bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of the different types of radiographic damage with physical function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: analysis of the RAPID trials
Authors: Gherghe Ana Maria , Ramiro Sofia , Landewé Robert , Mihai Carina , van der Heijde Désirée
Published: March 2016

Objectives

To evaluate the separate effects of erosions (E) (bone damage), joint space narrowing (JSN) (cartilage loss) and (sub)luxation (SLUX) (soft tissue damage) in four different joint groups on physical disability in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

3-year follow-up data from the Rheumatoid Arthritis PreventIon of structural Damage (RAPID) 1 and 2 trials were used. These randomised controlled trials compared certolizumab plus methotrexate (MTX) versus MTX in patients with RA. Physical function was measured by Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Radiographic damage was measured by the van der Heijde-modified Sharp score; separate scores for E, JSN and SLUX were available. Generalised estimating equations were performed to assess the relationship between HAQ and E, JSN and SLUX scores, separately and in all joint groups.

Results

In separate models for each type of damage and after adjusting for age, gender, baseline disease activity and treatment group, E and JSN were more strongly associated with HAQ than with SLUX. In combined models, JSN was the only type of lesion associated with HAQ when all joints were included together. When separate joint groups were analysed, E in the wrist and JSN in the metacarpophalangeal joints (MCPs) were most strongly associated with function.

Conclusions

Among RA-related joint damage, cartilage loss quantified by JSN is an important determinant of physical function. However, when analysing joint groups separately, erosive damage in the wrist and JSN in the MCPs had the most important influence on disability. These data indicate that the comprehensive assessment of joint damage is needed to reliably reflect disease-related damage.
Slit ventricle syndrome and subdural haemorrhage due to suspected overshunting in a dog with hydrocephalus internus
Authors: Bittermann Sophie , Precht Christina , Henke Diana , Forterre Franck , Karli Philemon
Published: March 2016

A 1.5‐year‐old Chihuahua was presented with clinical signs consistent with multifocal localisation. MRI revealed hydrocephalus internus. Following placement of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt with a low‐pressure valve, improvement was noted. Clinical signs returned one month later. A second MRI revealed subdural haematoma, meningeal reaction and slit‐like ventricles, and was interpreted as overshunting. Saline solution was injected in the ventricles via the shunt, which was then ligated. Clinical improvement was noted, followed again by relapse three months later. A third MRI revealed recurrence of hydrocephalus internus. The VP shunt was reconnected and, additionally, the valve was positioned and fixed in a vertical position. A disconnection of the valve occurred two weeks later, and the owners elected euthanasia. Complications following VP shunting in this case reveal many similarities to those described in overshunting in people and should be considered as a possible complication.
Evaluation of the ability of three physical activity monitors to predict weight change and estimate energy expenditure
Authors: Correa John B. , Apolzan John W. , Shepard Desti N. , Heil Daniel P. , Rood Jennifer C. , Martin Corby K.
Published: March 2016

Activity monitors such as the Actical accelerometer, the Sensewear armband, and the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity (IDEEA) are commonly validated against gold standards (e.g., doubly labeled water, or DLW) to determine whether they accurately measure total daily energy expenditure (TEE) or activity energy expenditure (AEE). However, little research has assessed whether these parameters or others (e.g., posture allocation) predict body weight change over time. The aims of this study were to (i) test whether estimated energy expenditure or posture allocation from the devices was associated with weight change during and following a low-calorie diet (LCD) and (ii) compare free-living TEE and AEE predictions from the devices against DLW before weight change. Eighty-seven participants from 2 clinical trials wore 2 of the 3 devices simultaneously for 1 week of a 2-week DLW period. Participants then completed an 8-week LCD and were weighed at the start and end of the LCD and 6 and 12 months after the LCD. More time spent walking at baseline, measured by the IDEEA, significantly predicted greater weight loss during the 8-week LCD. Measures of posture allocation demonstrated medium effect sizes in their relationships with weight change. Bland–Altman analyses indicated that the Sensewear and the IDEEA accurately estimated TEE, and the IDEEA accurately measured AEE. The results suggest that the ability of energy expenditure and posture allocation to predict weight change is limited, and the accuracy of TEE and AEE measurements varies across activity monitoring devices, with multi-sensor monitors demonstrating stronger validity.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Pathogenesis and Disease Spectrum
Authors: Hardy Timothy , Oakley Fiona , Anstee Quentin M. , Day Christopher P.
Published: March 2016

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver dysfunction in the Western world and is increasing owing to its close association with obesity and insulin resistance. NAFLD represents a spectrum of liver disease that, in a minority of patients, can lead to progressive nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. NAFLD is a complex trait resulting from the interaction between environmental exposure and a susceptible polygenic background and comprising multiple independent modifiers of risk, such as the microbiome. The molecular mechanisms that combine to define the transition to NASH and progressive disease are complex, and consequently, no pharmacological therapy currently exists to treat NASH. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of NAFLD is critical if new treatments are to be discovered.
Postprandial lymphatic pump function after a high-fat meal: a characterization of contractility, flow, and viscosity
Authors: Kassis Timothy , Yarlagadda Sri Charan , Kohan Alison B. , Tso Patrick , Breedveld Victor , Dixon J. Brandon
Published: March 2016

Dietary lipids are transported from the intestine through contractile lymphatics. Chronic lipid loads can adversely affect lymphatic function. However, the acute lymphatic pump response in the mesentery to a postprandial lipid meal has gone unexplored. In this study, we used the rat mesenteric collecting vessel as an in vivo model to quantify the effect of lipoproteins on vessel function. Lipid load was continuously monitored by using the intensity of a fluorescent fatty-acid analog, which we infused along with a fat emulsion through a duodenal cannula. The vessel contractility was simultaneously quantified. We demonstrated for the first time that collecting lymphatic vessels respond to an acute lipid load by reducing pump function. High lipid levels decreased contraction frequency and amplitude. We also showed a strong tonic response through a reduction in the end-diastolic and systolic diameters. We further characterized the changes in flow rate and viscosity and showed that both increase postprandially. In addition, shear-mediated Ca2+signaling in lymphatic endothelial cells differed when cultured with lipoproteins. Together these results show that the in vivo response could be both shear and lipid mediated and provide the first evidence that high postprandial lipid has an immediate negative effect on lymphatic function even in the acute setting.
Intestinal inflammation requires FOXO3 and prostaglandin E2-dependent lipogenesis and elevated lipid droplets
Authors: Heller Sandra , Cable Chloe , Penrose Harrison , Makboul Rania , Biswas Debjani , Cabe Maleen , Crawford Susan E. , Savkovic Suzana D.
Published: March 2016

Intestinal inflammation has been recently characterized by the dysregulation of lipids as metabolic and energy sources, revealing a novel feature of its pathophysiology. Because intracellular lipids, stored in dynamic lipid droplets (LDs), provide energy for cellular needs, we investigated whether they play a role in intestinal inflammation. In the inflamed intestine of mice, elevated LDs were found in colonic and infiltrating immune cells as shown by staining for the LD coat protein PLIN2 and for lipids with BODIPY. In colonic cells, TNF stimulated LD increases by receptor signaling rely on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation. Downstream, TNF triggered a negative regulatory loop between LDs and the transcription factor FOXO3. This was shown in the colon of Foxo3-deficient mice, where elevation in PLIN2 and lipids were further facilitated by inflammation and were more prominent relative to wild-type, whereas, in colonic cells, inhibition of lipogenesis blocked the TNF-mediated loss of FOXO3. Furthermore, blockade of PGE2 synthesis abrogated TNF-stimulated increases in LDs and FOXO3 inactivation. We found in colonic tissue of Foxo3-deficient mice higher levels of cyclooxygenase-2, a mediator of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis, supporting involvement of PGE2 in the LD-FOXO3 regulatory loop. Ultimately, TNF-stimulated lipogenesis leading to elevated LDs facilitated NF-κB-mediated increases in IL-8 protein, which is associated with the surface of LDs found in the lumina of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. This novel immunometabolic mechanism of colonic inflammation involving elevated LDs could provide opportunities for new treatment options.
Dilated cardiomyopathy mutations in δ-sarcoglycan exert a dominant-negative effect on cardiac myocyte mechanical stability
Authors: Campbell Matthew D. , Witcher Marc , Gopal Anoop , Michele Daniel E.
Published: March 2016

Delta-sarcoglycan is a component of the sarcoglycan subcomplex within the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex located at the plasma membrane of muscle cells. While recessive mutations in δ-sarcoglycan cause limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2F, dominant mutations in δ-sarcoglycan have been linked to inherited dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The purpose of this study was to investigate functional cellular defects present in adult cardiac myocytes expressing mutant δ-sarcoglycans harboring the dominant inherited DCM mutations R71T or R97Q. This study demonstrates that DCM mutant δ-sarcoglycans can be stably expressed in adult rat cardiac myocytes and traffic similarly to wild-type δ-sarcoglycan to the plasma membrane, without perturbing assembly of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. However, expression of DCM mutant δ-sarcoglycan in adult rat cardiac myocytes is sufficient to alter cardiac myocyte plasma membrane stability in the presence of mechanical strain. Upon cyclical cell stretching, cardiac myocytes expressing mutant δ-sarcoglycan R97Q or R71T have increased cell-impermeant dye uptake and undergo contractures at greater frequencies than myocytes expressing normal δ-sarcoglycan. Additionally, the R71T mutation creates an ectopic N-linked glycosylation site that results in aberrant glycosylation of the extracellular domain of δ-sarcoglycan. Therefore, appropriate glycosylation of δ-sarcoglycan may also be necessary for proper δ-sarcoglycan function and overall dystrophin-glycoprotein complex function. These studies demonstrate that DCM mutations in δ-sarcoglycan can exert a dominant negative effect on dystrophin-glycoprotein complex function leading to myocardial mechanical instability that may underlie the pathogenesis of δ-sarcoglycan-associated DCM.

Listen to this article's corresponding podcast at http://ajpheart.podbean.com/e/dilated-cardiomyopathy-delta-sarcoglycan-mutations-cause-cardiomyocyte-membrane-instability/ .
Thyroid Hormones as Renal Cell Cancer Regulators
Authors: Szymański Łukasz , Matak Damian , Bartnik Ewa , Szczylik Cezary , Czarnecka Anna M.
Published: March 2016

It is known that thyroid hormone is an important regulator of cancer development and metastasis. What is more, changes across the genome, as well as alternative splicing, may affect the activity of the thyroid hormone receptors. Mechanism of action of the thyroid hormone is different in every cancer; therefore in this review thyroid hormone and its receptor are presented as a regulator of renal cell carcinoma.
Successful Discontinuation of Infliximab in a Refractory Case of Vasculo-Behçet Disease
Authors: Nakamura Akihiro , Miyamura Tomoya , Suematsu Eiichi
Published: March 2016

Reports have shown that antitumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) agents including infliximab (IFX) can dramatically suppress the disease activity of refractory vasculo-Behçet disease (vasculo-BD). However, it is completely unknown whether we can discontinue anti-TNF-αagents under clinical remission. A 31-year-old patient with vasculo-BD was initially treated with a high dose of steroid and intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy. Six months later, however, the disease recurred. IFX was administered and immediately the disease activity was reduced. Fortunately, we could discontinue IFX after 18-month remission and no recurrence has been observed. Based on previous reports and our patient, all patients who could discontinue IFX sustained clinical remission for at least one year, continued taking immunosuppressive agents such as methotrexate and azathioprine, and had vascular involvements only in non-life-threatening major vessels such as leg or arm arteries/veins. This is a report suggesting the possibility of discontinuation of IFX in vasculo-BD.
Outcomes of Patients Who Have Do Not Resuscitate Status prior to Being Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Saha Debjit , Moreno Carlos , Csete Marc , Perez Elizabeth Kury , Cubeddu Luigi , Farcy David , Henry Steven , Glazer Zachary , Moreno-Walton Lisa A. , Goldszer Robert C.
Published: March 2016

Admission of patients who have do not resuscitate (DNR) status to an intensive care unit (ICU) is potentially a misallocation of limited resources to patients who may neither need nor want intensive care. Yet, patients who have DNR status are often admitted to the ICU. This is a retrospective review of patients who had a valid DNR status at the time that they were admitted to an ICU in a single hospital over an eighteen-month period. Thirty-five patients met the criteria for inclusion in the study. The primary reasons for admission to the ICU were respiratory distress (54.2%) and sepsis (45.7%). Sixteen (45.7%) of the patients died, compared to a 5.4% mortality rate for all patients admitted to our ICU during this period (p<0.001). APACHE II score was a significant predictor of mortality (18.5 ± 1.3 alive and 23.4 ± 1.4 dead;p=0.038). Of the 19 patients discharged alive, 9 were discharged home, 5 to hospice, and 4 to a post-acute care facility.Conclusions.Patients who have DNR status and are admitted to the ICU have a higher mortality than other ICU patients. Those who survive have a high likelihood of being discharged to hospice or a post-acute care facility. The value of intensive intervention for these patients is not supported by these results. Only a minority of patients were seen by palliative care and chaplain teams, services which the literature supports as valuable for DNR patients. Our study supports the need for less expensive and less intensive but more appropriate resources for patients and families who have chosen DNR status.
Trail without Catheter after Transurethral Resection of Prostate: Clamp It or Not?
Authors: Talreja Vikash , Ali Aun , Saeed Summaya , Rani Kiran , Samnani Sunil Sadruddin , Farid Farah Naz , Haider Mumtazuddin
Published: March 2016

Background.There has been argument between clinical practitioners about clamping catheter or not prior to its removal after transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). We conducted a clinical trial to assess whether clamping has any role in early bladder tone recovery particularly in patients who undergo TURP.Methods.Randomized clinical trial was conducted at a tertiary care hospital, Karachi from January 2014 to July 2015. Eighty-six study participants who underwent TURP were randomly allocated into two groups of 43 participants each. In Group I, patient’s Foley catheter was not clamped prior to its removal and in Group II Foley catheter was clamped. Data of all subjects were analyzed using SPSS version 20.Results.There was no significant difference in age and weight of resected tissues between two groups. Among 4 patients in Group I who required recatheterization, 1 patient was discharged with catheter as compared to Group II in which 2 patients were discharged with catheter (P=0.99). Only 1 patient (2.3%) in Group II had bleeding which required recatheterization. Length of stay was significantly affected by early and free removal of Foley catheter (P<0.001).Conclusion.The results of current study identified that clamping whether done or not had no significant impact on urinary retention.
Effect of Naphthalene Acetic Acid on the Adventitious Rooting in Shoot Cuttings ofAndrographis paniculata(Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees: An Important Therapeutical Herb
Authors: Hossain Md. Sanower , Urbi Zannat
Published: March 2016

Andrographis paniculatais one of the most important therapeutical herbs, widely used in traditional medical systems for the treatment of diverse diseases for thousands of years. This study was carried out to assess the effect of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) on adventitious rooting inA. paniculatashoot cuttings. The cuttings were treated with six concentrations of NAA (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mM) by applying soaking method and cuttings without hormone (soaking in distilled water) were considered as control. The cuttings were then inoculated into peat moss in the planting tray and incubated under complete shade for root induction. Water was sprayed on peat moss once daily to moisten it. The results showed that different concentrations of NAA significantly (P≤0.05) affected the rooting characteristics ofA. paniculataand 2.5 mM of NAA was found to be more effective to induce rooting in young apical shoot (YAS) cuttings compared to other concentrations and old apical shoot (OAS). This study also postulates that adventitious rooting response depends on the juvenility of plant material and concentration of growth regulator. This report describes a technique for adventitious rooting inA.paniculata, which could be feasible to use for commercial scale propagation of this plant.
Neoatherosclerosis in Very Late Stenosis of Bare Metal Stent by Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Mowakeaa Samer , Iskandar Aline , Kakouros Nikolaos
Published: March 2016

Bare metal stents (BMS) continue to be widely used in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous revascularization. Progressive luminal renarrowing has been reported late after BMS implantation resulting in a significant rate of stent failure events. We present a case of very late BMS failure due to in-stent restenosis where optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to demonstrate neoatherosclerosis as the underlying mechanism. We provide a brief review of neoatherosclerosis and showcase salient features on OCT evaluation.
List-Based Simulated Annealing Algorithm for Traveling Salesman Problem
Authors: Zhan Shi-hua , Lin Juan , Zhang Ze-jun , Zhong Yi-wen
Published: March 2016

Simulated annealing (SA) algorithm is a popular intelligent optimization algorithm which has been successfully applied in many fields. Parameters’ setting is a key factor for its performance, but it is also a tedious work. To simplify parameters setting, we present a list-based simulated annealing (LBSA) algorithm to solve traveling salesman problem (TSP). LBSA algorithm uses a novel list-based cooling schedule to control the decrease of temperature. Specifically, a list of temperatures is created first, and then the maximum temperature in list is used by Metropolis acceptance criterion to decide whether to accept a candidate solution. The temperature list is adapted iteratively according to the topology of the solution space of the problem. The effectiveness and the parameter sensitivity of the list-based cooling schedule are illustrated through benchmark TSP problems. The LBSA algorithm, whose performance is robust on a wide range of parameter values, shows competitive performance compared with some other state-of-the-art algorithms.
Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment and the Phenylpropanoid Pathway Precursors Feeding Improve Phenolics and Antioxidant Capacity of Quinoa Sprouts via an Induction of L-Tyrosine and L-Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyases Activities
Authors: Świeca Michał
Published: March 2016

Hydrogen peroxide treatment and the phenylpropanoid pathway precursors feeding affected the antioxidant capacity of quinoa sprouts. Compared to the control, total phenolics content was significantly increased by treatment of control sprouts with 50 mM and 200 mM H2O2—an elevation of about 24% and 28%, respectively. The highest increase of flavonoids content was found for the sprouts treated with 200 mM H2O2obtained from seeds fed with shikimic acid. All the studied modifications increased the antioxidant potential of sprouts (at least by 50% compared to control). The highest reducing power was found for the sprouts treated with 200 mM H2O2obtained by phenylalanine feeding (5.03 mg TE/g DW) and those obtained from the seeds fed with tyrosine (5.26 mg TE/g DW). The activities of L-tyrosine (TAL) and L-phenylalanine (PAL) ammonia-lyases were strongly affected by germination time as well as the applied modification of sprouting. On the 3rd day the highest PAL activity was determined for both untreated and induced with 50 mM H2O2sprouts obtained by phenylalanine feeding. H2O2induced TAL activity; the highest TAL activity was determined for 3-day-old sprouts induced with 200 mM H2O2obtained from seeds fed with phenylalanine.
Some Nonexistence and Asymptotic Existence Results for Weighing Matrices
Authors: Ghaderpour Ebrahim
Published: March 2016

Orthogonal designs and weighing matrices have many applications in areas such as coding theory, cryptography, wireless networking, and communication. In this paper, we first show that if positive integer k cannot be written as the sum of three integer squares, then there does not exist any skew-symmetric weighing matrix of order 4n and weight k, where n is an odd positive integer. Then we show that, for any square k, there is an integer N(k) such that, for each n≥N(k), there is a symmetric weighing matrix of order n and weight k. Moreover, we improve some of the asymptotic existence results for weighing matrices obtained by Eades, Geramita, and Seberry.
PostoperativeNocardiaEndophthalmitis and the Challenge of Managing with Intravitreal Amikacin
Authors: Lodhi Sikander A. K. , Reddy G. Ashok Kumar , Sunder C. Aruna
Published: March 2016

Nocardiais a rare cause of delayed onset postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery and it usually carries a guarded visual prognosis.Purpose. To highlight the clinical presentation, microbiological profile, and treatment outcome in a case of nocardial endophthalmitis after manual small incision cataract surgery.Methods. This case report highlights the typical features ofNocardiaendophthalmitis, which presented six weeks after undergoing small incision cataract surgery. The case was managed by pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotics. Intravitreal amikacin was used based on microbiologic work-up.Results. The endophthalmitis part was controlled but the case developed amikacin induced macular infarction which jeopardized a good visual outcome.Conclusion.Nocardiaendophthalmitis manifests late after cataract surgery in an aggressive manner and carries a poor visual prognosis. An early diagnosis and the use of correct antibiotic regimen may salvage the vision. But the present case shows that one should always be wary of potential retinal toxicity with intravitreal amikacin.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Conbercept Pretreatment before Vitrectomy in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Yang Xiaochun , Xu Jianbiao , Wang Ruili , Mei Yan , Lei Huo , Liu Jun , Zhang Ting , Zhao Haiyan
Published: March 2016

Purpose.To determine the efficacy and safety of preoperative intravitreal conbercept (IVC) injection before vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).Methods.107 eyes of 88 patients that underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for active PDR were enrolled. All patients were assigned randomly to either preoperative IVC group or control group. Follow-up examinations were performed for three months after surgery. The primary bioactivity measures were severity of intraoperative bleeding, incidence of early and late recurrent VH, vitreous clear-up time, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) levels. The secondary safety measures included intraocular pressure, endophthalmitis, rubeosis, tractional retinal detachment, and systemic adverse events.Results.The incidence and severity of intraoperative bleeding were significantly lower in IVC group than in the control group. The average vitreous clear-up time of early recurrent VH was significantly shorter in IVC group compared with that in control group. There was no significant difference in vitreous clear-up time of late recurrent VH between the two groups. Patients that received pretreatment of conbercept had much better BCVA at 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month after surgery than control group. Moreover, both patients with improved BCVA were greater in IVC group than in control group at each follow-up.Conclusions.Conbercept pretreatment could be an effective adjunct to vitrectomy in accelerating postoperative vitreous clear-up and acquiring stable visual acuity restoration for PDR.
An Efficient Approach to Screening Epigenome-Wide Data
Authors: Ray Meredith A. , Tong Xin , Lockett Gabrielle A. , Zhang Hongmei , Karmaus Wilfried J. J.
Published: March 2016

Screening cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) DNA methylation sites in association with some covariate(s) is desired due to high dimensionality. We incorporate surrogate variable analyses (SVAs) into (ordinary or robust) linear regressions and utilize training and testing samples for nested validation to screen CpG sites. SVA is to account for variations in the methylation not explained by the specified covariate(s) and adjust for confounding effects. To make it easier to users, this screening method is built into a user-friendly R package,ttScreening, with efficient algorithms implemented. Various simulations were implemented to examine the robustness and sensitivity of the method compared to the classical approaches controlling for multiple testing: the false discovery rates-based (FDR-based) and the Bonferroni-based methods. The proposed approach in general performs better and has the potential to control both types I and II errors. We appliedttScreeningto 383,998 CpG sites in association with maternal smoking, one of the leading factors for cancer risk.
Promising Option for Treatment of Striae Alba: Fractionated Microneedle Radiofrequency in Combination with Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser
Authors: Fatemi Naeini Farahnaz , Behfar Shadi , Abtahi-Naeini Bahareh , Keyvan Shima , Pourazizi Mohsen
Published: March 2016

Background. A consistent treatment has not been proposed for treatment of Striae Alba (SA). The present study was designed to compare the fractionated microneedle radiofrequency (FMR) alone and in combination with fractional carbon dioxide laser (FMR + CO2) in the treatment of SA.Methods. Forty-eight pairs of SA from six patients were selected. Right or left SAs were randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups. The surface area of the SA before and after treatment and clinical improvement using a four-point scale were measured at the baseline, after one and three months.Results. The mean age of the patients was30.17±5.19years. The mean difference of the surface area between pre- and posttreatment in the FMR + CO2group was significantly higher than that in the FMR group (p=0.003). Clinical improvement scales showed significantly higher improvement in the FMR + CO2group than in the FMR group in the first and second follow-up (p=0.002and 0.004, resp.). There were no major persistence side-effects in both groups.Conclusions. The results showed that FMR + CO2laser was more effective than FMR alone in the treatment of SA.
Transient Creatine Kinase Elevation Followed by Hypocomplementemia in a Case of Rotavirus Myositis
Authors: Rokugo Yuka , Kumaki Satoru , Onuma Ryoichi , Noguchi Rie , Suzuki Saeko , Kusaka Natsuko , Watanabe Yohei , Kitaoka Setsuko
Published: March 2016

We report an infant case of rotavirus myositis, a rare complication of rotavirus infection. Complement levels of the patient were normal when serum creatine kinase (CK) level was at its peak and then decreased when the CK level became normalized. In a previous case report of rotavirus myositis, transient decrease of serum albumin, immunoglobulin, and complement levels was reported. The authors speculated that intravascular complement activation was caused by rotavirus and resulted in the pathogenesis of myositis, although complement levels at onset were not measured by the authors. In this report, however, we demonstrate that the complement activation of our patient is a result of, rather than the cause of, skeletal muscle damage.
A Structured Assessment to Decrease the Amount of Inconclusive Endometrial Biopsies in Women with Postmenopausal Bleeding
Authors: Breijer M. C. , Visser N. C. M. , van Hanegem N. , van der Wurff A. A. , Opmeer B. C. , van Doorn H. C. , Mol B. W. J. , Pijnenborg J. M. A. , Timmermans A.
Published: March 2016

Objective.To determine whether structured assessment of outpatient endometrial biopsies decreases the number of inconclusive samples.Design.Retrospective cohort study.Setting.Single hospital pathology laboratory.Population.Endometrial biopsy samples of 66 women with postmenopausal bleeding, collected during the usual diagnostic work-up and assessed as insufficient for a reliable histological diagnosis.Methods.Endometrial biopsy samples were requested from the pathology laboratories. The retrieved samples were systematically reassessed by a single pathologist specialized in gynecology.Main Outcome Measure.Disagreement between initial assessment and conclusion after structured reassessment.Results.We retrieved 36 of 66 endometrial biopsy samples from six different pathology laboratories. Structured reassessment of the retrieved samples by a single pathologist specialized in gynecology did not change the conclusion in 35 of the 36 samples. The remaining sample contained a large amount of endometrial tissue and the diagnosis at reassessment was endometrial hyperplasia without atypia. All other samples contained insufficient material for a reliable diagnosis.Conclusion.A structured reassessment of endometrial biopsies samples, which were classified as inconclusive due to insufficient material, did not change the conclusion. Although it might be helpful for pathologists to have diagnostic criteria for adequacy and/or inadequacy of an endometrial biopsy sample, the gain in efficiency is likely to be small.
Quantitative ELISA-Like Immunohistochemistry of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 in Diagnosis of Tumor-Induced Osteomalacia and Clinical Characteristics of the Disease
Authors: Hu Fangke , Jiang Chengying , Zhang Qiang , Shi Huaiyin , Wei Lixin , Wang Yan
Published: March 2016

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare acquired paraneoplastic disorder and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) plays a key role in its pathogenesis. This study was conducted to describe a novel FGF23 detecting procedure and describe clinical features of the disease. Fourteen TIO cases were retrieved and FGF23 expression was measured by quantitative ELISA-like immunohistochemistry using formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues. As summarized from 14 TIO cases, clinical features of TIO were long-standing history of osteomalacia, hypophosphatemia, and urinary phosphate wasting. The associated tumors were mostly benign phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors mixed connective tissue variant (PMTMCT) which could be located anywhere on the body, and most of them could be localized by conventional examinations and octreotide scanning. By quantitative ELISA-like immunohistochemistry, all the 14 TIO cases had high FGF23 expression (median 0.69, 25%–75% interquartile 0.57–1.10, compared with 26 non-TIO tumors of median 0.07, 25%–75% interquartile 0.05–0.11,p<0.001). The quantitative ELISA-like immunohistochemistry was a feasible and reproducible procedure to detect the high FGF23 expression in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded biopsies or specimens. Since TIO was often delay-diagnosed or misdiagnosed, clinicians and pathologists should be aware of TIO and PMTMCT, respectively.
Noncontact Optical Fiber Sensor for Measuring the Refractive Index of Liquids
Authors: Selvas-Aguilar R. , Castillo-Guzman A. , Cortez-Gonzalez L. , Toral-Acosta D. , Martinez-Rios A. , Anzueto-Sanchez G. , Duran-Ramirez V. M. , Arroyo-Rivera S.
Published: March 2016

A noncontact optical fiber sensor for measuring the refractive index of transparent liquids is proposed. It operates by calculating the path of a focused laser beam at 635 nm that travels across the boundaries of a liquid sample. The optical power Fresnel reflections are detected and, subsequently, the refractive index is determined as the ratio between the traveled beam paths when the liquid is deposited versus a reference without the liquid sample. Additionally, a mathematical analysis of the geometrical case is included. The theoretical data from our sensor are in good agreement with the experimental results. The resolution achieved by the sensor is better than 10−3 RIU.
On Functions of Several Split-Quaternionic Variables
Authors: Grantcharov Gueo , Montoya Camilo
Published: March 2016

Alesker studied a relation between the determinant of a quaternionic Hessian of a function and a specific complex volume form. In this note we show that similar relation holds for functions of several split-quaternionic variables and point to some relations with geometry.
Voluminous Myoepithelioma of the Minor Salivary Glands Involving the Base of the Tongue
Authors: Policarpo Mario , Longoni Valentina , Garofalo Pietro , Spina Paolo , Pia Francesco
Published: March 2016

Myoepithelioma is an extremely rare tumour subtype and diagnosis is based on a wide variation of cellular morphology. FNAC specimens do not always suffice for a definitive differential diagnosis which depends on histology and immunohistochemistry of the lesion.Case Presentation. A 54-year-old female came to our attention with dysphagia and dyslalia of 6-month standing. Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) examination revealed a voluminous mass on the right portion of the base of her tongue, where postcontrast T2-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) evidenced a hyperintense lesion. The fine-needle aspiration specimen taken for cytology was not diagnostic, as a differential diagnosis between myoepithelioma and a malignant neoplasm of the salivary glands necessitates parameters that cytology alone cannot provide. Therefore, the whole lesion was excised by diode laser through a transoral approach. Histology and immunohistochemistry of the completely excised lesion confirmed a myoepithelioma.
Mechanical Properties Comparing Composite Fiber Length to Amalgam
Authors: Petersen Richard C. , Liu Perng-Ru
Published: March 2016

Photocure fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) with varying chopped quartz-fiber lengths were incorporated into a dental photocure zirconia-silicate particulate-filled composite (PFC) for mechanical test comparisons with a popular commercial spherical-particle amalgam. FRC lengths included 0.5-mm, 1.0 mm, 2.0 mm, and 3.0 mm all at a constant 28.2 volume percent. Four-point fully articulated fixtures were used according to American Standards Test Methods with sample dimensions of 2×2×50 mm3 across a 40 mm span to provide sufficient Euler flexural bending and prevent top-load compressive shear error. Mechanical properties for flexural strength, modulus, yield strength, resilience, work of fracture, critical strain energy release, critical stress intensity factor, and strain were obtained for comparison. Fiber length subsequently correlated with increasing all mechanical properties, p<1.1×10-5. Although the modulus was significantly statistically higher for amalgam than all composites, all FRCs and even the PFC had higher values than amalgam for all other mechanical properties. Because amalgams provide increased longevity during clinical use compared to the standard PFCs, modulus would appear to be a mechanical property that might sufficiently reduce margin interlaminar shear stress and strain-related microcracking that could reduce failure rates. Also, since FRCs were tested with all mechanical properties that statistically significantly increased over the PFC, new avenues for future development could be provided toward surpassing amalgam in clinical longevity.
Vascular Remodelling and Mesenchymal Transition in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Nicolosi Pier Andrea , Tombetti Enrico , Maugeri Norma , Rovere-Querini Patrizia , Brunelli Silvia , Manfredi Angelo A.
Published: March 2016

Fibrosis of the skin and of internal organs, autoimmunity, and vascular inflammation are hallmarks of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). The injury and activation of endothelial cells, with hyperplasia of the intima and eventual obliteration of the vascular lumen, are early features of SSc. Reduced capillary blood flow coupled with deficient angiogenesis leads to chronic hypoxia and tissue ischemia, enforcing a positive feed‐forward loop sustaining vascular remodelling, further exacerbated by extracellular matrix accumulation due to fibrosis. Despite numerous developments and a growing number of controlled clinical trials no treatment has been shown so far to alter SSc natural history, outlining the need of further investigation in the molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. We review some processes potentially involved in SSc vasculopathy, with attention to the possible effect of sustained vascular inflammation on the plasticity of vascular cells. Specifically we focus on mesenchymal transition, a key phenomenon in the cardiac and vascular development as well as in the remodelling of injured vessels. Recent work supports the role of transforming growth factor‐beta, Wnt, and Notch signaling in these processes. Importantly, endothelial‐mesenchymal transition may be reversible, possibly offering novel cues for treatment.
Dynamic Efficiency of a Container Crane’s Hoisting Transmission System under Hoisting Dynamic Load
Authors: Liu Yuanyuan , Zhang Qing , Qin Xianrong , Sun Yuantao
Published: March 2016

The dynamic efficiency of hoisting transmission system on a container crane is fundamental for accurate efficiency prediction, while the dynamic efficiency of hoisting transmission system has not been investigated sufficiently. This paper will focus on dynamic efficiency of hoisting transmission system under hoisting dynamic load. A power loss model of gearbox was built. Then the dynamic model of gear transmission was developed including time-varying mesh stiffness and hoisting dynamic load was studied. Power loss, dynamic efficiency, and equivalent static efficiency were conducted in hoisting and lowering working conditions. The result shows that dynamic efficiency which consists of the significant lower frequency component coincided with hoisting load torque of the higher frequency component which is directly related to dynamic mesh and bearing force. And in two processes, the equivalent static efficiency in constant speed stage is min, whereas maximum value occurs in different stage. The research results lay a foundation for hoisting gear transmission dynamic efficiency analysis.
Role of MicroRNA in Governing Synaptic Plasticity
Authors: Ye Yuqin , Xu Hongyu , Su Xinhong , He Xiaosheng
Published: March 2016

Although synaptic plasticity in neural circuits is orchestrated by an ocean of genes, molecules, and proteins, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Recently, it is well acknowledged that miRNA exerts widespread regulation over the translation and degradation of target gene in nervous system. Increasing evidence suggests that quite a few specific miRNAs play important roles in various respects of synaptic plasticity including synaptogenesis, synaptic morphology alteration, and synaptic function modification. More importantly, the miRNA-mediated regulation of synaptic plasticity is not only responsible for synapse development and function but also involved in the pathophysiology of plasticity-related diseases. A review is made here on the function of miRNAs in governing synaptic plasticity, emphasizing the emerging regulatory role of individual miRNAs in synaptic morphological and functional plasticity, as well as their implications in neurological disorders. Understanding of the way in which miRNAs contribute to synaptic plasticity provides rational clues in establishing the novel therapeutic strategy for plasticity-related diseases.
Comparison between First- and Second-Generation Cryoballoon for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
Authors: Conti Sergio , Moltrasio Massimo , Fassini Gaetano , Tundo Fabrizio , Riva Stefania , Dello Russo Antonio , Casella Michela , Majocchi Benedetta , Marino Vittoria , De Iuliis Pasquale , Catto Valentina , Pala Salvatore , Tondo Claudio
Published: March 2016

Introduction. Cryoballoon (CB) ablation has emerged as a novel treatment for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The second-generation Arctic Front Advance (ADV) was redesigned with technical modifications aiming at procedural and outcome improvements. We aimed to compare the efficacy of the two different technologies over a long-term follow-up.Methods. A total of 120 patients with PAF were enrolled. Sixty patients underwent PVI using the first-generation CB and 60 patients with the ADV catheter. All patients were evaluated over a follow-up period of 2 years.Results. There were no significant differences between the two groups of patients. Procedures performed with the first-generation CB showed longer fluoroscopy time (36.3±16.8versus14.2±13.5 min, resp.;p=0.00016) and longer procedure times as well (153.1±32versus102±24.8 min, resp.;p=0.019). The overall long-term success was significantly different between the two groups (68.3 versus 86.7%, resp.;p=0.017). No differences were found in the lesion areas of left and right PV between the two groups (resp.,p=0.61and0.57). There were no significant differences in procedural-related complications.Conclusion. The ADV catheter compared to the first-generation balloon allows obtaining a significantly higher success rate after a single PVI procedure during the long-term follow-up. Fluoroscopy and procedural times were significantly shortened using the ADV catheter.
Human Hemochromatosis Protein (HFE) Immunoperoxidase Stain Highlights Choriocarcinoma within Mixed Germ Cell Tumors
Authors: Cox Jesse L. , Talmon Geoffrey A. , Koepsell Scott A.
Published: March 2016

Identification of choriocarcinoma within a germ cell tumor can have major implications for the subsequent staging and treatment of testicular neoplasms. Immunoperoxidase staining greatly enhances the speed and sensitivity of identifying occult, though clinically significant, tumor components. In mixed germ cell tumors, staining for beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) has been historically used to assess for the presence and burden of choriocarcinoma. However, currentβ-hCG stains produce variable, intense staining of trophoblastic elements and surrounding tissues, clouding the assessment of true-positive staining. Human hemochromatosis protein (HFE) is a membrane bound mediator of iron transport expressed at high levels within placenta. Additionally, previous reports have demonstrated that choriocarcinoma cell lines express HFE, althoughin vivoexpression had not been examined. To address whether HFE can stain trophoblastic elements, HFE immunohistochemistry was conducted in choriocarcinoma (n=4), mixed germ cell tumors (n=11), seminoma (n=4), and placenta (n=11). HFE consistently demonstrated cytoplasmic and membranous staining, highlighting both syncytiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts within choriocarcinoma and placenta. Staining of intratumoral white blood cells was observed within seminomas and mixed germ cell tumors, corroborating prior reports stating that HFE highlights monocytes and macrophages. Taken together, HFE may serve as an alternative target fromβ-hCG for immunoperoxidase studies when highlighting choriocarcinoma.
Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Secondary to Dropped Head Syndrome: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature
Authors: Rahimizadeh Abolfazl , Soufiani Housain F. , Rahimizadeh Saghayegh
Published: March 2016

The dropped head syndrome (DHS) is a disabling condition caused by severe weakness of the neck extensor muscles causing progressive reducible kyphosis of the cervical spine and the inability to hold the head up. Weakness can occur in isolation or in association with a generalized neuromuscular disorder. Isolated cases are owed to the late onset of noninflammatory myopathy designated as INEM, where persistent chin to chest deformity may gradually cause or aggravate preexisting degenerative changes of the cervical spine and ultimately result in myelopathy. In review of the literature, we could find only 5 cases, with no unique guidelines to address the management of these two concomitant pathologies. Herein, a 69-year-old man who had developed cervical myelopathy 2 years after being affected by isolated dropped head syndrome is presented. Chin to chest deformity and cervical myelopathy were managed through three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) combined with decompressive cervical laminectomy and stabilization with C2 to C7 pedicle screw-rod construct. At 4-month follow-up, despite recovery in patient’s neurological status, flexion deformity reappeared with recurrence of dropped head due to C7 pedicle screws pull-out. However, this was successfully managed with extension of the construct to the upper thoracic levels.
The Study of Microwave and Electric Hybrid Sintering Process of AZO Target
Authors: Han Ling-yun , Shu Yong-chun , Liu Yang , Gao Lu , Wang Qing-tong , Zhang Xiao-na
Published: March 2016

We simulated the microwave sintering of ZnO by 3D modelling. A large-size Al-doped ZnO (AZO) green ceramic compact was prepared by slurry casting. Through studying the microwave and electric hybrid sintering of the green compact, a relative density of up to 98.1% could be obtained by starting microwave heating at 1200°C and increasing the power 20 min later to 4 kW for an AZO ceramic target measuring 120 × 240 × 12 mm. The resistivity of AZO targets sintered with microwave assistance was investigated. The energy consumption of sintering could be greatly reduced by this heating method. Until now, few studies have been reported on the microwave and electric hybrid sintering of large-size AZO ceramic targets. This research can aid in developing sintering technology for large-size high-quality oxide ceramic targets.