Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physical activity and asthma: A longitudinal and multi-country study

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the impact of physical activity on asthma in middle-aged adults, in one longitudinal analysis, and one multi-centre cross-sectional analysis. Methods: The Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) is a population-based postal questionnaire cohort study. Physical activity, height and weight were self-reported in Bergen, Norway, at RHINE II (1999–2001) and all centres at RHINE III (2010–2012). A longitudinal analysis of Bergen data investigated the association of baseline physical activity with follow-up asthma, incident asthma and symptoms, using logistic and zero-inflated Poisson regression (n = 1782). A cross-sectional analysis of all RHINE III centres investigated the association of physical activity with concurrent asthma and symptoms (n = 13,542) using mixed-effects models. Body mass index (BMI) was categorised (<20, 20–24.99, 25–29.99, 30+ kg/m2) and physical activity grouped by amount and frequency of lighter (no sweating/heavy breathing) and vigorous (sweating/heavy breathing) activity. Results: In the Bergen longitudinal analysis, undertaking light activity 3+ times/week at baseline was associated with less follow-up asthma (odds ratio [OR] 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22, 0.89), whilst an effect from undertaking vigorous activity 3+ times/week was not detected (OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.44, 2.76). The associations were attenuated with BMI adjustment. In the all-centre cross-sectional analysis an interaction was found, with the association between physical activity and asthma varying across BMI categories. Conclusion: These findings suggest potential longer-term benefit from lighter physical activity, whilst improvement in asthma outcomes from increasing activity intensity was not evident. Additionally, it appears the benefit from physical activity may differ according to BMI.
Effects of indoor painting and smoking on airway symptoms in atopy risk children in the first year of life results of the LARS-study. Leipzig Allergy High-Risk Children Study.

INTRODUCTION The Leipzig Allergy High-Risk Children Study (LARS) is a prospective nested cohort control study about the influence of chemical indoor exposure in dwellings on the health outcome of atopy-risk children during the first years of life. DESIGN AND METHODS 475 premature children and children with allergic risk factors have been selected out of the 1995/1996 birth cohort in the city of Leipzig. Twenty-five volatile organic compounds (VOC) were measured in the infant's bedrooms using passive sampling systems for 4 weeks after birth. The babies underwent a medical examination at the age of six weeks and 1 year. The parents answered a questionnaire. RESULTS Correlations between VOC exposures and infections were calculated by multiple logistic regression. Selected VOC show a direct association to actually painted dwellings (OR = 2.4; 95% Cl 1.1-5.3). An increase of risk of pulmonary infections was observed in infants aged 6 weeks if restoration (painting OR 5.6; 95% Cl 1.3-24.0) or flooring connected with painting had occurred during the pregnancy period. Higher concentration of styrene (> 2.0 micrograms/m3, indicator for flooring) elevated the risk of pulmonary infections in six-week-old infants (OR = 2.1; 95% Cl 1.1-4.2). Environmental benzene > 5.6 micrograms/m3 increased the risk of airway infections in six-week-old babies (OR = 2.4; 95% Cl 1.28-4.48). Smoking in the dwelling (OR = 2.0; 95% Cl 1.1-3.5) as well as restoration (OR = 1.9; 95% Cl 1.1-3.5) are also risk factors of the development of wheezing in the one-year-old child. CONCLUSIONS The data give indications in order to prevent allergies and chronic lung diseases in atopy risk children exposure to chemicals from indoor air should be minimised from birth on.
Massive hydroxychloroquine overdose

We report a case presenting with massive overdose of hydroxychloroquine who survived without any sequelae. A 17‐year‐old girl presented to the Emergency Department 45 min after the ingestion of 22 g of hydroxychloroquine in a suicide attempt. We believe this is highest dose yet reported in the medical literature. The patient developed hypotension, life‐threatening ventricular arrhythmias and mild hypokalemia. She was managed with saline infusion and dopamine for hypotension, gastric lavage and activated charcoal for decontamination, lidocain, magnesium sulfate and defibrillation for pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Potassium replacement and bicarbonate administration were performed. Quick treatment of hypotension, gastric decontamination, continuous long‐term cardiac monitoring, and treatment of arrhythmias are the cornerstones of hydroxychloroquine overdose management.
Technical Report: Urinary Tract Infections in Febrile Infants and Young Children

Overview. The Urinary Tract Subcommittee of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Quality Improvement has analyzed alternative strategies for the diagnosis and management of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children. The target population is limited to children between 2 months and 2 years of age who are examined because of fever without an obvious cause. Diagnosis and management of UTI in this group are especially challenging for these three reasons: 1) the manifestation of UTI tends to be nonspecific, and cases may be missed easily; 2) clean voided midstream urine specimens rarely can be obtained, leaving only urine collection methods that are invasive (transurethral catheterization or bladder tap) or result in nonspecific test results (bag urine); and 3) a substantial number of infants with UTI also may have structural or functional abnormalities of the urinary tract that put them at risk for ongoing renal damage, hypertension, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Methods. To examine alternative management strategies for UTI in infants, a conceptual model of the steps in diagnosis and management of UTI was developed. The model was expanded into a decision tree. Probabilities for branch points in the decision tree were obtained by review of the literature on childhood UTI. Data were extracted on standardized forms. Cost data were obtained by literature review and from hospital billing data. The data were collated into evidence tables. Analysis of the decision tree was used to produce risk tables and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for alternative strategies. Results. Based on the results of this analysis and, when necessary, consensus opinion, the Committee developed recommendations for the management of UTI in this population. This document provides the evidence the Subcommittee used in the development of its recommendations. Conclusions. The Subcommittee agreed that the objective of the practice parameter would be to minimize the risk of chronic renal damage within reasonable economic constraints. Steps involved in achieving these objectives are: 1) identifying UTI; 2) short-term treatment of UTI; and 3) evaluation for urinary tract abnormalities.
Global population structure of the spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias, a temperate shark with an antitropical distribution

The spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) is a temperate, coastal squaloid shark with an antitropical distribution in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The global population structure of this species is poorly understood, although individuals are known to undergo extensive migrations within coastal waters and across ocean basins. In this study, an analysis of the global population structure of the spiny dogfish was conducted using eight polymorphic nuclear microsatellite markers and a 566‐bp fragment of the mitochondrial ND2 gene region. A low level of genetic divergence was found among collections from the Atlantic and South Pacific basins, whereas a high level of genetic divergence was found among Pacific Ocean collections. Two genetically distinct groups were recovered by both marker classes: one exclusive to North Pacific collections, and one including collections from the South Pacific and Atlantic locations. The strong genetic break across the equatorial Pacific coincides with major regional differences in the life‐history characters of spiny dogfish, suggesting that spiny dogfish in areas on either side of the Pacific equator have been evolving independently for a considerable time. Phylogeographic analyses indicate that spiny dogfish populations had a Pacific origin, and that the North Atlantic was colonized as a result of a recent range expansion from the South American coast. Finally, the available data strongly argue for the taxonomic separation of the North Pacific spiny dogfish from S. acanthias and a re‐evaluation of the specific status of S. acanthias is warranted.
Dose escalation therapy in previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma following Z‐Dex induction treatment

Summary. A phase I–II study of high‐dose (HD) alkylating agents in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma after maximum response to Z‐Dex (idarubicin, dexamethasone) therapy and DHAP (cisplatin, HD cytosine arabinoside, dexamethasone), stem cell mobilization is reported. Twenty‐six patients, median age 56 years (range 42–66), completed Z‐Dex chemotherapy and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) were mobilized with DHAP. Patients then preceded to cyclophosphamide (HD Cy: 6 g/m2) with granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor followed by busulphan–melphalan‐conditioned PBSC autograft. Interferon α was introduced at 3 months post transplant as maintenance therapy. Six patients failed to complete the full protocol. Median time from diagnosis to transplantation was 8 months (range 6–12). Mean CD34+ cell dose collected was 15·8 × 106/kg (CI 11·8, 19·8). Median time from DHAP to HD‐Cy was 6 weeks (range 4–12) and from HD‐Cy to transplant was 8 weeks (range 6–12). The median follow‐up was 36 months (range 6–63). On an intent‐ to‐treat basis, the response rates were three complete response (CR, 12%), 21 partial response (PR, 80%) and two stable disease (SD, 8%) post Z‐Dex, five CR (19%) and 21 PR (81%) post HD‐Cy, and 14 CR (54%) and 12 PR (46%) post transplant. The treatment‐related mortality (TRM) was 4% (1 patient). Median overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) have not been reached; estimated values were 60 and 48 months respectively. The 3‐year OS and PFS were 72% and 62%. Actuarial 5‐year OS and event‐free survival were 49% and 32%. DHAP produces effective PBSC mobilization and sequential HD therapy, including autologous PBSCT, in patients who received Z‐Dex; this offers significant durable disease response rates with acceptable TRM.
Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy for breast cancer: preliminary report.

BACKGROUND Ultrasound-guided automated percutaneous core needle biopsy (US-CNB) for breast tumors has been introduced into clinical practice, but it has not yet been used routinely. We evaluated its usefulness, especially in terms of histological accuracy. METHODS Thirty-one consecutive patients underwent mammography followed by breast biopsy with the automated core needle biopsy device. RESULTS Mammography was highly suggestive of malignancy or suspicious abnormalities in 17 cases whose histological findings from US-CNB specimens were invasive ductal carcinoma without exception. The other 14 cases with benign or probably benign mammography findings showed no malignancy histologically in the US-CNB specimens. In cases of malignancy, the accuracy rates of histological findings for the specimens obtained by US-CNB were 94.1% in histological type, 100% in direct infiltration, 82.4% in lymphatic infiltration, 82.4% in venous infiltration, 94.1% in histological grading and 82.4% in intraductal spread. CONCLUSION US-CNB was useful for making reliable preoperative histopathological diagnosis and may substitute fine needle aspiration biopsy and surgical biopsy.
The Impact of Facebook on Social Comparison and Happiness: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

The ubiquity of Facebook in modern life compels us to study its effects on well-being. We study a unique sample of users and non-users in a security-related organization, where Facebook usage was manipulated by an organizational policy change, initially banning Facebook altogether and later differentially restricting its usage. Thus, the assignment to the group of non-users was circumstantial rather than due to a-priori personal characteristics, which makes it possible to identify Facebook's impact on social comparison and happiness. We find that Facebook usage increases users' engagement in social comparison and consequently decreases their happiness. Social comparison mediates the effect of Facebook on happiness, but only for the younger half of our sample and only for those who believe that others have many more positive experiences than they do. Surprisingly, we find that Facebook does not cause users to overestimate the frequency of their friends' positive experiences.
Early child health in Lahore, Pakistan: VI. Morbidity

Morbidity patterns were studied according to the age, area of living, sex and season among 1476 monthly followed infants born during 1984–1987 in four socio‐economically different areas in Lahore, Pakistan. Infections were responsible for 87.0% of the morbidity during the first two years of life. The overall monthly based morbidity was 77.0% between birth and 24 months of age; diarrhoeal diseases 30.3%, upper and lower acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) 22.4%, skin and eye infections 6.7% and skin rash 6.2%. The vaccine‐preventable diseases were only 0.5% of the total. Anaemia and rickets were rare (2.0%), but commonly seen among the nutritional deficiencies. Diarrhoea, tetanus, septicaemia, AN and infections of the skin and eyes were reported more during earlier ages and from the three poorer areas of living. Diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory tract, skin and eye infections, in particular, followed clear seasonal patterns, while scabies prevailed throughout the year. The presence of these many preventable infections and illnesses implies that proper planning of interventions must be forthcoming.
Ageing due to thermal cycling by start and stop cycles in lifetime estimation of hydroelectric generator stator windings

The objective of this study is to present an approach to predict ageing due to thermal cycling by start and stop cycles in the lifetime estimation of hydroelectric generator stator windings. In this study a multi-stress electro-thermo-mechanical ageing model was applied for remaining lifetime calculations of stator windings. For various insulation systems the factors of the model were matched with the generator database. Average values and the distribution of lifetime consumption in hours per start and stop cycle are presented for studied asphaltic-mica and epoxy-mica winding insulation systems. Based on the results of the experimental study, it was concluded that there are significant differences between the lifetime consumption values of various generators. It is recommended that simultaneous electrical and, thermal cycling type tests are performed in those cases where the characteristic field stress is relative high.
Altered expression of rat renal cortical OAT1 and OAT3 in response to bilateral ureteral obstruction.

BACKGROUND Bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO) is characterized by the development of hemodynamic and tubular lesions. However, little is known about the expression of organic anion renal transporters. The objective of this work was to study the renal excretion of p-aminohippurate (PAH) and the cortical renal expression of the organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) and organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3) in BUO rats. METHODS Male Wistar rats underwent bilateral obstruction of the proximal ureters for 24 hours (BUO) or sham operation. After 24 hours of ureteral releasing, the following studies were performed: PAH renal excretion employing conventional clearance techniques and OAT1 and OAT3 abundance (homogenates, intracellular and basolateral plasma membrane fractions from renal cortex) using immunoblotting and immunocytochemical techniques (light microscopic and confocal immunofluorescence microscopic analysis). RESULTS BUO rats showed a lower renal excretion of PAH. In obstructed kidneys, immunoblotting revealed a significant decrease in the abundance of both OAT1 and OAT3 in basolateral plasma membranes from renal cortex. An increase of OAT1 expression was observed in homogenates and in intracellular membrane fractions in kidneys from BUO rats compared with sham-operated ones, indicating an internalization of this carrier. Immunocytochemical techniques confirmed these results. On the contrary, OAT3 expression was reduced both in homogenates and in intracellular membrane fractions in obstructed kidneys. CONCLUSION BUO was associated with down-regulation of OAT1 and OAT3 in basolateral plasma membranes from proximal tubule cells, thus these carriers may play important roles in the impaired organic anion excretion displayed in the obstructed kidney.
High frequency of defective nef alleles in a long-term survivor with nonprogressive human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection

A large number of nef alleles were obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of four long-term nonprogressing survivors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and from five individuals with progressive HIV-1 infection. These primary nef alleles were characterized by DNA sequence analysis and for their ability to downregulate CD4 surface expression. Intact nef open reading frames that directed the expression of Nef protein were recovered from all of the individuals. Most of the Nef proteins derived from three of four individuals with nonprogressive infection and from all five individuals with progressive infection were functional as judged by their ability to induce a decrease in surface CD4 expression. In contrast, one individual with nonprogressive HIV-1 infection yielded an unusually high frequency of disrupted nef open reading frames and Nef proteins defective for CD4 downregulation. Approximately 70% of the nef clones obtained from the PBMC of this individual at eight time points over a 12-year period were disrupted or defective for CD4 downregulation. While functional Nef proteins were demonstrated early in the course of infection (1983), functional nef alleles have surprisingly not come to predominate over time in PBMC DNA in this individual.
The Thickness of the Aging Human Lens Obtained from Corrected Scheimpflug Images

Commonly, measurements of lens thickness are performed using A-scan ultrasonography or slitlamp Scheimpflug photography. Both techniques have their drawbacks in the study of presbyopia: ultrasonography requires the velocity of sound in the lens which may change with age, whereas Scheimpflug photography requires knowing the refractive index of the lens to enable correction of the photographs for the distortion due to the refraction of the cornea and lens. By combining Scheimpflug photography and axial optical eye-length measurements, we were able to individually correct the Scheimpflug images for distortion and calculate the refractive index and thickness of the human lens. Lens thickness of 90 subjects ranging in age between 16 and 65 years was measured, and an average increase of 24 &mgr;m/year was found. This value is consistent with ultrasonographic measurements assuming an age-independent velocity of sound in the lens of 1641 m/s. The posterior lens surface recedes from the cornea with age, and this backward movement does not differ significantly from the forward movement of the anterior lens surface.
Parameter Uncertainty, Financial Turbulence and Aggregate Stock Returns

In this paper, we develop a novel, intuitive and objective measure of time-varying parameter uncertainty (PU) based on a simple statistical test. Investors who are averse to parameter uncertainty will react to elevated levels of PU by withdrawing from the market and causing prices to fall, a behavior that is well described by the model of portfolio selection with parameter uncertainty of Garlappi et al. (2007). We show that this model in combination with our measure, outperforms all other tested variables including the strongest known predictor to date. Additionally, it is the only predictor that fulfills all criteria generally expected from a stable predictor of the equity premium. All our results are statistically and economically significant and robust to a large variety of different specifications.
Performance-only measures vs. performance-expectation measures of service quality

ABSTRACT There is a long debate over the superiority of performance-only measures vs. performance-expectation measures of service quality. This paper analytically derives the superiority conditions of the measures in predicting customer satisfaction. The conditions show that the superiority of the measures is determined by two factors. One is the strengths of linkages between the constructs (expectation, performance, and customer satisfaction) in the customer satisfaction formation process, and the other is customer heterogeneity in the evaluation of constructs in the process. The source of customer heterogeneity implies that the superiority is affected by the procedure for measuring service quality because the degree of customer heterogeneity in the evaluation of perceived and expected service quality may vary according to the measurement procedure.
Assessment of factors related to statin non-adherence in patients with established coronary artery disease: A single-center observational study.

OBJECTIVE Lifelong statin treatment is recommended in patients with cardiovascular diseases, but drug adherence is a significant problem. The aim of this study was to investigate factors related to statin discontinuation in high-risk patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosed by coronary angiography. METHODS A total of 300 consecutive patients who were followed-up with a diagnosis of CAD were recruited. Patients were categorized as statin adherent or statin non-adherent (patients interrupting statin therapy >30 days). Study participants completed a questionnaire regarding demographic characteristics, medical history, knowledge of statin treatment, and factors related to statin discontinuation. RESULTS In all, 160 patients (53.3%) were found to be statin adherent. Of those, 122 patients had suffered myocardial infarction, and atorvastatin was the most prescribed statin on discharge. Among the study population, 26% were illiterate and 55% had graduated from primary school. Only 39 cases (13%) cases had a low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level <70 mg/dL. In 60% of the statin non-adherent patients, the reason for statin discontinuation was physician discontinuation of the statin prescription. In 14%, the patient stopped the therapy after cholesterol parameters had been reduced or reached the normal range. Only 8% of participants reported that negative information received from TV programs and social media was responsible for the decision to terminate drug use. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrated that the importance of intensive statin treatment in CAD patients has not been recognized by patients or many physicians. Adherence to statin treatment and success of the therapy is low, leading to unnecessarily high cholesterol levels in patients with CAD.