Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of COPD: a prospective cohort study of men

Background Antioxidants present in fruits and vegetables may protect the lung from oxidative damage and prevent COPD. Aims To determine the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of COPD by smoking status in men. Methods The population-based prospective Cohort of Swedish Men included 44 335 men, aged 45–79 years, with no history of COPD at baseline. Fruit and vegetable consumption was assessed with a self-administered questionnaire. Results During a mean follow-up of 13.2 years, 1918 incident cases of COPD were ascertained. A strong inverse association between total fruit and vegetable consumption and COPD was observed in smokers but not in never-smokers (p-interaction=0.02). The age-standardised incidence rate per 100 000 person-years in the lowest quintile (<2 servings/day) of total fruit and vegetable consumption was 1166 in current smokers and 506 in ex-smokers; among those in the highest quintile (≥5.3 servings/day), 546 and 255 per 100 000 person-years, respectively. The multivariable HR of COPD comparing extreme quintiles of total fruit and vegetable consumption was 0.60 (95% CI 0.47 to 0.76, p-trend <0.0001) in current smokers and 0.66 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.85, p-trend=0.001) in ex-smokers. Each one serving per day increment in total fruit and vegetable consumption decreased risk of COPD significantly by 8% (95% CI 4% to 11%) in current smokers and by 4% (95% CI 0% to 7%) in ex-smokers. Conclusions These results indicate that high consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with reduced COPD incidence in both current and ex-smokers but not in never-smokers.
Assessment of Hands-on Activities on Students’ Achievement and Attitudes towards Chemical Bonding

The study assessed the efficacy of hands-on activities on students’ academic achievement and attitude in learning ionic and covalent bonds in a senior high and a technical school in Ghana. The sample size for the study was 30 and comprised of 22 males and 8 females who were purposively sampled for the study. The main instruments used to collect data were tests, interviews and questionnaire. The various hands-on activities employed included writing Lewis dot structures, drawing diagrams for ionic bonds and covalent bonds, tug of war, modelling with ball and sticks as well as calculation of electro negativity differences. Statistical analyses showed that students scored significantly higher scores (t = -6.32; p < 0.05) in the post-test than in the pre-test. Also, a gain of 3.83 was obtained for the post test over the mean score of the pre–test. This confirmed that the treatment strategy significantly improved students’ performance in learning chemical bonding through the interactive hands-on activities. The study also revealed that hands-on learning increased students’ interest to read chemistry, facilitated understanding and recall of chemical concepts, made lesson more exciting and led to positive motivational outcomes. Furthermore, the activities engaged students, made them critical thinkers, and enhanced their learning skills.
Exploring Factors That Drive Adoption of Various Categories of M-commerce: An Emerging Market Study

The study examines the factors that drive actual adoption of the four categories of m-commerce, namely content delivery, location-based, transaction-based and entertainment in India. Data was collected from 321 m-commerce users and analysed using structured equation modeling (SEM). The results show that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, perceived risk and perceived enjoyment have varied impact, while social influence has a significant positive impact across the four categories. Further, personal innovativeness (PI) has a significant indirect impact on adoption of all the categories. The study adds on to the extant knowledge on m-commerce adoption in India and provides insights for marketers in devising relevant strategies for adoption of varied m-commerce categories. Further, it provides insights on the role of PI in driving adoption of m-commerce. The results from the study are limited to the Indian context and need to be validated across other contexts such as country and service offers suggesting future research opportunities. Future studies can also explore other m-commerce categories such as government services and telemetry services.
Clinical pattern and abdominal sonographic findings in 251 cases of brucellosis in southern Turkey.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to report the clinical features, complications, abdominal sonographic findings, and treatment outcomes for a series of brucellosis cases in southern Turkey. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This prospective study involved 251 patients (age range, 2-77 years) who were hospitalized with brucellosis during a 4-year period. Patients were classified as having acute (< 3 months), subacute (3-12 months), or chronic (> 12 months) disease. Physical, laboratory, and abdominal sonographic findings were analyzed. RESULTS The disease was acute in 92 cases (36.7%), subacute in 48 (19.1%), and chronic in 111 (44.2%). Sonographic examination of the abdomen showed enlarged periportal lymph nodes in 23 patients (9.2%), splenomegaly in 21 (8.4%), hepatomegaly in 15 (6%), pleural effusion in 7 (2.8%), splenic abscesses in 4 (1.6%), splenic cysts in 2 (0.8%), acute appendicitis in 2 (0.8%), and acute acalculous cholecystitis in 1 patient (0.4%). The main hematologic and biochemical manifestations were anemia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, elevated C-reactive protein, and elevated transaminase levels. All patients were treated with combinations of either two or three antibiotics. Surgery was performed in the patients with acute appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, and multiple splenic cysts. CONCLUSION Brucellosis is endemic to Turkey. Sonographic examination is the method of choice for diagnosing abdominal complications of human brucellosis. This disease should be included in the differential diagnosis for any patient with enlarged periportal lymph nodes. The specific treatment regimen and duration of therapy should be based on sites of organ involvement and complications.
Growth Acceleration and Final Height After Treatment for Delayed Diagnosis of Celiac Disease

The only presenting clinical feature of diagnosing celiac disease (CD) late may be short stature. At the start of treatment with a gluten-free diet (GFD), celiac children show an accelerated growth rate. The real duration of catch-up growth and influence of diet on the final stature has not yet been defined. In order to evaluate the effect of a GFD on growth parameters, 24 children diagnosed late with CD were studied at our center. During the period of diagnosis, weight, height standard deviation score (HSDS), weight and height velocities (WV and HV), bone age (BA), and pubertal stage were recorded. Predicted height (PH) according to the Tanner method, parental height, and target height (TH) were also evaluated at diagnosis. All patients initially presented because of short stature or retarded growth (100% of patients with height <5th percentile). Patients showed an increased HV and WV during the first 3 years on a GFD, with maximum growth velocity occurring during the first year, but the catch-up growth was incomplete over 3 years (mean HSDS ± SD, −1.77 ± 0.6). Puberty began in all patients at a normal age. The 12 patients who completed pubertal development reached their target height, whatever the duration of the GFD. The final height (between the 1st and 25th percentile) seemed influenced mainly by familial characteristics; height was below the 3rd percentile in 31% of parents examined.
Features and Choice of Treatment of Acute and Chronic Pancreatic Pseudocysts – with Special Reference to Invasive Intervention

Aims: It was the aim of this study to characterize the features of acute and chronic pancreatic pseudocysts (PPs) and to identify the factors predictive of the need for invasive treatment. Methods: Thirty-six patients with PPs treated at Nippon Medical School between January 1995 and December 2004 were studied retrospectively. The cases were divided into 4 groups based on 4 features: association with acute pancreatitis, association with chronic pancreatitis, spontaneous resolution, and persistent symptoms requiring therapeutic intervention. Group 1 included 9 patients with acute PPs which resolved spontaneously. Group 2 included 9 patients with acute PPs with persistent symptoms or associated complications requiring interventional treatment. Group 3 included 9 patients with chronic PPs which resolved spontaneously, and group 4 included 9 patients with chronic PPs with persistent symptoms or associated complications requiring interventional treatment. Results: Among the 36 patients, 13 were women and 23 were men. The etiologies were pancreatitis due to alcoholism in 18 cases (50.0%), biliary tract disease in 8 cases (22.2%) and other conditions in 10 cases (27.8%). The average duration of follow-up was 24.2 ± 18.5 months. The patients in group 1 were significantly older than those in group 2 (67.6 ± 16.1 vs. 40.6 ± 14.1 years; p = 0.011). The mean size of the PPs was significantly larger in groups 1 and 4 than in group 3 (p < 0.05) and significantly larger in group 2 than in group 4 (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups 1 and 2 in the size of the PPs or in the Ranson score of previous pancreatitis. The increase in size of the PPs during follow-up in each of the spontaneously resolved groups (groups 1 and 3) differed significantly from that in each of the interventional treatment groups (groups 2 and 4; p < 0.05). The main cause of the acute pancreatitis in group 1 was biliary tract disease, while that in group 2 was alcoholism (significantly different, p < 0.05). The number of patients with symptoms related to pseudocysts at the time of diagnosis was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 3. Conclusions: Growth of the PPs during follow-up is the strongest predictor of the need for invasive treatment in both acute and chronic cases. Among acute PPs, the size of the pseudocyst is not in itself a predictor of invasive treatment. Invasive treatment may pose higher risks for pseudocysts with an etiology of alcoholic acute pancreatitis. However, the size of the pseudocyst may be a more important prognostic factor than an etiology of pancreatitis.
Comparison of single-dose and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics between two formulations of hydrocodone bitartrate/acetaminophen: immediate-release versus biphasic immediate-release/extended release

Objective This study aimed to compare the single-dose and steady-state pharmacokinetics (PK) of biphasic immediate-release (IR)/extended-release (ER) hydrocodone bitartrate (HB)/acetaminophen (APAP) and IR HB/APAP. Setting The study was conducted in a contract research center. Participants The study included healthy adults. Interventions In a three-way crossover study, Study 1, participants received the following treatments: (A1) a single dose of IR/ER HB/APAP 7.5/325 mg one tablet, followed by one tablet every 12 hours (q12h); (B1) a single dose of IR/ER HB/APAP 7.5/325 mg two tablets, followed by two tablets q12h; (C1) a single dose of IR HB/APAP 7.5/325 mg two tablets (one tablet at hours 0 and 6), followed by one tablet q6h. In a two-way crossover study, Study 2, participants received the following treatments: (A2) an initial dose of IR/ER HB/APAP 7.5/325 mg three tablets, followed by two tablets q12h; (B2) three doses of IR HB/APAP 7.5/325 mg one tablet q4h, followed by one tablet q6h. Main outcome measures PK values were compared, and adverse events were assessed. Results Single-dose and steady-state area under the concentration–time curves for hydrocodone and APAP were similar for IR/ER and IR HB/APAP; the steady-state peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) at steady state were also similar, but single-dose Cmax for hydrocodone was lower for IR/ER HB/APAP. For most PK parameters, 90% confidence intervals for geometric least squares mean ratios were not meaningfully different (80%–125%). Steady state was achieved in 2−3 days for IR/ER HB/APAP and in 2 days for IR HB/APAP. Median time to Cmax was longer for IR/ER HB/APAP versus IR HB/APAP (P,0.05). Adverse events were similar across treatments. Conclusion PK outcomes and tolerability were similar for IR/ER HB/APAP and IR HB/APAP.
A Comparative Evaluation of Serum Magnesium in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Patients with and without Periodontitis - A Clinico-biochemical Study.

INTRODUCTION Magnesium is an essential cation playing a crucial role in many physiological functions and its imbalance is associated with greater number of pathological situations. Oxidative stress is usually increased due to decreased essential nutrients. Hence, any imbalance of essential nutrients like serum magnesium can significantly play a role in the pathobiology of periodontitis in the presence of diabetes, as diabetes and chronic periodontitis are two chronic diseases that have been biologically linked. AIM To evaluate the association of serum magnesium in type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic periodontitis patients, also to evaluate and associate the influence of serum magnesium on periodontal health. MATERIALS AND METHODS A single blinded, randomized study was conducted that comprised of 120 subjects divided into four groups. Individuals with periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus formed the test group. Subjects with chronic periodontitis diagnosed clinically according to 1999 American Academy of Periodontology classification, without any medical history and drug history were included as the study subjects. Gingival Index and Plaque Index were scored for all the groups at baseline and after 21 days of scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing was done only in the test group. Blood was drawn from the patients at baseline and 21 days after scaling and root planning and estimation of serum magnesium level was done using semi-autoanalyzer. Data obtained was statistically analyzed using the paired t-test, one-way ANOVA, post-hoc test. RESULTS The result of the present study showed that mean serum magnesium among healthy was 1.40±0.565mmol/l as compared to 1.01±0.287mmol/l among subjects with periodontitis, 0.920±0.23mmol/l among diabetics with periodontitis and 0.93±0.29mmol/l among diabetics without periodontitis. Serum magnesium was significantly decreased in chronic periodontitis and diabetic patients with and without chronic periodontitis as compared to controls. CONCLUSION Imbalance of serum magnesium level was seen in patients with chronic periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hence, it can be a biomarker which can predict the occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic periodontitis.
Protein C Global Assay in the Evaluation of Women with Idiopathic Pregnancy Loss

Summary Since the majority of thrombophilic defects in women with pregnancy loss are in the protein C pathway, we have prospectively determined the diagnostic value of a protein C global assay in 60 consecutive women with pregnancy loss compared to 61 controls. Protein C activation time normalized ratio (PCAT-NR) in pregnancy loss women was significantly lower than controls (0.74 ± 0.16 vs. 0.99 ± 0.2; P <0.0001). PCAT-NR lower than cut off level of 0.8 were found in 42/60 (70%) of PL women compared to 7/61 (11%) of controls (OR = 18.0, 95% CI: 6.3-53.4, P < 0.0001). Cut-off level of 0.8 successfully identified all pregnancy loss women with abnormality in the protein C pathway (12 factor V Leiden, 7 APC-Resistance without factor V Leiden, 15 low levels of protein S and 1 of protein C). Moreover, PCAT-NR below 0.8 was documented in 15/29 (52%) of PL women without thrombophilic risk factor compared to 3/55 (5%) of controls (OR = 18.6, 95% CI: 4.2-95.2, P <0.0001). These results suggest that ProC Global may be useful as a screening test for protein C pathway abnormalities and may serve as a new thrombophilic risk factor in women with pregnancy loss.
Teachers’ Affective Well-being and Teaching Experience: The Protective Role of Perceived Emotional Intelligence

Teaching is a highly emotional and demanding profession. Developing emotional well-being among teachers will benefit not only the teachers themselves, but also their students. Previous studies have shown the protective role of emotional intelligence (EI) as well as inconsistencies in the years of teaching experience variable on positive and negative work-specific variables. The aim of the present study was to analyze how EI and years of teaching experience are related to affective well-being in teachers. Further, we analyze the moderator role of perceived EI on the link between level of teaching experience and affective well-being. For these purpose, 524 teachers from different Spanish public schools took part in the study. They first completed the Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24 (TMMS-24) for measuring perceived EI, which evaluates three scales: Attention to one’s Feelings (Attention), Emotional Clarity (Clarity), and Mood Repair (Repair). Secondly, they completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) for affective well-being, which measures Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA). Finally, teachers indicated their years of teaching experience. The results revealed that teaching experience and attention variables are counterproductive in determining lower PA and higher NA, respectively. Clarity and Repair appeared to be a significant determinant of PA and NA, with higher Clarity and Repair determining higher PA and lower NA. Moderator analyses showed how teaching experience significantly decreased PA in teachers who had average or low levels of Repair, but not for those with higher levels of this variable, emphasizing the important role of Repair as a protector of affective well-being in teachers. Limitations and future areas for research are discussed.
Harmful Diversification: Evidence from Alternative Investments

Alternative assets have become as important as equities and fixed income in the portfolios of major investors, and so their diversification properties are also important. However, adding five alternative assets (real estate, commodities, hedge funds, emerging markets and private equity) to equity and bond portfolios is shown to be harmful for US investors. We use 19 portfolio models, in conjunction with dummy variable regression, to demonstrate this harm over the 1997-2015 period. This finding is robust to different estimation periods, risk aversion levels, and the use of two regimes. Harmful diversification into alternatives is not primarily due to transactions costs or non-normality, but to estimation risk. This is larger for alternative assets, particularly during the credit crisis which accounts for the harmful diversification of real estate, private equity and emerging markets. Diversification into commodities, and to a lesser extent hedge funds, remains harmful even when the credit crisis is excluded.
Personality Structure Among Centenarians: The Georgia Centenarian Study

Background/Study Context: We demonstrate that observer-rated factor structure of personality in centenarians is congruent with the normative structure. Prevalence of cognitive impairment, which has previously been linked to changes in personality in younger samples, is high in this age group, requiring observer ratings to obtain valid data in a population-based context. Likewise, the broad range of cognitive functioning necessitates synthesis of results across multiple measures of cognitive performance. Methods and Results: Data from 161 participants in the Georgia Centenarian Study (GCS; MAge = 100.3 years, 84% women, 20% African American, 40% community-dwelling, 30% low cognitive functioning) support strong overall correspondence with reference structure (full sample: .94; higher cognitive functioning: .94; lower cognitive functioning: .90). Centenarians with lower cognitive functioning are higher on neuroticism and lower on openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Facet-level differences (higher N1–N6: anxiety, hostility, depression, self-consciousness, impulsiveness, vulnerability to stress; lower E1: warmth; lower O4–O6: actions, ideas, values; lower A1, A3, A4: trust, altruism, compliance; C1, C5: competence, self-discipline) are also observed. Multivariate factor-level models indicate only neuroticism of the five broad factors predicts membership in cognitively impaired group; facet-level models showed that lower-order scales from three of the five domains were significant. Centenarians with higher self-consciousness (N4), impulsiveness (N5), and deliberation (C6) but lower ideas (O5), compliance (A4), and self-discipline (C5) were more likely to be in the lower cognitive functioning category. Conclusion: Results present first normative population-based data for personality structure in centenarians and offer intriguing possibilities for the role of personality in cognitive impairment centered on neuroticism.
Impact of preoperative chemoradiotherapy on survival in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer.

AIM To explore whether preoperative chemoradiation therapy improves survival of patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing resectional surgery. METHODS Forty-seven patients with a malignant pancreatic tumor localized in the head or uncinate process of the pancreas underwent radical pancreatico-duodenectomy. Twenty-two received chemoradiation therapy (gemcitabine and radiation dose 50.4 Gy) before surgery (CRR) and 25 patients underwent surgery only (RO). The study was non-randomised. Patients were identified from a prospective database. RESULTS The median survival time was 30.2 mo in the CRR group and 35.9 mo in the RO group. No statistically significant differences were found in subclasses according to lymph node involvement, TNM stages, tumor size, or perineural invasion. The one, three and five year survival rates were 81%, 33% and 33%, respectively, in the CRR group and 72%, 47% and 23%, respectively, in the RO group. In ductal adenocarcinoma, the median survival time was 27 mo in the CRR group and 20 mo in the RO group. No statistically significant differences were found in the above subclasses. The one, three and five year survival rates were 79%, 21% and 21%, respectively, in the CRR group and 64%, 50% and 14%, respectively, in the RO group. The overall hospital mortality rate was 2%. The morbidity rate was 45% in the CRR group and 32% (NS) in the RO group. CONCLUSION Major multicenter randomized studies are needed to conclusively assess the impact of neoadjuvant treatment in the management of pancreatic cancer.