Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coffee, alcohol and other beverages in relation to cirrhosis mortality: The Singapore Chinese Health Study

Limited experimental and epidemiologic data suggest that coffee may reduce hepatic damage in chronic liver disease. The association between consumption of coffee and other beverages and risk of cirrhosis mortality was evaluated in the Singapore Chinese Health Study. This is a prospective population‐based cohort of 63,275 middle‐aged and older Chinese subjects who provided data on diet, lifestyle, and medical histories through in‐person interviews using a structured questionnaire at enrollment between 1993 and 1998. Mortality from cirrhosis in the cohort was ascertained through linkage analysis with nationwide death registry. After a mean follow‐up of 14.7 years, 114 subjects died from cirrhosis; 33 of them from viral hepatitis B (29%), two from hepatitis C (2%), and 14 from alcohol‐related cirrhosis (12%). Compared to nondrinkers, daily alcohol drinkers had a strong dose‐dependent positive association between amount of alcohol and risk of cirrhosis mortality. Conversely, there was a strong dose‐dependent inverse association between coffee intake and risk of nonviral hepatitis‐related cirrhosis mortality (P for trend = 0.014). Compared to non‐daily coffee drinkers, those who drank two or more cups per day had a 66% reduction in mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.14‐0.81). However, coffee intake was not associated with hepatitis B‐related cirrhosis mortality. The inverse relationship between caffeine intake and nonviral hepatitis‐related cirrhosis mortality became null after adjustment for coffee drinking. The consumption of black tea, green tea, fruit juices, or soft drinks was not associated with risk of cirrhosis death. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the protective effect of coffee on nonviral hepatitis‐related cirrhosis mortality, and provides further impetus to evaluate coffee as a potential therapeutic agent in patients with cirrhosis. (Hepatology 2014;60:661–669)
Methamphetamine Residue Dermal Transfer Efficiencies from Household Surfaces

Methamphetamine contamination from illegal production operations poses a potential health concern for emergency responders, child protective services, law enforcement, and children living in contaminated structures. The objective of this study was to evaluate dermal transfer efficiencies of methamphetamine from contaminated household surfaces. These transfer efficiencies are lacking for methamphetamine, and would be beneficial for use in exposure models. Surfaces were contaminated using a simulated smoking method in a stainless steel chamber. Household surfaces were carpet, painted drywall, and linoleum. Dermal transfer efficiencies were obtained using cotton gloves for two hand conditions, dry or saliva moistened (wet). In addition, three contact scenarios were evaluated for both hand conditions: one, two, or three contacts with contaminated surfaces. Dermal transfer efficiencies were calculated for both hand conditions and used as inputs in a Stochastic Human Exposure and Dose Simulation model (SHEDS-Multimedia, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N.C.). Results of this study showed that average dermal transfer efficiencies of methamphetamine ranged from 11% for dry hands to 26% for wet hands. There was a significantly higher wet transfer as compared to dry transfer for all surfaces. For wet hands, dermal transfer depended on surface type with higher transfer from carpet and linoleum as compared to drywall. Based on our estimates of dermal transfer efficiency, a surface contamination clearance level of 1.5 μg/100 cm2 may not ensure absorbed doses remain below the level associated with adverse health effects in all cases. Additional dermal transfer studies should be performed using skin surrogates that may better predict actual skin transfer.
A Quantitative Assessment of the Total Inward Leakage of NaCl Aerosol Representing Submicron-Size Bioaerosol Through N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators and Surgical Masks

Respiratory protection provided by a particulate respirator is a function of particle penetration through filter media and through faceseal leakage. Faceseal leakage largely contributes to the penetration of particles through a respirator and compromises protection. When faceseal leaks arise, filter penetration is assumed to be negligible. The contribution of filter penetration and faceseal leakage to total inward leakage (TIL) of submicron-size bioaerosols is not well studied. To address this issue, TIL values for two N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) models and two surgical mask (SM) models sealed to a manikin were measured at 8 L and 40 L breathing minute volumes with different artificial leak sizes. TIL values for different size (20–800 nm, electrical mobility diameter) NaCl particles representing submicron-size bioaerosols were measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer. Efficiency of filtering devices was assessed by measuring the penetration against NaCl aerosol similar to the method used for NIOSH particulate filter certification. Results showed that the most penetrating particle size (MPPS) was ∼45 nm for both N95 FFR models and one of the two SM models, and ∼350 nm for the other SM model at sealed condition with no leaks as well as with different leak sizes. TIL values increased with increasing leak sizes and breathing minute volumes. Relatively, higher efficiency N95 and SM models showed lower TIL values. Filter efficiency of FFRs and SMs influenced the TIL at different flow rates and leak sizes. Overall, the data indicate that good fitting higher-efficiency FFRs may offer higher protection against submicron-size bioaerosols.
Pharmaceutical Dust Exposure at Pharmacies Using Automatic Dispensing Machines: A Preliminary Study

Automatic dispensing machines (ADMs) used in pharmacies concentrate and dispense large volumes of pharmaceuticals, including uncoated tablets that can shed dust. We evaluated 43 employees’ exposures to pharmaceutical dust at three pharmacies where ADMs were used. We used an optical particle counter to identify tasks that generated pharmaceutical dust. We collected 72 inhalable dust air samples in or near the employees’ breathing zones. In addition to gravimetric analysis, our contract laboratory used internal methods involving liquid chromatography to analyze these samples for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and/or lactose, an inactive filler in tablets. We had to choose samples for these additional analyses because many methods used different extraction solvents. We selected 57 samples for analysis of lactose. We used real-time particle monitoring results, observations, and information from employees on the dustiness of pharmaceuticals to select 28 samples (including 13 samples that were analyzed for lactose) for analysis of specific APIs. Pharmaceutical dust was generated during a variety of tasks like emptying and refilling of ADM canisters. Using compressed air to clean canisters and manual count machines produced the overall highest peak number concentrations (19,000–580,000 particles/L) of smallest particles (count median aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2 μm). Employees who refilled, cleaned, or repaired ADM canisters, or hand filled prescriptions were exposed to higher median air concentrations of lactose (5.0–12 μg/m3) than employees who did other jobs (0.04–1.3 μg/m3), such as administrative/office work, labeling/packaging, and verifying prescriptions. We detected 10 APIs in air, including lisinopril, a drug prescribed for high blood pressure, levothyroxine, a drug prescribed for hypothyroidism, and methotrexate, a hazardous drug prescribed for cancer and other disorders. Three air concentrations of lisinopril (1.8–2.7 μg/m3) exceeded the lower bound of the manufacturer's hazard control band (1–10 μg/m3). All other API air concentrations were below applicable occupational exposure limits. Our findings indicate that some pharmacy employees are exposed to multiple APIs and that measures are needed to control those exposures.
Late HDV RNA relapse after peginterferon alpha‐based therapy of chronic hepatitis delta

Interferon alpha is the only treatment option for hepatitis delta virus (HDV). Trials investigating the efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha (PEG‐IFNa) showed HDV RNA negativity rates of 25‐30% 24 weeks after therapy. However, the clinical and virological long‐term outcome of HDV‐infected patients treated with PEG‐IFNa is unknown. We performed a retrospective‐prospective follow‐up of 77 patients treated for 48 weeks with either PEG‐alfa‐2a and adefovir (ADV) or either drug alone in the Hep‐Net‐International‐Delta‐Hepatitis‐Intervention‐Study 1 (HIDIT‐1) trial. Long‐term follow‐up data were available for 58 out of 77 patients (75%) with a median time of follow‐up of 4.5 (0.5‐5.5) years and a median 3 visits per patient. Patients treated with ADV alone received retreatment with PEG‐IFNa (48% versus 19%; P = 0.02) more often. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) became negative in six PEG‐IFNa‐treated patients until the end of long‐term follow‐up (10%). Sixteen patients tested HDV RNA‐negative 6 months after PEG‐IFNa treatment who were entered in the long‐term follow‐up study. Out of these, nine individuals tested HDV RNA‐positive at least once during further long‐term follow‐up, with seven patients being HDV RNA‐positive at the most recent visit. Clinical endpoints (liver‐related death, liver transplantation, hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma) were observed in three PEG‐IFNa‐treated (8%) and three ADV‐treated (14%) patients during posttreatment long‐term follow‐up with an overall annual event rate of 2.5% (4.9% in cirrhosis). Sequencing confirmed the reappearance of pretreatment virus strains in all cases. Conclusion: Late HDV RNA relapses may occur after PEG‐IFNa therapy of hepatitis delta and thus the term sustained virological response should be avoided in HDV infection. The annual posttreatment rate of clinical events in hepatitis delta patients eligible for PEG‐IFNa therapy is about 2.5% and 4.9% in patients with cirrhosis. (Hepatology 2014;60:87‐97)
Clinical criteria for three types of dementia had low sensitivity and high specificity

This study by Holmes et al addresses the correspondence between clinical and pathological criteria for AD, VaD, and DLB. This work is reminiscent of a study by Litvan et al in which raters used data from 15 cases pathologically proved to have Parkinson’s disease, 14 with DLB, and 76 with neither. For DLB, as in the present study, sensitivity was low and specificity was high. Mixed pathologies were considered in the context of parkinsonian syndromes, and inter-rater reliabilities were also considered. For AD, Nagy et al found high sensitivity (91–98%), low specificity (40–61%), and low negative predictive values for both the NINCDS-ADRDA and DSM-III-R criteria. The higher sensitivity found might have been from having less mixed pathology. For VaD, comparisons between NINDS-AIREN criteria and 3 other current criteria showed poor concordance, again perhaps reflecting the problem of mixed disease discussed by the present authors. Clinicians should appreciate the current work because it stresses the importance of (1) recognising disease prevalence, (2) appreciating the complexity introduced by mixed pathology, and (3) encouraging the clinician to consider the patient’s values in tactfully informing the patient, or the patient’s family, about the possibility of false positives and negatives when proceeding from a differential diagnosis to a provisional diagnosis. Although physicians should be cognisant of these and other diagnostic guidelines, this study does not support shifting the standard of care from the currently recommended one (general medical, neurological, and psychiatric assessment and an informed consent process indicating the nature of the differential diagnoses, relevant evaluation, and treatment alternatives and their prospective risks and benefits) to an algorithmic dependence on a specific set of guidelines. 5
The Short-Term Effect of Resisted Grip Activity on Resting Finger Position

The study's purposes were to establish reliable measurement of hand resting joint position (RJP) and to determine the effect of repeated resisted grip activity upon that position. Thirty-two volunteer college students meeting health screening criteria were randomly assigned as experimental or control subjects. Procedures included two measurements of the relaxed RJP of the left middle finger prior to 40 repetitions of resisted grip for experimental and no activity for control subjects. The RJP was then measured a third time. Intrarater test-retest reliability of the first two RJP measurements was high (r = .95, p < .0001). The change within the activity group was significant (t = 7.25(15), p < . 0001) but not for controls. Subjects receiving resisted grip showed significantly greater change in finger RJP toward flexion after exercise (t (30) = 5.06, p < . 0001) than did controls. Results indicate that RJP is relatively stable over short time periods, can be reliably measured, and is influenced by activity. They suggest that occupational therapists might find RJP a useful measure of the instantaneous state of joint function, of muscle tone and of the effects of treatment.
Structural Fire Fighting Ensembles: Accumulation and Off-gassing of Combustion Products

Firefighters may be exposed to toxic combustion products not only during fire fighting operations and training, but also afterwards as a result of contact with contaminated structural fire fighting ensembles. This study characterized the deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) onto structural fire fighting ensembles and off-gassing of combustion products from ensembles after multiple exposures to hostile structural attack fire environments. A variety of PAHs were deposited onto the outer layer of structural fire fighting ensembles, with no variation in deposition flux between new ensembles and already contaminated ensembles. Contaminants released from ensembles after use included volatile organic compounds, carbonyl compounds, low molecular weight PAHs, and hydrogen cyanide. Air samples collected in a similar manner after laundering of ensembles according to manufacturer specifications indicated that laundering returns off-gassing concentrations of most of the investigated compounds to pre-exposure levels. These findings suggest that contamination of firefighter protective clothing increases with use, and that storage of unlaundered structural fire fighting ensembles in small, unventilated spaces immediately after use may create a source of future exposure to toxic combustion products for fire fighting personnel.
Exposure Assessment of a High-energy Tensile Test With Large Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Cables

This study investigated the particle and fiber release from two carbon fiber reinforced polymer cables that underwent high-energy tensile tests until rupture. The failing event was the source of a large amount of dust whereof a part was suspected to be containing possibly respirable fibers that could cause adverse health effects. The released fibers were suspected to migrate through small openings to the experiment control room and also to an adjacent machine hall where workers were active. To investigate the fiber release and exposure risk of the affected workers, the generated particles were measured with aerosol devices to obtain the particle size and particle concentrations. Furthermore, particles were collected on filter samples to investigate the particle shape and the fiber concentration. Three situations were monitored for the control room and the machine hall: the background concentrations, the impact of the cable failure, and the venting of the exposed rooms afterward. The results showed four important findings: The cable failure caused the release of respirable fibers with diameters below 3 μm and an average length of 13.9 μm; the released particles did migrate to the control room and to the machine hall; the measured peak fiber concentration of 0.76 fibers/cm3 and the overall fiber concentration of 0.07 fibers/cm3 in the control room were below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for fibers without indication of carcinogenicity; and the venting of the rooms was fast and effective. Even though respirable fibers were released, the low fiber concentration and effective venting indicated that the suspected health risks from the experiment on the affected workers was low. However, the effect of long-term exposure is not known therefore additional control measures are recommended.
Characterization of process air emissions in automotive production plants

ABSTRACT During manufacturing, particles produced from industrial processes become airborne. These airborne emissions represent a challenge from an industrial hygiene and environmental standpoint. A study was undertaken to characterize the particles associated with a variety of manufacturing processes found in the auto industry. Air particulates were collected in five automotive plants covering ten manufacturing processes in the areas of casting, machining, heat treatment and assembly. Collection procedures provided information on air concentration, size distribution, and chemical composition of the airborne particulate matter for each process and insight into the physical and chemical processes that created those particles.
Working safely with robot workers: Recommendations for the new workplace

ABSTRACT The increasing use of robots in performing tasks alongside or together with human co-workers raises novel occupational safety and health issues. The new 21st century workplace will be one in which occupational robotics plays an increasing role. This article describes the increasing complexity of robots and proposes a number of recommendations for the practice of safe occupational robotics.
The effect of Korean red ginseng extract on the relaxation response in isolated rabbit vaginal tissue and its mechanism.

INTRODUCTION Ginseng is an herbal medicine with a variety of biological activities. AIM The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) extract on the relaxation response in isolated rabbit vaginal tissue and its mechanism as a potential therapeutic agent for female sexual dysfunction. METHOD Strips of rabbit vagina were mounted in organ chambers to measure isometric tension. After the strips were precontracted with phenylephrine, the contractile responses to KRG extract (1-20 mg/mL), nitric oxide inhibitor (N[omega]-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME]), an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase (methylene blue), an inhibitor of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (tetraethylammonium [TEA]), and an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K(+) channel blocker (glybenclamide) were examined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The relaxation of the vaginal tissue strip was assessed after treating KRG extract or other chemicals. RESULTS KRG (1-20 mg/mL) extract relaxed the vaginal tissue strip in a dose-dependent manner up to 85%. The relaxation effect was significantly inhibited by L-NAME (30 microM) and methylene blue (30 microM) (P < 0.05). In addition, KRG inhibited the contraction induced by depolarization with 10, 20, and 40 mM KCl. The KRG-induced relaxation effect was significantly inhibited by TEA (300 microM) (P < 0.05), and not by glybenclamide (30 microM). CONCLUSIONS These data show that KRG extract has a relaxing effect on rabbit vaginal smooth muscle tissue. These effects might be mediated partly through the NO pathway and hyperpolarization via Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels.
Oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors: nonerectogenic beneficial uses.

INTRODUCTION Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) hydrolyses cyclic guanylate monophosphate (cGMP) specifically to 5' GMP. PDE5 inhibitors were a breakthrough medication that addressed a previously unfulfilled medical need. They promoted vascular relaxation in the corpora cavernosa and penile erection during sexual stimulation. Sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil were approved then introduced as effective treatments for male erectile dysfunction. This impact has stimulated academic, clinical, and industrial research. AIM To highlight the nonerectogenic beneficial uses of oral PDE5 inhibitors. METHOD A systematic review of published studies in this affair based on a Pubmed and medical subject heading databases search of all concerned articles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Demonstrated beneficial as well as applicable uses of oral PDE5 inhibitors. RESULTS As chemical molecules, these drugs were shown to exert potential nonerectogenic beneficial effects. They showed efficacy as a useful adjunct in the management of pulmonary hypertension. Additional uses were extended to different utilities: essential hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, gastrointestinal disorders, endothelial dysfunction, female sexual dysfunction, genital blood flow, exercise capacity, Raynaud's phenomenon, sperm motility, etc. CONCLUSION Exploring PDE5 inhibitors for their possible medical applications in diverse specialties seems to be beneficial in making use of these molecules for the welfare of humanity.
Is coping strategies predictor of anxiety and depression in couple infertile

Background: Infertility is a complex crisis of life and increases psychological difficulties such as anxiety and depression. Identification of copy strategies for stressful events like infertility is important. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between coping strategies with anxiety and depression symptoms in men and women’s infertile. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted from 2011-2012 on 168 Iranian infertile couples referred to the Fatemeh Zahra infertility and reproductive health research center of Babol university of medical science to initiate assistant reproductive technologies and completed the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ), The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The results were analyzed using t-test, the Pearson correlation and the stepwise model of multiple regression analysis. P Results: Escape/ avoidance contributed the greatest amount of unique variance to the model for anxiety/de-pression of infertile women (P Conclusion: men and women infertile who use disproportionally maladaptive coping strategies such as escape/avoidance are predisposed to anxiety and depression symptoms. How using the coping strategies is very important in expressing anxiety and depression in infertile couples and training the adaptive coping strategies suggested by counseling centers.