tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
C-reactive protein: Its correlations with pulmonary function, physical capacity and anthropometric measurements in patients with metabolic syndrome
Authors: Raziye Nesrin Demirtas, Cemile Bozdemir Ozel, Hulya Arikan, Ebru Calik-Kutukcu, Melda Saglam, Naciye Vardar-Yagli, Ozgen Celer, Aysen Akalin, Fusun Alatas
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Introduction:  Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of conditions which increase risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Several studies have demonstrated that C-reactive protein (CRP) as a marker of systemic inflammation is an independent predictor of future risk for cardiovascular events among healthy individuals. In addition, it has been stated that CRP might be an indicator of severity of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.   Aims:  We aimed to assess the relations of CRP with pulmonary function (PF), physical capacity (PC) and anthropometric measurements in MS.   Methods:  Twenty nine participants with MS were included in the study. The CRP and fasting insulin and glucose to determine insulin resistance (HOMA) were analyzed with blood test. The participants underwent spirometry. The PC was determined by incremental shuttle walking test (ISWT). Body mass index (BMI), fat free mass (FFM), body fat (BF),  body fat percentage (%BF ) were assessed with bioelectrical impedance.   Result:  The CRP was negatively correlated with TLC (p=0.011), FVC (p=0.033), FEV 1  (p=0.034), IC (p=0.017), %MEF 75  (p=0.035), ISWT distance (p=0.035) and positively correlated with BMI (p=0.004), waist/height ratio (p=0.033), BF (p=0.030),  %BF  (p=0.015). There were not relations of CRP with FFM (p=0.653) and HOMA (p=0.954).   Conclusions : It was found negative relationships between CRP level with PF and PC. On the contrary, there were positive correlations of CRP with parameters of BC. We think that it can be provided decline in the CRP level and increment in PF improving the functional capacity and body composition with aerobic exercise in patients with MS.
Severe Small Airways Disease Resistant to Medical Treatment in a Child with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: J Davies, M Rosenthal, A Bush
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1996)

At the age of 12, a child with cystic fibrosis developed severe small airways obstruction of unknown aetiology, in the absence of significant bronchiectasis. He remained resistant to medical treatment until, following an exacerbation of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis 18 months later, he responded to high dose oral steroids. He now remains steroid-dependent, and suffering from multiple side-effects. Possible aetiology and further therapeutic strategies are discussed.
Abstract 9851: Tenascin-C Deficiency Promotes Maladaptive Left Ventricular Remodeling and Impairs Cardiac Function in Chronic Pressure-Overload
Authors: Lei Song, Lai Wang, Ana Arias, Aurelio Chaux, Prediman K Shah, Behrooz G Sharifi
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background: Tenascin-C (TnC) is a matricellular protein that is generally expressed during embryogenesis and in pathological settings; however, little is known about the role of TnC in maladaptive LV remodeling in response to chronic pressure-induced hypertrophy. Methods: Aortic constriction was performed in TnC null mice and control wild type mice (all mice in C57BL6 background). The aorta between the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries was constricted by tying a silk ligature against a 28-gauge needle for to yield a~33% narrowing of the aortic luminal diameter when the needle is removed. The LV size and function was assessed by two-dimensional guided M-mode echocardiography. Aortic blood pressure proximal to the constriction site was calculated by adding the pressure gradient across the constriction (measured by pulse Doppler) to the post-constriction blood pressure measured in the tail using a special cuff. LV mass was measured after euthanizing the mice at one month and histology was used to estimate myocardial fibrosis. Results: Before aortic constriction, LV size, EF and shortening fraction were similar in TnC null and wild type control mice. One month after constriction, the LV end diastolic diameter was larger in TnC null compared to wild type control mice (4.6 ± 0.5 vs 3.7 ± 0.2; p&lt;0.001), the LVEF was lower in TnC null compared to wild type control mice (47.3 ± 10.7 vs. 60.7 ± 3.8; p&lt;0.001), the fractional LV shortening was lower in TnC null compared to wild type control mice (24.2 ± 5.9 vs. 31.9 ± 2.6; p&lt;0.001), the heart weight in mg/gram of body weight was higher in TnC null compared to wild type control mice (6.9 ± 1 vs. 5.1 ± 0.1; p&lt;0.05). Collagen staining revealed that LV fibrosis was abundant in TnC null mice whereas it was scant in wild type control mice. There were no significant differences in the calculated proximal aortic blood pressure, the pressure gradient across the constriction, or the tail blood pressure or total body weight between the two groups of mice. Conclusions: TnC gene deletion is associated with maladptive LV remodeling, reduced LV systolic function and increased LV fibrosis in response to chronic pressure overload identifying a potentially beneficial role for TnC in myocardial response to pressure overload.
MRI as a Single Screening Procedure for Acoustic Neuroma: A Cost Effective Protocol
Authors: A K Robson, S E J Leighton, P Anslow, C A Milford
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1993)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is accepted as the ‘gold standard’ in diagnosing acoustic neuromas. Limited availability and perceived high costs have prevented clinicians from using it as a first-line investigation. A prospective study was set up in a specially designated screening session to audit the cost effectiveness and accuracy of audiovestibular investigations compared to MRI. Ninety-nine patients with asymmetrical audiovestibular symptoms or signs were investigated. Of these 54 evoked response audiometry tests, and 39 calorics were either not performed or were inconclusive. One patient refused to enter the MRI machine. All others received an unequivocal report after MRI and four tumours (three intracanalicular) were detected. The total cost of the audiovestibular protocol was £12 545 compared to £12 900 for the MRI protocol, which is a diagnostic and well-tolerated procedure. This study shows that MRI can be cost effective, as well as accurate, when used as a single screening procedure for acoustic neuromas.
GRISEOFULVIN THERAPY IN LICHEN PLANUS.
Authors: V. N. SEHGAL, G. J. S. ABRAHAM, GAURl BAZAZ MALIK
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1972)

Summary.— Thirty‐four patients with lichen planus were treated in a double‐blind trial in which either 500 mg of griseofulvin‐FP or a placebo was issued to the patients on a random distribution basis. A significant difference was found between the results obtained with griseofulvin and those with the placebo. The favourable response to the treatment was accompanied by more or less typical histopathological features. No untoward effects, or recurrence in lesions were noted in the course of the trial.
Effect of respiratory pathology on the quality of life for patients, suffering from rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Tatyana Pertseva, Larysa Botvinikova, Yliua Guba
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Aim: to study the influence of pulmonary pathology on the quality of life (QoL) in patients suffering with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  Methods: 58 patients with RA (42 women, middle age 57,1± 3,17) were investigated by routine, clinical, functional tests and were divided into 2 groups:19st – 31 patients who had the respiratory discomfort (breathlessness, cough) and 27 patients without respiratory symptoms (and any disturbanses of the function of external breathing). Spirometry, saturation, weakness of respiratory muscles, multispiral CT-scan were used for assessing of clinical and functional parameters of respiratory status and St. George Respiratory Questionaire (SGRQ) for assessing QoL.  Results. Significant decreasing of the QoL for patients with RA in comparison with patients of the control group and the general population: the low level of QoL was registered in all scales in the patients of the 1-st group - (Symptoms 68,8± 4,41, Activity - 60,21± 3,45, Conseqences - 63,42 ±4,11, total score was correspondently decreased: 49,54± 2,12. Primary reason of lowering indexes of the SGRQ in patients with RA was a dyspnea. Established multifactor origin of dyspnea in patients with RA upon significant role of lung pathology, which registered in RA-patients.  Conclusions: pulmonary pathology shows unpleasant effect on QoL and level of general health of patient with RA, significantly decreased them. The perspective direction for increasing the QoL for patients with RA with pulmonary pathology depends on saving the respiratory function of lungs, adequate control of the activity of the RA, correction of violations of psychoemotional disorders and depressive level of patients.
Genetic affinities of inbred mouse strains of uncertain origin.
Authors: W R Atchley, W Fitch
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (1993)

Phylogenetic analyses of genetic data arising from 144 gene loci are used to describe the interrelationships among 24 widely used inbred strains of mice. An unordered-parsimony analysis gives a cladogram that is virtually identical to the known genealogy of the mouse strains. A loss-parsimony analysis is used to evaluate the hypothesis that the observed patterns of genetic divergence among these 24 strains can be explained by the segregation of residual heterozygosity arising from a small population of highly heterozygous mice. The loss-parsimony cladogram is very similar to both the unordered-parsimony cladogram and the known genealogy of the mice. The phylogenetic analyses of these 144 loci are integrated with data on the type and origin of the Y chromosome. Inclusion of the Y-chromosome data provides additional insights into the genetic composition of several of the original stocks used to produce the current inbred strains of mice. Ten strains of uncertain origin are contained in these analyses, including AKR, BUB, CE, I, NZB, P, RF, SJL, ST, and SWR. SJL is hypothesized to have been derived from the same Swiss albino stock previously used to produce SWR. The BUB strain appears to have had a complex origin and shows closest genetic similarity to SWR and ST. AKR and RF are shown to be closely related, while the I strain shows greatest genetic similarity to DBA/2 for the 144 loci. However, I and DBA possess different types of Y chromosome. The NZB strain shows genetic similarity to several stocks of both U.S. and European origins. The power of the genetic data used in these analyses reiterates that inbred strains of mice can be a valuable paradigm for studies in evolutionary biology.
Abstract 236: A Multi Center Study of Awareness During Resuscitation
Authors: Sam Parnia, Peter Fenwick, Ken Spearpoint, Gabriele Devos, Hayley Killingbeck, Paula McLean, Maziar Zafari, Neal Dickert, Roland Beisteiner, Fritz Sterz, Michael Berger, Celia Warlow, Siobhan o’Donoghue, Salli Lovett, Russell Metcalfe Smith, Sandra Pink, Kayla Harris, Jenny Sutton, Harry Walmsley, Paul Little, Mark Farber
Journal: Circulation (2013)

Awareness during anesthesia is characterized by auditory perceptions, pain, and dream like states and associated with PTSD. Few studies have examined awareness during cardiac arrest. Although, these two phenomena share similarities, there are also differences. In particular during CA, patients may report visual perceptions (‘seeing’ and recalling events). Furthermore, some experiences are associated with the scientifically imprecise entity of ‘near death experiences’ (NDE). Methods: A prospective cohort study at 25 hospitals in the US, UK and Austria to determine the incidence of awareness (i.e. visual or auditory) during CA as well as the characteristics of patients’ recollections was conducted. We further examined the feasibility of testing the accuracy of visual and auditory recollections using standardized tests by pre-installing shelves containing images as well as instructing research staff to provide set auditory cues during CPR where possible. Survivors underwent a structured interview which included questions on visual and auditory impressions as well as the Greyson questionnaire to quantify experiences typically classified as NDE (score &gt;=7) Results: 2060 cardiac arrest events were recorded with a reported survival of 32% (n=657). 23% (n=152) were interviewed. Information on visual or auditory impressions during CA was available on 89% of interviewed subjects. Of these, 37 % responded that they had experienced visual and/or auditory impressions during their time of unconsciousness and CA. Among those with auditory and/or visual impressions, 70% had a Greyson score &gt;0 and 30% had a Greyson score &gt;=7, consistent with a conventionally defined “NDE”. Two had visual recollections of being able to ‘see’ events, and one accurately described details corresponding with a verifiable period of at least 3-5 minutes of CA. Placement of images corresponded with only 33% of all CA locations. The two patients did not have CA in areas with images. Conclusions: Auditory and/or visual experiences during unconsciousness may be a relatively common phenomenon. Even though these experiences may not reflect the conventionally defined NDE and may be different, they may indicate that consciousness may not cease as expected with cessation of heartbeat during CA
Gene Identification and Expression Analysis of 86,136 Expressed Sequence Tags (EST) from the Rice Genome
Authors: Yan Zhou, Jiabin Tang, Michael G. Walker, Xiuqing Zhang, Jun Wang, Songnian Hu, Huayong Xu, Yajun Deng, Jianhai Dong, Lin Ye, Li Lin, Jun Li, Xuegang Wang, Hao Xu, Yibin Pan, Wei Lin, Wei Tian, Jing Liu, Liping Wei, Siqi Liu, Huanming Yang, Jun Yu, Jian Wang
Journal: Genomics Proteomics & Bioinformatics (2003)

Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) analysis has pioneered genome-wide gene discovery and expression profiling. In order to establish a gene expression index in the rice cultivar indica, we sequenced and analyzed 86,136 ESTs from nine rice cDNA libraries from the super hybrid cultivar LYP9 and its parental cultivars. We assembled these ESTs into 13,232 contigs and leave 8,976 singletons. Overall, 7,497 sequences were found similar to existing sequences in GenBank and 14,711 are novel. These sequences are classified by molecular function, biological process and pathways according to the Gene Ontology. We compared our sequenced ESTs with the publicly available 95,000 ESTs from japonica, and found little sequence variation, despite the large difference between genome sequences. We then assembled the combined 173,000 rice ESTs for further analysis. Using the pooled ESTs, we compared gene expression in metabolism pathway between rice and Arabidopsis according to KEGG. We further profiled gene expression patterns in different tissues, developmental stages, and in a conditional sterile mutant, after checking the libraries are comparable by means of sequence coverage. We also identified some possible library specific genes and a number of enzymes and transcription factors that contribute to rice development.
Lung function and respiratory morbidity in children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Authors: Marina Praprotnik, Malena Aldeco, Dusanka Lepej, Uros Krivec
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Introduction: There are limited data regarding respiratory sequelae in school-age children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) born in the surfactant era at.

Aim: To determine lung function and respiratory morbidity in school-age children with BPD and to compare the results with preterm non BPD and at-term born children.

Methods: Two cohorts of preterm children with a gestational age < 30 weeks (BPD, n=23 and preterm without BPD, n=33) and 33 at-term born subjects were recruited at a median age of 7.7 years. Their lung function and patterns respiratory morbidity were assessed.

Results: The children in the BPD group had significantly lower mean FVC % predicted, (89.1 vs. 98.5 vs. 100.1), FEV1 % predicted (75.3 vs. 89.8 vs. 91.1) and FEF25-75 % predicted (58.9 vs. 82.6 vs. 90.1), compared to preterm non BPD and at-term born group. Children in the preterm non BPD group had mean spirometric values in normal ranges and there was no significant difference in FVC, FEV1 and FEF25-75 compared to the at-term born group.

There were significantly more children with BPD wheezing in the first 3 years of life and in the last year before study compared to preterm non BPD and at-term born group (P < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in wheezing episodes between preterm non BPD and at-term born group of children.

Conclusions: Impaired lung function and higher prevalence of wheezing persist in school-age children with BPD.

![Figure][1]  [1]: pending:yes
Abstract P128: A New Device for Objective Measurement of Sedentary Behavior
Authors: Mary Rosenberger, William Haskell, Matthew Buman, Brent LaStofka, Laura Carstensen
Journal: Circulation (2014)

Objective measurement of sedentary behavior with accelerometers is an important part of epidemiological research. Unfortunately, the definition of sedentary behavior includes both “sitting and low levels of energy expenditure”, which are not usually measured by popular activity monitors. Currently, there is only one research device (ActivPAL) that can objectively measure both body posture and activity for sedentary behavior classification. The purpose of this study was to compare the Lumoback device, a commercial accelerometer-based posture monitor, for sedentary measurement during daily activities to the ActivPAL. The Lumoback also has real-time feedback delivered to the user through their mobile device, which may prove to be instrumental in sedentary intervention research. Subjects (N=33) wore the Lumoback and ActivPAL devices simultaneously during waking hours while continuing with their normal activity patterns. Linear regression showed good correlation between sitting minutes (R2=0.89, p &lt; 0.001) and standing minutes (R2=0.86, p &lt; 0.001) from the devices. There was no significant difference (p &gt; 0.05) between the seconds of sedentary behavior measured with the lumoback and seconds sitting/lying measured with the ActivPAL. The lumoback posture monitor was similar to the ActivPAL for measurement of sedentary behavior, and could be used to measure sedentary behavior over the course of a waking day.
Aminophylline increases ventilation and crural diaphragm contractility in awake canines
Authors: Jenny Jagers, Bruce Rothwell, Paul Easton
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Aminophylline (Amino) is still used in treatment of COPD. However, effects of Amino on ventilation and respiratory muscles are uncertain. Previously, we examined the effects of Amino on costal diaphragm (Resp Phys, 2009 167:273-80). Since costal and crural diaphragm show differential function, structure and fiber type, we studied the effect of Amino on the crural diaphragm (CRU), by measurement of both length and moving average EMG. Sonomicrometry transducers and EMG electrodes were implanted in the left CRU. After recovery, the animals were studied awake, breathing through a mask recording airflow, ETCO 2 , heart rate, muscle length, and EMG during room air, and CO 2  stimulation, before and after Amino. Results are shown at room air and 2 levels of CO 2 . For N=6 dogs (mean wt 29.8kg) studied after 25 days, minute ventilation, tidal volume, and respiratory frequency increased significantly with Amino, during resting breathing and all levels of CO 2 . Mean Amino was 72 umol/L (therapeutic range 55-110 umol/L). CRU shortening increased significantly with Amino while CRU EMG activity remained unchanged, consistent with increased contractility of the CRU with Amino. We conclude that, at clinical therapeutic doses of Aminophylline, crural diaphragm contractility is increased.
Gait characteristics and energy expenditure during 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in phenotypes of COPD
Authors: Ruby Stella Robert, Vishal Bansal, Pawan Gupta, S.K. Chhabra, Rajendra Prasad
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background:  Gait characteristics and energy expenditure during the 6MWT are considered to be of prognostic significance in patients with COPD.  Aims:  To evaluate the differences in the gait characteristics and energy expenditure during the 6MWT in emphysema-predominant and non-emphysematous phenotypes of COPD.  Method:  31 consecutive patients with COPD (GOLD Stage I- 3.2%, II- 45%, III- 25.8%, IV- 25.8%) were enrolled in the study and categorized on the basis of CT-thorax into the above phenotypes. Disease severity and quality of life were assessed using COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and St George9s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Step count, movement intensity and total energy expenditure (TEE) were measured in both the groups during 6MWT using a move monitor (Dynaport Minimod, McRoberts TM ). Data was analyzed using unpaired t-test.  Results:  18 patients were diagnosed as emphysema-predominant and remaining 13 patients characterized as non-emphysematous phenotypes. Both the groups were comparable in their age, gender distribution, body mass index (BMI), degree of obstruction (FEV 1 ) and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). CAT and SGRQ scores were significantly higher (p=0.047 & p=0.016 respectively) in the emphysematous group as compared to the non-emphysematous group. Significantly higher TEE was recorded in the emphysematous group (p= 0.047) as compared to non-emphysematous group though the gait characteristics (step count and movement intensity) did not differ across the two groups.  Conclusions:  Emphysema-predominant phenotypes have higher energy expenditure during comparable walk distance and poor quality of life at similar degree of obstruction as compared to non-emphysematous phenotype.
The Landscape of Realized Homologous Recombination in Pathogenic Bacteria
Authors: Koji Yahara, Xavier Didelot, Keith A Jolley, Ichizo Kobayashi, Martin C J Maiden, Samuel K Sheppard, Daniel Falush
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2015)

Recombination enhances the adaptive potential of organisms by allowing genetic variants to be tested on multiple genomic backgrounds. Its distribution in the genome can provide insight into the evolutionary forces that underlie traits, such as the emergence of pathogenicity. Here, we examined landscapes of realized homologous recombination of 500 genomes from ten bacterial species and found all species have “hot” regions with elevated rates relative to the genome average. We examined the size, gene content, and chromosomal features associated with these regions and the correlations between closely related species. The recombination landscape is variable and evolves rapidly. For example in Salmonella, only short regions of around 1 kb in length are hot whereas in the closely related species Escherichia coli, some hot regions exceed 100 kb, spanning many genes. Only Streptococcus pyogenes shows evidence for the positive correlation between GC content and recombination that has been reported for several eukaryotes. Genes with function related to the cell surface/membrane are often found in recombination hot regions but E. coli is the only species where genes annotated as “virulence associated” are consistently hotter. There is also evidence that some genes with “housekeeping” functions tend to be overrepresented in cold regions. For example, ribosomal proteins showed low recombination in all of the species. Among specific genes, transferrin-binding proteins are recombination hot in all three of the species in which they were found, and are subject to interspecies recombination.