Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of low serum testosterone levels among men with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending two outpatient diabetes clinics in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND The reported prevalence of low testosterone among men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is high. However, there is a dearth of information on the prevalence of androgen deficiency symptoms and low serum testosterone levels in men with T2DM from sub-Saharan Africa. Scanty data are available from Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa (SA). OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of low serum testosterone and associated risk factors and the prevalence of androgen deficiency symptoms in men with T2DM. METHODS In a cross-sectional observational study, androgen deficiency symptoms in men with T2DM attending two outpatient diabetes clinics in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province, SA, were assessed using the Ageing Males' Symptoms Scale (AMS) questionnaire and direct enquiry. Serum total testosterone (TT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), luteinising hormone (LH), fructosamine, serum lipids and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured and free testosterone (FT) was calculated. TT, SHBG and FT levels were measured in control subjects with no history of diabetes. RESULTS There were 148 men with T2DM in the study group and 50 control subjects in the control group. In the study group, the majority were black Africans (58.8%); Indians (39.2%) and whites (2.0%) constituted the remainder. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age was 57.5 (11.2) years, the mean duration of diabetes 11.4 (8.9) years and the mean HbA1c 8.6% (1.9%). Of the study group, 85.8% had metabolic syndrome. Mean TT, SHBG and FT and median LH (interquartile range) in the study group were within normal ranges. However, mean (SD) serum TT and FT were lower in the study group than in the control subjects (14.5 (5.8) v. 18.8 (7.2) nmol/L; p<0.001 and 265.9 (90.4) v. 351.7 (127.3) pmol/L; p<0.001, respectively). The prevalence of low serum total testosterone (LSTT) and low serum free testosterone (LSFT) in the study group was 35.8% and 16.2%, respectively. The prevalence of androgen deficiency symptoms using the AMS questionnaire was 74.5% and correlated poorly with LSTT or LSFT. In multivariate analysis, LSFT was significantly associated with age (odds ratio (OR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02 - 1.218; p=0.043) and waist circumference (WC) (OR 1.033, 95% CI 0.999 - 1.068; p=0.059). LSTT was associated with body mass index (BMI) only (OR 1.138, 95% CI 1.063 - 1.218; p<0.0001). TT correlated inversely with BMI, WC and the number of metabolic syndrome criteria. FT correlated inversely with BMI, WC and WHR. CONCLUSIONS There was a high prevalence of LSTT, LSFT and androgen deficiency symptoms in this study. Serum TT and FT were lower in men with T2DM than in control subjects. Risk factors associated with LSFT or LSTT included higher BMI and WC and older age. The AMS score was a poor predictor of low testosterone. More research is required locally before any screening policy can be recommended.
Disparities in Documented Diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder Based on Demographic, Individual, and Service Factors

The objectives of our study were to (a) report how many children met an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) surveillance definition but had no clinical diagnosis of ASD in health or education records and (b) evaluate differences in demographic, individual, and service factors between children with and without a documented ASD diagnosis. ASD surveillance was conducted in selected areas of Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Children were defined as having ASD if sufficient social and behavioral deficits and/or an ASD diagnosis were noted in health and/or education records. Among 4,498 children, 1,135 (25%) had ASD indicators without having an ASD diagnosis. Of those 1,135 children without a documented ASD diagnosis, 628 (55%) were not known to receive ASD services in public school. Factors associated with not having a clinical diagnosis of ASD were non‐White race, no intellectual disability, older age at first developmental concern, older age at first developmental evaluation, special education eligibility other than ASD, and need for fewer supports. These results highlight the importance of reducing disparities in the diagnosis of children with ASD characteristics so that appropriate interventions can be promoted across communities. Autism Res 2020, 13: 464–473. © 2019 International Society for AutismResearch,Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Antibiotic resistance of Salmonella strains from layer poultry farms in central Ecuador

This study evaluated the antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella enterica strains from layer poultry farms in central Ecuador isolated during 2017. This geographical area is responsible for around 60% of total domestic egg production, yet, as of 2019, no reports had been published on the phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance patterns of Salmonella in the layer poultry farms of this area.
Outcomes Related to Antiplatelet Therapy in a High-Risk ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Population: A Retrospective Real-World Analysis of an Italian ECMO Center

Aim: To evaluate outcomes related to antiplatelet therapy in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) admitted to the San Gerardo Hospital in Monza, an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) reference center in the Monza-Brianza area. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients with STEMI hospitalized between 2013 and 2017. Results: This study included 653 patients (mean age: 67.5 years, 71% male). Across the study period, ticagrelor use showed consistent increases, from 22% of patients during 2013 to 85% in 2017. Cardiac arrest prehospitalization occurred in 100 patients (15.3%), either at home (n = 85, 13.0%) or during transfer (n = 15, 2.3%); 46 patients underwent ECMO for refractory cardiac arrest. Rates of 90-day survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3-4.4, P = .004) and ST resolution (odds ratio [OR]: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.6-4.1, P = .000) were higher with ticagrelor than with other antiplatelet agents. When analyzed by each agent, patients on ticagrelor had longer survival (HR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.8, P = .008) than patients on clopidogrel and more frequent ST resolution than those on clopidogrel or prasugrel (OR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.7, P = .002 and OR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.7, P = .006). There was no difference in mortality between ticagrelor and prasugrel. Conclusions: Changes in the treatment of high-risk patients with STEMI over time are in line with changes in treatment guidelines. In these patients, ticagrelor is associated with significantly improved 90-day mortality compared with clopidogrel.
Walking, talking, and suppressing: Executive functioning mediates the relationship between higher expressive suppression and slower dual-task walking among older adults

Abstract Objective: Dual-task walking, which is related to fall risk, has also been shown to relate to executive functioning (EF). EF is known to be vulnerable to the effects of an emotion-regulation strategy known as expressive suppression, such that higher engagement in expressive suppression is related to subsequent decrements in EF. However, it is unknown whether expressive suppression is also associated with slower dual-task walking. In addition, if such an association exists, it is unknown whether EF mediates the relationship between expressive suppression and dual-task gait speed. Methods: Ninety-five community-dwelling older adults completed tasks of EF and lower-order component process using the Delis Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS), as well as self-report measures of expressive suppression use in the 24 hours prior to testing and a measure of depressive symptoms. Results: Higher self-reported expressive suppression not only related to poorer EF, but also to slower dual-task walking beyond age and depressive symptoms; however these results did not hold when individuals with possible undiagnosed MCI were excluded. EF mediated the relationship between expressive suppression and dual-task walking speed. Conclusion: Expressive suppression appears to weaken EF, which in turn impacts executive aspects of motor functioning (such as walking under cognitive load) for cognitively vulnerable individuals. Quantifying and accounting for the taxing effect of effortful emotion regulation may improve the accuracy of EF assessment. Expressive suppression represents a potentially modifiable target to help reduce EF lapses and motor failings among older adults.
Sepsis and Septic Shock Definitions in Patients With Cancer Admitted in ICU

Introduction: In 2016, a new definition of sepsis and septic shock was adopted. Some studies based on the general population demonstrated that the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score is more accurate than the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria to predict hospital mortality of infected patients requiring intensive care. Patients and Method: We have analyzed all the records of patients with cancer admitted for a suspected infection between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2016, in our oncological intensive care unit (ICU). Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and quick SOFA (qSOFA) score as well as SIRS criteria were calculated. We analyzed the accuracy of each score to predict hospital mortality in the setting of the new and old definitions of septic shock. Results: Our study includes 241 patients with a solid tumor and 112 with a hematological malignancy. The hospital mortality rate is 37% (68% in patients with septic shock according to the new definition and 60% according to old definition) between 2013 and 2016. To predict hospital mortality, the SOFA score has an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68-0.79), the qSOFA of 0.65 (95% CI, 0.59-0.70), and the SIRS criteria of 0.58 (95% CI, 0.52-0.63). In multivariate analysis, a higher SOFA score or a higher qSOFA score indicates poor prognosis: odds ratio (OR) per 1-point increase by 1.28 (95% CI, 1.18-1.39) and 1.48 (95% CI, 1.04-2.11), respectively. Complete remission is a good prognostic factor for hospital mortality: OR 0.39 (95% CI, 0.22-0.67). Conclusion: The new definition of sepsis and septic shock is applicable in an ICU oncological population with the same reliability as in the general population. The SOFA score is more accurate than qSOFA and SIRS criteria to predict hospital mortality.
Development of Medical Rehabilitation System for Persons with Disabilities

Recently the numbers of persons with disabilities and aged are rapidly increasing every year. And the scope of persons with disabilities is much more diversified. According to the recent report of the desire for the persons with disabilities, it is noted that medical rehabilitation service is most insufficient. But compared to the numbers and needs of persons with disabilities, the numbers of medical rehabilitation facilities are still much insufficient. The important factors to be considered in rehabilitation hospital are accessibility, comprehensiveness, quality, continuity and efficiency. In Korea, the current conditions of medical rehabilitation service are as follows: 1) increase of medical rehabilitation demand, 2) shortage of rehabilitation hospital beds, 3) insufficient medical rehabilitation insurance system, 4) absence of continuum care, 5) accessibility problem etc. Considering these aspects, the government is planning to build the regional rehabilitation center each district and meet the need for persons with disabilities by the second five-year plan of the welfare for persons with disabilities. Finally I suggest some a plans to rehabilitation center should be established in each province, so as to provide better and comprehensive medical services to the disabled. Second, medical services in public and private health sector should be expanded. Third, the need for the community rehabilitation committee that links the hospital and the community should be emphasized.
Cumulative Burden of Colorectal Cancer-Associated Genetic Variants is More Strongly Associated With Early-onset vs Late-onset Cancer.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC, in persons younger than 50 years old) is increasing in incidence; yet, in the absence of a family history of CRC, this population lacks harmonized recommendations for prevention. We aimed to determine whether a polygenic risk score (PRS) developed from 95 CRC-associated common genetic risk variants was associated with risk for early-onset CRC. METHODS We studied risk for CRC associated with a weighted PRS in 12,197 participants younger than 50 years old vs 95,865 participants 50 years or older. PRS was calculated based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with CRC in a large-scale genome-wide association study as of January 2019. Participants were pooled from 3 large consortia that provided clinical and genotyping data: the Colon Cancer Family Registry, the Colorectal Transdisciplinary study, and the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium and were all of genetically defined European descent. Findings were replicated in an independent cohort of 72,573 participants. RESULTS Overall associations with CRC per standard deviation of PRS were significant for early-onset cancer, and were stronger compared with late-onset cancer (P for interaction=.01); when we compared the highest PRS quartile with the lowest, risk increased 3.7-fold for early-onset CRC (95% CI, 3.28-4.24) vs 2.9-fold for late-onset CRC (95% CI, 2.80-3.04). This association was strongest for participants without a first-degree family history of CRC (P for interaction=5.61x10-5). When we compared the highest with the lowest quartiles in this group, risk increased 4.3-fold for early-onset CRC (95% CI, 3.61-5.01) vs 2.9-fold for late-onset CRC (95% CI, 2.70-3.00). Sensitivity analyses were consistent with these findings. CONCLUSIONS In an analysis of associations with CRC per standard deviation of PRS, we found the cumulative burden of CRC-associated common genetic variants to associate with early-onset cancer, and to be more strongly associated with early-onset than late-onset cancer-particularly in the absence of CRC family history. Analyses of PRS, along with environmental and lifestyle risk factors, might identify younger individuals who would benefit from preventative measures.
Comment on Literatures of Clinical Randomized Controlled Trials of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Acute Myocardial Infarction

To assess the quality of clinical randomised controlled trials (RCT) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Eighty-three journals of TCM from the first issues of 1977 to the latest issues of 2002 were manually searched and reviewed under the following inclusion criteria: clinical trials of TCM for AMI with'randomized controlled or randomised being mentioned. And a questionnaire was designed according to the criteria of RCT with the items of diagnostic standard, consistent of baseline, method of randomization, concealment in allocation, blind method, intention-to-treat analysis, statistic methods and conclusion. Percentages of each item were figured out to assess the quality. Two thousand five hundred and one trials were associated with heart diseases, among which 102 were associated with AMI and 42 accorded with the inclusion criteria.
Massive head and neck vascular malformation traversing multiple compartments: a case report

Capillary malformations (CM) are congenital low-flow vascular malformations that affect 0.3% of the general population. They are most commonly treated by pulsed-dye laser (PDL), which is most effective at a young age. The absence of treatment can lead to nodularity and hypertrophy. We report a case of a 6-year-old girl who has an extensive left facial and cervical CM that extends to the oral cavity and external auditory canal on the ipsilateral side. She had PDL as an infant that successfully lightened the color of her CM. She has been asymptomatic for at least four years and has since been treated conservatively. CM treatment options include conservative management, surgical excision and PDL treatments. In this paper, we report a case of successful conservative management of a massive head and neck CM. PDL for CM is most effective and provides optimal results when done at an early age. Conservative management is recommended for asymptomatic patients.
Infant feeding practices among Norwegian-Somali and Norwegian-Iraqi infants

The aim of this study was to develop, test, and evaluate a 24-h recall procedure to assess the dietary intake of toddlers of Somaliand Iraqi-born mothers living in Norway. A protocol for a 24-h multiple-pass recall procedure, registration forms, and visual tools (a picture library for food identification and portion size estimation) was developed and tested in 12 mothers from Somalia and Iraq with children aged 10–21 months. Five female field workers were recruited and trained to conduct the interviews. Evaluation data for the 24-h recall procedure were collected from both the mothers and the field workers. Nutrient intake was calculated using a Norwegian dietary calculation system. Each child’s estimated energy intake was compared with its estimated energy requirement. Both the mothers and the field workers found the method feasible and the visual tools useful. The estimated energy intake corresponded well with the estimated energy requirement for most of the children (within mean ± 2 SD, except for three). The pilot study identified the need for additional foods in the picture library and some crucial aspects in training and supervising the field workers to reduce sources of error in the data collection. OPEN ACCESS Nutrients 2014, 6 2334
Analysis of achievement goal orientation and coping strategies, among the university athletes

Objective of the study was to find out the relationship between goal orientations (task and ego) and psychological coping skills among University’s athletes. Participants were 85 athletes, both male (n= 35) and female (n = 50) aged between 19 and 28 years old who represented one of the largest university of Eastern part of India i.e. Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. Results indicated that there is a moderate relationship between goal orientations and psychological coping skills, with ego orientation showing a stronger relationship than task orientation. Moreover, the results showed that the athletes have both high task (mean=3.97) and fairly high ego orientations (mean=3.71), and there was no significant differences between males and females in goal orientations (p>.05). The results found that ego orientation was significantly correlated with all the six coping skills (p<.01) but task orientation was significantly correlated with only five coping skills (p<.01) as freedom from worry was not significantly correlated with task orientation. The results on the relationship between gender and psychological coping skills found that females were more likely to use concentration and peaking under pressure, whereas male athletes used freedom from worry as their coping responses. The study also found that there is a significant relationship between the athlete’s goal orientation and his/her psychological coping skills.
Engagement of organizational citizenship behavior: does gender make differences?

Although number of scholars attempted to show the gender differences in many organizationally relevant areas over the past decades, treatment and expectations of female and male at their workplace are still observed as differentiated. Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) is the behavior that employees engage in actions that are organizationally significant and not prescribed in their formal job description. OCB has been related to number of positive consequences at both individual and organizational level. Therefore, scholars have paid their attention in studying this growing area. The amount of engagement in OCB may vary based on the gender differences. The objective of this study was to examine the gender differences in engagement of OCB. A sample of 160 employees (N=180, 80 Males and 80 Females) was drawn from public service sector in Sri Lanka. Validated questionnaire was used to collect the data. Five dimensions of OCB namely conscientiousness, sportsmanship, civic virtue, helping behavior, and courtesy have been used to test the differences. The findings revealed significant gender differences on three dimensions of OCB. While conscientiousness and helping behavior have shown female on the higher side, sportsmanship has shown male on the higher side. But, in terms of other dimensions civic virtue and courtesy the differences were insignificant falling far away from the probability level of . 05. However, analysis on overall OCB shown negligible gender differences suggest that males and females are both almost equal in engaging in OCB. Nevertheless, the results supporting in case of the dimensions of helping behavior females are on the higher side suggesting that female are generally more empathic or sympathetic than male and therefore, they are more helpfulness, kindness, and compassion than male. However, in case of dimension of sportsmanship male are on the higher side suggesting that males are willing to tolerate inconveniences without complaining petty grievances. This is consistent with the previous findings that male possess certain characteristics such as happily taking risk, stillness in a crisis situation, and the ability to work under pressure. Findings of this study have number of implications and have shown new avenues for future research.
Energy-Lifetime Control Algorithm for Variable Target Load Demands of Ad Hoc Networks

The energy and lifetime of Ad hoc wireless sensor-target networks are improved using load control algorithm with different parameters and coverage load in demand, as well as sensor-target configurations. The main goal is to increase the lifetime of sensors by selecting appropriate sensor subsets to satisfy the minimum required value of overall coverage failure probability. The algorithm investigates the different sensor subsets, according to their coverage failure probabilities, and varying intervals of target load demands.
Antecedents of Brand Loyalty of Sportswear Brands among Young Consumers in Sri Lanka

The current intense competition in the industry where sportswear products are available is a great challenge to organizations to build long term relationships with their customers. Therefore it is important for the key market players to identify and evaluate the degree of brand loyalty in sportswear and the antecedents of being brand loyal to such brands in order to face the fierce competition. In fact young consumers all over the globe are more attracted to sports brands in the world. Thus, the aim of the research is to examine the Antecedents of brand loyalty of sportswear brands among the young consumers in Sri Lanka. The survey method is used with 251 structured questionnaires collected from young consumers in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. The respondents are selected through the judgmental sampling technique. Both descriptive and inferential statistics are used for the analysis. Findings revealed that there is a high brand loyalty for sport brands among young consumers in Sri Lanka and brand name, product quality, style, price, promotion, habit and store environment are the antecedents for brand loyalty. Companies in the fashion and shoes industry can invest on sports brands as there is a high tendency for the same from the young generation in Sri Lanka. Further, companies in the fashion industry should place more focus on brand, quality, style, price, promotion, store environment and inculcate the habit of purchasing the sports brands in their business and marketing strategies.