Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risky drinking, risky sex: a national study of New Zealand university students.

BACKGROUND Sexual risk taking and heavy alcohol use coexist in many populations of young people. A better understanding of the role of alcohol in sexual behaviors with health risks will inform preventive strategies. This study aimed to estimate the associations of risky sexual behavior with usual drinking pattern, with beliefs that alcohol will positively affect sexual experiences, and with drinking at the time of the sexual event. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional web-based survey of randomly selected university students on 8 New Zealand campuses in April 2009. Event-level data (drinking, partner type, and condom use at last sexual intercourse) were collected along with contextual data (usual alcohol consumption [AUDIT-C score], history of binge drinking, alcohol-related sexual enhancement expectancies). Regression models were used to estimate associations and potential mediation. RESULTS The response rate was 50.6% (n = 2,921). After survey weighting, of those respondents who had ever had sex, 32% reported they had been drinking and 56% reported using a condom at last sex; 10.7% reported that their last sexual intercourse was with a nonregular partner and without a condom ("risky sex") (12.3% of men; 9.8% of women; p = 0.159). For both men and women, alcohol-sex expectancy scores and current drinking (AUDIT-C) scores were independently associated with amount of alcohol at last sex. For both men and women, the association of current drinking or expectancy with risky sex was mediated by alcohol at last sex. CONCLUSIONS Of the complex factors that contribute to risky sexual behavior and negative sexual health outcomes, heavy drinking appears to be important and is potentially modifiable. Addressing environmental determinants of hazardous drinking is likely to reduce negative sexual health outcomes among university students and other young people. Continuing promotion of condom use is also necessary, and further integration of health promotion activities in alcohol and sexual health is warranted.
Title Salt-sensitive hypertension in mitochondrial superoxide dismutase deficiency is associated with intra-renal oxidative stress and inflammation

Background Renal interstitial inflammation and oxidative stress are invariably present and play a key role in the pathogenesis of hypertension in experimental animals. Mitochondria are the major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS generated in the mitochondria are normally contained by the mitochondrial antioxidant system including manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). We have previously shown that a high salt diet causes hypertension in MnSOD-deficient (MnSOD) mice but not in wild-type mice. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of a high salt diet on oxidative and inflammatory pathways in the kidneys of MnSOD mice compared to the wild-type mice. Methods Wild-type (MnSOD) and MnSOD mice were randomized to receive a regular or a high salt diet for 4 months. Tail arterial pressure was measured and timed urine collection was obtained. The animals were then euthanized and the kidneys were harvested and processed for histological examination and Western blot analyses. Results In confirmation of our earlier study, a high salt diet resulted in a significant rise in arterial pressure and urinary albumin excretion in MnSOD mice. This was accompanied by upregulation of NAD(P)H oxidase subunits, activation of nuclear factor kappa B, and elevation of PAI-1, iNOS, oxidized LDL receptor, and CD36 in the kidneys of the MnSOD mice fed the high salt diet. In contrast, consumption of a high salt diet did not significantly alter blood pressure, urine protein excretion, or the measured oxidative and inflammatory mediators in the wild-type mice. Conclusion Salt-induced hypertension in MnSOD mice is associated with activation of intra-renal inflammatory and ROS generating pathways.
STRATEGIC OUTSOURCING:

Outsourcing has become an increasingly popular option for many organisations. But they vary in terms of activities being outsourced, reasons for and benefits from outsourcing, and how the decision was made. This article presents an empirical research on fourteen companies. It found out, a) in most cases it was the ‘peripheral’ support activity being outsourced with cost reduction as the primary driver; b) outsourcing decision was being made early in the process without active involvement of the in-house provider; and c) there were problems in supplier selection and management. The research identified preoutsourcing decision process and post-outsourcing management as the two key areas that gave cause for concern, and offered recommendations for improvement.
Recent advances in de novo CD5+ diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Various subsets of DLBCL are distinguished based on molecular and immunohistochemical features. CD5 expressing DLBCL (CD5+ DLBCL) is increasingly recognized as a subtype of DLBCL with an aggressive disease course. Primary CD5+ DLBCL comprises approximately 5–10% of DLBCL. Few studies of CD5+ DLBCL have been reported, primarily from Japan. Publications covered in this review include articles published on PubMed and abstracts from major international conferences until April 2013. Common features of patients with CD5+ DLBCL are older age, female preponderance, elevated LDH, more extra‐nodal involvement, poor performance status (PS), higher incidence of CNS involvement, inferior response to rituximab‐containing regimens (as compared to CD5‐ DLBCL) and advanced stage. The majority of these cases belong to the activated B cell subtype (ABC) of DLBCL. It is unclear whether CD5 expression in malignant B cells may confer chemo resistance, upregulate antiapoptotic signals and alter the microenvironment. Molecular techniques have helped in understanding CD5+ DLBCL. Gene expression signature was similar in ABC‐DLBCL and CD5+ DLBCL in some studies. Despite the better characterization treatment outcomes are poor and additional studies are needed. Am. J. Hematol. 88:798–802, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lipids and antioxidative effects of estradiol and sequential norethisterone acetate treatment in a 3-month randomized controlled trial

Objective: To determine the influence of hormone replacement therapy on serum lipids and antioxidative factors associated with the risk of coronary heart disease. Methods: The effect of a sequential estradiol-norethisterone acetate regimen or placebo on lipid metabolism, antioxidative variables and fatty acid composition in serum was measured during the peak-estrogen phase in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 42 healthy postmenopausal women for 3 months. Results: Active treatment significantly reduced lipoprotein(a) by 15% (p = 0.005, compared with placebo), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 10% (p = 0.005) and the LDL cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio by 11% (p = 0.016). Serum triglycerides increased by 21% (p = 0.045). No effect was observed on HDL cholesterol, on apolipoproteins apo A1 or apo B, or on non-esterified fatty acids in serum. No treatment effect was seen in the proportions of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The concentration of malondialdehyde in serum did not change with the estrogen-progestin treatment. Conclusions: This sequential estrogen-progestin therapy has a beneficial effect on apolipoprotein(a) and LDL cholesterol, but no effect on non-esterified fatty acids or the level of lipid peroxidation products in serum.
The natural history of hepatitis C virus infection: host, viral, and environmental factors.

CONTEXT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may resolve (viral clearance), persist without complications, or cause end-stage liver disease (ESLD). The frequency and determinants of these outcomes are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE To assess the incidence and determinants of viral clearance and ESLD among persons who acquired HCV infection from injection drug use. DESIGN AND SETTING Community-based prospective cohort study with enrollment in 1988-1989 and a median follow-up of 8.8 years. SUBJECTS A total of 1667 persons aged 17 years or older with a history of injection drug use and an HCV antibody-positive test result during follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Viral clearance was assessed in a subset of 919 patients and defined as failure to detect HCV RNA in at least 2 consecutive samples collected 5 or more months apart. End-stage liver disease was assessed at semiannual visits and by review of medical records and death certificates and defined by the presence of ascites, esophageal varices, or hepatic encephalopathy, or when ESLD was stated as a cause of death. RESULTS Viral clearance was observed in 90 persons who were compared with 722 with persistent viremia, while the viremia of 107 was not resolved. Viral clearance occurred more often in nonblacks (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 5.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.60-10.17) and those not infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (adjusted OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.26-3.47). Forty cases of ESLD were observed throughout follow-up (incidence, 3.1 per 1000 person-years). In a multivariate model, risk of ESLD was higher for persons aged 38 years or older at enrollment (adjusted relative incidence, 3.67; 95% CI, 1.96-6.88) and who reported ingestion of more than 260 g of alcohol per week (adjusted relative incidence, 3.60; 95% CI, 1.73-7.52). Of 210 patients without ESLD randomly selected for biopsy, only 2 had cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that although HCV infection can be self-limited or associated with ESLD, the majority of adults have persistent viremia without clinically demonstrable liver disease. Further research is needed to explain the less frequent clearance of HCV infection among black persons and to improve utilization of treatment for those infected in the context of injection drug use. JAMA. 2000;284:450-456
Individualized music played for agitated patients with dementia: analysis of video-recorded sessions.

Many nursing home patients with dementia suffer from symptoms of agitation (e.g. anxiety, shouting, irritability). This study investigated whether individualized music could be used as a nursing intervention to reduce such symptoms in four patients with severe dementia. The patients were video-recorded during four sessions in four periods, including a control period without music, two periods where individualized music was played, and one period where classical music was played. The recordings were analysed by systematic observations and the Facial Action Coding System. Two patients became calmer during some of the individualized music sessions; one patient remained sitting in her armchair longer, and the other patient stopped shouting. For the two patients who were most affected by dementia, the noticeable effect of music was minimal. If the nursing staff succeed in discovering the music preferences of an individual, individualized music may be an effective nursing intervention to mitigate anxiety and agitation for some patients.
In vitro neuronal differentiation of Drosophila embryo cells

Early gastrula-stage Drosophila embryo cells will differentiate in vitro to form several cell types, including neurons. We report here the morphological appearance of cultured embryo cells, the pattern of DNA synthesis, and the expression of neurotransmitter-metabolizing macromolecules. The cells initially exhibit no overt morphological differentiation, and all cells incorporate 3H-thymidine following a 1 hr pulse-labeling period. As cells undergo morphological differentiation, fewer total cells as well as qualitatively different cell types incorporate label. By the time cells are 8 or 9 hr old, no myocytes or myotubes are labeled. In contrast, some neurons are labeled with a thymidine pulse as late as 18 hr. We have also stained cultured cells of various developmental ages with the insect neuron-specific antibody: anti-HRP. Some positive cells can be detected as early as 5 hr, when no overt morphological differentiation is apparent. As the cells differentiate, the staining is limited to the small, round neuronal type and its processes. These findings suggest that this neuron-specific cell marker is expressed very early in cultured gastrula-stage cells and may be used to identify neuronal precursor cells. We have studied the patterns of expression of several macromolecules involved in acetylcholine metabolism using these cultures. The appearance of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the biosynthetic enzyme for ACh production, is first detected in 5-hr-old cells. There is an initial phase of low-level expression, followed by a rapid rise in activity shortly after the differentiating neuron clusters make contact with one another. ChAT activity reaches a plateau in 36–48-hr-old cells. Acetylcholinesterase activity can be detected several hours before ChAT and also shows a period of low-level expression followed by a rapidly increasing phase, reaching a plateau at around 36–48 hr. 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin binding appears in cells about 4 hr old and rapidly approaches maximum levels by about 36 hr. The in vitro expression pattern for ChAT and AChE is similar to that seen in vivo. AChE activity has been localized histochemically to the neurons and their processes in vitro. The normal in vitro expression pattern for ChAT and AChE can be altered by adding various cholinergic drugs to the culture medium during cell differentiation. Medium conditioned by older cultures can also result in lower levels of ChAT and AChE expression. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Comparative study of efficacy and safety of pregabalin and gabapentin in neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain differs from nociceptive pain by their causation, character and also mode of treatment. Most neuropathic pain responds poorly to non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioid analgesics. Pregabalin and gabapentin have been extensively studied in the treatment of neuropathic pain but there is no evidence to indicate superiority of one of these drugs above the other. So, in this study our aim was to compare their efficacy and safety in neuropathic pain. A randomized assessor blind unicentric fixed dose study of pregabalin and gabapentin in treatment of neuropathic pain was conducted in 100 patients attending Neurology OPD of R.G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata. These 100 patients were divided in 2 groups, 50 patients were received pregabalin 75 mg twice daily and other group of 50 patients were received gabapentin 300 mg twice daily for consecutive 8 weeks. Both the groups of patients were followed up at 2, 4 and 8 weeks after starting study drugs and reduction in quantity and quality of pain were assessed by Visual analogue scale (VAS) and pain quality assessment scale (PQAS). Friedman’s test was applied followed by Dunn’s multiple comparison test and it showed that both the drugs reduce VAS score similarly but for PQAS score, Pregabalin has resulted superiority earlier than gabapentin. Also, total reduction of PQAS score from 0 to 8 weeks in pregabalin group is highly significant (p= .0146) in comparison to reduction in gabapentin group, measured by unpaired t test. So, pregabalin has significant better result in reduction of pain quality than gabapentin after 8 weeks of treatment. No similar result was obtained while comparing their reduction in pain intensity.
U.K. Controlled trial of intrapleural streptokinase for pleural infection.

BACKGROUND Intrapleural fibrinolytic agents are used in the drainage of infected pleural-fluid collections. This use is based on small trials that did not have the statistical power to evaluate accurately important clinical outcomes, including safety. We conducted a trial to clarify the therapeutic role of intrapleural streptokinase. METHODS In this double-blind trial, 454 patients with pleural infection (defined by the presence of purulent pleural fluid or pleural fluid with a pH below 7.2 with signs of infection or by proven bacterial invasion of the pleural space) were randomly assigned to receive either intrapleural streptokinase (250,000 IU twice daily for three days) or placebo. Patients received antibiotics and underwent chest-tube drainage, surgery, and other treatment as part of routine care. The number of patients in the two groups who had died or needed surgical drainage at three months was compared (the primary end point); secondary end points were the rates of death and of surgery (analyzed separately), the radiographic outcome, and the length of the hospital stay. RESULTS The groups were well matched at baseline. Among the 427 patients who received streptokinase or placebo, there was no significant difference between the groups in the proportion of patients who died or needed surgery (with streptokinase: 64 of 206 patients [31 percent]; with placebo: 60 of 221 [27 percent]; relative risk, 1.14 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.85 to 1.54; P=0.43), a result that excluded a clinically significant benefit of streptokinase. There was no benefit to streptokinase in terms of mortality, rate of surgery, radiographic outcomes, or length of the hospital stay. Serious adverse events (chest pain, fever, or allergy) were more common with streptokinase (7 percent, vs. 3 percent with placebo; relative risk, 2.49 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.98 to 6.36]; P=0.08). CONCLUSIONS The intrapleural administration of streptokinase does not improve mortality, the rate of surgery, or the length of the hospital stay among patients with pleural infection.
Personality traits and obesity: a systematic review

Based on a bio‐social‐ecological systems model of the development and maintenance of obesity, there has been in the last few years a growing research interest in the association of obesity and personality traits. The aim of the present review was a comprehensive and critical evaluation of the existing literature taking into account the methodological quality of studies to enhance our understanding of personality traits associated with body weight, the development of overweight and obesity as well as the effectiveness of weight loss interventions including bariatric surgery. Personality traits play an important role both as risk as well as protective factors in the development of overweight and obesity. While thus in particular ‘neuroticism’, ‘impulsivity’ and ‘sensitivity to reward’ appear as risk factors, ‘conscientiousness’ and ‘self‐control’ have been shown to have a protective function in relation to weight gain. Conscientiousness is a measure of regulation of internal urges and self‐discipline, and may thus provide a potential source of control over impulsive reward‐oriented behaviour. The results of the present review suggest that, within the context of therapeutic weight reduction measures, it is meaningful to identify subgroups of patients for whom specific treatment options need to be developed, such as measures for strengthening self‐control skills.
Eco-Friendly Extraction and Characterization of Cellulose from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches

Cellulosic fibers in Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) are tightly packed with lignin, hemicelluloses, small depositions of wax, and inorganic elements. In the present work, eco-friendly reagents with low concentrations of 20% (v/v) formic acid and 10% (v/v) of 30% hydrogen peroxide were employed at 85 oC for the extraction of cellulose from OPEFB. The yield of 64% (w/w) achieved was among the highest ever reported. Based on the XRD, the alpha-cellulose content was 93.7% with a high crystallinity of 69.9%. The average diameter was 13.5 μm with structural evidence of separated fibrils as investigated by FESEM. The TEM analysis suggested that the material was crystalline and its geometry was a monoclinic structure. The FTIR spectral peaks representing wax and hemicelluloses at 1735 cm-1 and 1375 cm-1, respectively, and lignin at 1248 cm-1 and 1037 cm-1, were not observed in the extracted OPEFB-cellulose spectra. Based on the TGA results, thermal stability at 325 °C with a single degradation curve suggests the purity of OPEFB-cellulose.
Coping and Psychosocial Adjustment in Mothers of Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes

This study examined symptoms of anxiety and depression in mothers of young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in relation to mothers' fears of hypoglycemia, perceptions of coping, and children's metabolic control. Sixty-seven mothers of children less than 8 years of age diagnosed with T1D completed self-report measures, and children's metabolic control was measured with glycosolated hemoglobin. Approximately 21% of mothers reported clinically significant levels of symptoms of anxiety and 24% reported clinically significant levels of depression. Lower income level and finding it more upsetting to cope with diabetes-related stress accounted for higher symptoms of anxiety and depression in mothers. Mothers' symptoms were not related to children's metabolic control. Recommendations are made for screening mothers and providing supportive interventions to alleviate their distress.
Medical Management of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. In the past, glaucoma was primarily defined by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP is now considered a risk factor for primary openangle glaucoma (POAG), but is not a criterion for diagnosis. The results of several well-designed clinical trials have clearly shown that lowering IOP is beneficial in slowing disease progression and helped to establish a clear relationship between IOP control and visual field preservation. Although IOP is only one known risk factor for POAG, currently it is the only risk factor that is amenable to treatment. When evaluating a patient with glaucoma, 2 decisions must be made—whether to initiate therapy and if so with what treatment modality. Although there are different options for the initial management of POAG, including laser therapy and incisional surgery, medical therapy is typically the initial treatment of choice. There are currently many different medications from which to choose. Medications must be carefully evaluated from a risk-to-benefit perspective for each individual patient. To maximize treatment efficacy, physicians must include the patient in all treatment decisions. This is best achieved when physicians discuss with the patient the diagnosis, treatment options, and disease prognosis. If patients understand their diagnosis and the rationale for treatment, they are more likely to be compliant with their treatment regimen. Clinical trials and utilization studies have shown that many patients with glaucoma require multiple medications for adequate pressure control. Compliance decreases with increased complexity of treatment.
Fracture-dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the finger.

1. Fracture-dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joint of a finger results in marked damage to the joint most needed for good function of the finger. Extensive articular destruction is frequently present and is not visualized by standard roentgenograms. 2. Maximum restoration of joint motion can best be achieved by anatomical restoration of joint contour and alignment. 3. We believe that early open reduction and internal fixation, skillfully performed, is the best method to restore maximum function.