cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Food and Drug Administration's Obesity Drug Guidance Document A Short History

An estimated 70% of adult men and 60% of adult women in the United States are overweight or obese.1 Excess body fat increases the likelihood of developing hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.2–4 Obesity is linked to an increased risk for certain cancers, osteoarthritis, and sleep apnea.5–8 Obese people are stigmatized.9 Medical costs attributable to obesity are enormous.10 The healthcare community and patients would thus welcome the development and approval of new obesity drugs with favorable benefit-risk profiles. To facilitate drug development, the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research issues guidance documents for the pharmaceutical industry. These documents provide the agency's current thinking on therapeutic indications, target populations, clinical trial designs, and data analyses. This article examines the origins and evolution of the FDA's guidance document for the development of drugs to treat obesity. In 1947, the FDA approved the first prescription obesity drug, desoxyephedrine or methamphetamine.11 Approval of amphetamine congeners (eg, phentermine), fenfluramine, and other appetite suppressants followed over the next 2½ decades. Then, in 1973, with the country struggling with a long-running epidemic of amphetamine abuse, the FDA, concerned about the abuse potential of the amphetamine congeners and their transient efficacy, limited the indication of all obesity drugs to short-term use (ie, a few weeks).11,12 This restriction did little to counter opinions that vanity was the only reason to lose weight and that obesity drugs had no role in long-term weight loss. This mindset began to change in subsequent years. “[While] most public attention and economic activity related to obesity has been devoted to cosmetic and esthetic concerns about body weight, it has become increasingly obvious that obesity is …
Transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor enhances CD40-driven plasma cell differentiation

Background Transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) is a receptor used by B cell–activating factor of the TNF family and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) to induce isotype switching independently of CD40 and is mutated in patients with common variable immunodeficiency. Objective We sought to determine whether TACI and CD40 cooperate in inducing class switch recombination and immunoglobulin production. Methods Naive mouse B cells were stimulated with suboptimal concentrations of anti-CD40 plus IL-4 in the presence or absence of APRIL or anti-TACI. IgG 1 and IgE production was measured by means of ELISA. mRNA for Cγ 1 and Cɛ germ-line transcripts, activation-induced cytidine deaminase, and mature γ 1 and ɛ transcripts were measured by means of RT-PCR. Plasmablasts were enumerated by using syndecan-1/CD138 staining. Interferon regulatory factor 4, B lymphocyte–induced maturation protein 1, and IL6 mRNA expression was measured by using quantitative PCR. Results TACI ligation enhanced IgG 1 and IgE secretion by naive murine B cells stimulated by anti-CD40 plus IL-4, with little effect on B-cell proliferation or class switch recombination. In contrast, TACI ligation of anti-CD40 plus IL-4–stimulated B cells induced a significant increase in syndecans-1/CD138–positive cells. TACI ligation caused a modest but significant increase in the expression of interferon regulatory factor 4, with no detectable change in B lymphocyte–induced maturation protein 1 expression. Conclusion TACI and CD40 signaling converge to promote B-cell differentiation into plasmablasts. Clinical implications Our data suggest that TACI dysfunction could contribute to the impaired antibody response to T-dependent antigens in common variable immunodeficiency.
Survival of Mycobacterium bovis on feedstuffs commonly used as supplemental feed for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).

Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, has become established in free-ranging white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus in northeastern Michigan. The practice of supplemental feeding of white-tailed deer during the winter is believed to contribute to transmission of M. bovis between deer. The current study was conducted to determine the ability of M. bovis to survive on various feedstuffs commonly used as supplemental feed for deer in northeast Michigan (i.e., apples, corn, carrots, sugar beets, potatoes, and hay) and the effect of maintenance at −20 C, 8 C, and 23 C on survival. Mycobacterium bovis survived on all feedstuffs at all temperatures tested for at least 7 days. At 23 C, M. bovis could still be isolated from samples of apples, corn and potatoes at 112 days. This study suggests that contamination of feedstuffs by M. bovis-infected deer could act as a source of indirect transmission between deer because M. bovis is able to survive in temperatures similar to those recorded...
Outcomes after pediatric ureteral reimplantation: a population based analysis.

Purpose: Pediatric urology literature is often biased toward single, high volume institutions. We determined the impact of patient, surgeon and hospital characteristics on immediate outcomes for children undergoing ureteral reimplantation.Materials and Methods: We queried the University Health-System Consortium Clinical Data Base to identify a pediatric population who underwent ureteroneocystostomy between 2004 and 2009. We measured the association of the outcome variables length of stay, number of days in the intensive care unit and complication rates on the independent variables of age, gender, race, insurance status, year of surgery, and surgeon and hospital characteristics. The data were analyzed using multiple logistic, Poisson and Poisson hurdle model regression analyses incorporating random effects for surgeon and hospital.Results: We identified 5,668 subjects who underwent ureteroneocystostomy. Compared with patients treated by high volume providers, those treated by low volume surgeons (less than...
Neurotoxicity of Amyloid β-Protein: Synaptic and Network Dysfunction

Evidence for an ever-expanding variety of molecular mediators of amyloid β-protein neurotoxicity (membrane lipids, receptor proteins, channel proteins, second messengers and related signaling cascades, cytoskeletal proteins, inflammatory mediators, etc.) has led to the notion that the binding of hydrophobic Aβ assemblies to cellular membranes triggers multiple effects affecting diverse pathways. It appears unlikely that there are only one or two cognate receptors for neurotoxic forms of Aβ and also that there are just one or two assembly forms of the peptide that induce neuronal dysfunction. Rather, various soluble (diffusible) oligomers of Aβ that may be in dynamic equilibrium with insoluble, fibrillar deposits (amyloid plaques) and that can bind to different components of neuronal and non-neuronal plasma membranes appear to induce complex patterns of synaptic dysfunction and network disorganization that underlie the intermittent but gradually progressive cognitive manifestations of the clinical disorder. Modern analyses of this problem utilize electrophysiology coupled with synaptic biochemistry and behavioral phenotyping of animal models to elucidate the affected circuits and assess the effects of potential therapeutic interventions.
Low Richardson Number in the Tropical Cyclone Outflow Layer

AbstractDropsondes from the NOAA G-IV aircraft were used to examine the presence of low bulk Richardson numbers RB in tropical cyclones. At least one 400-m layer above z = 7.5 km exhibited RB < 1 in 96% of the sondes and RB ≤ 0.25 in 35% of the sondes. The latter represent almost certain turbulence. Sondes from major Hurricane Ivan (2004) were examined in detail. Turbulent layers fell into three broad groups. The first was found below cloud base near the edge of the central dense overcast (CDO) where relative humidity fell below 40%. Near-zero static stability existed within the turbulent layer with stability and shear maxima above it. This structure strongly resembled that seen previously from sublimation of precipitation beneath cloud base. The second type of turbulent layer was located within CDO clouds in the upper troposphere and was due almost entirely to near-zero static stability. This most likely arose as a result of cooling via longwave flux divergence below CDO top. The third type of turbulent ...
POLICY TYPOLOGIES AND U.S. ASYLUM POLICY: JOINING STATIST AND GROUP THEORIES

The discipline tends to devise competing theories as opposed to integrated ones. The inquiry is whether there are issue areas in which interest groups and state structures interact with each other to affect the policy making process, and with external political phenomena, such as social movements. This analysis reviews pluralist and statist literature, and examines U.S. asylum policy in terms of interest group activity and state interests. It suggests asylum policy is a “citizenship policy,” or a special category of policies in which four different sets of actors wield their influence: a lead state agency, the appeals agency of the state, citizen groups, and a social movement. The interaction of these factors presents a useful model for understanding policy processes in issue areas concerned with citizenship issues. Citizenship includes the norms that set the relationships between individuals and the state: their rights and duties toward each other. Citizenship issues include immigration and asylum policy. Other citizenship issues are also identified.
DECOMPOSITION OF ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS BY TIMESCALE USING WAVELETS

Economists have long known that timescale matters in that the structure of decisions as to the relevant time horizon, degree of time aggregation, strength of relationship, and even the relevant variables differ by timescale. Unfortunately, until recently it was difficult to decompose economic time series into orthogonal timescale components except for the short or long run in which the former is dominated by noise. Wavelets are used to produce an orthogonal decomposition of some economic variables by timescale over six different timescales. The relationship of interest is that between money and income, i.e., velocity. We confirm that timescale decomposition is very important for analyzing economic relationships. The analysis indicates the importance of recognizing variations in phase between variables when investigating the relationships between them and throws considerable light on the conflicting results that have been obtained in the literature using Granger causality tests.
Brief Integrated Outpatient Dual‐diagnosis Treatment Reduces Psychiatric Hospitalizations

A retrospective pilot study was conducted to determine whether a relatively brief integrated outpatient treatment for patients with dual disorders reduced inpatient hospital service utilization. Outpatients (n=44) with substance dependence and either comorbid schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, or bipolar disorder were studied. A multidisciplinary team provided relatively brief (up to 24 weeks), integrated, dual-diagnosis outpatient treatment. A significant 60% reduction in the number of psychiatric hospitalization days was found for the year after treatment as compared to the year before. Patients with schizophrenia showed the greatest reduction (74%) in hospitalization days. Thus, even brief integrated outpatient dual-diagnosis treatment can reduce inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations. (Am J Addict 2003;12:306-313)
Generating feasible schedules under complex metric constraints

In this paper, we consider the problem of finding feasible solutions to scheduling problems that are complicated by separation constraints on the execution of different operations. Following recent work in constraint-posting scheduling, we formulate this problem as one of establishing ordering relations between pairs of operations requiring synchronization of resource usage. This establishes contact with the recently proposed General Temporal Constraint Network (GTCN) model. Exploiting properties of the general GTCN solution procedure, we are able to directly generalize a high performance solution procedure previously developed for a much more restricted class of scheduling problems. Specifically, shortest path information in the underlying temporal constraint network is first used to establish dominance conditions for early pruning of infeasible solutions. Heuristics are then defined for variable/value ordering in the meta-CSP space of possible resolutions of the disjunctive constraints on resource usage. These heuristics are based on use of shortest path information as an estimation of decision flexibility. Experimental evaluation of the resulting heuristic procedure is carried out on a set of randomly generated problems drawn from a manufacturing scenario. Results indicate extremely effective problem solving performance in relation to both the original scheduling procedure that was adapted and the general GTCN solution procedure.
Hypopharyngeal venous malformation presenting with foreign body sensation and dysphagia

Abstract Objective Review the importance of imaging selection and clinicoanatomic correlation for a vascular malformations presenting with unique symptomatology. Methods Case study and literature review. Results A 64-year-old female presented with globus and dysphagia ongoing for 40 years. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy discovered a hypopharyngeal mass. A CT scan showed a soft tissue mass with shotty calcifications. Flexible laryngoscopy revealed a bluish compressible mass. MRI showed T2 hyperintensity with heterogeneous enhancement resulting in the diagnosis of a low-flow vascular malformation. Conclusions All globus is not equal. Attention to symptoms, anatomy, and imaging selection is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular malformations uniquely presenting with dysphagia.
Genetic generation of connection patterns for a dynamic artificial neural network

Work-in-progress on the use of a specialized genetic algorithm for training a new type of dynamic artificial neural network is described. The network architecture is completely specified by a list of addresses that are used to connect signal sources to specific artificial synapses, which have both a temporal and spatial significance. The number of different connection patterns is a combinational problem which grows factorially as the number of artificial synapses in the network and the number of sensor elements increases. The network is implemented primarily in analog electronic hardware and constructed from artificial dendritic trees which exhibit a spatiotemporal processing capability that is modeled after morphologically complex biological neurons. The author describes work-in-progress on using the specialized genetic algorithm, which has an embedded optimizer in place of the standard mutation operator, for training a dynamic neural network to follow the position of a target moving across an image sensor array. >
Rhetoric, Ebola, and Vaccination: A Conversation Among Scholars

Five scholars who study the rhetoric of health and medicine share our diverse perspectives on the Ebola outbreak that began in West Africa in March 2014. Using a unique multi-vocal approach, we raise questions for future research on the rhetoric of vaccines and vaccination, such as the role of visualizations in risk perception, the individuation of blame, the role of genres in vaccine development, and the rhetorical presence of material conditions that promote disease transmission. Our overall goal is to initiate scholarly conversation about Ebola specifically and about outbreaks and vaccine development generally. Through our conversation, we explore subjects such as risk perception and data visualization, individuation of blame, genre systems, and the materiality of outbreaks. Together, our analyses suggest that vaccines, while a highly effective means of disease prevention, can also function rhetorically to draw attention away from the broad array of material and socioeconomic conditions that lead from a single infection to an outbreak. But by investigating what is revealed, what is concealed, who is blamed, and who is exonerated in discourses about vaccines and outbreaks, rhetoricians can contribute to the development of effective—and ethical—medical and communicative interventions.
Azimuthal anisotropy harmonics from long-range correlations in high multiplicity pp collisions at CMS

Abstract Measurements of two-particle angular correlations in pp collisions at s = 7 TeV are presented as a function of charged-particle multiplicities. The data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 6.2 pb −1 , were collected during the 2010 LHC pp run using the CMS detector. In high-multiplicity events, a long-range ( | Δ η | > 2 ), near-side ( Δ ϕ ≈ 0 ) structure is found in the two-particle Δ η − Δ ϕ correlation functions. The second-order ( v 2 ) and third-order ( v 3 ) azimuthal anisotropy harmonics of charged particles, K S 0 and Λ / Λ ‾ particles are extracted from long-range two-particle correlations as a function of particle multiplicity and transverse momentum, after correcting for the contribution of back-to-back jet correlations. A v 2 and v 3 value of about 4% and 1%, averaging over 0.3 p T 3 GeV/c , are observed in the high-multiplicity region, and are found to be smaller than values obtained in pPb and PbPb collisions at similar multiplicities.
Corticotropin-releasing factor attenuates interleukin 1-induced sleep and fever in rabbits

Interleukin 1 (IL-1), a key mediator of the acute phase response, stimulates hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) release. The CRF-adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-glucocorticoid axis is a feedback for peripheral production and action of IL-1. Effects of intracerebroventricularly administered CRF on rabbit sleepwake activity, brain temperature (Tbr), and behavior and on the central effects of IL-1 [fever and excess non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS)] were studied. CRF (0.1-1.25 micrograms) dose dependently decreased NREMS and enhanced wakefulness. IL-1-induced excess NREMS was inhibited by CRF. Rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) suppressed by IL-1 was partially restored by 0.1 or 0.5 microgram CRF, although CRF itself did not promote REMS. Behavioral effects of intracerebroventricular CRF were relatively small, although 1.25 micrograms abolished ingestion for 3 h, suppressed rearing behavior, and increased sitting behavior. Tbr increased after CRF injection alone. After IL-1 pretreatment, however, 0.1 and 0.5, but not 1.25, micrograms CRF reduced IL-1-induced fever after several hours. These results implicate IL-1-induced CRF release as part of a negative-feedback mechanism attenuating not only peripheral IL-1 actions but also its central effects.
Postcoital Luteinizing Hormone Release in Male and Female Rabbits as Determined by Radioimmunoassay

We have developed a homologous radioimmunoassay for rabbit luteinizing hormone (LH), which was used to measure LH levels in sera of male and female rabbits before and after copulation. The results demonstrated the following: (1) LH concentrations in male and estrogen-primed female rabbits are similar prior to coitus; (2) following coitus, LH levels rise within 3 minutes in both sexes and reach a peak or plateau within 15 minutes; (3) elevated LH concentrations are maintained at a plateau for at least 1 hour in females and then fall toward base line values; (4) an increase in serum LH to 300 ng/ml (10- to 11-fold) or greater is sufficient to cause ovulation and the formation of corpora lutea; and (5) the postcoital rise in LH levels is greater in estrogen-primed females than in nontreated males.
Analytical model for predicting AC losses in form-wound machine windings due to stator current interactions

This paper presents an improved analytical model for predicting the ac losses in form-wound windings used in high-performance ac machines attributable to the stator currents. The complete model comprises two sub-models that separately calculate the ac losses contributed by the in-slot and end-winding portions. 3D finite element analysis and experimental tests are conducted to demonstrate the usefulness of the model. The results also confirm the vulnerability of form-wound windings to steep increases in the winding ac resistance as the excitation frequency increases. The model is subsequently used to investigate the impact of key machine parameters on the winding ac losses, including the excitation frequency, phase arrangement, conductor thickness, and PWM switching frequency.
Valuing Water Quality Tradeoffs at the Farm Level: An Integrated Approach

This study evaluates the tradeoff between agricultural production and water quality for individual producers using an integrated economic-biophysical hybrid genetic algorithm. We apply a multi-input, multi-output profit maximization model to detailed farm-level production data from the Oregon Willamette Valley to predict each producer's response to a targeted fertilizer tax policy. Their resulting production decisions are included in a biophysical model of basin-level soil and water quality. We use a hybrid genetic algorithm to integrate the economic and biophysical models into one multi-objective optimization problem, the joint maximization of farm profits and minimization of Nitrate runoff resulting from fertilizer usage. We then measure the tradeoffs between maximum profit and Nitrogen loading for individual farms, subject to the fertilizer tax policy. We find considerable variation in tradeoff values across the basin, which could be used to better target incentives for reducing Nitrogen loading to agricultural producers.
Classification of motor intent in transradial amputees using sonomyography and spatio-temporal image analysis

In spite of major advances in biomechanical design of upper extremity prosthetics, these devices continue to lack intuitive control. Conventional myoelectric control strategies typically utilize electromyography (EMG) signal amplitude sensed from forearm muscles. EMG has limited specificity in resolving deep muscle activity and poor signal-to-noise ratio. We have been investigating alternative control strategies that rely on real-time ultrasound imaging that can overcome many of the limitations of EMG. In this work, we present an ultrasound image sequence classification method that utilizes spatiotemporal features to describe muscle activity and classify motor intent. Ultrasound images of the forearm muscles were obtained from able-bodied subjects and a trans-radial amputee while they attempted different hand movements. A grid-based approach is used to test the feasibility of using spatio-temporal features by classifying hand motions performed by the subjects. Using the leave-one-out cross validation on image sequences acquired from able-bodied subjects, we observe that the grid-based approach is able to discern four hand motions with 95.31% accuracy. In case of the trans-radial amputee, we are able to discern three hand motions with 80% accuracy. In a second set of experiments, we study classification accuracy by extracting spatio-temporal sub-sequences the depict activity due to the motion of local anatomical interfaces. Short time and space limited cuboidal sequences are initially extracted and assigned an optical flow behavior label, based on a response function. The image space is clustered based on the location of cuboids and features calculated from the cuboids in each cluster. Using sequences of known motions, we extract feature vectors that describe said motion. A K -nearest neighbor classifier is designed for classification experiments. Using the leave-one-out cross validation on image sequences for an amputee subject, we demonstrate that the classifier is able to discern three important hand motions with an accuracy of 93.33% accuracy, 91–100% precision and 80–100% recall rate. We anticipate that ultrasound imaging based methods will address some limitations of conventional myoelectric sensing, while adding advantages inherent to ultrasound imaging.
Obesity paradox in advanced liver disease: obesity is associated with lower mortality in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS To investigate how obesity impacts inpatient mortality, length of stay (LOS) and costs in patients with cirrhosis. Obesity is a growing epidemic associated with multiple co-morbidities, increased morbidity, and a significant economic burden on healthcare. Despite the overall harmful impact of obesity, the 'obesity paradox' has been described as decreased mortality among obese vs non-obese patients in various chronic medical conditions. METHODS Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for 2012, which contains data from 44 states and 4378 hospitals. Data from all cases with primary, secondary or tertiary discharge diagnosis of cirrhosis identified by International Classification of Diseases-9 code 571.2, 571.5 571.6 were included. Primary outcomes included inpatient mortality, LOS, and hospital charges. Obesity as a predictor of mortality was defined by a predetermined obesity co-morbidity variable. RESULTS A total of 32,605 patients were included. Crude mortality was lower for obese cirrhotic patients (2.7% vs 3.5%, P = 0.02) than for non-obese cirrhotic patients. In contrast, median LOS was longer (4 vs 3 days, P < 0.001) and median hospital charges were higher for obese cirrhotic patients ($26 803 vs $23 447, P < 0.001) In multivariate logistic regression, obesity was associated with a lower risk of inpatient mortality (OR=0.73, 95%CI: 0.55-0.95, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS In the acute care setting, obese patients with cirrhosis have lower mortality than non-obese patients with cirrhosis, longer hospitalizations and higher healthcare cost, providing new evidence for the obesity paradox in cirrhosis. Obese cirrhotic patients are more likely to have enhanced nutritional reserve which may play a role in survival during acute illness.
Investigation on the status of detection and treatment in schistosomiasis endemic area of Hubei

Objective To understand the situation of detection and treatment of praziquantel in schistosomiasis endemic area,and provide basis for establishing more effective control program.Methods Indirect hemagglutination assay(IHA)was used to detect schistosomiasis infection among patients aged from 6 to 65 in six villages in schistosomiasis endemic area.Positive patients were treated with praziquantel.Positive cases were treated with praziquantel.Questionnaire and discussion methods were used to understand the situation of diagnosis and treatment.Results The problem of missed diagnosis and treatment was quite serious in these six villages,it was 42.67% and 17.73% respectively.The majority of the missed diagnosis were the Migrant workers(97.09%),illness and pregnancy ranked the second,2.91%.The reason of the missed treatment was illness and pregnancy,76.55%,followed by refuse-treatment,23.45%.Praziquantel-abuse was also common.Conclusions The inspection and quality control for the diagnosis and treatment in schistosomiasis endemic area should be promoted,the detection-and treatment-rate should be enhanced.
Histone deacetylation contributes to low extracellular superoxide dismutase expression in human idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and histone acetylation, regulate gene expression in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). These mechanisms can modulate expression of ...
Renal Cell Cancer Tumor Thrombi Causing a Massive Pulmonary Embolus in A 34-Year-Old Man

We describe a 34-year-old man who survived a massive pulmonary embolus caused by renal cell cancer tumor emboli. The literature and clinical presentation are discussed.
DNA Repair Dysregulation in Cancer: From Molecular Mechanisms to Synthetic Lethal Opportunities

Targeted cancer therapies have excellent potential for increasing long-term patient survival while minimizing short- and long-term side effects of therapy including neurological problems and secondary cancers. DNA repair systems suppress genome instability that drives the acquisition of tumorigenic mutations. Most cancer therapeutics cause DNA damage, yet despite having DNA repair defects, tumors often display resistance to therapy because redundant repair pathways can process DNA damage efficiently. By targeting the redundant repair pathways, tumors can be sensitized to endogenous and/or exogenous DNA damage, described as synthetic lethality or synthetic sensitivity. There have been notable successes in applying synthetic lethal and sensitive approaches to treat cancer, but challenges remain as tumors can acquire resistance due to their rapid evolution driven by ongoing genome instability. It is important to improve our understanding of DNA repair pathways to better exploit tumor weaknesses imparted by DNA repair defects.
Experimental Insights into the Nanostructure of the Cores of Topological Defects in Liquid Crystals

The nanoscopic structure of the cores of topological defects in anisotropic condensed matter is an unresolved issue, although a number of theoretical predictions have been reported. In the experimental study reported in this Letter, we template the assembly of amphiphilic molecules from the cores of defects in liquid crystals and thereby provide the first experimental evidence that the cores of singular defects that appear optically to be points (with strength m=+1) are nanometer-sized closed-loop, disclination lines. We also analyze this result in the context of a model that describes the influence of amphiphilic assemblies on the free energy and stability of the defects. Overall, our experimental results and theoretical predictions reveal that the cores of defects with opposite strengths (e.g., m=+1 vs m=-1) differ in ways that profoundly influence processes of molecular self-assembly.
Loss of control over eating before and during early pregnancy among community women with overweight and obesity.

Objective This study examined the prevalence of and changes in loss of control over eating (LOC) among pregnant women with overweight/obesity, along with associations between LOC and depressive symptoms and stress. Method Community women (N = 200; body mass index ≥ 25; 12–20 weeks gestation) reported LOC before and during early pregnancy using the Eating Disorder Examination, which was adapted for administration in pregnancy. Women self-reported depressive symptoms and stress during early pregnancy. Results Twenty-eight percent (n = 56) of women reported LOC before or during early pregnancy: 14.5% (n = 29) reported LOC incidence during early pregnancy, 9.5% (n = 19) reported LOC persistence from prepregnancy to early pregnancy, and 4.0% (n = 8) reported LOC prepregnancy only. Women with LOC reported more depressive symptoms and stress than did those without. Women with LOC persistence reported clinically significant depressive symptoms and elevated stress. Levels of depressive symptoms and stress differed between women with LOC persistence and those without LOC (ps < 0.05). Discussion LOC during pregnancy was prevalent and associated with distress, particularly when present before and during pregnancy. Among women with LOC, few reported remission, but one-half reported onset during early pregnancy. Longitudinal studies are needed among mothers with overweight/obesity to identify patterns of LOC throughout pregnancy and how LOC affects perinatal outcomes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.(Int J Eat Disord 2017; 50:582–586)
Self Renewal and Proliferative Signals in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment Promote Homeostatic Peripheral Expansion of Donor-Derived T Cell Subsets Following Stem Cell Transplantation.

Abstract The bone marrow (BM), in addition to its role in providing hematopoietic stem cell support, is becoming increasingly recognized as a significant reservoir for T cells. Recent data have shown the BM to be the predominant site for homeostatic peripheral expansion (HPE). Constitutive HPE is a mechanism which allows maintenance of T cell numbers, while lymphopenia-induced HPE restores T cell numbers following T cell-depleting measures such as myelosuppression. While the role of BM in constitutive HPE in non-irradiated mice has been well documented, little is known of the role of BM in HPE following myeloablation. In the present study, we examined the contribution of BM to lymphopenia-induced HPE following myeloablative radiation conditioning and HSC transplantation, and documented the kinetics of expansion of donor-derived T cell subsets in the irradiated marrow and spleen. To this end, C57BL/6 and BoyJ congenic mice, differing in CD45 allelic expression, were used to track donor-derived T cell subsets using 8 color flow cytometry 5 days after transplantation of 10–20 × 10e6 low density BM cells (non-T cell depleted) into lethally-irradiated recipients (950cGy). At the time of analysis (d5 post transplant) the percentage of total donor cells in BM was approximately 20%, and 10% in the spleen. Of interest, an enhanced migration of CD8+ cells to BM was observed, increasing from 3±0.6% in steady state marrow to 8±3.3% of donor cells in transplanted mice. While only 10.1±1.0% of CD8+ cells in steady state BM exhibited a central memory phenotype (TCM, CD44hi, CD45RBhi, CD62Lhi), this percentage increased to 90±2.7% of donor CD8+ cells in day 5 transplanted BM (p
An Enantiotropic Disorder–Partial Order Solid-State Transformation in a Molecular Solid Involving a Phase with Z′ = 12

A structural study of the complex aminated stereotriads [(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy]-4-ethynyl-4-(1-fluorohexyl)-1,2,3-oxathiazocane-2,2-dione (1) and its reduced analogue [(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy]-4-ethenyl-4-(1-fluorohexyl)-1,2,3-oxathiazocane-2,2-dione (2) revealed a k12-type second-order phase transition in 1 and phase stability of 2 over the temperature range 100–298 K. The observed phase change in 1 has been linked to the partial ordering of the extensive positional disorder of the high temperature phase upon cooling as revealed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The ordering breaks the translational symmetry, introduces differences in the molecular volumes of the packed species, and results in a low-temperature crystal structure with Z′ = 12. The in situ powder X-ray diffraction studies suggest that the transition occurs between 237 and 180 K upon cooling, but complete amorphization in the range of 244–274 K during heating complicated the assignment of the transition temperature. The obser...
Neue Ergebnisse zur Rolle der Chemotherapie beim Prostatakarzinom

Weniger als 10%–20% der Patienten mit fortgeschrittenem Adenokarzinom der Prostata profitieren von einer Chemotherapie, und eine vollstandige Remission (CR) wird durch diese Therapie nicht erreicht. Diese Zahlen verdeutlichen die eingeschrankte Wirksamkeit einer Zytostase bei diesem Tumor. Randomisierte Phase- III-Studien zeigten bei Patienten, die auf eine Chemotherapie ansprachen, keine signifikant hohere Uberlebensdauer.
Designing Firms for Knowledge Acquisition and Absorptive Capacity

To survive, firms must acquire innovation-relevant knowledge from their environment. In spite of the importance of knowledge acquisition to the firm, the organization design field is without either an elaboration of the multiple processes through which firms acquire such knowledge or a field-research grounded set of design guidelines concerning organizational practices likely to result in timely and reliable knowledge acquisition. This chapter describes in detail six processes firms commonly use to acquire technical knowledge and, drawing on literatures in technology management, knowledge management, and human resources management, it further describes field-research based practices that enable firms to make these processes effective. The chapter content contributes to the literatures on organization design, organizational learning, and absorptive capacity.
Erythropoietin and intrarenal oxygenation in hypercapnic versus normocapnic hypoxemia.

That the kidney plays the major role in production or activation of erythropoietin (Ep) in adult mammals has been well established through a variety of methods (Krantz and Jacobson, 1970). Although a decrease in intrarenal tissue O2 availability (AO2) has been suggested as the stimulus for Ep production, no measurements of this parameter in Ep studies have been done to date.
Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants With Warfarin in the Morbidly Obese Population With Atrial Fibrillation

Background: The International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis recommends avoiding direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in morbidly obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) >40 kg/m2 or weigh...
Disseminated pulmonary histoplasmosis in immunocompetent patients: a common epidemiological exposure

We describe the initial presentation, diagnostic work-up and treatment of three adult immunocompetent men who presented within a short time frame of each other to an academic medical centre with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Their presentation was found to be secondary to a large inoculum of histoplasmosis from remodelling a building with bat droppings infestation. We discuss the pathophysiology of histoplasmosis and highlight the importance of exposure history in patients with acute respiratory failure and why patients with the occupational risk of exposure to fungal inoculum should wear protective respirator gear.
Voltammetric Study of Conductive Planar Assemblies of Geobacter Nanowire Pilins Unmasks Their Ability to Bind and Mineralize Divalent Cobalt

Geobacter bacteria assemble a helical peptide of the Type IVa pilin subclass as conductive pili decorated with metal binding and reduction sites. We used recombinant techniques to synthesize thiolated pilin derivatives and self-assembled them on gold electrodes as a monolayer that concentrated the metal traps at the liquid interface. Cyclic and step potential voltammetry demonstrated the conductivity of the pilin films and their ability to bind and reductively precipitate divalent cobalt (Co2+) in a diffusion-controlled reaction characterized by fast binding kinetics, efficient charge transfer, and three-dimensional nanoparticle growth at discreet sites. Furthermore, cobalt oxidation at the pilin film was slower than on bare gold, consistent with a peptide optimized for metal immobilization. These properties make recombinant pilins attractive building blocks for the synthesis of novel biomaterials for the immobilization of toxic cationic metals that, like Co2+, are sparingly soluble and, thus, less mobile and bioavailable as reduced species.
Sensory Processing and Maladaptive Behavior: Profiles Within the Down Syndrome Phenotype.

Aim: Sensory processing impairments are well characterized in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism, and have been associated with maladaptive behaviors. However, ...
Full-Field Crystal Plasticity Modeling of \( \mathbf{\{ 1\,0\,\overline{1}\, 2\}} \) Twin Nucleation

Historically, the ability of crystal plasticity to incorporate the Schmid’s law at each integration point has been a powerful tool to simulate and predict slip-induced localization at the single and polycrystal levels. Unfortunately, this remarkable capability has not been replicated for materials where twinning becomes a noticeable deformation mechanism. The challenge resides mainly in the biased regional lattice transformation associated with twin formation in defiance of its obedience to threshold stress. Inspired by results from micromechanics, digital image correlation, and molecular dynamics, we developed an explicit twinning nucleation criterion based on hydrostatic stress gradient and volume fraction of twin inside a grain. Characteristic twin spacing parameter is used as a function of twin height to determine site-specific nucleation points in the case of multiple twins. This approach offered a good reproduction of the microstructure evolution and autocatalysis phenomenon as affected by twinning in a tricrystal system.
Geographical and seasonal variation in water hemlock (Cicuta maculata) toxins

Abstract Water hemlock (Cicuta spp.) plants are typically found in wet areas and are toxic to all species of livestock. The toxic components in water hemlock are C17 polyacetylenes, with cicutoxin being the most studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the variation in cicutoxin and total C17 polyacetylene compounds in water hemlock populations across western North America. Cicutoxin and total C17 polyacetylene concentrations varied among the six collection locations and among plant parts. Tubers contained the highest cicutoxin and total C17 polyacetylene concentrations of all plant parts. Green seeds contained the second most abundant total C17 polyacetylene concentrations. Total C17 polyacetylene and cicutoxin concentrations were also compared in different plant parts at several different phenological stages over the growing season. Cicutoxin and total C17 polyacetylene concentrations in the tubers increased until the green seed stage whereupon the concentrations decreased as the seeds matured and the plant began to senesce. Concentrations of secondary compounds in the stems were consistent with the optimal defense theory in which secondary compounds were higher in stems in earlier development stages compared to later stages and concentrations in seeds were higher than other above ground parts. The toxic compounds are found in all plant parts, with tubers posing the most significant risk of livestock poisoning. Results presented in this study suggest that the toxic risk to livestock likely does not differ between water hemlock (Cicuta maculata) populations across western North America under similar circumstances of ingestion.
Characteristics and outcomes of patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection who suffered sudden cardiac arrest

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) can cause life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, but the characteristics and outcomes of this population are not well characterized. We sought to determine the characteristics and outcomes of patients with SCAD who suffered sudden cardiac arrest, whether treated with or without an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with SCAD between 2006 and 2016. Eleven of 208 SCAD patients suffered sudden cardiac arrest (5.3%). Those who suffered cardiac arrest were more likely to have pregnancy-associated SCAD (27.3% vs 7.1%, p = 0.018). They were more likely to have left main (18.2% vs 1.0%, p = 0.01) or proximal coronary vessel involvement (36.4% vs 8.1%, p = 0.002), and with left ventricular ejection fraction of < 50% (45.5% vs 13.2%, p = 0.013). Percutaneous coronary intervention was more commonly performed in patients who suffered cardiac arrest (54.6% vs 8.6%, p < 0.001). Left main or proximal LAD involvement increased the odds of cardiac arrest by over 6-fold (OR 6.2, 95% CI 1.2–32.9, p = 0.03). Eight of the 11 patients suffered VT/VF arrest, of which one was treated with an ICD and one with a wearable cardioverter-defibrillator. Of these, no shocks were reported at follow-up and no ventricular arrhythmic events were reported in those not receiving defibrillator treatment. Sudden cardiac arrest in SCAD patients is associated with left main or proximal coronary lesions. Secondary prevention ICD did not show benefit in this cohort. Future larger studies are needed to determine the role of ICD therapy in SCAD patients who suffer cardiac arrest.
Single Ventricular Assist Device Support for the Failing Bidirectional Glenn Patient

Background Given poor outcomes, strategies to improve ventricular assist devices (VADs) for single-ventricle patients with bidirectional Glenn (BDG) palliation are needed. Methods This retrospective review describes an institutional experience with VAD support for patients with BDG from April 2011 to January 2019. Surgical strategies, complications, and causes of death are described. Survival to heart transplantation for various strategies are compared. Results A total of 7 patients with BDG (weights, 5.6 to 28.8 kg; ages, 7 months to 11 years) underwent VAD implantation. Three patients underwent implantation of Berlin Heart EXCOR devices (Berlin Heart, Inc, Spring, TX), 2 had HeartWare HVADs (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) implanted, and 2 patients underwent implantation of paracorporeal continuous flow devices. Four patients underwent ventricular inflow cannulation, and 3 underwent atrial inflow cannulation. At the time of VAD implantation, the BDG was left intact in 3 patients, taken down in 3 patients, and created de novo in 1 patient. Over a total of 420 VAD support days, 2 patients survived to heart transplantation, 1 patient with HeartWare ventricular cannulation and intact BDG (after 174 days) and another with Berlin Heart atrial cannulation and BDG take-down (after 72 days). There were 3 deaths within 2 weeks of VAD implantation (2 from respiratory failure, 1 from infection) and 2 deaths after 30 days as a result of strokes. Conclusions The surgical strategy and postoperative management of VAD with BDG are still evolving. Successful support can be achieved with (1) both pulsatile and continuous flow pumps, (2) atrial or ventricular cannulation, and (3) with or without BDG take-down. Surgical strategy should be determined by individual patient anatomy, physiology, and condition.
Inducing the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into cardiomyocytes by vitamin C-hanging drop method

Objective Using the vitamin C as inducers and hanging drop method to form embryoid bodies to induce the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into cardiomyocytes in vitro and detecting its differentiation efficiency.Searching for the optimal concentration of vitamin C for this method.Methods Mouse embryonic stem cells were recovered,passaged,digested,centrifuged,suspended and form embryoid bodies by hanging drop method.The embryoid bodies were induced by differentiation medium containing various concentration of vitamin C (1 × 10-3,1 × 10-4,1 × 10-5,1 × 10-6 mol/L).Control group was not treated by inducer.The number of beating embryoid bodies were calculated.Staining the specific marker cardiac Troponin T (cTnT) of cardiomyocytes by immunofluorescence; Detecting the electrophysiological function of cardiomyocytes by patch clamp experiment.Results Widespread spontaneous beating cardiomyocytes was typically observed by 12 d after differentiation.The optimal concentration of vitamin C to promote the cardiac differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) was 1 × 10-4 mol/L,and the percent of beating colonies was 81.25％,significantly higher than 12.50％ of the control group.Beating cardiomyocytes were positive to cTnT staining; Spontaneous action potential of beating cardiomyocytes was detected.Conclusion The optimal concentration of vitamin C (1 × 10-4 mol/L) could significantly promote the cardiac differentiation of mESC by hanging drop method in vitro. Key words: Vitamin C ; Mouse embryonic stem cells ; Differentiation; Cardiomyocytes ; Hanging drop method