Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Depressive Symptoms, Race, and Glucose Concentrations

OBJECTIVE—This study examined the associations of depressive symptoms with glucose concentrations and morning cortisol levels in 665 African-American and 4,216 Caucasian Vietnam-era veterans. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Glucose level was measured as a three-level variable (diabetes, impaired glucose, and normal). Depressive symptoms were measured by the Obvious Depression Scale (OBD) from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. RESULTS—Regression models showed significant race × OBD interactions in relation to glucose concentration (P < 0.0001) and cortisol (P < 0.0001). The OBD was positively associated with glucose concentration and cortisol in both racial groups. However, the magnitude of those associations was larger for African Americans. Further analyses suggested that cortisol partially mediated the race difference in the relation of depressive symptoms to glucose concentrations. CONCLUSIONS—These results suggest that enhanced hypothalamic pituitary adrenal activity plays an important role in the relation of depressive symptoms to dysregulated glucose metabolism and may partially explain the differential effects of depressive symptoms on glucose levels in African-American and Caucasian male subjects.
Clozapine treatment and discontinuation in Iceland: A national longitudinal study using electronic patient records

Abstract Background: Clozapine is the only drug approved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. There is evidence that clozapine is underutilized. Aims: To evaluate the initiation and discontinuation of clozapine at Landspitali University Hospital in Iceland and the prevalence of antipsychotic polypharmacy in clozapine-treated patients. Methods: The study is a part of an ongoing longitudinal study of schizophrenia in Iceland. We identified 201 patients on clozapine or who have been on clozapine by using a keyword search in the electronic health records and by reviewing their medical records. Results: Mean age at first treatment with clozapine was 37.8 years. Mean follow-up period on clozapine was 11 years. After 20 years of treatment 71.2% of patients were still on clozapine. After one year of treatment 84.4% of patients were still receiving clozapine treatment. We estimate that 11.4% of patients with schizophrenia in Iceland are taking clozapine and that 16% have been treated with clozapine at some point. Polypharmacy is common, since nearly 2/3, 65.6%, of patients taking clozapine use at least one other antipsychotic and 16.9% are also receiving depot injections. Conclusions: We need to increase the awareness of psychiatrists in Iceland with regard to treatment with clozapine, since only about half of the estimated population of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia in Iceland have ever been treated with clozapine. Nearly two thirds of patients who are prescribed clozapine in Iceland remain on it long-term.
Identification of Bacillus anthracis by Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry and Artificial Neural Networks

ABSTRACT This report demonstrates the applicability of a combination of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) and chemometrics for rapid and reliable identification of vegetative cells of the causative agent of anthrax, Bacillus anthracis. Bacillus cultures were prepared under standardized conditions and inactivated according to a recently developed MS-compatible inactivation protocol for highly pathogenic microorganisms. MALDI-TOF MS was then employed to collect spectra from the microbial samples and to build up a database of bacterial reference spectra. This database comprised mass peak profiles of 374 strains from Bacillus and related genera, among them 102 strains of B. anthracis and 121 strains of B. cereus. The information contained in the database was investigated by means of visual inspection of gel view representations, univariate t tests for biomarker identification, unsupervised hierarchical clustering, and artificial neural networks (ANNs). Analysis of gel views and independent t tests suggested B. anthracis- and B. cereus group-specific signals. For example, mass spectra of B. anthracis exhibited discriminating biomarkers at 4,606, 5,413, and 6,679 Da. A systematic search in proteomic databases allowed tentative assignment of some of the biomarkers to ribosomal protein or small acid-soluble proteins. Multivariate pattern analysis by unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis further revealed a subproteome-based taxonomy of the genus Bacillus. Superior classification accuracy was achieved when supervised ANNs were employed. For the identification of B. anthracis, independent validation of optimized ANN models yielded a diagnostic sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 100%.
Prevention of Progressive Back-Specific Dysfunction During Pregnancy: An Assessment of Osteopathic Manual Treatment Based on Cochrane Back Review Group Criteria

Abstract Context: Back pain during pregnancy may be associated with deficits in physical functioning and disability. Research indicates that osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) slows the deterioration of back-specific functioning during pregnancy. Objective: To measure the treatment effects of OMT in preventing progressive back-specific dysfunction during the third trimester of pregnancy using criteria established by the Cochrane Back Review Group. Design: A randomized sham-controlled trial including 3 parallel treatment arms: usual obstetric care and OMT (UOBC+OMT), usual obstetric care and sham ultrasound therapy (UOBC+SUT), and usual obstetric care (UOBC). Setting: The Osteopathic Research Center within the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. Participants: A total of 144 patients were randomly assigned and included in intention-to-treat analyses. Main Outcome Measures: Progressive back-specific dysfunction was defined as a 2-point or greater increase in the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) score during the third trimester of pregnancy. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to compare progressive back-specific dysfunction in patients assigned to UOBC+OMT relative to patients assigned to UOBC+SUT or UOBC. Numbers needed to treat (NNTs) and 95% CIs were also used to assess UOBC+OMT vs each comparator. Subgroup analyses were performed using median splits of baseline scores on a numerical rating scale for back pain and the RMDQ. Results: Overall, 68 patients (47%) experienced progressive back-specific dysfunction during the third trimester of pregnancy. Patients who received UOBC+OMT were significantly less likely to experience progressive back-specific dysfunction (RR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3-1.0; P=.046 vs UOBC+SUT; and RR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.7; P<.0001 vs UOBC). The effect sizes for UOBC+OMT vs UOBC+SUT and for UOBC+OMT vs UOBC were classified as medium and large, respectively. The corresponding NNTs for UOBC+OMT were 5.1 (95% CI, 2.7-282.2) vs UOBC+SUT; and 2.5 (95% CI, 1.8-4.9) vs UOBC. There was no statistically significant interaction between subgroups in response to OMT. Conclusion: Osteopathic manual treatment has medium to large treatment effects in preventing progressive back-specific dysfunction during the third trimester of pregnancy. The findings are potentially important with respect to direct health care expenditures and indirect costs of work disability during pregnancy.
A Hybrid Trust-Based Recommender System for Online Communities of Practice

The needs for life-long learning and the rapid development of information technologies promote the development of various types of online Community of Practices (CoPs). In online CoPs, bounded rationality and metacognition are two major issues, especially when learners face information overload and there is no knowledge authority within the learning environment. This study proposes a hybrid, trust-based recommender system to mitigate above learning issues in online CoPs. A case study was conducted using Stack Overflow data to test the recommender system. Important findings include: (1) comparing with other social community platforms, learners in online CoPs have stronger social relations and tend to interact with a smaller group of people only; (2) the hybrid algorithm can provide more accurate recommendations than celebrity-based and content-based algorithm and; (3) the proposed recommender system can facilitate the formation of personalized learning communities.
Electromagnetic fields and epidemiology: An overview inspired by the fourth course at the International School of Bioelectromagnetics

The fourth course at the International School of Bioelectromagnetics addressed various aspects of the epidemiology of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). In this overview, inspired by the lectures and the discussions among participants, we summarize current knowledge on exposure to EMF and disease risk, with emphasis on studies of use of mobile phones and brain tumours and exposure to power lines and childhood leukaemia. Sources of bias and error hamper straightforward conclusions in some areas and, in order to move forward, improvements in study design and exposure assessment are necessary. The scientific evidence available to date on possible long‐term effects from exposure to ELF and RF fields is not strong enough to revise current protection limits based on the known acute effects of such exposures. Precautionary measures may be considered to reduce ELF exposure of children or exposure to RF during mobile phone use, keeping in mind that it is unclear whether they involve any preventive benefit. Possible health effects from mobile phone use in adults and in children should be investigated further by prospective epidemiological studies with improved exposure assessment and brain tumour incidence rates should be monitored. Further studies on the relation between childhood leukaemia and ELF magnetic fields would be worthwhile if they focus on heavily exposed groups and attempt to minimize possible selection bias. In conclusion, epidemiological studies conducted with appropriate diligence can play a key role in finding the answers. Bioelectromagnetics 30:511–524, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fatores associados à atividade física insuficiente em adultos: estudo de base populacional no sul do Brasil Factors associated with insufficient physical activity: a population-based study in southern Brazil

Abstract The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of insufficient physical activity and to find the factors associated to this outcome in Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil (2007). A cross-sectional population-based study was carried out in a representative sample of individuals between 20 and 59 years of age (n=2,051). Physical activity was estimated using the short version of the In-ternational Physical Activity Questionnaire. Insufficient physical activity was defined as less than 150 minutes per week spent in moderate or vigorous physical activity. The prevalence of insufficient physical activity was 29.6% (95%CI: 27.6; 31.7). The associa-ted factors were to be male, obese, have high income, and negative self-perception of health status. The prevalence of insufficient physical activity was lower than reported by other Brazilian studies. Studies that distin-guish different types of physical activity can contribute to a better understanding of the problem. The implementation of public po-licies that encourage the practice of regular exercises is required.
Impact of Procalcitonin-Guided Antibiotic Management on Antibiotic Exposure and Outcomes: Real-world Evidence

Abstract Background Delayed pathogen identification and nonspecific clinical findings make definitive decisions regarding antibiotics challenging. The stimuli of bacterial toxins and inflammation make procalcitonin (PCT) unique in its ability to differentiate bacterial infection from other causes of inflammation, and thus it is useful for antibiotic management. The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of a PCT algorithm (PCT-A) on current practice. Methods A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the impact of adding PCT-A to stewardship practices. Data from 4 years prior to and after PCT-A implementation were compared in critical and acute care patients of all ages receiving parenteral antibiotics for a DRG coded for infection. A baseline PCT was obtained on admission in patients with suspected bacterial infection. Serial PCT measurements were repeated daily to evaluate effectiveness of therapy. Outcomes of interest were antibiotic exposure, hospital mortality, 30-day readmission, Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), and adverse drug events during hospitalization. Results A total of 985 patients (pre-PCT-A group) were compared with 1167 patients (post-PCT-A group). Antimicrobial stewardship alone (pre-PCT-A) resulted in a median days of therapy (DOT) of 17 (interquartile range [IQR], 8.5–22.5) vs 9.0 (IQR, 6.5–12) in the post-PCT-A group (P < .0001). Secondary outcomes were also significantly reduced in the post-PCT-A group. Conclusion The addition of PCT in a facility with an established stewardship program resulted in a significant reduction in antibiotic exposure and adverse outcomes. PCT may improve antibiotic management when diagnostic clarity and resolution of infection are lacking.
Effects of structural modifications on some physical characteristics of exopolysaccharides from Lactococcus lactis.

The relationship between the primary structure and the chain stiffness of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) and modified EPSs produced by two strains of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris was investigated. The molar mass and radius of gyration of these exopolysaccharides were analyzed by multiangle static light scattering after size-exclusion chromatography. From these results and the chemical structure of the repeating units of the investigated EPSs, the Kuhn lengths could be calculated. We found that the initial Kuhn lengths of the two native EPSs are similar. Modification of the EPSs by removing parts of the side groups resulted in a decrease in both the absolute value and the normalized value of the Kuhn length. It is therefore concluded that partial removal of the side groups of these polysaccharides could make them less efficient as thickeners if no specific interaction with other components occurs.
Screening for postnatal depression: barriers to success

AJ Mitchell,a J Coyneb,c a Department of Liaison Psychiatry, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK b Behavioral Oncology Program, Abramson Cancer Center and c Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA Correspondence: AJ Mitchell, Department of Liaison Psychiatry, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester LE5 4PW, UK. Email alex.mitchell@leicspart.nhs. uk
Proximal location in extremity long bones is a poor prognostic factor for osteosarcoma: A retrospective cohort study of 153 patients

Abstract Background: Osteosarcomas arising in the proximal femur, humerus, and tibia appear to have poorer outcomes than those arising in distal long bones. However, the strength of this association is uncertain, particularly in light of other prognostic factors. Therefore, this retrospective cohort study was performed to compare patient outcomes between proximal and distal tumor location within extremity long bones. Material and methods: A total of 153 patients with conventional high-grade osteosarcoma of the extremity long bones, pelvis, or axial skeleton who had undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection between 1985 and 2010 were identified in the Surgical Pathology files at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Effect of anatomic location within a proximal long bone was assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression. Results: Proximal tumor location was a strong predictor of poor prognosis in univariate survival analysis. Multivariate regression analysis showed that after controlling for American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, histologic response to chemotherapy, surgical resection margin status, and histologic type, location in the proximal femur, tibia, and humerus were independent risk factors for death due to osteosarcoma, but not event-free survival. Conclusion: Osteosarcomas of the proximal extremity long bones are associated with decreased disease-specific survival compared to tumors of the distal long bones, even after accounting for other key prognostic covariates.
Bayesian analysis of risk factors for anovulation

Two algorithms for assessing ovulatory status using daily urinary levels of oestrogen and progesterone metabolites have been applied to non‐clinic‐based, free‐living populations of women. These relatively new methods for assessing ovarian function have been used to assess the potential adverse effects of occupational and environmental exposures, such as smoking, on the reproductive health of women. One algorithm has been validated against serum hormone measurements and gives good sensitivity and specificity for anovulation. However, a gold standard is generally not available in epidemiologic field studies in which these daily urine samples are collected. In this paper, we used Bayesian methods to estimate: (i) the probability of occurrence of anovulation, (ii) the sensitivity and specificity of the two algorithms, and (iii) the association between anovulation and smoking and other risk factors in the absence of a perfect test. We evaluated the two published algorithms for assessing ovulatory status, based on their cross‐classified results applied to one randomly selected cycle from each woman in a sample of 338 employed women. We first assumed that the algorithms were independent, conditional on ovulatory status. Then, we used a dependence model to allow for correlation between the results of the two algorithms. We implemented a Bayesian logistic regression analysis that allowed the outcome measurement to be partially imperfect. We incorporated the posterior distributions for algorithm accuracy obtained from the dependence model as prior distributions for this logistic regression model. Then, we compared the results with those obtained from a standard multiple logistic approach using the algorithm determination of ovulatory status as if it were perfect. Our results indicated that increasing physical activity was associated with a significantly increased risk of anovulation; and smokers had a potentially, but not statistically significant, increased occurrence of anovulation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bulk magnetic susceptibility shifts in nmr studies of compartmentalized samples: use of paramagnetic reagents

The bulk magnetic susceptibility (BMS) shift of a nuclear resonance frequency caused by a paramagnetic compound is of importance in in vivo NMR, both magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging. However, since it is a rather complicated phenomenon, it has been the source of many misinterpretations in the literature. We have reworked and organized the theory of the BMS shift. This includes accounting for the important effects of local susceptibility. We have conducted experiments on phantom samples in order to illustrate the principles involved. Our phantoms consist of capillaries and coaxial cylinders. They simulate the situations of blood vessels oriented parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field and the interstitial spaces surrounding them. In most of our experiments, the paramagnetic compound was one of several different hyperfine shift reagents for cation resonances. These were chosen to cover a range of potencies, in both magnitude and sign, of the shifts they produce. However, we also used a reagent which was incapable of inducing a hyperfine shift and thus could cause only a BMS shift. Although we report only 23Na spectra in this paper, the latter samples simulate the cases where one observes the water 1H resonance in experiments employing hyperfine shift reagents for cations. There have been a number of such investigations recently reported in the literature. The principles considered in this paper allow us to offer new interpretations for the results of several experiments published in the last few years.
Comparison of renal function between cyanotic and acyanotic congenital heart disease in children and adolescent.

BACKGROUND Glomerular and tubular dysfunction can be found in congenital heart disease (CHD) especially in older children and adults. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence renal dysfunction and to compare glomerular and tubular function between cyanotic and acyanotic CHD in children and adolescent. Correlations among clinicalfactors, urinary glomerular and tubular markers for kidney injury were also determined. MATERIAL AND METHOD Renal function was determined by estimated glomerular filtration rate, urine protein/creatinine, urine microalbumin/creatinine, FE Na+, FE Mg2, and urine NAG/creatinine in children and adolescent with CHD. RESULTS Forty-six patients, 15 cyanotic (group 1), and 31 acyanotic CHD (group 2), were studied. Only the differences of urine NAG/creatinine (median, 3.59 vs. 1.64 unit/gram creatinine; p = 0.008), FE Mg2+ (mean, 5.03 +/- 3.61% vs. 2.48 +/- 1.8%; p = 0.019), and urine protein/creatinine between the two groups were statistically significant (0.16 vs. 0.08; p = 0.001). No significant differences of clinical features, BUN, creatinine, eGFR, diastolic blood pressure, FE Na+, and urine microalbumin/creatinine were found between the two groups. Significantly higher prevalence ofabnormal biochemical markers in group 1 compared to those of group 2:86.6% vs. 43.38% (p = 0.02) for FE Mg2+; 46.6% vs. 9.67% (p = 0.008) for urine NAG/creatinine; 46.6% vs. 6.45% for significant proteinuria (p = 0.003); and 40% and 9.67% (p = 0.042) for microalbuminuria, respectively. The authors found moderate correlation between hemoglobin and functional class of the patients (r = 0.58) and highly negative correlation between oxygen saturation and functional class (r = -0.716). The relationships among other clinical or biochemical makers showed only low correlations. CONCLUSION Cyanotic CHD patients had more prevalence and higher abnormal biochemical markers for renal dysfunction than those of acyanotic CHD. Their urine protein/creatinine, FE Mg2 and urine NAG/creatinine were higher than those of acyanotic CHD. Only low correlation among biochemical markers was found
Requirement of thyroid function for the expression of seasonal reproductive and related changes in red deer (Cervus elaphus) stags.

The effect of thyroid function on regulation of seasonal reproduction was investigated in three red deer stags thyroidectomized (THX) in summer (January 1988) in comparison with five thyroid-intact controls. Responses of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone to a bolus injection of 10 micrograms gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) were tested in July, October, December, February and April. Blood samples were collected at weekly intervals from December 1987 to June 1989 for measurement of testosterone, triiodothyronine (T3) and prolactin concentrations. Testis diameters were measured every 2 weeks. In October 1988 (spring), plasma LH concentrations of control stags were less responsive (P less than 0.01) to stimulation by GnRH than those of THX stags; plasma testosterone concentrations and testis diameters were low and there was no increase in plasma testosterone concentrations after injection of GnRH in control stags during October or December (spring, early-summer). In contrast, THX stags maintained a testosterone response (P less than 0.01) in these 2 months and did not exhibit any signs of a seasonal lack of reproductive activity at this time of year. Control stags cast antlers in spring whereas THX stags maintained hard antlers throughout the study. Concentrations of plasma T3 were not detected in THX stags from June 1988 onwards, but exhibited a seasonal pattern in control stags, with low concentrations during autumn and winter (April to July) and high concentrations in spring and summer (August to February). There was no effect of thyroidectomy on the seasonal pattern of prolactin secretion. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)