tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Abstract 1443: Angiotensin Ii Type 2 Receptor-dependent Dilation Is Reduced In Type Ii Diabetes Due To Cox-2 Generated Thromboxane A2 And Reactive Oxygen Species.
Authors: Kevin Retaileau, Eric Belin de Chantemele, annelaure guihot, Emilie Vessieres, Sebastien Chanoine, Alain Jardel, daniel henrion, Laurent Loufrani
Journal: Circulation (2007)

The role of angiotensin II type 2 receptors (AT2R) is not fully understood, especially in vascular diseases. Although its vasodilatory and antitrophic properties are well accepted, in hypertensive rats AT2R stimulation induces vasoconstriction. Abnormalities in the renin-angiotensin system have a key role in cardiovascular disorders associated with the evolution of type II diabetes. Thus, we hypothesized that AT2R function might be altered in diabetic rats resistance arteries. Mesenteric resistance arteries (250 μm diameter) were isolated from type II diabetic Zucker (ZDF) and control rats (LZ) rats receiving the antioxidant tempol (16 mg/kg/day) or water for 3 weeks. Dilation to angiotensin II (due AT2R stimulation) in the presence of candesartan (angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker) was studied in ring segment of arteries using a wire-myograph mesenteric wall force. AT2R induced endothelium and NO-dependent dilation in LZ (inhibited by L-NAME). It was not affected by cyclooxygenase (indomethacin) or reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibition (TEMPOL). In ZDF rats AT2R-induced dilation was lower than in LZ rats and independent of NO (not inhibited by L-NAME). It was restored to control level after ROS (tempol) and cycloxygenase inhibition (indomethacin). Cycloxygenase-2 (NS398) and Thromboxane A2 receptor (SQ29548) inhibition also restored AT2R-dilation in ZDF rats to control (LZ) level. Cycloxygenase-2 and ROS were overexpressed (immuno-histological detection using confocal microscopy) in ZDF rats arteries. In ZDF rats chronically treated with the antioxydant Tempol (SOD mimetic) AT2R-induced dilation was equivalent to that in LZ (control) rats and it involved NO and cycloxygenase-2-derivatives in equivalent proportion (dilation inhibited in part by L-NAME and by NS398). In tempol-treated rats SQ29548 had no effect. We conclude that in type II diabetic rats AT2R induced dilation is reduced due to ROS and thromboxane A2-dependent vasoconstriction due to COX-2 activation. Chronic treatment of diabetic rats with tempol restored AT2R-dependent dilation through the suppression of ROS and TxA2 production. These findings might be important to consider in the choice of vasoactive drugs in diabetic patients.
Abstract P352: Results of a Randomised trial of Selenium Supplementation and Type-2 Diabetes Risk, as Assessed by Plasma Adiponectin
Authors: Margaret P Rayman, Gabrielle Blundell-Pound, Roberto Pastor-Barriuso, Eliseo Guallar, Saverio Stranges
Journal: Circulation (2012)

Evidence that selenium (Se) affects the risk of type-2 diabetes (T2D) is conflicting with observational studies showing both lower and higher risk or prevalence linked to higher Se status. Importantly, however, a post-hoc analysis of the NPC trial carried out in the US showed a significantly increased risk of T2D in those supplemented with Se (200 &amp;956;g/day as Se-yeast), the increased risk being driven by those in the highest tertile of plasma selenium at baseline (&amp;#62;121.6 &amp;956;g/L). Stored plasma samples from the UK PRECISE Pilot study, in which 501 elderly volunteers were randomly assigned to a six-month treatment with 100, 200 or 300 &amp;#181;g Se/d as high-Se or placebo yeast, provided an opportunity to investigate the impact of Se supplementation on the risk of T2D in a lower-Se population. Plasma adiponectin concentration, a recognised independent predictor of T2D risk, was the biomarker chosen as the plasma samples were non-fasted, precluding the measurement of glucose or insulin. Adiponectin concentration was measured at baseline and at the six-month follow-up by ELISA in 473 participants who had one or both plasma samples available. Mean plasma Se increased significantly from baseline in all Se-supplemented groups. Multivariable linear regression based on log-transformed adiponectin data showed a cross-sectional inverse association between plasma Se and adiponectin concentration at baseline. However, results from linear mixed models on untransformed and log-transformed adiponectin concentrations, adjusted for study centre, showed no effect of Se supplementation on adiponectin concentration. Study limitations were the high variability in baseline adiponectin concentrations in the population, the short duration of supplementation and the narrow age range of the participants (60-74 yr). In conclusion, these findings are reassuring as they suggest absence of harm of selenium supplementation in terms of diabetes risk in a lower-Se population.
Abstract 16862: Ethnic Differences in Repolarisation Patterns and Left Ventricular Remodelling in Highly Trained Male Adolescent (14-18 Years) Athletes
Authors: Michael Papadakis, Francois Carre, Gaelle Kervio, John Rawlins, Vasileios Panoulas, Navin Chandra, Hari Raju, Rachel Bastiaenen, Elijah Behr, Sanjay Sharma
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Purpose: Studies in adult, black athletes (BA) demonstrate a high prevalence of ECG repolarisation changes and echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) that may overlap with hypertrophi...
Noise Pollution: EU Ramps Up Road Improvements
Authors: David C. Holzman
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2004)

Noise costs the European Union (EU) 10–40 billion annually, by various estimates, with roughly half of this due to road noise. Contributing factors include medical costs, reduced worker productivity, and de facto condemnation of noise-exposed land. Due mostly to the demands of greater population density, European noise mitigation efforts are far ahead of those of the United States, and U.S. officials are paying attention: this spring, officials and researchers toured the best European projects.

Tires hitting pavement can cause as much as 90% of road traffic noise, depending on the traffic conditions, vehicle type, and driving style, says Ulf Sandberg, a senior research scientist at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute. The treads squeeze air as they strike the road and snap as they pull away, which sets the tread and sidewalls vibrating. The upward-curving treads and the road surface form a “horn,” amplifying the cacophony, and the highway surface reflects the noise, says Roger L. Wayson, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Central Florida.

One strategy to fight road/tire noise is single-layer porous highways sitting on an asphalt concrete foundation, which cover hundreds of miles in Europe. The pores, created by using stones of similar size in the asphalt mix, are thought to dampen the hiss of the pumped air and to impair the acoustic reflectivity of the road surface. The resulting 3-decibel reduction over a conventional European highway is readily perceptible.

Besides dampening noise, porous surfaces drain rain, potentially reducing accidents. But they also drain winter road salt (sand can’t be used because it blocks the pores). Europeans use wetted salt, which sticks longer to the road, but U.S. observers worry that more salt use could trade one environmental problem for another. Still, single-layer porous surfaces are successful in the European countries visited, says Christopher Corbisier, a civil engineer and noise specialist with the Federal Highway Administration who took the recent tour.

More experimental are roadways with two layers of porous asphalt atop the foundation, which shave another several decibels from the din, says Gijsjan van Blokland, general manager of the Dutch company M&P Consulting Engineers. At short test sites in Italy and the Netherlands noise-absorbing Helmholtz resonators are embedded in the concrete foundation, cutting several decibels more. These highways tend to wear more quickly than the single-layered ones.

Although noise costs have not been estimated for the United States, road noise is still a concern here. In the United States, noise mitigation must be considered if residential exposures reach 66 decibels, although it is not required if deemed not reasonably feasible. Tall concrete noise barriers are typically used, but cost more than $1 million per mile. Quiet roads offer a potentially cheaper, more aesthetically pleasing alternative.
Hepatitis A seroprevalence in Tuscany, Italy
Authors: C Gentile, I Alberini, I Manini, S Rossi, E Montomoli, T Pozzi, C Rizzo, V Alfonsi
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2009)

Information regarding the current seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) is useful for the control of HAV infections. The objective of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies among children (1-5 years old) and young adults (15-20 years old) in Tuscany, in central Italy. A total of 565 sera were collected in three years 1992, 1998 and 2004, equally distributed between the two age groups. The overal proportion of those that tested positive for anti-HAV antibodies was 8.3%. The proportion of immune children (1-5 years old) statistically significantly increased over the years. The percentage of immune subjects among 15-20-year-old young adults varied over the years, not showing a significant statistical trend, nevertheless our findings indicate that in a low endemicity area, adolescents and young adults are becoming increasingly susceptible to HAV infection. On-going monitoring of immunity to HAV is necessary for detecting trends over time.
Abstract 12949: Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity Related to Clustering of Risk Factors for CVD in Children
Authors: Magnus Dencker, Ola Thorsson, Magnus K Karlsson, Christian Lindexn, Per Wollmer, Lars B Andersen
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Introduction:  Lack of physical activity is generally thought to be associated with risk factors for CVD in children. Previous studies have, however, produced conflicting results.   Hypothesis:  We assessed the hypothesis if objectively measured physical activity is related to clustering of risk factors for CVD in children aged 8 to 11 years.   Methods:  Cross-sectional study of 156 (81 boys and 75 girls) children aged 8–11 years, recruited from an urban population-based cohort. Physical activity was measured by accelerometers worn for four days and minutes of moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day was calculated. Total body fat mass (TBF) and abdominal fat mass (AFM) were measured by Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Body fatness was expressed as TBFs percentage of body mass (BF%;) and body fat distribution as AFM/TBF. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2PEAK ) was measured during a maximal exercise test. Blood was sampled and blood pressure (BP), and resting heart rate (HR) were measured. Z-scores (Value for the individual-mean value for group)/SD) were calculated. Sum of z-scores for triglycerides (TG) and lipoprotein concentrations, BF%;, AFM, AFM/TBF, systolic and diastolic BP, HR, and -VO 2PEAK , calculated in boys and girls, separately, were used as an indices of clustered risk.   Results:  Boys performed significantly more minutes of MVPA per day compared to girls (46±21 vs. 35±13, P   Conclusion:  In this population-based cohort of children aged 8 to 11 years minutes of moderate and vigorous physical activity per day predicted clustering of risk factors for CVD in girls. No such pattern could be observed in boys, which could be attributed to a higher physical activity level.
The Role of Transcription Factor PU.I in the Activity of the Intronic Enhancer of the Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin (RNS2) Gene
Authors: Thamar B. van Dijk, Eric Caldenhoven, Jan A.M. Raaijmakers, Jan-Willem J. Lammers, Leo Koenderman, Rolf P. de Groot
Journal: Blood (1998)
Abstract 6143: Regression of Aortic Valve Stenosis by ApoA-I Mimetic Peptide Infusions in Rabbits
Authors: David Busseuil, Yanfen Shi, Mélanie Mecteau, Geneviéve Brand, Teodora Avram, Anne-Elen Kernaleguen, Eric Thorin, Jean-Gilles Latour, Eric Rhéaume, Jean-Claude Tardif
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Purpose : Aortic valve stenosis is the most common valvular heart disease, and standard curative therapy remains open-heart surgical valve replacement. The aim of our experimental study was to determine if ApoA-I mimetic peptide infusions could induce regression of aortic valve stenosis. Methods : Twenty-seven New-Zealand White male rabbits received a cholesterol-enriched diet and vitamin D 2 until significant aortic valve stenosis was detected by echocardiography. The enriched diet was then stopped to mimic cholesterol-lowering therapy and animals were randomized to receive saline (control group, n =14) or an ApoA-I mimetic peptide (treated group, n =13), 3 times per week for 2 weeks. Serial echocardiograms and post mortem valve histology were performed. Results : Aortic valve area improved significantly in the treated group compared to controls after 7 days (20.9±0.9 mm 2 vs. 18.2±0.6 mm 2 , P &lt;0.0001) (corresponding to increases of 15.9% and 1.9%), 10 days (21.5±1.0 mm 2 vs. 19.5±0.6 mm 2 , P =0.0032) (increases of 19.2% vs. 9.1%), and 14 days of treatment (22.4±0.9 mm 2 vs. 20.4±0.6 mm 2 , P =0.0028) (increases of 24.4% vs. 14.2%). Likewise, aortic valve thickness decreased by 19% after 14 days of treatment in the treated group (0.951±0.070 mm at baseline vs. 0.768±0.074 mm at follow-up) whereas it was unchanged in controls ( P &lt;0.0001). Histological analysis revealed that lesion extent at the base of valve leaflets and sinuses of Valsalva was smaller in the treated compared to control group (52.8±12.5% vs. 66.7±9.9%, P =0.032). The ApoA-I mimetic peptide treatment also leads to a reduction in aortic valve calcifications as revealed by the loss of the positive relationship observed in the control group ( r =0.87, P =0.004) between calcifications area and aortic valve thickness. Conclusions : Infusions of an ApoA-I mimetic peptide lead to regression of experimental aortic valve stenosis. These positive results justify the further testing of HDL-based therapies in patients with valvular aortic stenosis. Regression of aortic stenosis, if achieved safely, could transform our clinical approach of this disease.
Abstract 2317: Nociceptive Stimulation: A Novel Cardioprotective Strategy
Authors: Xiaoping Ren, Guo-Chang Fan, Nijiati Kadeer, Evangelia G Kranias, W.Keith Jones
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Recent studies show that electro-stimulation from upper extremities or spinal cord elicits cardioprotective effects against I/R injury. In previous studies, we have identified a novel cardioprotective phenomenon that occurs subsequent to remote trauma (abdominal skin incision), termed RPCT. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an abdominal nociceptive stimulation (ANS), either by electrical or by chemical stimulation of remote peripheral sensory nerves along the same area of skin incision can produce cardioprotection similar to that of RPCT against MI. An in vivo mouse I/R model was used. ANS was performed 15 minutes prior to I/R or at the beginning of reperfusion with the needles placed along the line of abdominal incision. Infarct size was used to evaluate the results of I/R injury (45 min coronary occlusion, 24h reperfusion) with or without prior ANS treatments. Histological, immunochemical, cellular and functional studies were performed at appropriate timepoints. The results of demonstrate that both pre and post-conditioning produce an 85% reduction in infarct size (6.3 ± 2.2 vs. 52.6 ± 2.8 in preconditioning, P &lt; 0.01; 10.6 ± 3.1 vs . 60.2 ± 3.8 in post-conditioning, P &lt; 0.01, n = 6). Hematoxylin and Eosin staining showed that there was decreased infiltration after ANS compared to sham. We further show that ANS-preconditioning reduces apoptosis as evidenced by TUNEL staining and DNA fragmentation and reduces post-ischemic ventricular dysfunction. In conclusion, our results support 1) ANS is as protective as early phase of RPCT and 2) ANS elicited pre- and post-conditioning provides cardioprotection against myocardial infarction and dysfunction, at least in part, by reducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis after I/R. These results may suggest a novel therapeutic strategy for cardioprotection against I/R injury and have important implications for surgical patients at risk for myocardial infarction.
Abstract 3426: Myostatin Deletion Preserves Cardiac Function in Senescent Mice
Authors: Michael R Morissette, Janelle C Stricker, Anthony Rosenzweig
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Myostatin (MSTN) is a well-known negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass, and MSTN inhibition is being considered as therapy for multiple conditions associated with muscle wasting, including sarcopenia of aging. We have previously shown that MSTN inhibits phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, however whether MSTN has a physiological role in regulating cardiac hypertrophy or function at baseline or with aging remains unclear. To determine if MSTN is dynamically regulated with aging, we performed QRT-PCR on hearts from male wild-type (WT) senescent mice (24 months old (mos)) and rats (32 mos). MSTN mRNA levels were increased in old versus young (4 mos) hearts (2.5- and 4-fold respectively, p&lt;0.05). To study the functional significance of MSTN in aging, we maintained germline MSTN-knockout mice (MSTN −/− ) and their WT littermates for 24 –27 months. We found no difference in heart weight of aged male MSTN −/− compared to WT mice (162.5±17.0 (n=4) vs 153.2±4.2 (n=4) mg, p=0.51), which would argue against an inhibitory role for MSTN in age-related increases in cardiac mass. We also performed echocardiography on unanesthetized senescent MSTN −/− and WT mice. MSTN −/− mice had better fractional shortening (58.1±2.0 (n=7) vs 49.4±1.2 (n=8) %, p=0.002) and smaller LV end-diastolic diameter (3.41±0.19 vs 2.71±0.14 mm, p=0.012) compared to WT. The decreased cardiac function seen in aged WT mice was associated with increased cardiac fibrosis on Masson-Trichrome stained sections. Western blot analysis also demonstrated a 3.3-fold increase in phospholamban phosphorylation in MSTN −/− hearts (p&lt;0.05), compared to WT, while no differences in SERCA2a or calsequestrin protein levels were seen. We conclude that MSTN increases in the heart with aging, and that genetic deletion of MSTN results in improved cardiac function without a difference in heart mass in senescent mice. Decreased cardiac fibrosis and increased inhibition (phosphorylation) of phospholamban likely contribute to the better cardiac function seen in senescent MSTN −/− mice. These results suggest that inhibiting MSTN for sarcopenia in the elderly may also benefit cardiac function and could represent a novel therapeutic approach for ameliorating cardiac dysfunction and/or fibrosis. This research has received full or partial funding support from the American Heart Association, AHA Founders Affiliate (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont).
Abstract 957: Elevated Levels of Neopterin are Associated with Carotid Complex Plaques in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris
Authors: Kenichi Sugioka, Takahiko Naruko, Takeshi Hozumi, Shoichi Ehara, Takuhiro Okuyama, Hiroki Oe, Nobuyuki Shirai, Masashi Nakagawa, Chizuko Kitabayashi, Atsuko Furukawa, Akira Itoh, Minoru Yoshiyama, Makiko Ueda
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Background: Neopterin is produced by activated macrophages and serves as an activation marker for monocytes/macrophages. Serum levels of neopterin have been shown to be associated with the presence of complex coronary lesions in unstable angina pectoris. However, the relationship between neopterin levels and complex carotid lesions is still unknown. We investigated the association between plasma neopterin levels and the characteristics of carotid plaques in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP). Moreover, we immunohistochemically studied the presence of neopterin in carotid endarterectomy specimens. Methods: We studied 65 SAP patients who were scheduled coronary angiography. In all patients, plasma neopterin levels were measured and carotid ultrasound was performed for evaluation of carotid artery plaque score (PS) defined by the sum of plaque thickness, plaque number (PN) and plaque surface irregularity. Frozen tissue of 40 endarterectomy specimens for extracranial high-grade carotid stenosis were immunohistochemically examed with antibodies against macrophages and neopterin. Results: There was no significant correlation between plasma neopterin levels and PS (P=0.38) or PN (P=0.49). On the other hand, plasma neopterin levels were significantly higher in patients with carotid plaque surface irregularity compared with patients without it (25.4 ± 13.5 nmol/L vs.16.9 ± 6.5 nmol/L, P=0.0015). Carotid plaque irregularity was detected more frequently in patients with higher neopterin levels (&gt;=18.5 nmol/L median) compared with those with lower neopterin levels (41.9% vs. 16.1%, P=0.025). Using multivariate analyses, nepopterin levels (OR, 1.11; 95%CI, 1.01 to 1.21; P=0.023) and the number of diseased coronary vessels (OR, 2.51; 95%CI, 1.01 to 6.22; P=0.047) are independently associated with carotid plaque irregularity. Immunohistochemical staining showed abundant neopterin-positive macrophages in the unstable carotid plaques. Conclusions: Neopterin levels are associated with carotid complex plaques rather than the severity of carotid atherosclerotic change. Neopterin can be considered as one of the significant markers of plaque destabilization in not only coronary artery but carotid artery atherosclerotic lesions.
Interventional Approaches to Gallbladder Disease
Authors: Todd H. Baron, Ian S. Grimm, Lee L. Swanstrom
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2015)

This review summarizes recent innovations in the approaches to gallbladder disease, including laparoscopic cholecystectomy, cholecystectomy with natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, percutaneous cholecystostomy, and peroral endoscopic gallbladder drainage.
Criteria for Selective Admission of Patients with Haematemesis
Authors: R Harland, D Neilson
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1992)

A retrospective survey of 157 consecutive admissions for haematemesis was carried out in order to determine whether patients at low risk of adverse events could be identified at the time of admission from simple clinical features. In addition to known prognostic factors such as hypotension, tachycardia and anaemia, we studied the character of the vomit classified into altered or frank blood. Death, surgical intervention and transfusion of more than 2 units of blood were defined as 'adverse events'. No adverse event occurred in 37 patients who vomited only altered blood and who did not have melaena, or in 42 patients with a concentration of haemoglobin of 12 g/dl or more who vomited altered blood only. Classification by other prognostic criteria was not as sensitive. These results suggested that patients with haematemesis who have negligible risk of serious sequelae can be identified at an early stage in the course of their disease from simple features of clinical history and examination. Excessive use of resources should be avoided in such patients, and selective admission may be justified.