Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Caractéristiques de la dyslexie développementale chez des enfants de 3P et de 5P de la Suisse italienne

Le point de depart de cette etude est relatif aux differentes recherches faites sur la dyslexie developpementale dans la langue italienne. Cette etude vise a analyser les performances de lecture et les performances des epreuves metaphonologiques, de repetition de pseudo-mots et de denomination rapide automatisee obtenues par des enfants dyslexiques de 3eme et de 5eme primaire de la Suisse italienne. L'objectif est de confirmer chez ces enfants les observations faites sur des enfants dyslexiques italiens. L'echantillon des participants est compose de soixante enfants tessinois, dont trente enfants du groupe experimental (dyslexiques) et trente du groupe controle. Les performances de lecture ont ete testees a l'aide de la «Batteria per la valutazione della dislessia e della disortografia evolutiva» (Sartori, Job & Tressoldi, 1995). Cet outil est compose par des epreuves evaluant la voie de lecture indirecte et la voie de lecture directe. Les epreuves metaphonologiques incluent une epreuve de contrepeterie, une epreuve de fluidite verbale avec indice phonemique et une epreuve de segmentation phonemique (Marotta, Trasciani, & Vicari, 2004). La denomination rapide consiste dans la denomination d'une planche de vingt-cinq images et la repetition de pseudo-mots consiste dans la repetition de pseudo-mots de longueur croissante. Les resultats principaux montrent chez les enfants du groupe experimental des deux groupes d'âge des manifestations preponderantes de dyslexie de type phonologique. Les effets du type de mesure et de l'interaction entre le type de mesure et le groupe d'appartenance montrent chez les enfants dyslexiques un deficit significativement superieur dans la vitesse de lecture par rapport a la precision. Les effets du type d'epreuve et de l'interaction entre le type d'epreuve et le groupe sont aussi significatifs. Les enfants dyslexiques obtiennent des performances significativement inferieures dans l'epreuve de denomination rapide par rapport aux autres epreuves phonologiques. Une partie des hypotheses a ete confirmee. La seule difference mise en evidence par rapport aux resultats des etudes effectuees en Italie, est l'absence d'une prevalence de dyslexie de surface. Pour une langue a orthographe reguliere il sera tres important de centrer les recherches futures sur la vitesse plutot que sur la precision de lecture.
Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study of ZD9331, a nonpolyglutamatable inhibitor of thymidylate synthase, in a murine model following two curative administration schedules.

ZD9331 is a nonpolyglutamatable antifolate inhibitor of thymidylate synthase currently in clinical development. This enzyme is crucial for DNA synthesis and catalyzes the reductive methylation of dUMP to form thymidylate, which is subsequently converted to dTTP. The pharmacokinetics of two curative antitumor doses of ZD9331 administered by either a single i.p. bolus injection (50 mg/kg) or by 24-h s.c. infusion (3 mg/kg) have been measured in a thymidine salvage-incompetent murine lymphoma model (L5178Y) using a sensitive and specific ELISA. To gain an understanding of the relationship between the pharmacokinetics of ZD9331 and antitumor activity perturbations in tumor, dTTP and dUMP concentrations were also determined. After bolus administration, ZD9331 was eliminated from plasma and tissues relatively rapidly, with terminal elimination (lambda(z) 0-24 h) of 4-6 h. Liver concentrations were 8-fold higher than those measured in the plasma. Kidney and lymphoma drug concentrations were similar to those of plasma, although there was evidence of a slower overall elimination of drug at later time points. Steady-state concentrations of ZD9331 were obtained 4-5 h after the start of the 24 h s.c. infusion. At the end of infusion, elimination rates were similar for plasma and tissues (approximately 3.5 h) but appeared to be slower in the tumor at later time points. Liver concentrations were approximately 4-fold higher, and kidney and tumor concentrations were similar to those in the circulation. Depletion of dTTP and elevation in dUMP in the tumor were consistent with inhibition of thymidylate synthase after both administration schedules, although the time for which dTTP was decreased was longer (approximately 24 h) for the infusional route than for the bolus injection (<16 h). The results suggest that antitumor activity is dependent on attaining adequate drug concentrations to affect dTTP pools as well as on the duration of effective drug levels.
Antisense inhibition of expression of the light subunit (35 kDa) of the Gal/GalNac lectin complex inhibits Entamoeba histolytica virulence

One of the under‐represented genes identified by cDNA representational difference analysis (RDA) between avirulent Entamoeba histolytica strain Rahman and virulent strain HM‐1:IMSS was the amoebic light (35 kDa) subunit of the Gal/GalNac lectin complex. This lectin complex, which mediates the adhesion of the parasite to the target cell, also contains a heavy (170 kDa) subunit, which has the carbohydrate‐binding domain. Stable transfectants of the virulent strain in which the expression of the 35 kDa subunit was inhibited by antisense RNA were not significantly affected in their adhesion activity to mammalian or bacterial cells but were strongly inhibited in their cytopathic activity, cytotoxic activity and in their ability to induce the formation of liver lesions in hamsters. These findings suggest that the 35 kDa subunit may have a specific function in the pathogenic pathway and provides a new insight into the role of this component of the Gal/GalNac lectin complex in amoebic virulence.
Direct evidence for Ca2+ regulation of hyphal branch induction

Grinberg, A. , and Heath, I. B. 1997. Direct evidence for Ca2+ regulation of hyphal branch induction. 22, 127-139. Irradiation of growing hyphae of Saprolegnia ferax with microbeams of UV (300-380 and 385-450 nm) light induced an increase in cytoplasmic [Ca2+] followed by precocious formation of one or more branches within about 4 min. The distribution of branches was strongly skewed toward the subapical side of the irradiation site, but otherwise was apparantly random. Apical (10-&mgr;m) irradiations were more effective than subapical (50-&mgr;m) ones in that they induced branches at comparable frequencies but with lower doses, consistent with higher concentrations of putative target intracellular Ca2+ storage structures in this region. Once formed, induced adjacent branches seem to compete for "resources," with those closer than approximately 50 &mgr;m inhibiting each other. The results are most consistent with Ca2+-induced accumulation of branch initiating factors being the cause, not the consequence, of branch formation, thus supporting a primary role for Ca2+ in regulation of hyphal tip growth. Copyright 1997 Academic Press. Copyright 1997 Academic Press
A study on improving performance in gesture training through visual guidance based on learners' errors

Gesture training, especially for technical gestures, requires supervisors to point out errors made by trainees. Virtual reality (VR) makes it possible to reduce reliance on supervisors (fewer interventions and of shorter duration) and to reduce the length of training, using extrinsic feedback that provides training or learning assistance using different modalities (visual, auditory, and haptic). Visual feedback has received much attention in recent decades. Users can be guided by a metaphor in a virtual environment. This metaphor may be a 3D trace of canonical movements, a visual cue pointing in the right direction, or gestures by an avatar that the trainee must mimic. However, with many kinds of feedback, trainees are not aware of their errors while performing gestures. Our hypothesis is that guiding users with a dynamic metaphor based on the visualization of errors will reduce these errors and improve performance. To this end, in a previous work we designed and implemented a new 3D metaphor called EBAGG to guide users in real time. In the present paper we evaluate EBAGG in relation to two other visual cues: first, a feedforward technique that displays the trace of a reference movement, and, second, a concurrent orientation feedback. The results of the user study show that EBAGG outperformed the others in improving users' performances over a training session. Moreover, the information assimilated during training with this dynamic feedback had a persistent effect when the metaphor was no longer displayed.
Clinical variables as prognostic tools in pediatric‐onset ulcerative colitis: A retrospective cohort study

Background: Clinical variables may identify a subset of patients with pediatric‐onset ulcerative colitis (UC) (≤18 years at diagnosis) at risk for adverse outcomes. We postulated that routinely measured clinical variables measured at diagnosis would predict colectomy in patients with pediatric‐onset UC. Methods: We conducted a chart review of patients with pediatric‐onset UC at a single center over a 10‐year period. We compared patients with and without colectomy across several variables, used proportional hazards regression to adjust for potential confounders, and assessed the ability of a UC risk score to predict colectomy. Results: Among 470 patients with inflammatory bowel disease ICD9‐coded encounters, 155 patients had UC and 135 were eligible for analysis. The 1‐ and 3‐year colectomy rates were 16.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.0%–24.8%) and 35.6% (26.7%–45.4%). White blood cell (WBC) count and hematocrit measured at diagnosis were associated with colectomy at 3 years, even after correcting for potential confounding variables. A UC Risk Score derived from the WBC count and hematocrit was strongly associated with colectomy risk, with a high negative predictive value (NPV) for colectomy at 1 and 3 years (NPV = 0.95 and 0.89, respectively), but low positive predictive value (PPV = 0.22 and 0.38, respectively). Conclusions: A risk score calculated from WBC and hematocrit measured at diagnosis was associated with, but incompletely predictive of, colectomy in pediatric‐onset UC. These data suggest 1) routinely measured clinical variables may have a prognostic role in risk stratification, and 2) multicenter prospective studies are needed to optimize risk stratification in pediatric UC. Our findings have impact on the design of such studies. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
Cloning, sequencing, purification, and crystal structure of Grenache (Vitis vinifera) polyphenol oxidase.

The full-length cDNA sequence (P93622_VITVI) of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) cDNA from grape Vitis vinifera L. , cv Grenache, was found to encode a translated protein of 607 amino acids with an expected molecular weight of ca. 67 kDa and a predicted pI of 6.83. The translated amino acid sequence was 99%, identical to that of a white grape berry PPO (1) (5 out of 607 amino acid potential sequence differences). The protein was purified from Grenache grape berries by using traditional methods, and it was crystallized with ammonium acetate by the hanging-drop vapor diffusion method. The crystals were orthorhombic, space group C222(1). The structure was obtained at 2.2 A resolution using synchrotron radiation using the 39 kDa isozyme of sweet potato PPO (PDB code: 1BT1 ) as a phase donor. The basic symmetry of the cell parameters (a, b, and c and alpha, beta, and gamma) as well as in the number of asymmetric units in the unit cell of the crystals of PPO, differed between the two proteins. The structures of the two enzymes are quite similar in overall fold, the location of the helix bundles at the core, and the active site in which three histidines bind each of the two catalytic copper ions, and one of the histidines is engaged in a thioether linkage with a cysteine residue. The possibility that the formation of the Cys-His thioether linkage constitutes the activation step is proposed. No evidence of phosphorylation or glycoslyation was found in the electron density map. The mass of the crystallized protein appears to be only 38.4 kDa, and the processing that occurs in the grape berry that leads to this smaller size is discussed.
Can we Rely on Procalcitonin in the Diagnosis of Late Onset Neonatal Sepsis?

Aims: To explore the usefulness of Procalcitonin(PCT) assay in the diagnosis of late onset neonatal sepsis(LONS)To compare the diagnostic usefulness of Procalcitonin with C - reactive protein(CRP)Methods: Infants ≥48 hours old and being investigated for LONS were recruited after informed consent. The sepsis episodes were categorised into 3 groups: True positive, True negative and Possible sepsis on the basis of clinical symptoms, results from blood culture or other sterile body fluids and raised CRP or thrombocytopenia.Results: A total of 219 sepsis episodes in 121 infants were evaluated. There were 79(36%) true positive, 68(31%) possible sepsis and 71(33%) true negative episodes of sepsis. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated for true positive versus true negative episodes; and the cut-off used for CRP and procalcitonin was 10 and 0.5 respectively. The sensitivity of procalcitonin and CRP was 68% and 56% respectively whereas the specificity was 60% and 85%. TableConclusion: Procalcitonin is a useful marker of LONS. In this study, PCT is more sensitive but less specific than CRP in the diagnosis of late onset neonatal sepsis. PCT could be used as a useful adjuvant to CRP in the evaluation of late onset neonatal sepsis.
Effect of CO2 on susceptibilities of anaerobes to erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, and roxithromycin

The Oxyrase agar dilution method (Oxyrase, Inc., Mansfield, Ohio), which provides an anaerobic environment without added CO2, was compared with the reference agar dilution method recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (anaerobic chamber with 10% CO2) to test the susceptibilities of 302 gram-negative and gram-positive anaerobes to erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, and roxithromycin. For erythromycin, the overall MIC for 50% of isolates tested (MIC50) was 0.5 micrograms/ml and the MIC90 was 8.0 micrograms/ml by the Oxyrase method, whereas they were 4.0 and 64.0 micrograms/ml, respectively, under standard anaerobic conditions with CO2. At a breakpoint of 4.0 micrograms/ml, 88% of strains were susceptible to erythromycin by the Oxyrase method, whereas 63% were susceptible in the chamber. The corresponding MIC50s and MIC90s of azithromycin, clarithromycin, and roxithromycin by the Oxyrase method were 0.5 and 8.0, 0.25 and 4.0, and 0.5 and 16.0 micrograms/ml, respectively, whereas in the chamber they were 4.0 and > 64.0, 2.0 and 64.0, and 2.0 and 64.0 micrograms/ml, respectively. At a breakpoint of 8.0 micrograms/ml for these three drugs, 89, 92, and 85% of the isolates, respectively, were susceptible by the Oxyrase method, whereas 67%, 72, and 68% of the isolates, respectively, were susceptible in the chamber. Most strains resistant to all four compounds by both methods were Bacteroides distasonis, Fusobacterium mortiferum, Fusobacterium varium and non-Clostridium perfringens Clostridium species. Results of the study may lead to a reappraisal of the role played by macrolides and azalides in the treatment of anaerobic infections.
Telephone-Administered Cognitive Tests as Tools for the Identification of Eligible Study Participants for Population-Based Research in Aging*

RÉSUMÉ Lors du processus de recrutement, l’Étude longitudinale canadienne sur le vieillissement (ÉLCV) fera face au défi d’identifier les individus qui ne possèdent pas suffisamment de compétences pour donner un consentement éclairé. Pendant le processus d’élaboration de l’ÉLCV, une revue de la littérature a été faite dans le but d’identifier les outils téléphoniques existants qui permettent le dépistage des déficits cognitifs et qui pourraient être utilisés pour identifier les participants éligibles pour une étude sur le vieillissement fondée sur la population. Nous avons identifié 12 outils téléphonique, quatre étaient basés sur l’examen de l’état mini-mental (MMSE) et huit étaient basés sur d’autres tests de dépistage de l’état cognitif administrés en personne. Les caractéristiques, incluant les items mesurés, le temps requis pour l’administration, le mode de pointage-classification, de même que toutes informations concernant la validation de chaque outil, ont été extraites et résumées. ABSTRACT As part of its recruitment process, the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) will face the challenge of screening out individuals who are sufficiently impaired in their ability to provide informed consent. In the process of developing the design of the CLSA, a review of the literature was performed with the goal of identifying currently existing telephone cognitive screening tools that can be used to identify eligible study participants for population-based research on aging. We identified 12 telephone screening tools, four of which were based on the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and eight that were based on other face-to-face screening tools. Characteristics – including the constructs measured, the length of time for administration, the scoring/classification scheme, and any information regarding the validation of each tool – were extracted and summarized.
Damage to bulbospinal serotonin‐, tyrosine hydroxylase‐, and TRH‐containing axons occurs early in the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in rats

Spinal cord monoaminergic and peptidergic axonal damage occurring during the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was assessed using immunohistochemistry. Spinal cord axons immunoreactive for serotonin, catecholamines, or a thyrotropin‐releasing hormone marker peptide were found to be markedly swollen and distorted by the earliest stage of detectable paralysis during EAE development (the flaccid tail stage). As clinical signs progressed to complete hindlimb paralysis, axonal damage became increasingly extensive. Axonal damage was equally pronounced whether EAE was induced by inoculation with purified myelin basic protein or with whole spinal cord homogenate, suggesting that the damage did not result from an immune attack directed against specific monoaminergic and/or peptidergic antigens present in the inoculant. However, two observations suggested that mechanical or chemical factors associated with the inflammatory foci contribute to the axonal damage: first, distorted axons were nearly always located adjacent to blood vessels or the pial surface, sites at which inflammation occurs during EAE. Second, the severity of axonal damage correlated with the severity of the inflammation. The early onset of axonal damage during development of EAE and the close correlation that was found between the severity of axonal damage and the severity of clinical signs suggested that the axonal damage may contribute to the clinical signs of the disease.
Human health effects of dioxins: cancer, reproductive and endocrine system effects

Polychlorinated dioxins, furans and polychlorinated benzene constitute a family of toxic persistent environmental pollutants. In Europe, environmental concentrations increased slowly throughout this century until the late 1980s. Dioxins have been shown to be carcinogenic in animals and humans. In humans, excess risks were observed for all cancers, without any specific cancer predominating. In specific cohorts, excess risks were observed for reproductive cancers (breast female, endometrium, breast male, testis) but, overall, the pattern is inconsistent. In animals, endocrine, reproductive and developmental effects are among the most sensitive to dioxin exposure. Decreased sperm counts in rats and endometriosis in rhesus monkeys occur at concentrations 10 times higher than current human exposure. In humans, results are inconsistent regarding changes in concentrations of reproductive hormones. A modification of the sex ratio at birth was described in Seveso. There exist no data on effects such as endometriosis or time‐to‐pregnancy. Small alterations in thyroid function have occasionally been found. Increased risk for diabetes was seen in Seveso and a herbicide applicators cohort but, overall, results were inconsistent. Experimental data indicate that endocrine and reproductive effects should be among the most sensitive effects in both animals and humans. Epidemiological studies have evaluated only a few of these effects.
The Dose-Range Effects of Sufentanil Added to 0.125% Bupivacaine on the Quality of Patient-Controlled Epidural Analgesia During Labor

To determine the minimal sufentanil concentration required to improve the quality of patient-controlled epidural analgesia during labor, we compared the efficacy of a combination of 0.125% bupivacaine with 1:800,000 epinephrine and different concentrations of sufentanil in a double-blinded randomized study. Concentrations were no sufentanil (n = 66), 0.078 &mgr;g/mL sufentanil (n = 65), 0.156 &mgr;g/mL sufentanil (n = 65), 0.312 &mgr;g/mL sufentanil (n = 65), and 0.468 &mgr;g/mL sufentanil (n = 67). The patient-controlled epidural analgesia setting was a 12-mL bolus dose and a 25-min lockout interval. Pain was scored at 5–6 cm, 7–8 cm, and full cervical dilation by using a 10-cm visual analog scale. At full cervical dilation, the pain scores were lower in the groups receiving a solution of at least 0.156 &mgr;g/mL sufentanil. Few differences were observed when using the larger concentrations, except for increased pruritus intensity. The duration of labor and the mode of delivery were similar in each group. Rescue analgesia, which consisted of 6 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine, was infrequent and comparable between groups. The use of the pump did not differ between groups. Adding a small concentration of sufentanil to 0.125% bupivacaine for patient-controlled epidural analgesia during labor improved the quality of analgesia but did not modify the bupivacaine requirement. Reducing the sufentanil concentrations to 0.156 &mgr;g/mL decreased the pruritus intensity without reducing analgesia. IMPLICATIONS Adding a small concentration of sufentanil to 0.125% bupivacaine for patient-controlled epidural analgesia during labor improved the quality of analgesia but did not modify the bupivacaine requirement. Reducing the sufentanil concentrations to 0.156 &mgr;g/mL decreased the pruritus intensity without reducing analgesia.
Comparison of sucking patterns at introduction of oral feeding and at term in Israeli and American preterm infants

Background: It has been hypothesized that early initiation of oral feeding in premature infants may enhance the maturation of sucking patterns. Aim: To compare preterm infant sucking characteristics in urban level III neonatal care units in the USA and Israel. The two hospitals have different practices regarding the introduction of oral feeding. Methods: Infants were assessed at 34–35 wk postconceptional age (PCA) and at term. Sucking parameters were assessed with the Kron's Nutritive Sucking Apparatus. Results: 70 infants (38 Americans and 32 Israelis) participated in the study. Oral feedings were initiated earlier (32.6±4.3 vs 34.5±1.8 wk PCA, p<0.01) and full oral feedings were reached earlier (35.4±2.8 vs 36.5±2.5 wk PCA, p<0.05) in the USA infants. American preterm infants produced significantly more sucks (p<0.001), had a higher suck rate (p<0.001), more sucks per burst (p<0.05), and a shorter interburst width (p<0.01) at 34 wk PCA than Israeli infants. At term, American infants produced significant more sucks (p<0.001), higher suck rate (p<0.001), shorter intersuck width (p<0.001), and a shorter interburst width (p<0.05) than the Israeli infants of the same PCA.