Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Portulaca Supplementation on Antioxidant Biomarkers and Oxidative Stress in non-Active Girls

Background: Oxidative stress results from imbalance in the body's redox position, which results in tissue damage due to increased intracellular radicals. Antioxidants prevent the oxidation of fatty acids and prevent foam cells and atherosclerotic plaque. Portulaca, which is one of the supplements, is considered as an antioxidant-rich plant. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of eight weeks of Portulaca supplementation on antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress in non-active girls. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on non-active girls (overweight and obese) with an age range of 20-30 years in Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University. 20 subjects were qualified and randomly divided into two control (n = 10) and complement (n = 10) groups. Subjects of supplemented group received 1200 portulaca mg per day for eight weeks. Data were analyzed by t-test using by SPSS20 software. Statistical significance criterion was set as P<0.05. Results: The results showed that serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GPX) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were significantly increased in the supplemented group (P<0.05), while the amount of malondialdehyde (MAD) decreased, this decline was not statistically significant (P> 0.05). Conclusion: Portulaca supplements are likely to be effective in improving cardiovascular health and preventing cardiovascular disease and strengthening the antioxidant system in overweight and obese people, and destroys lipid peroxidation that produces ROS.
Pulmonary Vein Isolation with rotational angiography based three-dimensional left atrial reconstruction

Atrial fibrillation remains the cardiac arrhythmia of highest relevance, exerting a huge burden on both societies and individuals. Together with constant technological progress, new methods are continually implemented in everyday practice, which translates into better prognosis and outcomes of invasive treatment. A crucial part of the pulmonary vein isolation procedure is proper reconstruction of cardiac structures. One of the methods offering the highest vision quality is a combination of rotational angiography with electro-anatomical mapping. We present a case of a 62-year-old patient referred to our department diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and successfully treated with catheter ablation using visualization consisting of electro-anatomical mapping and rotational angiography.
Cytomegalovirus infection associated with atypical bronchopulmonary dysplasia in a preterm neonate: a case report

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is frequently isolated from neonates. Symptomatic infection is only apparent in 10% of affected babies with particular predilection for the reticuloendothelial and central nervous system. Isolated respiratory system involvement is rarely encountered. We report a case of a premature 32 weeks infant who required prolonged oxygen dependency and treated for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The diagnosis of CMV pneumonitis was only discovered after detection of CMV DNA in the bronchoalveolar lavage. A high level of clinical awareness is crucial as a definite diagnosis and treatment will significantly alter the morbidity and the cost of therapy.
Characteristics and Prognosis of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma at Campus Teaching Hospital of Lome

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world, as well as in Togo, where it is a major public health problem. HCC is the third most common cause of death from cancer. Chronic infection with HBV and HCV is the most important cause of HCC. Objective: To determine the epidemiological, diagnostic and evolutionary aspects of HCC in the hepatology and gastroenterology department of Campus Teaching Hospital of Lome. Patients and method: Descriptive and analytical study, conducted from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017, on all patients admitted in the hepatology and gastroenterology department of Campus Teaching Hospital of Lome for hepatocellular carcinoma. The statistical analysis was done using Stata 13 software. The significance threshold was used for p < 0.05. Findings: A total of 250 patients were retained. Hospital prevalence was 6.1%. There was a male predominance with a sex ratio of 2.84. The average age was 47.15 ± 13.85 (extreme: 20 - 85 years). The average duration of symptoms was 67.08 ± 82.59 days. Pain in the right hypochondrium was the most common reason for consultation (64.6%). The average AFP value was 24,062 ± 33,318 ng/ml. Ultrasound found more than two nodules in 74.75% of cases and a portal thrombosis in 64.97% of cases. The main etiologies found were chronic hepatitis B (55%) and C (8%) virus infections. The majority (89.20%) of patients were in the BCLC D stage. Survival at 6 months was 45%. Factors associated with death were: chronic ethylism (OR = 16.87, p = 0.002), jaundice (OR = 341.57, p = 0.004), rupture of esophageal varices (OR = 42.45, p = 0.008) and a BCLC D score (OR = 9.82, p = 0.041). Conclusion: Young adults were the most affected by HCC, whose etiologies are dominated in our context by hepatitis B and C viruses. The majority of our patients consulted late and was found at the terminal stage of the disease, limiting any therapeutic possibility. In this situation, the best attitude remains prevention.
Geriatric Assessment in Oncology: G8 Screening Tool Validation and Reliability Study

RESULTS Patients (mean age: 73.9±6.10) were diagnosed with lymphoma (30.9%), multiple myeloma (21.8%), leukemia (20.9%), myelodysplastic syndrome (19.1%). Confirmatory factor model fit index analysis χ2/ df and p-values (0.14) showed a good fit and GFI, AGFI, SRMR, and RMSEA values showed acceptable fit. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.655, area under the ROC curve was 0.824 (95%, 0.745–0.904), and sensitivity and specificity were 61.0% and 88.9%, respectively.
Antibacterial activity of lactobacilli probiotics on clinical strains of Helicobacter pylori

Objective(s): Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection by common drugs may be associated with several problems such as antimicrobial resistance to commonly used antibiotics and side effects of employed drugs. Therefore, exploration of non-chemical compounds which are safer than chemical ones is becoming important as an alternative therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against clinical strains of H. pylori. Materials and Methods: Study of antibacterial effects of LAB against H. pylori strains included: evaluation of LAB effects as well as its cell-free supernatant (CFS) to reduce the number of H. pylori, and to examine the effects of CFS to inhibit the urease activity of H. pylori. The anti-adhesion effect of LAB on adherence of H. pylori to epithelial cell line was also evaluated. Results: Evaluation of the anti H. pylori effect of LAB depended on the strain of H. pylori and Lactobacillus. However, CFS of LAB reduced significantly the growth of all H. pylori strains. Also, urease activity of H. pylori strains was inhibited by CFS of LAB demonstrating that their organic acid may have a role in this inhibition. The significant anti-adhesion effect of LAB on adherence of H. pylori was also observed. Conclusion: Presence of LAB and/or their CFS can reduce the count of H. pylori, inhibit the urease activity of H. pylori, and reduce adhesion of H. pylori to epithelial cell line. This may be important for the impact of H. pylori colonization in the host stomach.
Clinical peculiarities of measles in children from the Ternopil region, Ukraine

The medical cards of children hospitalised in the Infectious Department of Ternopil Children’s Hospital were analysed. Children, mainly unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated, form the majority in the structure of measles morbidity in the Ternopil region of Ukraine. The disease has typical cyclic course with pathognomonic symptoms and is mainly moderate and uncomplicated. Complications are predominantly characterised by respiratory and digestive system involvement. Prolongation of the prodromal period with prodromal rash and shortening or prolongation of the exanthema period in some patients, characterised by specific rash staging, are the main clinical peculiarities in children of this region. Leukopaenia, thrombocytopaenia, eosinophilia, and leukocytic left shift are typical for the prodromal and exanthema period, and normocytosis or leukocytosis with lymphocytosis are typical for the pigmentation period. A biochemical blood test shows the impairment of the liver function in some cases. Chest X-ray shows strengthening of the pulmonary pattern in the base of the lungs in the case of complications with bronchitis and infiltrates in the lower lobes in case of pneumonia.
Effects of Malaria Parasitaemia on Some Haematological Parameters of Pregnant Women of African Descent in Specialist Hospital Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

plas-Abstract Despite the fact that malaria is a completely preventable disease, an estimated 3.4 billion people worldwide continue to be at risk of the disease globally. Malaria in pregnancy is a major contributor to adverse maternal and prenatal outcome. In hyper endemic areas like ours, it is a common cause of anemia in pregnancy and is aggravated by poor socioeconomic circumstance. This study evaluated the effect of Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia on some full blood count parameters among a total of 60 plasmodium parasitized pregnant women visiting the antenatal clinic in Sokoto Specialist Hospital in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria. Thirty malaria negative age-matched pregnant women were monitored as controls. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain some socio-demographic characteristics of the participants. Blood samples was collected in Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid (EDTA) tubes were examined for malaria parasite and some haematological parameters (haematocrit, haemoglobin, total white cell count, red blood cell count and platelet count) using the auto-haematology analyzer (Genesis, HA6000, China). Data generated was analyzed using SPSS 25.0 statistical package. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant in all statistical comparisons. There was a statistically significant decrease (p=0.000) in the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (HB), red blood cell count (RBC) and platelet counts of the parasitized subjects compared to the non-parasitized controls. Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant special responsible for all the cases of malaria among the subjects. Finding from this study has shown that malaria in pregnancy causes decrease in some of the haematological parameters. There is need for full blood count to be assayed in pregnancy and particularly among plasmodium parasitized women to facilitate the evidenced-based management of these women. Malaria parasite testing should be carried out routinely on pregnant women particularly those presenting to antenatal clinic with febrile illness. There is need for the Nigerian government to invest on evidenced-based best practices; education of pregnant women, provision of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs), integration of malaria-prevention into antenatal care services and provision of prophylactic treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (ITPp-SP) with two single doses taken after 16 weeks of amenorrhea, at least 4 weeks apart.
Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) of Ceftriaxone in Mubende Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Introduction: Ceftriaxone is a third generation cephalosporin recommended as first line treatment option for a number of diseases in Uganda. However, the National Drug Authority has in the recent past received complaints of suspected treatment failure from clinicians who use different brands of ceftriaxone in Uganda. The main aim of the study was to document the treatment outcome following use of ceftriaxone and evaluating the use of ceftriaxone against the current treatment guidelines in Uganda. Methods: A descriptive observational, non-intervention study design to document treatment outcomes after administration of Ceftriaxone injection in hospitalized patients was undertaken in Mubende. A total of 100 hospitalized patients treated with ceftriaxone were enrolled. Results: Overall, Ceftriaxone was used to treat pneumonia in the paediatric ward, presumptive therapy for infection following caesarean section (n=47) and PID in the post-natal ward, while on surgical and medical wards, Ceftriaxone was used to manage upper respiratory infection, bacterial infections and meningitis. There were no Adverse Events reported to have occurred during treatment with ceftriaxone. Of the patients treated with ceftriaxone 18% completed their doses and had regular administration. Majority 60% of the patients had irregular administration with completed doses and 22% did not complete their doses. Conclusion: There is low treatment outcome during use of Ceftriaxone and the empirically treatment is highly prevalent in the hospital. There is high number of inappropriate drug administration, in which patients usually miss doses or do not complete as prescribed. This practice has an effect of affecting the patient outcomes and aggravating antimicrobial resistance. Choice of ceftriaxone use is not guided by culture and sensitivity due to lack of inadequate laboratory infrastructure.
Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Organ Bağışına ve Nakline Yönelik Tutumları

Organ transplantation not only improves the length and quality of life of recipients but also is an effective use of limited health care resources. So organ donation is an important health policy question facing all health services worldwide. The purpose of this study was to identify the consciousness and attitudes toward organ and tissue donation and transplantation among the university students which are studying at a health management department. Data was collected from 362 students. According to the results of this study, health management students support organ and tissue donation and transplantation (82%). Despite the fact that a small number of students were generally willing to donate their organs and tissue (3.9%) the majority of the students are in a positive manner toward donation and transplantation. The basic reasons for the students who do not want to donate their tissues and organs are religion (33.8%) and fear (46.2%). When looking at the regression model, being informed is statistically significant predictor for the positive attitude toward organ and tissue donation and transplantation. The other variables (gender, age, income, rural / urban) have no role in the regression model. So it is thought that the general population and especially the student population should be educated about organ or tissue transplantation.
Time taken to perform a rapid sequence intubation within a simulated prehospital environment

Background Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) involves inducing unconsciousness and paralysis in rapid succession in order to facilitate endotracheal tube placement. RSI has recently been introduced to the scope of practice of South African prehospital emergency care practitioners (ECPs). Despite this, there remains limited evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of RSI within this context. While in-hospital studies have shown that it can take 20 minutes or more to perform an RSI, little is known about the time taken to perform the procedure in the prehospital setting. Objectives To measure the time taken to perform an RSI in a simulated prehospital environment. Methods A sample of final-year ECP students were video-recorded performing RSIs on a mannequin within a simulated prehospital environment. Data were gathered through an analysis of the recordings, allowing for the capturing of times taken to complete each of the phases of a RSI. Results A mean time of 15 minutes 5 seconds was recorded to complete the procedure. This was shorter than times reported for in-hospital studies. Conclusion RSI is a potentially harmful procedure if improperly performed and has the potential to create delays in transport that may not always be in the patient’s best interest. With a mean time of 15 minutes 5 seconds, the performance of RSI by ECP students in the simulated prehospital environment was faster than expected. Further research is recommended to explore the relationship between the performances observed in this mannequin-based study with those in authentic prehospital settings. Contributions of the study This study adds to a currently limited body of knowledge surrounding the performance of out-of-hospital anaesthesia by emergency care practitioners in the African context. The study highlights the fact that while prehospital rapid sequence intubation may be a lifesaving procedure, anaesthetising patients in an uncontrolled prehospital environment is not without risk. An important consideration that needs to be taken into account when making a decision on whether or not to perform the procedure within the prehospital setting is the potential delay this might have on transport time and arrival at the receiving facility
Risk Factors of Low Birth Weight Infants: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Complications caused by low birth weight (LBW) are among the most common causes of neonatal mortality and future problems during adulthood. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for LBW. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences from 2017 to 2018 on 7,382 LBW neonates and 36,911 healthy neonates. Data were collected from the SINA electronic health record system. Data analysis was performed in STATA version 12.0. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were applied to determine the association between independent variables and LBW. Results: The prevalence of low birth weight was 5.88 infants per 100. In this study, the risk of LBW was increased in people living in rural areas, compared to urban areas, by 9% (95% CI: 1.01-1.18), in illiterate individuals by 4.60% (95% CI: 4.05-5.23), in employed individuals by 2.40% (95% CI: 2.20-2.62), in female newborns (95% CI: 1.04-1.16), in mothers with a history of miscarriage by 74% (95% CI: 1.09-2.75), in women with premature delivery by 34.09% (95% CI: 29.17-39.84), in women with a history of multiple gestations by 22.30% (95% CI: 18.71-26.59), in women with a history of drug consumption by 2.01% (95% CI: 1.83-2.21), in mothers not consuming folic acid and iron by 24% (95% CI: 1.10-1.39) and 9% (95% CI: 1.00-1.19). On the other hand, it decreased by lack of consumption of multivitamins and vitamin D by 1% (95% CI: 0.88-1.11), and 29% (95% CI: 0.61-0.82), respectively. Conclusion: According to the results, educating mothers, increasing prenatal care, having an appropriate diet and taking supplements can play an important role in reducing the risk of LBW.
Effectiveness of Dose Adjustment of Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes among Hemodialysis Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease: A Randomized Crossover Study

Determining insulin requirements for hemodialysis patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is difficult. We performed a randomized crossover study among type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients with ESRD on continuous hemodialysis and receiving standard insulin for glycemic control. The patients were randomized in 2 groups: daily insulin needed on the day after hemodialysis and a 25% decrease in daily insulin needed on the day after hemodialysis. A total of 51 T2DM patients with ESRD were enrolled. The adjusted-insulin group had higher plasma glucose levels at the 2nd hour of dialysis than those of the nonadjusted-insulin group. Incidence of hypoglycemia per dialysis session (3.3% vs. 0.7%, P = 0.02) and symptoms related to hypoglycemia (6.9% vs. 0.7%, P = 0.001) were more frequent in the nonadjusted-insulin group. A reduced insulin administration of 25% among T2DM patients undergoing hemodialysis on the day of dialysis was associated with sustained glycemic efficacy and the production of fewer hypoglycemic symptoms. This trial is registered with TCTR20180724002.
Cochlear Implantation in Craniometaphyseal Dysplasia.

OBJECTIVE Describe the first case of cochlear implantation (CI) for auditory rehabilitation of a patient with craniometaphyseal dysplasia (CMD) and progressive mixed hearing loss. PATIENTS A 65-year-old woman with known autosomal dominant CMD presented with progressive mixed hearing loss and declining benefit from conventional hearing aids. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed hyperostosis of the entire craniofacial skeleton. Hearing evaluation demonstrated pure-tone thresholds in the profound range bilaterally by air conduction, and bone conduction thresholds that matched aided thresholds for her left ear, though testing was somewhat limited by inability to mask at high air-conduction thresholds. CI candidacy testing confirmed poor word and sentence scores in the right ear. INTERVENTION Due to the inability to access the cochlea via a conventional mastoidectomy and facial recess approach, cochlear implantation via a postauricular subtotal petrosectomy approach with ear canal overclosure was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Post-implantation word and sentence testing. RESULTS Despite extensive internal auditory canal stenosis, the patient demonstrated excellent early speech understanding results 5 weeks after device activation. Postimplantation audiologic evaluation showed thresholds between 20 and 30 dB HL from 250 to 6000 Hz. Word and sentence testing scores were 76% Consonant-nucleus-consonant in quiet (up from 2% preoperatively) and 77% AzBio sentences in quiet (up from 10% preoperatively). CONCLUSION This report describes the first description of CI for CMD. Despite the extensive radiologic abnormalities, the patient has demonstrated excellent benefit from implantation. Further study of rare temporal bone dysplasias, such as CMD, is critical to better characterize the progression of otologic disease and determine optimal treatment.
Pharmacy Student Performance in a Capstone Course Utilizing the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process

Objective. To develop, implement, and assess student performance and confidence in a pharmacy capstone course that used case-based instruction and the Pharmacist’s Patient Care Process (PPCP) to develop patient work-up skills in third-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students. Methods. A skills-based capstone course was developed by a team of faculty members and instructional designers that focused on patient evaluation skills and applying the steps of the PPCP to complex patient cases housed in a simulated electronic health record (SEHR). The acuity of the cases increased over the course of the semester. For each patient case, students were expected to identify drug-related problems and develop an assessment and plan based on the information provided in the SEHR. Results. Students (n=134) were assessed through weekly quizzes and two practical examinations. The average score for all quizzes was 81%. A significant correlation was found between average quiz scores and performance on the end-of-course practical examination. Student scores significantly improved from the first to the second practical examination (10.4 vs 12.9, respectively), and student confidence with regard to all course objectives significantly improved from the beginning to the end of the semester. Conclusion. A capstone course that applied the PPCP framework successfully taught third-year PharmD students the patient care skills they would need in advanced pharmacy practice experiences.