bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aircraft Gas Turbine Engine Health Monitoring System by Real Flight Data
Authors: Yildirim Mustagime Tülin , Kurt Bülent
Published: March 2018

Modern condition monitoring-based methods are used to reduce maintenance costs, increase aircraft safety, and reduce fuel consumption. In the literature, parameters such as engine fan speeds, vibration, oil pressure, oil temperature, exhaust gas temperature (EGT), and fuel flow are used to determine performance deterioration in gas turbine engines. In this study, a new model was developed to get information about the gas turbine engine’s condition. For this model, multiple regression analysis was carried out to determine the effect of the flight parameters on the EGT parameter and the artificial neural network (ANN) method was used in the identification of EGT parameter. At the end of the study, a network that predicts the EGT parameter with the smallest margin of error has been developed. An interface for instant monitoring of the status of the aircraft engine has been designed in MATLAB Simulink. Any performance degradation that may occur in the aircraft’s gas turbine engine can be easily detected graphically or by the engine performance deterioration value. Also, it has been indicated that it could be a new indicator that informs the pilots in the event of a fault in the sensor of the EGT parameter that they monitor while flying.
Nonlinear Resonance Responses of Electromechanical Integrated Magnetic Gear System
Authors: Hao Xiu-hong , Zhu Hong-qian , Pan Deng
Published: March 2018

Nonlinear differential equations for an electromechanical integrated magnetic gear (EIMG) system are developed by considering the nonlinearity in the magnetic force of the system components. Expressions for the main resonances and superharmonic resonances are obtained for output wave frequencies close to the natural frequency and half the natural frequency of the derived EIMG system. The response laws are discussed in detail. The magnetic coupling stiffness among the components is found to exhibit distinct nonlinearity, leading to strong main resonances and superharmonic resonances. Smaller values of the magnetic coupling stiffness and damping result in larger response amplitudes and transient responses that slowly decay to zero. When the main resonances and superharmonic resonances occur, the dominant frequency of the response is the natural frequency of the derived EIMG system, and the amplitudes of different components of the resonance display large differences.
MPO Promoter Polymorphism rs2333227 Enhances Malignant Phenotypes of Colorectal Cancer by Altering the Binding Affinity of AP-2α
Authors: Meng Qingtao , Wu Shenshen , Wang Yajie , Xu Jin , Sun Hao , Lu Runze , Gao Na , Yang Hongbao , Li Xiaobo , Tang Boping , Aschner Michael , Chen Rui
Published: March 2018

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) promoter SNPs rs2243828 (−764T>C) and rs2333227 (G-463A) program malignant phenotypes by regulating MPO transcriptional activity. In this study, we enrolled a total of 1,175 controls and 1,078 patients with colorectal cancer with comprehensive clinical and survival information to assess whether these SNPs could affect the susceptibility and development of colorectal cancer. The MPO rs2333227 TT genotype significantly increased the risk of colorectal cancer and decreased the overall survival time of patients. Colorectal cancer cells with the rs2333227 TT genotype exhibited enhanced proliferation, migration, and invasion capacity in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that MPO SNP rs2333227 C to T mutation altered the binding affinity of the transcription factors AP-2α to the rs2333227 mutation region, sequentially enhancing expression levels of MPO and activating further IL23A–MMP9 axis–mediated oncogenic signaling. Taken together, our findings indicate that MPO SNP rs2333227 serves as a marker of enhanced risk for development of colorectal cancer.

Significance: MPO polymorphisms are a guide for high risk and poor prognosis in patients colorectal cancer. Cancer Res; 78(10); 2760–9. ©2018 AACR.
Non-Gestational Choriocarcinoma with Widespread Metastases Presenting with Type 1 Respiratory Failure in a 39-Year-Old Female: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Stockton Louisa , Green Elizabeth , Kaur Baljeet , De Winton Emma
Published: March 2018

Introduction: Non-gestational choriocarcinoma (NGCC) is an extremely rare cancer. We report a case presenting in extremis. Case Report: A 39-year-old woman presented with type 1 respiratory failure with a 1-month history of breathlessness. Computed tomography (CT) revealed widespread metastatic disease involving the lungs, liver, pancreas, and breast. Serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin was markedly raised. Over 72 h, she deteriorated and was started on high-flow nasal cannula to facilitate discussions and for comfort. Histology from a breast biopsy suggested a choriocarcinoma, and she was commenced on etoposide and cisplatin. Unfortunately she continued to deteriorate and died on day 11 of admission. Molecular genotyping received post-mortem confirmed non-gestational choriocarcinomatous differentiation within a high-grade tumour. Discussion: NGCC carries a worse prognosis compared with gestational choriocarcinoma and is historically less chemosensitive. However, differentiation between these two diagnoses is challenging due to a lack of immuno-histochemical differences. The NGCC in this case was likely to have originated in the lung due to a 12-cm mass in the lingula, and extensive emphysema on CT. Primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma has a rapidly fatal course in the majority of patients. Conclusion: This is the only case to our knowledge of NGCC presenting in extremis, where an accurate diagnosis was not achieved pre-mortem. This also demonstrates the merit of non-invasive ventilation within palliation to facilitate communication and comfort.
Risk of Liver Toxicity with Nivolumab Immunotherapy in Cancer Patients
Authors: Zarrabi Kevin , Wu Shenhong
Published: March 2018

Background: Nivolumab is approved for the treatment of many cancers. This meta-analysis was conducted to determine the risk of hepatotoxicity with nivolumab therapy. Methods: An analysis from all phase I–III clinical trials up to December 2016 examining nivolumab was conducted. Data on elevations in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were extracted from the safety profiles of each trial. Incidence and relative risk (RR) were calculated using random- or fixed-effects models with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The incidences of all-grade and high-grade elevations in AST were 5.4% (95% CI 3.2–9.1) and 1.6% (95% CI 0.9–3.0), respectively. The incidences of all-grade and high-grade elevations in ALT were 4.9% (95% CI 2.9–8.2) and 1.7% (95% CI 0.9–3.1), respectively. Elevations of both laboratory markers were significantly increased when compared to control (p < 0.001). Nivolumab significantly increased the RR of AST/ALT elevations; RRs were 1.58 (95% CI 1.1–2.2) for all-grade AST elevation, and 1.62 (95% CI 1.2–2.3) for all-grade ALT elevation. Subgroup analysis of all-grade AST or ALT elevation revealed a signi­ficant variation among tumor types (p < 0.001) and with combination with ipilimumab (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Nivolumab is associated with significantly increased risk of liver toxicity.
Altered Hippocampal Gene Expression and Morphology in Fetal Piglets following Maternal Respiratory Viral Infection
Authors: Antonson Adrienne M. , Balakrishnan Bindu , Radlowski Emily C. , Petr Geraldine , Johnson Rodney W.
Published: March 2018

Maternal infection during pregnancy increases the risk of neurobehavioral problems in offspring. Evidence from rodent models indicates that the maternal immune response to infection can alter fetal brain development, particularly in the hippocampus. However, information on the effects of maternal viral infection on fetal brain development in gyrencephalic species is limited. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess several effects of maternal viral infection in the last one-third of gestation on hippocampal gene expression and development in fetal piglets. Pregnant gilts were inoculated with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) at gestational day (GD) 76 and the fetuses were removed by cesarean section at GD 111 (3 days before anticipated parturition). The gilts infected with PRRSV had elevated plasma interleukin-6 levels and developed transient febrile and anorectic responses lasting approximately 21 days. Despite having a similar overall body weight, fetuses from the PRRSV-infected gilts had a decreased brain weight and altered hippocampal gene expression compared to fetuses from control gilts. Notably, maternal infection caused a reduction in estimated neuronal numbers in the fetal dentate gyrus and subiculum. The number of proliferative Ki-67+ cells was not altered, but the relative integrated density of GFAP+ staining was increased, in addition to an increase in GFAP gene expression, indicating astrocyte-specific gliosis. Maternal viral infection caused an increase in fetal hippocampal gene expression of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ and the myelination marker myelin basic protein. MHCII protein, a classic monocyte activation marker, was reduced in microglia, while expression of the MHCII gene was decreased in hippocampal tissue of the fetuses from PRRSV-infected gilts. Together, these data suggest that maternal viral infection at the beginning of the last trimester results in a reduction in fetal hippocampal neurons that is evident 5 weeks after infection, when fetal piglets are near full term. The neuronal reduction was not accompanied by pronounced neuroinflammation at GD 111, indicating that any activation of classic neuroinflammatory pathways by maternal viral infection, if present, is mostly resolved by parturition.
Preliminary Clinical Effect Evaluation of Resveratrol in Adults with Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Lv Chunjiang , Zhang Yongsheng , Shen Lili
Published: March 2018

Background: Resveratrol is a natural, nonflavonoid polyphenol, exerting anti-inflammatory activity. It has been reported that resveratrol, together with carboxymethyl-β-glucan, can reduce nasal symptoms in children with allergic rhinitis (AR). In this study, the effect of resveratrol on nasal symptoms in adults with AR was investigated. Methods: We conducted a placebo-controlled, double-blinded study. One hundred and fifty-one adults (aged 18–60 years) with severe persistent AR were divided into a placebo-treated group (n = 50), a positive control budesonide-treated group (n = 50), and a resveratrol-treated group (n = 51). They were then treated with 2 sprays (100 µL/spray) in each nostril 3 times/day for 1 month. Nasal symptoms including obstruction, itching, sneezing, and rhinorrhea, and the levels of IgE, IL-4, TNF-α, and eosinophils in the blood were assessed at baseline and after treatment. Results: Adults treated with resveratrol or budesonide achieved a significant reduction in nasal symptoms compared to the placebo-treated group. The resveratrol treatment significantly decreased the IgE, IL-4, TNF-α, and eosinophil levels in the blood. In addition, the resveratrol treatment was found to improve the quality of life of adults with AR. Conclusion: Our preliminary study showed that intranasal resveratrol is capable of significantly improving nasal symptoms in adults with AR.
Effectiveness of Particle Radiotherapy in Various Stages of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Pilot Study
Authors: Sorin Yushi , Ikeda Kenji , Kawamura Yusuke , Fujiyama Shunichiro , Kobayashi Masahiro , Hosaka Tetsuya , Sezaki Hitomi , Akuta Norio , Saitoh Satoshi , Suzuki Fumitaka , Suzuki Yoshiyuki , Arase Yasuji , Kumada Hiromitsu
Published: March 2018

Aim: We analyzed the effectiveness of external particle radiotherapy (PRT) as an alternative therapy for various stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Eighty-three patients with HCC underwent PRT in our hospital from 2007 to 2015 (proton beam radiation in 58 patients and carbon ion radiation in 25 patients), including patients with early-stage HCC (single HCC measuring ≤3 cm, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC] stage 0 or A) (group A, n = 30), those with intermediate-stage HCC (HCCs measuring ≥3 cm but inoperable or multinodular and transcatheter arterial embolization [TACE]-refractory, BCLC stage B) (group B, n = 31), and those with advanced-stage HCC (HCC with portal invasion or extrahepatic metastasis) (group C, n = 22). The median radiation dose was 72.6 GyE (range 50–74) for proton beam radiation and 45.0 GyE (range 45–52.8) for carbon beam radiation. Local control ability was defined as continuous shrinkage of the tumor size without development of new lesions for ≥6 months after PRT. Results: The rates of local control of the target tumor at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were 91.9, 86.3, and 84.8%, respectively. The overall survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 83.0, 65.6, and 55.1%, respectively. Patients in group A showed the best survival rates (100.0% at 1 year and 85.9% at 2 years). The 1-year survival rate was poor in group C (63.6%) despite a good local tumor control rate of 74.7%. The overall survival rates were significantly better in groups A and B than in group C. Conclusions: The local control rates after PRT were sufficiently high compared to TACE or sorafenib. Thus, PRT should be adopted for patients with difficult-to-treat HCC in the early and intermediate stages.
Migraine and Headache Prevalence and Associated Comorbidities in a Large Saudi Sample
Authors: Muayqil Taim , Al-Jafen Bandar N. , Al-Saaran Zaid , Al-Shammari Mohammed , Alkthiry Abdulrahman , Muhammad Wejdan S. , Murshid Rozan , Alanazy Mohammed H.
Published: March 2018

Background: We aimed to assess the prevalence of headache and migraine, along with comorbidities, in a large ­Saudi sample. Methods: Self-reported information was collected about headache, migraine and migraine comorbidities including depression, restless legs syndrome (RLS), syncope, bruxism, hypertension and ischaemic disease. The OR was estimated using logistic regression for any associations with headache and migraine. We then analyzed to find a trend of increasing migraine symptoms for each significant comorbidity. Results: Out of 4,943 respondents, 4,158 (84.12%) had recurring headaches. Migraine was present in 1,333 (26.97%), with female predominance (ratio of 1: 2.9). There were statistically significant ORs between migraine and female sex, current smokers, higher income, hypertension, depression, syncope, RLS and bruxism. Non-migraine headaches were significantly associated with female sex, age, RLS and ischaemic disease. Migraine with aura was significantly associated with syncope, ischaemic disease, higher income and BMI. There was an overall significant trend of increasing migraine features in the presence of depression, syncope, RLS, bruxism and hypertension. Conclusions: Headache in general and migraine in particular are associated with multiple comorbidities in comparison to non-headache participants in our cohort, with an estimated prevalence similar to that of western countries.
Stroke Referrals from Nursing Homes: High Rate of Mimics and Late Presentation
Authors: Kneihsl Markus , Enzinger Christian , Niederkorn Kurt , Wünsch Gerit , Müller Lisa , Culea Valeriu , Lueger Andreas , Fazekas Franz , Gattringer Thomas
Published: March 2018

Background: Stroke has become a treatable condition with increasing evidence of treatment benefits in older people. However, stroke mimics in geriatric patients are especially prevalent, causing incorrect suspicion and consecutive burden to patients and emergency room resources. We therefore examined the dimension of this problem by investigating emergency room admissions from nursing homes for suspected stroke. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all nursing home residents who were admitted to the neurological emergency room of our primary and tertiary care university hospital between 2013 and 2015. Patients were further divided into those with confirmed stroke and stroke mimics after diagnostic stroke work-up. Results: Of 419 nursing home patients referred to the emergency room, nearly one third had suspected stroke (n = 126; mean age: 78 ± 14 years, polypharmacy rate: 77%). Of those, 43 (34%) had a confirmed stroke (ischaemic: n = 34; haemorrhagic: n = 9) and 83 (66%) had stroke mimics after diagnostic work-up. Only one patient underwent intravenous thrombolysis, followed by mechanical thrombectomy for middle cerebral artery occlusion. Prehospital delay (47%) and multimorbidity-associated contraindications (27%) were the main reasons for withholding recanalization therapy. Among the stroke-mimicking conditions, infectious diseases (24%) and epileptic seizures (20%) were the most frequent. Multivariate analysis identified focal deficits (OR 16.6, 95% CI 4.3–64.0), atrial fibrillation (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.5–10.5) and previous stroke (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.2–8.9) as indicators that were associated with stroke. Conclusions: In our region, nursing home referrals for suspected stroke have a high false positive rate and occur delayed, which most often precludes specific stroke treatment in addition to multimorbidity. Such problems may also exist in other centres and highlight the need for targeted educational and organizational efforts. Simple indicators as identified in this study may help to sort out patients with true stroke more efficiently.
Inhibition of HHIP Promoter Methylation Suppresses Human Gastric Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration
Authors: Zuo Yun , Lv Yan , Qian Xiaolan , Wang Shaokai , Chen Zhipen , Jiang Qin , Cao Cong , Song Yu
Published: March 2018

Background/Aims: Human hedgehog-interacting protein (HHIP) is a negative regulator of the hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway. It is deregulated in gastric cancer. The underlying molecular mechanism of HHIP-induced inhibition of HH signaling remains to be determined. Methods: A lentiviral HHIP expression vector (“LV-HHIP”) was established to exogenously over-express HHIP in gastric cancer cells. HHIP protein and mRNA were tested by Western blotting assay and quantitative real-time PCR assay, respectively. Cell survival was tested by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Cell proliferation was examined by the BrdU ELISA assay and [H3] Thymidine DNA incorporation assay. Cell invasion and migration were tested by the phagokinetic track assay and the “Transwell” assay. The bisulfite-sequencing PCR was applied to test HHIP promoter methylation. Results: In the established (AGS cell line) and primary human gastric cancer cells, LV-HHIP transfection increased HHIP expression and inhibited cancer cell survival and proliferation as well as cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, LV-HHIP significantly attenuated promoter methylation of the endogenous HHIP gene in AGS cells, causing it upregulation. Inhibition of methylation by 5-aza-dc similarly induced HHIP expression in gastric cancer cells, which inhibited cancer cell proliferation and migration. Conclusions: Our results suggest that inhibition of HHIP promoter methylation can efficiently inhibit human gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration.
Urine Proteomics Revealed a Significant Correlation Between Urine-Fibronectin Abundance and Estimated-GFR Decline in Patients with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
Authors: Caterino Marianna , Zacchia Miriam , Costanzo Michele , Bruno Giuliana , Arcaniolo Davide , Trepiccione Francesco , Siciliano Rosa Anna , Mazzeo Maria Fiorella , Ruoppolo Margherita , Capasso Giovambattista
Published: March 2018

Background:/Aims: Renal disease is a common cause of morbidity in patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), however the severity of kidney dysfunction is highly variable. To date, there is little information on the pathogenesis, the risk and predictor factors for poor renal outcome in this setting. The present study aims to analyze the spectrum of urinary proteins in BBS patients, in order to potentially identify 1) disease-specific proteomic profiles that may differentiate the patients from normal subjects; 2) urinary markers of renal dysfunction. Methods: Fourteen individuals (7 males and 7 females) with a clinical diagnosis of BBS have been selected in this study. A pool of 10 aged-matched males and 10 aged-matched females have been used as controls for proteomic analysis. The glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) has been estimated using the CKD-EPI formula. Variability of eGFR has been retrospectively assessed calculating average annual eGFR decline (ΔeGFR) in a mean follow-up period of 4 years (3-7). Results: 42 proteins were significantly over- or under-represented in BBS patients compared with controls; the majority of these proteins are involved in fibrosis, cell adhesion and extracellular matrix organization. Statistic studies revealed a significant correlation between urine fibronectin (u-FN) (r2=0.28; p<0.05), CD44 antigen (r2 =0.35; p<0.03) and lysosomal alfa glucosidase ( r20.27; p<0.05) abundance with the eGFR. In addition, u-FN (r2 =0.2389; p<0.05) was significantly correlated with ΔeGFR. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that urine proteome of BBS patients differs from that of normal subjects; in addition, kidney dysfunction correlated with urine abundance of known markers of renal fibrosis.
Prevalence of Pathogenic Gene Mutations and Prognosis Do Not Differ in Isolated Left Ventricular Dysfunction Compared With Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Hazebroek Mark R. , Krapels Ingrid , Verdonschot Job , van den Wijngaard Arthur , Vanhoutte Els , Hoos Marije , Snijders Luc , van Montfort Lieke , Witjens Maryvonne , Dennert Robert , Crijns Harry J.G.M. , Brunner-La Rocca Hans-Peter , Brunner Han G. , Heymans Stephane
Published: March 2018

Background:

Genetic evaluation is recommended in patients with unexplained dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), but its diagnostic yield and prognostic relevance in unexplained isolated left ventricular dysfunction (LVdys) is unknown.

Methods and Results:

A total of 127 LVdys and 262 DCM patients underwent genetic screening. Long-term outcome consisted of a combined end point of life-threatening arrhythmia, heart transplantation, and death. At baseline, LVdys patients were younger and had less frequently New York Heart Association class ≥3 when compared with DCM (55±13 versus 58±12;
P
=0.019 and 21% versus 36%;
P
=0.003, respectively). The prevalence of familial disease and pathogenic mutations was similar in LVdys and DCM (45% versus 40%;
P
=0.37 and 19% versus 17%;
P
=0.61, respectively). After a follow-up of 56 (31–82) months, outcome did not differ in LVdys compared with DCM patients (hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.47–1.45;
P
=0.51). Overall, outcome was less favorable in patients with a genetic mutation or familial disease when compared with those without (hazard ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–7.7;
P
=0.048 and hazard ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–4.2;
P
=0.013, respectively). Thus, the diagnostic yield of genetic testing in LVdys and DCM is similarly high. The presence of a gene mutation or familial predisposition results in an equally worse prognosis.

Conclusions:

Genetic evaluation is advised in LVdys patients and should not merely be restricted to DCM.
Clinical Outcomes of Plavix and Generic Clopidogrel for Patients Hospitalized With an Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Ko Dennis T. , Krumholz Harlan M. , Tu Jack V. , Austin Peter C. , Stukel Therese A. , Koh Maria , Chong Alice , de Melo Jose Francisco , Jackevicius Cynthia A.
Published: March 2018

Background:

Clopidogrel is one of the most commonly prescribed medications because of its ability to improve clinical outcomes for a broad range of cardiovascular conditions. After patent protection expired for Plavix in 2012, many healthcare systems adopted generic clopidogrel as a strategy to reduce healthcare costs.

Methods and Results:

We conducted a population-based observational study to determine whether generic clopidogrel was noninferior to Plavix. Patients who were hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) from 2009 to 2014 in Ontario, Canada, >65 years, survived ≥7 days after discharge, were eligible for inclusion. The primary outcome was a composite of death and recurrent ACS at 1 year. The noninferiority margin was prespecified at a relative hazard difference of 10%. Inverse propensity of treatment weighting of the propensity score was used to account for differences in baseline characteristics between the treatment groups. The effect of clopidogrel on the hazard of clinical outcomes was estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model within the propensity-weighted cohort using Plavix as a reference. Our study included 24 530 patients with ACS, 12 643 were prescribed Plavix and 11  887 were prescribed generic clopidogrel at hospital discharge. The mean age was 77 years, 57% were men, and 21% had an ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction. At 1 year, 17.6% of patients prescribed Plavix and 17.9% of patients prescribed clopidogrel experienced the primary outcome (hazard ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.96–1.08;
P
=0.005 for noninferiority). No significant differences between rates of death, all-cause readmission, ACS, stroke or transient ischemic attack, or bleeding were observed.

Conclusions:

Generic clopidogrel was noninferior to Plavix with respect to the composite end point of death and recurrent hospitalization for ACS at 1 year among adults >65 years after an ACS hospitalization. Our findings support generic clopidogrel in ACS, which could lead to substantial healthcare cost savings.
Prognostic Impact of Statin Intensity in Heart Failure Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease: A Report From the CHART‐2 (Chronic Heart Failure Registry and Analysis in the Tohoku District 2) Study
Authors: Oikawa Takuya , Sakata Yasuhiko , Nochioka Kotaro , Miura Masanobu , Tsuji Kanako , Onose Takeo , Abe Ruri , Kasahara Shintaro , Sato Masayuki , Shiroto Takashi , Takahashi Jun , Miyata Satoshi , Shimokawa Hiroaki ,   the CHART‐2 invesigators
Published: March 2018

Background

The beneficial prognostic impact of statins has been established in patients with ischemic heart disease but not in those with heart failure (
HF
). In addition, it is still unclear whether patients benefit from statins regardless of low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

Methods and Results

We examined 2444 consecutive stage C or D
HF
patients with ischemic heart disease registered in CHART‐2 (Chronic Heart Failure Registry and Analysis in the Tohoku District 2), a multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study in Japan. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the Japanese standard doses of statins and statin‐intensity categories defined by the 2013 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines: higher (moderate‐high)‐intensity (n=868), lower (low)‐intensity (n=526), and no statin (n=1050). The median follow‐up period was 6.4 years (13929 person‐years). Analysis with the inverse probability of treatment weighted using a propensity score for multiple treatment revealed that both the higher‐intesity group (hazard ratio [
HR
]: 0.68;
P
<0.001) and the lower‐intensity group (
HR
: 0.82;
P
<0.001) had significantly lower incidence of the primary end point—a composite of all‐cause death and
HF
admission—compared with the no statin group. The higher‐intensity statin group had significantly lower incidence of the primary end point (
HR
: 0.82;
P
<0.001), all‐cause death (
HR
: 0.83;
P
<0.001), and
HF
admission (
HR
: 0.78;
P
<0.001) than the lower‐intensity statin group. Moreover, the use of statins, either higher‐ or lower‐intensity, was associated with reduced incidence of the primary end point, regardless of low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

Conclusions

These results suggest that statin use, particularly the use of higher‐intensity statins, has a beneficial prognostic impact in
HF
patients with ischemic heart disease, regardless of low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier:
NCT
00418041.
High‐Density Lipoprotein Subspecies Defined by Apolipoprotein C‐III and Subclinical Atherosclerosis Measures: MESA (The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis)
Authors: Aroner Sarah A. , Koch Manja , Mukamal Kenneth J. , Furtado Jeremy D. , Stein James H. , Tattersall Matthew C. , McClelland Robyn L. , Jensen Majken K.
Published: March 2018

Background

Apolipoprotein C‐
III
(apoC‐
III
), a small proinflammatory protein present on 6% to 7% of high‐density lipoprotein (
HDL
) particles, defines a subspecies of
HDL
adversely associated with coronary heart disease in primarily white cohorts. In a multi‐ethnic population free of clinical cardiovascular disease, we evaluated the relationship between apoC‐
III
–defined
HDL
subspecies and subclinical markers of atherosclerotic pathology.

Methods and Results

We investigated cross‐sectional associations between apolipoprotein A‐I concentrations of apoC‐
III
–defined
HDL
subspecies, measured via
ELISA
and imaging measures of subclinical atherosclerosis, among 4659 participants in the MESA (The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) at baseline (2000–2002).
HDL
particles containing and lacking apoC‐
III
were divergently associated with coronary artery calcification in women (
P
‐heterogeneity=0.002) but not in men (
P
‐heterogeneity=0.31) and with carotid plaque score (
P
‐heterogeneity=0.02) and intima‐media thickness (
P
‐heterogeneity=0.06) in the overall study population.
HDL
lacking apoC‐
III
was inversely associated with all outcome measures (coronary artery calcification, women: odds ratio per
SD
=0.81 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73–0.90]; carotid plaque, overall: odds ratio per
SD
=0.92 [95% CI, 0.84–1.00]; intima‐media thickness, overall: mean difference per
SD
=−14.0 µm [95% CI, −21.1 to −6.7 μm]), whereas
HDL
containing apoC‐
III
was positively associated (coronary artery calcification, women: odds ratio=1.10 [95% CI, 0.99–1.22]; plaque, overall: odds ratio=1.10 [95% CI, 1.01–1.19]) or unassociated. Neither total
HDL
nor
HDL
subspecies was associated with changes in subclinical atherosclerosis measures up to 10 years later.

Conclusions

The presence of apoC‐
III
defined a subspecies of
HDL
not inversely associated with baseline measures of subclinical atherosclerosis, supporting a role of apoC‐
III
in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease.
Residential Proximity to Major Roadways and Risk of Incident Ischemic Stroke in NOMAS (The Northern Manhattan Study)
Authors: Kulick Erin R. , Wellenius Gregory A. , Boehme Amelia K. , Sacco Ralph L. , Elkind Mitchell S.
Published: March 2018

Background and Purpose—

The evidence supporting the deleterious cardiovascular health effects of living near a major roadway is growing, although this association is not universal. In primary analyses, we hypothesized that residential proximity to a major roadway would be associated with incident ischemic stroke and that cardiovascular risk factors would modify that association.

Methods—

NOMAS (The Northern Manhattan Study) is an ongoing, population-based cohort study designed to measure cardiovascular risk factors, stroke incidence, and other outcomes in a multiethnic urban population. Recruitment occurred from 1993 to 2001 and participants are followed-up annually by telephone. Residential addresses at baseline were geocoded and Euclidean distance to nearest major roadway was estimated and categorized as in prior studies. We used Cox proportional hazard models to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association of this distance to incidence of stroke and other outcomes, adjusting for sociodemographic and cardiovascular risk factors, year at baseline, and neighborhood socioeconomic status. We assessed whether these associations varied by age, sex, smoking status, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

Results—

During a median follow-up period of 15 years (n=3287), 11% of participants were diagnosed with ischemic stroke. Participants living <100 m from a roadway had a 42% (95% confidence interval, 1.01–2.02) higher rate of ischemic stroke versus those living >400 m away. This association was more pronounced among noncurrent smokers (hazard ratio, 1.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–2.26) and not evident among smokers (hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.23–2.06). There was no clear pattern of association between proximity to major roadways and other cardiovascular events including myocardial infarction, all-cause death, or vascular death.

Conclusions—

In this urban multiethnic cohort, we found evidence supporting that within-city variation in residential proximity to major roadway is associated with higher risk of ischemic stroke. An individual’s smoking history modified this association, with the association remaining only among participants not currently smokers.
Rates and Risk Factors for Arterial Ischemic Stroke Recurrence in Children
Authors: Stacey Arthur , Toolis Claire , Ganesan Vijeya
Published: March 2018

Background and Purpose—

Recurrent ischemic events are common in children with arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) and put patients at risk for further neurological impairment. This study sought to identify rates and risk factors for recurrent AIS or transient ischemic attack in a cohort of children seen after index AIS and uniformly investigated and managed using contemporary clinical guidelines.

Methods—

Case note and radiology review of children >28 days and <18 years of age who presented to Great Ormond Street Hospital from 2005 to 2015 with index AIS. Demographic characteristics, medical history, index AIS features, radiological findings, and neurological outcome were examined. Recurrence was identified from clinical records and coded as AIS (if there was associated new cerebral infarction) or transient ischemic attack.

Results—

Eighty-four children (43 girls; median age at index AIS, 4.1 years) were identified. Cumulative AIS recurrence was 5% at 1 month, 10% at 3 months, 12% at 6 months, 12% at 12 months, and 15% at 60 months after index event. Factors that independently predicted AIS recurrence were referral to Great Ormond Street Hospital from outside the catchment area, a prior relevant diagnosis, bilateral arteriopathy, and AIS CASCADE category 3A or 3B (Childhood AIS Standardized Classification and Diagnostic Evaluation). Multiple infarcts and evidence of mature, as well as acute, infarcts on first brain imaging, although independently associated with AIS recurrence, were also associated with bilateral arteriopathy. Only CASCADE categories 3A and 3B (bilateral cerebral arteriopathy with or without collaterals) remained significant in multivariate analysis. AIS recurrence was not associated with poor neurological outcome.

Conclusions—

AIS recurrence remains a significant problem, despite the wide use of antithrombotic medications. AIS subtypes should direct clinicians and future trials to use stratified management strategies and durations of treatment. Bilateral cerebral arteriopathies are especially sinister, and consensus criteria should be developed to improve consistency of management.
California Conceptualism's About-Face
Authors: Stewart-Halevy Jacob
Published: March 2018

This essay considers the renewal of “deadpan routines” by Conceptual artists in the early 1970s. Allen Ruppersberg, William Leavitt, and William Wegman, among other California Conceptualists, drew deadpan away from the repetition of administrative procedures, thereby evacuating the effects of psychic urgency and trauma with which the device had been conventionally associated in avant-garde practice. Instead, they keyed their routines to the interactional norms of post-studio pedagogy in Southern California art schools and the rote protocols of below-the-line Hollywood institutions where casual negligence towards imposed assignments served to undermine local bureaucratic authority.
Laudato Si
Authors: Holden William N. , Mansfield William O.
Published: March 2018

This article examines the highly influential Papal encyclical Laudato Si issued by Pope Francis in June 2015. The scientific basis behind climate change is discussed, as are the consequences of climate change, which will be disproportionately borne by the poor countries and poor peoples of the world. The Pope’s prescriptions for coping with climate change are reviewed and the article concludes with a discussion of how Laudato Si exemplifies the simultaneous, and frequently intersecting, themes of protecting the environment and protecting the poor in Catholic social thought. In many ways, Laudato Si is the product of the church of the poor confronting climate change.
Fitting a Square Peg into a Round Hole: Categorizing Works of Jewish Historiography of the Second Temple Period
Authors: Finkelstein Ari
Published: March 2018

The categories of Jewish historiography of the Second Temple Period frame how scholars and their students approach crucial texts of this era and therefore shape our understanding of history. Yet, these categories are fraught with difficulties. This article explores this issue by examining Daniel R. Schwartz’s categorization of Second Temple historiography as either Palestinian or diasporan works. While these categories provide interesting insights, they also leave far too many exceptions. This article demonstrates that such efforts of categorization warp our understanding of Second Temple historiography. Rather than categorize Second Temple historiography I suggest that each work ought to be considered from the point of view of its author’s aims.
The Untouchable Nature of the ‘EU Seal Regime’—Is the European Union Liable for the Damages Suffered by the Canadian Inuit Due to the Violation of WTO Law in EC—Seal Products?
Authors: Hennig Martin
Published: March 2018

In this article, the author assesses whether Canadian Inuit sealers, who have suffered economic damage in the wake of the introduction of the European Union (EU) ban on seal products, can bring an action for damages against the EU before the European Court of Justice. The author reviews why the EU ban on seal hunting violates World Trade Office (WTO) law and discusses if, and why, Canadian Inuit sealers can rely on a violation of the WTO Agreements as a legal basis in a potential claim for damages under EU law. Moreover, the author criticizes the current state of EU law, which does not grant reparation of the economic damage suffered by indigenous communities when carrying out their traditional seal hunts that are protected under UN human rights law.
The Role of the ‘al-Ġobn’ Imbalance in Strengthening Arab Consumers: The Significance of the European Approach
Authors: Ibrahim Mohammed Ali
Published: March 2018

The concept of imbalance, al-ġobn, is a decisive factor in protecting consumers. In addition to consumer protection regulations, imbalance as a traditional defect in contracts (not in will) in Egypt and Syria is a cornerstone of increasing protection. However, the concept has not been developed and remains limited to certain occasions, mainly exploitation. Therefore, it is useful to examine imbalance in modern consumer laws in developed countries (e.g. in European consumer law). We first compare the perspectives of both traditional and European laws. Then we examine the interrelationship between both perspectives by demonstrating how the traditional defects of will became a source of imbalance rather than being limited to exploitation only. The conclusion thus reconsiders the concept of imbalance shifting to increase consumer protection in Arab countries, even though it may not be included in any separate legal instrument (e.g. in consumer-protection acts).
The Reinscription of Life, Labour, and Property in David H.T. Wong’s Escape to Gold Mountain
Authors: Phung Malissa
Published: March 2018

Situated within comics and graphic life writing scholarship, this article examines the rhetoric of serially illustrating Chinese labour in David H.T. Wong’sEscape to Gold Mountain. It reads the alignment of dead, murdered, injured, and struggling Chinese labourers alongside Indigenous characters and Chinese North American trailblazers as part of the book’s commemorative impulse to memorialize these historical figures and relationships in the (trans)national imaginary. It also claims that the narrative’s rhetorical shifts, from satire to irony, melancholy to condemnation, all form an ethical appeal to the reader to remember and honour the lives and contributions of the Gold Mountain migrants when their presence in the visual and historical archive has been dehumanized by Yellow Peril discourses. However, the article concludes that Wong’s anti-racist memorial project also problematically reinvests in the model minority myth, indigenizes the figure of the Chinese labourer, and upholds a settler colonial relationship to the land.
Three species of Hydrobaenus Fries (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae) from Belarus
Authors: MAKARCHENKO EUGENYI A. , MAKARCHENKO MARINA A.
Published: March 2018

Illustrated descriptions of adult male, pupa and fourth instar larva of Hydrobaenus molleri sp. nov., adult male of H. hvoenskiensis sp. nov. and redescription of adult male H. pilipes (Malloch) with taxonomic notes are provided on the basis of materials collected from Belarus.
Rediscovery of the critically endangered ‘scarce yellow sally stonefly’ Isogenus nubecula in United Kingdom after a 22 year period of absence
Authors: DAVY-BOWKER JOHN , HAMMETT MICHAEL J. , MAUVISSEAU QUENTIN , SWEET MICHAEL J.
Published: March 2018

The critically endangered ‘scarce yellow sally stonefly’ Isogenus nubecula (Newman, 1833) (Plecoptera: Perlodidae) was rediscovered in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017. This rediscovery comes after a 22-year period of absence despite numerous surveys since its last record in 1995. This species is one of the rarest stoneflies in the UK and Europe and its rediscovery is of international significance, being the westernmost point in Europe where the species is found, with the next nearest populations occurring in Austria and western Hungary, Slovakia, and central Sweden. The species is classed as pRDB2 (vulnerable), however is not listed in the British Red Data Book despite only being present (as far as records detail) in one river, the River Dee in North Wales, UK. Only fourteen individuals were caught and the need for conservation of this rare stonefly is therefore of paramount importance. We have made recommendations for the need to increase survey effort using environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques in order to fully understand the species range in this river and those in the surrounding area. The DNA sequence of I. nubecula has been uploaded on GenBank for further genetic studies. Captive rearing could also be explored with possible reintroductions to sites within its former UK range.
Pristimantis antisuyu sp. n. and Pristimantis erythroinguinis sp. n., two new species of terrestrial-breeding frogs (Anura, Strabomantidae) from the eastern slopes of the Andes in Manu National Park, Peru
Authors: CATENAZZI ALESSANDRO , LEHR EDGAR
Published: March 2018

We describe two new species of Pristimantis from the Kosñipata valley in the eastern slopes of the Andes near Manu National Park, Peru. The two new species are closely related but do not overlap elevationally: P. antisuyu sp. n. occurs from 1485–1823 m a.s.l., whereas P. erythroinguinis sp. n. occurs from 930–1255 m a.s.l. Both species are readily distinguished from all other species of Pristimantis but P. cruciocularis and P. flavobracatus by possessing an iris with a cruciform pattern, no tympanum, and red bright or yellow coloration on groin. We used a Maximum Likelihood approach to infer a molecular phylogeny on a dataset composed of 27 terminals and 903 bp of the concatenated 16S rRNA and COI mitochondrial fragments. Our phylogenetic analyses indicate that, despite differing in groin coloration from red to yellow, individuals of P. cruciocularis and P. flavobracatus form a single clade, and some specimens have identical 16S sequences. Therefore, we synonymize P. flavobracatus with P. cruciocularis. The two unnamed species are closely related to P. cruciocularis. Pristimantis antisuyu sp. n. differs from P. cruciocularis and P. erythroinguinis sp. n. by having smaller yellow spots, instead of extensive red coloration, on groin and hind limbs, by being larger with proportionally longer tibias, and by having an inner metatarsal tubercle three times the size of outer metatarsal tubercle (twice as long in the other two species). Pristimantis erythroinguinis sp. n., despite having coloration very similar to P. cruciocularis, is the sister taxon to both P. antisuyu sp. n. and P. cruciocularis, and can be distinguished from the latter by having much darker ventral coloration, and no cream or yellow spots on flanks and surrounding the red inguinal marks.
Description of the new genus Nebulene Volynkin & Černý, gen. nov., with a new species from Thailand and Vietnam (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae)
Authors: VOLYNKIN ANTON V. , ČERNÝ KAREL
Published: March 2018

The new genus Nebulene Volynkin & Černý, gen. nov. is described for Setina nebulosa Moore, 1878. The new genus belongs to the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex and is related to Barsura Volynkin, Dubatolov & Kishida, 2017, Barsine Walker, 1854 and Miltochrista Hübner, [1819]. A new species, Nebulene monocornuta Volynkin & Černý, sp. nov. is described from Thailand and Vietnam. A lectotype is designated for Setina nebulosa Moore, 1878. Adults, male and female genitalia of both Nebulene species and representatives of the related genera are illustrated.
A new Panchaetothripinae genus and species, also a newly recorded genus, from Southwestern China (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
Authors: LI YAJIN , LI ZHENGYUE , ZHANG HONGRUI
Published: March 2018

Araliacothrips daweishanensis gen. et sp.n. is described from Southwestern China in the Thripidae, Panchaetothripinae. In the form of the pronotum and fore wing, and the sculpture on the tergites, this species resembles species of Helionothrips. It is referred to a new genus because the metathoracic endofurca is simple and transverse, the head has cheeks parallel but constricted behind eyes without an occipital apodeme or collar, and tergites III–VIII have a pair of sub-median curved or sigmoid setae. A morphologically similar genus, Aoratothrips, is recorded from China for the first time.
A revision of the genus Boroecia Poulsen 1973 (Ostracoda, Halocypridae) with the descriptions of three new species
Authors: STĘPIEŃ A. , BŁACHOWIAK-SAMOŁYK K. , KRAWCZUK M. , ANGEL M.V.
Published: March 2018

The halocyprid ostracod genus Boroecia Poulsen, 1973 is described in detail and Boroecia borealis (Sars, 1866) is nominated as type species. We unravel several taxonomic confusions and uncertainties in the earlier literature that had their origins in the classification of Boroecia maxima and Boroecia antipoda (Müller, 1906) as subspecies of Boroecia borealis. Three new species are described, B. alaska n. sp., and B. danae n. sp. from the Pacific and B. hopcrofti n. sp. from the high Arctic, bringing the total number of species in the genus to six. Five of the species are described in detail, the only exception is Boroecia maxima (Brady & Norman, 1896), for which there is already a full description in the literature. Comparative illustrations are provided for all the species together with standardised meristic data. A key to the identity all six species is included.
A new species of Halozercon (Acari: Zerconidae) from South Siberia (Russia) with additional information on Halozercon karacholana Wiśniewski et al., 1992
Authors: MARCHENKO IRINA I.
Published: March 2018

Halozercon barguzin sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on female, male, deutonymph and protonymph specimens collected from soil and litter in the Khamar-Daban Range of South Baikal Region (South Siberia, Russia). Additional morphological information and illustrations of all developmental stages of of Halozercon karacholana Wiśniewski et al., 1992 are provided, with new data on its geographical distribution.