Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Applicability of Internationally Available Health Literacy Measures in the Netherlands

Health literacy measures for use in clinical-epidemiological research have all been developed outside Europe. In the absence of validated Dutch measures, we evaluated the cross-cultural applicability of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM), the Newest Vital Sign (NVS), the Set of Brief Screening Questions (SBSQ), and the measure of Functional Communicative and Critical Health Literacy (FCCHL). Each measure was translated into Dutch following standardized procedures. We assessed feasibility, internal consistency, and construct validity among patients with coronary artery disease (n = 201) and patients with diabetes type 2 (n = 88). Patients expressed most problems in responding to the NVS-D. They were not familiar with the type of food label and had difficulties calculating in portions instead of grams. The FCCHL-D items seemed too theoretical for many patients. Cronbach's alpha was acceptable for all measures. Correlation patterns between the measures were moderately coherent with a priori hypotheses. All translated measures were able to distinguish between high- and low-educated groups of patients, with the NVS-D performing best. Despite reasonable psychometric properties as demonstrated so far, these measures need to be further developed in order to increase applicability for assessing health literacy in clinical-epidemiological research in the Netherlands.
Transcranial Measurement of Cerebral Microembolic Signals During Endocardial Pulmonary Vein Isolation: Comparison of Three Different Ablation Techniques

Introduction: Isolation of the pulmonary veins (PVI) using high ablation energy is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) with a success rate of 50–95%; however, postoperative neurological complications still occur in 0.5–10%. In this study the incidence of cerebral microembolic signals (MES) as a risk factor for neurological complications is examined during 3 percutaneous endocardial ablation procedure strategies: segmental PVI using a conventional radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheter, segmental PVI using an irrigated RF tip catheter, and circumferential PVI with a cryoballoon catheter (CB).
A Study of Comparative Efficacy of Local and Foreign Antibiotic Discs used in Southeast Nigeria

The aim of this study is to evaluate the most effective antibiotic disc on three chosen bacteria organisms. There are Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella gallinarium and Esherichia coli. Three antibiotic discs made of one foreign produced from Oxoid, Bakingsloke, U.K and two locally produced antibiotic disc from Optun laboratories and Unique laboratories both in Nigeria of the twelve different antibiotics used, only six was of particularly important for the purpose of this study. These are gentamycin (10ug), ceftriazone (30ug), ampicillin (10ug) pericillin (10ug), Kanamycin (30ug), and amoxicillin (10ug). Antibiotic disc of same Mean Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was used for the three types. The study showed that the antibiotic disc produced from foreign and local companies are effective, however, the foreign has an edge in being more sensitive. The zones of inhibition for antibiotic disc from Oxoid possess greater and clearer inhibition zones in mm/ diameter for Staphylococcus aureus , Salmonella gallinarium and E . coli : The mean zone of inhibition of various antibiotics against these three bacteria showed that there is a statistical significance (p< 0.05) between the product from Oxoid and the two others.
Low Health Literacy, Limited English Proficiency, and Health Status in Asians, Latinos, and Other Racial/Ethnic Groups in California

This study estimated health status by low health literacy and limited English proficiency alone and in combination for Latino, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and White respondents in a population-based sample: 48,427 adults from the 2007 California Health Interview Survey, including 3,715 with limited English proficiency. Multivariate logistic models examined self-reported health by health literacy and English proficiency in the full sample and in racial/ethnic subgroups. Overall, 44.9% with limited English proficiency reported low health literacy, versus 13.8% of English speakers. Among the limited English proficient, Chinese respondents had the highest prevalence of low health literacy (68.3%), followed by Latinos (45.3%), Koreans (35.6%), Vietnamese (29.7%), and Whites (18.8%). In the full sample, respondents with both limited English proficiency/low health literacy reported the highest prevalence of poor health (45.1%), followed by limited English proficiency–only (41.1%), low health literacy–only (22.2%), and neither (13.8%), a hierarchy that remained significant in multivariate models. However, subanalyses revealed that limited English proficient Latinos, Vietnamese, and Whites had equal or greater odds of poor health compared with low health literate/limited English proficient respondents. Individuals with both limited English proficiency and low health literacy are at high risk for poor health. Limited English proficiency may carry greater health risk than low health literacy, though important racial/ethnic variations exist.
Worry and Risk Perceptions as Independent and Interacting Predictors of Health Protective Behaviors

Worry and risk perceptions are generally found to be independently associated with health-promoting behaviors, although it is unknown whether they interact in ways that potentially dampen the effect of either construct on behavior. In this hypothesis-generating study, cancer-related worry and risk perception, and their interaction, were used to predict odds of meeting 5-a-day fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines and engaging in any exercise using data from a nationally representative sample (N = 10,230). Risk perception was not associated with either behavior; worry was associated only with exercise (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.70, p < .01). More important, their interaction was associated with these behaviors in a counterintuitive manner; among those higher in worry, higher levels of risk perception were associated with lower vegetable consumption (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.62, 1.00, p < .05) and exercise (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.95, p = .01). These results suggest the hypothesis that, among people high in worry, attempts to increase risk perception could be counterproductive. These and related findings suggest the importance of distinguishing worry from risk perception, and future research is necessary to determine the causal nature of these associations.
A cause of self‐similarity in TCP traffic

We analyse the statistical properties of aggregated traffic flows generated by TCP, in order to clarify a possible cause of self‐similarity in Internet traffic. Using ns‐2 simulation, we first show that aggregated traffic flows by TCP can be characterized by phase transition phenomena between non‐congested and congested phases in statistical physics. Interestingly, although the traffic exhibits self‐similarity with the Hurst parameter H ≈ 1.0 at the critical point between them, it is close to Poissonian away from the critical point. This result is consistent with results from real WAN traffic measurement. The main contribution of our work is to show that TCP itself contains a mechanism for generating self‐similarity, without assuming self‐similarity or long‐range dependency (LRD) in the application layer (e.g. packet inter‐arrival, connection arrival, and file size distribution). Moreover, we find that the value of the Hurst parameter at the critical point is determined by the simple feedback control called stop‐and‐wait flow control. Namely, it appears even without any packet retransmission events and is independent of the explicit rate increment algorithm such as slow‐start and congestion avoidance. Additionally, we demonstrate that the value of the Hurst parameter at the critical point depends on the constant bit rate algorithm and topology of network. Finally, we indicate that the time series of the round trip time follow the same statistics at the critical state. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Panel Study of Peer Norms and Adolescent Alcohol Consumption: Developing Strategies for Communication Interventions

Given that alcohol consumption and binge drinking among adolescents in the United States remain prevalent, this study assesses changes in the influence of peer norms—and their interactions with time, gender, and ethnicity—on alcohol consumption. Panel survey interviews of adolescents (N = 1,607) were completed in 9th grade and then again in 12th grade with students from Louisiana. Fixed effects multiple regression assessed the relations between the changes in 2 types of peer norms (i.e., descriptive norms and injunctive norms) and 2 alcohol consumption measures: 30-day alcohol prevalence and binge drinking. Increases in 30-day alcohol prevalence and binge drinking were associated with only descriptive norms. The effects of both types of peer norms intensified over time, and the effects of descriptive norms varied according to gender and ethnicity. Specifically, the influence of descriptive norms was greater on boys than on girls and on Caucasians than on African Americans. Communication interventions that target adolescents in the context of alcohol consumption should consider the temporal variability of peer normative influence and how it varies by gender and ethnicity.
What Kinds of Website and Mobile Phone–Delivered Physical Activity and Nutrition Interventions Do Middle-Aged Men Want?

Within a health context, men in Western societies are a hard-to-reach population who experience higher rates of chronic disease compared with women. Innovative technology-based interventions that specifically target men are needed; however, little is known about how these should be developed for this group. This study aimed to examine opinions and perceptions regarding the use of Internet and mobile phones to improve physical activity and nutrition behaviors for middle-aged men. The authors conducted 6 focus groups (n = 30) in Queensland, Australia. Their analyses identified 6 themes: (a) Internet experience, (b) website characteristics, (c) Web 2.0 applications, (d) website features, (e) self-monitoring, and (f) mobile phones as delivery method. The outcomes indicate that men support the use of the Internet to improve and self-monitor physical activity and dietary behaviors on the condition that the website-delivered interventions are quick and easy to use, because commitment levels to engage in online tasks are low. Participants also indicated that they were reluctant to use normal mobile phones to change health behaviors, although smartphones were perceived to be more acceptable. This pilot study suggests that there are viable avenues to engage middle-aged men in Internet- or in mobile-delivered health interventions. This study also suggests that to be successful, these interventions need to be tailor-made especially for men, with an emphasis on usability and convenience. A wider quantitative study would bring further support to these findings.
The Impact of Thai Family Matters on Parent–Adolescent Sexual Risk Communication Attitudes and Behaviors

This article reports on a combined family-based substance abuse and HIV-prevention intervention targeting families with 13–14-year-old children in Bangkok, Thailand. Families (n = 340) were randomly and proportionally selected from 7 districts in Bangkok with half randomly assigned to an experimental or control condition. Families in the intervention condition were exposed to 5 interactive booklets about adolescent substance use and risky sexual behavior. Trained health educators followed up by phone to encourage completion of each booklet. Primary outcomes reported in this article include whether the intervention increased the frequency of parent–child communication in general or about sexual risk taking in particular as well as whether the intervention reduced discomfort discussing sexual issues. The authors also tested to see whether booklet completion was associated with communication outcomes at the 6-month follow-up. Multivariate findings indicate that the intervention had a significant impact on the frequency of general parent–child communication on the basis of child reports. The intervention had a marginal impact on the frequency of parent–child communication about sexual issues on the basis of parent reports. Booklet completion was associated with reduced discomfort discussing sex and was marginally associated with frequency of parent–child discussion of sex on the basis of parent reports only. These findings indicate that a family-based program can influence communication patterns.
Promoting Dental Hygiene to Children: Comparing Traditional and Interactive Media Following Threat Appeals

Until now, social marketing campaigns mainly targeted children using traditional media. However, little is known about the effectiveness of computer games to communicate health-related information to children. This study compares the impact of an interactive game as a medium to provide health information and improve children's dietary habits to the impact of more traditional media. Using a 2 × 3 between-subject factorial design with 190 children (7–9 years old), this study investigates the effect of threat messages (weak vs. strong) concerning dental hygiene on behavioral outcome (snack choice), and how this effect is moderated by the type of medium used to communicate subsequent health information after the threat appeal (computer game, information brochure, narrative story). Results show a positive significant effect of perceived threat on children's adaptive behavior. However, this effect only remains significant when afterwards children are exposed to a narrative health-related story. When children play a game or read a brochure, they need to devote more attention to process this content, distracting them from the original threat message. In sum, when a threat message is followed by additional health information, the medium through which this information is presented influences the effectiveness of the preceding threat message.
Predicting H1N1 Vaccine Uptake and H1N1-Related Health Beliefs: The Role of Individual Difference in Consideration of Future Consequences

This research examines the influence of individual difference in consideration of future consequences on H1N1 vaccine uptake and H1N1-related health beliefs (i.e., perceived susceptibility to and severity of the H1N1 flu, perceived efficacy and safety of the H1N1 vaccine, and perceived self-efficacy in obtaining the H1N1 vaccine). A survey of 411 college students showed that consideration of future consequences had no direct effect on vaccine uptake, but higher consideration of future consequences was associated with greater perceived severity of the flu, higher perceived effectiveness of the vaccine, and greater perceived self-efficacy. Additional analysis suggested that consideration of future consequences had a significant indirect effect on vaccine uptake through perceived vaccine efficacy. Results of the study also revealed gender and racial differences in some of the H1N1-related health beliefs. Implications of the findings for vaccine risk communication are discussed.
High Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction in a Vulvovaginal Specialty Clinic

Objective Our study evaluated the presence and predictors of sexual dysfunction in a vulvovaginal specialty clinic population. Materials and Methods Women who presented to a vulvovaginal specialty clinic were eligible to enroll. The participants completed a questionnaire, including Female Sexual Function Index to assess sexual dysfunction and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 depression screen, and underwent a standardized physical examination, with vaginal swabs collected for wet mount and culture. Logistic regression assessed the relationship between sexual dysfunction and clinical diagnosis. Results We enrolled 161 women, aged 18 to 80 years (median, 36 years), presenting with vulvovaginal complaints. Median symptom duration was 24 months; 131 women (81%) reported chronic symptoms (≥12 months). By PHQ-9, 28 women (17%) met depression criteria. In the month before assessment, 86 women (53%) experienced sexual dysfunction. Women had a primary diagnosis of vaginitis (n = 46 [29%]), vestibulodynia/vulvitis (n = 70 [43%]), lichen planus or lichen sclerosus (n = 24 [15%]). Controlling for age, we found that sexual dysfunction did not correlate with chronic symptoms (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.50–1.48), depression (IRR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.59–2.58), or presence of any of the 3 main diagnoses (IRR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.47–2.88). Discussion Sexual dysfunction is present in more than half of women presenting to a vulvovaginitis referral clinic, more than twice the rate in the wider population.
Associação entre incidência de dengue, pluviosidade e densidade larvária de Aedes aegypti, no Estado de Goiás

INTRODUCTION: The larval density of Aedes aegypti fluctuates according to seasonal climatic changes. It rises in seasons with higher rainfall, according to the number of potential breeding sites available, thereby predisposing towards increased incidence of dengue. This study aimed to show the association between dengue cases, rainfall and the building infestation rate. METHODS: The municipalities were stratified according to the risk and transmission of dengue, and according to presence or absence of mosquito infestation. We used the building larval infestation rate as an indicator for the risk of transmission. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between the building infestation rate, number of dengue cases and rainfall. Disease transmission was greater during the first four months of each year studied (period of high rainfall) and lower between June and September (season with low rainfall). Dengue cases occurred continually and in increased numbers between January and March of each year, and then declined in the months of April and May, when it ceased in most municipalities. The metropolitan region of Goiânia was responsible for more than 80% of the dengue cases in Goias. Transmission was continuous throughout the year, although lower during the period from May to December. Over the last three months, there was increased transmission, but usually still at low rates. CONCLUSIONS: The positive correlation between the building infestation rate and rainfall, and between this rate and the incidence of cases, indicated a significant association between increasing transmission and increasing numbers of dengue cases.
Cost-Effectiveness of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Testing With Messenger RNA Versus DNA Under United States Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Screening

Objectives To compare the cost-effectiveness of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing using a hrHPV DNA and a hrHPV messenger RNA (mRNA) assay under current US cervical cancer screening guidelines. Methods We constructed a Markov model for stochastic cost-effectiveness analysis using published data. We compared screening efficiency using DNA and mRNA testing for the following: (1) cotesting with cytology in women 30 to 65 years, and (2) triage of women with mild cervical cytological abnormalities (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance [ASC-US]) in the United States. Screening end point is histologically confirmed high-grade lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2, 3, or invasive cancer). Sensitivity and specificity estimates of DNA and mRNA testing to detect cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2, 3, or invasive cancer were obtained from 2 published trials: the US Clinical Evaluation of APTIMA mRNA (CLEAR) study for ASC-US triage and the French APTIMA Screening Evaluation (FASE) study for cotesting. Costs of DNA and mRNA testing were assumed identical. Costs of screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical neoplasia and cancer were from previously published estimates, adjusted to 2012 US dollars. Inputs were modeled as distributions for Monte Carlo probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Model outcomes were costs per life-year saved for each strategy, discounted at 3% annually. Results For both cotesting and ASC-US triage, mRNA testing cost less than DNA testing, whereas life expectancies were widely overlapping. There was a 100% probability that DNA testing was not cost-effective at $100,000/life-year saved threshold for ASC-US triage and a 55% probability that DNA testing was not cost-effective at the same threshold for cotesting. Conclusions Based on the available evidence, mRNA testing for cotesting or ASC-US triage is likely to be more efficient than DNA testing under current US cervical cancer screening guidelines.
Unrestricted Weight Bearing as a Method for Assessment of Nociceptive Behavior in a Model of Tibiofemoral Osteoarthritis in Rats

Background: Novel preclinical models for prediction of osteoarthritis-like pain are necessary for the elucidation of osteoarthritis (OA) pathology and for assessment of novel analgesics. A widely used behavioral test in rat models of tibiofemoral OA is hind limb weight bearing (WB). However, this method evaluates WB in an unnaturally restricted manner. The aim of this study was therefore to characterize the Tekscan Pressure Measurement System as a means to assess OA-like tibiofemoral pain in rats by determination of plantar pressure distribution in a more natural and unrestricted position, defined as unrestricted WB. Methods: Intra-articular injections of 1 mg monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) or saline were administrated in the left hind knee of 84 male Sprague Dawley rats. Changes in unrestricted WB between ipsilateral and contralateral hindlimbs were determined. Morphine (5 mg/kg administered subcutaneously) and naproxen (60 mg/kg per-oral) were examined for their ability to reverse WB changes. Results: Changes in hind limb unrestricted WB were observed 14 (P P P Conclusion: This study indicated that unrestricted WB assessed by the Tekscan system can be utilized as a clinically relevant method to assess aberrations in WB induced by intra-articular MIA injections in rodents. Therefore, this system may be useful for understanding the mechanisms of OA pain in humans and may also assist in the discovery of novel pharmacological agents.
Review: Factors Influencing the Patient-Provider Relationship

This article analyzes some of the central elements of the patient-provider relationship i.e. continuity of care, communication, compliance, and the various elements of the consultation itself. This analysis is based on the review of relevant literature. The same principles apply to this relationship regardless of the provider category. When aiming at good care the recognition of the real need of care and the sharing of information with the patient in a proper and effective way are important. These skills belong to the professional competence of the provider. Continuity of care is the element facilitating the forming of a good patient-provider relationship. The importance of the patient-provider consultation is very great. The immediate, intermediate and long term outcomes of the consultation have been studied by several researchers. The immediate outcomes such as the patient satisfaction strongly influence the intermediate outcomes and also the long term outcomes ail-though the intermediate (i.e. compliance) and long term (i.e. change in health status) is also strongly influenced by the patient's sociocultural environment. On the other hand, the patient's health understanding can be much enhanced through skillfull communication by the provider during the consultation in a good patient-provider relationship. This, again, connects the elements of consultation very tightly with the success or failure of the care process and the patient's future use of health services.