tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the body proportions among All-India Inter-Collegiate basketball players
Authors: M Elayaraja, A S Nageswaran, J Viswanathan
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2010)

Body size, shape and proportionality have been discovered to impose constraints upon capacity for optimal performance in sports. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the body proportions of percent body fat, fat mass and fat-free mass, and muscle mass of basketball players participated in All India Inter-Collegiate basketball tournament organised at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India from 27 January 2009 to 1 February 2010. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 55 basketball players (15 guard, 22 forward and 18 post players) who represented the state at National Basketball Championships. The instruments for data collection were weighing scale used to measure body weight, stadiometer to measure body weight, Harpenden skinfold caliper to measure skinfold thickness – biceps, triceps, supra-iliac and subscapular to calculate % body fat, fat mass and fat-free mass. All the measurements were taken by the ISAK level-2 accredited anthropometrists. The descriptive statistics of mean and SD and one-way analysis of variance were used to test inter-players positional differences in height, weight and body proportion estimations. The result reveals that basketball players has high fat free mass, muscle mass and a normal BMI, but low fat mass and % body fat which was at a risk zone even for wellness when compared with standard norms. This low % body fat and a high muscle mass calls for nutritional interventions, since the more muscle mass the higher the metabolic rate and a need for more calories to meet up their energy need.
The human visual cortex responds to gene therapy–mediated recovery of retinal function
Authors: Manzar Ashtari, Laura L. Cyckowski, Justin F. Monroe, Kathleen A. Marshall, Daniel C. Chung, Alberto Auricchio, Francesca Simonelli, Bart P. Leroy, Albert M. Maguire, Kenneth S. Shindler, Jean Bennett
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2011)

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a rare degenerative eye disease, linked to mutations in at least 14 genes. A recent gene therapy trial in patients with LCA2, who have mutations in RPE65, demonstrated that subretinal injection of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying the normal cDNA of that gene (AAV2-hRPE65v2) could markedly improve vision. However, it remains unclear how the visual cortex responds to recovery of retinal function after prolonged sensory deprivation. Here, 3 of the gene therapy trial subjects, treated at ages 8, 9, and 35 years, underwent functional MRI within 2 years of unilateral injection of AAV2-hRPE65v2. All subjects showed increased cortical activation in response to high- and medium-contrast stimuli after exposure to the treated compared with the untreated eye. Furthermore, we observed a correlation between the visual field maps and the distribution of cortical activations for the treated eyes. These data suggest that despite severe and long-term visual impairment, treated LCA2 patients have intact and responsive visual pathways. In addition, these data suggest that gene therapy resulted in not only sustained and improved visual ability, but also enhanced contrast sensitivity.
A novel and sensitive method for the detection of T cell stimulatory epitopes of / - and -gliadin
Authors: E H A Spaenij-Dekking
Journal: Gut (2004)

<b>Background:</b> It is now generally accepted that coeliac disease (CD) is caused by inflammatory T cell responses to gluten peptides bound to HLA-DQ2 or -DQ8 molecules. There is overwhelming evidence that CD patients can mount T cell responses to peptides found in both α-gliadin and γ-gliadin molecules. Assays that would detect the presence or absence of such peptides in food would thus be accurate indicators of safety for consumption by CD patients. <b>Aims:</b> The development of a sensitive method to detect T cell stimulatory epitopes of α-gliadin and γ-gliadin molecules in food products. <b>Methods:</b> Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were raised against peptides encoding the T cell stimulatory epitopes of α-gliadin (amino acids (aa) 59–71) and aa γ-gliadin (aa 142–153 and aa 147–159). These mAb competition assays were developed that quantitatively detect T cell stimulatory epitopes present on both intact proteins and peptides of sizes recognisable by CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells. <b>Results:</b> With the mAb based competition assays, T cell epitopes were detected in pepsin/trypsin digests of wheat proteins and ethanol extracts of various food products, with detection levels lower than those reached with gluten specific T cells. Moreover, the presence of T cell stimulatory epitopes was also detected in preparations of barley, rye, and triticale, other cereals known to be toxic for CD patients. <b>Conclusions:</b> A new antibody based method has been developed, detecting the presence of T cell stimulatory gluten peptides. This can be used to further ensure the safety of food consumed by CD patients.
Differing asthma prevalence by gross national index of country of birth among New York City residents
Authors: M. Chang, E. A. Kelvin
Journal: Allergy (2014)

The hygiene hypothesis suggests that higher exposure to infectious agents may be one reason for regional differences in asthma. This would suggest that immigrants from less developed countries, where infections are more common, to highly developed countries will have lower risk of asthma compared with natives, as has been found in a number of studies. We expand the research on immigrants to look at the level of development in country of origin as a predictor of asthma in New York City residents.Data came from the 2009 cross-sectional Community Health Survey. We used logistic regression to assess the relationship of country of birth and the gross national income (GNI), an indicator of the level of development, of country of birth with asthma among immigrants and US-born New York City residents.Those who were foreign born had lower odds of having asthma compared with those US born (OR = 0.43, P < 0.001). There was a dose relationship between GNI and asthma with decreasing odds of having asthma associated with lower GNI in country of birth (low GNI country: OR = 0.26, P = 0.014; middle GNI country: OR = 0.36, P < 0.001; and high GNI country = reference).These findings lend support to the hygiene hypothesis in that the odds of having asthma among New York City residents was lowest among people born in the least developed countries, as indicated by GNI, where infections are likely the most common.
Gastric Emptying of Milk Feedings in Infants and Children
Authors: SYDNEY HEYMAN, HELENE REICH
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1997)

The radionuclide milk scan is a valuable tool for the evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux and gastric emptying in children. There is uncertainty as to whether anterior imaging alone is sufficient for determining gastric emptying in these patients. Methods: Twenty-five children underwent Tc-99m sulfur colloid milk scans with images acquired in the anterior and posterior projections. Calculations of the 1 hour and 2 hour percentage of gastric residual activity were performed using the anterior counts alone and the geometric mean of the anterior and posterior counts. The anterior and posterior images were visually assessed for the presence of gastroesophageal reflux. Results: The means of the absolute differences at 1 and 2 hours for the two methods of gastric residual calculation were 4.1% ± 2.1% and 3.4% ± 2.8%, respectively. There was good correlation between the two methods at 1 and 2 hours with r values of 0.991 and 0.997 respectively. Gastroesophageal reflux was more obvious in the anterior images and three small episodes were only seen on the anterior view. Conclusion: Anterior images alone give reliable results for the determination of gastric emptying, and gastroesophageal reflux is more readily visualized anteriorly in the pediatric population.
Doxorubicin plus Interleukin-2 Chemoimmunotherapy against Breast Cancer in Mice
Authors: Andrew Ewens, Liqun Luo, Erica Berleth, James Alderfer, Robert Wollman, Bilal Bin Hafeez, Peter Kanter, Enrico Mihich, M. Jane Ehrke
Journal: Cancer Research (2006)

Abstract As recently characterized, following s.c. implantation into syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, E0771 tumor invades locally into dermal layers and peritoneum, metastasizes to the lung, and induces a nonspecific immunosuppression in the host. Using this breast medullar adenocarcinoma model, a therapy consisting of a single moderate dose of doxorubicin followed by twice daily moderate doses of interleukin-2 for 30 days was examined for efficacy and mechanism of action when given to animals with established disease. This combination treatment, but not combinants alone, resulted in tumor-free long-term survival of 40% of the mice without significant toxicity and 83% of survivors had immune memory specific for E0771 cells. Treatment also decreased immune suppression induced by E0771 tumor. Full response to treatment required functional CD8+ T cells, whereas depletion of natural killer cells caused only a reduction in response rate. A serum “biomarker” profile that correlated with, and seemed predictive of, response to treatment was identified by nuclear magnetic resonance–based metabonomic analysis. The efficacy of this nontoxic treatment and the potential to be able to predict which individual is responding to treatment are characteristics that make this chemoimmunotherapy attractive for clinical testing. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(10): 5419-26)
Aspirin for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Women and Men
Authors: Jeffrey S. Berger, Maria C. Roncaglioni, Fausto Avanzini, Ierta Pangrazzi, Gianni Tognoni, David L. Brown
Journal: JAMA (2006)

Aspirin therapy reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in adults who are at increased risk. However, it is unclear if women derive the same benefit as men.To determine if the benefits and risks of aspirin treatment in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease vary by sex.MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases (1966 to March 2005), bibliographies of retrieved trials, and reports presented at major scientific meetings. Eligible studies were prospective, randomized controlled trials of aspirin therapy in participants without cardiovascular disease that reported data on myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and cardiovascular mortality. Six trials with a total of 95 456 individuals were identified; 3 trials included only men, 1 included only women, and 2 included both sexes.Studies were reviewed to determine the number of patients randomized, mean duration of follow-up, and end points (a composite of cardiovascular events [nonfatal MI, nonfatal stroke, and cardiovascular mortality], each of these individual components separately, and major bleeding).Among 51,342 women, there were 1285 major cardiovascular events: 625 strokes, 469 MIs, and 364 cardiovascular deaths. Aspirin therapy was associated with a significant 12% reduction in cardiovascular events (odds ratio [OR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-0.99; P = .03) and a 17% reduction in stroke (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70-0.97; P = .02), which was a reflection of reduced rates of ischemic stroke (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.63-0.93; P = .008). There was no significant effect on MI or cardiovascular mortality. Among 44,114 men, there were 2047 major cardiovascular events: 597 strokes, 1023 MIs, and 776 cardiovascular deaths. Aspirin therapy was associated with a significant 14% reduction in cardiovascular events (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78-0.94; P = .01) and a 32% reduction in MI (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54-0.86; P = .001). There was no significant effect on stroke or cardiovascular mortality. Aspirin treatment increased the risk of bleeding in women (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.13-2.52; P = .01) and in men (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.35-2.20; P<.001).For women and men, aspirin therapy reduced the risk of a composite of cardiovascular events due to its effect on reducing the risk of ischemic stroke in women and MI in men. Aspirin significantly increased the risk of bleeding to a similar degree among women and men.
Overexpression of CDKN2B (p15INK4B) and altered global DNA methylation status in mesenchymal stem cells of high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: A Poloni, G Maurizi, D Mattiucci, S Amatori, B Fogliardi, B Costantini, M Mariani, S Mancini, A Olivieri, M Fanelli, P Leoni
Journal: Leukemia (2014)
FCRL3 promoter 169 CC homozygosity is associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis in Dutch Caucasians
Authors: M. M Thabet, J Wesoly, P E Slagboom, R E M Toes, T W J Huizinga
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2006)

Human leucocyte antigen is the only genetic risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that has been consistently observed in different populations. A number of other genes such as PTPN22 and PADI4 showed population-specific association with RA susceptibility. Recently, Fc receptor-like 3 (FCRL3) gene was found to be associated with RA susceptibility in Japanese, but with conflicting results in other populations.To investigate the association of FCRL3 polymorphism with RA susceptibility and severity in Dutch Caucasian patients with RA, as well as to perform a meta-analysis to reveal the contribution of this gene to RA susceptibility.A total of 931 Dutch RA cases and 570 unrelated Dutch controls were genotyped for four FCRL3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genotyping was performed using the MassArray matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Association of the FCRL3 SNPs with susceptibility to RA was examined by single-marker, carrier and haplotype analysis.Carrier analysis of the SNP (rs7528684) revealed the association of CC genotype with a higher risk of developing RA as compared with TT and TC carriers (p = 0.039 and OR = 1.31). There was no significant difference in the genotype and allele frequencies of all investigated SNPs between cases and controls. Meta-analysis of all studies comparing 9467 individuals showed that the OR for the CC genotype to develop RA was 1.2 and the p value <0.001.A promoter polymorphism of FCRL3 (rs7528684) is associated with an increased risk of developing RA in Dutch Caucasians, suggesting that this association is relevant for RA in both Japanese and Caucasian populations.
Differential expression pattern ofS-adenosylmethionine synthetase isoenzymes during rat liver development
Authors: B Gil, M Casado, M A Pajares, L Bosca, J M Mato, P Martin-Sanz, L Alvarez
Journal: Hepatology (1996)

The pattern of expression of liver–specific and extrahepatic S –adenosylmethionine (SAM) synthetase in developing rat liver was established by determining steady–state levels of the respective messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and protein content. Levels of liver–specific SAM synthetase mRNA increased progressively from day 20 of gestation, increased 10–fold immediately after birth, and reached a peak at 10 days of age, decreasing slightly by adulthood. Conversely, mRNA levels of extrahepatic isoenzyme decreased toward birth, increased threefold in the newborn, and decreased further in the postnatal life, reaching a minimum in the adult. Similar expression profiles were observed in isolated hepatocytes, indicating that both mRNAs are differentially regulated in the same cell type. Western blot analysis showed that levels of immunoreactive liver–specific isoenzyme followed a trend similar to the mRNA, indicating that developmental regulation of this enzyme is mediated at the mRNA level. Developmental patterns of expression of albumin and α–fetoprotein (AFP) mRNAs were closely related to those for liver–specific and extrahepatic isoenzymes, respectively. Therefore, it is suggested that liver–specific SAM synthetase may be a marker for hepatocyte differentiation. Incubation of primary cultures of hepatocytes from 21–day–old fetuses with permeant cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) analogues elicited an up–regulation of the mRNA for the liver–specific isoenzyme with a concomitant down–regulation of the extrahepatic message, suggesting a physiological role for the increased postnatal glucagonemia in the control of this isoenzyme switching. In contrast with the isoenzyme expression profiles, the levels of SAM, the product of SAM synthetase reaction, were determined to be greater during gestation than in immediate postnatal periods. These results indicate that synthesis and utilization of SAM may be regulated differentially in fetal and adult hepatocytes.
Can Home AEDs Improve Survival?
Authors: David J. Callans
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2008)

Although it is difficult to study or even quantify, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest contributes greatly to total mortality in industrialized countries. Often such an event is the first manifestation of cardiovascular disease, and more than 90% of patients do not have identifiable high-risk characteristics. The estimated U.S. incidence of sudden cardiac arrest is 166,200 per year, with a median survival to hospital discharge of only 6.4%.1 In this context, the automated external defibrillator (AED) has generated substantial hope. Clinical trials of the devices have gradually increased the scale of application from circumscribed locations, such as casinos and airplanes, to other public . . .
The Effect of Controlled Drinking in Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Josep María Nicolás, Joaquim Fernández-Solà, Ramon Estruch, Joan Carles Paré, Emilio Sacanella, Alvaro Urbano-Márquez, Emanuel Rubin
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Background: Cardiomyopathy is a potentially fatal complication of alcohol abuse. In alcoholic persons who develop cardiac dysfunction, abstinence is thought to be essential to halt further deterioration of cardiac contractility. Some evidence indicates that reducing alcohol intake may also be beneficial. Objective: To evaluate the effect of moderate "controlled" drinking on cardiac function in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Design: 4-year prospective cohort study. Setting: A university hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Patients: 55 alcoholic men with cardiomyopathy who had been drinking a minimum of 100 g of ethanol per day for at least 10 years. Measurements: Evaluation of ethanol intake and nutrition, clinical assessment of cardiac status, and sequential echocardiography and radionuclide cardiac angiography. Results: After the first year of evaluation, all patients with cardiomyopathy who abstained from alcoholic beverages demonstrated significant improvement in left ventricular function (average increase in left ventricular ejection fraction, 0.131 [95% CI, 0.069 to 0.193]). Patients who drank 20 to 60 g of ethanol per day showed a comparable mean improvement of 0.125 (CI, 0.082 to 0.168). In contrast, left ventricular ejection fraction deteriorated further in most patients who continued to abuse alcohol (>80 g/d). After 4 years, left ventricular ejection fraction had continued to improve in both abstinent patients and those who controlled their drinking. Ten patients who had continued to consume more than 80 g of ethanol per day died during the study. Conclusion: In patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy, both abstinence and controlled drinking of up to 60 g of ethanol per day (four standard drinks) were comparably effective in promoting improvement in cardiac function.
P167Simvastatin &amp; irbesartan suppresses inflammatory responses, chemokine expressions and apoptosis induced by myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in male rats
Authors: N R Hadi, F G Alamran, M G Yousif, B I Mohammad, S T Zamil
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2014)

Background: Myocardial ischemia–reperfusion represents a clinically relevant problem associated with thrombolysis, angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery. Injury of myocardium due to ischemia–reperfusion includes cardiac contractile dysfunction, arrhythmias as well as irreversible myocytes damage. Objective: This study was undertaken to investigate the potential role of simvastatin and Irbesartan in amelioration of myocardial I/R injury induced by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery rat model. Material & methods : The rats were randomized into 5 equal groups. Group 1 sham group, rat underwent the same anesthetic and surgical procedure as the control group except for ligation of LAD , group 2 control group, rats underwent ligation for LAD and subjected to regional ischemia for 25 min and reperfusion for 2 hours, group 3 control vehicle , rats underwent ligation for LAD and received Irbesartan and simvastatin vehicle (normal saline), group 4 rat pretreated with Irbesartan 3mg/kg i.p.30 minuts before LAD ligation, group 5 rat pretreated with simvastatin 1mg/kg i.p 1 hr before LAD ligation , the LAD is then transiently ligated using a 6-0 prolene suture for a 25-minute ischemia reperfusion was initiated by releasing ligature. At the end of experiment (2 hr of reperfusion), blood samples were collected from the heart for measurement of plasma level of cardiac troponin I(cTn I). The heart were harvested, the apical side was fixed in 10% formalin for histological examination and apoptosis study , the basal side was homogenized for the measurement of tissue tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) , interleukin -6 (IL-6),Monocyte chemottractant protein -1 (MCP-1) and Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-1 alpha). Results: Compared with the sham group, levels of myocardial TNF-α & IL-1β, IL-6,MCP-1.MIP-1alpha ; plasma cTn I were increased (p<0.05), Histologically ,all rats in control group showed significant (p<0.05) cardiac injury.further more all rats in control group showed significant (p<0.05) apoptosis. Both Irbesartan and simvastatin significantly counteract the increase in myocardium level of TNF-α, IL-1B,IL-6,MCP-1,MIP-1alpha,plasma cTnI & apoptotic (P < 0.05). histological analysis revealed that both Irbesartan and simvastatin markedly reduced (P < 0.05) the severity of heart injury in the rats underwent LAD ligation procedure. Conclusion: The results of the present study reveal that Irbesartan and simvastatin may ameliorate myocardial I/R injury in rats via interfering with inflammatory reactions & apoptosis which induced by I/R injury.
A genome-wide association study for myopia and refractive error identifies a susceptibility locus at 15q25
Authors: Pirro G Hysi, Terri L Young, David A Mackey, Toby Andrew, Alberto Fernández-Medarde, Abbas M Solouki, Alex W Hewitt, Stuart Macgregor, Johannes R Vingerling, Yi-Ju Li, M Kamran Ikram, Lee Yiu Fai, Pak C Sham, Lara Manyes, Angel Porteros, Margarida Cabrita Lopes, Francis Carbonaro, Samantha J Fahy, Nicholas G Martin, Cornelia M van Duijn, Timothy D Spector, Jugnoo S Rahi, Eugenio Santos, Caroline C W Klaver, Christopher J Hammond
Journal: Nature Genetics (2010)