tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
The effect of group-based exercise on cognitive performance and mood in seniors residing in intermediate care and self-care retirement facilities: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: A K Brown, T Liu-Ambrose, R Tate, S R Lord
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2008)

To determine the effect of a general group-based exercise programme on cognitive performance and mood among seniors without dementia living in retirement villages.Randomised controlled trial.Four intermediate care and four self-care retirement village sites in Sydney, Australia.154 seniors (19 men, 135 women; age range 62 to 95 years), who were residents of intermediate care and self-care retirement facilities.Participants were randomised to one of three experimental groups: (1) a general group-based exercise (GE) programme composed of resistance training and balance training exercises; (2) a flexibility exercise and relaxation technique (FR) programme; or (3) no-exercise control (NEC). The intervention groups (GE and FR) participated in 1-hour exercise classes twice a week for a total period of 6 months.Using standard neuropsychological tests, we assessed cognitive performance at baseline and at 6-month re-test in three domains: (1) fluid intelligence; (2) visual, verbal and working memory; and (3) executive functioning. We also assessed mood using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS).The GE programme significantly improved cognitive performance of fluid intelligence compared with FR or NEC. There were also significant improvements in the positive PANAS scale within both the GE and FR groups and an indication that the two exercise programmes reduced depression in those with initially high GDS scores.Our GE programme significantly improved cognitive performance of fluid intelligence in seniors residing in retirement villages compared with our FR programme and the NEC group. Furthermore, both group-based exercise programmes were beneficial for certain aspects of mood within the 6-month intervention period.
Living Autologous Heart Valves Engineered From Human Prenatally Harvested Progenitors
Authors: Dörthe Schmidt, Anita Mol, Christian Breymann, Josef Achermann, Bernhard Odermatt, Matthias Gössi, Stefan Neuenschwander, René Prêtre, Michele Genoni, Gregor Zund, Simon P. Hoerstrup
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Heart valve tissue engineering is a promising strategy to overcome the lack of autologous growing replacements, particularly for the repair of congenital malformations. Here, we present a novel concept using human prenatal progenitor cells as new and exclusive cell source to generate autologous implants ready for use at birth.Human fetal mesenchymal progenitors were isolated from routinely sampled prenatal chorionic villus specimens and expanded in vitro. A portion was cryopreserved. After phenotyping and genotyping, cells were seeded onto synthetic biodegradable leaflet scaffolds (n=12) and conditioned in a bioreactor. After 21 days, leaflets were endothelialized with umbilical cord blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells and conditioned for additional 7 days. Resulting tissues were analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry (amounts of extracellular matrix, DNA), mechanical testing, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and were compared with native neonatal heart valve leaflets. Fresh and cryopreserved cells showed comparable myofibroblast-like phenotypes. Genotyping confirmed their fetal origin. Neo-tissues exhibited organization, cell phenotypes, extracellular matrix production, and DNA content comparable to their native counterparts. Leaflet surfaces were covered with functional endothelia. SEM showed cellular distribution throughout the polymer and smooth surfaces. Mechanical profiles approximated those of native heart valves.Prenatal fetal progenitors obtained from routine chorionic villus sampling were successfully used as an exclusive, new cell source for the engineering of living heart valve leaflets. This concept may enable autologous replacements with growth potential ready for use at birth. Combined with the use of cell banking technology, this approach may be applied also for postnatal applications.
The effect of positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy on symptoms, quality of life and incidence of re-exacerbation in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a multicentre, randomised controlled trial
Authors: Christian R Osadnik, Christine F McDonald, Belinda R Miller, Catherine J Hill, Ben Tarrant, Ranjana Steward, Caroline Chao, Nicole Stodden, Cristino C Oliveira, Nadia Gagliardi, Anne E Holland
Journal: Thorax (2013)

<h3>Background</h3> Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) is a technique used to enhance sputum clearance during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The impact of PEP therapy during acute exacerbations on clinically important outcomes is not clear. This study sought to determine the effect of PEP therapy on symptoms, quality of life and future exacerbations in patients with AECOPD. <h3>Methods</h3> 90 inpatients (58 men; mean age 68.6 years, FEV<sub>1</sub> 40.8% predicted) with AECOPD and sputum expectoration were randomised to receive usual care (including physical exercise)±PEP therapy. The Breathlessness, Cough and Sputum Scale (BCSS), St George9s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and BODE index (Body mass index, airflow Obstruction, Dyspnoea, Exercise tolerance) were measured at discharge, 8 weeks and 6 months following discharge, and analysed via linear mixed models. Exacerbations and hospitalisations were recorded using home diaries. <h3>Results</h3> There were no significant between-group differences over time for BCSS score [mean (SE) at discharge 5.2 (0.4) vs 5.0 (0.4) for PEP and control group, respectively; p=0.978] or SGRQ total score [41.6 (2.6) vs 40.8 (2.8) at 8 weeks, p=0.872]. Dyspnoea improved more rapidly in the PEP group over the first 8 weeks (p=0.006), however these benefits were not observed at 6 months. Exacerbations (p=0.986) and hospitalisations (p=0.359) did not differ between groups. <h3>Conclusions</h3> We found no evidence that PEP therapy during AECOPD improves important short-term or long-term outcomes. There does not appear to be a routine role for PEP therapy in the management of such individuals.
HER Family Receptor Abnormalities in Lung Cancer Brain Metastases and Corresponding Primary Tumors
Authors: Menghong Sun, Carmen Behrens, Lei Feng, Natalie Ozburn, Ximing Tang, Guosheng Yin, Ritsuko Komaki, Marileila Varella-Garcia, Waun Ki Hong, Kenneth D. Aldape, Ignacio I. Wistuba
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2009)

To compare the characteristics of deregulation of HER receptors and their ligands between primary tumor and corresponding brain metastases of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).Fifty-five NSCLC primary tumors and corresponding brain metastases specimens were examined for the immunohistochemical expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphorylated EGFR, Her2, Her3, and phosphorylated Her3, and their ligands EGF, transforming growth factor-alpha, amphiregulin, epiregulin, betacellulin, heparin-binding EGFR-like growth factor, neuregulin (NRG) 1, and NRG2. Analysis of EGFR copy number using fluorescence in situ hybridization and mutation by PCR-based sequencing was also done.Metastases showed significantly higher immunohistochemical expression of EGF (membrane: brain metastases 66.0 versus primary tumors 48.5; P = 0.027; nucleus: brain metastases 92.2 versus 67.4; P = 0.008), amphiregulin (nucleus: brain metastases 53.7 versus primary tumors 33.7; P = 0.019), phosphorylated EGFR (membrane: brain metastases 161.5 versus primary tumors 76.0; P < 0.0001; cytoplasm: brain metastases 101.5 versus primary tumors 55.9; P = 0.014), and phosphorylated Her3 (membrane: brain metastases 25.0 versus primary tumors 3.7; P = 0.001) than primary tumors did. Primary tumors showed significantly higher expression of cytoplasmic transforming growth factor-alpha(primary tumors 149.8 versus brain metastases 111.3; P = 0.008) and NRG1 (primary tumors 158.5 versus brain metastases 122.8; P = 0.006). In adenocarcinomas, a similar high frequency of EGFR copy number gain (high polysomy and amplification) was detected in primary (65%) and brain metastasis (63%) sites. However, adenocarcinoma metastases (30%) showed higher frequency of EGFR amplification than corresponding primary tumors (10%). Patients whose primary tumors showed EGFR amplification tended to develop brain metastases at an earlier time point.Our findings suggest that NSCLC brain metastases have some significant differences in HER family receptor-related abnormalities from primary lung tumors.
Missense Mutation in Sterile α Motif of Novel Protein SamCystin is Associated with Polycystic Kidney Disease in (cy/+) Rat
Authors: Joanna H. Brown, Marie-Thére[Combining Grave Accent]se Bihoreau, Sigrid Hoffmann, Bettina Kra[Combining Diaeresis]nzlin, Iulia Tychinskaya, Nicholas Obermu[Combining Diaeresis]ller, Dirk Podlich, Suzanne N. Boehn, Pamela J. Kaisaki, Natalia Megel, Patrick Danoy, Richard R. Copley, John Broxholme, Ralph Witzgall, Mark Lathrop, Norbert Gretz, Dominique Gauguier
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2005)

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the most common genetic disease that leads to kidney failure in humans. In addition to the known causative genes PKD1 and PKD2, there are mutations that result in cystic changes in the kidney, such as nephronophthisis, autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, or medullary cystic kidney disease. Recent efforts to improve the understanding of renal cystogenesis have been greatly enhanced by studies in rodent models of PKD. Genetic studies in the (cy/+) rat showed that PKD spontaneously develops as a consequence of a mutation in a gene different from the rat orthologs of PKD1 and PKD2 or other genes that are known to be involved in human cystic kidney diseases. This article reports the positional cloning and mutation analysis of the rat PKD gene, which revealed a C to T transition that replaces an arginine by a tryptophan at amino acid 823 in the protein sequence. It was determined that Pkdr1 is specifically expressed in renal proximal tubules and encodes a novel protein, SamCystin, that contains ankyrin repeats and a sterile α motif. The characterization of this protein, which does not share structural homologies with known polycystins, may give new insights into the pathophysiology of renal cyst development in patients.
CpG Island Hypermethylation of the DNA Repair Enzyme Methyltransferase Predicts Response to Temozolomide in Primary Gliomas
Authors: Maria F. Paz, Ricard Yaya-Tur, Iñigo Rojas-Marcos, Gaspar Reynes, Marina Pollan, Lucinda Aguirre-Cruz, Jose Luis García-Lopez, Jose Piquer, María-Jose Safont, Carmen Balaña, Montserrat Sanchez-Cespedes, Mercedes García-Villanueva, Leoncio Arribas, Manel Esteller
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2004)

Abstract Purpose: The DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) inhibits the killing of tumor cells by alkylating agents, and its loss in cancer cells is associated with hypermethylation of the MGMT CpG island. Thus, methylation of MGMT has been correlated with the clinical response to 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) in primary gliomas. Here, we investigate whether the presence of MGMT methylation in gliomas is also a good predictor of response to another emergent alkylating agent, temozolomide. Experimental Design: Using a methylation-specific PCR approach, we assessed the methylation status of the CpG island of MGMT in 92 glioma patients who received temozolomide as first-line chemotherapy or as treatment for relapses. Results: Methylation of the MGMT promoter positively correlated with the clinical response in the glioma patients receiving temozolomide as first-line chemotherapy (n = 40). Eight of 12 patients with MGMT-methylated tumors (66.7%) had a partial or complete response, compared with 7 of 28 patients with unmethylated tumors (25.0%; P = 0.030). We also found a positive association between MGMT methylation and clinical response in those patients receiving BCNU (n = 35, P = 0.041) or procarbazine/1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (n = 17, P = 0.043) as first-line chemotherapy. Overall, if we analyze the clinical response of all of the first-line chemotherapy treatments with temozolomide, BCNU, and procarbazine/1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea as a group in relation to the MGMT methylation status, MGMT hypermethylation was strongly associated with the presence of partial or complete clinical response (P &amp;lt; 0.001). Finally, the MGMT methylation status determined in the initial glioma tumor did not correlate with the clinical response to temozolomide when this drug was administered as treatment for relapses (P = 0.729). Conclusions: MGMT methylation predicts the clinical response of primary gliomas to first-line chemotherapy with the alkylating agent temozolomide. These results may open up possibilities for more customized treatments of human brain tumors.
Association of T-Cell Regulatory Gene Polymorphisms With Susceptibility to Gastric Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma
Authors: Tsu-Yao Cheng, Jaw-Town Lin, Li-Tzong Chen, Chia-Tung Shun, Hsiu-Po Wang, Ming-Tsang Lin, Tsang-En Wang, Ann-Lii Cheng, Ming-Shiang Wu
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2006)

Purpose Helicobacter pylori infection and host susceptibility interact to develop gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, and activation of specific T cells might play a crucial role in this process. Recent investigations show that the CTLA4, CD28, and ICOS genes are located on chromosome 2q33 and their polymorphisms confer susceptibility to infectious and immune diseases through deregulation of T-cell stimulation. We aimed to determine the role of CTLA4, CD28, and ICOS polymorphisms in gastric MALT lymphoma. Patients and Methods Genotyping for CTLA4 (49 A/G, −318 C/T, and CT60 A/G), CD28 (IVS3+ 17T/C), and ICOS (c.602 A/C and c.1624C/T) was performed for 62 patients with gastric MALT lymphoma and compared with 250 unrelated healthy controls. Results H pylori infection was significantly higher in patients with gastric MALT lymphoma (90.3%) compared with controls (66.4%; P &lt; .001). The CTLA4 −318 C/T genotype was associated with a lower risk of developing gastric MALT lymphoma (odds ratio [OR] = 0.3; P = .022), whereas CTLA4 49 G/G genotype was linked to a higher risk (OR = 4.1; P = .044). In patients with H pylori infection, CTLA4 49 G/G genotype was associated with an even higher risk (OR = 6.4; P = .047). Carriage of the tightly linked −318C –49G haplotype conferred a four-fold higher susceptibility to MALT lymphoma (OR = 4.2; P = .042). Complete remission after H pylori eradication was related to tumor stage but not to genotypes or haplotypes. Conclusion These results indicate a genetic link of CTLA4 gene polymorphisms to development of gastric MALT lymphoma and indirectly support the crucial role of host activated T cells in the MALT lymphomagenesis.
SPECIFIC INHIBITION OF WHEAL-AND-ERYTHEMA RESPONSES WITH UNIVALENT HAPTENS AND UNIVALENT ANTIBODY FRAGMENTS
Authors: Fuad S. Farah, Milton Kern, Herman N. Eisen
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1960)

Wheal-and-erythema responses were studied in normal human volunteers and in a single human subject who is sensitive to the 2,4-dinitrophenyl group. In the normal subjects, reactive skin sites were established by intradermal injection of purified rabbit antibody specific for the 2,4-dinitrophenyl group. In both the active and passively sensitized subjects, wheal-and-erythema was elicited by intradermal injection of a 2,4-dinitrophenyl protein, but not by injection of the same conjugate mixed with certain low molecular weight 2,4-dinitrophenyl haptens or with univalent fragments split by papain from anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl antibody. The latter fragments, unlike intact, bivalent, antibody, do not sensitize normal human skin sites. From these and other observations it is concluded that the wheal-and-erythema response in human skin requires mutually multivalent antigen and antibody. This requirement suggests that multimolecular complexes, containing at least 2 antigen and 2 antibody molecules, are essential in the pathogenesis of this allergic response.
Increased Expression of Cytoskeletal, Linkage, and Extracellular Proteins in Failing Human Myocardium
Authors: Annette Heling, René Zimmermann, Sawa Kostin, Yoshi Maeno, Stefan Hein, Bruno Devaux, Erwin Bauer, Wolf-Peter Klövekorn, Martin Schlepper, Wolfgang Schaper, Jutta Schaper
Journal: Circulation Research (2000)

Experimental studies have shown that in hypertrophy and heart failure, accumulation of microtubules occurs that impedes sarcomere motion and contributes to decreased ventricular compliance. We tested the hypothesis that these changes are present in the failing human heart and that an entire complex of structural components, including cytoskeletal, linkage, and extracellular proteins, are involved in causing functional deterioration. In explanted human hearts failing because of dilated cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction </=20%), expression of alpha- and beta-tubulin, desmin, vinculin, fibronectin, and vimentin was determined by Northern and Western blot analysis and compared with normal myocardium from explants not used for transplantation. The mRNA for alpha- and beta-tubulin was increased to 2.4-fold (P<0.01) and 1.25-fold (NS), respectively; for desmin, 1.2-fold (P<0.05); for fibronectin, 5-fold (P<0.001); and for vimentin, 1.7-fold (P<0.05). Protein levels for alpha-tubulin increased 2.6-fold (P<0.02); for beta-tubulin, 1.2-fold (P<0.005); for desmin, 2.1-fold (P<0.001); for vinculin, 1.2-fold (P<0.005); for fibronectin, 2.9-fold (P<0.001); and for vimentin, 1.5-fold (P<0. 005). Confocal microscopy showed augmentation and disorganization of all proteins studied. In combination with the loss of myofilaments and sarcomeric skeleton previously reported, these changes suggest cardiomyocyte remodeling. Increased fibronectin and elevated interstitial cellularity (vimentin labeling) indicate progressive fibrosis. The present results suggest a causative role of cytoskeletal abnormalities and myofilament loss for intrinsic contractile and diastolic dysfunction in failing hearts.
Effects of community based nurses specialising in Parkinson's disease on health outcome and costs: randomised controlled trial
Authors: B. Jarman
Journal: BMJ (2002)

To determine the effects of community based nurses specialising in Parkinson's disease on health outcomes and healthcare costs.Two year randomised controlled trial.438 general practices in nine randomly selected health authority areas of England.1859 patients with Parkinson's disease identified by the participating general practices.Survival, stand-up test, dot in square test, bone fracture, global health question, PDQ-39, Euroqol, and healthcare costs.After two years 315 (17.3%) patients had died, although mortality did not differ between those who were attended by nurse specialists and those receiving standard care from their general practitioner (hazard ratio for nurse group v control group 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.73 to 1.13). No significant differences were found between the two groups for the stand-up test (odds ratio 1.15, 0.93 to 1.42) and dot in square score (difference -0.7, -3.25 to 1.84). Scores on the global health question were significantly better in patients attended by nurse specialists than in controls (difference -0.23, -0.4 to -0.06), but no difference was observed in the results of the PDQ-39 or Euroqol questionnaires. Direct costs for patient health care increased by an average of 2658 pounds sterling during the study, although not differentially between groups: the average increase was 266 pounds sterling lower among patients attended by a nurse specialist (-981 pounds sterling to 449 pounds sterling ).Nurse specialists in Parkinson's disease had little effect on the clinical condition of patients, but they did improve their patients' sense of wellbeing, with no increase in patients' healthcare costs.
Deletion of Fcγ Receptor IIB Renders H-2b Mice Susceptible to Collagen-induced Arthritis
Authors: Takae Yuasa, Satoshi Kubo, Tadashi Yoshino, Azusa Ujike, Kimio Matsumura, Masao Ono, Jeffrey V. Ravetch, Toshiyuki Takai
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1999)

Autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, result from a dysregulation of the immune response culminating in hyperactivation of effector cells leading to immune-mediated injury. To maintain an appropriate immune response and prevent the emergence of autoimmune disease, activation signals must be regulated by inhibitory pathways. Biochemical and genetic studies indicate that the type IIB low-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin (Ig)G (FcγRIIB) inhibits cellular activation triggered through antibody or immune complexes and may be an important component in preventing the emergence of autoimmunity. To investigate the role of FcγRIIB in the development of type II collagen (CII)-induced arthritis (CIA), a model for rheumatoid arthritis in humans, we have examined its contribution in determining the susceptibility to CIA in the nonpermissive H-2b haplotype. H-2b mice immunized with bovine CII do not develop appreciable disease. In contrast, immunization of the FcγRIIB-deficient, H-2b mice with bovine CII induced CIA at an incidence of 42.2%. The maximal arthritis index of the FcγRIIB-deficient mice developing CIA (6.9 ± 3.6) was comparable to that of DBA/1 mice (8.6 ± 1.9), an H-2q strain susceptible for CIA induction. IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibody responses against CII were elevated in the FcγRIIB-deficient animals, especially in those mice showing arthritis, but less pronounced than DBA/1 mice. Histological examinations of the arthritic paws from FcγRIIB-deficient mice revealed that cartilage was destroyed and bone was focally eroded in association with marked lymphocyte and monocyte/macrophage infiltration, very similar to the pathologic findings observed in DBA/1 mice. These results indicate that a nonpermissive H-2b haplotype can be rendered permissive to CIA induction through deletion of FcγRIIB, suggesting that FcγRIIB plays a critical role in suppressing the induction of CIA.