tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Tenascin-C and inflammatory markers in patients with COPD and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction
Authors: Mariana Muñoz-Esquerre, Marta López Sánchez, Ana Montes, María Molina-Molina, Frederic Manresa, Jordi Dorca, Salud Santos
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is a frequent condition in COPD. Tenascin- C (TNC), an extracellular matrix protein, and metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are associated with myocardial fibrosis and wall remodeling due to inflammation. The aim of the study was to determine whether the circulating levels of TNC, MMP-9 and inflammatory markers in COPD patients are associated with LVDD.  Methods  A total of 42 severe stable COPD patients (7 non LVDD, 29 with LVDD type I and 6 with type II) and a control group of 11 healthy subjects were included.  Clinical data and blood samples were collected from all subjects. Echocardiography, lung function tests and arterial blood gases were performed in COPD patients. The serum levels of TNC, MMP-9, IL-6, IL-8 and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) were measured by ELISA.  Results  COPD patients without LVDD were younger and had fewer cardiovascular risk factors than the others. COPD patients had similar FEV1%, lung hyperinflation, DLco% and hypoxemia in all groups.  Serum levels of IL-6 (p=0.045) and CRP (p=0.001) were higher in COPD with LVDD groups compared to non LVDD group. Circulating TNC levels were significantly increased in LVDD type II compared to type I (p=0.015).  Conclusions  Inflammatory markers are increased in patients with COPD and LVDD, suggesting a link between low-grade inflammation and the presence of LVDD. High levels of TNC are related to LVDD type II  Funded by FUCAP,SEPAR.
Preprocedural Levels of C-Reactive Protein and Leukocyte Counts Predict 9-Month Mortality After Coronary Angioplasty for the Treatment of Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Stenosis
Authors: Tullio Palmerini, Antonio Marzocchi, Cinzia Marrozzini, Paolo Ortolani, Francesco Saia, Letizia Bacchi-Reggiani, Santo Virzì, Silvia Gianstefani, Angelo Branzi
Journal: Circulation (2005)

Background— An accurate preprocedural risk stratification scheme for patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenosis who are undergoing coronary stenting is lacking. We examined the predictive value of preprocedural levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and leukocyte counts with respect to 9-month clinical outcomes after stenting of the ULMCA stenosis. Methods and Results— Levels of CRP, fibrinogen, and leukocyte count were prospectively measured in 83 patients undergoing stenting of the ULMCA. A drug-eluting stent was used in 42 patients, and a bare metal stent was used in 41. The end point of the study was death and the combination of death and myocardial infarction (MI). By the 9-month follow-up, there were 11 deaths (13%), 7 MIs (8%), and 16 target lesion revascularizations (19%). Death and death/MI occurred in 19% and 31%, respectively, of 59 patients with high serum levels of CRP (&gt;3 mg/L) but in none of 24 patients with normal CRP levels (for death, P =0.02; for death/MI, P =0.006). In multivariate analysis, the highest tertiles of CRP level ( P =0.028) and leukocyte count ( P =0.002) were the only independent predictors of death. The highest tertiles of CRP level ( P =0.002) and leukocyte count ( P =0.002) and acute coronary syndromes ( P =0.05) were the only independent predictors of the combined end point death/MI. Conclusions— Elevated preprocedural levels of CRP indicate an increased risk of death and death/MI after ULMCA stenting. Inflammatory risk assessment in patients with ULMCA stenosis may be useful for selecting patients for percutaneous coronary interventions with very low risk.
Health and Human Rights in Chin State, Western Burma: A Population-Based Assessment Using Multistaged Household Cluster Sampling
Authors: Richard Sollom, Adam K. Richards, Parveen Parmar, Luke C. Mullany, Salai Bawi Lian, Vincent Iacopino, Chris Beyrer
Journal: PLoS Medicine (2011)

Sollom and colleagues report the findings from a household survey study carried out in Western Burma; they report a high prevalence of human rights violations such as forced labor, food theft, forced displacement, beatings, and ethnic persecution.
G Protein–Coupled Receptor Sorting to Endosomes and Lysosomes
Authors: Adriano Marchese, May M. Paing, Brenda R.S. Temple, JoAnn Trejo
Journal: The Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology (2007)

The heptahelical G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) belong to the largest family of cell surface signaling receptors encoded in the human genome. GPCRs signal to diverse extracellular stimuli and control a vast number of physiological responses, making this receptor class the target of nearly half the drugs currently in use. In addition to rapid desensitization, receptor trafficking is crucial for the temporal and spatial control of GPCR signaling. Sorting signals present in the intracytosolic domains of GPCRs regulate trafficking through the endosomal-lysosomal system. GPCR internalization is mediated by serine and threonine phosphorylation and arrestin binding. Short, linear peptide sequences including tyrosine- and dileucine-based motifs, and PDZ ligands that are recognized by distinct endocytic adaptor proteins also mediate internalization and endosomal sorting of GPCRs. We present new data from bioinformatic searches that reveal the presence of these types of sorting signals in the cytoplasmic tails of many known GPCRs. Several recent studies also indicate that the covalent modification of GPCRs with ubiquitin serves as a signal for internalization and lysosomal sorting, expanding the diversity of mechanisms that control trafficking of mammalian GPCRs.
Quantitative skin prick testing
Authors: H.‐J. Malling
Journal: Allergy (1987)

Dose‐response curves of histamine‐ and allergen‐induced wheal areas were evaluated in seven normals (defined as negative skin prick test (SPT) to inhalant allergens and no clinical signs of allergy), seven latent allergies (positive SPT without allergic symptoms), and 20 manifest allergies (positive SPT and allergic symptoms). Three concentrations of histamine HCl (1, 10 and 100 mg/ml) and three 10‐fold concentrations of nine inhalant allergens (birch, timothy, mugwort, horse, dog, cat, house dust mite, Cladosporium and Alternaria ) in concentrations 1,000 10,000 and 100,000 BU/ml were used and linear regression was performed on the skin reactions. Only tests with an SD% &lt; 40%, a log slope &gt; 0.1, and a correlation coefficient &gt; 0.95 were accepted. In normals a significantly higher concentration of histamine was needed to elicit a wheal reaction of 2 mm 2 (end‐point) compared with allergies. Likewise, normals had a significantly higher slope i.e. steeper dose‐response curve of histamine than manifest allergies. The slope of the allergen‐induced wheal area was significantly higher than the histamine slope. No relation between corresponding slope of histamine and allergens was found (Rho = 0.15). The skin sensitivity equivalent to histamine calculated as the allergen concentration eliciting a wheal equal to histamine showed a median increase of 5–6 fold in allergen concentration by a 10‐fold increase of histamine concentration. The highest correlation between the wheal area of a single allergen concentration and the skin sensitivity was found for allergen concentration 100,000 BU. Based on these results it is recommended that biological standardization of allergen extracts is based on quantitative skin titration of at least three 10‐fold concentrations of both histamine and allergens and the biological activity (HEP unit) re‐defined from histamine HCl 10 mg/ml.
Human dendritic cells conditioned with Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B promote TH2 cell polarization
Authors: Marie Mandron, Marie-Françoise Ariès, Rossalyn D. Brehm, Howard S. Tranter, K. Ravi Acharya, Marie Charveron, Christian Davrinche
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2006)
Abstract 1202: DCA induces EGFR internalization by a mechanism that is distinct from EGF or UDCA
Authors: Jesse Martinez, Qiang Li
Journal: Cancer Research (2011)

Abstract Secondary bile acids have long been thought to influence the etiology of colon tumorigenesis however, the mechanism of their action remains unclear. Our previous studies focused on deoxycholic acid (DCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) because they appear to have the opposite effect at the molecular and the biological level. DCA stimulates mitogenic signaling by activating the EGF receptor and can promote tumorigenesis in mouse models, whereas UDCA suppresses EGFR-related mitogenic signaling and has been shown to inhibit colon tumorigenesis in clinical trials. In previous studies we showed that both bile acids act on the cell membrane and this resulted in stimulation of EGFR activity by DCA, but resulted in suppression of receptor signaling by UDCA. In this work, the effect of DCA and UDCA on EGFR internalization in Hct116 cells was investigated using reverse biotinylation. Both DCA and UDCA were found to induce ligand independent internalization of EGFR. However, UDCA treatment resulted in rapid degradation of EGFR whereas DCA caused internalization and stabilization of the receptor in an apparently activated state. To examine this further we pretreated the cells with Methyl-β-cyclodextrin to deplete cholesterol from the plasma membrane, or with chlorpromazine to inhibit endocytosis through clatherin coated pits (CCP). We also suppressed functioning of caveolae or CCPs using caveolin-1 shRNA, or clathrin heavy chain shRNA. We found that EGFR internalization induced by UDCA is cholesterol and caveolin dependent. However, none of these treatments affected the rate of EGFR internalization induced by DCA, suggesting that DCA induced EGFR internalization by a mechanism which is different from that of either EGF or UDCA. This may explain the distinct biological activities exhibited by these two bile acids. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1202. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1202
Clinical and histopathological findings in Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome
Authors: Emel Erkek, Selda Hizel, Cihat Sanlý, A. Bulent Erkek, Meryem Tombakoglu, Onder Bozdogan, Sedat Ulkatan, Cengiz Akarsu
Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2005)
Hyperglycemia During Total Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Francisco J. Pasquel, Ronnie Spiegelman, Megan McCauley, Dawn Smiley, Denise Umpierrez, Rachel Johnson, Mary Rhee, Chelsea Gatcliffe, Erica Lin, Erica Umpierrez, Limin Peng, Guillermo E. Umpierrez
Journal: Diabetes Care (2009)

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-induced hyperglycemia on hospital outcome. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The study determined whether blood glucose values before, within 24 h, and during days 2–10 of TPN are predictive of hospital complications and mortality. RESULTS Subjects included a total of 276 patients receiving TPN for a mean duration of 15 ± 24 days (±SD). In multiple regression models adjusted for age, sex, and diabetes status, mortality was independently predicted by pre-TPN blood glucose of 121–150 mg/dl (odds ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% CI 1.1–4.4, P = 0.030), 151–180 mg/dl (3.41, 1.3–8.7, P = 0.01), and &amp;gt;180 mg/dl (2.2, 0.9–5.2, P = 0.077) and by blood glucose within 24 h of &amp;gt;180 mg/dl (2.8, 1.2–6.8, P = 0.020). A blood glucose within 24 h of &amp;gt;180 mg/dl was associated with increased risk of pneumonia (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.4–7.1) and acute renal failure (2.3, 1.1–5.0). CONCLUSIONS Hyperglycemia is associated with increased hospital complications and mortality in patients receiving TPN.
Pulmonary impedance and right ventricular–vascular coupling in endotoxin shock
Authors: Vincent D'Orio, Bernard Lambermont, Olivier Detry, Philippe Kolh, Philippe Potty, Paul Gerard, Roland Marcelle
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1998)

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that right heart failure during endotoxin shock may result from altered ventriculovascular coupling responsible for impeding power transfer to the pulmonary circulation. Methods: The changes in vascular pulmonary input impedance and right ventricular contractility produced by low-dose endotoxin infusion were studied in 6 intact anesthetized dogs. Results: Endotoxin insult resulted in pulmonary hypertension (from 22±2 to 33±3 mmHg) associated with significant decreases in stroke volume (from 26.9±4 to 20.2±3 ml) and right ventricular ejection fraction (from 41±3 to 32±2%). The first minimum of input impedance spectrum and zero phase were shifted towards higher frequencies. Input resistance and characteristic resistance were dramatically increased. The latter change contributed to a significant increase in the pulsatile component of total right ventricular power output from 13 to 21%, indicating a reduction in the hydraulic right ventricle power output delivered into the main pulmonary artery. Overall changes in input pulmonary impedance were indicative of increased afterload facing the right ventricle leading to depressed performance. In contrast, right ventricular systolic elastance was simultaneously increased from 0.56 to 0.93 mmHg/ml indicating an increase in right heart contractility. Conclusion: These data suggest that pulmonary hypertension in the setting of experimental endotoxin shock is accompanied by deleterious changes in the pulmonary impedance spectrum, which are responsible for a mismatch of increased contractile state of the right ventricle to the varying hydraulic load ultimately leading to ventricular–vascular uncoupling.
THE RUN CLEVER STUDY PROTOCOL: THE DESIGN OF A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Authors: D Ramskov, H Sørensen, E Parner, R Nielsen, M Lind, S Rasmussen
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2014)

Background Webpages, blogs and various magazines continuously publish “Start to Run” training programs with the purpose of guiding novice runners towards increased running performance and minimizing the risk of sustaining a running-related injury. However, to prescribe correct training guidelines, an understanding of the different training variables' effect on injury development is crucial. Objective The objective of the RUN-SAFE: Run Clever Study is to investigate the relationship between the emphasis in the training and the development of running-related injuries (RRI). Hypothesis Using a start to run program with a particular focus on distance is assumed to increase the risk of: patellofemoral pain syndrome, iliotibial band friction syndrome and patellar tendinopathy. While an emphasis on pace rather than distance is hypothesized to increase the risk of: Achilles tendinopathy, gastrocnemius injuries and plantar fasciitis. Design Randomized controlled trial with 6-months follow-up including 200 healthy novice runners. Risk factor assessment Participants are randomized into one of the following four start to run programs: 1) high intensity/low volume, 2) low intensity/Hhgh volume, 3) high intensity/high volume, 4 ) low intensity/low volume. Training data is gathered using GPS based watches or mobile phones during each training session and uploaded to a web-based training diary (http://www.runsafe.dk). Outcome The outcome of interest is RRI. An RRI is defined as any running-related musculoskeletal ailment of the lower extremity or back, causing a restriction of running for at least one week. If a participant is injured, an appointment for clinical examination is made through the online training diary. Perspectives Currently the evidence-based knowledge on the relation between training variables and injury development is very limited. Hopefully, the present study provides useful guidelines for all people engaged in running, particularly regarding how to minimize injury risk by modifying training variables.
Relation of cardiac enzymes and echocardiographical findings with long-term mortality after chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation
Authors: Ekrem Cengiz Seyhan, Nurdan Veske, Gülsah Günlüoglu, Sinem Sökücü, Mustafa Düger, Sedat Altin
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background:  Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, exacerbations of which increase strain on the heart. In our study, effects of cardiac enzymes and echocardiographical findings to the long term mortality in patients with respiratory insufficiency due to COPD attack   Methods:  From the Yedikule hospital database, 208 patients discharged after treatment for COPD exacerbation in the period 2006–2009 were identified and followed-up until January 30, 2011. Median observation time was 40 mounth. In 208 patients, measurements of cardiac-specific enzymes (troponin, hearth type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), NT-ProBNP, CK-MB) were available. Also electrocardiografic, echocardiography findings and arterial blood gas analysis (ABG) of the pateints were recorded. Clinical data were retrieved from patient records and date of death was obtained from the Turkish National Registry.   Results:  In the univariate analysis; troponin levels, left ventricular ejection fraction, having right ventricule dysfunction were statistically significant. In multivariate analysis; elevated cTnI was significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality in the observation period (p   Conclusion:  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with elevated cardiac-specific Troponin I during exacerbation are at increased risk of death after discharge.
Survival after resection of small cell carcinoma of the bronchus.
Authors: D F Shore, M Paneth
Journal: Thorax (1980)

Forty patients who underwent curative resection for oat cell carcinoma of the bronchus between 1959 and 1974 are reviewed. During the same period there were 24 patients who underwent thoracotomy but who were found to have inoperable lesions. Of the 40 patients who underwent curative resection, 11 patients remain alive and well with no evidence of recurrence. Ten of these patients have survived five years or more, an overall five-year survival rate of 25%. We consider that surgery should be considered as a possible first line of treatment in patients with small cell carcinoma of the bronchus.
Facial Expressiveness in Patients With Schizophrenia Compared to Depressed Patients and Nonpatient Comparison Subjects
Authors: Fabien Trémeau, Dolores Malaspina, Fabrice Duval, Humberto Corrêa, Michaela Hager-Budny, Laura Coin-Bariou, Jean-Paul Macher, Jack M. Gorman
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2004)

OBJECTIVE: Blunted affect is a major symptom in schizophrenia, and affective deficits clinically encompass deficits in expressiveness. Emotion research and ethological studies have shown that patients with schizophrenia are impaired in various modalities of expressiveness (posed and spontaneous emotion expressions, coverbal gestures, and smiles). Similar deficits have been described in depression, but comparative studies have brought mixed results. Our aim was to study and compare facial expressive behaviors related to affective deficits in patients with schizophrenia, depressed patients, and nonpatient comparison subjects. METHOD: Fifty-eight nondepressed inpatients with schizophrenia, 25 nonpsychotic inpatients with unipolar depression, and 25 nonpatient comparison subjects were asked to reproduce facial emotional expressions. Then the subjects were asked to speak about a specific emotion for 2 minutes. Each time, six cross-cultural emotions were tested. Facial emotional expressions were rated with the Facial Action Coding System. The number of facial coverbal gestures (facial expressions that are tied to speech) and the number of words were calculated. RESULTS: In relation to nonpatient comparison subjects, both patient groups were impaired for all expressive variables. Few differences were found between schizophrenia and depression: depressed subjects had less spontaneous expressions of other-than-happiness emotions, but overall, they appeared more expressive. Fifteen patients with schizophrenia were tested without and with typical or atypical antipsychotic medications: no differences could be found in study performance. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with schizophrenia and the patients with depression presented similar deficits in various expressive modalities: posed and spontaneous emotional expression, smiling, coverbal gestures, and verbal output.
Ethacrynic Acid and Related Diuretics: Relationship of Structure to Beneficial and Detrimental Actions
Authors: D A Koechel
Journal: The Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology (1981)

Since the spread of tobacco from the Americas hundreds of years ago, tobacco cigarettes and, more recently, alternative tobacco products have become global products of nicotine addiction. Within the evolving alternative tobacco product space, electronic ...Read More
AGING UNIQUELY INFLUENCES TISSUE INHIBITOR OF METALLOPROTEINASE-2 (TIMP-2) EXPRESSION IN NORMAL TENDON
Authors: G M Thornton, C R Reno, I K Y Lo, D A Hart
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2013)

Introduction The incidence of tendinopathy increases with aging. Alterations to the balance between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) may play a role in the degenerative changes seen in tendinopathy.1 In addition, aging may have an effect on the expression of these molecules in tendon, as was found in skin.2 Our purpose in this study was to examine the effect of aging on patellar tendons from 1-year-old and 3-year-old rabbits comparing molecular expression of MMPs and TIMPs. Our hypothesis was that patellar tendons from 3-year-old rabbits would have increased MMP expression and decreased TIMP expression compared to patellar tendons from 1-year-old rabbits. Methods Patellar tendons from 1-year-old (n=8) and 3-year-old (n=6) female New Zealand White rabbits underwent RT-qPCR using rabbit specific primers for MMPs (MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13) and TIMPs (TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3), and the housekeeping gene 18S. Data were compared using Mann Whitney U tests. Results Comparing patellar tendons from 3-year-old to 1-year-old rabbits, the expression of MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-13 did not change with aging. The expression of TIMP-2 was decreased comparing patellar tendons from 3-year-old to 1-year-old rabbits (p=0.02; figure 1). TIMP-1 and TIMP-3 expression were not affected by aging. Figure 1. MMP and TIMP Expression in Patellar Tendons from 1-year-old and 3-year-old rabbits. Expression of TIMP-2 was decreased comparing patellar tendons from 3-year-old to 1-year-old rabbits (p=0.02). Discussion Aging significantly decreased TIMP-2 expression in patellar tendon with no changes in the other TIMPs and MMPs investigated. This suggests a change in the balance of MMP/TIMP expression towards degradation in tendon with aging, or a significant shift in the MMP-independent activities of TIMP-2.3 In human skin, TIMP-2 expression was decreased with aging.2 Despite no change in TIMP-2 expression in degenerated human patellar4 and Achilles1 tendons compared to normal tendons, TIMP-2 expression was decreased in ruptured human Achilles1 and rotator cuff5 tendons compared to normal tendons.