bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is changing status through housing tenure associated with changes in mental health? Results from the British Household Panel Survey
Authors: Popham Frank , Williamson Lee , Whitley Elise
Published: October 2014

Background

Actual or perceived status, such as housing tenure, may impact on health through stress-inducing social comparisons. Studies of how status change impacts mental health change are rare but important because they are less prone to confounding.

Methods

We used data from the British Household Panel Survey to compare psychological distress in local authority renters who opted to buy their home under the UK's Right to Buy (RTB) policy versus those who continued to rent the same (social non-mover (SNM)) or a different (social mover (SM)) local authority property or who bought privately (owner mover (OM)). General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) scores before and after any change in tenure and/or address were compared across groups using a difference-in-difference approach.

Results

Individuals who moved house (bought or rented) were younger while those who bought (the same or different house) were better off, more likely to be employed, and had higher educational qualifications. Individuals who bought their home (under RTB or privately) had lower distress scores from the outset. Individuals who moved house (bought or rented) experienced a rise in distress prior to moving that was no longer evident 1 year after the move. There was no evidence that changing tenure reduced psychological distress comparing (difference (95% CI)) average GHQ score 2 years preaddress and 1 year postaddress/tenure change in RTB vs SNM, SM, OM: −0.08 (−0.68 to 0.51), 0.16 (−0.70 to 1.01) and −0.17 (−1.28 to 0.94), respectively).

Conclusions

Changing tenure under RTB did not, on average, impact psychological distress, suggesting that this status change did not change mental health.
It is time to revisit current dietary recommendations for saturated fat
Authors: Lamarche Benoît , Couture Patrick
Published: October 2014

The extent to which a high intake of saturated fat (SFA) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become a highly controversial topic. Dietary SFA primarily raises low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, while having a relatively neutral impact on other key CVD risk factors. Recent epidemiological data also challenge the concept that SFA increases the risk of CVD. This short review provides arguments for the urgency to re-assess the association between dietary SFA and CVD risk in light of recent data on the subject.
WHY IS FINANCE IMPORTANT? SOME THOUGHTS ON POST-CRISIS ECONOMICS
Authors: NG YEW-KWANG
Published: October 2014

The global financial crisis of 2008 challenges some relevant aspects of macroeconomic theory such as the neutrality of money. This paper shows that this neutrality is based on the unrealistic assumption of perfect competition. Relaxing this alone (without time lags, price rigidities, menu costs and other frictions) makes money no longer necessarily neutral and hence makes financial crises and institutions much more important. The presence of increasing returns to scale at the firm level and to specialization at the economy level due to the division of labor also makes finance much more important than suggested by traditional economics.
Analysis on Aggregation Function Spaces
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Xu Zeshui
Published: October 2014

In many decision-making problems, different methods usually yield different results. In this paper, we study all possible rankings of alternatives produced by applying a set of aggregation functions on a decision matrix. Those possible rankings depend on the aggregation functions that we use and the structures of the decision matrix. The aim of this paper is to investigate structures and properties of decision matrices and aggregation function spaces and give a new view point to understand aggregation spaces and decision matrices.
COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE REGENERATED KNEE STRUCTURE AFTER BONE MARROW STIMULATION TECHNIQUES
Authors: SHAYAN MAHDIS , CHUN YOUNGJAE , LIM WOOCHUL , LEE MINUK , LEE TAE HEE , MIN BYUNG-HYUN , LEE DONG-GUN
Published: October 2014

Bone marrow stimulation techniques, such as abrasion arthroplasty or microfracture, have been widely used for repairing cartilage; however, the mechanical stress analysis of these surgical techniques has not been fully investigated. In this study, finite element analysis was used to investigate stresses produced in complex structures (e.g., cartilage, subchondral bone and trabecular bone) using 2D knee structural models. Abrasion arthroplasty creates global damages only in subchondral bone, but, microfracture technique creates local damages in both trabecular and subchondral regions. Although stresses do not significantly change in trabecular bones as 50% recovery occurs in both abrasion and microfacture samples, significant changes are observed in both subchondral bone and cartilage layer depending on the procedure. The maximum stress levels in the microfractured bone represent approximately a 10.48% increase in cartilage and a 38.25% increase in subchondral bones compared to normal conditions. After 150% recovery, however, all three layers increase their stress levels in microfractured samples. Therefore, the 2D computational analysis results suggest that the microfracture technique should be cautiously used.
MODELING OF ILIAC ARTERY ANEURYSM USING FLUID–STRUCTURE INTERACTION
Authors: SABOONI HATEF , HASSANI KAMRAN , BAHRASEMAN HAMIDREZA GHASEMI
Published: October 2014

The aneurysm of iliac artery is a rare entity and there are few computational models that have studied the disease. In this study, we have presented the flow patterns in the aneurysmal artery using Fluid–structure interaction method. The blood was assumed Newotonian, pulsatile, laminar, incompressible, and homogenous. The geometry of the model was made based on CT images of clinical cases. Using the computational method, we have obtained the velocity and pressure contours, shear rates and vortices for the healthy and aneurysmal artery. The results show that a pressure maximum was found at the midpoint of the dilation. The vortices are formed in the aneurysmal area26 and shear rates do not change much. However, the rate increased in the neck of aneurysms. Furthermore, the aneurysm with bigger dilation tend to rupture due to more shear rates in the neck and the velocity at peak systole decreases in the aneurysmal area due to increase of the artery diameter. We have compared our results with some available relevant clinical data in discussion section.
ReSAPP: Predicting overlapping protein complexes by merging multiple-sampled partitions of proteins
Authors: Kobiki So , Maruyama Osamu
Published: October 2014

Many proteins are known to perform their own functions when they form particular groups of proteins, called protein complexes. With the advent of large-scale protein–protein interaction (PPI) studies, it has been a challenging problem in systems biology to predict protein complexes from PPIs. In this paper, we propose a novel method, called Repeated Simulated Annealing of Partitions of Proteins (ReSAPP), which predicts protein complexes from weighted PPIs. ReSAPP, in the first stage, generates multiple (possibly different) partitions of all proteins of given PPIs by repeatedly applying a simulated annealing based optimization algorithm to the PPIs. In the second stage, all different clusters of size two or more in those multiple partitions are merged into a collection of those clusters, which are outputted as predicted protein complexes. In performance comparison of ReSAPP with our previous algorithm, PPSampler2, as well as other various tools, MCL, MCODE, DPClus, CMC, COACH, RRW, NWE, and PPSampler1, ReSAPP is shown to outperform the other methods. Furthermore, the value of F-measure of ReSAPP is higher than that of the variant of ReSAPP without merging partitions. Thus, we empirically conclude that the combination of sampling multiple partitions and merging them is effective to predict protein complexes.
Dirac structures for higher analogues of Courant algebroids
Authors: Bi Yanhui , Sheng Yunhe
Published: October 2014

In this paper, we introduce the notion of a (p, k)-Dirac structure in TM ⊕ ΛpT*M, where 0 ≤ k ≤ p - 1. The (p, 0)-Dirac structures are exactly the higher analogues of Dirac structures of order p introduced by Zambon in [L∞-algebras and higher analogues of Dirac structures and Courant algebroids, J. Symplectic Geom.10(4) (2012) 563–599]. The (p, p - 1)-Dirac structures are exactly the Nambu–Dirac structures introduced by Hagiwara in [Nambu–Dirac manifolds, J. Phys. A35(5) (2002) 1263–1281]. In the regular case, such a (p, k)-Dirac structure is characterized by a characteristic pair.
Complex Ecological Interactions in the Coffee Agroecosystem
Authors: Perfecto Ivette , Vandermeer John , Philpott Stacy M.
Published: October 2014

Coffee agroecosystems have become iconic in the study of how agriculture can contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and how biodiversity can deliver ecosystem services to agriculture. However, coffee farms are also excellent model systems for ecological research. Throughout the tropics coffee farms are cultivated using varying numbers and diversity of shade trees, representing a gradient of diversity and complexity, ranging from forest-like “shade coffee” to intensified shadeless “sun coffee.” Here we synthesize ecological research in the coffee agroecosystem focusing on four topics that have received considerable recent attention: (a) trophic interactions (especially vertebrates and ants as predators), (b) trait-mediated indirect interactions, (c) competition and community assembly (mainly birds and ants), and (d) spatial constraints on interactions.
Mixing and Transport in Coastal River Plumes
Authors: Horner-Devine Alexander R. , Hetland Robert D. , MacDonald Daniel G.
Published: October 2014

River plumes are generated by the flow of buoyant river water into the coastal ocean, where they significantly influence water properties and circulation. They comprise dynamically distinct regions spanning a large range of spatial and temporal scales, each contributing to the dilution and transport of freshwater as it is carried away from the source. River plume structure varies greatly among different plume systems, depending on the forcing and geometry of each system. Individual systems may also exhibit markedly different characteristics under varied forcing conditions. Research over the past decade, including a series of major observational efforts, has significantly improved our understanding of the dynamics and mixing processes in these regions. Although these studies have clarified many individual processes, a holistic description of the interaction and relative importance of different mixing and transport processes in river plumes has not yet been realized.
Population Genomics of Transposable Elements in Drosophila
Authors: Barrón Maite G. , Fiston-Lavier Anna-Sophie , Petrov Dmitri A. , González Josefa
Published: October 2014

Studies of the population dynamics of transposable elements (TEs) in Drosophila melanogaster indicate that consistent forces are affecting TEs independently of their modes of transposition and regulation. New sequencing technologies enable biologists to sample genomes at an unprecedented scale in order to quantify genome-wide polymorphism for annotated and novel TE insertions. In this review, we first present new insights gleaned from high-throughput data for population genomics studies of D. melanogaster. We then consider the latest population genomics models for TE evolution and present examples of functional evidence revealed by genome-wide studies of TE population dynamics in D. melanogaster. Although most of the TE insertions are deleterious or neutral, some TE insertions increase the fitness of the individual that carries them and play a role in genome adaptation.
The Use of Biomarkers in Human Pharmacology (Phase I) Studies
Authors: Cohen A.F. , Burggraaf J. , van Gerven J.M.A. , Moerland M. , Groeneveld G.J.
Published: October 2014

The development of a new medicine is a risky and costly undertaking that requires careful planning. This planning is largely applied to the operational aspects of the development and less so to the scientific objectives and methodology. The drugs that will be developed in the future will increasingly affect pathophysiological pathways that have been largely unexplored. Such drug prototypes cannot be immediately introduced in large clinical trials. The effects of the drug on normal physiology, pathophysiology, and eventually the desired clinical effects will need to be evaluated in a structured approach, based on the definition of drug development as providing answers to important questions by appropriate clinical studies. This review describes the selection process for biomarkers that are fit-for-purpose for the stage of drug development in which they are used. This structured and practical approach is widely applicable and particularly useful for the early stages of innovative drug development.
Improving Postapproval Drug Safety Surveillance: Getting Better Information Sooner
Authors: Hennessy Sean , Strom Brian L.
Published: October 2014

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are an important public health concern, accounting for 5% of all hospital admissions and two-thirds of all complications occurring shortly after hospital discharge. There are often long delays between when a drug is approved and when serious ADEs are identified. Recent and ongoing advances in drug safety surveillance include the establishment of government-sponsored networks of population databases, the use of data mining approaches, and the formal integration of diverse sources of drug safety information. These advances promise to reduce delays in identifying drug-related risks and in providing reassurance about the absence of such risks.
The Science of Mind Wandering: Empirically Navigating the Stream of Consciousness
Authors: Smallwood Jonathan , Schooler Jonathan W.
Published: October 2014

Conscious experience is fluid; it rarely remains on one topic for an extended period without deviation. Its dynamic nature is illustrated by the experience of mind wandering, in which attention switches from a current task to unrelated thoughts and feelings. Studies exploring the phenomenology of mind wandering highlight the importance of its content and relation to meta-cognition in determining its functional outcomes. Examination of the information-processing demands of the mind-wandering state suggests that it involves perceptual decoupling to escape the constraints of the moment, its content arises from episodic and affective processes, and its regulation relies on executive control. Mind wandering also involves a complex balance of costs and benefits: Its association with various kinds of error underlines its cost, whereas its relationship to creativity and future planning suggest its potential value. Although essential to the stream of consciousness, various strategies may minimize the downsides of mind wandering while maintaining its productive aspects.
Photoelastic and Finite Element Analyses of Occlusal Loads in Mandibular Body
Authors: Rossi Ana Cláudia , Freire Alexandre Rodrigues , Prado Felippe Bevilacqua , Asprino Luciana , Correr-Sobrinho Lourenço , Caria Paulo Henrique Ferreira
Published: October 2014

This study proposed to evaluate the mandibular biomechanics in the posterior dentition based on experimental and computational analyses. The analyses were performed on a model of human mandible, which was modeled by epoxy resin for photoelastic analysis and by computer-aided design for finite element analysis. To standardize the evaluation, specific areas were determined at the lateral surface of mandibular body. The photoelastic analysis was configured through a vertical load on the first upper molar and fixed support at the ramus of mandible. The same configuration was used in the computer simulation. Force magnitudes of 50, 100, 150, and 200 N were applied to evaluate the bone stress. The stress results presented similar distribution in both analyses, with the more intense stress being at retromolar area and oblique line and alveolar process at molar level. This study presented the similarity of results in the experimental and computational analyses and, thus, showed the high importance of morphology biomechanical characterization at posterior dentition.
On Second Order Gap Balancing Numbers
Authors: Rout S. S.
Published: October 2014

We consider the Diophantine equation 1k+2k+⋯+x-1k=x+2k+x+3k+⋯+x+rk for some natural numbers x, k, and r, and we call 2x+1 as kth order 2-gap balancing number. It was also proved that there are infinitely many first order 2-gap balancing numbers. In this paper, we show that the only second order 2-gap balancing number is 1.
Noninvasive Recording of True-to-Form Fetal ECG during the Third Trimester of Pregnancy
Authors: Peterfi Istvan , Kellenyi Lorand , Szilagyi Andras
Published: October 2014

Objective. The aim of the study was to develop a complex electrophysiological measurement system (hardware and software) which uses the methods of electrophysiology and provides significant information about the intrauterine status of the fetus, intending to obtain true-to-form, morphologically evaluated fetal ECG from transabdominal maternal lead.Results. The present method contains many novel ideas that allow creating true-to-form noninvasive fetal ECG in the third trimester of the pregnancy in 80% of the cases. Such ideas are the telemetric data collection, the “cleanse” of the real time recording from the maternal ECG, and the use of the cardiotocograph (CTG) that allows identifying the fetal heart events. The advantage of this developed system is that it does not require any qualified staff, because both the extraction of the information from the abdominal recording and the processing of the data are automatic.Discussion. Although the idea of a noninvasive fetal electrocardiography is more than 100 years old still there is no simple, effective, and cheap method available that would enable an extensive use. This developed system can be used in the third trimester of the pregnancy efficiently. It can produce true-to-form fetal ECGs with amplitude less than 10 µV.
Dyslipidemia in Psoriasis: A Case Controlled Study
Authors: Nakhwa Y. C. , Rashmi R. , Basavaraj K. H.
Published: October 2014

Multiple observational studies have demonstrated associations of psoriasis with metabolic syndrome including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and osteoporosis. However there is paucity of Indian studies on dyslipidemia in psoriasis. The aim of this study was to assess the serum lipids in psoriasis and to investigate the association of lipids with disease severity and its duration. 100 cases of psoriasis (75/M, 25/F), between 15 and 72 years, were recruited with age and sex matched 73 controls. Using Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) cases were graded into mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis. Serum total cholesterol and triglycerides were analyzed using enzymatic method. Using independent t-test, significant elevation of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and very low density lipoprotein was observed (P<0.05) when compared to controls. The levels of low density lipoproteins were comparable in cases and controls. Lipid aberrations in hypertensive patients were significant. There was a decrease in HDL levels with increase in disease severity. A fall in the levels of HDL was seen in cases with long term psoriasis. There is a strong association of dyslipidemia with psoriasis. There exist racial and ethnic variation in the prevalence of psoriasis; however, dyslipidemia is consistently seen in diverse population. Whether genetic factors are implicated in lipid derangements in psoriasis needs further research.
A Case of Continuous Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Abdominal Infected Lymphocele after Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Franchin Marco , Tozzi Matteo , Soldini Gabriele , Piffaretti Gabriele
Published: October 2014

Lymphocele is a common complication after kidney transplantation. Although superinfection is a rare event, it generates a difficult management problem; generally, open surgical drainage is the preferred method of treatment but it may lead to complicated postoperative course and prolonged healing time. Negative pressure wound therapy showed promising outcomes in various surgical disciplines and settings. We present a case of an abdominal infected lymphocele after kidney transplantation managed with open surgery and negative pressure wound therapy.
Iatrogenic Anetoderma of Prematurity: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Maffeis Laura , Pugni Lorenza , Pietrasanta Carlo , Ronchi Andrea , Fumagalli Monica , Gelmetti Carlo , Mosca Fabio
Published: October 2014

Anetoderma is a skin disorder characterized by focal loss of elastic tissue in the mid dermis, resulting in localized areas of macular depressions or pouchlike herniations of skin. An iatrogenic form of anetoderma has been rarely described in extremely premature infants and has been related to the placement of monitoring devices on the patient skin. Because of the increasing survival of extremely premature infants, it is easy to foresee that the prevalence of anetoderma of prematurity will increase in the next future. Although it is a benign lesion, it persists over time and can lead to significant aesthetic damage with need for surgical correction. Sometimes the diagnosis can be difficult, especially when the atrophic lesions become evident after discharge. Here, we report on a premature infant born at 24 weeks of gestation, who developed multiple anetodermic patches of skin on the trunk at the sites where electrocardiographic electrodes were previously applied. The knowledge of the disease can encourage a more careful management of the skin of extremely premature babies and aid the physicians to diagnose the disease when anetoderma patches are first encountered later in childhood.
Peak Voltage Measurements Using Standard Sphere Gap Method
Authors: Ungureanu Constantin , Nemțoi Lăcrămioara Mihaela
Published: October 2014

The paper presents a measurement system of peak value of high voltage (H.V.) using 150 mm diameter sphere gap, disposed in vertical position. Experimental breakdown results have been compared with standard values at atmospheric reference conditions STC (20°C, 101.3 kPa, or 760 mmHg). The main experimental and theoretical characteristics are presented.
SCP Phosphatases Suppress Renal Cell Carcinoma by Stabilizing PML and Inhibiting mTOR/HIF Signaling
Authors: Lin Yu-Ching , Lu Li-Ting , Chen Hsin-Yi , Duan Xueyan , Lin Xia , Feng Xin-Hua , Tang Ming-Jer , Chen Ruey-Hwa
Published: October 2014

The tumor-suppressor protein promyelocytic leukemia (PML) is aberrantly degraded in multiple types of human cancers through mechanisms that are incompletely understood. Here, we show that the phosphatase SCP1 and its isoforms SCP2/3 dephosphorylate PML at S518, thereby blocking PML ubiquitination and degradation mediated by the prolyl isomerase Pin1 and the ubiquitin ligase KLHL20. Clinically, SCP1 and SCP3 are downregulated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and these events correlated with PMLS518 phosphorylation, PML turnover, and high-grade tumors. Restoring SCP1-mediated PML stabilization not only inhibited malignant features of ccRCC, including proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor growth, and tumor angiogenesis, but also suppressed the mTOR–HIF pathway. Furthermore, blocking PML degradation in ccRCC by SCP1 overexpression or Pin1 inhibition enhanced the tumor-suppressive effects of the mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus. Taken together, our results define a novel pathway of PML degradation in ccRCC that involves SCP downregulation, revealing contributions of this pathway to ccRCC progression and offering a mechanistic rationale for combination therapies that jointly target PML degradation and mTOR inhibition for ccRCC treatment. Cancer Res; 74(23); 6935–46. ©2014 AACR.
Pooled Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Lung Cancer Risk in Three Prospective Studies
Authors: Kim Christopher , Bassig Bryan A. , Seow Wei Jie , Hu Wei , Purdue Mark P. , Shu Xiao-Ou , Huang Wen-Yi , Liu Chin-San , Cheng Wen-Ling , Lin Ta-Tsung , Xiang Yong-Bing , Ji Bu-Tian , Gao Yu-Tang , Chow Wong-Ho , Männistö Satu , Weinstein Stephanie J. , Albanes Demetrius , Zheng Wei , Hosgood H. Dean , Lim Unhee , Rothman Nathaniel , Lan Qing
Published: October 2014

Background: We previously reported that higher levels of mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA CN) were associated with lung cancer risk among male heavy smokers (i.e., ≥20 cigarettes per day) in the Alpha-Tocopherol Beta-Carotene (ATBC) study. Here, we present two additional prospective investigations nested in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening trial and the Shanghai Women's Health Study (SWHS), and pooled with previously published data from ATBC.

Materials: All DNA were extracted from peripheral whole blood samples using the phenol–chloroform method, and mtDNA CN was assayed by fluorescence-based qPCR. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate ORs and 95% confidence intervals for the association of mtDNA CN and lung cancer risk.

Results: Overall, mtDNA CN was not associated with lung cancer risk in the PLCO, SWHS, or pooled populations (all P trends > 0.42, P heterogeneity = 0.0001), and mtDNA CN was inversely associated with lung cancer risk among male smokers in PLCO, the opposite direction observed in ATBC. In addition, the mtDNA CN association observed among male heavy smokers in ATBC was the opposite direction in PLCO.

Conclusions: mtDNA CN was not consistently associated with lung cancer risk across three prospective study populations from Europe, Asia, and the United States.

Impact: This pooled study suggests no consistent association between prediagnostic mtDNA CN levels and lung cancer risk across several populations. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(12); 2977–80. ©2014 AACR.
Efficacy of Anti-RON Antibody Zt/g4–Drug Maytansinoid Conjugation (Anti-RON ADC) as a Novel Therapeutics for Targeted Colorectal Cancer Therapy
Authors: Feng Liang , Yao Hang-Ping , Wang Wei , Zhou Yong-Qing , Zhou Jianwei , Zhang Ruiwen , Wang Ming-Hai
Published: October 2014

Purpose: The receptor tyrosine kinase RON is critical in epithelial tumorigenesis and a drug target for cancer therapy. Here, we report the development and therapeutic efficacy of a novel anti-RON antibody Zt/g4–maytansinoid (DM1) conjugates for targeted colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy.

Experimental Design: Zt/g4 (IgG1a/κ) was conjugated to DM1 via thioether linkage to form Zt/g4–DM1 with a drug-antibody ratio of 4:1. CRC cell lines expressing different levels of RON were tested in vitro to determine Zt/g4–DM1-induced RON endocytosis, cell-cycle arrest, and cytotoxicity. Efficacy of Zt/g4–DM1 in vivo was evaluated in mouse xenograft CRC tumor model.

Results: Zt/g4–DM1 rapidly induced RON endocytosis, arrested cell cycle at G2–M phase, reduced cell viability, and caused massive cell death within 72 hours. In mouse xenograft CRC models, Zt/g4–DM1 at a single dose of 20 mg/kg body weight effectively delayed CRC cell-mediated tumor growth up to 20 days. In a multiple dose-ranging study with a five injection regimen, Zt/g4–DM1 inhibited more than 90% tumor growth at doses of 7, 10, and 15 mg/kg body weight. The minimal dose achieving 50% of tumor inhibition was approximately 5.0 mg/kg. The prepared Zt/g4–DM1 is stable at 37°C for up to 30 days. At 60 mg/kg, Zt/g4–DM1 had a moderate toxicity in vivo with an average of 12% reduction in mouse body weight.

Conclusion: Zt/g4–DM1 is highly effective in targeted inhibition of CRC cell-derived tumor growth in mouse xenograft models. This work provides the basis for development of humanized Zt/g4–DM1 for RON-targeted CRC therapy in the future. Clin Cancer Res; 20(23); 6045–58. ©2014 AACR.
miR-204-5p Inhibits Proliferation and Invasion and Enhances Chemotherapeutic Sensitivity of Colorectal Cancer Cells by Downregulating RAB22A
Authors: Yin Yuan , Zhang Binbin , Wang Weili , Fei Bojian , Quan Chao , Zhang Jiwei , Song Mingxu , Bian Zehua , Wang Qifeng , Ni Shujuan , Hu Yaling , Mao Yong , Zhou Leyuan , Wang Yugang , Yu Jian , Du Xiang , Hua Dong , Huang Zhaohui
Published: October 2014

Purpose: miR-204-5p was found to be downregulated in colorectal cancer tissues in our preliminary microarray analyses. However, the function of miR-204-5p in colorectal cancer remains unknown. We therefore investigated the role, mechanism, and clinical significance of miR-204-5p in colorectal cancer development and progression.

Experimental Design: We measured the expression of miR-204-5p and determined its correlation with patient prognoses. Ectopic expression in colorectal cancer cells, xenografts, and pulmonary metastasis models was used to evaluate the effects of miR-204-5p on proliferation, migration, and chemotherapy sensitivity. Luciferase assay and Western blotting were performed to validate the potential targets of miR-204-5p after the preliminary screening by a microarray analysis and computer-aided algorithms.

Results: miR-204-5p is frequently downregulated in colorectal cancer tissues, and survival analysis showed that the downregulation of miR-204-5p in colorectal cancer was associated with poor prognoses. Ectopic miR-204-5p expression repressed colorectal cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, restoring miR-204-5p expression inhibited colorectal cancer migration and invasion and promoted tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy. Mechanistic investigations revealed that RAB22A, a member of the RAS oncogene family, is a direct functional target of miR-204-5p in colorectal cancer. Furthermore, RAB22A protein levels in colorectal cancer tissues were frequently increased and negatively associated with miR-204-5p levels and survival time.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate for the first time that miR-204-5p acts as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer through inhibiting RAB22A and reveal RAB22A to be a new oncogene and prognostic factor for colorectal cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 20(23); 6187–99. ©2014 AACR.
New Strategies in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Shifting Treatment Paradigms
Authors: Awan Farrukh T. , Byrd John C.
Published: October 2014

Over the past two decades, slow but deliberate progress has been made in understanding the genetics of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and how the surrounding microenvironment influences leukemia cell survival. The complexity of CLL with respect to different chromosomal aberrations, lack of a common aberrant signaling pathway activation, and associated immune suppression of the disease has been seen a major stumbling block for developing a single targeted therapy similar to imatinib used in chronic myeloid leukemia. The upcoming therapeutic era we are entering with the B-cell receptor (BCR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors ibrutinib and idelalisib appears to be overcoming this obstacle. Indeed, for the large majority of patients, it appears that application of BCR kinase inhibitors can promote durable remissions without the need for chemotherapy. Where other very active targeted agents such as ABT-199, therapeutic antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor–modified T-cells will be used in CLL also represents a major question that future clinical trials will answer. Clin Cancer Res; 20(23); 5869–74. ©2014 AACR.
Clinical Outcomes After Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device
Authors: McIlvennan Colleen K. , Magid Kate H. , Ambardekar Amrut V. , Thompson Jocelyn S. , Matlock Daniel D. , Allen Larry A.
Published: October 2014

Background—

Conveying the complex trade-offs of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices is challenging and made more difficult by absence of an evidence summary for the full range of possible outcomes. We aimed to summarize the current evidence on outcomes of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices.

Methods and Results—

PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched from January 2007 to December 2013, supplemented with manual review. Three reviewers independently assessed each study for saliency on patient-centered outcomes. Data were summarized in tabular form. Overall study characteristics encouraged inclusion of all indications (destination therapy and bridge to transplant) and prevented meta-analysis. The electronic search identified 465 abstracts, of which 50 met inclusion criteria; manual review added 2 articles in press. The articles included 10 industry-funded trials and registries, 10 multicenter reports, and the remainder single-center observational experiences. Estimated actuarial survival after continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices ranged from 56% to 87% at 1 year, 43% to 84% at 2 years, and 47% at 4 years. Improvements in functional class and quality of life were reported, but missing data complicated interpretation. Adverse events were experienced by the majority of patients, but estimates for bleeding, stroke, infection, right heart failure, arrhythmias, and rehospitalizations varied greatly.

Conclusions—

The totality of data for continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices show consistent improvements in survival and quality of life counterbalanced by a range of common complications. Although this summary should provide a practical resource for healthcare provider-led discussions with patients, it highlights the critical need for high-quality patient-centered data collected with standard definitions.
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection
Authors: Saw Jacqueline , Aymong Eve , Sedlak Tara , Buller Christopher E. , Starovoytov Andrew , Ricci Donald , Robinson Simon , Vuurmans Tycho , Gao Min , Humphries Karin , Mancini G.B. John
Published: October 2014

Background—

Nonatherosclerotic spontaneous coronary artery dissection (NA-SCAD) is underdiagnosed and an important cause of myocardial infarction in young women. The frequency of predisposing and precipitating conditions and cardiovascular outcomes remains poorly described.

Methods and Results—

Patients with NA-SCAD prospectively evaluated (retrospectively or prospectively identified) at Vancouver General Hospital were included. Angiographic SCAD diagnosis was confirmed by 2 experienced interventional cardiologists and categorized as type 1 (multiple lumen), 2 (diffuse stenosis), or 3 (mimic atherosclerosis). Fibromuscular dysplasia screening of renal, iliac, and cerebrovascular arteries were performed with angiography or computed tomographic angiography/MR angiography. Baseline, predisposing and precipitating conditions, angiographic, revascularization, in-hospital, and long-term events were recorded. We prospectively evaluated 168 patients with NA-SCAD. Average age was 52.1±9.2 years, 92.3% were women (62.3% postmenopausal). All presented with myocardial infarction. ECG showed ST-segment elevation in 26.1%, and 3.6% had ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation arrest. Fibromuscular dysplasia was diagnosed in 72.0%. Precipitating emotional or physical stress was reported in 56.5%. Majority had type 2 angiographic SCAD (67.0%), only 29.1% had type 1, and 3.9% had type 3. The majority (134/168) were initially treated conservatively. Overall, 6 of 168 patients had coronary artery bypass surgery and 33 of 168 had percutaneous coronary intervention in-hospital. Of those treated conservatively (n=134), 3 required revascularization for SCAD extension, and all 79 who had repeat angiogram ≥26 days later had spontaneous healing. Two-year major adverse cardiac events were 16.9% (retrospectively identified group) and 10.4% (prospectively identified group). Recurrent SCAD occurred in 13.1%.

Conclusions—

Majority of patients with NA-SCAD had fibromuscular dysplasia and type 2 angiographic SCAD. Conservative therapy was associated with spontaneous healing. NA-SCAD survivors are at risk for recurrent cardiovascular events, including recurrent SCAD.
Derivation and External Validation of a Case Mix Model for the Standardized Reporting of 30-Day Stroke Mortality Rates
Authors: Bray Benjamin D. , Campbell James , Cloud Geoffrey C. , Hoffman Alex , James Martin , Tyrrell Pippa J. , Wolfe Charles D.A. , Rudd Anthony G.
Published: October 2014

Background and Purpose—

Case mix adjustment is required to allow valid comparison of outcomes across care providers. However, there is a lack of externally validated models suitable for use in unselected stroke admissions. We therefore aimed to develop and externally validate prediction models to enable comparison of 30-day post-stroke mortality outcomes using routine clinical data.

Methods—

Models were derived (n=9000 patients) and internally validated (n=18 169 patients) using data from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Program, the national register of acute stroke in England and Wales. External validation (n=1470 patients) was performed in the South London Stroke Register, a population-based longitudinal study. Models were fitted using general estimating equations. Discrimination and calibration were assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and correlation plots.

Results—

Two final models were derived. Model A included age (<60, 60–69, 70–79, 80–89, and ≥90 years), National Institutes of Health Stroke Severity Score (NIHSS) on admission, presence of atrial fibrillation on admission, and stroke type (ischemic versus primary intracerebral hemorrhage). Model B was similar but included only the consciousness component of the NIHSS in place of the full NIHSS. Both models showed excellent discrimination and calibration in internal and external validation. The c-statistics in external validation were 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.84–0.89) and 0.86 (95% confidence interval, 0.83–0.89) for models A and B, respectively.

Conclusions—

We have derived and externally validated 2 models to predict mortality in unselected patients with acute stroke using commonly collected clinical variables. In settings where the ability to record the full NIHSS on admission is limited, the level of consciousness component of the NIHSS provides a good approximation of the full NIHSS for mortality prediction.
On the Warm Core of a Tropical Cyclone Formed near the Tropopause
Authors: Ohno Tomoki , Satoh Masaki
Published: October 2014

On the basis of numerical results of a three-dimensional model diagnosed using balance dynamics, a mechanism by which the upper-level warm core of tropical cyclones (TCs) forms is proposed. The numerical results reveal that an upper-level warm core develops when TCs intensify just prior to reaching the mature stage. Potential temperature budget analysis reveals that for the tendency of potential temperature, the azimuthal-mean component of advection is dominant at the upper level of the eye at the mature stage. Sawyer–Eliassen diagnosis shows that tendencies due to forced flow by diabatic heating and diffusion of tangential wind are dominant in the eye and are negatively correlated to each other. The distributions of the diabatic heating in the simulated TC are not peculiar. Therefore, it is unlikely that the heating distribution itself is the primary cause of the flow from the lower stratosphere. The analyses of forced circulations of idealized vortices show that the upper-level subsidence is enhanced in the eye when the vortex is sufficiently tall to penetrate the statically stable stratosphere. This result is deduced because the stronger inertial stability extends the response to the heating of the lower stratosphere and causes upper-level adiabatic warming. Therefore, the upper-level warm core emerges if angular momentum is transported into the lower stratosphere due to processes such as convective bursts. The present analysis suggests that TCs can be even stronger than that expected by theories in which the TC vortex is confined in the troposphere.
The Life Cycle of the North Atlantic Storm Track*
Authors: Novak Lenka , Ambaum Maarten H. P. , Tailleux Rémi
Published: October 2014

The North Atlantic eddy-driven jet exhibits latitudinal variability with evidence of three preferred latitudinal locations: south, middle, and north. Here the authors examine the drivers of this variability and the variability of the associated storm track. The authors investigate the changes in the storm-track characteristics for the three jet locations and propose a mechanism by which enhanced storm-track activity, as measured by upstream heat flux, is responsible for cyclical downstream latitudinal shifts in the jet. This mechanism is based on a nonlinear oscillator relationship between the enhanced meridional temperature gradient (and thus baroclinicity) and the meridional high-frequency (periods of shorter than 10 days) eddy heat flux. Such oscillations in baroclinicity and heat flux induce variability in eddy anisotropy, which is associated with the changes in the dominant type of wave breaking and a different latitudinal deflection of the jet. The authors’ results suggest that high heat flux is conducive to a northward deflection of the jet, whereas low heat flux is conducive to a more zonal jet. This jet-deflecting effect was found to operate most prominently downstream of the storm-track maximum, while the storm track and the jet remain anchored at a fixed latitudinal location at the beginning of the storm track. These cyclical changes in storm-track characteristics can be viewed as different stages of the storm track’s spatiotemporal life cycle.
Denture Wearing during Sleep Doubles the Risk of Pneumonia in the Very Elderly
Authors: Iinuma T. , Arai Y. , Abe Y. , Takayama M. , Fukumoto M. , Fukui Y. , Iwase T. , Takebayashi T. , Hirose N. , Gionhaku N. , Komiyama K.
Published: October 2014

Poor oral health and hygiene are increasingly recognized as major risk factors for pneumonia among the elderly. To identify modifiable oral health–related risk factors, we prospectively investigated associations between a constellation of oral health behaviors and incident pneumonia in the community-living very elderly (i.e., 85 years of age or older). At baseline, 524 randomly selected seniors (228 men and 296 women; mean age, 87.8 years) were examined for oral health status and oral hygiene behaviors as well as medical assessment, including blood chemistry analysis, and followed up annually until first hospitalization for or death from pneumonia. During a 3-year follow-up period, 48 events associated with pneumonia (20 deaths and 28 acute hospitalizations) were identified. Among 453 denture wearers, 186 (40.8%) who wore their dentures during sleep were at higher risk for pneumonia than those who removed their dentures at night (log rank P = 0.021). In a multivariate Cox model, both perceived swallowing difficulties and overnight denture wearing were independently associated with an approximately 2.3-fold higher risk of the incidence of pneumonia (for perceived swallowing difficulties, hazard ratio [HR], 2.31; and 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11–4.82; and for denture wearing during sleep, HR, 2.38; and 95% CI, 1.25–4.56), which was comparable with the HR attributable to cognitive impairment (HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.06–4.34), history of stroke (HR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.13–5.35), and respiratory disease (HR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.20–4.23). In addition, those who wore dentures during sleep were more likely to have tongue and denture plaque, gum inflammation, positive culture for Candida albicans, and higher levels of circulating interleukin-6 as compared with their counterparts. This study provided empirical evidence that denture wearing during sleep is associated not only with oral inflammatory and microbial burden but also with incident pneumonia, suggesting potential implications of oral hygiene programs for pneumonia prevention in the community.
Mediastinal neurothekeoma: A rare tumor
Authors: Sayan Muhammet , Celik Ali , Ertunc Onur , Uluoglu Omer , Tastepe Abdullah Irfan
Published: October 2014

Neurothekeoma, also known as nerve sheath myxoma, is a benign nerve sheath tumor that usually arises in the cutaneous nerves of the head, neck, or upper extremities. Extracutaneous placement is very rare. Mediastinal neurothekeoma has not previously been reported in the English literature. A 30-year-old woman was admitted to our clinic with back pain. A smooth-edged mass found in her paravertebral region, and a neurogenic tumor was suspected. The tumor was completely excised. Final pathology revealed it to be a mediastinal neurothekeoma.
Computed tomography features of benign and malignant solid thyroid nodules
Authors: Kim Dong Wook , Jung Soo Jin , Baek Hye Jin
Published: October 2014

Background

No previous study has investigated computed tomography (CT) features of benign and malignant solid thyroid nodules using detailed CT features and histopathological results.

Purpose

To assess CT features of benign and malignant solid thyroid nodules in patients who underwent thyroid surgery.

Material and Methods

From January to April 2014, 151 consecutive patients underwent neck CT before thyroid surgery. In each case, neck CT was retrospectively examined by a single radiologist. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of specific CT features for differentiating malignant from benign thyroid nodules using histopathological results as a reference standard.

Results

Of 173 thyroid nodules in 142 patients, 162 (mean diameter, 12.8 ± 10.3 mm; range, 5.0–93.7 mm) were visualized on neck CT. Of 162 nodules in 133 patients, 116 were malignant and 46 were benign as confirmed by histopathology. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant difference between malignant and benign thyroid nodules in the degree and pattern of nodular enhancement, but there were no significant differences in other CT features. In particular, thyroid nodules with exophytic configuration, irregular margin, taller-than-wide shape, punctate calcifications, or homogeneously decreased enhancement showed a high malignancy rate.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated that the degree and pattern of nodular enhancement are helpful CT features for differentiating malignant from benign solid thyroid nodules.
Learning from ‘SH’: 1974-1979, 2012-14
Authors: Johnson Richard
Published: October 2014

This piece presents an overview of Stuart Hall’s contribution from both a personal and an intellectual standpoint. It surveys the development of his work and influence in the areas of cultural studies and social studies, providing a critical overview of his political arguments.
Innovations in the National Library Board Singapore
Authors: Choh Ngian Lek
Published: October 2014

The National Library of Singapore was set up in 1960, and has been working tirelessly to transform itself to meet the changing needs of its end users. From the early days when users had to travel to visit the National Library in Stamford Road to today’s users who carry a variety of digital devices and mobile gadgets and prefer to access content online, the needs of its users have changed dramatically. This gives the National Library tremendous opportunities to prototype, innovate, and to come up with new ways of serving its users wherever they are, 24 by 7, using any device they hold in their hands.
Trait Emotional Intelligence and Personality
Authors: Siegling Alexander B. , Furnham Adrian , Petrides K. V.
Published: October 2014

This study investigated if the linkages between trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) and the Five-Factor Model of personality were invariant between men and women. Five English-speaking samples ( N = 307-685) of mostly undergraduate students each completed a different measure of the Big Five personality traits and either the full form or short form of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue). Across samples, models predicting global TEIQue scores from the Big Five were invariant between genders, with Neuroticism and Extraversion being the strongest trait EI correlates, followed by Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Openness. However, there was some evidence indicating that the gender-specific contributions of the Big Five to trait EI vary depending on the personality measure used, being more consistent for women. Discussion focuses on the validity of the TEIQue as a measure of trait EI and its psychometric properties, more generally.