Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dental procedures in patients treated with antiplatelet or oral anticoagulation therapy - an anonymous survey.

OBJECTIVE To investigate how German dentists adhere to recommendations regarding dental treatment of patients taking antiplatelet or oral anticoagulation therapy for cardiovascular protection. BACKGROUND Discontinuation of antiplatelet or oral anticoagulation therapy prior to dental procedures is usually not recommended because the risk of thromboembolic events is higher than that of significant procedure-related bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS An anonymous questionnaire regarding the handling of and experiences with patients taking aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or vitamin-K-antagonists (phenprocoumon) was distributed to approximately 4500 dentists attending the national German Dentists Day 2011. RESULTS Of 146 dentists who completed the questionnaire 77.4% and 27.6% stated that they perform tooth extractions under continued therapy with aspirin or vitamin-K-antagonists, respectively. When asked regarding the INR or Quick values, they require for tooth extractions in patients taking oral anticoagulants 29.5% of the dentists provided values that were outside the safe range (INR ≤1.5 or ≥3.5) and 90.7% accepted values too old to be clinically reliable. For pain relief after dental procedures, 71.2% of the dentists recommended ibuprofen notwithstanding the fact that it attenuates protective effects of aspirin and 10.2% would discontinue aspirin and prescribe ibuprofen or paracetamol (acetaminophen). CONCLUSION Despite similar recommendations the majority of dentists perform tooth extractions in patients taking aspirin but not in patients taking vitamin-K-antagonists. Moreover, a potentially unfavourable drug interaction of aspirin and ibuprofen is frequently not considered. In patients taking vitamin-K-antagonists too many dentists rely on laboratory values that are too old or outside the recommended range.
Synchronous second primary cancers in patients with squamous esophageal cancer: clinical features and survival outcome

Background/Aims: Unexpected diagnosis of synchronous second primary cancers (SPC) complicates physicians’ decision-making because clinical details of squamous esophageal cancer (EC) patients with SPC have been limited. We evaluated clinical features and treatment outcomes of patients with synchronous SPC detected during the initial staging of squamous EC. Methods: We identified a total of 317 consecutive patients diagnosed with squamous EC. Relevant clinical and cancer-specific information were reviewed retrospectively. Results: EC patients with synchronous SPC were identified in 21 patients (6.6%). There were significant differences in median age (70 years vs. 63 years, p = 0.01), serum albumin level (3.3 g/dL vs. 3.9 g/dL, p < 0.01) and body mass index (20.4 kg/m2 vs. 22.8 kg/m2, p = 0.01) between EC patients with and without SPC. Head and neck, lung and gastric cancers accounted for 18.2%, 22.7%, and 18.2% of SPC, respectively. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) detected four cases (18.2%) of SPC that were missed on CT. Management plans were altered in 13 of 21 patients (61.9%) with detected SPC. Curative esophagectomy was attempted in 28.6% of EC patients with SPC (vs. 59.1% of patients without SPC; p = 0.006). EC patients with SPC had significantly lower 5-year survival than patients without SPC (10.6% vs. 36.7%, p = 0.008). Conclusions: Synchronous SPC were found in 6.6% of squamous EC patients, and PET-CT contributed substantially to the detection of synchronous SPC. EC patients with SPC had poor survival due to challenges of providing stage-appropriate treatment.
A Critical Overview of Trends and Practices in Performance Management in the South African Higher Educational Environment.

The transformation from an industrial society to a postmodern knowledge society has given rise to a new set of values that are manifesting to varying degrees in modern organisations. Besides quality orientation, these include focus on teamwork and cooperation, democratisation of the workplace, fairness and equity in labour relations, and a respect for diversity. In South Africa, many of these values have been amplified by the political transformation that the country has been undergoing since the early 1990s. Organisations are obliged to promote these values and build new cultures through strong leadership, changed strategies, and ensure buy-in and compliance by means of performance management and reward systems. Higher Education, particularly in South Africa, has been reluctant to adopt performance management systems and practices, especially insofar as it pertains to the management and appraisal of academic staff at institutions of Higher Learning. The reasons for the reluctance seem to revolve mostly around an exaggerated deference to the idea of "academic freedom" and more operationally, the difficulties associated with "measuring" excellence in academic pursuits. This article will give an overview of prevalent trends and practices in managing academic performance and will attempt to explore the possible reasons for the apparent reluctance of academic staff and academic administrators to develop or adopt systems and procedures for managing academic performance. South African Journal of Higher Education Vol.17(2) 2003: 131-138
Histological findings of ascending urinary tract infections in experimental rats caused by Proteus mirabilis

Proteus mirabilis has previously been shown to be capable of persisting in the rat kidney for up to 8 weeks and induces many physiological changes following a single inoculation of the urinary bladder. The present study examined kidney tissue from infected animals for evi-dence of renal damage. The earliest histologic changes seen on the 2nd and 4th days, consisted of mild cellular sloughing and edema associated with mononuclear infiltration in the me-dulla and to a lesser extent in the cortex. On the 1st and following weeks, tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and a mononuclear infiltrate had advanced in the renal parenchyma re-sulting in chronic pyelonephritis. The observed renal degenerations with a corresponding ascending bacterial infection in the intra-renal reflux suggest that Proteus mirabilis is capa-ble of producing chronic pyelonephritis in the rats after a single reflux challenge.
Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Support CD34pos Hematopoietic Stem Cell Propagation and Suppress Inflammatory Reaction

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) represent a promising cell source for research and therapeutic applications, but their restricted ex vivo propagation capabilities limit putative applications. Substantial self-renewing of stem cells can be achieved by reprogramming cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that can be easily expanded as undifferentiated cells even in mass culture. Here, we investigated a differentiation protocol enabling the generation and selection of human iPSC-derived MSCs exhibiting relevant surface marker expression profiles (CD105 and CD73) and functional characteristics. We generated such iPSC-MSCs from fibroblasts and bone marrow MSCs utilizing two different reprogramming constructs. All such iPSC-MSCs exhibited the characteristics of normal bone marrow-derived (BM) MSCs. In direct comparison to BM-MSCs our iPSC-MSCs exhibited a similar surface marker expression profile but shorter doubling times without reaching senescence within 20 passages. Considering functional capabilities, iPSC-MSCs provided supportive feeder layer for CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells' self-renewal and colony forming capacities. Furthermore, iPSC-MSCs gained immunomodulatory function to suppress CD4+ cell proliferation, reduce proinflammatory cytokines in mixed lymphocyte reaction, and increase regulatory CD4+/CD69+/CD25+ T-lymphocyte population. In conclusion, we generated fully functional MSCs from various iPSC lines irrespective of their starting cell source or reprogramming factor composition and we suggest that such iPSC-MSCs allow repetitive cell applications for advanced therapeutic approaches.
The Regulation of Alfalfa Saponin Extract on Key Genes Involved in Hepatic Cholesterol Metabolism in Hyperlipidemic Rats

To investigate the cholesterol-lowering effects of alfalfa saponin extract (ASE) and its regulation mechanism on some key genes involved in cholesterol metabolism, 40 healthy 7 weeks old male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups with 10 rats in each group: control group, hyperlipidemic group, ASE treatment group, ASE prevention group. The body weight gain, relative liver weight and serum lipid 1evels of rats were determined. Total cholesterol (TC) and total bile acids (TBA) levels in liver and feces were also measured. Furthermore, the activity and mRNA expressions of Hmgcr, Acat2, Cyp7a1 and Ldlr were investigated. The results showed the following: (1) The abnormal serum lipid levels in hyperlipidemic rats were ameliorated by ASE administration (both ASE prevention group and treatment group) (P<0.05). (2) Both ASE administration to hyperlipidemic rats significantly reduced liver TC and increased liver TBA level (P<0.05). TC and TBA levels in feces of hyperlipidemic rats were remarkably elevated by both ASE administration (P<0.05). (3) mRNA expressions of Hmgcr and Acat2 in the liver of hyperlipidemic rats were remarkably down-regulated (P<0.05), as well as mRNA expressions of Cyp7a1 and Ldlr were dramatically up-regulated by both ASE administration (P<0.05). The activities of these enzymes also paralleled the observed changes in mRNA levels. (4) There was no significant difference between ASE treatment and ASE prevention group for most parameters evaluated. Our present study indicated that ASE had cholesterol-lowering effects. The possible mechanism could be attributed to (1) the down-regulation of Hmgcr and Acat2, as well as up-regulation of Cyp7a1 and Ldlr in the liver of hyperlipidemic rats, which was involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, uptake, and efflux pathway; (2) the increase in excretion of cholesterol. The findings in our study suggested ASE had great potential usefulness as a natural agent for treating hyperlipidemia.
Intimacy and Generativity: Self-Perceived Transitions

The idea that individuals continue to experience themselves as changing during midlife and old age has received much attention in recent years. In the popular literature, numerous works have focused on the impact such life stages or crises have in modifying self-perceptions, creating new attitudes toward life, and offering different ways of relating to others. Gail Sheehy's Passages, for example, outlines a predictable series of crises in adult life up to the mid-forties: in the early thirties the "urge to merge" or establish close, interpersonal relationships with others; a later, "Catch30" period in which original choices are reevaluated; and a period of "rooting and extending"-settling down, buying houses, climbing career ladders, raising children. ' A subsequent book by Sheehy, Pathfinders, addresses the ways in which certain individuals use the negotiations through these passages as opportunities for expansion and self-renewal.2 More specific to the life stages of women is Maggie Scarf's Unfinished Business, which examines various psychological tasks encountered in the six decades of a woman's life from the teens to the sixties.3 Scarf discusses experiences at stressful junctures of loss, disruption of emotional bonds, and depression, pointing out, for example, that depression may occur in a woman's thirties as she regrets-and also resents-mistaken choices made in her twenties. Lillian Rubin's Women of a Certain Age examines
AN ACOUSTICAL STUDY OF VOCAL PITCH IN SEVEN- AND EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRLS

The present study is a companion to that of Fairbanks, Wiley, and Lassman (3), who studied the vocal pitch of sevenand eight-year-old boys, and differs only in the sex of the subjects. Changes in the vocal pitch of the female during early life undoubtedly take place, but the extent of the changes, although presumably much smaller than in the male, has not been investigated. As a matter of fact, unlike the situation in studies of male voice, the literature provides no satisfactory information regarding vocal pitch in average females at any age level. The present study, probably for the first time, presents acoustical data on the vocal pitch of girls. The pitch level of speech, because of its relationship to growth of the larynx, is of major interest, and this study is the first in a program of acoustical investigations designed to permit the plotting of a curve of pitch level as a function of age in the female. Comparable curves for males and females will differ greatly from adolescence on, but the differences or similarities during pre-adolescent years are not to be predicted on the basis of present information. The present study, taken in conjunction with its companion (3), begins to throw some light in this direction. Voice breaks in the male adolescent are phenomena of common experience, and have been studied acoustically by Curry (i), and by Fairbanks, Wiley, and Lassman (3). In the former study a group of ten-year-old preadolescent controls were found to have voice breaks similar to those of
Tour Guides and the mediation of difficult memories: the case of Dublin Castle, Ireland

This research seeks to furthering understandings of how Tour Guides interpret memories at heritage sites when the memories at issue are difficult yet subtle and not always apparent to tourists. Specifically, it explores how Dublin Castle, formerly the seat of British rule in Ireland, is captured in narratives presented to tourists that often include Britons. Representing the site is made challenging because some visitors have little knowledge of the site's history, while others are well informed and hold strong political views. The findings show that Guides select largely depoliticized narratives, strongly influenced by their personal interests and experiences. Some hint at underlying tensions that only tourists alert to the complexities of the site might capture. Dominant narratives can be challenged by tourists with an interest in, or allegiance to, particular historical or political beliefs, leading to emotional engagements. Some tourists, unaware of the complexities of the site, can encounter a more multi-layered and complex experience than perhaps envisaged. The study affirms the co-production evident in Tour Guiding narratives and points to the need for further research into how the variously empowered agencies of both the Guide and the tourist produce a constant shifting and re-working of memory.
Phenotypic and functional changes in peripheral blood monocytes during progression of human immunodeficiency virus infection. Effects of soluble immune complexes, cytokines, subcellular particulates from apoptotic cells, and HIV-1-encoded proteins on monocytes phagocytic function, oxidative burst, t

We postulated that changes in the cell surface display of molecules that facilitate cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions may reflect the changing immunosurveillance capacity of blood monocytes during progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. In Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stage A patients, whose monocytes' ability to phagocytose bacteria and generate reactive oxygen intermediates is often increased, the frequency of monocytes expressing CD49d, HLA-DP, HLA-DQ, and an activation epitope of CD11a/CD18 was increased and monocyte transendothelial migration was unimpaired. In CDC stage B/C patients, whose monocytes' ability to phagocytose bacteria and migrate across confluent endothelial monolayers was diminished, surface expression of CD49e and CD62L and the percentage of monocytes expressing CD18, CD11a, CD29, CD49e, CD54, CD58, CD31, and HLA-I were significantly decreased. Incubating normal donor monocytes with immune complexes in vitro reproduced the phenotypic and functional abnormalities seen in stage B/C patients. By contrast, in vitro stimulation with subcellular particulates released by apoptotic lymphocytes reproduced changes seen in stage A patients' monocytes. Although circulating monocytes appear to be activated at all stages, these data suggest that the high levels of circulating immune complexes, found predominantly in the later stages of HIV infection, may be particularly instrumental in reducing the monocyte's capacity to maintain surveillance against infection.
Students in transition: mature women students moving from Foundation Degree to Honours level 6

This paper investigates the experiences of a group of mature students as they move from a Foundation degree in Teaching and Learning Support to a progression route, the BA (Honours) in Teaching Learning and Mentoring. This piece of action research employs student narratives as a means of gaining some understanding of individual and specific experiences of transition between programmes with a view to enhancing the experience for future cohorts. The student experiences are considered within the broader framework of the political and educational agenda of life‐long learning, and the paper concludes with a discussion of the pedagogic value of the use of narrative as a means of preparing both student and tutor for such a transition.
RESEARCH OPINIONS IN ANIMAL & VETERINARY SCIENCES Responses of inflammatory cytokines in non-pregnant Boer does inoculated with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis via various routes

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis in sheep and goats and is characterized by the development of pyogranulomas in the lymph nodes and organs. This study was designed to measure the concentration of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β & IL-6) in experimental non-pregnant Boer does inoculated with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis through various routes. Little is known about the concentration of IL-1β and IL-6 in different routes of infection caused by the organism. A total of twenty healthy non-pregnant Boer does were divided into 4 groups (A-D) of 5 does per groups. Three groups (A-C) were inoculated with 10cfu/1ml of live Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis through intradermal, intranasal and oral routes respectively, while group D was kept unexposed. Following infection, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein between three days interval period for the analysis of IL-1β and IL-6. A significant increase (P<0.05) in IL-1β was observed through intranasal, intradermal and oral route compared to the control group. Significant increase in IL-1β and IL-6 was observed through intranasal route compared to other routes. This study, therefore, highlights the effects of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β andIL-6) in caseous lymphadenitis infection.
Gender Differences in Self‐efficacy and Academic Performance among Students of Business Administration

Abstract Gender differences in perceived self‐efficacy and academic performance in marketing, organizational behaviour, accounting, computing, mathematics and statistics were investigated in 154 college students studying business administration. At the beginning of their second year in college, the students completed a questionnaire designed to measure self‐efficacy in subjects they had studied during their first year. The female students had significantly lower self‐efficacy in computing and marketing and higher self‐efficacy in statistics than the male students. Except for statistics, where female students outperform their male counterparts, there were no significant gender differences in academic performance.
CHANGING PATTERN OF NEONATAL FUNGAL SEPSIS: A MATCHED CASE - CONTROL STUDY

Introduction: Fungal infections are the emerging threat to the neonates in the tertiary care centres. Candida has been found to be a common fungal pathogen especially in immunocompromised hosts such as neonates. This study aimed at identifying the risk factors associated with fungal sepsis, the clinical spectrum, laboratory features, predominant organisms and outcome. Methodology: Cases (neonates (age 7 days, Mechanical ventilation, Prior antibiotic usage. Clinical features in neonates with candida sepsis were non-specific, difficult to differentiate from bacterial sepsis. The common laboratory feature identified was thrombocytopenia. Predominant organism responsible was candida species, among which non- albicans Candida outnumbered Candida albicans. 93 % of candida species were sensitive to Amphotericin B followed by Itraconazole (80% ) and Fluconazole (70%). Conclusion: Most of the candida isolates in our study were sensitive to Amphotericin B followed by Fluconazole and Itraconazole. Thus in our study Amphotericin B appears to be the most effective antifungal agent. Fluconazole resistance was seen in 30% cases, mostly among non- albicans Candida which warrants its judicious use as a prophylactic agent in hospitals.
Serologic and functional characterization of a panel of antigen- presenting cell lines expressing mutant I-A class II molecules

An improved method is described for selecting mutant cells with an altered pattern of Ia antigenic determinants and antigen-presenting properties from an homogeneous population of functional antigen- presenting cells (APC). The APC line used, TA3, was a somatic cell hybrid obtained by fusing normal heterozygous H-2a/d B cells with a drug-marked variant of a BALB/c B lymphoma line. Two phenotypic groups of mutants were obtained by this method. Serologic analysis with a panel of anti-I-Ak monoclonal antibodies suggested that the change in the first group of mutants (type A mutants) involved the alteration of a portion of one epitope of the I-Ak molecule while in the second group of mutants (type B), an alteration of a different Ia epitope group had occurred. Functional studies using a panel of cloned antigen-specific and autoreactive T cell hybridomas demonstrated that the loss of a limited number of I-Ak determinants in the type A mutants correlated with the loss of some but not all I-Ak-encoded restriction elements, while the type B mutation(s) resulted in the ablation of all I-Ak- restricted APC functions tested. These mutations may occur in the region of the Ia molecule that interacts with the T cell receptor (the histope) or in a postulated region that interacts with antigen (the desetope). The finding that both type A and B mutations lead to loss in the capacity to be corecognized with many different antigens by I-Ak- restricted T cell hybridomas suggests that the Ia molecule may possess very few distinct histotopes and/or desetopes or that the tertiary structure of the Ia molecule is crucial in the formation of these sites. Alternatively, the mutations, particularly the type B mutations, may have led to the failure of expression of an entire alpha or beta chain.