Lower Classifications Research Articles

ERH overexpression is associated with decreased cell migration and invasion and a good prognosis in gastric cancer.

BackgroundThe enhancer of rudimentary homolog (ERH) protein is implicated in transcriptional regulation, cell cycle progression, and malignancy. We previously conducted a proteomics analysis using gastric cancer (GC) tissues and identified ERH as a biomarker candidate. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ERH may be useful as a prognostic marker for GC.MethodsSurgically resected GC tissue specimens were obtained from 327 patients who underwent gastrectomy at Gyeongsang National University Hospital. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to validate ERH as a prognostic marker in these tissues. SNU601 and MKN74 cells with siRNA-mediated knockdown of ERH expression and ERH-overexpressing SNU601 and MKN74 knock-in cells were used for analysis of ERH function.ResultsERH was overexpressed in stomach cancer tissues compared with normal tissues according to proteomics analysis (n=29, P<0.01) of patient samples. Based on IHC, patients with tumors overexpressing ERH had lower T stage and lower TNM stage classifications, lower cancer recurrence rates and longer survival times than did patients with tumors showing low expression of ERH (P=0.04). In vitro, forced expression of ERH significantly decreased GC cell migration and invasion, and depletion of ERH triggered GC cell migration and invasion but had no effect on proliferation in vitro.ConclusionsThe findings from the present study show that ERH is associated with decreased cancer cell migration and invasion, suggesting that overexpression of ERH may serve as a marker of good prognosis for patients with GC.

High-risk features in primary versus secondary enucleated globes with advanced retinoblastoma: a retrospective histopathological study.

The management of bilateral advanced retinoblastoma (RB) cases is challenging with attempts to use neoadjuvant therapy salvaging of one of the globes. Our aim in this study was to demonstrate the effect of this primary therapy on the histopathological features and risk factors in secondary enucleated compared to primarily enucleated globes with groups D and E RB. We retrospectively reviewed all enucleated globes with advanced RB received in the pathology laboratories over a period of 5years. Patients were divided into two groups: one with primary enucleations and another with at least one secondary enucleated globe, and their demographic and clinical data were analyzed. The enucleated globes in the two groups were analyzed to compare the general histopathological features including tumor seeding, size, differentiation, growth pattern, mitotic figures, and focality. More importantly, high-risk features: choroidal invasion, optic nerve (ON) invasion, iris/anterior chamber invasion, ciliary body invasion, and scleral and extra-scleral extension, as well as the pathological classification of the tumor (pT) according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer 7th edition were also compared between the two groups. We had a total of 106 enucleated globes (78 primary and 28 secondary enucleations) from 99 patients with advanced RB (73 patients with primarily and 26 with secondarily enucleated globes). Demographic and clinical profiles of patients were similar in both, but the mean interval from presentation to enucleation was significantly longer in the secondary enucleations (P = 0.015). Rare/occasional mitotic figures were observed in secondary enucleations using multivariate analysis (P = 0.003). Primarily enucleated globes had higher risk of tumor seeding (P = 0.020), post-laminar/surgical margin ON invasion (P = 0.001), and massive choroidal invasion (P = 0.028). Half of the secondary enucleated globes had tumors confined to the globes without invasion (pT1) and statistically significant lower tumor classifications (pT1 or pT2a) compared to primary enucleations (P =0.001). However, 18% of the secondarily enucleated globes in 3 patients had unfavorable outcome with RB-related mortality after a period of 1-4years. Secondary enucleated globes with advanced RB show favorable histopathological findings mainly less mitosis. These eyes have significantly lower chance for harboring choroidal and ON invasion, thus mostly classified as pT1 or pT2a when compared to primarily enucleated globes. The decision for secondary enucleation was observed to be significantly delayed (8.0months ± 9.8). Prompt decision for needed enucleation based on the response to primary treatment and careful histopathological examination of enucleated globes are essential to prevent disease-related mortality.

Physiological Demand Of Ice Hockey Officiating Across Competition Levels And Officiating Systems

Ice hockey is an intense sport that requires a combination of anaerobic power and aerobic capacity. Traditionally, research has focused on the athletes, but on-ice officials are also subjected to a large physical demand during games. Across all hockey competition age levels, officials serve in various configurations (two-, three-, and four-official systems) and perform roles as a referee (REF) or linesman (LIN). Different systems and roles lead to varying physiological demands and responsibilities. Currently, no previous study has examined the demand placed on hockey officials across various competition levels. PURPOSE: To examine the demand on hockey officials across competition levels, officiating systems, and officiating roles. METHODS: Ice hockey officials (n = 17, 37.7 ± 9.3 yr, 175.6 ± 4.9 cm, 86.1 ± 9.1 kg) were monitored during USA Hockey youth games, and collegiate hockey games. Chest-worn heart rate monitors with built-in accelerometry were used to record heart rate (HR), caloric expenditure (CE), speed, and distance during hockey games. Lower age classifications utilize a two-official system, while higher-level games utilize three officials (one REF, two LIN). The collegiate games in this study all utilized a four-official system (two REF, two LIN). Analyses of variance and t-tests were used to detect significant differences across competition levels, systems, and roles. Alpha of 0.05, 2-sided was set a priori as a significance level. RESULTS: Significant differences were detected across competition levels for distance, training load, and CE (p ≤ .001). Mean values for each variable increased as competition level increased. Across officiating systems, distance, training load, and CE significantly increased (p ≤ .010) from two- to three-official systems. However, the four-official system had significantly lower values for average HR and CE (p ≤ .030). CONCLUSION: Hockey officiating is physiologically demanding and impacted by competition level and systems. Across competition levels, no significant differences were found for calories/hour (p = .498), indicating a similar rate of demand on officials in all levels of play. Demands on REF are greater in three-official systems compared to four-official systems, where demands are similar between REF and LIN, justifying its use in higher-level games.

Partial-depth paved shoulder effect on part-time shoulder use pavement bearing capacity

In areas of high population density, widening all classifications of roadways for growing traffic volumes becomes increasingly complex and expensive to complete. For major highways in Europe and the United States (US), use of the shoulder as a part-time lane is becoming progressively common and may be a solution to growing traffic on lower roadway classifications. This approach is known as hard shoulder running internationally and part-time shoulder use (PTSU) in the US. For interstates or other major highways, the shoulder design is a full-depth paved shoulder, the same pavement cross-section as the mainline lanes, and is structurally sound. For arterials and collectors, the shoulder design commonly has a different pavement cross-section from the mainline lanes, a partial-depth paved shoulder design. This study focused on evaluating the design strength of typical partial-depth paved shoulder designs in the US for PTSU using the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guidelines for Design of Pavement Structures 1993 design. The study sites were also redesigned according to the AASHTO design methodology to handle the PTSU design traffic volumes. This study found that two of the nine states evaluated could withstand PTSU with minor to no reconstruction.

Tail conditional probabilities to predict academic performance

In this paper, we estimate tail conditional probabilities by incorporating copula models and adopting a Bayesian estimation process for the copula’s parameter. Based on the records of student’s classifications in (a) Mathematics and (b) Natural Sciences/Physics (of the entrance exam to the University of Campinas, from 2013 to 2015), by means of tail conditional probabilities we predict the performance, of the same students, in Calculus I which is a mandatory subject of the undergraduate course of Statistics, and we compare the conditional probabilities year after year. We see that (a), (b) and Calculus I show maximal trivariate correlations in tail events given by classifications which are jointly high/low in the three subjects. We compare the evolution of the tail conditional probabilities from 2013 to 2015 and, according to our results there has been an improvement (from 2013 to 2015) of at most 12%. This improvement being more incisive in the settings with conditional events given by jointly high classifications in comparison with settings with conditional events given by jointly lower classifications.

Upper and Lower Lebesgue Classes of Multivalued Functions of Two Variables

We introduce a functional Lebesgue classification of multivalued mappings and obtain results on the upper and lower Lebesgue classifications of multivalued mappings F: X × Y ⊸ Z for broad classes of spaces X, Y and Z.

Analysis ofUSAWR Wheelmill VO2 Max Testing Between Classes

PURPOSE: Little is known about how elite level training can affect the Maximum Aerobic Capacity (Max VO2) testing for all functional classifications of national wheelchair rugby athletes. The primary purpose of this study was to review existing Max VO2 data between Higher Classification (HC) and Lower Classification (LC) players on the USA Wheelchair Rugby Team (USAWR). METHODS: Data was collected during the April training camp (camp1) and August training camp (camp2) at Lakeshore Foundation during the 2017 season. All athletes followed an individualized high intensity workout plan between camp1 and camp2. Athletes (n = 12) had to perform a graded VO2 max test on a unique Wheelmill ergometer during both camps to be included. Variables tested for significance included absolute VO2 (aVO2), relative VO2 (rVO2), Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER), Heart Rate (HR), Ventilatory Equivalent (VE), and Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE). International Wheelchair Rugby Federation classifications are set by functional ability starting at 0.5 and progress up in 0.5 increments to a max level of 3.5. For this study, classifications were grouped into those whose roles were primarily as a blocker (Class 0.5 – 1.5) and those whose roles were primarily ball handlers (class 2.0 – 3.5). RESULTS: Means for the whole team were tested for significant change between camp1 and camp2, and then between HC and LC using 2-tailed T-test (95% confidence interval). Despite whole team mean aVO2 and mean rVO2 was not significantly changed, whole team mean VE significantly increased from camp1 to camp2 (64.92 L/min + 9.5601, p=0.0146), as did RER (1.0750 + 0.0636, p=0.0387). Significant rVO2 Max changes occurred among LC athletes (17.9300 mL/kg/min + 1.1172, p=0.0246) and with aVO2 Max (1.5000 L/min + 0.0990, p=0.0346), but no significant changes occurred among HC group. CONCLUSION: Analysis results showed significant improvements in maximum achieved VE and RER variables between camp1 and camp2 in elite wheelchair rugby athletes. When separated into LC and HC groups, only LC showed significant improvements in rVO2 and aVO2. This could indicate that elite USAWR training methods are more effectively improving performance in athletes with lower classifications than in their higher classification counterparts.

Recreational visits to marine and coastal environments in England: Where, what, who, why, and when?

Health and economic benefits may accrue from marine and coastal recreation. In England, few national-level descriptive analyses exist which examine predictors of recreation in these environments. Data from seven waves (2009–2016) of a representative survey of the English population (n = 326,756) were analysed to investigate how many recreational visits were made annually to coastal environments in England, which activities were undertaken on these visits, and which demographic, motivational, temporal, and regional factors predict them. Inland environments are presented for comparison. Approximately 271 million recreational visits were made to coastal environments in England annually, the majority involving land-based activities such as walking. Separately, there were around 59 million instances of water-based recreation undertaken on recreational visits (e.g. swimming, water sports). Visits to the coast involving walking were undertaken by a wide spectrum of the population: compared to woodland walks, for instance, coastal walks were more likely to be made by females, older adults, and individuals from lower socioeconomic classifications, suggesting the coast may support reducing activity inequalities. Motivational and temporal variables showed distinct patterns between visits to coastal and inland comparator environments. Regional variations existed too with more visits to coastal environments made by people living in the south-west and north-east compared to London, where more visits were made to urban open spaces. The results provide a reference for current patterns of coastal recreation in England, and could be considered when making policy-level decisions with regard to coastal accessibility and marine plans. Implications for future public health and marine plans are discussed.

CON4EI: Slug Mucosal Irritation (SMI) test method for hazard identification and labelling of serious eye damaging and eye irritating chemicals

Assessment of ocular irritancy is an international regulatory requirement in the safety evaluation of industrial and consumer products. Although many in vitro ocular irritation assays exist, alone they are incapable of fully categorizing chemicals. The objective of CEFIC-LRI-AIMT6-VITO CON4EI (CONsortium for in vitro Eye Irritation testing strategy) project was to develop tiered testing strategies for eye irritation assessment that can lead to complete replacement of the in vivo Draize rabbit eye test (OECD TG 405). A set of 80 reference chemicals was tested with seven test methods, one method was the Slug Mucosal Irritation (SMI) test method. The method measures the amount of mucus produced (MP) during a single 1-hour contact with a 1% and 10% dilution of the chemical. Based on the total MP, a classification (Cat 1, Cat 2, or No Cat) is predicted. The SMI test method correctly identified 65.8% of the Cat 1 chemicals with a specificity of 90.5% (low over-prediction rate for in vivo Cat 2 and No Cat chemicals). Mispredictions were predominantly unidirectional towards lower classifications with 26.7% of the liquids and 40% of the solids being underpredicted. In general, the performance was better for liquids than for solids with respectively 76.5% vs 57.1% (Cat 1), 61.5% vs 50% (Cat 2), and 87.5% vs 85.7% (No Cat) being identified correctly.

Serial clinical and MRI examinations after arthroscopic rotator cuff reconstruction using double-row technique

Rotator cuff reconstruction using arthroscopic double-row technique enables a better repair of the anatomical footprint at the tendon insertion. Objective of this serial study was to illustrate structural and functional results during recovery following double-row reconstruction. Forty-five patients with mid-sized ruptures of the supraspinatus tendon were assessed prospectively and underwent arthroscopic surgery using the double-row technique. Rupture localization, size, form, and extent of retraction were recorded intraoperatively. Clinical and MRI follow-up examinations were carried out for all patients after 6, 12, 26, and 52 weeks. A A standard protocol was used during the follow-up examinations to determine tendon integration, signal changes in the tendon, extent of bone marrow edema near the enclosed absorbable suture anchors, muscle changes. The clinical results were correlated with the MRI appearance. After 26 weeks, the Constant score (CS) showed a highly significant increase for the first time with a value of 78 (p < 0.001). Tendon integration according to Sugaya showed a left shift over time, with higher CS-values for lower Sugaya classifications. Significant improvements in strength were first measured between the 26-week and 52-week follow-ups (9->19/p < 0.001). Highly significant improvement (p < 0.001) of the tendon signal and the fatty infiltration was found in the same time interval. The hypotrophy showed slight improvement, while a highly significant reduction of the bone marrow edema was found between weeks 12 and 26 (p < 0.001). There were no re-ruptures after week 26. The present serial study showed that it took 26 weeks to reach a significant clinical improvement concerning CS. With regard to tendon healing, no further deterioration of the structural results occurred between week 26 and week 52 postoperative. There were slightly but not significant better clinical results according to the the Sugaya classification. However, parameter "strength" was significantly increased between weeks 26 and 52. This was consistent with a significant decrease in the signal intensity at the repaired tendon site, an additional improvement in the fatty infiltration, and the atrophy according to Thomazeau in the same time interval. I.

Degree classification and recent graduates’ ability: Is there any signalling effect?

Research across several countries has shown that degree classification (i.e. the final grade awarded to students successfully completing university) is an important determinant of graduates’ first destination outcome. Graduates leaving university with higher degree classifications have better employment opportunities and a higher likelihood of continuing education relative to those with lower degree classifications. This article investigates whether one of the reasons for this result is that employers and higher education institutions use degree classification as a signalling device for the ability that recent graduates may possess. Given the large number of applicants and the amount of time and resources typically required to assess their skills, employers and higher education institutions may decide to rely on this measure when forming beliefs about recent graduates’ abilities. Using data on two cohorts of recent graduates from a UK university, results suggest that an Upper Second degree classification may have a signalling role.

KS 규격의 큰 키 기준에 따른 한국 성인 여성의 하반신 체형 분류

KS 규격의 큰 키 기준에 따른 한국 성인 여성의 하반신 체형 분류

Correlation Between Elite Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Skills Testing And Future Success In The Sport

INTRODUCTION: Wheelchair basketball practices are built around developing technical and tactical skills required in game situations. To assess performance of these skills, testing protocols have been developed. This allows both player and coach to determine improvements. However, does achieving high scores on skills tests translate to success on the basketball court during competition. PURPOSE: The purpose of this analysis was to determine the relationship between skills test results and performance during competition as determined by the average efficiency scores. METHODS: In April, 2013, 25 female wheelchair basketball players were invited to compete for positions on the 2014 National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Senior Women’s National Team. Skills tests were similar to those used at NWBA/PVA National Wheelchair Basketball Camps. Strength testing assessments were developed by a panel of NWBA Coaches with a history of National and International coaching experience. The results were then correlated with the box scores and player efficiency ratings obtained during the playoffs at the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Women’s World Wheelchair Basketball Championship in Toronto, June, 2014. The USA Women’s team was divided into two groups by classification (players with functional classifications of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 represented Group 1 and players with functional classification of 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 represented Group 2) for analysis. RESULTS: Player efficiency was differentially related to skills tests based on player classification. Among Group 1 players, higher player efficiency ratings during the World Championship games corresponded directly with better non-dominant passing (accuracy r = .95, p = .05; stationary distance r = 1.00, p < .001; moving distance r = 1.00, p < .001). In contrast, higher percentage of free throws was directly related to better player efficiency for the players in Group 2 (r = 1.00, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Findings may represent differential skill sets needed by lower and higher class players. Passing, in particular non-dominant passing skills, may give players with a lower classifications an advantage on the court; whereas, accuracy of free throws (and more opportunity) may be a skill that sets players with higher classification apart.

International comparisons of the associations between objective measures of the built environment and transport-related walking and cycling: IPEN Adult Study.

Mounting evidence documents the importance of urban form for active travel, but international studies could strengthen the evidence. The aim of the study was to document the strength, shape, and generalizability of relations of objectively measured built environment variables with transport-related walking and cycling. This cross-sectional study maximized variation of environments and demographics by including multiple countries and by selecting adult participants living in neighborhoods based on higher and lower classifications of objectively measured walkability and socioeconomic status. Analyses were conducted on 12,181 adults aged 18-66 years, drawn from 14 cities across 10 countries worldwide. Frequency of transport-related walking and cycling over the last seven days was assessed by questionnaire and four objectively measured built environment variables were calculated. Associations of built environment variables with transport-related walking and cycling variables were estimated using generalized additive mixed models, and were tested for curvilinearity and study site moderation. We found positive associations of walking for transport with all the environmental attributes, but also found that the relationships was only linear for land use mix, but not for residential density, intersection density, and the number of parks. Our findings suggest that there may be optimum values in these attributes, beyond which higher densities or number of parks could have minor or even negative impact. Cycling for transport was associated linearly with residential density, intersection density (only for any cycling), and land use mix, but not with the number of parks. Across 14 diverse cities and countries, living in more densely populated areas, having a well-connected street network, more diverse land uses, and having more parks were positively associated with transport-related walking and/or cycling. Except for land-use-mix, all built environment variables had curvilinear relationships with walking, with a plateau in the relationship at higher levels of the scales.

Nepenthe Theory of Defense Mechanism Functioning and Defensive Behavior in African-U.S. People With Replication and Extension to Psychological Africanity (Racial Identity)

Ego mechanisms of defense were studied in a sample of 140 African-U.S. college students using for theoretical approaches Michael Bond’s defense style hierarchy and Daudi Ajani ya Azibo’s nepenthe theory. Each framework was supported in the data. Also, previous findings from an earlier exploratory study were replicated including greater defense style scoring compared to Caucasian norms and association between defense style scores and depression. In addition, this study incorporated measures of normal and abnormal psychological Africanity (racial identity). Defense style scores predicted indices of psychopathologic psychological Africanity (African-U.S. culture‒focused mental disorders). Own-race negation and abjuration indices predicted defense style scores. ANOVAs found highest defense style scores for participants classified as having correct psychological Africanity orientation (highest psychological Africanity/racial identity scores) compared to diffused and incorrect lower classifications. It was concluded that the study of defensive behavior among African-U.S. persons might be tempered by nepenthe theory.

CMR assessment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with restrictive phenotype

Background Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heterogeneous myocardial disorder with a broad spectrum of clinical presentation and morphologic features. Recent reports indicated that some patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy. Comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of the restrictive phenotype in HCM patients has not been fully evaluated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the CMR characteristics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with restrictive phenotype. Methods 19 patients of HCM with obviously restrictive characteristics and 19 patients with non obstructive HCM, matched with age and gender, were collected. The differences in clinical features, CMR morphological characteristics, and the function parameters were retrospectively compared of the two groups. The paired sample t test and X 2 test/Fisher’s exact probability method were used for statistical analysis. Results Restrictive phenotype of patients with HCM have more severe clinical conditions including sustained atrial fibrillation, pericardial effusion, and lower heart function classifications compared with controls; The left and right atrium diameter were 55.79±5.34 mm and 61.33±11.05 mm, which were significantly greater than the controls (p<0.001); The segments with late gadalinum enhancement were 7.68±2.98, which were significantly more than that in controls (5.10 ±2.77,p = 0.008). The left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, the cardiac index, and the left heart ejection fraction of patients with restrictive phenotype were all significantly less than those of the controls. Conclusions Restrictive phenotype is a special subtype of HCM. The CMR features include mild-to-moderate left ventricular hypertrophy, huge atrium, normal or small left ventricular, pericardial effusion and a wide range of late gadalinum enhancement, often with severe clinical symptoms and poor prognosis. MRI has important application value in the diagnosis of the disease.

Histologic and immunohistochemical analysis of the antiatherogenic effects of myocardial bridging in the adult human heart.

Myocardial bridging is a common anatomic variation of the human heart in which an epicardial coronary artery takes an intramural course within the myocardium. Studies have proposed that myocardial bridges offer a "protective effect" from atherosclerosis within the involved coronary artery. We examined 250 formalin-fixed human hearts with gross dissection and histologic and immunohistochemical techniques. The bridged arteries were divided into premyocardial, myocardial, and postmyocardial segments. Atherogenic activity was assessed by comparing proliferative activity (Ki-67), smooth muscle α-actin, and macrophages. In addition, atherosclerotic lesions were carefully categorized according to the Stary classification. The presence of myocardial bridges was confirmed in 92 hearts (36.8%). The most common location of a myocardial bridge was over the anterior interventricular artery in 38 (41.3%) hearts. Overall, the bridged segments demonstrated weaker Ki-67 activity, a decreased number of smooth muscle cells and macrophages, and lower modal Stary classifications for atherosclerosis severity as compared to pre- and postbridge segments of the same coronary artery. Atherosclerotic lesions in vessel sections deep to the myocardial bridges were found to be less developed in contrast to the pre- and postbridge segments of the same coronary arteries. Although the precise mechanism of atherogenic protection is unknown, it has been proposed that compression by the contracting myocardium stimulates the release of anticoagulant and growth factors, which could have a synergistic effect in protecting the endothelium from denudation, inflammation, and resultant atherosclerosis.

Reported Mammographic Density: Film-Screen versus Digital Acquisition

To test the hypothesis that American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) categories for breast density reported by radiologists are lower when digital mammography is used than those reported when film-screen (FS) mammography is used. This study was institutional review board approved and HIPAA compliant. Demographic data, risk factors, and BI-RADS breast density categories were collected from five mammography registries that were part of the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium. Active, passive, or waiver of consent was obtained for all participants. Women aged 40 years and older who underwent at least two screening mammographic examinations less than 36 months apart between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2009, were included. Women with prior breast cancer, augmentation, or use of agents known to affect density were excluded. The main sample included 89 639 women with both FS and digital mammograms. The comparison group included 259 046 women with two FS mammograms and 87 066 women with two digital mammograms. BI-RADS density was cross-tabulated according to the order in which the two types of mammogram were acquired and by the first versus second interpretation. Regardless of acquisition method, the percentage of women with a change in density from one reading to the next was similar. Breast density was lower in 19.8% of the women who underwent FS before digital mammography and 17.1% of those who underwent digital before FS mammography. Similarly, lower density classifications were reported on the basis of the second mammographic examination regardless of acquisition method (15.8%-19.8%). The percentage of agreement between density readings was similar regardless of mammographic types paired (67.3%-71.0%). The study results showed no difference in reported BI-RADS breast density categories according to acquisition method. Reported BI-RADS density categories may be useful in the development of breast cancer risk models in which FS, digital, or both acquisition methods are used.

From “Publish or Perish” to “Grant or Perish”

Although communication program faculty have traditionally not enjoyed large grants for research, administrators are pressuring them to garner external funding. This article examines the success rate of securing external funding that communication administrators reported for their units. Results show that while the pressure has increased on most communication programs, the success rate for getting those grants has not. In addition, support for seeking grants is not growing with the pressure, and there seems to be little difference in support between high research-oriented programs and those in lower Carnegie classifications, with the exception of help from graduate students.

Abstract 122: Circulating CD28- T Cells Are Associated with Histological Features of Carotid Plaque Instability

Background: Circulating CD28- T-cells have been found to be higher in patients with acute coronary syndromes, suggesting a role for these cells in plaque instability. However, the association between circulating CD28- T-cells and carotid plaque instability as assessed by histology/immunohistochemistry has not been investigated. Methods/Results: 40 patients referred for carotid endarterectomy were recruited pre-operatively at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Canada. A blood sample was obtained pre-operatively. Flow cytometry was performed on whole blood using a CD3, CD4, CD28 antibody cocktail (eBioscience, San Diego, United States) and a BD Bioscience (Mississauga, Canada) flow cytometer. Data was acquired as percentage of CD4+CD28- T-cells. The carotid plaque specimen was obtained from the operating room, fixed, decalcified, embedded in paraffin, and sections of 4μm were obtained from the site of maximum stenosis. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and with anti-CD3 (lymphocytes), anti-CD68 (macrophages/foam cells), and von Willebrand Factor (vWF, neovessels, all antibodies from Dako, Burlington, Canada). A vascular pathologist classified the plaques according to American Heart Association (AHA) classifications and graded CD3, CD68, and vWF staining on a semi-quantitative scale. Patients with more advanced lesions (AHA type 5 or 6) had a greater percentage of circulating CD4+CD28- T-cells [2.9% (2.7-5.7)] compared to patients with lower classifications [1.6% (1.0-4.2), P&lt;0.05]. Furthermore, patients with plaques that had ≥10 new vessels per section (feature of plaque instability) had a median of 4.5% [2.8-8.0] CD4+CD28- T-cells whereas patients with &lt;10 new vessels per section had only 2.3% [0.8-5.0] (P&lt;0.05). There were no significant differences when patients were separated according to high/low plaque lymphocytes/macrophages. Conclusion: We have shown that circulating CD28- T-cells are found in greater amounts in patients who have more advanced/unstable carotid plaques as assessed by histology and immunohistochemistry. This may point to a role for CD28- T-cells in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Further studies are currently being carried out to confirm these results.