bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Important Genes in the Pathogenesis of 5q- Syndrome and Their Connection with Ribosomal Stress and the Innate Immune System Pathway
Authors: Fuchs Ota
Published: February 2012

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with interstitial deletion of a segment of the long
arm of chromosome 5q [del(5q)] is characterized by bone marrow erythroid hyperplasia,
atypical megakaryocytes, thrombocythemia, refractory anemia, and low risk of progression to
acute myeloid leukemia (AML) compared with other types of MDS. The long arm of
chromosome 5 contains two distinct commonly deleted regions (CDRs). The more distal CDR
lies in 5q33.1 and contains 40 protein-coding genes and genes coding microRNAs (miR-143,
miR-145). In 5q-syndrome one allele is deleted that accounts for haploinsufficiency of these
genes. The mechanism of erythroid failure appears to involve the decreased expression of the
ribosomal protein S14 (RPS14) gene and the upregulation of the p53 pathway by ribosomal
stress. Friend leukemia virus integration 1 (Fli1) is one of the target genes of miR145.
Increased Fli1 expression enables effective megakaryopoiesis in 5q-syndrome.
Complication ofSalmonellaBacteremia in a Case of Treated Fungal Endophthalmitis
Authors: Malathi J. , Sowmiya M. , Khetan Vikas , Therese K. Lily , Madhavan H. N.
Published: February 2012

This is to report a case of bacteremia caused bySalmonella typhiin a treated unilateral fungal endogenous endophthalmitis in an 18-year-old male from one of the South Asian countries. Microbiological and molecular investigations were carried out on the eviscerated material and routine blood culture was carried out. Direct examination of eviscerated material revealed the presence of fungal filaments. However,Salmonella typhiwas isolated from both specimens, which was confirmed by Polymerase chain reaction targeting the16SrRNAgene, sequencing, and random amplification of polymorphic DNA showed that they belonged to the same clone. The presence ofSalmonellabacteremia in a treated unilateral fungal endophthalmitis, among young adult patients is rare and systemic symptoms should be investigated.
Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Responses to High-Carbohydrate and High-Fat Meals in Healthy Humans
Authors: Gregersen S. , Samocha-Bonet D. , Heilbronn L. K. , Campbell L. V.
Published: February 2012

The postprandial state is hypothesised to be proinflammatory and prooxidative, but the relative contributions of fat versus carbohydrate are unclear. Therefore, we examined inflammation and oxidative stress responses in serum and skeletal muscle before and after 1000 kcal meals, which were high in either fat or carbohydrate in 15 healthy individuals. Serum and muscle expression of IL6 was elevated 3 hours after each meal, independently of macronutrient composition (P<0.01). Serum IL18 was decreased after high-fat meal only (P<0.01). Plasma total antioxidative status and muscle Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase were decreased after high-carbohydrate meal only (P<0.05). We conclude that a high-carbohydrate meal may evoke a greater postprandial oxidative stress response, whereas both fat and carbohydrate increased IL6. We speculate that the observed increases in postprandial IL6, without increases in any other markers of inflammation, may indicate a normal IL6 response to enhance glucose uptake, similar to its role postexercise.
Chorea as the First Sign in a Patient with Elderly-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Ariizumi Yuko , Ozawa Tetsutaro , Tokutake Takayoshi , Kawachi Izumi , Hirose Masaki , Katada Shinichi , Igarashi Shuichi , Tanaka Keiko , Nishizawa Masatoyo
Published: February 2012

The case of an elderly patient who had chorea as an initial symptom of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) accompanied by antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is reported. A 68-year-old woman suddenly developed chorea of her left arm and leg. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain demonstrated a focal lesion in the right caudate head, which showed hyperintensity on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted imaging. This condition was thought to be a common form of vascular chorea, which is likely to occur in elderly individuals; however, the laboratory data of this patient finally fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of SLE and APS. Physicians should be careful in diagnosing elderly individuals simply as having a vascular chorea because this symptom can be the initial manifestation of SLE or APS.
Progress in Personalizing Chemotherapy for Bladder Cancer
Authors: Chang James S. , Lara Primo N. , Pan Chong-Xian
Published: February 2012

Platinum-based chemotherapy is commonly used for the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic bladder cancer. However, there are currently no methods to predict chemotherapy response in this disease setting. A better understanding of the biology of bladder cancer has led to developments of molecular biomarkers that may help guide clinical decision making. These biomarkers, while promising, have not yet been validated in prospective trials and are not ready for clinical applications. As alkylating agents, platinum drugs kill cancer cells mainly through induction of DNA damage. A microdosing approach is currently being tested to determine if chemoresistance can be identified by measuring platinum-induced DNA damage using highly sensitive accelerator mass spectrometry technology. The hope is that these emerging strategies will help pave the road towards personalized therapy in advanced bladder cancer.
Characterizations of Orlicz-Sobolev Spaces by Means of Generalized Orlicz-Poincaré Inequalities
Authors: Heikkinen Toni
Published: February 2012

Let Φ be anN-function. We show that a functionu∈LΦ(ℝn)belongs to the Orlicz-Sobolev spaceW1,Φ(ℝn)if and only if it satisfies the (generalized) Φ-Poincaré inequality. Under more restrictive assumptions on Φ, an analog of the result holds in a general metric measure space setting.
Reduction of Truncation Errors in Planar, Cylindrical, and Partial Spherical Near-Field Antenna Measurements
Authors: Cano-Fácila Francisco José , Pivnenko Sergey , Sierra-Castañer Manuel
Published: February 2012

A method to reduce truncation errors in near-field antenna measurements is presented. The method is based on the Gerchberg-Papoulis iterative algorithm used to extrapolate band-limited functions and it is able to extend the valid region of the calculated far-field pattern up to the whole forward hemisphere. The extension of the valid region is achieved by the iterative application of a transformation between two different domains. After each transformation, a filtering process that is based on known information at each domain is applied. The first domain is the spectral domain in which the plane wave spectrum (PWS) is reliable only within a known region. The second domain is the field distribution over the antenna under test (AUT) plane in which the desired field is assumed to be concentrated on the antenna aperture. The method can be applied to any scanning geometry, but in this paper, only the planar, cylindrical, and partial spherical near-field measurements are considered. Several simulation and measurement examples are presented to verify the effectiveness of the method.
Detection of Target ssDNA Using a Microfabricated Hall Magnetometer with Correlated Optical Readout
Authors: Hira Steven M. , Aledealat Khaled , Chen Kan-Sheng , Field Mark , Sullivan Gerard J. , Chase P. Bryant , Xiong Peng , von Molnár Stephan , Strouse Geoffrey F.
Published: February 2012

Sensing biological agents at the genomic level, while enhancing the response time for biodetection over commonly used, optics-based techniques such as nucleic acid microarrays or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), is an important criterion for new biosensors. Here, we describe the successful detection of a 35-base, single-strand nucleic acid target by Hall-based magnetic transduction as a mimic for pathogenic DNA target detection. The detection platform has low background, large signal amplification following target binding and can discriminate a single, 350 nm superparamagnetic bead labeled with DNA. Detection of the target sequence was demonstrated at 364 pM (<2 target DNA strands per bead) target DNA in the presence of 36 μM nontarget (noncomplementary) DNA (<10 ppm target DNA) using optical microscopy detection on a GaAs Hall mimic. The use of Hall magnetometers as magnetic transduction biosensors holds promise for multiplexing applications that can greatly improve point-of-care (POC) diagnostics and subsequent medical care.
A Modified Method to Generate Typical Meteorological Years from the Long-Term Weather Database
Authors: Zang Haixiang , Xu Qingshan , Du Pengwei , Ichiyanagi Katsuhiro
Published: February 2012

A modified typical meteorological year (TMY) method is proposed for generating TMY from practical measured weather data. A total of eleven weather indices and novel assigned weighting factors are applied in the processing of forming the TMY database. TMYs of 35 cities in China are generated based on the latest and accurate measured weather data (dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, wind velocity, atmospheric pressure, and daily global solar radiation) in the period of 1994–2010. The TMY data and typical solar radiation data are also investigated and analyzed in this paper, which are important in the utilizations of solar energy systems.
Conformational Search on the Lewis X Structure by Molecular Dynamic: Study of Tri- and Pentasaccharide
Authors: Khebichat N. , Nekkaz K. , Ghalem S.
Published: February 2012

Carbohydrates play vital roles in many biological processes, such as recognition, adhesion, and signalling between cells. The Lewis X determinant is a trisaccharide fragment implicated as a specific differentiation antigen, tumor antigen, and key component of the ligand for the endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule, so it is necessary or essential to determine and to know their conformational and structural properties. In this work, conformational analysis was performed using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with the AMBER10 program package in order to study the dynamic behavior of of the Lewis X trisaccharide (β-D-Gal-(1,4)-[α-L-Fuc-(1,3)]-β-D-GlcNAc-OMe) and the Lewis X pentasaccharide (β-D-Gal-(1,4)-[α-L-Fuc-(1,3)]-β-D-GlcNAc-(1,3)-β-D-Gal-(1,4)-β-D-Glu-OMe) in explicit water model at 300 K for 10 ns using the GLYCAM 06 force field.
Nonsmooth Adaptive Control Design for a Large Class of Uncertain High‐Order Stochastic Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Zhang Jian , Liu Yungang
Published: February 2012

This paper investigates the problem of the global stabilization via partial‐state feedback and adaptive technique for a class of high‐order stochastic nonlinear systems with more uncertainties/unknowns and stochastic zero dynamics. First of all, two stochastic stability concepts are slightly extended to allow the systems with more than one solution. To solve the problem, a lot of substantial technical difficulties should be overcome since the presence of severe uncertainties/unknowns, unmeasurable zero dynamics, and stochastic noise. By introducing the suitable adaptive updated law for an unknown design parameter and appropriate control Lyapunov function, and by using the method of adding a power integrator, an adaptive continuous (nonsmooth) partial‐state feedback controller without overparameterization is successfully designed, which guarantees that the closed‐loop states are bounded and the original system states eventually converge to zero, both with probability one. A simulation example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Driving Difficulties and Adaptive Strategies: The Perception of Individuals Having Sustained a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Bottari Carolina , Lamothe Marie-Pierre , Gosselin Nadia , Gélinas Isabelle , Ptito Alain
Published: February 2012

Introduction. After a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), individuals quickly resume driving. However, relatively little is known about the impact of mTBI on driving ability and, notably, on the perceived influence of postconcussive symptoms on driving. Hence, the objective of this study was to document the perception of driving abilities in individuals with mTBI.Method. Twenty-seven drivers with mTBI were interviewed to document their perception regarding their driving abilities. Both driving-related difficulties and compensatory strategies used to increase driving safety were documented. A mixed quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data was completed.Results. 93% of participants reported at least one difficulty perceived as having an impact on everyday activities. Most frequently named problems affecting driving were fatigue and reduced concentration. In addition, 74% of participants had adapted their driving or developed strategies to compensate for driving difficulties.Discussion/Conclusion. Postconcussive symptoms have repercussions on driving ability. However, people with mTBI tend to be aware of their difficulties and develop, over time, adaptive strategies. Preventive measures are thus warranted to increase health care professionals' awareness of the potential consequences of mTBI on driving ability and to promote guidelines for the safe resumption of driving after injury.
Discrete Mixed Petrov-Galerkin Finite Element Method for a Fourth-Order Two-Point Boundary Value Problem
Authors: Doss L. Jones Tarcius , Nandini A. P.
Published: February 2012

A quadrature-based mixed Petrov-Galerkin finite element method is applied to a fourth-order linear ordinary differential equation. After employing a splitting technique, a cubic spline trial space and a piecewise linear test space are considered in the method. The integrals are then replaced by the Gauss quadrature rule in the formulation itself. Optimal ordera priorierror estimates are obtained without any restriction on the mesh.
DNMT Inhibitors and HDAC Inhibitors Regulate E-Cadherin and Bcl-2 Expression in Endometrial Carcinoma in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Yi Tie-Zhong , Li Jia , Han Xu , Guo Jing , Qu Quanxin , Guo Lei , Sun Hai-Di , Tan Wen-Hua
Published: February 2012

Background: The effect of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTIs) on proliferation of endometrial cancer (EC) cells in vitro and in vivo was investigated. Methods: Changes in methylation of the CDH1 promoter in HDACI- and DNMTI-treated HEC-1-B and RL-952 EC cells were detected. Nude mice with xenografted implants of human EC HEC-1-B cells were treated with valproic acid (VPA) and decitabine (DAC) and evaluated for tumor growth, CDH1 and Bcl-2 mRNA levels. Results: DAC, VPA and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) inhibited proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest and enhanced the apoptotic index in both cell lines, DAC, VPA and SAHA upregulated E-cadherin mRNA and protein levels and downregulated Bcl-2 mRNA levels in vitro. DAC and VPA inhibited tumor growth, upregulated CDH1 mRNA and downregulated Bcl-2 mRNA levels in vivo. Conclusions: A combination of HDACIs and DNMTIs suppresses the growth of EC, which is likely mediated by upregulation of E-cadherin and downregulation of Bcl-2.
Neoadjuvant Use of Sunitinib in Locally Advanced GIST with Intolerance to Imatinib
Authors: Svetlichnaya Jana , Huyck Timothy K. , Wayne Jeffrey D. , Agulnik Mark
Published: February 2012

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) arise from precursor cells in the myenteric plexus and comprise the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Surgical resection is the mainstay of therapy for localized disease. Recurrent, unresectable, and metastatic tumors are associated with a poor prognosis given their resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiation. Advances in the understanding of molecular pathophysiology of GIST and the use of targeted small-molecule therapies have resulted in dramatic increases in survival. Preliminary data have demonstrated benefits in using imatinib in a neoadjuvant setting; however, there are no studies to date analyzing the use of neoadjuvant sunitinib in primary advanced GIST. Here we present the case of a patient with locally advanced primary GIST who developed severe toxicity on imatinib therapy and was successfully treated with sunitinib in the neoadjuvant setting to achieve complete surgical resection.
Exercise Dependence of N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Patients with Precapillary Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Grachtrup Sabine , Brügel Mathias , Pankau Hans , Halank Michael , Wirtz Hubert , Seyfarth Hans-Jürgen
Published: February 2012

Background: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is secreted by cardiac ventricular myocytes upon pressure and volume overload and is a prognostic marker to monitor the severity of precapillary pulmonary hypertension and the extent of right heart failure. Objectives: The impact of physical exercise on NT-proBNP levels in patients with left heart disease was demonstrated previously. No data regarding patients with isolated right heart failure and the influence of acute exercise on NT-proBNP serum levels exist. Methods: Twenty patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension were examined. Hemodynamic parameters were measured during right heart catheterization. Serum NT-proBNP of patients was measured at rest, after a 6-min walking test, during ergospirometry and during recovery, all within 7 h. Significant differences in sequential NT-proBNP values, relative changes compared to values at rest and the correlation between NT-proBNP and obtained parameters were assessed. Results: At rest, the mean serum level of NT-proBNP was 1,278 ± 998 pg/ml. The mean level of NT-proBNP at maximal exercise was increased (1,592 ± 1,219 pg/ml), whereas serum levels decreased slightly during recovery (1,518 ± 1,170 pg/ml). The relative increase of serum NT-proBNP during exercise correlated with pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.45; p = 0.026) and cardiac output (r = –0.5; p = 0.015). Conclusions: In this study, we demonstrated acute changes in NT-proBNP levels due to physical exercise in a small group of patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension. Our results also confirm the predominant usefulness of NT-proBNP as an intraindividual parameter of right heart load.
Alzheimer’s Disease in the Retina: Imaging Retinal Aβ Plaques for Early Diagnosis and Therapy Assessment
Authors: Koronyo Yosef , Salumbides Brenda C. , Black Keith L. , Koronyo-Hamaoui Maya
Published: February 2012

Background: Definite Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnosis at early stages is vital for targeting intervention, yet currently unavailable. Noninvasive detection of the pathological hallmark, amyloid-β protein (Aβ) plaques, is limited in the brain. However, the existence of Aβ plaques in the retina, possibly at presymptomatic stages, may improve early detection of AD. Objective: To summarize clinical and preclinical evidence showing that the retina, an accessible part of the central nervous system, displays abnormalities in AD, especially Aβ plaque pathology. The ability to monitor in vivo retinal plaque dynamics in response to immunotherapy is also assessed. Methods: Literature analysis of retinal AD pathology and imaging is provided. In our studies, systemic curcumin is administered to enable monitoring of retinal Aβ plaques in live APPSWE/PS1ΔE9 transgenic mice by optical imaging. Results: Visual and retinal abnormalities, including early manifestation of retinal Aβ plaque pathology, have been documented in AD patients and animal models. In mouse models, retinal Aβ plaques accumulate with age and decrease in response to immunotherapy, consistent with brain pathology. Here, we demonstrate that retinal plaques can be individually monitored in real time following glatiramer acetate immunization. Conclusion: Translation of noninvasive retinal-plaque imaging to humans could eventually facilitate early and accurate AD diagnosis and therapy assessment.
Cortical Brain Biopsy in Long-Term Prognostication of 468 Patients with Possible Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Authors: Leinonen Ville , Koivisto Anne M. , Alafuzoff Irina , Pyykkö Okko T. , Rummukainen Jaana , von und zu Fraunberg Mikael , Jääskeläinen Juha E. , Soininen Hilkka , Rinne Jaakko , Savolainen Sakari
Published: February 2012

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) can be alleviated by cerebrospinal fluid shunting but the differential diagnosis and patient selection are challenging. Intraventricular intracranial pressure monitoring as part of the diagnostic workup as well as shunting enable to obtain cortical brain biopsies to detect amyloid-β (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau (HPτ), the hallmark lesions of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In possible NPH, Aβ alone indicates an increased risk of AD and when present with HPτ probable AD, but the effect of those brain lesions on survival is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of brain biopsy for the long-term outcome of possible NPH. Between 1991 and 2006, the Neurosurgery Department of the Kuopio University Hospital evaluated 468 patients for possible NPH by intraventricular intracranial pressure monitoring and frontal cortical brain biopsy immunostained against Aβ and HPτ. All patients were followed up until the end of 2008 (n = 201) or death (n = 267) with a median follow-up of 4.6 years (range 0–17). Logistic regression analysis with Cox models was applied. Out of the 468 cases, Aβ was detected in 197 (42%) cortical biopsies, and together with HPτ in 44 (9%). Aβ alone indicated increased risk of AD and with HPτ probable AD, but it did not affect survival. Vascular aetiology was the most frequent cause of death. Cortical biopsy findings indicate that NPH is at present a heterogeneous syndrome and has notable overlapping with AD. Brain biopsy did not predict survival but may open a novel research window to study the pathobiology of neurodegeneration.
Contribution of Kunitz Protease Inhibitor and Transmembrane Domains to Amyloid Precursor Protein Homodimerization
Authors: Ben Khalifa N. , Tyteca D. , Courtoy P.J. , Renauld J.C. , Constantinescu S.N. , Octave J.N. , Kienlen-Campard P.
Published: February 2012

Background: The two major isoforms of the human amyloid precursor protein (APP) are APP695 and APP751. They differ by the insertion of a Kunitz-type protease inhibitor (KPI) sequence in the extracellular domain of APP751. APP-KPI isoforms are increased in Alzheimer’s disease brains, and they could be associated with disease progression. Recent studies have shown that APP processing to Aβ is regulated by homodimerization, which involves both extracellular and juxtamembrane/transmembrane (JM/TM) regions. Objective: Our aim is to understand the mechanisms controlling APP dimerization and the contribution of the ectodomain and JM/TM regions to this process. Methods: We used bimolecular fluorescence complementation approaches coupled to fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis to measure the dimerization level of different APP isoforms and APP C-terminal fragments (C99) mutated in their JM/TM region. Results: APP751 was found to form significantly more homodimers than APP695. Mutation of dimerization motifs in the TM domain of APP or C99 did not significantly affect fluorescence complementation. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the KPI domain plays a major role in APP dimerization. They set the basis for further investigation of the relation between dimerization, metabolism and function of APP.
Predictors of Adverse Outcome in Patients Hospitalised for Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Matkovic Zinka , Huerta Arturo , Soler Nestor , Domingo Rebeca , Gabarrús Albert , Torres Antoni , Miravitlles Marc
Published: February 2012

Background: It is crucial to identify risk factors for poor evolution of patients admitted to hospital with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in order to provide adequate intensive therapy and closer follow-up. Objectives: To identify predictors of adverse outcomes in patients hospitalised for exacerbation of COPD. Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted in patients admitted for exacerbation of COPD. Demographic and clinical parameters were evaluated, including different multidimensional prognostic scores. Adverse outcomes included the following: death during hospitalisation or 1-month follow-up, intensive care unit admission, invasive or non-invasive mechanical ventilation, prolonged hospitalisation (>11 days) and COPD-related emergency visit or readmission within 1 month after discharge. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. Results: Of 155 patients included, an adverse outcome occurred in 69 (45%). Patients with an adverse outcome had lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (p = 0.004) and more frequent exacerbations (p = 0.011), more frequently used oxygen at home (p = 0.042) and presented with lower pH (p < 0.001), lower ratio of arterial oxygen pressure to the fraction of inspired oxygen (p = 0.006), higher arterial carbon dioxide pressure (p < 0.001) and a worse score on several prognostic indices at admission. Independent predictors of adverse outcome were exacerbation of COPD in the previous year [odds ratio 3.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–9.9; p = 0.004], hypercapnia (odds ratio 9.4, 95% CI 3.7–23.6; p < 0.001) and hypoxaemia (odds ratio 4.3, 95% CI 1.5–12.6; p = 0.008). In the presence of all three characteristics, the probability of an adverse outcome was 95%, while hypercapnia was the strongest prognostic factor with a risk of 54%. Conclusions: Patients with previous exacerbation of COPD, hypercapnia and hypoxaemia had the highest risk of an unfavourable evolution. The calculation of prognostic indices did not provide additional discriminative power.
Effect of Daily Consumption of Probiotic Yogurt on Oxidative Stress in Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Asemi Zatollah , Jazayeri Shima , Najafi Mohammad , Samimi Mansoreh , Mofid Vahid , Shidfar Farzad , Shakeri Hossein , Esmaillzadeh Ahmad
Published: February 2012

Background: Due to the enhanced oxygen requirement of the mitochondria-rich placenta primarily during the third trimester, pregnancy is associated with elevated levels of oxidative stress. This study was designed to determine the effects of daily consumption of probiotic yogurt on oxidative stress among Iranian pregnant women. Methods: This randomized single-blind controlled clinical trial was performed among 70 pregnant women, singleton primigravida, aged 18-30 in their third trimester. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups to consume 200 g/day of either conventional yogurt (n = 33) or probiotic yogurt (n = 37) for 9 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after a 9-week intervention to measure oxidative stress parameters. Results: Consumption of probiotic yogurt resulted in increased erythrocyte glutathione reductase (GR) levels as compared to the conventional yogurt (p = 0.01). Despite the significant effect of probiotic yogurt consumption on plasma glutathione (67.9 µmol/l, p = 0.01), erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (163 mmol/min/ml, p = 0.04) and serum 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine levels (-74.3 ng/ml, p = 0.04), no significant differences were found between the two yogurts in terms of their effects on the mentioned parameters. Conclusion: Consumption of probiotic yogurt among pregnant women resulted in increased levels of erythrocyte GR as compared to the conventional yogurt, but could not affect other indices of oxidative stress.
Naturally Occurring Cutaneous Anthrax: Antibiotic Treatment and Outcome
Authors: Kayabas U. , Karahocagil M.K. , Ozkurt Z. , Metan G. , Parlak E. , Bayindir Y. , Kalkan A. , Akdeniz H. , Parlak M. , Simpson A.J.H. , Doganay M.
Published: February 2012

Objectives: Cutaneous anthrax (CA) is the most common clinical presentation in human anthrax, but the duration of antibiotic therapy in naturally occurring CA is controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of patients receiving antibiotic treatment for either 3-5 days (group 1) or 7-10 days (group 2) in uncomplicated CA. Methods: A total of 66 patients were enrolled; 29 (44%) in group 1 and 37 (56%) in group 2. Infections were classified as mild (n = 22, 33%) or severe (n = 44, 67%) CA. Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in symptom resolution time, fever clearance time, healing of lesions, development and healing of eschars, requirement for surgical intervention or the development of complications. Both edema resolution time and duration of hospital stay were longer in group 2. There were no therapeutic failures, relapses or deaths in either group. Steroid therapy was used in 32% of patients with severe CA, but a beneficial effect on resolution of edema was not demonstrated. Conclusions: These results suggest that short-course antibiotic therapy is as effective as standard-duration therapy in uncomplicated CA and that steroid therapy may not be effective.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers and Proximity to Diagnosis in Preclinical Familial Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Ringman John M. , Coppola Giovanni , Elashoff David , Rodriguez-Agudelo Yaneth , Medina Luis D. , Gylys Karen , Cummings Jeffrey L. , Cole Greg M.
Published: February 2012

Background/Aims: Biological markers of utility in tracking Alzheimer’s disease (AD) during the presymptomatic prodromal phase are important for prevention studies. Changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of 42-amino-acid β-amyloid (Aβ42), total tau protein (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau at residue 181 (p-tau181) during this state are incompletely characterized. Methods: We measured CSF markers in 13 carriers of familial AD (FAD) mutations that are fully penetrant for causing AD (PSEN1 and APP) and in 5 non-mutation-carrying family members. Results: Even among the entirely presymptomatic mutation carriers (n = 9), Aβ42 was diminished (388.7 vs. 618.4 pg/ml, p = 0.004), and t-tau (138.5 vs. 50.5 pg/ml, p = 0.002) and p-tau181 (71.7 vs. 24.6 pg/ml, p = 0.003) were elevated. There was a negative correlation between Aβ42 levels and age relative to the family-specific age of dementia diagnosis. Conclusions: Our data are consistent with a decline in CSF Aβ42 levels occurring at least 20 years prior to clinical dementia in FAD.
Nomograms for Prognostication of Outcome in Patients with Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Carcinoma Undergoing Definitive Chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Suzuki Akihiro , Xiao Lianchun , Hayashi Yuki , Blum Mariela A. , Welsh James W. , Lin Steven H. , Lee Jeffrey H. , Bhutani Manoop S. , Weston Brian , Maru Dipen M. , Rice David C. , Swisher Stephen G. , Hofstetter Wayne L. , Erasmus Jeremy , Ajani Jaffer A.
Published: February 2012

Introduction: Level-1 evidence for definitive chemoradiotherapy (bimodality therapy or BM therapy) has been established for patients with esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers (EGEJC) who otherwise do not qualify for surgery; however, tools to estimate individual patient prognosis are unavailable. We used a number of clinical pre- and post-treatment parameters to establish two nomograms: for overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). Methods: From 2002 through 2010, 257 consecutive patients with EGEJC who received BM therapy and had pre- and post-treatment positron emission tomography (PET) and post-treatment endoscopic biopsies among other assessments were analyzed from a prospectively maintained database. Standard statistical methods were used to generate the nomograms. Results: None of the 257 patients underwent surgery. Persistent or recurrent cancer was documented in 187 (72.8%) patients. The estimated median survival duration for all 257 patients was 21.1 months (95% CI, 18.9-27.1) and the median RFS duration was 11.6 months (95% CI, 9.43-15.0). After BM therapy, 155 (60.3%) patients achieved a clinical complete response (cCR). In multivariate analyses, maximum initial standardized uptake value and cCR were independent prognostic variables for OS (p = 0.038, p < 0.001). Nomogram concordance indices of 0.70 for OS and 0.77 for RFS were established by 200 cycles of bootstrap resampling for each of the two outcomes. Conclusion: Our data suggest that, in patients with EGEJC, pre- and post-treatment clinical parameters contribute to the establishment of prognostic nomograms of OS and RFS. Upon validation, these nomograms could prove useful in the clinic to individualize therapy.
Breast Cancers Detected by Breast MRI Screening and Ultrasound in Asymptomatic Asian Women: 8 Years of Experience in Taiwan
Authors: Cheng Yu-Chen , Wu Nai-Yuan , Ko James S. , Lin Po-Wei , Lin Wei-Chan , Juang Shiow-Jen , Tsai Tsung-Tsung , Chang Cheng-Yen , Chen Jeon-Hor , Cheng Hui-Cheng
Published: February 2012

Background: This study investigated one-stop breast screening combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) in asymptomatic Asian women. Methods: 3,586 asymptomatic women (mean age, 45.3 years) were retrospectively analyzed by breast MRI followed by US. US-guided biopsy was performed when the MRI-detected lesion was confirmed by US. When the lesion was not detected on the initial US, a second-look US guided by MRI findings was performed. Then biopsy was done. MRI-positive and US-negative patients were followed up according to MRI lesion size, MRI lesion morphology, and mammographic diagnosis. Results: In total, 115 subjects had suspicious malignant lesions and received US-guided biopsy, and 47 malignant lesions, including 35 invasive cancers and 12 carcinoma in situ (CIS) lesions, were diagnosed. More than half (22/35, 63%) of the women with invasive cancer were <50 years of age, and 27 (57.4%) of the 47 cancer cases had early breast cancers. Two invasive cancers (5.7%) and 7 CIS lesions (58.3%) were found at the second-look US. The overall cancer incidence was 1.31% (47/3,586) and increased to 2.2% (78/3,586) if precancerous lesions were included. Subjects aged 41-50 years had the highest incidence of cancer detection (1.97%). Five MRI and US-negative cases had cancers found 1 year after the screening. Conclusions: The results from the one-stop breast screening in this study showed that combining MRI and US is an efficient multimodality tool for screening asymptomatic Asian women in a metropolitan area of Taiwan who had concerns about the diagnosis and radiation of mammography.
Vitamin D in Relation to Myocardial Structure and Function after Eight Years of Follow-Up: The Hoorn Study
Authors: van Ballegooijen A.J. , Snijder M.B. , Visser M. , van den Hurk K. , Kamp O. , Dekker J.M. , Nijpels G. , Stehouwer C.D.A. , Henry R.M.A. , Paulus W.J. , Brouwer I.A.
Published: February 2012

Background and Aims: To investigate associations between baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and myocardial structure and function after 8 years of follow-up in older Dutch subjects. Methods: We included 256 subjects of the Hoorn Study, a population-based cohort. They underwent a standardized 2-dimensional echocardiogram at baseline between 2000 and 2001, and again between 2007 and 2009. We studied the association of 25(OH)D quartiles with echocardiographic measures of the left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left ventricular systolic function and markers of diastolic function using linear regression analyses. Results: At baseline, subjects had a mean age of 67.4 ± 5.2 years and 41.4% had prior cardiovascular disease (CVD). Low serum 25(OH)D levels were only associated with higher LVMI at 8-year follow-up in subjects without prior CVD and in subjects with low kidney function (median estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤77.5 ml/min/1.73m2). The associations attenuated after adjustments for parathyroid hormone (PTH), which was associated with higher LVMI (g/m2.7) in subjects with low kidney function (regression coefficient highest quartile 6.3, 95% CI: 0.2, 12.5). Conclusion: This study showed no strong associations of 25(OH)D with myocardial structure and function. However, PTH - a possible modifiable mediator in the relation between 25(OH)D and myocardial structure - was positively associated with LVMI in subjects with low kidney function.
A Prevalent Y;15 Translocation in the Ethiopian Beta Israel Community in Israel
Authors: Chen-Shtoyerman R. , Josefsberg Ben-Yehoshua S. , Nissani R. , Rosensaft J. , Appelman Z.
Published: February 2012

We describe 7 cases of abnormal karyotypes involving chromosomes Y and 15 in Ethiopian Beta Israel patients: 46,XX, der(15)t(Y;15)(q12;p12) and 46,XY,der(15)t(Y;15)(q12;p12). Six cases were incidentally found in amniocentesis performed for various indications; the indication for karyotyping in 1 case was recurrent abortions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this translocation in a specific ethnic group. We conclude that the derivative chromosome 15 with chromosome Y is probably a normal variant in Ethiopian Beta Israel occurring at an estimated frequency of 4/74 (5.4%). The prenatal diagnosis of this translocation in this population probably does not require further parental testing.
Molecular Insights into X;BTA5 Chromosome Rearrangements in the Tribe Antilopini (Bovidae)
Authors: Cernohorska H. , Kubickova S. , Vahala J. , Rubes J.
Published: February 2012

For a clade that includes Antilope, Gazella,Nanger and Eudorcas (Antilopinae), X;BTA5 translocation is a synapomorphy. Using a combination of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes and polymerase chain reaction techniques, we provide (i) the first insight into the X;BTA5 architecture which differs in the species under study: Antilope cervicapra (genus Antilope), Gazella leptoceros (genus Gazella) and Nanger dama ruficollis (genus Nanger), (ii) determination of interstitial satellite DNA at the X;BTA5 junctions, and (iii) determination of repetitive sequences occupying constitutive heterochromatin of Xp arms in the studied species. The distribution of 2 repetitive DNA families in the centromeric regions of all chromosomes has been investigated by FISH with probes representing satellite I and satellite II DNA in all studied species. In this context, we discuss a markedly smaller centromere in the BTA5 (Y2) unfused chromosomes in males in the XY1Y2 determining system in comparison with other acrocentrics. An analysis of karyotypic data described in current published studies revealed a disparity with the data determined by FISH. In this report, we document chromosomal fusions in the 3 species mentioned resulting from FISH with painting probes prepared from cattle (Bos taurus). The number and chromosomal location of nucleolus organizer regions were determined by FISH. In the present study, we emphasize the importance of chromosomal rearrangement verification, particularly, if they are used for phylogenetic analysis.
Expression Levels of Transcribed Ultraconserved Regions uc.73 and uc.388 Are Altered in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Sana J. , Hankeova S. , Svoboda M. , Kiss I. , Vyzula R. , Slaby O.
Published: February 2012

Objectives: The development of colorectal cancer (CRC) is characterized by multiple genetic alterations. Transcribed ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs) are a subset of 481 sequenc es longer than 200 bp, which are absolutely conserved between orthologous regions of human, rat and mouse genomes, and are actively transcribed. It has recently been proven in cancer systems that differentially expressed T-UCRs could alter the functional characteristics of malignant cells. Genome-wide profiling revealed that T-UCRs have distinct signatures in human leukemia and carcinoma. Methods: In our study, we examined the expression levels of uc.43, uc.73, uc.134, uc.230, uc.339, uc.388 and uc.399 in 54 samples of primary colorectal carcinomas and 15 samples of non-tumoral adjacent tissues by real-time PCR. T-UCR expression levels were also correlated with commonly used clinicopathological features of CRC. Results: Expression levels of uc.73 (p = 0.0139) and uc.388 (p = 0.0325) were significantly decreased in CRC tissue, and uc.73 indicated a positive correlation with overall survival (p = 0.0315). The lower expression of uc.388 was associated with the distal location of CRC (p = 0.0183), but no correlation of any evaluated T-UCR with clinical stage, grade and tumor diameter was observed. Conclusion: Our preliminary results suggest that uc.73 and uc.388 could be potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in CRC patients.
Circulation
Editors' Picks
Authors:   The Editors
Published: February 2012

The following articles are being highlighted as part of
Circulation's
Topic Review series. This series will summarize the most important manuscripts, as selected by the editors, published in
Circulation
and the
Circulation
subspecialty journals. The studies included in this article represent the most read manuscripts published on the topic of coronary care in 2010 and 2011.
Modality and Negation: An Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Morante Roser , Sporleder Caroline
Published: February 2012

Traditionally, most research in NLP has focused on propositional aspects of meaning. To truly understand language, however, extra-propositional aspects are equally important. Modality and negation typically contribute significantly to these extra-propositional meaning aspects. Although modality and negation have often been neglected by mainstream computational linguistics, interest has grown in recent years, as evidenced by several annotation projects dedicated to these phenomena. Researchers have started to work on modeling factuality, belief and certainty, detecting speculative sentences and hedging, identifying contradictions, and determining the scope of expressions of modality and negation. In this article, we will provide an overview of how modality and negation have been modeled in computational linguistics.
Are You Sure That This Happened? Assessing the Factuality Degree of Events in Text
Authors: Saurí Roser , Pustejovsky James
Published: February 2012

Identifying the veracity, or factuality, of event mentions in text is fundamental for reasoning about eventualities in discourse. Inferences derived from events judged as not having happened, or as being only possible, are different from those derived from events evaluated as factual. Event factuality involves two separate levels of information. On the one hand, it deals with polarity, which distinguishes between positive and negative instantiations of events. On the other, it has to do with degrees of certainty (e.g., possible, probable), an information level generally subsumed under the category of epistemic modality. This article aims at contributing to a better understanding of how event factuality is articulated in natural language. For that purpose, we put forward a linguistic-oriented computational model which has at its core an algorithm articulating the effect of factuality relations across levels of syntactic embedding. As a proof of concept, this model has been implemented in De Facto, a factuality profiler for eventualities mentioned in text, and tested against a corpus built specifically for the task, yielding an F1of 0.70 (macro-averaging) and 0.80 (micro-averaging). These two measures mutually compensate for an over-emphasis present in the other (either on the lesser or greater populated categories), and can therefore be interpreted as the lower and upper bounds of the De Facto's performance.
Did It Happen? The Pragmatic Complexity of Veridicality Assessment
Authors: de Marneffe Marie-Catherine , Manning Christopher D. , Potts Christopher
Published: February 2012

Natural language understanding depends heavily on assessing veridicality—whether events mentioned in a text are viewed as happening or not—but little consideration is given to this property in current relation and event extraction systems. Furthermore, the work that has been done has generally assumed that veridicality can be captured by lexical semantic properties whereas we show that context and world knowledge play a significant role in shaping veridicality. We extend the FactBank corpus, which contains semantically driven veridicality annotations, with pragmatically informed ones. Our annotations are more complex than the lexical assumption predicts but systematic enough to be included in computational work on textual understanding. They also indicate that veridicality judgments are not always categorical, and should therefore be modeled as distributions. We build a classifier to automatically assign event veridicality distributions based on our new annotations. The classifier relies not only on lexical features like hedges or negations, but also on structural features and approximations of world knowledge, thereby providing a nuanced picture of the diverse factors that shape veridicality.

“All I know is what I read in the papers”

—Will Rogers
Iconoclasm Dictionary
Authors: Taussig Michael
Published: February 2012

This iconoclastic essay/talk/performance about iconoclasm was influenced by the “Critical Dictionary” in Bataille's Documents magazine and is illustrated with drawings made on a flight from Austin to New York City.
On Empathy, Optimism, and Beautiful Play at the First African World Cup
Authors: Larlham Daniel
Published: February 2012

Football as art? Football as culture? The 2010 World Cup supplied an aesthetically galvanizing spectacle and a global performance of South African identity.
So You Think You Can Dance Does Dance Studies
Authors: Elswit Kate
Published: February 2012

The extended choreography of the reality television dance competition So You Think You Can Dance teaches its viewers how to engage in a different kind of spectatorship.
‘(World) risk society’ or ‘new rationalities of risk’? A critical discussion of Ulrich Beck’s theory of reflexive modernity
Authors: Rasborg Klaus
Published: February 2012

This paper calls attention to some basic problems and inner contradictions in the German sociologist Ulrich Beck’s theory of the ‘(world) risk society’ or reflexive (second) modernity. A main thread in the critique is that of addressing the theoretical ambiguities that seem to characterize Beck’s at the same time ‘social constructivist’ and ‘realist’ notion of risk – ambiguities that seem to be repeated on the one hand in Beck’s view on the relation between knowledge and unawareness in reflexive modernity and on the other hand in his view on the role of the mass media in the ‘(world) risk society’. Moreover, Beck’s notions of second modernity, reflexivity, rationality and critique are critically examined. With the alternative positions discussed in the paper – represented by Jeffrey C. Alexander, Niklas Luhmann and Mitchell Dean – some indications are given as to how one might fruitfully elaborate on the problem of risk. Thus, rather than a mainly technology-driven new type of social reality, the ‘(world) risk society’ could perhaps better be seen as indicating a changing cultural self-understanding of late modern society, a new ‘semantics of crisis', or the emergence of new forms of governmentality in the contemporary welfare state. In conclusion, some indications are given as to how an analysis of more specific ‘risk logics' or ‘rationalities' could be elaborated on, and a terminology that reflects this more differentiated approach to risk in late modern society is suggested.
From substantive to negative universalism
Authors: Weymans Wim , Hetzel Andreas
Published: February 2012

This article shows how Jürgen Habermas and Claude Lefort try to explain the relationship between universality and particularity in modern democratic societies, politics and civil society. It will demonstrate that Habermas defends a substantive kind of universality that is opposed to particular positions and thus to real politics. This article further argues that Lefort’s lesser known theory of negative universality is better at combining a universal and a particular perspective. It claims that where Habermas requires citizens to transform their particular interests, Lefort emphasizes that individual actors should acknowledge their particular position and interests when invoking universal principles. The article further argues that their disagreement leads to a different interpretation of ideology, politics, power, civil society, human rights, popular sovereignty, elections and the state.