Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identifying sociodemographic risk factors associated with residential fire fatalities: a matched case control study

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the association between sociodemographic factors and residential fire fatalities in Sweden. A majority of fatal fires occur in housing. An understanding of risk factors and risk groups is a must for well-founded decisions regarding targeted prevention efforts. There is a lack of consideration of the interrelation between sociodemographic factors and fire fatalities and there is a lack of high quality large-scale studies. Methods In this matched case-control study, residential fire fatalities (cases, n=850) (age above 19 years old) were identified in the national register on fatal fires. Four controls per case were randomly matched by gender and age. ORs were calculated to assess the association between different sociodemographic factors with residential fire fatalities using conditional logistic regression. Results Having low income, receiving social allowance and receiving health-related early retirement pension were associated with an increased risk of dying in residential fires. The results also show clearly that adults dying in residential fires to a significantly lower extent were living together with a partner, were in work, were highly educated and lived in urban areas. However, contrary to previous research, living in rented apartments appeared not to influence the risk of death. Conclusions In this study, we show that fatalities due to residential fires in Sweden are associated with some but not all of previously published sociodemographic risk factors. The results provide valuable information that can improve the guiding and targeting of fire mortality prevention strategies in Sweden.
Do Not Neglect the Body and Action: The Emergence of Embodiment Approaches to Understanding Human Development

It is becoming clear that to truly understand what it is to be human, focusing scientific efforts on the mind alone is insufficient. We are embodied minds, living and acting in a world full of meaningful things. In this article, we discuss how science has been informed by important research insights into the close relationship between the body, the mind, and the world. These interactions can be translated into embodied perspectives of human development. We provide evidence that perception, cognition, emotion, human relations, and behavior are grounded in our bodies from the beginning of our lives. From this perspective, the body cannot be assumed to be simply an effector for cognition or an instrument for collecting information for the brain. This comprehensive review and debate of embodied-related literature is accompanied by the identification of theoretical challenges and practical applications that will shape research for years to come.
Micronutrient powder programs: New findings and future directions for implementation science

Although the efficacy of micronutrient powder has been established, many factors affect the uptake, use, and sustained adherence. For this reason, continuous improvements in programme design and implementation are needed during initial implementation and scale up. The systematic use of strong impact pathways and various forms of practical implementation research are two of the strategies for achieving this, bearing in mind the specific needs, constraints, and timetables of implementers and policy makers.
Role of forest regrowth in global carbon sink dynamics

Significance Regrowth of forests following past disturbances is expected to be an important driver behind the large uptake of anthropogenic CO2 emissions by the terrestrial biosphere. Yet estimates of the size of this uptake vary widely. We combined independent observation-based and model-based sources of disturbance history information to calculate the carbon sink in regrowth forests. On-going carbon uptake due to forest demography is large, but much smaller than previous influential estimates have suggested. Contrary to previous findings, these latest data sources indicate that the sink is predominantly in mid-high latitude, rather than tropical, forests. The remaining uptake potential in forest biomass under current disturbance rates is equivalent to 7 years of emissions from fossil fuel burning at 2016 levels. Although the existence of a large carbon sink in terrestrial ecosystems is well-established, the drivers of this sink remain uncertain. It has been suggested that perturbations to forest demography caused by past land-use change, management, and natural disturbances may be causing a large component of current carbon uptake. Here we use a global compilation of forest age observations, combined with a terrestrial biosphere model with explicit modeling of forest regrowth, to partition the global forest carbon sink between old-growth and regrowth stands over the period 1981–2010. For 2001–2010 we find a carbon sink of 0.85 (0.66–0.96) Pg year−1 located in intact old-growth forest, primarily in the moist tropics and boreal Siberia, and 1.30 (1.03–1.96) Pg year−1 located in stands regrowing after past disturbance. Approaching half of the sink in regrowth stands would have occurred from demographic changes alone, in the absence of other environmental changes. These age-constrained results show consistency with those simulated using an ensemble of demographically-enabled terrestrial biosphere models following an independent reconstruction of historical land use and management. We estimate that forests will accumulate an additional 69 (44–131) Pg C in live biomass from changes in demography alone if natural disturbances, wood harvest, and reforestation continue at rates comparable to those during 1981–2010. Our results confirm that it is not possible to understand the current global terrestrial carbon sink without accounting for the sizeable sink due to forest demography. They also imply that a large portion of the current terrestrial carbon sink is strictly transient in nature.
Impact of non-drug therapies on asthma control: A systematic review of the literature

Abstract Background: Despite growing access to effective therapies, asthma control still needs improvement. Many non-drug factors, such as allergens, air pollutants and stress also affect asthma control and patient quality of life, but an overview of the effectiveness of non-drug interventions on asthma control was lacking. Objectives: To identify non-drug interventions likely to improve asthma control. Methods: A systematic review of the available literature in Medline and the Cochrane Library was conducted in March 2017, without any time limit. Initial searching identified 884 potentially relevant clinical trial reports, literature reviews and meta-analyses, which were screened for inclusion using criteria of quality, relevance, and reporting outcomes based on asthma control. Results: Eighty-two publications met the inclusion criteria. In general, the quality of the studies was low. Patient education programmes (22 studies) significantly improved asthma control. Multifaceted interventions (10 studies), which combined patient education programmes with decreasing exposure to indoor allergens and pollutants, significantly improved asthma control based on clinically relevant outcomes. Renovating homes to reduce exposure to allergens and indoor pollutants improved control (two studies). Air filtration systems (five studies) were effective, especially in children exposed to second-hand smoke. Most measures attempting to reduce exposure to dust mites were ineffective (five studies). Dietary interventions (eight studies) were ineffective. Promoting physical activity (five studies) tended to yield positive results, but the results did not attain significance. Conclusion: Twenty-six interventions were effective in asthma control. Simultaneously combining several action plans, each focusing on different aspects of asthma management, seems most likely to be effective.
Intake of Red and Processed Meat, Use of Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Genetic Variants and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Prospective Study of the Danish “Diet, Cancer and Health” Cohort

Red and processed meat have been associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), whereas long-term use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may reduce the risk. The aim was to investigate potential interactions between meat intake, NSAID use, and gene variants in fatty acid metabolism and NSAID pathways in relation to the risk of CRC. A nested case-cohort study of 1038 CRC cases and 1857 randomly selected participants from the Danish prospective “Diet, Cancer and Health” study encompassing 57,053 persons was performed using the Cox proportional hazard models. Gene variants in SLC25A20, PRKAB1, LPCAT1, PLA2G4A, ALOX5, PTGER3, TP53, CCAT2, TCF7L2, BCL2 were investigated. CCAT2 rs6983267 was associated with risk of CRC per se (p<0.01). Statistically significant interactions were found between intake of red and processed meat and CCAT2 rs6983267, TP53 rs1042522, LPCAT1 rs7737692, SLC25A20 rs7623023 (pinteraction=0.04, 0.04, 0.02, 0.03, respectively), and use of NSAID and alcohol intake and TP53 rs1042522 (pinteraction=0.04, 0.04, respectively) in relation to risk of CRC. No other consistent associations or interactions were found. This study replicated an association of CCAT2 rs6983267 with CRC and an interaction between TP53 rs1042522 and NSAID in relation to CRC. Interactions between genetic variants in fatty acid metabolism and NSAID pathway and intake of red and processed meat were found. Our results suggest that meat intake and NSAID use affect the same carcinogenic mechanisms. All new findings should be sought replicated in independent prospective studies. Future studies on the cancer-protective effects of aspirin/NSAID should include gene and meat assessments. Author Summary Intake of red and processed meat has been associated with risk of cancer and in particular colorectal cancer. However, the underlying biological mechanisms are only incompletely understood. Gene-environment interaction analysis may be used for identifying underlying mechanisms for e.g. meat carcinogenesis. In this work, we have analyzed the interaction between the intake of red and processed meat, use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (including the anti-carcinogenic drug aspirin) and genetic variants. Our results suggest that meat intake and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug use affect the same carcinogenic mechanisms. These results need to be replicated in other cohort studies with lifestyle information. If replicated, these results may have future implications for developing new strategies for preventing colorectal cancer and other cancers that share similar pathways.
A Randomised Crossover Trial: The Effect of Inulin on Glucose Homeostasis in Subtypes of Prediabetes

Background: Fermentable carbohydrates (FCHO) have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity in normoglycaemic and insulin-resistant subjects. However, there are no data on subjects with prediabetes. We aimed to investigate the effect of the FCHO inulin, on glucose homeostasis in subjects with prediabetes. Methods: In a double-blind and placebo-controlled crossover study, 40 volunteers with prediabetes were randomly allocated to take 30 g/day of inulin or cellulose for 2 weeks in a crossover trial, following a 4-week dose-escalation run-in. Fasting insulin and glucose were measured for all subjects. Fifteen of the 40 subjects also underwent a meal tolerance test to assess insulin sensitivity, free fatty acids and glucagon-like peptide-1 concentrations. A subanalysis was carried out to examine any differences between the prediabetes subtypes. Results: Inulin was associated with a significant increase in (0-30 min)incremental AUC (iAUC) for insulin (treatment: p < 0.04) and (0-60 min)iAUC for insulin (treatment: p < 0.04) compared to control. There was a significant reduction in insulin resistance measured by the homeostatic model assessment in the isolated-impaired fasting glucose (p < 0.05) but not in the isolated-impaired glucose tolerance groups (p = 0.59). Conclusion: The FCHO, inulin, may have unique metabolic effects that are of particular benefit to people at risk of diabetes, which warrant further investigation.
Vitamin D as a risk factor for patient survival after kidney transplantation: A prospective observational cohort study

Short‐term survival after kidney transplantation is excellent, but long‐term survival remains low and is equivalent to non‐end‐stage renal disease patients with many invasive malignancies. The aim of the study was to explore vitamin D status in the early phase after transplantation as a prognostic marker for long‐term graft and patient survival.
Higher Risk of Recurrent Ischemic Events in Patients With Intracranial In-Stent Restenosis

Background and Purpose— Reliable data concerning prognosis of patients with intracranial in-stent restenosis (ISR) is lacking. We prospectively studied long-term outcomes of patients with and without a catheter angiography-verified ISR. Methods— Between September 2001 and May 2009, 540 consecutive patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis received stenting treatment at our institute. Of them, 226 patients with 233 stented arteries had catheter angiography follow-up after stenting and were enrolled into this study. They were clinically followed up until the end of December 2011. Primary end point was ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack in the territory of the stented artery after the catheter angiography follow-up. ISR was defined as a catheter angiography-verified stenosis of ≥50% within or immediately adjacent (within range of 3 mm) to the implanted stent. Results— During a mean follow-up of 38.9 months, 27 (11.6%, 27/233) primary end point events were recorded. The risk of primary end point in ISR group was higher compared with non-ISR group (21.1% [12/57] versus 8.5% [15/176]; hazard ratio, 2.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.37–6.30; P=0.005). Multivariable analysis showed that the ISR was an independent risk factor for the primary end point (hazard ratio, 2.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.20–6.49; P=0.017). The median occurrence time of primary end point was 9.9 (interquartile range, 5.0, 21.1) months in ISR group, earlier than that in non-ISR group (26.6 [13.1, 52.9] months; P=0.01). Conclusions— In-stent restenosis after stenting of intracranial atherosclerosis is significantly associated with an increased risk and an earlier occurrence of recurrent ischemic events in the territory of the stented intracranial artery.
Pharmacotherapy of alcohol use disorders by the Veterans Health Administration: patterns of receipt and persistence.

OBJECTIVE This study assessed changes since 2007 at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities (N=129) in use of the medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of alcohol use disorders. METHODS VHA data from fiscal years (FYs) 2008 and 2009 were used to identify patients with a diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder who received oral or extended-release naltrexone, disulfiram, or acamprosate as well as the proportion of days covered (PDC) in the 180 days after initiation and the time to first ten-day gap in possession (persistence) for each medication. Multilevel, mixed-effects logistic regression models examined the association between patient and facility characteristics and use of medications. RESULTS Nationally, 3.4% of VHA patients with an alcohol use disorder received medications in FY 2009 (11,165 of 331,635 patients), up from 3.0% in FY 2007. Use of medications by patients at the facilities ranged from 0% to 12%. In fully adjusted analyses, facilities offering evening and weekend services had higher rates of medication receipt, but other facility characteristics, such as having prescribers on the addiction program's staff or using medication to treat opioid or tobacco dependence, were unrelated to medication receipt. The mean PDC of acamprosate was significantly lower than mean PDCs of the other medications (p<.05), and persistence in use of naltrexone was significantly greater than use of acamprosate and significantly less than use of disulfiram (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS Use of these medications is increasing but remains variable across the VHA system. Interventions are needed to optimize initiation of and persistence in use of these medications.
FTY720 alleviates coxsackievirus B3‐induced myocarditis and inhibits viral replication through regulating sphingosine 1‐phosphate receptors and AKT/caspase‐3 pathways

Fingolimod (FTY720) after phosphorylation, as the ligand of sphingosine 1‐phosphate receptors (S1PRs), plays an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation. In this article, FTY720 in the treatment of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)‐induced viral myocarditis was closely related to apoptosis and AKT/caspase‐3 apoptotic pathways. We found that CVB3 inhibited myocardial apoptosis at the early stage with upregulating p‐AKT level and downregulating activated caspase‐3 level for replication of virus progeny, whereas it promoted apoptosis at a late stage with downregulating p‐AKT and upregulating activated caspase‐3 for releasing the newly synthesized virus to spread. Interestingly, FTY720 could reverse this trend; it promoted apoptosis at an early stage and inhibited apoptosis at the late stage in vivo and vitro, which proved the antiviral effect. We also found that S1PR1, S1PR4, and S1PR5, rather than S1PR2 and S1PR3, were regulated by FTY720 in this process. The results confirmed that FTY720 alleviates CVB3‐induced myocarditis and inhibits viral replication through regulating S1PRs and AKT/caspase‐3 pathways with a bidirectional regulation of apoptosis.
Quality of life versus length of life considerations in cancer patients: A systematic literature review

Patients with cancer face difficult decisions regarding treatment and the possibility of trading quality of life (QoL) for length of life (LoL). Little information is available regarding patients' preferences and attitudes toward their cancer treatment and the personal costs they are prepared to exchange to extend their life. The aim of this review is to determine the complex trade‐offs and underpinning factors that make patients with cancer choose quality over quantity of life.
Mineralocorticoid Antagonism and Vascular Function in Early Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE Vascular dysfunction, characterized by impaired vascular endothelial function and increased large-elastic artery stiffness, is evident early in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and is an important predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. Aldosterone excess has been implicated in the development of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness, in part by causing increased oxidative stress and inflammation. We hypothesized that aldosterone antagonism would reduce vascular dysfunction in patients with early-stage ADPKD. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind, clinical trial. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 61 adults aged 20 to 55 years with ADPKD, estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥ 60mL/min/1.73m2, and receiving a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor. INTERVENTION Spironolactone (maximum dose, 50mg/d) or placebo for 24 weeks. OUTCOMES Change in brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMDBA) was the primary end point and change in carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (CFPWV) was the secondary end point. RESULTS 60 participants completed the trial. Participants had a mean age of 34±10 (SD) years, 54% were women, and 84% were non-Hispanic white. Spironolactone did not change FMDBA (8.0% ± 5.5% and 7.8% ± 4.3% at baseline and 24 weeks, respectively, vs corresponding values in the placebo group of 8.4% ± 6.2% and 8.0% ± 4.6%; P=0.9for comparison of change between groups) or CFPWV (640±127 and 603±101cm/s at baseline and 24 weeks, respectively, vs corresponding values in the placebo group of 659±138 and 658±131cm/s; P=0.1). Brachial systolic blood pressure was reduced with spironolactone (median change, -6 [IQR, -15, 1] vs -2 [IQR, -7, 10] mm Hg in the placebo group; P=0.04). Spironolactone did not change the majority of circulating and/or endothelial cell markers of oxidative stress/inflammation and did not change vascular oxidative stress. LIMITATIONS Low level of baseline vascular dysfunction; lack of aldosterone measurements. CONCLUSIONS 24 weeks of aldosterone antagonism reduced systolic blood pressure without changing vascular function in patients with early-stage ADPKD. FUNDING NIDDK, NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, and the Zell Family Foundation. TRIAL REGISTRATION Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with study number NCT01853553.
Drug‐coated balloon versus plain old balloon angioplasty in femoropopliteal disease: An updated meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Drug‐coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty has emerged as a mainstay of therapy for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) involving the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries. We performed a meta‐analysis including all available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to date which compare DCB to plain balloon angioplasty (POBA) in femoropopliteal disease (FPD).
Twenty “must-read” research articles for primary care providers in Nunavik: scoping study and development of an information tool

ABSTRACT While health needs in Nunavik are distinct, there is a scarcity of knowledge transfer intended for local primary care providers. We aimed to build an information tool in the form of a newsletter and a website to share with them a selection of relevant research articles. To identify such articles, a scoping study of Inuit health research published between 2012 and 2017 was conducted. Selection criteria were adapted from the framework of information mastery. After a database search yielding 2896 results, publications were screened for eligibility. Next, the 226 eligible articles were evaluated and scored for their relevance, their methods (including community participation), their local applicability and their clinical utility. The 20 highest-scored articles were selected for dissemination in a newsletter. They were summarised and presented in 6 thematic emails: Child Development, Infectious Diseases, Traditional and Modern Medicine, Metabolism, Nutrition and Contaminants, and Inuit Perspectives. The newsletter was sent to over 190 health workers and regional stakeholders in Nunavik and was also published online. We hope that this project will foster knowledge sharing and inter-sectorial collaboration between research, public health and clinical care. Trends in Inuit health research are discussed.
Perceived Social Support Among Adults Struggling With Adherence to HIV Care and Treatment

Abstract Few studies have examined perceived social support among the subgroup of the HIV population that struggles with adherence to HIV care and treatment. A secondary analysis from 2 HIV medication adherence intervention studies was conducted using a mixed method design. Participants were not taking HIV medications as prescribed or had fallen out of HIV care. Two major themes emerged from the qualitative data analysis: extreme isolation and constant turmoil. Overall social support scores were low, as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. Convergent qualitative data excerpt corresponded with low scores on every dimension of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. Findings from our study indicate that adults living with HIV who struggled with taking HIV medications lacked social support in many areas of their lives. Interventions that focus on perceptions of available social support may be helpful for individuals with ongoing HIV medication adherence challenges.