characteristic of this disorder may result from degeneration of small fibers. There were axonal degeneration and segmental demyelination, probably due to a metabolic derangement in cytons. At the cyton, degenerating neurons were recognized by histologic abnormalities, decreased endoplasmic reticulum, and deposition of lipid granules.
Schedule-Dependent Synergistic Effect of Pemetrexed Combined with Gemcitabine against Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Lines

Background: Pemetrexed, a multi-targeted antifolate (MTA), is a promising agent in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With the aim of finding an optimal schedule for the combination therapy of MTA and gemcitabine (GEM), we investigated their interaction against an MPM cell line, 211H, and the NSCLC cell lines A549 and H1299. Methods: Combination index analysis was used in 3 different schedules. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry and real-time RT-PCR analysis of thymidylate synthase (TS), folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) and reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC1) genes were performed to understand the biological consequences of their interaction. Results: MTA showed potent cytotoxicity against 211H cells (IC50, 67 nM for 48 h exposure), compared to NSCLC cell lines. Significantly higher expression of FPGS and RFC1 mRNAs in 211H cells were associated with MTA sensitivity. Simultaneous exposure of MTA and GEM was antagonistic in all cell lines tested. Strong synergism was observed in 211H cells when MTA preceded GEM, but the inverted sequence showed antagonism. Similar results were exhibited in H1299 cells, whereas a moderately synergistic effect was observed in A549 cells when GEM preceded MTA. S phase accumulation by MTA treatment partly supported these results. Conclusion: Sequential administration of MTA and GEM is active, and the schedule of MTA followed by GEM is recommended for treating MPM.
BREED VARIATIONS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF OSTEOARTICULAR LESIONS IN HORSES AT WEANING

Juvenile Developmental Orthopaedic Diseases (DOD) affect most horse breeds and their occurrence is reported to be increasing. In order to establish the prevalence of DOD in French breed horses, 134 Thoroughbreds (Tb), 161 French Trotters (FT) and 98 Selle Francais (SF) foals kept on 21 stud farms were examined radiographically at weaning. Radiographic files (including views from the front and hind interphalangeal and fetlock joints, carpi, hocks and stifle joints) were analysed by 3 veterinarians. For each joint, osteoarticular lesions were graded according to a standardised protocol depending on their severity. The scores of all the images on the 10 radiographs were added to calculate a global radiographic score. Differences in the distribution of the lesions were evaluated using an analysis of variance. SF were globally more severely affected than FT and Tb (p<0.001). Considering the regional distribution of the lesions, SF were more severely affected on the front fetlock (p<0.001), on the dorsal aspect of the hind fetlock (p<0.001) and on the femorotibial joint (p<0.05). FT were more severely affected on the plantar aspect of the hind fetlock (p<0.001) and the tibiotarsal joint (p<0.01). The present study shows that osteo-articular lesions differ between breeds independently of their use and training regimens.
Gender-related differences in functional connectivity in multiple sclerosis

Background: Gender effects are strong in multiple sclerosis (MS), with male patients showing a worse clinical outcome than female patients. Functional reorganization of neural activity may contribute to limit disability, and possible gender differences in this process may have important clinical implications. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore gender-related changes in functional connectivity and network efficiency in MS patients. Additionally, we explored the association of functional changes with cognitive function. Methods: Sixty subjects were included in the study, matched for age, education level and intelligence quotient (IQ). Male and female patients were matched for disability, disease duration and white matter lesion load. Two cognitive domains often impaired in MS, i.e. visuospatial memory and information processing speed, were evaluated in all subjects. Functional connectivity between brain regions and network efficiency was explored using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and graph analysis. Differences in cognitive and functional characteristics between groups, and correlations with cognitive performance, were examined. Results: Male patients showed worse performance on cognitive tests than female and male controls, while female patients were cognitively normal. Decreases in functional connectivity and network efficiency, observed in male patients, correlated with reduced visuospatial memory (r = −0.6 and r = −0.5, respectively). In the control group, no cognitive differences were found between genders, despite differences in functional connectivity between healthy men and women. Conclusions: Functional connectivity differences were found in male patients only and were related to impaired visuospatial memory. These results underline the importance of gender in MS and require further investigation in larger and longitudinal studies.
Effect of maturation medium on in vitro cleavage of canine oocytes fertilized with fresh and cooled homologous semen

SUMMARY This study evaluated the effect of three maturation media on the development of in vitro-matured and in vitro-fertilized dog oocytes. In Experiment 1 (non-comparative experiment) canine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in vitro in TCM199 supplemented with estrous cow serum (10%) + gonadotropins + steroid (treatment A), TCM199 + estrous cow serum (10%) (treatment B), or TCM199 + polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (4%) (treatment C). All maturation media contained a final concentration of 1 μg/ml of human somatotropin (hST). Oocytes were fertilized with fresh ejaculated sperm and development was assessed by cleavage. The objective of Experiment 2 (comparative experiment) was to compare the rates of cleavage and developmental capacity of COCs matured in vitro in same medium as in Experiment 1, and fertilized either with fresh ejaculated or with cooled extended homologous spermatozoa. In Experiments 1 and 2, oocytes fertilized with fresh semen were in vitro-matured for 48 h, while in Experiment 2 COCs fertilized with cooled semen were matured in vitro for 72 h. The results of Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrated that cleavage was not influenced by the oocyte's maturation environment. The results of Experiment 1 showed that pronucleus formation + cleavage (day 7 after IVF) was similar among treatments A, B and C (p = 0.277). Also, in Experiment 2, pronucleus formation + cleavage (day 7 after IVF) was not different for oocytes fertilized in vitro either with fresh or cooled semen and maturated in media A (p = 0.190), B (p = 0.393) or C (p = 0.687). In both experiments, the numbers of embryos that developed to the 6–8-cell stage were higher for oocytes matured in medium A and fertilized with fresh semen, when compared with numbers of oocytes matured in media B and C. Embryo development to the 6–8-cell stage of oocytes fertilized either with fresh or cooled sperm was observed in treatments A and C in Experiment 2. Cumulus cell expansion was similar among treatments in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, cumulus cell expansion among treatments A, B and C was similar after 48 h or 72 h of IVM. In both experiments, the greatest expansion category seen was for category 2 (outer cumulus cells slightly expanded). No correlation between cumulus expansion and cleavage were observed. Polyspermy rates in oocytes matured in medium A, and fertilized with fresh sperm were not significantly different from polyspermy rates observed using media B and C, in both experiments. Our findings indicate that treatments A, B and C are similarly effective for the cleavage of dog oocytes. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that canine oocytes matured in vitro could be fertilized by homologous cooled spermatozoa and progress to cleavage.
Laboratory response to intranasal desmopressin in women with menorrhagia and platelet dysfunction

Summary. Intranasal desmopressin (IN‐DDAVP) is used for home treatment of menorrhagia in women with inherited bleeding disorders. The effect of IN‐DDAVP on laboratory haemostatic parameters in women with menorrhagia related to platelet dysfunction is unknown. We evaluated the effects of IN‐DDAVP on haemostatic parameters in women with menorrhagia and platelet dysfunction and correlated them with menstrual flow. Eleven women (aged 18–45) with menorrhagia and haemostatic abnormalities had determination of von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag), von Willebrand factor ristocetin cofactor (VWF:RCo) activity, factor VIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C), platelet aggregation and platelet adenosine tri‐phosphate (ATP) release pre‐IN‐DDAVP and 60‐min post‐IN‐DDAVP. Eight of eleven women underwent platelet function analyzer (PFA‐100) closure time determination with collagen/adrenaline and collagen/adenosine diphosphate cartridges pretreatment and post‐treatment. IN‐DDAVP was administered during two consecutive menstrual cycles. Menstrual flow was assessed during each cycle using a pictorial blood assessment chart. Treatment with IN‐DDAVP resulted in elevated VWF levels and shortened PFA‐100 closure time with significant inverse correlation between shortening of PFA‐100 closure times and increases in VWF levels. There were also significant inverse correlations between changes in menstrual flow and changes in VWF:Ag (P = 0.02), VWF:RCo (P = 0.04) and FVIII:C (P = 0.006), following treatment. In vitro platelet aggregation and platelet ATP release response did not correct and did not correlate with changes in menstrual flow. Our results demonstrate a correlation between haemostatic parameters and menstrual flow following IN‐DDAVP in women with menorrhagia and platelet dysfunction.
Dosimetry of a D2/D3 dopamine receptor antagonist that can be used with PET or SPECT.

UNLABELLED FIDA-2 (R-(+)-2,3-dimethoxy-5-iodo-N-[(1-4'-fluorobenzyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl) methyl] benzamide) is a simultaneously fluorinated and iodinated D2/D3 dopamine receptor antagonist. The purpose of this study was to measure its biodistribution and radiation dosimetry in humans. METHODS Whole-body emission scans were sequentially acquired in eight healthy volunteers 24-43 hr after the intravenous administration of 101-150 MBq 123I FIDA-2. Regions of interest (ROIs) were placed on the initial set of conjugate emission images and transposed as a single set onto all the other scans without manipulating any of the regions for solid organs independently. The counts in each ROI were corrected for attenuation with transmission scans and compared to the net counts in images of the injection syringe containing the administered dose. The radiation doses were estimated with the MIRD formalism from the residence times for both the 18F- and 123I-labeled ligands. RESULTS There were no subjective or objective pharmacological effects of the tracer on any of the subjects. The findings showed that the dose-limiting organ for the 123I-labeled product was the thyroid gland in this sample. If the 18F-labeled product had been used, then the urinary bladder would have received 0.086 mGy/MBq (0.32 rads/mCi) and become the dose-limiting organ. The effective dose equivalents were 0.025 mSv/MBq (0.092 rem/mCi) for both the 123I- and the 18F-labeled versions of the tracer. CONCLUSION The data suggest that FIDA-2 can be used to produce relatively high contrast images of the D2/D3 dopaminergic system with substantially less than the maximum allowable radiation dose for research volunteers.