bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antitubercular Marine Natural Products
Authors: Wang Lishu , Wang Jungfeng , Liu Juan , Liu Yonghong
Published: June 2018

Due to the importance of nature as a source of new drug candidates, the purpose
of this article is to emphasize the marine natural products, which exhibit antitubercular activity,
published between January 2000 and May 2016, with 138 quotations to 250 compounds
obtained from marine resources. These metabolites are organized by chemical constitution
and named as simple alkyl lipids derivatives, aromatics derivatives, peptides, alkaloids,
terpenoids, steroids, macrolides, and polycyclic polyketides.
Coronary Microcirculation in Ischemic Heart Disease
Authors: Pries Axel R. , Kuebler Wolfgang M. , Habazettl Helmut
Published: June 2018

Background:

Ischemic heart disease has long been considered to be exlusively caused by stenosis or
occlusion. However, the coronary microcirculation too may play an important role in ischemic conditions. Also,
the crucial role of microvessels in not only regulating blood flow on a local level but also mediating vascular
permeability or inflammatory responses has been recognized.

Objective:

To review important physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of coronary microcirculatory
control with focus on heterogeneity of local perfusion, microvascular permeability and inflammation.

Method:

Selective research of the literature.

Results:

Heterogeneity is a characteristic of microvascular networks and affects structural and functional parameters
such as vessel diameter, length, and connection pattern, flow velocity, wall shear stress, and oxygenation.
Microvascular networks are optimized to meet the metabolic demand of all tissue compartments. This requires
continuous vascular adaptation regulated by local hemodynamic and metabolic stimuli. Compromising this regulation
results in functional arterio-venous shunting and tissue areas with either hyperperfusion or hypoxia in close
proximity. In ischemia-reperfusion, increased microvascular permeability may aggravate tissue hypoxia by increasing
extravascular pressure and seems to contribute to adverse myocardial remodeling. Transendothelial
transport mechanisms and deterioration of the endothelial glycocalyx seem to be major contributors to tissue
edema. Also in the context of ischemia-reperfusion, an inflammatory response mediated by venular endothelium
expressing specific adhesion molecules contributes to tissue injury. However, anti-inflammatory therapies failed
in clinical studies and a multi-targeted approach for cardiac protection is required.

Conclusion:

Disturbances of the coronary microcirculation are involved in different pathophysiological aspects
of reperfusion injury.
Microcirculation and Heart Failure
Authors: Miličić Davor , Jakuš Nina , Fabijanović Dora
Published: June 2018

The idea of coronary microcirculation playing a role in the pathophysiology of heart failure dates from

decades ago, with authors hypothesizing that structural and functional alterations in the coronary microcirculation
could potentially contribute to heart failure. It is known that in a wide range of primary cardiomyopathies, from
dilated to hypertrophic, there are pathological alterations in myocardial vasculature structure and function, playing
a role in the clinical course of the disease. Needless to say, many patients with normal epicardial coronary
arteries can suffer from coronary microvascular dysfunction, that could lead to a wide variety of clinical problems
– from impaired functional capacity to stable and unstable angina, Takotsubo syndrome, myocardial infarction
with normal coronary arteries and can also end up with either acute or chronic heart failure. Furthermore, nowadays,
it has been recognized that pathophysiology of the heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is
mainly due to the myocardial microcirculatory impairment. In heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
(HFrEF) neurohumoral mechanisms affecting the peripheral vasculature have been identified as important factors
in the development and progression of heart failure, leading to unfavourable remodelling, and thus some of them
being important treatment targets. Among many new clinical scenarios where both myocardial and peripheral
microcirculation play an important role, raising field of implantable continuous flow assist devices opens many
questions and implies better understanding of their effects of microcirculation, as they usually lead to the improvement
of end organ dysfunction caused by previous heart failure, which is probably through the positive
effects of peripheral microcirculation.
Vasospastic Angina and its Relationship with the Coronary Microcirculation
Authors: Cenko Edina , Bergami Maria , Varotti Elisa , Bugiardini Raffaele
Published: June 2018

Vasospastic angina is an important cause of chest pain due to coronary artery vasospasm that is related
to poor quality of life and can lead to myocardial infarction, arrhythmias and death. Since its first description as
“Prinzmetal or variant angina” which was believed to be a focal spam that occurred in non-obstructed epicardial
coronary arteries, physician and researchers were gradually confronted with the clinical reality and came to the
conclusion that the coronary artery vasospasm was considerably more polymorphic than initially described. Although
mechanism leading to vasospastic angina is not completely understood, nowadays the medical community
acknowledges that it exhibits a large variability in clinical practice ranging from focal to diffuse epicardial vasospasm.
Main proposed mechanisms are impairment of parasympathetic activity, coronary vascular and microvascular
dysfunction due to blunted response to nitric oxide endothelium-dependent coronary vasodilatation, increased
release of vasoconstricts, and oxidative stress.
Nutrition and Nutraceuticals in Neuroinflammatory and Brain Metabolic Stress: Implications for Neurodegenerative Disorders
Authors: Pandareesh M.D. , Kandikattu Hemanth Kumar , Razack Sakina , Amruta Narayanappa , Choudhari Ramesh , Vikram Ajit , Doddapattar Prakash
Published: June 2018

Background and Objective: A steep rise in the incidences of neurodegenerative disorders
could be the combined effect of several non-genetic factors such as increased life expectancy,
environmental pollutants, lifestyle, and dietary habits, as population-level genetic change require
multiple generations. Emerging evidence suggests that chronic over-nutrition induces brain metabolic
stress and neuroinflammation, and are individually known to promote neurodegenerative disorders including
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Huntington’s disease (HD). Although
the association of metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and atherosclerosis
with the dietary habits is well known, neuronal implications of diet and nutritional factors
is still in its infancy. Transcriptomics and proteomics-based studies support the view that nutraceuticals
target multiple neuroprotective pathways in a slow but effective manner without causing severe
adverse effects, and may represent the future of tackling neurodegenerative disorders.

Conclusion:

In this article we i) review the diet/dietary supplement connection with brain metabolic
stress and neuroinflammation and ii) summarize current knowledge of the effects of nutraceuticals on
neurodegenerative disorders.
Reducing Stress and Preventing Depression (RESPOND): Randomized Controlled Trial of Web-Based Rumination-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for High-Ruminating University Students (Preprint)
Authors: Cook Lorna , Mostazir Mohammod , Watkins Edward
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

Prevention of depression is a priority to reduce its global disease burden. Targeting specific risk factors, such as rumination, may improve prevention. Rumination-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (RFCBT) was developed to specifically target depressive rumination.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study was to test whether guided Web-based RFCBT (i-RFCBT) would prevent the incidence of major depression relative to usual care in UK university students. The secondary objective was to test the feasibility and estimated effect sizes of unguided i-RFCBT.

METHODS

To address the primary objective, a phase III randomized controlled trial was designed and powered to compare high risk university students (N=235), selected with elevated worry/rumination, recruited via an open access website in response to circulars within universities and internet advertisements, randomized to receive either guided i-RFCBT (interactive Web-based RFCBT, supported by asynchronous written Web-based support from qualified therapists) or usual care control. To address the secondary objective, participants were also randomized to an adjunct arm of unguided (self-administered) i-RFCBT. The primary outcome was the onset of a major depressive episode over 15 months, assessed with structured diagnostic interviews at 3 (postintervention), 6, and 15 months post randomization, conducted by telephone, blind to the condition. Secondary outcomes of symptoms of depression and anxiety and levels of worry and rumination were self-assessed through questionnaires at baseline and the same follow-up intervals.

RESULTS

Participants were randomized to guided i-RFCBT (n=82), unguided i-RFCBT (n=76), or usual care (n=77). Guided i-RFCBT reduced the risk of depression by 34% relative to usual care (hazard ratio [HR] 0.66, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.25; P=.20). Participants with higher levels of baseline stress benefited most from the intervention (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.87; P=.02). Significant improvements in rumination, worry, and depressive symptoms were found in the short-to-medium term. Of the 6 modules, guided participants completed a mean of 3.46 modules (SD 2.25), with 46% (38/82) being compliant (completing ≥4 modules). Similar effect sizes and compliance rates were found for unguided i-RFCBT.

CONCLUSIONS

Guided i-RFCBT can reduce the onset of depression in high-risk young people reporting high levels of worry/rumination and stress. The feasibility study argues for formally testing unguided i-RFCBT for prevention: if the observed effect sizes are robustly replicated in a phase III trial, it has potential as a scalable prevention intervention.

CLINICALTRIAL

ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN12683436; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12683436 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/77fqycyBX)

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPOR

RR2-10.1186/s13063-015-1128-9
Real Time Influenza Monitoring Using Hospital Big Data in Combination with Machine Learning Methods: Comparison Study (Preprint)
Authors: Poirier Canelle , Lavenu Audrey , Bertaud Valérie , Campillo-Gimenez Boris , Chazard Emmanuel , Cuggia Marc , Bouzillé Guillaume
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

Traditional surveillance systems produce estimates of influenza-like illness (ILI) incidence rates, but with 1- to 3-week delay. Accurate real-time monitoring systems for influenza outbreaks could be useful for making public health decisions. Several studies have investigated the possibility of using internet users’ activity data and different statistical models to predict influenza epidemics in near real time. However, very few studies have investigated hospital big data.

OBJECTIVE

Here, we compared internet and electronic health records (EHRs) data and different statistical models to identify the best approach (data type and statistical model) for ILI estimates in real time.

METHODS

We used Google data for internet data and the clinical data warehouse eHOP, which included all EHRs from Rennes University Hospital (France), for hospital data. We compared 3 statistical models—random forest, elastic net, and support vector machine (SVM).

RESULTS

For national ILI incidence rate, the best correlation was 0.98 and the mean squared error (MSE) was 866 obtained with hospital data and the SVM model. For the Brittany region, the best correlation was 0.923 and MSE was 2364 obtained with hospital data and the SVM model.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that EHR data together with historical epidemiological information (French Sentinelles network) allowed for accurately predicting ILI incidence rates for the entire France as well as for the Brittany region and outperformed the internet data whatever was the statistical model used. Moreover, the performance of the two statistical models, elastic net and SVM, was comparable.
How To Categorize Occupation And Disease History in Medicine? A Free-Text Online Survey On Six Clinics and 18 University Hospitals in Turkey (Preprint)
Authors: Gunver Mehmet , Senocak Mustafa Sukru , Yurtseven Eray
Published: June 2018

UNSTRUCTURED

The medical interview is one of the most challenging topics in medicine. The ways in which the interview is implemented varies greatly depending on the clinician. The ways in which a.) the interview is evaluated and, b.) the outcomes are determined, are also dependent on the bias of the clinician. For those reasons, the process of the medical interview is thought of as an art, rather than a science.
In this study, clinicians were asked "how do you categorize the outcomes of the medical interview?” in relation to: a patient’s own disease history, a patients maternal and paternal disease history, and a patient’s current occupation.
To obtain a sample representative of all clinicians in Turkey, we invited participants from 18 university hospitals dispersed through 14 providences. 1,270 clinicians representing specializations of otology, general surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, pulmonology and psychiatry were invited to participate in the study. Of those 1,270 clinicians, 77 of them responded to the survey. We obtained participation from clinicians in six of the 18 clinics. Our representative sample size was approximately 6% of the intended population.
The Use of Smart Technology in an Online Community of Patients With Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (Preprint)
Authors: Mowforth Oliver Daniel , Davies Benjamin Marshall , Kotter Mark Reinhard
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a prevalent and progressively disabling neurological condition. Treatment is currently limited to surgery, the timing of which is not without controversy. New international guidelines recommend that all patients should undergo lifelong surveillance and those with moderate-to-severe or progressive disease should be offered surgery. Long-term surveillance will place substantial burden on health services and short clinic assessments may risk misrepresenting disease severity. The use of smart technology to monitor disease progression could provide an invaluable opportunity to lessen this burden and improve patient care. However, given the older demographic of DCM, the feasibility of smart technology use is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate current usage of smart technology in patients with self-reported DCM to inform design of smart technology apps targeted at monitoring DCM disease progression.

METHODS

Google Analytics from the patient section of Myelopathy.org, an international DCM charity with a large online patient community, was analyzed over a 1-year period. A total of 15,761 sessions were analyzed.

RESULTS

In total, 39.6% (295/744) of visitors accessed the website using a desktop computer, 35.1% (261/744) using mobile, and 25.3% (188/744) using a tablet. Of the mobile and tablet visitors, 98.2% (441/449) utilized a touchscreen device. A total of 51.3% (141/275) of mobile and tablet visitors used iPhone Operating System (iOS) and 45.8% (126/275) used an Android operating system. Apple and Samsung were the most popular smart devices, utilized by 53.6% (241/449) and 25.8% (116/449) of visitors, respectively. The overall visitor age was representative of DCM trials. Smart technology was widely used by older visitors: 58.8% (113/192) of mobile visitors and 84.2% (96/114) of tablet visitors were aged 45 years or older.

CONCLUSIONS

Smart technology is commonly used by DCM patients. DCM apps need to be iOS and Android compatible to be accessible to all patients.
A bibliometric analysis of the research hotspots in the applications of internet searches in breast cancer patients (Preprint)
Authors: Cui Mengyao , Jin Feng , Jin Zining , Yu Xinmiao , Cui Lei
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

Women diagnosed with breast cancer need information and support to cope with their illness. The internet has become a powerful way to disseminate health information. The aim of this study is to investigate the research hotspots in the field of the application of the internet in breast cancer patients for information exchange and dissemination.

OBJECTIVE

Papers published between 1998 and 2016 with major Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) from related citations were downloaded from the PubMed database.

METHODS

Terms appearing in more than 10 papers were kept as high frequency MeSH terms. Terms that appeared in more than 10 papers were considered high frequency MeSH terms and were retained. A co-occurrence matrix was built with co-occurrence times between each pair of high frequency MeSH terms. These terms were then clustered into four groups.
Papers that fell outside of our initial search timeline (published in 2017-2018) were classified into one of the 4 existing clusters of hotspots to predict the emerging trends of the field.

RESULTS

A total of 459 MeSH terms appeared 1594 times in 313 citations and 26 MeSH terms presented more than 10 times in 809 citations.
We clustered these high frequency MeSH terms into 4 groups. Topics of those 18 new papers include online support group related, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, but showed a significant content expansion of each cluster.

CONCLUSIONS

A total of 459 MeSH terms appeared 1594 times in 313 citations and 26 MeSH terms presented more than 10 times in 809 citations.
We clustered these high frequency MeSH terms into 4 groups. Topics of those 18 new papers include online support group related, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, but showed a significant content expansion of each cluster.
Design and Development of a Person-Centered Patient Portal Using Participatory Stakeholder Co-Design (Preprint)
Authors: Kildea John , Battista John , Cabral Briana , Hendren Laurie , Herrera David , Hijal Tarek , Joseph Ackeem
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND

Patient portals are increasingly accepted as part of standard medical care. However, to date, most patient portals provide just passive access to medical data. The use of modern technology such as smartphones and data personalization algorithms offers the potential to make patient portals more person-centered and enabling.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to share our experience in designing and developing a person-centered patient portal following a participatory stakeholder co-design approach.

METHODS

Our stakeholder co-design approach comprised 6 core elements: (1) equal coleadership, including a cancer patient on treatment; (2) patient preference determination; (3) security, governance, and legal input; (4) continuous user evaluation and feedback; (5) continuous staff input; and (6) end-user testing. We incorporated person-centeredness by recognizing that patients should decide for themselves their level of medical data access, all medical data should be contextualized with explanatory content, and patient educational material should be personalized and timely.

RESULTS

Using stakeholder co-design, we built, and are currently pilot-testing, a person-centered patient portal smartphone app called Opal.

CONCLUSIONS

Inclusion of all stakeholders in the design and development of patient-facing software can help ensure that the necessary elements of person-centeredness, clinician acceptability, and informatics feasibility are achieved.
El rol de la biblioteca pública en la inclusión social del habitante de calle (homeless)
Authors: Ceballos Ospina Johnny Alejandro
Published: June 2018

La biblioteca pública es un lugar llamativo para las personas sin hogar, debido a la gratuidad de sus servicios e instalaciones. El presente artículo intenta mostrar cómo la biblioteca, en su función social, cultural y educativa, puede ser partícipe en la transformación social de su entorno, creando enlaces de cooperación interinstitucionales, desarrollando acciones y estrategias encaminadas a la inclusión social y a la mejora de condiciones de los habitantes de calle. Por consiguiente, la biblioteca pública no debe ser ajena a las realidades y dificultades de la comunidad a la que atiende.
Política gubernamental vs. política pública: avatares de los parques eólicos en el Istmo de Tehuantepec
Authors: Diego Quintana Roberto
Published: June 2018

El gobierno de México ha promovido la instalación de parques eólicos,
argumentando que es una energía limpia (cualidad, parcialmente cierta). La estrategia gubernamental de implantación ha favorecido a corporaciones transnacionales, en contra de las comunidades originarias que están perdiendo el
control sobre sus territorios, mismos que han sido ocupados por estas empresas, provocando un deterioro ecológico, social, político y cultural. En el Istmo de  Tehuantepec, una parte significativa de la población originaria se ha organizado para resistir y revertir este proceso, demandando una política pública incluyente y  participativa.
Desregulación cambiaria, fuga de capitales y deuda: la experiencia argentina reciente
Authors: Rua Magdalena , Zeolla Nicolás
Published: June 2018

A partir de 2011, Argentina implementó una serie de controles cambiarios
que llegaron a incluir la prohibición de adquisición de moneda extranjera para fines no productivos. En diciembre de 2015, tras el cambio de gobierno, se eliminaron todas las regulaciones cambiarias hasta niveles previos a la crisis de 2001-2002. La implementación de estas reformas estuvo basada en la visión mainstream, con la expectativa de que se revertiría la salida de fondos al exterior. Sin embargo, tras el levantamiento de los controles, según la información del balance cambiario del Banco Central de la República Argentina (BCRA) sobre la Formación de Activos Externos (FAE) se observa que, para el primer año, el monto fugado al exterior se duplicó. El financiamiento de la mayor salida de divisas fue posible mediante el incremento del endeudamiento externo.
Las edades del constitucionalismo mexicano y la función de reforma a la Constitución
Authors: Raigosa Luis
Published: June 2018

En el presente ensayo se aborda la evolución del constitucionalismo mexicano tomando como eje explicativo la regulación, la importancia y el comportamiento del llamado “órgano revisor de la Constitución”, cuya eficacia es considerada central en la historia jurídica de México. El autor identifica diferentes periodos de vida de esta institución, a los cuales denomina “edades del constitucionalismo mexicano”. Los criterios utilizados para la periodización propuesta consisten en la identificación de los factores jurídicos y de otros sociopolíticos de índole histórica, sin los cuales sería imposible calificar la eficacia del órgano reformador. Se identifican cuatro edades del constitucionalismo mexicano: del constitucionalismo ineficaz, un constitucionalismo admitido, un consti- Keywords: Legal history, constitutional law, tucionalismo sometido y un constituciona- constitutional reforms, mexican constitutionalism, lismo balanceado.
El anclaje jurídico ante las técnicas de reproducción asistida
Authors: Cano Valle Fernando , Esparza Pérez Rosa Verónica
Published: June 2018

La infertilidad es una enfermedad del sistema reproductivo determinada como la incapacidad de lograr un embarazo clínico después de doce meses o más de relaciones sexuales no protegidas. Médicamente, la infertilidad, en la mayoría de los casos, se considera una condición crónica, que cumple con el rol biosicológico, social y legal de la discapacidad. Desde que en 1978 naciera la primera niña concebida por fecundación in vitro, las tecnologías reproductivas posibilitan el nacimiento de miles de niños al año en todo el mundo. Pese a la expansión de centros en donde se realizan técnicas de reproducción asistida, aún muchos países no cuentan con un anclaje jurídico que regule adecuadamente la materia, situación que provoca que en ocasiones se produzcan vulneraciones de los derechos humanos, que podrían evitarse con una adecuada regulación.
Las pretensiones de la tutela en el ordenamiento jurídico colombiano
Authors: Suárez Manrique Wilson Yesid
Published: June 2018

El artículo describe y analiza la relación que existe entre la forma de presentar las pretensiones de la tutela y la influencia que ésta genera en la decisión del juez. Se prescribe un modelo de redacción de las pretensiones de la tutela, basado en la concepción estructural de los derechos fundamentales, la conciencia del principio de consonancia, la racionalidad limitada del juez y el principio metajurídico de claridad y simplicidad.
The Merida Initiative and the Tort Claims Act: Human Rights Violations and Foreign Non-Contractual Civil Liability in the United States
Authors: Melgar Manzanilla Pastora , Márquez Gómez Daniel
Published: June 2018

This article discusses the possibility that Mexican victims of human rights violations may take advantage of the contents of the Alien Tort Claims Act to sue Mexican officials for extra-contractual civil liability in the event that they suffer damages derived from the use of firearms, technology, or otherwise, linked to the Merida Initiative. We analyze the Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008, and the Alien Tort Claims Act, also known as the Alien Tort Statute. We also refer to related Acts such as the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and the Torture Victim Protection Act, as well as to cases that help to understand the scope and limitations of the Alien Tort Claims Act. We conclude that the Merida Initiative and the resources allocated under it have deepened human rights violations in Mexico, and that the Alien Tort Claims Act could be invoked by Mexicans victims of such violations and of the “war” against drug trafficking under the framework of the Merida Initiative.
Human Rights Education and Training Programs in Mexico: A Cross-Case Analysis of Practitioners’ Professional Knowledge and Practices
Authors: Martínez Sainz Gabriela
Published: June 2018

In Mexico, human rights education and training programs are becoming one of the most recurrent outcomes in official settlements related to institutional violations and abuses of human rights. Despite their predominant role in addressing human rights violations, there is little systematic information on how these programs are conducted in practice. To fill the gap, this article presents a cross-case analysis of three qualitative studies that explore practitioners’ professional knowledge and practices in implementing human rights education programs in Mexico. Each individual case examines some of the challenges practitioners face in the implementation of these programs, the institutional influence on their work, and the role of their own experiences in human rights practices.
Did Nafta Help Mexico? An Update After 23 Years
Authors: Weisbrot Mark , Merling Lara , Mello Vitor , Lefebvre Stephan , Sammut Joseph
Published: June 2018

This note compares the performance of the Mexican economy with that of the rest of the region over 23 years, since NAFTA took effect, based on the available economic and social indicators. Among the results, it finds that Mexico ranks 15th out of 20 Latin American countries in growth of real GDP per person, the most basic economic measure of living standards; Mexico’s poverty rate in 2014 was higher than the poverty rate of 1994; and real wages (inflation-adjusted) were almost the same in 2014 as in 1994. It also notes that if NAFTA had been successful in restoring Mexico’s pre-1980 growth rate —when developmentalist economic policies were the norm— Mexico today would be a high-income country, with income per person comparable to Western European countries. If not for Mexico’s long-term economic failure, including the 23 years since NAFTA, it is unlikely that immigration from Mexico would have become a major political issue in the United States, since relatively few Mexicans would seek to cross the border.
Amparos Filed by Indigenous Communities Against Mining Concessions in Mexico: Implications for a Shift in Ecological Law
Authors: Carlsson Carla Sbert
Published: June 2018

Four indigenous communities in Mexico have initiated amparos seeking constitutional protection against mining concessions that have allegedly violated their constitutional rights. In addition to their significant implications for indigenous rights in Mexico, these amparos are part of a growing reaction against laws that prioritize mining interests over community land uses and ecological values. This article explores the relationship of these cases with a new legal paradigm that is emerging in response to the inability of environmental law to adequately address the deepening ecological crisis: ecological law. From an ecological law perspective, these amparos are of interest because of the possibility for courts to give priority to indigenous values ascribing spiritual, ecological and relational meanings to the land and its resources, over economic interests seeking to exploit the land and resources for commercial gain without regard to ecological limits. The article introduces a “lens of ecological law” conceived to understand the nature of the required shift from the current law to ecological law, and then examines the amparo filed by the community of San Miguel del Progreso–Júba Wajíín from this standpoint. The analysis shows that the provisions of the Mining Law challenged by the amparo pose serious obstacles for ecological law (prioritizing mining over any other land use), and it points to certain synergies between indigenous rights and ecological law. While the SCJN did not examine the merits of the amparo because the concessions had been withdrawn, the amparo offers insights into the challenges facing a shift away from the current legal paradigm.
Unveiling the Meaning of Social Justice in Colombia
Authors: Pérez Garzón Carlos Andrés
Published: June 2018

Through the presentation of the history of social justice in global constitutional discourse, this article aims to demonstrate that, although in Colombia there is not a constitutionalized purpose or principle of social justice, as in other countries, the modern notion of distributive justice, also called social justice today, is implicit in the Constitution of 1991 because it enshrined as mandatory rules the three main elements of its meaning at the time of its promulgation: the principle of social rule of law, the principle of human dignity and the right to a material equality. Thus, in Colombia social justice must not be understood in the Aristotelian sense of distributive justice but in accordance with these three elements, and can only be achieved if they are fulfilled.
The Subalternization of a Progressive Legal Project: The Rights of Nature in Ecuador
Authors: Nieto Sanabria Laura
Published: June 2018

In this note, the author uses the categories of subalternity and hegemony, proposed by Antonio Gramsci, in order to analyze the political process that emerged with the proclamation of the Rights of Nature in the Constitution of Montecristi, the new Constitution of Ecuador that came into existence in 2008. Out of the understanding that every legislative process arises from a political project within a historical bloc with specific interactions between forces, the Alianza País political project has searched for new ways of approaching the human-nature relationship through the “Revolución Ciudadana” in order to avoid the exploitation and commercialization of nature. Nonetheless, the Rights of Nature initiative has received much criticism from many fields: 1) the false distinction between nature and humanity; 2) the change from an obligation to take care of nature to rights of nature as a neoliberal danger; 3) the supposed liberation of nature within liberal market thinking. For that matter, the Rights of Nature can be understood as a political project that has been subalternized by the hegemonic political project within ecological thinking that goes hand-inhand with neoliberal politics, the so-called Green Economy. This hegemonic project in the ecological field is working towards the continuance of the exploitation and commercialization of nature and has become more powerful than the Rights of Nature initiative by using it to give entrance to green neoliberal projects in Ecuador.
The Modern Possibilities of Human Rights: A Critique of the Negative Critique of Law and Rights
Authors: Tapia Argüello Sergio Martín
Published: June 2018

This note analyzes the relations between human rights discourse and Critical Legal Theory, focusing on what can be called “the negative critique of law and rights”. Although the negative critique is important to any kind of critical approach (especially those which deal with something that seems beyond the possibilities of the critique), the note presents the multiple problems of the total rejection of human rights in contemporary societies.
Concepción institucional del derecho a la salud en Venezuela
Authors: Delgado Blanco Andy
Published: June 2018

El propósito de este artículo es examinar la concepción del derecho a la salud que subyace en la Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela y su posterior desarrollo a través de algunas estructuras y mecanismos institucionales puestas en práctica desde 1999 hasta 2013. Para cumplir con ese objetivo este trabajo discurrirá a lo largo de dos cauces: las propuestas y debates suscitados en el seno de la Asamblea Nacional Constituyente de 1999 que influyeron en la cristalización de las normas constitucionales que garantizan el derecho a la salud; y los mecanismos y estructuras institucionales a través de los cuales se ha venido desarrollando el derecho. La revisión documental realizada sugiere que aun cuando las normas constitucionales postulan un derecho a la salud con un carácter marcadamente universalista; en los hechos, por una parte, las estructuras y mecanismos institucionales desarrollados son poco transparentes y repiten esquemas pasados; por la otra, el creciente deterioro de las condiciones de acceso a servicios, tratamientos y medicamentos evidencia la ausencia de garantías reales para hacer efectivo el derecho.
Facebook como motor de la posverdad en Zacatecas, México
Authors: Contreras Padilla Sergio Octavio
Published: June 2018

Durante el último año se registró en varias partes del mundo un fenómeno comunicativo conocido como “noticias falsas” o fake news. Esta práctica consiste en la difusión de información estructurada en forma de noticia, la cual se distribuye a través de las nuevas tecnologías de la comunicación. El tema cobró relevancia en Estados Unidos en las pasadas elecciones, y en México durante las protestas civiles a causa del aumento de los combustibles. Los primeros análisis —elaborados principalmente en Estados Unidos y en Europa— dan cuenta que los hechos falsos pueden afectar el derecho que tiene la sociedad a estar informada. Durante 2017 circularon en Facebook una gran cantidad de noticias falsas en el estado de Zacatecas, México. Para comprender el fenómeno comunicativo, en el presente artículo se realiza un estudio empírico mediante un monitoreo a nueve páginas que difunden noticias falsas, así como una encuesta en línea a 470 usuarios de Facebook. Los resultados arrojaron elementos que permiten conocer las características de las noticias falsas en Zacatecas y el papel que la sociedad juega al momento de informarse.
Market Competition, Audit Fee Stickiness, and Audit Quality: Evidence from China
Authors: Chang Hsihui , Guo Yingwen , Mo Phyllis Lai Lan
Published: June 2018

This study examines how audit fee stickiness varies with changes in market competition in China and its effect on audit quality. The Chinese audit market structure has changed significantly since the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CICPA) issued a proposal to enhance the competitiveness of large domestic audit firms by promoting the consolidation of domestic audit firms in 2007. Using a sample of Chinese listed firms, we find a decrease in upward stickiness and an increase in downward stickiness as market concentration increases in the post-Proposal period. The asymmetry between upward and downward fee stickiness is greater in local markets that are more dominated by the top 10 domestic auditors. Moreover, we find that upward (downward) fee stickiness has a negative (positive) association with audit quality as measured by earnings management and auditor reporting conservatism.

JEL Classifications: D40; M42.
An Experimental Examination of the Effects of Information Control on Budget Reporting with Relative Project Evaluation
Authors: Nikias Anthony D.
Published: June 2018

This paper examines the effects of providing information about coworkers' costs on binding, noncredible commitments and collusion in a capital budgeting setting with relative project evaluation. Two subordinates with asymmetric information regarding project costs report to a superior who pre-commits to funding rules that potentially ration resources. Rationing is credible only for the most restrictive rule, according to the wealth-maximizing model. When subordinates can observe each other's cost, it can increase collusion by facilitating coordination or potentially affecting equity motives. The results of my experiment reveal that noncredible commitments are generally effective at controlling information rents. Further, credible and noncredible commitments are more effective when subordinates cannot observe their peer's costs. When subordinates can observe costs, they condition reports on the higher costs of a peer. The results suggest the effectiveness of informal controls may depend on the information environment.

JEL Classifications: M41; C72; C92.

Data Availability: The data are available from the author on request.
Vascular and Neural Complications in Type 2 Diabetic Rats: Improvement by Sacubitril/Valsartan Greater Than Valsartan Alone
Authors: Davidson Eric P. , Coppey Lawrence J. , Shevalye Hanna , Obrosov Alexander , Yorek Mark A.
Published: June 2018

Previously, we had shown that a vasopeptidase inhibitor drug containing ACE and neprilysin inhibitors was an effective treatment for diabetic vascular and neural complications. However, side effects prevented further development. This led to the development of sacubitril/valsartan, a drug containing angiotensin II receptor blocker and neprilysin inhibitor that we hypothesized would be an effective treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Using early and late intervention protocols (4 and 12 weeks posthyperglycemia, respectively), type 2 diabetic rats were treated with valsartan or sacubitril/valsartan for 12 weeks followed by an extensive evaluation of vascular and neural end points. The results demonstrated efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan in improving vascular and neural function was superior to valsartan alone. In the early intervention protocol, sacubitril/valsartan treatment was found to slow progression of these deficits and, with late intervention treatment, was found to stimulate restoration of vascular reactivity, motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities, and sensitivity/regeneration of sensory nerves of the skin and cornea in a rat model of type 2 diabetes. These preclinical studies suggest that sacubitril/valsartan may be an effective treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, but additional studies will be needed to investigate these effects further.
Nonsynonymous Variants in PAX4 and GLP1R Are Associated With Type 2 Diabetes in an East Asian Population
Authors: Kwak Soo Heon , Chae Jeesoo , Lee Seungbok , Choi Sungkyoung , Koo Bo Kyung , Yoon Ji Won , Park Jin-Ho , Cho Belong , Moon Min Kyong , Lim Soo , Cho Young Min , Moon Sanghoon , Kim Young Jin , Han Sohee , Hwang Mi Yeong , Cho Yoon Shin , Lee Myung-Shik , Jang Hak C. , Kang Hyun Min , Park Taesung , Cho Nam H. , Kim Kyunga , Kim Jong-Il , Park Kyong Soo
Published: June 2018

We investigated ethnicity-specific exonic variants of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its related clinical phenotypes in an East Asian population. We performed whole-exome sequencing in 917 T2D case and control subjects, and the findings were validated by exome array genotyping in 3,026 participants. In silico replication was conducted for seven nonsynonymous variants in an additional 13,122 participants. Single-variant and gene-based association tests for T2D were analyzed. A total of 728,838 variants were identified by whole-exome sequencing. Among nonsynonymous variants, PAX4 Arg192His increased risk of T2D and GLP1R Arg131Gln decreased risk of T2D in genome-wide significance (odds ratio [OR] 1.48, P = 4.47 × 10−16 and OR 0.84, P = 3.55 × 10−8, respectively). Another variant at PAX4 192 codon Arg192Ser was nominally associated with T2D (OR 1.62, P = 5.18 × 10−4). In T2D patients, PAX4 Arg192His was associated with earlier age at diagnosis, and GLP1R Arg131Gln was associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. In control subjects without diabetes, the PAX4 Arg192His was associated with higher fasting glucose and GLP1R Arg131Gln was associated with lower fasting glucose and HbA1c level. Gene-based analysis revealed that SLC30A8 was most significantly associated with decreased risk of T2D (P = 1.0 × 10−4). In summary, we have identified nonsynonymous variants associated with risk of T2D and related phenotypes in Koreans.
Metabolic Contrasts Between Youth and Adults With Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Recently Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes: II. Observations Using the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
Authors:   The RISE Consortium, Ehrmann David A. , Temple Karla A. , Rue Abby , Barengolts Elena , Mokhlesi Babak , Van Cauter Eve , Sam Susan , Miller M. Annette , Kahn Steven E. , Atkinson Karen M. , Palmer Jerry P. , Utzschneider Kristina M. , Gebremedhin Tsige , Kernan-Schloss Abigail , Kozedub Alexandra , Montgomery Brenda K. , Morse Emily J. , Mather Kieren J. , Garrett Tammy , Hannon Tamara S. , Lteif Amale , Patel Aniket , Chisholm Robin , Moore Karen , Pirics Vivian , Pratt Linda , Nadeau Kristen J. , Gross Susan , Zeitler Philip S. , Williams Jayne , Green Melanie-Cree , Garcia Reyes Yesenia , Vissat Krista , Arslanian Silva A. , Brown Kathleen , Guerra Nancy , Porter Kristin , Caprio Sonia , Savoye Mary , Pierpont Bridget , Buchanan Thomas A. , Xiang Anny H. , Trigo Enrique , Beale Elizabeth , Hendee Fadi N. , Katkhouda Namir , Nayak Krishan , Martinez Mayra , Montgomery Cortney , Wang Xinhui , Edelstein Sharon L. , Lachin John M. , Hogan Ashley N. , Marcovina Santica , Harting Jessica , Albers John , Hill Dave , Savage Peter J. , Leschek Ellen W.
Published: June 2018

OBJECTIVE

To compare oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) glucose, C-peptide, and insulin responses and insulin sensitivity in youth and adults with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 66 youth (80.3% with IGT) and 355 adults (70.7% with IGT) underwent a 3-h OGTT to assess 1) insulin sensitivity (1/fasting insulin), 2) C-peptide index (CPI) and insulinogenic index (IGI) over the first 30 min, and 3) glucose, C-peptide, and insulin incremental areas above fasting over the 3-h post-ingestion (incremental glucose [G-iAUC], incremental C-peptide [CP-iAUC], and incremental insulin area under the curve [I-iAUC] responses, respectively).

RESULTS

Fasting, 2-h glucose, and G-iAUC were similar in both age-groups, but youth had ∼50% lower 1/fasting insulin (P < 0.001), 75% higher CPI (mean [95% CI] 0.703 [0.226, 2.183] vs. 0.401 [0.136, 1.183] nmol/mmol; P < 0.001), and more than twofold higher IGI (257.3 [54.5, 1,215.8] vs. 114.8 [28.0, 470.8] pmol/mmol; P < 0.001). Two-hour C-peptide and insulin concentrations, CP-iAUC, and I-iAUC were all higher in youth (all P < 0.001). C-peptide and insulin responses remained significantly greater in youth after adjustment for insulin sensitivity. Within each age-group, individuals with type 2 diabetes versus IGT had significantly lower CPI and IGI with no difference in insulin sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

The balance between insulin sensitivity and β-cell responses differs between youth and adults with IGT or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Despite similar postload glucose levels, youth demonstrate greater C-peptide and insulin responses that exceed what is needed to compensate for their lower insulin sensitivity. Longitudinal studies are required to determine whether this feature contributes to a more rapid decline in β-cell function in youth with dysglycemia.
Impact of Insulin and Metformin Versus Metformin Alone on β-Cell Function in Youth With Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Recently Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes
Authors:   The RISE Consortium, Nadeau Kristen J. , Hannon Tamara S. , Edelstein Sharon L. , Arslanian Silva A. , Caprio Sonia , Leschek Ellen W. , Zeitler Philip S. , Buchanan Thomas A. , Ehrmann David A. , Mather Kieren J. , Kahn Steven E. , Gross Susan , Williams Jayne , Cree-Green Melanie , Reyes Yesenia Garcia , Vissat Krista , Brown Kathleen , Guerra Nancy , Porter Kristin , Savoye Mary , Pierpont Bridget , Garrett Tammy , Lteif Amale , Patel Aniket , Chisholm Robin , Moore Karen , Pirics Vivian , Pratt Linda , Temple Karla A. , Rue Abby , Barengolts Elena , Mokhlesi Babak , Van Cauter Eve , Sam Susan , Miller M. Annette , Atkinson Karen M. , Palmer Jerry P. , Utzschneider Kristina M. , Gebremedhin Tsige , Kernan-Schloss Abigail , Kozedub Alexandra , Montgomery Brenda K. , Morse Emily J. , Xiang Anny H. , Trigo Enrique , Beale Elizabeth , Hendee Fadi N. , Katkhouda Namir , Nayak Krishan , Martinez Mayra , Montgomery Cortney , Wang Xinhui , Lachin John M. , Hogan Ashley N. , Marcovina Santica , Harting Jessica , Albers John , Hill Dave , Savage Peter J.
Published: June 2018

OBJECTIVE

Pediatric type 2 diabetes prevalence is increasing, with β-cell dysfunction key in its pathogenesis. The RISE Pediatric Medication Study compared two approaches—glargine followed by metformin and metformin alone—in preserving or improving β-cell function in youth with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes during and after therapy withdrawal.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Ninety-one pubertal, overweight/obese 10–19-year-old youth with IGT (60%) or type 2 diabetes of <6 months duration (40%) were randomized to either 3 months of insulin glargine with a target glucose of 4.4–5.0 mmol/L followed by 9 months of metformin or to 12 months of metformin alone. β-Cell function (insulin sensitivity paired with β-cell responses) was assessed by hyperglycemic clamp at baseline, 12 months (on treatment), and 15 months (3 months off treatment).

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed between treatment groups at baseline, 12 months, or 15 months in β-cell function, BMI percentile, HbA1c, fasting glucose, or oral glucose tolerance test 2-h glucose results. In both treatment groups, clamp-measured β-cell function was significantly lower at 12 and 15 months versus baseline. HbA1c fell transiently at 6 months within both groups. BMI was higher in the glargine followed by metformin versus metformin alone group between 3 and 9 months. Only 5% of participants discontinued the interventions, and both treatments were well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

In youth with IGT or recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes, neither 3 months of glargine followed by 9 months of metformin nor 12 months of metformin alone halted the progressive deterioration of β-cell function. Alternate approaches to preserve β-cell function in youth are needed.