Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Premorbid adjustment and personality in people with schizophrenia†

Background Schizoid personality and poor social adjustment have been thought of as common antecedents of schizophrenia but the existing literature is inconclusive. We have carried out a large cohort study with improved methodology. Method The premorbid personality and adjustment of 50 054 Swedish men were assessed on entry into the army at the age of 18. Individuals who developed schizophrenia or another psychosis after 15-year follow-up were identified. Odds ratios for variables independently associated with the later development of schizophrenia were calculated, adjusting for potential confounders. Results Four variables reflecting early problems with interpersonal relationships were strongly associated with later schizophrenia and, to a lesser extent, non-schizophrenic psychoses, but also occurred commonly in the cohort as a whole. These associations with schizophrenia persisted after early-onset cases were excluded, though their predictive value was low (3.0%, 95% CI 1.5–4.5). Conclusions Some aspects of premorbid personality and adjustment may act as risk factors for schizophrenia. The results appear to be most consistent with a multi-factorial aetiology for schizophrenia and offer tentative support for a psychological disturbance mediating genetic and environmental effects on the causal pathway to the illness.
Vibration of a thickness-twist mode piezoelectric resonator with asymmetric, nonuniform electrodes

We studied the effect of electrodes with varying thicknesses on thickness-twist modes in a piezoelectric plate resonator of crystals of 6 mm symmetry. The focus is on the effects of asymmetric electrodes, which do not seem to have been examined before. A theoretical analysis is performed using the theory of linear piezoelectricity. A trigonometric series solution is obtained that is relatively rare from the equations of piezoelectricity. Numerical calculations are made based on the series solution. Results show that asymmetric, nonuniform electrodes have a strong effect on vibration mode shapes. This effect offers the possibility of using nonuniform electrodes in design to achieve various goals. The quantitative results in this paper are useful for the purpose.
A STUDY OF RELATION BETWEEN BODY MASS INDEX AND DYSMENORRHEA AND ITS IMPACT ON DAILY ACTIVITIES OF MEDICAL STUDENTS

ABSTRACT Objective: Dysmenorrhea is a condition, in which there is a severe, painful, cramping sensation in the lower abdomen which occurs just before or during the menses. It has a major impact on the quality of life and social and occupational roles of females in the society. It also results in insignificant work, school, and college absences in girls. As previous studies have failed to show a definite relation between dysmenorrhea and body mass index (BMI), the aim of our study was to find out an association between BMI and dysmenorrhea among medical students. Methods: The study was conducted on 200 medical students. Each one was supplied with a questionnaire with detailed menstrual history, family history of dysmenorrhea, and detailed H/O of physical exercise and dietary habits. BMI was calculated by the formula weight in kg/height2 in meter, and based on the BMI criteria by the World Health Organization, the students were classified into four groups: Underweight, normal, overweight, and obese groups. The data obtained were statistically analyzed by Pearson Chi-square test, and p<0.5 was considered significant. Result: From our study, we found out that there is a positive correlation between dysmenorrhea and low BMI. Conclusion: As there is a positive correlation between BMI and dysmenorrhea, our aim was to educate people about dysmenorrhea and create awareness on diet and dysmenorrhea to assist in improving the quality of life in females. Keywords : Dysmenorrhea, Body mass index, Quality of life.
Mutational analysis of the Wolfram syndrome gene in two families with chromosome 4p-linked bipolar affective disorder.

Bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) is a complex disease with a significant genetic component. Heterozygous carriers of Wolfram syndrome (WFS) are at increased risk of psychiatric illness. A gene for WFS (WFS1) has recently been cloned and mapped to chromosome 4p, in the general region we previously reported as showing linkage to BPAD. Here we present sequence analysis of the WFS1 coding sequence in five affected individuals from two chromosome 4p-linked families. This resulted in the identification of six polymorphisms, two of which are predicted to change the amino acid sequence of the WFS1 protein, however none of the changes segregated with disease status. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsychiatr. Genet.) 96:158-160, 2000.
Population structure of a widespread bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) in an island system

Abstract Dispersal is a driving factor in the creation and maintenance of biodiversity, yet little is known about the effects of habitat variation and geography on dispersal and population connectivity in most mammalian groups. Bats of the family Molossidae are fast‐flying mammals thought to have potentially high dispersal ability, and recent studies have indicated gene flow across hundreds of kilometers in continental North American populations of the Brazilian free‐tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis. We examined the population genetics, phylogeography, and morphology of this species in Florida and across islands of The Bahamas, which are part of an island archipelago in the West Indies. Previous studies indicate that bats in the family Phyllostomidae, which are possibly less mobile than members of the family Molossidae, exhibit population structuring across The Bahamas. We hypothesized that T. brasiliensis would show high population connectivity throughout the islands and that T. brasiliensis would show higher connectivity than two species of phyllostomid bats that have been previously examined in The Bahamas. Contrary to our predictions, T. brasiliensis shows high population structure between two groups of islands in The Bahamas, similar to the structure exhibited by one species of phyllostomid bat. Phylogenetic and morphological analyses suggest that this structure may be the result of ancient divergence between two populations of T. brasiliensis that subsequently came into contact in The Bahamas. Our findings additionally suggest that there may be cryptic species within T. brasiliensis in The Bahamas and the West Indies more broadly.
Prehospital and Emergency Department Delays After Acute Stroke: The Genentech Stroke Presentation Survey

Background and Purpose Patient delays in seeking treatment for stroke and delays within the Emergency Department (ED) are major factors in the lack of use of thrombolytic therapy for stroke. The Genentech Stroke Presentation Survey was a multicentered prospective registry of patients with acute stroke. The study was designed to characterize prehospital delays and delays within the ED. Methods Patients with stroke symptoms presenting to 48 EDs participating in a clinical trial of acute stroke therapy were enrolled prospectively. A 1-page data form was completed from patient interviews and medical records. Results A total of 1207 subjects were entered into the study. Ninety-four percent of the 721 subjects with complete data had a diagnosis of stroke or transient ischemic attack, 13% were black, 50% were female, and 67% were aged >65 years. The median time from symptom onset to ED arrival was 2.6 (interquartile range 1.2 to 6.3) hours. The median time from ED arrival until CT scan completion was 1.1 (0.7 to 1.8) hours, and the total delay time (symptom onset until CT scan completion) had a median of 4.0 (2.3 to 8.3) hours. Patients who arrived by emergency medical services had significantly shorter prehospital delay times and times to CT scan. Age, race, sex, and educational level did not appear to affect prehospital delay times. Conclusions Despite its limitations, this large geographically diverse study strongly suggests that the use of emergency medical services is an important modifiable determinant of delay time for the treatment of acute stroke.
Acoustic Rhinometry and Computed Tomography Scans for the Diagnosis of Nasal Septal Deviation, With Clinical Correlation

OBJECTIVE: The aim in this study was to analyze the efficiency and reliability of acoustic rhinometry (AR) readings in recognition of nasal septal deviation. METHOD: We compared 24 patients' AR readings with their sinus CT scans. The patient data were analyzed by comparison with normative data, area, and percentage differences between the two sides. Additionally, the data further analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve and Spearman correlation of CT and AR in determining nasal septal deviation. RESULTS: The sensitivity of AR in detecting anterior septal deviations was found to be 54%, with a specificity of 70%. A very highly significant correlation (P ≤ 0.001) was found between minimal cross-sectional area (CSA) 1 values and CT results. DISCUSSION: In the interpretation of AR readings, comparison of each CSA value should be included, in addition to use of the total absolute CSA values. CONCLUSION: According to our findings the diagnosis of nasal septal deviation can be supported by AR readings. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000; 123:61-8.)
CD14 Is a Cell-activating Receptor for Bacterial Peptidoglycan*

The hypothesis that CD14 (an endotoxin receptor present on macrophages and neutrophils) acts as a cell-activating receptor for bacterial peptidoglycan was tested using mouse 70Z/3 cells transfected with human CD14. 70Z/3 cells transfected with an empty vector were unresponsive to insoluble and soluble peptidoglycan, as well as to low concentrations of endotoxin. 70Z/3-CD14 cells were responsive to both insoluble and soluble peptidoglycan, as well as to low concentrations of endotoxin, as measured by the expression of surface IgM, activation of NF-κB, and degradation of IκB-α. Peptidoglycan also induced activation of NF-κB and degradation of IκB-α in macrophage RAW264.7 cells. These peptidoglycan-induced effects (in contrast to endotoxin-induced effects) were not inhibited by polymyxin B. Both peptidoglycan- and endotoxin-induced activation of NF-κB were inhibited by anti-CD14 mAb. The N-terminal 151 amino acids of CD14 were sufficient for acquisition of full responsiveness to both peptidoglycan and endotoxin, but CD14 deletion mutants lacking four small regions within the N-terminal 65 amino acids showed differentially diminished responses to peptidoglycan and endotoxin. These results identify CD14 as the functional receptor for peptidoglycan and demonstrate that similar, but not identical sequences in the N-terminal 65-amino acid region of CD14 are critical for the NF-κB and IgM responses to both peptidoglycan and endotoxin.
Diabetes and postoperative endophthalmitis in the endophthalmitis vitrectomy study.

OBJECTIVES To determine whether there was a different response to vitrectomy and tap/biopsy with or without systemic antibiotic treatment in the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study and whether the signs and symptoms of endophthalmitis differ between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. DESIGN A multicenter clinical trial in which patients with acute post-cataract extraction endophthalmitis were randomly assigned in a 2 x 2 factorial design to vitrectomy or tap/biopsy, in each case with or without intravenous antibiotics, and followed up for 9 months. Outcome measures included visual acuity assessed in standardized fashion. RESULTS Fifty-eight of 420 study patients had diabetes. Diabetic patients had slightly worse vision and ocular media at the baseline assessment. Only 39% of diabetic patients compared with 55% of nondiabetic patients achieved 20/40 final vision. Both diabetic and nondiabetic patients with initial light perception (LP)-only vision had better visual results with immediate vitrectomy. For those with better than LP baseline vision, patients with diabetes achieved visual acuity of 20/40 more often with vitrectomy (57%) than with tap/biopsy (40%), but this difference was not statistically significant. Patients without diabetes did equally well with vitrectomy or tap/biopsy. CONCLUSIONS For patients with better than LP vision, tap/biopsy is appropriate for those without diabetes. A clinical trial of a sufficient number of diabetic patients with better than LP vision is necessary to determine the best management for this group. At present, initial vitrectomy or tap/biopsy are reasonable approaches for diabetic patients with better than LP vision.
Inhibitory receptor molecules in chronic hepatitis B and C infections: novel targets for immunotherapy?

Chronic HBV and HCV infections are the leading cause of liver‐related morbidity and mortality. For effective antiviral immunity, virus‐specific T cells are required, but these cells have been shown to be weak or absent in chronic HBV and HCV patients. One of the mechanisms that underlies the impaired T‐cell response is the result of the continuously high viral load that causes HBV‐specific and HCV‐specific T cells to become exhausted, which is characterized by impaired proliferation, cytokine production and cytotoxic activity of T cells as well as high susceptibility to apoptosis. In vitro studies from chronic HBV and HCV patients as well as in vivo studies in animal models demonstrated a reversible state of T‐cell exhaustion, which can be manipulated to reinvigorate the specific antiviral immune responses. In chronic HCV infection, this concept has been explored in clinical trials by administration of specific antibody to block the inhibitory pathways. The manipulation of inhibitory receptors is a promising and potential strategy for immunotherapeutic interventions in chronic HBV and HCV patients to facilitate complete elimination of the viruses or sustained viral control. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The feasibility and impact of a yoga pilot programme on the quality-of-life of adults with acquired brain injury

ABSTRACT Objective: This pilot study measured the feasibility and impact of an 8-week yoga programme on the quality-of-life of adults with acquired brain injury (ABI). Methods: Thirty-one adults with ABI were allocated to yoga (n = 16) or control (n = 15) groups. Participants completed the Quality of Life After Brain Injury (QOLIBRI) measure pre- and post-intervention; individuals in the yoga group also rated programme satisfaction. Mann-Whitney/Wilcoxon and the Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests were used to evaluate between- and within-group differences for the total and sub-scale QOLIBRI scores, respectively. Results: No significant differences emerged between groups on the QOLIBRI pre- or post-intervention. However, there were significant improvements on overall quality-of-life and on Emotions and Feeling sub-scales for the intervention group only. The overall QOLIBRI score improved from 1.93 (SD = 0.27) to 2.15 (SD = 0.34, p = 0.01). The mean Emotions sub-scale increased from 1.69 (SD = 0.40) to 2.01 (SD = 0.52, p = 0.01), and the mean Feeling sub-scale from 2.1 (SD = 0.34) to 2.42 (SD = 0.39, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Adults with ABI experienced improvements in overall quality-of-life following an 8-week yoga programme. Specific improvements in self-perception and negative emotions also emerged. High attendance and satisfaction ratings support the feasibility of this type of intervention for people with brain injury.
Increased Interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) Production from LPS‐Stimulated Peripheral Blood Monocytes in Children with Febrile Convulsions

ABSTRACT. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) from 27 children with a febrile convulsion were tested for production of interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) in culture. MNC stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed a significantly increased production of IL‐1 when compared to MNC from children without convulsions but with bacterial infections (p < 0.001), viral infections (p < 0.005) or no infection (p < 0.005). Children who had experienced a febrile convulsion were retested several months later; this time the IL‐1 production from LPS‐stimulated MNC was not different from controls. These results demonstrate that MNC at the time of febrile convulsions have increased sensitivity to LPS and possibly to other IL‐1 inducers; the resulting enhanced IL‐1 response from sensitized MNC may have a role in the pathogenesis of febrile convulsions.
Echinocandins in antifungal pharmacotherapy

Echinocandins are the newest addition of the last decade to the antifungal armamentarium, which, owing to their unique mechanism of action, selectively target the fungal cells without affecting mammalian cells. Since the time of their introduction, they have come to occupy an important niche in the antifungal pharmacotherapy, due to their efficacy, safety, tolerability and favourable pharmacokinetic profiles. This review deals with the varying facets of echinocandins such as their chemistry, in‐vitro and in‐vivo evaluations, clinical utility and indications, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, and pharmacoeconomic considerations.
Self-Care among Older Adults

Objectives: The authors hypothesize that older adults diagnosed with arthritis showa greater reliance on objective factors in their self-care behaviors, whereas those diagnosed with heart problems or hypertension demonstrate a greater reliance on more general belief-laden factors. Methods: A total of 794 older adults (mean age = 69.3) who were professionally diagnosed with arthritis, heart problems, or hypertension completed a telephone survey about a number of aspects of their illness condition and their general well-being. Results: The results from the hierarchical regression analyses indicate that objective factors and illness-specific beliefs are better predictors of self-care behavior in the arthritis group, whereas general beliefs (e.g., self-efficacy and general well-being) are better predictors of such behavior in the heart problems and hypertension groups. Discussion: The analyses support the authors’ hypothesis. The results are discussed in the context of expanding the Health Belief Model of self-care.
What is the optimal number of implants for fixed reconstructions: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES To assess the 5-year and 10-year survival and complication rates of implant-supported fixed reconstructions in partially and totally edentulous patients with regard to the optimal number and distribution of dental implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS This review was designed as a systematic review of the literature. A search strategy was developed and executed using an electronic and selective hand search for English-language articles in Dental Journals limited to human clinical trials. Search terms were grouped into categories for "problem" - "intervention" - "outcome". For articles retrieved by this search, abstracts were screened by two reviewers based on the inclusion criteria. Selected articles were then obtained in full texts. Finally, the selection based on inclusion/exclusion criteria was repeated for the full-text articles. RESULTS Of the 210 titles retrieved by the search, 51 were selected for full-text review based on the information given in the abstract. From the full-text articles, a total of nine studies were included for this systematic review. In meta-analysis, prosthetic survival rates over 5 and 10 years for partial Fixed Dental Prostheses (FDPs) on two to four implants were estimated as 98.9% (95% CI: 98.5-99.2%) and as 97.8% (95% CI: 96.9-98.4%) respectively. A survival rate for maxillary Full-Arch Fixed Dental Prostheses (FAFDPs) on four to six implants after 5 years was assessed as 97.5% (95% CI: 94.1-98.9%) and a survival rate after 10 years as 95.0% (95% CI: 88.5-97.9%). The result for the survival rates in case of mandibular FAFDPs on four to six implants after 5 years was 97.9% (95% CI: 96.3-98.8%) and after 10 years 95.9% (95% CI: 92.8-97.7%). Specific implant-to-replaced-unit-ratios were not available in any of the studies. CONCLUSION For implant-supported FAFDPs, using 4-6 implants is a well-documented treatment option with high estimated 5-year survival of the construction. It is unclear whether three implants for supporting a FAFDP will achieve similar survival rates. The RCTs needed that report implant-to-replaced-units-ratios for partial FDPs and include 3 vs. 4-6 implants for supporting a FAFDP in the mandible.
Upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding in institutionalized mentally retarded adults. Primary role of esophagitis.

BACKGROUND Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract bleeding is a common reason for hospitalization of mentally retarded adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and cause of and risk factors for UGI tract bleeding in institutionalized mentally retarded adults admitted to our hospital. METHODS Case-control study, with a retrospective review of medical records. SETTING Inner-city tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS Mentally retarded adults who reside in one of three long-term care facilities. MEASUREMENTS Data on demographic features, clinical features, and concurrent medical conditions were collected on mentally retarded adults admitted to our hospital for UGI tract bleeding (n = 40). Data from these patients were compared with those from a control group of mentally retarded adults admitted for nonbleeding conditions (n = 124). Endoscopic data were reviewed on the patients who bled to further clarify the causes of UGI tract bleeding. The patients who bled were compared with those who did not bleed using the chi 2 and Mann-Whitney rank sum tests. RESULTS Upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding was the most common reason for hospitalization in this patient population. Such bleeding was most commonly caused by erosive esophagitis (70% of patients who bled). Conditions associated with an increased risk for UGI tract bleeding were hiatal hernia, reduced activity, incontinence, hypoalbuminemia, kyphoscoliosis, and spastic quadriplegia. CONCLUSIONS Upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding is a common cause of hospitalization in mentally retarded adults and is usually due to erosive esophagitis. It is hoped that vigorous efforts to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease may reduce hospitalization in these patients.
Regional lymph node metastasis from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE To characterize clinical presentation and prognostic factors in patients with histologically proven regional lymph node metastasis from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck origin. DESIGN Retrospective, nonrandomized case series. SETTING Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Forty-five patients treated between 1984 and 1995 with regional metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of cutaneous head and neck origin. INTERVENTION Forty-one patients underwent neck dissection (20 with parotidectomy) and 4 patients underwent parotidectomy alone. Thirty-six patients (80%) received postoperative radiation therapy with a mean dose of 60 Gy (range, 34-71 Gy). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Recurrences and survival by univariate analysis using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method. The log-rank test was used to evaluate prognostic significance of clinical variables. RESULTS Follow-up ranged from 2 months to 10 years (mean, 21 months). Compared with historical controls, a greater percentage of patients in our population with regional lymph node metastasis had primary lesions greater than 2 cm in diameter and 4 mm deep. Overall 2- and 5-year survival rates were 33% and 22%, respectively, while 5-year disease-free survival rate was 34%. Clinical staging of the neck proved to be the only factor of prognostic value (P<.01). Treatment failures occurred in 22 patients. CONCLUSIONS For the small subset of patients with regional metastasis from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, survival remains poor despite multimodality treatment. Clinical stage of the neck was the only factor that predicted outcome.