Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Survival and associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS: A 30-year national survey in Iran

Background: The survival in Iranian HIV/AIDS patients based on data from Iran National HIV/AIDS Case Registry System has not been evaluated. This study assessed the survival rates and associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran. Materials and Methods: The population in this observational study included 32168 patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS registered in Iran disease registry system between 1986 and 31 December 2015. Data until June 2016 (the cutoff date of our last data linkage) were investigated to estimate survival and related factors following HIV diagnosis. Results: Of registered patients, 17.7% were diagnosed at AIDS stage. By June 2016, 27.2% of study population progressed to AIDS, and 8081 (25.1%) of patients died. The survival rate was 88%, 85%, 77%, and 67% for 1, 2, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Cumulative proportion surviving was significantly lower in males than in females (P = 0.0001). A higher rate of survival was seen in female patients, who diagnosed after 2010, infected in sexual route, and had CD4 cell count more than 500, nonconfected patients with tuberculosis (TB), and those who received antiretroviral therapy (ART). Based on multivariate model, the mortality risk in female patients, those with CD4 cell count more than 500, patients who received ART, and those with TB and injection drug uses (IDUs) was higher. Conclusion: The survival in studied patients increased in recent time periods, and ART reduced AIDS-related mortality in these patients. The survival can be increased by focus on improvements in patient care among male patients, IDUs, and patients with TB coinfection.
Relationship of Salivary Occult Blood With General and Oral Health Status in Employees of a Japanese Department Store

Background The Japanese Ministry of Health started screening for periodontal disease as part of senior health services in 1995. However, only a small number of workplaces conduct regular dental checkups in Japan. Therefore, the prevalence of periodontal disease and other oral health conditions has not been fully determined in workers in Japan. This study aimed to clarify the usefulness of a salivary occult blood test (SOBT) to assess periodontal disease, and to investigate the association of salivary occult blood with general and oral health in Japanese employees. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among department store workers in Hiroshima city. Subjects were 449 workers who received regular health checkups including dental examinations in 2018. An SOBT using monoclonal antibody against human hemoglobin was performed. Periodontal status was evaluated using the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). We investigated the association of salivary occult blood with general and oral health in 338 employees (85 men, 253 women; mean age 41.4 years, range 19 - 69 years). Results Univariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between salivary occult blood and sex, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, CPI, daily brushing frequency, and number of untreated teeth (P = 0.034, P = 0.003, P = 0.022, P = 0.007, P = 0.004, and P = 0.015, respectively). Furthermore, BMI, diabetes, CPI, and brushing frequency were significantly associated with salivary occult blood in binomial logistic regression analysis (odds ratio 1.09, P = 0.014; odds ratio 9.38, P = 0.047; odds ratio 1.31, P = 0.004; and odds ratio 0.70, P = 0.045, respectively). These results suggest that positivity in the SOBT is importantly associated with periodontal disease and diabetes. Interestingly, subjects aged ≥ 35 years with metabolic syndrome exhibited a significantly higher positive rate of salivary occult blood than those without metabolic syndrome (P = 0.01). Conclusions The SOBT was a reliable screening method for periodontal disease, and positivity in the test was related to diabetes in Japanese employees. Further examinations are required to clarify the association of salivary occult blood with other systemic diseases.
Palliation of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction with self‐expandable metal stent using side‐ and forward‐viewing endoscope: Feasibility and outcome

The endoscopic placement of a self‐expandable metal stent (SEMS), an alternative to surgical bypass for the palliation of malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO), is commonly performed using a forward‐viewing endoscope with a wide therapeutic channel; however, due to limited availability, most Indian centers use a side‐viewing duodenoscope. We studied the feasibility and outcome of SEMS placement using side‐ and forward‐viewing endoscopes.
Standardized Uptake Value Using Thyroid Quantitative SPECT/CT for the Diagnosis and Evaluation of Graves' Disease: A Prospective Multicenter Study

The clinical applications of the quantitative single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) are being expanded to a variety of fields of nuclear medicine. However, clinical application of quantitative SPECT/CT for the evaluation of Graves' disease (GD) still needs further investigation. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility of standard uptake value (SUV) of the thyroid for the clinical diagnosis and evaluation of GD. In this prospective multicenter study, 116 patients diagnosed with GD (Graves group) and 74 healthy volunteers (control group) were enrolled from 8 different hospitals. All patients underwent technetium pertechnetate (99mTcO4−) SPECT/CT imaging with Q.Metrix quantitative software and 24-hour thyroid radioactive iodine uptake (24h-RAIU) test. The SUVmax and SUVmean in Graves group were significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.01). Cut-off values of SUVmax and SUVmean to predict GD were 231.425 and 116.66 by ROC curves, respectively. The SUVmax and SUVmean in Graves patients were significantly related to serum thyroxine level with correlation coefficient of 0.493 and 0.512 for FT3 and 0.449 and 0.464 for FT4, respectively (all P<0.01). Additionally, the SUVmax and SUVmean in GD positively correlated with 24h-RAIU with a coefficient of 0.832 and 0.830, respectively (P<0.01). The volumes determined by Q.Metrix (35.65 ± 20.56ml) of 72 subjects also positively correlated with that from ultrasound (36.67 ± 21.00ml) with a coefficient of 0.927 (P<0.01). SUV measurements derived from thyroid SPECT/CT may be useful for the clinical diagnosis and evaluation of GD.
Routine allomaternal nursing in a free-ranging Old World monkey

We found that most infant golden snub-nosed monkeys were nursed by females other than their mothers during the first 3 months. While regular allomaternal nursing (suckling) has been documented in a number of rodent and carnivore species, as well as in some prosimians, New World monkeys, and humans, it is not common in Old World monkeys and apes. Here, we present a detailed field study of allomaternal nursing in golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana, Colobinae). We found that more than 87% of infants were nursed by females other than their mothers. Allomaternal nursing was largely confined to the first 3 months of an infant’s life and occurred predominantly between related females who nursed each other’s offspring in a reciprocal manner. Allomaternal nursing enhanced infant survivorship and did not have a negative impact on the future reproductive success of allonursers. Our findings expand the taxonomic distribution of allomaternal nursing and provide fresh insight into the possible factors driving evolution of allomaternal nursing behavior in primates, including humans.
The Effect of Two Methods of Relaxation and Prayer Therapy on Anxiety and Hope in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background: Mental health problems such as anxiety and disappointment are common in patients with heart disease, resulting in poor outcomes. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two methods of relaxation and prayer therapy on anxiety and hope in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in three groups of 25 subjects (i.e., two groups of relaxation and prayer therapy and one control group) and two stages (i.e., pretest and posttest) in hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Data collection instrument consisted of three parts: (a) demographic and individual characteristics of the subjects, (b) Beck Anxiety Inventory, and (c) Snyder's Hope Scale. The interventions consisted of Benson's relaxation and prayer therapy. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the mean score of anxiety after intervention in the three groups which was related to each of the relaxation and prayer therapy group with the control group. Also, the result of analysis of covariance with controlling the effect of pretest revealed significant between-subject effects of interventions on posttest scores of hope (F(2, 71) = 8.55, p = 0.012, ηp2 = 0.12) and anxiety (F(2, 71) = 4.71, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.19). Conclusions: Both relaxation and prayer therapy interventions are effective in promoting hope and reducing anxiety in patients with CAD and provide optimal, short-term, and easy-to-follow options for the health team.
Visualization of Phytophthora palmivora Infection in Oil Palm Leaflets with Fluorescent Proteins and Cell Viability Markers

Bud rot (BR) is the most devastating disease affecting oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) crops in Colombia. Its causal agent, Phytophthora palmivora, initiates the infection in immature oil palm leaflets producing necrotic lesions, followed by colonization of opportunistic necrotrophs, which increases disease damage. To improve the characterization of the disease, we transformed P. palmivora using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) to include the fluorescent proteins CFP-SKL (peroxisomal localization), eGFP and mRFP1 (cytoplasmic localization). The stability of some transformants was confirmed by Southern blot analysis and single zoospore cultures; additionally, virulence and in vitro growth were compared to the wild-type isolate to select transformants with the greatest resemblance to the WT isolate. GFP-tagged P. palmivora was useful to identify all of the infective structures that are commonly formed by hemibiotrophic oomycetes, including apoplastic colonization and haustorium formation. Finally, we detected cell death responses associated with immature oil palm tissues that showed reduced susceptibility to P. palmivora infection, indicating that these tissues could exhibit age-related resistance. The aim of this research is to improve the characterization of the initial disease stages and generate cell biology tools that may be useful for developing methodologies for early identification of oil palm materials resistant or susceptible to BR.
Bringing Palliative Care and Neurology Together: Stroke by Stroke

Brain strokes are a major part of neurology practice. A surveillance study[1] in Bengaluru showed that strokes accounted for 7% of medical and 45% of neurological admissions. This is a serious diagnosis. In the same study, one‐fifth of these patients were dead and one‐third were dependent at 28-day follow-up. Stroke is also a major public health problem. In Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), it was the most frequent cause of mortality[2] and accounted for one in seven deaths in this rural community. The authors explain that this is because of an epidemiologic transition from deaths due to infection to hypertension-related mortality, which has been called “the age of receding pandemics. ”[3] There has been substantial progress in acute stroke management, but much of this is inaccessible to the majority of our population. The burden of Indian stroke survivors requiring rehabilitation, palliative care (PC), and end-of-life care is likely to be massive and has, to my knowledge, never been estimated.
Triage Systems in Mass Casualty Incidents and Disasters: A Review Study with A Worldwide Approach

BACKGROUND: Injuries caused by emergencies and accidents are increasing in the world. To prioritise patients to provide them with proper services and to optimally use the resources and facilities of the medical centres during accidents, the use of triage systems, which are one of the key principles of accident management, seems essential. AIM: This study is an attempt to identify available triage systems and compare the differences and similarities of the standards of these systems during emergencies and disasters through a review study. METHODS: This study was conducted through a review of the triage systems used in emergencies and disasters throughout the world. Accordingly, all articles published between 1990 and 2018 in both English and Persian journals were searched based on several keywords including Triage, Disaster, Mass Casualty Incidents, in the Medlib, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Google scholar, Irandoc, Magiran, Iranmedex, and SID databases in isolation and in combination using both and/ or conjunctions. RESULTS: Based on the search done in these databases, twenty different systems were identified in the primary adult triage field including START, Homebush triage Standard, Sieve, CareFlight, STM, Military, CESIRA Protocol, MASS, Revers, CBRN Triage, Burn Triage, META Triage, Mass Gathering Triage, SwiFT Triage, MPTT, TEWS Triage, Medical Triage, SALT, mSTART and ASAV. There were two primary triage systems including Jump START and PTT for children, and also two secondary triage systems encompassing SAVE and Sort identified in this respect. ESI and CRAMS were two other cases distinguished for hospital triage systems. CONCLUSION: There are divergent triage systems in the world, but there is no general and universal agreement on how patients and injured people should be triaged. Accordingly, these systems may be designed based on such criteria as vital signs, patient’s major problems, or the resources and facilities needed to respond to patients’ needs. To date, no triage system has been known as superior, specifically about the patients’ clinical outcomes, improvement of the scene management or allocation of the resources compared to other systems. Thus, it is recommended that different countries such as Iran design their triage model for emergencies and disasters by their native conditions, resources and relief forces.
Association of Oral Function With Long-Term Participation in Community-Based Oral Exercise Programs in Older Japanese Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background There are several researches demonstrating that community-based educational and exercise programs can improve oral function in older people. However, the relationship between oral function and long-term participation in health programs has not been fully elucidated. The objective of this study was to clarify the oral health status and oral function of older people (≥ 65 years) who had been participating in community-based exercise programs at community salons. Methods We enrolled 108 women (mean age: 77.6 ± 5.7 years) who participated in oral and physical exercise programs once a week at community salons in Takehara throughout May 2017. This cross-sectional pilot study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Hiroshima University and informed consent was obtained from all participants. To assess oral function, the following tests were performed: tongue pressure test, oral diadochokinesis (ODK) measurement, repetitive saliva swallowing test (RSST) and oral wetness measurement. Results A significant negative correlation was found between age and ODK or RSST (Spearman’s rank correlation; P = 0.007 and P = 0.01, respectively). The duration of participation ranged widely from 1 month to 7 years (median: 2.3 years). Although there was no significant difference between participation period and oral function, individuals who had been participating for 3 years or longer did not demonstrate a negative relationship between age and oral wetness. Furthermore, they exhibited a weaker negative relationship between age and oral function (i.e. tongue pressure, ODK and RSST) when compared with individuals who had been participating for less than 3 years. Conclusions Our results suggest that long-term participation in community salon exercise programs may suppress the deterioration of oral function in older people. Further study will be necessary to clarify the significant correlation between oral function and community-based social activities such as oral exercise.
Crystal structure analysis and high‐temperature phase transitions of complex rare‐earth perovskite, La
 2
 (Al
 1/2
 MgTa
 1/2
 )O
 6

In situ high‐temperature powder X‐ray diffraction analysis (HT‐XRD) was carried out in the temperature range from 25°C‐1430°C to investigate the crystal structure of double perovskites, La 2 (Al 1/2 MgTa 1/2 )O 6 (LAMT) and its phase transitions. This complex perovskite is a promising candidate for application in thermal barrier coating systems. Rietveld analysis shows a rock‐salt type ordering of the B ‐site cations in the monoclinic space group symmetry, P 2 1 / n at room temperature. Upon heating, a structural phase transition occurs at ~855°C, and the crystal structure becomes rhombohedral with the space group symmetry R 3 . On further heating, LAMT transforms to the ideal cubic phase at ~1390°C with the space group symmetry Fm 3 m . Both of the structural phase transitions are completely reversible, and were confirmed through complementary differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravim-etry measurements. With increasing temperature, the degree of the octahedral tilting decreases and the variance of the different B –O bond lengths is reduced, until in the cubic phase, no tilting is present, and almost equal B
Acute findings in an acquired neurosensory dysfunction

In the Autumn of 2016, diplomatic personnel residing in Havana began to present with symptoms of dizziness, ear pain, and tinnitus that emerged after perception of high frequency noise and/or a pressure sensation. Understanding the acute symptoms of this disorder is important for better defining the disorder and developing optimal diagnostic, preventive, and treatment algorithms.
Genome Sequence of Flavor-Producing Yeast Saprochaete suaveolens NRRL Y-17571

Saprochaete suaveolens is an ascomycetous yeast that produces a range of fruity flavors and fragrances. Here, we report the high-contiguity genome sequence of the ex-holotype strain, NRRL Y-17571 (CBS 152.25). ABSTRACT Saprochaete suaveolens is an ascomycetous yeast that produces a range of fruity flavors and fragrances. Here, we report the high-contiguity genome sequence of the ex-holotype strain, NRRL Y-17571 (CBS 152.25). The nuclear genome sequence contains 24.4 Mbp and codes for 8,119 predicted proteins.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Pediatric Primary Care Providers on Management of Cholestasis

Biliary atresia is a common cause of cholestasis in infants and is a time-sensitive diagnosis. A survey was distributed to pediatric primary care providers in order to assess variations in diagnosis and management of cholestasis. Participants were identified from physician parent groups on social media and regional pediatric residency programs. Information on knowledge and interpretation of screening tests, past experience/behavior, confidence, and comfort level managing cholestasis, as well as demographic information was collected. Out of 116 eligible respondents, 94.8% were confident in diagnosing hyperbilirubinemia but only 10.3% knew the biochemical definition of direct hyperbilirubinemia. Of the 56% of providers who had some knowledge of the guidelines, 18.5% stated the guidelines changed the way they evaluate cholestasis. These results demonstrate a gap in knowledge of diagnosing and evaluating cholestasis, which could provide the framework for standardized screening, leading to earlier identification of biliary atresia.
Comparison of the Effect of Different Types of Experimental Anisometropia on Stereopsis Measured with Titmus, Randot and TNO Stereotests

Purpose: To assess the effect of experimental anisometropia and monovision on stereopsis using the Titmus, Randot, and TNO stereoacuity tests. Methods: Sixty adult volunteers were enrolled in the present study. Four different types of anisometropia—myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism (both 90° and 45°)—were induced by placing trial lenses over the dominant eye (from 3 to 1 D). Stereoacuity was measured using the Titmus, Randot, and TNO tests. Results: In all the anisometropia types, stereopsis deteriorated with increase in anisometropia in the three stereoacuity tests performed (P < 0.001). The largest decrease in stereopsis was attributed to 3 D myopic anisometropia—6.51 ± 2.10, 6.59 ± 2.35, and 7.36 ± 1.89 arc seconds in Titmus circles, Randot circles, and TNO, respectively. Minimal change in stereopsis was observed in 1 D astigmatism of 45°. Conclusion: Any type of anisometropia may reduce stereoacuity; this reduction is most noticeable with myopic anisometropia, especially in the TNO test, probably due to the lack of monocular cues.
Assessment of the fitness of Cox and parametric regression models of survival distribution for Iranian breast cancer patients' data

Factors affecting the time of survival after breast cancer (BC) diagnosis remain unknown. However, some of the prognostic factors have been identified. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of biologic and socioeconomic factors on long-term survival of BC patients. This was a descriptive chart review and survey of all women with a confirmed diagnosis of BC registered in Shohada-e-Tajrish Cancer Research Center database from March 2004 to March 2015. The checklist of study consisted of biologic, demographic, reproductive, genetic, medical, and therapeutic information of patients. The minimum time of follow-up was 3 years and the maximum was 10 years. We then evaluated possible associations of these variables with BC survival using Cox and parametric regression models of survival analysis. The study population was 1276 BC patients. Their mean survival was 23 (range 1–120) months. Between the parametric models, Weibull regression model demonstrated the lowest Akaike information criterion and thus the best fit, and tumor size, number of lymph nodes, BC stage, educational level, and high-fat diet were significant in this model. Based on our findings, educational level, consumption of fat, and characteristics of tumor at the time of diagnosis (disease stage, tumor size, number of involved lymph nodes) are the most important prognostic factors affecting long-term survival of BC patients. We suggest that future studies assess the efficacy of possible interventions for these factors.
Staged Repair after Hybrid Palliation for Interrupted Aortic Arch with Systemic Outflow Tract Obstruction

Surgical management of interrupted aortic arch (IAA) with systemic outflow tract obstruction is clearly a challenge. If both ventricles are adequate, the Yasui operation is a useful option. Otherwise, a staged approach through initial hybrid palliation and delayed biventricular repair, tailored to the degree of obstructed outflow, serves to avoid a high-risk neonatal procedure. Herein, we present a patient with IAA and severe systemic outflow tract obstruction whose treatment involved hybrid palliation, followed by a Yasui operation.