Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Prenatal Chlorpyrifos Exposure on Neurodevelopment in the First 3 Years of Life Among Inner-City Children

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos on 3-year neurodevelopment and behavior in a sample of inner-city minority children. METHODS. As part of an ongoing prospective cohort study in an inner-city minority population, neurotoxicant effects of prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos were evaluated in 254 children through the first 3 years of life. This report examined cognitive and motor development at 12, 24, and 36 months (measured with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II) and child behavior at 36 months (measured with the Child Behavior Checklist) as a function of chlorpyrifos levels in umbilical cord plasma. RESULTS. Highly exposed children (chlorpyrifos levels of >6.17 pg/g plasma) scored, on average, 6.5 points lower on the Bayley Psychomotor Development Index and 3.3 points lower on the Bayley Mental Development Index at 3 years of age compared with those with lower levels of exposure. Children exposed to higher, compared with lower, chlorpyrifos levels were also significantly more likely to experience Psychomotor Development Index and Mental Development Index delays, attention problems, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder problems, and pervasive developmental disorder problems at 3 years of age. CONCLUSIONS. The adjusted mean 36-month Psychomotor Development Index and Mental Development Index scores of the highly and lower exposed groups differed by only 7.1 and 3.0 points, respectively, but the proportion of delayed children in the high-exposure group, compared with the low-exposure group, was 5 times greater for the Psychomotor Development Index and 2.4 times greater for the Mental Development Index, increasing the number of children possibly needing early intervention services.
H2O2causes endothelial barrier dysfunction without disrupting the arginine-nitric oxide pathway.

We have previously demonstrated that nitric oxide (⋅ NO) donors attenuate and that inhibition of endogenous nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enhances hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-mediated porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cell (PAEC) injury. The current study investigates the hypothesis that oxidant-mediated inhibition of NOS contributes to PAEC injury. PAEC barrier function, measured as the transmonolayer clearance of albumin, was significantly impaired by H2O2(10-100 μM) in the absence of cytotoxicity. Treatment with H2O2did not alter NOS activity, measured as the conversion of [3H]arginine to [3H]citrulline in PAEC lysates, either immediately after treatment with 0-250 μM H2O2for 30 min or for up to 120 min after treatment with 100 μM H2O2. H2O2had little effect on NOS activity in intact PAECs, measured as 1) the formation of [3H]citrulline in [3H]arginine-loaded PAECs, 2) PAEC guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate content, and 3) PAEC ⋅ NO release to the culture media. These results indicate that the arginine-⋅ NO pathway remains intact after exposure to oxidant conditions sufficient to promote functional derangements of vascular endothelial cells.
Limitaciones de los criterios de diagnóstico de la diabetes tipo 2 y la intolerancia a la glucosa.

En las ultimas tres decadas se han publicado resultados contradictorios sobre los niveles de corte apropiados para realizar el diagnostico de la diabetes y la intolerancia a la glucosa. Como resultado, en dos ocasiones los puntos de corte han sido modificados, siendo la ultima revision en 1997. A partir de las nuevas recomendaciones la controversia aumento resultando en nuevos estudios que demuestran lo inadecuado de los criterios vigentes. Este articulo de revision tiene por objetivo resumir la informacion recientemente publicada sobre la sensibilidad y especificidad de los criterios y discutir las razones por las que la definicion de los niveles de glucemia diagnosticos de la diabetes y la intolerancia a la glucosa han sido tan dificiles de establecer.
Tracheobronchomalacia in a Down Syndrome Patient: A Fatal Anomaly

Down syndrome is a common chromosomal abnormality associated with many different structural anomalies. Tracheomalacia results in tracheal collapse when increased airflow is demanded due to the flaccidity of the tracheal support cartilage. Sufficient research and data are currently not available on airway malformations associated with Down syndrome, including tracheomalacia. In this case report, we discuss a Down syndrome patient with pneumonia found to have narrowing of his airway which resulted in prolonged hospital stay and difficulty in management. In most children with Down syndrome, tracheomalacia, tracheobronchomalacia, and bronchomalacia are all under diagnosed, yet these anomalies are more commonly missed in adults with Down syndrome. This can result from the patient’s presentation, which tends to be non-specific, and unless a specific obstruction is considered, it is unlikely that such forms of narrowing will be discovered. Severe adult tracheomalacia is a severe condition that can be difficult to treat, especially when associated with an airway infection that may result in increased mortality rates. J Med Cases. 2015;6(10):460-462 doi: http://dx.doi. org/10.14740/jmc2287w
Oxytocin and serotonin and their roles in pre-pubertal social development in syrian golden hamsters

The pre-pubertal infancy stage of development is marked by numerous neurological and behavioral changes in Syrian Golden Hamsters. One of the most notable changes during this period is the onset of social behaviors including social playfighting. Social playfighting is initiated approximately two weeks postpartum and is completely abolished by mid-puberty. The neural mechanisms that underlie this behavioral change are not well understood, but previous research has identified both oxytocin (OT) and serotonin (5-HT) as possible regulators of this behavior. In the present study, immunohistochemical techniques were used to evaluate changing levels of OT and serotonin 5-HT in the developing brain with the hypothesis that both OT and 5-HT levels would increase and decrease simultaneously with the onset and decline of social playfighting. Additionally, it was predicted that injections of a 5-HT3 receptor agonist, m-Chlorophenylbiguanide hydrochloride (CBG), into hamster in late infancy would reinstated social playfighting behaviors. Contrary to the hypothesis, OT was found to continually increase in the fornix, lateral hypothalamus, nucleus accumbens, medial
Increased Cardiac Arrhythmogenesis Associated With Gap Junction Remodeling With Upregulation of RNA-Binding Protein FXR1

Background: Gap junction remodeling is well established as a consistent feature of human heart disease involving spontaneous ventricular arrhythmia. The mechanisms responsible for gap junction remodeling that include alterations in the distribution of, and protein expression within, gap junctions are still debated. Studies reveal that multiple transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulatory pathways are triggered in response to cardiac disease, such as those involving RNA-binding proteins. The expression levels of FXR1 (fragile X mental retardation autosomal homolog 1), an RNA-binding protein, are critical to maintain proper cardiac muscle function; however, the connection between FXR1 and disease is not clear. Methods: To identify the mechanisms regulating gap junction remodeling in cardiac disease, we sought to identify the functional properties of FXR1 expression, direct targets of FXR1 in human left ventricle dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) biopsy samples and mouse models of DCM through BioID proximity assay and RNA immunoprecipitation, how FXR1 regulates its targets through RNA stability and luciferase assays, and functional consequences of altering the levels of this important RNA-binding protein through the analysis of cardiac-specific FXR1 knockout mice and mice injected with 3xMyc-FXR1 adeno-associated virus. Results: FXR1 expression is significantly increased in tissue samples from human and mouse models of DCM via Western blot analysis. FXR1 associates with intercalated discs, and integral gap junction proteins Cx43 (connexin 43), Cx45 (connexin 45), and ZO-1 (zonula occludens-1) were identified as novel mRNA targets of FXR1 by using a BioID proximity assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. Our findings show that FXR1 is a multifunctional protein involved in translational regulation and stabilization of its mRNA targets in heart muscle. In addition, introduction of 3xMyc-FXR1 via adeno-associated virus into mice leads to the redistribution of gap junctions and promotes ventricular tachycardia, showing the functional significance of FXR1 upregulation observed in DCM. Conclusions: In DCM, increased FXR1 expression appears to play an important role in disease progression by regulating gap junction remodeling. Together this study provides a novel function of FXR1, namely, that it directly regulates major gap junction components, contributing to proper cell-cell communication in the heart.
Effects of virginiamycin against experimentally induced necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens vaccinated or not with an attenuated coccidial vaccine

SUMMARY Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a deadly poultry disease caused by Clostridium perfringens. Infeed antibiotics such as virginiamycin (Vm) are commonly used in many countries to control NE. A ban on in-feed antibiotics usage in some European Union countries has caused an increase in the incidence of NE. In the present investigation, first, the effects of a live attenuated coccidial vaccine on the severity of experimentally induced NE in broilers and the role of Vm in prevention of disease were assessed. Second, we studied whether Vm, salinomycin (Sm), or both would help to reduce the severity of NE. The results of the first study showed that although the administration of a double dose of an attenuated coccidial vaccine led to a higher morbidity and mortality among C. perfringens-challenged birds, Vm prevented mortalities and improved the performance parameters among the vaccinated birds. In the second study, administration of Vm and Sm for 30 d were efficacious in preventing NE induced by C. perfringens which had been previously isolated from acute cases of NE in broiler farms. However, the short-term effects of in-feed Vm against NE, although evident in reducing the mortalities, were not satisfactory. This study provides further evidence that in-feed Vm benefits the poultry industry by prevention of NE.
Effect of anaemia on cognitive function in children

Study was carried out on 150 school going children to study the relationship between iron deficiency anaemia and cognitive function. Children's were grouped into moderate anaemic, mild anaemic and non-anaemic. Haemoglobin levels were estimated by cyanmethaemoglobin method. Results indicate that 53.33% were mild anaemic, 12% moderate anaemic and 34.67% non-anaemic. Results significantly (p < 0.05) indicates that moderate anaemic children performed poor on attention, design fluency, verbal working memory N-back 2, visual working memory N-back 2, planning, dictation, mathematical calculations, intelligence, immediate verbal learning and visual and verbal memory. Moreover, mild anaemic children performed significantly poor (p < 0.05) in attention, visual working memory N-back 2, dictation, mathematical calculations, intelligence, immediate verbal learning and visual and verbal memory. We concluded that non-anaemic children performed significantly better on cognitive function tests than mild and moderate anaemic. All data are expressed as mean ± SD and were analysed by analysis of variance by using SPSS software.
Report of an International Psychogeriatric Association Special Meeting Work Group; Under the Cosponsorship of Alzheimer's Disease International, the European Federation of Neurological Societies, the World Health Organization, and the World Psychiatric Association

Current knowledge with respect to the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is reviewed. There is agreement that AD is a characteristic clinicopathologic entity that is amenable to diagnosis. The diagnosis of AD should no longer be considered one of exclusion. Rather, the diagnostic process is one of recognition of the characteristic features of AD and of conditions that can have an impact on presentation or mimic aspects of the clinicopathologic picture. The present availability of improved prognosis, management, and treatment strategies makes the proper, and state-of-the-art, diagnosis of AD a clinical imperative in all medical settings. Concurrently, information regarding the relevance and applicability of current diagnostic procedures in diverse cultural settings must continue to accrue.
Single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion versus minimally invasive posterior cervical foraminotomy for patients with cervical radiculopathy: a cost analysis.

OBJECT Patients suffering from cervical radiculopathy in whom a course of nonoperative treatment has failed are often candidates for a single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF). The objective of this analysis was to identify any significant cost differences between these surgical methods by comparing direct costs to the hospital. Furthermore, patient-specific characteristics were also considered for their effect on component costs. METHODS After obtaining approval from the medical center institutional review board, the authors conducted a retrospective cross-sectional comparative cohort study, with a sample of 101 patients diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy and who underwent an initial single-level ACDF or minimally invasive PCF during a 3-year period. Using these data, bivariate analyses were conducted to determine significant differences in direct total procedure and component costs between surgical techniques. Factorial ANOVAs were also conducted to determine any relationship between patient sex and smoking status to the component costs per surgery. RESULTS The mean total direct cost for an ACDF was $8192, and the mean total direct cost for a PCF was $4320. There were significant differences in the cost components for direct costs and operating room supply costs. It was found that there was no statistically significant difference in component costs with regard to patient sex or smoking status. CONCLUSIONS In the management of single-level cervical radiculopathy, the present analysis has revealed that the average cost of an ACDF is 89% more than a PCF. This increased cost is largely due to the cost of surgical implants. These results do not appear to be dependent on patient sex or smoking status. When combined with results from previous studies highlighting the comparable patient outcomes for either procedure, the authors' findings suggest that from a health care economics standpoint, physicians should consider a minimally invasive PCF in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy.
Gastrointestinal stents—a review

Abstract There has been a rapid expansion in the role of the imaging department in the placing of stents in the gastrointestinal tract for rapid relief of dysphagia, gastric outlet, duodenal and large bowel obstruction. In this article we describe the currently available stents, the indications for their placement, their relative merits and outcomes.
Base composition of the Danio chrysotaenitus complete mitochondrial genome

Abstract In this study, 16 sets of primers were used to amplify contiguous, overlapping segments of the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of Danio chrysotaenitus in order to characterize and compare their mitochondrial genomes. The total length of the mitochondrial genome is 16,608 bp and deposited in the GenBank with accession numbers KP407138. The organization of the mitochondrial genomes was similar to those reported from other Mountain carp fishes mitochondrial genomes containing 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA, and 22 transfer RNAs) and a major non-coding control region (D-loop region). Most genes were encoded on the H-strand, except for the ND6 and 8 tRNA genes, encoding on the L-strand. The nucleotide skewness for the coding strands of Danio chrysotaenitus (AT-skew = 0.10, GC-skew = −0.25) is biased toward T and G. The complete mitogenome may provide important date set for the study of genetic mechanism of Danio chrysotaenitus.
The ‘crime of crimes’: genocide, criminal trials and reconciliation

This article is concerned with the relationship between criminal trials and reconciliation, and more specifically with the relationship between genocide trials and reconciliation. Taking as its starting point Larry May's recent work, Genocide: a normative account, this article specifically seeks to challenge two of May's core claims: that genocide trials aid reconciliation and that genocide is not the ‘crime of crimes’. Focused on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and drawing upon the author's fieldwork in Bosnia-Hercegovina (BiH), this article contends that genocide is the ‘crime of crimes’ and that precisely because of this the linkage between criminal trials and reconciliation is especially tenuous in genocide cases. It seeks to demonstrate this specifically by problematizing May's argument that genocide trials foster reconciliation by dealing with the broader responsibility of bystanders, identifying those individuals with genocidal intent and facilitating closure. Cautioning against an over-reliance upon criminal trials, and emphasizing our responsibility not only to punish but also to prevent genocide, this research advocates a more diverse, multi-layered approach to transitional justice that directly engages and empowers local communities, in accordance with the principles of action research.
A Comparison between the Presentation of Confirmed Influenza A/H1N1/2009 Virus Infection and Influenza-Like Illness among Children Admitted at Queen Alia Military Hospital

Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics of children who were hospitalized with respiratory infections during the year 2009 at Queen Alia Military Hospital in Amman and to compare features of confirmed influenza A/H1N1/ 2009 virus infections with features of Influenza-like illness. Methods: Hospitalized children under the age of 14 years with respiratory infections during the year 2009, with influenza A/H1N1/ virus infection were studied. All were tested with Real Time Polymerase-Chain-Reaction (RT-PCR) assay for Influenza A/H1N1/ 2009 virus and chest radiography was done on admission. All were treated with Oseltamivir on admission till the laboratory results were available. Results: During the study period, there were 77 admissions with respiratory infection. Only one death occurred. Forty-four (57%) were males, 44 had positive RT-PCR for influenza A/H1N1/2009 virus and 33(43%) tested negative and were considered, to have influenza-like illness. Comparing patients who had confirmed influenza A/H1N1/2009, to those with influenza-like illness, revealed that the mean age was 51 months versus 42 months. Underlying medical conditions were present in 70% versus 48% (p 0.05). Vomiting affected 25% versus 18% (p>0.05). Diarrhea occurred in 34% versus 21% (p>0.05). Three patients had hematuria and one had croup, all were in the positively tested group. The patient that died had neurological disability and was tested positive for the infection. Conclusion: Influenza A/H1N1/ 2009 caused significant illness requiring hospitalization. When compared to patients with influenza-like illness, patients with influenza A/H1N1/2009 infections, were older, significantly more patients had dyspnoea, radiologically confirmed pneumonia and an underlying medical condition. Gastrointestinal symptoms were more common in patients with confirmed influenza A/H1N1/ 2009 infection, but the difference was not statistically significant.
Mejoras en el ensayo de potencia de Bordetella pertussis

La potencia del componente pertussis, presente en la vacuna DPT-vax, se evalua mediante el ensayo de Kendrick. La cepa recomendada por OMS para este ensayo es Bordetella pertussis 18 323, la cual debe ser conservada de manera que se asegure su viabilidad, pureza y virulencia. Como parte de dicho ensayo debe calcularse la concentracion de una suspension de la cepa, cuya opacidad se compara a simple vista con la 5ta Preparacion Internacional de Referencia de Opacidad. Este metodo es muy inexacto y con frecuencia conduce a errores. En este trabajo se elaboro y caracterizo un lote de siembra de Bordetella. pertussis 18 323; se calculo la concentracion de dicha cepa empleando una curva de calibracion. El lote se empleo en ocho ensayos de potencia y en los mismos se cumplieron los criterios de validez establecidos. Palabras clave: Palabras clave: Palabras clave: Palabras clave: Palabras clave: Bordetella pertussis, ensayos de potencia, suspension de reto.
Comparison of diagnostic results of ECG computer programs and cardiologists

In the European concerted action Common Standards for Quantitative Electrocardiography (CSE) results of nine electrocardiography (ECG) and 6 vector cardiography (VCG) computer programs have been compared with a true diagnosis based on ECG-independent evidence, as well as to the results obtained by eight cardiologists who read the ECGs and five who read the VCGs. Results obtained in 1220 cases are presented. Assessment of the diagnostic performance of computer programs and of cardiologists against ECG-independent validated data was the primary objective. However, also testing against the readings of a group of cardiologists was performed to assess the clinical acceptability of the computer program results. The study shows that programs with the best performance reached almost equal levels to the best cardiologists. The study also shows that all can still be improved for one or more diagnostic categories, whereas some require general improvement. <<ETX>>
Distributed amplifiers with embedded signal shaping for multigigabit transmission systems

This paper discusses the use of distributed amplifiers as transversal filters for high bit rate pulse shaping/filtering applications. Two schemes demonstrating a general approach, obtained by optimising one or more transversal filter parameters are explored. Simulation results, based on the parameters of a commercially available 40 GHz HEMT foundry process, are presented to illustrate the practicability of the different schemes.
Stroke care challenges in rural India: awareness of causes, preventive measures and treatment options of stroke among the rural communities.

Introduction: Management of stroke in the remote rural areas in India faces major challenges because of lack of awareness. Stroke care services can be optimally implemented only if the communities have an understanding of the disease. Method: A population based, cross sectional survey of an adult general population sample between the ages of 31-60 years in a rural block in Tamil Nadu, India was carried out to study their knowledge, attitude, beliefs about cause, signs and symptoms, preventive measures and treatment options of stroke. Results: Of the 174 subjects studied only 69% were aware of the term stroke and 63% were able to list the symptoms. Only a little more than half the participants (58%) were aware that diabetes, smoking and hypertension are risk factors for stroke. None of the participants were aware of the endovascular thrombolysis injection for better recovery from stroke. About quarter (23%) of the participants did not think that the stroke is an emergency condition and they need to take the patient urgently to the hospital. Only 56% of the participants had checked their blood pressure and 49% for diabetes. A history of having either hypertension or diabetes and stroke in the family was the only factor that was significantly associated with better awareness (p=<0.001) independent of other potential facilitating factors including age, occupation, education and gender. Conclusion: There is a need to educate the rural communities about the risk factors, how to recognize the onset, the preventive measures and optimum care of stroke to reduce the burden.