Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychological factors as a predictor of treatment response in patients with heartburn: A pooled analysis of clinical trials

Objective. A pooled analysis, using data from three prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical studies, was undertaken to determine the relationship between well-being and subsequent clinical response to acid suppressant therapy in 1887 adult patients with reflux symptoms (with/without endoscopically verified erosive esophagitis). Material and methods. Well-being was assessed at study entry using the Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) Index. Patients were assessed for complete relief of heartburn (absence of symptoms in the preceding 7 days) after 4 weeks’ treatment (omeprazole 10 or 20 mg once daily; ranitidine 150 mg twice daily). Results. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified baseline PGWB Index total score and anxiety score as independent prognostic indicators of treatment response in endoscopy-positive patients (n=1333). Thus, the likelihood of achieving complete heartburn relief was impaired by high baseline levels of anxiety or a low total well-being score. In the endoscopy-negative group, high levels of depression and low vitality scores affected treatment response adversely. Furthermore, age (for endoscopy-positive patients only) and body mass index (for endoscopy-negative patients only) showed an association with treatment outcome. Gender seemed to have no prognostic value on treatment outcome. Conclusions. Patient well-being may be a useful prognostic indicator in patients presenting with reflux symptoms, with a high level of anxiety predicating against a response to acid suppressant therapy, particularly in those with normal endoscopic findings.
Marked reduction in mortality in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

OBJECT In spite of evidence that use of the Brain Trauma Foundation Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (Guidelines) would dramatically reduce morbidity and mortality, adherence to these Guidelines remains variable across trauma centers. The authors analyzed 2-week mortality due to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) from 2001 through 2009 in New York State and examined the trends in adherence to the Guidelines. METHODS The authors calculated trends in adherence to the Guidelines and age-adjusted 2-week mortality rates between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2009. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of time period on case-fatality. Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor insertion was modeled in a 2-level hierarchical model using generalized linear mixed effects to allow for clustering by different centers. RESULTS From 2001 to 2009, the case-fatality rate decreased from 22% to 13% (p < 0.0001), a change that remained significant after adjusting for factors that independently predict mortality (adjusted OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.39-0.70; p < 0.0001). Guidelines adherence increased, with the percentage of patients with ICP monitoring increasing from 56% to 75% (p < 0.0001). Adherence to cerebral perfusion pressure treatment thresholds increased from 15% to 48% (p < 0.0001). The proportion of patients having an ICP elevation greater than 25 mm Hg dropped from 42% to 29% (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS There was a significant reduction in TBI mortality between 2001 and 2009 in New York State. Increase in Guidelines adherence occurred at the same time as the pronounced decrease in 2-week mortality and decreased rate of intracranial hypertension, suggesting a causal relationship between Guidelines adherence and improved outcomes. Our findings warrant future investigation to identify methods for increasing and sustaining adherence to evidence-based Guidelines recommendations.
Susceptibility of Mice Genetically Deficient in the Surfactant Protein (SP)-A or SP-D Gene to Pulmonary Hypersensitivity Induced by Antigens and Allergens of Aspergillus fumigatus1

Lung surfactant protein A (SP-A) and D (SP-D) are innate immune molecules which are known to interact with allergens and immune cells and modulate cytokine and chemokine profiles during host hypersensitivity response. We have previously shown therapeutic effects of SP-A and SP-D using a murine model of lung hypersensitivity to Aspergillus fumigatus (Afu) allergens. In this study, we have examined the susceptibility of SP-A (AKO) or SP-D gene-deficient (DKO) mice to the Afu allergen challenge, as compared with the wild-type mice. Both AKO and DKO mice exhibited intrinsic hypereosinophilia and several-fold increase in levels of IL-5 and IL-13, and lowering of IFN-γ to IL-4 ratio in the lungs, suggesting a Th2 bias of immune response. This Th2 bias was reversible by treating AKO or DKO mice with SP-A or SP-D, respectively. The AKO and DKO mice showed distinct immune responses to Afu sensitization. DKO mice were found more susceptible than wild-type mice to pulmonary hypersensitivity induced by Afu allergens. AKO mice were found to be nearly resistant to Afu sensitization. Intranasal treatment with SP-D or rhSP-D (a recombinant fragment of human SP-D containing trimeric C-type lectin domains) was effective in rescuing the Afu-sensitized DKO mice, while SP-A-treated Afu-sensitized AKO mice showed several-fold elevated levels of IL-13 and IL-5, resulting in increased pulmonary eosinophilia and damaged lung tissue. These data reaffirm an important role for SP-A and SP-D in offering resistance to pulmonary allergenic challenge.
Formation of elongated giant mitochondria in DFO‐induced cellular senescence: Involvement of enhanced fusion process through modulation of Fis1

Enlarged or giant mitochondria have often been documented in aged tissues although their role and underlying mechanism remain unclear. We report here how highly elongated giant mitochondria are formed in and related to the senescent arrest. The mitochondrial morphology was progressively changed to a highly elongated form during deferoxamine (DFO)‐induced senescent arrest of Chang cells, accompanied by increase of intracellular ROS level and decrease of mtDNA content. Interestingly, under exposure to subcytotoxic doses of H2O2 (200 µM), about 65% of Chang cells harbored elongated mitochondria with senescent phenotypes whereas ethidium bromide (EtBr) (50 ng/ml) only reformed the cristae structure. Elongated giant mitochondria were also observed in TGF β1‐ or H2O2‐induced senescent Mv1Lu cells and in old human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs). In all senescent progresses employed in this study Fis1 protein, a mitochondrial fission modulator, was commonly downexpressed. Overexpression of YFP‐Fis1 reversed both mitochondrial elongation and appearance of senescent phenotypes induced by DFO, implying its critical involvement in the arrest. Finally, we found that direct induction of mitochondrial elongation by blocking mitochondrial fission process with Fis1‐ΔTM or Drp1‐K38A was sufficient to develop senescent phenotypes with increased ROS production. These data suggest that mitochondrial elongation may play an important role as a mediator in stress‐induced premature senescence. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 468–480, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Age-specific reference values for serum FSH and estradiol levels throughout the reproductive period

Abstract High serum day 3 FSH levels are associated with poor ovarian reserve and reduced fertility, but the interpretation of FSH values according to age is still not univocal. The purpose of this study was to determine age-dependent reference values in women with regular menstrual cycles and FSH as a guide for specialists. The study was performed at the Department of Mother–Infant of a University-based tertiary care centre. One-hundred ninety-two healthy normal menstruating women were recruited for the study. All patients attended the department on menstrual cycle day 3 for a blood sample for FSH and estradiol determination. A linear relationship between FSH or estradiol serum levels and age was observed. The FSH level increased by 0.11 IU for every year of age (1 IU for every 9 years of age). The values of FSH and estradiol corresponding to the 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 95th centiles for any specific age have been calculated. Serum FSH levels need to be interpreted according to age-dependent reference values. Serum FSH levels on 95th centile for any age may represent a warning sign for reduced ovarian reserve.
Plasma growth hormone response to exercise as diagnostic aid.

Macy, I. G. , and Kelly, H. J. (1961). Human milk and cow's milk in infant nutrition. In Milk: The Mammary Gland and its Secretion, Vol. II, p. 265. Ed. by S. K. Kon and A. T. Cowie. Academic Press, New York. Shukla, A. , Forsyth, H. A. , Anderson, C. M. , and Marwah, S. M. (1972). Infantile overnutrition in the first year of life. A field study in Dudley, Worcestershire. British Medical Journal, 4, 507. Taitz, L. S. (1971). Infantile overnutrition among artificially fed infants in the Sheffield region. British Medical_Journal, 1, 315. Taitz, L. S. , and Byers, H. D. (1972). High calorie/osmolar feeding and hypertonic dehydration. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 47, 257.
Why do they serve? Changes and differences in motives of Danish soldiers deployed to peace-keeping and peace-enforcing missions

This paper investigates what motivates young people to volunteer for peace-keeping or peace-enforcing missions and how their motives change between pre- and post-deployment. Data include information about social and military background, and motives for more than 600 soldiers, 444 of whom answered the survey both before and after deployment. Soldiers are deployed to different missions under the same circumstances. To conceptualize motives among soldiers, we use factor analysis and find three factors: challenge, self-benefit, and fidelity. Challenge represents an occupational orientation; fidelity, an institutional orientation; and self-benefit, a desire for adventure. Exploiting the within-subject design of our data, we find that pre- and post-deployment motives vary significantly according to the type of mission and soldiers’ previous experiences (first-timers or experienced soldiers). Our results suggest that after the mission, peace-keepers are generally more disappointed than peace-enforcers. Our results also show that self-benefit motives are important for younger soldiers with only a high school education, and that this group usually serves as peace-enforcers during their gap year.
Physics teachers and China's curriculum reform : the interplay between agency and structure

ii Preface . iv Table of contents . v List of tables.x List of figures . xi Acknowledgements . xii Dedication . xiii Chapter one: Introduction . 1 Background . 1 Research questions . 3 Definition of key terms . 3 Significance of the study . 4 Organization of the thesis . 5 Chapter two: Theoretical framework and literature review . 7 Current definitions of agency in various fields . 7 Agency in psychology. 8 Agency in sociology . 11 Agency in critical theory . 14 Agency in history . 15 Agency in feminist and poststructuralist theory . 15 Agency in educational empirical research . 21 vi Definition of human agency in this study . 24 Historical development of agency . 27 In psychology . 27 From behaviorism to cognitive science . 29 Agentic perspectives in Social Cognitive Theory . 31 In sociology . 34 Objectivism and human agency in sociology . 34 Subjectivism and human agency in sociology . 38 Human agency in Structuration Theory . 39 In critical theory . 41 What does the history of human agency tell us? 45 Physics teacher agency and the Chinese curriculum reform . 50 Chapter three: Methodology and methods . 52 Research context . 52 The current Chinese curriculum reform . 53 The history of pedagogical shift and decentralization . 58 Shift in pedagogy . 58 Decentralization . 60 International influence . 67 Summary . 68 The school . 70 The teachers . 72 Methodology and methods . 73 vii How do others study human agency in education? 74 How am I going to study human agency? 78 Data collection and analysis. 83 Data collection . 83 Data analysis . 86 Ethical considerations . 90 Chapter four: Results and discussion . 92 Teachers’ portraits . 93 Chung---Introspective . 93 Wong---Jaded . 98 Don---Success . 100 Hu---Art . 102 Wen---Isolated . 108 Tang---Traditional. 112 Zu---Passion . 114 Researcher and teacher . 115 Lesson plan . 117 Responsibility . 118 Pointless teaching. 118 Talk . 121 Rewards. 121 My reflections . 122 Summary . 133 viii Results . 133 Individual agency . 134 History, currency, and moral standards . 135 History. 135 Currency . 142 Moral standards . 151 Students . 154 Summary . 159 Collective agency .
Microelectrode arrays for electrophysiological monitoring of hippocampal organotypic slice cultures

A three-dimensional platinum (Pt) microelectrode array embedded on a micromachined silicon (Si) substrate (porosity of 13%, via hole diameter of 40 /spl mu/m) has been developed. Electrodes are 35-/spl mu/m wide and 20-/spl mu/m high, spaced 200 /spl mu/m apart and arranged in an elliptic geometry. Integrated within a microperfusion chamber, the devices were used for stimulation and recording experiments of hippocampal slice cultures over a period of several days.
Stabilization of collective motion in synchronized, balanced and splay phase arrangements on a desired circle

This paper proposes a design methodology to stabilize collective circular motion of a group of N-identical agents moving at unit speed around individual circles of different radii and different centers. The collective circular motion studied in this paper is characterized by the clockwise rotation of all agents around a common circle of desired radius as well as center, which is fixed. Our interest is to achieve those collective circular motions in which the phases of the agents are arranged either in synchronized, in balanced or in splay formation. In synchronized formation, the agents and their centroid move in a common direction while in balanced formation, the movement of the agents ensures a fixed location of the centroid. The splay state is a special case of balanced formation, in which the phases are separated by multiples of 2π/N. We derive the feedback controls and prove the asymptotic stability of the desired collective circular motion by using Lyapunov theory and the LaSalle's Invariance principle.
Middle meatal spacers for the prevention of synechiae following endoscopic sinus surgery: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Middle meatal (MM) synechiae is the most common complication following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis. To prevent synechiae formation, a variety of MM spacers have been employed, with varying success in the reported literature. There remains a continued debate on whether MM spacers actually reduce the risk of synechiae following ESS.
Comparison of the Recent-Onset Arthritis Disability questionnaire with the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND Physical disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often assessed by questionnaires. We compared the Recent-Onset Arthritis Disability (ROAD) questionnaire with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability index (DI) in a cohort of RA patients. The aim of this study was to obtain information on several aspects of construct validity of these measures. METHODS A cross-sectional multicentre study was carried out among patients with RA who were attending hospital outpatient clinics. The patient group included 196 patients partially or not responding to disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. For the evaluation of the psychometric properties of the ROAD in comparison with HAQ-DI this population has been compared to another cohort of 247 outpatients with RA who were participating in a long-term observational study. All patients completed the ROAD and HAQ-DI. Additional comparator composite indices of disease activity were analysed. The ROAD structural validity was first assessed using exploratory factor analysis. Concurrent validity was analysed by Spearman's correlations and cross-tabulations. Discriminant validity to distinguish patients with active and non-active disease was assessed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. For agreement analysis Bland and Altman plots were calculated. RESULTS Factor analysis yielded a two-factor ROAD score that accounted for 68.74% of the explained variance in the questionnaire. The first factor, namely upper extremity function/activity daily living and work (ROAD-upper) accounted for 55.6% of the explained variance. The second factor, namely lower extremity function (ROAD-lower) accounted for 13.1% of the explained variance. Significant correlations were found between the scores of the ROAD and the other clinical variables with a high ability to measure pain and disease activity, supporting the concept of convergent construct validity. The discriminatory power of both questionnaires to assess inactive and active RA patients was good, without significant difference. CONCLUSIONS ROAD is a good alternative to the HAQ-DI for the assessment of physical disability in RA. Use of the ROAD makes it easier and less costly to collect data and reduces the burden on RA patients and should be applied in both clinical trials and routine clinical care settings.
Amniotic Membrane Transplantation in Refractory Neurotrophic Corneal Ulcers: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Purpose: This study was designed to compare and evaluate the efficacy of amniotic membrane transplantation with the conventional management (tarsorrhaphy and bandage contact lens) in eyes with refractory neurotrophic corneal ulcers. Methods: Thirty eyes of 30 patients (14 females and 16 males) with neurotrophic corneal ulcers refractory to medical management were included and divided randomly into group 1 (n = 15), who received conventional management with a tarsorrhaphy (n = 11) or bandage contact lens (n = 4), and group 2 (n = 15), who underwent Amniotic Membrane Transplantation. The outcome parameters evaluated were epithelialization time, duration of healing of corneal ulcers, and improvement in best corrected visual acuity. Results: The mean age in our study was 37 ± 14.71 years. At the end of 3 months follow-up, 10 of 15 patients (66.67%) in group 1 showed complete epithelialization and subsequent healing and 11 of 15 patients (73.33%) in group 2 showed complete epithelialization and healing (P > 0.05). The median time for complete epithelialization was 21 days in both groups. Both groups showed an improvement in the best-corrected visual acuity. Conclusions: Both amniotic membrane transplantation and conventional management (tarsorrhaphy or bandage contact lens) are effective treatment modalities for refractory neurotrophic corneal ulcers.
Modified non‐overt DIC diagnostic criteria predict the early phase of overt‐DIC

Diagnostic criteria for non‐overt disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) have been proposed by the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, but are not useful for the diagnosis of early phase of overt‐DIC (pre‐DIC). Therefore, in the current study the non‐overt DIC diagnostic criteria were modified using the global coagulation tests, the change rate in the global coagulation tests and molecular hemostatic markers to detect the pre‐DIC state and were prospectively evaluated in 613 patients with underlying DIC disease. The frequencies of patients with DIC (DIC positive), late onset DIC, and without DIC (DIC absent) were 29.5%, 7.2%, and 63.3%, respectively. The modified non‐overt‐DIC criteria can correctly predict 43/44 patients (97.7%) who were DIC absent at admission and became DIC positive, within a week (late onset DIC state). The mortality rate was higher in DIC positive compared with pre‐DIC (37.6% vs. 22.7%, P < 0.05) or DIC negative (37.6 vs. 13.7%, P < 0.01). It was also significantly higher in pre‐DIC compared with DIC negative (P < 0.05). Thus, these modified non‐overt DIC diagnostic criteria might therefore be useful for the diagnosis of early‐phase DIC. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Am. J. Hematol.
Comparison of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom subtypes in Ukrainian schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE This study used a parent-completed, DSM-IV-referenced rating scale to examine prevalence rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) behaviors and differences between subtypes in 10- to 12-year-old Ukrainian children. METHOD During 1997, a total of 600 parents and children residing in Kyiv, Ukraine, and their teachers participated in extensive clinical assessments using standard Western measures. RESULTS The screening prevalence rate of ADHD behaviors was 19.8%: 7.2% for inattentive (I), 8.5% for hyperactive-impulsive (HI), and 4.2% for combined (C). Post hoc comparisons indicated a number of significant (p < .05) group differences. Mothers of children with ADHD symptoms reported higher rates of disruptive behavior, negative mother-child interactions, and physical punishment than the non-ADHD group. Teachers rated children with ADHD as more hyperactive and inattentive, but only the HI subtype was rated more oppositional than non-ADHD students. The I subtype was less academically proficient and socially adept (but less likely to have behavior problems). The C subtype was the most behaviorally disruptive (mother ratings), and their fathers were more likely to be aggressive and abuse alcohol. The HI subtype also had problems with disruptive behavior but were less socially impaired. CONCLUSIONS Although symptom prevalence rates are higher in Ukraine than the United States, this study provides additional evidence supporting DSM-IV ADHD subtypes as distinct clinical entities.
The effectiveness and estimated costs of the access to baby and child dentistry program in Washington State.

OBJECTIVES The authors estimated the effectiveness of the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program as a tool to improve the oral health of children, and they measured its costs. ABCD is an effort to increase the utilization of dental care by Medicaid-enrolled children younger than 6 years. METHODS The authors compared the oral health of third-grade children in Spokane County Wash. (ABCD) with that of children in Pierce County (non-ABCD). They then compared the expenditures of ABCD with those associated with alternative dental care interventions. RESULTS Children in Spokane County had better oral health than did the children in Pierce County. The authors also found that the ABCD program increased mean dental care costs by $8.17 per user over costs in Pierce County, and the program cost a mean of $5.33 per user in outreach and dentist and staff training costs. CONCLUSIONS This study found that ABCD improved the oral health of all third graders, including those not eligible or enrolled in the program. Increased expenditures were attributable mainly to outreach and training costs. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Programs such as ABCD, carried out collaboratively by component societies, health districts, dental schools and Medicaid, have the potential to increase access to care and improve health.