Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Sleep Apnea Syndrome and High-Risk Characteristics Among Keratoconus Patients

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for sleep apnea in a keratoconus population. Methods: Ninety-two keratoconus patients and 92 controls were classified as high risk or low risk for sleep apnea, using the Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) or individual history of sleep apnea. Logistic regression was used to investigate the risk factors associated with high risk of sleep apnea in keratoconus patients and controls. Results: Of the 92 keratoconus patients, 18 (19.6%) had a positive known history for sleep apnea, and 49 (53.3%) were categorized to be at high risk by the BQ. Of the 92 control patients, 6 (6.5%) had a positive known history for sleep apnea, and 25 (27.2%) were categorized to be at high risk by the BQ. In keratoconus patients, body mass index was the only risk factor for sleep apnea, whereas in control patients, age, body mass index, and family history of sleep apnea were the risk factors for sleep apnea. Conclusions Keratoconus patients are at increased risk for sleep apnea, and different risk factors are associated with sleep apnea in keratoconus patients and controls. Ophthalmologists should consider screening keratoconus patients for obstructive sleep apnea, if appropriate.
Household Models: An Historical Perspective

This paper is a survey of the literature on theoretical models of the household, paying particular attention to some of the earlier contributions, and using them to place the current state of the theory in perspective. One of its aims is to suggest that the literature’s neglect of Samuelson’s proposal, that households can be modelled as if they maximised a form of social welfare function, was a mistake. However, the idea following directly from the Nash bargaining models, that the household’s preference ordering over the utility profiles of its members depends on exogenous variables, in particular wage rates and non-wage incomes, is an important one. Combined with Samuelson’s proposal, it can be made the basis for a general approach to modelling household decision taking, flexible enough to encompass non-cooperative behaviour and Pareto inefficiencies arising out of the inevitable incompleteness and unenforceability of domestic agreements. We also point out the importance of household production and some of the implications of its neglect in modelling households. Above all, the aim is to provide a deeper understanding of the current theoretical literature on household economics by means of a survey of its history.
Multivariable analysis comparing outcome after sentinel node biopsy or therapeutic lymph node dissection in patients with melanoma

Sentinel node (SN) status is the most important prognostic factor for overall survival in stage I or II melanoma. Yet SN‐positive tumours with submicroscopic involvement of the SN (clusters of cells smaller than 0·1 mm) have shown a distant recurrence rate of only 9 per cent at 5 years, as good as that in SN‐negative patients. This study compared the outcome after completion lymph node dissection (CLND) in SN‐positive tumours with elective total lymph node dissection (TLND) in patients with palpable nodes.
Aorto-Uni-Iliac Stent Grafts with and without Crossover Femorofemoral Bypass for Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Parallel Observational Comparative Study

We investigated the safety and efficacy of primary aorto-uni-iliac (AUI) endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) without fem-fem crossover in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and concomitant aortoiliac occlusive disease. 537 EVARs were implemented between 2002 and 2015 in University Hospital Galway, a tertiary referral center for aortic surgery and EVAR. We executed a parallel observational comparative study between 34 patients with AUI with femorofemoral crossover (group A) and six patients treated with AUI but without the crossover (group B). Group B patients presented with infrarenal AAAs with associated total occlusion of one iliac axis and high comorbidities. Technical success was 97% (n = 33) in group A and 85% (n = 5) in group B (P = 0.31). Primary and assisted clinical success at 24 months were 88% (n = 30) and 12% (n = 4), respectively, in group A, and 85% (n = 5) and 15% (n = 1), respectively, in group B (P = 0.125). Reintervention rate was 10% (n = 3) in group A and 0% in group B (P = 0.084). No incidence of postoperative critical lower limb ischemia or amputations occurred in the follow-up period. AUI without crossover bypass is a viable option in selected cases.
Insulin analogue therapy in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus

Pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus (DM) include pregestational DM and gestational DM, defined as carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity first detected during pregnancy. DM leads to poor pregnancy outcome. The aim of treatment is to control maternal hyperglycaemia and to imitate postprandial insulin release. Rapid-acting insulin analogues are suitable therapeutic candidates, as they are able to reduce postprandial hyperglycaemia (predictive of adverse pregnancy outcome). There is no excess risk of adverse fetal or maternal outcomes when compared with regular insulin. Data suggest that rapid-acting insulin analogues do not transfer to human placenta. Because of the reduced risk of hypoglycaemia and improved postprandial and overall glucose control, insulin analogues could be considered the rapid-acting in-sulin choice during pregnancy.
Effects of corn particle size in layer diet on laying performance and uniformity of egg quality under high stocking density.

A total of 600 international commercial strain layers (Roma Brown, 30 week old) raised under tropical environment were used to determine effects of corn particle size on growth performance and uniformity of egg quality. Hens were randomly allocated to meal diets with three different corn particle size of 638, 870 μm hammer milled corn and 1,079 μm rolled corn. There were 5 pens per diet. Each pen comprised of 10 cages with 4 hens per cage. Feeding finer corn particle size resulted in decreased (P < 0.04) average daily feed intake. There was no difference in body weight gain, egg production, egg weight and mortality rate. Egg quality; weight, specific gravity, yolk color, Haugh units and egg shell thickness, was not affected with the corn particle size. However, hens fed completed diets with corn particle size of 638 and 870 μm resulted in lower coefficient of variation of egg weight (P < 0.02), egg yolk color (P < 0.02) and egg white weight (P < 0.05) compared to those fed diet with corn particle size of 1,079 μm. Our results suggested feeding hens raised under high stocking density of 4 hens per cage with the corn particle size approximately of 638 and 870 μm or the completed diet particle size of 556 and 735 μm resulted in lower feed intake and lower coefficient of variation or higher uniformity of egg weight, egg yolk color and egg white weight.
A placebo-controlled trial examining atorvastatin in dyslipidemic patients undergoing CAPD.

BACKGROUND Individuals with chronic renal disease are at high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and therefore the management of dyslipidemia is particularly important in this patient population. This double-blind randomized study investigated the efficacy and safety of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, atorvastatin, in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients with dyslipidemia. METHODS Following a two- to four-week baseline period, patients with low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol > or =3.5 mmol/L (135 mg/dL) were randomized to receive either atorvastatin 10 mg (N = 82) or placebo (N = 95) for 16 weeks. If LDL-cholesterol remained > or =3.5 mmol/L, the dose of atorvastatin was titrated to 20 mg and 40 mg after four and eight weeks, respectively. RESULTS After four weeks a significantly greater proportion of patients receiving atorvastatin 10 mg had achieved the LDL-cholesterol goal < or =3.5 mmol/L compared with patients receiving placebo (85.4% vs. 16.0%; P < or = 0.001). The statistically significant difference between the two groups was maintained at week 8 and week 16 (P < or = 0.001 at both time points). At week 16, patients receiving atorvastatin had significantly greater reductions from baseline in LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio (all P = 0.0001), and a significantly greater increase from baseline in HDL-cholesterol (P = 0.001) than patients receiving placebo. The overall adverse event profile for atorvastatin was similar to that observed with placebo. CONCLUSIONS Atorvastatin was effective in achieving target LDL-cholesterol levels in a high proportion of the dyslipidemic CAPD patients studied at doses that are well tolerated.
A Limit in the Processing of Components in Odour Mixtures

We investigated the hypothesis that physiological limitations restrict the ability of humans to identify components in an odour mixture. Subjects were trained to identify the test odours, and were required to detect a single highly familiar odorant in stimuli consisting of one, four, eight, twelve, and sixteen odorants by using a selective-attention procedure. The stimuli were delivered by a computer-controlled sixteen-channel air-dilution olfactometer which provided samples of each of the sixteen odorants to be of equal perceived intensity for each subject. Identification fell to chance level when sixteen odorants were present. It is proposed that the profound loss of information was primarily due to inhibition of olfactory receptor cells by the odorants through competitive mechanisms, and the subsequent loss of odour identity through changes in the spatial code that may be used to identify odorants.
Adverse outcomes associated with the use of drotrecogin alfa (activated) in patients with severe sepsis and baseline bleeding precautions*

Background:Key clinical trials involving drotrecogin alfa (activated) (or recombinant human activated protein C) excluded patients with specific baseline bleeding precautions. However, not all such precautions are considered contraindications to treatment with recombinant human activated protein C in current product labeling. Objective:To compare outcomes of patients receiving recombinant human activated protein C with or without baseline bleeding precautions as defined by the Recombinant Human Activated Protein C Worldwide Evaluation in Severe Sepsis (PROWESS) trial. Design:Retrospective medical record review. Setting:Two tertiary care institutions: An academic medical center and an affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Patients:All patients receiving recombinant human activated protein C for treatment of sepsis. Interventions:Demographic information, characteristics associated with inclusion and exclusion criteria of the PROWESS trial, and 30-day postdischarge outcomes. Measurements and Main Results:Seventy-three patients received recombinant human activated protein C. Serious bleeding events occurred in 7 of 20 patients (35%) with any baseline bleeding precaution vs. only 2 of 53 patients (3.8%) without any bleeding precautions (p < 0.0001). More patients with a baseline bleeding precaution died compared with patients without any bleeding precautions (65% vs. 24.5%, p = 0.0015). Patients with a baseline bleeding precaution had a higher mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (27.5 vs. 22.7, p = 0.015). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of a baseline bleeding precaution was the only independent variable associated with occurrence of serious bleeding events. The presence of a baseline bleeding precaution, increased Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, and the presence of bloodstream infection were independent variables associated with mortality. Conclusions:Patients with severe sepsis who received recombinant human activated protein C with baseline bleeding precautions as defined by product labeling had significantly higher rates of both serious bleeding events and deaths compared with those without bleeding precautions. These data suggest that strict adherence to PROWESS trial exclusion criteria would further limit serious bleeding events associated with the use of recombinant human activated protein C.
Heart Rate Responses to Small-Sided Games Among Elite Junior Rugby League Players

Foster, CD, Twist, C, Lamb, KL, and Nicholas, CW. Heart rate responses to small-sided games among elite junior rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res 24(4): 906-911, 2010-This study investigated the influences of player number and playing area size on the heart rate (HR) responses elicited by junior male rugby league players during small-sided games (SSGs). Twenty-two players from a professional club (n = 22, mean age: 14.5 ± 1.5 years; stature: 172.5 ± 11.4 cm; body mass: 67.8 ± 15.1 kg; &OV0312;o2peak: 53.3 ± 5.6 mL·kg−1·min−1; HRmax: 198 ± 7.8 beats·min−1) participated in 2 repeated trials of six 4-minute conditioned SSGs over a 2-week period. The SSGs varied by playing area size-15 × 25 m, 20 × 30 m, and 25 × 35 m-and player number-4v4 and 6v6. HRs were recorded continuously in each game and expressed as overall and age-related (15-16 and 12-13 years) means and percent of maximum (%HRmax). Analysis revealed nonsignificant (p > 0.05) effects of trials and playing area size on HRs but a significant effect of player number in the 15-16 age group only (p < 0.001), with HRs being higher in the 4v4 (90.6% HRmax) than the 6v6 SSGs (86.2% HRmax). The HR responses were found to be repeatable in all SSG conditions (within ± 1.9% HRmax), apart from the small 6v6 condition in the older players. The findings demonstrate that these SSGs generate physiological responses suitable for aerobic conditioning that, although unaffected by the size of the area used, are sensitive to the player number. Accordingly, among such players it is advisable that coaches use 4v4 SSGs to achieve an appropriate and consistent aerobic conditioning stimulus.
Mutations in the basic core promotor and the precore region of hepatitis b virus and their selection in children with fulminant and chronic hepatitis B

The involvement of precore stop codon 1896‐A and base exchanges in the AT‐rich region at positions 1762 and 1764 of the hepatitis B core promotor has been controversely discussed in adults with fulminant hepatitis B. Because no data are currently available on children, we analyzed the basic core promotor (BCP) and precore region in children with chronic and fulminant hepatitis B. The BCP and precore region were sequenced directly and after cloning from mothers and infants. Thirteen children suffered from chronic liver disease, 6 of whom were treated with interferon alfa (IFN‐α). All 13 patients seroconverted from hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) to hepatitis B e antigen antibodies (anti‐HBe), and sera were analyzed before and after seroconversion. Nine vertically infected infants developed a fulminant course of hepatitis B. The occurrence of BCP (1762‐T/1764‐A, 7.7%) and precore (1896‐A, 7.7%; 1899‐A, 15%) mutations in chronic hepatitis B was rare. A genotype shift from D to A was observed in 3 patients after development of anti‐HBe. A high number of base exchanges was detected in those infants with fulminant hepatitis B. Eight of nine showed a G‐A exchange at positions 1896/97 (89%), 1899 (56%), and/or mutations at nucleotide (nt) positions 1762 (56%) and 1764 (78%). All virus strains belonged to genotype D, whereas in the only surviving infant, a D‐to‐A shift was detected. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA clones were examined from 3 babies and 5 mothers. Our results showed a heterogeneous virus population in 4 of 5 mothers. In contrast, a homogeneous virus population emerged in the infants. According to our data, the analysis in children with fulminant and chronic hepatitis B revealed a striking presence of BCP and precore mutants in infants with fulminant hepatitis (FH) when compared with clinically inapparent anti‐HBe–positive children (P < .002), which could be one factor in the pathogenesis of fulminant hepatitis B in children
A Molecular Marker Correlated with Selected Virulence Against the Tomato Resistance Gene Mi in Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica, and M. arenaria.

ABSTRACT Root-knot nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne are economically important pathogens of a wide range of crops. The tomato resistance gene Mi typically confers resistance to the three major species, M. incognita, M. javanica, and M. arenaria. However, virulent populations completely overcoming the Mi resistance still occur. In an attempt to develop molecular markers for virulence against Mi and gain insights into the genetic relationships among virulent populations of different species and origins, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses of laboratory-selected virulent, field virulent, and avirulent populations of M. incognita, M. javanica, and M. arenaria were carried out. A RAPD marker, specific for selected virulent populations, was identified, and subsequently, converted to a sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR). Sequence characterization of the SCAR locus showed that alleles from laboratory- and field-selected virulent populations were highly similar to each other and clearly different from alleles from natural virulent and avirulent populations. This result suggests that the genetic mechanism for virulence against Mi may be similar among selected virulent populations of the three Meloidogyne spp. , but different between selected and natural virulent populations. Based on the nucleotide polymorphisms at the SCAR locus, codominant and dominant polymerase chain reaction-based markers were developed enabling rapid diagnosis of selected virulent genotypes in M. incognita, M. javanica, and M. arenaria.
Severe cold hemagglutinin disease (CHD) successfully treated with rituximab.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia results from an IgM antibody (Ab)–red cell interaction and is referred to as cold hemagglutinin disease (CHD). CHD is most commonly associated with infectious or lymphoproliferative diseases but may also be coupled with malignancies or autoimmune or immunodeficiency
Epidemiology and patterns of hospital use after parasuicide in the south west of England.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology, management, and outcome of parasuicide in the south west of England. DESIGN: Descriptive analysis using routine information systems. SETTING: The former South Western Regional Health Authority, population aged 10 and over: 2.9 million. SUBJECTS: These comprised 5080 residents of the South Western Health Region, admitted on 5770 occasions for parasuicide between April 1992 and March 1993 to hospitals in the south west. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Person based age and sex standardised admission ratios for parasuicide; readmission for parasuicide in the subsequent 12 months; admission to psychiatric hospital after parasuicide; in-hospital mortality for those admitted after attempted suicide. RESULTS: The overall rate of parasuicide admission was 174 per 100,000 per year. Rates were highest in males aged 20-24 (381 per 100,000) and in females aged 15-19 (625 per 100,000). Parasuicide is the third most frequent cause of acute medical admission in the south west. A total of 10.0% of admissions received psychiatric inpatient care as a direct result of their parasuicide admission and 10.1% were readmitted in the following 12 months with a repeat episode of parasuicide. Significant variations in standardised admission ratios for parasuicide were observed between the districts. Some of this variation is related to socioeconomic differences between districts, the rest is probably due to differences in practice between districts. There is no clear evidence that these variations result in differences in readmission rates. Districts where psychiatric inpatient facilities were located on the same site as the general hospital tended to admit a greater percentage of parasuicide patients for psychiatric inpatient care. A quarter of all suicide deaths from overdose occurred in hospital. It is estimated that there are 87,000 parasuicide admissions in England and Wales annually. CONCLUSIONS: Parasuicide is a common cause of acute hospital admission and there is evidence that hospital admission practices for parasuicide vary across the south west. Randomised controlled trials are needed to evaluate the most appropriate form of management for those patients who do not require admission on medical grounds.
Interlaboratory variability of CD8 subset measurements by flow cytometry and its applications to multicenter clinical trials. NAID/NICHD Women and Infants Transmission Study Group

Recent studies have demonstrated the utility of measuring subsets of CD8+ T cells as prognostic markers in epidemiology cohort studies of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Most of these studies evaluating the value of CD8+ T-cell subsets have been performed at single centers, and few data are available on variability in the measurement of the CD8+ cell populations in multicenter trials. In the current study, we addressed this question by evaluating interlaboratory variability from the five laboratories enrolled in the Women and Infants Transmission Study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. This study evaluated 35 HIV-positive and 28 HIV-negative proficiency testing samples sent to the laboratories for evaluation. The study focused on the robust coefficient of variation (RCV) for CD38 (11%), HLA-DR (21%), and CD57 (15%) expression on the CD8+ population. Data from the current study indicated that the variability in these measurements is greater than that for CD3+ CD4+ (RCV, 5%) and CD3+ CD8+ (RCV, 5%) cells. Knowledge of the variability of the CD8+ subset measurements should guide investigators in the design and analysis of clinical trials and epidemiology studies. Ability to obtain improved interlaboratory agreement on CD8+ subset measurements will facilitate further evaluation of these markers in HIV studies.
Effects of bicyclol on immunological liver fibrosis in rats

Liver fibrosis results from chronic liver injury in conjunction with the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. The present study was performed to estimate the effect of bicyclol on bovine serum albumin (BSA)-induced immunological liver fibrosis in rats. Bicyclol (1) (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) was given to rats by oral administration once a day for 5 weeks from the fourth week of intravenous injection of BSA. Blood and liver tissues were collected for the measurement of hydroxyproline (Hyp), procollagen type III (PIIIP), hyaluronic acid (HA), and transforming growth factor β-1 (TGF-β1) levels and liver pathological changes. The mRNA and protein expressions of hepatic TGF-β1, interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-10, MMP-2, TIMP-1, phosphorylated p38 (Pp38), and Smad2/3 were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. As a result, bicyclol significantly protected against BSA-induced liver fibrosis as evidenced by the reduction of elevated serum HA, PIIIP, and hepatic Hyp in rats, while liver pathological changes were also alleviated. The overexpressions of hepatic TGF-β1, IL-1β, IL-10, MMP-2, and TIMP-1 were suppressed by bicyclol in BSA-treated rats. The phosphorylations of Pp38 and Smad2/3 were also inhibited after bicyclol treatment. The hepatoprotection of bicyclol was mainly due to the modulation on the expression of inflammatory/anti-inflammatory cytokines, downregulation of hepatic TGF-β1, and inhibition of hepatic collagen synthesis.