bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solvent-Free Synthesis of Salen Ligands and Pd(II)– and Cu(II)–Salen Complexes: Their Use in the Oxidation of α-Tetralones to α-Naphthols
Authors: Cívicos José , Coimbra Juliana , Costa Paulo
Published: June 2017

Racemic trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine was allowed to react with eleven aldehydes with different patterns of substitution at the aromatic ring, in the absence of solvent, by manually milling the reagents. The corresponding imines were obtained in moderated to high chemical yields, in only 10 minutes of reaction. A one-pot, two-step preparation of stable complexes of selected imines with Pd(OAc)2 and Cu(OAc)2 and the use of these complexes as catalysts in the aromatiz­ation of methyl 1-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-carboxylate to the corresponding methyl 1-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylates, is also reported.
Disputes in the Declaration of Brain Death: A Case Illustration
Authors: Peterson Eleanor
Published: June 2017

Death by neurologic criteria is a legal definition upheld in all 50 states in the United States. Confusion among the public may cause the declaration of death to be disputed and the removal of physiologic support delayed. In this report, a case is described of an infant who died from traumatic brain injury, but whose removal from respiratory and cardiovascular support was delayed due to a legal injunction brought forth from his family against the hospital. In addition, ethical issues faced by the health care team are discussed surrounding continuing medical therapies for a patient after the declaration of death.
Ein unbekanntes Ignatia-Symptom
Authors: Keller Georgv.
Published: June 2017

Ein mit Ignatia erfolgreich behandelter Fall dient zur Demonstration der Unzulänglichkeit der Hempelschen Übersetzungen der Reinen Arzneimittellehre und der Chronischen Krankheiten. Es wird gezeigt, daß auf diese Weise den englisch sprechenden Autoren und Lehrern in Amerika lange Zeit nur eine mangelhafte Materia medica als Grundlage für ihre Lehrbücher, Vorlesungen und Repertorien zur Verfügung stand.
Homöopathie und Gemüt
Authors: Bauer E.
Published: June 2017

Bei einigen Fallbeispielen von "Kummer" wird Ignatia meisterhaft herausgearbeitet, außerdem auf einige wertvolle Bereicherungen des Kent hingewiesen.
Salicylicum acidum bei Meniere'schem Syndrom und bei Meniere-ähnlichen Zuständen
Authors: Römer R.
Published: June 2017

Anhand von 8 Fällen wird die von der AMP her bekannte Einwirkung der Salicylsäure auf das Labyrinth beim Meniere'schen Syndrom und Meniere-ähnlichen Zuständen aufgezeigt. Für die Mittelwahl und den Erfolg ausschlaggebend sind hiernach die vorwiegende Linksseitigkeit der Erscheinungen hinsichtlich der Ohrgeräusche einschließlich der Schwerhörigkeit und die Fallneigung bevorzugt nach links. Ergänzungen im Kent'schen Repertorium werden vorgeschlagen.
Über Gründlichkeit und Bequemlichkeit in der ärztlichen Tätigkeit
Authors: Keller Georg v.
Published: June 2017

Ausgehend von der aus der Literatur zu entnehmenden Tatsache, daß in Nordamerika schon 100 Jahre früher der Grad der Toleranz zwischen Hochschulmedizin, eklektischer Arzneitherapie und Homöopathie geübt wurde, wie in Europa heute, stellt der Verfasser zunächst fest, daß Hahnemann auf der Höhe der Wissenschaft seiner Zeit stand. Er wehrte sich jedoch gegen unvernünftige Auswüchse der damaligen Therapie, ebenso wie wir heute. An Hand einer Darstellung der Therapiemöglichkeiten mit dem Mittel Drosera versucht der Autorzu zeigen, wieviel Perseveranz und harte Arbeit die gründliche Ausübung der homöopathischen Heilmethode erfordert, und wie sehr wir uns bemühen müssen, möglichst wenig unserer Bequemlichkeit nachzugeben.
Stottern und Schlangenträume
Authors: Klunker W.
Published: June 2017

Heilung eines 9jährigen Mädchens, das stotterte, mit Argentum nitricum 200. Nach Einnahme des Mittels blieben auch die Schlangenträume, an denen sie gelitten hatte, aus.
Bettnässen beim Erwachsenen
Authors: Klunker W.
Published: June 2017

Bei einer selten zu beobachtenden Enuresis, die bis ins Erwachsenenalter persistiert, wurde durch Elimination bei wenigen Symptomen Nitri acidum als das heilende Mittel bestimmt.
Coaxial CVD diamond detector for neutron diagnostics at ShenGuang III laser facility
Authors: Yu Bo , Liu Shenye , Chen Zhongjing , Huang Tianxuan , Jiang Wei , Chen Bolun , Pu Yudong , Yan Ji , Zhang Xing , Song Zifeng , Tang Qi , Hou Lifei , Ding Yongkun , Zheng Jian
Published: June 2017

A coaxial, high performance diamond detector has been developed for neutron diagnostics of inertial confinement fusion at ShenGuangIII laser facility. A Φ10 mm × 1 mm “optical grade” chemical-vapor deposition diamond wafer is assembled in coaxial-designing housing, and the signal is linked to a SubMiniature A connector by the cathode cone. The coaxial diamond detector performs excellently for neutron measurement with the full width at half maximum of response time to be 444 ps for a 50 Ω measurement system. The average sensitivity is 0.677 μV ns/n for 14 MeV (DT fusion) neutrons at an electric field of 1000 V/mm, and the linear dynamic range is beyond three orders of magnitude. The ion temperature results fluctuate widely from the neutron time-of-flight scintillator detector results because of the short flight length. These characteristics of small size, large linear dynamic range, and insensitive to x-ray make the diamond detector suitable to measure the neutron yield, ion temperature, and neutron emission time.
The germanium laser might be harder to implement than previously thought
Authors: Hall Shannon
Published: June 2017

Researchers address the impact of heavy doping on the excess carrier lifetime in Ge/Si layers.
Researchers take a close look at the chemical reactions in the production of thin films on moving polymer substrates
Authors: Kim Meeri
Published: June 2017

Strong plasma-polymer interactions observed during dielectric barrier discharge, a process to create thin films at atmospheric pressure.
DNA methylation markers for diagnosis and prognosis of common cancers
Authors: Hao Xiaoke , Luo Huiyan , Krawczyk Michal , Wei Wei , Wang Wenqiu , Wang Juan , Flagg Ken , Hou Jiayi , Zhang Heng , Yi Shaohua , Jafari Maryam , Lin Danni , Chung Christopher , Caughey Bennett A. , Li Gen , Dhar Debanjan , Shi William , Zheng Lianghong , Hou Rui , Zhu Jie , Zhao Liang , Fu Xin , Zhang Edward , Zhang Charlotte , Zhu Jian-Kang , Karin Michael , Xu Rui-Hua , Zhang Kang
Published: June 2017

Significance

The ability to identify a specific cancer using minimally invasive biopsy holds great promise for improving diagnosis and prognosis. We evaluated the utility of DNA methylation profiles for differentiating tumors and normal tissues for four common cancers (lung, breast, colon, and liver) and found that they could differentiate cancerous tissue from normal tissue with >95% accuracy. This signature also correctly identified 19 of 20 breast cancer metastases and 29 of 30 colorectal cancer metastases to the liver. We report that methylation patterns can predict the prognosis and survival, with good correlation between differential methylation of CpG sites and expression of cancer-associated genes. Their findings demonstrate the utility of methylation biomarkers for the molecular characterization, diagnosis, and prognosis of cancer.
Linguistic landscape of Gezi Park protests in Turkey
Authors: Seloni Lisya , Sarfati Yusuf
Published: June 2017

Gezi Park protests that rocked Turkey in 2013 left a significant mark in the country’s collective memory and contributed to the construction of a new language of political resistance. To challenge an increasingly authoritarian government, the protesters used novel repertoires of contention, particularly political graffiti. To better understand different types of linguistic and symbolic communication tools used in the public space during Gezi Park protests and their impact on different set of audiences, this article explores the following research questions: (i) What indexical properties are used in the languages used in graffiti, and what do they mean for understanding the various audiences that the protesters engaged? (ii) What counter-narratives are created in the graffiti produced during Gezi Park protests?
Development of Electrodeposited Zn/nano-TiO2 Composite Coatings with Enhanced Corrosion Performance
Authors: Benea L , Dănăilă E
Published: June 2017

Pure zinc coatings have been found ineffective when are used in aggressive environments such as those which contain chlorides or industrial pollutants [1]. In this paper, Zn/nano-TiO2 composite coatings with various contents of TiO2 nanoparticles (diameter size of 10 nm) were prepared on low-carbon steel by electro-codeposition technique. The deposition was carried out at different cathodic potentials ranging from −1600 mV to −2100 mV for different deposition times between 5-15 min. Pure Zn coatings were also produced under the same experimental conditions for comparison. Present work aims to investigate the effects of selected electrodeposition parameters (cathodic potential, TiO2 nanoparticle concentration in the plating bath and electrodeposition time) on the corrosion behavior of electrodeposited Zn/nano-TiO2 composite obtained. The corrosion experiments were performed in natural seawater, using electrochemical methods such as open circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarization and linear polarization resistance. The results showed that the inclusion of TiO2 nanoparticles into zinc matrix lead to an improved corrosion resistance comparatively with pure zinc coatings obtained under similar conditions.
Classics and Opera
Authors: Ketterer Robert C. , Solomon Jon
Published: June 2017

The more than four hundred years of the operatic genre have produced thousands of works involving Greco-Roman plots, characters, and themes. The musical drama labeled with the imprecise term “opera” maintained an intimate relationship with the classical tradition since its inception. Late Renaissance Italian scholars and artists who created the first operas (drammi per musica) studied and imitated ancient Greek music theory and practice, mistakenly thinking that ancient poetic drama had been sung in its entirety. The result was a wholly new dramatic form. The plots of these earliest productions for the courts of north Italy (Daphne, Euridice, Orpheus, Ariadne) derived from ancient mythological literature, as did most of the lavish French lyric “tragedy” at Versailles such as Phaeton, Perseus, or Theseus. As opera developed and spread throughout Europe, it also incorporated plots and characters from ancient Greek and Roman history and epic. The Habsburg court in Vienna produced titles like The Elements of Epicurus, and The Clemency of Titus, while the commercial productions in Venice for carnival premiered Jason and Agrippina. The tension between box-office appeal of musical spectacle and a desire for effective drama on the Greek model generated an Italian operatic reform around 1700 and the resulting librettos of Metastasio on subjects like Cato in Utica, Dido Abandoned or Artaxerxes defined serious opera for two generations. The second half of the 18th century saw another reform with Gluck’s settings of Euripidean tragedies (Alcestis, Iphigenia in Aulis, Iphigenia in Tauris), and with Cherubini’s Medea, all of which remain in the modern repertoire. In the 19th century, Hector Berlioz adapted Virgil’s epic Aeneid for his Les Troyens (The Trojans), Richard Wagner infused the tragic dramaturgy of Aeschylus in his Ring tetralogy, and the setting for Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida was derived from Greco-Egyptian literary, historical, and archaeological sources. The 20th century saw the von Hofmannsthal/Strauss Elektra, Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex (in Latin), Carl Orff’s Prometheus (in ancient Greek), William Walton‘s Troilus and Cressida, and more than a half dozen operas based on the story of Medea. The new millennium has begun with ambitious stagings of Aeschylus’s Eumenides for the 2004 Athens Olympics and Europa Riconosciuta (Europa Identified) for the reopening of Teatro alla Scala.
Visuddhimagga (Buddhaghosa)
Authors: Heim Maria R.
Published: June 2017

The Visuddhimagga (Path of Purification) is the most important Pali work in the Theravada after the Pali canon, and it has, in certain contexts, superseded canonical sources as a practical handbook and systematization of doctrine and practice. The text became the structure and foundation of Theravada orthodoxy, and it remains influential in this capacity, especially as a manual of meditation, to this day. Its author, Bhadantācariya Buddhaghosa (5th century ce), is also credited with transmitting into Pali many of the commentaries (aṭṭhakathā) on the three baskets of the Pali scriptural canon (tipiṭaka), though his authorship of all of the commentaries ascribed to him has been disputed by modern scholars. The Visuddhimagga, itself described as a commentary, is one part of this larger body of scriptural exegesis and is best understood within this larger exegetical context. The scholarship on the Visuddhimagga and Buddhaghosa’s commentaries is not as developed as we might expect for such significant texts, and most of the commentaries attributed to him have not been translated into European languages.
Visual Arts, Music, and Aesthetic Experience
Authors: Greenland Fiona
Published: June 2017

Artistic fields are the spaces of activity in which art is produced, evaluated, and interpreted. Aesthetics, deriving from the Greek word for “perception,” attends to judgments of taste about artworks and other sensory objects. In sociology, aesthetic experience as a subfield developed from studies of taste and judgment and now extends to sophisticated analyses of materiality and material encounters, cultural consumption, and iconicity. As this article suggests, there is no single domain within sociology for the study of art. Sociology of art permits a diverse range of methodological and empirical approaches to the relationship between societies and cultural objects. What unites this broad area of work is the understanding that the arts and social theory are equal partners; art offers a source of “existential social knowledge that is of its own worth” (Harrington 2004, p. 3 [cited under General Overviews]). In other words, art can reveal certain aspects of society that other social phenomena cannot.
Historical GIS
Authors: Zhang Weiwei , Logan John R.
Published: June 2017

Historical GIS (HGIS) is an interdisciplinary field that integrates the tools and methods of geographic information Science (GIS) into historical research. HGIS projects and studies emphasize the role of spatial context and relationships in understanding the emergence, development, and consequences of historical events. GIS provides techniques and tools to create, manage, display, and analyze historical data. Historical researchers use GIS functions such as digitization, georeferencing, geocoding, and so on to convert spatial features that are presented on a historical paper map or in other archival documents to a digital map that can be recognized by standard GIS software. The development of databases in GIS allows historical researchers to build up a spatial-temporal geodatabase that combines the locational and spatial information with the nonspatial data pertaining to the historical event of interest for data management and manipulation. Another feature of HGIS that makes it a distinct field is the use of GIS for displaying and analyzing historical data. The use of layers in GIS makes it possible to integrate historical data from multiple sources of different time periods for pilot explorations. Researchers can choose among a wide range of geoprocessing and statistical tools to include locations and spatial and temporal relationships explicitly into the analysis of historical events. Early-21st-century development in HGIS work has begun to examine a variety of visualization methods for the incorporation of qualitative data.
Pathogenicity and Virulence of Soilborne Oomycetes on Phaseolus vulgaris
Authors: Rossman D. R. , Rojas A. , Jacobs J. L. , Mukankusi C. , Kelly J. D. , Chilvers M. I.
Published: June 2017

Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a globally important leguminous food crop. Yields can be reduced by high incidence of soilborne oomycetes that cause seedling disease. Breeders have attempted to develop Pythium root rot-resistant bean varieties; however, relationships between dry bean and most soilborne oomycete species remain uncharacterized. Oomycete species (n = 28), including Pythium spp. and Phytopythium spp., were tested in a growth chamber seedling assay at 20°C and an in vitro seed assay at 20°C and 26°C to evaluate their pathogenicity and virulence on ‘Red Hawk’ dark red kidney bean and ‘Zorro’ black bean. Root size or disease severity was significantly impacted by 14 oomycete species, though results varied by bean variety, temperature, and assay. Of these 14 pathogenic oomycete species, 11 species exhibited significant differences in DSI due to temperature on at least one bean variety. Pythium aphanidermatum, P. myriotylum, P. ultimum, P. ultimum var. sporangiiferium, and P. ultimum var. ultimum were the most virulent species in both assays, causing seed rot and pre-emergence damping-off of dry bean. Oomycete species were clustered into three groups based on symptom development: seed rot pathogens, root rot pathogens, or nonpathogens. Intraspecific variability in virulence was observed for eight of the 14 pathogenic oomycete species. Improved understanding of Pythium and Phytopythium interactions with dry bean may enable breeders and pathologists to more effectively evaluate strategies for oomycete seedling disease management.
Characterization of Fungi Associated With Wood Decay of Tree Species and Grapevine in Greece
Authors: Markakis Emmanouil A. , Kavroulakis Nektarios , Ntougias Spyridon , Koubouris Georgios C. , Sergentani Chrysi K. , Ligoxigakis Eleftherios K.
Published: June 2017

A two-year survey was conducted to identify fungi associated with wood decay in a range of tree species and grapevine. Fifty-eight fungal strains isolated from plants of 18 species showing typical wood decay symptoms were characterized by morphological, physiological, and molecular analyses. By 5.8S rRNA gene-ITS sequencing analysis, these isolates were classified into 25 distinct operational taxonomic units, including important phytopathogenic species of the phyla Pezizomycotina and Agaricomycotina, such as Fomitiporia, Inonotus, Phellinus, Inocutis, Fuscoporia, Trametes, Fusarium, Eutypa, Phaeomoniella, Phaeoacremonium, and Pleurostomophora spp. The white rot basidiomycetes Fomitiporia mediterranea (20 isolates, 34.5%) and Inonotus hispidus (6 isolates, 10.3%) were the most prevalent. Pathogenicity tests revealed for the first time that certain fungal species of the genera Fomitiporia, Inonotus, Phellinus, Pleurostomophora, and Fusarium caused wood infection of various tree species in Greece and worldwide. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of F. mediterranea as the causal agent of wood decay in pear, pomegranate, kumquat, and silk tree. This is also the first record of Inonotus hispidus, Phellinus pomaceus, Pleurostomophora richardsiae, and Fusarium solani in apple, almond, avocado, and mulberry tree, respectively, whereas P. richardsiae was associated with wood infection of olive tree for the first time in Greece. Cross pathogenicity tests with F. mediterranea strains originated from grapevine applied on other woody hosts and from olive on grapevine demonstrated partial host specificity of the fungus. The potential of F. mediterranea to transinfect hosts other than those originated, along with the host range extension of the fungus, is discussed.
Variability of cancer risk within an area: time to complement the incidence rate
Authors: Crocetti Emanuele , Giusti Francesco , Martos Carmen , Randi Giorgia , Dyba Tadeusz , Bettio Manola
Published: June 2017

The aim of this study was to show that age-adjusted cancer incidence rates for an area may not be representative of the incidence in subareas. We propose a simple measure to show the amount of geographical variability. European age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) for ‘all sites excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer’, for men, in 2014, for Nordic countries as a whole, for each country (Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway) and for their regions, were retrieved from the Nordcan with corresponding standard errors SEs. We compared the ASR for Nordic countries versus single country and single country versus specific regions. The overlapping of 95% confidence intervals was used for ASRs comparisons. As a measure of variability, we computed the range between the highest and the lowest ASR within an area and the ratio between this range and the ASR of the overall area, r/R=(range/ASR)×100. The 95% confidence interval of the ASR for Nordic countries as a whole did not overlap those of the majority of the single countries; in fact, the r/R – which provides a clue for the amount of underlying geographical variability – was rather large (57.1%). Within countries, the variability was negligible in Iceland (r/R=9.6%), whereas the highest value was found in Sweden (37.1%). The ASR does not provide any information on underlying geographical variability. Therefore, its interpretation could be misleading. When data for subareas are available, the r/R, which is simple to compute and to understand, should be added to the ASR for providing more truthful information.
Lichenoid Granulomatous Mycosis Fungoides
Authors: Garrido Maria Concepción , Maroñas-Jimenez Lidia , Ortiz Pablo Luis , Rodriguez-Peralto Jose Luis
Published: June 2017

The presence of a granulomatous reaction in cutaneous lymphomas has been described in the past, especially in mycosis fungoides (MF), where a “granulomatous” variant of the disease is well known. We describe a patient with granulomatous MF (GMF) who has been followed for 13 years presenting with erythematosquamous plaques on his fingers and toes, ankles, heels, and abdomen, which on microscopic examination showed a lichenoid granulomatous reaction admixed with a neoplastic proliferation of small-sized, atypical CD4+ lymphocytes. GMF is characterized by a granulomatous reaction intermingled with the dermal infiltrate of MF which may even reach the subcutaneous tissue. Only 7 cases of GMF in which the granulomas were located within the papillary or superficial dermis have been described to date. We report for the first time a unique case of lichenoid GMF where the granulomatous reaction obscures the interface between the epidermis and dermis. Sequential biopsies and complete phenotypic studies were necessary to get an accurate diagnosis.
Fatty Acid Synthase and Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase Are Expressed in Nodal Metastatic Melanoma But Not in Benign Intracapsular Nodal Nevi
Authors: Saab Jad , Santos-Zabala Maria Laureana , Loda Massimo , Stack Edward C. , Hollmann Travis J.
Published: June 2017

Background:

Melanoma is a potentially lethal form of skin cancer for which the current standard therapy is complete surgical removal of the primary tumor followed by sentinel lymph node biopsy when indicated. Histologic identification of metastatic melanoma in a sentinel node has significant prognostic and therapeutic implications, routinely guiding further surgical management with regional lymphadenectomy. While melanocytes in a lymph node can be identified by routine histopathologic and immunohistochemical examination, the distinction between nodal nevus cells and melanoma can be morphologically problematic. Previous studies have shown that malignant melanoma can over-express metabolic genes such as fatty acid synthase (FASN) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). This immunohistochemical study aims to compare the utility of FASN and ACC in differentiating sentinel lymph nodes with metastatic melanomas from those with benign nodal nevi in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

Materials and Methods:

Using antibodies against FASN and ACC, 13 sentinel lymph nodes from 13 patients with metastatic melanoma and 14 lymph nodes harboring benign intracapsular nevi from 14 patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma were examined. A diagnosis of nodal melanoma was based on cytologic atypia and histologic comparison with the primary melanoma. All nodal nevi were intracapsular and not trabecular. Immunohistochemistry for Melan-A, S100, human melanoma black 45 (HMB45), FASN, and ACC were performed. The percentage of melanocytes staining with HMB45, FASN, and ACC was determined and graded in 25% increments; staining intensity was graded as weak, moderate, or strong.

Results:

All metastatic melanomas tested had at least 25% tumor cell staining for both FASN and ACC. Greater than 75% of the tumor cells stained with FAS in 7/13 cases and for ACC in 5/12 cases. Intensity of staining was variable; strong staining for FASN and ACC was observed in 69% and 50% of metastatic melanoma, respectively. HMB45 was negative in 40% of nodal melanoma cases all of which stained with FASN and ACC. Capsular nevi were uniformly negative for FASN, ACC, and HMB45 immunoreactivity.

Conclusions:

All metastatic melanoma cases involving sentinel lymph nodes were positive for FASN and ACC while no staining was observed in intracapsular nevi. These findings suggest that FASN and ACC could be used as valuable ancillary stains in the distinction between nodal nevi and metastatic melanoma.
Detection of Beta–Human Papillomavirus in a Child With Polyomavirus-Associated Trichodysplasia Spinulosa
Authors: Kadam Pooja , Pan Teddy , Gates Rachelle , Rivetz Jessica , Rady Peter , Tyring Stephen , Carlson John A.
Published: June 2017

Viral associated trichodysplasia spinulosa (VATS) is a rare cutaneous eruption characterized by folliculocentric papules, keratin spicules, and alopecia associated with trichodysplasia spinulosa–associated polyomavirus (TSPyV) infection. We report a case of a 6-year-old male child who presented with a generalized papular eruption during chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The papules were tested for human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and TSPyV using PCR and gene sequencing studies. The lesions were positive for TSPyV by PCR combined with sequencing and showed high copy number with real-time PCR, and beta-papillomavirus was identified by PCR and sequencing. Immunohistochemistry revealed inner root sheath keratinocytes expressing nuclear HPV L1 capsid antigen. To our knowledge, this is the first case of concomitant productive HPV and TSPyV infection in a VATS-affected patient. The presence of HPV may be coincidental, however, further studies are needed to establish whether specific HPV genotypes influence the development of abnormal inner root sheath trichohyalin granules found in VATS.
The Histopathological Spectrum of Pseudolymphomatous Infiltrates in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Pereira Amanda , Ferrara Gerardo , Calamaro Paola , Cota Carlo , Massone Cesare , Boggio Francesca , Prieto-Torres Lucia , Cerroni Lorenzo
Published: June 2017

The occurrence of pseudolymphomatous infiltrates in cutaneous lupus erythematosus (cLE) is described mainly in lupus panniculitis and lupus tumidus/lymphocytic infiltration of the skin (Jessner–Kanof). We collected 15 cases of pseudolymphomatous cLE other than lupus panniculitis and lupus tumidus (M:F = 4:11; age range: 23–79 years; mean age: 50.9 years; median age: 57 years). Of the 15 cases, 9 (60%) were characterized by dense nodular infiltrates. Three cases (20%) showed an angiocentric pattern with cytological atypia of lymphoid cells; 2 cases (13.3%) showed a band-like infiltrate mimicking mycosis fungoides, and 1 case had mixed features of the band-like and angiocentric patterns. Clues to the histopathological diagnosis of cLE were presence of interface dermatitis, clusters of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and dermal mucin deposition. Our study shows that the spectrum of pseudolymphomatous presentations of cLE is broader than previously described, including band-like cases that may be misconstrued as mycosis fungoides, and angiocentric cases that may be misinterpreted as an aggressive lymphoma. Recognition of such cases is possible only on careful clinicopathologic correlation and requires a high level of histopathological suspicion to allow a correct diagnosis and the proper management of the patients.
DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESSION OF A LAMELLAR MACULAR HOLE WITH LAMELLAR HOLE–ASSOCIATED EPIRETINAL PROLIFERATION
Authors: Compera Denise , Cereda Matteo G. , Schumann Ricarda G. , Bottoni Ferdinando
Published: June 2017

Purpose:

To describe evolution and progression of a lamellar macular hole (LMH) with “lamellar hole–associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP)” using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence.

Methods:

Observational case report.

Results:

We report on a 63-year-old male patient demonstrating a complete history of LMH development with LHEP occurring during a follow-up period of 8 years. Presenting with a normal foveal contour and attached posterior vitreous at first visit, an LMH developed shortly after incomplete posterior vitreous detachment with vitreopapillary adhesion. On spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images, progression of the LMH including enlargement of the intraretinal cavitation and decrease in the retinal thickness were documented. An increase of LHEP was first documented 6 months after LMH evolution. One month after cataract surgery and 6 years after the first visit, a full-thickness macular hole developed that closed spontaneously after 4 weeks. Localization of LHEP had moved into the foveal defect toward the outer retinal layers. Thereafter, the LMH was stable, and the patient presented with a visual acuity of 20/25.

Conclusion:

Proper follow-up time is important for studying eyes with an LMH. Epimacular cell proliferation shows progression over time that appears to be associated with morphologic changes of the LMH including shape of the lamellar defect, amount of LHEP, and contractive properties of epiretinal tissue. The presence of LHEP was documented shortly after posterior vitreous detachment.
Cardio-respiratory Events and Inflammatory Response After Primary Immunization in Preterm Infants < 32 Weeks Gestational Age: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Ben Jmaa Wissal , Hernández Alfredo I. , Sutherland Megan R. , Cloutier Anik , Germain Nathalie , Lachance Christian , Martin Brigitte , Lebel Marc H. , Pladys Patrick , Nuyt Anne Monique
Published: June 2017

Background:

Inflammation may depress respiration in neonates. This study aimed to establish a link between postimmunization inflammation and cardio-respiratory events (CREs).

Methods:

Randomized double-blind controlled study of infants born < 32 weeks gestation receiving the 2 months vaccine, which comprised diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed combined with inactivated poliomyelitis vaccines and Haemophilus b conjugate and the pneumococcal conjugate 10-valent vaccines. Infants were randomized to ibuprofen treatment or a placebo group (n = 28/group). C-reactive protein (CRP) and prostaglandins E2 (PgE2) levels were assessed before and after immunization. CREs were recorded for 72 hours. Heart rate variability was assessed by polysomnography.

Results:

In the placebo group, immunization was associated with significantly increased CRP levels and an increase in CRE (8.6 ± 11.1 before versus 14.0 ± 12.8 after), which did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.08), and no change in PgE2. The increase in CRP was correlated with changes in CRE (r = 0.4: P < 0.05). In the ibuprofen group, immunization significantly increased CRP levels but was not associated with change in CRE (6.7 ± 7.7 before versus 6.8 ± 9.7 after) and PgE2 levels. Comparing the groups, variation in CRE (ΔCRE before versus after immunization) was significantly lower in the ibuprofen group (0.1 ± 7.9 versus 5.4 ± 10.0 ΔCRE; P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

The first immunization of infants born < 32 weeks was associated with an increase in CRP. Ibuprofen treatment significantly attenuated the variation (Δ) in CRE following first immunization in these infants but the current study could not demonstrate an impact on CRP and PgE2 levels. The impact of anti-inflammatory treatment on antigenicity must be evaluated before their clinical use aiming at reducing CRE after immunization in preterm infants.
Self-Reported Physical Activity Level in Student Athletes at Preparticipation Physical Evaluations
Authors: Valasek Amy E. , Bieganski Madison , Desrochers Jana , Young Julie
Published: June 2017

Objective:

Quantify physical activity in healthy student athletes.

Design:

Cross-sectional survey.

Setting:

Five Central Ohio schools during mass preparticipation physicals.

Participants:

Three hundred sixty-five children between the ages 10 and 18 years.

Independent Variables:

Days per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), minutes per day of MVPA, and number of activities.

Main Outcome Measures:

Minutes per week of MVPA.

Results:

One hundred eighty high school and 177 middle school subjects responded to the survey. There were 198 male and 162 female respondents. Mean age recorded 14.2 ± 1.7 years. There were no differences in activity volume based on sex. Mean minutes per week of MVPA reported 316.0 ± 231.0. High school subjects reported fewer activities than middle school cohort 2.7 ± 1.2 versus 3.2 ± 1.5 (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Only 7% of respondents reported exercising 60 minutes daily. Twenty-seven percent of respondents met minutes per week (420 minutes of MVPA) by training in large volumes on fewer days. Surprisingly, this physically active population did not meet the national standards of daily MVPA. In addition, middle school athletes reported more variety of activities compared with high school athletes surveyed which reached statistical significance. Screening for daily physical activity is important in the athletic population because young athletes may not meet daily MVPA recommendations.
The Hannover Coupler: Controlled Static Prestress in Round Window Stimulation With the Floating Mass Transducer
Authors: Müller Mathias , Salcher Rolf , Lenarz Thomas , Maier Hannes
Published: June 2017

Introduction:

Stimulation of the cochlear round window (RW) with the floating mass transducer (FMT) still suffers from large variation in clinical outcomes. Beside the geometric mismatch between RW and FMT diameter that is a known limiting factor in achieving optimal coupling between actuator and RW membrane, the applied static force between FMT and RW is usually undefined. In this study, the feasibility and efficacy of a specially designed FMT coupler permitting application of static preloads to the RW membrane to optimize FMT-RW coupling was investigated.

Methods:

Experiments were performed in fresh human cadaveric temporal bones. The “Hannover Coupler” FMT-prosthesis has a spherical tip (d=0.5 mm) at the front end and a spring at the prosthesis back that enables the application of static preloads and mobility of the FMT at the same time. Stapes footplate (SFP) displacements in response to acoustic stimulation of the tympanic membrane and to RW stimulation by the FMT were measured by a Laser-Doppler vibrometer.

Results:

Average SFP displacement responses of ASTM standard F2504-05 compliant temporal bones to RW stimulation by the “Hannover Coupler” were dependent on the applied force (∼0–100 mN) and increased by up to 25 dB at frequencies ≥ 1 kHz. When averaged at speech relevant frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz) SFP displacements showed a global maximum at RW preloads of ∼4 mN.

Conclusion:

The coupling between FMT and RW membrane was improved by the application of static RW preloads as indicated by increased SFP amplitudes to RW stimulation.
The Influence of Intraoperative Testing on Surgical Decision-making During Cochlear Implantation
Authors: Page Joshua Cody , Murphy Linda , Kennett Sarah , Trinidade Aaron , Frank Robert , Cox Matthew , Dornhoffer John L.
Published: June 2017

Objective:

To review our use of intraoperative testing during cochlear implantation (CI) and determine its impact on surgical decision-making.

Study Design:

Retrospective chart review.

Setting:

Tertiary referral center.

Patients:

A total of 197 children and adults who underwent a total of 266 primary and/or revision CI by a single surgeon from 2010 to 2015.

Intervention:

Intraoperative electrophysiologic monitoring including evoked compound action potentials and electrical impedances.

Main Outcome Measures:

Whether surgical management was changed based on intraoperative testing.

Results:

In only 2 of 266 patients (0.8%), the back-up device was used due to findings on intraoperative testing. In three patients (1.1%), X-ray was performed intraoperatively to confirm intracochlear electrode placement, which was found to be normal in all patients.

Conclusion:

Our data suggest that with respect to CI in children and adults in straightforward cases (e.g., normal anatomy, nondifficult insertion, etc.), routine intraoperative evoked compound action potentials, impedances, and imaging rarely influence surgical decision-making in our clinic and may have limited usefulness in these patients. The implications of this are discussed and a review of the literature is presented.
Diagnosis of Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence in the Presence of Concomitant Otosclerosis
Authors: Yong Michael , Zaia Erica , Westerberg Brian , Lea Jane
Published: June 2017

Objective:

To review three patients with concurrent otosclerosis and superior canal dehiscence identified before operative intervention and provide a practical diagnostic approach to this clinical scenario.

Study Design:

Retrospective patient series.

Setting:

Tertiary/quaternary referral center.

Patients:

Individuals with confirmed diagnoses of concurrent otosclerosis and superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome.

Interventions:

Detailed history and physical examinations were performed on these patients, as well as detailed audiovestibular testing and computed tomography imaging.

Main Outcome Measures:

Establishing a clear diagnosis of concurrent otosclerosis and superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome using a thorough diagnostic approach.

Results:

Three patients presented with conductive hearing loss and normal tympanic membranes. When history and physical examination yielded suspicious third window symptoms/signs, more detailed audiovestibular testing and computed tomography scan imaging were performed. All three patients were ultimately identified to have concurrent otosclerosis and superior canal dehiscence. Conservative management was the option of choice for two of these patients (trial of a hearing aid) and surgical intervention was performed to treat the otosclerosis in the remaining patient.
Ser/Thr protein kinase Bβ-NADPH oxidase 2 signaling in thromboinflammation
Authors: Li Jing , Cho Jaehyung
Published: June 2017

Purpose of review

Interactions between neutrophils and platelets contribute to the progression of thromboinflammatory disease. However, the regulatory mechanism governing these interactions is poorly understood. The present review focuses on the crucial role of Ser/Thr protein kinase B (AKT)β-NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) signaling in regulating neutrophil and platelet activation and their heterotypic interactions under thromboinflammatory conditions.

Recent findings

Growing evidence has shown that platelets, leukocytes, and blood coagulation need to be considered to treat thromboinflammatory disease in which inflammation and thrombosis occur concurrently. In addition to plasma proteins and intracellular signaling molecules, extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced from activated leukocytes could be an important factor in the pathophysiology of thromboinflammatory disease. Recent studies reveal that AKT2-NOX2 signaling has critical roles in Ca2+ mobilization, ROS generation, degranulation, and control of the ligand-binding function of cell surface molecules, thereby promoting heterotypic cell–cell interactions in thromboinflammation. These findings have provided novel insights into attractive therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of thromboinflammatory disease.

Recent discoveries concerning molecular mechanisms regulating neutrophil–platelet interactions have bridged some gaps in our knowledge of the complicated signaling pathways exacerbating thromboinflammatory conditions.
A Forensic Epidemiological Study of Homicide in Isfahan Province and Review of the Literature
Authors: Karimi Jalal , Koehler Steven A. , Karimi Roya , Soleymanpour Ali , Mohammad Kazem , Holakouie-Naieni Kourosh
Published: June 2017

The epidemic of deaths by homicide affects every society around the world and represents a major public health crisis. Detailed information on the characteristics of homicides victims from Islamic countries is limited. This article presents forensic epidemiological data on homicides in Isfahan, Iran, during 2013–2015. Isfahan has a population of more than 5 million and 69,387 deaths with 246 homicides between 2013 and 2015. Most victims were male (73%), between the ages of 15 to 29 years (39.5%), married (54%), and employed (54%). The relationship between the actor and the victims showed that 12% were married, 15% friends, 25% strangers, and 47% others or unknown. The most frequent method of homicides was by stabbing (45%), followed by firearms (23%), strangulation (14%), and blunt force trauma (7%). The top 3 methods among males were stabbing, firearms, and strangulation, whereas among females, it was stabbing, strangulation, and by other methods. There was no significant effect on homicide rates by month, weekday, or temperature. Investigators examining deaths in Muslin countries must understand and adjust for the culture, norms, and religious ideology.
How to Successfully Manage Residual Gallbladders Laparoscopically Following Open Techniques?
Authors: Xu Anan , Hu Hai , Zhao Gang , Jiao Long
Published: June 2017

Purpose:

This study aimed to explore the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic retreatment for residual gallbladders following open techniques, and outline strategies for successful reintervention.

Patients and Methods:

From January 2008 to December 2015, the clinical and follow-up data of 32 patients who underwent laparoscopic reintervention for residual gallbladders following open techniques were retrospectively analyzed and summarized.

Results:

Of all patients, 4 underwent 2 laparotomic surgeries; 6 had choledocholithiasis and underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. All procedures for residual gallbladders, except 1, were successfully completed by laparoscopy using 3 to 6 trocars. The mean operative time, mean blood loss, and duration of hospital stay were 51.9±14.6 minutes, 30 mL, and 3 to 8 days, respectively. One patient had bilious drainage, lasting up to day 8. All patients remained symptom free, and no mortality and major morbidity were observed on a mean follow-up of at least 6 months.

Conclusions:

Laparoscopic management is feasible and safe for residual gallbladders following open techniques, subject to availability of expertise with well-defined strategies.
DNA Replication Modulates R-loop Levels to Maintain Genome Stability
Authors: Hamperl Stephan , Saldivar Joshua , Bocek Michael , Cimprich Karlene A.
Published: June 2017

Conflicts between transcription and replication are a potent source of DNA damage. The transcription machinery has the potential to aggravate such conflicts by generating co-transcriptional R-loops as an additional barrier to replication fork progression. Here, we investigate the influence of conflict orientation and R-loop formation on genome stability in human cells using a defined episomal system. This approach reveals that head-on (HO) and co-directional (CD) conflicts induce distinct DNA damage responses. Unexpectedly, the replisome acts as an orientation-dependent regulator of R-loop levels, reducing R-loops in the CD orientation but promoting their formation in the HO orientation. Replication stress and deregulated origin firing increase the number of HO collisions leading to genome-destabilizing R-loops. Our findings not only uncover an intrinsic function of the replisome in R-loop homeostasis, but also suggest a mechanistic basis for genome instability associated with deregulated DNA replication, which is observed in many disease states, including cancer.
Towards a Global Framework for Estimating Acclimation and Thermal Breadth that Predicts Risk from Climate Change
Authors: Rohr Jason R , Civitello David J. , Cohen Jeremy M. , Roznik Elizabeth A. , Sinervo Barry , Dell Anthony I.
Published: June 2017

Thermal breadth, the range of body temperatures over which organisms perform well, and thermal acclimation, the ability to alter optimal performance temperature and critical thermal maximum or minimum with changing temperatures, reflect the capacity of organisms to respond to temperature variability and are thus crucial traits for coping with climate change. Although there are theoretical frameworks for predicting thermal breadths and acclimation, the predictions of these models have not been tested across taxa, latitudes, body sizes, traits, habitats, and methodological factors. Here, we address this knowledge gap using simulation modeling and empirical analyses of >2,000 acclimation strengths from >500 species using four datasets of ectotherms. After accounting for important statistical interactions, covariates, and experimental artifacts, we reveal that i) acclimation rate scales positively with body size contributing to a negative association between body size and thermal breadth across species and ii) acclimation capacity increases with body size, seasonality, and latitude (to mid-latitudinal regions) and is regularly underestimated for most organisms. Contrary to suggestions that plasticity theory and empirical work on thermal acclimation are incongruent, these findings are consistent with theory on phenotypic plasticity. We further validated our framework by demonstrating that it could predict global extinction risk to amphibian biodiversity from climate change.
Identification of a novel mutation in the APTX gene associated with ataxia-oculomotor apraxia
Authors: Inlora Jingga , Sailani M. Reza , Khodadadi Hamidreza , Teymurinezhad Ahmad , Takahashi Shinichi , Bernstein Jonathan A. , Garshasbi Masoud , Snyder Michael P.
Published: June 2017

Hereditary ataxias are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous family of disorders defined by the inability to control gait and muscle coordination. Given the nonspecific symptoms of many hereditary ataxias, precise diagnosis relies on molecular genetic testing. To this end, we conducted whole-exome sequencing (WES) on a large consanguineous Iranian family with hereditary ataxia and oculomotor apraxia. WES in five affected and six unaffected individuals resulted in the identification of a homozygous novel stop-gain mutation in the APTX gene (c.739A>T; p.Lys247*) that segregates with the phenotype. Mutations in the APTX (OMIM 606350) gene are associated with ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 1 (OMIM 208920).