bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of peripheral arterial disease in SLE change with patient’s age
Authors: Erdozain Jose-Gabriel , Villar Irama , Nieto Javier , Ruiz-Arruza Ioana , Ruiz-Irastorza Guillermo
Published: January 2017

Objective

To analyse the differential influence of risk factors of peripheral artery disease (PAD) according to age in patients with SLE.

Methods

216 patients from the Lupus-Cruces cohort were divided in three age groups: ≤34 years, 35–49 years and ≥50 years. A low ankle–brachial index defined PAD. Significant variables were identified by univariant and multivariant analysis in each age group.

Results

Different factors were identified in different age groups: antiphospholipid antibodies/antiphospholipid syndrome and glucocorticoids in patients ≤34 years; in patients 35–49 years old, hypertension was the only statistically significant predictor, although a trend was observed for fibrinogen levels; a trend was observed for hypercholesterolaemia in those ≥50 years.

Conclusions

Age may modulate the influence of risk factors for PAD in patients with SLE.
To share or not to share in the emerging era of big data: perspectives from fish telemetry researchers on data sharing
Authors: Nguyen Vivian M. , Brooks Jill L. , Young Nathan , Lennox Robert J. , Haddaway Neal , Whoriskey Frederick G. , Harcourt Robert , Cooke Steven J.
Published: January 2017

The potential for telemetry data to answer complex questions about aquatic animals and their interactions with the environment is limited by the capacity to store, manage, and access data across the research community. Large telemetry networks and databases exist, but are limited by the actions of researchers to share their telemetry data. Promoting data sharing and understanding researchers’ views on open practices is a major step toward enhancing the role of big data in ecology and resources management. We surveyed 307 fish telemetry researchers to understand their perspectives and experiences on data sharing. A logistic regression revealed that data sharing was positively related to researchers with collaborative tendencies, who belong to a telemetry network, who are prolific publishers, and who express altruistic motives for their research. Researchers were less likely to have shared telemetry data if they engage in radio and (or) acoustic telemetry, work for regional government, and value the time it takes to complete a research project. We identify and provide examples of both benefits and concerns that respondents have about sharing telemetry data.
Measuring the net biological impact of fisheries enhancement: pink salmon hatcheries can increase yield, but with apparent costs to wild populations
Authors: Amoroso Ricardo O. , Tillotson Michael D. , Hilborn Ray
Published: January 2017

Hatchery production of juvenile fish for release into the wild has been practiced for well over a century in an effort to increase the number of salmon available to harvest. In this study, we evaluate the net impact of the largest such program in North America, the hatchery program for pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska. At the same time the hatchery program was increasing in output, there was a major change in productivity in the North Pacific so that throughout Alaska pink salmon increased dramatically in abundance between the 1970s and the 2000s. Using other regions of Alaska as reference sites, we estimate that the PWS hatchery program has increased the total catch by an average of 17 million fish, of which 8 million have been allocated to pay hatchery operating expenses. We estimate that the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of wild spawning fish in PWS has increased slightly (28%), while in regions of Alaska without pink salmon hatchery programs the MSY has tripled. Our results support the use of a precautionary approach to future large-scale stock enhancement efforts.
ERK Signaling Pathway Plays a Key Role in Baicalin Protection Against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury
Authors: Liao Chia-Chih , Day Yuan-Ji , Lee Hung-Chen , Liou Jiin-Tarng , Chou An-Hsun , Liu Fu-Chao
Published: January 2017

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose causes hepatocytes necrosis and acute liver failure. Baicalin (BA), a major flavonoid of Scutellariae radix, has potent hepatoprotective properties in traditional medicine. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of BA on a APAP-induced liver injury in a mouse model. The mice received an intraperitoneal hepatotoxic dose of APAP (300[Formula: see text]mg/kg) and after 30[Formula: see text]min, were treated with BA at concentrations of 0, 15, 30, or 60[Formula: see text]mg/kg. After 16[Formula: see text]h of treatment, the mice were sacrificed for further analysis. APAP administration significantly elevated the serum alanine transferase (ALT) enzyme levels and hepatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity when compared with control animals. Baicalin treatment significantly attenuated the elevation of liver ALT levels, as well as hepatic MPO activity in a dose- dependent manner (15–60[Formula: see text]mg/kg) in APAP-treated mice. The strongest beneficial effects of BA were seen at a dose of 30[Formula: see text]mg/kg. BA treatment at 30[Formula: see text]mg/kg after APAP overdose reduced elevated hepatic cytokine (TNF-[Formula: see text] and IL-6) levels, and macrophage recruitment around the area of hepatotoxicity in immunohistochemical staining. Significantly, BA treatment can also decrease hepatic phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) expression, which is induced by APAP overdose. Our data suggests that baicalin treatment can effectively attenuate APAP-induced liver injury by down-regulating the ERK signaling pathway and its downstream effectors of inflammatory responses. These results support that baicalin is a potential hepatoprotective agent.
Scutellaria baicalensis Ameliorates Acute Lung Injury by Suppressing Inflammation In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Chen Jian-Jung , Huang Chung-Chun , Chang Heng-Yuan , Li Pei-Ying , Liang Yu-Chia , Deng Jeng-Shyan , Huang Shyh-Shyun , Huang Guan-Jhong
Published: January 2017

Scutellaria baicalensis has been widely used as both a dietary ingredient and traditional herbal medicine in Taiwan to treat inflammation, cancer, and bacterial and viral infections of the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. This paper aims to investigate the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of S. baicalensis. In HPLC analysis, the fingerprint chromatogram of the water extract of S. baicalensis (WSB) was established. The anti-inflammatory effects of WSB were inverstigated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage (RAW264.7) in vitro and LPS-induced lung injury in vivo. WSB attenuated the production of LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-[Formula: see text], interleukin-[Formula: see text] (IL-1[Formula: see text], and IL-6 in vitro and in vivo. Pretreatment with WSB markedly reduced the LPS-induced histological alterations in lung tissues. Furthermore, WSB significantly reduced the number of total cells and the protein concentration levels in the BALF. WSB blocked protein expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), phosphorylation of I[Formula: see text]B-[Formula: see text] protein and MAPKs in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and LPS-induce lung injury was also blocked. This study suggests that WSB possesses anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo, and the results suggested that WSB may be a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Bottomonium-like states: Physics case for energy scan above the BB̄ threshold at Belle-II
Authors: Bondar A. E. , Mizuk R. V. , Voloshin M. B.
Published: January 2017

The Belle-II experiment is expected to collect large data samples at the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] resonances to study primarily [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mesons. We discuss what other data above the [Formula: see text] threshold are of interest. We propose to perform a high-statistics energy scan from the [Formula: see text] threshold up to the highest possible energy, and to collect data at the [Formula: see text] and at higher mass states if they are found in the scan. We emphasize the interest in increasing the maximal energy from 11.24 GeV to 11.5–12 GeV in the future. These data are needed for the investigation of bottomonium and bottomonium-like states.
Gamma-ray bursts generated from phase transition of neutron stars to quark stars
Authors: Shu Xiao-Yu , Huang Yong-Feng , Zong Hong-Shi
Published: January 2017

The evolution of compact stars is believed to be able to produce various violent phenomena in our universe. In this paper, we discuss the possibility that gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) might result from the phase transition of a neutron star to a quark star and calculate the energy released from the conversion. In our study, we utilize the relativistic mean field (RMF) theory to describe the hadronic phase of neutron stars, while an improved quasi-particle model is adopted to describe the quark phase of quark stars. With quark matter equation-of-state (EOS) more reliable than models used before, it is found that the energy released is of the order of 10[Formula: see text] erg, which confirms the validity of the phase transition model.
Cardiovascular function in male and female JCR:LA-cp rats: effect of high-fat/high-sucrose diet
Authors: Hunter Ian , Soler Amanda , Joseph Gregory , Hutcheson Brenda , Bradford Chastity , Zhang Frank Fan , Potter Barry , Proctor Spencer , Rocic Petra
Published: January 2017

Thirty percent of the world population is diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. High-fat/high-sucrose (HF/HS) diet (Western diet) correlates with metabolic syndrome prevalence. We characterized effects of the HF/HS diet on vascular (arterial stiffness, vasoreactivity, and coronary collateral development) and cardiac (echocardiography) function, oxidative stress, and inflammation in a rat model of metabolic syndrome (JCR rats). Furthermore, we determined whether male versus female animals were affected differentially by the Western diet. Cardiovascular function in JCR male rats was impaired versus normal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. HF/HS diet compromised cardiovascular (dys)function in JCR but not SD male rats. In contrast, cardiovascular function was minimally impaired in JCR female rats on normal chow. However, cardiovascular function in JCR female rats on the HF/HS diet deteriorated to levels comparable to JCR male rats on the HF/HS diet. Similarly, oxidative stress was markedly increased in male but not female JCR rats on normal chow but was equally exacerbated by the HF/HS diet in male and female JCR rats. These results indicate that the Western diet enhances oxidative stress and cardiovascular dysfunction in metabolic syndrome and eliminates the protective effect of female sex on cardiovascular function, implying that both males and females with metabolic syndrome are at equal risk for cardiovascular disease.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Western diet abolished protective effect of sex against cardiovascular disease (CVD) development in premenopausal animals with metabolic syndrome. Western diet accelerates progression of CVD in male and female animals with preexisting metabolic syndrome but not normal animals. Exacerbation of baseline oxidative stress correlates with accelerated progression of CVD in metabolic syndrome animals on Western diet.
Sympathetic modulation of electrical activation in normal and infarcted myocardium: implications for arrhythmogenesis
Authors: Ajijola Olujimi A. , Lux Robert L. , Khahera Anadjeet , Kwon OhJin , Aliotta Eric , Ennis Daniel B. , Fishbein Michael C. , Ardell Jeffrey L. , Shivkumar Kalyanam
Published: January 2017

The influence of cardiac sympathetic innervation on electrical activation in normal and chronically infarcted ventricular myocardium is not understood. Yorkshire pigs with normal hearts (NL, n = 12) or anterior myocardial infarction (MI, n = 9) underwent high-resolution mapping of the anteroapical left ventricle at baseline and during left and right stellate ganglion stimulation (LSGS and RSGS, respectively). Conduction velocity (CV), activation times (ATs), and directionality of propagation were measured. Myocardial fiber orientation was determined using diffusion tensor imaging and histology. Longitudinal CV (CVL) was increased by RSGS (0.98 ± 0.11 vs. 1.2 ± 0.14m/s, P < 0.001) but not transverse CV (CVT). This increase was abrogated by β-adrenergic receptor and gap junction (GJ) blockade. Neither CVL nor CVT was increased by LSGS. In the peri-infarct region, both RSGS and LSGS shortened ARIs in sinus rhythm (423 ± 37 vs. 322 ± 30 ms, P < 0.001, and 423 ± 36 vs. 398 ± 36 ms, P = 0.035, respectively) and altered activation patterns in all animals. CV, as estimated by mean ATs, increased in a directionally dependent manner by RSGS (14.6 ± 1.2 vs. 17.3 ± 1.6 ms, P = 0.015), associated with GJ lateralization. RSGS and LSGS inhomogeneously modulated AT and induced relative or absolute functional activation delay in parts of the mapped regions in 75 and 67%, respectively, in MI animals, and in 0 and 15%, respectively, in control animals ( P < 0.001 for both). In conclusion, sympathoexcitation increases CV in normal myocardium and modulates activation propagation in peri-infarcted ventricular myocardium. These data demonstrate functional control of arrhythmogenic peri-infarct substrates by sympathetic nerves and in part explain the temporal nature of arrhythmogenesis.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates regional control of conduction velocity in normal hearts by sympathetic nerves. In infarcted hearts, however, not only is modulation of propagation heterogeneous, some regions showed paradoxical conduction slowing. Sympathoexcitation altered propagation in all infarcted hearts studied, and we describe the temporal arrhythmogenic potential of these findings.

Listen to this article’s corresponding podcast at http://ajpheart.podbean.com/e/sympathetic-nerves-and-cardiac-propagation/ .
Alternative transcription of sodium/bicarbonate transporter SLC4A7 gene enhanced by single nucleotide polymorphisms
Authors: Park Hae Jeong , Lee Soojung , Ju Eunji , Jones Jayre A. , Choi Inyeong
Published: January 2017

Genome-wide association studies have identified the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3278 in the human SLC4A7 gene as one of the marker loci for addiction vulnerability. This marker is located in an intron of the gene, and its genomic role has been unknown. In this study, we examined rs3278 and three adjacent SNPs prevalent in alcoholics for their effects on an alternative promoter that would lead to the production of the NH2-terminally truncated protein NBCn1ΔN450, missing the first 450 amino acids. Analysis of the transcription start site database and a promoter prediction algorithm identified a cluster of three promoters in intron 7 and two short CpG-rich sites in intron 6. The promoter closest to rs3278 showed strong transcription activity in luciferase reporter gene assays. Major-to-minor allele substitution at rs3278 resulted in increased transcription activity. Equivalent substitutions at adjacent rs3772723 (intron 7) and rs13077400 (exon 8) had negligible effect; however, the substitution at nonsynonymous rs3755652 (exon 8) increased the activity by more than twofold. The concomitant substitution at rs3278 / rs3755652 produced an additive effect. The rs3755652 had more profound effects on the promoter than the upstream regulatory CpG sites. The amino acid change E326K caused by rs3755652 had negligible effect on transporter function. In HEK 293 cells, NBCn1ΔN450 was expressed in plasma membranes, but at significantly lower levels than the nontruncated NBCn1-E. The pH change mediated by NBCn1ΔN450 was also low. We conclude that rs3278 and rs3755652 stimulate an alternative transcription of the SLC4A7 gene, increasing the production of a defective transporter.
A Multifunctional Role for Adjuvant Anti-4-1BB Therapy in Augmenting Antitumor Response by Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells
Authors: Mardiana Sherly , John Liza B. , Henderson Melissa A. , Slaney Clare Y. , von Scheidt Bianca , Giuffrida Lauren , Davenport Alexander J. , Trapani Joseph A. , Neeson Paul J. , Loi Sherene , Haynes Nicole M. , Kershaw Michael H. , Beavis Paul A. , Darcy Phillip K.
Published: January 2017

Adoptive immunotherapy utilizing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has demonstrated high success rates in hematologic cancers, but results against solid malignancies have been limited to date, due in part to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Activation of the 4-1BB (CD137) pathway using an agonistic α-4-1BB antibody is known to provide strong costimulatory signals for augmenting and diversifying T-cell responses. We therefore hypothesized that a combination of α-4-1BB and CAR T-cell therapy would result in improved antitumor responses. Using a human-Her2 self-antigen mouse model, we report here that α-4-1BB significantly enhanced CAR T-cell efficacy directed against the Her2 antigen in two different established solid tumor settings. Treatment also increased the expression of IFNγ and the proliferation marker Ki67 in tumor-infiltrating CAR T cells when combined with α-4-1BB. Strikingly, α-4-1BB significantly reduced host immunosuppressive cells at the tumor site, including regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, correlating with an increased therapeutic response. We conclude that α-4-1BB has a multifunctional role for enhancing CAR T-cell responses and that this combination therapy has high translational potential, given current phase I/II clinical trials with α-4-1BB against various types of cancer. Cancer Res; 77(6); 1296–309. ©2017 AACR.
SRSF2 Regulates Alternative Splicing to Drive Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development
Authors: Luo Chunling , Cheng Yuanming , Liu Yuguo , Chen Linlin , Liu Lina , Wei Ning , Xie Zhiqin , Wu Wenwu , Feng Ying
Published: January 2017

Aberrant RNA splicing is recognized to contribute to cancer pathogenesis, but the underlying mechanisms remain mainly obscure. Here, we report that the splicing factor SRSF2 is upregulated frequently in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), where this event is associated with poor prognosis in patients. RNA-seq and other molecular analyses were used to identify SRSF2-regulated alternative splicing events. SRSF2 binding within an alternative exon was associated with its inclusion in the RNA, whereas SRSF2 binding in a flanking constitutive exon was associated with exclusion of the alternative exon. Notably, cancer-associated splice variants upregulated by SRSF2 in clinical specimens of HCC were found to be crucial for pathogenesis and progression in hepatoma cells, where SRSF2 expression increased cell proliferation and tumorigenic potential by controlling expression of these variants. Our findings identify SRSF2 as a key regulator of RNA splicing dysregulation in cancer, with possible clinical implications as a candidate prognostic factor in patients with HCC. Cancer Res; 77(5); 1168–78. ©2017 AACR.
Superior Efficacy and Selectivity of Novel Small-Molecule Kinase Inhibitors of T790M-Mutant EGFR in Preclinical Models of Lung Cancer
Authors: Rho Jin Kyung , Lee In Yong , Choi Yun Jung , Choi Chang-Min , Hur Jae-Young , Koh Jong Sung , Lee Jaekyoo , Suh Byung-Chul , Song Ho-Juhn , Salgaonkar Paresh , Lee Jungmi , Lee Jaesang , Jung Dong Sik , Kim Sang-Yeob , Woo Dong-Cheol , Baek In-Jeoung , Lee Joo-Yong , Ha Chang Hoon , Sung Young Hoon , Kim Jeong Kon , Kim Woo Sung , Song Joon Seon , Kim Cheol Hyeon , Bivona Trever G. , Lee Jae Cheol
Published: January 2017

The clinical utility of approved EGFR small-molecule kinase inhibitors is plagued both by toxicity against wild-type EGFR and by metastatic progression in the central nervous system, a disease sanctuary site. Here, we report the discovery and preclinical efficacy of GNS-1486 and GNS-1481, two novel small-molecule EGFR kinase inhibitors that are selective for T790M-mutant isoforms of EGFR. Both agents were effective in multiple mouse xenograft models of human lung adenocarcinoma (T790M-positive or -negative), exhibiting less activity against wild-type EGFR than existing approved EGFR kinase inhibitors (including osimertinib). In addition, GNS-1486 showed superior potency against intracranial metastasis of EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma. Our results offer a preclinical proof of concept for new EGFR kinase inhibitors with the potential to improve therapeutic index and efficacy against brain metastases in patients. Cancer Res; 77(5); 1200–11. ©2017 AACR.
ARF Confers a Context-Dependent Response to Chemotherapy in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Owczarek Tomasz B. , Kobayashi Takashi , Ramirez Ricardo , Rong Lijie , Puzio-Kuter Anna M. , Iyer Gopa , Teo Min Yuen , Sánchez-Vega Francisco , Wang Jingqiang , Schultz Nikolaus , Zheng Tian , Solit David B. , Al-Ahmadie Hikmat A. , Abate-Shen Cory
Published: January 2017

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) generally responds poorly to treatment and tends to exhibit significant mortality. Here we show that expression of the tumor suppressor p14ARF (ARF) is upregulated in aggressive subtypes of MIBC. Accumulation of ARF in the nucleolus is associated with poor outcome and attenuated response to chemotherapy. In both genetically engineered mouse models and murine xenograft models of human MIBC, we demonstrate that tumors expressing ARF failed to respond to treatment with the platinum-based chemotherapy agent cisplatin. Resistance was mediated in part by the integrin-binding protein ITGB3BP (CENPR) and reflected ARF-dependent impairment of protein translation, which was exaggerated by drug treatment. Overall, our results highlight a context-dependent role for ARF in modulating the drug response of bladder cancer. Cancer Res; 77(4); 1035–46. ©2017 AACR.
Serum Metabolomic Profiles Identify ER-Positive Early Breast Cancer Patients at Increased Risk of Disease Recurrence in a Multicenter Population
Authors: Hart Christopher D. , Vignoli Alessia , Tenori Leonardo , Uy Gemma Leonora , Van To Ta , Adebamowo Clement , Hossain Syed Mozammel , Biganzoli Laura , Risi Emanuela , Love Richard R. , Luchinat Claudio , Di Leo Angelo
Published: January 2017

Purpose: Detecting signals of micrometastatic disease in patients with early breast cancer (EBC) could improve risk stratification and allow better tailoring of adjuvant therapies. We previously showed that postoperative serum metabolomic profiles were predictive of relapse in a single-center cohort of estrogen receptor (ER)–negative EBC patients. Here, we investigated this further using preoperative serum samples from ER-positive, premenopausal women with EBC who were enrolled in an international phase III trial.

Experimental Design: Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of 590 EBC samples (319 with relapse or ≥6 years clinical follow-up) and 109 metastatic breast cancer (MBC) samples was performed. A Random Forest (RF) classification model was built using a training set of 85 EBC and all MBC samples. The model was then applied to a test set of 234 EBC samples, and a risk of recurrence score was generated on the basis of the likelihood of the sample being misclassified as metastatic.

Results: In the training set, the RF model separated EBC from MBC with a discrimination accuracy of 84.9%. In the test set, the RF recurrence risk score correlated with relapse, with an AUC of 0.747 in ROC analysis. Accuracy was maximized at 71.3% (sensitivity, 70.8%; specificity, 71.4%). The model performed independently of age, tumor size, grade, HER2 status and nodal status, and also of Adjuvant! Online risk of relapse score.

Conclusions: In a multicenter group of EBC patients, we developed a model based on preoperative serum metabolomic profiles that was prognostic for disease recurrence, independent of traditional clinicopathologic risk factors. Clin Cancer Res; 23(6); 1422–31. ©2017 AACR.
Repeatability and Reproducibility of Foveal Avascular Zone Area Measurements Using AngioPlex Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Guo Jiaxian , She Xiangjun , Liu Xiaoying , Sun Xiaodong
Published: January 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area measurements using AngioPlex spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography in normal subjects. Methods: Twenty-two healthy subjects (25 eyes) underwent FAZ area measurements with AngioPlex OCT. Each volunteer was separately examined 3 consecutive times by the 2 experienced observers. The FAZ area was measured using ImageJ software. Intraobserver repeatability was evaluated by calculating the coefficient of variation (CoV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Interobserver reproducibility was also assessed using the Bland-Altman test and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). Results: The FAZ areas were measured as 0.373 ± 0.109 and 0.377 ± 0.112 mm2 by observers 1 and 2, respectively. The repeatability assessment of the FAZ area measurements yielded CoV values of 0.029 and 0.034 and ICC values of 0.997 and 0.996 by observers 1 and 2, respectively. The mean difference between the 2 observers was 0.004. CCC values ranged from 0.9705 to 0.9844. Conclusions: The FAZ area measurements obtained using AngioPlex OCT showed a good repeatability and reproducibility in healthy subjects. Excellent reliability makes AngioPlex OCT a valid device for measuring the FAZ area.
Natural History of Untreated Hemifacial Spasm: A Study of 104 Consecutive Patients over 5 Years
Authors: Lee Jeong-A , Kim Kyung-Hee , Park Kwan
Published: January 2017

Background: The natural history without treatment of a large series of hemifacial spasm (HFS) patients has not been well-documented. Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize the natural history and clinical outcome in patients with HFS. Methods: The initial visits of all 2,155 patients and the diagnosis of HFS took place between 2001 and 2010. In 1,775 of the patients, compressing vessels were identified on magnetic resonance imaging. Of these, we excluded 1,469 patients (82.8%) who received microvascular decompression, 101 (5.7%) who continued to visit the clinic for botulinum toxin injections, and 9 (0.5%) who died or suffered from other diseases. Ninety-two (5.2%) of the patients were lost to follow-up; the remaining 104 were followed up for 5-42 years (mean 12 years) after the onset of the symptoms of HFS. Results: The condition was aggravated in 11 (10.6%) of the 104 patients and stationary in 40 (38.5%) for 6-42 years (mean 13 years). Ten (9.6%) improved partially for 7-18 years (mean 11 years). Forty-three (41.3%) were in remission for between 2 months and 23 years (mean 6.4 years) after onset and required no further treatment for 5 months to 13 years (mean 5.7 years). Conclusion: This study provides useful information to HFS patients for understanding the disease and determining treatment.
Monitoring Noninvasive Ventilation in Patients with Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome: Comparison between Ventilator Built-in Software and Respiratory Polygraphy
Authors: Fernandez Alvarez Ramon , Rabec Claudio , Rubinos Cuadrado Gemma , Cascon Hernandez Juan Alejandro , Rodriguez Patricia , Georges Marjolaine , Casan Pere
Published: January 2017

Background: Polygraphy (PG) remains the standard method of assessing noninvasive ventilation (NIV) effectiveness. Built-in software (BIS) of recent NIV equipment provides estimates of some ventilator parameters, but their usefulness is unclear. Objectives: To assess the reliability of BIS compared with PG in a cohort of obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) patients on NIV. Methods: Thirty stable OHS patients on NIV were evaluated in an outpatient setting with simultaneous PG and BIS recordings. The automated apnea-hypopnea event index (EIAUT) provided by Rescan and manual scoring based on available traces obtained from the software (EIBIS) were compared with manual PG scoring (EIPG). Each manual scoring was separately performed by 2 trained operators. Agreement between the 2 operators was assessed using the kappa coefficient. Pearson correlation and Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate agreement between EIAUT, EIBIS, and EIPG. Results: Twenty-six cases were valid for analysis (age ±61 years, 17 men). All patients were ventilated in the spontaneous/timed mode (mean inspiratory positive airway pressure 17 ± 3 cm H2O, mean expiratory positive airway pressure 10 ± 3 cm H2O). Cohen's kappa agreement between the operators was 0.7 for EIBIS and 0.84 for EIPG. EIBIS showed good correlation with EIPG (r2 = 0.79 p < 0.001), better than scoring provided by the automated analysis (r2 = 0.71, p < 0.006 for EIAUT vs. EIPG). Conclusions: In stable OHS patients on NIV, unattended home-based monitoring using Rescan is reproducible and reliable to assess quality of ventilation when compared with PG. In addition, manual scoring of events using data obtained with this device is more consistent than software-based automated analysis.
EEPD1 Is a Novel LXR Target Gene in Macrophages Which Regulates ABCA1 Abundance and Cholesterol Efflux
Authors: Nelson Jessica Kristine , Koenis Duco Steven , Scheij Saskia , Cook Emma Clare Laura , Moeton Martina , Santos Ana , Lobaccaro Jean-Marc Adolphe , Baron Silvere , Zelcer Noam
Published: January 2017

Objective—

The sterol-responsive nuclear receptors, liver X receptors α (LXRα,
NR1H3
) and β (LXRβ,
NR1H2
), are key determinants of cellular cholesterol homeostasis. LXRs are activated under conditions of high cellular sterol load and induce expression of the cholesterol efflux transporters
ABCA1
and
ABCG1
to promote efflux of excess cellular cholesterol. However, the full set of genes that contribute to LXR-stimulated cholesterol efflux is unknown, and their identification is the objective of this study.

Approach and Results—

We systematically compared the global transcriptional response of macrophages to distinct classes of LXR ligands. This allowed us to identify both common and ligand-specific transcriptional responses in macrophages. Among these, we identified endonuclease–exonuclease–phosphatase family domain containing 1 (
EEPD1/KIAA1706
) as a direct transcriptional target of LXRs in human and murine macrophages. EEPD1 specifically localizes to the plasma membrane owing to the presence of a myristoylation site in its N terminus. Accordingly, the first 10 amino acids of EEPD1 are sufficient to confer plasma membrane localization in the context of a chimeric protein with GFP. Functionally, we report that silencing expression of
EEPD1
blunts maximal LXR-stimulated Apo AI-dependent efflux and demonstrate that this is the result of reduced abundance of ABCA1 protein in human and murine macrophages.

Conclusions—

In this study, we identify
EEPD1
as a novel LXR-regulated gene in macrophages and propose that it promotes cellular cholesterol efflux by controlling cellular levels and activity of ABCA1.
Management of Pregnancy in Patients With Complex Congenital Heart Disease: A Scientific Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association
Authors: Canobbio Mary M. , Warnes Carole A. , Aboulhosn Jamil , Connolly Heidi M. , Khanna Amber , Koos Brian J. , Mital Seema , Rose Carl , Silversides Candice , Stout Karen
Published: January 2017

Today, most female children born with congenital heart disease will reach childbearing age. For many women with complex congenital heart disease, carrying a pregnancy carries a moderate to high risk for both the mother and her fetus. Many such women, however, do not have access to adult congenital heart disease tertiary centers with experienced reproductive programs. Therefore, it is important that all practitioners who will be managing these women have current information not only on preconception counseling and diagnostic evaluation to determine maternal and fetal risk but also on how to manage them once they are pregnant and when to refer them to a regional center with expertise in pregnancy management.
Association of Rapid Care Process Implementation on Reperfusion Times Across Multiple ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction Networks
Authors: Fordyce Christopher B. , Al-Khalidi Hussein R. , Jollis James G. , Roettig Mayme L. , Gu Joan , Bagai Akshay , Berger Peter B. , Corbett Claire C. , Dauerman Harold L. , Fox Kathleen , Garvey J. Lee , Henry Timothy D. , Rokos Ivan C. , Sherwood Matthew W. , Wilson B. Hadley , Granger Christopher B.
Published: January 2017

Background—

The Mission: Lifeline STEMI Systems Accelerator program, implemented in 16 US metropolitan regions, resulted in more patients receiving timely reperfusion. We assessed whether implementing key care processes was associated with system performance improvement.

Methods and Results—

Hospitals (n=167 with 23 498 ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction patients) were surveyed before (March 2012) and after (July 2014) program intervention. Data were merged with patient-level clinical data over the same period. For reperfusion, hospitals were grouped by whether a specific process of care was implemented, preexisting, or never implemented. Uptake of 4 key care processes increased after intervention: prehospital catheterization laboratory activation (62%–91%;
P
<0.001), single call transfer protocol from an outside facility (45%–70%;
P
<0.001), and emergency department bypass for emergency medical services direct presenters (48%–59%;
P
=0.002) and transfers (56%–79%;
P
=0.001). There were significant differences in median first medical contact-to-device times among groups implementing prehospital activation (88 minutes implementers versus 89 minutes preexisting versus 98 minutes nonimplementers;
P
<0.001 for comparisons). Similarly, patients treated at hospitals implementing single call transfer protocols had shorter median first medical contact-to-device times (112 versus 128 versus 152 minutes;
P
<0.001). Emergency department bypass was also associated with shorter median first medical contact-to-device times for emergency medical services direct presenters (84 versus 88 versus 94 minutes;
P
<0.001) and transfers (123 versus 127 versus 167 minutes;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

The Accelerator program increased uptake of key care processes, which were associated with improved system performance. These findings support efforts to implement regional ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction networks focused on prehospital catheterization laboratory activation, single call transfer protocols, and emergency department bypass.
Slave to Modernity? General Ḥusayn’s Journey from Tunis to Tuscany (1830s-1880s)
Authors: Oualdi M’hamed
Published: January 2017

Following the career of General Ḥusayn b. ʿAbdallāh, a prominent Circassian slave who served the Ottoman governors of Tunis from his childhood in the 1830s until his death in Tuscany in 1887, this paper attempts to grasp more than the colonial dimension of the North African past and to assess other global and transnational dynamics that molded the histories of modernity in the Maghrib. His exile in Florence redirects our attention to Mediterranean spaces, such as Tuscany, which were neither imperial nor colonial and which have been erased from the main narrative of colonized North Africa.
Using Time-Processing Skills to Predict Reading Abilities in Elementary School Children
Authors: Plourde Marilyn , Gamache Pierre-Luc , Laflamme Vincent , Grondin Simon
Published: January 2017

This article aims at examining the relationship between temporal skills and reading. According to Tallal, dyslexia may be linked to a global deficit in temporal processing, which would be detrimental for discrimination of phonemes, and thus impair reading acquisition. The temporal deficit hypothesis is not consensual, and the exact nature of the temporal deficits assumed to be associated with dyslexia remains unknown. The aim of the present experiment is to better define the temporal processes involved in reading. To do so, elementary school children from 1st to 6th grade with varied reading skills levels were recruited (from weak to very good readers). Each participant performed four temporal tasks, that is, gap detection, temporal order judgement, interval discrimination and interval reproduction; and each task was performed in two different conditions, i.e., with signals marking time delivered in the visual and in the auditory modalities. The results show positive correlations between reading skills and all temporal tasks, in both modalities. We also established a prediction model of reading skills with visual gap detection sensitivity as the best predictor. The results support Tallal’s theory. Temporal deficits in weak readers are global and transcend sensory modalities. The gap detection task in the visual modality shows clinical potential for identifying timing-related reading difficulties, and could be used in future research.
Revision and cladistic analysis of the Southeast Asian leaf-dwelling spider genus Calapnita Simon (Araneae, Pholcidae)
Authors: HUBER BERNHARD A.
Published: January 2017

The Southeast Asian pholcid genus Calapnita Simon, 1892 is revised, with descriptions of 17 new species, five of them in the phyllicola group (Borneo: C. lehi, C. kubah, C. bidayuh, C. bankirai; Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java: C. anai), 12 in the vermiformis group (Borneo: C. bario, C. bariengi, C. magaseng, C. dayak, C. lawangan, C. loksado; Sulawesi: C. bugis; Philippines: C. bohol, C. dinagat, C. mae, C. nunezae, C. maragusan). New records are listed for six of the eight previously described species. A morphological cladistic analysis supports the monophyly of Calapnita and of its two previously proposed species groups and presents several new phylogenetically informative characters. New data are presented about ultrastructure and natural history (web, egg-sac, egg parasitism).
Revision of the flightless click-beetle genus Dima Charpentier, 1825 (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Dimini) in the Balkan Peninsula
Authors: MERTLIK JOSEF , NÉMETH TAMÁS , KUNDRATA ROBIN
Published: January 2017

The genus Dima Charpentier, 1825 in the Balkan Peninsula and surrounding areas was revised based on the adult semaphoronts. Altogether 33 species are known from the investigated area, of which nine are new for science: D. bruhai sp. nov. (Greece), D. dusaneki sp. nov. (Macedonia), D. fialai sp. nov. (Macedonia), D. kozufensis sp. nov. (Greece, Macedonia), D. orientalis sp. nov. (Bulgaria), D. pelikani sp. nov. (Albania, Montenegro), D. pelionensis sp. nov. (Greece), D. vonickai sp. nov. (Albania), and D. zbuzeki sp. nov. (Greece). Dima peloponnensis Schimmel & Platia, 2008 was synonymized under D. assingi Schimmel & Platia, 2008, D. scutellaris Platia, 2010 and D. fokidensis Schimmel & Platia, 2008 were synonymized under D. fthiotidensis Schimmel & Platia, 2008, D. pindosensis Schimmel & Platia, 2008 was synonymized under D. raineri Wurst, 1997, and D. riesei Platia, 2010 was synonymized under D. vailatii Schimmel & Platia, 2008. For the first time, a male was described for D. florinensis Platia, 2012, and females for D. neumanni Platia, 2013, D. olympica Meschnigg, 1934, and D. schimmeli Platia & Gudenzi, 2009. Dima dalmatina Küster, 1844 was recorded for the first time from Bosnia and Herzegovina, D. elateroides Charpentier, 1825 from Bulgaria and Macedonia, D. florinensis from Macedonia, and D. raineri Wurst, 1997 from Albania. For each species we provided bibliography and information on the type depositories, diagnosis, intraspecific variability and distribution, and figured the main diagnostic morphological characters. Due to the generally uniform morphology within the genus and great intraspecific variability in most diagnostic characters we were unable to construct a reliable identification key for the Dima species in the Balkan Peninsula. Our study revealed that Dima is a more speciose genus than expected and that more species may be discovered in the near future, even in Europe.
Zaimek wskazujący w zdaniach z orzeczeniem imiennym: funkcja predykatywna czy anaforyczna?
Authors: Kiklewicz Aleksander
Published: January 2017

Demonstrative pronoun in sentences with nominal predicate: predicative or anaphor function?This article deals with a particular type of simple sentences with a complex predicate which includes the demonstrative pronoun Pol. to / Russ. это ‘this.’ The author presents the view, prevailing in the linguistic literature, that in terms of syntactic structure, such units perform the role of the so-called copula. The analysis of linguistic material of modern Russian and Polish (taking into account the category of functional syntax) leads to the conclusion that such instances are in fact cases of subject duplication, which is used to emphasise the subject in spoken language. Zaimek wskazujący w zdaniach z orzeczeniem imiennym: funkcja predykatywna czy anaforyczna?Przedmiotem artykułu jest szczególny typ zdań prostych z orzeczeniem złożonym zawierającym zaimek wskazujący to/это. Autor przedstawia panujący w literaturze lingwistycznej pogląd, że jednostka ta zajmuje w strukturze zdania pozycję tzw. łącznika (copuli). Z analizy materiału językowego współczesnego języka polskiego (przy uwzględnieniu kategorii składni funkcjonalnej) wynika, że w rzeczywistości mamy tu do czynienia z duplikacją podmiotu, która służy do emfatycznego wyodrębnienia tego członu zdania w mowie.
Isolating the Atmospheric Circulation Response to Arctic Sea Ice Loss in the Coupled Climate System
Authors: Blackport Russell , Kushner Paul J.
Published: January 2017

In this study, coupled ocean–atmosphere–land–sea ice Earth system model (ESM) simulations driven separately by sea ice albedo reduction and by projected greenhouse-dominated radiative forcing are combined to cleanly isolate the sea ice loss response of the atmospheric circulation. A pattern scaling approach is proposed in which the local multidecadal mean atmospheric response is assumed to be separately proportional to the total sea ice loss and to the total low-latitude ocean surface warming. The proposed approach estimates the response to Arctic sea ice loss with low-latitude ocean temperatures fixed and vice versa. The sea ice response includes a high northern latitude easterly zonal wind response, an equatorward shift of the eddy-driven jet, a weakening of the stratospheric polar vortex, an anticyclonic sea level pressure anomaly over coastal Eurasia, a cyclonic sea level pressure anomaly over the North Pacific, and increased wintertime precipitation over the west coast of North America. Many of these responses are opposed by the response to low-latitude surface warming with sea ice fixed. However, both sea ice loss and low-latitude surface warming act in concert to reduce subseasonal temperature variability throughout the middle and high latitudes. The responses are similar in two related versions of the National Center for Atmospheric Research Earth system models, apart from the stratospheric polar vortex response. Evidence is presented that internal variability can easily contaminate the estimates if not enough independent climate states are used to construct them.
Influence of the Arctic Oscillation on the Vertical Distribution of Wintertime Ozone in the Stratosphere and Upper Troposphere over the Northern Hemisphere
Authors: Zhang Jiankai , Xie Fei , Tian Wenshou , Han Yuanyuan , Zhang Kequan , Qi Yulei , Chipperfield Martyn , Feng Wuhu , Huang Jinlong , Shu Jianchuan
Published: January 2017

The influence of the Arctic Oscillation (AO) on the vertical distribution of stratospheric ozone in the Northern Hemisphere in winter is analyzed using observations and an offline chemical transport model. Positive ozone anomalies are found at low latitudes (0°–30°N) and there are three negative anomaly centers in the northern mid- and high latitudes during positive AO phases. The negative anomalies are located in the Arctic middle stratosphere (~30 hPa; 70°–90°N), Arctic upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UTLS; 150–300 hPa, 70°–90°N), and midlatitude UTLS (70–300 hPa, 30°–60°N). Further analysis shows that anomalous dynamical transport related to AO variability primarily controls these ozone changes. During positive AO events, positive ozone anomalies between 0° and 30°N at 50–150 hPa are related to the weakened meridional transport of the Brewer–Dobson circulation (BDC) and enhanced eddy transport. The negative ozone anomalies in the Arctic middle stratosphere are also caused by the weakened BDC, while the negative ozone anomalies in the Arctic UTLS are caused by the increased tropopause height, weakened BDC vertical transport, weaker exchange between the midlatitudes and the Arctic, and enhanced ozone depletion via heterogeneous chemistry. The negative ozone anomalies in the midlatitude UTLS are mainly due to enhanced eddy transport from the midlatitudes to the latitudes equatorward of 30°N, while the transport of ozone-poor air from the Arctic to the midlatitudes makes a minor contribution. Interpreting AO-related variability of stratospheric ozone, especially in the UTLS, would be helpful for the prediction of tropospheric ozone variability caused by the AO.
Evaluation and Error Analysis of Official Forecasts of Tropical Cyclones during 2005–14 over the Western North Pacific. Part I: Storm Tracks
Authors: Peng Xudong , Fei Jianfang , Huang Xiaogang , Cheng Xiaoping
Published: January 2017

Official forecasts of tropical cyclone (TC) tracks issued by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA); the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in Tokyo, Japan; and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) were used to evaluate the accuracies, biases, and trends of TC track forecasts during 2005–14 over the western North Pacific. Overall, the JTWC demonstrated the best forecasting performance. However, the CMA showed the most significant rate of improvement. Two main zones were discovered in the regional distribution of forecast errors: a low-latitude zone that comprises the South China Sea and the sea region east of the Philippines, and a midlatitude zone comprising the southern Sea of Japan and the sea region east of Japan. When TCs moved into the former zone, there were both translational speed and direction biases in the forecast tracks, whereas slow biases were predominated in the latter zone. Twelve synoptic flow patterns of TCs with the largest error have been identified based on the steering flow theory. Among them, the most two common pattern are the pattern with the combination of cyclonic circulations, subtropical ridges, and midlatitude troughs (CRT, 26 TCs), and the pattern of the TCs’ track that cannot be explained by steering flow (NSF, 6 TCs). In the CRT pattern, TCs move northwestward forced by the cyclonic circulations and the subtropical ridges and then turn poleward and eastward under the influence of the midlatitude troughs. In the NSF pattern, storms embedded in the southwest flow by the cyclonic circulation and the steering flow suggest TCs should turn to the right and move northeastward but instead TCs persisted in moving northwestward.
A Sadomasochistic Transference: Its Relation to Distortions in the Rapprochement Subphase
Authors: Seelig Beth J. , Person Ethel S.
Published: January 2017

The development of a rageful sadomasochistic transference early in an analysis is presented. We describe key interventions that foster its resolution and offer a reconstruction of the patient's early life, focusing on difficulty in the rapprochement phase. We believe that the intense and difficult to manage sadomasochistic transference was linked to a repudiation of both preoedipal and oedipal triangulation, resulting in the perpetuation of a hostile dependent mother-child dyad and in the patient's unconscious belief that sadomasochistic interactions were the only means of establishing and maintaining a close relationship.