Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sentinel node biopsy in carcinoma penis using methylene blue dye technique

Purpose : Penile carcinoma is a common disease in India. This paper shows the results of sentinel node biopsy using methylene blue and discusses the incidence of false-negative rates. Materials and Methods: From September 2005 to March 2008, 22 newly diagnosed penile carcinoma patients (T1, T2, N0) were included in this prospective study. Intraoperative lymphatic mapping was done using methylene blue dye and the sentinel node was identified and removed. Lymphadenectomy was performed for positive inguinal lymph node metastasis. Results : There were 22 patients (mean age 52.7). The tumors were mostly located in the glans (73%). Eighty six percent was T1 lesions and 14% was T2. Ninety one percent of the patients underwent partial penectomy, and 9% underwent total penectomy. Sentinel node was identified in 20 patients (90.9%). In total, 49 sentinel nodes were identified (2.45 nodes per person). Only one patient had a positive pathological lymph node metastasis at the time of the surgery. Additionally, two patients became inguinal lymph node positive at the follow-up. This data yielded a sensitivity rate of 33% and a false-negative rate of 66%. There were no complications due to methylene blue. Conclusion : Sentinel node biopsy using only methylene blue for penile carcinoma has a very low sensitivity and a high false-negative rate. However, methylene blue can be used as a substitute for lymphazurin.
Long‐term prognostic value of serum β2 microglobulin in myelomatosis

Summary. The prognostic value of serum β2 microglobulin (sβ2m) measured at entry, at plateau and at 3‐monthly follow‐up times has been assessed for patients in the Medical Research Council's 4th and 5th Myelomatosis Trials. Analysis of 1014 patients confirmed the value of presentation sβ2m of predicting survival in the short term but showed that predictive value was lost for subsequent survival in those patients who had survived for at least 2 years. However, measurements of sβ2m taken during follow‐up were predictive of subsequent survival. The predictive power of these follow‐up measurements was very similar to that for the presenting measurement, and again they were only of value in predicting survival in the next 2 years.
Finnish Allergy Programme 2008–2018 – time to act and change the course

Background: The prevalence of allergic diseases has grown in Finland, similarly to many other western countries. Although the origin of allergy remains unresolved, increasing body of evidence indicates that the modern man living in urban built environment is deprived from environmental protective factors (e.g. soil microorganisms) that are fundamental for normal tolerance development. The current dogma of allergen avoidance has not proved effective in halting the ‘epidemic’, and it is the Finnish consensus that restoring and strengthening tolerance should more be in focus.
Impact of joint torques on heel acceleration at heel contact, a contributor to slips and falls

Slips/falls are a health burden in the workplace. Previous research has implied a relationship between foot dynamics at heel contact and slips/falls; however, heel acceleration has received little attention. Heel acceleration as the heel contacts the ground is the result of the combined effort of the leg joint torques to control motion of the foot. This study aims to examine the association of heel acceleration with fall risk, and explore the main joint torque determinant of heel acceleration at contact. Sixteen young and eleven older adults walked on known dry floors and in slippery environments expected to be dry. Heel acceleration at heel contact in the direction of motion, i.e. anterior/posterior, was compared between slip-recovery and slip-fall outcomes. Results showed that subjects that recovered contacted the floor with a greater heel deceleration (p < 0.05) than fall subjects. Knee torque alone explained 76% of the heel acceleration variability (p < 0.01). These data suggest that walking with reduced knee flexion torque at heel contact results in a reduced heel deceleration, a potential risk factor for slip-initiated falls.
Effects of road surface appearance and low friction warning systems on driver behaviour and confidence in the warning system

Warning systems for slippery road conditions are a potential newcomer among driver support systems. A total of 75 participants drove in a high-fidelity driving simulator on roads with both visible and invisible ice, to investigate to which extent drivers rely on a low friction warning system. Three experimental groups with different versions of a low friction warning system and a control group without warning system were compared. All drivers ranked the systems according to trust. A system displaying recommended speed received the best ratings. Driving speed was analysed for three particular segments of the route. Generally, lowest speeds were achieved with the recommended speed system. The participants drove more slowly on a slippery segment that looked icy than on the segments that looked dry when they did not receive a low friction warning. When they received a warning for low friction they also lowered their speed for the segment looking like asphalt. The results provide guidelines for how to present low friction warnings to drivers. The design has substantial effects on the resulting behaviour and therefore it can have a high impact on traffic safety. So far, not much research on low friction warning systems has been reported.
Upper limb discomfort profile due to intermittent isometric pronation torque at different postural combinations of the shoulder-arm system

Twenty-seven right-handed male university students participated in this study, which comprised a full factorial model consisting of three forearm rotation angles (60% prone and supine and neutral range of motion), three elbow angles (45°, 90° and 135°), three upper arm angles (45° flexion/extension and neutral), one exertion frequency (15 per min) and one level of pronation torque (20% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) relative to MVC at each articulation). Discomfort rating after the end of each 5 min treatment was recorded on a visual analogue scale. Results of a repeated measures analysis of covariance on discomfort score, with torque endurance time as covariate, indicated that none of the factors was significant including torque endurance time (p = 0.153). An initial data collection phase preceded the main experiment in order to ensure that participants exerted exactly 20% MVC of the particular articulation. In this phase MVC pronation torque was measured at each articulation. The data revealed a significant forearm rotation angle effect (p = 0.001) and participant effect (p = 0.001). Of the two-way interactions, elbow*participant (p = 0.004), forearm*participant (p = 0.001) and upper arm*participant (p = 0.005) were the significant factors. Electromyographic activity of the pronator teres and biceps brachii muscles revealed no significant change in muscle activity in most of the articulations. Industrial jobs involving deviated upper arm postures are typical in industry but have a strong association with injury. Data from this study will enable better understanding of the effects of deviated upper arm postures on musculoskeletal disorders and can also be used to identify and control high-risk tasks in industry.
The evolving role of biomechanics in prevention of overexertion injuries

This paper describes occupational biomechanics as an evolving body of knowledge that has required not only a sophisticated development of fundamental biomechanical principles and human failure data, but also has required epidemiological information to enable a more complete understanding of how certain types of musculoskeletal injuries can be caused by specific physical work requirements. It also is argued that even with adequate biomechanical and epidemiological information, the ability to change working conditions and manual task requirements in companies required management and workers to become organised into formal ergonomics teams that could be trained and empowered to reduce the known biomechanical risk factors present in various jobs. It is demonstrated that in the last 35 years occupational biomechanics research continues to provide the intellectual machine that is driving the development of important ergonomics guidelines. Despite these successes, however, some major limitations in contemporary biomechanics knowledge are discussed, particularly related to situations where high-speed motions and repetitions are involved. Finally, the evolving importance and limitations in occupational biomechanical simulation models for proactive ergonomics are presented.
Whaiora : Māori health development

Introduction Te Ao Tawhito - An indigenous health system Tirohanga Maori - Maori health perspectives Maori participation in New Zealand Health Service The Treaty of Waitangi and health Maori development and Maori health The contemporary context Central Government capacities to meet Maori needs A bicultural health service The health reforms Government objectives for Maori health The provision of health care Maori goals for health and health care Conclusions
The Process of Medical Curriculum Development in Malaysia

The first medical school established in Malaysia was the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Malaya in 1963 (Danaraj, 1988). Today, there are 33 medical schools, both public and private. All medical schools require accreditation by the National Accreditation Board and the Malaysian Medical Council. These two regulatory bodies set the minimum standards for accreditation and they include standards that pertain to curricular issues. Apart from adhering to major broad principles, medical schools generally are given a free hand in designing and developing their own curricula. The faculty members of the school determine the nature of the curriculum with the dean playing a vital role in moderating competing demands from the various academic departments. The influence of the Medical Education Department or Unit varies. The Ministry of Health, as the predominant employer of doctors, gives regular feedback to the deans on the performance of their graduates. There has not been any major initiative to involve other important stakeholders, including the public, in the design and development of medical curricula in the country.
Additive role of tiotropium in severe asthmatics and Arg16Gly in ADRB2 as a potential marker to predict response

Background: Recent findings have raised new interests about the use of anticholinergics, especially tiotropium, for the treatment of asthma. This study was performed to determine whether an additional improvement in lung function is obtained when tiotropium is administrated in addition to conventional therapies in severe asthmatics, and to identify factors capable of predicting the response to tiotropium, using a pharmacogenetic approach.
United airways again: high prevalence of rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps in bronchiectasis

Background: Although various relationships between the lower and upper airways have been found, the association of bronchiectasis with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps has not been thoroughly evaluated. This study was undertaken to examine the association of idiopathic and postinfective bronchiectasis with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis.
Delayed hypersensitivity to bosentan

negative SPT to common inhalative allergens. Our patient was provided with an emergency kit (including adrenaline) and was recommended to avoid the relevant fruits. In summary, we report, for the first time, on a German patient with an IgE-mediated allergy against blueberries, which was most likely attributable to sensitization to a 10-kDa LTP. Even though sensitization to LTPs is rare in Germany, our case shows that it may be a clinically relevant and potentially dangerous food allergen outside the Mediterranean area. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. We are indebted to Dr Jonas Lindholm (Phadia AB, Uppsala, Sweden) for providing the ImmunoCAPs for rPru av 3 and rPru p 3 and Dr Stephan Scheurer (Paul-EhrlichInstitut, Abteilung Allergologie, Langen, Germany) for providing r Pru av 3 for immunoblotting.
The importance of usability in product choice: A mobile phone case study

Usability has become established as an important aspect of product design. This paper describes an investigation that was carried out to identify the importance of usability in product choice related to other product attributes. Interviews were initially carried out to identify possible attributes that contribute to product choice. Experiments were then undertaken using the methods of active information search, structured preference elicitation, ranking and interviews in order to find out what attributes were important to people when choosing an example product – mobile phones. It was found that usability is indeed important in product choice but perhaps not as much as users themselves believe. Other attributes that were found to be more important were features, aesthetics and cost. The process of product choice was found to be complex and it may be the case that people have come to expect usability in their products. Further research is needed to understand more fully the changing role of usability in product choice and to further improve the quality of the user–product relationship.
Mobile phone use while cycling: Incidence and effects on behaviour and safety

The effects of mobile phone use on cycling behaviour were studied. In study 1, the prevalence of mobile phone use while cycling was assessed. In Groningen 2.2% of cyclists were observed talking on their phone and 0.6% were text messaging or entering a phone number. In study 2, accident-involved cyclists responded to a questionnaire. Only 0.5% stated that they were using their phone at the time of the accident. In study 3, participants used a phone while cycling. The content of the conversation was manipulated and participants also had to enter a text message. Data were compared with just cycling and cycling while listening to music. Telephoning coincided with reduced speed, reduced peripheral vision performance and increased risk and mental effort ratings. Text messaging had the largest negative impact on cycling performance. Higher mental workload and lower speed may account for the relatively low number of people calling involved in accidents. Statement of Relevance: Although perhaps mainly restricted to flat countries with a large proportion of cyclists, mobile phone use while cycling has increased and may be a threat to traffic safety, similar to phone use while driving a car. In this study, the extent of the problem was assessed by observing the proportion of cyclists using mobile phones, sending questionnaires to accident-involved cyclists and an experimental study was conducted on the effects of mobile phone use while cycling.
Short-term effects of backpack load placement on spine deformation and repositioning error in schoolchildren

Backpack weight of 10–15% has been recommended as an acceptable limit for schoolchildren. However, there is still no clear guideline regarding where the backpack centre of gravity (CG) should be positioned. The changes of spinal curvature and repositioning error when carrying a backpack loaded at 15% of body weight at different CG locations (anterior or posterior at T7, T12 or L3) in schoolchildren were analysed. Both spinal curvature and repositioning error were found to be affected by backpack anterior–posterior position and CG level. A relatively smaller change was observed during anterior carriage with the least change when the backpack CG was positioned at T12. The results also suggested that alternative carriage by changing the backpack position occasionally between anterior and posterior positions might help to relieve the effects of backpack on spine. However, future study is recommended to further substantiate the beneficial effects of alternative carriage on children. Statement of Relevance: Anteriorly carried backpack with centre of gravity positioned at T12 was shown to induce relatively less effect on spinal deformation and repositioning error in schoolchildren. Changing backpack carriage position occasionally may help to relieve its effects on spinal deformation. The findings are important for ergonomic schoolbag design and determining a proper load carriage method.
Rooming-in and cultural practices: Choice or constraint?

This paper examines the policy of rooming-in which is in place in most public maternity hospitals in Australia. Rooming-in is the practice where the baby is placed in a cot beside the mother's bed and is cared for by the mother whilst she is in hospital. It has been argued that rooming-in may strengthen the mother-infant bond and lead to the early establishment of breastfeeding because the mother will have close contact and involvement with her newborn from birth. The policy should, therefore, benefit most new mothers and their newborn infants. Is this the case, however, for women from cultures whose beliefs and practices differ from Western norms? This paper addresses this issue and argues for a more flexible policy when providing care to women, particularly those from Asian backgrounds in multicultural Australian society.
Occupational and environmental risk factors for falls among workers in the healthcare sector

Falls are a leading cause of occupational injury for workers in healthcare, yet the risk factors of falls in this sector are understudied. Falls resulting in workers' compensation for time-loss from work from 2004–2007 for healthcare workers in British Columbia (BC) were extracted from a standardised incident-reporting database. Productive hours were derived from payroll data for the denominator to produce injury rates; relative risks were derived through Poisson regression modelling. A total of 411 falls were accepted for time-loss compensation. Compared to registered nurses, facility support workers (risk ratio (95% CI) = 6.29 (4.56–8.69)) and community health workers (6.58 (3.76–11.50)) were at high risk for falls. Falls predominantly occurred outdoors, in patients' rooms and kitchens depending on occupation and sub-sector. Slippery surfaces due to icy conditions or liquid contaminants were a leading contributing factor. Falls were more frequent in the colder months (January–March). The risk of falls varies by nature of work, location and worker demographics. The findings of this research will be useful for developing evidence-based interventions. Statement of Relevance: Falls are a major cause of occupational injury for healthcare workers. This study examined risk factors including occupation type, workplace design, work setting, work organisation and environmental conditions in a large healthcare worker population in BC, Canada. The findings of this research should contribute towards developing evidence-based interventions.
Effects of military load carriage on kinematics of gait

Manual load carriage is a universal activity and an inevitable part of the daily schedule of a soldier. Indian Infantry soldiers carry loads on the waist, back, shoulders and in the hands for a marching order. There is no reported study on the effects of load on gait in this population. It is important to evaluate their kinematic responses to existing load carriage operations and to provide guidelines towards the future design of heavy military backpacks (BPs) for optimising soldiers' performance. Kinematic changes of gait parameters in healthy male infantry soldiers whilst carrying no load (NL) and military loads of 4.2–17.5 kg (6.5–27.2% body weight) were investigated. All comparisons were conducted at a self-selected speed. Soldier characteristics were: mean (SD) age 23.3 (2.6) years; height 172.0 (3.8) cm; weight 64.3 (7.4) kg. Walk trials were collected using a 3-D Motion Analysis System. Results were subjected to one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett post hoc test. There were increases in step length, stride length, cadence and midstance with the addition of a load compared to NL. These findings were resultant of an adaptive phenomenon within the individual to counterbalance load effect along with changes in speed. Ankle and hip ranges of motion (ROM) were significant. The ankle was more dorsiflexed, the knee and hip were more flexed during foot strike and helped in absorption of the load. The trunk showed more forward leaning with the addition of a load to adjust the centre of mass of the body and BP system back to the NL condition. Significant increases in ankle and hip ROM and trunk forward inclination (≥10°) with lighter loads, such as a BP (10.7 kg), BP with rifle (14.9 kg) and BP with a light machine gun (17.5 kg), may cause joint injuries. It is concluded that the existing BP needs design improvisation specifically for use in low intensity conflict environments. Statement of Relevance:The present study evaluates spatial, temporal and angular changes at trunk and limb joints during military load carriage of relatively lighter magnitude. Studies on similar aspects on the specific population are limited. These data can be used for optimising load carriage and designing ensembles, especially a heavy BP, for military operations.
Behavioral Morbidity of Apnea

In addition to the pulmonary and cardiovascular sequelae associated with the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), there is considerable behavioral morbidity. In fact, it is the behavioral symptoms that most often prompt the patient to seek medical attention. A number of case reports and small case series have provided detailed descriptions of the symptoms typically associated with OSAS. The symptoms usually reported include tiredness, fatigue, sleepiness, memory and judgment problems, difficulty concentrating, and personality changes. To illustrate the prevalence of these various symptoms, data collected from a large sample of 417 patients with OSAS is presented in Table 1. The sample is composed of patients with OSAS evaluated at the Henry Ford Hospital Sleep Disorders Center who had responded to a questionnaire regarding their past and current symptoms. Apart from snoring, which is reported by almost every patient, daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks are predominant symptoms. Cognitive difficulties (difficult concentrating, memory lapses) are reported by one-half to two-thirds of patients. Finally, about one-half of the patients report a personality problem. In a smaller series of patients with OSAS 96% reported snoring,
A novel study design to investigate the early‐life origins of asthma in children (SAGE study)

This is a description of the Study of Asthma, Genes and the Environment (SAGE), a novel birth cohort created from provincial healthcare administrative records. It is a general population‐based cohort, composed of children at high and low risk for asthma, living in urban and rural environments in Manitoba, Canada. The SAGE study captures the complete longitudinal healthcare records of children born in 1995 and contains detailed information on early‐life exposures, such as antibiotic utilization and immunization, in relationship to the development of asthma. Nested within the birth cohort is a case‐control study, which was created to collect information on home environmental exposures from detailed surveys and home dust sampling, to confirm asthma status in children and use this data to validate healthcare database measures of asthma, to determine differences in immune system responsiveness to innate and adaptive immune stimuli in asthma, to genotype children for genes likely associated with the development of asthma and to study the epigenetic regulation of pre‐established protective vs allergic immune responses. The SAGE study is a multidisciplinary collaboration of researchers from pediatric allergy, population health, immunology, and genetic and environmental epidemiology. As such, it serves as a fertile, interdisciplinary training ground for graduate students, and postdoctoral and clinician fellows.