Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prophylactic intravenous ondansetron in female outpatients undergoing gynaecological surgery: a multicentre dose-comparison study.

The efficacy and safety of prophylactic intravenous ondansetron in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting was investigated in a randomized, stratified, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-comparison study of 580 ASA physical class I and II female outpatients undergoing gynaecological surgery and receiving general anaesthesia. Patients received either ondansetron 1, 4 or 8 mg, or placebo i.v. immediately prior to a standardized technique for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. All patients were intubated and received nitrous oxide and a narcotic. All doses of ondansetron were significantly more effective than placebo in preventing emesis over the 24 h postoperative period. Ondansetron significantly decreased nausea and emesis scores over 24 h postoperatively without causing sedation. No changes in laboratory parameters (haematology, blood chemistry, and liver enzymes) or vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate) were observed. Headache and dizziness were the most common side-effects; however, their incidence was the same as with placebo. Ondansetron was generally well tolerated, as evidenced by an adverse event, laboratory safety, and vital sign profile similar to placebo. Ondansetron 4 mg was found to be the optimal prophylactic i.v. dose for female outpatients over the entire 24 h postoperative period. Higher doses may offer an added benefit in some patients, such as those with a history of nausea and vomiting following general anaesthesia.
The Influence of Birth Weight on Labor in Nulliparas

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that dystocia in nulliparas is directly related to birth weight. The study was confined to the first 1000 nulliparas delivered in 1988 who went into labor after 37 weeks' gestation with a single live fetus and cephalic presentation. The management of labor was standardized. As birth weight increased, there was an increase in the mean duration of labor and of the second stage of labor, in the incidence of oxytocin augmentation, and in the incidence of both cesarean and forceps delivery for dystocia. The direct relationship between birth weight and the mean duration of labor was independent of gestation and oxytocin augmentation. These findings suggest that birth weight is an important factor in the development of dystocia in nulliparas.
Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio is a reliable measure of proteinuria in lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the 24-hour urine protein-to-creatinine (U pr:cr) ratio compared to 24-h urine total protein excretion as a measure of proteinuria in patients with lupus nephritis. METHODS Proteinuria in 8 patients with lupus nephritis treated with cyclophosphamide was monitored by total protein excretion and U pr:cr ratio in 24-h urine collections. A median of 16 measurements per patient were collected over a median of 47 months. Adequacy of the 24-h collection was assessed by comparing total urine creatinine to the predicted creatinine. Collections in which the difference between the predicted 24-h urine creatinine and the measured 24-h urine creatinine was greater than or equal to 20% were defined as inadequate collections. RESULTS Timed 24-h urine collections were frequently inadequate (30.2% of total collections were under-collections, while 14.3% were over-collections). We found 87.5% of patients had at least one under-collection whereas 75% had at least one over-collection. Correlations between total protein and U pr:cr ratio for individual patients ranged from 0.87 to 0.99 (mean 0.95). For the entire sample, the correlation (R2 = 0.89) of total urine protein to Upr:cr ratio was excellent. Excluding the 38 under-collections led to improvement in the overall correlation (0.94). Excluding the 18 over-collections led to a correlation of 0.89. Excluding both under-collections and over-collections led to a correlation of 0.94. CONCLUSION In patients with lupus nephritis, the 24-h U pr:cr ratio is highly correlated with the 24-h urine protein excretion when the collections are adequate. The error of the estimate is higher when collections are poor.
ATM activation in the presence of oxidative stress

The Ataxia-Telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase is regarded as the major regulator of the cellular response to DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). In response to DSBs, ATM dimers dissociate into active monomers in a process promoted by the Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 (MRN) complex. ATM can also be activated by oxidative stress directly in the form of exposure to H2O2. The active ATM in this case is a disulfide-crosslinked dimer containing 2 or more disulfide bonds. Mutation of a critical cysteine residue in the FATC domain involved in disulfide bond formation specifically blocks ATM activation by oxidative stress. Here we show that ATM activation by DSBs is inhibited in the presence of H2O2 because oxidationblocks the ability of MRN to bind to DNA. However, ATM activation via direct oxidation by H2O2 complements the loss of MRN/DSB-dependent activation and contributes significantly to the overall level of ATM activity in the presence of both DSBs and oxidative stress.
Factors Associated with Hypertension during Pregnancy in Derashie Woreda South Ethiopia, Case Control

Background: Pregnancy-induced hypertension is causing striking maternal, fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity both in developed and developing countries. It represents the most common medical complications of pregnancy with a reported incidence between 5 and 10%. Therefore this study was conducted to investigate determinants of pregnancy-induced hypertension for evidence based public health intervention based on local context. Objective: To assess factors associated with hypertension during pregnancy in Derashe Woreda. Methods: Institutional based unmatched case control study was conducted among pregnant women who have anti natal follow up in Public Health facility of Dirashe Woreda from January 1 to February 30, 2015. A cluster sampling method was employed to recruit 117 cases (pregnancy induced hypertension mothers) and 349 controls of pregnant mothers in five public health facility based on proportional to population size allocation. Multi variable logistic regression analysis was conducted by SPSS version 20 to identify significant predictors based on p-value less than 0.05 with 95% confidence level. Result: From all participant 117 (25.1%) were pregnancy induced hypertension groups (case) and 349 (75.1) from non-hypertension groups (controls) were involved. From all respondent 55 (11.8%) have previous history of pregnancy induced hypertension. Age of mothers between 25-30 and > 30 years Adjusted odd ratio 4.59 (1.14-18.59) and 6.59 (2.99- 14.50) respectively, lack awareness on risk of hypertension 8.24 (1.87-35.96), absence of chronic disease 0.14 (0.05-0.430), prime gravid 5.09 (1.23-21.02), frequent salt consumption 4.41 (1.25-15.56), body mass index >30 mg/kg2 9.91 (4.29-22.86), and history of previous pregnancy induced hypertension 2.85 (1.27-6.39) were identified significant factors for pregnancy induced hypertension. Conclusion and recommendation: Special emphasis should be given for mothers who have pre existing chronic medical illness, old age and prime gravid to have early recognition and readiness for better management of pregnancy induced hyperbaton.
The Eurocleft project 1996-2000: overview.

INTRODUCTION The original Eurocleft project, a European intercentre comparison study, revealed dramatic differences in outcome, which were a powerful stimulus for improvement in the services of respective teams. The study developed a preliminary methodology to compare practices and the potential for wider European collaboration including opportunities for the promotion of clinical trials and intercentre comparison was recognized by the European Commission. Therefore, the project: 'Standards of Care for Cleft Lip and Palate in Europe: Eurocleft' ran between 1996 and 2000 and aimed to promote a broad uplift in the quality of care and research in the area of cleft lip and palate. RESULTS The results of the 1996-2000 project include: a register of services in Europe, with details of professionals and teams involved in cleft care, service organization, clinical protocols and special facilities for research; a set of common Policy Statements governing clinical practice for European cleft teams, Practice Guidelines describing minimum recommendations for care that all European children with clefts should be entitled to and recommendations for Documentation governing minimum records that cleft teams should maintain; encouraging initial efforts to compare outcomes (results) of care between centres. A survey showed a wide diversity in models of care and national policies as well as clinical practices in Europe. Of the 201 centres that registered with the network, the survey showed 194 different protocols being followed for only unilateral clefts. CONCLUSION Cleft services, treatment and research have undoubtedly suffered from haphazard development across Europe. Attainment of even minimum standards of care remains a major challenge in some communities and both the will to reform and a basic strategy to follow are overdue. It is hoped that the Eurocleft Consensus Recommendations reached during the present project will assist in improving the opportunities for tomorrow's patients. It is also hoped that the collaborative research now beginning under the European Commission's Framework V Programme will provide a focus for European researchers wishing to improve understanding, treatment and prevention of clefts of the lip, alveolus and palate in the years ahead.
An inexpensive, fast, and reliable method for vacuum extraction of soil and plant water for stable isotope analyses by mass spectrometry.

The stable isotopes of water (hydrogen and oxygen isotopes) are of utmost interest in ecology and the geosciences. In many cases water has to be extracted directly from a matrix such as soil or plant tissue before isotopes can be analyzed by mass spectrometry. Currently, the most widely used technique for water is cryogenic vacuum extraction. We present a simple and inexpensive modification of this method and document tests conducted with soils of various grain size and tree core replicates taken on four occasions during 2010. The accuracies for sandy soils are between 0.4‰ and 3‰ over a range of 21‰ and 165‰ for δ(18)O and δ(2)H, respectively. Spiking tests with water of known isotope composition were conducted with soil and tree core samples; they indicate reliable precision after an extraction time of 15 min for sandy soils. For clayey soils and tree cores, the deviations were up to 0.63‰ and 4.7‰ for δ(18)O and δ(2)H, respectively. This indicates either that the extraction time should be extended or that mechanisms different from Rayleigh fractionation play a role. The modified protocol allows a fast and reliable extraction of large numbers of water samples from soil and plant material in preparation for stable isotope analyses.
Genetic characterization of the Spanish Trotter horse breed using microsatellite markers

To assist in selection schemes we carried out the first genetic characterization of the Spanish Trotter horse (Trotador Espanol). We used 16 microsatellite markers to genotype 40 unrelated Spanish trotters, 25 native Balearic horses (11 Menorquina and 14 Mallorquina horses) and 32 Andalusian horses. The observed heterozygosity for the Spanish Trotters was 0.647 ± 0.037 and the expected heterozygosity was 0.696 ± 0.026 while the average number of alleles per locus was 6.0 ± 0.341, these values being similar to the data published for other horse breeds. We also tried to establish the importance of the Mallorquina and Menorquina breeds in the present Spanish Trotter population. Only 9% of the total genetic variability could be attributed to differences between breeds (mean F ST = 0.09 ± 0.010). Recent migration rates were confirmed the low recent genetic relationship between the Balearic breeds and Spanish Trotters, indicating that the genetic background of the present Spanish Trotter population is not based on the native Balearic horse population.
Boxing and the Eyes: Morphological Aspects of the Ocular System in Boxers

Among all sports, the so-called “contact sports” are those in which the athlete's eye is particularly at risk. In boxing, where the face is the main target, the eye is clearly one of the most exposed parts. To assess the eye risks in this sport a study was carried out between 1992 and 1994 at the Ophthalmological Clinic of the university of Turin, Italy, involving 75 active and ex-boxers (amateurs and professionals) aged 15 to 70 years. Biomicroscopic examinations, refraction and acuity tests, tonometry, exophthalmometry, gonioscopy, ocular fundus examination with Goldmann three-mirror lens) were done. The results of the survey confirm the existence of alterations, generally asymptomatic, both in amateur and professional boxers. The eye examination showed alterations of structures such as the orbital arch, conjunctiva, iris, lens, retina. Four boxers had retinal detachment, three of them due to boxing. The ophthalmologist has an important part to play in preventing serious damage to the eye and in checking alterations which might be an expression of subtle neural damage (pupillary alterations).
Serum cytokine levels in atopic dermatitis

Summary Elevated IgE responses and eosinophilia observed in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) may reflect increased responses of type 2 T‐helper (Th2) cytokines with a concomitant decrease in interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) production. However, the cross‐regulation of Th1/Th2 derivation and function in AD patients are incompletely characterized. Therefore, we investigated serum levels of several cytokines [interleukin (IL)‐18, IL‐12, IL‐10, IL‐2 and IFN‐γ] in patients with AD to assess their possible relationships to the severity of disease. Serum IL‐18 levels in AD patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls [207 pg/mL; 95% confidence interval (CI), 172–242 pg/mL vs. 144 pg/mL; 95% CI, 116–178 pg/mL; P = 0.026]. Those IL‐18 levels significantly correlated with eosinophil counts and serum soluble IL‐2 receptor (sIL‐2R) levels, and showed a tendency to correlate with clinical severity scores and serum IgE levels. IL‐2 levels showed a significantly inverse correlation with serum IgE levels, and IL‐12 levels clearly correlated with IL‐10 levels. These results suggest the value of serum IL‐18 levels as a parameter of AD activity and may support a possible role for IL‐18 in the pathogenesis of AD. The inverse correlation between IgE levels and IL‐2 levels suggests that IgE production may be inhibited by IL‐2 in patients with AD. Furthermore, the correlation of IL‐12 levels with IL‐10 levels may support the previous reports that show the induction of IL‐10 production by human natural killer cells and/or T cells stimulated with IL‐12 in vitro.
Studies on Swelling and Solubility of Modified Starch from Taro (Colocasia esculenta): Effect of pH and Temperature

Several physical and chemical treatments were employed to modify Taro (Colocasia esculenta) starch. The effects of pH and heating temperature on their swelling powers and solubilities were studied. At 95 °C, heat-moisture treated, oxidized and acetylated starches were more soluble, while cross-linked starch was less soluble as compared to raw starch. Heat-moisture treated and chemically modified starches had lower swelling power (at 95 °C) than that of isolated starch. Swelling power and solubility were found to be a function of pH and it was observed that all these modified starches had greater swelling capacity and solubility at pH 2.0 and 10.0.
Impact of chronic disease on quality of life in the Bella Coola Valley.

INTRODUCTION North American rural residents have higher rates of chronic disease and they report being ill more frequently compared to their urban counterparts. We recently studied health-related quality in residents living in the isolated, rural community of Bella Coola, Canada. OBJECTIVE To assess health-related quality of life parameters in adults suffering from chronic disease and living in the rural, remote community of Bella Coola. METHODS Design, mixed methods: (1) mailed health-related survey; (2) retrospective chart review. STUDY POPULATION people aged 17 years and older living in the Bella Coola Valley and having a chart at the Bella Coola Medical Clinic as of September 2001 were asked to complete a detailed health-related quality of life survey during the period August to December 2001. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES demographics (age, sex, weight [BMI], ethnicity). Health-related quality of life was measured using the MOS 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the US Centers for Disease Control healthy day's items. Chronic diseases studied included diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic obstructive lung disease, coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, depression/anxiety, cancer, osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis and chronic back/neck pain. RESULTS Response rate to the survey was 38% (675/1770). Compared to total clinic population relatively more female (57% vs 49%), non-Aboriginal (63% vs 57%) and older people (48.9 vs 43.5 years) answered the survey. The most prevalent chronic diseases among the survey respondents were hypertension (17%), depression/anxiety (13%), hyperlipidemia (11%), chronic back/neck pain (11%), and osteoarthritis (9%). Linear regression analysis was performed for each of the SF-36 domains and CDC healthy day items. The presence of chronic disease is associated with significant differences in HRQOL item scores and the greater the number chronic diseases present the worse the HRQOL item scores. CONCLUSION People living in the rural remote community of Bella Coola who have chronic disease experience significant impairment in their health-related quality of life. The greater the number of coexisting chronic diseases a person has, the more likely that poor HRQOL scores will be reported.
Abstractness and Emotionality Values for 398 English Words

This study is aimed to replicate Vikis-Freibergs' classic study (1976) on the values of vividness for French words. Vividness resulted from the concreteness and the emotionality values of words, here defined, respectively, as referring to something that can be experienced through senses and that can arouse pleasant or unpleasant emotions. 398 English words were rated on two different scales, Abstractness and Emotionality, by a group of English native speakers and also by a group of Italian subjects who used English as a second language. Results show a low correlation between the concreteness and emotionality ratings in line with Vikis-Freibergs' previous study of French words (1976). A negative correlation between Abstractness and Emotionality was observed for British data but a slightly positive correlation for the Italian data.
An empirical typology of residential care/assisted living based on a four-state study.

PURPOSE Residential care/assisted living describes diverse facilities providing non-nursing home care to a heterogeneous group of primarily elderly residents. This article derives typologies of assisted living based on theoretically and practically grounded evidence. DESIGN AND METHODS We obtained data from the Collaborative Studies of Long-Term Care, which examined 193 assisted living facilities in four states: Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, and North Carolina. By using mixture modeling, we derived typologies in five different ways, based on: structure; process; resident case-mix; structure and process; and structure, process, and resident case-mix. RESULTS Although configurations of typologies varied as a function of criterion variables used, common themes emerged from different cluster solutions. A typology based on resident case-mix yielded a five-cluster solution, whereas a typology based on structure, process, and resident case-mix resulted in six distinct clusters. Medicaid case-mix/psychiatric illness and high resident impairment were two clusters identified by both strategies. IMPLICATIONS Because of the wide variation in structure, residents, and services within assisted living facilities, typologies such as those described here may be useful in clinical practice, research, and policy. To the extent that public payment defines its own cluster, the potential for inequities in care merits careful attention.
Reimplantation Versus Remodeling: A Meta‐Analysis

Abstract Background: Reimplantation and remodeling procedure are two different techniques for valve–sparing aortic root surgery. A number of comparative series have been published but, to date, there has been no meta‐analysis comparing outcomes following the two techniques. Methods: This meta‐analysis was performed in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews. A public domain database (MEDLINE) was searched to identify relevant series. Pooled risk ratios (RR) were calculated using fixed effects models for early (30‐day) mortality, late deaths, and reoperation related to moderate or severe aortic insufficiency (AI) during follow‐up. Results: The search identified seven eligible series, totaling 672 patients (367 reimplantation patents). There was no significant difference in early (30‐day) mortality (pooled RR 1.06; 95% CI 0.36 to 3.10; p = 0.92) and late deaths (pooled RR 0.57; 95% CI 0.18 to 1.87; p = 0.36) between reimplantation and remodeling groups. However, reimplantation technique has less chance for reoperation related to moderate or severe AI during follow‐up (pooled RR 0.46; 95% CI 0.23 to 0.92; p = 0.03). Conclusion: Comparing with remodeling, reimplantation technique has less chance for reoperation related to moderate or severe AI during long‐term follow‐up. (J Card Surg 2011;26:82‐87)
Active and Passive Cigarette Smoking and Risk of Intracranial Meningioma

Motivated by prior studies, we examined associations between cigarette smoking and risk of intracranial meningioma in a population-based case-control study, including 200 cases and 2 controls matched to each case on age and sex. Subjects were asked to recall their history of active and passive cigarette smoking occurring 10 or more years before the date of meningioma surgery. Ever active smoking was associated with an increased risk of meningioma in men (OR = 2.1; 95% CI 1.1–4.2) but not in women (OR = 0.7; 95% CI 0.5–1.1). The statistical interaction by gender was significant (p = 0.01). In men, risk increased with increasing number of cigarettes smoked daily (p for trend = 0.04). In women, the trend was opposite (p for trend = 0.08). Among never active smokers, passive smoking from a spouse was associated with increased risk in both sexes (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1–3.5), and risk increased with increasing duration of exposure (p for trend = 0.02). Uncertain is whether these findings reflect a true biological phenomenon or result from chance or uncontrolled confounding.
Growth and bacteriocin production kinetics of Leuconostoc mesenteroides E131

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pH, temperature, sodium chloride, type and level of sugar used in fermented sausages, on the occurrence and the concentration of the maximum bacteriocin activity, in order to optimize the bacteriocin synthesis during the growth cycle of Leuconostoc mesenteroides E131.