Classical dendritic cells contribute to hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic and progressive disease with significant morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by remodeled pulmonary vessels associated with perivascular and intravascular accumulation of inflammatory cells. Although there is compelling evidence that bone marrow-derived cells, such as macrophages and T cells, cluster in the vicinity of pulmonary vascular lesions in humans and contribute to PH development in different animal models, the role of dendritic cells in PH is less clear.

Interstitial macrophage phenotypes in -induced pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a common cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH) worldwide. Type 2 inflammation contributes to the development of Schistosoma-induced PH. Specifically, interstitial macrophages (IMs) derived from monocytes play a pivotal role by producing thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), which in turn activates TGF-β, thereby driving the pathology of PH.

Comparison between free β subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and total hCG assays in adults with testicular cancer.

Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that the free-β subunit (βhCG) is diagnostically more sensitive with total hCG assays (hCGt) not detecting all tumours secreting βhCG. The effects of sex, age, and renal failure were investigated as secondary objectives.

Methods: We compared βhCG with hCGt in 204 testicular cancer patients (99 seminomas, 105 non-seminonatous germ cell tumours).

Repetitive schistosoma exposure causes perivascular lung fibrosis and persistent pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can occur as a complication of schistosomiasis. In humans, schistosomiasis-PH persists despite antihelminthic therapy and parasite eradication. We hypothesized that persistent disease arises as a consequence of exposure repetition.

Pregnancy and Exercise in Mountain Travelers.

Pregnant women are traveling to high altitude and evidence-based recommendations are needed. Yet, there are limited data regarding the safety of short-term prenatal high-altitude exposure. There are benefits to prenatal exercise and may be benefits to altitude exposure.

The role of macrophages in right ventricular remodeling in experimental pulmonary hypertension.

Right ventricular (RV) failure is the primary cause of death in pulmonary hypertension (PH), but the mechanisms of RV failure are not well understood. We hypothesized macrophages in the RV contribute to the RV response in PH. We induced PH in mice with hypoxia (FiO 10%) and exposure, and in rats with SU5416-hypoxia.

Contribution of fatty acid oxidation to the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension.

Dysregulated metabolism characterizes both animal and human forms of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism have previously not been assessed in human pulmonary arteries affected by pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and how inhibition of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) may attenuate PH remains unclear. Fatty acid metabolism gene transcription was quantified in laser-dissected pulmonary arteries from 10 explanted lungs with advanced PAH (5 idiopathic, 5 associated with systemic sclerosis), and 5 donors without lung diseases.

Experimental Schistosoma japonicum-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Schistosomiasis, a major cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) worldwide, is most clearly described complicating infection by one species, Schistosoma mansoni. Controlled exposure of mice can be used to induce Type 2 inflammation-dependent S. mansoni pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Caregiver Inclusivity and Empowerment During Family-Centered Rounds.

Objective: Despite widespread adoption of family-centered rounds, few have investigated differences in the experience of family-centered rounds by family race and ethnicity. The purpose of this study was to explore racial and ethnic differences in caregiver perception of inclusion and empowerment during family-centered rounds.

Methods: We identified eligible caregivers of children admitted to the general pediatrics team through the electronic health record.

Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Tick-Borne Illness in the United States.

The Wilderness Medical Society convened an expert panel to develop evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and management of tick-borne illness (TBI). Recommendations are graded based on quality of supporting evidence according to criteria put forth by the American College of Chest Physicians. The guidelines include a brief review of the clinical presentation, epidemiology, prevention, and management of TBI in the United States, with a primary focus on interventions that are appropriate for resource-limited settings.

Endothelial cell PHD2-HIF1α-PFKFB3 contributes to right ventricle vascular adaptation in pulmonary hypertension.

Humans and animals with pulmonary hypertension (PH) show right ventricular (RV) capillary growth, which positively correlates with overall RV hypertrophy. However, molecular drivers of RV vascular augmentation in PH are unknown. Prolyl hydroxylase (PHD2) is a regulator of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), which transcriptionally activates several proangiogenic genes, including the glycolytic enzyme 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3).

Association of Provider Perspectives on Race and Racial Health Care Disparities with Patient Perceptions of Care and Health Outcomes.

Research suggests that providers contribute to racial disparities in health outcomes. Identifying modifiable provider perspectives that are associated with decreased racial disparities will help in the design of effective educational interventions for providers. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between primary care provider (PCP) perspectives on race and racial disparities with patient outcomes.

Interleukin-6 mediates neutrophil mobilization from bone marrow in pulmonary hypertension.

Myeloid cells, such as neutrophils, are produced in the bone marrow in high quantities and are important in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases such as pulmonary hypertension (PH). Although neutrophil recruitment into sites of inflammation has been well studied, the mechanisms of neutrophil egress from the bone marrow are not well understood. Using computational flow cytometry, we observed increased neutrophils in the lungs of patients and mice with PH.

Kikuchi Disease with enlargement of intramammary lymph node.

We describe a rare case of intramammary lymphadenopathy due to Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. A 15-year old female presented to the Breast Clinic with complaints of a tender, palpable right breast lump. An ultrasound of the area of concern demonstrated an enlarged 2.

Comparing Mortality of Peritoneal and Hemodialysis Patients in an Era of Medicare Payment Reform.

Background: Prior studies have shown peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients to have lower or equivalent mortality to patients who receive in-center hemodialysis (HD). Medicare's 2011 bundled dialysis prospective payment system encouraged expansion of home-based PD with unclear impacts on patient outcomes. This paper revisits the comparative risk of mortality between HD and PD among patients with incident end-stage kidney disease initiating dialysis in 2006-2013.

Yoga Practice Predicts Improvements in Day-to-Day Pain in Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Context: Women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) experience a significant symptom burden, including cancer pain. Yoga is a mind-body discipline that has shown promise for alleviating cancer pain, but few studies have included patients with metastatic disease or examined the acute effects of yoga practice.

Objectives: To determine whether daily pain changed significantly during a randomized controlled trial of the Mindful Yoga program among women with MBC and whether time spent in yoga practice was related to daily pain.

Preoperative Wire Localization of the Breast on the Day Before Surgery.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and accuracy of preoperative wire localization performed one day prior to surgery and the relationship between the time interval following wire placement with migration distance within the time-window examined.

Methods: Two trials were performed with next-day mammography to assess migration. Trial 1 used a standard hooked wire (50 patients, 61 wires).