tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Adherence to healthy lifestyle and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: prospective cohort study
Authors: C. Zhang, D. K. Tobias, J. E. Chavarro, W. Bao, D. Wang, S. H. Ley, F. B. Hu
Journal: BMJ (2014)

<b>Objective</b> To quantify the association between a combination of healthy lifestyle factors before pregnancy (healthy body weight, healthy diet, regular exercise, and not smoking) and the risk of gestational diabetes. <b>Design</b> Prospective cohort study. <b>Setting</b> Nurses' Health Study II, United States. <b>Participants</b> 20 136 singleton live births in 14 437 women without chronic disease. <b>Main outcome measure</b> Self reported incident gestational diabetes diagnosed by a physician, validated by medical records in a previous study. <b>Results</b> Incident first time gestational diabetes was reported in 823 pregnancies. Each lifestyle factor measured was independently and significantly associated with risk of gestational diabetes. The combination of three low risk factors (non-smoker, ≥150 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous physical activity, and healthy eating (top two fifths of Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 adherence score)) was associated with a 41% lower risk of gestational diabetes compared with all other pregnancies (relative risk 0.59, 95% confidence interval 0.48 to 0.71). Addition of body mass index (BMI) &lt;25 before pregnancy (giving a combination of four low risk factors) was associated with a 52% lower risk of gestational diabetes compared with all other pregnancies (relative risk 0.48, 0.38 to 0.61). Compared with pregnancies in women who did not meet any of the low risk lifestyle factors, those meeting all four criteria had an 83% lower risk of gestational diabetes (relative risk 0.17, 0.12 to 0.25). The population attributable risk percentage of the four risk factors in combination (smoking, inactivity, overweight, and poor diet) was 47.5% (95% confidence interval 35.6% to 56.6%). A similar population attributable risk percentage (49.2%) was observed when the distributions of the four low risk factors from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-10) data were applied to the calculation. <b>Conclusions</b> Adherence to a low risk lifestyle before pregnancy is associated with a low risk of gestational diabetes and could be an effective strategy for the prevention of gestational diabetes.
Bronchodilation and Bronchoprotection in Asthmatic Preschool Children from Formoterol Administered by Mechanically Actuated Dry-powder Inhaler and Spacer
Authors: KIM G. NIELSEN, HANS BISGAARD
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2001)

We evaluated the bronchodilatory and the bronchoprotective effect of the long-acting β2-agonist formoterol administered as dry powder from a mechanically actuated dry-powder inhaler (DPI) using spacer in 12 asthmatic children 2 to 5 yr of age. Lung function was measured as the specific airway resistance (sRaw) in a whole body plethysmograph. Hyperventilation of cold, dry air was used as bronchial challenge, and the responsiveness was estimated as change in sRaw. The bronchoprotective effect of formoterol Turbohaler 9 μ g was compared with salbutamol 200 μ g and placebo at 15 min, 4 and 8 h postdose in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. All treatments were administered from DPI (Turbohaler) actuated mechanically into a spacer. Formoterol and salbutamol caused similar and significant bronchodilation at the first measurement 3 min postdose. Formoterol offered a sustained and stable bronchodilation for at least 8 h. Salbutamol provided significant bronchodilation for less than 4 h. Formoterol caused significant bronchoprotection of 80% for at least 8 h compared with placebo, and from 4 h onward compared with salbutamol. Bronchoprotection from salbutamol lasted less than 4 h. In conclusion, formoterol administered as dry powder in a single dose provided rapid and sustained bronchodilation and clinically significant bronchoprotection for at least 8 h in 2- to 5-yr-old asthmatic children. Furthermore, this study suggests that mechanical actuation of DPI using a spacer is effective for aerosol treatment of young asthmatic children.Keywords: asthma; preschool children; long-acting β2-agonist; automatic spacer; cold dry air challenge
Shared Decision Making in Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Luke Seaburg, Erik P. Hess, Megan Coylewright, Henry H. Ting, Christopher J. McLeod, Victor M. Montori
Journal: Circulation (2014)

PresentationYou are seeing Mr Roberts, a 69-year-old retired office manager referred from the emergency department for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).He presented the previous night to the emergency department with shortness of breath and palpitations and was found to be in AF with a rapid ventricular response and a heart rate of 140 bpm.He was treated with intravenous diltiazem and spontaneously converted to sinus rhythm.He was then discharged from the emergency department with an outpatient cardiology appointment.He has a background history of hypertension but no other cardiac disease.His only medication is a thiazide diuretic.On questioning, he reports experiencing several episodes of palpitations over the last 2 to 3 years; typically, these are brief and self-limited.His transthoracic echocardiogram, thyroid studies, and electrolytes are all within normal limits.His ECG shows sinus rhythm with no other significant abnormality.His CHADS 2 score is 1 and CHA 2 DS 2 -Vasc score is 2.He has a family history of gastrointestinal hemorrhage-associated death and is uncomfortable about long-term anticoagulation.Additionally, he is reluctant about taking a daily medication plus his blood pressure pill.How might you present current best practice while ensuring that his treatment program is consistent with his goals, values, and preferences?
Tonic sensory pathways of the respiratory system
Authors: Y Jammes
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1988)

Both respiratory centres and the preganglionic vagal motoneurones, which control respiratory (striated) and airway (smooth) muscles respectively, receive information on the lungs, the circulation and the skeletal and respiratory muscles. Each of these nervous pathways has two components: one is phasic, i.e. in phase with biological rhythms, and comes from mechanoreceptors connected to large myelinated fibres; the second has a tonic low frequency firing rate and corresponds to the spontaneous activity of polymodal receptors connected to thin sensory fibres, which act mostly as sensors of changes in extracellular fluid composition (O2 and/or CO2 partial pressure, pH, release of algesic agents etc...). Some of them also detect large mechanical disturbances or local temperature changes. The influence of tonic background sensory activity is well known in animals concerning the role played by arterial chemoreceptors in the control of ventilation and of thin vagal afferents from the lungs (bronchopulmonary C-fibres and irritant receptors) in reflex facilitation of the bronchoconstrictor vagal tone. Moreover, the stimulation of thin sensory fibres in particular circumstances is responsible for hyperventilation (arterial chemoreceptors and muscle afferents), increased airway tone (arterial chemoreceptors and mostly thin vagal afferent fibres) or bronchodilation (muscle afferents). These peripheral inputs project centrally on different structures and also on brain stem neurones, which integrate simultaneously chemosensory, vagal and muscle information. This results in complex interactions between the different sensory pathways.
Prophylactic intranasal alpha 2 interferon and viral exacerbations of chronic respiratory disease.
Authors: M J Wiselka, K G Nicholson, J Kent, J B Cookson, D A Tyrrell
Journal: Thorax (1991)

BACKGROUND As respiratory virus infections often lead to exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and asthma an effective antiviral drug may be helpful in such patients. Alpha 2 interferon has been shown to give protection against rhinovirus infections in field studies. METHODS Patients with chronic respiratory disease exposed to close contacts with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection were randomly allocated to receive nasal sprays of recombinant alpha 2 interferon (3 x 10(6) IU) or placebo twice daily for five days. Of the 123 patients recruited into the study, 69 took 117 courses of medication; 11 courses were excluded from analysis. RESULTS No important side effects were recorded and the incidence of possible adverse effects was similar in the two groups. Interferon treatment did not reduce the number or severity of symptomatic episodes; 11 of 48 patients given interferon and 16 of 58 given placebo developed lower respiratory symptoms. There were no differences in mean symptom scores (51 interferon and 52 placebo), number of symptomatic days (3.3 interferon and 5.0 placebo), peak flow values, number of general practitioner consultations, or use of antibiotics. CONCLUSION Alpha 2 interferon 3 x 10(6) IU taken twice daily for five days does not protect patients with chronic respiratory disease from exacerbations after they have been in contact with an upper respiratory tract infection.
Macrophage functions are regulated by murine decidual and tumor extracellular matrices.
Authors: D B McKay, M A Vazquez, R W Redline, C Y Lu
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1992)

Because of their paternal antigens, the fetus and placenta may be considered an allograft in the maternal host. Understanding the mechanisms which prevent maternal immunological rejection of the fetus remains a fundamental unsolved problem in immunology. We have previously reported that macrophages are inhibited by maternal decidual stromal cells residing at the maternal-fetal interface. In view of the central role of macrophages in cell-mediated immunity, this inhibition may contribute to preventing maternal antifetal responses. We now report that it was the solid phase signals embedded in the extracellular matrix (ECM) made by decidual cells which are responsible for inhibiting macrophage-mediated lysis of TNF-alpha-resistant P815 mastocytoma cells. The latter macrophage function is acquired after stimulation by interferon gamma and endotoxin. All these macrophage functions were also inhibited by ECM isolated from the Engelberth-Holm-Swarme (EHS) tumor. This tumor ECM has a similar biochemical composition to decidual ECM. This ECM inhibited the effector, as opposed to the stimulator, phase of macrophage-mediated tumor lysis. Laminin, type IV collagen, and heparan sulfate proteoglycans, the major known components of decidual and EHS ECMs, did not inhibit the above macrophage functions. Altogether these data indicate that macrophages were inhibited by solid phase signals embedded in decidual and EHS ECMs. Whether the solid phase signals in these two ECMs are biochemically identical remains to be determined. To our knowledge, such signals are a novel pathway of inhibiting macrophage functions which may be important in understanding the maternal-fetal immunologic relationship, and the pathogenesis of perinatal infections. Furthermore, the ability of EHS tumor ECM to inhibit macrophage functions may indicate that some tumors may defend themselves against host macrophage responses using solid phase signals. This may be important in understanding some host-tumor relationships.
Randomised trial of isoniazid versus rifampicin and pyrazinamide for prevention of tuberculosis in HIV-1 infection
Authors: Neal A Halsey, Jacqueline S Coberly, Julio Desormeaux, Phyllis Losikoff, Joan Atkinson, Lawrence H Moulton, Mireil Contave, Michael Johnson, Homer Davis, Lawrence Geiter, Erica Johnson, Robin Huebner, Reginald Boulos, Richard E Chaisson
Journal: The Lancet (1998)

BackgroundTuberculosis is a common complication of HIV-1 infection, especially in developing countries. Practical and effective chemoprophylaxis regimens for HIV-1-related tuberculosis are needed. Our aim was to test the efficacy of isoniazid versus rifampicin with pyrazinamide for prevention of tuberculosis in HIV-1-positive individuals.MethodsWe compared the efficacy of 6 months of isoniazid with 2 months of rifampicin and pyrazinamide for prevention of tuberculosis in HIV-1-seropositive individuals. Eligible participants were aged 16–77 years, HIV-1 seropositive, had a positive purified-protein derivative (PPD) skin test reaction of at least 5 mm, and had a normal chest radiograph. Participants were randomly assigned partially supervised twice weekly isoniazid for 24 weeks or twice weekly rifampicin and pyrazinamide for 8 weeks. Participants were followed up for up to 4 years for the development of tuberculosis and survival.FindingsTuberculosis developed in 14 (3·8%) of 370 participants assigned isoniazid and 19 (5·0%) of 380 participants assigned rifampicin and pyrazinamide (Cox model rate ratio 1·3 [95% CI 0·7–2·7]). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the risk of tuberculosis during the first 10 months after entry was 3·7% among participants who received rifampicin and pyrazinamide compared with 1·0% (p=0·03) among participants who received isoniazid, and 5·4% versus 5·1%, respectively (p=0·9) at 36 months after entry. Higher rates of tuberculosis were observed in people with baseline CD4 percentages (of total lymphocytes) of less than 20 (rate ratio 4·0 [95% CI 1·8–9·0]). There were no significant differences in total mortality at any time.InterpretationTwice-weekly isoniazid preventive therapy for 6 months or rifampicin and pyrazinamide for 2 months provided similar overall protection against tuberculosis in HIV-1-infected, PPD-positive adults. The better protection among recipients of isoniazid during the first 10 months was most likely secondary to the longer duration of chemoprophylaxis. Preventive therapy for HIV-1-seropositive, PPD-positive individuals could be practical in developing countries with a once weekly clinic visit, but optimum duration of chemoprophylaxis has not been determined.
A recombinant anti-carcinoembryonic antigen immunoreceptor with combined CD3 -CD28 signalling targets T cells from colorectal cancer patients against their tumour cells
Authors: A Hombach
Journal: Gut (2005)

The prognosis of metastatic colorectal cancer is still poor, raising the need for alternative therapeutic approaches, particularly by manipulating the antitumour immune response. Advanced tumour stages, however, are frequently accompanied by functional T cell defects which may be critical for a T cell based anticancer immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to address whether T cells from colorectal cancer patients with advanced tumour stages can be specifically antigen activated against their autologous tumour cells.T cells were isolated from colorectal cancer patients and retrovirally transduced to express a recombinant immunoreceptor that has an extracellular binding domain for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and an intracellular CD3zeta signalling domain with and without CD28 costimulation for T cell activation.Peripheral blood T cells from colorectal cancer patients were successfully engineered to express the anti-CEA immunoreceptor on the cell surface. On coincubation with autologous CEA(+) tumour cells, T cells with anti-CEA immunoreceptor are specifically activated to secrete interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and to lyse autologous tumour cells whereas T cells without immunoreceptor are not. T cells equipped with combined CD3zeta-CD28 signalling receptor are more efficiently activated to secrete IFN-gamma compared with T cells with CD3zeta signalling receptor. Induction of interleukin 2 secretion on targeting towards autologous tumour cells requires triggering of T cells by the CD3zeta-CD28 costimulatory receptor.T cells from advanced colorectal cancer patients can be tumour specifically activated with high efficiency by engraftment with a combined CD3zeta-CD28 immunoreceptor to break tolerance against autologous tumour cells.
Cutaneous infection caused by Serratia marcescens in a child
Authors: Fernando Rodríguez García, Roberto C. Paz, Rosalba S. González, Eduardo S. Ruiz, F.G. Martín-Neda, Miguel S. Rodríguez, Marina R. Martín, Miriam Sidro Sarto, Hugo A. Arguelles, Marta García Bustínduy, Antonio N. Cabrera
Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2006)
An in-vitro assessment of the hydraulic characteristics of the mark II Abrams-Lucas mitral valve prosthesis.
Authors: J T Wright
Journal: Thorax (1977)

As a result of the durability problems associated with the first Abrams-Lucas mitral valve, a redesigned model has recently been introduced into limited clinical trials. The new valve was subjected to in-vitro pulsatile flow studies, and measurements were made of mean diastolic pressure gradient and volume of reflux on closure. Similar measurements were made on other mitral valve prostheses of comparable size. High-speed cinematography was used to analyse the motion of the occluder during the simulated cardiac cycle, and the flow patterns produced by the valve in the model ventricular cavity were observed and photographed. The pressure gradient of the Abrams-Lucas valve was significantly lower than that of the 29 mm Björk-Shiley valve and all other prostheses tested, but its reflux level was higher at 12 ml per stroke. The valve opened and closed smoothly and the flow visualisation study revealed that the valve produced a large vortex or swirl in the model ventricular cavity.
PENTRAXINS AT THE CROSSROADS BETWEEN INNATE IMMUNITY, INFLAMMATION, MATRIX DEPOSITION, AND FEMALE FERTILITY
Authors: Cecilia Garlanda, Barbara Bottazzi, Antonio Bastone, Alberto Mantovani
Journal: Annual Review of Immunology (2004)

C reactive protein, the first innate immunity receptor identified, and serum amyloid P component are classic short pentraxins produced in the liver. Long pentraxins, including the prototype PTX3, are expressed in a variety of tissues. Some long pentraxins are expressed in the brain and some are involved in neuronal plasticity and degeneration. PTX3 is produced by a variety of cells and tissues, most notably dendritic cells and macrophages, in response to Toll-like receptor (TLR) engagement and inflammatory cytokines. PTX3 acts as a functional ancestor of antibodies, recognizing microbes, activating complement, and facilitating pathogen recognition by phagocytes, hence playing a nonredundant role in resistance against selected pathogens. In addition, PTX3 is essential in female fertility because it acts as a nodal point for the assembly of the cumulus oophorus hyaluronan-rich extracellular matrix. Thus, the prototypic long pentraxin PTX3 is a multifunctional soluble pattern recognition receptor at the crossroads between innate immunity, inflammation, matrix deposition, and female fertility.
Novel Associations between Common Breast Cancer Susceptibility Variants and Risk-Predicting Mammographic Density Measures
Authors: Jennifer Stone, Deborah J. Thompson, Isabel dos Santos Silva, Christopher Scott, Rulla M. Tamimi, Sara Lindstrom, Peter Kraft, Aditi Hazra, Jingmei Li, Louise Eriksson, Kamila Czene, Per Hall, Matt Jensen, Julie Cunningham, Janet E. Olson, Kristen Purrington, Fergus J. Couch, Judith Brown, Jean Leyland, Ruth M.L. Warren, Robert N. Luben, Kay-Tee Khaw, Paula Smith, Nicholas J. Wareham, Sebastian M. Jud, Katharina Heusinger, Matthias W. Beckmann, Julie A. Douglas, Kaanan P. Shah, Heang-Ping Chan, Mark A. Helvie, Loic Le Marchand, Laurence N. Kolonel, Christy Woolcott, Gertraud Maskarinec, Christopher Haiman, Graham G. Giles, Laura Baglietto, Kavitha Krishnan, Melissa C. Southey, Carmel Apicella, Irene L. Andrulis, Julia A. Knight, Giske Ursin, Grethe I. Grenaker Alnaes, Vessela N. Kristensen, Anne-Lise Borresen-Dale, Inger Torhild Gram, Manjeet K. Bolla, Qin Wang, Kyriaki Michailidou, Joe Dennis, Jacques Simard, Paul Pharoah, Alison M. Dunning, Douglas F. Easton, Peter A. Fasching, V. Shane Pankratz, John L. Hopper, Celine M. Vachon
Journal: Cancer Research (2015)

Mammographic density measures adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI) are heritable predictors of breast cancer risk, but few mammographic density-associated genetic variants have been identified. Using data for 10,727 women from two international consortia, we estimated associations between 77 common breast cancer susceptibility variants and absolute dense area, percent dense area and absolute nondense area adjusted for study, age, and BMI using mixed linear modeling. We found strong support for established associations between rs10995190 (in the region of ZNF365), rs2046210 (ESR1), and rs3817198 (LSP1) and adjusted absolute and percent dense areas (all P < 10(-5)). Of 41 recently discovered breast cancer susceptibility variants, associations were found between rs1432679 (EBF1), rs17817449 (MIR1972-2: FTO), rs12710696 (2p24.1), and rs3757318 (ESR1) and adjusted absolute and percent dense areas, respectively. There were associations between rs6001930 (MKL1) and both adjusted absolute dense and nondense areas, and between rs17356907 (NTN4) and adjusted absolute nondense area. Trends in all but two associations were consistent with those for breast cancer risk. Results suggested that 18% of breast cancer susceptibility variants were associated with at least one mammographic density measure. Genetic variants at multiple loci were associated with both breast cancer risk and the mammographic density measures. Further understanding of the underlying mechanisms at these loci could help identify etiologic pathways implicated in how mammographic density predicts breast cancer risk.
Localization of angiotensinogen messenger RNA in rat aorta.
Authors: L A Cassis, K R Lynch, M J Peach
Journal: Circulation Research (1988)

The distribution of angiotensinogen messenger (mRNA) was determined in the rat aorta. Other investigators have demonstrated the presence of angiotensinogen mRNA in whole rat aorta; however, its precise location in the blood vessel wall has not been defined. When various layers of the vessel wall were separated by dissection or cell dispersion, angiotensinogen mRNA levels were greatest in the periaortic adipose tissue. Angiotensinogen mRNA was present in very small levels in the adventitia, with no detectable levels in the muscle layer. In addition to periaortic adipose tissue, angiotensinogen mRNA was also present in the interscapular brown fat pad of the rat. The high levels of angiotensinogen mRNA in periaortic brown adipose tissue suggests that angiotensin may be synthesized there and responses may exist in this tissue or adjacent sympathetic nerve terminals.
The Icatibant Outcome Survey: Rate and Impact Of Treatment By Self-Administration
Authors: Dolores Hernández Fernández de Rojas, Ethel Ibáñez, Hilary Longhurst, Marcus Maurer, Vincent Fabien, Werner Aberer, Laurence Bouillet, Andrea Zanichelli, Teresa Caballero
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2014)
Nutrition in sport.: Ed Ronald J Maughan. (Pp 680; pound69.50.) Oxford: Blackwell Science, 2000. ISBN 0632050942.
Authors: Peter Fricker
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2002)

“A comprehensive review of the role of nutrition in sport and exercise” is promised at the beginning of the text, and, in my opinion, the promise is delivered.

The editor, Ron Maughan, from University Medical School, Foresterhill, Aberdeen is an established authority in exercise physiology and nutrition, and he has assembled no less than 65 experts (including himself) to produce this work for the IOC and FIMS, which represents volume VII of the Encyclopaedia of sports medicine . Every contributor has solid …