Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Use of Silicone Occlusive Sheeting (Sil‐K) and Silicone Occlusive Gel (Epiderm) in the Prevention of Hypertrophic Scar Formation

&NA; The development of hypertrophic scars and keloids is an unsolved problem in the process of wound healing. For this reason, a successful treatment to prevent excessive scar formation still has not been found. Over the last decade, however, a promising new treatment has been introduced. Silicone materials have proved to reduce the amount of scar tissue and are believed even to prevent hypertrophic scar and keloid formation. In this study, the prophylactic effect of a silicone occlusive sheeting (Sil‐K, Degania, Israel) and a silicone occlusive gel (Epiderm, Inamed B.V., The Netherlands) was investigated in a bilateral breast‐reduction scar model in which the nontreated scars were supported by nonocclusive Micropore (3M, The Netherlands). The inframammary scars of 129 female patients with a mean age of 31 years (14 to 69 years) were studied up to 1 year after the operation. The width and height were measured, and B‐scan ultrasound, laserDoppler flowmetry, and color measurements were used as objective indicators to distinguish between normal and exuberant scars. Three months following the operation, 64.3 percent of the patients developed a hypertrophic scar, which was reduced to 56.6 percent after 6 months and down to 35.3 percent after 1 year. No keloids were seen. Patients with an easily tanning skin, nonsmokers, and patients with an allergy showed more hypertrophic scar formation. Neither Sil‐K, used in 68 patients, nor Epiderm, used in 61 patients, could prevent the formation of hypertrophic scars. If both groups were taken together, the scars treated with silicone materials even developed significantly more hypertrophy compared with the Micropore‐applicated scars. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 102: 1962, 1998.)
Distal Chevron Osteotomy with Distal Soft Tissue Procedure for Moderate to Severe Hallux Valgus Deformity

Background: Distal chevron osteotomy has been widely employed to treat mild to moderate hallux valgus deformity. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the outcomes of distal chevron osteotomy with a distal soft tissue procedure for the correction of moderate to severe hallux valgus. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 76 patients (86 feet) that underwent distal chevron osteotomy with a distal soft tissue procedure for symptomatic moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity. At a mean followup of 31 months, all patients were evaluated using subjective, objective and radiographic measurements. Results: Ninety-four percent of the patients were very satisfied or satisfied. Average AOFAS score improved from 54.7 points preoperatively to 92.9 at final followup. Average hallux valgus angle changed from 36.2 degrees preoperatively to 12.4 degrees at final followup, and average first-second intermetatarsal angle changed from 17.1 to 7.3 degrees. Average tibial sesamoid position changed from 2.4 preoperatively to 1.2 at final followup. Dorsal angulation of the head was observed in two feet, and plantaflexion of the head in four feet. There were no cases of avascular necrosis of the metatarsal head. Conclusion: Our results indicate that distal chevron osteotomy with a distal soft tissue procedure provides an effective and reliable means of correcting moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity, and that it does so with high levels of patient satisfaction and low incidence of complications. Level of Evidence: IV, Retrospective Case Series
Neurogenic Exacerbation of Microglial and Astrocyte Responses to Neisseria meningitidis and Borrelia burgdorferi1

Although glial cells are recognized for their roles in maintaining neuronal function, there is growing appreciation of the ability of resident CNS cells to initiate and/or augment inflammation following trauma or infection. The tachykinin, substance P (SP), is well known to augment inflammatory responses at peripheral sites and its presence throughout the CNS raises the possibility that this neuropeptide might serve a similar function within the brain. In support of this hypothesis, we have recently demonstrated the expression of high affinity receptors for SP (Neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptors) on microglia and shown that this tachykinin can significantly elevate bacterially induced inflammatory prostanoid production by isolated cultures of these cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that endogenous SP/NK-1R interactions are an essential component in the initiation and/or progression of CNS inflammation in vivo following exposure to two clinically relevant bacterial CNS pathogens, Neisseria meningitidis and Borrelia burgdorferi. We show that in vivo elevations in inflammatory cytokine production and decreases in the production of an immunosuppressive cytokine are markedly attenuated in mice genetically deficient in the expression of the NK-1R or in mice treated with a specific NK-1R antagonist. Furthermore, we have used isolated cultures of microglia and astrocytes to demonstrate that SP can augment inflammatory cytokine production by these resident CNS cell types following exposure to either of these bacterial pathogens. Taken together, these studies indicate a potentially important role for neurogenic exacerbation of resident glial immune responses in CNS inflammatory diseases, such as bacterial meningitis.
Religion and Perceived Stress among Undergraduates during Fall 2001 Final Examinations

To examine the relationship of religion and perceived stress, 97 undergraduate college students responded to the Perceived Stress Scale, the Spiritual Well-being Scale, and the Intrinsic/Extrinsic–Revised scale during a period of extreme national stressors during Fall 2001, namely, the September 11th terrorist attacks, anthrax scare, and war in Afghanistan, in addition to the local stressor of pending final college examinations. Scores on the Perceived Stress Scale were negatively correlated to scores on Existential Well-being (–.66), Religious Well-being (–.43), and Intrinsic Religious Orientation (–.44). Age was unrelated to all variables. Both the quality (well-being) of students' religious experience and the orientation of that experience were related to their perception of stress.
Identification of host range mutants of myxoma virus with altered oncolytic potential in human glioma cells

The authors have recently demonstrated that wild-type myxoma virus (MV) tagged with gfp (vMyxgfp) can generate a tumor-specific infection that productively infects and clears human tumor-derived xenografts when injected intratumorly into human gliomas transplanted into immunodeficient mice (Lun et al, 2005). To expand the understanding of MV tropism in cancer cells from a specific tissue lineage, the authors have screened a series of human glioma cells (U87, U118, U251, U343, U373) for myxoma virus replication and oncolysis. To assess the viral tropism determinants for these infections, the authors have screened myxoma virus knockout constructs that have been deleted for specific host range genes (M-T2, M-T4, M-T5, M11L, and M063), as well as a control MV gene knockout construct with no known host range function (vMyx135KO) but is highly attenuated in rabbits. The authors report wide variation in the ability of various vMyx-hrKOs to replicate and spread in the human glioma cells as measured by early and late viral gene expression. This differential ability to support vMyx-hrKO productive viral replication is consistent with levels of endogenous activated Akt in the various gliomas. The authors have identified one vMyx-hrKO virus (vMyx63KO) and one nonhost range knock-out construct (vMyx135KO) that appear to replicate in the gliomas even more efficiently than the wild-type virus and that reduce the viability of the infected gliomas. These knockout viruses also inhibit the proliferation of gliomas in a manner similar to the wild-type virus. Together these data, as well as the fact that these knockout viruses are attenuated in their natural hosts, may represent environmentally safer candidate oncolytic viruses for usage in human trials.
The de-contextualisation of land use planning through financialisation: Urban redevelopment in Milan

This paper scrutinises the effects that the financialisation of land has on the land use planning process. Although finance is increasingly penetrating not only real estate but also land planning and development, there are few in-depth case studies describing and analysing this process. Contemporary urban development is characterised by the clustering of investments, the relocation of projects into peripheral areas and an instrumental approach to planning. These trends are expressions of a change in the development process, characterised by the increased detachment between land use planning processes at the local level and financial investor logics located at other scales. We call this the de-contextualisation of land capital. An in-depth analysis of the internal economic mechanics of an urban project in the Milan area is provided to illustrate these trends. We conclude by reflecting on the challenges that the conditions of financialised land capital pose to local and national governments.
Estimation of Fiscal Multipliers in a Small Open Economy: The Case of Barbados

This paper explores the size and sign of exogenous fiscal shocks in Barbados using the structural vector autoregression (SVAR), Bayesian vector autoregression (BVAR) and dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models. Shocks to government spending are shown to have a positive impact on output across all models. Shocks to taxes are also shown to have a positive impact on output, possibly hinting that a tax increase is usually followed by a spending increase which offsets the effects of the tax increase. Thus, we recommend that Government focus on increasing operational efficiency while correcting structural deficiencies and practicing prudent management of debt levels.
Preservation of the inner retina in retinitis pigmentosa. A morphometric analysis.

OBJECTIVE To determine the extent of preservation in the inner retina in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). METHODS We analyzed sectioned maculae of 21 postmortem eyes with RP and 19 age-matched, normal, postmortem eyes. Eyes were divided into 2 groups: severe and moderate RP. Cell nuclei were counted in the outer nuclear, inner nuclear, and ganglion cell layers within thirty 100-microns intervals from the foveola to 1500-microns eccentricity. RESULTS Statistically significant (P < or = .05) loss of both the outer nuclear and ganglion cell layers was present in the groups with moderate and severe RP when compared with the control groups. However, even in the group with severe RP, 30% of the ganglion cells were histologically intact. Similarly, 78% and 88% of the inner nuclear layer cells were preserved in the groups with severe and moderate RP, respectively. Different inheritance modes showed no statistically significant differences in any of the retinal layers. CONCLUSIONS Despite a statistically significant (P < or = .05) loss of cells found in all retinal layers, a large percentage of the inner retinal neurons remained histologically intact. Current experimental therapies, such as photoreceptor transplantation and implantation of a visual prosthesis, are based on the premise that some inner retinal neurons are preserved after death of photoreceptors in RP. Our observations support this assumption.
Daily insulin doses and injection frequencies of neutral protamine hagedorn (NPH) insulin, insulin detemir and insulin glargine in type 1 and type 2 diabetes: a multicenter analysis of 51 964 patients from the German/Austrian DPV‐wiss database

We performed a comparative analysis of the use of long‐acting insulin (analogues) neutral protamine hagedorn (NPH), detemir (Det) and glargine (Gla), and quantified injection frequencies and daily insulin doses in patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes in daily practice.
Ischemic hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome patients.

OBJECTIVE Mixed evidence exists regarding whether irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients show increased somatic pain perception compared with controls. The current study used a deep, tonic somatic pain stimulus (ischemic pain) to evaluate somatic hypersensitivity in IBS patients. METHODS A total of 27 diarrhea-predominant and 15 constipation-predominant IBS patients, and 29 controls participated in the study. The modified submaximal effort tourniquet procedure was performed to induce ischemic arm pain, and the time required to reach pain threshold and pain tolerance were recorded in seconds. All subjects completed the Functional Bowel Disease Severity Index (FBDSI) scale as well as several psychosocial instruments. Group differences for threshold and tolerance were determined using a series of one-way anova tests followed by Tukey comparisons. RESULTS IBS patients had a shorter time to ischemic threshold (F = 34.606, P < 0.001) and tolerance (F = 38.656, P < 0.001) compared with controls; however, the groups did not differ on ratings of pain at the time of tolerance. IBS patients had a higher rating on the FBDSI scale compared with controls (P < 0.001), and ischemic pain threshold was negatively correlated with the FBDSI score. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that a widespread alteration in central pain processing in IBS patients may be present as they display hypersensitivity to ischemic arm pain, and ischemic pain threshold was associated with clinical symptoms. These findings could reflect a dysfunction in inhibitory pain systems in IBS patients, as ischemic (deep) pain may be under tonic inhibitory control.
The Effect of the Duration of Pre-Oxygenation before Endotracheal Suction on Hemodynamic Symptoms.

BACKGROUND Hypoxia and hypoxemia are among the most common complications of endotracheal suctioning. These complications are often mitigated by the administration of oxygen 100% prior to endotracheal suction. Although several studies have supported the application of this method, none have yet specified the exact duration of pre-oxygenation required to be performed before endotracheal suction. The present study was therefore conducted to determine the effect of the duration of pre-oxygenation before endotracheal suction on heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation in patients in intensive care units. OBJECTIVES This prospective clinical trial conducted on 63 eligible ICU patients under mechanical ventilator. Subjects randomly divided into three groups. Pre-oxygenation was carried out for 30 seconds in the first group, for one minute in the second group and for two minutes in the third group. All three groups were then hyper-oxygenated for one minute. Arterial oxygen saturation and heart rate were recorded on different occasions in the three groups. The data obtained were analyzed using the ANOVA, the one-way ANOVA, the post-hoc test and the repeated measure ANOVA. RESULTS The results obtained showed a greater reduction in the mean O2sat during the suctioning episodes in the 30-second pre-oxygenation group compared to in the one-minute (P=0.046) and two-minute (P=0.001) pre-oxygenation groups. This mean reduction was also observed immediately after suctioning (P=0.001). The mean O2sat was lower in the 30-second pre-oxygenation group than in the one-minute pre-oxygenation group in minutes 5 (P=0.002) and 20 (P=0.001) of the suctioning. Similarly, the mean O2sat was lower in the 30-second pre-oxygenation group than in the two-minute pre-oxygenation group in minutes 5 (P=0.001) and 20 (P=0.001) of the suctioning. The results obtained through the ANOVA showed the lack of significant differences between the three groups in the mean variation in heart rate in the different stages of suctioning. CONCLUSIONS According to the results obtained, one-minute and two-minute pre-oxygenations cause less disruption in arterial oxygen saturation compared to a 30-second pre-oxygenation. To achieve stability in arterial oxygen saturation and avoid hypoxemia caused by endotracheal suctioning, one-minute or two-minute pre-oxygenation is recommended in ICUs depending on the patient's clinical conditions.
Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Regional Nodal Metastasis in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Correlation with Nodal Staging

Objective To determine if the perfusion parameters by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) of regional nodal metastasis are helpful in characterizing nodal status and to understand the relationship with those of primary tumor of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Materials and Methods Newly diagnosed patients imaged between August 2010 and January 2014 and who were found to have enlarged retropharyngeal/cervical lymph nodes suggestive of nodal disease were recruited. DCE-MRI was performed. Three quantitative parameters, Ktrans, ve, and kep, were calculated for the largest node in each patient. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the difference in the parameters of the selected nodes of different N stages. Spearman's correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between the DCE-MRI parameters in nodes and in primary tumors. Results Twenty-six patients (7 females; 25~67 years old) were enrolled. Ktrans was significantly different among the patients of N stages (N1, n = 3; N2, n = 17; N3, n = 6), P = 0.015. Median values (range) for N1, N2, and N3 were 0.24 min−1 (0.17~0.26 min−1), 0.29 min−1 (0.17~0.46 min−1), and 0.46 min−1 (0.29~0.70 min−1), respectively. There was no significant correlation between the parameters in nodes and primary tumors. Conclusion DCE-MRI may play a distinct role in characterizing the metastatic cervical lymph nodes of NPC.
Drug repurposing and emerging adjunctive treatments for schizophrenia

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a frequent disorder, which substantially impairs patients’ quality of life. Moreover, the burden of illness for patients, their families and for the society, in general, is substantial. Nevertheless, the understanding of the pathophysiology of this syndrome, concise diagnostic methods and more effective and tolerable treatments are still lacking. Thus, innovative approaches and the exploration of new territories are required. Areas covered: An overview of repurposed drugs and emerging treatments for schizophrenia is presented, focusing on randomized, controlled trials and meta-analyses. Expert opinion: Despite many years of drug research, several needs in the treatment of schizophrenia including the safety and tolerability, stage-dependent and personalized approaches, as well as drug delivery and sustainability have not been addressed sufficiently. Given the current failure of a number of mechanistically new drugs, repurposed compounds may serve as alternative and/or adjunctive agents for schizophrenic patients and for treatment refractory patients in particular. Anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., acetylsalicylic acid, celecoxib and minocycline), as well as N-acetylcysteine, a precursor of the major antioxidant glutathione, hormones (e.g., estrogen, raloxifene and oxytocin), glutamatergic (e.g., glycine and d-serine) and nicotinergic compounds, ‘nutraceuticals’ (e.g., ω-3 fatty acids) and cannabidiol, an endocannabinoidmodulator, represent promising agents in this field.
Forkhead box protein P1 expression in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas predicts poor prognosis and transformation to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

PURPOSE Gene expression profiling studies have reported upregulated mRNA expression of forkhead box protein P1 (FOXP1) in response to normal B-cell activation and high expression in a poor prognosis subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Recently, it was also found that FOXP1 rearrangements and expression of its protein occur in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. In this study, we investigated FOXP1 expression in its relationship to morphology, genetic features, and prognosis in a series of 70 MALT lymphomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS All samples were morphologically reviewed and stained for FOXP1. Presence of structural and/or numeric aberrations of the FOXP1, BCL10, and MALT1 genes was investigated. For all patients, a complete clinical data set was collected. RESULTS We detected nuclear expression of FOXP1 in 20 of the 70 MALT lymphomas (nine of them featuring structural or numeric aberrations of the FOXP1 locus). FOXP1 positivity was confined to MALT lymphomas with poor clinical outcome (with impact of FOXP1 expression on relapse rate and disease-free survival). It was also found that MALT lymphomas with strong FOXP1 expression are at risk of transforming into an aggressive DLBCL of nongerminal center phenotype if they feature, in addition, a polymorphic histology and the presence of trisomy 3 and 18. CONCLUSION The data presented show that FOXP1 expression is an independent prognostic factor in MALT lymphomas. The data also support the hypothesis that a subgroup of nongerminal center DLBCLs (those marked by FOXP1 expression and trisomy 3 and 18) might represent a large-cell variant of MALT lymphomas.
Cardiopulmonary bypass decreases cytokine production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated whole blood cells: Roles of interleukin-10 and the extracorporeal circuit

Objective To determine whether cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) alters the ex vivo cytokine production of whole blood cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and to assess the roles of interleukin (IL)-10 and an extracorporeal circuit (ECC) in the alteration. Design Prospective, controlled study. Setting Biochemistry laboratory and surgical intensive care unit in a university hospital. Patients Seventeen consecutive adult patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting or valve surgery with normothermic CPB and eight healthy volunteers. Interventions Blood samples for cytokine measurement were drawn from patients before and during (at 60, 90, 120, 180 and 360 mins) CPB and were cultured with and without LPS and with and without anti-IL-10 antibodies. Blood was also drawn from healthy subjects and sampled for cytokine analysis before and during circulation in an isolated ECC. Measurements and Main Results The concentrations of ex vivo tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-&agr;, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, were reduced in both experimental settings. In patients on CPB, LPS hyporesponsiveness was detected at 60 mins after the onset of CPB and was maximal at 120 mins (78% to 86% decreases from pre-CPB levels) but was transient, except for TNF-&agr;. The plasma concentration of IL-10 peaked at 90 mins after the start of CPB, but the role of IL-10 in LPS hyporesponsiveness appears limited because anti-IL-10 antibodies significantly increased ex vivo production of IL-6 but not TNF-&agr; or IL-8. In the isolated ECC study, no IL-10 was detected in plasma, yet the ex vivo production of the cytokines (except IL-8) was decreased (by 66% to 95%). Conclusion Our results demonstrate the following: a) CPB induces an early and transient LPS hyporesponsiveness of whole blood as measured by cytokine production; b) IL-10 seems only partly involved in this process, and its role is restricted to an in vivo situation; and c) contact of blood with an ECC is sufficient to induce LPS hyporesponsiveness.
PENGARUH BIG FIVE PERSONALITY PADA KINERJA AUDITOR KANTOR AKUNTAN PUBLIK PROVINSI BALI

This study aimed to determine whether personality dimensions in Big Five Personality model that consist of extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience will be able to influence auditor performance in public accounting firms in Bali. Previous studies have shown that personality dimensions in this model related to performance (Barrick dan Mount, 1991; Barrick dkk, 2001; Rothmann dan Coetzer, 2003). The data was collected using survey method with questionnaire. Samples that used in this study were 56 auditors and selected by purposive sampling method. The analysis technique used is multiple linear reggression. The result showed that only extraversion and agreeableness had positive effect on auditor performance, but conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience did not have any effect on auditor performance.