bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic Removal of Ingested Dentures and Dental Instruments: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Mizuno Ken-ichi , Takahashi Kazuya , Tominaga Kentaro , Nishigaki Yuki , Sato Hiroki , Ikarashi Satoshi , Hayashi Kazunao , Yamamoto Takashi , Honda Yutaka , Hashimoto Satoru , Kamimura Kenya , Takeuchi Manabu , Yokoyama Junji , Sato Yuichi , Kobayashi Masaaki , Terai Shuji
Published: September 2016

Background. Dentures and dental instruments are frequently encountered ingested foreign bodies. The aim of the present study was to assess the safety and efficacy of endoscopically removing ingested dental objects.Methods. Twenty-nine consecutive patients with 29 dental objects who were treated at the Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital from August 2009 to December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Characteristics of the patients and the ingested dental objects, the clinical features and findings of radiological imaging tests, and outcomes of endoscopic removal were analyzed.Results. Patients’ mean age was62.9±21.0years. The ingested dental objects included 23 dentures (13 crowns, 4 bridges, 4 partial dentures, and 2 other dentures) and 6 dental instruments. Twenty-seven upper gastrointestinal endoscopies and 2 colonoscopies were performed, and their success rates were 92.6% and 100%, respectively. There were 2 cases of removal failure; one case involved an impacted partial denture in the cervical esophagus, and this case required surgical removal.Conclusions. Endoscopic removal of ingested dentures and dental instruments is associated with a favorable success rate and acceptable complications. The immediate intervention and appropriate selection of devices are essential for managing ingested dental objects.
Sexual Masochism Disorder with Asphyxiophilia: A Deadly yet Underrecognized Disease
Authors: Coluccia Anna , Gabbrielli Mario , Gualtieri Giacomo , Ferretti Fabio , Pozza Andrea , Fagiolini Andrea
Published: September 2016

DSM-5 distinguishes between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders. Paraphilias are defined as atypical, yet not necessarily disordered, sexual practices. Paraphilic disorders are instead diseases, which include distress, impairment in functioning, or entail risk of harm one’s self or others. Hence, DSM-5 new approach to paraphilias demedicalizes and destigmatizes unusual sexual behaviors, provided they are not distressing or detrimental to self or others. Asphyxiophilia, a dangerous and potentially deadly form of sexual masochism involving sexual arousal by oxygen deprivation, are clearly described as disorders. Although autoerotic asphyxia has been associated with estimated mortality rates ranging from 250 to 1000 deaths per year in the United States, in Italy, knowledge on this condition is very poor. Episodes of death caused by autoerotic asphyxia seem to be underestimated because it often can be confounded with suicide cases, particularly in the Italian context where family members of the victim often try to disguise autoerotic behaviors of the victims. The current paper provides a review on sexual masochism disorder with asphyxiophilia and discusses one specific case as an example to examine those conditions that may or may not influence the likelihood that death from autoerotic asphyxia be erroneously reported as suicide or accidental injury.
Infliximab Combined with Enteral Nutrition for Managing Crohn’s Disease Complicated with Intestinal Fistulas
Authors: Wu Xiao-Li , Chen Ren-Pin , Tao Li-Ping , Wu Jian-Sheng , Chen Xiang-Rong , Chen Wei-Chang
Published: September 2016

Aim. This study was performed to evaluate the additional enteral nutrition (EN) in the efficacy of infliximab (IFX) compared with the conventional therapy in managing Crohn’s disease (CD) complicated with intestinal fistulas.Methods. A total of 42 CD with intestinal fistulas were randomly divided into infliximab treatment group (n=20) and conventional therapy group (n=22). We evaluated the laboratory indexes, Crohn’s disease activity index (CDAI), Crohn’s disease simplified endoscopic score (SES-CD), and healing of fistula in the two groups before treatment, at 14 weeks, and at 30 weeks, respectively.Results. In the IFX treatment group, the CDAI score, the SES-CD, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein levels were significantly decreased during treatment compared with those before treatment. The body mass index and albumin levels were increased in both groups. Moreover, in the IFX treatment group, fistula healing was found in 8 at the 14th week and 18 at the 30th week, respectively, which was greater than that in the conventional therapy group.Conclusion. Our study suggested that infliximab combined with EN is an effective treatment for CD patients complicated with intestinal fistulas.
C3a Increases VEGF and Decreases PEDF mRNA Levels in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Authors: Long Qin , Cao Xiaoguang , Bian Ailing , Li Ying
Published: September 2016

Complement activation, specifically complement 3 (C3) activation and C3a generation, contributes to an imbalance between angiogenic stimulation by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenic inhibition by pigment epithelial derived factor (PEDF), leading to pathological angiogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of C3a and small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting C3 on the levels of VEGF and PEDF mRNAs in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. ARPE-19 cells were cultured in the presence of exogenous C3a at 0.1 μM and 0.3 μM C3a for 24, 48, and 72 hours. 0.1 pmol/μL duplexes of siRNA targeting C3 were applied for C3a inhibition by transfecting ARPE-19 cells for 48 hours. RT-PCR was performed to examine the level of VEGF and PEDF mRNA. A random siRNA duplex was set for control siRNA. Results demonstrated that exogenous C3a significantly upregulated VEGF and downregulated PEDF mRNA levels in cultured ARPE-19 cells, and siRNA targeting C3 transfection reversed the above changes, significantly reducing VEGF and enhancing PEDF mRNAs level in ARPE-19 cells compared to the control. The present data provided evidence that reducing C3 activation can decreases VEGF and increase PEDF mRNA level in RPE and may serve as a potential therapy in pathological angiogenesis.
A Content Incontinent: Report of Liposomal Bupivacaine Induced Fecal Incontinence
Authors: Shapera Emanuel A. , Rai Vinay K.
Published: September 2016

Proper surgical management of anal fistula demands sound clinical judgment and extraordinary care to prevent incontinence and adequate postoperative pain control and provide satisfactory resolution to optimize quality of life. Fecal incontinence can be a devastating complication of procedures performed forfistula in ano. We report a unique case in which temporary incontinence (for less than 4 days) followed injection of liposomal bupivacaine for postoperative pain control after draining seton placement forfistula in ano. Patients and physicians should be aware as it may be mistaken for a more serious anatomical and permanent cause of fecal incontinence.
Mixed Infections ofHelicobacter pyloriIsolated from Patients with Gastrointestinal Diseases in Taiwan
Authors: Lai Chih-Ho , Huang Ju-Chun , Chiang-Ni Chuan , Li Ju-Pi , Wu Lii-Tzu , Wu Hua-Shan , Sun Yu-Chen , Lin Mei-Ling , Lee Ju-Fang , Lin Hwai-Jeng
Published: September 2016

Background. PersistentHelicobacter pyloriinfection may induce several upper gastrointestinal diseases. Two major virulence factors ofH. pylori, vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) and cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA), are thought to be associated with the severity of disease progression. The distribution ofvacAandcag-pathogenicity island (cag-PAI) alleles varies inH. pyloriisolated from patients in different geographic regions.Aim. To assess the association between mixed infection ofH. pyloriclinical isolates from Taiwanese patients and the severity of gastrointestinal diseases.Methods. A total of 70 patients were enrolled in this study. Six distinct and well-separated colonies were isolated from each patient and 420 colonies were analyzed to determine the genotypes of virulence genes.Results. The prevalence of mixed infections of allH. pylori-infected patients was 28.6% (20/70). The rate of mixed infections in patients with duodenal ulcer (47.6%) was much higher than that with other gastrointestinal diseases (P<0.05).Conclusions.H. pylorimixed infections show high genetic diversity that may enhance bacterial adaptation to the hostile environment of the stomach and contribute to disease development.
Sedation for Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy
Authors: Oksar Menekse
Published: September 2016

Although anesthetic requirements for minimally invasive neurosurgical techniques have been described in detail and applied successfully since the early 2000s, most of the literature on this subject has dealt with cranial cases that were operated on in the supine or sitting positions. However, spinal surgery has also used minimally invasive techniques that were performed in prone position for more than 30 years to date. Although procedures in both these neurosurgical techniques require the patient to be awake for a certain period of time, the main surgical difference with minimally invasive spinal surgery is that the patients are in the prone position, which may result in increased requirement of airway management because of deep sedation. In addition, although minimally invasive spinal surgery progresses slowly and different techniques are used with no agreement on the terminology used to describe these techniques thus far, the anesthetist needs to understand the surgical and anesthetic requirements for each type of intervention in order to take necessary precautions. This paper reviews the literature on this topic and discusses the anesthetic necessities for percutaneous endoscopic laser surgery.
Acupuncture Alters Expression of Insulin Signaling Related Molecules and Improves Insulin Resistance in OLETF Rats
Authors: Huang Xin-Yu , Zhang Liang , Sun Jian , Xu Neng-Gui , Yi Wei
Published: September 2016

To determine effect of acupuncture on insulin resistance in Otsuka Long‐Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats and to evaluate expression of insulin signaling components. Rats were divided into three groups: Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats, OLETF rats, and acupuncture+OLETF rats. Acupuncture was subcutaneously applied to Neiguan (PC6), Zusanli (ST36), and Sanyinjiao (SP6); in contrast, acupuncture to Shenshu (BL23) was administered perpendicularly. For Neiguan (PC6) and Zusanli (ST36), needles were connected to an electroacupuncture (EA) apparatus. Fasting blood glucose (FPG) was measured by glucose oxidase method. Plasma fasting insulin (FINS) and serum C peptide (C‐P) were determined by ELISA. Protein and mRNA expressions of insulin signaling molecules were determined by Western blot and real‐time RT‐PCR, respectively. OLETF rats exhibit increased levels of FPG, FINS, C‐P, and homeostasis model assessment‐estimated insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), which were effectively decreased by acupuncture treatment. mRNA expressions of several insulin signaling related molecules IRS1, IRS2, Akt2, aPKCζ, and GLUT4 were decreased in OLETF rats compared to SD controls. Expression of these molecules was restored back to normal levels upon acupuncture administration. PI3K‐p85α was increased in OLETF rats; this increase was also reversed by acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture improves insulin resistance in OLETF rats, possibly via regulating expression of key insulin signaling related molecules.
Sentiment Contagion Based on the Modified SOSa-SPSa Model
Authors: Song Zhijie , Shi Rui , Jia Jie , Wang Jian
Published: September 2016

Sentiment contagion is similar to an infectious disease that spreads in a crowd. In this study, we extend the proposed SOSa-SPSa model (susceptible-optimistic-susceptible and susceptible-pessimistic-susceptible) by considering the interaction between optimists and pessimists. Simulation results show that our model is reasonable and can better explain the entire contagion process by considering three groups of people. The recovery speed of pessimists has an obvious regulative effect on the number of pessimists and the possibility of optimists coming in contact with pessimists to be infected as pessimism plays a greater role than that of reverting to susceptibility. The number of pessimists is positively related to the possibility that optimists come in contact with pessimists to become pessimistic but is negatively related to the possibility of the other way around. When the speed of spontaneous generation is slow, the number of pessimists sharply increases. However, the increase is not so apparent when the speed of spontaneous generation reaches a certain number.
Baby Boomers and Birth Certificates: Early-Life Socioeconomic Status and Cancer Risk in Adulthood
Authors: Stroup Antoinette M. , Herget Kimberly A. , Hanson Heidi A. , Reed Diana Lane , Butler Jared T. , Henry Kevin A. , Harrell C. Janna , Sweeney Carol , Smith Ken R.
Published: September 2016

Background: Early-life socioeconomic status (SES) may play a role in cancer risk in adulthood. However, measuring SES retrospectively presents challenges. Parental occupation on the birth certificate is a novel method of ascertaining early-life SES that has not been applied in cancer epidemiology.

Methods: For a Baby-Boom cohort born from 1945–1959 in two Utah counties, individual-level Nam-Powers SES (Np-SES) was derived from parental industry/occupation reported on birth certificates. Neighborhood SES was estimated from average household income of census tract at birth. Cancer incidence was determined by linkage to Utah Cancer Registry records through the Utah Population Database. Hazard ratios (HR) for cancer risk by SES quartile were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results: Females with low Np-SES at birth had lower risk of breast cancer compared with those in the highest Np-SES group [HRQ1/Q4 = 0.83; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.72–0.97; HRQ2/Q4 = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.69–0.96]. Np-SES was inversely associated with melanoma (HRQ1/Q4 = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67–0.98) and prostate cancer (HRQ1/Q4 = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.56–0.88). Women born into lower SES neighborhoods had significantly increased risk for invasive cervical cancer (HRQ1/Q4 = 1.44; 95% CI, 1.12–1.85; HRQ2/Q4 = 1.33; 95% CI, 1.04–1.72). Neighborhood SES had similar effects for melanoma and prostate cancers, but was not associated with female breast cancer. We found no association with SES for pancreas, lung, and colon and rectal cancers.

Conclusions: Individual SES derived from parental occupation at birth was associated with altered risk for several cancer sites.

Impact: This novel methodology can contribute to improved understanding of the role of early-life SES on cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(1); 75–84. ©2016 AACR.
Oncofetal Chondroitin Sulfate Glycosaminoglycans Are Key Players in Integrin Signaling and Tumor Cell Motility
Authors: Clausen Thomas Mandel , Pereira Marina Ayres , Al Nakouzi Nader , Oo Htoo Zarni , Agerbæk Mette Ø , Lee Sherry , Ørum-Madsen Maj Sofie , Kristensen Anders Riis , El-Naggar Amal , Grandgenett Paul M. , Grem Jean L. , Hollingsworth Michael A. , Holst Peter J. , Theander Thor , Sorensen Poul H. , Daugaard Mads , Salanti Ali
Published: September 2016

Many tumors express proteoglycans modified with oncofetal chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan chains (ofCS), which are normally restricted to the placenta. However, the role of ofCS in cancer is largely unknown. The function of ofCS in cancer was analyzed using the recombinant ofCS-binding VAR2CSA protein (rVAR2) derived from the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. We demonstrate that ofCS plays a key role in tumor cell motility by affecting canonical integrin signaling pathways. Binding of rVAR2 to tumor cells inhibited the interaction of cells with extracellular matrix (ECM) components, which correlated with decreased phosphorylation of Src kinase. Moreover, rVAR2 binding decreased migration, invasion, and anchorage-independent growth of tumor cells in vitro. Mass spectrometry of ofCS-modified proteoglycan complexes affinity purified from tumor cell lines on rVAR2 columns revealed an overrepresentation of proteins involved in cell motility and integrin signaling, such as integrin-β1 (ITGB1) and integrin-α4 (ITGA4). Saturating concentrations of rVAR2 inhibited downstream integrin signaling, which was mimicked by knockdown of the core chondroitin sulfate synthesis enzymes β-1,3-glucuronyltransferase 1 (B3GAT1) and chondroitin sulfate N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 1 (CSGALNACT1). The ofCS modification was highly expressed in both human and murine metastatic lesions in situ and preincubation or early intravenous treatment of tumor cells with rVAR2 inhibited seeding and spreading of tumor cells in mice. This was associated with a significant increase in survival of the animals. These data functionally link ofCS modifications with cancer cell motility and further highlights ofCS as a novel therapeutic cancer target.

Implications: The cancer-specific expression of ofCS aids in metastatic phenotypes and is a candidate target for therapy. Mol Cancer Res; 14(12); 1288–99. ©2016 AACR.
Turning Skyscrapers into Town Houses: Insights into Barrett's Esophagus
Authors: Ahrens Theresa D. , Lutz Lisa , Lassmann Silke , Werner Martin
Published: September 2016

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is defined as metaplasia of the esophageal squamous epithelium with multiple cell layers into a single layer of intestinal columnar epithelial cells - or, in other words, skyscrapers are turned into town houses. The underlying pathomechanism(s) and the cell of origin of BE lesions have not been defined yet. However, four potential hypotheses for BE development have been suggested. The morphological changes during BE development are associated with rather well-described aberrant gene/protein expression patterns. However, the potential key regulators of this conversion process are still unclear. The process of metaplastic conversion is difficult to monitor in a spatiotemporal manner in vitro, and robust models are lacking. There is therefore a need for novel experimental systems. This review focuses on potential key regulators, microenvironmental influences, epigenetic alterations and experimental research systems related to BE.
Medical Neighborhood Model for the Care of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Authors: Smith Zoe G. , McNicoll Lynn , Clark Timothy L. , Cohen Andrew J. , Ross Antonia L. , Monteiro Joao Filipe G. , Dworkin Lance D.
Published: September 2016

Background: The patient-centered medical home is a popular model of care, but the patient-centered medical neighborhood (PCMN) is rarely described. We developed a PCMN in an academic practice to improve care for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence of CKD in this practice and describe baseline characteristics, develop an interdisciplinary team-based approach to care and determine cost associated with CKD patients. Methods: Patients with CKD stage 3a with comorbidities through stage 5 were identified. Data collected include demographics, comorbidities and whether patients had a nephrologist. Using a screening tool based on the 2012 Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes guidelines, a nurse care manager (NCM) made recommendations about management including indications for referral. A pharmacist reviewed patients' charts and made medication-related recommendations. Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) insurance provided cost data for a subset of patients. Results: A total of 1,255 patients were identified. Half did not have a formal diagnosis of CKD and three-quarters had never seen a nephrologist. Based on the results of the screening tool, the NCM recommended nephrology E-consult or full consult for 85 patients. The subset of BCBS patients had a mean healthcare cost of $1,528.69 per member per month. Conclusions: We implemented a PCMN that allowed for easy identification of a high-risk, high-cost population of CKD patients and optimized their care to reflect guideline-based standards.
eEduHeart I: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial Investigating the Effectiveness of a Cardiac Web-Based eLearning Platform - Rationale and Study Design
Authors: Frederix Ines , Vandenberk Thijs , Janssen Leen , Geurden Anne , Vandervoort Pieter , Dendale Paul
Published: September 2016

Objectives: Cardiac telerehabilitation includes, in its most comprehensive format, telemonitoring, telecoaching, social interaction, and eLearning. The specific role of eLearning, however, was seldom assessed. The aim of eEduHeart I is to investigate the medium-term effectiveness of the addition of a cardiac web-based eLearing platform to conventional cardiac care. Methods: In this prospective, multicenter randomized, controlled trial, 1,000 patients with coronary artery disease will be randomized 1:1 to an intervention group (receiving 1-month unrestricted access to the cardiac eLearning platform in addition to conventional cardiac care) or to conventional cardiac care alone. The primary endpoint is health-related quality of life, assessed by the HeartQoL questionnaire at the 1- and 3-month follow-ups. Secondary endpoints include pathology-specific knowledge and self-reported eLearning platform user experience. Data on the eLearning platform usage will be gathered through web logging during the study period. Results: eEduHeart I will be one of the first studies to report on the added value of eLearning. Conclusions: If the intervention is proven effective, current cardiac telerehabilitation programs can be augmented by including eLearning, too. The platform can then be used as a model for other chronic diseases in which patient education plays a key role.
Two Case Reports of Rare BRAF Mutations in Exon 11 and Exon 15 with Discussion of Potential Treatment Options
Authors: Richtig Georg , Aigelsreiter Ariane , Kashofer Karl , Talakic Emina , Kupsa Romana , Schaider Helmut , Richtig Erika
Published: September 2016

BRAF mutations occur in up to 50% of melanomas. Mutations in the BRAF gene directly influence the patient’s treatment because several inhibitors are available that only target BRAFV600 mutations. Herein, we describe two cases of patients with metastatic melanomas, each carrying a ‘nonstandard’ mutation in the BRAF gene: BRAFK601E and BRAFG466E, respectively. The first patient was treated with a MEK inhibitor and the second one with ipilimumab. However, not all BRAF mutations result in increased BRAF kinase activity, and clinical data for ‘nonstandard’ mutations, such as those described in our case report, are sparse. Therefore, treatment with MEK inhibitors can be helpful in cases where BRAF mutations result in increased activity, whereas immune checkpoint inhibitors might be used in cases where the mutations lead to activity levels below those of the wild type.
Global Anticoagulant Registry in the Field – Venous Thromboembolism (GARFIELD-VTE)
Authors: Haas Sylvia , Ageno Walter , Angchaisuksiri Pantep , Bounameaux Henri , Nielsen Joern , Goldhaber Samuel Z. , Goto Shinya , Kayani Gloria , Mantovani Lorenzo , Prandoni Paolo , Schellong Sebastian , Turpie Alexander G. G. , Kakkar Ajay K. , Weitz Jeffrey I.
Published: September 2016

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common disorder associated with significant rates of morbidity and mortality. VTE management aims to reduce mortality, the risks of recurrence, and long-term complications. VTE treatment is evolving with the introduction of non-vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants (NOACs). The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD – Venous Thromboembolism (GARFIELD-VTE) is a prospective, multicentre, observational study that will enrol 10,000 patients treated for acute VTE from ∼500 sites in 28 countries. Identified sites reflect the diversity of care settings, including hospital and outpatient settings. Patients will be managed according to local practices and followed for at least three years. The primary objective is to determine the extent to which VTE treatment varies in the real-world setting and to assess the impact of such variability on clinical and economic outcomes. Evolving patterns of care will be captured using two sequential cohorts. The GARFIELD-VTE registry will provide insights into the evolving global treatment patterns for VTE, both deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. By enrolling patients from diverse care settings, the registry will provide information on adherence to national and international guidelines, identify good practice as well as treatment deficiencies, and relate patient outcomes to clinical management. The incidence of death, recurrent VTE, bleeding, post-thrombotic syndrome and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension will be documented. By capturing information during and after anticoagulation treatment, the registry will not only define aspects of the natural history of VTE, but also its economic and societal impact at a regional and global level.
Changes in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Predict Survival and Hospitalization in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Breathett Khadijah , Allen Larry A. , Udelson James , Davis Gordon , Bristow Michael
Published: September 2016

Background—

Left ventricular remodeling, as commonly measured by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), is associated with clinical outcomes. Although change in LVEF over time should reflect response to therapy and clinical course, serial measurement of LVEF is inconsistently performed in observational settings, and the incremental prognostic value of change in LVEF has not been well characterized.

Methods and Results—

The β-Blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial measured LVEF by radionuclide ventriculography at baseline and at 3 and 12 months after randomization. We built a series of multivariable models with 16 clinical parameters plus change in LVEF for predicting 4 major clinical end points, including the trial’s primary end point of all-cause mortality. Among 2484 patients with at least 1 follow-up LVEF, change in LVEF was the second most significant predictor (behind baseline creatinine) of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio for improvement in LVEF by ≥5 U responder versus nonresponder [95% confidence intervals] for all-cause mortality=0.62 [0.52–0.73]). Other end points, including heart failure hospitalization or the composite of all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization, yielded similar results. LVEF change ≥5 U was associated with a modest increase in discrimination when added to traditional predictors and was predictive of outcomes in both the bucindolol and placebo treatment groups. LVEF change as a predictor of outcomes was affected by sex and race, with evidence that LVEF improvement is associated with less survival benefit in African Americans and women.

Conclusions—

Serial evaluation for LVEF change predicts both survival and heart failure hospitalization and provides a dynamic/real-time measure of prognosis in heart failure with reduced LVEF.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00000560.
GlycA Is a Novel Biomarker of Inflammation and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Psoriasis
Authors: Joshi Aditya A. , Lerman Joseph B. , Aberra Tsion M. , Afshar Mehdi , Teague Heather L. , Rodante Justin A. , Krishnamoorthy Parasuram , Ng Qimin , Aridi Tarek Z. , Salahuddin Taufiq , Natarajan Balaji , Lockshin Benjamin N. , Ahlman Mark A. , Chen Marcus Y. , Rader Daniel J. , Reilly Muredach P. , Remaley Alan T. , Bluemke David A. , Playford Martin P. , Gelfand Joel M. , Mehta Nehal N.
Published: September 2016

Rationale:

GlycA, an emerging inflammatory biomarker, predicted cardiovascular events in population-based studies. Psoriasis, an inflammatory disease associated with increased cardiovascular risk, provides a model to study inflammatory biomarkers in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Whether GlycA associates with psoriasis and how it predicts subclinical CVD beyond high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in psoriasis is unknown.

Objective:

To investigate the relationships between GlycA and psoriasis and between GlycA and subclinical CVD.

Methods and Results:

Patients with psoriasis and controls (n=412) participated in a 2-stage study. We measured GlycA by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. National Institutes of Health (NIH) participants underwent 18-F Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography (18-FDG PET/CT) scans to assess vascular inflammation (VI) and coronary computed tomographic angiography to quantify coronary artery disease burden. Psoriasis cohorts were young (mean age=47.9), with low cardiovascular risk and moderate skin disease. high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and GlycA were increased in psoriasis compared with controls (GlycA: [PENN: 408.8±75.4 versus 289.4±60.2,
P
<0.0001; NIH: 415.8±63.2 versus 346.2±46,
P
<0.0001]) and demonstrated a dose–response with psoriasis severity. In stage 2, VI (β=0.36,
P
<0.001) and coronary artery disease (β=0.29,
P
=0.004) associated with GlycA beyond CV risk factors in psoriasis. In receiver operating characteristic analysis, GlycA added value in predicting VI (
P
=0.01) and coronary artery disease (
P
<0.01). Finally, initiating anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy (n=16) reduced psoriasis severity (
P
<0.001), GlycA (463.7±92.5 versus 370.1±78.5,
P
<0.001) and VI (1.93±0.36 versus 1.76±0.19,
P
<0.001), whereas GlycA remained associated with VI (β=0.56,
P
<0.001) post treatment.

Conclusions:

GlycA associated with psoriasis severity and subclinical CVD beyond traditional CV risk and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Moreover, psoriasis treatment reduced GlycA and VI. These findings support the potential use of GlycA in subclinical CVD risk assessment in psoriasis and potentially other inflammatory diseases.
The Ethics & Morality of Robotic Warfare: Assessing the Debate over Autonomous Weapons
Authors: Horowitz Michael C.
Published: September 2016

There is growing concern in some quarters that the drones used by the United States and others represent precursors to the further automation of military force through the use of lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS). These weapons, though they do not generally exist today, have already been the subject of multiple discussions at the United Nations. Do autonomous weapons raise unique ethical questions for warfare, with implications for just war theory? This essay describes and assesses the ongoing debate, focusing on the ethical implications of whether autonomous weapons can operate effectively, whether human accountability and responsibility for autonomous weapon systems are possible, and whether delegating life and death decisions to machines inherently undermines human dignity. The concept of LAWS is extremely broad and this essay considers LAWS in three categories: munition, platforms, and operational systems.
Sovereignty as It Should Be: Theoretical Gaps and Negotiations for Peace in Israel/Palestine
Authors: Kibrik Roee
Published: September 2016

This study suggests that one of the basic elements motivating political actors is their desire to minimize the tension caused by the theoretical gap between their theoretical knowledge and their perception of reality. In order to demonstrate this, the present study compares three different arenas of negotiations which reveal and represent the social construction of the concept of sovereignty: the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt (1979), the peace agreement between Israel and Jordan (1994), and the Oslo agreements between Israel and the plo (1993–1995). The comparison herein demonstrates how the need to deal with the theoretical gap can explain the sides’ behavior in reaching an agreement. Likewise, the comparison reveals that the concept of sovereignty has destabilized over the course of time. It also shows how political actors in these arenas chose to cope with the theoretical gap – mainly by changing reality – although the destabilization of the concept of sovereignty allowed them to be more creative, theoretically speaking, in the context of globalization processes.
Access to Care in France for Elderly Immigrants from North Africa: Influence of Socio-cultural Factors (the matc Survey)
Authors: Duguet AM. , Masmoudi T. , Duchier J. , Rwabihama J.P , Maatoug S.
Published: September 2016

France is faced with an ageing migrant population, and in the institutions for elderly, migrants represent only 4% and very few come from the Maghreb. Is it the result of a kind of discrimination or of other factors such as culture and traditions? In France migrants have access to aid and prevention of dependency plans. The reluctance to enter into institutions is maintained by the fear of cultural abuse and/or language barriers, and difficulties in financial and administrative matters. From the interviews of the matc survey, we have pointed out the importance of culture and the tradition of filial piety. Nevertheless, solidarity in the family is decreasing but remains the basis of the care support to the elderly. The will to keep them in the family may limit both the diagnosis and the access to specific care. This attitude contributes to a kind of self-discrimination.
The Gogol-St. Petersburg Nexus
Authors: Tucker Janet
Published: September 2016

From Alexander Pushkin and Fyodor Dostoevsky in the nineteenth century to Andrei Bitov in the twentieth, St. Petersburg functions as a critical element in Russian literature and social thought. The great nineteenth-century prose writer and playwright Nikolai Gogol strikingly embodies motifs and themes associated with Russia’s great yet dysfunctional and, ultimately, erstwhile capital city. Gogol is especially celebrated for his fragmented and surreal images, his sense of a terrifying void lurking beneath an apparently solid surface reality and his dehumanized characters, all of which are linked with the city of St. Petersburg. The reader encounters these elements from Gogol’s first tales, embedded in his native Ukraine. They will figure significantly in such St. Petersburg stories as “The Nose” and “The Overcoat.” Most importantly, even those later works not set in St. Petersburg – his play The Inspector General and his unfinished novel Dead Souls – incorporate features peculiar to Gogol’s reading of a terrifying and, in the end, alien urban environment. For Gogol, St. Petersburg betokens the void, a deceptive superficial reality, and a blurring of the boundaries between the phenomenal and noumenal worlds. Carried further, Gogol uses his reading of St. Petersburg symbolism to blur the line between the living and the dead, with damnation lying just beneath an illusory surface reality of an evil Westernized city founded by the tsar who led Russia away from traditional values. His characters embody this Westernized capital city and carry it around with themselves even in provincial settings far away from its dangerous glitter.
The Introduction of Playing Cards and Card Playing in Russia
Authors: Shevtsov Vyacheslav V.
Published: September 2016

This article examines when and how playing cards were introduced in Russia and links the adoption of card playing in the Russian Empire to the process of Westernization in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The author examines the role of card playing in noble culture and in the context of wider historical problems: the transition from medieval to modern culture; the translation and perception of cultural novelties; and the relationship cards and card playing had with other forms of celebration and leisure. The article is based on various sources, including Russian laws, import-export (customs) records, private sources in noble family archives, and literary works.
Thirteen new species of the spider genus Pholcus Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae: Pholcidae) from China
Authors: DONG TINGTING , ZHENG GUO , YAO ZHIYUAN , LI SHUQIANG
Published: September 2016

Thirteen new species from four species groups of the genus Pholcus Walckenaer, 1805 are described from China: Pholcus yanjinensis sp. nov. (male & female, Yunnan) from the P. bidentatus species group; P. jingyangensis sp. nov. (male & female, Shaanxi), P. langensis sp. nov. (male & female, Henan) and P. longus sp. nov. (male & female, Beijing) from the P. crypticolens species group; P. huoxiaerensis sp. nov. (male, Xinjiang) from the P. ponticus species group; P. difengensis sp. nov. (male, Chongqing), P. gonggarensis sp. nov. (male & female, Tibet), P. hamaensis sp. nov. (male & female, Guizhou), P. lingguanensis sp. nov. (male & female, Henan), P. qingyunensis sp. nov. (male & female, Jiangxi), P. tangyuensis sp. nov. (male & female, Shaanxi), P. tianmuensis sp. nov. (male & female, Zhejiang) and P. zhongdongensis sp. nov. (male & female, Guangxi) from the P. yichengicus species group.
The systematic position of Hypsugo macrotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) and a new record from Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: LIM LEE-SIM , CSORBA GÁBOR , WONG CHENG-MIN , ZUBAID AKBAR , RAHMAN SULTANA PARVIN HABEEBUR , KUMARAN JAYARAJ VIJAYA , KHAN FAISAL ALI ANWARALI , HUANG JOE CHUN-CHIA , NAJIMUDIN NAZALAN , GÖRFÖL TAMÁS
Published: September 2016

The Southeast Asian species of Hypsugo are rare bats, except for H. cadornae and H. pulveratus, which are distributed throughout the Indomalayan region. Hypsugo macrotis is restricted to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and adjacent islands, and is known only from a handful of specimens. Here we report a new locality record of the species from Seremban, Peninsular Malaysia, which also represents the first known building-dweller colony of any Hypsugo from the region. We discuss the taxonomic status of two morphologically similar species, H. macrotis and H. vordermanni, and provide the first COI and cyt b gene sequences for H. macrotis and reconstruct the species’ phylogenetic relationships.
Descriptions, transference and new records of Lamiinae from Central and South America (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae)
Authors: SANTOS-SILVA ANTONIO , BEZARK LARRY G. , GALILEO MARIA HELENA M. , LI LIN
Published: September 2016

Two new species are described in Calliini: Callisema jirouxi sp. nov. from Ecuador and Colombicallia setosa sp. nov. from Costa Rica. Keys to species of Callisema and Colombicallia are provided. Psapharochrus alboguttatus (Melzer, 1935) is transferred to Alphus White, 1855. New country, department and state records are provided in Lamiinae.
Acquiring Long-Term Turbulence Measurements from Moored Platforms Impacted by Motion
Authors: Bluteau Cynthia E. , Jones Nicole L. , Ivey Gregory N.
Published: September 2016

For measurements from either profiling or moored instruments, several processing techniques exist to estimate the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy ϵ, a core quantity used to determine oceanic mixing rates. Moored velocimeters can provide long-term measurements of ϵ, but they can be plagued by motion-induced contamination. To remove this contamination, two methodologies are presented that use independent measurements of the instrument’s acceleration and rotation in space. The first is derived from the relationship between the spectra (cospectra) and the variance (covariance) of a time series. The cospectral technique recovers the environmental (or true) velocity spectrum by summing the measured spectrum, the motion-induced spectrum, and the cospectrum between the motion-induced and measured velocities. The second technique recovers the environmental spectrum by correcting the measured spectrum with the squared coherency, essentially assuming that the measured signal shares variance with either the environmental signal or the motion signal. Both techniques are applied to moored velocimeters at 7.5 and 20.5 m above the seabed in 105 m of water. By estimating the orbital velocities from their respective spectra and comparing them against those obtained from nearby wave measurements, the study shows that the surface wave signature is recovered with the cospectral technique, while it is underpredicted with the squared coherency technique. The latter technique is particularly problematic when the instrument’s motion is in phase with the orbital (environmental) velocities, as it removes variance that should have been added to the measured spectrum. The estimated ϵ from the cospectral technique compares well with estimates from nearby microstructure velocity shear vertical profiles.
Exome Variant Analysis of Chronic Periodontitis in 2 Large Cohort Studies
Authors: Kasbohm E. , Holtfreter B. , Völker U. , Petersmann A. , Samietz S. , Biffar R. , Völzke H. , Meisel P. , Kacprowski T. , Homuth G. , Kocher T. , Teumer A.
Published: September 2016

Periodontitis is characterized by inflammation of the gingival tissue. The main risk factors are socioeconomic factors, sex, age, smoking, and diabetes, but periodontal disease has also a genetic background. Previous genome-wide association studies failed to reveal genome-wide significant associations of single common single-nucleotide polymorphisms with chronic periodontitis. Using the Illumina ExomeChip data of 6,576 participants of the German population-based cohort studies Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) and SHIP-Trend, the authors performed single variant and also gene-based association studies of rare and common exonic variations on different periodontal case definitions. Although our study comprised the largest sample size to date to assess genetic predisposition for chronic periodontitis, the authors found no significant association. This study emphasizes that for chronic periodontitis, large sample sizes will be necessary to find genetic associations, even when examining rare genetic variants.
Reduced Bone Stiffness in Women Is Associated with Clinical Attachment and Tooth Loss
Authors: Silveira J.L. , Albers M. , Vargas D.M. , Santa Helena E.T. , Cordova C.M. , Hannemann A. , Wallaschofski H. , Meisel P. , Pink C. , Samietz S. , Schmidt C.O. , Holtfreter B. , Völzke H. , Dörr M. , Kocher T. , Markus M.R.
Published: September 2016

The authors evaluated the association of reduced bone stiffness of the calcaneus with clinical attachment loss (CAL) and tooth loss. The authors analyzed data from 4,678 subjects (2,384 women), aged 20 to 88 y, from the second follow-up of the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-2) and the baseline examination of the SHIP-Trend cohort. Bone stiffness, characterized by the stiffness index (SI) and the osteoporotic fracture risk (OFR), was assessed by quantitative ultrasound of the heel. SI and OFR were significantly associated with the mean CAL in women. While 1) the SI showed a significant association with the mean CAL and 2) the OFR with the median number of teeth in just the postmenopausal women, the OFR showed a significant association with mean CAL for both pre- and postmenopausal women. In postmenopausal women, a 10-unit increase in the SI was associated with a decrease in the mean CAL of 0.05 mm (95% confidence interval [CI]: –0.10 to 0.00; P = 0.046). Moreover, the adjusted median number of teeth was 21.4 (95% CI: 20.9 to 21.9) among the postmenopausal women with a low OFR, while it was 19.1 (95% CI: 17.8 to 20.3; P = 0.001) among the postmenopausal women with a high OFR. For the premenopausal women with a low OFR, the mean CAL was 1.60 mm (95% CI: 1.53 to 1.66), while for the premenopausal women with a high OFR, it was 2.24 mm (95% CI: 1.78 to 2.69; P = 0.006). Reduced bone stiffness was associated with clinical attachment and tooth loss in women but not in men.
Religious forms in secularized society: Three Catholic groups in comparison
Authors: Turco Daniela
Published: September 2016

Despite the evidence of a progressive disenchantment, the religious sphere maintains a strong grip on current societies though undertaking some transformations. Pluralism, individualism and privatization are three features we cannot ignore if we choose to study religion in the contemporary world and, more broadly, if we choose to study modernity.

The aim of this article is to illustrate some features of the different forms of religiosity in the secular age (Taylor, 2007). We have focused on modern Catholicism, with particular reference to religious experience in the Catholic lay group. The stories of Catholic militants show that the motivation behind their choice is the crucial factor to analyze their religious experience and worldview. In this sense, we will try to reflect on some indicators that can help us to understand the resources and limits of the contemporary Catholic pluralism and the aspects of the ‘modern desire for God’ (Abbruzzese, 2010).
Proteinuria in HIV-infected Indian children
Authors: Gupta Gopila , Hemal Alok , Saha Abhijeet , Kapoor Kanika , Goyal Parul , Upadhyay Ashish Datt
Published: September 2016

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among individuals with HIV infection. Screening for proteinuria in HIV-infected children will help in early detection and treatment, and thus prevention and progression to CKD to end-stage kidney disease (ESRD). We screened 139 HIV-infected children aged 18 months to 18 years for proteinuria by urinary dipstick and confirmed by spot urine protein-to-creatinine ratio. If proteinuria was absent by the above methods, patients were screened for microalbuminuria by urinary albumin to creatinine ratio. We found proteinuria in 11.5% and microalbuminuria in 10.6% of our study population. The prevalence of proteinuria was higher in the advanced stages; 8.05% in stage 1, 12.12% in stage 2 and 26.32% in stages 3 + 4.
A study on nutritional status of school-going adolescents in Aligarh, India
Authors: Faizi Nafis , Khan Zulfia , Khan Iqbal M , Amir Ali , Azmi Suhail A , Khalique Najam
Published: September 2016

Adolescence is a highly vulnerable period for malnutrition. This study was based on a Global School Health Survey methodology in the 13–15-year age group; employing WHO AnthroPlus to evaluate the nutritional status, find the prevalence of both extremes of malnutrition, compare with the growth curves and to find its sociodemographic correlates. A total of 1456 students were sampled and the mean BMI for age Z score was found to be −0.11. The prevalence of overweight and obese were 11.95% and 2.27%, respectively, whereas 2.75% suffered from thinness, defined as BMI for age <2 standard deviations. The prevalence of being overweight and obese was associated with a higher standard of living, a higher education of father or mother, working mothers and father’s occupation being service/business. The evident double burden of malnutrition presages a large public health burden in future, requiring interventional attention.
Theorising the interaction of caste, class and gender
Authors: Velaskar Padma
Published: September 2016

In the context of the rise of feminist scholarship exploring links between caste, class and gender, the particular concern of this article is with developing a sociological framework that would help locate gendered power relations and women’s oppression within the structures of caste and class domination, inequality and social stratification. While a politics of difference is indispensable to highlight the differential axes and experiences of oppression, a critical sociological understanding of social relations that make for structural differences and commonalities needs to be built up in order to grapple with a complex and rapidly changing social reality. Drawing from multiple critical perspectives to create a conceptual synthesis and taking a structural approach to ‘difference’, the article develops the contours of a critical feminist sociological framework grounded in theories of production relations and cultural subordination that may be useful to explore the complex and dynamic interconnections between caste, class and patriarchy. It also attempts to understand aspects of caste–class-specific gender relations and patriarchal forms as well as account for key differences and divisions between women. The article argues that by providing a contextualised, interactional understanding of differential social relations and differential social locations of both women and men, feminist sociology can make a new and distinct contribution to the systematic and systemic study of, as well as illuminate more fully, the workings of societal systems of domination–subordination.