Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adrenal Tumors in Children: Spectrum of Presentation and Surgical Approach in a Tertiary Care Institute

Abstract Context: Adrenal tumors can arise either from cortex or from medulla; both the regions being structurally and functionally different. Current knowledge on childhood adrenocortical tumors (ACTs), the management approach, and the outcome is limited due to limited number of cases and studies. Neuroblastoma is a neoplasm of the neural crest origin and 50% arise from adrenal medulla. Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is an exciting and rare neoplasm in childhood. Aims: To evaluate the clinical presentation, spectrum of pathology, and management of adrenal tumors in children. Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary care pediatric institute over 5 years on children with intra-abdominal solid tumors. Adrenal tumors were diagnosed on radiological studies and postoperatively confirmed by histopathology. Results: Sixty-three patients were operated for intra-abdominal solid tumors, and Wilms tumor (39) was the most common finding. Of 11 cases of adrenal tumors confirmed by histopathology, eight were adrenal neuroblastoma, one 14-month-old female baby was detected as PCC, while two female children presented with the features of Cushing syndrome and virilization at the age of 3 and 7 years. Postoperatively, one of them was found to be adrenal adenoma and one was found to be adrenocortical carcinoma. Conclusions: ACTs are rare and potentially fatal in childhood. Complete surgical resection is the mainstay of therapy in adrenal tumors and is curative for associated hypertension. Neuroblastoma was the third common intra-abdominal solid tumor after Wilms tumor and retroperitoneal teratoma. The patient with PCC contributed to “Rule of 10s” because of the absence of hypertension and childhood occurrence.
Peanut testa extracts enhance anticancer effect of cisplatin against human cholangiocarcinoma cells via modulation of histone deacetylase inhibitory activity

Objective: To investigate the effect of combination treatments of cisplatin and KK4 and ICG15042 peanut testa extracts against cholangiocarcinoma cells in vitro. Methods: The growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cells were determined by 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The levels of proteins involved in apoptosis were assessed using Western blotting assays. The caspase activity was assessed using a colorimetric caspase activity assay. Results: Cisplatin and peanut (KK4 and ICG15042) testa extracts inhibited the growth of cholangiocarcinoma cell lines (KKU- M214 and KKU-100 cells) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The combination treatments reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cells more efficiently than singledrug treatments. Cancer cell death synergistically mediated by cisplatin and peanut testa extracts was observed in KKU-M214 cells (combination index < 1.0) but not in KKU-100 cells (combination index > 1.0). The combination treatments also increased the sub- G1 population and caused KKU-M214 cell cycle arrest at S and G2/ M phases, which were the combined effects of cisplatin (S phase arrest) and peanut testa extracts (G2/M phase arrest). In addition, pERK1/2, Ac-H3, Bcl-2 and proteins related to apoptosis, including Bax and caspases 3, 8, 9, exhibited enhanced expression in KKU- M214 cells. The combination treatments caused down-regulation of p53, whereas the expression of p21 was fairly constant when compared with cisplatin single drug treatment. Conclusions: Peanut testa extracts in combination with cisplatin synergistically reduce cell viability and induce apoptosis through stimulation of caspases 3, 8 and 9 in KKU-M214 cells.
Craniosynostosis: To Study the Spectrum and Outcome of Surgical Intervention at a Tertiary Referral Institute in India

Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the spectrum and surgical outcome of cases of craniosynostosis operated at a tertiary referral institute in IndiaDesign: This was a cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively examined 60 cases of craniosynostosis operated at our institute from 2008 to 2014 (with a minimum follow-up of 2 years). Data was collected including name, age, gender, involved sutures, other medical conditions, whether syndromic craniosynostosis or not, whether symptoms and signs of intracranial hypertension were present or not, associated findings on magnetic resonance imaging of brain and cervico-medullary junction, type of surgery performed, age at which surgery was performed, perioperative complications (if any), and findings on follow-up. To be able to analyze the surgical results, we used the seven category classification system used by Sloan et al.Results: Craniosynostosis affected more men than women. The incidence of syndromic craniosynostosis was 11.67%. Mean age at first surgery was 3.85 years. Chiari malformation was present in 80% of the Crouzon’s syndrome cases, 62.5% of the oxycephaly cases, and 4.44% of the non-syndromic, non-oxycephaly cases. Intracranial hypertension was present in 80% of the Crouzon’s syndrome cases, 75% of the oxycephaly cases, and 6.67% of the non-syndromic, non-oxycephaly cases. Perioperative complications were present in 42.86% of the syndromic craniosynostosis cases, 50% of the oxycephaly cases, and 15.56% of the non-syndromic, non-oxycephaly cases. Compromised overall correction was present in 4 of 7 cases of syndromic craniosynostosis, 3 of 8 cases of oxycephaly, and 2 of 45 cases of non-syndromic, non-oxycephaly group. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of educating the masses so that cases of craniosynostosis present early. The incidence of Chiari malformation, intracranial hypertension, and perioperative complications was significantly higher in the syndromic craniosynostosis and oxycephaly groups than in single-suture craniosynostosis. The best surgical outcome and the least perioperative complications were seen in the trigonocephaly group. Compromised overall correction and reoperations were more common in the syndromic and complex craniosynostosis groups than in single-suture craniosynostosis.
Predator-induced behavioral indirect effects: consequences to competitive interactions in anuran larvae

This study examines the non-lethal effects of an odonate predator (Anax junius) on the competitive interactions among several size classes of anuran larvae. In an outdoor experiment using cattle watering tanks, we estimated the effects of both large and small bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) on themselves, on each other, and on small green frogs (R. clamitans) in the absence and non-lethal (caged) presence of Anax. The presence of Anax depressed both growth and survivorship of small bullfrogs and green frogs. In contrast, the presence of Anax had positive effects on growth rates and size at metamorphosis of the large bullfrogs. Increasing density of competitors also decreased survivorship of small classes, and growth rates of all classes. The per-unit-biomass competitive effects of the small bullfrogs on target classes were much greater than those of large bullfrogs. The presence of Anax significantly altered the per-unit-biomass competitive effects of small bullfrogs but not large bullfrogs, presumably because individuals in the small class reduced their activity rates in the presence of Anax. Overall production of new tadpole biomass was quite similar across experimental units, with decreases in production of small size classes in the presence of Anax compensated for by increases in production of the large size class. Thus the non-lethal presence of Anax had substantial effects on the nature of competitive interactions in this system, and we discuss the implications of such behavioral indirect effects in the study of ecological communities. Our results also illustrate the futility-of attempting to partition the effects of competitors and predators, as both competitors and the non-lethal presence of predators significantly affected growth rates and death by star- vation of small larvae. Finally, our results illustrate how individual behavioral responses may be translated to community and ecosystem properties.
Myelin-associated glycoprotein and myelinating Schwann cell-axon interaction in chronic B,B'-iminodipropionitrile neuropathy

The myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is a heavily glycosylated integral membrane glycoprotein which is a minor component of isolated rat peripheral nervous system (PNS) myelin. Immunocytochemically MAG has been localized in the periaxonal region of PNS myelin sheaths. The periaxonal localization and biochemical features of MAG are consistent with the hypothesis that MAG plays a role in maintaining the periaxonal space of myelinated fibers. To test this hypothesis, MAG was localized immunocytochemically in 1-micron sections of the L5 ventral root from rats exposed to B,B'-iminodipropionitrile. In chronic states of B,B'- iminodipropionitrile intoxication, Schwann cell periaxonal membranes and the axolemma invaginate into giant axonal swellings and separate a central zone of normally oriented axoplasm from an outer zone of maloriented neurofilaments. Ultrastructurally, the width of the periaxonal space (12-14 nm) in the ingrowths is identical to that found in normally myelinated fibers. These Schwann cell ingrowths which are separated from compact myelin by several micra are stained intensely by MAG antiserum. Antiserum directed against Po protein, the major structural protein of compact PNS myelin, does not stain the ingrowths unless compact myelin is present. These results demonstrate the periaxonal localization of MAG and support a functional role for MAG in maintaining the periaxonal space of PNS myelinated fibers.
Genetic Variation Within and Among Mats of the Reindeer Lichen, Cladina Subtenuis

Abstract Cladina subtenuis is the most commonly found ‘ reindeer lichen ’ in the southeastern United States. In the present study C. subtenuis was examined for polymorphism in the small subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) within and among small clumps of podetia, here referred to as mats, from five geographical locations. Polymorphism in the SSU rDNA was not detected among podetia within mats, but polymorphism was detected among mats from a single location. Therefore, mats of C. subtenuis may represent a single genetic individual, although genetically distinct mats may occur in close proximity. Their proximity couldencourage sexual reproduction between genetically distinct individuals, which would maintain variation in these populations. The SSU rDNA types represented three different lengths and restriction-site patterns, reflecting the presence of sequence insertions of at least 200 nucleotides in the SSU rDNA coding region. Thei nsertions, differing in position, number and sequence, are group I introns similar to those previously reported in the Cladonia chlorophaea complex. The intron variation among the SSU rDNA types indicates that molecular evolution has occurred within this species, perhaps since its divergence from related taxa and dispersal across the southeastern United States.
Analysing Daily Rainfall Measurements to Give Agronomically Useful Results. II. A Modelling Approach

SUMMARY A probabilistic model of daily rainfall can be used to derive results of potential value to agriculture. A simple example shows how this model works, but more realistic models are also fitted, using standard statistical computer packages, and examples of the results are presented graphically. The modelling approach is compared and contrasted with direct methods of analysing daily rainfall.
Decoding network-mediated retinal response to electrical stimulation: implications for fidelity of prosthetic vision

Objective. Patients with photovoltaic subretinal implant PRIMA demonstrated letter acuity ∼0.1 logMAR worse than sampling limit for 100 μm pixels (1.3 logMAR) and performed slower than healthy subjects tested with equivalently pixelated images. To explore the underlying differences between natural and prosthetic vision, we compare the fidelity of retinal response to visual and subretinal electrical stimulation through single-cell modeling and ensemble decoding. Approach. Responses of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) to optical or electrical white noise stimulation in healthy and degenerate rat retinas were recorded via multi-electrode array. Each RGC was fit with linear–nonlinear and convolutional neural network models. To characterize RGC noise, we compared statistics of spike-triggered averages (STAs) in RGCs responding to electrical or visual stimulation of healthy and degenerate retinas. At the population level, we constructed a linear decoder to determine the accuracy of the ensemble of RGCs on N-way discrimination tasks. Main results. Although computational models can match natural visual responses well (correlation ∼0.6), they fit significantly worse to spike timings elicited by electrical stimulation of the healthy retina (correlation ∼0.15). In the degenerate retina, response to electrical stimulation is equally bad. The signal-to-noise ratio of electrical STAs in degenerate retinas matched that of the natural responses when 78 ± 6.5% of the spikes were replaced with random timing. However, the noise in RGC responses contributed minimally to errors in ensemble decoding. The determining factor in accuracy of decoding was the number of responding cells. To compensate for fewer responding cells under electrical stimulation than in natural vision, more presentations of the same stimulus are required to deliver sufficient information for image decoding. Significance. Slower-than-natural pattern identification by patients with the PRIMA implant may be explained by the lower number of electrically activated cells than in natural vision, which is compensated by a larger number of the stimulus presentations.
Studies on the epidemiology of Campylobacter jejuni

textabstractOver the last few years the bacterial species Campylobacter jejuni has been recognized as an important cause of acute enteritis in man. Investigations in several countries have shown that infections caused by C. jejuni may be as serious as those due to Salmonella spp. , both in prevalence and in the severity of symptoms. In the Netherlands, campylobacters and salmonellae are each responsible for about 10 % of all cases of acute enteritis. Campylobacteriosis is mostly a food-borne infection. In the epidemiological studies described here it was found that in the Netherlands poultry and pigs in particular are healthy intestinal carriers of large numbers of C.jejuni. These intestinal organisms readily contaminate the meat during slaughter. As a consequence, f.jejuni was frequently isolated from poultry carcasses and from other poultry end-products at the processing plants. However, pork in butchers' shops appeared to be free from such contamination. It was found that this was due to the inability of campylobacters to survive the drying effect of the chilling process used for pig carcasses in the slaughterhouse. Poultry products are mostly chilled in another manner, without the possibility of drying, so that campylobacters on poultry meat, in contrast to those on pork, in fact reach the consumer.
Haematological Profile of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Exposed to Lead

Changes in Clarias gariepinus’ blood cells were investigated after 96-h of exposure to lead. Ninety (90) Clarias gariepinus with average weight of 262.2g and average length of 30.8 were divided into 5 groups (A-E) at six (6) fish per group and in triplicates after being acclimatized for 14 days. They were then exposed to various concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/l) of lead nitrate. The packed cell volume (PCV) of the treatments decreased significantly relative to that of the control, while their platelet counts increased compared with the control. There was also a reduction in the RBC of treatments. Other blood parameters did not vary significantly in comparison to the control group, but it is worth noting that the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) increased considerably in all treatments compared to the control. These alterations have been attributed to direct or feedback responses of structural damage to RBC membranes resulting in haemolysis and impairment in haemoglobin synthesis, stress related release of RBCs from the spleen and hypoxia, which was induced by exposure to lead. This study therefore gives an insight into toxic effect of lead on fish.
Measuring overweight and obesity in Chinese American children using US, international and ethnic-specific growth charts

Abstract Objective: The aim is to determine the disparity between the overweight and obesity prevalence of Chinese American school-aged children and adolescents as measured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth reference and the prevalence as measured by international and ethnic-specific-growth references. Design: This retrospective, cross-sectional study measured overweight and obesity prevalence among a paediatric population using the CDC, International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), World Health Organization (WHO) and an ethnic Chinese growth curve. Setting: A community health centre in New York City, USA. Participants: Chinese American children aged 6–17 years in 2017 (N 9160). Results: The overweight prevalence was 24 % (CDC), 23 % (IOTF), 30 % (WHO) and 31 % (China). The obesity prevalence was 10 % (CDC), 5 % (IOTF), 10 % (WHO) and 10 % (China). When disaggregated by age and sex, the difference was the most prominent in girls; using the China reference compared with using the CDC reference almost doubles the overweight prevalence (school-aged: 31 v. 17 %, P < 0·001, adolescent: 27 v. 14 %, P < 0·001) and the obesity prevalence (school-aged: 11 v. 5 %, P < 0·001, adolescent: 7 v. 4 %, P < 0·001). Conclusions: Use of the CDC reference compared with the Chinese ethnic-specific reference results in lower overweight and obesity prevalence in Chinese American girls. Almost half of the girls who were overweight and half of the girls who were obese were not identified using the CDC reference. Using ethnic-specific references or ethnic-specific cut-points may help improve overweight identification for Chinese American children.
Enhanced Descending Corticomuscular Coupling During Hand Grip With Static Force Compared With Enhancing Force

The interaction between cortex and muscles under hand motor with different force states has not been quantitatively investigated yet, which to some extent places the optimized movement tasks design for brain-computer interface (BCI) applications in hand motor rehabilitation under uncertainty. Converging evidence has suggested that both the descending corticospinal pathway and ascending sensory feedback pathway are involved in the generation of corticomuscular coupling. The present study aimed to explore the corticomuscular coupling during hand motor task with enhancing force and steady-state force. Twenty healthy subjects performed precision grip with enhancing and static force using the right hand with visual feedback of exerted force. Mutual information and Granger causal connectivity were assessed between electroencephalography (EEG) over primary motor cortex and electromyography (EMG) recordings, and statistically analyzed. The results showed that the mutual information value was significantly larger for static force in the beta and alpha frequency band than enhancing force state. Furthermore, compared with enhancing force, the Granger causal connectivity of descending pathways from cortex to muscle was significantly larger for static force in the beta and high alpha frequency band (10-20 Hz), indicating the connection between the primary motor cortex and muscle was strengthened for static force. In summary, the hand grip with static force resulted in an increasing corticomuscular coupling from EEG over the primary motor cortex to EMG compared with enhancing force, implying more attention was required in the static force state. These results have important implications toward motor rehabilitation therapy design for the recovery of impaired hand motor functions.
Effect of high intensity interval training on body composition in women before and after menopause: a meta‐analysis

What is the topic of this review? A meta‐analysis of the efficacy of high intensity interval training (HIIT) in reducing weight, total fat mass (FM) and (intra)‐abdominal FM in normal‐weight and overweight/obese women before and after menopause. What advances does it highlight? HIIT programmes in women significantly decrease body weight and total and abdominal FM. Their effects are more evident in pre‐ than in postmenopausal women. Cycling HIIT seems more effective than running, especially in postmenopausal women, and training interventions longer than 8 weeks comprising three sessions a week should be promoted.
ON THE ALEKSANDROV‐FENCHEL INEQUALITY

where V denotes the mixed volume. Aleksandrov's [ l , 23 proofs are reproduced in the books of Busemann [6] and Leichtweiss [lS]. This inequality, special cases of which go back to Minkowski, has numerous applications to extremal and other problems in the geometry of convex bodies. In recent years new interest in this inequality has arisen from different sides. Surprising connections with algebraic geometry have been discovered, which have led to new proofs of (1.1) by Teissier [21] and Hovanski [ l l ] (the proof of Fedotov [S], reproduced by Burago and Zalgaller in [S], seems to be incomplete). Also, some unusual applications of (1.1) or the closely related inequality for mixed discriminants were found, of which we mention Egorychev's and Falikman's proofs of the van der Waerden conjecture on permanents (see Lagarias [ 131 for references and further discussion) and Stanley's [20] results of a combinatorial nature. Despite fresh interest in the Aleksandrov-Fenchel inequality and the new approaches to it, there is one major problem connected with it which has remained open for decades, namely, the characterization of the equality case. Without very restrictive assumptions on the bodies, it is not known when equality occurs in (1.1). None of the known proofs yields general information in this respect, since (1.1) is first proved for special convex bodies (very smooth bodies in Aleksandrov's second proof, and special polytopes in the other cases) and then generally by approximation, which blurs the cases of equality. Not even a plausible conjecture concerning equality in (1.1) has been reported in the literature. It is the purpose of the present paper to recall the known results in that direction, to formulate a conjecture on the general case of equality, in part due to Loritz, and to collect some partial results in favor of it. Maybe a published conjecture will stimulate further study of this question.
In vitro Regeneration of the Medicinal Herb of Nilgiri shola, Acmella calva L. from Leaf Derived Callus

Callus culture was initiated from leaf discs on MS supplemented with BAP, NAA and Kn. The highest frequency (95%) of organogenic callus induction was observed in MS containing BAP at 3.0 mg/l and NAA at 0.3 mg/l. Development of adventitious shoots occurred when the calli were subcultured on MS supplemented with BAP alone at the rate of 3.0 mg/l (80%) and BAP with NAA at the rate of 3.0 and 0.3 mg/l, respectively (95%) and BAP with Kn at the rate of 3.0 and 0.3 mg/l, respectively (70%). The root initiation and the rate of growth were higher in the basal medium containing BAP at 3.0 and 2.5 mg/l. The plantlets were establish successfully in the hardening medium composed by coir pith and soil (1 : 1). Key words: Acmella calva , Leaf derived callus, Nilgiris, India Â Â Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 17 (2): 109-114, 2007 Â DOI: 10.3329/ptcb.v17i2. 2566