Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Usability and Utility of a Mobile App to Improve Medication Adherence Among Ambulatory Care Patients in Malaysia: Qualitative Study

Background To date, several medication adherence apps have been developed. However, the existing apps have been developed without involving relevant stakeholders and were not subjected to mobile health app guidelines. In addition, the usability and utility of these apps have not been tested with end users. Objective This study aimed to describe the usability and utility testing of a newly developed medication adherence app—Med Assist—among ambulatory care patients in Malaysia. Methods The Med Assist app was developed based on the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Nielson usability model. Beta testing was conducted from March to May 2016 at a primary care clinic in Kuala Lumpur. Ambulatory care patients who scored ≥40% on the electronic health literacy scale, were aged ≥21 years, and were taking two or more long-term medications were recruited. Two rounds of in-depth interviews were conducted with each participant. The first interview, which was conducted upon participant recruitment, was to assess the usability of Med Assist. Participants were asked to download Med Assist on their phone and perform two tasks (register themselves on Med Assist and enter at least one medication). Participants were encouraged to “concurrently think aloud” when using Med Assist, while nonverbal cues were observed and recorded. The participants were then invited for a second interview (conducted ≥7 days after the first interview) to assess the utility of Med Assist after using the app for 1 week. This was done using “retrospective probing” based on a topic guide developed for utilities that could improve medication adherence. Results Usability and utility testing was performed for the Med Assist app (version P4). A total of 13 participants were recruited (6 men, 7 women) for beta testing. Three themes emerged from the usability testing, while three themes emerged from the utility testing. From the usability testing, participants found Med Assist easy to use and user friendly, as they were able to complete the tasks given to them. However, the details required when adding a new medication were found to be confusing despite displaying information in a hierarchical order. Participants who were caregivers as well as patients found the multiple-user support and pill buddy utility useful. This suggests that Med Assist may improve the medication adherence of patients on multiple long-term medications. Conclusions The usability and utility testing of Med Assist with end users made the app more patient centered in ambulatory care. From the usability testing, the overall design and layout of Med Assist were simple and user friendly enough for participants to navigate through the app and add a new medication. From the participants’ perspectives, Med Assist was a useful and reliable tool with the potential to improve medication adherence. In addition, utilities such as multiple user support and a medication refill reminder encouraged improved medication management.
Flippase Activity Decreases throughout Erythrocyte Life-Span in Normal and Sickle Mice.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure contributes to recognition and removal of aged erythrocytes. PS exposure can only arise in cells in which the aminophospholipid translocase, or flippase, is defunct, or otherwise PS would be transported back into the inner cell monolayer. To provide evidence that flippase activity is reduced in old erythrocytes, we studied mouse erythrocytes that were biotinylated in vivo. This way we were able to distinguish the aging, biotinylated, RBC population from the newly formed, unbiotinylated RBC. Detection of the biotinylation with fluorescent streptavidin was combined with a flow cytometric assay for flippase activity using NBD-PS. We found that flippase activity decreased over time during the life-span of the RBC, as shown by a decrease in flippase activity of the biotinylated RBC compared to the newly formed RBC. A particularly high flippase activity was found in CD71-positive reticulocytes. Murine sickle cells show a much higher erythrocyte turnover than normal erythrocytes, with a 25–50% newly formed population each day and complete elimination of all biotinylated cells in 10 days. As in control mice, flippase activity decreased during the (short) life-span of sickle RBC and at all times, a subpopulation of sickle cells had a markedly reduced flippase activity. High flippase activity was only found in newly released erythrocytes. Our data indicate that the flippase activity decreases throughout the life-span of erythrocytes and can be markedly different in subpopulations of RBC in vivo. This decrease reduces the cell’s potential to maintain its phospholipid asymmetry, which results in PS exposure as a removal signal for the damaged cell. We conclude that the inability of sickle RBC to maintain flippase activity is related to the decreased survival time of those cells.
β-Naphthalene Incorporated Thiazole-5-Carboxamides/Thiazole -5- Ketones: Design, Synthesis and Anticonvulsant Screening against Two Seizure Models

A bunch of β-naphthalene incorporated thiazole-5-carboxamides/thiazole -5- ketones (7a-7o& 8a-8e) were prepared by reacting 4-methyl-2-(naphthalen-2-yl)thiazole-5-carbonyl chloride with appropriate amines. Structures of all the compounds were explained by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H NMR and mass spectral data. The compounds were evaluated for their anticonvulsant activity employing MES and chemoshock (scPTZ) seizure tests. Neurotoxicity was also assessed. Majority of these compounds exhibited significant activity against both animal models; however, compounds 7e, 7j, 7n and 8c displayed promising activity and could be considered as leads for further investigations.
Estudio de la seguridad y eficacia del hialuronato de sodio y sulfato de condroitín versus carboximetilcelulosa en el síndrome de ojo seco

Objetivo: Evaluar la seguridad y eficacia de una solucion oftalmica de hialuronato de sodio y sulfato de condroitin versus una solucion de carboximetilcelulosa en pacientes con sindrome de ojo seco. Material y metodos: Estudio clinico prospectivo, aleatorio y doble enmascarado, realizado en 102 pacientes con sindrome de ojo seco leve a moderado. Se aplico aleatoriamente a cada paciente una nueva solucion oftalmica de hialuronato de sodio y sulfato de condroitin, o una solucion de carboximetilcelulosa, cuatro veces por dia, durante 60 dias. En los dias de estudio 1, 2, 7, 15, 30 y 60 se evaluaron parametros de seguridad, eficacia y tolerancia. Resultados: No hubo diferencias estadisticamente significativas entre ambos grupos de tratamiento en cuanto a ardor ocular, lagrimeo, sensacion de cuerpo extrano y tincion con fluoresceina. Sin embargo, se observa una tendencia clinica favorable a hialuronato de sodio y sulfato de condroitin en la mayoria de los parametros evaluados. Conclusiones: La aplicacion topica de hialuronato de sodio y sulfato de condroitin es tan segura y tolerada como la carboximetilcelulosa, en pacientes con sindrome de ojo seco leve a moderado. Existe una tendencia clinica a favor de la primera. Palabras clave: Sindrome de Ojo seco, hialuronato de sodio, sulfato de condroitin, carboximetilcelulosa.
Gender issues in the control and prevention of malaria and urinary schistosomiasis in endemic foci in Cameroon

In terms of the number of people they affect and their socioeconomic and medical consequences malaria and schistosomiasis are the most important diseases in tropical and subtropical countries. Women are not considered genetically more predisposed than men to malaria and schistosomiasis but the gender roles of women as determined by the social and cultural beliefs and values of various tribes and ethnic groups place them in greater contact with disease transmission sites. This paper describes the results of two studies conducted using rapid assessment methods to determine the gender-related factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis in 1992 in Kotto Barombi and malaria in 1993 in Simbok. The purpose of both studies was to determine whether social cultural and economic factors in the study areas put women at greater risk than men of acquiring the diseases. The studies found close links between womens gender roles and their susceptibility to chronic or recurrent ill health from urinary schistosomiasis and malaria. Findings are presented on womens gender-specific roles womens perception of causes and transmission of disease womens perception of severity and complications of the diseases womens treatment-seeking behavior and womens proposals for the control and prevention of disease.
Expression of neuritin in human lung squamous cell carcinoma

Background This study aimed to investigate the expression of neuritin in four common cancers, and to explore the association between neuritin expression and the occurrence and development of cancer. Methods We initially examined neuritin expression in human cervical, endometrial, oesophageal, and lung cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Based on these results, we further examined its expression in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) tissues by IHC and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Neuritin expression levels were higher in all cancer tissues compared with normal control tissues. Neuritin protein and gene expression levels were significantly higher in LUSC tissues compared with normal lung tissues (P<0.001), according to IHC and RT-PCR, respectively. Neuritin expression levels decreased significantly with increased clinical TNM stage (I-IV) and distant metastasis (P<0.05). Conclusion Neuritin may have clinical value as a novel diagnostic and prognostic marker in patients with LUSC.
Lymphocyte function in patients with certain neurological diseases

The quantitative evaluation of the reactivity in human phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte cultures was studied using a whole blood technique. Cells were cultured for 22 hours in various concentrations of PHA, and by measuring the amount of incorporation of tritium labelled leucine into the proteins synthesised, a dose response curve could be drawn up for each donor. The patients studied fell into three main categories, (a) 22 patients with brain tumours. Depressed protein synthesis was detected in many of these when compared to 35 normal healthy controls, and also to 20 patients with various chronic neurological diseases. A 3-day culture technique was developed to test the effect of sera from patients with brain tumours, and other neurological complaints, on normal lymphocytes. No serum blocking factor was found. (b) Patients undergoing practolol therapy. Impaired T-cell function was seen in all patients whether they manifested adverse reactions to the drug in vivo or not. Normal lymphocytes were cultured for 2 days in the presence of various beta-blocking drugs, then their response to PHA was measured. Only propranolol was seen to cause depression of protein synthesis, (c) 31 patients with epilepsy who were taking various anticonvulsant drugs, including phenytoin. Low responses were seen in all patients on anticonvulsants when compared to 35 normal healthy controls.
The Achievability of Minimum Contrast Procedures for the Prevention of Contrast Induced Nephropathy in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Prospective, Multicentre Trial

Background The practical utility of minimum contrast procedures in a real world setting is unclear. In this trial, the reality of this strategy was investigated. Methods Patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <=45 ml/min/1.73m2 were included in this study with dates ranging from Jan 17th 2012 to Oct 8th 2013. Various methods to minimize the amount of contrast media were applied. An achievement rate of contrast volume/eGFR<2.0 was calculated and the characteristics of the patients and catheter procedures were investigated. Results A total of 88 patients were enrolled. There were 34 patients who underwent a diagnostic coronary angiogram (CAG group) and 54 patients who underwent an interventional procedure (PCI group). The PCI group tended to use a larger amount of contrast media compared to the CAG group (39 ± 49 ml vs 25 ± 14 ml, p=0.06). A ratio of contrast volume to eGFR of less than 2.0 was achieved in 100% of the CAG group but in only 82% of the PCI group. The patients with complex procedures (complex PCI) such as use of a rotablator and treatment of chronic total occlusion used significantly more contrast media than patients with other procedures (simple PCI). (87 ± 69 ml vs 23 ± 27 ml, p=0.006) Surprisingly, when simple PCI group was compared to the CAG group, there was no difference in the contrast volume used. (23 ± 27 vs 25 ± 14 ml, p=0.708) Conclusions Simple PCI can be done as safely as in CAG patients with chronic kidney dysfunction. Complex PCI should be done with careful assessment of the balance between risk and benefit.
Palatal Wound Healing Using Platelet Rich Fibrin: A Case Report

The task of managing non-healing wounds especially in instances with bone exposure is clinically challenging. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) represents a new step in the platelet gel therapeutic concept with simplified processing minus artificial biochemical modification. This article aims to describe a case of bone exposure following a soft tissue harvesting procedure and its management with platelet rich fibrin.
Association between High Sensitive-C Reactive Protein and Lipid Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Apparently Healthy Nigerian Young Adults

It’s a known fact that 50% of all myocardial infarctions occur among individuals without overt hyperlipidaemia, inspite of the strong association of lipid concentrations with coronary heart disease risk (CHD) [2]. It has been shown that about 20% of all coronary events occurred in the absence of any of the traditional risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia and smoking [3]. These findings raise the query if these conventional risk factors are sufficient to recognize individuals at increased risk of CHD. Therefore various non-lipid atherogenic markers have been suggested in an effort to better determine individuals at risk of CHD, these include markers of inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukins, adhesion molecules, heat shock proteins); markers of fibrinolytic and haemostatic function (D-dimers, fibrinogen, thrombinantithrombin III complex); homocysteine to mention but few. Of all these non-lipid risk markers available, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is considered to be the most robust tool with test uniqueness desirable and favorable for clinical use as novel marker for CHD risk [4].
Perceived effort of funtional activities after a period of mechanical ventilation

A case report to assess exercise testing post-mechanical ventilation, using functional activities while monitoring changes in the physiological parameters and subjective rating of perceived exertion. The case report subject was able to use the Modified Borg Scale to report her perception of perceived exertion during functional exercise testing. An increase in heart rate, respiratory rate and Modified Borg Scale rating was noted on progression through the exercise test. Difficulty was experienced with subject follow-up due to discharged from hospital as soon as the patient was considered to be medically stable. The subject was unable to complete the functional exercise test before discharge.
Excreción viral prolongada en un paciente pediátrico inmunocomprometido con influenza A H1N1 (2009): reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura

Recent information suggests that up to 80% of patients with infl uenza A H1N1 (2009) continue to shed the virus at day 5, 40% at day 7, and 10% at day 10. It has also been described that children and young adults can shed virus for 10 or more days, and immunosupressed patients can shed the virus even for weeks; it has not been established the exact shedding period in this patients. We present a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia infected with infl uenza A H1N1 (2009) in whom we documented viral shedding for over three weeks.
Epidemiology of Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review

Background An understanding of the epidemiology of a problem is central to facilitating clinical understanding, resource allocation and future research priorities. Objectives To systematically review and report incidence, prevalence, risk and prognostic factors for rotator cuff tendinopathy. Methods An electronic search of MEDLINE, CiNAHL, PsychINFO to December 2012 was complemented by hand and citation-searching. Studies were selected in relation to pre-defined criteria. A narrative synthesis was undertaken. Results The incidence of rotator cuff tendinopathy ranges from 0.3% to 5.5% and annual prevalence from 0.5% to 7.4%. There is limited evidence suggesting that increasing age and other personal, work-related and psychosocial factors are associated with onset. There is strong evidence suggesting that high baseline pain and disability and previous episodes of shoulder pain are associated with an unfavourable outcome and strong evidence suggesting that biomedical diagnosis is not associated with outcome. Other factors were identified but were only supported by moderate or limited evidence. Conclusions Rotator cuff tendinopathy is a common problem but uncertainty remains regarding the true extent and risk factors associated with onset. High baseline pain and disability and previous episodes are associated with an unfavourable outcome but biomedical diagnosis is not associated with outcome.
Perbedaan Kadar Glukosa Darah Puasa Pasien Diabetes Melitus Berdasarkan Pengetahuan Gizi, Sikap Dan Tindakan Di Poli Penyakit Dalam Rumah Sakit Islam Jakarta

Background: Inappropriate eating behavior can cause blood glucose level of diabetes mellitus patients to increase. The behavior is divided into three domains. They are knowledge, attitude, and action. Objective: This research was an analytic descriptive research with cross-sectional approach. The sample consisted of 50 respondents. They were diabetes mellitus patients having blood glucose level checking in Internist Polyclinic in Rumah Sakit Islam Jakarta (Jakarta Islamic Hospital). Knowledge about nutrition was measured based on indicator of diabetes disease definition, principle, and dietary restriction, food supplement, and activity or exercise; the level of attitude was measured based on diabetes checking indicator, activity/exercise, diet awareness, food ingredients and the amount of portion; level of action was measured based on indicator of food/drink selection, eating habit, eating schedule, activity/exercise, and food supplement. One Way Anova test was applied in order to answer research question. Results: There were 12 respondents (24%) lacking of knowledge about nutrition, 14 respondents (28%) not having really good attitude, 8 respondents (16%) having less action. On the average blood glucose was different according to knowledge level (F = 4.448; p = 0.017), attitude (F = 3.930; p = 0.026) and action (F = 3.427; p = 0.041). Conclusion: There is significant difference in blood glucose level based on knowledge about nutrition, attitude, and behavior to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Rumah Sakit Islam Jakarta (Jakarta Islamic Hospital). Research about the effect of counselling about nutrition on patients’ behavior is needed so that the success of dietitien can be recognized.
Endotracheal N-acetylcysteine for Atelectasis in Neonatal Pneumonia

Ad dress for Cor res pon den ce Mustafa Dilek MD, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Bolu, Turkey Phone: +90 505 377 95 09 E-mail: mustafadilek@gmail.com ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3802-0336 Re cei ved: 27.09. 2018 Ac cep ted: 29.01. 2019 Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Bolu, Turkey Mustafa Dilek, Halil İbrahim Atasoy, Seher Açar
HIV Medication Adherence: Reasons for Missed Medication and Rethinking the Trajectory

Author(s): Okonsky, Jennifer Geralyn | Advisor(s): Portillo, Carmen J | Abstract: HIV medication adherence is critical for HIV viral suppression and reducing morbidity and mortality. Adherence rates are below optimal levels and women have poorer adherence compared to men. Fifty percent of people treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) are resistant to at least one medication. Current interventions are costly and magnitude of improvement is often small. Three studies were conducted to examine the reasons why people are missing their medications and the relationship with documented factors. The first study examined key correlates and reasons for missed medication in people from nine cities in the US using an ordinal regression model. Problems taking pills (PTP), (a factor of five reasons) was significantly associated (p=.003) with use of a protease inhibitor (PI) regimen. A person taking a PI regimen is 1.7 odds of having more PTP versus a non-PI based regimen. Symptom experience (OR: 3.8; 95% CI: 2.7, 5.2) and other health conditions (OR: 0.7; 95% CI: .45, .98) were found to be independently associated with PTP. The second study's purpose was to examine and gain an appreciation of the reasons why HIV infected women taking ART in the US are missing their HIV medications, and how the results can influence a new trajectory of adherence research. Women were 2.2 times more likely to document reasons pertaining to forgetfulness than PTP, (OR= 2.2, 95% CI: 1.63, 2.94, pl0.001). There was a difference between the adherent and non-adherent groups in reasons for missed medications given overall, but no difference between those on a PI-based versus a non-PI-based regimen. The final study examined women using a self-management framework and analyzed reasons for non-adherence according to contextual, process and outcome factors. The reasons, `wanting to avoid side effects' and `being away from home' were found to have a significant difference when associated with race and employment. The three studies suggest translating the evidence of a common profile of non-adherence into a proactive individual discussion, engaging the patient-provider relationship to appreciate the reasons for intentional or unintentional non-adherence and offers a self-management framework to organize adherence discussions and intervention development.
“Up To Date” Use of psychoactive substances in adults: Prevention and Treatment by general practitioners and Occupational physicians; DATa retriEval

Le consortium UP TO DATE a cherche a donner la parole a ces medecins pour comprendre leur point de vue sur la question. De plus, les autres professionnels du domaine ont ete interroges pour savoir s’ils consideraient les MG et les MT comme des partenaires utiles et fiables. Cette etude a porte sur l’ensemble du territoire, dans les deux communautes linguistiques principales du pays. L’objectif de cette recherche etait de savoir : 1) quelles est la demande de soins en premiere ligne ? 2) quelle est l’etendue de l’investissement des MG et des MT dans le domaine des abus de substances ? 3) quelles ressources utilisent-ils pour fournir une reponse appropriee a tous les types de demandes auxquelles ils sont confrontes ? Le consortium de recherche a utilise tant des methodes qualitatives que quantitatives pour atteindre ses objectifs.