Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
University of Cincinnati Dyspnea Questionnaire for Evaluation of Dyspnoea during physical and speech activities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a validation analysis

University of Cincinnati Dyspnea Questionnaire (UCDQ) was developed to measure the impact of dyspnoea during (1) physical activity (Phys), (2) speech activity (Speech) and (3) simultaneous speech and physical activity (Comb). The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of UCDQ in COPD patients, comparing it to a large set of dyspnoeic indices and functional parameters. Fifty COPD patients (age 58·7 ± 9·1 years, FEV1%pred = 39·3 ± 17·0%, Baseline Dyspnoea Index (BDI) = 4·9 ± 2·5, Six Minute Walk Distance (6MWD) = 373 ± 128 m, Symptoms score = 9·4 ± 2·5; mean ± SD) participated in the study. We found the following mean scores for the three sections of the questionnaire: Phys = 3·5 ± 0·9; Speech = 2·4 ± 1·1; Comb = 4·2 ± 1·0, meaning that patients report the most breathlessness during the combination of speaking and physical activity and the least breathlessness during speech activities. All three section of UCDQ had significant strong correlation with dyspnoea indices (BDI, Borg, MRC, OCD), 6MWD and symptoms score, which proves its concurrent and construct validity. Differentiation of patients by speech section (=3<) discriminated them significantly with respect to all dyspnoeic indices, symptoms score and 6MWD. All three dimensions of UCDQ had high test–retest reliability – ICC between 0·76 and 0·93. Factor analysis yielded three interpretable factors, as all dyspnoeic indices, three sections of UCDQ, symptoms score and 6MWD were loaded on the first factor. In conclusion, UCDQ provides valid and reliable information about the effect of dyspnoea on speech and daily activities.
Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin, Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine 1, and Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 in Pancreatic Juice: Pathobiologic Implications in Diagnosing Benign and Malignant Disease of the Pancreas

Objective Pancreatic diseases pose significant diagnostic challenge as signs and symptoms often overlap. We investigated the potential of pancreatic juice neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, macrophage inhibitory cytokine 1 (MIC-1), and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) to aid in the diagnosis of patients with symptoms suggestive of pancreatic diseases. Methods A total of 105 chronic pancreatitis (CP), pancreatic cancer (PC), and nonpancreatic nonhealthy (patients with symptoms mimicking pancreatic disease but found to be free of any pancreatic disease) patients underwent endoscopic pancreatic juice collection after secretin stimulation. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and MIC-1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas CA19-9 was measured by radioimmunoassay. Results Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, MIC-1, and CA19-9 were significantly elevated in the pancreatic juice of patients with CP and patients with PC as compared with nonpancreatic nonhealthy controls (P ⩽ 0.034). Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin seemed most promising in differentiating diseased versus nondiseased pancreata (areas under the curve, 0.88–0.91), whereas MIC-1 was found to be higher in patients with PC than in patients with CP (P = 0.043). Interestingly, MIC-1 levels in diabetic patients with PC were higher than in nondiabetic patients with PC (P = 0.030) and diabetic patients with CP (P = 0.087). Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 showed the least ability to distinguish patient groups (areas under the curve, 0.61–0.76). Conclusions Pancreatic juice neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin shows potential utility in establishing pancreatic etiology in the context of nonspecific symptoms, whereas MIC-1 may aid in differentiating PC from CP.
The Comparison of Etomidate and Propofol Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Etomidate and propofol played an important role in the sedation of patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare their efficacy and safety. Materials and Methods: PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of etomidate versus propofol for the anesthesia of patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy were included. Two investigators independently searched articles, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. The primary outcomes were anesthesia duration and recovery time. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effect model. Results: Six randomized controlled trials involving 1115 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with propofol, etomidate resulted in comparable anesthesia duration [standard mean difference (Std. MD)=−0.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), −0.16 to 0.10; P=0.66], recovery time (Std. MD=0.25; 95% CI, −0.42 to 0.92; P=0.47), mean arterial pressure at intubation (Std. MD=0.44; 95% CI, −0.26 to 1.15; P=0.21), heart pulse at intubation (Std. MD=0.93; 95% CI, −0.69 to 2.55; P=0.26), SPO2 at intubation (Std. MD=−0.52; 95% CI, −1.04 to 0.01; P=0.05), patient satisfaction [odds risk (OR)=0.42; 95% CI, 0.11-1.66; P=0.22], hypotension (OR=0.14; 95% CI, 0.02-1.22; P=0.07), changes of heart rate (OR=0.97; 95% CI, 0.61-1.53; P=0.88), nausea-vomiting (OR=2.02; 95% CI, 0.73-5.57; P=0.17), and the reduction in apnea or hyoxemia (OR=0.39; 95% CI, 0.24-0.64; P=0.0002), and injection pain (OR=0.03; 95% CI, 0.01-0.08; P<0.00001), but the increase in myoclonus (OR=8.54; 95% CI, 3.14-23.20; P<0.0001). Conclusions: Between etomidate and propofol, no significant difference was revealed regarding anesthesia duration, recovery time, mean arterial pressure at intubation, heart pulse at intubation, SPO2 at intubation, patient satisfaction, hypotension, changes of heart rate and nausea-vomiting. Compared with propofol, etomidate showed reduced apnea or hyoxemia, and injection pain, but with an increased myoclonus.
Cocoa Butter and Its Alternatives: A Reveiw

Cocoa butter (CB) is the byproduct of cocoa bean pr ocessing industry and is obtained from the mature bean from the Theobroma cacao plant. It is an important ingredient in the chocola te and other confectionery industries. It's valued for its unique physicochemi cal properties which is given by its peculiar fatty acid composition. The m ajor triacylglycerols (TAG) present in CB is symmetrical and contains ver y less amount of highly unsaturated fatty acid. The major fatty acid s present in it are palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid, b ut low amounts of lauric acid and myristic acid. Increasing demand and short age of supply for CB, poor quality of individual harvests, economic advan tages and some technological benefits have induce for the developm ent of its alternative called cocoa butter replacer (CBR). In the CBRs the TAG compositions are similar but are not identical to genuine CB. Most o f them are produced by either modification of natural fat or by their blen ding in different proportion. However, it couldn't satisfy the consum er and fulfill the demand of confectionery industries. This review giv es a brief idea about the processing of cocoa pod, the production of cocoa bu tter and its composition with fats that are commonly used as its Replacers.
Pre‐eclampsia is a potent risk factor for deterioration of retinopathy during pregnancy in type 1 diabetic patients

The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of pregnancy on deterioration of retinopathy in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Sixty‐five pregnant Type 1 diabetic women attending the University Hospital in Lund were studied retrospectively. The degree of retinopathy, and levels of HbA1c and blood pressure 12 months before, during, and 6 months after pregnancy were compared of those of 56 non‐pregnant Type 1 diabetic women matched for age and duration of diabetes. For all patients, sight‐threatening deterioration of retinopathy did not differ between the pregnancy group (9/65) and the control group (6/56). Over time, pregnant patients had lower HbA1c levels than controls (p < 0.001). Pregnant patients with sight‐threatening deterioration of retinopathy had higher HbA1c levels than those without (p = 0.028 and the decrement in HbA1c between the 6–14th and the 20th week of gestation was more pronounced (p = 0.006). In those patients who developed pre‐eclampsia during pregnancy, deterioration of retinopathy ocurred more frequently compared to those without pre‐eclampsia (4/8 vs 5/65; p = 0.005). In conclusion, sight‐threatening deterioration of retinopathy was not more common during pregnancy in IDDM patients than among age‐ and duration‐matched control patients. In pregnant patients, deterioration of retinopathy was associated with the pregestational degree of metabolic control as well as with a rapidly improved glycaemic control acheived during pregnancy. Among those in whom deterioration occurred during pregnancy, pre‐eclampsia was a potent risk factor. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nonstate Actors and the Diffusion of Innovations: The Case of Suicide Terrorism

Abstract Studies of terrorism in general and suicide terrorism in particular tend to view terrorist groups independently. However, what if the propensity for a terrorist group to adopt suicide tactics depends in part on its external linkages and the relationship between the organizational capabilities required to adopt the innovation and the organizational capabilities of the group? This article shows that the organizational change requirements for adopting an innovation significantly influence the overall adoption pattern, along with interlinkages between groups. Additionally, evaluating the universe of terrorist groups, not only those groups that adopted suicide terrorism but those that did not, shows that Pape's key variable of interest, occupation, does not significantly predict the adoption of suicide terrorism. Thinking about suicide terrorism as a special case of diffusion in the military area—an innovation for nonstate groups—can help bring the study of suicide terrorism further into the mainstream and highlight how the phenomenon has not just differences, but similarities, to other innovations.
Combining Several Screening Tests: Optimality of the Risk Score

Summary. The development of biomarkers for cancer screening is an active area of research. While several biomarkers exist, none is sufficiently sensitive and specific on its own for population screening. It is likely that successful screening programs will require combinations of multiple markers. We consider how to combine multiple disease markers for optimal performance of a screening program. We show that the risk score, defined as the probability of disease given data on multiple markers, is the optimal function in the sense that the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is maximized at every point. Arguments draw on the Neyman‐Pearson lemma. This contrasts with the corresponding optimality result of classic decision theory, which is set in a Bayesian framework and is based on minimizing an expected loss function associated with decision errors. Ours is an optimality result denned from a strictly frequentist point of view and does not rely on the notion of associating costs with misclassifications. The implication for data analysis is that binary regression methods can be used to yield appropriate relative weightings of different biomarkers, at least in large samples. We propose some modifications to standard binary regression methods for application to the disease screening problem. A flexible biologically motivated simulation model for cancer biomarkers is presented and we evaluate our methods by application to it. An application to real data concerning two ovarian cancer biomarkers is also presented. Our results are equally relevant to the more general medical diagnostic testing problem, where results of multiple tests or predictors are combined to yield a composite diagnostic test. Moreover, our methods justify the development of clinical prediction scores based on binary regression.
Derivation of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Compartment from Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines

Abstract: Since the derivation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines, both experimental and clinical hematology have generated rising interest in differentiating functional hematopoietic progenitors from these pluripotent cell lines. Although the ability to generate primitive hematopoietic cells with in vivo reconstitution function has direct clinical application, success of this approach awaits a more in‐depth understanding of factor and mechanisms that govern specification of pluripotent hESCs to hematopoietic lineage specification. Here, we highlight some of our laboratory's recent efforts in this area, in the hopes of providing insights toward this complex yet important area of biomedical research.
Characterization and chemical stability evaluation of β-carotene microemulsions prepared by spontaneous emulsification method using VCO and palm oil as oil phase.

β-carotene is one of the major carotenoids in the human diet which shows pro-vitamin A activity, and is associated with prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and immune system enhancer. However, the poor water-solubility, high melting point, and chemical instability of carotenoids is currently a challenge to their application in the food sector. In this research, the characteristics of β-carotene microemulsions (0.025%, 0.05% wt) prepared with ternary food grade surfactants (Span 80, Span 40, Tween 80) and VCO (virgin coconut oil) or palm oil as oil phase, using spontaneous emulsification method were evaluated. Chemical stability of β-carotene loaded microemulsions during storage was also examined. The result showed that β-carotene microemulsions prepared using either VCO or palm oil had viscosity, specific gravity, refractive index and pH values which were not significantly different. The mean particle diameters (z-average) of the β-carotene microemulsions ranged from 20 – 23 nm and the size distributions were monomodal with a narrow particle size range from 10 – 50 nm. The β-carotene microemulsions showed significantly different zeta potential, i.e.: -14.4 ± 0.8mV (VCO, 0.025 %wt), -10.6 ± 0.3 mV (VCO, 0.05 %wt), -24.6 ± 1.0 mV (palm oil, 0.025 %wt) and -16.6 ± 0.9 mV (palm oil, 0.05 %wt). The β-carotene degradation during storage was slower in microemulsions with palm oil as an oil phase than that of VCO as an oil phase. These results have important consequences for the design and utilization of microemulsions as delivery systems to encapsulate and stabilize β-carotene for food or pharmaceutical applications.
Predictors of asymptomatic bacteriuria among obstetric population in Ibadan.

BACKGROUND Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy is the major risk factor for symptomatic urinary tract infection during pregnancy. Screening and identification of bacteriuria during pregnancy have been recommended. The general objective of the study was to determine the pattern as well as possible predictors of asymptomatic bacteriuria at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. METHODS The study was a descriptive, cross sectional, exploratory survey of the pattern of asymptomatic bacteriuria among all consecutive patients presenting for the first antenatal visit at the University College Hospital, Ibadan during the study period. RESULTS The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 10.7%. Although no statistically significant association was found, the prevalence was higher among women aged between 26 - 35 years (11.5%) and those with only secondary education (14.6%). Other demographic parameters characterized by high rates of bacteriuria were Christian women (12.7% compared to 4.3% among Muslims) and genotypes AS and AC (16.4% and 16.7% respectively). Low parity (para 1-2), 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy were the identified possible obstetric predictors of bacteriuria in pregnancy. Staphylococcus species constitute the predominant isolates in 3rd trimester and among Muslim pregnant women. CONCLUSION Since no statistically significant predictors for bacteriuria in pregnancy were found, routine screening of all our pregnant women for this condition in 2nd trimester is recommended.
Al-Anon family groups: newcomers and members.

OBJECTIVE Empirical knowledge is lacking about Al-Anon Family Groups (Al-Anon), the most widely used form of help by people concerned about another's drinking, partly because conducting research on 12-step groups is challenging. Our purpose was to describe a new method of obtaining survey data from 12-step group attendees and to examine influences on initial Al-Anon attendance and attendees' recent life contexts and functioning. METHOD Al-Anon's World Service Office sent a mailing to a random sample of groups, which subsequently yielded surveys from newcomers (n = 359) and stable members (n = 264). RESULTS Reasons for groups' nonparticipation included having infrequent newcomers and the study being seen as either contrary to the 12 Traditions or too uncomfortable for newcomers. Main concerns prompting initial Al-Anon attendance were problems with overall quality of life and with the Al-Anon trigger (a significant drinking individual), and being stressed and angry. Goals for Al-Anon attendance were related to the following concerns: better quality of life, fewer trigger-related problems, and less stress. Members reported better functioning in some of these domains (quality of life, relationship with the trigger) but did not differ from newcomers on physical and psychological health. Newcomers were more likely to have recently drunk alcohol and to have obtained treatment for their own substance misuse problems. CONCLUSIONS This method of collecting data from 12-step group attendees yielded valid data and also was seen by many in Al-Anon as consistent with the Traditions. Both newcomers and members had aimed to improve their overall quality of life and well-being through Al-Anon, and, indeed, members were more satisfied with their quality of life than were newcomers.
Death rates and causes of death in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a population‐based study

Objective: To assess the mortality and causes of death in a cross‐sectional population‐based study of 1042 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: In 1988, 604 RA patients [470 females (F), 134 males (M)] and 457 age‐ and sex‐matched controls (352 F, 105 M) were examined prospectively (participants) and 438 (183 F, 81 M) non‐participant RA patients retrospectively. In 1999, vital status and causes of death were determined. Mortality in the total RA population was compared to that in the general population, and that among participant RA patients to their matched controls. Results: A total of 384 (37%) RA patients and 71 (16%) controls died. RA patients had increased mortality compared to the general population (standardized mortality ratios SMR 2.64) or controls (1.71). This was observed in both sexes. Over 40% of deaths in all groups were due to cardiovascular diseases. RA patients were at increased risk of dying of urogenital, gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, infections, and cancers when compared to the general population or controls. Conclusions: Our results show that a cross‐sectional cohort of RA patients had an increased risk of death from various causes.
Criterion of analytic continuability of functions in principal invariant subspaces on convex domains in ℂⁿ

Subspaces invariant under diﬀerentiation are studied for spaces of functions analytic on domains of a many-dimensional complex space. For a wide class of domains (in particular, for arbitrary bounded convex domains), a criterion of analytic continuability is obtained for functions in arbitrary nontrivial closed principal invariant subspaces admitting spectral synthesis.
Racial Homophily and Its Persistence in Newcomers' Social Networks

This study examined the formation and persistence of homophilous, or same-race, friendship ties among racial minorities and whites in a "newcomer" setting. Homophilous ties provide valuable sources of mutual support but may limit racial minorities' access to resources and information in organizations. Study participants were first-year MBA students who entered a program at the same time. We measured network ties at two times: six weeks after the beginning of the students' first semester in the program, and at the beginning of the following semester 3 1/2 months after the second survey. We also administered a separate survey measuring social identity salience prior to the first network survey.Despite the fact that there were fewer same-race ties for racial minorities to choose from, their friendship networks demonstrated greater homophily than those of whites early in the formation of the network and over time. Also, African-Americans were more likely than whites to seek out homophilous friendship ties in other class sections. Race as a salient social identity group membership was positively related to homophily for African-Americans, Hispanics, and whites. Over the time period studied there was no significant change in homophily among the racial groups' networks, despite the explicit promotion of diversity in recruitment of students, formation of heterogeneous classes and teams, and active support by the MBA program administrators. We discuss the practical implications of our findings for organizations that are attempting to increase cultural diversity and promote active interaction among individuals from different racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Inoperable bulky melanoma responds to neoadjuvant therapy with vemurafenib

A patient with a bulky inoperable stage IIIC melanoma involving the left axilla and neck from a primary of the left medial elbow received vemurafenib as neo-adjuvant treatment. Based on the molecular analysis, BRAF V600E mutation was present. After 4 months of vemurafinib treatment, the tumours shrank to less than 50% of original clinical size and allowed the surgeons to perform a left modified radical neck dissection and left radical axillary dissection. Pathological analysis of specimen revealed viable metastatic cells only in 1 of 40 nodes resected in the neck and axillary dissection, accounting for over 98% pathological response. Other lymph nodes had a mixture of foamy histiocytic inflammatory reaction fibrosis and islands of necrotic tissues. After recovery from surgery, vemurafenib was resumed and continued for 6 months. He remained disease free 6 months after surgery.