Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mise au point Scanner cardiaque basse dose : comment l ’ obtenir ? Low dose cardiac computed tomography : How to obtain it ?

D. Pesenti Rossi a,∗, S. Fargetas b, J.-L. Georges a, R. Convers a, N. Baron a, G. Gibault-Genty a, E. Blicq a, U. Balderacchi c, C. Hubert a, B. Livarek a a Services de cardiologie et de radiologie, hôpital de Versailles, 177, rue de Versailles, 78150 Le Chesnay, France b Service de biomédical, ingénieur, hôpital de Rambouillet, 78120 Rambouillet, France c Service de radiologie, hôpital de Rambouillet, 78120 Rambouillet, France Reçu le 1er août 2012 ; accepté le 7 août 2012 Disponible sur Internet le 28 août 2012
Intravenous iron sucrose versus oral iron in treatment of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy: A randomized clinical trial

Aim: Iron deficiency is a leading cause of anemia in pregnancy. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of oral and intravenous iron therapy in improving iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy and restoring iron stores, compare the obstetric outcome in the two groups and evaluate the safety of intravenous iron sucrose.
The Cultural Adaptation, Reliability, and Validity of Neck Disability Index in Patients With Neck Pain: A Turkish Version Study

Study Design. The cultural adaptation of Neck Disability Index (NDI), the validity and reliability of Turkish version. Objective. The aim of this study was to conduct a study concerning the cultural adaptation of NDI and investigate the validity and reliability of its Turkish version in patients with neck pain. Summary of Background Data. The NDI is a reliable evaluation instrument for disability but there is no published Turkish version. Methods. Eighty-eight patients with neck pain for at least 3 months were included in the study. NDI, The Neck Pain and Disability Scale, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were completed by all subjects. Test-retest reliability was determined by using intraclass correlation coefficient and Pearson correlation analysis. For the determination of concurrent validity, the relation between NDI and VAS was examined by Pearson correlation analysis and for the determination of construct validity, the relation between NDI and Neck Pain and Disability Scale was investigated. Results. Intraclass correlation coefficient score for test-retest reliability was 0.979 (95% confidence interval = 0.968–0.986). For concurrent validity, the relation between NDI and VAS was investigated, the r value for test and retest was 0.508 and 0.620, respectively (P < 0.0001). For construct validity, the relation between NDI and the Turkish version of Neck Pain and Disability Scale was investigated, the r value for test and retest was 0.659 (P < 0.0001) and 0.728 (P < 0.0001), respectively. Conclusion. The results suggest that the Turkish version of the NDI validated in this study is an easy to understand, reliable, and valid instrument for the measurement of the limitation of activities of daily living and pain caused by neck disorders in the Turkish-speaking population.
Do Batterer Programs Reduce Recidivism? Results from a Randomized Trial in the Bronx

Over the past two decades, a growing number of courts have come to rely on batterer programs as their mandate of choice, especially when the legal issues in a case preclude the imposition of jail. Three of four previous randomized trials produced largely negative results. The present study seeks to provide greater clarification. The study randomly assigned misdemeanor domestic violence offenders in the Bronx, New York to either a batterer program or not; and to either monthly or graduated judicial monitoring, with the latter involving reduced court appearances in response to compliance and increased appearances in response to noncompliance. The study found that neither the batterer program nor either of the two monitoring schedules produced a reduction in official re‐arrest rates for any offense, for domestic violence, or for domestic violence with the same victim. Similarly, 1‐year victim interviews indicated that neither program assignment nor monitoring schedule significantly affected victim reports of re‐abuse, either in general or with regard to specific forms of re‐abuse: physical, threats, or other. While victims expressed greater satisfaction with the sentence when a batterer program was assigned, interpretation of this last finding is difficult in the absence of an effect on re‐abuse.
Biomechanical Evaluation of Segmental Occipitoatlantoaxial Stabilization Techniques

Study Design. Biomechanical study using human cadaveric cervical spines. Objective. To evaluate the construct stability of 3 different segmental occipitoatlantoaxial (C0–C1–C2) stabilization techniques. Summary of Background Data. Different C0–C1–C2 stabilization techniques are used for unstable conditions in the upper cervical spine, all with different degrees of risk to the vertebral artery. Techniques with similar stability but less risk to the vertebral artery may be advantageous. Methods. Six human cadaveric cervical spines (C0–C5) (age: 74 ± 5.0 years) were used. After testing the intact spines, instability was created by transecting the transverse and alar ligaments. The spines were instrumented from the occiput to C2 using 3 different techniques which varied in their attachment to C2. All spines had 6 screws placed into the occiput along with lateral mass screws at C1. The 3 variations used in attachment to C2 were (1) C2 crossing laminar screws, (2) C2 pedicle screws, and (3) C1–C2 transarticular screws. The C1 lateral mass screws were removed before placement of the C1–C2 transarticular screws. Range of motion across C0–C2 was measured for each construct. The data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. The following post hoc comparisons were made: (1) intact spine versus each of the 3 techniques, (2) laminar screw technique versus the pedicle screw technique, and (3) laminar screw technique versus the transarticular screw technique. The level of significance was α = 0.01 (after Bonferroni correction for 5 comparisons). Results. All 3 stabilization techniques significantly decreased range of motion across C0–C2 compared to the intact spine (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference among the 3 stabilization methods in flexion/extension and axial rotation. In lateral bending, the technique using C2 crossing laminar screws demonstrated a trend toward increased range of motion compared to the other 2 techniques. CT scans in both axial and sagittal views demonstrated greater proximity to the vertebral artery in the pedicle and transarticular screw techniques compared to the crossing laminar screw technique. Conclusion. Occipitoatlantoaxial stabilization techniques using C2 crossing laminar screws, C2 pedicles screws, and C1–C2 transarticular screws offer similar biomechanical stability. Using the C2 crossing laminar screw technique may offer an advantage over the other techniques due to the reduction of the risk to the vertebral artery during C2 screw placement.
Doublecortin as a marker of adult neuroplasticity in the canary song control nucleus HVC

It is established that in songbirds the size of several brain song control nuclei varies seasonally, based on changes in cell size, dendritic branching and, in nucleus HVC, the incorporation of newborn neurons. In the developing and adult mammalian brain, the protein doublecortin (DCX) is expressed in postmitotic neurons and, as a part of the microtubule machinery, required for neuronal migration. We recently showed that in adult canaries, DCX‐immunoreactive (ir) cells are present throughout the telencephalon, but the link between DCX and the active neurogenesis observed in songbirds remained uncertain. We demonstrate here that DCX labels recently born cells in the canary telencephalon and that, in parallel with changes in HVC volume, the number of DCX‐ir cells is increased specifically in the HVC of testosterone‐treated males compared with castrates, and in castrated testosterone‐treated males paired with a female as compared with males paired with another male. The numbers of elongated DCX‐ir cells (presumptive migrating neurons) and round multipolar DCX‐ir cells (differentiating neurons) were also affected by the sex of the subjects and their photoperiodic condition (photosensitive vs photostimulated vs photorefractory). Thus, in canaries the endocrine state, as well as the social or photoperiodic condition independently of variation in steroid hormone action, affects the number of cells expressing a protein involved in neuronal migration specifically in brain areas that incorporate new neurons in the telencephalon. The DCX gene may be one of the targets by which testosterone and social stimuli induce seasonal changes in the volume of song nuclei.
Does gymnastics practice improve vertical jump reliability from the age of 8 to 10 years?

Abstract The objective of this study was to confirm whether gymnastics practice from a young age can induce greater vertical jump reliability. Fifty young female gymnasts (8.84 ± 0.62 years) and 42 females in the control group (8.58 ± 0.92 years) performed the following jump tests on a contact mat: squat jump, countermovement jump, countermovement jump with arm swing and drop jump from heights of 40 and 60 cm. The two testing sessions had three trials each and were separated by one week. A 2 (groups) × 2 (sessions) × 3 (trials) repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a test-retest correlation analysis were used to study the reliability. There was no systematic source of error in either group for non-plyometric jumps such as squat jump, countermovement jump, and countermovement jump with arm swing. A significant group per trial interaction revealed a learning effect in gymnasts' drop jumps from 40 cm height. Additionally, the test-retest correlation analysis and the higher minimum detectable error suggest that the quick drop jump technique was not fully consolidated in either group. At an introductory level of gymnastics and between the ages of 8–10 years, the condition of being a gymnast did not lead to conclusively higher reliability, aside from better overall vertical jump performance.
Rapid changes in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell function via pre‐ as well as postsynaptic membrane mineralocorticoid receptors

Corticosterone (100 nm) rapidly increases the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents in mouse CA1 pyramidal neurons via membrane‐located mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs). We now show that a presynaptic ERK1/2 signalling pathway mediates the nongenomic effect, as it was blocked by the MEK inhibitors U0126 (10 µm) and PD098059 (40 µm) and occluded in H‐RasG12V‐mutant mice with constitutive activation of the ERK1/2 presynaptic pathway. Notably, the increase in mEPSC frequency was not mediated by retrograde signalling through endocannabinoids or nitric oxide, supporting presynaptic localization of the signalling pathway. Unexpectedly, corticosterone was also found to have a direct postsynaptic effect, rapidly decreasing the peak amplitude of IA currents. This effect takes place via postsynaptic membrane MRs coupled to a G protein‐mediated pathway, as the effect of corticosterone on IA was effectively blocked by 0.5 mm GDP‐β‐S administered via the recording pipette into the postsynaptic cell. Taken together, these results indicate that membrane MRs mediate rapid, nongenomic effects via pre‐ as well as postsynaptic pathways. Through these dual pathways, high corticosterone concentrations such as occur after stress could contribute to enhanced CA1 pyramidal excitability.
Impact of the choice of threshold on physical activity patterns in free living conditions among adolescents measured using a uniaxial accelerometer: The HELENA study

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the choice of threshold on physical activity patterns measured in adolescents under free living conditions (FLC) using a uniaxial accelerometer. The study comprised 2043 adolescents (12.5–17.5 years) participating in the HELENA Study. Participants wore a uniaxial accelerometer for 7 days. The PA patterns were assessed using thresholds determined from six different studies. For each of the thresholds used, the number of adolescents fulfilling the recommendation of 60 min of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) per day was also calculated. A significant difference was found between thresholds regardless of the activity level: differences of 38%, 207%, 136%, and 2780% for sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous intensity PA, respectively (P < 0.001). Time of MVPA varied between methods from 25.3 to 55.2 min · day–1. The number of adolescents fulfilling the recommendation varied from 5.9% to 37% according to the thresholds used. The kappa coefficient for concordance in the assessment of the number of adolescents achieving the PA recommendations was generally low. The definition of the threshold for PA intensity may considerably affect the PA patterns in FLC when assessed using a uniaxial accelerometer and the number of participants fulfilling the recommendations.
Energy management using virtual reality improves 2000-m rowing performance

Abstract Elite-standard rowers tend to use a fast-start strategy followed by an inverted parabolic-shaped speed profile in 2000-m races. This strategy is probably the best to manage energy resources during the race and maximise performance. This study investigated the use of virtual reality (VR) with novice rowers as a means to learn about energy management. Participants from an avatar group (n = 7) were instructed to track a virtual boat on a screen, whose speed was set individually to follow the appropriate to-be-learned speed profile. A control group (n = 8) followed an indoor training programme. In spite of similar physiological characteristics in the groups, the avatar group learned and maintained the required profile, resulting in an improved performance (i.e. a decrease in race duration), whereas the control group did not. These results suggest that VR is a means to learn an energy-related skill and improve performance.
The relationship between physical abilities, ball-carrying and tackling among elite youth rugby league players

Abstract This study investigated the relationship between the physical abilities of adolescent rugby league players and tackling and ball-carrying skills performed during matches, across three seasons (under-15 to under-17). The players were measured each season for acceleration (10–30 m), peak and mean speed (10–30 m), sprinting force (10–30 m), aerobic power, counter-movement jump (CMJ) height and jumping power. The matches were filmed and analysed for ball-carrying and tackling frequency per minute (successful and unsuccessful outcomes). There were strong relationships between successful carries∙min–1 and 10 m force in the under-15 (R = 0.61, P < 0.001), under-16 (R = 0.69, P < 0.001) and under-17 groups (R = 0.64, P < 0.001). There were also strong and moderate relationships between predicted vertical power and successful carries∙min–1 in the under-15 (R = 0.63, P = 0.011) and under-17 group (R = 0.40, P = 0.030), respectively. There were no relationships between carries or tackles and any other performance indicators. These findings suggest that acceleration, in accordance with gains in body mass, support ball-carrying but not tackling performance. Performance measurements, such as CMJ or aerobic power, do not support ball-carrying ability among youth rugby league players.
Measuring intermittent exercise performance using shuttle running

Abstract The aim of this study was to include self-paced exercise within a modified Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST-P) in order to quantify key performance variables not possible with prescribed workloads. Sixteen male games players performed two trials of the LIST-P, at least 7 days apart. The LIST-P incorporates 4 × 15-min blocks of “prescribed-pace” activity (participants exercise in time to audible signals) followed by 2 × 15-min blocks of “self-paced” running (no audible signals). Distances covered and mean speeds were monitored during self-paced exercise. Total distance covered (12.54 ± 0.45 km vs. 12.64 ± 0.32 km; P = 0.10) and mean speed (8.37 ± 0.31 km ∙ h−1 vs. 8.44 ± 0.22 km ∙ h−1; P = 0.10) was similar between trials. Other indices also showed the test to be reliable (Pearson’s correlation = 0.89 and 0.90 (P < 0.01), total distance and mean speed, respectively; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.88 and 0.88 (P < 0.01); standard error of measurement = ±0.13 km and ±0.09 km ∙ h−1; coefficient of variation (CV) = 1.7% and 1.7%; ratio limits of agreement = 1.00 */÷1.03 and 1.01 */÷1.04). Sprint time was also similar between trials (2.60 ± 0.19 s vs. 2.64 ± 0.23 s; P = 0.29). Incorporating self-paced exercise within an established intermittent shuttle running test appears to be a sensitive means of quantifying key performance variables for multiple-sprint sports research.
Emotional pictures impact repetitive sprint ability test on cycle ergometre

Abstract This study investigated the interaction between emotion-eliciting pictures and power output during a repetitive supra-maximal task on a cycle ergometre. Twelve male participants (mean (±SD) age, height and weight: 28.58 ± 3.23 years, 1.78 ± 0.05 m and 82.41 ± 13.29 kg) performed 5 repeated sprint tests on a cycle ergometre in front of neutral, pleasant or unpleasant pictures. For each sprint, mechanical (peak power and work), physiological (heart rate) and perceptual (affective load) indices were analysed. Affective load was calculated from the ratings of perceived exertion, which reflected the amount of pleasant and unpleasant responses experienced during exercise. The results showed that peak power, work and heart rate values were significantly lower (P < 0.05) for unpleasant pictures (9.18 ± 0.20 W ∙ kg−1; 47.69 ± 1.08 J ∙ kg−1; 152 ± 4 bpm) when compared with pleasant ones (9.50 ± 0.20 W ∙ kg−1; 50.11 ± 0.11 J ∙ kg−1; 156 ± 3 bpm). Furthermore, the affective load was found to be similar for the pleasant and unpleasant sessions. All together, these results suggested that the ability to produce maximal power output depended on whether the emotional context was pleasant or unpleasant. The fact that the power output was lower in the unpleasant versus pleasant session could reflect a regulatory process aimed at maintaining a similar level of affective load for both sessions.
Dopamine release in organotypic cultures of foetal mouse mesencephalon: effects of depolarizing agents, pargyline, nomifensine, tetrodotoxin and calcium

Organotypic mesencephalic cultures provide an attractive in vitro alternative to study development of the nigrostriatal system and pathophysiological mechanisms related to Parkinson’s disease. However, dopamine (DA) release mechanisms have been poorly characterized in such cultures. We report here endogenous DA release (assessed by high‐performance liquid chromatography) in organotypic cultures of foetal mouse (E12) midbrain following single or multiple challenges (1‐h incubations) with high K+ or veratridine in the presence or absence of pargyline, nomifensine, calcium and/or tetrodotoxin (TTX). Basal (i.e. spontaneous) DA release was only detected in the presence of pargyline and nomifensine (PN), and was highly dependent on calcium and sensitive to TTX. Basal DA release increased 2.4‐fold between week 3 (1st DA release experiment) and week 4 in vitro (3rd DA release experiment), DA tissue levels increased 1.6‐fold and DA release expressed as a percentage of total DA (medium + tissue contents) increased from 20% to 34% during this growth period in vitro. Co‐treatments with high K+ or veratridine did not cause major changes in percentages of DA release. Tyrosine hydroxylase activity was increased by high K+, but not by the other drug treatments. The acute (single or multiple) treatments with depolarizing agents did not affect the survival of dopaminergic neurons, but chronic low‐level veratridine treatments were toxic.
The Impact of Patient Expectations on Outcome Following Treatment for Spinal Trauma: Part 1: What Are Spine Surgeons Telling Their Patients?

Study Design. Surgeon completed questionnaire. Objective. To determine information provided by spine surgeons to patients, part of a 4-part study determining the impact of patient expectations on outcome following spinal trauma. Summary of Background Data. An important goal of treatment is patient satisfaction, which may be influenced by patient expectations. Impact of patient expectations on outcome has been demonstrated in various elective orthopedic populations. It is anticipated that there will be similar, if not greater, impact on outcome in a trauma setting. Methods. A questionnaire was developed, in a case-based format, to determine the information provided by spine surgeons to their patients. There were 3 questionnaires, each consisting of 5 cases and grouped by cervical spine trauma, thoracolumbar spine trauma, and spinal cord injury. These questionnaires were distributed to members of the Spine Trauma Study Group and our division. Statistical analysis consisted of a single-factor random effects model. In this analysis, the degree of variability was quantified as the ratio of surgeon induced variance over total variance for the questions. Results. Questionnaires were distributed to 54 surgeons and 31 responses received (57%). There was substantial variability in responses ranging from a ratio of 9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0–26] for the regaining range of motion 1 year following cervical spine trauma domain to a ratio of 84% (95% CI: 69–92) for the early postoperative spasticity following spinal cord injury domain. Conclusion. This study demonstrated substantial variability in the information provided by spine surgeons to spine trauma patients and the need to improve the quality of information provided, allowing patient expectations to be more appropriate, potentially maximizing their outcome. Further areas for study include, assessment of the best available evidence on which to base information provided to spinal trauma patients, determination of what information spinal trauma patients view as relevant and the effect appropriate expectations have on outcome.
Imposing a pause between the eccentric and concentric phases increases the reliability of isoinertial strength assessments

Abstract This study analysed the effect of imposing a pause between the eccentric and concentric phases on the biological within-subject variation of velocity- and power–load isoinertial assessments. Seventeen resistance-trained athletes undertook a progressive loading test in the bench press (BP) and squat (SQ) exercises. Two trials at each load up to the one-repetition maximum (1RM) were performed using 2 techniques executed in random order: with (stop) and without (standard) a 2-s pause between the eccentric and concentric phases of each repetition. The stop technique resulted in a significantly lower coefficient of variation for the whole load–velocity relationship compared to the standard one, in both BP (2.9% vs. 4.1%; P = 0.02) and SQ (2.9% vs. 3.9%; P = 0.01). Test–retest intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were r = 0.61–0.98 for the standard and r = 0.76–0.98 for the stop technique. Bland–Altman analysis showed that the error associated with the standard technique was 37.9% (BP) and 57.5% higher (SQ) than that associated with the stop technique. The biological within-subject variation is significantly reduced when a pause is imposed between the eccentric and concentric phases. Other relevant variables associated to the load–velocity and load–power relationships such as the contribution of the propulsive phase and the load that maximises power output remained basically unchanged.