Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationships between physical abuse during pregnancy and risk factors for preterm birth among women in Manitoba.

OBJECTIVE To describe the prevalence and correlates of physical abuse during the year of pregnancy and to explore the association between physical abuse and other risk factors for preterm birth. DESIGN Secondary analysis of data from a case-control study of risk factors for preterm birth. SETTING Two tertiary care hospitals in the Canadian province of Manitoba. PARTICIPANTS Six hundred eighty postpartum women who delivered a live singleton newborn after spontaneous onset of labor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Instruments included the Abuse Assessment Screen, Prenatal Psychosocial Profile, Perceived Stress Scale, and a questionnaire to collect data on demographic characteristics, complications during pregnancy, and lifestyle behaviors. RESULTS Sixty-four women (9.4%) reported being physically abused during the year of pregnancy. Abused women were significantly more likely to be younger, single, of lower income, and less educated than nonabused women. Significant correlates of abuse, after adjusting for other factors in a logistic regression, included the following: illicit drug use, low support from partner, moving two or more times in the past year, high life event stress, bladder infection during pregnancy, Aboriginal race/ethnicity, and single marital status. CONCLUSION This study suggests that physical abuse during pregnancy is associated with other risk factors for preterm birth, particularly stress and behavioral risk factors such as substance abuse.
A Comparison Between Visual Estimation and Laboratory Detennination of Blood Loss During the Third Stage of Labour

Summary: A prospective study was conducted to compare the accuracy of visual estimation of blood loss (EBL) at delivery with laboratory determination of measured blood loss (MBL). It showed that EBL tends to be clouded by the conventional teaching that blood loss at delivery is usually between 200 to 300 mL. Women with MBL up to 150 mL were overestimated and the best correlation was in women with MBL between 150 to 300 mL. There was a tendency to underestimate blood loss when the MBL was between 301 to 500 mL. Of the 9 women with a primary postpartum haemorrhage, only one was correctly diagnosed as such and 3 women were estimated to have blood losses of at least 500 mL but the measured blood losses were all lower. It was concluded that visual estimation of blood loss is inaccurate, especially at the extremes of MBL and that primary postpartum haemorrhage is not detected by visual estimation of blood loss, unless there are associated signs of haemodynamic instability.
TOWARDS MALECENTRIC COMMUNICATION: SENSITIZING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO THE REALITIES OF MALE CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVORS

This article extends earlier reports of an ongoing qualitative inquiry on childhood sexual abuse survivors' experiences with health professionals. In this paper, we aim to enhance understanding of male survivors' experience. While male and female participants express similar anxieties and fears about their encounters with health professionals, there are gender-based differences related to the perceptions of victimhood and manhood; guilt and shame; homophobia; disclosure of abuse; and the expression of vulnerability. The implications of these differences for sensitive health care practice are analyzed within the context of gender relationships and the differential socialization of men. Malecentric communication is proposed as a method for addressing the specific experiences of male survivors in their encounters with health professionals.
Approximately Sufficient Statistics and Bayesian Computation

The analysis of high-dimensional data sets is often forced to rely upon well-chosen summary statistics. A systematic approach to choosing such statistics, which is based upon a sound theoretical framework, is currently lacking. In this paper we develop a sequential scheme for scoring statistics according to whether their inclusion in the analysis will substantially improve the quality of inference. Our method can be applied to high-dimensional data sets for which exact likelihood equations are not possible. We illustrate the potential of our approach with a series of examples drawn from genetics. In summary, in a context in which well-chosen summary statistics are of high importance, we attempt to put the `well' into `chosen. '
Evaluating plantar fascia strain in hyperpronating cadaveric feet following an extra-osseous talotarsal stabilization procedure.

Abnormal talotarsal joint mechanics leading to hyperpronation is implicated as one of the most common causes of plantar fasciopathy. In patients with hyperpronating feet, the plantar fascia experiences excessive tensile forces during static and dynamic weight-bearing activities because of excessive medial longitudinal arch depression. For the purposes of this study, we hypothesized that plantar fascia strain in hyperpronating cadaveric feet would decrease after intervention with an extra-osseous talotarsal stabilization (EOTTS) device. A miniature differential variable reluctance transducer was used to quantify the plantar fascia strain in 6 fresh-frozen cadaver foot specimens exhibiting flexible instability of the talotarsal joint complex (i.e., hyperpronation). The strain was measured as the foot was moved from its neutral to maximally pronated position, before and after intervention using the HyProCure(®) EOTTS device. The mean plantar fascia elongation was 0.83 ± 0.27 mm (strain 3.62% ± 1.17%) and 0.56 ± 0.2 mm (strain 2.42% ± 0.88%) before and after intervention, respectively (N = 18, variation reported is ± 1 SD). The average plantar fascia strain decreased by 33%, and the difference was statistically significant with p < . 001. From this cadaveric experiment, the reduction in plantar fascia strain suggests that an EOTTS device might be effective in stabilizing the pathologic talotarsal joint complex and the medial longitudinal arch and in eliminating hyperpronation. An EOTTS procedure might offer a possible treatment option for plantar fasciopathy in cases in which the underlying etiology is abnormal talotarsal biomechanics.
The frequency of sexual intercourse reported by women: a review of community-based studies and factors limiting their conclusions.

INTRODUCTION A range of methodological inconsistencies has the potential to affect reported prevalence rates of sexual intercourse. AIMS We reviewed published studies of sexual intercourse frequency reported by women and associated factors. METHODS Literature search of electronic databases. Inclusion criteria for selected cross-sectional studies were population and community-based studies of frequency of intercourse in women published in English or German languages with sample size greater than 300. Longitudinal studies were selected if duration was at least 1 year and samples were not clinically based. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Frequency of sexual intercourse/activities and any associated factors. RESULTS There was a great deal of variation in the mean frequency of intercourse across all age groups with higher rates reported by European and American women. There was a reduction in frequency of sexual intercourse from age 50 among women from Europe and the United States. Asian women reported increasing rates through the age group 20-30 followed by a decline. Change with age was not as evident among African and South American studies. Factors most often associated with the frequency of sexual intercourse were age, parity, duration of relationship, pregnancy, time, relationship status, fertility intentions, and contraception. CONCLUSIONS There is variation in reported frequency of sexual intercourse between studies, age groups, and continents. Some of the variation may be due to variation in definitions, study designs, and methods suggesting a need for greater consistency in research practice.
The incidence of TS in Macedonia Craniofacial morphology in Turner syndrome karyotypes

Introduction: A complete or partial absence of an X chromosome in the karyotype of phenotypic females has an impact on craniofacial morphology. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of the craniofacial complex in patients with Turner syndrome (TS), and to evaluate the influence of various karyotypes on craniofacial morphology. Materials and methods: The study population was comprised of 40 TS female patients, aged 9.2 to 18 years, and 40 healthy females, aged 9.3 to 18 years, as the control group. The TS patients were subdivided according to karyotype. All study participants were evaluated cephalometrically. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s multiple comparison test were used for analysis of the differences between the means in Turner subgroups and the control group. Results: In general, the girls with TS were characterized by smaller dimensions and an altered morphology of the craniofacial complex compared with the unaffected girls. The curvature of the frontal bone was significantly increased, while the diameter of the head was reduced. Both the maxilla and mandible were retrognathic, posteriorly rotated, and reduced in antero-posterior length. The cranial base was shorter and flattened. Among the different karoytypes, no significant differences were determined in the dimensions of the craniofacial complex in girls with TS. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the karyotype has no effect on craniofacial morphology and we confirmed that a specific model of craniofacial morphology in individuals with TS is present in early childhood.
Immunoendocrine Alterations during Human Tuberculosis as an Integrated View of Disease Pathology

Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease accompanied by excessive and/or prolonged cytokine production, which might affect the immunoendocrine communication and favor the establishment of an adverse state with important alterations in essential biological functions. Studies in blood from TB patients showed increased levels of interferon γ (IFN-γ), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and IL-6, accompanied by a modest increase in the levels of cortisol, prolactin, and thyroid hormones and markedly augmented concentrations of growth hormone. Conversely, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels were profoundly decreased, resulting in an increased cortisol/DHEA ratio. The finding that culture supernatants from Mycobacterium-tuberculosis-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of TB patients inhibit DHEA secretion by a human adrenal cell line indicates that immune cells from these patients can directly affect the synthesis of this hormone. Supporting the existence of bidirectional interactions, in vitro treatment of PBMCs from TB patients with physiological concentrations of cortisol inhibited mycobacterial antigen-driven lymphoproliferation and IFN-γ production, whereas DHEA suppressed transforming growth factor β production from cases with progressive disease. Further analysis showed that plasma DHEA levels correlated positively with the in vitroproduction of IFN-γ by mycobacterial-stimulated PBMCs, and the cortisol/DHEA ratio was inversely correlated with IFN-γ production. Lastly, it was also shown that the immunoendocrine imbalance in TB patients was associated with weight loss, which in turn correlated with the impairment on their specific in vitro cellular immune responses. These immunoendocrine interactions may play a detrimental role during TB, in terms of the development of protective immune responses, control of tissue damage and metabolic disorders, being implicated in disease aggravation and the ‘classic’ TB consumption.
Subdural haematoma and effusion in infancy: an epidemiological study

Aim: To determine incidence, aetiology, and clinical features of subdural haematoma and effusion (SDH/E) in infancy throughout the British Isles. Methods: Cases were notified to the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit over 12 months by paediatricians, neurosurgeons, and paediatric and forensic pathologists. Results: A total of 186 infants (121 boys, 65 girls) aged 0–2 years were identified. Annual incidence of SDH/E for the UK and Republic of Ireland is 12.54/100 000 aged 0–2 (95% CI 10.3 to 14.62) and 24.1/100 000 aged 0–1 (95% CI 20.89 to 28.18). A total of 106 infants suffered non-accidental head injury (NAHI), 7 accidental head injury, 26 a perinatal cause, 7 a non-traumatic medical condition, 23 meningitis, and in 17 the cause was undetermined; 35 infants died. Significant differences were found in injury pattern, body weight, and Townsend score between NAHI and SDH/E from other cause. There were fewer diagnostic investigations in non-NAHI cases. Delay in diagnosis of greater than a week occurred in 48/181. Conclusion: SDH/E is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in infancy. NAHI is the predominant cause of SDH/E. SDH/E can present in a non-specific and varied way and must be considered in any infant who is unwell. Determining the cause of the SDH/E in some cases continues to present a diagnostic challenge.
Genetic epidemiology of self-reported lifetime DSM-IV major depressive disorder in a population-based twin sample of female adolescents.

BACKGROUND In adults, about 40% of the variance in risk of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is due to genetic factors, but little data exist on the heritability of youth MDD. The goal of this study was the genetic analysis of MDD in an epidemiologically and genetically representative sample of adolescent female twins. METHODS A sample of 3416 female adolescent twins systematically ascertained from birth records was assessed using a structured telephone interview that included a comprehensive DSM-IV-based section for the diagnostic assessment of MDD. Mean subject age at time of assessment was 15.5 and participation rate exceeded 85%. Genetic modeling was conducted taking into consideration the problem of censoring, i.e., that younger adolescents were not through their period of risk for adolescent onset of MDD. RESULTS Lifetime self-reported MDD prevalence ranged from 1% under age 12 to 17.4% at age 19 and older. The genetic variance in risk of MDD was 40.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 23.9-55.1), with the remaining variance explained by non-shared environmental effects 59.6% (95%CI: 44.9-76.1). Shared environmental effects were not significant. A significant recall bias was observed with older respondents on average reporting later onsets for their first episode of MDD. CONCLUSIONS The genetic and environmental contributions to risk of MDD in this representative sample of female adolescent twins are remarkably analogous to findings from adult samples. These results are congruent with a conceptualization of adolescent MDD and adult MDD as having very similar etiologic determinants.
Differentiation of cerebellar mossy fiber synapses in the rat: A quantitative electron microscope study

The differentiation of cerebellar glomeruli was investigated by quantitative electron microscopy, starting with the period at which mossy fibers made their first appearance. Two developmental stages could be delineated in the maturation of the mossy fiber‐granule cell synapse. 1 A primary growth stage (postnatal days 6–15) characterized by the rapid enlargement of mossy rosettes and the intense proliferation of post‐synaplie dendrites. The synaptic perimeter of mossy terminals, i.e. percentage of membrane surface occupied by synaptic junctions, exhibited a simultaneous, rapid increase in that stage, reaching a peak at postnatal day 15. 2 Establishment and stabilization of differentiated glomeruli (15th‐45th day). Because the size of mossy rosettes did not change in this period, the increase of glomerular size was due exclusively to the continuing multi plication of postsynaptic dendrites. The characteristic feature of this stage was the massive elimination of synaptic junctions. The synaptic perimeter of 14.4% at day 15 decreased to 5.7% by day 30. Since the size of individual synaptic junctions and the size of mossy terminals did not decrease while the number of postsynaptic dendrites even increased during the same period, the elimination of synaptic junctions represents a net loss of the synaptic perimeter of mossy terminals.
Analysis of Scalability and Performance in Passive Optical CDMA Networks

This paper proposes a novel architecture for coherent optical code-division multiple-access passive optical networks (OCDMA-PON). As optical spreading sequences, a recently introduced prime code family hereby referred to as double-padded modified prime code (DPMPC) has been employed and analyzed. The transceivers operate under homodyne dual-balanced detection scheme. For coherent modulation, binary phase-shift keying is employed where the phase is modulated by Mach-Zehnder external phase-modulator. The proposed architecture for optical network units and line terminals are also presented and analyzed. The network scalability of fiber link distances as well as bit-error rate, considering (1) fiber link noise e.g., amplifier spontaneous emission noise; (2) thermal noise; (3) photo-detectors' shot-noise; (4) relative intensity noise; and (5) mainly multiple-access interference, have been investigated. The results have indicated that this architecture can improve the network scalability, capacity and transmission performance, leading to the promising scheme for optical transport networks.
Activity of topoisomerase inhibitors daunorubicin, idarubicin, and aclarubicin in the Drosophila Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test

Anthracyclines have been widely used as anticancer drugs against different types of human cancers. The present study evaluated the mutagenic and recombinagenic properties of two anthracycline topoisomerase II (topo II) poisons, daunorubicin (DNR) and idarubicin (IDA), as well as the related topo II catalytic inhibitor aclarubicin (ACLA), using the wing Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test (SMART) in Drosophila melanogaster. The three anthracyclines were positive in this bioassay, producing mainly mitotic homologous recombination. The results for spot‐size distribution and recombinagenic activity indicate that recombinational DNA damage accounts for ∼91, 86, and 62% of DNR, IDA, and ACLA genotoxicity, respectively. Besides being a catalytic inhibitor of topo II, ACLA is also a topoisomerase I (topo I) poison. This dual topo I and II inhibitory effect, associated with its DNA‐intercalating activity, could contribute to the activity of ACLA in the SMART assay. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 43:250–257, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vivo Optical Properties of Normal Canine Prostate at 732 nm Using Motexafin Lutetium–mediated Photodynamic Therapy¶

Abstract The optical properties (absorption [μa], transport scattering [μ′s] and effective attenuation [μeff] coefficients) of normal canine prostate were measured in vivo using interstitial isotropic detectors. Measurements were made at 732 nm before, during and after motexafin lutetium (MLu)–mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT). They were derived by applying the diffusion theory to the in vivo peak fluence rates measured at several distances (3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 mm) from the central axis of a 2.5 cm cylindrical diffusing fiber (CDF). μa and μ′s varied between 0.03–0.58 and 1.0–20 cm−1, respectively. μa was proportional to the concentration of MLu. μeff varied between 0.33 and 4.9 cm−1 (mean 1.3 ± 1.1 cm−1), corresponding to an optical penetration depth (δ = 1/μeff) of 0.5–3 cm (mean 1.3 ± 0.8 cm). The mean light fluence rate at 0.5 cm from the CDF was 126 ± 48 mW/cm2 (N = 22) when the total power from the fiber was 375 mW (150 mW/cm). This study showed significant inter- and intraprostatic differences in the optical properties, suggesting that a real-time dosimetry measurement and feedback system for monitoring light fluences during treatment should be advocated for future PDT studies. However, no significant changes were observed before, during and after PDT within a single treatment site.
Association Between Homocysteine, Depression, and Cognitive Function in Community‐Dwelling Older Women from Australia

To the Editor: The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is withdrawing the abstract (A31) of Paper Presentation, ‘‘Fondaparinux is superior to enoxaparin for venous thromboembolism prevention in major orthopedic surgery irrespective of patient characteristics,’’ presented at its 2003 Annual Scientific Meeting by Turpie AG, Bauer KA, Eriksson BI et al. A synopsis of the same abstract was also published in J Am Geriatr Soc 2003; 51(suppl 4):S37. This abstract is being withdrawn after a review by the AGS Research and Executive Committees identified violations of AGS submission guidelines. The results reported in this presentation were not original, previously unpublished, research. In addition, the authors were not directly involved with the conduct of the research that was presented.
Oral health status of school children in Mbarara ,

Background: Despite the need for oral health morbidity surveys to aid in reviewing of the oral health services, dental data of Ugandan children is scanty. Objectives: to describe the magnitude and distribution of selected oral health conditions among primary school children in Mbarara, Uganda. Methods: A stratified two-stage cluster sample of 437 children aged 5-6, 8-9 and 11-12 was enrolled. The selected conditions included: dental caries, plaque, calculus, gingivitis, fluorosis and malocclusion (maxillary overjet). These conditions were diagnosed and scored in accordance with World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria. Results: The mean decayed, missing, filled permanent teeth (DMFT) was 1.5(±0.8 SD). Females had higher DMFT (1.6±0.8SD) than males (1.3±0.8SD). Decayed, filled milk teeth (dt) was 2.7(±1.8SD) but more in males 3.1(±2.1SD) than in females 2.4(±1.6SD). Children in private schools were likely to have more caries in both permanent teeth (DMFT: 1.6±0.9SD) and milk teeth (dt: 3.0±1.9SD). Day-scholars were likely to have more caries in permanent teeth (DFMT: 1.50.8SD). Those in boarding were likely to have more caries in milk teeth (dt: 3±2.2SD). Milk teeth caries decreased with age (p<0.0001). Eight (1.8%) had very mild to moderate fluorosis. Nine (2%) lost permanent canines due to practice of “nylon teeth mutilation. ” Majority 325(75%) had dental plaque, which increased with age (p<0.0001). Males significantly had plaque. Children in private schools were associated with less plaque (OR: 0.6, 95%CI: 0.4-0.9), as were those in boarding schools. Some 113(25.9%) had calculus that increased with age (p<0.0001). Calculus was more prevalent in males, government schools, and among day-scholars. Females were less likely to have maxillary overjet (OR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.8). Day-scholars were 2 times more likely to have maxillary overjet (OR: 1.9, 95%CI: 1.13.5). None had severe gingivitis. Conclusion: The oral hygiene of school children was poor with high plaque prevalence demonstrating a lack of established oral hygiene practices. A comprehensive community-focused oral health care intervention that includes oral health education in homes and the strengthening of school health programme is needed to improve the oral health status of children in Mbarara.