Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of metolazone versus chlorothiazide in acute decompensated heart failure with diuretic resistance.

AIMS Sequential nephron blockade with thiazide-like diuretics is a strategy used to overcome diuretic resistance in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), but head-to-head studies are lacking and equipoise exists regarding the preferred thiazide-like diuretic in this setting. We thus compared the effectiveness of oral metolazone versus intravenous (IV) chlorothiazide as add-on therapy to loop diuretics in hospitalized patients with ADHF and renal dysfunction. METHODS This retrospective cohort study evaluated the efficacy and safety of oral metolazone versus IV chlorothiazide as add-on therapy to loop diuretics in patients hospitalized with ADHF and renal dysfunction. The primary endpoint was net urine output (UOP) at 72 h after initiation of thiazide-like diuretics. Safety endpoints included worsening renal function, hypotension, and electrolyte abnormalities. RESULTS Fifty-five patients were enrolled with 33 patients receiving metolazone and 22 patients receiving chlorothiazide. There was no difference in median net UOP at 72 h in those receiving metolazone (4828 mL, interquartile range [IQR] 2800-7209 mL) compared to chlorothiazide (3779 mL, IQR 1885-6535 mL) (P = 0.16). There was no difference in hypotension, worsening renal function, hyponatremia, or hypokalemia (P = NS for all comparisons). Hospital length of stay was shorter in the metolazone cohort (median 7 days) compared to chlorothiazide (median 15 days), suggesting the chlorothiazide cohort was likely sicker. CONCLUSION Sequential nephron blockade with either metolazone or chlorothiazide appears to be efficacious and safe in ADHF, renal dysfunction, and diuretic resistance. Given the considerable cost difference favoring oral metolazone, larger randomized studies are warranted to confirm our findings and to exclude the possibility of confounding by indication.
Predictive factors of psychological disorder development during recovery following SARS outbreak.

OBJECTIVE To investigate strategies for broad mass isolation during outbreaks of infectious diseases. DESIGN A survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted on 300 printing company workers in Beijing, China, which was under mass isolation following the 2003 SARS outbreak, in the 7-8 months after the isolation was lifted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Individuals with psychological disorders were classified on the basis of scores on the 30-item General Health Questionnaire during the recovery period. Psychological disorders were observed in 49 of 187 respondents (26.2%; 95% CI = 20.2, 32.7). RESULTS The predicting factor with the highest correlation was income reduction, with an odds ratio of 25.0. Other items obtained were gender, range of activities, eating restrictions, restrictions in going out, disinfection of clothing, and infection control, with odds ratios of 3.2, 5.5, 3.9, 3.2, 0.2, and 0.1, respectively, and the contribution ratio was 87.7%. CONCLUSION Securing income is suggested to be important in future strategies.
Spatial patterns of fertility transition in Indian districts.

The article explores the dynamics of Indian fertility at the district level using a child-woman index developed from the four Indian censuses, 1961 to 1991. It employs statistical and geostatistical techniques to assess fertility change across districts and periods. Fertility decline is evident in every region, but sizable regional differentials exist. A cluster analysis of fertility profiles indicates that a clear spatial pattern of fertility in India has emerged and the pattern intensified because of the process of fertility decline. Copyright 2001 by The Population Council, Inc.
SOCIAL NETWORKS AND STATUS ATTAINMENT

This essay traces the development of the research enterprise, known as the social resources theory, which formulated and tested a number of propositions concerning the relationships between embedded resources in social networks and socioeconomic attainment. This enterprise, seen in the light of social capital, has accumulated a substantial body of research literature and supported the proposition that social capital, in terms of both access and mobilization of embedded resources, enhances the chances of attaining better statuses. Further, social capital is contingent on initial positions in the social hierarchies as well as on extensity of social ties. The essay concludes with a discussion of remaining critical issues and future research directions for this research enterprise.
Neck and Back Pain Prevalence in Workers of Iranian Steel industries at 2015

Work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are considered as the main cause of occupational complications and disability in developing countries. In Iranian steel companies, workers commonly are directly involved in the production process and physical activities such as manual material handling and awkward postures. Present study was performed for assessment of neck and back pain prevalence among workers of four Iranian steel industries. Study participants in our cross sectional study, were randomly selected from workers of four Iranian steel industries. Data of neck and back pain were gathered by Nordic questionnaire. Logistic regression was used for controlling confounding variables and determining independent predictors of neck and back pain among study workers. Among study workers, prevalence of neck and back pain in a recent year were 18.40% and 13.90% respectively. Age (p≤0.02) and job experience (p≤0.00) had significant association with neck pain. Age, sex, BMI, and job duration were not known as an independent predictor of neck or back pain. Neck and back pain prevalence in steel industries were happened whit higher rate compared to most of other countries. Next studies will suggest for determining work related risk factors of WMSDs in workers and designing preventive strategies.
The value of QT interval dispersion for identification of total mortality risk in non‐insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus

Sawicki PT, Kiwitt S, Bender R, Berger M (Heinrich‐Heine University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf; Germany). The value of QT interval dispersion for identification of total mortality risk in non‐insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus. J Intern Med 1998; 243: 49–56.
[Second trimester maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome in women of advanced maternal age: a multi-center prospective study].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the performance characteristics of the second trimester double test for the detection of fetal Down's syndrome (DS) in women of advanced maternal age (AMA). METHODS We undertook a prospective nation-wide multi-centered study and chose alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (free beta-hCG) as the serum markers. Between May 2004 and September 2006, 12 centers participated in the collection and analysis of maternal serum AFP and free beta-hCG. Patients with an increased risk of DS (> or = 1/270) were offered genetic amniocentesis. Follow up of the outcome of all pregnancies was obtained. Patients were divided into two groups, the AMA group and the non-AMA group and the screening efficiency was evaluated in both groups. RESULTS A total of 66 132 singleton pregnancies were included in the study, and there were 3610 (5.46%) AMA women. The median maternal age of AMA women was 36.8years (35 - 47 years). At a cut-off of 1/270, in the AMA group, the number of positive cases screened was 727 and 22 cases of fetal DS were detected; the number of negative cases screened was 2883, and no fetal DS was found. In the non-AMA group, the number of positive cases screened was 4743 and 69 cases of fetal DS were detected; the number of negative cases screened was 57 779, and 6 cases of fetal DS were diagnosed postnatally. In AMA group, the detection rate (DR), false positive rate (FPR) and odds of being affected given a positive result (OAPR) were 100%, 19.7% and 3.0% respectively. In the non-AMA group, the DR, FPR and OAPR were 92.0%, 7.5% and 1.5% respectively. CONCLUSION The double-marker test using AFP and free beta-hCG is an effective screen strategy for second-trimester detection of Down syndrome in AMA women.
Beyond the Ballot: Immigrant Collective Action in Gateways and New Destinations in the United States

Most studies that attempt to understand immigrant political incorporation focus on patterns of electoral participation and citizenship acquisition. Given that nearly 60 percent of the foreign-born population in the United States is comprised of noncitizens, we argue that past studies miss an important dimension of the immigrant political incorporation process. In this article, we move beyond the ballot by documenting patterns of immigrant protest and conducting an analysis of the conditions under which immigrant organizing occurs in traditional gateways and new destinations. In addition to political opportunities and resources, we argue that conditions heightening group boundaries between immigrants and natives—what we call boundary markers—should play an important role in encouraging immigrants to develop a shared minority status and make collective claims on behalf of the larger group. Using hurdle models, we test our theoretical ideas with a new data set comprised of over 200 immigrant protest events in 52 metropolitan areas across the United States. Our results challenge past studies of immigrant mobilization because we find that inclusionary contexts characterized by greater access to formal political and economic incorporation both hinder and facilitate immigrant organizing, while boundary markers—measured here as threats and segregation—tend to encourage immigrant protest.
Resuscitation of Depressed Newborn Infants with Ambient Air or Pure Oxygen: A Meta-Analysis

Background: It is discussed whether depressed newborn infants should be resuscitated with room air or 100% O2. Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis including studies that report resuscitation of depressed newly born infants with 21 or 100% O2. Methods: Inclusion criterion was randomized or pseudo-randomized, blinded or not, studies of depressed newborn infants resuscitated with either 21 or 100% O2. The literature was searched in Medline/Pubmed/EMBASE and The Cochrane library databases. All identified studies were included. Results: Five studies fulfilled the inclusion criterion in which 881 infants were resuscitated with 21% O2 and 856 with 100% O2. Neonatal mortality was 8.0 vs. 13.0% in the 21 and 100% O2 groups respectively, OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.42–0.78. In term infants neonatal mortality was 5.9% in the 21% O2 group and 9.8% in the 100% O2 group, OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.40–0.87. The figures for the premature infants were very similar. In infants with 1-min Apgar score <4, OR for neonatal mortality was 0.81 (95% CI 0.54–1.21). Apgar score at 5 min and heart rate at 90 s were significantly higher, and time to first breath significantly earlier in infants given 21% O2 compared with 100% O2. Conclusions: A systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that neonatal mortality is significantly reduced when depressed newly born infants are resuscitated with ambient air instead of pure oxygen. For infants with low 1-min Apgar score (<4), no significant difference in neonatal mortality was found. Recovery was faster in infants resuscitated with 21% O2 than 100% O2.
Detection of HLA-specific antibodies by PRA-STAT and their association with transplant outcome.

OBJECTIVE The aim was to investigate the correlation between renal transplant outcome and the presence of HLA-specific antibodies detected using the ELISA kit PRA-STAT as compared with complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). METHOD 295 sera from 95 renal transplant recipients (99 transplants) were investigated for the presence of HLA-specific antibodies using both PRA-STAT and CDC. The patients were divided into group I (49 transplants failed within 1 month) and group II (50 successful transplants). RESULTS The concordance between PRA-STAT and CDC for the detection of HLA class I-specific antibodies was 87.8% (259 of 295). For 19 sera, antibodies were detected only by PRA-STAT; for 17 sera, antibodies were detected only by CDC. No donor-specific antibodies were detected by either technique for patients in group II. For four group I patients (six sera), donor-specific IgG antibodies were detected only by PRA-STAT (one before, three after transplant) and all four transplants failed. For five other group I patients (six sera), donor HLA-specific antibodies were detected only by CDC (one before, four after transplant) and all five transplants failed. The antibodies detected before transplant by CDC were shown to be IgM alloantibodies. CONCLUSION This study showed that PRA-STAT could detect HLA-specific IgG antibodies relevant to transplant outcome that were not detected by CDC. However, it could not detect IgM alloantibodies that were also shown to be important. PRA-STAT is therefore a useful addition to a histocompatibility laboratory's screening repertoire only when used in conjunction with other techniques.
A predictive model for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

BACKGROUND Although many patients with intermediate-grade or high-grade (aggressive) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are cured by combination chemotherapy, the remainder are not cured and ultimately die of their disease. The Ann Arbor classification, used to determine the stage of this disease, does not consistently distinguish between patients with different long-term prognoses. This project was undertaken to develop a model for predicting outcome in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on the basis of the patients' clinical characteristics before treatment. METHODS Adults with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from 16 institutions and cooperative groups in the United States, Europe, and Canada who were treated between 1982 and 1987 with combination-chemotherapy regimens containing doxorubicin were evaluated for clinical features predictive of overall survival and relapse-free survival. Features that remained independently significant in step-down regression analyses of survival were incorporated into models that identified groups of patients of all ages and groups of patients no more than 60 years old with different risks of death. RESULTS In 2031 patients of all ages, our model, based on age, tumor stage, serum lactate dehydrogenase concentration, performance status, and number of extranodal disease sites, identified four risk groups with predicted five-year survival rates of 73 percent, 51 percent, 43 percent, and 26 percent. In 1274 patients 60 or younger, an age-adjusted model based on tumor stage, lactate dehydrogenase level, and performance status identified four risk groups with predicted five-year survival rates of 83 percent, 69 percent, 46 percent, and 32 percent. In both models, the increased risk of death was due to both a lower rate of complete responses and a higher rate of relapse from complete response. These two indexes, called the international index and the age-adjusted international index, were significantly more accurate than the Ann Arbor classification in predicting long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS The international index and the age-adjusted international index should be used in the design of future therapeutic trials in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and in the selection of appropriate therapeutic approaches for individual patients.
The effect of viscous substances on the transit time of barley digesta in rats.

The influence of a number of hydrocolloids on the transit time of digesta, stool weight and colour of stools was investigated in rats. All hydrocolloids tested gave the stools a lighter colour and increased their size and water content. The hydrocolloids could be divided into two groups according to their action on digesta passage: pectin, gum arabic, oxidised starch and barley β-glucan retarded it, while guar gum, carrageenan, tragacanth gum, carob bean gum, sodium alginate and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose accelerated it. After feeding carrageenan for 1 week it took several weeks before water content and transit time returned to normal. Gum arabic was found to cause caecal distension.
Modification of the peripheral nerve disturbance in ciguatera poisoning in rats with lidocaine

Electrophysiological studies were performed on the ventral tail nerve of adult rats following intraperitoneal injection of a crude extract of ciguatoxin from known toxic fish flesh. Ciguatoxin induced significant slowing of both mixed and motor nerve conduction velocities and also significant reductions in both motor and mixed nerve amplitudes. Both absolute and supernormal periods were significantly prolonged together with an increase in the magnitude of the supernormal response. These electrophysiological disturbances were modified or blocked by intraperitoneal lidocaine. These findings suggest that lidocaine may have a potential therapeutic application in the treatment of the neurological disturbance in acute ciguatera poisoning in humans.
Effect of an extruded pea or rice diet on postprandial insulin and cardiovascular responses in dogs.

Peas are increasing in popularity as a source of carbohydrate, protein and fibre in extruded canine diets. The aim of this study was to test the health effects of two canine diets with identical macronutrient profiles, but containing either yellow field peas or white rice as the carbohydrate source on metabolism, cardiovascular outcomes and adiposity. First, the acute glycemic, insulinemic and cardiovascular responses to the pea- or rice-based diets were determined in normal weight beagles (n = 7 dogs). The glycemic index did not differ between the pea diet (56 ± 12) and rice diet (63 ± 9). Next, obese beagles (n = 9) were fed the yellow field pea diet or white rice diet ad libitum for 12 weeks in a crossover study. Adiposity (measured using computed tomography), metabolic (oral glucose tolerance test, plasma leptin, adiponectin, C-reactive protein) and cardiovascular assessments (echocardiography and blood pressure) were performed before and after each crossover study period. After 12 weeks on each diet, peak insulin (p = 0.05) and area under the curve (AUC) for insulin after a 10 g oral glucose tolerance test (p = 0.05) were lower with the pea than the rice diet. Diet did not show a significant effect on body weight, fat distribution, cardiovascular variables, adiponectin or leptin. In conclusion, a diet containing yellow field peas reduced the postprandial insulin response after glucose challenge in dogs despite continued obesity, indicating improved metabolic health.
Comparative Effects of Microtubules Disruption on Glucocorticoid Receptor Functions in Proliferating and Quiescent Cells

We have recently demonstrated that the alkaloid colchicine (COL) inhibits glucocorticoid receptor (GR) transcriptional activity. In addition, we described proteasome-mediated degradation of GR in COL-treated HeLa cells. While these effects were previously attributed to cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase, this explanation is not applicable for nonproliferating cells such as human hepatocytes (HH). In the current study, we compared COL-mediated microtubule disruption and cell cycle arrest with selected GR functions in HeLa cells and HH as models of proliferating and quiescent cells, respectively. Microtubule disruption led to irreversible decrease in GR binding capacity and protein level in HeLa cells. None of the parameters was restored 24 hours after COL withdrawal. In contrast, dexamethasone (DEX) binding was increased in HH at the beginning of the treatment, with following transient activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). The findings of these investigations emphasize the GR-signaling differences between primary and transformed cells.
Stereopsis: are we assessing it in enough depth?

The assessment of stereoacuity is an integral part of the ophthalmic assessment, with the responses used to inform clinical management decisions. Stereoacuity impacts on many aspects of life, but there are discrepancies reported where people without measurable stereoacuity report appreciating 3‐D vision. This could be due, in part, to the presentation of the stimuli. A literature review was undertaken to evaluate current assessment techniques, how they relate to patient outcomes, identify the limitations of current tests and discuss how they could be improved. Recent evidence has been collated on currently available tests, used commonly within vision clinics, with normative data provided allowing responses to the tests to be interpreted. The relevance of the results is evaluated in relation to a range of outcomes, where a reduced level of stereopsis has a negative impact on the ability of an individual to perform many tasks, and can lead to an increase in difficulty interacting in the world. Current tests are limited in the aspects of stereoacuity they assess and their ability to precisely measure stereopsis. The world is not static, yet clinical tests are limited to measuring static stereoacuity, even though higher grades of depth perception can be identified in the presence of changing depth. Presentation methods of stereoacuity tests have remained similar over time, with a limited number of disparity levels assessed. New assessment methods are becoming available that include automated staircase testing to present multiple levels of disparity using digital technology. Current clinical tests are limited in their presentation, and are poor at detecting/measuring stereoacuity in those with limited stereopsis. Given the relevance of the stereoacuity measurement to management choices and functional outcomes, new testing methods would be beneficial to fully assess stereoacuity, both static and dynamic.
Predictors of Sustained Implementation of Low-Literacy Health EducationPrograms

Sustained implementation of health education interventions is important to optimize the impact of initial investments in program development and training. From 2002-2012, the Health Care Institute (HCI) at UCLA trained 192 Head Start grantees, serving low-income preschool children and families in the U.S., on how to implement lowliteracy health education programs, using a train-the-trainer (TTT) model. The purpose of this study was to investigate what key factors of implementation are associated with sustainability of HCI programs, based on an online survey of Head Start grantees who have participated in the HCI TTT. A 51% response rate was achieved, with 96 surveys returned from the 188 sent to agencies that are still open. Of the grantees responding to the survey, 84% reported that they continue to implement HCI programs and 71% continue to implement them annually. Key predictors of annual implementation included: engagement of stakeholders at all levels; continuing to provide incentives for families; putting HCI into the annual training and technical assistance budget; sending additional staff to the TTT; seeing an improvement in overall program performance; and adapting HCI topics to meet local Head Start grantee needs. Qualitative responses described these same factors in additional detail. These results are consistent with previous research on program sustainability and suggest which elements of implementation may be most important as initial and ongoing investments, if sustainability is a program goal.