Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health care-seeking behaviour among people with cough in Tanzania: findings from a tuberculosis prevalence survey.

SETTING The study was conducted within a nation-wide population-based tuberculosis (TB) prevalence survey in the adult population in Tanzania. OBJECTIVE To assess the health care-seeking behaviour of coughers presumed to have TB. DESIGN A survey in which participants were screened for TB using a symptom questionnaire and chest X-ray (CXR). Those with cough of ⩾ 2 weeks and/or who were coughing blood were interviewed about their health care-seeking behaviour and socio-demographic and clinical factors. RESULTS Of 3388 people with presumptive TB, 31.0% (1051/3388) had sought treatment for their symptoms. Of these, about 42% (445/1051) sought care at sites with TB diagnostic capacity, where sputum examination was performed in 37.1% (165/445) and CXR in 28.1% (125/445). In sites with limited TB diagnostic capacity, fewer than 1% were referred for sputum examination or CXR. Individuals with additional symptoms were more likely to seek treatment. Knowledge about TB was significantly associated with care seeking at sites with TB diagnostic capacity. CONCLUSIONS A third of the persons with cough symptoms consistent with TB had sought health care. About 42% sought care in sites with TB diagnostic capacity, but most did not undergo TB diagnostic procedures, precluding a timely diagnosis.
Endocrine involvement in children with beta-thalassaemia major. Transverse and longitudinal studies. I. Pituitary-thyroidal axis function and its correlation with serum ferritin levels.

Thyroid function was investigated by a TRH test in 24 clinically prepubertal children, 3-15 years old with beta-thalassaemia major; in 7 of them the test was repeated once and in 2 twice at intervals of at least 12 months. Basal T4, T3, TBG and TSH levels and the TSH levels during a TRH test were determined and correlated with age and serum ferritin levels. Basal serum T4, T3 and TBG levels were lower and serum TSH levels were higher during the test and in the basal state in thalassaemia major children than in control children. These results show a compensated sub-clinical primary hypothyroidism. The transversal study did not show any significant correlation between the hormonal parameters studied and chronological age or serum ferritin levels. In contrast, the longitudinal study showed a significant correlation between pituitary-thyroidal axis function and siderosis (positive correlations between the variations of TSH levels as delta, peak, 30 and 45 min values and the variations of serum ferritin levels). The thyroid impairment seems not to be correlated with serum ferritin levels in the transversal study because of the presence of an individual different sensitivity of the gland to the iron overload. The ferritin dependence of this impairment is shown only by longitudinal studies where individual differences in sensitivity of the gland are absent. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Stromal nodules in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE Stromal nodules from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH; n = 375 from autopsy, n = 100 from biopsy specimens) were investigated with regard to cytoskeletal components, topography, vascularization, leukocytic infiltrates, and proliferative activity. METHODS The nature of stromal nodules was studied by histopathology and immunohistochemistry, using antibodies against alpha-actin, desmin, myosin, vimentin, BMA-120, factor VIII, CD3, CD4, CD20, CD34, CD45RO, CD68, PCNA, and MiB1. RESULTS The findings lead to an extended classification of stromal nodules in BPH: immature mesenchymal (IM; 8.8%), fibroblastic (FB; 65.2), fibromuscular (FM; 21.6), and smooth muscular (SM; 4.4%). The different types occurred in all age decades in a similar distribution (FB > FM > IM > SM). Topographical studies (modified zonal subdivision of McNeal) revealed stromal nodules predominantly in the transitional zone (n = 286), less in the central zone (n = 78), occasionally in the peripheral zone (n = 11), and predominantly in the periurethral (n = 287) and less in the intermediate (n = 84) and subcapsular (n = 4) regions. The different types of nodules presented a distinct vascular pattern. FB, FM, and SM nodules showed significantly increased diffuse infiltrates of T lymphocytes-mainly T helper cells (mean 73%)-and an increase of B lymphocytes. Proliferative activity in the nodules was not observed. Stromal nodules were not observed in normal nonhyperplastic prostates; they only occurred in combination with hyperplastic nodular glandular proliferates. CONCLUSIONS The findings are suggestive of a maturational sequence of stromal nodules in BPH and of a possible significance of immunocompetent cells in the development of stromal nodules and further suggest that both stroma and epithelium of the prostate respond with nodular hyperplasia to the stimulus, which causes BPH.
Minimally invasive surfactant administration in preterm infants: a meta-narrative review.

IMPORTANCE Surfactant administration by minimally invasive methods that allow for spontaneous breathing might be safer and more effective than administration with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation; however, the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive methods have not been reviewed. OBJECTIVE To conduct a meta-narrative review of the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive surfactant administration using a thin catheter, aerosolization, a laryngeal mask airway, and pharyngeal administration in preterm infants with or at risk for respiratory distress syndrome. DATA SOURCES We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and CINAHL databases, published journals, and conference proceedings from inception to June 30, 2013. STUDY SELECTION Randomized clinical trials or observational studies of preterm infants who were given surfactant for respiratory distress syndrome by minimally invasive methods. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS An overall meta-narrative review was conducted encompassing the evolution of noninvasive surfactant therapy. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals are reported when appropriate. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Chronic lung disease diagnosed by the need for oxygen therapy at a postmenstrual age of 36 weeks, need for mechanical ventilation within the first 72 hours of birth, need for mechanical ventilation any time during the hospital stay, and adverse events associated with administration of surfactant by various methods. RESULTS We included 10 studies (6 randomized and 4 observational) of 3081 neonates. Thin catheter administration was evaluated in 6 studies (2 randomized and 4 observational); aerosolization, in 2 randomized studies; and laryngeal mask and pharyngeal administration, in 1 observational study each. The meta-narrative review confirmed the slow evolution and challenges of the different modes of administration, with thin catheter administration being the most studied intervention. Two randomized studies of surfactant administration using a thin catheter revealed no significant difference in the outcome of bronchopulmonary dysplasia but a potential reduction in the need for mechanical ventilation within 72 hours of birth when compared with standard care. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Surfactant administration via a thin catheter may be an efficacious and potentially safe method; however, further studies are needed. Further studies are also needed for other methods of minimally invasive surfactant administration.
ASSESSMENT OF MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF BEEF, MUTTON AND PORK AND ITSENVIRONMENT IN RETAIL SHOPS IN CHIDAMBARAM, TAMIL NADU.

Meat deterioration is one of the main sources of food-borne illnesses, possesing serious challenges in developing countries including India. In this study 75 meat (Beef, pork and mutton) samples were collected from retail shops in Chidambaram. The bacterial load was assessed on the samples collected at regular 3 h (6am-6pm) intervals. Meat and Surface swabs from meat processing equipment and the surrounding environment were analyzed for microbiological contamination. The mean of Total Viable Count, Psychrophilic count, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Bacillus count were analyzed in beef, mutton and pork meat. The mean count of Total viable count was not significantly (p>0.05) difference in Beef, Mutton and Pork meat. The temperature and pH of the meat samples ranges from 36.20 to 39.04°C and 5.04 to 6.6. Significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the values of physicochemical composition of meat was observed at increase selling time (h). The presence of these organisms is a warning signal for a possible occurrence of food intoxication.
Ethanollike properties of the serotonergic partial agonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine in chronic alcoholic patients.

To the Editor. — Alcoholic patients have lower levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in cerebrospinal fluid 1 ; decreased availability of the serotonin precursor, tryptophan 2 ; and reduced serotonin concentrations in platelets. 3 These findings have led to the hypothesis that a dysregulation in serotonin metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of alcoholism. To further explore this hypothesis, we studied alcoholic patients who abstained from alcohol. Behavioral, physiological, and endocrine responses to the metabolite of trazodone hydrochloride, meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) hydrochloride, were used as indexes of serotonin receptor function in alcoholic patients. 4 Twenty-one male patients who fulfilled DSM-III-R criteria for alcohol dependence and Research Diagnostic Criteria for alcoholism were selected for the study. They were in good physical health, euthymic, and abstinent from alcohol for at least 3 weeks when the study began. After written, informed consent was obtained, normal saline solution (the placebo) was administered intravenously. Thirty minutes later, m-CPP (0.08
Effects of Age and Sex on Single-Dose Pharmacokinetics of Tigecycline in Healthy Subjects

ABSTRACT The pharmacokinetics of tigecycline was evaluated in 46 healthy young and elderly men and women. Except for the volumes of distribution at steady state (approximately 350 liters in women versus 500 liters in men), there were no significant differences in tigecycline pharmacokinetic parameters. Based on pharmacokinetics, no dosage adjustment is warranted based on age or sex.
Monitoring the neural activity of the state of mental silence while practicing Sahaja yoga meditation.

OBJECTIVE To identify the neural correlates of the state of mental silence as experienced through Sahaja yoga meditation. DESIGN Nineteen experienced meditators underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging during three short consecutive meditation periods, contrasted with a control relaxation condition. RESULTS Relative to baseline, at the beginning of the meditation sessions there was a significant increase of activation in bilateral inferior frontal and temporal regions. Activation became progressively more reduced with deeper meditation stages and in the last meditation session it became localized to the right inferior frontal cortex/ right insula and right middle/superior temporal cortex. Furthermore, right inferior frontal activation was directly associated with the subjective depth of the mental silence experience. CONCLUSIONS Meditators appear to pass through an initial intense neural self-control process necessary to silence their mind. After this they experience relatively reduced brain activation concomitant with the deepening of the state of mental silence over right inferior frontal cortex, probably reflecting an effortless process of attentional contemplation associated with this state.
Novel rotor design for high-speed solid rotor induction machines

Solid rotor induction motors (SRIM) became increasingly prominent in high-speed drive applications with the development of efficient power electronics systems. These types of motors are easier to manufacture compared to conventional caged rotor induction machines (CRIM). In addition to that their high material integrity and high thermal properties makes them suitable to be used for high-pressure and high-speed drive applications. This paper proposes a new innovative rotor type for SRIM using in high-speed drive applications. This rotor type consists of hybrid construction of axially slitted and coated solid rotor structures and it is named as Shielded Axially Slitted Solid Rotor Induction Machine (SASSRIM) by the authors. In order to obtain performance characteristics of the novel designed rotor type, transient magnetic model is analyzed by finite element method (FEM). Finite Element Analysis (FEA) results show that rated output torque of SASSRIM is higher and more stable than other solid rotor structures. The brand new design also decreases the total losses, thereby making it more efficient than other conventional solid rotor designs.
Is depression a risk factor for meatpacking injuries?

BACKGROUND While meatpacking is a physically demanding industry, the effect of depression on risks for injury has not been studied. OBJECTIVE To assess depressive disorders (major depression and dysthymia) using a validated screening tool administered to injured and uninjured meatpacking workers in two Midwestern plants. METHODS Matched case-control analyses were conducted among 134 workers to evaluate the association between depressive disorder and the occurrence of laceration injury. RESULTS Of the 268 workers, 13.8% screened positive for depressive disorder, whereas the general population prevalence estimate for depressive disorder using the same tool was 3.4% . Depressive disorder was not associated with an increased risk for injury; 17% of cases who experienced a laceration injury and 15% of uninjured controls reported depressive disorder (OR 0.81, 95% CI: 0.39-1.69). CONCLUSIONS Evaluation of depression causes among meatpacking workers is needed to elucidate prevention and treatment strategies.
A rare but serious manifestation of Behçet's disease: intracardiac thrombus in 22 patients.

OBJECTIVES Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic, multisystemic disorder characterised by recurrent oral aphtous ulcers, genital ulcers and ocular inflammation. Vasculitis and thrombotic events are the most important causes of mortality. Vena cava thrombosis, pulmonary artery aneurysms, Budd-Chiari syndrome, peripheral artery aneurysms, dural sinus thrombosis and abdominal aorta aneurysms are the other less common vascular manifestations of BD. Cardiac involvement in BD is a rare and life-threatening complication. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with BD who have intracardiac thrombus. METHODS The hospital files of BD patients followed by rheumatology clinics of four medical centres (Ankara University, Ege University, Hacettepe University and Eskişehir Osmangazi University Hospitals) were retrospectively evaluated. Data included patients' demographic and clinical features, laboratory findings and outcome. All patients fulfilled three or more of the International Study Group Criteria for BD. RESULTS Twenty-two patients with intracardiac thrombus were evaluated. The mean age of patients with intracardiac thrombosis was 29.1 yrs (22-44) and there was a male predominance with a ratio of 20:2. Cardiac involvement was the first clinical manifestation of BD in 9 of the 22 patients. Initial symptoms of the patients were fever (n=18, 81%), dyspnea (n=9, 40%) chest pain (n=9, 40%) and haemoptysis (n=7, 31.8%). Sixteen patients (72%) had pulmonary arteritis and 10 (45%) patients had venous system lesions included deep vein, inferior vena cava and hepatic vein. Intra-cardiac thrombus were found only in the right cavities in 17 patients (77%), only in the left cavities in 2 patients (9%), and in both left and right cavities of the heart in 3 patients (13.6%). Once the cardiac lesion was diagnosed as a complication of BD, high dose (1mg/kg/d) prednisone (n=22, 100%) plus cyclophosphamide (n=18, 81%) or azathioprine (n=3, 13.6%) and warfarin (n=8, 36.3% (after the elimination of pulmonary aneurysm) therapy for anticoagulation was initiated. Four patients (18%) had high dose prednisone plus cyclophosphamide plus interferon-α (IFN-α) combination treatment and two patients (n=2, 9%) had high dose prednisone plus cyclophosphamide or plus azathioprine combination treatment. After treatment, the intra-cardiac thrombus disappeared in 13 cases and the size of the thrombus reduced in 7 cases. One patient died because of recurrent intra-cardiac thrombus and massive pulmonary arteritis in the emergency department. CONCLUSIONS Intracardiac thrombus in BD is more common in young men. The right side of the heart is usually involved and cardiac involvement is often accompanied by pulmonary artery occlusion possibly due to pulmonary arteritis. Early and aggressive immunosuppressive and/or anticoagulation therapy are life-saving.
Isolation of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria and Fungi from Rhizospheres soil from Banana Plants and its Effect on the Growth of Amaranthus cruentus L.

Nutrient management is one of the most important factors in successful cultivation of plants. Biofertilizers can affect the quality and quantity of crop. Low phosphate solubility is one of the most important factors limiting the plant growth in various soils. Many microorganisms can enhance phosphate solubility, but little is known about the magnitude of their phosphorus solubilizing ability. The native populations of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and fungi were studied in different rhizospheres soil samples obtained from banana plant and its effect on spinach plant (Amaranthus cruentus L.) in order to compare the results. The present study focuses on the phosphate-solubilizing capacity of bacteria and fungi in rhizospheres soil samples obtained from banana plant, revealing the dominance of Aspergillus species (234.12 mm) as major phosphate solubilizers, along with Bacillus subtilis (160.82 mm) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 126.11, Penicillium sp. , 99.02 and Micrococcus sp. , 89. 4. In the present study potent solubilizers were identified as A. niger and B. subtilis. Hence an attempt was made to optimize the phosphate solubilization of the potential solubilizers at different pH with temperature. It is found out that both bacteria and fungi showed maximum phosphate solubilization at pH 3.0 with its specific temperature at 28 0 C and 37 0 C.
Mapping Language Networks Using the Structural and Dynamic Brain Connectomes

Abstract Lesion-symptom mapping is often employed to define brain structures that are crucial for human behavior. Even though poststroke deficits result from gray matter damage as well as secondary white matter loss, the impact of structural disconnection is overlooked by conventional lesion-symptom mapping because it does not measure loss of connectivity beyond the stroke lesion. This study describes how traditional lesion mapping can be combined with structural connectome lesion symptom mapping (CLSM) and connectome dynamics lesion symptom mapping (CDLSM) to relate residual white matter networks to behavior. Using data from a large cohort of stroke survivors with aphasia, we observed improved prediction of aphasia severity when traditional lesion symptom mapping was combined with CLSM and CDLSM. Moreover, only CLSM and CDLSM disclosed the importance of temporal-parietal junction connections in aphasia severity. In summary, connectome measures can uniquely reveal brain networks that are necessary for function, improving the traditional lesion symptom mapping approach.
Quality of Life and School Absenteeism in Children With Chronic Illness

Objective: Children and adolescents with a chronic illness (CI) tend to demonstrate diminished physical and social functioning, which contribute to school attendance issues. We investigated the role of social and physical functioning in reducing school absenteeism in children participating in Mastering Each New Direction (MEND), a family-based psychosocial intervention for youths with CI. Methods: Forty-eight children and adolescents with a CI (70.8% female, M age = 14.922, SD = 2.143) and their parent(s) completed a health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measure pre- and postintervention. Using multiple mediation, we examined whether parent- and child-rated physical and social HRQOL mediated the relationship between school attendance before and after MEND. Once the mediational model was not supported, we investigated whether HRQOL moderated the relationship between missed school days pre- and postintervention. Results: Neither physical nor social functioning mediated or moderated the relationship between missed school days pre- and postintervention. Instead, higher parent-rated physical functioning directly predicted decreased number of missed school days, while lower parent-rated social and child-rated physical functioning predicted increased missed school days. Conclusions: Parent-perceived HRQOL may have a direct effect on health-related behaviors such as school attendance. Future research should determine whether gains in parent-rated QOL are maintained in the long term and whether these continue to impact markers of functional well-being.
Linear lupus panniculitis of the scalp presenting as alopecia along Blaschko’s lines: A distinct variant of lupus panniculitis in East Asians?

A 32‐year‐old Taiwanese man presented to our clinic with a 6‐month history of linear hair loss in a wavy and curved pattern across the parietal and occipital scalp, resembling the distribution of Blaschko’s lines. Physical examination showed interfollicular erythema and follicular plugging without skin atrophy or sclerotic change. Histopathology revealed a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate in the perifollicular dermis and subcutis with abundant mucin deposition, consistent with the diagnosis of lupus panniculitis. Treatment with hydroxychloroquine and local steroid injection resulted in complete hair regrowth but recurrence was noted. Linear lupus panniculitis of the scalp presenting as alopecia along Blaschko’s lines had so far been reported exclusively in five East Asians. Apart from classical lupus panniculitis, it had distinct clinical and histopathological features such as younger age of onset, male predominance, reversible clinical course without scarring, fewer associations with systemic lupus erythematosus, exclusive involvement of scalp, sparse inflammatory infiltration, abundant mucin deposition, higher degree of hyaline fat degeneration and negative results of immunofluorescent studies. Therefore, we propose linear lupus panniculitis of the scalp to be a distinct variant of lupus panniculitis and should be included in the differential diagnosis for focal or linear alopecia, especially in East Asians.
hypobaric hypoxia: central catecholamine levels and cortical PO2 and avoidance response in rats treated with apomorphine.

The learning of a conditioned avoidance response, the catecholamine levels in some cerebral structures, and the evolution of the cortical PO2, were studied under hypobaric hypoxia (300 torr) and under normoxia, in rats treated or not with apomorphine, at the dose of 1 or 10 mg/kg i.p. Apomorphine at 1 mg/kg improves the learning capacity and stabilises the cerebral catecholamine levels under hypoxia; no modification of the evolution of the cortical PO2 during hypoxia was observed between control rats and rats treated with this dose of apomorphine. Apomorphine at 10 mg/kg totally inhibits learning under normoxia or hypoxia. It is therefore possible to suppose that the antihypoxic protective mechanism of low-dose apomorphine is due to a stabilization of the levels of both dopamine and noradrenaline during hypoxia, but not to an increase in the cerebral oxygen availability. These data suggest the clinical possibility of using other dopaminergic stimulating agents for their eventual antihypoxic properties.