Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tobacco use by university students, Lebanon, 2001.

AIMS The objective was to determine the prevalence of smoking [cigarettes and/or narghile (i.e. water-pipe)] among university students and to examine multiple correlates. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING Beirut, Lebanon. PARTICIPANTS A proportionate random sample of 1964 students from public and private universities in Beirut, Lebanon. MEASUREMENTS Participants completed a self-administered anonymous questionnaire that included demographic and scholastic items and health behavioral aspects, including smoking, alcohol, physical activity, weight control measures and seat belt use. FINDINGS The overall prevalence of smoking was 40% (21.1%, 7.6% and 11.3% of the students were smoking only narghile, only cigarettes and both cigarettes and narghile, respectively). Regression analyses showed that males, those of non-Lebanese origin, pursuing undergraduate degrees, performing risky weight control measures and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol had increased odds of smoking cigarettes. Also, age, high level of paternal education and field of study were significant predictors. Narghile smoking was significantly higher among males who drank excessive alcohol. CONCLUSIONS The authors advocate a collaborative effort to alleviate the consequences of smoking among university students.
Effect of Physical Activity on Lumbar Spine and Femoral Neck Bone Densities

The lumbar spine and femoral neck densities of 123 and 141 normal adult women (50 +/- 10 years), respectively, measured by dual photon absorptiometry, were correlated with the number of hours of walking per day associated with their regular daily activities. This measure of exercise, obtained by detailed questionnaire and interview, was analyzed because it is regular, seasonally stable, and quantifiable. Both lumbar spine and femoral neck densities were significantly correlated with walking, with 0.8% and 1.9% increases in average bone density per hour of daily walking, respectively. This increase in density is substantial, considering that the age-related rate of bone loss in the same population is 0.7% and 0.5% per year of lumbar spine and femoral neck, respectively. This means that, on the average, a woman walking one additional hour per day has a femoral neck bone density comparable to that of a women 4 years younger who does not pursue this additional activity. This physical activity-associated enhancement of bone density may be critical at old age when osteoporosis is clinically manifested.
A new species of Parastrigea (Digenea, Strigeidae) endoparasite of Buteogallus urubitinga (Aves, Accipitridae) from Argentina

SummaryA new strigeid digenean, Parastrigea macrobursa n. sp. , is described from specimens recovered from the small intestine of the great black-hawk, Buteogallus urubitinga (Aves: Accipitridae), from Formosa Province, Argentina. The new species is characterized by having a tulip-shaped forebody, a hindbody without neck region, a large, well delimited copulatory bursa, and a very deep genital atrium. Three species of Parastrigea share the shape of the copulatory bursa namely P. faini, P. astridae and P. tulipoides. Parastrigea faini and P. astridae differ mainly from the new species by having the forebody strongly divided in two regions and very developed lateral expansions, and Parastrigea tulipoides by having a long neck region and a longer body size. This new species represents the first record of a member of the genus Parastrigea Szidat, 1928 parasitizing birds from Argentina. A key is presented for the species currently recognized as valid in the genus.
Tranexamic acid in aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVE To assess the relative efficacy of tranexamic acid compared with a control group to decrease bleeding and transfusion requirements in a uniform population undergoing aortic valve replacement. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, double-blind study. SETTINGS University hospital. PARTICIPANTS Adult cardiac surgery patients (n = 300). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized into 2 groups to receive either a total of 5 g of tranexamic acid or a saline solution. Bleeding in the postoperative period, transfusions of bank blood products, coagulation profile, intensive care unit stay, and hospital length of stay were recorded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Postoperative bleeding in patients treated with tranexamic acid was significantly lower compared with the control group (p < 0.0001). Packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma usage were reduced in the tranexamic acid group compared with the control group (p = 0.0095 and p < 0.0001). Only 24.5% of tranexamic acid patients received blood products versus 45% of control patients (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in hematologic and coagulation profiles after the operation between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Tranexamic acid reduces postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements in elective aortic valve replacement.
Cyclosporine in human bone marrow transplantation. Serum concentration, graft-versus-host disease, and nephrotoxicity.

Serum concentrations of cyclosporine were studied in 42 patients given cyclosporine for the prevention of graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Serum trough levels for cyclosporine were determined in each patient at least once weekly during the first 3 months and were compared with the occurrence of GVHD and with nephrotoxicity. Cyclosporine was given as 20 mg/kg i.m. or as a 24-hr infusion for the first 5-7 days. This was followed by a single daily oral dose of 12.5 mg/kg for 6 months. Cyclosporine was then gradually reduced and stopped after one year. After a median observation period of 2 years 25 of the 42 patients (59%) are alive. Twenty six patients (62%) developed GVHD, which was stage II or more in 11 (26%) and fatal in 2 patients (5%). Five patients developed GVHD 6-8 weeks after withdrawal of cyclosporine one year after BMT. All patients improved after restarting cyclosporine. No correlation between cyclosporine serum concentration and GVHD was observed, but patients with GVHD had greater fluctuations of their serum trough levels. Serum creatinine increased in all patients soon after BMT and was correlated with cyclosporine serum concentration during the first month. Serum creatinine, however, rose further despite lower cyclosporine concentrations in the second month. These results show that cyclosporine effectively reduces the severity, but not the incidence, of GVHD suggesting that there is a subset of cells resistant to cyclosporine. The therapeutic range, however, between high doses (which are often associated with nephrotoxicity) and the minimal effective dose of cyclosporine, has yet to be defined.
Demonstration of Low-Noise Digital Beamforming Architecture Using an Experimental Microwave Array

†D. McQueen is a resident subcontractor at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, contracted through Lockheed Martin Systems Management. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. This work was sponsored under Air Force Contract FA8721-05-C-0002. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the United States Government.
Role of Surface Species at Pt(111) in Electrochemical Oxygen Reduction

Objetivos de esta tesis Entender los detalles del mecanismo de la reduccion de oxigeno catalizada por superficies metalicas constituye un aspecto importante en las aplicaciones de celdas de combustible, asi como tambien en electroquimica [1? 3, 8, 11, 33], especialmente sobre las superficies de platino. Sin embargo, esto no sera posible mientras no se alcance la comprension de los fenomenos asociados a la formacion de oxidos superficiales. Estos son dos procesos altamente acoplados e interrelacionados y deben ser analizados conjuntamente, como un paso esencial hacia el entendimiento a nivel molecular del mecanismo de la ORR, y su posterior aplicacion en electrocatalisis. En este sentido, como un paso mas hacia la comprension de la ORR, el objetivo general de esta tesis es analizar la dinamica de la reduccion de oxigeno a potenciales relativamente altos, cerca del pie de la onda, sobre electrodos de Pt(111), para establecer como las especies oxigenadas generadas electroquimicamente, OHads, Oads y oxidos superficiales, pueden afectar la cinetica de la ORR, y arrojar cierta luz sobre el mecanismo de la reaccion en esta superficie modelo. Se escoge el electrodo de Pt(111) porque, como se menciono arriba, es el plano base de Pt atomicamente mas estable a la adsorcion de oxigeno, y ha sido objeto de numerosos estudios experimentales y teoricos. Ademas, se cree que este plano es la faceta mas abundante en las nano-particulas de platino, y los electrocatalizadores de las celdas de combustible [49? 53], lo cual se basa en la suposicion teorica de que la forma energeticamente mas estable de las nano-particulas es la forma cubo-octaedrica [1, 54]. Con este proposito, el contenido de esta la tesis se ha dividido en cuatro partes. La primera parte comprende el estudio electroquimico de los procesos de adsorcion de especies oxigenadas sobre Pt(111) en soluciones 0.1 M de HClO4 libres de oxigeno, incluyendo el procesos de desorden de la superficie a altos potenciales (capitulos del 1 al 3). Posteriormente, la ORR se examinara a potenciales altos, donde ocurre el proceso de oxidacion del electrodo, pero manteniendo la estabilidad de la estructura superficial (capitulos 4 y 5). En este punto, el efecto de los defectos superficiales en la reaccion es reevaluado, mediante la medicion de la ORR sobre superficies escalonadas con terrazas largas, y la construccion de una curva ideal, para una superficie virtualmente libre de defectos, a partir de la extrapolacion de estos datos (capitulo 6). La tercera parte de la tesis se dedica a estudiar el comportamiento electroquimico del peroxido de hidrogeno sobre las superficies de Pt(111) y sus planos vecinales (capitulos 7 y 8). Finalmente, en la ultima parte de esta memoria, los resultados obtenidos se analizan y comparan con el conocimiento actual sobre este tema (capitulos 9 y 10).
Surgery for esotropia with a high accommodative convergence/accommodation ratio: effects on accommodative vergence and binocularity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of strabismus surgery as an alternative treatment for high accommodative convergence/accommodation (AC/A) ratio (nonrefractive accommodative) esotropia. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-three consecutive children with an AC/A ratio of 5:1 or greater and a distance-near disparity of 10 prism diopters (PD) or more were studied in a prospective design. Each patient was treated by recession of both medial rectus muscles for the full amount of esotropia measured at near fixation through the full distance hyperopic correction. The magnitude of eso deviation, the AC/A ratio, and the grade of binocularity were measured before and a minimum of 4 months after strabismus surgery. RESULTS Surgery reduced the mean preoperative eso deviation at near fixation by a factor of 4 (from a mean of 37 PD to a mean of 9 PD). Surgery eliminated the need for bifocals in 96 percent of the patients. The grade of binocular fusion or stereopsis improved in 70 percent of the patients, remained unchanged in 26 percent, and was degraded in 4 percent. Three (13 percent) of the children became exophoric; none of the children were exotropic. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that strabismus surgery is an effective alternative to the long-term use of bifocals in the treatment of high AC/A ratio esotropia. Surgery may be more effective than bifocals in restoring normal stereopsis and binocular fusion.
Endothelial venodilator response in carriers of genetic polymorphisms involved in NO synthesis and degradation.

AIMS Polymorphisms of the NOSIII gene and of the CYBA gene have been associated with a number of pathological conditions such as arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction. Because endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in these disorders, we hypothesized that polymorphisms of NOSIII or CYBA might modulate endothelial function of venous capacitance vessels already before cardiovascular disease becomes overt. METHODS Endothelium-dependent and -independent venodilation was assessed by measuring local vascular responses to bradykinin and sodium nitroprusside in the dorsal hand vein after preconstriction with phenylephrine in 72 healthy male Caucasians after careful exclusion of cardiovascular risk factors. Genotyping was performed for polymorphisms of the NOSIII gene (T-786C, G894T, (CA)(n)) and the CYBA gene (C242T). RESULTS Genotype distribution for each polymorphism followed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In all studied single nucleotide polymorphisms no significant difference between the respective genotypes and the venodilator response to either sodium nitroprusside or bradykinin was observed, and the number of CA repeat copies was not related to the venodilator response to bradykinin. Mean venodilation induced by bradykinin 50 ng min(-1) (+/-SEM) for homozygote carriers of the single nucleotide polymorphisms was 48.9 +/- 8.5% venodilation (G894T; wild type: 49.8 +/- 6.9), 50.3 +/- 11.0% venodilation (T-786C; wild type: 42.6 +/- 5.2), and 30.4 +/- 9.1% venodilation (C242T; wild type: 49.2 +/- 6.0), respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the studied polymorphisms of NOSIII and CYBA do not significantly modulate endothelium-dependent venodilation in individuals without vascular risk factors.
Age‐related macular degeneration—emerging pathogenetic and therapeutic concepts

Today, the average life expectancy in developed nations is over 80 years and climbing. And yet, the quality of life during those additional years is often significantly diminished by the effects of age‐related, degenerative diseases, including age‐related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the elderly worldwide. AMD is characterized by a progressive loss of central vision attributable to degenerative and neovascular changes in the macula, a highly specialized region of the ocular retina responsible for fine visual acuity. Estimates gathered from the most recent World Health Organization (WHO) global eye disease survey conservatively indicate that 14 million persons are blind or severely visually impaired because of AMD. The disease has a tremendous impact on the physical and mental health of the geriatric population and their families and is becoming a major public health burden. Currently, there is neither a cure nor a means to prevent AMD. Palliative treatment options for the less prevalent, late‐stage ‘wet’ form of the disease include anti‐neovascular agents, photodynamic therapy and thermal laser. There are no current therapies for the more common ‘dry’ AMD, except for the use of antioxidants that delay progression in 20%–25% of eyes. New discoveries, however, are beginning to provide a much clearer picture of the relevant cellular events, genetic factors, and biochemical processes associated with early AMD. Recently, compelling evidence has emerged that the innate immune system and, more specifically, uncontrolled regulation of the complement alternative pathway plays a central role in the pathobiology of AMD. The complement Factor H gene—which encodes the major inhibitor of the complement alternative pathway—is the first gene identified in multiple independent studies that confers a significant genetic risk for the development of AMD. The emergence of this new paradigm of AMD pathogenesis should hasten the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for this disease that will dramatically improve the quality of our prolonged lifespan.
[Epidural analgesia and the course of delivery in term primiparas].

OBJECTIVES Epidural analgesia provides the most effective pain control during labor. Of great concern is its influence on the course of delivery and perinatal complications. DESIGN The aim of the study was to assess the effect of epidural analgesia on the course of delivery and perinatal outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS 609 deliveries among 1334 (323 women with epidural analgesia (53%) and 548 without epidural analgesia (47%)) met the following criteria: primipara, singleton, live pregnancy, > =37 weeks' gestation, cephalic presentation of a fetus, lack of contraindication for vaginal delivery. The incidence of instrumental deliveries and fetal distress, duration of the first, second and third stage of labor, perinatal outcome, perinatal complications and perinatal blood loss and were analyzed. RESULTS The incidence of fetal distress during second stage of labor was significantly higher in the epidural group (12.69 vs. 6.99%, P=0.02). The incidence of fetal distress during first stage of labor did not differ in both groups (10.53% vs. 8.74%, NS). Cesarean sections rate was similar in epidural and non-epidural group (17.7 vs. 18.2%, NS). Among vaginal deliveries duration of the first and second stage of labor was longer in epidural group (6.5+/-2.4 vs. 5.4+/-2.5 godz., P=0,000003 and 47.3+/-34.8 vs. 29.1+/-25.8 min., P=0.000003) and this was independent of period of time between onset of first stage of labor and epidural analgesia. Oxitocin use was significantly more frequent in the epidural group (20.6 vs. 10.3%, P<0.004). There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of instrumental vaginal deliveries, 1 and 5-minute Apgar scores, length of third stage of labor and perinatal blood loss in patients with and without epidural analgesia. Perinatal outcome did not depend on previous use of epidural analgesia or mode of analgesia for the operation in cesarean section subgroup. CONCLUSION Epidural labor analgesia is associated with slower progress of labor but has no adverse effect on perinatal outcome and perinatal complications.
The Prevalence of Rheumatologic Disorders in Patients with Chest Pain and Angiographically Normal Coronary Arteries

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in patients with chest pain and angiographically normal coronary arteries. The authors studied 40 consecutive patients with chest pain presenting at an Internal Medicine Clinic who had undergone coronary angiography and were found to have < 30% stenosis of all major coronary arteries. Patients with any known noncardiac cause of chest pain were excluded from the study. Each patient underwent a complete rheumatologic examination with x-rays and blood tests when indicated. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia was based on the presence of at least eight paired tender points. The diagnosis of costochondritis was made when palpation of the costal cartilages elicited tenderness. In the normal coronary artery group, 30% of the patients had fibromyalgia and 10% had costochondritis. In the control group of 40 patients with coronary artery disease, only 1 patient had fibromyalgia and none had costochondritis (P < 0.04). Other rheumatologic disorders were uncommon, with no statistical difference between the two groups. The authors conclude that many patients with chest pain and angiographically normal coronary arteries suffer from rheumatologic disorders with fibromyalgia being the most common.
Randomized evaluation of ceftazidime or ticarcillin and tobramycin for the treatment of osteomyelitis caused by gram-negative bacilli

Ceftazidime, a new cephalosporin with enhanced activity against aerobic gram-negative bacilli, was compared with tobramycin and ticarcillin in a randomized clinical trial. Efficacy and safety were evaluated in 18 patients (17 males, 1 female) with gram-negative osteomyelitis. All organisms were susceptible to the treatment antibiotics(s). There were nine patients treated with tobramycin and ticarcillin for 27 to 62 days (mean, 42 days), and nine patients were treated with 4 g of ceftazidime per day for 26 to 63 days (mean, 45 days). All nine patients receiving tobramycin and ticarcillin had the osteomyelitis arrested after the initial treatment. Follow-up was for 2 to 38 months (mean, 22 months). Of nine patients receiving ceftazidime three were initial treatment failures. Follow-up was for 13 to 31 months (mean, 21 months). A patient receiving ceftazidime had a transient rise in serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase. There were three treatment failures in the ceftazidime group; no failures occurred in the group receiving the combination of ticarcillin and tobramycin. A larger series would be required to detect a significant difference between the two treatment groups.
An applied printing immunoassay with recombinant Nc-SAG1 for detection of antibodies to Neospora caninum in cattle

Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite that causes an important reproductive disease in cattle. Neospora caninum surface antigen 1 (Nc-SAG1) is an immunodominant candidate for the development of a diagnostic reagent for neosporosis. The current study describes the development and evaluation of an antigen print immunoassay (APIA) with recombinant Nc-SAG1 for the detection of specific antibodies to N. caninum in cattle. The concordance between APIA and a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was evaluated with 232 serum samples from experimentally and naturally infected cattle. Sixty-one (26.7%) samples were positive for antibodies to N. caninum by ELISA and 58 (25.4%) by APIA. The new assay had a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 96%. These results, along with the potential of APIA to evolve into a multiple antigen detection format, suggest that this method would be a reliable diagnostic test for detection of antibodies to N. caninum in cattle.
Disaster Preparedness in an Australian Urban Trauma Center: Staff Knowledge and Perceptions

Abstract Introduction A substantial barrier to improving disaster preparedness in Australia is a lack of prescriptive national guidelines based on individual hospital capabilities. A recent literature review revealed that only one Australian hospital has published data regarding its current preparedness level. Objectives To establish baseline levels of disaster knowledge, preparedness, and willingness to respond to a disaster among one hospital's staff, and thus enable the implementation of national disaster preparedness guidelines based on realistic capabilities of individual hospitals. Methods An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to individuals and departments that play key roles in the hospital's external disaster response. Questions concerned prior education and experience specific to disasters, general preparedness knowledge, perceived preparedness of themselves and their department, and willingness to respond to a disaster from a conventional and/or chemical, biological, or radiological incident. Results Responses were received from 140 individuals representing nine hospital departments. Eighty-three participants (59.3%) had previously received disaster education; 53 (37.9%) had attended a disaster simulation drill, and 18 (12.9%) had responded to an actual disaster. The average disaster preparedness knowledge score was 3.57 out of 10. The majority of respondents rated themselves as “not really” prepared and were “unsure” of their respective departments’ level of preparedness. Most respondents indicated a willingness to participate in both a conventional incident involving burns and/or physical trauma, and an incident involving chemical, biological or radiological (CBR) weapons. Conclusions Australian hospital staff are under-prepared to respond to a disaster because of a lack of education, insufficient simulation exercises, and limited disaster experience. The absence of specific national standards and guidelines through which individual hospitals can develop their capabilities further compounds the poverty in preparedness. CorriganE, SamrasingheI. Disaster preparedness in an Australian urban trauma center: staff knowledge and perceptions. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(5):1-7.