Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Warm up practices of golfers: are they adequate?

Background—Although it is widely recommended that golfers warm up before play or practice to enhance their physical performance and reduce their injury risk, it is not known to what extent they actually undertake such warm up procedures. Objective—To collect information about the proportion of golfers who actively warm up and to determine the types of warm up behaviours. Methods—This study was conducted over three weeks at three different golfing venues: a private golf course, a public golf course, and a golf driving range. Golfers' warm up behaviours, defined as any form of preparative exercise, were recorded by direct observation by two independent observers. Results—The sample consisted of 1040 amateur golfers (852 men and 188 women) aged at least 18 years. Only 54.3% (95% confidence interval 49.8 to 58.8) performed some form of warm up activity. Air swings on the tee were the most commonly observed warm up activity, with 88.7% (95% confidence interval 85.9 to 91.5) of golfers who warmed up performing these. Conclusions—Only a small proportion of amateur golfers perform appropriate warm up exercises. To improve on this, golfers should be educated about the possible benefits of warming up and be shown how to perform an appropriate warm up routine.
ON ESTIMATING THE RELATION BETWEEN BLOOD GROUP AND DISEASE

Following the demonstration of a significant excess of blood group A in patients with cancer of the stomach (Aird, Bentall & Roberts, 1953) and of group 0 in sufferers from peptic ulcer (Aird, Bentall, Mehigan & Roberts, 1954) and from toxaemia of pregnancy (Pike & Dickins, 1954) i t seems certain that many more studies will be made on the relation between blood groups and disease. It is therefore important that the best possible statistical methods should be used. The procedure recommended by Aird et al. (1954) is very efficient, but it is open to criticism on one rather important point. These workers take as criterion the difference in proportion of a given blood group in the disease and the control series. Denote the two blood types a and p. Suppose the disease series contains h patients of type a and k of type 8, where h + k = n, and the control series hw H of type a and K of type ,3, where H + K = N . Aird and associates calculate d = h/n H / N . This is tested for significance against its sampling variance, combined with estimates from other bodies of data to give a weighted mean estimate, and compared with these other estimates in tests for heterogeneity. Unfortunately, d will differ from one community to another even when the specific attack rate within any given blood group stays constant. This can be shown by a simple example. Consider a community of 10,000 people in which H and K are each 5000. Then if h= 100 and k = 50, d = 100/150 0.5, or 0.1667. Now consider another community in which His 9000 and K is 1000. In this case h= 180 and k10, so d = 180/190-0.9, or 0.0474. Even when the essential biological conditions are identical, differences in blood-group frequencies in the population will introduce spurious heterogeneity. This kind of artefact is avoided if one works with incidence rates in the various blood groups. The data usually do not permit calculation of absolute rates, nor are they needed. What is wanted and readily obtained is an estimate of the ratio of one rate to another. The incidence in group a will be h/H x some constant, and that in group /? will be k/K x the same constant. If the ratio is taken aa x to 1, an estimate of x will be hK/Hk, and it may readily be shown that this is the maximum-likelihood estimate. The use of x is recommended instead of d as a criterion of differential incidence of disease in relation to blood group. In all statistical computations it is best to transform x into its logarithm. This avoids difficulties due to asymmetry. If comparison of a with B gives x = 2 say, comparison of /3 with a will give x= 4; but log x will retain its numerical value, merely changing in sign. Moreover, the sampling variance of log x is a very simple expression free of ‘nuisance parameters’. This is especially true if one transforms into y=log, x. If V is the sampling variance of y, then v = l / h + l / k + 1/H+ 1/K,
Electrical stimulation of the substantia nigra reticulata: Detection of neuronal extracellular GABA in the ventromedial thalamus and its regulatory mechanism using microdialysis in awake rats

A combination of electrical stimulation and microdialysis was used to study the nigrothalamic gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic system and its regulatory mechanisms in awake rats. Extracellular GABA levels in the ventromedial nucleus of the thalamus were detected in 3‐min fractions collected before, during and after a 10‐min stimulation period of the substantia nigra reticulata. Electrical stimulation of the substantia nigra reticulata increased the GABA levels to 155% of basal values in the ventromedial thalamus only during the first 3‐min interval upon stimulation. The increase in GABA levels was tetrodotoxin‐dependent, implicating an exocytotic origin. The basal levels of extracellular GABA in the ventromedial thalamus were of nonexocytotic origin. To study the mechanism underlying the fast compensatory response in neuronal GABA release after nigral stimulation, local infusions into the ventromedial thalamus of reuptake inhibitors and GABA antagonists were performed and the effect of nigral stimulation was examined under the various applications. Local infusion of the reuptake inhibitors nipecotic acid (500 μM) and SKF 89976‐A (20 and 50 μM) increased extracellular GABA levels to 350%, 180% and 600%, respectively, of basal values in the ventromedial thalamus tetrodotoxin‐independently. Under these conditions, the increase in extracellular GABA was absent (nipecotic acid) or suppressed (20% of basal values; SKF 89976‐A for both doses), leaving it unsolved whether or not the uptake system was responsible for the fast compensation in neuronal GABA after stimulation. The GABA‐A antagonist bicucilline (50 μM) was ineffective when infused locally in the ventromedial thalamus, but prolonged the increase in neuronal GABA release after nigral stimulation; the GABA levels were increased during two 3‐min samples to ∼165%, indicating a functional role for GABA‐A receptors in regulating the release of GABA from nigrothalamic GABAergic neurons. The GABA‐B receptor antagonist CGP 35348 (50 μM) did not affect GABA levels when infused locally in the ventromedial thalamus and neither affected the response in neuronal GABA after stimulation. This finding does not support a role for GABA‐B receptors in controlling the release from the nigrothalamic neurons. Synapse 26:62–71, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hyperglycaemia Inhibits Thymidine Incorporation and Cell Growth via Protein Kinase C, Mitogen‐Activated Protein Kinases and Nitric Oxide in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelium

An elevated extracellular concentration of D‐glucose (i.e. hyperglycaemia) inhibits cell proliferation and incorporation of the endogenous nucleoside thymidine into DNA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Cells in their log‐phase of growth (3.7 ± 0.3 days, n = 27) incubated for 30 min with 25 mM D‐glucose, but not with equimolar concentrations of L‐glucose or D‐mannitol, exhibited reduced [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell growth rate, with no change in cell viability (> 98%), total DNA, protein content or cell volume. Incubation with D‐glucose activated protein kinase C (PKC), endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), p42 and p44 mitogen‐activated protein kinases (p42/44mapk), but inhibited superoxide dismutase (SOD). Incubation with D‐glucose also increased cGMP and cAMP levels. The effect of D‐glucose was blocked by the PKC inhibitor calphostin C, the MAP kinase kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2) inhibitor PD‐98059, the eNOS inhibitor L‐NAME, the protein kinase G (PKG) inhibitor KT‐5823 and the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor KT‐5720. In the presence of 5 mM D‐glucose, [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell growth were reduced by the PKC activator phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA), the NO donor S‐nitroso‐N‐acetyl‐L,D‐penicillamine (SNAP), dibutyryl cGMP, dibutyryl cAMP and the Ca2+ ionophore A‐23187. The effect of A‐23187 was blocked by calphostin C and PD‐98059. D‐Glucose‐dependent inhibition of thymidine incorporation and cell proliferation is associated with increased PKC, eNOS, and MEK1/2, but decreased SOD activity, and higher intracellular levels of cGMP, cAMP and Ca2+ in HUVECs. These are cellular mechanisms which may reduce endothelial cell growth in pathological conditions such as in diabetes mellitus or hyperglycaemia.
Complications of the Wiltse Pedicle Screw Fixation System.

The purpose of the current study is to retrospectively review the incidence and types of complications occurring using a single pedicle screw fixation system for lumbar spine fusions. For a 3-year period beginning in July 1987, 470 patients underwent spinal fusion and instrumentation with the Wiltse Pedicle Screw Fixation System. Although multiple configurations of the Wiltse System were included, the predominant construct was that of segmental pedicle screw fixation. Complications occurred in a total of 29 patients, for an overall complication rate of 6%. Among the complications were 10 wound problems (2%) that included 2 seromas requiring drainage and 3 superficial wound infections. The remaining five wound complications were deep wound infections requiring irrigation and debridement. The overall deep wound infection rate was 1%. Neurologic complications occurred in two patients, one with temporary foot drop and one with persistent L5 nerve root irritation confirmed by electromyogram (EMG). Both of these patients underwent anatomic workup, which failed to reveal any evidence of impingement by either screw or other hard tissue. Two intraoperative complications occurred, both involving fracture of the L5 pedicle. No adverse sequela resulted. There were 15 hardware complications, for an overall rate of 3%. This included four patients with broken screws (a total of eight screws). There were three failures at the screw-bone interface, as well as four patients with uncoupling of the screw rod linkage. In addition, there were four broken rods encountered. A total of 122 Wiltse devices were removed, for an overall removal rate of 25%. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
There and back again : migration in freshwater fishes 1

Animal migration is an amazing phenomenon that has fascinated humans for long. Many freshwater fishes also show remarkable migrations, whereof the spectacular mass migrations of salmonids from the spawning streams are the most well known and well studied. However, recent studies have shown that migration occurs in a range of freshwater fish taxa from many different habitats. In this review we focus on the causes and consequences of migration in freshwater fishes. We start with an introduction of concepts and categories of migration, and then address the evolutionary causes that drive individuals to make these migratory journeys. The basis for the decision of an individual fish to migrate or stay resident is an evaluation of the costs and benefits of different strategies to maximize its lifetime reproductive effort. We provide examples by discussing our own work on the causes behind seasonal migration in a cyprinid fish, roach (Rutilus rutilus (L., 1758)), within this framework. We then highlight different adaptations that allow fish to migrate over sometimes vast journeys across space, including capacity for orientation, osmoregulation, and efficient energy expenditure. Following this we consider the consequences of migration in freshwater fish from ecological, evolutionary, and conservation perspectives, and finally, we detail some of the recent developments in the methodologies used to collect data on fish migration and how these could be used in future research.
Management of tuberculosis in the United States.

In the 1980s, after decades of steadily declining rates of tuberculosis, ambitious plans were made to eliminate the disease in the United States. Despite these plans, the control of tuberculosis was neglected, resulting in a resurgence of the disease.1 This resurgence has reminded us that the overall goal of public health programs must be not merely the provision of health care for marginalized persons, but a systematic commitment to protect the health of the general public in a time of increasing globalization. Regrettably, these lessons have come at considerable costs, in terms of both individual health and health care budgets.
Optimal waist circumference cutoff points for the determination of abdominal obesity and detection of cardiovascular risk factors among adult Egyptian population

Objective: To determine the best anthropometric measurement of obesity, and its optimal cutoff, that best predicts the presence of cardiovascular risk factors among adult Egyptian population. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study including a representative randomly chosen sample of the adult Egyptian population from all Alexandria Districts (the second largest governorate in Egypt) based on the multistage random technique. It included 3209 subjects (1567 men, 1642 women) aged 18–80 years from urban and rural areas. The response rate was 80.2%. History, blood pressure, and anthropometric measurements were taken. Laboratory investigations included fasting lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose, and serum uric acid. Different criteria of metabolic syndrome were used and compared. Receiver operator characteristic curve and Youden index were used to determine predictability and cutoffs. Results: Waist circumference (WC) is the best to predict at least two other components of the metabolic syndrome as defined by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The optimal WC cutoffs were 100.5 and 96.25 cm for Egyptian men and women, respectively. The Joint Interim Statement definition (JIS) of metabolic syndrome was the best to predict cardiovascular disease in both genders and diabetes mellitus in women. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and abdominal obesity was 42.5%, 61%, respectively (ATPIII definition); 43.8%, 61% (American Heart Association definition); 44.3%, 76.4% (IDF definition); 33.8%, 51.7% (IDF definition with Egyptian cutoffs); and 41.5%, 51.7% (JIS with Egyptian cutoffs). Conclusion: WC cutoffs in Egyptians differ from those currently recommended. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and abdominal obesity is high in Egypt, despite being lower on using the Egyptian cutoffs.
Premedication in children: hypnosis versus midazolam

Background: The main objectives of premedication in children are to facilitate the separation from the parents, to reduce preoperative anxiety, to smooth the induction of anesthesia and to lower the risk of postoperative behavioral disorders. The most common technique is sedative premedication with midazolam. Hypnosis enables a state of relaxation to be achieved and has never been evaluated as a premedication technique. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of hypnosis on anxiety and perioperative behavioral disorders versus midazolam.
New frontiers in the evaluation of cardiac patients for noncardiac surgery.

PERIOPERATIVE myocardial complications after noncardiac surgery affect more than 1 million operations each year and are leading causes of morbidity and mortality, especially among patients undergoing vascular surgery. Myocardial complications such as perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) are common and are the most likely cause for perioperative death in all surgical populations. In general surgery, the risk for perioperative MI is 0.8% in men older than 50 yr and varies with the cardiovascular status, comorbidities, and the extent of the procedure, reaching more than 20% among patients undergoing vascular surgery. As patients become older and sicker and procedures become more aggressive and extensive, physicians must find novel approaches to evaluate and prepare cardiac patients for noncardiac procedures and reduce perioperative myocardial events. The American Heart Association–American College of Cardiology guidelines for cardiac risk evaluation use the patient’s history, physical examination, and functional capacity, and taking into account the expected surgery, one may recommend further assessment with noninvasive testing or coronary angiography. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of available imaging tools that could potentially be used for perioperative evaluation of cardiac patients before noncardiac surgery, in accord with recent guidelines and with focus on the recent progress made with cardiac computed tomography (CT).
Allergy immunotherapy: what is the evidence for cost saving?

Purpose of reviewGiven the widespread prevalence of allergic disease, its substantially associated clinical and economic burden, the unique disease-modifying benefits of allergy immunotherapy (AIT), and increased availability of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), a critical update of the evidence for AIT-related cost savings [for both subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and SLIT] is particularly relevant and timely. The present article reviews the evidence for SCIT-related and SLIT-related cost savings derived from a systematic review of the published literature. Recent findingsExamined were 24 publications pertaining to the health economics of AIT. Except for one early study comparing the costs of AIT to symptomatic drug treatment (SDT), the remainder provide compelling evidence for AIT cost savings (whether SCIT or SLIT) over SDT. Furthermore, of the six studies comparing cost outcomes of SLIT to SCIT, four reported cost savings favoring SLIT. SummaryThis review, spanning research from Southern Europe, Scandinavia, Northern Europe, North America, and the Czech Republic, encompasses a range of perennial and seasonal allergic conditions, including allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis with or without asthma, and rhinoconjunctivitis with or without allergic rhinitis due to house dust mite, grass or ragweed pollen, or a mixture of various allergens. All but one study compellingly demonstrate cost savings conferred by AIT over SDT.
Exploring Waiving Opportunities for Mammalian Acute Systemic Toxicity Tests

A survey was carried out to explore opportunities for waiving mammalian acute systemic toxicity tests. We were interested in finding out whether data from a sub-acute toxicity test could be used to predict the outcome of an acute systemic toxicity test. The survey was directed at experts in the field of toxicity testing, and was carried out in the context of the upcoming 2018 final registration deadline for chemicals under the EU REACH Regulation. In addition to the survey, a retrospective data analysis of chemicals that had already been registered with the European Chemicals Agency, and for which both acute and sub-acute toxicity data were available, was carried out. This data analysis was focused on chemicals that were administered via the oral route. The answers to the questionnaire showed a willingness to adopt waiving opportunities. In addition, the responses showed that data from a sub-acute toxicity test or dose-range finding study might be useful for predicting chemicals that do not require classification for acute oral toxicity (LD50 > 2000mg/kg body weight). However, with the exception of substances that fall into the non-classified category, it is difficult to predict current acute oral toxicity categories.
Adaptation of Influenza A/Mallard/Potsdam/178-4/83 H2N2 Virus in Japanese Quail Leads to Infection and Transmission in Chickens

Abstract To assess the potential of quail as an intermediate host of avian influenza, we tested the influenza A/Mallard/Potsdam/178-4/83 (H2N2) virus to determine whether through adaptation a mallard strain can replicate and transmit in quail, as well as other terrestrial birds. After five serial passages of lung homogenate a virus arose that replicated and transmitted directly to contact cage mates. To test whether adaptation in quail led to interspecies transmission, white leghorn chickens were infected with the wild-type (mall/178) and quail-adapted (qa-mall/178) viruses. The results show that mall/178 H2N2 does not establish an infection in chickens nor does it transmit, while qa-mall/178 H2N2 infects and transmits to contact chickens causing clinical signs like depression and diarrhea. Completed sequences indicate six amino acid changes spanning four genes, PB2, PB1, HA, and NP, suggesting that the internal genes play a role in host adaptation. Further adaptation of qa-mall/178 in white leghorn chickens created a virus that replicated more efficiently in the upper and lower respiratory tract. Sequence analysis of the chicken-adapted virus points to a deletion in the neuraminidase stalk region.
Hospital use and associated costs of children aged zero-to-two years with craniofacial malformations in Massachusetts.

BACKGROUND Craniofacial malformations (CFMs) are among the most common and correctable birth defects in the United States, often requiring multiple medical and surgical treatments. However, population-based data on hospital utilization and costs are sparse. METHODS This retrospective cohort study used linked data from the Massachusetts Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal Data System. Cases were children born during 1998-2002 in Massachusetts hospitals to Massachusetts residents, alive at age two years, and ascertained by the Massachusetts Birth Defects Monitoring Program as having a CFM (orofacial cleft, craniosynostosis, microtia/anotia). Mean and median number of inpatient days and hospital facility costs (excluding professional fees) during birth and postbirth hospitalizations to age two years are presented by defect type and pattern for cases and compared to Massachusetts children without CFMs. RESULTS Children with CFMs (N = 649) mostly had orofacial clefts (73%), and 73% had no other major birth defect. Both mean (12.0) and median (6) number of inpatient days from birth to age two years among children with CFMs were three times higher than among all other children. Mean incremental hospital cost of children who survived to age two years with CFMs compared to those with no CFM was $4,901 more during the birth hospitalization and $12,858 more for postbirth hospitalizations, or $17,760 overall. CONCLUSION In the first two years of life, children with CFMs incur increased hospital costs compared to other children without such conditions, with substantial heterogeneity by defect and pattern type.