University of Vermont

About: University of Vermont is a education organization based out in Burlington, Vermont, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 17592 authors who have published 38251 publications receiving 1609874 citations. The organization is also known as: UVM & University of Vermont and State Agricultural College.

Atrial Fibrillation and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction

Abstract: Importance Myocardial infarction (MI) is an established risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) However, the extent to which AF is a risk factor for MI has not been investigated Objective To examine the risk of incident MI associated with AF Design, Setting, and Participants A prospective cohort of 23 928 participants residing in the continental United States and without coronary heart disease at baseline were enrolled from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort between 2003 and 2007, with follow-up through December 2009 Main Outcomes and Measures Expert-adjudicated total MI events (fatal and nonfatal) Results Over 69 years of follow-up (median 45 years), 648 incident MI events occurred In a sociodemographic-adjusted model, AF was associated with about 2-fold increased risk of MI (hazard ratio [HR], 196 [95% CI, 152-252]) This association remained significant (HR, 170 [95% CI, 126-230]) after further adjustment for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure–lowering drugs, body mass index, diabetes, warfarin use, aspirin use, statin use, history of stroke and vascular disease, estimated glomerular filtration rate, albumin to creatinine ratio, and C-reactive protein level In subgroup analysis, the risk of MI associated with AF was significantly higher in women (HR, 216 [95% CI, 141-331]) than in men (HR, 139 [95% CI, 091-210]) and in blacks (HR, 253 [95% CI, 167-386]) than in whites (HR, 126 [95% CI, 083-193]); for interactions, P = 03 and P = 02, respectively On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the risk of MI associated with AF in older (≥75 years) vs younger ( P = 44 Conclusions and Relevance AF is independently associated with an increased risk of incident MI, especially in women and blacks These findings add to the growing concerns of the seriousness of AF as a public health burden: in addition to being a well-known risk factor for stroke, AF is also associated with increased risk of MI

Getting the Hologenome Concept Right: an Eco-Evolutionary Framework for Hosts and Their Microbiomes.

Abstract: Given the complexity of host-microbiota symbioses, scientists and phi- losophers are asking questions at new biological levels of hierarchical organization— what is a holobiont and hologenome? When should this vocabulary be applied? Are these concepts a null hypothesis for host-microbe systems or limited to a certain spectrum of symbiotic interactions such as host-microbial coevolution? Critical dis- course is necessary in this nascent area, but productive discourse requires that skep- tics and proponents use the same lexicon. For instance, critiquing the hologenome concept is not synonymous with critiquing coevolution, and arguing that an entity is not a primary unit of selection dismisses the fact that the hologenome concept has always embraced multilevel selection. Holobionts and hologenomes are incontro- vertible, multipartite entities that result from ecological, evolutionary, and genetic processes at various levels. They are not restricted to one special process but consti- tute a wider vocabulary and framework for host biology in light of the microbiome.

Activation of neuronal P2X7 receptor-pannexin-1 mediates death of enteric neurons during colitis.

Abstract: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic relapsing and remitting conditions associated with long-term gut dysfunction resulting from alterations to the enteric nervous system and a loss of enteric neurons. The mechanisms underlying inflammation-induced enteric neuron death are unknown. Here using in vivo models of experimental colitis we report that inflammation causes enteric neuron death by activating a neuronal signaling complex composed of P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs), pannexin-1 (Panx1) channels, the Asc adaptor protein and caspases. Inhibition of P2X7R, Panx1, Asc or caspase activity prevented inflammation-induced neuron cell death. Preservation of enteric neurons by inhibiting Panx1 in vivo prevented the onset of inflammation-induced colonic motor dysfunction. Panx1 expression was reduced in Crohn's disease but not ulcerative colitis. We conclude that activation of neuronal Panx1 underlies neuron death and the subsequent development of abnormal gut motility in IBD. Targeting Panx1 represents a new neuroprotective strategy to ameliorate the progression of IBD-associated dysmotility.