Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in the management of head and neck carcinoma

In patients undergoing resection of head and neck malignancies, structural and functional deficits commonly preclude adequate oral nutrition and prolong hospital stay. To address this issue, the benefit of routine preoperative placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) was studied in a group of these patients. The postoperative course of 89 patients undergoing primary resection of advanced (stage III and IV) squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract was examined. The hospital stay was reduced by up to 61% with PEG compared to hospital stay with standard nasogastric tube (NGT) alimentation. The difference was statistically significant for primary sites involving the larynx and pharynx, but not for lesions of the oral cavity. For tongue base tumors, there was a trend toward reduced hospitalization which did not reach statistical significance. The fistulization rate was unchanged. The complication rate for PEG was 5%, and morbidity was less with PEG than with NGT. The authors recommend the preoperative placement of PEGs for all patients with advanced carcinomas of the larynx, hypopharynx, and oropharynx.
Sperm and oocyte donors' experiences of anonymous donation and subsequent contact with their donor offspring.

BACKGROUND This study examined the motivations and experiences of anonymous donors who decide to make themselves open to contact with their donor offspring. METHODS Online questionnaires were completed by 63 sperm donors and 11 oocyte donors recruited via the Donor Sibling Registry (http://www.donorsiblingregistry.com/), a US-based international registry that facilitates contact between donor-conceived offspring and their donors. RESULTS Donors' main reasons for donating were financial payment and wanting to help others. Sperm donors had donated between 1 and 950 times (median = 100) and oocyte donors had donated between 1 and 5 times (median = 2). The majority of sperm donors and more than one-third of oocyte donors expressed concerns about having donated. These concerns were mainly about the well-being of any children conceived using their gametes and not being able to make contact with them. Most sperm and oocyte donors felt that it was important to know how many offspring had been born using their donation, and 51% of sperm donors and 46% of oocyte donors wanted identifying information. All of the donors who had contact with their donor offspring reported positive experiences and the majority continued to have regular contact. CONCLUSIONS Although the sample may not be representative of all anonymous donors, this study highlights the importance of donors having access to information about their donor offspring and the positive consequences that may arise when contact is made.
Childhood pneumonia in developing countries

Introduction Pneumonia is a leading cause of death among children worldwide; however, in developing countries the greatest burden of the disease is among the under-5s. This review article details the aetiology, clinical features, investigations, diagnosis, complications, treatment, and other forms of management of pneumonia. The prevention of pneumonia is discussed and the future prospects for prevention using vaccines is highlighted. The impact of ensuring that the disease is recognised early and adequate treatment given at the primary care level is emphasised as this can dramatically reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with pneumonia. The term pneumonia refers to a pathogen-initiated acute inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, characterised by inflammation of the lung parenchyma (i.e. the respiratory unit comprising the alveoli, alveolar ducts, and the interstitial tissues). In a recent comprehensive discourse on the subject, Stein and Marostica defined pneumonia as ‘Inflammation of the lung parenchyma due to an infectious agent(s) causing a response that results in damage to the lung tissue; subsequent resolution may be complete or partial. ’1 On a general note, the pneumonia can be classified (based on the origin) as either ‘community acquired’ (when the presumed pathogen is acquired outside the health facility), or ‘healthcare associated’ when the antecedents of the disease and aetiological agent(s) can be traced to a health facility or hospital. In addition, with the recent advent of HIV/AIDs, and the frequent, but fairly distinctive epidemiologic risk factors and pathogens of pneumonia associated with the disease, a new addition to the current nosology of pneumonia has been pneumonia in the immunocompromised host. It can also be defined based on aetiology – viral, bacterial; and on an anatomical basis – lobar or bronchopneumonia.2 In developing countries (Nigeria inclusive), the operational definition of pneumonia adopted by WHO is based on the presence of (easily recognisable) clinical
Relationship of MAO‐A promoter (u‐VNTR) and COMT (V158M) gene polymorphisms to CSF monoamine metabolites levels in a psychiatric sample of caucasians: A preliminary report

Monoamine oxidase A gene promoter (MAOA‐uVNTR) and catechol‐O‐methyltransferase V158M (COMT‐V158M) gene functional polymorphisms are reported to be associated with impulsive‐aggression, but a biological intermediate effect remains to be determined. This study assessed the association of these polymorphisms with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monoamine metabolites as endophenotypes. Ninety‐eight Caucasian psychiatric subjects were assessed for Axis I and II diagnosis. Subjects were genotyped for the functional polymorphisms, MAOA‐uVNTR and COMT‐V158M. CSF was obtained by lumbar puncture. Relationships of the two polymorphism to monoamine metabolites: HVA, 5‐HIAA, and MHPG were examined. The higher‐expressing MAOA‐uVNTR genotype was associated with higher CSF‐HVA levels in males only (n = 46) (195.80 pmol/ml, SD = 61.64 vs. 161.13, SD = 50.23, respectively; P = 0.042). No association was found with diagnosis. COMT‐V158M had no association with CSF monoamine metabolites. The association of MAOA‐uVNTR with dopaminergic activity in males is a preliminary finding that needs to be replicated in a larger sample of Caucasian males and relationships sought with clinical phenotypes. This article contains supplementary material, which may be viewed at the American Journal of Medical Genetics website at http://www.interscience. wiley.com/jpages/0148‐7299:1/suppmat/index.html. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Apprenticeship Training and Early Labor Market Outcomes in East and West Germany

We study the returns to apprenticeship and vocational training for three early labor market outcomes all measured at age 25 for East and West German youths: non-employment (i.e., unemployment or out of the labor force), permanent fulltime employment, and wages. We find strong positive effects of apprenticeship and vocational training. There are no significant differences for different types of vocational training, minor differences between East and West Germany and males and females, and no significant changes in the returns over time. Instrumental variable estimations confirm the regression results. The positive returns hold up even in poor labor market situations.
Transient Stability of Large Helical Device Conductor With and Without Aluminum Stabilizer (1)—Experimental Results

Stability tests were performed on two test coils wound with two kinds of large-scale composite superconductor, respectively. One is a original LHD conductor, which consists of a NbTi/Cu Rutherford cable, a pure aluminum stabilizer, and a copper sheath around the composite. Another is an Al-less test conductor, which is a LHD conductor without the aluminum stabilizer and a half of the copper sheath. This paper describes mainly on the latter Al-less test conductor comparing with the LHD conductor. The conditions of the tests were with the magnetic flux densities from 3 T to 7 T and at the bulk liquid helium temperatures 4.2, 2.2 K (sub-cooled He I) and 2.0, 1.8 K (He II) at atmospheric pressure. Asymmetrical normal zone propagation was observed even in the Al-less test conductor. The one-side propagation of the normal zone was also observed as was in the LHD conductor. The asymmetrical propagation is due not only to aluminum stabilizer but to the copper sheath and asymmetrical configuration. However, "traveling normal zone" observed in the LHD conductor was not seen in the Al-less test conductor. The current range for the one-side propagation is narrower than that for the LHD conductor. It is confirmed that the Al-stabilizer deeply affects the asymmetrical propagation.
Intracardiac electrophysiological conduction parameters in adult dogs

ABSTRACT Background: Invasive electrophysiology study (EPS) is one of the most important adjunct tests for the evaluation of arrhythmias in human medicine. However, EPS is neither well known nor widely used in veterinary medicine. Objective: To define the values for intracardiac conduction parameters determined during invasive EPS in dogs. Animals and methods: The study included 16 admitted dogs of various breeds, sex and ages and 6 control Beagles. In the Beagles, EPS was performed twice at 6-month intervals in order to verify the reproducibility of the results. Results: No significant differences were found between the results of the baseline and repeated EPS performed in the Beagles. We found retrograde conduction in 13 (59%) out of 22 dogs and including 4 (31%) animals with concomitant ‘jumps’ in the atrioventricular node conduction curve, pointing to the presence of dual conduction in this node. The mean values of the AV and retrograde VA Wenckebach points equaled to 220 and 360 ms, respectively, suggesting that the capability of the descending route is higher than that of the ascending route. Conclusion: The values determined in this study may be helpful in early detection of abnormalities in the electrical conduction system of the heart.
Fatal occupational electrocutions in the United States

Introduction: The highest proportions of fatal occupational electrocutions have occurred among those employed in the electrical trades and in the construction and manufacturing industries. Methods: Data from 1992 through 1999 were obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Results: Occupational electrocution deaths occurred almost entirely among males, with the highest rates among those aged 20–34 and among whites and American Indians. They were highest during the summer months, in the South, and in establishments employing 10 or fewer workers. The highest rates occurred in the construction, mining, and agriculture, forestry, and fishing industries and among trades associated with these industries. Conclusions: Electrocution continues to be a significant cause of occupational death. Workers need to be provided with safety training and employers, particularly smaller employers, persuaded of the need for safety training.
Coexistent Central and Peripheral Nervous System Involvement in a Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome X-linked Patient

A 14-year-old boy with an episode of acute weakness resembling acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis and polyradiculoneuritis after a febrile illness is described. Molecular analysis showed a mutation at codon 164 of the connexin 32 gene. Neuroradiological and neurophysiological follow-up is reported during acute and chronic phases of disease, suggesting that during metabolic stress connexin 32 mutations lead to a loss of normal cellular communication and reversible cell dysfunction in oligodendrocytes and in Schwann cells. These data confirm that altered gating properties of connexin 32 could give rise to acute, transient central and peripheral nervous system symptoms in situations of metabolic stress.
Ideological Identification and Issue Attitudes

This paper examines variability in the impact of liberal-conservative identifications on citizens' issue attitudes. The analysis uses data from the 1984 CPS National Election Study, and it focuses on two variables: education and level of conceptualization. The results show that both of these variables have positive effects on liberal-conservative thinking. They lead to substantial individual differences in the degree to which citizens orient their issue attitudes along ideological lines. The analysis has a number of important implications for our understanding of American public opinion.
Multivariate analysis of factors associated with invasive fungal disease during remission induction therapy for acute myelogenous leukemia

The clinical courses of 54 consecutive adult patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) who underwent 67 courses of intensive remission induction therapy were analyzed to assess factors associated with development of serious fungal and bacterial infections. Fever developed in 65 of 67 remission induction attempts and was due to bacterial, bacterial‐fungal, and fungal etiologies in 49%, 14%, and 9% of cases, respectively. No etiology of fever was found in 28% of cases. Bacteremia occurred in 54% of remission induction attempts. Invasive fungal disease (IFD) occurred in 22% of cases with an overall mortality of 60%, including 45% of the patients who died during treatment. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, a mathematical model was constructed which correlated with the risk of IFD. Major factors associated with patients who ultimately develop IFD included the duration of chemotherapy, the number of sites colonized with fungi and the number of fungal species isolated on certain surveillance cultures, particularly Aspergillus species. These studies define characteristics of patients at high risk for development of IFD for whom early initiation of empiric antifungal therapy is strongly recommended.
DETERMINANTS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF SOUTH ASIAN AND EAST ASIAN COURTIERS

This study provides evidence on the role of macroeconomic indicators (exchange rate, foreign direct investment, Inflation, rate of interest and trade openness) in economic growth of South Asian and East Asian regions. Panel regression has been used for the analysis purpose. Secondary and time series Data from (1985 to 2013) on certain variables was taken from economic survey of Pakistan and World development indicator (WDI). This study found the positive effect of exchange rate, FDI, interest rate and trade openness but negative effects of, rate of inflation on the GDP growth rate. However, the results presented in this study reinforce rational long run growth oriented policies to obtain sustainable economic growth Keyword: Macroeconomic determinants, Economic growth, South Asia and East Asia,
Macroeconomic Labor Shocks and the Housing Market in England

The labour and housing markets are deeply connected. For any household, a position taken on one of these markets affects the decisions taken regarding the other market. On the one hand, home tenure (homeowner, private or social renter) impacts the probability to find a job through differences in residential mobility; on the other hand, the labour market position (employed, unemployed, out-of-labour force) partly conditions access to mortgage or to the social housing sector. Analysing the possible evolutions of the two markets necessitates understanding the most significant mechanisms that are involved and providing a quantitative assessment of their magnitude. For English households, we use here an original setup to study from a descriptive point of view the joint dynamics of these two positions as well as the changes in wages and housing costs. In line with the existing literature, we find that the probability to be employed is lower for unemployed renters than for unemployed owner-occupiers. We also find evidence that social renters (and especially those with 100% rent rebates) experience the longest unemployment spells. Similarly, tenants in the social housing sector have lower transition rates to homeownership than private renters whatever their labour market position, even after correcting for differences in socio-demographic profiles between these two types of tenants. Finally, combining these empirical results, we illustrate the consequences of macroeconomic shocks. We first simulate a counterfactual sudden increase of one percentage point in the English unemployment rate in 2005 (i.e., around 250,000 more job seekers) keeping housing prices unchanged: this induces a substantial fall of about 30,000 owner-occupiers two years later. We also simulate the consequences of a counterfactual 10% drop in home prices and show that it conducts to a significant surge in unemployment and inactivity rates two years later.
The predictors of psychiatric disorders among people living with epilepsy as seen in a Nigerian Tertiary Health Institution

Background: Mental disorders may complicate epilepsy which can further impair the quality of life of people living with this chronic neurological condition. The aim of this study was to determine the types of psychiatric disorders in patients with epilepsy and to determine the sociodemographic and clinical factors that may predict these psychiatric illnesses. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out over a period of 6 months at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, Nigeria. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to determine the psychological health of 74 consecutively recruited adult patients with epilepsy attending the psychiatric outpatients' clinic of the hospital. Psychiatric diagnoses were based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 4th Edition criteria, and logistic regression analysis was done to determine variables that predict psychiatric disorder. Results: Majority of the participants were male (67.6%) with their age ranging from 18 to 68 years and the mean age of 30.55 ± 10.91 years. Thirty-three (44.6%) of our study respondents had psychiatric diagnoses that included major depressive disorder (21.6%), schizophrenia (17.6%), generalized anxiety disorder (4.1%), and hypomania (1.4%). Being unemployed (odds ratio [OR] = 3.24. 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15–9.10, P = 0.026) and short-term seizure free period (OR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.04–0.78, P = 0.022) were the variables found to be predictive of psychiatric diagnoses. Conclusions: The study revealed that a large percentage of people living with epilepsy develop mental disorders which can further increase the burden and worsen the quality of life of patients with this chronic debilitating condition.
Falling prevalence of smoking: how low can we go?

A sustained international initiative to fund major public awareness campaigns in nations that could never afford to run such campaigns would make a huge difference to nations in which such awareness remains rudimentary How low might the prevalence of smoking fall in whole nations? Countries that have the lowest prevalence of smoking for both sexes combined are mostly those with strong cultural proscriptions against smoking by women. The NationMaster site (http://www.nationmaster.com), sourcing data from the World Health Organization, shows 44 nations where reported prevalence of smoking among women is <10%, 28 nations where it is <5% and 12 nations where it is <2% (Qatar reports that 0.5% women smoke). Very low smoking rates among women, which generally owe nothing to public health policies, can pull down the combined prevalence rate of smoking among men and women to levels well below those in nations where prevalence of smoking among women has been high, but has fallen. There are few, if any, strategic lessons for public health in examining most nations with very low prevalence of smoking among women in the hope of seeing a policy blueprint. If large falls in the prevalence of smoking are the main consideration, there are four front-runners for the title of world’s most successful smoking control nation: Canada, Australia, USA and Sweden (table 1). View this table: Table 1 World’s most successful smoking control nations Sweden has attained the lowest prevalence of smoking among any nation, largely because of the major shift that has occurred from smoking to snus use in men: another 20% of men and 2% of women use snus daily, but do not smoke.1 At the state level, low daily smoking rates in California, USA (9.8%),4 New South Wales, Australia (13.9%)5 and British Columbia, Canada (11%)6 stand out. For several years in the 1990s, …
Mortality among rubber chemical manufacturing workers.

BACKGROUND A retrospective cohort mortality study evaluated ischemic heart disease (IHD) among workers in the "rubber chemicals" manufacturing department of a Western New York plant. A previous study at the plant found elevated chest pain and angina among workers in this department. METHODS Mortality experience of workers employed from 1946-1988 was followed through December 31, 1994. Mortality was compared to U.S. population rates and to local Niagara county rates by using the NIOSH life table analysis system. Poisson regression was used to examine patterns of IHD within the cohort. RESULTS The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for IHD among workers in the rubber chemicals department was 1.51 (U.S. rates) and 1.19 (Niagara county rates). Increased mortality from IHD in the rubber chemicals department was most pronounced at younger ages (< 50, SMR = 2.4); workers in a second chemical production department also had an elevated (but not statistically significant) SMR of 1.5 for IHD. CONCLUSIONS IHD mortality among workers in the rubber chemicals department was elevated, particularly among those under 50 years of age. Potential occupational risk factors for IHD include the rotating shift pattern for employees assigned to two chemical production departments and chemical exposures present in the rubber chemicals department.
Active and passive smoking and risk of Parkinson’s disease

Tanaka K, Miyake Y, Fukushima W, Sasaki S, Kiyohara C, Tsuboi Y, Yamada T, Oeda T, Miki T, Kawamura N, Sakae N, Fukuyama H, Hirota Y, Nagai M, the Fukuoka Kinki Parkinson’s disease Study Group. Active and passive smoking and risk of Parkinson’s disease. Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 122: 377–382. © 2010 The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Blackwell Munksgaard.
Craniopharyngiomas in Children

Background: The modern era of pediatric craniopharyngioma treatment includes multiple modalities including microsurgical resection, irradiation, brachytherapy or chemotherapy. No clear consensus as to the best therapeutic approach has yet been established. The aim of this study was to describe the techniques and strategies for the treatment of pediatric craniopharyngiomas in light of a literature review with particular attention to the incidence of adverse postoperative effects. Methods: Twenty-seven pediatric patients (median age 9.0 years) who were surgically treated for craniopharyngiomas were evaluated. We reviewed the recent literature for clinical features of craniopharyngiomas in children, including the present cases. Results: The overall rate of radiographically complete resection of our cases was 92.6%. In the literature we reviewed, the rate of gross total resection was 33–91% (average 57.8%). According to the literature, recurrence rates range from zero to 52.8% (average 16.1%) in the gross total resection group, 51.1% in the subtotal resection without radiation therapy group, and 33.5% in the subtotal resection with radiation therapy group. In six of our most recent cases, for whom we have complete outcome analysis, radiographically complete resection is 100% with only one recurrence so far over 4 years. Conclusions: For patients in whom early postoperative MRI reveals complete craniopharyngioma removal, a very low rate of recurrence is anticipated. In the authors’ experience, radiographically total excision of even large craniopharyngiomas can be safely achieved by one or a combination of several advanced microsurgical techniques, sometimes by a staged strategy. Major morbidities can be avoided, although moderate morbidities occur and require management.