bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Ethics of Health Care Delivery in a Pediatric Malaria Vaccine Trial: The Perspectives of Stakeholders From Ghana and Tanzania
Authors: Ward Claire Leonie , Shaw David , Anane-Sarpong Evelyn , Sankoh Osman , Tanner Marcel , Elger Bernice
Published: November 2017

This study explores ethical issues raised in providing medical care to participants and communities of low-resource settings involved in a Phase II/III pediatric malaria vaccine trial (PMVT). We conducted 52 key informant interviews with major stakeholders of an international multi-center PMVT (GSK/PATH-MVI RTS,S) (NCT00866619) in Ghana and Tanzania. Based on their stakeholder experiences, the responses fell into three main themes: (a) undue inducement, (b) community disparities, and (c) broad therapeutic misconceptions. The study identified the critical ethical aspects, from the perspectives of stakeholders, of delivering health care during a PMVT. The study showed that integrating research into health care services needs to be addressed in a manner that upholds the favorable risk–benefit ratio of research and attends to the health needs of local populations. The implementation of research should aim to improve local standards of care through building a collaborative agenda with local institutions and systems of health.
New and emerging therapies for acute and chronic graft versus host disease
Authors: Hill LaQuisa , Alousi Amin , Kebriaei Partow , Mehta Rohtesh , Rezvani Katayoun , Shpall Elizabeth
Published: November 2017

Graft versus host disease (GVHD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality following allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). Despite the use of prophylactic GVHD regimens, a significant proportion of transplant recipients will develop acute or chronic GVHD following HSCT. Corticosteroids are standard first-line therapy, but are only effective in roughly half of all cases with ~50% of patients going on to develop steroid-refractory disease, which increases the risk of nonrelapse mortality. While progress has been made with improvements in survival outcomes over time, corticosteroids are associated with significant toxicities, and many currently available salvage therapies are associated with increased immunosuppression, infectious complications, and potential loss of the graft versus leukemia (GVL) effect. Thus, there is an unmet need for development of newer treatment strategies for both acute and chronic GVHD to improve long-term post-transplant outcomes and quality of life for HSCT recipients. Here, we provide a concise review of major emerging therapies currently being studied in the treatment of acute and chronic GVHD.
Increased detection of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal dysplasia with adjunctive use of wide‐area transepithelial sample with three‐dimensional computer‐assisted analysis (WATS)
Authors: Gross Seth A , Smith Michael S , Kaul Vivek ,   the US Collaborative WATS Study Group
Published: November 2017

Background

Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal dysplasia (ED) are frequently missed during screening and surveillance esophagoscopy because of sampling error associated with four‐quadrant random forceps biopsy (FB).

Aim

The aim of this article is to determine if wide‐area transepithelial sampling with three‐dimensional computer‐assisted analysis (WATS) used adjunctively with FB can increase the detection of BE and ED.

Methods

In this multicenter prospective trial, patients screened for suspected BE and those with known BE undergoing surveillance were enrolled. Patients at 25 community‐based practices underwent WATS adjunctively to targeted FB and random four‐quadrant FB.

Results

Of 4203 patients, 594 were diagnosed with BE by FB alone, and 493 additional cases were detected by adding WATS, increasing the overall detection of BE by 83% (493/594, 95% CI 74%–93%). Low‐grade dysplasia (LGD) was diagnosed in 26 patients by FB alone, and 23 additional cases were detected by adding WATS, increasing the detection of LGD by 88.5% (23/26, 95% CI 48%–160%).

Conclusions

Adjunctive use of WATS to FB significantly improves the detection of both BE and ED. Sampling error, an inherent limitation associated with screening and surveillance, can be improved with WATS allowing better informed decisions to be made about the management and subsequent treatment of these patients.
Putting the Brakes on Breaks: Osteoporosis Screening and Fracture Prevention
Authors: Goode Sarah C. , Beshears Jacqueline L. , Goode Russell D. , Wright Theresa F. , King Anita , Crist Brett D.
Published: November 2017

Introduction:

This prospective study sought to implement a screening tool to identify and risk stratify at-risk patients for osteoporosis and evaluate patient knowledge of osteoporosis and fragility fractures in an orthopedic trauma clinic affiliated with a level 1 trauma academic center.

Methods:

Of 297 eligible patients, 291 were screened and risk stratified. Patients completed an osteoporosis screening questionnaire and were risk stratified. Lifestyle advice was given to patients at low fracture risk. A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan was ordered for patients at intermediate fracture risk. A referral was initiated for treatment to a bone health specialist in high fracture risk patients. Twenty patients completed a knowledge-based pretest/posttest.

Results:

A total of 291 patients were screened, which represented 97.7% of patients over the age of 50. Of those patients, 165 (56.7%) patients met criteria for further osteoporosis evaluation as they were considered either intermediate or high risk for future fractures. One hundred thirty-six (82.4%) patients were referred for bone mineral density evaluation. For the knowledge-based evaluation portion, patients had a 33% gain in knowledge ( P = .0004). The largest knowledge deficit identified pertained to osteoporosis risk factors and lifestyle management.

Discussion:

The use of an osteoporosis screening questionnaire in the orthopedic trauma clinic produced clinically significant improvement in identification of at-risk patients. A lack of knowledge regarding osteoporosis and fragility fractures was found to exist among these patients.

Conclusion:

The implementation of an osteoporosis screening tool to identify, risk stratify, and treat patients with osteoporosis and related fragility fractures can be successfully integrated into a busy clinical practice.
Tracheobronchial Foreign Bodies in Children: The Role of Emergency Rigid Bronchoscopy
Authors: Baram Aram , Sherzad Hewa , Saeed Sara , Kakamad Fahmi H. , Hamawandi Adnan M. H.
Published: November 2017

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a common and lethal accident in the pediatric age group. It requires early recognition and treatment by rigid bronchoscopy to avoid fatal outcomes. Objective. The aim of this study was to study the pattern of FBA in the tracheobronchial tree as well as the success rate of rigid bronchoscopy in children admitted to a single center and to analyze the relationship of the type of foreign body (FB) with patients’ age, presentation, and complications. Methods. A retrospective cross-sectional study of FBA was conducted in children in the Sulaimani/Kurdistan region, Iraq, admitted to the emergency teaching hospital of the University of Sulaimani from January 2014 to March 2016. Result. Data of 83 patients between 6 months and 15 years old were studied. The most affected was the 1- to 5-year-old group. There was a slight female predominance (male to female ratio 0.93:1). The most common FB was sunflower seed (49.4%). History of choking was present in 92.8% of patients; 55.4% had normal air entry, and 37.3% had no added sound on chest auscultation. Normal chest X-ray (CXR) was found in 40% of patients. The most common site was the right bronchial tree (39.8%). Two patients needed mechanical ventilation; both of them died. There was a significant relationship between the type of FB ( P = .013, .000, respectively). Conclusion. Medical history is the most important factor for reaching the diagnosis; bronchoscopy is mandatory if choking was witnessed, even if examination and CXR are normal. Organic material causes more local reaction than nonorganic material.
How I manage monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
Authors: Go Ronald S. , Rajkumar S. Vincent
Published: November 2017

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is, in many ways, a unique hematologic entity. Unlike most hematologic conditions in which the diagnosis is intentional and credited to hematologists, the discovery of MGUS is most often incidental and made by nonhematologists. MGUS is considered an obligate precursor to several lymphoplasmacytic malignancies, including immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis, multiple myeloma, and Waldenström macroglobulinemia. Therefore, long-term follow-up is generally recommended. Despite its high prevalence, there is surprisingly limited evidence to inform best clinical practice both at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up. We present 7 vignettes to illustrate common clinical management questions that arise during the course of MGUS. Where evidence is present, we provide a concise summary of the literature and clear recommendations on management. Where evidence is lacking, we describe how we practice and provide a rationale for our approach. We also discuss the potential harms associated with MGUS diagnosis, a topic that is rarely, if ever, broached between patients and providers, or even considered in academic debate.
Post‐zygotic genomic changes in glutamate and dopamine pathway genes may explain discordance of monozygotic twins for schizophrenia
Authors: Castellani C. A. , Melka M. G. , Gui J. L. , Gallo A. J. , O’Reilly R. L. , Singh S. M.
Published: November 2017

Background

Monozygotic twins are valuable in assessing the genetic vs environmental contribution to diseases. In the era of complete genome sequences, they allow identification of mutational mechanisms and specific genes and pathways that offer predisposition to the development of complex diseases including schizophrenia.

Methods

We sequenced the complete genomes of two pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia (MZD), including one representing a family tetrad. The family specific complete sequences have allowed identification of post zygotic mutations between MZD genomes. It allows identification of affected genes including relevant network and pathways that may account for the diseased state in pair specific patient.

Results

We found multiple twin specific sequence differences between co‐twins that included small nucleotides [single nucleotide variants (SNV), small indels and block substitutions], copy number variations (CNVs) and structural variations. The genes affected by these changes belonged to a number of canonical pathways, the most prominent ones are implicated in schizophrenia and related disorders. Although these changes were found in both twins, they were more frequent in the affected twin in both pairs. Two specific pathway defects, glutamate receptor signaling and dopamine feedback in cAMP signaling pathways, were uniquely affected in the two patients representing two unrelated families.

Conclusions

We have identified genome‐wide post zygotic mutations in two MZD pairs affected with schizophrenia. It has allowed us to use the threshold model and propose the most likely cause of this disease in the two patients studied. The results support the proposition that each schizophrenia patient may be unique and heterogeneous somatic de novo events may contribute to schizophrenia threshold and discordance of the disease in monozygotic twins.
Effect of Prophylactic Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination on Oral HPV Infections Among Young Adults in the United States
Authors: Chaturvedi Anil K. , Graubard Barry I. , Broutian Tatevik , Pickard Robert K.L. , Tong Zhen-Yue , Xiao Weihong , Kahle Lisa , Gillison Maura L.
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The incidence of human papilloma virus (HPV)–positive oropharyngeal cancers has risen rapidly in recent decades among men in the United States. We investigated the US population–level effect of prophylactic HPV vaccination on the burden of oral HPV infection, the principal cause of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of men and women 18 to 33 years of age (N = 2,627) within the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011 to 2014, a representative sample of the US population. Oral HPV infection with vaccine types 16, 18, 6, or 11 was compared by HPV vaccination status, as measured by self-reported receipt of at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. Analyses accounted for the complex sampling design and were adjusted for age, sex, and race. Statistical significance was assessed using a quasi-score test.

Results

Between 2011 and 2014, 18.3% of the US population 18 to 33 years of age reported receipt of at least one dose of the HPV vaccine before the age of 26 years (29.2% in women and 6.9% in men; P < .001). The prevalence of oral HPV16/18/6/11 infections was significantly reduced in vaccinated versus unvaccinated individuals (0.11% v 1.61%; Padj = .008), corresponding to an estimated 88.2% (95% CI, 5.7% to 98.5%) reduction in prevalence after model adjustment for age, sex, and race. Notably, the prevalence of oral HPV16/18/6/11 infections was significantly reduced in vaccinated versus unvaccinated men (0.0% v 2.13%; Padj = .007). Accounting for vaccine uptake, the population-level effect of HPV vaccination on the burden of oral HPV16/18/6/11 infections was 17.0% overall, 25.0% in women, and 6.9% in men.

Conclusion

HPV vaccination was associated with reduction in vaccine-type oral HPV prevalence among young US adults. However, because of low vaccine uptake, the population-level effect was modest overall and particularly low in men.
Baclofen Pump Replacement in a Patient With End-Stage Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Case Report Demonstrating Transversus Abdominis Plane Block as the Sole Anesthetic
Authors: Hadaya Iman A. , Gray Andrew T. , Braehler Matthias R.
Published: November 2017

A patient with end-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) presented for Baclofen pump replacement. She underwent a left transversus abdominis plane block to anesthetize the left lower quadrant of the abdomen. No sedatives or analgesics were administered, and the procedure was successfully completed without complication. It is prudent to consider anesthetic plans that avoid complications associated with general or neuraxial anesthesia in patients with ALS. This case report demonstrates successful placement of a transversus abdominis plane block in a patient with ALS and offers a safe anesthetic technique that can be performed in other high-risk patients.
Technique Utilizing a Modified Oral Ring-Adair-Elwyn Tube to Provide Continuous Oxygen and Sevoflurane Delivery During Nasotracheal Intubation in an Infant With a Difficult Airway: A Case Report
Authors: Man Janice Y. , Fiadjoe John E. , Hsu Grace
Published: November 2017

Managing the airway of an infant with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) is particularly challenging for anesthesiologists. Patients with PRS have the triad of micrognathia, glossoptosis, and airway obstruction that potentially and frequently leads to difficulty with both ventilation and intubation. Thus continuous oxygenation and spontaneous ventilation during intubation are essential. We describe a new method to deliver continuous oxygen and volatile anesthetic during nasotracheal intubation in an infant with PRS.
The old and new faces of morphology: the legacy of D'Arcy Thompson's ‘theory of transformations' and ‘laws of growth'
Authors: Abzhanov Arhat
Published: November 2017

In 1917, the publication of On Growth and Form by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson challenged both mathematicians and naturalists to think about biological shapes and diversity as more than a confusion of chaotic forms generated at random, but rather as geometric shapes that could be described by principles of physics and mathematics. Thompson's work was based on the ideas of Galileo and Goethe on morphology and of Russell on functionalism, but he was first to postulate that physical forces and internal growth parameters regulate biological forms and could be revealed via geometric transformations in morphological space. Such precise mathematical structure suggested a unifying generative process, as reflected in the title of the book. To Thompson it was growth that could explain the generation of any particular biological form, and changes in ontogeny, rather than natural selection, could then explain the diversity of biological shapes. Whereas adaptationism, widely accepted in evolutionary biology, gives primacy to extrinsic factors in producing morphological variation, Thompson's ‘laws of growth' provide intrinsic directives and constraints for the generation of individual shapes, helping to explain the ‘profusion of forms, colours, and other modifications' observed in the living world.
Organ size control via hydraulically gated oscillations
Authors: Ruiz-Herrero Teresa , Alessandri Kévin , Gurchenkov Basile V. , Nassoy Pierre , Mahadevan L.
Published: November 2017

Hollow vesicular tissues of various sizes and shapes arise in biological organs such as ears, guts, hearts, brains and even entire organisms. Regulating their size and shape is crucial for their function. Although chemical signaling has been thought to play a role in the regulation of cellular processes that feed into larger scales, it is increasingly recognized that mechanical forces are involved in the modulation of size and shape at larger length scales. Motivated by a variety of examples of tissue cyst formation and size control that show simultaneous growth and size oscillations, we create a minimal theoretical framework for the growth and dynamics of a soft, fluid-permeable, spherical shell. We show that these shells can relieve internal pressure by bursting intermittently, shrinking and re-growing, providing a simple mechanism by which hydraulically gated oscillations can regulate size. To test our theory, we develop an in vitro experimental set-up to monitor the growth and oscillations of a hollow tissue spheroid growing freely or when confined. A simple generalization of our theory to account for irreversible deformations allows us to explain the time scales and the amplitudes of oscillations in terms of the geometry and mechanical properties of the tissue shells. Taken together, our theory and experimental observations show how soft hydraulics can regulate the size of growing tissue shells.
Clones of cells switch from reduction to enhancement of size variability in Arabidopsis sepals
Authors: Tsugawa Satoru , Hervieux Nathan , Kierzkowski Daniel , Routier-Kierzkowska Anne-Lise , Sapala Aleksandra , Hamant Olivier , Smith Richard S. , Roeder Adrienne H. K. , Boudaoud Arezki , Li Chun-Biu
Published: November 2017

Organs form with remarkably consistent sizes and shapes during development, whereas a high variability in growth is observed at the cell level. Given this contrast, it is unclear how such consistency in organ scale can emerge from cellular behavior. Here, we examine an intermediate scale, the growth of clones of cells in Arabidopsis sepals. Each clone consists of the progeny of a single progenitor cell. At early stages, we find that clones derived from a small progenitor cell grow faster than those derived from a large progenitor cell. This results in a reduction in clone size variability, a phenomenon we refer to as size uniformization. By contrast, at later stages of clone growth, clones change their growth pattern to enhance size variability, when clones derived from larger progenitor cells grow faster than those derived from smaller progenitor cells. Finally, we find that, at early stages, fast growing clones exhibit greater cell growth heterogeneity. Thus, cellular variability in growth might contribute to a decrease in the variability of clones throughout the sepal.
Single-cell mechanical phenotype is an intrinsic marker of reprogramming and differentiation along the mouse neural lineage
Authors: Urbanska Marta , Winzi Maria , Neumann Katrin , Abuhattum Shada , Rosendahl Philipp , Müller Paul , Taubenberger Anna , Anastassiadis Konstantinos , Guck Jochen
Published: November 2017

Cellular reprogramming is a dedifferentiation process during which cells continuously undergo phenotypical remodeling. Although the genetic and biochemical details of this remodeling are fairly well understood, little is known about the change in cell mechanical properties during the process. In this study, we investigated changes in the mechanical phenotype of murine fetal neural progenitor cells (fNPCs) during reprogramming to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We find that fNPCs become progressively stiffer en route to pluripotency, and that this stiffening is mirrored by iPSCs becoming more compliant during differentiation towards the neural lineage. Furthermore, we show that the mechanical phenotype of iPSCs is comparable with that of embryonic stem cells. These results suggest that mechanical properties of cells are inherent to their developmental stage. They also reveal that pluripotent cells can differentiate towards a more compliant phenotype, which challenges the view that pluripotent stem cells are less stiff than any cells more advanced developmentally. Finally, our study indicates that the cell mechanical phenotype might be utilized as an inherent biophysical marker of pluripotent stem cells.
Maternal Nanog is required for zebrafish embryo architecture and for cell viability during gastrulation
Authors: Veil Marina , Schaechtle Melanie Anna , Gao Meijiang , Kirner Viola , Buryanova Lenka , Grethen Rachel , Onichtchouk Daria
Published: November 2017

Nanog has been implicated in establishment of pluripotency in mammals and in zygotic genome activation in zebrafish. In this study, we characterize the development of MZnanog (maternal and zygotic null) mutant zebrafish embryos. Without functional Nanog, epiboly is severely affected, embryo axes do not form and massive cell death starts at the end of gastrulation. We show that three independent defects in MZnanog mutants contribute to epiboly failure: yolk microtubule organization required for epiboly is abnormal, maternal mRNA fails to degrade owing to the absence of miR-430, and actin structure of the yolk syncytial layer does not form properly. We further demonstrate that the cell death in MZnanog embryos is cell-autonomous. Nanog is necessary for correct spatial expression of the ventral-specifying genes bmp2b, vox and vent, and the neural transcription factor her3. It is also required for the correctly timed activation of endoderm genes and for the degradation of maternal eomesa mRNA via miR-430. Our findings suggest that maternal Nanog coordinates several gene regulatory networks that shape the embryo during gastrulation.
A facilitated diffusion mechanism establishes the Drosophila Dorsal gradient
Authors: Carrell Sophia N. , O'Connell Michael D. , Jacobsen Thomas , Allen Amy E. , Smith Stephanie M. , Reeves Gregory T.
Published: November 2017

The transcription factor NF-κB plays an important role in the immune system, apoptosis, and inflammation. Dorsal, a Drosophila homolog of NF-κB, patterns the dorsal-ventral axis in the blastoderm embryo. During this stage, Dorsal is sequestered outside the nucleus by the IκB homolog Cactus. Toll signaling on the ventral side breaks the Dorsal/Cactus complex, allowing Dorsal to enter the nucleus to regulate target genes. Fluorescent data show that Dorsal accumulates on the ventral side of the syncytial blastoderm. Here we use both modeling and experiment to show that this accumulation is due to facilitated diffusion, or shuttling, of Dorsal/Cactus complex. We also show that active Toll receptors are limiting in wildtype embryos, which is a key factor in explaining global Dorsal gradient formation. Our results suggest that shuttling is necessary for viability of embryos from mothers with compromised dorsal levels. Therefore, Cactus not only has the primary role of regulating Dorsal nuclear import, but also a secondary role in shuttling. Given that this mechanism has been found in other, independent systems, we suggest it may be more prevalent than previously thought.
Pavement cells and the topology puzzle
Authors: Carter Ross , Sánchez-Corrales Yara E. , Hartley Matthew , Grieneisen Verônica A. , Marée Athanasius F. M.
Published: November 2017

D'Arcy Thompson emphasised the importance of surface tension as a potential driving force in establishing cell shape and topology within tissues. Leaf epidermal pavement cells grow into jigsaw-piece shapes, highly deviating from such classical forms. We investigate the topology of developing Arabidopsis leaves composed solely of pavement cells. Image analysis of around 50,000 cells reveals a clear and unique topological signature, deviating from previously studied epidermal tissues. This topological distribution is established early during leaf development, already before the typical pavement cell shapes emerge, with topological homeostasis maintained throughout growth and unaltered between division and maturation zones. Simulating graph models, we identify a heuristic cellular division rule that reproduces the observed topology. Our parsimonious model predicts how and when cells effectively place their division plane with respect to their neighbours. We verify the predicted dynamics through in vivo tracking of 800 mitotic events, and conclude that the distinct topology is not a direct consequence of the jigsaw-like shape of the cells, but rather owes itself to a strongly life-history-driven process, with limited impact from cell surface mechanics.
Uhrf1 is indispensable for normal limb growth by regulating chondrocyte differentiation through specific gene expression
Authors: Yamashita Michiko , Inoue Kazuki , Saeki Noritaka , Ideta-Otsuka Maky , Yanagihara Yuta , Sawada Yuichiro , Sakakibara Iori , Lee Jiwon , Ichikawa Koichi , Kamei Yoshiaki , Iimura Tadahiro , Igarashi Katsuhide , Takada Yasutsugu , Imai Yuuki
Published: November 2017

Transcriptional regulation can be tightly orchestrated by epigenetic regulators. Among these, ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING finger domains 1 (Uhrf1) is reported to have diverse epigenetic functions, including regulation of DNA methylation. However, the physiological functions of Uhrf1 in skeletal tissues remain unclear. Here, we show that limb mesenchymal cell-specific Uhrf1 conditional knockout mice (Uhrf1ΔLimb/ΔLimb) exhibit remarkably shortened long bones that have morphological deformities due to dysregulated chondrocyte differentiation and proliferation. RNA-seq performed on primary cultured chondrocytes obtained from Uhrf1ΔLimb/ΔLimb mice showed abnormal chondrocyte differentiation. In addition, integrative analyses using RNA-seq and MBD-seq revealed that Uhrf1 deficiency decreased genome-wide DNA methylation and increased gene expression through reduced DNA methylation in the promoter regions of 28 genes, including Hspb1, which is reported to be an IL1-related gene and to affect chondrocyte differentiation. Hspb1 knockdown in cKO chondrocytes can normalize abnormal expression of genes involved in chondrocyte differentiation, such as Mmp13. These results indicate that Uhrf1 governs cell type-specific transcriptional regulation by controlling the genome-wide DNA methylation status and regulating consequent cell differentiation and skeletal maturation.
Understanding the extracellular forces that determine cell fate and maintenance
Authors: Kumar Aditya , Placone Jesse K. , Engler Adam J.
Published: November 2017

Stem cells interpret signals from their microenvironment while simultaneously modifying the niche through secreting factors and exerting mechanical forces. Many soluble stem cell cues have been determined over the past century, but in the past decade, our molecular understanding of mechanobiology has advanced to explain how passive and active forces induce similar signaling cascades that drive self-renewal, migration, differentiation or a combination of these outcomes. Improvements in stem cell culture methods, materials and biophysical tools that assess function have improved our understanding of these cascades. Here, we summarize these advances and offer perspective on ongoing challenges.
On Growth and Form in context – an interview with Matthew Jarron
Authors: Maartens Aidan
Published: November 2017

D'Arcy Thompson was born in 1860, trained in Edinburgh and Cambridge, and held positions in Dundee and St Andrews, where he worked until his death in 1948. On Growth and Form, his classic work on the mathematical patterns and physical rules underlying biological forms, was first published in 1917. To learn more about the book's context, we met Matthew Jarron, Curator of Museum Services at the University of Dundee, in the University's D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum. Surrounded by specimens, many of which were collected by Thompson himself, we discussed the legacy of On Growth and Form and the life of the man behind it.
The Welfare Effects of Coordinated Assignment: Evidence from the New York City High School Match
Authors: Abdulkadiroğlu Atila , Agarwal Nikhil , Pathak Parag A.
Published: November 2017

Coordinated single-offer school assignment systems are a popular education reform. We show that uncoordinated offers in NYC's school assignment mechanism generated mismatches. One-third of applicants were unassigned after the main round and later administratively placed at less desirable schools. We evaluate the effects of the new coordinated mechanism based on deferred acceptance using estimated student preferences. The new mechanism achieves 80 percent of the possible gains from a no-choice neighborhood extreme to a utilitarian benchmark. Coordinating offers dominates the effects of further algorithm modifications. Students most likely to be previously administratively assigned experienced the largest gains in welfare and subsequent achievement. (JEL C78, D82, I21, I28)
Breast tissue density change after oophorectomy in BRCA mutation carrier patients using visual and volumetric analysis
Authors: Lecler Augustin , Dunant Ariane , Delaloge Suzette , Wehrer Delphine , Moussa Tania , Caron Olivier , Balleyguier Corinne
Published: November 2017

Objective:

BRCA1/2 mutations account for 30–50% of hereditary breast cancers and bilateral oophorectomy is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in these patients. Breast density is a well-established breast cancer risk factor and is also associated with increased risk in BRCA carriers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of oophorectomy on mammographic breast density and to assess which method of breast density assessment is more sensitive to change over time.

Methods:

Retrospective study of 50 BRCA1/2 patients who underwent bilateral oophorectomy and had at least a baseline and post-surgery mammogram. Mammographic breast density was determined by Volpara and consensus visual assessment by two radiologists. The primary endpoint was change in density between baseline and the first mammogram post-surgery.

Results:

At baseline, there was a non-significant trend for decreased density with increasing age. Volumetric breast density (VBD) significantly decreased after oophorectomy from a median VBD of 12.5% at baseline to 10.2% post-surgery which was driven by a reduction in fibroglandular volume. There was a higher absolute decrease in VBD in patients aged between 40–50 (p < 0.01). Using Volpara Density Grades (analogous to BI-RADS 4th edition density categories), 84% of females displayed a decrease in density category over the study period compared to only 76% using the radiologists’ visual classification (p < 0.001)

Conclusion:

Oophorectomy is associated with a decrease in breast density and younger patients exhibit a larger absolute decrease. Volpara is more sensitive to identify change over time compared to visual assessment.

Advances in knowledge:

Oophorectomy is associated with a significant decrease in VBD in patients with BRCA mutations and Volpara Density Grades were more sensitive to identify decreases in density compared to visually assessed BI-RADS categories. Decreases in breast density following oophorectomy surgery in BRCA patients may be one of the mechanisms contributing to the observed decreased breast cancer risk after surgery. However, further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between breast density, oophorectomy and breast cancer risk in BRCA patients.
Examining tRNA 3′-ends inEscherichia coli: teamwork between CCA-adding enzyme, RNase T, and RNase R
Authors: Wellner Karolin , Czech Andreas , Ignatova Zoya , Betat Heike , Mörl Mario
Published: November 2017

tRNA maturation and quality control are crucial for proper functioning of these transcripts in translation. In several organisms, defective tRNAs were shown to be tagged by poly(A) or CCACCA tails and subsequently degraded by 3′-exonucleases. In a deep-sequencing analysis of tRNA 3′-ends, we detected the CCACCA tag also inEscherichia coli. However, this tag closely resembles several 3′-trailers of tRNA precursors targeted for maturation and not for degradation. Here, we investigate the ability of two important exonucleases, RNase R and RNase T, to distinguish tRNA precursors with a native 3′-trailer from tRNAs with a CCACCA tag. Our results show that the degrading enzyme RNase R breaks down both tRNAs primed for degradation as well as precursor transcripts, indicating that it is a rather nonspecific RNase. RNase T, a main processing exonuclease involved in trimming of 3′-trailers, is very inefficient in converting the CCACCA-tagged tRNA into a mature transcript. Hence, while both RNases compete for trailer-containing tRNA precursors, the inability of RNase T to process CCACCA tails ensures that defective tRNAs cannot reenter the functional tRNA pool, representing a safeguard to avoid detrimental effects of tRNAs with erroneous integrity on protein synthesis. Furthermore, these data indicate that the RNase T-mediated end turnover of the CCA sequence represents a means to deliver a tRNA to a repeated quality control performed by the CCA-adding enzyme. Hence, originally described as a futile side reaction, the tRNA end turnover seems to fulfill an important function in the maintenance of the tRNA pool in the cell.
Εκλογική μεταβλητότητα την περίοδο 1985-1996
Authors: Ζαφειρόπουλος Κώστας , Χατζηπαντελής Θόδωρος
Published: November 2017

Στο κείμενο μελετώνται οι εκλογικές μεταβολές των εθνικών εκλογών του 1985, των εκλογών τον Ιουνίου και, Νοεμβρίου 1989, των εκλογών του 1990, του 1993 καί του 1996, σε εθνικό επίπεδο. Επιχει- ρείται η μελέτη του βαθμού της σταθερότητας των ψηφοφόρων στην επιλογή των ίδιων κομμάτων σε διαδοχικές εκλογές καί η μελέτη τον φαινομένου της «εθνοποίησης» της ψήφου. Εκτιμώνται οι μετακινήσεις των ψηφοφόρων, από μια εκλογική αναμέτρηση στην επόμενη. Ελέγχουμε σε ποιο βαθμό οι ψηφοφόροι συνεχίζουν να ψηφίζουν το ίδιο κόμμα, και στη συνέχεια σε ποιο βαθμό ψηφοφόροι των διαφορετικών εκλογικών περιφερειών παρουσιάζουν όμοιες μετακινήσεις. Γίνεται φανερό ότι ένα μεγάλο ποσοστό των ψηφοφόρων διατηρεί σταθερή την κομματική του επιλογή σε διαδοχικές εκλογές. Ως προς το φαινόμενο της «εθνοποίησης» της ψήφου, τα αποτελέσματα που εξάγονται δείχνουν ότι, κατά την περίοδο που εξετάζουμε και σε σύγκριση με παλιότερες εκλογικές περιόδους, έχει ενισχυθεί η τάση για «εθνοποίηση» της ψήφου φτάνοντας να σταθεροποιηθεί σε ένα κατώ- τατο επίπεδο.
Πολιτική φιλοσοφία: Οι δύο παραδόσεις
Authors: Σεβαστάκης Νικόλας Α.
Published: November 2017

Η κρίση της πολιτικής φιλοσοφίας ως ιδιαίτερης μάθησης σχετίζεται με τους μετασχηματισμούς της δημοκρατίας στη νεωτερικότητα. Με βάση αυτή τη διαπίστωση, μπορούμε να διακρίνουμε δύο παραδόσεις μέσα στην πολιτική φιλοσοφία: η μία παράδοση επικεντρώνεται στην καταγωγική έννοια της διαβούλευσης- η δεύτερη, η οποία γεννήθηκε ως αντίδραση στην «αστική-φιλελεύθερη» εκδοχή της διαβού- λευσης, συνδέθηκε με τις θεωρίες της απόφασης. Πίσω από την ένταση μεταξύ των δύο παραδόσεων, αναγνωρίζουμε την αντίθεση του ορθολογισμού και του ιστορισμού η οποία χαρακτηρίζει την ύστερη δημοκρατική νεωτερικότητα. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, συντελείται η μετεξέλιξη των όρων της διαβούλευσης και της απόφασης. Η διαβούλενση μειώνεται σε ορθολογική συζήτηση γνωμών και δοξογραφικό πλουραλισμό. Η «απόφαση», με τη σειρά της, τείνει να γίνει είτε μία βολονταριστική αυθαιρεσία είτε ένα εργαλειακό decision making. Στο εξής, η ανασυγκρότηση της πολιτικής φιλοσοφίας απαιτεί την ενσωμάτωση ενός δημοκρατικού και θεσμικού βολονταρισμού. Η πολιτική βούληση αναδεικνύεται έτσι σε κριτικό εργαλείο για τη «θεραπεία» της κρίσης της πολιτικής φιλοσοφίας. Εν προκειμένω, η διευρυμένη έννοια της διαβούλευσης -υ- περβαίνοντας τα επίπεδα της απλής διαπραγμάτευσης και γνωμοδότησης- επαναπροσδιορίζει ουσιαστικά το αντικείμενο της σύγχρονης πολιτικής φιλοσοφίας.
Η Ευρωπαϊκή σοσιαλδημοκρατία και ο πόλεμος στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο
Authors: Von Alemann Ulrich
Published: November 2017

Οι σοσιαλδημοκράτες συμμετείχαν στις κυβερνήσεις σχεδόν όλων των κρατών που πήραν μέρος στις επιθέσεις κατά της Σερβίας. Οι κυβερνήσεις αυτές διαφέρουν πολύ ως προς τις πολιτικές παραδόσεις, τις συνήθειες και τους συνασπισμούς κομμάτων. Διέφεραν επίσης και στο ζήτημα του πολέμου. Μόνο δύο ακραίες θέσεις μπορούν να οριστούν ξεκάθαρα: από τη μία, το Βρετανικό Εργατικό Κόμμα και, από την άλλη, το ΠΑΣΟΚ. Σύμφωνα με τον Μπλερ, η πολιτική του Μιλόσεβιτς έπρεπε να ηττηθεί ολοκληρωτικά· η ειρήνη θα ερχόταν ως αποτέλεσμα της νίκης στον πόλεμο, επομένως το ΝΑΤΟ δεν θα έπρεπε να αποφύγει την αποστολή χερσαίων δυνάμεων. Στον αντίποδα, άλλες φωνές απαίτησαν τον άμεσο τερματισμό των βομβαρδισμών και την έναρξη διαπραγματεύσεων. Η γερμανική σοσιαλδημοκρατία είναι αντιπροσωπευτική μιας μάλλον μετριοπαθούς θέσης. Συνολικά, η ευρωπαϊκή σοσιαλδημοκρατία παρουσιάζει αντιφατική εικόνα: θέλει την ειρήνη και συμμετέχει στις επιδρομές. Ωστόσο, τουλάχιστον ζήτησε τη σύμπραξη του Συμβουλίου Ασφαλείας των Ηνωμένων Εθνών, της Ρωσίας, της Κίνας και όλων των εθνών γενικά. Η ομοφωνία θα πρέπει επίσης να επικρατήσει και μετά τον πόλεμο· οι ιδέες της σοσιαλδημοκρατίας θα πρέπει να βρουν το δρόμο τους και μέσα στα σχέδια ανασυγκρότησης.
Θεωρία διεθνών σχέσεων και Ευρωπαϊκή ολοκλήρωση: Βιβλιογραφικό Δοκίμιο:Κjell Α. Eliassen (επιμ.), Foreign and Security Policy in the European Union, Sage, Λονδίνο 1998. , και John Peterson - Helene Sjursen (επιμ.), A Common Foreign Policy for Europe?, Routledge, Λονδίνο-Νέα Υόρκη 1998.
Authors: Φακιολάς Ευστάθιος Τ.
Published: November 2017

Δεν διατίθεται περίληψη.
Σκάνδαλα, MME και δείκτες προσωπικότητας: Ο γρίφος του πολιτικού απυρόβλητου
Authors: Καπέλου Τερέζα
Published: November 2017

Στο παρόν άρθρο θα διερευνηθεί ένα ιδιαίτερα ενδιαφέρον ερώτημα στο χώρο της πολιτικής επικοινωνίας: για ποιους λόγους ορισμένα πολιτικά πρόσωπα επιβιώνουν, ενώ άλλα υποκύπτουν στις επιβλαβείς συνέπειες που έπονται ενός πολιτικού σκανδάλου; Στα δύο πειράματα που παρουσιάζονται εδώ θα αναλύσουμε τον τρόπο λειτουργίας των χαρακτηριστικών της προσωπικότητας (personality traits) πολιτικών υποψηφίων οι οποίοι κατηγορούνται για κάποιο πολιτικό σκάνδαλο, εστιάζοντας στο κατά πόσο τα χαρακτηριστικά αυτά είναι φορείς πολιτικού απυρόβλητου. Τα εξαγόμενα των δύο ερευνών συντείνουν στο ότι οι δείκτες των χαρακτηριστικών της προσωπικότητας ενός πολιτικού, και ιδιαίτερα η ικανότητα και η εντιμότητα, είναι δυνατόν να λειτουργήσουν κατά τέτοιο τρόπο ώστε να αντισταθμίσουν τις ενδεχόμενα αρνητικές συνέπειες ενός πολιτικού σκανδάλου. Συγκεκριμένα, υψηλές αξιολογήσεις της ικανότητας ενός πολιτικού από μέρους του κοινού είναι δυνατόν να λειτουργήσουν ως «προστατευτική ασπίδα», εξουδετερώνοντας τις αρνητικές συνέπειες ενός σκανδάλου. Ένας πολιτικός που αρχικά θεωρείται πολιτικά ικανός, είναι ανθεκτικότερος σε πολιτικά σκάνδαλα εν συγκρίσει με τον πολιτικό που είναι λιγότερο ικανός, ανεξάρτητα από τη σοβαρότητα του σκανδάλου. Τέλος, παρότι η εντιμότητα δε λειτουργεί ως προστατευτική ασπίδα στην περίπτωση ενός σοβαρού σκανδάλου, είναι δυνατόν να έχει προστατευτική δράση στην περίπτωση ενός ηπιότερου σκανδάλου.
Αδιάφοροι ψηφοφόροι, αδιάφορη προεκλογική εκστρατεία; Μια εμπειρική ανάλυση των βουλευτικών εκλογών του 2000
Authors: Κακεπάκη Μανίνα
Published: November 2017

Στο παρόν άρθρο, αρχικά θα σκιαγραφηθεί η πορεία που έλαβαν οι θεωρητικές συζητήσεις γύρω από τη σχέση τηλεόρασης και προεκλογικών εκστρατειών από τα μέσα της δεκαετίας του ’60 μέχρι και σήμερα, έτσι όπως διατυπώθηκαν σε άμεση συνάρτηση με τις παρατηρούμενες αλλαγές στη διεξαγωγή των εκστρατειών αλλά και τις μεταβολές στο εκλογικό σώμα των δυτικοευρωπαϊκών χωρών. Στο δεύτερο μέρος του άρθρου, αντλώντας στοιχεία από έρευνες κοινής γνώμης της περιόδου 1996-2000, θα γίνει προσπάθεια να διερευνηθούν οι επιπτώσεις που είχε η τηλεοπτική κάλυψη της προεκλογικής εκστρατείας του 2000. Η ανάλυση επιχειρεί να αναδείξει τις σημαντικές διαφοροποιήσεις που εμφανίζουν οι στάσεις και οι αντιλήψεις των επιμέρους τμημάτων του εκλογικού σώματος, ανάλογα με τον χρόνο αποκρυστάλλωσης της ψήφου, το ενδιαφέρον για τις εκλογές και την έκθεση στην προεκλογική εκστρατεία
Surgical resection of a massive primary mediastinal liposarcoma with cervical extension
Authors: Weaver HL , Preston SD , Wong HH , Jani P , Coonar AS
Published: November 2017

A 73-year-old man was referred for surgical excision of a massive mediastinal and cervical liposarcoma following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Surgery was performed via a cervical incision, sternotomy and right posterolateral thoracotomy. The tumour arose from the oesophagus, which underwent extensive dissection and was oversewn with pleura after tumour resection. Histology confirmed a completely excised grade 2 de-differentiated liposarcoma with complete macroscopic excision. The patient made an excellent recovery. Oesophageal liposarcomas are rare and, unlike in this case, often extend intraluminally, necessitating oesophagectomy. To our knowledge, this is the largest such tumour found in the literature.
Colossal pilomatrixoma
Authors: Beattie G , Tai C , Pinar Karakas S , Cham E , Idowu O , Kim S
Published: November 2017

We describe the largest reported case of pilomatrixoma in the literature. While pilomatrixomas typically present as small soft-tissue nodules of the head, neck and upper extremities, they can also present as much larger masses in atypical locations. When they present in their usual size, pilomatrixomas have typical imaging features and can be correctly diagnosed with imaging studies before histological confirmation. Their clinical and imaging diagnosis become challenging when they are very large, as in our case. A giant pilomatrixoma should also be considered for paediatric patients presenting with a large subcutaneous soft-tissue mass.
High preterm birth at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital as a national referral hospital in Indonesia
Authors: Sungkar Ali , Fattah Adly N.A. , Surya Raymond , Santoso Budi I. , Zalud Ivica
Published: November 2017

Background: Preterm birth is the leading direct that causes neonatal death. Indonesia was listed as one of the countries with the greatest number of preterm birth in 2010. This study aims to identify the prevalence and the potential risk factors of preterm birth among women underwent delivery in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, an Indonesian national reference hospital.Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved 2,612 women who delivered between January and December 2013. Any clinical data which related to the potential risk factors and outcomes were recorded. The data were managed using chi-square for bivariate analysis and t-test or Mann-Whitney for numerical data followed by multiple logistic regression for multivariate analysis in SPSS version 20.0.Results: Preterm birth affected 1,020 of 2,616 pregnancies (38.5%). Non-booked patients increased nearly twice risk for preterm delivery (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.37–2.61). While women with singleton pregnancy (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.12–0.25), head presentation (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.63–0.89), and regular ANC (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.54–0.84) had lower risk for preterm birth. Apgar score, birthweight, and mode of delivery were significantly different between the pre-term group and the full-term group.Conclusion: Prevalence of preterm birth in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital was approximately 2.5 times higher compared to the national number. Several factors reducing preterm birth rate include singleton pregnancy, head presentation, and regular ANC.
Milestones of kidney transplantation in Indonesia
Authors: Mochtar Chaidir A. , Alfarissi Fekhaza , Soeroto Adhitama A. , Hamid Agus Rizal A.H. , Wahyudi Irfan , Marbun Maruhum B.H. , Rodjani Arry , Susalit Endang , Rasyid Nur
Published: November 2017

Although kidney transplantation in Indonesia has started since 1977, it has only covered less than 3% ESRD treatment methods. This indicates that the development of kidney transplantation program in Indonesia is still stagnant. Based on observation, the growth of kidney transplantation in Indonesia can be divided into several eras, which are: the birth of new treatment for ESRD era, the expected growth era, the first downfall, the stable period, the unstable period, the rebirth of kidney transplant era, and the explosive growth era. Many factors contribute to this issue including the government policy, the funding problems, the limited donor pool, the dissenting cultural views, the number of human resources, the need for multi-disciplinary approach, and the life-after-graft care. However, many improvements have been made to increase kidney transplantation i.e. the government support for opening new kidney transplant centers, the use of minimally invasive techniques, the development of pediatric kidney transplant, and National Insurance coverage for transplantation. These conditions are expected to improve the number of kidney transplantation in Indonesia.
Diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in detecting anterior cruciate ligament injuries
Authors: Ahmed Ashfaq , Razzaque Muhammad A. , Kaleem Muhammad , Zaman Atiq U. , Akram Rizwan , Javed Shahzad
Published: November 2017

Background: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) stabilizes the joint during hyperextension and prevents anterior translation over femur. The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting ACL injury by taking arthroscopy as gold standard in patients with traumatic knee injury.Methods: Patients fulfilling the study criteria were treated with clinical examination, MRI and then arthroscopy at the Department of Orthopedics and Spine in the Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of MRI in diagnosing  the anterior cruciate ligament injury were calculated based on arthroscopic findings. All the data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0 version.Results: A total 185 patients were included. 91.1% were males and 8.9% were females with Mean age of 28.25±0.433. The accuracy of MRI in diagnosing the anterior cruciate ligament was 91.89%, with sensitivity of 93.33%, specificity of 85.71%, positive predictive value of 96.55% and the negative predictive value  of 75%.Conclusion: MRI is accurate and non-invasive modality for the assessment of ligamentous injuries. It can be used as a first line investigation to patients with suspicion of ACL injury.