Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The association between selected metabolic parameters and left abomasal displacement in dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to examine the association between selected metabolic parameters and subsequent left displaced abomasum (LDA) diagnosis in dairy cows. Forty-four LDA cows sampled in the third week ante partum (a.p.) which was at a median of 34 days prior to LDA diagnosis, 36 LDA cows sampled in the first week post partum (p.p.) which was at a median of 14 days prior and 28 LDA cows sampled in the second week p.p., which was at a median of 9 days prior to LDA diagnosis were used. Each case was matched to 3 controls by herd and calving date. Data were available from a large field study. Aspartate-aminotransferase (AST) activity, the concentrations of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose, calcium and urea in blood, and the body condition score (BCS) were studied. Logistic regression was used to analyse the association between these parameters and subsequent LDA, adjusting for the effects of parity and pretreatment. A separate model was used for each sampling week and each parameter. In the third week a.p. none of the parameters were significantly associated with LDA. AST and BHB sampled in the first week p.p. and in the second week p.p. were significantly associated with LDA diagnosis. The higher the AST and BHB, the higher the odds of being diagnosed subsequently with LDA. The lower glucose and Ca in the second week p.p. the higher the odds of subsequent LDA diagnosis. Urea and BCS were not significantly associated with LDA in any of the weeks examined. We conclude that AST and BHB in the first and second week p.p. might be used as tests for subsequent LDA. Glucose, calcium, urea and body condition were either not significantly associated with LDA or significantly associated only in the second week p.p.; this may limit their use as tests for LDA.
Nutritional Assessment of Renal Transplant Recipients Using DEXA and Biochemical Parameters

Introduction and Aims: Malnutrition is frequently encountered in patients with CKD. Despite successful renal transplantation, malnutrition ensues. We evaluated the relationship between serum albumin levels, and various indicators of nutritional status. Methods: We did a retrospective study of 249 post-transplant patients who successfully underwent renal transplantation (between1995-2012) at a tertiary care center. Serum parameters such as albumin (bromocresol green Method) hemoglobin, electrolytes, creatinine, prednisolone dose and presence of diabetes mellitus were analyzed. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol and diet, BMI were also looked at. We classified Serum Albumin as <3-3. 4 g/dL, 3. 5-3.9 g/dL, and more than 4 g/dL. We classified BMI as per WHO guidelines. Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry was used to evaluate body composition, including lean body mass, fat body mass and fat percentage. Descriptive statistics, co-relational statistics and Pearson’s Chi-Square test was used. Results: Among the 150 Males and 99 females, the mean age was 46 ± 13 years. The mean serum albumin value was 3. 6 ± 0.6 g/dL. 10% had a normal BMI, 62% Pre Obese, 21% Class 1 Obese, 5% Class 2 Obese, and 2% Class 3 Obese. A meat-based diet was ingested by 76% of our study group, and 24% were pure vegetarians. The mean dose of prednisolone taken was 20 ± 10 mg/day. 5% of the transplant patients were deceased and 1% had a failed graft. On follow up we found a significant positive correlation between serum albumin and hemoglobin (p=0. 002), LDL (p=0.046), Fat% (p=0.032) and a meat-based diet (p=0.032). A serum albumin value of>4g/dL was observed in 46% of those ingesting a meat-based diet, in contrast to 25% pure vegetarians. 66% of the vegetarians had a serum albumin value ranging from <3-3. 4 g/dL. There were negative correlations between prednisolone dose and serum albumin (p=0.005), FM (p=0. 006), Fat% (p=0. 002) and serum Creatinine (p=0.013). A positive correlation between hemoglobin levels and LDL (p=0.005), FM (p= 0.004), HCO3- (p=0. 015) and Cl-(p=0.012), and hemoglobin levels and potassium levels (p=0.015) were observed. No significant co-relation was observed between serum albumin and patient survivals. Conclusions: Serum albumin varies with diet, and is significantly higher among those eating a meat-based diet following transplant. Post-transplant mild obesity was prevalent in 62% of our study group. A higher fat content was associated with higher serum albumin levels, which may reflect a better nutritional status. Lower maintenance doses of prednisolone may improve the Albumin Levels. A further randomized controlled trial looking at the role of protein supplementation in vegetarians following renal transplantation as well as evaluating the effect of lowered prednisolone dose is warranted.
Levels of Evidence in Orthopaedic Trauma Literature

Objective: To review and critically assess trends observed regarding the levels of evidence in published articles in orthopaedic traumatology literature. Data Sources: The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery-American, and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. Study Selection: All articles from the years 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013 in The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma (JOT) and orthopaedic trauma-related articles from The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery-American (JBJS-A) and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research (CORR) were analyzed. Articles were categorized by type and ranked for level of evidence according to guidelines from the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Data Extraction: Study type and standardized level of evidence were determined for each article. Articles were subcategorized as high-level evidence (I, II), moderate-level evidence (III), and low-level evidence (IV, V). Data Synthesis: During the study period, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery-American reduced its low-level studies from 80% to 40% (P = 0.00015), Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research decreased its low-level studies from 70% to 27%, and Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma decreased its low-level studies from 78% to 45%. Level IV and V therapeutic, prognostic, and diagnostic studies demonstrated significant decreases during the study period (P = 0.0046, P < 0.0001, P = 0.026). The percentage of high-level studies increased from 13% to 19%; however, this was not significant (P = 0.42). There was a trend showing an increase in level I and II studies for therapeutic, prognostic, and diagnostic studies (P = 0.06). Conclusions: There has been a statistically significant decrease in lower level of evidence studies published in the orthopaedic traumatology literature over the past 15 years.
Core classification theory: a reply to Szostak

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an answer to a critique put forward by Szostak against a paper written by the present author.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a literature‐based conceptual analysis based on Hjorland and Nissen Pedersen and Szostak. The main points in a core theory of classification are outlined and Szostak's criticism is examined and answered.Findings – The paper demonstrates theoretical differences between the views adduced by Hjorland and Nissen Pedersen on the one side and by Szostak on the other.Practical implications – Theoretical clarification is important for the future development of the field.Originality/value – The paper should be seen as one among others developing an argument for a theoretical foundation of classification informed by the theory of knowledge.
The Status of Oxidants and Antioxidants in the Neutrophils of Patients with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is an inflammatory condition of unknown etiology. The exact role of the leukocytes in the pathogenesis of RAS is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of the oxidative system in neutophils of RAS patients. A total of 26 patients and 22 sex and age matched healthy control subjects were analyzed by measuring intracellular oxidant/antioxidant enzymes and related parameters; myeloperoxidase (MPO), xanthine oxidase (XO), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), adenosine deaminase (AD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO). Statistically significant increases in the activities of SOD, CAT and levels of MDA, NO were detected in the neutrophils of patients. There was no significant difference in MPO, AD and XO activities of neutrophils. Although the functions of neutrophils were normal, there may be an oxidative stress affecting neutrophils in RAS.
Update in the treatment of non-influenza respiratory virus infection in solid organ transplant recipients

ABSTRACT Introduction: Despite the improved outcomes in solid organ transplantation with regard to prevention of rejection and increased patient and graft survival, infection remains a common cause of morbidity and mortality. Respiratory viruses are a frequent and potentially serious cause of infection after solid organ transplantation. Furthermore, clinical manifestations of respiratory virus infection (RVI) may be more severe and unusual in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) compared with the non-immunocompromised population. Areas covered: This article reviews the non-influenza RVIs that are commonly encountered in SOTRs. Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics are highlighted and available treatment options are discussed. Expert opinion: New diagnostic tools, particularly rapid molecular assays, have expanded the ability to identify specific RVI pathogens in SOTRs. This is not only useful from a treatment standpoint but also to guide infection control practices. More data are needed on RVIs in the solid organ transplant population, particularly regarding their effect on rejection and graft dysfunction. There is also a need for new antiviral agents active against these infections as well as markers that can identify which patients would most benefit from treatment.
METAMASIUS CALLIZONA (COLEOPTERA: DRYOPHTHORIDAE): LONGEVITY AND FECUNDITY IN THE LABORATORY

Abstract Metamasius callizona (Chevrolat) is native to southern Mexico and Guatemala. It was detected in Broward County, Florida, in 1989 and has spread to 20 counties in southern Florida, where it devastates populations of native epiphytic bromeliads and also attacks cultivated bromeliads. Larvae mine into stems of larger bromeliads, killing them. New data were obtained at ≈25°C and a photoperiod of 14:10 L:D to optimize cultures of this insect to serve as hosts for the production of biological control agents. After pairing with males, it took an average of 28.9 d (±17.8, range 8-89 d) for females to begin laying eggs; thereafter, each female laid eggs for the remainder of her life, or within just a few days of her death. The total duration of life of 75 ovipositing females averaged 156.4 d (±96.7, range 26-387 d); their lifetime egg production averaged 39.6 eggs (±40.0, range 2-188 eggs).
Focused life history data and linear enamel hypoplasia to help explain intergenerational variation in relative leg length within Taiwanese families

This study first examines the hypothesis that significant intergeneration increases in stature within 85 Taiwanese families in two study locations were primarily the result of increases in subischial leg length. It then evaluates a second hypothesis that independent assessments of the extent of intergenerational change in childhood environments within these families helped account for parent–offspring differences in relative leg length. Childhood environments were assessed using two criteria: developmental environment scores derived from life history data and evidence of linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH). Relative leg length was represented in two ways, as either the difference between internally estimated sex‐specific z‐scores of sitting height and subischial leg length (zD = zSH − zLL) or as relative sitting height (RSH; sitting height/height × 100). Paired Student t tests indicated intergenerational increases in relative leg length were significantly greater than zero in both study locations (P ≤ 0.012). The second hypothesis, tested using a hierarchical model with maximum likelihood estimation that allowed for nesting of more than one offspring per family, received support as midparent–offspring differences in composite scores were significantly positively associated with midparent–offspring differences in relative leg length. This was true alone (P = 0.018), and when significant associations with LEH prevalence among mothers and offspring were statistically controlled for (P = 0.010). Evidence also indicated that while the large majority of offspring were taller than their midparental average height (84.3%; 91/108), offspring who were taller were also more likely to have relatively longer legs than by chance alone (Fishers exact, P = 0.027). Am. J. Hum. Biol. 19:358–375, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Angiographic Findings after Supplementation with Heracleum persicum Extract: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Heracleum persicum is a common dietary spice with several traditional medicinal properties important for cardiovascular health including antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and anti-inflammatory effects. This study explored the effects of supplementation with H. persicum fruit on the angiographic findings of patients with minimal coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Subjects who were diagnosed with <50% stenosis in any of their coronary arteries by angiography were selected for this trial and randomly assigned to H. persicum hydroalcoholic fruit extract (n = 15; 300 mg/day) or placebo (n = 12) for 6 months. At the end of the trial, participants underwent a second coronary angiography in order to evaluate the progression of their disease. Results: Posttrial angiography did not reveal any improvement in the number of stenosed vessels after consumption of H. persicum extract versus placebo (P > 0.05). Similarly, there was no significant difference between the study groups in terms of disease progression and chest pain score (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The present results do not support any clinically significant benefit of supplementation with H. persicum extract on the angiographic findings of in patients with minimal CAD.
Dry Needling Is One Type of Acupuncture

Background: Acupuncture has been practiced in Western countries for more than 40 years. One type of needling therapy termed dry needling has gained popularity rapidly since 2000. However a strong debate and conflict exists between proponents of dry needling by physical therapists and proponents of acupuncture. Objectives: This review explores similarities and differences between dry needling and acupuncture and provides suggestions for debate and solutions for conflict between nonphysician dry needling practitioners and acupuncturists. Materials and Methods: This review selected four features of needling technique and explored the similarities and differences between dry needling and acupuncture. The four features were: (1) needles used; (2) target points; (3) action mechanisms; and 4) therapeutic effects. A PubMed search for articles on dry needling and acupuncture for the years spanning 1941 to 2015 was also used to determine how many articles were retrieved for each topic and how levels of interest in each topic changed. Results: It was observed that both dry needling and acupuncture shared needles, target points, action mechanisms, and therapeutic effects, and could be used to treat musculoskeletal disease effectively. However, because of a lack of adequate training and good regulation, acupuncturists question the safety of dry needling. Conclusions: Acupuncture is more inclusive and dry needling is one type of acupuncture when acupuncture needles are used. Collaboration and integration should be strengthened between dry needling practitioners who are not physicians and acupuncturists so that the patients can receive safe and high-quality acupuncture treatment. Five suggestions were proposed for solutions to solve the conflict and debate between dry needling and acupuncture.
Cytoskeletal Regulation by the Nedd8 Ubiquitin-Like Protein Modification Pathway

The Nedd8 ubiquitin-like protein modification pathway regulates cell-cycle progression. Our analysis of Nedd8 requirements duringCaenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis indicates that the cytoskeleton is another target. Nedd8 conjugation negatively regulated contractility of the microfilament-rich cell cortex during pronuclear migration and again during cytokinesis. The Nedd8 pathway also was required after meiosis to negatively regulate katanin, a microtubule-severing complex, permitting the assembly of a large mitotic spindle. We propose that Nedd8-modified cullin, as part of an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, targets katanin for degradation during the transition from meiosis to mitosis.
Examination of Oral Microbiota Diversity in Adults and Older Adults as an Approach to Prevent Spread of Risk Factors for Human Infections

The oral cavity environment may be colonized by polymicrobial communities with complex, poorly known interrelations. The aim of this study was to determine oral microbiota diversity in order to prevent the spread of infectious microorganisms that are risk factors for human health complications in patients requiring treatment due to various disabilities. The study examined Polish adults aged between 40 and 70 years; parasitological, microbiological, and mycological data collected before treatment were analyzed. The diversity of oral microbiota, including relatively high prevalences of some opportunistic, potentially pathogenic strains of bacteria, protozoans, and fungi detected in the patients analyzed, may result in increasing risk of disseminated infections from the oral cavity to neighboring structures and other organs. Increasing ageing of human populations is noted in recent decades in many countries, including Poland. The growing number of older adults with different oral health disabilities, who are more prone to development of oral and systemic pathology, is an increasing medical problem. Results of this retrospective study showed the urgent need to pay more attention to the pretreatment examination of components of the oral microbiome, especially to the strains, which are etiological agents of human opportunistic infections and are particularly dangerous for older adults.
Depression in patients in an Auckland general practice.

AIM To measure the rate of detected and undetected depression in patients attending an Auckland general practice. METHOD At their consultation conclusion, general practitioners (GPs) asked all consecutive patients over sixteen years attending for consultation to participate in a health and mood questionnaire. A researcher administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to consenting participants. The GPs previously recorded whether they considered these patients depressed. RESULTS Response rate among patients was 81% (253/314). The BDI found a 13.8% (35/253) 95% CI (9.6-18.5) depression prevalence among patients. GPs picked up 51% of cases (sensitivity 0.51 and specificity 0.91). Mäori patients were no more likely to be depressed than non-Mäori but they were less likely to be receiving or have received treatment with antidepressants. CONCLUSION The rate of depression in this practice was higher than an earlier study suggesting the true rate may be >10%. GPs see more depressed patients than other health professionals, therefore improvement in detection and management of depression in primary care is important. More work is needed on the difference between Mäori and non-Mäori in the use of antidepressants.
Decision making by parents of children with incurable cancer who opt for enrollment on a phase I trial compared with choosing a do not resuscitate/terminal care option.

PURPOSE Parents of children with incurable cancer make complex and difficult decisions about remaining treatment options. We compared the self-reported rationale, good parent definition, and desired clinical staff behaviors of parents who recently decided for phase I (P1) chemotherapy with parents who chose a do not resuscitate (DNR) or terminal care (TC) option. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty-two parents of 58 children were asked for the basis of their decision, their definition of a good parent, and what staff behaviors supported their good parent role. After semantic content analysis, results were compared in the P1 versus DNR/TC groups. These categories were mutually exclusive but did not necessarily represent an either/or decision. RESULTS Thirty-one decisions were for P1 chemotherapy and 27 for DNR/TC. Median survival time after study enrollment was greater in the P1 group (0.4 v 0.1 years). Most P1 group parents reported having felt compelled to continue cancer-directed therapy (71% v 7%), whereas those who opted for DNR/TC cited quality of life (QOL; 74% v 3%) and patient wishes (67% v 13%). Decision factors common to both groups were medical facts, doing right, and others' opinions. Both groups believed that a good parent did right, provided support and presence, and sacrificed for the child. The groups desired similar support from clinicians and expressed gratitude. CONCLUSION Despite similar definitions of a good parent and desired staff behaviors, parents in the P1 group reported having felt compelled to continue cancer-directed therapy, whereas QOL and patient wishes were emphasized in decisions for DNR/TC.
Discordant radiograph interpretation between emergency physicians and radiologists in a pediatric emergency department.

OBJECTIVES To describe the types of discrepancies in radiograph interpretation between emergency physicians and radiologists in a pediatric emergency department, and to determine the impact of discrepant interpretations on patient care. METHODS Prospective cohort study of discordant radiographs from the period beginning March 1, 1995 and ending March 31, 1996. During this period, 2083 radiographs were coded by the radiologist as concordant or discordant. Three hundred forty-nine were coded as discordant, and 324 were eligible for the study. Charts were reviewed for relevant physical examination findings and emergency department management. Discrepancies that affected patient care were deemed clinically significant. RESULTS Twenty-three (1.1%) of 2083 radiographs were interpreted differently by the emergency physician and the radiologist in a way that might have changed patient management. This represents 7% (23/324) of the radiographs originally coded by a radiologist as discrepant. The most common discrepancy was a patient with a normal chest examination and a radiograph interpreted as having an infiltrate by the emergency physician, but subsequently read as having no infiltrate by a radiologist (12/324). These patients may have received antibiotics unnecessarily. Two discrepant interpretations had the potential to have serious consequences to the patient if not identified. One patient with cardiomegaly and another patient with free air on abdominal radiograph were not noted by the emergency physician. CONCLUSIONS Emergency physicians would benefit from more rigorous interpretation of chest x-rays to avoid unnecessary treatment with antibiotics. Emergency physicians do a good job interpreting plain radiographs, but occasionally miss significant findings that could lead to adverse outcomes. The presence of radiologists to immediately read radiographs 24 hours a day could prevent missed findings, but, given the small number of significant misinterpretations, is unlikely to be cost effective.