Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eficácia da aromaterapia na redução de níveis de estresse e ansiedade em alunos de graduação da área da saúde: estudo preliminar

Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar a eficacia de aromaterapia na diminuicao de niveis de estresse e ansiedade (traco e estado) de alunos de graduacao de cursos na area da saude. Participaram do estudo 36 sujeitos, com idade entre 18 e 29 anos, que foram divididos entre os que receberam tratamento (grupo aroma, n=18) e o grupo controle (n=18). Os sujeitos foram avaliados quanto a niveis de estresse e ansiedade antes e apos o periodo de intervencao, pela Lista de Sintomas de Estresse e pelo Inventario de Ansiedade Traco e Estado. O tratamento de aromaterapia consistiu em sete sessoes (duas vezes por semana) de dez minutos de inalacao com uma sinergia de oleos essenciais elaborada especificamente. Os escores de estresse e ansiedade antes e depois do tratamento foram comparados estatisticamente, com nivel de significância de 5% (p<0,05). O grupo aroma apresentou reducao significativa dos niveis de estresse (de 24%) e ansiedade (de 13% e 19%, p<0,05), enquanto no grupo controle houve uma diminuicao significante, embora menor (de 11%), apenas no nivel de estresse. A aromaterapia mostrou-se eficaz na reducao dos niveis de estresse e ansiedade em estudantes da area da saude. No entanto, ainda sao necessarios mais estudos para identificar as causas dos niveis medidos e, tambem, os mecanismos de acao dos oleos essenciais em sua reducao.
Fracture clavicle: Operative versus conservative management

Background: Clavicle fractures are common injuries in active individuals, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that clavicular malunion is a distinct clinical entity with radiographic, orthopedic, neurologic, and cosmetic features. Aims: To analyze the outcome of managements of nonoperative and operative procedures in fracture clavicle in an urban population of eastern India. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study of 30 cases with fracture of the clavicle was conducted in a tertiary care hospital of eastern India in a time span of 1 year after taking institutional ethical clearance and informed consent of the patients. Injuries were classified according to the AO classification scheme. Patients were treated either conservatively or operatively and followed-up at 6 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months, then every 6 months. Results: The mean time for fracture healing was significantly shorter in the operative group (15.73 ± 0.70 weeks) than nonoperative group (27.47 ± 0.74 weeks). The difference is statistically highly significant (P < 0.000). Patients in the operative group were more satisfied with the appearance of the shoulder (P < 0.05FNx01). There was no statistically significant difference between two groups with respect to flexion, extension, abduction, internal rotation and external rotation movements with P = 0.532, 1.00, 0.344, 0.052 and 0.056 respectively. Patients in the operative group had better range of Shoulder adduction movement than nonoperative group (P = 0.015). Conclusion: Operative fixation of the clavicle fracture results in improved functional outcome, shorter time for union compared with nonoperative treatment at 1 year of follow-up and primary operative intervention in clavicle fracture in active adults may be of immense importance.
Uterotropic effects of dietary equol administration in ovariectomized Sprague–Dawley rats

Aim The aim of the present study was to evaluate the uterotropic effects of the administration of dietary equol, a metabolite of soy-derived daidzein or formononetin present in red clover, in an ovariectomized rat model of menopause. Method Two doses of racemic equol were used (50 mg/kg of chow and 400 mg/kg of chow) and the results were compared with two doses of estradiol-3 benzoate (E2B) (4.3 mg/kg of chow and 17.3 mg/kg of chow). After 3 months, animals were sacrificed and the uteri were removed, weighed and paraffin-embedded for morphometrical and immunohistochemical evaluation. The expression of selected uterine estrogen-responsive genes was also measured using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results Compared to controls, uterine weights in animals treated with high-dose equol were significantly higher, presented histologic features of mild estrogenic stimulation and had greater epithelial height and thickness of the uterine stroma and myometrium. Staining for the presence of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) also showed a greater prevalence of the PCNA-positive cells in the uterine stroma in animals treated with high-dose equol. Conversely, the percentage of PCNA-positive cells in the uterine epithelium was lower compared to the controls. Dietary high-dose equol treatment also increased significantly levels of uterine insulin-like growth factor 1, progesterone receptor and complement protein 3 mRNA. Although statistically significant, all these effects were, however, lower in magnitude compared to the effects of low- and high-dose E2B treatment. Low-dose equol did not have any effects on the above-studied parameters. Conclusion Long-term high-dose dietary equol administration to ovariectomized rats exerts uterotropic effects at the cellular and molecular level which question the safety of uncontrolled and unlimited consumption of soy or red clover supplements by postmenopausal women with intact uteri.
Control and restraint training: A study of its effectiveness in a medium secure psychiatric unit

Abstract The study compares incidents involving manual restraint of patients prior to and after training in control and restraint (C & R) techniques. After training there were more staff injuries while restraining patients. There was no change in the number of injuries during other phases of an incident and there was no effective use of ‘break-away’ techniques. Staff expressed preference for the C & R techniques for moving and holding the patient once immobilized.
Prospective evaluation of emergency physician performed bedside ultrasound to detect acute appendicitis

Objectives To evaluate the accuracy of emergency physicians using bedside ultrasound to detect appendicitis (BUSA). Methods Patients presenting to the emergency department with a clinical suspicion of appendicitis were prospectively enrolled and received a 5-min BUSA. Patients received routine work-up for acute appendicitis as deemed appropriate by the attending physician. Radiologists and consulting surgeons were blinded to BUSA results. The criterion standard for the presence or absence of acute appendicitis was the pathology report for patients who received appendectomies, and telephone follow-up for patients discharged home without surgical intervention. Results A total of 132 patients were enrolled. In 44 cases BUSA was positive. Of these, 37 had surgical pathology reports consistent with acute appendicitis, whereas seven did not have appendicitis. In 82 cases, BUSA was negative. Of these, 62 were determined not to have appendicitis, whereas 20 had appendicitis by pathology. Sensitivity for BUSA was 65% [95% confidence interval (CI) 52–76], specificity was 90% (95% CI 81–95), positive predictive value was 84% (95% CI 71–92), and negative predictive value was 76% (95% CI 65–84). The likelihood ratio of a positive BUSA was 6.4 (95% CI 3.1–13.2). Five patients discharged home with a diagnosis other than appendicitis were unable to be reached by telephone, and were excluded from data analysis. Conclusion Our study gives insufficient evidence to support the use of bedside ultrasound by emergency physicians to rule out appendicitis. The high specificity in our study, however, suggests that with further training, BUSA may be useful to rule-in appendicitis in some patients.
Clinicopathological features of inflammatory bowel disease in Benin City, Nigeria

Background: Conventionally, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is considered to be more common in western countries. Nevertheless, it is relatively rare in most developing countries. Aim: The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency and morphological patterns of IBD in Benin City, Nigeria, and to compare our findings with the reports from other centers. Materials and Methods: The study is a four-year analysis of 32 histologically confirmed cases of IBD, presenting at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and a private specialist gastroenterology hospital, based in Benin City, Southern Nigeria. Both centers serve as referral centers to most hospitals in South-Southern Nigeria. All suspected patients were examined with rectosigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy after obtaining consent. These specimens were formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, sectioned at 3-5 microns, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H and E). Results: In this four-year study, there were a total of 78 suspected cases, of which 32 were histologically confirmed IBD cases. Among the 32 patients, 14 (43.8%) were cases of Crohn′s disease (CD), while 12 (37.5%) were cases of ulcerative colitis (UC). The remaining six patients (18.7%) were with indeterminate colitis (IC). A total of 21 males and 11 females presented, giving a ratio of 1.9:1, with a mean age of 51.1 years ± 7.2 standard deviation (SD). In CD, seven cases constituting 53.9%, had ileocolonic involvement. In UC, six cases involved left-sided colitis, accounting for 50%. Conclusion: IBD was twice more common in males than females, with majority of involvement in both the colonic and ileo-colonic anatomic sites. However, there is a slight higher preponderance of CD than UC in this environment.
Long‐term psychological impact of severe postpartum hemorrhage

Objective. To estimate the long‐term psychological impact of severe postpartum hemorrhage in women whose uterus was preserved. Design. Retrospective study. Setting. University‐affiliated tertiary referral center. Population. All consecutive women who underwent embolization for postpartum hemorrhage between 1994 and 2007 and whose uterus was preserved were included. Methods. Data were retrieved from medical files and semi‐structured telephone interviews. In semi‐structured interviews, women were asked about their perceptions and memories of the experience. Main Outcome Measures. Perceptions and memories of the postpartum hemorrhage during and after delivery. Results. Follow‐up was successful for 68 of the 91 (74.7%) women included. Of the 46 (67.6%) who reported negative memories of the delivery and postpartum period, the main memory for 24 was a fear of dying (35.3%). Of the 28 (41.2%) who reported continued repercussions, 16 (23.5%) thought about this delivery and its complications at least once a month, five (7.3%) reported persistent fear of dying, four (5.9%) reported sexual problems, and three (4.4%) women considered that the event was, at least in part, responsible for their subsequent divorce. Of the 15 women who had a subsequent full‐term pregnancy, nine (60%) reported intense anxiety throughout the pregnancy, and one (6.7%) developed depression requiring antidepressant treatment during pregnancy. Conclusions. Severe postpartum hemorrhage may have a long‐term psychological impact on women despite uterine preservation.
Prevalence of human papillomavirus in spontaneously aborted products of conception

Objective. To compare the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in placentas from women with spontaneous abortions and from control women after term delivery. Design. Cross‐sectional study. Setting. Department of Obstetrics and Pathology of Pregnancy, Medical University of Lublin (Poland). Population. Patients whose spontaneous abortions occurred between the 6th and the 16th week of pregnancy (n=51), and women after term delivery (n=78). Method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Main outcome measures. HPV DNA prevalence rate and the fraction of HPV 16/18 infections in aborted products of conception and placentas. Results. Patients with spontaneous abortion did not differ from the controls in terms of mean age and the fraction of primiparas. The DNA of HPV was detected in 17.7% of aborted products of conception and in 24.4% of placentas from term deliveries. The aborted products of conception and full‐term placentas were positive for HPV 16/18 in 11.8 and 12.8% cases, respectively. Patients whose material was positive for HPV DNA or those with confirmed HPV 16/18 did not differ significantly from HPV‐negative women in terms of mean age and the fraction of primiparas. Conclusions. The HPV 16/18 infection rate does not seem be higher in cases of spontaneous abortions. Nevertheless, further study of the consequences of HPV infection in pregnancy is still needed.
A comparison of adjusted spaced retrieval versus a uniform expanded retrieval schedule for learning a name–face association in older adults with probable Alzheimer's disease

We compared the efficacy of two memory training schedules, adjusted spaced retrieval and uniform expanded retrieval, for learning a name–face association in 12 older adults with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nine training sessions were administered on alternate days for three weeks. Results yielded a positive effect of adjusted spaced retrieval on the proportion of correct recall trials and greater success in transferring the learned information to the live target, compared to the uniform expanded retrieval schedule. These data suggest that the spacing effect may underlie the memorial benefit of spaced retrieval. Implications for practical uses of spaced retrieval are considered.
Monitoring and treatment for cardiovascular risk

Background In many countries there is a gap between the clinical evidence for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and implementation in clinical practice. Inadequate control of cardiovascular risk factors and underutilization of aspirin, statins, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and β-blockers are well-established examples. The optimal approach to implementation of CVD prevention in clinical practice is still under debate. The screening and monitoring (SaM) approach is based on cyclic monitoring and individual treatment of patients with cardiovascular risk factors in the primary care setting. After achieving improvements in risk factor levels and in the use of preventive medications in a pilot study, it was decided to test the efficacy of this approach in a larger population at risk. Methods Five primary care clinics adopted the SaM approach. A total of 1622 patients with established CVD, diabetes mellitus or hypertension were assessed by their family physicians for cardiovascular risk factors and use of medications for cardiovascular risk reduction. Interventions were made according to accepted clinical guidelines. Cardiovascular risk factor levels and the use of medications for CVD prevention were retrospectively analyzed. Results The results demonstrated significant reductions in blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, as well as significant increases in the use of medications for CVD prevention. Conclusion A systematic approach to CVD reduction, with an emphasis on multiple risk factor assessment and use of preventive medications in patients at cardiovascular risk, yielded significant improvements in measures of the quality of preventive care.
Spinal curvature and characteristics of postural change in pregnant women

Objective. Pregnant women often report complaints due to physiological and postural changes. Postural changes during pregnancy may cause low back pain and pelvic girdle pain. This study aimed to compare the characteristics of postural changes in pregnant compared with non‐pregnant women. Design. Prospective case–control study. Setting. Pregnancy care center. Population. Fifteen women at 17–34 weeks pregnancy comprised the study group, while 10 non‐pregnant female volunteers comprised the control group. Methods. Standing posture was evaluated in the sagittal plane with static digital pictures. Two angles were measured by image analysis software: (1) between the trunk and pelvis; and (2) between the trunk and lower extremity. Spinal curvature was measured with Spinal Mouse® to calculate the means of sacral inclination, thoracic and lumbar curvature and inclination. Main outcome measures. The principal components were calculated until eigenvalues surpassed 1. Results. Three distinct factors with eigenvalues of 1.00–2.49 were identified, consistent with lumbosacral spinal curvature and inclination, thoracic spine curvature, and inclination of the body. These factors accounted for 77.2% of the total variance in posture variables. Eleven pregnant women showed postural characteristics of lumbar kyphosis and sacral posterior inclination. Body inclination showed a variety of patterns compared with those in healthy women. Conclusions. Spinal curvature demonstrated a tendency for lumbar kyphosis in pregnant women. Pregnancy may cause changes in spinal curvature and posture, which may in turn lead to relevant symptoms. Our data provide a basis for investigating the effects of spinal curvature and postural changes on symptoms during pregnancy.
Pragmatic comprehension deficit in Parkinson's disease

Recognizing the specific speech act (Searle, 1969) that a speaker performs with an utterance is a fundamental feature of pragmatic competence. However, little is known about neurocognitive mediation of speech act comprehension. The present research examined the extent to which people with Parkinson's disease (PD) comprehend specific speech acts. In the first experiment, participants read conversational utterances and then performed a lexical decision task (decide whether a target string of letters was a word). Consistent with past research, nonimpaired participants performed this task more quickly when the target string was the speech act associated with the preceding utterance. In contrast, people with PD did not demonstrate this effect, suggesting that speech act activation is slowed or is not an automatic component of comprehension for people with PD. In a second study, participants were given unlimited time to indicate their recognition of the speech act performed with an utterance. PD participants were significantly poorer at this task than were control participants. We conclude that a previously undocumented language disorder exists in PD and that this disorder involves a selective deficit in speech act comprehension. Frontostriatal systems (the systems impaired in PD) likely contribute to normal speech act comprehension.
Action and object naming in schizophrenia

Patients with schizophrenia demonstrate impaired action verbal fluency, but no study has examined verb–noun differences using picture naming. The present study compared object and action naming in 20 adult patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (DSM–IV–TR, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fourth Edition, Text Revision; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) criteria, and 20 demographically matched healthy controls, using pictures. Overall, schizophrenic patients showed poorer naming than controls on all measures of object and action lexical semantic access and retrieval despite normal comprehension for action and object names. Results further indicated that action names were significantly more difficult to retrieve than object names in schizophrenic patients. The absence of dissociation in comprehension of action and object names but semantic errors in naming both classes suggests intact conceptual–semantic stores among middle-aged community-dwelling outpatients with schizophrenia but difficulties mapping semantics onto the lexicon. Action-naming impairments can arise from both semantic and postsemantic origins in schizophrenia. These results have implications for the neurobiology of language given the association between both schizophrenia and verb processing and frontal damage. Moreover, the issue being addressed is important for a cognitive characterization of schizophrenia and for an understanding of the representations of action and object names in the brain.
Puerperal uterine inversion in the Netherlands: a nationwide cohort study

Puerperal uterine inversion is a severe but rare obstetric complication of yet unknown origin. In this two‐year study we determine the incidence of this complication and we describe associated risk factors to expose its etiology. All cases of uterine inversion were included from a nationwide cohort study which contained all 98 hospitals with a maternity unit in the Netherlands. We reviewed the medical records of 15 patients, resulting an incidence of approximately 1 in 20 000 vaginal births. Fourteen cases (93.3%) were classified as low‐risk pregnancies at booking. Nulliparous women were not overrepresented and the main associated factors were signs of prolonged labor followed by third stage manipulation. This study is the first population‐based study for uterine inversion. With the reported associated factors and occurrence in women with a low‐risk profile, we show that every birth attendant should be able to detect this rare but severe complication.
A nicotine dependent and a nicotine independent component of smoking related pulse and activity variation

In a field study, heart rate and motor activity were continuously assessed during two days in smokers, abstinent smokers and non‐smokers. Smoking abstinence reduced heart rates by about 10 bpm to the non‐smoker level without affecting motor activity. Averaging heart rate and activity using lighting of the cigarettes as the triggering event revealed the characteristic profiles described previously. Both variables increased during the last five minutes before lighting the cigarettes and decreased immediately upon lighting to near or even below the prelighting levels. This lighting response was maintained in a similar fashion when the subjects marked the time points of the desire for smoking but omitted lighting the cigarettes and it remained highly similar for the first and last five cigarettes of the day. In non‐smokers a similar pattern was also obtained using the first sip of coffee as triggering event. In smoking smokers, this lighting response was followed by an increase of heart rate without changes in activity. In contrast to the lighting response, this smoking related increase of heart rate disappeared for the last five as opposed to the first five cigarettes of the day, and it was also absent for ‘imaginary’ smoking without lighting.
Cognitive reserve moderates the association between heart failure and cognitive impairment

Background: Cognitive impairment in persons with heart failure is common. Theories of cognitive reserve suggest that premorbid factors, such as intellectual ability, may provide a buffer against cognitive impairment due to neuropathological insult. No study has examined the influence of cognitive reserve on cognitive functioning in older adults with heart failure. Aim: This study examined whether cognitive reserve moderates the relationship between heart failure severity and cognitive function. Methods: A total of 157 persons with heart failure (69.26 ± 9.26 years; 39% female) completed neuropsychological testing and a brief fitness assessment. Cognitive reserve was operationalized using estimated premorbid intellect on the American National Adult Reading Test (AMNART). Results: A moderation analysis was performed using hierarchical regression models for each cognitive domain. An interaction term between the AMNART and 2-Minute Step Test was created and entered into the final block of the model, with demographic, psychosocial, and heart failure severity entered in the previous blocks. The interaction term was significant for attention, t(155) = –2.54, p = . 012, executive function, t(155) = –3.30, p = . 001, and language, t(155) = –2.83, p = . 005, domains. Conclusion: The current findings suggest that cognitive reserve moderates the association between heart failure severity and cognitive function in multiple cognitive domains. Further work is needed to clarify the mechanisms by which cognitive reserve attenuates cognitive impairment in this population.