Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does the use of periarticular anesthetic cocktail provide adequate pain control following shoulder arthroplasty?

Background Interscalene nerve block and liposomal bupivacaine have been found to provide adequate pain control following shoulder arthroplasty. We hypothesized that local infiltration of a periarticular cocktail would provide equivalent pain control compared to interscalene nerve block and liposomal bupivacaine. Methods Eighty-seven patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty were treated with local infiltration of a periarticular cocktail (200 mg of 0.5% ropivacaine, 1 mg epinephrine, and 30 mg ketorolac), local infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine, or preoperative interscalene nerve block. The outcomes of the study were postoperative visual analog scale scores, opioid consumption, length of stay, and complications. Results A total of 30 patients receiving local infiltration of a periarticular cocktail, 26 receiving liposomal bupivacaine, and 31 receiving interscalene nerve block were included in the study. Patients who received local infiltration of a periarticular cocktail had a significantly lower mean visual analog scale when compared to interscalene nerve block and liposomal bupivacaine on postoperative day 0 (2.5 versus 4.0 versus 4.8, P = 0.001 and P < 0.001). Pain scores between postoperative day 0–3 were lower in patients who received local infiltration of a periarticular cocktail, but not significantly. Patients who received local infiltration of a periarticular cocktail required significantly less opioids than the interscalene nerve block group on postoperative day 0 (P < 0.001). Discussion A decrease in early postoperative pain and opioid consumption was found with local infiltration of a periarticular cocktail when compared with interscalene nerve block and liposomal bupivacaine after shoulder arthroplasty. Level of evidence: Level II
Association of MMP8 (-799C/T) (rs11225395) gene polymorphism and chronic periodontitis

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease which has a multifactorial etiology. Although the presence of Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria is essential for the initiation of periodontal destruction, many environmental and genetic factors could result in the progression of the disease. The genetic influence plays a key role in determining the host susceptibility to periodontal destruction. [1,2] Many studies have attempted to identify the genetic factors that may be related to enhanced susceptibility to periodontal disease. [3-8]
Assessment of 8-Hydroxy-2-Deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as a Diagnostic Marker for Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 1 Egyptian Diabetic Patients

Aim of the work: To identify the relationship between serum concentration of 7,8-dihydro-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and different stages of Albumin Excretion Rate (AER), as marker of nephropathy in Egyptian patients with Type 1 Diabetes(T1D). Subjects and methodology: Total 65 volunteers were distributed in 4 groups: group 1: included 20 healthy subjects as control, group 2: 15 T1D patients with AER 30 mg/g creatinine) and group 4: 15 T1D patients with (AER>30 mg/g creatinine). The blood chemistry parameters were analyzed, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and serum urea and creatinine, Malodialdhyde (MDA), 8- oxodG levels were measured by ELISA.Results: Significant increase in urea and creatinine in G3 and G4 with control with a p value<0.005. Also increase in 8-OHdG and MDA with a p value<0.005 in G2, G3 and G4 compared with control.
On Improving Distributed Pregel-like Graph Processing Systems

The considerable interest in distributed systems that can execute algorithms to process large graphs has led to the creation of many graph processing systems. However, existing systems suffer from two major issues: (1) poor performance due to frequent global synchronization barriers and limited scalability; and (2) lack of support for graph algorithms that require serializability, the guarantee that parallel executions of an algorithm produce the same results as some serial execution of that algorithm. Many graph processing systems use the bulk synchronous parallel (BSP) model, which allows graph algorithms to be easily implemented and reasoned about. However, BSP suffers from poor performance due to stale messages and frequent global synchronization barriers. While asynchronous models have been proposed to alleviate these overheads, existing systems that implement such models have limited scalability or retain frequent global barriers and do not always support graph mutations or algorithms with multiple computation phases. We propose barrierless asynchronous parallel (BAP), a new computation model that overcomes the limitations of existing asynchronous models by reducing both message staleness and global synchronization while retaining support for graph mutations and algorithms with multiple computation phases. We present GiraphUC, which implements our BAP model in the open source distributed graph processing system Giraph, and evaluate it at scale to demonstrate that BAP provides efficient and transparent asynchronous execution of algorithms that are programmed synchronously. Secondly, very few systems provide serializability, despite the fact that many graph algorithms require it for accuracy, correctness, or termination. To address this deficiency, we provide a complete solution that can be implemented on top of existing graph processing systems to provide serializability. Our solution formalizes the notion of serializability and the conditions under which it can be provided for graph processing systems. We propose a partition-based synchronization technique that enforces these conditions efficiently to provide serializability. We implement this technique into Giraph and GiraphUC to demonstrate that it is configurable, transparent to algorithm developers, and more performant than existing techniques.
Managing diabetes mellitus in underserved subjects of Western China using a telemedicine system— A clinical trial

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Internet and telephone-based telemedicine system managing on patients’ glycemic index, blood pressure, and lipid level control in underserved subjects with type 2 diabetes in Western China. Research designs and methods: In a 3 years, randomized, controlled, single-blind, parallel-group treat-to-target study, 412 subjects with type 2 diabetes were randomized to telemedicine (Tel; n =208) group and usual care (control; n =204) group. We evaluated the effects of the intervention on blood sugar, blood pressure, and lipid levels at 1, 2, 3 years point, and investigated the cause of the loss during follow-up by phone call.Results: Intra-group comparison: in the Tel group, the FBS, 2HPG, HbA1c, and SBP at 1, 2, 3 years and DBP, TC, TG, BMI at 2, 3 years were significantly decreased compared with baseline level (P<0.05). Moreover, the Tel group had an obvious better control of their HbA1c at 2 and 3 years and 2HPG at 3 years of follow-up respectively compared with the outcomes at 1 year (P<0.05). Inter-group comparison: the FBS, 2HPG, and HbA1c of Tel group decreased significantly from the baseline to the 1 year more than those of control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01 ). In this analysis, all clinical measures of Tel group had a significant downward compared with the outcomes of Control group at 2 years, the FBS, HbA1c and BMI (P<0.001), the 2HPG and SBP (P<0.01) and DBP, TC, and TG (P<0.05) were statistically significant respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that the subject loss during follow-up was associated with worse diabetes management (OR=3.842), low income (OR=3.201), low education level (OR=0.923), and greater distance to the hospital (OR=0.921). Conclusions: The study results indicated that the telemedicine may be a useful tool for managing diabetes mellitus.
Comparison of peripapillary and subfoveal choroidal thickness in normal versus primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) subjects using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT)

Objective To elucidate the difference between choroidal thickness (CT) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal subjects and to compare the CT measured using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Methods and analysis This cross-sectional observational study included 25 eyes of 17 POAG subjects (cases) and 31 eyes of 20 normal subjects (controls). All the patients underwent complete ophthalmologic examination, enhanced depth imaging, SD-OCT and SS-OCT. In both controls and cases, the CT was measured in seven predetermined points in macular and peripapillary area and were compared. Results Choroid was significantly thicker on SS-OCT compared with SD-OCT in peripapillary and macular area in both cases and controls, except for inferior peripapillary in controls. The CT was not different from glaucoma and controls in peripapillary or macular area on SD-OCT (p>0.05), however, the CT was significantly thicker in glaucoma compared with controls in peripapillary area on SS-OCT (p<0.05) except inferior peripapillary (p=0.13). There was good intraobserver (±20 µm) and interobserver (±55 µm and ±45 µm) agreement on both SD-OCT and SS-OCT respectively. On SD-OCT, choroid was thinnest at the temporal peripapillary and thickest at subfoveal location in controls. In POAG, choroid was thinnest at inferior peripapillary region and thickest (500 µm) nasal to the fovea. On SS-OCT, choroid was thinnest at inferior peripapillary and thickest at the temporal peripapillary area in both cases and controls. Conclusion CT measurements on SS-OCT were higher than the SD-OCT measurements possibly due to better delineation of the sclerochoroidal junction on SS-OCT. CT was significantly thicker in glaucoma subjects compared with controls in peripapillary area on SS-OCT but not in macular area.
Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-based Intervention on Groups with Presence/Absence of Clinically Significant Depressive Symptoms

espanolRESUMEN Los sintomas depresivos tienen un efecto importante en la vida cotidiana. Su desarrollo podria asociarse entre otras variables con una falta de habilidades metacognitivas. Parece que estas pueden ser entrenados por una intervencion mediante tecnicas de meditacion basada en mindfulness. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron evaluar: 1) la relacion entre los sintomas depresivos, la regulacion emocional y las habilidades metacognitivas, 2) la eficacia de un programa de intervencion basado en mindfulness de ocho semanas en los sintomas depresivos, metacognicion y regulacion emocional en poblacion no clinica y 3) el efecto diferente de esta intervencion en personas con presencia/ausencia de sintomas depresivos clinicamente significativos. Sesenta y siete participantes recibieron un entrenamiento semanal en mindfulness durante dos meses. Los datos sobre la metacognicion, la regulacion emocional y los sintomas depresivos se recogieron un mes antes de la intervencion, el primer y ultimo dia de la intervencion y a los 3 meses de seguimiento. Se encontraron correlaciones significativas para la muestra total y la presencia/ausencia de grupos de sintomas depresivos clinicamente significativos. Las diferencias se encontraron con tamanos de efecto mas grandes en el grupo depresivo (η2 = .73-.99) que en el grupo sin sintomas depresivos (η2 = .41-.70). Estos resultados avalan la intervencion mindfulness como una tecnica eficaz en el alivio de los sintomas depresivos y la mejora de las habilidades metacognitivas. EnglishABSTRACT Depressive symptoms have an important effect on everyday life. Its development could be associated with a lack of metacognitive skills among other variables. It seems they can be trained by an intervention based in meditation techniques called mindfulness based intervention. The aims of this study were to evaluate 1) the relationship between depressive symptoms, emotional regulation, and metacognitive skills, 2) the effectiveness of an eight-week mindfulness based intervention program on depressive symptoms, metacognition, and emotional regulation in non-clinical population, and 3) the different effect of this intervention on people with presence/absence of clinically significant depressive symptoms. Sixty-seven participants received mindfulness training on a weekly basis during two months. Data on metacognition, emotional regulation, and depressive symptoms was collected one month before the intervention, the first and last day of the intervention, and at 3-month follow up. Significant correlations were found for the total sample and the presence/absence of clinically significant depressive symptoms groups. Differences were found with larger effect sizes in the depressive group (η2 = .73-.99) than in the group with no depressive simptoms (η2 = .41-.70). These results support mindfulness intervention as an effective technique in the alleviation of depressive symptoms and in the improvement of metacognitive skills.
Changes in Arch Dimension and Incisor Position in Patients Treated Non-Extraction with Passive Self-Ligating Brackets

The recent paradigm shift in orthodontics towards non-extraction treatment has been facilitated with the introduction of newer appliance systems such as self-ligating brackets. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of moderate to severe dental crowding on changes in incisor position and arch dimension in patients treated non-extraction using the Damon passive self-ligating system. It was hypothesized that patients do not experience a significant amount of labial movement of the incisors due to space being gained through arch expansion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Previous orthodontic records of 15 patients with a mean pre-treatment age of 14.4 years were obtained at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Orthodontics. The inclusion criteria were: treatment with Damon Q (Ormco) passive self-ligating brackets, class I malocclusion treated non-extraction, severe maxillary dental crowding (>6 mm), and a complete permanent dentition. The initial and final cephalograms and digital dental casts were evaluated. Paired t-tests were used to perform intragroup comparisons of pretreatment and posttreatment values. RESULTS: The mean amount of crowding was 8.93 mm in the maxillary arch and 4.77 mm in the mandibular arch. Resolution of severe maxillary crowding resulted in an increase of 9.16° in incisor inclination and 3.05mm in incisor protrusion. Resolution of moderate mandibular crowding resulted in an increase of 5.87° in incisor inclination and 1.95 mm in incisor protrusion. In the maxilla, the greatest arch width increase was at the first premolar (4.39 mm) followed by second premolar (4.24 mm), canine (1.85 mm), and molar (1.65 mm). In the mandible, the order of the width increase was similar - first premolar (2.95mm), second premolar (2.23mm), canine (2.12mm) and molar (0.90mm). All changes were statistically significant (p<.01). CONCLUSION: The resolution of moderate to severe crowding resulted in significant proclination and protrusion of the incisors along with a significant increase in arch width.
Determination of correlation between alpha angle and herniation pit in healthy adults on hip MRI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between alpha angle and herniation pit (HP) in healthy adults on hip magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Between May 2016 and September 2018, 502 hip joint MRIs of 251 healthy adults (aged between 19 and 82 years) were retrospectively evaluated to determine the presence of HP of the femoral neck. Femoral neck alpha angles were also measured. Possible relationships between herniation pit and age, sex, sided-ness, and alpha angle were investigated. One hundred twenty-four males and 127 females were included, and the mean age was 40.96 Â± 12.85. HPs were present in 20 of the 502 hips, a prevalence of 3.98 % (45 % at right and 55 % left hips). The herniation pit sizes were ranged from 2 to 9.6 mm; the average value was 5. 1Â±2.2 mm. The average value of the alpha angle of 502 hips was 50.42 Â± 5. 91Â°. The alpha angle was ≥ 55 degrees in sixty-seven (13.35 %) of 502 patients. No correlation was found between herniation pit and age, sex, side (right or left hip) and alpha angle degrees. No statistically significant association was found between alpha angle ≥ 55 degrees and the actual size of the herniation pit. There is no correlation between age, sex, or alpha angle ≥ 55 degrees and the prevalence of herniation pit in healthy hips. HP formation is an incidental radiologic finding and unrelated to the alpha angle.
Impact of Diabetes Self-Management Education on Psychological Distress and Health Outcomes Among African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos With Diabetes

Purpose. Diabetes self-management education and support (DSME/S) is an effective strategy to improve health outcomes. However, little is known about the impact of formal DSME/S on psychological distress among minority populations. The study purposes were to 1) explore the impact of a culturally tailored DSME/S intervention on psychological distress and diabetes-related outcomes among African-American and Hispanic/Latino participants and 2) examine differences across groups in self-care, self-efficacy, diabetes knowledge, and psychological distress. Methods. Using a pre- and post-test research design, baseline and post-test assessments were conducted at weeks 1 and 7 of the intervention, respectively. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics for demographic variables and four outcomes (self-care, self-efficacy, knowledge, and psychological distress score), general linear regression analysis of the post-test outcomes, and the Spearman correlation between psychological distress score and the outcomes. Results. Compared to African-American participants (n = 122), Hispanic/Latino participants (n = 137) were significantly younger and less educated. The two groups were comparable in sex, income, and health status. Significant pre- to post-test improvements were seen in each group for self-care, self-efficacy, and psychological distress. Diabetes knowledge had moderate improvement. Hispanics/Latinos had significantly greater post-test self-efficacy and self-care scores compared to African Americans. For both African-American and Hispanic/Latino participants, lower psychological distress scores were generally associated with greater self-efficacy and self-care. Psychological distress scores were not significantly associated with knowledge in African-Amerian or Hispanic/Latino participants. For African Americans only, better health status was significantly associated with less psychological distress. Conclusion. DSME/S programs have the potential to improve psychological health among African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos, which can lead to better diabetes outcomes.
Association of Cytomegalo-Virus and Rubella Virus Infections in Pregnant Women with bad Obstetric History

Background: Bad obstetric history (BOH) comprises of previous adverse fetal consequences in terms of two or more successive spontaneous abortions, early neonatal deaths, stillbirths, intrauterine fetal deaths, intrauterine growth retardations and congenital anomalies. The infections which are caused by Rubella virus and CMV during pregnancy are often associated with adverse fetus outcomes and reproductive failures. In the Yemen context, the exact seroprevalence of these infections is not known due to unavailability of baseline data. Objectives: The main aim of this study was to determine the correlation of the main viral TORCH infections (Rubella and CMV) during pregnancy among Yemeni females with BOH. Methods: Two hundred- sixty-eight serum samples were collected from participants having BOH, attending Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Al-Sabian University hospital, Sana’a city during the period of September 2017 to September 2018. IgM antibodies for Rubella virus and CMV were detected by micro-capture ELISA tests. Results: The common causes of BOH were abortion (52.6%), intrauterine fetal death (22%) followed by intrauterine growth retardation (10.4%). Fourteen (5.2%) of pregnant women were positive for CMV IgM antibodies, 10 (3.7%) for Rubella IgM antibodies and 4 (1.5%) for CMV- Rubella virus in combination; indicating recent infections. There was significant association between the positive results of anti-CMV IgM -anti-Rubella IgM with age group ≥ 36 years (OR=31,6.2 respectively). Also, there was a significant association between the positive results of anti-CMV IgM with congenital deformation (OR=10.2, p<0.001). Conclusion: IgM antibody positivity was high for Rubella and CMV and there is a strong association of these agents with BOH. Thus, screening and early diagnosis for these pathogens in women can help in proper management of these cases to prevent fetus loss.
Distal radius fracture treated with external fixation: A clinical study

Background and objective: Distal radius fractures accounts for almost 10% of all the fractures. The most commonest cause being fall on outstretched hand. Evidence suggests that good anatomical articular reduction with surgery reduces the complications associated with the fracture, hence the management of fractures have evolved from cast immobilization to operative interventions. Aim of this study was to observe the functional and anatomical outcome of distal radius treated with ligamentotaxis using external fixators. Materials and Methods: The present study includes 40 cases of distal radius fractures who were operated with external fixation in Basaveshwar Hospital Kalaburagi between Jan 2017 to Dec 2018. Ethical clearance was taken from the ethical committee of the institution and Informed consent were taken from the patients. Frykman’s classification was used for the classification of fractures being treated and patients final outcome was measured by Gartland and Werley’s Score (demerit system). Results: The present study includes 40 patients, 24 were male and 16 were female. The mean patient age was 35 years (22yrs-50yrs). Left hand was involved in 24 patients and right hand in 16 patients. The mechanism of injury was road traffic accident in majority. Most of the patients were operated within 3-4 days of injury. 12 patients with high impact type injuries had associated fractures. Most of fractures were of Type III, IV, and V of Frykman’s classification of fractures. End Results according to Demerit point system of Gartland and Werley’s among 40 patients treated with External fixation were Excellent in 20 patients, Good in 12 patients, Fair in 7 patients, and Poor in 1 patient. Conclusion: External fixation provides good to excellent results in distal radius fractures and are found to be effective in the correction and maintenance of distal radius anatomy.