Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of sinusitis in cystic fibrosis by endoscopic surgery and serial antimicrobial lavage. Reduction in recurrence requiring surgery.

OBJECTIVE An effective treatment program for refractory chronic sinusitis in patients with cystic fibrosis has not been achieved. We developed a long-term management approach by combining endoscopic surgery with serial antimicrobial lavage (ESSAL). DESIGN In a before and after trial, results of ESSAL in 32 patients were compared with those of conventional sinus surgery without serial antimicrobial lavage in 19 patients. At least 1 year follow-up was available in all but one patient. SETTING AND PATIENTS Patients attending the Stanford (Calif) Cystic Fibrosis Center were consecutively referred for otolaryngologic evaluation for symptoms and signs of refractory sinusitis. Those subjects who were evaluated before 1990 were treated conventionally and afterward by ESSAL. INTERVENTION Conventionally treated patients underwent one or more of the following procedures: polypectomy, ethmoidectomy, antrostomy, or Caldwell-Luc operation. The ESSAL approach incorporated preoperative rhinosinuscopy and computed tomography, endoscopic surgery, a postoperative course of antral antimicrobial lavage, and monthly maintenance antimicrobial lavage via brief antral catheterization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Intensity and frequency of sinus surgery after initial presentation. RESULTS The two groups were similar demographically and in clinical presentation, including the presence of nasal polyposis in 34% and 42%, respectively. The ESSAL group had fewer operations per patient, Caldwell-Luc procedures, and a decrease in repeated surgery at 1-year (10% vs 47%) and 2-year (22% vs 72%) follow-ups. CONCLUSION The ESSAL is a successful approach to treatment of sinusitis in cystic fibrosis that reduces recurrence requiring further surgery for at least 2 years.
Experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis. IV. Selective suppression of cell-mediated immunity during the response of guinea-pigs to infection with Leishmania enriettii.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether suppression of acquired, cell-mediated immunity occurred during the course of cutaneous leishmaniasis of the guinea-pig. In order to do this, groups of animals were infected with amastigotes of Leishmania enriettii in doses ranging from 101 to 2 × 108 organisms. The clinical course of primary and metastatic infection was followed for up to 30 weeks and the immunological response was examined by skin tests of hypersensitivity to soluble leishmanial antigens, by detection of circulating antibody, and by determining the resistance of animals to reinfection with fresh organisms. With increasing inoculum size the incubation period (for the establishment of a primary lesion) diminished from 4 weeks (101 organisms) to 1 week (2 × 108 organisms). Large inocula (2 × 108) led to large ulcerated primary lesions with widespread metastases and death of some animals in the group, but no evidence of visceralization. With increasing dose of organisms, there was increasingly rapid development of delayed hypersensitivity and of antibody as detected by immunofluorescence; thus there was no evidence that high inocula produced immunological tolerance. With inocula >105, a characteristic and selective depression of delayed hypersensitivity occurred when primary lesions were well developed and when metastatic infection was well advanced. Surviving animals recovered their delayed hypersensitivity as primary and metastatic lesions healed. After healing of the primary lesions, animals in all groups were fully resistant to reinfection, even though some of them bore persistent metastases. It was concluded that the immunosuppressive effects of heavy infecting inocula were due to desensitization of rapidly acquired, cell-mediated immunity rather than to the induction of immunological tolerance. It is suggested that this mechanism might underlie certain features of disseminated leishmaniasis in man.
Randomized trial of DVD, telephone, and usual care for increasing mammography adherence

The purpose of this study was to test an intervention to increase mammography screening in women 51–75 years of age who had not received a mammogram in the last 15 months. A total of 1681 women were randomized to (1) a mailed tailored interactive DVD, (2) a computer-tailored telephone counseling, or (3) usual care. Women with income below US$75,000 who were in the interactive DVD group had significantly more mammograms than women in usual care. Women with income above US$75,000 had significantly fewer mammograms than women with income less than US$75,000 regardless of group. Further investigation is needed to understand why women with income above US$75,000 did not show the same benefit of the intervention.
How Schools Change Reforms: Redefining Reform Success and Failure

Because schools change reforms as much as reforms change schools, judging an innovation's success or failure has been, and is, no easy task. I identify three common criteria used by policymaking elites (effectiveness, popularity, and fidelity) and two less common ones used by practitioners (adaptability and longevity) and apply them to the two-decade-old Effective Schools school reform. What emerged as crucial in evaluating school reforms is what criteria are being used to make judgments, whose criteria they are, and how schools change reforms as they are implemented. The example of Effective Schools challenges policymakers and researchers to become more explicit about which criteria they employ to judge success and to understand how the journey of school reform is a story of constant adaptation that ultimately undermines the common criteria generally used to judge success and failure.
IL-33 mediates multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-induced airway hyper-reactivity via the mobilization of innate helper cells in the lung

Abstract Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airway associated with bronchial obstruction, airway hyper-reactivity (AHR), and mucus production. The epithelium may direct and propagate asthmatic-like responses. Central to this theory is the observation that viruses, air pollution, and allergens promote epithelial damage and trigger the generation of IL-25, IL-33, and TSLP via innate pathways such as TLRs and purinergic receptors. Similarly, engineered nanomaterials promote a Th2-associated pathophysiology. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that instillation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) impair pulmonary function in C57Bl/6 mice due to the development of IL-33-dependent Th2-associated inflammation. MWCNT exposure resulted in elevated levels of IL-33 in the lavage fluid (likely originating from airway epithelial cells), enhanced AHR, eosinophil recruitment, and production of Th2-associated cytokines and chemokines. Moreover, these events were dependent on IL-13 signaling and the IL-33/ST2 axis, but independent of T and B cells. Finally, MWCNT exposure resulted in the recruitment of innate lymphoid cells. Collectively, our data suggest that MWCNT induce epithelial damage that results in release of IL-33, which in turn promotes innate lymphoid cell recruitment and the development of IL-13-dependent inflammatory response.
Amino acid variants in Surfactant protein D are not associated with bronchial asthma

Surfactant protein D (SFTPD) belongs to the family of collectins and is part of the innate immune system. Thereby it plays an important role in the defense of various pathogens. Besides it is involved in the development of acute and chronic inflammation of the lung. Levels of SFTPD are elevated in serum and alveolar lavage of asthmatic patients. As SFTPD binds and neutralizes common allergens like house dust mites it is especially important in allergic asthma. Three common amino acid variants have been identified in SFTPD and association of the first variant has been described to severe infection with respiratory syncytial virus. Furthermore the functional impact of all three amino acid variants has been demonstrated. Due to its function SFTPD represents an ideal candidate gene for bronchial asthma and we were interested whether the polymorphisms were in association with asthma in children. The three polymorphisms leading to amino acid exchanges (Met11Thr, Ala160Thr, and Ser270 Thr) were typed by restriction fragment length polymorphisms in 322 asthmatic children and 270 controls. Association analyses were performed by Armitage's trend test. In addition haplotypes were calculated by FASTEHPLUS and FAMHAP. None of the polymorphisms was in association with bronchial asthma. Haplotype analyses revealed four major haplotypes all of which were evenly distributed between the populations. We conclude from our data that functional amino acid variants in SFTPD do not play a major role in the genetic pre‐disposition to bronchial asthma in children.
Heavy metals found in the breathing zone, toenails and lung function of welders working in an air-conditioned welding workplace

Welding operations are rarely conducted in an air-conditioned room. However, a company would set its welding operations in an air-conditioned room to maintain the humidity level needed to reduce hydrogen cracks in the specimen being welded. This study intended to assess the exposure to metal elements in the welders' breathing zone and toenail samples. Heavy metal concentration was analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The lung function test was also conducted and analysed using statistical approaches. Chromium and manganese concentrations in the breathing zone exceeded the permissible exposure limit stipulated by Malaysian regulations. A similar trend was obtained in the concentration of heavy metals in the breathing zone air sampling and in the welders' toenails. Although there was no statistically significant decrease in the lung function of welders, it is suggested that exposure control through engineering and administrative approaches should be considered for workplace safety and health improvement.
Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Healthy Donors and Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease lacking effective therapies. Cell replacement therapy has been suggested as a promising therapeutic approach for multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including motor neuron disease. We analyzed expanded mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from sporadic ALS patients and compared them with MSCs isolated from healthy donors. MSCs were isolated from bone marrow by Percoll gradient and maintained in culture in MSC Medium until the third passage. Growth kinetics, immunophenotype, telomere length, and karyotype were evaluated during in vitro expansion. Osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic, and neurogenic differentiation potential were also evaluated. No morphological differences were observed in the MSCs isolated from donors or patients. The cellular expansion potential of MSCs from donors and patients was slightly different. After three passages, the MSCs isolated from donors reached a cumulative population doubling higher than from patients but the difference was not statistically significant. No significant differences between donors or patients were observed in the immunophenotype analysis. No chromosomal alteration or evidence of cellular senescence was observed in any samples. Both donor and patient MSCs, after exposure to specific conditioning media, differentiated into adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and neuron-like cells. These results suggest that extensive in vitro expansion of patient MSCs does not involve any functional modification of the cells, including chromosomal alterations or cellular senescence. Hence, there is a good chance that MSCs might be used as a cell-based therapy for ALS patients.
Operating system function reuse to achieve low-cost fault tolerance

The aim of this article is to propose a new approach to fault tolerance in single processor embedded systems which is centred on the operating system. Particular attention is put on low-cost techniques that exploit functions already present in the system in a different than-usual way to achieve protection with little or no intervention at the application level. An example is given: the realization of a checkpoint and rollback scheme through the context switch function.
Clinical evidence of the use of pharmacological treatment compared to psychotherapy in the occurrence of suicidal ideation or suicide among adolescents and children

Introduction: Depression among children and adolescents has become increasingly more recognized in the medical setting. Up until recently clinicians believed they were successfully and safely treating their patient’s depression with a variety of antidepressant medication. Since the realization of the risk of treating with tricyclic antidepressant medication, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been the first line of treatment. However, in 2004 the FDA labeled these medications with a black box warning stating there was a possible increase in the risk of suicide when using the medications among young patients. Since that time medical providers have been left to shift through the evidence in medical literature to ascertain the safest treatment options. Methodology: The purpose of this paper was to perform a systematic review of the literature and examine the cumulative data addressing the issue, in the end being able to present a clearer picture to providers. Articles used included children and adolescents, ranging from infancy to 18 years of age, who meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria of major depressive disorder from 1971-2004. Variable included psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and the combination of both, and suicide. Results: Twenty six articles matched the criteria and were reviewed using evidence-based methods. After close analysis of the presented data, it appeared there was no direct evidence linking antidepressant medications and an increase risk in suicide regardless of whether subjects were taking the medication alone or in combination with psychotherapy. The safest and best outcome was combination therapy. Conclusion: The most effective and safe treatment option for young patients with depression was a combination of cognitive based therapy and fluoxetine.
Functional Separation of Endosomal Fusion Factors and the Class C Core Vacuole/Endosome Tethering (CORVET) Complex in Endosome Biogenesis*

Background: The interdependence of the endosomal fusion factors CORVET and Vac1 has not been addressed. Results: CORVET can be separated from other endocytic fusion factors on the basis of ultrastructure, localization, and trafficking. Conclusion: CORVET acts independently of the Vac1 tether and requires activated Rab5 homologs for localization. Significance: Our data reveal a unique role of CORVET in sorting of biosynthetic cargo to the vacuole. Transport along the endolysosomal system requires multiple fusion events at early and late endosomes. Deletion of several endosomal fusion factors, including the Vac1 tether and the Class C core vacuole/endosome tethering (CORVET) complex-specific subunits Vps3 and Vps8, results in a class D vps phenotype. As these mutants have an apparently similar defect in endosomal transport, we asked whether CORVET and Vac1 could still act in distinct tethering reactions. Our data reveal that CORVET mutants can be rescued by Vac1 overexpression in the endocytic pathway but not in CPY or Cps1 sorting to the vacuole. Moreover, when we compared the ultrastructure, CORVET mutants were most similar to deletions of the Rab Vps21 and its guanine nucleotide exchange factor Vps9 and different from vac1 deletion, indicating separate functions. Likewise, CORVET still localized to endosomes even in the absence of Vac1, whereas Vac1 localization became diffuse in CORVET mutants. Importantly, CORVET localization requires the Rab5 homologs Vps21 and Ypt52, whereas Vac1 localization is strictly Vps21-dependent. In this context, we also uncover that Muk1 can compensate for loss of Vps9 in CORVET localization, indicating that two Rab5 guanine nucleotide exchange factors operate in the endocytic pathway. Overall, our study reveals a unique role of CORVET in the sorting of biosynthetic cargo to the vacuole/lysosome.
The effect of a memoryless nonlinearity on the spectrum of a random process

It is shown that, for a Gaussian process and for some non-Gaussian processes, any memoryless nonlinearity has a whitening effect in the sense that the output spectrum is smoother and occupies a greater bandwidth than the input spectrum. The ratio between input and output bandwidths is investigated by using several measures of bandwidth. Also, it is shown that classes of nonlinearities exist that are equivalent in the sense of producing the same spectral transformations.
Secretory processes in follicular cells of the bat thyroid. I. Ultrastructural changes during the pre-, early and mid-hibernation periods with some comments on the origin of autophagic vacuoles.

Ultrastructural changes which occur in bat thyroid follicular cells between late August and early January are discussed. During the first half of this period the principle changes are proliferation of the granular endoplasmic reticulum, an increase in size of the Golgi apparatus and an increase in the number of apical vesicles. These changes are followed by a gradual reduction in the amount of endoplasmic reticulum and in the size of the Golgi complex. During the expansion phase of the granular endoplasmic reticulum, large numbers of dense granules, and “light” and “dark” multivesicular bodies are present throughout the cytoplasm of the follicular cells. An unusual finding is that in the bat, the thyroid follicular cells also contain many autophagic vacuoles at this time. The role of the dense granules in the formation of autophagic vacuoles is discussed and evidence for the transformation of multivesicular bodies into dense granules is presented. Autophagic vacuoles were not found during the phase when the granular endoplasmic reticulum underwent a marked regression. At this time, follicular cells contained prominent complex dense bodies which resemble the “phagolysosomes” of other mammalian follicular cells. These observations are discussed in relation to the changes which occur in thyroid function of hibernators during the period studied.
Selective mutism: more than social anxiety?

This study investigated the relationship between selective mutism (SM), social phobia (SP), oppositionality, and parenting styles. Twenty‐one children with SP, 21 children with SM and SP, and 21 normal children ages 7–15, and the mother of each child, participated in an assessment of psychopathological factors potentially related to SM. Children with SM did not endorse higher levels of social anxiety than did children with SP, although clinicians gave higher severity ratings to those who had both disorders. In addition, although a dimensional measure of oppositionality (Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory) did not reveal group differences, there were significantly more diagnoses of oppositional defiant disorder among children with SM (29%) in comparison to children with SP alone (5%). With respect to parenting styles, there were no significant differences among parents of children with SM and the other groups, except that children with SP reported significantly less warmth/acceptance from parents than normal children. These data replicate previous findings that children with SM do not report greater social anxiety than other children with a SP diagnosis. Furthermore, they suggest that oppositional behaviors may be part of the clinical presentation of a subset of children with SM. Depression and Anxiety 23:117–123, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Oral microemulsion cyclosporin to reduce steroids rapidly in chronic active ulcerative colitis.

OBJECTIVE The list of the therapeutic tools for chronic active ulcerative colitis lacks a potent and reliably absorbed immune modifier to help wean patients from steroids. We investigated whether oral microemulsion cyclosporin (Neoral) can achieve this goal. DESIGN Retrospective analysis. SETTING Tertiary care referral centre. PARTICIPANTS Nine consecutive patients facing colectomy because of steroid-dependent chronic active ulcerative colitis were studied: the disease was left-sided in six of them and had lasted a median of 10 years. Two patients depended on prednisone 12.5 mg/day, six on 25 mg, and one on 35 mg. The median cumulative steroid dose in the month preceding the trial had been 750 mg. INTERVENTIONS Neoral was started at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day, which was then titrated to reach a whole-blood therapeutic range of 60-240 ng/ml. During the three-month trial, previous drugs were continued but steroids were tapered according to the patient's clinical condition. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES The number of patients leaving the trial with quiescent disease and a significantly decreased need for steroids. RESULTS Eight of the nine patients (89%) showed an initial response and commenced tapering steroids. Remission to the end of the 3rd month was observed in five cases treated with < or = 15 mg steroids daily (median cumulative dose 150 mg). Of the remaining four cases, two were partial responders and two failures, with the failure being linked to poor drug absorption in at least one patient. CONCLUSION Neoral may help wean patients with chronic active ulcerative colitis from steroids, but this novel indication of cyclosporin must be tested in a specifically designed study.
Persistence of malarial antibody. Findings in patients infected during the outbreak of malaria in Lake Vera, California, 1952-1953.

Summary During August 1965, serum samples for the fluorescent-antibody test for malaria were obtained from 10 of the 35 patients involved in the Lake Vera, California, outbreak of P. vivax malaria in 1952–1953. Nine other persons who had also been at one of the Lake Vera camps during the summer of 1952 were likewise tested to serve as a normal reference. The results indicated that a low level of malarial antibody to P. vivax antigen persisted in the patient population 13 years after the original transmission of infection. This low level of malarial antibody was not detectable with the simian species P. fieldi as antigen.