Publications by authors named "T E Pitts"

Effects of sequential increase in airway resistance: no, low (5 kPa.s/l), high (24 kPa.s/l), and complete block in the inspiratory or expiratory phase of mechanically induced cough on the cough motor pattern were studied in 16 anesthetized (pentobarbital) spontaneously breathing cats (3.

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Introduction: Aspiration pneumonia, a leading cause of mortality, poses an urgent challenge in contemporary society. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been commonly used in dysphagia rehabilitation. However, given that NMES at motor threshold targets only specific muscles, it carries a potential risk of further compromising functions related to swallowing, respiration, and airway protection.

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Cancer cells exhibit rewired transcriptional regulatory networks that promote tumor growth and survival. However, the mechanisms underlying the formation of these pathological networks remain poorly understood. Through a pan-cancer epigenomic analysis, we found that primate-specific endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are a rich source of enhancers displaying cancer-specific activity.

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Article Synopsis
  • Patients with acral and mucosal melanomas (A/M) have fewer treatment options and worse outcomes compared to those with cutaneous melanomas.
  • The study analyzed 156 melanoma cases and discovered new genomic alterations in A/M melanomas that could be targeted for treatment.
  • Key findings included unique alterations specific to A/M melanomas that respond to certain inhibitors, suggesting a need for tailored clinical testing and treatment strategies.
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Systemic administration of opioids has been associated with aspiration and swallow dysfunction in humans. We speculated that systemic administration of codeine would induce dysfunctional swallowing and that this effect would have a peripheral component. Experiments were conducted in spontaneously breathing, anesthetized cats.

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