Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Severity, Treatment, and Outcome of Acute Pancreatitis in Thailand: The First Comprehensive Review Using Revised Atlanta Classification

Background. Severity and outcome of acute pancreatitis (AP) in Thailand are unknown. Methods. A retrospective study of 250 patients with AP during 2011–2014 was performed. Severity, treatment, and outcome were evaluated. Severity was classified by revised Atlanta classification. Results. The mean age was 58 years and 56% were men. Etiologies were gallstones (45%), alcohol (16%), postendoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (14%), and idiopathic (15%). Overall, 72%, 16%, and 12% of patients had mild, moderately severe, and severe AP, respectively. Two major types of initial intravenous fluid were normal saline (64%) and Ringer's lactate solution (RLS, 28%). Enteral nutrition was given in 77% of patients with severe AP, median duration 48 hours, and via a nasogastric tube in 67% of patients. Necrotizing pancreatitis (NP) developed in 7% of patients, and 29% of them developed infection (median 17 days). The median length of stay was 6, 9, and 13 days, and the mortality rate was 1%, 3%, and 42% in mild, moderately severe, and severe AP, respectively. The overall mortality rate was 6%. Conclusion. The severity of AP in Thailand was mild, moderately severe, and severe in 72%, 16%, and 12% of patients, respectively. NP was not prevalent. Mortality was high in severe AP. Most treatments complied with standard guidelines except the underuse of RLS.
Role of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in the Regulatory T Cell Response of Tumor-Bearing Mice

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is involved in tumorigenesis by facilitating tumor proliferation and evasion of apoptosis; however, its role in tumor immunity is unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of MIF on the progression of the syngenic, CT26 colon carcinoma and the generation of tumor regulatory T cells (Tregs). The results showed that the tumor growth rate was significantly lower in MIF knockout (MIF−/−) mice than in wild-type (MIF+/+) mice. Flow cytometric analysis of both spleen and tumor cells revealed that MIF−/− mice had significantly lower levels of tumor-associated CD4+Tregs than MIF+/+ mice. The splenic cells of MIF−/− mice also showed a decrease in CD8+Tregs, which was accompanied by an increase in CD8-induced tumor cytotoxicity. Interestingly, the inducible Treg response in spleen cells to anti-CD3/CD28 plus IL-2 plus TGF-β was greater in MIF−/− mice than in MIF+/+ mice. Spleen cells of MIF−/− mice, stimulated with anti-CD3/CD28, produced lower levels of IL-2, but not TGF-β, than those of MIF+/+ mice, which was recovered by the addition of recombinant MIF. Conversely, a neutralizing anti-MIF Ab blocked anti-CD3–induced IL-2 production by splenocytes of MIF+/+ mice and suppressed the inducible Treg generation. Moreover, the administration of IL-2 into tumor-bearing MIF−/− mice restored the generation of Tregs and tumor growth. Taken together, our data suggest that MIF promotes tumor growth by increasing Treg generation through the modulation of IL-2 production. Thus, anti-MIF treatment might be useful in enhancing the adaptive immune response to colon cancers.
The small remnant liver after major liver resection: How common and how relevant?

The maximum extent of hepatic resection compatible with a safe postoperative outcome is unknown. The study goal was to determine the incidence and impact of a small remnant liver volume after major liver resection in patients with normal liver parenchyma. Among 265 major hepatectomies performed at our institution (1998 to 2000), 138 patients with normal liver and a remnant liver volume (RLV) systematically calculated from the ratio of RLV to functional liver volume (FLV) were studied. Patients were divided into five groups based on RLV‐FLV ratio from ≤30% to ≥60%. Kinetics of postoperative liver function tests were correlated with RLV. Postoperative complications were stratified by RLV‐FLV ratios. Ninety patients (65%) underwent resection of up to four Couinaud segments. The RLV‐FLV ratio was ≤60% in 94 patients (68%) including only 13 (9%) with RLV‐FLV ≤30%. There was no linear correlation between the number of resected segments and the RLV‐FLV. Postoperative serum bilirubin but not prothrombin time correlated with extent of resection. The incidence of complications including liver failure was not different among groups. Analysis of the four groups with a RLV‐FLV ratio <60% showed a trend toward more complications and a longer intensive care unit stay in patients with the smallest RLVs. After major hepatectomy in patients with normal livers, the proportion of patients with a small remnant liver is low and not directly related to the number of segments resected. Although the rate of postoperative complications, including liver failure, did not directly correlate with the volume of remaining liver, the postoperative course was more difficult for patients with smaller remnants. Therefore preoperative portal vein embolization should be considered in patients who will undergo extended liver resection who have (1) injured liver or (2) normal liver when the planned procedure will be complex or when the anticipated RLV‐FLV will be <30%. (Liver Transpl 2003;9:S18‐S25.)
Active caspase‐3 expression during postnatal development of rat cerebellum is not systematically or consistently associated with apoptosis

Development is a dynamic process that includes an intricate balance between an increase in cell mass and an elimination of excess or defective cells. Although caspases have been intimately linked to apoptotic events, there are a few reports suggesting that these cysteine proteases can influence the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Specifically, the active form of caspase‐3, which has been classified as an executor of apoptosis, recently has been implicated in a nonapoptotic role in the regulation of the cell cycle, cell proliferation, and cell differentiation. This study investigated the nonapoptotic function and phenotypic expression of active caspase‐3‐positive cells in the external granule cell layer (EGL) of the postnatal rat cerebellum by using biochemical and immunohistochemical analyses, respectively. Evidence that negates an apoptotic function for the caspase‐3‐positive EGL cells includes a failure to exhibit chromatin condensation (assessed with TOPRO), phosphatidyl serine externalization (Annexin V labeling), or DNA fragmentation (TUNEL labeling). Proliferative (Ki67‐positive) and differentiated (TUJ1‐positive) cells within the EGL exhibited a cytosolic expression of caspase‐3, whereas terminally differentiated granule cells (NeuN‐positive) in the internal granular layer and the migrating granule cells did not express active caspase‐3. Thus, this study supports a nonapoptotic role for active caspase‐3 in cells residing in the EGL and suggests a possible involvement in EGL proliferation and differentiation. J. Comp. Neurol. 476:154–173, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mothers without companionship during childbirth: an analysis within the Millennium Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND Studies have highlighted the benefits of social support during labor but no studies focused on women who choose to be unaccompanied or who have no companion available at birth. Our goals were, first, to identify characteristics of women who are unaccompanied at birth and compare these to those who had support and, second, to establish whether or not being unaccompanied at birth is a risk marker for adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. METHODS The sample comprised 16,610 natural mother-infant pairs, excluding women with planned cesarean sections in the Millennium Cohort Study. Multivariable regression models were used to examine, first, sociodemographic, cultural, socioeconomic, and pregnancy characteristics in relation to being unaccompanied and, second, being unaccompanied at birth in relation to labor and delivery outcomes, maternal health and health-related behaviors, parenting, and infant health and development. RESULTS Mothers who were single (vs not single), multiparous (vs primiparous), of black or Pakistani ethnicity (vs white), from poor households (vs nonpoor), with low levels of education (vs high levels), and who did not attend antenatal classes (vs attenders) were at significantly higher risk of being unaccompanied at birth. Mothers unaccompanied at birth were more likely to have a preterm birth (vs term), an emergency cesarean section (vs spontaneous vaginal delivery) and spinal pain relief or a general anesthetic (vs no pain relief), a shorter labor, and lower satisfaction with life (vs high satisfaction) at 9 months postpartum. Their infants had significantly lower birthweight and were at higher risk of delayed gross motor development (vs normal development). CONCLUSIONS Being unaccompanied at birth may be a useful marker of high-risk mothers and infants in need of additional support in the postpartum period and beyond.
The Bivalency effect in task switching: Event‐related potentials

During task switching, if we occasionally encounter stimuli that cue more than one task (i.e., bivalent stimuli), response slowing is observed on all univalent trials within that block, even when no features overlap with the bivalent stimuli. This observation is known as the bivalency effect. Previous fMRI work (Woodward et al., 2008 ) clearly suggests a role for the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) in the bivalency effect, but the time course remains uncertain. Here, we present the first high‐temporal resolution account for the bivalency effect using stimulus‐locked event‐related potentials. Participants alternated among three simple tasks in six experimental blocks, with bivalent stimuli appearing occasionally in bivalent blocks (blocks 2, 4, and 6). The increased reaction times for univalent stimuli in bivalent blocks demonstrate that these stimuli are being processed differently from univalent stimuli in purely univalent blocks. Frontal electrode sites captured significant amplitude differences associated with the bivalency effect within time windows 100–120 ms, 375–450 ms, and 500–550 ms, which may reflect additional extraction of visual features present in bivalent stimuli (100–120 ms) and suppression of processing carried over from irrelevant cues (375–450 ms and 500–550 ms). Our results support the fMRI findings and provide additional evidence for involvement of the dACC. Furthermore, the bivalency effect dissipated with extended practice both behaviorally and electrophysiologically. These findings are discussed in relation to the differential processing involved in a controlled response style. Hum Brain Mapp, 2013. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Investigating “Understanding by design” in the national music education standards: Perspectives and practices of music teacher educators

The purpose of this study was to examine familiarity with and usage of “Understandingby Design” (UbD) among music teacher educators. UbD (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005) provides acurricular approach for the revised National Standards for Music Education as part of theNational Coalition for Core Arts Standards. Accordingly, the co-authors collected quantitativeand qualitative data to examine how music teacher educators conceptualized and implementedUbD. Initially, 300 members of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) servedas participants and responded to an online survey. Responses indicated a low level ofunderstanding UbD, some frustration with communication about the revised standards, and aninterest in creating a UbD resource network for music educators. As a follow-up, 13 participantswho had experience using aspects of UbD in their teaching volunteered for semi-structuredinterviews. From those data, four themes emerged: curricular modeling, awareness andadvocacy, teacher mindset, and pedagogical disadvantages of UbD. Implications includeresponsive professional development to explain and promote UbD in terms of its role in therevised standards. Additionally, music teacher educators may find a repository of sample UbDformattedlesson plans useful in understanding and using the revised national standards.
'The Bitter Sweetness of the Space Between': Creative Reflections of Pasifika Ethnic Mixedness

This Master of Arts thesis investigates and draws conclusions regarding how creative arts present accommodating spaces for articulating and understanding cultural mixedness amongst Pacific populations in New Zealand. New Zealand is home to an expanding Pacific population; statistics identify a growing number of these Pacific people who are multi-ethnic, and who are claiming their mixedness in official census data. As Pacific populations have grown, Pacific artists have risen to national prominence in visual, literary and performing arts. Many of these artists have themselves been of mixed ancestry. This thesis examines the work of three female New Zealand artists of mixed Samoan-English or Samoan-Indian descent, asking, “How do these artists and their work express their cultural mixedness? ” Discussion centres on mixed media visual artist Niki Hastings-McFall, who is of English and Samoan descent; spoken word poet Grace Taylor, also of English and Samoan descent; and musical performer Aaradhna Patel, who is of Indian and Samoan descent. Placing both the creative work and public commentary of these three artists at its centre, this thesis explores how these artists publicly identify with their Samoan heritage as well as their other heritage(s); how they use their art as a platform for identity articulation; and how creative arts provide flexible and important spaces for self-expression. The thesis draws its theoretical underpinnings from Pacific studies, art history, transnational cultural studies and postcolonial studies, and utilizes Samoan and Tongan conceptions of vā as a key analytic tool.
Cross-border risk sharing after asymmetric shocks: evidence from the euro area and the United States

This section presents empirical evidence on the shock absorption capacity of the different channels of cross-border risk sharing in the euro area. The surge in economic divergence since the crisis has turned attention to the available cross-border mechanisms to smooth consumption in the face of asymmetric shocks. The main channels considered are: private risk sharing, through access to cross-border capital and credit markets and other cross-border factor income such as labour compensation; and public risk sharing, through cross-border fiscal transfers (public stabilisation through domestic means is not considered). This section shows that Economic and Monetary Union has likely facilitated cross-border shock absorption through private risk sharing, even taking into account the impact of the crisis on the financial sector. However, a direct comparison with the shock absorption capacity across US states shows that the size of the asymmetric shock that remains unsmoothed in the euro area is very high. The difference is mainly due to much less developed capital and labour market cross-border channels in the euro area. Therefore, enhancing private risk sharing among the euro area Member States, especially through capital markets, remains a policy priority.
Comparison of the prevalence of Parkinson's disease in black populations in the rural United States and in rural Nigeria

A door-to-door survey of Parkinson's disease (PD) in Copiah County, Mississippi, using a pretested screening procedure (with a high sensitivity for detecting PD), followed by examination of all positives by a senior neurologist, revealed similar prevalence ratios for blacks and whites. The same procedure was applied in the community of Igbo-Ora, Nigeria, a black population of West Africa. To assure uniformity in the procedures and application of the diagnostic criteria, a neurologist from each survey site visited the other site. Among a black population of 3,521 over age 39 in Copiah County, there were 12 cases of PD, with an age-adjusted prevalence ratio of 341/100,000. The comparable figures for Igbo-Ora were as follows: population over age 39 = 3,412; cases of PD = 2; age-adjusted prevalence ratio = 67/100,000.
Defining Service Coordination: A Social Work Perspective

ABSTRACT This pilot study explores the meaning of and factors that influence coordination as a first step toward conceptual refinement, theory development, and system interventions. Using data from treatment guidelines archived by the National Guideline Clearinghouse (n= 9) and semistructured interviews with social workers (n= 4), themes related to the definition, indicators, and perceptions of coordination were explored using a grounded theory approach. Data suggest the need for coordination is driven by complex client needs, but the quality of providers’ personal relationships influences coordination. Future research might examine the impact of standardization of roles, referral procedures, and treatment philosophies.
The effects of ice and compression wraps on intramuscular temperatures at various depths.

While ice and compression wraps are commonly used to treat musculoskeletal injuries, the literature describing intramuscular temperatures has not addressed the combination of ice and compression wraps. The purpose of this study was to evaluate intramuscular temperatures at three sites on the anterior thigh (skin surface, 1 cm below the fat layer, and 2 cm below the fat layer) using both ice and compression wraps. Temperatures were recorded in 11 subjects with an isothermex, using implantable and surface thermocouples. Each subject was tested under four conditions: control, compression only, ice only, and ice + compression according to a balanced Latin square. Surface and intramuscular temperatures were recorded at 30 second intervals during 5 minutes of preapplication, 30 minutes application, and 20 minutes postapplication. A repeated measures ANOVA and Duncan post hoc tests were used to evaluate peak temperature differences between the treatment conditions and the depths of measurement. Both ice alone and ice + compression produced significant cooling at all three depths (F(6,60) = 168.5, p<. 0005). Likewise, during the 20-minute postapplication period, these temperatures did not return to their preapplication levels. The compression-only condition produced significant warming at the skin surface, but did not have any effect on intramuscular temperature. At all depths, the ice + compression condition produced significantly cooler temperatures than ice alone. We suggest that compression increases the effectiveness of ice in reducing tissue temperatures. Therefore, ice combined with compression should be more effective than ice alone in reducing the metabolism of injured tissue. This provides an additional rationale for combining ice with compression in treating acute musculoskeletal injuries.
Ocular Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus in the Beijing Eye Study

PurposeTo determine prevalence and associated factors of ocular hypertension in the adult Chinese population. MethodsThe Beijing Eye Study, a population-based prevalence study, included 4439 subjects out of 5324 subjects with an age of 40+ years invited to participate (response rate 83.4%). From the 4439 individuals, 4224 (95.2%) subjects fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the present study, that is, available readable optic disc photographs, a nonglaucomatous appearance of the optic disc, and a normal visual field in the case of an intraocular pressure higher than 21 mm Hg. The participants underwent an interview, a detailed ophthalmic examination, blood pressure measurements, and examination of blood samples. Ocular hypertension was defined as an intraocular pressure higher than 21 mm Hg with a normal appearance of the optic nerve head and no defects in frequency doubling perimetry. ResultsOcular hypertension was detected in 299 (3.6%) eyes (prevalence rate: 3.63%±0.21%) of 160 (3.8%) subjects (prevalence rate: 3.79%±0.29%). In multiple regression analysis, ocular hypertension was significantly associated with serum levels of cholesterol [P=0.006; odds ratio (OR): 1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-1.64], presence of diabetes mellitus (P=0.03; OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.04-2.07) and arterial hypertension (P<0.001; OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 1.86-5.43). Ocular hypertension was not significantly associated with age, sex, urban or rural region, refractive error, anterior chamber depth, optic disc area, and area of β zone of parapapillary atrophy. ConclusionsOcular hypertension has a frequency of about 3.6% in the adult Chinese population with an age of 40+ years. Associated factors are diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and elevated serum cholesterol levels. Diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and elevated serum cholesterol concentrations should be checked in ocular hypertensive subjects.
How Companies Can Benefit from Population Aging – Empirical Essays Investigating Consumers' Transition to Retirement

In three empirical essays, this dissertation investigates changes in consumer behavior during the retirement transition. The data demonstrate that consumers are more likely to change brand and patronage preferences during the transition phase than in periods before and after. Furthermore, the dissertation investigates which marketing offers and age-related labels should be used to address retirees. Factors that determine the magnitude of changes in consumer behavior, such as resource changes or an involuntary retirement, and the mechanisms through which these factors operate, such as personal adjustment need and peer group identification, were identified. The dissertation contributes to the research on the behavior of aging consumers and the understanding of the influence of life status changes on consumer behavior.
Pharmacologic Characterization of Contractile Serotonergic Receptors in Human Isolated Mesenteric Artery

The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors mediating contraction in human isolated mesenteric arteries were characterized. Endothelium-denuded human isolated mesenteric arteries were used. 5-HT induced concentration-dependent contractions in mesenteric arteries (Emax, 127.37 ± 7.61% of 80 m M KCl maximal contraction; pD2, 6.73 ± 0.09 [−logEC50]). Sumatriptan, a selective 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist, induced concentration-dependent contractions in some of the arteries (Emax, 61.82 ± 10.04%; pD2, 6.56 ± 0.21, n = 9) but not in the others (Emax < 5%, n = 13), suggesting that functional 5-HT1B/1D receptors exist in some but not in all mesenteric arteries. GR127935 (a selective 5-HT1B/1D receptor antagonist, 3 n M) inhibited sumatriptan-induced contractions in arteries in which sumatriptan responses were strong in an insurmountable manner. GR127935 (10 n M) also inhibited 5-HT responses and shifted the concentration–response curve of 5-HT to the right significantly (p < 0.05; pD2s were 6.54 ± 0.18 and 5.93 ± 0.11 in the presence of vehicle and GR127935, respectively). Ketanserin (0.01–1 &mgr;M) competitively antagonized 5-HT responses in human mesenteric arteries: pA2 value was 8.40 ± 0.25 (slope of Schild regression, 1.43 ± 0.18; r2, 0.98). Tropisetron (5-HT3 receptor antagonist) and prazosin (&agr;1-adrenoceptor antagonist) did not affect the contractions induced by 5-HT. These results suggest that 5-HT2A and 5-HT1B/1D receptors, but not 5-HT3 and &agr;1-adrenoceptors, are involved in the 5-HT–induced contractions in human isolated mesenteric arteries. Sumatriptan-induced and 5-HT1B/1D receptor-mediated responses vary greatly among patients.
Oral mucositis: A challenging complication of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiochemotherapy. Part 2: Diagnosis and management of mucositis

Oral mucositis is a common sequel of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiochemotherapy in patients with cancer or patients requiring hemopoietic stem cell transplants. Mucositis has a direct and significant impact on the duration of disease remission and cure rates, because it is a treatment‐limiting toxicity. Mucositis also affects survival because of the risk of infection and has a significant impact on quality of life and cost of care.