Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PWE-083 Deranged liver function tests in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a single centre experience

Introduction Deranged liver function tests (LFTs) are commonly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Observational studies suggest prevalence of between 11% to 49% [1] but factors predicting this abnormality are unclear. It was the aim of this study to investigate its distribution, association, causes and outcome. Method Patients with IBD were identified using the endoscopy reporting system (endoscribe) over a five year period. Data was then collected from clinic letters, discharge summaries, endoscopy reports, pathology and biochemistry reports utilising the hospital reporting systems which included medisec, endoscribe, and ICE system. Information collected included demographics, disease classification, co-morbidities, pattern of LFTs, medication, surgery, hospital admission and prognosis. Results Of 201 patients identified, 6 were excluded due to insufficient data. Of the remaining 195 patients identified with IBD, 35% (n=69) developed deranged LFTs with 107 separate episodes documented. The mean age was 48 years, males, 43%. Co-morbidities included cardiovascular disease17%, rheumatoid disease 12%, dermatological disease 11%, cancer 6%, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes 5% each, and alcohol excess and underlying liver disease 3% each. In patients with IBD who had deranged LFTs, 57% had ulcerative colitis (UC), 42% had Crohn’s Disease (CD) and 1% had indeterminate colitis. Of the 107 episodes of deranged LFTs, 50% were associated with an IBD flare whilst 22% with IBD medication. Other associations included recent non-IBD surgery 5%,other medication 5%, cancer 4%, rheumatoid disease 2%, recent IBD surgery 3%, AIH/PSC 2%,miscellaneous (gallstones, ischemia, NAFLD, sepsis, alcoholic hepatitis, pregnancy) 12% and undetermined causes 14%. On logistic regression, continued deteriorating LFTs was associated with AIH/PSC(p=0.001) and cancer(p=0.019). Logistic regression also suggested an association between the cholestatic pattern of LFTs and IBD medication(p=0.001), recent IBD surgery(p=0.015) and cancer(p=0.005). The distribution of LFTs was cholestatic 34%, hepatitic 51% and mixed 15%. 52% of deranged LFTs episodes resolved, 39% remained elevated and 9% continued to deteriorate. Conclusion Deranged LFTs are a frequently noted in patients with IBD, the most common reasons being IBD flare, surgery and medications. Furthermore, a cholestatic pattern of LFTs were associated with patients who have deranged LFTs secondary to medication. The factors associated with this derangement should be actively sought and managed. Reference . Liver Function Test Abnormalities in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Hospital-based Survey.Cappello M, et al. Clin Med Insights Gastroenterol. 2014Jun 17;7:25–31. doi: 10.4137/CGast.S13125. eCollection 2014. Disclosure of Interest None Declared
Budd Chiari syndrome presenting with hepatic transient mosaic enhancement pattern and treated with early transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Budd Chiari syndrome (BCS) can present with ascites and with the so-called hepatic mosaic enhancement pattern (MEP) on CT and MR imaging, as well as other different diseases. However, no previously cases of transient MEP and BCS were reported. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an established interventional treatment of BCS, whose timing is a debated issue. We report a case of BCS presenting with ascites and transient MEP and treated with early TIPS. We report the case of a 73-year-old man who presented with ascites and MEP on CT imaging. Anticoagulant therapy resulted in disappearance of MEP, despite persistence of ascites. However, liver biopsy was performed confirming a picture of BCS. Despite clinical albeit suboptimal response to medical therapy, TIPS was performed. Subsequently, ascites disappeared and the clinical outcome was favourable after 30 months. Transient hepatic MEP on CT imaging may be indicative of BCS. Furthermore, early interventional treatment for of BCS could challenge the step-wise strategy.
Women’s earnings between migration status and glass ceilings: a double penalty?

ABSTRACT We investigate the gender earnings gap in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This paper implements conditional counterfactual decomposition analysis to assess the double impact of migration status and gender on skilled womens' relative earnings along earnings' distributions. We show that the earnings' gap declines by 31% between the higher and lower ends of earnings distributions. This decline is in part due to a falling effect of migration, which accounts for 100% of the total gap at the lower end of earnings, and for 50% at the higher end. Increasing effects of glass ceilings account for about 16% of the total gap around the median, and over 37% at the higher end of earnings distributions. Labour market policies that promote equal pay for equal work are recommended.
Comparison of craniofacial linear measurements of 20–40 year-old males and females using digital lateral cephalometric radiography in Indonesia

Craniofacial characteristics are one of the sex determination parameters of age after puberty. The aim of this study is to obtain linear measurements using lateral cephalometric radiography of adults aged 20–40 years based on sex in Indonesia. Ten linear craniofacial parameters on 100 digital lateral cephalometric radiographs were measured. Inter-intra observer reliability was tested using Technical Error Measurement. The independent t-test and the Mann–Whitney U test were used to evaluate the significance of the findings. There are significant differences between males and females on 10 of the linear measurements using lateral cephalometric radiography. Lateral cephalometric radiography showed that the linear measurements of 10 cephalometic parameters were higher in males than females, so it can be used to determine sex.
ASSESSMENT OF A PORTABLE TOF CAMERA AND COMPARISON WITH SMARTPHONE STEREO VISION

Abstract. Nowadays time-of-flight (ToF) cameras and multiple RGB cameras are being embedded in an increasing number of high-end smartphones: despite their integration in mobile devices is mostly motivated by photographic applications, their availability can be exploited to enable 3D reconstructions directly on smartphones. Furthermore, even when a ToF camera is not embedded in a smartphone, low cost solutions are available on the market in order to easily provide standard mobile devices with a lightweight and extremely portable ToF camera. This work deals with the assessment of a low cost ToF camera, namely Pico Zense DCAM710, which perfectly fits with the above description. According to the results obtained in the considered tests, the ranging error (precision) of the DCAM710 camera increases linearly approximately up to the nominal maximum range in the considered working mode, up to approximately 1 cm. Despite the device allows to acquire measurements also at larger ranges, the measurement quality significantly worsen. After assessing the main characteristics of such ToF camera, this paper aims at comparing its 3D reconstruction ability with that of a smartphone stereo vision system. In particular, the comparison of a 3D reconstruction obtained with stereo vision from images acquired with an LG G6 shows that the stereo reconstruction leads to a much larger point cloud. However, points generated by the ToF camera are more homogeneously distributed, and they seem to slightly better describe the real geometry of the reconstructed object. The combination of such two technologies, which will be investigated in our future work, can potentially lead to a denser cloud with respect to the ToF camera, while preserving a reasonable accuracy.
Plant ecological indicator values as predictors of fine‐root trait variations

Fine roots play key roles in the capacity of plants to face environmental constraints and their traits reflect adaptations to the environment, including soil structure, resource availability and climate. However, the inaccuracy of global soil and climate databases to account for the large environmental variation occurring at small spatial scale prevents accurate estimations of the linkages between environmental variables and fine‐root strategies. Here, using two global databases on fine‐root traits (Rhizopolis‐db) and species phylogenetic relatedness, and a regional database of species ecological indicator values (Baseflor), we quantified the predictive value of ecological indicator values, as an alternative to classical coarse soil and climate indicators, on the variation in four major fine‐root traits. A strong phylogenetic signal was found among species for fine‐root mean diameter, specific root length (SRL) and root tissue density (RTD), but less so for root nitrogen concentration (RNC). After accounting for this relatedness, ecological indicators still explained a large part of trait variation in our dataset for SRL, RTD and RNC. Multi‐indicators best model R2 reached . 40 for SRL and RTD, and . 44 for RNC, whereas it was only 0.10 for diameter. Ecological indicators of nutrient availability and soil texture were those that most strongly related to SRL, RTD and RNC. Specifically, plant fast resources use strategies characterized by high SRL, RNC and low RTD occurred more frequently in nutrient‐rich soils and in soils with light sandy textures. Additionally, light availability and atmospheric temperature were negatively related with SRL and continentality negatively influenced RNC. With respect to both nutrient and water availability ecological indicator values, opposite adaptations were observed between growth forms, particularly between woody and herbaceous species, limiting our ability to define simple, widely applicable patterns of trait–environment relationships. Synthesis. Our analysis demonstrates that species ecological indicator values are valuable predictors of plant below‐ground strategies. It provides original evidence that herbaceous species with fine‐root traits representative of fast resource use strategies typically occur in more favourable soil habitats (high nutrient and water availability); meanwhile, woody species may show the opposite trend. Other important environmental parameters concomitantly influence fine‐root trait variation in contrasting ways.
Prevalence of Loneliness, Anxiety, and Depression among Older People Living in Long-Term Care: A Review

Objective: The aim of this paper was to review prevalence rates of loneliness, anxiety, and depression among older people living in long-term care settings such as residential aged care facilities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Method: A systematic search of the literature was conducted using several electronic databases including Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane library. Results: In total, 18 articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. The results indicated that the prevalence rates of loneliness (56% to 95.5%), anxiety (3.6% to 38%), and depression (11% to 85.5%) in older people living in long-term care settings are generally high. Conclusion: Further research on effective methods of reducing these symptoms is recommended.
The relationship between body mass index, sexual function and quality of life in women of reproductive age in Iran

Abstract Quality of life (QOL) and sexual function are important variables in the general health of women of reproductive age. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sexual function and QOL. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 482 women of reproductive age referring to women health centers in 2017. The WHO QOL questionnaire and the female sexual function index used as tools. The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, post-hoc tests and Pearson correlation coefficient and p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. The mean age of the samples was 31.8 ± 7.64. The results showed that 162 (33.6%) of women had normal BMI, 200 (41.5%) of them were overweight and 120 (24.9%) were obese. Sexual desire (p < 0.001), sexual arousal (p = 0.001), lubrication (p = 0.001), orgasm (p < 0.001) and satisfaction (p = 0.008) decreased with increasing BMI and this reduction was statistically significant. On the other hand, there was a significant negative relationship between all aspects of QOL with BMI (p = 0.001). The present study showed that obesity and weight gain are negative factors for sexual function and women’s QOL, as well as sexual desire, orgasm and marital satisfaction decrease with increasing BMI.
Awareness and implementation of infection control measures in private dental clinics, Holy Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Since the majority of dental patients in Holly Makkah are treated in private sector, the aim of the present study was to evaluate attitude and knowledge towards infection control (IC) measures among dentists in private clinics in our region. A self-constructed questionnaire, consisted of 30 items related to IC practices and knowledge, was distributed among 107 private clinics dentists in ten districts of Holly Makkah. The data collected were related to gender, qualification, daily work load and years of experience of the participants. Although significant percentage (P <0.05) of participants had hepatitis B vaccination; 14.9% of them were none vaccinated. A wrong attitude of bending needle after use is common (70%) which is higher by general practitioners (GP), 12.2 % do not dispose sharps in safety box and 2.8% not considering separation of blood socked wastes is important. The wrong knowledge that wearing gloves could replace hand hygiene was reported in 15.9%. All participants were aware that used instruments should be autoclaved, but 4.6% was not realizing the importance of the use of new hand piece for every patient. Higher percentages of dentists with 10 years of experience were none vaccinated; do not perform hand hygiene after removing gloves and unfortunately, they did not receive any educational IC course. In conclusion, the IC practice and knowledge of dentists in Holly Makkah private clinics are below standard levels. So, continued medical education and obligatory training IC programs are recommended for improving their practice and update their knowledge.
Reappraisal of risk factors in neoplastic lesions of the cervix uteri

Carcinoma of uterine cervix is most common cancer amongst women in developing countries and rates the second most common cancer in women throughout the world . The neoplastic lesions of the cervix have attracted the attention of epidemiologist for the many years, as innumerable studies have been conducted looking for the clues to the factors associated with the etiopathogenesis of the disease. There have been interesting changes of age related incidence and other etiological factors associated with cervical neoplasia in the past. Twentieth century epidemiology noted the absence of carcinoma of cervix in a large population of nuns and linked the disease more closely to sexual activity. Further studies have expanded this observation to emphasize the importance of low socio-economic status, multiparity, early marriages and multiple sexual partners as risk factor for development of carcinoma cervix. Despite possible correlation with possible risk association with age, sexual activity, multiparity, smoking, alcohol, oral contraception and low socio economic status, suggested by various researchers, the exact role and a true causal association between these risk ABSTRACT
Independent and joint influences of eastern Pacific El Niño–southern oscillation and quasi‐biennial oscillation on Northern Hemispheric stratospheric ozone

Using ozone observations, reanalysis data, and climate model simulations, this study investigates in detail the independent and joint influences of the eastern Pacific (EP) El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) on stratospheric ozone in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) during winter. Statistically, the stratospheric ozone in the NH in winter increases during El Niño events but decreases during La Niña events. Stratospheric ozone increases in the east wind phases of the QBO (EQBO) and decreases in the west wind phases of the QBO (WQBO). The stratospheric ozone anomalies in the middle and high latitudes caused by ENSO activities are clearly larger than those related to the QBO phase. Since the phases of wave‐1 and wave‐2 planetary waves anomalies related to ENSO activities are broadly similar to those of QBO phases, the joint effect of ENSO and QBO on stratospheric ozone is approximately equal to the linear superposition of their independent impacts. This means that during EQBO phases, the stratospheric ozone anomalies are increased during El Niño events but reduced during La Niña events, and vice versa during WQBO phases. Numerical sensitivity experiments are performed to further investigate the independent and joint influences of EP ENSO and QBO on stratospheric ozone in the NH during winter. The results from simulations agree well with the results from statistical analysis.
Explaining levels of between-group and within-group inequality and poverty in South Africa

Abstract Most research on poverty has focused on causes of poverty and the inequality gap nationally, meanwhile increasing levels of inequality and poverty has actual occurred within population groups. This study focuses on the sources and extent of within-groups (intragroup; blacks African against each other) and between-groups (intergroup; whites, Indians, coloured and black Africans) inequality and poverty which varies more widely today than over the past decade. To achieve this, two harmonised General Household Surveys from 2012 and 2017 were utilised. The study found that poverty was mainly within-groups, yet, inequality was between-groups. Thus, more efforts should be directed in reducing poverty amongst black Africans within sub groups or tribal lines. Furthermore, income sources from agriculture and pension were the more elastic income components, suggesting that any changes in these two has the likelihood of worsening or reducing inequality. The study recommends that the government should focus on ways of boosting agricultural employment and social grants distribution.
Herd behaviour in the cryptocurrency market: Fundamental vs. spurious herding

This paper sets out to explore whether the investor herding in the cryptocurrency market induces correlations in cryptocurrency returns using the methodology of Chang et al. (2000) and Galariotis et al. (2015) from a daily data sampling period of 3/30/2015 to 5/24/2019. The initial regression results show that the cross-sectional absolute deviation of return can only be explained by GSCI oil and gold index return, but no relationship exists between cross-sectional absolute deviation of return and other regression variables, such as return on CCi30, US equity risk premium and US/Euro exchange rate return. The herding regression results under normal market condition show that a strong tendency exists to herd on non-fundamental information that explains cross-sectional absolute deviation of returns. As such, cryptocurrency returns cannot be predicted on the basis of fundamental economic information (e.g., major macroeconomic announcements). Herding on non-fundamental information is found to be more pronounced during an upward-trending period of the market and other than upward-trending period. No signs of herding on fundamental information could be observed under other market conditions. Although the theory suggests that herding on non-fundamental information results in more efficient outcomes, the above findings do not encourage the diversification of traditional assets with cryptocurrency on the basis of low correlation. Since cryptocurrency lacks intrinsic value, the exchange is shown to provide a pseudo-efficient trading platform for speculative investors. Implications for future research are discussed.
‘A trend or a Need’ Threshold Concepts in Medicine and Surgery; A Qualitative Synthesis

Information overload, due the enthusiasm of curriculum developers for covering everything, is a grave problem today. In the context of medicine, information load is integral to the discipline because a doctor needs to be knowledgeable in order to identify and treat diseases. It raise a concern about how can students remember and apply this much information when they start their clinical placements? It poses compelling pressures on medical educators to devise ways to manage cognitive load without compromising the knowledge that is transferable to clinical setting which, otherwise, may limit students’ time on task to learn threshold concepts and promote rote learning. In this context threshold concept theory seems promising. This review is designed to explore TCs and potential usefulness in medicine and surgery. This qualitative synthesis of literature revealed that there are threshold concepts of knowing and practicing which every student must navigate and master during their training. Though there is growing body of evidence regarding need of adoption of threshold concept framework (TCF) in higher education, further research in needed in the field of medicine and surgery for operationalization of TCF. Keywords: THRESHOLD CONCEPTS, TROUBLESOME KNOWLEDGE, MEDICAL EDUCATION
Self-Compassion Interventions in Body Image: A Review of the Literature

There has been increasing interest in the potential benefits of self-compassion as an approach to promoting a positive body image and preventing risks associated with disordered eating behaviours. This chapter provides a critical review of studies that examine the buffering effect of self-compassion on body image concerns, weight-related issues, or eating behaviours, and/or the strengthening effect of self-compassion on positive body image. While findings indicated the benefits of self-compassion, effects were generally small to medium and varied with aspects of the study (sample size, study design, and collection of follow-up data), intervention type (e.g., meditation, writing), and intervention duration. Recommendations are provided for further evaluation research that uses robust methodologies to determine when and how self-compassion interventions assist with problems of body image and eating behaviours.