Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Symptom Scores, Lifestyle Measures and Biochemical Markers to Create a Test for Endometriosis

Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop a test to discriminate between women suffering from pelvic pain associated with presence or absence of endometriosis, using symptom visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, demographic and lifestyle factors and known and novel plasma biomarkers. Methods This was a prospective cohort study. We recruited women presenting with pelvic pain symptoms and undergoing laparoscopy. They provided a plasma sample and completed a questionnaire assessing symptom VAS scores, lifestyle factors and demographic details. Plasma was assayed for 18 potential biomarkers. Logistic regression was used to develop a test to discriminate between women with pelvic pain associated with presence or absence of endometriosis. Results A series of 101 women were analyzed. On univariate analysis, women with endometriosis were less likely to be parous or have previously used an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) but have a higher weekly alcohol intake. These women had higher VAS scores for nausea and dyspareunia, and higher plasma levels of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125). The optimum logistic regression model included parity, previous IUD use, history of endometriosis, weekly alcohol intake, dyspareunia, VAS score and CA-125. This model had a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 62% and accuracy of 83%. Conclusions Combining symptom scores, historical measures and CA-125 provides a reasonable means to discriminate between women with pelvic pain associated with presence or absence of endometriosis, but greater specificity is needed before such a model could replace laparoscopy.
A rapid polymerase chain reaction protocol to detect adenovirus in eye swabs

OBJETIVO: Virus da familia Adenoviridae estao associados com muitas sindromes clinicas, sendo conhecidos 50 sorotipos. Virus desta familia e da familia Herpesviridae sao os maiores responsaveis por conjuntivite viral, sendo um rapido diagnostico importante devido ao carater epidemico das infeccoes por adenovirus. METODOS: Reacao em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) para adenovirus foi desenvolvida utilizando iniciadores que amplificam um fragmento de 300 bp do gene da proteina hexon do capsideo de diversos sorotipos. A reacao em cadeia da polimerase foi efetuada sem a etapa de extracao de DNA. RESULTADOS: Amostras de "swabs" de corneas de sete pacientes com ceratoconjuntivite foram analisadas, sendo que uma amostra foi positiva para adenovirus. O sequenciamento deste fragmento mostrou 100% de homologia com a sequencia do adenovirus tipo 8. CONCLUSAO: O sequenciamento do fragmento de 300 bp do gene do hexon permite a identificacao de quase todos os sorotipos de adenovirus, incluindo aqueles relacionados com a ceratoconjuntivite epidemica (8,19,37) e todas as amostras associadas com conjuntivite.
Characterization of bladder function in a cannabinoid receptor type 2 knockout mouse in vivo and in vitro

The contribution of individual CB receptors (CB1R and CB2R) to normal micturition has not been clearly defined. Our goal was to study if differences in urodynamic parameters or in vitro bladder contractility can be demonstrated between CB2R knockout (CB2RKO) and C57BL/6J control (wild type, WT) mice.
Loneliness and aging in China–a public health problem in need of solutions

Loneliness is a common, distressing feeling that results when one perceives his/her social relationships and supports as inadequate. Social connectedness refers to the relationships between the individual and his or her family, friends, community, and other supports. Neither loneliness nor social connectedness has received enough research attention, in particular with regard to older adults’ physical and mental health.
Annual Crop-Yield Variation, Child Survival, and Nutrition Among Subsistence Farmers in Burkina Faso

Whether year-to-year variation in crop yields affects the nutrition, health, and survival of subsistence-farming populations is relevant to the understanding of the potential impacts of climate change. However, the empirical evidence is limited. We examined the associations of child survival with interannual variation in food crop yield and middle-upper arm circumference (MUAC) in a subsistence-farming population of rural Burkina Faso. The study was of 44,616 children aged <5 years included in the Nouna Health and Demographic Surveillance System, 1992-2012, whose survival was analyzed in relation to the food crop yield in the year of birth (which ranged from 65% to 120% of the period average) and, for a subset of 16,698 children, to MUAC, using shared-frailty Cox proportional hazards models. Survival was appreciably worse in children born in years with low yield (full-adjustment hazard ratio = 1.11 (95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.20) for a 90th- to 10th-centile decrease in annual crop yield) and in children with small MUAC (hazard ratio = 2.72 (95% confidence interval: 2.15, 3.44) for a 90th- to 10th-centile decrease in MUAC). These results suggest an adverse impact of variations in crop yields, which could increase under climate change.
Assessment of Fasting Blood Plasma Glucose Level in Menopausal Women in Rural Area of Vom and Environs

menopausal women and 51 non menopausal women in Vom and its environs were investigated for their fasting blood plasma glucose levels. Blood glucose level was determined by glucose oxidase method (Randox Glucose Reagent Kits) to ascertain if menopause augments fasting blood glucose. The mean blood glucose level of menopausal women was found to be 4.43±0.15mmol/L while that of the non-menopausal women (control) was found to be 4.09±0.10mmol/L respectively. When comparism was made using one way ANOVA, the fastingblood plasma glucose levels of both menopausal women and non menopausal women were not significant (P>0.05), even though mean Fasting blood plasma glucose level of the menopausal women was slightly higher . However Comparism by age group made using the Post Hoc test shows that age group of 60years and above, shows a clinical significant difference (P < 0.05). This led to the conclusion that blood glucose level certainly increases in women around and after age of 60 and fasting plasma glucose level predict future risk of diabetes and other associated diseases in menopausal women.
Prevalence and incidence of dementia among indigenous populations: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Background: Indigenous populations may be at increased risk, compared with majority populations, for the development of dementia due to lower education levels and socio-economic status, higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and alcohol abuse, an aging population structure, and poorer overall health. This is the first systematic review investigating the prevalence and incidence of dementia in indigenous populations worldwide. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycInfo for relevant papers published up to April 2015. Studies were included if they reported prevalence or incidence, the disease typically occurred after the age of 45, the study population included indigenous people, and the study was conducted in the general population. Results: Fifteen studies representing five countries (Canada, Australia, the USA, Guam, Brazil) met the inclusion criteria. Dementia prevalence ranged from 0.5% to 20%. Retrospective studies relying on medical records for diagnoses had much lower prevalence rates and a higher risk of bias than population-based prospective studies performing their own diagnoses with culturally appropriate cognitive assessment methods. Conclusions: The prevalence of dementia among indigenous populations appears to be higher than it is for non-indigenous populations. Despite a building body of evidence supporting the need for dementia research among indigenous populations, there is a paucity of epidemiological research, none of which is of high quality.
Relationship between dual task walking, cognition, and depression in oldest old people

ABSTRACT Background: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between dual task walking, cognition, and depression in oldest old people living in the community. Methods: We conducted an observational cross-sectional study at Federal University of São Carlos (Brazil). We assessed 67 community-dwelling older adults aged 80 years and over, who were able to walk alone and did not present with a risk of dementia (assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE). The assessment consisted of anamnesis, dual task using the Timed Up and Go test associated with a motor task (TUGT-motor) and a cognitive task (TUGT-cognitive); cognitive measures using MMSE, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Clock Drawing test (CDT) and verbal fluency, and depressive measures by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results: There was a correlation with higher magnitude between cognitive tests and TUGT-cognitive, compared to TUGT-motor. For TUGT-motor, the highest correlations with cognitive tests were found between time and MMSE, MoCA (total score), and MoCA visuospatial/executive domain. For TUGT-cognitive, the highest correlations with cognitive tests were between number of steps and MMSE and between time and MMSE. GDS showed a significant weak correlation with number of steps taken in TUGT-motor, wrong words, and correct/time of TUGT-cognitive. Conclusions: Dual task performances are associated with cognition in oldest old. Furthermore, dual task tests have less influence of educational level, are functional, fast, and easily applicable in clinical practice. Future studies are needed to confirm if dual task test is useful for cognitive screening in oldest old.
Support and information needs following a diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies

ABSTRACT Background: There is a lack of knowledge regarding the information and support needs of people with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and their families around the time of diagnosis. Methods: A volunteer sample of patients with DLB and their family members completed a web survey hosted by the UK based Lewy Body Society in May 2014. This focused on past experiences of information and support received and what information and support needs would have been beneficial at the time of diagnosis. Results: One hundred and twenty five adults responded to the survey. The majority were first degree relatives or spouses of people with DLB (n = 107, 86%). Approximately 50% (n = 61) reported they had not received any tangible support at diagnosis. Thirteen categories of information needs were identified. Conclusions: People with DLB and their family members are currently inadequately supported at diagnosis. There is a need to address information needs related to symptomology, medication and prognosis, including provision of emotional and instrumental social support. Seeking the views of recipients of information and support is important in ensuring relevance and appropriateness prior to the development of interventions to improve the knowledge and coping skills of people with DLB and caregivers.
Cognitive and functional status predictors of delirium and delirium severity after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: an interim analysis of the Neuropsychiatric Outcomes After Heart Surgery study

ABSTRACT Background: Cognitive and functional impairment increase risk for post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery delirium (PCD), but how much impairment is necessary to increase PCD risk remains unclear. Methods: The Neuropsychiatric Outcomes After Heart Surgery (NOAHS) study is a prospective, observational cohort study of participants undergoing elective CABG surgery. Pre-operative cognitive and functional status based on Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale and neuropsychological battery are assessed. We defined mild cognitive impairment (MCI) based on either (1) CDR global score 0.5 (CDR-MCI) or (2) performance 1.5 SD below population means on any cognitive domain on neurocognitive battery (MCI-NC). Delirium was assessed daily post-operative day 2 through discharge using the confusion assessment method (CAM) and delirium index (DI). We investigate whether MCI – either definition – predicts delirium or delirium severity. Results: So far we have assessed 102 participants (mean age 65.1 ± 9; male: 75%) for PCD. Twenty six participants (25%) have MCI-CDR; 38 (62% of those completing neurocognitive testing) met MCI-NC criteria. Fourteen participants (14%) developed PCD. After adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity, and education, MCI-CDR, MMSE, and Lawton IADL score predicted PCD on logistic regression (OR: 5.6, 0.6, and 1.5, respectively); MCI-NC did not (OR [95% CI]: 11.8 [0.9, 151.4]). Using similarly adjusted linear regression, MCI-CDR, MCI-NC, CDR sum of boxes, MMSE, and Lawton IADL score predicted delirium severity (adjusted R2: 0.26, 0.13, 0.21, 0.18, and 0.32, respectively). Conclusions: MCI predicts post-operative delirium and delirium severity, but MCI definition alters these relationships. Cognitive and functional impairment independently predict post-operative delirium and delirium severity.
CSF tau/Aβ42 ratio for increased risk of mild cognitive impairment

Background: Processes of Alzheimer disease (AD) likely begin years prior to the onset of cognitive impairment (latent AD), progress though a prodromal phase of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and culminate in dementia. While many studies have evaluated CSF tau and Aβ42 as biomarkers of the dementia or prodromal stages of AD, we are unaware of any study to evaluate these potential CSF biomarkers of latent AD. Methods: We determined the ratio of CSF tau/Aβ42 (T/Aβ) using Luminex reagents in 129 control individuals that spanned from 21 to 100 years of age; for comparison we included patients with MCI (n = 12), probable AD (n = 21), or other neurodegenerative diseases (n = 12). Results: We identified 16% of the control group with abnormally elevated CSF T/Aβ; all were 53 years or older. Using age-matched controls with normal CSF T/Aβ we showed that the high CSF T/Aβ subgroup of controls had significantly increased frequency of the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene and significantly increased risk of conversion to MCI during follow-up of up to 42 months suggesting that they had latent AD at the time of lumbar puncture. Conclusions: These generally applicable methods establish cutoff values to identify control individuals at increased risk of conversion to mild cognitive impairment which may be useful to people weighing the risk-benefit ratio of new preventive therapeutics and to researchers striving to enrich clinical trial populations with people with latent Alzheimer disease.
Analysis of miR‐146a and miR‐142‐3p as Potential Markers of Freshly Isolated or In Vitro‐Expanded Human Treg cells

Regulatory CD4+ T cells (Tregs) are pivotal for prevention of autoimmunity. The use of Tregs is therefore of increasing interest in in vitro drug screening assays as well as for a cytotherapy per se against autoimmune disorders. For both purposes, in vitro expansion of peripheral blood Tregs is necessary and there is an increasing need to identify novel markers that can discriminate natural thymic‐derived Tregs (tTregs) from other T cell subsets, and ideally, such markers should be stably expressed during in vitro expansion procedures. We screened for novel miRNAs differentially expressed in tTregs and identified miR‐146a and 142‐3p as possible candidates. We analysed freshly isolated naïve and activated tTregs and non‐Treg subsets after or prior to in vitro expansion. We observed a tTreg‐specific profile of these miRNAs together with FOXP3 and Helios in freshly isolated tTregs, but observed a decline in the same markers in activated tTregs as opposed to naïve tTregs. In vitro‐expanded Tregs could be identified based on FOXP3 expression, but with loss of a discriminate profile for miRNA candidates and a decline in FOXP3 when activated tTregs were expanded. Our data demonstrate miR‐146a and 142‐3p as potential miRNA markers for discrimination between non‐Treg cells and tTregs, but these miRNAs are not stable markers for in vitro‐expanded Treg cells. In addition, the loss of FOXP3 in expansion of activated tTregs has implication for in vitro use of this cell subset in immunopharmacological assays and cytotherapy as FOXP3 is pivotal for suppressive function.
Activity of the external urethral sphincter evoked by genital stimulation in male rats

To determine whether the external urethral sphincter (EUS) fasciculi of male rats respond to the mechanical stimulation of genital structures and to characterize the pattern of the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the three regions of the EUS: the cranial (CrEUS), the medial (MeEUS) and the caudal (CaEUS).
Antidepressant use and mortality in very old people

ABSTRACT Background: Antidepressant treatment may increase the risk of death. The association between antidepressants and mortality has been evaluated in community-dwelling older people, but not in representative samples of very old people, among whom dementia, multimorbidity, and disability are common. Methods: Umeå 85+/GERDA study participants (n = 992) aged 85, 90, and ≥95 years were followed for up to five years. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to analyze mortality risk associated with baseline antidepressant treatment, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Mean age was 89 years; 27% of participants had dementia, 20% had stroke histories, 29% had heart failure, and 16% used antidepressants. In age- and sex-adjusted analyses, antidepressant use was associated with a 76% increased mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41–2.19). Adding adjustment for Geriatric Depression Scale score, HR was 1.62 (95% CI, 1.29–2.03). The association was not significant when adjusting for additional confounding factors (HR = 1.08; 95% CI, 0.85–1.38). Interaction analyses in the fully adjusted model revealed a significant interaction between sex and antidepressant use (HR: 1.76; 95% CI, 1.05–2.94). Among male and female antidepressant users, the HRs for death were 0.76 (95% CI, 0.47–1.24) and 1.28 (95% CI, 0.97–1.70), respectively. Conclusion: Among very old people, baseline antidepressant treatment does not seem to be independently associated with increased mortality risk. However, the risk may be different in men and women. This difference and the potential risk of initial treatment require further investigation in future cohort studies of very old people.
Social judgment of aggressive language: effects of target and sender sex on the evaluation of slurs.

We investigated the influence of the sex of the target and the sex of the sender on the judgment of slurs (verbal derogation). From previous research, we selected and clustered slurs into seven categories and respondents rated their degree of perceived insult in two consecutive questionnaire surveys (N = 281 and N = 224, respectively). Results confirm that slurs are generally judged as being more insulting when directed towards females than towards males. In comparison, differences in sex of sender were small. When directed towards females, slurs referring to "being loose" were rated as the most insulting. For both target sexes, remarks referring to homosexuality and physical unattractiveness were among those rated as the most insulting. Least insulting were slurs referring to unethical acts, lack of intelligence and cowardliness. A sex of respondent effect was found, suggesting that women rated slurs generally more insulting than men. The pattern of results showed considerable stability across surveys attesting for the reliability of the method for measuring the social evaluation of slurs.
Predictors for repeat self-harm and suicide among older people within 12 months of a self-harm presentation

ABSTRACT Background: A past history of self-harm is a significant risk factor for suicide in older people. The aims of this study are to (i) characterize older people who present with self-harm to emergency departments (EDs); and (ii) determine the predictors for repeat self-harm and suicide. Methods: Demographic and clinical data were retrospectively collected on older people (age 65+ years), who presented to seven EDs in New Zealand following an episode of self-harm between 1st July 2010 and 30th June 2013. In addition, 12-month follow-up information on repeat self-harm and suicide was collected. Results: The sample included 339 older people (55.2% female) with an age range of 65–96 years (mean age = 75.0; SD = 7.6). Overdose (68.7%) was the most common method of self-harm. 76.4% of the self-harm cases were classified as suicide attempts. Perceived physical illness (47.8%) and family discord (34.5%) were the most common stressors. 12.7% of older people repeated self-harm and 2.1% died by suicide within 12 months. Older people who had a positive blood alcohol reading (OR = 3.87, 95% Cl = 1.35–11.12, p = 0.012) and were already with mental health services at the index self-harm (OR = 2.73, 95% Cl = 1.20–6.25, p = 0.047) were more likely to repeat self-harm/suicide within 12 months. Conclusion: Older people who self-harm are at very high risk of repeat self-harm and suicide. Screening and assessment for alcohol use disorders should be routinely performed following a self-harm presentation, along with providing structured psychological treatment as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment for depression and interventions to improve the person's resilience resources.
Predisposing, enabling, and need factors of service utilization in the elderly with mental health problems

ABSTRACT Background: Empirical data on the use of services due to mental health problems in older adults in Europe is lacking. The objective of this study is to identify factors associated with service utilization in the elderly. Methods: As part of the MentDis_ICF65+ study, N = 3,142 people aged 65–84 living in the community in six European and associated countries were interviewed. Based on Andersen's behavioral model predisposing, enabling, and need factors were analyzed with logistic regression analyses. Results: Overall, 7% of elderly and 11% of those with a mental disorder had used a service due to mental health problems in the last 12 months. Factors significantly associated with underuse were male sex, lower education, living in the London catchment area, higher functional impairment and more comorbid mental disorders. The most frequently reported barrier to service use was personal beliefs, e.g. “I can deal with my problem on my own” (90%). Conclusion: Underutilization of mental health services among older people in the European community is common and interventions are needed to achieve an adequate use of services.
Promoting resilience, reducing depression in older adults

The MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Aging defined “successful aging” as active engagement in life, maintenance of high cognitive and physical function, and avoidance of disease (Rowe and Kahn, 1987). Closely aligned with “successful aging” is resilience, that is, the ability to adapt and thrive in the face of adversity.