Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Associations between health-related quality of life, body mass index, health status and sociodemographic variables in geriatric patients and non-hospitalized older people: A comparative cross-sectional study

Background: Data on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in geriatric patients and non-hospitalized older people are lacking, and the associations among HRQoL, body mass index (BMI) and health status are not sufficiently investigated in these groups. Aim: This study aims to describe and compare HRQoL in a sample of geriatric patients and non-hospitalized people >70 years. It further aims to investigate the associations between HRQoL, BMI, health status and sociodemographic variables in geriatric patients and non-hospitalized people >70 years. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 107 geriatric patients and 328 non-hospitalized older people. HRQoL was measured with the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and BMI was divided into three classes: underweight (<22 kg/m2), normal weight (22–27 kg/m2) and overweight (>27 kg/m2). Results: All SF-36 scores were lower for the geriatric patients than for the non-hospitalized people (p < .001). Underweight (BMI <22 kg/m2) was registered for 43.9% of the geriatric patients and for 13.7% of the non-hospitalized people. No significant associations were found between the SF-36 subscale scores and underweight, but overweight was associated with lower scores on physical functioning (B: –8.7) and vitality (B: –6.8) compared to those with normal BMI (p < .05). The participants with rheumatic diseases, pulmonary diseases, hypertension and digestive diseases had significantly lower scores on most SF-36 scales reflecting physical health. Conclusion: HRQoL is substantially lower in geriatric patients than in non-hospitalized older people. The negative effects of both overweight and morbidity on HRQoL indicate that it is important to monitor weight and disease symptoms to promote HRQoL in older people, whether hospitalized or non-hospitalized.
How to avoid nosocomial spread during tracheostomy for COVID‐19 patients

As the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) globally spreads, the Covid-19 pandemic is straining healthcare workers worldwide. In hospitalized patients with severe Covid-19, endotracheal intubation is one of the most common and indispensable life-saving interventions. For patients in need of long-term endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy may be considered. Some patients with unfavorable neck anatomy, such as short neck, enlarged thyroid, and neck cicatricial contracture, are not suitable for percutaneous tracheostomy, a minimally invasive method.1 In these circumstances, conventional open tracheostomy is the primary option for surgeons. However, it is one of the most hazardous procedures, because the direct airway opening and the coughing of patients causes aerosolization of the virus potentially exposing healthcare workers.2 To prevent healthcare-associated infections, we are willing to share our modified tracheostomy procedures with other surgeons worldwide. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as Prognostic and Predictive Factor in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review

Inflammatory blood markers (IBM), such as the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), have emerged as potential prognostic factors in various cancers, including breast cancer (BC), potentially allowing an easy, minimally invasive evaluation of a given cancer‘s prognosis and treatment outcome. We report here a systematic overview of the published data evaluating NLR as a prognostic factor or predictive factor for pathological complete response (PCR) and toxicity in early and advanced BC. A total of 45 articles were identified. NLR was found to be an independent prognostic factor for survival in most of the adjuvant treatment studies. However, no significant correlation was found between survival and NLR for early BC patients receiving neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and advanced BC patients. Most studies failed to find a significant correlation between NLR and PCR after NACT. Finally, some data showed that IBM could be predictive of chemotherapy-related toxicity.
Conditioned enhancement of the nicotine reinforcer.

This study was designed to assess whether nicotine can acquire additional reinforcing properties through associations with other rewards. To this end, rats self-administered nicotine-alone (0.01 mg/kg) or nicotine paired with access to sucrose during the conditioning phase. In the subsequent challenge phase, we tested the effect of nicotine-sucrose pairings on the reinforcing effects of nicotine using a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement. Using this approach, we show that (a) rats in both paired and nicotine-alone conditions self-administered similar amounts of nicotine in the initial conditioning phase of the study when intake was limited to 10 infusions per session, (b) nicotine rapidly acquired control over goal-tracking behavior in the paired condition, (c) rats that had a history of nicotine and sucrose pairings worked harder and took more nicotine as measured on a progressive ratio using a distinct response form, and (d) conditioned goal-tracking evoked by nicotine did not show extinction when sucrose was no longer paired with nicotine over the 11 days of nicotine self-administration on a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement. Overall, our results demonstrate that in addition to the multifaceted nature of nicotine stimulus that includes primary reinforcing effects, conditioned reinforcing effects, and reward enhancing effects, nicotine can also acquire additional reinforcing properties through associations with other rewards. This ability to acquire additional reinforcing properties through associative learning may contribute to the development and perpetuation of tobacco use disorder. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Pathological evidence of pulmonary thrombotic phenomena in severe COVID‐19

Between February and March 2020, the Journal of Thrombosis and Hemosthasis has published four papers addressing the intricate, complex and still little understood relation between COVID-19 and thrombogenesis (1-4). ARS-Cov-2 induces in severe cases a cytokine storm that ultimately leads to the activation of the coagulation cascade, causing thrombotic phenomena (5). There is a further strong link between abnormal coagulation parameters (D-dimer and fibrin degradation products) and mortality. Tang et al. described that 71.4% of nonsurvivors and 0.6% of survivors showed evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), suggesting that DIC is a frequent occurrence in severe COVID-19 (4). The frequency of DIC in these patients is much higher than that reported for severe SARS (6).
OCULAR DRUG DELIVERY: RECENT UPDATES

Ophthalmic route is one of the most promising delivery systems for the treatment of eye ailments. Delivery of medicaments to anterior segment of the eye is an easy task. However with the rising number of posterior segment diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration etc. delivery to the target has become a challenging task. A number of scientists have tried various approaches to accomplish the objective. Novel drug delivery system is an effective strategy to combat anterior and posterior eye ailments. In addition, the technique improves the pharmaceutical and pharmacological performance of the drug molecule. The advent of nanotechnology and its use in devising newer and effective ocular systems has added impetus to ocular therapy. However the need of the hour is to create stable as well as non-toxic systems which are able to be used for chronic therapies. The role of various novel delivery stratagem such as nanoparticles, nanomicelles, liposomes, niosomes, dendrimers in ocular drug delivery has been discussed in addition to their recent advances in the area.
B Cell Tolerance in Mice Transgenic for Anti-CD 8 Immunoglobulin / ~ Chain By Frank Brombacher , Georges K 6 hler , and

To analyze in vivo the induction of B cell tolerance against a T cell surface antigen, we generated transgenic mice expressing an anti-CD8.2/~ heavy chain gene. We show that self-specific B cells are efficiently tolerized if they express the membrane-bound form of the transgenic/~ chain on their surface but that they can escape tolerization if they express only the secreted form. In the latter, we find an enhanced expression of anti-CD8.2 antibodies after polyclonal B cell activation. As a result, transgenic anti-CD8.2 antibodies bind to the CD8 § T cells but they did not induce their elimination. Furthermore, we observed the preferential expression of a limited subset of endogenous light chains with the transgenic/~ chain. This suggests a positive or negative selection for particular heavy and light chain combinations in B lymphocytes.
The Conundrum of High Body Mass Index in Kidney Transplant Patients

Obesity is on the rise and the number of end stage renal disease patients who are obese parallel this trend. There is no universally accepted guideline for wait-listing end stage renal disease obese patients in order to reduce surgical complications and improve survival of the kidney graft. Criteria for acceptance are variable among transplant centres, as do posttransplant policies. Careful risk assessment to maximise the benefits of the limited organ donor resource must be undertaken prior to waitlist an obese kidney transplant candidate. Likewise, close post transplantation follow-up for this higher risk group should be implemented as per the general population, but the body mass index per se should not be a barrier to get access to transplantation.
Retrograde venography and three-dimensional mapping of a great cardiac vein with separate drainage into the high right atrium in a patient with Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome

Abstract A 13-year-old boy presenting with palpitations was diagnosed with Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome. We elected to bring him to the electrophysiology lab for evaluation of the accessory pathway and potential ablation. Structural assessment of the coronary sinus with electro-anatomical mapping and retrograde venography led to the discovery of a great cardiac vein having a separate insertion from the coronary sinus into the high right atrium. The accessory pathway was localized to the left lateral portion of the mitral annulus and treated successfully with radiofrequency ablation. Such venous anatomical variant has been seldom reported, and its association with an accessory pathway is described here for the first time. Its recognition can have important implications when performing procedures that require access into the coronary venous system.
A Qualitative Study into Nigerian Patients’ Satisfaction with Physiotherapy Management of Low Back Pain

Introduction: Patients’ satisfaction with physiotherapy management of low back pain has been studied in various settings. However, knowledge about patients’ satisfaction with health-care provision in the field of physiotherapy from the Nigerian setting is underreported. The purpose of this study was to examine a qualitative study into patients’ satisfaction with physiotherapy management of low back pain in Nigeria. Methods: A total of 60 patients with low back pain were enrolled into the study. A focus-group discussion of three-four participants lasting for 30 minutes was conducted. Interviews were carried out by the lead researcher and two other colleagues. Transcribed audiotapes and field notes were taken to record all verbal and nonverbal behaviors. Content analysis was used to analyze the interview texts. Results: Patients’ reports were numbered in codes which were classified into positive, negative and neutral codes. When the codes were summed up for judgment and classifications, there were 43 patients in the positive group, 12 patients in the negative group and 5 patients in the neutral group. The findings were grouped into 3 themes; “satisfied, dissatisfied and neutral. Conclusion: The outcomes of this study indicated that low back pain patients in Nigeria were mostly satisfied with physiotherapy management of their conditions. This study was approved by the ethics committee of Federal Medical Center, Nguru, Yobe State, Nigeria (Ethics Approval Number: FMC/N/CL.SER/355/VOL IV/219). Key-Words: Low Back Pain; Satisfaction; Qualitative study; Nigeria. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date of Submission: 26-01-2019 Date of acceptance: 09-02-2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND EXAM PERFORMANCE: IT’S (STILL) ABILITY THAT

The use of online quizzes has become more popular in introductory economics courses in recent years, however their efficacy in improving student engagement and performance has seldom been evaluated. This paper attempts to undertake an evaluation of that efficacy by combining individual engagement and exam performance data with demographic information for a cohort of students enrolled in a first year economics course. In a novel extension to this literature, we also employ bivariate probit modelling to allow for a sequential process between student engagement and performance, and to permit the investigation of determinants of exam performance after conditioning results on the factors that influence engagement. This empirical analysis yields interesting differences by gender.
Determinants of Foreign Portfolio Investment Volatility and Macroeconomic Stability in Nigeria

The study examined the determinants of Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) volatility using quarterly data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Data were analysed using Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) technique. “This study reveals that the volatility of Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) is a major contributor to the flow of other foreign capitals being imported into the Nigerian economy and since it takes the largest share of capital importation into the country, once it is lifted back due to high interest rate in other economies, the vacuum it leaves cannot be easily occupied by the FDI and other investments. The results also reveal that there exists significant relationship between macroeconomic factors and foreign portfolio investment volatility. Thus, less volatility in international portfolio flows is associated with high interest rate, currency depreciation, foreign direct investment, lower inflation, and higher GDP growth rate of the host country. The study therefore urges the monetary authority in Nigeria to resist the temptation of raising interest rate to attract FPI at the expense of IPOGR and CPI. The authority should strengthen their efforts more at wooing more FDI which is rather more stable.
The price of remoteness: Geography and local cost of living in Ethiopia

This paper uses the microdata underlying the Ethiopian CPI to examine the spatial dispersion in local prices and availability of 400 items across more than 100 cities. We first show that remote cities face higher prices for individual products and have access to fewer products. All else equal, large cities also face higher individual prices but enjoy access to a wider set of products. To assess the welfare implications of these micro patterns, we then examine the impact of remoteness and population size on aggregate cost-of-living indexes that account for product availability. We find the cost of living is higher in remote areas, but not systematically related to population size. We then show spatial differences in the cost of living are a significant determinant of migration flows across Ethiopian regions. The impact of cost of living mainly channels through spatial differences in product availability. *Corresponding author: martin.julien@uqam.ca. †mayneris.florian@uqam.ca. ‡william_theophile. ewane@courrier.uqam.ca.
DIFFICULT CONTRASTS, NATIVE DIALECT AND EXERIENCE IN NON-NATIVE PERCEPTION

This study examines several factors in the reported ly different perception of the English vowels / Q, √, A/ by Spanish native listeners with different dialec tal backgrounds. Previous studies with inexperienced Sp anish learners of English (Guitart, 1985, 1996) found that each of the / Q, √, A/ vowels may be heard differently and, more importantly, that the learner ’s native variety influences L2 perception. Specifically, the English / √/ tends to be perceived as /a/ by Peninsular listeners, but as /o/ by Caribbean liste ners. Using a perceptual task, the present study aims to answer two questions: (i) How does non-native perception differ for listeners with distinct nativ e varieties and what dialectspecific perceptual strategies are responsible for the differences? and (ii) How does the type of contrast and experience with non-n ative contrasts affect L2 perception? Two groups of Spanish native speakers f rom Spain and Cuba, each including two subgroups of learners and non-learner s of English, were tested in an AX discrimination task on the Canadian English c ontrasts / A-√/, /Q-√/ and / AQ/. The independent factors analyzed were the percep tual difficulty of the contrast, the experience with L2 and the native dia lect. Given the reduced number of studies exploring the effects that the na tive variety has on non-native perception, this research aims to contribute inform ation on such effects. The nature of the L2 contrasts analyzed here and the ro le of experience are also relevant to language acquisition and language teach ing involving two widely spread linguistic varieties, English and Spanish.
R.I.C.E. – An Integrated Model of Welfare Deservingness Perceptions

Research on deservingness perceptions is currently one of the most vibrant areas in the field of welfare state analysis. In this manuscript, we critically assess the state-of-the-art in this field of research and, in particular, the two dominant theoretical approaches, the C.A. R.I. N. framework and the ‘deservingness heuristics’ model. In doing so, we identify some important problems, including conceptual ambiguities and an insufficient explicit integration of the two theoretical models. We suggest a revised and integrated theoretical framework, which we believe provides a way to resolve these issues. Our model suggests four criteria to inform deservingness perceptions: Reciprocity, Identity, Control, and Effort (R.I.C.E.). We provide vidence for our model in the form of vignette experiments administered to online panels in the US and Germany.
ScholarWorks at WMU ScholarWorks at WMU

: Health information technologies (HITs) as facilitators of chronic disease self-management remains an ongoing topic for information system researchers. This research addresses a gap in knowledge surrounding patient trust and resistance towards using these technologies, specifically patient portals. The method used to accomplish this study is through the dispersion of a quantitative survey to participants in Ontario, Canada. This survey focused on questions related to the four variables that have been identified through the literature to be important in determining patient resistance of HITs. The results indicate the importance of patient trust in mitigating their resistance to using these technologies.
National innovation systems, developing countries, and the role of intermediaries: a critical review of the literature

Developed over the past three decades, the national innovation system concept (NIS) has been widely used by both scholars and policy makers to explain how interactions between a set of distinct, nationally bounded institutions supports and facilitates technological change and the emergence and diffusion of new innovations. This concept provides a framework by which developing countries can adopt for purposes of catching up. Initially conceived on structures and interactions identified in economically advanced countries, the application of the NIS concept to developing countries has been gradual and has coincided – in the NIS literature – with a move away from overly macro-interpretations to an emphasis on micro-level interactions and processes, with much of this work questioning the nation state as the most appropriate level of analysis, as well as the emergence of certain intermediary actors thought to facilitate knowledge exchange between actors and institutions. This paper reviews the NIS literature chronologically, showing how this shift in emphasis has diminished somewhat the importance of both institutions, particularly governments, and the process of institutional capacity building. In doing so, the paper suggests that more recent literature on intermediaries such as industry associations may offer valuable insights to how institutional capacity building occurs and how it might be directed, particularly in the context of developing countries where governance capacities are often lacking, contributing to less effective innovation systems, stagnant economies, and unequal development.
Identification of ESBL producing Escherichia coli from Urine Samples at Tertiary Care Hospital in Jhalawar

Introduction: Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a serious worldwide threat to public health due to the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria and is considered as a great problem in the treatment of bacterial infections both in hospital as well as community settings. Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) producing strains have emerged as a significant challenge to counter with present antibiotics. Aims: Our study was aimed to know the prevalence of ESBL producing E. coli in our hospital setting for effective therapeutic outcome and patient care. Materials and Method: A total of 459 urine samples of urinary tract infection (UTI) suspects were processed in the Microbiology Department at Jhalawar in Rajasthan, India. All samples were cultured on Mac Conkey Agar and Blood Agar and incubated at 37 °C for 24–48 h. The isolates were identified and confirmed using standard microbiological methods and biochemical reaction. Antibiotic sensitivity testing of all E. coli isolates was performed on Muller Hinton agar plates by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique with guidelines established by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Initial screening of ESBL producing E. coli was performed using the Cefotaxime and Ceftriaxone antimicrobial disc. Double-Disc Synergy Test (DDST) and CLSI confirmatory test i.e., Phenotypic Confirmatory Double-Disc Test (PCDDT) were performed for confirmation of ESBL-producing E. coli. Results: Of the 459 samples processed, 212 isolates were found to be culture positive. Out of 212 positive isolates, 184 (86.79%) were identified as gram negative bacilli (GNB). Of the 184 GNB, 115 (62.50%) were detected as Escherichia coli followed by Klebsiella 30 (16.30%), Pseudomonas 21 (11.41%), Proteus 15 (8.15%), Citrobacter 8 (4.32%), and Acinetobacter 5 (2.71%). Out of 115 E. coli isolates, 86 (74.78%) were found to be ESBLpositive by screening method and 81 (70.43%%) were found to be ESBL producers by PCDDT and 68 (59.13%) were found to be ESBL producers by DDST. Imipenem and Piperacillin–tazobactum were the most active and reliable agents for the treatment of infections which were caused by the ESBL-producing organisms. The ESBL-producing strains were more resistant than non-ESBL producing strains. Among ESBL producers the resistance pattern was highest for Ceftriaxone followed by Cefotaxime and Ceftazidime. Conclusion: As results showed that there was a high prevalence of ESBL production in our setup so, it is essential to report the ESBL production along with the routine sensitivity reports, which will help the clinician in selection of proper antibiotics. Keywords: antibiotic resistance, Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL), multidrug resistant, Escherichia coli Cite this Article Pawan K, Tiwari YK, Saraf G et al. Identification of ESBL producing Escherichia coli from Urine Samples at Tertiary Care Hospital in Jhalawar. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Microbiology and Virology. 2017; 7(3): 38–45p.