Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feedback on the use of three surgical sealants for preventing prolonged air leak after robot-assisted anatomical lung resection.

Background Prolonged air leak (PAL) is the most common complication after lung resection. Several surgical sealants have been developed to reduce PAL, including fibrin-based (FS), polyethylene glycol-based (PEGS) and polyglycolic acid-based (PGAS) sealants. In this work we report our experience of surgical sealant use after robot-assisted lung resection. Methods A 7-year retrospective study was conducted, including patients who had robot-assisted lobectomy or segmentectomy. Data were collected using a prospective national database. The use of surgical sealants was recorded in traceability sheets. Results PAL occurred in 60 of the 299 patients included. American Society of Anesthesiologists score (ASA) and index of prolonged air leak (IPAL) were higher for patients with sealants. In this group, operative time, chest drain duration and length of stay were significantly longer. PAL occurrence was significantly associated to sealant in univariate analysis (odds ratio =1.88, 95% CI: 1.07 to 3.36, P=0.03) but the association was slightly decreased when adjusting on IPAL and ASA score (Odds ratio =1.70, 95% CI: 0.94 to 3.10, P=0.08). Comparing sealants, more segmentectomies were performed in patients with PGAS (P=0.0013) and their operative time was shorter (P=0.0002). PAL occurrences were not different. Length of stay (P=0.0045) and operative time (P=0.0002) were longer in patients with PEGS who had more postoperative complications (P=0.024). Conclusions This study did not identify a positive effect of surgical sealants for preventing PAL. However it highlighted the need to rationalize their use.
Minimum spanning tree and k-core decomposition as measure of subject-specific EEG traits

The identification of subject-specific traits extracted from patterns of brain activity still represents an important challenge. The need to detect distinctive brain features, which is relevant for biometric and brain computer interface systems, has been also emphasized in monitoring the effect of clinical treatments and in evaluating the progression of brain disorders. In this study we propose an approach which aims to investigate the existence of a distinctive functional core (sub-network) using an unbiased reconstruction of network topology. Brain signals from a public and freely available EEG dataset were analysed using a phase synchronization based measure, minimum spanning tree and k-core decomposition. The analysis was performed for each classical brain rhythm separately. Highest classification rates from k-core decomposition were obtained in the gamma (EER = 0.130, AUC = 0.943) and high beta (EER = 0.172, AUC = 0.905) frequency bands. These results confirm that EEG analysis may represent an effective tool to identify subject-specific characteristics that may be of great impact for several bioengineering applications. However, despite the widespread use of these techniques, critical aspects should be considered when dealing with results from high-frequency scalp EEG.
Learning Complex Representations from Spatial Phase Statistics of Natural Scenes

Natural scenes contain higher-order statistical structures that can be encoded in their spatial phase information. Nevertheless, little progress has been made in modeling phase information of images in order to understand efficient representation of image phases in the brain. Based on recent findings of spatial phase structure in natural scenes, we introduce a generative model of the phase information in the visual systems according to the efficient coding hypothesis. In this model, we assume independent priors for the amplitude and phase of the coefficients, and model the phase using a non-uniform distribution, which extends existing models of independent component analysis for complex-valued signals. The parameters of the proposed model are then estimated under the maximum-likelihood principle. Using simulated data, we show that the proposed model outperforms conventional models with a uniform phase prior in blind source separation of complex-valued signals. We then apply the proposed model to natural scenes in the Fourier domain. The learning yields nonlinear features specified by a pair of similar Gabor-like filters in quadratic phase structure. These features predict properties of phase sensitive complex cells in the visual cortex, and indicate that the phase sensitive complex cells are essential for removing redundancy in natural scenes.
Chronic and acute effects of red wine versus red muscadine grape juice on body composition, blood lipids, vascular performance, inflammation, and antioxidant capacity in overweight adults

Purpose: Red wine may benefit health due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds. This research investigated effects of wine (W) versus grape juice (J) on body composition, blood lipids (cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides [TG]), vascular responses (augmentation index [AIx] and central pulse wave velocity [cPWV]), inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP]), and plasma antioxidant capacity (ferric-reducing ability of plasma [FRAP]) in sedentary individuals. Methods: In a randomized crossover design, 19 participants consumed 300 mL of W or J for two weeks and then acutely in the lab. Blood was drawn at baseline, post two weeks, and within 1 hr after consuming treatment. Repeated measures ANOVA with 2 (treatment) × 3 (time) was used for FRAP, AIx, and cPWV and 2 (treatment) × 2 (time) for blood lipids and CRP. A paired t-test was used to compare differences in diet and weight change. Results: Acute, but not chronic, consumption of wine significantly increased FRAP (treatment P = 0.028) and significantly decreased AIx (treatment P = 0.038) while juice exhibited no effects. An overall treatment effect existed for TG (P = 0.028) in wine only. Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and CRP were not affected in either group. Conclusion: Acute, but not chronic, consumption of wine significantly increased antioxidant capacity and resulted in beneficial changes to the vasculature as determined by AIx.
The Role of Pattern Visual Evoked Potential in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

Background: Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. The death of retinal ganglion cells in POAG is reflected by increased cupping of the optic disc, loss of nerve fiber layer and functional visual field defect. Objective: The aim of the work was to assess the role of Pattern Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) in diagnosis of primary open angel glaucoma. Patients and methods: We studied 40 eyes of 21 subjects, the eyes were classified into 2 groups: Group I included 20 eyes of 11 patients with primary open angel glaucoma and Group II included 20 eyes of 10 normal control (age and sex) matched group. All eyes underwent a full field ophthalmic, OCT and pattern VEP. Results: OCT results showed significant reduction of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in glaucoma and glaucoma suspect eyes in the majority of quadrants as well as in the average RNFL thickness p < 0.001. The pattern VEP of glaucomatous patient when compared to normal control group reported affection of the VEP by causing both reductions in amplitude and increases in latency. And by statistically analysis of the results that there were highly statistically significant differences between both groups of the VEP measurements (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The pattern visual evoked potential (VEP) has been shown to be sensitive to optic nerve lesions caused by ischemia and glaucoma has also been reported to affect the VEP by causing both reductions in amplitude and increases in latency.
Pattern of ocular morbidity amongst patients of elderly age group in Central India

Elderly population in India is rapidly on an increase due to increased life expectancy. Visual status is one of the most important health quality indicators for the elderly who are highly prone to develop various eye diseases which form a major health problem to them. So we have tried to study the pattern of ocular morbidity in this age group, to understand the risk factors responsible for blindness in the elderly so that we can focus on the preventive measures that we can adopt to avoid this. In our hospital bassed cross sectional study 500 patients above 50 years of age were taken. Detailed history based on pre-prepaired questionare was taken followed by complete ocular examination and relevant investigations to diagnose the ocular disease in these elderly people. We found that refractive errors followed by cataract were found to be the most common ocular problems in our sample population. Various risk factors like age, gender, residence, educational status, socio-economic status, hypertension, diabetes, cooking fuel used, smoking, alcoholism, and tobacco consumption were tabulated and there significance in causing ocular morbidity and blindness was studied. Finally we concluded that there is a high incidence of ocular morbidity in old age individuals most of the causes being either treatable or preventable. Therefore the focus should be on providing affordable quality eye care services at both the urban and rural areas so that we can prevent ocular morbity and blindness in these elderly individuals specially those with low educational and socioeconomic status. Keywords: Cataract, Glaucoma, Dry eye, Retinopathy, Refractive errors
Optimisation of corneal biomechanical characteristics in orthokeratology for myopia control

The rapid increase in myopia prevalence has escalated a wealth of research interest in the prevention mechanisms of myopia. Orthokeratology (ortho-k) is among the most promising approaches. A reluctance to employ this modality has been observed, owing to the selective treatment outcome and the long-term effects to the corneal tissue. This thesis investigates the attitudes of clinicians towards various myopia control interventions, including ortho-k within a cross-sectional internet-based survey; long-term effects of ortho-k lens wear on corneal biomechanical properties in myopic school-children over a two year period; short-term corneal biomechanical changes over the first 7 nights of lens wear; and the influence of factors (age, ethnicity, eye/body size and nutrition) on corneal biomechanical properties in healthy adults. The aim of this thesis is to aid a deeper understanding of the role of corneal biomechanical properties in ortho-k lens wear,specifically for myopia control. The findings within the thesis demonstrate that surveyed eye-care practitioners are aware of the scientific findings within the field of myopia control; two thirds would still prescribe single vision glasses to their patients, owing to a lack of clear guidelines and the selective treatment outcome. Results of the ortho-k studies suggest that the corneal biomechanical characteristics are affected by long term ortho-k wear, having a stabilising effect to the components of the anterior eye in progressing myopia. Short term ortho- k lens wear study reveals marked changes in corneal biomechanical parameters within the first seven nights of lens wear. Ortho-k itself and the anterior segment changes observed cannot explain all the variation in treatment response. The final study demonstrates the relationship between corneal biomechanical parameters and nutrition, ocular biometry and body size, suggesting that individual factors, although non-substantially, contribute towards the treatment outcome. It, is therefore, suggested to establish an internationally acknowledged guideline for myopia control. Further studies should be designed to understand the complex mechanisms underlying ortho-k in myopia control.
A case control study to determine the role of vitamin D in the risk of coronary artery disease among type 2 diabetic individuals

Background: Diabetes Mellitus comprises a group of metabolic disorder leading to hyperglycaemia. Vitamin D deficiency plays a role in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus pathogenesis. Vitamin D appears to affect several metabolisms that have been associated with coronary artery disease. Vitamin D level has been recently considered as an adjustable risk factor of cardiovascular diseases, in individuals with type 2 Diabetes.Methods: This case control study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, UPUMS. 100 diabetic individuals with low Vitamin D level were taken as cases and 100 diabetic individuals with normal vitamin D level as control. History and examination with necessary investigations were done. Patients with positive history were subjected to investigations to diagnose CAD.Results: The proportion of case and controls had no significant difference in age distribution. The risk of coronary artery disease was 2.76 times higher among diabetes mellitus patients with vitamin D deficiency (1.36-5.59). The risk of CAD was adjusted for various risk factors (age, sex, hypertension, smoking, physical activity, and lipid profile) Odds ratio was found to be 2.8 (95% CI-1.19-6.94, p-0.018). Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency among diabetes patients was found to be an independent risk factor for CAD after adjusting other risk factors emphasizing that vitamin D can be a potential risk factor for development of coronary artery disease.
ASSESSMENT OF DAILY INTAKE OF ARSENIC AND ASSOCIATED HEALTH RISKS FOR CHILDREN

Surface water is a major source of heavy metal contamination due to land use variabilities and can impair the health status of humans especially children when consumed. This study investigated the arsenic concentration in surface water of River Balogun in south-west Nigeria. Fifty-one samples were collected from 17 points along the river and were examined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer (ICP–OES) for arsenic concentration levels and the potential of a risk due to prolonged exposures in children using average daily dose, and hazard quotient (HQ) indices were estimated. From this study, it revealed that the mean daily intake concentrations of arsenic for children were within the range of 0.0034–0.0068 mg/l and these values were below the standards for the World Health Organization. However, long term exposures could be injurious to the health of children as the HQ values were greater than one for all 51 samples. Therefore, continuous human health risk assessment, sensitization on the adverse effects on the overuse of agrochemicals in farms surrounding the rivers, intensified ecosystem services as well as best management practices for improvement of surface water in the region need to be adopted. Furthermore, elaborating on the dangers of high arsenic in water can also be a strategy in preventing children and other population groups from consuming contaminated surface waters in that vicinity.
Should we offer multi-gene testing to all patients with breast cancer: a cost-effectiveness analysis

Introduction/Background Currently breast cancer (BC) patients are offered genetic-testing only if they have a ≥10% risk of being a BRCA carrier based on family history and clinical criteria. However, this approach misses a large proportion (∼50%) of overall mutation carriers as they fall below this 10% threshold. Mutation identification enables primary prevention for ovarian cancer (OC) in BC-patients and BC-&-OC in unaffected relatives. We estimate incremental lifetime-effects, costs, cost-effectiveness and population impact of multigene-testing all BC patients compared to current practice of family-history/clinical-criteria based genetic (BRCA)-testing. Abstract – Table 1 Methodology Cost-effectiveness microsimulation modelling study comparing lifetime costs-&-effects of BRCA1/BRCA2/PALB2 (multigene) testing all unselected BC-cases (Strategy-A) with family-history/clinical-criteria based BRCA1/BRCA2-testing (Strategy-B) in both UK and US populations. Data obtained from 11,836 population-based BC-patients (regardless of family-history) recruited to four large research studies in the UK (Predicting-Risk-of-Breast-Cancer-at-Screening (PROCAS: 1389 out of 57,000 women) & Prospective-Outcomes-in-Sporadic-versus-Hereditary-breast-cancer (POSH: 2885) studies); US (Kaiser-Permanente Washington Breast-Cancer-Surveillance-Consortium (BCSC) registry: 5892 out of 132,139 women) and Australia (Population-based BC-cases of the Australian-Breast-Cancer-Family-Study (ABCFS: 1670 women)). The main outcome measure was the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained with a 3.5% annual discount. Parameter uncertainty was explored using one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Results Compared with current clinical-criteria/family-history-based BRCA-testing, (BRCA1/BRCA2/PALB2) multigene-testing for all BC-patients would cost £10,470/QALY (UK) or $58,702/QALY (US) gained, well below UK/NICE and US cost-effectiveness thresholds of £30,000/QALY & $100,000/QALY. Probabilistic sensitivity-analysis shows unselected multigene-testing remains cost-effective for 98% UK/77% US health-system simulations. One year’s unselected panel-genetic testing can prevent 1,776 BC/OC-cases and 557 deaths in the UK; and 8,258 BC/OC-cases and 2,143 deaths in the US. Correspondingly, 7 UK/32 US excess heart-disease deaths occur annually. Conclusion Unselected panel genetic-testing for all BC patients compared to current clinical-criteria restricted testing is extremely cost-effective. We recommend changing the current policy to expand genetic testing to all BC patients. Disclosure RM declares research funding from The Eve Appeal and Cancer Research UK into population testing and from Barts & the London Charity and Rosetree Charity outside this work, as well as an honorarium for grant review from Israel National Institute for Health Policy Research and honorarium for advisory board meeting for MSD and Astrazeneca. DGE declares travel grants paid by Astrazeneca. The other authors declare no conflict of interest.
An investigation of English Language Learners' performance on regular content assessments: A study of Kansas ELLs

AN INVESTIGATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS’ PERFORMANCE ON REGULAR CONTENT ASSESSMENTS: A STUDY OF KANSAS ELLS by Christina Lee Kitson Due to the federal No Child Left Behind Act and accountability requirements, English language learners (ELLs) in Kansas are expected to make progress in both content area academic achievement and English language proficiency (ELP), as is measured using the state mandated testing for Title I and Title III. In Kansas this is done using the Kansas English Language Proficiency Assessment (KELPA) and the content assessments created by the Center for Educational Testing and Evaluation (CETE) for Math, Reading, and Science. Using validity theory as the framework, the intention of this study was to analyze the relationship between students’ English language proficiency category, as measured by the KELPA, and their scores on the content assessments in Math, Reading, and Science. One goal of the research is to examine the predictive power of English language proficiency on content area assessment scores. Additional demographic variables were added to the analysis to measure their influence on content assessment scores. Multiple regressions and multiple ANOVA analysis were performed on state-wide data for all ELLs in the state of Kansas in 3 – 11 grade classified as ELLs, who took the KELPA and at least one content assessment in 2010. The results confirm that English language proficiency category positively corresponds to content area assessment score for all skills examined. This means that the lower the English proficiency, the lower the content assessment score. Like previous research, Reading had the strongest connection. Students with exceptionality codes (gifted or learning disabled), the English language proficiency category, and the Number of Years in the U.S., were all found to have significance, on average, at least 70% of
The study of blood pressure profile among school going adolescents in urban Agra

Background: Hypertension once considered a problem of adults only in the high income countries, now dramatically is on the rise in low and middle income countries. An established predictor of adult hypertension and organ damage is childhood hypertension. Thus for the control, effective treatment and prevention of its complications, early diagnosis of hypertension in adolescents in an important strategy. The objective was to study the blood pressure profile and its socio-demographic determinants among school going adolescents in urban Agra.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done among 534 adolescent in age group of 13-18 years studying in various government and private schools in urban Agra. Socio demographic details, anthropometric measurements and family history of hypertension were obtained. Also the dietary habits, physical activity, mode of transport to school were included in the present study. Blood pressure was measured at 0 and 30 minutes and average of two readings was taken as the final reading of that individual.Results: It was found that 49.82% of the study subjects had above normal blood pressure and among them 21.16% were hypertensive and 28.66% had pre-hypertension. Higher blood pressure showed a statistically significant (p<0.05) association with gender, age, dietary habits, physical activity, body mass index, and parental history of hypertension.Conclusions: Hypertension among the adolescent age group was very high. Prevalence of high blood pressure significantly associated with age, gender, family history of hypertension, physical activity, type of school and dietary habits.
Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Mucopolysaccharidosis-Related Cervical Myelopathy

Background: Cervical myelopathy (CM) is a common cause of morbidity and disability in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) and, therefore, early detection is crucial for best surgical intervention and follow-up. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) non-invasively evaluates the conductivity along the cortico-spinal tract, also allowing preclinical diagnosis and monitoring. Methods: motor evoked potentials (MEPs) to TMS were recorded in a group of 8 patients with MPS-related CM. Responses were obtained during mild tonic contraction through a circular coil applied over the “hot spot” of the first dorsal interosseous and tibialis anterior muscles, bilaterally. Central motor conduction time was estimated as the difference between MEP cortical latency and the peripheral motor conduction time by cervical or lumbar magnetic stimulation. Peak-to-peak MEP amplitude to cortical stimulation and right-to-left difference of each parameter were also measured. Results: TMS revealed abnormal findings from both upper and lower limbs compatible with axonal damage and demyelination in 6 of them. Notably, a subclinical cervical spinal disease was detected before the occurrence of an overt CM in two patients, whereas TMS signs compatible with a CM of variable degree persisted despite surgery in all treated subjects. Conclusions: TMS screening should be performed in MPS patients, before and after surgery.