713 research outputs found

    Clinical implications of having reduced mid forced expiratory flow rates (FEF25-75), independently of FEV1, in adult patients with asthma

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    INTRODUCTION:FEF25-75 is one of the standard results provided in spirometry reports; however, in adult asthmatics there is limited information on how this physiological measure relates to clinical or biological outcomes independently of the FEV1 or the FEV1/FVC ratio. PURPOSE:To determine the association between Hankinson's percent-predicted FEF25-75 (FEF25-75%) levels with changes in healthcare utilization, respiratory symptom frequency, and biomarkers of distal airway inflammation. METHODS:In participants enrolled in the Severe Asthma Research Program 1-2, we compared outcomes across FEF25-75% quartiles. Multivariable analyses were done to avoid confounding by demographic characteristics, FEV1, and the FEV1/FVC ratio. In a sensitivity analysis, we also compared outcomes across participants with FEF25-75% below the lower limit of normal (LLN) and FEV1/FVC above LLN. RESULTS:Subjects in the lowest FEF25-75% quartile had greater rates of healthcare utilization and higher exhaled nitric oxide and sputum eosinophils. In multivariable analysis, being in the lowest FEF25-75% quartile remained significantly associated with nocturnal symptoms (OR 3.0 [95%CI 1.3-6.9]), persistent symptoms (OR 3.3 [95%CI 1-11], ICU admission for asthma (3.7 [1.3-10.8]) and blood eosinophil % (0.18 [0.07, 0.29]). In the sensitivity analysis, those with FEF25-75% <LLN had significantly more nocturnal and persistent symptoms, emergency room visits, higher serum eosinophil levels and increased methacholine responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS:After controlling for demographic variables, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC, a reduced FEF25-75% is independently associated with previous ICU admission, persistent symptoms, nocturnal symptoms, blood eosinophilia and bronchial hyperreactivity. This suggests that in some asthmatics, a reduced FEF25-75% is an independent biomarker for more severe asthma

    SARS-CoV Antibody Prevalence in All Hong Kong Patient Contacts

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    A total of 1,068 asymptomatic close contacts of patients with severe acute respiratory (SARS) from the 2003 epidemic in Hong Kong were serologically tested, and 2 (0.19%) were positive for SARS coronavirus immunoglobulin G antibody. SARS rarely manifests as a subclinical infection, and at present, wild animal species are the only important natural reservoirs of the virus

    Defining functional distances over Gene Ontology

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A fundamental problem when trying to define the functional relationships between proteins is the difficulty in quantifying functional similarities, even when well-structured ontologies exist regarding the activity of proteins (i.e. 'gene ontology' -GO-). However, functional metrics can overcome the problems in the comparing and evaluating functional assignments and predictions. As a reference of proximity, previous approaches to compare GO terms considered linkage in terms of ontology weighted by a probability distribution that balances the non-uniform 'richness' of different parts of the Direct Acyclic Graph. Here, we have followed a different approach to quantify functional similarities between GO terms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We propose a new method to derive 'functional distances' between GO terms that is based on the simultaneous occurrence of terms in the same set of Interpro entries, instead of relying on the structure of the GO. The coincidence of GO terms reveals natural biological links between the GO functions and defines a distance model <it>D</it><sub><it>f </it></sub>which fulfils the properties of a Metric Space. The distances obtained in this way can be represented as a hierarchical 'Functional Tree'.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The method proposed provides a new definition of distance that enables the similarity between GO terms to be quantified. Additionally, the 'Functional Tree' defines groups with biological meaning enhancing its utility for protein function comparison and prediction. Finally, this approach could be for function-based protein searches in databases, and for analysing the gene clusters produced by DNA array experiments.</p

    Zona Pellucida Domain-Containing Protein β-Tectorin is Crucial for Zebrafish Proper Inner Ear Development

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    BACKGROUND: The zona pellucida (ZP) domain is part of many extracellular proteins with diverse functions from structural components to receptors. The mammalian β-tectorin is a protein of 336 amino acid residues containing a single ZP domain and a putative signal peptide at the N-terminus of the protein. It is 1 component of a gel-like structure called the tectorial membrane which is involved in transforming sound waves into neuronal signals and is important for normal auditory function. β-Tectorin is specifically expressed in the mammalian and avian inner ear. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We identified and cloned the gene encoding zebrafish β-tectorin. Through whole-mount in situ hybridization, we demonstrated that β-tectorin messenger RNA was expressed in the otic placode and specialized sensory patch of the inner ear during zebrafish embryonic stages. Morpholino knockdown of zebrafish β-tectorin affected the position and number of otoliths in the ears of morphants. Finally, swimming behaviors of β-tectorin morphants were abnormal since the development of the inner ear was compromised. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results reveal that zebrafish β-tectorin is specifically expressed in the zebrafish inner ear, and is important for regulating the development of the zebrafish inner ear. Lack of zebrafish β-tectorin caused severe defects in inner ear formation of otoliths and function

    Measurements of D0D^{0} and DD^{*} Production in pp + pp Collisions at s\sqrt{s} = 200 GeV

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    We report measurements of charmed-hadron (D0D^{0}, DD^{*}) production cross sections at mid-rapidity in pp + pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV by the STAR experiment. Charmed hadrons were reconstructed via the hadronic decays D0Kπ+D^{0}\rightarrow K^{-}\pi^{+}, D+D0π+Kπ+π+D^{*+}\rightarrow D^{0}\pi^{+}\rightarrow K^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^{+} and their charge conjugates, covering the pTp_T range of 0.6-2.0 GeV/cc and 2.0-6.0 GeV/cc for D0D^{0} and D+D^{*+}, respectively. From this analysis, the charm-pair production cross section at mid-rapidity is dσ/dyy=0ccˉd\sigma/dy|_{y=0}^{c\bar{c}} = 170 ±\pm 45 (stat.) 59+38^{+38}_{-59} (sys.) μ\mub. The extracted charm-pair cross section is compared to perturbative QCD calculations. The transverse momentum differential cross section is found to be consistent with the upper bound of a Fixed-Order Next-to-Leading Logarithm calculation.Comment: 15 pages, 16 figures. Revised version submitted to Phys. Rev.

    System size and energy dependence of near-side di-hadron correlations

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    Two-particle azimuthal (Δϕ\Delta\phi) and pseudorapidity (Δη\Delta\eta) correlations using a trigger particle with large transverse momentum (pTp_T) in dd+Au, Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{{NN}}} =\xspace 62.4 GeV and 200~GeV from the STAR experiment at RHIC are presented. The \ns correlation is separated into a jet-like component, narrow in both Δϕ\Delta\phi and Δη\Delta\eta, and the ridge, narrow in Δϕ\Delta\phi but broad in Δη\Delta\eta. Both components are studied as a function of collision centrality, and the jet-like correlation is studied as a function of the trigger and associated pTp_T. The behavior of the jet-like component is remarkably consistent for different collision systems, suggesting it is produced by fragmentation. The width of the jet-like correlation is found to increase with the system size. The ridge, previously observed in Au+Au collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{{NN}}} = 200 GeV, is also found in Cu+Cu collisions and in collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{{NN}}} =\xspace 62.4 GeV, but is found to be substantially smaller at sNN\sqrt{s_{{NN}}} =\xspace 62.4 GeV than at sNN\sqrt{s_{{NN}}} = 200 GeV for the same average number of participants (Npart \langle N_{\mathrm{part}}\rangle). Measurements of the ridge are compared to models.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

    Inclusive charged hadron elliptic flow in Au + Au collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 7.7 - 39 GeV

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    A systematic study is presented for centrality, transverse momentum (pTp_T) and pseudorapidity (η\eta) dependence of the inclusive charged hadron elliptic flow (v2v_2) at midrapidity(η<1.0|\eta| < 1.0) in Au+Au collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27 and 39 GeV. The results obtained with different methods, including correlations with the event plane reconstructed in a region separated by a large pseudorapidity gap and 4-particle cumulants (v24v_2{4}), are presented in order to investigate non-flow correlations and v2v_2 fluctuations. We observe that the difference between v22v_2{2} and v24v_2{4} is smaller at the lower collision energies. Values of v2v_2, scaled by the initial coordinate space eccentricity, v2/εv_{2}/\varepsilon, as a function of pTp_T are larger in more central collisions, suggesting stronger collective flow develops in more central collisions, similar to the results at higher collision energies. These results are compared to measurements at higher energies at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (sNN\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 62.4 and 200 GeV) and at the Large Hadron Collider (Pb + Pb collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 2.76 TeV). The v2(pT)v_2(p_T) values for fixed pTp_T rise with increasing collision energy within the pTp_T range studied (<2GeV/c< 2 {\rm GeV}/c). A comparison to viscous hydrodynamic simulations is made to potentially help understand the energy dependence of v2(pT)v_{2}(p_{T}). We also compare the v2v_2 results to UrQMD and AMPT transport model calculations, and physics implications on the dominance of partonic versus hadronic phases in the system created at Beam Energy Scan (BES) energies are discussed.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures. Version accepted by PR
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