Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Er:YAG laser irradiation on the microtensile bond strength to bleached enamel.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different Er:YAG laser (λ = 2.94 μm) energy parameters on the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) and superficial morphology of bovine enamel bleached with 16% carbamide peroxide. BACKGROUND Laser irradiation could improve adhesion to bleached enamel surfaces. METHODS Sixty bovine enamel blocks (7 × 3 × 3 mm(3)) were randomly assigned to six groups according to enamel preparation procedures (n = 10): G1-bleaching and Er:YAG laser irradiation with 25.52 J/cm(2) (laser A, LA); G2-bleaching and Er:YAG laser irradiation with 4.42 J/cm(2) (laser B, LB); G3-bleaching; G4-Er:YAG laser irradiation with 25.52 J/cm(2); G5-Er:YAG laser irradiation with 4.42 J/cm(2); G6-control, no treatment. G1 to G3 were bleached for 6 h during 21 days. Afterwards, enamel surfaces in all groups were slightly abraded with 600-grit SiC papers and G1, G2, G4 and G5 were irradiated according to each protocol. Enamel blocks were then restored with an etch-and-rinse adhesive system and a 4-mm thick composite buildup was made in two increments (n = 9). After 24 h, restored blocks were serially sectioned with a cross-section area of ∼1 mm(2) at the bonded interface and tested in tension in a universal testing machine (1 mm/min). Failure mode was determined at a magnification of x100 using a stereomicroscope. One treated block of each group was selected for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. μTBS data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and no statistical differences were observed among groups. RESULTS Mean bond strengths (SD) in MPa were: G1-30.4(6.2); G2-27.9(8.5); G3-32.3(3.9); G4-23.7(5.8); G5-29.3(6.0); G6-29.1(6.1). A large number of adhesive failures was recorded for bleached and irradiated enamel surfaces. CONCLUSIONS Bleached enamel surfaces μTBS values were not significantly different from those of unbleached enamel. Even though Er:YAG laser irradiation with both parameters had no influence on μTBS for bleached and unbleached enamel, SEM analysis revealed that Er:YAG laser irradiation with 25.52 J/cm(2) should not be recommended, as enamel ablation was observed, whereas irradiation with 4.42 J/cm(2) did not promote any remarkable changes on enamel surface.
Low-level laser irradiation alters cardiac cytokine expression following acute myocardial infarction: a potential mechanism for laser therapy.

OBJECTIVES Low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) has the potential of exerting cardioprotective effect following myocardial infarction (MI). The authors hypothesized that LLLI could influence the expression of cardiac cytokines and contribute to the reversal of ventricular remodeling. BACKGROUND LLLI regulates the expression of cytokines after tissue damage. However, little is known concerning the alteration of the cardiac cytokine expression profile after LLLI. METHODS MI was created by coronary ligation. The surviving rats were divided randomly into laser and control groups. 33 rats were exposed to a diode laser (635 nm, 5 mW, CW, laser, beam spot size 0.8 cm(2), 6 mW/cm(2), 150 sec, 0.8 J, 1J/cm(2)) as laser group. Another 33 rats received only coronary ligation and served as control group. 28 rats received a thoracotomy without coronary ligation (sham group). One day after laser irradiation, 5 rats from each group were sacrificed and the heart tissues were analyzed by cytokine antibody arrays. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to confirm its reliability. Two weeks after MI, cardiac function and structure were evaluated by echocardiography and histological study. RESULTS Cytokine antibody array indicated 4 cytokines were significantly changed after laser therapy. ELISA confirmed that granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and fractalkine were the cytokines involved in the response to therapeutic laser irradiation. However, there was no difference in cytokine release between various groups at 2 weeks after MI. Although LLLI did not improve the damaged heart function, it did reduce the infarct area expansion. CONCLUSIONS The antibody-based protein array technology was applied for screening the cytokine expression profile following MI, with or without laser irradiation. The expression of multiple cytokines was regulated in the acute phase after LLLI. Our results revealed a potential novel mechanism for applying laser therapy to the treatment of heart disease.
Levosulpiride‐induced movement disorders

Levosulpiride is a substituted benzamide that is widely used for the management of dyspepsia and emesis. However, little is known about levosulpiride‐induced movement disorders (LIM). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with LIM. Among 132 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with drug‐induced movement disorders between January 2002 and March 2008, 91 patients with LIM were identified and their medical records reviewed. Seventy‐eight (85.7%) patients were aged more than 60 years. The most common LIM was parkinsonism (LIP) (n = 85, 93.4%), followed by tardive dyskinesia (n = 9, 9.9%) and isolated tremor (n = 3, 3.3%). Twenty‐one (24.7%) of the 85 patients with LIP were rated as Hoehn and Yahr stage III–V. The oro‐lingual area was the only body part that was involved by tardive dyskinesia. LIM persisted after withdrawal of levosulpiride in 48.1% of patients with LIP, 66.7% with dyskinesia, and none with isolated tremor. None of clinical and MRI features predicted the reversibility of LIP. Levosulpiride frequently causes drug‐induced movement disorders, presenting mainly with LIP followed by lower face dyskinesia. The symptoms are often severe, and irreversible even after the withdrawal of levosulpiride. Physicians should be cautious in using levosulpiride, especially in elderly patients. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Apendicite epiplóica: aspectos na ultra-sonografia e na tomografia computadorizada

Epiploic appendicitis is an uncommon inflammatory condition, which is presently better diagnosed by current imaging methods such as computed tomography and ultrasonography that allow a non-invasive and efficient diagnostic approach. The authors studied 6 patients with epiploic appendicitis. The patients were submitted to computed tomography that showed paracolic oval lesions of 1 to 2 cm of diameter, fat attenuation and a thin peripheral hyperdense rim associated with adjacent fat stranding. Ultrasound examination performed in two patients showed hyperechoic ovoid noncompressible masses at the site of maximum abdominal tenderness.
Analyzing microarray data using WebArray.

Cold Spring Harb Protoc; Yipeng Wang, Michael McClelland and Xiao-Qin Xia Analyzing Microarray Data Using WebArray Service Email Alerting click here. Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article Categories Subject Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. Browse articles on similar topics from (35 articles) Microarrays, general (30 articles) Microarrays (102 articles) Genome Analysis (322 articles) Genetics, general (74 articles) Computational Biology (131 articles) Bioinformatics/Genomics, general (7 articles) Analysis of Microarrays, general (13 articles) Analysis of Microarrays
Tissue sampling and genomic DNA purification from the western clawed frog Xenopus tropicalis.

The extraction of genomic DNA from Western clawed frog (Xenopus tropicalis) tissue samples is an essential step for genotyping known mutations, identifying live animals carrying nonfluorescent transgenes, and reverse genetic screening techniques. We describe here a method for sampling tail tissue from X. tropicalis tadpoles at stage 48 and later. This method of tissue sampling allows a significant amount of genomic DNA to be obtained from tadpoles without killing them. In both Xenopus laevis and X. tropicalis, the tip of the tail is able to regenerate following surgery and its removal does not have a significant effect on the survival of the tadpole when performed carefully. Genomic DNA purification can be carried out in “deep-well” 96-well plates, making it amenable to high-throughput applications. Typically, the DNA yield is sufficient for more than 100 standard 50-μL polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) (using 1–5 μL of DNA per reaction), so it can be used for genetic screening and mapping studies.
Pediatric investigation plans for specific immunotherapy: Questionable contributions to childhood health

Allergen‐specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only disease‐modifying treatment for children, adolescents, and adults with allergic diseases. The EU has a combined system of national and EU‐wide marketing authorization for all medicines. Germany introduced a new therapy allergen ordinance in 2008. Allergen products manufacturers had to apply for marketing authorization application for the major allergen groups (grass group, birch group, mites group, bee/wasp venom). Due to the EU pediatric regulation, in force since 2007, manufacturers had also to submit a pediatric investigation plan (PIP) for each allergen product. We investigated the allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) standard PIP, developed jointly by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the German Paul Ehrlich Institut (PEI). We analyzed the 118 EMA PIP decisions, looked for SIT trials in children in www.clinicaltrials. gov, and further analyzed EMA/EU justifications. The PIPs request a 1‐year dose‐finding study in adults, a 5‐year placebo‐controlled (PC) efficacy & safety (E&S) study in adults, and a 5‐year PC E&S study in children. Fifty‐eight PIP development programs will have to be performed until 2031. But children benefit even more from SIT for ARC than adults. There is no convincing medical/scientific justification for PC E&S studies in children in the relevant EMA documents. The PIP requirement to withhold effective treatment to thousands of children in the placebo group over a 5‐year period raises profound concerns. The EMA justifications are formalistic and lack scientific foundation. A critical academic review of the ARC PIPs and the entire PIP system is urgently needed.
Associations of maternal and fetal 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels with childhood eczema: The Generation R Study

Exposure to low levels of vitamin D in fetal life might affect the developing immune system, and subsequently the risk of childhood eczema. We examined whether 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels in mid‐gestation and at birth were associated with the risk of eczema until the age of 4 years.
Identifying and removing artificial replicates from 454 pyrosequencing data.

An intrinsic artifact of 454-based pyrosequencing leads to artificial overrepresentation of >10% of the original DNA sequencing templates. This artificial amplification of sequences is unbiased with regard to position on the pyrosequencing plate or sequence identity, and it occurs in all currently available 454 technologies. The amplified sequences start at the same position and are identical (duplicates), or vary in length, or contain a sequencing discrepancy. If the abundance of any sequence in a data set is going to be enumerated, either for comparative community analysis, transcriptional analysis or other applications, it is important to remove these artificial replicates before analysis. A web-based tool that incorporates the clustering algorithm cd-hit was developed to identify and remove artificially replicated sequences in 454-based pyrosequencing data sets. This tool cannot be used for data sets that have an initial amplification step before the standard pyrosequencing procedure, because artificial replicates cannot be distinguished from expected replication due to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, e.g., in sequencing of amplified gene "tags. " This protocol provides details on how to use the replicate filter and obtain a file of unique sequences for use in metagenomic or transcriptomic analyses.
Development of a nomogram to estimate the quality of life in asthmatic children using the Childhood Asthma Control Test

Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) provides detailed information on QoL in asthmatic children, whereas Childhood Asthma Control Test (C‐ACT) Questionnaire is the most validated instrument for asthma control. No study assessed the relationship between C‐ACT and QoL in children by means of those instruments. The aim of this study was to determine whether a QoL estimation is possible using the C‐ACT questionnaire in asthmatic children.
A retrospective study of the impact of lifestyle on age at onset of Huntington disease

In transgenic mouse models of Huntington disease (HD) environmental enrichment significantly delays disease onset. A questionnaire‐based survey of 154 adults with diagnosed HD (mean 4.2 years postdiagnosis) and a known IT15 CAG repeat length, explored whether premorbid lifestyle may relate to age‐at‐onset (AO). Participants were drawn from HD outpatient clinics in Australia and New Zealand. Premorbid physical, intellectual, and passive activity levels were used to generate scores in the categories of leisure, nonleisure (education, occupation and domestic duties) and total lifestyle. AO was associated with increased CAG repeat length as expected (r = −0.72, P < 0.001), but also with a lifestyle that included higher levels of passive activity (r = −0.38, P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression modeling showed lifestyle passivity to be a variable independent of CAG repeat length in predicting AO (R2 = 0.54, b = −0.22, P = 0.005). Comparison of the mean AO across tertiles of lifestyle passivity scores showed onset 4.6 years (95% CI = 1.3–7.9) later in the least compared with the most passive tertile. CAG repeat length was also shown to predict lifestyle passivity (R2 = 0.12, b = 1.08, P < 0.0005). Neither intellectual nor physical activity showed significant relationships to AO or CAG repeat length in this cohort. Our study leads to two conclusions: that a passive lifestyle may be a preclinical expression of HD, and that it actually contributes to the earlier onset of symptoms. Overcoming the tendency to be passive may substantially delay onset of HD. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
EdU (5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine) labeling of Drosophila mitotic neuroblasts.

INTRODUCTION When examining mutants that affect cell fate as a result of altered asymmetric division patterns, it is important to determine whether cells are mitotically active. Chemical labeling of newly synthesized DNA (during S-phase) by incorporation of BrdU (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine) is informative because this thymidine analog can be used to pulse-label dividing cells and then chased to identify the progeny of dividing cells. Such pulse-chase experiments can provide additional insight by distinguishing actively dividing cells from those that might be arrested at a mitotic checkpoint. EdU (5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine) is another thymidine analog that provides a more sensitive and practical alternative to BrdU. Incorporation of EdU is detected through its reaction with an azide dye that is small enough to penetrate tissues efficiently. Visualization of EdU is rapid and does not interfere with subsequent antibody staining. The use of EdU in labeling Drosophila mitotic neuroblasts is described here.
Early nutrition and long-term health: a practical approach

Nutrition in early life, a critical period for human development, can have long-term effects on health in adulthood. Supporting evidence comes from epidemiological studies, animal models and experimental interventions in human subjects. The mechanism is proposed to operate through nutritional influences on growth. Substantial evidence now supports the hypothesis that ‘accelerated’ or too fast infant growth increases the propensity to the major components of the metabolic syndrome (glucose intolerance, obesity, raised blood pressure and dyslipidaemia), the clustering of risk factors that predispose to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The association between infant growth and these risk factors is strong, consistent, shows a dose–response effect and is biologically plausible. Moreover, experimental data from prospective randomised controlled trials strongly support a causal link between infant growth and later risk factors for atherosclerosis. Evidence that infant growth affects the development of atherosclerosis therefore suggests that the primary prevention of CVD should begin from as early as the first few months of life. The present review considers this evidence, the underlying mechanisms involved and its implications for public health.
Fish oil and rheumatoid arthritis: past, present and future

Meta- and mega-analysis of randomised controlled trials indicate reduction in tender joint counts and decreased use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with fish-oil supplementation in long-standing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs confer cardiovascular risk and there is increased cardiovascular mortality in RA, an additional benefit of fish oil in RA may be reduced cardiovascular risk via direct mechanisms and decreased non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. Potential mechanisms for anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil include inhibition of inflammatory mediators (eicosanoids and cytokines), and provision of substrates for synthesis of lipid suppressors of inflammation (resolvins). Future studies need progress in clinical trial design and need to shift from long-standing disease to examination of recent-onset RA. We are addressing these issues in a current randomised controlled trial of fish oil in recent-onset RA, where the aim is to intervene before joint damage has occurred. Unlike previous studies, the trial occurs on a background of drug regimens determined by an algorithm that is responsive to disease activity and drug intolerance. This allows drug use to be an outcome measure whereas in previous trial designs, clinical need to alter drug use was a ‘problem’. Despite evidence for efficacy and plausible biological mechanisms, the limited clinical use of fish oil indicates there are barriers to its use. These probably include the pharmaceutical dominance of RA therapies and the perception that fish oil has relatively modest effects. However, when collateral benefits of fish oil are included within efficacy, the argument for its adjunctive use in RA is strong.
Thomas de Quincey and his restless legs symptoms as depicted in “Confessions of an English Opium‐Eater”

Thomas de Quincey, a British writer of 19th century, suffered insomnia from the age of 17 years. In his famous “Confessions of an English‐Opium Eater” (1822), he described a symptomatology that could concord with restless legs syndrome long before he became addicted to opium. In this report, we analyze his clinical description and the circumstances leading to his opium addiction. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
The validity of register data to identify children with atopic dermatitis, asthma or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis

The incidence of atopic dermatitis, wheezing, asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis has been increasing. Register‐based studies are essential for research in subpopulations with specific diseases and facilitate epidemiological studies to identify causes and evaluate interventions. Algorithms have been developed to identify children with atopic dermatitis, asthma or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis using register information on disease‐specific dispensed prescribed medication and hospital contacts, but the validity of the algorithms has not been evaluated. This study validated the algorithms vs gold standard deep telephone interviews with the caretaker about physician‐diagnosed atopic dermatitis, wheezing, asthma or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in the child.
Aberrant striatal plasticity is specifically associated with dyskinesia following levodopa treatment

Chronic levodopa treatment for Parkinson's disease often results in the development of abnormal involuntary movement, known as L‐dopa‐induced dyskinesia (LIDs). Studies suggest that LIDs may be associated with aberrant corticostriatal plasticity. Using in vivo extracellular recordings from identified Type I and Type II medium spiny striatal neurons, chronic L‐dopa treatment was found to produce abnormal corticostriatal information processing. Specifically, after chronic L‐dopa treatment in dopamine‐depleted rats, there was a transition from a cortically evoked long‐term depression (LTD) to a complementary but opposing form of plasticity, long‐term potentiation, in Type II “indirect” pathway neurons. In contrast, LTD could still be induced in Type I neurons. Interestingly, the one parameter that correlated best with dyskinesias was the inability to de‐depress established LTD in Type I medium spiny striatal neurons. Taken as a whole, we propose that the induction of LIDs is due, at least in part, to an aberrant induction of plasticity within the Type II indirect pathway neurons combined with an inability to de‐depress established plastic responses in Type I neurons. Such information is critical for understanding the cellular mechanisms underlying one of the major caveats to L‐dopa therapy. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Effectiveness of Sofosbuvir, Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir, or Paritaprevir/Ritonavir/Ombitasvir and Dasabuvir Regimens for Treatment of Patients With Hepatitis C in the Veterans Affairs National Health Care System.

BACKGROUND & AIMS We investigated the real-world effectiveness of sofosbuvir, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, and paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir and dasabuvir (PrOD) in treatment of different subgroups of patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1, 2, 3, or 4. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of data from 17,487 patients with HCV infection (13,974 with HCV genotype 1; 2131 with genotype 2; 1237 with genotype 3; and 135 with genotype 4) who began treatment with sofosbuvir (n = 2986), ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (n = 11,327), or PrOD (n = 3174), with or without ribavirin, from January 1, 2014 through June 20, 2015 in the Veterans Affairs health care system. Data through April 15, 2016 were analyzed to assess completion of treatments and sustained virologic response 12 weeks after treatment (SVR12). Mean age of patients was 61 ± 7 years, 97% were male, 52% were non-Hispanic white, 29% were non-Hispanic black, 32% had a diagnosis of cirrhosis (9.9% with decompensated cirrhosis), 36% had a Fibrosis-4 index score >3.25 (indicator of cirrhosis), and 29% had received prior antiviral treatment. RESULTS An SVR12 was achieved by 92.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 92.3%-93.2%) of subjects with HCV genotype 1 infection (no significant difference between ledipasvir/sofosbuvir and PrOD regimens), 86.2% (95% CI, 84.6%-87.7%) of those with genotype 2 infection (treated with sofosbuvir and ribavirin), 74.8% (95% CI, 72.2%-77.3%) of those with genotype 3 infection (77.9% in patients given ledipasvir/sofosbuvir plus ribavirin, 87.0% in patients given sofosbuvir and pegylated-interferon plus ribavirin, and 70.6% of patients given sofosbuvir plus ribavirin), and 89.6% (95% CI 82.8%-93.9%) of those with genotype 4 infection. Among patients with cirrhosis, 90.6% of patients with HCV genotype 1, 77.3% with HCV genotype 2, 65.7% with HCV genotype 3, and 83.9% with HCV genotype 4 achieved an SVR12. Among previously treated patients, 92.6% with genotype 1; 80.2% with genotype 2; 69.2% with genotype 3; and 93.5% with genotype 4 achieved SVR12. Among treatment-naive patients, 92.8% with genotype 1; 88.0% with genotype 2; 77.5% with genotype 3; and 88.3% with genotype 4 achieved SVR12. Eight-week regimens of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir produced an SVR12 in 94.3% of eligible patients with HCV genotype 1 infection; this regimen was underused. CONCLUSIONS High proportions of patients with HCV infections genotypes 1-4 (ranging from 75% to 93%) in the Veterans Affairs national health care system achieved SVR12, approaching the results reported in clinical trials, especially in patients with genotype 1 infection. An 8-week regimen of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir is effective for eligible patients with HCV genotype 1 infection and could reduce costs. There is substantial room for improvement in SVRs among persons with cirrhosis and genotype 2 or 3 infections.