Primer Seminario Iberoamericano de Cuencas de Antepaís: Andes, Pirineos y Varíscides. Proyecto TRANSCUYO

El presente volumen, que corresponde a los dos primeros números del volumen 32 de ACTA GEOLOGICA HISPANICA, está dedicado a algunos de los aspectos geológicos más importantes de la zona de los Andes Centrales Argentino-Chilenos, y constituye una recopilación de trabajos de diferentes autores americanos y españoles.

Shutterless deposition of phosphorous doped microcrystalline silicon by Cat-CVD

In this paper we present results on phosphorous-doped μc-Si:H by catalytic chemical vapour deposition in a reactor with an internal arrangement that does not include a shutter. An incubation phase of around 20 nm seems to be the result of the uncontrolled conditions that take place during the first stages of deposition. The optimal deposition conditions found lead to a material with a dark conductivity of 12.8 S/cm, an activation energy of 0.026 eV and a crystalline fraction of 0.86. These values make the layers suitable to be implemented in solar cells.

Biological, clinical and population relevance of 95 loci for blood lipids.

Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides are among the most important risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) and are targets for therapeutic intervention. We screened the genome for common variants associated with plasma lipids in >100,000 individuals of European ancestry. Here we report 95 significantly associated loci (P < 5 x 10(-8)), with 59 showing genome-wide significant association with lipid traits for the first time. The newly reported associations include single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near known lipid regulators (for example, CYP7A1, NPC1L1 and SCARB1) as well as in scores of loci not previously implicated in lipoprotein metabolism. The 95 loci contribute not only to normal variation in lipid traits but also to extreme lipid phenotypes and have an impact on lipid traits in three non-European populations (East Asians, South Asians and African Americans). Our results identify several novel loci associated with plasma lipids that are also associated with CAD. Finally, we validated three of the novel genes-GALNT2, PPP1R3B and TTC39B-with experiments in mouse models. Taken together, our findings provide the foundation to develop a broader biological understanding of lipoprotein metabolism and to identify new therapeutic opportunities for the prevention of CAD.

Blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol targets for prevention of recurrent strokes and cognitive decline in the hypertensive patient: design of the European Society of Hypertension-Chinese Hypertension League Stroke in Hypertension Optimal Treatment randomized trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The SBP values to be achieved by antihypertensive therapy in order to maximize reduction of cardiovascular outcomes are unknown; neither is it clear whether in patients with a previous cardiovascular event, the optimal values are lower than in the low-to-moderate risk hypertensive patients, or a more cautious blood pressure (BP) reduction should be obtained. Because of the uncertainty whether 'the lower the better' or the 'J-curve' hypothesis is correct, the European Society of Hypertension and the Chinese Hypertension League have promoted a randomized trial comparing antihypertensive treatment strategies aiming at three different SBP targets in hypertensive patients with a recent stroke or transient ischaemic attack. As the optimal level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level is also unknown in these patients, LDL-C-lowering has been included in the design. PROTOCOL DESIGN: The European Society of Hypertension-Chinese Hypertension League Stroke in Hypertension Optimal Treatment trial is a prospective multinational, randomized trial with a 3 × 2 factorial design comparing: three different SBP targets (1, <145-135; 2, <135-125; 3, <125 mmHg); two different LDL-C targets (target A, 2.8-1.8; target B, <1.8 mmol/l). The trial is to be conducted on 7500 patients aged at least 65 years (2500 in Europe, 5000 in China) with hypertension and a stroke or transient ischaemic attack 1-6 months before randomization. Antihypertensive and statin treatments will be initiated or modified using suitable registered agents chosen by the investigators, in order to maintain patients within the randomized SBP and LDL-C windows. All patients will be followed up every 3 months for BP and every 6 months for LDL-C. Ambulatory BP will be measured yearly. OUTCOMES: Primary outcome is time to stroke (fatal and non-fatal). Important secondary outcomes are: time to first major cardiovascular event; cognitive decline (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and dementia. All major outcomes will be adjudicated by committees blind to randomized allocation. A Data and Safety Monitoring Board has open access to data and can recommend trial interruption for safety. SAMPLE SIZE CALCULATION: It has been calculated that 925 patients would reach the primary outcome after a mean 4-year follow-up, and this should provide at least 80% power to detect a 25% stroke difference between SBP targets and a 20% difference between LDL-C targets.

eVOC: a controlled vocabulary for unifying gene expression data.

Expression data contribute significantly to the biological value of the sequenced human genome, providing extensive information about gene structure and the pattern of gene expression. ESTs, together with SAGE libraries and microarray experiment information, provide a broad and rich view of the transcriptome. However, it is difficult to perform large-scale expression mining of the data generated by these diverse experimental approaches. Not only is the data stored in disparate locations, but there is frequent ambiguity in the meaning of terms used to describe the source of the material used in the experiment. Untangling semantic differences between the data provided by different resources is therefore largely reliant on the domain knowledge of a human expert. We present here eVOC, a system which associates labelled target cDNAs for microarray experiments, or cDNA libraries and their associated transcripts with controlled terms in a set of hierarchical vocabularies. eVOC consists of four orthogonal controlled vocabularies suitable for describing the domains of human gene expression data including Anatomical System, Cell Type, Pathology and Developmental Stage. We have curated and annotated 7016 cDNA libraries represented in dbEST, as well as 104 SAGE libraries,with expression information,and provide this as an integrated, public resource that allows the linking of transcripts and libraries with expression terms. Both the vocabularies and the vocabulary-annotated libraries can be retrieved from http://www.sanbi.ac.za/evoc/. Several groups are involved in developing this resource with the aim of unifying transcript expression information.

EULAR recommendations for the management of large-vessel vasculitis.

Objectives: To develop European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the management of large vessel vasculitis. Methods: An expert group (10 rheumatologists, 3 nephrologists, 2 immunolgists, 2 internists representing 8 European countries and the USA, a clinical epidemiologist and a representative from a drug regulatory agency) identified 10 topics for a systematic literature search through a modified Delphi technique. In accordance with standardised EULAR operating procedures, recommendations were derived for the management of large vessel vasculitis. In the absence of evidence, recommendations were formulated on the basis of a consensus opinion. Results: Seven recommendations were made relating to the assessment, investigation and treatment of patients with large vessel vasculitis. The strength of recommendations was restricted by the low level of evidence and EULAR standardised operating procedures. Conclusions: On the basis of evidence and expert consensus, management recommendations for large vessel vasculitis have been formulated and are commended for use in everyday clinical practice.

EULAR recommendations for the management of primary small and medium vessel vasculitis.

Objectives: To develop European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the management of small and medium vessel vasculitis. Methods: An expert group (consisting of 10 rheumatologists, 3 nephrologists, 2 immunologists, 2 internists representing 8 European countries and the USA, a clinical epidemiologist and a representative from a drug regulatory agency) identified 10 topics for a systematic literature search using a modified Delphi technique. In accordance with standardised EULAR operating procedures, recommendations were derived for the management of small and medium vessel vasculitis. In the absence of evidence, recommendations were formulated on the basis of a consensus opinion. Results: In all, 15 recommendations were made for the management of small and medium vessel vasculitis. The strength of recommendations was restricted by low quality of evidence and by EULAR standardised operating procedures. Conclusions: On the basis of evidence and expert consensus, recommendations have been made for the evaluation, investigation, treatment and monitoring of patients with small and medium vessel vasculitis for use in everyday clinical practice.

Dynamics of sweeping through an instability: Passage-time statistics for colored noise

A calculation of passage-time statistics is reported for the laser switch-on problem, under the influence of colored noise, when the net gain is continuously swept from below to above threshold. Cases of fast and slow sweeping are considered. In the weak-noise limit, asymptotic results are given for small and large correlation times of the noise. The mean first passage time increases with the correlation time of the noise. This effect is more important for fast sweeping than for slow sweeping.

Fréedericksz transition in a periodic magnetic field

We study the Fréedericksz transition in a twist geometry under the effect of a periodic modulation of the magnitude of the applied magnetic field. We find a shift of the effective instability point and a time-periodic state with anomalously large orientational fluctuations. This time-periodic state occurs below threshold and it is accompanied by a dynamically stabilized spatial pattern. Beyond the instability the emergence of a transient pattern can be significantly delayed by a fast modulation, allowing the observation of pattern selection by slowing down the reorientational dynamics.

Brevia de fide catholica (f. 1-52v). Acta paparum (f. 53-139v).

F. 1-52v. Recueil de textes de piété, en italien sauf le premier. « Confiteor Deo omnipotenti Patri et Filio et Spiritui sancto (...) martiribus tuis Grisanto et Darie, confessoribus tuis Prospero et Venerio atque beato Francisco... - ... eternam amen » (1). — [Rubrique :] « Quisti son li X comandam. de la leze ». « Primo non adorare altro che uno solo dio et per questo commandamento se veta le idole... - ... non e » (1v-3v). — [Rubrique :] « Quisti son li XII articoli de la fede ». « Credo in Dio padre omnipotente creatore del celo et de la terra. 1. S. Petro. Et in Yesu... - ... alli boni. 11. S. Thadeo. 12. S. Mathia » (3v). — [Rubrique :] « Quisti son li septe peccati mortali. Lo primo Elatio ». « Superbia cio e reputare de havere bene per propria virtu et non da Dio... - ... tante fiade pecca mortalmente » (3v-10). — [Rubriques :] « Quisti son li dexe comandamenti soto brevita » (...) « Quisti sono li septe sacramenti » (...) « Que son le VII opere de la misericordia temporale » (...) « Queste son le spirituale » (...) « Questi son li setti peccati mortali » (...) « Circha de sopra in li dexe comandamenti. Quista sun li V sentimenti de lo corpo » (...) « Quisti sono li septi doni del Spirito sancto che sono contra li VII peccati mortali » (...) « Queste sono le III virtu theologie » (...) « Quatuor sono le cardinale » (...) « Queste son le conditione de la confessione » (...) « Quisti son li casi de la papa sive papali » (...) « Casus exclusi » (...) « Quisti sun li cassi de lo episcopo sive episcopali » (...) (10-12). — [NICOLAUS DE AUXIMO, O. F. M. (Nicolò da Osimo), Compendio de salute], cf. Umberto Picciafuoco, Fr. Nicolò da Osimo: vita, opera, spiritualità, 1980 ; « Per dare breve introductione delle cose necessarie ad la salute ad ciaschuno simplice lo quale desidera de salvarse, me sono studiato de redirre le dicte cose sotto breve compendio, retracto de uno libro dicto Quadriga spirituale... - ... molto cose secondo li doctori » (12-52v).F. 53-139v. Actes pontificaux et varia. EUGENIUS IV papa, Bulla [ad Jacobum de Primadiciis de Bononia, O. F. M. (Giacomo Primadizzi) ?], de communione pascali, [07/07/1446], cf. Archivum Franciscanum Historicum, 21, 1928, p. 270 n. 1, 282-283 « Eugenius papa IIIIus. Dilecte fili salutem et apostolicam benedictionem. Fidedigna relatione percepimus in civitate Licii non parvam... - ... VIII kal. julii 1446, po. no. anno XVI° » (éd. ibid., p. 282-283, avec une date corrigée) (53-54). — [PAULUS II papa], Bulla, 14/04/1469 « I ». [Rubrique :] « Bulla que quotannis in cena Domini publicari per summum pontificem consuevit ». « Dilecti filii salutem et apostolicam benedictionem. Consueverunt predecessores nostri romani pontifices annis singulis in die cene Domini sedentes...-... die XIIII° aprilis 1469 p. n. anno quinto. L. Dathus » (55-56). — PAULUS II papa, Bulla, 30/03/1469 « 2. Bulla. Paulus (...). Consueverunt sancte memorie romani pontifices predecessoris [sic] nostri ad retinendam puritatem... - ... tertio kal. aprilis, p. n. anno quinto. De curia. Signata A. Ingherannus, L. Dathus » (56v-64). — PAULUS II papa, Bulla, 06/06/1469 « 3. Paulus (...). Decet romanum pontificem sic in suis fore gratiis liberalem quod in ecclesiarum... - ... octavo id. junii, p. n. anno quinto. De curia, B. Lunensis » (64v-67). — PAULUS II papa, Bulla, 02/07/1469 « Paulus papa II. 4. [Rubrique :] Presidenti monasteriorum Sancte Justine de Padua ». « Dilecte fili salutem et apostolicam benedictionem. Bullam presentibus alligatam constitutionis et decreti nostri circa annexa et juncta beneficia... - ... die IIa julii M° CCCC LXVIIII p. n. anno quinto. L. Dathus » (67v-68). — PAULUS II papa, Bulla, de casibus reservatis, [03/03/1470] cf. Cesare Censi, Manoscritti francescani della Biblioteca Nazionale di Napoli, 2 vol., 1971 (Spicilegium bonaventurianum, VII-VIII), t. I, p. 222, qui renvoie au ms. Napoli, Biblioteca Nazionale, V H 33 (n° 125 a de la liste de Cenci) ; incomplet de la fin « 5. [Rubrique :] Bulla pro casibus reservatis ». « Paulus (...). Etsi dominici gregis saluti semper intenti singulis cum humilitate poscentibus ea benigne... - ... omnipotentis Dei et beatorum » [Petri et Pauli...] (68v-70). — PAULUS II papa, Bulla, 23/11/1464 « 6. [Rubrique :] Contra symoniacos ». « Paulus (...). Cum detestabile scelus simoniace pravitates tam divinorum quam sacrorum canonum... - ... nono kal. decembres, p. n. anno primo » (70v-72). — PAULUS II papa, Bulla, [01/03/1468], cf. C. Censi, op. cit., ms. Napoli, Bibl. Naz., I H 43 et V H 33 (n° 50 ap et 125 d) « 7. [Rubrique :] Bulla prohibens ne bona ecclesiarum et Dei alienari possint ultra triennium ». « Paulus (...). Ambitiose perversorum cupiditati illorum precipue qui divinis et humanis legibus affectata... - ... M° CCCC LXVII kalendis martii p. n. anno quarto » (72v-74). — PAULUS II papa, Bulla, 31/01/1468 « 8. [Rubrique :] De celebratione dierum festorum in terris ecclesie ». « Paulus (...). Perniciosa consuetudo aut verius corruptela que in gravem divine majestatis ac sanctorum... - ... M° CCCC LXVII pridie kal. febr. anno p. n. IIII° » (74v-76v). — Exemplum de Raymundo cardinale nepote Honorii pape et beata Maria virgine et Annunciatione ejus. [Rubrique :] « Pro jejunio domine nostre ». « Honorius summus pontifex habuit ex sorore nepotem Raymundum nomine tituli sanctorum Johannis et Pauli cardinalem libidini ita deditum... - ... regna migravit » (77-79). — PAULUS II papa, Bulla, de jubilaeo, 19/04/1470 « 10 ( ?). [Rubrique :] De publicatione anni jubilei redacti ad M CCCC LXXV ». « Paulus (...). Ineffabilis providentia summi patris qui pro redemptione humani generis ejusque reconcilianda natura... - ... tertiodecimo kalendas maii p. n. anno sexto » (79-85). — PAULUS II papa, Breve, ad episcopum Cumanensem, 22/04/1471 « Breve pontificis ad episcopum Cumanensem. Paulus II. Venerabilis frater (...). Expositum fuit nobis nonnullos istius civitatis Cumane ejusque diocesis existere qui contra libertatem... - ... XXII aprilis 1471 p. n. anno septimo » (86-86v). — PAULUS II papa, Breve, ad episcopum Cumanensem, 07/06/1471 « Suprascriptum breve non habuit locum sed reformatum fuit in formam infrascriptam : Paulus II. Ven. (...). Expositum nobis fuit pro parte dilecti filii nobilis viri Galeaz Marie ducis Mediolani nonnullos istius civitatis Cumane... - ... 7° junii 1471 p. n. anno 7° » (86v-87v). — PAULUS II papa, Breve, [ad Galeazzum Mariam Sforza ducem Mediolanensem], 31/05/1471 « Dilecte fili (...). Diligenter exposuit nobis dilectus filius Augustinus de Rubeis eques et doctor Parmensis consiliarius et orator ad nos tuus... - ... ultimo maii 1471, p. n. anno septimo » (87v-88v). — NICODEMUS [TRANCHEDINI], Littera ad Galeazzum Mariam Sforza ducem Mediolanensem, 13/05/1471, cf. Paola Sverzelatti, « Per la biografia di Nicodemo Tranchedini [1413-1481] di Pontremoli, ambasciatore sforzesco », Aevum, 1998, LXII, 485-557 [4° Z 4794] « Littere Nicodemi ad illustrissimum d. ducem. El papa me ha dicto questa sera che heri sera deputo et immediate hebbe ad se li inferri... - ... Johachinus et Franciscus de Padua advocati consistoriales ». « Suprascriptis videnda commissa fuit bulla pontificis » (89-89v). — AUGUSTINUS DE RUBEIS (Agostino de’Rossi) et NICODEMUS [TRANCHEDINI], Littera ad Galeazzum Mariam Sforza ducem Mediolanensem, 25/05/1471 « Littere d. Augustini et Nicodemi ad principem. Illustrissimo (...). Questi xi sonno mo stati piu volte insieme et col papa anchora et heri se fece el consistorio... - ... XXV maii 1471. Augustinus et Nicodemus » (89v-91). — Iidem ad eumdem, 27/05/1471 « Eorundem. Illustrissimo (...). Credace la vestra signoria per cosa se havesse ad agitar. qua postquam questo nostro sancto patre fu facto papa... - ... XXVII maii 1471 » (91-94v). — [EUGENIUS IV papa, Gratiae concessae Francisco de Platea de Bononia, O. F. M., 01/1440], cf. Cesare Censi, Manoscritti francescani della Biblioteca Nazionale di Napoli, 2 vol., 1971 (Spicilegium bonaventurianum, VII-VIII), t. II, p. 1060, qui renvoie à deux exemplaires du texte, mss. Napoli, Biblioteca Nazionale, cod. VII G 50 et VII G 66 [n° 371 et 383 de la liste de Cenci] « Copia. Ego frater Franciscus de Bononia frater venerabilis viri fratris Jacobi de Primidiciis de Bononia Florentiam accessi... - ... M CCCC XL die III et die decima januarii » (95-98v). — PAULUS II papa, Breve ( ?), ad Julium Cesari de Varano domicellum, incomplet de la fin « Paulus episcopus (...) dilecto filio nobili viro Julio Cesari de Varano domicello civitatis nostre Camerini et pro nobis (...) gubernatori (...). Inter cura multiplices quibus assidue permimur illa precipue sollicitat mentem nostram... - ... merito commendari » (100-106v). — NICOLAUS V papa, Breve ( ?), ad Franciscum Sforza, 24/07/1447 « Nicolaus (...) dilecto filio nobili viro Francisco Sfortie vicecomiti, comiti et marchioni (...). Sedes apostolica pia mater recurrentibus ad eam cum humilitate filiis post excessum libenter... - ... nono kal. augusti, p. n. anno primo. Pe. de Noxeto » (107-111v). — FRANCISCUS PHILELPHUS ( ?), [De Sacerdotio Christi (extractum et translatum e graeco Souda), versio italica], cf. Giovanni Mercati, Ultimi contributi alla storia degli Umanistici, 1939, I, p. 74-76 (4° Z 1722 (90)) « Tractatello traducto per messere Francescho Philelpho singularissimo poetha de greco in latino per luy trovato presso autentici et antiqui autori, reducto in volgare ad contemplatione d’alcuni devoti cortesani del illustrissimo signiore duca di Milano, ad confirmatione de la fede nostra et confusione de Judei. Regnando Justiniano imperatore clementissimo fo uno homo principe de Judei chiamato Theodosio... - ... teneva occulto » (112-118v). — « Electi beneficii et superni doni data ad quella anima che oldira la sancta messa integramente monifestati per li sancti doctori... - ... ligno de la vita » (118v-119). — MARTINUS V papa, Bulla, de excommunicatione hereticorum, [28/03/1426 ?], incomplète de la fin ; cf. C. Censi, op. cit., I, p. 501-502 (n° 304 f) « 1. Excommunicationes plures contente in processu qui fit annuatim in curia in cena Domini. Martinus (...). Excommunicamus et anathematizamus ex parte omnipotentis Dei Patris et Filii et Spiritus sancti auctoritate Petri... - ... incursurum. Datum Rome etc » (120-122v). — « Item excommunicamus et anathematizamus omnes illos qui per se vel per alium vel alios directe vel indirecte... - ... cautione prestitis » (122v-123v). — PAULUS II papa, Bulla, 11/04/1471 « 2. Paulus (...). Consueverunt sancte memorie romani pontifices predecessores nostri ad retinendam puritatem... - ... tertio idus aprilis, p. n. anno VII° » (124-130v). — SIXTUS IV papa, Bulla, de excommunicatione hereticorum, 26/03/1472 « 2. Sixtus (...). Excommunicamus et anathematizamus ex parte omnipotentis Dei Patris et Filii et Spiritus sancti auctoritate quoque beatorum... - ... septimo kal. aprilis etc. anno primo » (131-134v). — SIXTUS IV papa, Breve ( ?), ad Ferdinandum I regem Sicilie, 01/03/1472 « 4. Sixtus (...) carissimo in Christo filio Ferdinando regi Sicilie illustri (...). Dum eximie fidelitatis devotionis atque prudentie tue ceterasque tibi a Domino traditas virtutes...-... kalendis martiis [sic] p. n. anno primo. M. Milinus » (135-139v).

Volcanic stratigraphy of Hannah Point, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

The Upper Cretaceous volcanic succession of Hannah Point is the best exposure of the Antarctic Peninsula Volcanic Group on L ivingston Island. The aim of the present paper is to contribute to the characterisation of the stratigr a p hy and petrogr a p hy of this little studied succession, and briefly discuss some aspects of the eru p t ive style of its volcanism. The succession is about 470 m thick and is here subdivided into five lithostratigraphic units (A to E from base to top). Unit A, approximately 120 m thick, is mainly composed of polymict clast-supported volcaniclastic breccias and also includes a dacitic lava laye r. Interstratified in the breccias of this unit, there is a thin laminated devitrified layer which shows some degree of welding. Unit B, approx imately 70 m thick, is almost entirely composed of volcaniclastic breccias, and includes a volcaniclastic conglomerate laye r. Breccias in this unit can be subdivided into two distinct types; polymict clast-supported breccias, and monomict matrix-supported breccias rich in juvenile components and displaying incipient welding. Unit C, about 65 m thick, is mainly composed of basaltic lavas, which are interlayered with minor vo lcaniclastic breccias. Unit D, approximately 65 m thick, is lithologically similar to unit B, composed of an alternation of polymict clasts upported breccias and matrix-supported breccias, and includes a volcaniclastic conglomerate laye r. Unit E, about 150 m thick, is mainly formed of thick andesitic lava layers. Minor basaltic dykes and a few normal faults cut the succession, and the contact betwe e n units A and B can be interpreted both as an unconformity or a fault. The matrix-supported breccias included in the succession of Hannah Point have high contents of juvenile components and incipient welding, which suggest that part of the succession is the result of pyroclastic fragmentation and emplacement from pyroclastic flows. In contrast, the polymict clast-supported breccias suggest reworking of previous deposits and deposition from cool mass flows. The lavas indicate eff u s ive volcanic eruptions, and the absence of features indicative of subaqueous volcanism suggests that at least these portions of the succession were emplaced in a subaerial environment .

Assessment of early-stage optic nerve invasion in retinoblastoma using high-resolution 1.5 Tesla MRI with surface coils: a multicentre, prospective accuracy study with histopathological correlation.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the accuracy of high-resolution (HR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing early-stage optic nerve (ON) invasion in a retinoblastoma cohort. METHODS: This IRB-approved, prospective multicenter study included 95 patients (55 boys, 40 girls; mean age, 29 months). 1.5-T MRI was performed using surface coils before enucleation, including spin-echo unenhanced and contrast-enhanced (CE) T1-weighted sequences (slice thickness, 2 mm; pixel size <0.3 × 0.3 mm(2)). Images were read by five neuroradiologists blinded to histopathologic findings. ROC curves were constructed with AUC assessment using a bootstrap method. RESULTS: Histopathology identified 41 eyes without ON invasion and 25 with prelaminar, 18 with intralaminar and 12 with postlaminar invasion. All but one were postoperatively classified as stage I by the International Retinoblastoma Staging System. The accuracy of CE-T1 sequences in identifying ON invasion was limited (AUC&#8201;= 0.64; 95 % CI, 0.55 - 0.72) and not confirmed for postlaminar invasion diagnosis (AUC&#8201;= 0.64; 95 % CI, 0.47 - 0.82); high specificities (range, 0.64 - 1) and negative predictive values (range, 0.81 - 0.97) were confirmed. CONCLUSION: HR-MRI with surface coils is recommended to appropriately select retinoblastoma patients eligible for primary enucleation without the risk of IRSS stage II but cannot substitute for pathology in differentiating the first degrees of ON invasion. KEY POINTS: • HR-MRI excludes advanced optic nerve invasion with high negative predictive value. • HR-MRI accurately selects patients eligible for primary enucleation. • Diagnosis of early stages of optic nerve invasion still relies on pathology. • Several physiological MR patterns may mimic optic nerve invasion.

An integrated encyclopedia of DNA elements in the human genome.

The human genome encodes the blueprint of life, but the function of the vast majority of its nearly three billion bases is unknown. The Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project has systematically mapped regions of transcription, transcription factor association, chromatin structure and histone modification. These data enabled us to assign biochemical functions for 80% of the genome, in particular outside of the well-studied protein-coding regions. Many discovered candidate regulatory elements are physically associated with one another and with expressed genes, providing new insights into the mechanisms of gene regulation. The newly identified elements also show a statistical correspondence to sequence variants linked to human disease, and can thereby guide interpretation of this variation. Overall, the project provides new insights into the organization and regulation of our genes and genome, and is an expansive resource of functional annotations for biomedical research.

Large-scale association analyses identify new loci influencing glycemic traits and provide insight into the underlying biological pathways.

Through genome-wide association meta-analyses of up to 133,010 individuals of European ancestry without diabetes, including individuals newly genotyped using the Metabochip, we have increased the number of confirmed loci influencing glycemic traits to 53, of which 33 also increase type 2 diabetes risk (q < 0.05). Loci influencing fasting insulin concentration showed association with lipid levels and fat distribution, suggesting impact on insulin resistance. Gene-based analyses identified further biologically plausible loci, suggesting that additional loci beyond those reaching genome-wide significance are likely to represent real associations. This conclusion is supported by an excess of directionally consistent and nominally significant signals between discovery and follow-up studies. Functional analysis of these newly discovered loci will further improve our understanding of glycemic control.

Genome-wide association study identifies eight loci associated with blood pressure.

Elevated blood pressure is a common, heritable cause of cardiovascular disease worldwide. To date, identification of common genetic variants influencing blood pressure has proven challenging. We tested 2.5 million genotyped and imputed SNPs for association with systolic and diastolic blood pressure in 34,433 subjects of European ancestry from the Global BPgen consortium and followed up findings with direct genotyping (N ≤ 71,225 European ancestry, N ≤ 12,889 Indian Asian ancestry) and in silico comparison (CHARGE consortium, N = 29,136). We identified association between systolic or diastolic blood pressure and common variants in eight regions near the CYP17A1 (P = 7 × 10(-24)), CYP1A2 (P = 1 × 10(-23)), FGF5 (P = 1 × 10(-21)), SH2B3 (P = 3 × 10(-18)), MTHFR (P = 2 × 10(-13)), c10orf107 (P = 1 × 10(-9)), ZNF652 (P = 5 × 10(-9)) and PLCD3 (P = 1 × 10(-8)) genes. All variants associated with continuous blood pressure were associated with dichotomous hypertension. These associations between common variants and blood pressure and hypertension offer mechanistic insights into the regulation of blood pressure and may point to novel targets for interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease.