Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes in community pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding the management of hypertension before and after educational interventions

ABSTRACT Objective: To clarify changes in community pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding the management of hypertension before and after attending educational interventions based on their self-report on a questionnaire survey. Method: We conducted questionnaire surveys regarding the management of hypertension with a sample of community pharmacists before and after educational interventions. Results: The proportions of pharmacists who knew the 2014 Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines, guidelines for home blood pressure measurement, reference values for hypertension based on clinic-measured blood pressure, and reference values for hypertension based on home-measured blood pressure after the educational interventions (59.3%, 41.4%, 75.1%, and 70.8% respectively) were significantly higher relative to those recorded before interventions (31.6%, 13.7%, 47.7%, and 25.4% respectively). Conclusions: These findings suggest that in-house training might increase the knowledge of community pharmacists regarding hypertension management.
A Pilot Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial of Cognitive Training Combined with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.

BACKGROUND There is currently no effective intervention for improving memory in people at increased risk for dementia. Cognitive training (CT) has been promising, though effects are modest, particularly at follow-up. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether adjunctive non-invasive brain stimulation (transcranial direct current stimulation, tDCS) could enhance the memory benefits of CT in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). METHODS Participants with aMCI were randomized to receive CT with either Active tDCS (2 mA for 30 min and 0.016 mA for 30 min) or Sham tDCS (0.016 mA for 60 min) for 15 sessions over a period of 5 weeks in a double-blind, sham-controlled, parallel group clinical trial. The primary outcome measure was the California Verbal Learning Task 2nd Edition. RESULTS 68 participants commenced the intervention. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis showed that the CT+Active tDCS group significantly improved at post treatment (p = 0.033), and the CT+Sham tDCS group did not (p = 0.050), but there was no difference between groups. At the 3-month follow-up, both groups showed large-sized memory improvements compared to pre-treatment (CT+Active tDCS: p < 0.01, d = 0.99; CT+Sham tDCS: p < 0.01, d = 0.74), although there was no significant difference between groups. CONCLUSION This study found that CT+Active tDCS did not produce greater memory improvement compared to CT+Sham tDCS. Large-sized memory improvements occurred in both conditions at follow-up. One possible interpretation, based on recent novel findings, is that low intensity tDCS (used as 'sham') may have contributed biological effects. Further work should use a completely inert tDCS sham condition.
Resting-State Functional Network Organization Is Stable Across Adolescent Development for Typical and Psychosis Spectrum Youth.

BACKGROUND Resting-state functional neuroimaging captures large-scale network organization; whether this organization is intact or disrupted during adolescent development across the psychosis spectrum is unresolved. We investigated the integrity of network organization in psychosis spectrum youth and those with first episode psychosis (FEP) from late childhood through adulthood. METHODS We analyzed data from Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (PNC; typically developing = 450, psychosis spectrum = 273, 8-22 years), a longitudinal cohort of typically developing youth (LUNA; N = 208, 1-3 visits, 10-25 years), and a sample of FEP (N = 39) and matched controls (N = 34). We extracted individual time series and calculated correlations from brain regions and averaged them for 4 age groups: late childhood, early adolescence, late adolescence, adulthood. Using multiple analytic approaches, we assessed network stability across 4 age groups, compared stability between controls and psychosis spectrum youth, and compared group-level network organization of FEP to controls. We explored whether variability in cognition or clinical symptomatology was related to network organization. RESULTS Network organization was stable across the 4 age groups in the PNC and LUNA typically developing youth and PNC psychosis spectrum youth. Psychosis spectrum and typically developing youth had similar functional network organization during all age ranges. Network organization was intact in PNC youth who met full criteria for psychosis and in FEP. Variability in cognitive functioning or clinical symptomatology was not related to network organization in psychosis spectrum youth or FEP. DISCUSSION These findings provide rigorous evidence supporting intact functional network organization in psychosis risk and psychosis from late childhood through adulthood.
Simultaneous removal of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia using a combined system with absorption and electrochemical oxidation

Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3), common impurities in biogas, need to be removed before utilizing it. In this study, a combined system, which consisted of an absorption column and an electrochemical oxidation reactor, was tested to simultaneously remove these impurities. The effects of the current density and the chemical loading rate on the system performance were investigated. Firstly, the mass transfer coefficients for the absorption column were determined at various gas flow rates. More mass of NH3 was transferred, compared with that of H2S, because of its higher solubility. In the electro-oxidation reactor, reactive chlorine species (RCSs) were generated and oxidized both H2S and NH3; however, NH3 started to degrade only after H2S was completely eliminated. At a current density of 400 A/m2, the current efficiencies of H2S and NH3 were 23.1% and 5.9%, respectively. In the combined system, the removal efficiency of H2S was closely related to the mass ratio of the H2S transferred and the RCSs generated. The removal efficiency of H2S was greater than 99% when the ratio was less than 1. The mass transfer potential and the oxidation kinetics should be balanced to improve the system performance for the simultaneous removal of H2S and NH3.
Kelp beds as coastal protection: wave attenuation of Ecklonia radiata in a shallow coastal bay.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Coastal protection from erosion and flooding is a significant ecosystem service provided by vegetated marine systems. Kelp beds are a dominant habitat-forming species on temperate reefs worldwide. While they are valued as hotspots of biodiversity, there is a paucity of information that supports their use in nature-based coastal defence. This includes the effectiveness of kelp beds in attenuating waves approaching the shore and how this influences sediment transport. METHODS Wave loggers were deployed at paired kelp bed and control (urchin barren) treatments at four sites in Port Phillip Bay, Australia. The significant wave height offshore (exposed side) to onshore (sheltered side) of the treatment were compared to determine wave attenuation. KEY RESULTS At three sites, the wave attenuation of kelp beds was significantly less than the control. This result was consistent across the environmental conditions recorded in this study. At the fourth site, on average there was no significant difference in wave transmission between kelp and control. However, wave attenuation at kelp beds was 10% greater than the control during periods of northerly winds. We highlight the importance of disentangling the effects of the reef substratum and kelp when evaluating the efficacy of kelp at providing coastal protection. CONCLUSIONS We have highlighted a significant gap in the research on ecosystem services provided by kelp beds. A greater understanding is needed on which kelp species are able to provide coastal protection, and under what conditions. Such future research is essential for providing managers and policy makers with actionable information on sustainable and cost-effective solutions for coastal defence when faced with a changing climate.
Anhedonia in chronic pain and prescription opioid misuse

Abstract Background Both acute and chronic pain can disrupt reward processing. Moreover, prolonged prescription opioid use and depressed mood are common in chronic pain samples. Despite the prevalence of these risk factors for anhedonia, little is known about anhedonia in chronic pain populations. Methods We conducted a large-scale, systematic study of anhedonia in chronic pain, focusing on its relationship with opioid use/misuse, pain severity, and depression. Chronic pain patients across four distinct samples (N = 488) completed the Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS), measures of opioid use, pain severity and depression, as well as the Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM). We used a meta-analytic approach to determine reference levels of anhedonia in healthy samples spanning a variety of countries and diverse age groups, extracting SHAPS scores from 58 published studies totaling 2664 psychiatrically healthy participants. Results Compared to healthy samples, chronic pain patients showed higher levels of anhedonia, with ~25% of patients scoring above the standard anhedonia cut-off. This difference was not primarily driven by depression levels, which explained less than 25% of variance in anhedonia scores. Neither opioid use duration, dose, nor pain severity alone was significantly associated with anhedonia. Yet, there was a clear effect of opioid misuse, with opioid misusers (COMM ⩾13) reporting greater anhedonia than non-misusers. Opioid misuse remained a significant predictor of anhedonia even after controlling for pain severity, depression and opioid dose. Conclusions Study results suggest that both chronic pain and opioid misuse contribute to anhedonia, which may, in turn, drive further pain and misuse.
The Odyssey of Deaf Epistemology: A Search for Meaning-Making

Abstract:Deaf epistemology made a crucial contribution to an understanding of a Deaf worldview, yet did not quite encompass the "D/deaf experience. " It started the conversation but seemingly stalled. In an expansion on earlier studies of Deaf epistemology, the researchers considered the question "What does it mean to be D/deaf? " D/deaf participants submitted narratives that were analyzed for common themes via grounded theory research methodology. Six open codes were identified: school, cultural capital, deficit/The Struggle, difference/empowerment, accessibility/technology, hearing technology. These themes were captured by two axial codes: journey and sense of belonging. The core category was determined to be situated homecoming, reflecting the apex of a long, frustrating journey. In a transition from a largely etic to an emic exploration of Deaf epistemology, new insights were developed about what it means to be D/deaf, as well as a new way of theorizing about Deaf epistemology.
Nitric‐Oxide‐Releasing Biomaterial Regulation of the Stem Cell Microenvironment in Regenerative Medicine

Stem cell therapy has proven to be an attractive solution for the treatment of degenerative diseases or injury. However, poor cell engraftment and survival within injured tissues limits the successful use of stem cell therapy within the clinical setting. Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule involved in various physiological processes. Emerging evidence supports NO's diverse roles in modulating stem cell behavior, including survival, migration, differentiation, and paracrine secretion of proregenerative factors. Thus, there has been a shift in research focus to concentrate efforts on the delivery of therapeutic concentration ranges of NO to the target tissue sites. Combinatory therapies utilizing biomaterials that control NO generation and support stem cell delivery can be holistic and synergistic approaches to significantly improve tissue regeneration. Here, the focus is on recent developments of various therapeutic platforms, engineered to both transport NO and to enhance stem‐cell‐mediated regeneration of damaged tissues. New and emerging revelations of how the stem cell microenvironment can be regulated by NO‐releasing biomaterials are also highlighted.
In Their Own Words: Experiences of Caregivers of Adults With Cancer as Expressed on Social Media.

PURPOSE To explore caregivers' writings about their experiences caring for adult individuals with cancer on a social media health communication website. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING Journal entries (N = 392) were analyzed for 37 adult caregivers who were posting on behalf of 20 individuals with cancer. CaringBridge is a website used by patients and informal caregivers to communicate about acute and chronic disease. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH A retrospective descriptive study using qualitative content analysis of caregivers' journal entries from 2009 to 2015. FINDINGS Major categories identified in caregivers' online journals included patient health information, cancer awareness/advocacy, social support, caregiver burden, daily living, emotions (positive and negative), and spirituality. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Nurses often recommend using social media as a communication strategy for patients with cancer and their caregivers. The findings from this study provide potential guidance nurses may wish to offer caregivers. For example, nurses may talk with caregivers about how and what to post regarding treatment decisions. In addition, nurses can provide support for caregivers struggling with when and how often to communicate on social media.
Early adulthood psychiatric diagnoses and the subsequent risk of life-time incarceration: a cohort study

Abstract Background The association between incarceration and psychiatric disorders has been noted. Yet, existing studies are cross-sectional or examine the risk of recidivism, which has limited the predictive validity of psychiatric disorders as a risk factor for incarceration. To overcome this limitation, this study used a prospective cohort to examine whether psychiatric diagnoses in early adulthood predicted incarceration throughout a 30-year follow-up. It tested the association between psychiatric diagnoses with future incarcerations, their number and durations, controlling for education and ethnic status. Methods This study merged data from three sources in Israel: a prospective 10-year birth cohort study of young adults aged 25–34, conducted in the 1980s (N = 4914) that included a psychiatric interview; data from the Prison Service, including the cause, number and duration of incarcerations; and from the Vital Statistics Registry on death records. Results Multivariate analysis showed that substance-use disorders, antisocial personality and lower levels of education predicted future incarceration, their number and maximum duration. The remainder diagnoses were not significantly associated with future incarceration. Conclusions Results limited the prediction of future incarcerations to persons diagnosed with substance use and antisocial personality, and do not support an independent predictive association between additional psychiatric diagnoses and future incarceration.
Arabic translation and psychometric testing of the self-screening malnutrition universal screening tool in inflammatory bowel disease patients

Objectives: To translate and validate the malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) for use in Arabic-speaking outpatients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: We translated the MUST into Arabic by using the Brislin back-translation method. This methodological study was performed between August 2016 and November 2017 on 143 outpatients with IBD at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The patients must completed the self-administered (PSA) Arabic version of the MUST. Then, the health-care practitioners (HCPs) administered the Arabic MUST and performed standard patient clinical assessment. The nutrition risk was defined as low (MUST score=0), medium (MUST score=1), or high (MUST score >1). The chance-corrected proportional agreement between the scores from the PSA and HCP-administered Arabic MUST was evaluated using Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha statistic. Results: The overall agreement between the PSA and HCP-administered Arabic MUST was almost perfect (agreement=95.9%, expected agreement=72.4%, kappa=0.85, p<0.0001). The calculated Cronbach’s alpha statistic for MUST scores in 15/143 (10%) patients was 0.79. The calculated Pearson’s correlation coefficient between PSA and HCP-administered MUST scores was 0.93 (p<0.0001). Conclusions: The PSA and HCP-administered Arabic MUST showed perfect agreement in outpatients with IBD.
Results of Surgical and Medical Rehabilitation for Adult Patients With Type III Intestinal Failure in a Comprehensive Unit Today: Building a New Model to Predict Parenteral Nutrition Independency.

BACKGROUND Short-bowel syndrome remains the primary cause of intestinal failure (IF) in adult patients. We aim to report the long-term results of medical and surgical rehabilitation in a cohort of patients with type III IF (III-IF) and develop a formula to predict parenteral nutrition (PN) independency. METHODS We used a retrospective analysis of a prospective database for III-IF patients undergoing autologous gastrointestinal reconstruction surgery (AGIRS) from March 2006 to August 2018. Analyzed variables included demographic data, postsurgical intestinal length (PSIL), postsurgical anatomy, teduglutide (TED) treatment, and PN volume reduction. Univariate analysis, Cox regression, logistic regression forward stepwise models, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were done using SPSS v20. RESULTS AGIRS was performed in 88 patients. The most frequent anatomy at first visit was type 1. Prevailing anatomy after surgery was type 3. Eight patients started TED; 6 achieved freedom from PN. At a mean follow-up time of 1606.1 ± 1190.25 days, freedom from PN survival was achieved in 83%. Variables identified at the logistic regression analysis led to a novel formula to predict intestinal rehabilitation, including PSIL, presence of ileocecal valve, and use of TED as part of postsurgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS AGIRS in this group of patients enabled intestinal length increase and also intestinal anatomy conversion into a more favorable type for intestinal rehabilitation. TED treatment was useful to discontinue PN in patients with classical negative anatomical predictors. The novel predicting formula has an ROC area under the curve = 0.82. Further studies are necessary to validate this formula.
Laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer: a systematic review.

PURPOSE Review of the literature collecting trials comparing laparoscopic (LGD2) and open D2 gastrectomies (OGD2) for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). METHODS Randomized control trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs comparing LGD2 with OGD2 for AGC treatment, published between 1 January 2000 to 30 November 2017 were identified by searching the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. Primary endpoints included operative outcomes (operative time, intraoperative blood loss, number of transfused patients and conversion rates), postoperative outcomes (postoperative analgesic consumption, time to first ambulation, time to first flatus, time to first oral intake, length of postoperative hospital stay, postoperative morbidity, incidence of reoperation and postoperative in-hospital mortality), and oncologic outcomes (number of harvested lymph nodes, tumor recurrence, disease-free rates and overall survival rates). The modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of RCTs and non-RCTs in the study. RESULTS Two RCT and 10 non-RCTs with a total of 2732 patients were included in the review. LGD2 when compared to OGD2 demonstrated significant lower intraoperative blood loss, shorter duration of analgesic administration, shorter times to first ambulation, flatus and oral intake, shorter postoperative hospital stay, lower incidence of nonsurgical complications. No significant differences were observed between LGD2 and OGD2 for the following criteria: postoperative in-hospital mortality, number of harvested lymph nodes, tumor recurrence, 5-year disease-free survival rates and five- or three-year overall survival rates. However, LGD2 had longer operative times. CONCLUSION Although a technically demanding and time-consuming procedure, LGD2 offers the advantages of minimal invasion and can achieve the same degree of radical resections, harvested lymph nodes and short- or long-term prognosis for the treatment of locally AGC.
Clinical evaluation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for osteosarcoma.

PURPOSE To evaluate the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for treating osteosarcoma. METHODS 102 osteosarcoma patients in our hospital were randomly assigned into the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group and the surgery group. Patients in the chemotherapy group received neoadjuvant chemotherapy after pathological diagnosis. Surgery was performed 3 weeks after chemotherapy, followed by 4-6 cycles of postoperative chemotherapy. Osteosarcoma patients in the surgery group were operated once diagnosed and received no chemotherapy. Limb salvage or amputation surgery were performed according to the boundary of tumor resection. All patients were followed up for 24 months. The clinical efficacy, limb function, disease-free survival (DFS) and incidence of adverse events were compared between the two groups. RESULTS Limb salvage rate and disease control survival in the chemotherapy group were higher than those of the surgery group (p<0.05). After follow up for 24 months, the 2-year DFS in the chemotherapy group was remarkably prolonged compared to the surgery group (p<0.05). No significant differences in the incidence of adverse events were observed between both groups (p>0.05). Limb function was markedly improved in the chemotherapy group compared with that of the surgery group. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy for treating osteosarcoma remarkably improves the limb salvage rate, disease control rate and overall survival (OS), and constitutes an effective and safe option for osteosarcoma patients.
The Experience and Health-Related Quality of Life after Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation for Adults with Sickle Cell Disease

Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from partially matched first-degree relatives (e.g., parent, sibling, child) is the newest therapy available to reverse symptoms of adults with sickle cell disease. Because of this innovation, little is known about the recipients’ transplant experiences and how this type of transplant affects their quality of life. We describe the experiences and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of five (3 female, 2 male) of nine eligible adults with sickle cell disease who received HSCT. Participants completed a brief demographics form, an HRQOL survey, and a 90-minute audio-recorded interview. We produced a series of matrices and summaries for our content analysis in addition to descriptive statistics. We report on recipients’ perspectives about the process, outcomes, personal life goals, and how their experience relates to their HRQOL scores. Participants’ impressions of their experience varied, but their HRQOL scores paralleled their complications. Those with successful transplants and minimal complications scored highest. Those with successful transplants but significant complications scored in the middle and the individual with an unsuccessful transplant scored the lowest. The four with successful transplants remarked that their health had improved and expressed optimism. We identified three themes: (a) the relief of being pain free, (b) new availability of opportunities, and (c) no regrets about undergoing the transplant. These results delve into the complex factors affecting health and the success of adults with SCD who have a haploidentical HSCT.