Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validación del cuestionario MOS-SSS de apoyo social en pacientes con cáncer

Fundamento y objetivo Muchos estudios hacen referencia a los beneficios que sobre la salud tiene la percepcion de estar recibiendo apoyo social. En este trabajo realizamos un estudio descriptivo y transversal para validar el cuestionario MOS-SSS (Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey) de apoyo social. Pacientes y metodo En una muestra de 400 pacientes ambulatorios con cancer validamos el cuestionario MOS-SSS con un analisis factorial de componentes principales con rotacion varimax. Mediante un analisis unifactorial se efectuo una comparacion de las medias de las dimensiones del cuestionario MOS-SSS con otras variables, tales como tamano de la red social, sexo y edad. Resultados En el analisis de fiabilidad del cuestionario se obtiene una alta consistencia interna de la prueba, con un coeficiente alfa de 0,94. Del analisis factorial extraemos 3 factores: apoyo emocional/informacional, apoyo afectivo y apoyo instrumental. La cuarta dimension propuesta en la version original del instrumento, interaccion social positiva, queda incluida en la dimension de apoyo emocional/informacional. En la comparacion de medias de las dimensiones de la escala con el tamano de la red social, sexo y edad, se concluye que cuanto mayor es el tamano de la red social mayor es la percepcion de apoyo social cualitativo que se recibe. Los varones tienen la percepcion de recibir mas apoyo instrumental y emocional/informacional que las mujeres. La edad no aporta diferencias respecto a la percepcion del tipo de apoyo social que se recibe. Conclusiones Consideramos que el cuestionario MOS-SSS de apoyo social es un instrumento valido para medir gran parte de la multidimensionalidad del constructo.
Protective effect of boric acid against carbon tetrachloride–induced hepatotoxicity in mice

The protective effect of boric acid against liver damage was evaluated by its attenuation of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Male albino mice were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with boric acid (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) or silymarin daily for 7 days and received 0.2% CCl4 in olive oil (10 mL/kg, i.p.) on day 7. Results showed that administration of boric acid significantly reduced the elevation in serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and the level of malondialdehyde in the liver that were induced by CCl4 in mice. Boric acid treatment significantly increased glutathione content, as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the liver. Boric acid treatment improved the catalytic activity of cytochrome P450 2E1 and maintained activation of nuclear factor kappa light-chain enhancer of activated B cell gene expression, with no effect on inducible nitric oxide synthase gene expression in the livers of mice. Histopathologically, clear decreases in the severity of CCl4-induced lesions were observed, particularly at high boric acid concentrations. Results suggest that boric acid exhibits potent hepatoprotective effects on CCl4-induced liver damage in mice, likely the result of both the increase in antioxidant-defense system activity and the inhibition of lipid peroxidation.
Effects of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs on D-serine-induced oxidative stress in vitro

Inflammation is deleterious for organs with reduced capacity of regeneration, such as the brain. Recently, studies have focused on investigating the therapeutic effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Excitotoxicity is the pathological process when receptors for the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, such as the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), receptors are overactivated. This process may be involved in neurodegenerative diseases. D-serine is one of the coagonist of NMDA receptors, and increased levels of D-serine are associated with excitotoxicity. In our study, the potential neuroprotective effects of mefenamic acid, acetaminophen, and naproxen sodium were investigated against D-serine-induced oxidative stress in the rat brain in vitro. To show their potential neuroprotective properties, NSAIDs were incubated with D-serine and reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl content of the brain after different treatments were measured. Our results demostrate that NSAIDs used in the present study significantly reduced ROS production, lipid peroxidation, and protein oxidation against D-serine treatment.
Maternal vitamin d status during pregnancy and childhood bone mass at age 9 years : A longitudinal study

Increasing evidence suggests that the risk of osteoporotic fracture in adult life depends in part on environmental factors such as vitamin D and calcium nutriture during fetal and early postnatal life. Importantly, otherwise healthy pregnant women frequently are vitamin D-insufficient. Javaid et al therefore sought to determine whether maternal vitamin D status has a significant effect on skeletal growth in childhood. They evaluated data collected during a previous longitudinal study of maternal nutrition and fetal growth, including the responses to a lifestyle questionnaire, smoking status, use of dietary supplements, height and weight before and during pregnancy, and neonatal anthropomorphic measurements. 25(OH) vitamin D and calcium, albumin, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and creatinine concentrations were measured in maternal serum collected at 34 weeks gestation and in umbilical cord blood samples. A total of 198 children born in 1991-1992 were followed up to age 9 years in an attempt to relate maternal vitamin D status to body size and bone mass. Women were considered to be vitamin D-deficient if their level was less than 11 μg/L, insufficient if it was 11 to 20 μg/L, and replete if it was more than 20 μg/L. In late pregnancy, nearly one half of the study participants had low vitamin D levels; 31% were vitamin D-insufficient and 18% were vitamin D-deficient. These women had children who, when evaluated at age 9 years, had reduced whole-body bone area, areal bone mineral density (BMD), and bone mineral content (BMC). When compared with the children whose mothers were vitamin D-replete, those whose mothers were vitamin D-deficient had a significantly lower whole-body BMC, whereas those whose mothers were vitamin D-insufficient had a smaller deficit. Adjusting for height in childhood did not substantially weaken this relationship. Lumbar spine BMC and areal BMD at age 9 did not correlate with bone area, milk intake, or physical activity at age 9. Maternal vitamin D status in late pregnancy was not related to birth weight or length, placental weight, abdominal circumference, head circumference, or height or lean body mass at age 9. However, late-pregnancy vitamin D levels did correlate with estimated ultraviolet B exposure and the use of vitamin D supplements. Children whose mothers took vitamin D supplements had significantly higher whole-body BMC and bone area, but not areal BMD, than children of nonusers. Cord blood calcium levels also significantly predicted whole-body BMC. These results indicate that women with vitamin D insufficiency are at increased risk to have children with bone density deficits and imply that supplementation of D-insufficient women might improve the bone mineral content of their offspring and thus ultimately lower the risk of fragility fracture. Because ultraviolet B exposure was significantly correlated with maternal vitamin D levels, vitamin D supplementation might be especially important when the last trimester of pregnancy coincides with the winter months.
Israel's Brain Drain

This paper examines the rate of emigration from Israel - known as 'yerida' - in the years 1995 to 2004. Specifically, we examine how the rate of yerida varies according to education levels, employment status, income, marital status, and the number of years living in Israel. The analysis uses data from the 1995 Israeli census, combined with an indicator for yerida status as of 2004. The data show that the probability of emigrating from Israel is 2.5 times higher for educated individuals (individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher) than those with less education. A similar pattern exists for new immigrants to Israel, although the magnitudes are much larger and the relationship between education and the probability of leaving Israel is much more pronounced.
Women’s Accounts of Domestic Violence Versus Tactics-Based Outcome Categories

This study compared battered women’s accounts of violence with tactics-based outcomes to assess the measurement limitations in predicting recurring violence. Accounts of 536 incidents were collected from 299 women at batterer program intake and at 3-month intervals over a 15-month follow-up. Each incident was coded using a sequential, situational model of violence, and the incident codings were summarized for each woman. The components of violent incidents did not correspond to any particular tactics-based outcomes. The female partners of men who repeatedly reassaulted them were, however, less assertive than those of non-reassaulters. A small subgroup did commit unrelenting and excessive violence across the reassault categories.
Saffron extracts alleviate cardiomyocytes injury induced by doxorubicin and ischemia-reperfusion in vitro

Abstract Doxorubicin (DOX), a highly active chemotherapeutic drug, faces limitations in clinical application due to severe cardiotoxic effects (mainly through increased oxidative stress). Therefore, its effect is exacerbated in subjects with ischemic heart disease. We have recently reported that saffron extract (SAF), a natural compound mainly consisting of safranal and corcins, exerts a protective effect against DOX oxidative cytotoxicity in isolated rabbit hearts. Here, we aimed to investigate whether SAF exerts cardioprotection against combined ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and DOX toxicity in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. H9c2 were subjected to simulated I/R, with or without DOX treatment at reperfusion, in the presence or absence of SAF prior to ischemia or at reperfusion. We evaluated the effects of these treatments by MTT, LDH and western blot analysis. Apoptosis was assessed by Hoechst 33258 staining, tetramethyl rhodamine methyl ester fluorescence and caspase activity. The results showed that I/R and DOX significantly decreased cardiomyocytes viability, inhibited reperfusion injury salvage kinase cardioprotective pathway, reduced contractile proteins (α-Actinine, Troponine C and MLC), increased caspase-3 expression and induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. These effects were remarkably inhibited by treatment with SAF (10 μg/mL) at reperfusion. SAF activated AKT/P70S6K and ERK1/2, restored contractile proteins expression, inhibited mitochondrial permeability transition pore and decreased caspase-3 activity. In conclusion, our findings indicate that SAF treatment exerted cardioprotection against I/R and DOX toxicity by reducing oxidative stress (LDH assay). Thereby, SAF offers a potential novel antioxidant therapeutic strategy to counteract I/R and DOX cardiotoxicity, paving the way for future clinical trials.
Assessment of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for cancer patients.

BACKGROUND Depression and anxiety are common in patients with cancer. AIM To adapt and validate the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for adult Chilean cancer patients, and to provide information about their prevalence of anxiety and depression. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two hundred fifteen patients with cancer answered an adapted version of HADS for Chilean population. The language adjustment of the scale was carried out with the opinions of 10 expert linguists and with a pilot study on 17 cancer patients. The Depression and Anxiety subscales of the DASS-21 were also applied to verify the convergent validity of HADS: Results: The confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the data fits the model of two correlated factors (anxiety and depression), χ2 = 98.608; df = 76;p < 0.05; χ2/df= 1.23, RMSEA = 0.037; CFI = 0.99; TLI = . 98. Reliability analysis showed an adequate internal consistency of both subscales (.76 for anxiety and .84 for depression) and the general scale (.87). Correlations between HADS and DASS-21 scores were significant for both anxiety (r =.514, p < 0.001) and depression (r = 0.600, p < 0.001). Prevalence rates were approximately 30% for depression (actual = 12%, possible = 22.8%) and approximately 20% for anxiety (actual = 7%, possible = 8.4%). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that HADS is a reliable and valid instrument for screening clinically relevant anxiety and depression symptoms in Chilean cancer patients.
Changes of sperm quality and hormone receptors in the rat testis after exposure to methamphetamine

Abstract Methamphetamine (METH) is known to damage neurons and induce psychosis. It can also induce apoptosis in seminiferous tubules and affect sperm quality. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of a rat model of METH addiction on sperm quality and expression of progesterone receptors (PR) and estrogen receptors (ER) in the testis. Sperm quality parameters including sperm motility, sperm morphology and sperm concentration were examined. Protein and gene expressions PR, ERα and ERβ were studied using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The percentages of normal sperm motility and normal sperm morphology were significantly decreased in animals receiving METH, especially in escalating dose (ED METH) and escalating dose-binge (ED-binge METH) groups when compared with control. In addition, sperm concentrations in ED METH and ED-binge METH groups were numerically decreased. PR, ERα and ERβ immunoreactive cells were significantly decreased in spermatogonia, spermatogenic cells and especially in Sertoli cells in all METH-treated groups. Furthermore, messenger RNA expression of PR, ERα and ERβ were also significantly decreased in all METH-treated animals. These results indicate that METH can induce abnormal sperm quality. These changes of sperm quality may relate to the reduction of PR, ERα and ERβ expressions in male germ cells and Sertoli cells which are essential for spermatogenesis and development of sperm.
Association of Adiponectin Gene Functional Polymorphisms (+45T/G and 276G/T) with Obese Breast Cancer

Adiponectin is a naturally occurring, active protein produced by white adipose tissue circulating levels of which have been associated with breast cancer risk. The ADIPOQ +45T/G and 276G/T polymorphisms are likely to play an important role in the susceptibility to breast cancer. To evaluate the prevalence of polymorphism of Adiponectin gene a case-control study was performed in 154 breast cancer patients and 142 controls in South India. We utilized PCR- RFLP based assay to evaluate the association between the +45T/G and 276G/T polymorphism of the ADIPOQ gene and breast cancer risk in a case control study. Frequencies of ADIPOQ +45T/G were 74%, 24% and 2% in the breast cancer patients and 83%, 15% and 2% in the controls, respectively. ADIPOQ +45T/G genotype showed a 1.7- fold increased risk for breast cancer and the 276G/T genotype showed a 1.6-fold increased risk for breast cancer. In the compound genotypes, T45G//G276T and T45G/T276T showed a 1.668 and a 1.791-fold increased risk for breast cancer. Our findings suggest that the ADIPOQ +45T/G and 276G/T polymorphism may be a useful biomarker associated with the risk of breast cancer in obese women in Indian population
An Exploration of Young Ethnic Minority Males’ Beliefs about Romantic Relationships

Ethnic minority males experience a disproportionate prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and HIV. Few studies have explored the beliefs that frame romantic relationships in which sexual behavior occurs. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of romantic relationships for young ethnic minority men who partner with adolescent women with high-risk sexual histories and the beliefs about romantic relationships that underlie these relationship choices. A phenomenologic approach was used. Two semi-structured interviews were completed with six Mexican American and two African American young adult males 19 to 26 years of age. Participants struggled to balance a desire to maintain physical and psychological closeness with partners with a desire to distance from partners in the face of unmet psychological needs. Recognition of how males struggle to balance getting needs met in romantic relationships will be necessary for the provision of culturally relevant care for males and their partners.
Evaluation of mean platelet volume (MPV) levels in brucellosis patients

Abstract Aim. Brucellosis is a multisystemic infectious disease. An inflammatory process occurs in brucellosis which causes increase in acute phase reactants. Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been shown as an inflammatory marker in some diseases. In this study we searched the MPV levels of brucellosis patients. Method. MPV levels of forty-seven patients with brucellosis were evaluated. Results. We included a total of 47 brucellosis patients having an average age of 47.4±14.6 and sex distribution of 21 (44,7%) male and 26 (55,3%) female and also 47 control healthy subjects having an average age of 45,2±12,3 and sex distribution of 25 (53,2%) male and 22 (46,8%) female). Erythrocte sedimentation rate (ESR), MPV, red cell distribution width (RDW), Hemoglobin (Hgb) and white blood cell(WBC) values in pre-treatment stage were statistically different from after treatment period. MPV levels were significantly lower in the pretreatment group. Similarly RDW values were lower in pretreatment group. MPV levels of patients were not diffrent in the acute and subacute stage. There was not any significant difference in the MPV levels of patients with hepatomegaly and without hepatomegaly (MPV levels of patients with splenomegaly were lower than patients without splenomegaly Spearman’s correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between STAT (serum tube agglutination test) and MPV values. Conclusion. MPV levels may be useful in the follow-up of brucellosis patients. Keywords: Brucellosis, acute phase reactant, mean platelet volume Ozet Amac. Bruselloz multisistemik bir enfeksiyon hastaligidir. Brusellozda akut faz reaktanlarinin artmasina neden olan inflamatuar bir surec izlenmektedir. Mean platelet volume (MPV)’ nin bazi hastaliklarda inflamasyonu gosteren bir deger oldugu gosterilmistir. Bu calismada bruselloz hastalarinin MPV duzeylerini arastirmayi amacladik. Yontem. Kirkyedi brusella hastasinin MPV duzeyleri incelendi. Bulgular. Calismamiza yas ortalamasi 47,4±14,6 olan, 21 (%44,7) erkek, 26 (%55,3) kadin,toplam 47 bruselloz hastasi ve yas ortalamasi 45,2±12,3 olan 25 (%53,2) erkek, 22 (%46,8) kadindan olusan 47 kisilik kontrol grubu dahil edildi. Tedavi oncesi ve tedavi sonrasi eritrosit sedimentasyon hizi (ESR), MPV, red cell distribution width (RDW), hemoglobin (Hgb), beyaz kure (WBC) degerleri arasinda istatistiksel olarak anlamli farklilik mevcuttu. Tedavi oncesi MPV duzeyleri anlamli olarak dusuktu. Benzer sekilde tedavi oncesi RDW degerlerinde de anlamli dusukluk saptandi. Akut ve subakut faz arasinda MPV duzeyleri acisindan farklilik saptanmadi. Hepatomegali olan ve olmayan grupta da MPV duzeyleri acisindan belirgin bir fark yoktu. Splenomegalisi olan hastalarin MPV duzeyleri splenomegalisi olmayan hastalara gore daha dusuk idi. Spearman korelasyonu, STAT (serum tube agglutination test) ve MPV arasinda anlamli negatif bir korelasyon gosterdi. Sonuc. MPV duzeyleri bruselloz hastalarinin takibinde kullanisli bir tetkik olabilir. Anahtar sozcukler: Bruselloz, akut faz reaktani, mean platelet volume
Integrating Advanced Writing Content into a Scholarly Inquiry in Nursing Course

Since there are few data examining methods to help students learn to write in a scholarly manner, the purposes of this project were to (1) evaluate students’ learning of writing content integrated into a Scholarly Inquiry in Nursing course by examining differences in scores on a writing assessment taken at the beginning and end of the course; and (2) examine student confidence ratings relative to writing to see if it improved during the course. After obtaining IRB approval and informed consent, the CLIPS pre and post assessment mean scores of 82 students in a Scholarly Inquiry in Nursing course were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Confidence ratings in formal and informal writing were also obtained from a subsample of 47 students. Mean scores improved in 12 out of 26 assessment categories related to punctuation, correct usage of words, and sentence construction. Student mean confidence ratings increased each month.
Long-term skin findings of sulfur mustard exposure on the civilians of Sardasht, Iran

Sulfur mustard (SM) was the most common chemical warfare agent used by Iraqi military forces against Iranian soldiers and civilians in border towns. Studies about late skin complications in SM-exposed people and its comparison with those in a proper control group are limited. The present paper, which is a part of the Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study is concerning with the skin findings of SM exposure 20 years after the chemical bombardment of Sardasht town (Iran) in comparison with the skin findings of the Rabat population. There are two major subgroups of SM exposure: a hospitalized group with moderate to severe problems at exposure time (n = 168), and a not hospitalized group with mild problems (n = 194), and the other is a control group (n = 128) selected from Rabat. Each participant was examined by a dermatologist in the research team. The most common skin lesions in the exposed groups based on their frequency were: eczema (27.6%), xerosis (24.6%), cherry angioma (19.9%), hyperpigmentation (15.5%), mustard scar (14.6%) and seborrheic dermatitis (10.8%), but in the control group, they were: eczema (28.9%), xerosis (11.7%), seborrheic dermatitis (11.7%) and cherry angioma (9.4%). In the exposed group, itching (P < 0.001), burning (P = 0.037), xerosis (P = 0.002), hyperpigmentation (P = 0.002) and cherry angioma (P = 0.007) were seen more often than in the control group and the differences were statistically significant. It is concluded that SM exposure causes significant delayed skin findings. In the exposed group, further follow up was needed for more long-term skin complications such as skin cancers, and there are many questions about the underlying pathophysiology and immunology of SM cutaneous complications that should be investigated.