Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Auditory verbal habilitation is associated with improved outcome for children with cochlear implant

Objectives: To study the impact of (re)habilitation strategy on speech-language outcomes for early, cochlear implanted children enrolled in different intervention programmes post implant. Methods: Data relate to a total of 130 children representing two pediatric cohorts consisting of 94 and 36 subjects, respectively. The two cohorts had different speech and language intervention following cochlear implantation, i.e. standard habilitation vs. auditory verbal (AV) intervention. Three tests of speech and language were applied covering language areas of receptive and productive vocabulary and language understanding. Results: Children in AV intervention outperformed children in standard habilitation on all three tests of speech and language. When effect of intervention was adjusted with other covariates children in AV intervention still had higher odds at performing at age equivalent speech and language levels. Conclusion: Compared to standard intervention, AV intervention is associated with improved outcome for children with CI. Based on this finding, we recommend that all children with HI should be offered this intervention and it is, therefore, highly relevant when National boards of Health and Social Affairs recommend basing the habilitation on principles from AV practice. It should be noted, that a minority of children use spoken language with sign support. For this group it is, however, still important that educational services provide auditory skills training.
Impact of the Hospital Pharmacy Initiative for promoting prudent use of antibiotics in hospitals in England.

OBJECTIVES In July 2003, the UK Department of Health announced an allocation of 12 million pounds sterling to hospital pharmacists to improve the monitoring and control of anti-infective use over the ensuing 3 year period (the Hospital Pharmacy Initiative, or HPI). Chief Pharmacists were asked to use this money for developments to promote prudent antibiotic use and monitoring of antimicrobials within their Trusts. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the HPI funding, which at the time had been in place for nearly 2 years, on pharmacy activities in this area. METHODS A postal questionnaire was sent to the pharmacy department of each acute hospital Trust in England, aiming to provide a descriptive overview of the activities of hospital pharmacy staff in the field of anti-infectives and to explore the extent to which these activities were made possible by the HPI funding. RESULTS One hundred and forty-one specialist antimicrobial pharmacy staff were employed in 130 responding Trusts; 89% were pharmacists, 7% pharmacy technicians and the remainder administrative staff. Three-quarters of these staff had been employed due to the funding, resulting in review of antimicrobial prescribing guidelines, antibiotic audit projects and multidisciplinary work with Microbiology/Infectious Diseases staff. Thirteen Trusts gave details of drug acquisition cost savings; over the course of a year, these Trusts saved 1.1 million pounds sterling in total. CONCLUSIONS The HPI funding has facilitated greater interaction between Pharmacy and Microbiology/Infectious Diseases departments than was previously possible. Significant reductions in antibiotic acquisition costs have been demonstrated, though further work is warranted to fully establish the impact of pharmacy activities on clinical and microbiological outcomes.
Primary identification of Microbacterium spp. encountered in clinical specimens as CDC coryneform group A-4 and A-5 bacteria

Over nearly two decades, 13 yellow- or orange-pigmented, fermentative gram-positive rods belonging to the genus Microbacterium were encountered in clinical specimens. All 13 strains, 10 of which came from blood cultures, were initially identified as CDC coryneform group A-4 and A-5 bacteria according to the scheme of Hollis and Weaver for the identification of gram-positive rods. The clinical isolates were compared with the type strains of the six species constituting the genus Microbacterium as well as with three Microbacterium strains isolated from hospital environments. By biochemical methods only 5 of 13 clinical isolates could be identified to species level. Peptidoglycan analysis proved to be a valuable tool for differentiation between Microbacterium spp. and related genera, whereas cellular fatty acid analysis did not allow species identification within the genus Microbacterium. The 22 Microbacterium strains studied were, in general, susceptible to antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of infections caused by gram-positive rods. This report is the first one concerning the isolation of Microbacterium strains from clinical specimens. The sources as well as the mode of transmission remain to be established.
Sulfitobacter porphyrae sp. nov., isolated from the red alga Porphyra yezoensis.

Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, halophilic bacteria, designated SCM-1(T), LCM10-1 and CTBL-B-147, were isolated from modified half-strength SWM-III medium, PES medium and thalli after laboratory cultivation of a red alga, Porphyra yezoensis. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the new isolates were affiliated to the genus Sulfitobacter of the class Alphaproteobacteria, and the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of the new isolates with the closest related species, Sulfitobacter mediterraneus CH-B427(T), was 98.8%. The DNA G+C contents of the new isolates were in the range of 61.4-62.3 mol%. DNA-DNA relatedness values of strain SCM-1(T) with other type strains of the genus Sulfitobacter were less than 15.9%. The new isolates contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified amino lipid and an unidentified lipid as the main polar lipids, and C(18 : 1)ω7c, C(19 : 1)ω7c and C(16 : 0) as the major fatty acids (>10% of the total). Strain SCM-1(T) could be differentiated from Sulfitobacter mediterraneus JCM 21792(T) by 35 morphological and phenotypic characteristics. On the basis of the phylogenetic, genetic and phenotypic properties of the new isolates, the name Sulfitobacter porphyrae sp. nov. is proposed, with strain SCM-1(T) ( = LMG 27110(T) = NBRC 109054(T)) as the type strain.
Semantic Response Consistency and Protocol Validity in Structured Personality Assessment: The Case of the NEO-PI-R

In this study we tested the hypothesis that groups of NEO Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO-PI-R; Costa & McCrae, 1992a) protocols identified as potentially invalid by an inconsistency scale (INC; Schinka, Kinder, & Kremer, 1997) would show reduced reliability and validity according to a series of psychometric tests. Data were obtained from 2 undergraduate student samples, a self-report group (n = 132) who provided NEO-PI-R self-ratings on 2 occasions separated by a 7- to 14-day interval and an informant group (n = 109) who provided ratings of well-known friends or relatives on 2 occasions separated by a 6 month interval. INC scores from the Time 1 protocols were used to divide these samples into low, moderate, and elevated inconsistency groups. In both samples, these 3 groups showed equivalent levels of reliability and validity as measured by: contingency coefficients for the 20 INC item responses across occasions; test-retest intraclass correlations of NEO-PI-R domain scores; convergent correlations with Goldberg's (1992) Bipolar Adjective Scale scores; and discriminant correlations between the 5 NEO-PI-R domain scores. The similarity of results across self-report and informant assessment contexts provides additional evidence that semantic consistency approaches to assessing protocol validity may overestimate the prevalence of random or careless response behavior in standard administration conditions. Several theories are discussed that accommodate the existence of valid inconsistency in structured personality assessment.
Intraoperative laparoscopic diagnosis of contralateral patent processus vaginalis in children with unilateral inguinal hernia

The contralateral internal ring of 96 children was examined laparoscopically during unilateral hernia repair to minimize the chance of development of contralateral hernia. Laparoscopy was performed through the hernia sac before ligation. Of 29 patients with positive laparoscopic findings, 28 had a patent processus vaginalis as confirmed by simultaneous contralateral exploration and there was one false positive. Patency of the contralateral processus vaginalis was found in 28 (29 per cent) of the 96 patients. Children under 2 years of age had a significantly higher incidence of patent contralateral processus vaginalis than older patients. The only complication of the procedure was wound infection in two patients. This is a simple, safe and accurate procedure to select children for contralateral surgical exploration.
Shrinkage estimation in two‐stage adaptive designs with midtrial treatment selection

We consider the problem of estimation in adaptive two‐stage designs with selection of a single treatment arm at an interim analysis. It is well known that the standard maximum‐likelihood estimator of the selected treatment is biased. We prove that selection bias of the maximum‐likelihood estimator is maximal when all treatment effects are equal and the most‐promising treatment is selected. Furthermore, we consider shrinkage estimation as a solution for the selection bias problem. We thereby extend previous work of Hwang on Lindley's estimator for single‐stage multi‐armed trials with four or more treatments and post‐trial treatment selection. Following Hwang's ideas, we show that a simple two‐stage version of Lindley's estimator has uniformly smaller Bayes risk than the maximum‐likelihood estimator when assuming an empirical Bayesian framework with independent normal priors for the group means. For designs that start with two or three treatment groups, we suggest using a two‐stage version of the common estimator of the best linear unbiased predicator of the corresponding random effects model. We show by an extensive simulation study that the shrinkage estimators perform well compared with maximum‐likelihood and previously suggested bias‐adjusted estimators in terms of selection bias and mean squared error. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predictors of patient cognitive therapy skills and symptom change in two randomized clinical trials: the role of therapist adherence and the therapeutic alliance.

OBJECTIVE Previous research has found that therapist adherence to concrete, problem-focused cognitive therapy (CT) techniques predicts depressive symptom change (e.g., Feeley, DeRubeis, & Gelfand, 1999). More recently, Strunk, DeRubeis, Chui, and Alvarez (2007) demonstrated that in-session evidence of patients' use of CT skills was related to a lower rate of relapse in the year following CT for depression. The current investigation attempts to integrate and extend these findings within 2 separate samples of patients and therapists. METHOD Drawing from the CT samples (N = 105, mean age = 40 years, female = 62%, White = 82%) of 2 published randomized clinical trials of depression treatment, we conducted analyses to examine whether therapist adherence to concrete CT techniques (Collaborative Study Psychotherapy Rating Scale) and the quality of the therapeutic alliance (Working Alliance Inventory) predict patients' use of CT skills (Performance of Cognitive Therapy Strategies) and subsequent Beck Depression Inventory symptom change. RESULTS Results indicated a differential pattern of prediction in the 2 samples. In one, CT techniques exhibited a stronger association with patient CT skills and symptom change than did the alliance, whereas the reverse pattern emerged in the second sample. A baseline symptom severity × CT techniques interaction indicated that between-study differences in intake depression severity might in part explain the process-outcome differences. CONCLUSIONS The present findings suggest that the nature of the therapy sample examined may moderate process-outcome findings in psychotherapy research. The implications of these results and directions for future research are discussed.
Use of Tranexamic Acid in Dynamic Hip Screw Plate Fixation for Trochanteric Fractures

Purpose To evaluate perioperative blood loss and blood transfusion requirement in patients who underwent dynamic hip screw plate fixation for a stable trochanteric fracture with or without preoperative intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA). Methods 49 men and 11 women (mean age, 56.5 years) who underwent open reduction and internal fixation with a dynamic hip screw plate for a stable trochanteric fracture by a single surgeon were equally randomised to receive either a single dose of intravenous TXA (15 mg/kg) 15 minutes prior to surgery or an equal volume of normal saline by slow infusion. Intra- and post-operative blood loss and the need for blood transfusion were assessed, as was any thromboembolic adverse event. Results The TXA and control groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, body mass index, blood pressure, pulse rate, time from injury to surgery, operating time, and preoperative haematological data. Blood loss was lower in the TXA than control group intraoperatively (320.3 vs. 403.33 ml, p<0.001), during 0 to 24 hours (61.67 vs. 186.67 ml, p<0.001), and during 24 to 48 hours (27 vs. 86.67 ml, p<0.001), as well as the total volume (408.97 vs. 676.67 ml, p<0.001). Respectively for the TXA and control groups, 27 and 30 required 28 and 41 units of blood intra-operatively (p<0.001), and 6 and 15 required 6 and 15 units of blood postoperatively (p=0.014). No patient had any thromboembolic adverse event. Conclusion TXA is safe and effective in reducing blood loss in dynamic hip screw plate fixation for stable trochanteric fractures.
The lateral coding of rotations: a study of the simon effect with wheel-rotation responses.

A number of experimental studies have consistently shown the locus of spatial S-R compatibility effects to be the selection of the response within an abstract memory code. The purpose of the present study was to test, in the particular case of wheel rotations, the general proposition that any response that a subject internally codes in terms of left and right may be interfered with by the lateral location of the stimuli in a Simon paradigm. Experiment 1 showed that the auditory Simon effect occurred in a task where the subjects had to rotate a steering wheel bimanually either clockwise or counterclockwise according to sound pitch, despite the fact that responses of this kind are undefined with respect to laterality. Experiment 2 confirmed this result in a unimanual rotation condition and suggested that the ear-rotation compatibility effect may be added to the effect of a biomechanical factor, pronation versus supination, supporting the idea of an abstraction motor code. In Experiment 3, subjects rotated the steering wheel with their hands on the lowest part of the wheel. When the response movement made the spot of a C.R. T. move laterally in accordance with the performed rotation, the subjects coded their response directly in terms of its effect on the visual display. For subjects not receiving visual feedback, no compatibility effect occurred. however, the individual data were compatible with the notion that some subjects in this group coded their responses in terms of wheel rotations, and others in terms of hand movements.
T-Shaped Scleral Buckle for Macular Detachments in High Myopes

Macular retinal detachments associated with high myopia are difficult to manage surgically because of concurrent posterior staphyloma and poor adhesion of the retina to the underlying retinal pigment epithelium. The entity can be entirely asymptomatic at times and is being more commonly recognized with the routine use of optical coherence tomography in patients with high myopia, which associate it with macular holes and foveal schisis. The etiology of myopic macular retinal detachments is likely a combination of factors including tangential vitreoretinal traction and posterior scleral ectasia causing stretching of the retina. Pars plana vitrectomy, an encircling scleral buckle, an episcleral macular buckle, or a combination of these procedures have all been used to treat myopic macular retinal detachments with variable success. Several of these studies have shown that episcleral macular buckles may have a higher success rate than pars plana vitrectomy in some situations. Furthermore, pars plana vitrectomy in pathologically myopic eyes have unique challenges such as traditional instruments being too short to comfortably reach the posterior pole or a retained layer of cortical vitreous that is difficult to remove from the detached retinal surface. Episcleral macular buckling has its own set of risks such as inadvertent scleral perforation and complications related to difficult access of the posterior pole. External macular support may also have the additional benefit of mechanically stopping the progression of scleral estasia in highly myopic eyes. The purpose of this study was to describe a novel procedure with a T-shaped scleral buckle for eyes with myopic macular detachments that has several unique advantages over previously described episcleral macular buckles. Surgical Technique
Gender Does Not Influence Prepubertal Growth Velocity During Standard Growth Hormone Therapy - Analysis of United States KIGS Data

BACKGROUND Gender is an important determinant that affects the ultimate dose of growth hormone (GH) used for replacement in adult GH deficiency (GHD). Women require larger doses of GH per body weight to achieve comparable age-adjusted serum IGF-I concentrations than do men. OBJECTIVE To test whether this is entirely a sex steroid effect or biologically inherent in gender. PATIENTS AND METHODS We examined growth response to GH (0.25-0.35 mg/kg/week) during the first 2 years of therapy in 147 children (44 girls), and in the first 3 years of therapy in 83 of these children (23 girls). Children were aged 3-8 years at onset of therapy, had peak stimulated GH <10 microg/l, and were reported to be prepubertal during the period of analysis. RESULTS In the relative absence of sex steroid, there was no gender difference in growth velocity SDS or gain in height SDS during 2 or 3 years of GH therapy. CONCLUSIONS Inherent gender differences in linear growth response to GH prior to puberty may exist, but are not evident in the first years of GH therapy at this GH dose.
Procainamide---a hazard in myasthenia gravis.

A CERTAIN PROPORTION of myasthenic patients may be expected to manifest cardiac disease, either due to the primary myocarditis of myasthenia gravis 1-10 or to other types of coincidental heart disease. Although reported cases are few, irregularities of heart rate and rhythm might be expected to occur with some frequency; the treatment of this complication presents a difficult problem because of the pharmacological peculiarities of the disease. In 1949, Weisman noted that the use of quinidine sulfate to treat a cardiac arrhythmia in a patient with myasthenia resulted in an increase of her weakness. 11 Osserman also mentions that the use of quinidine—a relative of quinine—is contraindicated in myasthenia, and instead advises the use of procainamide hydrochloride or digitalis. 8 Aside from these comments, the literature lacks a discussion of the management of this complication. We have recently studied an elderly myasthenic patient in whom a myocardial infarction was followed
Delayed onset of lactogenesis among first-time mothers is related to maternal obesity and factors associated with ineffective breastfeeding.

BACKGROUND Delayed onset of lactogenesis (OL) is most common in primiparas and increases the risk of excess neonatal weight loss, formula supplementation, and early weaning. OBJECTIVE We examined variables associated with delayed OL among first-time mothers who delivered at term and initiated breastfeeding (n = 431). DESIGN We conducted in-person interviews during pregnancy and at days 0, 3, and 7 postpartum and extracted obstetric and newborn information from medical records. We defined OL as delayed if it occurred after 72 h and used chi-square analysis to examine its association with potential risk factors across 6 dimensions: 1) prenatal characteristics, 2) maternal anthropometric characteristics, 3) labor and delivery experience, 4) newborn characteristics, 5) maternal postpartum factors, and 6) infant feeding variables. We examined independent associations by using multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Median OL was 68.9 h postpartum; 44% of mothers experienced delayed OL. We observed significant bivariate associations between delayed OL and variables in all 6 dimensions (P < 0.05). In a multivariate model adjusted for prenatal feeding intentions, independent risk factors for delayed OL were maternal age > or =30 y, body mass index in the overweight or obese range, birth weight >3600 g, absence of nipple discomfort between 0-3 d postpartum, and infant failing to "breastfeed well" > or =2 times in the first 24 h. Postpartum edema was significant in an alternate model excluding body mass index (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The risk factors for delayed OL are multidimensional. Public health and obstetric and maternity care interventions are needed to address what has become an alarmingly common problem among primiparas.
Older Men's Lay Definitions of Successful Aging over Time: The Manitoba Follow-up Study

The concept of “successful aging” has become widely accepted in gerontology, yet continues to have no common underlying definition. Researchers have increasingly looked to older individuals for their lay definitions of successful aging. The present analysis is based on responses to five questionnaires administered to surviving participants of the male Manitoba Follow-up Study cohort (www.mfus.ca) in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006 (n = 2,043 men were alive at a mean age of 78 years in 1996). One question on each survey asked: “What is YOUR definition of successful aging? ” Applying content analysis to the 5,898 narratives received over the 11 years, we developed a coding system encompassing 21 main themes and 86 sub-themes defining successful aging. We quantitatively analyzed trends in prevalence of themes of successful aging prospectively over time. Our findings empirically support colleagues' past suggestions to shift from defining successful aging in primarily biomedical terms, by taking lay views into account.