Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of the Sonomat Against PSG and Quantitative Measurement of Partial Upper Airway Obstruction in Children With Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Study Objectives To validate the Sonomat against polysomnography (PSG) metrics in children and to objectively measure snoring and stertor to produce a quantitative indicator of partial upper airway obstruction that accurately reflects the pathology of pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Methods Simultaneous PSG and Sonomat recordings were performed in 76 children (46 male, age 5.8 ± 2.8, BMI = 18.5 ± 3.8 kg/m2). Sleep time, individual respiratory events and the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) were compared. Obstructed breathing sounds were measured from the unobtrusive non-contact experimental device. Results There was no significant difference in total sleep time (TST), respiratory events or AHI values, the latter over-estimated by 0.3 events hr-1 by the Sonomat. Poor signal quality was minimal and gender, BMI, and body position did not adversely influence event detection. Obstructive and central events were classified correctly. The number of runs and duration of snoring (13 399 events, 20% TST) and stertor (5748 events, 24% TST) were an order of magnitude greater than respiratory events (1367 events, 1% TST). Many children defined as normal by PSG had just as many or more runs of snoring and stertor as those with mild, moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Conclusions The Sonomat accurately diagnoses SDB in children using current metrics. In addition, it permits quantification of partial airway obstruction that can be used to better describe pediatric SDB. Its non-contact design makes it ideal for use in children.
Estrogen Receptor α Signaling Regulates Breast Tumor-initiating Cells by Down-regulating miR-140 Which Targets the Transcription Factor SOX2*

Background: miR-140 is down-regulated in non-invasive and invasive breast tumors compared with normal breast tissues. Results: Estrogen receptor α signaling down-regulates miR-140 in breast cancer where miR-140 targets embryonic transcription factor SOX2. Conclusion: ERα signaling regulates breast tumor-initiating cells through modulating miR-140 targeting of SOX2. Significance: Understanding cancer stem cell biology may reveal biomarkers or targets for therapeutic intervention. Several reports have indicated that miR-140, a possible tumor suppressor microRNA (miR), is down-regulated in breast tumors compared with normal breast tissues. However, the role of miR-140 in breast tumorigenesis is unclear. We initiated studies that examined estrogen receptor α (ERα) signaling in the tissue-specific regulation of miR-140 in breast cancer. We found that estrogen stimulation of ERα-positive breast cancer cells resulted in decreased miR-140 expression. We performed promoter analyses and examined predicted ERα binding elements in the miR-140 promoter using luciferase constructs of a miR-140 promoter deletion series. Our studies revealed that ERα binds to one specific estrogen response element flanking the miR-140 promoter and consequently suppresses miR-140 transcription. We found that the stem cell self-renewal regulator SOX2 is a novel target of miR-140, and that this miR-140/SOX2 pathway critically regulates breast tumor-initiating cell survival, providing a new link between ERα signaling and breast cancer stem cell maintenance.
Circadian Impairment of Distal Skin Temperature Rhythm in Patients With Sleep-Disordered Breathing: The Effect of CPAP

Study objectives Our aim was to evaluate the circadian rhythm of distal skin temperature (DST) in sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), its relation to excessive daytime sleepiness and the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on DST. Methods Eighty SDB patients (53.1 ± 1.2 years old, 27.6% women) and 67 healthy participants (52.3 ± 1.6 years old, 26.9% women) wore a temperature data logger for 1 week. On the last day of that week, SDB patients underwent a polysomnography followed by a Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), Multiple Sleep Latency Test, and Sustained Attention to Response Task protocol to objectively quantify daytime sleepiness. A subset of 21 moderate to severe SDB patients were treated with CPAP during at least 3 months and revaluated with the same procedure. A nonparametric analysis was performed to characterize DST to assess differences between groups and associations among DST, polysomnography, and daytime sleepiness measures. Results SDB patients showed an unstable, fragmented, flattened, phase-advanced, and less robust DST rhythm as compared to healthy participants. The more severe the SDB, the worse the DST pattern was, as indicated by the correlation coefficient. Sleepiness, according to MWT sleep latencies, was also associated with the higher fragmentation, lower amplitude, and less robustness of the DST rhythm. Treatment with CPAP improved DST pattern regularity and robustness. Conclusion DST is altered in SDB, exhibiting a direct relationship to the severity of this condition, and improves with CPAP treatment. DST independently correlates with sleepiness, thus, its measurement may contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of sleepiness in these patients.
Herd Health and Production Management in Dairy Practice

This text aims to teach students, practitioners and farm advisors how to give management support to the dairy farmer in order to optimize the health, productivity and welfare of his herd. The book covers management practices and farm conditions which have both positive and negative influences on these aspects, rather than a more traditional focus on specific diseases. The core element in this methodology is the protocol. In order to illustrate the standard protocol the practitioner and farm advisor are taken through a farm visit, during which operational and problem-solving issues are addressed. These issues include: nutrition; health care; reproduction; milk production; replacement rearing; and farm economics.
Narrative Research in Nursing

Section 1: The nature of narratives. Chapter 1 What is a narrative? Chapter 2 The appropriateness of narratives for nursing and health care. Chapter 3 Social construction, postmodernism and narrative identity. Chapter 4 Rigour in narrative research. Section 2: Strategies and procedures in narrative research. Chapter 5 The art of sampling. Chapter 6 Data collection in narrative research. Chapter 7 Narrative analysis: Contextualising narratives. Chapter 8 Presenting the findings. Section 3: Quality and authenticity in narrative research. Chapter 9 Narrative and ethics. Chapter 10 Critical review and problems. Chapter 11 The evaluation of narrative research reports and articles. Chapter 12 Publication and dissemination. Section 4: The practicalities of narrative research. Chapter 13 The skills of the narrative researcher. Chapter 14 Transcribing narrative data. Chapter 15 Writing a proposal for narrative research nursing
Factors affecting utilization of Antenatal Care among women in urban slum areas of Islamabad.

Objective: To identify the factors affecting the utilization of antenatal care among married women of reproductive age at two urban slum areas in Islamabad. Methods: A Cross-sectional survey was carried out between October 2003 and April 2004 in two urban squatter settlements of Islamabad. Two hundred married women in the age range 15-49 years were interviewed. Socio-demographic characteristics of women who received and who did not receive antenatal care in their previous pregnancy were assessed by bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Antenatal care used in any of the previous pregnancy among women under study was 151(75.5%). Among the non-users, 37(75.5%) of women cited ignorance about the importance of antenatal care, 9(18.4%) said that antenatal care facility was far away, 3(6.1%) said that they could not get permission from home to go to the antenatal care facility. Education of wife (adjusted p=0.005) and education of husband (adjusted p=0.006) were significantly associated with utilization of antenatal care. Conclusions: Utilization of antenatal care facilities is associated with educational status of women and their husbands. Benefits of antenatal care should be widely disseminated in the community. (Rawal Med J 2004;29:71-75)
Association between polymorphisms in catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) and cocaine‐induced paranoia in European‐American and African‐American populations

Catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (genetic locus, COMT) is a major enzyme involved in catecholamine metabolism and has been associated with numerous psychiatric phenotypes. We studied COMT SNPs and haplotypes in cocaine‐induced paranoia (CIP) in African‐American (AA) and European‐American (EA) populations. We genotyped 17 SNPs across the COMT locus in 319 AA pedigrees (848 individuals) and 302 EA pedigrees (707 individuals). Family‐controlled association analyses were conducted using FBAT. We found SNP rs737865 to be nominally significantly associated in the AA family population (P = 0.05). In EAs, the best‐known marker, rs4680 (Val158Met), was nominally significant in additive models (P = 0.03). SNP rs174696 also showed nominal significance in additive models (P = 0.02). We considered the three SNPs (rs737866–rs4680–rs174696) together in haplotype analysis in both family populations, using HBAT. The A–A–T haplotype was significantly associated with CIP in EAs (Z = 2.845; P = 0.0044, global P = 0.020). We then studied COMT SNPs in an additional 738 AA and 404 EA unrelated cocaine dependent individuals with and without paranoia. The A–A–T haplotype was significantly associated to CIP in the AA unrelated population (P = 0.0015). Two haplotypes, A–G–C and A–A–C, were significant in the EA unrelated population (P = 0.001 and 0.0003). We also identified rs4680 and three other SNPs, rs933271, rs5993883, and rs740603, as potentially functional variants, as predicted by a signature of positive selection in unrelated EAs and AAs. Based on our robust family‐controlled and unrelated‐affected analyses, we conclude that COMT is associated with CIP, possibly as a result of its role in the metabolism of dopamine and norepinephrine. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phenotype evaluation and genomewide linkage study of clinical variables in schizophrenia

Genetic factors are likely to influence clinical variation in schizophrenia, but it is unclear which variables are most suitable as phenotypes and which molecular genetic loci are involved. We evaluated clinical variable phenotypes and applied suitable phenotypes in genome‐wide covariate linkage analysis. We ascertained 170 affected relative pairs (168 sibling‐pairs and two avuncular pairs) with DSM‐IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder from the United Kingdom. We defined psychotic symptom dimensions, age at onset (AAO), and illness course using the OPCRIT checklist. We evaluated phenotypes using within sibling‐pair correlations and applied suitable phenotypes in multipoint covariate linkage analysis based on 372 microsatellite markers at ∼10 cM intervals. The statistical significance of linkage results was assessed by simulation. The positive and disorganized symptom dimensions, AAO, and illness course qualified as suitable phenotypes. There were no genome‐wide significant linkage results. There was suggestive evidence of linkage for the positive dimension on chromosomes 2q32, 10q26, and 20q12; the disorganized dimension on 8p21 and 17q21; and illness course on 2q33 and 22q11. The linkage peak for disorganization on 17q21 remained suggestive after correction for multiple testing. To our knowledge, this is the first study to integrate phenotype evaluation and genome‐wide covariate linkage analysis for symptom dimensions and illness history variables in sibling‐pairs with schizophrenia. The significant within‐pair correlations strengthen the evidence that some clinical variables within schizophrenia are suitable phenotypes for molecular genetic investigations. At present there are no genome‐wide significant linkage results for these phenotypes, but a number of suggestive findings warrant further investigation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Munc18-1 Controls SNARE Protein Complex Assembly during Human Sperm Acrosomal Exocytosis*

Background: Spermatozoa are excellent model cells to analyze the dynamics of SNARE assembly during exocytosis. Results: Both an antibody that blocks Munc18-1 function and recombinant Munc18-1 prevent the assembly of trans-SNARE complexes. Conclusion: Munc18-1 plays a key function in the dynamics of trans-SNARE complex assembly. Significance: Unveiling the mechanism of acrosomal exocytosis will improve our understanding of fertilization and regulated secretion. The spermatozoon is a very specialized cell capable of carrying out a limited set of functions with high efficiency. Sperm are then excellent model cells to dissect fundamental processes such as regulated exocytosis. The secretion of the single dense-core granule of mammalian spermatozoa relies on the same highly conserved molecules and goes through the same stages as exocytosis in other types of cells. In this study, we describe the presence of Munc18-1 in human sperm and show that this protein has an essential role in acrosomal exocytosis. We observed that inactivation of endogenous Munc18-1 with a specific antibody precluded the stabilization of trans-SNARE complexes and inhibited acrosomal exocytosis. Addition of recombinant Munc18-1 blocked secretion by sequestering monomeric syntaxin, an effect that was rescued by α-soluble NSF attachment protein. By electron microscopy, we observed that both the anti-Munc18-1 antibody and recombinant Munc18-1 inhibited the docking of the acrosome to the plasma membrane. In conclusion, our results indicate that Munc18-1 plays a key role in the dynamics of trans-SNARE complex assembly and/or stabilization, a process that is necessary for the docking of the outer acrosomal membrane to the plasma membrane and subsequent fusion pore opening.
Genome‐wide search for replicable risk gene regions in alcohol and nicotine co‐dependence

The present study searched for replicable risk genomic regions for alcohol and nicotine co‐dependence using a genome‐wide association strategy. The data contained a total of 3,143 subjects including 818 European‐American (EA) cases with alcohol and nicotine co‐dependence, 1,396 EA controls, 449 African‐American (AA) cases, and 480 AA controls. We performed separate genome‐wide association analyses in EAs and AAs and a meta‐analysis to derive combined P‐values, and calculated the genome‐wide false discovery rate (FDR) for each SNP. Regions with P < 5 × 10−7 together with FDR < 0.05 in the meta‐analysis were examined to detect all replicable risk SNPs across EAs, AAs, and meta‐analysis. These SNPs were followed with a series of functional expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analyses. We found a unique genome‐wide significant gene region—SH3BP5‐NR2C2—that was enriched with 11 replicable risk SNPs for alcohol and nicotine co‐dependence. The distributions of −log(P) values for all SNP‐disease associations within this region were consistent across EAs, AAs, and meta‐analysis (0.315 ≤ r ≤ 0.868; 8.1 × 10−52 ≤ P ≤ 3.6 × 10−5). In the meta‐analysis, this region was the only association peak throughout chromosome 3 at P < 0.0001. All replicable risk markers available for eQTL analysis had nominal cis‐ and trans‐acting regulatory effects on gene expression. The transcript expression of the genes in this region was regulated partly by several nicotine dependence (ND)‐related genes and significantly correlated with transcript expression of many alcohol dependence‐ and ND‐related genes. We concluded that the SH3BP5‐NR2C2 region on Chromosome 3 might harbor causal loci for alcohol and nicotine co‐dependence. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Case series: Vitamin D deficiency in exclusively breastfed term and late preterm neonates

Vitamin D plays an integral role in calcium metabolism. Vitamin D levels in neonates are determined by in-utero transfer of vitamin D and through breast milk. This in turn depends on the maternal stores of vitamin D. We present case series of term and late preterm neonates who were admitted to tertiary level neonatal ICU with vitamin D deficiency manifesting as symptomatic hypocalcemia.
Iranian version of childbirth self-efficacy inventory.

AIM The primary purpose of this study was to translate the Lowe's Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory to Persian and to examine the psychometric properties of its Iranian version. BACKGROUND Self-efficacy for childbirth has been found to be a factor in a woman's decision about her choice of delivery and an essential key in coping with labour pain. Creating a valid and reliable questionnaire is necessary to gain a better understanding of the emotional preparation of pregnant women. It is also essential for the development of educational interventions and improving the sense of self-efficacy during pregnancy. DESIGN Questionnaire translation. METHODS The standard 'forward-backward' procedure was applied to translate the questionnaire from English into Persian (Iranian language) and then was reviewed by a panel of experts. We used exploratory factor analysis to examine the construct validity of the instrument. To test the reliability, Cronbach's coefficient alpha was employed. A random sample of 176 pregnant women, attending public prenatal clinics in Tehran, was recruited for participation in the study. RESULTS The results indicated that each subscales of Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory is essentially a unidimensional scale. The results revealed that Iranian pregnant women were able to distinguish between self-efficacy expectancy and outcome expectancy, but they did not differentiate the active phase of labour from second stage. Religious or spiritual beliefs were found to have an important role in the Iranian version of the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory. CONCLUSION This preliminary study of the Iranian version of the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory showed that it is an acceptable, reliable and valid measure of women's belief and their confidence in coping with labour pain. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE A culturally sensitive, reliable and valid instrument is crucial to better understand the self-efficacy of childbirth as a basis for developing effective interventions to increase normal childbirth among Iranian pregnant women.
Effect of chang run tong on the biomechanical and morphometric remodeling of colon and rectum in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The present study investigates the effect of Chang Run Tong (CRT) on the biomechanical and morphometrical remodeling of colon and rectum in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The colonic and rectal segments were obtained from diabetic (DM), CRT-treated diabetic (T1, high dosage: 50 g/kg/day; T2, low dosage: 25 g/kg/day) and normal (Con) rats. The experimental period was 60 d. The blood glucose level and body weight were measured. The circumferential length, wall thickness, and opening angle were measured from the segments in the no-load and zero-stress states. The residual strain was computed from the morphometry data. The step-wise distension was done on the colonic segment (from 0 to 20 cmH2O). The circumferential and longitudinal stresses and strains were computed. The blood glucose level was significantly higher and the body weight was significantly lower in the DM, T1, and T2 groups compared to those in the Con group (p ＜ 0.01, p ＜ 0.001). The glucose level did not differ among the DM, T1, and T2 groups. The wet weight per unit length to body weight ratio, wall thickness, cross-sectional wall area, opening angle, and absolute value of residual strain of colonic and rectal segments in the DM group were significantly higher than those in the Con group (p ＜ 0.05 and p ＜ 0.01), and those in the T1 group, but not those in the T2 group, were significantly lower than those in the DM group (p ＜ 0.05, p ＜ 0.01). Furthermore, the circumferential and longitudinal stiffness of the colonic wall in the DM group was higher than those in the Con group. T1, but not T2, treatment could significantly decrease the colonic wall stiffness in both directions (p ＜ 0.01). CRT (high dose) treatment could partly restore the morphometric and biomechanical remodeling of the lower gastrointestinal tract in diabetic rats.
General Pediatricians' Views on Allocating More Time in Primary Care Practice to Children with Special Health Care: Results from a National Survey

Objective. To describe the proportion, characteristics, and attitudes of pediatricians who want to allocate more time in primary care to children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Methods. Data from a national random sample mail survey of 1000 pediatricians were used to examine attitudes towards allocating more time to CSHCN, and associated preferences towards changes to primary care. Results. Sixty percent (n=502) of eligible subjects participated. Forty-five percent of pediatricians reported that, if they could redesign their practices to maximize efficiency and effectiveness, they would allocate more time to providing care to CSHCN. After multivariate adjustment, respondents who wanted to allocate more time to CSHCN were more likely to want to allocate more time to care coordination with staff (OR 3.6[1.7-7.4, p? 0.001]) and non-visit communication with parents (OR 3.0[1.7-5.5], p? 0.001), and were more likely to prefer delegation of well-child care services to non-physicians (OR 5.9[2.8-12.5], p? 0.001). Inadequate reimbursement was reported as the most important obstacle to implementing such changes in their practices. Conclusions. These findings suggest that a substantial number of pediatricians would ideally allocate more time in primary care to CSHCN. Systems of care that could support such a change should be investigated.
Do incubation temperature, incubation time, and carbon dioxide affect the chromogenic properties of CHROMagar?

On CHROMagar medium Candida species form different colors; thus, the medium enables the differentiation of these species from each other as well as from other Candida species. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of incubation temperatures, incubation times, and CO2 on the chromogenic properties of CHROMagar. Materials and methods: A total of 112 strains of Candida spp. were used. A 0.5 McFarland suspension of each strain was inoculated onto CHROMagar with a calibrated loop and incubated at 26 °C and 35 °C for 24-48 h in normal atmosphere and in an atmosphere of 5% CO2. The results were evaluated at the end of 24 and 48 h by 2 of the authors working in strict separation. Results: The chromogenic property of the medium was best observed at an incubation temperature of 35 °C. Incubation in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 yielded more prominent colonies at the end of 48 h. The chromogenic differentiation of C. dubliniensis from C. albicans was not easy, for C. albicans yielded a green color and C. dubliniensis a somewhat darker green color. Conclusion: To obtain the best results with CHROMagar, the medium should be incubated at 35 °C for 48 h in an atmosphere of 5% CO2. A control C. albicans strain should be inoculated on each medium plate to differentiate the color tones of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis.