bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypertension and Obesity and the Risk of Kidney Cancer in 2 Large Cohorts of US Men and Women
Authors: Sanfilippo Kristen M. , McTigue Kathleen M. , Fidler Christian J. , Neaton James D. , Chang Yuefang , Fried Linda F. , Liu Simin , Kuller Lewis H.
Published: March 2014

Kidney cancer incidence is increasing globally. Reasons for this rise are unclear but could relate to obesity and hypertension. We analyzed longitudinal relationships between hypertension and obesity and kidney cancer incidence in 156 774 participants of the Women’s Health Initiative clinical trials and observational studies over 10.8 years. In addition, we examined the effect of blood pressure (BP) on kidney cancer deaths for over 25 years among the 353 340 men screened for the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT). In the Women’s Health Initiative, systolic BP (SBP) was categorized in 6 groups from <120 to >160 mm Hg, and body mass index was categorized using standard criteria. In age-adjusted analyses, kidney cancer risk increased across SBP categories (
P
value for trend <0.0001) and body mass index categories (
P
value for trend <0.0001). In adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, both SBP levels and body mass index were predictors of kidney cancer. In the MRFIT sample, there were 906 deaths after an average of 25 years of follow-up attributed to kidney cancer among the 353 340 participants aged 35 to 57 years at screening. The risk of death from kidney cancer increased in a dose–response fashion with increasing SBP (hazard ratio, 1.87 for SBP>160 versus <120 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval, 1.38–2.53). Risk was increased among cigarette smokers. Further research is needed to determine the pathophysiologic basis of relationships between both higher BP and the risk of kidney cancer, and whether specific drug therapies for hypertension can reduce kidney cancer risk.
Quicker Than the Eye? Sleight of Hand and Cinemas of Scientific Discovery from Chronophotography to Cognitive Film Theory
Authors: Williamson Colin
Published: March 2014

This article explores the topic of scientific discovery in two cases of intersections between imaging technologies and sleight-of-hand magic in the domain of nontheatrical film and media. The first case is the French psychologist Alfred Binet’s use of chronophotography to study magicians in the 1890s. The second is the reanimation of Binet’s study by cognitive (neuro)scientists beginning in the early 2000s using eye-tracking cameras and other digital-imaging devices. The author focuses on how both cases treat the magician as a medium of discovery and how both use optical devices to “see” visual processes related to the experience of wonder.
Colourful males hold high quality territories but exhibit reduced paternal care in barn swallows
Authors: Hasegawa Masaru , Arai Emi , Watanabe Mamoru , Nakamura Masahiko
Published: March 2014

The European barn swallow, Hirundo rustica rustica, is a model system of female mate choice for indirect benefits. Its long tail, which is the target of female mate choice, is positively related to the genetic quality of males, whereas direct benefits in terms of territory quality and paternal care are unimportant in the choice of long-tailed males. However, the situation may differ in other subspecies where male ornaments other than tail length are elaborate and appear to be the main target of female choice. Here we studied whether throat colouration, a sexually selected trait, provides direct benefits in terms of territory quality and parental care in a population of Japanese barn swallows, H. r. gutturalis, which have short tails and large throat patches. We compared dyads of males occupying neighbouring territories to study the relationship between male ornamentation and territory quality in our sparse population. Males with higher quality territories had more colourful throat patches than males with lower quality territories, indicating a positive relationship between male throat colouration and the quality of their territory. In contrast, male feeding rate decreased with increasing colourfulness of male throat patch without confounding with female feeding rate. These results are consistent with previous studies showing a positive association between plumage colouration and testosterone levels. The trade-off between the two direct benefits of mate choice, i.e., territory quality and paternal care, can explain sexual selection for colourful throat patches rather than long tails in our sparse outdoor population, a typical breeding habitat in Japan, whereas it predicts a reverse pattern in dense indoor populations as found in Europe.
Habitat segregation by female humpback whales in Hawaiian waters: avoidance of males?
Authors: Craig Alison S. , Herman Louis M. , Pack Adam A. , Waterman James O.
Published: March 2014

Humpback whales congregate annually in low-latitude winter breeding and calving grounds. While on these grounds, females with a dependent calf (‘maternal females’) are sometimes closely attended by one or more male escorts. Using data collected from a shore-based observation platform in the Hawaiian Islands, we tested the hypothesis that the spatial distribution of maternal females is driven primarily by avoidance of males. As predicted, we found that (1) pods containing a calf occurred in significantly shallower water than pods that did not contain a calf, (2) unescorted maternal females occurred in significantly shallower water than escorted maternal females, (3) the number of males escorting a female decreased significantly with decreasing water depth, and (4) the swimming speed of maternal females increased as a function of male presence, with escorted females travelling significantly more rapidly than unescorted females and a significant positive correlation between swimming speed and number of escorts. We suggest that maternal females incur increased energetic costs when escorted by males and consequently position themselves in shallow waters to reduce the likelihood of unwanted male attention.
Rapid up- and down-regulation of pheromone signalling due to trail crowding in the ant Lasius niger
Authors: Czaczkes Tomer J. , Grüter Christoph , Ratnieks Francis L.W.
Published: March 2014

Social insects often respond to signals and cues from nest-mates, and these responses may include changes in the information they, in turn, transmit. During foraging, Lasius niger deposits a pheromone trail to recruit nestmates, and ants that experience trail crowding deposit pheromone less often. Less studied, however, is the time taken for signalling to revert to baseline levels after conditions have returned to baseline levels. In this paper we study the behaviour of L. niger foragers on a trail in which crowding is simulated by using dummy ants — black glass beads coated in nestmate cuticular hydrocarbons. Ants were allowed to make four repeat visits to a feeder with dummy ants, and thus crowding, being present on the trail on all visits (CCCC), none (UUUU) or only the first two (CCUU). If dummy ants were always present (CCCC), pheromone deposition probability was low in the first two visits (54% of ants deposited pheromone) and remained low in visits 3 and 4 (51%). If dummy ants were never present (UUUU) pheromone deposition probability was high in the first two visits (93%) and remained high in visits 3 and 4 (83%). If dummy ants were present on the first two visits but removed on the second two visits (CCUU) pheromone deposition probability was low in the first two visits (61%) but rose in the second two visits (69%). This demonstrates that even after pheromone deposition has been down-regulated due to crowding in the first two visits, it is rapidly up-regulated when crowding is reduced, although it does not immediately return to the base line level.
Individual consistency in migratory behaviour of a pelagic seabird
Authors: Yamamoto Takashi , Takahashi Akinori , Sato Katsufumi , Oka Nariko , Yamamoto Maki , Trathan Philip N.
Published: March 2014

Many animals migrate between breeding and wintering areas; however, whether each animal behaves consistently in space and time between consecutive years is less well understood. Furthermore, previous breeding state (successful or failed) is often not considered when attempting to understand consistent individual differences in behaviour that are likely to impact upon the subsequent behaviour. Between 2006 and 2010, we used geolocators to track the migratory movements of a pelagic seabird, the streaked shearwater Calonectris leucomelas, with individuals () being followed for two years or more, including 23 birds that had chicks in two seasons and 23 birds in just one season. All individuals, except for one bird, migrated to the same broad wintering areas, and their migratory route as well as the centre of wintering distribution did not change in relation to the previous breeding outcomes. Migration schedules (dates of departure from the breeding colony, southward and northward migrations, and first return to the colony) did not differ significantly between years for individuals that had chicks during both years, while failed individuals left the breeding colony and appeared to start the southward migration at an earlier date than the previous successful year. Nonetheless, the timing of the southward migration was consistent within individuals, including both males and females, over successive years regardless of the previous breeding outcome, and also the timing of first return back to the colony for females that had chicks in the both previous years and eggs in the both following season. This may imply the existence of individual-specific broad time schedules, possibly a circannual rhythm, though ecological conditions might affect the exact timing of the actual departure event. Our results present evidence for high levels of individually consistent behaviour for this pelagic seabird outside the breeding season.
First report of geophilid centipedes of the genus Ribautia
(Myriapoda: Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha) from the Atlantic Forest biome, with description of a new miniature species from Misiones Province, Northeastern Argentina
Authors: PEREIRA LUIS ALBERTO
Published: March 2014

Ribautia paranaensis sp. nov. a new miniature species of geophilid centipede from the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest (the westernmost of the fifteen ecoregions comprising the Atlantic Forest biome sensu Di Bitetti et al. 2003), is herein described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by having the coxal organs grouped in clusters (one of these in each coxopleuron of the ultimate leg-bearing segment) and a claw-like pretarsus in the ultimate legs; these traits being shared by three other Neotropical members of the genus, i.e., R. combinata Pereira, Uliana & Minelli, 2006 (from the Amazonian rainforest of Peru), R. jakulicai Pereira, 2007 (from the Yungas rainforest of Northwestern Argentina), and R. lewisi Pereira, 2013 (collected in a gallery forest in the Mesopotamian region, Northeastern Argentina). R. paranaensis sp. nov. represents the first report of Ribautia Brölemann, 1909 in the entire Atlantic Forest biome, and the third confirmed record of the taxon from Argentina.
Dachtylembia, a new genus in the family Teratembiidae (Embioptera) from Thailand
Authors: POOLPRASERT PISIT
Published: March 2014

Dachtylembia gen. nov. (Embioptera: Teratembiidae), is described and illustrated based on specimens of a new species (D. siamensis) collected from Thailand. The geographical distribution of this species in Thailand is mapped.
A revision of the types of Neotropical Porricondylinae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)
Authors: JASCHHOF MATHIAS
Published: March 2014

The type material of six species of Porricondylinae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) described from the Neotropical Region between 1905 and 1936 is re-examined. On the basis of revised adult descriptions the classification of these species is analyzed and discussed. Lectotypes are designated for Asynapta citrinae Felt, A. mangiferae Felt, Holoneurus occidentalis Felt, and Porricondyla gossypii Coquillett.
First occurrence of Beroe forskalii (Ctenophora) in South American Atlantic coastal waters, with notes on the use of macrociliary patterns for beroid identification
Authors: OLIVEIRA OTTO M.p. , MIGOTTO ALVARO E.
Published: March 2014

Beroe forskalii Milne Edwards, 1841 is an oceanic ctenophore with a global distribution. The present study provides the first record of Beroe forskalii for the South American Atlantic coast, including a redescription of the species and a discussion on the utility of macrociliary patterns for the correct identification of at least some beroid species, exemplified by a comparison of the macrociliary patterns of Beroe forskalii and Beroe ovata (Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821).
Two new species of Blaberidae (Blattaria) collected in the Santa Lúcia Station, Espírito Santo State, Brazil
Authors: LOPES SONIA MARIA , DE OLIVEIRA EDIVAR HEEREN , ASSUMPÇÃO MARIANA
Published: March 2014

This contribution presents two new species belonging to the genera Audreia (Shelford, 1910) and Epilampra Burmeister, 1838, subfamily Epilamprinae (Blattaria, Blaberidae). The Blaberidae include large and medium-bodied species with a high adaptive capacity. The new taxa were collected in Espírito Santo State and evaluated based on the analysis of subgenital and supranal plates and genital parts, by means of standard dissection techniques, by comparison with specimens of the corresponding genera deposited in the collection of the Museu Nacional and with published descriptions.
The tadpole of the Swelled Vent Frog Feirana quadranus (Anura: Ranidae): Oral, chondrocranial and hyobranchial morphology
Authors: HUANG MIN-YI , DUAN REN-YAN , JI XIANG
Published: March 2014

The genus Feirana includes three species of dicroglossid frogs, but much controversy on the classification and species content of this group still exists (Yang et al., 2011). Detailed information on tadpole morphology is of great importance in classifying amphibian species but, unfortunately, morphology of Feirana tadpoles remains poorly known. Here, we describe body shape, oral disc, chondrocranial and hyobranchial anatomy of Feirana tadpoles using the Swelled Vent Frog F. quadranus Liu, Hu & Yang, 1960 as a representative. This species is currently known to occur only in seven provinces (Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Hunan, Shanxi and Sichuan) in the central part of China (Fei et al., 2005).
The Delirium Symptom Interview: An Interview for the Detection of Delirium Symptoms in Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Albert Marilyn S. , Levkoff Sue E. , Reilly Catherine , Liptzin Benjamin , Pilgrim David , Cleary Paul D. , Evans Denis , Rowe John W.
Published: March 2014

To study delirium in hospitalized elderly, a delirium symptom interview (DSI) was developed by an interdisciplinary group of investigators. This interview was administered in an acute care hospital to 50 patients who were over the age of 65 years. Results from the interview were compared to assessments of major symptoms of delirium made independently by a neurologist and a psychiatrist. This interview had good validity and reliability. The sensitivity of the DSI was .90 and the specificity was .80, when compared with the clinical judgment of a psychiatrist and neurologist. Interrater reliability, using lay interviewers, was .90 for the detection of major symptoms of delirium. These results indicate that the DSI could be used by lay interviewers to assess reliably the symptoms of delirium. ( J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1992;5:14–21).
The Noisy Elderly Patient: Prevalence, Assessment, and Response to the Antidepressant Doxepin
Authors: Friedman Ruby , Gryfe Cyril I. , Tal David T. , Freedman Morris
Published: March 2014

To measure the prevalence of noisy behavior as a nursing problem, a survey of head nurses was done in a chronic care hospital to identify patients whose vocalizing was frequently disturbing to other patients, staff, or visitors. We found 17 patients among the total of 154. Subsequently, the medical records of 13 surviving subjects were reviewed more exhaustively, and 11 were described as disruptive, usually when they were left alone. Of these “lonely” patients, eight had a previously documented diagnosis of depression. All were demented. Antipsychotic medication had previously been given to all 11 “lonely” patients, but had failed to control their disruptive behavior. Empirically, six patients were treated with doxepin, and in five, all with a history of previous depression, agitation and noisiness diminished. These observations suggest that the prevalence rate of disturbingly noisy behavior among long-term institutionalized elderly patients is about 11% and that the disturbingly noisy patient is often demonstrating depression in conjunction with dementia. ( J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1992;5:187–191).
The SKT Neuropsychological Test Battery
Authors: Overall John E. , Schaltenbrand Ralf
Published: March 2014

The SKT is a brief neuropsychological test battery that includes nine performance subtests that define two independent factors of memory and attention deficit. It requires no more than 15 minutes to administer and has five parallel forms. Developed in Germany, it has been used successfully to document improved performance of patients in trials of antidementia drugs in that country. This article addresses factor structure and scoring, dementia profile classification, reliability, and validity data. The SKT appears to hold promise for efficient assessment of objective performance changes to supplement clinical evaluations of therapeutic efficacy of new drugs for treatment of senile dementia. ( J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1992;5:220–227).
Theology and Social Theory—Reevaluating Bonhoeffer’s Approach
Authors: Mawson Michael
Published: March 2014

This article reevaluates the Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s widely criticized engagement with social theory in his doctoral dissertation Sanctorum Communio. On the one hand, it argues that there are specific theological concerns underlying Bonhoeffer’s initial decisions with respect to social theory, in ways that have not been sufficiently recognized. This is the case for both Bonhoeffer’s distinction between social philosophy and sociology and his related preference for formal (rather than historical) approaches to sociology. On the other hand, this article insists that Bonhoeffer did not simply draw or rely upon formal approaches to sociology uncritically. Rather, he carefully took up and reworked concepts and insights from social theory on the basis of a properly theological dialectic of creation, sin, and reconciliation.
Truth and Truth-telling in Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Reconsidered after 3.11 and “Fukushima”
Authors: Shimada Yuki
Published: March 2014

This article investigates Bonhoeffer's understanding of truth and truth-telling as displayed in his essay “What Does It Mean to Tell the Truth?” as well as in his academic works, Sanctorum Communio and Act and Being. The article indicates that he understood truth and truth-telling essentially in connection with the relation to the other person as a God-given reality. In addition, the article explicates that this understanding is present, not only in the article, which he wrote in the midst of his struggle with the truth and untruth of the Nazis, but also in the very beginning of his theological life, determining his systematic theological thinking. The article then explores Bonhoeffer's understanding of truth and truth-telling in the context of post-Fukushima Japan. Since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant following the earthquake in March 2011, there have been numerous truthful and untruthful discourses as well as different interpretations of facts concerning radioactivity and radioactive contamination. How can we approach the situation if we intend our discourse to be truthful? Bonhoeffer's insight to consider truth and truth-telling in relation to the other person appears to be rich in suggestions for the current situation in Japan.
A Qualitative Study of the Perceived Value of Membership in The Oley Foundation by Home Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Consumers
Authors: Chopy Katelyn , Winkler Marion , Schwartz‐Barcott Donna , Melanson Kathleen , Greene Geoffrey
Published: March 2014

Background: Support and educational organizations have been shown to improve quality of life of consumers of home nutrition support. One such organization, The Oley Foundation, offers resources for the home parenteral and enteral nutrition (HPEN) consumer. While research has shown proven benefits to HPEN consumers affiliated with The Oley Foundation, no studies have investigated the perceived value of membership to the consumer or the way in which consumers are introduced to the organization. Methods: Qualitative methodology was used to gain a deeper understanding of the perceived value of membership in The Oley Foundation. Audiotaped, in‐depth, semistructured telephone interviews were conducted to explore participants' experiences with The Oley Foundation and HPEN. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze data and identify themes associated with membership value. Results: The value of The Oley Foundation lies in programs and resources and the competency, inspiration, normalcy, and advocacy gained from membership, helping individuals adjust to life with HPEN dependency. More than half of participants found the organization through self‐initiated Internet searches, but all participants clearly expressed the desire “I wish I knew about it sooner.” Conclusion: This study identifies the value of membership in The Oley Foundation and the important role the organization has in the lives of HPEN‐dependent consumers. Nutrition support clinicians should introduce the organization to patients when the need for HPEN is established and prior to hospital discharge.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Steiber Alison L.
Published: March 2014

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly prevalent and has major health consequences for patients. Caring for patients with CKD requires knowledge of the food supply, renal pathophysiology, and nutrition‐related medications used to work synergistically with diet to control the signs and symptoms of the disease. The nutrition care process and International Dietetic and Nutrition Terminology allow for systematic, holistic, quality care of patients with this complex, progressive disease. Nutrition interventions must be designed with the individual patients needs in mind while prioritizing factors with the largest negative impact on health outcomes and mortality risk. New areas of nutrition treatment are emerging that involve a greater focus on micronutrient needs, the microbiome, and vegetarian‐style diets. These interventions may improve outcomes by decreasing inflammation, improving energy and protein delivery, and lowering phosphorus, electrolytes, and fluid retention.
Pulmonary hypertension after pneumonectomy for lung cancer
Authors: Potaris Konstantinos , Athanasiou Athanasios , Konstantinou Marios , Zaglavira Paraskevi , Theodoridis Dimitrios , Syrigos Konstantinos N
Published: March 2014

Background

We aimed to consolidate our clinical observations regarding the development of pulmonary hypertension following pneumonectomy for lung cancer.

Methods

Sixty-nine of 82 initially selected patients without pulmonary or cardiac comorbidities, who underwent pneumonectomy for lung cancer between October 2009 and October 2011, accomplished our protocol. Mean patient age was 60.6 years (range 44–78 years) and 10.1% were women.

Results

Postoperative complications occurred in 16 (23.2%) patients. Mortality at 1, 12, and 18 months postoperatively was 4.3%, 15.9%, and 29%, respectively. One year postoperatively, 37.9% of patients developed mild to moderate pulmonary hypertension and 3.4% had severe pulmonary hypertension. The calculated mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively was 21.9 ± 6.6, 27.3 ± 9.3, and 34.1 ± 14 mm Hg, respectively ( p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed a cutoff point at 35.5 mm Hg for late postoperative (at 12 months) pulmonary artery systolic pressure (sensitivity 80%, specificity 82%; p < 0.001) related to suboptimal clinical outcomes (decreased performance status or death), with a detected 18-fold risk for these patients ( p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Pulmonary hypertension may occur after pneumonectomy with its known adverse effects. Patients with late postoperative pulmonary artery systolic pressure > 35.5 mm Hg are at higher risk of a suboptimal clinical outcome.
Defining Patterns of Benzodiazepine Use in Older Adults
Authors: Llorente Maria D. , David Daniella , Golden Adam G. , Silverman Michael A.
Published: March 2014

Benzodiazepines are disproportionately prescribed to older adults. Elderly adults with comorbid medical and psychiatric conditions, elderly adults taking multiple medications, and elderly women are the most likely adults to continuously use benzodiazepines. These are also the groups of elderly who are likely to experience adverse effects, including falls, accidents, and motor vehicle crashes. Despite recommendations for short-term treatment and the potential risks of long-term use, some patients continue to receive benefit for extended time periods, occasionally years. Future research needs to be directed at improved identification of which patients will benefit from intermittent versus continuous treatment while minimizing risk for adverse side effects. In order to advance the study of the risks and benefits of benzodiazepine use, we have proposed a set of definitions for classification of use. These definitions can be used to develop clinical guidelines based on empirically derived clinical research models.
Pharmacologic Treatment of Depression in Nursing Home Residents: A Mental Health Services Perspective
Authors: Datto Catherine J. , Oslin David W. , Streim Joel E. , Scheinthal Stephen M. , DiFilippo Suzanne , Katz Ira R.
Published: March 2014

Over the past 10 to 15 years, there has been marked progress in clinical research on depression in nursing home residents. There have also been significant changes in federal regulations designed to improve the quality of care. In 1987, only 10% of nursing home residents diagnosed with depression were receiving treatment, but by 1999, 25% of all residents were receiving antidepressants. We report on two studies: one demonstrating that treatment for depression has a substantial, ecologically relevant impact in the nursing home and another demonstrating that profound changes have occurred in the clinical epidemiology of depression and its treatment in the nursing home. Although the numbers of nursing home residents receiving antidepressants have increased dramatically, there are now second-generation problems that must be addressed to ensure the delivery of effective treatment. Developing models to ensure quality of care will require focused mental health services research.
Neuroimaging in Dementia with Lewy Bodies: Metabolism, Neurochemistry, and Morphology
Authors: Minoshima Satoshi , Foster Norman L. , Petrie Eric C. , Albin Roger L. , Frey Kirk A. , Kuhl David E.
Published: March 2014

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is recognized as one of the most common forms of neurodegenerative dementia. Neuroimaging contributes to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of DLB by examining alterations in brain metabolism, neurochemisty, and morphology in living patients. Neuroimaging can provide objective and quantifiable antemortem markers for the presence of and the progression of DLB and permits differentiation from other dementias. This article reviews current neuroimaging findings in DLB with particular attention to occipital hypometabolism, dopaminergic and cholinergic deficits, and medial temporal lobe atrophy as measured by positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2002; 15:000–000).
Sodium Valproate in the Treatment of Behavioral Disturbance in Dementia
Authors: Mellow Alan M. , Solano-Lopez Carlos , Davis Sue
Published: March 2014

Management of the behavioral complications of dementia, including agitation and aggression, presents a tremendous challenge to families and caregivers of afflicted patients. Most previous pharmacotherapies have shown minimal efficacy and significant side effects. We report our initial, open-label experience using the anticonvulsant sodium valproate in four dementia patients with severe behavioral disturbance. The drug was well tolerated by all patients, with no side effects or laboratory abnormalities, during 1- to 3-month trials. Two patients showed significant improvement in behavior, and a third had a transient response. Valproate may be a useful agent in the treatment of behavioral disturbance in dementia; controlled trials are needed to document its efficacy.
Early Noncognitive Change in Alzheimer's Disease and Healthy Aging
Authors: Wild Katherine V. , Kaye Jeffrey A. , Oken Barry S.
Published: March 2014

Recent studies in Alzheimer's disease have focused on behavioral disturbances in the more advanced stages of the illness rather than behavioral and personality changes occurring early in the disease course. We present a new instrument, the Oregon Noncognitive Inventory for Dementia (ONID), that was developed specifically for patients in the early stages of dementia, to identify subtle behavioral alterations that may precede the more severe cognitive changes of Alzheimer's disease. Mildly demented Alzheimer's patients were compared with age-matched healthy subjects on the ONID. Caregivers of these patients reported significantly more of the behaviors addressed by the ONID than did relatives of the healthy elderly. The results indicate that changes in behavior and personality can be reliably reported by family caregivers of patients with mild dementia. Future clinical applications of the ONID might include measuring change in drug trials, longitudinal studies of the progression of change, and differentiating Alzheimer's disease from other dementias based on a characteristic pattern of change.
Clinical Characteristics of Chronic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Authors: Mendez Mario F. , Selwood Allison , Frey William H.
Published: March 2014

Chronic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, presenting in later life, may be difficult to distinguish from other dementing illnesses. Patients with this disease may lack the characteristic myoclonus and electroencephalographic complexes. We report four patients with a slowly progressive dementia who were misdiagnosed during life and had a spongiform encephalopathy at autopsy. All four patients had early extrapyramidal rigidity, primitive reflexes, and other neurologic signs. The presence of these neurologic findings early in the course of a dementia suggests that clinicians should consider chronic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, evaluate the patient with electroencephalographic studies, and emphasize universal tissue precautions.
Parkinsonism Associated with Fluoxetine and Cimetidine: A Case Report
Authors: Leo Raphael J. , Lichter David G. , Hershey Linda A.
Published: March 2014

Fluoxetine and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective for the treatment of depression in the elderly and offer a safer side-effect profile as compared to tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. We report a case in which a patient treated with fluoxetine developed parkinsonism following the introduction of cimetidine. Inhibition of hepatic P450 cytochrome enzymes by cimetidine with an increase in serum levels of norfluoxetine may have precipitated this extrapyramidal syndrome, which has been related to agonism of the serotonergic input to nigrostriatal tracts and basal ganglia. Parkinsonism as a side effect of SSRIs occurs infrequently, suggesting an idiosyncratic response resulting from a functional imbalance of serotonergic and dopaminergic activity in susceptible individuals. Careful monitoring of geriatric patients treated with fluoxetine is indicated, particularly for those on high doses, those with impaired hepatic functioning, or those treated with concurrent medications that slow the metabolism of fluoxetine.
Pharmacologic Treatment of Agitation in Dementia: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Lantz Melinda S. , Marin Deborah
Published: March 2014

Agitated behaviors are a common and nearly universal occurrence among patients suffering from dementing illnesses. The pharmacologic treatments available for this troubling syndrome are varied, but treatment studies are limited. Clinicians are frequently faced with the challenging management of patients with disruptive behavior who fail to respond to trials with multiple agents. This review summarizes available treatment studies of agitation in dementia and offers a guide to therapy and management. Reports of therapies for agitation in dementia are limited by lack of controlled studies, variability of diagnostic criteria and outcome measures, and small sample size. The need for carefully designed, well-controlled studies of outcome in this growing population is formidable. It is imperative to identify effective and well-tolerated treatment strategies to reduce the morbidity of these distressing and burdensome symptoms.
Which Diagnostic Procedures in the Elderly? The Case of Late-Onset Huntington's Disease
Authors: Appollonio Ildebrando , Frisoni Giovanni B. , Curtò Natale , Trabucchi Marco , Frattola Lodovico
Published: March 2014

The typical adult-onset form of Huntington's disease (HD) is a clinical condition in which the latest advances of genetic research can be usefully applied during the course of the diagnostic process; not so clear are the guidelines for the much less frequent late-onset variant. We have recently seen three patients in their late sixties who had been misdiagnosed for up to 10 years due to the apparently isolated, mild, and slowly progressive nature of their hyperkinetic movements or cognitive disorders. Only after the results of DNA sequencing on a blood sample became available could the appropriate diagnosis of late-onset HD be reached. By contrast, neuroimaging studies lacked sufficient sensitivity and specificity. Appropriate neurogeriatric assessment in these cases should follow specific guidelines and should always include selected high-technology procedures.
Normal-Pressure Hydrocephalus with Misleading Features of Irreversible Dementias: A Case Report
Authors: Schwarzschild Michael , Rordorf Guy , Bekken Kaaren , Buonanno Ferdinando , Schmahmann Jeremy D.
Published: March 2014

An 85-year-old man presented with the clinical triad (gait instability, dementia, and bladder and bowel incontinence), the ventriculomegaly, and the normal CSF pressure that characterize normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Diagnostic uncertainty was raised by an unusually rapid onset and a lack of initial response to CSF tap tests. Additionally, periodic sharp waves on EEG suggested the possibility of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and positron emission tomography (PET) demonstrated a pattern of cerebral hypometabolism typical of Alzheimer's disease. Nevertheless, the diagnosis of NPH was supported by delayed improvement following CSF tap tests, and it was confirmed by a dramatic clinical recovery after CSF shunting, resolution of the EEG and PET abnormalities, and a normal brain biopsy. NPH remains one of the few reversible causes of dementia, and the presence of its core features, regardless of rate of onset or ancillary test results, warrants careful consideration of therapeutic intervention.
Reduplicative Paramnesia: Longitudinal Neurobehavioral and Neuroimaging Analysis
Authors: Moser David J. , Cohen Ronald A. , Malloy Paul F. , Stone William M. , Rogg Jeffrey M.
Published: March 2014

Reduplicative paramnesia (RP) is a delusion in which the patient perceives familiar places, objects, or events to have been duplicated. The current case describes the development of RP in an 81-year-old male following a large right frontal lobe infarction. As the patient had been hospitalized previously with hemorrhagic contusions, neurologic, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging data were obtained both prior to and following RP onset. Psychophysiologic data were obtained following the development of the delusion. Both premorbidly and at follow-up, neuropsychological functioning was characterized by significant impairments of learning and memory and frontal-executive functions. Language and visuospatial skills and motor speed were intact both before and after RP onset. The case is described within the context of preexisting theories of RP, and it is surmised that the delusion is secondary to temporal-limbic-frontal dysfunction giving rise to a distorted sense of familiarity and impaired ability to resolve the delusion via reasoning.
What Do We Do With Twitter?
Authors: Sanderson Jimmy
Published: March 2014

This Twitter Research Forum essay by Jimmy Sanderson, one of the leading scholars on social media and sport, considers the reasons why article submissions on Twitter and sport have mushroomed at scholarly journals in sport, communication, and media studies. Sanderson notes that the plethora of research on Twitter and sport has been met with resistance by skeptics, some of whom cite deficiencies that include lack of theoretical sophistication, insufficient explanation of methods, and/or weak arguments for the merit and importance of the research. It is argued that, as Twitter and sport research matures, the frequency of submissions to sport communication journals may lessen as other scholarly outlets become more “friendly” to this topic and research foci broadens. Noting that Twitter is not “different” from communication but rather is communication, the essay encourages progress beyond thematic analysis to look at central questions about stakeholders and issues of power in the sporting context.
Serum soluble ST2 is associated with ER-positive breast cancer
Authors: Lu Da-peng , Zhou Xiang-yu , Yao Lu-tian , Liu Cai-gang , Ma Wei , Jin Feng , Wu Yun-fei
Published: March 2014

Background

ST2, a member of the interleukin (IL)-1receptor family, regulates Th1/Th2 immune responses in autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. However, the role of ST2 signaling in tumor growth and metastasis of breast cancers has not been investigated. This study investigated the possible role of soluble ST2 (sST2) in breast cancer.

Methods

The serum levels of IL-33, sST2, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 150 breast cancer patients and 90 healthy women were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Estrogen receptor(ER), progesterone receptor, human epithelial receptor (HER)-2, and cell cycle regulated protein Ki-67 were measured. Clinical stage, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and histological type were also recorded.

Results

The serum levels of sST2, IL-33, and VEGF were significantly higher in breast cancer patients than in the control group (P < 0.05, each). Serum sST2 levels in ER-positive breast cancer patients were significantly associated with age, histological type, clinical stage, tumor size, and Ki-67 status (P < 0.05, each). Moreover, the serum levels of IL-33 and sST2 in breast cancers significantly correlated with VEGF levels (IL-33: r = 0.375, P < 0.0001; sST2: r = 0.164, P = 0.045). Serum levels of sST2, IL-33, and VEGF decreased after modified radical mastectomy in ER-positive breast cancers. Serum levels of IL-33, sST2, and VEGF and clinicopathological factors were not significantly correlated with disease-free survival and overall survival of ER-positive breast cancer women during follow-up.

Conclusion

Serum sST2 levels in ER-positive breast cancer patients are significantly associated with factors that indicate poor prognosis.
Vapour-liquid-solid growth of ternary Bi2Se2Te nanowires
Authors: Schönherr Piet , Collins-McIntyre Liam J , Zhang ShiLei , Kusch Patryk , Reich Stephanie , Giles Terence , Daisenberger Dominik , Prabhakaran Dharmalingam , Hesjedal Thorsten
Published: March 2014

High-density growth of single-crystalline Bi2Se2Te nanowires was achieved via the vapour-liquid-solid process. The stoichiometry of samples grown at various substrate temperatures is precisely determined based on energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy on individual nanowires. We discuss the growth mechanism and present insights into the catalyst-precursor interaction.
Directed conjunctival biopsy and impact of histologic sectioning methodology on the diagnosis of ocular sarcoidosis
Authors: Bui Kelly M , Garcia-Gonzalez Jose M , Patel Sarju S , Lin Amy Y , Edward Deepak P , Goldstein Debra A
Published: March 2014

Background

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic, multi-system, granulomatous disease with well-described ocular manifestations. However, other uveitic etiologies can manifest in a similar fashion, and ocular disease may precede systemic manifestations. Definitive diagnosis requires histologic confirmation of non-caseating granulomatous inflammation. This study reports the diagnostic yield of directed biopsy of conjunctival follicles in patients with uveitis suspected to be secondary to sarcoidosis, and compares an institutional standard tissue sectioning method to a multi-plane technique.

Results

A retrospective analysis was performed of all patients who underwent directed conjunctival biopsy for suspected ocular sarcoidosis. A total of eight patients were identified; all were females. Directed conjunctival biopsy was positive in three of seven patients using standard histologic processing method, a yield of 43%. Using the multi-plane technique increased the cumulative yield to 63%.

Conclusions

Directed conjunctival biopsy is a minimally invasive, cost-effective, and moderately high yield method of diagnosing ocular sarcoidosis. Using a multi-plane sectioning method may increase biopsy yield when standard sectioning techniques are negative.
Underestimation of Risk of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation in Women With High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer by BRCAPRO: A Multi-Institution Study
Authors: Daniels Molly S. , Babb Sheri A. , King Robin H. , Urbauer Diana L. , Batte Brittany A.L. , Brandt Amanda C. , Amos Christopher I. , Buchanan Adam H. , Mutch David G. , Lu Karen H.
Published: March 2014

Purpose

Identification of the 10% to 15% of patients with ovarian cancer who have germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations is important for management of both patients and relatives. The BRCAPRO model, which estimates mutation likelihood based on personal and family cancer history, can inform genetic testing decisions. This study's purpose was to assess the accuracy of BRCAPRO in women with ovarian cancer.

Methods

BRCAPRO scores were calculated for 589 patients with ovarian cancer referred for genetic counseling at three institutions. Observed mutations were compared with those predicted by BRCAPRO. Analysis of variance was used to assess factors impacting BRCAPRO accuracy.

Results

One hundred eighty (31%) of 589 patients with ovarian cancer tested positive. At BRCAPRO scores less than 40%, more mutations were observed than expected (93 mutations observed v 34.1 mutations expected; P < .001). If patients with BRCAPRO scores less than 10% had not been tested, 51 (28%) of 180 mutations would have been missed. BRCAPRO underestimated the risk for high-grade serous ovarian cancers but overestimated the risk for other histologies (P < .001), underestimation increased as age at diagnosis decreased (P = .02), and model performance varied by institution (P = .02).

Conclusion

Patients with ovarian cancer classified as low risk by BRCAPRO are more likely to test positive than predicted. The risk of a mutation in patients with low BRCAPRO scores is high enough to warrant genetic testing. This study demonstrates that assessment of family history by a validated model cannot effectively target testing to a high-risk ovarian cancer patient population, which strongly supports the recommendation to offer BRCA1/BRCA2 genetic testing to all patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer regardless of family history.
Risk Factors for GI Adverse Events in a Phase III Randomized Trial of Bevacizumab in First-Line Therapy of Advanced Ovarian Cancer: A Gynecologic Oncology Group Study
Authors: Burger Robert A. , Brady Mark F. , Bookman Michael A. , Monk Bradley J. , Walker Joan L. , Homesley Howard D. , Fowler Jeffrey , Greer Benjamin E. , Boente Matthew , Fleming Gini F. , Lim Peter C. , Rubin Stephen C. , Katsumata Noriyuki , Liang Sharon X.
Published: March 2014

Purpose

To evaluate risk factors for GI adverse events (AEs) within a phase III trial of bevacizumab in first-line ovarian cancer therapy.

Patients and Methods

Women with previously untreated advanced disease after surgery were randomly allocated to six cycles of platinum-taxane chemotherapy plus placebo cycles (C)2 to C22 (R1); chemotherapy plus bevacizumab C2 to C6 plus placebo C7 to C22 (R2); or chemotherapy plus bevacizumab C2 to C22 (R3). Patients were evaluated for history or on-study development of potential risk factors for GI AEs defined as grade ≥ 2 perforation, fistula, necrosis, or hemorrhage.

Results

Of 1,873 patients enrolled, 1,759 (94%) were evaluable, and 2.8% (50 of 1,759) experienced a GI AE: 10 of 587 (1.7%, R1), 20 of 587 (3.4%, R2), and 20 of 585 (3.4%, R3). Univariable analyses indicated that previous treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; P = .005) and small bowel resection (SBR; P = .032) or large bowel resection (LBR; P = .012) at primary surgery were significantly associated with a GI AE. The multivariable estimated relative odds of a GI AE were 13.4 (95% CI, 3.44 to 52.3; P < .001) for IBD; 2.05 (95% CI, 1.09 to 3.88; P = .026) for LBR; 1.95 (95% CI, 0.894 to 4.25; P = .093) for SBR; and 2.15 for bevacizumab exposure (aggregated 95% CI, 1.05 to 4.40; P = .036).

Conclusion

History of treatment for IBD, and bowel resection at primary surgery, increase the odds of GI AEs in patients receiving first-line platinum-taxane chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer. After accounting for these risk factors, concurrent bevacizumab doubles the odds of a GI AE, but is not appreciably increased by continuation beyond chemotherapy.
The Dangers of Distant Reading: Reassessing Moretti's Approach to Literary Genres
Authors: Ascari Maurizio
Published: March 2014

Does Franco Moretti's notion of “distant reading” really provide a liberating and democratic approach to literature, as it promises? Far from opening new perspectives, distant reading may actually blunt our critical faculties, inviting us to inadvertently adopt biased views of literature under the mask of objectivity. This essay aims to reveal the pseudoscientific nature of distant reading as applied to the analysis of literary genres. In “Conjectures on World Literature” (2000) Moretti discusses two basic cognitive metaphors: the tree and the wave. These and other metaphors are at the core of the three essays Moretti published in the New Left Review in 2003 and 2004 under the common heading “Graphs, Maps, Trees: Abstract Models for Literary History.” I argue that although Moretti draws his models from scientific disciplines (graphs from quantitative history, maps from geography, and trees from evolutionary theory), he actually uses them to support theories that lack proper verification, incurring the danger of bending reality to theory.