bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hemodynamic support with Impella ventricular assist device in patients undergoing TAVI: A single center experience
Authors: Almalla Mohammad , Kersten Alexander , Altiok Ertunc , Marx Nikolaus , Schröder Jörg W.
Published: July 2019

Background

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a well‐established therapeutic option for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) at high to intermediate surgical risk. Although TAVI is associated with low mortality of 1.2–6.5%, cardiogenic shock (CS) as a peri‐interventional complication remains a challenging problem with very high morbidity and mortality.

Aim

This study evaluated the clinical outcome of the use of Impella ventricular assist device in patients undergoing TAVI.

Methods

Between 11/2015 and 08/2018, all patients undergoing TAVI requiring temporary circulatory during the same index hospitalization were included. Primary endpoint was 30‐day all‐cause mortality. Secondary endpoints were peri‐interventional mortality and 30‐day stroke rate.

Results

Of the 390 patients undergoing TAVI, 13 (3%) required hemodynamic support with an Impella device. Of these, 3 (23%) underwent protected high‐risk PCI before TAVI and 10 patients (77%) needed emergency periprocedural hemodynamic support due to cardiogenic shock. Mortality at 30 days was 0% in Impella‐protected PCI and 40% with Impella use for periprocedural CS. No stroke occurred in the cohort up to 30 days. Insertion of the Impella device in the setting of TAVI was fast with a mean insertion time of 10 min. Eight patients (80%) in the periprocedural CS group required cardiopulmonary resuscitation prior to Impella use. There was only one device‐related complication.

Conclusions

Temporary hemodynamic support with the Impella device in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis or in CS secondary to complicated TAVI was technically doable and allowed stabilization and treatment of salvageable patients.
Resolute zotarolimus‐eluting stent in ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (resolute‐STEMI): A prespecified prospective register from the DAPT‐STEMI trial
Authors: Postma Warner , Fabris Enrico , Van der Ent Martin , Hermanides Rik , Buszman Pawel , Von Birgelen C Clemens , Cook Stephane , Wedel Hans , De Luca Giuseppe , Delewi Ronak , Zijlstra Felix , Kedhi Elvin
Published: July 2019

Objectives

To evaluate the safety and efficacy outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) with second‐generation Resolute™ zotarolimus‐eluting stent (R‐ZES) in patients enrolled in the DAPT‐STEMI Trial (NCT01459627).

Background

R‐ZES is one of the most used drug eluting stents worldwide. To date, the safety and efficacy data of this stent in setting of STEMI is limited.

Methods

The Resolute‐STEMI is a prespecified prospective register that reports the safety and efficacy of R‐ZES in setting of ST‐Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) at 6 months for the following endpoints: a composite endpoint of all‐cause mortality, any myocardial infarction (MI), any (unscheduled) revascularization, stroke and TIMI major bleeding, as well as target lesion failure and stent thrombosis (ST).

Results

From a total of 1,100 STEMI patients enrolled in the trial, 998 received a R‐ZES. At 6 months the PE occurred in 42 (4.2%) patients. All‐cause death, MI, revascularization, stroke and TIMI major bleeding was respectively 8 (0.8%), 9 (0.8%), 34 (3.4%), 2 (0.2%), and 4 (0.4%). The rate of target lesion revascularizations involving the culprit lesion was 1.1%. Target lesion failure was 1.5%. The rate of definite ST was 0.5%. The rate of both definite or probable ST was 0.7%.

Conclusions

The present analysis is the largest to date reporting short‐term and mid‐term clinical outcomes with the R‐ZES stent in setting of STEMI. At 30 days and 6‐months R‐ZES has an outstanding safety and efficacy even in this high‐risk category of patients.
Single‐Site Molybdenum Catalyst for the Synthesis of Fumarate
Authors: Jiang Huifang , Lu Rui , Si Xiaoqin , Luo Xiaolin , Xu Jie , Lu Fang
Published: July 2019

The catalysts with well‐defined mononuclear active sites are expected to develop more active catalytic systems for the key chemical transformations. But the rational design of catalyst with stable mononuclear Mo site is still a crucial challenge because of its oligomerization tendency under reaction condition. Herein, Molybdenum catalyst (Mo‐8‐HQ) with single Mo sites was designed via the pyridine nitrogen and oxygen in hydroxyl of 8‐hydroxyquinoline coordinated with Mo atom. The crystal catalyst was stabilized by π‐π stacking interaction and hydrogen bonds to form isolated Mo specie. The single‐site molybdenum catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic performance in didehydroxylation reactions with high selectively of dibutyl fumarate (86 %) product at mild reaction condition. Deuterium isotopic studies demonstrated that the mechanism feature of didehydroxylation reaction catalyzed by Mo‐8‐HQ was through concerted cleavage of two C−O bonds process, which could be accelerated by single‐site molybdenum catalysts with electron‐rich Mo centers.
Amorphous Cobalt Boride Nanosheets Directly Grown on Nickel Foam: Controllable Alternately Dipping Deposition for Efficient Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Jiang Yuanyuan , Fang Yating , Chen Chuanxia , Ni Pengjuan , Kong Biao , Song Zhongqian , Lu Yizhong , Niu Li
Published: July 2019

This study provides a unique method for the rapid deposition of amorphous Co−B nanosheets on Ni foam (Co−B/NF) by alternatively dipping Ni foam into cobalt salt and borohydride solutions. The as‐prepared Co−B/NF can act as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The catalyst affords a current density of 20 mA cm−2 at 265 mV overpotential during the OER in 1.0 M KOH solution, ranking it among the best reported nonprecious OER electrocatalysts. This strategy for constructing electrocatalysis electrodes prevails over the conventional method of drop‐coating metal boride dispersions on the electrode, having better intrinsic stability and fully exposed active site surfaces. Given the low cost, ease of fabrication, good controllability, and high OER electrocatalytic activity and stability, Co−B/NF has great potential as a high‐performance anode catalyst for water splitting.
Effects of processing parameters on 3D structural ordering and optical properties of inverse opal photonic crystals produced by atomic layer deposition
Authors: Campos Heloisa G. , Furlan Kaline P. , Garcia Daniel E. , Blick Robert , Zierold Robert , Eich Manfred , Hotza Dachamir , Janssen Rolf
Published: July 2019

Vertical convective self‐assembly has been extensively used for the preparation of direct photonic crystals, which can be later infiltrated with a more stable material, such as oxide ceramics, by atomic layer deposition. However, the relationship between the self‐assembly parameters of the direct photonic crystals and the optical properties of the inverse opal photonic crystals remains elusive. In this work, the effect of different experimental parameters on the 3D structure and the density of defects of polystyrene direct photonic crystals produced by vertical convective self‐assembly was assessed. Self‐assembly was investigated using deionized water as media with polymer particles’ concentrations up to 2 mg/mL; temperatures of 40, 50, and 80°C; and relative humidity of 45%, 70%, and 90%. The 3D structure of the resultant direct photonic materials was characterized by the combination of scanning electron microscopy and image analysis, and their optical properties were assessed by reflectance measurements. These results were correlated with the performance of oxide‐based inverse opal photonic crystals produced by the controlled infiltration of the former direct photonic crystals by atomic layer deposition (ALD). It was found that the thickness increased with the concentration of polystyrene particles, while the photonic structure ordering is dependent on the synergy between humidity and temperature. Results also showed higher defects population with increasing evaporation temperature and decreasing relative humidity.
An in silico twin for epicardial augmentation of the failing heart
Authors: Hirschvogel Marc , Jagschies Lasse , Maier Andreas , Wildhirt Stephen M. , Gee Michael W.
Published: July 2019

Advances in ventricular assist device (VAD) technology for the treatment of end‐stage congestive heart failure (CHF) are needed to cope with the increasing numbers of patients that cannot be provided with donor hearts for transplantation. We develop and investigate a novel extravascular VAD technology that provides biventricular, epicardial pressure support for the failing heart. This novel VAD concept avoids blood contact that is accompanied with typical complications such as coagulation and infections. To date, in vivo porcine model results with a prototype of the implant exist, further studies to improve the implant's performance and promote its applicability in humans are needed.

In this contribution, we present a personalised functional digital twin of the heart, the vascular system, and the novel VAD technology in terms of a calibrated, customized computational model. The calibration procedure is based on patient‐specific measurements and is performed by solving an inverse problem.

This in silico model is able to (a) confirm in vivo experimental data, (b) predict healthy and pathologic ventricular function, and (c) assess the beneficial impact of the novel VAD concept to a high level of fidelity.

The model shows very good agreement with in vivo data and reliably predicts increases in stroke volume and left ventricular pressure with increasing ventricular support. Furthermore, the digital twin allows insight into quantities that are poorly or not at all amenable in any experimental setup.

Conclusively, the model's ability to link integral hemodynamic variables to local tissue mechanical deformation makes it a highly valuable tool for the dimensioning of novel VAD technologies and future treatment strategies in heart failure.

The presented in silico twin enhances in vivo studies by facilitating the accessibility and increasing the range of quantities of interest. Because of its flexibility in the assessment of design variants and optimization loops, it may substantially contribute to a reduction of the amount of animal experiments in this and similar settings.
Corporate social responsibility and earnings management: The moderating effect of corporate governance mechanisms
Authors: Buertey Samuel , Sun Eun‐Jung , Lee Jang Soon , Hwang Juhee
Published: July 2019

Research Question/Issue

This paper investigates the relationship between (a) corporate social responsibility (CSR) and earnings management (EM) and (b) examines whether corporate governance (CG) mechanisms can moderate the CSR–EM relation.

Research Methodology

Fixed‐effect regression model is used to estimate the coefficients of the variables.

Research Findings/Insight

We find a significant positive relation between CSR and EM. The result highlights the managerial opportunistic use of CSR explained within the agency theoretical framework. We also find that board size and block ownership significantly moderates the CSR–EM relationship.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

The paper contributes to the literature on CSR, EM, and CG. Specifically, it contributes to the extant literature by demonstrating why and how CG can significantly influence the CSR–EM nexus. Second, the paper provides some insight on the mixed findings of prior studies that have investigated the relationship between CSR and EM.

Practical/Policy Implication

The findings have significant implication for both policy makers, firm managers, and other stakeholders. Insights from the study will help develop and implement policies that will strengthen CG structures, especially in emerging markets to protect the interest of shareholders and improve market confidence.
CO2 Decomposition in CO2 and CO2/H2 Spark‐like Plasma Discharges at Atmospheric Pressure
Authors: Kelly Seán , Sullivan James A.
Published: July 2019

In this work, a spark‐like plasma discharge is ignited in pure CO2 and in CO2/H2 mixtures to investigate CO formation. Power pulsing is used to limit arc formation to sustain a high current transient “spark‐like” plasma consisting of a mixed mode discharge comprising an initial current pulse (“spark”) followed by a longer‐lived glow mode thorough each half cycle of the applied voltage. In pure CO2, the efficiency ranged between 20–50 % for CO2 conversions between 9–18 % for gas residence times of 100–600 ms. Adding H2 as a co‐reactant was investigated for a wide range of mixture ratios. The outlet gas was found to produce O2‐free mixtures of CO/H2/CO2. Conversion rates in CO2/H2 mixtures are found to be similar to pure CO2 at equivalent residence times. The primary role of H2 as a co‐reactant is therefore found to be the removal of O2 formed during dissociation of CO2. The energy cost of this dilution resulted in reduced efficiency for CO2 conversion (from 41 to 18 %), which is correlated to the efficiency drop found for pure CO2 conversion at lower flows. Opportunities for optimising this small volume “unit‐cell” spark reactor are encouraged by the results presented. This approach could enable deployment of serial or parallel combinations of such reactors capable of dealing cost‐effectively with the conversion of the larger CO2 and CO2/H2 volumes required in future industry applications.
Screening and offering online programs for eating disorders: Reach, pathology, and differences across eating disorder status groups at 28 U.S. universities
Authors: Fitzsimmons‐Craft Ellen E. , Balantekin Katherine N. , Eichen Dawn M. , Graham Andrea K. , Monterubio Grace E. , Sadeh‐Sharvit Shiri , Goel Neha J. , Flatt Rachael E. , Saffran Kristina , Karam Anna M. , Firebaugh Marie‐Laure , Trockel Mickey , Taylor C. Barr , Wilfley Denise E.
Published: July 2019

Objective

The Internet‐based Healthy Body Image (HBI) Program, which uses online screening to identify individuals at low risk of, high risk of, or with an eating disorder (ED) and then directs users to tailored, evidence‐based online or in‐person interventions to address individuals' risk or clinical status, was deployed at 28 U.S. universities as part of a randomized controlled trial. The purpose of this study is to report on: (a) reach of HBI, (b) screen results, and (c) differences across ED status groups.

Method

All students on participating campuses ages 18 years or older were eligible, although recruitment primarily targeted undergraduate females.

Results

The screen was completed 4,894 times, with an average of 1.9% of the undergraduate female student body on each campus taking the screen. ED risk in participating students was high—nearly 60% of students screened were identified as being at high risk for ED onset or having an ED. Key differences emerged across ED status groups on demographics, recruitment method, ED pathology, psychiatric comorbidity, and ED risk factors, highlighting increasing pathology and impairment in the high‐risk group.

Discussion

Findings suggest efforts are needed to increase reach of programs like HBI. Results also highlight the increasing pathology and impairment in the high‐risk group and the importance of programs such as HBI, which provide access to timely screening and intervention to prevent onset of clinical EDs.
Heart failure with mid‐range ejection fraction: characterization of patients from the PINNACLE Registry®
Authors: Ibrahim Nasrien E. , Song Yang , Cannon Christopher P. , Doros Gheorghe , Russo Patricia , Ponirakis Angelo , Alexanian Claire , Januzzi James L.
Published: July 2019

Aims

Guidelines for management of patients with heart failure with mid‐range ejection fraction [HFmrEF; left ventricular EF (LVEF) 41–49%] do not exist. Disagreement exists whether HFmrEF should be considered a distinct group. The aim of this study is to examine characteristics of patients with HFmrEF with HF with reduced EF (HFrEF; LVEF ≤ 40%) or preserved EF (HFpEF; LVEF ≥ 50%).

Methods and results

We examined data collected in the American College of Cardiology's National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence (PINNACLE) Registry® for first HF patient visits between 1 May 2008 and 30 June 2016. Analysis was performed using ANOVA F‐tests (or Kruskal–Wallis tests for non‐normally distributed variables) for continuous parameters and χ2 tests for nominal covariates at the first diagnosed HF visit. Given the NCDR PINNACLE Registry® is a US‐based registry, we opted to define HFmrEF as per the US guidelines, which define HFmrEF as LVEF 41–49% in contrast to European guidelines, which define HFmrEF as LVEF 40–49%. Among 1 103 386 patients with available data, 36.1% (N = 398 228) had HFrEF, 7.5% (N = 82 292) had HFmrEF, and 56.5% (N = 622 866) had HFpEF. Compared with patients with HFrEF or HFpEF, patients with HFmrEF had more prevalent coronary and peripheral artery disease and more history of myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass surgery (all P < 0.001). Patients with HFmrEF were also more likely to have atrial fibrillation/flutter, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease and to have a history of tobacco use (both P < 0.001). Among those with EF assessment prior to this analysis, only 4.8% (N = 1032) previously had HFrEF that improved to HFmrEF; 32.9% (N = 7072) had HFpEF previously and progressed to HFmrEF. Those patients who transitioned from HFpEF to HFmrEF had considerably more complex profiles and were less aggressively managed compared with those who remained with HFmrEF (all P < 0.001).

Conclusions

In this large descriptive analysis, patients with HFmrEF had an atherothrombotic phenotype distinct from other forms of HF. Interventions aimed at treating coronary ischaemia and addressing prevalent risk factors may play a particularly important role in the management of patients with HFmrEF.
Alteration of medical therapy in patients with heart failure relative to change in symptom severity
Authors: Ibrahim Nasrien E. , Song Yang , Cannon Christopher P. , Doros Gheorghe , Russo Patricia , Ponirakis Angelo , Alexanian Claire , Januzzi James L.
Published: July 2019

In this observational analysis from the Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence Registry®, we examined changes in guideline‐directed medical therapies relative to changes in symptom severity in ambulatory patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, finding change in medication more often occurring when patients were changing their New York Heart Association symptom severity, rather than during periods of stable symptoms. Additionally, despite being available for a year during the time of our analysis, the use of sacubitril/valsartan was extremely low, and most often added in the context of worsening symptoms, not how this drug was studied and not how the guidelines articulate its use.
Macrophages assemble! But do they need IL‐4R during schistosomiasis?
Authors: Rückerl Dominik , Cook Peter C.
Published: July 2019

Helminth infections are a global health burden in humans and livestock and are considered to be a major evolutionary driver of type 2 immunity (orchestrated by type 2 cytokines, e.g., IL‐4 and IL‐13). Upon infection, helminths cause substantial damage to mucosal tissues as they migrate within the host and elicit crucial protective immune mechanisms. Macrophages, essential innate cells, are known to adopt a specific activation status (termed M(IL‐4)) in type 2 cytokine environments. Yet, the role of these macrophages in mediating protective immune/wound healing responses to helminths is unclear. Furthermore, macrophage subsets can be very heterogenous (linked to their differing cellular origins) and the relative role of these subsets in the context of M(IL‐4) activation to helminth infection is unknown. An article by Rolot et al. in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology [Eur. J. Immunol. 2019. 49: 1067–1081] uses a variety of transgenic murine strains to revise our understanding of the complexity of how these subsets undergo M(IL‐4) activation and participate in wound healing responses in helminth infection. Here we highlight that consideration of different macrophage subsets in mucosal tissues is essential when evaluating the functional role of M(IL‐4) macrophages.
Isomerization and Dimerization of Indocyanine Green and a Related Heptamethine Dye
Authors: Rüttger Franziska , Mindt Sonani , Golz Christopher , Alcarazo Manuel , John Michael
Published: July 2019

Indocyanine green (ICG) and a second heptamethine cyanine dye were studied in detail using 2D NMR spectroscopy at multiple temperatures. In addition to the all‐trans conformation, we found in both cases a small percentage of a specific β‐γ cis isomer. Exchange rates extrapolated from 2D EXSY spectra under slow exchange conditions are in agreement with that estimated from methine 1H linewidths near coalescence and with previous photo‐isomerization studies. We could also confirm our previous hypothesis that, under aerobic conditions in combination with exposure to daylight, ICG undergoes radical dimerization specifically at the γ position.
Epinephrine‐modified methacrylate monolithic column with fumed silica nanoparticle for pressurized capillary electrochromatography
Authors: Pan Hong , Liu Rangdong , Cheddah Soumia , Zheng Yiting , Hu Jing , Wang Weiwei , Wang Yan , Yan Chao
Published: July 2019

Via the ring‐opening reaction of epoxy groups with epinephrine, a novel epinephrine functionalized polymethacrylate monolith with fumed silica nanoparticles has been fabricated for pressurized capillary electrochromatography. The preparation of epinephrine‐modified monoliths has been optimized. In addition, morphology, electroosmotic flow, separation mechanism and column performance have been studied. The internal structure of the monolithic stationary phase was more uniform and the column efficiency increased after the incorporation of nanoparticles. With this column, satisfactory separation capability of aromatic compounds and alkaloids has been achieved and the column efficiency for naphthalene reached 138 696 plates/m. As for the real sample, 3 alkaloids were separated in Huanglian Shangqing capsules, a Chinese traditional medicine.
DNA fragment‐assisted microfluidic chip for capture and release of circulating tumor cells
Authors: Chen Dengyi , Wen Jing , Zeng Shaojiang , Ma Huipeng
Published: July 2019

Circulating tumor cells are specifically referred as cells that detached from the primary tumor and are present in the bloodstream. They could be isolated from blood and used as representative biomarker for predicting cancer prognoses. Here, we developed a microfluidic chip with multiple curved channels, in which DNA fragments and antibody‐based enrichment are exploited to capture circulating tumor cells in blood sample. By introducing DNA fragments as long tentacles, the active antibody could be extended into the microchannel stereoscopically, which could greatly increase the chances of adhesion in a multidirectional way and improve the capture efficacy. Several pivotal factors for cell capturing were optimized to the best state. Compared to conventional chips for planar capturing, the capture efficiency of MCF‐7 cells was greatly increased from 37.17 to 85.10%. For the detection of MCF‐7‐containing artificial blood sample detection, the capture efficiency of tumor cells was about 74.19 ± 2.13%, which was obviously better than the result of flow cytometry (29.67 ± 4.02%). Captured cells were easily released from the surface of microfluidic chip with high cell viability, which could be investigated for the molecular analysis in the field of tumor diagnosis.
The impact of offshoring on knowledge‐intensive services: A study of activities in service production processes
Authors: Brandl Kristin
Published: July 2019

Research summary:In order to identify the impact of offshoring on knowledge‐intensive services (KIS), the activities related to the transfer and co‐creation of knowledge in the service production process are studied in this paper. The concepts of activity systems and activity structures from practice theory are used to analyze these activities. A qualitative case study of multiple offshored KIS shows that offshoring changes activity systems and structures within the production process. Activities related to the transfer of knowledge are reduced while the co‐creation of knowledge remains evident in the process. As a result, KIS become more modularized and less customized, evidencing changed KIS characteristics. The paper adds to service offshoring and international service management literature and extends practice theory.

Managerial summary:This paper studies how knowledge‐intensive services (KIS) are impacted by a geographic relocation of the services across country borders. The relocation, termed offshoring, implies that the service client and provider are geographically separated and need to interact on a distance in order to produce the service. As the service production is dependent on the transfer of existing knowledge and co‐creation of new knowledge by clients and service providers, the geographic distance is challenging KIS production processes. An empirical analysis finds that the geographic distance is changing the way the services are produced. The transfer and co‐creation of knowledge are reduced leading to fewer interactions between clients and service providers, mainly knowledge coproduction remains important. These changes lead to altered KIS production processes and service characteristics.
The Relational Potential Standard: Rethinking the Ethical Justification for Life‐Sustaining Treatment for Children with Profound Cognitive Disabilities
Authors: Wightman Aaron , Kett Jennifer , Campelia Georgina , Wilfond Benjamin S.
Published: July 2019

In this era of rapidly advancing biomedical technologies, it is not unusual for parents of children with profound cognitive disabilities to ask clinicians to provide invasive life‐sustaining treatments. Parental requests for such interventions pose a moral dilemma to the treating medical team, as there may be a discrepancy between the team's perception of the child's best interest and the apparent rationale underlying a parent's request. This gap highlights the limitation of the best interest standard in cases where, due to a neurodevelopmental disorder or brain injury, the child's capabilities are severely limited and their interests may be difficult to discern. The harm principle is also inadequate for decision‐making in response to these parental requests. To address these limitations, and inspired in part by John Arras's work on the relational potential standard, we propose an integration of care ethics within pediatric decision‐making using a new version of this standard. The potential for children to be in caring and loving relationships with their parents, what we will call “relational potential,” may provide an ethical justification for clinicians to support parental requests for life‐sustaining treatments.
On What We Have Learned and Still Need to Learn about the Psychosocial Impacts of Genetic Testing
Authors: Parens Erik , Appelbaum Paul S.
Published: July 2019

Since the start of the program to investigate the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of the Human Genome Project in 1990, many ELSI scholars have maintained that genetic testing should be used with caution because of the potential for negative psychosocial effects associated with receiving genetic information. More recently, though, some ELSI scholars have produced evidence suggesting that the original ELSI concerns were unfounded, exaggerated, or, at a minimum, misdirected. At least in the contexts that have been most studied, large negative impacts have not been found in the vast majority of people studied. What might explain the discrepancy between the original hypothesized outcomes and the growing impression that large negative effects appear to be few and far between? And if the original predictions of large negative psychosocial effects were simply wrong, is it time for ELSI researchers to move on? Should genetic testing be routinized, and would it be appropriate to relax or abandon the practice of engaging patients in a process of detailed informed consent before they receive genetic information? To confront those questions, we convened a conference entitled “Looking for the Psychosocial Impacts of Genomic Information” to review what is known about the negative impacts of genetic information on a variety of populations and in multiple medical and social contexts, to explore the implications of the findings, and to consider whether future research might benefit from different methods than have been used to date.
Making Sense of Genetics: The Problem of Essentialism
Authors: Heine Steven J. , Cheung Benjamin Y. , Schmalor Anita
Published: July 2019

“Psychological essentialism” refers to our tendency to view the natural world as emerging from the result of deep, hidden, and internal forces called “essences.” People tend to believe that genes underlie a person’s identity. People encounter information about genetics on a regular basis, as through media such as a New York Times piece “Infidelity Lurks in Your Genes” or a 23andMe commercial showing people acquiring new ethnic identities as the result of their genotyping. How do people make sense of new scientific findings that are inherently complex if they don’t have years of specialized training and education at their disposal? Given the substantial overlap between a lay understanding of genetics and lay intuitions about essences, we argue that, when most people are thinking about genes, they are not really thinking about genes in the complex ways that good scientists are. Combating people’s essentialist biases can be a formidable challenge. Although we have identified some promising results of trying to reduce people’s genetic essentialist tendencies, there is still much to learn about how these essentialist biases can be countered. It is important to help people understand genetic information so they are able make well‐informed decisions about their lives.
Assessing the Psychological Impact of Genetic Susceptibility Testing
Authors: Roberts J. Scott
Published: July 2019

The expanded use of genetic testing raises key ethical and policy questions about possible benefits and harms for those receiving disease‐risk information. As predictive testing for Huntington’s was initiated in a clinical setting, survey research posing hypothetical test scenarios suggested that the vast majority of at‐risk relatives wanted to know whether they carried a disease‐causing mutation. However, only a small minority ultimately availed themselves of this opportunity. Many at‐risk individuals concluded that a positive test result would be too psychologically overwhelming. A substantial literature suggests that individuals are often more resilient than anticipated in coping with many different health‐related stresses. Much of my own work in the field has been through the Risk Evaluation & Education for Alzheimer’s Disease study (REVEAL), a series of randomized clinical trials assessing the impact of genetic susceptibility testing on asymptomatic individuals at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Our experience in developing and implementing four successive, multisite trials provides some potentially useful lessons for the field. More people will be asking for their personal genetic information. Better understanding will help us decide when access is appropriate and how best to disclose results in a manner that supports adjustment to test findings and promotes use of genetic information to improve human health.
The Psychological Well‐being of Pregnant Women Undergoing Prenatal Testing and Screening: A Narrative Literature Review
Authors: Biesecker Barbara B.
Published: July 2019

Prenatal screening and testing are preference‐based health care options. They are offered so that pregnant women and their partners can learn genetic information about the developing fetus. In this literature review, I summarize studies of women’s and their partners’ psychological responses to prenatal testing and screening. These studies investigate the experiences of pregnant women, largely in the United States, who have access to health care services. Although the results indicate that these women are receptive to prenatal testing and screening and seem to have limited negative psychological consequences, pregnant women without access to these services are not represented and may have different experiences. With that caveat in mind, based on the evidence, women generally do well psychologically as they manage the options that arise for them in the prenatal context.
The Implications of Genetic and Other Biological Explanations for Thinking about Mental Disorders
Authors: Lebowitz Matthew S.
Published: July 2019

Given the rise of genetic etiological beliefs regarding psychiatric disorders, a growing body of research has focused on trying to elucidate the effects that such explanatory frameworks might be having on how mental disorders are perceived by patients, clinicians, and the general public. Genetic and other biomedical explanations of mental disorders have long been seen as a potential tool in the efforts to destigmatize mental disorders, given the harshness of the widespread negative attitudes about them and the important negative clinical and social impacts of this stigma. The conventional wisdom has appeared to be that because the effects of genes are seen as falling outside individual control, conceiving of mental disorders as caused by genes casts patients as blameless, thereby reducing stigmatization. Indeed, the results of experimental and correlational research have now robustly linked genetic and other biomedical explanations for mental disorders with reductions in the extent to which people are blamed for their psychiatric symptoms. However, research examining the impact of genetic and other biomedical explanations of mental disorders has also suggested that they can have significant downsides. The most consistently observed negative effect of these kinds of explanations is that they can apparently lead to the assumption that mental disorders are unlikely to improve or abate. Genetic and other biomedical explanations of mental disorders can also increase people’s confidence in the effectiveness of biomedical treatments (such as pharmacotherapy) but decrease their confidence in the effectiveness of “nonbiomedical” treatments (such as psychotherapy).
Aryl Radical‐Mediated Alkenylation of Alkyl Halides
Authors: Chaambi Ahmed , Kurtay Gülbin , Abderrahim Raoudha , Robert Frédéric , Landais Yannick
Published: July 2019

The free‐radical alkenylation of a range of alkyl iodides with a vinyldisulfones has been carried out, leading to the desired vinylsulfones in moderate to good yields under mild conditions. The process is initiated by an aryl radical which abstracts the iodine atom from the alkyl iodide to form a C‐centered radical intermediate, the addition of which onto the vinyldisulfone providing the final vinylsulfone. The aryl radical is generated in situ through a single‐electron transfer from an electron donor‐acceptor complex (EDA) formed between a diaryliodonium salt (Ph2I+ PF6−) and triethylamine.
Outcome of Teriparatide Treatment on Fracture Healing Complications and Symptomatic Bone Marrow Edema in Four Adult Patients With Hypophosphatasia
Authors: Schmidt Tobias , Rolvien Tim , Linke Carolin , Jandl Nico Maximilian , Oheim Ralf , Amling Michael , Barvencik Florian
Published: July 2019

The response to teriparatide has been described in very few cases of hypophosphatasia (HPP). In this cross‐sectional study, we report the prevalence of symptomatic bone marrow edema (BME) and fracture healing complications in a large cohort of childhood and adult HPP patients and discuss the results of teriparatide treatment in four cases. From 2016 to 2018, 51 patients with a diagnosis of HPP were seen at our institution. The diagnosis of HPP was established by low serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), elevated serum pyridoxal‐5‐phosphate (PLP), at least one typical clinical symptom of HPP and supported by ALPL mutation analysis. In this study cohort, 28 (56%) and 14 (27%) patients had a history of fracture or a history of BME, respectively. Four patients, including middle‐aged to elderly women and men who all presented with persistent symptomatic BME or fracture healing complications, were treated with teriparatide. DXA was performed prior to treatment and laboratory values were measured on a regular basis during treatment. Treatment with teriparatide showed variable effects in terms of clinical and biochemical response. Although all four patients displayed a temporary increase in ALP activity, only two patients with a mild form of adult HPP and moderately increased PLP levels showed definite clinical and radiological improvement after teriparatide treatment. In conclusion, fracture healing complications and BME occur frequently in HPP patients. Teriparatide shows variable clinical and biochemical effects depending on the severity of the disease. PLP levels and the number of ALPL alleles might be good parameters to predict treatment outcomes. © 2019 The Authors. JBMR Plus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Glycemic Control and Insulin Treatment Alter Fracture Risk in Older Men With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Lee Richard H , Sloane Richard , Pieper Carl , Lyles Kenneth W , Adler Robert A , Van Houtven Courtney , LaFleur Joanne , Colón-Emeric Cathleen
Published: July 2019

Diabetes mellitus among older men has been associated with increased bone mineral density but paradoxically increased fracture risk. Given the interactions among medication treatment, glycemic control, and diabetes-associated comorbidities, the relative effects of each factor remains unclear. This retrospective study includes 652,901 male veterans aged ≥65 years with diabetes and baseline hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) value. All subjects received primary care in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) from 2000 to 2010. Administrative data included ICD9 diagnoses and pharmacy records and was linked to Medicare fee-for-service data. Hazard ratios (HR) for any clinical fracture and hip fracture were calculated using competing risk hazards models, adjusted for fracture risk factors including age, race/ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), alcohol and tobacco use, rheumatoid arthritis, corticosteroid use, as well as diabetes-related comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and peripheral neuropathy. HbA1c <6.5% was associated with a higher risk of any clinical fracture (HR = 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–1.11) compared with the reference HbA1c of 7.5% to 8.5%. Fracture risk was not increased among those with A1c ≥8.5%, nor among those with A1c 6.5% to 7.5%. Use of insulin was independently associated with greater risk of fracture (HR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.07–1.12). There was a significant interaction between insulin use and HbA1c level, (p < 0.001), such that those using insulin with HbA1c <6.5% had HR = 1.23 and those with HbA1c 6.5% to 7.5% had HR = 1.15. Metformin use was associated with decreased fracture risk (HR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.87–0.90). We conclude that among older men with diabetes, those with HbA1c lower than 6.5% are at increased risk for any clinical and hip fracture. Insulin use is associated with higher fracture risk, especially among those with tight glycemic control. Our findings demonstrate the importance of the treatment regimen and avoiding hypoglycemia for fracture prevention in older men with diabetes. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
The synthesis of graphene oxide covalently linked with nickel tetraamino phthalocyanine: A photoelectrochemical sensor for the analysis of rifampicin irradiated with blue light
Authors: Peng Jinyun , Huang Qing , Liu Yuxia , Liu Fengping , Zhang Cuizhong , Huang Yingying , Huang Wei
Published: July 2019

In this article, the fabrication and characterization of a photoelectrochemical (PEC) rifampicin sensor based on graphene oxide grafted with Ni tetraamino phthalocyanine was described, which presents an excellent PEC activity, sensitivity, and material stability. The synthesized graphene oxide grafted with Ni tetraamino phthalocyanine was characterized using ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. Specifically, detection for rifampicin was based on the reduction of photocurrent caused by binding of the analyte to the sensing electrode surface. The fabricated sensor was characterized in a broad linear response range (0.025–71.3 μM) and with a low detection limit (2.5 nM), outperforming the previously reported sensors and thus being well suited for quality control and other applications, as confirmed by successful real‐life sample testing.
One‐pot synthesis of highly functionalized benzo [1,3] thiazine from isocyanides, aniline, and heterocumulene via Cu‐catalyzed intramolecular C‐H activation reactions
Authors: Dastjerdi Hossein F. , Nematpour Manijeh , Rezaee Elham , Jahani Mehdi , Tabatabai Sayyed A.
Published: July 2019

A one‐pot synthesis of functionalized benzo thiazine derivatives via a Cu‐catalyzed, multicomponent reaction of isocyanides, aniline, and heterocumulenes in acetonitrile at room temperature was developed. Transition metal‐catalyzed activation of C‐H bonds under mild copper‐catalytic reaction conditions, using simple and available starting materials, also obtaining a pure product with high yield without applying column chromatography are the major advantages of the applied method among the other ones used for this purpose. The structures are confirmed spectroscopically (1H‐ and 13C‐NMR, IR, and EI‐MS) and through elemental analyses.
Identification and diagnostic value of pleural fluid periostin and serum periostin of malignant pleural effusions in patients with non–small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Wang Junjun , Fu Jiali , Shen Qiang , Zhang Fan , Wang Yumin , Wu Ling Ling
Published: July 2019

Background

Limited data are available for the diagnostic value, and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of pleural fluid periostin (pPOSTN) and serum periostin (sPOSTN) in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) caused by non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

We collected 84 pleural effusion samples, including 44 cases of MPE caused by NSCLC and 40 cases of benign pleural effusions (BPEs) from August 2018 to January 2019. The pPOSTN, sPOSTN, pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH), pleural effusion adenosine deaminase (pADA), pleural effusion total protein (pTP), pleural fluid glucose (pGLU), pleural effusion leukocyte count (pWBC), pleural effusion red cell count (pRBC), pleural effusion carbohydrate antigen 199 (pCA199), pleural fluid carbohydrate antigen 125 (pCA125), pleural effusion ferritin (pFer), serum total protein (sTP), and serum C‐reactive protein (sCRP) were tested, and the obtained data were analyzed by statistical software.

Results

Compared to the BPE group, the pPOSTN level in the MPE group was observably lower, while the levels of sPOSTN, sPOSTN/pADA, pCA199/pADA, and pCA199/pPOSTN increased. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) (=0.844, 0.847, 0.841) of sPOSTN/pADA, pCA199/pADA, and pCA199/pPOSTN (cutoff = 11.86, 0.244, 0.015) was observably higher than other indicators for the diagnosis of MPE caused by NSCLC. Thus, the combined detection of pPOSTN, pCA125/pPOSTN, and pCA125/sCRP suggested that the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity was 0.912%, 95.45%, and 77.50% at the cutoff 0.317 and diagnostic performance was higher than sPOSTN/pADA or pCA199/pADA or pCA199/pPOSTN.

Conclusion

Combined detection of sPOSTN/pADA, pCA199/pADA, and pCA199/pPOSTN can be used as a good indicator for MPE caused by NSCLC.
Protective effects of irisin on hypoxia‐reoxygenation injury in hyperglycemia‐treated cardiomyocytes: Role of AMPK pathway and mitochondrial protection
Authors: Fan Jiamao , Zhu Qing , Wu Zhenhua , Ding Jiao , Qin Shuai , Liu Hui , Miao Pengfei
Published: July 2019

Recent evidence has verified the cardioprotective actions of irisin in different diseases models. However, the beneficial action of irisin on hypoxia‐reoxygenation (HR) injury under high glucose stress has not been described. Herein our research investigated the influence of irisin on HR‐triggered cardiomyocyte death under high glucose stress. HR model was established in vitro under high glucose treatment. The results illuminated that HR injury augmented apoptotic ratio of cardiomyocyte under high glucose stress; this effect could be abolished by irisin via modulating mitochondrial function. Irisin treatment attenuated cellular redox stress, improved cellular ATP biogenetics, sustained mitochondria potential, and impaired mitochondrion‐related cell death. At the molecular levels, irisin treatment activated the 5′‐adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway and the latter protected cardiomyocyte and mitochondria against HR injury under high glucose stress. Altogether, our results indicated a novel role of irisin in HR‐treated cardiomyocyte under high glucose stress. Irisin‐activated AMPK pathway and the latter sustained cardiomyocyte viability and mitochondrial function.
Pollen micromorphological analysis of tribe Acacieae (Mimosaceae) with LM and SEM techniques
Authors: Khan Shahzeb U. , Zafar Muhammad , Ahmad Mushtaq , Anjum Farida , Sultana Shazia , Kilic Omer , Ozdemir Fethi A. , Nazir Abdul , Yaseen Ghulam , Aabidin Sheikh Z. U. , Abbas Qamar , Ahmad Manzoor , Ullah Farhat , Majeed Salman
Published: July 2019

The morphology of pollen grains of the 06 species of tribe Acacieae (Mimosaceae) belonging to one genus were investigated using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and light microscopic (LM) approach. Lactic acid acetolysis method was used for (LM) while non‐acetolysis for (SEM). The species were examined for the both qualitative and quantitative palynological features. Qualitatively the pollen was studied for the shape, exine sculpturing, pollen shape, and pollen type. Oblate spheroidal shape of pollen was observed in Accacia modesta. Subprolate shape in Accaca nilotica. In Accacia farnesiana, prolate pollen was examined while prolate spheroidal in Acacia tortilis and spheroidal pollen grains were studied in Acacia catechu, respectively. Pollen exine sculpturing of the studied tribe possesses novel variation. Foveolate, reticulate, foveolate‐psilate, faint reticulate, fossulate, perforate, and scrabate exine sculpturing were noticed. Colpi were absent in all species. Excessive variation was observed in both qualitative and quantitative character of pollen. SPSS software was use for the quantitative measurement of the pollen grains. The current study will be helpful for the identification of the problematic species and phylogenetic studies of family Mimosaceae.