Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapid weight gain during infancy and early childhood is related to higher anthropometric measurements in preadolescence

BACKGROUND This study examined the relationship between rapid weight gain during infancy and/or early childhood and anthropometric measurements [body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (%BF), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)] in preadolescence by sex. METHODS Subjects were fourth-grade school children (aged 9 to 10 years) from elementary schools in Ina-town, Japan, in 2010. Measurements of height, weight, %BF and WC were conducted for each subject. We obtained data on height and weight of subjects at birth, age 1.5 years and age 3 years from the Maternal and Child Health handbook. Rapid weight gain was defined as a change in weight-for-age standard deviation score greater than 0.67 from birth to age 1.5 years (infancy) or from age 1.5 to 3 years (early childhood). RESULTS All anthropometric variables (BMI, %BF, WC and WHtR) at age 9 to 10 years were significantly higher in the rapid weight gain during both infancy and early childhood period group than in the no rapid weight gain group, regardless of sex. When compared with the no rapid weight gain group, rapid weight gain during early childhood period had significantly higher BMI and WC in boys and BMI, %BF and WC in girls. Compared with the no rapid weight gain group, the rapid weight gain during infancy group had a significantly higher WC in boys and significantly higher BMI and WC in girls. CONCLUSION Rapid weight gain during both infancy and early childhood was related to higher anthropometric measurements, including WHtR, among Japanese preadolescents, regardless of sex. This study suggests that rapid weight gain during infancy and early childhood may be a risk factor for general/abdominal obesity later in life.
Long-term improvement of tremor and ataxia after bilateral DBS of VoP/zona incerta in FXTAS

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is an X-linked adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder that affects carriers of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene premutation, which is a 55–200 CGG repeat expansion in the 5ʹ untranslated region of the gene.1 The core symptoms of FXTAS are progressive intention tremor and cerebellar ataxia. These symptoms can be disabling and, when combined, severely reduce the patient's quality of life. Symptomatic control with medication has limited effects.1 Very few cases have been treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS), mostly in the ventrointermediate thalamic (VIM) nucleus. This treatment results in tremor improvement with either no benefit or worsening of the ataxia and balance.2–4 We present a patient who experienced long-term tremor control and ataxia improvement after chronic bilateral stimulation of the ventro-oralis posterior thalamic nucleus and zona incerta (VoP/ZI), which resulted in significant improvement in daily life activities.
White matter lesion volume reduces fine motor skills

Neuroimaging, particularly cerebral MRI, frequently demonstrates white matter lesions (WMLs) in the elderly and patients with vascular risk factors such as arterial hypertension and diabetes. WMLs may result from ischemia associated with atherosclerosis of perforating arteries and arteriolar degeneration due to fibrohyalinosis.1,2 They can appear silently, but are an important risk factor for the development of stroke, mainly ischemic stroke.3 Moreover, WMLs are linked to the development of cognitive impairment and dementia.4,5
Relative age effects in the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2: age banding and scoring errors.

AIM The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) uses age-grouped scoring, which will result in relative motor functioning being overestimated for some children and underestimated for others. In this paper, we measure these errors and discuss their consequences. METHOD We pool data from two validation studies to obtain a sample of 278 children assessed with the MABC-2 (mean (SD) age: 5 years, 0 months (9.6 months); 142 female). We used regression to measure the association between standard score and relative age, and used these results to estimate misclassification rates at the MABC-2's recommended thresholds. RESULTS Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 scores were distributed as expected (mean (SD) = 10.4 (2.8)). We estimated that the standard score varied by 2.76 units (0.92 SDs) per year of relative age. Depending on threshold and age bandwidth, this implies overall misclassification rates from 9% to 23%. INTERPRETATION Relative age differences in MABC-2 scores led to substantial systematic error for young children. These errors can affect MABC-2 validity, longitudinal stability and agreement with other tools, which may reduce the appropriateness of care offered to children. Scoring approaches that may reduce or eliminate these errors are outlined.
Epilepsy after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A population-based, long-term follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE The aim was to elucidate the incidence and risk factors of epilepsy after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from saccular intracranial aneurysm (sIA) in a population-based cohort. METHODS The Kuopio sIA Database (www.uef.fi/ns) includes all unruptured and ruptured sIA cases admitted to the Kuopio University Hospital from its defined catchment population in Eastern Finland. The use of prescribed medicines, including reimbursable antiepileptic drugs, has been entered from the Finnish national registries. The cumulative incidence and independent risk factors of epilepsy and death were analyzed in 876 patients with sIA-SAH admitted from 1995 to 2007. The competing risks analysis was used to correctly estimate the probability of epilepsy, because epilepsy and death after sIA-SAH may share risk factors. RESULTS The follow-up ended at death (n = 200) or December 31, 2008; median follow-up time was 76 months. Epilepsy was diagnosed in 113 patients in a median of 8 months after sIA-SAH. Cumulative incidence of epilepsy after sIA-SAH was 8% at 1 year and 12% at 5 years. Thirty-three percent of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) >15 cm(3) developed epilepsy. In the 876 patients with sIA-SAH, the independent risk factors for epilepsy were ICH >15 cm(3), Hunt and Hess grade III-V, and acute seizures. CONCLUSIONS Cumulative incidence of epilepsy is 12% at 5 years. Epilepsy and 12-month mortality after sIA-SAH share poor Hunt and Hess grading as an independent risk factor. Epilepsy in the 2-week survivors of sIA-SAH is predicted by signs of primary injury in the brain tissue, most notably ICH.
Cost of disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis

In their article “The cost of multiple sclerosis drugs in the US and the pharmaceutical industry: Too big to fail? ” Hartung and colleagues1 describe “alarming” increases in US prices of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for persons with relapsing-onset multiple sclerosis (MS). They looked at drug pricing from 1993 to 2013. This review summarizes their findings and discusses the relevance for those with MS.
A Novel H+ Conductance in Eosinophils

Efficient mechanisms of H+ ion extrusion are crucial for normal NADPH oxidase function. However, whether the NADPH oxidase—in analogy with mitochondrial cytochromes—has an inherent H+ channel activity remains uncertain: electrophysiological studies did not find altered H+ currents in cells from patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), challenging earlier reports in intact cells. In this study, we describe the presence of two different types of H+ currents in human eosinophils. The “classical” H+ current had properties similar to previously described H+ conductances and was present in CGD cells. In contrast, the “novel” type of H+ current had not been described previously and displayed unique properties: (a) it was absent in cells from gp91- or p47-deficient CGD patients; (b) it was only observed under experimental conditions that allowed NADPH oxidase activation; (c) because of its low threshold of voltage activation, it allowed proton influx and cytosolic acidification; (d) it activated faster and deactivated with slower and distinct kinetics than the classical H+ currents; and (e) it was ∼20-fold more sensitive to Zn2+ and was blocked by the histidine-reactive agent, diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC). In summary, our results demonstrate that the NADPH oxidase or a closely associated protein provides a novel type of H+ conductance during phagocyte activation. The unique properties of this conductance suggest that its physiological function is not restricted to H+ extrusion and repolarization, but might include depolarization, pH-dependent signal termination, and determination of the phagosomal pH set point.
Simulation of Genetic Algorithms on MIMD Multicomputers

In this paper, a Parallel Genetic Algorithm has been developed and mapped onto a coarse grain MIMD multicomputer whose processors have been configured in a fully connected chordal ring topology. In this way, parallel diffusion processes of good local information among processors have been carried out. The Parallel Genetic Algorithm has been applied, specifically, to the Travelling Salesman Problem. Many experiments have been performed with different combinations of genetic operators; the test results suggest that PMX crossover can be avoided by using only the inversion genetic operator and that a diffusion process leads to improved search in Parallel Genetic Algorithms.
A Mathematical Theory and Its Environment for Parallel Programming

This paper presents the main concepts of the mathematical theory PEI for parallel programming and emphasizes its derivation power. The mathematical basis of this theory leads to a nice implementation in CENTAUR7 of an environment whose purpose is to transform parallel programs. It is illustrated by two similar examples: the convolution sum and the Dirichlet product. The second one uses non-affine dependencies that can be easily taken into account using PEI.
Generalising the Unimodular Approach to Restructure Imperfectly Nested Loops

Although overcoming some limitations of the generate-and-test approach, unimodular transformations are limited to perfect loop nests only. Extending the unimodular approach, this paper describes a framework that enables the use of unimodular transformations to restructure imperfect loop nests. The concepts used previously for perfect loop nests, such as iteration vector, iteration space and lexicographic order, are generalised and some new concepts like preorder tree are introduced. Multiple unimodular transformations are allowed, one each statement in the loop nest. A code generation algorithm is provided that produces a possibly imperfect loop nest to scan an iteration space that is given as a union of sets of affine constraints.
Spontaneous and treatment-induced cancer rejection in humans

Background: Experimental observations suggest that human cancer cells actively interact with normal host cells and this cross-talk results, in most instances, in an increased potential of cancer cells to survive. On the other hand, it is also well documented that on rare occasions tumors can be dramatically destroyed by the host's immune response. Objective: In this review, we argue that understanding the mechanisms that bring about the immune response and lead to cancer destruction is of paramount importance for the design of future rational therapies. Methods: Here we summarize the present understanding of the phenomenology leading to cancer regression in humans and propose novel strategies for a more efficient study of human cancer under natural conditions and during therapy. Conclusion: The understanding of tumor/host interactions within the tumor microenvironment is a key component of the study of tumor immunology in humans, much can be learned by a dynamic study of such interactions at time points related to the natural history of the disease or its response to therapy. Such understanding will eventually lead to novel and more effective therapies.
Temporal course and pathologic basis of unawareness of memory loss in dementia

Objective: To characterize the natural history and neuropathologic basis of unawareness of memory loss in late-life dementia. Methods: Analyses are based on 2,092 older persons from 3 longitudinal clinical-pathologic cohort studies who had no memory or cognitive impairment at baseline. Annual evaluations included clinical classification of dementia plus self-rating and performance testing of memory. At death, there was a uniform neuropathologic examination to quantify 7 dementia-related pathologies. Results: In the full group, memory ratings were modestly correlated with memory performance (intercepts r = 0.26, p < 0.001; slopes r = 0.23, p < 001) and so we regressed each person's memory performance on their memory ratings, and the residuals provided longitudinal indicators of memory awareness. In a subset of 239 persons who developed dementia, episodic memory awareness was stable until a mean of 2.6 years before dementia onset (95% credible interval −2.7, –1.6); thereafter, memory awareness declined rapidly (mean annual change −0.32, 95% credible interval –0.37, –0.28). Older age at baseline was associated with later onset of memory unawareness. In a subset of 385 persons who died and underwent neuropathologic examination, transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) pathology, tau tangles, and gross cerebral infarcts were related to decline in memory awareness. In the absence of these pathologies, no decline in memory awareness was evident. Results were similar in subgroups with and without dementia. Conclusions: Awareness of memory impairment typically begins to decline about 2–3 years before dementia onset and is associated with postmortem evidence of TDP-43 pathology, tangles, and gross cerebral infarcts.
Recurrent stroke in childhood cancer survivors

Objective: To estimate the rates and predictors of recurrent stroke among survivors of pediatric cancer who have had a first stroke. Methods: The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study is a retrospective cohort study with longitudinal follow-up that enrolled 14,358 survivors (<21 years old at diagnosis; diagnosed 1970–1986; survived ≥5 years after cancer diagnosis) and followed them prospectively since 1994. We surveyed 443 survivors who reported a first stroke to identify recurrent stroke, and estimated recurrent stroke rates ≥5 years after cancer diagnosis. Results: Among 329 respondents (74% response rate), 271 confirmed a first stroke at a median age of 19 years (range 0–53), and 70 reported a second stroke at a median age of 32 years (range 1–56). In a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, independent predictors of recurrent stroke included cranial radiation therapy (CRT) dose of ≥50 Gy (vs none, hazard ratio [HR] 4.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–13.7), hypertension (HR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0–3.5), and older age at first stroke (HR 6.4; 95% CI 1.8–23; for age ≥40 vs age 0–17 years). The 10-year cumulative incidence of late recurrent stroke was 21% (95% CI 16%–27%) overall, and 33% (95% CI 21%–44%) for those treated with ≥50 Gy of CRT. Conclusion: Survivors of childhood cancer, particularly those previously treated with high-dose cranial radiation, have a high risk of recurrent stroke for decades after a first stroke. Although these strokes are mostly occurring in young adulthood, hypertension, an established atherosclerotic risk factor, independently predicts recurrent stroke in this population.
Greater motor progression in patients with Parkinson disease who carry LRRK2 risk variants

Objectives: In a longitudinal follow-up study, we compared the clinical features and motor progression of patients with Parkinson disease (PD) who are carriers of the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene risk variants with patients who are noncarriers. Methods: We prospectively evaluated a cohort of patients with PD for their clinical characteristics, disease severity, and LRRK2 genotype. Carriers of risk variants (G2385R, R1628P, S1647T) and noncarriers were classified separately. A longitudinal, linear mixed model analysis of motor score progression was performed to compare motor progression between the 2 groups. Motor score progression was defined as the difference between Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor score at baseline and follow-up scores. Results: A total of 184 patients (122 risk variant carriers and 62 noncarriers) were evaluated and followed up for up to 6.5 years. No differences in demographics and baseline disease characteristics were found. In the longitudinal, linear mixed model analysis, risk variant carriers experienced greater rate of motor progression than noncarriers after 4 years from the date of diagnosis (p ≤ 0.018). Conclusions: PD LRRK2 risk variant carriers showed greater motor progression after 4 years of disease duration compared with noncarrier patients, suggesting that these risk variants may facilitate neurodegeneration with increasing disease duration.
Exploratory Single-System Analyses of Moderation-Based Brief Treatments With Middle-Aged and Older Heavy Drinkers

As baby boomers age, identifying effective and efficacious interventions for older adults (OA) with alcohol use disorder is vital for the ongoing viability of the health care system. Brief alcohol use disorder interventions with OA have yet to be examined in the context of studies with high internal validity. Post-hoc, exploratory, single-system analyses were performed on 10 OA and 13 middle-aged problem drinkers who had participated in a randomized controlled trial. Their trajectories were compared to peer age groups who received no treatment. Although OA appeared to respond to most interventions, some interventions yielded greater response than others. Implications are discussed.
Accelerated rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Abstract Throughout the past decade, there has been a gradual increase in the advocacy of an earlier return to functional activities following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. This has been accomplished, in part, by the advent of accelerated rehabilitation programs, which allow resumption of pre-injury activities at 4–6 months postoperatively and is achieved by emphasizing early range of movement and encouraging early restoration of leg muscle strength. However, concern exists that such programs may compromise the outcome of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, due to the potentially deleterious affects on graft integrity and stability. This review article provides clinicians with a review of accelerated rehabilitation research, discussing the advantages and concerns regarding accelerated rehabilitation and identifies some limitations of current literature.
A randomized trial of mexiletine in ALS

Objective: To determine the safety and tolerability of mexiletine in a phase II double-blind randomized controlled trial of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS). Methods: Sixty participants with SALS from 10 centers were randomized 1:1:1 to placebo, mexiletine 300 mg/d, or mexiletine 900 mg/d and followed for 12 weeks. The primary endpoints were safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints were pharmacokinetic study from plasma and CSF, ALS Functional Rating Scale–Revised (ALSFRS-R) score, slow vital capacity (SVC), and muscle cramp frequency and severity. Results: The only serious adverse event among active arm participants was one episode of imbalance. Thirty-two percent of participants receiving 900 mg of mexiletine discontinued study drug vs 5% on placebo (p = 0.026). Pharmacokinetic study demonstrated a peak plasma concentration 2 hours postdose and strong correlation between plasma and CSF (p < 0.001). Rates of decline of ALSFRS-R and SVC did not differ from placebo. Analysis of all randomized patients demonstrated significant reductions of muscle cramp frequency (300 mg: rate = 31% of placebo, p = 0.047; 900 mg: 16% of placebo, p = 0.002) and cramp intensity (300 mg: mean = 45% of placebo, p = 0.08; 900 mg: 25% of placebo, p = 0.005). Conclusions: Mexiletine was safe at both doses and well-tolerated at 300 mg/d but adverse effects at 900 mg/d led to a high rate of discontinuation. Mexiletine treatment resulted in large dose-dependent reductions in muscle cramp frequency and severity. No effect on rate of progression was detected, but clinically important differences could not be excluded in this small and short-duration study. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class I evidence that mexiletine is safe when given daily to patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at 300 and 900 mg and well-tolerated at the lower dose.
Die Messung von Kenngrößen stochastischer Prozesse mit dem elektronischen Analogrechner

This invention relates to a process for preparing structural components which comprises preparing a slurry containing a hydraulic binding agent, water, additives and an organo(poly)siloxane of the general formula where at least 10 percent of the number of R radicals are the same or different alkyl radicals having at least 4 carbon atoms per radical and the other radicals when present are alkyl radicals having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms per radical and/or phenyl radicals, R' represents the same or different alkyl radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms per radical, x is 0, 1, 2 or 3, with an average of from 0.9 to 1.8, y is 0, 1, 2 or 3, with an average of 0.01 to 2.0 and z is 0, 1, 2 or 3, with an average of from 0.00 to 0.5, with the proviso that the sum of x+y+z may not exceed 3.5, molding the slurry and thereafter exposing the molded slurry to aqueous steam.
FAMILIAL CHARACTER OF FIBROCYSTIC DISEASE OF THE PANCREAS

Additional information regarding the familial character of fibrocystic disease is afforded by a family in which this condition was proved to occur in 2 children and probably occurred in 3. Many instances are on record of the deaths of 2 siblings as a result of this condition. A brief review of 120 cases of fibrocystic disease which have been reported has revealed 12 families in each of which 2 children were affected. Andersen1stated, "The disease is proved to have occurred more than once in 3 of 23 families and may have occurred in 5 more. " Two of the 3 instances Andersen referred to involved siblings who were not twins and 1 involved twins; the last case was cited from Blackfan and Wolbach.2The twins, who died of the disease, were of the same sex, but it is not known whether they were identical. Blackfan and May described
Potassium Must Be Considered in Congenital Long QT Syndrome

Background: Congenital long QT syndrome (cLQTS), characterized by prolonged QTc time, syncope or sudden death caused by torsade de pointes ventricular tachycardia, has an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance and is caused by mutations in genes coding for the cardiac ion channels conducting the depolarizing sodium current, INa, and the repolarizing delayed rectifier potassium currents, IKr and IKs. Methods: We describe a family in which one family member died suddenly and unexpectedly from what was assumed to be cardiac death, and in which another person with symptoms indicating cLQTS had been controlled for more than 40 years with oral potassium chloride and ammonium chloride. She was screened for mutations in LQTS genes using polymerase chain amplification reaction of genomic DNA followed by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. Results: A clinically well-described missense mutation, G306R in KCNQ1, coding for the ion channel conducting the IKs current was found. The mutation causes a moderately dominant reduction in the IKs current. Conclusion: The novel observation is that potassium in cLQTS caused by the KCNQ1 mutation protects against syncope in a life-long perspective. Thus, although the mechanism is not fully elucidated, maintaining a normal potassium homeostasis is of general importance. Hence, securing sufficient intake of potassium and careful control of potassium-losing conditions are important elements in the management of patients with cLQTS as a supplement to established therapeutic strategies.