HisVA: A Visual Analytics System for Studying History.

Studying history involves many difficult tasks. Examples include searching for proper data in a large event space, understanding stories of historical events by time and space, and finding relationships among events that may not be apparent. Instructors who extensively use well-organized and well-argued materials (e.g., textbooks and online resources) can lead students to a narrow perspective in understanding history and prevent spontaneous investigation of historical events, with the students asking their own questions. In this article, we proposed HisVA, a visual analytics system that allows the efficient exploration of historical events from Wikipedia using three views: event, map, and resource. HisVA provides an effective event exploration space, where users can investigate relationships among historical events by reviewing and linking them in terms of space and time. To evaluate our system, we present two usage scenarios, a user study with a qualitative analysis of user exploration strategies, and in-class deployment results.

Effects of menopausal hormone therapy on ambulatory blood pressure and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal Korean women with grade 1 hypertension: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Estrogen therapy in early menopausal women decreases the risk of coronary heart disease and parenteral, but not oral, estrogen is reported to reduce blood pressure (BP). Progestogens are typically added to estrogens to prevent unopposed endometrial stimulation. The effects of progestogen on BP have been less well studied to date. This study was conducted to explore the impacts of micronized progesterone (MP4) combined with percutaneous estradiol gel (PEG) on hemodynamics in postmenopausal Korean women with grade 1 hypertension. METHODS: Fifty-two postmenopausal women (aged 49-75 years) with systolic BP (SBP) of 140-160 mmHg or diastolic BP (DBP) of 90-100 mmHg were randomly assigned for 12 weeks to placebo (n = 16), estrogen therapy (ET) (n = 19) with PEG (0.1 %, 1 g./d), or estrogen + progestogen therapy (EPT, n = 17) with PEG and MP4 (100 mg/d). The primary endpoint was ambulatory BP and the secondary endpoints were arterial stiffness as brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV) and aortic parameters on applanation tonometry. RESULTS: One woman in the ET group dropped out, so 51 participants were finally analyzed. Outcome measures for ambulatory BP and arterial stiffness were not different between groups. Within-group comparisons showed that EPT significantly decreased daytime heart rate and baPWV: the changes from baseline (mean ± standard deviation) were - 2.5 ± 5.7 bpm (P = 0.03) and - 0.6 ± 1.4 m/s (P = 0.04), respectively. After adjusting for baseline, linear regression analysis revealed a significant difference in the relationship between baseline and 12-week baPWV among groups (P = 0.02). The relationship was significantly different between placebo and ET (P = 0.03) and EPT (P = 0.01), respectively, but not between ET and EPT. Additionally, pooled results of active treatments disclosed that SBP, DBP, PWV, and augmentation index at the aorta were significantly reduced relative to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in ambulatory BP between ET and EPT in postmenopausal Korean women with grade 1 hypertension. Further, ET and EPT similarly decreased baPWV from baseline as compared with placebo. MP4 might not adversely influence estrogen effects on ambulatory BP and arterial stiffness. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Registry, KCT0005405, Registered 22 September 2020 - Retrospectively registered, https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do?all_type=Y&search_page=L&pageSize=10&page=1&seq=17608&search_lang=E .

The Efficacy of Long-Term Estrogen Replacement Therapy in Turner Syndrome Women with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of long-term estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in uterine development and bone mineral density (BMD) of Turner syndrome (TS) women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Thirty-seven TS women grouped according to ovarian function status: TS women with POI (n = 32), aged 11-26 years, and those with intact ovarian function (IOF; n = 5), aged 13-17 years. TS women with POI underwent ERT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in uterine length, anterior-posterior (AP) fundal diameter of the uterus, and BMD were assessed. Statistical methods included Mann-Whitney U test and paired t test. RESULTS: In TS women with POI, uterine length, AP fundal diameter, and BMD significantly increased after ERT (P < .001). TS women with POI were subdivided into classic (n = 11) and variant (n = 21) types, and there were no significant differences in uterine development and BMD according to types of chromosome. After receiving ERT, AP fundal diameter was significantly longer in classic TS women (P = .034) compared with those with variant type. CONCLUSION: Long-term ERT increased uterine length (before: 4.4 cm; after: 7.2 cm) and AP fundal diameter (before: 0.9 cm; after: 2.4 cm), and improved BMD in TS women with POI. After ERT, in TS women with POI, uterine length, BMD at lumbar 2-4 and femoral neck were similar to those of TS women with IOF. Therefore, TS women with POI can catch up to those with IOF by receiving ERT.

Association of BRCA Mutations and Anti-müllerian Hormone Level in Young Breast Cancer Patients.

Background: Several preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that BRCA-mutation carriers may have decreased ovarian reserve. However, data in this area are limited and inconsistent, especially in young breast cancer patients. Objective: This study evaluated the association between BRCA mutation status and serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level in young, reproductive-aged patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Patients ≤ 40 years of age with breast cancer and who had known BRCA status and baseline serum AMH level at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, were considered for inclusion. A total of 52 BRCA mutation carriers (27 BRCA1 and 25 BRCA2) and 264 non-carriers were selected for analyses. The serum level of AMH was compared according to presence of a BRCA mutation, and linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between BRCA mutation and serum AMH level. Results: No difference was found in clinical characteristics between BRCA-mutation carriers and non-carriers. Subjects with any BRCA mutation had a significantly lower median AMH than those without a mutation (2.60 vs. 3.85 ng/mL, 32% reduction, P = 0.004). Linear regression analysis showed a significant negative association between BRCA mutation and AMH level. In addition, logistic regression demonstrated non-significantly increased odds of mutation carriers having AMH < 1.2 ng/mL. However, no difference was found between BRCA1/2 mutations. Conclusions: Breast cancer patients with BRCA mutation have significantly lower serum AMH level. Fertility preservation should be considered more aggressively in young breast cancer patients with BRCA mutation.

Effects of Adding Intravenous Pamidronate to Ongoing Menopausal Hormone Therapy in Postmenopausal Korean Women with Low Bone Mineral Density.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the effects of adding intravenous pamidronate to ongoing menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal Korean women with low BMD. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 74 postmenopausal women who received MHT for at least 1 year and had a BMD T-score of less than -2.0. Maintaining the same MHT regimen, these women were divided into two groups: oral placebo group (n = 44) and a pamidronate group of patients with gastrointestinal discomfort (n = 30) who received 15-30 mg pamidronate intravenously every 3-12 months. BMD was reviewed at 12-month follow-up. Bone resorption markers in both groups, urinary deoxypyridinoline levels in the placebo group, and serum N-telopeptide of type I collagen in the pamidronate group were assessed at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: At baseline, the body mass index (BMI), duration of previous MHT, and femur neck (FN) BMD differed between the groups. Within-group analysis revealed that BMD of the lumbar spine (LS) and total hip (TH) significantly increased in the placebo group, whereas those of the LS, FN, and TH increased in the pamidronate group. The increase in BMD of LS was significantly greater in the pamidronate group, after adjusting for BMI and duration of previous MHT (mean change: 3.7% vs. 6.2%; P < 0.001). There were no changes in bone resorption markers in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Adding intravenous pamidronate to ongoing MHT for 12 months might increase LS BMD in postmenopausal Korean women with low BMD.

Prevalence of vaginal microorganisms among pregnant women according to trimester and association with preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of abnormal vaginal microorganisms in pregnant women according to trimester, and to determine whether the presence of abnormal vaginal colonization is associated with higher risk of miscarriage or preterm delivery. Furthermore, we analyzed delivery outcomes according to individual microorganism species. METHODS: We included pregnant women who underwent vaginal culture during routine prenatal check-up between January 2011 and June 2016. We compared delivery outcomes according to the presence or absence of abnormal vaginal flora grouped by trimester. RESULTS: This study included 593 singleton pregnancies. We classified participants into 3 groups, according to the trimester in which vaginal culture was performed; 1st trimester (n=221), 2nd trimester (n=138), and 3rd trimester (n=234). Abnormal vaginal colonization rate significantly decreased with advancing trimester of pregnancy (21.7% for 1st, 21.0% for 2nd, 14.5% for 3rd; P=0.048). Abnormal vaginal colonization detected in the 2nd trimester but not in 1st trimester was associated with a significant increase in preterm delivery before 28 weeks of gestation (6.9% vs. 0%; P=0.006). Among abnormal vaginal flora isolated in the 2nd trimester, the presence of Klebsiella pneumonia was identified as significant microorganism associated with preterm delivery before 28 weeks of gestation (50% vs. 0.7% for K. pneumonia; P=0.029). CONCLUSION: There is an association between abnormal vaginal colonization detected in the 2nd trimester and preterm delivery before 28 weeks. K. pneumonia has been identified as the likely causative microorganisms.

Trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid directly enhances the chemotactic activity of porcine peripheral blood polymorphonuclear neutrophillic leukocytes by activating F-actin polymerization in vitro.

Trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (t10c12-CLA) can reportedly alter the immune responses of phagocytes; however, it is unknown whether t10c12-CLA has a direct effect on the chemotaxis of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear neutrophillic leukocytes (PMNs). Here, we examined the effect of t10c12-CLA on the chemotaxis of porcine PMNs. The chemotactic response of porcine naïve PMNs was increased by porcine recombinant (pr) interleukin (IL)-8. Treatment with t10c12-CLA increased the chemotactic activity of porcine PMNs to IL-8 compared to porcine naïve PMNs, and enhanced their total cellular F-actin level. This increased chemotactic activity of t10c12-CLA-treated porcine PMNs was inhibited by cytochalasin D, an F-actin polymerization inhibitor. These results suggest that t10c12-CLA directly upregulates the chemotaxis of porcine PMNs, and that this effect may be associated with increased actin polymerization.

Ketamine inhibits the phagocytic responses of canine peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells through the upregulation of prostaglandin E2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro.

Ketamine has been reported to decrease the immune functions of phagocytes. Previously, we observed that the phagocytic capacity and oxidative burst activity (OBA) of canine peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) were inhibited by the supernatant from canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) cultures treated with ketamine. In the present study, we examined whether in vitro treatment with ketamine modulates prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in PBMCs. Treatment with ketamine or with ketamine-treated PBMCs culture supernatant simultaneously decreased the phagocytic capacity and OBA of PMNs. Ketamine increased PGE(2) production by PBMCs. Recombinant PGE(2) decreased the phagocytic capacity and OBA of PMNs. AH-6809, an E-prostanoid 2 (EP2) antagonist, restored the phagocytic capacity and OBA of PMNs, decreased by either the ketamine-treated PBMCs culture supernatant or recombinant PGE(2). These results suggest that ketamine inhibits the phagocytic responses of canine PMNs, and that this results from the increase in PGE(2) produced by canine PBMCs.