Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How sex work becomes an option: Experiences of female sex workers in Kerman, Iran

Abstract Sex work is rarely an occupation of choice for Iranian women and is often described as a last resort. While several factors play a role in creating an environment where individuals become involved in sex work, female sex workers’ experiences regarding entry into sex work in Iran are poorly understood. In this qualitative study, a convenience sample of 24 participants was recruited from a drop-in centre for vulnerable women in Kerman, Iran. Through in-depth interviews, participants were asked about their personal lived experiences of initiating sex work. Grounded theory was used to analyse findings from this research. We learned that major factors impacting on women’s initiation into sex work circulated around their vulnerability and chronic poverty. Participants continued to sell sex due to their limited opportunities, drug dependence and financial needs. Improving sex workers’ economic status could be a vital intervention in providing vulnerable women with options other than sex work. Female sex workers should be provided with government support and educational programmes delivered through special centres. Despite the illegal status of their work, sex workers’ needs should be recognised across all aspects of policy and legislation.
A randomized double-blind comparison of low-dose and high-dose bupivacaine for caesarean section in severely preeclamptic women using invasive blood pressure monitoring

Background: The effect of a low dose of spinal local anesthetic on the incidence of hypotension has not been evaluated till date in severely preeclamptic women undergoing cesarean delivery. In this study, we compared the mean arterial pressure changes associated with low and conventional doses of spinal anesthetic in these women using invasive pressure monitoring. Materials and Methods: Twenty four severely preeclamptic women scheduled for elective cesarean delivery were randomly allocated to receive 7.5 mg [Group 1] or 10 mg [Group 2] of bupivacaine with 20 μg of fentanyl for spinal anesthesia. Heart rate and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured continuously using invasive arterial pressure monitoring. Phenylephrine boluses were used to maintain the MAP of >80% of baseline. The incidence of hypotension was compared between the two groups. Neonatal outcome was assessed using Apgar scores, umbilical cord blood gases, and need for resuscitation. Results: Incidence of hypotension was less in Group 1 as compared to Group 2 (41.6% vs. 91.6%, P = 0.009). Duration of hypotension was significantly longer in Group 2 compared to Group 1 (P = 0.005). Hypotensive episodes requiring vasopressors were more frequent in Group 2 (1.5 [1-3] vs. 0 [0-1]), P = 0.01) [Table 2]. There was no difference in Apgar scores, umbilical cord blood gases, and need for resuscitation between the two groups. Conclusion: Low dose of spinal bupivacaine resulted in a lower incidence of hypotension, higher predelivery MAP and decreased use of vasopressors in severely pre-eclamptic women undergoing cesarean section.
Can oral 5-aminosalicylic acid be administered once daily in the treatment of mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis? A meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials

Objectives Several trials have demonstrated that oral delayed-release mesalamine might be administered once daily. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to investigate this. Methods A comprehensive and multiple-source literature search was carried out. Only randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) were investigated by comparing a once daily-dosing regime with a divided (twice or thrice daily)-dosing regime of oral delayed-release mesalamine formulations for induction or maintenance of remissionin patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. The quality of RCTs was assessed using the Jadad scores. Meta-analysis of pooled odds ratios was carried out using Review Manager 5.1. Results Nine RCTs were finally included. With regard to meta-analyses for induction trials, there were no significant differences for all comparisons between the once daily and the divided groups, including maintenance of just clinical remission (P=0.52) and just endoscopic remission (P=0.23), maintenance of combined clinicaland endoscopic remission (P=0.78), and the overall incidence of adverse events (P=0.61). With regard to meta-analyses for maintenance trials, there were also no significant differences for all comparisons between once daily and divided groups, including maintenance of just clinical remission (P=0.73) and just endoscopic remission (P=0.43), maintenance of combined clinical and endoscopic remission (P=0.43), the overall incidence of adverse events (P=0.12) as well as compliance with the prescribed medication (P=0.34). Conclusion The present work showed that oral delayed-release mesalazine administered as a single or a divided dose demonstrated a good safety profile, which was well tolerated and effective as either maintenance or induction treatment. High clinical and/or endoscopic remission rates can be achieved with once-daily dosing.
Dating persons with physical disabilities: the perceptions of South Africans without disabilities

Abstract There is good reason to believe that the attitudes of persons without disability towards dating a person with a physical disability might be unfavourable. However, in general, and in the Global South in particular, there is a dearth of research in this area. This study sought to take the first step in addressing this lack of enquiry, by surveying the attitudes of a general population sample in South Africa towards dating people with physical disabilities, using a vignette. Data from 1723 survey respondents were analysed thematically. Findings reveal largely negative attitudes towards people with physical disabilities. Respondents without disability perceived numerous barriers to dating a person with a physical disability, including social stigma, anxiety and concerns about the burden of care they believed such a relationship would place upon them. However, there was some evidence to suggest that some positive attitudes do exist, and a few respondents were open to dating a person with physical disabilities. Findings contribute to a nuancing and expanding of the ‘myth of asexuality’ among physically disabled people by showing that people with physical disabilities are actively desexualised by persons without disability. Future research is needed to explore how the inclusive attitudes, of which we did find evidence here, can be further cultivated.
From ‘half-dead’ to being ‘free’: resistance to HIV stigma, self-disclosure and support for PMTCT/HIV care among couples living with HIV in Kenya

Abstract In sub-Saharan Africa, self-disclosure of HIV-positive status may be a pivotal action for improving access to prevention of mother-to-child transmission services. However, understanding of HIV stigma and disclosure, and their effects on demand for care remains incomplete – particularly in the current context of new antiretroviral therapy guidelines. The purpose of this study was to explore these issues among self-disclosed couples living in southwest Kenya. We conducted 38 in-depth interviews with HIV-positive pregnant or postpartum women and their male partners. Of the 19 couples, 10 were HIV seroconcordant and 9 were serodiscordant. The textual analysis showed that HIV stigma continues to restrict full participation in community life and limit access to care by promoting fear, isolation and self-censorship. Against this backdrop, however, participants’ narratives revealed varying forms and degrees of resistance to HIV stigma, which appeared to both produce and emerge from acts of self-disclosure. Such disclosure enabled participants to overcome fears and gain critical support for engaging in HIV care while further resisting HIV stigma. These findings suggest that programme interventions designed explicitly to stimulate and support processes of HIV stigma resistance and safe self-disclosure may be key to improving demand for and retention in HIV services.
Between a rock and a hard place: What is the evidence for vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty?

The highest-level evidence in clinical medicine comes from double-blind, randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Previously, the evidence for the efficacy of vertebroplasty has been based upon open label and poorly controlled trials that may have overestimated the treatment effect by failing to take into account the natural history of vertebral fractures and the placebo response to an invasive treatment. Two recent, doubleblind, RCTs with sham control of the effect of vertebroplasty in acute spinal fractures have cast doubt on the efficacy of vertebroplasty. In light of the highlevel evidence from these studies, kyphoplasty must also now be regarded as a procedure in need of a true placebocontrolled trial to prove its efficacy.
Long-term benefits of breast screening

SUMMARY A series of prospective randomized controlled trials of breast cancer screening convincingly demonstrated the efficacy of an invitation to mammography to reduce breast cancer deaths. Evaluation efforts since then have focused on the absolute benefit of breast cancer screening overall and in age-specific subgroups, with various measures of benefit versus harm, and an interest in the degree to which improvements in therapy and women’s improved reporting of symptoms have eclipsed some or all of the benefit of detection of occult disease by mammography. In this article we describe the summary measures of the efficacy of mammography demonstrated by the randomized controlled trials, the importance of long-term follow-up to measure the absolute benefit of mammography and the balance of benefits and harms, including the number needed to screen to save one life and overdiagnosis.
Power-based Resistance Training Reduced Serum Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein in Athletes

Power-based resistance training (PRT) allows athletes to improve athletic performance by enhancing both strength and power simultaneously. However, it is unclear whether athletes who participate in PRT can positively alter serum lipid and lipoprotein parameters. Thus, the current study investigated the effects of 6-weeks of PRT on serum lipid and lipoprotein parameters in male and female collegiate athletes. Twenty one collegiate athletes (12 female soccer players and 9 male football players) participated in PRT (4 days/week) for 6 weeks. The PRT program was composed of a variety of Olympic-style and traditional weightlifting movements along with plyometrics. Overnight fasting blood samples were collected before and after 6-weeks of power-based resistance training to analyze serum lipid and lipoprotein parameters including TG, TC, VLDL-C, LDL-C, HDL-C, Lp(a), and ox-LDL. All serum lipid and lipoprotein parameters remained unchanged, except ox-LDL which significantly (p = 0.036) decreased by 3.81% or 1.87 U·L-1 (from 49.05 ± 9.17 to 47.18 ± 9.78 U·L-1) following 6 weeks of power-based resistance training. The 6-weeks of PRT, designed to improve strength and power, can provide cardioprotective health benefits for male and female collegiate athletes by lowering ox-LDL.
Student-Instructor Assessments: Examining the Skills and Competencies of Social Work Students Placed in Military-connected Schools

Field education is a vital part of learning and training for students pursuing an MSW degree. Guided by competencies created by the Council on Social Work Education, MSW programs are continuously evaluating the effectiveness of field experiences. U.S.-based public schools lack the training and capacity to provide adequate support to military-connected students. To understand the skills and competencies of MSW students placed in militaryconnected schools, the authors collected data from 30 first-year MSW students and their eight field instructors at two time points (fall and spring) during the 2010–2011 academic year. Both students and instructors gave higher-than-midpoint ratings to students on competencies at both time points. At time 1, students rated themselves lowest on application of complex practice models, policy issues, and working on the macro level with military organizations, whereas instructors rated students lowest on items related to systemic monitoring and research in practice. Progress toward competencies during the academic year was noted for more than half of the competencies. Although as groups, students and field instructors provided similar assessments, similarity within student–instructor dyads was low, suggesting opportunities for growth in the context of field instruction and the need for development of individual student–instructor relationships.
Multisite implementation of trained volunteer doula support for disadvantaged childbearing women: a mixed-methods evaluation

Our study looked at five schemes in England which offer support to disadvantaged women having babies. The support starts in pregnancy and goes on for 6 weeks after the baby’s birth. It is provided by specially trained volunteers (called ‘doulas’). The idea started with one of the five schemes and was then taken up by the other four, with the help of funding from the Department of Health. The philosophy behind the original doula service was to provide women with the support needed for a positive birth experience and breastfeeding. We looked at impacts on the NHS, on the women and on the volunteers and at how services had started the schemes and kept them running. Participation rates were lower than we had hoped among women and doulas; 167 women and 89 doulas completed questionnaires. However, from those who filled in questionnaires or took part in focus groups we heard that most women really appreciated the service. Where women were less pleased with the service, it was because they had not received as much support as they wanted. There was some evidence that women who had doula support had fewer caesarean sections although the numbers were not sufficient to rule out the possibility that this difference was due to chance. Women supported by doulas were more likely to start and to be continuing breastfeeding when their baby was 6 weeks old. Through questionnaires and telephone interviews we learned that most volunteers enjoyed their role and called it a privilege to support a woman at such an important time. They felt that they had learned a lot and gained confidence and some had gone on to further training. Midwives who took part in focus groups and the heads of midwifery who were interviewed were generally positive about the scheme. Starting the schemes and keeping them running: funding was a major issue that persisted for all the doula services; other challenges included ensuring a steady rate of women referred and available volunteers.
Parvalbumin‐, calbindin‐, and calretinin‐immunoreactive hippocampal interneuron density in autism

Lawrence YA, Kemper TL, Bauman ML, Blatt GJ. Parvalbumin‐, calbindin‐, and calretinin‐immunoreactive hippocampal interneuron density in autism. Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 121: 99–108. © 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard.
RELAPSED LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA IN CHILDREN: A CONTINUING CHALLENGE

The treatment of childhood lymphoblastic leukaemia has been one of the success stories of haematology, but despite this triumph 25–30% of children still relapse. Relapsed lymphoblastic leukaemia (R-ALL) is thus as common as most paediatric solid tumours, and more common than acute myeloid leukaemia in childhood. The treatment of R-ALL is usually unsuccessful, causes heartache and stress for both families and staff, and consumes large amounts of time and resources. There have been few randomized therapeutic trials to inform the choice of treatment and intense medical and lay interest in high-dose therapy and all variants of stem cell rescue. The increased availability of bone marrow or stem cells donors raises the vision that, in theory, BMT could be available to all children with R-ALL at least in societies whose resources permit this option. Yet high-dose therapy carries at least a 10–20% risk of immediate death and a much greater risk of delayed complications such as growth failure, infertility, organ damage and neuropsychological impairment, and is itself associated with a high relapse rate. This article will attempt to review the therapeutic options for the child with R-ALL, to make recommendations based on the limited evidence available about choice of treatment, and to suggest priority areas for research. It must, however, be recognized that this whole topic is clouded by a lack of randomized trials, difficulties over selection bias, and publications involving small numbers of patients.
Is there a prognostic role for C‐reactive protein in ischemic stroke?

Corso G, Bottacchi E, Brusa A, Di Benedetto M, Giardini G, Lia C, Reggiani M, Veronese Morosini M. Is there a prognostic role for C‐reactive protein in ischemic stroke? Acta Neurol Scand: 122: 209–216. © 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard.
Can we face the challenge of expanding use of intravenous immunoglobulin in neurology?

Elovaara I, Hietaharju A. Can we face the challenge of expanding use of intravenous immunoglobulin in neurology? Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 122: 309–315. © 2010 The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Blackwell Munksgaard.
Medication Container Look A-Likes: Does Color Matter?

With the heightened interest on medication mix-ups in the media, improvements to patient health and safety are a natural focus for research in medical human factors. Specifically, this project sought to answer the question ‘Does Color Matter? ’ with respect to medication containers/labels and their contribution to look-a-like medication mix-ups. Participants were asked to rate the perceptual similarity of pairs of medication ampoules and vials. Ratings were analyzed using Multi-Dimensional Scaling (MDS). A three dimensional solution provided the best fit of the results. Participants rated medication ampoules as highly similar if they shared the same glass color (dimension 1), label color (dimension 2), and label pattern (dimension 3). Ratings of medication vials were similar if they had similar glass color (dimension 1), label pattern (dimension 2) and label color (dimension 3). The results of this study show that color is an important feature used by nurses when judging medications on their similarity. Discussion centers on the practical implications of the results on medication look a-like confusions.
Fever is associated with doubling of odds of short‐term mortality in ischemic stroke: an updated meta‐analysis

Prasad K, Krishnan PR. Fever is associated with doubling of odds of short‐term mortality in ischemic stroke: an updated meta‐analysis. Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 122: 404–408. © 2010 The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Blackwell Munksgaard.
Allograft for Revision ACL Reconstruction: The RUSH Experience

The technical aspects of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) revision surgery are similar whether using allograft or autograft in terms of tunnel position and graft placement. Certain aspects such as saved donor harvest time and site morbidity, decreased tissue handling for exposure, and ability to customize bone blocks are easier with allograft than autograft. All patients who had a revision ACL reconstruction with non-irradiated patellar tendon allograft over a 10-year period were selected from our computerized database. For our series of ACL revisions, failure was defined as either the presence of a pivot shift, and/or greater than 5 mm side-to-side difference on KT-1000 testing. Nine out of 32 of our revision ACL reconstructions (28%) failed using our clinical criteria. There were no postoperative infections. No additional surgeries were performed. There was no clinical evidence of graft rejection. There were no cases of disease transmission. Even though very good results can be achieved in revision ACL reconstruction, outcomes are not as predictable as with primary ACL reconstruction. Long term follow-up is available which shows comparable results between allograft and autograft for ACL revision surgery. The experience at our institution supports findings from other studies that non-irradiated patellar tendon allograft is an acceptable choice for revision ACL reconstruction.
Determinants of Lesion Size During Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation: The Role of Electrode‐Tissue Contact Pressure and Duration of Energy Delivery

Determinants of Radiofrequency Lesion Size. Introduction: Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation is a promising modality in the management of cardiac arrhythmias, but the optimum protocol for energy delivery has not yet been determined. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of varying electrode‐tissue contact pressure and varying duration of RF energy delivery on the size of the resultant lesion in an in vitro model of isolated perfused and superfused canine myocardium. Methods and Results: RF power (500 kHz) was delivered through the tip of a specially‐designed thermistor‐tipped 1.6‐mm diameter electrode mounted on an adjustable fulcrum so that contact force could be varied. RF power was adjusted to maintain a constant electrode‐tissue interface temperature of 80°C during lesion production. Seventy‐nine lesions were created with a 90‐second RF energy delivery, and a contact force that was varied between 0 and 400 newtons (N) (0‐41 g). Lesions produced with a small contact force (10 N) were significantly larger than those with a contact force of zero (width 5.5 mm vs 3.8 mm, P <0.0002), but not significantly different from those produced with the maximum contact force of 400 N (width 6.5 mm, P = NS). However, the greater contact force significantly decreased the power required to maintain a constant electrode‐tissue interface temperature. Ninety‐six lesions were then created using a constant contact force, but duration of energy delivery was varied from 10 to 600 seconds. Lesion size grew monoexponentially with time. The t1/2 of lesion growth was 7.6 and 9.6 seconds for depth and width, respectively. Conclusion: Thus, close electrode‐tissue contact is essential for adequate lesion formation during RF ablation of myocardium, but increasing contact force does not significantly increase lesion size if power is adjusted to maintain a constant electrode‐tissue interface temperature. In order to approach steady‐state and maximize lesion size, duration of RF energy delivery should be at least 40 seconds.
A new automated implementation of the Posturo‐Locomotion‐Manual (PLM) method for movement analysis in patients with parkinson’s disease

Zackrisson T, Holmberg B, Johnels B, Thorlin T. A new automated implementation of the Posturo‐Locomotion‐Manual (PLM) method for movement analysis in patients with parkinson’s disease. Acta Neurol Scand: 2011: 123: 274–279. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Stem cell therapy for ischemic heart failure

As the prevalence and incidence of ischemic heart disease continue to increase, so does interest in ischemic heart failure management. Limitations of current therapies have led to research aimed at regenerating and repairing ischemically damaged myocardium through stem-cell therapy. Cell types being evaluated include embryonic stem cells, fetal and neonatal cardiomyocytes, skeletal myoblasts, bone marrow stem cells, peripheral blood CD34+ cells, endothelial progenitor cells, cardiac progenitor cells, and fibroblasts. Preclinical animal studies and promising early results of clinical trials now under way suggest that stem-cell therapy may soon become an important new tool in heart failure management.