bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Attitudes and experiences with secondhand smoke and smoke-free policies among subsidised and market-rate multiunit housing residents living in six diverse communities in the USA
Authors: Gentzke Andrea S , Hyland Andrew , Kiviniemi Marc , Travers Mark J 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundGiven that higher smoking rates persist among lower socioeconomic populations, multiunit housing (MUH) environments may result in higher secondhand smoke (SHS) exposures among subsidised MUH residents. This cross-sectional assessment compares experiences with SHS and smoke-free policies among subsidised and market-rate MUH residents living in six US communities.MethodsMUH residents (n=1565) were surveyed regarding their smoke-free rules (home and building), SHS exposures and preferences towards smoke-free policies. Binary logistic regression identified predictors of each outcome, focusing on differences by subsidised housing status (subsidised vs market rate).ResultsAmong residents enforcing smoke-free home rules (76%, overall), 50% reported SHS incursions into their unit. Only 23% reported living in a smoke-free building; 56% of those living in smoking-allowable buildings reported preferences towards smoke-free building policies. Among market-rate housing residents, smoke-free home (OR=4.18) and building (OR=2.26) rules were significantly higher when children were present. Smoke-free building rules reduced the odds of SHS incursions among market-rate housing residents (OR=0.50), but no association was observed among subsidised housing residents. Non-smoking subsidised housing residents exhibited stronger preferences for smoke-free policies compared with those in market-rate housing.DiscussionSmoke-free home rules may not protect MUH residents from SHS exposures, particularly in subsidised MUH. Although strong preferences towards smoke-free policies were present overall, subsidised MUH residents may have fewer alternative smoke-free housing options available. Therefore, all publicly funded housing should be smoke free to protect these vulnerable populations. However, continued efforts to encourage privately owned MUH operators to adopt smoke-free policies are also necessary.
Sumino’s cancellation mechanism in an anomaly-free model
Authors: Koide Yoshio 
Published: March 2017

An interesting family gauge boson (FGB) model (Model A) has been proposed by Sumino. The model can give FGBs with a considerably low energy scale in spite of the severe constraints forming the observed [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] mixing and so on. An essential idea in Model A is in the so-called Sumino cancellation mechanism between quantum electrodynamics (QED) and FGB diagrams. However, Model A is not anomaly free and, besides, it causes effective interactions with [Formula: see text]. In order to avoid these problems, a revised Sumino model with an inverted mass hierarchy (Model B) has been proposed, but in this time, it cannot satisfy the Sumino cancellation mechanism exactly. In this paper, we propose a revised version of Model B, where the model still keeps anomaly free, but it can exactly satisfy the Sumino mechanism. An effect of the revised model will be confirmed by observations [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Hypoxia-mediated regulation of the secretory properties of mitral valve interstitial cells
Authors: Salhiyyah Kareem , Sarathchandra Padmini , Latif Najma , Yacoub Magdi H. , Chester Adrian H. 
Published: March 2017

The sophisticated function of the mitral valve depends to a large extent on its extracellular matrix (ECM) and specific cellular components. These are tightly regulated by a repertoire of mechanical stimuli and biological pathways. One potentially important stimulus is hypoxia. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the effect of hypoxia on the regulation of mitral valve interstitial cells (MVICs) with respect to the synthesis and secretion of extracellular matrix proteins. Hypoxia resulted in reduced production of total collagen and sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) in cultured porcine MVICs. Increased gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases-1 and -9 and their tissue inhibitors 1 and 2 was also observed after incubation under hypoxic conditions for up to 24 h. Hypoxia had no effect on MVIC viability, morphology, or phenotype. MVICs expressed hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α under hypoxia. Stimulating HIF-1α chemically caused a reduction in the amount of sGAG produced, similar to the effect observed under hypoxia. Human rheumatic valves had greater expression of HIF-1α compared with normal or myxomatous degenerated valves. In conclusion, hypoxia affects the production of certain ECM proteins and expression of matrix remodeling enzymes by MVICs. The effects of hypoxia appear to correlate with the induction of HIF-1α. This study highlights a potential role of hypoxia and HIF-1α in regulating the mitral valve, which could be important in health and disease. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates that hypoxia regulates extracellular matrix secretion and the remodeling potential of heart valve interstitial cells. Expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α plays a role in these effects. These data highlight the potential role of hypoxia as a physiological mediator of the complex function of heart valve cells.
Genomic and Epigenomic Heterogeneity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Lin De-Chen , Mayakonda Anand , Dinh Huy Q. , Huang Pinbo , Lin Lehang , Liu Xiaoping , Ding Ling-wen , Wang Jie , Berman Benjamin P. , Song Er-Wei , Yin Dong , Koeffler H. Phillip 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Understanding the intratumoral heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma is instructive for developing personalized therapy and identifying molecular biomarkers. Here we applied whole-exome sequencing to 69 samples from 11 patients to resolve the genetic architecture of subclonal diversification. Spatial genomic diversity was found in all 11 hepatocellular carcinoma cases, with 29% of driver mutations being heterogeneous, including TERT, ARID1A, NOTCH2, and STAG2. Similar with other cancer types, TP53 mutations were always shared between all tumor regions, that is, located on the “trunk” of the evolutionary tree. In addition, we found that variants within several drug targets such as KIT, SYK, and PIK3CA were mutated in a fully clonal manner, indicating their therapeutic potentials for hepatocellular carcinoma. Temporal dissection of mutational signatures suggested that mutagenic processes associated with exposure to aristolochic acid and aflatoxin might play a more important role in early, as opposed to late, stages of hepatocellular carcinoma development. Moreover, we observed extensive intratumoral epigenetic heterogeneity in hepatocellular carcinoma based on multiple independent analytical methods and showed that intratumoral methylation heterogeneity might play important roles in the biology of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Our results also demonstrated prominent heterogeneity of intratumoral methylation even in a stable hepatocellular carcinoma genome. Together, these findings highlight widespread intratumoral heterogeneity at both the genomic and epigenomic levels in hepatocellular carcinoma and provide an important molecular foundation for better understanding the pathogenesis of this malignancy. Cancer Res; 77(9); 2255–65. ©2017 AACR.
Genomic Profiling of Patient-Derived Xenografts for Lung Cancer Identifies B2M Inactivation Impairing Immunorecognition
Authors: Pereira Carolina , Gimenez-Xavier Pol , Pros Eva , Pajares Maria J. , Moro Massimo , Gomez Antonio , Navarro Alejandro , Condom Enric , Moran Sebastian , Gomez-Lopez Gonzalo , Graña Osvaldo , Rubio-Camarillo Miriam , Martinez-Martí Alex , Yokota Jun , Carretero Julian , Galbis Jose M. , Nadal Ernest , Pisano David , Sozzi Gabriella , Felip Enriqueta , Montuenga Luis M. , Roz Luca , Villanueva Alberto , Sanchez-Cespedes Montse 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Purpose: We aimed to maximize the performance of detecting genetic alterations in lung cancer using high-throughput sequencing for patient-derived xenografts (PDXs).
Experimental Design: We undertook an integrated RNA and whole-exome sequencing of 14 PDXs. We focused on the genetic and functional analysis of β2-microglobulin (B2M), a component of the HLA class-I complex.
Results: We identified alterations in genes involved in various functions, such as B2M involved in immunosurveillance. We extended the mutational analysis of B2M to about 230 lung cancers. Five percent of the lung cancers carried somatic mutations, most of which impaired the correct formation of the HLA-I complex. We also report that genes such as CALR, PDIA3, and TAP1, which are involved in the maturation of the HLA-I complex, are altered in lung cancer. By gene expression microarrays, we observed that restitution of B2M in lung cancer cells upregulated targets of IFNα/IFNγ. Furthermore, one third of the lung cancers lacked the HLA-I complex, which was associated with lower cytotoxic CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration. The levels of B2M and HLA-I proteins correlated with those of PD-L1. Finally, a deficiency in HLA-I complex and CD8+ infiltration tended to correlate with reduced survival of patients with lung cancer treated with anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1.
Conclusions: Here, we report recurrent inactivation of B2M in lung cancer. These observations, coupled with the mutations found at CALR, PDIA3, and TAP1, and the downregulation of the HLA-I complex, indicate that an abnormal immunosurveillance axis contributes to lung cancer development. Finally, our observations suggest that an impaired HLA-I complex affects the response to anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 therapies. Clin Cancer Res; 23(12); 3203–13. ©2016 AACR.
Silencing of Anticoagulant Protein C Evokes Low-Incident but Spontaneous Atherothrombosis in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice—Brief Report
Authors: Ouweneel Amber B. , Heestermans Marco , Verwilligen Robin A.F. , Gijbels Marion J.J. , Reitsma Pieter H. , Van Eck Miranda , van Vlijmen Bart J.M. 
Published: March 2017

Objective—
Murine atherosclerosis models do not spontaneously develop atherothrombotic complications. We investigated whether disruption of natural anticoagulation allows preexisting atherosclerotic plaques to progress toward an atherothrombotic phenotype.

Approach and Results—

On lowering of plasma protein C levels with small interfering RNA (si
Proc
) in 8-week Western-type diet–fed atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E–deficient mice, 1 out of 4 mice displayed a large, organized, and fibrin- and leukocyte-rich thrombus on top of an advanced atherosclerotic plaque located in the aortic root. Although again at low incidence (3 in 25), comparable thrombi at the same location were observed during a second independent experiment in 9-week Western-type diet–fed apolipoprotein E–deficient mice. Mice with thrombi on their atherosclerotic plaques did not show other abnormalities and had equally lowered plasma protein C levels as si
Proc
-treated apolipoprotein E–deficient mice without thrombi. Fibrinogen and thrombin–antithrombin concentrations and blood platelet numbers were also comparable, and plaques in si
Proc
mice with thrombi had a similar composition and size as plaques in si
Proc
mice without thrombi. Seven out of 25 si
Proc
mice featured clots in the left atrium of the heart.

Conclusions—
Our findings indicate that small interfering RNA–mediated silencing of protein C in apolipoprotein E–deficient mice creates a condition that allows the occurrence of spontaneous atherothrombosis, albeit at a low incidence. Lowering natural anticoagulation in atherosclerosis models may help to discover factors that increase atherothrombotic complications.
Accountability and secrecy in the Australian Intelligence Community: the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security
Authors: Bolto Richard 
Published: March 2017

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security is a significant, evolving and little-known accountability mechanism. As the basis of a case study, publicly available committee documents offer valuable insights into accountability practices within an unusual area of government. These documents highlight a range of accountability exchanges and broader relationships, as well as some of their defining features. Exploring critical institutional factors requires conceptual clarity about accountability and what makes it effective or ineffective. An accountability forum can thus be examined as a social mechanism through which the key stages of accountability unfold, at least in theory. Secrecy is a potentially significant intervening variable in this case, but by applying democratic and constitutional perspectives on accountability, some more general strengths and weaknesses are evident. Points for practitioners While this institution and the Australian Intelligence Community are distinctive and interesting, empirical and normative understandings are limited. The relationship between accountability and secrecy is also significant but not particularly well understood. Accountability studies tend to have a strong conceptual focus, although some scholars have explored ‘good’ or ‘poor’ accountability. Focused on developing an evaluative framework concerning accountability within a secretive context, this study aims to contribute to these knowledge gaps, institutional concepts of accountability and emerging empirical work.
The Tip of the Iceberg: Media Coverage of “Slave Labor” in Argentina
Authors: Kabat Marina , Desalvo Agustina , Egan Julia 
Published: March 2017

The Argentina media often report “slave labor” conditions in clothing production and seed nurseries. A critical assessment of the types of coercion (economic and noneconomic) that hold workers under these brutal conditions indicates that instances of extraeconomic coercion are merely the extreme manifestation of a general situation in which economic coercion predominates. The determinants of the deterioration of working conditions in these two sectors include relative overpopulation and technological backwardness. Los medios habitualmente refieren en a las condiciones laborales en los talleres textiles y empresas semilleras argentinas como formas de “trabajo esclavo.” Un balance crítico de los tipos de coacción (económica o extraeconómica) que confina a estos trabajadores a brutales condiciones laborales indica que los casos particulares donde existe alguna forma de coacción extraeconómica pueden considerarse la manifestación extrema de una condición más extendida donde la coacción económica predomina. Las determinaciones del deterioro de las condiciones laborales en estas dos ramas económicas incluyen la expansión de la sobrepoblación relativa y el carácter tecnológicamente atrasado de estas actividades.
Elimination of Mycobacterium chimaera in a heater cooler device used during on-pump cardiothoracic surgery
Authors: Nielsen Conny , Winther Conni L. , Thomsen Philip K. , Andreasen Jan J. 
Published: March 2017

Since 2014, several infections with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) belonging to the species Mycobacterium ( M.) chimaera have been associated with the use of heater-cooler devices during on-pump cardiothoracic surgery both in European countries and the United States of America. Infections have been detected after surgery, with a delay of a few months and up to five years. Bacterial contamination of heater-cooler devices has also been described without any associated infections. In many centres, it has been a challenging task to eliminate NTM from the heater-cooler devices in order to reduce the risk to patients. In this case-report, we describe how we managed to achieve negative cultures for M. chimaera by changing the cleaning procedure of the Sorin Group Heater-Cooler System with three tanks.
Discrepancy in fetal head biometry between ultrasound and MRI in suspected microcephalic fetuses
Authors: Yaniv Gal , Katorza Eldad , Tsehmaister Abitbol Vered , Eisenkraft Arik , Bercovitz Ronen , Bader Salim , Hoffmann Chen 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundMicrocephaly is one of the most common fetal structural abnormalities, and prenatal microcephaly is considered a group I malformation of cortical development diagnosed according to ultrasound (US) skull measurements.PurposeTo evaluate the agreement between fetal head US and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biometric measurements of suspected microcephalic fetuses.Material and MethodsThis institutional review board-approved retrospective study with waived informed consent included 180 pregnant women and was conducted at our medical center from March 2011 to April 2013. Biparietal diameter (BPD) and occipitofrontal diameter (OFD) results of fetal head US normograms were compared to normograms for MRI. We used Pearson and Spearman rho non-parametric correlation coefficients to assess the association between two quantitative variables, paired t-test for paired quantitative variables, and McNemar test for paired qualitative variables.ResultsThe average BPD but not the average OFD percentiles in fetal head US differed significantly from the MRI results ( P < 0.0001). When looking at the accepted microcephaly threshold, both BPD and OFD percentiles differed significantly from MRI ( P < 0.0001 and P < 0.004, respectively). There was no correlation between US-measured skull biometry and MRI-measured brain biometry. Estimated cerebrospinal fluid volumes were significantly lower in the study group compared to 120 fetuses with normal findings in prenatal head US and MRI. Also, we have created a MRI-based normogram of fetal head circumference and gestational age.ConclusionThe diagnosis of microcephaly by US alone may be insufficient and ideally should be validated by MRI before a final diagnosis is established.
The Relationship Between Intraoperative Tear Dimensions and Postoperative Pain in 1624 Consecutive Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repairs
Authors: Yeo Daniel Y.T. , Walton Judie R. , Lam Patrick , Murrell George A.C. 
Published: March 2017

Background: Rotator cuff repair often results in significant pain postoperatively, the cause of which is undetermined. Purpose/Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between rotator cuff tear area and postoperative pain in patients who had undergone arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. We hypothesized that larger tears would be more painful because of elevated repair tension at 1 week postoperatively but that smaller tears would be more painful because of a greater healing response, especially from 6 weeks postoperatively. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 1624 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were included in this study. Exclusion criteria were moderate to severe osteoarthritis, isolated subscapularis repair, calcific tendinitis, synthetic patch repair, revision surgery, and retears on ultrasound at 6 months after surgery. Rotator cuff tears were subdivided into groups based on the tear size and retear rate found for each group. A modified L’Insalata questionnaire was given before surgery and at 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient tests were performed between rotator cuff tear areas and pain scores. Results: Intraoperative rotator cuff tear areas did not correlate with pain scores preoperatively or at 1 week after surgery. A smaller tear area was associated with more frequent and severe pain with overhead activities, at rest, and during sleep as well as a poorer perceived overall shoulder condition at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after repair ( r = 0.11-0.23, P < .0001). Patients who were younger, had partial-thickness tears, and had occupational injuries experienced more pain postoperatively ( r = 0.10-0.28, P < .0001). Larger tears did not have more pain at 1 week after surgery. The retear rate was 7% in tears <2 cm2 but reached 44% in tears >8 cm2. Conclusion: There were fewer retears with smaller tears, but they were more painful than large tears postoperatively from 6 weeks to 6 months after surgery. Smaller tears may heal more vigorously, causing more pain. Patients with smaller tears experienced more pain after rotator cuff repair compared with patients with larger tears. These findings are contrary to previous ideas about tear size and postoperative pain. Healing is likely a determinant of postoperative pain.
The Use of Platelet-Rich and Platelet-Poor Plasma to Enhance Differentiation of Skeletal Myoblasts: Implications for the Use of Autologous Blood Products for Muscle Regeneration
Authors: Miroshnychenko Olga , Chang Wen-teh , Dragoo Jason L. 
Published: March 2017

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been used to augment tissue repair and regeneration after musculoskeletal injury. However, there is increasing clinical evidence that PRP does not show a consistent clinical effect. Purpose/Hypothesis: This study aimed to compare the effects of the following non–neutrophil-containing (leukocyte-poor) plasma fractions on human skeletal muscle myoblast (HSMM) differentiation: (1) PRP, (2) modified PRP (Mod-PRP), in which transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and myostatin (MSTN) were depleted, and (3) platelet-poor plasma (PPP). The hypothesis was that leukocyte-poor PRP would lead to myoblast proliferation (not differentiation), whereas certain modifications of PRP preparations would increase myoblast differentiation, which is necessary for skeletal muscle regeneration. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Blood from 7 human donors was individually processed to simultaneously create leukocyte-poor fractions: PRP, Mod-PRP, PPP, and secondarily spun PRP and Mod-PRP (PRPss and Mod-PRPss, respectively). Mod-PRP was produced by removing TGF-β1 and MSTN from PRP using antibodies attached to sterile beads, while a second-stage centrifugal spin of PRP was performed to remove platelets. The biologics were individually added to cell culture groups. Analysis for induction into myoblast differentiation pathways included Western blot analysis, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry, as well as confocal microscopy to assess polynucleated myotubule formation. Results: HSMMs cultured with PRP showed an increase in proliferation but no evidence of differentiation. Western blot analysis confirmed that MSTN and TGF-β1 could be decreased in Mod-PRP using antibody-coated beads, but this modification mildly improved myoblast differentiation. However, cell culture with PPP, PRPss, and Mod-PRPss led to a decreased proliferation rate but a significant induction of myoblast differentiation verified by increased multinucleated myotubule formation and myosin heavy chain expression (mean 8-fold change in mRNA level; P < .05), which was comparable with 2% horse serum, the positive control. Conclusion: PPP and leukocyte-poor PRP preparations subjected to a second spin to remove the platelets led to induction of myoblast cells into the muscle differentiation pathway, whereas unmodified leukocyte-poor PRP led to myoblast proliferation. Clinical Relevance: These results indicate that traditionally formulated PRP may not be appropriate to induce muscle regeneration. Laboratory evidence suggests that PPP or non–neutrophil-containing PRPss, subjected to an additional spin to remove platelets, should be used to stimulate myoblast differentiation, which is necessary for skeletal muscle regeneration. Clinical studies will be required to confirm the effect of these biologics on muscle regeneration.