Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of postpartum sexual activity and function in a diverse population of women.

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of postpartum sexual activity and functioning in a diverse population of women using the Sexual Health Outcomes in Women Questionnaire (SHOW-Q). METHODS This was a prospective study of 160 postpartum women assessing relationships between demographic factors, mode of birth, depression, breastfeeding, and sexual activity and function. Questionnaires were administered over the telephone 8 to 10 weeks postpartum and in person 6 to 8 months postpartum. Primary outcomes were sexual activity at 8 to 10 weeks postpartum and global and subscale SHOW-Q scores at 6 to 8 months postpartum; the primary predictor was mode of birth. Associations were assessed using multiple linear and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Seventy-five percent of this population (n = 140 at 8-10 weeks, n = 129 at 6-8 months) gave birth vaginally, and 60.7% resumed sexual activity by 8 to 10 weeks postpartum. Only multiparity was associated with increased odds of having resumed sexual activity by 8 to 10 weeks postpartum (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.44; P = .03), whereas older age was associated with decreased odds (aOR, 0.92; P = .02) of having resumed sexual activity. Women who were depressed (effect estimate, -13.3; P = .01), older (-1.1, P = .01), or exclusively breastfeeding (-16.5, P < .001) had significantly poorer sexual satisfaction, whereas multiparous women reported better sexual satisfaction (11.1, P = .03). A significant relationship between mode of birth and SHOW-Q scores did not emerge, although we did observe a trend toward lower SHOW-Q scores among women who underwent cesarean compared with those giving birth vaginally. DISCUSSION Multiparity and younger age predict early resumption of sexual activity, whereas depression and breastfeeding are associated with poorer postpartum sexual functioning. The relationship between mode of birth and resumed sexual activity or postpartum sexual function remains uncertain.
Mortality among tuberculosis patients on treatment in Singapore.

OBJECTIVE To identify the risk factors associated with mortality among tuberculosis (TB) patients on treatment in Singapore. DESIGN A retrospective cohort study of 7433 TB patients notified and started on TB treatment from 2000 to 2006 was conducted. Cox regression analysis was used to determine independent risk factors for mortality. RESULTS Of 7433 patients who started TB treatment between 2000 and 2006, there were 884 deaths (11.9%) from any cause. Older age, male sex, being in a long-term care facility, having comorbidity, absence of cough, more than one site of TB, bacteriologically confirmed laboratory results, resistance to at least isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RMP) and absence of cavity were strongly associated with all-cause mortality among TB patients. A total of 203 patients (2.7%) died of TB. Risk factors for death due to TB were older age, male sex, Malay ethnicity, being in a long-term care facility, absence of cough, more than one site of TB, bacteriologically confirmed laboratory results and resistance to at least INH and RMP or to at least INH but not RMP. CONCLUSION It is important to identify TB patients with risk factors related to mortality so that appropriate and timely interventions can be instituted to prevent deaths among TB patients.
Plasma homocysteine and coronary artery calcification in Korean men

Background Homocysteine is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, plausibly through induction of endothelial dysfunction and smooth muscle cell proliferation. Under oxidative stress and inflammatory stimuli, vascular smooth muscle cells may undergo osteogenic differentiation, which leads to coronary artery calcification. This study evaluated the association between plasma homocysteine and coronary artery calcification. Design and methods Coronary artery calcium scores (CACSs) and plasma homocysteine concentrations were measured in 21,235 men (42 ± 6.5 years) who participated in the Kangbuk Samsung Health Study between 2010 and 2011. Subjects were grouped by quartile of plasma homocysteine. Results The prevalence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) among the 21,235 men was 13.5%. In the first to fourth homocysteine quartiles, CAC(+) prevalence rates were 12.1%, 12.6%, 13.9%, and 15.3%, respectively. The CAC(+) group had unfavorable cardiometabolic and lipid profiles. In multivariate regression analysis after adjusting for variables with a univariate relationship (p < 0.20), the odds ratio (OR) for the presence of CAC was higher for the highest homocysteine quartile than for the lowest quartile group (OR (95% confidence interval (CI)), 1.275 (1.027, 1.583)), and presence of CAC was positively associated with quartile of homocysteine (p for trend = 0.009). Moreover, absolute plasma homocysteine concentration was positively and significantly related to presence of CAC and to CACS, respectively (OR (95% CI) 1.399 (1.089, 1.796): standardized β = 0.040, p < 0.001). Conclusions This study shows that plasma homocysteine is independently related to coronary artery calcification in Korean men, suggesting that plasma homocysteine concentration may serve as a marker for CAC.
Isorhapontigenin induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis by targeting EGFR‐related pathways in prostate cancer

Isorhapontigenin (ISO), a naturally phytopolyphenol compound existing in Chinese herb, apples, and various vegetables, has attracted extensive interest in recent years for its diverse pharmacological characteristics. Increasing evidences reveal that ISO can inhibit cancer cell growth by induced apoptosis, however, the molecular mechanisms is not fully understood. In this study, we found for the first time that ISO apparently induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis by targeting EGFR and its downstream signal pathways in prostate cancer (PCa) cells both in vitro and in vivo, whereas no obviously effect on normal prostate cells. From the results, we found that ISO competitively targeted EGFR with EGF and inhibited EGFR auto‐phosphorylation, and then decreased the levels of p‐Erk1/2, p‐PI3 K, and p‐AKT, and further induced down‐regulation of p‐FOXO1 and promoted FOXO1 nuclear translocation; and finally resulted in a significantly up‐regulation of Bim/p21/27/Bax/cleaved Caspase‐3/cleaved PARP‐1 and a markedly down‐regulation of Sp1/Bcl‐2/XIAP/Cyclin D1. Moreover, our experimental data demonstrated that treatment of ISO decreased protein level of AR via both inhibiting the expression of AR gene and promoting the ubiquitination/degradation of AR proteins in proteasome. In vivo, we also found that ISO inhibited the growth of subcutaneous xenotransplanted tumor in nude mice by inducing PCa cell growth inhibition and apoptosis. Taken together, all findings here clearly implicated that EGFR‐related signal pathways, including EGFR‐PI3K‐Akt and EGFR‐Erk1/2 pathways, were involved in ISO‐induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in PCa cells, providing a more solid theoretical basis for the application of ISO to treat patients with prostate cancer in clinic.
Research On Money in the Economy Discussion Paper Series ISSN 1865-7052 No 2008-02 , May 2008 Global Liquidity and House Prices – A VAR Analysis for OECD Countries Ansgar Belke

Global monetary dynamics has been particularly strong in recent years. At the same time, house prices in many OECD countries increased sharply, significantly outpacing the relatively subdued development in consumer prices. In this paper we argue that different price elasticities on asset and consumer markets help to explain the observed relative price change between assets and consumer goods. Using a VAR analysis and aggregated data for the major OECD countries, our empirical results are supportive of this relationship. Both house and consumer prices are determined by global monetary conditions; however, while global liquidity shocks lead to relatively fast responses in global house prices, significant responses of the global CPI index to money shocks occur only after long time lags. In addition, we find subsequent spillovers from asset prices to consumer prices on a global scale. JEL-Classification: E31, E52, F01, F42
The impacts of climate change on marine mammals: early signs of significant problems

Climate change is now known to be affecting the oceans. It is widely anticipated that impacts on marine mammals will be mediated primarily via changes in prey distribution and abundance and that the more mobile (or otherwise adaptable) species may be able to respond to this to some extent. However, the extent of this adaptability is largely unknown. Meanwhile, within the last few years direct observations have been made of several marine mammal populations that illustrate reactions to climate change. These observations indicate that certain species and populations may be especially vulnerable, including those with a limited habitat range, such as the vaquita Phocoena sinus, or those for which sea ice provides an important part of their habitat, such as narwhals Monodon monoceros, bowhead Balaena mysticetus and beluga Delphinapterus leucas whales and polar bears Ursus maritimus. Similarly, there are concerns about those species that migrate to feeding grounds in polar regions because of rapidly changing conditions there, and this includes many baleen whale populations. This review highlights the need to take projected impacts into account in future conservation and management plans, including species assessments. How this should be done in an adequately precautionary manner offers a significant challenge to those involved in such processes, although it is possible to identify at this time at least some species and populations that may be regarded as especially vulnerable. Marine ecosystems modellers and marine mammal experts will need to work together to make such assessments and conservation plans as robust as possible.
Differences Between People Who Use Only Facebook and Those Who Use Facebook Plus Twitter

Facebook (FB) and Twitter are popular social networking sites. This study examined differences between those who use both sites versus only FB, to test the hypothesis that mono-users differ in their personality characteristics from users active in both websites. Participants were 205 undergraduate students: 96 only used FB, 109 used FB and Twitter. Participants who used both sites reported significantly lower loneliness, higher number of FB friends, and lower number of minutes spent online, as compared to those who used only FB. Loneliness was positively associated with FB use only in those who used FB alone but was negatively associated with and negatively predicted both FB and Twitter use in those who used both websites. Findings suggest that more intense use of online interactions is more frequently found in mono-users (people using only Facebook) as compared to those using both websites, and it is predicted by increased feelings of loneliness. The current study findings provide additional insights on what personality factors may make some people prone to excessive use of social networking sites.
Maternal intake of vitamins A, E and K in pregnancy and child allergic disease: a longitudinal study from the Danish National Birth Cohort

Fat-soluble vitamins A, E and K have been shown to play roles in immunity and inflammation, but studies on child allergic disease have been few and inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between maternal intake of vitamins A, E and K in mid-pregnancy and child asthma and allergic rhinitis. We used data on 44 594 mother–child pairs from the Danish National Birth Cohort. Maternal intake of fat-soluble vitamins was calculated based on the information from a validated FFQ completed in mid-pregnancy. At 18 months, interviews with the mothers were conducted to evaluate doctor-diagnosed child asthma. At age 7 years, we assessed child asthma and allergic rhinitis using questions from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire and by national registries on hospital contacts and medication use. Current asthma was defined as asthma diagnosis and wheeze in the past 12 months by maternal report. We calculated multivariable risk ratios and 95 % CI by comparing the highest v. lowest quintile (Q) of maternal vitamin A, E and K intake in relation to child allergic disease outcomes. Maternal total vitamin K intake was directly associated with ever admitted asthma (Q5 v. Q1: 1·23, 95 % CI 1·01, 1·50) and current asthma at 7 years (Q5 v. Q1: 1·30, 95 % CI 0·99, 1·70). Weak inverse associations were present for maternal vitamin A and E intake during pregnancy with child allergic rhinitis. Maternal vitamin K intake during pregnancy may increase the risk of child asthma, and should be explored further on a mechanistic level. Conversely, maternal vitamin A and E intake may protect against child allergic rhinitis.
Hypoxia‐induced phrenic long‐term facilitation: emergent properties

As in other neural systems, plasticity is a hallmark of the neural system controlling breathing. One spinal mechanism of respiratory plasticity is phrenic long‐term facilitation (pLTF) following acute intermittent hypoxia. Although cellular mechanisms giving rise to pLTF occur within the phrenic motor nucleus, different signaling cascades elicit pLTF under different conditions. These cascades, referred to as Q and S pathways to phrenic motor facilitation (pMF), interact via cross‐talk inhibition. Whereas the Q pathway dominates pLTF after mild to moderate hypoxic episodes, the S pathway dominates after severe hypoxic episodes. The biological significance of multiple pathways to pMF is unknown. This review will discuss the possibility that interactions between pathways confer emergent properties to pLTF, including pattern sensitivity and metaplasticity. Understanding these mechanisms and their interactions may enable us to optimize intermittent hypoxia‐induced plasticity as a treatment for patients that suffer from ventilatory impairment or other motor deficits.
Novel CaF2 Nanocomposite with High Strength and Fluoride Ion Release

Secondary caries and restoration fracture remain common problems in dentistry. This study tested the hypothesis that combining nano-CaF2 and glass fillers would yield nanocomposites with high mechanical properties and F release. Novel CaF2 nanoparticles (56-nm) were synthesized via spray-drying and incorporated into resin. F release increased with increasing the nano-CaF2 content, or with decreasing pH (p < 0.05). F-release rates at 70-84 days were 1.13 µg/(cm2·day) and 0.50 µg/(cm2·day) for nanocomposites containing 30% and 20% nano-CaF2, respectively. They matched the 0.65 µg/(cm2·day) of resin-modified glass ionomer (p > 0.1). The nanocomposites had flexural strengths of 70-120 MPa, after 84-day immersion at pH 4, pH 5.5, and pH 7. These strengths were nearly three-fold that of resin-modified glass ionomer, and matched/exceeded a composite with little F release. In summary, novel CaF2 nanoparticles produced high F release at low filler levels, thereby making room in resin for reinforcement glass. This yielded nanocomposites with high F-release and stress-bearing properties, which may help reduce secondary caries and restoration fracture.
Mini version of the pediatric asthma quality of life questionnaire (MiniPAQLQ): validity among Thai asthmatic children.

BACKGROUND The assessment of the quality of life among patients and their parents is increasingly recognized as an important chronic disease such as asthma. OBJECTIVE The present study assessed the validity and reliability of the Thai Mini PAQLQ in Thai asthmatic children by comparison with the PAQLQ. MATERIAL AND METHOD The authors performed a 9-week Descriptive cross sectional study. The mini PAQLQ (Thai version) consists of11 items which are categorized into symptoms, activities, emotions. Cronbach 's alpha was used to test for internal consistency reliability. The Pearson's correlation co-efficients was used to test Criterion validity. RESULTS 58 patients, aged 7-17 years were recruited in the study. 45 patients completed the study. The mean age ofpatients was 10.5 +/- 2.7 years. The intraclass correlation between PAQLQ andMiniPAQLQfor total, activities and symptoms were moderately strong except in emotion domain (ICC = 0.65). The correlations between the PAQLQ and MiniPAQLQ were 0.80-0.72. Both quality of life questionnaires correlated strongly with the asthma control questionnaire but not with PEFR. CONCLUSION The MiniPAQLQ is valid and reliable when compared to the PAQLQ. It can be used with confidencefor monitoring in a pediatric asthma clinic.
Comparison of epidemiologically linked Campylobacter jejuni isolated from human and poultry sources

SUMMARY Campylobacter jejuni is responsible for most foodborne bacterial infections worldwide including Australia. The aim of this study was to investigate a combination of typing methods in the characterization of C. jejuni isolated from clinical diarrhoeal samples (n = 20) and chicken meat (n = 26) in order to identify the source of infection and rank isolates based on their relative risk to humans. Sequencing of the flaA short variable region demonstrated that 86% of clinical isolates had genotypes that were also found in chicken meat. A polymerase chain reaction binary typing system identified 27 different codes based on the presence or absence of genes that have been reported to be associated with various aspects of C. jejuni pathogenicity, indicating that not all isolates may be of equal risk to human health. The lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of the C. jejuni isolates was classified into six classes (A, B, C, E, F, H) with 10·4% remaining unclassified. The majority (72·7%) of clinical isolates possessed sialylated LOS classes. Sialylated LOS classes were also detected in chicken isolates (80·7%). Antimicrobial tests indicated a low level of resistance, with no phenotypic resistance found to most antibiotics tested. A combination of typing approaches was useful to assign isolates to a source of infection and assess their risk to humans.
The Role of the Na+/H+ Antiporter in Human Neutrophil NADPH‐Oxidase Activation

The Na+/H+ antiporter has been shown to regulate activation of the human neutrophil. To delineate the role of the antiporter in the stimulation cascade, superoxide ((O2 −) generation was observed in PMA‐stimulated neutrophils in which intracellular pH (pHI) was artificially manipulated by the use of nigericin, a K+/H+ ionophore, with and without use of the Na+/H+ antiporter inhibitor, dimethyiamiloride (DA). Decreased O2 − generation was observed in a Na+‐free, 140 mM K+ buffer, but addition of nigericin restored this parameter of neutrophil activation to levels found in physiologic Na+ media. Further, the inhibitory effects of DA on O2 − generation by cells incubated in a 10 mM Na+, 130 mM K+ buffer were totally reversed by a similar concentration of nigericin. O2 − generated by a membrane preparation of the NADPH‐oxidase, made from cells incubated under the same experimental conditions, paralleled whole cell studies, but the activity of the oxidase did not vary when suspended in the various reaction mixtures. These experiments support the role of the Na+/H+ antiporter in neutrophil activation as a metabolic regulator of pHi that Influences receptor‐coupled reactions proximal to expression of the NADPH‐oxidase itself.
Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasms: Diagnosis and Management.

OBJECTIVE Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (AMNs) are a rare and heterogeneous disease for which clinical management is challenging. We aim to review the literature regarding modalities of treatment to guide the management of AMNs. METHODS AND REVIEW CRITERIA We conducted a PubMed search in February 2016 for English-language publications, using the terms "appendiceal," "appendix," "carcinoma," "cancer," "mucinous," "treatment," "genes," "target," "genomic," and terms listed in the articles' subheadings. Published reports and abstracts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology meetings were also searched. RESULTS In this review, we summarize current data and controversies in AMN classification, clinical presentation, molecular alterations, treatment outcomes with regard to cytoreductive surgery, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), and the role of systemic chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms are a heterogeneous group of tumors with a rising incidence. Treatment is based on stage and histology. Low-grade tumors are treated surgically with resection of the primary site in early stage disease, or peritoneal debulking and HIPEC in patients with advanced stage disease. Treatment of high-grade tumors requires further prospective trials, and options include debulking surgery and HIPEC with or without preoperative chemotherapy. Trials evaluating novel therapies based on the molecular profiling of AMN tumors are needed to evaluate therapeutic options in patients who are not surgical candidates. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE This review provides a reference to guide gastroenterologists, pathologists, surgeons, and oncologists in the management of appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (AMNs), a rare and heterogeneous disease with no consensus on histologic classification or guidelines for treatment algorithms. This review summarizes all AMN classifications and proposes a treatment algorithm based on stage and histology of disease.
Marital Matching, Economies of Scale, and Intrahousehold Allocations

Abstract We propose a novel nonparametric method to empirically identify economies of scale in multiperson household consumption. We assume consumption technologies that define the public and private nature of expenditures through Barten scales. Our method (solely) exploits preference information revealed by a cross-section of household observations while accounting for fully unobserved preference heterogeneity. An application to data drawn from the US Panel Study of Income Dynamics shows that the method yields informative results on scale economies and intrahousehold allocation patterns. In addition, it allows us to define individual compensation schemes required to preserve the same consumption level in case of marriage dissolution or spousal death.