tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Sex differences and sleep apnoea
Authors: R. J SCHWAB
Journal: Thorax (1999)

Although obstructive sleep apnoea is a highly prevalent disorder with major public health ramifications for both men and women, very little is known about sex differences in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Initial studies1-3 indicated that sleep apnoea was much more common in men than in women. It was originally thought that the male to female ratio for obstructive sleep apnoea was approximately 8:1.1-3 However, more recent and rigorous epidemiological studies2 4 have shown that the male to female ratio for sleep apnoea is in the range of 2:1. Young and colleagues4 reported that the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea associated with excessive daytime sleepiness in the 30–60 year old population is 4% in men and 2% in women. Gislason and coworkers2 estimated that the lower limit of the prevalence of sleep apnoea in middle aged Icelandic women was 2.5%. These studies indicate that sleep apnoea is common in women. Moreover, studies have shown that the clinical presentation of sleep apnoea is similar in men and women, although the prevalence is higher in men.5 One reason for the higher prevalence in men may be that women are less likely to report symptoms associated with sleep apnoea.6 However, several studies7-10 have demonstrated sex differences in the structure and physiological behaviour of the upper airway. Such data imply that sex differences in the prevalence of sleep apnoea are not solely related to the under-reporting of symptoms but rather are related to pathological differences in the presentation of this condition in men and women.

What are the possible mechanisms underlying the differences in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnoea in women and men? Two important determinants of upper airway luminal calibre are the activity of the upper airway dilator muscles, which tend to increase airway …
A Comparative and Phylogenetic Analysis of the -Actinin Rod Domain
Authors: A. Virel, L. Backman
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2007)

α-Actinin is a ubiquitous actin-binding protein, composed of 3 domains; an actin-binding domain and a calcium-binding domain at the termini, connected by a rod domain composed by 1, 2, or 4 spectrin repeats (SRs). To understand how the rod domain has evolved during evolution, we have analyzed and compared the amino acid residue heterogeneity and phylogeny of the SRs of α-actinins of vertebrates, invertebrates, fungi, and several protozoa. The repeats of vertebrate α-actinins show a high degree of similarity, whereas repeats of invertebrates, fungi, and, in particular, of protozoa are more divergent. In the phylogeny, SR1 of all species were clustered together, independent of the number of repeats in the protein. It was also obvious that the second and last repeat in fungi (SR2) grouped with the fourth and last repeat of vertebrates and invertebrates (SR4). Therefore, the phylogeny implied that the rod domain of the cenancestral α-actinin only contained one SR. It was also obvious that SR2 of fungi are related to SR4 of vertebrates and invertebrates, implying that in the second intragenic duplication 2 repeats (i.e., what become SR2 and SR3) were inserted between the initial 2 repeats that become SR1 and SR4.
Bronchoalveolar lavage for the evaluation of interstitial lung disease: is it clinically useful?
Authors: K.C. Meyer, G. Raghu
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Although the application of thoracic high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) to clinical pulmonology has revolutionised the diagnostic approach to patients with suspected interstitial lung disease (ILD), additional testing is often needed to make a confident ILD diagnosis. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) can play a significant role in making an accurate and confident diagnosis of specific forms of ILD. When BAL is used in conjunction with comprehensive clinical information and HRCT, BAL nucleated immune cell patterns can frequently provide useful information for diagnostic evaluation and lessen the need to proceed to more invasive procedures, such as surgical lung biopsy. Additionally, BAL can identify confounding conditions, such as infection or malignancy. However, BAL technique, and protocols for processing and analysing BAL fluid are critically important for providing useful information. This perspective reviews the current status of using BAL as a diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of ILD.
Distinctive Electrophysiological Properties of Pulmonary Veins in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Pierre Jaïs, Mélèze Hocini, Laurent Macle, Kee-Joon Choi, Isabel Deisenhofer, Rukshen Weerasooriya, Dipen C. Shah, Stéphane Garrigue, Florence Raybaud, Christophe Scavee, Philippe Le Metayer, Jacques Clémenty, Michel Haïssaguerre
Journal: Circulation (2002)

Background— Atrial fibrillation (AF) is frequently initiated from pulmonary veins (PVs), but little is known of the electrophysiological properties of PVs. Methods and Results— Two groups were studied: 28 patients (49±13 years old) with paroxysmal AF and 20 control patients (49±14 years old) without AF. Effective and functional refractory period and conduction time from PV to left atrium (LA) were compared in the 2 groups by use of programmed stimulation with a single extrastimulus in the PVs and LA. In the AF group, the venous effective refractory periods (ERPs) were shorter than that of the LA: 185±71 versus 253±21 ms, P &lt;0.001, whereas in the control group, they were longer (282±45 versus 253±41 ms, P =0.009). The venous ERPs and functional refractory periods in patients with AF were also shorter than that observed in control subjects (185±71 versus 282±45 ms and 210±77 versus 315±43 ms, respectively, P &lt;0.001), whereas LA ERPs were not significantly different. Decremental conduction in PVs was more frequent (93% versus 56%, P =0.01) and had a greater increment (102±65 versus 42±40 ms, P &lt;0.001) in patients with AF. Finally, AF was more frequently induced when pacing was performed in PVs (22 of 90) versus LA (1 of 81) in patients with AF ( P &lt;0.001). Conclusions— The PVs of patients with AF exhibited distinctive electrophysiological properties, which were strikingly different from those of patients devoid of AF, potentially explaining their arrhythmogenicity.
RECIST: No Longer the Sharpest Tool in the Oncology Clinical Trials Toolbox—Point
Authors: Manish R. Sharma, Michael L. Maitland, Mark J. Ratain
Journal: Cancer Research (2012)

Abstract Although “response” has been an attractive term for oncologists and patients, oncologists really want to know which therapy to start for a given patient and when to discontinue that therapy in favor of an alternative. In efficacy trials, cancer therapeutics have conventionally been assessed by endpoints that are based on the categorical Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) system. In this article, we make the case for a new paradigm in which therapeutics are assessed on a continuous scale by evidence of efficacy, using a variety of quantitative tools that take advantage of technologic innovations and increasing understanding of cancer biology. The new paradigm relies on randomized comparisons between investigational arms and control arms, as historical controls are unavailable or unreliable for these quantitative measures. We discuss multiple limitations of RECIST, including its overemphasis on tumor regression, concerns about the accuracy of tumor measurements and the validity of comparisons with historical controls, and its inadequacy in disease settings in which tumor measurements on cross-sectional imaging are difficult or uninformative. We discuss how the new paradigm overcomes these limitations and provides a framework for answering the key questions of the oncologist and improving patient outcomes. Cancer Res; 72(20); 5145–9. ©2012 AACR.
The evaluation of speed skating helmet performance through peak linear and rotational accelerations
Authors: Clara Karton, Philippe Rousseau, Michael Vassilyadi, Thomas Blaine Hoshizaki
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2013)

Like many sports involving high speeds and body contact, head injuries are a concern for short track speed skating athletes and coaches. While the mandatory use of helmets has managed to nearly eliminate catastrophic head injuries such as skull fractures and cerebral haemorrhages, they may not be as effective at reducing the risk of a concussion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance characteristics of speed skating helmets with respect to managing peak linear and peak rotational acceleration, and to compare their performance against other types of helmets commonly worn within the speed skating sport.Commercially available speed skating, bicycle and ice hockey helmets were evaluated using a three-impact condition test protocol at an impact velocity of 4 m/s.Two speed skating helmet models yielded mean peak linear accelerations at a low-estimated probability range for sustaining a concussion for all three impact conditions. Conversely, the resulting mean peak rotational acceleration values were all found close to the high end of a probability range for sustaining a concussion. A similar tendency was observed for the bicycle and ice hockey helmets under the same impact conditions.Speed skating helmets may not be as effective at managing rotational acceleration and therefore may not successfully protect the user against risks associated with concussion injuries.
Clinical practice guide for muscular injuries: epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention
Authors: X Valle
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2011)

Lecture 20 Muscular injuries are very frequent in sport. The epidemiological studies show that muscular injuries represent more than 30% of all injuries (1.8–2.2/1000 h of exposure), which means that a professional football team suffers an average of 12 muscular injuries per season, equivalent to more than 300 lost sporting days. Despite their high frequency and the interest in finding solutions, there is little scientific evidence on aspects as important as prevention and treatment, we will outline some weak points. Diagnosis of muscular injuries is based on clinical medicine, fundamentally on symptomatology and especially on the anamnesis of the injury mechanism and physical examination. Imaging studies through the musculoskeletal echography and magnetic resonance are complementary studies, despite the fact that they could be increasingly more useful when confirming a diagnosis or especially when giving a prognosis. There is no sufficiently specific biochemical marker available that could help with the diagnosis of the seriousness and the definitive prognosis of each of the different muscular injuries. Treatment guidelines for muscular injuries do not follow a unique model, despite the fact that the different alternatives have been modified very little. Finally, new expectations have been raised thanks to research within the field of biological repair and regeneration. Prevention programmes can reduce the incidence of suffering muscular injuries, but scientific evidence is still limited and it has only been possible to verify them in certain groups of sportsmen. The objective of this talk is to show the diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive approaches that should be taken when faced with the various muscular injuries suffered by the football players of Barcelona football club. The protocols are based on current knowledge from recent years in the daily work of dealing with these types of injuries.
Periodic procainamide for paroxysmal tachycardia.
Authors: D W Benson, A Dunnigan, T P Green, D G Benditt, S P Schneider
Journal: Circulation (1985)

We evaluated the efficacy of a single oral dose of procainamide to terminate paroxysmal tachycardia, when procainamide was taken shortly after onset of tachycardia, a regimen we have termed "periodic procainamide." In 12 patients (mean age 15 years) with non-life-threatening tachycardia (orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia, 8/12; ventricular tachycardia, 3/12; atrial flutter, 1/12) in whom intravenously administered procainamide (15 mg/kg at 1 mg/kg/min) terminated tachycardia, efficacy of a single oral dose of procainamide (25 mg/kg) to terminate tachycardia was tested during electrophysiologic study. After oral administration of procainamide, tachycardia was terminated and could not be reinitiated in 11 of 12 patients (9/12 less than 75 min, 2/12 greater than 120 min after administration). Time of tachycardia termination approximately coincided with the time of peak serum concentration of procainamide after the single oral dose. Delayed response or failure of procainamide to terminate tachycardia was associated with delayed and diminished peak serum procainamide concentration. After evaluation, 10 responders were instructed to take a single dose of procainamide when tachycardia occurred. During a mean follow-up of 9 months (range 2 to 17) seven of 10 patients had an opportunity to use periodic procainamide on one to more than 100 occasions; four of 10 patients have not had recurrence of tachycardia. Tachycardia was successfully terminated in six of seven patients using the periodic regimen and could not be terminated on the first out-of-hospital use in one of seven patients. Success of periodic procainamide was predicted during evaluation by rapid termination of tachycardia after oral administration.
Serum surfactant protein D (SPD) as a specific marker for COPD
Authors: Tetyana Pertseva, Kateryna Gashynova, Olena Bratus, Natalya Petrik
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Aim 

To evaluate SPD level in patients (pts) with COPD in comparison with healthy control and pts with Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD).

Study population 

44 pts with stable COPD, 26 healthy people and 10 pts with IHD made the study sample.

Methods 

Medical history, SPD in serum by ELISA (Hycult Biotech, Netherlands), Spirometry by Masterscope (Viasis, Germany) were performed in all study population.

Results 

SPD levels in groups are shown in table 1.

View this table:



Conclusions 

1. COPD patients have significantly higher serum SPD level, than healthy control and pts with IHD.

2. High SPD could be considered as a COPD specific biomarker.
Identification of a Class of HCV Inhibitors Directed Against the Nonstructural Protein NS4B
Authors: Nam-Joon Cho, Hadas Dvory-Sobol, Choongho Lee, Sang-Joon Cho, Paul Bryson, Marilyn Masek, Menashe Elazar, Curtis W. Frank, Jeffrey S. Glenn
Journal: Science Translational Medicine (2010)

An activity identified in hepatitis C virus NS4B paves the way for a distinct new class of antivirals.
Characterization of Mutator Phenotype in Familial Colorectal Cancer Patients Not Fulfilling Amsterdam Criteria
Authors: Jin C. Kim, Kang H. Lee, In H. Ka, Kum H. Koo, Seon A. Roh, Hee C. Kim, Chang S. Yu, Tae W. Kim, Heung M. Chang, Gyeong Y. Gong, Jung S. Kim
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2004)

Although the mutator phenotype, including genetic and epigenetic alterations of the mismatch repair (MMR) system, seems to be pronounced in familial colorectal cancer, there have been few integrative studies comprising the entire mutator pathway. This study was done to identify the entire mutator pathway determining risk factors in patients with familial colorectal cancer not fulfilling the Amsterdam criteria.We consecutively recruited 134 colorectal cancer patients with a family history of accompanying cancers. Patients with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer meeting the Amsterdam criteria, familial adenomatous polyposis, or those receiving preoperative radiotherapy were excluded. Mutator phenotype was assessed by assaying microsatellite instability (MSI) at 24 markers, hMLH1-promoter methylation, mutations at MMR genes (hMLH1, hMSH2, hMSH6, and hPMS2), and immune staining of MMR proteins (hMLH1, hMSH2, hMSH6, hPMS1, and hPMS2).Of the 208 cancers in first-degree and/or second-degree relatives of patients, colorectal and gastric cancers (81%) were most common. Of the 134 proband colorectal cancers, 23 (17%) were MSI in high level, and 32 (24%) were MSI in low level. MMR alterations, including known polymorphism and splicing substitution, were identified in eight patients (6%). Twenty-eight tumors with mutator phenotype were further identified by hMLH1-promoter methylation and/or loss of MMR protein expression. In 51 tumors (38%), mutator phenotype was associated with right-sided colon cancer (P < 0.001) and younger age at onset (P=0.032), but the number of patients with a mutator phenotype did not differ with respect to inheritance patterns of accompanying cancers, either successive or horizontal transmission (P=0.815). Familial impact value, which differentially associated the degree of relatives with all accompanying cancers, effectively discriminated MSI in high level from microsatellite stable/MSI in low level tumors.Familial colorectal cancer may be associated with multiple occurrences of colorectal or accompanying cancers inherited by dominant or recessive transmission. MMR gene mutations, however, are less associated with mutator phenotype in familial colorectal cancer.
Gemcitabine, ifosfamide, oxaliplatin and rituximab (R-GIFOX), a new effective cytoreductive/mobilizing salvage regimen for relapsed and refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: results of a pilot study
Authors: G Corazzelli, F Russo, G Capobianco, G Marcacci, P Della Cioppa, A Pinto
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2006)
Distribution and Transcapillary Exchange of Albumin in Congestive Heart Failure
Authors: RICHARD S. ROSS, W. GORDON WALKER, JOHN D. S. HAMMOND
Journal: Circulation Research (1960)

The distribution and transcapillary exchange of albumin have been studied in patients with congestive heart failure and the results compared with a group of control subjects who did not have heart failure. The normal relation between vascular albumin mass and plasma volume on the one hand and transcapillary albumin exchange on the other does not exist in patients with congestive failure. The transcapillary albumin exchange rate, which presumably reflects capillary permeability, is decreased relative to the plasma volume and vascular albumin mass. It appears that decreased permeability of capillaries to albumin is associated with congestive failure and may be responsible for the increased plasma volume characteristic of this disease. The appearance of labeled protein in edema fluid has been studied in 7 patients and compared with the simultaneously determined serum disappearance curves. The albumin contained in the edema fluid constitutes a small fraction of the total extravascular albumin pool. The vascular albumin mass equilibrates less rapidly with the local edema albumin mass than with the total extravasenlar albumin mass.
The clinical significance of ZAP-70 and CD38 expression in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Authors: I. Hus, M. Podhorecka, A. Bojarska-Junak, J. Roliński, M. Schmitt, M. Sieklucka, E. Wąsik-Szczepanek, A. Dmoszyńska
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2006)
Growth factor-dependent inhibition of normal hematopoiesis by N-ras antisense oligodeoxynucleotides.
Authors: T Skorski, C Szczylik, M Z Ratajczak, L Malaguarnera, A M Gewirtz, B Calabretta
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1992)

To determine whether N-ras expression is required at specific stages of the process of in vitro normal human hematopoiesis, adherent- and T lymphocyte-depleted mononuclear marrow cells (A-T-MNC) or highly purified progenitors (CD34+ cells) were cultured in semisolid medium, under conditions that favor the growth of specific progenitor cell types, after exposure to N-ras sense and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides. N-ras antisense, but not sense, oligodeoxynucleotide treatment of A-T-MNC and CD34+ cells resulted in a significantly decreased number of granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM) induced by interleukin 3 (IL-3) or granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and of macrophage colonies (CFU-M) induced by M-CSF, but not of granulocytic colonies induced with G-CSF or IL-5. However, the same treatment significantly inhibited colony formation induced by each of the above factors in combination with IL-3. Megakaryocytic colony (CFU-Meg) formation from A-T-MNC or CD34+ cells in the presence of IL-6 + IL-3 + erythropoietin (Epo) was also markedly decreased after antisense oligodeoxynucleotide treatment. Erythroid colonies derived from A-T-MNC in the presence of Epo (CFU-E) were not inhibited upon antisense treatment, whereas those arising from A-T-MNC or CD34+ cells in the presence of IL-3 + Epo (BFU-E) were markedly affected. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that distinct signal transduction pathways, involving N-ras or not, are activated by different growth factors in different hematopoietic progenitor cells.
Multiple cycles of high-dose doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide with G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cell support in patients with metastatic breast cancer
Authors: A.H. Honkoop, E. van der Wall, N. Feller, G.-J. Schuurhuis, W.J.F. van der Vijgh, E. Boven, C.J. van Groeningen, G. Giaccone, K. Hoekman, J.B. Vermorken, J. Wagstaff, H.M. Pinedo
Journal: Annals of Oncology (1997)
The path to personalised medicine in COPD
Authors: Alvar Agusti
Journal: Thorax (2014)

<h3>Abstract</h3> Our understanding of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has changed dramatically over the past two decades. We have moved from an airflow limitation-centric view to the realisation that COPD is a complex and heterogeneous disease, which leads inevitably to the need for personalising the assessment and treatment of patients with COPD. This review provides a brief perspective of the extraordinary transition that the COPD field has experienced in the last two decades, and speculates on how it should/can move forward in the near future in order to really achieve the goal of personalising COPD medicine in the clinic.
Changes in neurokinin A airway responsiveness with inhaled lysine-acetylsalicylate in asthma
Authors: N Crimi, R Polosa, G Prosperini, S Magri, I Ciamarra, A Mistretta
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1996)

Endogenously released cyclooxygenase products modulate the bronchoconstrictor response to various stimuli in asthma. Little is known of the change in airway responsiveness to neurokinin A (NKA) after cyclooxygenase blockade. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we have investigated the effect of the potent cyclooxygenase inhibitor, lysine acetylsalicylate (L-ASA) administered by inhalation, on the bronchoconstrictor response both to neurokinin A (NKA) and methacholine in nine asthmatic subjects. Subjects attended the laboratory on four separate occasions to receive nebulized L-ASA (solution of 90 mg.mL-1) or matched placebo (glycine, solution of 30 mg.mL-1) 15 min prior to bronchial challenge with NKA or methacholine, in a randomized, double-blind order. Changes in airway calibre were followed as forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and agonist responsiveness, expressed as the provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1 from baseline (PC20). L-ASA elicited a significant fall in FEV1 from baseline. When compared with placebo, inhaled L-ASA reduced the airway responsiveness to NKA in 8 of the 9 subjects studied, the geometric mean (range) values for PC20 NKA increasing significantly from 153.2 (52.0-258.9) to 303.1 (83.4-668.5) micrograms.mL-1 after placebo and L-ASA, respectively. However, no significant change in airway responsiveness to methacholine was recorded after L-ASA, their geometric mean (range) PC20 values being 1.60 (0.17-9.59) and 1.53 (0.09-14.01) mg.mL-1 after placebo and L-ASA, respectively. The small decrease in airway responsiveness to neurokinin A after administration of lysine acetylsalicylate by inhalation suggests that endogenous prostaglandins may play a contributory protective role in the airway response to neurokinin A in human asthma.