bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Association of Glomerular Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression with Responsiveness to Corticosteroid Treatment in IgA Nephropathy
Authors: Kee Youn Kyung , Nam Bo Young , Jhee Jong Hyun , Park Jung Tak , Lim Beom Jin , Yoo Tae-Hyun , Kang Shin-Wook , Jeong Hyun Joo , Han Seung Hyeok 
Published: September 2019

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Corticosteroids can be used to treat IgA nephropathy (IgAN). However, responsiveness to these drugs is highly variable and unpredictable. Corticosteroids act by binding glucocorticoid receptors (GCRs). Therefore, we evaluated the association between GCR expression and responsiveness to corticosteroid treatment in IgAN. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We screened 78 IgAN patients receiving steroid treatment between 2010 and 2016. Of these, 33 patients met study inclusion criteria. Glomerular GCR expression was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR) were defined as a spot urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) of &#x3c;0.3 g/g and a ≥50% reduction of proteinuria from baseline along with UPCR of ≥0.3 g/g, respectively. Disease progression was defined as a ≥30% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from baseline. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The mean age of study patients was 43.9 ± 11.6 years (25 males and 8 females). All 33 patients responded to steroid treatment; CR and PR occurred in 14 (42.4%) and 18 (54.5%) patients, respectively. One patient did not achieve PR, but proteinuria was decreased after treatment. There were no significant differences in baseline eGFR and proteinuria between CR and non-CR groups. GCR mRNA expression was significantly higher in the CR group compared to that in the non-CR group. Immunohistochemistry confirmed higher GCR expression in the CR group. During a median follow-up of 20.6 months, 1 (7.1%) patient in the CR group had disease progression, as compared to 8 (42.1%) patients in non-CR group (<i>p</i> = 0.03). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> This study suggests that responsiveness to corticosteroid may differ depending on the degree of glomerular GCR expression in IgAN.
Interconexões na integração lusófona
Authors: Valadares Flavio Biasutti 
Published: September 2019

A pesquisa aborda as possibilidades de interconexão no espaço lusófono a partir da ideia de construção identitária por meio do uso de expressões idiomáticas, destacando-se a integração no mundo da lusofonia. Objetiva discutir a interconexão numa interface de integração relativa à constituição de uma identidade lusófona cujo espaço se organiza com a utilização de idiomatismos comuns em diversos ambientes de produção, ressaltando tal espaço como propício à discussão de interculturalidade. Baseia-se na Lusofonia e no conceito de expressões idiomáticas, além da perspectiva da interculturalidade. Como procedimentos metodológicos, recolhe textos de jornalísticos para a análise em sítios de países com língua portuguesa oficial. Conclui que a noção de que os efeitos de sentido são produzidos de modo consubstanciado a partir do que as expressões idiomáticas podem assumir quanto à significação que as metáforas inscritas em si promovem para a construção de uma interculturalidade.
Abstract P120: Leukocyte and Lymphocyte-Derived Extracellular Vesicles are Elevated in Angiotensin-Induced Hypertension
Authors: La Salvia Sabrina , Musante Luca , Lannigan Joanne , Carey Robert M , Isakson Brant , Le Thu H , Erdbrügger Uta 
Published: September 2019

Infiltration of macrophages and T cells in kidneys and vasculature may play a role in the development of hypertension (HTN) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as novel cell-to-cell communicators in the pathogenesis HTN. Immune cell-derived EVs can reflect the pathophysiological activity of the parental cell and mediate immune stimulation or inhibition in paracrine fashion. We investigated subgroups of circulating leukocyte-derived EVs (LEVs) in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced HTN with or without candesartan (C) or hydralazine, hydrochlorothiazide, and reserpine (HHR).
Ang II was delivered via osmotic mini pumps (500 ng/kg/min; n=15) and with C (10 mg/kg/day, n=5) or HHR (30 mg/kg/day, n=5) in drinking water for 4 weeks to 129S6 mice. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured daily by tail-cuff manometry. After 4 weeks, mice were euthanized and citrated blood collected. EV isolation was performed by differential centrifugation, followed by EV phenotyping with imaging flow cytometry. We used EV surface markers for leukocyte (CD45), T- and B-cells (CD3,CD19), neutrophils (Ly6g+/CD11b-) and monocytes/macrophages (Ly6g-/CD11b+).
Ang II infused mice had significantly higher SBP compared to normotensive controls (NC) (n=5) (173.79 ± 4.9mmHg vs 129.8 ± 6.2mmHg, p <0.0001) and C/HHR treated mice (134.42 ± 7.5mmHg (C) and 138.21 ± 5.2mmHg (HHR), p = NS). Leukocyte-derived EV counts (CD45+ EVs for Ang II: 2.16E+06 particles/ml; NC: 6.15E+05 particles/mL; p=0.0001) and T cell-derived EV counts (CD3+) (Ang II: 2.14E+06 particles/ml, NC: 4.46E+05 particles/mL; p=0.0001] increased after 4 weeks in Ang II-infused mice compared to NC. In C and HHR treated groups, leukocyte- and T cell-derived EV concentrations were similar to NC, suggesting a BP effect rather than drug class effect. CD45+ and CD3+ EV concentrations correlated significantly with SBP [(r2=0.9343; p= 0.0004) and (r2= 0.8982; p= 0.0012), respectively]. In conclusion, leukocyte- and T cell-derived EVs were increased in Ang II-induced HTN and correlated significantly with SBP. Therefore, leukocyte- and T cell-derived EVs are potential bio-markers in HTN. Further studies are required to understand the functional role of leukocyte- and T cell-derived EVs in the pathogenesis of HTN.
Abstract P2017: Angiotensin-Induced Constriction via Rho Kinase Activation in Pressure-Overloaded Rat Thoracic Aortas
Authors: Terada Yuka , Yayama Katsutoshi 
Published: September 2019

Activation of the angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor increases myosin light chain (MLC) kinase activity and causes inactivation of MLC phosphatase thorough myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) phosphorylation by Rho kinase. This results in MLC phosphorylation and subsequent smooth muscle constriction. However, the detailed mechanism of Rho kinase activation by Ang II is still unknown. The aim of this study was to clarify whether Ang II-induced constriction in pressure-overloaded rat thoracic aortas is mediated by Rho kinase activation through epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (Erk1/2), and janus kinase (JAK).
Pressure-overload in the rat thoracic aortas was produced by suprarenal abdominal aortic coarctation. After 4 weeks, the thoracic aortas were excised for performing organ chamber experiments. Ang II was cumulatively added to reach a final concentration of a 0.1 – 1 μM. The inhibitors were added to 15 min prior to Ang II, and protein levels were measured by Western blotting.

The contractile response to Ang II was significantly enhanced in the pressure-overloaded rats as compared to sham-operated ones [E
max
(% 40 mM KCl-induced constriction): sham; 44.6 ± 2.4, pressure-overload; 61.6 ± 2.2]. Ang II-induced constriction was attenuated by inhibitors of Rho kinase (E
max
: sham; 14.2 ± 5.3, pressure-overload; 6.8 ± 0.6), Erk1/2 (E
max
: sham; 21.2 ± 3.5, pressure-overload; 33.7 ± 3.5), and EGFR (E
max
: sham; 7.8 ± 2.0, pressure-overload; 26.6 ± 3.0) in both the sham-operated and pressure-overloaded rats. The Ang II-induced constriction was attenuated by JAK inhibitor (E
max
: sham; 41.9 ± 4.8, pressure-overload; 45.1 ± 4.2) in only pressure-overloaded rats. The protein levels of MYPT1 and JAK exhibited to increase in the pressure-overloaded rat thoracic aortas (MYPT1: sham; 1.0 ± 0.1, pressure-overload; 1.3 ± 0.1, JAK: sham; 1.0 ± 0.1, pressure-overload; 1.2 ± 0.1).

These data suggest that Ang II-induced constriction is mediated by Rho kinase activation via EGFR, Erk1/2, and JAK in pressure-overloaded rat thoracic aortas. Moreover, Ang II-induced constriction was enhanced in pressure-overloaded rats probably because the protein levels of MYPT1 and JAK tended to increase in the thoracic aortas.
Abstract P2049: Mitochondrial Respiration And Biogenesis In The Glomeruli Of Dahl Ss Rats
Authors: Sultanova Regina , Domondon Mark , Polina Iuliia , Fomin Mikhail , Stadler Krisztian , Ilatovskaya Daria 
Published: September 2019

The mechanisms of salt-sensitive (SS) hypertension are complex and far from clear. Available medications are insufficient to control blood pressure (BP) in the SS subjects, and there is a need for the development of novel effective therapies. SS hypertension is accompanied with an early onset of proteinuria, which results from the loss of podocytes. Many reports highlight that in this disease ultrastructural abnormalities and deficient metabolism in the renal mitochondria may precede histological injury. We hypothesized that podocyte damage occurs in part due to mitochondria dysfunction.
Dahl SS rats were used here as an established animal model of SS hypertension. All rats were fed a 0.4% NaCl (normal salt, NS) diet until 8 weeks of age when they were challenged with a high salt (HS) 4% NaCl diet for 21 days. At the end of the protocol BP was measured, kidneys were cleared from blood, tissues were collected, and cortical glomeruli were isolated and subjected to imaging, WB and other applications.

Systolic BP was elevated in the HS diet fed rats (171±9 vs 148±6 mmHg in HS vs NS diet fed rats). HS diet fed rats exhibited renal lesions, kidney hypertrophy, decreased GFR and exacerbated glomeruli damage compared to the NS group. We did not observe changes in the renal cortical expression of PGC1α; cortical mtDNA content (ND1 and ND6 gene expression vs genomic DNA) was not affected by a HS diet. Seahorse assay performed on freshly isolated glomeruli revealed that basal mitochondria respiration, maximal respiration, and spare respiratory capacity were lower in the HS group (28 ± 14%, 47 ± 15% and 37 ± 9% lower, respectively, vs NS group). No difference was observed in ATP production, or mitochondrial Complex V (ATPase) activity (expressed as oxidation rate of NADH and measured in glomerular pellets). Using confocal imaging and mitoPY1 staining we detected higher baseline H
2
O
2
level, lower antioxidant capacity, and fragmented mitochondria in the podocytes of the glomeruli isolated from HS diet fed group. EM analysis showed that HS mitochondria have structural abnormalities (swelling, enlargement, less defined cristae, and reduced number). We conclude that glomerular mitochondria in SS hypertension are functionally and structurally impaired.
Abstract P3056: The Effect of Device Guided Slow Breathing With Biofeedback on Pulse Transit Time and Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia
Authors: Mengden Thomas , Bachler Martin , Mayer Christopher C , Mikisek Ines , Sehnert Walter , Wassertheurer Siegfried 
Published: September 2019

Slow breathing is a relaxation exercise with class B, IIa recommendation by the AHA for lowering blood pressure (BP). Biofeedback on the effect of the exercise may improve patient adherence and enhance the BP lowering effect. Conversely, standard BP measurements with occlusion cuffs interfere with relaxation. Hence, the pulse transit time (PTT) is used as a surrogate to estimate BP changes.
Thirty patients treated for essential hypertension (age 62.9 (SD 7.7) years, 11F/19M, Sys. BP 133.0 (SD 17.1) mmHg, Dia. BP 83.8 (SD 10.6) mmHg) performed a device-guided slow breathing relaxation exercise for 10 minutes, with respiratory rate guided by instructions on a tablet computer. The PTT was measured by ECG and plethysmography and immediately presented on the same display. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) was detected as the most prominent frequency in the interbeat intervals.
Respiratory rate was reduced from 13.6/min (SD 1.9/min) at baseline to 5.4/min (SD 1.0/min) during guided breathing. We observed a continuous and progressive increase of PTT from 231.5 (SD 20.3) to 237.3 (SD 18.5) ms (p < 0.001, fig.). Of the 30 patients, 25 responded with increase in PTT. The overall deviation of RSA from the guided respiratory rate was 0.06/min (IQR 0.19/min). In 3 subjects, an individual deviation of >0.20/min was detected. Two of those 3 did not respond with increased PTT.
Real-time biofeedback of PTT during device-guided slow breathing results in an increased PTT, indicating a BP reduction. Feedback of the RSA as indicator of the respiratory rate is feasible and may further improve adherence and motivation. The procedure may serve as a user-friendly, self-managed alternative for lowering BP.
Regional Variation in the Association of Poverty and Heart Failure Mortality in the 3135 Counties of the United States
Authors: Ahmad Khansa , Chen Edward W. , Nazir Umair , Cotts William , Andrade Ambar , Trivedi Amal N. , Erqou Sebhat , Wu Wen‐Chih 
Published: September 2019

Background

There is significant geographical variation in heart failure (
HF
) mortality across the United States. County socioeconomic factors that influence these outcomes are unknown. We studied the association between county socioeconomic factors and
HF
mortality and compared it with coronary heart disease (
CHD
) mortality.

Methods and Results

This is a cross‐sectional analysis of socioeconomic factors and mortality in
HF
and
CHD
across 3135
US
counties from 2010 to 2015. County‐level poverty, education, income, unemployment, health insurance status, and cause‐specific mortality rates were collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
US
Census Bureau databases. Poverty had the strongest correlation with both
HF
and
CHD
mortality, disproportionately higher for
HF
(
r
=0.48) than
CHD
(
r
=0.24).
HF
mortality increased by 5.2 deaths/100 000 for each percentage increase in county poverty prevalence in a frequency‐weighted, demographic‐adjusted, multivariate regression model. The greatest attenuation in the poverty regression coefficient (66.4%) was seen after adjustment for prevalence of diabetes mellitus and obesity. Subgroup analysis by census region showed that this relationship was the strongest in the South and weakest in the Northeast (6.1 versus 1.4 deaths/100 000 per 1% increase in county poverty in a demographics‐adjusted model).

Conclusions

County poverty is the strongest socioeconomic factor associated with
HF
and
CHD
mortality, an association that is stronger with
HF
than with
CHD
and varied by census region. Over half of the association was explained by differences in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and obesity across the counties. Health policies targeting improvement in these risk factors may address and possibly minimize health disparities caused by socioeconomic factors.
Impact of Discrepancies in General and Abdominal Obesity on Major Adverse Cardiac Events
Authors: Choi Daein , Choi Seulggie , Son Joung Sik , Oh Sang Woo , Park Sang Min 
Published: September 2019

Background

Body mass index and waist circumference (
WC
) are commonly used metrics that reflect general obesity and abdominal obesity. However, the impact of general and abdominal obesity discrepancies on the risk for major adverse cardiac events (
MACE
) is less explored.

Methods and Results

The study population was derived from the Korean National Health Insurance Service‐Health Screening Cohort. Among 315 982 participants aged 40 years or older who underwent health examinations between 2008 and 2009, body mass index and
WC
were used to determine the obesity status. The participants were followed from January 1, 2010 for
MACE
until December 31, 2015. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association of obesity and the risk of
MACE
. Compared with men who were not obese, those with abdominal obesity without general obesity (adjusted hazard ratio (
aHR
) 1.29, 95%
CI
1.16–1.43), and general and abdominal obesity (
aHR
1.20, 95%
CI
1.12–1.29) had elevated risk of
MACE
, while those with general obesity without abdominal obesity (
aHR
1.06, 95%
CI
0.98–1.16) did not. Similarly, women with abdominal obesity without general obesity (
aHR
1.13, 95%
CI
1.03–1.24) and those with general and abdominal obesity (
aHR
1.15, 95%
CI
1.06–1.25) had increased risk of
MACE
, while those with general obesity without abdominal obesity (
aHR
1.07, 95%
CI
0.88–1.30) did not.

Conclusions

Abdominal obesity without general obesity was associated with an elevated risk of major cardiovascular outcomes while general obesity without abdominal obesity did not. Concurrent determination of body mass index and
WC
may be beneficial for the accurate determination of future cardiovascular risk.
Stroke Incidence and Case Fatality According to Rural or Urban Residence
Authors: Grimaud Olivier , Lachkhem Yacine , Gao Fei , Padilla Cindy , Bertin Mélanie , Nowak Emmanuel , Timsit Serge 
Published: September 2019

Background and Purpose—
Recent findings suggest that in the United States, stroke incidence is higher in rural than in urban areas. Similar analyses in other high-income countries are scarce with conflicting results. In 2008, the Brest Stroke Registry was started in western France, an area that includes about 366 000 individuals living in various urban and rural settings.

Methods—
All new patients with stroke included in the Brest Stroke Registry from 2008 to 2013 were classified as residing in town centers, suburbs, isolated towns, or rural areas. Poisson regression was used to analyze stroke incidence and 30-day case fatality variations in the 4 different residence categories. Models with case fatality as outcome were adjusted for age, stroke type, and stroke severity.

Results—
In total, 3854 incident stroke cases (n=2039 women, 53%) were identified during the study period. Demographic and socio-economic characteristics and primary healthcare access indicators were significantly different among the 4 residence categories. Patterns of risk factors, stroke type, and severity were comparable among residence categories in both sexes. Age-standardized stroke rates varied from 2.90 per thousand (95% CI, 2.59–3.21) in suburbs to 3.35 (95% CI, 2.98–3.73) in rural areas for men, and from 2.14 (95% CI, 2.00–2.28) in town centers to 2.34 (95% CI, 2.12–2.57) in suburbs for women. Regression models suggested that among men, stroke incidence was significantly lower in suburbs than in town centers (incidence rate ratio =0.87; 95% CI, 0.77–0.99). Case fatality risk was comparable across urban categories but lower in rural patients (relative risk versus town centers: 0.76; 95% CI, 0.60–0.96).

Conclusions—
Stroke incidence was comparable, and the 30-day case fatality only slightly varied in the 4 residence categories despite widely different socio-demographic features covered by the Brest Stroke Registry.
Confirmatory Study of Time-Dependent Computed Tomographic Perfusion Thresholds for Use in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Qiu Wu , Kuang Hulin , Lee Ting Y. , Boers Anna M. , Brown Scott , Muir Keith , Majoie Charles B.L.M. , Dippel Diederik W.J. , White Phil , Guillemin Francis , Mitchell Peter J. , Dávalos Antoni , Bracard Serge , Campbell Bruce , Saver Jeffrey L. , Jovin Tudor G. , Hill Michael D. , Demchuk Andrew M. , Goyal Mayank , Menon Bijoy K. ,   for the HERMES collaborators
Published: September 2019

Background and Purpose—
Computed tomographic perfusion (CTP) thresholds associated with follow-up brain infarction may differ by time from symptom onset to imaging and reperfusion. We confirm CTP thresholds over time to imaging and reperfusion in patients with acute ischemic stroke from the HERMES collaboration (Highly Effective Reperfusion Evaluated in Multiple Endovascular Stroke Trials) data.

Methods—
Patients with occlusion on CT angiography were acutely imaged with CTP. Noncontrast CT and magnetic resonance-diffusion weighted imaging at 24 to 48 hours defined follow-up infarction. Reperfusion was assessed on conventional angiogram. Tmax, cerebral blood flow (CBF), and cerebral blood volume maps were derived from delay-insensitive CTP postprocessing. These parameters were analyzed using receiver operator characteristics to derive optimal thresholds based on time from stroke onset-to-CTP or to reperfusion. ANOVA and linear regression were used to test whether the derived CTP thresholds were different by time.

Results—

One hundred thirty-seven patients were included. Tmax thresholds of >15.7 s and >15.8 s and absolute CBF thresholds of <8.9 and <7.5 mL·min
−1
·100 g
−1
for gray matter and white matter respectively were associated with infarct if reperfusion was achieved <90 minutes from CTP with stroke onset-to-CTP <180 minutes. The discriminative ability of cerebral blood volume was modest. There were no statistically significant relationships between stroke onset-to-CTP time and Tmax, CBF, and cerebral blood volume thresholds (all
P
>0.05). A statistically significant relationship was observed between CTP-to-reperfusion time and the optimal thresholds for Tmax (
P
<0.001) and CBF (
P
<0.001). Similar but more modest relationship was noted for onset-to-reperfusion time and optimal thresholds for CBF (
P
≤0.01).

Conclusions—
CTP thresholds based on stroke onset and imaging time and taking into account time needed for reperfusion may improve infarct prediction in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Aimee Semple McPherson’s Pentecostalism, Darwinism, Eugenics, the Disenfranchised, and the Scopes Monkey Trial
Authors: English de Alminana Margaret 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
This article posits that the cultural battle waged by Aimee Semple McPherson in concert with William Jennings Bryan over evolution and modernism was largely focused on a popular social theory linked to eugenics. On July 21, 1925, in the city of Dayton, Tennessee, a twentieth-century watershed event became a harbinger of the age: The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, popularly known as the Scopes Monkey Trial. The public remembers the event as spotlighting the fundamentalist-modernist controversy with respect to the teaching of evolution in the public-school curriculum against the protests of fundamentalist Christians who advocated Creationism. The historical event was far more complicated than the popular recollection. By revisiting primary materials, this investigation will demonstrate that much of the protest voiced by McPherson and Bryan involved Social Darwinism and eugenics and a concern over the impact of these popular theories upon the Social Gospel.