Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment for Efficacy of Additional Breathing Exercises Over Improvement in Health Impairment Due to Asthma Assessed using St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire

Background: Breathing exercises have been described to be useful in asthma management by few researchers in the past. Objective: To assess the efficacy of breathing exercises (Pranayamas) added to regular optimal medications in asthma patients in improving health impairment using St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Methods: Sixty stable asthma patients (34 females) receiving optimal treatment at our institute for 3 months or more as per the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines were included in the study. They performed seven breathing exercises under supervision at yoga center of our institute for 3 months in addition to their regular medications. SGRQ (1 month symptoms version) was used to assess the quality of life before and after breathing exercises intervention for following subsets: Symptom score, activity score, impact score, and total score to assess the efficacy of breathing exercises. Results: Of 60 asthma patients, 34 were females and 26 were males, and their mean age was 25.45 ± 5.41 years. Their baseline spirometric values were as follow: Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) - 2.492 ± 0.358 L and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) - 283.82 ± 51.12 L/min. The SGRQ scores after breathing exercises intervention decreased from 45.98 ± 5.61 to 38.78 ± 4.92 for symptom subset, from 15.45 ± 3.33 to 12.34 ± 2.39 for activity subset, from 17.95 ± 4.22 to 12.12 ± 3.82 for impact subset, and from 25.83 ± 8.31 to 19.20 ± 7.09 for total scores. All these reductions were statistically highly significant (P < 0.001). Decrease in symptoms, activity, and total SGRQ scores each was significantly correlated with FEV1, FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio, and PEFR; decrease in impact score was significantly related only with FEV1/FVC ratio. Conclusions: Breathing exercises significantly decreased all component scores of SGRQ, signifying a global improvement in health impairment due to asthma; this improvement was in addition to that was achieved with optimal asthma therapy alone.
Aggression can be contagious: Longitudinal associations between proactive aggression and reactive aggression among young twins.

The present study examined sibling influence over reactive and proactive aggression in a sample of 452 same-sex twins (113 male dyads, 113 female dyads). Between and within siblings influence processes were examined as a function of relative levels of parental coercion and hostility to test the hypothesis that aggression contagion between twins occurs only among dyads who experience parental coerciveness. Teacher reports of reactive and proactive aggression were collected for each twin in kindergarten (M = 6.04 years; SD = 0.27) and in first grade (M = 7.08 years; SD = 0.27). Families were divided into relatively low, average, and relatively high parental coercion-hostility groups on the basis of maternal reports collected when the children were 5 years old. In families with relatively high levels of parental coercion-hostility, there was evidence of between-sibling influence, such that one twin's reactive aggression at age 6 predicted increases in the other twin's reactive aggression from ages 6 to 7, and one twin's proactive aggression at age 6 predicted increases in the other twin's proactive aggression from ages 6 to 7. There was also evidence of within-sibling influence such that a child's level of reactive aggression at age 6 predicted increases in the same child's proactive aggression at age 7, regardless of parental coercion-hostility. The findings provide new information about the etiology of reactive and proactive aggression and individual differences in their developmental interplay.
Digitalis: a dangerous drug in atrial fibrillation? An analysis of the SPORTIF III and V data

Objective: In heart failure, digitalis increases exercise capacity and reduces morbidity, but has no effect on survival. This raises the suspicion that the inotropic benefits of digitalis may be counteracted by serious adverse effects. Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) were studied to clarify this. Design: In the Stroke Prevention using an ORal Thrombin Inhibitor in atrial Fibrillation (SPORTIF) III and V studies, 7329 patients with AF at moderate-to-high risk were randomised to preventive treatment of thromboembolism, either with warfarin or the oral direct thrombin inhibitor ximelagatran. The survival of users and non-users of digitalis was investigated. Results: At baseline, 53.4% of the study population used digitalis, and these patients had a higher mortality than non-users (255/3911 (6.5%) vs 141/3418 (4.1%), p<0.001; hazard ratio (HR) = 1.58 (95% CI 1.29 to 1.94)). Digitalis users also had more baseline risk factors. After multivariate risk factor adjustment, the increased mortality persisted (p<0.001; HR = 1.53 (95% CI 1.22 to 1.92 vs 1.23 to 1.92)). Conclusions: The results suggest that digitalis, like other inotropic drugs, may increase mortality. This may be concealed in heart failure, but be revealed in patients with AF, who need the rate-reducing effect of digitalis, but do not benefit much from an increased inotropy. Cautious interpretation of the data is mandatory since the patients were not randomised with respect to digitalis use.
review: Current status of stem cell mobilization

New advances in effective mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells have permitted a greater proportion of patients to benefit from autologous stem cell transplantation. In this review, the relative merits of peripheral blood and mobilized bone marrow are discussed. All available agents are reviewed. A critical assessment of the appropriate dosing and frequency of available growth factors is undertaken, and the most commonly used chemotherapy plus growth factor combinations are covered. Specific recommendations for patients who are poor mobilizers are dealt with including the role of plerixafor.
OF THE EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIOR CHOICE : A LOCAL ANALYSIS

Analyses of free-operant choice usually employ one of two general procedures: the simple concurrent procedure (i.e., a concurrent variable-interval variable-interval schedule) or the concurrent-chains procedure (i.e., concurrently available initial links, each leading to an exclusively available terminal link). Theories about choice usually focus on only one of the two procedures. For example, maximization theories, which assert that behavior is distributed between two alternatives in such a way that overall rate of reinforcement is maximized, have been applied only to the simple concurrent procedure. In the present paper, a form of the pairing hypothesis (according to which pairings between one stimulus and another affect the value of the first, and pairings between responses and reinforcers affect the value of the former) is developed in a way that allows it to make qualitative predictions with regard to choice in a variety of simple concurrent and concurrent-chains procedures. The predictions include matching on concurrent variable-interval variableinterval schedules, preference reversal in the self-control paradigm, and preference for tandem over chained terminal links.
EGFR Gene Alterations in a Norwegian Cohort of Lung Cancer Patients Selected for Surgery

Introduction:Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. New therapies targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase are promising and show high response rates in the subset of patients with activating mutations in EGFR. The frequency of these mutations is largely unknown in unselected Caucasian patients. Methods:Mutation analysis of EGFR exons 18–21 was performed on 240 lung cancer samples using the TheraScreen EGFR mutation kit and denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography in addition to sequencing. Results:In a cohort of 240 Norwegian lung cancer patients selected for surgery, we identified 18 tumors with EGFR-activating mutations (7.5%, 14 women and 4 men), of which 14 were adenocarcinomas, 2 squamous cell carcinomas, and 2 bronchoalveolar carcinomas. Five of the mutations were found in patients with more than 20 pack-years of smoking history. Conclusion:The frequency of EGFR mutations is lower in our cohort than among Asian lung cancer patients and present in both men and women and smokers and never-smokers. However, the frequency is significantly higher among women and never-smokers and among patients with adenocarcinomas.
Pediatric Urolithiasis in Sub–Saharan Africa: A Comparative Study in Two Regions of Cameroon

Objective: To determine the composition of caculi and the predisposing factors for stone nucleation and growth in children from two regions of Cameroon.Methods: This was a cross–sectional study involving 21 children, 17 from the northern and 4 from the southern region, over a 6–year period. Data on age, diet, residence, clinical presentation, location of stone, and results of stone analysis were collated following a preestablished proforma. A computerized analysis of the data was carried out. The constituents of stone sections and nidus were assembled so as to determine the principal causes of stone nucleation and growth.Results: Pediatric urolithiasis was more common in the northern Sahelian belt of Cameroon. Males and rural dwellers were more commonly affected. Endemic (bladder) stone disease was found in the majority of the patients. All stones were mixed. The most frequent constituents of the stones were ammonium urate, struvites, and whewellite in descending order of percentage mean volume per stone. The nidus was available for study in only 10 stones, and its composition revealed heterogeneity of causes of nucleation. The commonest cause for stone formation and growth were infection and hyperuricosuria (malnutrition). Conclusions: Pediatric bladder stone disease is not uncommon in northern Cameroon. Many factors combined to predispose to stone nucleation and growth, but the level of socioeconomic development was preponderant. Stone composition indicated that urolithiasis in children was a heterogeneous disorder, but hyperuricosuria, insufficient diuresis, and infection associated with malnutrition seemed to be the most common causes.
Immunohistochemistry of deparaffinised sections using antigen retrieval with microwave combined pressure cooking versus immunofluorescence in the assessment of human renal biopsies

Background Immunofluorescence of frozen tissue sections (IF-F) is a traditional technique used in renal biopsy. However, IF-F has certain disadvantages, such as a few or even no glomeruli in the section, and limited long-term preservation of the fluorescently labelled samples. Methods We compared two-step immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of deparaffinised sections for antigen retrieval with microwave combined high-pressure cooking to IF-F used to detect antigens of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C1q, κ and λ in patient renal biopsy samples. The number of glomeruli detected, sensitivity and specificity of positive staining, tissue structure, and location staining of the antigens were determined using the two methods in 285 patients diagnosed with different renal diseases. Results Concordant observations between IF-F and IHC were 99% for all antigen staining (1969 of 1995 observations) and 100% for IgG, IgA and IgM (all 285 observations). The number of glomeruli in IHC sections was significantly greater compared with IF-F sections (p<0.001). IHC provided clearer images of tissue structure, more precise localisation of positive-staining antigens, and IHC staining allowed simultaneous evaluation of tissue by light microscopy. Correlation between tissue structure and immune deposits are not readily attained by IF-F. Conclusions IHC is superior to IF-F for immunopathological diagnosis of renal biopsy tissue and is a reliable replacement for the more traditional IF-F method.
Tumor 31P NMR pH measurements in vivo: A comparison of inorganic phosphate and intracellular 2‐deoxyglucose‐6‐phosphate as pHnmr indicators in murine radiation‐induced fibrosarcoma‐1

Uncertainty regarding the intracellular/extracellular distribution of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in tumors has raised concerns that pH calculated from the tumor Pi chemical shift may not accurately represent the intracellular pH (pHin). This issue was addressed in subcutaneously transplanted murine radiation induced fibrosarcoma‐1 by directly comparing pH measured via Pi with pH measured via the in situ generated intracellular xenometabolite 2‐deoxyglucose‐6‐phosphate (2DG6P). In 131 comparative measurements employing eight tumor‐bearing mice under both control and hyperglycemic conditions (the latter to extend the range of tumor pH examined), the pH as derived from either 2DG6P or Pi showed only a small, but statistically significant, difference (0.07 ± 0.11 SD; P = 0.0001). Scatter in the comparative analysis over the pH range examined (ca. 5.5‐7.5) was not uniform. Above pH 6.6, 2DG6P indicated a pH lower than that of Pi by 0.088 ± 0.105 SD (n = 107, P = 0.0001); below pH 6.6, 2DG6P indicated a pH essentially identical to and not statistically different from that of Pi (mean difference 0.003 ± 0.128 SD (n = 24, P = 0.92)). Evidence is presented in support of this differential arising from a systematic measurement error due to peak overlap between 2DG6P and endogenous phosphomonoester species. These results support the use of Pi as a tumor 31P NMR pHin indicator, at least in RIF‐1 tumors under control and hyperglycemic conditions.
Does Personality Matter When We Are Sick? An Empirical Study of the Role of Personality Traits and Health Emotion in Healthcare Technology Adoption Decision

Several studies reported disparities among patients in using healthcare technologies. Although some researchers cited demographic characteristics as possible factors responsible for these disparities, these factors alone may not provide a complete view of adoption issues. Thus, disparities among technology users remain a topic of interest to Health Informatics researchers. Although personality traits are important factors in influencing technology adoption behavior, its’ influence in healthcare technology adoption decision remains unknown. Moreover, individuals’ emotion related to their on-going health issues further complicate the situation. Specifically, the interaction effect between patients’ personality traits and health emotional state is an important and interesting research topic that is yet to be explored. This study proposes and empirically tests a conceptual model incorporating individuals’ personality traits and health emotional states in the context of patient portal use. The results suggest interesting finding – individual’s health emotion supersedes the influence of personality traits in healthcare technology adoption decision.
Live-cell Microscopy and Fluorescence-based Measurement of Luminal pH in Intracellular Organelles

Luminal pH is an important functional feature of intracellular organelles. Acidification of the lumen of organelles such as endosomes, lysosomes, and the Golgi apparatus plays a critical role in fundamental cellular processes. As such, measurement of the luminal pH of these organelles has relevance to both basic research and translational research. At the same time, accurate measurement of intraorganellar pH in living cells can be challenging and may be a limiting hurdle for research in some areas. Here, we describe three powerful methods to measure rigorously the luminal pH of different intracellular organelles, focusing on endosomes, lysosomes, and the Golgi apparatus. The described methods are based on live imaging of pH-sensitive fluorescent probes and include: (1) A protocol based on quantitative, ratiometric measurement of endocytosis of pH-sensitive and pH-insensitive fluorescent conjugates of transferrin; (2) A protocol for the use of proteins tagged with a ratiometric variant of the pH-sensitive intrinsically fluorescent protein pHluorin; and (3) A protocol using the fluorescent dye LysoSensor™. We describe necessary reagents, key procedures, and methods and equipment for data acquisition and analysis. Examples of implementation of the protocols are provided for cultured cells derived from a cancer cell line and for primary cultures of mouse hippocampal neurons. In addition, we present strengths and weaknesses of the different described intraorganellar pH measurement methods. These protocols are likely to be of benefit to many researchers, from basic scientists to those conducting translational research with a focus on diseases in patient-derived cells.
Skin test reactivity to natural and recombinant Blomia and Dermatophagoides spp. allergens among mite allergic patients in the UK

Background: Many asthmatics in tropical and subtropical areas have positive skin prick tests to both Dermatophagoides spp. and to the mite Blomia tropicalis. This may be due to recognition by IgE of cross‐reactive allergens between the different mite species or because of sensitization to species‐specific allergens. A 14‐kDa Blomia tropicalis allergen, Blo t 5, has been cloned and shows 40% sequence homology with Der p 5. The aim of this study was to investigate reactivity to B. tropicalis in patients known to be sensitized to D. pteronyssinus and to assess allergenic activity and cross‐reactivity of recombinant (r) Group 5 allergens amongst these patients, who live in the UK and who are not exposed to B. tropicalis in their homes.
Comparative Effect of Tacrolimus and Betamethasone Valerate on the Passive Sustainable Hydration of the Stratum Corneum in Atopic Dermatitis

Background: There is ample evidence that the skin barrier function is altered in atopic dermatitis. Little information is available about the effect of topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors on this function. Purpose: To assess the water content and its rate of accumulation in the stratum corneum of atopic patients using an indirect electrometric method while on tacrolimus or betamethasone valerate treatment. Method: Twenty-one patients with moderate atopic dermatitis affecting both forearms completed this double-blind randomized study. One forearm was treated twice daily for 3 weeks with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment. The other forearm was similarly treated with 0.12% betamethasone valerate ointment. Electrometric measurements were made under continuous occlusion secured by a Nova Dermal Phase Meter sensor probe. Assessments were performed at inclusion, after the 3-week treatment and after a further 3-week follow-up out of treatment. Results: During treatment, both compounds yielded a similar improvement in skin barrier function. Indeed, under probe occlusion, the rate of water accumulation was significantly decreased. This improvement was sustained after stopping the tacrolimus treatment. By contrast, the benefit was in part lost at the site that had been treated by betamethasone valerate. Conclusion: The difference in the effect of the 2 compounds may be due to the negative influence of betamethasone valerate on the epidermal metabolism leading to progressive atrophy of the tissue. The better preservation of the skin barrier function after stopping tacrolimus treatment may help retarding relapses of atopic dermatitis.
Cardiovascular magnetization transfer ratio imaging compared with histology: A postmortem study

Cardiovascular magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) imaging by steady state free precession is a promising imaging method to assess microstructural changes within the myocardium. Hence, MTR imaging was correlated to histological analysis. Three postmortem cases were selected based on a suspicion of myocardial infarction. MTR and T2‐weighted (T2w) imaging was performed, followed by autopsy and histological analysis. All tissue abnormalities, identified by autopsy or histology, were retrospectively selected on visually matched MTR and T2w images, and corresponding MTR values compared with normal appearing tissue. Regions of elevated MTR (up to approximately 20%, as compared to normal tissue), appearing hypo‐intense in T2w‐images, revealed the presence of fibrous tissue in microscopic histological analysis. Macroscopic observation (autopsy) described scar tissue only in one case. Regions of reduced MTR (up to approximately 20%) corresponded either to (i) the presence of edema, appearing hyperintense in T2w‐images and confirmed by autopsy, or to (ii) inflammatory granulocyte infiltration at a microscopic level, appearing as hypo‐intense T2w‐signal, but not observed by autopsy. Findings from cardiovascular MTR imaging corresponded to histology results. In contrast to T2w‐imaging, MTR imaging discriminated between normal myocardium, scar tissue and regions of acute myocardial infarction in all three cases. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:915–919. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Noninvasive blood glucose monitoring during oral intake of different sugars with optical coherence tomography in human subjects

The potential of OCT applied to noninvasive blood glucose monitoring has attracted significant efforts. In this work we investigated the feasibility of OCT in monitoring blood glucose during oral intake of different sugars in humans. Five groups of experiments were performed, in which different sugars were used. The OCT signal slope (OCTSS) changed with variation of blood glucose concentration (BGC). A good correlation between OCTSS and BGC was observed in these experiments. The averaged correlation coefficients R between OCTSS and BGC are 0.900, 0.836, 0.895 and 0.884, corresponding to oral administration of glucose, fructose, sucrose and mixed sugar, respectively. Our studies demonstrated the capability and accuracy of the OCT system in monitoring BGC noninvasively and it could become a powerful tool in daily blood glucose monitoring for patients. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorders: a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Children with autism spectrum disorders often present with comorbid anxiety disorders that cause significant functional impairment. This study tested a modular cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program for children with this profile. A standard CBT program was augmented with multiple treatment components designed to accommodate or remediate the social and adaptive skill deficits of children with ASD that could pose barriers to anxiety reduction. METHOD Forty children (7-11 years old) were randomly assigned to 16 sessions of CBT or a 3-month waitlist (36 completed treatment or waitlist). Therapists worked with individual families. The CBT model emphasized behavioral experimentation, parent-training, and school consultation. Independent evaluators blind to treatment condition conducted structured diagnostic interviews and parents and children completed anxiety symptom checklists at baseline and posttreatment/postwaitlist. RESULTS In intent-to-treat analyses, 78.5% of the CBT group met Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale criteria for positive treatment response at posttreatment, as compared to only 8.7% of the waitlist group. CBT also outperformed the waitlist on diagnostic outcomes and parent reports of child anxiety, but not children's self-reports. Treatment gains were maintained at 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The CBT manual employed in this study is one of the first adaptations of an evidence-based treatment for children with autism spectrum disorders. Remission of anxiety disorders appears to be an achievable goal among high-functioning children with autism.