Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Box Taping as an Adjunct to Stretching-Strengthening Exercise Program in Correction of Scapular Alignment in People with Forward Shoulder Posture: A Randomised Trial

Objective. The objective of this study was to provide preliminary estimates of effects of box taping as an adjunct to stretching-strengthening exercise program on scapular alignment in healthy subjects with forward shoulder posture (FSP). Methods. Sixty subjects were screened and 38 asymptomatic subjects with FSP were allocated into box taping and standard treatment group using block randomization. Both groups received a supervised stretching-strengthening exercise program and postural advice for 15 sessions over 3 weeks. In addition, box taping was applied to the intervention group. Static and dynamic scapular alignment was recorded at baseline, 7th and 15th sessions. Differences over time and between the treatment groups were determined using repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results. Twenty subjects completed the study. Both interventions were well tolerated and resulted in improvements in static and dynamic postural indicators over time in both groups () except for dynamic scapular alignment by the 15th session. We were under powered to detect differences between the groups (). Conclusions. This study suggests postural exercises improve scapular alignment; but a large RCT is required to determine whether the addition of box taping is indicated, and whether this preventative approach reduces the incidence of upper quarter musculoskeletal disorders. This trial is registered with CTRI/2013/10/004095.
Regularization of nonlinear decomposition of spectral x‐ray projection images

Purpose Exploiting the x‐ray measurements obtained in different energy bins, spectral computed tomography (CT) has the ability to recover the 3‐D description of a patient in a material basis. This may be achieved solving two subproblems, namely the material decomposition and the tomographic reconstruction problems. In this work, we address the material decomposition of spectral x‐ray projection images, which is a nonlinear ill‐posed problem. Methods Our main contribution is to introduce a material‐dependent spatial regularization in the projection domain. The decomposition problem is solved iteratively using a Gauss–Newton algorithm that can benefit from fast linear solvers. A Matlab implementation is available online. The proposed regularized weighted least squares Gauss–Newton algorithm (RWLS‐GN) is validated on numerical simulations of a thorax phantom made of up to five materials (soft tissue, bone, lung, adipose tissue, and gadolinium), which is scanned with a 120 kV source and imaged by a 4‐bin photon counting detector. To evaluate the method performance of our algorithm, different scenarios are created by varying the number of incident photons, the concentration of the marker and the configuration of the phantom. The RWLS‐GN method is compared to the reference maximum likelihood Nelder–Mead algorithm (ML‐NM). The convergence of the proposed method and its dependence on the regularization parameter are also studied. Results We show that material decomposition is feasible with the proposed method and that it converges in few iterations. Material decomposition with ML‐NM was very sensitive to noise, leading to decomposed images highly affected by noise, and artifacts even for the best case scenario. The proposed method was less sensitive to noise and improved contrast‐to‐noise ratio of the gadolinium image. Results were superior to those provided by ML‐NM in terms of image quality and decomposition was 70 times faster. For the assessed experiments, material decomposition was possible with the proposed method when the number of incident photons was equal or larger than 105 and when the marker concentration was equal or larger than 0.03 g·cm−3. Conclusions The proposed method efficiently solves the nonlinear decomposition problem for spectral CT, which opens up new possibilities such as material‐specific regularization in the projection domain and a parallelization framework, in which projections are solved in parallel.
Random allocation I

A randomised single blind controlled trial investigated whether pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy prevented urinary incontinence during and after pregnancy. The trial recruited healthy nulliparous women when they attended their first routine ultrasound. After giving informed consent, women were randomly allocated to the training group or control group.1 Which one of the following statements defines the process of random allocation used above?
Post‐renal transplant erythrocytosis: A case report

PTE is defined as hematocrit >51% or hemoglobin >17 g/dL after renal transplantation. Risk factors include native kidneys with adequate erythropoiesis pretransplant, smoking, renal artery stenosis, and cyclosporine treatment. We report the case of a 14‐yr‐old female kidney transplant patient, with triple therapy immunosuppression and stable graft function who developed PTE at 12 months post‐transplant with hemoglobin 17.3 g/dL, hematocrit 54.2%, stable graft function, and normotensive with normal cardiac echocardiogram and erythropoietin levels. The only risk factor found was tobacco use. As she had no spontaneous improvement, enalapril treatment was started at 19 months post‐transplant with a hemoglobin level of 17.5 g/dL and hematocrit 53%; by 23 months post‐transplant, hemoglobin lowered to 15 g/dL and hematocrit to 44.5% and continued to be in normal range thereafter. PTE is a rare condition in childhood and can be successfully treated with enalapril.
The International Journal of Biostatistics Modeling the Effect of a Preventive Intervention on the Natural History of Cancer : Application to the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial

The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) recently demonstrated a significant reduction in prostate cancer incidence of about 25% among men taking finasteride compared to men taking placebo. However, the effect of finasteride on the natural history of prostate cancer is not well understood. We adapted a convolution model developed by Pinsky (2001) to characterize the natural history of prostate cancer in the presence and absence of finasteride. The model was applied to data from 10,995 men in PCPT who had disease status determined by interim diagnosis of prostate cancer or end-of-study biopsy. Prostate cancer cases were either screen-detected by Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA), biopsy-detected at the end of the study, or clinically detected, that is, detected by methods other than PSA screening. The hazard ratio (HR) for the incidence of preclinical disease on finasteride versus placebo was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.20-0.58). The progression from preclinical to clinical disease was relatively unaffected by finasteride, with mean sojourn time being 16 years for placebo cases and 18.5 years for finasteride cases (p-value for difference = 0.2). We conclude that finasteride appears to affect prostate cancer primarily by preventing the emergence of new, preclinical tumors with little impact on established, latent disease.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT DURING EARLY POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT DECREASES PARVALBUMIN EXPRESSION IN THE RAT SOMATOSENSORY CORTEX

La expresion de parvalbumina (PV) en el cerebro de la rata comienza en el dia postnatal 8, comprometiendo una poblacion heterogenea de neuronas GABAergicas no piramidales. En el presente trabajo hemos realizado un estudio utilizando inmunohistoquimica en animals controles y experimentales sometidos a un ambiente enriquecido con estimulacion polisensorial entre los dias 3 y 18 o entre el 3 y el 24. El recuento de las neuronas PV+ fue realizado en las regiones dorsomediales y ventrolaterales de la corteza somatosensorial. En los animales control las neuronas PV+ alcanzan un maximo en el dia 24, disminuyendo hacia el dia 120. En estos animales se encontro un patron peculiar en el cual las neuronas inmunoreactivas son mas numerosas en la region dorsomedial que en la region ventrolateral asi como mas numerosas en las capas infragranulares que en las supragranulares y en las zonas posteriores que en las anteriores de la corteza cerebral. Las diferencias observadas en estas tres dimensiones estan bien definidas en el dia 24. Ratas expuestas al ambiente enriquecido desde el dia 3 al 24 muestran una reduccion del 26% en el numero de neuronas PV+ . El efecto del enriquecimiento ambiental persiste al menos 12 dias dado que animale s sometidos a estas condiciones desde el dia 3 al 18 y sacrificados el dia 30 presentan tambien una reduccion similar (29%). El enriquecimiento ambiental polisensorial induce una significativa reduccion de las neuronas inmunoreactivas a parvalbumina, manteniendo sin embargo el patron de distribucion general expresado anteriomente. Estos hallazgos indican un grado de estabilidad en la expresion de parvalbumina en la corteza somatosensorial de la rata
2007 Korean National Growth Charts: review of developmental process and an outlook

Purpose : Since 1967, The Korean Pediatric Society and Korean Government have developed Korean Growth Standards every 10 years. Last version was published in 1998. During past 40 years, Korean Growth Standards were mainly descriptive charts without any systematic nor statistical standardization. With the global epidemic of obesity, many authorities such as World Health Organization (WHO) and United States' Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have been changed their principles of growth charts to cope with the situations like ours. This article summarizes and reviews the whole developmental process of new 2007 Korean Growth Charts with discussion. Methods : With the initiative of Division of Chronic Disease Surveillance in Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have performed new national survey for the development of new Standards in 2005 and identified marked increase of childhood obesity and plateau of secular increment of final height in late adolescents. We have developed new Growth Standards via adapting several innovative methods, including standardization of all available raw data, which were acquired in 1997 and 2005 national survey and full application of LMS method. Results : We could get new standardized charts; weight-for-age, length/height-for-age, weight-for- height, head circumference-for-age and BMI-for-age. Other non-standardized charts based on 2005 survey data were also published; waist circumference-for-age, mid-arm circumference-for-age, chest circumference-for-age and skinfold-for-age. Clinical guideline was also developed. Conclusion : Developmental process and results of new Korean Growth Charts are comparable with other internationally well-known Growth Standards, WHO 2006 Growth Standards and CDC Growth Charts. 2007 Korean Growth Charts are relevant especially in Korea and Korean ethnic groups.
Validity study of the K6 scale as a measure of moderate mental distress based on mental health treatment need and utilization

The widely‐used Kessler K6 non‐specific distress scale screens for severe mental illness defined as a K6 score ≥ 13, estimated to afflict about 6% of US adults. The K6, as currently used, fails to capture individuals struggling with more moderate mental distress that nonetheless warrants mental health intervention. The current study determined a cutoff criterion on the K6 scale indicative of moderate mental distress based on mental health treatment need and assessed the validity of this criterion by comparing participants with identified moderate and severe mental distress on relevant clinical, impairment, and risk behavior measures. Data were analyzed from 50,880 adult participants in the 2007 California Health Interview Survey. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified K6 ≥ 5 as the optimal lower threshold cut‐point indicative of moderate mental distress. Based on the K6, 8.6% of California adults had serious mental distress and another 27.9% had moderate mental distress. Correlates of moderate and serious mental distress were similar. Respondents with moderate mental distress had rates of mental health care utilization, impairment, substance use and other risks lower than respondents with serious mental distress and greater than respondents with none/low mental distress. The findings support expanded use and analysis of the K6 scale in quantifying and examining correlates of mental distress at a moderate, yet still clinically relevant, level. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experiences of adolescent lung transplant recipients: A qualitative study

Many young transplant recipients experience psychological distress and adjustment difficulties, yet there is little research investigating lung transplantation from the recipients’ perspective. This qualitative study aimed to explore experiences of young people who underwent lung transplantation. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with six lung transplant recipients (aged 15‐18). Interviews were analysed using IPA, a qualitative research approach examining how people make sense of their major life experiences. The analysis revealed three master themes: “Living with Dodgy Lungs” outlined how participants dealt with their experiences, managing through accepting or discussing their feelings with others, although talking was often difficult. “The Big Deal” reflected participants’ experiences of the process, their expectations, and the contrast of their lives pre‐ and post‐transplant. Inherent in their accounts was the profound meaning ascribed to transplantation, the emotional turmoil, and impact on their lives. “A Sense of Self” illustrated participants’ developing identities within their social contexts and at times isolating experiences. The results highlight key areas where adolescent lung transplant recipients could be supported by clinicians, enabling the promotion of psychological well‐being. Examples include supporting identity integration post‐transplant, facilitating social inclusion, considering alternative means of support, and involving adolescents in healthcare decisions.
Value of assessing post prandial blood glucose as a surrogate for fasting blood glucose in an outpatient medical clinic: a descriptive study

Objectives: To assess the value of estimation of postprandial blood sugar (PPBS) as a surrogate for fasting blood glucose (FBS) and to estimate the prevalence and profile of patients with diabetes with normal fasting blood sugar and elevated postprandial blood sugar (Isolated postprandial hyperglycaemia). Setting: Diabetic patients attending an outpatient medical clinic. Methods: In 60 consecutive patients with diabetes attending an out-patient medical clinic, capillary blood glucose estimations were carried out in the fasting state (at least after 8 hours of fasting) and postprandial state (two hours after lunch) on the same day. Data on age, sex, and duration of diabetes, weight and type of oral hypoglycaemic therapy were also collected. Results: 47 out of 60 patients studied had both FBS and PPBS moving in the same direction (either normal FBS and PPBS or elevated FBS and PPBS on the same day). Only 8 patients had elevation of postprandial glucose level in the presence of normal FBS. Patients with long duration of diabetes and who are taking multiple oral hypoglycaemic therapies were more likely to show this phenomenon . Conclusion: Estimation of PPBS is reliable as a surrogate for FBS in 4 out of 5 patients with diabetes. Considering the convenience to some patients who find it difficult to undergo fasting, PPBS is a reliable alternative for FBS, especially in the absence of a gold standard test of glycaemic control such as glycosylated haemoglobin estimations. doi: 10.4038/gmj.v11i1. 1109 Galle Medical Journal Vol.11(1) 2006 6-9
Barriers to recruiting ethnic minorities to mental health research: a systematic review

Disparities in the prevalence of mental illness are widely reported for people from ethnic minorities. Unlike the United States, there is no legislation for clinical research in the UK to mandate the inclusion of ethnic minorities and they are underrepresented in European trials compared with those conducted in the United States. This restricts generalization of research findings.
Concordance between Composite International Diagnostic Interview and self‐reports of depressive symptoms: a re‐analysis

Concordance between sum scores of self‐reported depressive symptoms and structured interview diagnoses has been studied extensively, but are these the best attainable self‐report‐based predictions for interview diagnoses? We maximized the cross‐validated concordance between World Health Organization's Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) diagnosis and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), from the viewpoint of exploratory statistics, re‐analysing Health 2000 general‐population sample of adults over 30 years in mainland Finland (N = 5200–5435). BDI sum‐score prediction of CIDI diagnosis could be superseded by using (1) weighted sums of items, (2) classification trees constructed from items, or (3) a single item. Best solution (2) yielded cross‐validated Youden's Index 0.757 [standard error (SE) = 0.001, sensitivity = 0.907, specificity = 0.851], improving the concordance to 1.07‐fold (1.18‐fold for 12‐month diagnosis). A single‐item solution was best for the GHQ. All positive predictive values remained low (0.09–0.31). Thus, CIDI‐to‐questionnaire concordance can be improved by using all information in the questionnaires instead of just sum scores, but latent‐trait theory for questionnaires is incompatible with interview diagnoses (single item achieved better concordance than summing all). Self‐reports have low predictive value for CIDI diagnoses in the general population, but better in settings with higher major depressive disorder (MDD) base rates. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Defining the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the Heinrichs–carpenter quality of life scale (QLS)

To determine the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) of the Heinrichs–Carpenter Quality of Life Scale (QLS). Data from the “Schizophrenia Trial of Aripiprazole” (STAR) study were used in this analysis. The MCID value of the QLS total score was estimated using the anchor‐based method. These findings were substantiated/validated by comparing the MCID estimate to other measurements collected in the study. Half of the patients (49%) showed improvement in Clinical Global Impressions of Severity (CGI‐S) during the trial. The estimated MCID of the QLS total score was 5.30 (standard error: 2.60; 95% confidence interval: [0.16; 10.43]; p < 0.05). Patients were divided into two groups: “QLS improvers” (QLS total score increased ≥ six points) and “non‐improvers”. The QLS improvers had significantly better effectiveness and reported significantly higher levels of preference for their current medications. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the change in two of the four domains of QLS; “Interpersonal relations” and “Intrapsychic foundations” domains during the study. These findings support the value of the estimated MCID for the QLS and may be a useful tool in evaluating antipsychotic treatment effects and improving long‐term patient outcomes in schizophrenia. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Safety of hematopoietic cell infusion in children with malignant and non‐malignant diseases

HPC infusions have been associated with a variety of adverse events related to either patient or HPC product‐related factors. Studies documenting infusion‐related AEs in children are limited. We reviewed HPC infusion records in 354 children. Infusion‐related adverse events were classified as follows: grade 0—absent, grade I—mild, grade II—moderate, grade III—severe, grade IV—life‐threatening, and grade V—death. The percentage of patients with grade 0, I, and II‐IV AEs was as follows: 0 = 67%, I = 23.4%, and II‐V = 9.6% (one patient had fatal anaphylactic reaction to dimethyl sulfoxide). The incidence of grade II‐IV hypertension was 7.1%. There was a higher incidence of AEs with infusion of allogeneic bone marrow versus allogeneic PBSCs (47.4% vs 25.3%, P = .001). Cryopreserved products had a lower incidence of infusion‐associated AEs compared with fresh HPC products (24% vs 39.4%, P = .003). Allogeneic HPC infusion volume (>100 mL) was a significant risk factor for infusion‐associated AEs (P < .001). Patients >10 years who received autologous HPC infusions had higher risk of AEs when compared to patients <10 years (P = .01). Our study demonstrated that despite a high incidence of infusion‐associated hypertension, HPC infusion is relatively safe in children. Investigating strategies to optimize management of hypertension in the setting of HPC infusion is warranted.
Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Well‐being Study (MPEWS): Understanding maternal mental health, fetal programming and child development. Study design and cohort profile

Maternal mental health represents a significant global health burden. The Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Well‐being Study (MPEWS) was established to provide a comprehensive investigation of early developmental mechanisms and modifiers for maternal, fetal and child emotional well‐being. MPEWS is a prospective, longitudinal study from pregnancy to 36 months postpartum that includes diagnostic measures of maternal mental health, observational measures of the mother–infant relationship, measures of child development, and repeat biological sampling. A total of 282 pregnant women were recruited in early pregnancy from the Mercy Hospital for Women in Melbourne, Australia, including 52 women on antidepressant medication, 31 non‐medicated women meeting diagnostic criteria for current unipolar depression or dysthymia, and 65 women with a past history of depression. Sample recruitment characteristics included a mean age of 31 years and average gestation of 16 weeks. The MPEWS cohort was comparable to national averages for Australia on key pregnancy and birth variables. Those participants taking antidepressant medication had higher mean Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores than the cohort as a whole but were comparable on other key variables. The MPEWS protocol provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the impact of pregnancy mental health on future maternal mental health and child development to aid the development of evidence‐based interventions. The study is open for collaborative proposals via approach to the principal investigators.