Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A polymorphism in human estrogen-related receptor beta (ESRRβ) predicts audiometric temporary threshold shift

Abstract Objective: A non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (rs61742642; C to T, P386S) in the ligand-binding domain of human estrogen-related receptor beta (ESRRβ) showed possible association to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in our previous study. Design: This study was conducted to examine the effect of the ESRRβ rs61742642 T variant on temporary threshold shift (TTS). TTS was induced by 10 minutes of exposure to audiometric narrow-band noise centered at 2000 Hz. Hearing thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions input output function (DP IO) at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz were measured before and after the noise exposure. Study sample: Nineteen participants with rs61742642 CT genotype and 40 participants with rs61742642 CC genotype were recruited for the study. Results: Participants with the CT genotype acquired a significantly greater TTS without convincing evidence of greater DP IO temporary level shift (DPTLS) compared to participants with the CC genotype. Conclusion: The results indicated that the ESRRβ polymorphism is associated with TTS. Future studies were recommended to explore molecular pathways leading to increased susceptibility to NIHL.
Language and speech outcomes of children with hearing loss and additional disabilities: identifying the variables that influence performance at five years of age

Abstract Objective: This study examined language and speech outcomes in young children with hearing loss and additional disabilities. Design: Receptive and expressive language skills and speech output accuracy were evaluated using direct assessment and caregiver report. Results were analysed first for the entire participant cohort, and then to compare results for children with hearing aids (HAs) versus cochlear implants (CIs). Study sample: A population-based cohort of 146 five-year-old children with hearing loss and additional disabilities took part. Results: Across all participants, multiple regressions showed that better language outcomes were associated with milder hearing loss, use of oral communication, higher levels of cognitive ability and maternal education, and earlier device fitting. Speech output accuracy was associated with use of oral communication only. Average outcomes were similar for children with HAs versus CIs, but their associations with demographic variables differed. For HA users, results resembled those for the whole cohort. For CI users, only use of oral communication and higher cognitive ability levels were significantly associated with better language outcomes. Conclusions: The results underscore the importance of early device fitting for children with additional disabilities. Strong conclusions cannot be drawn for CI users given the small number of participants with complete data.
Long-term effect of noise exposure during military service in South Korea

Abstract Objective: Most Korean men spend at least two years in the military service usually in their early twenties. The aim of this study was to identify the long-term effect of exposure to military noise during military service by comparing two regressions of age-related hearing loss between groups with and without exposure to military noise. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Study sample: Finally, 4079 subjects were included, among 10,286 data of men’s audiogram from January 2004 to April 2010. We excluded repeated testers and any subjects who had other known external causes or had an asymmetric audiogram. We grouped subjects with exposure to military noise (N = 3163) and those without as the control group (N = 916). Results: There was a significant effect of exposure to military noise at 4 and 8 kHz after controlling for the effect of age. The annual threshold deterioration rates were faster in the military noise exposed group than in the control group at 1, 2 and 4 kHz (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The long-term effect of exposure to military noise on age-related hearing loss showed an adding effect at 8 kHz and an accelerating effect in the frequency region from 1 to 4 kHz.
Development of short‐range white matter in healthy children and adolescents

Neural communication is facilitated by intricate networks of white matter (WM) comprised of both long and short range connections. The maturation of long range WM connections has been extensively characterized, with projection, commissural, and association tracts showing unique trajectories with age. There, however, remains a limited understanding of age‐related changes occurring within short range WM connections, or U‐fibers. These connections are important for local connectivity within lobes and facilitate regional cortical function and greater network economy. Recent studies have explored the maturation of U‐fibers primarily using cross‐sectional study designs. Here, we analyzed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data for healthy children and adolescents in both a cross‐sectional (n = 78; mean age = 13.04 ± 3.27 years) and a primarily longitudinal (n = 26; mean age = 10.78 ± 2.69 years) cohort. We found significant age‐related differences in fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) across the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes of participants within the cross‐sectional cohort. By contrast, we report significant age‐related differences in only FA for participants within the longitudinal cohort. Specifically, larger FA values were observed with age in frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes of the left hemisphere. Our results extend previous findings restricted to long range WM to demonstrate regional changes in the microstructure of short range WM during childhood and adolescence. These changes possibly reflect continued myelination and axonal organization of short range WM with increasing age in more anterior regions of the left hemisphere. Hum Brain Mapp 39:204–217, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fecal Calprotectin and Lactoferrin as Noninvasive Markers of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Objective: To evaluate whether fecal calprotectin (FC) and fecal lactoferrin (FL) can be used as noninvasive markers in children and young people (4–17 years) with active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients and Methods: Stool samples were collected from 3 groups of children: those with active IBD, control individuals with other gastrointestinal (GI) diseases (GI control) and control individuals with no GI disease (non-GI control). The number of patients for the FC assay was as follows: IBD = 26, GI control = 30, non-GI control = 25. The number of patients for the FL assay was as follows: IBD = 24, GI control = 26, non-GI = 24. FC and FL were measured by use of enzyme-linked immunoassays. Results: The median concentrations of FC and FL in isolation, and their interaction, were significantly higher in the IBD group than in the GI and non-GI control groups (P < 0.001). Although the area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity for FC, FL, and FC × FL interaction were significantly better than chance, FL consistently had the lowest area under the curve, and FC × FL consistently had the highest area under the curve. Conclusions: FC and FL are both significantly elevated in children with IBD, and the interaction of these 2 biomarkers may produce a better initial diagnostic test compared with their use in isolation.
Comparison between Peroneus Brevis Flap and Reverse Sural Artery Flap for Coverage of Lower One-Third Leg Defects

Posttraumatic wounds and soft tissue defects in the distal third of the leg and ankle remain a challenge. Defects at this site will often require flap cover. Free flap is ideal for these defects and gives good results but with its own limitations. The reverse sural artery flap (RSAF) and distal peroneus brevis flap (DPBF) have gained popularity for lower third leg defects among surgeons. We did a retrospective study on 64 patients admitted between 2011 and 2013 with posttraumatic moderate size defects of lower one-third leg who underwent RSAFs and DPBFs. These patients were followed up in the immediate and late postoperative period for complications and outcome assessment. The average surface area covered by DPBF was 27 cm2 and by RSAF was 38 cm2. Both flaps gave a good functional outcome. DPBF has better aesthetic appearance at donor site and recipient site, with the advantages of ease of surgery, speedy recovery, less hospital stay, and no donor site morbidity; DPBFs appear to be a preferred choice for moderate size lower third leg defects. RSAFs should be chosen over DPBFs for defects in medial malleolus and larger size defects.
Nutrient intakes of adolescent girls in secondary schools and universities in Abia State of Nigeria.

A total of 160 adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 years were surveyed for nutrient intake. Three-days weighed food intake was the technique used for this study. Subjects were from model secondary schools and universities in Abia State, Nigeria. The values for food nutrients were calculated using food composition tables. Foods that were not in the food composition tables were analyzed chemically in the laboratory to know their nutrient contents. Values from the chemical analysis were used for the calculation of food nutrients. The mean intakes in all the nutrients tested for adolescent female university students were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of adolescent female secondary school girls. Both adolescent female secondary school and university students, however, had nutrient intakes higher than FAO requirements except for iron intake where the secondary school girls did not meet the requirement for iron (36-42 g/day). Snacks contribution to the daily nutrient intakes of the adolescent female secondary school students were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of the university students except for the carbohydrate intake (146.66 g vs 170.26 g) respectively. It is therefore necessary to evaluate the quality of meals and snacks served to both secondary school and university students to know their contribution to nutrient intake in order to alleviate the problem of malnutrition in adolescent female Nigerian students.
Changing brain connectivity dynamics: From early childhood to adulthood

Brain maturation through adolescence has been the topic of recent studies. Previous works have evaluated changes in morphometry and also changes in functional connectivity. However, most resting‐state fMRI studies have focused on static connectivity. Here we examine the relationship between age/maturity and the dynamics of brain functional connectivity. Utilizing a resting fMRI dataset comprised 421 subjects ages 3–22 from the PING study, we first performed group ICA to extract independent components and their time courses. Next, dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) was calculated via a sliding window followed by clustering of connectivity patterns into 5 states. Finally, we evaluated the relationship between age and the amount of time each participant spent in each state as well as the transitions among different states. Results showed that older participants tend to spend more time in states which reflect overall stronger connectivity patterns throughout the brain. In addition, the relationship between age and state transition is symmetric. This can mean individuals change functional connectivity through time within a specific set of states. On the whole, results indicated that dynamic functional connectivity is an important factor to consider when examining brain development across childhood.
Emergence of the neural network underlying phonological processing from the prereading to the emergent reading stage: A longitudinal study

Numerous studies have shown that phonological skills are critical for successful reading acquisition. However, how the brain network supporting phonological processing evolves and how it supports the initial course of learning to read is largely unknown. Here, for the first time, we characterized the emergence of the phonological network in 28 children over three stages (prereading, beginning reading, and emergent reading) longitudinally. Across these three time points, decreases in neural activation in the left inferior parietal cortex (LIPC) were observed during an audiovisual phonological processing task, suggesting a specialization process in response to reading instruction/experience. Furthermore, using the LIPC as the seed, a functional network consisting of the left inferior frontal, left posterior occipitotemporal, and right angular gyri was identified. The connection strength in this network co‐developed with the growth of phonological skills. Moreover, children with above‐average gains in phonological processing showed a significant developmental increase in connection strength in this network longitudinally, while children with below‐average gains in phonological processing exhibited the opposite trajectory. Finally, the connection strength between the LIPC and the left posterior occipitotemporal cortex at the prereading level significantly predicted reading performance at the emergent reading stage. Our findings highlight the importance of the early emerging phonological network for reading development, providing direct evidence for the Interactive Specialization Theory and neurodevelopmental models of reading.
Coronary heart disease and chronic periodontitis: is polymorphism of interleukin-6 gene the common risk factor in a Chinese population?

OBJECTIVES Coronary heart disease (CHD) and chronic periodontitis (CP) both are multifactorial chronic diseases and related to inflammation. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association among IL-6 gene polymorphisms, CP and CHD susceptibility in a Chinese population. MATERIAL AND METHODS The investigation was conducted as a case-control study involving 505 individuals: 113 patients with CHD and CP, 84 patients with CHD, 178 patients with CP and 130 control individuals. The polymorphisms of IL-6 gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Relationships between the distributions of the genotypes and risk factors were also assessed. RESULTS Mutations at the loci -174 G/C, -597 G/A of IL-6 were rare in a Chinese population. No significant difference for IL-6-572C/G polymorphism was detected among moderate CP group, severe CP group and control (P = 0.312 and 0.481), significant differences were found between CHD groups and non-CHD groups (P ≤ 0.001). After adjustment for CHD risk factors, the G allele resulted in an increased risk (OR = 1.676-1.856), the GG/CG genotype was nearly two times higher risk compared to CC genotype (OR = 2.010-2.136). CONCLUSIONS IL-6-572C/G polymorphism did not correlate with CP susceptibility, but might be a potential risk factor for CHD in a Chinese population.
Discontinued Anti-Hypertensive medication: a case control study on the stroke patients

Though it is long known that irregular intake of antihypertensive may cause harm, but still there is much lack of awareness among the patients in this matter. This case controlled study was done in Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, to determine the relationship between discontinuation of antihypertensive drugs and the risk of stroke among hypertensive patients. Number of cases was 72. Control group was selected via random sampling of stroke free treated hypertensive group, similar in age to stroke cases. Sampling technique was random systematic sampling. The relationship was determined employing statistical methods including Chi-square (? 2) test using computer programs, and significant association between discontinuation of antihypertensive and development of stroke in hypertensive adult patients was found ? 2(1,N= 103) = 32.637, p<0.001. Odds ratio is 15.83. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/jdmc.v22i2. 21530 J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 22, No.2, October, 2013, Page 173-178
Separate neural representations of prediction error valence and surprise: Evidence from an fMRI meta‐analysis

Learning occurs when an outcome differs from expectations, generating a reward prediction error signal (RPE). The RPE signal has been hypothesized to simultaneously embody the valence of an outcome (better or worse than expected) and its surprise (how far from expectations). Nonetheless, growing evidence suggests that separate representations of the two RPE components exist in the human brain. Meta‐analyses provide an opportunity to test this hypothesis and directly probe the extent to which the valence and surprise of the error signal are encoded in separate or overlapping networks. We carried out several meta‐analyses on a large set of fMRI studies investigating the neural basis of RPE, locked at decision outcome. We identified two valence learning systems by pooling studies searching for differential neural activity in response to categorical positive‐versus‐negative outcomes. The first valence network (negative > positive) involved areas regulating alertness and switching behaviours such as the midcingulate cortex, the thalamus and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex whereas the second valence network (positive > negative) encompassed regions of the human reward circuitry such as the ventral striatum and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. We also found evidence of a largely distinct surprise‐encoding network including the anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula and dorsal striatum. Together with recent animal and electrophysiological evidence this meta‐analysis points to a sequential and distributed encoding of different components of the RPE signal, with potentially distinct functional roles.
Altered white matter microstructure mediates the relationship between hemoglobin levels and cognitive control deficits in end‐stage renal disease patients

The brain–kidney crosstalk theory suggested that the brain and kidneys may be considered end organs on parallel trajectories and subject to shared risk factors, which are receiving increasing attention. Cognitive control deficits were frequently presented in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). Whether or not cognitive control impairment is concerned with brain–kidney crosstalk is in need of further research. To detect the relationship between ESRD and cognitive control impairment, diffusion tensor imaging was collected in 64 healthy controls (HCs) and 64 patients with ESRD. Tract‐based spatial statistics and fixel‐based analysis were used to detect the difference of white matter (WM) microstructure and morphology between ESRD patients and HCs in the whole brain. Tractography atlas‐based analysis was also used to investigate the difference of diffusional characteristics along fiber bundles of interest between the two groups. For the whole‐brain analysis, ESRD patients showed WM microstructural alteration and fiber density variation in the cingulum. In addition, ESRD patients exhibited higher MD and RD than HCs along the anterior cingulum. Among all of the blood biochemistry tests that represent kidney disease to a degree, the stepwise regression analysis showed that only hemoglobin significantly contributed to the cognitive control deficits in ESRD patients. Mediation analysis proved that the relationship between hemoglobin and cognitive control deficits of ESRD patients was mediated by WM microstructural alteration of the cingulum. Our results indicated that the anterior cingulum was correlated with cognitive control deficits and mediated the impact of hemoglobin on cognitive control.
Diagnosing Pediatric Functional Abdominal Pain in Children (4–15 Years Old) According to the Rome III Criteria: Results From a Norwegian Prospective Study

Objectives:To determine the proportion of referred children with nonorganic abdominal pain who meet the criteria for 1 or more diagnoses of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID), explore the distribution of diagnoses according to the revised pediatric Rome III criteria (PRC-III), and to investigate reasons for failure to meet these criteria. Materials and Methods:We recruited children (4–15 years) consecutively referred by general practitioners to 4 general pediatric outpatient clinics for the evaluation of recurrent abdominal pain. FGID diagnoses were based on the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms–Rome III version, completed by parents. To exclude organic disease, all patients underwent medical investigations and were reevaluated at follow-up after 6 to 9 months. Results:Of the 152 patients included, 142 (93%) had functional abdominal pain. Of these, 124 (87%) met the criteria for 1 or more diagnoses according to the PRC-III: 66% met the criteria for 1, 29% for 2, and 5% for 3 diagnoses. Irritable bowel syndrome was the most common diagnosis (43%) and overlapped with aerophagia in 16 children (38% of the children with overlapping diagnoses) and with abdominal migraine in 14 (33%). In the 18 patients (13%) not fulfilling the PRC-III for any FGID diagnosis, the main reason was insufficient pain frequency (83%). Conclusions:Of the referred children with functional abdominal pain, 87% met the PRC-III for specific diagnoses. This supports the use of these criteria as a diagnostic tool. The significant overlap between different FGIDs, however, makes it unclear whether some of the diagnoses represent distinct disorders or artificial categories.
An exploration of the experiences of South Asian students on Pre-registration nursing programmes in a UK university

Abstract There is a lack of focused research on the educational experience of minority ethnic nursing students in the United Kingdom. This small scale mixed–method study has shown that in one institution, South Asian students entered training at a younger age than White students but had broadly similar levels of attainment and completion. Qualitative data suggest that although South Asian and White students share many common experiences, the cultural background of South Asian students may have a considerable effect on their academic life, sometimes creating particular tensions and difficulties. Several themes are explored, including choosing nursing, negotiating marriage, responding to family obligations, relating to fellow students and accessing support. Students expressed the importance of peer group and personal tutor support to their academic success. Understanding the student experience is important and should help institutions to develop culturally sensitive support systems.
Threonine Metabolism in the Intestine of Mice: Loss of Mucin 2 Induces the Threonine Catabolic Pathway

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that the intestine uses a major part of the dietary threonine intake for the synthesis of the structural component of the protective intestinal mucus layer, the secretory mucin Muc2. In this context, the high intestinal demand for dietary threonine probably results from its incorporation into secretory mucins rich in threonine residues. Therefore, we compared threonine utilization in the colon of Muc2 knockout (Muc2−/−) and wild-type (Muc2+/+) mice to investigate the intestinal dietary threonine metabolism in the absence of Muc2, which results in inflammation of the colon. Materials and Methods: Concentrations and isotopic enrichment of threonine were measured by gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry in the serum, colon, and colonic content of mice given a bolus [U-13C]threonine enterally. Results: We retrieved 37.8% and 40.9% of dietary threonine in Muc2+/+ and Muc2−/− mice, respectively, either as free or incorporated threonine. There were no major differences in the availability and concentration of free or incorporated threonine recovered in both serum and colon in both types of mice. However, the Muc2−/− mice did show overall significantly higher threonine oxidation rates compared with Muc2+/+ mice. Conclusions: In the absence of Muc2, dietary threonine is mainly used for constitutive protein synthesis or becomes a substrate for metabolic oxidation. This indicates that inflammation also requires high threonine amounts.