Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
2004 Tsunami: Long-Term Psychological Consequences for Swiss Tourists in the Area at the Time of the Disaster

Objective: Most of the data on psychological outcome and the mental health treatment available following natural disasters originate from the indigenous population of the region destroyed. Examining tourists returning from the area affected by the 2004 tsunami presents an opportunity of studying the impact of natural disasters on psychological outcome and mental health treatment in their countries of origin. The aim of the present study was to extend the current knowledge on psychiatric morbidity and potential positive outcomes, as well as subsequent mental health treatment following a natural disaster, based on the results from a sample of home-coming Swiss tourists. Method: Tourists who had been potentially affected by the 2004 tsunami were assessed using the Post-traumatic Diagnostic Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory. Outcome variables were related to the degree of tsunami exposure. In addition, mental health treatment before and after the tsunami was assessed. Results: Of the 342 respondents, 55 (16.8%) fulfilled the criteria of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Evidence of anxiety or depressive disorder was found in 17.8% and 8.0%, respectively. The tsunami victims who had been directly affected showed significantly more symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD, as well as post-traumatic personal growth, than tourists who were indirectly affected or unaffected. A total of 12.3% of untreated respondents fulfilled the criteria for PTSD and 38% of respondents who had received psychiatric treatment were still fulfilling PTSD criteria 2½ years after the tsunami. Conclusion: A marked percentage of respondents reported symptoms of PTSD but they remained untreated or were treated insufficiently. We recommend that tourists returning from regions affected by natural disasters be informed about PTSD and that careful screening be given to those found to be at risk of PTSD. An open-door policy of mental health services is particularly needed for tourists returning home who have been affected by large-scale disasters.
Corpus Callosum Size and Shape in Established Bipolar Affective Disorder

Objective: Callosal structural and functional alterations have been demonstrated in a range of neuropsychiatric illnesses, including bipolar disorder, but no study has examined regional callosal thickness in this phenotype. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine callosal size and shape in a well-defined group of bipolar affective disorder patients and controls. Methods: The participants included 24 patients with DSM-IV bipolar I disorder and 24 matched healthy controls. The corpus callosum was extracted from mid-callosal images from T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans on all participants, and callosal area, length, bending angle and regional callosal thickness measures were computed from these images. Results: The callosum was thinner in the bipolar group overall, with a disproportionately reduced thickness in the splenium. Psychotic and non-psychotic patients did not differ, although patients without a family history of mood disorders had a thinner callosum. Conclusion: Callosal reductions are present in established bipolar disorder, and affect posterior regions more than anterior regions. This may reflect a primary disturbance to myelination, or a secondary effect of grey matter changes.
Production and carcase traits in broiler chickens given diets supplemented with inorganic trivalent chromium and an organic acid blend

1. The study was conducted to ascertain the effects of supplemental organic acids and chromium (Cr) on production and carcase traits of broiler chickens. 2. A total of 120 1-d-old broiler chicks were divided into 4 treatment groups in a 2 × 2 factorial design (each treatment group contained 6 replicates with 5 birds per replicate). 3. The diets were supplemented with an organic acid blend containing ortho-phosphoric, formic and propionic acid and calcium propionate (1 g/kg diet) and inorganic trivalent chromium (Cr3+) as chromic chloride hexahydrate (0·5 mg/kg diet) either independently or together as a combination for 35 d. 4. Individual supplementation of organic acids and Cr3+ and their combination significantly improved the food conversion ratio, hot and dressed carcase weight and weight of the wholesale cuts compared to the control group of birds. 5. Organic acids, either independently or along with Cr3+, increased total accretion of ash in carcase. Protein accretion was improved by dietary Cr3+ and organic acid supplementation compared to the control group and a further improvement in this regard was observed when Cr3+ and organic acid were supplemented together. Across the treatment groups meat fat content and fat accretion were lower in birds receiving dietary Cr3+ supplementation. 6. Circulatory Cr3+ and meat Cr3+ concentration increased compared to the other treatment groups when Cr3+ was supplemented to the birds. 7. It was concluded that, instead of individual supplementation, a combination of Cr3+ and organic acids may improve the production and carcase traits of broilers more effectively presumably because of an additive effect.
Dietary conjugated linoleic acid improves antioxidant capacity in broiler chicks

1. The influence of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the antioxidant status in the absence or presence of endotoxin exposure was studied with male broiler chicks. 2. In experiment 1, a total of 240 1-d-old broilers were allotted into 4 dietary groups (0, 2·5, 5·0 or 10·0 g pure CLA/kg) to study the influence of CLA on growth performance and antioxidant defence systems. The results showed that growth performance was not altered by 42 d of CLA consumption. Increased total superoxide dismutase (TSOD) activities in liver, serum and muscle were observed in chicks given 10·0 g CLA/kg diet. Dietary CLA at 10·0 g/kg also markedly elevated liver catalase (CAT) activity. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, decreased in liver, serum and muscle in chicks given 5·0 and 10·0 g CLA/kg diet. 3. In experiment 2, a total of 120 1-d-old broilers were fed on a control diet (without CLA) or 10·0 g CLA/kg diet. Half of the birds fed on each diet were injected intraperitoneally with 0·25 mg/kg body weight of Salmonella enteritidis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 16, 18 and 20 d of age. Decreased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), TSOD activity and increased ceruloplasmin and MDA concentrations were seen in the challenged chicks. Dietary CLA prevented the loss of body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of chicks followed repeated endotoxin exposure. CLA partially inhibited the increase of serum ceruloplasmin and MDA at 17 and 21 d of age and notably suppressed the decrease of serum TSOD activity at 21 d of age. 4. These results suggested that dietary CLA enhances the activity of antioxidant enzymes including TSOD and CAT. Supplementation of CLA has been shown to ameliorate the antioxidant balance and performance of chicks during oxidative stress.
Knowledge And Attitude Of Nigerian Ophthalmologists Towards Cornea Donation And Corneal Graft.

The aim of this study was to determine the attitude of practicing Nigerian ophthalmologists towards cornea donation and corneal graft. The responses of 160 ophthalmologists (specialists and senior registrars) in Nigeria who responded to an appropriate questionnaire on cornea donation at one of their National conferences attended mainly by practicing ophthalmologists were analysed. Through the questionnaire, the knowledge and attitude of the ophthalmologists towards cornea donation and cornea graft in Nigeria were evaluated. The questionnaire also included questions on donor materials from prisoners for themselves and their close relatives. One hundred and sixty (160) of the 191 ophthalmologists (84%) given the questionnaire responded. All the respondents have adequate information on cornea donation and corneal graft. Majority of them were favourably disposed to most of the questions asked except when it came to carrying a donor card, signing the donor form and the actual signing of the form. Only 34 (21%) of ophthalmologists agreed to donate their cornea at death. It was found that traditional beliefs, social implications and personal considerations mainly influenced those who were not favourably disposed to cornea donation and corneal graft. The majority of practicing ophthalmologists in Nigeria are not favourably disposed to donating their cornea at death Keywords : Executed prisoners, donor cards. Cornea donation, corneal graft. Ophthalmologists. Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research Vol. 5 (1&2) 2007: pp. 26-34
Pharmacokinetic study of clazuril (Appertex®) in eggs and plasma from laying hens after single or multiple treatments, using a new HPLC method for detection

1. Anticoccidials are widely used as food additives to prevent and treat coccidiosis. They are licensed for use in a prescribed concentration and during a specific time interval with broilers and pullets, but not for laying hens. 2. This study was set up to develop a new high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to detect clazuril (CZ: (±)-2-chloro-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,5-dioxo-1,2,4-triazin-2(3H)-yl)-benzeneacetonitrile) in egg yolk and albumen and in plasma; to investigate both the presence of residues of CZ in eggs and its pharmacokinetic behaviour in laying hens. 3. A single oral dose (3 mg/kg BW) and multiple oral doses (3 mg/kg BW for 5 d) were investigated. The analytical method gave very good recovery (64 to 74%) in the three different matrices (yolk, albumen and plasma); precision and accuracy were within 11%. 4. After a single dose no residue was detected in eggs collected for up to 10 d, while following multiple dose treatment, CZ residues were detected until 10 d after the end of treatment. The concentration of the drug was higher in yolk than in albumen with a maximum ratio of 10 : 1. 5. Pharmacokinetics of CZ in laying hens after a single dose showed a detectable concentration of the drug up to 24 h. It reached a steady state after the third administration in multiple dosing. 6. Although further studies are necessary, these results indicate that a single oral dose of CZ could be used as an anticoccidial for laying hens due to the lack of residues in eggs.
Smoking as a Risk Factor for Complications in Chronic Pancreatitis

Objectives Several recent studies have demonstrated the association between smoking and chronic pancreatitis (CP). However, less is known about the role of smoking in the development of CP-related complications. Our aim was to investigate the impact of smoking and alcohol consumption on age of onset and complications at CP diagnosis. Methods A cross-sectional case-case study was performed within a prospectively collected cohort of patients with CP. Alcohol consumption and smoking habits were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. Morphologic severity was defined based on endoscopic ultrasound criteria for CP and classified as mild (3–4 criteria), moderate (5–6 criteria), and severe (≥7 criteria or calcifications). Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) was diagnosed using the 13C-mixed triglyceride breath test. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for CP-related complications were calculated using a case-case design. Results A total of 241 patients were included. Smoking was associated with PEI (OR [95% CI], 2.4 [1.17–5.16]), calcifications (OR [95% CI], 2.33 [1.10–4.95]), and severe morphologic changes (OR [95% CI], 3.41 [1.31–8.85]) but not with pseudocysts or diabetes. Neither smoking nor alcohol consumption was associated with age of onset. Conclusions Tobacco, but not alcohol, is associated with PEI, calcifications, and severe morphologic (≥7 criteria or calcifications) CP at diagnosis. Smoking cessation should be encouraged in patients with CP.
Applying the transtheoretical model to investigate behavioural change in type 2 diabetic patients

Background: Long-term behaviour change in type 2 diabetic patients may provide effective glycemic control. Purpose: To investigate the key factors that promote behaviour change in diabetic subjects using the transtheoretical model. Methods: Subjects were selected by purposive sampling from type 2 diabetes outpatients. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data related to the stages of behavioural change. HbA1C* values were measured to evaluate glycemic control. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance (ANOVA), multiple regression and multinomial logistic regression. Results: Routine management of diabetes was a key factor in behaviour change, which correlated indirectly with HbA1C values through compliance and was positively affected by social support. Undermining from family or friends was directly associated with HbA1C. Conclusions: Based on factors influencing stages of behaviour change in diabetic subjects, tailoring a programme to help patients balancing life-style with diabetes, strengthening the patients’ perceived confidence in routine management, and establishing a patient-friendly environment as well as support systems may show promise for changing the behaviours in all diabetic patients.
Effects of a multi-species probiotic on biomarkers of competitive exclusion efficacy in broilers challenged with Salmonella enteritidis

1. Probiotics are beneficial microbes that are currently considered as alternatives to antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) in animal nutrition. In addition, they are purported to suppress pathogens in the gut via the concept of competitive exclusion (CE). The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of a multistrain probiotic against Salmonella enteritidis (SE) in broilers. 2. Three hundred and four, one-day-old, male Cobb broilers were fed a corn–soybean basal diet and were allocated to four experimental treatments for 6 weeks. Three of the four treatments were challenged with SE. Treatments were: C− (Negative Control, no SE challenge), C+ (Positive control, SE challenge, no other additives), AB (SE challenge + Avilamycin used as AGP) and PFW (SE challenge + probiotic in feed and water). Morbidity, mortality, incidence of Salmonella positive broilers, cecal microflora composition and antibody response (IgA and IgG) in the blood and intestine were determined as biomarkers of probiotic CE efficacy against SE. 3. The three SE challenged treatments had a significantly higher morbidity compared to C− during the first 2 weeks of age, while there were no differences between treatments regarding mortality. Salmonella shedding was evidenced in 75 and 50% of the birds at 5 and 21 d post-challenge, respectively. Microbiological analysis of cecal digesta in 42-d-old broilers revealed that while broilers in treatment C+ were 100% Salmonella positive, the broilers in treatments PFW and AB were 50% positive and in addition they had lower Salmonella levels (CFU/g digesta) by 2⋅7 logs compared to C+. At the age of 42 d significantly higher IgA and IgG specific immune responses against SE were detected at systemic and at intestinal level only for the positive control treatment (C+). 4. In conclusion, the lack of significant levels of specific IgA and IgG against SE at systemic and intestinal level combined with the lower prevalence of SE positive broilers and the lower cecal SE levels in treatments AB and PFW compared to C+, suggest that treatments PFW and AB were efficacious at reducing SE.
Incidence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella spp. in ground turkey meat

1. The objectives of this study were to isolate Salmonella spp. by conventional culture technique from ground turkey samples, to determine the seasonal distribution of Salmonella spp. , to verify the isolates by PCR using primers based on oriC gene sequence, and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the isolates. A total of 240 packaged fresh ground turkey samples marketed in Ankara were analysed between July 2004 and June 2005. 2. One hundred and ten out of 240 (45⋅8%) samples were positive for Salmonella spp. and confirmed by PCR. The distribution of Salmonella spp. was determined as 48⋅3, 55⋅0, 63⋅3 and 16⋅6%, during spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference for the prevalence of Salmonella spp. between winter and the other seasons. 3. Of the isolates, 54 out of 110 (49⋅0%) were resistant to one or more antibiotics tested. The highest resistance was observed to nalidixic acid (25⋅4%), followed by streptomycin (17⋅2%) and tetracycline (15⋅4%). 4. In conclusion, this is a disturbing finding, both for the high prevalence of Salmonella and the extent of antibiotic resistance. Ground turkey should be produced under suitable hygienic and technological conditions and the use of antimicrobials must be controlled by governmental agencies to protect public health from salmonellosis and from the consequences of increased resistance to the antibiotics.
Effects of diet, age and gender on the polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of broiler anatomical compartments

1. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary fatty acid (FA) composition, age, and gender on the FA composition of different broiler anatomical compartments. Four dietary fat sources (palm fat, P; soybean oil, S; linseed oil, L; fish oil, F) were added to a wheat–soybean meal based diet at 30 g/kg in addition to 50 g/kg palm fat. Diets were fed separately to female and male birds from d 1 to either d 21 or d 42 of age. 2. The total FA content (mg/100 g tissue) and the FA composition (g/100 g FAME) was determined in 7 anatomical compartments (skinless thigh muscle, skinless breast muscle, liver, heart, brain, abdominal fat pad, and remainders plus carcase trimmings named Rest compartment). The FA profiles differed greatly among compartments and were strongly affected by diet. 3. The S diet resulted in a 2–3-fold increase of the proportion of C18:2n-6 and C20:4n-6 in all compartments compared to the other diets, except for brain. 4. The response in the proportion of C18:3n-3 following feeding the L diet was much greater, with 4–20-fold increases compared to the other diets, except again for brain. 5. In all compartments except brain, the L diet resulted in approximately a 2-fold increase in the proportion of C22:6n-3 compared to the P and S diets and smaller, but also significant, increases for C20:5n-3 and C22:5n-3. 6. The proportions of C20:5n-3, C22:5n-3 and C22:6n-3 were much higher on the F diet in all compartments, except for brain, compared to the P and S diets. The F diet resulted in higher proportions of C22:6n-3 than the proportions of C20:5n-3 and C22:5n-3 in breast and thigh meat, and liver, in contrast to the other diets. 7. Brain was less responsive than other tissues to changes in the dietary FA composition. The proportion of C22:6n-3 in brain was similar on the L and F diets. 8. The effect of gender on the FA composition of different anatomical compartments was marginal. The long-chain n-3 and n-6 PUFA in breast, liver, and brain decreased with age.
Effect of egg composition on hatchability and on growth and slaughter characteristics of meat-type chicks

1. Using the so-called TOBEC (Total Body Electrical Conductivity) method, which allows the determination of egg composition in vivo, correlations between egg composition, hatchability and hatched chicks’ development were studied. 2. A total of 1500 hen eggs (Ross-308) were measured by TOBEC, and eggs with extremely high (10%, n = 150), extremely low (10%, n = 150) and average (10%, n = 150) electrical conductivity values were chosen for further investigation. 3. During the incubation period, it was observed that eggs with high electrical conductivity had a significantly higher mortality than eggs with low electrical conductivity. 4. It was observed that both the increase in electrical conductivity at the same egg weight, and the increase in egg weight at the same electrical conductivity resulted in an increase in the hatching weight. 5. It was found that the dry matter, protein and fat content of the chicks hatched from eggs with low electrical conductivity was higher at hatching than that of the chicks hatched from eggs with high electrical conductivity. 6. At 42 d of age the liveweight of cocks and pullets hatched from eggs with low electrical conductivity was 3·2 and 8·2% higher than the liveweight of cocks and pullets hatched from eggs with high electrical conductivity. 7. Because of the higher liveweight at slaughter, there was a significant superiority of the chicks hatched from eggs with low electrical conductivity in the case of the examined carcase traits at slaughter. 8. Similar tendencies were found also in the ratios of carcase variables to liveweight, but the between group differences were not statistically significant in this case. 9. Based on the results it was concluded that TOBEC seems to be a useful method for separating eggs with different composition. 10. This could be a good starting point for further in vivo investigations in order to clarify the effect of egg composition on hatchability and further development.
Effectivness of cooling gel pads and ice packs on perineal pain

This article reports the findings of a randomized controlled trial undertaken at the Hazrat Ommolbanin University Maternity Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, which investigated the effectiveness of localized cooling treatments to alleviate perineal trauma. From October 2005 to February 2006, 121 primiparous women who were at term and had an episiotomy were randomly recruited to one of three treatment groups (Group 1 – no localized cooling; Group 2 – Ice pack; Group 3 – cooling gel pad). The intensity of pain, wound healing and women's satisfaction levels were the main outcomes measured. The intensity of pain was measured by a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (1–10) and wound healing was evaluated by the REEDA scale within 4 hours of episiotomy repair; at days 1, 2, 5 and 10. The use of oral analgesia was measured at day 10. Women's satisfaction levels with oral analgesia and localized cooling treatments were also assessed at day 10 by a NRS. There was evidence that localized cooling treatments are effective in allevia.
Effects of inulin on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and metabolisable energy in broiler chickens

1. A 35 d feeding trial with 480 d-old male broiler chickens (Cobb) was conducted to evaluate the effects of graded levels of inulin (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g/kg diet) in a maize-soybean meal based diet on growth performance, AMEN and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of crude protein, amino acids, starch, crude fat and fatty acids. A commercial product (Inulina 95®) containing 914⋅0 g/kg of inulin and a degree of polymerisation (DP) ranging from DP 1–10 to DP 51–60 was used. 2. The performance of birds (feed intake, BW gain and feed to gain ratio) was not affected by the different dietary inclusions of inulin. 3. Dietary inulin significantly improved the AID coefficient of crude protein and crude fat. Also, there was a significant effect of inulin on the digestibility of most amino acids (10 out of 15) and major fatty acids (oleic and linoleic acids). The AID coefficient of starch and the AMEN content of diets were not affected by inulin inclusion. 4. In conclusion, the current study showed that inulin supplementation improved the digestibility of protein and fat in a maize-soybean meal based diet, but had no effect on the performance of broiler chickens.