Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neural synchrony in patients with a first episode of schizophrenia: tracking relations with grey matter and symptom profile.

BACKGROUND Although schizophrenia has been characterized by disruptions to neural synchrony, it remains unknown whether these disturbances are related to symptoms and loss of grey matter. We examined relations between 40 Hz Gamma band synchrony and grey matter in patients with schizophrenia at first episode and after 2.5 years. METHODS From an initial recruitment of 35 medicated patients with a first episode of schizophrenia, 25 patients completed clinical and oddball task-elicited Gamma synchrony within 3 months of health service contact and again after 2.5 years, 23 completed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at these time points, and 13 completed all sessions. We compared patients with 35 matched healthy controls. We identified early (0-150 ms) and late (250-500 ms) peaks in Gamma synchrony locked to oddball targets, and we analyzed MRI data using voxel-based morphometry. We evaluated group and test-retest differences using repeated-measures analyses of variance. RESULTS Compared with controls, at first contact, patients with a first episode of schizophrenia showed a disruption to the laterality of early Gamma synchrony and global reduction in late Gamma synchrony, with a corresponding loss of fronto-temporal-parietal grey matter. Gamma synchrony was increased at follow-up among patients with a first episode of schizophrenia. It related negatively to further loss of grey matter, but positively to improvement in reality distortion symptoms. These relations could not be explained by medication dose. LIMITATIONS Our study did not include unmedicated patients or normative follow-up testing. CONCLUSION Gamma synchrony may track the progression of schizophrenia from first episode. An increase in Gamma synchrony over time might reflect an attempt to adapt to a progressive loss of cortical grey matter and associated changes in cognitive and emotional function.
Depression in Hospitalized Cancer Patients

&NA; The study of depression in cancer patients has been hampered by difficulty in establishing diagnostic criteria, since neurovegetative signs and symptoms may be attributable either to depression or physical illness. Confusion has also arisen in defining the boundary between “normal” grieving with illness, and “abnormal” clinical depression. We studied 62 oncology inpatients applying DSM‐III diagnostic criteria, patient self‐report, and interview report rating scales. Forty‐two percent met criteria for nonbipolar major depression: 24% with severe and 18% with moderately severe symptoms. Fourteen percent of the sample had depressive symptoms that did not meet criteria for a major depression. Forty‐four percent had no depressed affect. Medical and demographic variables were evaluated for relationship to depression; only greater degree of physical disability was clearly associated. Other negative life events and poor quality of social supports were additionally associated with depression in the less disabled patients. The use of clearly defined criteria for diagnosis of depression in cancer patients provides a basis for the study and implementation of specific therapeutic interventions.
Longitudinal Studies on the Rate of Decline in Renal Function with Age

Serial creatinine clearances (5 to 14 studies) were obtained for 446 normal volunteers in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging followed between 1958 and 1981. When those subjects with possible renal or urinary tract disease and subjects on diuretics and antihypertensives were removed from the study, leaving a group of 254 “normal” subjects, the mean decrease in creatinine clearance was 0.75 ml/min/year. The slopes of the creatinine clearance vs. time fell into a normal (Gaussian) distribution around this mean. One third of all subjects followed had no absolute decrease in renal function (positive slope of creatinine clearance vs. time) and there was a small group of patients who showed a statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) in creatinine clearance with age.
Adaptive switching based on Markov model for multiuser MIMO-OFDM systems

MIMO technology combined with OFDM has been used widely in LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) system. An adaptive switching algorithm based on a two-state Markov model using the condition number is proposed to perform the switching between spatial diversity and spatial multiplexing. Furthermore, the level crossing rates (LCR) of condition number is defined to calculate the transition probabilities. The simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm could improve the performance of the bit error rate (BER) in multiuser MIMO-OFDM systems. Based on that, the transition probabilities and the average probability of mode selection error are used to investigate in different switching threshold.
Generation and Characterization of α9 and α10 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subunit Knockout Mice on a C57BL/6J Background

We generated constitutive knockout mouse models for the α9 and α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits by derivation from conditional knockouts by breeding with CRE deleter mice. We then backcrossed them onto a C57BL/6J genetic background. In this manuscript, we report the generation of the strains and an auditory phenotypic characterization of the constitutive α9 and α10 knockouts and a double α9α10 constitutive knockout. Although the α9 and α10 nAChR subunits are relevant to a number of physiological measures, we chose to characterize the mouse with auditory studies to compare them to existing but different α9 and α10 nAChR knockouts (KOs). Auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) showed that all constitutive mouse strains had normal hearing. DPOAEs with contralateral noise (efferent adaptation measurements), however, showed that efferent strength was significantly reduced after deletion of both the α9 and α10 subunits, in comparison to wildtype controls. Animals tested were 3–8 weeks of age and efferent strength was not correlated with age. Confocal studies of single and double constitutive KOs showed that all KOs had abnormal efferent innervation of cochlear hair cells. The morphological results are similar to those obtained in other strains using constitutive deletion of exon 4 of α9 or α10 nAChR. The results of our physiological studies, however, differ from previous auditory studies using a α9 KO generated by deletion of the exon 4 region and backcrossed onto a mixed CBA/CaJ X 129Sv background.
Overcoming docetaxel resistance in advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC): A phase I/II trial of the combination of temsirolimus and docetaxel.

250 Background: Mechanisms of resistance to docetaxel (D) are not fully understood. Preclinical work showed that administration of temsirolimus (T) between courses of D delays the growth of PTEN deficient tumors in xenografts. (Wu et al. Cancer Res 2005) The current study aims to determine the recommended phase II dose (RPTD), toxicity, pharmacokinetics (PK) and preliminary activity of D in combination with T in CRPC patients (pts). METHODS Pts aged ≥ 18 with advanced solid tumors refractory to standard therapy, ECOG ≤2, adequate bone marrow and renal function were eligible. D was given once q. 3 weeks along with T on days 2, 9 &16. The protocol was later amended and day 9 of T omitted due to excessive myelotoxicity. A 3+3 rule dose escalation was used with the next dose levels (DL) planned: DL1: D 50mg/m2, T 15 mg; DL2: D 65mg/m2, T 15 mg; DL3: D 75mg/m2, T 15 mg; DL4: D 75mg/m2, T 25 mg. An expanded cohort for pts with CRPC who have progressed to D will enroll pts once the RPTD has been defined. RESULTS To date 13 pts have been enrolled, median age = 65 (range 35-76), 9 male and 8 ECOG 0, Forty-seven cycles (median: 2; range: 1-9) were administered. The most frequent related adverse events (AEs) of all grades expressed as % of cycles were: leucopenia (80.8%), hyperglycemia (70.2%), anemia (68.1%) and hypercholesterolemia (65.9%). The most common Grade 3-4 AEs as % of cycles were: leucopenia (27.6%), neutropenia (29.7%), and hypophosphatemia (23%). Two pts in DL2 experienced dose limiting toxicities (DLT) consisting of intolerable grade 2 mucositis and febrile neutropenia respectively. DL1 was expanded and 3 additional pts treated with no DLTs. No drug-drug PK interactions were observed. Among 13 pts evaluable for response, 6 (2 pancreas, 2 CRPC, 1 rectal and 1 sarcoma) achieved stable disease. One pt with CRPC who had previously progressed on docetaxel received 9 cycles of treatment with sustained clinical benefit. The expanded cohort for CRPC patients is opened and recruiting. CONCLUSIONS T and D can be safely combined at reduced doses of both agents with no PK interaction. Preliminary antitumor activity has been observed in CRPC patients. Data on the expanded cohort will be presented.
Identification of an inward rectifier potassium channel gene expressed in mouse cortical astrocytes

These experiments identify an inward rectifier K+ (Kir) channel expressed in mouse cortical and white matter astrocytes at the molecular level. Messenger RNA for one of the known Kir channel genes, Kir4.1, is present at much higher levels in cortical astrocytes in primary culture than the other known Kir family members. In culture, the level of Kir4.1 mRNA is lower in proliferating cells and in cells cultured for 16 h under hypoxic conditions, compared to confluent cells. Partial differentiation of the astrocytes with dibutyryl cAMP or by coculture with neurons has no effect on the Kir4.1 mRNA level. In situ hybridization experiments show that Kir4.1 mRNA is broadly distributed in the adult brain, including the neocortex, the stratum pyrimadale of the hippocampus, and the piriform cortex. Immunostaining confirms that the Kir4.1 protein is expressed by cultured astrocytes and also by cocultured cortical neurons. Astrocytes and neurons display a patchy pattern of immunostaining, raising the possibility that the channels sort themselves in clusters in the plasma membrane. Stellate cells in the neocortex and white matter are immunoreactive for Kir4.1, and double immunofluorescence experiments show colocalization of Kir4.1 and glial acidic fibrillary protein (GFAP) on stellate cells in the white matter. The cloned mouse Kir4.1 cDNA, when expressed heterologously in HEK cells, gives rise to inactivating Kir channels similar to those recorded from cultured astrocytes. These results indicate that the Kir4.1 gene product forms a Kir channel, or is a subunit of the channel, in mouse cortical astrocytes both in culture and in vivo. GLIA 33:57–71, 2001. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inverse Problem Solution in Landmines Detection Based on Active Thermography

Landmines still affect numerous territories in the whole world and pose a serious threat, mostly to civilians. Widely used non-metallic landmines are undetectable using metal detector. Therefore, there is an urging need to improve methods of detecting such objects. In the present study we introduce relatively new method of landmines' detection: active infrared thermography with microwave excitation. In this paper we present the optimization based method of solving inverse problem for microwave heating. This technique will be used in the reconstruction of de- tected landmines geometric and material properties. It is undoubtedly the basic advantage of this method. How- ever buried stones, branches, and various types of waste can produce similar thermal signatures to antipersonnel landmines while heated by microwaves. It is therefore important to not only detect an object that can be possibly a landmine, but also to determine some of its parameters to classify the object to the group of potentially dangerous (4). In this paper the method of solving inverse problem for microwave heating will be presented. The proposed tech- nique will be used in estimation of chosen geometric and material properties of landmines. Both numerical and ex- perimental results will be shown.
Ethnic factors in voluntary and compulsory admissions

SYNOPSIS Socio-demographic and clinical aspects of compulsory and informal admissions to general adult psychiatry wards over a two-year period are compared. In addition, Afro-Caribbean patients are compared with white UK-born patients. Relative rates of admission are examined. The study confirms other reports of greater than expected compulsory admissions of Afro-Caribbean patients and pays particular attention to the circumstances preceding compulsory entry to hospital and the persons and agencies involved in that process.
Can “Legal Highs” Trigger Myocardial Infarction? Patients' Characteristics Based on Published Cases

Legal highs is a popular name for psychoactive substances with a potentially harmful effect on human health (Mazurkiewicz et al., 2013). These substances are highly synthesized and modified usually in order to avoid legal consequences related to illegal drug trafficking. The variability of the chemical composition of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) stays ahead of the legislative capacity of most countries, which is why trade in such substances borders on illegal practices. In English-speaking literature, such substances are most often termed as designer drugs or novel psychoactive substances (NPS). Designer drugs are a heterogeneous group of substances. The most popular among them contain substances classified as synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones. The products are sold on the European and American markets under different names. For example, items that contain synthetic cannabinoids are frequently named Spice in Europe and K2 in the US (Bonnici et al., 2015), while products containing synthetic cathinones are sold as “bath salts”. They are usually labeled as collectibles “not for human consumption” (Jabłoński & Malczewski, 2014). Products containing NPS are often sold in the form of tablets or powder but also as incense, air fresheners, aroma sachets, potpourris or even stain removers and other detergents. Factors that determine the popularity of designer drugs are their accessibility in special shops or online, catchy names and attractive packaging, very low chance of being detected in the body, often stronger action than after traditional drugs and low cost (Lavelle, 2016; Tait et al., 2016; UNODC, 2011). The pace in which NPS appear on the market is alarming. According to the European Drug Report, 101 novel psychoactive substances were found in 2014, most of which are synthetic cathinones (31%) and synthetic
Interdisciplinary Education in a Community-Based Geriatric Evaluation Clinic

Background: Demographic predictions are challenging schools of medicine to emphasize geriatrics. This article describes a geriatric evaluation (GET) clinic and explores the opportunity for residents to attain core geriatric competencies. Description: The GET clinic is located in a small Midwestern city associated with a community-based medical school. It is staffed by an interdisciplinary team consisting of a geriatrician, a gerontological nurse specialist, and a social worker. Residents, medical students, and nursing students are frequent participants. Evaluation: Descriptive data indicate that the clinic experience addresses the core competencies set forth by the American Geriatric Society. The clinical outcomes indicate that the clinic is effective in maintaining the functional status of patients and has a positive effect on family caregivers. Residents and students rate their experience as excellent. Conclusions: The GET clinic provides a unique interdisciplinary educational opportunity. Further investigation is needed to determine if residents who participate do attain core competencies.
Cognitive changes after stem cell transplantation in a patient with subcortical stroke

The authors report a case of a 55-year-old Caucasian woman who received autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation 3 years after a subcortical stroke. She exhibited positive cognitive changes 6 months and 1 year after the surgery without rehabilitation. The blood flow changes, measured with SPECT, were statistical significant in prefrontal areas. During the presurgical neuropsychological assessment, the patient presented a critical speech reduction, reflected in impaired performance in verbal fluency, vocabulary and in each task which required overt verbal response. One year later, she showed improvement in mental flexibility, receptive language, phonological fluency, verbal memory and auditory verbal memory. Positive cognitive changes in verbal and executive functions seem to be contingent on increased blood flow in prefrontal areas. Posterior neuropsychological evaluation 3 and 5 years after transplantation did not show deterioration of the cognitive improvement.
Sinus augmentation via transcrestal approach: a comparison between the balloon and osteotome technique in a cadaver study.

BACKGROUND The transcrestal approach with osteotomes is a commonly applied and predictable technique for maxillary sinus floor elevation. However, Schneiderian membrane perforation is a common and often inevitable intraoperative complication. Recently, the use of balloons has been proposed to reduce the risk of sinus membrane perforation and to facilitate the surgical technique. The aim of this study was to determine membrane elevation height and perforation rate using the transcrestal balloon technique (B) and a conventional osteotome approach, as control (C). METHODS Ten fresh, completely edentulous cadaver heads (seven male and three female) were selected. In a split-mouth design, each sinus was randomly assigned to either the experimental or the control technique. Pre-surgical planning was aided by cone-beam computed tomography. During the procedure, an endoscope was used to monitor the elevation procedure and the occurrence of sinus perforation. The elevation continued until either 15 mm (measured from the alveolar crest) was reached or a perforation occurred. The residual ridge and the elevated membrane height were measured and compared with the paired Student's t-test. Presence of sinus perforation was recorded at three cutoff points: 10, 12, and 15 mm. RESULTS The mean age of the specimens was 77.7 ± 14.2 years (range 49-92). The mean initial, final, and elevated sinus membrane height for the B group was 5.3 ± 1.9, 13.7 ± 1.9, and 8.3 ± 3.1 mm, whereas the correspondent values for the C group were 5.1 ± 2.1, 13.2 ± 2.8, and 8.1 ± 3.1 mm. The incidence of sinus perforation, using 10, 12, and 15 mm as end points was 0%, 22.2%, and 44.4% in the B group, whereas in the C group the respective values were 10.0%, 20.0%, and 50.0%. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups for all the above-mentioned variables. In addition, mean residual ridge height was not significantly different between the non-perforation and perforation sites in the B group (5.2 ± 2.2 and 5.5 ± 1.7 mm) and in the C group (5.2 ± 2.5 and 5.0 ± 2.0 mm). Three cadavers had perforations in both sinuses, accounting for 66.6% of total number of perforations. CONCLUSIONS Based on the findings of this study, the balloon and the conventional osteotome approach are comparable in terms of perforation rate as it relates to the elevation height. Also, the amount of residual alveolar bone was not related to the incidence of perforation and the height of sinus elevation.
The use of typical sequences for robust speaker identification

Speech field is affected by accidental structures such as spurious events and artifacts (breath mouth, lip clicks etc). Because the whole utterance is used during training and the identification process, these factors may represent confusable acoustic classes which do not contribute to the performance of the speaker recognition system. In this paper we propose a new approach for extracting as much essential information as possible from the acoustic data in order to estimate more robust speaker models. To this end, we make use of the Asymptotic Equipartition Property (AEP) originated from the information theory to generate a reduced feature subspace termed ”typical set”. Results on the Spidre corpus show that the method leads to an appreciable improvement (averaging 10 % gain in performance) over the baseline system.
Characteristics of Hospitalized Patients with Severe and Non-Severe Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) in Saurashtra Region, India (Two Waves Analysis)

Background: In India, the first case of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection was reported in May 2009 and the same in Saurashtra region in August 2009. We describe the epidemiology and factors associated with severe and non-severe cases of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection reported in the Saurashtra region. Materials and Methods: From September 2009 to January 2011, we reported 511 patients who were infected with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus and admitted in different hospitals of Rajkot city. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing was used to confirm infection. Factors associated with severe cases were determined by comparing with non-severe cases. Results: Out of 511 patients, 140 had severe disease (requiring intensive care or died) and 371 non-severe diseases (admitted in wards and survived). Median age of 30 years; median time of 5 days from onset of illness to diagnosis, and 4 days median time was reported for hospital stay among severe disease patients. More than half (60.7%) were females. Out of the patients with severe disease, 52.1% patients residing in urban area (OR = 1.68, CI = 1.13-2.49). Significant association was reported among severe disease patients for delayed referral from general practitioner/physician after initial treatment. All patients received antiviral drug, however, only 27.1% received within 2 days of illness. Presence of coexisting condition (pregnancy (OR = 0.19, CI = 0.08-0.48) was strongly associated with severe disease. Conclusion: Delayed referral from general practitioner/physician, duration of antiviral treatment, presence of coexisting condition (i.e., pregnancy) were responsible for intensive care or mortality among severe influenza A (H1N1) illness.
Cardiovascular and Neurological Adverse Events Associated With Antidepressant Treatment in Children and Adolescents

A retrospective cohort design of Medicaid medical and pharmacy claims for 1996 through 2005 was employed for 14 171 children and adolescents prescribed an antidepressant medication and a random sample of 4500 children not treated with any class of psychotropic medication to compare the prevalence rates of cardiovascular and neurological adverse events. The treated cohort evinced a higher prevalence of cardiovascular events, orthostatic hypotension, seizures, insomnia, and headaches. In the treated cohort, patients were at a significantly higher risk for incident cardiovascular events when exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and weight-inducing antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics. Incident orthostatic hypotension was associated with weight-inducing antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Incident seizures and extrapyramidal symptoms were unrelated to antidepressant or co-prescribed psychotropic medications, but both were significantly associated with comorbid central nervous system, organic brain/mental retardation, or preexisting cardiovascular or cerebrovascular conditions. Headaches and dizziness were significantly related to taking mood stabilizers.