bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NGF Expression and Elevation in Hip Osteoarthritis Patients with Pain and Central Sensitization
Authors: Ohashi Yoshihisa , Uchida Kentaro , Fukushima Kensuke , Satoh Masashi , Koyama Tomohisa , Tsuchiya Maho , Saito Hiroki , Takahira Naonobu , Inoue Gen , Takaso Masashi
Published: September 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative musculoskeletal disease that causes articular cartilage degeneration and chronic pain. Research into OA animal models suggests that elevated NGF levels in the synovium contribute to pain and central sensitization (CS). However, it is unclear whether synovial NGF contributes to CS in patients with OA. We investigated the association between synovial NGF expression and clinical assessments of pain and CS in hip OA (hOA) patients. We also aimed to identify which cells in the synovium of hOA patients express NGF. Sixty‐six patients who received total hip replacement and a diagnosis of hOA were enrolled. We measured NGF mRNA expression in synovial samples obtained from 50 patients using qPCR and analyzed the correlation of NGF expression with the CS inventory (CSI) score and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, a clinical scoring system for OA. To identify the synovial cells expressing NGF, we analyzed NGF mRNA expression in CD14+ and CD14‐ cells, which represent macrophage‐rich and fibroblast‐rich fractions, respectively, extracted from 8 patients. To further identify which macrophage subtypes express NGF, we examined NGF mRNA expression in CD14high and CD14low cells sorted from 8 patients. Synovial NGF mRNA expression was negatively correlated with JOA score but positively correlated with CSI score (JOA pain, r = −0.337, P = 0.017; CSI score, r = 0.358, P = 0.011). Significantly greater levels of NGF were observed in CD14‐ cells compared to CD14+ cells (P = 0.036) and in CD14high cells compared to CD14low cells (P = 0.008). In conclusion, synovial NGF expression is correlated with the degree of pain and CS in hOA patients. NGF is predominantly expressed in synovial fibroblasts. Further, CD14high synovial macrophages expressed higher levels of NGF. Our results may provide a novel NGF‐targeted therapeutic strategy for hOA pain.
Design of a Real‐Time Wireless Sensing Monitoring System Based on Acoustic Emission Power GIS Equipment
Authors: Zeng Dehua
Published: September 2021

In this paper, real‐time monitoring of acoustic emission power GIS equipment is studied and analyzed, and a real‐time wireless sensing monitoring system is designed. The overall design of the wireless sensing monitoring system for acoustic emission power GIS equipment is as follows: the model of the system is constructed, the design of the system module function is proposed, the platform of the system is built, the hardware and software solutions are configured, the operating system is optimized, the graphics and data are input into the GIS distribution network system, the editing function is optimized, the fast positioning function of the equipment is improved, and the automatic generation of the system diagram is improved. By using ZigBee technology to establish a wireless sensor network and realize wireless transmission of monitoring signals, it can avoid many disadvantages, such as cumbersome cable laying, troublesome changes, inconvenient expansion, and daily maintenance in wired transmission, and save various resources and reduce monitoring costs, which is well worth promoting in the system. In this paper, for the actual situation of GIS equipment, combined with the characteristics of the wireless sensor network structure and the design needs of the monitoring system (the overall design of the monitoring system, OFS maximum response amplitude of 19.9 mV, to be reached 40 dB), the signal will be uploaded to the high‐speed collection system, and the efficiency is increased by more than 10%. The feasibility test of the monitoring system, the test results, and the related data show that the UHF sensor can accurately collect the UHF signal, the wireless network formed by ZigBee can reliably transmit the signal, the monitoring interface is correctly displayed, and the whole monitoring system operates stably and meets the requirements of the initial design.
High Frequency and Low Intensity Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Smoking Cessation
Authors: Ponciano-Rodríguez Guadalupe , Chávez-Castillo Carlos A. , Ríos-Ponce Alma E. , Villafuerte Gabriel
Published: September 2021

Introduction. Tobacco consumption is one of the main causes of mortality in the world. Because of its effect on health, smoking cessation should be prioritized as an important health intervention; however, current interventions have shown low success rates as only 31% of the cases can stop smoking. In this paper, an intervention with high frequency and low intensity transcranial magnetic stimulation (HFLI TMS) was applied to determine if this type of neuromodulation could have an effect in decreasing tobacco addiction. Methods. Retrospective data from ten ambulatory smoker patients that underwent 24 sessions of HFLI TMS over 8 weeks were retrieved and are here presented. Results. Exhaled CO concentrations were statistically significantly different from baseline at the weeks 3, 5, 6, and 8. After the 24 sessions, all patients stopped smoking; this was confirmed directly by exhaled carbon monoxide and the smoking diary. Three months after intervention, eight out of ten subjects continued without smoking. No severe adverse effects were reported by participants. Conclusions. Overall, employing HFLI TMS appears to have acceptable result; however, further evidence is needed to determine with more certainty its therapeutic effect and adverse effects for addiction intervention.
IL13Rα2 Promotes Proliferation and Outgrowth of Breast Cancer Brain Metastases
Authors: Márquez-Ortiz R. Alejandro , Contreras-Zárate Maria J. , Tesic Vesna , Alvarez-Eraso Karen L.F. , Kwak Gina , Littrell Zachary , Costello James C. , Sreekanth Varsha , Ormond D. Ryan , Karam Sana D. , Kabos Peter , Cittelly Diana M.
Published: September 2021

Purpose:

The survival of women with brain metastases (BM) from breast cancer remains very poor, with over 80% dying within a year of their diagnosis. Here, we define the function of IL13Rα2 in outgrowth of breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM) in vitro and in vivo, and postulate IL13Rα2 as a suitable therapeutic target for BM.

Experimental Design:

We performed IHC staining of IL13Rα2 in BCBM to define its prognostic value. Using inducible shRNAs in TNBC and HER2+ breast–brain metastatic models, we assessed IL13Rα2 function in vitro and in vivo. We performed RNAseq and functional studies to define the molecular mechanisms underlying IL13Rα2 function in BCBM.

Results:

High IL13Rα2 expression in BCBM predicted worse survival after BM diagnoses. IL13Rα2 was essential for cancer-cell survival, promoting proliferation while repressing invasion. IL13Rα2 KD resulted in FAK downregulation, repression of cell cycle and proliferation mediators, and upregulation of Ephrin B1 signaling. Ephrin-B1 (i) promoted invasion of BC cells in vitro, (ii) marked micrometastasis and invasive fronts in BCBM, and (iii) predicted shorter disease-free survival and BM-free survival (BMFS) in breast primary tumors known to metastasize to the brain. In experimental metastases models, which bypass early tumor invasion, downregulation of IL13Rα2 before or after tumor seeding and brain intravasation decreased BMs, suggesting that IL13Rα2 and the promotion of a proliferative phenotype is critical to BM progression.

Conclusions:

Non-genomic phenotypic adaptations at metastatic sites are critical to BM progression and patients' prognosis. This study opens the road to use IL13Rα2 targeting as a therapeutic strategy for BM.
Maffucci Syndrome with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Case Report
Authors: Kobayashi Ryoichiro , Shimizu Akira , Kubota Koji , Notake Tsuyoshi , Sugenoya Shinsuke , Hosoda Kiyotaka , Hayashi Hikaru , Yasukawa Koya , Satoh Yayoi , Iwaya Mai , Sano Kenji , Soejima Yuji
Published: September 2021

Maffucci syndrome is characterized by multiple hemangiomas and enchondromas. Somatic mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 are associated with the development of Maffucci syndrome, and these patients develop various malignant nonskeletal tumors in addition to malignant skeletal tumors. We report a case of Maffucci syndrome with IDH1 mutation complicated by intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The patient was a 35-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Maffucci syndrome in childhood. She was referred to our department because of a large hepatic tumor. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen was 27.1 ng/mL upon laboratory examination. CT scanning showed a large low-density tumor (90 × 70 mm) in the right lobe of the liver, and MRI revealed a multilobulated and fibrous tumor, which was observed as high signal intensity on T2- and diffusion-weighted images and low signal intensity on T1-weighted images. Positron emission tomography-CT revealed peritoneal dissemination and cancer spread to the muscles of the back. Finally, she was diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with dissemination and metastases. We performed a tumor biopsy to determine a treatment plan for chemotherapy. Sanger sequencing of a tumor biopsy identified a mutation in IDH1 at c.394C>T (R132C), but the patient died of rapid cancer progression before the chemotherapy could be initiated. Although rare, malignant tumors can develop in patients with Maffucci syndrome; therefore, it is necessary to monitor these tumors through careful and periodic observation.
Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Recurrent or Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma May Be Affected by Tumor Sites
Authors: Guo Jhe-Cyuan , Lin Chen-Yuan , Lin Chia-Chi , Huang Ta-Chen , Lien Ming-Yu , Lu Li-Chun , Kuo Hung-Yang , Hsu Chih-Hung
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Heterogeneous tumor response has been reported in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This study investigated whether the tumor site is associated with the response to ICIs in patients with recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: Patients with ESCC who had measurable tumors in the liver, lung, or lymph node (LN) according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) 1.1 and received ICIs at 2 medical centers in Taiwan were enrolled. In addition to RECIST 1.1, tumor responses were determined per individual organ basis according to organ-specific criteria modified from RECIST 1.1. Fisher test or χ2 test was used for statistical analysis. Results: In total, 37 patients were enrolled. The overall response rate per RECIST 1.1 was 13.5%. Measurable tumors in the LN, lung, and liver were observed in 26, 17, and 13 patients, respectively. The organ-specific response rates were 26.9%, 29.4%, and 15.4% for the LN, lung, and liver tumors, respectively (p = 0.05). The organ-specific disease control rates were 69.2%, 52.9%, and 21.1% for the LN, lung, and liver tumors, respectively (p = 0.024). Five (27.8%) among 18 patients harboring at least 2 involved organs had heterogeneous tumor response. Conclusion: The response and disease control to ICIs may differ in ESCC tumors located at different metastatic sites, with a lesser likelihood of response and disease control in metastatic liver tumors than in tumors located at the LNs and lung.
Surgery for Combined Hamartoma of the Retina and Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Authors: van der Sommen Charlotte Maria , van Romunde Saskia Helena Margaretha , van Overdam Koen
Published: September 2021

There is no consensus on whether and when surgical treatment is indicated for combined hamartoma of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (CHRRPE). We aim to discuss the benefits of surgical intervention and techniques that may improve the outcome. A 24-year-old man experienced progressive visual loss for 6 months in his left eye due to CHRRPE. At presentation, visual acuity was 1.3 LogMAR and fundoscopy revealed extensive tractional pre- and epiretinal membranes, subretinal exudation, and a vasoproliferative tumor in the inferior periphery. A complete vitrectomy was performed, while paying special attention to vitreous shaving at the vitreous base and removal of vitreoschisis-induced vitreous cortex remnants (VCR) from the retinal surface posterior to the vitreous base. Tractional membranes and internal limiting membrane were peeled, and the vasoproliferative tumor was excised. Silicone oil tamponade was removed 11 weeks after surgery. No intra- or postoperative complications occurred. Visual acuity improved to 0.8 LogMAR and remained stable for 48-month follow-up. Vitreoretinal surgery can prevent complications that occur with CHRRPE. In addition, visual function may improve even if the initial visual acuity is low. Timely and complete vitrectomy with extensive membranectomy and detection and removal of VCR is recommended to avoid complications in challenging CHRRPE.
Counter-Irrigation as a Novel Technique versus the Standard Technique in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Prospective Randomized Trial
Authors: El-Sakka Ahmed , Elgamasy Abdelnaser , Sallam Karim , Soliman Mohamed G.
Published: September 2021

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of our counter-irrigation technique versus the standard technique in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) by assessment of the stone-free rate after the procedures and its safety in terms of comparing the intraoperative time, Hb deficit, blood transfusion, length of hospital stay, auxiliary procedures, and perioperative complications with that of the standard one. Methods: This prospective randomized trial was conducted on patients with renal stone 2–3 cm in diameter without contraindications to PCNL. The patients were randomized into group A in which the counter-irrigation technique has been performed and group B who were managed by the standard technique. The preoperative characteristics including demographic data and stone parameters were compared between both groups. The primary outcome was the stone-free rate assessed by noncontrast spiral CT after 3 months. The secondary outcome included intraoperative time, Hb deficit, blood transfusion, hospital stay, auxiliary procedure required, and rate of complications. Results: Forty-eight patients were included in this study. Overall, no significant difference was observed between both groups regarding preoperative characteristics, Hb deficit, and complication rate. Operative time was significantly shorter in group B (p = 0.001). None of our patients required blood transfusion. The stone-free rates at 3 months were significantly better in group A (95% for group A and 70% for group B, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Our results indicate that our counter-irrigation technique has lower stone migration with subsequent significantly better stone-free rate versus the standard technique. We can recommend this technique as a potentially valid option for cases with large stone burden when the access to the upper calyx is feasible to minimize significant residual fragments.
PhosSNPs-Regulated Gene Network and Pathway Significant for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: He Pei , Jiang Fei , Guo Wei , Guo Yu-Fan , Lei Shu-Feng , Deng Fei-Yan
Published: September 2021

Objectives: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are critical for immunity and participate in multiple human diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). PhosSNPs are nonsynonymous SNPs influencing protein phosphorylation, thus probably modulate cell signaling and gene expression. We aimed to identify phosSNPs-regulated gene network/pathway potentially significant for RA. Methods: We collected genome-wide phosSNP genotyping data and transcriptome-wide mRNA expression data from PBMCs of a Chinese sample. We discovered and verified with public datasets differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with RA, and replicated RA-associated SNPs in our study sample. We performed a targeted expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) study on significant phosSNPs and DEGs. Results: We identified 29 nominally significant eQTL phosSNPs and 83 target genes, and constructed comprehensive regulatory/interaction networks, highlighting the vital effects of two eQTL phosSNPs (rs371513 and rs4824675, FDR <0.05) and four critical node genes (HSPA4, NDUFA2, MRPL15, and ATP5O). Besides, two node/key genes NDUFA2 and ATP5O, regulated by rs371513, were significantly enriched in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation pathway. Besides, four pairs of eQTL effects were replicated independently in whole blood and/or transformed fibroblasts. Conclusions: The findings delineated a potential role of protein phosphorylation and genetic variations in RA and warranted the significant roles of phosSNPs in regulating RA-associated genes expression in PBMCs. The results pointed out the relevance and significance of oxidative phosphorylation pathway to RA.
Hemodialysis Initiation in Oldest-Old Patients: A Case Series
Authors: Maenosono Ryoichi , Matsunaga Tomohisa , Yoshikawa Yuki , Nishimura Kazuki , Onaka Haruhiko , Komura Kazumasa , Uehara Hirofumi , Azuma Haruhito
Published: September 2021

With an increase in the number of older adults worldwide, the oldest-old population, defined as individuals over the age of 90, is also growing. Japan is now facing the problem of a “super-aged society” in which over 21% of the population is aged over 65. The oldest-old constituted 1.8% (2.31 million) of the Japanese population in 2019. Such individuals have special health-care needs. In cases of acute or chronic (or both) renal failure in the oldest-old, it becomes difficult to decide whether dialysis should be initiated. The issue is controversial, and there is some debate on whether dialysis should be avoided in elderly people because of their frailty or if it should be initiated to enable them to spend their remaining years with their families by improving their quality of life. Herein, we describe our experience in 4 cases of hemodialysis initiated in patients over the age of 90. In our experience, dialysis enabled them to spend the rest of their lives with their families, which could not have been possible without it. Although further studies are needed, we concluded that oldest-old individuals in good general health could be eligible for and benefit from hemodialysis.
Metastatic Choroidal Melanoma Presenting as Neovascular Glaucoma
Authors: Fliney Gregory , Ahmed Osama , Young Benjamin , Teng Christopher , Pointdujour-Lim Renelle
Published: September 2021

Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adults and can have varying presentations, although it is frequently asymptomatic. One rare presentation of uveal melanoma is neovascular glaucoma (NVG). We present a case of a 20-year-old male who presented with 2 weeks of left eye redness and decreased vision who was found to have NVG. He was referred for evaluation of glaucoma. Fundoscopic and ultrasonographic examination revealed a mushroom-shaped choroidal mass with low internal reflectivity consistent with choroidal melanoma. The patient underwent enucleation, and metastatic workup revealed hepatic metastases. The patient died 18 months after initial diagnosis. This case emphasizes the importance of a complete ophthalmic evaluation in cases presenting with NVG of unclear etiology to exclude the presence of a potentially life-threatening intraocular tumor.
Establishing Stroke Services in the Republic of Georgia
Authors: Katsarava Zaza , Akhvlediani Tamar , Janelidze Tamar , Gudadze Tamar , Todua Marina , Akhvlediani Kakhaber , Khinikadze Mirza , Egutidze Giorgi , Margania Temur , Tsiskaridze Alexander
Published: September 2021

Introduction: This article summarizes the medical experience in establishing stroke units and systemic thrombolysis in Georgia, which, like many other post-Soviet countries, still faces problems in organizing stroke care even after 30 years of independence. Patients and Methods: We created an example of treating acute stroke with systemic thrombolysis and introduced stroke units in several hospitals in the country, including standardization of the diagnostic and treatment process, consistent evaluation, and monthly feedback to the stroke unit staff. Results: Systemic thrombolysis has become a clinical routine in some large hospitals and is meanwhile reimbursed by the state insurance. The data of consecutive 1,707 stroke patients in 4 major cities demonstrated significant time lost at the prehospital level, due to failure in identifying stroke symptoms, delay in notification, or transportation. The consequent quality reports resulted in a dramatic increase in adherence to the European and national guidelines. A mandatory dysphagia screening and subsequent treatment led to a decrease in pneumonia rates. Discussion: We discuss our experience and suggestions on how to overcome clinical, financial, and ethical problems in establishing a stroke services in a developing country. Conclusion: The Georgian example might be useful for doctors in other post-Soviet countries or other parts of the world.
Spontaneous Hematomas in COVID-19 Patients on Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin
Authors: Taleja Hitesh , Nair Vipin Venugopal , Yadav Sunanda , Venkatnarayanan Raghavendra , Roy Nilanjan , Rao Pankaj
Published: September 2021

Background: COVID-19 patients are at increased risk of coagulopathy. This coagulopathy may be due to a severe pro-inflammatory state (cytokine storm) and/or by viral sepsis. This can sometimes lead to consumption coagulopathy and decreased platelet count, leading to increased risk of bleeding and may manifest like hematomas in atypical locations. These bleeding manifestations may be spontaneous or can be induced by even minor trauma. Cases: It is a single-center retrospective analysis. Four patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 depicting increased risk of bleeding manifestations were included. Patients in our study were managed as per guidelines recommended by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Directorate General of Health Services, Government of India. Results: All patients were male. The mean age was 56 ± 18.64 years. One patient was managed conservatively with discontinuation of anticoagulants, volume resuscitation, and transfusion of blood products. Drainage with incision was done for 2 patients. One was managed with pigtail drainage. Conclusion: The effect of anticoagulants given in therapy and their varied presentations are discussed in this article. The article concludes that we need vigilant observation to identify this complication in the early period, resulting in successful management.
Cocaine Elevates Calcium-Dependent Activator Protein for Secretion 2 in the Mouse Orbitofrontal Cortex
Authors: Trinoskey-Rice Gracy E. , Woon Ellen P. , Pitts Elizabeth G. , Gourley Shannon L.
Published: September 2021

Calcium-dependent activator protein for secretion 2 (CAPS2; also referred to as CADPS2) is a dense core vesicle-associated protein that promotes the activity-dependent release of neuropeptides including neurotrophins. Addictive drugs appear to prime neurotrophin release in multiple brain regions, but mechanistic factors are still being elucidated. Here, experimenters administered cocaine to adolescent mice at doses that potentiated later cocaine self-administration. Experimenter-administered cocaine elevated the CAPS2 protein content in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC; but not striatum) multiple weeks after drug exposure. Meanwhile, proteins that are sensitive to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) release and binding (phosphorylated protein kinase B and phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and GABAAα1 levels) did not differ between cocaine-exposed and naive mice in the OFC. This pattern is consistent with evidence that CAPS2 primes stimulated release of neurotrophins like BDNF, rather than basal levels. Thus, cocaine administered at behaviorally relevant doses elevates CAPS2 protein content in the OFC, and the effects are detected long after cocaine exposure.
Virtual sacristy: the interaction with the heritage
Authors: Costa Renata Bulhões
Published: September 2021

Digital technologies contribute to access, knowledge and interaction with the historical heritage. From this stimulus, the user gets to know the patrimonial asset, as well as tends to visit, appreciate and preserve it. This may help to promote tourism and strengthen local culture. This article aims to present different forms of interaction with heritage through remote and virtual communication resources. The patrimonial asset analysed is a convent named Santo Antônio do Cairu, located at the municipality of Cairu, in the state of Bahia, Brazil. This study presents a virtual visit to the Convent through photographic panoramas. The lavabo is highlighted, which has been digitally reconstituted by Dense Stereo Matching (DSM) technique. The results are available for visualization and interaction in Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR). From these resources, a website has been created for the user to easily interact with the virtual elements and to access the information about the historical and architectural details of the sacristy. This content, available on the website https://conventodecairu.wixsite.com/sacristia, seeks to facilitate the access to scientific information and to contribute to the diffusion of the knowledge regarding the convent amongst the general public and the specialists in the field.
Reconstrução digital do patrimônio arquitetônico para ambientes virtuais interativos 3D: estudo de métodos para modelagem geométrica de edificações existentes
Authors: Silva Gabriela Linhares da , Groetelaars Natalie Johanna
Published: September 2021

Com os constantes avanços tecnológicos, novas formas de documentação digital do patrimônio têm surgido, permitindo a reconstrução virtual de edificações e sítios de interesse histórico e cultural. O uso de ambientes virtuais interativos, como em aplicações de realidade virtual e jogos digitais, estão cada vez mais sendo estudados para utilização em diversas áreas, buscando métodos mais interativos e imersivos de aprendizado. O surgimento de ferramentas gratuitas que otimizam o desenvolvimento dessas aplicações, como os game engines, permitem a elaboração de formas inovadoras de conhecer e interagir com o patrimônio edificado, que podem ser compartilhadas online e através de diferentes dispositivos móveis, facilitando o acesso a esse bem. Este artigo tem por objetivo: investigar, por meio de um estudo prático, diferentes métodos e técnicas de modelagem geométrica de edificações existentes de interesse histórico; inserir os diferentes modelos gerados na ferramenta Unreal Engine 4; por fim, realizar uma análise comparativa da visualização desses modelos, identificando qual o melhor workflow para a representação dessas edificações, visando o futuro desenvolvimento de um ambiente virtual interativo 3D.
Tecnologias para levantamento e ensaios não destrutivos: ações de cooperação técnica e políticas públicas como perspectivas para a preservação do patrimônio
Authors: Caldana Junior Valter Luis , Rolim Mariana de Souza , Michelin Guilherme Antonio
Published: September 2021

Atualmente, é grande o debate sobre a preservação do patrimônio, entre outras questões, considerando a necessidade de um novo olhar que possa incentivar o uso de diversos edifícios em áreas centrais que estão abandonados ou subutilizados. Nessa perspectiva, a relação entre preservação de patrimônio e o uso de novas tecnologias ganha mais destaque em um mundo globalizado. O presente artigo pretende apresentar ações realizadas em cooperação técnica envolvendo levantamento arquitetônico por escaneamento 3D e ensaios não destrutivos em patrimônio cultural. Dessa forma, o artigo apresenta o entendimento da documentação do patrimônio como base para sua preservação. Em seguida, apresenta algumas possibilidades de levantamentos e de ensaios não destrutivos, a partir de quatro experiências (Largo da Memória e Monumento à Independência, na cidade de São Paulo; Seminário Presbiteriano do Sul, em Campinas-SP e Fazenda Lageado, em Botucatu-SP). As experiências apresentadas foram realizadas em cooperação com instituições de pesquisa, e a partir delas se pretende relacionar as possibilidades como bases para a formulação de políticas públicas de preservação do patrimônio.
Editorial V16 N3 2021: tecnologias digitais e cooperações internacionais na gestão do patrimônio cultural, arquitetônico e urbanístico
Authors: Pirazzoli Giacomo , Fabricio Márcio Minto
Published: September 2021

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Coronary Artery Anomalies
Authors: Gentile Francesco , Castiglione Vincenzo , De Caterina Raffaele
Published: September 2021

Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) are a group of congenital conditions characterized by abnormal origin or course of any of the 3 main epicardial coronary arteries. Although CAAs have been identified as a common underlying condition in young athletes with sudden cardiac death, the widespread use of invasive and noninvasive coronary imaging has led to increased recognition of CAAs among adults. CAAS are often discovered as an incidental finding during the diagnostic workup for ischemic heart disease. The clinical correlates and prognostic implication of CAAs remain poorly understood in this context, and guideline-recommended therapeutic choices are supported by a low level of scientific evidence. Several studies have examined whether assessment of CAA-related myocardial ischemia can improve risk stratification in these patients, suggesting that multimodality imaging and functional tests may be key in the management of CAAs. The aim of this review is to outline definitions, classification, and epidemiology of the most relevant CAAs, highlighting recent advances and the potential impact of multimodality evaluation, and to discuss current therapeutic opportunities.
Weight-Loss Strategies for Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Hall Michael E. , Cohen Jordana B. , Ard Jamy D. , Egan Brent M. , Hall John E. , Lavie Carl J. , Ma Jun , Ndumele Chiadi E. , Schauer Philip R. , Shimbo Daichi ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Hypertension; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; and Stroke Council
Published: September 2021

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and renal diseases in the United States and worldwide. Obesity accounts for much of the risk for primary hypertension through several mechanisms, including neurohormonal activation, inflammation, and kidney dysfunction. As the prevalence of obesity continues to increase, hypertension and associated cardiorenal diseases will also increase unless more effective strategies to prevent and treat obesity are developed. Lifestyle modification, including diet, reduced sedentariness, and increased physical activity, is usually recommended for patients with obesity; however, the long-term success of these strategies for reducing adiposity, maintaining weight loss, and reducing blood pressure has been limited. Effective pharmacotherapeutic and procedural strategies, including metabolic surgeries, are additional options to treat obesity and prevent or attenuate obesity hypertension, target organ damage, and subsequent disease. Medications can be useful for short- and long-term obesity treatment; however, prescription of these drugs is limited. Metabolic surgery is effective for producing sustained weight loss and for treating hypertension and metabolic disorders in many patients with severe obesity. Unanswered questions remain related to the mechanisms of obesity-related diseases, long-term efficacy of different treatment and prevention strategies, and timing of these interventions to prevent obesity and hypertension-mediated target organ damage. Further investigation, including randomized controlled trials, is essential to addressing these questions, and emphasis should be placed on the prevention of obesity to reduce the burden of hypertensive cardiovascular and kidney diseases and subsequent mortality.
Effects of Within-Person Variability in Spot Urinary Sodium Measurements on Associations With Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Re Federica , Hammami Imen , Littlejohns Thomas J. , Arnold Matthew , Lewington Sarah , Clarke Robert J. , Carter Jennifer L.
Published: September 2021

Randomized trials of salt restriction have consistently demonstrated that decreasing salt consumption lowers blood pressure, but results of observational studies of salt intake and cardiovascular disease have been conflicting. After excluding individuals with prevalent cardiovascular or kidney disease in the prospective UK Biobank study, we examined the within-person variability in spot urinary sodium excretion and its impact on associations with systolic blood pressure and risk of incident cardiovascular disease. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to assess within-person variability in spot urinary sodium, and associations between sodium and blood pressure were assessed using linear regression in participants with measurements at baseline (N=355 134) and after 9 years (N=33 915). Cox regression was used to assess associations with the risk of cardiovascular disease over the same follow-up period (N=5566 events). The within-person variability in urinary sodium was extreme, with a self-correlation coefficient of 0.35 over 4 years. Each 100 mmol/L higher usual urinary sodium was associated with 3.09 mm Hg higher systolic blood pressure (95% CI, 2.7–3.48) at baseline, but had no association at 9 years (0.97 [−0.44 to 2.37]). Likewise, there was no association between urinary sodium and risk of cardiovascular disease over the same follow-up period (hazard ratio, 1.05, [0.87–1.26]). While spot urinary sodium measurements were associated with immediate effects on blood pressure at baseline, the extreme within-person variability in urinary sodium precluded detection of associations with future blood pressure at resurvey or risk of cardiovascular disease. The limitations of observational studies, irrespective of study size, should be recognized when assessing public policy on salt restriction.
Effect of Adjusted Antiplatelet Therapy on Preventing Ischemic Events After Stenting for Intracranial Aneurysms
Authors: Li Wenqiang , Zhu Wei , Wang Anxin , Zhang Guojun , Zhang Yisen , Wang Kun , Zhang Ying , Wang Chao , Zhang Limin , Zhao Hui , Wang Ping , Chen Kelin , Liu Jian , Yang Xinjian
Published: September 2021

Background and Purpose:

This study tests whether patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm who underwent stent placement benefitted from platelet function monitoring–guided adjustment of antiplatelet therapy.

Methods:

We conducted a randomized, open-label, parallel group, assessor-blinded trial. Patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm who underwent stent placement were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either drug adjustment (patients who had high on-treatment platelet reactivity to antiplatelet therapy on the basis of platelet function monitoring [monitoring group]) or conventional therapy (without monitoring and drug adjustment [conventional group]). The second monitoring was performed 14 days after randomization in patients with drug adjustment. The primary outcome was the composite frequency of ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, stent thrombosis, urgent revascularization, and cerebrovascular death within 7 days after stent implantation. The safety outcome was the composite frequency of major, minor, or minimal bleeding within 1 month after stent implantation.

Results:

In total, 314 patients were included (n=157 per group). The primary combined outcome occurred in 19 patients (12.1%) in the conventional group and 8 patients (5.1%) in the monitoring group (hazard ratio, 0.39 [95% CI, 0.17–0.92];
P
=0.03). Ischemic stroke occurred at a lower frequency in the monitoring group compared with that in the conventional group (4.5% versus 12.1%; hazard ratio, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.14–0.83];
P
=0.01), which drove the overall primary combined outcome. The safety outcome occurred in the monitoring group (7.0%) and in the conventional group (1.9%; hazard ratio, 3.87 [95% CI, 1.06–14.14];
P
=0.03). A significant difference was observed in the frequency of minor or minimal bleeding events between the two groups (monitoring group versus conventional group, 6.4% versus 1.3%;
P
=0.02) but not in the frequency of major bleeding events between the two groups.

Conclusions:

Platelet function monitoring–guided antiplatelet therapy reduces thromboembolic events in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm after stent placement, significantly enhancing minor or minimal bleeding events but not major bleeding events.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03989557.
Relation Between the Corticospinal Tract State and Activities of Daily Living in Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Jang Sung Ho , Choi Eun Bi
Published: September 2021

Background and Purpose:

We investigated the relation between the ipsilesional corticospinal tract (CST) state and activity of daily living independence in patients with chronic intracerebral hemorrhage.

Methods:

Fifty-six consecutive patients with unilateral intracerebral hemorrhage and 38 healthy control subjects were recruited for this study. The Motricity index and the modified Barthel index were used to evaluate motor function of the affected extremities and activity of daily living independence, respectively. The diffusion tensor imaging parameter values for fractional anisotropy (FA) and voxel number (VN) of the CST were determined. Ratios of the ipsilesional to the contralesional CST measures were calculated and are presented as the CST-ratio (FA value and VN).

Results:

The FA value and VN of the ipsilesional CST and the CST-ratio in the patient group were lower than those of the control group (
P
<0.05). There was a strong positive correlation between the Motricity index score of the affected extremities and the modified Barthel index score (
P
<0.05), while the FA value and VN of the ipsilesional CST and the CST-ratio showed moderate and strong positive correlations with the Motricity index and modified Barthel index scores, respectively (
P
<0.05). In addition, the VN of the ipsilesional CST showed excellent utility as a classifier, whereas the FA value of the ipsilesional CST and the FA value and VN of the CST-ratio showed good classifier utility (
P
<0.05).

Conclusions:

We demonstrated that impairment of activity of daily living independency was closely related to the injury severity of the ipsilesional CST in patients with chronic intracerebral hemorrhage. In addition, the injury severity of the ipsilesional CST can be used to classify the degree of activity of daily living independency.

Registration:

URL:
http://www.e-irb.com/index.jsp
; Unique identifier: 2021-03-014.
Cerebellar Superficial Siderosis in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy
Authors: Koemans Emma A. , Voigt Sabine , Rasing Ingeborg , van Harten Thijs W. , Jolink Wilmar M.T. , Schreuder Floris H.B.M. , van Zwet Erik W. , van Buchem Mark A. , van Osch Matthias J.P. , Terwindt Gisela M. , Klijn Catharina J.M. , van Walderveen Marianne A.A. , Wermer Marieke J.H.
Published: September 2021

Background and Purpose:

Although evidence accumulates that the cerebellum is involved in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), cerebellar superficial siderosis is not considered to be a disease marker. The objective of this study is to investigate cerebellar superficial siderosis frequency and its relation to hemorrhagic magnetic resonance imaging markers in patients with sporadic and Dutch-type hereditary CAA and patients with deep perforating arteriopathy–related intracerebral hemorrhage.

Methods:

We recruited patients from 3 prospective 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging studies and scored siderosis and hemorrhages. Cerebellar siderosis was identified as hypointense linear signal loss (black) on susceptibility-weighted or T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging which follows at least one folia of the cerebellar cortex (including the vermis).

Results:

We included 50 subjects with Dutch-type hereditary CAA, (mean age 50 years), 45 with sporadic CAA (mean age 72 years), and 43 patients with deep perforating arteriopathy–related intracerebral hemorrhage (mean age 54 years). Cerebellar superficial siderosis was present in 5 out of 50 (10% [95% CI, 2–18]) patients with Dutch-type hereditary CAA, 4/45 (9% [95% CI, 1–17]) patients with sporadic CAA, and 0 out of 43 (0% [95% CI, 0–8]) patients with deep perforating arteriopathy–related intracerebral hemorrhage. Patients with cerebellar superficial siderosis had more supratentorial lobar (median number 9 versus 2, relative risk, 2.9 [95% CI, 2.5–3.4]) and superficial cerebellar macrobleeds (median number 2 versus 0, relative risk, 20.3 [95% CI, 8.6–47.6]) compared with patients without the marker. The frequency of cortical superficial siderosis and superficial cerebellar microbleeds was comparable.

Conclusions:

We conclude that cerebellar superficial siderosis might be a novel marker for CAA.
Water for Bongo: Creative Adaptation, Resilience & Dar es Salaam's Water Supply
Authors: Bender Matthew V.
Published: September 2021

Global climate change poses a serious threat to the water supplies of the world's cities. This is perhaps no truer than for Dar es Salaam, the largest city and commercial capital of Tanzania. What was eighty years ago a small town of a mere forty thousand residents is today the world's second-fastest growing city, with a population of more than six million. This growth has come despite a history of racist, colonial urban development and the inadequacy of its formal water supply, which services a fraction of the needs of its residents. This essay examines the development of Dar es Salaam's anthropogenic waterscape, or water infrastructure, and argues that the city's tremendous growth has come despite its inability to provide basic services. In the absence of reliable public water, its residents have adapted creatively, developing their own solutions in a way that has drawn on knowledge and practice from rural areas as well as new urban-centered strategies. This history of creative adaptation, and its benefits and drawbacks, provides a useful framework for thinking about the meaning of resilience in Africa's urban centers in an era of increasing climate uncertainty.
Ghana's Akosombo Dam, Volta Lake Fisheries & Climate Change
Authors: Miescher Stephan F.
Published: September 2021

In Ghana, the Pwalugu Dam in the Upper East is in the final planning stage. Whereas promoters of Ghana's first dams emphasized the need for generating electricity to modernize and industrialize the new nation, the planners of Pwalugu have focused on water issues. Due to climate change, droughts have had a devastating impact on local agriculture. The dam's primary purpose is an irrigation scheme and flood control. This essay historicizes these concerns by revisiting the Akosombo Dam, Ghana's largest hydroelectric dam, completed in 1965. The discussion juxtaposes personal recollections of dam-affected communities with reports by administrators, biologists, and social scientists. The essay draws on government records, scientific studies about Volta Lake, and oral histories. Ultimately, it argues, builders and administrators of the Akosombo Dam failed to address most water issues, despite ample knowledge about their existence. One hopes that these shortcomings will not be repeated in the Pwalugu project.
Sensitivity as a Complexity Measure for Sequence Classification Tasks
Authors: Hahn Michael , Jurafsky Dan , Futrell Richard
Published: September 2021

We introduce a theoretical framework for understanding and predicting the complexity of sequence classification tasks, using a novel extension of the theory of Boolean function sensitivity. The sensitivity of a function, given a distribution over input sequences, quantifies the number of disjoint subsets of the input sequence that can each be individually changed to change the output. We argue that standard sequence classification methods are biased towards learning low-sensitivity functions, so that tasks requiring high sensitivity are more difficult. To that end, we show analytically that simple lexical classifiers can only express functions of bounded sensitivity, and we show empirically that low-sensitivity functions are easier to learn for LSTMs. We then estimate sensitivity on 15 NLP tasks, finding that sensitivity is higher on challenging tasks collected in GLUE than on simple text classification tasks, and that sensitivity predicts the performance both of simple lexical classifiers and of vanilla BiLSTMs without pretrained contextualized embeddings. Within a task, sensitivity predicts which inputs are hard for such simple models. Our results suggest that the success of massively pretrained contextual representations stems in part because they provide representations from which information can be extracted by low-sensitivity decoders.
Burrowing mud shrimps (Decapoda: Axiidea & Gebiidea) of the northeastern Black Sea and their external parasites
Authors: MARIN IVAN
Published: September 2021

The article presents a brief review on the fauna of the axiidean and gebiidean burrowing mud shrimps and their external parasites in the northeastern coast of the Black Sea, where only two rather common species, Gilvossius candidus (Olivi, 1792) and Upogebia pusilla (Petagna, 1792) (Gebiidea: Upogebiidae), were previously recorded. Necallianassa truncata (Giard & Bonnier, 1890) is confirmed and Gilvossius tyrrhenus (Petagna, 1792) (Axiidea: Callianassidae) is firstly recorded for the shallow waters of the northeastern Black Sea, where it was previously probably confused with common and widely distributed Gilvossius candidus (Olivi, 1792). Color photographs of the four species, enhancing the recognition of those species in fields, are provided.
Two new scorpion species from protected areas in Antofagasta Region, Chile (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae, Brachistosternus)
Authors: OJANGUREN-AFFILASTRO ANDRÉS A. , ALFARO FERMÍN M. , PIZARRO-ARAYA JAIME
Published: September 2021

We describe two new scorpion species of genus Brachistosternus from protected areas of Antofagasta Region in northern Chile. Brachistosternus chimba n. sp. has only been collected in La Chimba National Reserve, in the Chilean Coast Range. Brachistosternus llullaillaco n. sp. is a high altitude Andean species of the Lullaillaco National Park. Both species were collected as part of the first survey of the terrestrial arthropods of the protected areas of Antofagasta Region, in the frame of the First National Biodiversity Inventory of Chile of the Integrated System for Monitoring and Evaluation of Native Forest Ecosystems (SIMEF) and Project FIC-R Recovery Plan for La Chimba National Reserve.
A new species in the Simulium vernum group from the Northern Limestone Alps of Austria: Simulium hasekei (Diptera: Simuliidae)
Authors: SEITZ GUNTHER , ADLER PETER H. , REMSCHAK CHRISTINA
Published: September 2021

Simulium hasekei new species is described from the Alps of Austria. It is characterized by a broad trapezoidal ventral plate in the male, long straight arms of the genital fork in the female, a well-developed anterodorsal projection on the weakly woven cocoon, and a deep rounded postgenal cleft and strong paralateral hypostomal teeth in the larva. The species is chromosomally most similar to the Holarctic S. bicorne Dorogostaisky, Rubtsov & Vlasenko and S. fontinale Radzivilovskaya and the Nearctic S. craigi Adler & Currie. It is known from one small ponor brook, in association with S. aureum (Fries) s. s., S. beltukovae (Rubtsov), and Simulium vernum Macquart s. s.
Forrestopius Gauld & Sithole, 2002 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Metopiinae) in South America
Authors: ALVARADO MABEL , PALACIO EDGARD
Published: September 2021

The South American species of Forrestopius Gauld & Sithole, 2002 (Ichneumonidae: Metopiinae) are revised and the genus is redescribed. Eight species from Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, and Venezuela are described as new: F. auguratricis sp. nov., F. jumandi sp. nov., F. nasutus sp. nov., F. otavalo sp. nov., F. petiolatus sp. nov., F. runasimi sp. nov., F. wankawillka sp. nov., and F. yungas sp. nov. An illustrated identification key to all species of the genus is provided. As well, F. larryi Gauld & Sithole, 2002 is transferred to the genus Leurus.