Boston University

About: Boston University is a education organization based out in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 48688 authors who have published 119622 publications receiving 6276020 citations. The organization is also known as: BU & Boston U.

The Contribution of Interleukin-1 and Tumor Necrosis Factor to Periodontal Tissue Destruction

Abstract: Interleukin (IL)-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) represent proinflammatory cytokines that stimulate a number of events which occur during periodontal disease. These include the induction of adhesion molecules and other mediators that facilitate and amplify the inflammatory response, the stimulation of matrix metalloproteinase, and bone resorption. The activity of these cytokines coincides with the critical events that occur during periodontal disease, namely, loss of attachment and bone resorption. The use of antagonists to IL-1 and TNF in experimental periodontitis have demonstrated a cause-and-effect relationship between the activity of these cytokines and the spread of an inflammatory front to deeper areas in the connective tissue, loss of connective tissue attachment, osteoclast formation, and loss of alveolar bone. In addition, the loss of fibroblasts that occurs during infection with periodontal pathogens is, in part, mediated by TNF. Thus, much of the damage that occurs during periodontal tissue ...

Inotersen Treatment for Patients with Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis

Abstract: Background Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis is caused by pathogenic single-nucleotide variants in the gene encoding transthyretin (TTR) that induce transthyretin misfolding and systemi...

Association of Usual Sleep Duration With Hypertension: The Sleep Heart Health Study

Abstract: Study Objectives: Limited experimental data suggest that sleep restriction acutely elevates blood pressure; however, little is known about the relationship between usual sleep duration and hypertension. This study assesses the relationship between usual sleep duration and hypertension in a community-based cohort. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: The Sleep Heart Health Study, a community-based prospective study of the cardiovascular consequences of sleep-disordered breathing. Participants: Two thousand eight hundred thirteen men and 3097 women, aged 40 to 100 years. Interventions: None. Measurements and Results: Usual weekday and weekend sleep durations were obtained by questionnaire, and their weighted average were categorized as less than 6, 6 to less than 7, 7 to less than 8, 8 to less than 9, and 9 or more hours per night. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or greater, a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or greater, or use of medication to treat hypertension. The relationship between sleep duration and hypertension was examined using categorical logistic regression with adjustment for age, sex, race, apnea-hypopnea index, and body mass index. Compared to subjects sleeping 7 to less than 8 hours per night, those sleeping less than 6 and between 6 and 7 hours per night had adjusted odds ratios for hypertension of 1.66 (95% confidence interval 1.35-2.04) and 1.19 (1.02-1.39), respectively, whereas those sleeping between 8 and 9 and 9 or more hours per night had adjusted odds ratios for hypertension of 1.19 (1.04-1.37) and 1.30 (1.04-1.62), respectively (p <.0001 for association of sleep duration with hypertension). These associations persisted when analyses were further adjusted for caffeine and alcohol consumption, current smoking, insomnia symptoms, depression symptoms, sleep efficiency, and prevalent diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular disease. Conclusions: Usual sleep duration above or below the median of 7 to less than 8 hours per night is associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension, particularly at the extreme of less than 6 hours per night.

An emerging disease causes regional population collapse of a common North American bat species.

Abstract: White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emerging disease affecting hibernating bats in eastern North America that causes mass mortality and precipitous population declines in winter hibernacula. First discovered in 2006 in New York State, WNS is spreading rapidly across eastern North America and currently affects seven species. Mortality associated with WNS is causing a regional population collapse and is predicted to lead to regional extinction of the little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), previously one of the most common bat species in North America. Novel diseases can have serious impacts on naive wildlife populations, which in turn can have substantial impacts on ecosystem integrity.