Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surgery Decreases Long-term Mortality, Morbidity, and Health Care Use in Morbidly Obese Patients

Objective:This study tested the hypothesis that weight-reduction (bariatric) surgery reduces long-term mortality in morbidly obese patients. Background:Obesity is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The impact of surgically induced, long-term weight loss on this mortality is unknown. Methods:We used an observational 2-cohort study. The treatment cohort (n = 1035) included patients having undergone bariatric surgery at the McGill University Health Centre between 1986 and 2002. The control group (n = 5746) included age- and gender-matched severely obese patients who had not undergone weight-reduction surgery identified from the Quebec provincial health insurance database. Subjects with medical conditions (other then morbid obesity) at cohort-inception into the study were excluded. The cohorts were followed for a maximum of 5 years from inception. Results:The cohorts were well matched for age, gender, and duration of follow-up. Bariatric surgery resulted in significant reduction in mean percent excess weight loss (67.1%, P < 0.001). Bariatric surgery patients had significant risk reductions for developing cardiovascular, cancer, endocrine, infectious, psychiatric, and mental disorders compared with controls, with the exception of hematologic (no difference) and digestive diseases (increased rates in the bariatric cohort). The mortality rate in the bariatric surgery cohort was 0.68% compared with 6.17% in controls (relative risk 0.11, 95% confidence interval 0.04–0.27), which translates to a reduction in the relative risk of death by 89%. Conclusions:This study shows that weight-loss surgery significantly decreases overall mortality as well as the development of new health-related conditions in morbidly obese patients.
Psychiatric inpatients' satisfaction with services: A pilot study

INTRODUCTION: Fifty-three patients admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit in South London were interviewed to ascertain their satisfaction with services provided for them. METHOD: The level of satisfaction with various aspects of treatment was evaluated using a 45-item questionnaire. RESULTS: Results showed that patients were generally satisfied with the staff attitudes and care, although two-thirds felt that they had not been sufficiently involved in their own treatment planning. Younger patients reported more frequent difficulties in the relationship with staff. Patients were generally satisfied with the physical environment. Patients with a higher number of previous admissions were more satisfied with the planning of care, and they were less often in conflict with the staff. Patients admitted compulsorily were less satisfied than voluntary patients with the overall quality of the help received and said they would rarely re-contact the service in the future. There was virtually no effect of ethnicity on the levels of satisfaction in different aspects of care. The only worry expressed more frequently by African-Caribbean patients was about re-contacting the service in the future, even though they felt the help received in planning their discharge was good. CONCLUSION: It would be useful to carry out such surveys more often.
A study of allergy in patients with malignant lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia

In a study of 229 patients with malignant lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, an investigation of allergic symptomatology and immunoglobulin levels was conducted. Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia demonstrated a decreased incidence of allergic symptomatology which could be correlated with diminution of serum IgE levels. Of interest was the observation that some patients with lymphoma lost their symptoms of allergy prior to onset of the malignancy. History of allergic symptoms was elicited with equal frequency in both patients with malignancy and control population.
Two and Three Dimensional Extreme Ultraviolet Holographic Imaging with a Nanometer Spatial Resolution

The word “hologram” (from the greek “holos”: whole, complete and “graphos”: writing, drawing) means “total recording”. Holography is a well known technique originally proposed in 1948 by Gabor, who also coined the name, as a new microscopy alternative. He realized that the interference of two mutually coherent waves, one called the reference wave and the second one the object wave, allows for recording of information consisting of both amplitude and phase of diffracted or scattered beam from an object (Gabor, 1948). This coding of the amplitude and phase of the object beam into an interference pattern allowed him to demonstrate that from this complicated holographic pattern, ultimately the image of the original object can be obtained. Several years after the appearance of Gabor’s paper, Baez (Baez, 1952) suggested extension of this idea to the X-ray region, but it remained as an interesting proposal till the early 1960s, when holography started to be widely applied. It was after the paper by Leith and Upatnieks, who proposed the off-axis holography scheme which overcomes many of Gabor configuration drawbacks (Leith & Upatnieks, 1962). Since that time holography was widely used in numerous applications, some of them requiring increased spatial resolution. On this path, reducing the illumination wavelength is a direct way to improve spatial resolution both in nanopatterning (Solak et al., 1999; Wachulak et al., 2008a) and holographic imaging, described herein. This is the reason why short wavelength sources such as synchrotrons, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and soft X-ray (SXR) lasers, high harmonics generation sources (HHG), etc., became an interesting alternative for high resolution imaging. This chapter is devoted to 2-D and 3-D holographic imaging using a capillary discharge EUV laser. The chapter is organized as follows. In section 2 recent developments in high resolution holographic imaging will be briefly presented including different imaging techniques and short wavelength sources. In section 3 some general information about Gabor in-line EUV holography will be presented with detailed analysis of the resolution limitations due to coherence of the EUV source and digitization process. Starting from section 4 through 6 recent developments in holographic 2-D and 3-D imaging will be
Hydroxytyrosol, as a component of olive mill waste water, is dose- dependently absorbed and increases the antioxidant capacity of rat plasma

Hydroxytyrosol is the most potent phenolic antioxidant of olive oil and olive mill waste water (OMWW) and its biological activities have stimulated research on its potential role in cardiovascular protection. However, evidence of the absorption of OMWW phenolics and on their possible in vivo activity has, until now, never been provided. Three groups male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered 1, 5, or 10 mg/Kg of the OMWW extract, respectively, providing 41.4, 207, and 414 μg/Kg of hydroxytyrosol, respectively. Urine was collected for 24 h and the urinary levels of hydroxytyrosol were quantified by mass spectrometry. Hydroxytyrosol was dose-dependently (R2=0.95) absorbed and excreted in the urines mostly as a glucuronide conjugate. Further, the administration of an hydroxytyrosol-rich OMWW extract (10 mg/kg) to the rats was also associated with an increase of their plasma antioxidant capacity. Future experiments will eventually further clarify its metabolic fate and its in vivo actions.
[Does circumcision affect male's perception of sexual satisfaction?].

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of circumcision on sexual satisfaction perception in males with stable sexual partners. METHODS Twenty two heterosexual male adults, sexually active with a stable partner, scheduled for circumcision for medical (MR) or esthetic reasons (ER) at our clinic between June 2005 and June 2006 were included in this study. Men with severe erectile dysfunction (ED) were excluded from the study. These men were surveyed to assess erectile function, penile sensitivity, esthetical penis' appearance, sexual activity and overall satisfaction before the procedure and 12 weeks after. Categorical scores were evaluated with Chi square. RESULTS Surgical indications were: Phimosis 50%, balanitis 18.2%, condyloma 13.6% and esthetics 13.6%. After the procedure 82% of patients referred an upgrade on the quality of their sexual intercourse, 4.5% referred it diminished and 13.5% referred no change at all. 95.5% of the patients felt better with the appearance of their penis. Almost all areas of sexual satisfaction weren't statistical significant except for the improvement in erectile function (p 0.0007) and perception of sexual events (p 0.04). This improvement on erectile function was reported as shifts from mild to normal on International Index of Erectile Function 5 scores. Premature ejaculation was observed in 31.8%(7) before the procedure and diminished to 13.6%(3). CONCLUSION Because of our statistic limitations and mix indications for circumcision in the study, we cannot conclude that circumcision might bring certain benefit on sexual satisfaction by itself but certainly does not bring deleterious effects and, when dissatisfaction is associated with local problems, some benefit could be expected.
The relationships between uncertainty and its antecedents in Korean patients with atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between uncertainty and its antecedents, including education, social support and symptom frequency in Korean patients with atrial fibrillation. BACKGROUND The antecedents of uncertainty were theoretically identified from Mishel's theory of uncertainty in illness. There is a need to examine empirically whether theoretically driven antecedents of uncertainty work in a way that the theory proposed. DESIGN Descriptive correlational and cross-sectional survey design. METHODS Subjects were interviewed using structured study questionnaires. The data collected were statistically analysed by descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression analysis to determine the effects of antecedents on uncertainty. RESULTS A convenience sample of 109 subjects recruited from three academic medical centres in South Korea. The overall model significantly explained 20·1% of the variance in uncertainty. Among antecedents of uncertainty, social support was significantly associated with less uncertainty (β = -0·26), while the education was not associated with uncertainty. Persons with greater social supports perceived less uncertainty, and individuals with greater symptom frequency reported greater uncertainty (β = 0·21). CONCLUSIONS In Korean patients with atrial fibrillation, it was demonstrated that uncertainty in atrial fibrillation patients was predicted by social support and symptom frequency. Thus, the nursing strategies that reduce uncertainty which results in undesirable outcomes are required through maximising the social support patients perceived and minimising the symptom frequency. Therefore, these findings are relevant to clinical nurses who take care of patients with atrial fibrillation in terms of decreasing uncertainty that might result in patients' psychological distress. Relevance to clinical practice. The findings from this study may be beneficial for clinical nurses to understand and assess the psychosocial and emotional needs of patients with atrial fibrillation.
Advancing Ocean Acidification Biology Using Durafet® pH Electrodes

Research assessing the biological impacts of global ocean change often requires a burdensome characterization of seawater carbonate chemistry. For laboratory-based ocean acidification research, this impedes the scope of experimental design. Honeywell Durafet® III pH electrodes provide precise and continuous seawater pH measurements. In addition to use in oceanographic sensor packages, Durafets can also be used in the laboratory to track and control seawater treatments via Honeywell Universal Dual Analyzers (UDA). Here we provide performance data, instructions, and step-by-step recommendations for use of multiple UDA-Durafets. Durafet pH measurements were within ± 0.005 units pHT of spectrophotometric measurements and agreement among eight Durafets was better than ± 0.005 units pHT. These results indicate equal performance to Durafets in oceanographic sensor packages, but methods for calibration and quality control differ. Use of UDA-Durafets vastly improves time-course documentation of experimental conditions and reduces person-hours dedicated to this activity. Due to the versatility of integrating Durafets in laboratory seawater systems, this technology opens the door to advance the scale of questions that the ocean acidification research community aims to address.
Could cytokine levels in the peri-implant crevicular fluid be used to distinguish between healthy implants and implants with peri-implantitis? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Despite investigative efforts to identify the levels of different types of cytokines in the peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF), the efficacy of these biomarkers in assisting the diagnosis of peri-implantitis is still undetermined. This systematic review aimed to answer the following question: "Could cytokine levels in the PICF be used to distinguish between healthy implants and implants with peri-implantitis? " MATERIAL AND METHODS This review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA statement. The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched from 1990 up to and including March 2015, using MeSH terms and other keywords. Additional publications were searched using a hand search of reference lists of relevant studies. Titles and abstracts were screened and papers that fulfilled eligibility criteria were assessed. RESULTS Out of 1212 titles, 18 studies reporting the levels of nine different cytokines were included. Proinflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor-α) were the cytokines studied most commonly, followed by anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10), osteoclastogenesis-related cytokines (RANKL) and chemokines (IL-8). Nine studies reported statistically significantly higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the PICF of implants with peri-implantitis than in the PICF of healthy implants. Most studies did not find any significant differences in the PICF levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines and RANKL between healthy implants and implants with peri-implantitis. IL-8 was the only chemokine studied and its levels did not differ significantly between healthy and diseased implants. The studies differed greatly in the manner in which they reported the results (e.g. concentrations or total amounts) and in the exclusion of confounders, such as smoking. CONCLUSION The results of this systematic review indicate moderate evidence in the literature to support that implants with peri-implantitis present higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the PICF than do healthy implants. Evidence regarding the PICF levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, osteoclastogenesis-related cytokines and chemokines as possible predictors of peri-implantitis is too limited.
Fire As an Engineering Tool of Early Modern Humans

Friendly Fire Hints of the use of more advanced materials by humans, including symbolic marking and jewelry, appear about 75,000 years ago or so in Africa. Brown et al. (p. 859; see the Perspective by Webb and Domanski) now show that these early modern humans were also experimenting with the use of fire for improved processing of materials. Replication experiments and analysis of artifacts suggest that humans in South Africa at this time, and perhaps earlier, systematically heated stone materials, including silcrete to improve its flaking properties in making tools. Early modern humans used fire to improve the fracturing of silcrete in making tools in South Africa 72,000 years ago. The controlled use of fire was a breakthrough adaptation in human evolution. It first provided heat and light and later allowed the physical properties of materials to be manipulated for the production of ceramics and metals. The analysis of tools at multiple sites shows that the source stone materials were systematically manipulated with fire to improve their flaking properties. Heat treatment predominates among silcrete tools at ~72 thousand years ago (ka) and appears as early as 164 ka at Pinnacle Point, on the south coast of South Africa. Heat treatment demands a sophisticated knowledge of fire and an elevated cognitive ability and appears at roughly the same time as widespread evidence for symbolic behavior.
Acute Positive Effects of Exercise on Center-of-Pressure Fluctuations During Quiet Standing in Middle-Aged and Elderly Women

Abstract Fukusaki, C, Masani, K, Miyasaka, M, and Nakazawa, K. Acute positive effects of exercise on center-of-pressure fluctuations during quiet standing in middle-aged and elderly women. J Strength Cond Res 30(1): 208–216, 2016—Acute effects of exercise on postural stability have been studied with a focus on fatigue. This study investigated the acute effects of moderate-intensity exercise on center-of-pressure (COP) fluctuation measures in middle-aged and elderly women. Thirty-five healthy women volunteered: 18 women performed a moderate aquatic exercise session for 80 minutes and 17 remained calm in a sitting position for the same duration. Center-of-pressure fluctuations during quiet standing were recorded for 60 seconds with eyes open and closed before and after the exercise and sitting tasks. The time- and frequency-domain measures of the COP time series were calculated. The frequency-domain measures were also calculated for the COP velocity time series. According to 2-way analysis of variance and paired t-tests with a Bonferroni's correction, mean velocity of COP fluctuations, mean velocity of COP fluctuations in the medial-lateral (ML) direction, and total power of the COP velocity time series in the ML direction exhibited significant reductions after 1 session of exercise. These results indicated that a moderate-intensity aquatic exercise decreased COP velocity, counteracting age-related and fatigue-inducing postural deterioration. Therefore, we concluded that a single session of moderate-intensity aquatic exercise has acute positive effects on postural stability in middle-aged and elderly women.
About the Culture of In-Home Nursing

ABSTRACT As nurses assume a multitude of roles in health care, public and professional perspectives of nursing vary and, consequently, both clients and providers, including nurses themselves, do not fully appreciate the nature of in-home nursing. In this study ethnographic methods were used to capture participants' perspectives of the actions, practices, values, and beliefs that collectively comprise the culture of nursing in the context of home nursing services in rural Australia. Findings reveal how nurses' and clients' experiences of in-home nursing differ from the textbook picture, and how interactions between nurses' practice approaches and care recipients' enactment of the client role create a cultural context affecting clients' health and well-being. Given similar findings in other countries, the insights gained merit consideration by all professionals concerned about refining home care service approaches in keeping with currently espoused valuing of client-centered, empowering care partnerships.
A Multicenter Clinical Study of the Safety and Activity of Maleimide-Polyethylene Glycol–modified Hemoglobin (Hemospan®) in Patients Undergoing Major Orthopedic Surgery

Background:Hemospan® (Sangart Inc., San Diego, CA), a polyethylene glycol–modified hemoglobin with unique oxygen transport properties, has successfully completed a phase I trial in healthy volunteers. Because adverse events are expected to increase with age, the authors conducted a phase II safety study of Hemospan in elderly patients undergoing elective hip arthroplasty during spinal anesthesia. Methods:Ninety male and female patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–III, aged 50–89 yr, in six Swedish academic hospitals were randomly assigned to receive either 250 or 500 ml Hemospan or Ringer’s acetate (30 patients/group) before induction of spinal anesthesia. Safety assessment included vital signs and Holter monitoring from infusion to 24 h, evaluation of laboratory values, and fluid balance. The hypothesis to be tested was that the incidence of adverse events would be no more frequent in patients who received Hemospan compared with standard of care (Ringer’s acetate). Results:Three serious adverse events were noted, none of which was deemed related to study treatment. Liver enzymes, amylase, and lipase increased transiently in patients in all three groups. There were no significant differences in electrocardiogram or Holter parameters, but there was a suggestion of more bradycardic events in the treated groups. Hypotension was less frequent in the treated patients compared with controls. Conclusions:In comparison with Ringer’s acetate, Hemospan mildly elevates hepatic enzymes and lipase and is associated with less hypotension and more bradycardic events. The absence of a high frequency of serious adverse events suggests that further clinical trials should be undertaken.
Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses of the Structured Interview for Disorders of Extreme Stress

Two studies were conducted to provide the first empirical examination of the factor structure of a revised version of the clinically derived Structured Interview for Disorders of Extreme Stress, a structured interview designed to assess associated features of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) thought to be related to early onset, interpersonal, and prolonged traumatic exposure. Five factors representing demoralization, somatic dysregulation, anger dysregulation, risk/self-harm, and altered sexuality were derived from an exploratory factor analysis conducted with adult trauma survivors in substance abuse treatment. They provided a good fit in a confirmatory factor analysis conducted in a second study with a nonclinical sample of ethnoculturally diverse, socioeconomically disadvantaged, incarcerated adults. Evidence of the derived factors' internal consistency and convergent and discriminant validity is reported. Evidence supported the association of these factors with interpersonal trauma (physical and/or sexual), its repetition, and its earlier onset. Implications for clinical assessment of complex posttraumatic stress disorder are discussed.
Public Information Officers' and Journalists' Perceived Barriers to Providing Quality Health Information

Given the increase in the volume of health and medical news over the past few years, the expanding population of journalists committed to feeding the public's voracious appetite for such information, and the important role of government public health organizations in producing and disseminating public health information, it is surprising that little research exists that explores the relationships among public health entities and health journalists. This article describes and analyzes similarities and differences in perceptions between journalists and information officers in public health agencies on a number of issues to reveal how public information officers and health journalists can work to build a local public health agenda free from the burden of unnecessary or inconsistent barriers. This study reports findings from a study with a 3-stage pretest and 90 interviews with state and local public health information officers and the health journalists who cover public health beats across the United States. Despite some agreement, results indicate wide disparities between these populations' identification of what the barriers to high-quality health care and information are, and a generalized absence of a “shared vision. ”