Factors affecting brain structure in smoking-related diseases: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and coronary artery disease.

Background: Changes in brain structure and cognitive decline occur in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). They also occur with smoking and coronary artery disease (CAD), but it is unclear whether a common mechanism is responsible.

Methods: Brain MRI markers of brain structure were tested for association with disease markers in other organs.

Challenges in cardiovascular pharmacogenomics implementation: a viewpoint from the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy.

Pharmacogenomics promises to advance cardiovascular therapy, but there remain pragmatic barriers to implementation. These are particularly important to explore within Europe, as there are differences in the populations, availability of resources, and expertise, as well as in ethico-legal frameworks. Differences in healthcare delivery across Europe present a challenge, but also opportunities to collaborate on pharmacogenomics implementation.

The role of pharmacogenomics in contemporary cardiovascular therapy: a position statement from the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy.

There is a strong and ever-growing body of evidence regarding the use of pharmacogenomics to inform cardiovascular pharmacology. However, there is no common position taken by international cardiovascular societies to unite diverse availability, interpretation, and application of such data, nor is there recognition of the challenges of variation in clinical practice between countries within Europe. Aside from the considerable barriers to implementing pharmacogenomic testing and the complexities of clinically actioning results, there are differences in the availability of resources and expertise internationally within Europe.

Nitrous oxide-induced neurotoxicity: A case report and literature review.

Nitrous oxide is an increasingly popular recreational drug. However, recurrent or prolonged use can be associated with nitrous oxide toxicity, with numerous reports of harm documented in the literature. Nitrous oxide irreversibly binds and inactivates vitamin B12, which is an important co-factor in metabolic pathways involved in DNA and myelin synthesis.

Immunomodulatory Drugs in the Management of SARS-CoV-2.

With the onset of the global pandemic in 2020 of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), there has been increasing research activity around certain disease-modifying drugs that are used for the management of inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthrosis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and inflammatory bowel disease for managing coronavirus symptoms. In the conditions mentioned, many people are on long-term treatment with agents including hydroxychloroquine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) inhibitor drugs, other biologic agents such as monoclonal antibodies to IL-6 and Janus kinase inhibitors including baricitinib and tofacitinib, which are used to control inflammatory responses in their respective auto-immune condition. There is emerging data that immunomodulatory drugs could be protective at reducing certain features of SARS-CoV-2 and improving recovery.

Simple non-mydriatic retinal photography is feasible and demonstrates retinal microvascular dilation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke but it remains unclear how to identify microvascular changes in this population.

Objectives: We hypothesized that simple non-mydriatic retinal photography is feasible and can be used to assess microvascular damage in COPD.

Methods: Novel Vascular Manifestations of COPD was a prospective study comparing smokers with and without COPD, matched for age.

Contributions of cardiovascular risk and smoking to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-related changes in brain structure and function.

Background: Brain damage and cardiovascular disease are extra-pulmonary manifestations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cardiovascular risk factors and smoking are contributors to neurodegeneration. This study investigates whether there is a specific, COPD-related deterioration in brain structure and function independent of cardiovascular risk factors and smoking.

COPD patients hospitalized with exacerbations have greater cognitive impairment than patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure.

Purpose: People with COPD have cognitive dysfunction, which is greater in those hospitalized for exacerbations than in stable outpatients. We tested the hypothesis that cognitive dysfunction at exacerbation is a disease-specific feature of COPD, rather than a nonspecific feature of hospitalization for acute illness, by comparing cognition between patients hospitalized for acute COPD exacerbations and those with worsening heart failure (HF).

Patients And Methods: A total of 40 hospital inpatients were recruited, 20 patients with COPD exacerbations and 20 patients with congestive or left-sided HF.

The 'top 100' drugs and classes in England: an updated 'starter formulary' for trainee prescribers.

Aims: Prescribing is a complex skill required of doctors and, increasingly, other healthcare professionals. Use of a personal formulary can help to develop this skill. In 2006-9, we developed a core list of the 100 most commonly prescribed drugs.

Identifying individual psychosocial and adherence support needs in patients with psoriasis: a multinational two-stage qualitative and quantitative study.

Background: Psoriasis has a serious impact on patients' lives. However, adherence to medications is often poor, potentially compounding the burden of disease. Identifying patients who need support with psychosocial problems, or issues with adherence, can be complex.

The lack of impact of peri-implantation or late gestation nutrient restriction on ovine fetal renal development and function.

Unbalanced nutrition during critical windows of development is implicated in determining the susceptibility to hypertension and cardiovascular disease in adult life, but the underlying mechanisms during fetal life have not been fully elucidated. We investigated the effects of moderate nutritional restriction during critical windows in gestation on late gestation fetal sheep growth, cardiovascular and renal renin-angiotensin system function. Ewes were fed 100% nutrient requirements (control), or 40-50% nutrient requirements during the peri-implantation period (1-31 days gestation (dGA), PI40 and PI50), or 50% nutrient requirements in late gestation (104-127 dGA).

Inactivation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in pure culture, whole live and half shell oysters (Crassostrea virginica) by X-ray.

Aims: To study the inactivation effect of different doses of X-ray on Vibrio parahaemolyticus in pure culture, inoculated whole live and half shell oysters and to evaluate the efficacy of X-ray doses on reduction of inherent microflora on oysters.

Methods And Results: X-ray was produced using RS 2400 generator system (Rad Source Technologies Inc.).

The late gestation fetal cardiovascular response to hypoglycaemia is modified by prior peri-implantation undernutrition in sheep.

Undernourished late gestation fetuses display asymmetric growth restriction, suggestive of a redistribution of nutritional resources. The modification of fetal organ blood supply in response to acute hypoxia is well characterized, but it is not known whether similar responses occur in response to acute reductions in nutrition, or if such late gestation responses can be influenced by early gestation nutrition. In pregnant sheep, total nutrient requirements were restricted during the peri-implantation period (PI40, 40%; PI50, 50% of total, days 1-31) or in late gestation (L, 50% total, days 104-postmortem).

The carotid bodies influence growth responses to moderate maternal undernutrition in late-gestation fetal sheep.

Objective: To determine the role of carotid sinus innervation on differential fetal organ growth during maternal nutrient restriction in late pregnancy.

Design: Randomised controlled study.

Setting: University research facility.

Raised dietary n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake increases 2-series prostaglandin production during labour in the ewe.

Preterm labour is the major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality in humans. The incidence is around 10% and the causes are often unknown. Consumption of dietary n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in western societies is increasing.