Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality of Life, Depression and Anxiety in Patients With Epilepsy: Controlled Study With Short Form 36 Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, and Hamilton Anxiety Scale

ObjectiveTo investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL), anxiety and depression states of patients with epilepsy. DesignCross-sectional data analysis. SettingUniversity Hospital Neurology Department. ParticipantsSixty ambulatory patients with epilepsy and healthy, age and sex-matched control group of 33 people. Main Outcome MeasuresMedical Outcomes Study, Short Form Health Survey, Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A). ResultsThe Short Form-36 Health Survey scores were significantly lower in all subscales in patients with epilepsy compared with the control group (P<0.05). Total scores for Beck Depression Inventory were 16.5±9.44 and 6.24±6.81 in patients and control groups, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). HAM-A were also found to be significantly increased in the epilepsy group (P<0.05). This was true for all the subscales of HAM-A such as psychic anxiety score, somatic anxiety score and total score. ConclusionsEpilepsy significantly interferes with quality-of-life and psychologic health of patients. In contrast, according to the results obtained in our sample, we couldn't find any relationship except the seizure frequency and vitality in the patient group among variables such as educational status, follow-up period, age at onset of seizures, the duration of the disease, single or multiple antiepileptic drug use, and types of seizures with both health-related quality of life and psychologic health status.
Parental Physical Activity Associates With Offspring's Physical Activity Until Middle Age: A 30-Year Study.

BACKGROUND Parents' physical activity associates with their children's physical activity. Prospective designs assessing this association are rare. This study examined how parents' physical activity was associated with their children's physical activity from childhood to middle adulthood in a 30-year prospective, population-based setting. METHODS Participants (n = 3596) were from the ongoing Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study started in 1980. Participants' physical activity was self-reported at 8 phases from 1980 to 2011, and their parents' physical activity at 1980. Analyses were adjusted for a set of health-related covariates assessed from 1980 to 2007. RESULTS High levels of mothers' and fathers' physical activity were systematically associated with increased levels of their children's physical activity until offspring's age of 24. Longitudinal analyses conducted from 1980 to 2011 showed that higher levels of parents' physical activity were associated with increased levels of physical activity within their offspring until midlife, but the association between parents' and their children's physical activity weakened when participants aged (P < .05). Covariate adjustment did not attenuate the association. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that parents' physical activity assessed in their offspring's childhood contributes favorably to offspring's physical activity from childhood to middle age.
Psychosocial Predictors of Physical Activity Change Among College Students in an Obesity Prevention Trial.

BACKGROUND Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is critical for maintaining a healthy weight, although little is known about psychological barriers to maintaining MVPA in at-risk groups. Identifying characteristics associated with poor MVPA maintenance in obesity prevention programs could improve participant outcomes. METHODS Toward this end, we examined predictors of MVPA in an obesity prevention trial for college students at risk for weight gain (n = 333; 72% female, mean BMI = 23.4 kg/m2). Participants engaged in 1 of 3 weight control interventions and in 4 assessments over 12-month follow-up (ie, measured height/weight, self-reports of psychosocial characteristics, 4 days of accelerometer wear). RESULTS Multilevel modeling analyses showed that across conditions, participants decreased total MVPA minutes per week over 12 months (B = -5.48, P < .01). Baseline self-report scores for both impulsiveness and cognitive dissonance regarding engaging in unhealthy behaviors negatively predicted MVPA over time. Participants higher (vs. lower) in baseline impulsiveness (B = -6.89, P = .03) and dissonance (B = -4.10, P = .04) began the study with more MVPA minutes, but showed sharper declines over time. CONCLUSIONS Targeted MVPA-focused intervention for students who show elevated impulsiveness and cognitive dissonance may improve both MVPA and weight control outcomes for these individuals.
A quasi-experimental controlled evaluation of the impact of a hospice rapid response community service for end-of-life care on achievement of preferred place of death

Background: Rapid response services operating 24 h a day have been advocated in UK health policy to support dying patients at home, though there is limited evidence of their effectiveness. Aim: To assess the impact of a rapid response hospice at home service (intervention) on people dying in their preferred place, and carer quality of life, compared to usual care (control). Design: Quasi-experimental multi-centred controlled evaluation. Patient data were collected from hospice records; carers completed postal questionnaires to report quality of life, anxiety and depression. Setting and participants: Community served by one hospice (three contiguous sites) in South East England; 953 patients who died with a preferred place of death recorded and 64 carers who completed questionnaires. Results: There was no significant difference between control and intervention groups in proportions achieving preferred place of death (61.9% vs 63.0% (odds ratio: 0.949; 95% confidence interval: 0.788–1.142)). People living at home alone were less likely to die where they wanted (0.541; 95% confidence interval: 0.438–0.667). Carers in the intervention group reported worse mental health component summary scores (short form-12, p = 0.03) than those in the control group; there were no differences in other carer outcomes. Conclusion: The addition of a rapid response hospice at home service did not have a significant impact on helping patients to die where they wanted in an area already well served by community palliative care. Recording preferences, and changes over time, is difficult and presented challenges for this study.
Sedentary Behaviors and Biomarkers Among Breast Cancer Survivors.

BACKGROUND Sedentary behavior is associated with increased risk of poor outcomes in breast cancer survivors, but underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This pilot study explored associations between different aspects of sedentary behaviors (sitting, prolonged sitting, sit-to-stand transitions, and standing) and breast cancer risk-related biomarkers in breast cancer survivors (n = 30). METHODS Sedentary behavior variables were objectively measured with thigh-worn activPALs. Breast cancer risk-related biomarkers assessed were C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and were measured in fasting plasma samples. Linear regression models were used to investigate associations between sedentary behavior variables and biomarkers (log CRP, insulin, and HOMA-IR). RESULTS Sit-to-stand transitions were significantly associated with insulin resistance biomarkers (P < .05). Specifically, each 10 additional sit-to-stand transitions per day was associated with a lower fasting insulin concentration (β = -5.52; 95% CI, -9.79 to -1.24) and a lower HOMA-IR value (β = -0.22; 95% CI, -0.42 to -0.03). Sit-to-stand transitions were not significantly associated with CRP concentration (P = .08). Total sitting time, long sitting bouts, and standing time were not significantly associated with CRP, insulin, or HOMA-IR (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS Sit-to-stand transitions may be an intervention target for reducing insulin resistance in breast cancer survivors, which may have favorable downstream effects on cancer prognosis.
TV Viewing in 60,202 Adults From the National Brazilian Health Survey: Prevalence, Correlates, and Associations With Chronic Diseases.

BACKGROUND This study describes the levels and patterns of television (TV) viewing in Brazilian adults and investigates associations of TV viewing with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. METHODS Data from the Brazilian Health Survey, a nationally representative survey that was conducted in 2013 (N = 60,202 men and women aged ≥18 y), were used. Information regarding TV viewing, physician diagnoses of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease was collected via interview-administered questionnaire. Data on covariables (including chronological age, educational status, skin color, sodium consumption, sugar consumption, tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and leisure-time physical activity) were also self-reported. Logistic regression models and population attributable fractions were used for the etiological analyses. RESULTS The prevalence (95% confidence interval) of >4 hours per day of TV viewing was 12.7% (12.0-13.4) in men and 17.5% (16.8-18.3) in women. Men and women being younger or older, moderately educated, living alone, smoking tobacco, and drinking alcohol were associated with higher reported TV viewing time. Odds ratios (95% confidence interval) revealed that >4 hours per day of TV viewing was associated with type 2 diabetes [male: 1.64 (1.23-2.17) and female: 1.33 (1.09-1.63)], hypertension [male: 1.36 (1.14-1.63) and female: 1.20 (1.05-1.37)], and heart disease [male: 1.96 (1.43-2.69) and female: 1.30 (1.00-1.68)]. Exceeding 4 hours per day of TV viewing was responsible for 6.8% of type 2 diabetes, 3.7% of hypertension, and 7.5% of heart disease cases. CONCLUSIONS Independent of covariates, >4 hours per day of TV viewing was associated with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. High volumes of TV viewing are prevalent and appear to contribute to chronic disease burden.
Considerations for analysis of time‐to‐event outcomes measured with error: Bias and correction with SIMEX

For time‐to‐event outcomes, a rich literature exists on the bias introduced by covariate measurement error in regression models, such as the Cox model, and methods of analysis to address this bias. By comparison, less attention has been given to understanding the impact or addressing errors in the failure time outcome. For many diseases, the timing of an event of interest (such as progression‐free survival or time to AIDS progression) can be difficult to assess or reliant on self‐report and therefore prone to measurement error. For linear models, it is well known that random errors in the outcome variable do not bias regression estimates. With nonlinear models, however, even random error or misclassification can introduce bias into estimated parameters. We compare the performance of 2 common regression models, the Cox and Weibull models, in the setting of measurement error in the failure time outcome. We introduce an extension of the SIMEX method to correct for bias in hazard ratio estimates from the Cox model and discuss other analysis options to address measurement error in the response. A formula to estimate the bias induced into the hazard ratio by classical measurement error in the event time for a log‐linear survival model is presented. Detailed numerical studies are presented to examine the performance of the proposed SIMEX method under varying levels and parametric forms of the error in the outcome. We further illustrate the method with observational data on HIV outcomes from the Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic.
Signal Transduction Pathways Involved in the Synergistic Stimulation of Prostaglandin Production by Interleukin-1β and Tumor Necrosis Factor a in Human Gingival Fibroblasts

Accumulating evidence indicates that prostaglandins play an important role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. In this study, the effects and interactions between IL-1β and TNFa on prostaglandin production and its regulation were investigated. The cytokines IL-1β and TNFa stimulated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostacyclin (PGI2) production in gingival fibroblasts. Simultaneous treatment of the cells with IL-1β and TNFa resulted in a synergistic stimulation of PGE2 and PGI2 formation. IL-1β and, to a lesser extent, TNFa stimulated the release of 3H-arachidonic acid (3H-AA), and simultaneous addition of IL-1β and TNFa further increased the release of 3H-AA from pre-labeled gingival fibroblasts. Furthermore, IL-1β and, to a lesser extent, TNFa induced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA. Simultaneous addition of IL-1β and TNFa synergistically enhanced COX-2 mRNA levels, accompanied by a corresponding stimulation of PGE2 synthesis. Neither IL-1β, TNFa, nor the combination of these two cytokines affected COX-1 mRNA levels. PMA, known to activate protein kinase C (PKC), enhanced the stimulatory effect of IL-1β, TNFa, and the combination on COX-2 mRNA levels accompanied by a corresponding increase in PGE2 production. The phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor, BPB, and the PKC inhibitor, BIS, reduced PGE2 production, whereas dexamethasone, indomethacin, and NS-398 completely abolished PGE2 production induced by IL-1β, TNFa, and the combination. The study indicates that the synergistic stimulation of prostaglandin production by IL-1β, and TNFa is mediated partly at the level of COX-2 and partly at the level of PLA2 and that PKC is involved in the signal transduction of the synergy between the two cytokines. The synergy between IL-1β and TNFa may play an important role in the inflammatory processes in gingival tissue in vivo.
Packet-Size Optimization for Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Cognitive Radio Sensor Networks-Aided Internet of Things

The determination of optimal packet size (OPS) for a cognitive radio-assisted sensor networks (CRSNs) architecture is non-trivial. State of the art in this area describes various complex techniques to determine OPS for CRSNs. However, it is observed that under high interference from the surrounding users, it is not possible to determine a feasible OPS of data transmission under the simple point-to-point CRSN topology. This is contributed primarily to the peak transmit power constraint of the cognitive nodes. To address this specific challenge, this paper proposes a multiple-input multiple output-based CRSNs (MIMO-CRSNs) architecture for futuristic technologies, such as Internet of Things and machine-to-machine communications. A joint optimization problem is formulated, considering network constraints, such as the overall end-to-end latency, interference duration caused to the non-cognitive users, average BER, and transmit power. We propose our Algorithm 1 based on the generic exhaustive search technique to solve the optimization problem. Furthermore, a low complexity suboptimal Algorithm 2 based on solving classical Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions is proposed. These algorithms for MIMO-CRSNs are implemented in conjunction with two different channel access schemes. These channel access schemes are time-slotted distributed cognitive medium access control denoted as MIMO-DTS-CMAC and CSMA/CA-assisted centralized common control channel-based cognitive medium access control denoted as MIMO-CC-CMAC. Simulations reveal that the proposed MIMO-CRSN outperforms the conventional point-to-point CRSN in terms of overall energy consumption. Moreover, the proposed Algorithm 1 and Algorithm 2 show a perfect match, and the implementation complexity of Algorithm 2 is less than Algorithm 1. Algorithm 1 takes almost 680 ms to execute and provides OPS value for a given number of users, whereas Algorithm 2 takes 4–5 ms on average to find the OPS for the proposed MIMO-CRSN framework.
Burnout and work engagement of academics in higher education institutions: effects of dispositional optimism.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among dispositional optimism, job demands and resources, burnout, work engagement, ill health and organizational commitment of South African academic staff in higher education institutions. A cross-sectional survey design was used, with stratified random samples (N = 595) taken of academics in South African higher education institutions. The results confirmed that job demands and a lack of job resources contributed to burnout, whereas job resources contributed to work engagement. Dispositional optimism had a strong direct effect on perceptions of job resources as well as strong indirect effects (via job resources) on burnout, work engagement, ill health and organizational commitment. The results of this study extend the dual-process model of burnout and engagement by demonstrating the strong effects of dispositional optimism on the constructs in the model.
Caregiver quality of life in advanced cancer: Qualitative results from a trial of early palliative care

Background: Early involvement of palliative care improves patient quality of life; however, quantitative studies have not yet demonstrated a similar effect for caregivers, for whom the construct of quality of life is less well developed. Aim: To conceptualise quality of life of caregivers from their own perspective and to explore differences in themes between those who did or did not receive an early palliative care intervention. Design: Qualitative grounded theory study. Setting: Tertiary comprehensive cancer centre. Participants: Following participation in a cluster-randomised trial of early palliative care, 23 caregivers (14 intervention and 9 control) of patients with advanced cancer participated in semi-structured interviews to discuss their quality of life. Results: The core category was ‘living in the patient’s world’. Five related themes were ‘burden of illness and caregiving’, ‘assuming the caregiver role’, ‘renegotiating relationships’, ‘confronting mortality’ and ‘maintaining resilience’. There was thematic consistency between trial arms, except for the last two themes, which had distinct differences. Participants in the intervention group engaged in open discussion about the end of life, balanced hope with realism and had increased confidence from a range of professional supports. Controls tended to engage in ‘deliberate ignorance’ about the future, felt uncertain about how they would cope and lacked knowledge of available supports. Conclusions: Caregiver quality of life is influenced profoundly by the interaction with the patient and should be measured with specific questionnaires that include content related to confronting mortality and professional supports. This would improve delineation of quality of life for caregivers and allow greater sensitivity to change. Registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT01248624
Focused versus Unstructured Intervention for Attention Deficits after Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective:To examine the effectiveness of focused versus unstructured cognitive remediation to address attention deficits following traumatic brain injury (TOO. Based on previous reports on postacute TBI subjects, it was hypothesized that focused intervention would yield superior results. Design:Intervention study with pre- and posttreatment data collection. Setting:Acute rehabilitation hospital. Patients:Sixty-one consecutive patients with severe TBI referred for cognitive remediation were randomly assigned to focused or unstructured remediation of attention deficits. From this sample, 22 pairs were selected, matched for age, education, time postonset of injury, and number of remediation sessions. Interventions:Structured, hierarchical interventions were presented to the focused group. The unstructured group participated in nonsequential, nonhierarchical activities. The average number of sessions was 20. Main Outcome Measures:Digit Span, Mental Control, Simple and Choice Reaction Time, Functional Independence Measure, selected neuropsychological tests. Results:No significant group differences were detected in attentional skills, functional skills, or general cognitive abilities. Conclusions:Progress in attentional skills during acute rehabilitation after TBI is similar with focused and unstructured cognitive remediation
Association of Fatigue with Perceived Stress in Chinese Women with Early Stage Breast Cancer Awaiting Adjuvant Radiotherapy.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is common in women with breast cancer, but little is known of its relationship with perceived stress. We conducted a cross-sectional study to explore the associations of CRF with perceived stress, anxiety, depression, pain and sleep quality in 133 Chinese women (aged 25-68 years) with early stage breast cancer. The majority of women had completed surgery and chemotherapy and were awaiting radiotherapy. Self-administered questionnaires consisting of the Brief Fatigue Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale-10, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Brief Pain Inventory, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to collect data. Forty-five per cent of the women were severely fatigued. Compared with local healthy women and US breast cancer patients, the group's mean perceived stress score was significantly higher (both p < 0.01). Higher perceived stress (β = 0.18, p = 0.032), higher anxiety (β = 0.30, p < 0.001) and higher pain severity (β = 0.38, p < 0.001) were associated with increased severity of CRF. The association of CRF with perceived stress was partially mediated by anxiety, suggesting a possible pathway from cancer and cancer treatment to CRF via stress appraisals and emotional distress. The findings indicate the importance of monitoring the psychological status of patients during treatment.
Feigned psychosis revisited — a 20 year follow up of 10 patients

Feigned psychosis, although rare, presents considerable diagnostic problems in clinical psychiatric practice. Long-term follow up data are lacking. A retrospective case note study was undertaken of 10 patients described in a previous paper, published in 1970, on the simulation of psychosis. The computerised diagnostic instrument OPCRIT was applied to both index episode and lifetime occurrence of symptoms. All 10 patients were found to have had a major psychotic illness based on lifetime symptoms at 20 year follow-up by DSM-III-R criteria. Eight had met such criteria at the time of the initial episode. Diagnosis in patients thought to be feigning psychotic symptoms changes over time and major mental illness is likely to emerge which may be schizophrenic or affective. The term feigned psychosis should be abandoned and more attention given to why symptoms are accepted as genuine in some cases but not others.
Chronic inhibition of GABA synthesis in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis elicits anxiety-like behavior

The current study tested the hypothesis that chronic loss of inhibitory GABAergic tone in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a region implicated in anxiety behavior, results in generalized anxiety disorder-like behaviors without panic-like responses (i.e., tachycardia, hypertension and tachypnea) following panicogenic stimuli (e.g., sodium lactate infusions). To test this hypothesis, the GABA synthesis inhibitor L-allylglycine (L-AG) or its inactive isomer D-AG was chronically infused into the BNST of male rats via osmotic mini-pumps. L-AG, but not D-AG, treated rats had increased anxiety-like behavior as measured by social interaction (SI) and elevated-plus maze paradigms. Restoring GABAergic tone, with 100pmoles/100nl of muscimol (a GABAA receptor agonist), in the BNST of L-AG treated rats attenuated L-AG-induced anxiety-like behavior in the SI test. To assess panic-like states, L-AG treated rats were intravenously infused with 0.5 M sodium lactate, a panicogenic agent, prior to assessing SI and cardiorespiratory responses. L-AG decreased SI duration again; however, sodium lactate did not induce panic-like cardiorespiratory responses. These findings demonstrate that GABA inhibition in the BNST elicits anxiety-like behavior without increasing sensitivity to lactate, thus suggesting a behavioral profile similar to that of generalized anxiety-like behavior rather than that of panic.