Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The management of sinogenic orbital complications

Abstract The place of conservative treatment in sinogenic orbital complications has not been fully explained in the literature. The question that remains unresolved is – at which stage of the disease is surgery indicated? A study was undertaken in 240 patients with sinogenic orbital complications, to determine this. The patients were divided into three groups according to the stage of the disease as determined clinically: Group 1 (52 patients) with early stage disease, as detected by cellulitis only; Group 2 (76 patients) with intermediate stage, as detected by periorbital cellulitis and proptosis, but with full range of eye movement and unaltered vision: Group 3 (122 patients) with late stage disease, as detected by periorbital cellulitis and gross proptosis. with limitation of eye movement and altered vision. Group I and Group 2 patients were treated conservatively, with intravenous antibiotics and antral lavage. Group 3 patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics and surgery. External frontoethmoidectomy was performed in 31 (bilateral in two), ethmoidectomy in 91 (bilateral in five), sphenoidectomy in 15 and bilateral antral washout in all (122 patients). There was 100 per cent success with conservative treatment in Group 1 patients, whilst in Group 2 there was 98.6 per cent failure. The 75 patients in whom conservative treatment failed were successfully treated with surgery: frontoethmoidectomy was performed in 66 and ethmoidectomy in nine. In Group 3 patients, 100 per cent success was achieved with intravenous antibiotics and surgery. Sinogenic orbital complications can be treated conservatively and surgically, depending on the stage of the disease on presentation. Conservative treatment is only suitable for early complications, i.e. patients with periorbital cellulitis only. For disease beyond this stage i.e. intermediate and late stage disease, surgery is the treatment of choice.
SPONTANEOUS ABSORPTION OF CORTISONE‐INDUCED CATARACT

In 1960 Black et al. called attention to the possibility that a posterior subcapsular cataract (p. s. c.) might develop during long-term systemic steroid medication. They found p. s. c. in 17 out of 47 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had been on long-term corticosteroid medication. In subsequent publications (Oglesby et al. 1961) the same authors have further substantiated their findings. Rapidly a fairly comprehensive literature has accumulated on this subject. Some authors (Giles et al., Sundmark, Irby et al .) , have been able to confirm these findings, while others (Pfahl et al., Gordon, Hart et al., Toogod et al.) have arrived a t negative or doubtful results. In addition to these major series single cases have been reported by Abrahamson & Abrahamson, Bouzas, Masuda & Nishio. Development of p. s. c. following local steroid therapy has been reported in only a very few cases. At a meeting of the Sociktk Francaise d'Ophtalmologie in 1963 Valerio was the first to report on such an occurrence (2 cases). One was a 25-year-old man with vernal conjunctivitis who had been treated with a cortisone preparation 3-4 times daily for 6 months. H e was found to have a considerably elevated tension, but moreover, in both eyes, distinct posterior, subcapsular cataract which had not been present at an investigation 2 months previously. Visual acuity in both eyes 10/10. The tension was soon normalized after withdrawal of cortisone. The other case was that of a woman, aged 45, who had been using a cortisone ointment 2-3 times daily for 2 years because of conjunctivitis. The tension was normal, but in the slit lamp p. s. c. was distinct. Visual acuity in both eyes 10/10, and the only complaint was a slight shadow before the eyes in certain illuminations. In both cases the lesions were in the form of thin, disciform opacities, sharply demarcated, localized to the posterior
Consumers' purchase intention of organic food in China.

BACKGROUND The global market for organic food has developed significantly in the past decade. The organic food industry in China is export oriented, with production growing rapidly, although the domestic market remains relatively small. This paper surveys 432 consumers from three cities in China, consequently establishing a logit model to analyse the main factors affecting consumers' choice for organic food. RESULTS The result indicates that Chinese consumers' intent to purchase organic food is strongly affected by factors such as income, degree of trust in organic food, degree of acceptance of organic food price, and consumers' concern on self-health. This intent is only slightly affected by factors such as consumers' age, education level and concern about environmental protection. CONCLUSION Based on the results, the following measures are recommended: reduce the cost of organic food through multiple channels to cut down the market price; establish and perfect the supervision system of organic food; and promote organic food through various channels.
Liver Fibrosis Evaluation Using Real‐time Shear Wave Elastography in Hepatitis C–Monoinfected and Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Hepatitis C–Coinfected Patients

A few studies have evaluated real‐time shear wave elastography (SWE) for assessing liver fibrosis by measuring liver stiffness in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but they excluded human immunodeficiency virus/HCV–coinfected patients. We investigated the diagnostic performance of liver stiffness measured by SWE as a noninvasive predictor of liver fibrosis in HCV using liver biopsy as a reference standard, including monoinfected and coinfected patients.
A Critical Appraisal of Assimilationist and Radical Ideologies Underlying Same-Sex Marriage in LGBT Communities in the United States

ABSTRACT Debates over same-sex marriage have reached the main stage of contemporary U.S. politics. The purpose of this essay is to identify and examine how sexual ideologies in U.S. LGBT communities inform and influence relationship construction in general and same-sex marriage in particular. To accomplish this, we first discuss the nature of sexual ideologies. Next, we identify current sexual ideologies in LGBT communities and examine some of their fundamental features and their implications for relationship construction with a focus on same-sex marriage. We conclude with a discussion of what is potentially gained and lost by same-sex matrimonial bonds and explore some of the prospects of relationship construction within LGBT communities in the future.
SCAFFOLDING INTERACTION CYCLE IN READING TO LEARN PROGRAM

This study aims to investigate three steps (Prepare, Task and Elaborate) of scaffolding interaction cycle (Rose, 2008) in Reading to Learn program (Rose & Acevedo, 2006; Rose, 2008) with one teacher and fifteen students as the participants at a vocational high school. This study used a case study research design which employed two data collection techniques, i.e. observation and document analysis of students’ writing in Independent Writing stage . The study reveals three findings related to the research questions. First, the teacher used scaffolding interaction cycle almost in all stages in Reading to Learn program except for Preparing for Writing stage due to teacher’s misunderstanding toward the strategies used in this stage. Second, Prepare moves were mostly employed by the teacher in scaffolding interaction cycle because the students were still reluctant to actively engage in this program. Finally, the problems that the teacher found in the use of scaffolding interaction cycle in Reading to Learn program were related to teacher’s understanding, students’ questions, students’ passivity and big class. It is thus recommended to the teachers to more carefully plan the use of scaffolding interaction cycle in Reading to Learn program. Besides that, further research is expected to deal with more texts, more intensive support, bigger number of participants and longer time in conducting the program.
Spatial and temporal variation in economically optimum nitrogen rate for corn

The economically optimum N rate (EONR) required for corn (Zea mays L.) may vary spatially due to variation in soil characteristics and temporally due to the interactions of environmental factors. The objectives of this research were to quantify the impact of field variability on the yield response of corn to N fertilization and to evaluate the temporal stability of these response functions. A production field near Revere, MN, was cropped with corn in 1995, 1997, and 1999 in rotation with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ]. Four replications of seven treatments were established in a split-plot arrangement of a randomized complete block design. Main plots consisted of three N rates (0, 67, 134, and 202 kg ha - 1 ) while the split plots were two rates (0 and 0.56 kg ha - 1 ) of nitrapyrin [2-chloro-6 (trichloromethyl)-pyridine]. Each replication was divided into subblocks to estimate spatial patterns in yield N response and EONR. Spatial analysis indicated that only half of the field responded to N. Uniform application recommendation of 145 kg N ha - 1 for the whole field overfertilized these areas while other areas were underfertilized. Variable-rate N applications according to the EONR would have resulted in 69 and 75 kg ha - 1 less N being applied than the uniform N rate in 1997 and 1999, respectively. Potential economic benefits were $8 and $23 ha - 1 higher than the uniform N rate in 1997 and 1999, respectively. Approximately 60% of the field responded in a similar manner in both 1997 and 1999, suggesting that temporal variations must also be considered with site-specific N management.
Status of oxidant, antioxidantand serum enzymes in thalassaemic children receiving multiple blood transfusions.

OBJECTIVE To determine the levels of oxidant, antioxidant and serum enzymes in thalassaemic children receiving multiple blood transfusions. METHODS The case-control study was done from February to August 2012, and comprised thalassaemic children receiving multiple blood transfusions at Allied Hospital, Ali Zeb Foundation, and the Thalassaemia Centre in Hilal-e-Ahmar Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Healthy subjects were also screened for any related disease condition that could prejudice the results. Blood samples were analysed for the values of total oxidant status, total antioxidant capacity, serum malondialdehyde, catalase, paraoxonase, arylesterase, glutathione peroxidase and ceruloplasmin. RESULTS There were 180 children in the study; 90(50%) cases and 90(50%) controls. Of the cases, 48(53.3%) were under-weight while the weight of 42(46.7%) was in the normal range. The values of total oxidant status and total antioxidant capacity were significantly (p<0.01) higher in thalassaemic children compared to normal values. Serum malondialdehyde and catalase levels were also considerably elevated (p<0.05), suggesting the increased activity of these enzymes. However, the concentrations of serum paraoxonase, arylesterase, glutathione peroxidase were significantly (p<0.01) lower in cases than the controls, displaying diminished activities during multiple blood transfusions in these patients. CONCLUSIONS Multiple blood transfusions disconcert the levels of oxidants, antioxidants and serum enzymes of thalassaemic children. Oxidative damage is seen because of the increased iron overload in these patients. Hence, regular evaluation of oxidant and antioxidant status should be monitored in thalassaemic patients during initial few years of life.
Oxysterol-binding Protein (OSBP)-related Protein 4 (ORP4) Is Essential for Cell Proliferation and Survival*

Background: The function of oxysterol-binding protein-related protein (ORP4) is unknown. Results: Silencing ORP4L or all ORP4 isoforms triggers growth arrest and apoptosis, which is suppressed by H-Ras and involves the C-terminal lipid binding domain. Conclusion: ORP4 is a sterol and PI-4P-binding protein required for survival and proliferation of immortalized and transformed cells. Significance: This is the first study to identify a mammalian ORP with growth regulatory activity. Oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP) and OSBP-related proteins (ORPs) comprise a large gene family with sterol/lipid transport and regulatory activities. ORP4 (OSBP2) is a closely related paralogue of OSBP, but its function is unknown. Here we show that ORP4 binds similar sterol and lipid ligands as OSBP and other ORPs but is uniquely required for the proliferation and survival of cultured cells. Recombinant ORP4L and a variant without a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain (ORP4S) bind 25-hydroxycholesterol and extract and transfer cholesterol between liposomes. Two conserved histidine residues in the OSBP homology domain ORP4 are essential for binding phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate but not sterols. The PH domain of ORP4L also binds phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate in the Golgi apparatus. However, in the context of ORP4L, the PH domain is required for normal organization of the vimentin network. Unlike OSBP, RNAi silencing of all ORP4 variants (including a partial PH domain truncation termed ORP4M) in HEK293 and HeLa cells resulted in growth arrest but not cell death. ORP4 silencing in non-transformed intestinal epithelial cells (IEC)-18 caused apoptosis characterized by caspase 3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase processing, DNA cleavage, and JNK phosphorylation. IEC-18 transformed with oncogenic H-Ras have increased expression of ORP4L and ORP4S proteins and are resistant to the growth-inhibitory effects of ORP4 silencing. Results suggest that ORP4 promotes the survival of rapidly proliferating cells.
Energy and reserve pricing in security and network-constrained electricity markets

This paper analyzes some unresolved pricing issues in security-constrained electricity markets subject to transmission flow limits. Although the notion of separate reserve types as proposed by FERC can be precisely and unambiguously defined, when transmission constraints are active, the very existence of separate reserve prices and markets is open to question when the prices are based on marginal costs. Instead, we submit here that the only products whose marginal costs can be separately and uniquely defined and calculated are those of energy and security at each node. Thus, under marginal pricing, at any given network bus all scheduled reserve types should be priced not at separate rates but at a common rate equal to the marginal cost of security at that bus. Furthermore, we argue that nodal or area reserves cannot be prespecified but must be obtained as by-products of the market-clearing process. Simulations back up these conclusions.
Newborn hearing screening follow-up: factors affecting hearing aid fitting by 6 months of age.

PURPOSE To determine the extent to which the goal of hearing aid fitting by 6 months of age is being achieved and to identify barriers to achieving that goal. METHOD Screening and follow-up records from 114,121 infants born at 6 hospitals were collected over a 6-year period. Infants diagnosed with permanent hearing loss requiring amplification were categorized as fit on time, fit late, or lost to follow-up. Seven factors were empirically identified as potential barriers to timely intervention. RESULTS Ninety-one percent of referred infants returned for follow-up evaluation. Hearing aids were fit on 107 of the 192 infants requiring amplification. Thirty-nine percent were fit on time, and 61% were fit late or lost to follow-up. Unilateral hearing loss and late diagnosis were statistically significant (p < .0001) predictors for late fitting and loss to follow-up. Conductive hearing loss and coverage by Medicaid were also statistically significant (p < .0001) predictors for loss to follow-up. CONCLUSION High return rate for follow-up does not ensure hearing aid fitting by 6 months of age. Infants with unilateral hearing loss are at particular risk of being lost to follow-up.
Preeclampsia: evidence for impaired shear stress-mediated nitric oxide release in uterine circulation.

OBJECTIVE We sought to compare flow-mediated dilatation and myogenic and norepinephrine-induced tone in myometrial resistance arteries from women with preeclampsia and healthy pregnant women and to evaluate the role that nitric oxide may play in these responses. STUDY DESIGN Arteries (approximately 200 microm, at 50 mm Hg) were dissected from myometrial biopsy specimens from women undergoing emergency cesarean delivery because of preeclampsia (n = 6) and from healthy control subjects undergoing planned cesarean delivery (n = 9). Responses to intraluminal flow, pressure, and a constrictor agonist (norepinephrine, 10(-6) mol/L) were studied in the absence and presence of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N omeganitro-L -arginine (10(-4) mol/L). Myogenic and norepinephrine-induced tone were calculated after the determination of artery diameter in the absence of extracellular calcium and in the presence of papaverine (10(-4) mol/L). RESULTS An increase in intraluminal flow led to dilatation of isolated myometrial arteries from healthy gravid women, whereas flow-mediated dilatation was absent in arteries from gravid patients with preeclampsia (increase in diameter at maximum flow rate of 204 microL/min, 28% +/- 5% in healthy gravid patients vs -15% +/- 6% in gravid women with preeclampsia; analysis of variance, P <.05). Addition of N omega-nitro-L -arginine had no significant effect on flow-mediated responses in arteries from women with preeclampsia, whereas flow-mediated dilatation was abolished after addition of N omega-nitro-L -arginine in arteries from healthy gravid women (increase in diameter at a maximum flow rate of 204 microL/min, 28% +/- 5% control vs -9% +/- 5% N omega-nitro-L -arginine; analysis of variance, P <.05). Arteries from women with preeclampsia developed pressure-induced myogenic and norepinephrine-induced tone, similar to that obtained in arteries from healthy gravid women. In arteries from gravid women with preeclampsia, inhibition of nitric oxide synthase enhanced myogenic-induced tone (25% +/- 4% control vs 35% +/- 5% N omega-nitro-L -arginine; P <.05) and norepinephrine-induced tone (36% +/- 4% control vs 46% +/- 6% N omega-nitro-L -arginine; P <.05), as in arteries from healthy gravid women. CONCLUSIONS Nitric oxide may participate in modulation of pressure- and norepinephrine-induced tone even in preeclampsia, but the shear stress-mediated release of nitric oxide is absent. Failure of shear stress-mediated dilation in myometrial arteries from gravid women with preeclampsia might contribute to the impaired uteroplacental blood flow in this disease.
Análisis de la función molecular de las proteínas Muscleblind de Drosophila.

RESUMEN El gen muscleblind (mbl) es necesario para el adecuado desarrollo del sistema nervioso periferico embrionario y la diferenciacion terminal de los fotorreceptores y los musculos en Drosophila. A partir del unico gen muscleblind de Drosophila se generan cuatro transcritos por procesado alternativo que codifican para cuatro proteinas caracterizadas por la presencia de dedos de zinc del tipo Cys3H. Los homologos de muscleblind en vertebrados son los genes Muscleblind-like1, 2 y 3 (MBNL1-3). Las proteinas humanas MBNL1, 2 y 3 tienen la capacidad de modificar el procesado alternativo de diversos transcritos y tienen un papel importante en la patogenesis de la distrofia miotonica (DM). La DM es una enfermedad autonomica dominante generada por la expansion del trinucleotido CTG en una region no codificante del gen DMPK. La presente tesis recoge experimentos realizados en diferentes sistemas para desvelar la funcion molecular de las proteinas Muscleblind de Drosophila. Este trabajo demuestra la conservacion de la actividad como factores de splicing alternativo y la ruta patogenica de la DM en moscas. Se describen dos nuevas dianas moleculares de las proteinas Muscleblind, los transcritos de la alpha-actinina y la troponinaT, cuyo patron de splicing esta alterado en mutantes mbl y en moscas que expresan repeticiones CUG. Ademas, mediante experimentos en cultivo celular se muestra la capacidad de estas proteinas de inducir muerte celular al ser sobre-expresadas en celulas S2 de Drosophila. Las isoformas de Muscleblind mostraron diferente capacidad en los distintos ensayos funcionales realizados. Mediante experimentos de sobre-expresion en celulas de vertebrado y mutagenesis dirigida mostramos la implicacion de los extremos carboxilo en la diversificacion funcional de las isoformas de Muscleblind. Las isoformas se localizan en distintos compartimentos sub-celulares y la eliminacion de un sitio putativo de sumolizacion (FKRP) conservado altera la capacidad de inducir muerte celular de MuscleblindC. __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Volatile anesthetics augment expression of proinflammatory cytokines in rat alveolar macrophages during mechanical ventilation.

BACKGROUND Previous studies indicate that anesthesia and surgery induce an inflammatory reaction in alveolar macro phages. However,they filed to independently evaluate the relative contributions of factors including mechanical ventilation, general anesthesia, and surgical stress. Therefore, the authors tested the hypothesis that inflammatory reactions at the cellular level in alveolar macrophages are induced within 2 h of inhalation of volatile anesthetics under mechanical ventilation. METHODS After administration of pentobarbital, rats were allocated to the nonventilated control or spontaneous or mechanical ventilation (n = 15/group) for 2 h at a fraction of inspired oxygen (FI(O2)) of 0.21. In a separate series of experiments, rats were mechanically ventilated without volatile anesthesia, or during exposure to halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, or sevoflurane (n = 15/group). Pulmonary lavage was performed, and RNA was extracted from harvested cells. The mRNA for the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using beta-actin as an internal standard. Pulmonary lavage concentrations of these cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. RESULTS The lavage cell count and cytology were similar in each series of the experiment. Gene expression of MIP-2 and TNF-alpha was greater during mechanical than spontaneous ventilation and nonventilation control However, the concentrations of cytokines except MIP-2 and TNF-alpha were less than detection levels. During exposure to volatile anesthetics, gene expression for IL-1beta, MIP-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha all increased significantly compared with mechanical ventilation alone. Significant increases in lavage concentrations of MIP-2 and TNF-alpha were also observed. CONCLUSIONS Gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines increase after inhalation of volatile anesthetics under mechanical ventilation. These data indicate that inhalation of volatile anesthetics under mechanical ventilation induces an inflammatory response at the transcriptional level within 2 h.
Violence Exposure and Drug Use in Central American Youth: Family Cohesion and Parental Monitoring as Protective Factors

Associations between witnessing serious violence and drug use, and the protective influences of family cohesion and parental monitoring, were investigated among 9,840 adolescents (50.5% female, M age=15.29 years, SD=1.76) living in Panama and Costa Rica. After accounting for demographics and parental and sibling substance use, witnessing serious violence was associated with greater drunkenness, tobacco use, number of illicit drugs used, and problems with drugs and alcohol. In every analysis, exposure to violence was associated with more drug use, while family cohesion and parental monitoring attenuated risk. Further, family cohesion and parental monitoring exerted a protective-stabilizing effect on number of illicit drugs used and on problems with drugs and alcohol. There were few interactions with age. Implications for prevention are discussed.