bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conditionally Replicating Adenovirus Expressing TIMP2 for Ovarian Cancer Therapy
Authors: Yang Sherry W. , Cody James J. , Rivera Angel A. , Waehler Reinhard , Wang Minghui , Kimball Kristopher J. , Alvarez Ronald A. , Siegal Gene P. , Douglas Joanne T. , Ponnazhagan Selvarangan
Published: November 2010

Purpose: Current treatments for ovarian cancer have limited therapeutic outcomes due to advanced stage of the disease at diagnosis. Among new therapies, conditionally replicating adenoviruses (CRAds), designed to selectively lyse cancer cells, hold promise. In clinical trials, CRAds exhibited limited efficacy thus far. Second-generation CRAds are being developed to express a therapeutic protein to enhance antitumor efficacy. One attractive target in the tumor microenvironment is the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrade the extracellular matrix, and are upregulated in ovarian cancer. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2) is an endogenous inhibitor of MMPs. The present study developed and evaluated a novel CRAd (Ad5/3-CXCR4-TIMP2) for ovarian cancer therapy.

Experimental Design: A targeted CRAd, Ad5/3-CXCR4-TIMP2 was developed using the CXCR4 promoter for enhanced replication, and expressing the TIMP2 transgene. The efficacy of this armed CRAd was determined in both established human ovarian cancer cell lines and in primary ovarian tumor samples.

Results: Ad5/3-CXCR4-TIMP2 mediated expression of functional TIMP2, as demonstrated by the inhibition of MMP activity. In addition, arming with TIMP2 did not inhibit viral replication or oncolytic potency, as the TIMP2-armed viruses showed enhanced killing of cancer cells when compared to the unarmed viruses. We also examined viral replication in primary ovarian cancer tissues obtained from patients with stage III and IV ovarian cancer. In four of the five tumor samples, Ad5/3-CXCR4-TIMP2 revealed a 21- to 89-fold increase in replication when compared to the Ad5/3 virus.

Conclusion: Results support the translational potential of Ad5/3-CXCR4-TIMP2 for treatment of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 17(3); 538–49. ©2010 AACR.
Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Promotes the Proliferation and Invasion of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells
Authors: Li Hua , Cai Qi , Godwin Andrew K. , Zhang Rugang
Published: November 2010

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is the catalytic subunit of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) that includes noncatalytic subunits suppressor of zeste 12 (SUZ12) and embryonic ectoderm development (EED). When present in PRC2, EZH2 catalyzes trimethylation on lysine 27 residue of histone H3 (H3K27Me3), resulting in epigenetic silencing of gene expression. Here, we investigated the expression and function of EZH2 in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). When compared with primary human ovarian surface epithelial (pHOSE) cells, EZH2, SUZ12, and EED were expressed at higher levels in all 8 human EOC cell lines tested. Consistently, H3K27Me3 was also overexpressed in human EOC cell lines compared with pHOSE cells. EZH2 was significantly overexpressed in primary human EOCs (n = 134) when compared with normal ovarian surface epithelium (n = 46; P < 0.001). EZH2 expression positively correlated with expression of Ki67 (P < 0.001; a marker of cell proliferation) and tumor grade (P = 0.034) but not tumor stage (P = 0.908) in EOC. There was no correlation of EZH2 expression with overall (P = 0.3) or disease-free survival (P = 0.2) in high-grade serous histotype EOC patients (n = 98). Knockdown of EZH2 expression reduced the level of H3K27Me3 and suppressed the growth of human EOC cells both in vitro and in vivo in xenograft models. EZH2 knockdown induced apoptosis of human EOC cells. Finally, we showed that EZH2 knockdown suppressed the invasion of human EOC cells. Together, these data demonstrate that EZH2 is frequently overexpressed in human EOC cells and its overexpression promotes the proliferation and invasion of human EOC cells, suggesting that EZH2 is a potential target for developing EOC therapeutics. Mol Cancer Res; 8(12); 1610–8. ©2010 AACR.
miR-200 Inhibits Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Invasion and Metastasis by Targeting Flt1/VEGFR1
Authors: Roybal Jonathon D. , Zang Yi , Ahn Young-Ho , Yang Yanan , Gibbons Don L. , Baird Brandi N. , Alvarez Cristina , Thilaganathan Nishan , Liu Diane D. , Saintigny Pierre , Heymach John V. , Creighton Chad J. , Kurie Jonathan M.
Published: November 2010

The microRNA-200 (miR-200) family is part of a gene expression signature that predicts poor prognosis in lung cancer patients. In a mouse model of K-ras/p53-mutant lung adenocarcinoma, miR-200 levels are suppressed in metastasis-prone tumor cells, and forced miR-200 expression inhibits tumor growth and metastasis, but the miR-200 target genes that drive lung tumorigenesis have not been fully elucidated. Here, we scanned the genome for putative miR-200 binding sites and found them in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of 35 genes that are amplified in human cancer. Mining of a database of resected human lung adenocarcinomas revealed that the levels of one of these genes, Flt1/VEGFR1, correlate inversely with duration of survival. Forced miR-200 expression suppressed Flt1 levels in metastasis-prone lung adenocarcinoma cells derived from K-ras/p53-mutant mice, and negatively regulated the Flt1 3′-UTR in reporter assays. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) isolated from murine lung adenocarcinomas secreted abundant VEGF and enhanced tumor cell invasion in coculture studies. CAF-induced tumor cell invasion was abrogated by VEGF neutralization or Flt1 knockdown in tumor cells. Flt1 knockdown decreased the growth and metastasis of tumor cells in syngeneic mice. We conclude that miR-200 suppresses lung tumorigenesis by targeting Flt1. Mol Cancer Res; 9(1); 25–35 ©2010 AACR.
Mutational Activation of FGFR3 is Not Involved in the Development of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Koufou Stella , Lunz Jens-Claudio , Borchardt Albert , Keck Bastian , Kneitz Burkhard , Gaisa Nadine T. , Hafner Christian , Giedl Christian , Rau Tilman T. , Rogler Anja , Wieland Wolf F. , Hartmann Arndt , Stoehr Robert
Published: November 2010

Objective: The mutational constitutive activation of FGFR3 has been discovered in several malignancies but only limited data on FGFR3 mutations in prostate cancer are available. Most recently, activating FGFR3 mutations were described as being associated with low-grade prostate tumors. Therefore, we investigated the FGFR3 mutation status in a comprehensive series of prostate tumors. Methods: 102 archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded prostate tumors of patients treated with radical prostatectomy [with a low-grade subgroup (Gleason score ≤6) of 29 patients] as well as 29 incidental prostate tumors [low-grade tumors (Gleason score ≤6); n = 22] and 16 benign prostatic hyperplasia samples obtained by transurethral resection of the prostate were investigated. After microdissection and DNA isolation, all FGFR3 mutation hotspots discovered in human malignancies were analyzed using the SNaPshot© approach or restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Results: All cases could successfully be analyzed by SNaPshot; 80 cases were investigated using RFLP. No mutation in FGFR3 could be detected in any of the analyzed cases. Conclusion: The most recently reported FGFR3 mutations in low-grade prostate tumors could not be verified in our series. There were also no mutations in prostate tumors from patients with concomitant bladder tumors as reported previously. These data suggest that the mutational activation of FGFR3 plays no important role in prostate carcinogenesis, which is in accordance with previous studies performed on smaller tumor cohorts.
Gene Promoter Methylation and Its Potential Relevance in Early Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Steiner Isabel , Jung Klaus , Schatz Philipp , Horns Torsten , Wittschieber Daniel , Lein Michael , Dietel Manfred , Erbersdobler Andreas
Published: November 2010

Aims: We investigated hypermethylation of the glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP1), retinoic acid receptor β2 (RARβ2), adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (PITX2) gene promoters which could serve as a sensitive tool to indicate a risk of prostate cancer even in histologically tumor-free tissues. Methods: Tumor tissues and non-neoplastic tissues at variable distances from the tumor foci were retrieved from 25 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded prostatectomy specimens and subjected to DNA extraction. The methylation levels were assessed by means of different assay technologies. Results: Significantly increased methylation levels in cancer specimens were found for all promoter regions (GSTP1: 21/25, 84%; RARβ2: 24/25, 96%; APC: 21/25, 84%; PITX2: 20/25, 80%) and in most samples containing prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Several samples showed increased RARβ2 and APC methylation in adjacent non-neoplastic tissue. An association between the methylation extent of GSTP1, APC and RARβ2, respectively, and primary Gleason grade was detectable. GSTP1 methylation was also associated with extraprostatic tumor extension. Conclusion: GSTP1, APC, RARβ2 and PITX2 methylation occur frequently in prostate cancer, making these markers sensitive tools for the detection of neoplastic lesions in the prostate. For RARβ2, the results suggest a kind of methylation field effect which could be helpful for the detection of prostate cancer. Larger studies are necessary to investigate a potential correlation of GSTP1, RARβ2 and APC hypermethylation with tumor aggressiveness.
Normal Ranges of Embryonic Length, Embryonic Heart Rate, Gestational Sac Diameter and Yolk Sac Diameter at 6–10 Weeks
Authors: Papaioannou George I. , Syngelaki Argyro , Poon Leona C.Y. , Ross Jackie A. , Nicolaides Kypros H.
Published: November 2010

Objectives: To construct normal ranges for embryonic crown-rump length (CRL), heart rate (HR), gestational sac diameter (GSD) and yolk sac diameter (YSD) at 6–10 weeks of gestation. Methods: We examined 4,698 singleton pregnancies with ultrasound measurements of CRL, HR, GSD and YSD at 6–10 weeks and CRL at 11–13 weeks resulting in the live birth after 36 weeks of phenotypically normal neonates with birth weight above the 5th centile. Gestational age was derived from CRL at the 11- to 13-week scan using the formula of Robinson and Fleming. Regression analysis was used to establish normal ranges of CRL, fetal HR, GSD and YSD with gestation, and fetal HR, GSD and YSD with CRL. Results: At 6–10 weeks there were significant quadratic associations between CRL, GSD, YSD and gestation and between HR, GSD, YSD and CRL, and a cubic association between HR and gestation. The estimated gestation from CRL was the same as that of Robinson and Fleming for a CRL of 10.2–36.5 mm, but the formula of Robinson and Fleming underestimated the gestation by 1 day for a CRL 7.4–10.2 mm and this increased to 9 days for a CRL of 1 mm. Conclusion: This study established normal ranges for early pregnancy biometry.
Distribution of IgG4- and/or IgG-Positive Plasma Cells in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: An Immunohistochemical Study
Authors: Kojima Masaru , Hirokawa Mitsuyoshi , Kuma Haruji , Nishihara Eijun , Masawa Nobuhide , Nakamura Naoya , Miyauchi Akira
Published: November 2010

Background and Study Aim: Recently, immunohistochemistry has shown numerous IgG4-positive plasma cells in a subset of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), and this type of HT (IgG4 HT) appears to be a subtype of IgG4-related sclerosing disease. However, little is known about the distribution pattern of plasma cells in IgG4 thyroiditis. To clarify the distribution pattern of IgG4-positive plasma cells, 33 cases of HT demonstrating abundant lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate were studied. Methods: Using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections, histological, immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction were performed. Results: Fourteen cases were classified as IgG4 HT and 19 cases were non-IgG4 HT. Histologically, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to the degree of stromal fibrosis, lymphoid follicle formation, or the presence of phlebitis or fibrous thyroiditis. The present study demonstrated 2 distribution patterns of IgG4- and/or IgG-positive plasma cells, namely the interfollicular (n = 31) and intrafollicular + interfollicular patterns (n = 2). Interfollicular plasma cells were always polytypic intracytoplasmic immunoglobulin in all 33 cases. However, intrafollicular plasma cells in 2 lesions had monotypic kappa light chain by immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the majority of IgG4 HT and non-IgG HT cases showed an interfollicular distribution pattern of IgG4- and/or IgG-positive plasma cells.
Synchronous and Subsequent Lesions of Serrated Adenomas and Tubular Adenomas of the Colorectum
Authors: Shimomura T. , Hiyama T. , Tanaka S. , Yoshihara M. , Arihiro K. , Chayama K.
Published: November 2010

The characteristics of synchronous and subsequent lesions of serrated adenomas (SAs) of the colorectum are still unclear. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of synchronous and subsequent lesions of SAs compared with tubular adenomas (TAs) of the colorectum. Patients were divided into 2 groups: SA (127 patients) and TA (158 patients). The mean follow-up durations in the SA and TA groups were 39.7 and 42.7 months, respectively. The number and clinical features of the synchronous and subsequent lesions of both groups were examined. In the SA group, 19 (15%) patients had synchronous lesions and 3 (2%) patients had subsequent lesions. In the TA group, 68 (43%) patients had synchronous lesions and 14 (9%) patients had subsequent lesions. The frequencies of patients with synchronous and subsequent lesions in the SA group were significantly lower than those in the TA group (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.02, respectively). The most frequent synchronous lesion was SA (67%) in the SA group and TA (95%) in the TA group. The most subsequent lesion was SA (62%) in the SA group and TA (100%) in the TA group. The histology of the index polyp and synchronous and subsequent lesions tended to be identical. No invasive colorectal carcinomas were observed in either group. Our data suggest that the colonic tumorigenesis potential of patients with SA may differ from that of patients with TA.
Comparison of Different Sonographic Methods to Determine Fetal Abdominal Circumference
Authors: Kehl Sven , Zaiss Inka , Freiburg Friederike , Speierer Anne , Sütterlin Marc , Siemer Jörn
Published: November 2010

Purpose: In modern obstetric management, accurate estimation of fetal weight is an important prognostic parameter of neonatal morbidity and mortality, and a valuable tool for determining further treatment. Fetal abdominal measurements, mostly abdominal circumference (AC), are not only included in the majority of commonly used weight equations, but also have the greatest impact on weight estimation. This therefore underlines the importance of accurate determination of the AC. The aim of our study was to evaluate which method for AC calculation is the most accurate one and thereby gives the best results for fetal weight estimation. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 239 term pregnancies. Inclusion criteria were a singleton pregnancy and ultrasound examination with complete fetal biometric parameters within 3 days of delivery, and absence of structural or chromosomal malformations. For calculation of the sonographic AC, three different methods were used. As a reference method, AC of the infant was determined immediately after birth. The accuracy of fetal weight estimation was determined for all of these methods of AC measurement using a commonly used weight equation. Differences were compared by using percentage error (PE), absolute percentage error (APE), limits of agreement (LOA) and cumulative distribution. Results: The ellipse region-of-interest (ROI) method showed the best results of all sonographic methods. For estimating fetal weight, it had the lowest median APE of the sonographic methods and the lowest SD of the PE, as well as the narrowest LOA. Regarding the cumulative distribution, ellipse ROI technique included the most cases at all discrepancy levels (5, 10, 15, and 20%). Conclusion: Accurate measurement of fetal AC is important for good fetal weight estimation. The differences between the three techniques were small; however, there was a significant advantage when using the ellipse ROI method.
Evidence in a Human Fetus of Micrognathia and Cleft Lip as Potential Effects of Early Cytomegalovirus Infection
Authors: Weichert Alexander , Vogt Markus , Dudenhausen Joachim W. , Kalache Karim D.
Published: November 2010

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the most frequent congenital infections, affecting 0.2–2% of all live births. Approximately 30–50% of pregnant women are seronegative at the beginning of pregnancy, and 1% will develop primary infection during pregnancy. Fetal CMV infection is associated with a phenotype that has been described to include central nervous system anomalies, hydrops fetalis and oligohydramnios. Impaired first branchial arch development as well as orofacial clefts after CMV infection have been shown in animal models. We present a case in which ultrasound examination at 29 weeks of gestation revealed marked micrognathia and slight cleft lip as well as multiple signs of fetal infection. We focus on the detection of fetal face and skull anomalies.
Progression of a Giant Omphalocele in utero: Ultrasound and Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings
Authors: Barseghyan Karine , Gumbs Joslyn L. , Miller David A.
Published: November 2010

A 34-year-old Hispanic woman was referred to us at 18 weeks’ gestation for prenatal ultrasound. Sonographic evaluation showed a large omphalocele similar in size to the abdomen. Ultrasonographic and MRI images illustrating the typical appearance of a giant omphalocele are provided.
Making Decisions When No Good Choices Exist: Delivery of the Survivor after Intrauterine Death of the Co-Twin in Monochorionic Twin Pregnancies
Authors: Evans Mark I. , Lau T.K.
Published: November 2010

Introduction: Infertility therapies have markedly increased the incidence of multiple pregnancies and concomitantly monozygotic twinning. In utero death of one monozygotic twin predisposes the survivor to death and serious morbidity from hemodynamic collapse, thromboplastins, or microemboli. The optimal management of such cases, however, is unclear. Methods: We compared single-twin demise to similar clinical conundrums in the past to try to derive a model for the data needed to reach a consensus. Results: The management of such pregnancies is very controversial as the clinician must balance the risks of damage to the survivor by temporizing against the risks of prematurity and the possible futility of damage already having occurred because it is impossible to precisely time and document when the damage occurs. While there is not yet a standard consensus, the trend is towards more aggressive management either by rapid delivery or transfusion to ameliorate possible damage, but the risks are still very high for the survivor. Conclusions: The trend is moving towards more aggressive management than previously. We pose several questions that still remain to be answered to derive a consensus as to management, but it is unlikely that the required data could ever be obtained in a rigorous, randomized fashion.
Does Intervention in utero Preserve the Obstructed Kidneys of Fetal Lambs? A Radiological and Pathological Study
Authors: Sun Junjie , Wang Fenghua , Deng Gaoyan , Mo Jiacong
Published: November 2010

Objective: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction is a common cause of end-stage pediatric nephropathy. Our aim was to investigate whether in utero decompression can influence its development. Methods: A silastic tube was tied around the superior segment of the left ureter to cause partial unilateral obstruction in 22 fetal lambs at 75–85 days of gestation. Three weeks later, tubes were removed in 10 of the fetuses. A single sham procedure was performed on 4 control fetuses. Intravenous pyelography (IVP) and pathological evaluations were conducted in obstructed, decompressed and control subjects. Results: IVP revealed damaged renal function in obstructed subjects. Macroscopically, obstructed kidneys were larger but weighed less and had thinned parenchyma. Microscopy revealed cortical cysts of various sizes and interstitial fibrosis. The number of glomeruli was markedly decreased. In contrast, decompressed kidneys were visualized during IVP, and pathological changes were greatly ameliorated. Conclusions: Relief of obstruction in utero seems to prevent or attenuate development of nephropathy in lambs. Clinical application of this procedure should proceed with caution until further data are obtained.
The Effects of Antiangiogenic Compound SU5416 in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Sakao Seiichiro , Tatsumi Koichiro
Published: November 2010

Several lines of evidence indicate that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a prosurvival and antiapoptotic role in endothelial cells. SU5416 is the first VEGF receptor 2 inhibitor to enter clinical development for cancer therapy. A phase I/II study of SU5416 has been completed, and the results show that SU5416 is well tolerated in patients with terminal cancers. It has been shown that VEGF receptor blockade using SU5416 combined with chronic hypoxia results in severe angioproliferative pulmonary hypertension (PAH) with neointimal changes in adult rats. Although classic animal models of pulmonary hypertension (that is, the monocrotaline and hypoxic models) do not form obstructive intimal lesions in the peripheral pulmonary arteries, the SU5416 model has shown pulmonary arterial changes resembling plexiform lesions. Therefore, the SU5416 model of PAH has been used for some time, and it has thus contributed to a better understanding of the pulmonary hypertensive process. However, the mechanism by which SU5416 combined with chronic hypoxia can result in PAH with plexiform-like lesions in adult rats is complex and still remains to be fully elucidated. The most likely explanation is that there is increased apoptosis of endothelial cells in response to the loss of the survival signaling, creating conditions favoring the emergence of apoptosis-resistant cells with increased growth potential, that is, the endothelial cell hyperproliferation that might characterize the plexiform lesions of human PAH. The aim of the present review is to provide information useful for understanding a potent inhibitor of VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase, SU5416, and to better understand its use for generating animal models of PAH.
Decontamination of the Skin with Absorbing Materials
Authors: Lademann J. , Patzelt A. , Schanzer S. , Richter H. , Gross I. , Menting K.H. , Frazier L. , Sterry W. , Antoniou C.
Published: November 2010

Stimulation of the penetration of topically applied substances into the skin is a topic of intensive dermatological and pharmacological research. Next to intercellular penetration, i.e. a penetration inside the lipid layers around the corneocytes, follicular penetration also represents an efficient penetration pathway. The hair follicles act as a long-term reservoir for topically applied substances. They are surrounded by or contain several important target structures, such as blood capillaries, stem cells and dendritic cells. Therefore, the hair follicles have to be well protected from hazardous substances coming into contact with the skin. The traditional method of decontamination of the skin involves an intensive washing procedure. However, this process represents a massage, which pushes the hazardous substances even deeper into the hair follicles. In the present study, the application of absorbing materials for decontamination of the skin was investigated after the application of a model substance utilizing the tape-stripping procedure. It was found that absorbing materials are better suited than the washing process for decontamination of the skin.
Economic Evaluation of Fractional Flow Reserve–Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Multivessel Disease
Authors: Fearon William F. , Bornschein Bernhard , Tonino Pim A.L. , Gothe Raffaella M. , Bruyne Bernard De , Pijls Nico H.J. , Siebert Uwe
Published: November 2010

Background—

The Fractional Flow Reserve Versus Angiography for Multivessel Evaluation (FAME) study demonstrated significantly improved health outcomes at 1 year in patients randomized to multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention guided by fractional flow reserve (FFR) compared with percutaneous coronary intervention guided by angiography alone. The economic impact of routine measurement of FFR in this setting is not known.

Methods and Results—

In this study, 1005 patients were randomly assigned to FFR-guided or angiography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention and followed up for 1 year. A prospective cost-utility analysis comparing costs and quality-adjusted life-years was performed with a time horizon of 1 year. Quality-adjusted life-years were calculated with the use of utilities determined by the EuroQuol 5 dimension health survey with US weights. Direct medical costs included those of the index procedure and hospitalization and costs for major adverse cardiac events during follow-up. Confidence intervals for both quality-adjusted life-years and costs were estimated by the bootstrap percentile method. Major adverse cardiac events at 1 year occurred in 13.2% of those in the FFR-guided arm and 18.3% of those in the angiography-guided arm (
P
=0.02). Quality-adjusted life-years were slightly greater in the FFR-guided arm (0.853 versus 0.838;
P
=0.2). Mean overall costs at 1 year were significantly less in the FFR-guided arm ($14 315 versus $16 700;
P
<0.001). Bootstrap simulation indicated that the FFR-guided strategy was cost-saving in 90.74% and cost-effective at a threshold of US $50 000 per quality-adjusted life-years in 99.96%. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated robust results.

Conclusion—

Economic evaluation of the FAME study reveals that FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with multivessel coronary disease is one of those rare situations in which a new technology not only improves outcomes but also saves resources.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://ClinicalTrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00267774.
Influence of Age on Associations Between Childhood Risk Factors and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Adulthood
Authors: Juonala Markus , Magnussen Costan G. , Venn Alison , Dwyer Terence , Burns Trudy L. , Davis Patricia H. , Chen Wei , Srinivasan Sathanur R. , Daniels Stephen R. , Kähönen Mika , Laitinen Tomi , Taittonen Leena , Berenson Gerald S. , Viikari Jorma S.A. , Raitakari Olli T.
Published: November 2010

Background—

Atherosclerosis has its roots in childhood. Therefore, defining the age when childhood risk exposure begins to relate to adult atherosclerosis may have implications for pediatric cardiovascular disease prevention and provide insights about the early determinants of atherosclerosis development. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of age on the associations between childhood risk factors and carotid artery intima-media thickness, a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods and Results—

We used data for 4380 members of 4 prospective cohorts—Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (Finland), Childhood Determinants of Adult Health study (Australia), Bogalusa Heart Study (United States), and Muscatine Study (United States)—that have collected cardiovascular risk factor data from childhood (age 3 to 18 years) and performed intima-media thickness measurements in adulthood (age 20 to 45 years). The number of childhood risk factors (high [highest quintile] total cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and body mass index) was predictive of elevated intima-media thickness (highest decile) on the basis of risk factors measured at age 9 years (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.37 [1.16 to 1.61],
P
=0.0003), 12 years (1.48 [1.28 to 1.72],
P
<0.0001), 15 years (1.56 [1.36 to 1.78],
P
<0.0001), and 18 years (1.57 [1.31 to 1.87],
P
<0.0001). The associations with risk factors measured at age 3 years (1.17 [0.80 to 1.71],
P
=0.42) and 6 years (1.20 [0.96 to 1.51],
P
=0.13) were weaker and nonsignificant.

Conclusions—

Our analyses from 4 longitudinal cohorts showed that the strength of the associations between childhood risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness is dependent on childhood age. On the basis of these data, risk factor measurements obtained at or after 9 years of age are predictive of subclinical atherosclerosis in adulthood.
Migraine and Functional Outcome From Ischemic Cerebral Events in Women
Authors: Rist Pamela M. , Buring Julie E. , Kase Carlos S. , Schürks Markus , Kurth Tobias
Published: November 2010

Background—

Studies have linked migraine with aura to an increased risk of ischemic stroke, particularly among women. Data on the relationship of migraine and functional outcome from ischemic cerebral events are sparse.

Methods and Results—

This was a prospective cohort study among 27 852 women enrolled in the Women's Health Study for whom we had information on migraine and measured cholesterol values and who had no prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) at baseline. Migraine was classified into no history of migraine, active migraine with aura, active migraine without aura, and past history of migraine. Possible functional outcomes were no stroke or TIA, TIA, and stroke with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 0 to 1, mRS 2 to 3, and mRS 4 to 6. We used multinomial logistic regression to evaluate the relationship of migraine with functional outcomes after ischemic stroke. During a mean of 13.5 years of follow-up, 398 TIAs and 345 ischemic strokes occurred. Compared with women without history of migraine and who did not experience a TIA or stroke, women who reported migraine with aura had adjusted relative risk (95% confidence interval) of 1.56 (1.03 to 2.36) for TIA, 2.33 (1.37 to 3.97) for stroke with mRS 0 to 1, 0.82 (0.30 to 2.24) for mRS 2 to 3, and 1.18 (0.28 to 4.97) for mRS 4 to 6. The risk of any outcome was not significantly elevated for women who experienced migraine without aura or who had a past history of migraine.

Conclusions—

Results of this large prospective cohort suggest that women with migraine with aura are at increased risk of experiencing TIA or ischemic stroke with good functional outcome.
Cyclone Interactions and Evolutions during the “Perfect Storms” of Late October and Early November 1991
Authors: Cordeira Jason M. , Bosart Lance F.
Published: November 2010

This paper examines the cyclogenesis of the “Perfect Storms” of late October and early November 1991 over the North Atlantic and focuses on the influence of Hurricane Grace (HG) toward their development. The two storms considered are the “Perfect Storm” (PS) that underwent a warm seclusion process and an extratropical cyclone (EC1) with two development phases. HG, which initially formed via tropical transition (TT), influenced the first phase of EC1 via reduced atmospheric static stability and enhanced low-level baroclinicity. As a result, deep moist convection and latent heat release produced maxima in midtropospheric diabatic heating and lower-tropospheric potential vorticity (PV) that aided the development of EC1. Backward air parcel trajectories and large diabatic contributions to eddy available potential energy (APE) generation suggests that EC1 developed as a diabatic Rossby vortex (DRV)-like feature.

The second and explosively deepening phase of EC1 occurred as the cyclone coupled with an upper-tropospheric PV disturbance (PVD) over the eastern North Atlantic. Backward air parcel trajectories demonstrate the explosive deepening of EC1 involved airstreams originating from east of HG and from over the Labrador Sea. Parcel trajectories and a large baroclinic contribution to eddy APE generation further suggests that the two-phase development of EC1 may have involved a DRV-like feature.

The subsequent recurvature and extratropical transition (ET) of HG occurred in the warm sector of the PS downstream of a second upper-tropospheric PVD over the western North Atlantic. Reduced atmospheric static stability, enhanced warm air advection, and strong latent heat release during the recurvature and ET of HG contributed to the development of a strong, zonally oriented warm front and the warm seclusion of the PS. Parcel trajectory analysis demonstrates that the PS warm seclusion involved the isolation of air parcels by a bent-back warm front that were warmed via sensible heating from the underlying Gulf Stream.
Gendered Pathways? Gender, Mediating Factors, and the Gap in Boys’ and Girls’ Substance Use
Authors: Whaley Rachel Bridges , Hayes-Smith Justin , Hayes-Smith Rebecca
Published: November 2010

A gender gap in alcohol and drug use exists but is somewhat smaller than the gender gap in other forms of delinquency. This article extends studies that examine the gender–delinquency relationship to substance use in particular and estimate the extent to which major risk and protective factors mediate the association between gender and alcohol and marijuana use. The authors simultaneously draw on two traditional delinquency theories, social learning and social control, and the feminist pathways perspective regarding victimizations. This gendered pathways approach highlights the extent to which gender influences life experiences and thus the trajectories of girls and boys. In a large sample of 8th to 12th graders, school bonds and victimizations accounted for much of the gender–substance use relationship, especially in the case of casual and binge drinking.
Knowing What’s Up and Learning What You’re Not Supposed to: Hip-Hop Collegians, Higher Education, and the Limits of Critical Consciousness
Authors: Petchauer Emery
Published: November 2010

This qualitative portraiture study explores the different ways that college students deeply involved in hip-hop at two universities (i.e., hip-hop collegians) made their personal experiences in hip-hop relevant to their educational pursuits. The results of this study illustrate how students applied their experiences with the critical discourses of hip-hop music and the questioning discourse of hip-hop more generally to their perspectives of university education and their specific academic pursuits. This article also details the limits of these critical perspectives by illustrating how a subsample of hip-hop turntablists did not mobilize the critical and political perspectives that other participants embraced. Overall, this article focuses on the different ways that young adults from various ethnic backgrounds make a cultural artifact created primarily by Black communities relevant to their educational lives.
Imaging and Imagining the Cosmos: A Creative Ideal and Meme Defined by Form, Feeling, and Function
Authors: Wilson Khonsura A.
Published: November 2010

This article explores Africana philosophy and praxis, more specifically the African creative ideal and production. It mines earlier discussions on ancient African creative production for themes, memes, and essential principles, categorizing them for usefulness to discuss Africana creative production. Its overarching purpose is to discuss an Afrocentric framework that calls attention to how the ancients imaged and imagined the cosmos using aspects of Nefetari’s house of eternity as a case example. Specifically, it uses Makunefer (Ma-ku-nefer), a concept inspired by the ancient African language and cultural ideas of Egypt (Kemet), to provide an Afrocentric perspective and assumptions for framing a discussion on Africans’ creative production. Makunefer literally translates to the truly beautiful and effective. The article concludes that Ancient African creations served the people in a practical way by conforming to an ideal aspect of the world surrounding them—an ideal still useful today.
Evidence-Based Psychological Practices and Therapist Training
Authors: Mozdzierz Gerald John , Peluso Paul R. , Lisiecki Joseph
Published: November 2010

Fundamentally, counseling and therapies of all species are intimate, humanistic encounters between sufferers and healers. A variety of societal impingements on practitioners (e.g., the need to contain burgeoning health care costs via “sustainable growth rates,” limitations on the number of treatment sessions authorized by managed care companies, increasing government regulations, ethical standards, hundreds of “schools” of psychotherapy espousing efficacy) and a growing body of supportive research have resulted in an increased attention to and demand for the use of evidence-based psychological practices that can potentially undermine the fundamental underpinnings of counseling and psychotherapy. This article proposes that care and caution need to be exercised in the rush to evidence-based psychological practices as a “solution” to the concerns noted. In turn, what is advocated in helping others to become effective and compassionate practitioners is a need for an organizing principle, that is, specifically teaching/learning to think in nonlinear ways in conjunction with already well-established empirically determined common factor principles of effective treatment.
Garment Maquiladoras in the South
Authors: Navarrete J. Manuel , Aragón-Durand Fernando
Published: November 2010

The aggregated economic impact of textile maquiladoras in rural Yucatán has recently been studied, but little is known about the characteristics of the maquila workforce there. A case study of a garment maquiladora in Motul in 2003 focused on these characteristics and provides insight into the region’s maquiladora operations. In contrast to northern urban maquiladoras, the Motul garment maquiladora has attracted mainly young workers, primarily men. Similar to its northern urban counterparts, it is characterized by low salaries, high turnover, and limited use of Mexican inputs.
Use Them or Lose Them? Australia’s Defence Force Reserves
Authors: Smith Hugh , Jans Nick
Published: November 2010

This article reviews the history of military reserves in Australia with particular reference to the Army Reserve. It shows how the importance of reserves in Australia has waxed and waned across the past two centuries, from an early situation of primacy in the colonial period. The importance of reserves has reemerged in the post–Cold War era, with new forms of reserve organization evolving alongside ‘‘conventional’’ reserve forces. The authors discuss the extent to which these developments need to be accompanied by attention to cultural and personnel management issues and to enhanced reserves–regular integration. Despite the challenge of juggling civilian employment with reserve commitments, most reservists appear to welcome a greater, rather than a token, obligation to serve. There is a viable and meaningful role for the reserves provided that the Australian Defence Force and the government are prepared to devote sufficient effort to them and to assign them appropriate tasks.
More Than Meets the Eye
Authors: Vasquez Joseph Paul
Published: November 2010

At first glance, Britain’s decision in 1957 to end conscription appears to be explainable solely by external factors since that change coincided with the decision of Harold Macmillan’s government to bolster its nuclear capability following the embarrassing Suez Crisis. Furthermore, the decision was framed as a cost-cutting move amid budgetary challenges. However, that decision was substantially influenced by the fact that deployment of conscripts was heavily constrained by British domestic politics. Similarly, the merits of conscription for generating a large pool of reservists had limited utility given the political sensitivity of mobilizing reservists. The nature of the domestic constraints—both political and social—on conscription are also evident in the fact that London opted to forego selective service and scrap mandatory military service altogether. This action accelerated British imperial decline after independence was granted to India, which had previously been a sizeable colonial reservoir of British military manpower.
Soil moisture: A central and unifying theme in physical geography
Authors: Legates David R. , Mahmood Rezaul , Levia Delphis F. , DeLiberty Tracy L. , Quiring Steven M. , Houser Chris , Nelson Frederick E.
Published: November 2010

Soil moisture is a critical component of the earth system and plays an integrative role among the various subfields of physical geography. This paper highlights not just how soil moisture affects atmospheric, geomorphic, hydrologic, and biologic processes but that it lies at the intersection of these areas of scientific inquiry. Soil moisture impacts earth surface processes in such a way that it creates an obvious synergistic relationship among the various subfields of physical geography. The dispersive and cohesive properties of soil moisture also make it an important variable in regional and microclimatic analyses, landscape denudation and change through weathering, runoff generation and partitioning, mass wasting, and sediment transport. Thus, this paper serves as a call to use research in soil moisture as an integrative and unifying theme in physical geography.
Forest Grove School District v. T.A. Supreme Court Case: Implications for School Psychology Practice
Authors: Dixon Shauna G. , Eusebio Eleazar C. , Turton William J. , Wright Peter W. D. , Hale James B.
Published: November 2010

The 2009 Forest Grove School District v. T.A. United States Supreme Court case could have significant implications for school psychology practice. The Court ruled that the parents of a student with a disability were entitled to private school tuition reimbursement even though T.A. had not been identified with a disability or previously provided with special education services. The district multidisciplinary team had not identified T.A.’s disability in part because of a limited psychoeducational evaluation that did not assess him in “all areas of suspected disability” which is a requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 20 U.S.C. § 1414(b)(3)(B)). Dissatisfied with the team’s decision, the parents sought an independent comprehensive evaluation of T.A.’s psychological processes which revealed the full nature of his disability and needs. Although T.A. had been unresponsive to interventions in his home school, this comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation led to more targeted interventions in his private school placement and likely contributed to T.A.’s subsequent academic and behavioral success. This Supreme Court case highlights the need for school-based teams to conduct comprehensive evaluations in all areas of suspected disability, including psychological processes such as attention, memory, and executive function. The relevant IDEA 2004 and governing 2006 federal regulations are presented, followed by recommendations for school psychologist assessment practices to ensure compliance with IDEA statutory and regulatory requirements.
Executive Function Following Child Stroke: The Impact of Lesion Location
Authors: Long Brian , Spencer-Smith Megan M. , Jacobs Rani , Mackay Mark , Leventer Richard , Barnes Chris , Anderson Vicki
Published: November 2010

Child stroke is a major cause of death in children, although limited information exists on neurobehavioral functioning of stroke survivors. Executive function (important for goal-directed behavior) is thought to be vulnerable to early insults such as stroke because of its widespread representation in the immature brain. This study investigated the impact of lesion location on executive skills. Twenty-eight children diagnosed with stroke at least 18 months before assessment were recruited. Lesion characteristics were coded from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Neurobehavioral assessment focused on cognitive and everyday executive skills. Deficits were found in the context of overall normal intellectual functioning (M = 91.60; SD = 19.40). Generally, insults involving frontal and extra-frontal regions impacted equally on cognitive performance. Everyday deficits were marginally more prominent following frontal insult. Subcortical frontal lesions were associated with impairments in everyday executive skills. Results provide further support for the diffuse representation of executive function in the immature brain.
Vanishing White Matter Disease Associated With Ptosis and Myoclonic Seizures
Authors: Sharma Suvasini , Arya Ravindra , Raju K.N. Vykunta , Kumar Atin , Scheper Gert C. , van der Knaap Marjo S. , Gulati Sheffali
Published: November 2010

A 5-year-old boy who presented with progressive ataxia, neuroregression, and worsening with febrile illnesses is described. He also had myoclonic jerks and ptosis. His elder sister had died of a similar illness. Serial magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated extensive abnormality of the cerebral white matter with rarefaction and cystic degeneration, suggestive of vanishing white matter disease. The patient was found to be compound heterozygous for 2 new mutations in the gene EIF2B5, confirming the diagnosis.
Ohtahara Syndrome With Biotinidase Deficiency
Authors: Singhi Pratibha , Ray Munni
Published: November 2010

Ohtahara syndrome is a rare epileptic encephalopathy in infants; the underlying etiology is generally thought to be structural brain malformations. The authors present a rare case of this type of epileptic encephalopathy in which a treatable metabolic condition such as biotinidase deficiency was suspected and diagnosed, and early institution of appropriate therapy led to a good clinical outcome.
Heidegger: Time, work and the challenges for higher education
Authors: Gibbs Paul
Published: November 2010

In this article I attempt to show that Heidegger’s notions of temporality suggest a role for education in averting what he refers to as the abandonment of being in the face of machination. I use ‘machination’ to translate Machenschaft, his term for self-making; its consequences are mechanical and biological ways of thinking about beingness. I argue that this role might prevent, by encouraging questioning, our adopting this technological way of being and seeing others as a means to our ends since, despite world time’s continuum of temporality, we retain an understanding of an originary notion of future.
Time future - the dominant discourse of higher education
Authors: Clegg Sue
Published: November 2010

The paper presents a critique of the dominant temporality of higher education policy in the UK and globally. It argues that the temporality of ‘employability’ is what Barbara Adam and Chris Groves describe as the ‘present future’; a conception of the future as empty and open. Drawing on the work of Margaret Archer, the paper explores the differing existential temporalities associated with different forms of reflexivity and explores the complex temporalities of personal development planning. The increasing tempo of university life makes imagining otherwise, based on an ethical care for the future, increasingly difficult but nonetheless imperative.
Instructional Makeover: Supporting the Reading Comprehension of Students With Learning Disabilities in a Discussion-Based Format
Authors: Feiker Hollenbeck Amy
Published: November 2010

Comprehension instruction for students with learning disabilities (LD) is explored from three perspectives, all within the framework of engaging students in meaningful conversations about text with their general education peers. First, excerpts from lesson transcripts are provided to illustrate one special educator’s emphasis on student-generated questions about text, a comprehension strategy highlighted by the National Reading Panel. This same instruction is next considered from the viewpoint of the research base in special education to integrate principles of explicit instruction. Finally, student-generated questioning is presented from a third perspective not typically seen in special and general education: making transparent the relationships between comprehension strategies and active reading. Guided practice with tasks such as developing questions is unlikely to build the comprehension skills of struggling readers without explicit connections to the task of making meaning while reading text.