tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Tuning of Collagen Scaffold Properties Modulates Embedded Endothelial Cell Regulatory Phenotype in Repair of Vascular Injuries In Vivo
Authors: Shimon Unterman, Alina Freiman, Margarita Beckerman, Eytan Abraham, James R. L. Stanley, Ela Levy, Natalie Artzi, Elazer Edelman
Journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials (2015)

Perivascularly implanted matrix embedded endothelial cells (MEECs) are potent regulators of inflammation and intimal hyperplasia following vascular injuries. Endothelial cells (ECs) in collagen scaffolds adopt a reparative phenotype with significant therapeutic potential. Although the biology of MEECs is increasingly understood, tuning of scaffold properties to control cell-substrate interactions is less well-studied. It is hypothesized that modulating scaffold degradation would change EC phenotype. Scaffolds with differential degradation are prepared by cross-linking and predegradation. Vascular injury increases degradation and the presence of MEECs retards injury-mediated degradation. MEECs respond to differential scaffold properties with altered viability in vivo, suppressed smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation in vitro, and altered interleukin-6 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression. When implanted perivascularly to a murine carotid wire injury, tuned scaffolds change MEEC effects on vascular repair and inflammation. Live animal imaging enables real-time tracking of cell viability, inflammation, and scaffold degradation, affording an unprecedented understanding of interactions between cells, substrate, and tissue. MEEC-treated injuries improve endothelialization and reduce SMC hyperplasia over 14 d. These data demonstrate the potent role material design plays in tuning MEEC efficacy in vivo, with implications for the design of clinical therapies.
Obesity and outcomes in patients hospitalized for pneumonia
Authors: Sharry Kahlon, D.T. Eurich, R.S. Padwal, A.M. Malhotra, J.K. Minhas-Sandhu, T.J. Marrie, S.R. Majumdar
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for acquiring pneumonia, but studies also suggest it is associated with better pneumonia-related outcomes. We examined the impact of obesity on short-term mortality in patients hospitalized with pneumonia.  Methods: For 2-years clinical data were prospectively collected on all consecutive adults admitted with pneumonia to 6 hospitals in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We identified 907 patients who also had body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) collected. Patients were categorized as underweight (BMI 30).  Results: Overall, 65% were >65 years, 52% were female and 15% reported recent weight loss. 84 (9%) were underweight, 358 (39%) normal, 228 (25%) overweight, and 237 (26%) obese. Two-thirds had severe pneumonia (63% PSI Class IV/V) and 79 (9%) patients died. In-hospital mortality was greatest among the underweight (12 [14%]) vs normal (36 [10%]) vs overweight (21 [9%]) vs obese (10 [4%], p  Conclusion: In patients hospitalized with pneumonia, obesity was independently associated with lower short-term mortality, while neither underweight nor overweight were. This suggests a protective influence for BMIs>30 kg/m2 that requires better mechanistic understanding.
The absolute risk of osteoporotic fractures according to the program of FRAX patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Ekaterina Kochetova
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Bone loss may be asymptomatic, and the first sign of osteoporosis are bone fractures. Assessment of absolute risk (AR) osteoporotichesih fractures in patients with COPD using the FRAX computer program is of great practical interest.  Objective:  To examine the absolute risk of osteoporotic fractures by using FRAX method in patients with COPD.  Materials and methods:  We examined 108 patients with COPD. The study group comprised men with long smoking history. Mean age 60,2 ± 5,5 years. The study of bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine and proximal femur was performed by X-ray absorptiometry at the densitometer «Lunar DPX-NT». Evaluation of ten osteoporotic fracture risk was calculated using the computer program FRAX. To calculate the risk methodology used FRAX T-score femoral neck.  Results:  the assessment of absolute risk (AR) of all hip fracture patients were divided into 3 groups (AR   3). The maximum number of patients at high risk of hip fracture observed among patients with COPD stage 4 - 84,6% (p   20). AR 10-20 major fractures in the stages 3 of COPD was observed in 15,68%, of patients with stage 4 COPD in 30,8%. These figures are significantly higher than the corresponding figures in patients with COPD stage 2 (p  Conclusion:  Assessment of absolute risk of fractures provides useful information to forecast the fracture in patients with COPD.
Chest drain fixation: How can we prevent drains from falling out? Lessons from an audit
Authors: Ali Al-Ameri, Lucy Hicken, Steven Thomas
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Introduction and objectives 

Chest drain displacement/ falling out is the most common complication of small bore drains inserted by the Seldinger technique. This often necessitates repeat drain insertion, with resulting morbidity, delay in further procedures such as pleurodesis, and prolongs hospital stay. Varying techniques of securing chest drains have been described but limited data is available on which method is optimal. We compared two common types of drain fixation techniques which are currently in practice at our district general hospital: sutures, and sutureless dressing.

Method 

A retrospective case note audit was performed of patients requiring chest drain insertion over a 12-month period in 2010. Seventy one small bore chest drains were evaluated according to the rate of displacement of those secured by sutures versus those with dressing alone.

A prospective re-audit was then performed in 2011 over a period of 8 months, following recommendations to change practice to fixation with sutures. Fifty-four drains were evaluated, with sutures as the method of fixation in the majority.

Results 

In the 2010 audit, the majority of drains were secured with dressing alone (47 v 24). Accidental displacement was observed in 37 of the total 71 drains (52%). Of those with dressing fixation only, 75% were displaced, compared to 4% of drains which were sutured in place. Twenty one patients required repeat drain insertion.

During the 2011 re-audit, sutures were used in 48 out of 54 (89%). Only 6 drains were accidently displaced (11%).

Conclusion 

The results of this audit suggest that securing a chest drain with a suture, as compared to dressing alone, is more effective in preventing accidental displacement.
Multicentre determination of quality control strains and quality control ranges for antifungal susceptibility testing of yeasts and filamentous fungi using the methods of the Antifungal Susceptibility Testing Subcommittee of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AFST-EUCAST)
Authors: M. Cuenca-Estrella, M.C. Arendrup, E. Chryssanthou, E. Dannaoui, C. Lass-Florl, P. Sandven, A. Velegraki, J.L. Rodriguez-Tudela
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2007)
Abstract 177: Promotion Of Nitroso-redox Balance By Beta 3 Adrenoceptor Agonism: Therapeutic Implications For Cardiovascular Complications Of Diabetes
Authors: Keyvan Karimi Galougahi, Chia-chi Liu, Alvaro Garcia, Natasha A Fry, Clare L Hawkins, Helge H Rasmussen, Gemma A Figtree
Journal: Circulation Research (2014)

Rationale: Disrupted balance between NO and O2.- is central in pathobiology of diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy and vascular dysfunction. We examined if stimulation of β3 adrenergic receptors (β3 ARs), coupled to endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation, would re-establish NO/O2.- balance, relieve oxidative inhibition of key caveolar proteins and protect against diabetes-induced cardiovascular dysfunction. Methods/Results: A hyperglycemic, hyperinsulinemic state was established in male White New Zealand rabbits by infusion of the insulin receptor antagonist S961 (12 μg/kg/h). Diabetes induced NADPH oxidase-dependent glutathionylation (GSS-) of the caveolar proteins Na+-K+ pump’s β1 subunit and eNOS in cardiac myocytes and aorta, an oxidative modification that inhibits the pump and uncouples eNOS. Consistent with this, diabetes was associated with reduced electrogenic Na+-K+ pump current in voltage-clamped cardiac myocytes and impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. Selective β3 AR agonist CL316243 (CL, 40 μg/kg/h) restored NO levels analysed by spin-trapping of NO-Fe(DETC)2 complexes; decreased diabetes-induced elevation in O2.- measured by HPLC analysis of dihydroethidium oxidation products, improved endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation, and restored the Na+-K+ pump function in cardiac myocytes. These effects were mediated by CL abolishing diabetes-induced increase in eNOS-GSS and β1-GSS through a decrease in forward reaction rate for glutathionylation by suppressing diabetes-induced NADPH oxidase activation, which was further amplified by promotion of de-glutathionylation via enhancement in association of glutaredoxine-1, the enzyme catalysing de-glutathionylation, with eNOS and Na+-K+ pump. Conclusion: β3 AR activation re-established nitroso-redox balance and relieved oxidative inhibition of key caveolar proteins in diabetes. β3 AR agonists are promising in treatment of diabetes-induced cardiovascular complications.
Further views on patient-therapist sex
Authors: DOUGLAS H. FINESTONE, JAMES L. MATHIS, DIANA JO ANTONACCI, JASCHA W. DANOFF, JOHN M. DIAMOND, LOUIS J. DOLINAR, JERRY G. GREGORY, J. FRANK JAMES, LESLY T. MEGA, STANLEY P. OAKLEY, PAMELA A. PAPPAS, EVERETTE C. SIMMONS, PHILIP J. SMERASKI, W. R. WALKER
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1990)
Self-harm Emergencies After Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Junaid A. Bhatti, Avery B. Nathens, Deva Thiruchelvam, Teodor Grantcharov, Benjamin I. Goldstein, Donald A. Redelmeier
Journal: JAMA Surgery (2015)

Self-harm behaviors, including suicidal ideation and past suicide attempts, are frequent in bariatric surgery candidates. It is unclear, however, whether these behaviors are mitigated or aggravated by surgery.To compare the risk of self-harm behaviors before and after bariatric surgery.In this population-based, self-matched, longitudinal cohort analysis, we studied 8815 adults from Ontario, Canada, who underwent bariatric surgery between April 1, 2006, and March 31, 2011. Follow-up for each patient was 3 years prior to surgery and 3 years after surgery.Self-harm emergencies 3 years before and after surgery.The cohort included 8815 patients of whom 7176 (81.4%) were women, 7063 (80.1%) were 35 years or older, and 8681 (98.5%) were treated with gastric bypass. A total of 111 patients had 158 self-harm emergencies during follow-up. Overall, self-harm emergencies significantly increased after surgery (3.63 per 1000 patient-years) compared with before surgery (2.33 per 1000 patient-years), equaling a rate ratio (RR) of 1.54 (95% CI, 1.03-2.30; P = .007). Self-harm emergencies after surgery were higher than before surgery among patients older than 35 years (RR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.05-2.94; P = .03), those with a low-income status (RR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.20-3.65; P = .01), and those living in rural areas (RR, 6.49; 95% CI, 1.42-29.63; P = .02). The most common self-harm mechanism was an intentional overdose (115 [72.8%]). A total of 147 events (93.0%) occurred in patients diagnosed as having a mental health disorder during the 5 years before the surgery.In this study, the risk of self-harm emergencies increased after bariatric surgery, underscoring the need for screening for suicide risk during follow-up.
Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) exercise tolerance improvement: Differences between interstitial lung disease (ILD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Authors: Adam Lewis, Laura Cornish, Fran Dyer, Katherine Cheema, Julia Bott
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background : There is evidence to suggest that PR is beneficial for patients with chronic lung diseases other than COPD (ATS/ERS Statement on Pulmonary Rehabilitation 2006, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Interstitial Lung Disease consultation document 2013). However, there is little evidence regarding the magnitude of improvement in patients with ILD relative to those with COPD.

Aim: To determine whether exercise tolerance improvement following PR differs significantly between ILD and COPD patients who participate in the same PR programmes.

Method: Retrospective exercise tolerance test (Endurance Shuttle Walk Test (ESWT)) data for all patients completing our 3 site PR programme from February 2005 to December 2012 were analysed. Practice walks were performed. Results were compared between the ILD and COPD patients using independent sample two-tailed t-tests on data for pre-PR ESWT, post-PR ESWT and ESWT change.

Results: Of 495 patients with complete data, 55 had ILD and 440 COPD. Both groups had large improvements, with no significant differences between group ESWT pre PR (t= -0.049, p=0.961), post PR (t= -0.227, p=0.820) or change in ESWT (t= -0.228, p=0.820).

View this table:

ESWT results





Conclusions: These data suggest that patients with ILD gain equal benefit in exercise tolerance from PR to patients with COPD. ILD patients with a reduced exercise tolerance should be included and referred for PR.
Effect of body position on ventricular CSF methotrexate concentration following intralumbar administration.
Authors: S M Blaney, D G Poplack, K Godwin, C L McCully, R Murphy, F M Balis
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1995)

PURPOSE Intralumbar methotrexate is one of the primary therapeutic modalities for the prevention and treatment of meningeal leukemia. However, methotrexate distribution to the ventricles is limited and highly variable following intralumbar dosing, and cytotoxic concentrations of methotrexate are not always achieved or sustained in the ventricular CSF. We used a nonhuman primate model to determine the effect of body position on the caudal distribution of an intralumbar dose of methotrexate. METHODS Methotrexate (1.0 mg) was administered by intralumbar injection to four animals, which were then immediately placed either in an upright sitting position or in a prone position for 1 hour, then upright. Each animal served as its own control and was studied in each position on at least one occasion. RESULTS The mean peak ventricular methotrexate concentration was 0.12 mumol/L (range, 0.091 to 0.20) in animals that were immediately placed upright, compared with 2.81 mumol/L (range, 0.21 to 8.9) in animals that remained prone for 1 hour. The mean area under the concentration-versus-time curves (AUC) was 0.51 mumol/L.h (range, 0.26 to 1.1) in the upright animals and 12.0 mumol/L.h (range, 0.9 to 35.4) in the prone animals. CONCLUSION Maintaining a prone position for 1 hour after an intralumbar dose increased the peak methotrexate concentration and drug exposure in ventricular CSF. CSF drug distribution following intralumbar therapy can be influenced by body position after the injection.
Scarf pins inhalation: About 26 cases
Authors: Nahid Zaghba, Hanane Benjelloun, Abdelaziz Bakhatar, Najiba Yassine, Abdelkrim Bahlaoui
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Inhalation of foreign bodies is rare in adults. Inhalation of scarf pin is a phenomenon more frequent in the female population in Morocco. The aim of our study was to describe the characteristics of this particular foreign body and illustrate the circumstances and consequences of his inhalation. Twenty-six young patients all veiled, were hospitalized in the service of Respiratory Diseases University Hospital Ibn Rushd of Casablanca between January 2005 and July 2011 for inhaled scarf pin. The mean age was 16 years. Inhalation was accidental in all cases, whereas patients initiated to wear the veil. The penetration syndrome was found in all cases. Clinical examination was normal in all patients. The chest X-ray showed the foreign body as a linear opacity, located right in 18 cases and left in eight cases. Flexible bronchoscopy was able to extract the pin in 21 cases. The pin was released spontaneously in three cases and two patients were operated on. The scarf pin is a foreign body especially more common in women who wear the Islamic veil. Flexible bronchoscopy is an essential means of therapy, but the best preventive treatment is avoiding to put in the mouth sharp objects.
Bone marrow transplantation for childhood Ki-1 lymphoma.
Authors: V Chakravarti, N R Kamani, E Bayever, B Lange, P Herzog, J E Sanders, C S August
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1990)

Two children with Ki-1 antigen-positive, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma received high-dose chemotherapy, fractionated total body irradiation (TBI), and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Both patients had relapsed multiple times on conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Following transplantation, there was successful engraftment with disappearance of clinical signs and symptoms of their disease. As of June 1, 1989 they are in continuous unmaintained complete remission, 56 and 40 months, respectively, after bone marrow transplantation.
Pathogenesis of the Novel Autoimmune-Associated Long-QT Syndrome
Authors: Yuankun Yue, Monica Castrichini, Ujala Srivastava, Frank Fabris, Krupa Shah, Zhiqiang Li, Yongxia Qu, Nabil El-Sherif, Zhengfeng Zhou, Craig January, M. Mahmood Hussain, Xian-Cheng Jiang, Eric A. Sobie, Marie Wahren-Herlenius, Mohamed Chahine, Pier-Leopoldo Capecchi, Franco Laghi-Pasini, Pietro-Enea Lazzerini, Mohamed Boutjdir
Journal: Circulation (2015)

Background— Emerging clinical evidence demonstrates high prevalence of QTc prolongation and complex ventricular arrhythmias in patients with anti-Ro antibody (anti-Ro Ab)–positive autoimmune diseases. We tested the hypothesis that anti-Ro Abs target the HERG (human ether-a-go-go–related gene) K + channel, which conducts the rapidly activating delayed K + current, I Kr , thereby causing delayed repolarization seen as QT interval prolongation on the ECG. Methods and Results— Anti-Ro Ab–positive sera, purified IgG, and affinity-purified anti-52kDa Ro Abs from patients with autoimmune diseases and QTc prolongation were tested on I Kr using HEK293 cells expressing HERG channel and native cardiac myocytes. Electrophysiological and biochemical data demonstrate that anti-Ro Abs inhibit I Kr to prolong action potential duration by directly binding to the HERG channel protein. The 52-kDa Ro antigen–immunized guinea pigs showed QTc prolongation on ECG after developing high titers of anti-Ro Abs, which inhibited native I Kr and cross-reacted with guinea pig ERG channel. Conclusions— The data establish that anti-Ro Abs from patients with autoimmune diseases inhibit I Kr by cross-reacting with the HERG channel likely at the pore region where homology between anti–52-kDa Ro antigen and HERG channel is present. The animal model of autoimmune-associated QTc prolongation is the first to provide strong evidence for a pathogenic role of anti-Ro Abs in the development of QTc prolongation. It is proposed that adult patients with anti-Ro Abs may benefit from routine ECG screening and that those with QTc prolongation should receive counseling about drugs that may increase the risk for life-threatening arrhythmias.
Performance characteristics of a dialysis-related amyloidosis questionnaire.
Authors: G M Chertow, T Trimbur, E W Karlson, J M Lazarus, J Kay
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (1996)

To evaluate the effects of beta-2 microglobulin amyloidosis on functional status, a 19-item self-administered questionnaire exploring two major domains-symptoms and disability-was developed as part of this study. Fifteen patients with dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA) were identified and compared with 15 age-matched control subjects who had been on hemodialysis for less than 24 months. Demographic data, Charlson comorbidity scores, and other clinical and laboratory variables were recorded. Total dialysis-related amyloidosis questionnaire (DRAQ) score (52.1 +/- 16.3 versus 24.4 +/- 6.2, P < 0.0001) and the scores of the symptom (24.5 +/- 7.0 versus 11.5 +/- 2.3, P < 0.0001) and disability (27.5 +/- 10.8 versus 12.9 +/- 4.0, P < 0.0001) subscales were markedly increased among patients with DRA. Baseline characteristics among case and control subjects were similar, except for serum creatinine concentration, which tended to be lower among patients with DRA (8.9 +/- 2.6 versus 11.5 +/- 2.3 mg/dL, P = 0.07). Instrument reliability and internal consistency were high. With a total DRAQ score of 30 or more, the sensitivity and specificity of the instrument were 93% and 80%, respectively. The DRAQ is a reliable, internally consistent, and valid instrument that may be suitable for population screening and clinical practice.
A novel, simple and rapid method to measure soluble mediators in dithiothreitol-treated sputum
Authors: Roberta Milone, Peter Chalk, Ken Grace, David Singh, Raminder Aul, Richard Knowles
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Sputum is most often processed by the addition of dithiothreitol (DTT) to liquefy the sputum plug and release cells and soluble mediators for subsequent analysis, but DTT can interfere substantially with these analyses. The aim of this study was to develop a method to reverse this, to allow for the sensitive determination of analytes in DTT treated sputum by the addition of the thiol oxidising agent diamide. This was applied to the immunoassay of a panel of 21 analytes.

Assays of these analytes were shown to be suppressed to a highly variable degree (0-900-fold, median 25-fold) by the presence of DTT, as a result of a worsening of both background and maximal signal. Treatment of DTT-containing matrix with diamide resulted in a substantial improvement in the signal to background ratio, representing 1-150 fold improvement (median 5-fold) in the assay. This diamide method was applied to the assay of analytes in the presence of DTT and permitted the sensitive (limit of detection (LOD) <10pg/ml) assay for all analytes except MDC (LOD 136pg/ml), with a high signal to background ratio (median 3700 at 10ng/ml) and acceptable recoveries of spiked sputum supernatants (median 72%).

This protocol was applied to DTT sputum obtained in a study of the dose- and time-dependence of responses to LPS inhalation in healthy smokers as a model of COPD bacterial exacerbations (Aul et al 2012, Brit J Clin Pharmacol in press). We were able to demonstrate significant increases in IL-1β, TNFα, MCP-1 and MIP-1β in sputum, with a maximal effect at 6h.

This simple and rapid diamide method therefore provides a novel way to treat DDT sputum to allow for the sensitive immunoassay of a wide range of analytes.