tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
AB1306-HPR THE EFFECTS OF CLINICAL PILATES EXERCISES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Authors: S. Baglan Yentur, N. Atas, M. A. Ozturk, D. Oskay
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a rheumatic disease that may coexist many symptoms clinically. These clinical symptoms progress in a vicious cycle in many patients. Physical activity and exercise are known to improve many symptoms in RA patients. Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effects of clinical pilates exercises on fatigue, depression, aerobic capacity, pain, sleep quality and quality of life. Methods: Thirty voluntary RA patients were included in this study. Patients were separated into three groups equally and each group was applied treatment for eight weeks. Clinical pilates exercises were practiced to the first group, aerobic exercises were practiced to the second group and combined training which was a combination of pilates exercises and aerobic exercises was performed to the third group. Fatigue, depression, aerobic capacity, pain, sleep quality and quality of life were evaluated by Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Six minute walk test (6MWT), Short- Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQoL), respectively. Results: According to our results, statistically significant improvements were found for clinical pilates exercises on fatigue, depression, aerobic capacity and quality of life (p&lt;0.05). Improvements in all parameters except from pain were concluded for aerobic exercises and combined training (p&lt;0.05). Also, there was no statistically significant difference among the treatment groups in assessments (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: Pilates exercises were found effective and safe for RA patients. Clinical pilates training may be as effective as aerobic exercises in patients with RA according to our study. Therefore, addition of clinical pilates exercises to the routine treatment of RA may enhance the success of rehabilitation. References: [1]Hegarty RS, Conner TS, Stebbings S, Treharne GJ. Feel the Fatigue and Be Active Anyway: Physical Activity on High-Fatigue Days Protects Adults With Arthritis From Decrements in Same-Day Positive Mood. Arthritis care &amp; research. 2015;67(9):1230-6 [2]Løppenthin K, Esbensen BA, Jennum P, Østergaard M, Christensen JF, Thomsen T, et al. Effect of intermittent aerobic exercise on sleep quality and sleep disturbances in patients with rheumatoid arthritis–design of a randomized controlled trial. BMC musculoskeletal disorders. 2014;15(1):4 Disclosure of Interests: None declared
Standard and Precordial Leads Obtained With an Apple Watch
Authors: Brian White-Guay
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2020)

Letters4 August 2020Standard and Precordial Leads Obtained With an Apple WatchFREEBrian White-Guay, MDBrian White-Guay, MDUniversity of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (B.W.)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L20-0586 SectionsAboutVisual AbstractPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:I welcome Cobos Gil's innovative application of the Apple Watch to extend the measurement of standard and precordial leads activity. However, because of the risk for interference, I suggest that caution be exercised in patients with a heart device, such as an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or a cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker.Reference1. Cobos Gil MÁ. Standard and precordial leads obtained with an Apple Watch. Ann Intern Med. 2020;172:436-437. [PMID: 31766051]. doi:10.7326/M19-2018 LinkGoogle Scholar Comments0 CommentsSign In to Submit A Comment Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (B.W.)Disclosures: The author has disclosed no conflicts of interest. The form can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L20-0586. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoStandard and Precordial Leads Obtained With an Apple Watch Miguel Ángel Cobos Gil Standard and Precordial Leads Obtained With an Apple Watch Peter W. Macfarlane Standard and Precordial Leads Obtained With an Apple Watch Miguel Ángel Cobos Gil Metrics 4 August 2020Volume 173, Issue 3Page: 249KeywordsConflicts of interestDisclosureExercise therapyHeartImplantable cardioverter defibrillatorsPacemakers ePublished: 4 August 2020 Issue Published: 4 August 2020 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2020 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...
Exacerbation of immune thrombocytopenia triggered by COVID-19 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Yasushi Kondo, Yuko Kaneko, Tatsuhiro Oshige, Hiroyuki Fukui, Shuntaro Saito, Mikio Okayama, Hirofumi Kamata, Makoto Ishii, Naoki Hasegawa, Koichi Fukunaga, Tsutomu Takeuchi
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Burrowers and borers are ecosystem engineers that alter their physical environments through bioturbation, bioirrigation and bioerosion. The mechanisms of moving through solid substrata by burrowing or boring depend on the mechanical properties of the medium and the size and morphology of the organism. For burrowing animals, mud differs mechanically from sand; in mud, sediment grains are suspended in an organic matrix that fails by fracture. Macrofauna extend burrows through this elastic mud by fracture. Sand is granular and non-cohesive, enabling grains to more easily move relative to each other, and macrofaunal burrowers use fluidization or plastic rearrangement of grains. In both sand and mud, peristaltic movements apply normal forces and reduce shear. Excavation and localized grain compaction are mechanisms that plastically deform sediments and are effective in both mud and sand, with bulk excavation being used by larger organisms and localized compaction by smaller organisms. Mechanical boring of hard substrata is an extreme form of excavation in which no compaction of burrow walls occurs and grains are abraded with rigid, hard structures. Chemical boring involves secretion to dissolve or soften generally carbonate substrata. Despite substantial differences in the mechanics of the media, similar burrowing behaviors are effective in mud and sand.
Abstract B56: A CRISPR/Cas9 domain screen identifies a small motif in the PAX3-FOXO1 transactivation domain relevant for tumor maintenance in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Marco Wachtel, Katharina Benischke, Beat W. Schäfer
Journal: Cancer Research (2020)

Abstract Fusion transcription factors are the main drivers of tumorigenesis in many pediatric leukemias and sarcomas. One example is PAX3-FOXO1 (P3F), the pathognomonic marker of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS). Since these tumors are often also characterized by a quiet mutational landscape and a paucity of druggable oncogenes, the fusion proteins often remain as the only relevant drug target. However, transcription factors are challenging targets for small-molecule inhibitors, since they lack an enzymatic activity and, apart from the DNA binding domains, are usually intrinsically disordered. Identification of druggable structures in such proteins is therefore of great clinical interest. Our goal of this study was to identify new elements important for P3F activity. Towards this aim, we made use of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology and performed a saturated screen for identification of important functional domains in P3F in the endogenous context. This revealed that both DNA binding domains are indispensable, as expected for a transcription factor. Importantly, however, the screen also identified a 40-amino-acid-long domain at the C-terminus of the FOXO1 part to be strictly required for the function of the protein. Using a series of mutations in this domain in reporter assays, we identified a single cysteine whose mutation leads to more than 50% reduction in transcriptional activity. In addition, cells efficiently differentiated and stopped proliferating when this Cys was mutated in aRMS cells. These results suggest that functional interference with this domain could be a promising approach for aRMS therapy. Citation Format: Marco Wachtel, Katharina Benischke, Beat W. Schäfer. A CRISPR/Cas9 domain screen identifies a small motif in the PAX3-FOXO1 transactivation domain relevant for tumor maintenance in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 17-20; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(14 Suppl):Abstract nr B56.
Similarities and differences between severe COVID-19 pneumonia and anti-MDA-5-positive dermatomyositis-associated rapidly progressive interstitial lung diseases: a challenge for the future
Authors: Yukai Wang, Guangzhou Du, Guohong Zhang, Marco Matucci-Cerinic, Daniel E Furst
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

We read with great interest the article by Megremis et al ,1 who identified three immunogenic linear epitopes with high sequence identity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) proteins in patients with dermatomyositis (DM). Speculatively, this finding could indicate that latent exposure to the Coronaviridae family might contribute to musculoskeletal autoimmune disease development.1 Consequently, SARS-CoV-2 infection might mimic myositis and could also lead to catastrophic results in patients with DM with prior interstitial lung disease (ILD) manifestation.

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has rapidly spread to the whole world. Lung involvement is the hallmark of the disease, significantly associated with worse prognosis and higher mortality. The mechanism leading to acute lung injury in COVID-19 has not yet been completely elucidated. Nevertheless, immune dysfunction and cytokine dysregulation seem to play a pivotal role in this process. It is speculated that SARS-CoV-2 binds to target host cells through ACE 2, which is expressed in the airway and on type 2 pneumocytes in the lung. Subsequently, the virus triggers a storm of innate and adaptive immune response, resulting in the aberrant release of a large number of cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-10, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), monocyte chemotactic …
Abstract B41: Genomic landscape of somatic mutations in osteosarcomas
Authors: Sara F. Pires, Silvia S. Costa, Daniel O. Vidal, André van Helvoort Lengert, Érica Boldrini, Sandra R.M. da Silva, Carla Rosenberg, Luiz F. Lopes, Mariana Maschietto, Ana Krepischi
Journal: Cancer Research (2020)

Abstract Pediatric cancers are among the leading causes of childhood mortality, with osteosarcomas being the most prevalent bone tumors, characterized by an aggressive clinical course. However, knowledge about the molecular basis of osteosarcomas is still limited, hampering advances in diagnosis and treatment. In this context, we characterized the genomic landscape of somatic mutations in 28 osteosarcomas (24 pediatric patients and 4 adults) aiming to delineate the panel of prevalent mutations in Brazilian patients. Genomic libraries of these osteosarcoma samples were constructed using the TruSight One panel (Illumina), covering 4,813 clinically relevant genes, including known cancer genes. Generated data at high coverage (median &amp;gt;100x depth coverage) were annotated based on public databases containing population variant frequencies (including the Brazilian ABRAOM), as well as clinical information. For further analysis, we filtered only coding nonsynonymous variants absent from both population databases and an additional pool of 20 nonrelated germline samples. In total, 728 variants were identified mapping in 606 genes, with an average rate of 41 mutations per tumor. The panel of detected variants was composed by 93 loss-of-function mutations (38 frameshift, 25 splicing, and 30 premature stop codon) and 635 missense (43 inframe insertions/deletions and 592 single-nucleotide variations), some of them already reported in cancer databases (27 in COSMIC and 39 in ICGC). From 606 genes, 25 were previously associated with osteosarcomas, and they are related to apoptosis, cell growth and differentiation, DNA repair, transcriptional regulation, and tumor-suppression mechanisms. The most frequent mutations were detected in RB1 and TP53; other recurrently mutated genes were mostly linked to biologic pathways potentially related to the disease onset, such as hormonal response (AR), transcriptional regulation and muscle differentiation (FRG1), DNA repair (HERC2), cell signaling (KIR2DL4), and cell proliferation/differentiation (PTPRQ). Additionally, the tumors presented a highly complex pattern of copy number alterations, some of them resembling chromothripsis. This is the first assessment of a Brazilian cohort of osteosarcomas, and functional studies will be further applied to better understand the role of the disclosed mutations for tumor biology. Citation Format: Sara F. Pires, Silvia S. Costa, Daniel O. Vidal, André van Helvoort Lengert, Érica Boldrini, Sandra R.M. da Silva, Carla Rosenberg, Luiz F. Lopes, Mariana Maschietto, Ana Krepischi. Genomic landscape of somatic mutations in osteosarcomas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 17-20; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(14 Suppl):Abstract nr B41.
Azithromycin susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the USA in 2017: a genomic analysis of surveillance data
Authors: Kim M Gernert, Sandra Seby, Matthew W Schmerer, Jesse C Thomas, Cau D Pham, Sancta St Cyr, Karen Schlanger, Hillard Weinstock, William M Shafer, Brian H Raphael, Ellen N Kersh, Sopheay Hun, Chi Hua, Ryan Ruiz, Olusegun O Soge, Catherine Dominguez, Ami Patel, Jillian Loomis, John Leavitt, Jenny Zhang, Tamara Baldwin, Chun Wang, Christina Moore, Christian Whelen, Pamela O'Brien, Alesia Harvey
Journal: The Lancet Microbe (2020)

BackgroundThe number of cases of gonorrhoea in the USA and worldwide caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae is increasing (555 608 reported US cases in 2017, and 87 million cases worldwide in 2016). Many countries report declining in vitro susceptibility of azithromycin, which is a concern because azithromycin and ceftriaxone are the recommended dual treatment in many countries. We aimed to identify strain types associated with decreased susceptibility to azithromycin.MethodsWe did a genomic analysis of N gonorrhoeae isolates obtained by the US Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project. Isolates were whole-genome sequenced based on decreased susceptibility to azithromycin (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] ≥2 μg/mL, using agar dilution antibiotic susceptibility testing) and geographical representation. Bioinformatic analyses established genomic diversity, strain population dynamics, and antimicrobial resistance profiles.Findings410 isolates were sorted into more than 20 unique phylogenetic clades. One predominant persistent clade (consisting of 97 isolates) included the most isolates with azithromycin MICs of 2 μg/mL or higher (61 of 97 [63%] vs 59 of 311 [19%]; p<0·0001) and carried a mosaic mtr (multiple transferable resistance) locus (68 of 97 [70%] vs two of 313 [1%]; p<0·0001). Of the remaining 313 isolates, 57 (18%) had decreased susceptibility to azithromycin (MIC ≥4 μg/mL), which was attributed to 23S rRNA variants (56 of 57 [98%]) and formed phylogenetically diverse clades, showing various levels of clonal expansion.InterpretationReduced azithromycin susceptibility was associated with expanding and persistent clades harbouring two well described resistance mechanisms, mosaic mtr locus and 23S rRNA variants. Understanding the role of recombination, particularly within the mtr locus, on the fitness and expansion of strains with decreased susceptibility has important implications for the public health response to minimise gonorrhoea transmission.FundingUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CDC Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria initiative, Oak Ridge Institute for Science Education, US Department of Energy/CDC/Emory University, National Institutes of Health, and Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development Service of the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Dermoscopic predictors of melanoma arising in small- and medium-sized congenital nevi
Authors: Ruben González Cuevas, Alessia Villani, Zoe Apalla, Athanassios Kyrgidis, Leonardo Peruilh Bagolini, Chryssoula Papageorgiou, Magdalini-Sofia Manoli, Mattheos Bobos, Andreas Moutsoudis, Konstantinos Liopyris, Elizabeth Lazaridou, Elena Sotiriou, Efstratios Vakirlis, Dimitrios Ioannides, Aimilios Lallas
Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2020)
Endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19: a position paper of the ESC Working Group for Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology, and the ESC Council of Basic Cardiovascular Science
Authors: Paul C Evans, G Ed Rainger, Justin C Mason, Tomasz J Guzik, Elena Osto, Zania Stamataki, Desley Neil, Imo E Hoefer, Maria Fragiadaki, Johannes Waltenberger, Christian Weber, Marie-Luce Bochaton-Piallat, Magnus Bäck
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2020)

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented healthcare emergency causing mortality and illness across the world. Although primarily affecting the lungs, the SARS-CoV-2 virus also affects the cardiovascular system. In addition to cardiac effects, e.g. myocarditis, arrhythmias, and myocardial damage, the vasculature is affected in COVID-19, both directly by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and indirectly as a result of a systemic inflammatory cytokine storm. This includes the role of the vascular endothelium in the recruitment of inflammatory leucocytes where they contribute to tissue damage and cytokine release, which are key drivers of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), in disseminated intravascular coagulation, and cardiovascular complications in COVID-19. There is also evidence linking endothelial cells (ECs) to SARS-CoV-2 infection including: (i) the expression and function of its receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the vasculature; (ii) the prevalence of a Kawasaki disease-like syndrome (vasculitis) in COVID-19; and (iii) evidence of EC infection with SARS-CoV-2 in patients with fatal COVID-19. Here, the Working Group on Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology together with the Council of Basic Cardiovascular Science of the European Society of Cardiology provide a Position Statement on the importance of the endothelium in the underlying pathophysiology behind the clinical presentation in COVID-19 and identify key questions for future research to address. We propose that endothelial biomarkers and tests of function (e.g. flow-mediated dilatation) should be evaluated for their usefulness in the risk stratification of COVID-19 patients. A better understanding of the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on endothelial biology in both the micro- and macrovasculature is required, and endothelial function testing should be considered in the follow-up of convalescent COVID-19 patients for early detection of long-term cardiovascular complications.
Germline Mutations Occurring Outside the Negatively Charged Amino Acid Stretches of the Exon 9 of Calr : A Predisposition to Hematological Malignancies?
Authors: Laurent Miguet, Carine Gervais, Antoine Ittel, Eric Jeandidier, Anne Galoisy, Caroline Mayeur-Rousse, Laurie Monier, Alice Eischen, Laurent Daniel Vallat, Mario Ojeda, Bernard Drenou, Shanti Ame, Raoul Herbrecht, Laurent Mauvieux
Journal: Blood (2017)
Experiences of Home Health Care Workers in New York City During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic
Authors: Madeline R. Sterling, Emily Tseng, Anthony Poon, Jacklyn Cho, Ariel C. Avgar, Lisa M. Kern, Claire K. Ankuda, Nicola Dell
Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine (2020)

Home health care workers care for community-dwelling adults and play an important role in supporting patients with confirmed and suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who remain at home. These workers are mostly middle-aged women and racial/ethnic minorities who typically earn low wages. Despite being integral to patient care, these workers are often neglected by the medical community and society at large; thus, developing a health care system capable of addressing the COVID-19 crisis and future pandemics requires a better understanding of the experiences of home health care workers.
Emerging radiotherapy technologies and trends in nasopharyngeal cancer
Authors: Michelle Tseng, Francis Ho, Yiat Horng Leong, Lea Choung Wong, Ivan WK Tham, Timothy Cheo, Anne WM Lee
Journal: Cancer Communications (2020)

Abstract Technology has always driven advances in radiotherapy treatment. In this review, we describe the main technological advances in radiotherapy over the past decades for the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) and highlight some of the pressing issues and challenges that remain. We aim to identify emerging trends in radiation medicine. These include advances in personalized medicine and advanced imaging modalities, standardization of planning and delineation, assessment of treatment response and adaptive re‐planning, impact of particle therapy, and role of artificial intelligence or automation in clinical care. In conclusion, we expect significant improvement in the therapeutic ratio of radiotherapy treatment for NPC over the next decade.
Correspondence on ‘2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus’ by Aringer<i>et al</i>
Authors: Ran Cui, Qian Wang, Hua Zhang, Shan Wu, Xin-Jian Wan, Sheng-Ming Dai
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Figure 1 Endoscopic examination of the rectum.Multiple
Th2 cell markers in peripheral blood increase during an acute asthma exacerbation
Authors: Nami Shrestha Palikhe, Yingqi Wu, Emily Konrad, Vivek Dipak Gandhi, Brian H. Rowe, Harissios Vliagoftis, Lisa Cameron
Journal: Allergy (2020)

Abstract Background Allergic asthma is characterized by type 2 inflammation. We have shown the presence of increased type 2 inflammation in patients with severe asthma and those with frequent exacerbations. However, it is not known whether increased type 2 inflammation drives asthma exacerbations. This study aims to determine Th2 immune parameters in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with an acute asthma exacerbation and correlate these parameters with clinical and physiological measures of asthma. Methods Sixteen adults presenting to the ED with acute asthma exacerbations were recruited after giving informed consent. Ten patients returned 2 weeks later for follow‐up. Physiological parameters, asthma control (ACQ6), asthma quality of life (AQLQ) questionnaires, and venous blood were collected during both visits. An immune cell profiling was performed by whole blood flow cytometry: CD4 + T cells, Th2 cells (CD4 + CRTh2 + T cells and % of CD4 + T cells expressing CRTh2), eosinophils and innate lymphoid cells (ILC2). Results During exacerbation, peripheral blood Th2 cell numbers correlated with ACQ6 and AQLQ scores, while ILC2 and eosinophil numbers did not. Subjects had higher % of CD4 + T cells expressing CRTh2 and worse FEV 1 during exacerbation compared with the follow‐up. The decrease in the % of CD4 + T cells expressing CRTh2 seen during the follow‐up visit correlated with the improvement in lung function. Conclusions These data suggest that Th2 cells in peripheral blood may be a sensitive measure of increasing symptoms in patients with asthma exacerbations and may serve as a biomarker of an asthma exacerbation.