bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Different Doses of Acetylsalicylic Acid on the Antithrombotic Activity of Clopidogrel in a Mouse Arterial Thrombosis Model
Authors: Ni Ran , Vaezzadeh Nima , Zhou Ji , Weitz Jeffrey I. , Cattaneo Marco , Gross Peter L.
Published: September 2018

Objective—

Dual-antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid and a P2Y
12
antagonist, such as clopidogrel, is the standard of care for acute coronary syndromes. However, the drugs have divergent effects on the formation of cAMP, an inhibitory second messenger. Thus, by inhibiting the synthesis of prostacyclin, acetylsalicylic acid reduces cAMP formation, whereas clopidogrel potentiates it. Therefore, with higher doses of acetylsalicylic acid, the potentiation of cAMP production by clopidogrel may be attenuated, which could limit the antithrombotic potential of the drug combination. The purpose of this study was to examine this possibility in vivo.

Approach and Results—

Mice were given oral acetylsalicylic acid at varying doses, oral clopidogrel (5 mg/kg body weight), or both. At doses of 0.15 and 0.6 mg/kg, acetylsalicylic acid inhibited arachidonic acid–induced platelet aggregation, but only 0.6 mg/kg acetylsalicylic acid, or higher, decreased the plasma levels of 6-keto-prostaglandin-F
1α
, the stable metabolite of prostacyclin. When given with clopidogrel, laser injury–induced arterial thrombi were significantly larger with the 0.6 mg/kg dose of acetylsalicylic acid than with the 0.15 mg/kg dose. Thrombi in mice treated with clopidogrel and the 0.15 mg/kg dose of acetylsalicylic acid were smaller than in mice treated with clopidogrel alone, suggesting that acetylsalicylic acid can add to the antithrombotic effect of clopidogrel but that higher doses of acetylsalicylic acid blunt the antithrombotic effect of clopidogrel.

Conclusions—

These findings support the use of lower, prostacyclin-preserving, doses of acetylsalicylic acid in conjunction with clopidogrel.
SREBF1
/MicroRNA-33b Axis Exhibits Potent Effect on Unstable Atherosclerotic Plaque Formation In Vivo
Authors: Nishino Tomohiro , Horie Takahiro , Baba Osamu , Sowa Naoya , Hanada Ritsuko , Kuwabara Yasuhide , Nakao Tetsushi , Nishiga Masataka , Nishi Hitoo , Nakashima Yasuhiro , Nakazeki Fumiko , Ide Yuya , Koyama Satoshi , Kimura Masahiro , Nagata Manabu , Yoshida Kazumichi , Takagi Yasushi , Nakamura Tomoyuki , Hasegawa Koji , Miyamoto Susumu , Kimura Takeshi , Ono Koh
Published: September 2018

Objective—

Atherosclerosis is a common disease caused by a variety of metabolic and inflammatory disturbances. MicroRNA (miR)-33a within
SREBF2
(sterol regulatory element-binding factor 2) is a potent target for treatment of atherosclerosis through regulating both aspects; however, the involvement of miR-33b within
SREBF1
remains largely unknown. Although their host genes difference could lead to functional divergence of miR-33a/b, we cannot dissect the roles of miR-33a/b in vivo because of lack of miR-33b sequences in mice, unlike human.

Approach and Results—

Here, we analyzed the development of atherosclerosis using miR-33b knock-in humanized mice under apolipoprotein E–deficient background. MiR-33b is prominent both in human and mice on atheroprone condition. MiR-33b reduced serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and systemic reverse cholesterol transport. MiR-33b knock-in macrophages showed less cholesterol efflux capacity and higher inflammatory state via regulating lipid rafts. Thus, miR-33b promotes vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque formation. Furthermore, bone marrow transplantation experiments strengthen proatherogenic roles of macrophage miR-33b.

Conclusions—

Our data demonstrated critical roles of
SREBF1
-miR-33b axis on both lipid profiles and macrophage phenotype remodeling and indicate that miR-33b is a promising target for treating atherosclerosis.
Deletion of Lymphangiogenic and Angiogenic Growth Factor VEGF-D Leads to Severe Hyperlipidemia and Delayed Clearance of Chylomicron Remnants
Authors: Tirronen Annakaisa , Vuorio Taina , Kettunen Sanna , Hokkanen Krista , Ramms Bastian , Niskanen Henri , Laakso Hanne , Kaikkonen Minna U. , Jauhiainen Matti , Gordts Philip L.S.M. , Ylä-Herttuala Seppo
Published: September 2018

Objective—

Dyslipidemia is one of the key factors behind coronary heart disease. Blood and lymphatic vessels play pivotal roles in both lipoprotein metabolism and development of atherosclerotic plaques. Recent studies have linked members of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) family to lipid metabolism, but the function of VEGF-D has remained unexplored. Here, we investigated how the deletion of VEGF-D affects lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in atherogenic LDLR
−/−
ApoB
100/100
mice.

Approach and Results—

Deletion of VEGF-D (VEGF-D
−/−
LDLR
−/−
ApoB
100/100
) led to markedly elevated plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels without an increase in atherogenesis. Size distribution and hepatic lipid uptake studies confirmed a delayed clearance of large chylomicron remnant particles that cannot easily penetrate through the vascular endothelium. Mechanistically, the inhibition of VEGF-D signaling significantly decreased the hepatic expression of SDC1 (syndecan 1), which is one of the main receptors for chylomicron remnant uptake when LDLR is absent. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed reduced expression of SDC1 in the sinusoidal surface of hepatocytes in VEGF-D deficient mice. Furthermore, hepatic RNA-sequencing revealed that VEGF-D is also an important regulator of genes related to lipid metabolism and inflammation. The lack of VEGF-D signaling via VEGFR3 (VEGF receptor 3) led to lowered expression of genes regulating triglyceride and cholesterol production, as well as downregulation of peroxisomal β-oxidation pathway.

Conclusions—

These results demonstrate that VEGF-D, a powerful lymphangiogenic and angiogenic growth factor, is also a major regulator of chylomicron metabolism in mice.
Vascular Bed Molecular Profiling by Differential Systemic Decellularization In Vivo
Authors: Serra Aida , Gallart-Palau Xavier , Park Jung Eun , Lim Grace Gui Yin , Lim Kah Leong , Ho Hee Hwa , Tam James P. , Sze Siu Kwan
Published: September 2018

Objective—

Vascular endothelial dysfunction is a key component of several major human diseases, but the molecular basis of this complex disorder has been difficult to determine in vivo. Previous attempts to identify key mediators of vascular endothelial dysfunction in experimental models have been limited by the lack of suitable methods for system-wide analyses of vascular bed biology. Here, we aimed to develop a novel method for investigating vascular endothelial dysfunction pathogenesis that enables system-wide analyses of molecular interactions between endothelial glycocalyx, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells in murine.

Approach and Results—

We developed a new technique using whole-body differential perfusion with increasing concentrations of detergent buffer to selectively solubilize distinct layers of vascular bed tissue in rodents. When combined with proteomics techniques, our novel approach of differential systemic decellularization in vivo enabled quantitative profiling of vascular beds throughout the body. Initial perfusion with phosphate buffer was used to obtain the endothelial glycocalyx, followed by subsequent extraction of endothelial cell components, and finally by smooth muscle cell constituents with increasing concentrations of detergent. Differential systemic decellularization in vivo has also been successfully applied to characterize molecular events in the vascular bed pathology of lipopolysaccharide-challenged mice.

Conclusions—

Together, these data indicate that differential systemic decellularization in vivo permits system-wide molecular characterization of vascular bed proteomes in rodent models and can be used to advance our current understanding of vascular endothelial dysfunction pathogenesis and progression in a wide range of disease settings.
Age-Biomarkers-Clinical Risk Factors for Prediction of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Wong Yuen-Kwun , Cheung Chloe Y.Y. , Tang Clara S. , Au Ka-Wing , Hai JoJo S.H. , Lee Chi-Ho , Lau Kui-Kai , Cheung Bernard M.Y. , Sham Pak-Chung , Xu Aimin , Lam Karen S.L. , Tse Hung-Fat
Published: September 2018

Objective—

In patients with stable coronary artery disease, conventional risk factors provide limited incremental predictive value for cardiovascular events. We sought to investigate whether a panel of cardiometabolic biomarkers alone or combined with conventional risk factors would exhibit incremental value in the prediction of cardiovascular events.

Approach and Results—

In the discovery cohort, we measured serum adiponectin, A-FABP (adipocyte fatty acid–binding protein), lipocalin-2, FGF (fibroblast growth factor)-19 and 21, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and retinol-binding protein-4 in 1166 Chinese coronary artery disease patients. After a median follow-up of 35 months, 170 patients developed new-onset major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). In the model with age ≥65 years and conventional risk factors, area under the curve for predicting MACE was 0.68. Addition of lipocalin-2 to the age-clinical risk factor model improved predictive accuracy (area under the curve=0.73). Area under the curve further increased to 0.75 when a combination of lipocalin-2, A-FABP, and FGF-19 was added to yield age-biomarkers-clinical risk factor model. The adjusted hazard ratio on MACEs for lipocalin-2, A-FABP, and FGF-19 levels above optimal cutoffs were 2.23 (95% CI, 1.62–3.08), 1.99 (95% CI, 1.43–2.76), and 1.65 (95% CI, 1.15–2.35), respectively. In the validation cohort of 1262 coronary artery disease patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the age-biomarkers-clinical risk factor model was confirmed to provide good discrimination and calibration over the conventional risk factor alone for prediction of MACE.

Conclusions—

A combination of the 3 biomarkers, lipocalin-2, A-FABP, and FGF-19, with clinical risk factors to yield the age-biomarkers-clinical risk factor model provides an optimal and validated prediction of new-onset MACE in patients with stable coronary artery disease.
Tyconius’ Apocalypse Commentary, Its Reconstruction, and Its Significance for Augustine’s Doctrine of the Two Cities
Authors: van Oort Johannes
Published: September 2018

The present article deals with Roger Gryson’s reconstruction of Tyconius’ lost Commentary on the Apocalypse (CCL 107A), his subsequent French translation of this reconstructed Commentary (CCT 10), and the English translation Tyconius, Exposition of the Apocalypse by Francis Gumerlock, with long introduction and ample notes by David Robinson (FoC 134). After having reviewed the strenghths and weaknesses of each of these publications, the article concludes with a discussion of the significance of Tyconius’ Commentary for the question of the origin of Augustine’s two civitates doctrine.
Justin Martyr and the Authorship of the Earliest Anti-Heretical Treatise
Authors: den Dulk Matthijs
Published: September 2018

Justin Martyr is commonly regarded as the “inventor of heresy,” an assessment that is based to a considerable extent on his authorship of the earliest-known, now lost anti-heretical treatise mentioned in Justin’s First Apology 26. Justin’s authorship of this treatise has often been assumed, but rarely argued, and it has been contested by a number of scholars. This study evaluates the grammatical, literary, and historical aspects of this question and argues, against recent claims to the contrary, that the hypothesis that Justin was involved in the production of this important document best accommodates the available evidence.
Addressing the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to Resources in Malaysia: A Procedural Justice Approach
Authors: Wook Izawati
Published: September 2018

The concept of procedural justice has been promoted as a potential solution in the contest for resources involving indigenous peoples and others. It seeks the formulation of processes that are fair and just both to indigenous peoples and to the other parties affected. Using a comparative approach, this paper analyses processes and mechanisms adopted in some selected common law jurisdictions against the ideal of procedural justice. It seeks to consider mechanisms which conform to the principle of procedural justice to address the issue of indigenous peoples’ rights to land and resources in Malaysia. The principle is relevant in Malaysian common law which also subjects matters affecting fundamental liberties to procedural justice. Comparative perspectives provide models for practical applications of indigenous peoples’ rights. They assist policy analysis through learning from the successes and failures of other jurisdictions in improving legal reform.
Was the Sanskrit Bible the ‘English Bible-in-Disguise’?
Authors: Young Richard Fox
Published: September 2018

The essay explores Bible translation in early nineteenth-century India as a comprehensive and under-appreciated site for intercultural and interreligious interactions involving Christians and Hindus in a complex context of asymmetrical colonial relations. Postcolonial theorists are interrogated for theory-driven approaches that lopsidedly rely on English-language resources without taking into account the actual Indian-language artefacts of translation projects that came into being. Using a philological approach, the essay treats the Dharmapustaka, the Sanskrit Bible translated at the Serampore Baptist Mission, as a case study in ‘transculturation’—a multidimensional process catalyzed by an English missionary, William Carey, on the edges between India and Europe.
The Problem of Global Interfaith Chaplaincy: The Case of Hong Kong
Authors: Youngblood Peter W.
Published: September 2018

In the U.S. and Europe, clinical spiritual care (hospital chaplaincy) is a non-sectarian ministry meant to provide support to all persons, regardless of faith. This model faces a challenge in religiously pluralistic settings like Hong Kong, where caregiving is provided by devout practitioners from conservative Christian traditions. Conflicts regarding ultimate Truth, salvation, and ethics—largely avoided by pastoral theology—are laid bare in such contexts. The theological approaches of academic fields like theology of religions and comparative/interreligious theology are useful for understanding the various perspectives involved, but do not resolve the tension between individual religious beliefs and the demands of a public interfaith ministry. The unique characteristics of Chinese spirituality and religion further complicate matters. Ultimately, what is needed is a theological paradigm of care that does not neglect the critical truth-claims of those religions involved, including the desire to evangelize.
Sellaphora balashovae (Bacillariophyta), a new species from Siberian mountain Lake Frolikha (Baikal region), Russia
Authors: ANDREEVA SVETLANA , KOCIOLEK JOHN P. , MALTSEV EVGENIY , DOROFEYUK NADEZHDA , KEZLYA ELENA , SHKURINA NATALIA , KUZNETSOVA IRINA , GUSEV EVGENIY , KULIKOVSKIY MAXIM
Published: September 2018

A new species, Sellaphora balashovae sp. nov., from Lake Frolikha is described based on light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The systematic position of this new species is determined based on molecular data. This species is placed in the genus Sellaphora based on chloroplast morphology, areolae covered by external hymenes, and uniseriate striae that are typical for the genus. Molecular data support this taxonomic assignment, and the new species is part of a monophyletic group with some other members of the genus Sellaphora. The new species is distinguishable from other Sellaphora species by its small size, valve shape, striae and areolae densities, striae orientation and distinctly large areolae bordering the sternum.
Taxonomic revision of Carpesium linearibracteatum (Asteraceae: Inulinae) from China
Authors: ZHANG YONGZENG , DENG TAO , LI YANBO , ZHANG XIAOSHUANG , TOJIBAEV KOMILJON SH. , ZHANG JIANWEN , SUN HANG
Published: September 2018

Both morphological and molecular data have been used to examine the taxonomical status of Carpesium linearibracteatum (Asteraceae). We determined that C. leptophyllum var. linearibracteatum is closer to C. szechuanense and C. triste than to C. longifolium, thus not agreeing with the synonymization of this taxon and C. longifolium. We propose to elevate C. leptophyllum var. linearibracteatum to the species level as C. linearibracteatum.
A new Afrotropical genus Monocentroptilum gen. n. (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae: Protopatellata)
Authors: KLUGE NIKITA J.
Published: September 2018

A new genus Monocentroptilum gen. n. is established for a single Afrotropical species, originally described as Centroptilum badium Kopelke 1980 from Congo. Larvae, subimagoes, imagoes of both sexes and eggs of Monocentroptilum badium comb. n. are described here based on reared material from Uganda.
Time Evolution of the Cloud Response to Moisture Intrusions into the Arctic during Winter
Authors: Liu Yinghui , Key Jeffrey R. , Vavrus Steve , Woods Cian
Published: September 2018

Northward fluxes of moisture and sensible heat into the Arctic affect the atmospheric stability, sea ice and snow cover, clouds, and surface energy budget. Intense moisture fluxes into the Arctic are called moisture intrusions; some can lead to basinwide increases in downward longwave radiation (DLR) at the surface, called downward infrared (IR) events. Using the ERA-Interim reanalysis from 1990 to 2016, this study investigated the time evolution of cloud amount and cloud properties and their impact on the surface radiation fluxes in response to Arctic moisture intrusions and downward IR events during winter for better understanding of the Arctic moisture intrusions. A composite analysis revealed several key features: moisture intrusions produce more clouds and higher cloud liquid and ice water content; positive cloud amount anomalies can persist for over 10 days over the Arctic Ocean during downward IR events; positive high-level and middle-level cloud anomalies are evident in the early stage, and positive low-level cloud anomalies are evident in the late stage. Greater clear-sky DLR and longwave cloud radiative forcing (CRF) over the Arctic Ocean accompany the greater all-sky DLR during the downward IR events. Greater clear-sky DLR can be attributed to higher air temperatures and higher total column water vapor, while greater longwave CRF is the result of larger cloud amount and cloud water content. Longwave CRF anomalies account for approximately 40% of the all-sky DLR anomalies.
One door closes, another opens: Surviving and thriving through organizational restructure by ensuring knowledge continuity
Authors: Lambe Andrew , Anthoney Fiona , Shaw Jo
Published: September 2018

Since the 2001 formation of the NHS Modernisation Agency, service improvement organizations in the NHS have regularly faced organizational restructure. Through successive restructures, there has been a growing awareness of the need to preserve organizational memory. In 2015, faced with the largest upheaval in NHS service improvement history, one knowledge team took steps to enable ‘knowledge continuity’ – the process of capturing organizational memory as one organization closes and transferring it to a successor organization. This article outlines the actions the team took to capture and migrate a wealth of NHS service improvement knowledge content and their actions to reconfigure the content for its new organizational home. The team selected and tagged content that aligned to business priority and enabled user access through the development of a SharePoint-based knowledge hub. With the necessary actions to secure knowledge continuity achieved, the knowledge team redefined its role, building a 5Cs knowledge service of content, curate, collaborate, consultancy and capability. The article concludes by looking positively towards the future and outlining lessons learned. With new knowledge products and an external improvement hub, and working more closely than ever before with their stakeholders, the knowledge team have not only survived organizational restructure but have begun to thrive.
Anhedonia and depression severity dissociated by dmPFC resting-state functional connectivity in adolescents
Authors: Rzepa Ewelina , McCabe Ciara
Published: September 2018

Introduction:

Given the heterogeneity within depression, in this study we aim to examine how resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) in adolescents is related to anhedonia and depression severity on a continuum in line with the research domain criteria (RDoC) approach.

Methods:

We examined how RSFC in the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) was related to anhedonia and depression severity in 86 adolescents (13–21 years).

Results:

We found both anhedonia and depression severity related to decreased dmPFC RSFC with the precuneus, a part of the default mode network. However we also found that increased dmPFC connectivity with the ACC/paracingulate gyrus related to anhedonia whereas increased RSFC with the frontal pole related to depression severity.

Discussion:

This work extends the view that the dmPFC is a potential therapeutic target for depression in two ways: 1. We report dmPFC connectivity in adolescents; and 2. We show different dmPFC RSFC specific to anhedonia and depression severity, providing neural targets for intervention in young people at risk of depression.
Cannabidiol treatment reduces the motivation to self-administer methamphetamine and methamphetamine-primed relapse in rats
Authors: Hay Gracie L , Baracz Sarah J , Everett Nicholas A , Roberts Jessica , Costa Priscila A , Arnold Jonathon C , McGregor Iain S , Cornish Jennifer L
Published: September 2018

Background:

Methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant that can cause many adverse physical, psychological and psychosocial effects. Preliminary evidence shows cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating constituent of the cannabis plant, may have efficacy in treating opioid and nicotine dependence. However, no study has yet examined whether cannabidiol treatment might impact on methamphetamine addiction.

Aims:

The current study investigated whether cannabidiol administration reduces the motivation to self-administer methamphetamine and relapse to methamphetamine-seeking behavior following abstinence.

Methods:

Thirty-two male Sprague Dawley rats with implanted jugular vein catheters were initially trained to self-administer methamphetamine via lever press during two-hour sessions on a fixed ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement. Rats in experiment 1 ( n=16) then advanced to a progressive ratio reinforcement schedule to examine the effects of cannabidiol (0, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg intraperitoneal) on motivation to self-administer methamphetamine. Rats in experiment 2 ( n=16) were tested for cannabidiol effects on methamphetamine-primed reinstatement following extinction.

Results:

Cannabidiol (80 mg/kg, but not 40 mg/kg, or 20 mg/kg) reduced the motivation to self-administer methamphetamine and attenuated methamphetamine-primed relapse to methamphetamine-seeking behavior after extinction.

Conclusion:

This is the first demonstration that cannabidiol can reduce the motivation to seek and consume methamphetamine, and suggests that cannabidiol might be worth trialing as a novel pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine dependence.
Sex Differences in the Association Between Cannabis Use and Suicidal Ideation and Attempts, Depression, and Psychological Distress Among Canadians
Authors: Halladay Jillian E. , Boyle Michael H. , Munn Catharine , Jack Susan M. , Georgiades Katholiki
Published: September 2018

Background:

Depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders are leading causes of morbidity worldwide. The most commonly used illicit substance is cannabis and there is some evidence that the association between cannabis use and poor mental health is more pronounced among females compared with males. This analysis examines sex differences in the association between cannabis use and major depressive episode (MDE), suicidal thoughts and attempts, and psychological distress.

Methods:

This study uses data from the 2002 and 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey’s Mental Health Component, repeated cross-sectional surveys of nationally representative samples of Canadians 15 years of age and older ( n = 43,466). Linear and binary logistic regressions were performed, applying weighting and bootstrapping.

Results:

There were significant sex differences in the strength of the association between cannabis use and suicidal thoughts and attempts and psychological distress, but not MDE. Females who reported using cannabis occasionally (defined as 1 to 4 times a month) reported higher levels of psychological distress than their male counterparts. Females who reported using regularly (defined as more than once per week) reported higher levels of psychological distress and were more likely to report suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Conclusions:

Future research is needed to further our understanding of the nature of these sex differences. Public health messaging should incorporate being female as a potential risk factor for the co-occurrence of cannabis use and emotional problems, particularly at higher frequencies of use. Clinicians should also be aware of this association to better inform integrated mental health and substance use screening, discussions, and care, particularly for female patients.
A retrospective on reconciliation by design
Authors: Lafontaine Alika T. , Lafontaine Christopher J.
Published: September 2018

It is well-established that Indigenous Peoples continue to experience a lower level of health than non-Indigenous Peoples in Canada. For many health leaders, finding practical strategies to close the gap in health disparities remains elusive. In this retrospective study, we will illustrate our own experience of transformational change using design and systems thinking tools toward a primary outcome of multi-stakeholder alignment. Using this approach enabled three Indigenous Provincial/Territorial Organizations (IPTOs) representing more than 150 First Nations communities from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario to establish the largest community-led, collaborative approach to health transformation in Canada at the time. These IPTOs have gone on to pursue some of the most ambitious health transformation initiatives in Canada and in September 2018, were granted $68 million in funding support by the Government of Canada. If health leaders are looking at an alternative approach to closing the gap in Indigenous health, alignment thinking has shown promising results.
Primary Thymic Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma: A Currently Unrecognized Variant
Authors: Roxas Richard Benedict Supan , Bernardo Marie Christine Fajatin , Jacoba Araceli Pacis , Lim-Dy Janet , Alvarado Anarose Cariaga , Metovic Jasna , Annaratone Laura , Papotti Mauro
Published: September 2018

We describe the first case of primary thymic adenocarcinoma with signet ring cell features. The patient was a 39-year-old Filipino male who presented with a huge anterior mediastinal mass extending to the left supraclavicular fossa, which underwent an incisional biopsy. Extensive clinicoradiological work-up showed no evidence of any primary tumor in other organs, and radiological imaging confirmed a primary tumor location in the thymic area. He later developed bilateral pleural and pericardial effusions and eventually died of his tumor. The biopsy contained a neoplastic growth of solid nests made of cells with prominent signet ring features in sclerotic stroma. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were reactive for cytokeratin 7, carcinoembryonic antigen, and CD5 and negative for cytokeratin 20, TTF1, napsin A, α-fetoprotein, PAX-8, CD-117, CA19-9, CA-125, CDX2, p63, and CD99. No genetic alterations of ALK, RET, and ROS1 were found, nor was any ALK or ROS1 immunostaining detected, as known to occur in a fraction of primary pulmonary adenocarcinomas. Morphologically, this thymic tumor resembled signet ring cell adenocarcinomas of other locations, including, stomach, pancreas, and lung, but CD5 immunoreactivity strongly supported the clinical and radiological evidence of a primary thymic origin. In the English literature, only 58 cases of primary thymic adenocarcinoma are on record and this is the first report of a signet ring cell variant, which further broadens the morphological spectrum of thymic adenocarcinoma subtypes.
Functional Connectivity of Attention-Related Networks in Drug-Naïve Children With ADHD
Authors: Lin Haixi , Lin Qingxia , Li Hailong , Wang Meihao , Chen Hong , Liang Yan , Bu Xuan , Wang Weiqian , Yi Yanhong , Zhao Yongzhong , Zhang Xiaoyan , Xie Yupeng , Du Songmei , Yang Chuang , Huang Xiaoqi
Published: September 2018

Objective: This study aimed to explore alterations of seed-based functional connectivity (FC) in dorsal attention network (DAN), ventral attention network (VAN), and default mode network (DMN) in ADHD children. Method: A voxel-based comparison of FC maps between 46 drug-naïve children with ADHD and 31 healthy controls (HCs) and correlation analysis between connectivity features and behavior were performed. Results: Compared with the HCs, children with ADHD were characterized by hyperconnectivity between DAN and regions of DMN and by hyperconnectivity between DMN and a set of regions involved in somatosensory, visual, and auditory cortices. No significant group different FC was found between VAN and the whole brain. Higher FC between DMN and somatosensory, visual, and auditory cortex was associated with better performance in attention and executive function. Conclusion: The dysregulation of networks in children with ADHD not only involves the DAN and DMN but also the somatosensory, motor, visual, and auditory networks.
Improvement on the interfacial compatibility of jute fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites by different surface treatments
Authors: Liu Xuan , Hao Sen-Jie , Cui Yi-Hua , Chen Hai-yan
Published: September 2018

The interfacial compatibility possessed critical effect on the performance of jute fiber-reinforced composites. In order to improve the interfacial compatibility of jute fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites, jute fibers were treated by alkali treatment, ethylenediamine/alkali treatment and acid/alkali treatment. Through analysis by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, surface energy measurement, and tensile strength test, the acid/alkali treatment was deemed as the most efficient method for improving the surface properties of jute fibers among three kinds of surface treatments. The interfacial compatibility of treated fiber-reinforced composites was enhanced significantly, which attributed to the improvement of surface properties of jute fibers. Due to the acidic hydrolysis of acid treatment, the surface energy of acid/alkali treated fibers was increased by 45.58% compared with the control fibers. The tensile and bending strength of acid/alkali treated fiber-reinforced composites were enhanced by 34.80% and 22.53%, respectively. Therefore, the acid/alkali treatment was potential and competitive surface treatment to enhance the interfacial compatibility of jute fiber-reinforced composites.
Assessing quality management system at a tertiary hospital in Oman using a hybrid knowledge-based system
Authors: Al Khamisi Yousuf Nasser , Khan M Khurshid , Munive-Hernandez J Eduardo
Published: September 2018

The cost of medical care is snowballing at an alarming and unmaintainable rate universally. Consequently, the need for a trusted quality management (QM) system at healthcare organizations is a must. Such system will aid the healthcare governance to increase the effectiveness and decrease the cost. It will help in minimizing the risk and enhancing patient safety. Several challenges facing healthcare QM in Oman are creating computerizing monitoring tool and confirming commitment of decision makers at all levels. The Report of Quality and Patient Safety (RQPS) in Oman 2016 highlighted the low level of patient safety and quality culture among staff. It recommended to inaugurate a well-defined organizational chart based on each healthcare organization’s vision and mission. Therefore, it is important to design a national accreditation system that is accredited by an international accreditation body. Such step will help in prioritizing the needs and minimizing the cost of maintaining and upgrading systems. To overcome these challenges, this article is presenting a novel methodology of hybrid knowledge-based (KB) system to assess QM in healthcare environment (QMHE) using gauging absence of prerequisites tool for benchmarking and analytical hierarchy process for prioritizing. The KB-QMHE model can be used as a standard to assess QM at any healthcare organization around the globe. The results showed that 852 questions were answered by the quality managers in a tertiary hospital in Oman; the percentage of bad points in this hospital was 32%. The KB-QMHE model has clearly shown that the priority 1, in level 0, is to focus on the patient-centered dimension in the healthcare quality dimensions submodule. Output, also, suggested a prioritized action plan covering healthcare governance module, healthcare leadership module and healthcare organization’s resources module in level 1–3.
Which Appraisals Are Foundational to Moral Judgment? Harm, Injustice, and Beyond
Authors: Piazza Jared , Sousa Paulo , Rottman Joshua , Syropoulos Stylianos
Published: September 2018

Harm-centric accounts of judgments of moral wrongdoing argue that moral judgments are fundamentally based on appraisals of harm. However, past research has failed to operationally discriminate harm appraisals from appraisals related to injustice. Four studies carefully discriminated harm qua pain/suffering from injustice, alongside appraisals related to impurity, authority, and disloyalty. Appraisals of injustice outperformed appraisals of harm as independent predictors of the judged wrongness of recalled offenses (Study 1). Studies 2a, 2b, and 3 extended these findings using a diverse range of wrongful acts and two different cultural samples—the United States and Greece. In addition to the strong relevance of injustice appraisals, these latter studies uncovered substantial contributions of impurity and authority appraisals. The results inform debates on moral pluralism and the foundations of moral cognition.
Treatment with low‐dose tacrolimus inhibits bleeding complications in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Sommer N , Droege F , Gamen KE , Geisthoff U , Gall H , Tello K , Richter MJ , Deubner LM , Schmiedel R , Hecker M , Spiekerkoetter E , Wirsching K , Seeger W , Ghofrani HA , Pullamsetti S
Published: September 2018

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) can be found in patients suffering from a loss‐of‐function mutation of the gene encoding for the activin receptor‐like kinase 1 (ALK‐1), a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type 1 receptor. Interestingly, ALK‐1 mutations also lead to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), an autosomal dominant disease characterized by arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) leading to potentially life‐threatening bleeding complications such as epistaxis. Current therapeutic options for both diseases are limited and often only temporary or accompanied by severe side effects. Here, we report of a patient with a mutation of the ALK‐1 gene suffering from both HHT and PAH. Recently, it was shown that tacrolimus increased ALK‐1 signaling and had beneficial effects in selected end‐stage PAH patients. We thus hypothesized that treatment with tacrolimus may prevent disease progression in this patient. Surprisingly, treatment with low‐dose tacrolimus dramatically improved his HHT‐associated epistaxis but did not attenuate progression of PAH.
Higher-risk APS: do we dare to DOAC?
Authors: Laureano Marissa , Crowther Mark A.
Published: September 2018

In this issue of Blood, Pengo et al present a randomized control trial comparing the use of rivaroxaban and warfarin in high-risk patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). The trial was stopped early because of an increased number of events in the rivaroxaban arm.1
Neutrophils, NETs, and immunothrombosis
Authors: Grover Steven P. , Mackman Nigel
Published: September 2018

In this issue of Blood, Yago et al1 describe the mechanism by which neutrophils adhere to activated endothelium and enhance murine venous thrombosis through formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).
Anti-tumour effect of low molecular weight heparin in localised lung cancer: a phase III clinical trial
Authors: Meyer Guy , Besse Benjamin , Doubre Hélène , Charles-Nelson Anaïs , Aquilanti Sandro , Izadifar Armine , Azarian Reza , Monnet Isabelle , Lamour Corinne , Descourt Renaud , Oliviero Gérard , Taillade Laurent , Chouaid Christos , Giraud Frederique , Falcoz Pierre-Emmanuel , Revel Marie-Pierre , Westeel Virginie , Dixmier Adrien , Tredaniel Jean , Dehette Stéphanie , Decroisette Chantal , Prevost Alain , Pichon Eric , Fabre Elizabeth , Soria Jean-Charles , Friard Sylvie , Stern Jean-Baptiste , Jabot Laurence , Dennewald Georges , Pavy Gérard , Petitpretz Patrick , Tourani Jean-Marc , Alifano Marco , Chatellier Gilles , Girard Philippe
Published: September 2018

The anti-tumour and anti-metastatic properties of heparins have not been tested in patients with early stage cancer. Whether adjuvant low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) tinzaparin impacts the survival of patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was investigated.

Patients with completely resected stage I, II or IIIA NSCLC were randomly allocated to receive subcutaneous tinzaparin 100 IU·kg−1once a day for 12 weeks or no treatment in addition to standard of care. The trial was open-label with blinded central adjudication of study outcomes. The primary outcome was overall survival.

In 549 patients randomised to tinzaparin (n=269) or control (n=280), mean±sdage was 61.6±8.9 years, 190 (34.6%) patients had stage II−III disease, and 220 (40.1%) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 5.7 years. There was no significant difference in overall survival between groups (hazard ratio (HR) 1.24, 95% CI 0.92–1.68; p=0.17). There was no difference in the cumulative incidence of recurrence between groups (subdistribution HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.68–1.30; p=0.70).

Adjuvant tinzaparin had no detectable impact on overall and recurrence-free survival of patients with completely resected stage I−IIIA NSCLC. These results do not support further clinical evaluation of LMWHs as anti-tumour agents.
Pedestrian detection with motion features via two-stream ConvNets
Authors: Yoshihashi Ryota , Trinh Tu Tuan , Kawakami Rei , You Shaodi , Iida Makoto , Naemura Takeshi
Published: September 2018

Motion information can be important for detecting objects, but it has been used less for pedestrian detection, particularly with deep-learning-based methods. We propose a method that uses deep motion features as well as deep still-image features, following the success of two-stream convolutional networks, each of which are trained separately for spatial and temporal streams. To extract motion clues for detection differentiated from other background motions, the temporal stream takes as input the difference in frames that are weakly stabilized by optical flow. To make the networks applicable to bounding-box-level detection, the mid-level features are concatenated and combined with a sliding-window detector. We also introduce transfer learning from multiple sources in the two-stream networks, which can transfer still image and motion features from ImageNet and an action recognition dataset respectively, to overcome the insufficiency of training data for convolutional neural networks in pedestrian datasets. We conducted an evaluation on two popular large-scale pedestrian benchmarks, namely the Caltech Pedestrian Detection Benchmark and Daimler Mono Pedestrian Detection Benchmark. We observed 10% improvement compared to the same method but without motion features.
Meaningful and Accurate Disclosure of Conflict of Interest at the ASTRO National Meeting: A Need for Reassessment of Current Policies
Authors: Ahmed Awad A. , Yoo Stella K. , Mehta Shahil , Holliday Emma B. , Deville Curtiland , Vapiwala Neha , Wilson Lynn D. , Jagsi Reshma , Prasad Vinay , Thomas Charles R.
Published: September 2018

Purpose:

Conflict of interest (COI) disclosure is essential to research integrity. The average reading comprehension in English is 3.8 words per second (wps). This study examines presenters at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) national meeting over a recent 3-year period to determine whether disclosure is presented accurately and in a manner that allows the audience to comprehend the content.

Methods:

We examined videos of presentations as well as slides from 2014 to 2016 from the ASTRO virtual meeting, noting whether a COI slide was presented, the duration the slide was visible, and the number of disclosures. Disclosures were cross-referenced for discrepancies with the publicly reported Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments database. Using a cutoff of 4 wps, we noted how many presentations were presented at speeds of ≤ 4 wps and > 4 wps.

Results:

The final data set consisted of 401 presentations delivered by 364 presenters. Using a threshold of 4 wps, 34.0% of presenters had COI slides shown too fast for the average audience to comprehend. Moreover, 16.3% of US physicians incorrectly underreported industry funding received. Of these presentations with discrepancies, 32.6% did not have a COI slide, 39.5% failed to disclose any COI, 27.9% partially disclosed COIs, and 11.6% contained multiple discrepancies. The number of wps were correlated with having a discrepancy on multivariable regression ( P = .046; odds ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.19).

Conclusion:

A substantial minority of presentations at ASTRO lack meaningful disclosure, and a surprising number incorrectly reported COIs. Additional guidance may be needed to promote more meaningful and accurate disclosure of COIs at major national meetings in oncology.
Estimating Group Effects Using Averages of Observables to Control for Sorting on Unobservables: School and Neighborhood Effects
Authors: Altonji Joseph G. , Mansfield Richard K.
Published: September 2018

We consider the classic problem of estimating group treatment effects when individuals sort based on observed and unobserved characteristics. Using a standard choice model, we show that controlling for group averages of observed individual characteristics potentially absorbs all the across-group variation in unobservable individual characteristics. We use this insight to bound the treatment effect variance of school systems and associated neighborhoods for various outcomes. Across multiple datasets, we find that a ninetieth versus tenth percentile school/neighborhood increases the high school graduation probability and college enrollment probability by at least 0.04 and 0.11 and permanent wages by 13.7 percent. (JEL C51, H75, I21, I26, J24, J31, R23)
Why Did the Democrats Lose the South? Bringing New Data to an Old Debate
Authors: Kuziemko Ilyana , Washington Ebonya
Published: September 2018

A long-standing debate in political economy is whether voters are driven primarily by economic self-interest or by less pecuniary motives like ethnocentrism. Using newly available data, we reexamine one of the largest partisan shifts in a modern democracy: Southern whites' exodus from the Democratic Party. We show that defection among racially conservative whites explains the entire decline from 1958 to 1980. Racial attitudes also predict whites' earlier partisan shifts. Relative to recent work, we find a much larger role for racial views and essentially no role for income growth or (non-race-related) policy preferences in explaining why Democrats “lost” the South. (JEL D72, J15, N42)
Testing Efficient Risk Sharing with Heterogeneous Risk Preferences: Comment
Authors: Shrinivas Aditya , Fafchamps Marcel
Published: September 2018

Mazzocco and Saini (2012) propose and implement a test of efficient risk sharing that allows for preference heterogeneity. They motivate their approach as yielding different results from those of a standard efficiency test with homogeneous preferences. We show that the standard efficiency test results are misreported in their paper and that the correctly reported results do not present as compelling a case for the importance of accounting for heterogeneous preferences. (JEL D12, D81, G22, O12, O18, R23, Z13)
Proposed classification for interproximal contacts of primary molars using CBCT: a pilot study
Authors: Kirthiga M. , Muthu M. S. , Kayalvizhi G. , Krithika C.
Published: September 2018

Background: Interproximal contact areas in primary teeth are known to be broader, flatter, and situated more gingivally than in permanent teeth. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the different types of intact interproximal contact areas in primary teeth using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) among children.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed with 74 contacts from 28 existing CBCT images of children aged between 3 and 14 years, obtained from the Indian Dental Education Academy, Chennai, India. The shape of the contact area was observed at three levels, the coronal, middle, and apical thirds, in three different sections of CBCT. Prevalence of the types of contact areas was expressed in the form of numbers and percentages.

Results: The weighted Cohen’s kappa values for inter-examiner reliability was 0.893 at baseline. Results exhibited four different types of contact areas between the primary molars, namely, O type, X type, I type, and S type, based on the shapes observed; hence, the proposed classification is referred to as OXIS. The most common pattern seen was I (66.2%), followed by X (21.6%), O (9.4%) and the least common was S (2.7%).

Conclusion: The three-dimensional evaluation of intact interproximal contact areas between primary molars are of four types, O,X, I and S.
The Role of Hospital Medicine in Emergency Preparedness: A Framework for Hospitalist Leadership in Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
Authors: Persoff Jason , Ornoff Doug , Little Charles
Published: September 2018

Recent high‐profile mass casualty events illustrate the unique challenges that such occurrences pose to normal hospital operations. These events create patient surges that overwhelm hospital resources, space, and staff. However, in most healthcare systems, hospitalists currently show no integration within emergency planning or incident response. This review aims to provide hospitalists with an overview of disaster management principles so that they can engage their hospitals' disaster management system with a working fluency in emergency management and the incident command system. This review also proposes a framework for hospitalist involvement in preparation, response, and coordination during periods of crisis.
Haddenham Star Cotton: improving treatment outcomes in maintaining chronic oedema
Authors: Lee Natalie , Lawrance Sue
Published: September 2018

The aim of compression therapy is to apply pressure on the skin and underlying structures to counteract the force of gravity, supporting venous and lymphatic function, to prevent or minimise oedema in the affected tissues. Compression therapy to manage lymphoedema is supported by a plethora of research, as it helps to increase the velocity of flow and lymphatic contraction of the lymphatic collecting vessels. This encourages drainage to the route of the limb, which increases fluid drainage from the tissues into the lymphatics. It is becoming more apparent that with an increase in clinical knowledge of how compression therapy works, clinicians are becoming less focused on the level of compression and more concerned with the stiffness of fabrics. This article looks at how adapting compression therapy regimes can improve patient outcomes of treatment and maintenance, while empowering patients to self-manage.
The lost art of conversation
Authors: Wells Sheila
Published: September 2018

With a world drowning in electronic communication, new technology and automation, have we lost our telephone skills forever? Sheila Wells directs us on a road to recovery