Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Temperature and Ocean Acidification on the Extrapallial Fluid pH, Calcification Rate, and Condition Factor of the King Scallop Pecten maximus

ABSTRACT Increasing anthropogenic carbon dioxide is predicted to cause declines in ocean pH and calcium carbonate saturation state over the coming centuries, making it potentially harder for marine calcifiers to build their shells and skeletons. One mechanism of resilience to ocean acidification is an organism's ability to regulate pH and, thus, calcium carbonate saturation state, at its site of calcification. This mechanism has received detailed study in scleractinian corals but is relatively understudied in other taxonomic groups that are vulnerable to ocean acidification, such as bivalves. Here, the results of a 74-day controlled laboratory experiment investigating the impact of ocean acidification on the extrapallial fluid (EPF; the bivalve calcifying fluid) pH, calcification rate, and condition factor of the king scallop Pecten maximus at their average spring and summer temperatures (362 ppm/9.0°C, 454 ppm/12.3°C; 860 ppm/9.0°C, 946 ppm/12.3°C; 2,639 ppm/8.9°C, 2,750 ppm/12.1°C) are presented. Scallop EPF pH was lower than seawater pH in all treatments and declined with increasing pCO2 under the spring temperature (9°C) but was uncorrelated with pCO2 under the summer temperature (12°C). Furthermore, king scallop calcification rate and EPF pH were inversely correlated at 9°C and uncorrelated at 12°C. This inverse correlation between EPF pH and scallop calcification rate, combined with the observation that scallop EPF pH is consistently lower than seawater pH, suggests that pH regulation is not the sole mechanism by which scallops concentrate carbonate ions for calcification within their EPF. Calcification trends contrasted most other published studies on bivalves, increasing with ocean acidification under spring temperature and exhibiting no response to ocean acidification under summer temperature. Scallop condition factor exhibited no response to ocean acidification under spring temperature but increased with ocean acidification under summer temperature—exactly the opposite of their calcification response to ocean acidification. These results suggest that king scallops are relatively resilient to CO2-induced ocean acidification, but that their allocation of resources between tissue and shell production in response to this stressor varies seasonally.
Survey of Texas Bay Systems for the Oyster Parasites Bonamia spp., Haplosporidium nelsoni, and Perkinsus marinus

ABSTRACT Texas Parks and Wildlife Department restricts movement of eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica among Texas bay systems because of potential disease transfer and genetic differences in natural oyster stocks. Oyster diseases, such as bonamiosis, which was found serendipitously in 2007 in Florida waters, and MSX (Haplosporidium nelsoni) have not been characterized in Texas bays. Therefore, it is prudent to periodically examine C. virginica and other bivalve species (e.g., Ostrea equestris and Isognomon sp.) from Texas bays for the presence of the causative agents of these diseases, that is, Bonamia spp. and H. nelsoni, as well as known diseases such as dermo (Perkinsus marinus). Eastern oysters (n = 30/bay) were collected from October to December 2016 from five Texas bays and analyzed for the presence of these parasites. In addition, 89 historical oyster tissue samples collected from two Texas bays in 2010 and 2011 and 37 flat tree oysters Isognomon alatus collected from a single Texas bay in December 2017 were examined. All specimens collected in 2016/2017 were assessed by PCR and histology for the presence of Bonamia spp. , H. nelsoni, and P. marinus, whereas 2010/2011 samples were only assessed by PCR. Neither Bonamia spp. nor H. nelsoni were detected in any collected samples. Although 15% of the 2016 eastern oyster samples and 29% of the 2010 to 2011 eastern oyster samples contained P. marinus, the parasite was not found in any flat tree oyster. Sanger sequencing of isolated DNA was performed on samples that were positive for dermo as well as the positive controls for Bonamia sp. and H. nelsoni, which confirmed results. These results serve as a point reference that indicate Bonamia spp. and H. nelsoni are not currently present in Texas bays, but continued biennial monitoring is suggested.
Resilience of Oxygen Consumption Rates in the Juvenile Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus to Future Predicted Increases in Environmental Temperature and pCo2 in the Mesohaline Chesapeake Bay

ABSTRACT Quantifying the physiological impact of environmental stressors on living organisms is critical to predicting the response of any given species to future climate scenarios. Oxygen consumption rates (μmol/g/min) were measured to examine the physiological response of the juvenile blue crab Callinectes sapidus from the Chesapeake Bay (Patuxent River, Maryland) to elevated temperature and dissolved carbon dioxide in water (pCO2) reflective of projected future climate scenarios. Treatment levels were selected to represent current conditions in the Chesapeake Bay (26°C and 800 μatm) and conditions predicted to occur by the year 2100 (31°C and 8,000 μatm). Crabs were exposed in a factorial design to these conditions throughout two successive molts (approximately 30 days). At the end of the exposure, the oxygen consumption rates of individual crabs were determined over at least a 10-h period using a flow-through respiration chamber equipped with optical oxygen electrodes. No significant effect of temperature or pCO2 on oxygen consumption was observed, suggesting the absence of a respiratory impact of these two climate stressors on juvenile blue crabs. Oxygen consumption rates were also determined for crabs that experienced a rapid increase in temperature without prior acclimation. The oxygen consumption rate of crabs may have acclimated to increased temperature during the 30-day exposure period before respiratory measurement. This potential acclimation, combined with high individual variability, and a relatively small difference in temperature treatments are likely the cause for the lack of a statistically significant difference in mean oxygen consumption rates by temperature in the core experiment. The results of this study suggest that the blue crab may be quite resilient to future climate stressors and underscore the need for species-specific studies to quantify the effects of climate change on estuarine crustaceans.
Effects of Serial Depletion on the Fishery Management of Geoduck Panopea globosa

ABSTRACT In this study, a length-structured population model was implemented to describe changes in the abundance of Panopea globosa over time, given parameters for growth and natural mortality rate. The following modules described population dynamics: stochastic individual model growth, survival, selectivity, recruitment, and estimates of initial numbers. In addition, the harvest rate, total biomass, and vulnerable biomass (VB) were calculated to advise management quantities. Spatial serial depletion patterns were detected for P. globosa and evident from the expansion of the fishing grounds over time. These patterns of geographic expansion are common in developing fisheries and are a problem for stock assessment. The densest patches available are usually harvested or even depleted, with fishers switching to new beds and potentially rotating back over time. If the changes in the harvestable area are ignored, the increases in VB and recruitment may mask the population dynamics of several beds, including those that are depleted and have low yield.
Smaller Prostate Volume is Associated with Adverse Pathological Features and Biochemical Recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy

Introduction: The relationship between prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia is unclear. Reduction in androgenicity and lower intraprostatic growth factor concentrations in smaller prostates may serve a more ideal environment for the development of aggressive tumors. We determined if prostate volume was associated with adverse pathological features, tumor volume, and biochemical recurrence (BCR) in men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) for PCa. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively identified 192 men who underwent RP at our institution for PCa from 2010 to 2016 years. Prostate volume was based on RP specimen weight, and cumulative tumor volume was calculated. Means were compared with one-way ANOVA test and proportions with Chi-square analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine independent predictors of BCR after RP. Results: Patients with prostate volume >60 g were less likely to have high-risk PCa (Gleason grade group >4) (7.1% vs. 13.4%; P = 0.042), node-positive disease (7.1% vs. 13.4%, P = 0.042), and BCR (10.7% vs. 25.0%, P = 0.002) after surgery. Linear regression showed an inverse relationship between prostate and tumor volume (R = 0.267; P < 0.05). On multivariate logistic regression, prostate volume >30 g (odds ratio [OR]: 0.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.09–0.88; P = 0.015) and >60 g (OR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.03–0.74; P = 0.002) were independent predictors of reduced BCR at mean follow-up of 24 months.Conclusions: Smaller prostate volume was associated with adverse pathological features, increased tumor volume, higher incidence of pathological node-positive disease, and increased rates of BCR. Prostate volume should be considered as a prognostic feature when counseling patients with both elevated prostate-specific antigen and newly diagnosed PCa.
Association between Hepatitis C Virus Viremia and the rs12979860, rs2228145 and rs1800795 SNP (CT/AC/GG) Genotype in Saudi Kidney Transplant Recipients

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major health problem, particularly in high-risk groups such as kidney transplant recipients, where it can adversely affect graft survival and increase the relative risk for mortality. Recently, the role of genetic variation among HCV patients in determining the outcome of infections has been under investigation. Objective: To investigate the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs12979860 (located within the interleukin-28B locus), rs2228145 (interleukin-6 receptor) and rs1800795 (interleukin-6 promoter) with HCV viremia in renal transplant patients. Materials and Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study, 149 kidney transplant recipients, 82 males (median age: 41 years) and 67 females (median age: 45 years), were screened for HCV RNA in blood using real-time polymerase chain reaction and genotyped by sequencing (rs12979860) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (rs2228145 and rs1800795). Results: HCV RNA was detected in 17 (11.41%) of the 149 patients. There was no statistically significant association between the studied SNPs and HCV viremia. However, a combination of the CT/AC/GG genotype was significantly associated with HCV viremia (odds ratio: 5.4). The genotype AA of rs2228145 in the IL-6 receptor was associated with viremia levels of >105 copies/ml (odds ratio: 5.96). Conclusion: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that has shown that the CT/AC/GG genotype has an impact on HCV viremia in kidney transplant patients. Therefore, such SNP genotypes may potentially be used to identify transplant patients at risk of HCV infection.
Antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection among children and adolescents with beta-thalassemia major

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was encountered as one of the most common infections transmitted through blood transfusion to thalassemic patients. After the discovery of new generations of antiviral drugs labeled direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drug since 2014, promising results were reported compared to older regimen of Peginterferon with or without ribavirin (RBV). Objective: The main objective of the study is to assess the hepatitis C viral status of multitransfused beta-thalassemia major patients and the sustained viral response rate to different modalities of therapy. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in Erbil Thalassemia Center. A sample of all children and adolescent (18 years or younger) patients of beta-thalassemia major with HCV antibody positive were reviewed according to the available medical records in the center. They were divided into two groups ( first who received interferon ([IFN] ± RBV and second who received sofosbuvir (SOF) and daclatasvir [DCV]) for the aim of the study. Results: Among registered 695 patients with thalassemia major screened for HCV antibody, 659 children and adolescents were included and 186 were tested seropositive (28.22%), and they had been submitted to polymerase chain reaction analysis with HCV-RNA identified in 110 (59.13% of initially ELISA test positive). IFN-dependent therapy was given to 87 patients, while sofosbuvir and DCV for remaining 21 patients, sustained viral response was 100% among those received latter therapy with no reported relapse compared to former regimen of 44.3% sustained response and 6.33% relapse rate. Conclusion: DAA drug has a promising therapeutic result replacing the old therapy of IFN-RBV among thalassemic patients with 100% response rate in the study group.
Outcome analysis of pediatric pyeloplasty in varied presentation in developing countries

Objectives: The objective was to study the various presentations of pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction in developing countries and its outcomes. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 239 children (260 renal units) who underwent surgery for PUJ obstruction between January 1994 and December 2016. Data on the patients presenting with symptoms and preoperative imaging findings of ultrasonography, intravenous urography, or diuretic renography were analyzed. Results: In all cases, we preferred dismembered Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty with or without JJ stenting. Complications of pyeloplasty included prolonged urine leakage in 13 patients, of whom 4 responded to conservative management, 5 required percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN), and 4 were treated with endoscopic JJ stenting. Six patients had persistent obstruction: two responded to endopyelotomy, and in four, redo pyeloplasty was successful. Five patients with renal function of <10% were initially treated with PCN and ultimately required nephrectomy. Conclusions: In patients born with PUJ obstruction and impaired renal function, pyeloplasty fails to significantly improve function, possibly because of cortical loss. However, in patients with antenatal PUJ obstruction managed expectantly, there is a small but significant risk of modest permanent loss of renal function.
Treatment patterns of patients with schizophrenia based on the data from 44,836 outpatients in Russia

Aim: The goal of the present study was to estimate the treatment patterns in outpatients with schizophrenia in Russia. Methods: A total of 44,836 outpatients with schizophrenia treated by 812 psychiatrists in 2018 were selected in the LRx database in Russia. We descriptively analyzed the proportions of patients treated with different therapy classes and drugs. Results: Typical antipsychotics (58.2%) were the therapies with the highest patient proportion, followed by anti-Parkinson drugs (38.3%) and antidepressants (30.6%). The most frequent anti-Parkinson drug was trihexyphenidyl; the most frequent antidepressant was amitriptyline. Conclusions: The findings of this study imply that the proportion of older drugs is higher in schizophrenia therapy in Russia than reported based on samples in Europe and the U.S.
ADDING A NEW TECHNIQUE TO ASSESS VISCERAL OBESITY TO YOUR REPERTOIRE

Copyright © 2019 American C isceral obesity, reflected by increased fat tissue deposition in and around abdominal organs (i.e., intra-abdominal or belly fat), is a strong predictor V early death from cardiovascular diseases (1–3) and type 2 diabetes (4). Owing to their convenience and ease of use, many anthropometric techniques, particularly BMI, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio are widely used in clinical settings to estimate visceral obesity (5). An alternative method to measure visceral obesity is to quantify the height of the abdomen in the sagittal anatomical plane, referred to as sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD). The sagittal plane runs parallel to the long axis of the body, separating it into left and right sections. With SAD, we are observing (measuring) the height of the abdomen along this axis.
No association between craving levels, personality traits, and treatment outcomes in patients with methamphetamine use disorder under deferred prosecution status

Objective: Few studies have examined the outcome predictors in methamphetamine (MA) use disorder patients referred from the justice system. Craving and personality trait, such as novelty seeking (NS) and harm avoidance (HA), have important rôles in developing and sustaining addiction. Therefore, we investigated whether craving severity and personality traits are correlated with the MA use disorder treatment outcomes in those under the deferred prosecution status. Methods: We measured craving levels and personality traits of NS and HA at the beginning of a one-year treatment program for MA use disorder. We monitored urinary MA/amphetamine results during the one-year treatment program. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the correlation between craving severity, personality traits, and MA use disorder treatment outcomes. Results: We first enrolled 98 patients, but only 56 patients completed the end-of-treatment assessments. We did not find any association between craving severity, personality traits, and MA treatment outcomes in those populations. But we found that age and percentage of positive urine MA/amphetamine results were significantly related to treatment completion (p < 0.05). Higher percentages of positive urine MA/amphetamine results were also significantly associated with shorter treatment duration (p = 0.01). In addition, positive urine results at baseline were significantly associated with higher percentages of positive urine tests in the following treatment course (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Our study data did not find that craving severity and personality traits were associated treatment outcomes in this special population. But urine MA/amphetamine results were more related with completion of programs. Further studies to evaluate the treatment outcomes and other potential outcome predictors in those were referred from the justice system are needed.
The association of subclinical Vitamin D deficiency with severe acute lower respiratory infection in children under 5 years in Duhok

Background: Vitamin D consumption can reduce susceptibility to respiratory tract infections in children. Objective: The aim of study was to measure the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 with severe acute lower respiratory infections, controlling for demographic and other potential risk factors. Materials and Methods: A case–control study conducted from June 2017 to June 2018. Cases were <5 years of age in-patients with severe acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). Controls were healthy children <5 years old visiting the hospital. The child's demographic and other characteristics were studied. All participants had serum Vitamin D been measured. The cutoff of <10 nmol/l was considered deficiency, 10–30 nmol/l insufficiency, and >30 nmol/l normal. Results: The study included 50 cases and 50 controls. The mean serum Vitamin D level in the whole sample was 40 ± 6.7 ng/L (cases were 32.8 ± 27.38 ng/L and controls were 48.23 ± 59.1). The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate of cases was 19.88 ± 12.8, the mean C-reactive protein 11.22 ± 8.03, the mean white blood cell 13.96 ± 5.13, and granulocyte 45.9%. The rate of Vitamin D deficiency was 14% whereas Vitamin D insufficiency is 48%. Weight-for-age was significantly related to vitamin level. Age of the patient, age of starting solid intake, sun exposure, and educational status of parents were significantly related to severe acute LRTIs. Conclusions: No significant association was found between severe acute respiratory tract infections and serum Vitamin D in the current study.
Management of epidural hematoma in the pediatric age group

Background: Epidural hematoma (EDH) is a traumatic accumulation of blood between the inner table of the skull and the stripped-off dural membrane, which has been stripped from the overlying bone both by the direct trauma and by the hydrostatic force of blood. Pediatric EDH presented with both age-specific and/or atypical manifestations when compared with EDH in adults. Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the management protocol of choice for pediatric EDH patients that can lead to an early diagnosis, effective treatment, and a good outcome for both operative and nonoperative groups of patients. Surgical management for EDH is the decision of choice for most cases, but still, there is a role for conservative management in selected cases. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, 210 cases of pediatric EDH under the age of 18 years were studied during a 10-year period in the Neurosurgical Department of Hilla Teaching Hospital in Babylon, Iraq, from 2008 to 2018. This study considered the following parameters: characteristics of patients, clinical manifestations, mechanism of head injury with age-specific distribution, radiological findings, associated pathologies, management, source of bleeding in operated cases, correlated pathologies in dead patients, and outcome. Categorical variables are presented in the form of frequencies and percentages. Results: The age group >6-12 years have the highest incidence 33%. Males constituted 75% of the victims whereas females 25%. Accidental fall had the highest incidence of 47.1%. The classic clinical course of lucid interval was present in only 7% of cases. Supratentorial EDHs comprised 91% whereas infratentorial EDHs (posterior fossa) only 9%. Skull fracture was present in 92.2% of cases. Surgical evacuation was done in 110 cases whereas 100 cases were managed conservatively. Middle meningeal artery or vein was identified as a source of bleeding in 50% of the operated cases. Glasgow outcome scale was applied to assess the outcome and to compare the outcome in both operative and conservative groups. The overall mortality was 6.7%. Conclusion: EDH is a life-threatening entity in the pediatric age group, so that special attention and a high index of suspicion are required. Clinical and neuroimaging assessments by computed tomography scan have a fundamental role for optimal therapeutic decision. Both surgical and conservative management should have excellent outcome if they accomplished on solid basis. Conservative management should be achieved in specialized neurosurgical centers that can assure rapid conversion to surgical intervention in case of neurological deterioration. In borderline cases, surgical evacuation of EDH may spent less hospital stay time with better cost–benefit ratio than conservative management. Judicious surgical intervention can result in excellent long-term outcome.