Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variation of inflammatory indexes after electrical cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation. Is there an association with early recurrence rates?

Inflammation has been recently implicated in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to examine the variation of inflammatory indexes during the first week after successful electrical cardioversion of persistent AF. Successive measurements of white blood cell (WBC) count, C‐reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen levels were performed in 30 cardioverted patients. At the end of the 7‐day follow‐up period, AF had recurred in 30% of patients. A significant variance was found in serial measurements of fibrinogen levels in the two groups (non‐relapse and relapse, p = 0.005). Fibrinogen levels increased significantly in patients who relapsed into AF, but remained stable in patients who remained in sinus rhythm. In the latter patients, CRP values tended to decrease post‐cardioversion, but WBC count was significantly lower (p < 0.001) on the 7th day (6083 ± 1335), compared with baseline values (6648 ± 1395). The variation of inflammatory indices post‐cardioversion might have prognostic implications with regard to sinus rhythm maintenance.
Ocular surface toxicity from glaucoma topical medications and associated preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride (BAK)

ABSTRACT Introduction: This review discusses the evidence concerning the effect of topical medications and their preservatives on the ocular surface in glaucoma patients. The role of topical anti-glaucoma medication remains critical in the management of chronic glaucoma worldwide but the beneficial effects of treatment are counterbalanced by the adverse effects of corneal and conjunctival toxicity. Areas covered: This article covers the effect of topical ocular drops and preservatives, particularly benzalkonium chloride, on the cornea and conjunctiva. Both basic science and clinical evidence will be presented. The first part reviews the relationship between ocular surface disease and benzalkonium chloride and the evidence from non-benzalkonium chloride preserved drops. The second part discusses the effects of benzalkonium chloride on the histopathology of the conjunctiva and its impact on clinical care as well as quality of life. Expert opinion: Topical anti-glaucoma medication will continue to be used in the management of this blinding disease for the foreseeable future. Treatment outcomes will benefit from minimized exposure to benzalkonium chloride. The development of alternative preservatives, preservative-free topical options, and non-drop therapeutics such as drug-eluting systems for the delivery of ocular medications, will be very helpful in the care of glaucoma patients.
Auditor Independence, Current and Future NAS Fees and Audit Quality: Were European Regulators Right?

Abstract European Union adopted the Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, which in practice prohibits the joint provision of audit and most types of non-audit services (NAS). Regulators presume that NAS fees weaken auditor independence and, as a result, impair audit quality. As the evidence at the European level does not support this view, the question of whether the new regulation will enhance auditor independence remains open. We examine the association between future NAS fees and audit quality by distinguishing among tax, audit-related and other services. We base the analysis on a sample of Spanish listed companies for the period between 2005 and 2016, finding a consistent negative association between future other NAS fees and audit quality. This suggests that the expectation of future purchases of this type of NAS may impair auditor independence. Conversely, for tax and audit-related services results are not significant. Taken together, results suggest that European regulators should seek for further evidence before banning NAS, as some of them may in fact enhance audit quality.
Enzyme Histochemical Changes in an Acutely Induced Renal Papillary Necrosis

Enzyme histochemistry was assessed in semi-thin glycolmethacrylate sections after 100 mg/kg 2-bromoethanamine (BEA) hydrobromide had been given ip to male Wistar rats to induce renal papillary necrosis. Changes in the proximal tubular marker enzymes alkaline phosphatase (Alk Phos), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) were not apparent before 8 hr, but there was a progressive loss up to 144 hr. The proteinaceous PAS-positive casts in the loops of Henle and the collecting ducts stained for Alk Phos and GGT (from 12 hr) and for ATPase (from 18 hr). Acid phosphatase (Acid Phos) staining was increased in the proximal tubule lysosomes from 18 hr. There was a marked increase in Alk Phos in all hyperplastic upper urothelial cells from 8 to 24 hr, and a mosaic of staining remained in the pelvis adjacent to the necrosed papilla at 144 hr. At 12 hr, there was an increase in the staining of the pelvic, ureter and bladder vascular endothelial ATPase, the intensity and area of which increased progressively from 18 hr and almost occluded the capillary lumens in the worst affected areas by 144 hr. These data show several distinct series of pathological changes after the administration of BEA. The subtle degenerative changes in the proximal tubule followed the papillary lesion, but exfoliated brush border and proximal tubular cells were important components of the protein casts in the distal nephron. Similarly, the intense Alk Phos staining in the hyperplastic regions of the upper urothelium and the increased pelvic, ureteric and bladder endothelial ATPase staining suggested they develop as a consequence of the papillary lesion.
The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Homeowners' Portfolio Choice

This paper examines the mediating effect of the recent financial crisis on the relationship between house value fluctuation and households’ liquid portfolio choice. To isolate exogenous variation in homeowners' home equity and mortgage debt before and after the crisis, I use a new regional level construction cost index along with other commonly used house price determinants as instruments. Using an administrative register-based panel data for the entire Danish population in the period 2004 – 2012, I find that the effect of housing on households' risky asset holdings is asymmetric before and after the crisis. The elasticity of risky asset shares with respect to mortgage debt and home equity is -0.31 and 0.28 respectively in pre-crisis period. On the other hand, whereas for the post-crisis period, the elasticity of risky asset shares with respect to mortgage debt and home equity is -0.37 and 0.34 respectively. Suppose an average household had spent 10% more on housing, the estimates suggest that they would hold 6% less in risky shares pre-crisis and 7% less post-crisis. Homeowners rebalance their liquid portfolio to a larger extent in response to their housing value fluctuation after the financial crisis, adding an additional effect that is likely to exacerbate the instability of an already tumultuous financial system.
Early Temporal Characteristics of Cerebral Blood Flow and Deoxyhemoglobin Changes during Somatosensory Stimulation

The close correspondence between neural activity in the brain and cerebral blood flow (CBF) forms the basis for modern functional neuroimaging methods. Yet, the temporal characteristics of hemodynamic changes induced by neuronal activity are not well understood. Recent optical imaging observations of the time course of deoxyhemoglobin (HbR) and oxyhemoglobin have suggested that increases in oxygen consumption after neuronal activation occur earlier and are more spatially localized than the delayed and more diffuse CBF response. Deoxyhemoglobin can be detected by blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In the present study, the temporal characteristics of CBF and BOLD changes elicited by somatosensory stimulation in rat were investigated by high-field (9.4 T) MRI. With use of high-temporal-resolution fMRI, it was found that the onset time of the CBF response in the somatosensory cortex was 0.6 ± 0.4 seconds (n = 10). The CBF changes occurred significantly earlier than changes in HbR concentration, which responded after 1.1 ± 0.3 seconds. Furthermore, no early increases in HbR (early negative BOLD signal changes) were observed. These findings argue against the occurrence of an early loss of hemoglobin oxygenation that precedes the rise in CBF and suggest that CBF and oxygen consumption increases may be dynamically coupled in this animal model of neural activation.
Blood alcohol concentrations after "one standard drink" in Thai healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to investigate if drinking one standard drink per hour could keep blood alcohol concentration below the legal limit of 0.05% in Thai men and women. MATERIAL AND METHOD After overnight fast, 15 healthy Thai men and 15 healthy Thai women received 12 g of ethanol by drinking beer, rum, or carbonate mixed rum and their blood alcohol concentrations were monitored every 15 min for 1 hours. RESULTS With one standard drink or 12 g of ethanol per hour both Thai men and women had blood alcohol concentrations below 0.05%. At 45 min after drinking, women had significantly higher blood alcohol concentrations than men (p < 0.05). There was an inverse correlation between blood alcohol concentrations and the person's body weight. Blood alcohol concentrations were very low when alcoholic beverage was taken immediately after a meal. However, drinking alcohol along with a snack had no effect on blood alcohol concentrations. Drinking carbonate mixed rum led to the highest blood alcohol levels, followed by beer either rapidly drinking or sipping and pure rum, respectively. CONCLUSION For Thai people, one standard drink per hour should be considered in the definition of safe level of drinking for men and women driving motor vehicles. It will be safer if drinking immediately after a big meal. Due to rapid absorption of alcohol in the bloodstream, drinking a beverage with low alcohol content could inebriate more rapidly.
Posterior implant single-tooth replacement and status of adjacent teeth during a 10-year period: a retrospective report.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this case series study was to evaluate posterior single-tooth implant survival and the long-term conditions of the adjacent teeth. METHODS A retrospective evaluation of 1,162 consecutive patients with a single missing posterior tooth treated with 1,377 external hex implants supporting 1,365 restorations surrounded by natural teeth over a 1- to 10-year period was reviewed from four private offices. Implant survival data were collected relative to stage I to stage II healing, stage II to prosthesis delivery, and prosthesis delivery to up to 10 years of follow-up. Long-term adjacent tooth conditions were assessed, including decay, endodontic therapy (root canal therapy [RCT]), and/or extraction during the follow-up period. RESULTS Of the 1,377 implants inserted, there were 11 surgical failures from stage I to stage II healing. There was one failure from stage II healing to prosthesis delivery. There were two prosthetic-phase failures. The surgical success rate was 99.2%, whereas the overall survival rate was 98.9% at an average of 61 months of follow-up (range, 12 to 125 months). A total of 2,589 adjacent teeth were followed during the study. No natural adjacent tooth was lost during this period. Interproximal decay developed in 129 adjacent teeth (5%), and nine adjacent teeth required RCT (0.4%) as a result of decay or restoration. CONCLUSIONS The use of single-tooth implants as replacements for posterior missing teeth is a viable long-term treatment. Adjacent natural teeth complications are minimal for as long as 10 years after implant insertion.
Mutations that specifically impair the DNA binding activity of the herpes simplex virus protein UL42

The herpes simplex virus DNA polymerase is a heterodimer consisting of a catalytic subunit and the protein UL42, which functions as a processivity factor. It has been hypothesized that UL42 tethers the catalytic subunit to the DNA template by virtue of DNA binding activity (J. Gottlieb, A. I. Marcy, D. M. Coen, and M. D. Challberg, J. Virol. 64:5976-5987, 1990). Relevant to this hypothesis, we identified two linker insertion mutants of UL42 that were unable to bind to a double-stranded-DNA-cellulose column but retained their ability to bind the catalytic subunit. These mutants were severely impaired in the stimulation of long-chain-DNA synthesis by the catalytic subunit in vitro. In transfected cells, the expressed mutant proteins localized to the nucleus but were nonetheless deficient in complementing the growth of a UL42 null virus. Thus, unlike many other processivity factors, UL42 appears to require an intrinsic DNA binding activity for its function both in vitro and in infected cells. Possible mechanisms for the activity of UL42 and its potential as a drug target are discussed.
Small Sample Methods for Multilevel Modeling: A Colloquial Elucidation of REML and the Kenward-Roger Correction

ABSTRACT Studies on small sample properties of multilevel models have become increasingly prominent in the methodological literature in response to the frequency with which small sample data appear in empirical studies. Simulation results generally recommend that empirical researchers employ restricted maximum likelihood estimation (REML) with a Kenward-Roger correction with small samples in frequentist contexts to minimize small sample bias in estimation and to prevent inflation of Type-I error rates. However, simulation studies focus on recommendations for best practice, and there is little to no explanation of why traditional maximum likelihood (ML) breaks down with smaller samples, what differentiates REML from ML, or how the Kenward-Roger correction remedies lingering small sample issues. Due to the complexity of these methods, most extant descriptions are highly mathematical and are intended to prove that the methods improve small sample performance as intended. Thus, empirical researchers have documentation that these methods are advantageous but still lack resources to help understand what the methods actually do and why they are needed. This tutorial explains why ML falters with small samples, how REML circumvents some issues, and how Kenward-Roger works. We do so without equations or derivations to support more widespread understanding and use of these valuable methods.
Accuracy of the 'Paedfusor' in children undergoing cardiac surgery or catheterization.

BACKGROUND A prototype paediatric propofol target-controlled infusion (TCI) system, the 'Paedfusor' has been developed. This system incorporates a paediatric pharmacokinetic data set and algorithm specific for children in a Graseby 3500 anaesthesia syringe driver. In this study we have evaluated the accuracy of the Paedfusor TCI system in children who underwent either cardiac surgery or cardiac catheterization procedures. METHODS Twenty-nine children aged 1-15 yr were investigated. General anaesthesia was provided using propofol administered by the Paedfusor system. Accuracy of the system was evaluated by obtaining up to 9 arterial samples for measurement of propofol concentration both during anaesthesia and in the recovery period. Measured arterial propofol concentrations were then compared with values calculated by the Paedfusor. RESULTS The predictive indices of median performance error (MDPE), and median absolute performance error (MDAPE) of the Paedfusor system were found to be 4.1% and 9.7%, respectively and the median value for wobble was 8.3%. These values are much better than those found with the adult 'Diprifusor' system. CONCLUSION The Paedfusor performance was found to be within the accepted limits for use as a TCI system.
Outdoor temperature and temperature maintenance associated with blood pressure in 438,811 Chinese adults

Abstract Objectives: The association of temperature maintenance with blood pressure (BP) has not been studied and the association of temperature with season-related BP was not being well understood. The present study aims to be further aware of season-related BP variation in Chinese adults. Methods: We used decoded data from adults who visited the hospital for health examination from January 2008 to November 2013. Multivariate regression models were used to analyses the association between outdoor temperature and BP. Results: The analysis included 438,811 adults. Larger change of BP accompanied with unit change of average outdoor temperature among outpatient than inpatient patients. The association of temperature with BP was stronger in normotensives than that in hypertensives. Compared with temperature variation, the impact of temperature maintenance on BP was smaller. These associations were stronger in men, older individuals. Conclusions: Temperature was strongly inversely associated with BP in Chinese adults. Temperature maintenance was mildly associated with BP compared to temperature variance. Seasonal temperature variation should be considered when screening for hypertension.
Optiflow anastomotic device for hemodialysis vascular access creation

The need to have consistent methods and consistent technique to optimize hemodialysis outcomes is behind the concept of the Optiflow™ device. This device was created to allow for consistency in size of the arterial anastomosis and consistency in angle of the vein to the artery at the anastomosis. Early data suggest that allowing these two technical entities can improve outcomes in regards to flow and maturity in arteriovenous fistula creation. This article is a summary of early data that demonstrate the impact the Optiflow device on brachial cephalic fistulas.
Analysis of horse movements from non-commercial horse properties in New Zealand

AIMS: To investigate property-level factors associated with the movement of horses from non-commercial horse properties, including the size and location of the property, number and reason for keeping horses. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional survey 2,912 questionnaires were posted to randomly selected non-commercial horse properties listed in a rural property database. The survey collected information about the number of horses, and reasons for keeping horses on the property, and any movement of horses in the previous 12 months. Three property-level outcomes were investigated; the movement status of the property, the frequency of movement events, and the median distance travelled from a property. Associations were examined using logistic regression and Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance. RESULTS: In total 62.0% (488/791) of respondents reported at least one movement event in the year prior to the survey, for a total of 22,050 movement events. The number of movement events from a property varied significantly by the number of horses on the property (p<0.02), while the median distance travelled per property varied significantly by both region (p<0.03) and property size (p<0.01). Region, property size, the number of horses kept, and keeping horses for competition, recreation, racing or as pets were all significantly associated with movement status in the multivariable analyses (p<0.001). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study showed that there are characteristics of non-commercial horse properties that influence movement behaviour. During an exotic disease outbreak the ability to identify properties with these characteristics for targeted control will enhance the effectiveness of control measures.
Oral device therapy for the upper airway resistance syndrome patient.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) is characterized by repeated increases in resistance to airflow within the upper airway; this resistance results in arousal from sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. There is no safe and efficacious therapy with good compliance for UARS. PURPOSE The effects of an anterior mandibular positioning device on respiratory function and sleep quality were evaluated polysomnographically in patients with UARS. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-two patients (15 women, 17 men; mean age 38.4 +/- 6.4 years) were diagnosed with UARS based on a combination of clinical complaints. To be included in the study, all subjects had to demonstrate a score of <5 on the apnea-hypopnea index, a score of >10 on the Epworth sleepiness scale, and a score of >10 on an arousal index. An oral device was fabricated for each subject with copolyester foil and autopolymerizing resin. Subjects were scheduled for 2 separate overnight sleep stays, one before treatment with the oral device and one after a habituation period of 14 to 60 days. Respiratory function and sleep quality variables were recorded and compared before and after insertion of the device with the paired t test (P >.01) RESULTS Patient scores on the Epworth sleepiness scale (P<.0001), multiple sleep latency test (P<.0005), and arousal index (P<.0001) and recorded values for minimal oxygen saturation (P<.005) and sleep efficiency (P<.005) improved significantly after insertion of the device. No major side effects were noted with use of the oral device. CONCLUSION Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that an oral device may be an attractive initial treatment for UARS.
Can Unconditional In-Kind Transfers Keep Children Out of Work and in School? Evidence from Indonesia

Abstract Child labour is a global issue which creates a need for evidence-based interventions such as cash and in-kind transfers. However, there is limited evidence about the effect of in-kind transfers on child labour, impeding policy development. We address this gap by examining the impacts of an unconditional in-kind transfer, a nation-wide subsidised rice program, on child labour and schooling using longitudinal household survey data from Indonesia. To identify the causal effect, we use coarsened exact matching with difference-in-differences estimator. The results indicate that the program is effective in decreasing the probability of working for boys though it does not have a significant impact on the probability of schooling. However, as an unconditional in-kind transfer, its ability to decrease child work for boys, especially of those who are both working and attending school, provides an important policy implication on how a food subsidy program can indirectly influence child wellbeing.
Systematic Review Systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations between indoor air pollution and tuberculosis

Abstract objective Half the world’s population uses biomass fuel for their daily needs but the resultant emissions and indoor air pollution (IAP) are harmful to health. So far, evidence for a link between IAP and tuberculosis (TB) was insufficient. We report an updated systematic review due to recent increase in the evidence and growing interest in testing interventions. methods Systematic search of PubMed (including Medline), CAB abstracts (through Ovid SP) and Web of Knowledge using the following search terms: ‘IAP or biomass or cooking smoke’ and ‘TB’. 452 abstracts were reviewed, and only 12 articles were deemed to be reporting the effects of IAP on TB and were taken forward to full review, and one study was added through hand search of references. Data on measures of effect of IAP on TB were extracted, and meta-analysis was carried out to estimate pooled measures of effect. results Thirteen studies have reported investigating association between IAP and TB since 1996. TB cases are more likely to be exposed to IAP than healthy controls (pooled OR 1.30; 95% CI, 1.04 –1.62; P = 0.02). conclusions There is increasingly strong evidence for an association between IAP and TB. Further studies are needed to understand the burden of TB attributable to IAP. Interventions such as clean cook stoves to reduce the adverse effects of IAP merit rigorous evaluation, particularly in Africa and India where the prevalence of IAP and TB is high.