bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Capillary Isoelectric-Focusing Immunoassays to Study Dynamic Oncoprotein Phosphorylation and Drug Response to Targeted Therapies in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Chen Jin-Qiu , Lee Jih-Hsiang , Herrmann Michelle A. , Park Kang-Seo , Heldman Madeleine R. , Goldsmith Paul K. , Wang Yisong , Giaccone Giuseppe
Published: August 2013

Developing proteomic biomarkers is valuable for evaluating therapeutic effects of drugs and generating better treatment strategies. However, conventional protein analysis is often challenging due to inadequate sample size of clinical specimens, lack of assay reproducibility, accuracy, and sensitivity. A novel capillary isoelectricfocusing (IEF) immunoassay system (NanoPro) was used to study the dynamic phosphorylation status of signaling molecules in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase and MEK inhibitors. NanoPro showed the same dynamic ERK phosphorylation as Western blotting with good assay reproducibility using 1,000 times less protein. The IEF separation in NanoPro system enables multiple protein phosphorylation isoforms to be resolved and detected simultaneously. With NanoPro, we identified a specific on-target mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal–regulated kinase (MEK) response pattern to MEK inhibitor PD325901, which was not detectable by Western blot analysis. We also revealed a MEK2 signal that may be associated with NSCLC cell sensitivity to the EGF receptor inhibitor erlotinib, and distinguished erlotinib-sensitive cells from intrinsic as well as acquired resistant cells to erlotinib. Moreover, NanoPro could differentiate human ERK1 isoforms from the mouse isoforms based on their isoelectric point differences and showed that erlotinib effectively inhibited ERK phosphorylation in targeted human xenograft cancer cells but not in surrounding mouse stromal cells. With 8 μg of tumor aspirates, we precisely quantified the response of 18 signaling molecules to erlotinib and MEK1 inhibitor treatments in an NSCLC patient. NanoPro's higher sensitivity, better resolution of protein phosphorylation status, and reduced tissue requirement warrant NanoPro's investigation for future drug development and evaluation of drug effects of targeted therapies. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(11); 2601–13. ©2013 AACR.
Intraparenchymal Cyst Development after Deep Brain Stimulator Placement
Authors: Ramirez-Zamora Adolfo , Levine David , Sommer David B. , Dalfino John , Novak Peter , Pilitsis Julie G.
Published: August 2013

Following deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, a variety of potential mechanical or functional complications ranging from perioperative events to hardware malfunction may occur. We present 2 patients who developed a unique complication of cyst formation at the tip of the DBS electrode in the absence of infection. One patient had a unilateral ventral intermediate lead placement for essential tremor, and the other had bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) placement for Parkinson's disease. After a period of symptom control, at 3 and 8 months after surgery, respectively, both patients developed new neurological deficits and were found to have a cyst at the left DBS lead tip. The right lead in the patient with the bilateral STN implant was without issue. Both affected leads were removed and the problematic symptoms regressed quickly over several days, though the lesion effect on the patients' initial tremor symptoms lasted for months. Bacteriological cultures of the removed electrodes and wounds were negative. We report a rare complication of DBS and show that simply removing the involved lead results in cyst resolution.
Current Choroidal Neovascularization Treatment
Authors: Jian Liu , Panpan Ye , Wen Xu
Published: August 2013

Purpose: This paper aims to describe the current situation of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) treatment. Procedures: MEDLINE (2001-2013) was searched for original research studies (phase I, II, III), abstracts and review articles concerning CNV therapy, and other related articles. Selected information from related websites was also included. Results: The management of CNV was developed through laser photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy, and has now evolved into anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) use. Patients have achieved better visual acuity and toleration with the development of this therapy strategy. Combination therapy appears to offer a reduced retreatment frequency and long-term maintenance of the benefit with appropriate combination. Other treatment explorations with anti-inflammation and anti-VEGF are also ongoing. Conclusions: Anti-VEGF monotherapy has become the first treatment for CNV patients. The investigation of other therapy strategies may prolong the interval of treatment and provide alternatives to CNV treatment.
Interdigital Psoriasis of the Feet (Psoriasis Alba): Not a Distinct Form of Psoriasis
Authors: Bardazzi F. , Antonucci V.A. , Patrizi A. , Alessandrini A. , Tengattini V. , Odorici G. , Balestri R.
Published: August 2013

Background: Interdigital psoriasis (IP) of the feet is often missed and is commonly mistaken for interdigital fungal infection. Objective: To assess the characteristics and the clinical presentation of IP, in order to better understand if IP should be considered a distinct form of psoriasis or not. Methods: We performed a 1-year observational study on 164 psoriatic patients, affected by moderate to severe cutaneous psoriasis and undergoing systemic therapy, examining each patient between the digits of both feet. In every suspected case of IP, differential diagnosis with interdigital fungal infection was excluded by direct microscopic examination of skin scrapings, by culture and by skin biopsy. Results: We suspected IP in 7 of the 164 patients. IP was confirmed in 6 patients and in the other one a diagnosis of tinea pedis was made. Conclusion: IP proved to be not rare or atypical since IP localized between the toes usually presents as characteristic whitish and sodden plaques or patches. Such a diagnosis should be considered in all patients presenting characteristic lesions especially if these have a negative fungal culture, are resistant to antimycotic treatment and involve patients with a history of psoriasis.
Genome-Wide Transcriptional Analysis of Drosophila Larvae Infected by Entomopathogenic Nematodes Shows Involvement of Complement, Recognition and Extracellular Matrix Proteins
Authors: Arefin Badrul , Kucerova Lucie , Dobes Pavel , Markus Robert , Strnad Hynek , Wang Zhi , Hyrsl Pavel , Zurovec Michal , Theopold Ulrich
Published: August 2013

Heterorhabditis bacteriophora is an entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) which infects its host by accessing the hemolymph where it releases endosymbiotic bacteria of the species Photorhabdus luminescens. We performed a genome-wide transcriptional analysis of the Drosophila response to EPN infection at the time point at which the nematodes reached the hemolymph either via the cuticle or the gut and the bacteria had started to multiply. Many of the most strongly induced genes have been implicated in immune responses in other infection models. Mapping of the complete set of differentially regulated genes showed the hallmarks of a wound response, but also identified a large fraction of EPN-specific transcripts. Several genes identified by transcriptome profiling or their homologues play protective roles during nematode infections. Genes that positively contribute to controlling nematobacterial infections encode: a homolog of thioester-containing complement protein 3, a basement membrane component (glutactin), a recognition protein (GNBP-like 3) and possibly several small peptides. Of note is that several of these genes have not previously been implicated in immune responses.
Patho-Epigenetics
Authors: Minarovits Janos , Niller Hans Helmut
Published: August 2013

Patho-epigenetics is a new discipline dealing with the description of pathologic changes elicited by epigenetic dysregulation. Patho-epigenetic processes contribute to the development of both rare syndromes and diseases of high prevalence in human populations. In this short review, we summarize the basic epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in a nutshell and briefly outline how epigenetic reprogramming contributes to all forms of tumorigenesis and plays a role both in the initiation and progression of neoplasms.
Changes in Biomarkers Associated with Living Kidney Donation
Authors: Huan Yonghong , Kapoor Shiv , DeLoach Stephanie , Ommen Elizabeth , Meyers Kevin , Townsend Raymond R.
Published: August 2013

Living donor kidneys have been associated with better graft and overall survival in kidney transplant recipients. Although a living kidney donation is generally considered safe in carefully selected living donors, concerns of possible adverse effects related to kidney donation remain, especially in younger and high-risk donors. In this study, we examined the changes in a panel of traditional and novel serum biomarkers linked with cardiovascular conditions in a cohort of 34 healthy living kidney donors with a mean age ± SD of 40 ± 10 years and estimated predonation glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 86 ± 10 ml/min/1.73 m2. At 6 months after donation, there were no significant changes in the clinical parameters including body mass index and blood pressure despite a significant decline in the mean estimated GFR to 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Among the panel of markers, the levels of symmetric dimethylarginine and fibroblast growth factor 23 increased significantly compared to baseline, suggesting that living kidney donation may result in changes in biomarkers that are associated with cardiovascular risk in other cohorts.
Differential MicroRNA Expression Profiles in Peripheral Arterial Disease
Authors: Stather Philip W. , Sylvius Nicolas , Wild John B. , Choke Edward , Sayers Robert D. , Bown Matthew J.
Published: August 2013

Background—

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a clinical condition caused by an atherosclerotic process affecting the arteries of the limbs. Despite major improvements in surgical endovascular techniques, PAD is still associated with high mortality and morbidity. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of short noncoding RNA controlling gene expression, have emerged as major regulators of multiple biological processes.

Methods and Results—

A whole-miRNA transcriptome profiling was performed in peripheral blood from an initial sample set of patients and controls. A 12-miRNA PAD-specific signature, which includes let 7e, miR-15b, -16, -20b, -25, -26b, -27b, -28-5p, -126, -195, -335, and -363, was further investigated and validated in 2 additional sample sets. Each of these 12 miRNAs exhibited good diagnostic value as evidenced by receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. Pathway enrichment analysis using predicted and validated targets identified several signaling pathways relevant to vascular disorders. Several of these pathways, including cell adhesion molecules, were confirmed by quantifying the expression level of several candidate genes regulating the initial stages of the inflammatory atherosclerotic process. The expression level of 7 of these candidate genes exhibits striking inverse correlation with that of several, if not all, of the miRNAs of the PAD-specific miRNA signature.

Conclusions—

These results demonstrate the potential of miRNAs for the diagnosis of PAD and provide further insight into the molecular mechanisms leading to the development of PAD, with the potential for future therapeutic targets.
Cardiac Metabolism and its Interactions With Contraction, Growth, and Survival of Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Kolwicz Stephen C. , Purohit Suneet , Tian Rong
Published: August 2013

The network for cardiac fuel metabolism contains intricate sets of interacting pathways that result in both ATP-producing and non–ATP-producing end points for each class of energy substrates. The most salient feature of the network is the metabolic flexibility demonstrated in response to various stimuli, including developmental changes and nutritional status. The heart is also capable of remodeling the metabolic pathways in chronic pathophysiological conditions, which results in modulations of myocardial energetics and contractile function. In a quest to understand the complexity of the cardiac metabolic network, pharmacological and genetic tools have been engaged to manipulate cardiac metabolism in a variety of research models. In concert, a host of therapeutic interventions have been tested clinically to target substrate preference, insulin sensitivity, and mitochondrial function. In addition, the contribution of cellular metabolism to growth, survival, and other signaling pathways through the production of metabolic intermediates has been increasingly noted. In this review, we provide an overview of the cardiac metabolic network and highlight alterations observed in cardiac pathologies as well as strategies used as metabolic therapies in heart failure. Lastly, the ability of metabolic derivatives to intersect growth and survival are also discussed.
Serum Chloride Is an Independent Predictor of Mortality in Hypertensive Patients
Authors: McCallum Linsay , Jeemon Panniyammakal , Hastie Claire E. , Patel Rajan K. , Williamson Catherine , Redzuan Adyani Md , Dawson Jesse , Sloan William , Muir Scott , Morrison David , McInnes Gordon T. , Freel Ellen Marie , Walters Matthew , Dominiczak Anna F. , Sattar Naveed , Padmanabhan Sandosh
Published: August 2013

Chloride (Cl
−
) is the major extracellular anion in the body, accompanying sodium (Na
+
), and is primarily derived from dietary sources. Data suggest that increased dietary Cl
−
intake increases blood pressure, yet paradoxically, higher serum Cl
−
appears associated with lower mortality and cardiovascular risk. This implies that serum Cl
−
also reflects risk pathways independent of blood pressure, serum Na
+
, and bicarbonate (HCO
3
−
). We analyzed 12 968 hypertensive individuals followed up for 35 years, using Cox proportional hazards model to test whether baseline serum Cl
−
was an independent predictor of mortality. To distinguish the effect of Cl
−
from Na
+
and HCO
3
−
, we adjusted for these electrolytes and also performed the analysis stratified by Na
+
/HCO
3
−
and Cl
−
levels. Generalized estimating equation was used to determine the effect of baseline Cl
−
on follow-up blood pressure. The total time at risk was 197 101 person-years. The lowest quintile of serum Cl
−
(<100 mEq/L) was associated with a 20% higher mortality (all-cause, cardiovascular and noncardiovascular) compared with the remainder of the subjects. A 1 mEq/L increase in serum Cl
−
was associated with a 1.5% (hazard ratio, 0.985; 95% confidence interval, 0.98–0.99) reduction in all-cause mortality, after adjustment for baseline confounding variables and Na
+
, K
+
, and HCO3
−
levels. The group with Na
+
>135 and Cl
−
>100 had the best survival, and compared with this group, the Na
+
>135 and Cl
−
<100 group had significantly higher mortality (hazard ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.11–1.31). Low, not high Serum Cl
−
(<100 mEq/L), is associated with greater mortality risk independent of obvious confounders. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relation between Cl
−
and risk.
Orally Active Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acid Analog Attenuates Kidney Injury in Hypertensive Dahl Salt–Sensitive Rat
Authors: Hye Khan Md. Abdul , Neckář Jan , Manthati Vijay , Errabelli Ramu , Pavlov Tengis S. , Staruschenko Alexander , Falck John R. , Imig John D.
Published: August 2013

Salt-sensitive hypertension leads to kidney injury. The Dahl salt–sensitive hypertensive rat (Dahl SS) is a model of salt-sensitive hypertension and progressive kidney injury. The current set of experimental studies evaluated the kidney protective potential of a novel epoxyeicosatrienoic acid analog (EET-B) in Dahl SS hypertension. Dahl SS rats receiving high-salt diet were treated with EET-B (10 mg/kg per day) or vehicle in drinking water for 14 days. Urine, plasma, and tissue samples were collected at the end of the treatment protocol to assess kidney injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. EET-B treatment in Dahl SS rats markedly reduced urinary albumin and nephrin excretion by 60% to 75% along with 30% to 60% reductions in glomerular injury, intratubular cast formation, and kidney fibrosis without affecting blood pressure. In Dahl SS rats, EET-B treatment further caused marked reduction in oxidative stress with 25% to 30% decrease in kidney malondialdehyde content along with 42% increase of nitrate/nitrite and a 40% reduction of 8-isoprostane. EET-B treatment reduced urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 by 50% along with a 40% reduction in macrophage infiltration in the kidney. Treatment with EET-B markedly reduced renal endoplasmic reticulum stress in Dahl SS rats with reduction in the kidney mRNA expressions and immunoreactivity of glucose regulatory protein 78 and C/EBP homologous protein. In summary, these experimental findings reveal that EET-B provides kidney protection in Dahl SS rats by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress, and this protection was independent of reducing blood pressure.
In situ Quality Assessment of a Novel Underwater pCO2 Sensor Based on Membrane Equilibration and NDIR Spectrometry
Authors: Fietzek Peer , Fiedler Björn , Steinhoff Tobias , Körtzinger Arne
Published: August 2013

This paper presents a detailed quality assessment of a novel underwater sensor for the measurement of CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) based on surface water field deployments carried out between 2008 and 2011. The commercially available sensor, which is based on membrane equilibration and nondispersive IR (NDIR) spectrometry is small and can be integrated into mobile platforms. It is calibrated in water against a proven flow-through pCO2 instrument within a custom-built calibration setup. The aspect of highest concern with respect to achievable data quality of the sensor is the compensation for signal drift inevitably connected to absorption measurements. Three means are used to correct for drift effects: (i) a filter correlation or dual-beam setup, (ii) regular zero gas measurements realized automatically within the sensor, and (iii) a zero-based transformation of two sensor calibrations flanking the time of sensor deployment.

Three sensors were tested against an underway pCO2 system during two major research cruises, providing an in situ temperature range from 7.4° to 30.1°C and pCO2 values between 289 and 445 μatm. The average difference between sensor and reference pCO2 was found to be −0.6 ±3.0 μatm with an RMSE of 3.7 μatm.
A grounded theory of social participation among older women living with HIV / Une théorie ancrée pour analyser la participation sociale chez les femmes âgées atteintes du VIH
Authors: Siemon Jennifer S. , Blenkhorn Lisa , Wilkins Seanne , O’Brien Kelly K. , Solomon Patricia E.
Published: August 2013

Background.

As adults age with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the role for rehabilitation continues to emerge. Understanding how social participation is affected among women aging with HIV can inform occupational therapy assessment and treatment.

Purpose.

Our purpose was to develop a theoretical model that describes the experiences of social participation from the perspective of older women living with HIV.

Method.

A grounded theory methodological approach was utilized. We conducted interviews with 20 women living with HIV, age 50 or older, to explore various aspects of social participation, including self-care, relationships with others, and access to health and social services. Emergent themes informed the theoretical model.

Findings.

The theoretical model comprises four concepts related to social participation: social engagement, social isolation, contrasting perceptions about factors variably influencing participation, and contextual influences that may enhance or hinder social participation.

Implications.

Women aging with HIV experience social participation as a dynamic process involving social engagement and isolation. Contextual influences may promote and impede social participation.
Countering adversaries and cultivating friends: Indirect rivalry factors and the allocation of US foreign aid
Authors: Rudloff Peter , Scott James M , Blew Tyra
Published: August 2013

This analysis examines the link between ‘indirect rivalry factors’ – situations in which states are neighbors of direct US rivals, and/or states that share rivalries in common with the US – and allocations of foreign aid to shed light on the impact of strategic calculations on a key area of foreign policy behavior. Blending literatures on rivalry/conflict and foreign aid, the study is situated in the relevant prior work and a theory is developed that links indirect rivalry factors with allocations of foreign aid. It is argued that indirect rivalry factors are likely to affect a state’s foreign assistance as states in a rivalry strategically allocate aid to create friends and isolate their targeted rivals. In particular, it is argued that donors direct greater amounts of aid to (i) other states involved in a rivalry with the donor’s rivals (rivalries in common, or ‘rivals of my rival’ effects) and (ii) states within the geographic region in which the donor’s existing rivals are situated (neighborhood effects, or ‘neighbors of rivals’). Hypotheses on the effects of these indirect rivalry factors on aid allocations are developed and then tested empirically against US foreign aid allocations from 1962 to 2000. The results lend support to the authors’ theory of indirect rivalry factors and their impact on aid allocation.
Questioning the Role of “21st-Century Skills” in Arts Education Advocacy Discourse
Authors: Logsdon Leann F.
Published: August 2013

The revised Core Arts Standards offer music educators the chance to examine the contradictions that currently permeate the arts advocacy discourse. This article examines the emphasis on 21st-century workplace skills in claims made by arts advocacy proponents. An alternative approach focuses instead on lifelong learning in the arts and the array of possibilities associated with engagement in music, visual art, dance, theatre, and media arts. While the conceptual framework guiding the writing of the proposed Core Arts Standards aligns with this alternate view by connecting the philosophical foundations for artistic literacy with lifelong learning goals, advocacy claims that stress workplace skills may hinder full implementation of the standards and reduce the value of arts learning to one kind of benefit, namely, economic. In reimagining arts advocacy using an enlarged view that connects potential benefits for the learner to the habits of arts-centered inquiry itself, advocacy claims gain a sounder philosophical foundation.
A battle for the French soul: The anthropological exhibit at the 1878 Exposition universelle
Authors: Gralton Elizabeth M. L.
Published: August 2013

The Parisian Expositions universelles of the nineteenth century were massive showcases for the latest in scientific advances and modern thinking. The Exposition of 1878 featured an exhibit organized by the Anthropological Society of Paris and endorsed by the newly republican administration. The exhibit aimed to educate the public in secular material determinism – to promulgate the concepts of human evolution from apes and behaviour governed by physiology. The anthropological exhibit drew criticism, unsurprisingly, from a certain section of the Catholic community, which was outraged by the messages of the Anthropological Society. This article seeks to add an illuminating episode to the history of France’s late nineteenth-century culture wars by exploring the negative reactions of some Catholic commentators to a manifestation of anti-clerical, materialist modernity.
Rilke’s Orpheus and Nietzsche’s Übermensch: Alternative modes of being in becoming
Authors: Cauchi Francesca
Published: August 2013

Friedrich Nietzsche and Rainer Maria Rilke both seek through their work to affirm the ephemerality and mutability of life, or what Nietzsche terms ‘becoming’, without which, they believe, there can be no true being in the world. The nature of their respective affirmations, however, is radically different. For Nietzsche, man is to will becoming as a self-creative force, whereas for Rilke, man instantiates becoming precisely by relinquishing force and suspending the will. These divergent views are reflected in the symbolic vehicles of Rilke and Nietzsche’s affirmative and celebratory ideals: the titular singing god of The Sonnets to Orpheus, representing openness to and immanence in the temporal, physiological becoming of the world, and the Übermensch of Thus Spake Zarathustra, representing a willed re-creation of a radically revalued world at the centre of which the ever-shifting self resides. This essay weighs the relative merits of these two visions of being in becoming.
The war of writing: French literary politics and the decolonization of Algeria
Authors: Just Daniel
Published: August 2013

This article examines perceptions of the Algerian war among French intellectuals and in mainstream French culture. Against the background of France’s social and political situation in the 1950s – declining international prominence, the loss of its colonies, rapid industrial modernization, and increasing moves toward individualism – the essay discusses the reactions of left-leaning writers and critics to the war and the way it was represented in popular culture after the escalating violence prompted more sharply defined political positions. Focusing on the issue of two types of engagements – political and literary – the author suggests that the redefined notion of commitment, as formulated by Albert Camus and Maurice Blanchot in response to Jean-Paul Sartre’s emphasis on unconditional action, offered a conception of political, social and cultural transformation designed to undo the violence inherent in Sartre’s promotion of self-assured values and insular ideas.
Differential Subtypes of Offending Among Adolescent Girls Predict Health and Criminality in Adulthood
Authors: Henneberger Angela K. , Oudekerk Barbara A. , Reppucci N. Dickon , Odgers Candice L.
Published: August 2013

This study tests whether subtyping justice-involved adolescent girls into violent and delinquent (VAD), delinquent only, and low subgroups is predictive of adult health and offending. We use data from the Gender and Aggression Project to examine young adulthood functioning among women ( N = 114) who were incarcerated during adolescence. After controlling for age, initial official-reports of offending, and baseline scores on the outcome of interest, the VAD subgroup experienced the worst functioning in young adulthood. Compared with the delinquency only subgroup, the VAD subgroup recidivated at higher rates and reported more internalizing psychopathology and physical health discomfort. Findings indicate that justice-involved girls should not be treated as a homogeneous group and prevention and intervention services should focus on girls who are most at risk in adolescence.
Enteral Arginine Partially Ameliorates Parenteral Nutrition–Induced Small Intestinal Atrophy and Stimulates Hepatic Protein Synthesis in Neonatal Piglets
Authors: Dinesh O. Chandani , Dodge M. Elaine , Baldwin Mark P. , Bertolo Robert F. , Brunton Janet A.
Published: August 2013

Background: Arginine is an indispensable amino acid in neonates; de novo synthesis of arginine occurs in the small intestine (SI) but is reduced during parenteral nutrition (PN), limiting the arginine available to the mucosa. We assessed the effects of route of intake and dietary concentration of arginine on protein synthesis, superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow, and SI morphology. Methods: Piglets (n = 18, 14–17 days old) were given complete PN for 3 days to induce SI atrophy, then switched to 1 of 3 treatments: arginine‐free PN plus an intragastric (IG) infusion of high arginine (1.6 g·kg−1·d−1, IG‐H Arg) or low arginine (0.6 g·kg−1·d−1, IG‐L Arg) or complete high‐arginine PN (1.6 g·kg−1·d−1, IV‐H Arg). Results: Enteral arginine, irrespective of amount provided, stimulated hepatic protein synthesis compared with intravenous delivery of arginine (P = .01). SMA blood flow declined for all groups following the initiation of PN. After 48 hours on the test diets, all groups reached low constant levels, but the IV‐H group was significantly higher than both IG groups (P < .05). Despite greater blood flow, the SI morphological characteristics in IV‐H Arg pigs were not significantly improved over the other groups. IV‐H Arg pigs had higher plasma concentrations of indispensable amino acids (tyrosine, isoleucine, and valine) compared with IG‐H Arg, despite identical amino acid intakes. Conclusions: Intravenous delivery of arginine sustained the best SMA blood flow, whereas even a moderate amount of enteral arginine stimulated liver protein synthesis and maintained SI growth, independent of blood flow.
The Prevalence of Sarcopenia in Patients With Respiratory Failure Classified as Normally Nourished Using Computed Tomography and Subjective Global Assessment
Authors: Sheean Patricia M. , Peterson Sarah J. , Gomez Perez Sandra , Troy Karen L. , Patel Ankur , Sclamberg Joy S. , Ajanaku Folabomi C. , Braunschweig Carol A.
Published: August 2013

Background: Declines in nutrition status and adverse body composition changes frequently occur in the critically ill. The objective of this cross‐sectional study was to examine the prevalence of sarcopenia and its occurrence in patients classified as normal nourished using subjective global assessment (SGA). Methods: Exploiting diagnostic CT images, skeletal muscle mass at the L3 region was quantified and used to determine sarcopenia and its association with normal nutrition status in 56 patients with respiratory failure. Sarcopenia was defined as an L3 skeletal muscle index of ≤38.5 cm2/m2 for women and ≤52.4 cm2/m2 for men. CT imaging and SGA classifications completed within 14, 10 and 7 days of each other were analyzed to assess sarcopenia and the influence of time between scans on misclassification (ie, normal nourished and sarcopenic). Descriptive statistics were conducted. Results: The average patient was 59.2 (± 15.6) years old, admitted with sepsis/infection, an APACHE II score of 26 (± 8.0), and BMI of 28.3 (± 5.8). Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were prevalent in a minimum of 56% and 24% of patients, respectively, depending on the number of days between CT imaging and SGA assessment. Misclassified individuals were predominantly male, minority and overweight or obese. Controlling for age, no significant differences were noted for patients classified as normal nourished vs malnourished by SGA for lumbar muscle cross‐sectional, whole‐body lean mass, or skeletal muscle index. Conclusions: Sarcopenia is highly prevalent among patients with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) and not readily detected in patients classified as normal nourished using SGA.
Discursive control, non-domination and Hegelian recognition theory
Authors: Schuppert Fabian
Published: August 2013

The aim of this article is to combine Pettit’s account(s) of freedom, both his work on discursive control and on non-domination, with Pippin’s and Brandom’s reinterpretation of Hegelian rational agency and the role of recognition theory within it. The benefits of combining these two theories lie, as the article hopes to show, in three findings: first, re-examining Hegelian agency in the spirit of Brandom and Pippin in combination with Pettit’s views on freedom shows clearly why and in which way a Hegelian account of rational agency can ground an attractive socio-political account of freedom; second, the reconciling of discursive control and non-domination with Hegelian agency shows how the force and scope of recognition become finally tangible, without either falling into the trap of overburdening the concept, or merely reducing it to the idea of simple respect; third, the arguments from this article also highlight the importance of freedom as non-domination and how this notion is, indeed, as Pettit himself claims, an agency-freedom which aims at successfully securing the social, political, economic and even (some) psychological conditions for free and autonomous agency.
Spontaneous Mesotheliomas in F344/N Rats Are Characterized by Dysregulation of Cellular Growth and Immune Function Pathways
Authors: Blackshear Pamela E. , Pandiri Arun R. , Ton Thai-Vu T. , Clayton Natasha P. , Shockley Keith R. , Peddada Shyamal D. , Gerrish Kevin E. , Sills Robert C. , Hoenerhoff Mark J.
Published: August 2013

Aged male Fischer 344/N rats are prone to developing spontaneous peritoneal mesotheliomas that arise predominantly from the tunica vaginalis of the testes. A definitive cause for the predominance of this neoplasm in F344/N rats is unknown. Investigation of the molecular alterations that occur in spontaneous rat mesotheliomas may provide insight into their pathogenesis as well enable a better understanding regarding the mechanisms underlying chemically induced mesothelioma in rodents. Mesothelial cell function represents a complex interplay of pathways related to host defense mechanisms and maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Global gene expression profiles of spontaneous mesotheliomas from vehicle control male F344/N rats from 2-year National Toxicology Program carcinogenicity bioassays were analyzed to determine the molecular features of these tumors and elucidate tumor-specific gene expression profiles. The resulting gene expression pattern showed that spontaneous mesotheliomas are associated with upregulation of various growth factors, oncogenes, cytokines, pattern recognition response receptors, and pathogen-associated molecular patterns receptors, and the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, as well as downregulation of apoptosis pathways. Alterations in these pathways in turn trigger molecular responses that stimulate cell proliferation and promote tumor survival and progression.
Factors Affecting Postural Instability in Ménière's Disease
Authors: Fujimoto Chisato , Egami Naoya , Kinoshita Makoto , Sugasawa Keiko , Yamasoba Tatsuya , Iwasaki Shinichi
Published: August 2013

Objective

To assess the influence of factors that can affect the postural instability of Ménière's disease (MD) patients.

Study Design

Case‐control study.

Setting

Outpatient clinic in a university hospital.

Subjects and Methods

Fifty‐four definite MD patients and 66 controls were included. Two‐legged stance tasks were performed in 4 conditions: eyes open with and without foam rubber and eyes closed with and without foam rubber. We examined 6 variables: the velocity of movement of the center of pressure (COP), the envelopment area traced by the movement of the COP, Romberg's ratio of velocity and area, and the foam ratios of velocity and area. For patients, stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed to explore the relationship between the 6 variables and the following independent variables: gender, age, the presence of abnormal caloric and/or cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) responses, the time elapsed since the last vertigo attack, and the disease duration.

Results

The presence of MD had a significantly positive relationship with all 6 of the variables (P <. 05). The presence of abnormal caloric and/or cVEMP responses had a significantly positive relationship with Romberg's ratio of velocity (P <. 05) and area (P <. 01). The shorter time interval from last vertigo attack to measurement had a significantly positive relationship with the foam ratio of area (P <. 01).

Conclusion

MD patients show poor postural performance, which is affected by the existence of their peripheral vestibular function and the shorter time interval from last vertigo attack to measurement.
‘Say goodbye to utopia’ or not? Research into the institution of the people’s communes
Authors: Chang Xiangqun
Published: August 2013

Zhang Letian’s book Say Goodbye to Utopia: Research into the Institution of the People’s Communes has been a strong influence in sociological thinking inside China. Using documentary sources of unrivalled depth and completeness, Zhang takes an unusual and revealing look at the system of the people’s communes, exposing their strengths and weaknesses but seeing overall their legacy as positive and transformational. Zhang’s analysis understands the people’s communes as governed by an interaction between top-down imposed changes, or ‘shocks’ as he calls them, and patterns of traditional behaviour. While Zhang’s insights, rooted in rural China, are not necessarily generalizable to the whole of Chinese society, his work has resonances that makes it required reading for anyone interested in 20th-century Chinese society. Two questions will interest many of those studying Chinese sociology: what connections does the work have for global society, and how do concepts in Chinese sociology relate to those in international sociology? This review essay considers these questions both for Zhang’s book and other studies of the people’s communes.
Chaos and fear: Creativity and hope in an uncertain world
Authors: Shah Tamanna M
Published: August 2013

The Uses of Chaos and Fear: Critical Geopolitics and Everyday Life are complementary studies of the complex concepts of chaos and fear. Whereas chaos gives rise to creativity and innovation and drives us to make newer kinds of sense of our lives, fear reduces us to self-preservation and saps our life energies. Both these concepts are universal in reach; all individuals or collectives can experience these emotions and phenomena in one manner or the other. Fear has been used to coerce compliance by powerful nations of the weaker ones and create the ‘other’ among ourselves with unpleasant consequences. Once chaos is understood in the right perspective, great innovation and order may result. Similarly, fear emboldens individuals and nations to rise in resistance and bring hope to their lives. Both books add value to the existing research on these complex concepts and provide firm ground for further investigation.
In Their Own Words
Authors: Buckley Lisa , Chapman Rebekah L. , Sheehan Mary C. , Reveruzzi Bianca N.
Published: August 2013

Injury is a significant public health problem among youth. A primary cause of adolescent injury is risk-taking behavior, including alcohol use, interpersonal violence and road-related risks. A novel approach to prevention is building on friendships by encouraging adolescents to intervene into their friends’ risk taking. Fifty-one early adolescents (13-14 years) and 44 older adolescents (16-17 years) from two Australian schools participated in focus groups, aiming to explore stories of intervening. Findings showed preference for talking to friends; however, participants also spoke to adults, monitored friends’ behavior and planned ahead. Close friendships, perceived harm, and self-efficacy influenced the likelihood of intervening. These findings have implications for the design of risk and injury prevention programs, by suggesting strategies to promote adolescents’ communicative ability for risk reduction. The findings also highlight the language and dialogue of adolescents and suggest that methods for increasing intervening behavior should focus on building social connectedness and increasing self-efficacy.
Epithelial Urinary Bladder Tumors From Cows With Enzootic Hematuria
Authors: Cota J. B. , Carvalho T. , Pinto C. , Peleteiro M. C.
Published: August 2013

Thirty-nine epithelial bladder tumor samples from 37 animals affected with bovine enzootic hematuria (BEH) were selected for immunohistochemical studies. The expression of structural proteins such as uroplakin III (UPIII) and cytokeratin 7 (CK7) and the cell cycle–related proteins cyclin D1 and p53 were evaluated in urothelial papillomas and carcinomas. Loss of UPIII and CK7 expression was seen in both high-grade and high-stage urothelial carcinomas ( P < .001 and P < .02). Cyclin D1 expression showed no statistically significant association with grade or stage. In contrast, p53 immunoreactivity was positive in high-grade and high-stage carcinomas ( P < .05 and P < .01), confirming its association with the highest malignant behavior of the bladder tumors in BEH.
Diagnostic Exercise
Authors: Giannitti F. , Rioseco M. Macias , García J. P. , Beingesser J. , Woods L. W. , Puschner B. , Uzal F. A.
Published: August 2013

Within a 24-hour period, 7 out of 200 three- to four-week-old pastured Katahdin lambs died after showing clinical signs of hemoglobinuria, red-tinged feces, weakness, and recumbency. One of the lambs that was examined clinically before natural death also had abdominal pain, trembling, tachycardia, and severe anemia with a packed cell volume of 4%. Pathologic findings included icterus, hemoglobinuric nephrosis, dark red urine, pulmonary edema, hydrothorax, splenomegaly, and acute centrilobular to midzonal hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis with cholestasis. The differential diagnoses and diagnostic workup to achieve the diagnosis are briefly discussed.
The Appropriate Use of Employment At-Will in County Sheriffs’ Departments
Authors: Goodman Doug , French P. Edward , Neaves Tonya T.
Published: August 2013

This study reports survey results of one state’s county sheriffs’ experiences and attitudes toward employment at will (EAW). We developed a model that tests survey respondents’ attitudes concerning when political interference in the employment process is permissible and when it is prohibited. We find that sheriffs who agree on the “spoils-system” uses of EAW have stronger agreement on when political terminations are permissible and when they are not. Sheriffs who inform job applicants that their employment is at will are knowledgeable about when political appointments and terminations are appropriate and when they are not. County sheriffs who terminate employees for politically based reasons misunderstand when political appointments and terminations are prohibited under EAW principles. We conclude with recommendations for public officials who work in EAW environments to avoid liability associated with EAW.
Experimental study on flame spread behavior along poly(methyl methacrylate) corner walls at different altitudes
Authors: Liang Canjun , Cheng Xudong , Li Kaiyuan , Yang Hui , Zhang Heping , Yuen Kwok K
Published: August 2013

The effects of altitude and intersection angle on the flame spread behavior and pyrolysis front characteristics along corner walls were experimentally studied. The experiments were conducted using mock corners made of poly(methyl methacrylate) slabs with intersection angles varying from 60° to 120° at two altitudes of 29.8 and 3658.0 m. Measurements were taken for the upward and lateral flame spread rates, the flame heights, the flame heat flux to the fuel surface, and the mass loss rates of the tested slabs. An “M”-shaped pyrolysis front was observed for all the intersection angles examined at both altitudes. The upward flame spread rate increases with decreasing intersection angles while no obvious trend was found for lateral spread rate when the intersection angle is varied. The high altitude leads to a spread rate about half of that at the lower altitude both for upward and lateral spread irrespective of the intersection angle. The measured mass loss rates are significantly higher than twice of that over a flat vertical slab.
Moving Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Into the Mainstream
Authors: Orenstein Robert , Griesbach Cheryl L. , DiBaise John K.
Published: August 2013

In recent years, fecal microbiota transplantation (aka fecal transplantation, fecal bacteriotherapy, FMT) has become increasing utilized to treat recurrent and refractory Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Almost 600,000 cases of CDI occur each year in the United States. Of these, an estimated 15,000 patients have a recurrence. The management of recurrent disease has been challenging for patients and clinicians. Increasingly, FMT has been recognized as an effective option for these patients. This article explores why FMT has reemerged as a practical therapeutic modality. In the process, the logistics by which the procedure is performed and the factors that may affect quality, safety, and patient outcomes will be described.
“I’ll Be Like Water”
Authors: Vijayakumar Gowri
Published: August 2013

This article examines the ways in which ideologies of aspiration, inclusion, and women’s empowerment associated with India’s globalizing knowledge economy are re-framed by young women workers in a small-town business-process outsourcing (BPO) center two hours outside of Bangalore. Drawing on forty in-depth interviews, I show that, in contrast to their managers’ expectations of individualized work aspirations, women workers draw on both individualistic and domestically embedded articulations of the future in a formulation I call “flexible aspirations.” In articulating flexible aspirations, they draw both on the gendered language of neoliberal self-improvement for the global economy and on the nationalist ideal of rural middle-class feminine domesticity. While insisting that the future is uncertain, young women use flexible aspirations as a symbolic resource to distinguish themselves from both old-fashioned village housewives and promiscuous urban call center girls. I briefly compare these flexible aspirations to young men workers’ strategic articulations of aspiration, which, rather than relinquishing hopes to an unpredictable future, adjust plans to fit known social limitations. This article, drawing on feminist interpretations of Bourdieu, extends the literature on the Indian middle classes by analyzing young women’s aspirations in non-elite social locations. It builds on this feminist scholarship by highlighting ways in which young women use articulations of flexible aspiration as a mode of gendered class distinction.
Psychodynamics in child psychiatry in Sweden, 1945–85: from political vision to treatment ideology
Authors: Nelson Karin Zetterqvist , Sandin Bengt
Published: August 2013

In this article, changing treatment ideologies and policies in child psychiatric outpatient services in Sweden from 1945 to 1985 are examined. The aim is to discuss the role played by psychoanalytic and psychodynamic thinking in this process of change. When mental health services for children were introduced in the mid-1940s, psychoanalytic thinking was intertwined with the social democratic vision of the Swedish welfare state in which children symbolized the future. In practice, however, treatment ideology was initially less influenced by psychoanalytic thinking. From the early 1960s, child psychiatric services expanded and the number of units increased. By then, the political vision had disappeared, but a treatment ideology began to evolve based on psychodynamic theories, which became dominant in the 1970s.
‘Pauper Lunatics and their Treatment’, by Joshua Harrison Stallard (1870)
Authors: Miller Edgar
Published: August 2013

Little is known of Joshua Harrison Stallard other than that he was a provincial medical practitioner who moved to London and campaigned for improvement in metropolitan workhouses. In the pamphlet reproduced here, Stallard draws attention to the build-up of lunatics in workhouses due to lack of asylum beds. He also argues for the increased use of home care for lunatics instead of continually expanding asylum provision, and points to the need for training of asylum doctors.