Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life of People Living with HIV/AIDS on Antiretroviral Therapy at Udupi District, Southern India

Background: Life expectancy of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) on antiretroviral therapy has appreciably increased. However, psychosocial challenges pose a great threat to their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The aim of this study was to determine psychosocial factors influencing health-related quality of life of PLHA on antiretroviral therapy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling to select 226 PLHA at District hospital. Demographic information was collected using a semistructured questionnaire. HRQOL was assessed using WHOQOL-HIV Bref. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, CAGE scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used. One-way ANOVA was applied. Results: There was a significant difference in mean quality of life score with respect to level of anxiety in the physical (P < 0.001), psychological (P < 0.001), level of independence (P < 0.001), social relationships (P = 0.047), environment (P < 0.001), and spirituality domain (P < 0.001). Significant difference in mean quality of life score was observed with respect to level of depression in physical (P = 0.003), psychological (P = 0.036), level of independence (P = 0.017), social relationships (P = 0.019), and spirituality (P = 0.001). Friend support was positively associated with HRQOL in physical (P < 0.001), psychological (P < 0.001), level of independence (P = 0.013), social relationships (P < 0.001), environment (0.001), and spirituality domain (0.026). Family support was positively associated with HRQOL in physical (P = 0.001), psychological (P = 0.001), level of independence (P = 0.040), social relationships (P = 0.008), environment (0.001), and spirituality domain (0.026). A significant difference was observed with respect to affiliation to social organization in social relationships domain (P = 0.044). Conclusions: Psychosocial challenges including anxiety, depression, and social support impact upon all domains of HRQOL of PLHA.
Undergraduate education in rural primary health care: evaluation of a first‐year field attachment programme

Summary. In an effort to evaluate the first part of the rural field attachment programme at the University of Zimbabwe Medical School, a self‐assessment questionnaire was administered to the first‐year students. Assessment criteria were derived from the stated aims of the school's new undergraduate medical curriculum. The results indicate that students view the programme as relevant and of value to their training as future doctors, even though they were dissatisfied with aspects of the programme. There was some evidence that more emphasis should be placed on the limitations on what doctors can do to solve the health problems of rural Zimbabweans. Contrary to previous opinions of some individuals, students whose homes are in rural areas benefited from the programme and found it of value. Better orientation and selection of supervisors would benefit the programme. Recommendations for field attachment programmes are made based on the findings.
MR cholangiography of late biliary complications after liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to assess the role of MR cholangiography in the diagnosis of late biliary complications after liver transplantation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Twenty-three liver transplantation patients (18 men and five women; mean age, 46 years) underwent MR cholangiography using a nonbreath-hold, fat-suppressed three-dimensional turbo spin-echo sequence (TR/TE, 3000/700; echo train length, 128) optimized on a 0.5-T magnet. Inclusion criteria were liver function tests with abnormal results and hyperbilirubinemia with a clinical pattern not specific for biliary obstruction. All patients were referred by clinicians for contrast-enhanced cholangiography. Diagnostic confirmation was obtained with percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (n = 4), endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (n = 8), T-tube cholangiography (n = 1), or clinical follow-up (n = 10). RESULTS In 11 patients, no abnormalities of the biliary tract were revealed by MR cholangiography. In 11 patients, twelve strictures were diagnosed (nine anastomotic, two nonanastomotic-intrahepatic, and one nonanastomotic-extrahepatic, with association between anastomotic and nonanastomotic strictures in two cases). In one other patient, kinking of the common bile duct at the level of the anastomosis was observed. In all cases, MR cholangiography correctly showed the site of the stricture and the dilatation of bile ducts above, with excellent correlation with contrast-enhanced cholangiographic findings. Strictures were correctly graded in eight of 10 patients and were overestimated in two. Other findings included a 1-cm stone detected proximal to the obstructed common bile duct in one patient and multiple intrahepatic stones in another patient. CONCLUSION MR cholangiography can show biliary obstruction and provide important information for planning therapeutic procedures.
Effects of Sleep on Endotoxin-Induced Host Responses in Healthy Men

Objective To examine whether increased sleep during viral or bacterial infections supports host defense mechanisms. Methods To test this assumption in humans, healthy male subjects were assigned either to sleep from 2300 to 0700 hours (n = 10) or to stay awake through the night (n = 10). In the sleeping subjects Salmonella abortus equi endotoxin (0.4 ng/kg) or placebo were intravenously injected in balanced order during the first SWS episode. The age-matched, sleep-deprived subjects were injected at the same time point. Results As expected, endotoxin significantly increased rectal temperature, the plasma levels of cortisol, tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (TNF-&agr;), the soluble TNF receptors p55 and p75, Interleukin (IL)-6, the IL-1 receptor antagonist (RA), leukocyte, and granulocyte counts in both sleeping and sleep-deprived subjects, whereas lymphocyte and monocyte counts were transiently reduced. Time courses of endotoxin-induced host responses did not differ between the sleep and sleep deprivation groups. Endotoxin did not affect the amount of nocturnal wakefulness, nonrapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep, or rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep across the total night compared with placebo, but significantly increased electroencephalogram-arousals (EEG-arousals) in stage 2 and decreased arousals in SWS. In addition, the amount of SWS, spectral EEG-delta and -theta power was increased at the beginning and at the end of the sleep period, respectively, when the degree of immune activation was relatively low. Conclusion The present results support the notion that short-term sleep deprivation is unlikely to harm the immune system as far as unspecific acute responses are concerned. The effects of endotoxin on sleep in this case support prior observations that in humans, enhanced SWS and intensified NREM sleep occur when host defense activation is subtle.
Salivary glucose as a diagnostic tool in Type II diabetes mellitus: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing steadily in India. Understanding blood glucose level is the key to both diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus. However, there is an on-going need for improvements in noninvasive, point-of-care tools for the diagnosis and prognosis of diabetes. Assessing a relationship between the blood glucose level and its concentration in other body fluids such as the saliva can help in developing a conservative method for blood sugar assessment replacing venous blood sampling. Diabetes mellitus is known to cause changes in salivary composition. Hence, this study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship of blood glucose level with salivary glucose in diabetic and nondiabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study sample included 100 diabetic patients and 100 nondiabetic patients aged above 35 years of age. Fasting blood and salivary glucose levels were measured in the two groups. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation of blood glucose with salivary glucose in the two groups. RESULTS The results of the study revealed an increase in the level of fasting salivary glucose in diabetics compared to that of nondiabetic patients. It also showed a highly significant positive correlation between fasting salivary glucose and serum glucose in both diabetic patients and in controls. CONCLUSION From this study, it can be concluded that fasting salivary glucose level can be used as a noninvasive diagnostic, as well as a monitoring tool to assess the glycemic status of Type II diabetes mellitus patients.
Clara Cell Proteins

Abstract: Clara cells are nonciliated, nonmucous, secretory cells of the pulmonary airways. These cells are known to secrete a variety of proteins, including Clara cell 10‐kDa protein/uteroglobin. This protein consists of a homodimer of 70–77 amino acid polypeptides arranged in antiparallel fashion. In vitro testing suggests that the protein suppresses inflammation. The physiologic role of the protein remains to be determined.
Porous ceramics as bone graft substitutes in long bone defects: A biomechanical, histological, and radiographic analysis

Three porous ceramic bone graft materials were compared with regard to their ability to heal a 2.5 cm defect created surgically in a bilateral canine radius model. The ceramic materials were analyzed at 12 and 24 weeks after surgery and included tricalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, and collagen hydroxyapatite, which contained a mixture of 35% tricalcium phosphate and 65% hydroxyapatite with added collagen. Each material was evaluated alone and with added bone marrow aspirate. All the implants were compared with a graft of autogenous cancellous bone in the contralateral radius. Biomechanical testing and radiographic evauation revealed that the addition of bone marrow aspirate was essential for tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite to achieve results comparable with those of cancellous bone. Collagen hydroxyapatite performed well without the addition of bone marrow, although the addition of marrow did have a positive effect. Further qualitative radiographic and histological analysis demonstrated that tricalcium phosphate was the only ceramic that showed any sign of degradation at 24 weeks. This observed degradation proved to be an important factor in evaluating radiographs because the radiodensity of collagen hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatite interfered with the determination of radiographic union. At 24 weeks, tricalcium phosphate with bone marrow was the material that performed most like cancellous bone. In this study, the biomechanical and radiographic parameters of tricalcium phosphate with bone marrow were roughly comparable with those of cancellous bone at 12 and 24 weeks. Tricalcium phosphate was the only implant that showed significant evidence of degradation at 24 weeks by both histological and radiographic evaluations, and this degradation took place only after a degree of mechanical competence necessary for weight‐bearing was achieved.
Grid impacts of twin EV fast charging stations placed alongside a motorway

Electric vehicle batteries have to be recharged either by means of low-charging at home or at parking lots or at fast charging stations. Fast chargers may re-charge the battery in less than 15 minutes, but this technology requires a bigger amount of power capacity from the electrical grid. Thus, it is a plausible assumption that these charging stations will be supplied from the medium voltage (MV) grid and will be constructed alongside motorways in a similar way than the gasoline stations exist today. In the case study going to be presented in the paper, it is supposed that an existing twin gas station would be altered to a fully electric charging station and investigation on the impact of the additional electricity demand onto the supplying MV grid is carried through. The grid model is constructed in DIgSILENT Power Factory software based on measurement data from the local DSO. Simulations to determine the voltage drop along the lines and the loading of the secondary supply cable between the twin stations are conducted.
High-Mobility Group Box-1 Modulates the Expression of Inflammatory and Angiogenic Signaling Pathways in Diabetic Retina

Abstract Purpose: The expression of high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is upregulated in epiretinal membranes and vitreous fluid from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and in the diabetic retina. HMGB1 mediates inflammation, breakdown of the blood–retinal barrier and apoptosis in the diabetic retina. Here, we investigated inflammatory and angiogenic signaling pathways activated by HMGB1 in diabetic retina. Methods: Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMEC) and retinas from 1-month diabetic rats and normal rats intravitreally injected with HMGB1 were studied using RT-PCR, Western blot analysis and co-immunoprecipitation. We also studied the effect of the HMGB1 inhibitor glycyrrhizin on diabetes-induced biochemical changes in the retina. Results: Diabetes and intravitreal injection of HMGB1 in normal rats induced significant upregulation of the mRNA levels of the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) receptor CXCR4 and protein levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, early growth response-1, tyrosine kinase 2 and the CXCL12/CXCR4 chemokine axis. Constant glycyrrhizin intake from onset of diabetes did not affect the metabolic status of the diabetic rats, but it restored these increased mediators to control values. Stimulation of HRMEC with HMGB1 and intraviteral injection of HMGB1 significantly increased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor-2. Co-immunoprecipitation studies showed that diabetes increased the interaction between CXCL12 and CXCR4 and between HMGB1 and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), but not between HMGB1 and the CXCL12/CXCR4 chemokine axis. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that HMGB1 activates inflammatory and angiogenic signaling pathways in diabetic retina mediated by RAGE.
Right Temporal Lobe Atrophy: A Case That Initially Presented as Excessive Piety

Objective: Variants of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are associated with distinct clinical, pathological, and neuroanatomical profiles. Lines of emerging research indicate a rare variant with focal atrophy of the right temporal lobe (RTLA). The objective was to present case data and discussion of an individual with RTLA in order to assist with conceptualization of this variant. Method: A 60-year-old, right-handed, college-educated Protestant minister with RTLA was evaluated. This patient presented with several hallmark behavioral and psychiatric features with personality changes, including hyper-religiosity, depression, and social disinhibition. Given the profession of the patient, the observed personality alterations (e.g., religiosity and pietism) were initially excused, which delayed diagnosis. Results: In addition to cognitive deficits, an examination of affect processing within visual and auditory channels revealed severe impairment in emotion recognition with features of prosopagnosia. These impairments were in general more severe than the cognitive impairment observed on traditional neuropsychological measures. Conclusions: This case provides support for an FTLD right temporal lobe variant. This case also illustrates the importance of neuropsychological evaluation of affect processing in the differential diagnosis and treatment planning for FTLD and its subtypes.
The genomic profile of HER2‐amplified breast cancers: the influence of ER status

Expression profiling studies have suggested that HER2‐amplified breast cancers constitute a heterogeneous group that may be subdivided according to their ER status: HER2‐amplified ER‐positive breast carcinomas that fall into the luminal B cluster; and HER2‐amplified ER‐negative cancers which form a distinct molecular subgroup, known as the erbB2 or HER2 subgroup. ER‐negative breast cancer differs significantly from ER‐positive disease in the pattern, type, and complexity of genetic aberrations. Here we have compared the genomic profiles of ER‐positive and ER‐negative HER2‐amplified cancers using tiling path microarray‐based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). Validation of the differentially amplified regions was performed in an independent series of 70 HER2‐amplified breast cancers. Although HER2‐amplified cancers had remarkably complex patterns of molecular genetic aberrations, ER‐positive and ER‐negative HER2‐amplified breast carcinomas shared most molecular genetic features as defined by aCGH. Genome‐wide Fisher's exact test analysis revealed that less than 1.5% of the genome was significantly differentially gained or lost in ER‐positive versus ER‐negative HER2‐amplified cancers. However, two regions of amplification were significantly associated with ER‐positive carcinomas, one of which mapped to 17q21.2 and encompassed GJC1, IGFBP4, TNS4, and TOP2A. Chromogenic in situ hybridization analysis of an independent validation series confirmed the association between ER status and TOP2A amplification. In conclusion, although hormone receptor status does not determine the overall genetic profile of HER2‐amplified breast cancers, specific genetic aberrations may be characteristic of subgroups of HER2 breast cancers. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of polymerisation method and type of fibre on fracture strength of endodontically treated teeth

The aim of this study was to investigate (i) the effect of direct or indirect polymerisation of adhesive-impregnated ribbon fibre under 4-mm bulk-filled composites on fracture strength; (ii) to compare polyethylene ribbon fibre-reinforcement composites with short fibre-reinforced composite; and (iii) the effectiveness of polyethylene ribbon fibre according to the restorative materials used (low-viscous bulk-fill composite, high-viscous flowable composite or conventional paste composite). Seventy molars were divided into seven groups; (groups 1-2) Ribbond-reinforced Surefil-SDR; (group 3) Ribbond-reinforced G Aenial Flo; (group 4) Ribbond-reinforced G Aenial Posterior; (group 5) short fibre-reinforced composite everX Posterior; (group 6) unfilled cavity; (group 7) intact teeth. Ribbond was adopted to cavity walls by impregnating an adhesive and using a flowable composite. In group 1, adhesive-impregnated Ribbond was polymerised directly using a light-curing-unit, and indirectly in group 2 under 4-mm bulk-filled composite. Direct or indirect polymerisation of adhesive impregnated ribbon fibre under 4-mm bulk-filled composite did not change the fracture strength results. Polyethylene ribbon fibre-reinforced groups (groups 1-4) and short fibre-reinforced composite group (group 5) displayed similar results. Polyethylene ribbon fibre can be used safely under 4-mm bulk-filled composites. Ribbond-reinforced low-viscous bulk-fill, high-viscous flowable, and conventional paste composite exhibited similar fracture strength results.
Reproductive hormones in plasma over the menstrual cycle in primary dysmenorrhea compared with healthy subjects

The pathogenesis of primary dysmenorrhea is still poorly understood. The objective of the present investigation was to study differences in plasma concentrations of reproductive hormones in women with primary dysmenorrhea vs. healthy controls. In a prospective, parallel-group study we determined the plasma concentrations of oxytocin, vasopressin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), progesterone and prostaglandin F2α metabolite (15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2α) over one menstrual cycle in eight women with primary dysmenorrhea and eight healthy volunteers. In dysmenorrheic women the plasma concentration of oxytocin was significantly higher at menstruation (p = 0.0084) and that of vasopressin significantly lower at ovulation (p = 0.0281) compared with healthy women. They had also higher FSH levels in the early follicular phase (p = 0.0087) and at menstruation (p = 0.0066) and the 17β-E2 concentration was higher in the late follicular phase (p = 0.0449). No differences were seen for LH, progesterone and PGF2α metabolite. The differences of oxytocin, vasopressin, FSH and 17β-E2 concentrations found in plasma suggest an involvement of these hormones in mechanisms of primary dysmenorrhea. These mechanisms seem to be mainly regulated through the hypothalamus and pituitary. The influence of oxytocin on the non-pregnant uterus seems to be more important than earlier believed.
Pulsed Power 3 GHz Feasibility Study for a 36.7 m^3 Mode Stirred Reverberation Chamber

A feasibility study was conducted to investigate the field build up process in a 36.7 m3 reverberation chamber. The time to get a steady field state in the unloaded chamber will normally be about 10 - 20 us. However, it is of great interest to investigate which field-levels that can be expected for an ordinary radar source. The particular 700 kW S-band radar we have to our disposal has typical pulse duration of 1mus. Maximum field strength of ER,max ap 35 kV/m was achieved for 309 kW input power. The voltage ratio, VR, between the ensemble maxima, due to that the chamber time constant is about 10 mus and the magnetron pulse is only 1mus, was found to be 0.54 or -5.4 dB. The pulse characteristics have also been investigated when loading the chamber according to the aviation test standard RTCA DO-160.
Acquired prolactin deficiency indicates severe hypopituitarism in patients with disease of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis

objective Prolactin deficiency has been the subject of many scientific studies, but there is a paucity of information regarding prolactin deficiency in humans. In this report, adults with disease of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis (HPA) were studied to determine the prevalence of severe acquired prolactin deficiency (APD) and the pathophysiological characteristics associated with it.
Obstructive sleep apnea and aging effects on macrovascular and microcirculatory function.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Many patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are obese, and whether obesity itself explains the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease in OSA is unknown. We hypothesize that OSA, independent of obesity, contributes to abnormal vascular function. DESIGN Physiology study. SETTING Academic medical centers. PATIENTS Obese subjects, free of known comorbidities, were enrolled. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Vascular function was assessed with brachial artery ultrasound for flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and in skin microcirculation by laser Doppler flowmetry. Arterial stiffness was measured by arterial tonometry. Seventy-two subjects (43/72 women, 38/72 with OSA) were studied. FMD was impaired in patients with OSA, compared with control subjects (5.7% +/- 3.8% vs 8.3% +/- 4.1%, P = 0.005). In step-forward regression analysis inclusive of age, sex, and body mass index, age (P = 0.013) was a significant independent predictor of FMD. In a subgroup of subjects younger than 50 years of age (n = 59), however, OSA was the only independent predictor of FMD (P = 0.04), adjusted for known covariates. OSA did not significantly influence vascular function in the skin microcirculation. The augmentation index, a measure of arterial stiffness, was similar between the OSA and control groups (16.2% +/- 11.4% vs 20.4% +/- 10.1%, respectively, P = 0.10). In step-forward regression analysis of younger men (< or = 50 years old, 23 subjects), OSA independently predicted the augmentation index in men only (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In obesity, both OSA and aging impair endothelial function and increase arterial stiffness. The influence of OSA on vascular function is most pronounced in young subjects. OSA, therefore, may be associated with functional impairment ("a premature aging effect") on the endothelium and on arterial stiffness (in men), although skin microcirculatory function appears preserved.