bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Value of Fecal Calprotectin (S100 A8/A9) Test in Children with Chronic Abdominal Pain
Authors: Pieczarkowski Stanisław , Kowalska-Duplaga Kinga , Kwinta Przemko , Tomasik Przemysław , Wędrychowicz Andrzej , Fyderek Krzysztof
Published: November 2016

Objectives. The aim of the study was to establish whether fecal calprotectin concentration (FCC) may be useful in children with chronic abdominal pain to differentiate between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), other inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders, and functional gastrointestinal disorders.Methods. The study included 163 patients (median age 13 years), who were assigned to four study groups: group 0 (control), 22 healthy children; group 1, 33 children with functional gastrointestinal disorders; group 2, 71 children with inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders other than IBD; group 3, 37 children with IBD. FCC was measured using ELISA assay.Results. In group 0 and group 1 FCCs were below 100 μg/g. Low FCCs were found in 91% of patients in group 2. In patients with IBD FCCs were markedly elevated with median value of 1191.5 μg/g. However, in children with inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders other than IBD and in children with IBD mean FCCs were significantly higher compared with the control group. Significant differences in FCCs were also found between group 1 and group 2, between group 1 and group 3, and between group 2 and group 3.Conclusion. FCC is the best parameter allowing for differentiation between IBD, other inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders, and functional gastrointestinal disorders. High FCC is associated with a high probability of IBD and/or other inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders, and it allows excluding functional gastrointestinal disorders.
Detecting Silent Data Corruptions in Aerospace-Based Computing Using Program Invariants
Authors: Ma Junchi , Yu Dengyun , Wang Yun , Cai Zhenbo , Zhang Qingxiang , Hu Cheng
Published: November 2016

Soft error caused by single event upset has been a severe challenge to aerospace-based computing. Silent data corruption (SDC) is one of the results incurred by soft error. SDC occurs when a program generates erroneous output with no indications. SDC is the most insidious type of results and very difficult to detect. To address this problem, we design and implement an invariant-based system called Radish. Invariants describe certain properties of a program; for example, the value of a variable equals a constant. Radish first extracts invariants at key program points and converts invariants into assertions. It then hardens the program by inserting the assertions into the source code. When a soft error occurs, assertions will be found to be false at run time and warn the users of soft error. To increase the coverage of SDC, we further propose an extension of Radish, named Radish_D, which applies software-based instruction duplication mechanism to protect the uncovered code sections. Experiments using architectural fault injections show that Radish achieves high SDC coverage with very low overhead. Furthermore, Radish_D provides higher SDC coverage than that of either Radish or pure instruction duplication.
Fractal Analysis on Asphalt Mixture Using a Two-Dimensional Imaging Technique
Authors: Hou Yue , Huang Yucheng , Sun Fengyan , Guo Meng
Published: November 2016

Fractal is a mathematical set that has a fractal dimension which usually exceeds its topological dimension and may be nonintegral. Since the asphalt pavement texture has limitations of randomness and self-similarity, fractal theory has been explored to quantify the asphalt pavement texture and employs good applicability in processing and analyzing the complex details of research object. In this paper, the 2D digital image of the pavement surface is measured in terms of area fractal dimension and contour fractal dimension, which are used to correlate with aggregate gradation and British Pendulum Number (BPN) value, respectively. It turns out the area fractal dimension of aggregate provides a simple way to acquire the continuous gradation of asphalt concrete sample and the contour fractal dimension is an available parameter to characterize roughness and friction of pavement surface texture.
Autophagy Protects from Raddeanin A‐Induced Apoptosis in SGC‐7901 Human Gastric Cancer Cells
Authors: Teng Yu-hao , Li Jie-pin , Liu Shen-lin , Zou Xi , Fang Liang-hua , Zhou Jin-yong , Wu Jian , Xi Song-yang , Chen Yan , Zhang Ying-ying , Xu Song , Wang Rui-ping
Published: November 2016

Raddeanin A (RA) is an extractive from Anemone raddeana Regel, a traditional Chinese medicine. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of RA against human gastric cancer (GC) cells (SGC‐7901) and explore its mechanism. MTT assay showed that RA inhibition of proliferation of SGC‐7901 cells increased in a dose‐dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis and Hoechst 33258 staining showed that RA induced apoptosis on SGC‐7901 cells. Meanwhile, it induced autophagy. Western blotting analysis showed that the RA induces apoptosis and autophagy by activating p38 MAPK pathway and inhibiting mTOR pathway. Further studies showed that autophagy inhibition could protect from RA‐induced apoptosis in SGC‐7901 cells. In conclusion, RA can induce SGC‐7901 cell apoptosis and autophagy by activating p38 MAPK pathway. And autophagy can protect SGC‐7901 cells from apoptosis induced by RA.
Hemodynamic Response to Upper Airway Obstruction in Hypertensive and Normotensive Pregnant Women
Authors: Reid John , Glew Riley A. , Mink Joe , Gjevre John , Fenton Mark , Skomro Robert , Olatunbosun Femi
Published: November 2016

Background.Mild obstructive sleep apnea is common in pregnancy and may have an exacerbating role in gestational hypertension, although currently the interaction between these two diseases is uncertain.Methods.We analyzed 43 pregnant subjects, 28 with gestational hypertension (GH) and 15 with normal healthy pregnancy, by level I polysomnography. Additionally, diastolic and systolic blood pressure changes in response to obstructive respiratory events were measured by noninvasive beat-by-beat monitoring. We also assessed a subgroup (n=27) of women with respiratory disturbance indexes <5, for blood pressure responses to very subtle obstructive respiratory disturbances (“airflow reductions”).Results.The mean ± standard deviation respiratory disturbance index of our 28 GH women and 15 healthy pregnant women was10.1±9.9 mmHg and3.0±3.8 mmHg, respectively. Systolic and diastolic pressure responses to these events were30.1±12.8 mmHg and16.0±6.1 mmHg for GH women and29.1±14.2 mmHg and14.3±7.7 mmHg for healthy women. For the 27 women in whom we assessed for airflow reduction events, the hemodynamic responses were27.1±12.3 mmHg systolic and14.4±6.7 mmHg diastolic.Interpretation.Upper airway obstructive events of any severity are associated with a substantial transient blood pressure response in both healthy pregnant and GH women. Whether or not these events have a clinically significant impact on women with GH remains uncertain.
New Developments in Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Assessment of Response in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Landgren Ola , Rajkumar S. Vincent
Published: November 2016

Over the past few years, the management of multiple myeloma has changed. We have new guidelines regarding how to set the diagnosis, when to initiate therapy, and how to monitor treatment response. In 2014, the updated International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) diagnostic criteria changed the definition of multiple myeloma from being a disease defined by symptoms to a disease defined by biomarkers. Today, modern combination therapies have reported up to 60% to 80% of patients reaching a complete response. As a logical and necessary step forward, investigators have explored strategies to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) and its correlation with clinical outcomes. Recent meta-analysis data show that MRD negativity is associated with longer progression-free survival and overall survival. In 2016, the updated IMWG response criteria include MRD as the deepest level of treatment response in multiple myeloma. Simultaneously, we are still quite behind in our understanding of the heterogeneous biology of multiple myeloma and its implications for therapy. Emerging DNA sequencing data show that newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients have a broad range of mutations, which are distributed unevenly in multiple parallel subclones already present at diagnosis. To move beyond the ill-defined category of “high-risk multiple myeloma,” which confers to approximately 25% of all newly diagnosed patients, prospective studies are needed to dissect tumor biology and define multiple myeloma subtypes, and, based on biology, seek to define rational therapies for individual subtypes. This article discusses novel insights and gives perspectives on diagnosis and MRD monitoring and future directions for prognosis and clinical management of multiple myeloma. Clin Cancer Res; 22(22); 5428–33. ©2016 AACR.

See all articles in this CCR Focus section, “Multiple Myeloma: Multiplying Therapies.”
Honokiol Decreases Lung Cancer Metastasis through Inhibition of the STAT3 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Pan Jing , Lee Yongik , Zhang Qi , Xiong Donghai , Wan Tina C. , Wang Yian , You Ming
Published: November 2016

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Metastasis to lymph nodes and distal organs, especially brain, leads to severe complications and death. Preventing lung cancer development and metastases is an important strategy to reduce lung cancer mortality. Honokiol (HNK), a natural compound present in the extracts of magnolia bark, has a favorable bioavailability profile and recently has been shown to readily cross the blood–brain barrier. In the current study, we evaluated the antimetastatic effects of HNK in both the lymph node and brain mouse models of lung tumor metastasis. We tested the efficacy of HNK in preventing 18 H2030-BrM3 cell (brain-seeking human lung tumor cells) migration to lymph node or brain. In an orthotopic mouse model, HNK significantly decreased lung tumor growth compared with the vehicle control group. HNK also significantly reduced the incidence of lymph node metastasis and the weight of mediastinal lymph nodes. In a brain metastasis model, HNK inhibits metastasis of lung cancer cells to the brain to approximately one third of that observed in control mice. We analyzed HNK's mechanism of action, which indicated that its effect is mediated primarily by inhibiting the STAT3 pathway. HNK specifically inhibits STAT3 phosphorylation irrespective of the mutation status of EGFR, and knockdown of STAT3 abrogated both the antiproliferative and the antimetastatic effects of HNK. These observations suggest that HNK could provide novel chemopreventive or therapeutic options for preventing both lung tumor progression and lung cancer metastasis. Cancer Prev Res; 10(2); 133–41. ©2016 AACR.
Unstimulated Saliva-Related Caries Risk Factors in Individuals with Cystic Fibrosis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Unstimulated Salivary Flow, pH, and Buffering Capacity
Authors: Alkhateeb Alaa A. , Mancl Lloyd A. , Presland Richard B. , Rothen Marilynn L. , Chi Donald L.
Published: November 2016

Salivary flow rate, pH, and buffering capacity are associated with dental caries, but studies from the cystic fibrosis (CF) literature are inconclusive regarding these salivary factors and caries. The aim of this study was to evaluate these factors and their associations with dental caries in individuals with CF. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected from individuals aged 6-20 years at Seattle Children's Hospital CF Clinic, USA (n = 83). Salivary flow rate was measured in milliliters per minute. Salivary pH was assessed using a laboratory pH meter. Buffering capacity was assessed by titration with HCl. The outcome measure was caries prevalence, defined as the number of decayed, missing, or filled primary and permanent tooth surfaces. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and the t test were used to test for bivariate associations. Multiple variable linear regression models were used to (1) run confounder-adjusted analyses and (2) assess for potential interactions. There was no significant association between salivary flow rate or buffering capacity and caries prevalence. There was a significant negative association between salivary pH and caries prevalence, but this association was no longer significant after adjusting for age. There was no significant interaction between salivary flow rate and buffering capacity or between antibiotic use and the 3 salivary factors. Our results indicate that unstimulated salivary factors are not associated with dental caries prevalence in individuals with CF. Future studies should investigate other potential saliva-related caries risk factors in individuals with CF such as cariogenic bacteria levels, salivary host defense peptide levels, and medication use.
Vitamin K Metabolism in a Rat Model of Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: McCabe Kristin M. , Booth Sarah L. , Fu Xueyan , Ward Emilie , Adams Michael A. , Holden Rachel M.
Published: November 2016

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have very high levels of uncarboxylated, inactive, extra-hepatic vitamin K-dependent proteins measured in circulation, putting them at risk for complications of vitamin K deficiency. The major form of vitamin K found in the liver is phylloquinone (K1). Menaquinone-4 (MK-4) is the form of vitamin K that is preferentially found in extra-hepatic tissues. Methods: In the present study, we assessed tissue concentrations of K1 and MK-4 and the expression of vitamin K-related genes in a rat model of adenine-induced CKD. Results: It was found that rats with both mild and severe CKD had significantly lower amounts of K1 measured in liver, spleen and heart and higher levels of MK-4 measured in kidney cortex and medulla. All animals treated with high dietary K1 had an increase in tissue levels of both K1 and MK-4; however, the relative increase in K1 differed suggesting that the conversion of K1 to MK-4 may be a regulated/limiting process in some tissues. There was a decrease in the thoracic aorta expression of vitamin K recycling (Vkor) and utilization (Ggcx) enzymes, and a decrease in the kidney level of vitamin K1 to MK-4 bioconversion enzyme Ubiad1 in CKD. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings suggest that CKD impacts vitamin K metabolism, and this occurs early in the disease course. Our findings that vitamin K metabolism is altered in the presence of CKD provides further support that sub-clinical vitamin K deficiency may represent a modifiable risk factor for vascular and bone health in this population.
Prognostic Factors and Pattern of Long-Term Recovery with MLC601 (NeuroAiD™) in the Chinese Medicine NeuroAiD Efficacy on Stroke Recovery - Extension Study
Authors: Venketasubramanian Narayanaswamy , Lee Chun Fan , Young Sherry H. , Tay San San , Umapathi Thirugnanam , Lao Annabelle Y. , Gan Herminigildo H. , Baroque II Alejandro C. , Navarro Jose C. , Chang Hui Meng , Advincula Joel M. , Muengtaweepongsa Sombat , Chan Bernard P.L. , Chua Carlos L. , Wijekoon Nirmala , de Silva H. Asita , Hiyadan John Harold B. , Suwanwela Nijasri C. , Wong K.S. Lawrence , Poungvarin Niphon , Eow Gaik Bee , Chen Christopher L.H. ,   for the CHIMES-E Study Investigators
Published: November 2016

Background: The Chinese Medicine NeuroAiD Efficacy on Stroke recovery - Extension (CHIMES-E) study is among the few acute stroke trials with long-term outcome data. We aimed to evaluate the recovery pattern and the influence of prognostic factors on treatment effect of MLC601 over 2 years. Methods: The CHIMES-E study evaluated the 2 years outcome of subjects aged ≥18 years with acute ischemic stroke, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score 6-14, pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤1 included in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of MLC601 for 3 months. Standard stroke care and rehabilitation were allowed during follow-up with mRS score being assessed in-person at month (M) 3 and by telephone at M1, M6, M12, M18 and M24. Results: Data from 880 subjects were analyzed. There was no difference in baseline characteristics between treatment groups. The proportion of subjects with mRS score 0-1 increased over time in favor of MLC601 most notably from M3 to M6, thereafter remaining stable up to M24, while the proportion deteriorating to mRS score ≥2 remained low at all time points. Older age (p < 0.01), female sex (p = 0.06), higher baseline NIHSS score (p < 0.01) and longer onset to treatment time (OTT; p < 0.01) were found to be predictors of poorer outcome at M3. Greater treatment effect, with more subjects improving on MLC601 than placebo, was seen among subjects with 2 or more prognostic factors (OR 1.65 at M3, 1.78 at M6, 1.90 at M12, 1.65 at M18, 1.39 at M24), especially in subjects with more severe stroke or longer OTT. Conclusions: The sustained benefits of MLC601 over 2 years were due to more subjects improving to functional independence at M6 and beyond compared to placebo. Selection of subjects with poorer prognosis, particularly those with more severe NIHSS score and longer OTT delay, as well as a long follow-up period, may improve the power of future trials investigating the treatment effect of neuroprotective or neurorestorative therapies.
Push-Out Bond Strength and Surface Microhardness of Calcium Silicate-Based Biomaterials: An in vitro Study
Authors: Majeed Abdul , AlShwaimi Emad
Published: November 2016

Objective: This was an in vitro evaluation of push-out bond strength and surface microhardness of calcium silicate-based biomaterials in coronal and apical root dentin. Materials and Methods: Ninety sections (2 mm thick) of coronal and apical root dentin were obtained from roots of 60 extracted teeth; the canals were enlarged to a standardized cavity diameter of 1.3 mm. Sections were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 15 per group), and cavities were filled with Biodentine™, BioAggregate, or ProRoot mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), according to the manufacturers' instructions. Push-out bond strength values were measured using a universal testing machine under a compressive load at a speed of 1 mm/min. Samples were analyzed under a light microscope to determine the nature of bond failure. Ten samples (2 mm thick) were prepared for all the materials, and Vickers microhardness was determined using a digital hardness tester. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison tests at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Biodentine (42.02; 39.35 MPa) and ProRoot MTA (21.86; 34.13 MPa) showed significantly higher bond strengths than BioAggregate (6.63; 10.09 MPa) in coronal and apical root dentin, respectively (p < 0.05). Biodentine also differed significantly from ProRoot MTA in coronal dentin. Bond failure was predominantly adhesive in Biodentine and ProRoot MTA, while BioAggregate showed predominantly mixed failure. ProRoot MTA (158.52 HV) showed significantly higher microhardness and BioAggregate (68.79 HV) showed the lowest hardness. Conclusion: Biodentine and ProRoot MTA showed higher bond strength and microhardness compared to BioAggregate.
Excess Cardiovascular Risk in Women Relative to Men Referred for Coronary Angiography Is Associated With Severely Impaired Coronary Flow Reserve, Not Obstructive Disease
Authors: Taqueti Viviany R. , Shaw Leslee J. , Cook Nancy R. , Murthy Venkatesh L. , Shah Nishant R. , Foster Courtney R. , Hainer Jon , Blankstein Ron , Dorbala Sharmila , Di Carli Marcelo F.
Published: November 2016

Background:

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) fatality rates are higher for women than for men, yet obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is less prevalent in women. Coronary flow reserve (CFR), an integrated measure of large- and small-vessel CAD and myocardial ischemia, identifies patients at risk for CVD death, but is not routinely measured in clinical practice. We sought to investigate the impact of sex, CFR, and angiographic CAD severity on adverse cardiovascular events.

Methods:

Consecutive patients (n=329, 43% women) referred for invasive coronary angiography after stress testing with myocardial perfusion positron emission tomography and with left ventricular ejection fraction >40% were followed (median, 3.0 years) for a composite end point of major adverse cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death and hospitalization for nonfatal myocardial infarction or heart failure. The extent and severity of angiographic CAD were estimated by using the CAD prognostic index, and CFR was quantified by using positron emission tomography.

Results:

Although women in comparison with men had lower pretest clinical scores, rates of prior myocardial infarction, and burden of angiographic CAD (
P
<0.001), they demonstrated greater risk of CVD events, even after adjustment for traditional risk factors, imaging findings, and early revascularization (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–4.02;
P
=0.03). Impaired CFR was similarly present among women and men, but in patients with low CFR (<1.6, n=163), women showed a higher frequency of nonobstructive CAD, whereas men showed a higher frequency of severely obstructive CAD (
P
=0.002). After also adjusting for CFR, the effect of sex on outcomes was no longer significant. When stratified by sex and CFR, only women with severely impaired CFR demonstrated significantly increased adjusted risk of CVD events (
P
<0.0001,
P
for interaction=0.04).

Conclusions:

Women referred for coronary angiography had a significantly lower burden of obstructive CAD in comparison with men but were not protected from CVD events. Excess cardiovascular risk in women was independently associated with impaired CFR, representing a hidden biological risk, and a phenotype less amenable to revascularization. Impaired CFR, particularly absent severely obstructive CAD, may represent a novel target for CVD risk reduction.
Effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan (LCZ696) on Natriuresis, Diuresis, Blood Pressures, and NT-proBNP in Salt-Sensitive Hypertension
Authors: Wang Tzung-Dau , Tan Ru-San , Lee Hae-Young , Ihm Sang-Hyun , Rhee Moo-Yong , Tomlinson Brian , Pal Parasar , Yang Fan , Hirschhorn Elizabeth , Prescott Margaret F. , Hinder Markus , Langenickel Thomas H.
Published: November 2016

Salt-sensitive hypertension (SSH) is characterized by impaired sodium excretion and subnormal vasodilatory response to salt loading. Sacubitril/valsartan (LCZ696) was hypothesized to increase natriuresis and diuresis and result in superior blood pressure control compared with valsartan in Asian patients with SSH. In this randomized, double-blind, crossover study, 72 patients with SSH received sacubitril/valsartan 400 mg and valsartan 320 mg once daily for 4 weeks each. SSH was diagnosed if the mean arterial pressure increased by ≥10% when patients switched from low (50 mmol/d) to high (320 mmol/d) sodium diet. The primary outcome was cumulative 6- and 24-hour sodium excretion after first dose administration. Compared with valsartan, sacubitril/valsartan was associated with a significant increase in natriuresis (adjusted treatment difference: 24.5 mmol/6 hours, 50.3 mmol/24 hours, both
P
<0.001) and diuresis (adjusted treatment difference: 291.2 mL/6 hours,
P
<0.001; 356.4 mL/24 hours,
P
=0.002) on day 1, but not on day 28, and greater reductions in office and ambulatory blood pressure on day 28. Despite morning dosing of both drugs, ambulatory blood pressure reductions were more pronounced at nighttime than at daytime or the 24-hour average. Compared with valsartan, sacubitril/valsartan significantly reduced N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide levels on day 28 (adjusted treatment difference: −20%;
P
=0.001). Sacubitril/valsartan and valsartan were safe and well tolerated with no significant changes in body weight or serum sodium and potassium levels with either treatments. In conclusion, sacubitril/valsartan compared with valsartan was associated with short-term increases in natriuresis and diuresis, superior office and ambulatory blood pressure control, and significantly reduced N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide levels in Asian patients with SSH.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01681576.
Bimodal Pattern of Coronary Microvascular Involvement in Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Sezer Murat , Kocaaga Mehmet , Aslanger Emre , Atici Adem , Demirkiran Ahmet , Bugra Zehra , Umman Sabahattin , Umman Berrin
Published: November 2016

Background

The contribution of functionally disturbed coronary autoregulation and structurally impaired microvascular vasodilatory function to reduced coronary flow velocity reserve, reflecting impaired coronary microcirculation in diabetes mellitus (
DM
), has not been clearly elucidated. The objective of this study was to identify the mechanism of coronary microvascular impairment in
DM
in relation to duration of disease.

Methods and Results

Coronary flow velocities in the anterior descending coronary artery were assessed by transthoracic echocardiography following angiography revealing normal epicardial coronary arteries in 55 diabetic and 47 nondiabetic patients. Average peak flow velocities, coronary flow velocity reserve, and microvascular resistance in baseline and hyperemic conditions (baseline and hyperemic microvascular resistance, respectively) were assessed. Reduced coronary flow velocity reserve in patients with short duration (<10 years) of
DM
compared with nondiabetic patients was primarily driven by increased baseline average peak flow velocity (26.50±5.6 versus 22.08±4.31,
P
=0.008) in the presence of decreased baseline microvascular resistance (3.69±0.86 versus 4.34±0.76,
P
=0.003). In contrast, decreased coronary flow velocity reserve in patients with long‐standing (≥10 years)
DM
compared with nondiabetic patients was predominantly driven by reduced hyperemic average peak flow velocity (41.57±10.01 versus 53.47±11.8,
P
<0.001) due to increased hyperemic microvascular resistance (2.13±0.42 versus 1.69±0.39,
P
<0.001).

Conclusions

Both altered coronary autoregulation and impaired microvascular vasodilatory function contribute to DM‐related coronary microvascular impairment in a time‐dependent manner. DM‐induced early functional microvascular autoregulatory impairment seems to evolve into structural microvascular impairment in the initially overperfused microvascular territory at the later stage of disease.
Simultaneous Non‐Invasive Epicardial and Endocardial Mapping in Patients With Brugada Syndrome: New Insights Into Arrhythmia Mechanisms
Authors: Rudic Boris , Chaykovskaya Maria , Tsyganov Alexey , Kalinin Vitaly , Tülümen Erol , Papavassiliu Theano , Dösch Christina , Liebe Volker , Kuschyk Jürgen , Röger Susanne , El‐Battrawy Ibrahim , Akin Ibrahim , Yakovleva Marina , Zaklyazminskaya Elena , Shestak Anna , Kim Stanislav , Chmelevsky Mikhail , Borggrefe Martin
Published: November 2016

Background

The underlying mechanisms of Brugada syndrome (BrS) are not completely understood. Recent studies provided evidence that the electrophysiological substrate, leading to electrocardiogram abnormalities and/or ventricular arrhythmias, is located in the right ventricular outflow tract (
RVOT
). The purpose of this study was to examine abnormalities of epicardial and endocardial local unipolar electrograms by simultaneous noninvasive mapping in patients with BrS.

Methods and Results

Local epicardial and endocardial unipolar electrograms were analyzed using a novel
n
oninvasive
e
pi‐ and
e
ndocardial
e
lectrophysiology
s
ystem (
NEEES
) in 12 patients with BrS and 6 with right bundle branch block for comparison. Fifteen normal subjects composed the control group. Observed depolarization abnormalities included fragmented electrograms in the anatomical area of
RVOT
endocardially and epicardially, significantly prolonged activation time in the
RVOT
endocardium (65±20 vs 38±13 ms in controls;
P
=0.008), prolongation of the activation‐recovery interval in the
RVOT
epicardium (281±34 vs 247±26 ms in controls;
P
=0.002). Repolarization abnormalities included a larger area of
ST
‐segment elevation >2 mV and T‐wave inversions. Negative voltage gradient (−2.5 to −6.0 mV) between epicardium and endocardium of the
RVOT
was observed in 8 of 12 BrS patients, not present in patients with right bundle branch block or in controls.

Conclusions

Abnormalities of epicardial and endocardial electrograms associated with depolarization and repolarization properties were found using
NEEES
exclusively in the
RVOT
of BrS patients. These findings support both, depolarization and repolarization abnormalities, being operative at the same time in patients with BrS.
New Developments in Family Ethics: An Introduction
Authors: Betzler Monika , Löschke Jörg
Published: November 2016

During the last three decades, moral philosophy has seen an increased interest in the ethics of special relationships. The relationship that has gained the most attention in recent years is the family. While there has been some progress in understanding family relationships and their ethical implications, there is still much theoretical ground to cover. In this special issue of the Journal of Moral Philosophy, we present four papers that discuss new questions concerning the rights and duties that are implied by the relationship between parents and children. These include the question whether persons have a right to parent their biological offspring, or a duty to adopt a child, rather than create one; under which circumstances dependent children owe their parents gratitude for the care they provide; and how family relationships can lead to moral blackmailing and thus to moral exploitation of some of their members.
Moral Blackmail and the Family
Authors: Keller Simon
Published: November 2016

Moral blackmail is a wrongful strategy intended to force a person to perform an act by manipulating her circumstances so as to make it morally wrong for her to do anything else. The idea of moral blackmail can seem paradoxical, but moral blackmail is a coherent and indeed a familiar phenomenon. It has special significance for our intimate personal relationships and is often a force within family dynamics. It is used to enforce power relationships within families, and in particular to uphold expectations that women and girls will do most of the work in caring for vulnerable family members. It is also used as a tool of policy makers, to transfer to families duties of care that would otherwise be discharged by the government or by society at large. It is an important but under-recognized source of ongoing manipulation and exploitation.
Erasmus and the Novum Instrumentum
Authors: Holder R. Ward
Published: November 2016

This issue of Church History and Religious Culture celebrates the five hundred years of influence to both religious life and piety and to scholarship that the publication of the Novum Instrumentum engendered. Truly, littera scripta manet. The essays gathered here challenge presently held notions of what Erasmus was doing in creating a critical Greek New Testament, his status as a theologian, his relationship to Jerome and the fashioning of a biblical eleoquence, his relationship to Martin Luther, and even the influence of Erasmus’s work itself. By challenging presently held notions, these essays pay tribute to the example that Erasmus set, and offer a fitting remembrance to the 500th anniversary of his Novum Instrumentum.
From Phenomenology to Literary Anthropology: Bakhtin’s Grotesque as Poetics of the Production of Meaning
Authors: Horváth Géza S.
Published: November 2016

In the context of Bakhtin’s preoccupation with corporality, one of his best known concepts is that of the grotesque body. The ‘open’ and grotesque body coincides with the generation and invention of the new word-body, the word in action, separated from the old word-body. Moreover, the transgression in the grotesque has to be considered as a categorical infringement, as a violation of the bounderies between body and word, subject and object, external and internal. Bakhtin’s paper on Content, Material and Form… contains the first articulation of the concept of ambiguity (double body, double word and ambivalent meaning) in Bakhtin’s theory of discourse. His thoughts on the corporeality [тeлecнocть] of the act of reception, and on the author’s and reader’s direct presence prepares and supports the – non-hermeneutic, non-semiotic – contemporary theories of the literary text.
Bakhtin and Lotman: Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin as Space for Dialogue
Authors: Molnár Angelika
Published: November 2016

The author of this paper carries out a comparative reading of Bakhtin’s theory of the novel and Lotman’s theory of the novel on the basis of Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin. The general plan of these theories includes the issue of language and genre, dialogue and dynamic development and the set of “living”. In the course of an analysis of these issues, a special model of dialogization between the texts of these two men of letters will be illuminated, according to which the novel starts “living” and being a fact of another poetic order (a new construct), becoming more than a sociographic unit.
Morphological and molecular data reveal the cryptic diversity among populations of Aegla paulensis (Decapoda, Anomura, Aeglidae), with descriptions of four new species and comments on dispersal routes and conservation status
Authors: MORAES JULIANA CRISTINA BERTACINI , TEROSSI MARIANA , BURANELLI RAQUEL CORRÊA , TAVARES MARCOS , MANTELATTO FERNANDO L. , BUENO SÉRGIO LUIZ DE SIQUEIRA
Published: November 2016

The taxonomy of the Brazilian aeglid species Aegla paulensis Schmitt, 1942 from two disjunct hydrographic basins is revised using morphological and molecular data. Results show that six disjunctive populations of Aegla paulensis form a species complex. Aegla paulensis sensu stricto is redescribed and Aegla rosanae Campos Jr., 1998 is revalidated. The four remaining populations previously assigned to Aegla paulensis are now recognized as different species, namely Aegla  vanini n. sp., Aegla japi n. sp., Aegla jaragua n. sp. and Aegla jundiai n. sp. All new species are described and illustrated and are well supported by both morphological and molecular data. Aegla lancinhas Bond-Buckup & Buckup in Santos et al., 2015, which until recently was confounded with Aegla paulensis s. str., is supported as a valid species. A key to all members of the A. paulensis species complex is provided, and their phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships to other closely related species is discussed.
The first record of the genus Tanaostigma (Hymenoptera: Tanaostigmatidae) in the Old World, with the description of a new species from India
Authors: GUPTA ANKITA , JOSHI SUNIL
Published: November 2016

Tanaostigma Howard (Hymenoptera: Tanaostigmatidae) is recorded for the first time in the fauna of the Old World, with T. indica Gupta sp. n.  described and illustrated from southern India, reared from Millettia (=Pongamia) pinnata (Fabaceae).
Description of a new Oriental stonefly species, Phanoperla constanspina (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Mindanao, Philippines and association of life stages using DNA barcoding
Authors: CRUZ IAN NIEL B. DELA , NUÑEZA OLGA M. , LIN CHUNG-PING
Published: November 2016

A new perlid stonefly, Phanoperla constanspina sp. nov. is described from Mt. Malindang, northern Mindanao, Philippines. The male of the new species is distinguished by lacking lobes on penial sac and large black spines at the penial apex. The female is distinguished by the egg. DNA barcoding was used to associate male, female, and nymphal specimens with 0% divergence. Morphological variation was observed in the shape of the hemitergal anterior processes and the 9th tergal setal patches of male adult and body pigmentation of the nymph. A key to the Philippine Phanoperla species and a checklist of Oriental Phanoperla are also provided.
Social resilience: Transformation in two Australian communities facing chronic adversity
Authors: Bolzan Natalie , Gale Fran
Published: November 2016

Resilience has predominantly been investigated as an individual’s response to adversity and, at the level of the collective, how communities respond to a direct threat. The social work literature investigating social resilience as a response to the challenge of subtle, pervasive and divisive social threats is limited. This article presents the findings of research conducted in two Australian communities with young people who experienced marginalisation; it investigated how sustained social resilience could be evoked in response to the disadvantage they experienced. Six themes that reflect the expression of social resilience emerged from the data and provide insights for social workers practising with communities facing chronic adversity.
Sovereignty at the Extremes: Micro-States in World Politics
Authors: Sharman JC
Published: November 2016

Micro-states illustrate deep changes in the international system obscured by scholars’ traditional focus on great powers. Logically, the nature and systemic effects of international anarchy should be most apparent in relation to the smallest and weakest states, and least apparent in relation to great powers. Focusing on micro-states suggests a permissive contemporary international system facilitating the proliferation and survival of states independent of their military and functional capacities. Micro-states’ lack of great power allies illustrates the irrelevance of military threats under anarchy, while the presence of an international economic safety net attenuates problems of economic viability. The lack of association between smallness and delegating sovereignty questions functional explanations of hierarchy. Instead, varying micro-states strategies of à la carte hierarchy and selling sovereign prerogatives demonstrate that the current international system presents even its smallest and weakest members with choices rather than imperatives.
The Civic Engagement Gap(s): Youth Participation and Inequality From 1976 to 2009
Authors: Gaby Sarah
Published: November 2016

Civic participation in the United States is highly unequal, resulting in a “civic engagement gap” between socioeconomic, racial, and gender groups. Variation in civic participation and the civic engagement gap remain contested, primarily as a result of inconsistent definitions and measurement issues in previous work. Using consistent measures from the Monitoring the Future Study from 1976 to 2009, I analyze whether sociodemographic gaps in youth civic participation changed during a period of growing income inequality. I find that since the 1970s, electoral participation decreased, volunteering increased, and social movement activity remained constant. Participation varied by sociodemographic group, with highly educated Whites most active in all activities. Females volunteered more than males, but participated at the same rate in all other activities. The gap between male and female volunteering increased over the time period, as did the socioeconomic gap in volunteering. Racial gaps in participation, however, remained relatively stable from 1976 to 2009.
Correlation between serum ferritin and bone marrow iron stores
Authors: V Anupama K , Rao Purnima S , Adappa Sushma , Balanthimogru Prashantha , Mahabala Chakrapani
Published: November 2016

Bone marrow aspirate examination is a gold standard to assess bone marrow iron stores. The correlation between serum ferritin and bone marrow iron has not been established in detail, as the cutoff value for iron stores have not been uniformly established. Ours was a cross-sectional study. Perl’s Prussian blue stain was used to stain bone marrow, assessed by Gale’s grading. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and Spearman’s correlation coefficient calculated. Gale’s grading revealed iron store deficiency in 26 and sufficiency in 13. Spearman’s correlation coefficient of 0.90 showed a significant relation between serum ferritin and bone marrow iron stores. A serum ferritin of 228 pmol/L had high sensitivity and specificity for iron deficiency; our study suggests that this level be taken as the cutoff value to predict iron store deficiency in bone marrow.
Validity and Predictive Accuracy of the Structured Assessment of Protective Factors for Violence Risk in Criminal Forensic Evaluations
Authors: Abbiati Milena , Azzola Agathe , Palix Julie , Gasser Jacques , Moulin Valerie
Published: November 2016

Some actuarial and structured professional judgment (SPJ) risk-assessment instruments have already demonstrated their validity and predictive accuracy in expert criminal forensic evaluations. In contrast, little is known about the effectiveness of instruments identifying protective factors in risk of recidivism prediction. The present study was designed to evaluate the validity and predictive accuracy of the Structured Assessment of Protective Factors for Violence Risk (SAPROF) in 94 violent and sexual violent offenders assessed in a Swiss pretrial criminal forensic context. The SAPROF showed good interrater reliability, and was significantly correlated to predominately dynamic instruments but not to predominately actuarial instruments. However, in terms of predictive accuracy, the SAPROF did not perform as well as expected when compared with other instruments and with previous SAPROF accuracy validation studies. These results have implications for the use of the SAPROF in criminal forensic contexts risk assessment.
Beyond Dustbowl Empiricism
Authors: Walters Glenn D.
Published: November 2016

In this article, I argue that for risk/recidivism research to achieve its full potential, it must continue to grow beyond its empirical roots, a process that began more than 20 years ago. The theoretical model highlighted in the current article can explain one of the brute facts of criminology: namely, that past offending is one of the best predictors of future offending. By understanding how cognitive variables mediate the past crime–future crime relationship, we improve our ability to more effectively manage recidivism risk. Toward this end, six considerations for mediation analysis are discussed: variable selection, model creation, research design, data analysis, effect size estimation, and sensitivity testing. An illustrative example using attitude toward fighting as a mediator of the past physical aggression → future physical aggression relationship is presented.
Discriminatory Discipline
Authors: Whitford Denise K. , Katsiyannis Antonis , Counts Jennifer
Published: November 2016

Discriminatory discipline has been widely documented for decades, yet little progress has been made to narrow the gap. Due to the long-standing history of discriminatory discipline, current nationwide data, and recent federal initiatives, there is a need for a comprehensive examination of this critical issue. Therefore, we discuss populations effected by discriminatory discipline, including students of color and students in special education. Research indicates that prevention and intervention efforts that begin at the administrative level are necessary.
Elemental infrastructures for atmospheric media: On stratospheric variations, value and the commons
Authors: McCormack Derek P
Published: November 2016

This paper draws together ongoing efforts to recast the materiality and meaning of infrastructures with recent critical and creative engagements around questions of the elemental. In doing so, the paper develops the concept of elemental infrastructures in order to grasp how the elemental is not just a material resource acted upon or transformed by infrastructures but is becoming part of the generative ontology and condition of infrastructural capacities. The argument of the paper is developed via a discussion of recent experiments with contemporary forms of atmospheric media in which different configurations of the elemental, from helium to stratospheric winds, are being worked together in order to shape new infrastructural arrangements. In speculating with these experiments, the paper considers what it might mean to develop an expanded sense of infrastructural value from variations in an elemental commons.
There’s no sunshine: Spatial anguish, deflections, and intersectionality in Compton and South Central
Authors: Contreras Randol
Published: November 2016

Research on “territorial stigmatization” analyzes how residents of stigmatized spaces negotiate their blemished reputations. It reveals their distress, despondency, and resistance as they encounter the space’s negative imagery. Building on this research, this paper introduces the concept of spatial anguish to capture the shame and embarrassment residents feel because of their stigmatized space. To do so, it uses an intersectional analysis to show how anguished residents try to deflect the stigma through reinforcing racist and sexist imageries of their neighbors.
Myocardial protection during minimally invasive cardiac surgery through right mini-thoracotomy
Authors: De Palo Micaela , Guida Pietro , Mastro Florinda , Nanna Daniela , Quagliara Teresa A.P. , Rociola Ruggiero , Lionetti Giosuè , Paparella Domenico
Published: November 2016

Background:

Myocardial damage is an independent predictor of adverse outcome following cardiac surgery and myocardial protection is one of the key factors to achieve successful outcomes. Cardioplegia with Custodiol is currently the most used cardioplegia during minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS). Different randomized controlled trials compared blood and Custodiol cardioplegia in the context of traditional cardiac surgery. No data are available for MICS.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of cold blood versus Custodiol cardioplegia during MICS.

Method:

We retrospectively evaluated 90 patients undergoing MICS through a right mini-thoracotomy in a three-year period. Myocardial protection was performed using cold blood (44 patients, CBC group) or Custodiol (46 patients, Custodiol group) cardioplegia, based on surgeon preference and complexity of surgery.

Results:

The primary outcomes were post-operative cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase MB (CKMB) serum release and the incidence of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome (LCOS). Aortic cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times were higher in the Custodiol group. No difference was observed in myocardial injury enzyme release (peak cTnI value was 18±46 ng/ml in CBC and 21±37 ng/ml in Custodiol; p=0.245). No differences were observed for mortality, LCOS, atrial or ventricular arrhythmias onset, transfusions, mechanical ventilation time duration, intensive care unit and total hospital stay.

Conclusions:

Custodiol and cold blood cardioplegic solutions seem to assure similar myocardial protection in patients undergoing cardiac surgery through a right mini-thoracotomy approach.