Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Compensatory hypertrophy of the contralateral inferior turbinate in patients with unilateral nasal septal deviation. A computed tomography study.

INTRODUCTION The compensatory hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate in patients with septal deviation to one of the nostrils is considered to protect the airways from the excess of air that could enter through the nostril and its potential negative effects such as dryness, alteration of air filtration, mucociliary flow, or lung involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective, longitudinal, non-randomized study. Patients were divided in two groups: 10 consecutive patients, with nasal septal deviation and compensatory hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate in the contralateral nasal cavity (10 non-hypertrophied turbinates as control and 10 contralateral hypertrophied turbinates as study cases), and the second group with 5 patients without any nasal pathology (10 turbinates without any obvious pathology). In both groups CT scans of the nasal region were performed. A comparison of patients with nasal septal deviation with compensatory hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate in the contralateral nasal cavity and with non-pathological inferior turbinate was carried out. RESULTS When analyzing the groups of patients with septal deviation, the contralateral hypertrophied turbinate and the non-hypertrophied turbinate side, we found a significant hypertrophy in the anterior portion of the inferior turbinate, at the level of the medial mucosa (P = 0.002) and bone (P = 0.001) in the group of patients with contralateral hypertrophied turbinate. However, when we compared the contralateral hypertrophic turbinate with the turbinate of patients without septal deviation, we found a significant difference in all volumes of the medial and lateral mucosa and the bone portion (P = 0.001, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION Surgical correction of the nasal septum and lateralization or reduction of the volume of the inferior turbinate (which may include the medial mucosa, head or part of the bone) is necessary in order to improve air passage into the nasal valve.
Effects of Weighted Vests on the Engagement of Children With Developmental Delays and Autism

The use of weighted vests for children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities is a common practice as part of sensory integration therapy programs. The purpose of the current investigation was to extend the research on the use of weighted vests for children with autism and developmental delays in a methodologically rigorous study. The study was conducted using an alternating treatment design.This allowed the comparison of three different conditions: weighted vest, vest with no weight (which served as a placebo), and no vest (which served as a baseline). The results showed no differentiation in engagement between conditions for any of the participants. Implications for practice and future research are provided.
ALPHA 1-ANTITRYPSIN DEFICIENCY: FROM GENETIC ROUTES TO BEDSIDE

Alpha 1-antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterised by low serum levels of A1AT and a high risk of pulmonary emphysema and liver disease at a young age (Anonymous, 1997). A1AT deficiency is frequent in Caucasians, and allelic frequency for the most common mutation E342K (Z) of the SERPINA1 gene leading to A1AT deficiency is 1–2% in Caucasians of northern European descent (Anonymous, 1997).
Optimizing Multimedia Learning Objects for Learning in a Procedural-based Course

The prevalent use of multimedia learning objects in instructions particularly in e-learning platforms has spurred the interests of many studies to investigate their usability and effectiveness. It is, however, equally important to align proven instructional design principles in the design process in order to maximize learning. This study adopted Principles of Multimedia Design to guide the development of a set of learning objects for a procedural-based course, which involved 54 students for 10 weeks. The findings of the study revealed that the students showed positive acceptance of using the learning objects as the learning materials. A majority of them also reported their capability to perform the given tasks. The findings have provided valuable insights on considerations needed for the design of learning objects and confirmed that the redundancy principle within Mayer’s principles will not affect the students’ cognition largely due to the students’ language proficiency.
Clinical and Economic Analysis of Methicillin-Susceptible and -Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections

BACKGROUND: The rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has increased significantly over the last decade. Previous cohort studies of patients with MRSA bacteremia have reported higher mortality rates, increased morbidity, longer hospital length of stay (LOS), and higher costs compared with patients with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) bacteremia. The clinical and economic impact of MRSA involving other sites of infection has not been well characterized. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical and economic implications of MRSA compared with MSSA infections across a variety of infection sites and severity of illnesses. METHODS: A retrospective, case—control analysis comparing differences in clinical and economic outcomes of patients with MRSA and MSSA infections was conducted at an academic medical center. Case patients with MRSA infection were matched (1:1 ratio) to control patients with MSSA infection according to age, site of infection, and type of care. RESULTS: Thirty-six matched pairs of patients with S. aureus infection were identified. Baseline characteristics of patients with MSSA and MRSA infection were similar. Patients with MRSA infections had a trend toward longer hospital LOS (15.5 vs 11 days; p = 0.05) and longer antibiotic-related LOS (10 vs 7 days; p = 0.003). Median hospital cost associated with treatment of patients with MRSA infections was higher compared with patients with MSSA infections ($16 575 vs $12 862; p = 0.11); however, this difference was not statistically significant. Treatment failure was common in patients with MRSA infection. Among patients with MSSA infections, treatment failure was associated with vancomycin use. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MRSA infections had worse clinical and economic outcomes compared with patients with MSSA infections.
Does low molecular weight heparin shorten term labor?

Dalteparin, a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), is given to pregnant women with thrombotic disorders. Clinical observations together with the documented changes of heparan sulfate proteoglycans in normal and protracted labor fostered the idea that LMWH shortens delivery time. Labor time was retrospectively determined among nulliparous pregnant women treated with dalteparin because of previous venous thromboembolism (VTE), thrombophilia or acute VTE during current pregnancy. Their labor time was compared to matched untreated controls. The proportion of instrumental deliveries and neonatal outcome was also compared. The dalteparin‐treated group showed a significantly (30%) shorter labor time compared to matched controls. Total instrumental deliveries were the same in the two groups but operative intervention due to protracted labor was significantly less common in dalteparin‐treated women. There was no difference in neonatal outcome. Dalteparin most likely shortens parturition time and may decrease the number of operative interventions due to protracted labor.
Influence of velocity and direction of surface-parallel cutaneous stimuli on responses of mechanoreceptors in feline hairy skin.

1. The responses of cutaneous mechanoreceptors in feline hairy skin were examined in vivo with systematic variations in the velocity and direction of stimulus motion across the receptive fields (RF). The mechanoreceptor classes studied were guard hair afferents, field afferents, down hair afferents, and slowly adapting type I (SAI) mechanoreceptors. A camel's hair brush, moved by a high-precision motor, provided surface-parallel stimulation at velocities ranging from 0.4 to 100 cm/s. The stimulating device and protocols were similar to those previously used to evaluate human perception, thus allowing direct comparison of the two sets of data. 2. Each mechanoreceptor produced highly reliable mean firing rates with repeated stimulation. All mechanoreceptors showed a growth in evoked activity with increased stimulus velocity. With few exceptions, the relationship between brush velocity and mean firing rate was well described by a power function throughout the range of velocities tested. The exponents of these power functions, reflecting the degree of velocity dependency for each mechanoreceptor, were largest for the field type 1 units (F1) and guard hair type 1 units (G1). 3. The capacity of the mechanoreceptors to discriminate velocity was examined in the context of signal detection theory. For each unit, a velocity discriminability estimate (velocity delta'e) was calculated for responses to 5 versus 10 cm/s brushing and 10 versus 20 cm/s. The G1 and F1 units exhibited the largest velocity delta'e values, which were comparable to human velocity discriminability (d'e) values. Thus these data show the quantitative parallel between the velocity discriminability of G1 and F1 mechanoreceptors and of human perception similarly tested. 4. Most mechanoreceptors generated different response rates with stimuli moving in opposing directions (in the proximal-distal axis of the hindlimb). However, no mechanoreceptor class showed a consistently preferred direction of movement. A directional delta'e value was calculated for each mechanoreceptor at each stimulus velocity. These values were quite variable, even within a single mechanoreceptor class. In general, a mechanoreceptor's directional delta'e value either 1) decreased with increasing velocity or 2) remained constant across velocities. The way in which human directional discriminability varies with stimulus velocity did not parallel the way in which mechanoreceptor's directional delta'e values varied with the same range of stimulus velocities. 5. Some mechanoreceptors were tested with both the standardized brush, which was smaller than most mechanoreceptors' RFs, and a much larger brush, which was at least twice the size of the mechanoreceptors' RFs. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Cardioprotective effect of grape-seed proanthocyanidins on doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity in rats

Context: Doxorubicin (Dox) is an anthracycline antibiotic used as anticancer agent. However, its use is limited due to its cardiotoxicity which is mainly attributed to accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Objective: This study was conducted to assess whether the antioxidant, proanthocyanidins (Pro) can ameliorate Dox-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Materials and methods: Male Sprague–Dawely rats were divided into four groups. Group I was control. Group II received Pro (70 mg/kg, orally) once daily for 10 days. Group III received doxorubicin 15 mg/kg i.p. as a single dose on the 7th day and Group IV animals were treated with Pro once daily for 10 days and Dox on the 7th day. The parameters of study were serum biomarkers, cardiac tissue antioxidant status, ECG, and effect on aconitine-induced cardiotoxicity. Results: Cardiac toxicity of doxorubicin was manifested as a significant increase in heart rate, elevation of the ST segment, prolongation of the QT interval and an increase in T wave amplitude. In addition, Dox enhanced aconitine-induced cardiotoxicity by a significant decrease in the aconitine dose producing ventricular tachycardia (VT). Administration of Pro significantly suppressed Dox-induced ECG changes and normalized the aconitine dose producing VT. The toxicity of Dox was also confirmed biochemically by significant elevation of serum CK-MB and LDH activities as well as myocardial MDA and GSH contents and decrease in serum catalase and myocardial SOD activities. Administration of Pro significantly suppressed these biochemical changes. Discussion and conclusion: These results suggest that proanthocyanidins might be a potential cardioprotective agent against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity due to its antioxidant properties.
A Single-Center Experience of Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in Pediatric Urinary Tract Infection

Objective: To assess the prevalence of urinary tract pathogens and their resistance patterns against antimicrobial agents in a single center. Patients and Methods: In children <16 years of age admitted for urinary tract infection (UTI) to the Dr. Sami Ulus Teaching and Training Hospital from January 2004 to December 2008, positive urine cultures were reviewed. Results: A total of 3,485 positive urine cultures were identified, of which 2,379 (68%) were from females and 106 (32%) from males. Their mean age was 63.5 ± 40.7 months. Escherichia coli was the most common causative agent both in total and among different age groups. Ampicillin had the highest resistance rate from all the pathogens isolated (63.8%), followed by piperacillin (51.8%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX; 48.6%). Cephalotin also had a high resistance rate (32.7%). The least resistance was for imipenem, amikacin, netilmicin and ciprofloxacin (0.13, 1.7, 2.4 and 7.5%, respectively). None of the Klebsiella and Pseudomonas isolates were resistant to imipenem. None of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates were resistant to teicoplanin and vancomycin. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. were isolated from two cultures. Conclusion:E. coli was the most common causative agent of UTI in children. Ampicillin, TMP-SMX or cephalothin and piperacillin had the highest resistance rates against urinary tract pathogens in our center.
Surviving Childhood Leukemia in a Latin Culture: An Explorative Study Based on Young Adults’ Written Narratives

This study investigated memories of childhood leukemia conveyed by survivors belonging to a Latin culture, exploring whether benefit findings was spontaneously reported, as by non-Latin survivors. Three hundred patients previously treated for leukemia were contacted by post/e-mail and asked to write freely about their illness experience. The 106 letters received were analyzed for narrative structure and content, according to a grounded theory approach. Participants expressed most of the themes conveyed by childhood cancer survivors in non-Latin countries, and benefit finding was spontaneously reported. To the latter, the usefulness of creating and maintaining personal narratives on cancer experience, sustained by health care professionals, is discussed.
The Influence of Strike on the Choice of Higher Education Demand in Oyo State , Nigeria

1 Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research, Ojoo Ibadan, Nigeria. 2 Department of Economics, Lead City University Ibadan, Nigeria. Corresponding Author: Campbell, O.A __________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract The financial problem in igerian higher educational institutions, which started in the late 1970s, became more severe in the 1990s and remains a major problem today. The arbitrary interference in university governance by military governments and their authoritarian handling of university matters – often without regard to constituted statutory structures of the system also aggravated the problems of university autonomy and the proper functioning of the institutions which made ASUU/ ASU embark on several national strikes. The study aimed at examining the influence of strike on the choice of household demand for higher education in Oyo State. It also examined other determinant of the demand for higher education. The study utilized the binary choice estimation technique in analysing primary data derived from 2000 copies of the questionnaire administered in year 2004 among households in nine local governments in Oyo State which were selected, using two-stage stratified sampling procedure. Descriptive statistic and chi-square was used to explain the effect of strike on household choice of higher education in Oyo State, while probit regression model was used to estimate the determinants of the demand for higher education specified in the utility maximization model, involving demographic, family, school and trigger (i.e. strike actions in public institutions) variables. The result of the study shows that 80% of households sent their children to private higher institutions because of strike in public institutions irrespective of the price/cost. Household size, per capita household expenditure, school fees, father’s educational attainment, gender, household location, and strike actions are significant at 5%. However, strike action, gender, and household expenditure have positive coefficients of 0.39, 0.40, and 0.50 with households preferring to send their female children to private institutions than males. In conclusion, strike action in public institutions along with other variables influence the choice of higher education. Therefore, frequent strikes in public institutions could be reduced with the introduction of fees to generate private funds to finance higher education, encouragement of public-private partnership to provide infrastructural facilities and government quick response to various agitations of workers in public higher institutions __________________________________________________________________________________________
Macrovascular and microvascular endothelium during long‐term hypoxia: Alterations in cell growth, monolayer permeability, and cell surface coagulant properties

In bovine aortic or capillary endothelial cells (ECs) incubated under hypoxic conditions, cell growth was slowed in a dose‐dependent manner at lower oxygen concentrations, as progression into S phase from G1 was inhibited, concomitant with decreased thymidine kinase activity. Monolayers grown to confluence in ambient air, wounded, and then transferred to hypoxia showed decreased ability to repair the wound, as a result of both decreased motility and cell division. Hypoxic ECs demonstrated a ≈3‐fold increase in the total number of high‐affinity fibroblast growth factor receptors, and levels of endogenous FGF were suppressed. Consistent with the presence of functional FGF receptors, addition of basic FGF overcame, at least in part, hypoxia‐mediated suppression of EC growth, and enhanced wound repair in hypoxia, stimulating both motility and cell division. Despite slower growth in hypoxia, ECs could achieve confluence, and the monolayers consisted of larger cells with altered assembly of the actin‐based cytoskeleton and small gaps between contiguous cells. The permeability of these hypoxic EC monolayers to macromolecules and lower molecular weight solutes was increased. Cell surface coagulant properties were also perturbed: the anticoagulant cofactor thrombomodulin was suppressed, and a novel Factor X activator appeared on the EC surface. These data indicate that micro‐ and macrovascular ECs can grow and be maintained at low oxygen tensions, but hypoxic endothelium exhibits a range of altered functional properties which can potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of vascular lesions.
An analytical study of security patterns

Security is a critical component in information systems today. Designing and implementing secure systems requires a lot of skill and expertise. A secure system is based on sound software engineering principles and proven best practices in the form of guidelines and design patterns. Since Yoder and Barcalow's seminal work in 1997 on security patterns, several patterns and pattern catalogs have emerged. Today, the security pattern landscape is very vast and complex. Hence, proper organization and classification of patterns is important so that appropriate patterns can be used in a specific problem context. Patterns have been classified using various methodologies and criteria. There are many overlaps in the classification schemes and they do not cover all patterns. We propose that the classification of security patterns based on a common set of criteria and the use of analytical methods and tools will give additional insight into the relations, hierarchy and grouping of patterns, whereby their applicability can be improved. This is also important to understand pattern coverage and perform gap analysis. In this paper, we present an analytical study of security patterns and use hierarchical clustering to organize the patterns. The paper also presents an algorithm for pattern selection based on security goals.
Prenatal Risk Factors for Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma: Follow-up of 2,594,783 Danes Born from 1950 to 2002

The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma has increased in young adults, specifically in Denmark. In this study, we examined the risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma in relation to prenatal markers of hormone levels and to family-related risk factors. The study was based on a follow-up of 2,594,783 Danes born from 1950 to 2002. Occurrence of possible hormone-related cancers among family members and indicators of abnormal prenatal hormone levels were not associated with cutaneous malignant melanoma risk, whereas family size and mother's age at first birth were significant risk factors for cutaneous malignant melanoma in offspring. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(1):155–61)
The Effect of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Agents on Postoperative Anastomotic Complications in Crohn’s Disease: a Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: Patients with Crohn’s disease treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha agents may have an increased risk of surgical complications. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha on postoperative complications in patients with Crohn’s disease undergoing abdominal surgery. DATA SOURCES: Studies were identified through electronic and manual searches. STUDY SELECTION: Observational studies on patients with Crohn’s disease undergoing laparoscopic or open abdominal surgery were included. INTERVENTIONS: Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha agents were administered within 3 months before surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was anastomotic complications including overt dehiscence, intra-abdominal abscess, and enteric fistulas. RESULTS: Fourteen studies on 679 patients in the intervention (anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha) group and 2363 controls were included. Random-effects meta-analysis found no difference in anastomotic complications between the 2 groups (7.6% versus 8.2%; risk ratio, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.56–1.48). There was clear heterogeneity between studies. In subgroup analyses, the anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha increased anastomotic complications in trials with a lower risk of bias, but not in the studies with a higher bias risk (risk ratio, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.03–2.60 and risk ratio, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.05–0.60). In the overall analysis and in studies with a lower bias risk, anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha agents increased the risk of nonanastomotic surgical complications, major medical complications, and minor medical complications. LIMITATIONS: Limitations of observations studies. CONCLUSIONS: In studies with a low risk of bias, anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha agents increased the risk of anastomotic complications. Inadequate bias control may lead to an underestimated risk of anastomotic complications.