Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis with Trasylol: Report of a Controlled Therapeutic Trial

Acute pancreatitis is a serious disease with a high mortality. The application of general medical and surgical measures such as intestinal decompression and the correction of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance has reduced this mortality signi ficantly, but more specific therapeutic measures are needed. The most widely accepted theory for the causation of acute pancrea titis at the present time is the activation of pancreatic trypsinogen with digestion of the pancreas (Forell, 1962), and the subsequent activation of potent circulatory enzymes, kalli krein and bradykinin, which may account for the severe clinical states found (Thai et al., 1963 ; Forell, 1963). If this theory is correct the possession of a potent non-toxic trypsin and kallikrein inhibitor should assist greatly in the management of this disease. Such an inhibitor was isolated from the parotid gland of cattle by Frey et al. (1950), and is now marketed as Trasylol, a polypeptide of low molecular weight capable of intravenous or intraperitoneal administration with few side effects. This drug has potent antitryptic activity in vitro (Moshal et al., 1963), and has been shown to be capable of preventing the development of experimentally induced pan creatitis in animals (McHardy et al., 1963 ; McCutcheon, 1963, 1964). However, despite widespread use in acute pancreatitis in humans it is still not possible to determine its value in the treatment of this disease, as most reports have been of un controlled clinical observations (Maurer, 1961 ; Forell, 1963 ; McHardy et al., 1963 ; Moshal et al., 1963). The only report of a double-blind study is a sentence in a review by Nardi (1963) that he found the drug of no benefit in such a trial, but that his figures were too small for statistical analysis. The purpose of this paper is to report a double-blind study of the use of this drug in acute pancreatitis of all degrees of severity treated in other respects by the usual therapeutic measures.
Successful treatment of postoperative fungal endophthalmitis using intravitreal and intracameral voriconazole.

AIM The aim of this study was to describe 3 cases of postoperative fungal endophthalmitis successfully treated with anterior chamber washout, pars plana vitrectomy, and intracameral and intravitreal voriconazole injection. RESULTS Three (3) patients from a single retina center in India developed culture-proven fungal endophthalmitis after cataract surgery in 1 eye. All patients underwent anterior chamber washout, pars plana vitrectomy, and intracameral and intravitreal voriconazole injections intraoperatively. All cases demonstrated substantial improvement in vision and intraocular inflammation after surgery. CONCLUSIONS The combination of anterior chamber washout, pars plana vitrectomy, and intracameral and intravitreal voriconazole injection is a viable therapeutic option in cases of fungal endophthalmitis.
Mayo's Older African American Normative Studies: Confirmatory factor analysis of a core battery

Covariance structure analyses of a core neuropsychological test battery consisting of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Revised, Wechsler Memory Scale–Revised, and Auditory Verbal Learning Test have previously identified a 5-factor model in a sample of cognitively normal White volunteers from Mayo's Older Americans Normative Studies (MOANS). The present study sought to replicate this factor structure in a sample of 289 cognitively normal, community-dwelling African American elders from Mayo's Older African Americans Normative Studies (MOAANS). The original 5-factor model was tested against 2 alternative 4-factor models and a 6-factor model generated on a substantive basis. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the construct validity of this core battery in older African Americans by replicating the original 5-factor model of Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Organization, Attention/Concentration, Learning, and Retention as viable in the present sample. (JINS, 2005, 11, 184–191.)
Metabonomic analysis of fatty acids in seminal plasma between healthy and asthenozoospermic men based on gas chromatography mass spectrometry

The mechanism of asthenozoospermia remains unclear. The knowledge of the metabolism of fatty acids in seminal plasma is important and meaningful for the pathological study of asthenozoospermia. We present an optimised assay of extraction and derivatisation followed by GC/MS to analyse metabolites, especially fatty acids, in seminal plasma from healthy and asthenozoospermic men. Eighty‐nine peaks including 17 kinds of fatty acids were analysed and identified in the chromatogram. The GC/MS data were analysed using t test, fold change and partial least squares discriminant analysis to explore the potential biomarkers of asthenozoospermia. Seven metabolites in asthenozoospermic group were found to be significantly different from those in the normal group (with p < .05, fold change >1.2 and variable importance for projection >1). Of which, high levels of oleic acid and palmitic acid in seminal plasma from asthenozoospermic men may indicate a membrane metabolism disorder in spermatozoa and the lack of valine in the asthenozoospermic group may contribute to poor sperm motility. The results may facilitate the understanding of the role of fatty acids and amino acids in asthenozoospermia and provide solid foundation for further pathological study of asthenozoospermia.
The use of human ultralente is limited by great intraindividual variability in overnight plasma insulin profiles

Our objective was to investigate the usefulness of human ultralente insulin as basal substitution overnight in patients with Type 1 diabetes treated with multiple insulin injection therapy by evaluating the free insulin and glucose profiles, the day-to-day variability and the impact of the time of injection. Methods: Ten patients with Type 1 diabetes and with good metabolic control (mean HbA1c 6.0%), treated with regular human insulin before breakfast, lunch and dinner and human ultralente (Ultratard®) before dinner or at bedtime, were studied. Plasma profiles of blood glucose and free insulin were measured on three occasions from 16.00 h until noon the next day. On two of these occasions Ultratard® was injected before dinner and once it was injected at bedtime in randomized order. Results
A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of Sonographic Guidance for Intra-Articular Injection of the Osteoarthritic Knee

Objective The present randomized controlled study investigated whether sonographic needle guidance affected the outcomes of intra-articular injection for osteoarthritis of the knee. Methods Ninety-four noneffusive knees with osteoarthritis were randomized to injection by conventional palpation-guided anatomic landmark injection or sonographic image–guided injection enhanced with a 1-handed mechanical (the reciprocating procedure device) syringe. After intra-articular placement and synovial space dilation were confirmed by sonography, a syringe exchange was performed, and 80 mg of triamcinolone acetonide was injected with the second syringe through the indwelling intra-articular needle. Baseline pain, procedural pain, pain at outcome (2 weeks and 6 months), responders, therapeutic duration, reinjection rates, total cost, and cost per responder were determined. Results Relative to conventional palpation-guided anatomic landmark methods, sonographic guidance for injection of the knee resulted in 48% reduction in procedural pain (P < 0.001), a 42% reduction in pain scores at outcome (P < 0.03), 107% increase in the responder rate (P < 0.001), 52% reduction in the nonresponder rate (P < 0.001), a 36% increase in therapeutic duration (P = 0.01), a 13% reduction ($17) in cost per patient per year, and a 58% ($224) reduction in cost per responder per year for a hospital outpatient (P < 0.001). Conclusions Sonographic needle guidance reduced procedural pain and improved the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of intra-articular injections of the osteoarthritic knee.
Visualization and Transport of Positron Emission from Proton Activation in vivo

Heavy charged particle beams can be widely used for cancer therapy if control in heterogeneous tissue is proved practical. A beam of protons at 200 million electron volts has been visualized in plastic and in a living animal by using an on-line positron camera. The fraction of the activity retained in the radiation site was found to be at least 70 percent of that produced in a dead animal. The sensitivity of the technique was established for a typical geometry.
The Effect of Multiple Blood Conservation Techniques on Donor Blood Exposures in Adult Coronary and Valve Surgery Performed with a Membrane Oxygenator: A Multivariate Analysis on 1310 Patients.

The object of the study was to retrospectively evaluate protective and risk factors for receiving donor blood products and red cell transfusions after coronary and valve surgery performed with a hollow‐fiber oxygenator and with multiple blood‐saving techniques. During the period of January 1991 to June 1993, 1310 patients underwent primary coronary and valve surgery using a hollow‐fiber oxygenator at our institution; the mean age of this population was 61 ±10 years; 977 patients were men (74.6%). Of these patients, 73.5% (963/1310) underwent coronary, 21.5% (281/1310) valve, and 5% (66/1310) combined surgery. Two hundred seventy‐six (21.1%) needed donor blood product transfusions, while 153 (11.7%) patients underwent red cell transfusions. Significant risk factors for homologous blood product exposure after multivariate logistic regression analysis were, in order of importance: (1) postoperative blood loss (O.R. = 1.0009 per mL, p = 0.0000); (2) cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (O.R. = 1.008 per min, p = 0.0001); (3) age at intervention (O.R. = 1.031 per calendar year, p = 0.0026); and (4) reoperation for bleeding (O.R. = 1.71, p = 0.0078). Protective factors were: (1) male gender (O.R. = 0.56, p = 0.0000); (2) preoperative withdrawal of autologous blood (O.R. = 0.66, p = 0.0018); and (3) a preoperative hematocrit greater than 34% (O.R. = 0.76, p = 0.005). When considering risk factors only for donor red cell exposure, multivariate regression analysis identified the following risk factors: (1) reoperations for bleeding (O.R. = 2.04, p = 0.0002); (2) postoperative blood losses (O.R. = 1.0007 per mL, p = 0.0005); (3) CPB time (O.R. = 1.0075 per min, p = 0.0008); and (4) age at intervention (O.R. = 1.03 per calendar year, p = 0.0160). Protective factors were: (1) intraoperative “high‐dose” aprotinin administration (O.R. = 0.61, p = 0.0024); and (2) preoperative donation if autologous blood (O.R. = 0.65, p = 0.0093); and (3) intraoperative withdrawal of autologous blood by phlebotomy (O.R. = 0.67, p = 0.0114). Applying multiple blood‐saving techniques, coronary and valve procedures can now be performed with a low incidence of postoperative donor blood products and red cells exposures; autologous blood predonation and aprotinin administration were highly effective in reducing postoperative transfusion needs.
Tau Conformational Changes Correspond to Impairments of Episodic Memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

A multitiered strategy was adopted to assess tau conformational changes within fibrillar lesions during the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Anti-tau monoclonal antibodies whose epitopes are distributed across much of the molecule were used to probe vulnerable brain regions in 37 clinically staged cases obtained from the Religious Orders Study. In this way, tau conformational changes were evaluated as the disease progressed from early cognitive decline to AD. These analyses revealed three main findings. First, the presence of granulovacuolar and fibrillar lesions correlates with several measures of episodic memory, suggesting that these lesions significantly contribute to cognitive dysfunction. Second, neuropil threads precede the appearance of neurofibrillary tangles that in turn precede the appearance of neuritic plaques. Third, tau structural changes, or "conformational signatures," emerged as a result of in situ reactivity to a subset of antibodies and nonreactivity to others, thereby reflecting the underlying status of the tau molecule within the fibrillar lesions. These signatures allowed us to document a sequence of tau conformational changes that occur during AD and to correlate these changes with episodic memory deficits. Furthermore, we were able to compare conformational signatures of tau among different lesion types and determine that the molecular profile of tau is lesion-specific.
The Role of Neuroendovascular Therapy for the Treatment of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations

NEUROENDOVASCULAR EMBOLIZATION REPRESENTS a critical component of the multidisciplinary management of cerebral arteriovenous malformations. Safe and effective embolization may be performed only in the context of a well-designed, rational treatment plan that is fundamentally based on a clear understanding of the natural history of the lesion, as well as the cumulative risks of multimodality treatment. This article outlines the role of neuroendovascular embolization in arteriovenous malformation therapy with a specific emphasis on decision making in the context of formulating a treatment plan. The authors also provide a summary of the available embolic agents and their technical application, potential intraprocedural and periprocedural complications, and postprocedural management.
Sex of offspring influences metabolism during early transition period in dairy cows

Abstract. A study using 20 Holstein Friesian cows was conducted to investigate the influence of calf gender on metabolism during the transition period in dairy cattle. Blood samples were collected at three time points: 2–4 days prepartum (time 1), and 1 week and 2 weeks postpartum (time 2 and time 3 respectively). Serum samples obtained were analysed for total proteins, albumin, urea, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Depending on the sex of the offspring, cows were divided into two groups: Group 1 consisted of cows with heifer offspring (n = 12) and Group 2 consisted of cows with bull offspring (n = 8). A two-way repeated measures ANOVA and t tests for unpaired data were used to analyse the pattern of studied parameters and differences between the two groups. The results indicate differences in metabolic parameters between the two groups. These results highlight the importance of considering fetal sex as a factor that influences maternal metabolism during the early transition period in dairy cows.
Differential expression of p53, p63 and p73 proteins in human buccal squamous-cell carcinomas.

Abnormalities in the p53 gene are regarded as the most consistent of the genetic abnormalities in oral squamous-cell carcinoma. Two new members of the p53 gene family, p73 and p63, have recently been identified, with the three sharing considerable sequence homology at the acidic N-terminal transactivation, central DNA-binding and C-terminal oligomerization domains, indicating possible functional and biological interactions. The differential expression of p73, p63 and p53 genes in human oral squamous-cell carcinoma does not yet appear to be completely understood, however. In this study, therefore, immunohistochemical analysis of protein expression was performed for 40 samples of well-differentiated human buccal squamous-cell carcinomas, with 10 specimens of normal buccal mucosa employed as controls. Differential expressions of p63, p73 and p53 proteins in the carcinoma samples were: p63+/p73+/p53 + (n = 28; 70%); p63+/p73+/p53- (n = 4; 10%); p63+/p73-/p53- (n = 8; 20%), respectively; and p63+/p73+/p53- for normal mucosa (n = 10; 100%). A significant correlation between p53, p63 and p73 immunoexpression was demonstrated for the buccal squamous-cell carcinoma samples (P < 0.0001; Fisher's exact test). Significance was not achieved for the correlation between p73 and p53 immunoexpression and clinicopathological parameters for buccal carcinomas (P > 0.05; Fisher's exact test). Our results indicate that both p73 and p63 may be involved in the development of human buccal squamous-cell carcinoma, perhaps in concert with p53.
Mechanisms of Aspirin-Sensitive Respiratory Disease – A Two-Compartment Model

Cysteinyl LTs The hallmark of ASRD is excessive cysteinyl (Cys) LT production both in the steady state and for several hours after aspirin challenge [6] . Urinary LTE 4 levels, as a measure of the total body production of CysLTs, are a mean 6-fold higher in patients with ASRD and still increasing 4-fold higher after aspirin challenge [7] . To date, the question of whether ASRD is associated with a fundamental, predetermined abnormality in the production of CysLTs or whether it is simply a consequence of greater numbers and the activation of granulocytes, such as eosinophils and mast cells [8, 9] , remains unanswered – although these possibilities are not mutually exclusive. It has been reported that the numbers of cells immunoreactive for LTC 4 synthase are significantly elevated a priori in the bronchial mucosa of aspirin-sensitive patients, as compared with aspirin-tolerant patients [10] . The expression of LTC 4 synthase in aspirin-sensitive patients correlated with the patients’ bronchial response In August of 1897 Felix Hoffmann, working at the Bayer factory in Germany, developed aspirin. He synthesised the acetylated form of salicylic acid as a treatment for his father’s arthritis and since then aspirin has become the most widely used medicine of all time [1] . Around 35 years later, the French physician Widal first described the association of aspirin sensitivity, asthma and nasal polyps [2] , a phenomenon further popularized by Samter and Beer [3] in 1968. Aspirin-sensitive respiratory disease (ASRD) is a phenotype of asthma that may be aggressive and refractory to treatment. Patients with ASRD are over-represented in the severe asthma group and 50% of the patients with aspirin sensitivity are steroid dependent [4] . ASRD affects women more frequently than men. Rhinorrhoea and nasal congestion are usually the first symptoms. Furthermore, the condition is rare in childhood with the peak age of onset in the early 30s. It is a condition that progresses from the upper to the lower respiratory tract and asthma manifests around 1–5 years after the onset of rhinitis [5] . The aetiology of ASRD is complex but most investigators are agreed that the reaction to aspirin is not mediated by allergic mechanisms. Most evidence points towards an abnormality of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. AA is a substrate for both the production of Published online: October 2, 2006
Comorbidity and outcomes of concurrent chemo- and radiotherapy in limited disease small cell lung cancer

Abstract Background: Many patients with limited disease small cell lung cancer (LD SCLC) suffer from comorbidity. Not all patients with comorbidity are offered standard treatment, though there is little evidence for such a policy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with comorbidity had inferior outcomes in a LD SCLC cohort. Material and methods: We analyzed patients from a randomized study comparing two three-week schedules of thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) plus standard chemotherapy in LD SCLC. Patients were to receive four courses of cisplatin/etoposide and TRT of 45 Gy/30 fractions (twice daily) or 42 Gy/15 fractions (once daily). Responders received prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). Comorbidity was assessed using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), which rates conditions with increased one-year mortality. Results: In total 157 patients were enrolled between May 2005 and January 2011. Median age was 63 years, 52% were men, 16% had performance status 2, and 72% stage III disease. Forty percent had no comorbidity; 34% had CCI-score 1; 15% CCI 2; and 11% CCI 3–5. There were no significant differences in completion rates of chemotherapy, TRT or PCI across CCI-scores; or any significant differences in the frequency of grade 3–5 toxicity (p = 0.49), treatment-related deaths (p = 0.36), response rates (p = 0.20), progression-free survival (p = 0.18) or overall survival (p = 0.09) between the CCI categories. Conclusion: Patients with comorbidity completed and tolerated chemo-radiotherapy as well as other patients. There were no significant differences in response rates, progression-free survival or overall survival – suggesting that comorbidity alone is not a reason to withhold standard therapy in LD SCLC.
High Resolution Satellite Image Classification Using Multi-Task Joint Sparse and Low-Rank Representation

Scene classification plays an important role in the intelligent processing of HighResolution Satellite (HRS) remotely sensed image. In HRS image classification, multiple features, e.g. shape, color, and texture features, are employed to represent scenes from different perspectives. Accordingly, effective integration of multiple features always results in better performance compared to methods based on a single feature in the interpretation of HRS image. In this paper, we introduce a multi-task joint sparse and low-rank representation model to combine the strength of multiple features for HRS image interpretation. Specifically, a multi-task learning formulation is applied to simultaneously consider sparse and low -rank structure across multiple tasks. The proposed model is optimized as a non-smooth convex optimization problem using an accelerated proximal gradient method. Experiments on two public scene classification datasets demonstrate that the proposed method achieves remarkable performance and improves upon the state-of-art methods in respective applications.
Perception on the Usage of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) in English as a Second Language (ESL) Learning among Vocational College Students

Mobile phones are viewed as significant aids to English language learning. Numerous studies have been conducted in different contexts on mobile assisted language learning (MALL) that indicate the benefits of mobile devices for English language learning. Nevertheless, few studies on MALL had been conducted on among vocational college students in Malaysia. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the perception on the usage of MALL in English as a Second Language (ESL) among private vocational college students. Data were collected from a survey questionnaire adapted from Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The results show the respondents have positive perception on the usage of MALL. Majority of the respondents showed overall agreement on both constructs perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEoU) of MALL. They believed the usage of MALL will enhance the teaching and learning process. This evidence of acceptance has implication for educators and curriculum designers to exploit the mobile phone for autonomous and interactive ESL learning beyond the classroom context. It is hoped that MALL will be used as one of the teaching aids that could assist educators to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) more effectively.