bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multimerin 1 binds factor V and activated factor V with high affinity and inhibits thrombin generation
Authors: Jeimy Samira B. , Fuller Nola , Tasneem Subia , Segers Kenneth , Stafford Alan R. , Weitz Jeffrey I. , Camire Rodney M. , Nicolaes Gerry A. F. , Hayward Catherine P. M. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryMultimerin 1 (MMRN1) is a polymeric, factorV (FV) binding protein that is stored in platelet and endothelial cell secretion granules but is undetectable in normal plasma. In human platelet α-granules, FV is stored complexed to MMRN1, predominantly by noncovalent binding interactions. The FV binding site for MMRN1 is located in the light chain, where it overlaps the C1 and C2 domain membrane binding sites essential for activated FV (FVa) procoagulant function. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR), circular dichroism (CD) and thrombin generation assays were used to study the binding of FV and FVa to MMRN1, and the functional consequences. FV and FVa bound MMRN1 with high affinities (KD:2 and 7 nM, respectively). FV dissociated more slowly from MMRN1 than FVa in SPR experiments, and CD analyses suggested greater conformational changes in mixtures of FV and MMRN1 than in mixtures of FV and MMRN1. SPR analyses indicated that soluble phosphatidylserine (1,2-Dicaproylsn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine) competitively inhibited both FV-MMRN1 and FVa-MMRN1 binding. Furthermore, exogenous MMRN1 delayed and reduced thrombin generation by plasma and platelets, and it reduced thrombin generation by preformed FVa. Exogenous MMRN1 also delayed FV activation, triggered by adding tissue factor to plasma, or by adding purified thrombin or factor Xa to purified FV. The high affinity binding of FV to MMRN1 may facilitate the costorage of the two proteins in platelet α-granules. As a consequence, MMRN1 release during platelet activation may limit platelet dependent thrombin generation in vivo.
Absence of leptin resistance in platelets from morbidly obese individuals may contribute to the increased thrombosis risk in obesity
Authors: Dellas Claudia , Schäfer Katrin , Rohm Ilonka , Lankeit Mareike , Ellrott Thomas , Faustin Vivien , Riggert Joachim , Hasenfuss Gerd , Konstantinides Stavros 
Published: November 2008

SummaryClinical studies have shown that elevated leptin levels are an independent cardiovascular risk factor. However, little is known about the existence of platelet resistance to leptin in the setting of obesity. We examined the effects of leptin on platelet aggregation in morbidly obese subjects (n=40; BMI, 41.6 ± 1.1 kg/m2; leptin, 49.7 ± 3.4 ng/ml) in comparison to normal-weight controls (n=36; BMI, 23.3 ± 0.4 kg/m2; leptin, 6.5 ± 0.7 ng/ml).The aggregatory response to increasing concentrations of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (2, 3, 4, and 5 µM) was significantly increased in platelets from obese compared to lean donors, reflecting a left shift in the dose-response curve. Plasma leptin levels, but not BMI, were significantly higher in subjects with stronger (above the median) compared to weaker (below the median) platelet aggregation at all ADP concentrations tested. In further experiments, stimulation (preincubation) with leptin (500 ng/ml) promoted ADP-induced platelet aggregation by approximately 25%, and there was no difference between platelets from obese and those from lean donors regarding the responsiveness to leptin (p=0.99). Western blotting revealed that leptin induced phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 to a similar extent in platelets from both groups. Expression of potential mediators of leptin resistance (SOCS3 and PTP1B) also did not differ in platelets from obese and control subjects. In conclusion, our data indicate that platelets from obese donors show increased aggregatory response to ADP, and that this might partly be the consequence of increased circulating leptin levels. Platelets from obese donors are not resistant to the enhancing effects of leptin on ADPinduced platelet aggregation.
Are laboratories following published recommendations for lupus anticoagulant testing?
Authors: Moffat Karen , Ledford-Kraemer Marlies , Plumhoff Elizabeth , McKay Heather , Nichols William , Meijer Piet , Hayward Catherine 
Published: November 2008

SummaryLaboratory tests for lupus anticoagulants (LA) are commonly performed to evaluate thrombosis or suspected phospholipid antibody syndromes. To determine current LA testing practices, and if they conform to published recommendations, two questionnaires were distributed to clinical laboratory members of the North American Specialized Coagulation Laboratory Association (NASCOLA) and the ECAT Foundation (ECAT). The first and second questionnaires were completed by 113 and 96 laboratories, respectively. Commonly performed LA tests included the dilute Russell’s viper venom time, LA sensitive activated partial thromboplastin time and hexagonal phospholipid test. Although some laboratories did single LA tests if requested, the majority complied with published recommendations: to use platelet poor plasma for LA tests; to use two or more screening tests, representing different assay principles, and one assay having a low phospholipid concentration to exclude LA; to confirm LA phospholipid dependency by the method giving an abnormal LA screen; to document the inhibitor activity on pooled normal plasma; and not to use phospholipid antibodies to confirm LA. A minority (<35%) followed the recommendations to exclude factor deficiencies and factor inhibitors as the cause of an abnormal LA test. After participating, 32% of laboratories had changed practices and 20% indicated that they would be changing practices. While most laboratories generally follow published guidelines for LA testing, few follow recommendations to evaluate for other coagulation abnormalities. Questionnaires may be helpful quality initiatives to improve compliance with laboratory testing guidelines and recommendations.
Self-management of oral anticoagulation reduces major outcomes in the elderly
Authors: Rakovac Ivo , Kleespies Caroline , Piso Brigitte , Didjurgeit Ulrike , Siebenhofer Andrea ,   for the SPOG 60+ Study Group
Published: November 2008

SummaryAlthough many patients with long-term oral anticoagulation (OAC) can manage their medication safely and reliably themselves, no study on elderly patients has as yet assessed the safety and efficacy of OAC self-management with major thromboembolic and haemorrhagic complications as primary outcomes. In this multi-centre trial, patients aged 60 years or more were randomised into a self-management (SMG) (N=99) or routine care group (RCG) (N=96).The primary outcome was the combined endpoint of all thromboembolic events requiring hospitalisation and all major bleeding complications. Mean follow-up was 2.9 ± 1.2 and 3.0 ± 1.1 years in the SMG and RCG, respectively. In intention-to-treat analysis, 12 patients in the SMG versus 22 patients in the RCG reached a primary endpoint (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.25 to 1.00; p=0.049).
Venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients
Authors: Williams Mark , Shorr Andrew 
Published: November 2008

SummaryVenous thromboembolism (VTE) is a central concern in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, little is known about both current practices for VTE prevention in the ICU and the risk for VTE in persons with severe sepsis and septic shock. XPRESS was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of prophylactic heparin in patients with severe sepsis and higher disease severity who were treated with drotrecogin alfa (activated) (DAA). Subjects were randomized to unfractionated heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin, or placebo during the DAA infusion period. All patients underwent ultrasonography between days 4-6 to screen for VTE. We assessed baseline utilization of VTE prophylaxis along with application of these methods after completion of the DAA infusion. The study included 1,935 subjects and, prior to enrollment approximately half were given no form of prophylaxis. By day 6, 5% of subjects developed a VTE, and the rate of VTE did not vary based on type of heparin administered. The vast majority of VTE detected by day 6 were clinically silent. Of factors analyzed, history of VTE was the only variable independently associated with development of a VTE (odds ratio, 3.66, 95% confidence interval 1.77–7.56, p=0.005). Strikingly, patients who were initially receiving heparin prophylaxis prior to enrollment but who then had this discontinued because of randomization to placebo suffered more VTE that persons continuing on some form of heparin. Despite multiple guidelines, physicians do not uniformly prescribe VTE prophylaxis. Nonetheless, early VTE occurs even in persons given DAA. Most VTE in critically ill patients are clinically silent.
Faith in Human Rights On 10 December 2008 Senior Religious Representatives State Support of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Authors: Naber Jonneke 
Published: November 2008

AbstractOn 10 December 2008 ten senior religious representatives of different world religions will assemble in the Peace Palace in The Hague to declare their support to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the presence of a large gathering of dignitaries. They will be the first signatories of the Statement Faith in Human Rights, open for endorsement by other prominent religious leaders around the world. This article describes the origin, purpose and preparatory stages of this International Inter-religious Conference.
Theocentrism and Human Rights: A Critical Argument
Authors: Fiala Andrew 
Published: November 2008

AbstractHuman rights discourse in the West has a deep connection to Christian theology and what might be called 'theocentrism.' This view locates human rights in the God-created order of the world—and not in the capacities of sentient beings. This article examines and criticizes some recent theocentric arguments. It focuses in particular on the claim made by some theocentric human rights defenders that secular individualism and democracy are wrong-headed and run counter to Christian theology. This article provides a critique of recent theocentric arguments about human rights and briefly discusses an alternative that locates rights in the capacities of sentient beings.
Toward Particular Declarations of Human Gifts: A Christian Reflection on Religions, Stories, and Untold Suffering
Authors: Alexander Paul 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIn this article, the author suggests that religious leaders and communities should speak freely of faith in God and spirituality in their own particular ways as they advocate for human rights. While recognizing the destruction wrought by religious people, he recommends that religions be received as gifts that can cultivate people who far exceed the minimal expectations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He claims we do not expect too much when we ask religions and religious leaders to promote, teach, and uphold human rights, we expect too little. As a Pentecostal Christian ethicist, he argues for the significance of narrative, prophetic protest, and testimony as crucial aspects of receiving all people as gifts and of evoking empathy, action, and hope. Finally, the author warns against the political seizure of theistic and human rights discourse for the justification of military action, and he encourages the implementation of just peacemaking theory and practices.
"Justice Enacted Not These Human Laws" (Antigone): Religion, Natural Law and Women's Rights
Authors: Beattie Tina 
Published: November 2008

AbstractSince the time of Aristotle, the character of Antigone in Sophocles' play of the same name has been cited as an example of natural law, in her appeal to the gods to justify her defiance of the law of the polis represented by Creon. With reference to interpretations of Antigone offered by Costas Douzinas and Ronnie Warrington and by Jacques Lacan, I challenge the association between Antigone and natural law, particularly with regard to the representation of women, rights and law. I argue that a feminist retrieval of the scholastic natural law tradition might offer a more holistic and integrated concept of female personhood in the context of human flourishing, natural reason and the goodness of nature. I conclude by considering Olympe de Gouges' Déclaration des Droits de la Femme et de la Citoyenne, as an example of an appeal for women's rights and sexual equality informed by pre-modern concepts of natural law.
Anti-Representationalism and Mystical Empiricism
Authors: Bagger Matthew 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAn anti-representationalist account of the relationship between experience and belief is preferable to that of empiricism because empiricism appears incapable of sustaining its characteristic theses without degenerating into an unpalatable idealism. Anti-representationalism directs the scholar's attention to the language and inferences presupposed by experience, mystical or otherwise. Consideration of a common mystical movement of thought bears out the need for a belated "linguistic turn" in the study of mysticism.
Coding and Quantifying Counterintuitiveness in Religious Concepts: Theoretical and Methodological Reflections
Authors: Barrett Justin 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBoyer's theory of counterintuitive cultural concept transmission claims that concepts that ideas that violate naturally occurring intuitive knowledge structures enough to be attention-demanding but not so much to undermine conceptual coherence have a transmission advantage over other concepts (Boyer et al. 2001: 535-64). Because of the prominence of these counterintuitive concepts in religious belief systems, Boyer's theory features prominently in many cognitive treatments of religion. Difficulties in identifying what are and are not counterintuitive concepts in this technical sense, however, has made empirical treatment of Boyer's theory irregular and difficult to evaluate. Further, inability to quantify just how counterintuitive a given concept is has made ambiguous specifying where the alleged cognitive optimum lies. The present project attempts to clarify Boyer's theory and presents a formal system for coding and quantifying the "counterintuitiveness" of a concept, and hence, facilitates empirical scrutiny of the theory.
Beautiful Reflections: The Cognitive and Evolutionary Foundations of Paradise Representations
Authors: Närhi Jani 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIn addition to god beliefs, belief in life after death or in a nostalgic era when everything was perfect is a widespread phenomenon in world religions. In this paper, my aim is to explain how and why paradise beliefs have emerged and why they have survived over generations. Using recent theories and results from the cognitive and evolutionary study of religion as well as from studies of environmental preferences, I suggest that the answer lies in pan-human unconscious motivations, the architecture of mind, and the way human mind processes information.
Traces of History in St. Anselm
Authors: Levene Nancy 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis paper is a schematic consideration of the relationship between reason and history through the figure of St. Anselm of Canterbury, the very exemplar, one might suppose, of the pre-modern absence of historical consciousness. I argue that while Anselm may offend a maximal number of contemporary scholarly habits of mind, whether historicist, secular, or simply argumentative, he is at the front lines of a classic question recently posed by Alain Badiou, namely how much can one think outside of one's time? This question expresses an anxiety concerning both what it is possible and/or permissible to think at any given time and what time or history have to do with thinking as such—an anxiety neatly symbolized, I claim, by the leaden specter of the ontological argument. What, it might rightly be asked, is Anselm's argument to us? A provocation, certainly; a theory, possibly.
Utopian History
Authors: Furey Constance 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis paper analyzes how the "new" genre of Utopia (nominally invented by Thomas More in the sixteenth century) historicizes in a way that is not, strictly speaking, tied to history. More builds his imaginary world using details culled from life in sixteenth-century England, and Utopia—a fictional island society—is itself a commentary on the values and politics of More's society. This dual focus on the real and the ideal explains why this prosaic genre has intrigued so many commentators, notably Fredric Jameson, who (I argue) has written repeatedly about Utopia as a way to think through the unresolved implications of his own injunction to historicize. Working out of a commitment to historical materialism, Jameson has found it difficult to articulate hope for an alternative future that is itself appropriately historicized and not naively utopian. Analyzing More and Jameson in tandem thereby illuminates the theoretical dilemmas involved in critiquing history.
History and Vulnerability: A Response to Levene and Furey
Authors: Rein Nathan 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe articles by N. Levene (writing on St. Anselm's Proslogion) and C. Furey (on Thomas More's Utopia) in this volume offer a nuanced critical perspective on historicist tendencies in the study of religion. While insisting on the importance of seeing primary texts as embedded in their historical context, both propose that scholars simultaneously seek to maintain an element of openness and vulnerability to the voices of the past. This can serve as a counterweight to the typical historicist strategy of debunking and unmasking the past's pretensions to authoritative discourse.
The Right to Seek – Revisited. On the UN Human Rights Declaration Article 14 and Access to Asylum Procedures in the EU
Authors: Gammeltoft-Hansen Hans , Gammeltoft-Hansen Thomas 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis article compares the "right to seek and enjoy asylum" enshrined in Art. 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the current EU policy developments to "externalize" or "extraterritorialise" migration control and refugee protection. Examining the genesis of Art. 14 during the negotiations of the Universal Declaration, it is argued that while Art. 14 clearly falls short of granting a substantive right to be granted asylum, its formulation was intended to maintain a procedural right – the right to an asylum process. While the Universal Declaration is not a legally binding instrument, going back to the fundamental norms expressed herein nonetheless provides an important starting point for evaluating current policies, especially in light of recent critiques against overly expansive interpretation of human rights law. As such, the article concludes that the current EU policies to shift migration control and refugee protection away from Europe in important respects contravenes "the right to seek asylum" as it was conceived exactly 60 years ago.
La jurisprudence de l'intendant en Hainaut français au XVIIIe siècle
Authors: Glineur Cédric 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Referring to precedents in the eighteenth-century quasi-judicial practice of the intendant in French Hainault. – Following the practice already in use in the King's Council and government departments, the Commissioner in the French Hainault province (commissaire départi en Hainaut) started towards the beginning of the 18th century to keep all documents received or drafted by his offices. These documents included the orders he issued in adjudicating cases brought before him. As intendant, he had at his disposal the files of the proceedings in which he had had to reach a decision in his quasi-judicial capacity. Judgements rendered in previous cases could help him to solve new cases. As these precedents were documented in his records, he was able to develop a case law in particular areas, such as tax litigation.
Specificity and affinity of human Fcγ receptors and their polymorphic variants for human IgG subclasses
Authors: Bruhns Pierre , Iannascoli Bruno , England Patrick , Mancardi David A. , Fernandez Nadine , Jorieux Sylvie , Daëron Marc 
Published: November 2008

AbstractDistinct genes encode 6 human receptors for IgG (hFcγRs), 3 of which have 2 or 3 polymorphic variants. The specificity and affinity of individual hFcγRs for the 4 human IgG subclasses is unknown. This information is critical for antibody-based immunotherapy which has been increasingly used in the clinics. We investigated the binding of polyclonal and monoclonal IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 to FcγRI; FcγRIIA, IIB, and IIC; FcγRIIIA and IIIB; and all known polymorphic variants. Wild-type and low-fucosylated IgG1 anti-CD20 and anti-RhD mAbs were also examined. We found that (1) IgG1 and IgG3 bind to all hFcγRs; (2) IgG2 bind not only to FcγRIIAH131, but also, with a lower affinity, to FcγRIIAR131 and FcγRIIIAV158; (3) IgG4 bind to FcγRI, FcγRIIA, IIB and IIC and FcγRIIIAV158; and (4) the inhibitory receptor FcγRIIB has a lower affinity for IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3 than all other hFcγRs. We also identified parameters that determine the specificity and affinity of hFcγRs for IgG subclasses. These results document how hFcγR specificity and affinity may account for the biological activities of antibodies. They therefore highlight the role of specific hFcγRs in the therapeutic and pathogenic effects of antibodies in disease.
Dose volume histogram analysis of normal structures associated with accelerated partial breast irradiation delivered by high dose rate brachytherapy and comparison with whole breast external beam radiotherapy fields
Authors: Stewart Alexandra J , O'Farrell Desmond A , Cormack Robert A , Hansen Jorgen L , Khan Atif J , Mutyala Subhakar , Devlin Phillip M 
Published: November 2008

Abstract

Purpose
To assess the radiation dose delivered to the heart and ipsilateral lung during accelerated partial breast brachytherapy using a MammoSite™ applicator and compare to those produced by whole breast external beam radiotherapy (WBRT).

Materials and methods
Dosimetric analysis was conducted on patients receiving MammoSite breast brachytherapy following conservative surgery for invasive ductal carcinoma. Cardiac dose was evaluated for patients with left breast tumors with a CT scan encompassing the entire heart. Lung dose was evaluated for patients in whom the entire lung was scanned. The prescription dose of 3400 cGy was 1 cm from the balloon surface. MammoSite dosimetry was compared to simulated WBRT fields with and without radiobiological correction for the effects of dose and fractionation. Dose parameters such as the volume of the structure receiving 10 Gy or more (V10) and the dose received by 20 cc of the structure (D20), were calculated as well as the maximum and mean doses received.

Results
Fifteen patients were studied, five had complete lung data and six had left-sided tumors with complete cardiac data. Ipsilateral lung volumes ranged from 925–1380 cc. Cardiac volumes ranged from 337–551 cc. MammoSite resulted in a significantly lower percentage lung V30 and lung and cardiac V20 than the WBRT fields, with and without radiobiological correction.

Conclusion
This study gives low values for incidental radiation received by the heart and ipsilateral lung using the MammoSite applicator. The volume of heart and lung irradiated to clinically significant levels was significantly lower with the MammoSite applicator than using simulated WBRT fields of the same CT data sets.

Trial registration
Dana Farber Trial Registry number 03-179