Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of group prenatal care on psychosocial risk in pregnancy: Results from a randomised controlled trial

Few interventions have succeeded in reducing psychosocial risk among pregnant women. The objective of this study was to determine whether an integrated group prenatal care intervention already shown to improve perinatal and sexual risk outcomes can also improve psychosocial outcomes compared to standard individual care. This randomised controlled trial included pregnant women ages 14–25 from two public hospitals (N = 1047) who were randomly assigned to standard individual care, group prenatal care or integrated group prenatal care intervention (CenteringPregnancy Plus, CP+). Timing and content of visits followed obstetrical guidelines, from 18-week gestation through birth. Each 2-h group prenatal care session included physical assessment, education/skills building and support via facilitated discussion. Using intention-to-treat models, there were no significant differences in psychosocial function; yet, women in the top tertile of psychosocial stress at study entry did benefit from integrated group care. High-stress women randomly assigned to CP+ reported significantly increased self-esteem, decreased stress and social conflict in the third trimester of pregnancy; social conflict and depression were significantly lower 1-year postpartum (all p-values < 0.02). CP+ improved psychosocial outcomes for high-stress women. This ‘bundled’ intervention has promise for improving psychosocial outcomes, especially for young pregnant women who are traditionally more vulnerable and underserved.
Effects of 8 weeks of creatine supplementation on exercise performance and fat-free weight in football players during training

While the role of creatine in preventing muscle (peripheral) fatigue for high performance athletes is well understood, its biochemical role in prevention of mental (central) fatigue is not. Creatine is abundant in muscles and the brain and after phosphorylation used as an energy source for adenosine triphosphate synthesis. Using double-blind placebo-controlled paradigm, we demonstrated that dietary supplement of creatine (8 g/day for 5 days) reduces mental fatigue when subjects repeatedly perform a simple mathematical calculation. After taking the creatine supplement, task-evoked increase of cerebral oxygenated hemoglobin in the brains of subjects measured by near infrared spectroscopy was significantly reduced, which is compatible with increased oxygen utilization in the brain. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Oral creatine supplementation enhances upper extremity work capacity in persons with cervical-level spinal cord injury Patrick L. Jacobs PhD, Edward T. Mahoney MA, Kelly A. Cohn RN, MS, Laurey F. Sheradsky PTA and Barth A. Green MD From the Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 83, Issue 1, January 2002, Pages 1923
Fighting obesity: When muscle meets fat

The prevalence of obesity has risen to an unprecedented level. According to World Health Organization, over 500 million adults, equivalent to 10%–14% of the world population, were obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater in 2008.1 This rising prevalence and earlier onset of obesity is believed to be resulted from an interplay of genetic factors, over-nutrition and physical inactivity in modern lifestyles. Obesity also increases the susceptibility to metabolic syndromes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cancer.2-4 The global obesity epidemic has sparked substantial interests in the biology of adipose tissue (fat). In addition, the skeletal muscle and its secretive factors (myokines) have also been shown to play a critical role in controlling body energy balance, adipose homeostasis and inflammation status.5 Interestingly, skeletal muscle cells share a common developmental origin with brown adipocytes,6,7 which breaks down lipids to generate heat – thus reducing obesity. Here, we provide a brief overview of the basics and recent progress in muscle-fat crosstalk in the context of body energy metabolism, obesity, and diabetes. We summarize the different types of adipocytes, their developmental origins and implications in body composition. We highlight the role of several novel myokines in regulating fat mass and systemic energy balance, and evaluate the potential of skeletal muscles as a therapeutic target to treat obesity.
Prevalence and Predictors of “Heavy” Marijuana Use in a Canadian Youth Sample

In this investigation, secondary analyses were performed on an extensive database for 473 biological and 128 adoptive families. These data, which were gathered as part of the Vancouver Family Survey, were used to examine the prevalence and predictors of “heavy” marijuana use in a Canadian youth sample aged 14–25. Results in this study showed that 12.6% of the sample reported using marijuana once a week or more. These respondents were categorized as “heavy” marijuana users. Higher levels of life problems were associated with this use pattern. Results from a series of regression analyses suggested that the family, personality, and peer domains all contributed significantly in predicting “heavy” marijuana use. Father's alcoholism and peer illicit drug use had direct relationships with heavy marijuana use in this final model. A possible mediated pathway was also suggested with the Addiction Prone Personality influencing use through its relationship with heavier peer drug use.
Transcriptional Profiling Identifies the Metabolic Phenotype of Gonococcal Biofilms

ABSTRACT Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the etiologic agent of gonorrhea, is frequently asymptomatic in women, often leading to chronic infections. One factor contributing to this may be biofilm formation. N. gonorrhoeae can form biofilms on glass and plastic surfaces. There is also evidence that biofilm formation may occur during natural cervical infection. To further study the mechanism of gonococcal biofilm formation, we compared transcriptional profiles of N. gonorrhoeae biofilms to planktonic profiles. Biofilm RNA was extracted from N. gonorrhoeae 1291 grown for 48 h in continuous-flow chambers over glass. Planktonic RNA was extracted from the biofilm runoff. In comparing biofilm with planktonic growth, 3.8% of the genome was differentially regulated. Genes that were highly upregulated in biofilms included aniA, norB, and ccp. These genes encode enzymes that are central to anaerobic respiratory metabolism and stress tolerance. Downregulated genes included members of the nuo gene cluster, which encodes the proton-translocating NADH dehydrogenase. Furthermore, it was observed that aniA, ccp, and norB insertional mutants were attenuated for biofilm formation on glass and transformed human cervical epithelial cells. These data suggest that biofilm formation by the gonococcus may represent a response that is linked to the control of nitric oxide steady-state levels during infection of cervical epithelial cells.
Multi-Polytope-Based Adaptive Robust Damping Control in Power Systems Using CART

An adaptive damping control scheme based on classification and regression tree (CART) using wide-area signals is proposed in this paper. Different polytopes are chosen using classification trees. Next, a family of robust polytopic controllers is designed off-line. Finally, using regression trees and PMU data, the desired polytopic controller is identified in real time. A 16-generator, 68-bus system is used as the test system. Remote signals obtained from PMUs are employed for control purposes. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed adaptive control scheme is able to provide adequate damping for the oscillation modes of interest with respect to varying operating conditions without any prior knowledge of the post-disturbance state.
Sleep quality, use of hypnotics and sleeping habits in different age-groups among older people.

BACKGROUND Sleep disturbances are common among older people (>65 years). Further, long-term use of sedative hypnoticsin older people is associated with morbidity and mortality. However, older people represent a large span of life years, and few studies have included the oldest-old above 85 years. AIM To investigate and compare sleep quality, use of hypnotics and sleeping habits in different age groups of the older population in the Scania region, Sweden and in relation to sociodemographic- and functional status. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS A cross-sectional population-based study including 2931 people aged 60-93 years from five different municipalities in Scania was performed during 2001-2004. METHOD The sample was divided into age groups, young old (60-72 years), old-old (78-84 years) and oldest-old (87-93) years. Data constitutes of sleep related questions, sociodemographic- and functional status from the study 'Good Ageing in Skane'. Descriptive statistics were used to describe sleep quality, hypnotics use and sleeping habitsin relation to sociodemographic- and functional status. The aim was to investigate associations, not the magnitude of associations between variables. RESULTS In all age groups, those who used hypnotics and were living alone had significantly poorer sleep quality and shortest sleeping time than nonhypnotic users and those who lived together. A significant increase of hypnotics and frequency of use was seen with increasing age. Frequency of napping increased significantly with degree of dependence in all age groups and with increasing age. CONCLUSIONS Insomnia is still a problem and hypnotic use has not improved sleep for a large number of older people. Hypnotics are effective as short-term treatment, however, nonpharmacological interventions and psychological and behavioural therapies should be considered for treating older people with chronic insomnia.
The role of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography in the treatment of traumatic pancreatic duct injury.

BACKGROUND The status of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) is the most important determinant of the morbidity and mortality associated with pancreatic trauma. Early diagnosis and optimal treatment are critical, especially when there is MPD injury. METHODS Twenty-three patients with pancreatic trauma were studied prospectively with respect to clinical and laboratory findings, CT, and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP). Treatment modalities and clinical outcome were assessed in relation to ERP findings. RESULTS The pancreatic duct was injured in 14 of 23 patients (11 MPD, 3 branch duct). Contrast leakage from the MPD into peritoneal cavity at ERP confirmed MPD injury in 8 patients, who underwent surgical exploration. Three patients with leakage from a branch duct into the pancreatic parenchyma recovered with conservative treatment. Three patients in whom ERP demonstrated contrast leakage from the MPD confined to the parenchyma underwent successful transpapillary stent insertion with complete resolution of the leak at 3-month follow-up. Patients who underwent ERP more than 72 hours after trauma had a significantly higher rate of pancreas-associated complications and a tendency to remain hospitalized longer than patients who underwent ERP earlier. CONCLUSION Early ERP is one of the most useful methods for demonstrating MPD injury. ERP assists with treatment planning based on the degree of pancreatic duct injury.
Effects of different extraction buffers on peanut protein detectability and lateral flow device (LFD) performance

The accidental uptake of peanuts can cause severe health reactions in allergic individuals. Reliable determination of traces of peanuts in food products is required to support correct labelling and therefore minimise consumers’ risk. The immunoanalytical detectability of potentially allergenic peanut proteins is dependent on previous heat treatment, the extraction capacity of the applied buffer and the specificity of the antibody. In this study a lateral flow device (LFD) for the detection of peanut protein was developed and the capacity of 30 different buffers to extract proteins from mildly and strongly roasted peanut samples as well as their influence on the test strip performance were investigated. Most of the tested buffers showed good extraction capacity for putative Ara h 1 from mildly roasted peanuts. Protein extraction from dark-roasted samples required denaturing additives, which were proven to be incompatible with LFD performance. High-pH buffers increased the protein yield but inhibited signal generation on the test strip. Overall, the best results were achieved using neutral phosphate buffers but equal detectability of differently altered proteins due to food processing cannot be assured yet for immunoanalytical methods.
Development of a Modified Surveillance Definition of Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections for Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

Objective. To develop a modified surveillance definition of central line-associated bloodstream infection (mCLABSI) specific for our population of patients with hematologic malignancies to better support ongoing improvement efforts at our hospital. Design. Retrospective cohort study. Patients. Hematologic malignancies population in a 1,200-bed tertiary care hospital on a 22-bed bone marrow transplant (BMT) unit and a 22-bed leukemia unit. Methods. An mCLABSI definition was developed, and pathogens and rates were compared against those determined using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definition. Results. By the NHSN definition the CLABSI rate on the BMT unit was 6.0 per 1,000 central line-days, and by the mCLABSI definition the rate was 2.0 per 1,000 line-days (P < .001). On the leukemia unit, the NHSN CLABSI rate was 14.4 per 1,000 line-days, and the mCLABSI rate was 8.2 per 1,000 line-days (P = .009). The top 3 CLABSI pathogens by the NHSN definition were Enterococcus species, Klebsiella species, and Escherichia coli. The top 3 CLABSI pathogens by the mCLABSI definition were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CONS), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The difference in the incidence of CONS as a cause of CLABSI under the 2 definitions was statistically significant (P < .001). Conclusions. A modified surveillance definition of CLABSI was associated with an increase in the identification of staphylococci as the cause of CLABSIs, as opposed to enteric pathogens, and a decrease in CLABSI rates.
Connective tissue, glycosaminoglycans, and diseases of the thyroid.

CONNECTIVE tissue imparts cohesion, strength, and form to the organs that it invests. It is comprised of several discrete cellular and noncellular components. The fibroblast and its more specialized derivatives (such as chondrocytes and osteocytes) elaborate and release several important molecules such as fibrous proteins (collagen), attachment proteins (fibronectin), glycoproteins, and ground substance. In this article we review the now abundant evidence that fibroblasts and their products are important mediators of some peripheral expressions of thyroid disease, including myxedema, pretibial dermopathy, thyroid acropachy, and ophthalmopathy of Graves' disease. Our review concentrates predominantly on the glycosaminoglycans that comprise ground substance. The fibrous proteins are given less attention. The early prejudice that the ground substance and connective tissue in general were rather unimportant becomes apparent in a quote attributed to Von Haller (1), who in 1757 wrote that “it is evident that a .
Cutting Edge: IL-21 and TLR Signaling Regulate Germinal Center Responses in a B Cell-Intrinsic Manner

IL-21 produced by follicular Th (Tfh) cells is an important regulator of Tfh cell development and B cell responses, including germinal center (GC) formation. However, whether defective GC formation and Ab responses are a consequence of impaired Tfh cells development or a B cell-intrinsic defect in IL-21–deficient mice requires clarification. To address this question, we generated chimeric mice lacking IL-21R exclusively on B cells. In this study, we demonstrate that GC reaction and B cell responses induced by immunization with virus-like particles were strongly reduced in both global and B cell-specific IL-21R–deficient mice. Interestingly, the presence of TLR7 ligand within virus-like particles largely restored defective GC reaction and Ab responses in global as well as in B cell-specific IL-21R–deficient mice. Hence, IL-21 acts directly on B cells and cooperates with TLR signaling for optimal B cell responses.
Colorimetric End‐Tidal Carbon Dioxide Monitoring for Tracheal Intubation

We evaluated a Colorimetric end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETco2) detector (FEF end-tidal carbon dioxide detector, Fenem, New York, N.Y.) during 62 intubations in anesthetized patients who were hemodynamically stable. The intubations were performed during a drill that simulates difficult tracheal intubation and therefore is associated with an increased risk of esophageal intubation. Each intubation attempt was monitored by two anesthesiologists and a research assistant who together used chest auscultation, Colorimetric ETco2, and capnography to confirm tracheal intubation and detect esophageal intubation. The reliability of the monitors was compared with capnography. Colorimetric ETco2 confirmed tracheal intubations and detected esophageal intubations 100% of the time, as judged by capnography. There were no false-positive or false-negative decisions based on endotracheal tube position; however, one equivocal color change occurred, which was caused by failure to inflate the endotracheal tube cuff. Colorimetric ETco2 monitoring confirmed tracheal intubation more rapidly than did chest auscultation (P < 0.001) or capnography (P < 0.05), and detected esophageal intubation more rapidly than did chest auscultation (P < 0.05) and as rapidly as capnography did. Confirmation of tracheal intubation VMS achieved earlier than detection of esophageal intubation with all three monitors (P < 0.05). We conclude that Colorimetric ETco2 monitoring is a safe, reliable, rapid, simple, and portable method for determining endotracheal tube position for patients who are hemodynamically stable and should be recommended where capnography is not available.
Dietary and lifestyle risk factors in colon cancer developing.

Colorectal cancer, with the breast and bronchogenic cancers are leaders in the malignant diseases of the human population. It is life threatening disease worldwide. The aim of this study is to review the dietary and lifestyle risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention among general population. We searched 346 articles published in last decade, concerning the dietary components, and lifestyle risk factors in relation to colorectal cancer. The reviewed articles were obtained from the PubMed data sources where the most important clinical information was available. There is reliable evidence that vitamin B6, magnesium and garlic intake, may significantly protect against developing colorectal cancer. The additional factors such as active living, maintaining a healthy weight by sport activities and exercises and avoiding or reducing red meat, alcohol, and smoking, as well as hormone replacement therapy among women, may provide proper work of the intestinal system. Obesity and stress life are noted as main risk factors for colorectal cancer. Surprisingly, there was less consistent evidence that some spices, herbs, tea, fruit and vegetable intake as well as fish and Omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, dairy, calcium and vitamin D, may provide additional protective role in developing the colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer can be prevented in general population through dietary and lifestyle interventions. Further investigations of some nutritional components and the way of food processing are necessary in order to provide reliable aspects of colon cancer developing.
Fine Root Growth Response to Soil-Applied Nitrogen and Paclobutrazol

Practices to promote tree root growth have been sought in arboriculture for many years, especially as a treatment for trees that are stressed or in decline. Tree fertilization is a common practice in arboriculture. A few research reports have shown that nitrogen fertilization can increase fine-root density in localized areas of soil where the fertilizer has been applied, but the effect on the whole root system has not been investigated. Research has reported fine-root stimulating effects from basal application of the growth regulator paclobutrazol, but results have not been consistent. More information is needed. A slow-release granular formulation of nitrogen was broadcast over the entire root system of mature oaks for four consecutive years, with or without a paclobutrazol basal drench in the first year. Nitrogen was also applied to younger green ash and black maple as granular broadcast or subsoil liquid soil injection for two consecutive years. There was no overall increase in fine-root development from any of the treatments, and no localized increase from soil injection application of nitrogen. Growth response of the crowns was minimal. Soil profiles were undisturbed with moderate natural nitrogen availability. The results suggest that routine fertilization of trees at standard recommended rates may be ineffective if soil fertility is moderate. Résumé. Les pratiques visant à favoriser la croissance racinaire des arbres ont été recherchées en arboriculture depuis de nom-breuses années, en particulier pour le traitement des arbres stressés ou en déclin. La fertilisation des arbres est une pratique courante en arboriculture. Quelques résultats de recherche ont démontré que la fertilisation azotée peut augmenter la densité de fines racines dans les zones localisées du sol où l'engrais a été appliqué, mais l'effet sur le système racinaire dans son ensemble n'a pas été examiné. La recherche a rapporté un effet stimulant sur les fines racines à la suite d’une application basale du régulateur de croissance paclobutrazol, mais les résultats n'ont pas été constants. Davantage d'infor- mations sont nécessaires. Une formulation granulaire à libération lente d'azote a été répandue sur l'ensemble du système racinaire de chênes matures pendant quatre années consécutives, avec ou sans une application basale de paclobutrazol lors de la première année. De l'azote a également été appliqué sur des frênes verts plus jeunes et des érables noirs par épandage granulaire ou par injection li- quide dans le sol pendant deux années consécutives. Il n'y a pas eu d'augmentation globale du développement de fines racines à la suite d'aucun de ces traitements et aucune augmentation localisée à la suite des injections liquides dans le sol. La croissance réactive des houppiers était minime. Les profils de sol n'ont pas