bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
iNOS-dependent sweating and eNOS-dependent cutaneous vasodilation are evident in younger adults, but are diminished in older adults exercising in the heat
Authors: Fujii Naoto , Meade Robert D. , Alexander Lacy M. , Akbari Pegah , Foudil-bey Imane , Louie Jeffrey C. , Boulay Pierre , Kenny Glen P.
Published: December 2015

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) contributes to sweating and cutaneous vasodilation during exercise in younger adults. We hypothesized that endothelial NOS (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) mediate NOS-dependent sweating, whereas eNOS induces NOS-dependent cutaneous vasodilation in younger adults exercising in the heat. Further, aging may upregulate inducible NOS (iNOS), which may attenuate sweating and cutaneous vasodilator responses. We hypothesized that iNOS inhibition would augment sweating and cutaneous vasodilation in exercising older adults. Physically active younger ( n = 12, 23 ± 4 yr) and older ( n = 12, 60 ± 6 yr) adults performed two 30-min bouts of cycling at a fixed rate of metabolic heat production (400 W) in the heat (35°C). Sweat rate and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) were evaluated at four intradermal microdialysis sites with: 1) lactated Ringer (control), 2) nNOS inhibitor (nNOS-I, NPLA), 3) iNOS inhibitor (iNOS-I, 1400W), or 4) eNOS inhibitor (eNOS-I, LNAA). In younger adults during both exercise bouts, all inhibitors decreased sweating relative to control, albeit a lower sweat rate was observed at iNOS-I compared with eNOS-I and nNOS-I sites (all P < 0.05). CVC at the eNOS-I site was lower than control in younger adults throughout the intermittent exercise protocol (all P < 0.05). In older adults, there were no differences between control and iNOS-I sites for sweating and CVC during both exercise bouts (all P > 0.05). We show that iNOS and eNOS are the main contributors to NOS-dependent sweating and cutaneous vasodilation, respectively, in physically active younger adults exercising in the heat, and that iNOS inhibition does not alter sweating or cutaneous vasodilation in exercising physically active older adults.
The tactile speed aftereffect depends on the speed of adapting motion across the skin rather than other spatiotemporal features
Authors: McIntyre Sarah , Seizova-Cajic Tatjana , Holcombe Alex O.
Published: December 2015

After prolonged exposure to a surface moving across the skin, this felt movement appears slower, a phenomenon known as the tactile speed aftereffect (tSAE). We asked which feature of the adapting motion drives the tSAE: speed, the spacing between texture elements, or the frequency with which they cross the skin. After adapting to a ridged moving surface with one hand, participants compared the speed of test stimuli on adapted and unadapted hands. We used surfaces with different spatial periods (SPs; 3, 6, 12 mm) that produced adapting motion with different combinations of adapting speed (20, 40, 80 mm/s) and temporal frequency (TF; 3.4, 6.7, 13.4 ridges/s). The primary determinant of tSAE magnitude was speed of the adapting motion, not SP or TF. This suggests that adaptation occurs centrally, after speed has been computed from SP and TF, and/or that it reflects a speed cue independent of those features in the first place (e.g., indentation force). In a second experiment, we investigated the properties of the neural code for speed. Speed tuning predicts that adaptation should be greatest for speeds at or near the adapting speed. However, the tSAE was always stronger when the adapting stimulus was faster (242 mm/s) than the test (30–143 mm/s) compared with when the adapting and test speeds were matched. These results give no indication of speed tuning and instead suggest that adaptation occurs at a level where an intensive code dominates. In an intensive code, the faster the stimulus, the more the neurons fire.
Stress among Medical Students and Its Association with Substance Use and Academic Performance
Authors: Melaku Leta , Mossie Andualem , Negash Alemayehu
Published: December 2015

Background. Chronic stress among medical students affects academic performance of students and leads to depression, substance use, and suicide. There is, however, a shortage of such research evidence in Ethiopia. Objective. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and severity of stress and its association with substance use and academic performance among medical students. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 329 medical students at Jimma University. Data were collected using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Medical Students Stress Questionnaire (MSSQ-20), and Drug Abuse Surveillance Test (DAST). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Logistic regression analysis and Student’s t-test were applied. Results. The mean age of the respondents was 23.02 (SD = 2.074) years. The current prevalence of stress was 52.4%. Academic related stressor domain was the main source of stress among 281 (88.6%) students. Stress was significantly associated with khat chewing [AOR = 3.03, 95% CI (1.17, 7.85)], smoking [AOR = 4.55, 95% CI (1.05, 19.77)], and alcohol intake [AOR = 1.93, 95% CI (1.03, 3.60)]. The prevalence of stress was high during the initial three years of study. Stress was significantly (p=0.001) but negatively (r=-0.273) correlated with academic achievement. Conclusion. Stress was a significant problem among medical students and had a negative impact on their academic performance. Year of study, income, and substance use were associated with stress. Counseling and awareness creation are recommended.
Flexible-Robotic Reflector for Aerospace Applications
Authors: Shvalb Nir , Ben-Moshe Boaz , Medina Oded , Itzhaki Tamir Raz
Published: December 2015

Existing dish based antennas tend to have geometric morphologic distortion in the surface due to drastic thermal changes common in the space environment. In this paper we present a new concept for a dynamic antenna specially designed for communication satellites. The suggested flexible-robotic antenna is based on a dual-reflector structure, where the subreflector has a complex surface shaping robotic mechanism allowing it to fix most of the morphologic errors in the main reflector. We have implemented a set of searching algorithms allowing the hyper redundant robotic subreflector to adapt its surface to the morphologic distortions in the main reflector. The suggested new antenna was constructed and tested in an RF room in which it was able to fix the loss caused by distortion in the main reflector to the original gain in less than an hour.
Alanine with the Precipitate of Tomato Juice Administered to Rats Enhances the Reduction in Blood Ethanol Levels
Authors: Oshima Shunji , Shiiya Sachie , Tokumaru Yoshimi , Kanda Tomomasa
Published: December 2015

Delay in gastric emptying (GE) lowers the blood ethanol concentration (BEC) after alcohol administration. We previously demonstrated that water-insoluble fractions, mainly comprising dietary fiber derived from many types of botanical foods, possessed the ability to absorb ethanol-containing aqueous solutions. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the absorption of ethanol and lowering of BEC because of delay in GE. Here we identified dietary nutrients that synergize with the water-insoluble fraction of tomatoes to lower BEC in rats. Consequently, unlike tomato juice without alanine, tomato juice with 5.0% alanine decreased BEC depending on the delay in GE and mediated the ethanol-induced decrease in the spontaneous motor activity (an indicator of drunkenness). Our findings indicate that the synergism between tomato juice and alanine to reduce the absorption of ethanol was attributable to the effect of alanine on precipitates such as the water-insoluble fraction of tomatoes.
Regulatory Effect of Iguratimod on the Balance of Th Subsets and Inhibition of Inflammatory Cytokines in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Xu Yunzhi , Zhu Qi , Song Jinglve , Liu Hongli , Miao Yutong , Yang Fan , Wang Feiyan , Cheng Wenjing , Xi Yebin , Niu Xiaoyin , He Dongyi , Chen Guangjie
Published: December 2015

Objective. To expand upon the role of iguratimod (T‐614) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we investigated whether the Th1, Th17, follicular helper T cells (Tfh), and regulatory T cells (Treg) imbalance could be reversed by iguratimod and the clinical implications of this reversal. Methods. In this trial, 74 patients were randomized into iguratimod‐treated (group A) and control (broup B) group for a 24‐week treatment period. In the subsequent 28 weeks, both groups were given iguratimod. Frequencies of Th1, Th17, Tfh, and Treg were quantified using flow cytometry, and serum cytokines were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. mRNA expression of cytokines and transcriptional factor were quantified by RT‐PCR. The composite Disease Activity Score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C‐reactive protein were assessed at each visit. Result. The clinical scores demonstrated effective suppression of disease after treatment with iguratimod. In addition, iguratimod downregulated Th1, Th17‐type response and upregulated Treg. Furthermore, the levels of Th1, Th17, and Tfh associated inflammatory cytokines and transcription factors were reduced after treatment with iguratimod, while the levels of Treg associated cytokines and transcription factors were increased.
Overview of Emerging Contaminants and Associated Human Health Effects
Authors: Lei Meng , Zhang Lun , Lei Jianjun , Zong Liang , Li Jiahui , Wu Zheng , Wang Zheng
Published: December 2015

In recent decades, because of significant progress in the analysis and detection of trace pollutants, emerging contaminants have been discovered and quantified in living beings and diverse environmental substances; however, the adverse effects of environmental exposure on the general population are largely unknown. This review summarizes the conclusions of the comprehensive epidemic literature and representative case reports relevant to emerging contaminants and the human body to address concerns about potential harmful health effects in the general population. The most prevalent emerging contaminants include perfluorinated compounds, water disinfection byproducts, gasoline additives, manufactured nanomaterials, human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, and UV-filters. Rare but statistically meaningful connections have been reported for a number of contaminants and cancer and reproductive risks. Because of contradictions in the outcomes of some investigations and the limited number of articles, no significant conclusions regarding the relationship between adverse effects on humans and extents of exposure can be drawn at this time. Here, we report that the current evidence is not conclusive and comprehensive and suggest prospective cohort studies in the future to evaluate the associations between human health outcomes and emerging environmental contaminants.
Comparable Outcomes for Hematologic Malignancies after HLA-Haploidentical Transplantation with Posttransplantation Cyclophosphamide and HLA-Matched Transplantation
Authors: McCurdy Shannon R. , Fuchs Ephraim J.
Published: December 2015

The implementation of high-dose posttransplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has made HLA-haploidentical (haplo) blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) a cost effective and safe alternative donor transplantation technique, resulting in its increasing utilization over the last decade. We review the available retrospective comparisons of haplo BMT with PTCy and HLA-matched BMT in adults with hematologic malignancies. The examined studies demonstrate no difference between haplo BMT with PTCy and HLA-matched BMT with regard to acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), nonrelapse mortality, and overall survival. Chronic GVHD occurred less frequently after haplo BMT with PTCy compared with HLA-matched BMT utilizing standard GVHD prophylaxis. In addition, patients with a high risk of relapse by the disease risk index had a suggestion of improved progression-free and overall survival after haplo BMT with PTCy when compared with a historical cohort of HLA-matched BMT in one analysis. Furthermore, in Hodgkin lymphoma relapse and progression-free survival were improved in the haplo BMT with PTCy compared with the HLA-matched BMT cohort. These findings support the use of this transplantation platform when HLA-matched related donors (MRDs) are unavailable and suggest that clinical scenarios exist in which haplo BMT may be preferred to HLA-matched BMT, which warrant further investigation.
PPARγand the Innate Immune System Mediate the Resolution of Inflammation
Authors: Croasdell Amanda , Duffney Parker F. , Kim Nina , Lacy Shannon H. , Sime Patricia J. , Phipps Richard P.
Published: December 2015

The resolution of inflammation is an active and dynamic process, mediated in large part by the innate immune system. Resolution represents not only an increase in anti-inflammatory actions, but also a paradigm shift in immune cell function to restore homeostasis. PPARγ, a ligand activated transcription factor, has long been studied for its anti-inflammatory actions, but an emerging body of literature is investigating the role of PPARγand its ligands (including thiazolidinediones, prostaglandins, and oleanolic acids) in all phases of resolution. PPARγcan shift production from pro- to anti-inflammatory mediators by neutrophils, platelets, and macrophages. PPARγand its ligands further modulate platelet and neutrophil function, decreasing trafficking, promoting neutrophil apoptosis, and preventing platelet-leukocyte interactions. PPARγalters macrophage trafficking, increases efferocytosis and phagocytosis, and promotes alternative M2 macrophage activation. There are also roles for this receptor in the adaptive immune response, particularly regarding B cells. These effects contribute towards the attenuation of multiple disease states, including COPD, colitis, Alzheimer’s disease, and obesity in animal models. Finally, novel specialized proresolving mediators—eicosanoids with critical roles in resolution—may act through PPARγmodulation to promote resolution, providing another exciting area of therapeutic potential for this receptor.
Isolated Proximal Tibiofibular Dislocation during Soccer
Authors: Chiu Casey , Sheele Johnathan Michael
Published: December 2015

Proximal tibiofibular dislocations are rarely encountered in the Emergency Department (ED). We present a case involving a man presenting to the ED with left knee pain after making a sharp left turn on the soccer field. His physical exam was only remarkable for tenderness over the lateral fibular head. His X-rays showed subtle abnormalities of the tibiofibular joint. The dislocation was reduced and the patient was discharged from the ED with orthopedic follow-up.
The Influence of Ghrelin on the Development of Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis in Rats
Authors: Matuszyk Aleksandra , Ceranowicz Dagmara , Warzecha Zygmunt , Ceranowicz Piotr , Fyderek Krzysztof , Gałązka Krystyna , Cieszkowski Jakub , Bonior Joanna , Jaworek Jolanta , Pihut Małgorzata , Dembiński Artur
Published: December 2015

Ghrelin has protective and therapeutic effects in the gut. The aim of present studies was to investigate the effect of treatment with ghrelin on the development of colitis evoked by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Methods. Studies have been performed on rats. Colitis was induced by adding 5% DSS to the drinking water for 5 days. During this period animals were treated intraperitoneally twice a day with saline or ghrelin given at the dose of 8 nmol/kg/dose. On the sixth day, animals were anesthetized and the severity of colitis was assessed. Results. Treatment with ghrelin during administration of DSS reduced the development of colitis. Morphological features of colonic mucosa exhibited a reduction in the area and deep of mucosal damage. Ghrelin reversed the colitis-induced decrease in blood flow, DNA synthesis, and superoxide dismutase activity in colonic mucosa. These effects were accompanied by a decrease in the colitis-evoked increase in mucosal concentration of interleukin-1β and malondialdehyde. Treatment with ghrelin reversed the DSS-induced reduction in body weight gain. Conclusions. Administration of ghrelin exhibits the preventive effect against the development of DSS-induced colitis. This effect seems to be related to ghrelin’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties.
Driving Competence in Mild Dementia with Lewy Bodies: In Search of Cognitive Predictors Using Driving Simulation
Authors: Yamin Stephanie , Stinchcombe Arne , Gagnon Sylvain
Published: December 2015

Driving is a multifactorial behaviour drawing on multiple cognitive, sensory, and physical systems. Dementia is a progressive and degenerative neurological condition that impacts the cognitive processes necessary for safe driving. While a number of studies have examined driving among individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, less is known about the impact of Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) on driving safety. The present study compared simulated driving performance of 15 older drivers with mild DLB with that of 21 neurologically healthy control drivers. DLB drivers showed poorer performance on all indicators of simulated driving including an increased number of collisions in the simulator and poorer composite indicators of overall driving performance. A measure of global cognitive function (i.e., the Mini Mental State Exam) was found to be related to the overall driving performance. In addition, measures of attention (i.e., Useful Field of View, UFOV) and space processing (Visual Object and Space Perception, VOSP, Test) correlated significantly with a rater’s assessment of driving performance.
MRBrainS Challenge: Online Evaluation Framework for Brain Image Segmentation in 3T MRI Scans
Authors: Mendrik Adriënne M. , Vincken Koen L. , Kuijf Hugo J. , Breeuwer Marcel , Bouvy Willem H. , de Bresser Jeroen , Alansary Amir , de Bruijne Marleen , Carass Aaron , El-Baz Ayman , Jog Amod , Katyal Ranveer , Khan Ali R. , van der Lijn Fedde , Mahmood Qaiser , Mukherjee Ryan , van Opbroek Annegreet , Paneri Sahil , Pereira Sérgio , Persson Mikael , Rajchl Martin , Sarikaya Duygu , Smedby Örjan , Silva Carlos A. , Vrooman Henri A. , Vyas Saurabh , Wang Chunliang , Zhao Liang , Biessels Geert Jan , Viergever Max A.
Published: December 2015

Many methods have been proposed for tissue segmentation in brain MRI scans. The multitude of methods proposed complicates the choice of one method above others. We have therefore established the MRBrainS online evaluation framework for evaluating (semi)automatic algorithms that segment gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on 3T brain MRI scans of elderly subjects (65–80 y). Participants apply their algorithms to the provided data, after which their results are evaluated and ranked. Full manual segmentations of GM, WM, and CSF are available for all scans and used as the reference standard. Five datasets are provided for training and fifteen for testing. The evaluated methods are ranked based on their overall performance to segment GM, WM, and CSF and evaluated using three evaluation metrics (Dice, H95, and AVD) and the results are published on the MRBrainS13 website. We present the results of eleven segmentation algorithms that participated in the MRBrainS13 challenge workshop at MICCAI, where the framework was launched, and three commonly used freeware packages: FreeSurfer, FSL, and SPM. The MRBrainS evaluation framework provides an objective and direct comparison of all evaluated algorithms and can aid in selecting the best performing method for the segmentation goal at hand.
Short-Term Feeding of Fibre-Enriched Biscuits: Protective Effect against Hepatotoxicity in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Erukainure Ochuko L. , Ebuehi Osaretin A. T. , Adeboyejo Folasade O. , Oladunmoye Olufunmilola O. , Aliyu Muhammad , Obode Okukwe C. , Olasehinde Tosin , Elemo Gloria N.
Published: December 2015

The effects of fibre-enriched biscuit on biomarkers associated with hepatotoxicity in diabetic rats were investigated. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate. Treatment lasted for 14 days after which the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Blood serum was analyzed to determine hepatic function enzymes. The liver was also analyzed to determine hepatic lipid profile and antioxidant enzymes. Induction of diabetes led to elevated levels of ALP, AST, and ALT. These were, however, significantly (p<0.05) reduced in the fibre-enriched biscuit fed (treated) group. There was no significant difference in the serum bilirubin and total protein levels of the studied groups. Reduced albumin level was observed in the diabetic group; this was further lowered on feeding with fibre-enriched biscuits. Induction of diabetes led to increased hepatic level of cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and lipid peroxidation and decreased activities of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and HDL level. These were significantly (p<0.05) reversed on feeding with fibre-enriched biscuit. This study portrays the protective effect of fibre-enriched biscuit on increased oxidative stress and hyperlipidemia in hepatic tissues of alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
Diagnosis of Elevator Faults with LS-SVM Based on Optimization by K-CV
Authors: Wan Zhou , Yi Shilin , Li Kun , Tao Ran , Gou Min , Li Xinshi , Guo Shu
Published: December 2015

Several common elevator malfunctions were diagnosed with a least square support vector machine (LS-SVM). After acquiring vibration signals of various elevator functions, their energy characteristics and time domain indicators were extracted by theoretically analyzing the optimal wavelet packet, in order to construct a feature vector of malfunctions for identifying causes of the malfunctions as input of LS-SVM. Meanwhile, parameters about LS-SVM were optimized by K-fold cross validation (K-CV). After diagnosing deviated elevator guide rail, deviated shape of guide shoe, abnormal running of tractor, erroneous rope groove of traction sheave, deviated guide wheel, and tension of wire rope, the results suggested that the LS-SVM based on K-CV optimization was one of effective methods for diagnosing elevator malfunctions.
Clinical and Technical Overview of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis for Fragile X Syndrome: Experience at the University Hospital Virgen del Rocio in Spain
Authors: Fernández Raquel M. , Peciña Ana , Lozano-Arana Maria Dolores , Sánchez Beatriz , García-Lozano Juan Carlos , Borrego Salud , Antiñolo Guillermo
Published: December 2015

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) accounts for about one-half of cases of X-linked intellectual disability and is the most common monogenic cause of mental impairment. Reproductive options for the FXS carriers include preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). However, this strategy is considered by some centers as wasteful owing to the high prevalence of premature ovarian failure in FXS carriers and the difficulties in genetic diagnosis of the embryos. Here we present the results of our PGD Program applied to FXS, at the Department of Genetics, Reproduction and Fetal Medicine of the University Hospital Virgen del Rocío in Seville. A total of 11 couples have participated in our PGD Program for FXS since 2010. Overall, 15 cycles were performed, providing a total of 43 embryos. The overall percentage of transfers per cycle was 46.67% and the live birth rate per cycle was 13.33%. As expected, these percentages are considerably lower than the ones obtained in PGD for other pathologies. Our program resulted in the birth of 3 unaffected babies of FXS for 2 of the 11 couples (18.2%) supporting that, despite the important drawbacks of PGD for FXS, efforts should be devoted in offering this reproductive option to the affected families.
Dependence Receptors and Cancer: Addiction to Trophic Ligands
Authors: Gibert Benjamin , Mehlen Patrick
Published: December 2015

Data accumulating over the last 20 years support the notion that some transmembrane receptors are activated not only by their respective ligands but also, differentially, by the withdrawal or absence of these same ligands. In this latter setting, these receptors actively trigger apoptosis. They have been dubbed dependence receptors because their expression confers a state of ligand dependence for survival on the expressing cells. Twenty of these receptors have been identified to date, and several have been shown to inhibit tumor progression by inducing apoptosis. As a corollary, these receptors, or their transduced death signals, are frequently silenced in cancer cells as a selective mechanism to prevent cell death, allowing invasion and metastasis. Drugs aimed at inducing programmed cell death in neoplastic cells by re-engaging the proapoptotic activity induced by unliganded dependence receptors are in late-stage preclinical tests, poised for clinical evaluation. This approach may offer novel opportunities for patient treatments. In this review, we discuss the implications of dependence receptors in limiting cancer progression and address the therapeutic perspectives brought to light by this paradigm. Cancer Res; 75(24); 5171–5. ©2015 AACR.
Disturbed Serotonergic Neurotransmission and Oxidative Stress in Elderly Patients with Delirium
Authors: Egberts Angelique , Fekkes Durk , Wijnbeld Eline H.A. , van der Ploeg Milly A. , van Saase Jan L.C.M. , Ziere Gijsbertus , van der Cammen Tischa J.M. , Mattace-Raso Francesco U.S.
Published: December 2015

Background: Oxidative stress and disturbances in serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission may play a role in the pathophysiology of delirium. Aims: In this study, we investigated levels of amino acids, amino acid ratios and levels of homovanillic acid (HVA) as indicators for oxidative stress and disturbances in neurotransmission. Methods: Plasma levels of amino acids, amino acid ratios and HVA were determined in acutely ill patients aged ≥65 years admitted to the wards of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics of the Erasmus University Medical Center and the ward of Geriatrics of the Havenziekenhuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Differences in the biochemical parameters between patients with and without delirium were investigated by analysis of variance in models adjusted for age, gender and comorbidities. Results: Of the 86 patients included, 23 had delirium. In adjusted models, higher mean phenylalanine/tyrosine ratios (1.34 vs. 1.14, p = 0.028), lower mean tryptophan/large neutral amino acids ratios (4.90 vs. 6.12, p = 0.021) and lower mean arginine levels (34.8 vs. 45.2 µmol/l, p = 0.022) were found in patients with delirium when compared to those without. No differences were found in HVA levels between patients with and without delirium. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest disturbed serotonergic neurotransmission and an increased status of oxidative stress in patients with delirium.
Association between FKBP5 Functional Polymorphisms and Completed Suicide
Authors: Fudalej Sylwia , Kopera Maciej , Wołyńczyk-Gmaj Dorota , Fudalej Marcin , Krajewski Paweł , Wasilewska Krystyna , Szymański Konrad , Chojnicka Izabela , Podgórska Anna , Wojnar Marcin , Płoski Rafał
Published: December 2015

Objectives: Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis leads to impaired stress response. FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP5), which influences HPA axis activity via glucocorticoid receptors, is supposed to play an important role in the regulation of negative feedback and glucocorticoid resistance. Since ineffective stress response mechanisms are considered as a biological background of suicide behavior, we aimed to analyze a possible association between FKBP5 functional polymorphisms and completed suicide. Methods: The selected FKBP5 polymorphisms rs1360780 and rs3800373 were genotyped in a sample of 563 suicide victims and 475 controls. Results: A significant association between the high-induction rs3800373 C allele and completed suicide was detected (OR = 1.36, p = 0.007). In this polymorphism, genotype distribution supported a codominant model of inheritance. The analyzed SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium (D' = 0.916 and r2 = 0.826) with the rs1360780 (T)-rs3800373 (C) haplotype apparently responsible for the observed association (OR = 1.34, p = 0.010). Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that genetic alterations in FKBP5 may influence vulnerability to suicide.
Dynamics of Fat Mass in DUhTP Mice Selected for Running Performance - Fat Mobilization in a Walk
Authors: Brenmoehl Julia , Ohde Daniela , Walz Christina , Schultz Julia , Tuchscherer Armin , Rieder Florian , Renne Ulla , Hoeflich Andreas
Published: December 2015

Objective: Reduction of body fat can be achieved by dietary programs and/or aerobic exercise training. More convenient methods to rid the body of excess fat are needed. However, it is unclear whether it is possible to more easily lose body weight at all. Methods: DUhTP mice bred through phenotype selection for high treadmill performance and unselected controls were voluntarily physically active in a running wheel over a period of 3 weeks. Phenotypical data were collected, and subcutaneous fat was analyzed for expression of mitochondria-relevant proteins. Results: Voluntary physical activity over 3 weeks exclusively in DUhTP mice severely reduced subcutaneous (-38%; p < 0.05) and epididymal (-32%; p < 0.05) fat. Following mild physical activity, subcutaneous fat derived from DUhTP mice showed increased levels of long chain acyl dehydrogenase (LCAD; +230%; p < 0.05) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1-α; p < 0.01). Mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) expression was similar in both sedentary genotypes but physical activity increased Tfam levels exclusively in DUhTP (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the mitochondrial mass is highly active in DUhTP mice and responsive even to mild physical activity. While genetic predisposition could not prevent fat accretion in DUhTP mice, voluntary activity was sufficient to reduce excess body fat almost completely.
Combined Bronchial Artery Embolization and Endobronchial Resection for Bronchial Carcinoid: A Safety and Feasibility Pilot Study
Authors: Salamonsen Matthew , Tazi-Mezalek Rachid , López-Lisbona Rosa , Cubero Noelia , Baixeras Núria , Dominguez Joan , Dorca Jordi , Rosell Antoni
Published: December 2015

Background: There is growing evidence to support bronchoscopic resection of well-circumscribed typical carcinoids. However, massive bleeding and risk of recurrence can potentially complicate this approach. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of endobronchial resection of carcinoids preceded by bronchial artery embolization. Methods: Five patients with centrally located typical carcinoids were recruited, 4 with a curative intent and 1 for palliation of a carcinoid with mediastinal invasion. All patients underwent selective embolization of the feeding bronchial artery 24-48 h prior to endobronchial resection, which was performed with a rigid bronchoscope and neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-perovskite laser. Results: Minimal bleeding was noted during tumour resection. After a median (range) follow-up of 20 (14-48) months, only the case with segmental extension of the tumour had local recurrence, which was treated successfully using cryotherapy (with negative endobronchial biopsies since), and no cases of metastatic spread occurred. One patient, in whom the histopathological diagnosis was changed from typical to atypical carcinoid following resection, went on to have a surgical bilobectomy 3 months later. Extensive fibrosis was noted at the site of original tumour resection with no evidence of residual disease. Conclusions: Bronchial artery embolization prior to endobronchial resection of centrally located carcinoids is feasible and safe. The reduction in bleeding may facilitate and simplify the procedure. The possible application of this combined therapy to the management of atypical carcinoids warrants the design of a larger prospective clinical trial.
Os vivos, os mortos e a política no sertão de Pernambuco
Authors: Villela Jorge Mattar
Published: December 2015

Pretendo mostrar neste artigo alguns modos pelos quais os mortos são chamados a interferir na vida e em alguns aspectos centrais da vida cotidiana em três municípios situados no sertão de Pernambuco. A principal contribuição desta etnografia é a de procurar demonstrar que a mnemotecnia familiar e genealógica, os mortos, a política e a família são capazes de estabelecer história política e municipal e criar uma forma-Estado específica.
Safety and Tolerability of ACP-501, a Recombinant Human Lecithin:Cholesterol Acyltransferase, in a Phase 1 Single-Dose Escalation Study
Authors: Shamburek Robert D. , Bakker-Arkema Rebecca , Shamburek Alexandra M. , Freeman Lita A. , Amar Marcelo J. , Auerbach Bruce , Krause Brian R. , Homan Reynold , Adelman Steve J. , Collins Heidi L. , Sampson Maureen , Wolska Anna , Remaley Alan T.
Published: December 2015

Rationale:

Low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) may be caused by rate-limiting amounts of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). Raising LCAT may be beneficial for CHD, as well as for familial LCAT deficiency, a rare disorder of low HDL-C.

Objective:

To determine safety and tolerability of recombinant human LCAT infusion in subjects with stable CHD and low HDL-C and its effect on plasma lipoproteins.

Methods and Results:

A phase 1b, open-label, single-dose escalation study was conducted to evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of recombinant human LCAT (ACP-501). Four cohorts with stable CHD and low HDL-C were dosed (0.9, 3.0, 9.0, and 13.5 mg/kg, single 1-hour infusions) and followed up for 28 days. ACP-501 was well tolerated, and there were no serious adverse events. Plasma LCAT concentrations were dose-proportional, increased rapidly, and declined with an apparent terminal half-life of 42 hours. The 0.9-mg/kg dose did not significantly change HDL-C; however, 6 hours after doses of 3.0, 9.0, and 13.5 mg/kg, HDL-C was elevated by 6%, 36%, and 42%, respectively, and remained above baseline ≤4 days. Plasma cholesteryl esters followed a similar time course as HDL-C. ACP-501 infusion rapidly decreased small- and intermediate-sized HDL, whereas large HDL increased. Pre–β-HDL also rapidly decreased and was undetectable ≤12 hours post ACP-501 infusion.

Conclusions:

ACP-501 has an acceptable safety profile after a single intravenous infusion. Lipid and lipoprotein changes indicate that recombinant human LCAT favorably alters HDL metabolism and support recombinant human LCAT use in future clinical trials in CHD and familial LCAT deficiency patients.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01554800.
Providing Rapid Out of Hospital Acute Cardiovascular Treatment 4 (PROACT‐4)
Authors: Ezekowitz Justin A. , Welsh Robert C. , Weiss Dale , Chan Michael , Keeble William , Khadour Fadi , Sharma Sanjay , Tymchak Wayne , Sookram Sunil , Brass Neil , Knapp Darren , Koshy Thomas L. , Zheng Yinggan , Armstrong Paul W.
Published: December 2015

Background

Whether prehospital point‐of‐care (
POC
) troponin further accelerates the time to diagnosis in patients with chest pain (
CP
) is unknown. We conducted a randomized trial of
POC
‐Troponin testing in the ambulance.

Methods and Results

Patients with chest pain presenting by ambulance were randomized to usual care (
UC
) or
POC
‐Troponin;
ST
‐elevation myocardial infarction patients or those with noncardiovascular symptoms were excluded. Pre‐hospital high‐sensitivity troponin was analyzed on a
POC
device and available to the paramedic and emergency department (
ED
) staff. The final diagnosis was centrally adjudicated. The primary endpoint was time from first medical contact to discharge from
ED
or admission to hospital. We randomized 601 patients in 19 months; 296 to
UC
and 305 to
POC
‐Troponin. After ambulance arrival, the first troponin was available in 38 minutes in
POC
‐Troponin and 139 minutes in
UC
. In
POC
‐Troponin, the troponin was >0.01 ng/mL in 17.4% and >0.03 ng/mL in 9.8%. Patients spent a median of 9.0 hours from first medical contact to final disposition, and 165 (27.4%) were admitted to the hospital. The primary endpoint was shorter in patients randomized to
POC
‐Troponin (median 8.8 hours [6.2–10.8] compared to
UC
(median 9.1 hours [6.7–11.2];
P
=0.05). There was no difference in the secondary endpoint of repeat
ED
visits, hospitalizations, or death in the next 30 days.

Conclusions

In this broad population of patients with
CP
, ambulance
POC
‐Troponin accelerated the time to final disposition. Enhanced and more cost‐effective early
ED
discharge of the majority of patients with
CP
calling 911 is an unrealized opportunity.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
https://www.ClinicalTrials.gov/
. Unique identifier:
NCT
01634425.
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome as an Overlooked Complication of Induced Hypertension for Cerebral Vasospasm
Authors: Muhammad Sajjad , Güresir Ági , Greschus Susanne , Scorzin Jasmin , Vatter Hartmut , Güresir Erdem
Published: December 2015

Background and Purpose—

Delayed cerebral ischemia associated with cerebral vasospasm is a common cause of secondary neurological decline after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Triple-H therapy, induced hypertension, hypervolemia, and hemodilution, is often used to treat cerebral vasospasm. However, hypertensive treatment may carry significant medical morbidity, including cardiopulmonary, renal, and intracranial complications. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a reversible intracranial complication that has rarely been reported in the setting of induced hypertension.

Methods—

We present an illustrative case of PRES in a patient with induced hypertension for SAH-related cerebral vasospasm and performed a systematic review. Furthermore, the electronic database MEDLINE was searched for additional data in published studies of PRES after induced hypertension.

Results—

Overall, 7 case reports presenting 10 patients who developed PRES secondary to induced hypertension were found. Eighty-two percent of the patients were women. In all cases, the clinical symptoms were attributed to cerebral vasospasm before the diagnosis of PRES. The time from onset of induced hypertension to the development of PRES was 7.8±3.8 days. After the diagnosis of PRES and careful taper down of the blood pressure, the neurological symptoms resolved almost completely within a few days in all patients.

Conclusions—

PRES in the setting of SAH is an overlooked complication of hypertensive therapy for the treatment of vasospasm. However, the diagnosis of this phenomenon is crucial given the necessity to reverse hypertensive therapy, which is contrary to the usual management of patients with vasospasm.
Relations, Narrations, and Judgments: The Scholarly Networks and Contributions of an Early Female Muslim Jurist
Authors: Hassan Mona F.
Published: December 2015

Through an extensive analysis of early biographical dictionaries and histories, ḥadīth collections and commentaries, as well as legal texts, I reconstruct the life of a female jurist from the third generation of Muslims. It was through informal networks of kinship and scholarship that ʿAmrah bint ʿAbd al-Raḥmān (d. 106/724) contributed to the core of Islamic knowledge in ways similar to her male contemporaries, while she also served as a resource within the community for the gender-specific concerns of women. The depth of her knowledge established ʿAmrah’s narrations as reliable evidence of the Prophet Muḥammad’s conduct and endowed her own opinions and deeds with an authoritative weight respected by contemporaries and subsequent generations of Muslim scholars.
Words into Texts: Justice Politics and the Written Record at a Trial in Tunis in 1844
Authors: Pennell Richard , Saeed Abdullah
Published: December 2015

Paolo Xuereb, a Maltese migrant in Tunis in the mid nineteenth century, was tried for murder in the court of the Bey of Tunis. Two contemporary documents describing the trial exist. One is a translated (into English) “transcript” made by the US consulate, the other is an Arabic statement of the verdict and sentence validated by some of the principal Islamic legal authorities of the Beylicate. The article compares these two documents and finds that where their focusses coincide they are nearly identical in content. But the differences between the documents are striking: one is an account of the course of the trial, the other a statement of its legalities and conclusions. This rare coincidence of documentation is used to tease out the implications for historians of how testimony given orally at a criminal trial in an Islamic environment is changed and transmitted when it is recorded in written form.
What Is a Philosophical Tendency?
Authors: Stolze Ted
Published: December 2015

This article clarifies and resituates Althusser’s materialist philosophical project in relation not only to such predecessors as V.I. Lenin and Jean-Toussaint Desanti but also to such successors as Pierre Macherey and Pierre Raymond. The thesis of the article is that Althusser’s project to establish a philosophical practice that would be appropriate for Marxism did not simply consist of identifying and defending a ‘materialist’ position in philosophy against external ‘idealist’ challenges or threats. On the contrary, it recognised that there exists an interminable struggle between inextricably linked but ever-shifting materialist and idealist tendencies – a struggle that operates as a defining feature in the history of philosophy. As a result, the problem explored in this article concerns how best to conceptualise this struggle and to determine whether or not the term ‘tendency’ genuinely holds analytical value and can serve as an important conceptual resource for Marxists working within the field of philosophy.
Socialism Betrayed? Economists, Neoliberalism, and History in the Undoing of Market Socialism
Authors: Pula Besnik
Published: December 2015

Through an historical analysis of the transnational practices of economists during the Cold War, Johanna Bockman rejects the narrative that the revolutions of 1989 represented the victory of ‘Western economics’, and especially neoliberalism, over ‘East-European socialism’. Rather, Bockman shows that the space of exchange, as well as policy experimentation in socialist states such as Yugoslavia and Hungary, led to the articulation of alternative, decentralised, ‘market socialisms’ from the 1950s up until the 1980s. Instead of operating within separate and incommensurable paradigms of ‘capitalist’ and ‘socialist’ economics, Bockman shows how neoclassical theory and its long tradition of comparing distinct economic systems became the centralepistemeallowing for the transnational exchange of ideas between economists of both the East and the West. This review-essay evaluates the book’s central claims but argues that the book stands on weaker ground when arguing that a reformed socialism was a viable option in Eastern Europe after 1989.
Out of Sync: Tomba’s Marx and the Problem of a Multi-layered Temporal Dialectic
Authors: Osborne Peter
Published: December 2015

This piece reconstructs and reflects upon the terms of the theoretical projection underlying Max Tomba’s book,Marx’s Temporalities, with particular reference to his use of the concepts of multiple temporalities (Ernst Bloch) and temporal layers (Bloch and Reinhart Koselleck). Tomba’s use of these concepts, it is argued, productively relocates Marx’s writings within the framework of the twentieth-century philosophy of time. However, Tomba’s dependence upon received versions of these concepts, untransformed, reproduces theoretical problems implicit within them, which have been intensified by recent developments within global capital. The application of these concepts to an understanding of the historical present, understood as a situation of globally disjunctive contemporaneity, is seen to be, in part, vitiated by their embeddedness within an increasingly exhausted past.
Marx’s Gendered Temporalities
Authors: Arruzza Cinzia
Published: December 2015

Massimiliano Tomba’s book, Marx’s Temporalities, stresses the centrality of the body for the critique of exploitation and suggests that a new phenotype is produced by consumerism and by the dynamic of capitalist accumulation, with its plural temporalities. However, both the body of the worker and the new phenotype do not appear to have a sex or a gender in Tomba’s book. In this intervention, I read some of Tomba’s insights about the body, the new phenotype, and primary accumulation in the light of a critical gender and feminist perspective.
Marx’s Temporal Bridges and Other Pathways
Authors: Tomba Massimiliano
Published: December 2015

In this article I reply to three critics. Responding to Cinzia Arruzza, I argue that capital encounters a large spectrum of differences of gender, religion and ethnicity, as well as differences generated by racism. Capital is able to use these differences to its own profit in order to differentiate wages and intensities of exploitation and thereby divide the working class. Responding to Peter Osborne, I contend that my temporal-layered framework elucidates how capital organises and synchronises different temporalities according to the dominant temporality of socially-necessary labour time. I combine Bloch’s idea of ‘multiversum’ and Benjamin’s idea of history in order to show how conflicting temporalities can disclose new political possibilities of liberation. Responding to Harry Harootunian, I articulate the relationship between my reading of Marx and the Postcolonial critique.
Wither Production?
Authors: Brouillette Sarah
Published: December 2015

The argument thatAgainst World Literaturemakes about why we might perceive translation as a form of anti-capitalist or ‘deowned’ property does not jibe with basic features of the material organisation of the publishing industry and the intellectual-property regime on which it depends. While it is perhaps unfair to expect everyone to be a cultural materialist or literary sociologist, I point out a number of features of the organisation of the World Literature industry that trouble Apter’s arguments about the anti-capitalist implications of our recognition of the untranslatable. Ultimately ownership is not a matter of perception, and non-owned literature, like non-alienated literary labour, cannot exist under capitalism. These circumstances will not change in the absence of some fundamental reorientation of the class dynamics of writing, publishing, and reading. To deown literature, the whole material constitution of the industry would have to be abolished and replaced with something else.
Legislating for the Benefit of Children Born Out of Wedlock
Authors: Bentlage Björn
Published: December 2015

This paper juxtaposes bioethical debates with legal developments concerning children born out of wedlock in Jordan, Egypt, and Tunisia; it seeks to demonstrate the relevance of national contexts for the study of Islamic bioethics. Debates about the import of genetic testing on Islamic notions of lineage and paternity could have an immediate and concrete impact on children whose parents were not married. Following a brief sketch of Islamic lineage rules, this paper traces their entanglement in national contexts through the regulation of citizenship, constitutional references, and laws of personal status, before it lays out the conflicting implications of an equal rights based statutory and international law on the one side, and shariatic lineage rules on the other. A legislative comparison shows that Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia have used diverging strategies to manage – although not resolve – this inherent friction, which has already resulted in different legal situations for children born out of wedlock. I argue that the little consideration transnational fiqh councils have given to national and statutory differences complicates the transnational and normative aspects of Islamic bioethics. It speaks of the uneasy situation of Islamic jurisprudence in a political and legal context dominated by nation states and, I would argue, will influence the development of a burgeoning field.