Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A randomized controlled trial of phenobarbital in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

Background. Phenobarbital is one of the oldest, cheapest and most easily available cerebro-protective drugs for the hypoxic brain. It has multiple actions that could be of benefit to the asphyxiated brain. However, its potential has not been fully explored. Objective. To study the effect of phenobarbital given within six hours of life to term and near-term asphyxiated neonates, on mortality, neurological abnormality at discharge and seizures. Methods. This was a randomized controlled trial set in a tertiary care referral perinatal centre. Asphyxiated neonates (gestational age ⩾34 weeks) manifesting with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in the first six hours of life were randomized to receive either injection of phenobarbital 20 mg/kg IV or to the control group. The primary outcome was death or abnormal neurological examination at discharge while seizures, need for ventilation and multi-organ dysfunction were secondary outcomes. Results. Twenty-five babies received phenobarbital and 20 were in the control group. The mortality (20% vs. 15%) and abnormal neurological outcome at discharge (30% vs. 53%, p = 0.15) were statistically not different between the two groups. In the phenobarbital group, 8% of neonates developed seizures while 40% of babies in the control group developed seizures (p = 0.01, relative risk (RR) = 0.20 (0.05–0.84)). Phenobarbital was well tolerated and did not increase the need for respiratory support. Conclusions. Phenobarbital in the dose of 20 mg/kg IV given within six hours of life to term and near-term neonates with HIE, significantly decreased the incidence of neonatal seizures and was well tolerated. However, it did not alter the mortality and neurologic outcome at discharge.
Prediction of hypotension in hemodialysis patients

Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is the most common adverse complication during hemodialysis. Its early prediction and prevention will dramatically improve the quality of life for patients with an end stage renal disease. In a recent study, changes in the normalized envelope of the test statistic of the photoplethysmograpic (PPG) signal were found to predict acute symptomatic IDH. In the present study, the PPG-based predictor is generalized to include a patient-dependent threshold which incorporates on-line information on heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence. From datasets with patients prone and resistant to IDH, the results show that symptomatic IDH could be correctly predicted in 9 out of 14 cases, while 5 out of 24 were falsely predicted. In a subset of the data containing only patients prone to IDH, acute symptomatic IDH could be correctly predicted in 5 out of 5 cases, with one false prediction out of 14. When testing the robustness of the predictor, no significant changes were observed in the test statistic when controlled changes occurred in dialysis fluid temperature, ultrafiltration rate and body position.
Living with a woman with fibromyalgia from the perspective of the husband.

BACKGROUND Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome, which affects mostly middle-aged women. The syndrome is poorly understood and treatment is mainly palliative. The diagnosis is established from diagnostic criteria. Living with FM means living a life greatly influenced by the illness in various ways for people affected. Aim of the study. The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of living with a woman with FM from the husbands' perspective. METHODS Five men married to women with FM were interviewed using a narrative approach. The interviews were analysed using qualitative thematic content analysis. FINDINGS The analysis resulted in the following seven themes: increasing responsibility and work in the home; being an advocate for and supporting the wife; learning to see the woman's changing needs; changing relationship between spouses; changing relationship with friends and relatives; deepening relationship with the children and lacking information and knowledge about FM. The findings show that the women's illness had a great impact on husbands' lives, and that husbands lacked information about the woman's illness. CONCLUSION This study shows that it is not only the women with FM who experience a changed life; the whole family life is influenced and limited by FM. The husband's role in the family changes, first and foremost concerning responsibility and workload within the family. This must be taken into consideration in care planning. This study also highlighted the need of information and knowledge about FM expressed by the participants, information that health care personnel have a great responsibility to give.
Relationship between serum adiponectin levels and disability-free survival among community-dwelling elderly individuals: The Tsurugaya Project.

BACKGROUND Mortality risk tends to be higher among elderly individuals with higher serum adiponectin levels. The objective of this study was to clarify whether the relationship between adiponectin and a higher risk of disability or death can be explained by physical function, bone mineral density, depression, and malnutrition. METHODS We analyzed 505 individuals who underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment and who agreed to provide information on long-term care insurance. The endpoint was the composite outcome of death and incident disability defined as a first certification for any level of care need. Relationships between adiponectin and incident disability or death were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS During 6 years of follow-up, 179 incident disabilities or deaths occurred. Among them, 20 and 23 died with and without disability, respectively. The risk of incident disability or death was significantly higher among participants with adiponectin greater than or equal to 22.4 (90%) than 8.0 or less (25%) mg/L (Hazard ratio: 95% confidence interval, 1.92: 1.01-3.64) in the model adjusted for age, sex, and metabolic risk factors. Adjustment for N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and nutritional status did not substantially alter this risk estimate, although the association ceased to be statistically significant. Adjustment for physical function did attenuate the relationship, however, which ceased to be apparent upon exclusion of disability or death occurring within 3 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION The relationship between adiponectin and the composite outcome of incident disability and death was at least partly explained by reduced physical function and wasting in participants with higher adiponectin levels.
Effects of ochratoxin a on mouse oocyte maturation and fertilization, and apoptosis during fetal development

We previously reported that ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin found in many foods worldwide, causes nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and immunotoxicity, and is a risk factor for abnormal embryonic development. More specifically, OTA triggers apoptotic processes in the inner cell mass of mouse blastocysts, decreasing cell viability and embryonic development. In the current study, we investigated the deleterious effects of OTA on mouse oocyte maturation, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and subsequent pre‐ and postimplantation development both in vitro and in vivo. Notably, OTA significantly impaired mouse oocyte maturation, decreased IVF rates, and inhibited subsequent embryonic development in vitro. Preincubation of oocytes with OTA during in vitro maturation increased postimplantation embryonic resorption and decreased mouse fetal weight. In an in vivo animal model, provision of 1–10 μM OTA in the drinking water or intravenous injection of 1 or 2 mg/kg body weight of OTA decreased oocyte maturation and IVF, and had deleterious effects on early embryonic development. Importantly, preincubation of oocytes with a caspase‐3‐specific inhibitor effectively blocked these OTA‐triggered deleterious effects, suggesting that the embryonic injury induced by OTA is mediated via a caspase‐dependent apoptotic mechanism. Furthermore, OTA upregulated the levels of p53 and p21 in blastocyst cells derived from OTA‐pretreated oocytes, indicating that such cells undergo apoptosis via p53‐, p21‐, and caspase‐3‐dependent regulatory mechanisms. This could have deleterious effects on embryonic implantation and fetal survival rates, as seen in our animal models. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 724–735, 2016.
Acceleration of wound healing in aged rats by topical application of transforming growth factor‐β1

The impaired wound healing associated with aging may reflect inadequate secretion or delivery of cytokines. Transforming growth factor‐β1 is a mitogenic polypeptide with beneficial effects on wound healing. In the present study we questioned whether topical administration of transforming growth factor‐β1 could improve the wound healing process in aged rats in vivo. Wound repair (from 1 to 14 days) was analyzed in full‐thickness incisional wounds from 2‐year‐old rats with or without a single topical application of transforming growth factor‐β1 (1 µg/wound) at the time of wounding. Identical wounds from 3‐month‐old, untreated rats served as controls. Histologic analysis showed a marked delay in several aspects of wound repair in the aged rats in comparison with that noted in the younger animals. Immunostaining of the wounds for proliferating cell nuclear antigen showed a reduction in the number of cycling fibroblasts in old rats. In addition, the number of capillaries per unit area of the wound as determined by a stain for Griffonin (Bandeiraea) simplicifolia lectin, and the number of inflammatory cells as identified by an antibody specific for macrophages, were also reduced in the wound area in old rats. Treatment with transforming growth factor‐β1 resulted in marked enhancement of the following parameters: cell proliferation, inflammatory cell and fibroblast influx, wound closure, and angiogenesis. As seen with in situ hybridization, a similar temporal pattern of expression of messenger RNAs corresponding to type I procollagen and Secreted Protein, Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (osteonectin), known to be prevalent in healing wounds, was observed in both young and aged rats. However, the levels of mRNA corresponding to these secreted proteins appeared to be reduced in wound tissue from aged rats. Treatment with transforming growth factor‐β1 subsequently resulted in an increase in the expression of both type I procollagen and Secreted Protein, Acidic and Rich in Cysteine mRNA in the wound tissue from aged rats. In summary, a single topical application of transforming growth factor‐β1 to the wounds of aged rats at the time of wounding was associated with a healing response that, in all the parameters of wound repair examined, was similar to that of young rats. Topical transforming growth factor‐β1 might therefore be beneficial in the treatment of dermal wounds in the aged.
Clinical trial on the effects of a free-access acidified milk replacer feeding program on the health and growth of dairy replacement heifers and veal calves

Abstract The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of free-access acidified milk replacer feeding on the pre- and postweaning health of dairy and veal calves. Individually housed calves were systematically assigned at birth to 1 of 2 feeding programs: free-access feeding (ad libitum) of acidified milk replacer (ACD, n=249) or traditional restricted feeding (3L fed twice daily) of milk replacer (RES, n=249). Calves were fed milk replacer containing 24% crude protein and 18% fat. Acidified milk replacer was prepared to a target pH between 4.0 and 4.5 using formic acid. Calves were weaned off milk replacer at approximately 6wk of age. Weaning occurred over 5d, and during this weaning period, ACD calves had access to milk replacer for 12h/d and RES calves were offered only one feeding of milk replacer (3 L) daily. Calves were monitored daily for signs of disease. Fecal consistency scores were assigned each week from birth until weaning. A subset of calves was systematically selected for fecal sampling at 3 time points between 7 and 27d of age. Fecal samples were analyzed for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F5, Cryptosporidium parvum, rotavirus, and coronavirus. Hip width, hip height, body length, heart girth, and body weight were measured at birth and weaning. Postweaning body weight measurements were collected from the heifers at approximately 8mo of age. Postweaning body weight and carcass grading information was collected from the veal calves at slaughter once a live weight between 300 and 350kg had been achieved. The odds of ACD calves being treated for a preweaning disease event tended to be lower than that of the RES calves (1.2 vs. 5.2%, respectively). Preweaning mortality, postweaning disease treatment, and postweaning mortality did not differ between feeding treatments. The ACD feeding treatment supported greater preweaning average daily gain (0.59 vs. 0.43kg/d) and structural growth than RES feeding. Postweaning average daily gain and carcass characteristics were similar for ACD and RES calves. These results indicate that free-access acidified milk replacer feeding tended to support improved health, and greater body weight gain and structural growth during the preweaning period; these effects did not persist in the postweaning period. The growth advantage observed before weaning in the ACD calves likely disappeared due to the weaning methods used.
Neural network modeling of hydrological systems: A review of implementation techniques

This paper presents a review of procedural steps and implementation techniques used in the development of artificial intelligence models, generally referred to as artificial neural networks (ANNs), within the water resources domain. It focusses on identifying different areas wherein ANNs have found application thereby elucidating its advantages and disadvantages as well as various challenges encountered in its use. Results from this review provide useful insights into how the performance of ANNs can be improved and potential areas of application that are yet to be explored in hydrological modeling.
Compliance differences between patients with breast cancer in university and county hospitals.

PURPOSE Compliance with recommended breast cancer treatments outside the context of a clinical trial differs from that in study populations. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in compliance of breast cancer treatments. PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of 529 patients treated at 2 teaching hospitals in the same city from 2003 to 2006. Compliance with adjuvant therapy recommendations and choice of breast-conserving operations were compared between a university hospital (UH) and a county hospital (CH). RESULTS The 2 populations demonstrated similar rates of breast conservation (72% vs. 69%). Although use of radiation therapy at the CH was acceptable (82%), patients at the UH were more likely to undergo radiation therapy (95%). The use of hormone therapy was similar at the UH and the CH (> 93%). Patients were more likely to follow physician recommendations for adjuvant chemotherapy at the UH (89%) compared with the CH (70%; P = .0005). Univariate analysis revealed that patient age, tumor size, stage, grade, and estrogen receptor status were all significant predictors of patient compliance with chemotherapy. Preoperative chemotherapy was a strong predictor of patient compliance with chemotherapy (P < .0001). In multivariate analysis, all of the factors predictive of patient compliance in univariate analysis remained significant except tumor grade. CONCLUSION Preoperative chemotherapy appeared to increase compliance compared with adjuvant chemotherapy in the CH population. Compared with national standards, breast-conserving operations and radiation therapy compliance can be accomplished in an acceptable percentage of underinsured patients.
Price dispersion and consumer search : Evidence from the retail gasoline market and the supermarket industry in France

Cette these est un travail empirique sur la dispersion des prix, c'est-a-dire le fait qu'un bien identique puisse etre vendu a des prix differents, en violation de la celebre loi du prix unique. L'approche s'inscrit dans une litterature initiee par Stigler (1961), qui note que "la dispersion des prix est (.) la mesure de l'ignorance dans le marche". Il en decoule que de simples observations de prix peuvent reveler beaucoup d'information sur le fonctionnement d'un marche.Le premier chapitre etudie l'impact de la creation d'une enseigne a bas prix sur le marche francais de la distribution de carburant. Cette creation implique que de nombreuses stations sont confrontees a une baisse de prix importante d'un proche concurrent. La reaction agregee mesuree au niveau national est faible, mais masque des hausses et des baisses en proportions equivalentes. L'heterogeneite des reactions souligne l'importante segmentation du marche. Le second chapitre, utilisant le meme jeu de de donnees, examine la pertinence de modeles qui identifient la dispersion des prix a des equilibres en strategies mixtes. Empiriquement, on observe que l'ordre des prix des stations concurrentes tend en effet a varier dans le temps, et que sa volatilite croit lorsque la distance qui separe les points de vente augmente. La dispersion est donc croissante d'un cout recherche supporte par les consommateurs. Par ailleurs, l'enseigne des stations determine largement leur strategie de prix. Les stations qui pratiquent les prix les plus bas sont relativement plus susceptibles de maintenir des prix parfaitement alignes sur ceux des proches concurrents, tandis que la dispersion mesuree entre les stations plus onereuses est correlee positivement avec le cout du diesel et le nombre de stations presentes sur le marche. Ainsi, les resultats renforcent la these de la coexistence d'un marche proche d'une concurrence a la Bertrand avec un marche moins concurrentiel, ou des stations tirent parti de frictions importantes.Le dernier chapitre s'interesse a la grande distribution, s'appuyant sur des donnees collectees sur un comparateur de prix en ligne. J'observe que les comparaisons realisees entre chaines de magasins par le site sont relativement peu informatives compte tenu de l'heterogeneite des resultats au niveau local. L'echantillon de produits retenu peut en outre conduire a des resultats largement differents. La volatilite des comparaisons augmente avec la distance separant les supermarches, ce qui, comme dans le cas du carburant, denote la presence de couts de recherche. A l'echelle locale, le niveau des prix ne croit pas avec la concentration approximee par les parts de marche, ce qui conduit a remettre en question la pertinence de cet indicateur en matiere de politique publique. La dispersion est positivement correlee au niveau des prix, ce qui suggere que l'imperfection de l'information permet effectivement aux supermarches de pratiquer des prix plus eleves qu'en concurrence parfaite.
Temporal distance insulates against immediate social pain: An NIRS study of social exclusion

Social exclusion often evokes social pain in excluded individuals. Although this pain can trigger various interpersonal difficulties (e.g., aggression, depression), it is still unclear which psychological approach might best help to regulate social pain. However, recent work suggests that temporal distance helps to facilitate adaptive coping and self-control. The present study measured ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) activity during social exclusion, using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to examine the functional relationship between “temporal distance approach,” or thinking about the distant future, and the social pain regulation process. Participants that imagined the distant future, next year, and beyond, felt less social pain and showed increased right (r)VLPFC activity during social exclusion, as compared to imagining events in the near future, such as tonight and tomorrow. Furthermore, rVLPFC activity mediated the relationship between temporal distance and social pain. On the basis of these findings, the effect of temporal distance on the process of adaptation after social exclusion is discussed. It is suggested that temporal distance moderates the process of regulating the impact of social exclusion.
Predialysis serum sodium level, dialysate sodium, and mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients: the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS).

BACKGROUND Predialysis serum sodium concentrations recently have been linked to patient characteristics and outcomes in hemodialysis patients and may have implications for the dialysate sodium prescription. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS 11,555 patients from 12 countries in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS), phases I (1996-2001) and III (2005-2008). PREDICTORS Demographics, comorbid conditions, laboratory measurements (model 1); mean serum sodium level, dialysate sodium concentration (model 2). OUTCOMES Serum sodium level, using adjusted linear mixed models (model 1); all-cause mortality, using Cox proportional hazards models (model 2). RESULTS Median follow-up was 12 months, with 1,727 deaths (15%) occurring during the study period (12,274 patient-years). Mean serum sodium level in the DOPPS countries was 138.5 ± 2.8 mEq/L. Japan had the highest (139.1 ± 2.6 mEq/L) and Australia/New Zealand had the lowest mean serum sodium level (137.4 ± 2.8 mEq/L). Serum sodium level was associated positively with male sex, black race, body mass index, serum albumin level, and creatinine level and negatively with neurologic and psychiatric disease, white blood cell count, and intradialytic weight loss (0.16 mEq/L lower per 1% loss). Higher serum sodium level was associated with lower adjusted all-cause mortality in a continuous model (HR, 0.95 per 1 mEq/L higher; 95% CI, 0.93-0.97). Dialysate sodium prescription was not associated with serum sodium level. Mortality analyses restricted to the serum sodium tertile with the highest mortality (serum sodium <137 mEq/L) showed lower mortality risk in patients with dialysate sodium prescriptions >140 mEq/L. LIMITATIONS Causality cannot be established in this observational study, which does not consider potential effects of dialysate sodium level on postdialysis thirst, dietary salt and water intake, interdialytic weight gain, and cardiovascular stability. CONCLUSIONS Lower serum sodium levels are associated with certain hemodialysis patient characteristics and higher adjusted risk of death. The lower mortality observed in our adjusted analyses in patients with serum sodium levels <137 mEq/L dialyzed against dialysate sodium prescriptions >140 mEq/L is intriguing, may be related to intradialytic cardiovascular stability, and deserves further study.