bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chromogranin A Is Preferentially Cleaved into Proangiogenic Peptides in the Bone Marrow of Multiple Myeloma Patients
Authors: Bianco Mimma , Gasparri Anna Maria , Colombo Barbara , Curnis Flavio , Girlanda Stefania , Ponzoni Maurilio , Bertilaccio Maria Teresa Sabrina , Calcinotto Arianna , Sacchi Angelina , Ferrero Elisabetta , Ferrarini Marina , Chesi Marta , Bergsagel P. Leif , Bellone Matteo , Tonon Giovanni , Ciceri Fabio , Marcatti Magda , Caligaris-Cappio Federico , Corti Angelo
Published: February 2016

Angiogenesis has been postulated to be critical for the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma, a neoplastic disease characterized by abnormal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM). Cleavage of the N- and C-terminal regions of circulating chromogranin A (CgA, CHGA), classically an antiangiogenic protein, can activate latent antiangiogenic and proangiogenic sites, respectively. In this study, we investigated the distribution of CgA-derived polypeptides in multiple myeloma patients and the subsequent implications for disease progression. We show that the ratio of pro/antiangiogenic forms of CgA is altered in multiple myeloma patients compared with healthy subjects and that this ratio is higher in BM plasma compared with peripheral plasma, suggesting enhanced local cleavage of the CgA C-terminal region. Enhanced cleavage correlated with increased VEGF and FGF2 BM plasma levels and BM microvascular density. Using the Vk*MYC mouse model of multiple myeloma, we further demonstrate that exogenously administered CgA was cleaved in favor of the proangiogenic form and was associated with increased microvessel density. Mechanistic studies revealed that multiple myeloma and proliferating endothelial cells can promote CgA C-terminal cleavage by activating the plasminogen activator/plasmin system. Moreover, cleaved and full-length forms could also counter balance the pro/antiangiogenic activity of each other in in vitro angiogenesis assays. These findings suggest that the CgA-angiogenic switch is activated in the BM of multiple myeloma patients and prompt further investigation of this CgA imbalance as a prognostic or therapeutic target. Cancer Res; 76(7); 1781–91. ©2016 AACR.
Long-term Relative Survival after Diagnosis of Testicular Germ Cell Tumor
Authors: Kvammen Øivind , Myklebust Tor Å. , Solberg Arne , Møller Bjørn , Klepp Olbjørn H. , Fosså Sophie D. , Tandstad Torgrim
Published: February 2016

Background: Long-term relative survival (RS) data for testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) patients are scarce. We aimed to analyze long-term RS among TGCT patients diagnosed in Norway, between 1953 and 2012.

Methods: Data sources were the Cancer Registry of Norway and the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. TGCT patients diagnosed during 1953 to 2012 were classified by time of diagnosis, histology, age, and disease extent at diagnosis. Estimates for RS were obtained, and a test comparing overall RS was performed. Corresponding data were obtained for men diagnosed with localized malignant melanoma before age 50.

Results: A total of 8,736 TGCT patients were included. RS generally continued to decline with increasing follow-up time, particularly beyond 15 to 30 years, unlike in localized malignant melanoma. Although RS was generally higher for seminomas, the continuing decline was more pronounced than for nonseminomas, even when diagnosed with localized disease. TGCT patients diagnosed before 1980 or after age 40 had lower RS.

Conclusions: Although TGCT RS has improved in recent decades, it continues to decline even beyond 30 years of follow-up, regardless of disease extent at diagnosis. The main cause is probably treatment-induced late effects, particularly affecting seminoma patients. The continued use of adjuvant radiotherapy in seminomas until year 2000 is suspected as a culprit.

Impact: Long-term TGCT survivors should be closely monitored for the development of late comorbidity. The challenge is to reduce negative consequences of previous and current TGCT treatment on RS while maintaining the excellent cure rates. Further research on causes of long-term morbidity and mortality among TGCT survivors is warranted. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(5); 773–9. ©2016 AACR.
Anterior Corticospinal Tract Revisited: A Study Using Human Fetuses
Authors: Jin Zhe Wu , Cho Kwang Ho , Jang Hyung Suk , Abe Hiroshi , Murakami Gen , Rodriguez-Vazquez Jose Francisco
Published: February 2016

In the human corticospinal tract (CST), the anterior CST is known to be much thinner than the lateral CST, but fetal development of the CST remains obscure. In this study, we examined horizontal histological sections of the cervical spinal cord from 50 midterm fetuses (crown-rump length, CRL, 70-150 mm; 12-18 weeks) as well as 15 late-stage fetuses (CRL 230-250 mm; 28-30 weeks). While the lateral CST appeared at 14-15 weeks in the cervical cord of the midterm fetuses, we found the anterior CST in only 3 fetuses: CRL 117 mm (15 weeks), and CRL 144 and 150 mm (18 weeks). However, in the late-stage fetuses, the anterior CST exhibited a spectrum of variations, including bilaterally thick tracts (3 fetuses), a unilaterally thick tract (5 fetuses) and a thin or absent tract (7 fetuses). In the group with the thickest anterior CST, the cross-sectional area reached 40% of that of the lateral CST. In contrast to the stable morphology of the lateral CST, the shape of the anterior tract varied slightly between the cervical segments. Immunohistochemical observations demonstrated no difference between the lateral and anterior CSTs: (1) in macrophage infiltration, which suggests apoptosis, and (2) in the arrangement of radial glial fibers. Our findings indicate that the development of the anterior CST starts later than that of the lateral tract, with significant individual variations. The functional relevance of the anterior CST, if present, might not be found in an independent cortical input to motor neurons but in a remodeling of the ascending tracts.
Morphometric Analysis of Predictors of Cervical Syrinx Formation in the Setting of Chiari I Malformation
Authors: Halvorson Kyle G. , Kellogg Ryan T. , Keachie Krista N. , Grant Gerald A. , Muh Carrie R. , Waldau Ben
Published: February 2016

Background/Aims: We performed a morphometric analysis of Chiari I malformations to look for predictors of cervical syrinx formation. Methods: Eighteen patients with Chiari I malformation and associated cervical syrinx and 16 patients with Chiari I malformation without associated cervical syrinx were included in the study. Chiari I size was obtained from the radiology report; foramen magnum diameter, cerebellar volume, posterior fossa volume and intracranial volume were calculated using OsiriX software, and average measurements were compared between the two groups. Results and Conclusion: Patients with Chiari I with syrinx had an average tonsillar descent of 13.03 ± 5.31 mm compared to 9.25 ± 3.31 mm in the Chiari I without syrinx group (p < 0.05). Patients with Chiari I and syrinx also showed increased cerebellar crowding with a higher cerebellar volume to posterior fossa volume ratio; however, this difference was not significant (0.83 vs. 0.81; p = 0.1872). No difference between groups was found in posterior fossa volume, intracranial volume and foramen magnum diameter. Therefore, only Chiari I size based on the extent of tonsillar herniation was found to be a determinant of cervical syrinx formation.
Macrophage CGI-58 Attenuates Inflammatory Responsiveness via Promotion of PPARγ Signaling
Authors: Yang Dan , Chen Haimei , Zeng Xu , Xie Ping , Wang Xincun , Liu Chang
Published: February 2016

Background/Aims: Comparative gene identification-58 (CGI-58), an adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) coactivator, strongly promotes ATGL-mediated triglyceride (TG) catabolism. Beyond its function in promoting lipolysis, other features of CGI-58 have been proposed. Here, we investigated the role of CGI-58 in the regulation of inflammatory responsiveness in macrophages. Methods: Macrophage-specific GCI-58 transgenic mice (TG) and wild type mice (WT) were fed a high fat diet (HFD), and RAW264.7 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling was detected. The inflammatory responsiveness and mitochondrial function were examined. Results: TG mice showed lower serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and better mitochondrial function in macrophages compared with WT control. Knockdown of CGI-58 in RAW264.7 cells aggravated LPS-induced inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. CGI-58 overexpression and silencing in macrophages induced and inhibited PPARγ expression and activity, respectively. Most importantly, the PPARγ-specific agonist rosiglitazone significantly suppressed inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by CGI-58 deficiency. Furthermore, knockdown of PPARγ in macrophages significantly dampened the role of CGI-58 in suppression of inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Interestingly, CGI-58 inhibited histone deacetylation and the recruitment of histone deacetylase (HDAC) to the PPARγ promoter. Finally, ATGL deficiency did not affect inflammatory responsiveness and PPARγ signaling in macrophages. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that macrophage CGI-58 enhances PPARγ signaling and thus suppresses inflammatory responsiveness and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Promote Neuronal Restoration in Rats with Traumatic Brain Injury: Involvement of GDNF Regulating BAD and BAX Signaling
Authors: Shen Qin , Yin Yong , Xia Qing-Jie , Lin Na , Wang You-Cui , Liu Jia , Wang Hang-Ping , Lim Apiradee , Wang Ting-Hua
Published: February 2016

Background/Aims: To investigate the effects of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and underlying mechanisms in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: Cultured BMSCs from green fluorescent protein-transgenic mice were isolated and confirmed. Cultured BMSCs were immediately transplanted into the regions surrounding the injured-brain site to test their function in rat models of TBI. Neurological function was evaluated by a modified neurological severity score on the day before, and on days 7 and 14 after transplantation. After 2 weeks of BMSC transplantation, the brain tissue was harvested and analyzed by microarray assay. And the coronal brain sections were determined by immunohistochemistry with mouse anti-growth-associated protein-43 kDa (anti-GAP-43) and anti-synaptophysin to test the effects of transplanted cells on the axonal regeneration in the host brain. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and Western blot were used to detect the apoptosis and expression of BAX and BAD. Results: Microarray analysis showed that BMSCs expressed growth factors such as glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). The cells migrated around the injury sites in rats with TBI. BMSC grafts resulted in an increased number of GAP-43-immunopositive fibers and synaptophysin-positive varicosity, with suppressed apoptosis. Furthermore, BMSC transplantation significantly downregulated the expression of BAX and BAD signaling. Moreover, cultured BMSC transplantation significantly improved rat neurological function and survival. Conclusion: Transplanted BMSCs could survive and improve neuronal behavior in rats with TBI. Mechanisms of neuroprotection and regeneration were involved, which could be associated with the GDNF regulating the apoptosis signals through BAX and BAD.
Gremlin-1 C-Terminus Regulates Function of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF)
Authors: Beck Sandra , Simmet Thomas , Müller Iris , Lang Florian , Gawaz Meinrad
Published: February 2016

Background/Aims: The counterbalance of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and Gremlin-1 is a useful tool to predict the acuity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and plaque stability. Gremlin1 is an endogenous antagonist of MIF and therefore influences plaque vulnerability. This study was designed to elucidate the mechanistic basis determining the biophysical binding of Gremlin-1 to MIF. Methods: An in silico model suggested that several charged C-terminal amino acids are crucial in mediating Gremlin-1/MIF-binding. We produced several single amino acid exchange mutants of Gremlin-1 by site-directed mutagenesis. These Gremlin-1 mutants were tested for their ability to reduce MIF effects on monocytes. Results: We observed that the critical element of the Gremlin-1 molecule for regulating MIF-induced chemotactic activity lies at the C-terminal region. A single amino acid exchange of an arginine to an alanine residue is sufficient to abolish the antagonistic effect of Gremlin-1 on MIF. Therefore, the Gremlin-1 mutant R172A failed to reduce MIF-induced monocyte differentiation into macrophages. Conclusion: Gremlin-1 C-terminus is essential for antagonizing MIF effects. Our results could offer a novel strategy utilizing Gremlin-1 to target pro-inflammatory effects of MIF in various diseases.
Effect of Evodiamine on CYP Enzymes in Rats by a Cocktail Method
Authors: Zhang You-ting , Zhang Da-feng , Ge Ni-yun , Zhu Guang-hui , Hao Cong , Zhang Yin , Chen Rui-jie
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of evodiamine on the activities of the drug-metabolizing enzymes cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 in rats. The activities of CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 were measured using specific probe drugs. After pretreatment for 1 week with evodiamine or physiological saline (control group) by oral administration, probe drugs phenacetin (5.0 mg/kg; CYP1A2 activity), tolbutamide (1.0 mg/kg; CYP2C9 activity), omeprazole (10 mg/kg; CYP2C19 activity), metoprolol (20 mg/kg; CYP2D6 activity) and midazolam (10 mg/kg; CYP3A4 activity) were administered to rats by oral administration. The blood was then collected at different times for ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The data showed that evodiamine exhibits an inhibitory effect on CYP1A2, CYP2C9 and CYP2D6 by increasing t1/2, Cmax and AUC(0-∞), and decreasing CL/F compared with those of the control group. However, no significant changes in CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 activities were observed. In conclusion, the results indicated that evodiamine could inhibit CYP1A2, CYP2C9 and CYP2D6, which may affect the disposition of medicines primarily dependent on these pathways. Our work may be the basis of related herb-drug interactions in the clinic.
Association of MMP-9 Gene Polymorphisms with Glaucoma: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Yiqun , Wang Mingjie , Zhang Sunyi
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) gene polymorphisms (rs17576 and rs3918249) and glaucoma risk. All eligible studies were searched in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and the China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database. Pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess associations between MMP-9 gene polymorphisms and glaucoma. Seven studies on rs17576 (1,357 cases and 1,432 controls) and 3 studies on rs3918249 (550 cases and 794 controls) were included. The results suggest that rs17576 was not associated with glaucoma risk based on current publications. However, stratification analyses indicated that GG genotypes increased the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma in a recessive model (GG vs. AA + AG). The rs3918249 polymorphism was also associated with a decreased risk of glaucoma, especially for Caucasian patients. To sum up, our data indicate that rs17576 polymorphism is not related to glaucoma and rs3918249 polymorphism might be a protective factor against glaucoma.
A Novel SRY Gene Mutation p.F109L in a 46,XY Female with Complete Gonadal Dysgenesis
Authors: Andonova Silvia , Robeva Ralitsa , Sirakov Milko , Mainhard Karela , Tomova Analia , Ledig Susanne , Kumanov Philip , Savov Alexey
Published: February 2016

46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesis (CGD) is a disorder of sexual development that can result from different mutations in genes associated with sex determination. Patients are phenotypically females, and the disease is often diagnosed in late adolescence because of delayed puberty. Here, we present the clinical and molecular data of a 46,XY female CGD patient with gonadoblastoma with dysgerminoma and incidentally found inherited thrombophilia. The clinical significance of the described de novo SRY gene mutation c.325T>C (p.F109L) is discussed. This case report supports the critical role of the HGM domain in the SRY gene and the need of a multidisciplinary approach for CGD patients.
Prospective Evaluation of a Panel of Plasma Cytokines and Chemokines as Potential Markers of Pelvic Endometriosis in Symptomatic Women
Authors: Rocha Ana Luiza , Vieira Erica L. , Maia Laura M. , Teixeira Antônio Lúcio , Reis Fernando M.
Published: February 2016

Background: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease for which no accurate peripheral diagnostic marker is available. Many cytokines and chemokines have been found altered in the plasma and peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis compared to healthy controls, but little is known about their diagnostic utility to confirm or discard endometriosis among symptomatic women. Objective: The study aims to assess the diagnostic value of a panel of plasma cytokines and chemokines to detect endometriosis in women undergoing laparoscopy for gynecological complains. Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study evaluating simultaneously plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1/CCL2, IP-10/CXCL10 and eotaxin/CCL11 in 75 symptomatic women (chronic pelvic pain, infertility or ovarian cyst) submitted to laparoscopy. Assays were performed by Cytometric Bead Array System. Endometriosis was confirmed by histopathological examination of surgical specimens. Results: Plasma IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1/CCL2, IP-10/CXCL10 and eotaxin/CCL11 concentrations were not able to distinguish the women who eventually were diagnosed with endometriosis. Conclusion: Although previously shown to be altered in women with endometriosis compared to healthy women, the tested cytokines and chemokines were not useful to predict the presence of endometriosis among symptomatic women. This finding suggests that inflammatory markers modified by endometriosis may also be altered by other conditions associated with similar symptoms, which limits their use in clinical practice.
Hormonal Eligibility Criteria for ‘Includes Females' Competition: A Practical but Problematic Solution
Authors: Allen David B.
Published: February 2016

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) adopted testosterone level criteria for eligibility (i.e. 10 nmol/l or 290 ng/dl in blood for IAAF, levels ‘within the male range' for IOC) to compete in the ‘includes females' category. The policies address the assertion that women with very high endogenous testosterone (unless they are androgen-resistant) have an unfair advantage over women with lower natural levels. Recently, the Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended the ‘hyperandrogenism regulation' by the IAAF, but added: ‘since there are separate categories of male and female competition, it is necessary for the IAAF to formulate a basis for the division of athletes into male and female categories for the benefit of the broad class of female athletes. The basis chosen should be necessary, reasonable and proportionate to the legitimate objective being pursued' [Branch J: Dutee Chand, Female Sprinter with High Testosterone Level, Wins Right to Compete. The New York Times, July 27, 2015]. An analysis of available evidence below - scientific as well as experiential - suggests that androgen-based criteria can, in fact, be rationally defended as the best currently available and practical approach to determine eligibility for competition in the ‘includes females' category. However, to justify such policies, the IOC and IAAF must also show them to be not only rational, but also fair, necessary, and consistent with the treatment of athletes with other endogenous non-physiologic advantages.
Use of serological diagnostic techniques in the control and eradication of caprine arthritis encephalitis: an update
Authors: Mussi Jamili Maria Suhet , Gouveia Aurora Maria Guimarães , Cortez Adriana , Lage Andrey Pereira , Guimarães Alessandro De Sá , Heinemann Marcos Bryan
Published: February 2016

A artrite encefalite caprina (CAE) é uma enfermidade crônica causada por um lentivírus de pequenos ruminantes (LVPR), que ocasiona perdas significativas na caprinocultura. O estado real da infecção animal pelo LVPR é de difícil determinação em virtude da complexa patogenia do vírus, incluindo fatores como soroconversão tardia ou intermitente em testes sorológicos. Para o diagnóstico da enfermidade, diversas técnicas sorológicas estão disponíveis, como testes de triagem ou confirmatórios, com variações na sensibilidade e especificidade. Para escolha do teste a ser usado, a disponibilidade de imunorreagentes comerciais, o treinamento da equipe, o antígeno utilizado, e o custo das técnicas devem ser considerados. Esta revisão apresenta os métodos sorológicos disponíveis para uso em diferentes fases dos programas de controle e erradicação da CAE e as medidas de manejo que devem ser adotadas em conjunto com o diagnóstico sorológico da enfermidade.
Effect of Coronary Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Ischemia on Plasma Levels of High-Sensitivity Troponin T and NT-proBNP in Patients With Stable Angina
Authors: Caselli Chiara , Prontera Concetta , Liga Riccardo , De Graaf Michiel A. , Gaemperli Oliver , Lorenzoni Valentina , Ragusa Rosetta , Marinelli Martina , Del Ry Silvia , Rovai Daniele , Giannessi Daniela , Aguade-Bruix Santiago , Clemente Alberto , Bax Jeroen J. , Lombardi Massimo , Sicari Rosa , Zamorano José , Scholte Arthur J. , Kaufmann Philipp A. , Knuuti Juhani , Underwood S. Richard , Clerico Aldo , Neglia Danilo
Published: February 2016

Objective—

Circulating levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are predictors of prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed at evaluating the effect of coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial ischemia on cardiac release of hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP in patients with suspected CAD.

Approach and Results—

Hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP were measured in 378 patients (60.1±0.5 years, 229 males) with stable angina and unknown CAD enrolled in the Evaluation of Integrated Cardiac Imaging (EVINCI) study. All patients underwent stress imaging to detect myocardial ischemia and coronary computed tomographic angiography to assess the presence and characteristics of CAD. An individual computed tomographic angiography score was calculated combining extent, severity, composition, and location of plaques. In the whole population, the median (25–75 percentiles) value of plasma hs-cTnT was 6.17 (4.2–9.1) ng/L and of NT-proBNP was 61.66 (31.2–132.6) ng/L. In a multivariate model, computed tomographic angiography score was an independent predictor of the plasma hs-cTnT (coefficient 0.06, SE 0.02;
P
=0.0089), whereas ischemia was a predictor of NT-proBNP (coefficient 0.38, SE 0.12;
P
=0.0015). Hs-cTnT concentrations were significantly increased in patients with CAD with or without myocardial ischemia (
P
<0.005), whereas only patients with CAD and ischemia showed significantly higher levels of NT-proBNP (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

In patients with stable angina, the presence and extent of coronary atherosclerosis is related with circulating levels of hs-cTnT, also in the absence of ischemia, suggesting an ischemia-independent mechanism of hs-cTnT release. Obstructive CAD causing myocardial ischemia is associated with increased levels of NT-proBNP.
Protective Role for B-1b B Cells and IgM in Obesity-Associated Inflammation, Glucose Intolerance, and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Harmon Daniel B. , Srikakulapu Prasad , Kaplan Jennifer L. , Oldham Stephanie N. , McSkimming Chantel , Garmey James C. , Perry Heather M. , Kirby Jennifer L. , Prohaska Thomas A. , Gonen Ayelet , Hallowell Peter , Schirmer Bruce , Tsimikas Sotirios , Taylor Angela M. , Witztum Joseph L. , McNamara Coleen A.
Published: February 2016

Objective—

Little is known about the role(s) B cells play in obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction. This study used a mouse with B-cell–specific deletion of
Id3
(Id3
Bcell KO
) to identify B-cell functions involved in the metabolic consequences of obesity.

Approach and Results—

Diet-induced obese Id3
Bcell KO
mice demonstrated attenuated inflammation and insulin resistance in visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and improved systemic glucose tolerance. VAT in Id3
Bcell KO
mice had increased B-1b B cells and elevated IgM natural antibodies to oxidation-specific epitopes. B-1b B cells reduced cytokine production in VAT M1 macrophages, and adoptively transferred B-1b B cells trafficked to VAT and produced natural antibodies for the duration of 13-week studies. B-1b B cells null for
Id3
demonstrated increased proliferation, established larger populations in
Rag1

−/−

VAT, and attenuated diet-induced glucose intolerance and VAT insulin resistance in
Rag1

−/−

hosts. However, transfer of B-1b B cells unable to secrete IgM had no effect on glucose tolerance. In an obese human population, results provided the first evidence that B-1 cells are enriched in human VAT and IgM antibodies to oxidation-specific epitopes inversely correlated with inflammation and insulin resistance.

Conclusions—

NAb-producing B-1b B cells are increased in Id3
Bcell KO
mice and attenuate adipose tissue inflammation and glucose intolerance in diet-induced obese mice. Additional findings are the first to identify VAT as a reservoir for human B-1 cells and to link anti-inflammatory IgM antibodies with reduced inflammation and improved metabolic phenotype in obese humans.
Risk Score for Neurological Complications After Endovascular Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms
Authors: Ji Wenjun , Liu Aihua , Lv Xianli , Kang Huibin , Sun Liqian , Li Youxiang , Yang Xinjian , Jiang Chuhan , Wu Zhongxue
Published: February 2016

Background and Purpose—

Procedure-related neurological complications are common after endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. We aimed to develop a score to quantify individual patient risk.

Methods—

We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients who underwent endovascular treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysms between January 2012 and September 2015. After excluding those who lost to follow-up and those with fusiform unruptured intracranial aneurysms, included patients were randomly divided into a derivation group (60%) and a validation group (40%). A neurological complication was defined as any transient or permanent increase in the modified Rankin Scale score after aneurysm embolization. A risk score for neurological complications was derived from multivariable logistic regression analyses in the derivation group and validated in the validation group.

Results—

Overall, 1060 patients were included (636 in the derivation group and 424 in the validation group). The incidence of neurological complications was 5.5% (95% confidence interval, 3.8%–7.4%). A 3-point risk score (S-C-C) was derived to predict neurological complications (size [≥10 mm=1], core areas [yes=1], and cerebral ischemic comorbidity [yes=1]). The incidence of neurological complications varied from 2.2% in 0-point patients to 25.0% in 3-point patients. The score demonstrated significant discrimination (
C
-statistic, 0.714; 95% confidence interval, 0.624–0.804) and calibration (McFadden
R
2
, 0.102) in the derivation group. Excellent prediction, discrimination, and calibration properties were reproduced in the validation group.

Conclusions—

One in 20 patients will develop neurological complications after endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. The S-C-C score may be useful for predicting these adverse outcomes based on variables in daily practice.
Role of Lipocalin-2 in Thrombin-Induced Brain Injury
Authors: Mao Shanshan , Xi Guohua , Keep Richard F. , Hua Ya
Published: February 2016

Background and Purpose—

Thrombin and lipocalin-2 (LCN2) contribute to intracerebral hemorrhage–induced brain injury. Thrombin-induced brain damage is partially through a thrombin receptor, protease-activated receptor-1. LCN2 is involved in cellular iron transport and neuroinflammation. This study investigated the role of LCN2 in thrombin-induced brain injury.

Methods—

There were 3 parts in this study. First, male adult C57BL/6 wild-type or LCN2 knockout (LCN2 KO) mice had an intracaudate injection of thrombin (0.4 U) or saline. Second, LCN2 KO mice had an injection of thrombin (0.4 U) with recombinant mouse LCN2 protein (1 μg) into the right caudate. Third, protease-activated receptor-1 KO or wild-type mice had an intracaudate injection of thrombin or saline. All mice had T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and behavioral tests. Brains were used for histology, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting.

Results—

Intracerebral thrombin injection caused LCN2 upregulation and brain injury in mice. Thrombin-induced brain swelling, blood–brain barrier disruption, neuronal death, and neurological deficits were markedly less in LCN2 KO mice (
P
<0.05) and were exacerbated by exogenous LCN2 coinjection. In addition, thrombin injection resulted in less LCN2 expression and brain injury in protease-activated receptor-1 KO mice.

Conclusions—

Thrombin upregulates LCN2 through protease-activated receptor-1 activation and causes brain damage.
Radical Reformation and Medicine in the Late Renaissance
Authors: Suitner Riccarda
Published: February 2016

This paper, which presents first results of a wider book project, will reconstruct the influence of the so-called ‘radical wing’ of the Reformation, above all Anabaptism, Socinianism, and Antitrinitarism, on the tradition of natural philosophy that had established itself in particular in Veneto through the works of Pietro Pomponazzi, Agostino Nifo, and Giacomo Zabarella. Italian physicians and foreign students at the University of Padua developed theories that anticipated many scientific innovations of the 17th century (especially with regard to blood circulation). Often they were forced into exile, persecuted by the Inquisition and by political authorities of Protestant territories. In my article, I would like to give an overview of the education and European peregrinations of some of these heterodox physicians, in whose work medical, theological, and philosophical theory, religious dissent, conversion, and exile were remarkably entangled. I will focus on their international correspondence networks and on their relationship with political and religious authorities, with diplomats and with physicians from other confessions.
Effects of Neutral and Fearful Mood on Duration Estimation of Neutral and Fearful Face Stimuli
Authors: Eberhardt Lisa V. , Huckauf Anke , Kliegl Katrin M.
Published: February 2016

Previous research showed that fearful faces produce longer temporal estimates than neutral faces. This study probed whether fearful mood enhances this effect. In two experiments, participants viewed neutral and threatening film excerpts and subsequently evaluated the duration of neutral and fearful faces in a bisection task. In Experiment 1, where neutral mood was induced before fearful mood, skin conductance levels (SCLs) and subjective emotion ratings indicated successful mood induction. Compared to neutral mood, fearful mood lengthened subjective duration estimates irrespective of stimulus quality. Additionally, stimuli of fearful faces were temporally overestimated relative to neutral faces; but only in neutral, not in fearful mood. In Experiment 2, where fearful mood was induced before neutral mood, subjective emotion ratings, but not SCLs, indicated successful mood induction. Moreover, neither mood nor facial expressions influenced duration estimation. Taken together, the results show that fearful mood may accelerate an internal pacemaker but does not enhance temporal perception differences between fearful and neutral faces. Additionally, this study highlights the importance of dissociating stimulus, state, and trait emotionality for our understanding of emotional influences on temporal perception.
Preliminary Evaluation of Functional Swallow After Total Laryngectomy Using High-Resolution Manometry
Authors: Lippert Dylan , Hoffman Matthew R. , Britt Christopher J. , Jones Corinne A. , Hernandez Jodi , Ciucci Michelle R. , McCulloch Timothy M.
Published: February 2016

Introduction:

Understanding of swallowing pressures after total laryngectomy (TL) and what constitutes a “functional” swallow are limited. Mobile structures are altered or removed after TL, with consequent effects on pressure profiles. High-resolution manometry (HRM) can characterize these pressures.

Methods:

Six TL subjects without dysphagia and 6 controls underwent pharyngeal HRM. Timing and pressure variables for the velopharynx, mesopharynx, and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) were compared. Changes in variables due to bolus volume were evaluated in TL subjects.

Results:

The TL subjects had increased duration of velopharyngeal pressure ( P = .012). Maximum mesopharyngeal pressure was lower versus controls ( P = .003). Maximal and total pre-opening ( P = .002, P = .002) and post-closure ( P = .001, P = .002) UES pressures were lower. Maximum mesopharyngeal pressure ( P = .032) decreased with increasing bolus volume.

Conclusions:

Increased velopharyngeal pressure duration and total swallow duration reflect separation of the pharynx into distinct conduits for air and food, thus ensuring successful bolus passage without the need for respiration. Decreased UES pressure highlights the effects of disrupting the cricopharyngeal and rostral esophageal muscle fibers from their attachments to the larynx and performing a cricopharyngeal myotomy. Additional studies including subjects with dysphagia could further characterize the functional TL swallow and identify aspects susceptible to dysfunction.
Tribal Mobilization, Fragmented Groups, and Public Goods Provision in Jordan
Authors: Gao Eleanor
Published: February 2016

Diversity has been blamed for poor public goods provision in a number of different contexts. It is associated with reduced spending on services, meager rates of tax collection, and poor policies. I argue in this article, however, that in semidemocratic or authoritarian countries, where political parties are weak, diversity can be an important source of electoral competition, leading to better services. In diverse communities where multiple identity groups are politically mobilized, candidates are forced to seek the support of voters outside of their group, who are more likely to vote based on qualifications than on group affiliation, resulting in better public officials who provide superior services. Moreover, I find internal group fragmentation to be important in understanding the impact of heterogeneity on public goods provision: Candidates in areas where only one identity group is politically mobilized but where that group is politically fragmented will also seek votes from other groups within the community similar to candidates in locations with “multigroup” mobilization, leading to improved public goods provision. These arguments are confirmed through the analysis of tribal mobilization and public goods across Jordan’s municipalities.
Learning More From Evaluation of Justice Interventions: Further Consideration of Theoretical Mechanisms in Juvenile Drug Courts
Authors: Long Joshua , Sullivan Christopher J.
Published: February 2016

It is essential to learn as much as possible from justice interventions—even those that do not appear to be successful. Data came from a sample of youths participating in drug courts in nine sites across the United States and a comparison group of probationers ( N = 1,372). Measures were drawn from case records. Path models with direct and indirect effects were analyzed. Aspects of the juvenile drug court process appear to heighten the likelihood of youth failure in the program and recidivism. The ratio of incentives to sanctions was protective as drug court youth who experienced more of the former had a reduced likelihood of recidivism. The article concludes that it is important to examine mechanisms that impact the success of justice interventions.
Health education: Effects on classroom climate and physical activity
Authors: Efstathiou Nicholas T , Risvas Grigorios S , Theodoraki Eleni-Maria M , Galanaki Evangelia P , Zampelas Antonios D
Published: February 2016

Objective:

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between classroom psychological climate and the physical and sedentary behaviour of primary school students after the implementation of an innovative education programme regarding nutrition and physical activity.

Design:

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting:

Study participants were 729 students, aged 8–10 years, in the third and fourth grade of 30 public primary schools in the Athens Metropolitan Area.

Methods:

Students were randomly assigned to three study groups: an Intensive Intervention Group (IIG) that underwent an intensive nutrition and physical activity education programme delivered by specialised personnel and teachers, an Intervention Group (IG) that underwent a less intensive programme delivered by their regular teacher and a Control Group (CG) that received no instruction. Classroom Psychological Climate (CPC) was measured in all groups, and the data regarding physical activity and sedentary lifestyle habits, such as the time spent viewing TV or video games (screen time), were recorded.

Results:

Friction declined and satisfaction increased significantly after the intervention in the IG compared with the CG. There was no significant difference in physical activity and screen time between the groups. Daily screen time was positively associated with increased friction, which is a measure of conflicts between students in the school environment.

Conclusion:

A school nutrition and physical activity education programme was shown to decrease friction by decreasing daily screen time and increasing outdoor activities. These findings also suggest that teachers alone may be more effective in delivering optional health education programmes than specialised personnel and instructors.
Mapping histories: Many narratives of Tana pasts
Authors: Dasgupta Sangeeta
Published: February 2016

By locating the Tana Bhagats in the shifting terrains of forests and fields in Chota Nagpur, and by examining the hierarchies within the Oraon community, this paper suggests an alternate reading of adivasi protest in colonial India. It also revisits the relationship between the Congress and the adivasis. Finally, by counterpoising the colonial archive with Tana pamphlets and petitions, it analyses different narratives of Tana pasts in order to make sense of how histories and memories of adivasi protest are reworked in postcolonial times.
Of solemn pacts and paper scraps: International law and the purpose of war, 1914–1918
Authors: Price Peter
Published: February 2016

The idea of international law figured centrally in Canadian legal professionals’ explanations of the First World War and its justness. Germans were described as perfidious enemies, unwilling to respect law and all too capable of egregious violations of it, whose actions posed an enormous threat to the stability and endurance of the international state system and its legal order. The war, then, was understood as a struggle to safeguard international law against the “savagery” of a world where sovereign states held no regard for lawful conduct. Based on an analysis of Canadian legal publications produced during the war, this article argues that legal attention to international law during the war not only helped to define the conflict but also set the conditions for the internationalism that developed in the postwar years. These concerns about the violation of international law continue to be urgent matters for policymakers and legal analysis today.
Correlates of Risky Heterosexual Behaviors Among Women Who Use Methamphetamine
Authors: Johnson Kiersten L. , Desmarais Sarah L. , Van Dorn Richard A. , Lutnick Alexandra , Kral Alex H. , Lorvick Jennifer
Published: February 2016

Women who use methamphetamine are at heightened risk of engaging in sexual behaviors that increase their odds of contracting HIV or sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, little is known regarding correlates of such behaviors within this population. In a community-based sample of women who use methamphetamine ( N = 322), we examined participant characteristics (i.e., demographics, drug- and sex-related behaviors, and mental health characteristics) associated with three operationalizations of risky heterosexual behaviors in the past 6 months (i.e., number of male partners, condomless sex with male partners, and both multiple male partners and condomless sex). Analyses revealed important distinctions in the correlates of risky heterosexual behaviors as a function of outcome. Results suggest that HIV and STI prevention strategies should consider characteristics associated with differing risky heterosexual behaviors. In addition, differences in correlates of these behaviors suggest a need for standardization in measurement and evaluation of sexual risk in research and practice with women who use methamphetamine.
The Role of Trait Anxiety and Preoccupation With Reading Disabilities of Children and Their Mothers in Predicting Children’s Reading Comprehension
Authors: Blicher Shira , Feingold Liat , Shany Michal
Published: February 2016

This study investigated the relationship between reading comprehension (RC), trait anxiety, and preoccupation with reading disability (RD) in 88 school children in Grades 3 through 5 and in their mothers. Children’s trait anxiety had a significant direct negative relationship with RC and also mediated the association between preoccupation with RD and RC. Mothers’ preoccupation with their children’s RDs had a direct negative association with their children’s RC. This association was also mediated through children’s trait anxiety. No association was found between mothers’ trait anxiety and children’s RC. In a final model, RC was explained significantly by children’s word reading fluency and trait anxiety as well as by their mothers’ preoccupation with their children’s RDs. This study extends our understanding of multicomponential models of RC by shedding light on the significant role played by anxiety- and preoccupation-related factors involving both children with RDs and their mothers.
Efficiency assessments for some state of the art wind turbines in the coastal environments of the Black and the Caspian seas
Authors: Onea Florin , Rusu Eugen
Published: February 2016

The main objective of the present work is to assess the wind energy resources in the Black and in the Caspian seas. Additionally, the electric power expected to be provided by various state of the art technologies was also evaluated. For this reason, several reference points were considered in the coastal environments of the two areas targeted. In order to assess the wind potential in these locations, 12 year of data coming from the US National Centers for Environmental Prediction were processed and analyzed. From the analysis of the wind power density (corresponding to a height of 80 m), it was possible to evaluate the spatial and seasonal distributions of the wind resources, and also to identify some hot spot areas. Since the regions located near the shoreline are under the influence of the diurnal/nocturnal fluctuations, a special attention was paid to this aspect. This is especially due to the fact that the power output of a wind farm project is supposed to be significantly influenced by such variations. In the second part of the work, several offshore wind turbines were considered and their performances were evaluated in relationship with the local wind patterns. Based on these results, we can conclude that important variations may occur between the diurnal and the nocturnal intervals, in terms of both wind velocity and direction, while on a regional scale the northern parts of the Black and the Caspian seas seem to present more consistent wind energy potential. Moreover, this potential is comparable with that from the locations where such offshore wind farms already successfully operate.
Matthew Arnold, the Oxford Movement, and the “Stanzas from the Grande Chartreuse”
Authors: Perkin J. Russell
Published: February 2016

The article reads Matthew Arnold’s poem “Stanzas from the Grande Chartreuse” in the context of his conflicted attitudes toward Christianity, which are illustrated by an examination of his contradictory view of the Oxford Movement and of the nineteenth-century Roman Catholic revival, in both of which John Henry Newman played a major role. Arnold’s ambivalence can be traced back to the very different influences of his father and his mother, and it reflects a strong emotional, cultural, and even spiritual attachment to Christianity at the same time that he regards existing forms of Christianity as rendered impossible by the critique of the Enlightenment.
Clampitt and the Cloisters
Authors: Domestico Anthony
Published: February 2016

This article describes the importance of a visionary experience that Amy Clampitt had while visiting the Cloisters in New York City in 1956. Immediately afterwards, Clampitt began writing poetry for the first time, and her letters describing the experience evoke what is most distinctive about her later work: wonder before the world’s richness; an embrace of temporality and flux; the understanding that perception is the surest route to mystery. Clampitt remained an incarnational poet even after she left the church, committed to the claim that, as she put it, “whatever we know of incorporeal reality is to date inseparable from the channels that received it.”
Psychometrics and validation of a brief rating measure of parent-infant interaction
Authors: Wan Ming Wai , Brooks Ami , Green Jonathan , Abel Kathryn , Elmadih Alya
Published: February 2016

This study investigated the psychometrics of a recently developed global rating measure of videotaped parent-infant interaction, the Manchester Assessment of Caregiver–Infant Interaction (MACI), in a normative sample. Inter-rater reliability, stability over time, and convergent and discriminant validity were tested. Six-minute play interactions were blind-rated by trained coders in 147 healthy mother-infant dyads at 3–10 months postpartum using the MACI; 51% were re-assessed 4 or 7 months later. Infant cognitive functioning, language and temperament, parent-reported infant warmth and invasion, parental mood, and the parent’s own recalled experiences of being parented were measured. We report the internal psychometrics of the MACI, evidence of stability as predicted, and inter-rater reliability. MACI caregiver sensitive responsiveness showed convergent validity with parental state of mind (mood at 3–4 months; report of own childhood care and overprotection), while MACI infant affect (but not the caregiver scales) was associated with parent-rated infant warmth. All MACI scales showed discriminant validity with concurrent cognitive and language developmental status, and most temperament dimensions. In conclusion, the MACI demonstrates utility, reliability and preliminary validity data in a normative sample, which complements previous work using the MACI. Follow-up is needed to test predictive validity. The findings inform further improvements to the tool, and may guide those looking for a relatively brief way to examine the global qualities of parent, infant and dyadic interaction.