Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The association between alcohol consumption and risk of COPD exacerbation in a veteran population.

BACKGROUND Alcohol has been associated with COPD-related mortality but has not yet been demonstrated to be an independent risk factor for COPD exacerbation. Our objective was to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption and the subsequent risk of COPD exacerbation. METHODS A prospective cohort study of general medicine outpatients seen at one of seven Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers who returned health screening questionnaires. Three screening questionnaires, AUDIT-C (0 to 12 points), CAGE (0 to 4 points), and a single item about the frequency of drinking six or more drinks on an occasion (binge drinking), were used to classify alcohol consumption. The main outcome, COPD exacerbation, was based on primary VA discharge diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision) or outpatient diagnosis of COPD accompanied by prescriptions for either antibiotics or prednisone within 2 days. RESULTS Among the 30,503 patients followed up for a median of 3.35 years, those patients with AUDIT-C scores > or = 6, CAGE scores > or = 2, or who reported binge drinking at least weekly were at an increased risk of COPD exacerbation in age-adjusted analysis. Adjusted hazard ratios were 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 1.7) for AUDIT-C score > or = 6, 1.4 (95% CI, 1.3 to 1.5) for CAGE score > or = 2, and 1.6 (95% CI, 1.2 to 2.2) for those who reported binge drinking daily or almost daily. However, with adjustment for measures of tobacco use, the association between alcohol consumption and increased risk of COPD exacerbation was no longer evident. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol consumption, whether quantified by AUDIT-C, CAGE score, or binge drinking, was not associated with an increased risk of COPD exacerbation independent of tobacco use.
Reproducibilidad de espirometrías en trabajadores mexicanos y valores de referencia internacionales

OBJETIVO: Analizar la reproducibilidad de las espirometrias en un grupo de trabajadores mexicanos que demandaban incapacidad, asi como determinar que tan apropiados son los valores de referencia internacionales cuando se aplican en poblacion mexicana. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Se estudiaron 5 771 espirometrias realizadas en el Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias de Mexico con equipo y metodos recomendados por la Sociedad Americana del Torax (ATS, por sus siglas en ingles). Del total de espirometrias, 685 se practicaron en mujeres. Se generaron ecuaciones de regresion multiple para hombres y mujeres con base en edad y talla, y se les comparo con las notificadas para poblacion estadunidense por Knudson y Hankinson, para europeos, por Quanjer, y para mexicanos, por Rodriguez Reynaga. RESULTADOS: El 80% de las pruebas realizadas llenaban los criterios de reproducibilidad propuestos por la ATS, tanto para la capacidad vital forzada (FVC) como para el volumen espiratorio forzado en el primer segundo (FEV1), mientras que 10% de ellas no mostraron reproducibilidad para ninguna de las dos mediciones. Los hombres estudiados mostraron en promedio una FVC 12% por arriba del estandar de Quanjer, 22% por encima del de Knudson, 3% por arriba del de Hankinson y 6% superior al de Rodriguez Reynaga, mientras que las mujeres arrojaron porcentajes de 18, 10, 0 y 1%, respectivamente. Excluyendo a obesos y a los que no realizaron dos esfuerzos aceptables, los valores se incrementaban en 1 a 2%. El FEV1 tuvo un comportamiento similar. CONCLUSIONES: Las espirometrias de un alto porcentaje de trabajadores que demandan incapacidad, son reproducibles. Tienen, para la misma talla, edad y genero, un FEV1 y una FVC mayores que los notificados por Knudson en Estados Unidos de America y por Quanjer en Europa, aunque similares a los encontrados por Hankinson en mexicoamericanos. Mientras se obtienen valores de referencia confiables, las ecuaciones de regresion del grupo estudiado producen menos errores en la determinacion de incapacidad en Mexico. El texto completo en ingles de este articulo esta disponible en: http://www.insp. mx/salud/index.html
Effects of domperidone on digital laminar microvascular blood flow in clinically normal adult horses.

OBJECTIVE To determine effects of domperidone and acepromazine maleate on microvascular blood flow in digital laminae of clinically normal adult horses. ANIMALS 8 clinically normal adult horses (4 mares and 4 geldings). PROCEDURES In a 4-period crossover study, domperidone was administered PO at 1.1 mg/ kg and 5.5 mg/kg and IV at 0.2 mg/kg; acepromazine was administered IV at 0.04 mg/kg. The washout period between treatments was 1 week. A 3-minute measurement of laminar microvascular blood flow (LMBF) was obtained with laser Doppler flowmetry. Baseline measurements were obtained at -2, -1, and 0 hours prior to administration of drugs. Post-treatment measurements were obtained at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 12 hours. Percentage change from baseline values in LMBF for each treatment was subsequently calculated. RESULTS Oral administration of domperidone at 1.1 mg/kg and 5.5 mg/kg significantly increased LMBF, compared with baseline values, beginning 4 hours after administration, and this effect persisted for at least 8 hours. Intravenous administration of domperidone at 0.2 mg/kg significantly increased LMBF, compared with baseline values, at 10 and 12 hours after administration. Administration of acepromazine (0.04 mg/kg, IV) significantly increased LMBF, compared with baseline values, at 3, 5, 8, and 10 hours after administration. No adverse effects of drugs were detected in any horse. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Domperidone may be useful for preventing vasoconstriction and reduction in LMBF believed to occur in horses with laminitis, but additional research of the drug's effects in horses with laminitis is required.
Effects of acute dilutional hyponatremia on acid-base changes and electrolyte concentrations in rats with bilateral renal pedicle ligation.

OBJECTIVE To describe the effects of increasing the extracellular fluid (ECF) volume by approximately 20% on acid-base changes and electrolyte concentrations in anesthetized rats. ANIMALS 18 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. PROCEDURES Rats were assigned to a control group (n = 6 rats) and a treatment group (12). All rats were anesthetized, and instrumentation and bilateral renal pedicle ligation were performed. The treatment group was infused IV with sterile water throughout a 30-minute period. Acid-base variables and concentrations of electrolytes, lactate, albumin, phosphorus, and hemoglobin were measured before (baseline) and 30 and 60 minutes after onset of infusion. Anion gap, strong ion difference, strong ion gap, and contributions of sodium, chloride, albumin, phosphorus, and lactate concentrations to base excess were calculated at each time point. RESULTS Infusion of sterile water led to an increase in ECF volume of approximately 18%. This had no effect on acid-base balance, compared with that in control rats. Infusion of sterile water caused a significant decrease in sodium, chloride, ionized calcium, lactate, and albumin concentrations, compared with concentrations in the control group. Anion gap and calculated effects of sodium, chloride, albumin, and lactate concentrations on base excess at 60 minutes differed significantly between infused and control rats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Infusion of sterile water did not cause clinically relevant dilutional acidosis. The acidotic impact of water administration was offset by generation of new bicarbonate via carbonic acid equilibration and intracellular buffering in combination with the alkalotic effects of decreases in albumin, phosphorus, and lactate concentrations.
Tissue Biomarkers in the Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma among Egyptian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C: A Possible Genetic Profile

Background and Study Aims : Gene expression of biomarkers involved in hepatocarcinogensis could be used for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Aim: To evaluate the hepatocyte expression of Glypican-3 (GPC-3), paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG-10), Midkine (MDK), Serpin peptidase inhibitor (SERPINI1), and Ubiquinol-cytochrome (QP-C) which can represent a possible genetic profile among hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC patients.
Voices from the frontline: social work practitioners' perceptions of multi‐agency working in adult protection in England and Wales

This article reports on the views of 92 social workers about their practice in adult protection in England and Wales as part of a wider study of adult protection working and regulation that took place between 2004‐2007 in 26 sample local authorities. The article explores social workers' reported experiences of partnership or multiagency working and how this, along with overarching regulatory frameworks, affected their practice within and across agencies. Among findings from the study were that social workers considered that sharing information and responsibilities led to positive outcomes for service users and that the incorporation of different agency perspectives supplemented sharing of best practice.
Effect of submaximal aerobic exercise on platelet function, platelet activation, and secondary and tertiary hemostasis in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether submaximal aerobic exercise in dogs is followed by activation of all phases of coagulation as has been reported for humans. ANIMALS 9 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES 30 minutes before dogs were exercised, a 16-gauge central venous catheter was placed in a jugular vein of each dog by use of the catheter-through-the-needle technique. Samples were collected before exercise, after running on a treadmill (6 km/h for 13 minutes), and at 60 minutes. Platelet activation was evaluated with platelet morphology indices (mean platelet component, mean platelet volume, and number of large platelets) provided by a laser-based hematology system. Platelet function was assessed in hirudin-anticoagulated whole blood with an impedance-based aggregometer with collagen as the agonist (final concentrations, 0, 1.6, 3.2, 5, and 10 μg/mL). Prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and concentrations of fibrinogen, factor VIII, antithrombin, protein C, protein S, and fibrin D-dimer were determined automatically. Kaolin-activated thromboelastography variables R (reaction time), K (clot formation time), angle α, maximal amplitude, and G (clot stability) were measured in recalcified citrated whole blood. RESULTS Exercise resulted in a significant decrease in mean platelet volume and the number of large platelets but did not change the mean platelet component, which reflected platelet activation as well as platelet function. Secondary and tertiary coagulation did not change significantly, nor did thromboelastography variables. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Aerobic exercise resulted in a decrease in the number of large and thus most likely activated platelets but otherwise had no major impact on coagulation in dogs.
Health promotion development in Europe: achievements and challenges

Fifteen years ago, a set of possible concepts and principles for health promotion was put forward for discussion by the WHO Regional Office for Europe WHO (WHO, 1984). Those concepts and principles informed and underpinned the Ottawa Charter 2 years later (WHO, 1986) and have provided the basis for the many health promotion innovations emanating from Europe ever since. These have included projects, e.g. Healthy Cities, Health Promoting Schools, Health Promoting Hospitals and, more recently, the Investment for Health approach to implementing health promotion. All have had their origins in the European Region (Ashton, 1992; WHO, 1991; WHO, 1992; WHO, 1994b; WHO, 1996b; WHO-EC-CE, 1992; WHO-EC-CE, 1997). However, there is evidence that the overall impact of these innovations has been relatively limited in the region [see, e.g. (De Leeuw, 1989; Tsouros, 1990; Grossman and Scala, 1993; Jensen and Schnack, 1994; Sidell et al., 1997; Pelikan et al., 1998; Ziglio, 1998)]. At the same time, the European Region has changed dramatically since the endorsement of the Ottawa Charter—geopolitically, economically and in terms of social development—with new challenges emerging all the time (Ziglio, 1993; Ziglio, 1998). In this light, rather than give an overview of health promotion in Europe, this paper takes a developmental approach to European innovations in health promotion, in the context of the remarkable changes which have been transforming European society. It considers the kind of health promotion strategy likely to be most effective in Europe in the future and concludes that it is vital to reassert the centrality of health to human and social development. This implies revisiting approaches to sustaining and improving health, and recognizing, implementing and sustaining effective measures. The authors emphasize the importance of an intense focus:
Using a task analysis to strengthen nursing and midwifery pre-service education in Malawi

The Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi (NMCM) has engaged in significant efforts to reform nursing and midwifery pre-service education in Malawi. To that end NMCM decided to revise and strengthen existing syllabi and curricula for nurse midwifery cadres, starting with the nurse midwife technician (NMT). In an attempt to make evidence-based decisions for syllabus revision, NMCM conducted a task analysis to assess how prepared NMTs were to perform tasks in their daily jobs. NMCM used the activity to identify curricular gaps and key NMT tasks. In the task analysis, quantitative and qualitative methods identified NMTs’ perceptions of tasks required for daily practice, competency to perform such tasks, factors influencing quality of care, and pre-service programmatic gaps. NMCM collected data from 48 NMTs randomly selected from a weighted sample of NMTs from all districts in the country. The most frequently performed tasks (≥ 50%) were found to be in infectious diseases and midwifery. NMTs felt inadequately prepared to handle human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases, obstetric complications, and certain family planning methods. Findings also identified gaps in clinical training and faculty supervision of students. The task analysis provided a robust approach to curriculum revision through identifying key content gaps. Other countries might consider adopting this approach to improving the content and relevancy of nursing and midwifery syllabi and curricula. Key words: Task analysis, curriculum revision, nursing and midwifery education.
Improved mammogram interpretation with an ontology-driven editor and mammoviewer - preliminary results

Although mammography is a standard of reference for detection of early breast cancer, as many as 25% of breast cancers may be missed. To reduce the possibility of missing a cancer, the following methods and tools have been proposed: continuing education and training, prospective double reading, retrospective evaluation of missed cases, and use of computer-aided detection (CAD). The purpose of the reported work was to evaluate the usefulness and the potential of our aiding tools: an ontology driven editor for mammographic lesion description (MammoEdit) and a CAD-tool (MammoViewer) to enhance radiologist’s diagnostic performance. To this end test sample of mammograms was analyzed twice, without and with aiding tools. The obtained data were analyzed using (ROC) analysis and Kappa statistics. Statistical analysis of the test data demonstrated potential of both tools to enhance radiologist’s diagnostic performance.
Affective descriptors of the sensation of breathlessness are more highly associated with severity of impairment than physical descriptors in people with COPD.

BACKGROUND Previous studies of the qualitative sensation of breathlessness have suggested that greater sensory discomfort is reported as airflow obstruction increases. This study investigated relationships between the language of breathlessness and severity of impairment in subjects with COPD. METHODS Using a prospective, observational approach, subjects completed a structured interview in which they volunteered words to describe their sensation of breathlessness and endorsed statements from a preexisting descriptor list. Global impairment was assessed by the BMI, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity (BODE) index. Independent t tests and logistic regression analyses (odds ratios) were used to assess relationships between language categories and severity of impairment. RESULTS In this group of 91 people (47 men, 70 +/- 10 years of age, percent predicted FEV(1) 54 +/- 23), subjects volunteering extreme affective descriptors (frightening, awful, worried) had greater impairment (BODE index, perceived respiratory disability, functional exercise capacity, and airways obstruction), and this language category was significantly associated with increasing BODE index scores (odds ratio [OR] = 1.49; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.86; P = .001). Descriptors denoting heavy, rapid, more, shallow, or does not go in or out all the way were significantly less likely to be selected as BODE index scored increased (OR = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.93). CONCLUSIONS Affective descriptors or the emotional response to the sensation of breathlessness have a significant relationship with severity of COPD impairments. Affective descriptors may reflect the degree of threat imposed by the sensation and predict the likelihood of long-term behavioral changes.
Towards multi-agency violence prevention and victim support: An investigation of police-accident and emergency service liaison

Since many serious violent offences are not reported, effective police-accident and emergency department (AED) joint working is important in increasing the chances of offenders being brought to justice and increasing access to victim support services. The research was driven by hypotheses that detection is hindered by poor liaison; that the roles of AED personnel are confused; that treatment of injured victims is not based on an ethical framework to protect their interests or the interests of society; and that there is insufficient time in the AED to address criminal justice and other issues as well as treating physical injuries. Liaison was investigated by means of triangzdated methods comprising surveys of random stratified samples of police officers and AED personnel and a case series of victims treated in five large AEDs. It was found that there was almost no knowledge of existing formal guidance among health and police practitioners who actually deal with victims. Most of the injured were transported from bars and the street to the AED where, for long periods, they became trapped in a medical environment dominated, to the exclusion of all else, by the need to treat physical injuries. This, in effect, prevented them from reporting offences. Efforts to preserve confidentiality, far from protecting the interests of patients and society, meant that AED health professionals ignored the circumstances and psychological impact of injury and risk of further injury. This meant that the roles of other agencies were not considered. This very narrow focus was at odds with the instincts of most health professionals, half of whom believed they should have some role in victim protection and support, the detection of crime and community crime prevention. The results of this study suggest that, based on the exercise of victim choice, there are extensive opportunities ethically to improve rates of detection and access to victim support.
Evaluation of total white blood cell count as a marker for proviral load of bovine leukemia virus in dairy cattle from herds with a high seroprevalence of antibodies against bovine leukemia virus.

OBJECTIVE To determine the reference interval for WBC counts in Holstein dairy cows from herds with high seroprevalence for anti-bovine leukemia virus (BLV) antibodies, analyze the correlation of total WBC counts and blood proviral load (bPVL) in BLV-infected animals, and determine whether total WBC count can be used a hematologic marker for in vivo infection. ANIMALS 307 lactating cows from 16 dairy herds with high BLV seroprevalence. PROCEDURES Blood samples were collected for assessment of plasma anti-BLV p24 antibody concentration (all cows), manual determination of WBC count (161 BLV-seronegative cows from 15 herds), and evaluation of bPVL (146 cows from another herd). RESULTS The WBC count reference interval (ie, mean ± 2 SD) for BLV-seronegative dairy cows was 2,153 to 11,493 cells/μL. Of the 146 cows used to analyze the correlation between WBC count and bPVL, 107 (73%) had WBC counts within the reference interval; of those cows, only 21 (19.6%) had high bPVL. Most cows with high WBC counts (35/39) had high bPVL. Mean WBC count for cows with high bPVL was significantly higher than values for cows with low or undetectable bPVL. White blood cell counts and bPVL were significantly (ρ = 0.71) correlated. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE These data have provided an updated reference interval for WBC counts in Holstein cows from herds with high BLV seroprevalence. In dairy cattle under natural conditions, WBC count was correlated with bPVL; thus, WBC count determination could be a potential tool for monitoring BLV infection levels in attempts to control transmission.
Surgical reasearch society. Pre‐operative determination of oestrogen receptor status in breast cancer by immunocytochemical staining of fine needle aspirates

A meeting of the Surgical Research Society with Professor R. Shields in the Chair, was held at Trinity College, Dublin on 4 and 5 July 1985. Eighty‐four papers were presented during the scientific part of the meeting which was preceded by a Workshop entitled 'Oesophageal Investigation', the participants being Mr J. Clark, Mr G. O'Sullivan, Mr J. Bancewicz and Dr M. O'Connor. The Patey Prize was awarded to Mr P. R. O'Connell for his paper entitled 'Neorectal emptying after ileal ‘J’ pouch‐anal anastomosis'.
Analysis of the atrial repolarization wave in dogs with third-degree atrioventricular block.

OBJECTIVE To characterize the electrocardiographic features of the atrial repolarization (Ta) wave in dogs with third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block. SAMPLE ECGs of 36 dogs with third-degree AV block and no identifiable structural heart diseases. PROCEDURES Standard 12-lead ECGs were acquired with a digital system, and measurements were manually edited. RESULTS A Ta wave was detectable in all dogs for at least 1 ECG lead. The Ta wave had negative polarity in leads I, II, III, and aVF and positive polarity in leads aVL and aVR, with a mean electrical axis of -114.26°. Mean duration and mean amplitude of the Ta wave in lead II were 140.2 milliseconds and -0.09 mV, respectively, with the ratio for the Ta-to-P wave duration of 2.3 and the ratio of Ta-to-P wave amplitude of -0.35. Significant correlations were found between the Ta wave duration and duration of the P-Ta interval, Ta wave amplitude and the ECG lead, Ta wave duration and body weight, and duration of the P-Ta interval and atrial rate. Measurements of the Ta wave were repeatable. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Measurements of the Ta wave in dogs with third-degree AV block were repeatable. The values for the Ta wave reported here can be used as reference values for dogs with AV conduction disturbances and an echocardiographically normal atrial size. Further studies are needed to validate these results in dogs with structural heart diseases.