Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sjögren Syndrome and Emphysema: An Atypical Association

Pulmonary manifestations of Sjögren syndrome are common and have been widely described in the literature. The association of primarily emphysematous changes in lungs associated with Sjögren syndrome is unusual and has not been well characterized. The authors describe this uncommon association and present clinical, physiological, and radiologic correlation.
Differentially Altered Plasma Proteins in Patients diagnosed with Alcoholic andNonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are major health problems. Although both diseases follow asimilar course of disease progression from an early reversible fatty liver stage to severe necroinflammation with or without fibrosis andcirrhosis, the mechanisms of ALD and NAFLD are not well understood. This preliminary study was conducted to determine blood alcoholconcentration (BAC) and altered proteins and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs, nonoxidative metabolites of ethanol) in the plasma of patientsdiagnosed with ALD or NAFLD. Differentially altered proteins were identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry,FAEEs by gas chromatography and BAC by an enzymatic method. Precursors of complement C3, complement C6 and serum amyloid A-4protein, and Ig gamma-3 chain C region were significantly decreased in ALD vs controls (group 1). Haptoglobin precursor was the onlyaltered protein (increased) in NAFLD vs controls (group 2). However, significantly increased levels of precursors of complements C3, C4-Band C6 and decreased levels of immunoglobulin J chain and Leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein precursor were observed in NAFLD vs ALD(group 3). These results indicate potential of precursors of complements C3 and C6 and haptoglobin for the differential diagnosis of ALD andNAFLD. Although high BAC and plasma FAEEs levels in the ALD group appear to be associated with chronic alcohol abuse, biologicalsignificance of endogenous biosynthesis of FAEEs yet to be established. Therefore, a detailed proteomic and lipidomic study need to beconducted in larger cohorts to understand the etiopathogenesis of ALD and NAFLD.
A Review on Surface Electromyography-Controlled Hand Robotic Devices Used for Rehabilitation and Assistance in Activities of Daily Living

Volume 3 ABSTRACT Introduction: Spinal cord injuries, traumas, natural aging, and strokes are themain causes of arm impairment or even a chronic disability for an increasing part of the population. Therefore, robotic devices can be essential tools to help individuals afflicted with hand deficit with the activities of daily living in addition to the possibility of restoring hand functions by rehabilitation. Because the surface electromyography (sEMG) control paradigm has recently emerged as an interesting intention control method in devices applied to rehabilitation, the concentration in this study has been devoted to sEMG-controlled hand robotic devices, including gloves and exoskeletons that are used for rehabilitation and for assistance in daily activities. Materials and Methods: A brief description is given to the previous reviews and studies that have surveyed the robotic devices used for rehabilitation; a comparison is conducted among these studies with respect to the targeted part of the body and the device's control method. Important issues about controlling by sEMG signal are accentuated, and a review of sEMGcontrolled hand robotic devices is presented with an abbreviated description for each endeavor. Some criteria related to sEMG control are specifically emphasized, for instance, the muscles used for control, the number of sEMG channels, and the type of sEMG sensor used. Discussion: It is noted that most of the sEMG-based controls for the devices included in this study have used the nonpattern recognition scheme due to the weak sEMG signals and abnormal pattern of muscle activation for stroke patients. In addition to sEMG-based control, additional control paradigms have been used inmany of the listed robotic devices to increase the efficacy of the system; this cooperation is required because of the difficulty in dealing with the sEMG signals of stroke patients. Most of the listed studies have conducted the experiments on a healthy subject to evaluate the efficacy of the systems, whereas the studies that have recruited stroke patients for system assessment were predominately using additional control schemes. Conclusions: This article highlights the important issues about the sEMG control method and accentuates the weaknesses associated with this type of control to assist researchers in overcoming problems that impede sEMG-controlled robotic devices to be feasible and practical tools for people afflicted with hand impairment. (J Prosthet Orthot. 2020;32:3–13)
1386Reduction of mitral regurgitation in patients with heart failure and secondary mitral regurgitation: relationship between changes in brain natriuretic peptide and outcomes from the COAPT trial

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a well-established predictor of hospitalization and death in patients with heart failure (HF). In the COAPT trial, treatment of patients with HF and secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) with transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) reduced the 2-year rates of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization compared with maximally-tolerated guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) alone. Whether these improvements in outcomes were reflected in serial changes in BNP levels has not been reported. Herein, we report the first results of serial changes in BNP levels by treatment group in patients from the COAPT trial. 614 patients with HF and 3+ or 4+ SMR were randomized 1:1 to TMVr + GDMT or GDMT alone. Key inclusion criteria included NYHA functional class II-IVa (ambulatory), ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with LVEF 20%-50% and LVESD ≤70 mm. Baseline BNP or NT-proBNP levels were drawn at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. For the present analysis NT-proBNP (pg/ml) values were converted to BNP values (pg/ml) using a ratio of 7 to 1. At baseline, mean values of BNP were not significantly different between treatment groups (945 pg/ml vs. 964 pg/ml in the TMVr + GDMT and GDMT groups respectively, p=0.84). At 6 months, mean values of BNP in the TMVr + GDMT group were significantly lower than in the GDMT alone group (690 pg/ml vs 893 pg/ml, p=0.02) but not at 12 months (584 pg/ml vs. 728 pg/ml, p=0.22). By analysis of covariance, BNP decreased to a greater degree after TMVr + GDMT compared with GDMT only at both 6 and 12 months (least squares mean differences of −121 pg/ml and −166 pg/ml respectively, both p<0.05) (Figure). Change in BNP level from baseline In patients with HF and 3+ or 4+ SMR enrolled in the COAPT trial, reduction of SMR with TMVr reduced BNP compared with maximally-tolerated GDMT only, a change which paralleled the reductions noted in all-cause mortality and HF hospitalizations with TMVr. Abbott
Kritéria spokojenosti s kvalitou služeb vysokých škol z pohledu studentů vybraných evropských zemí

The following study examines the links between satisfaction, university students, and service quality provided by universities and tertiary education in five Central European countries. The study is based on dissertation thesis of one of the author. The following goals were formulated on the basis of theoretical knowledge obtained from scientific publications. The goal is to formulate the most important criteria of student satisfaction with the service quality of tertiary institutions among university students in five Central European countries. The primary research was done using the following techniques: individual interviews, focus groups and a questionnaire survey. The results of the primary research were analysed using the applications Microsoft Office Excel, Statistics and QC. Expert. The questionnaire survey was provided at these universities: in the Czech Republic – Brno University of Technology, Masaryk University, in Germany - Fachhochschule Jena, Universitat Regensburg, and Ludwig-Maximilians Universitat Munchen, in Poland - Jagellonska univerzita, AGH - Akademie Gorno – Hutnicza, and Uniwersytet Papiesk, in Austria - FH Wien- Studiengange der WKW a WU - Wirtschaftsuniversitat Wien, in Slovakia - Presovska univerzita in Presov. The total number of students involved in the research was 584. The first wave of the results brings interesting findings which are discussed in the study.
PREVALENCE OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN PULMONARY TB PATIENTS AND COMPARISON WITH GENERAL POPULATION

Background: Both vitamin D deficiency and genetic variants in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) have been reported to associate with delayed response to intensive-phase therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis. Studies investigating the influence of genetic variants in vitamin D binding protein (DBP) and vitamin D 25-hydroxylase (CYP2R1) on vitamin D status and response to antituberculous therapy are lacking. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study in 260 patients initiating treatment for smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Lahore, Pakistan. Vitamin D status and genotypes for polymorphisms in VDR (rs2228570, rs731236, rs1544410), DBP (rs7041, rs4588) and CYP2R1 (rs2060793, rs10500804, rs10766197) were determined at baseline. Sputum smear microscopy was performed at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, and time to sputum smear conversion was estimated for each participant. Analyses were conducted to determine demographic, clinical and genetic determinants of baseline vitamin D status and time to sputum smear conversion. Results: Profound vitamin D deficiency (serum 25[OH]D < 25 nmol/L) was highly prevalent at TB diagnosis (present in 54 % of patients), and was independently associated with female vs. male sex (adjusted OR 2.60, 95 % CI 1.50 to 4.52, P = 0.001), recruitment in October to March inclusive (adjusted OR 1.75, 95 % CI 1.00 to 3.04, P = 0.047) and bilateral vs. unilateral disease (adjusted OR 1.89, 95 % CI 1.49 to 4.52 P = 0.025). Profound vitamin D deficiency was also independently associated with impaired response to antituberculous therapy (median time to sputum smear conversion 22.5 vs. 7.5 days for patients with serum 25[OH]D <25 nmol/L vs. ≥ 25 nmol/L, respectively; aHR 4.36, 95 % CI 3.25 to 6.65, P < 0.001). No polymorphisms in VDR, CYP2R1 and DBP studied associated with either baseline vitamin D status or time to sputum smear conversion. Conclusions: Profound vitamin D deficiency is very common among TB patients in Lahore, Pakistan, and is independently associated with significantly delayed sputum smear conversion. Polymorphisms in VDR, CYP2R1 and DBP did not associate with baseline vitamin D status or response to intensive-phase treatment in this patient group.
Comparison of Satisfaction With Comorbid Depression Care Models Among Low-Income Patients With Diabetes

Introduction: Patient satisfaction is a patient-reported outcome with the potential to assess and improve the quality of newer care-management models such as remote patient monitoring using telecommunication technology. Objective: To evaluate differences in patient satisfaction among 3 care management groups in a comparative effectiveness trial. Methods: This study analyzed a comparative effectiveness trial that tested automated remote assessment technology–facilitated comorbid depression care-management (TC, n = 254) in comparison to team-supported depression care (SC, n = 228) and usual primary care (UC, n = 218) among low-income patients with type 2 diabetes. Relationships between patient satisfaction and care group were evaluated at each 6-month phase up to 18 months using linear regression models that controlled for depression status, diabetes symptoms, patient characteristics, and study group differences. Results: While receiving care management, SC and TC patients were significantly more satisfied with depression care than UC patients. No consistently significant associations between patient satisfaction and patient characteristics or disease symptoms were found. Conclusions: Patient satisfaction was found to be influenced by elements of care-management, not by patient characteristics or disease symptoms. Results suggest greater patient satisfaction with depression care in a care-management model than UC, whether through clinician team support or automated remote monitoring technology.
Rapid urinary antigen test (Binax NOW) for diagnosis of S. pneumonia in children with upper and lower respiratory tract infections

Abstract. To compare the prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae by rapid urinary test and blood culture in children with respiratory tract infection and healthy children (controls). Pneumococcal antigenuria was detected in 31.5 % of CAP, 31.5 % of rhinosinusitis cases and 6 % of controls. Pneumococcal antigenuria was significantly more frequently detected in both CAP and rhinosinusitis cases than controls (Fishers exact test; CI 95%, p = 0.01). In no cases of non pneumococcal CAP was antigenuria detected. Compared with blood culture, the specificity of the Pneumococcal antigenuria test was 94%. Nasopharyngeal carrier states for S.pneumoniae in healthy control are very low (6%). We recommend the rapid urinary antigen test to conventional cultural methods for early diagnosis of pneumococcal respiratory infection as a basis for starting appropriate treatment.This study help to inform policy making for the mass infant immunization with PCV7 in our country to decrease incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease. Key words: Streptococcus pneumonia, rapid immunochromatographic test, acute rhinosinusitis, community-acquired pneumonia, nasopharyngeal carriers.
Aging and eye tracking: in the quest for objective biomarkers

Recent applications of eye tracking for diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up of therapy in age-related neurological or psychological deficits have been reviewed. The review is focused on active aging, neurodegeneration and cognitive impairments. The potential impacts and current limitations of using characterizing features of eye movements and pupillary responses (oculometrics) as objective biomarkers in the context of aging are discussed. A closer look into the findings, especially with respect to cognitive impairments, suggests that eye tracking is an invaluable technique to study hidden aspects of aging that have not been revealed using any other noninvasive tool. Future research should involve a wider variety of oculometrics, in addition to saccadic metrics and pupillary responses, including nonlinear and combinatorial features as well as blink- and fixation-related metrics to develop biomarkers to trace age-related irregularities associated with cognitive and neural deficits.
A Developmental Analysis of Children’s Self-Ability Judgments in the Physical Domain

This study examined developmental differences in children’s judgments of their physical competence. Two questionnaires were administered to 134 children, ranging in age from 8 to 13 years, to measure their perceptions of competence and the criteria they use to evaluate that competence. In addition, children’s actual physical competence was assessed through teacher evaluation. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the data revealed three major findings. First, the accuracy with which children judge their competence does increase with age. Second, the criteria children use to assess their competence is also age-dependent, with younger children showing greater preference for adult feedback and older children showing greater preference for peer comparison. Third, the criteria children use in competency judgments was found to be directly related to the accuracy of such judgments. The results of this study demonstrated the existence of developmental patterns with respect to children’s judgments of their physi.
Analysis of new brushless self-excited single-phase synchronous generator by finite element method

An analysis of a novel brushless self-excited single-phase generator is presented. The rotor of the generator consists of a short-circuited field coil with a diode. The output voltage can be near constant for a wide range of load without AVR. In order to establish the design criterion of this generator, a magnetic field analysis is carried out. It is found that the theoretical results agree with the experimental ones. This generator is very simple, robust and maintenance-free. It is useful as a maintenance-free constant-speed generator. <<ETX>>
Pharmacology education in the perspective of pharmaceutical promotion: Bangladesh experience

The medical practice has become complex and challenging because of the entry of newer medicines and technologies. The key objective of pharmacology teaching-learning activities is to make graduates enable to select medicines by appraising safety, efficacy, cost and suitability. Promotional activities conducted by pharmaceutical industries deleteriously affect physicians’ prescribing practice. The present research was conducted with an attempt to explore current academic documents related to Pharmacology education in Bangladesh. The curriculum (pharmacology portion of undergraduate medical curriculum), books of pharmacology (preferred by the pharmacologists), and written question papers (of last five years from all universities) were evaluated by searching certain key phrases. The curriculum of undergraduate course did not give adequate emphasis on issues related to the pharmaceutical promotion. Ethical issues and ‘critical appraisal skill’ are not mentioned in the pharmacology books, and not appear in the written examinations.
prevalence of abnormal hip alpha angle in football players a potential contributory factor to other pathologies

Prevalence of Abnormal Hip Alpha Angle in Football Players- A Potential Contributory Factor to Other Pathologies. Abstract Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) is associated with a higher risk of Osteoarthritis (OA). One of the most frequently used measurements is the alpha angle. An angle greater than 55° is considered abnormal, and can promote mechanical and biological impairments in the form of OA. Athletes display a higher rate of abnormal alpha angle. We conducted a descriptive study to evaluate the rate of abnormal alpha angle in a population of affiliated football players. To this end, different groups were selected: asymptomatic volunteers and patients who had undergone FAI, Osteitis Pubis (OP), meniscus or Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery. The rates of abnormal angle were 20% in healthy volunteers, 42% in meniscus patients, 46% and 73% in ACL patients (in hip contralateral and ipsilateral, respectively, to the ACL lesion), 88% in OP and 100% in FAI. The rates observed in the meniscus patients and contralateral hip of ACL patients are similar to those seen in various series of athletes. The high rates observed in the ipsilateral hip of ACL patients and in OP patients could modify the mechanics and contribute to the pathophysiology of the lesion. In conclusion, the mean rate of abnormal alpha angle was over 40%, exceeding 80% in other typical pathologies of football players.
Comparative Effectiveness of Expandable Versus Static Interbody Spacers via MIS LLIF: A 2-Year Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes Study

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the radiographic and clinical outcomes of expandable interbody spacers to static interbody spacers. Methods: This is a retrospective, institutional review board–exempt chart review of 62 consecutive patients diagnosed with degenerative disc disease who underwent minimally invasive spine surgery lateral lumbar interbody fusion (MIS LLIF) using static or expandable spacers. There were 27 patients treated with static spacers, and 35 with expandable spacers. Radiographic and clinical functional outcomes were collected. Statistical results were significant if P < . 05. Results: Mean improvement in visual analogue scale back and leg pain scores was significantly greater in the expandable group compared to the static group at 6 and 24 months by 42.3% and 63.8%, respectively (P < .05). Average improvement in Oswestry Disability Index scores was significantly greater in the expandable group than the static group at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months by 28%, 44%, 59%, 53%, and 89%, respectively (P < .05). For disc height, the mean improvement from baseline to 24 months was greater in the static group compared to the expandable group (P < .05). Implant subsidence was significantly greater in the static group (16.1%, 5/31 levels) compared with the expandable group (6.7%, 3/45 levels; P < .05). Conclusions: This study showed positive clinical and radiographic outcomes for patients who underwent MIS LLIF with expandable spacers compared to those with static spacers. Sagittal correction and pain relief was achieved and maintained through 24-month follow-up. The expandable group had a lower subsidence rate than the static group.
Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention in Reducing New International Postgraduates’ Acculturative Stress in Malaysian Public Universities: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Universities around the world, including Malaysia, have attracted many international students from different countries. Research has reported that acculturative stress resulting from international students’ attempts to adjust to the cultures of host countries is one of the most challenging issues that affects their lives in general and academic lives in particular. Objective This study aims to examine the effectiveness of an educational intervention on acculturative stress among new postgraduate international students joining Malaysian public universities. Methods A cluster randomized controlled trial design with Malaysian public universities as the unit of randomization will be used in this study. Public universities will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to be either in the intervention (educational program) or control group (waiting list). Participants in the intervention group will receive 7 sessions in 9 hours delivered by an expert in psychology and the researcher. The control group will receive the intervention once the 3-month follow-up evaluation is completed. Results The data will be analyzed using the generalized estimation equation with a confidence interval value of 95%; significant differences between and within groups are determined as P<. 05. The results of the study underlie the effectiveness of educational program in decreasing acculturative stress of new international students and enabling them to cope with a new environment. The results of this study will contribute to previous knowledge of acculturative stress, acculturation, and adjustment of international students. Furthermore, such results are expected to play a role in raising university policy makers’ awareness of their postgraduate international students’ acculturative stress issues and how they can help them avoid such stress and perform well in their academic life. Conclusions We expect that the intervention group will score significantly lower than the wait-list group on the immediate and 3-month postintervention evaluation of acculturative stress and achieve a higher level of adjustment. Results will have implications for international students, policy makers at universities, the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, and future research. Trial Registration Clinical Trials Registry India CTRI/2018/01/011223; http://ctri.nic. in/Clinicaltrials/showallp.php? mid1= 21978&EncHid=&userName=Muhamad%20Hanafiah%20Juni International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/12950