Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ligand activation of LXRβ reverses atherosclerosis and cellular cholesterol overload in mice lacking LXRα and apoE

Liver X receptors (LXRs) α and β are transcriptional regulators of cholesterol homeostasis and potential targets for the development of antiatherosclerosis drugs. However, the specific roles of individual LXR isotypes in atherosclerosis and the pharmacological effects of synthetic agonists remain unclear. Previous work has shown that mice lacking LXRα accumulate cholesterol in the liver but not in peripheral tissues. In striking contrast, we demonstrate here that LXRα–/–apoE–/– mice exhibit extreme cholesterol accumulation in peripheral tissues, a dramatic increase in whole-body cholesterol burden, and accelerated atherosclerosis. The phenotype of these mice suggests that the level of LXR pathway activation in macrophages achieved by LXRβ and endogenous ligand is unable to maintain homeostasis in the setting of hypercholesterolemia. Surprisingly, however, a highly efficacious synthetic agonist was able to compensate for the loss of LXRα. Treatment of LXRα–/–apoE–/– mice with synthetic LXR ligand ameliorates the cholesterol overload phenotype and reduces atherosclerosis. These observations indicate that LXRα has an essential role in maintaining peripheral cholesterol homeostasis in the context of hypercholesterolemia and provide in vivo support for drug development strategies targeting LXRβ.
Knowledge and attitudes on early childhood oral health among medical and dental graduate students

Introduction: Primary health care providers have an opportunity to motivate and improve the oral health of children. Hence, the objective of the present study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of medical and dental graduate students on early childhood oral health (ECOH). Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among medical and dental graduate students to assess the knowledge and attitudes on ECOH through the questionnaire. The data were analyzed using chi-square analysis and Newman-Keuls post hoc procedure, with level of significance set at 0.05. Results: All the students who were present for a lecture session responded for the questionnaire, majority of them were females (68.50%). Final year dental students had better knowledge than first year dental and medical students (P < 0.01). Majority of students thought textbooks are the primary source of information and mass media would be better source to gain knowledge about ECOH (54.52%). Majority of dental students showed enthusiasm to learn about ECOH. Conclusion: Knowledge on ECOH among medical students was inadequate, who also lack enthusiasm for better understanding on ECOH, compared to dental students. Mass media would be a better means of imparting knowledge on ECOH.
The relative importance of selected educational process professional competencies to extension educators in the North Central Region of USA

The Cooperative Extension Service has been assisting American communities in solving problems and improving lives through various educational processes. The problems faced by rural and urban communities today are complex and specialized in nature. Therefore, extension educators should develop selected educational process professional competencies to conduct professional activities in extension and to meet the varied needs of their clientele. This study determined the relative importance of 42 selected educational process professional development competencies as perceived by extension educators in the North Central Region of the United States and identified the time when these competencies should be learned. These competencies were categorized under the four educational processes needed to conduct professional activities in extension: needs assessment/analysis and program development, learning systems, delivery systems and evaluation systems. This descriptive study employed a simple random survey design to explore the perceptions of extension educators. The target population for the study consisted of all extension educators in the North Central Region from which a random sample of 811 extension educators was selected. A closed-form questionnaire that was used as the instrument to collect data was electronically mailed to respondents using Survey-Monkey. The findings of the study were derived from the responses of 441 respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data based on demographic characteristics, perceptions of extension educators, and the time when each competency should be learned. Independent samples t-test, analysis of variance and correlations were used to determine differences in perceptions based on the demographic characteristics.
Radiographers’ experience of violence and aggression in a major South Wales accident and emergency department.

Background. Violence & aggression in the workplace is a growing problem worldwide. The healthcare sector is particularly affected with staff in the accident & emergency (A&E) department being the most at risk. Investigation has centred on medical staff in particular with a distinct lack of research regarding radiographers. The aim of this study was to gather the opinion of radiographers on their experience of violence and aggression in A&E. Method. The sample was chosen by use of convenience sampling, thus the sample group consisted of all radiographers (n=31) in a major trauma centre in South Wales. The data was collected by a self administered questionnaire and good internal consistency reliability was found using Crohnbach’s alpha test. The questionnaire was piloted and readability issues were rectified for the final questionnaire. Face and content validity were assured by the use of a focus group and reviewing appropriate literature. Results. 94% (n=29) of respondents had experienced violence & aggression at least once. Also it seems that radiographers have little knowledge of the Welsh Assembly Government violence & aggression passport. In addition, some respondents (n=19) felt that training should have an increased “hands on” approach and only 12 respondents reported high confidence of dealing with physical aggression following training. Conclusions. The study shows that violence & aggression is an alarming issue for A&E radiographers and is a greater problem than has been found previously. Additionally, it appears that even with training, there is a low level of confidence in dealing with physical violence.
Quantitative annular thermometry in humans and sheep during radiofrequency and electrothermal annuloplasty

Abstract Discogenic low back pain is a pervasive, disabling, and costly problem. Internal disc disruption accounts for approximately 40% of all patients who have the chief symptom of axial low back pain. The majority of episodic back pain will resolve without specific treatment. Unfortunately, pain may persist in spite of comprehensive conservative care. Historically, a gulf has existed between the standard conservative treatments of physiotherapy, medication, cognitive therapy, and therapeutic injection and the more aggressive surgical interventions such as fusion. To bridge this gap, percutaneous techniques have been developed to deliver thermal energy to the disc. Heating of the intervertebral disc is hypothesized to decrease nocioception by coagulation of annular nocioceptors, modification of annular collagen, and physiochemical effect on nuclear inflamagens. Success has been reported in clinical trials of intradiscal electrothermal annuloplasty. Single needle intradiscal radiofrequency is clinically ineffective, but a new means of delivering radiofrequency-induced thermal energy to the posterior annulus is now available. Despite clear and increasing interest in percutaneous disc heating, little data is available on in vivo annular thermometry. The thermal dose (temperature × time) required to provide a consistent clinical response is unknown. Thorough knowledge of in vivo annular temperatures achieved with the different heating strategies is necessary to optimize existing technology, safely develop new techniques, and understand mechanisms underlying thermal modulation of discogenic pain. This study reports annular thermometry data obtained in sheep and humans during application of electrothermal conductive and ionic heating to the intervertebral disc. Included are data from the first 4 human intervertebral discs treated with the radiofrequency catheter ionic heating. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Warfarin Dosing after Initiation of Fenofibrate

INTRODUCTION Anticoagulant therapy is central in the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disease. Warfarin is currently the most commonly prescribed oral anticoagulant. Effective management of warfarin therapy is challenging, because of the drug’s narrow therapeutic index and the multitude of factors influencing its anticoagulant effects. Drug interactions often result in changes to the patent’s international normalized ratio (INR), which puts the patient at risk of bleeding or thrombosis. Initiation of fenofibrate in patients whose warfarin therapy has been stabilized has been reported to increase INR values and put patients at risk of hemorrhage.1-3 Trial-and-error dose decreases after observation of elevated INR have been described for patients receiving concurrent warfarin and fenofibrate therapy.1-3 We report a case in which the anticipated effect of fenofibrate therapy on the patient’s INR was managed proactively by aggressive reduction of the warfarin dose in the setting of therapeutic anticoagulation.
Aged Arteries and B-vitamins

markdownabstract__Abstract__ Cardiovascular disease is a very common condition, especially among elderly. Cardiovascular risk prediction via the Framingham risk score is the most commonly used risk prediction. However, the Framingham risk score has only been validated until the age of 75 and the power of the classical risk factors have been shown to decline with advancing age. A strong predictor of cardiovascular disease in older populations is arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, with pulse wave velocity being the major marker for cardiovascular risk. Over the years, arterial stiffness have been shown to be an important pre-clinical stage of cardiovascular disease of interest for research, mainly based on preventive strategies. Arterial stiffness is associated with many lifestyle factors and disorders, among others smoking, vitamin D deficiency, physical functioning, renal failure, diabetes and constructive obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Factors influencing HIV positive mothers' choices regarding infant feeding in a rural African context.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of infant feeding choices and support provided in the current PMTCT programme in KwaZulu-Natal. A case study format was utilised. Follow-up was done over six months with ten HIV positive women enrolled in the PMTCT programme at St. Apollinaris Hospital. Transcripts of interviews were made, pattern-matching was done, and the process of replication was used to develop a cross-case report as the final analysis of the study. All of the women decided to and intended to exclusively breastfeed for between four and six months at the time of the first interview. There was a poor rate of return for follow-up interviews, therefore the actual feeding practice of half of the women after six weeks could not be determined. The case studies were developed with the information available, and thus conclusions were reached during cross-case analysis. Decision-making ability and the capacity to overcome the barriers to the maintenance of their original feeding choice were related to the women's educational levels, employment status, financial and social circumstances and support systems, knowledge and experience of HIV/AIDS, quality of PMTCT education and support, cultural beliefs, and parenting and family values. The age of respondents and differences in marital status had no obvious
Prevalence and impact of chronic diseases in adolescents with intellectual disability

s (outcomes: inclusion, exclusion or doubt). There was disagreement among the reviewers in 8 to 10% of the 2994 studies. Most disagreements were resolved by discussion among the reviewers. In twelve unsure cases the full text of the article was obtained because eligibility could not be determined from the title and abstract alone. In two cases of remaining doubt, the fourth reviewer (SR)
An Assessment of the Readiness of King Fahad Medical City, Saudi Arabia, in Adopting Effective Online Staff Development Programs.

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE READINESS OF KING FAHAD MEDICAL CIT Y, SAUDI ARABIA, IN ADOPTING EFFECTIVE ONLINE STAFF DEVELOPMENT PRO GRAMS by ADNAN D. ALWADIE May 2011 Advisor: Dr. James L. Moseley Major: Instructional Technology Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Internet access has grown in Saudi Arabia between 2000 and 2005 by more than 1000% and many governmental organizations are starting to provide part of t heir services using the internet. In addition, the Ministry of Higher Education has provided funding to all governmental universities to start developing strategies and guidelines for online educati on. Healthcare services in Saudi Arabia are funded by the government and are provided to all c itizens free of charge. In addition, the majority of healthcare workers are expatriates. King Fah ad Medical City (KFMC) is a tertiary healthcare organization that provides specialized medi cal care. To assure quality of medical services at KFMC, medical and administrative employee s are provided with continuous staff development programs using traditional methods of education. Howeve r, online education is proven to be efficient and provides comparable outcomes to these methods. The purpose of this research was to investigate the readiness of King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) to adopt online staff development programs. Employees access to technology, technical skills, motivation to e-learn and attitudes towards online education wa s assessed using The Online Learner Readiness Self-assessment Survey (Appendix D). I n addition, instructors’ and
Evaluation of multislice spiral CT for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a severe frequent disease with lack of specific symptoms and represents a major diagnostic challenge. In the past few years, single-slice spiral CT angiography has gained acceptance as a minimally invasive method of evaluating patients with suspicion of PE. The main limitation of single-slice spiral CT resides in the poor detection of subsegmental or more distal PE. This limited detection is not explained by an insufficient vascular distension during spiral CT acquisition but probably by an insufficient spatial resolution. Moreover, in some situations spiral CT is penalized by pulmonary angiography which is an imperfect gold standard. Today Multislice CT can acquire 2 up to 64 slices in a single rotation with isotropic resolution. This technique can cover the entire chest in 1-mm slice thickness or less, in one short breath-hold and allows a better analysis of peripheral pulmonary arteries with a better depiction of sub-segmental and peripheral clots. It also reduces or eliminates artefacts produced by patient movement and decreases the x-ray tube heating that can constrain singleslice scanning parameters. Acquisition of the lower extremities can be performed after chest CT, allowing detection of deep vein thrombosis and one stop shopping of the venous thromboembolic disease. The diagnostic accuracy of multislice CT is probably similar or superior to pulmonary angiography with an inferior delivered radiation dose, a better detection of alternative diagnoses and a continuous decrease of contrast medium injected. Last refinements in CT technology opens new frontiers for a functional approach of PE and predict its prognosis. For all the above-mentioned reasons, it seems obvious that multislice CT will definitively replace pulmonary angiography for diagnostic purposes and will represent a superb tool to better understand the physiopathology of this frequent and potentially life-threatening disorder.
In vitro data of different factor VIII/von Willebrand factor concentrates

atients with von Willebrand disease that do not respond to desmopressin should be treated with von Willebrand factor (VWF) concentrates in connection with bleedings and surgery. A recent in vitro investigation of six VWF concentrates showed large differences in composition, VWF activity and relative content of VWF and FVIII. Furthermore, different viral inactivation methods had been used. The VWF:RCo/VWF:Ag ratio ranged from 0.15-0.91, which illustrates the large differences in inactivation of VWF. This ratio correlated well with the relative amount of the high molecular weight multimers of the VWF (HMWH) in concentrates, which ranged between 15-100% of that in normal plasma. Concentrates lacking the HMWM may be less effective for mucosal bleeds. FVIII is more important for surgical hemostasis. In this study the FVIII/VWF:RCo ratios varied considerably between 0.02-6. Concentrates with a high VWF/FVIII ratio may induce very high levels of FVIII in patients, as endogenously released FVIII adds to the infused FVIII. The concentrate that was almost devoid of FVIII should be given 12-24 hours before surgery in order to allow the endogenously released FVIII to increase sufficiently, or be combined with a FVIII concentrate. It is important to be aware of the differences between the concentrates as it may have significant clinical implications.
Do dietitians feel that they have had adequate training in behaviour change methods

Aim To investigate dietitians’ perceived adequacy of pre- and postregistration training in a range of behaviour change techniques, current main approach to dietary treatment and perceived usefulness of future training in five core behaviour change modalities. Method A questionnaire was designed and distributed to all dietitians registered in the BDA membership base (n = 4202). Results Three hundred and ninety-four questionnaires were returned. The majority of these respondents had obtained their degree since 1982 (77%), since when courses were more likely to have contained a psychological component. Despite the fact that facilitating dietary behaviour change is a key dietetic role, respondents felt that they had not received adequate training in behaviour change skills in their dietetic training. Training was perceived to be most satisfactory in active listening skills, but this was perceived as barely adequate. Training was perceived as particularly poor in: applying theories of cognitive and behavioural therapy (CBT); motivational techniques; group work skills; and in both theory and skills of relapse prevention. Although 40% of respondents reported receiving explicitly psychologically based training, skills-based training (mainly counselling) was reported by only 25% and was limited by being mainly short 1- or 2-day courses. Overall, where further training was obtained it was perceived to be more adequate than that reported within preregistration dietetic training. Conclusion Respondents felt that they had not received adequate training in behaviour change skills in their dietetic training. The application of CBT, motivational techniques and relapse prevention was perceived as particularly deficient in training and the majority of respondents felt that future training would be useful or very useful. In the current health service climate, where evidence-based practice is crucial for all practitioners with the emphasis on improved quality of care with measurable outcomes, research must be funded and undertaken to support attempts to improve dietitians’ effectiveness as behaviour change agents.
Association between malnutrition in children living in favelas, maternal nutritional status, and environmental factors Associação entre desnutrição em crianças moradoras de favelas, estado nutricional materno e fatores socioambientais

Objective: To investigate the association of malnutrition in children living in substandard settlements (favelas) of Maceio, Brazil, with maternal nutritional status and environmental conditions. Methods: Cross-sectional study involving a probability sample of 2,075 mothers (18 to 45 years) and their children (4 months to 6 years), living in the favelas of the city of Maceio. First, we conducted a cluster analysis with the purpose of choosing the settlements and the administrative region of the city of Maceio with the lowest human development index. After this analysis, the 7th Administrative Region was designated for the study, including its 23 substandard settlements. Socioeconomic, demographic, anthropometric, and maternal and child health data were collected by means of household survey. The statistical analysis included the odds ratio of a child to be malnourished, and the univariate regression was used to check which maternal variables were associated with this malnutrition. Results: Chronic malnutrition (-2 standard deviations/height for age) was found in 8.6% of children and was associated with mother’s age and educational level, type of residence, number of rooms, flooring, water supply, and low birth weight (< 2,500 g) in children aged ≤ 24 months. We also found an association between child malnutrition and maternal height. Such association was not observed regarding body mass index. Conclusions: The high prevalence of malnutrition observed in these settlements was related to social and environmental conditions and short maternal height, who had weight deficit or weight excess.
The Relationships Between The Superior Cerebellar Artery and Trochlear Nerve

Trochlear sinir felci kafa travmalari, cesitli enfeksiyonlar, damarsal nedenler veya neoplazilere bagli olarak gelisebilir. Pekcok vakada sinir felcinin nedeni acikca ortaya konamamistir. Biz bu calismada 35 kadavra beyni uzerinde superior cerebellar arter (SCA) ile trochlear sinir arasindaki iliskiyi arastirdik. Trochlear sinir inceledigimiz butun hemisferlerde SCA veya ana dallari ile temas halindeydi. Bu calismada SCA ile trochlear sinir arasindaki anatomik iliski arastirilmistir.
Impact of physical activity levels and diet on central obesity among civil servants in Tamale metropolis

This study sought to assess the prevalence of central obesity using Waist to Hip ratio as well as establishing the relationship between physical activity, diet and central obesity among civil servants in the Tamale metropolis. This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and July, 2011. One hundred and eighty six (186) subjects were involved with 121 being males and 65 being females. The study participants were recruited from an adult population between the ages of 20 -59 years. Dietary pattern was assessed using food frequency questionnaires whilst physical activity was determined using the WHO Global physical activity levels questionnaire. The prevalence of central obesity was found to be 31.2%. The prevalence of central obesity was significantly higher (p=0.031) among females (41.5%) compared to men (25.6%) and also increased with age (p<0.0001). The prevalence of obesity significantly decreased (p = 0.018) from 70.7% via 25.6% to 3.4% as the level of physical activity increased from low through moderate to high. There were no significant associations between dietary pattern and central obesity from this study. Central obesity from this study is high and more common in females. The level of physical activity appears to be a key determinant of the prevalence of central obesity in this study. Preventive actions such as exercise and active lifestyles have to be implemented to reduce the tendency for central obesity in this population in particular and the general Ghanaian populace at large. Journal of Medical and Biomedical Sciences (2012) 1(2), 1-9