bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of muscarinic-3 receptor antibody in systemic sclerosis: correlation with disease duration and effects of IVIG
Authors: Kumar Sumit , Singh Jagmohan , Kedika Ramalinga , Mendoza Fabian , Jimenez Sergio A. , Blomain Erik S. , DiMarino Anthony J. , Cohen Sidney , Rattan Satish
Published: May 2016

Gastrointestinal dysmotility in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with autoantibodies against muscarinic-3 receptor (M3-R). We investigated the temporal course of the site of action of these autoantibodies at the myenteric neurons (MN) vs. the smooth muscle (SM) M3-R in relation to disease duration, and determined the role of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in reversing these changes. Immunoglobulins purified from SSc patients (SScIgG) were used to assess their differential binding to MN and SM (from rat colon) employing immunohistochemistry (IHC). Effect of SScIgG on neural and direct muscle contraction was determined by cholinergic nerve stimulation and bethanechol-induced SM contraction. Effects of IVIG and its antigen-binding fragment F(ab′)2 on SScIgG binding were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of rat colonic longitudinal SM myenteric plexus (LSMMP) lysate and to second extracellular loop peptide of M3-R (M3-RL2). SScIgG from all patients demonstrated significantly higher binding to MN than to SM. With progression of SSc duration, binding at MN and SM increased in a linear fashion with a correlation coefficient of 0.696 and 0.726, respectively ( P < 0.05). SScIgG-mediated attenuation of neural and direct SM contraction also increased with disease duration. ELISA analysis revealed that IVIG and F(ab′)2 significantly reduced SScIgG binding to LSMMP lysate and M3-RL2. Dysmotility in SSc occurs sequentially, beginning with SScIgG-induced blockage of cholinergic neurotransmission (neuropathy), which progresses to inhibition of acetylcholine action at the SM cell (myopathy). IVIG reverses this cholinergic dysfunction at the neural and myogenic receptors by anti-idiotypic neutralization of SScIgG.
Commentary on Folkman: “How Is Blood Vessel Growth Regulated in Normal and Neoplastic Tissue?”
Authors: Augustin Hellmut G.
Published: May 2016

Angiogenesis is a prerequisite for tumor growth and metastatic progression. The discovery of the first specific angiogenic cytokine, VEGF, in 1989 paved the way for the clinical approval of the first antiangiogenic tumor drug 15 years later. This brief commentary highlights and puts into historical perspective the 1985 G.H.A. Clowes Memorial Award Lecture delivered by Dr. Judah Folkman. Thirty years later, this award lecture is a lively testimony of the visionary mind of Dr. Folkman, whose legacy continues to inspire contemporary angiogenesis research. Cancer Res; 76(10); 2854–6. ©2016 AACR.

See related article by Folkman J, Cancer Res 1986;46:467–73.
Changes in Expression of Genes Representing Key Biologic Processes after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer, and Prognostic Implications in Residual Disease
Authors: Klintman Marie , Buus Richard , Cheang Maggie Chon U. , Sheri Amna , Smith Ian E. , Dowsett Mitch
Published: May 2016

Purpose: The primary aim was to derive evidence for or against the clinical importance of several biologic processes in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) by assessing expression of selected genes with prior implications in prognosis or treatment resistance. The secondary aim was to determine the prognostic impact in residual disease of the genes' expression.

Experimental Design: Expression levels of 24 genes were quantified by NanoString nCounter on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded residual tumors from 126 patients treated with NAC and 56 paired presurgical biopsies. The paired t test was used for testing changes in gene expression, and Cox regression and penalized elastic-net Cox Regression for estimating HRs.

Results: After NAC, 12 genes were significantly up- and 8 downregulated. Fourteen genes were significantly associated with time to recurrence in univariable analysis in residual disease. In a multivariable model, ACACB, CD3D, MKI67, and TOP2A added prognostic value independent of clinical ER−, PgR−, and HER2− status. In ER+/HER2− patients, ACACB, PAWR, and ERBB2 predicted outcome, whereas CD3D and PAWR were prognostic in ER−/HER2− patients. By use of elastic-net analysis, a 6-gene signature (ACACB, CD3D, DECORIN, ESR1, MKI67, PLAU) was identified adding prognostic value independent of ER, PgR, and HER2.

Conclusions: Most of the tested genes were significantly enriched or depleted in response to NAC. Expression levels of genes representing proliferation, stromal activation, metabolism, apoptosis, stemcellness, immunologic response, and Ras–ERK activation predicted outcome in residual disease. The multivariable gene models identified could, if validated, be used to identify patients needing additional post-neoadjuvant treatment to improve prognosis. Clin Cancer Res; 22(10); 2405–16. ©2016 AACR.
High Intratumoral Stromal Content Defines Reactive Breast Cancer as a Low-risk Breast Cancer Subtype
Authors: Dennison Jennifer B. , Shahmoradgoli Maria , Liu Wenbin , Ju Zhenlin , Meric-Bernstam Funda , Perou Charles M. , Sahin Aysegul A. , Welm Alana , Oesterreich Steffi , Sikora Matthew J. , Brown Robert E. , Mills Gordon B.
Published: May 2016

Purpose: The current study evaluated associative effects of breast cancer cells with the tumor microenvironment and its influence on tumor behavior.

Experimental Design: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue and matched protein lysates were evaluated from two independent breast cancer patient datasets (TCGA and MD Anderson). Reverse-phase protein arrays (RPPA) were utilized to create a proteomics signature to define breast tumor subtypes. Expression patterns of cell lines and normal breast tissues were utilized to determine markers that were differentially expressed in stroma and cancer cells. Protein localization and stromal contents were evaluated for matched cases by imaging.

Results: A subtype of breast cancers designated “Reactive,” previously identified by RPPA that was not predicted by mRNA profiling, was extensively characterized. These tumors were primarily estrogen receptor (ER)-positive/human EGF receptor (HER)2-negative, low-risk cancers as determined by enrichment of low-grade nuclei, lobular or tubular histopathology, and the luminal A subtype by PAM50. Reactive breast cancers contained high numbers of stromal cells and the highest extracellular matrix content typically without infiltration of immune cells. For ER-positive/HER2-negative cancers, the Reactive classification predicted favorable clinical outcomes in the TCGA cohort (HR, 0.36; P < 0.05).

Conclusions: A protein stromal signature in breast cancers is associated with a highly differentiated phenotype. The stromal compartment content and proteins are an extended phenotype not predicted by mRNA expression that could be utilized to subclassify ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancers. Clin Cancer Res; 22(20); 5068–78. ©2016 AACR.
Baclofen-assoziiertes Auftreten zentraler Schlafapnoe bei alkoholbezogener Störung: Ein Fallbericht
Authors: Perogamvros Lampros , Pépin Jean Louis , Thorens Gabriel , Mégevand Pierre , Claudel Elisabeth , Espa Fabrice , Besson Marie , Cervena Katerina , Janssens Jean-Paul , Lador Frédéric
Published: May 2016

Ein 61-jähriger Patient mit alkoholbezogener Störung (ABS) wurde mit Verdacht auf Schlafapnoe-Syndrom (SAS) überwiesen. Er hatte im Vorjahr drei Verkehrsunfälle, die auf Schläfrigkeit zurückgeführt wurden; diese Unfälle ereigneten sich kurz nach Beginn einer hochdosierten Behandlung mit Baclofen (2 × täglich 100 mg), einem Wirkstoff, der zunehmend im ABS-Management eingesetzt wird. Die Polysomnographie ergab ein schweres zentrales SAS (CSAS) mit einem Apnoe-Hypopnoe-Index (AHI) von 81,6/h. Baclofen wurde als mögliche Ursache des CSAS benannt. Nach seiner Absetzung erfolgte eine zweite Polysomnographie, die das Ausbleiben zentraler Apnoen und eine Verschiebung hin zu schwerem obstruktivem SAS (AHI 43,9/h) ergab, weshalb eine CPAP-Therapie (kontinuierliche Überdruckbeatmung) eingeleitet wurde. Schließlich wurde eine dritte Polysomnographie unter CPAP durchgeführt, nachdem der Patient die Einnahme von Baclofen (50 mg 2 × täglich) wiederaufgenommen hatte, woraufhin das CSAS (AHI 42,1/h) wieder auftrat. Dieser Fallbericht veranschaulicht die schädliche Wirkung von Baclofen auf die Atemphysiologie im Schlaf. Da das Medikament in der Regel hochdosiert einer Patientenpopulation verschrieben wird, die potenziell noch andere Substanzen konsumiert, die den Atemantrieb hemmen, ist diese mögliche Nebenwirkung von größter Bedeutung. Wenn die Anwendung von Baclofen bei Patienten mit ABS in Betracht gezogen wird, ist das Potenzial für schlafbezogene Atmungsstörungen abzuwägen und der Patient sorgfältig zu überwachen.
Herbal Medicine-Induced Liver Injury in China
Authors: Sun Xin , Yang Tao , Zhu Chunwu , Wang Hainan , Liu Chenghai
Published: May 2016

Herbal medicine (HM) has been widely used to prevent and treat diseases for thousands of years. However, recent increasing evidence shows that HM-induced liver injury (HILI) is not something to be ignored. In fact, herbal toxicity has always been recognized and emphasized in the long history of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In this article, we analyzed the situation of HILI in China and its risk factors in detail. In addition, the legal regime of the HM industry in contemporary China is introduced. Recently, the mechanisms of HILI have been widely studied, and epidemiological investigations into HILI have been conducted. In the future, a comprehensive platform for research and communication could help facilitate the development of strategies to predict and prevent HILI.
Development of Chemically Defined Media to Express Trp-Analog-Labeled Proteins in a Lactococcus lactis Trp Auxotroph
Authors: Shao Jinfeng , Marcondes Marcelo F.M. , Oliveira Vitor , Broos Jaap
Published: May 2016

Chemically defined media for growth of Lactococcus lactis strains contain about 50 components, making them laborious and expensive growth media. However, they are crucial for metabolism studies as well as for expression of heterologous proteins labeled with unnatural amino acids. In particular, the L. lactis Trp auxotroph PA1002, overexpressing the tryptophanyl tRNA synthetase enzyme of L. lactis, is very suitable for the biosynthetic incorporation of Trp analogs in proteins because of its most relaxed substrate specificity reported towards Trp analogs. Here we present two much simpler defined media for L. lactis, which consist of only 24 or 31 components, respectively, and with which the L. lactis Trp auxotroph shows similar growth characteristics as with a 50-component chemically defined medium. Importantly, the expression levels of two recombinant proteins used for evaluation were up to 2-3 times higher in these new media than in the 50-component medium, without affecting the Trp analog incorporation efficiency. Taken together, the simplest chemically defined media reported so far for L. lactis are presented. Since L. lactis also shows auxotrophy for Arg, His, Ile, Leu Val, and Met, our simplified media may also be useful for the biosynthetic incorporation of analogs of these five amino acids.
Pallidotomy for Writer's Cramp after Failed Thalamotomy
Authors: Horisawa Shiro , Goto Shinichi , Takeda Nobuhiko , Takano Yuki , Kawamata Takakazu , Taira Takaomi
Published: May 2016

Background/Aims: Although many reports have confirmed the effects of stereotactic thalamotomy for writer's cramp, pallidotomy for writer's cramp is yet to be investigated. Methods: After a 22-year-old woman with writer's cramp had undergone stereotactic thalamotomy twice, symptomatic relief was only temporary. Because her dystonic symptoms spread around the proximal part of the upper limb, she underwent unilateral pallidotomy 21 months after the second thalamotomy. Results: Unilateral pallidotomy improved her dystonic symptoms without any adverse effects immediately after the surgery. During a follow-up observation of 1 year, no recurrent writer's cramp was observed. Conclusion: For writer's cramp, when symptoms cannot be improved by thalamotomy, pallidotomy may achieve an effective outcome.
Fournier's Gangrene: Epidemiology and Outcomes in the General US Population
Authors: Sorensen Mathew D. , Krieger John N.
Published: May 2016

Purpose: Case series reported 20-40% mortality rates for patients with Fournier's gangrene with some series as high as 88%. This literature comes almost exclusively from referral centers. Materials and Methods: We identified and analyzed inpatients with Fournier's gangrene who had a surgical debridement or died in the US State Inpatient Databases. Results: One thousand six hundred and forty one males and 39 females with Fournier's gangrene represented <0.02% of hospital admissions. Overall, the incidence was 1.6 cases per 100,000 males and case fatality was 7.5%. Sixty six percent of hospitals cared for no cases per year, 17% cared for 1 case per year, 10% cared for 2 cases per year, 4% cared for 3 cases per year, 1% cared for 4 cases per year, and only 1% cared for ≥5 cases per year. Teaching hospitals had higher mortality (adjusted OR 1.9) due primarily to more acutely ill patients. Hospitals treating more than 1 Fournier's gangrene case per year had an adjusted 42-84% lower mortality (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Most hospitals rarely care for Fournier's gangrene patients. The population-based mortality rate (7.5%) was substantially lower than the case series from tertiary care centers. Hospitals that treated more number of Fournier's gangrene patients had lower mortality rates, thereby supporting the rationale that regionalized care worked well for patients with this rare disease.
Neonatal Jaundice in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Lessons and Future Directions from the 2015 Don Ostrow Trieste Yellow Retreat
Authors: Greco Chiara , Arnolda Gaston , Boo Nem-Yun , Iskander Iman F. , Okolo Angela A. , Rohsiswatmo Rinawati , Shapiro Steven M. , Watchko Jon , Wennberg Richard P. , Tiribelli Claudio , Coda Zabetta Carlos D.
Published: May 2016

Severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, defined as total serum bilirubin (TSB) ≥20 mg/dl, is associated with a higher risk of permanent neurological sequelae and death. Jaundice can and should be promptly diagnosed and treated. Reliable methods for TSB assay are not always readily available, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, making the true incidence of severe neonatal jaundice (NNJ) difficult to estimate. To gather a more comprehensive picture, a symposium addressing NNJ worldwide was organized during the 2015 Don Ostrow Trieste Yellow Retreat. Data collected by several researchers in different regions of the world were presented and differences/similarities discussed. This report points out the need for: (1) a coordinated worldwide effort to define the burden and the causes of severe NNJ and its consequences; (2) aggressive educational programs for families and health personnel to facilitate timely care-seeking, and (3) accurate diagnostics and effective phototherapy.
Diminished Signal Intensities Distal to Intracranial Arterial Stenosis on Time-of-Flight MR Angiography Might Indicate Delayed Cerebral Perfusion
Authors: Lan Linfang , Leng Xinyi , Abrigo Jill , Fang Hui , Ip Vincent H.L. , Soo Yannie O.Y. , Leung Thomas W.H. , Yu Simon C.H. , Wong Lawrence K.S.
Published: May 2016

Background: Intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) is a predominant cause of ischemic stroke in Asia. Changes in the signal intensities (SIs) across ICAS lesions on time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA) have been indicated to partially reflect the hemodynamic significance of the lesions, which we aimed to verify by correlating it with cerebral perfusion features provided by CT perfusion (CTP) imaging. Methods: Ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack patients with unilateral symptomatic stenosis (≥50%) of intracranial internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery (MCA) were included in this study. Change of SIs across an ICAS lesion on TOF-MRA was calculated by the distal and proximal SI ratio (SIR). Cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and mean transit time (MTT) within the MCA territory of ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres were evaluated on the CTP images at the basal ganglia level. Relative CBV, CBF and MTT were defined as ratios of the values obtained from ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres. The relationships between SIR and CTP parameters were analyzed. Results: Fifty subjects (74% male, mean age 62) were recruited. Overall, the mean SIR was 0.77 ± 0.17. SIR of ICAS was significantly, linearly and negatively correlated with ipsilateral CBV (r = -0.335, p = 0.017), ipsilateral MTT (r = -0.301, p = 0.034), and ipsilateral/contralateral MTT ratio (r = -0.443, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Diminished SIs distal to ICAS on TOF-MRA might be associated with delayed ipsilateral cerebral perfusion. Changes of the SIs across ICAS lesions on TOF-MRA may be a simple marker to reflect cerebral perfusion changes in patients with symptomatic ICAS.
Corticosteroids in the Management of Hyponatremia, Hypovolemia, and Vasospasm in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Mistry Akshitkumar M. , Mistry Eva A. , Ganesh Kumar Nishant , Froehler Michael T. , Fusco Matthew R. , Chitale Rohan V.
Published: May 2016

Background: Cerebral vasospasm and sodium and fluid imbalances are common sequelae of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and cause of significant morbidity and mortality. Studies have shown the benefit of corticosteroids in the management of these sequelae. We have reviewed the literature and analyzed the available data for corticosteroid use after SAH. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane electronic databases were searched without language restrictions, and 7 observational, controlled clinical studies of the effect of corticosteroids in the management of SAH patients were identified. Data on sodium and fluid balances, symptomatic vasospasm (SVS), and outcomes were pooled for meta-analyses using the Mantel-Haenszel random effects model. Results: Corticosteroids, specifically hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone, decreased natriuretic diuresis and incidence of hypovolemia. Corticosteroid administration is associated with lower incidence of SVS in the absence of nimodipine, but does not alter the neurological outcome. Conclusions: Supplementation of corticosteroids with mineralocorticoid activity, such as hydrocortisone or fludrocortisone, helps in maintaining sodium and volume homeostasis in SAH patients. Larger trials are warranted to confirm the effects of corticosteroids on SVS and patient outcomes.
Beyond Calories: An Integrated Approach to Promote Health, Longevity, and Well-Being
Authors: Bertozzi Beatrice , Tosti Valeria , Fontana Luigi
Published: May 2016

In 1948, the World Health Organization defined health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity'. Detractors claim that this definition of health is utopian and unrealistic. However, accumulating evidence from experimental studies suggests that aging is not inevitably linked with the development of chronic diseases, and the age-associated accumulation of molecular damage can be prevented or greatly delayed by dietary and genetic manipulations that downregulate key cellular nutrient-sensing pathways. Nonetheless, to obtain a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, we as human beings need to go beyond nutrition or pharmacological treatments and implement a combination of interventions that enhance not only our metabolic health but also our psychological, emotional, intellectual and spiritual development, our social relationships and cultural well-being. This perspective highlights a range of scientific research-based interventions that can potentially be used to promote human health and longevity. We will also briefly address the importance of environmental health in achieving this goal.
Pflanzliche Sekundärstoffe: Ethnobotanische Überlegungen zu ihrer Bedeutung für die menschliche Ernährung und die Medizin - Teil 1: Grundlagen der pflanzlichen Sekundärstoffe
Authors: Nowack Rainer
Published: May 2016

Die sogenannten Sekundärstoffe der Pflanzen haben spezifische Funktionen für den pflanzlichen Organismus und seine ökologische Position, z.B. zur Abwehr von Herbivoren oder zur Attraktion bestäubender Insekten. Herbivoren einschliesslich des Menschen haben infolge von Koevolution mit den Pflanzen Transportproteine, Enzyme und weitere Instrumente erworben, um einerseits geeignete Sekundärstoffe zu resorbieren, zu metabolisieren oder für eigene Zwecke zu instrumentalisieren und andererseits toxische Sekundärstoffe zu meiden, nach Resorption auszuscheiden oder zu detoxifizieren.
Microparticles as new markers of cardiovascular risk in diabetes and beyond
Authors: Santilli Francesca , Marchisio Marco , Lanuti Paola , Boccatonda Andrea , Miscia Sebastiano , Davì Giovanni
Published: May 2016

The term microparticle (MP) identifies a heterogeneous population of vesicles playing a relevant role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases, cancer and metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. MPs are released by virtually all cell types by shedding during cell growth, proliferation, activation, apoptosis or senescence processes. MPs, in particular platelet- and endothelial-derived MPs (PMPs and EMPs), are increased in a wide range of thrombotic disorders, with an interesting relationship between their levels and disease pathophysiology, activity or progression. EMP plasma levels have been associated with several cardiovascular diseases and risk factors. PMPs are also shown to be involved in the progressive formation of atherosclerotic plaque and development of arterial thrombosis, especially in diabetic patients. Indeed, diabetes is characterised by an increased procoagulant state and by a hyperreactive platelet phenotype, with enhanced adhesion, aggregation, and activation. Elevated MP levels, such as TF+ MPs, have been shown to be one of the procoagulant determinants in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Atherosclerotic plaque constitutes an opulent source of sequestered MPs, called “plaque” MPs. Otherwise, circulating MPs represent a TF reservoir, named “blood-borne” TF, challenging the dogma that TF is a constitutive protein expressed in minute amounts. “Blood-borne” TF is mainly harboured by PMPs, and it can be trapped within the developing thrombus. MP detection and enumeration by polychromatic flow cytometry (PFC) have opened interesting perspectives in clinical settings, particularly for the evaluation of MP numbers and phenotypes as independent marker of cardiovascular risk, disease and outcome in diabetic patients.
Obesity-Related Perivascular Adipose Tissue Damage Is Reversed by Sustained Weight Loss in the Rat
Authors: Bussey Charlotte E. , Withers Sarah B. , Aldous Robert G. , Edwards Gillian , Heagerty Anthony M.
Published: May 2016

Objective—

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) exerts an anticontractile effect in response to various vasoconstrictor agonists, and this is lost in obesity. A recent study reported that bariatric surgery reverses the damaging effects of obesity on PVAT function. However, PVAT function has not been characterized after weight loss induced by caloric restriction, which is often the first line treatment for obesity.

Approach and Results—

Contractility studies were performed using wire myography on small mesenteric arteries with and without PVAT from control, diet-induced obese, calorie restricted and sustained weight loss rats. Changes in the PVAT environment were assessed using immunohistochemistry. PVAT from healthy animals elicited an anticontractile effect in response to norepinephrine. This was abolished in diet-induced obesity through a mechanism involving increased local tumor necrosis factor-α and reduced nitric oxide bioavailability within PVAT. Sustained weight loss led to improvement in PVAT function associated with restoration of adipocyte size, reduced tumor necrosis factor-α, and increased nitric oxide synthase function. This was associated with reversal of obesity-induced hypertension and normalization of plasma adipokine levels, including leptin and insulin.

Conclusions—

We have shown that diet-induced weight loss reverses obesity-induced PVAT damage through a mechanism involving reduced inflammation and increased nitric oxide synthase activity within PVAT. These data reveal inflammation and nitric oxide synthase, particularly endothelial nitric oxide synthase, as potential targets for the treatment of PVAT dysfunction associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Relation Between Adolescent Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Carotid Intima‐Media Echogenicity in Healthy Young Adults: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Young Adults (ARYA) Study
Authors: Eikendal Anouk L. M. , Groenewegen Karlijn A. , Bots Michiel L. , Peters Sanne A. E. , Uiterwaal Cuno S. P. M. , den Ruijter Hester M.
Published: May 2016

Background

Echogenicity is an ultrasound measure that reflects arterial wall composition. In adult populations, lower carotid intima‐media echogenicity relates to an unfavorable cardiovascular risk burden yet appears to reflect a different aspect of arterial wall remodeling than carotid intima‐media thickness (
CIMT
). Since studies on carotid intima‐media echogenicity earlier in life are lacking, we investigated associations between adolescent cardiovascular risk factors and young adulthood carotid intima‐media echogenicity and compared this to
CIMT
.

Methods and Results

In 736 participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Young Adults study, information on adolescent anthropometrics, puberty stage, and systolic blood pressure (
SBP
) was available. In young adulthood, demographics, anthropometrics, and fasting plasma samples were collected. Common
CIMT
and echogenicity, quantified as gray‐scale median (
GSM
), were evaluated using B‐mode ultrasonography. Lower and higher
GSM
values, respectively, represented lower and higher echogenicity. Associations of adolescent body mass index and
SBP
with young adulthood
GSM
and
CIMT
were evaluated using linear regression analysis. Mean age was 13.5 years in adolescence and 28.4 years in young adulthood (difference: 14.9 years). After full adjustment, adolescent body mass index related to
GSM
(β=−1.62/
SD
; 95%
CI
: −2.79, −0.46;
P
=0.006), independent of
CIMT
. Adolescent
SBP
did not relate to
GSM
. Moreover, adolescent body mass index (β=8.06 μm/
SD
[95%
CI
: 4.12, 11.99],
P
<0.001) and
SBP
(β=4.69 μm/
SD
[95%
CI
: 0.84, 8.54],
P
=0.02) related to
CIMT
.

Conclusions

Adolescent body mass index related to
GSM
and
CIMT
in young adulthood;
SBP
only related to
CIMT
. Hence, carotid intima‐media echogenicity appears to be involved in arterial wall remodeling, yet may mimic a different facet of this process than
CIMT
.
Impact of Target Arterial Residual Stenosis on Outcome After Endovascular Revascularization
Authors: Hwang Yang-Ha , Kim Yong-Won , Kang Dong-Hun , Kim Yong-Sun , Liebeskind David S.
Published: May 2016

Background and Purpose—

Acute intracranial occlusion can be associated with in situ thrombo-occlusion in relation to preexisting intracranial atherosclerotic disease. We aimed to assess residual stenosis at the site of a target arterial lesion (TAL) to determine whether residual stenosis at the TAL is associated with underlying intracranial atherosclerotic disease.

Methods—

One hundred and sixty-three patients who underwent endovascular therapy for M1 middle cerebral artery occlusion and achieved angiographic reperfusion were selected for analysis. The presence of residual stenosis at the TAL was classified using the Arterial Occlusive Lesion (AOL) scale at postprocedural angiography, and the severity of stenosis was grouped into none, mild (<50%), moderate (50%–69%), severe (70%–99%), and occlusion on postprocedural and follow-up angiography. We also recorded the incidence of instant reocclusion occurring during the procedure and delayed reocclusion detected on follow-up angiography.

Results—

Seventy-four patients (45.5%) showed target arterial residual stenosis (AOL 2). As to the TAL pathogenesis, 40 patients were classified into in situ thrombo-occlusion (54.1% of AOL 2 and 24.5% of M1 occlusion). The occurrence of instant or delayed reocclusion was independently associated with a low chance of favorable 3-month outcome. Furthermore, the occurrence of delayed reocclusion was associated with excellent pretreatment collateral flow and early neurological worsening, but not the severity of residual stenosis at the TAL.

Conclusions—

In population with a high prevalence of intracranial atherosclerotic disease, residual stenosis may be attributed to in situ thrombo-occlusion with underlying intracranial atherosclerotic disease in ≈25% of cases, hindering functional recovery via the occurrence of instant or delayed reocclusion.
Edaravone Reduces Hyperperfusion-Related Neurological Deficits in Adult Moyamoya Disease
Authors: Uchino Haruto , Nakayama Naoki , Kazumata Ken , Kuroda Satoshi , Houkin Kiyohiro
Published: May 2016

Background and Purpose—

Postoperative hyperperfusion-related transient neurological deficits (TNDs) are frequently observed in adult patients with moyamoya disease who undergo direct bypass procedures. The present study evaluated the effect of the free radical scavenger edaravone on postoperative hyperperfusion in adult moyamoya disease.

Methods—

This study included 92 hemispheres in 72 adult patients who underwent direct bypass for moyamoya disease. Serial measurements of cerebral blood flow were conducted immediately after surgery and on postoperative days 2 and 7. In 40 hemispheres for 36 patients, edaravone (60 mg/d) was administered from the day of surgery to postsurgical day 7. The incidence of postoperative hyperperfusion and associated TNDs were compared with a control group that included 52 hemispheres in 36 patients.

Results—

Radiological hyperperfusion was observed in 28 of 40 (70.0%) and 39 of 52 (75.0%) hemispheres in the edaravone and control groups, respectively (
P
=0.30). Hyperperfusion-related TND incidences were significantly lower in the edaravone group compared with the control group (12.5% versus 32.7%;
P
=0.024). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that edaravone administration (
P
=0.009) and left-sided surgery (
P
=0.037) were significantly correlated with hyperperfusion-related TNDs (odds ratios, 0.3 and 4.2, respectively).

Conclusions—

Perioperative administration of edaravone reduced the incidence of hyperperfusion-related TNDs after direct bypass procedures in adult patients with moyamoya disease.
Capital Flight from a Small Developing Asia Pacific Economy
Authors: Gani Azmat
Published: May 2016

Capital flight from a small developing country in the Asia Pacific region, Fiji, is estimated using a variant of the residual approach. The findings show that between 1991 and 2009, approximately US$5 billion, averaging some US$265 million per annum has leaked out of Fiji in the form of capital flight. On an annual average basis, this has translated into 12 percent of Fiji’s gross domestic product; 19 percent of imports bills and 17 percent of lost tax revenues. The implications of this finding is that Fiji’s policymakers need to institute policies that focus on long-term secure and stable business and political environment. Some of these may include making the domestic business and investment environment more attractive, reforming the foreign investment tax incentives, retaining qualified and skilled people, eliminating institutional weaknesses in banking systems, and effective enforcement of banking and customs regulations relating to transfers of financial capital.
‘Give Me Liberty, or Give Me . . . Nice, New, Shiny Things’: Global Development Aid Education in Australia
Authors: Buchanan John , Varadharajan Meera
Published: May 2016

In a world where we are being confronted with seemingly ever more distressing images of our inability or unwillingness to exercise and extend our humanity to one another, this paper discusses global development aid, and how education, and, more specifically, syllabus and policy documents, can contribute to a more informed and empathic response to people who see through eyes different from our own. This paper discusses curricular initiatives, to enhance students’ understanding and responses to issues of global inequalities. The paper embeds this discussion within an examination of elements shaping minds and hearts with regard to such issues, and on impediments to and opportunities for a more informed and humane response to our shared humanity.
The Language of Stones: Roman Milestones on Rabbinic Roads
Authors: Levinson Joshua
Published: May 2016

In the multi-linguistic reality of late antique Palestine the mixing of languages was also a mixing of cultures. This essay examines how one multilingual artifact, the Roman milestone, functioned as a means of inter-cultural communication both for those who erected them and the rabbis who read them. I suggest that the Roman roads and milestones that signified the power of the empire, were interpreted by means of a rabbinic hermeneutic of resistance that allowed them to create an imaginary landscape and counter-cartography wherein all the roads lead not to Rome, but rather to the sages and their teachings.
Mind the (Unbridgeable) Gaps
Authors: Ambasciano Leonardo
Published: May 2016

In this paper, I explore two of the most pernicious kinds of scientific distortions and misconceptions pertinent to the study of religion (i.e., pseudoscientific trends focused on allegedly paranormal/supernatural phenomena and discontinuity between human and non-human cognition), arguing that: a) the adherence to the prestigious reputation of Eliadean academic frameworks may still cause grave distortions in the comprehension of relevant scientific fields; b) a reliance on cognition alone does not guaranteeipso factoa more epistemically warranted study of religion; c) an evolutionary and cognitively continuist approach to the study of religion is, instead, the most promising and fundamental scholarly tool to bridge the gap between the humanities and the natural sciences, even though it remains a long-term goal; d) the obsolete language of “aboriginal cultures” as open-air museums for our past is rooted in the aforementioned misconceptions and, though basically flawed, is still very much alive.
Extracurricular International Criminal Law
Authors: Drumbl Mark A.
Published: May 2016

This article unpacks the jurisprudential footprints of international criminal courts and tribunals in domestic civil litigation in the United States conducted under the Alien Tort Statute (ats). The ats allows victims of human rights abuses to file tort-based lawsuits for violations of the laws of nations. While diverse, citations to international cases and materials in ats adjudication cluster around three areas: (1) aiding and abetting as a mode of liability; (2) substantive legal elements of genocide and crimes against humanity; and (3) the availability of corporate liability. The limited capacity of international criminal courts and tribunals portends that domestic tort claims as avenues for redress of systematic human rights abuses will likely grow in number. The experiences of us courts of general jurisdiction as receivers of international criminal law instruct upon broader patterns of transnational legal migration and reveal an unanticipated extracurricular legacy of international criminal courts and tribunals.
Leveraging female genitalic characters for generic and species delimitation in Nilomantis Werner, 1907 and Ilomantis Giglio-Tos, 1915 (Mantodea, Nilomantinae)
Authors: Brannoch Sydney K. , Svenson Gavin J.
Published: May 2016

Praying mantis species description and higher-level taxonomy has historically relied on external morphological characters, male genitalic characters, and geographic distribution. For the first time, female genitalic characters were used to delimit genus- and species-level boundaries using two genera with a complex taxonomic history,NilomantisWerner, 1907 andIlomantisGiglio-Tos, 1915. We present comprehensive morphological evidence for the validity ofIlomantis, currently a junior synonym ofNilomantisand describe a new species,Ilomantis ginsburgaesp.n. We provide a key to the species ofNilomantisandIlomantisbased on genitalic and external morphological character states. High-resolution images, illustrations of morphological characters, and measurement data are also presented. We conclude that female genital characters have significant utility in praying mantis taxonomy and should be incorporated as an additional data source to complement traditional taxonomic and genetic data.
In Defense of Piecemeal Skepticism
Authors: Atkins Philip
Published: May 2016

Anthony Brueckner and Jon Altschul suggest a version of skepticism according to which the skeptic posits a distinct skeptical hypothesis for each external world proposition that a person claims to know. In a recent issue of this journal, Eric Yang argues against this piecemeal approach. In this note, I show that Yang’s argument against piecemeal skepticism is fallacious.
Satellite-Based Estimation of Temporally Resolved Dust Radiative Forcing in Snow Cover
Authors: Miller Steven D. , Wang Fang , Burgess Ann B. , McKenzie Skiles S. , Rogers Matthew , Painter Thomas H.
Published: May 2016

Runoff from mountain snowpack is an important freshwater supply for many parts of the world. The deposition of aeolian dust on snow decreases snow albedo and increases the absorption of solar irradiance. This absorption accelerates melting, impacting the regional hydrological cycle in terms of timing and magnitude of runoff. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Dust Radiative Forcing in Snow (MODDRFS) satellite product allows estimation of the instantaneous (at time of satellite overpass) surface radiative forcing caused by dust. While such snapshots are useful, energy balance modeling requires temporally resolved radiative forcing to represent energy fluxes to the snowpack, as modulated primarily by varying cloud cover. Here, the instantaneous MODDRFS estimate is used as a tie point to calculate temporally resolved surface radiative forcing. Dust radiative forcing scenarios were considered for 1) clear-sky conditions and 2) all-sky conditions using satellite-based cloud observations. Comparisons against in situ stations in the Rocky Mountains show that accounting for the temporally resolved all-sky solar irradiance via satellite retrievals yields a more representative time series of dust radiative effects compared to the clear-sky assumption. The modeled impact of dust on enhanced snowmelt was found to be significant, accounting for nearly 50% of the total melt at the more contaminated station sites. The algorithm is applicable to regional basins worldwide, bearing relevance to both climate process research and the operational management of water resources.
Peer education: From enduring problematics to pedagogical potential
Authors: Southgate Erica , Aggleton Peter
Published: May 2016

Background:

Peer education is a much-used approach to health education with young people and marginalised groups. Rarely, however, has the concept been interrogated for its meaning and usefulness, despite pleas for the importance of doing so going back several decades.

Objectives:

Against this background, this paper offers a specifically educational analysis and critique of existing conceptualisations and descriptions of peer education.

Design:

The paper responds to the challenge of opening up the ‘black box’ of peer education with respect to teaching and learning, using the pedagogical frameworks offered by Basil Bernstein, critical pedagogy, feminist post-structuralism and Robin Alexander.

Results and Conclusion:

Findings point to the value of theories of pedagogy as conceptual and analytic lenses through which to interrogate what peer education is (and might be) and to better account for the uneven effectiveness of the approach.
Critical social work with unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people: Restoring hope, agency and meaning for the client and worker
Authors: Nelson Deborah , Price Elizabeth , Zubrzycki Joanna
Published: May 2016

This article presents a model of Australian social work with unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people which aims to build hope, agency and meaning for the social worker and the young person. Informed by Foucault’s understanding of resistance, the model encourages social workers to pay attention to little practices of freedom through the development of professional relationships which address counselling needs, practical advocacy and social change within complex socio-political, cultural and therapeutic contexts. A case vignette of ‘Ali’ applies the model in practice. The article concludes with an exploration of the model’s potential for international transferability.
A Comparative Content Analysis of Music Educators Journal and Philosophy of Music Education Review (1993–2012)
Authors: Stambaugh Laura A. , Dyson Brian E.
Published: May 2016

Two journals reflecting the interests and concerns of music educators are Music Educators Journal ( MEJ) and Philosophy of Music Education Review ( PMER). The purpose of this study was to explore the interests of P–12 music teachers and university faculty as represented by the topics of articles in MEJ and PMER from 1993 to 2012. After identifying the primary topic of articles at least two pages in length ( N = 889), we determined the number of articles and pages published in each topic area within each journal. A chi-square analysis indicated topics within journals did not occur with equal probability ( p < .001). The most frequently occurring topics in MEJ were curriculum (21.15%), performance (15.86%), and fieldwork (9.02%). The most frequently occurring topics in PMER were interview (15.45%), philosophy to school (11.79%), and performance (10.57%). Performance was the only topic common to both journals for their five most frequently occurring topics. Topics also were examined in 5-year increments, showing topic frequency was more consistent across time for MEJ than for PMER. In MEJ, the topics creativity and technology appeared less frequently over time, while performance and social justice increased. In PMER, marginalization articles decreased, while creativity, research/critical inquiry, and performance increased.
Elements of a Successful Professional Learning Community for Music Teachers Using Comprehensive Musicianship Through Performance
Authors: Sindberg Laura K.
Published: May 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the ways in which a professional learning community (PLC) of music teachers sustained growth as they sought to incorporate Comprehensive Musicianship Through Performance (CMP) in their teaching practices. Seven music teachers from a suburban school district in the upper Midwest participated in a PLC as they incorporated CMP into their bands, choirs, and orchestras over a 2-year period of data collection. Findings of this collective case study describe the process of implementing CMP, reinforce the importance of a collaborative culture, and consider the impact of emotional aspects related to teacher change and shifts in teacher knowledge as a result of participating in this learning community. Particular challenges included implementing CMP amid performance expectations of technical proficiency and shifting emphasis from solely performance to performance and understanding. While findings suggest that incorporating CMP can have a positive impact in school ensembles, moving away from established performance routines and expectations can be daunting for veteran as well as novice teachers.
Four Weeks of Goal-Directed Learning in Primary Physical Education Classes
Authors: Platvoet Sebastiaan W. J. , Elferink-Gemser Marije T. , Kannekens Rianne , de Niet Mark , Visscher Chris
Published: May 2016

Relatively little is known about how practice relates to children’s improvement in gross motor skill performance. The aim of this study is to determine to what extent 6- and 7-year-old children improve their gross motor skill performance in a four-week period, in which goal-directed learning is stimulated and to determine whether differences between boys and girls occur. Groups of 6 year olds ( n = 167) and 7 year olds ( n = 140) practiced their gross motor skill for four weeks. Physical education teachers stimulated goal-directed learning by their instruction, skill-specific exercises, and individual practice. The week before and after, gross motor skill performance was assessed, using the Körper Koordinations Test für Kinder, and compared with a control group ( n = 131). Both 6 and 7 year olds in the intervention group improved their gross motor skill performance significantly more than the control group. The results show the relevance of goal-directed learning for the improvement of gross motor skill performance.
Body Dissatisfaction and Mental Health Outcomes Among Korean College Students
Authors: You Sukkyung , Shin Kyulee
Published: May 2016

For many years, body dissatisfaction and mental health were thought of as Western phenomena and were studied mostly in Caucasian women. Recent studies, however, suggest that these issues are also present in men and in other ethnic groups. This study examined the association between body dissatisfaction and mental health outcomes, with personality traits and neuroticism playing possible predictive roles, using a Korean sample. A total of 545 college students, from five private universities in South Korea, completed assessment measures for depression, self-esteem, neuroticism, and body esteem scales. After controlling for covariates including body mass index and exercise time, body dissatisfaction was seen to play a mediating role between neuroticism and mental health outcomes. Differences between the sexes were also found in this relationship. For men, body dissatisfaction acted as a mediator between neuroticism and depression. For women, body dissatisfaction acted as a mediator between neuroticism and both depression and self-esteem.
When the Frame Fits the Social Picture: The Effects of Framed Social Norm Messages on Healthy and Unhealthy Food Consumption
Authors: Mollen Saar , Holland Rob W. , Ruiter Robert A. C. , Rimal Rajiv N. , Kok Gerjo
Published: May 2016

We investigated the influence of framed norm messages about food consumption on motivation to consume, and actual consumption of, healthy and unhealthy foods. We proposed that the effects of positive and negative message frames would vary by the type of underlying norms (i.e., injunctive, descriptive). More specifically, based on information processing theories, it was expected that injunctive norms would be more effective when framed negatively compared with positively, while the opposite was expected for descriptive norms. In both experiments, participants were randomly assigned to one of four framed social norm conditions or a no-norm control condition. In Experiment 1, motivation to consume healthy and unhealthy foods was assessed by means of both indirect and self-report measures. In Experiment 2, actual food consumption was assessed. In both experiments, the predicted interaction was found. Results show that injunctive norms benefit from a negative (vs. positive) frame, while preliminary evidence suggests the opposite for descriptive norms.