Inferring ancestry with the hierarchical soft clustering approach tangleGen.

Understanding the genetic ancestry of populations is central to numerous scientific and societal fields. It contributes to a better understanding of human evolutionary history, advances personalized medicine, aids in forensic identification, and allows individuals to connect to their genealogical roots. Existing methods, such as ADMIXTURE, have significantly improved our ability to infer ancestries.

Further Evidence of Neuroprotective Effects of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin and Growth Hormone in Hypoxic Brain Injury in Neonatal Mice.

Experimental in vivo data have recently shown complementary neuroprotective actions of rhEPO and growth hormone (rhGH) in a neonatal murine model of hypoxic brain injury. Here, we hypothesized that rhGH and rhEPO mediate stabilization of the blood−brain barrier (BBB) and regenerative vascular effects in hypoxic injury to the developing brain. Using an established model of neonatal hypoxia, neonatal mice (P7) were treated i.

Effects of Structured Exercise Training in Children and Adolescents With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Purpose: To examine safety and efficacy of exercise training (ET) for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) to improve physical fitness, pain, functional capability, and quality of life.

Methods: Ovid Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, PEDro, and Web of Science were searched from 1995 to April 2018 to find English-language articles examining effects of ET in JIA, ages 4 to 21 years. Quality of evidence/strength of clinical recommendations were assessed using the Cochrane GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system.

Experience-Induced Change of Alcohol-Related Risk Perception in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorders.

The role of alcohol-related risk perception for effective treatment of alcohol use disorders (AUD) is still unclear. The present study on 101 alcohol-dependent patients undergoing a 10-week AUD treatment protocol investigated the relationship between alcohol-related risk perception and alcohol use with the hypotheses that (1) risk perception changes across treatment, (2) changes vary with treatment-related experiences of abstinence/relapse indicating 'risk reappraisal,' and (3) adjustment of perceived own vulnerability according to 'risk reappraisal hypothesis' predicts abstinence during follow-up. Abstinence during treatment was related to a decrease, and relapse during treatment to a slight increase in perceived own risks.

Comparing Unimanual and Bimanual Training in Upper Extremity Function in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy.

Purpose: This systematic review compared intensive bimanual therapy (IBT) and modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) in upper limb function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: Four electronic databases were searched from 2009 through October 2015 for randomized control trials comparing IBT with mCIMT.

Results: Eight articles met the inclusion criteria; 5 randomized clinical trials with 221 participants with unilateral CP, ages 1.

Reference values on the 6-minute walk test for children living in the United States.

Purpose: : The purpose of this study was to investigate reference values for the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the relationship between 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and age, sex, and anthropometric variables in children who are healthy, aged 7 to 11 years and living in the United States.

Methods: : The sample included 100 children, 57 female, 43 male, mean age 9.66 ± 1.

Exercise in pediatric rheumatic diseases.

Purpose Of Review: The present review discusses the current knowledge about exercise capacity and physical activity in children with rheumatic disease and examines the role of exercise in managing these conditions.

Recent Findings: Recent studies suggest exercise capacity is significantly impaired in a large proportion of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. These deficits are not limited to children with active inflammation.

Does the profit motive make Jack nimble? Ownership form and the evolution of the US hospital industry.

We examine the evolving structure of the US hospital industry since 1970, focusing on how ownership form influences entry and exit behavior. We develop theoretical predictions based on the model of Lakdawalla and Philipson, in which for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals differ regarding their objectives and costs of capital. The model predicts for-profits would be quicker to enter and exit than not-for-profits in response to changing market conditions.

Effects of an eight-week physical conditioning program on disease signs and symptoms in children with chronic arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the effects of an 8-week, 24-session weight-bearing physical conditioning program on disease signs and symptoms in children with chronic arthritis.

Methods: In a within-subjects, repeated measures design, 25 subjects, ages 8-17 years, with chronic polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), were assessed at study entry, after an 8-week control period, and after an 8-week exercise period, for 1) disease status, based on joint count (JC) and articular severity index (ASI) (sum of scores for joint swelling, pain on motion, tenderness, and limitations of motion); 2) worst pain during the past week, using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS), and 3) aerobic endurance, using the 9-minute run-walk test of the Health Related Physical Fitness Test battery. The 60-minute conditioning program included warm-up (10 minutes), low-impact aerobics (25 minutes), strengthening (15 minutes), and cool-down and flexibility exercises (10 minutes).

Calcium influx and activation of calpain I mediate acute reactive gliosis in injured spinal cord.

Buffering extracellular pH at the site of a spinal cord crush-injury may stimulate axonal regeneration in rats (1; Guth et al., Exp. Neurol.

Verapamil treatment attenuates immunoreactive GFAP at cerebral cortical lesion site.

Cerebral cortical lesions were produced using a stereotactic injection system in Sprague-Dawley rats randomly assigned to three groups: (1) needle lesioned and uninjected (Lesioned), (2) needle lesion and simultaneous local injection of 50 or 100 microliters 0.9% saline (L/Saline), and (3) needle lesion and simultaneous local injection of 50 or 100 microliters Verapamil-HCl (VHCL) (2.5 mg/ml (5 mM) Abbott Labs, Chicago, IL), a passive, L-type calcium channel blocker (L/VHCL).

Gasoline vapors induce severe rhabdomyolysis.

A young patient developed rhabdomyolysis after accidentally inhaling gasoline vapors. Although there had been no preexistent myopathy, the caffeine and halothane contracture test classified the patient as being malignant hyperthermia-susceptible (MHS). Abnormal contractures also occurred after exposure of muscle bundles to benzine (at 0.

Physical conditioning in children with arthritis: Assessment and guidelines for exercise prescription.

Objective: To review the literature in the area of physical fitness and conditioning programs for individuals with chronic illnesses, and increase the awareness of the need to include fitness testing and conditioning programs in the therapeutic management of children and adolescents with chronic arthritis.

Methods: This article provides a review of original research reports, information from principal texts, and review articles related to physical fitness testing and training in children.

Results: Several factors limit the exercise capacity of children with chronic arthritis, and studies report that these children have lower aerobic endurance and muscle performance than their peers.

Physical fitness levels in children with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) often exhibit fatigue and prolonged exercise recovery. Improved fitness through physical conditioning has not been a goal of standard medical or physical treatment regimens for JRA, and fitness levels of children with JRA have rarely been studied. We compared physical fitness in 20 6 to 11-year-old patients with polyarticular JRA with sex-, age-, and size-matched controls, using the Health Related Physical Fitness Test (HRPFT), a national, standardized, norm-referenced test.