tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Circadian melatonin and cortisol levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients in winter time: a north and south Europe comparison
Authors: M Cutolo
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2005)

<b>Background:</b> Altered functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and altered melatonin production might modulate the circadian symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. <b>Objective:</b> To investigate the influence of different winter photoperiods on the circadian rhythms of serum melatonin, cortisol, tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), and interleukin 6 (IL6) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis from a north Europe country (Estonia) and a south Europe country (Italy). <b>Methods:</b> The patients from Estonia (n = 19) and Italy (n = 7) had similar disease severity and duration and were compared with healthy age and sex matched controls in the two countries. Blood samples were collected during the period January to February at 8 pm, 10 pm, midnight, 2 am, 4 am, 6 am, 8 am, and 3 pm. Melatonin was measured by radioimmunoassay using <sup>125</sup>I-melatonin. Serum cortisol, TNFα, and IL6 cytokines were assayed by standard methods. <b>Results:</b> Higher circadian melatonin concentrations from 10 pm and an earlier peak were observed in Estonian patients than in their age and sex matched controls (p&lt;0.01). Starting from midnight, melatonin concentrations were significantly higher in the Estonian patients than in the Italian patients. No significant differences were observed for serum cortisol. Serum TNFα was higher (p&lt;0.05) in Estonian patients than in their controls and was correlated with the melatonin levels. <b>Conclusions:</b> In a north European country (Estonia), the circadian rhythm of serum concentrations of melatonin and TNFα in patients with rheumatoid arthritis were significantly higher than in matched controls or in rheumatoid patients from a south Europe country (Italy).
Methods for Specifying the Target Difference in a Randomised Controlled Trial: The Difference ELicitation in TriAls (DELTA) Systematic Review
Authors: Jenni Hislop, Temitope E. Adewuyi, Luke D. Vale, Kirsten Harrild, Cynthia Fraser, Tara Gurung, Douglas G. Altman, Andrew H. Briggs, Peter Fayers, Craig R. Ramsay, John D. Norrie, Ian M. Harvey, Brian Buckley, Jonathan A. Cook
Journal: PLoS Medicine (2014)

Jonathan Cook and colleagues systematically reviewed the literature for methods of determining the target difference for use in calculating the necessary sample size for clinical trials, and discuss which methods are best for various types of trials. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary
Spirometric reference equations for European females and males aged 65–85 yrs
Authors: F. García-Río, J.M. Pino, A. Dorgham, A. Alonso, J. Villamor
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2004)

The aim of this study was to describe spirometric reference equations for healthy never-smoking European adults aged 65–85 yrs and to compare the predicted values of this sample with those from other studies including middle-aged and/or older adults. Reference equations and normal ranges for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in six seconds (FEV 6 ), FEV 1 /FVC ratio and FEV 1 /FEV 6 ratio were derived from a healthy subgroup of 458 subjects aged 65–85 yrs. Spirometry examinations followed the 1994 American Thoracic Society recommendations and the quality of the data was continuously monitored and maintained. Reference values and lower limits of normal were derived using a piecewise polynomial model with age and height as predictors. The reference values of FEV 1 and FVC from the present study were higher than those given by prediction equations from the European Community for Coal and Steel. By contrast, use of prediction equations from Caucasian-American elderly subjects (Cardiovascular Health Study) consistently overpredicted FVC and FEV 1 in females by 8.5 and 2.1%, respectively. In males, equations from the Cardiovascular Health Study overpredicted FVC by 2.8%, whilst underpredicting FEV 1 by 2.5%. In conclusion, these results underscore the importance of using prediction equations appropriate to the origin, age and height characteristics of the subjects being studied.
Pharmacological activities of roflumilast N-oxide, dexamethasone and formoterol in human neutrophils from healthy non-smokers and COPD patients
Authors: Javier Milara, Javier Lluch, Adela Serrano, Jose Freire, Max Qian, Magdalena Alonso-Galicia, Celia Sanz, Ricardo Guijarro, Julio Cortijo
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Introduction:  Roflumilast N-oxide (RNO) has anti-inflammatory activities and reverses corticosteroid resistance in COPD neutrophils. This study further explored the anti-inflammatory effects of RNO, dexamethasone (DEX) and formoterol and their combinations in human neutrophils from healthy non-smokers and COPD patients.   Methods:  Neutrophils were incubated with DEX (0.1nM-1μM), RNO (0.1nM-1μM), formoterol (0.1nM-1μM) or the combinations of RNO 1nM + DEX 10nM and formoterol 1nM + DEX 10nM for 1h, followed by stimulation with 5% cigarette smoke extract (CSE) for 6h. IL-8 release, MIF and MKP-1 expression and PI3Kδ and HDAC2 activities were measured.   Results:  RNO inhibited CSE-induced IL-8 secretion, reaching a maximal inhibition of 90.4% in healthy and 88.9% in COPD neutrophils. DEX inhibited CSE-induced IL-8 secretion in healthy neutrophils (94.3%) but showed a weak inhibition of 20.6% in COPD neutrophils. Formoterol did not inhibit CSE-induced IL-8 release. The combination of RNO + DEX showed the most additive effects, nearly abolishing CSE-induced IL-8 release in COPD neutrophils, while the formoterol + DEX combo was less effective at decreasing IL-8 release. In COPD neutrophils, RNO restored DEX sensitivity by reversing CSE-induced MIF over-expression and MKP-1 down-regulation as well as by inhibiting CSE-induced PI3Kδ activation and HDAC2 down-regulation; in contrast, formoterol was less effective at restoring DEX sensitivity.   Conclusions:  The combination of RNO + DEX showed additive anti-inflammatory properties and RNO was more effective than formoterol at restoring DEX sensitivity in human neutrophils from COPD patients.
Evaluation of an auto-CPAP device for treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea
Authors: J H Ficker, G H Wiest, G Lehnert, B Wiest, E G Hahn
Journal: Thorax (1998)

<h3>BACKGROUND</h3> Auto-CPAP machines used in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are designed to vary the treatment pressure automatically in order always to apply the actually needed pressure. Consequently they should be able to achieve at least identical therapeutic effects as conventional constant pressure CPAP with a lower mean treatment pressure. The present study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and the treatment pressure of an auto-CPAP machine (REM+auto<sup>®</sup>, SEFAM) in comparison with a conventional CPAP device. <h3>METHODS</h3> Following CPAP titration, 16 patients with OSA were allocated to receive conventional CPAP and auto-CPAP treatment under polysomnographic control in a randomised order. After each treatment the patients were asked to assess the therapy using a questionnaire; a vigilance test was also carried out and subjective daytime sleepiness was evaluated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). <h3>RESULTS</h3> The mean (SD) apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) during auto-CPAP treatment was comparable with that during conventional CPAP treatment (4.2 (5.1) versus 3.6 (4.0)). Neither an analysis of sleep architecture nor the arousal index (7.4 (4.1) versus 7.0 (4.3)) revealed any significant differences. Daytime sleepiness measured with the ESS was also comparable (5.3 (3.4) versus 6.5 (4.2)). The vigilance test showed normal values after both treatments in all patients with no significant differences. The mean pressure during auto-CPAP treatment (8.1 (2.9) mbar), however, was significantly higher than that employed in conventional CPAP treatment (7.6 (2.7) mbar; mean difference 0.5 mbar; 95% CI 0.1 to 0.9 mbar; p&lt;0.05). <h3>CONCLUSIONS</h3> Auto-CPAP was equally as effective as conventional CPAP with respect to therapeutic efficacy. The aim of reducing the treatment pressure with auto-CPAP, however, was not achieved.
Self-harm in prisons in England and Wales: an epidemiological study of prevalence, risk factors, clustering, and subsequent suicide
Authors: Keith Hawton, Louise Linsell, Tunde Adeniji, Amir Sariaslan, Seena Fazel
Journal: The Lancet (2013)

BackgroundSelf-harm and suicide are common in prisoners, yet robust information on the full extent and characteristics of people at risk of self-harm is scant. Furthermore, understanding how frequently self-harm is followed by suicide, and in which prisoners this progression is most likely to happen, is important. We did a case-control study of all prisoners in England and Wales to ascertain the prevalence of self-harm in this population, associated risk factors, clustering effects, and risk of subsequent suicide after self-harm.MethodsRecords of self-harm incidents in all prisons in England and Wales were gathered routinely between January, 2004, and December, 2009. We did a case-control comparison of prisoners who self-harmed and those who did not between January, 2006, and December, 2009. We also used a Bayesian approach to look at clustering of people who self-harmed. Prisoners who self-harmed and subsequently died by suicide in prison were compared with other inmates who self-harmed.Findings139 195 self-harm incidents were recorded in 26 510 individual prisoners between 2004 and 2009; 5–6% of male prisoners and 20–24% of female inmates self-harmed every year. Self-harm rates were more than ten times higher in female prisoners than in male inmates. Repetition of self-harm was common, particularly in women and teenage girls, in whom a subgroup of 102 prisoners accounted for 17 307 episodes. In both sexes, self-harm was associated with younger age, white ethnic origin, prison type, and a life sentence or being unsentenced; in female inmates, committing a violent offence against an individual was also a factor. Substantial evidence was noted of clustering in time and location of prisoners who self-harmed (adjusted intra-class correlation 0·15, 95% CI 0·11–0·18). 109 subsequent suicides in prison were reported in individuals who self-harmed; the risk was higher in those who self-harmed than in the general prison population, and more than half the deaths occurred within a month of self-harm. Risk factors for suicide after self-harm in male prisoners were older age and a previous self-harm incident of high or moderate lethality; in female inmates, a history of more than five self-harm incidents within a year was associated with subsequent suicide.InterpretationThe burden of self-harm in prisoners is substantial, particularly in women. Self-harm in prison is associated with subsequent suicide in this setting. Prevention and treatment of self-harm in prisoners is an essential component of suicide prevention in prisons.FundingWellcome Trust, National Institute for Health Research, National Offender Management Service, and Department of Health.
Safety and Effectiveness of Insulin Pump Therapy in Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Leslie P. Plotnick, Loretta M. Clark, Frederick L. Brancati, Thomas Erlinger
Journal: Diabetes Care (2003)

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of insulin pump therapy in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.All 95 patients who began insulin pump therapy at Johns Hopkins Hospital between January 1990 and December 2000 were included in the study. The mean age was 12.0 years (range 4-18), and 29% of the patients were <10 years old. Data were obtained by chart review beginning 6-12 months before pump start. The median duration of follow-up was 28 months.There was a small but significant decrease in HbA(1c) at 3-6 months after pump start (7.7 vs. 7.5%; P = 0.03). HbA(1c) levels then gradually increased and remained elevated after 1 year of follow-up; however, this association was confounded by age and diabetes duration, both of which were associated with higher HbA(1c) levels. After adjusting for duration and age, mean HbA(1c) after pump start was significantly lower than before pump start (7.7 vs. 8.1%; P < 0.001). The number of medical complications (diabetic ketoacidosis, emergency department visits) was similar before and after pump start. There were fewer hypoglycemic events after pump start (12 vs. 17, rate ratio 0.46, 95% CI 0.21-1.01).This study suggests that pump therapy is safe and effective in selected children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Survival in systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension in the modern management era
Authors: David Launay, Olivier Sitbon, Eric Hachulla, Luc Mouthon, Virginie Gressin, Laurence Rottat, Pierre Clerson, Jean-François Cordier, Gerald Simonneau, Marc Humbert
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2012)

To assess the survival and prognostic factors in patients with newly diagnosed incident systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in the modern management era.Prospectively enrolled SSc patients in the French PAH Network between January 2006 and November 2009, with newly diagnosed PAH and no interstitial lung disease, were analysed (85 patients, mean age 64.9±12.2 years). Median follow-up after PAH diagnosis was 2.32 years.A majority of patients were in NYHA functional class III-IV (79%). Overall survival was 90% (95% CI 81% to 95%), 78% (95% CI 67% to 86%) and 56% (95% CI 42% to 68%) at 1, 2 and 3 years from PAH diagnosis, respectively. Age (HR: 1.05, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.09, p=0.012) and cardiac index (HR: 0.49, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.89, p=0.019) were significant predictors in the univariate analysis. We also observed strong trends for gender, SSc subtypes, New York Heart Association functional class, pulmonary vascular resistance and capacitance to be significant predictors in the univariate analysis. Conversely, six-min walk distance, mean pulmonary arterial and right atrial pressures were not significant predictors. In the multivariate model, gender was the only independent factor associated with survival (HR: 4.76, 95% CI 1.35 to 16.66, p=0.015 for male gender).Incident SSc-associated PAH remains a devastating disease even in the modern management era. Age, male gender and cardiac index were the main prognosis factors in this cohort of patients. Early detection of less severe patients should be a priority.
Effects of aerosolized surfactant in patients with stable chronic bronchitis: a prospective randomized controlled trial
Authors: A. Anzueto
Journal: JAMA (1997)

ВведениеОРДС давно известен врачам под такими назва ниями, как некардиогенный отек легких, шоковое лег кое, мокрое легкое и другие.Современное определение ОРДС было введено D.G. Ashbaugh (1967), а критерии диагностики выработаны Американо Европейской со гласительной конференцией (АЕСК).В диагностике синдрома острого повреждения легких (СОПЛ) и ОРДС, согласно рекомендациям АЕСК, опираются на 4 критерия: острое начало основного заболевания (сепсис, тяжелая пневмония, множественная травма, ингаляционная травма и др.), тяжелая гипоксемия, ре Во второй части обзора рассматривается проблема сурфактант терапии острого респираторного дистресс синдрома (ОРДС) у взрослых и детей младшего и старшего возраста.Излагаются сведения о результатах сурфактант терапии и профилактики ОРДС у больных с тяжелой комбинированной травмой, ингаляционными поражениями, осложнени ями при тяжелых расширенных операциях на грудной клетке, при тяжелых пневмониях, в том числе при двусторон ней пневмонии на фоне гриппа A/H1N1.Представлены данные о применении сурфактанта в акушерской клинике и профилактике первичной дисфункции легочного трансплантата при трансплантации легких.Обсуждаются результа ты многолетнего использования сурфактант терапии в России, свидетельствующие о возможности существенного (до 20%) снижения уровня смертности при ОРДС.Кроме того, рассмотриваются примеры сурфактант терапии дру гих заболеваний легких, таких как стойкие ателектазы, ХОБЛ и бронхиальная астма, а также туберкулез легких
Seasonality of Infectious Diseases
Authors: David N. Fisman
Journal: Annual Review of Public Health (2007)

Seasonality, a periodic surge in disease incidence corresponding to seasons or other calendar periods, characterizes many infectious diseases of public health importance. The recognition of seasonal patterns in infectious disease occurrence dates back at least as far as the Hippocratic era, but mechanisms underlying seasonality of person-to-person transmitted diseases are not well understood. Improved understanding will enhance understanding of host-pathogen interactions and will improve the accuracy of public health surveillance and forecasting systems. Insight into seasonal disease patterns may be gained through the use of autocorrelation methods or construction of periodograms, while seasonal oscillation of infectious diseases can be easily simulated using simple transmission models. Models demonstrate that small seasonal changes in host or pathogen factors may be sufficient to create large seasonal surges in disease incidence, which may be important particularly in the context of global climate change. Seasonality represents a rich area for future research.
Comparative Effects of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition and Angiotensin-Receptor Blockade on Inflammation during Hemodialysis
Authors: Jorge L. Gamboa, Mias Pretorius, Deanna R. Todd-Tzanetos, James M. Luther, Chang Yu, T. Alp Ikizler, Nancy J. Brown
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2011)

Biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation predict cardiovascular events in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) reduce cardiovascular mortality in the general population, but their benefit in maintenance hemodialysis patients is not fully explored. To test whether ACE inhibitors and ARBs differentially affect markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrinolysis during hemodialysis, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 3×3 crossover study. We randomly assigned 15 participants undergoing hemodialysis to placebo, ramipril (5 mg/d), and valsartan (160 mg/d) for 7 days, with a washout period of 3 weeks in between the treatments. On the morning of the seventh day of drug treatment, participants underwent serial blood sampling during hemodialysis. Neither ramipril nor valsartan affected BP during hemodialysis. Ramipril increased IL-1β concentrations (P=0.02) and decreased IL-10 concentrations (P=0.04) compared with placebo. Valsartan and ramipril both lowered IL-6 levels during dialysis (P<0.01 for each compared with placebo). Valsartan increased F(2)-isoprostane levels, and ramipril suggested a similar trend (P=0.09). Valsartan and ramipril both lowered D-dimer levels (P<0.01 for both), whereas only ramipril seemed to prevent a rise in vWf levels (P=0.04). In summary, during hemodialysis, valsartan induces a greater anti-inflammatory effect compared with ramipril, although ramipril seems to prevent dialysis-induced endothelial dysfunction as measured by levels of vWf. A prospective clinical trial is necessary to determine whether ACE inhibitors and ARBs also differ with respect to their effects on cardiovascular mortality in this population.
25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels in African-American and Caucasian/Hispanic subjects with cutaneous lupus erythematosus
Authors: A.P. Word, F. Perese, L-C. Tseng, B. Adams-Huet, N.J. Olsen, B.F. Chong
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2011)

Journal Article 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D levels in African‐American and Caucasian/Hispanic subjects with cutaneous lupus erythematosus Get access A.P. Word, A.P. Word Departments of Dermatology and *Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, U.S.A Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar F. Perese, F. Perese Departments of Dermatology and *Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, U.S.A Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar L‐C. Tseng, L‐C. Tseng Departments of Dermatology and *Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, U.S.A Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar B. Adams‐Huet, B. Adams‐Huet Division of Rheumatology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, U.S.A Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar N.J. Olsen, N.J. Olsen Division of Rheumatology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, U.S.A Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar B.F. Chong B.F. Chong Departments of Dermatology and *Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, U.S.A Benjamin F. Chong. E‐mail: ben.chong@utsouthwestern.edu Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 166, Issue 2, 1 February 2012, Pages 372–379, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10667.x Published: 01 February 2012 Article history Accepted: 17 September 2011 Published: 01 February 2012