Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychological distress, general self-efficacy and psychosocial adjustments among first year medical college students in New Delhi, India

First year medical students are under severe psychological distress, since they have to cope with the study demands of the medical curriculum. Living away from home and making a transition to a more independent and less supported condition can lead to distress. The present study was designed to determine psychological distress, general self-efficacy and psychosocial adjustments among first year medical college students in New Delhi. A cross-sectional study was designed and data was collected from 88 first year medical students of a government medical college in New Delhi. A pretested, semi-structured questionnaire was administered. The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic data, Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Schwarzer’s General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES) and modified Pareek’s Pre-adolescent Adjustment Scale (PAAS). According to GHQ-12, 39.7% (95% CI 29.6-50.7) students had psychological distress; it was slightly higher in female students (41.6%) than their male counterparts (38.5%). Psychological distress was greater in students when both of their parents are doctors 66.6% ( p -0.016). There was a negative association (r: -0.384) between GHQ-12 scores and GSES scores. From PAAS scores, 19.3% students were found to be maladjusted towards college and 9.1% students were found to be maladjusted with teachers. Adjustment towards peers was found to be good. The prevalence of psychological distress among first year medical students was high. The causes of psychological distress among medical students should be recognized and strategies should be designed to address those issues. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/seajph.v3i2. 20038 South East Asian Journal of Public Health Vol.3(2) 2013: 35-40
Characteristics of Consecutive Esophageal Motility Diagnoses After a Decade of Change

Background and Aims: Combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and esophageal manometry (MII-EM) measures concomitantly bolus transit and pressure changes allowing determination of the functional impact of esophageal motility abnormalities. Ten years ago our laboratory reported MII-EM results in 350 consecutive patients. Since then high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) became available and the definitions of ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) and nutcracker esophagus were revised. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of these developments on esophageal function testing. Methods: From August 2012 through May 2013, HRIM was performed in 350 patients referred for esophageal function testing. Each patient received 10 liquid and 10 viscous swallows. While taking advantage of the new technology and revised criteria, HRIM findings were classified according to the conventional criteria to allow more appropriate comparison with our earlier analysis. Results: Compared with the study performed 10 years ago, the prevalence of normal manometry (36% vs. 35%), achalasia (7% vs. 8%), scleroderma (1% vs. 1%), hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter (LES) (7% vs. 7%), and hypotensive LES (1% vs. 2%) remained the same, whereas the prevalence of distal esophageal spasm (9% vs. 3%), nutcracker esophagus (9% vs. 3%), and poorly relaxing LES (10% vs. 3%) decreased and the prevalence of IEM increased (20% vs. 31%) significantly. Compared with the early study, normal liquid bolus transit was significantly different in patients with hypertensive LES (96% vs. 57%) and poorly relaxing LES (55% vs. 100%). Conclusions: This study brings to light the increase in prevalence of IEM. In addition, it suggests that the hypertensive LES and poorly relaxing LES may each affect bolus transit in about half of these patients.
Domestic radon concentration and childhood cancer study in Cairo, Egypt

Abstract Several ecological studies have suggested a link between domestic radon concentration and risk of leukemia at all ages. Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) aged 2–14 years were selected from the Hematology‐Oncology Clinic, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University, Cairo. Full clinical history, complete blood picture, bone marrow aspiration, and radiographic examinations were taken. Due to the sequential study design, indoor radon measurements could only be done for 10% of the 500 ALL patients initially contacted, while 110 controls have agreed to participate in this study. Radon detectors were placed in homes of subjects resided in Cairo since their birth. Radon concentrations were measured within the period from September 1996 to August 1998 by passive alpha‐track radon detectors. Mean indoor radon concentration was higher for case subjects than for control subjects (p < 0.001). The mean alpha dose for case subjects (3.75 mSv.y‐1) was higher than the natural radiation dose value. For categories less than 40, 40–60, 60–90, and 90 or more Bqm‐3 of radon exposure, odds ratios (ORs) based on unmatched case‐control analysis were 1.00, 4.64(95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–18), 7.42(95% CI 2–27.3), and 5.42(95% CI 1.3–21.1) respectively. There was an association between ALL and radon exposure in this study. These data must be regarded as preliminary and further more extensive studies should be done to determine whether the observed association is causal.
Association between serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and eating disorders: a meta-analytic study.

OBJECTIVE Compelling evidence has suggested a role for serotonin system dysfunction in the pathogenesis of eating disorders (EDs), including anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). Studies have examined the association between EDs and a functional polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene promoter (5-HTTLPR). These studies have yielded inconsistent results. The present study aimed to determine conclusively whether there is an association by using a meta-analytic method. METHOD Data of over 2,000 participants from eight independent case-controlassociation studies were pooled by using a random effects model. RESULTS AN was found to be significantly associated with the S allele (p < .001) and S carrier (SS + LS) genotype (p = .007). However, BN was associated neither with the S allele (p = .49) nor with the S carrier genotype (p = .33). DISCUSSION These results suggested that the genetic variance of the serotonin transporter gene promoter contributed to the susceptibility of AN.
Loss of person-specific knowledge in Alzheimer’s disease: Evidence from priming

Semantic deficits in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are often more severe for items that are characterized by a unique semantic and lexical association, such as famous people. Whether these deficits are due to the degradation of semantic information or a deficit in the ability to intentionally access semantic knowledge remains controversial. To assess the integrity of the semantic system without explicitly accessing it, a priming paradigm was used. Semantic and repetition priming effects in individuals with AD (n = 7) and age-matched controls (n = 13) were measured in a familiarity judgment task using visually-presented names of famous people. A defective priming effect in AD subjects was observed in the semantic priming but not in the repetition priming condition. Therefore, the semantic impairments observed in AD may indicate a degraded representation of the semantic information concerning famous people.
Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Returned Traveler

Abstract: We report a case of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infection in a returned traveler from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We believe that this infection was acquired at his place of visit. Our belief is based on the history of his illness and laboratory data suggesting that the isolate is different from local isolates.
THE ECOLOGICAL GENETICS OF INTRODUCED POPULATIONS OF THE GIANT TOAD, BUFO MARINUS. III. GEOGRAPHICAL PATTERNS OF VARIATION

The allele frequencies at ten polymorphic loci are described from 31 Bufo marinus populations in the Moreton Bay region in southeastern Queensland, Australia and the variation of these is found to be non‐random in all cases. The pattern of non‐randomness varies among loci, being clinal in two instances. The allele frequencies at the same ten loci are also described for 12 populations sampled from throughout B. marinus' Australian range. The frequency variation on this larger geographical scale is non‐random at all but two loci (Mpi and Hbdh) and also varies among loci, in this case being clinal in four instances. In both cases, the patterns of variation are most reasonably explained as having resulted from genetic drift occurring during the recent range expansion which B. marinus is known to have experienced in Australia. It seems that natural selection has played little, if any, role in generating the observed gene frequency patterns. These results emphasize the need for caution in interpreting geographical patterns of variation. They show that even when clinal patterns exist at some loci but not at others, one cannot conclude that the patterns result from natural selection, unless the demographic histories of the studied populations are known and are inconsistent with the alternative hypothesis that the patterns result from genetic drift.
PREDATOR‐INDUCED SHELL DIMORPHISM IN THE ACORN BARNACLE CHTHAMALUS ANISOPOMA

Field experiments were conducted in order to determine the nature of shell dimorphism in the acorn barnacle Chthamalus anisopoma and the adaptive significance of the atypical form. The typical morph has the conical shape which is characteristic of acorn barnacles, while the atypical morph appears bent over, with the rim of its aperture oriented perpendicular to its base. The experiments showed that: 1) the bent‐over morphology is an environmentally‐induced developmental response to the presence of a carnivorous gastropod (Acanthina angelica) and 2) that “bents” are more resistant than “conics” to specialized predation by this snail. The results also showed that predation by A. angelica is patchy and heaviest in the near vicinity of cracks and crevices, which it uses as refuges during periods of tidal inundation. Because predation is patchy and bents are less fecund and grow slower than conics, the conditional developmental strategy is likely to be favored over strict genetical control of shell morphology.
Predicting nonsuicidal self-injury episodes over a discrete period of time in a sample of women diagnosed with bulimia nervosa: an analysis of self-reported trait and ecological momentary assessment based affective lability and previous suicide attempts.

OBJECTIVE To examine the moderating effect of trait affective lability on the relationship between past suicidal behavior and future nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). METHOD A total of 127 adult females diagnosed with bulimia nervosa took part in this study. We hypothesized that individuals with greater levels of self-reported trait affective lability and a greater number of past suicide attempts would engage in a greater number of NSSI episodes over the course of 2 weeks than would individuals lacking elevations in one or both of those variables, controlling for average level of negative affect and affective lability as measured through ecological momentary assessment (EMA). RESULTS The two-way interaction of trait affective lability and past suicidal behavior predicted participants' number of NSSI episodes during the course of the study. DISCUSSION Interaction of self-reported trait affective lability and past suicidal behavior may exhibit clinical utility in the prediction of patients' imminent risk of engaging in NSSI.
Ruptured uterus-eight year retrospective analysis of causes and management outcome in Adigrat Hospital, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Background: Ruptured uterus is a common cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Further studies may help in the development of preventive strategies. Objective: To determine the frequency, cause and management outcome of ruptured uterus at a zonal hospital. Method: A retrospective study (April 1, 1993-March 30, 2001) was done to describe the frequency, cause, treatment, complications, and maternal and fetal mortality associated with ruptured uterus. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information from delivery registration books, operation room records, and patient cards. Result: A total of 54 cases of ruptured uterus and 5,980 hospital deliveries were recorded for a ratio of 1:110. Causes of rupture were: cephalopelvic disproportion (53.7%), malpresentation and malposition (25.9%), instrumental (3.7%), pitocin induced (3.7%), uterine scar (11.2%) and placenta percreta (1.8%). Most were multipara and rupture was complete in 94.4%. Site of rupture was in lower uterine segment in 58.5% and left lateral in 24.5%. Ten cases (18.5%) had associated bladder injury. Total abdominal hysterectomy was performed in 20 (37%), subtotal abdominal hysterectomy in 13 (24.2%) and repair in 21 (38.9%) cases. Vesicovaginal fistula and wound infection were common post-operative complications. Maternal case fatality rate was 11.1% and fetal case fatality rate was 98.1%. Ruptured uterus contributed 24% of all causes of maternal deaths in the hospital within the study period. Conclusion: This calls for an integrated effort to prevent the causes of uterine rupture and ensure prompt management to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. [Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2002;16(3):241-245]
Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus alters frontal activity during spatial working memory maintenance of patients with Parkinson’s disease

ABSTRACT Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) improves the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The STN may represent an important relay station not only in the motor but also the associative cortico-striato-thalamocortical pathway. Therefore, STN stimulation may alter cognitive functions, such as working memory (WM). We examined cortical effects of STN-DBS on WM in early PD patients using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The effects of dopaminergic medication on WM were also examined. Lateral frontal activity during WM maintenance was greater when patients were taking dopaminergic medication. STN-DBS led to a trend-level worsening of WM performance, accompanied by increased lateral frontal activity during WM maintenance. These findings suggest that STN-DBS in PD might lead to functional modifications of the basal ganglia-thalamocortical pathway during WM maintenance.
Effects of vocal training in a musicophile with congenital amusia

ABSTRACT Congenital amusia is a condition in which an individual suffers from a deficit of musical pitch perception and production. Individuals suffering from congenital amusia generally tend to abstain from musical activities. Here, we present the unique case of Tim Falconer, a self-described musicophile who also suffers from congenital amusia. We describe and assess Tim’s attempts to train himself out of amusia through a self-imposed 18-month program of formal vocal training and practice. We tested Tim with respect to music perception and vocal production across seven sessions including pre- and post-training assessments. We also obtained diffusion-weighted images of his brain to assess connectivity between auditory and motor planning areas via the arcuate fasciculus (AF). Tim’s behavioral and brain data were compared to that of normal and amusic controls. While Tim showed temporary gains in his singing ability, he did not reach normal levels, and these gains faded when he was not engaged in regular lessons and practice. Tim did show some sustained gains with respect to the perception of musical rhythm and meter. We propose that Tim’s lack of improvement in pitch perception and production tasks is due to long-standing and likely irreversible reduction in connectivity along the AF fiber tract.
Binge eating disorder in elderly individuals.

OBJECTIVE To preliminarily describe the clinical features of elderly individuals with binge eating disorder (BED). METHOD The psychological and general medical characteristics of 20 elderly individuals (65 years of age and older) who met DSM-IV-TR for BED were systematically evaluated. RESULTS Elderly individuals with BED reported an average (SD) of 4.5 (2.9) binge eating episodes per week. Weight and shape concerns were of significant importance for participants' schema for self-evaluation. Mood disorders were the most frequent co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Despite having a mean (SD) body mass index of 36.4 (10.6), most participants presented in good general medical health. DISCUSSION Regarding eating pathology, psychiatric comorbidity, and associated obesity, BED in this group of elderly individuals was similar to BED in younger adults. However, other than presenting with obesity, the participants reported good general medical health. BED might be a problem for a subset of physically healthy elderly individuals. Studies further examining psychiatric and medical presentation, including metabolic profile, of elderly individuals with BED may be warranted.
Absence of seasonal pattern of birth in patients with anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE An excess of spring births has been suggested in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), especially in the restricting subtype, but most of the research has been carried out inside the United Kingdom. The aim of this study was to assess whether there is a seasonal pattern of birth in a representative sample of patients with AN in a different latitude in the northern hemisphere. METHOD We examined the month of birth in a sample of 210 female patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of AN at first presentation to a specialized eating disorders service in Spain. RESULTS We found no evidence of significant variation in month or season of birth in AN when compared to general population. DISCUSSION There is not enough evidence of a season of birth bias under the latitude of the United Kingdom in the risk of developing AN.
The Role of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Provoking High Blood Pressure Episodes in Patients With Hypertension

Goals: We assessed the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hypertension and whether antiacid therapy could be used to control blood pressure (BP) on hypertension in patients with GERD. Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may provoke cardiovascular disease. Many factors are involved in the development of essential hypertension, but whether GERD has a role needs further study. Study: Patients with essential hypertension (n=86) were studied by 24-hour continuous BP monitoring and esophageal impedance and pH monitoring. Patients fulfilling the GERD criteria received 14-day therapy with omeprazole (20 mg twice a day), and the effect on BP was studied. Results: Of the 86 essential hypertension patients, 38 (44.2%) had GERD. Among these 38 patients, 494 episodes of pathologic reflux (PR), and 684 episodes of high BP were recorded. PR was significantly more common at nighttime especially when supine. Of the 684 episodes of hypertension, 102 (14.9%) were synchronous with PR. GERD patients had significantly higher nocturnal BP than non-GERD patients. Antiacid therapy brought about significant reduction in all esophageal monitoring parameters as well as in BP parameters in GERD patients. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that there is significant correlation between hypertension and GERD. Antiacid therapy can restore normal esophageal pH and help maintain normal BP.
Cerebrovascular status of severe closed head injured patients following passive position changes.

: Nursing care of the severe closed head injured patient has two primary goals: (1) the prevention of secondary brain injury associated with intracranial hypertension, and (2) the prevention of complications associated with immobility. This study examined the effects of six body position changes, performed as part of routine nursing care interventions, on the cerebrovascular status of 18 severely head injured patients. These changes included turning and positioning in bed, head rotation, range of motion exercises, and raising and lowering of the head of the bed. All subjects had baseline mean intracranial pressures of less than or equal to 15 mm/Hg, and cerebral perfusion pressures of greater than or equal to 50 mm/Hg. Over 200 observations of the effects of position changes on heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), mean intracranial pressure (MICP), and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) were recorded and analyzed. With the exception of the intervention raising the head of the bed, all position changes produced increases in HR, MABP, MICP, and CPP. Typically, the physiologic changes were transient and showed recovery toward baseline values in one-minute postintervention measurements. The results of this study suggest that passive position changes may be performed safely upon severe closed head injured patients with baseline MICPs less than or equal to 15 mm/Hg, provided CPPs are maintained above 50 mm/Hg throughout each position change and provided multiple fractures do not preclude these position changes.
Comparative effects of ionic and nonionic iodinated low-osmolar contrast media on platelet function with the PFA-100 (platelet function analyzer).

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES This study was designed to (1) compare the effects of ionic (ioxaglate) and nonionic (iodixanol and iohexol) iodinated low-osmolar contrast media (CM) on platelet function in human whole blood by using the new PFA-100trade mark, a "platelet function analyzer"; (2) determine the animal species closest to human with regard to platelet reactivity to CM; and (3) evaluate which element of the ioxaglate solution supports this activity. METHODS For all studies, platelet adhesion and aggregation were measured using the PFA-100trade mark system with adenosine diphosphate-primed collagen membrane cartridges. Results are shown as the membrane closure time (MCT; the longer the MCT, the greater the antiaggregatory effect) and given as medians. Citrated whole-blood samples from six healthy volunteers were mixed for 1 minute with a 10% (vol/vol) solution of ioxaglate, iodixanol, or iohexol or their respective ionic and nonionic controls (isotonic saline and mannitol). The test solution/control solution ratio for the MCT was calculated for the blood of humans, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, and rats. Isotonic saline and iso-osmolar (280 mOsm/kg) and hyperosmolar (560 mOsm/kg) solutions of meglumine hydrochloride, meglumine ioxaglate (560 mOsm/kg), and sodium ioxaglate (600 mOsm/kg) were tested under similar conditions. RESULTS All three CM caused significant prolongation of MCT when compared with their respective controls (ioxaglate: 300 seconds, ie, "no closure" on the PFA-100trade mark system; iodixanol: 179 seconds; iohexol: 171 seconds; saline: 115 seconds; mannitol: 118 seconds). The antiplatelet effect of ioxaglate was higher than that of iodixanol and iohexol (P < 0.05). The animal species tested did not differ significantly from the human species with regard to an effect of their blood on MCT. Both ioxaglic acid salts caused a higher prolongation of MCT when compared with saline (sodium salt: 259 seconds; meglumine salt: 212 seconds; P < 0.05 vs. saline) but not versus the ioxaglate commercial solution. Conversely, both iso- and hyperosmolar solutions of meglumine hydrochloride (108 and 128 seconds, respectively) did not lengthen MCT versus saline, but their MCTs were shorter than that of the commercial solution of ioxaglate (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The ionic CM ioxaglate displayed a greater antiaggregatory effect on human platelets than did both iso-osmolar (iodixanol) and hyperosmolar (iohexol) nonionic CM. This effect seems to be linked to the ioxaglic moiety, because neither osmolality nor sodium or meglumine appeared to play a significant role.