Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The longitudinal relation between social reserve and smaller subsequent decline in executive functioning in old age is mediated via cognitive reserve

ABSTRACT Objectives: Social reserve such as having close friends helps promoting activity engagement in old age. Activity engagement in turn contributes to the accumulation of cognitive reserve and is a key predictor for maintaining executive functioning in aging. We investigated the mediating role of leisure activity engagement in the longitudinal relation between close friends and subsequent change in executive functioning as measured through performance changes in the Trail Making Test (TMT). Design, Setting, and Participants: Longitudinal study with 897 older adults tested in two waves 6 years apart, analyzed using latent change score modeling. Measurements: TMT parts A and B, leisure activity engagement, and close friends. Results: A larger number of close friends in the first wave of data collection was related to a higher frequency of leisure activities in the first wave. A higher frequency of leisure activities in the first wave significantly predicted a smaller subsequent increase in TMT completion time from the first to the second wave (i.e. a smaller decline in executive functioning). Importantly, 41.3% of the longitudinal relation between a larger number of close friends in the first wave and a smaller subsequent increase in TMT completion time (i.e. a smaller decline in executive functioning) was mediated via a higher frequency of leisure activities in the first wave. Conclusions: Social reserve such as having close friends may help promoting activity engagement in old age. By enhancing individuals’ cognitive reserve, this activity engagement may finally result in smaller subsequent decline in executive functioning in aging.
Comparing Dry Eye Disease After Small Incision Lenticule Extraction and Laser Subepithelial Keratomileusis.

PURPOSE To compare dry eye disease parameters between small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK). METHODS This prospective, nonrandomized study included 39 eyes of 39 patients who underwent SMILE (n = 19) and LASEK (n = 20). Dry eye disease parameters included Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear breakup time, Schirmer I test (SIT) value, corneal esthesiometry result, tear meniscus area, meibomian gland evaluation result, lipid layer thickness, and blink rate. Evaluations were performed before surgery and at 1 and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS Compared with the LASEK group, the SMILE group showed lower corneal esthesiometry values at 1 month and higher OSDI scores and lower SIT values at 6 months after surgery. The SMILE group showed significantly higher OSDI scores at 1 and 6 months after surgery than before, but significantly lower OSDI scores at 6 months than at 1 month after surgery. Both groups showed significantly decreased corneal sensitivity at 1 month after surgery, which increased to the preoperative level 6 months after surgery. The change in OSDI scores at 1 month after surgery positively correlated with changes in the total and partial blink rates, whereas the change in corneal sensitivity at 1 month after surgery negatively correlated with the total and partial blink rates. CONCLUSIONS Both SMILE and LASEK groups showed temporary decreases in corneal sensitivity, which recovered to baseline levels. Although subjective symptoms worsened after SMILE, SIT values improved after LASEK. Compared with SMILE, LASEK yielded better results regarding subjective symptoms, tear production, and corneal sensitivity.
Novel Model Predicts Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Clinical indicators for accurately distinguishing diabetic nephropathy (DN) from non-diabetic renal disease in type 2 diabetes (T2D) are lacking. This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting DN in T2D patients with kidney disease. Methods: A total of 302 consecutive patients with T2D who underwent renal biopsy at China-Japan Friendship Hospital between January 2014 and June 2019 were included in the study. The data were randomly split into a training set containing 70% of the patients (n = 214) and a validation set containing the remaining 30% of patients (n = 88). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to develop a prediction nomogram incorporating the candidates selected in the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression model. Discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the prediction model were assessed using a concordance index (C-index), calibration plot, and decision curve analysis. Both internal and external validations were assessed. Results: A multivariable model that included gender, diabetes duration, diabetic retinopathy, hematuria, glycated hemoglobin A1c, anemia, blood pressure, urinary protein excretion, and estimated glomerular filtration rate was represented as the nomogram. The model demonstrated very good discrimination with a C-index of 0.934 (95% CI 0.904–0.964). The calibration plot diagram of predicted probabilities against observed DN rates indicated excellent concordance. The C-index value was 0.91 for internal validation and 0.875 for external validation. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the novel nomogram was clinically useful. Conclusion: The novel model was very useful for predicting DN in patients with T2D and kidney disease, and thereby could be used by clinicians either in triage or as a replacement for biopsy.
Genetic diversity of influenza A viruses circulating in pigs between winter and summer in a Minnesota live animal market

There has been little surveillance of influenza A viruses (IAVs) circulating in swine at live animal markets, particularly in the United States. To address this gap, we conducted active surveillance of IAVs in pigs, the air, and the environment during a summer and winter season in a live animal market in St. Paul, Minnesota, that had been epidemiologically associated with swine‐origin influenza cases in humans previously. High rates of IAV were detected by PCR in swine lungs and oral fluids during both summer and winter seasons. Rates of IAV detection by PCR in the air were similar during summer and winter, although rates of successful virus isolation in the air were lower during summer than in winter (26% and 67%, respectively). H3N2 was the most prevalent subtype in both seasons, followed by H1N2. Genetically diverse viruses with multiple gene constellations were isolated from both winter and summer, with a total of 19 distinct genotypes identified. Comparative phylogenetic analysis of all eight segments of 40 virus isolates from summer and 122 isolates from winter revealed that the summer and winter isolates were genetically distinct, indicating IAVs are not maintained in the market, but rather are re‐introduced, likely from commercial swine. These findings highlight the extent of IAV genetic diversity circulating in swine in live animal markets, even during summer months, and the ongoing risk to humans.
Advances in understanding and managing Scedosporium respiratory infections in patients with cystic fibrosis

ABSTRACT Introduction: Considered for a long time to be exclusively responsible for chronic localized infections, fungi of the genus Scedosporium have recently received a renewed interest because of their recognition as common colonizing agents of the respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis, and of the description of severe disseminated infections in patients undergoing lung transplantation. Recently, several studies have been carried out on these opportunistic pathogens, which led to some advances in the understanding of their pathogenic mechanisms and in the biological diagnosis of the airway colonization/respiratory infections caused by these fungi. Areas covered: From a bibliographic search on the Pubmed database, we summarize the current knowledge about the taxonomy of Scedosporium species, the epidemiology of these fungi and their pathogenic mechanisms, and present the improvements in the detection of the airway colonization and diagnosis of Scedosporium respiratory infections, the difficulties in their therapeutic management, and the antifungal drugs in development. Expert opinion: As described in this review, many advances have been made regarding the taxonomy and ecology of Scedosporium species or the molecular determinants of their pathogenicity, but also in the management of Scedosporium infections, particularly by improving the biological diagnostic and publishing evidence for the efficacy of combined therapy.
Controlling Parenting Behaviors in Parents of Children Born Preterm: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE This meta-analysis tested whether parents of preterm-born children differ from parents of full-term-born children regarding controlling parenting. METHODS Databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, and Elton B. Stephens Company were searched for cross-sectional and prospective longitudinal studies examining controlling parenting in preterm-born children. RESULTS The meta-analysis included 27 independent data sets, derived from 34 studies, with a total of 8053 participants-3265 preterm and 4788 full-term children. Parents of children born preterm were more controlling than parents of children born full-term (Hedges' g = 0.29; 95% confidence interval: 0.19-0.39; z = 5.48; p < 0.001). Heterogeneity analysis indicated significant variation in effects between studies (Q = 148.46, p < 0.001), but the effects were not moderated by gestational age, birth weight, child age, child gender, parental education, type of parenting assessment method (observational vs parental self-report), parenting dimension measured (behaviors vs attitudes), type of controlling parenting (intrusiveness vs others), study design (cross-sectional vs longitudinal), year of publication, or geographical setting of the studies (America vs Europe). CONCLUSION Findings suggest that parents of children born preterm are at higher risk for engaging in controlling parenting strategies, stressing the importance of psychosocial follow-up support for these parents.
Lateral Neck Radiography in Preoperative Evaluation of Adenoid Hypertrophy

Objective: To assess the value of lateral neck radiographs in quantifying adenoid hypertrophy to help guide treatment decisions in patients with symptoms of nasal obstruction. Study Design: Retrospective review. Methods: Quantitative radiologic grading of adenoids was correlated with the intraoperative grading to select cases in agreement between the two methods. The percent airway obstruction was calculated as a ratio of adenoid size to the size of the nasopharyngeal airway near the level of the choanae on the lateral neck radiographs for adenoidectomy cases in which radiographic and intraoperative grading of adenoid size were in agreement. Results: A total of 426 adenoidectomy cases with preoperative lateral neck radiographs were reviewed (M:F = 254:172 for age range 9 months to 16 years), and only cases in agreement between radiographic and intraoperative adenoid grading were included in radiographic analysis (N = 234). The percent airway obstruction values were significantly different between “severely obstructive” (N = 137, mean = 94.71, SD = 6.55, range [72.00; 100.00]) and “moderately obstructive” adenoid categories (N = 97, mean = 78.53, SD = 6.91, range [63.67; 98.08]), not only within clinically relevant age groups (1-3 years, 4-7 years, 8-15 years), but also for the entire data set (95% CI [14.41; 17.95], P < .0001). “Mildly obstructive” category was omitted due to small sample size (N = 4). Conclusion: Lateral neck radiographs can provide useful supplemental information on the degree of nasopharyngeal airway obstruction when other clinical findings do not clearly point toward adenoid hypertrophy as a primary cause of nasal obstruction. In our data set, a 65% nasopharyngeal airway obstruction represents a value two standard deviations below the mean for “moderately” obstructive adenoid category, and can be viewed as a simplified cut-off to indicate that the degree of adenoid enlargement is clinically relevant. This cut-off value can assist in evaluation of patients with symptoms of nasal obstruction. Level of Evidence: 4
The dual accumulator model of strategic deliberation and decision making.

What are the mental operations involved in game theoretic decision making? How do players deliberate (intelligently, but perhaps imperfectly) about strategic interdependencies and ultimately decide on a strategy? We address these questions using an evidence accumulation model, with bidirectional connections between preferences for the strategies available to the decision maker and beliefs regarding the opponent's choices. Our dual accumulator model accounts for a variety of behavioral patterns, including limited iterated reasoning, payoff sensitivity, consideration of risk-reward tradeoffs, and salient label effects, and it provides a good quantitative fit to existing behavioral data. In a comparison with other popular behavioral game theoretic models fit at the individual subject level to choices across a set of games, the dual accumulator model makes the most accurate out-of-sample predictions. Additionally, as a cognitive-process model, it can also be used to make predictions about response time patterns, time pressure effects, and attention during deliberation. Stochastic sampling and dynamic accumulation, cognitive mechanisms foundational to decision making, play a critical role in explaining well-known behavioral patterns as well as in generating novel predictions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Estimating treatment importance in multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis using Targeted Learning: An observational individual patient data network meta‐analysis

Persons with multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis (MDR‐TB) have a disease resulting from a strain of tuberculosis (TB) that does not respond to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, the two most effective anti‐TB drugs. MDR‐TB is always treated with multiple antimicrobial agents. Our data consist of individual patient data from 31 international observational studies with varying prescription practices, access to medications, and distributions of antibiotic resistance. In this study, we develop identifiability criteria for the estimation of a global treatment importance metric in the context where not all medications are observed in all studies. With stronger causal assumptions, this treatment importance metric can be interpreted as the effect of adding a medication to the existing treatments. We then use this metric to rank 15 observed antimicrobial agents in terms of their estimated add‐on value. Using the concept of transportability, we propose an implementation of targeted maximum likelihood estimation, a doubly robust and locally efficient plug‐in estimator, to estimate the treatment importance metric. A clustered sandwich estimator is adopted to compute variance estimates and produce confidence intervals. Simulation studies are conducted to assess the performance of our estimator, verify the double robustness property, and assess the appropriateness of the variance estimation approach.
Differential Parent and Teacher Reports of ADHD Symptoms According to the Child’s Country of Origin: A Quantitative Study From Denmark Exploring the Implication for Diagnosis

Objective: This study aimed to investigate differences in parent- and teacher-reported ADHD symptoms according to the child’s country of origin. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 4,207 nonimmigrant (Danish origin) and 233 immigrant (non-Danish origin) children including ratings of phenotypical ADHD symptoms on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires. The association between ADHD symptoms and country of origin, separately for parents and teachers, was analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: Teachers reported similar numbers of ADHD symptoms for immigrant and nonimmigrant children (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95, confidence interval [CI] = [0.58, 1.54]), whereas immigrant parents were less likely than nonimmigrant parents to report ADHD symptoms (OR = 0.42, CI = [0.21, 0.84]). Conclusion: Immigrant parents were less likely than nonimmigrant parents to report ADHD symptoms, whereas the teachers reported similar amount of ADHD symptoms in the two groups of children. Our results emphasize the importance of paying attention to teacher reporting of ADHD symptoms when assessing immigrant children.
Evolutionary trajectories of tooth histology patterns in modern sharks (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii)

During their evolutionary history, modern sharks developed different tooth mineralization patterns that resulted in very distinct histological patterns of the tooth crown (histotypes). To date, three different tooth histotypes have been distinguished: (i) orthodont teeth, which have a central hollow pulp cavity in the crown, encapsulated by a prominent layer of dentine (orthodentine); (ii) pseudoosteodont teeth, which have their pulp cavities secondarily replaced by a dentinal core of porous dentine (osteodentine), encased by orthodentine; and (iii) osteodont teeth, which lack orthodentine and the whole tooth crown of which consists of osteodentine. The aim of the present study was to trace evolutionary trends of tooth mineralization patterns in modern sharks and to find evidence for the presence of phylogenetic or functional signals. High resolution micro‐computed tomography images were generated for the teeth of members of all nine extant shark orders and the putative stem group †Synechodontiformes, represented here by three taxa, to examine the tooth histology non‐destructively. Pseudoosteodonty is the predominant state among modern sharks and represents unambiguously the plesiomorphic condition. Orthodonty evolved several times independently in modern sharks, while the osteodont tooth histotype is only developed in lamniform sharks. The two shark orders Heterodontiformes and Pristiophoriformes showed highly modified tooth histologies, with Pristiophorus exhibiting a histology only known from batomorphs (i.e. rays and skates), and Heterodontus showing a histological difference between anterior and posterior teeth, indicating a link between its tooth morphology, histology and durophagous lifestyle. The tooth histotype concept has proven to be a useful tool to reflect links between histology, function and its taxonomic value for distinct taxa; however, a high degree of variation, especially in the pseudoosteodont tooth histotype, demonstrates that the current histotype concept is too simplistic to fully resolve these relationships. The vascularization pattern of the dentine might offer new future research pathways for better understanding functional and phylogenetic signals in the tooth histology of modern sharks.
Phenomenology of agony: a qualitative study about the experience of agony phenomenon in relatives of dying patients.

BACKGROUND This study considers the specific context of the end of life, in particular the agony phase, and the experience of sharing the body observation competence with the relatives of dying patients, in order to consider the effect of such psychological intervention. METHODS The research was conducted in two phases: during the pre-exitus period (days or hours before the death of the patient) six relatives received some information . on the phenomenology of agony; during the post-exitus, they participated in semi-structured interviews, which were audio-recorded and transcribed with the purpose of extracting relevant aspects of their experience with their terminally-ill relative. The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to cluster the emerged experiences by thematic analysis, which was performed using the Atlas.ti 7 software. RESULTS The relatives' verbatim representation is clustered in three areas of thematic prevalence: context and choice of the hospice, phenomenology of agony and psychological support. The first area shows how essential the choice of the hospice was for the patient. Even if the hospice is perceived as a place of death, it allows to manage the pain and simultaneously relieves the caregiver's burden. The second area describes the process of perception of body changes during agony. Finally, the third area outlines how giving elements to recognise the progression of the dying body and suggestions on the functional behaviour around the agonising patient may fill the cultural lack of practical experience regarding dying. CONCLUSIONS The results require further investigation, starting from the positive feedback on the efficacy of a specific support model called "human protocol".
Shaking Confidence in Technology: Effects of an Earthquake-Induced Nuclear Disaster on Technology Adoption in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Using the coincidental timing of a national survey conducted in Japan before and after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, this study reports a rare natural experiment that explored how the experience of a nuclear disaster influenced technology adoption in middle-aged and older adults. We conducted path analyses assessing how technology or nontechnology adoption intention and behavior changed before and after the nuclear disaster and whether age could moderate the potential change over and above other relevant factors. Our models supported that Japanese middle-aged to older adults reported fewer technology adoption behaviors after experiencing of the earthquake. However, the negative impact of the earthquake was not more pronounced in older adults. Our results suggest that researchers need to pay more attention to the issue of how loss of trust and/or perceived risk affect technology adoption interacting with other relevant factors, particularly, age-related factors and abilities.
Effect of Head-of-Bed Elevation on Nocturnal Reflux Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer Patients With Esophagectomy and Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND Studies revealed the symptom of gastroesophageal reflux (GE reflux) disturb patients following esophageal reconstruction. OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of head-of-bed elevation by using the wedge-shaped pillow (WSP) on the reflux symptoms of patients with esophageal cancer following esophagectomy and reconstruction. METHODS Fourteen patients with nocturnal reflux symptoms following esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction were enrolled and randomized into 2 groups. A 2-week crossover trial was performed using 2 sequences (drug only and drug plus WSP). The WSP was designed with a height of 20 cm, a length of 62 cm, and an elevation angle of 20 degrees and used with fabricated from memory foam. After 2 weeks, all of the patients received combined drug and WSP intervention for 3 months. Reflux symptoms were measured by Dysfunction After Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery for Cancer and examined by endoscopic observations prior to intervention and follow-up for 3 months. RESULT The average reflux symptom score for the combined drug and WSP treatment in the beginning 2 weeks was lower than that for the drug-only sequence. The severity of esophagitis was improved in 46.1%, and 38.5% showed a stabilization after 3 months. CONCLUSIONS Combined drug and WSP treatment may be beneficial in improving GE reflux symptoms. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Nursing care professionals would suggest patients find a similar WSP to elevate the head of the bed to reduce the severity of nocturnal reflux symptoms after esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction.