Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmaco-epidemiologic study of the prescription of contraindicated drugs in a primary care setting of a university: a retrospective review of drug prescription.

BACKGROUND The prescription of contraindicated drugs is a preventable medication error, which can cause morbidity and mortality. Recent data on the factors associated with drug contraindications (DCIs) is limited world-wide, especially in Malaysia. AIMS The objectives of this study are 1) to quantify the prevalence of DCIs in a primary care setting at a Malaysian University; 2) to identify patient characteristics associated with increased DCI episodes, and 3) to identify associated factors for these DCIs. METHODS We retrospectively collected data from 1 academic year using computerized databases at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) from patients of USM's primary care. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to characterize DCIs. RESULTS There were 1,317 DCIs during the study period. These were observed in a cohort of 923 patients, out of a total of 17,288 patients, representing 5,339 DCIs per 100,000 patients, or 5.3% of all patients over a 1-year period. Of the 923 exposed patients, 745 (80.7%) were exposed to 1 DCI event, 92 (10%) to 2 DCI events, 35 (3.8%) to 3 DCI events, 18 (2%) to 4 DCI events, and 33 patients (3.6%) were exposed to 5 or more DCI events. The average age of the exposed patients was 30.7 ± 15 y, and 51.5% were male. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that being male (OR = 1.3; 95% CI = 1.1 - 1.5; p < 0.001), being a member of the staff (OR = 3; 95% CI = 2.5 - 3.7; p < 0.001), having 4 or more prescribers (OR = 2.8; 95% CI = 2.2 - 3.6; p < 0.001), and having 4 or more longterm therapeutic groups (OR = 2.3; 95%CI = 1.7 - 3.1; p < 0.001), were significantly associated with increased chance of exposure to DCIs. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS This is the first study in Malaysia that presents data on the prevalence of DCIs. The prescription of contraindicated drugs was found to be frequent in this primary care setting. Exposure to DCI events was associated with specific socio-demographic and health status factors. Further research is needed to evaluate the relationship between health outcomes and the exposure to DCIs.
Monotonically convergent ILC systems designed using bounded real lemma

This article is devoted to iterative learning control (ILC) systems design for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), linear time-invariant (LTI) plants. With the bounded real lemma (BRL) applied, a linear matrix inequality (LMI) design approach is presented to develop sufficient conditions for the monotonic convergence of the ILC process. It is shown that regardless of a system relative degree, the convergence conditions can be expressed in terms of LMIs, and formulas can be derived for the learning gain matrices design. For ILC determined in this way, two illustrative examples are provided to verify its effectiveness and robustness against structured and polytopic-type uncertainties.
PLASMA AND WHOLE BLOOD VISCOSITY

In 1687 Isaac Newton wrote in his Principia ‘the resistance which arises from the lack of slipperiness of the parts of a liquid, other things being equal, is proportional to the velocity with which the parts of a liquid are separated from one another’. The ‘lack of slipperiness’ we now call ‘viscosity’. According to Scott Blair (1969) viscosity is an old word originally meaning ‘stickiness’ and derives from the Latin word for mistletoe. The concept of viscosity is simple; it is the resistance offered by a liquid to attempts to change its shape. Its mathematical expression depends on a knowledge of the laws of elasticity and fluid flow. In practice viscosity may be defined as the ratio of shear stress to shear rate. The rate of shear is the tangential force exerted across a unit area between two parallel planes of the fluid under consideration, unit distance apart, one plane being fixed whilst the other moves at unit velocity. If the planes are distance x apart and move at relative velocity v then the velocity gradient is v/x. This velocity gradient is called the shear rate. If tr is measured in cm/s and x in cm then v / x is expressed in reciprocal seconds, s l . The force per unit area which produces this rate of shear is the shear stress. If the ratio of shear stress to shear rate is constant then a liquid is said to be ‘Newtonian’ in character-i.e. if the flow rate is to be doubled twice the force will be required to bring this about. The unit of viscosity is the Poise named after Poiseuille (1846), a physician, who formulated the relationship between the variables determining the rate of flow of fluids through narrow tubes. This relationship may be expressed as
Comparison of micafungin and voriconazole in the treatment of invasive fungal infections in kidney transplant recipients

What is known and Objective: Invasive fungal infections are a major threat to renal transplant recipients. Micafungin and voriconazole are two useful antifungal agents for treating such infections. Our objective is to evaluate the comparative efficacy and safety of micafungin and voriconazole in the initial treatment of such infections.
ARA 290, a Nonerythropoietic Peptide Engineered from Erythropoietin, Improves Metabolic Control and Neuropathic Symptoms in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Although erythropoietin ameliorates experimental type 2 diabetes with neuropathy, serious side effects limit its potential clinical use. ARA 290, a nonhematopoietic peptide designed from the structure of erythropoietin, interacts selectively with the innate repair receptor that mediates tissue protection. ARA 290 has shown efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies of metabolic control and neuropathy. To evaluate the potential activity of ARA 290 in type 2 diabetes and painful neuropathy, subjects were enrolled in this phase 2 study. ARA 290 (4 mg) or placebo were self-administered subcutaneously daily for 28 d and the subjects followed for an additional month without further treatment. No potential safety issues were identified. Subjects receiving ARA 290 exhibited an improvement in hemoglobin A1c (Hb A1c) and lipid profiles throughout the 56 d observation period. Neuropathic symptoms as assessed by the PainDetect questionnaire improved significantly in the ARA 290 group. Mean corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) was reduced significantly compared with normal controls and subjects with a mean CNFD >1 standard deviation from normal showed a significant increase in CNFD compared with no change in the placebo group. These observations suggest that ARA 290 may benefit both metabolic control and neuropathy in subjects with type 2 diabetes and deserves continued clinical evaluation.
Shyness and Informal Help-Seeking Behavior

The present study examined whether shy individuals are more reluctant to seek help than less shy individuals. A sample of 48 undergraduates (46% men, M age = 20.6 yr.) were selected from a pool of 72 students based on their relatively high or low scores on the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale. They were then exposed to a situation involving an impossible task, on which they had the option of seeking assistance. Analysis indicated that participants scoring high on Shyness took significantly more time to seek help than participants scoring low. This result suggests that even when help is readily available, shy individuals may refrain from seeking it. Presumably, shy people may be reluctant to seek help because that often requires them to initiate a social interaction.
The Genetic Variability of Wheat Can Ensure Safe Products for Celiac Disease Patients

Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering/Center of Genomics and Biotechnology, University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal Center for Animal Science and Veterinary, Vila Real, Portugal Department of Veterinary Science, University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal *Corresponding author: gigrejas@utad.pt
Pregnant adolescents' perspectives of pregnancy.

PURPOSE To gain a clearer understanding of teens' perspectives on pregnancy and parenting. DESIGN Descriptive qualitative study using grounded theory. METHODS The sample was comprised of 20 pregnant 15- to 19-year-old teens in the second or third trimester of pregnancy who planned to keep their child. A taped interview of each participant was performed either in the school the teen was attending or in the privacy of her home. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method. Interviews were compared with each other to confirm/disconfirm emerging themes. RESULTS The comparison of the data from the 20 interviews resulted in themes clearly describing the teens' perceptions of the changes related to pregnancy, how they managed these changes, and their views on mothering. Three major themes emerged: "The pregnant me--unexpected changes," "Transformed relationships," and "Envisioning mothering. " CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Nurses caring for pregnant adolescents who have made the decision to keep their babies should carefully assess each individual's strengths, weaknesses, hopes, and goals prior to developing a plan of care. Identifying the teens' living situations and support from family, father of the baby, and/or friends and recognizing and building upon the strengths the teens bring to the pregnancy may influence the pregnancy's outcome. Encouraging attendance and participation in programs specifically designed for pregnant adolescents and adolescent parents may be a helpful strategy for these teens.
Recent Advances in Oyster Biology

A REVIEW of the recent papers dealing with the biology of the oyster is certainly worth-while reading for a public much larger than just those engaged in shellfish work. This, in the first place, is because the word "oyster" figures in the titles of such a very great number of papers that they can be counted by the thousand. Evidently the oyster has attracted more scientific attention than any other marine invertebrate. Moreover, these papers cover a great variety of topics. From this fact one is inclined to conclude that the oyster, biologically speaking, is the best known invertebrate. Nelson (1938) even dares to say that "the oyster is scientifically the best known marine animal in the world. " Therefore all students of invertebrate biology and all those interested in the problems of marine ecology may benefit by a review of recent oyster papers, for this may draw their attention to possible gaps in the knowledge of the biology of other invertebrates, and to the influence of thus far poorly understood or even unknown ecological factors. A review of oyster literature is useful not only because it deals concisely with a great number of papers, but even more because many of these papers are difficult to find, being published in journals with only a small circulation. In the second place, a review like the present is of value because it leads to the conclusion that in spite of the great number of papers published on the biology of the oyster we do not yet know or understand all about it. On the contrary, the greater the number of papers, the more we feel compelled to admit with complete candor and humility that we have but a poor understanding of many important factors in the oyster's biology, and that marine ecology is a science which is still in its infancy. Recent advances throw doubt on many old certainties, once generally accepted and already firmly anchored in biological textbooks. Perhaps the newly gained insight will usher in a new era of research in marine biology, an era which may ultimately yield a better understanding of the complexity of life in the sea. The scope of the present review is limited to papers dealing with the biology of oysters. Studies on oyster culture and on other shellfish are left out of consideration, to avoid congestion. To decide which papers should be reckoned among the "recent" contributions is a rather arbitrary matter. Limiting this review to a few years only, might lead to too fragmentary a picture. Taking into consideration that many papers are difficult to trace, and that many others, published during the war years, did not always attract the attention they deserved, I have chosen to include the papers issued since 1940. For the sake of clarity I will occasionally refer to earlier papers.
Total Hip Arthroplasty Using an Omniflex Modular System: 5 to 12 Years Followup

We evaluated intermediate-term results of primary cementless Omniflex prostheses. Forty-nine patients (57 hips) with a mean age of 44 years were observed for an average of 8.6 years. The average Harris hip score was 46 points before surgery and 87 points at final followup. Revision was done in five hips (9%) in five patients. Two acetabular components (4%) were revised because of breakage of the polyethylene insert. Three femoral components (5%) were revised because of aseptic loosening. Six femoral components (10%) were radiographically loose. Overall, 11 hips (19%) were considered mechanical failures. Osteolysis was identified around three acetabular components (5%) and around 20 femoral components (35%). Nine hips (16%) had femoral osteolysis around the distal stem tip. The average annual polyethylene liner wear was 0.18 mm. These results were inferior to those using other recent cementless total hip systems.
Orofacial characteristics of adolescents with diagnosed spinal disorders

Abstract The objective of the current epidemiological study is to show the correlation of various postural abnormalities and spinal deformities and the clinically identifiable dentofacial anomalies by orthodontic examination. Twenty-three children with Scheuermann’s disease [mean age: 14 years 8 months; standard deviation (SD): 1 year 8 months] and 28 with scoliosis (mean age: 14 years 7 months; SD: 2 years 3 months) participated in the study. Standardized orthodontic screening protocols were used to map the occlusal relations in the sagittal, vertical, and horizontal dimensions; the space relations of the maxillary and mandibular frontal segment; the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) status; and the facial asymmetries. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were found between the values of the examined groups of patients for the following measurements: incisal overjet and overbite, upper and lower midline deviation, mandibular frontal spacing, TMJ pathological symptoms and functional characteristics, and frequency of facial asymmetries. A large percentage of patients with pre-pubertal developments of spinal deformities have various dentofacial anomalies. The majority of these anomalies are present in patients with Scheuermann’s disease. Early treatment of the malocclusions closely correlated to postural disorders should minimize the progression of the dentofacial anomalies, making necessary performing orthodontic screening of these patients as early as possible.
Identification and Role of Carbohydrates on the Surface of Gametes in the Zebra Mussel, Dreissena polymorpha

The objective of this study is to identify surface carbohydrates on zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, eggs and sperm and to analyze their potential role in fertilization. The lectins WGA, Con A, LcH, LTA, SBA, PNA, and GSII were tested for affinity to both eggs and sperm. WGA, Con A, and LcH uniformly labeled eggs. LTA, SBA, PNA, and GSII did not. WGA labeled the entire sperm surface including the unreacted acrosome. Labeling by Con A, LcH, LTA, SBA, PNA, and GSII was restricted to the inner acrosomal region of acrosome-reacted sperm. GSII labeling suggests the presence of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc) only in the inner acrosomal membrane and not on eggs. GlcNAc blocked sperm-egg binding. GSII labeling was associated with a ring-like structure at the site of sperm entry intimately associated with sperm-egg binding. Nonfertilizing sperm were detached from the egg surface along with the GSII basal ring about 15 min postinsemination in a process blocked by trypsin inhibitors.
Severe hypothyroidism caused by type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase in infantile hemangiomas.

Hemangiomas are the most common tumors of infancy, with a prevalence of 5 to 10 percent among one-year-olds. They are characterized by rapid growth in the first year of life, followed by involution and gradual regression by adolescence.1,2 We recently treated a three-month-old infant with massive hepatic hemangiomas and primary hypothyroidism who needed very high doses of thyroid hormone to restore euthyroidism and normal thyrotropin secretion. This finding suggested that the rate of degradation of thyroid hormone was accelerated. We subsequently identified high levels of type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase activity in the hemangioma tissue. This selenoenzyme, normally present in .
Risk Factors for Bacteremia and Predictors of Mortality of Patients with Bloodstream Infection with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of infection and the risk factors associated to bacteraemia and mortality due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). This cohort study, conducted from August 2004 through November 2005, involved 60 consecutively identified patients with bloodstream MRSA infection. The control group included 240 non-infected patients, randomly selected and hospitalized on the day, or immediately after, results of blood culture of case patients were available. A case-control (1:4) study was conducted for evaluation of risk factors for bacteraemia and death. The incidence of infection was 1.99/1000 admissions. Mortality rates were 30% among patients and 5.38% among controls, with an attributed death rate of 24.6%. Multivariate analysis indicated the following risk factors for bacteraemia: severity predictors McCabe = 1, ASA>2 or APACHE II>10 (OR: 4.1; 95% CI: 1.8 - 9.4) and use of central venous catheter (OR: 7.3; 95% CI: 2.4-22.2). University analysis showed as risk factors for mortality: age (OR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.03-1.12), severity predictors McCabe = 1, ASA > 2 or APACHE II > 10 (OR: 9.13; 95% CI: 2.57-32.35), use of mechanical ventilation (OR: 10.32; 95% CI: 1.78-59.51) and use of corticoids (OR: 9.96; 95% CI: 2.69-36.78). Our results when investigating risk factors for bacteremia and mortality due to MRSA showed moderate influence of control group selection, in comparison to studies in which methicillinsensitive S. aureus infection is used as control.
Cryptococcal Meningitis Management in Tanzania With Strict Schedule of Serial Lumber Punctures Using Intravenous Tubing Sets: An Operational Research Study

Background:Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) has a mortality rate of ∼70% among HIV-infected adults in low-income countries. Controlling intracranial pressure (ICP) is essential in CM, but it is difficult in low-income countries because manometers and practical ICP management protocols are lacking. Methods:As part of a continuous quality improvement project, our Tanzanian hospital initiated a new protocol for ICP management for CM. All adult inpatients with CM are included in a prospective patient registry. At the time of analysis, this registry included data from 2 years before the initiation of this new ICP management protocol and for a 9-month period after. ICP was measured at baseline and at days 3, 7, and 14 by both manometer and intravenous (IV) tubing set. All patients were given IV fluconazole according to Tanzanian treatment guidelines and were followed until 30 days after admission. Results:Among adult inpatients with CM, 32 of 35 patients (91%) had elevated ICP on admission. Cerebrospinal fluid pressure measurements using the improvised IV tubing set demonstrated excellent agreement (r2 = 0.96) with manometer measurements. Compared with historical controls, the new ICP management protocol was associated with a significant reduction in 30-day mortality (16/35 [46%] vs. 48/64 [75%] in historical controls; hazard ratio = 2.1 [95% CI: 1.1 to 3.8]; P = 0.018]. Conclusions:Increased ICP is almost universal among HIV-infected adults admitted with CM in Tanzania. Intensive ICP management with a strict schedule of serial lumbar punctures reduced in-hospital mortality compared with historical controls. ICP measurement with IV tubing sets may be a good alternative in resource-limited health facilities where manometers are not available.
The principal features of maximal exertion in the sagittal plane.

The postural stability diagram (PSD) is a plot of the vertical component of a manual force against the horizontal component. It may be used to assess the interactions of manual strength, frictional limitations at the feet and the forces demanded by a task. This paper presents data on human strength in the form of postural stability diagrams. The observed features of maximal exertion, in all directions in the sagittal plane, are presented and analysed. Measurements were made on men and women using 12 different combinations of hand and foot placement. Sex, the position of the hands and feet, and the direction of exertion were important determinants of strength. Evidence is presented to show that, in a minority of conditions, strength is limited by the distribution of body weight and the extent of the foot base. Centres of foot pressure were rarely located at the posterior limits of a subject's anatomical foot base. In certain combinations of hand and foot placement, pronounced peak forces were observed for .
Expressive genomic hybridisation: gene expression profiling at the cytogenetic level

Aims: To describe a cytogenetic technique suitable for the rapid assessment of global gene expression that is based on comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH), and to use it to understand the relation between genetic amplifications and gene expression. Methods: Whereas traditional CGH uses DNA as test and reference in hybridisations, expressive genomic hybridisation (EGH) uses globally amplified mRNA as test and normal DNA as reference. EGH is a rapid and powerful tool for localising and studying global gene expression profiles and correlating them with loci of genetic amplifications using traditional CGH. Results: EGH was used to correlate genetic amplifications detected by CGH with the expression profile of two independent cell lines—Colo320 and T47D. Although many amplifications resulted in overexpression, other amplifications were partially or completely silenced at the cytogenetic level. Conclusion: This technique will assist in the analysis of overexpressed genes within amplicons and could resolve a controversial issue in cancer cytogenetics; namely, the relation between genetic amplifications and overexpression.
Double‐Blind Controlled Study of L‐Dopa Therapy in Schizophrenia

Manifestation of psychic symptoms upon administration of L-Dopa in the treatment of Parkinson's disease has been reported in 20% of the patients. ' ti In addition, L-Dopa has also been found to worsen psychic symptoms of schizophrenia.2 However, the possibility of L-Dopa in providing beneficial effects on the psychic symptoms has also been suggested.9 Inanaga et U Z . ~ experienced remarkable improvement in three schizophrenic patients, who had been ill for five to six years after the onset of disease and become refractory to various drug therapies, by co-administering L-Dopa in addition to the conventionally used neuroleptics. Relatively small doses of L-Dopa ranging from 400 to 1,200 mg were used in the therapy of this series. On