bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Notch Inhibitor PF-03084014 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth and Metastasis via Suppression of Cancer Stemness due to Reduced Activation of Notch1–Stat3
Authors: Wu Chuan Xing , Xu Aimin , Zhang Cathy C. , Olson Peter , Chen Lin , Lee Terence K. , Cheung Tan To , Lo Chung Mau , Wang Xiao Qi
Published: May 2017

Aberrant activation of the Notch signaling pathway is implicated in many solid tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma, indicating a potential use of Notch inhibitors for treatment. In this study, we investigated the antitumor and antimetastasis efficacy of the novel Notch inhibitor (γ-secretase inhibitor) PF-03084014 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma spherical cells (stem-like cancer cells), a sphere-derived orthotopic tumor model and one patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model were used in our experiment. We demonstrated that PF-03084014 inhibited the self-renewal and proliferation of cancer stem cells. PF-03084014 reduced the hepatocellular carcinoma sphere-derived orthotopic tumor and blocked the hepatocellular carcinoma tumor liver to lung metastasis. We further tested the PF-03084014 in PDX models and confirmed the inhibition tumor growth effect. In addition, a low dose of PF-03084014 induced hepatocellular carcinoma sphere differentiation, resulting in chemosensitization. Antitumor activity was associated with PF-03084014-induced suppression of Notch1 activity, decreased Stat3 activation and phosphorylation of the Akt signaling pathway, and reduced epithelial–mesenchymal transition. These are the key contributors to the maintenance of cancer stemness and the promotion of cancer metastasis. Moreover, the Notch–Stat3 association was implicated in the clinical hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis. Collectively, PF-03084014 revealed antitumor and antimetastatic effects in hepatocellular carcinoma, providing evidence for the potential use of gamma-secretase inhibitors as a therapeutic option for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(8); 1531–43. ©2017 AACR.
Inhibition of Aurora A and Aurora B Is Required for the Sensitivity of HPV-Driven Cervical Cancers to Aurora Kinase Inhibitors
Authors: Martin David , Fallaha Sora , Proctor Martina , Stevenson Alexander , Perrin Lewis , McMillan Nigel , Gabrielli Brian
Published: May 2017

The activity and efficacy of Aurora inhibitors have been reported in a wide range of cancer types. The most prominent Aurora inhibitor is alisertib, an investigational Aurora inhibitor that has been the subject of more than 30 clinical trials. Alisertib has inhibitory activity against both Aurora A and B, although it is considered to be primarily an Aurora A inhibitor in vivo. Here, we show that alisertib inhibits both Aurora A and B in vivo in preclinical models of HPV-driven cervical cancer, and that it is the inhibition of Aurora A and B that provides the selectivity and efficacy of this drug in vivo in this disease setting. We also present formal evidence that alisertib requires progression through mitosis for its efficacy, and that it is unlikely to combine with drugs that promote a G2 DNA damage checkpoint response. This work demonstrates that inhibition of Aurora A and B is required for effective control of HPV-driven cancers by Aurora kinase inhibitors. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(9); 1934–41. ©2017 AACR.
Cooperative Targets of Combined mTOR/HDAC Inhibition Promote MYC Degradation
Authors: Simmons John K. , Michalowski Aleksandra M. , Gamache Benjamin J. , DuBois Wendy , Patel Jyoti , Zhang Ke , Gary Joy , Zhang Shuling , Gaikwad Snehal , Connors Daniel , Watson Nicholas , Leon Elena , Chen Jin-Qiu , Kuehl W. Michael , Lee Maxwell P. , Zingone Adriana , Landgren Ola , Ordentlich Peter , Huang Jing , Mock Beverly A.
Published: May 2017

Cancer treatments often require combinations of molecularly targeted agents to be effective. mTORi (rapamycin) and HDACi (MS-275/entinostat) inhibitors have been shown to be effective in limiting tumor growth, and here we define part of the cooperative action of this drug combination. More than 60 human cancer cell lines responded synergistically (CI<1) when treated with this drug combination compared with single agents. In addition, a breast cancer patient–derived xenograft, and a BCL-XL plasmacytoma mouse model both showed enhanced responses to the combination compared with single agents. Mice bearing plasma cell tumors lived an average of 70 days longer on combination treatment compared with single agents. A set of 37 genes cooperatively affected (34 downregulated; 3 upregulated) by the combination responded pharmacodynamically in human myeloma cell lines, xenografts, and a P493 model, and were both enriched in tumors, and correlated with prognostic markers in myeloma patient datasets. Genes downregulated by the combination were overexpressed in several untreated cancers (breast, lung, colon, sarcoma, head and neck, myeloma) compared with normal tissues. The MYC/E2F axis, identified by upstream regulator analyses and validated by immunoblots, was significantly inhibited by the drug combination in several myeloma cell lines. Furthermore, 88% of the 34 genes downregulated have MYC-binding sites in their promoters, and the drug combination cooperatively reduced MYC half-life by 55% and increased degradation. Cells with MYC mutations were refractory to the combination. Thus, integrative approaches to understand drug synergy identified a clinically actionable strategy to inhibit MYC/E2F activity and tumor cell growth in vivo. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(9); 2008–21. ©2017 AACR.
An Insight into the Changes in Skin Texture and Properties following Dietary Intervention with a Nutricosmeceutical Containing a Blend of Collagen Bioactive Peptides and Antioxidants
Authors: Genovese Licia , Corbo Andrea , Sibilla Sara
Published: May 2017

Background: Skin aging is a multifactorial phenomenon which causes alterations in skin physiological functions and, most visibly, phenotypic changes. In particular, during the aging process, hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin fibers undergo structural and functional changes. Aims: This study aimed to give an insight into the photo-protective benefits and efficacy of an oral liquid nutricosmeceutical containing collagen bioactive peptides and antioxidants to counteract the signs of aging. Methods: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted by an independent esthetic clinic on 120 healthy volunteer subjects for 90 days. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: 60 subjects consumed 1 bottle (50 mL) of the nutricosmeceutical daily and the other 60 consumed 1 bottle (50 mL) of the placebo. Outcome measures were related to skin elasticity (expressed as Young's elasticity modulus) and skin architecture (histological analysis). In addition, the subjects recruited in this study underwent observational assessments through self-assessment questionnaires. Results and Conclusions: Overall, we demonstrated a significant increase in skin elasticity (+7.5%), p ≤ 0.001 and an improvement in skin texture after daily oral consumption of the nutricosmeceutical. We also obtained a positive patient feedback through the self-assessment questionnaires. Taken together these results show that this nutricosmeceutical supplement may have photo-protective effects and help improve skin health.
The Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Teneligliptin Reduces Aortic Damage from Hypercholesterolaemia in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice
Authors: Zhang Ying , Wang Nan , Zhu Liyue , Liu Yingshu , Pei Zuowei , Wang Guan , Luo Lin , Liu Hongyang
Published: May 2017

Objective: Hypercholesterolaemia is a well-established risk factor for blood vessel damage, which can lead to cardiovascular diseases. An abundance of clinical data show that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors protect against aortic damage in patients with diabetes. The goal of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of teneligliptin against aortic damage in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice. Methods: Eight-week-old male ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: a control group fed a normal diet, a high-cholesterol diet (HD group), and an HD diet mixed with teneligliptin (HD + Tene group), and all the groups were fed with the different treatments for 6 weeks. Results and Conclusion: The metabolic characteristics of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were lower in ApoE-/- HD + Tene mice than in ApoE-/- HD mice. Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) gene and protein expression were lower in the aortic tissue of ApoE-/- HD + Tene mice than in ApoE-/- HD mice. IL-6 and TNF-α gene expression were lower in ApoE-/- HD + Tene mice than in ApoE-/- HD mice. These results indicate that teneligliptin may provide a potential therapeutic target for the aortic damage from hypercholesterolaemia.
Kidney Injury due to Ureteral Obstruction Caused by Compression from Infected Simple Hepatic Cyst
Authors: Sawada Naoya , Endo Tetsu , Mikami Kenichiro , Igarashi Go , Sakamoto Juichi , Tono Hiroshi , Fukuda Shinsaku
Published: May 2017

Simple hepatic cysts are common and most often asymptomatic. In symptomatic cases, hemorrhage, rupture, and infection are major complications. However, urinary tract obstruction caused by a simple hepatic cyst is rare. We treated an 82-year-old Japanese man with an infected giant hepatic cyst causing right hydronephrosis who had a past history of left nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. The patient underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage and sclerotherapy with minocycline hydrochloride for the infected hepatic cyst. Right hydronephrosis was relieved, and renal dysfunction improved with regression of the hepatic cyst after treatment. This is the first report of hydronephrosis due to ureteral obstruction caused by compression from a hepatic cyst.
Clinical and Pathologic Remission of Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis with Serum-Derived Bovine Immunoglobulin Added to the Standard Treatment Regimen
Authors: Soriano Rachelle A. , Ramos-Soriano Asuncion G.
Published: May 2017

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that is particularly troublesome for pediatric patients, as current therapeutic options consist of biologic agents and steroids which alter the immune response and have the harmful side effect of leaving the patient more susceptible to opportunistic infections and eventual surgery. Another option for therapy exists in the form of serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin/protein isolate (SBI), the key ingredient in a medical food, EnteraGam®. The FDA has reviewed the safety of SBI and issued a no challenge letter to the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) findings for this medical food. The product also has no known food or drug interactions, no significant adverse effects, and no contraindications, save for beef allergy. SBI has been shown to induce clinical remission in adult populations and to decrease markers of inflammation in pediatric patients. Here, we present a detailed case of pediatric UC, including documentation of mucosal healing and decrease in pediatric UC activity index in a difficult to treat pediatric patient, after the addition of SBI to this patient’s treatment regimen.
Hormones and Human and Nonhuman Primate Growth
Authors: Bernstein Robin Miriam
Published: May 2017

The aim of this paper was to review information pertaining to the hormonal regulation of nonhuman primate growth, with specific focus on the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis and adrenal androgens. Hormones of the GH-IGF axis are consistently associated with measures of growth – linear, weight, or both – during the growth period; in adulthood, concentrations of IGF-I, IGF-binding protein-3, and GH-binding protein are not associated with any measures of size. Comparing patterns of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) may be especially relevant for understanding whether the childhood stage of growth and development is unique to humans and perhaps other apes. Genetic, hormonal, and morphological data on adrenarche in other nonhuman primate species suggest that this endocrine transition is delayed in humans, chimpanzees, and possibly gorillas, while present very early in postnatal life in macaques. This suggests that although perhaps permitted by an extension of the pre-adolescent growth period, childhood builds upon existing developmental substrates rather than having been inserted de novo into an ancestral growth trajectory. Hormones can provide insight regarding the evolution of the human growth trajectory.
Chronic Glibenclamide Treatment Attenuates Walker-256 Tumour Growth in Prediabetic Obese Rats
Authors: da Silva Franco Claudinéia Conationi , Previate Carina , de Barros Machado Kátia Gama , Piovan Silvano , Miranda Rosiane Aparecida , Prates Kelly Valério , Moreira Veridiana Mota , de Oliveira Júlio Cezar , Barella Luiz Felipe , Gomes Rodrigo Mello , Francisco Flávio Andrade , Martins Isabela Peixoto , Pavanello Audrei , Ribeiro Tatiane Aparecida , Tófolo Laize Peron , Malta Ananda , de Souza Aline Amenencia , Alves Vander Silva , da Silva Silveira Sandra , Marçal Natali Maria Raquel , Fernando Besson Jean Carlos , de Morais Hely , de Souza Helenir Medri , de Sant Anna Juliane Rocha , Alves de Castro Prado Marialba Avezum , de Freitas Mathias Paulo Cezar
Published: May 2017

Background/Aims: The sulphonylurea glibenclamide (Gli) is widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In addition to its antidiabetic effects, low incidences of certain types of cancer have been observed in Gli-treated diabetic patients. However, the mechanisms underlying this observation remain unclear. The aim of the present work was to evaluate whether obese adult rats that were chronically treated with an antidiabetic drug, glibenclamide, exhibit resistance to rodent breast carcinoma growth. Methods: Neonatal rats were treated with monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) to induce prediabetes. Control and MSG groups were treated with Gli (2 mg/kg body weight/day) from weaning to 100 days old. After Gli treatment, the control and MSG rats were grafted with Walker-256 tumour cells. After 14 days, grafted rats were euthanized, and tumour weight as well as glucose homeostasis were evaluated. Results: Treatment with Gli normalized tissue insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, suppressed fasting hyperinsulinaemia, reduced fat tissue accretion in MSG rats, and attenuated tumour growth by 27% in control and MSG rats. Conclusions: Gli treatment also resulted in a large reduction in the number of PCNA-positive tumour cells. Although treatment did improve the metabolism of pre-diabetic MSG-rats, tumour growth inhibition may be a more direct effect of glibenclamide.
Lower Risk of Heart Failure and Death in Patients Initiated on Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors Versus Other Glucose-Lowering Drugs
Authors: Kosiborod Mikhail , Cavender Matthew A. , Fu Alex Z. , Wilding John P. , Khunti Kamlesh , Holl Reinhard W. , Norhammar Anna , Birkeland Kåre I. , Jørgensen Marit Eika , Thuresson Marcus , Arya Niki , Bodegård Johan , Hammar Niklas , Fenici Peter
Published: May 2017

Background:

Reduction in cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) was recently reported with the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT-2i) empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We compared HHF and death in patients newly initiated on any SGLT-2i versus other glucose-lowering drugs in 6 countries to determine if these benefits are seen in real-world practice and across SGLT-2i class.

Methods:

Data were collected via medical claims, primary care/hospital records, and national registries from the United States, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Propensity score for SGLT-2i initiation was used to match treatment groups. Hazard ratios for HHF, death, and their combination were estimated by country and pooled to determine weighted effect size. Death data were not available for Germany.

Results:

After propensity matching, there were 309 056 patients newly initiated on either SGLT-2i or other glucose-lowering drugs (154 528 patients in each treatment group). Canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin accounted for 53%, 42%, and 5% of the total exposure time in the SGLT-2i class, respectively. Baseline characteristics were balanced between the 2 groups. There were 961 HHF cases during 190 164 person-years follow-up (incidence rate, 0.51/100 person-years). Of 215 622 patients in the United States, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, death occurred in 1334 (incidence rate, 0.87/100 person-years), and HHF or death in 1983 (incidence rate, 1.38/100 person-years). Use of SGLT-2i, versus other glucose-lowering drugs, was associated with lower rates of HHF (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.51–0.73;
P
<0.001); death (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.41–0.57;
P
<0.001); and HHF or death (hazard ratio, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.48–0.60;
P
<0.001) with no significant heterogeneity by country.

Conclusions:

In this large multinational study, treatment with SGLT-2i versus other glucose-lowering drugs was associated with a lower risk of HHF and death, suggesting that the benefits seen with empagliflozin in a randomized trial may be a class effect applicable to a broad population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in real-world practice.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02993614.
Risk of Ischemic Stroke Associated With Calcium Supplements With or Without Vitamin D: A Nested Case‐Control Study
Authors: de Abajo Francisco J. , Rodríguez‐Martín Sara , Rodríguez‐Miguel Antonio , Gil Miguel J.
Published: May 2017

Background

There is controversy surrounding the risk of ischemic stroke associated with the use of calcium supplements either in monotherapy or in combination with vitamin D.

Methods and Results

A nested case‐control study was performed with patients aged 40 to 89 years old, among whom a total of 2690 patients had a first episode of nonfatal ischemic stroke and for which 19 538 controls were randomly selected from the source population and frequency‐matched with cases for age, sex, and calendar year. Logistic regression provided the odds ratios while adjusting for confounding factors. A sensitivity analysis was performed by restricting to patients who were new users of calcium supplements as either monotherapy or with vitamin D. Calcium supplementation with vitamin D was not associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke (odds ratio 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.67–1.08) in the population as a whole or under any of the conditions examined (dose, duration, background cardiovascular risk, sex, or age). Calcium supplement monotherapy was not associated with an increased risk in the population as a whole (odds ratio 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 0.86–1.61), although a significant increased risk at high doses (≥1000 mg/day: odds ratio 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.25–3.49; <1000 mg: odds ratio 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.45–1.26) compared with nonuse was observed. The sensitivity analysis did not affect the inferences, with similar results observed among new users as to the overall study population.

Conclusions

This study suggests that calcium supplements given as monotherapy at high doses may increase the risk of ischemic stroke, whereas their combination with vitamin D seems to offset this hazard.
Systolic Blood Pressure Within 24 Hours After Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke Correlates With Outcome
Authors: Mistry Eva A. , Mistry Akshitkumar M. , Nakawah Mohammad Obadah , Khattar Nicolas K. , Fortuny Enzo M. , Cruz Aurora S. , Froehler Michael T. , Chitale Rohan V. , James Robert F. , Fusco Matthew R. , Volpi John J.
Published: May 2017

Background

Current guidelines suggest treating blood pressure above 180/105 mm Hg during the first 24 hours in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing any form of recanalization therapy. Currently, no studies exist to guide blood pressure management in patients with stroke treated specifically with mechanical thrombectomy. We aimed to determine the association between blood pressure parameters within the first 24 hours after mechanical thrombectomy and patient outcomes.

Methods and Results

We retrospectively studied a consecutive sample of adult patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke of the anterior cerebral circulation at 3 institutions from March 2015 to October 2016. We collected the values of maximum, minimum, and average values of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressures in the first 24 hours after mechanical thrombectomy. Primary and secondary outcomes were patients’ functional status at 90 days measured on the modified Rankin scale and the incidence and severity of intracranial hemorrhages within 48 hours. Associations were explored using an ordered multivariable logistic regression analyses. A total of 228 patients were included (mean age 65.8±14.3; 104 males, 45.6%). Maximum systolic blood pressure independently correlated with a worse 90‐day modified Rankin scale and hemorrhagic complications within 48 hours (adjusted odds ratio=1.02 [1.01–1.03],
P
=0.004; 1.02 [1.01–1.04],
P
=0.002; respectively) in multivariable analyses, after adjusting for several possible confounders.

Conclusions

Higher peak values of systolic blood pressure independently correlated with worse 90‐day modified Rankin scale and a higher rate of hemorrhagic complications. Further prospective studies are warranted to identify whether systolic blood pressure is a therapeutic target to improve outcomes.
General Anesthesia Versus Conscious Sedation for Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Löwhagen Hendén Pia , Rentzos Alexandros , Karlsson Jan-Erik , Rosengren Lars , Leiram Birgitta , Sundeman Henrik , Dunker Dennis , Schnabel Kunigunde , Wikholm Gunnar , Hellström Mikael , Ricksten Sven-Erik
Published: May 2017

Background and Purpose—

Retrospective studies have found that patients receiving general anesthesia for endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke have worse neurological outcome compared with patients receiving conscious sedation. In this prospective randomized single-center study, we investigated the impact of anesthesia technique on neurological outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Methods—

Ninety patients receiving endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke in 2013 to 2016 were included and randomized to general anesthesia or conscious sedation. Difference in neurological outcome at 3 months, measured as modified Rankin Scale score, was analyzed (primary outcome) and early neurological improvement of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and cerebral infarction volume. Age, sex, comorbidities, admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, intraprocedural blood pressure, blood glucose, Paco
2
and Pco
2
modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia score, and relevant time intervals were recorded.

Results—

In the general anesthesia group 19 of 45 patients (42.2%) and in the conscious sedation group 18 of 45 patients (40.0%) achieved a modified Rankin Scale score ≤2 (
P
=1.00) at 3 months, with no differences in intraoperative blood pressure decline from baseline (
P
=0.57); blood glucose (
P
=0.94); PaCO2 (
P
=0.68); time intervals (
P
=0.78); degree of successful recanalization, 91.1% versus 88.9% (
P
=1.00); National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at 24 hours 8 (3–5) versus 9 (2–15;
P
=0.60); infarction volume, 20 (10–100) versus 20(10–54) mL (
P
=0.53); and hospital mortality (13.3% in both groups;
P
=1.00).

Conclusions—

In endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke, no difference was found between general anesthesia and conscious sedation in neurological outcome 3 months after stroke.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01872884.
An Advent Witness
Authors: Beitler James Edward
Published: May 2017

Scholars and critics have long recognized C. S. Lewis’s potent persuasiveness and acute audience awareness; however, only a few have written about Lewis’s self-designation as a “rhetor,” and scholarship exploring how Lewis’s writings work rhetorically remains in short supply. This article advances existing conversations about Lewis’s rhetoric through an investigation of appeals to ethos in his nonfiction. I contend that a primary way that Lewis establishes ethos is by demonstrating what Aristotle refers to as eunoia, goodwill towards one’s audience. Resonating with postures that Christians are often called to embrace during the Advent season, Lewis’s rhetoric of goodwill enables him to achieve one of his chief aims as a writer: preparing a way for the coming of the Lord into people’s lives. This mode of rhetorical engagement is also consistent with Lewis’s emphasis on the doctrine of the Incarnation, his interest in the concept of joy, and his conversion experience.
The Attic particle μήν
Authors: Thijs Kees
Published: May 2017

The paper examines the various usages of the Attic particle μήν and proposes a unified analysis of its main function. I argue that the prevalent analysis of Wakker (1997) needs some important reconsideration when instances of μήν in Platonic dialogue are concerned. First, the particle can target not only the propositional content of a discourse act, but also its illocution (felicity conditions). Second, I propose ‘countering expectations or assumptions of the addressee’ as the basic value of the particle. Functions in terms of commitment are better seen as secondary side effects. Third, I argue that differences in the origin of the countered assumptions or expectations are a natural basis for distinguishing between attitudinal μήν (extra-linguistic context and/or previous words of the addressee) and discourse connective μήν (previous words of the same speaker). It follows from my analysis that strict categorical boundaries between these usages are not to be expected.
Disruptive Youth: Toward an Ethnographic Turn in Youth Ministry
Authors: Raffety Erin , Ellis Wesley W.
Published: May 2017

This article explores the problem of youth from the multidisciplinary viewpoints of Youth Ministry and Childhood Studies, arguing that while Youth Ministry has been limited by paradigms of developmentalism and hampered by theological essentialism, theories of childhood as a social construct and children as social actors in Childhood Studies have yet to penetrate Youth Ministry or influence society. Anticipating the potential for Youth Ministry to serve as a field for new concepts of youth, the authors posit that an ‘ethnographic turn,’ or an ethical re-orientation toward the ‘Other-ness’ of youth might allow adults to be powerfully ‘disrupted’ by God’s action in youth in the world. As such, an ‘ethnographic turn’ in Youth Ministry serves both to complement the ‘theological turn’ by providing a practical method for accessing youth experience in relationship and to critically refine Childhood Studies’ theory of child agency and failure to effect contemporary society.
Croton crossolepis (Euphorbiaceae), a new species with an unusual trichome type from southwestern Madagascar
Authors: E. BERRY PAUL , KAINULAINEN KENT
Published: May 2017

Croton crossolepis is newly described and illustrated. It is a shrub or small tree endemic to southwestern Madagascar near Toliara and is distinguished by a mixture of stellate and lepidote trichomes, with most of the lepidote ones having fringed margins and partially free, stiff rays that can make it adhere to surfaces like clothing when they come into contact. The inflorescences are pseudoterminal and spicate in appearance, with numerous flowers subtended by acicular bracts that are longer than the buds. It has larger leaves than most Croton species that occur in the semi-arid southwestern scrub and spiny forests nearby in the country, and it is apparently quite rare and subject to ongoing decline, warranting a conservation assessment of Vulnerable.
Description of a tropical new species of Wilmottia (Oscillatoriales, Cyanobacteria) and considerations about the monophyly of W. murrayi
Authors: MACHADO-DE-LIMA NÁTHALI MARIA , DORNELLES MARTINS MARIÉLLEN , Z. BRANCO LUIS H.
Published: May 2017

The genus Wilmottia was described based on polyphasic studies of Phormidium murrayi populations that revealed them not closely related to other Phormidium species, despite their morphological similarity. The genus contained one species, W. murrayi, found exclusively in cold and temperate areas of the world. Other species morphologically similar to Phormidium were expected to pertain to Wilmottia, but the genus remained unispecific until now. During a survey of Cyanobacteria in Brazil, 11 strains morphologically similar to Wilmottia from southern and southeastern regions were isolated in unicyanobacterial cultures and submitted to polyphasic evaluation (morphological, ecological and molecular studies). The populations studied presented homogeneous morphology (trichomes cylindrical, straight and not attenuated) and were found inhabiting quite diverse environments (freshwater, wet soil and barks of trees). The molecular analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences placed the 11 studied strains in two distinct clusters inside the highly supported Wilmottia clade. The 16S-23S ITS marker was very variable and did not provide consistent information to improve the differentiation among the strains. The characteristics of the Brazilian populations, essentially the genetic ones, resulted in the recognition of a new cryptic species of Wilmottia (W. stricta) and indicated a wider distribution for W. murrayi. Such distribution would comprehend a wide climatic range (from polar to tropical) and occurrence in very distinct habitats (aquatic and aerophytic). The possible explanations to that scenario would be the low sensitivity of 16S rRNA gene as marker for distinguishing species inside of this complex of strains or W. murrayi actually represents a case of ubiquitous species. The addition of other genes or whole genome sequencing could be the way to reach a more confident answer. Wilmottia reveals a very intricate phylogeny according to the 16S rRNA gene and more studies are recommended to confirm its monophyly.
Revision of the genus Doryscus Jacoby (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)
Authors: LEE CHI-FENG
Published: May 2017

The genus Doryscus Jacoby, 1887 is revised. Twelve new species are described: D. indochinensis sp. nov. from China (Yunnan), India, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam; D. krausi sp. nov. from Laos and Thailand; D. kubani sp. nov., from China (Yunnan); D. geiseri sp. nov. from Singapore and Thailand; D. nepalensis sp. nov. from Bhutan, north India, and Nepal; D. luzonensis sp. nov., and D. mindanaoensis sp. nov. from Philippines; D. barclayi sp. nov., D. boreri sp. nov., D. javanensis sp. nov., and D. sumatrensis sp. nov. from Indonesia; D. wangi sp. nov. from East Malaysia (Sabah). Doryscus chujoi Takizawa, 1978 and D. varians (Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963) are removed from synonymy with D. testaceus Jacoby, 1887. Doryscus nigricollis Jiang, 1992 and D. marginicollis Jiang, 1992 are regarded as junior synonyms of D. varians (Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963). A lectotype is designated for Doryscus testaceus Jacoby, 1887.
Myxosporea (Cnidaria : Myxozoa) infecting the saddled seabream Oblada melanura (L. 1758) (Teleostei : Sparidae) and the painted comber Serranus scriba (L. 1758) (Teleostei : Serranidae) in Tunisia
Authors: LAAMIRI SAYEF
Published: May 2017

First parasitological surveys of Myxozoa are performed on the sparid saddled seabream Oblada melanura (Linnaeus, 1758) and the serranid painted comber Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758) caught from the Bay of Bizerte and the Gulf of Tunis respectively in Northeast Tunisia, Western Mediterranean. In this study, 6 bivalvulid myxosporean species belonging to the 3 genera Ceratomyxa Thélohan, 1892, Myxodavisia Zhao, Zhou, Kent & Whipps, 2008 and Zschokkella Auerbach, 1910, are isolated infecting their hosts. Two species Ceratomyxa sp. 1 ex O. melanura (Prevalence (P) = 36%) and Ceratomyxa sp. 2 ex O. melanura (P = 13%) infected the saddled seabream and four species Ceratomyxa sp. 1 ex S. scriba (P = 11.7%), Ceratomyxa sp. 2 ex S. scriba (P = 6.7%), Myxodavisia sp. (P = 8.3%) and Zschokkella sp. (P = 5.6%) infected the painted comber. These myxosporeans differ, in vegetative stages and/or in mature spores, from all the previously known congeneric species, and are described here on the basis of their morphological and morphometric features, their host and tissue specificities and their biogeographical distribution. This is the first report of myxosporean infections in O. melanura and S. scriba. The occurrence of two ceratomyxid species in each host species supports that the genus Ceratomyxa is host-specific not only in sparids but also in serranids, which agrees with data previously obtained from Sparidae in Mediterranean Sea and from Serranidae in GBR, Australia. A member of the myxosporean genus Myxodavisia is recorded from the Mediterranean Sea for the first time, and Zschokkella spp. infections have not previously been recorded from a host in Serranidae. During the examination, a several cases of Co-infection among myxosporeans, both with two and three species, are provided and statistically studied. Indeed, 5% of the breams and 9.4% of the combers are infected with more than one myxosporean parasite. The relationship between myxosporean infections and some biological parameters are pointed out. A higher prevalence of myxosporean infection is coincided with the peak period of spawning activity in May-June for S. scriba. For both hosts, analysis using Fulton’s condition factor (K) has revealed no significant difference between infected and non-infected fishes. Clinically, no external signs of disease have been occurred in infected hosts, but some changes in the bile fluid, colour, and viscosity and in the gall bladder ’s tissue are examined in S. scriba.
Prevalence of psychological distress: How do Australia and Canada compare?
Authors: Enticott Joanne C , Lin Elizabeth , Shawyer Frances , Russell Grant , Inder Brett , Patten Scott , Meadows Graham
Published: May 2017

Objective:

To compare equivalent population-level mental health indicators in Canada and Australia, and articulate recommendations to support equitable mental health services. These are two somewhat similar resource-rich countries characterized by extensive non-metropolitan and rural regions as well as significant areas of socioeconomic deprivation.

Methods:

A cross-national epidemiology and equity study: primary outcome was Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) in recent national surveys. A secondary outcome was mental disorders rate since these surveys were 5-years apart.

Results:

Elevated distress, defined by K10 scores (0–40 range) of 12 and over, affected 11.1% Australians and 12.0% Canadians. Elevated distress in both countries affected more people in the lowest income quintile (21–27%) compared to the richest (6%). In the lowest income quintile, 1-in-4 Australians and 1-in-5 Canadians reported elevated distress – twice the national average in both countries. Australians in the lowest income quintile (over 5 million people) have a significantly higher risk by over a 5% for elevated distress compared to their low-income Canadian counterparts. After adjusting for effects of age and gender, the relative odds in the lowest quintile compared to richest was 6.4 for Australians and 3.5 for Canadians, which remained significantly different thus confirming greater inequity in Australia. Mental disorders affected approximately 1-in-10 people in both countries.

Conclusions:

This adds to the mental health prevalence monitoring in these two countries by supporting an overall prevalence of elevated distress in approximately 1-in-10 people. It supports large-scale public health interventions that target elevated distress in people with low incomes to order to achieve the biggest impact, and, to reduce the greater inequity in mental health indicators in Australians, policy-makers should consider eliminating gap-fees as they are illegal in Canada. As encouraged by World Health Organization, we highlight the importance of such population-level studies so that cross-national results can be reliably compared.
Inter- and Intrahemispheric EEG Coherence and Visuomotor Performance During Shooting Competition and Practice
Authors: Woo Minjung , Kim Yujin
Published: May 2017

This study compared inter- and intrahemispheric cortical networking and visuomotor performance during practice and competition in 14 air pistol athletes (mean age of 17.8 years). Participants self-reported their competitiveness, stress, confidence, and relaxation through visual analog scales; shooting score and aiming time were measured by the SCATT program. Inter- and intrahemispheric coherences during aiming were analyzed. Under competition following the practice condition, self-reported competitiveness and stress were higher, but confidence was lower. Aiming time during competition was longer than during practice; but there were no significant shooting score differences between conditions, perhaps due to only low-grade competitive anxiety. Through coherence analysis, interhemispheric coherence during aiming was higher under competition, relative to practice. Competitive anxiety seems to result in reduced neural efficiency and regional cortical autonomy, though there was no intrahemispheric electroencephalogram coherence difference between competition and practice conditions.
The Finality of Christ and the Religious Alternative
Authors: Jacobs-Vandegeer Christiaan
Published: May 2017

This article shows how the modern category of religion largely shapes the horizon of many contemporary theological appropriations of the finality of Christ, and how the influence of this category creates serious problems. Though affirming Christ’s finality often seems to pose theological difficulties in religiously pluralistic contexts, I argue that it is not at all a matter of exclusion or denigration of other religions. Quite the opposite: the doctrine at heart expresses the Christian community’s hope for universal fellowship.
The Creature Makes Itself: Aquinas, the De-idealization of the Eternal Ideas, and the Fate of the Individual
Authors: DeHart Paul
Published: May 2017

The Christian Platonic tradition affirmed that human flourishing involves conjunction with the realm of eternal divine ideas. The account developed by Thomas Aquinas in effect denied this, rendering ideas contingent, unknowable and impossible as direct objects of attainment. Although no longer ideals for human aspiration, a role within spiritual or ethical striving might still be envisioned for such de-idealized ideas. Through discussions of Meister Eckhart, Kierkegaard and Manfred Frank, the essay outlines such a role: one’s idea in God operates to ontologically ground personal existence, deploying the human agent as an irreducible individual entity engaged in a hermeneutical labor of self-creation.
Community as Primal Reality
Authors: O’Meara Thomas F.
Published: May 2017

The author suggests that there may be a primal, underlying reality common to the universe and to its creator, something essential to what is both divinely infinite and creaturely finite. Do the structures of the cosmos suggest that being in all its variety is essentially communal? Astronomy suggests that clustering is a dominant dynamic and form in the universe, while Christian faith believes that the Source of all is not a single entity but a triad of self-giving persons with an infinite and loving wisdom of plans. Are Trinity and stellar clusters both realizations of an ultimate and universal modality? Community seems intrinsic to being.
Inverting the Pyramid: The Sensus Fidelium in a Synodal Church
Authors: Rush Ormond
Published: May 2017

Pope Francis has spoken of his vision of synodality and of a synodal church in terms of “an inverted pyramid.” This essay examines the roots of such a vision in the vision of Vatican II, particularly two reversals made by the council regarding the nature of the church. Moreover, it shows the centrality of the sensus fidei of the people of God (the sensus fidelium) within that vision, and the need to make listening to the sensus fidelium a pervasive element at all levels in the life of the church ad intra.
Strange Companions? Hans Urs von Balthasar as Resource for Comparative Theology
Authors: Brown Joshua R.
Published: May 2017

While Hans Urs von Balthasar has been often criticized for a failure to deeply engage cultural and religious diversity, this essay argues his theology proves an excellent resource for comparative theology. After clarifying and explaining Balthasar’s own shortcomings in interreligious and intercultural engagement, the article presents his theological aesthetics as a paradigm for forming the comparative theological imagination. The essay demonstrates this utility by examining a passage from the Daoist text Zhuangzi in light of Balthasar’s theology.
Directed toward Relationship: William Stoeger’s Immanent Directionality and Edward Schillebeeckx’s Mystical Eschatology
Authors: Feder Julia
Published: May 2017

Astrophysicist and theologian, William Stoeger, SJ argued that evolutionary processes manifest an immanent directionality toward increasing complexification and diversification. Though he did not explicitly prioritize full relationship to God as the end of all creation, a priority on relationality does permeate his analysis of the natural order. A more explicit emphasis upon relationality would bring Stoeger’s arguments more in line with recent developments in evolutionary theory, viz., the “extended evolutionary synthesis” as well as mystical strains of the eschatological Christian tradition, namely Edward Schillebeeckx’s claim that “God is the future of man.”
Barbarians at the Gate
Authors: Evans Barbara J.
Published: May 2017

“The expression ‘barbarians at the gate’ was … used by the Romans to describe foreign attacks against their empire.” “[It] is often used in contemporary English within a sarcastic, or ironic context, when speaking about a perceived threat from a rival group of people, often deemed to be less capable or somehow ‘primitive.’”
Inferential Item-Fit Evaluation in Cognitive Diagnosis Modeling
Authors: Sorrel Miguel A. , Abad Francisco J. , Olea Julio , de la Torre Jimmy , Barrada Juan Ramón
Published: May 2017

Research related to the fit evaluation at the item level involving cognitive diagnosis models (CDMs) has been scarce. According to the parsimony principle, balancing goodness of fit against model complexity is necessary. General CDMs require a larger sample size to be estimated reliably, and can lead to worse attribute classification accuracy than the appropriate reduced models when the sample size is small and the item quality is poor, which is typically the case in many empirical applications. The main purpose of this study was to systematically examine the statistical properties of four inferential item-fit statistics: [Formula: see text], the likelihood ratio (LR) test, the Wald (W) test, and the Lagrange multiplier (LM) test. To evaluate the performance of the statistics, a comprehensive set of factors, namely, sample size, correlational structure, test length, item quality, and generating model, is systematically manipulated using Monte Carlo methods. Results show that the [Formula: see text] statistic has unacceptable power. Type I error and power comparisons favor LR and W tests over the LM test. However, all the statistics are highly affected by the item quality. With a few exceptions, their performance is only acceptable when the item quality is high. In some cases, this effect can be ameliorated by an increase in sample size and test length. This implies that using the above statistics to assess item fit in practical settings when the item quality is low remains a challenge.
Intravenous Fish Oil and Pediatric Intestinal Failure–Associated Liver Disease: Changes in Plasma Phytosterols, Cytokines, and Bile Acids and Erythrocyte Fatty Acids
Authors: Calkins Kara L. , DeBarber Andrea , Steiner Robert D. , Flores Martiniano J. , Grogan Tristan R. , Henning Susanne M. , Reyen Laurie , Venick Robert S.
Published: May 2017

Background: Soybean oil (SO) emulsions are associated with intestinal failure–associated liver disease (IFALD); fish oil (FO) emulsions are used to treat IFALD. SO and FO differ with respect to their fatty acid and phytosterol content. In children with IFALD whose SO was replaced with FO, we aimed to (1) quantify changes in erythrocyte fatty acids and plasma phytosterols, cytokines, and bile acids and (2) correlate these changes with direct bilirubin (DB). Design: This study enrolled IFALD children who received 6 months of FO. Blood samples were collected prior to FO, and after 2 weeks and 3 and 6 months of FO. The primary outcome was 3‐month vs baseline biomarker concentrations. Results: At study initiation, the median patient age was 3 months (interquartile range, 3–17 months), and mean ± standard deviation DB was 5.6 ± 0.7 mg/dL (n = 14). Cholestasis reversed in 79% of subjects. Eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid was greater than baseline (P < .001, all time points). Linoleic and arachidonic acid and sitosterol and stigmasterol were less than baseline (P < .05, all time points). Three‐ and 6‐month interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) and total and conjugated bile acids were less than baseline (P < .05). Baseline IL‐8 was correlated with baseline DB (r = 0.71, P < .01). Early changes in stigmasterol and IL‐8 were correlated with later DB changes (r = 0.68 and 0.75, P < .05). Conclusion: Specific fat emulsion components may play a role in IFALD. Stigmasterol and IL‐8 may predict FO treatment response.
Predictors of Father Investment of Time and Finances: The Specificity of Resources, Relationships, and Parenting Beliefs
Authors: Macon Tamarie A. , Tamis-LeMonda Catherine S. , Cabrera Natasha J. , McFadden Karen E.
Published: May 2017

The present study examined multiple domains of father involvement and their correlates in a sample of 478 ethnically and racially diverse low-income fathers of 24-month-old children. Regression analyses revealed that paternal resources related to most forms of involvement: Education was related to caregiving and cognitive activities, and income was associated with financial provision. Resident fathers spent more time with their children across several activities, and father–mother disagreements were negatively associated with financial provision. Fathers who believed their role as financial provider to be highly important reported more financial provision, whereas fathers who reported investment in their children’s development to be highly important were more involved in caregiving. Fathers who endorsed traditional gender norms participated in less caregiving and cognitive activities. Findings indicate the specificity of correlates of involvement and the need to consider resources, relationships, and parenting beliefs in interventions that support fathers’ physical and financial investment in their children.