bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Whole exome sequencing in the Framingham Heart Study identifies rare variation in HYAL2 that influences platelet aggregation
Authors: Eicher John D. , Chen Ming-Huei , Pitsillides Achilleas N. , Lin Honghuang , Veeraraghavan Narayanan , Brody Jennifer A. , Metcalf Ginger A. , Muzny Donna M. , Gibbs Richard A. , Becker Diane M. , Becker Lewis C. , Faraday Nauder , Mathias Rasika A. , Yanek Lisa R. , Boerwinkle Eric , Adrienne Cupples L. , Johnson Andrew D. 
Published: March 2017

SummaryInhibition of platelet reactivity is a common therapeutic strategy in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Genetic and environmental factors influence inter-individual variation in platelet reactivity. Identifying genes that contribute to platelet reactivity can reveal new biological mechanisms and possible therapeutic targets. Here, we examined rare coding variation to identify genes associated with platelet reactivity in a population-based cohort. To do so, we performed whole exome sequencing in the Framingham Heart Study and conducted single variant and gene-based association tests against platelet reactivity to collagen, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and epinephrine agonists in up to 1,211 individuals. Single variant tests revealed no significant associations (p<1.44×10–7), though we observed a suggestive association with previously implicated MRVI1 (rs11042902, p = 1.95×10–7). Using gene-based association tests of rare and low-frequency variants, we found significant associations of HYAL2 with increased ADP-induced aggregation (p = 1.07×10–7) and GSTZ1 with increased epinephrine-induced aggregation (p = 1.62×10–6). HYAL2 also showed suggestive associations with epinephrine-induced aggregation (p = 2.64×10–5). The rare variants in the HYAL2 gene-based association included a missense variant (N357S) at a known N-glycosylation site and a nonsense variant (Q406*) that removes a glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor from the resulting protein. These variants suggest that improper membrane trafficking of HYAL2 influences platelet reactivity. We also observed suggestive associations of AR (p = 7.39×10–6) and MAPRE1 (p = 7.26×10–6) with ADP-induced reactivity. Our study demonstrates that gene-based tests and other grouping strategies of rare variants are powerful approaches to detect associations in population-based analyses of complex traits not detected by single variant tests and possible new genetic influences on platelet reactivity.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Consistent platelet inhibition with ticagrelor 60 mg twice-daily following myocardial infarction regardless of diabetes status
Authors: Thomas Mark R. , Angiolillo Dominick J. , Bonaca Marc P. , Ajjan Ramzi A. , Judge Heather M. , Rollini Fabiana , Franchi Francesco , Ahsan Arif J. , Bhatt Deepak L. , Kuder Julia F. , Steg Philippe Gabriel , Cohen Marc , Muthusamy Rangasamy , Sabatine Marc S. , Storey Robert F. 
Published: March 2017

SummaryDiabetes increases cardiovascular risk and reduces pharmacodynamic response to some oral antiplatelet drugs. This study aimed to determine whether ticagrelor 60 mg twice daily (bid) provided potent and consistent platelet inhibition in patients with vs without diabetes in the PEGASUS-TIMI 54 platelet function substudy. Out of 180 patients studied, 58 patients were randomised to and had received at least four weeks of ticagrelor 60 mg bid, with 20 (34 %) having diabetes, 58 patients received ticagrelor 90 mg bid, with 12 (21 %) having diabetes, and 64 patients received placebo, with 18 (28 %) having diabetes. Blood was sampled pre- and 2 hours post-maintenance dose. In patients treated with ticagrelor 60 mg bid, on-treatment platelet reactivity to ADP, as determined by light transmission aggregometry (LTA), VerifyNow and VASP, was similar in patients with vs without diabetes (LTA post-dose, ADP 20 ?M: 29 ± 14 vs 34 ± 10 %, respectively; p = 0.19). A consistent inhibitory effect of ticagrelor 60 mg bid was observed pre- and post-dose regardless of diabetes status, even in insulin-treated patients. Patients with diabetes did not have an increased incidence of high platelet reactivity in either ticagrelor group. Platelet reactivity was similar in patients with diabetes treated with ticagrelor 60 mg vs 90 mg bid. Pharmacokinetics of ticagrelor were not affected by diabetes status. In conclusion, ticagrelor 60 mg bid is equally effective at reducing platelet reactivity in patients with and without diabetes, yielding a consistently high level of platelet inhibition regardless of diabetes status.
SAM-CAAM: A Concept for Acquiring Systematic Aircraft Measurements to Characterize Aerosol Air Masses
Authors: Kahn Ralph A. , Berkoff Tim A. , Brock Charles , Chen Gao , Ferrare Richard A. , Ghan Steven , Hansico Thomas F. , Hegg Dean A. , Martins J. Vanderlei , McNaughton Cameron S. , Murphy Daniel M. , Ogren John A. , Penner Joyce E. , Pilewskie Peter , Seinfeld John H. , Worsnop Douglas R. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractA modest operational program of systematic aircraft measurements can resolve key satellite aerosol data record limitations. Satellite observations provide frequent global aerosol amount maps but offer only loose aerosol property constraints needed for climate and air quality applications. We define and illustrate the feasibility of flying an aircraft payload to measure key aerosol optical, microphysical, and chemical properties in situ. The flight program could characterize major aerosol airmass types statistically, at a level of detail unobtainable from space. It would 1) enhance satellite aerosol retrieval products with better climatology assumptions and 2) improve translation between satellite-retrieved optical properties and species-specific aerosol mass and size simulated in climate models to assess aerosol forcing, its anthropogenic components, and other environmental impacts. As such, Systematic Aircraft Measurements to Characterize Aerosol Air Masses (SAM-CAAM) could add value to data records representing several decades of aerosol observations from space; improve aerosol constraints on climate modeling; help interrelate remote sensing, in situ, and modeling aerosol-type definitions; and contribute to future satellite aerosol missions. Fifteen required variables are identified and four payload options of increasing ambition are defined to constrain these quantities. “Option C” could meet all the SAM-CAAM objectives with about 20 instruments, most of which have flown before, but never routinely several times per week, and never as a group. Aircraft integration and approaches to data handling, payload support, and logistical considerations for a long-term, operational mission are discussed. SAM-CAAM is feasible because, for most aerosol sources and specified seasons, particle properties tend to be repeatable, even if aerosol loading varies.
New Perspectives on Frontal Variability in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Chapman Christopher C. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe frontal structure of the Southern Ocean is investigated using the Wavelet/Higher Order Statistics Enhancement (WHOSE) frontal detection method, introduced in Chapman’s work. This methodology is applied to 21 yr of daily gridded absolute dynamic topography (ADT) data to obtain daily maps of the locations of the fronts. By forming frontal occurrence frequency maps and then approximating these occurrence maps by a superposition of simple functions, the time-mean locations of the fronts, as well as a measure of their capacity to meander, are obtained and related to the frontal locations found by previous studies. The spatial and temporal variability of the frontal structure is then considered. The number of fronts is found to be highly variable throughout the Southern Ocean, increasing (splitting) downstream of large bathymetric features and decreasing (merging) in regions where the fronts are tightly controlled by the underlying topography. These splitting/merging events are related to changes in the underlying frontal structure whereby regions of high frontal occurrence cross or spread over streamfunction contours. In contrast to the number of fronts, frontal meandering remains relatively constant throughout the Southern Ocean. Little to no migration of the fronts over the 1993–2014 time period is found, and there is only weak sensitivity of frontal positions to atmospheric forcing related to the southern annular mode or the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. Finally, the implications of these results for the study of cross-stream tracer transport are discussed.
An Eddy Injection Method for Large-Eddy Simulations of Tornado-Like Vortices
Authors: Bryan George H. , Dahl Nathan A. , Nolan David S. , Rotunno Richard 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
The structure and intensity of tornado-like vortices are examined using large-eddy simulations (LES) in an idealized framework. The analysis focuses on whether the simulated boundary layer contains resolved turbulent eddies, and whether most of the vertical component of turbulent momentum flux is resolved rather than parameterized. Initial conditions are first generated numerically using a “precursor simulation” with an axisymmetric model. A three-dimensional “baseline” LES is then integrated using these initial conditions plus random perturbations. With this baseline approach, the inner core of the simulated vortex clearly contains resolved turbulent eddies (as expected); however, the boundary layer inflow has very weak resolved turbulent eddies, and the subgrid model accounts for most of the vertical turbulent momentum flux (contrary to the design of these simulations). To overcome this problem, a second precursor simulation is conducted in which resolved turbulent fluctuations develop within a smaller, doubly periodic LES domain. Perturbation flow fields from this precursor LES are then “injected” into the large-domain LES at a specified radius. With this approach, the boundary layer inflow clearly contains resolved turbulent fluctuations, often organized as quasi-2D rolls, which persist into the inner core of the simulation; thus, the simulated tornado-like vortex and its inflowing boundary layer can be characterized as LES. When turbulence is injected, the inner-core vortex structure is always substantially different, the boundary layer inflow is typically deeper, and in most cases the maximum wind speeds are reduced compared to the baseline simulation.
An epidemiology of sexual assault among elderly women in the Mthatha area of South Africa
Authors: Meel Banwari L 
Published: March 2017

Background South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape in the world, but this barely seems to surprise anyone. It is extremely disturbing, especially when children and elderly women are raped. Women and children are usually the weakest group in society physically, as well as the most exposed to abuse and neglect. It should be the responsibility of a civil society to protect these vulnerable groups from harm. Objective This study investigated the trend of rapes among elderly women in the Mthatha area of South Africa. Method This was a retrospective descriptive study from the records of the Sinawe Centre. All cases of the rape of elderly women (i.e. those aged ≥65 years) between 2007 and 2011 were recorded. The Sinawe Centre is now a one-stop centre known as the Thuthuzela-Sinawe Centre, which is the only centre to deal with cases of rape in this area. Results A total 2579 adult victims of rape (i.e. those aged ≥16 years) were reported at the Sinawe Centre over a five-year period (2007–2011). Of these, 145 (5.6%) involved elderly women. The average rate of rape among elderly women was 20.7/10,000 adult women per year. There was an increase in elderly rape from 17.1/10,000 women in 2007 to 40/10,000 women in 2009. The highest percentage (45.5%) of women were aged between 65 and 70 years, and the lowest percentage (4.1%) were aged between 86 and 90 years. The highest number of cases (56; 38.6%) were reported in 2009 (p < .05; χ2 = 45.2). In the majority of cases (122; 84.2%), there was a single perpetrator. There were two perpetrators in 14 (9.6%) cases, and three or more perpetrators were recorded in nine (6.2%) rapes. A little more than half (74; 51%) were known to the victims. In 117 (83%) cases, the rape took place in the home. Human immunodeficiency virus infection was found to be prevalent in five (3.6%) cases of elderly rape. Conclusion There are a high number of rapes among elderly women in the Mthatha area of South Africa. It is a matter of serious concern, and needs urgent attention.
Small Groups Don’t Win Revolutions: Armed Struggle in the Memory of Maoist Militants of Política Popular
Authors: Crespo Jorge Ivan Puma 
Published: March 2017

Política Popular, an unarmed Maoist group operating from 1968 to 1979 in northern Mexico, developed as it did because of the attraction of the “mass line” in its interpretation as a direct-democratic model for political participation. This is why activists from the student movement of 1968 adopted Maoist ideas as an ideological guide. Maoism as a simple organizational catechism easily captured their imagination and persuaded squatters and workers to join them in challenging the authoritarian Mexican regime. El grupo maoísta no armado Política Popular, que operara de 1968 a 1979 en el norte de México, se desarrolló como tal debido a la atracción de la “línea de masas” interpretada como un modelo democrático directo de participación política. Fue por esta razón que los activistas del movimiento estudiantil de 1968 adoptaron conceptos maoístas como guía ideológica. La sencilla naturaleza del Maoísmo como catecismo organizacional capturó fácilmente la imaginación estudiantil y persuadió a las poblaciones marginales y trabajadores de unirse a ellos en su lucha contra el régimen autoritario mexicano.
Association between sonographically measured mesenteric fat thickness and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in Chinese young male adults
Authors: Siu Stanley PY , Leung Wilson KC , Wan Polly SC , Liu Eric KH , Lai Christopher WK 
Published: March 2017

Objective To investigate the potential correlation between sonographically measured mesenteric fat thickness (MFT) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in a sample of healthy Chinese male young adults. Methods Healthy male participants were recruited from Hong Kong Polytechnic University for this prospective observational study. The physical activity readiness questionnaire and ultrasound measurements of carotid intima media thickness were used to screen for clinically healthy subjects. MFT and brachial artery FMD were measured by ultrasound, and body mass index (BMI) was recorded. Results A total of 34 healthy male subjects, aged 19–26 years (mean ± SD BMI, 21.7 ± 3.2 kg/m2) were included. Pearson's correlation coefficient test showed that brachial artery FMD had a statistically significant inverse relationship with BMI and with Log (MFT). Further stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that Log (MFT), and not BMI, was an independent predictor of impaired brachial artery FMD. Conclusions Sonographic measurements of MFT were an independent predictor of brachial artery FMD in Chinese male young adults.
Computed tomography-guided transthoracic biopsy: Factors influencing diagnostic and complication rates
Authors: Görgülü Feride Fatma , Öksüzler Fatma Yasemin , Arslan Süheyla Aytaç , Arslan Muhammet , Özsoy İbrahim Ethem , Görgülü Orhan 
Published: March 2017

Objective This study was performed to assess the complication and diagnostic rates of computed tomography (CT)-guided transthoracic needle biopsy of pulmonary parenchymal and mediastinal lesions. Methods Patients who were suspected to have a malignancy based on chest imaging and CT and could not be otherwise diagnosed were evaluated. Results Sixty-five patients were included; 48 (73.8%) were male and 17 (26.2%) were female. Their average age was 58 years. The lesion size ranged from 11 to 105 mm. The most common specific histologic subtype was adenocarcinoma, and the least common was lymphoma. The diagnostic rate was 90.8%. The mean complication rate was 15.4%. Statistically significant associations were found between the complication rate and needle size and between the needle path length and lesion size. Conclusion CT-guided needle biopsy is an effective diagnostic method for patients with mediastinal and parenchymal lesions before thoracotomy. This method can also reliably differentiate benign and malignant tumors.
The quality of medical information given to prospective intercountry adopters in England
Authors: Mather Mary , Bell Natalia , Way Jan , Haworth Gill 
Published: March 2017

Poor quality medical information adds to the risks associated with intercountry adoption. Other receiving countries acknowledge this more readily than the UK. All have to tackle the problems posed by inadequate reports and most insist on further assessment of the child on arrival. This article comprises a retrospective review of 120 medical reports from 23 countries written about children matched with adopters from IAC-the Centre for Adoption (registered as the Intercountry Adoption Centre) between April 2010 and November 2014. The quality and quantity of medical information varied widely but was generally inadequate. Most reports consisted of an isolated, single physical examination. There was incomplete screening for important medical conditions, inadequate medical histories and virtually no assessment of development. The reports for special needs children and adolescents were particularly concerning. In almost all cases, there was a lack of the essential information needed by adopters in order to make an informed decision about the suitability of the match. All intercountry adopted children, regardless of their country of origin, need the involvement of an experienced medical adviser in the matching process and should have a comprehensive paediatric health assessment after placement. This should be carried out on the NHS and be free to parents, as it is in Northern Ireland. The number of children concerned is small but their needs are important, particularly as they are disadvantaged compared to domestic adoptees.
The relationship between migraine and lipid sub-fractions among individuals without cardiovascular disease: A cross-sectional evaluation in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)
Authors: Goulart Alessandra C , Lotufo Paulo A , Santos Itamar S , Bittencourt Márcio S , Santos Raul D , Blaha Michael J , Jones Steven , Toth Peter P , Kulkarni Krishnaji , Benseñor Isabela M 
Published: March 2017

Introduction Recent studies have explored the relationship between dyslipidemia and migraine in a cardiovascular context. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the possible association between lipids, lipoprotein subfractions and migraine according to aura symptoms in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Methods 1,560 women and 1,595 men, without CVD or lipid disorders requiring medication, underwent a baseline clinical assessment. Total-cholesterol and its sub-fractions (LDL, VLDL and HDL subclass cholesterol); triglycerides and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein cholesterol [TRL-C (VLDL1+2-C VLDL3-C + IDL-C)] were determined by vertical auto profile (VAP). We also calculated logarithmic LDL density ratio [LLDR = ln ((LDL3-C + LDL4-C)/(LDL1-C + LDL2-C))], T-Chol/HDL-C and triglycerides/HDL-C ratios. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained to evaluate the relationship between lipids tertiles and migraine for both sexes. Results Main findings revealed positive associations between migraine without aura (MO) and the highest tertiles of VLDL-C (OR, 1.61; 95%CI, 1.07–2.40) and TRL-C (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.03–2.34) in women. In men, the highest tertile of VLDL3-C (OR, 3.87; 95%CI, 1.23–12.19) was positively associated with MO, as well. Conclusions In middle-aged participants without CVD or lipid disorders requiring medication, the worst lipid profile was determined by the highest levels of TRL-C and their cholesterol-rich remnants in migraineurs without aura for both sexes.
Intratendon Delivery of Leukocyte-Poor Platelet-Rich Plasma Improves Healing Compared With Leukocyte-Rich Platelet-Rich Plasma in a Rabbit Achilles Tendinopathy Model
Authors: Yan Ruijian , Gu Yanjia , Ran Jisheng , Hu Yejun , Zheng Zefeng , Zeng Mengfeng , Heng Boon Chin , Chen Xiao , Yin Zi , Chen Weishan , Shen Weiliang , Ouyang Hongwei 
Published: March 2017

Background:Chronic tendinopathy is a commonly occurring clinical problem that affects both athletes and inactive middle-aged patients. Although some studies have shown that different platelet-rich plasma (PRP) preparations could exert various therapeutic effects in vitro, the role of leukocytes in PRP has not yet been defined under tendinopathy conditions in vivo.Purpose:This study compared the effects of the intratendon delivery of leukocyte-poor PRP (Lp-PRP) versus leukocyte-rich PRP (Lr-PRP) in a rabbit chronic tendinopathy model in vivo.Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:Four weeks after a local injection of collagenase in the Achilles tendon, the following treatments were randomly administered on the lesions: injections of (1) 200 μL of Lp-PRP (n = 8), (2) 200 μL of Lr-PRP (n = 8), or (3) 200 μL of saline (n = 8). Healing outcomes were assessed at 4 weeks after therapy with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cytokine quantification, real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of gene expression, histology, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Results:MRI revealed that the Lr-PRP and saline groups displayed higher signal intensities compared with the Lp-PRP group with T2 mapping. Histologically, the Lp-PRP group displayed significantly better general scores compared with the Lr-PRP ( P = .001) and saline ( P < .001) groups. Additionally, TEM showed that the Lp-PRP group had larger collagen fibril diameters than the Lr-PRP group ( P < .001). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed a significantly lower level of catabolic cytokine IL-6 in the Lp-PRP group compared with the Lr-PRP ( P = .001) and saline ( P = .021) groups. The Lp-PRP group displayed significantly increased expression of collagen I compared with the saline group ( P = .004) but not the Lr-PRP group. Both the Lp-PRP and Lr-PRP groups exhibited significantly lower matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)–1 and MMP-3 expression levels compared with the saline group. However, only the Lp-PRP group displayed significantly higher expression of TIMP-1 than the saline group ( P = .024).Conclusion:Compared with Lr-PRP, Lp-PRP improves tendon healing and is a preferable option for the clinical treatment of tendinopathy.Clinical Relevance:PRP is widely used in the clinical management of chronic tendinopathy. However, the clinical results are ambiguous. It is imperative to understand the influence of leukocytes on PRP-mediated tissue healing in vivo, which could facilitate the better clinical management of chronic tendinopathy. Further studies are needed to translate our findings to the clinical setting.