bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Obesity-Associated” Breast Cancer in Lean Women: Metabolism and Inflammation as Critical Modifiers of Risk
Authors: Denis Gerald V. , Palmer Julie R.
Published: April 2017

Why is obesity only weakly associated with certain “obesity-driven” cancers? Recent population studies identify cohorts of high body mass index (BMI) subjects with unexpectedly reduced risk for breast and colon cancer, and normal BMI subjects with unexpectedly elevated risk for breast cancer, provoking hard thinking about cellular and molecular mechanisms that most strongly couple obesity to cancer occurrence or progression. Emerging work suggests that abnormal metabolism and its associated chronic inflammation make the difference. Type II diabetes, for example, is a chronic inflammatory disease with specific imbalances in T-cell and myeloid-origin cytokines. Inflammation is elevated systemically, measured through blood biomarkers, and locally in adipose tissue. Here, cytokines and chemokines likely modify tumor microenvironments in dangerous ways. High BMI subjects with low inflammation and less disturbed metabolism appear to have reduced risk for certain obesity-associated cancers, whereas lean or slightly overweight subjects with high inflammation and metabolic abnormalities have elevated risk. This latter phenotype is prevalent among South Asian adults and suggests we are not monitoring certain normal weight adults sufficiently for risks of “obesity-associated” cancers. Profiling of patient metabolism and inflammation should accompany measures of body composition when considering cancer risk; the evidence base for these refinements must be extended through new, prospective observational studies. Cancer Prev Res; 10(5); 267–9. ©2017 AACR.

See related article by Iyengar et al., Cancer Prev Res 2017;10(4):235–43.
Minimally Invasive Approach for Treatment of Seminal Vesicle Cyst Associated with Ipsilateral Renal Agenesis
Authors: Kord Eyal , Zisman Amnon , Darawsha Abd Elhalim , Dally Nasib , Noh Paul H. , Neheman Amos
Published: April 2017

Objectives: We reviewed the clinical presentation and approach for the treatment of symptomatic seminal vesicle cyst associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis while presenting our experience with a series of 5 patients treated with minimally invasive surgery for Zinner syndrome. Materials and Methods: Between the years 2008 and 2016, we operated on 5 patients who presented with symptomatic seminal vesicle cyst and ipsilateral renal agenesis. Patients' charts and medical records were reviewed and compared with past published minimally invasive series. Results: Four patients were treated in a laparoscopic approach and one was treated with robotic-assisted seminal vesicle cyst excision. In all cases, the cystic complex was drained and excised with marsupialization of the remaining cyst walls to prevent cystic recurrence. The mean operating time was 3:47 h and mean hospitalization time was 7 days (4-14). The mean follow-up period was 3.2 years (range 1.7-4.8 years). All patients reported a resolution of symptoms during postoperative follow-up. Conclusions: Seminal vesicle cyst with ipsilateral renal agenesis should be suspected in young male patients presenting with pelvic cystic masses. Treatment is reserved for symptomatic patients and the preferred approach is minimally invasive surgery. This approach is feasible and effective while providing advantages both for the patient and the surgeon.
Prolactin as a Potential Early Predictive Factor in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Nivolumab
Authors: Caponnetto Salvatore , Iannantuono Giovanni Maria , Barchiesi Giacomo , Magri Valentina , Gelibter Alain , Cortesi Enrico
Published: April 2017

Background/Aims: Prolactin (PRL) is a peptide hormone and several studies have demonstrated its role as a cytokine in human T cell-mediated immunity. We are unaware if PRL is a positive or negative immunomodulator, but its effects on the regulation of T cells could inhibit the antitumor activity elicited by nivolumab (NIVO). We aimed to assess whether the occurrence of hyperprolactinemia in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) patients treated with NIVO is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Methods: We evaluated 26 mNSCLC patients treated with NIVO. Blood samples were collected in every patient to evaluate PRL basal levels before starting the therapy with NIVO and before each following administration of NIVO. All patients underwent a conventional CT to investigate the effect of therapy according to Immune-related Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (IrRECIST). Results: Twenty patients (77%) developed hyperprolactinemia during the treatment, whereas 6 patients (23%) had stable levels of PRL during the therapy (p = 0.001). A total of 95% of the 20 patients with hyperprolactinemia had progressive disease (PD), according to CT results, whereas only 2 patients (33%) out of 6 with stable PRL levels had PD (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Hyperprolactinemia in mNSCLC patients treated with NIVO could potentially represent a negative early predictive factor for poor clinical outcomes, thus anticipating PD shown by CT scan.
Fine Needle Aspiration of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: A Cytopathologic Study of 37 Cases
Authors: Hang Jen-Fan , Siddiqui Momin T. , Ali Syed Z.
Published: April 2017

Objective: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an uncommon neoplasm of dendritic cells and predominantly occurs in children and young adults. The study aims to evaluate cytopathologic features and current diagnostic concepts in a large series of LCH on fine needle aspiration (FNA). Study Design: We retrospectively searched the pathology archives of The Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) and Emory University Hospital (EUH) to identify all FNA cases diagnosed as LCH in a period of 21 years. Cytologic material and immunohistochemical stains were reviewed. Results: A total of 37 LCH patients (26 from JHH and 11 from EUH) with FNA diagnoses were identified. The sites of LCH included bone in 28, soft tissue of head and neck in 6, and lymph nodes in 3. Thirty-one patients (84%) were diagnosed as LCH, 4 (11%) had a descriptive diagnosis suggesting scant cellularity with epithelioid/histiocyte-like cells and mixed inflammation, and 2 (5%) were non-diagnostic due to insufficient cellularity. Immunohistochemical stains were performed on cell block sections in 26 cases, showing 24 of 24 (100%) positive for CD1a, 22 of 23 (96%) positive for S100-protein, and 3 of 3 (100%) positive for CD68. Conclusions: LCH can be accurately diagnosed in FNA based on the characteristic cytomorphology and selected immunohistochemistry. Diagnosis may be difficult in cases with scant or insufficient cellular material.
Pneumatic Compression, But Not Exercise, Can Avoid Intradialytic Hypotension: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Álvares Valeria R.C. , Ramos Camila D. , Pereira Benedito J. , Pinto Ana Lucia , Moysés Rosa M.A. , Gualano Bruno , Elias Rosilene M.
Published: April 2017

Background: Conventional hemodialysis (HD) is associated with dialysis-induced hypotension (DIH) and ineffective phosphate removal. As the main source of extracellular fluid removed during HD are the legs, we sought to reduce DIH and increase phosphate removal by using cycling and pneumatic compression, which would potentially provide higher venous return, preserving central blood flow and also offering more phosphate to the dialyzer. Methods: We evaluated 21 patients in a randomized crossover fashion in which each patient underwent 3 different HD: control; cycling exercise during the first 60 min; and pneumatic compression during the first 60 min. Data obtained included bioelectrical impedance, hourly blood pressure measurement, biochemical parameters, and direct quantification of phosphate through the dialysate. DIH was defined as a drop in mean arterial pressure (MAP) ≥20 mm Hg. Results: There was no difference in the ultrafiltration rate (p = 0.628), delta weight (p = 0.415), delta of total, intra and extracellular body water among the control, cycling, and pneumatic compression (p = 0.209, p = 0.348, and p = 0.467 respectively). Delta MAP was less changed by pneumatic compression when compared to control, cycling, and pneumatic compression respectively (-4.7 [-17.2, 8.2], -4.7 [-20.5, -0.2], and -2.3 [-8.1, 9.0] mm Hg; p = 0.021). DIH occurred in 43, 38, and 24% of patients in control, cycling, and pneumatic compression respectively (p = 0.014). Phosphate removal did not increase in any intervention (p = 0.486). Higher phosphate removal was dependent on ultrafiltration, pre dialysis serum phosphate, and higher parathyroid hormone. Conclusion: Pneumatic compression during the first hour of dialysis was associated with less DIH, albeit there was no effect on fluid parameters. Neither exercise nor pneumatic compression increased phosphate removal.
Glucagon-like peptide 1-related peptides increase nitric oxide effects to reduce platelet activation
Authors: Barale Cristina , Buracco Simona , Cavalot Franco , Frascaroli Chiara , Guerrasio Angelo , Russo Isabella
Published: April 2017

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is object of intensive investigation for not only its metabolic effects but also the protective vascular actions. Since platelets exert a primary role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, inflammation and vascular complications, we investigated whether GLP-1 directly influences platelet reactivity. For this purpose, in platelets from 72 healthy volunteers we evaluated GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) expression and the effects of a 15-minute incubation with the native form GLP-1(7–36), the N-terminally truncated form GLP-1(9–36) and the GLP-1 analogue Liraglutide (100 nmol/l) on: i) aggregation induced by collagen or arachidonic acid (AA); ii) platelet function under shear stress; iii) cGMP and cAMP synthesis and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG)-induced Vasodilator-Stimulated-Phosphoprotein (VASP) phosphorylation; iv) activation of the signalling molecules Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3-K)/Akt and Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK)/ERK-1/2; and v) oxidative stress. Experiments were repeated in the presence of the nitric oxide donor Na–nitroprusside. We found that platelets constitutively express GLP-1R and that, independently of GLP-1R, GLP-1(7–36), GLP-1(9–36) and Liraglutide exert platelet inhibitory effects as shown by: a) increased NO-antiaggregating effects, b) increased the activation of the cGMP/PKG/VASP pathway, c) reduced the activation of PI3-K/Akt and MAPK/ERK-2 pathways, d) reduced the AA-induced oxidative stress. When the experiments were repeated in the presence of the antagonist of GLP-1R Exendin(9–39), the platelet inhibitory effects were maintained, thus indicating a mechanism independent of GLP-1R. In conclusion, GLP-1(7–36), its degradation product GLP-1(9–36) and Liraglutide exert similar inhibitory effects on platelet activation, suggesting a potential protective effect on the cardiovascular system.
Leukocyte Overexpression of Intracellular NAMPT Attenuates Atherosclerosis by Regulating PPARγ-Dependent Monocyte Differentiation and Function
Authors: Bermudez Beatriz , Dahl Tuva Borresdatter , Medina Indira , Groeneweg Mathijs , Holm Sverre , Montserrat-de la Paz Sergio , Rousch Mat , Otten Jeroen , Herias Veronica , Varela Lourdes M. , Ranheim Trine , Yndestad Arne , Ortega-Gomez Almudena , Abia Rocio , Nagy Laszlo , Aukrust Pal , Muriana Francisco J.G. , Halvorsen Bente , Biessen Erik Anna Leonardus
Published: April 2017

Objective—

Extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (eNAMPT) mediates inflammatory and potentially proatherogenic effects, whereas the role of intracellular NAMPT (iNAMPT), the rate limiting enzyme in the salvage pathway of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)
+
generation, in atherogenesis is largely unknown. Here we investigated the effects of iNAMPT overexpression in leukocytes on inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Approach and Results—

Low-density lipoprotein receptor–deficient mice with hematopoietic overexpression of human iNAMPT (iNAMPT
hi
), on a western type diet, showed attenuated plaque burden with features of lesion stabilization. This anti-atherogenic effect was caused by improved resistance of macrophages to apoptosis by attenuated chemokine (C–C motif) receptor 2-dependent monocyte chemotaxis and by skewing macrophage polarization toward an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. The iNAMPT
hi
phenotype was almost fully reversed by treatment with the NAMPT inhibitor FK866, indicating that iNAMPT catalytic activity is instrumental in the atheroprotection. Importantly, iNAMPT overexpression did not induce any increase in eNAMPT, and eNAMPT had no effect on chemokine (C–C motif) receptor 2 expression and promoted an inflammatory M1 phenotype in macrophages. The iNAMPT-mediated effects at least partly involved sirtuin 1–dependent molecular crosstalk of NAMPT and peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ. Finally, iNAMPT and peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ showed a strong correlation in human atherosclerotic, but not healthy arteries, hinting to a relevance of iNAMPT/peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ pathway also in human carotid atherosclerosis.

Conclusions—

This study highlights the functional dichotomy of intracellular versus extracellular NAMPT, and unveils a critical role for the iNAMPT–peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ axis in atherosclerosis.
Association of Air Pollution Exposures With High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Particle Number
Authors: Bell Griffith , Mora Samia , Greenland Philip , Tsai Michael , Gill Ed , Kaufman Joel D.
Published: April 2017

Objective—

The relationship between air pollution and cardiovascular disease may be explained by changes in high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

Approach and Results—

We examined the cross-sectional relationship between air pollution and both HDL cholesterol and HDL particle number in the MESA Air study (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Air Pollution). Study participants were 6654 white, black, Hispanic, and Chinese men and women aged 45 to 84 years. We estimated individual residential ambient fine particulate pollution exposure (PM
2.5
) and black carbon concentrations using a fine-scale likelihood-based spatiotemporal model and cohort-specific monitoring. Exposure periods were averaged to 12 months, 3 months, and 2 weeks prior to examination. HDL cholesterol and HDL particle number were measured in the year 2000 using the cholesterol oxidase method and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. We used multivariable linear regression to examine the relationship between air pollution exposure and HDL measures. A 0.7×10
−
6
m
−
1
higher exposure to black carbon (a marker of traffic-related pollution) averaged over a 1-year period was significantly associated with a lower HDL cholesterol (−1.68 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval, −2.86 to −0.50) and approached significance with HDL particle number (−0.55 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval, −1.13 to 0.03). In the 3-month averaging time period, a 5 μg/m
3
higher PM
2.5
was associated with lower HDL particle number (−0.64 μmol/L; 95% confidence interval, −1.01 to −0.26), but not HDL cholesterol (−0.05 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval, −0.82 to 0.71).

Conclusions—

These data are consistent with the hypothesis that exposure to air pollution is adversely associated with measures of HDL.
External Arrhythmia Ablation Using Photon Beams
Authors: Lehmann H. Immo , Deisher Amanda J. , Takami Mitsuru , Kruse Jon J. , Song Limin , Anderson Sarah E. , Cusma Jack T. , Parker Kay D. , Johnson Susan B. , Asirvatham Samuel J. , Miller Robert C. , Herman Michael G. , Packer Douglas L.
Published: April 2017

Background—

This study sought to investigate external photon beam radiation for catheter-free ablation of the atrioventricular junction in intact pigs.

Methods and Results—

Ten pigs were randomized to either sham irradiation or irradiation of the atrioventricular junction (55, 50, 40, and 25 Gy). Animals underwent baseline electrophysiological evaluation, cardiac gated multi-row computed tomographic imaging for beam delivery planning, and intensity-modulated radiation therapy. Doses to the coronary arteries were optimized. Invasive follow-up was conducted ≤4 months after the irradiation. A mean volume of 2.5±0.5 mL was irradiated with target dose. The mean follow-up length after irradiation was 124.8±30.8 days. Out of 7 irradiated animals, complete atrioventricular block was achieved in 6 animals of all 4 dose groups (86%). Using the same targeting margins, ablation lesion size notably increased with the delivered dose because of volumetric effects of isodose lines around the target volume. The mean macroscopically calculated atrial lesion volume for all 4 dose groups was 3.8±1.1 mL, lesions extended anteriorly into the interventricular septum. No short-term side effects were observed. No damage was observed in the tissues of the esophagus, phrenic nerves, or trachea. However, histology revealed in-field beam effects outside of the target volume.

Conclusions—

Single-fraction doses as low as 25 Gy caused a lesion with interruption of cardiac impulse propagation using this respective target volume. With doses of ≤55 Gy, maximal point-doses to coronary arteries could be kept <7Gy, but target conformity of lesions was not fully achieved using this approach.
Interpreting Incidentally Identified Variants in Genes Associated With Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia in a Large Cohort of Clinical Whole-Exome Genetic Test Referrals
Authors: Landstrom Andrew P. , Dailey-Schwartz Andrew L. , Rosenfeld Jill A. , Yang Yaping , McLean Margaret J. , Miyake Christina Y. , Valdes Santiago O. , Fan Yuxin , Allen Hugh D. , Penny Daniel J. , Kim Jeffrey J.
Published: April 2017

Background—

The rapid expansion of genetic testing has led to increased utilization of clinical whole-exome sequencing (WES). Clinicians and genetic researchers are being faced with assessing risk of disease vulnerability from incidentally identified genetic variants which is typified by variants found in genes associated with sudden death-predisposing catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). We sought to determine whether incidentally identified variants in genes associated with CPVT from WES clinical testing represent disease-associated biomarkers.

Methods and Results—

CPVT-associated genes
RYR2
and
CASQ2
variants were identified in one of the world’s largest collections of clinical WES referral tests (N=6517, Baylor Miraca Genetics Laboratories) and compared with a control cohort of ostensibly healthy individuals (N=60 706) and a case cohort of CPVT cases (N=155). Within the WES cohort, the rate of rare variants in CPVT-associated genes was 8.8% compared with 6.0% among controls and 60.0% among cases. There was a predominance of variants of undetermined significance (97.7%). After protein topology mapping, WES variants colocalized more frequently to residues with variants found in controls compared with cases. Retrospective clinical evaluation of individuals referred to our institution with WES-positive variants demonstrated no evidence of clinical CPVT in individuals with a low pretest clinical suspicion for CPVT.

Conclusions—

The prevalence of incidentally identified CPVT-associated variants is ≈9% among WES tests. Variants of undetermined significances in CPVT-associated genes in WES genetic testing, in the absence of clinical suspicion for CPVT, are unlikely to represent markers of CPVT pathogenicity.
Admixture Mapping of Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Subsequent Clinical Events Among African Americans in 2 Large Cohort Studies
Authors: Shendre Aditi , Wiener Howard , Irvin Marguerite R. , Zhi Degui , Limdi Nita A. , Overton Edgar T. , Wassel Christina L. , Divers Jasmin , Rotter Jerome I. , Post Wendy S. , Shrestha Sadeep
Published: April 2017

Background—

Local ancestry may contribute to the disproportionate burden of subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease among admixed African Americans compared with other populations, suggesting a rationale for admixture mapping.

Methods and Results—

We estimated local European ancestry (LEA) using Local Ancestry inference in adMixed Populations using Linkage Disequilibrium method (LAMP-LD) and evaluated the association with common carotid artery intima–media thickness (cCIMT) using multivariable linear regression analysis among 1554 African Americans from MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). We conducted secondary analysis to examine the significant cCIMT–LEA associations with clinical cardiovascular disease events. We observed genome-wide significance in relation to cCIMT association with the
SERGEF
gene (secretion-regulating guanine nucleotide exchange factor; β=0.0137;
P
=2.98×10
−
4
), also associated with higher odds of stroke (odds ratio=1.71;
P
=0.02). Several regions, in particular
CADPS
gene (Ca
2+
-dependent secretion activator 1) region identified in MESA, were also replicated in the ARIC cohort (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities). We observed other cCIMT–LEA regions associated with other clinical events, most notably the regions harboring
CKMT2
gene (creatine kinase, mitochondrial 2) and
RASGRF2
gene (Ras protein–specific guanine nucleotide–releasing factor 2) with all clinical events except stroke, the
LRRC3B
gene (leucine-rich repeat containing 3B) with myocardial infarction, the
PRMT3
gene (protein arginine methyltransferase 3) with stroke, and the
LHFPL2
gene (lipoma high mobility group protein I-C fusion partner-like 2) with hard and all coronary heart disease.

Conclusions—

We identified several novel LEA regions, in addition to previously identified genetic variations, associated with cCIMT and cardiovascular disease events among African Americans.
Adenosine Formed by CD73 on T Cells Inhibits Cardiac Inflammation and Fibrosis and Preserves Contractile Function in Transverse Aortic Constriction–Induced Heart Failure
Authors: Quast Christine , Alter Christina , Ding Zhaoping , Borg Nadine , Schrader Jürgen
Published: April 2017

Background—

Structural damage during heart failure development leads to increased infiltration of leukocytes. Because purinergic signaling on immune cells may impact on the inflammatory response, we evaluated the role of ecto-5′-nucleotidase (CD73) on the development of heart failure after transverse aortic constriction (TAC) using global and T-cell–specific CD73
−
/−
mice.

Methods and Results—

Leukocytes infiltrating the failing heart were analyzed by a multistep enzymatic procedure over a period of 16 weeks using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. TAC significantly enhanced the infiltration of leukocytes, especially T cells. The fraction of CD73 expressing cells increased over time exclusively on cytotoxic T cells, T-helper cells, and regulatory T cells. Cardiac function significantly declined in T-cell–specific CD4-Cre
+/
−
CD73
flox/flox
mice identical to that observed in global CD73 mutants and was associated with enhanced fibrosis (collagen, laminin, vimentin, periostin). Expression analysis by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction of extracellular purine degrading enzymes and P1 and P2 receptors on T cells isolated from the injured heart revealed profound upregulation of the enzymatic machinery for hydrolysis of extracellular adenosine triphosphate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, both pathways converging in the formation of AMP and adenosine via CD73. Among the P1 receptors, only the A2a receptor was significantly upregulated after TAC. T cells isolated from TAC-treated hearts show enhanced production of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-3, interleukin-6, interleukin-13, interleukin-17, macrophage inflammatory proteins-1α, and macrophage inflammatory proteins-1β) when CD73 was lacking.

Conclusions—

Our data provide first evidence that CD73 on T cells plays an important anti-inflammatory role in TAC-induced heart failure, which is associated with antifibrotic activity and reduced production of proinflammatory cytokines most likely by activation of the adenosine A2a receptor.
Longitudinal Risk of Adverse Events in Patients With Acute Kidney Injury After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Valle Javier A. , McCoy Lisa A. , Maddox Thomas M. , Rumsfeld John S. , Ho P. Michael , Casserly Ivan P. , Nallamothu Brahmajee K. , Roe Matthew T. , Tsai Thomas T. , Messenger John C.
Published: April 2017

Background—

Acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a common complication after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is associated with adverse in-hospital patient outcomes. The incidence of adverse events after hospital discharge in patients having post-PCI AKI is poorly defined, and the relationship between AKI and outcomes after hospital discharge remains understudied.

Methods and Results—

Using the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI registry, we assessed the incidence of AKI among Medicare beneficiaries after PCI from 2004 to 2009 and subsequent post-discharge adverse events at 1 year. AKI was defined using Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria. Adverse events included death, myocardial infarction, bleeding, and recurrent kidney injury. Using Cox methods, we determined the relationship between in-hospital AKI and risk of post-discharge adverse events by AKIN stage. In a cohort of 453 475 elderly patients undergoing PCI, 39 850 developed AKI (8.8% overall; AKIN stage 1, 85.8%; AKIN 2/3, 14.2%). Compared with no AKI, in-hospital AKI was associated with higher post-discharge hazard of death, myocardial infarction, or bleeding (AKIN 1: hazard ratio [HR], 1.53; confidence interval [CI], 1.49–1.56 and AKIN 2/3: HR, 2.13; CI, 2.01–2.26), recurrent AKI (AKIN 1: HR, 1.70; CI, 1.64–1.76; AKIN 2/3: HR, 2.22; CI, 2.04–2.41), and AKI requiring dialysis (AKIN 1: HR, 2.59; CI, 2.29–2.92; AKIN 2/3: HR, 4.73; CI, 3.73–5.99). For each outcome, the highest incidence was within 30 days.

Conclusions—

Post-PCI AKI is associated with increased risk of death, myocardial infarction, bleeding, and recurrent renal injury after discharge. Post-PCI AKI should be recognized as a significant risk factor not only for in-hospital adverse events but also after hospital discharge.
Bioresorbable Scaffold
Authors: Sotomi Yohei , Onuma Yoshinobu , Collet Carlos , Tenekecioglu Erhan , Virmani Renu , Kleiman Neal S. , Serruys Patrick W.
Published: April 2017

In the era of drug-eluting stents, large-scale randomized trials and all-comer registries have shown excellent clinical results. However, even the latest-generation drug-eluting stent has not managed to address all the limitations of permanent metallic coronary stents, such as the risks of target lesion revascularization, neoatherosclerosis, preclusion of late lumen enlargement, and the lack of reactive vasomotion. Furthermore, the risk of very late stent, although substantially reduced with newer-generation drug-eluting stent, still remains. These problems were anticipated to be solved with the advent of fully biodegradable devices. Fully bioresorbable coronary scaffolds have been designed to function transiently to prevent acute recoil, but have retained the capability to inhibit neointimal proliferation by eluting immunosuppressive drugs. Nevertheless, long-term follow-up data of the leading bioresorbable scaffold (Absorb) are becoming available and have raised a concern about the relatively higher incidence of scaffold thrombosis. To reduce the rate of clinical events, improvements in the device, as well as implantation procedure, are being evaluated. This review will focus on the current CE-mark approved bioresorbable scaffolds, their basic characteristics, and clinical results. In addition, we summarize the current limitations of bioresorbable scaffold and their possible solutions.
Myeloperoxidase Mediates Postischemic Arrhythmogenic Ventricular Remodeling
Authors: Mollenhauer Martin , Friedrichs Kai , Lange Max , Gesenberg Jan , Remane Lisa , Kerkenpaß Christina , Krause Jenny , Schneider Johanna , Ravekes Thorben , Maass Martina , Halbach Marcel , Peinkofer Gabriel , Saric Tomo , Mehrkens Dennis , Adam Matti , Deuschl Florian G. , Lau Denise , Geertz Birgit , Manchanda Kashish , Eschenhagen Thomas , Kubala Lukas , Rudolph Tanja K. , Wu Yuping , Tang W.H. Wilson , Hazen Stanley L. , Baldus Stephan , Klinke Anna , Rudolph Volker
Published: April 2017

Rationale:

Ventricular arrhythmias remain the leading cause of death in patients suffering myocardial ischemia. Myeloperoxidase, a heme enzyme released by polymorphonuclear neutrophils, accumulates within ischemic myocardium and has been linked to adverse left ventricular remodeling.

Objective:

To reveal the role of myeloperoxidase for the development of ventricular arrhythmias.

Methods and Results:

In different murine models of myocardial ischemia, myeloperoxidase deficiency profoundly decreased vulnerability for ventricular tachycardia on programmed right ventricular and burst stimulation and spontaneously as assessed by ECG telemetry after isoproterenol injection. Experiments using CD11b/CD18 integrin–deficient (CD11b
−/−
) mice and intravenous myeloperoxidase infusion revealed that neutrophil infiltration is a prerequisite for myocardial myeloperoxidase accumulation. Ventricles from myeloperoxidase-deficient (Mpo
−/−
) mice showed less pronounced slowing and decreased heterogeneity of electric conduction in the peri-infarct zone than wild-type mice. Expression of the redox-sensitive gap junctional protein Cx43 (Connexin 43) was reduced in the peri-infarct area of wild-type compared with Mpo
−/−
mice. In isolated wild-type cardiomyocytes, Cx43 protein content decreased on myeloperoxidase/H
2
O
2
incubation. Mapping of induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocyte networks and in vivo investigations linked Cx43 breakdown to myeloperoxidase-dependent activation of matrix metalloproteinase 7. Moreover, Mpo
−/−
mice showed decreased ventricular postischemic fibrosis reflecting reduced accumulation of myofibroblasts. Ex vivo, myeloperoxidase was demonstrated to induce fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation by activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases resulting in upregulated collagen generation. In support of our experimental findings, baseline myeloperoxidase plasma levels were independently associated with a history of ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, or implantable cardioverter–defibrillator implantation in a cohort of 2622 stable patients with an ejection fraction >35% undergoing elective diagnostic cardiac evaluation.

Conclusions:

Myeloperoxidase emerges as a crucial mediator of postischemic myocardial remodeling and may evolve as a novel pharmacological target for secondary disease prevention after myocardial ischemia.
Robust Averaging of Covariances for EEG Recordings Classification in Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interfaces
Authors: Uehara Takashi , Sartori Matteo , Tanaka Toshihisa , Fiori Simone
Published: April 2017

The estimation of covariance matrices is of prime importance to analyze the distribution of multivariate signals. In motor imagery–based brain-computer interfaces (MI-BCI), covariance matrices play a central role in the extraction of features from recorded electroencephalograms (EEGs); therefore, correctly estimating covariance is crucial for EEG classification. This letter discusses algorithms to average sample covariance matrices (SCMs) for the selection of the reference matrix in tangent space mapping (TSM)–based MI-BCI. Tangent space mapping is a powerful method of feature extraction and strongly depends on the selection of a reference covariance matrix. In general, the observed signals may include outliers; therefore, taking the geometric mean of SCMs as the reference matrix may not be the best choice. In order to deal with the effects of outliers, robust estimators have to be used. In particular, we discuss and test the use of geometric medians and trimmed averages (defined on the basis of several metrics) as robust estimators. The main idea behind trimmed averages is to eliminate data that exhibit the largest distance from the average covariance calculated on the basis of all available data. The results of the experiments show that while the geometric medians show little differences from conventional methods in terms of classification accuracy in the classification of electroencephalographic recordings, the trimmed averages show significant improvement for all subjects.
Chaotic Pattern Alternations Can Reproduce Properties of Dominance Durations in Multistable Perception
Authors: Kanamaru Takashi
Published: April 2017

We propose a pulse neural network that exhibits chaotic pattern alternations among stored patterns as a model of multistable perception, which is reflected in phenomena such as binocular rivalry and perceptual ambiguity. When we regard the mixed state of patterns as a part of each pattern, the durations of the retrieved pattern obey unimodal distributions. We confirmed that no chaotic properties are observed in the time series of durations, consistent with the findings of previous psychological studies. Moreover, it is shown that our model also reproduces two properties of multistable perception that characterize the relationship between the contrast of inputs and the durations.
Generalization Analysis of Fredholm Kernel Regularized Classifiers
Authors: Gong Tieliang , Xu Zongben , Chen Hong
Published: April 2017

Recently, a new framework, Fredholm learning, was proposed for semisupervised learning problems based on solving a regularized Fredholm integral equation. It allows a natural way to incorporate unlabeled data into learning algorithms to improve their prediction performance. Despite rapid progress on implementable algorithms with theoretical guarantees, the generalization ability of Fredholm kernel learning has not been studied. In this letter, we focus on investigating the generalization performance of a family of classification algorithms, referred to as Fredholm kernel regularized classifiers. We prove that the corresponding learning rate can achieve [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] is the number of labeled samples) in a limiting case. In addition, a representer theorem is provided for the proposed regularized scheme, which underlies its applications.
Learning Rates for Classification with Gaussian Kernels
Authors: Lin Shao-Bo , Zeng Jinshan , Chang Xiangyu
Published: April 2017

This letter aims at refined error analysis for binary classification using support vector machine (SVM) with gaussian kernel and convex loss. Our first result shows that for some loss functions, such as the truncated quadratic loss and quadratic loss, SVM with gaussian kernel can reach the almost optimal learning rate provided the regression function is smooth. Our second result shows that for a large number of loss functions, under some Tsybakov noise assumption, if the regression function is infinitely smooth, then SVM with gaussian kernel can achieve the learning rate of order [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the number of samples.
Distribution and diversity of reptiles in Albania: a novel database from a Mediterranean hotspot
Authors: Mizsei Edvárd , Jablonski Daniel , Végvári Zsolt , Lengyel Szabolcs , Szabolcs Márton
Published: April 2017

Although Albania has a rich reptile fauna, efforts to reveal its diversity have so far been limited. To fill this gap, we collected available published and unpublished (museum collections, online sources) records of reptile occurrences and conducted several expeditions to search for reptiles in areas with few or no previous records. Our georeferenced database contains 3731 records of 40 species from between 1918 and 2015. Based on this comprehensive dataset, we prepared distribution maps for each reptile species of the country. Applying spatial statistics, we revealed that overall sampling effort was clustered, with hotspots associated with easily accessible areas and natural heritage sites. The maximum number of species per cell was 26 with an average of seven. Cells harbouring large reptile diversity were located along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts, on the western slopes of south Albanian mountains, i.e. in areas generally considered as Balkans biodiversity hotspots or potential historical refugia. We found that species presence and diversity is strongly influenced by landscape features. Diversity of land cover, altitudinal variation, temperature and precipitation variation explained the observed pattern in our models. Our study presents the largest database of reptile occurrences to date and is the first to analyse reptile diversity patterns in Albania. The database and the diversity patterns can provide a basis for future macroecological studies and conservation planning.
Global Studies and Community Engagement through Migration with Dignity in Middle Tennessee
Authors: Vásquez Antonio L.
Published: April 2017

Since the decade of the 1990s, Tennessee has been recognized as one of the fastest growing receiving states for recent migrant populations at the regional and national level in the United States. In concert with this transformative demographic change, state residents have also witnessed a rise of political nativism in the form of in-state, anti-immigrant legislation and dehumanization of the other. This article seeks to offer insights from coordinating a community-based global studies class project that centers on the experiences and perspectives of recent migrants and their families living in the state, which in turns contributes to a different public conversation at the local level.
Algerian Nationalism: From the Origins to Algerian War of Independence
Authors: Fois Marisa
Published: April 2017

Arab nationalism is not a monolithic construct. In the case of Algeria, the nationalist period undoubtedly played a significant role in determining the nature of its nationalist movement, its foundational principles and the nature of the future independent country. It was during the nationalist period that disputes regarding the colonial order, autonomy versus independence and the definition of Algerian identity emerged.

The anti-colonial revolution occurred after a long period of gestation, the result of a combination of people’s spontaneous initiative, the action of forces fed by new or existing ideas and the influence of the international context.

This article provides an overview of Algerian nationalism—including both Arab and Berber nationalisms—from the 1920s to the 1950s, identifying parties, leaders and currents of thought.
Idrīs’ Libya and the Role of Islam: International Confrontation and Social Transformation
Authors: Morone Antonio M.
Published: April 2017

The formation of the Libyan state had an atypical chronology and history. It was not until the 1940s that the construction of the state and the formation of the Libyan nation took place, during the death throes of Italian colonial rule. The arrival of Idrīs on the throne was a compromise: although on the one hand it was the return to a pre-colonial and pre-modern political leadership, on the other this leadership lay within a modern institutional framework, derived from European constitutionalism. In the process of renewal of the tradition linked to the figure of Idrīs, the leader of the al-Sanūsiyyah, the Islam has been inestimably important. At the point of independence, the task was to transform Libya from an artifice of colonialism into a shared political and cultural reality; it was Islam, much more than Arabism, that was identified as the lowest common denominator. The twenty years of rule by Idrīs, from his appointment as Amīr of an autonomous Cyrenaica on 1 July 1949 to the revolution of 1 September 1969, can be summarized as a continual attempt at the opening-up and controlled reform of a strongly conservative political system, which, in view of a rapidly changing society, sought to move from a fragmented political perspective to a truly national one, without any conclusive success. Internal instability became increasingly related to external interference, not just by former colonial countries or the superpowers but also by other Arab countries such as Egypt, who were the purveyors of a project of militant nationalism: Libya became a zone of political and ideological conflict between the West and the Third World.
Rethinking Gender in Arab Nationalism: Women and the Politics of Modernity in the Making of Nation-States. Cases from Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria
Authors: Pepicelli Renata
Published: April 2017

In the latexixcentury and the beginning of thexxcentury, Arab nationalism identified women as the “bearers of the nation”, the symbolic repository of group identity. Nationalists, both modernists and conservatives, shaped the image of the nation around an idealized image of the woman, functional in different political projects. If the latter exalted women’s domestic roles as part of the defense of the Islamic cultural authenticity, the former criticized women’s seclusion and promoted their inclusion in the public sphere as an essential part of the making of the modern nation. The woman unveiled became a symbol of modernity and progress. In nationalist projects, politics of modernity intersected deeply with the gender issue.

This article analyzes, from a gender perspective, modernist discourses on the nation and women, and studies the way in which women were involved in such debates. It underlines, on one hand, how women participated in anti-colonial struggles and on the other, their challenge, resistance and renegotiation of men’s nationalist projects. Through poems, tales, novels, short stories, memoirs, essays, journalistic articles, speeches educated women from the upper and middle classes shaped their nationalist and feminist agenda, in continuity and in contrast to the men’s. To combat national forms of patriarchal domination, firstly, under colonial rule, and, subsequently, under the independent state, some of them established feminist organizations. During colonization, women’s struggles were characterized by both nationalist and feminist goals, but having achieved independence, women had to fight to obtain their rights as citizens in the new nation-states. Post-independent governments marginalized women and/or co-opted their claims in what is called “state feminism”. Focusing on three countries, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria, this essay highlights differences and similarities in nationalist discourses and projects in the Arab world.
A Closure for Internal Wave–Mean Flow Interaction. Part I: Energy Conversion
Authors: Olbers Dirk , Eden Carsten
Published: April 2017

When internal (inertia-)gravity waves propagate in a vertically sheared geostrophic (eddying or mean) flow, they exchange energy with the flow. A novel concept parameterizing internal wave–mean flow interaction in ocean circulation models is demonstrated, based on the description of the entire wave field by the wave-energy density in physical and wavenumber space and its prognostic computation by the radiative transfer equation. The concept enables a simplification of the radiative transfer equation with a small number of reasonable assumptions and a derivation of simple but consistent parameterizations in terms of spectrally integrated energy compartments that are used as prognostic model variables. The effect of the waves on the mean flow in this paradigm is in accordance with the nonacceleration theorem: only in the presence of dissipation do waves globally exchange energy with the mean flow in the time mean. The exchange can have either direction. These basic features of wave–mean flow interaction are theoretically derived in a Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) approximation of the wave dynamics and confirmed in a suite of numerical experiments with unidirectional shear flow.
Anton Giulio Bragaglia teorico della meraviglia
Authors: Titomanlio Carlo
Published: April 2017

Fotografia, cinema, letteratura, arti visive, teatro: non c’è disciplina cui Anton Giulio Bragaglia (Frosinone 1890–Roma 1960) non si sia applicato, con spirito innovatore e inesauribile forza creativa. Il presente articolo ripercorre le prime esperienze teatrali di Bragaglia per poi concentrarsi sui suoi scritti teorici, con particolare riferimento agli articoli apparsi sulla rivista Comoedia tra il 1923 e il 1927. Ne emerge un insieme di considerazioni, ricerche, progetti personali e commenti tecnici di notevole interesse per la storia delle arti sceniche del Novecento.
Working From Dominant Identity Positions: Reflections From “Diversity-Aware” White People About Their Cross-Race Work Relationships
Authors: Crary Marcy
Published: April 2017

This is a study of how people learn to work from dominant group identities in their cross-identity work relationships—with a focus on race. I discuss interviews with 24 “diversity-aware” White people about their experiences in cross-race work interactions in which their own and/or the other’s race becomes salient for them. Through a qualitative analysis of the interviews, I identified 10 common facilitating factors that relate to organizational and relational resources as well as self-capacities. I present a framework that highlights the interacting role of these three kinds of resources in responding to perceived barriers for cross-race engagement. Discussion of implications of these findings for individuals and organizations includes recommendations that leaders attend to organizational resources that support and enable constructive race work—including attention to the race identity development of dominant group members.
Hybrid method for assessing marketable fashion designs: diamond pairwise comparison combined with the Choquet integral
Authors: Lin Shi-Woei , Adam Jerusalem Mohammad
Published: April 2017

Various multiple-attribute decision analysis approaches have been developed to choose the best fashion design among alternatives, but none of them consider interdependence among their criteria. This study combined the diamond pairwise comparison method to elicit the weights and interaction degrees of a set of criteria and the Choquet integral method for aggregating the evaluation to identify the best design based on the decision-makers’ preferences and prospects. The criteria were determined from input by 10 experts in diverse areas related to fashion design. By implementing the hybrid method in a case example, the efficacy of the proposed approach for evaluating fashion designs is demonstrated.
Right “Man” for the Job? The Influence of Gender on Civil–Military Friction
Authors: Schroeder Theresa , Powell Jonathan
Published: April 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of women in politics on the risk of a coup d’état. Previous research indicates that the relationship between female political leaders and security is dependent on the office she holds. Subsequently, we expect female legislators to have a different influence than a female chief executive on the likelihood of a coup. We argue that a higher level of female representation reduces the risk of a coup d’état. However, we assert that a female chief executive has a different effect and increases coup risk. Using data covering 160 states over the years 1952 to 2009, our empirical tests provide support for our expectations. All else being equal, increased levels of women in parliament lead to a substantial drop in coup likelihood. However, the argument that a female chief executive will be more coup prone is not fully supported in our findings.