Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of saline instillation sonography with trans vaginal sonography in abnormal uterine bleeding: a prospective study

Background: Abnormal vaginal bleeding may be caused by an extensive spectrum of disorders, both gynecologic and non-gynecologic. Diagnostic accuracy of abnormal uterine bleeding is important for the management. Trans vaginal sonography (TVS) is one of the commonest investigation used for the diagnosis, but the diagnosis is not always accurate for all clinical conditions. Saline instillation sonography (SIS) has been shown to improve the diagnosis. Authors aimed to compare the TVS and SIS diagnosis with the final histopathological diagnosis.Methods: Seventy-five patients with the complained of abnormal uterine bleeding attending outpatient department of a tertiary care institute were enrolled for the study. Trans vaginal sonography (TVS) and saline instillation sonography (SIS) was done on outpatient basis. The diagnosis was compared with final histopathological diagnosis, in term of diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value.Results: Seventy-five patients who were enrolled for the study. Sixty-four patients underwent surgery and final histopathological diagnosis was established. Four patients SIS was not possible, data was analysed for sixty patients.Conclusions: In SIS abnormal uterus diagnosis confidence was significantly improved (p value 0.001) when compared to TVS. The diagnosis of submucous myoma significantly improved (p=0.015) by SIS when compared to TVS. There was no significant difference between TVS and SIS diagnosis of Myoma remote from the endometrium (p=0.522), Adenomyosis (p=1), Focal endometrial abnormality (p=0.654) and Diffuse endometrial abnormality (p=1). The SIS sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were either improved or same, when compare to TVS for all the diagnosis except for the diagnosis of focal endometrial abnormality.
Effect of aging on colonic chemoprevention by dietary curcumin

Title of dissertation: EFFECT OF AGING ON COLONIC CHEMOPREVENTION BY DIETARY CURCUMIN Youngjoo Kwon, Doctor of Philosophy, 2006 Dissertation directed by: Assistant Professor Bernadene Magnuson Department of Nutrition and Food Science The incidence of cancer is highly dependent on age. The hypothesis of this thesis was that aging may alter the efficacy of dietary chemoprevention. This hypothesis was tested by evaluating the effect of age on inhibition of colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) by dietary curcumin. Three different ages of male F344 rats were fed either the control diet or diet containing 0.6% curcumin and given injections of a colon carcinogen, azoxymethane (AOM). Curcumin reduced the number of colonic ACF in young and old, but not middle-aged rats. Resistance of middle-aged rats to colonic chemoprevention by curcumin seems to be due to age-related differences in colon carcinogensis rather than curcumin metabolism. Liver cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression, measured as an indicator of biological activity of curcumin, was similarly affected by curcumin regardless of ages. Also, curcumin similarly affected arachidonic acid metabolism, which is regarded as one of chemopreventive mechanisms of curcumin, in the colon of young and middle-aged rats. The involvement of apoptosis was investigated as a potential mechanism responsible for age-related differences in curcumin chemoprevention. A time course study of colonic apoptosis following AOM injections demonstrated that older animals were more susceptible to AOM-induced apoptosis. The effect of aging on curcumin-induced apoptosis in the colon was evaluated at 0, 8, and 16 hours after AOM injection. Curcumin increased both basal and AOM-induced apoptosis in young and old but not in middle-aged rats. Activation of caspase-9 only in young rats fed curcumin indicates that curcumin-induced apoptotic pathway is mediated by mitochondria in young but not in old. AOM may also induce apoptosis by a mitochondrial-independent pathway. In conclusion, these studies support the hypothesis that aging modulates colonic chemoprevention by curcumin. This dissertation represents the first documentation of an age-related difference in efficacy of dietary chemoprevention. The differential response to curcumin-induced apoptosis is proposed as a mechanism. Further study is needed to confirm whether this phenomenon occurs in humans and contributes to the lack of agreement between efficacy of dietary chemoprevention in preclinical studies with young animals and clinical studies with adult humans. EFFECT OF AGING ON COLONIC CHEMOPREVENTION BY DIETARY CURCUMIN
An investigation of nutrition and swallowing risk factors in a New Zealand population of persons with intellectual disability

ABSTRACT Background: Swallowing difficulties are common in persons with intellectual disability (pwID). Yet little is known about the presentation of such difficulties in this heterogeneous population. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and nature of nutrition and swallowing difficulties in pwID in New Zealand. Method: This cross-sectional study used the Nutrition and Swallowing Risk Checklist to collect information from 391 pwID. Results: Ninety-five percent of participants showed evidence of nutrition or swallowing difficulties. Secondary complications of dysphagia included constipation (34%) and respiratory symptoms (12%). Dependency on others was associated with increased swallowing difficulties (p < .001). Following a special diet, eating slowly and eating without chewing were all associated with secondary complications of dysphagia. Reported difficulties increased with age (<50 years Mean 4, >50 years Mean 5, t = 4.50, p < .001). Conclusions: PwID have complex and varied nutrition and swallowing difficulties, with increasing concern associated with older age, diminished health, and atypical eating behaviours. These findings inform the management of swallowing difficulties for those working in this complex field.
Effects of Hypercholesterolaemia in the Retina

For some years, cholesterol-rich food has been associated with the subsequent development of complications such as the formation of atheromatous plaque and lipid deposits at the ocular level. These findings have been reproduced in an experimental rabbit model [2,3], this animal being particularly sensitive to the induction of atheromatous lesions, which faithfully reproduce those caused in human atherosclerosis [4-6].
Diversity, ecology, and conservation of truffle fungi in forests of the Pacific Northwest

Forests of the Pacific Northwest have been an epicenter for the evolution of truffle fungi with over 350 truffle species and 55 genera currently identified. Truffle fungi develop their reproductive fruit-bodies typically belowground, so they are harder to find and study than mushrooms that fruit aboveground. Nevertheless, over the last five decades, the Corvallis Forest Mycology program of the Pacific Northwest Research Station has amassed unprecedented knowledge on the diversity and ecology of truffles in the region. Truffle fungi form mycorrhizal symbioses that benefit the growth and survival of many tree and understory plants. Truffle fruit-bodies serve as a major food souce for many forest-dwelling mammals. A few truffle species are commercially harvested for gourmet consumption in regional restaurants. This publication explores the biology and ecology of truffle fungi in the Pacific Northwest, their importance in forest ecosystems, and effects of various silvicultural practices on sustaining truffle populations. General management principles and considerations to sustain this valuable fungal resource are provided.
Danger signs of acute respiratory tract infections in under-five children: awareness among mothers in the urban slums of Hyderabad, its relation to treatment seeking behaviour

Background: Sustainable development goals (SDGs) proposes to all countries an aim to reduce under-five mortality to 25 per 1000 live births by 2030. Acute respiratory tract infections including pneumonia are the leading cause of death among the children less than five years in India. Identification of severe respiratory infections from non-severe forms necessitates that care-givers, especially mothers are aware of danger signs. An attempt is made to study the awareness of danger signs among the Mothers and see its relation to treatment seeking behaviour.Methods: Community based cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 344 mothers of under-five children living in the urban slums of Hyderabad.Results: The awareness of mothers about the danger signs of ARI is poor. Very few knew that fast breathing (11 percent), wheezing (4.7 percent), convulsions (1 percent), lethargy (1 percent) are major danger signs of ARI requiring urgent medical attention. A majority of mothers took the child with ARI to private hospital (42 percent) while few approached Govt. Hospital or dispensary (4.7 percent). Many mothers (77 percent) were aware that vaccination against diseases might protect the children against ARIs. The prevalence of acute respiratory infections among the children in the current study (59.3 percent) is much higher that previous studies elsewhere.Conclusions: A very high proportion (44 percent) of the mothers were ignorant of any danger sign of ARI. The significant association between awareness and positive health care seeking behaviours, like consulting allopathic doctor or govt. hospital or private hospital establishes the evidence that awareness levels are the prerequisite for the positive health care behaviour.
Impact of Body Weight Dynamics Following Intentional Weight Loss on Fracture Risk: Results from The Action for Health in Diabetes Study

The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of body weight change following intentional weight loss on incident fracture and bone mineral density (BMD) in overweight and obese adults with diabetes. A total of 1885 individuals with type 2 diabetes (baseline age: 58.5 ± 6.7 years, 58% women, body mass index: 35.7 ± 6.0 kg/m2) who participated in the Look AHEAD study and lost any weight 1 year after being randomized to an intensive lifestyle intervention were assessed. Body weight was measured annually and participants were categorized as weight regainers, weight cyclers, or continued losers/maintainers based on a ±3% annual change in weight from year 1 to year 4. Adjudicated overall fracture incidence was captured from years 4 through 13 (median follow‐up duration 11.5 years). Hip and spine BMD was assessed in a subset of participants at baseline, year 4 (n = 468), and year 8 (n = 354), using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Cox proportional hazards and linear regression models, adjusted for relevant covariates, were performed for fracture and BMD outcomes, respectively. Fifty‐eight percent, 22%, and 20% of participants were classified as weight regainers, weight cyclers, and continued losers/maintainers, respectively; and 217 fractures (men n = 63; women n = 154) were recorded during the follow‐up period. There were no statistically significant differences in total incident fracture rates for weight regainers (HR [95% CI]: 1.01 [95% CI, 0.71 to 1.44]) or weight cyclers (HR [95% CI]: 1.02 [95% CI, 0.68 to 1.53]) when compared to continued losers/maintainers (p = 0.99). Similarly, follow‐up BMD estimates did not significantly vary by weight pattern group, although consistent trends for lowered BMD in the hip region were noted for continued losers/maintainers and weight cyclers compared with weight regainers. Patterns of weight change in the 3 years following 1 year of intentional weight loss were not associated with subsequent fracture or significantly reduced BMD in this cohort of overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes. © 2018 The Authors. JBMR Plus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
High Relative Humidity Promotes Tipburn on Young Cabbage Plants1

Transplants of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. Capitata group) grown in growth chambers under continuous illumination of 310 μE m−2sm−1 (21.5 ± 1.1 klx) and temperature of 20 ± 1°C developed tipburn-like symptoms on young leaves within 8 to 14 days when maintained at 82% but not at 52% relative humidity (RH). Plants had larger leaves and greater fresh and dry weights at 82% than at 52% RH.
Female authorship in major endocrinology journals: a 25-year progression

Context: The number of women in academic medicine has increased significantly in recent years. However, female authors are underrepresented in major medical journals. Objective: The aim was to determine the distribution of female first and senior authors of original articles in four American endocrinology journals over a period of 25 years. Design: A retrospective analysis of the literature was undertaken. Setting: Four journals were selected: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism; Thyroid; Journal of Bone and Mineral Research and Diabetes Care. Participants: The first and senior authors of all original articles published in 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2015 were included. Intervention: none. Results: The main outcome measure was the distribution of female first and senior authors of original articles. A total of 4 148 articles were included. Of these, 28.9% (1 199) articles were authored by females of whom 751 (62%) were first authors. Over the study period, there was a shift towards female authorship. A statistically significant trend was observed (p < 0.001).
Enzymes impliqués dans la production des formes réactives de l'oxygène dans les membranes plasmiques, les mitochrondries et les chloroplastes

Les formes reactives de l'oxygene (FRO) ont ete analysees dans differents compartiments cellulaires en utilisant des methodes spectroscopiques (UV/VIS, fluorescence, infrarouge, resonance paramagnetique electronique). L'identite et les mecanismes catalytiques des enzymes qui produisent les FRO dans les membranes plasmiques (MP) et les mitochondries ont ete etudies, ainsi que le role protectif de l'oxydase terminale plastidiale (PTOX) des chloroplastes. Cd2+ s'est revele etre un inhibiteur de la NADPH oxydase des MP. In vivo Cd2+ inhibait la production extracellulaire de O2•- mais stimulait l'accumulation de H2O2. Dans des mitochondries isolees, Cd2+ a augmente la production de FRO. Antimycin A a entraine une elevation du H2O2 extracellulaire, confirmant que la mitochondrie est le site principal de production de l'H2O2 extracellulaire induite par Cd2+ in vivo. Une quinone reductase (QR) generatrice de FRO a ete isolee des MP. La deprotonation pH-dependante du quinole a produit des formes intermediaires instables qui generent des FRO par reaction avec O2. Des especes quinoniques ont ete detectees dans la MP et pourraient servir de substrat aux QR in vivo. La protection de la chaine photosynthetique de transfert d'electron par la plastoquinol:O2 oxydoreductase a ete etudiee chez des plantes PTOX+ surexprimant PTOX. En raison de leur reponse alteree en conditions de faible et forte intensite lumineuse, il a ete propose que pour fonctionner comme enzyme protectrice, PTOX est couplee a une SOD. Chez les lignees PTOX+, le niveau de SOD chloroplastique n'etait pas plus eleve, limitant probablement leur capacite a detoxifier les taux eleves de O2•- genere.
Under Nutrition and its Associated Factors among Lactating Mothers in Rural Ambo District, West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Background: Lactation has different effects on maternal nutritional status. Even though, growing number of studies reported the existence of maternal under nutrition, very few studies in Ethiopia highlighted under nutrition among lactating mothers.Objective: To assess the prevalence of under nutrition and associated factors among lactating mothers in rural areas of Ambo district, West Shewa zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia, 2016.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 619 lactating mothers. A pretested and structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data. Weight, height and Mid Upper Arm Circumference were measured. Body Mass Index was measured to assess the nutritional status. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the association between each independent and dependent variable. Adjusted Odds Ratios with its 95% confidence interval were estimated to identify factors associated with the outcome variable in multivariable logistic regression. Results: The overall prevalence of under nutrition (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) was 21.5%. Lactating mothers within the age group of 17-25 were more likely to be undernourished than those mothers in the age group of 36-49 (AOR=6.82, 95%CI: 1.84, 25.27). Mothers who were unable to read and write (AOR=2.45, 95%CI: 1.22, 4.94) and from poor wealth index (AOR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.95) were also more likely to be undernourished than those who had formal education and rich mothers, respectively. Conclusion: One fifth of lactating mothers were undernourished. Thus, strengthening health education on proper maternal and child dietary practices and the need of adequate dietary intake during lactation should be emphasized. Additionally, strong multi-sectorial collaboration targeted at improving women’s status in the community is very essential in order to improve health and nutritional outcomes of lactating women.
Evaluation of Educational Material to Improve Communication Between Nursing Assistants and District Nurses About Patients With Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of educational material to improve knowledge about cognitive impairment and dementia and communication between district nurses (DNs) and nursing assistants (NAs). Questionnaires were administered before and 4 months after the intervention in Stockholm, Sweden. Total number of subjects included were 12 DNs and 72 NAs. The DNs provided education for the NAs on dementia and how to communicate with the DNs. NAs’ understanding of what they should report to DNs improved as did their perceived communication with the DNs but they still did not report more than before the intervention, and exchange of information and feedback did not improve. DNs thought communication with the NAs did not work well. Participants experienced the educational materials as positive.
Sandy-substrate microcosm studies on tributyl tin (TBT) toxicity to marine organisms

A four month trial was carried out using a series of sandy-substrate flow through microcosms containing two bivalve species (Cerastoderma edule and Scrobicularia plana), two polychaete species (Nereis diversicolor and Cirratulus cirratus), a crustacean (Corophium volutator) and a gastropod (Littorina littorea). Small specimens of other invertebrate species may have been present initially in the sand which was sieved down to 2 mm and, during the trial, larvae and post-larvae of other invertebrates entered the microcosms with the water supply. TBT was introduced into three microcosms at high (1-3 mg l-1) and three at low (0.06-0.17 mg l-1) concentrations by using a header tank containing panels painted with "Micron 25" (International Paints Ltd.) anti-fouling paint. High TBT concentrations killed all adult bivalves within a few weeks and the low level TBT produced complete mortality of cockles after 4 months. The introduced adult polychaetes were generally resistant to TBT and no significant mortalities were observed for L. littorea. No C. volutator specimens were recovered from any microcosms probably due to their migration through the outflow. A 1000 to 15 000 fold accumulation of TBT was recorded in the tissue of the bivalves. Chlorophyll- a analysis of core samples revealed significant benthic microalgal production in all microcosms with greatest production in high TBT. However, the high TBT microcosms contained virtually no animal life and therefore the algae were not grazed. Up to 16 species of non-introduced invertebrates were found in the low level TBT and control microcosms, but total bivalve biomass (numbers and size) was significantly greater in the controls than at the low level of TBT. This study confirms the very high toxicity of TBT to adult bivalves and to the larvae of many marine invertebrates and demonstrates that current levels of TBT (0.05-2 mg l-1) in areas of high pleasure craft activity may be having a significant deleterious effect on marine life.
Types of urinary stones in Duhok Province

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the biochemical composition of urinary stones in Dohuk Province. Patients and methods: A prospective study done at Azadi-Teaching Hospital in Duhok city, during a period of two years from Jun. 2009 to Jun. 2001. The total number of patients collected was 150. Both inpatients and outpatients were included. Pediatric age group excluded. The source of collection of samples was: stones passed spontaneously by the patient with conservative treatment, or after surgery or extra corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Results: Total number of patients was 150, 102 patients (68%) were males & 48 patients (32%) were females, male: female ratio = 2.1:1. Out of 150 patients, 52 (35%) had calcium phosphate, 45 (30%) had calcium oxalate, and 30 (20%) with uric acid stones. 20 patients (13%) had mixed stones "calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate" and only 3 patient (2%) had pure oxalate stones. Out of 150 patients, 117 (78%) had calcium stones & 30 patients (20%) had uric acid stones, & 3 patients (2%) had oxalate stone. No other types of stones were detected in this study. Conclusion: The study revealed that most of the stones in our patients were calcium containing stones. The most common stones were calcium phosphate, and the percentage of uric acid stones was high.