bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Sargassum fluitans Borgesen Ethanol Extract Exhibits a Hepatoprotective Effect In Vivo in Acute and Chronic Liver Damage Models
Authors: Quintal-Novelo Carlos , Rangel-Méndez Jorge , Ortiz-Tello Ángel , Graniel-Sabido Manlio , Vaca Rebeca Pérez-Cabeza de , Moo-Puc Rosa
Published: December 2018

One of the leading causes of death worldwide, cirrhosis, is a liver condition characterized by chronic necrosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Hepatoprotective compounds, such as antioxidants, can prevent fibrosis. Macroalgae (seaweed) contain high amounts of antioxidant compounds and are plentiful; indeed, species such as Sargassum fluitans Borgesen (Phaeophyceae) carpet many beaches in the Caribbean Basin. An in vivo assay was done evaluating the possible hepatoprotective effect of a Sargassum fluitans ethanol extract. Two murine liver damage models were employed: acetaminophen (APAP) in Balb/c mice to induce acute damage; carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in Wistar rats to induce chronic damage. Serum liver enzyme levels and relative liver weight were measured, and histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses of liver tissue sections were done. Both APAP and CCl4 significantly raised serum enzyme marker enzymes. Administration of 50 mg/kg S. Fluitans ethanol extract reduced this APAP- and CCl4-induced elevation to normal levels. This effect was corroborated by the extract’s inhibition of inflammation and fibrosis in liver tissue observed in the histopathological analysis. The analyzed S. fluitans ethanol extract exhibited an in vivo hepatoprotective effect in acute and chronic liver injury models.
Online Identification of Distribution Line Parameters by PMUs under Accuracy, Positive Sequence, and Noise Considerations
Authors: Al Khabbaz Mustafa M. , Abido Mohamed A.
Published: December 2018

This paper proposes an inaccuracy mitigation measure to reduce the error associated with distribution line parameters identification. Additionally, it introduces the concept of positive sequence quantities for determining the line resistance, reactive inductance, and shunt admittance. The positive sequence-based analysis is required for asymmetrical related studies such as unbalanced fault analysis. The paper, also, includes the consideration of noisy distribution networks. It compares the performance of three line parameters identification techniques by using different statistical measures. A total of 12,960 different case studies are simulated and analyzed under six main loading scenarios and four categories with changing line parameters. The line parameters are calculated online using voltage and current signals obtained from phasor measurement units (PMUs) placed at the line two terminals. Finally, the study outcomes and the associated recommendations have been summarized for future works considerations.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Is Promising to Detect Iliac Artery Flow Limitations in Athletes: A Pilot Study
Authors: van Hooff Martijn , Schep Goof , Meijer Eduard , Bender Mart , Savelberg Hans
Published: December 2018

Endurance cyclists have a substantial risk to develop flow limitations in the iliac arteries during their career. These flow limitations are due to extreme hemodynamic stress which may result in functional arterial kinking and/or intravascular lesions. Early diagnosis may improve outcome and could prevent the necessity for surgical vascular repair. However, current diagnostic techniques have unsatisfactory sensitivity and cannot be applied during exercise. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has shown great diagnostic potential in peripheral vascular disease and might bring a solution since it measures tissue oxygenation in real time during and after exercise. This report describes the first experiences of the application of NIRS in the vastus lateralis muscle during and after maximal graded cycling exercise in ten healthy participants and in three patients with flow limitations due to (1) subtle functional kinking, (2) an intravascular lesion, and (3) severe functional kinking. The results are put into perspective based on an empirically fitted model. Delayed recovery, showing clearly different types of patterns of tissue reoxygenation after exercise, was found in the affected athletes compared with the healthy participants. In the patients that had kinking of the arteries, tissue reoxygenation was clearly more delayed if NIRS was measured in provocative position with flexed hip. In this pilot experiment, clearly distinctive reoxygenation patterns are observed during recovery consistent with severity of flow limitation, indicating that NIRS is a promising diagnostic tool to detect and grade arterial flow limitations in athletes. Our findings may guide research and optimization of NIRS for future clinical application.
The Inflammatory Response to Enterotoxigenic E. coli and Probiotic E. faecium in a Coculture Model of Porcine Intestinal Epithelial and Dendritic Cells
Authors: Loss Henriette , Aschenbach Jörg R. , Tedin Karsten , Ebner Friederike , Lodemann Ulrike
Published: December 2018

The gut epithelium constitutes an interface between the intestinal contents and the underlying gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) including dendritic cells (DC). Interactions of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) and resident DC are characterized by bidirectional crosstalk mediated by various factors, such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). In the present study, we aimed (1) to model the interplay of both cell types in a porcine in vitro coculture consisting of IEC (cell line IPEC-J2) and monocyte-derived DC (MoDC) and (2) to assess whether immune responses to bacteria are altered because of the interplay between IPEC-J2 cells and MoDC. With regard to the latter, we focused on the inflammasome pathway. Here, we propose caspase-13 as a promising candidate for the noncanonical inflammasome activation in pigs. We conducted challenge experiments with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and probiotic Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) NCIMB 10415. As potential mediators of IEC/DC interactions, TGF-β and TSLP were selected for analyses. Cocultured MoDC showed attenuated ETEC-induced inflammasome-related and proinflammatory interleukin (IL)-8 reactions compared with MoDC monocultures. Caspase-13 was more strongly expressed in IPEC-J2 cells cocultured with MoDC and upon ETEC incubation. We found that IPEC-J2 cells and MoDC were capable of releasing TSLP. The latter cells secreted greater amounts of TSLP when cocultured with IPEC-J2 cells. TGF-β was not modulated under the present experimental conditions in either cell types. We conclude that, in the presence of IPEC-J2 cells, porcine MoDC exhibited a more tolerogenic phenotype, which might be partially regulated by autocrine TSLP production. Noncanonical inflammasome signaling appeared to be modulated in IPEC-J2 cells. Our results indicate that the reciprocal interplay of the intestinal epithelium and GALT is essential for promoting balanced immune responses.
Acid-Induced Downregulation of ASS1 Contributes to the Maintenance of Intracellular pH in Cancer
Authors: Silberman Alon , Goldman Omer , Boukobza Assayag Odeya , Jacob Adi , Rabinovich Shiran , Adler Lital , Lee Joo Sang , Keshet Rom , Sarver Alona , Frug Julia , Stettner Noa , Galai Sivan , Persi Erez , Halpern Keren Bahar , Zaltsman-Amir Yehudit , Pode-Shakked Ben , Eilam Raya , Anikster Yair , Nagamani Sandesh C.S. , Ulitsky Igor , Ruppin Eytan , Erez Ayelet
Published: December 2018

Downregulation of the urea cycle enzyme argininosuccinate synthase (ASS1) by either promoter methylation or by HIF1α is associated with increased metastasis and poor prognosis in multiple cancers. We have previously shown that in normoxic conditions, ASS1 downregulation facilitates cancer cell proliferation by increasing aspartate availability for pyrimidine synthesis by the enzyme complex CAD. Here we report that in hypoxia, ASS1 expression in cancerous cells is downregulated further by HIF1α-mediated induction of miR-224-5p, making the cells more invasive and dependent on upstream substrates of ASS1 for survival. ASS1 was downregulated under acidic conditions, and ASS1-depleted cancer cells maintained a higher intracellular pH (pHi), depended less on extracellular glutamine, and displayed higher glutathione levels. Depletion of substrates of urea cycle enzymes in ASS1-deficient cancers decreased cancer cell survival. Thus, ASS1 levels in cancer are differentially regulated in various environmental conditions to metabolically benefit cancer progression. Understanding these alterations may help uncover specific context-dependent cancer vulnerabilities that may be targeted for therapeutic purposes.

Significance:

Cancer cells in an acidic or hypoxic environment downregulate the expression of the urea cycle enzyme ASS1, which provides them with a redox and pH advantage, resulting in better survival.
Molecular Classification of Lymph Node Metastases Subtypes Predict for Survival in Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Huang Lei , David Odile , Cabay Robert J. , Valyi-Nagy Klara , Macias Virgilia , Zhong Rong , Wenig Barry , Feldman Lawrence , Weichselbaum Ralph , Spiotto Michael T.
Published: December 2018

Purpose:

In advanced stage head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCC), approximately half of the patients with lymph node metastases (LNM) are not cured. Given the heterogeneous outcomes in these patients, we profiled the expression patterns of LNMs to identify the biological factors associated with patient outcomes.

Experimental Design: We performed mRNAseq and miRNAseq on 72 LNMs and 29 matched primary tumors from 34 patients with HNSCC. Clustering identified molecular subtypes in LNMs and in primary tumors. Prediction Analysis of Microarrays algorithm identified a 73-gene classifier that distinguished LNM subtypes. Gene-set enrichment analysis identified pathways upregulated in LNM subtypes.

Results:

Integrative clustering identified three distinct LNM subtypes: (i) an immune subtype (Group 1), (ii) an invasive subtype (Group 2), and (iii) a metabolic/proliferative subtype (Group 3). Group 2 subtype was associated with significantly worse locoregional control and survival. LNM-specific subtypes were not observed in matched primary tumor specimens. In HNSCCs, breast cancers, and melanomas, a 73-gene classifier identified similar Group 2 LNM subtypes that were associated with worse disease control and survival only when applied to lymph node sites, but not when applied to other primary tumors or metastatic sites. Similarly, previously proposed prognostic classifiers better distinguished patients with worse outcomes when applied to the transcriptional profiles of LNMs, but not the profiles of primary tumors.

Conclusions:

The transcriptional profiles of LNMs better predict outcomes than transcriptional profiles of primary tumors. The LNMs display site-specific subtypes associated with worse disease control and survival across multiple cancer types.
Salvia officinalis Reduces the Severity of the Premenstrual Syndrome
Authors: Abdnezhad Roghayeh , Simbar Masoumeh , Sheikhan Zohre , Mojab Faraz , Nasiri Malihe
Published: December 2018

Background: This study aims to investigate the effects of Salvia officinalis on the severity of the premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods: This was a triple-blinded randomized clinical trial on 90 college students in Tehran, Iran. The participants were randomly divided into 2 groups who were treated with 500-mg Salvia officinalis capsules or placebo once a day for 2 consecutive months. Data were collected using a questionnaire and a daily form for recording symptoms of PMS. Results: The mean decreases in severity of the symptoms in the Salvia officinalis extract-treated group during the first and second months after treatment were 19.84% and 23.42%, respectively. The comparison of the PMS physical and psychological symptoms demonstrated a decrease following treatment in both groups, with more remarkable reduction in the Salvia officinalis group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Salvia officinalis is an effective alternative agent to reduce the severity of psychological and physical symptoms of PMS.
Is Previous Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery for Early Rectal Cancer a Risk Factor of Worse Outcome following Salvage Surgery A Case-Matched Analysis
Authors: Dulskas Audrius , Atkociunas Aivaras , Kilius Alfredas , Petrulis Kestutis , Samalavicius Narimantas E.
Published: December 2018

Introduction: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a minimally invasive procedure which allows local excision of early-stage rectal cancer and can be used as an alternative treatment to radical surgery. Patients can undergo salvage total mesorectal excision (sTME) following TEM after finding of unfavourable histological features. This study aimed to compare results and possible complications of sTME following TEM and primary TME (pTME) procedures. Methods: Between 2010 and 2017, early sTME was performed in 9 patients at the National Cancer Institute in Vilnius, Lithuania. These patients were compared with 18 patients who underwent pTME, matched according to gender, age, cancer stage, and operative procedure. Data were obtained from the patients' charts and reviewed prospectively. We recorded the demographics, tumour specifications, treatment, operation time, postoperative results complications, and oncological outcome. Fisher's exact test and student's T test was used to compare both groups. Results: A total of 130 patients underwent TEM at our institution during the study period, of which 9 (6.92%) had to undergo sTME. The average age of the patients was 62.7 ± 7.07 years; 44.4% of the patients were male and 55.6% female. The average tumour size in the sTME group was 2.8 ± 1.05 cm (range 1.5-5) and 2.61 ± 1.36 cm (range 1-5) in the pTME group (p = 0.696). When comparing postoperative complications, statistically significant results were not found in either of the groups (p = 0.55). Operation time of pTME was significantly shorter on average, i.e. 43 min, compared to sTME (p < 0.0267). The average number of harvested lymph nodes was 12.44 ± 7.126 in the sTME and 12.5 ± 8.06 in the pTME group (p = 0.986). The circumferential resection margin (CRM) was negative in 92.6% (25/27) of specimens, while the CRM was positive in 2 cases (7.4%), both of which were from the sTME group. The average follow-up time was 22.8 months (8-80 months) for patients undergoing sTME and 19.33 months (2-88 months) for patients after pTME (p = 0.71). Conclusions: TEM is a relatively safe method for treating patients with early rectal cancer without high-risk features. It can be used in exceptional cases with high-risk features when the patient is not fit for radical surgery.
CpG Island Methylator Phenotype May Predict Poor Overall Survival of Patients with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Chen Kuo-Hsing  , Lin Liang-In  , Tseng Li-Hui  , Lin Yu-Lin , Liau Jau-Yu , Tsai Jia-Huei  , Liang Jin-Tung  , Lin Been-Ren  , Cheng Ann-Lii , Yeh Kun-Huei
Published: December 2018

Objective: We aimed to study the prognostic role of CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in patients with different stages of colorectal cancer (CRC). Material and Methods: We analyzed CIMP in stage I–IV CRC specimens from patients who were diagnosed between 2005 and 2013. CIMP status was determined using a 5-gene MethyLight-based assay. The clinicopathologic characteristics were reviewed and the overall survival (OS) was compared between patients with CIMP-high CRC and those with CIMP-low/negative CRC. Results: Among 450 CRC specimens with successfully determined CIMP statuses, 74 (16.4%) were CIMP-high CRC. Although there was no difference in OS between patients with CIMP-high and CIMP-low/negative CRC across all stages (p = 0.4526), intriguingly, patients with stage IV CIMP-high CRC had significantly worse OS than those with stage IV CIMP-low/negative CRC (p = 0.0047). In a multivariate analysis, CIMP status remained an independent prognostic factor for overall mortality (HR = 5.60, 95% CI: 2.12–14.79, p = 0.0005) in metastatic CRC after adjusting for clinicopathologic variables and anti-cancer therapies. Conclusion: Our results revealed that the presence of CIMP independently predicts poor OS in patients with stage IV CRC.
Recurrent Episodes of Nivolumab-Induced Pneumonitis after Nivolumab Discontinuation and the Time Course of Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels: A Case of a 58-Year-Old Woman with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: de Jong Corine , Peters Bas J.M. , Schramel Franz M.N.H.
Published: December 2018

Introduction: The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors heralded a new era in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. However, nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, can cause serious adverse events that are mostly autoimmune related. Case Presentation: A 58-year-old woman was treated with nivolumab as second-line therapy for stage IV adenocarcinoma. The patient developed a nivolumab-induced recurrent pneumonitis preceding durable clinical remission after seven cycles of nivolumab. Although high-dose glucocorticosteroids were tapered to conform to contemporary guidelines, recurring episodes of pneumonitis occurred without nivolumab rechallenge. In addition, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) serum levels were associated with treatment response, since CEA decline correlated with a near complete radiological response and, conversely, elevated CEA serum levels were associated with progressive disease. Conclusions: In this case, we described recurrence of nivolumab-induced pneumonitis as a serious adverse event in immune checkpoint inhibitors. Our case illustrates that immune-related adverse events may correlate with antitumour activity, even after treatment discontinuation. In addition, this case suggests the possible clinical utility of CEA serum levels for the assessment of (durable) effects of immunotherapy.
Gastric Focal Neutrophil Infiltration and Wide Duodenal Gastric Foveolar Metaplasia Are Histologic Discriminative Markers for Crohn’s Disease and Behçet’s Disease
Authors: Akemoto Yui , Sakuraba Hirotake , Tanaka Masanori , Hiraga Hiroto , Kikuchi Hidezumi , Morohashi Satoko , Ota Shinji , Hasui Keisuke , Satake Miwa , Watanabe Rina , Tanaka Nahoko , Kawaguchi Shogo , Tatsuta Tetsuya , Sawaya Manabu , Chinda Daisuke , Mikami Tatsuya , Ishiguro Yoh , Kijima Hiroshi , Fukuda Shinsaku
Published: December 2018

Background/Aims: Behçet’s disease (BD) with intestinal lesions and Crohn’s disease (CD) share clinical features. However, no report has compared the 2 diseases with regard to lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract (UGT). We aimed to evaluate endoscopic and histologic findings of UGT in CD and BD. Methods: We retrospectively assessed the endoscopic records and biopsy samples of 84 Helicobacter pylori-negative patients (50 CD, 34 BD). In duodenal samples, MUC5AC immunohistochemical analysis was performed to identify gastric foveolar metaplasia. Results: In endoscopic findings, bamboo joint-like appearance (17/50 CD, 0/34 BD) and erosions (14/50 CD, 2/34 BD) were significantly more frequent in CD gastric lesions (p < 0.001, and p = 0.012). In histologic findings of stomach, focal neutrophil infiltration in lamina propria (15/48 CD, 1/34 BD) was significantly more frequent in CD (p < 0.001). In that of duodenum, wide gastric foveolar metaplasia (19/49 CD, 1/34 BD) was significantly more frequent in CD duodenal lesions (p = 0.013). The mean maximum width of the gastric foveolar metaplasia was 114.0 ± 10.6 and 29.5 ± 4.5 μm for CD and BD respectively (p = 0.003). Conclusions: In H. pylori-negative patients, gastric focal neutrophil infiltration and wide duodenal gastric foveolar metaplasia were important for distinguishing CD from BD.
Blood Glucose Levels Are Associated with Cerebral Microbleeds in Patients with Acute Ischaemic Stroke
Authors: Lei Chunyan , Zhong LianMei , Ling Yifan , Chen Tao
Published: December 2018

Background and Purpose: There are debates about the causative role of high blood glucose in cerebral small vessel disease. The relationship between cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and blood glucose is unclear. Methods: Patients admitted to our department with acute ischaemic stroke were consecutively and prospectively included. Baseline demographic and clinical covariates were collected and analyzed according to the occurrence and location of CMBs and levels of blood glucose. Results: Of 161 patients included in the final analysis, 69 (42.76%) were women. A total of 80 patients (49.69%) had CMBs. There was a significant trend towards the prevalence of CMBs with increasing glucose quarter (p = 0.001). Post hoc analysis showed the rate of prevalence of CMBs to be significantly higher in the third quarter (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.20–3.02) and fourth quarter (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.21–2.25) than that in the first. The frequencies of deep or infratentorial CMBs differed with glucose quarter. Post hoc analysis showed that frequencies of deep or infratentorial CMBs were significantly more frequent in the third quarter (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.06–2.87) and fourth quarter (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.19–2.31) than those in the first. Conclusions: In this prospective study of patients with acute ischaemic stroke, our results showed that glucose was associated with deep or infratentorial CMBs but not with lobar CMBs.
The Actual Prevalence of Symptoms in Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms: A Prospective Propensity Matched Cohort Analysis
Authors: Marchegiani Giovanni , Andrianello Stefano , Miatello Chiara , Pollini Tommaso , Secchettin Erica , Tedesco Giorgia , D’Onofrio Mirko , Malleo Giuseppe , Bassi Claudio , Salvia Roberto
Published: December 2018

Background: The prevalence of symptoms in pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs) is mainly based on retrospective surgical series. The aim of this study is to describe the actual prevalence of symptoms in PCNs under surveillance. Methods: Patients with PCNs under surveillance observed from 2015 to 2017 were submitted to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a specific interview. An identical survey was carried out on a control population matched for age, sex, and comorbidities in which any pancreatic disease was excluded by MRI. Results: Two groups of 184 individuals were compared. Patients with PCNs have a similar prevalence of abdominal pain when compared to controls (35.2 vs. 28.8, p = 0.2). PCNs in the distal pancreas experienced a significantly increased prevalence of abdominal pain (42.3 vs. 28.8%, p = 0.04), whereas size and presumed connection with the ductal system did not affect the prevalence of abdominal pain. PCNs associated with abdominal pain did not differ in terms of clinical and radiological features from asymptomatic ones. Conclusion: Patients with PCNs under surveillance have a similar prevalence of abdominal pain when compared to a matched population of controls. Abdominal pain might not correlate with radiological signs of malignancy.
Thyroid Sequelae of Pediatric Cancer Therapy
Authors: Waguespack Steven G.
Published: December 2018

The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis is a common site of unintended, acquired disease either during or after the treatment of cancer. Children treated with external radiation therapy are at the highest risk for developing a thyroid-related late effect, but thyroid dysfunction and second primary thyroid neoplasms can also occur after treatment with radiopharmaceutical agents such as 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine. Increasingly recognized is the development of early thyroid dysfunction as an off-target consequence of the more novel cancer therapeutics such as the tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Thyroid sequelae resulting from irradiation may manifest only after years to decades of follow-up, and their resultant clinical symptoms may be indolent and non-specific. Therefore, lifelong monitoring of the childhood cancer survivor at risk for thyroid disease is paramount. In this comprehensive review, the myriad thyroid adverse effects resulting from pediatric cancer treatment are discussed and an overview of screening and treatment of these thyroid sequelae provided.
Holographic Reconstructions for Preoperative Planning before Partial Nephrectomy: A Head-to-Head Comparison with Standard CT Scan
Authors: Antonelli Alessandro , Veccia Alessandro , Palumbo Carlotta , Peroni Angelo , Mirabella Giuseppe , Cozzoli Alberto , Martucci Paolo , Ferrari Filippo , Simeone Claudio , Artibani Walter
Published: December 2018

Background: Preoperative surgical planning before partial nephrectomy (PN) is a time-consuming and fragmentary process. Objectives: To evaluate the differences in the perception of renal anatomy between holographic reconstruction (HR) versus computed tomography (CT) in patients who are candidate to PN. Methods: CT scans of 10 consecutive patients with intermediate/high complexity renal masses (R.E.N.A.L. score > 8) scheduled for robot-assisted PN were translated into HR. Seven raters independently described how they interpreted several anatomical details from CT and HR respectively. The exams were presented unpaired and randomly. Inter-observer agreement and evaluation time were assessed. A questionnaire inquired clinical utility of CT and HR. Inter-observer agreement was measured by the Cohen’s kappa test. Evaluation time for CT and HR was compared by the Kruskal-Wallis test, overall and per rater. Examiners answered to the questionnaire following a Likert scale. Results: HR showed a higher inter-observer agreement, reaching a good level (k > 0.6) for almost all the anatomical details considered. Conversely, CT generally provided a fair or poor agreement (k < 0.6). The evaluation time was shorter for HR (mean 1.7 vs. 3.4 min, p < 0.0001). All raters declared that HR could facilitate preoperative planning before PN. Conclusions: HR can be useful for preoperative surgical planning before PN to ease the understanding of anatomy.
Early Integration of Palliative and Oncological Care: Con
Authors: Schuler Ulrich S.
Published: December 2018

For almost a decade, ‘early integration' has become a buzzword in the palliative care community. Can this still be an issue of controversy? The goals of care in palliative medicine are beyond any criticism and in fact should be, at least in theory, goals of good oncological care. However, the reality presents a different picture. The care of cancer patients requires improvement, and the studies on the early integration of palliative care (EIPC) reveal deficits in the oncological practice. However, the limitations and methodological weaknesses of these EIPC studies are insufficiently analyzed and discussed. The main criticisms relate to the incomplete definition of primary endpoints, published analyses deviating from the study protocols and insufficient consideration for multiple testing. If this criticism is justified, a possible consequence would be to overrate the achievable effects of EIPC and to limit the use of these studies in guiding policies. Improving the care of cancer patients by fostering their primary care by oncologists could provide one of the alternative approaches, but needs to be evaluated in future studies. Unmet needs in physical, psychic, spiritual or social care need to be addressed. Whether this requires a multiprofessional team in all cases is another issue of discussion.
Autonomic Symptoms Correlate with Non-Autonomic Non-Motor Symptoms and Sleep Problems in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Matsubara Takeo , Suzuki Keisuke , Fujita Hiroaki , Watanabe Yuji , Sakuramoto Hirotaka , Matsubara Masanori , Hirata Koichi
Published: December 2018

Objective: The objective of this study was to clarify the relationship between autonomic and non-autonomic non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: Sixty-five PD patients were included in this study (27 men and 38 women; aged 68.5 ± 10.0; Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stage 2.6 ± 1.1). The autonomic symptoms were evaluated by the Japanese version of the Scales for outcomes in PD autonomic (SCOPA-AUT) questionnaire. The patients were assessed with the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), PD sleep evaluation scale-2 (PDSS-2), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and Beck’s depression inventory II (BDI-II). The Non-Motor Symptom Scale (NMSS) total scores and subscores of non-autonomic non-motor symptom domains (sleep/fatigue, mood/cognition, perceptual problems/hallucination, and attention/memory) were evaluated. A dopamine transporter (DAT) scan, metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy, and card type olfactory identification test (open essence [OE, Wako]) were performed. Results: The SCOPA-AUT total score was positively correlated with the disease duration, HY stage, levodopa equivalent dose, PDSS-2, ESS, BDI-II and non-autonomic NMSS and inversely correlated with the MMSE. The high-SCOPA-AUT group (≥9) had lower MMSE scores and higher PDSS-2, ESS, BDI-II and non-motor NMSS scores than the low-SCOPA-AUT group (< 9). The DAT scan, MIBG uptake and OE score did not differ between the groups. In a stepwise linear regression analysis, which excluded possibly overlapping items among the scales, the subtotals of PDSS-2 items, except for item 8 (nocturia), (p < 0.0001) and non-autonomic NMSS domains (p = 0.00040) were significant predictors of the total SCOPA-AUT score. Conclusion: Our study shows significant correlations among autonomic symptoms, PD-related sleep problems and non-autonomic non-motor symptoms in PD patients.
Accuracy and Pitfalls in the Assessment of Early Gastrointestinal Lesions
Authors: Milosavljevic Tomica , Popovic Dusan , Zec Simon , Krstic Miodrag , Mijac Dragana
Published: December 2018

Superficial neoplastic lesions of the digestive tract are usually asymptomatic, and often represent incidental findings on endoscopy. The Paris Classification was developed for the systematic evaluation of superficial lesions of the oesophagus, stomach and colon. The significance of this classification in clinical practice is that it allows the depth of invasion to be estimated. Chromoendoscopy is used to improve the visualization of gastrointestinal lesions. There are 2 types of chromoendoscopy: dye and virtual chromoendoscopy. In addition to chromoendoscopy, advanced endoscopy techniques have great importance in the detection of early gastrointestinal lesions. Although the depth of invasion can be estimated by endoscopy, the final decision regarding therapeutic approach is made on the basis of histopathological examination, as obtained by biopsy or endoscopic resection (ER). Polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection, and endoscopic submucosal dissection may be considered ER. For early gastrointestinal lesions with or without limited submucosal infiltration, ER can serve as therapy. In patients with neoplastic lesions localized deeper than the submucosa, or if the location of the lesion carries a high risk of perforation, a full-thickness resection can be performed. Guidelines for assessment and therapy of early oesophageal, gastric and colorectal lesions are currently available.
Pesquisando as compositoras brasileiras no século XXI
Authors: Murgel Ana Carolina Arruda de Toledo
Published: December 2018

O presente artigo foca as motivações, os resultados, a metodologia e a ut i lização da tecnologia, arquivos e fontes na construção e  desenvolvimento da pesquisa “Cartografias da canção feminina: compositoras brasileiras do século XX” desenvolvida com apoio da Fundação deAmparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Fapesp) no pós-doutorado em História Cultural no Departamento de História do Instituto de Filosofia e ciências Humanas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (IFCH/Unicamp).
Genome-Wide Expression Profiling Unveils Autoimmune Response Signatures in the Perivascular Adipose Tissue of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Piacentini Luca , Werba José Pablo , Bono Elisa , Saccu Claudio , Tremoli Elena , Spirito Rita , Colombo Gualtiero Ivanoe
Published: December 2018

Objective—

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is thought to play a role in vascular homeostasis and in the pathogenesis of large vessel diseases, including abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Herein, we tested the hypothesis that locally restricted transcriptional profiles characterize PVAT surrounding AAA, indicating specific dysfunctions associated with the disease.

Approach and Results—

Using a paired sample design to limit the effects of interindividual variation, we performed a microarray-based investigation of the PVAT transcriptome in 30 patients with AAA, comparing the adipose layer of the dilated abdominal aorta with that of the not-dilated aortic neck in each patient. Furthermore, we used a state-of-the-art data mining procedure to remove the effect of confounders produced by high-throughput gene expression techniques. We found substantial differences in PVAT gene expression clearly distinguishing the dilated from the not-dilated aorta, which increased in number and magnitude with increasing AAA diameter. Comparisons with other adipose depots (omental or subcutaneous fat) confirmed that gene expression changes are locally restricted. We dissected putative mechanisms associated with AAA PVAT dysfunction through a functional enrichment network analysis: both innate and adaptive immune-response genes along with genes related to cell-death pathways, metabolic processes of collagen, sphingolipids, aminoglycans, and extracellular matrix degradation were strongly overrepresented in PVAT of AAA compared with PVAT of the not-dilated aorta.

Conclusions—

Our results support a possible function of PVAT in AAA pathogenesis and suggest that AAA is an immunologic disease with an underlying autoimmune component. Interfering with these disease-specific pathways would clarify their precise role in AAA pathogenesis.
The Effects of Demographic Mismatch in an Elite Professional School Setting
Authors: Birdsall Chris , Gershenson Seth , Zuniga Raymond
Published: December 2018

Ten years of administrative data from a diverse, private, top-100 law school are used to examine the ways in which female and nonwhite students benefit from exposure to demographically similar faculty in first-year, required law courses. Arguably, causal impacts of exposure to same-sex and same-race instructors on course-specific outcomes such as course grades are identified by leveraging quasi-random classroom assignments and a two-way (student and classroom) fixed effects strategy. Having an other-sex instructor reduces the likelihood of receiving a good grade (A or A–) by 1 percentage point (3 percent) and having an other-race instructor reduces the likelihood of receiving a good grade by 3 percentage points (10 percent). The effects of student–instructor demographic mismatch are particularly salient for nonwhite and female students. These results provide novel evidence of the pervasiveness of demographic-match effects and of the graduate school education production function.
Description of four new species from the Haploniscus unicornis Menzies, 1956 complex (Isopoda: Asellota: Haploniscidae)
Authors: BRÖKELAND WIEBKE
Published: December 2018

Based on the adult males the four species Haploniscus bihastatus n. sp., H. monoceros n. sp., H. machairis n. sp. and H. angolensis n. sp. are described from the deep sea of the Southeast Atlantic. These belong to a species complex, which also includes H. unicornis Menzies from the Puerto Rico Trench and H. aduncus Lincoln from the Iceland Basin and shares several characters with species from the genus Mastigoniscus Lincoln. While males of the species complex can be reasonably well distinguished by their habitus and pleopods 1 and 2, the discrimination of female specimens is hampered by the pronounced sexual dimorphism. The Haploniscus unicornis complex has a wide distribution in the Atlantic Ocean, but appears to be absent from basins south of the Walvis Ridge and also from the southwest Atlantic basins.
Hosts of Amblyomma dissimile Koch, 1844 and Amblyomma rotundatum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae)
Authors: GUGLIELMONE ALBERTO A. , NAVA SANTIAGO
Published: December 2018

Host records of Amblyomma dissimile Koch, 1844 and Amblyomma rotundatum Koch, 1844 from the literature were critically reviewed. A total of 417 records on 101 species of tetrapods, and 193 records in 74 species of tetrapods were determined for A. dissimile and A. rotundatum, respectively. Aves have been found only once infested with A. dissimile. This tick has been detected on four species of Bufonidae, while A. rotundatum has been recorded on 13 species from six families of Anura. Crocodilia has been recorded infested by A. rotundatum (captive host, one species) and A. dissimile (two species). Sixteen species of Mammalia from ten families and eight species from eight families have been found infested with A. dissimile and A. rotundatum, including humans, respectively. A total of 63 species of Squamata (10 families) were found infested with A. dissimile, while the corresponding numbers for A. rotundatum are 45 species in nine families. A total of 15 species of Testudines (four families) and nine species (three families) have been found infested with A. dissimile and A. rotundatum, respectively. When infestation on captive and laboratory hosts were excluded from the analysis the number of species naturally infested with A. dissimile diminished to 88 and 58 for A. rotundatum. However, natural hosts infested with larvae, nymphs and adults of A. dissimile are Bufo marinus (Linnaeus), Bufo peltocephalus Tschudi, Proechimys semispinosus (Tomes), Boa constrictor Linnaeus, Epicrates striatus (Fischer), Oxybelis aeneus (Wagler), Cyclura cychlura (Cuvier), Iguana iguana (Linnaeus), Tupinambis teguixin (Linnaeus) and Trachemys scripta (Thunberg), but the commonest hosts harbouring all parasitic stages are B. marinus, B. constrictor and I. iguana. Hosts for all parasitic stages of A. rotundatum are B. marinus, Bufo schneideri Werner and B. constrictor, although records on B. marinus are considerably higher than the records on the other two hosts. The contribution of sheep and Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (Linnaeus) as hosts of A. dissimile, and Dasypus novemcinctus Linnaeus as host of A. rotundatum, were overestimated in previous studies. The ample host-range of these tick species may partly explain their wide distribution from southern U.S.A. to northern Argentina, but there are also chances that more than one species are represented under the names A. dissimile and A. rotundatum.
A new record of the genus Orientalicesa Koçak & Kemal, 2010 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Vietnam
Authors: NGUYEN LIEN THI PHUONG , BOZDOĞAN HAKAN , KUMAR P. GIRISH , CARPENTER JAMES M.
Published: December 2018

The genus Orientalicesa has six species, and all of them have been recorded in the Oriental region (including Indonesia, Malaysia, Phillippines, Laos, China). In this paper, the genus Orientalicesa is newly recorded from Vietnam, represented by one species O. confasciatus Tan and Carpenter. This species was mistakenly redescribed as Stenodyneriellus rangpocus Kumar, Carpenter & Kishore, 2017. A new synonym of O. confasciatus is proposed, and that species is a new record for India.
United States: Racial Resentment, Negative Partisanship, and Polarization in Trump’s America
Authors: Abramowitz Alan , McCoy Jennifer
Published: December 2018

Growing racial, ideological, and cultural polarization within the American electorate contributed to the shocking victory of Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. Using data from American National Election Studies surveys, we show that Trump’s unusually explicit appeals to racial and ethnic resentment attracted strong support from white working-class voters while repelling many college-educated whites along with the overwhelming majority of nonwhite voters. However, Trump’s campaign exploited divisions that have been growing within the electorate for decades because of demographic and cultural changes in American society. The 2016 presidential campaign also reinforced another longstanding trend in American electoral politics: the rise of negative partisanship, that is voting based on hostility toward the opposing party and its leaders. We conclude with a discussion of the consequences of deepening partisan and affective polarization for American democracy and the perceptions by both experts and the public of an erosion in its quality.
Reflections: Can American Democracy Still Be Saved?
Authors: Bermeo Nancy
Published: December 2018

This article reflects on whether the erosion of democracy in the contemporary United States can be halted. Using the cases and conclusions from McCoy and Somer’s eleven country collective project, it argues that democracy’s decline is not inevitable. A case for cautious optimism emerges from analyzing the coalitions around democracy’s disassemblers and democracy’s defenders. The actors disassembling democracy have activated cleavages and adopted a style of rule that exacerbates fault-lines on the Right. The actors defending democracy have thus far done what’s needed to eventually build the sort of winning coalition that has proven successful elsewhere. Creating broad, cross-class networks, mobilizing peaceful protest, and drawing on mass values that are still supportive of democracy bolster the likelihood of successful defense.
Toward a Theory of Pernicious Polarization and How It Harms Democracies: Comparative Evidence and Possible Remedies
Authors: McCoy Jennifer , Somer Murat
Published: December 2018

This article compares the dynamics of polarization in the eleven case studies analyzed in this special issue to draw conclusions about antecedents of severe political and societal polarization, the characteristics and mechanisms of such polarization, and consequences of severe polarization for democracy. We find that the emergence of pernicious polarization (when a society is split into mutually distrustful “Us vs. Them” camps) is not attributable to any specific underlying social or political cleavage nor any particular institutional make-up. Instead, pernicious polarization arises when political entrepreneurs pursue their political objectives by using polarizing strategies, such as mobilizing voters with divisive, demonizing discourse and exploiting existing grievances, and opposing political elites then reciprocate with similarly polarizing tactics or fail to develop effective nonpolarizing responses. We explain how the political construction of polarization around “formative rifts” (social or political rifts that arise during the fundamental formation/reformation of a nation-state), the relative capacity of opposing political blocs to mobilize voters versus relying on mechanisms such as courts or the military to constrain the executive, and the strategic and ideological aims of the polarizing actors contribute to the emergence of its pernicious form. We analyze the consequences for democracy and conclude with reflections on how to combat pernicious polarization.
One Man Show: TV and Russian Internet Observation Diary of Russian Presidential Elections 2018
Authors: Nesterov Fedor
Published: December 2018

Three weeks before the 2018 Russian Presidential elections, Fedor Nesterov, media manager, analyst, and journalist compiled a journal focusing on the pre-election race on local electronic media, TV, and the Internet. Most of these media are controlled in direct or hidden ways by the government, and they present candidates in a biased manner, giving preference to one particular candidate. This diary offers insights from a journalist on how public opinion is shaped in Russia by mass media.
Consistency Test of Revealed Comparative Advantage Index: Evidence from India’s Agricultural Export
Authors: Jagdambe Subhash
Published: December 2018

This article analyses the competitiveness of India’s agricultural products in world markets. Four indices of revealed comparative advantage (RCA) were used at the four-digit level of harmonized system (HS) of classification for the period of 1996–2015. Under live animal products, 7 out of 26 products showed RCA. For vegetable products, 21 out of 58 showed strong RCA. For products like animal or vegetable fat and prepared foodstuff, 2 out of 16 and 9 out of 49 showed RCA, respectively. Further, the consistency tests reveal that the indices are less satisfactory as the cardinal and dichotomous measures but relatively satisfactory as ordinal measure. Hence, study would propose an ordinal interpretation of RCAs indices for better policy formulation. The study has also found the pattern of RCA indices to be fairly stable over the years.

JEL Codes: F1, Q1
Explaining supervisor–subordinate guanxi and subordinate performance through a conservation of resources lens
Authors: Guan Xiaoyu , Frenkel Stephen J
Published: December 2018

Relationships outside of work impact employee effectiveness at work. But how do we explain this? Our study focuses on the guanxi relationship in China. This is based on close personal ties between supervisors and subordinates initiated outside the workplace. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, we develop a model that explains how supervisor–subordinate guanxi constitutes a social resource that spills over into the workplace and impacts subordinates’ job resources (including autonomy, support and development at work), job crafting (proactive behaviors aimed at increasing resources and reducing demands) and job performance (task performance and organizational citizenship behavior). Our model was tested on a sample of 406 subordinates and their supervisors from seven manufacturing organizations in China. The results of a multilevel path analysis indicate that high-quality guanxi relations with supervisors facilitate subordinates’ job resources, job crafting behaviors and organizational citizenship behavior at work. In addition, job resources mediate the relationship between supervisor–subordinate guanxi and job crafting, and job crafting mediates the relationship between supervisor–subordinate guanxi and subordinate task performance and organizational citizenship behavior. Overall, our research highlights the importance of externally-generated guanxi between subordinates and supervisors and the mechanisms that contribute to improving employee performance in the workplace.
The Impact of the St. Lawrence Seaway on Marketing Patterns
Authors: Roepke Howard G.
Published: December 2018

The utilization of the newly improved and expanded St. Lawrence Seaway will occasion major changes in economic activities. It is possible, and indeed has become almost a parlor game, to make differing estimates of the direction and extent of the Seaway's impact.

The one certainty is that there WILL be an impact. This impact will inevitably change marketing prospects, both internal and external to the United States.

As the result of a study recently completed, it is possible to form some estimates of the direction which these changes may take.
Behavioral Principles in Salesmanship Courses
Authors: Shaw Steven J.
Published: December 2018

The author believes that greater emphasis of psychological and sociological principles could transform salesmanship from a narrow vocational course to a broader communications subject. The revised course would stress principles of business persuasion common to both selling and nonselling situations.
The Most Profitable Market Share Objectives
Authors: Slater Charles C.
Published: December 2018

Both the petroleum industry and food chains face the recurring problem of choosing between a large sales volume at relatively low profit margins, and a lower sales volume at a current higher profit margin.

In this article, the author discusses selected marketing studies in which it was possible to estimate the “optimum” market share under various competitive conditions. The underlying principles may have wide application for marketing planners.
Structured or Unstructured Techniques?
Authors: Ferber Robert , Walters J. Hart
Published: December 2018

Do structured interviews give different answers from unstructured methods of obtaining “motivational” data from consumers? This study provides some intriguing answers.
Further Pinpointing of Prospects for Industrial Sales
Authors: Lieberman Alfred
Published: December 2018

How may a company that markets industrial goods to diverse industries underline marketing areas where the location of customer prospects may prove most fruitful?

This article describes a means for improving on a company's limited knowledge and judgment of those markets not previously open to it.