tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Evolving use of long-term NIV in COPD: Are we getting it right
Authors: Anne Pocock, Mark Ambrose, Karen Ward, Bis Chakrabarti, Nick Duffy, John O'Reilly, Robert Parker, Julie Cheney, Robert Angus
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background

The use of long-term NIV in COPD continues to be a controversial subject. Longer term trials show questionable benefit but there is debate over methodology such as the adequacy of ventilation and patient selection in the studies. We serve a population of 2.7 million offering a tertiary service with around 130 patients being established annually on NIV. Previously we observed that less than 5 percent of patients commenced on NIV had COPD.

Methods

We have reviewed the NIV set ups for 2011/12 to examine current practice, referral patterns and outcomes of the use of NIV in COPD.

Results

72 of 262 (27.48%) of patients established had COPD; 34 (47%) men with a mean(SD)age 65 (7.6) years. 4 categories of indication were noted: overlap mainly with OSA and obesity 38 (53%) of patients, to allow weaning off tracheostomy ventilation post exacerbation 7(10%), oxygen sensitivity and or decompensating ventilatory failure without exacerbations 17(24%) and recurrent admissions with decompensated type 2 respiratory failure 10(14%). Referral from our catchment area hospitals ranged from 3-14, those with a sleep screening service sending more. 13/72 (18.05%) of patients died, the mean time to death at date of review was 9.19 months, 4/72 (6%) patients complied poorly and chose to return device, 33/72 patients (45.8%) of the patients had no readmissions.

Conclusion

The use of long-term NIV has increased considerably in the last 10 years and is now accounts for a quarter of new start ups. For our service overlap syndromes and oxygen sensitivity are main indication for the use of longterm NIV in these COPD patients. There remains a need for work to define the optimal use of NIV long-term in COPD.
Large-Scale Evidence for the Effect of the COLIA1 Sp1 Polymorphism on Osteoporosis Outcomes: The GENOMOS Study
Authors: Stuart H Ralston, André G Uitterlinden, Maria Luisa Brandi, Susana Balcells, Bente L Langdahl, Paul Lips, Roman Lorenc, Barbara Obermayer-Pietsch, Serena Scollen, Mariona Bustamante, Lise Bjerre Husted, Alisoun H Carey, Adolfo Diez-Perez, Alison M Dunning, Alberto Falchetti, Elzbieta Karczmarewicz, Marcin Kruk, Johannes P. T. M. van Leeuwen, Joyce B. J. van Meurs, Jon Mangion, Fiona E. A McGuigan, Leonardo Mellibovsky, Francesca del Monte, Huibert A. P Pols, Jonathan Reeve, David M Reid, Wilfried Renner, Fernando Rivadeneira, Natasja M. van Schoor, Rachael E Sherlock, John P. A Ioannidis
Journal: PLoS Medicine (2006)

Osteoporosis and fracture risk are considered to be under genetic control. Extensive work is being performed to identify the exact genetic variants that determine this risk. Previous work has suggested that a G/T polymorphism affecting an Sp1 binding site in the COLIA1 gene is a genetic marker for low bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporotic fracture, but there have been no very-large-scale studies of COLIA1 alleles in relation to these phenotypes.Here we evaluated the role of COLIA1 Sp1 alleles as a predictor of BMD and fracture in a multicenter study involving 20,786 individuals from several European countries. At the femoral neck, the average (95% confidence interval [CI]) BMD values were 25 mg/cm2 (CI, 16 to 34 mg/cm2) lower in TT homozygotes than the other genotype groups (p < 0.001), and a similar difference was observed at the lumbar spine; 21 mg/cm2 (CI, 1 to 42 mg/cm2), (p = 0.039). These associations were unaltered after adjustment for potential confounding factors. There was no association with fracture overall (odds ratio [OR] = 1.01 [CI, 0.95 to 1.08]) in either unadjusted or adjusted analyses, but there was a non-significant trend for association with vertebral fracture and a nominally significant association with incident vertebral fractures in females (OR = 1.33 [CI, 1.00 to 1.77]) that was independent of BMD, and unaltered in adjusted analyses.Allowing for the inevitable heterogeneity between participating teams, this study-which to our knowledge is the largest ever performed in the field of osteoporosis genetics for a single gene-demonstrates that the COLIA1 Sp1 polymorphism is associated with reduced BMD and could predispose to incident vertebral fractures in women, independent of BMD. The associations we observed were modest however, demonstrating the importance of conducting studies that are adequately powered to detect and quantify the effects of common genetic variants on complex diseases.
TLR8 agonist VTX-2337 enhances NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity of NK cells
Authors: Hailing Lu, Yi Yang, Veronika Groh, Thomas Spies, Gregory Dietsch, Maura Matthews, Mary L Disis, Robert Hershberg
Journal: Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (2013)

Meeting abstracts NK cells express an array of activating and inhibitory receptors, which facilitate the recognition and lysis of virally infected and transformed cells, but safeguard healthy cells from attack. NKG2D is an activating receptor expressed on the surface of NK cells that recognizes the
Consistency in size and asymmetry of the psoas major muscle among elite footballers
Authors: S Stewart, W Stanton, S Wilson, J Hides
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2009)

To determine, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the psoas major (PM) muscle across multiple vertebral levels, to examine any asymmetry of the PM muscle and investigate the consistency across vertebral levels, and to determine whether a relationship exists between low back pain (LBP) and the size or asymmetry of the PM muscle among elite Australian Rules football (AFL) players.Observational cross-sectional study.Assessments and MRI examinations were carried out in a hospital setting.Thirty-one male elite AFL players aged between 20 and 32 years participated in the study.The independent factors in the study were "asymmetry" (coded as ipsilateral or contralateral to kicking leg) and "group" (current LBP versus no current LBP).The dependent variable in the study was the CSA of the PM muscle.The PM muscle was larger on the side of the dominant kicking leg at all four vertebral levels measured (F = 7.28, p = 0.012). Participants who reported current LBP had larger PM muscles than the remainder of the players (F = 4.63, p = 0.041).Additional investigation into the underlying mechanisms of the observed differences in PM muscle size could help to develop treatment and rehabilitation programmes aimed at reducing the incidence of LBP among AFL players. Furthermore, asymmetry of the PM muscle was observed at multiple vertebral levels and therefore future studies may only need to take single-level measurements to assess for asymmetry.
Short-term knemometry and urine cortisol excretion in children treated with fluticasone propionate and budesonide: a dose response study
Authors: L Agertoft, S Pedersen
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1997)

Few thorough comparisons of the systemic effects of inhaled corticosteroids in children are available. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of budesonide and fluticasone propionate on short-term lower leg growth. Fluticasone propionate, budesonide and placebo were administered for 2 weeks in a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, cross-over design. Twenty four children aged 6-12 yrs received 200 microg x day(-1) of each drug, or placebo. Another 24 children aged 6-12 years received 400 microg x day(-1) of each drug, or placebo. Dry powder inhalers were used. Lower leg length was measured by knemometry twice a week during all three treatment periods, and 24 h cortisol excretion in the urine was measured at the end of each period. In the low-dose group, lower leg growth rate was the same during treatment with placebo (0.35 mm x week(-1)), fluticasone propionate (0.38 mm x week(-1)) or budesonide (0.26 mm x week(-1)). No significant difference (p=0.39) in lower leg growth rate was found between treatment with 400 microg x day(-1) budesonide (0.30 mm x week(-1)) and 400 microg fluticasone propionate treatment (0.37 mm x week(-1)). Growth rate during treatment with budesonide, 400 microg x day(-1), was significantly lower than during placebo treatment (0.52 mm x week(-1)). Cortisol excretion in the urine during treatment with 200 microg x day(-1) fluticasone propionate was significantly reduced as compared with placebo (p=0.006), but not when compared with 200 microg x day(-1) budesonide (p=0.07). Budesonide 200 microg x day(-1) was not significantly different from placebo. Fluticasone propionate and budesonide, both at 400 microg x day(-1), resulted in a significant reduction in cortisol excretion in the urine as compared with placebo (p=0.001). It is concluded that, dose-for-dose, budesonide Turbuhaler and fluticasone propionate Diskhaler have similar systemic effects.
Peginterferon alfa-2a with or without low-dose ribavirin for treatment-naive patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 2 receiving haemodialysis: a randomised trial
Authors: Chen-Hua Liu, Chun-Jen Liu, Chung-Feng Huang, Jou-Wei Lin, Chia-Yen Dai, Cheng-Chao Liang, Jee-Fu Huang, Peir-Haur Hung, Hung-Bin Tsai, Meng-Kun Tsai, Chih-Yuan Lee, Shih-I Chen, Sheng-Shun Yang, Tung-Hung Su, Hung-Chih Yang, Pei-Jer Chen, Ding-Shinn Chen, Wan-Long Chuang, Ming-Lung Yu, Jia-Horng Kao
Journal: Gut (2014)

<h3>Objective</h3> Data comparing the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with peginterferon plus low-dose ribavirin and peginterferon monotherapy in treatment-naive haemodialysis patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 2 (HCV-2) infection are limited. <h3>Design</h3> In this randomised trial, 172 patients received 24 weeks of peginterferon alfa-2a 135 μg/week plus ribavirin 200 mg/day (n=86) or peginterferon alfa-2a 135 μg/week (n=86). The efficacy and safety endpoints were sustained virological response (SVR) rate and adverse event (AE)-related withdrawal rate. <h3>Results</h3> Compared with monotherapy, combination therapy had a greater SVR rate (74% vs 44%, relative risk (RR): 1.68 [95% CI 1.29 to 2.20]; p&lt;0.001). The beneficial effect of combination therapy was more pronounced in patients with baseline viral load ≥800 000 IU/mL than those with baseline viral load &lt;800 000 IU/mL (RR: 3.08 [95% CI 1.80 to 5.29] vs RR: 1.11 [95% CI 0.83 to 1.45]; interaction p=0.001). Patients receiving combination therapy were more likely to have a haemoglobin level of &lt;8.5 g/dL (70% vs 8%, risk difference (RD): 62% [95% CI 50% to 73%]; p&lt;0.001) and required a higher dosage [mean: 13 417vs 6667 IU/week, p=0.027] of epoetin β to manage anaemia than those receiving monotherapy. The AE-related withdrawal rates were 6% and 3% in combination therapy and monotherapy groups, respectively (RD: 2% [95% CI −4% to 9%]). <h3>Conclusions</h3> In treatment-naive haemodialysis patients with HCV-2 infection, combination therapy with peginterferon plus low-dose ribavirin achieved a greater SVR rate than peginterferon monotherapy. Most haemodialysis patients can tolerate combination therapy. <h3>Trial registration number</h3> ClinicalTrial.gov number, NCT00491244.
Local Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Therapy Increases Collateral Artery Formation in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice but Induces Systemic Monocytic CD11b Expression, Neointimal Formation, and Plaque Progression
Authors: N. van Royen, I. Hoefer, M. Böttinger, J. Hua, S. Grundmann, M. Voskuil, C. Bode, W. Schaper, I. Buschmann, J.J. Piek
Journal: Circulation Research (2003)

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) stimulates the formation of a collateral circulation on arterial occlusion. The present study served to determine whether these proarteriogenic properties of MCP-1 are preserved in hyperlipidemic apolipoprotein E–deficient (apoE −/− ) mice and whether it affects the systemic development of atherosclerosis. A total of 78 apoE −/− mice were treated with local infusion of low-dose MCP-1 (1 μg/kg per week), high-dose MCP-1 (10 μg/kg per week), or PBS as a control after unilateral ligation of the femoral artery. Collateral hindlimb flow, measured with fluorescent microspheres, significantly increased on a 1-week high-dose MCP-1 treatment (PBS 22.6±7.2%, MCP-1 31.3±10.3%; P &lt;0.05). These effects were still present 2 months after the treatment (PBS 44.3±4.6%, MCP-1 56.5±10.4%; P &lt;0.001). The increase in collateral flow was accompanied by an increase in the number of perivascular monocytes/macrophages on MCP-1 treatment. However, systemic CD11b expression by monocytes also increased, as did monocyte adhesion at the aortic endothelium and neointimal formation (intima/media ratio, 0.097±0.011 [PBS] versus 0.257±0.022 [MCP-1]; P &lt;0.0001). Moreover, Sudan IV staining revealed an increase in aortic atherosclerotic plaque surface (24.3±5.2% [PBS] versus 38.2±9.5% [MCP-1]; P &lt;0.01). Finally, a significant decrease in the percentage of smooth muscle cells was found in plaques (15.0±5.2% [PBS] versus 5.8±2.3% [MCP-1]; P &lt;0.001). In conclusion, local infusion of MCP-1 significantly increases collateral flow on femoral artery ligation in apoE −/− mice up to 2 months after the treatment. However, the local treatment did not preclude systemic effects on atherogenesis, leading to increased atherosclerotic plaque formation and changes in cellular content of plaques.
History of cholelithiasis and cancer risk in a network of case–control studies
Authors: A. Tavani, V. Rosato, F. Di Palma, C. Bosetti, R. Talamini, L. Dal Maso, A. Zucchetto, F. Levi, M. Montella, E. Negri, S. Franceschi, C. La Vecchia
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2012)
Letter by Le Faucheur et al Regarding Articles, “Six-Minute Walk Is a Better Outcome Measure Than Treadmill Walking Tests in Therapeutic Trials of Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease” and “The Treadmill Is a Better Functional Test Than the 6-Minute Walk Test in Therapeutic Trials of Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease”
Authors: A. Le Faucheur, P.-Y. de Müllenheim, G. Mahé
Journal: Circulation (2015)
Revision ACL reconstruction – causes of failure and graft choices
Authors: M A Akhtar, R Bhattacharya, N Ohly, J F Keating
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2011)

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common sporting injury. Reconstruction of the ruptured ACL is accepted as standard treatment for athletes as it allows them to resume sporting activities. Revision reconstruction of the ACL is becoming a common operation following the failure of primary graft. This study looked at the aetiology of primary ACL graft failure and choices of graft used for primary and revision surgery. Prospective data was collected for 98 patients undergoing revision ACL reconstruction between 1996 and 2010 under the care of a single knee surgeon, including demographic details, type of graft used in primary and revision ACL reconstruction and possible cause of failure of the primary ACL reconstruction. The mean age was 31 y (range 13–50 y), with 69 males (70%) and 29 females (30%). 24 patients (27%) were involved in sports and the most common sport played was football (n =10, 42%). The most common graft used for primary ACL reconstruction was hamstring tendon in 39 patients (54%) followed by patella tendon in 20 patients (28%). The commonest reason for graft failure after primary ACL surgery was trauma (in 47 patients: 52%) followed by “biological” (in 36 patients-40%), technical errors (in 5 patients-5.5%) and infection (in 2 patients-2.2%). The commonest graft used for revision ACL reconstruction was bone patella tendon in 49 patients (58%) followed by allograft in 20 patients (24%) and hamstring tendon in 13 patients (15%). The commonest cause of failure of primary ACL reconstruction surgery appears to be trauma (52%) followed by “biological failure” (40%). The commonest graft used for primary ACL reconstruction was hamstring tendon in 54% and for revision ACL reconstruction was patella tendon in 58%. Appropriate advice on return to play should be given to athletes to avoid traumatic failure of primary ACL reconstruction. Biological failure is a relatively new concept and further studies are needed to fully understand this mechanism of failure.
Immunotherapy for Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: N. Franklin Adkinson
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1999)

Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, afflicts 10 to 20 percent of people in the United States and northern Europe. The disease occurs either during the seasons of airborne pollens and molds or throughout the year, triggered by indoor allergens such as dust mites, house pets, cockroaches, and molds. Allergic rhinitis usually starts in childhood, on average at about the age of 10 years. Like that of asthma, its prevalence is rising, especially in urban areas, for obscure reasons. Although many assume that allergic rhinitis is more of a nuisance than a clinically significant health problem, it is responsible for $6 . . .
Effect of calcitonin on gastric emptying in patients with an active duodenal ulcer.
Authors: K Jonderko
Journal: Gut (1989)

In a double blind placebo controlled study the effect of calcitonin on gastric emptying and on serum concentrations of gastrin, insulin, glucose, calcium and phosphorus after a mixed solid-liquid meal was examined in eight patients with duodenal ulcer. Synthetic salmon calcitonin 415 pmol iv was given as a bolus followed by a 90 minute infusion to reach an overall dose of 62.25 pmol/kg. Gastric emptying of a radiolabelled meal was measured with a gamma camera. Calcitonin markedly delayed gastric emptying in all patients examined. The emptying index (Ix) decreased from 2.979 (0.397)/min after placebo to 0.896 (0.317)/min after calcitonin (p less than 0.001). Calcitonin did not affect significantly postprandial gastrin release: AUC0-90, 8768 (880) pg/l min (placebo) and 7807 (619) pg/l min (calcitonin). Postprandial insulin release was abolished by calcitonin -Auc0-90, 2258 (242) mU/l min (placebo) v 736 (131) mU/l min (calcitonin), p less than 0.001. Parallel to the suppression of insulin release was a steady increase in the serum glucose during calcitonin infusion, with the highest glucose concentration of 5.8 (0.53) mmol/l at the end of infusion of the hormone. Calcitonin did not change significantly serum calcium or phosphorus concentrations. A combination of a delaying effect on gastric emptying with the inhibition of gastric acid secretion elicited by calcitonin warrants further studies of calcinonin in the treatment of duodenal ulcer.
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Is Predominantly a Disease of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction”
Authors: Martin S. Maron, Mark S. Link, James E. Udelson, Jeffery T. Kuvin, Natesa G. Pandian, Iacopo Olivotto, Stefano Nistri, Franco Cecchi, Barry J. Maron
Journal: Circulation (2007)
Evolution after mirror neurons: Tapping the shared manifold through secondary adaptation
Authors: Matthew M Gervais
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2014)

Abstract Cook et al. laudably call for careful comparative research into the development of mirror neurons. However, they do so within an impoverished evolutionary framework that does not clearly distinguish ultimate and proximate causes and their reciprocal relations. As a result, they overlook evidence for the reliable develop of mirror neurons in biological and cultural traits evolved to work through them.
Rethinking Research Ethics
Authors: Rosamond Rhodes
Journal: The American Journal of Bioethics (2005)

Contemporary research ethics policies started with reflection on the atrocities perpetrated upon concentration camp inmates by Nazi doctors. Apparently, as a consequence of that experience, the policies that now guide human subject research focus on the protection of human subjects by making informed consent the centerpiece of regulatory attention. I take the choice of context for policy design, the initial prioritization of informed consent, and several associated conceptual missteps, to have set research ethics off in the wrong direction. The aim of this paper is to sort out these confusions and their implications and to offer instead a straightforward framework for considering the ethical conduct of human subject research. In the course of this discussion I clarify different senses of autonomy that have been confounded and present more intelligible justifications for informed consent. I also take issue with several of the now accepted dogmas that govern research ethics. These include: the primacy of informed consent, the protection of the vulnerable, the substitution of beneficence for research's social purpose, and the introduction of an untenable distinction between innovation and research.
Gut microbiome-host interactions in health and disease
Authors: James M Kinross, Ara W Darzi, Jeremy K Nicholson
Journal: Genome Medicine (2011)

The gut microbiome is the term given to describe the vast collection of symbiotic microorganisms in the human gastrointestinal system and their collective interacting genomes. Recent studies have suggested that the gut microbiome performs numerous important biochemical functions for the host, and disorders of the microbiome are associated with many and diverse human disease processes. Systems biology approaches based on next generation 'omics' technologies are now able to describe the gut microbiome at a detailed genetic and functional (transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolic) level, providing new insights into the importance of the gut microbiome in human health, and they are able to map microbiome variability between species, individuals and populations. This has established the importance of the gut microbiome in the disease pathogenesis for numerous systemic disease states, such as obesity and cardiovascular disease, and in intestinal conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease. Thus, understanding microbiome activity is essential to the development of future personalized strategies of healthcare, as well as potentially providing new targets for drug development. Here, we review recent metagenomic and metabonomic approaches that have enabled advances in understanding gut microbiome activity in relation to human health, and gut microbial modulation for the treatment of disease. We also describe possible avenues of research in this rapidly growing field with respect to future personalized healthcare strategies.
HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN LUPUS DURING CALCIFEROL TREATMENT.*
Authors: W. FREUDENTHAL
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1948)

Journal Article HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN LUPUS DURING CALCIFEROL TREATMENT. Get access W. FREUDENTHAL, M.D.Breslau W. FREUDENTHAL, M.D.Breslau Reader in Dermatological Histology, University of London Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology and Syphilis, Volume 60, Issue 5, 1 May 1948, Pages 178–180, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.1948.tb11020.x Published: 01 May 1948