bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Absence of compensatory vasodilation with perfusion pressure challenge in exercise: evidence for and implications of the noncompensator phenotype
Authors: Bentley Robert F. , Walsh Jeremy J. , Drouin Patrick J. , Velickovic Aleksandra , Kitner Sarah J. , Fenuta Alyssa M. , Tschakovsky Michael E.
Published: July 2017

Compromising oxygen delivery (O2D) during exercise requires compensatory vasodilatory and/or pressor responses to protect O2D:demand matching. The purpose of the study was to determine whether compensatory vasodilation is absent in some healthy young individuals in the face of a sudden reduction in exercising forearm perfusion pressure and whether this affects the exercise pressor response. Twenty-one healthy young men (21.6 ± 2.0 yr) completed rhythmic forearm exercise at a work rate equivalent to 70% of their own maximal exercise vasodilation. During steady-state exercise, the exercising arm was rapidly adjusted from below to above heart level, resulting in a reduction in forearm perfusion pressure of −30.7 ± 0.9 mmHg. Forearm blood flow (ml/min; brachial artery Doppler and echo ultrasound), mean arterial blood pressure (mmHg; finger photoplethysmography), and exercising forearm venous effluent (antecubital vein catheter) measurements revealed distinct compensatory vasodilatory differences. Thirteen individuals responded with compensatory vasodilation (509 ± 128 vs. 632 ± 136 ml·min−1·100 mmHg−1; P < 0.001), while eight individuals did not (663 ± 165 vs. 667 ± 167 ml·min−1·100 mmHg−1; P = 0.6). Compensatory pressor responses between groups were not different (5.5 ± 5.5 and 9.7 ± 9.5 mmHg; P = 0.2). Forearm blood flow, O2D, and oxygen consumption were all protected in compensators (all P > 0.05) but not in noncompensators, who therefore suffered compromises to exercise performance (6 ± 14 vs. −36 ± 29 N; P = 0.004). Phenotypic differences were not explained by potassium or nitric oxide bioavailability. In conclusion, both compensator and noncompensator vasodilator phenotype responses to a sudden compromise to exercising muscle blood flow are evident. Interindividual differences in the mechanisms governing O2D:demand matching should be considered as factors influencing exercise tolerance.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY In healthy young individuals, compromising submaximally exercising muscle perfusion appears to evoke compensatory vasodilation to defend oxygen delivery. Here we report the absence of compensatory vasodilation in 8 of 21 such individuals, despite their vasodilatory capacity and increases in perfusion with increasing exercise intensity being indistinguishable from compensators. The absence of compensation impaired exercise tolerance. These findings suggest that interindividual differences in oxygen delivery:demand matching efficacy affect exercise tolerance and depend on the nature of a delivery:demand matching challenge.
Crosslinguistic Intelligibility of Russian and German Speech in Noisy Environment
Authors: Potapova Rodmonga , Grigorieva Maria
Published: July 2017

This paper discusses the results of the pilot experimental research dedicated to speech recognition and perception of the semantic content of the utterances in noisy environment. The experiment included perceptual-auditory analysis of words and phrases in Russian and German (in comparison) in the same noisy environment: various (pink and white) types of noise with various levels of signal-to-noise ratio. The statistical analysis showed that intelligibility and perception of the speech in noisy environment are influenced not only by noise type and its signal-to-noise ratio, but also by some linguistic and extralinguistic factors, such as the existing redundancy of a particular language at various levels of linguistic structure, changes in the acoustic characteristics of the speaker while switching from one language to another one, the level of speaker and listener’s proficiency in a specific language, and acoustic characteristics of the speaker’s voice.
Anticancer Effect of Nemopilema nomurai Jellyfish Venom on HepG2 Cells and a Tumor Xenograft Animal Model
Authors: Lee Hyunkyoung , Bae Seong Kyeong , Kim Munki , Pyo Min Jung , Kim Minkyung , Yang Sujeoung , Won Chung-kil , Yoon Won Duk , Han Chang Hoon , Kang Changkeun , Kim Euikyung
Published: July 2017

Various kinds of animal venoms and their components have been widely studied for potential therapeutic applications. This study evaluated whether Nemopilema nomurai jellyfish venom (NnV) has anticancer activity. NnV strongly induced cytotoxicity of HepG2 cells through apoptotic cell death, as demonstrated by alterations of chromatic morphology, activation of procaspase‐3, and an increase in the Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio. Furthermore, NnV inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K, PDK1, Akt, mTOR, p70S6K, and 4EBP1, whereas it enhanced the expression of p‐PTEN. Interestingly, NnV also inactivated the negative feedback loops associated with Akt activation, as demonstrated by downregulation of Akt at Ser473 and mTOR at Ser2481. The anticancer effect of NnV was significant in a HepG2 xenograft mouse model, with no obvious toxicity. HepG2 cell death by NnV was inhibited by tetracycline, metalloprotease inhibitor, suggesting that metalloprotease component in NnV is closely related to the anticancer effects. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that NnV exerts highly selective cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells via dual inhibition of the Akt and mTOR signaling pathways, but not in normal cells.
Structural-Geometric Functionalization of the Additively Manufactured Prototype of Biomimetic Multispiked Connecting Ti-Alloy Scaffold for Entirely Noncemented Resurfacing Arthroplasty Endoprostheses
Authors: Uklejewski Ryszard , Winiecki Mariusz , Rogala Piotr , Patalas Adam
Published: July 2017

The multispiked connecting scaffold (MSC-Scaffold) prototype, inspired by the biological system of anchorage of the articular cartilage in the periarticular trabecular bone by means of subchondral bone interdigitations, is the essential innovation in fixation of the bone in resurfacing arthroplasty (RA) endoprostheses. The biomimetic MSC‐Scaffold, due to its complex geometric structure, can be manufactured only using additive technology, for example, selective laser melting (SLM). The major purpose of this work is determination of constructional possibilities for the structural-geometric functionalization of SLM‐manufactured MSC‐Scaffold prototype, compensating the reduced ability—due to the SLM technological limitations—to accommodate the ingrowing bone filling the interspike space of the prototype, which is important for the prototype bioengineering design. Confocal microscopy scanning of components of the SLM‐manufactured prototype of total hip resurfacing arthroplasty (THRA) endoprosthesis with the MSC‐Scaffold was performed. It was followed by the geometric measurements of a variety of specimens designed as the fragments of the MSC-Scaffold of both THRA endoprosthesis components. The reduced ability to accommodate the ingrowing bone tissue in the SLM‐manufactured prototypes versus that in the corresponding CAD models has been quantitatively determined. Obtained results enabled to establish a way of compensatory structural‐geometric functionalization, allowing the MSC‐Scaffold adequate redesigning and manufacturing in additive SLM technology.
Aberrations Causing Neurovascular Damage in the Anterior Maxilla during Dental Implant Placement
Authors: McCrea Shane J. J.
Published: July 2017

When dental implants are being considered for placement in the maxillary central incisor region, proximity to the nasopalatine canal and its contents needs to be accounted for. The morphology of the canal changes with age. The availability of CBCT has allowed the in-depth analysis of this important variable anatomy. However, an associated important anatomical structure can be easily overlooked: the “canalis sinuosus.” This is a neurovascular canal carrying the anterior superior alveolar (ASA) nerve and artery. CBCT frequently shows the canalis sinuosus (CS) as a wide canal lateral to the nasal cavity and also under the anterior part of the nasal floor in close proximity to the NPC. The CS distributes both neural supply and vascular supply to the maxillary anterior teeth which on CBCT sagittal analysis are seen as very fine circular canals having nondistinct walls. The author presents a case history of dental implant placement in the anterior maxilla which resulted in neurovascular disturbance as a result of invasion of the nasopalatine duct and injury to its contents together with the unidentified injury to an aberrant well-defined neurovascular canal inferior to the canalis sinuosus.
A New Kind of Weak Solution of Non-Newtonian Fluid Equation
Authors: Zhan Huashui , Xu Bifen
Published: July 2017

If the non-Newtonian fluid equation with a diffusion coefficient is degenerate on the boundary, the weak solution lacks the regularity to define the trace on the boundary. By introducing a new kind of weak solutions, the stability of the solutions is established without any boundary condition.
Potential Biological Markers of Atrial Fibrillation: A Chance to Prevent Cryptogenic Stroke
Authors: Szegedi István , Szapáry László , Csécsei Péter , Csanádi Zoltán , Csiba László
Published: July 2017

Stroke affects millions of people all over the world, causing death and disability. The most frequent type of this disease is ischemic stroke, which can be caused by different factors. In approximately 25 percent of cases, no obvious cause can be found. Recent observations have shown that paroxysmal atrial fibrillation could be responsible for a significant number of cryptogenic stroke events. Short- or long-lasting ECG monitoring could help with the diagnosis of transient arrhythmias. Unfortunately, these techniques either are expensive or require good patient compliance. An alternative option is the identification of biological markers that are specific for atrial fibrillation and can be used to predict arrhythmia. In this review, we give a summary of the recent advances in the research of arrhythmia markers. Based on their structure and function, we differentiated four groups of biomarkers: markers of inflammation, markers of fibrosis, markers with hormonal activity, and other markers. In spite of intensive researches, the optimal biological marker is still not available, but there are some promising markers, like NT-proBNP/BNP.
Progression of Hepatic Adenoma to Carcinoma in Ogg1 Mutant Mice Induced by Phenobarbital
Authors: Kakehashi Anna , Ishii Naomi , Okuno Takahiro , Fujioka Masaki , Gi Min , Fukushima Shoji , Wanibuchi Hideki
Published: July 2017

The carcinogenic potential of phenobarbital (PB) was assessed in a mouse line carrying a mutant Mmh allele of the Mmh/Ogg1 gene encoding the enzyme oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (Ogg1) responsible for the repair of 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG). Mmh homozygous mutant (Ogg1−/−) and wild‐type (Ogg1+/+) male and female, 10‐week‐old, mice were treated with 500 ppm PB in diet for 78 weeks. Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) were found in PB‐treated Ogg1−/− mice, while Ogg1+/+ animals developed only hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) at the same rate. This was coordinated with PB‐induced significant elevation of 8‐OHdG formation in DNA and cell proliferation in adjacent liver of Ogg1−/− mice. Proteome analysis predicted activation of transcriptional factor Nrf2 in the livers and HCAs of PB‐administered Ogg1+/+ mice; however, its activation was insufficient or absent in the livers and HCCs of Ogg1−/− mice, respectively. Significant elevation of phase I and II metabolizing enzymes was demonstrated in both Ogg1−/− and Ogg1+/+ animals. Treatment of Ogg1−/− mice with PB resulted in significant elevation of cell proliferation in the liver. These results indicate that PB induced progression from HCA to HCC in Ogg1−/− mice, due to persistent accumulation of DNA oxidative base modifications and suppression of Nrf2‐mediated oxidative stress response, resulting in significant elevation of cell proliferation.
Dialysis in the Elderly and Impact of Institutionalization in the United States Renal Data System
Authors: Brar Amarpali , Mallappallil Mary , Stefanov Dimitre G. , Kau David , Salifu Moro O.
Published: July 2017

Background: We hypothesized that in the very elderly dialysis patients in the United States, institutionalization in nursing homes would increase mortality in addition to age alone. Methods: Incident dialysis patients from 2001 to 2008 above the age of 70 were included. Patients above 70 were categorized into 4 groups according to age as 70-75, 76-80, 81-85, and >85 years and further divided into institutionalized and noninstitutionalized. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted to assess patient survival. Results: A total of 349,440 patients were identified above the age of 70 at the time of initiation of dialysis. For institutionalized patients, the mean survival was significantly lower, 1.71 ± 0.03 years for those in the age range 70-75, 1.44 ± 0.02 years for those in the age range 76-80, 1.25 ± 0.02 years for those in the age range 81-85, and 1.04 ± 0.02 for those in the >85 years age group (p = 0.0001). The hazard ratio for mortality in institutionalized elderly patients on dialysis was 1.80 ([95% CI 1.77-1.83]; p = 0.0001). After adjustment for other variables (multivariate Cox regression), to be institutionalized was still an independent risk factor for mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.57 [95% CI 1.54-1.60]; p = 0.0001). Conclusion: There was increased mortality in institutionalized elderly patients as compared to noninstutionalized elderly patients in the same age group. In accordance with the increased frailty and decreased benefits of therapies in the very elderly, especially in those with additional co-morbidities besides age, palliative and end-of-life care should be considered.
Short versus Extended Duration of Trophic Feeding to Reduce Time to Achieve Full Enteral Feeding in Extremely Preterm Infants: An Observational Study
Authors: Salas Ariel A. , Kabani Nazia , Travers Colm P. , Phillips Vivien , Ambalavanan Namasivayam , Carlo Wally A.
Published: July 2017

Background: Trophic feeding compared to no enteral feeding prevents atrophy of the gastrointestinal tract. However, the practice of extending the duration of trophic feeding often delays initiation of full enteral feeding in extremely preterm infants. We hypothesized that a short duration of trophic feeding (3 days or less) is associated with early initiation of full enteral feeding. Methods: A total of 192 extremely preterm infants (23-28 weeks' gestation) born between 2013 and 2015 were included. Infants were divided into 2 groups according to the duration of trophic feeding (short vs. extended). The primary outcome was time to achieve full enteral feeding and the safety outcome was necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and/or death. Results: A short duration of trophic feeding was associated with a reduction in time to achieve full enteral feeding after adjustment for birth weight, gestational age, race, sex, type of enteral nutrition, and day of initiation of trophic feeding (mean difference favoring a short duration of trophic feeding: -4.1 days; 95% CI: -2.3 to -5.8; p < 0.001). A short duration of trophic feeding was not associated with a higher risk of NEC and/or death after achieving full enteral feeding (AOR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.30-2.77; p = 0.87). Conclusions: A short duration of trophic feeding is associated with early initiation of full enteral feeding. A short duration of trophic feeding is not associated with a higher risk of NEC, but our study was underpowered for this safety outcome. Randomized trials are needed to test this study hypothesis.
Cerebral and Renal Oxygen Saturation Are Not Compromised in the Presence of Retrograde Blood Flow in either the Ascending or Descending Aorta in Term or Near-Term Infants with Left-Sided Obstructive Lesions
Authors: van der Laan Michelle E. , Mebius Mirthe J. , Roofthooft Marcus T.R. , Bos Arend F. , Berger Rolf M.F. , Kooi Elisabeth M.W.
Published: July 2017

Background: In infants with left-sided obstructive lesions (LSOL), the presence of retrograde blood flow in either the ascending or descending aorta may lead to diminished cerebral and renal blood flow, respectively. Objectives: Our aim was to compare cerebral and renal tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) between infants with LSOL with antegrade and retrograde blood flow in the ascending aorta and with and without diastolic backflow in the descending aorta. Methods: Based on 2 echocardiograms, the study group was categorized according to the direction of blood flow in the ascending and descending aorta. We measured cerebral and renal rSO2 using near-infrared spectroscopy and calculated fractional tissue oxygen extraction (FTOE). Results: Nineteen infants with LSOL, admitted to the NICU between 0 and 28 days after birth, were included. Infants with antegrade blood flow (n = 12) and infants with retrograde blood flow in the ascending aorta (n = 7) had similar cerebral rSO2 and FTOE during both echocardiograms. Only during the first echocardiogram, infants with retrograde blood flow in the ascending aorta had lower renal FTOE (0.14 vs. 0.32, p = 0.04) and tended to have higher renal rSO2 (80 vs. 65%, p = 0.09). The presence of diastolic backflow in the descending aorta was not associated with cerebral or renal rSO2 and FTOE during the first (n = 8) as well as the second echocardiogram (n = 10). Conclusions: Retrograde blood flow in the ascending aorta was not associated with cerebral oxygenation, while diastolic backflow in the descending aorta was not associated with renal oxygenation in infants with LSOL.
Extremely High Prevalence of Maternal and Neonatal Vitamin D Deficiency in the Arab Population
Authors: Fouda Mona A. , Turkestani Iqbal Z. , Almusharraf Sara , Al-Ajlan Abdulrahman , Angkaya-Bagayawa Fatima F. , Sabico Shaun , Mohammed Ashry Gad , Hassanato Rana , Al-Serehi Amal , Alshingetti Naemah M. , Al-Daghri Nasser M.
Published: July 2017

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a global public health problem. The published literature on vitamin D deficiency is limited among Arab pregnant women and its association with different metabolic markers. Objective: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Arab pregnant women and neonates and its association with various biomarker profiles. Methods: This is a multicenter study taken from a large prospective project in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. Maternal biochemical levels were measured routinely. Maternal and neonatal 25(OH)D levels were assessed using a chemiluminescence immunoassay. A total of 1,097 pregnant women >16 years old with gestational ages <24 weeks were recruited from different tertiary hospitals in Riyadh between February 2011 and June 2012. Results: Almost 85% of pregnant subjects had 25(OH)D level <50 nmol/L. Vitamin D deficiency among neonates was 88%. Maternal 25(OH)D was significantly associated with neonatal 25(OH)D (r = 0.54, p < 0.01), as well as serum calcium (r = 0.16, p = 0.02) and phosphate levels (r = 0.17, p = 0.02), and had an inverse correlation with parathyroid hormone (r = -0.22, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Maternal and neonatal vitamin D deficiency is alarmingly high in Arabs and significantly associated with each another. Universal screening for serum 25(OH)D may be appropriate for Arab mothers and vitamin D supplementation mandatory until term. The study puts a spotlight on vitamin D deficiency with the hope that health professionals will address it adequately to prevent the known long-term consequences for metabolism and bone health of both mothers and their children.
Abdominal Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Detects Low Mesenteric Perfusion Early in Preterm Infants with Hemodynamic Significant Ductus Arteriosus
Authors: Ledo Ana , Aguar Marta , Núñez-Ramiro Antonio , Saénz Pilar , Vento Máximo
Published: July 2017

Background: The therapeutic decision to close patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants entails great uncertainty. Near-infrared spectroscopy is a noninvasive bedside technique used to monitor mixed regional oxygen saturation. We hypothesized that near-infrared spectroscopy could identify preterm infants at risk of mesenteric hypoperfusion associated with hemodynamically significant ductus arteriosus. Methods: This is a prospective observational study including consecutively admitted preterm infants with a gestational age <32 weeks. Mesenteric regional oxygenation was blindly monitored using an INVOS 5100 device. The presence of a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus was routinely confirmed by echocardiography/Doppler. Statistical analysis including Bland-Altman plots was performed to assess near-infrared spectroscopy intraobserver repeatability. Results: A total of 72 preterm infants were enrolled. The daily mean regional oxygen saturation for preterm infants was determined both in mesenteric and cerebral regions and plotted against time. We identified a differential temporary baseline. Hemodynamic significant ductus arteriosus was associated with lower blood pressures and lower regional splanchnic oxygenation. There was a significant relationship between reversal diastolic flow in the descending aorta and the regional oxygen saturation, which remained significant after controlling for ductal size and nil per os. Conclusions: The simultaneous monitoring of splanchnic near-infrared spectroscopy and echocardiography could identify low mesenteric perfusion in the presence of hemodynamic ductus arteriosus.
Reticulocyte Haemoglobin Content Declines More Markedly in Preterm than in Term Infants in the First Days after Birth
Authors: Lorenz Laila , Peter Andreas , Arand Jörg , Springer Fabian , Poets Christian F. , Franz Axel R.
Published: July 2017

Background: Reticulocyte haemoglobin content, i.e., the reticulocyte equivalent (Ret-He), seems to be a promising parameter for the detection of iron deficiency (ID) in neonates because it can be obtained as part of a reticulocyte count, with no additional blood loss and at no extra cost. Due to the short life span of reticulocytes, Ret-He reflects current iron availability for erythropoiesis more accurately than other common erythrocyte indices. Objective: We aimed to evaluate postnatal changes in Ret-He within the first days after birth in term and preterm infants with the hypothesis that preterm infants experience a more pronounced postnatal reduction in Ret-He when compared to term infants. Methods: We conducted retrospective analyses of clinically indicated blood samples. Paired t test and mixed regression modelling were used. Results: In total, 805 blood samples obtained from 207 term and 295 preterm infants were analysed. Ret-He decreased by 1.5 pg per day (regression coefficient [95% CI] -1.5 [-1.8 to -1.2] pg, p < 0.0001). This drop was more significant in preterm infants (regression coefficient -2.2 [-2.6 to -1.8] pg, p < 0.0001) than in term infants (regression coefficient -0.8 [-1.3 to -0.2] pg, p < 0.01, pinteraction < 0.0001). Conclusion: Ret-He declined within the first days after birth. The observed changes with postnatal age were more pronounced in preterm than in term infants. Further studies are needed to evaluate if these changes are due to developing ID or other causes.
Active Surveillance Cultures and Targeted Decolonization Are Associated with Reduced Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Infections in VLBW Infants
Authors: Wisgrill Lukas , Zizka Johanna , Unterasinger Lukas , Rittenschober-Böhm Judith , Waldhör Thomas , Makristathis Athanasios , Berger Angelika
Published: July 2017

Background: Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) is a major contributor to infectious episodes of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI), resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Objective: To examine the efficacy and safety of surveillance cultures and the decolonization of MSSA-colonized VLBWI. Methods: VLBWI admitted to our neonatal wards in 2011-2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Rates of MSSA-attributable infections were compared before and after the implementation of active surveillance cultures and the decolonization of MSSA-colonized patients. The mupirocin susceptibility of isolated MSSA strains was routinely tested. Results: A total of 1,056 VLBWI were included in the study, 552 in the pre-intervention period and 504 in the post-intervention period. The implementation of surveillance cultures and decolonization of colonized patients resulted in a 50% reduction of incidence rates per 1,000 patient-days of MSSA-attributable infections (1.63 [95% CI 1.12-2.31] vs. 0.83 [95% CI 0.47-1.35], p = 0.024). No adverse effects were observed from application of the decolonization protocol with mupirocin and octenidin. No mupirocin-resistant MSSA strains were detected during the study period. Conclusion: Implementation of an active surveillance and decolonization protocol resulted in a reduction of MSSA-attributable infections in VLBWI.
Sweet’s Syndrome Arising in a Scar
Authors: Chern Casey M. , Royer Michael , Turnage Winston
Published: July 2017

Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet’s syndrome) is an uncommon inflammatory cutaneous disorder. It presents with lesions which are tender, erythematous, edematous papules and under histologic examination show dense neutrophilic infiltration of the dermis. These lesions are often accompanied by leukocytosis and fever. This paper reports a unique case of acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis presenting as a Koebner response to a linear scar.
Wells’ Syndrome Successfully Treated with Colchicine
Authors: Iglesias Puzas Álvaro , Mesa Álvarez Laura , Flórez Menéndez Ángeles , Romero Yuste Susana , Prieto Gómez Olga
Published: July 2017

Eosinophilic cellulitis is an uncommon, inflammatory and chronic disorder of unknown etiology. Corticosteroids are currently considered as the first-line treatment but they are not without significant disadvantages such as contraindications in steroid-resistant cases and patients with frequent recurrences. We report a patient suffering from Wells’ syndrome with a 24-year history of symptomatic and generalized skin lesions. After consultation in our department, treatment with colchicine 1 mg/day was prescribed resulting in large clinical improvement. No side effects have been recorded. To our knowledge, this is an original disease approach. Although small, our clinical experience supports the inclusion of colchicine in the drug armamentarium when treating patients suffering from Wells’ syndrome. Indeed, its excellent safety profile makes it very attractive for patients with frequent recurrent episodes who need secure options for the medium- and long-term disease control.
Spironolactone for Secondary Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: A Challenge-Rechallenge Case
Authors: Kapoor Kapil G. , Sim Jennifer
Published: July 2017

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is potentially sight-threatening and has been associated with corticosteroid use. CSCR secondary to steroid use can sometimes be challenging to treat, especially if continuing steroid use is medically necessary. In this case report we demonstrate the efficacy of spironolactone as an effective agent in countering CSCR secondary to steroid use. This challenge-rechallenge case may be helpful to clinicians in delineating a treatment paradigm for these patients.
Pica in a Child with Anterior Cingulate Gyrus Oligodendroglioma: Case Report
Authors: Rangwala Shivani D. , Tobin Matthew K. , Birk Daniel M. , Butts Jonathan T. , Nikas Dimitrios C. , Hahn Yoon S.
Published: July 2017

The anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG) is a continued focus of research as its exact role in brain function and vast connections with other anatomical locations is not fully understood. A review of the literature illustrates the role the ACG likely plays in cognitive and emotional processing, as well as a modulating role in motor function and goal-oriented behaviors. While lesions of the cingulate gyrus are rare, each new case broadens our understanding of its role in cognitive neuroscience and higher order processing. The authors present the case of an 8-year-old boy with a 1-month history of staring spells, agitated personality, and hyperphagia notable for the consumption of paper, who was found to have a 3-cm tumor in the left ACG. Following surgical resection of the tumor, his aggressive behavior and pica were ameliorated and the patient made an uneventful recovery, with no evidence of recurrence over the last 6 years since surgical resection. Here we discuss a unique behavioral presentation of pica, along with a review of the current literature, to illustrate functions of the ACG relevant to the location of the lesion.
Age-Dependent Changes in Regulatory T Lymphocyte Development and Function: A Mini-Review
Authors: Darrigues Julie , van Meerwijk Joost P.M. , Romagnoli Paola
Published: July 2017

The generation and function of immuno-suppressive regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg), which can differentiate in the thymus (tTreg) or in the periphery (pTreg), are regulated in an age-dependent manner. tTreg are produced at high levels in the first weeks of age, when they expand and colonize secondary lymphoid organs and peripheral tissues to protect the organism from autoimmune diseases and to promote tissue repair. Once this population of Treg is operational in the periphery, at puberty, thymic output of Treg declines, but self-reactive tTreg generated early on in life are maintained over time and play a major role in preserving homeostasis of the immune system. Extra-thymic pTreg differentiation declines later on in life. pTreg generated throughout life mainly protect the organism from chronic inflammation and the semi-allogeneic fetus from rejection. In this review, age-dependent modulation of the production and function of these two populations of Treg is described.
Differential Event Rates and Independent Predictors of Long-Term Major Cardiovascular Events and Death in 5795 Patients With Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease Treated With Stents, Bypass Surgery, or Medication
Authors: Kang Se Hun , Ahn Jung-Min , Lee Cheol Hyun , Lee Pil Hyung , Kang Soo-Jin , Lee Seung-Whan , Kim Young-Hak , Lee Cheol Whan , Park Seong-Wook , Park Duk-Woo , Park Seung-Jung
Published: July 2017

Background—

Identifying predictive factors for major cardiovascular events and death in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease is of great clinical value for risk stratification and possible guidance for tailored preventive strategies.

Methods and Results—

The Interventional Research Incorporation Society-Left MAIN Revascularization registry included 5795 patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease (percutaneous coronary intervention, n=2850; coronary-artery bypass grafting, n=2337; medication alone, n=608). We analyzed the incidence and independent predictors of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE; a composite of death, MI, stroke, or repeat revascularization) and all-cause mortality in each treatment stratum. During follow-up (median, 4.3 years), the rates of MACCE and death were substantially higher in the medical group than in the percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary-artery bypass grafting groups (
P
<0.001). In the percutaneous coronary intervention group, the 3 strongest predictors for MACCE were chronic renal failure, old age (≥65 years), and previous heart failure; those for all-cause mortality were chronic renal failure, old age, and low ejection fraction. In the coronary-artery bypass grafting group, old age, chronic renal failure, and low ejection fraction were the 3 strongest predictors of MACCE and death. In the medication group, old age, low ejection fraction, and diabetes mellitus were the 3 strongest predictors of MACCE and death.

Conclusions—

Among patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease, the key clinical predictors for MACCE and death were generally similar regardless of index treatment. This study provides effect estimates for clinically relevant predictors of long-term clinical outcomes in real-world left main coronary artery patients, providing possible guidance for tailored preventive strategies.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
https://clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01341327.
Modern Science, Nature and the Phenomenology of Data Collection
Authors: Hoy Meredith
Published: July 2017

Artistic practices of data collection frequently reconfigure the ways in which we imagine ecosystems to operate. The interventions the author discusses here explore atmospheric conditions through visualization and sonification of data collected about phenomena indirectly experienced by the viewer. Each of the projects examined in this paper specifically address the unbalancing effects on the land and atmosphere of the byproducts of human technologies. Additionally, these artworks demonstrate how human subjectivity cannot simply encapsulate experience of the world as if from an outside perspective, but must be incorporated into the greater environmental systems of which it is a part.
The Drama of Dengue Fever: Civic-Oriented Journalists, Community and Artists Fighting Dengue
Authors: Lucena Tiago Franklin Rodrigues , Velho Ana Paula Machado , Dorne Vinicius Durval , Domingues Diana Maria Gallicchio
Published: July 2017

This paper describes a transdisciplinary approach that takes places in South of Brazil with the aim to contribute with an eco-bio-social problem: dengue fever. Inspired by enactive theories about relation between body x environment, the authors present here a nontraditional multifaceted bottom-up intervention, designed by civic-oriented journalists and artists to promote health and mobilize a small community in Maringá. The intention is to promote healthier behavior in a participatory perspective when citizens can produce and share their narratives. The content was used as creative material to produce multimedia news, sketch and prototype mobile apps with the support of community.
The Value of Waste
Authors: van Dartel Michel , Nigten Anne
Published: July 2017

This paper argues that a first step in finding a sustainable solution for the pressing global issue of ‘waste’, is to consider waste a value attribution rather than a material condition. Doing so means a shift in focus from finding more efficient ways to ‘clean up the mess’ to changing the way in which value is attributed to things. The paper looks at a selection of recent literature on value systems to identify useful concepts and theory for a value-based solution to waste and proposes to probe such potential solutions through art and design.
Environmental Corporate Reporting under eu Law: Historic Achievement or Just a Moderate Step Forward?
Authors: Hojnik Janja
Published: July 2017

This article deals with legal aspects of sustainable reporting in the eu. It explores the state of affairs in sustainability reporting regulation and points out recent increased support for integrated reporting by the eu institutions, which lead to the newly adopted Directive 2014/95/eu that obliged the Member States to adopt implementing regulation by 6 December 2016. Consequently large companies within its scope need to adjust their reporting as of their 2017 financial year. The article assesses its achievements as well as points out some missed opportunities of the Directive by deliberating legal alternatives for more effective regulation of non-financial reporting in the future.
A new species of Pentagramma Van Duzee (Hemiptera: Delphacidae: Asiracinae) from Chile, with notes on the host relations of the Idiosystatini Emeljanov
Authors: CAMPODONICO JUAN F.
Published: July 2017

Pentagramma lueri sp. nov. is described from central Chile, being the first record of the genus in the country. The host relation of tribe Idiosystatini Emeljanov is discussed; indirect evidence suggests that all genera of the tribe feed on Cyperaceae.
A new kukri snake (Colubridae: Oligodon) from Hua Hin District, and the first record of O. deuvei from Thailand
Authors: PAUWELS OLIVIER S. G. , LARSEN HENNING , SUTHANTHANGJAI WINAI , DAVID PATRICK , SUMONTHA MONTRI
Published: July 2017

We describe Oligodon huahin sp. nov. from a bamboo forest locality on the road to Pala-U waterfall, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, peninsular Thailand. It is characterized by a maximal known SVL of 553.7 mm; 6 maxillary teeth, the posterior two enlarged; 17-17-15 or 17-15-15 dorsal scale rows; 166–173 ventrals and 35–41 subcaudals in males; a single anal; deeply forked hemipenes lacking spines and papillae, extending in situ to the 14th subcaudal; faint to nearly indistinct vertebral, paravertebral and lateral stripes; no dorsal or supracaudal blotches or crossbars; and an uniformly ivory venter lacking subrectangular or squarish blotches. We also report the first finding of Oligodon deuvei in Thailand based on a specimen from Loei Province.
A Conceptual Model of a Shallow Circulation Induced by Prescribed Low-Level Radiative Cooling
Authors: Naumann Ann Kristin , Stevens Bjorn , Hohenegger Cathy , Mellado Juan Pedro
Published: July 2017

A conceptual bulk model for a dry, convective boundary layer with prescribed horizontally homogeneous and heterogeneous low-level radiative cooling rates is developed. For horizontally homogeneous radiative cooling, the response of the system to varying its prescribed parameters is explored and formulated in terms of nondimensional parameters. Large-eddy simulations with prescribed radiative cooling rates match the results of the bulk model well. It is found that, depending on the strength of the surface coupling, the height of the boundary layer (BL) either increases or decreases in response to increasing radiative BL cooling. Another property of the system is that, for increasing surface temperature, the BL temperature decreases if the prescribed radiative BL cooling rates are strong. This counterintuitive behavior is caused by the formulation of the entrainment rate at the inversion. Heterogeneous radiative BL cooling is found to cause a circulation induced by pressure deviations between the area of weak radiative BL cooling and the area of strong radiative BL cooling. Including the feedback of the induced circulation on the BL in a two-column model leads to a modified equilibrium state, in which a weakened horizontal BL flow of about 1 m s−1 is maintained for differences in radiative BL cooling rates larger than 1 K day−1. Such a circulation strength is comparable to a shallow circulation caused by surface temperature differences of a few kelvins. Spatial differences in radiative BL cooling should therefore be considered as a first-order effect for the formation of shallow circulations.
Eddies Observed by Argo Floats. Part II: Form Stress and Streamline Length in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Katsumata Katsuro
Published: July 2017

Argo floats measure horizontal current velocities at the parking depth and vertical profiles of temperature and salinity. These data were used to study the roles that eddies play in the dynamics of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) in the Southern Ocean. A zonal momentum budget was quantified in a box spanning the latitudes of the Drake Passage and bounded by the sea surface and the 1000-dbar depth. The input of eastward zonal momentum from the wind (17.1 × 1011 N) was approximately twice the downward transfer of eastward momentum across the isopycnal whose mean depth was 1000 dbar, which was mediated via form stress carried by eddies [(8.1 ± 1.9) × 1011 N]. The zonal momentum budget was closed to within uncertainty, meaning that the momentum not accounted for by eddies was explained by the Coriolis term associated with meridional transport. The form stress was spatially concentrated near meridional ridges, particularly on their eastern flanks. The localization was extreme: 7% of the total area contributed about 90% of the form stress. Lengths of streamlines were stretched around steady standing meanders. Seven major meanders were found at large topographic barriers along the ACC, with cyclonic meander collocated with the peaks of the topographic barriers. Eddies were found to lengthen the streamlines mostly on the eastern flanks of the meridional ridges, where the eddy transport was southward. Poleward eddy transport on the eastern flanks of meridional ridges is thus highlighted in the ACC dynamics in transferring eastward zonal momentum downward and in adjusting to wind changes by stretching streamlines.
Gender, Black Feminism, and Black Political Economy
Authors: Collins Patricia Hill
Published: July 2017

This article uses two dimensions of Black feminist standpoint epistemology to investigate Black political economy. It suggests that centering on Black women's experiences and analyzing those experiences via intersectional paradigms fosters rethinking the significance of family within gender, sexuality, race, class, and nation. The article concludes by identifying how these new views of family might inform gendered analyses of Black political economy.
The Emerging Philadelphia African American Class Structure
Authors: Anderson Elijah
Published: July 2017

In The Philadelphia Negro, W.E.B. Du Bois presented a four-class typology of the black community. Today the situation has changed greatly. The enormous social changes of the twentieth century, culminating in the civil rights movement and followed by civil disorders occurring on a wide scale in urban America, resulted in attempts by the wider society to incorporate black Americans through federally mandated social programs such as affirmative action, fair housing legislation, set-asides, and major civil rights legislation. These initiatives helped to defuse much of the tension of the 1960s, but they also set the stage for much greater black participation in American society, leading to tremendous growth in the black middle class. At the same time, these measures of black incorporation, as realized over the past 30 years, have greatly changed the traditional castelike system of race relations. In conjunction with deindustrialization and the simultaneous growth of the global economy, these changes have contributed to a more complex class configuration among blacks.
Rising Inequality and the Case for Coalition Politics
Authors: Wilson William Julius
Published: July 2017

Income and wage inequalities in the United States have increased significantly since 1973. This article documents these changes and argues that an organized national multiracial political constituency is needed for the development and implementation of policies that will help reverse the trends of the rising inequality and ease the burdens of ordinary families. However, a vision of American society that highlights racial differences rather than commonalities makes it difficult for Americans to see the need for and appreciate the potential of mutual political support across racial lines. Accordingly, this article explains why the idea of a national multiracial coalition should be seriously considered. It also spells out the theoretical conditions that facilitate the formation of such a coalition. Finally, it discusses a current network of community grassroots organizations—the Industrial Areas Foundation—that demonstrates how obstacles to sustained interracial cooperation can be overcome.
Race, Poverty, and Welfare: Du Bois's Legacy for Policy
Authors: Katz Michael B.
Published: July 2017

This article discusses Du Bois's analysis of poverty, charity, and relief in Philadelphia, and places it in the context of his research methods and agenda. It uses this consideration of method and agenda as a framework for an overview of the relations between race and the American welfare state. After describing the structure of the American welfare state, the article limns some of the themes in the historic imbrication of race in social welfare. The article then turns to the implication for African Americans of the post-1980 redefinition of the welfare state by the three great forces of dependence, devolution, and markets. These forces not only redefine benefits; they also recast the idea of citizenship and what it means to be an American.
Deracializing Social Statistics: Problems in the Quantification of Race
Authors: Zuberi Tukufu
Published: July 2017

Race is usually defined as an individual attribute fixed at birth and is employed by researchers as a variable with potential for causing change in some other aspect of that same individual. When an individual's race can change (as in Brazil), race is not an attribute but a dynamic characteristic dependent on other social circumstances. In the United States, an individual's race cannot change and thus is considered an individual attribute. As such, social statisticians may have measured racial classification correctly. The major error is in how race has been interpreted. The author suggests a new language to express things that our current language handles inadequately. This new language attempts to increase the efficiency of communication about the statistical analysis of race.
The Elusive Safeguards of Federalism
Authors: Hamilton Marci A.
Published: July 2017

The Supreme Court has issued a series of opinions that turn on the Constitution's inherent principles of federalism, decisions that have alarmed many a legal scholar. The Court has been attacked for overstepping its bounds and, by some, on the grounds that the federalism-state balance should be maintained through the political process rather than judicial review. This criticism of the judicial enforcement of federalism fails as a matter of constitutional history and on empirical grounds. The Supreme Court in this era deserves praise, not criticism, for its recent federalism jurisprudence.
Did the Oklahoma City Bombers Succeed?
Authors: Steiker Jordan
Published: July 2017

The worst case of domestic terrorism in our country's history, the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, led to the enactment of a landmark antiterrorism statute. Not surprisingly, several of the statute's provisions strengthen federal power in extraordinary and unprecedented ways to counter the threat of terrorism. But other provisions radically restrict the ability of federal courts to enforce the federal constitutional rights of state prisoners. How could Congress miss the apparent irony of responding to the destruction of a federal courthouse with its own assault on federal judicial power? This article argues that the role of federal habeas corpus has changed substantially over the past three decades. Whereas federal habeas had emerged during the Warren Court as a general forum for supervising state court compliance with constitutional norms, it has now become primarily a forum for death penalty litigation. Congress appears to have recognized this transformation, and the antiterrorism statute confirms that Congress views federal habeas through the lens of the death penalty rather than the lens of federalism. This article explores the costs of the "capitalization" of habeas and the subtle relationship between federalism, federal habeas, and the death penalty.
Child Soldiers and the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Authors: De Berry Jo
Published: July 2017

This article considers Article 38 of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which concerns the prevention of children's active participation in armed hostilities as soldiers. It is argued that if this article is to move from ratification to practical implementation there should be consideration of the contexts that influence the phenomenon of child soldiers. Two contexts are identified: the first is state crisis, and the second is local influences on children's participation in armed conflict. The influence of both of these on the phenomenon of child soldiers is shown in the case of young fighters in the Teso region of Uganda. At both levels, there are global processes that undermine application of the CRC. It is argued that effective implementation of the CRC will be successful when it is considered less as a global charter and more as needing to be based in knowledge about the realities that frame children's lives.