bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
African Americans and Hispanics Remain at Lower Risk of Ovarian Cancer Than Non-Hispanic Whites after Considering Nongenetic Risk Factors and Oophorectomy Rates
Authors: Wu Anna H. , Pearce Celeste L. , Tseng Chiu-Chen , Pike Malcolm C.
Published: April 2015

Background: Risk factors for invasive epithelial ovarian cancer (IEOC) among Hispanics and African Americans are understudied despite notable differences in incidence relative to non-Hispanic whites.

Methods: We used multivariate logistic regression to examine parity, oral contraceptive use, tubal ligation, endometriosis, family history of ovarian cancer, and talc use and risk of IEOC among Hispanics (308 cases and 380 controls), African Americans (128 cases and 143 controls), and non-Hispanic whites (1,265 cases and 1,868 controls) using four case–control studies we conducted in Los Angeles County. We expressed each of these factors in the form of increasing risk and calculated population attributable risk percentage (PAR%) estimates for the six risk factors separately and jointly in the three groups.

Results: The risk associations with these six well-accepted factors were comparable in the three groups. The significant racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence of these factors and differences in their oophorectomy rates explained 31% of the lower incidence in African Americans compared with non-Hispanic whites, but only 13% of the lower incidence in Hispanics. The PAR%s ranged from 27.5% to 31.0% for no tubal ligation, 15.9% to 22.2% for not using oral contraceptives, and 12.2% to 15.1% for using talc in the three groups.

Conclusions: All six risk factors are comparably important in the three groups. Differences in the prevalence of these factors and their oophorectomy rates explained approximately one third of the difference in incidence between African Americans and non-Hispanic whites.

Impact: Devising strategies to lessen the burden of IEOC will be applicable to all three racial/ethnic groups. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(7); 1094–100. ©2015 AACR.
Direct Attack on RAS: Intramolecular Communication and Mutation-Specific Effects
Authors: Marcus Kendra , Mattos Carla
Published: April 2015

The crystal structure of RAS was first solved 25 years ago. In spite of tremendous and sustained efforts, there are still no drugs in the clinic that directly target this major driver of human cancers. Recent success in the discovery of compounds that bind RAS and inhibit signaling has fueled renewed enthusiasm, and in-depth understanding of the structure and function of RAS has opened new avenues for direct targeting. To succeed, we must focus on the molecular details of the RAS structure and understand at a high-resolution level how the oncogenic mutants impair function. Structural networks of intramolecular communication between the RAS active site and membrane-interacting regions on the G-domain are disrupted in oncogenic mutants. Although conserved across the isoforms, these networks are near hot spots of protein–ligand interactions with amino acid composition that varies among RAS proteins. These differences could have an effect on stabilization of conformational states of interest in attenuating signaling through RAS. The development of strategies to target these novel sites will add a fresh direction in the quest to conquer RAS-driven cancers. Clin Cancer Res; 21(8); 1810–8. ©2015 AACR.

See all articles in this CCR Focus section, “Targeting RAS-Driven Cancers.”
RAS Synthetic Lethal Screens Revisited: Still Seeking the Elusive Prize?
Authors: Downward Julian
Published: April 2015

The RAS genes are critical oncogenic drivers activated by point mutation in some 20% of human malignancies. However, no pharmacologic approaches to targeting RAS proteins directly have yet succeeded, leading to suggestions that these proteins may be “undruggable.” This has led to two alternative indirect approaches to targeting RAS function in cancer. One has been to target RAS signaling pathways downstream at tractable enzymes such as kinases, particularly in combination. The other, which is the focus of this review, has been to seek targets that are essential in cells bearing an activated RAS oncogene, but not those without. This synthetic lethal approach, while rooted in ideas from invertebrate genetics, has been inspired most strongly by the successful use of PARP inhibitors, such as olaparib, in the clinic to treat BRCA defective cancers. Several large-scale screens have been carried out using RNA interference-mediated expression silencing to find genes that are uniquely essential to RAS-mutant but not wild-type cells. These screens have been notable for the low degree of overlap between their results, with the possible exception of proteasome components, and have yet to lead to successful new clinical approaches to the treatment of RAS-mutant cancers. Possible reasons for these disappointing results are discussed here, along with a reevaluation of the approaches taken. On the basis of experience to date, RAS synthetic lethality has so far fallen some way short of its original promise and remains unproven as an approach to finding effective new ways of tackling RAS-mutant cancers. Clin Cancer Res; 21(8); 1802–9. ©2015 AACR.

See all articles in this CCR Focus section, “Targeting RAS-Driven Cancers.”
KRAS as a Therapeutic Target
Authors: McCormick Frank
Published: April 2015

KRAS proteins play a major role in human cancer, but have not yielded to therapeutic attack. New technologies in drug discovery and insights into signaling pathways that KRAS controls have promoted renewed efforts to develop therapies through direct targeting of KRAS itself, new ways of blocking KRAS processing, or by identifying targets that KRAS cancers depend on for survival. Although drugs that block the well-established downstream pathways, RAF–MAPK and PI3K, are being tested in the clinic, new efforts are under way to exploit previously unrecognized vulnerabilities, such as altered metabolic networks, or novel pathways identified through synthetic lethal screens. Furthermore, new ways of suppressing KRAS gene expression and of harnessing the immune system offer further hope that new ways of treating KRAS are finally coming into view. These issues are discussed in this edition of CCR Focus. Clin Cancer Res; 21(8); 1797–801. ©2015 AACR.

See all articles in this CCR Focus section, “Targeting RAS-Driven Cancers.”
Cerebrolysin in Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials
Authors: Gauthier Serge , Proaño Jefferson Voltaire , Jia Jianping , Froelich Lutz , Vester Johannes Christophe , Doppler Edith
Published: April 2015

Objective: The aim of this study was to provide a systematic and quantitative summary of benefit and risk of Cerebrolysin in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to avoid major deficiencies of an earlier meta-analysis. Design: This is a meta-analysis of randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials. Data Sources: Trials were identified with the help of PubMed, the Cochrane Dementia Group database, the Center for Collaborative Neurosciences, and references from reviews; no language restrictions were applied. Study Selection: All randomized double-blind placebo-controlled studies on 30 ml/day of Cerebrolysin in mild-to-moderate AD were included. Results: There were 6 eligible randomized controlled trials comparing Cerebrolysin with placebo. For all studies, either individual patient data and/or published data (aggregate data) were available. Analyses were based on the odds ratio (OR) for dichotomized global clinical change and for safety criteria, on the standardized mean difference (SMD) for pooling of cognitive function, and on the Mann-Whitney statistic (MW) for multivariate analysis of ‘global benefit' (combined effect of global clinical change and cognitive function). Cerebrolysin was significantly more effective than placebo at 4 weeks regarding cognitive function (4 weeks: SMD -0.40 points; 95% CI -0.66 to -0.13; p = 0.0031; 6 months: SMD -0.37 points; 95% CI -0.90 to 0.16; p = 0.1710), at 4 weeks and 6 months regarding global clinical change (4 weeks: OR 3.32; 95% CI 1.20-9.21; p = 0.0212; 6 months: OR 4.98; 95% CI 1.37-18.13; p = 0.0150), and at 4 weeks and 6 months regarding ‘global benefit' (combined efficacy criteria; 4 weeks: MW 0.57, 95% CI 0.53-0.61; p = 0.0006; 6 months: MW 0.57; 95% CI 0.53-0.61; p = 0.0010). The safety aspects of Cerebrolysin were comparable to placebo. Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides evidence that Cerebrolysin has an overall beneficial effect and a favorable benefit-risk ratio in patients with mild-to-moderate AD. Cerebrolysin as a therapeutic agent should be considered by clinicians seeking treatment options for mild-to-moderate AD.
Positive Direct Immunofluorescence Is of Better Value than ELISA-BP180 and ELISA-BP230 Values for the Prediction of Relapse after Treatment Cessation in Bullous Pemphigoid: A Retrospective Study of 97 Patients
Authors: Ingen-Housz-Oro Saskia , Plée Julie , Belmondo Thibaut , Maizières Michaël , Pham Bach-Nga , Hüe Sophie , Ortonne Nicolas , Durlach Anne , Wolkenstein Pierre , Chosidow Olivier , Bernard Philippe
Published: April 2015

Background: ELISA-BP180 values and direct immunofluorescence (DIF) are prognostic factors for relapse after treatment cessation in bullous pemphigoid (BP). Objective: To determine the relevance of ELISA-BP230 antibodies for predicting relapse 6 months after treatment cessation. Methods: We retrospectively selected patients with BP and available data from ELISA-BP180 and -BP230 and DIF performed at treatment cessation. The rate of relapse was calculated at 6 months. We compared ELISA-BP180 and -BP230 values and DIF in patients with relapse and remission. Results: We included 97 patients. At 6 months, 25.6% of patients showed relapse. The proportion of patients with an ELISA-BP230 value ≥27 UA/ml was higher, but not significantly, for those with relapse than for those with remission (p = 0.11). The frequency of positive DIF findings was significantly higher for patients with relapse (p = 0.005). Conclusion: DIF is of better value than ELISA-BP180 and -230 tests to predict relapse after treatment cessation in BP.
A relação entre duas síndromes pró-inflamatórias da atualidade: sepse e obesidade
Authors: Terra Fernanda , Terumi Marcelli , Bottura Guilherme , Geise Bruno , Câmara Niels Olsen Saraiva , Latancia Marcela
Published: April 2015

Estudos mostram que pacientes obesos têm maior chance de serem acometidos pela sepse, além de possuírem maiores riscos de mortalidade. A sepse, sendo uma infecção sistêmica que culmina na modulação da ativação de células e secreção de citocinas pró-inflamatórias e a obesidade, reconhecida como síndrome metabólica caracterizada, também, como pró-inflamatória. Esta revisão tem o objetivo de esclarecer e apontar relações entre duas síndromes dos tempos modernos.
O controle da tuberculose: um desafio para a saúde pública
Authors: Bertolozzi Maria Rita , Takahashi Renata Ferreira , Hino Paula , Litvoc Marcelo , França Francisco Oscar de Siqueira
Published: April 2015

A Tuberculose persiste como problema de Saúde Pública. O perfil da doença mostra que incide nos grupos que apresentam vulnerabilidades, principalmente de ordem social, o que denota a sua associação com a determinação social do processo saúde-doença. Apresentam-se, ainda, aspectos sobre a epidemiologia, clínica, tratamento e ações de prevenção.
Aconselhamento pré-viagem aos voluntários com destino ao Haiti. Relato da experiência do Ambulatório dos Viajantes do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP
Authors: Miyaji Karina Takesaki , Chaves Tânia Do Socorro Souza , Lara Amanda Nazareth , Luiz André Machado , Sartori Ana Marli Christovan , Lopes Marta Heloisa
Published: April 2015

INTRODUÇÃO: Desastres naturais representam ameaça à vida e às condições mínimas de sobrevivência de milhares de pessoas. Em 12 de janeiro de 2010 o Haiti foi assolado por um dos mais devastadores terremotos da história do país. Equipes de resgate do mundo inteiro chegaram ao país para ajuda humanitária. O Ambulatório dos Viajantes, da Divisão de Clínica de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP) fez a orientação pré-viagem dos voluntários que foram encaminhados ao serviço. OBJETIVO: Enfatizar a importância da medicina de viagem em emergência de saúde pública e descrever a orientação pré-viagem fornecida aos viajantes. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo de relato da experiência do Ambulatório dos Viajantes da Divisão de Clínica de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias da FMUSP, na orientação pré-viagem de viajantes com destino ao Haiti. Toda a equipe profissional do ambulatório foi informada da situação e uma estratégia foi criada para atender a demanda sem comprometer a rotina. Orientação sobre os riscos de adoecimento através de água e alimentos, vetores, poluição do ar, animais peçonhentos, choque elétricos foram discutidos além da informação sobre os aspectos geográficos, históricos, políticos e econômicos. RESULTADOS: Foram atendidos 98 viajantes. A média da idade foi 38,9 (23 a 66) anos e 79,6% eram do sexo masculino. Entre as ocupações referidas pelos viajantes atendidos foi possível observar: profissionais de saúde e bombeiros (52%), técnicos de telefonia (17,3%), policiais e militares (16,3%) e outros profissionais (14,2%). Vacinas indicadas e realizadas no serviço: febre tifóide (92%), hepatite A (87%), febre amarela (46%), tétano e difteria (dT) (36%), sarampo, caxumba e rubéola (28%), poliomielite (19%), vacina antimeningocócica conjugada C (6%),  influenza e raiva. Todas as medidas de prevenção para a malária foram recomendadas. Cloroquina foi a droga de escolha para a quimioprofilaxia da malária, e a ciprofloxacina para diarreia do viajante. Conclusão: A MV se faz presente a cada dia entre nós e ultrapassa barreiras em situações de emergências em saúde pública, como no caso de desastres naturais.
Tafamidis in Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Maurer Mathew S. , Grogan Donna R. , Judge Daniel P. , Mundayat Rajiv , Packman Jeff , Lombardo Ilise , Quyyumi Arshed A. , Aarts Janske , Falk Rodney H.
Published: April 2015

Background—

Transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis is a progressive systemic disorder caused by misfolded TTR monomers that cumulatively deposit in the heart and systemically as amyloid.

Methods and Results—

This phase 2 open-label trial evaluated the stabilization of TTR tetramers using 20 mg of tafamidis daily at week 6 (primary end point), month 6, and month 12, as well as safety of tafamidis treatment and efficacy with respect to progression of TTR amyloid cardiomyopathy. Thirty-one wild-type patients (median age, 76.7 years; 93.5% men) with a median disease duration of 55.6 months and mild to moderate heart failure (96.8%; New York Heart Association, classes I–II) were enrolled. Thirty of 31 patients (96.8%) achieved TTR stabilization after 6 weeks and 25 of 28 patients (89.3%) after 12 months. After 12 months of treatment, 3 patients discontinued prematurely, 2 patients died, 7 patients were hospitalized because of cardiovascular events, 20 of 28 patients demonstrated preserved New York Heart Association classification status, but 15 of 31 (48.4%) patients had clinical progression (eg, admission for cardiac failure, atrial fibrillation, and syncope). N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide levels did not increase significantly over time, troponin I and troponin T increased moderately, and no consistent clinically relevant changes were seen in echocardiographic cardiac assessments. Tafamidis treatment was generally well tolerated although 7 of 31 patients had bouts of diarrhea.

Conclusions—

Tafamidis treatment effectively achieved and maintained TTR stabilization and was well tolerated. The absence of significant changes in most biochemical and echocardiographic parameters suggests that further evaluation of tafamidis in TTR amyloid cardiomyopathy is warranted.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00694161.
Myocardial Adaptation to High-Intensity (Interval) Training in Previously Untrained Men With a Longitudinal Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study (Running Study and Heart Trial)
Authors: Scharf Michael , Schmid Axel , Kemmler Wolfgang , von Stengel Simon , May Matthias S. , Wuest Wolfgang , Achenbach Stephan , Uder Michael , Lell Michael M.
Published: April 2015

Background—

To prospectively evaluate whether short-term high-intensity (interval) training (HI(I)T) induces detectable morphological cardiac changes in previously untrained men in cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods and Results—

Eighty-four untrained volunteers were randomly assigned to a HI(I)T group (n=42; 44.1±4.7 years) or an inactive control group (n=42; 42.3±5.6 years). HI(I)T focused on interval runs (intensity: 95%–105% of individually calculated heart rate at the anaerobic threshold). Before and after 16 weeks, all subjects underwent physiological examination, stepwise treadmill test with blood lactate analysis, and contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (cine, tagging, and delayed enhancement). Indexed left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) volume (LV, 77.1±8.5–83.9±8.6; RV, 80.5±8.5–86.6±8.1) and mass (LV, 58.2±6.4–63.4±8.1; RV, 14.8±1.7–16.1±2.1) significantly increased with HI(I)T. Changes in LV and RV morphological parameters with HI(I)T were highly correlated with an increase in maximal aerobic capacity (VO
2max
) and a decrease in blood lactate concentration at the anaerobic threshold. Mean LV and RV remodeling index of HI(I)T group did not alter with training (0.76 ±0.09 and 0.24±0.10 g/mL, respectively [
P
=0.97 and
P
=0.72]), indicating balanced cardiac adaptation. Myocardial circumferential strain decreased after HI(I)T within all 6 basal segments (anteroseptal,
P
=0.01 and anterolateral,
P
<0.001). There was no late gadolinium enhancement in any of the participants before or post HI(I)T.

Conclusions—

Sixteen weeks of HI(I)T lead to measurable changes in cardiac atrial and ventricular morphology and function in previously untrained men. This correlates with improvements in parameters of endurance capacity.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01406730.
Multiparametric Assessment of Vascular Function in Peripheral Artery Disease
Authors: Englund Erin K. , Langham Michael C. , Ratcliffe Sarah J. , Fanning Molly J. , Wehrli Felix W. , Mohler Emile R. , Floyd Thomas F.
Published: April 2015

Background—

Endothelial dysfunction present in patients with peripheral artery disease may be better understood by measuring the temporal dynamics of blood flow and oxygen saturation during reactive hyperemia than by conventional static measurements.

Methods and Results—

Perfusion, Intravascular Venous Oxygen saturation, and T
2
* (PIVOT), a recently developed MRI technique, was used to measure the response to an ischemia–reperfusion paradigm in 96 patients with peripheral artery disease of varying severity and 10 healthy controls. Perfusion, venous oxygen saturation SvO
2
, and T
2
* were each quantified in the calf at 2-s temporal resolution, yielding a dynamic time course for each variable. Compared with healthy controls, patients had a blunted and delayed hyperemic response. Moreover, patients with lower ankle-brachial index had (1) a more delayed reactive hyperemia response time, manifesting as an increase in time to peak perfusion in the gastrocnemius, soleus, and peroneus muscles, and in the anterior compartment, (2) an increase in the time to peak T
2
* measured in the soleus muscle, and (3) a prolongation of the posterior tibial vein SvO
2
washout time. Intrasession and intersession repeatability were also assessed. Results indicated that time to peak perfusion and time to peak T
2
* were the most reliable extracted time course metrics.

Conclusions—

Perfusion, dynamic SvO
2
, and T
2
* response times after induced ischemia are highly correlated with peripheral artery disease severity. Combined imaging of peripheral microvascular blood flow and dynamics of oxygen saturation with Perfusion, intravascular SvO
2
, and T
2
* may be a useful tool to investigate the pathophysiology of peripheral artery disease.
Longitudinal Changes in Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in a General Population
Authors: Kuznetsova Tatiana , Thijs Lutgarde , Knez Judita , Cauwenberghs Nicholas , Petit Thibault , Gu Yu-Mei , Zhang Zhenyu , Staessen Jan A.
Published: April 2015

Background—

Data on changes in left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) over time in the general population are sparse. We, therefore, investigated in the population cohort clinical correlates of longitudinal changes in Doppler diastolic indexes analyzed as continuous measures and assessed factors predictive of the changes in LVDF grades over time.

Methods and Results—

We measured early and late diastolic peak velocities of mitral inflow (E and A) by conventional Doppler, and the mitral annular velocities (e′ and a′) by tissue Doppler imaging in 650 participants (mean age, 50.7 years) at baseline and after 4.7 years (5th to 95th percentile, 3.7–5.4). In stepwise regression, the multivariable-adjusted correlates of the change in the transmitral and tissue Doppler imaging diastolic indexes included sex, age, baseline serum insulin, blood pressure, and heart rate. During follow-up, LVDF grades remained unchanged in 87.2% (95% confidence interval, 84.6%–89.8%), improved in 3.7% (95% confidence interval, 2.25%–5.15%), and worsened in 9.1% (95% confidence interval, 6.9%–11.3%). Baseline age was a strong predictor of worsening of LVDF from normal/mild grade to more advanced grade (odds ratio, 3.22;
P
<0.0001). A doubling of baseline insulin was associated with a 184% increase in the odds of worsening of LVDF (
P
<0.0001). Moreover, baseline diastolic blood pressure and the change in systolic blood pressure over time predicted worsening of LVDF (
P
≤0.014).

Conclusions—

The key findings of this study are that LVDF tended to worsen over time and was associated with advanced age, higher baseline insulin level, and hemodynamic parameters, such as heart rate and blood pressure.
Association Between Divorce and Risks for Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Dupre Matthew E. , George Linda K. , Liu Guangya , Peterson Eric D.
Published: April 2015

Background—

Divorce is a major life stressor that can have economic, emotional, and physical health consequences. However, the cumulative association between divorce and risks for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unknown. This study investigated the association between lifetime exposure to divorce and the incidence of AMI in US adults.

Methods and Results—

We used nationally representative data from a prospective cohort of ever-married adults aged 45 to 80 years (n=15 827) who were followed biennially from 1992 to 2010. Approximately 14% of men and 19% of women were divorced at baseline and more than one third of the cohort had ≥1 divorce in their lifetime. In 200 524 person-years of follow-up, 8% (n=1211) of the cohort had an AMI and age-specific rates of AMI were consistently higher in those who were divorced compared with those who were continuously married (
P
<0.05). Results from competing-risk hazard models showed that AMI risks were significantly higher in women who had 1 divorce (hazard ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.55), ≥2 divorces (hazard ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.30–2.41), and among the remarried (hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.70) compared with continuously married women after adjusting for multiple risk factors. Multivariable-adjusted risks were elevated only in men with a history of ≥2 divorces (hazard ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.66) compared with continuously married men. Men who remarried had no significant risk for AMI. Interaction terms for sex were not statistically significant.

Conclusions—

Divorce is a significant risk factor for AMI. The risks associated with multiple divorces are especially high in women and are not reduced with remarriage.
Effects of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition in Hyperuricemic Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Givertz Michael M. , Anstrom Kevin J. , Redfield Margaret M. , Deswal Anita , Haddad Haissam , Butler Javed , Tang W.H. Wilson , Dunlap Mark E. , LeWinter Martin M. , Mann Douglas L. , Felker G. Michael , O’Connor Christopher M. , Goldsmith Steven R. , Ofili Elizabeth O. , Saltzberg Mitchell T. , Margulies Kenneth B. , Cappola Thomas P. , Konstam Marvin A. , Semigran Marc J. , McNulty Steven E. , Lee Kerry L. , Shah Monica R. , Hernandez Adrian F.
Published: April 2015

Background—

Oxidative stress may contribute to heart failure (HF) progression. Inhibiting xanthine oxidase in hyperuricemic HF patients may improve outcomes.

Methods and Results—

We randomly assigned 253 patients with symptomatic HF, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%, and serum uric acid levels ≥9.5 mg/dL to receive allopurinol (target dose, 600 mg daily) or placebo in a double-blind, multicenter trial. The primary composite end point at 24 weeks was based on survival, worsening HF, and patient global assessment. Secondary end points included change in quality of life, submaximal exercise capacity, and left ventricular ejection fraction. Uric acid levels were significantly reduced with allopurinol in comparison with placebo (treatment difference, –4.2 [–4.9, –3.5] mg/dL and –3.5 [–4.2, –2.7] mg/dL at 12 and 24 weeks, respectively, both
P
<0.0001). At 24 weeks, there was no significant difference in clinical status between the allopurinol- and placebo-treated patients (worsened 45% versus 46%, unchanged 42% versus 34%, improved 13% versus 19%, respectively;
P
=0.68). At 12 and 24 weeks, there was no significant difference in change in Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire scores or 6-minute walk distances between the 2 groups. At 24 weeks, left ventricular ejection fraction did not change in either group or between groups. Rash occurred more frequently with allopurinol (10% versus 2%,
P
=0.01), but there was no difference in serious adverse event rates between the groups (20% versus 15%,
P
=0.36).

Conclusions—

In high-risk HF patients with reduced ejection fraction and elevated uric acid levels, xanthine oxidase inhibition with allopurinol failed to improve clinical status, exercise capacity, quality of life, or left ventricular ejection fraction at 24 weeks.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00987415.
Taxonomic studies of the diatom genus Halamphora (Bacillariophyceae) from the mountainous regions of southwest China, including the description of two new species
Authors: Qingmin You , Kociolek John Patrick , Quanxi Wang
Published: April 2015

In this study, we describe two new Halamphora species (Halamphora subfontinalis and H. hezhangii) and identify three species newly recorded in China (H. elongata, H. submontana and H. tenella) and two others previously recorded from China (H. montana and H. dusenii), as well as make preliminary observations on three interesting and unnamed Halamphora species. For all ten taxa observations were made using light microscopy and for the new taxa scanning electron microscopical observations were also made. Comparisons of morphological features are made with similar, previously-described taxa. All of these Halamphora species were found in alkaline waters (7.2 < pH < 9.7) in the mountainous regions of southwest China, including Tibet, Yunnan and Guizhou Provinces. In addition, we list in Halamphora twenty taxa previously recorded from China in the genus Amphora, resulting in two new combinations.
Australasian ants of the subfamily Heteroponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): (2) the species-group of Heteroponera relicta (Wheeler),with descriptions of nine new species and observations on morphology, biogeography and phylogeny of the genus
Authors: TAYLOR ROBERT W.
Published: April 2015

Workers and available gynes of Heteroponera relicta and nine new related morphospecies from northeast Queensland tropical rainforest are described in two species complexes: H. relicta (Wheeler), H. darlingtonorum, H. lioprocta, H. monteithi, H. rhodopygea, H. viviennae and H. wilsoni spp. n. (Heteroponera relicta complex); H. ecarinata, H. pendergrasti and H. trachypyx spp. n. (Heteroponera ecarinata complex). Known gynes (of 3 relicta-complex species) are flightless physogastric ergatoids. Biogeography and evolution of the group and of Heteroponera at large are reviewed.
Description of a new species and species-group of Sphaeropthalma Blake Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) with an updated classification of the genus
Authors: PITTS JAMES P. , SADLER EMILY A.
Published: April 2015

A study of Sphaeropthalma Blake from the southwestern USA has revealed a highly autapomorphic undescribed species. This species is described here as S. tapio Pitts & Sadler, sp. nov., and is placed in a new species-group, the S. tapio species-group. This species seems to be found only at higher altitudes in southern Arizona. It is compared to other similar Sphaeropthalma species-groups and is likely most closely related to members of the S. imperialis species-group. An updated species-group classification of Sphaeropthalma is provided.
More of the same: a diminutive new species of the Limnonectes kuhlii complex from northern Vietnam (Anura: Dicroglossidae)
Authors: McLEOD DAVID S. , KURLBAUM SCUYLER , HOANG NGOC VAN
Published: April 2015

A new species in the dicroglossid genus Limnonectes known only from Ha Giang province, Vietnam is described. Analysis of DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial 12S and 16S gene regions places the species within the Limnonectes kuhlii Complex and demonstrates it to be the sister taxon to an Indochinese clade containing L. isanensis, L. jarujini, L. megastomias, and L. taylori. The new species occurs in syntopy with L. bannaensis. Both molecular and morphological data support the recognition of this lineage as a new species. Notably, the relatively diminutive size of this species distinguishes Limnonectes nguyenorum sp. nov. from all other members of the L. kuhlii Complex.
Amazonimyia gigantea gen. n., sp. n., a new Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) from the Neotropical Region
Authors: DA SILVA FABIO LAURINDO , WIEDENBRUG SOFIA
Published: April 2015

A new genus, Amazonimyia, is established for a species of the tribe Pentaneurini (Diptera, Chironomidae, Tanypodinae) from the Amazon Rainforest in northern Brazil. Generic diagnoses for adult male and pupa are provided together with descriptions of a new species, Amazonimyia gigantea.
AIRS, IASI, and CrIS Retrieval Records at Climate Scales: An Investigation into the Propagation of Systematic Uncertainty
Authors: Smith Nadia , Smith William L. , Weisz Elisabeth , Revercomb Henry E.
Published: April 2015

Uncertainty requirements for climate observations are more stringent than for weather observations because of the scale dependency of natural variation. At present there is no space-based climate observing system, so weather observations have to be aggregated for the study of large-scale change. The management and minimization of uncertainty sources in weather observations are, therefore, a high priority. This work is a first attempt at investigating if a single long-term record can be assembled with temperature retrievals from three hyperspectral satellite sounders in polar orbit: the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on Aqua in afternoon orbit since 2002, the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) on MetOp-A in morning orbit since 2006, and the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) on board the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership in afternoon orbit since 2011. These instruments measure not only the vertical atmospheric structure but also atmospheric composition, thus providing coincident observations of many essential climate variables. Two main sources of known systematic differences, namely local sampling time (LST) and instrument type (i.e., interferometer vs grating spectrometer), are characterized. For a 5-yr record it is shown that differences among these temperature soundings are height dependent; a multi-instrument data record could be assembled from measurements of the stratosphere but this is not yet possible for the troposphere, where cloud effects are shown to be dominant and dependent on instrument type. Moreover, LST differences are limited to regional systematic effects in the lower troposphere and boundary layer. This research is a step toward the development of transparent and geophysically consistent methods with which to assemble weather measurements into climate observations.
Regulating Militias
Authors: Stanton Jessica A.
Published: April 2015

In nearly two-thirds of civil wars since 1989, governments have received support in their counterinsurgency operations from militias. Many scholars predict higher levels of violence in conflicts involving pro-government militias because governments are either unable or unwilling to control militias. This article challenges this view, arguing that governments can and do often control militia behavior in civil war. Governments make strategic decisions about whether to use violence against civilians, encouraging both regular military forces and militia forces to target civilians or restraining regular military forces and militia forces from attacking civilians. In some cases, however, government and militia behavior differs. When a militia recruits its members from the same constituency as the insurgents, the militia is less likely to target civilians, as doing so would mean attacking their own community. Statistical analyses, using new data on pro-government militia violence in civil wars from 1989 to 2010, support these arguments.
Clinical and laboratory features parameters of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) in patients admitted to hospital in Guangdong Province, China
Authors: Jiao Xiao-yang , Fan Zhi-chen , Li Ya-zhen , Tang Yue-ting , Ke Chang-wen
Published: April 2015

Background

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is an acute tick-borne infectious disease with increasing morbidity and mortality, but is rarely considered in clinical practice. Because human-to-human transfusion or nosocomial transmission can occur, diagnosis is difficult when the history of tick bites is not clear.

Methods

We present clinical features and laboratory data of HGA patients who had no clear tick bite history.

Results

All patients in the study presented with a high fever, petechiae, purpura, nose bleeding and leukopenia, and patients had abnormally high levels of serum ferritin and C-reactive protein. Morulae in leukocytes were observed in three patients. Foamy histiocytes and slight erythrophagocytic activity were only found in severely ill patients.

Conclusion

In patients with fever and thrombocytopenia in whom no other diagnosis is evident on clinical assessment, HGA should be considered in the differential diagnosis, and tested for serologically if possible. For patients in whom the diagnosis of HGA is possible, and to whom tetracyclines can safely be given, it is apparent that these drugs hasten recovery and improve the prognosis.
Pseudotitles in Bahamian English
Authors: Hackert Stephanie
Published: April 2015

This study investigates the use of so-called pseudotitles, that is, determiner-less structures providing descriptive information in front of name noun phrases, as in linguist Allan Bell, in Bahamian newspaper language. Pseudotitles originated in American journalistic writing, but they have spread to numerous varieties of English worldwide and even to British English. A corpus of pre-independence and contemporary press news reports is analyzed quantitatively with a view to establishing not only the frequency of pseudotitles but also the constraints that govern their usage in Bahamian English. The study also considers the position and structure of equivalent appositives and their relationships with pseudotitles. It will be shown that, at least with regard to the feature investigated here, Bahamian journalists followed American norms even in British colonial times, which may be accounted for by the social history and current sociolinguistic situation of the country. At the same time, these norms have been modified and adapted to local linguistic realities, which presents another piece of evidence in favor of a nuanced view of linguistic Americanization.
Bureaucratic Identity and the Resistance of Politicization
Authors: Cooper Christopher A.
Published: April 2015

Explanations of politicization tend to focus on historical trends, administrative traditions, and government preferences. Absent from this literature are the actions of bureaucrats themselves. Drawing on theories of employee resistance from organization studies suggesting that changes threatening the financial security and professional identity of employees may be resisted, this article explores whether bureaucrats resist, and seek to deter, efforts of politicization. Through a most likely case study design of New Brunswick (Canada), this article finds that bureaucrats not only resisted efforts of politicization but that such actions also deterred the government from making any further dismissals.
Organizational context and employee reactions to psychological contract breach: A multilevel test of competing theories
Authors: Jiang Lixin , Probst Tahira M , Benson Wendi L
Published: April 2015

This study examines how organizational context affects employee reactions to perceived psychological contract breach. Using Conservation of Resources and Social Comparison theories, the authors develop competing hypotheses regarding the potential exacerbating vs. buffering effects of organizational context on the relationships between psychological contract breach and job security satisfaction, job satisfaction, work–family conflict, and burnout. They collected a multi-source, multilevel data set composed of faculty and departmental administrators at a university experiencing repeated budget reductions. It was found that psychological contract breach was related to detrimental job outcomes (i.e., decreased job security satisfaction and job satisfaction, increased work–family conflict, and burnout). However, this relationship was stronger among faculty in departments reporting low rather than high departmental budget cuts, thus supporting Social Comparison theory rather than Conservation of Resources theory. Social comparison matters when it comes to psychological contract breach.
Cognitive motor intervention for gait and balance in Parkinson’s disease: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Xue-Qiang , Pi Yan-Ling , Chen Bing-Lin , Wang Ru , Li Xin , Chen Pei-Jie
Published: April 2015

Objective:

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of cognitive motor intervention (CMI) on gait and balance in Parkinson’s disease.

Data sources:

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, PEDro, and China Biology Medicine disc.

Methods:

We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non RCTs. Two reviewers independently evaluated articles for eligibility and quality and serially abstracted data. A standardized mean difference ± standard error and 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated for each study using Hedge’s g to quantify the treatment effect.

Results:

Nine trials with 181 subjects, four randomized controlled trials, and five single group intervention studies were included. The pooling revealed that cognitive motor intervention can improve gait speed (Hedge’s g = 0.643 ± 0.191; 95% CI: 0.269 to 1.017, P = 0.001), stride time (Hedge’s g = -0.536 ± 0.167; 95% CI: -0.862 to -0.209, P = 0.001), Berg Balance Scale (Hedge’s g = 0.783 ± 0.289; 95% CI: 0.218 to 1.349, P = 0.007), Unipedal Stance Test (Hedge’s g = 0.440 ± 0.189; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.81, P =0.02).

Conclusions:

The systematic review demonstrates that cognitive motor intervention is effective for gait and balance in Parkinson’s disease. However, the paper is limited by the quality of the included trials.
Expertise Gaps in Value-Added Modeling
Authors: Tobiason Glory
Published: April 2015

This study introduces the notion of an “expertise gap,” a mismatch between researcher expertise and research content. I show that these gaps can exist and warrant our attention in research endeavors that involve multidisciplinarity embedded in complex research designs. Writing as an education researcher concerned with educator quality, I show that several expertise gaps are embedded in a particular statistical approach to the measurement of teacher effectiveness: the use of value-added models. My analysis lays out the basic argument structure behind these models, locates eight consequential assumptions that researchers are obligated to make, and considers the kind of disciplinary expertise that these assumptions call for. I argue for the importance of illuminating expertise gaps and studying how they shape public understanding of science and technology.
Knowledge and attitudes of occupational therapists to giving advice on fitness to drive
Authors: Hawley Carol
Published: April 2015

Introduction

A range of medical conditions can affect driving, and health professionals should advise patients accordingly. This study examined the knowledge of occupational therapists, other therapists and psychologists regarding medical standards for driving, their attitudes to advising patients about driving, and barriers to giving that advice.

Method

A structured questionnaire measured knowledge of medical standards and attitudes to advising patients about driving. Analyses compared responses of occupational therapists with those of other therapists and psychologists. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with therapists and psychologists after they had watched a video-taped clinical consultation with an actor–patient who was unfit to drive. Interviewees, unaware that the study was about driving, were asked how they would advise the patient. Focus groups were held with a range of health professionals to discuss facilitators and barriers to giving driving advice.

Results

Eighty-two questionnaires were completed. Occupational therapists were most aware of driving guidelines and most likely to advise patients to stop driving ( p < 0.01). A total of 98% of occupational therapists believed they should discuss driving compared with 68% of other therapists and psychologists ( p < 0.01). Therapists were more likely than psychologists to spontaneously raise the issue of driving after viewing the video-consultation.

Conclusion

Occupational therapists are well placed to expand their role in advising patients about fitness to drive. For this they require additional training and clarification of their role and legal responsibilities.
The Case for Individualized Goal Attainment Scaling Measurement in Elder Abuse Interventions
Authors: Burnes David , Lachs Mark S.
Published: April 2015

Research available to inform the development of effective community-based elder abuse protective response interventions is severely limited. Elder abuse intervention research is constrained by a lack of research capacity, including sensitive and responsive outcome measures that can assess change in case status over the course of intervention. Given the heterogeneous nature of elder abuse, standard scales can lack the flexibility necessary to capture the diverse range of individually relevant issues across cases. In this paper, we seek to address this gap by proposing the adaptation and use of an innovative measurement strategy—goal attainment scaling—in the context of elder protection. Goal attainment scaling is an individualized, client-centered outcome measurement approach that has the potential to address existing measurement challenges constraining progress in elder abuse intervention research.
The Emerging Molecular Foundations of Pediatric Brain Tumors
Authors: Huse Jason T. , Rosenblum Marc K.
Published: April 2015

Recent years have witnessed extensive molecular characterization of several pediatric brain tumor variants. These studies have dramatically shifted notions of disease classification and are likely to have similarly profound effects on patient management in the near future. In this review, we cover the molecular foundations of low-grade glial and glioneuronal neoplasms, high-grade glioma, ependymoma, and medulloblastoma, the details of which have only been recently elucidated in many cases. In doing so, we describe an array of biomarkers likely to play a major role in clinically relevant molecular stratification moving forward. We also discuss strategies for robust and efficient biomarker assessment in the clinical environment.
Work-time underemployment and financial hardship: class inequalities and recession in the UK
Authors: Warren Tracey
Published: April 2015

The economic crisis that led to recession in the UK in 2008–9 impacted in multiple ways on work and economic life. This article examines changes to the work-time of employees. The UK stood out for its recessionary expansion of work-time underemployment. Working in a job that provides ‘too few’ hours can have serious ramifications for the economic livelihood of workers. Working-class workers are central here. Drawing on analysis of large-scale survey data, the article identifies that workers in lower level occupations experienced the most substantial post-recessionary growth in the proportions working ‘too few’ hours. Did these work-time changes narrow or widen class inequalities in feelings of financial hardship? The article concludes that although middle-class workers also saw their financial positions damaged, this so-called ‘first middle-class recession’ did not erode class inequalities in financial hardship among UK workers.
Two-dimensional symmetric double contacts of elastically similar materials
Authors: Ghanati P , Adibnazari S
Published: April 2015

The two-dimensional contact problem for an elastic body indenting an elastically similar half plane resulting in double contacts is important for various applications. In this paper, a generic quasi-static two-dimensional symmetric double contact problem with nonsingular end points between two elastically similar half planes, under the constant normal and oscillatory tangential loading, is analyzed. The classical singular integral equations approach is utilized to extract the pressure and shear functions in the contact zones; subsequently boundary conditions at end points are applied and a new side condition is derived and titled “the consistency condition” for symmetric double contacts. This condition is necessary for determining the extent of the contact and stick zones. Next, this analytical approach is applied to the symmetric indentation of a flat surface by two rigidly interconnected wedge-shaped punches.
Labour market deregulation and apprenticeship training: A comparison of German and Swiss employers
Authors: Jansen Anika , Leiser Mirjam Strupler , Wenzelmann Felix , Wolter Stefan C
Published: April 2015

Many extensions of classical human capital theory regard labour market rigidities as a prerequisite for firms to invest in general training. From this perspective, the German labour market reforms since 2003 should have reduced their willingness to support the apprenticeship training system. This article demonstrates that, on the contrary, German firms did not abandon the training system but instead changed their training strategies after the implementation of the labour market reforms. We analyse the new training strategies that German firms deployed to cope with the increased labour market flexibility engendered by the labour market reforms. Switzerland, where no such reforms occurred, serves as the counterfactual. The results demonstrate that German firms successfully reduced the net costs of training by involving apprentices in more work and reducing non-productive tasks.