tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HEAD INJURIES IN ENGLISH COMMUNITY LEVEL RUGBY UNION
Authors: S Roberts, G Trewartha, M England, W Goodison, K Stokes
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2014)

Background The rate and severity of head injuries are of particular interest in contact sports but are under-researched in amateur rugby union. Objective To investigate the epidemiology of head injuries in English community rugby union. Design Using a prospective cohort design, information was collected for head injuries resulting in a ‘time-loss’ absence of 8 days or greater from match play and those requiring a ‘medical attendance’ during match play. Setting English community rugby union, during seasons 2009/10 (n=46 clubs), 2010/11 (n=67 clubs) and 2011/12 (n=76 clubs) resulting in 92700 player hours. Participants All consenting players of participating clubs' first team squads. Independent variables Match exposure. Main outcome measurements Head injury incidence and severity. Results All time-loss head injuries incidence was 2.1 injuries per 1000 player match hours (95% CI 1.8–2.3) with a mean severity of 4.4 weeks missed (95% CI 3.8–5.0) (median of 3 weeks). Concussion incidence was 1.2 per 1000 hours (95% CI 1.0–1.4) with a mean of 3.4 weeks missed (95% CI 2.7–4.0) (median of 3 weeks). The tackle was associated with 66% of all head injuries (76% of all concussions). Medical attendances for head injuries (55 per 1000 hours; 95% CI 54–57) accounted for 24% of all attendances with a mean of one attendance for a head injury per team per match. The most common head attendances were for lacerations (39% of all head injuries), bruise/haematomas (29%) and neural injuries (including potential concussions; 12%). Conclusions Concussions are the most common time-loss head injury in community rugby with players on average adhering to recovery guidelines by resting for three weeks. The tackle is the most commonly associated event. With one attendance per team per match for a head injury, the importance of having pitch side medical staff who are trained to recognise symptoms of concussion is clear.
Just Say No to ATOH: How <i>HIC1</i> Methylation Might Predispose Medulloblastoma to Lineage Addiction
Authors: Kimberly J. Briggs, Charles G. Eberhart, D. Neil Watkins
Journal: Cancer Research (2008)

Abstract Hypermethylated in cancer-1 (HIC1) is a tumor suppressor frequently targeted for promoter hypermethylation in medulloblastoma, an embryonal tumor of the cerebellum. Recently, we showed that HIC1 is a direct transcriptional repressor of ATOH1, a proneural transcription factor required for normal cerebellar development, as well as for medulloblastoma cell viability. Because demethylating agents can induce reexpression of silenced tumor suppressors, restoring HIC1 function may present an attractive therapeutic avenue in medulloblastoma by exploiting an apparent addiction to ATOH1. [Cancer Res 2008;68(21):8654–6]
Recent trends of hospital admission characteristics for COPD and asthma in England from 1998 to 2011
Authors: Ivy Shiue
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background

It is known that hospital admissions of COPD and asthma are increasing, but characteristics of these admissions over years are unclear.

Aims

Hospital admission characteristics in the recent 10 years in England were examined and policy implications were discussed.

Methods

This is an ecological study carried out at the national level. Data were extracted from Hospital Episode Statistics and National Statistics between 1998 and 2011. Primary diagnosis of hospital admissions was used and ICD-10 codes ranging from J40 to J44 plus J47 for COPD and J45-J46 for asthma were included. Linear regression models were performed on yearly changes and 95% confidence intervals were estimated.

Results

Generally, hospital admissions have increased for both COPD and asthma (both P<0.001). More than 90% admissions for both diseases were from emergency calls. The waiting list has been shortened for asthma (P=0.009) but not COPD (P=0.727). The bed days have been significantly decreased for both COPD (Coef -0.00003, 95%CI -0.00006 to -0.00001, P=0.008) and asthma (Coef 0.00014, 95%CI 0.00011 to 0.00016). Same was observed for length of stay (Coef -0.097, 95%CI -0.182 to -0.012 for COPD and Coef -1.11, 95%CI -1.54 to -0.68 for asthma, respectively). Additionally, a delay in mean age was observed for asthma (P=0.027) but it did not change for COPD (P=0.06). Population size has grown (Coef 3.51, 95%CI 3.21 to 3.80) but a decrease was found in children under 15 (Coef -0.00002, 95%CI -0.00002 to -9.30).

Conclusions

Management for both COPD and asthma may have been improved. Further exploration on geographic variations and changes of risk factors including population attributable risks is expected next.
Association of Osteoarthritis with Perfluorooctanoate and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate in NHANES 2003–2008
Authors: Sarah A. Uhl, Tamarra James-Todd, Michelle L. Bell
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2013)

Background: Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are persistent, synthetic industrial chemicals. Perfluorinated compounds are linked to health impacts that may be relevant to osteoarthritis, cartilage repair, and inflammatory responses.Objectives: We investigated whether PFOA and PFOS exposures are associated with prevalence of osteoarthritis, and whether associations differ between men and women.Methods: We used multiple logistic regression to estimate associations between serum PFOA and PFOS concentrations and self-reported diagnosis of osteoarthritis in persons 20–84 years of age who participated in NHANES during 2003–2008. We adjusted for potential confounders including age, income, and race/ethnicity. Effects by sex were estimated using stratified models and interaction terms.Results: Those in the highest exposure quartile had higher odds of osteoarthritis compared with those in the lowest quartile [odds ratio (OR) for PFOA = 1.55; 95% CI: 0.99, 2.43; OR for PFOS = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.96]. When stratifying by sex, we found positive associations for women, but not men. Women in the highest quartiles of PFOA and PFOS exposure had higher odds of osteoarthritis compared with those in the lowest quartiles (OR for PFOA = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.24, 3.19 and OR for PFOS = 1.73; 95% CI: 0.97, 3.10).Conclusions: Higher concentrations of serum PFOA were associated with osteoarthritis in women, but not men. PFOS was also associated with osteoarthritis in women only, though effect estimates for women were not significant. More research is needed to clarify potential differences in susceptibility between women and men with regard to possible effects of these and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Promotes Paracellular Transmigration of Neutrophils Via Mac-1, But Independently of Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor
Authors: Christoph A. Reichel, Bernd Uhl, Max Lerchenberger, Daniel Puhr-Westerheide, Markus Rehberg, Johanna Liebl, Andrej Khandoga, Wolfgang Schmalix, Stefan Zahler, Elisabeth Deindl, Stefan Lorenzl, Paul J. Declerck, Sandip Kanse, Fritz Krombach
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear.Using in vivo microscopy on the mouse cremaster muscle, I/R-elicited firm adherence and transmigration of neutrophils were found to be significantly diminished in uPA-deficient mice and in mice treated with the uPA inhibitor WX-340, but not in uPA receptor (uPAR)-deficient mice. Interestingly, postischemic leukocyte responses were significantly reduced on blockade of the integrin CD11b/Mac-1, which also serves as uPAR receptor. Using a cell transfer technique, postischemic adherence and transmigration of wild-type leukocytes were significantly decreased in uPA-deficient animals, whereas uPA-deficient leukocytes exhibited a selectively reduced transmigration in wild-type animals. On I/R or stimulation with recombinant uPA, >90% of firmly adherent leukocytes colocalized with CD31-immunoreactive endothelial junctions as detected by in vivo fluorescence microscopy. In a model of hepatic I/R, treatment with WX-340 significantly attenuated postischemic neutrophil infiltration and tissue injury.Our data suggest that endothelial uPA promotes intravascular adherence, whereas leukocyte uPA facilitates the subsequent paracellular transmigration of neutrophils during I/R. This process is regulated via CD11b/Mac-1, and does not require uPAR. Pharmacological blockade of uPA interferes with these events and effectively attenuates postischemic tissue injury.
The 1st World Congress on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome
Authors: Zachary T. Bloomgarden
Journal: Diabetes Care (2004)

This is the first of two articles covering the 1st World Congress on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome (IRS), which was held in Los Angeles, 21–22 November 2003.

Yehuda Handlesman (Tarzana, CA), the conference organizer, noted that it reflects an endeavor to bring an understanding of basic science into the clinical practice of medicine. Contributory causes of insulin resistance include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and many other characteristics and conditions. Handlesman noted that the syndrome has been assigned International Classification of Disease (ICD)-9 code 277.7 as the dysmetabolic syndrome. Many aspects of the IRS are pharmacologically treatable when lifestyle modification is ineffective, and we need tools to determine which approaches are appropriate for particular individuals.

Gerald Reaven (Stanford, CA) reviewed the six- to eightfold variation in steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) with continuous octreotide, insulin, and glucose infusion among apparently healthy persons. He attributed the lack of glycemic abnormality of persons with insulin resistance to compensatory hyperinsulinemia, although noting that there is great variation in insulin levels for a given level of insulin sensitivity. Similarly, there is variation in the correlations between obesity and insulin resistance, as well as between maximal aerobic capacity, a measure of physical fitness, and insulin sensitivity. Reaven suggested that adiposity and physical fitness each account for ∼25% of the variability in insulin sensitivity, with genetic factors, which he illustrated with the differences in insulin sensitivity between persons of European and persons of South Asian or Mexican ancestry and with the similarity in insulin sensitivity of related persons in a family, responsible for an additional 50% of this variation.

Syndrome X, as Reaven originally termed it, included insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and increased risk of both diabetes and coronary heart disease. Other abnormalities associated with the IRS include glucose intolerance, small LDL particle size, postprandial accumulation of triglyceride-rich …
Protein Kinase C θ Is Critical for the Development of In Vivo T Helper (Th)2 Cell But Not Th1 Cell Responses
Authors: Benjamin J. Marsland, Timothy J. Soos, Gerald Späth, Dan R. Littman, Manfred Kopf
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2004)

The serine/threonine-specific protein kinase C (PKC)-θ is predominantly expressed in T cells and localizes to the center of the immunological synapse upon T cell receptor (TCR) and CD28 signaling. T cells deficient in PKC-θ exhibit reduced interleukin (IL)-2 production and proliferative responses in vitro, however, its significance in vivo remains unclear. We found that pkc-θ−/− mice were protected from pulmonary allergic hypersensitivity responses such as airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophilia, and immunoglobulin E production to inhaled allergen. Furthermore, T helper (Th)2 cell immune responses against Nippostrongylus brasiliensis were severely impaired in pkc-θ−/− mice. In striking contrast, pkc-θ−/− mice on both the C57BL/6 background and the normally susceptible BALB/c background mounted protective Th1 immune responses and were resistant against infection with Leishmania major. Using in vitro TCR transgenic T cell–dendritic cell coculture systems and antigen concentration-dependent Th polarization, PKC-θ–deficient T cells were found to differentiate into Th1 cells after activation with high concentrations of specific peptide, but to have compromised Th2 development at low antigen concentration. The addition of IL-2 partially reconstituted Th2 development in pkc-θ−/− T cells, consistent with an important role for this cytokine in Th2 polarization. Taken together, our results reveal a central role for PKC-θ signaling during Th2 responses.
A7.23 The HLA Locus Contains Novel Foetal Susceptibility Alleles for Congenital Heart Block with Significant Paternal Influence
Authors: Sabrina Görgen, Therese Östberg, Stina Salomonsson, Bo Ding, Håkan Eliasson, Anders Mälarstig, Lars Alfredsson, Lars Klareskog, Anders Hamsten, Tomas Olsson, Tomas Axelsson, Fredrik Gadler, Anders Jonzon, Sven-Erik Sonesson, Ingrid Kockum, Marie Wahren-Herlenius
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2013)

<h3>Objective</h3> To identify foetal susceptibility genes in Ro/SSA autoantibody-mediated congenital heart block on chromosome six. <h3>Methods</h3> Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of individuals included in the Swedish Congenital Heart Block (CHB) study population was performed. Low resolution HLA-A, -Cw and -DRB1 allele typing was carried out in 86 families of the study population comprising 339 individuals (86 Ro/SSA autoantibody positive mothers, 71 fathers, 87 CHB index cases and 95 unaffected siblings). <h3>Results</h3> A case-control comparison between index cases and population-based out of study controls (n = 1710) revealed an association of CHB with fifteen SNPs in the 6p21.3 MHC locus at a chromosome-wide significance of p &lt; 2.59 × 10<sup>–6</sup> (OR 2.21–3.12). In a family-based analysis between SNP markers as well as distinct MHC class I and II alleles with CHB we observed associations to HLA-DRB1*04 and HLA-Cw*05 variants that were significantly more often transmitted to affected individuals (p &lt; 0.03 and p &lt; 0.05, respectively), and HLA-DRB1*13 and HLA-Cw*06 variants which were significantly less often transmitted to affected children (p &lt; 0.05 and p &lt; 0.04). We further observed a significant association of increased paternal, but not maternal, HLA-DRB1*04 transmissions to the affected offspring (p &lt; 0.02). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Our study identifies HLA-DRB1*04 and HLA-Cw*05 as novel foetal HLA-allele variants that confer susceptibility to develop CHB in response to exposure to Ro/SSA autoantibodies, while DRB1*13 and Cw*06 emerged as protective alleles. For the first time, we also demonstrate paternal contribution to foetal susceptibility to CHB.
Diphtheritis, or Diphtheria
Authors: J. M. Barry
Journal: BMJ (1858)

Surgeon to the Birmingham General Dispensary.LContiatued fron page 531.]CASE AI. 'Margaret T., aged 30, had double convergent strabismins of oldclalte.The internial rectus of each eye was divided subcoinjunictivally on the 25th of June.Resldt.The position of the eyes and the power of con- verg,enice are normal.CASES VIi and viii.Bartholomew C., aged 21, has been affected with convergent squint for twenty years, and has been refused admission into the police force until the deformity is remiioved.The squint alternates; vision is niormal.Subcon- junctival operation on riglht eye June 25th.On the 29th, the eyes preserved a normal position in whatever direction they turned.On the 1st of July, the eye operated upon squinted in consequence of contraction of the material that had been exuded to repair the divided parts, and a squint was also estaldlis'hed in the fellow or-an.Occlusion of the latter, and exercise of the right, having failed to restore the eye operated uiponi to its proper position, it was ligatured to the temple, and the object sought was gained.On the 10th of July, the squint in the left was cured by subconjunctival myotomy.Resutlt.At the present time the eyes possess a normal power of conivergence, and are in all respects natural, with the exception of the redness that ordinarily follows an opera- tion.Thlie man has been placed on the strength of the police force.CASE IX.Ed^ward E., aged 18, from Harley, near Stafford, has double divergent strabismiuis.The right eye is the worst: just beneath, aind a little to the outer side of the centre of the pupil, is a thlin opacity of the cornea.Mlr.Solomon, having first ascertaiined that vision is improved wthen this eye is brought to the centre, divided, on the 8th of July, botlh of the external rectus muscles subleonjunctivally.Result.The deformity, wbhichl lad existed six years, was completely removed, aridI the mistiness of vision lessened.
Bed-sharing and childhood asthma: from associations to causal modelling
Authors: Alban Ramette, Claudia Elisabeth Kuehni
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2015)

The paper by Luijk et al. [1] in this issue of the European Respiratory Journal is a highlight for two reasons: it is the first to investigate parent–child bed-sharing practices and risk of childhood asthma; and it uses novel statistical approaches to explore causal relationships. We need to explore causal associations and apply novel statistical approaches in respiratory epidemiology <http://ow.ly/GWOYT> The authors sincerely thank their colleagues of the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland): Ben Spycher for comments on the manuscript, and Myrona Goutaki, Maja Jurca, Jingying Wang and Florian Halbeisen for their help with data extraction and literature search.
Quality of psychomotor recovery after propofol sedation for routine endoscopy: a randomized and controlled study
Authors: A. Riphaus, T. Gstettenbauer, M. Frenz, T. Wehrmann
Journal: Endoscopy (2006)

Propofol sedation is increasingly being used for endoscopy in the outpatient setting. In view of the agent's short period of action, current recommendations that patients should avoid driving or using public transport unescorted for 24 h may be too strict. Psychomotor recovery and driving skills before and after sedation were therefore assessed.A total of 100 patients undergoing routine upper or lower gastrointestinal endoscopy were randomly sedated either with propofol alone or with midazolam plus pethidine. The recovery time and quality of recovery were assessed. Psychomotor recovery was evaluated using the number connection test (NCT) and a driving simulator test 1 h before and 2 h after the endoscopic procedure.Ninety-six patients completed the 2-hour post-sedation procedure. Vital signs were recorded, and no clinically relevant complications occurred. The mean recovery time and quality of recovery were significantly better after propofol sedation (14 +/- 9 min vs. 25 +/- 8 min and 8.7 +/- 1.3 vs. 6.3 +/- 1.1 points) ( P < 0.01). Psychomotor and driving skills after propofol sedation were similar to the baseline results, while in the midazolam/pethidine group, patients showed significantly more lane deviations (1.1 +/- 0.9 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.9), time over the speed limit (0.3 +/- 0.83 vs. 0.6 +/- 0.88), missed stoplights more often (0.05 +/- 0.31 vs. 0.11 +/- 0.35), and had slower reaction times for unexpected events (1.11 +/- 0.46 s vs. 1.39 +/- 0.44 s) ( P < 0.01). The time needed to complete the NCT after sedation did not differ between the two groups (32.1 +/- 12.0 s vs. 33.4 +/- 12.6 s for propofol; 31.5 +/- 11.2 s vs. 34.6 +/- 12.8 s for midazolam/pethidine).Current recommendations that patients should refrain from driving and unescorted use of public transport for 24 h after sedation may need to be reconsidered in patients who receive propofol sedation.
A gene deletion that up-regulates viral gene expression yields an attenuated RSV vaccine with improved antibody responses in children
Authors: Ruth A. Karron, Cindy Luongo, Bhagvanji Thumar, Karen M. Loehr, Janet A. Englund, Peter L. Collins, Ursula J. Buchholz
Journal: Science Translational Medicine (2015)

A live attenuated vaccine candidate for RSV may decrease viral replication while enhancing immunogenicity in children.
Epileptic seizures can follow high doses of oral vardenafil
Authors: Pasquale Striano, Federico Zara, Carlo Minetti, Salvatore Striano
Journal: BMJ (2006)

An otherwise healthy 60 year old man was prescribed 10 mg of vardenafil (Levitra, Bayer) for sexual dysfunction. Because this was ineffective, he increased the dose to 40 mg. Three hours later, he had a tonic-clonic seizure, seen by his relatives. On admission to hospital, neurological examination, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and electroencephalography after sleep deprivation were normal. Stress electrocardiography, echocardiography, and cardiac scan with dipyridamole test as well as carotid doppler ultrasonography …
Estrogen Replacement Suppresses a Prostaglandin H Synthase–Dependent Vasoconstrictor in Rat Mesenteric Arteries
Authors: Sandra T. Davidge, Yunlong Zhang
Journal: Circulation Research (1998)

Abstract —There is evidence that estrogen can upregulate nitric oxide (NO) synthase expression. There is also evidence that NO increases the activity of prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS). Our initial hypothesis was that removal of ovarian steroids would decrease endothelium/NO-dependent relaxation responses but that estrogen replacement would increase NO and PGHS activity, leading to increased vasodilation. Resistance-sized (&lt;250 μm) mesenteric arteries from ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats without and with 17β-estradiol replacement (0.15 or 0.5 mg/pellet, 60-day release) for 4 weeks were studied in a myograph system. The vasodilator response to methacholine, an endothelium-dependent muscarinic agonist, was reduced in the arteries of the ovariectomized rats compared with estradiol-replaced rats. In the presence of PGHS inhibitors (meclofenamate, valeryl salicylate, and NS-398) or a thromboxane A 2 (TxA 2 )/prostaglandin H 2 (PGH 2 ) receptor blocker (SQ-29548), there was no longer a significant difference among the groups. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, inhibition of the PGHS pathway significantly enhanced the relaxation response in the arteries from the ovariectomized rats, which was similar to the response in the arteries from estradiol-replaced rats, indicating that a PGHS-dependent vasoconstrictor had modified the response to methacholine. Confirming these data, in response to exogenous arachidonic acid, arteries from ovariectomized rats exhibited constriction, whereas the arteries from the estradiol-replaced rats exhibited vasodilation. In the ovariectomized rats, pretreatment with inhibitors of the PGHS pathway reversed the vasoconstriction to a vasodilation. In addition, the vasoconstrictor response to the thromboxane mimetic U-46619 as well as PGH 2 was enhanced in endothelium-denuded arteries from the ovariectomized rats compared with the estradiol-replaced rats. These data demonstrate that removal of ovarian steroids increased endothelium-mediated PGHS-dependent vasoconstriction that was associated with augmented sensitivity of the TxA 2 /PGH 2 receptor. Chronic estrogen replacement in the ovariectomized rat suppressed this PGHS-dependent vasoconstrictor response.