Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relationship between serum level of copper and ceruloplasmin and pathologic and clinical characteristics in early breast cancer patients.

e13504Background: The increase in serum copper and ceruloplasmin has been reported to positively related with the progress of advanced breast cancers. However, the role of copper and ceruloplasmin in early breast cancer(EBC) is unknown. Methods: 209 female patients that been diagnosed as EBC and treated within Xijing Hospital from Oct 2016 to Apr 2017 were included in the present study. The level of serum copper and ceruloplasmin were assayed using atomic absorption spectroscopy and immunoturbidimetry assay. respectively. The pathologic and clinical characteristics of patients such as age, pathologic type, etc. were analyzed by X test, t test and Pearson correlation analysis. p< 0.05 is significant. Results: After transforming copper and ceruloplasmin into binary variable (elevated and normal), age was both significant (p< 0.01). The different expression level of ER, PR , Ki67and molecular type, number and percent of metastatic lymph nodes were significant (p< 0.01). After correlation analysis, negative r.
Impact of Exclusive Breastfeeding on Digital Sucking in Children Attending the Children's Outpatient Department of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo

Background: Sucking of the digits is the most common oral habit found in children. It is a form of non-nutritive sucking which appears to be influenced by various factors. When the habit becomes prolonged, it can lead to both dental and hand complications. Breastfeeding is one of the factors known to be protective against this habit in children. Therefore, the aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of digital sucking in our environment and the influence of breastfeeding/exclusive breast feeding including various sociodemographic variables on this habit in children in our environment. Methods: This study was a cross sectional, questionnaire-based study administered to one hundred and forty-five caregivers of children aged 0-18 years who attended the children’s outpatient clinic of the hospital, consecutively recruited over a period of three months. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science(SPSS) version 20. Results: 145 respondents were analysed. The prevalence of digital sucking was 32.4% (95% CI = 0.25-0.41) while the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 47.6% (67 out of 144). Exclusive breastfeeding and digit sucking demonstrated a significant negative association. Children who were exclusively breastfed were less likely to suck their fingers with a significant p-value of 0.025-univariate analysis (OR = 2.28; 95% CI = 1.11-4.70). This finding was sustained on multivariate analysis with children who were exclusively breastfed having approximately a three times reduction in the odds of sucking their finger (p = 0.09; 95% CI). There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.252; OR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.89-1.03) between the mean total duration of breastfeeding for children who sucked their fingers compared with their siblings who did not suck their fingers (9.73 ± 4.90 vs. 10.98 ± 5.14 months). A history of both parents sucking had a positive association with digital sucking with a significant p-value of 0.036 (OR = 4.63; 95% CI = 1.11-19.40)-univariate analysis. Conclusion: Prevalence of digital sucking in this study was 32.4% with children who were exclusively breastfed being less likely to suck their digits when compared to those who were not. Duration of breastfeeding beyond 6 months did not confer any additional advantage. A history of parental sucking was significantly associated with subsequent digital sucking in the children studied.
Functional Upregulation of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor KDR by Hypoxia

Background Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a specific endothelial mitogen and chemoattractant that has been shown to be useful for inducing therapeutic angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium and found to stimulate mitogenicity and chemotaxis of endothelial cells through the receptor tyrosine kinase KDR. Although VEGF expression is upregulated by hypoxic stimuli, regulation of KDR remained unknown under these conditions. Methods and Results With the use of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and transfected porcine aortic endothelial cells, KDR protein was found to be upregulated under hypoxic conditions (2% O2) in both cell types. This process of KDR upregulation was found to be reversible, was maximal after 24 hours of hypoxia, and was regulated on a posttranscriptional level. Furthermore, the susceptibility for VEGF-induced mitogenicity was enhanced under hypoxic conditions as shown by [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay. The activated state of increased VEGF function in hypoxic endothelial .
Effects of Methionine-Induced Hyperhomocysteinemia on Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation and Oxidative Status in Healthy Adults

Background—Homocysteine-mediated endothelial dysfunction has been proposed to occur via oxidative stress mechanisms in humans. However, there is controversy regarding the effects of homocysteine on endothelial function and oxidative status, which may in part result from age discrepancy across the studies. The present study was designed to investigate the aging effect on the relationship between endothelium-dependent vasodilation and oxidative status in methionine-induced hyperhomocysteinemia. Methods and Results—Plasma homocysteine, phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH), P-selectin levels, and brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation were measured at baseline and 4 hours after an oral methionine load (0.1 g/kg) in 15 younger (21 to 40 years) and 15 older (55 to 70 years) healthy adults. Homocysteine increased from 7.3±1.3 μmol/L at baseline to 22.7±5.2 μmol/L at 4 hours in younger (P<0.001) and from 7.4±1.4 to 24.3±4.5 μmol/L in older adults (P<0.001). PCOOH levels were not significantly different b.
Modeling HIV-1 Infection and Immune Responses Under Drugs of Abuse

The frequent use of drugs of abuse among HIV infected individuals is a major concern. Drugs of abuse, such as opiates, have been widely associated with enhancing HIV replication, accelerating disease progression, and diminishing host-immune responses. Moreover, opiates such as morphine have also been associated with decreasing the viral mutation rate. The rapid replication of HIV may result in increased production of mutant viruses that can escape detection by the host’s immune system. This shows that the use of drugs of abuse can make it harder to effectively manage HIV infections. It is thus important to gain insights into the effects of drugs of abuse on HIV dynamics. This dissertation presents mathematical models that help investigate the effects of morphine-altered antibody responses on SIV dynamics, effects of morphine pharmacodynamics on HIV dynamics, and effects of morphine on HIVinfections with two viral species. Using our models, we show that in a subpopulation of SIV infected morphine addicted macaques, the presence of drugs of abuse may cause significantly diminished antibody responses, resulting in more severe infection with increased SIV infectivity, a decreased viral clearance rate, increased viral load,
Heavier smoking may lead to a relative increase in waist circumference: evidence for a causal relationship from a Mendelian randomisation meta-analysis. The CARTA consortium

Objectives To investigate, using a Mendelian randomisation approach, whether heavier smoking is associated with a range of regional adiposity phenotypes, in particular those related to abdominal adiposity. Design Mendelian randomisation meta-analyses using a genetic variant (rs16969968/rs1051730 in the CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4 gene region) as a proxy for smoking heaviness, of the associations of smoking heaviness with a range of adiposity phenotypes. Participants 148 731 current, former and never-smokers of European ancestry aged ≥16 years from 29 studies in the consortium for Causal Analysis Research in Tobacco and Alcohol (CARTA). Primary outcome measures Waist and hip circumferences, and waist-hip ratio. Results The data included up to 66 809 never-smokers, 43 009 former smokers and 38 913 current daily cigarette smokers. Among current smokers, for each extra minor allele, the geometric mean was lower for waist circumference by −0.40% (95% CI −0.57% to −0.22%), with effects on hip circumference, waist-hip ratio and body mass index (BMI) being −0.31% (95% CI −0.42% to −0.19), −0.08% (−0.19% to 0.03%) and −0.74% (−0.96% to −0.51%), respectively. In contrast, among never-smokers, these effects were higher by 0.23% (0.09% to 0.36%), 0.17% (0.08% to 0.26%), 0.07% (−0.01% to 0.15%) and 0.35% (0.18% to 0.52%), respectively. When adjusting the three central adiposity measures for BMI, the effects among current smokers changed direction and were higher by 0.14% (0.05% to 0.22%) for waist circumference, 0.02% (−0.05% to 0.08%) for hip circumference and 0.10% (0.02% to 0.19%) for waist-hip ratio, for each extra minor allele. Conclusions For a given BMI, a gene variant associated with increased cigarette consumption was associated with increased waist circumference. Smoking in an effort to control weight may lead to accumulation of central adiposity.
Colostrum Swabbing as an Infection Prevention Strategy: A Retrospective Study

Critically ill neonates are prone to healthcare-associated infection (HAI) due to an immature immune system and need for multiple invasive diagnostic and treatment procedures. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the effectiveness of oral swabbing of colostrum as an intervention to provide immunity and decrease the incidence of neonatal HAI, particularly central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). The research study was informed by specific Caritas Processes, which are part of Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. Medical record audits were conducted for infants before, during, and after a 6-month pilot period for the clinical practice change of oral swabbing with colostrum, and data indicated the practice are safe, feasible, and effective in reducing CLABSI in critically ill neonates.
Paving the Path to Value: The Role of Registry Studies in Interventional Radiology

Abstract The growth rate of interventional radiology (IR) procedures and practitioners has exceeded the pace of evidence development to support evidence-based practice. In the innovative and highly adaptive field of IR, there exists a tremendous need for interventional radiologists to practice evidence-based medicine as a way to maintain and improve quality of health care. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered to be the gold standard of research, providing level I evidence, but in procedural subspecialties, they remain difficult to design and implement due to challenges in randomization, blinding, and inadequate sample size. To build the foundation of evidence in IR, registry studies can play a complementary role to RCTs. Clinical data registries may offer a more practical approach to gathering outcomes data, important in this era with the advent of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), in comparison with RCTs. Properly designed registries can store an abundance of data with which high-quality observational studies can be performed. Although considered level II evidence, these registry studies will allow the evaluation of both performance and value of IR procedures, particularly in circumstances in which an RCT would not be feasible. This manuscript aims to serve as a guide for developing and participating in IR registry studies.
Traces of Unconscious Mental Processes in Introspective Reports and Physiological Responses

Unconscious mental processes have recently started gaining attention in a number of scientific disciplines. One of the theoretical frameworks for describing unconscious processes was introduced by Jung as a part of his model of the psyche. This framework uses the concept of archetypes that represent prototypical experiences associated with objects, people, and situations. Although the validity of Jungian model remains an open question, this framework is convenient from the practical point of view. Moreover, archetypes found numerous applications in the areas of psychology and marketing. Therefore, observation of both conscious and unconscious traces related to archetypal experiences seems to be an interesting research endeavor. In a study with 36 subjects, we examined the effects of experiencing conglomerations of unconscious emotions associated with various archetypes on the participants’ introspective reports and patterns of physiological activations. Our hypothesis for this experiment was that physiological data may predict archetypes more precisely than introspective reports due to the implicit nature of archetypal experiences. Introspective reports were collected using the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) technique. Physiological measures included cardiovascular, electrodermal, respiratory responses and skin temperature of the subjects. The subjects were stimulated to feel four archetypal experiences and four explicit emotions by means of film clips. The data related to the explicit emotions served as a reference in analysis of archetypal experiences. Our findings indicated that while prediction models trained on the collected physiological data could recognize the archetypal experiences with accuracy of 55 percent, similar models built based on the SAM data demonstrated performance of only 33 percent. Statistical tests enabled us to confirm that physiological observations are better suited for observation of implicit psychological constructs like archetypes than introspective reports.
The Caring Behaviors Inventory for Elders: Development and Psychometric Characteristics

The purpose of this study was to develop the Caring Behaviors Inventory for Elders (CBI-E) and to establish its psychometric characteristics further. The 28-item CBI-E was framed by Watson’s theory of human caring. Aconvenience sample (N = 215) of elders and their caregivers (N = 138) completed the instrument. Psychometric analysis included item analysis, test-retest reliability, internal consistency reliability with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, contrasted groups construct validity, and factorial validity, using principal components analysis with varimax rotation. Preliminary construct validity was established. Five dimensions of the CBI-E were identified: attending to individual needs, showing respect, practicing knowledgeably and skillfully, respecting autonomy, and supporting religious/spiritual beliefs. Additional testing is warranted.
MYSTICOL: A multisite, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of rimabotulinumtoxinB for the treatment of sialorrhea in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other neurological conditions (P3.026)

Objective: To determine the efficacy, safety and tolerability of rimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc) in the treatment of sialorrhea Background: Sialorrhea, or excessive drooling, can be a major morbidity in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other neurological disorders. Current oral and topical treatments are suboptimal. Botulinum toxins reduce saliva production by inhibiting acetylcholine release, when injected into the submandibular (SM) and parotid (PA) glands. Design/Methods: Subjects who met inclusion criteria of troublesome sialorrhea (including patients with PD, ALS, stroke, cancer) were assigned to three injection treatment arms: rimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc) 2500U total (250u to each SM, 1000u to each PA), 3500U total (250u to each SM, 1500u to each PA), or placebo vehicle injection using anatomical landmarks with or without ultrasound confirmation. Subjects were evaluated at 4, 8, and 13 weeks post-injection. Co-primary endpoints were: Unstimulated Salivary Flow Rate (USFR) and Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGI-C) at Week 4 post-injection compared to baseline. Results: A total of 187 subjects were enrolled. USFR for both rimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc) treatment groups significantly improved at week 4 versus placebo. Significant improvement was observed in USFR week 1 -8 post-injection in the 2500u and 3500u treatment groups, and through week 13 in the higher dose group. There was also a significant difference observed in CGI-C at week 4 for both treatment groups versus placebo, and at week 1- 8 post-injection, and in the low dose group at week 13. The most common adverse effect was dry mouth. Conclusions: Injection of rimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc) into the parotid and submandibular glands wase effective for the treatment of sialorrhea in patients with PD and other neurologic disorders, atf both 2500U and 3500U treatment arms. Injections were generally well tolerated Study Supported by: US WorldMeds Disclosure: Dr. Isaacson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jackson has received personal compensation for activities with GLG, Guidepoint Global, Marathon Pharmaceuticals, OneWorld Meds and Cytokinetics as a consultant. Dr. Jackson has received research support from OneWorld Meds and Cytokinetics. Dr. Molho has received personal compensation for activities with Lundbeck Research USA, Inc. and US WorldMeds as a consult and/or speaker. Dr. Trosch has received personal compensation for activities with Ipsen as a speaker and consultant. Dr. Ondo has received personal compensation for activities with TEVA, UCB Pharma, Lundbeck Research USA, Inc, ACADIA, and IMPAX as speaker and consultant. Dr. Clinch has received personal compensation for activities with US WorldMeds as an employee.
Causes and Risk Factors of Visual Impairment in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at King Hussein Medical Center

Objectives: To investigate the causes of severe visual impairment among Jordanians with type II diabetes mellitus and its associated systemic factors. Methods: A prospective study conducted at King Hussein Medical Center between January 2016 and May 2017. After getting the ethical approval and taking a consent form, all patients with type II diabetes mellitus who attended the medical retina clinic in the ophthalmology department and found to have best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of less than 6/12 in the best eye were included in the study. The patients were subjected to detailed ophthalmic exam including best corrected visual acuity using Snellen chart, anterior segment exam using slit lamp bio-microscopy, intraocular pressure measurement using Golmann applanation tonometry and posterior segment exam using 78 and 90 diopter lens. The patients were divided into two groups; Group A where the best corrected vision in the good eye is 6/60 or worse and Group B where vision in the good eye is less than 6/12 and better than 6/60. The outcome of ocular exam in both groups was recorded and compared and the overall data were analyzed using the Excel. Results: Ninetythree patients aged between 43 and 80 years (mean 63.1± 12) were included in the study, 55% of them were males with a ratio of 1.2: 1. The duration of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) ranged between 5 and 30 years (mean 14.4± 5 years). The hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ranged between 6.2% and 12% (mean 8.7± 1.2). Sixtyfive patient (70%) had BCVA less than 6/12 and better than 6/60 while 28 patients (30%) had BCVA of 6/60 or less. In Group A, 20 patients (70.4%) had proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) while the remaining patients had nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). On the other hand PDR was found only in 11 patients (16.9%) in Group B, 46 patients (70.8%) in this group had NPDR and 8 patients (12.3%) had no DR. Macular edema was found in 86.2% of patients with severe visual impairment. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and renal failure were present in 46%, 19% and 13% of the patients, respectively, and showed statistically significant association with severe visual loss (P value <0.01). Age more than 63 years and duration of DM more than 10 years also showed significant association. Conclusion: legal blindness is frequently found among Jordanian diabetics at king Hussein Medical Centre. The most common ocular finding in patients with severe visual impairment (best corrected visual acuity is 6/60 or less) is macular edema. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia , renal failure, age more than 63 years and duration of DM more than 10 years showed statistically significant association.
Effects of Overweight and Obesity on Postural Stability of Aging Females

Background: Weight gain modifies body geometry by adding mass to different areas of the body. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of body mass index (BMI) groups on postural stability of elderly females in a quiet stance by measuring the center of pressure (CoP) velocity. Methods: This quasi-experimental study consisted of 77 inactive females over 65 years old (67.7 ± 3.5) who had come to the Sports Medicine Center (Kiev, Ukraine) in the summer of 2017. All participants were classified into normal, overweight, and obese groups based on BMI. Postural stability was taken in a quiet stance (static situation) on a foam mat with open (OE) and closed (CE) eyes in anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions by the force platform. Each test was performed two times for 30 seconds, and CoP was recorded at a sampling rate of 200 Hz. Results: In the AP direction, obese females swayed significantly faster than females with normal weight during OE (1.1 cm/s and 0.84 cm/s, respectively) and CE (1.2 cm/s and 0.88 cm/s, respectively) conditions. In the ML direction, higher CoP velocities in females with normal weight were observed than in obese females under OE conditions (0.55 cm/s and 0.43 cm/s, respectively) and CE (0.76 cm/s and 0.56 cm/s, respectively). Conclusions: Obesity had a negative influence on postural stability in the AP direction. However, given the expansion of the support base, obese females were more stable than normal-weight females along the ML direction. Study outcomes can be useful for obese people, medical staff, and healthcare decision-makers.
Updates in Laminoplasty Techniques for Treatment of Multilevel Cervical Stenosis = الجديد في تقنيات إصلاح الصفيحة العظمية لمعالجة ضيق القناة الشوكية العنقية المتعدد المستويات

Background: The main goal of laminoplasty is to provide decompression of the spinal cord by widening the spinal canal, and used to gain wide access to the spinal canal to perform additional procedures, e.g. adequate dissection around the dural tube, duraplasty, and removal of spinal cord tumor. Objective: Across sectional cohort study to assess effectiveness and safety of laminoplasty in treatment of multilevel cervical canal stenosis and comparison of different techniques. Patients and Methods: We studied 20 patients with multilevel cervical canal stenosis undergoing cervical laminoplasty. All patients were subjected pre-operatively to full general and neurological clinical assessment, routine laboratory work and neuroimaging by plain X-ray, CT scan and MRI cervical spine. Results: This study included 20 patients (14 males and 6 females) and the mean age was 48.9 years. There were 7 patients with history of HTN and 5 patients with history of DM.There was a significant improvement post-operatively ofNurick grade score, Japanese Orthopedic Association scores and neck pain visual analog scale score. Conclusions: Laminoplasty is becoming an increasingly popular treatment for multilevel cervical stenosis due to cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Laminoplasty minimizes the risk of certain complications associated with other surgical options, such as graft and fusion-related complications.