Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of irrigating fluid temperature on core body temperature during Transurethral resection of the prostate

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of irrigating fluid temperature on core body temperature changes in patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). A cross sectional study was conducted on 32 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who underwent TURP at our institution between September 2003 and January 2004. Patients were randomized to one of two groups. Standard group consisted of 16 patients who received room temperature irrigating fluid (± 23.6 0 C) throughout TURP. Isothermic group consisted of 16 patients whose procedure was performed using warmed irrigating fluid (± 37.2 0 C). The irrigating fluid used for both groups was aquabidest. The age, resection time, weight of resected prostate, amount of irrigating fluid used, temperature in the operating theatre, core body temperature at beginning and at conclusion of TURP were recorded for each patient. The t test was used for comparison between both groups and a p value of 0.05 or less was considered significant. The result of this study showed a decrease of core body temperature during TURP, using either room temperature or warmed irrigating fluid (both p = 0.000). None of the patients in either group demonstrated any criteria of hypothermia. The average decrease of core body temperature in standard group (0.99 0 C) was greater than in isothermic group (0.75 0 C), but it was not significantly different (p > 0.05). In conclusion, our study revealed that using either room temperature irrigating fluid or warmed irrigating fluid during TURP could decrease core body temperature at approximately similar level, with no incidence of hypothermia. (Med J Indones 2005; 14: 152-6) Keywords: hyporthermia, body temperature, irrigating fluid
Concordance between in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy and histology in the evaluation of plaque psoriasis

Background Psoriasis is a common skin inflammatory disease that affects 2% of the general population. Plaque psoriasis (PP) is its most common variant. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non‐invasive, reproducible imaging technique that has proven to give useful information for morphometric evaluation of several inflammatory skin conditions, such as acute contact dermatitis and discoid lupus.
Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: Update of the Recommendations from Scientific Leader’s Meeting-28th July 2011-Tehran, IR Iran

Hepatitis C remains as an important health problem worldwide. Hepatitis C treatment, especially among patients infected with HCV genotype 1 who are considered difficult to treat, is a high priority for health policy-makers. PegInterferon alfa instead of Interferon and ribavirin combination therapy has been accepted as the standard treatment regimen for hepatitis C patients; however, only 50% of patients infected with HCV genotype 1 achieve a sustained virological response. Published data from various clinical trials of protease inhibitors suggest that new therapeutic regimens may increase the chances of a successful response in patients infected with HCV genotype 1. Triple therapy that includes boceprevir has been shown to result in high rates of sustained virological response in both naive and experienced patients with HCV genotype 1 infection. In this review, we have summarized the results obtained with this new regimen and have attempted to provide a guideline for the treatment of patients in Iran, with emphasis on cost and the occurrence of adverse events. ARTICLE INFO
Perfluorooctanoic Acid Exposure and Pregnancy Outcome in a Highly Exposed Community

Background: We assessed the association between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and pregnancy outcome in an area with elevated exposure to PFOA from drinking water contaminated by chemical plant releases. Methods: Serum PFOA was measured, and reproductive and residential histories were obtained during 2005–2006. We estimated serum PFOA levels at the time of pregnancy for 11,737 pregnancies occurring between 1990 and 2006, based on historical information on PFOA releases, environmental distribution, pharmacokinetic modeling, and residential histories. We assessed the association between PFOA and the odds of miscarriage, stillbirth, preeclampsia, preterm birth, term low birthweight, and birth defects, controlling for calendar time, age, parity, education, and smoking. PFOA exposure was evaluated as a continuous measure (with and without log transformation) and in quintiles, combining the lowest 2 quintiles (<6.8 ng/mL) as the referent. Results: Measures of association between PFOA and miscarriage, preterm birth, term low birthweight, and birth defects were close to the null. Odds of stillbirth were elevated in the fourth quintile only. For preeclampsia, the odds ratio was 1.13 (95% confidence interval = 1.00–1.28) for an interquartile shift in log-transformed PFOA, and the odds ratios were 1.1–1.2 across the upper 3 quintiles of exposure. Conclusions: In this large, population-based study in a region with markedly elevated PFOA exposure, we found no associations between estimated serum PFOA levels and adverse pregnancy outcomes other than possibly preeclampsia. Conclusions are tempered by inherent limitations in exposure reconstruction and self-reported pregnancy outcome information.
Psychotherapy East and West

The author, by profession minister, philosopher, writer, and teacher, has for many years been an outstanding interpreter of Asian thinking. In this book, he raises the problem of the therapeutically effective process, and compares the liberation procedures of Buddhism, Taoism, Vedanta, and Yoga to the Western psychological and psychiatric methods of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. The search for a common denominator is presented in 6 chapters in which philosophical, cultural, social, and psychological considerations are tightly interwoven. The book is well documented and contains many original quotations; it is easily readable and full of pearls of wisdom. However, it is not recommended for the man who is easily disturbed when the underpinnings of his existence are examined too closely. He had best put the book aside with the statement, "just philosophy. " However, the professional who seeks an understanding of modern psychological man will find this book enlightening, entertaining, and brief in
Associations between vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and susceptibility to Behcet’s disease: A meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Background: The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms have been reported to be related to the development of Behcet’s disease (BD). However, the results have been inconsistent among diverse populations. Therefore, this comprehensive meta-analysis has been designed to assess a more accurate association between VDR polymorphisms and BD susceptibility. Methods: An electronic literature search was conducted to identify eligible studies. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated in different genetic models to assess this association. Results: A total of six separate comparisons comprised of 468 cases and 516 controls were included in the meta-analysis model. The meta-result demonstrated that A allele of ApaI (A vs. a: 1.54 95% CI = 1.04–2.26, P = 0.029), and F allele of FokI (F vs. f: OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.45–0.76, P = 0.007) polymorphisms were associated with the risk of BD in total and African populations, respectively. This significant association was also found in recessive and homozygotes models. Subgroup analysis indicated that FokI variant among Africans and ApaI variant among Caucasian were significantly associated with the risk of BD. No relationship was found between Bsmi and TaqI polymorphisms and BD risk. Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrated the association between FokI and ApaI polymorphisms in VDR gene with the risk of BD, providing insights into the potential role of vitamin D receptor in the pathogenesis of BD.
Qualidade funcional da infusão do chá verde comercial

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the quality of two commercial brands of green tea in sachets, verifying how different infusion times, including that recommended by the manufacturer, affect functional component levels. METHODS: High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection was used for identifying and quantifying caffeine, catechin, epigallocatechin, rutin and epicatechin. RESULTS: Epigallocatechin and catechin levels of both brands were higher with an infusion time of 6 minutes in boiling water (100°C). Rutin was only found in one of the brands after an infusion of six minutes. Methanol (99.8%) extraction significantly increased the yield of all study compounds. The Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity of the tea increased with infusion time. However, the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity of the methanol extractions was significantly smaller than that of all of the other treatments (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Chemical analysis of moisture, ash, ash insoluble in hydrochloric acid, and microscopic analysis of dirt and other physical contaminants showed that both brands conform to the legislation with respect to these parameters.
Thyroxine Levels During Pregnancy in Healthy Women and Early Child Neurodevelopment

Background: The fetus depends on maternal thyroid hormones during pregnancy for normal brain development. Little is known about the effects of subclinical hypothyroidism and mild hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy on neurodevelopment of the child. Methods: We evaluated a population-based birth cohort in Spain. A total of 1761 children and their mothers were included in the main analyses. Serum levels of free thyroxine and thyrotropin were measured in pregnant women. Mental and psychomotor development of their children was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development during the second year of life. Results: Low free thyroxine levels (<5th percentile) and self-reported prepregnancy thyroid disorder without medical treatment were associated with a decrease of mental scores (Beta = −3.4 [95% confidence interval= −6.7 to −0.2]) and −5.5 [−8.9 to −2.0], respectively). No association between thyrotropin levels and mental scores or psychomotor scores was observed. Conclusions: Low free thyroxine levels in healthy pregnant women are related to a moderate delay in child neurodevelopment. The impairment is similar in magnitude to that observed in mothers with untreated prepregnancy thyroid disorder. The value of screening pregnant women for thyroid function requires further assessment, particularly in mildly iodine-deficient areas.
P values and statistical practice.

Sander Greenland and Charles Poole accept that P values are here to stay but recognize that some of their most common interpretations have problems. The casual view of the P value as posterior probability of the truth of the null hypothesis is false and not even close to valid under any reasonable model, yet this misunderstanding persists even in high-stakes settings (as discussed, for example, by Greenland in 2011). The formal view of the P value as a probability conditional on the null is mathematically correct but typically irrelevant to research goals (hence, the popularity of alternative—if wrong—interpretations). A Bayesian interpretation based on a spike-and-slab model makes little sense in applied contexts in epidemiology, political science, and other fields in which true effects are typically nonzero and bounded (thus violating both the “spike” and the “slab” parts of the model). I find Greenland and Poole’s perspective to be valuable: it is important to go beyond criticism and to understand what information is actually contained in a P value. These authors discuss some connections between P values and Bayesian posterior probabilities. I am not so optimistic about the practical value of these connections. Conditional on the continuing omnipresence of P values in applications, however, these are important results that should be generally understood. Greenland and Poole make two points. First, they describe how P values approximate posterior probabilities under prior distributions that contain little information relative to the data:
Prenatal and Infant Exposures and Age at Menarche

Background: Early menarche is related to increased risk of breast cancer. The number of established factors that contribute to early menarche is limited. We studied prenatal and infant exposures in relation to age at menarche in a nationwide cohort of women who have a family history of breast cancer. Methods: The study comprised 33,501 women in the Sister Study who were 35–59 years of age at baseline (2003–2009). We used polytomous logistic regression to estimate separate relative risk ratios (rRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations of self-reported exposures with menarche at ⩽10, 11, 14, and ≥15 years relative to menarche at 12–13 years. Results: Early menarche (⩽10 or 11 years) was associated with having low birth weight, having had a teenage mother, being firstborn, and specific prenatal exposures: mother's smoking, diethylstilbestrol (DES), prepregnancy diabetes, and pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder. Prenatal exposures most strongly associated with very early menarche (⩽10 years) were DES (rRR = 1.56 [95% CI = 1.24–1.96]), maternal prepregnancy diabetes (2.24 [1.37–3.68]), and pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder (1.45 [1.18–1.79]). Soy formula was associated with both very early menarche (1.21 [0.94–1.54]) and late menarche (14 years: 1.17 [0.98–1.40] or ≥15 years: 1.28 [1.06–1.56]). Conclusions: Although menarche is only one marker of pubertal development, it is a commonly used surrogate. The observed associations of prenatal DES and soy formula exposure with age at menarche are consistent with animal data on exogenous estrogens and pubertal timing. Early-life exposures may confound associations between age at menarche and hormonally dependent outcomes in adults.
Urinary Bisphenol A Concentration and Thyroid Function in Chinese Adults

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor that in animal studies can bind to the thyroid hormone receptor and affect thyroid function. Relevant epidemiologic studies are limited and results are inconsistent. We explored the relationship between urinary BPA and thyroid function in a Chinese population. Methods: The study population included 3394 subjects age 40 years or older who were enrolled in a population-based study from Songnan Community, Baoshan District, Shanghai, China, from June through August 2009. We analyzed the association between urinary BPA and thyroid function using multivariate linear regression. Participants were further divided according to thyroid function status, and logistic regression was applied to determine the relationship between urinary BPA and thyroid function. Results: Each one-quartile increase in BPA was related to an increase of 0.068 pmol/l (95% confidence interval = 0.065– 0.071) in free triiodothyronine and a 0.084 &mgr;IU/ml decline (−0.099 to −0.069) in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in men. For women, there was a 0.10 pmol/l (0.09 to 0.11) increase in free triiodothyronine and a 0.13 &mgr;IU/ml decline (−0.14 to −0.11) in TSH. High urinary BPA level was associated with increased thyroid function (adjusted odds ratio= 1.71 [1.26 to 2.32]). Conclusions: Our results support previous reports of associations between BPA exposure and altered thyroid hormones in animal models and epidemiologic studies. Because our study is cross-sectional, no causal relationships can be established.
Perfluorooctanoate and Neuropsychological Outcomes in Children

Background: In animal studies, perfluorinated compounds affect fetal growth, development, viability, and postnatal growth. The limited epidemiologic findings on child neurobehavioral development are mixed. Methods: We recruited and evaluated 320 children who participated in the C8 Health Project, a 2005–2006 survey in a Mid-Ohio Valley community highly exposed to perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) through contaminated drinking water. We examined associations among estimated in utero PFOA exposure, measured childhood PFOA serum concentration, and subsequent performance on neuropsychological tests 3–4 years later at ages 6–12 years. We assessed Intelligence Quotient (IQ) reading and math skills, language, memory and learning, visual-spatial processing, and attention. All multivariable linear regression models were adjusted for age, sex, home environment, test examiner, and maternal IQ. Models with measured childhood PFOA were additionally adjusted for child body mass index. Results: Children in the highest as compared with lowest quartile of estimated in utero PFOA had increases in Full Scale IQ (&bgr; 4.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.7–8.5) and decreases in characteristics of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder as measured by the Clinical Confidence Index of Connors’ Continuous Performance Test–II (&bgr; −8.5, 95% CI = −16.1 to −0.8). There were negligible associations between PFOA and reading or math skills or neuropsychological functioning. Conclusion: These results do not suggest an adverse association between the levels of PFOA exposure experienced by children in this cohort and their performance on neuropsychological tests.
Early Growth Patterns in Children with Autism

Background: Case-control studies have found increased head growth during the first year of life in children with autism spectrum disorder. Length and weight have not been as extensively studied, and there are few studies of population-based samples. Methods: The study was conducted in a sample of 106,082 children from the population-based Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort. The children were born in 1999–2009; by the end of follow-up on 31 December 2012, the age range was 3.6 through 13.1 years (mean 7.4 years). Measures were obtained prospectively until age 12 months for head circumference and 36 months for length and weight. We compared growth trajectories in autism spectrum disorder cases and noncases using Reed first-order models. Results: Subjects included 376 children (310 boys and 66 girls) with specialist-confirmed autism spectrum disorder. In boys with autism spectrum disorder, mean head growth was similar to that of other boys, but variability was greater, and 8.7% had macrocephaly (head circumference >97th cohort percentile) by 12 months of age. Autism spectrum disorder boys also had slightly increased body growth, with mean length 1.1 cm above and mean weight 300 g above the cohort mean for boys at age 12 months. Throughout the first year, the head circumference of girls with autism spectrum disorder was reduced—by 0.3 cm at birth and 0.5 cm at 12 months. Their mean length was similar to that of other girls, but their mean weight was 150–350 g below at all ages from birth to 3 years. The reductions in mean head circumference and weight in girls with autism spectrum disorder appear to be driven by those with intellectual disability, genetic disorders, and epilepsy. Discussion: Growth trajectories in children with autism spectrum disorder diverge from those of other children and the differences are sex specific. Previous findings of increased mean head growth were not replicated.
Cadmium in Diet and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Women

Background: The toxic metal cadmium is suggested to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, but only one incidence study has explored this association. We evaluated the association between quartiles of food frequency questionnaire–based estimates of cadmium exposure from food (the predominant source of exposure to the metal) and incident cardiovascular disease and its subtypes. Methods: From the population-based Swedish Mammography cohort, 33,333 women were followed prospectively from baseline (1997) through 2010. We estimated relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Cox proportional hazard models. Results: During 12 years of follow-up, we identified 3155 incident cases of total cardiovascular disease (1322 cases of myocardial infarction and 1833 cases of total stroke [1485 ischemic and 208 hemorrhagic stroke]). Dietary cadmium exposure was not associated with risk of total cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, or total stroke or its subtypes. For total cardiovascular disease, the multivariable-adjusted RR comparing the highest quartile of cadmium exposure with the lowest was 0.96 (95% CI = 0.85–1.09). The corresponding RRs were 1.07 (0.88–1.29) for myocardial infarction, 0.90 (0.76–1.05) for total stroke, 0.89 (0.74–1.06) for ischemic stroke, and 1.11 (0.68–1.80) for hemorrhagic stroke. Conclusions: Our study lends no support to an overall association between low-level exposure to cadmium via food and incident cardiovascular disease.
A Review of the Course and Treatment of Non-Infectious Uveitis during Pregnancy

ABSTRACT Inflammatory conditions such as autoimmune uveitis often occur in women of childbearing age. During pregnancy, women may experience exacerbations of their disease in the first trimester. In the later stages of pregnancy, however, the uveitis tends to remain less active. The management of uveitis during pregnancy is a challenging task, forcing the physician to re-evaluate the patient’s current therapy and offer alternative options that pose the least risk to the patient and fetus. This article will review treatments widely used for uveitis, including corticosteroid therapy, anti-metabolites, calcineurin inhibitors, and biologic therapy. It will evaluate the use of these medications in pregnancy and the postpartum state.
Visual Outcomes in Japanese Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome Caused by USH2A Mutations

ABSTRACT Purpose: EYS and USH2A are the most common causative genes for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in Japan. We determined the clinical outcomes for USH2A-related non-syndromic RP or Usher syndrome type II (USH2). Methods: Two non-syndromic RP and 11 USH2 patients with previously identified USH2A mutations were included. Their complete history and medical records were collected using standard procedures. Visual fields and acuity were compared with those of patients with EYS mutations. Clinical analyses were based on ophthalmic and otolaryngologic examinations. Results: In all patients, the fundus displayed changes typical of RP. Most patients showed relatively well-preserved visual acuity in their thirties or forties, with rapid deterioration in their fifties. Concentric constriction started in the twenties or thirties, and no effective residual visual field was observed after the fifties. Conclusions: The visual outcome for non-syndromic RP or USH2 patients with USH2A mutations is consistent with that for RP patients with EYS mutations.
Cataract Surgery Complications in Uveitis Patients: A Review Article

ABSTRACT Uveitis is a leading causes of blindness worldwide, and the development of cataracts is common due to both the presence of intraocular inflammation and the most commonly employed treatment with corticosteroids. The management of these cataracts can be very challenging and often requires additional procedures that can compromise surgical results. The underlying disease affects a relatively young population at higher risk of complications. Preoperative control of inflammation/quiescent disease for at least three months is generally accepted as the minimum amount of time prior to surgical intervention. Phacoemulsification with intraocular lens is the preferred method for surgery, with some studies showing improvement in visual acuity in over 90% of patients. The most common postoperative complications include macular edema, posterior capsule opacification, recurrent or persistent inflammation, glaucoma, epiretinal membrane and IOL deposits, or dislocation. Despite the potential complications, cataract surgery in uveitis patients is considered a safe and successful procedure.