bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multifocal Extranodal Involvement of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Cabuk Devrim , Gullu Y. Taha , Basyigit Ilknur , Acikgoz Ozgur , Uygun Kazım , Yildiz Kursat , Yildiz Fusun
Published: September 2013

Endobronchial involvement of extrapulmonary malignant tumors is uncommon and mostly associated with breast, kidney, colon, and rectum carcinomas. A 68-year-old male with a prior diagnosis of colon non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) was admitted to the hospital with a complaint of cough, sputum, and dyspnea. The chest radiograph showed right hilar enlargement and opacity at the right middle zone suggestive of a mass lesion. Computed tomography of thorax revealed a right-sided mass lesion extending to thoracic wall with the destruction of the third and the fourth ribs and a right hilar mass lesion. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed in order to evaluate endobronchial involvement and showed stenosis with mucosal tumor infiltration in right upper lobe bronchus. The pathological examination of bronchoscopic biopsy specimen reported diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and the patient was accepted as the endobronchial recurrence of sigmoid colon NHL. The patient is still under treatment of R-ICE (rituximab-ifosfamide-carboplatin-etoposide) chemotherapy and partial regression of pulmonary lesions was noted after 3 courses of treatment.
Optimal Postoperative Treatment for Composite Laryngeal Small Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Ebisumoto Koji , Sakai Akihiro , Okami Kenji , Sugimoto Ryousuke , Saito Kosuke , Iida Masahiro
Published: September 2013

Small cell carcinoma (SmCC) most commonly occurs in the lung and rarely arises from the head and neck region. Further, composite SmCC is extremely rare. Therefore, no postoperative treatment strategy has been established. We report a 59-year-old male patient referred to our outpatient clinic for further examination and treatment of a laryngeal tumor. Biopsy from the tumor revealed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The preoperative diagnosis was supraglottic SCC (T3N2bM0), and total laryngectomy and bilateral neck dissection were performed. Pathological examination revealed 2 individual cancer components: SmCC and SCC. Postoperative chemoradiotherapy (2 courses of cisplatin (CDDP) and etoposide (VP-16)) was indicated. Following the postoperative chemoradiotherapy, 2 courses of adjuvant chemotherapy were administered. The patient is currently alive with no evidence of disease at 36 months following the completion of therapy. Postoperative chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy are optimal treatment strategies for laryngeal composite SmCC.
Quantifying the Sources of the Severe Haze over the Southern Hebei Using the CMAQ Model
Authors: Yang Jing , Zhang Pu , Meng Chenchen , Su Jie , Wei Zhe , Zhang Fenfen , Wei Wei , Zhao Xiujuan
Published: September 2013

The Southern Hebei of China has experienced an obvious increase of the haze occurrence frequency in the recent years. It has turned out to be one of the most seriously polluted areas in China. This study is aimed at quantifying the sources of the serious haze pollution over the Southern Hebei area, using the Mesoscale Modeling System Generation 5 (MM5) and the Models‐3/Community Multiscale Air Quality Model (CMAQ) modeling system. The sectoral contributions by the local and the surrounding regions to the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in the two representative cities, Shijiazhuang and Xingtai, were analyzed by applying the method of scenario analysis. It will provide useful information to the policy making in the severe air pollution control in the Southern Hebei area.
The Application of the Undetermined Fundamental Frequency Method on the Period-Doubling Bifurcation of the 3D Nonlinear System
Authors: Ge Gen , Wang Wei
Published: September 2013

The analytical method to predict the period-doubling bifurcation of the three-dimensional (3D) system is improved by using the undetermined fundamental frequency method. We compute the stable response of the system subject to the quadratic and cubic nonlinearity by introducing the undetermined fundamental frequency. For the occurrence of the first and second period-doubling bifurcation, the new bifurcation criterion is accomplished. It depends on the stability of the limit cycle on the central manifold. The explicit applications show that the new results coincide with the results of the numerical simulation as compared with the initial methods.
Epigenetics and Autism
Authors: Mbadiwe Tafari , Millis Richard M.
Published: September 2013

This review identifies mechanisms for altering DNA-histone interactions of cell chromatin to upregulate or downregulate gene expression that could serve as epigenetic targets for therapeutic interventions in autism. DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) can phosphorylate histone H3 at T6. Aided by protein kinase Cβ1, the DNMT lysine-specific demethylase-1 prevents demethylation of H3 at K4. During androgen-receptor-(AR-) dependent gene activation, this sequence may produce AR-dependent gene overactivation which may partly explain the male predominance of autism. AR-dependent gene overactivation in conjunction with a DNMT mechanism for methylating oxytocin receptors could produce high arousal inputs to the amygdala resulting in aberrant socialization, a prime characteristic of autism. Dysregulation of histone methyltransferases and histone deacetylases (HDACs) associated with low activity of methyl CpG binding protein-2 at cytosine-guanine sites in genes may reduce the capacity for condensing chromatin and silencing genes in frontal cortex, a site characterized by decreased cortical interconnectivity in autistic subjects. HDAC1 inhibition can overactivate mRNA transcription, a putative mechanism for the increased number of cerebral cortical columns and local frontal cortex hyperactivity in autistic individuals. These epigenetic mechanisms underlying male predominance, aberrant social interaction, and low functioning frontal cortex may be novel targets for autism prevention and treatment strategies.
Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Caused byListeria monocytogenesAssociated with Ascitic Fluid Lymphocytosis: A Case Report and Review of Current Empiric Therapy
Authors: Yecies Todd , Inagami Sanae
Published: September 2013

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a potentially deadly complication of ascites. We describe a case of SBP caused byListeria monocytogenesin a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis. This was associated with the unusual finding of ascitic fluid lymphocytosis, which previously had only been associated with tuberculoid or malignant ascites. Given increasing rates of cefotaxime-resistant SBP alongside the possibility of Listeriosis, the use of cefotaxime as first-line therapy in SBP should be reevaluated.
Persistent Mosaicism for 12p Duplication/Triplication Chromosome Structural Abnormality in Peripheral Blood
Authors: Shackelford Amy L. , Conlin Laura K. , Hummel Marybeth , Spinner Nancy B. , Wenger Sharon L.
Published: September 2013

We present a rare case of mosaicism for a structural abnormality of chromosome 12 in a patient with phenotypic features of Pallister-Killian syndrome. A six-month-old child with dysmorphic features, exotropia, hypotonia, and developmental delay was mosaic for both a normal karyotype and a cell line with 12p duplication/triplication in 25 percent of metaphase cells. Utilization of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) identified three copies of probes from the end of the short arm of chromosome 12 (TEL(12p13) locus and the subtelomere (12p terminal)) on the structurally abnormal chromosome 12. Genome-wide SNP array analysis revealed that the regions of duplication and triplication were of maternal origin. The abnormal cell line in our patient was present at 25 percent at six months and 19 months of age in both metaphase and interphase cells from peripheral blood, where typically the isochromosome 12p is absent in the newborn. This may suggest that the gene(s) resulting in a growth disadvantage of abnormal cells in peripheral blood of patients with tetrasomy 12p may not have the same influence when present in only three copies.
Recent Developments of Functional Scaffolds for Craniomaxillofacial Bone Tissue Engineering Applications
Authors: Kinoshita Yukihiko , Maeda Hatsuhiko
Published: September 2013

Autogenous bone grafting remains a gold standard for the reconstruction critical‐sized bone defects in the craniomaxillofacial region. Nevertheless, this graft procedure has several disadvantages such as restricted availability, donor‐site morbidity, and limitations in regard to fully restoring the complicated three‐dimensional structures in the craniomaxillofacial bone. The ultimate goal of craniomaxillofacial bone reconstruction is the regeneration of the physiological bone that simultaneously fulfills both morphological and functional restorations. Developments of tissue engineering in the last two decades have brought such a goal closer to reality. In bone tissue engineering, the scaffolds are fundamental, elemental and mesenchymal stem cells/osteoprogenitor cells and bioactive factors. A variety of scaffolds have been developed and used as spacemakers, biodegradable bone substitutes for transplanting to the new bone, matrices of drug delivery system, or supporting structures enhancing adhesion, proliferation, and matrix production of seeded cells according to the circumstances of the bone defects. However, scaffolds to be clinically completely satisfied have not been developed yet. Development of more functional scaffolds is required to be applied widely to cranio‐maxillofacial bone defects. This paper reviews recent trends of scaffolds for crania‐maxillofacial bone tissue engineering, including our studies.
Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of the Thoracic Vertebra Presenting with Progressive Spastic Paraparesis
Authors: Celiktas Mustafa , Asik Mehmet Ozan , Gezercan Yurdal , Gulsen Mahir
Published: September 2013

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a proliferative benign lesion originating from the synovium and commonly affects large joints of the extremities. PVNS can arise from any synovium in the whole body and rarely affects the zygapophyseal joints of the spine. Spinal PVNS is diagnosed mostly after resection of the mass. In our case we present a 22-year-old male patient showing progressive spastic paraparesis with insidious onset of back pain and difficulty of walking in a relatively short period of 1 month. After gross excision of the mass, diagnosis was established through histopathology. Two years of follow-up period reveals complete resolution of the patient’s complaints and no recurrence on radiologic images.
Real-Time State Estimation in the Cameroon Power System
Authors: Tanyi Emmanuel , Mbinkar Edwin
Published: September 2013

An important tool for the energy management system (EMS) is state estimation. Based on measurements taken throughout the network, state estimation gives an estimation of the state variables of the power system while checking that these estimates are consistent with the measurements. Currently, in the Cameroon power system, state estimates have been provided by ad hoc supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. A disadvantage is that the measurements are not synchronised, which means that state estimation is not very precise during dynamic phenomena in the network. In this paper, real-time phasor measurement units (PMUs) that provide synchronised phasor measurements are proposed for integration into the power system. This approach addresses two important issues associated with the power system state estimation, namely, that of measurement accuracy and that of optimization of the number of measurement sites, their location, and the importance given to their measurements on the dynamic state estimation.
Fecal S100A12 in Healthy Infants and Children
Authors: Day A. S. , Ehn M. , Gearry R. B. , Lemberg D. A. , Leach S. T.
Published: September 2013

Background and Aims. Fecal S100A12 is shown to be a useful noninvasive marker of gut inflammation. However, the studies to date have not characterised the patterns of expression in healthy young children. This study aimed to determine S100A12 levels in infants and children without symptoms of underlying gut disease.Methods. Stool samples were collected from healthy infants (<12 months) and children without gastrointestinal symptoms. Faecal S100A12 was measured by immunoassay.Results. Fifty-six children were recruited. Serial samples were obtained from seven term infants over the first 6 months of life. Single samples were obtained from 49 healthy children ranging from 0.16 to 13.8 years of age. Median S100A12 levels were 0.5 mg/kg (ranging from 0.39 to 25) in the healthy children, with high values (>10 mg/kg) in five infants only. There was no variation between gender. Median S100A12 levels in healthy infants remained below the established normal cut-off from birth to six months of age.Conclusion. S100A12 levels in well infants and children are almost exclusively lower than the standard cut-off. Transiently higher levels may be seen in early infancy. An elevated level of S100A12 in children older than 12 months of age is likely to represent organic gut disease.
Biostratigraphy and Sequence Stratigraphy of Paleogene Deposits in Central Kopet-Dagh Basin (NE of Iran)
Authors: Rivandi Batool , Vahidinia Mohammad , Nadjafi Mehdi , Mahboubi Asadollah , Sadeghi Abbas
Published: September 2013

In this paper, the biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy of marine Paleogene deposits from the Kopet-Dagh basin (NE of Iran) are described. Particularly the absence of Morozovella genus is discussed. In addition, the Paleocene/Eocene boundary has been studied in detail using the record of planktonic and larger benthic foraminifera. This boundary is located probably within a thin red horizon (~10–15 cm) representing a paleosoil. Close to this boundary is located the base of the calcareous test dissolution interval, with the dominance of agglutinated benthic foraminifera and with a sudden decrease in the richness of benthic foraminiferal species. Biostratigraphic studies led to the identification of 33 genera of larger benthic foraminifera and 5 genera of planktonic foraminifera. Petrographical studies indicate that these sediments, consisting of four carbonate lithofacies (15 subfacies), may have been deposited on a shallow carbonate platform (ramp type). These lithofacies have been deposited in open marine, shoal, lagoon, and tidal flat environmental conditions. Sequence stratigraphic analysis led to the identification of four third-order depositional sequences. The interpreted sea-level curve in the Kopet-Dagh basin can be correlated with Paleocene-Eocene global curves, with a sea-level fall in the latest Paleocene, followed by a sea-level rise in the earliest Eocene.
New Preconditioning Techniques for Saddle Point Problems Arising from the Time-Harmonic Maxwell Equations
Authors: Liu Qingbing
Published: September 2013

We study two parameterized preconditioners for iteratively solving the saddle point linear systems arising from finite element discretization of the mixed formulation of the time-harmonic Maxwell equations in electromagnetic problems. We establish some spectral properties of the preconditioned saddle point matrices, involving the choice of the parameter. Meanwhile, we provide some results of numerical experiments to show the effectiveness of the proposed parameterized preconditioners.
Aircraft Detection from VHR Images Based on Circle‐Frequency Filter and Multilevel Features
Authors: Gao Feng , Xu Qizhi , Li Bo
Published: September 2013

Aircraft automatic detection from very high‐resolution (VHR) images plays an important role in a wide variety of applications. This paper proposes a novel detector for aircraft detection from very high‐resolution (VHR) remote sensing images. To accurately distinguish aircrafts from background, a circle‐frequency filter (CF‐filter) is used to extract the candidate locations of aircrafts from a large size image. A multi‐level feature model is then employed to represent both local appearance and spatial layout of aircrafts by means of Robust Hue Descriptor and Histogram of Oriented Gradients. The experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method.
The Role of IL-33 in Rheumatic Diseases
Authors: Duan Lihua , Chen Jie , Gong Feili , Shi Guixiu
Published: September 2013

Interleukin-33 (IL-33), a novel member of IL-1 family, has been recently implicated in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. IL-33 can be produced by various types of tissues and cells and induce gene expression of Th2-associated cytokines via binding to the orphan receptor ST2. By promoting Th2 type immune response, IL-33 plays important roles in the allergy, whereas its function in autoimmune diseases attracts more attention. Recent studies reported the correlation of IL-33 with rheumatic diseases, and most of them found that the IL-33 expression levels were consistent with disease activity and development. Furthermore, evidence has indicated that IL-33-related treatment may ameliorate the pathogenic conditions and attenuate disease progression of those rheumatic diseases. Therefore, elucidation of the roles of IL-33 in rheumatic diseases would be beneficial to understand the pathogenesis and therapy of these diseases. In this paper, we will summarize the roles of IL-33 in the rheumatic diseases.
The Relationship between Marital Status and Psychological Resilience in Chronic Pain
Authors: Wade James B. , Hart Robert P. , Wade James H. , Bajaj Jasmohan S. , Price Donald D.
Published: September 2013

We examined the relationship between marital status and a 2-stage model of pain-related effect, consisting of pain unpleasantness and suffering. We studied 1914 chronic pain patients using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) to clarify whether marital status was a determinant factor in the emotional or ideational suffering associated with chronic pain after controlling for pain sensation intensity, age, and ethnicity. Marital status was unrelated to immediate unpleasantness (). We found a strong association with emotional suffering () but not with negative illness beliefs (). Interestingly, widowed subjects experienced significantly less frustration, fear, and anger than all other groups (married, divorced, separated, or single). A final MANCOVA including sex as a covariate revealed that the emotional response to pain was the same for both widow and widower. Only those individuals whose spouse died experienced less emotional turmoil in the face of a condition threatening their lifestyle. These data suggest that after experiencing the death of a spouse, an individual may derive some “emotional inoculation” against future lifestyle threat.
Pomegranate Supplementation Protects against Memory Dysfunction after Heart Surgery: A Pilot Study
Authors: Ropacki Susan A. , Patel Sapna M. , Hartman Richard E.
Published: September 2013

Memory dysfunction is a common complaint following heart surgery and may be related to a diffuse ischemic state induced by microemboli dislodged during the procedure. Ischemia can induce damage by a number of mechanisms, including oxidative stress. Because pomegranates contain a variety of polyphenols with antioxidant and other potentially beneficial effects, we tested whether supplementation with a pomegranate extract before and after heart surgery could protect against postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft and/or valve surgery were given either 2 g of pomegranate extract (in 2 POMx pills) or placebo (pills containing no pomegranate ingredients) per day from one week before surgery to 6 weeks after surgery. The patients were also administered a battery of neuropsychological tests to assess memory function at 1 week before surgery (baseline), 2 weeks after surgery, and 6 weeks after surgery. The placebo group had significant deficits in postsurgery memory retention, and the pomegranate treatment not only protected against this effect, but also actually improved memory retention performance for up to 6 weeks after surgery as compared to presurgery baseline performance.
Asymptotic Solutions of nth Order Dynamic Equation and Oscillations
Authors: Hovhannisyan Gro
Published: September 2013

We establish a new asymptotic theorem for the nth order nonautonomous dynamic equation by its transformation to the almost diagonal system and applying Levinson's asymptotic theorem. Our transformation is given in the terms of unknown phase functions and is chosen in such a way that the entries of the perturbation matrix are the weighted characteristic functions. The characteristic function is defined in the terms of the phase functions and their choice is exible. Further applying this asymptotic theorem we prove the new oscillation and nonoscillation theorems for the solutions of the nth order linear nonautonomous differential equation with complex-valued coefficients. We show that the existence of the oscillatory solutions is connected with the existence of the special pairs of phase functions.
A Novel Interaction between Pyk2 and MAP4K4 Is Integrated with Glioma Cell Migration
Authors: Loftus Joseph C. , Yang Zhongbo , Kloss Jean , Dhruv Harshil , Tran Nhan L. , Riggs Daniel L.
Published: September 2013

Glioma cell migration correlates with Pyk2 activity, but the intrinsic mechanism that regulates the activity of Pyk2 is not fully understood. Previous studies have supported a role for the N-terminal FERM domain in the regulation of Pyk2 activity as mutations in the FERM domain inhibit Pyk2 phosphorylation. To search for novel protein-protein interactions mediated by the Pyk2 FERM domain, we utilized a yeast two-hybrid genetic selection to identify the mammalian Ste20 homolog MAP4K4 as a binding partner for the Pyk2 FERM domain. MAP4K4 coimmunoprecipitated with Pyk2 and was a substrate for Pyk2 but did not coimmunoprecipitate with the closely related focal adhesion kinase FAK. Knockdown of MAP4K4 expression inhibited glioma cell migration and effectively blocked Pyk2 stimulation of glioma cell. Increased expression of MAP4K4 stimulated glioma cell migration; however, this stimulation was blocked by knockdown of Pyk2 expression. These data support that the interaction of MAP4K4 and Pyk2 is integrated with glioma cell migration and suggest that inhibition of this interaction may represent a potential therapeutic strategy to limit glioblastoma tumor dispersion.
Diagnosis of Primary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis of the Vulva in a Postmenopausal Woman
Authors: Kurt Sefa , Canda Mehmet Tunc , Kopuz Aycan , Solakoglu Kahraman Dudu , Tasyurt Abdullah
Published: September 2013

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a very rare disease of female genital tract, most commonly seen in vulva and unusual in postmenopausal period. Herein, we report the 8th case of pure vulvar LCH in a postmenopausal woman. We pay attention to the differential diagnosis in postmenopausal state, features of pathologic diagnosis, and treatment options.
A Circuit Model for CMOS Hall Cells Performance Evaluation including Temperature Effects
Authors: Paun Maria-Alexandra , Sallese Jean-Michel , Kayal Maher
Published: September 2013

In order to provide the information on their Hall voltage, sensitivity, and drift with temperature, a new simpler lumped circuit model for the evaluation of various Hall cells has been developed. In this sense, the finite element model proposed by the authors in this paper contains both geometrical parameters (dimensions of the cells) and physical parameters such as the mobility, conductivity, Hall factor, carrier concentration, and the temperature influence on them. Therefore, a scalable finite element model in Cadence, for behavior simulation in circuit environment of CMOS Hall effect devices, with different shapes and technologies assessing their performance, has been elaborated.
Efficacy and Safety of Docetaxel Plus Oxaliplatin and Capecitabine in the First Line Treatment of Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Liu Ying , Ye Zhengbao , Xi Wenqi , Ma Tao , Shi Min , Yang Liu , Zhu Zhenggang , Zhang Jun
Published: September 2013

Objective.To evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel plus oxaliplatin and capecitabine (DOX) in the first line treatment of advanced gastric adenocarcinoma.Methods.A total of 37 patients were enrolled into this study, and they received DOX regimen (docetaxel 75 mg/m2and oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2intravenous infusion on day 1, and capecitabine 1000 mg/m2orally twice daily on d1–14); treatment was repeated every 3 weeks.Results.All 37 patients were assessable for evaluation. The numbers of patients with complete response (CR), partial responses (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressive disease (PD) were 1, 10, 23, and 3, respectively. The objective response rate (ORR) was 29.7%, with the disease control rate (DCR) of 91.9%. Median progression-free survival (mPFS) and overall survival (mOS) were 197 days and 364 days, respectively. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities were hematological toxicities. The most common grade 3/4 nonhematological toxicities were fatigue, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, and hand-foot syndrome.Conclusion.The DOX regimen demonstrated a promising efficacy as the first line regimen in treating advanced gastric cancer patients with good performance status, the toxicities were tolerated and controllable. Large-scale clinical observation is necessary to get further evidence.
Management of Cervical Fibroid during the Reproductive Period
Authors: Keriakos Remon , Maher Mark
Published: September 2013

This is a case report of a 29-year-old lady who presented with excessive vaginal discharge and sessile cervical fibroid arising from the vaginal portion of the cervix. She was not suitable for uterine artery embolization as she has never previously been pregnant before. She was encouraged to get pregnant and to avoid surgical excision which can lead to hysterectomy. Shortly after, she became pregnant. She had many admissions during pregnancy due to bleeding from the fibroid, and in one occasion she had blood transfusions. The fibroid increased in size to become larger than the head of the baby. An emergency caesarean section was performed at 37 weeks when she attended in labour before the date of her elective caesarean section. She was managed conservatively following delivery in the hope that the fibroid becomes smaller making surgery easier. The fibroid degenerated and reduced in size. Vaginal myomectomy was carried out. The patient is now pregnant for the second time and had a cervical suture at 20 weeks gestation. In this educational case report we discuss the different management options of cervical fibroids and review the literature of other similar cases and their outcome.
Acidic pH of Tumor Microenvironment Enhances Cytotoxicity of the Disulfiram/Cu2+ Complex to Breast and Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Navrátilová Jarmila , Hankeová Tereza , Beneš Petr , Šmarda Jan
Published: September 2013

Background: Resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents is a major cause of treatment failure in patients with cancer. The drug resistance of tumor cells can be significantly modified by specific features of tumor microenvironment, such as oxygen depletion (hypoxia), glucose/energy deprivation and acidosis. Methods: The effects of acidic tumor-like microenvironment on cytotoxicity of antabuse (disulfiram, DSF)/Cu2+ complexes to MCF-7 breast carcinoma and HT-29 colon carcinoma cells were studied. Results: We show that acidic pH significantly potentiates toxicity of DSF/Cu2+ complex to breast and colon cancer cells. This phenomenon is associated with changes in cell metabolism, altered Akt kinase and NFκB activity and increased reactive oxygen species production. Conclusion: Specific pH of tumor microenvironment enhances cytotoxicity of DSF/Cu2+ to breast and colon cancer cells.
Fusion of 3D Ultrasound Images of the Fetal Femur Improves Boundary Definition and Volume Measurement
Authors: Yaqub Mohammad K. , Ioannou Christos , Javaid Muhammad K. , Cooper Cyrus , Papageorghiou Aris T. , Noble J. Alison
Published: September 2013

Objective: To combine multiple 3D volumes of the same fetal femur into one composite image data set using image registration and wavelet-based fusion. Fused and single data sets were compared in terms of image quality and femur volume (FV) measurement repeatability. Method: In healthy pregnant volunteers, six volumes of the same femur were acquired and fused into a composite data set. Image quality scores were given to the fused and single data sets by an independent assessor in a blinded fashion; repeatability of FV measurement was assessed using coefficients of variation (CV), intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots. Results: Fusion was successful in 24 out of 25 cases. Median image quality score was 7/10 in fused data sets, compared to 6/10 in single data sets (p = 0.096). Repeatability of FV measurement was better in fused data sets (intraobserver CV 4.6% and ICC 0.987; interobserver CV 4.9%, ICC 0.985) compared to single ones (intraobserver CV 5.8%, ICC 0.977; interobserver CV 10.0%, ICC 0.931). The measured FV was significantly higher in fused data sets (mean FV 1.7 vs. 1.3 ml, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Image registration and wavelet-based fusion can improve image quality and FV repeatability; it also results in an increased FV measurement.
Management of Two Cases of Recurrent Anal Carcinoma
Authors: Klimant Eiko , Markman Maurie
Published: September 2013

Due to the low incidence of anal cancer and generally high cure rates, few second-line treatment options have been evaluated in the setting of formal clinical trials. We briefly report two cases that were both found to have wild-type K-RAS, with no epidermal growth factor receptor amplification or evidence of prior persistent human papilloma virus infection. Both cases were treated with irinotecan and cetuximab with evidence of clinical benefit in the setting of a third recurrence, as well as evidence of response to other strategies employed in their management. These cases provide support for the suggestion that treatment planning in conjunction with molecular profiling may be beneficial in such uncommon clinical settings.
Strong Accumulation of Chloroplast DNA in the Y Chromosomes of Rumex acetosa and Silene latifolia
Authors: Steflova P. , Hobza R. , Vyskot B. , Kejnovsky E.
Published: September 2013

Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences are often found in plant nuclear genomes, but patterns of their chromosomal distribution are not fully understood. The distribution of cpDNA on the sex chromosomes can only be studied in dioecious plant species possessing heteromorphic sex chromosomes. We reconstructed the whole chloroplast genome of Rumex acetosa (sorrel, XY1Y2 system) from next generation sequencing data. We systematically mapped the chromosomal localization of various regions of cpDNA in R. acetosa and in Silene latifolia (white campion, XY system) using fluorescence in situ hybridization. We found that cpDNA was accumulated on the Y chromosomes of both studied species. In R. acetosa, the entire Y chromosome gathered all parts of cpDNA equally. On the contrary, in S. latifolia, the majority of the cpDNA, corresponding to the single copy regions, was localized in the centromere of the Y chromosome, while the inverted repeat region was present also in other loci. We found a stronger accumulation of cpDNA on the more degenerated Y1 and Y2 chromosomes of R. acetosa than in evolutionary younger S. latifolia Y chromosome. Our data stressed the prominent role of the Y chromosome centromere in cpDNA accumulation.
Rare Adult Masseteric Rhabdomyosarcoma and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Franco T. , La Boria A. , Domanico R. , Piazzetta G.L. , Donato G. , Allegra E.
Published: September 2013

Background: Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMSs) are a group of soft-tissue malignant tumors which derive from primitive skeletal muscle tissue that mainly affect children and adolescents. RMSs are very rare in adults, where they are usually located in the extremities. Case Presentation: A previously healthy 32-year-old male presented at our ENT (ear, nose and throat) outpatient clinic after experiencing a parotid region swelling for 2 months. The patient was treated surgically by excising the mass and by modified radical ipsilateral neck dissection. Histological and immunohistochemical examination indicated masseteric alveolar RMS with lymphatic metastasis. The patient received radiochemotherapy, and he is still alive with no evidence of disease spread 1 year after diagnosis. Conclusion: This is the first case of a masseter alveolar RMS to be reported in the literature in a patient older than 25 years; it highlights the broad spectrum of neoplasms that cause parotid region swellings and the importance of considering rare tumors during differential diagnosis.
Both Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism Increase Atrial Fibrillation Inducibility in Rats
Authors: Zhang Youhua , Dedkov Eduard I. , Teplitsky Diana , Weltman Nathan Y. , Pol Christine J. , Rajagopalan Viswanathan , Lee Bianca , Gerdes A. Martin
Published: September 2013

Background—

Evidence indicates that cardiac hypothyroidism may contribute to heart failure progression. It is also known that heart failure is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). Although it is established that hyperthyroidism increases AF incidence, the effect of hypothyroidism on AF is unclear. This study investigated the effects of different thyroid hormone levels, ranging from hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism on AF inducibility in thyroidectomized rats.

Methods and Results—

Thyroidectomized rats with serum-confirmed hypothyroidism 1 month after surgery were randomized into hypothyroid (N=9), euthyroid (N=9), and hyperthyroid (N=9) groups. Rats received placebo, 3.3-mg
l
-thyroxine (T4), or 20-mg T4 pellets (60-day release form) for 2 months, respectively. At the end of treatment, hypothyroid, euthyroid, and hyperthyroid status was confirmed. Hypothyroid animals showed cardiac atrophy and reduced cardiac systolic and diastolic functions, whereas hyperthyroid rats exhibited cardiac hypertrophy and increased cardiac function. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism produced opposite electrophysiological changes in heart rates and atrial effective refractory period, but both significantly increased AF susceptibility. AF incidence was 78% in hypothyroid, 67% in hyperthyroid, and the duration of induced AF was also longer, compared with 11% in the euthyroid group (all
P
<0.05). Hypothyroidism increased atrial interstitial fibrosis, but connexin 43 was not affected.

Conclusions—

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism lead to increased AF vulnerability in a rat thyroidectomy model. Our results stress that normal thyroid hormone levels are required to maintain normal cardiac electrophysiology and to prevent cardiac arrhythmias and AF.
Ablation of Multiwavelet Re-entry Guided by Circuit-Density and Distribution
Authors: Carrick Richard T. , Benson Bryce , Habel Nicole , Bates Oliver R.J. , Bates Jason H.T. , Spector Peter S.
Published: September 2013

Background—

A key mechanism responsible for atrial fibrillation is multiwavelet re-entry (MWR). We have previously demonstrated improved efficiency of ablation when lesions were placed in regions of high circuit-density. In this study, we undertook a quantitative assessment of the relative effect of ablation on the probability of MWR termination and the inducibility of MWR, as a function of lesion length and circuit-density overlap.

Methods and Results—

We used a computational model to simulate MWR in tissues with (and without) localized regions of decreased action potential duration and increased intercellular resistance. We measured baseline circuit-density and distribution. We then assessed the effect of various ablation lesion sets on the inducibility and duration of MWR as a function of ablation lesion length and overlap with circuit-density. Higher circuit-density reproducibly localized to regions of shorter wavelength. Ablation lines with high circuit-density overlap showed maximum decreases in duration of MWR at lengths equal to the distance from the tissue boundary to the far side of the high circuit-density region (high-overlap, −43.5% [confidence interval, −22.0% to −65.1%] versus low-overlap, −4.4% [confidence interval, 7.3% to −16.0%]). Further ablation (beyond the length required to cross the high circuit-density region) provided minimal further reductions in duration and increased inducibility.

Conclusions—

Ablation at sites of high circuit-density most efficiently decreased re-entrant duration while minimally increasing inducibility. Ablation lines delivered at sites of low circuit-density minimally decreased duration yet increased inducibility of MWR.
Natural Cardiogenesis-Based Template Predicts Cardiogenic Potential of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines
Authors: Martinez-Fernandez Almudena , Li Xing , Hartjes Katherine A. , Terzic Andre , Nelson Timothy J.
Published: September 2013

Background—

Cardiac development is a complex process resulting in an integrated, multilineage tissue with developmental corruption in early embryogenesis leading to congenital heart disease. Interrogation of individual genes has provided the backbone for cardiac developmental biology, yet a comprehensive transcriptome derived from natural cardiogenesis is required to gauge innate developmental milestones.

Methods and Results—

Stage-specific cardiac structures were dissected from 8 distinctive mouse embryonic time points to produce genome-wide expressome analysis across cardiogenesis. With reference to this native cardiogenic expression roadmap, divergent induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiac expression profiles were mapped from procardiogenic 3-factor (SOX2, OCT4, KLF4) and less-cardiogenic 4-factor (plus c-MYC) reprogrammed cells. Expression of cardiac-related genes from 3-factor–induced pluripotent stem cell differentiated in vitro at days 5 and 11 and recapitulated expression profiles of natural embryos at days E7.5-E8.5 and E14.5-E18.5, respectively. By contrast, 4-factor–induced pluripotent stem cells demonstrated incomplete cardiogenic gene expression profiles beginning at day 5 of differentiation. Differential gene expression within the pluripotent state revealed 23 distinguishing candidate genes among pluripotent cell lines with divergent cardiogenic potentials. A confirmed panel of 12 genes, differentially expressed between high and low cardiogenic lines, was transformed into a predictive score sufficient to discriminate individual induced pluripotent stem cell lines according to relative cardiogenic potential.

Conclusions—

Transcriptome analysis attuned to natural embryonic cardiogenesis provides a robust platform to probe coordinated cardiac specification and maturation from bioengineered stem cell–based model systems. A panel of developmental-related genes allowed differential prognosis of cardiogenic competency, thus prioritizing cell lines according to natural blueprint to streamline functional applications.
The lysianassid genus Pseudambasia in Australian waters
(Crustacea, Amphipoda, Lysianassidae, Lysianassinae)
Authors: KILGALLEN N. M. , LOWRY J. K.
Published: September 2013

Pseudambasia appears to be an Indo-West Pacific endemic, comprising mostly tropical and temperate species but also one from the New Zealand subantarctic. In this paper the genus Pseudambasia Stephensen is diagnosed against all other genera of the Lysianassinae. Six new species of Pseudambasia (P. dartnalli sp. nov.; P. lochi sp. nov.; P. ponderi sp. nov.; P. poorei sp. nov.; P. sheardi sp. nov.; and P. springthorpei sp. nov.) are described from Australian waters.
Notes on the taxonomy of the Holarctic Corynoptera Winnertz sensu lato (Diptera, Sciaridae), with description of six new species
Authors: VILKAMAA PEKKA , HIPPA HEIKKI , HELLER KAI
Published: September 2013

Six new species of Corynoptera Winnertz from northern Finland, Japan and North America are newly described and illustrated: Corynoptera captiosa sp. n., C. cracentis sp. n., C. inari sp. n., C. salmelai sp. n., C. spiciforceps sp. n. and C. tuomikoskii sp. n.. Corynoptera subvariegata Rudzinski, 1992 is redescribed and C. perochaeta (Mohrig & Menzel, 1990) and C. variegata Mohrig, 1985 are illustrated and their characters discussed. The new species studied show unusual characters for the genus, and do not fit well into currently defined species groups.
New species and records of Trypetinae (Diptera: Tephritidae) from China
Authors: CHEN XIAO-LIN , WANG XIN-JIAN , ZHU CHAO-DONG
Published: September 2013

Eight new species of Trypetinae (Diptera: Tephritidae) from China are described and illustrated. The new species are Cornutrypeta chishuiensis Chen sp. nov., C. motuonia Chen sp. nov., Hoplandromyia hubeiensis Chen sp. nov., H. motuonica Chen sp. nov., Magnimyiolia disrupta Chen sp. nov., M. tengchongnica Chen sp. nov., M. tibetana Chen et Wang sp. nov. and M. yunnanica Chen et Wang sp. nov. Keys to the known species of the genera Cornutrypeta Han et Wang and Hoplandromyia Bezzi from the World, and the genera Magnimyiolia Shiraki from East Asia are updated and provided. C. spinifrons (Schroeder) is newly recorded from China, and the female of C. hunanica Chen et Wang is recorded, described and illustrated for the first time. Illustrations of the type of M. huanana Wang and a new distribution of C. hunanica Chen et Wang are provided.
Speleonectes cokei, new species of Remipedia (Crustacea: Speleonectidae) from a submerged ocean cave near Caye Chapel, Belize
Authors: YAGER JILL
Published: September 2013

Speleonectes cokei n. sp. is the 15th species of Speleonectes to be described. It is the first remipede described from a submerged cave off the mainland of Belize. The species is the third found along the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. S. cokei can be distinguished from S. tulumensis Yager, 1987 and S. fuchscockburni Neiber et al., 2012 by the number of antenna 1 segments, number of antenna 2 exopod setae, spines on maxilla 1 segment 2, and caudal rami to anal segment length.
Description of the octopunctata-group species of Protaphorura from China (Collembola: Onychiuridae)
Authors: SUN XIN , WU DONGHUI , GAO MEIXIANG
Published: September 2013

Protaphorura species of the octopunctata-group are recorded in China for the first time. Two new species, Protaphorura jiamusiensis sp. nov. and Protaphorura maoerensis sp. nov., and one species new to China, Protaphorura nutak, are reported. Protaphorura jiamusiensis sp. nov. is diagnosed mainly by the formula of pso on the body and subcoxae 1, the psx formula, the ratio of M/sp on Abd. V and the number of chaetae on Th. I–III sterna between the legs. Protaphorura maoerensis sp. nov. is similar to P. mongolica and P. sakatoi, but it can be easily distinguished from them by the dorsal pso formula.
A remarkable new Nilotonia species (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Anisitsiellidae) from percolating water of a cave in Cat Ba island in Halong Bay, Vietnam
Authors: PEŠIĆ VLADIMIR
Published: September 2013

Both sexes of Nilotonia sketi sp. nov. are described from percolating water of a cave in Cat Ba island in Halong Bay, Vietnam. The IV-L-6 of the new species is characterized by a line of longer ventral setae, and presence of two longer distoventral setae. The systematic position of Nilotonia species attributed to the subgenera Dartiella K. Viets, 1929 and Dartonia K. Viets, 1929 are discussed. The latter subgenus is re-defined and Dartiella is proposed as its junior synonym. Two new subgenera, Gereckonia (type species: Nilotonia turcica Özkan & Soysal, 1989 from Turkey) and Davetonia (type species: Nilotonia perplexa Cook, 1967 from India) are erected.
A checklist of the species under the genus Monocystis Von Stein, 1848 (Apicomplexa: Sporozoa: Monocystidae) described from oligochaete hosts
Authors: SARKAR SUTAPA , BANDYOPADHYAY PROBIR K.
Published: September 2013

A checklist of 24 species of the genus Monocystis is presented and includes the salient features of each species, type host and site of infection.
Taxonomic notes on two species of bush katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) from Bukit Fraser, Malay Peninsula
Authors: TAN MING KAI , KAMARUDDIN KHAIRUL NIZAM
Published: September 2013

Material based on a taxonomic collection in Bukit Fraser, Pahang of Malay Peninsula enables the review of two genera of bush katydid (Phaneropterinae). The female of Elimaea (Rhaebelimaea) pseudochloris Ingrisch, 1998 is described and recorded for the first time outside its type locality, Thailand. One new species of Pseudopsyra from Bukit Fraser is described: Pseudopsyra bispina sp. n.
Tapajos cristinae gen. n., sp. n. (Diptera: Chironomidae: Chironominae) from the Neotropical region
Authors: TRIVINHO-STRIXINO SUSANA , DA SILVA FABIO LAURINDO , DE OLIVEIRA CAROLINE SILVA NEUBERN
Published: September 2013

A new genus of non-biting midges, Tapajos gen. n., is erected for T. cristinae sp. n. from the Neotropical region, and placed in the subfamily Chironominae, tribe Chironomini. Adult males are characterized by the combination of bare eyes; antenna with 11 flagellomeres; antepronotal lobes fused medially; fore tibia with inner scale broad and rounded; superior volsella with a long sickle shaped, bare part arising from the distal lateral corner of a globose, densely trichiose base; inferior volsella sub-cylindrical, surpassing the anal point, distally setose and slightly expanded.
Simple rules on adjectival endings in zoological nomenclature and their use in scale insect names (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea), with some corrections to combinations in common use
Authors: Pellizzari Giuseppina , Williams Douglas J.
Published: September 2013

We give some simple rules on Latin grammar to help scale insect systematists to apply the correct adjectival gender endings to species names. We list some common errors that have occurred when species names have either been proposed with a wrong gender ending or when they have been transferred from one genus to another. We also correct the gender endings to several species names in a few families.
New species of the scale worm genus Pholoe (Polychaeta: Pholoidae) from southeast Brazil
Authors: PADOVANNI NATHALIA , AMARAL ANTONIA CECÍLIA Z.
Published: September 2013

Exploration of poorly known regions of the Brazilian coast has resulted in the discovery of a new species in the scale worm family Pholoidae. Pholoe microantennata sp. nov. occurs at the Campos Basin (states of Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro) and along the northern coast of São Paulo State. It differs from other species in the genus because it has numerous large and conical marginal papillae on the elytra and two small lateral antenna attached to the distal portion of the prostomium. The family Pholoidae remains species-poor compared with most polychaete families, and it currently comprises 24 species worldwide. In Brazil, only three species of this family have been recorded.