bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individualized Low-Load Motor Control Exercises and Education Versus a High-Load Lifting Exercise and Education to Improve Activity, Pain Intensity, and Physical Performance in Patients With Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Aasa Björn , Berglund Lars , Michaelson Peter , Aasa Ulrika
Published: February 2015

Study Design

Randomized controlled trial.

Background

Low back pain is a common disorder. Patients with low back pain frequently have aberrant and pain-provocative movement patterns that often are addressed with motor control exercises.

Objective

To compare the effects of low-load motor control (LMC) exercise and those of a high-load lifting (HLL) exercise.

Methods

Seventy participants with recurrent low back pain, who were diagnosed with nociceptive mechanical pain as their dominating pain pattern, were randomized to either LMC or HLL exercise treatments. Participants were offered 12 treatment sessions over an 8-week period. All participants were also provided with education regarding pain mechanisms.

Methods

Participants were assessed prior to and following treatment. The primary outcome measures were activity (the Patient-Specific Functional Scale) and average pain intensity over the last 7 days (visual analog scale). The secondary outcome measure was a physical performance test battery that included 1 strength, 3 endurance, and 7 movement control tests for the lumbopelvic region.

Results

Both interventions resulted in significant within-group improvements in pain intensity, strength, and endurance. The LMC group showed significantly greater improvement on the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (4.2 points) compared with the HLL group (2.5 points) (P<.001). There were no significant between-group differences in pain intensity (P = .505), strength, and 1 of the 3 endurance tests. However, the LMC group showed an increase (from 2.9 to 5.9) on the movement control test subscale, whereas the HLL group showed no change (from 3.9 to 3.1) (P<.001).

Conclusion

An LMC intervention may result in superior outcomes in activity, movement control, and muscle endurance compared to an HLL intervention, but not in pain intensity, strength, or endurance. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01061632).

Level of Evidence

Therapy, level 2b-. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2015;45(2):77–85. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5021
A psychosocial rehabilitation approach for a case of persistent urogenital sinus with ambiguous genitalia in a female adult
Authors: Chowdhary Seema , Chowdhary Arvind Kumar , Pandey Sushma
Published: February 2015

Objective: Urogenital Sinus is a rare congenital deformity which overture to preclude of normal embryonic vaginal progression. We report a case of urogenital sinus with ambiguous genitalia in a female adult. Case Report:  An unmarried young female aged 26 years presented to our hospital with amenorrhea of 6 months and history of urinary incontinence from childhood. The diagnostic features of this case include normal haemogram with mildly elevated blood urea and creatinine, normal 17 ketosteroids, serum testosterone and DHEA; bilateral moderate hydronephrosis with uterus of size 6.8 x 4.6 x 5.3 cm; urogenital sinus with partial separation of bladder and vagina-vaginal type; bilateral hydrouretronephrosis with mild renal cortical scarring and bicornuate unicollis uterus cervix opening into the urogenital sinus. She was diagnosed with persistent urogenital sinus (Vaginal type) without congenital adrenal hyperplasia, but with associated mullerian anomaly. Treatment option was a U-shaped vaginoplasty with an aim of widening vaginal introitus and advancement of hypospadiac external urethral meatus to prevent micturition into vagina. Conclusion: Though the possible treatment options were discussed, this case study emphasizes the need of psycho social rehabilitation for the proper treatment of ambiguous genitalia. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i4.10107 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(4) 2015 89-91
Comparison Test of Oily Soil Removal of Japanese Laundry Detergents Using a Regression Formula to Derive Soil Quantity from K/S Value of Colored Oil
Authors: Kojima Yuya , Oya Masaru
Published: February 2015

How to calculate the amount of colored oily soil adhered to fabric by measuring the reflectance was studied. Fatty acid, triacylglycerol and hydrocarbon were selected as typical oily soil and mixed with Sudan IV. Removal of fatty acid was greatly affected by alkaline property of washing liquid, and those of triacylglycerol and hydrocarbon were largely affected by interfacial activity of washing liquid. The detergency of Japanese artificial soiled fabric was largely affected by the fatty acid composition.
Syntheses of Tartaric Acid-Based Hybrid Gemini Surfactants Containing Fluorocarbon and Hydrocarbon Chains
Authors: Kawase Tokuzo , Okazaki Yuki , Sugo Takeshi , Oida Tatsuo
Published: February 2015

Tartaric acid-based symmetric and hybrid gemini surfactants having dodecyloxy (C12H25O-) and tridecafluoro nonyloxy groups (C6F13(CH2)3O-) as hydrophobic groups were synthesized, and their surface properties were studied by surface tension (γ)-concentration and surface pressure-area (π-A) measurements. All geminis showed superior surfactant properties to 1+1 type surfactant. Especially, hybrid gemini showed high efficiency of lowering the surface tension comparable to that of bis(C6F13(CH2)3O) gemini. Further, hybrid gemini showed an unusual existence of two breakpoints at γ = ∼25 and 18 mN m−1. In the π-A measurements, regardless of symmetric or hybrid structures, geminis having fluoroalkyl group formed only liquid condensed monolayers while the bis(dodecyloxy) gemini formed solid monolayer. Molecular occupied areas of hybrid gemini were subequal to the mean of those of symmetric geminis.
Investigation into Impact of Fluctuations in Gasoline Prices and Macroeconomic Conditions on Road Safety in Developed Countries
Authors: Ahangari Hamed , Outlaw Jason , Atkinson-Palombo Carol , Garrick Norman W.
Published: February 2015

In most developed countries, the total number of road fatalities peaked in the 1970s. Although the data for road fatalities show a distinctive downward trend, a secondary signal that is more cyclical in nature is also evident. These cyclical variations closely track macroeconomic conditions (usually represented by the unemployment rate) and gasoline prices. While the relationship between transportation safety and unemployment and gasoline prices has been investigated, studies have looked at these variables in isolation from other important factors that affect traffic safety. Accordingly, the authors have developed a comprehensive conceptual model that considers a wide array of factors influencing traffic safety and uses this framework to inform an empirical model. For the study of variation across both time and location, a panel data model was employed, with observations for 16 industrialized countries between 1990 and 2010. In the panel model, the dependent variable was fatality per population, and gas price, unemployment, health index, mobility, and vehicle ownership were the independent variables. The results revealed a significant inverse relationship between gas prices and the road fatality rate after controlling for vehicle miles traveled. The elasticity analysis indicated that a 10% decrease in gasoline prices resulted in a 2.19% increase in road fatalities. Likewise, a 10% decrease in unemployment rate resulted in a 0.65% increase in road fatalities. Also, the results implied that the health index had the highest impact on road fatality rates. Overall, these results provide a better understanding of the underlying causes of periodic variations in road fatalities.
Spatial Analysis of Child Pedestrian and Bicycle Crashes
Authors: McArthur Adam , Savolainen Peter T. , Gates Timothy J.
Published: February 2015

Pedestrian and bicycle safety for school-aged children is a particular concern as traffic crashes continue to be a leading cause of death for children 5 to 14 years old. For this concern to be addressed, Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs have been implemented in communities across the country, with one of the primary objectives being to provide safe and convenient routes for children to walk or bike to school. Unfortunately, SRTS programs allocate limited funding for such projects. Consequently, it is imperative that programs are implemented at locations where they are likely to have the greatest impact. The primary focus of this study was to develop a safety Performance function (SPF) for use in prioritizing candidate schools for SRTS programs. Traffic crashes over a 5-year analysis period were examined and linked to data that included the school enrollment, the socioeconomic and demographic data for each school district, and the functional class of the roadway on which each school was located. Schools on local roads were found to experience more crashes than those located on other, higher-class road facilities. Crashes also varied with average family size, number of parents per household, population density, and median family income. Crashes were less frequent in school districts that exhibited greater ethnic diversity. The SPF developed as a part of this research can be used for prioritization of candidate schools as well as to assess the efficacy of SRTS programs on a longitudinal basis and thus provide a valuable tool for school administrators and others involved in child pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Development of On-Road Driving Assessment for Learner Teen Drivers
Authors: Mirman Jessica H. , Curry Allison E. , Schultheis Maria T. , Brant Courtney L. , Wang Wenli , Winston Flaura K. , Durbin Dennis R.
Published: February 2015

Teen drivers complete the learner permit period with difficulty in executing a variety of driving behaviors. The ability to identify these skill deficits during the learner permit phase would significantly advance teen driver research. The objective of this study was to develop a safe, develop-mentally appropriate, and challenging assessment of teen drivers during the learner permit phase that can assess a wide range of specific driving tasks and identify safety-relevant errors (classified as critical errors). The On-Road Driving Assessment for Learner Teen Drivers (tODA) was developed and tested for feasibility of administration by professional driving evaluators. Two assessment routes were developed and administered to 28 teen permit holders at approximately 12 and 24 weeks into their permit holding period. Forty licensed adult drivers drove the routes to begin to establish a criterion standard for route Performance; adult participants were required to meet safety and Performance standards to be included in the analyses. Three teen participants (10.7%) had the early tODA terminated for safety concerns; one of these participants (3.5%) also had the late tODA terminated for safety concerns. In addition, two teen participants (7.1%) did not complete the highway module of the late tODA secondary to teen or parental request. No adults were terminated, and none skipped the highway module. Preliminary data suggest that the tODA expands the repertoire of driving assessments by providing a means to safely and systematically assess drivers with varying levels of expertise in the context of practical evaluations of driver Performance as well as for research purposes.
Cushing's disease: predicting long-term remission after surgical treatment
Authors: Pendharkar Arjun V. , Sussman Eric S. , Ho Allen L. , Hayden Gephart Melanie G. , Katznelson Laurence
Published: February 2015

Cushing's disease (CD) is a state of excess glucocorticoid production resulting from an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)–secreting pituitary adenoma. The gold-standard treatment for CD is transsphenoidal adenomectomy. In the hands of an experienced neurosurgeon, gross-total resection is possible in the majority of ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas, with early postoperative remission rates ranging from 67% to 95%. In contrast to the strong data in support of resection, the clinical course of postsurgical persistent or recurrent disease remains unclear. There is significant variability in recurrence rates, with reports as high as 36% with a mean time to recurrence of 15–50 months. It is therefore important to develop biochemical criteria that define postsurgical remission and that may provide prognosis for long-term recurrence. Despite the use of a number of biochemical assessments, there is debate regarding the accuracy of these tests in predicting recurrence. Here, the authors review the various biochemical criteria and assess their utility in predicting CD recurrence after resection.
The role of bilateral adrenalectomy in the treatment of refractory Cushing's disease
Authors: Wong Anni , Eloy Jean Anderson , Liu James K.
Published: February 2015

Cushing's syndrome (CS) results from sustained exposure to excessive levels of free glucocorticoids. One of the main causes of CS is excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion by tumors in the pituitary gland (Cushing's disease [CD]). Cushing's disease and its associated hypercortisolism have a breadth of debilitating symptoms associated with an increased mortality rate, warranting urgent treatment. Currently, the first line of treatment for CD is transsphenoidal surgery (TSS), with excellent long-term results. Transsphenoidal resections performed by experienced surgeons have shown remission rates ranging from 70% to 90%. However, some patients do not achieve normalization of their hypercortisolemic state after TSS and continue to have persistent or recurrent CD. For these patients, various therapeutic options after failed TSS include repeat TSS, radiotherapy, medical therapy, and bilateral adrenalectomy (BLA). Bilateral adrenalectomy has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment modality for persistent or recurrent CD with an immediate and definitive cure of the hypercortisolemic state. BLA was traditionally performed through an open approach, but since the advent of laparoscopic adrenalectomy, the laparoscopic approach has become the surgical method of choice. Advances in technology, refinement in surgical skills, competency in adrenopathology, and emphasis on multidisciplinary collaborations have greatly reduced morbidity and mortality associated with adrenalectomy surgery in a high-risk patient population. In this article, the authors review the role of BLA in the treatment of refractory CD. The clinical indications, current surgical and endocrinological results reported in the literature, surgical technique (open vs laparoscopic), drawbacks, and complications of BLA are discussed.
Cavernous sinus sampling in patients with Cushing's disease
Authors: Burkhardt Till , Flitsch Jörg , van Leyen Philine , Sauer Nina , Aberle Jens , Grzyska Ulrich , Lüdecke Dieter K.
Published: February 2015

OBJECT

Correct diagnosis and precise localization of adenomas in patients with Cushing's disease are essential for avoiding unsuccessful transsphenoidal pituitary exploration. In addition to the well-established inferior petrosal sinus sampling, preoperative cavernous sinus sampling (CSS) was introduced as a potentially improved way to predict adenoma lateralization. The authors present their results with CSS in a consecutive series of patients with Cushing's disease.

METHODS

During 1999–2014, transsphenoidal surgeries were consecutively performed in 510 patients with Cushing's disease. For most patients, suppression of cortisol in high-dose dexamethasone tests and stimulation of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol after administration of corticotropin-releasing hormone were sufficient to prove the diagnosis of adrenocorticotropic hormone–dependent hypercortisolism. Of the 510 patients, 67 (13%) were referred to the department of neuroradiology for CSS according to the technique of Teramoto. The indications for CSS were unclear endocrine test results or negative MRI results. Data for all patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

A central/peripheral gradient was found in 59 patients; lateralization to the left or right side was found in 51. For 8 patients with a central/peripheral gradient, no left/right gradient could be determined. For another 8 patients with equivocal test results, no central/peripheral gradient was found. No severe CSS-associated complications were encountered. Of the 51 patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery, the predicted lateralization was proven correct for 42 (82%).

CONCLUSIONS

As MRI techniques have improved, the number of potential candidates for this invasive method has decreased in the past decade. However, because detecting minute adenomas remains problematic, CSS remains a useful diagnostic tool for patients with Cushing's disease.
Update on the management of recurrent Cushing's disease
Authors: Rutkowski Martin J. , Flanigan Patrick M. , Aghi Manish K.
Published: February 2015

After transsphenoidal surgery, Cushing's disease (CD) shows excellent long-term remission rates, but it may recur and pose a therapeutic challenge. Findings in recent published reports on the treatment of recurrent adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)–secreting tumors suggest that repeat resection, radiation-based therapies such as Gamma Knife surgery and proton-beam radiosurgery, pharmacotherapy, and bilateral adrenalectomy all have important roles in the treatment of recurrent CD. Each of these interventions has inherent risks and benefits that should be presented to the patient during counseling on retreatment options. Radiation-based therapies increasingly appear to have efficacies similar to those of repeat resection in achieving biochemical remission and tumor control. In addition, an expanding retinue of medication-based therapies, several of which are currently being evaluated in clinical trials, has shown some promise as tertiary adjunctive therapies. Lastly, bilateral adrenalectomy may offer durable control of refractory recurrent CD. An increasing number of published studies with long-term patient outcomes highlight the evolving treatment patterns in the management of recurrent CD.
Pitfalls in the diagnosis and management of Cushing's syndrome
Authors: Bansal Vivek , Asmar Nadine El , Selman Warren R. , Arafah Baha M.
Published: February 2015

Despite many recent advances, the management of patients with Cushing's disease continues to be challenging. Cushing's syndrome is a complex metabolic disorder that is a result of excess glucocorticoids. Excluding the exogenous causes, adrenocorticotropic hormone–secreting pituitary adenomas account for nearly 70% of all cases of Cushing's syndrome. The suspicion, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis require a logical systematic approach with attention paid to key details at each investigational step. A diagnosis of endogenous Cushing's syndrome is usually suspected in patients with clinical symptoms and confirmed by using multiple biochemical tests. Each of the biochemical tests used to establish the diagnosis has limitations that need to be considered for proper interpretation. Although some tests determine the total daily urinary excretion of cortisol, many others rely on measurements of serum cortisol at baseline and after stimulation (e.g., after corticotropin-releasing hormone) or suppression (e.g., dexamethasone) with agents that influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Other tests (e.g., measurements of late-night salivary cortisol concentration) rely on alterations in the diurnal rhythm of cortisol secretion. Because more than 90% of the cortisol in the circulation is protein bound, any alteration in the binding proteins (transcortin and albumin) will automatically influence the measured level and confound the interpretation of stimulation and suppression data, which are the basis for establishing the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. Although measuring late-night salivary cortisol seems to be an excellent initial test for hypercortisolism, it may be confounded by poor sampling methods and contamination. Measurements of 24-hour urinary free-cortisol excretion could be misleading in the presence of some pathological and physiological conditions. Dexamethasone suppression tests can be affected by illnesses that alter the absorption of the drug (e.g., malabsorption, celiac disease) and by the concurrent use of medications that interfere with its metabolism (e.g., inducers and inhibitors of the P450 enzyme system). In this review, the authors aim to review the pitfalls commonly encountered in the workup of patients suspected to have hypercortisolism. The optimal diagnosis and therapy for patients with Cushing's disease require the thorough and close coordination and involvement of all members of the management team.
The role of inferior petrosal sinus sampling in ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome: review and joint opinion statement by members of the Italian Society for Endocrinology, Italian Society for Neurosurgery, and Italian Society for Neuroradiology
Authors: Giraldi Francesca Pecori , Cavallo Luigi Maria , Tortora Fabio , Pivonello Rosario , Colao Annamaria , Cappabianca Paolo , Mantero Franco
Published: February 2015

In the management of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)–dependent Cushing's syndrome, inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) provides information for the endocrinologist, the neurosurgeon, and the neuroradiologist. To the endocrinologist who performs the etiological diagnosis, results of IPSS confirm or exclude the diagnosis of Cushing's disease with 80%–100% sensitivity and over 95% specificity. Baseline central-peripheral gradients have suboptimal accuracy, and stimulation with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), possibly desmopressin, has to be performed. The rationale for the use of IPSS in this context depends on other diagnostic means, taking availability of CRH and reliability of dynamic testing and pituitary imaging into account. As regards the other specialists, the neuroradiologist may collate results of IPSS with findings at imaging, while IPSS may prove useful to the neurosurgeon to chart a surgical course. The present review illustrates the current standpoint of these 3 specialists on the role of IPSS.
Cyclic Cushing's disease with misleading inferior petrosal sinus sampling results during a trough phase
Authors: Bonert Vivien , Bose Namrata , Carmichael John D.
Published: February 2015

Diagnosing Cushing's syndrome is challenging and is further hampered when investigations are performed in a patient with cyclic Cushing's syndrome. A subset of patients with Cushing's syndrome exhibit periods of abnormal cortisol secretion with interspersed normal secretion. Patients can have periods of clinical improvement during these quiescent phases or remain symptomatic. Initial diagnostic testing can be challenging because of the unpredictable durations of the peak and trough phases, and it is especially challenging when the diagnosis of cyclic Cushing's syndrome has not yet been determined. Here, the authors present the case of a patient with Cushing's disease with a pathology-proven adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)–secreting pituitary adenoma and whose initial inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) results were deemed indeterminate; further studies elucidated the diagnosis of cyclic Cushing's syndrome. Repeat IPSS was diagnostic of a central source for ACTH secretion, and the patient was treated successfully with transsphenoidal resection. Literature concerning the diagnosis and management of cyclic Cushing's syndrome is also reviewed.
Building Resilience into Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) Forests in Scotland in Response to the Threat of Climate Change
Authors: Cameron Andrew
Published: February 2015

It is expected that a warming climate will have an impact on the future productivity of European spruce forests. In Scotland, Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) dominates the commercial forestry sector and there is growing pressure to develop alternative management strategies to limit potential economic losses through climate change. This review considers management options to increase the resilience of Sitka spruce dominated forests in Scotland. Given the considerable uncertainty over the potential long-term impacts of climate change, it is recommended that Sitka spruce should continue to be planted where it already grows well. However, new planting and restocking should be established in mixtures where silviculturally practicable, even if no-thin regimes are adopted, to spread future risks of damage. Three potentially compatible species with Sitka spruce are western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), grand fir (Abies grandis (Lamb.) Lindl.) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and all form natural mixtures in its native range in North America. The predicted windier climate will require a range of management inputs, such as early cutting of extraction racks and early selective thinning, to improve stability. The potential to improve resilience to particularly abiotic damage through transforming even-aged stands into irregular structures and limiting the overall size of the growing stock is discussed.
Neighboring Gene Regulation by Antisense Long Non-Coding RNAs
Authors: Villegas Victoria , Zaphiropoulos Peter
Published: February 2015

Antisense transcription, considered until recently as transcriptional noise, is a very common phenomenon in human and eukaryotic transcriptomes, operating in two ways based on whether the antisense RNA acts in cis or in trans. This process can generate long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), one of the most diverse classes of cellular transcripts, which have demonstrated multifunctional roles in fundamental biological processes, including embryonic pluripotency, differentiation and development. Antisense lncRNAs have been shown to control nearly every level of gene regulation—pretranscriptional, transcriptional and posttranscriptional—through DNA–RNA, RNA–RNA or protein–RNA interactions. This review is centered on functional studies of antisense lncRNA-mediated regulation of neighboring gene expression. Specifically, it addresses how these transcripts interact with other biological molecules, nucleic acids and proteins, to regulate gene expression through chromatin remodeling at the pretranscriptional level and modulation of transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes by altering the sense mRNA structure or the cellular compartmental distribution, either in the nucleus or the cytoplasm.
Real-Time Noise Removal for Line-Scanning Hyperspectral Devices Using a Minimum Noise Fraction-Based Approach
Authors: Bjorgan Asgeir , Randeberg Lise
Published: February 2015

Processing line-by-line and in real-time can be convenient for some applications of line-scanning hyperspectral imaging technology. Some types of processing, like inverse modeling and spectral analysis, can be sensitive to noise. The MNF (minimum noise fraction) transform provides suitable denoising performance, but requires full image availability for the estimation of image and noise statistics. In this work, a modified algorithm is proposed. Incrementally-updated statistics enables the algorithm to denoise the image line-by-line. The denoising performance has been compared to conventional MNF and found to be equal. With a satisfying denoising performance and real-time implementation, the developed algorithm can denoise line-scanned hyperspectral images in real-time. The elimination of waiting time before denoised data are available is an important step towards real-time visualization of processed hyperspectral data. The source code can be found at http://www.github.com/ntnu-bioopt/mnf. This includes an implementation of conventional MNF denoising.
Phospholipid Fatty Acids as Physiological Indicators of Paracoccus denitrificans Encapsulated in Silica Sol-Gel Hydrogels
Authors: Trögl Josef , Jirková Ivana , Kuráň Pavel , Akhmetshina Elmira , Brovdyová Taťjána , Sirotkin Alexander , Kirilina Tatiana
Published: February 2015

The phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) content was determined in samples of Paracoccus denitrificans encapsulated in silica hydrogel films prepared from prepolymerized tetramethoxysilane (TMOS). Immediately after encapsulation the total PLFA concentration was linearly proportional to the optical density (600 nm) of the input microbial suspension (R2 = 0.99). After 7 days this relationship remained linear, but with significantly decreased slope, indicating a higher extinction of bacteria in suspensions of input concentration 108 cells/mL and higher. trans-Fatty acids, indicators of cytoplasmatic membrane disturbances, were below the detection limit. The cy/pre ratio (i.e., ratio of cyclopropylated fatty acids (cy17:0 + cy19:0) to their metabolic precursors (16:1ω7 + 18:1ω7)), an indicator of the transition of the culture to a stationary growth-phase, decreased depending on co-immobilization of nutrients in the order phosphate buffer > mineral medium > Luria Broth rich medium. The ratio, too, was logarithmically proportional to cell concentration. These results confirm the applicability of total PLFA as an indicator for the determination of living biomass and cy/pre ratio for determination of nutrient limitation of microorganisms encapsulated in sol-gel matrices. This may be of interest for monitoring of sol-gel encapsulated bacteria proposed as optical recognition elements in biosensor construction, as well as other biotechnological applications.
Cathodic reductive coupling of methyl cinnamate on boron-doped diamond electrodes and synthesis of new neolignan-type products
Authors: Kojima Taiki , Obata Rika , Saito Tsuyoshi , Einaga Yasuaki , Nishiyama Shigeru
Published: February 2015

The electroreduction reaction of methyl cinnamate on a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode was investigated. The hydrodimer, dimethyl 3,4-diphenylhexanedioate (racemate/meso = 74:26), was obtained in 85% yield as the major product, along with small amounts of cyclic methyl 5-oxo-2,3-diphenylcyclopentane-1-carboxylate. Two new neolignan-type products were synthesized from the hydrodimer.
Characterization of Cumulative Joint Damage Patterns in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Clinical, Serological, and Gene Polymorphism Perspective
Authors: Alarcon Renata Trigueirinho , Fernandes Artur da Rocha Corrêa , Laurindo Ieda Maria , Bértolo Manoel Barros , Pinheiro Geraldo Castelar , Andrade Luís Eduardo
Published: February 2015

Objective.

To characterize cumulative joint damage (CJD) patterns in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and determine their associations with demographic/clinical features and HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphism.

Methods.

Hand and foot radiographs were obtained from 404 patients with RA. CJD patterns were determined by 3 derivations from Sharp/van der Heijde scores, obtained by the mathematical division of scores for hands/feet (Sharp-h/f score), fingers/wrists (Sharp-f/w score), and erosion/space narrowing (Sharp-e/sn score), respectively. DNA and serum were obtained for determination of HLA-DRB1 polymorphism, rheumatoid factor (RF), and anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA).

Results.

Patients with wrist-dominant CJD pattern were more likely to have severe RA than those with finger-dominant pattern (68.4% vs 46.0%; p = 0.036) as were those with foot-dominant vs hand-dominant CJD pattern (76.5% vs 56.4%; p = 0.044). HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE) alleles were associated with erosion-dominant CJD pattern (p = 0.021). Patients with erosion-dominant CJD pattern had higher levels of RF and ACPA than those with space-narrowing–dominant CJD pattern (median RF 71.35 U/ml vs 22.05 U/ml, respectively; p = 0.003; median ACPA 187.9 U/ml vs 143.2 U/ml, respectively; p < 0.001). The majority of triple-positive patients (SE+, RF+, ACPA+) had erosion-dominant CJD pattern (62.3%) while the majority of triple-negative patients (SE–, FR–, ACPA–) had space narrowing–dominant CJD pattern (75%; p = 0.017). ACPA was associated with HLA-DRB1 SE alleles (p < 0.05). Patients with foot-dominant CJD pattern were taller than those with hand-dominant CJD pattern (p = 0.002); those with erosion-dominant CJD pattern had higher weight and body mass index than those with space narrowing–dominant CJD pattern (p = 0.014, p = 0.001).

Conclusion.

CJD patterns were associated with disease severity, HLA-DRB1 SE status, presence and titer of ACPA and RF, and morphometric features.
A Qualitative Investigation of the Barriers to Help-seeking Among Members of the Public Presented with Symptoms of New-onset Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Simons Gwenda , Mallen Christian David , Kumar Kanta , Stack Rebecca Jayne , Raza Karim
Published: February 2015

Objective.

Treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) within 3 months of symptom onset leads to significantly improved clinical outcomes. However, many people with RA symptoms wait a long time before seeking medical attention. To develop effective health interventions to encourage people to seek help early, it is important to understand what the general public knows about RA, how they would react to the symptoms of RA, and what might delay help-seeking.

Methods.

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 38 members of the general public (32 women) without any form of inflammatory arthritis about their perceptions of RA symptoms and decisions to seek help were they to experience such symptoms. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results.

A number of barriers and drivers to help-seeking were identified and grouped into 5 themes: perceived causes of symptoms; factors related to presentation, location, and experience of symptoms; perceived effect of symptoms on daily life; self-management of symptoms; and general practitioner-related drivers and barriers.

Conclusion.

To our knowledge, our study is the first to investigate barriers to and drivers of help-seeking in response to the onset of RA symptoms in individuals without a diagnosis of RA. It has revealed a number of additional factors (e.g., the importance of the location of the symptoms) besides those previously identified in retrospective studies of patients with RA. Together with the data from previous research, these findings will help inform future health interventions aimed at increasing knowledge of RA and encouraging help-seeking.
Variants of the IFI16 Gene Affecting the Levels of Expression of mRNA Are Associated with Susceptibility to Behçet Disease
Authors: Ortiz-Fernández Lourdes , García-Lozano José-Raúl , Montes-Cano Marco-Antonio , Conde-Jaldón Marta , Ortego-Centeno Norberto , García-Hernández Francisco-José , Espinosa Gerard , Graña-Gil Genaro , Sánchez-Bursón Juan , Blanco Ricardo , Barnosi-Marín Ana-Celia , Solans Roser , Fanlo Patricia , Rodríguez-Carballeira Mónica , Camps Teresa , Castañeda Santos , Núñez-Roldán Antonio , Martín Javier , González-Escribano María-Francisca
Published: February 2015

Objective.

Behçet disease (BD) is a multifactorial disease in which infectious agents have been proposed as triggers in genetically predisposed individuals. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of innate immunity receptors, specifically the nucleic acid sensors, in susceptibility to BD.

Methods.

Seventy-four tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNP) selected in 9 candidate genes (DDX58, IFIH1, TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, AIM2, IFI16, ZBP1, and TLR9) were genotyped in 371 patients and 854 controls. Assays of mRNA expression and allele-specific transcript quantification (ASTQ) were performed in 110 and 50 controls, respectively.

Results.

Patients and controls were genotyped and 2 tSNP (rs6940 in IFI16 and rs855873 in AIM2) were associated with BD. To confirm this association, these tSNP were genotyped in 850 additional controls, and the total cohort was randomly divided into 2 cohorts. The association of these 2 tSNP with the disease remained in both cohorts. One haplotype (rs6940T-rs855873G) was identified as a risk factor (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.06–1.86, p = 0.015), and another (rs6940A-rs855873A) as a protective factor (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47–0.90, p = 0.009). Samples with the risk haplotype had lower IFI16 expression levels than samples with the protective (0.99 ± 0.29 vs 1.23 ± 0.50, p = 0.022). Consistently, in the ASTQ assays performed with the nonsynonymous rs6940 SNP, the risk allele had lower IFI16 expression levels than the protective (p = 0.027).

Conclusion.

Our findings suggest association of IFI16, a cytosolic sensor of dsDNA and mediator of the AIM2 inflammasome-dependent pathway, in susceptibility to BD. Differences genetically determined in the levels of this molecule could be the cause of this association.
Dialogue on Developing Consensus on Measurement and Presentation of Patient-important Outcomes, Using Pain Outcomes as an Exemplar, in Systematic Reviews: A Preconference Meeting at OMERACT 12
Authors: Tugwell Peter S. , Maxwell Lara J. , Beaton Dorcas E. , Busse Jason W. , Christensen Robin , Conaghan Philip G. , Simon Lee S. , Terwee Caroline , Tovey David , Wells George A. , Williamson Paula
Published: February 2015

Prior to the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) 12 meeting in Budapest, Hungary, a workshop was held bringing together individuals from a number of international outcome measure organizations to assess how best to further develop consensus on how pain is conceptualized and measured in trials of musculoskeletal conditions, and how the trials should be reported in systematic reviews.
Féminisme indien ou féminisme « tout court » ? Quelques remarques sur la spécificité de la pensée et la pratique féministes en Inde
Authors: Dutoya Virginie
Published: February 2015

Sans prétendre présenter de façon exhaustive le mouvement féministe en Inde, ce texte revient de façon subjective et fragmentaire sur certaines de ses caractéristiques et sur son histoire. Tout en soulignant l’importance de comprendre le contexte spécifique du développement du mouvement des femmes en Inde, la contribution des féministes indiennes à la pensée féministe, au-delà d’une supposée spécificité culturelle, est soulignée.
La question sociale de la dépossession
Authors: Cabalion Joël
Published: February 2015

La dépossession est un enjeu majeur des luttes en Inde, comme le montre ici Joël Cabalion, à partir du cas des barrages. Le principe du « droit éminent » permet à l’État, en tant que représentant de l’intérêt général, via l’élection, de faire prévaloir l’intérêt commun sur l’intérêt particulier, ce qui se traduit ici par des déplacements de population. Entre mouvements sociaux et régulation étatique, la circulation des terres suit un principe qui oscille entre l’intérêt général et l’intérêt particulier, comme on peut le voir aussi en France autour de la contestation de certaines autoroutes ou de l’aéroport de Notre-Dame-des-Landes.
Actualité du gandhisme : Ekta Parishad
Authors: Delli Karima , Joyeux Benjamin , Flipo Fabrice
Published: February 2015

Rajagopal P. V. est le fondateur et président d’honneur du mouvement social Ekta Parishad et vice-président de la Gandhi Peace Foundation. Mouvements 1 a souhaité faire cet itinéraire pour donner à voir au travers de son initiateur l’activité d’une organisation qui, tout en étant indienne, ne méconnaît pas les réalités occidentales, puisque la marche qu’elle a organisée et dirigée a aussi été mise en œuvre en Europe.
Hacklabs et hackerspaces : ateliers partagés de mécanique
Authors: Maxigas  , Hellekin
Published: February 2015

Hackerspaces, hacklabs, voire fablabs, qui n’a pas entendu parler ces derniers temps de ces espaces « hacker », vitrines tout à la fois d’une éthique numérique du partage et de formes expérimentales de l’invention technologique et de la transmission de savoirs en dehors des sentiers capitalistes et étatiques. Le présent texte propose quelques éléments de définition et d’histoire de ces espaces en Europe.
The Evolution of Online Forums as Communication Networks: An Agent-Based Model
Authors: Gabbriellini Simone
Published: February 2015

L’article propose un modèle théorique traduit dans une simulation informatique de la manière dont les acteurs communiquent au sein de forums de discussions en ligne. L’analyse du modèle montre que deux mécanismes simples peuvent rendre compte de la complexité des réseaux des échanges en ligne : d’une part, la tendance à parler avec des utilisateurs connus et, d’autre part, la tendance à se lancer dans des échanges de questions/réponses. Ces deux mécanismes permettent de reproduire des discussions longues ainsi que des interactions complexes entre des utilisateurs ayant des niveaux différents d’expertise. En particulier, quand les résultats des simulations sont comparés à des données empiriques issues de trois forums en ligne différents, l’analyse montre que le modèle est capable de distinguer quand un noyau d’utilisateurs interagissant apparaît fréquemment. Puisque l’émergence de tels noyaux constitue la première étape dans la construction du sentiment d’appartenance à une communauté, la capacité à modéliser l’émergence de ces noyaux intéresse plusieurs contextes qui vont du policy-making à l’apprentissage en ligne au marketing social.
Le monstre dans la philosophie contemporaine de l’horreur cinématographique
Authors: Clémot Hugo
Published: February 2015

Le monstre joue un rôle essentiel dans The Philosophy of Horror de Noël Carroll, l’ouvrage de référence pour la philosophie anglo-saxonne du cinéma d’horreur. Il n’est donc pas étonnant que ce livre ait suscité une réflexion sur l’essence du monstre, qui mobilise autant les ressources de la philosophie la plus traditionnelle, que l’expérience des films d’horreur les plus contemporains. Cet article vise à présenter cette réflexion et à défendre la nécessité d’un « changement focal » conceptuel qui accompagne les mutations cinématographiques du monstre.
Monstruos, atrofias y deseo en “Marat-Sade” de Florencia Abbate
Authors: Ponce Néstor
Published: February 2015

Este artículo se propone estudiar el relato “Marat-Sade”, de la escritora argentina Florencia Abbate, desde una doble perspectiva: política y estética. El punto de partida es observar la noción de monstruo a través de la historia del neoliberalismo, para destacar los criterios económicos que rigieron la sociedad argentina en los años '90. Se pasa luego al estudio del relato de Abbate, para poner en evidencia los procedimientos narratológicos y estructurales que le permiten a la autora tomar una distancia crítica para observar la monstruosidad de la sociedad.
Monstruos cinematográficos en dos películas argentinas contemporáneas : Un muro de silencio de Lita Stantic y Los Rubios de Albertina Carri
Authors: Hardouin Elodie
Published: February 2015

Este trabajo se centra en las películas Un muro de silencio de Lita Stantic y Los rubios de Albertina Carri estrenadas en la Argentina en los años 1993 y 2004 respectivamente. El análisis detalla cómo los dispositivos cinematográficos a los que recurren las directoras engendran formas visuales monstruosas híbridas y polifacéticas. Espejismos en el caso de Stantic y dobles en el de Carri, que representan la identidad compleja y múltiple de las familias de desaparecidos.
Bordes, lindes y transacciones en la poesía del sur : aproximaciones a Los fronterantes de Ariel Williams
Authors: Mellado Silvia
Published: February 2015

En este trabajo se aborda el poemario Los fronterantes (2008) de Ariel Williams (Patagonia argentina) a partir de las representaciones de la frontera y sus relaciones con núcleos semánticos de la literatura escrita en el área cultural sur.
Escritores, monstruo y supervivencia (César Aira, Daniel Guebel, Sergio Bizzio)
Authors: Audran Marie
Published: February 2015

En un contexto que plantea el problema del valor de la literatura actual, César Aira propone consagrar al procedimiento como alternativa vanguardista de supervivencia de la literatura. En este artículo partimos de la definición del monstruo de César Aira como figuración del procedimiento de un escritor que le permite sobrevivir. Propongo leer dos novelas: Derrumbe de Daniel Guebel y El escritor comido de Sergio Bizzio a partir de esta definición para analizar cómo se construye el monstruo en tanto agente de supervivencia en la narrativa argentina actual.
Mujer-serpiente en México. De Cihuacóatl a Lukas Avendaño
Authors: Godínez Rivas Gloria Luz
Published: February 2015

La serpiente juega dos roles contrapuestos en los mitos de origen que aquí nos ocupan: el judeocristiano, en el que el animal rastrero es causa del pecado original y la vergüenza, y el mexica, en el que la serpiente es origen de la vida, la fertilidad, el nacimiento y la salud. En ambos casos la mujer está íntimamente relacionada con la serpiente. En el mito tenochca, la mujer-serpiente, también llamada Cihuacóatl, nos permite recrear una serie de marcas de alteridad en nuestra cultura: tacto, superficie, deseo, seducción, instinto rastrero, cambio de piel y lengua bífida. Con esta última característica, la lengua dividida, identificamos al personaje histórico conocido como La Malinche, mujer traductora que permitió el “entendimiento” (condenado al malentendido) entre indígenas y españoles en la Conquista de la Nueva España. La Llorona, monstrua popular en México, aparece aquí como leyenda que reúne a la Cihuacóatl y la Malinche, pero también aparece como mercancía cultural. Para desatar la fuerza subversiva de la mujer-serpiente, cerramos este recorrido con un performer indígena homosexual que posa desnudo con un lagarto, Lukas Avendaño, quien nos recuerda que en su comunidad existen tres sexos: hombres, mujeres y muxes.
Los monstruos ocultos de Manuel Vázquez Montalbán en La Rosa de Alejandría
Authors: Quevedo García Francisco J.
Published: February 2015

Vázquez Montalbán es un autor clave de la novela negra española. Las obras protagonizadas por el detective Carvalho introducen al lector en una trama misteriosa y sórdida. En La Rosa de Alejandría analizaremos la figura del monstruo.
Palabra clausura, palabra abierta. Publicaciones literarias de pacientes psiquiátricos en Venezuela (siglo XX)
Authors: Ascanio Celiner
Published: February 2015

Desde la segunda década del siglo XX hasta el presente, ha existido en Venezuela una recurrente necesidad por parte de psiquiatras, psicólogos y escritores de inscribir al sujeto denominado “paciente” dentro del espacio creativo de la palabra. El lugar se establece precisamente en el hospital psiquiátrico; contexto que representa en la mayoría de los casos, más que un centro de rehabilitación y tratamiento, un cerco que mantiene al “loco” alejado del mundo de la “normalidad”. El surgimiento de una serie de talleres de creación y la posterior publicación de los textos que resultan de estos en revistas y periódicos, constituye un punto de fuga dentro del espacio delimitado del psiquiátrico que permite la permanencia de los sujetos que allí habitan, más allá de su clasificación, a través de la palabra creativa. Nuestro objetivo es hacer una lectura de la relación escritura-delirio a partir de la posibilidad de inscripción de la subjetividad del paciente psiquiátrico.
Poétique du corps enfermé. Répression et résistance des prisonnières politiques argentines (1976-1983)
Authors: Guillard Amandine
Published: February 2015

Cet article propose d’aborder la question de l’emprisonnement féminin, plus particulièrement, celui des prisonnières politiques sous la dernière dictature argentine (1976-1983). Le croissant intérêt pour la récupération de la mémoire en Argentine a donné lieu à la publication de nombreux ouvrages qui permettent aujourd’hui de mieux comprendre cet aspect encore peu exploré de l’histoire argentine. Ce travail sera donc l’occasion d’analyser les conditions d’enfermement et l’expérience des prisonnières politiques dans les établissements pénitentiaires de San Martín (province de Córdoba) et Villa Devoto (province de Buenos Aires). Ceci nous invitera immanquablement à réfléchir au sens de la féminité en prison sous un régime autoritaire, et à la manière dont les détenues ont résisté grâce, notamment, à leur condition de femme.