bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical Characteristics, Management, and Prognosis of Elderly Patients with Brugada Syndrome
Authors: CONTE GIULIO , DE ASMUNDIS CARLO , SIEIRA JUAN , LEVINSTEIN MOISES , CHIERCHIA GIAN‐BATTISTA , DI GIOVANNI GIACOMO , BALTOGIANNIS GIANNIS , CICONTE GIUSEPPE , SAITOH YUKIO , CASADO‐ARROYO RUBEN , PAPPAERT GUDRUN , BRUGADA PEDRO 
Published: January 2014

Brugada Syndrome in the ElderlyBackgroundThe clinical course and prognosis of Brugada syndrome (BS) in the elderly is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics, management, and prognosis of BS in an elderly population.Methods and ResultsA total of 437 patients with BS were included in this study. Patients were categorized in 2 groups according to the age at the time of diagnosis: <60 years (N = 363) and ≥60 years (N = 74). Moreover, an elderly patients’ subgroup analysis was performed between patients with an age between 60 and 70 years (N = 49) and subjects older than 70 years (N = 25). Among elderly patients (50% male, mean age: 67 ± 6 years), family history of sudden death (SD) and induction of sustained ventricular arrhythmias during programmed ventricular stimulation were less frequent as compared to younger patients. Two patients (3%) had a previous episode of aborted SD. Elderly patients with BS presented more frequently with ECG conduction disturbances or previous transient advanced atrioventricular block as compared to younger patients. Of the elderly patients, 42% underwent implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation and 7% received a pacemaker. After a mean follow‐up time of 54 ± 18 months, none of the elderly patients with BS older than 70 years experienced documented life‐threating ventricular arrhythmias. Family screening was performed in 58 family members and a BS diagnosis was confirmed in 49%.ConclusionThe clinical features and the benign prognosis of BS patients older than 70 years likely identify a lower risk category of patients as compared to younger individuals. The device‐guided management in this setting remains individualized and sometimes controversial. Moreover, BS diagnosis in the elderly should not be missed, mainly due to the clinical impact on the family of elderly patients.
Origin and Ablation of the Adenosine Triphosphate Induced Atrial Fibrillation After Circumferential Pulmonary Vein Isolation: Effects on Procedural Success Rate
Authors: ZHANG JINLIN , TANG CHENG , ZHANG YONGHUA , SU XI 
Published: January 2014

Origin and Ablation of the ATP Induced AF After CPVIIntroductionAdenosine triphosphate (ATP) has been used to provoke dormant pulmonary vein (PV) conduction after circumferential PV isolation (CPVI). However, there have been no systematic studies examining the incidence and the mechanism of ATP‐induced atrial fibrillation (AF) following CPVI in paroxysmal AF. In this study, we explore the mechanism of ATP‐induced AF and assess the feasibility of eliminating this response by additional radiofrequency (RF) ablation.Methods and ResultsA total of 300 consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF underwent CPVI. After all PVs were isolated, intravenous ATP (40 mg) was administered during an intravenous isoproterenol (ISP) infusion (5 μg/min).AF was reproducibly induced by ATP in 39 patients. Non‐PV foci were confirmed and located in 29 of these patients at the onset of AF, including 27 foci in the superior vena cava (SVC), 1 focus in the crista terminalis, and 1 focus near the antrum of the PV. In all these cases, ATP‐induced AF was eliminated after the non‐PV foci were successfully ablated. For the other 10 patients, the foci triggering AF could not be confirmed or located due to the transient effect of ATP, thus no further ablation was performed. After a mean follow‐up period of 18.7 ± 6.4 (8–24) months, the success rate in the ATP‐induced AF group was not significantly different compared with the conventional treatment group who did not exhibit ATP‐induced AF (76.9% vs 67.3%; P = 0.25). But in the subgroup of which the ATP‐induced AF could be eliminated by additional RF ablation, the success rate was significantly higher than the non‐ATP inducible group (86.2% vs 67.3%; P = 0.04).ConclusionsA large proportion of the ATP‐induced AF post CPVI were initiated by rapid firing in the SVC. Eliminating this response by additional ablation may have an influence on clinical results of paroxysmal AF ablation.
Osteopontin and Galectin‐3 Predict the Risk of Ventricular Tachycardia and Fibrillation in Heart Failure Patients with Implantable Defibrillators
Authors: FRANCIA PIETRO , ADDUCI CARMEN , SEMPRINI LORENZO , BORRO MARINA , RICOTTA AGNESE , SENSINI ISABELLA , SANTINI DARIA , CAPRINOZZI MASSIMO , BALLA CRISTINA , SIMMACO MAURIZIO , VOLPE MASSIMO 
Published: January 2014

OPN and Gal‐3 Predict VT/VF in Heart Failure PatientsBackgroundMyocardial extracellular matrix remodelling provides electrical heterogeneity entailing ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) in heart failure (HF) patients. Osteopontin (OPN) and Galectin‐3 (Gal‐3) are fibrosis markers and may reflect the extension of the arrhythmogenic substrate. We assessed whether plasma OPN and Gal‐3 predict the risk of sustained VT/VF in a cohort of HF patients with implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD).MethodsA total of 75 HF patients underwent pre‐ICD implantation clinical evaluation and assessment of plasma OPN and Gal‐3. The primary endpoint was the time to the occurrence of the first sustained VT/VF. Hazard ratios (HR) were derived from Cox proportional‐hazards analysis.ResultsPatients with coronary artery disease (CAD) had higher plasma OPN (79.8 ± 44.0 ng/mL vs. 66.0 ± 31.8 ng/mL; P = 0.04). Both Gal‐3 (r = −0.38; P = 0.01) and OPN (r = −0.27; p = 0.01) were negatively related to estimated glomerular filtration rate. After 29 ± 17 months, 20 patients (27%) reached the primary endpoint. Patients with VT/VF had higher plasma OPN and Gal‐3 (97.4 ± 51.7 ng/mL vs. 65.9 ± 31.3 ng/mL; P = 0.002 and 19.7 ± 8.5 ng/mL vs. 16.2 ± 6.2 ng/mL; P = 0.05). In univariate analysis, OPN (log‐OPN, HR: 32.4; 95%CI: 3.9–264.7; P = 0.001) and Gal‐3 (HR: 1.05; 95%CI: 1.00–1.11; P = 0.04) predicted sustained VT/VF. In multivariable analysis, both OPN (HR: 41.4; 95%CI: 3.8–441.9; P = 0.002) and Gal‐3 (HR: 1.06; 95%CI: 1.00–1.12; P = 0.03) retained their prognostic power after correction for age, sex, history of MI, EF, NYHA class, eGFR, use of ACE‐I, and amiodarone.ConclusionsPlasma OPN and Gal‐3 predict sustained VT/VF in HF patients at high risk for SCD. Larger prospective studies should outline the role of these biomarkers in predicting SCD on top of conventional risk stratification.
Meiospores produced in sori of nonsporophyllous laminae of Macrocystis pyrifera (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) may enhance reproductive output
Authors: Leal Pablo P. , Hurd Catriona L. , Roleda Michael Y. 
Published: January 2014

Different lamina of Macrocystis pyrifera sporophytes (i.e., sporophylls, pneumatocyst‐bearing blades, and apical scimitars) in a wave‐sheltered site were found to be fertile. We quantified their sorus surface area, reproductive output (number of spores released) and the viability of released spores (germination rate). Sorus area was greatest on the sporophylls, with sporangia developing on >57% of the total area and smallest on the pneumatocyst‐bearing blades with 21% of the total area bearing sporangia. The apical scimitar released the greatest number of meiospores (cells · mL−1 · cm−2) and the sporophylls the least. Meiospores produced from all types of fertile laminae were equally viable. This reproductive plasticity may enhance reproductive output, and contribute to short and long‐distance spore dispersal and the cryptic gametophyte propagule bank for the next generation of sporophytes.
Virus epidemics can lead to a population‐wide spread of intragenomic parasites in a previously parasite‐free asexual population
Authors: Jalasvuori Matti , Lehtonen Jussi 
Published: January 2014

AbstractSexual reproduction is problematic to explain due to its costs, most notably the twofold cost of sex. Yet, sex has been suggested to be favourable in the presence of proliferating intragenomic parasites given that sexual recombination provides a mechanism to confine the accumulation of deleterious mutations. Kraaijeveld et al. compared recently the accumulation of transposons in sexually and asexually reproducing lines of the same species, the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina clavipes. They discovered that within asexually reproducing wasps, the number of gypsy‐like retrotransposons was increased fourfold, whereas other retrotransposons were not. Interestingly, gypsy‐like retrotransposons are closely related to retroviruses. Endogenous retroviruses are retroviruses that have integrated to the germ line cells and are inherited thereafter vertically. They can also replicate within the genome similarly to retrotransposons as well as form virus particles and infect previously uninfected cells. This highlights the possibility that endogenous retroviruses could play a role in the evolution of sexual reproduction. Here, we show with an individual‐based computational model that a virus epidemic within a previously parasite‐free asexual population may establish a new intragenomic parasite to the population. Moreover and in contrast to other transposons, the possibility of endogenous viruses to maintain a virus epidemic and simultaneously provide resistance to individuals carrying active endogenous viruses selects for the presence of active intragenomic parasites in the population despite their deleterious effects. Our results suggest that the viral nature of certain intragenomic parasites should be taken into account when sex and its benefits are being considered.
The CcmFH complex is the system I holocytochrome c synthetase: engineering cytochrome c maturation independent of CcmABCDE
Authors: San Francisco Brian , Sutherland Molly C. , Kranz Robert G. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryCytochrome c maturation (ccm) in many bacteria, archaea and plant mitochondria requires eight membrane proteins, CcmABCDEFGH, called system I. This pathway delivers and attaches haem covalently to two cysteines (of Cys‐Xxx‐Xxx‐Cys‐His) in the cytochrome c. All models propose that CcmFH facilitates covalent attachment of haem to the apocytochrome; namely, that it is the synthetase. However, holocytochrome c synthetase activity has not been directly demonstrated for CcmFH. We report formation of holocytochromes c by CcmFH and CcmG, a periplasmic thioredoxin, independent of CcmABCDE (we term this activity CcmFGH‐only). Cytochrome c produced in the absence of CcmABCDE is indistinguishable from cytochrome c produced by the full system I, with a cleaved signal sequence and two covalent bonds to haem. We engineered increased cytochrome c production by CcmFGH‐only, with yields approaching those from the full system I. Three conserved histidines in CcmF (TM‐His1, TM‐His2 and P‐His1) are required for activity, as are the conserved cysteine pairs in CcmG and CcmH. Our findings establish that CcmFH is the system I holocytochrome c synthetase. Although we discuss why this engineering would likely not replace the need for CcmABCDE in nature, these results provide unique mechanistic and evolutionary insights into cytochrome c biosynthesis.
Decreased mobility after starting dialysis is an independent risk factor for short‐term mortality after initiation of dialysis
Authors: Arai Yohei , Kanda Eiichiro , Kikuchi Hiroaki , Yamamura Chisato , Hirasawa Suguru , Aki Shota , Inaba Naoto , Aoyagi Makoto , Tanaka Hiroyuki , Tamura Teiichi , Sasaki Sei 
Published: January 2014

AbstractAimImpaired mobility at the onset of dialysis is considered one of the most important risk factors for short‐term mortality after initiation of dialysis in elderly patients. However, whether a decline in mobility after starting dialysis also affects mortality is unclear.MethodsA total of 202 patients (age, >75 years; mean, 80.4 ± 4.3) were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study in Yokosuka, Japan. They were divided into three subgroups by mobility: independent mobility at onset of dialysis and preservation of mobility after starting dialysis (group 1, n = 104); independent mobility at onset of dialysis and decline in mobility after starting dialysis (group 2, n = 48); and impaired mobility at onset of dialysis (group 3, n = 50). They were followed for 6 months after starting dialysis. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the association between mobility and mortality.ResultsA total of 24.8% of patients had impaired mobility at the start of dialysis, and 68.9% declined in mobility after starting dialysis. In multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, the adjusted hazard ratios of groups 2 and 3 compared with group 1 were 3.80 (95% confidence interval, 1.02–14.10) and 4.94 (95% confidence interval, 1.42–17.10), respectively.ConclusionNot only impaired mobility at the start of dialysis but also a decline in mobility after starting dialysis is associated with short‐term mortality after initiation of dialysis.
An Approach to Heparin and Lidocaine Hypersensitivity for the Interventional Nephrologist
Authors: Sequeira Adrian 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe general and interventional nephrologist may occasionally encounter a situation where the patient may state that he/she has an allergy to lidocaine or heparin. Heparin hypersensitivity is usually either a delayed type hypersensitivity reaction or an immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia. While a number of alternative drugs are available, many of them are subject to local availability, food and drug administration indications, and the patient's hepatic and renal function. Many of these drugs do not have antidotes in case of bleeding. Lidocaine hypersensitivity is usually a delayed type reaction, although adverse reactions, which are much more common, are wrongly labeled as an allergy. 1% diphenhydramine and benzyl alcohol may be used as alternatives.
N‐Acylethanolamines: lipid metabolites with functions in plant growth and development
Authors: Blancaflor Elison B. , Kilaru Aruna , Keereetaweep Jantana , Khan Bibi Rafeiza , Faure Lionel , Chapman Kent D. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryTwenty years ago, N‐acylethanolamines (NAEs) were considered by many lipid chemists to be biological ‘artifacts’ of tissue damage, and were, at best, thought to be minor lipohilic constituents of various organisms. However, that changed dramatically in 1993, when anandamide, an NAE of arachidonic acid (N‐arachidonylethanolamine), was shown to bind to the human cannabinoid receptor (CB1) and activate intracellular signal cascades in mammalian neurons. Now NAEs of various types have been identified in diverse multicellular organisms, in which they display profound biological effects. Although targets of NAEs are still being uncovered, and probably vary among eukaryotic species, there appears to be remarkable conservation of the machinery that metabolizes these bioactive fatty acid conjugates of ethanolamine. This review focuses on the metabolism and functions of NAEs in higher plants, with specific reference to the formation, hydrolysis and oxidation of these potent lipid mediators. The discussion centers mostly on early seedling growth and development, for which NAE metabolism has received the most attention, but also considers other areas of plant development in which NAE metabolism has been implicated. Where appropriate, we indicate cross‐kingdom conservation in NAE metabolic pathways and metabolites, and suggest areas where opportunities for further investigation appear most pressing.
Holistic Approach to Measure Innovation Performance for Hotel Industry –A Short Review
Authors: Parnian Amir , Hosseini Narges , Shwu Fen Wong 
Published: January 2014

The significant contribution to a firm’s long-term success, innovation has burst as one of the most important determinant of organizational performance. Mainly due to the globalization of markets and the extreme and rapid growth of technology has put tremendous pressure on companies to look for new and alternative ways to compete and survive in the current scenario. Numerous academic researches declare that success rate of service innovations is low and there are only few possible explanations for this assertion. In this current study, the innovation literature will be reviewed followed by the different approaches to measure innovation performance. In this study, we attempt to emphasis on importance of further researches in order to effectively measure innovation in hotel industry.
Link Capacity Based Channel Assignment (LCCA) for Cognitive Radio Wireless Mesh Networks
Authors: Maqbool Wajahat , Syed Yusof Sharifah K. , Abdul Latiff N. M. , S. Hashim , U. Rahat , K. Zubair , N. Bushra 
Published: January 2014

Cognitive radio wireless mesh network (CRWMN) is expected as an upcoming technology with the potential advantages of both cognitive radio (CR) and the wireless mesh networks (WMN). In CRWMN, co-channel interference is one of the key limiting factors that affect the reception capabilities of the client and reduce the achievable transmission rate. Furthermore, it increases the frame loss rate and results in underutilization of resources. To maximize the performance of such networks, interference related issues need to be considered. Channel assignment (CA) is one of the key techniques to overcome the performance degradation of a network caused by the interferences. To counter the interference issues, we propose a novel CA technique which is based on link capacity, primary user activity and secondary user activity. These three parameters are fed to the proposed weightage decision engine to get the weight for each of the stated parameters. Thus, the link capacity based channel assignment (LCCA) algorithm is based on the weightage decision engine. The end-to-end delay, packet delivery ratio and the throughput is used to estimate the performance of the proposed algorithm. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is closer to the optimum resource utilization.
Keupayaan Penunggang Motosikal Mengenal Pasti Hazad dan Bertindak Selamat di Persimpangan Tidak Berlampu Isyarat
Authors: Ibrahim Mohd Khairul Alhapiz , Awang Azmi , Omar Nik Hairi 
Published: January 2014

The ability of motorcyclist learners to identify hazards and to act safely at the intersection without traffic lights does not fully evaluated due to the fact that current curriculum adopted in Driving Institute (DI) in Malaysia not include training and testing on the actual road. Hence, to assess the ability of candidates on the actual road, a quasi-experiment was conducted towards random samples of 104 candidates in six DI in Malacca and Negeri Sembilan. An instrumented motorcycle equipped with video camera and electronic devices have been used to record driving data. Hazard perception and responding skills were measured by analyzing motorcycle’s speed and turn signal activation at junctions. Results of Oneway ANOVA test showed that there were significant differences in the participants’ choice of speed and use of turn signals when there were oncoming vehicles at junctions, but no significant changes when only crossing vehicles were present at the junctions. In general, studies conclude that the respondents are able to identify hazards and act safely at the crossroads in certain situations. Participant age and gender were found significant to the difference in hazard identification skills and react. Based on results, learning quality for theory and practice in DI should be improved.
Tumorgrafts as In Vivo Surrogates for Women with Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Weroha S. John , Becker Marc A. , Enderica-Gonzalez Sergio , Harrington Sean C. , Oberg Ann L. , Maurer Matthew J. , Perkins Sarah E. , AlHilli Mariam , Butler Kristina A. , McKinstry Sarah , Fink Stephanie , Jenkins Robert B. , Hou Xiaonan , Kalli Kimberly R. , Goodman Karin M. , Sarkaria Jann N. , Karlan Beth Y. , Kumar Amanika , Kaufmann Scott H. , Hartmann Lynn C. , Haluska Paul 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Purpose: Ovarian cancer has a high recurrence and mortality rate. A barrier to improved outcomes includes a lack of accurate models for preclinical testing of novel therapeutics.
Experimental Design: Clinically relevant, patient-derived tumorgraft models were generated from sequential patients and the first 168 engrafted models are described. Fresh ovarian, primary peritoneal, and fallopian tube carcinomas were collected at the time of debulking surgery and injected intraperitoneally into severe combined immunodeficient mice.
Results: Tumorgrafts demonstrated a 74% engraftment rate with microscopic fidelity of primary tumor characteristics. Low-passage tumorgrafts also showed comparable genomic aberrations with the corresponding primary tumor and exhibit gene set enrichment of multiple ovarian cancer molecular subtypes, similar to patient tumors. Importantly, each of these tumorgraft models is annotated with clinical data and for those that have been tested, response to platinum chemotherapy correlates with the source patient.
Conclusions: Presented herein is the largest known living tumor bank of patient-derived, ovarian tumorgraft models that can be applied to the development of personalized cancer treatment. Clin Cancer Res; 20(5); 1288–97. ©2014 AACR.
Luteolin Nanoparticle in Chemoprevention: In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer Activity
Authors: Majumdar Debatosh , Jung Kyung-Ho , Zhang Hongzheng , Nannapaneni Sreenivas , Wang Xu , Amin A.R.M. Ruhul , Chen Zhengjia , Chen Zhuo (G). , Shin Dong M. 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Cancer prevention (chemoprevention) by using naturally occurring dietary agents has gained immense interest because of the broad safety window of these compounds. However, many of these compounds are hydrophobic and poorly soluble in water. They frequently display low bioavailability, poor systemic delivery, and low efficacy. To circumvent this problem, we explored a novel approach toward chemoprevention using nanotechnology to deliver luteolin, a natural compound present in green vegetables. We formulated water-soluble polymer-encapsulated Nano-Luteolin from hydrophobic luteolin, and studied its anticancer activity against lung cancer and head and neck cancer. In vitro studies demonstrated that, like luteolin, Nano-Luteolin inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells (H292 cell line) and squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) cells (Tu212 cell line). In Tu212 cells, the IC50 value of Nano-Luteolin was 4.13 μmol/L, and that of luteolin was 6.96 μmol/L. In H292 cells, the IC50 of luteolin was 15.56 μmol/L, and Nano-Luteolin was 14.96 μmol/L. In vivo studies using a tumor xenograft mouse model demonstrated that Nano-Luteolin has a significant inhibitory effect on the tumor growth of SCCHN in comparison to luteolin. Our results suggest that nanoparticle delivery of naturally occurring dietary agents like luteolin has many advantages and may have potential application in chemoprevention in clinical settings. Cancer Prev Res; 7(1); 65–73. ©2013 AACR.