bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CHRONIC LEAD NEPHROPATHY
Authors: EMMERSON B. T. 
Published: September 2017

SUMMARYIn view of the evidence for the existence of a form of chronic renal disease due to renal damage by lead in childhood, the requirements for a clinical diagnosis of chronic lead nephropathy were considered. The chief difficulty in confirming such a diagnosis during life was that of finding evidence of excessive past lead absorption. To this end, the effect of a standardized infusion of calcium EDTA upon the excretion of lead in the urine in various groups of patients was investigated.In 19 control subjects with normal renal function, the increase in the urinary excretion of lead due to the calcium EDTA (the EDTA lead excretion) varied up to about 0·6 mg. In 22 subjects with renal insufficiency of varying degrees attributable to childhood lead poisoning, the EDTA lead excretion was always above this figure, as it was also found to be in patients with significant industrial lead exposure. In 19 out of 23 patients with renal disease attributable to causes other than lead, the EDTA lead excretion was comparable with that of the control group with normal renal function. The results in the other four patients in this group were considered in detail, and it was suggested that they had suffered excessive past lead absorption which was ætiologically unrelated to their renal disease. In patients with chronic lead nephropathy, a significant correlation was also demonstrated between the EDTA lead excretion and both the plasma creatinine level and the plasma carbon dioxide content. The results in individual patients also suggested that the amount of lead excreted after the infusion of calcium EDTA increased with increasing renal failure, probably owing in part to the associated disorder of bone metabolism.A group of patients with renal disease in whom the nature of the renal disease was not readily apparent were investigated by this calcium EDTA technique. It was shown that, of those whose EDTA lead excretion exceeded 0·6 mg., evidence of excessive past lead absorption likely to be ætiologically related to the renal disease could be demonstrated in 12 out of 16 patients. In the other four patients, the lead content of bone was at the upper limit of normal, but, even at autopsy, the role of lead in the ætiology of the renal disease in these patients could not be determined with any certainty. The chief toxic effect of the calcium EDTA to be noted was the development of postural hypotension in patients with severe renal disease, especially in those already receiving hypotensive agents.Gout was found to occur in half the patients with chronic lead nephropathy, but to occur infrequently in patients with chronic renal disease not due to lead or to primary gout. Therefore, a patient with chronic renal disease who develops an acute attack of gouty arthritis should be investigated to determine whether the underlying renal disease is chronic lead nephropathy.
THE NEPHROTIC SYNDROME IN PREGNANCY
Authors: JOHNSTON C. I. , JOHNSON J. R. , READER R. 
Published: September 2017

SUMMARYThe clinical course of 10 patients with the idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who underwent 29 pregnancies is reported, together with the result of these pregnancies. Twenty of the pregnancies resulted in the birth of living infants.Patients with the uncomplicated type of the nephrotic syndrome underwent pregnancy with no change in the status of their disease. Although during five pregnancies in patients with the complicated type of the nephrotic syndrome there was progression of their disease, in all these patients after pregnancy there was a return to the pre‐pregnant status as judged on clinical and biochemical criteria. It is suggested that pregnancy associated with the idiopathic nephrotic syndrome has a good prognosis, and that pregnancy appears to have little immediate harmful effect on the course of the nephrotic syndrome.
BRONCHO‐PULMONARY ASPERGILLOSIS
Authors: BLACKWELL J. B. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryThis is a survey of 14 cases of broncho‐pulmonary aspergillosis diagnosed during the six‐year period ended March, 1963. Dissemination of the fungus was found in only one case, this being also the only instance in which death could be attributed in large measure to the Aspergillus infection. Two of the patients who had a solitary aspergilloma were considered to be suffering from a primary form of the disease, whilst in the remaining 12 it was classified as secondary. It was found that, in common with experience elsewhere in the world, the secondary forms were associated with the prior administration of antibiotic drugs or corticosteroids, and that they occurred in persons with debilitating fatal diseases.
THE EFFECT OF ARGININE GLUTAMATE ON ELEVATED BLOOD AMMONIA LEVELS IN CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE
Authors: DAVEY M. G. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryArginine glutamate infusions were given to two patients with advanced liver disease. This treatment reduced venous blood ammonia levels in both, and brought about temporary clinical improvement in one. Urea synthesis appears to have been stimulated. No other significant changes in blood chemistry, and only slight clinical side‐effects, were recorded.
RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS AND VENTILATORY CAPACITY IN MEN EXPOSED TO ISOCYANATE VAPOUR
Authors: GANDEVIA BRYAN 
Published: September 2017

SummaryTwenty employees in a factory using isocyanate were studied in an attempt to relate clinical features to significant decreases observed in ventilatory capacity during the course of a working day (reported in detail elsewhere). The clinical picture of the “isocyanate respiratory syndrome” is described by reference to cases occurring in current and former employees, and the morbidity is shown to be a significant factor in the labour turnover. Evidence is presented to suggest that greater decreases in ventilatory capacity on exposure to isocyanate vapour are found in those who smoke and who give a history of cough and sputum prior to employment, and those who have a productive cough or wheeze on examination. A past or family history of chest disease or a history of chronic or recurrent nasal symptoms does not, in the present series, appear to influence the ventilatory reaction to isocyanate. The evidence for the development of tolerance in some subjects is described.
DIGITAL CLUBBING IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG DISEASE
Authors: PAIN M. C. F. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryFinger clubbing was detected in 24% of 50 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. The patients with clubbing had a lower mean arterial oxygen saturation than those without clubbing, and no patient with clubbing had a normal arterial oxygen saturation. All patients with clubbing had abnormally large veno‐arterial shunts, and this may be of some ætiological significance.
CYTOPLASMIC BUDDING OF HUMAN LYMPHOCYTES DUE TO IONIZING RADIATION
Authors: SHIELS D. O. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryIonizing radiation causes statistically significant increases in the percentage of lymphocytes, both large and small, which exhibit cytoplasmic budding in Leishman‐stained air‐dried blood films of humans exposed to low doses. In subjects exposed to not more than 10r, over 50% of small lymphocytes exhibited this phenomenon.
Guideline‐Recommended Medications and Physical Function in Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions
Authors: McAvay Gail , Allore Heather G. , Cohen Andrew B. , Gnjidic Danijela , Murphy Terrence E. , Tinetti Mary E. 
Published: September 2017

Background/ObjectivesThe benefit or harm of a single medication recommended for one specific condition can be difficult to determine in individuals with multiple chronic conditions and polypharmacy. There is limited information on the associations between guideline‐recommended medications and physical function in older adults with multiple chronic conditions. The objective of this study was to estimate the beneficial or harmful associations between guideline‐recommended medications and decline in physical function in older adults with multiple chronic conditions.DesignProspective observational cohort.SettingNational.ParticipantsCommunity‐dwelling adults aged 65 and older from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey study (N = 3,273). Participants with atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, depression, diabetes mellitus, or heart failure were included.MeasurementsSelf‐reported decline in physical function; guideline‐recommended medications; polypharmacy (taking <7 vs ≥7 concomitant medications); chronic conditions; and sociodemographic, behavioral, and health risk factors.ResultsThe risk of decline in function in the overall sample was highest in participants with heart failure (35.4%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 26.3–44.5) and lowest for those with atrial fibrillation (20.6%, 95% CI = 14.9–26.2). In the overall sample, none of the six guideline‐recommended medications was associated with decline in physical function across the five study conditions, although in the group with low polypharmacy exposure, there was lower risk of decline in those with heart failure taking renin angiotensin system blockers (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.16–0.99) and greater risk of decline in physical function for participants with diabetes mellitus taking statins (HR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.39–3.69).ConclusionsIn older adults with multiple chronic conditions, guideline‐recommended medications for atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, depression, diabetes mellitus, and heart failure were largely not associated with self‐reported decline in physical function, although there were associations for some medications in those with less polypharmacy.
Disjunctivism and the Epistemological Holy Grail
Authors: Dewhurst Tess 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe grounding or motivating intuitions behind internalism and externalism seem to be fundamentally at odds. If there is ever to be a viable or satisfying solution to the problem, it must satisfy the grounding intuitions behind both sides of the debate. Duncan Pritchard claims his theory of epistemological disjunctivism (ED) does just this, arguing that it could be the holy grail we have all been waiting for. However, I believe the holy grail is already out there in the form of the theory that knowledge is a mental state (KMS). In this article, I defend the idea the KMS is far better able to satisfy the internalist and externalist intuitions than ED.
CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated efficient targeted mutagenesis in grape in the first generation
Authors: Wang Xianhang , Tu Mingxing , Wang Dejun , Liu Jianwei , Li Yajuan , Li Zhi , Wang Yuejin , Wang Xiping 
Published: September 2017

SummaryThe clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats‐associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system is a powerful tool for editing plant genomes. Efficient genome editing of grape (Vitis vinifera) suspension cells using the type II CRISPR/Cas9 system has been demonstrated; however, it has not been established whether this system can be applied to get biallelic mutations in the first generation of grape. In this current study, we designed four guide RNAs for the VvWRKY52 transcription factor gene for using with the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and obtained transgenic plants via Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation, using somatic embryos of the Thompson Seedless cultivar. Analysis of the first‐generation transgenic plants verified 22 mutant plants of the 72 T‐DNA‐inserted plants. Of these, 15 lines carried biallelic mutations and seven were heterozygous. A range of RNA‐guided editing events, including large deletions, were found in the mutant plants, while smaller deletions comprised the majority of the detected mutations. Sequencing of potential off‐target sites for all four targets revealed no off‐target events. In addition, knockout of VvWRKY52 in grape increased the resistance to Botrytis cinerea. We conclude that the CRISPR/Cas9 system allows precise genome editing in the first generation of grape and represents a useful tool for gene functional analysis and grape molecular breeding.
An Attitude Towards an Artificial Soul? Responses to the “Nazi Chatbot”
Authors: Beran Ondřej 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe article discusses the case of Microsoft's Twitter chatbot Tay that “turned into a Nazi” after less than 24 hours from its release on the Internet. The first section presents a brief recapitulation of Alan Turing's proposal for a test for artificial intelligence and the way it influenced subsequent discussions in the philosophy of mind. In the second section, I offer a few arguments appealing for caution regarding the identification of an accomplished chatbot as a thinking being. These are motivated principally by Ludwig Wittgenstein's discussions of mind and soul and by some Wittgensteinian philosophers' criticisms of AI endeavours. I will try to show that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to make sense of AIs such as chatbots as thinking beings, rather independently of their technical perfection and accomplishment. In the third section, the case of the “Nazi chatbot” Tay will offer me material for some light to be shed on the peculiar (primitive) character of our interconnected concepts of thinking, soul and person and on the importance of their further ramified connections.
Minimally invasive small intestinal exploration and targeted abdominal organ biopsy with a wound retraction device in 42 cats (2005‐2015)
Authors: Baron Jessica , Giuffrida Michelle , Mayhew Philipp D. , Singh Ameet , Case J. Brad , Culp William T. N. , Holt David E. , Mayhew Kelli N. , Runge Jeffrey J. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the surgical technique and evaluate short‐term outcome after minimally invasive small intestinal exploration and targeted organ biopsy with a wound retractor device (WRD) in cats.Study designMulti‐institutional retrospective study.AnimalsForty‐two cats.MethodsA wound retractor was inserted into the abdomen on the ventral midline through a 2‐4 cm incision at the level of the umbilicus. Short segments (6‐10 cm long) of intestinal tract were sequentially exteriorized and explored through the WRD. Full thickness, small intestinal biopsies were obtained extracorporeally via the WRD. A commercially available single‐port device was inserted through the WRD for laparoscopic exploration of the abdomen.ResultsThe majority of the small intestine could be exteriorized and explored through the WRD. In all cases, full thickness biopsies of the small intestine of diagnostic quality were obtained. The most common histological findings were inflammatory bowel disease (n = 16), intestinal lymphoma (n = 14), and eosinophilic enteritis (n = 7). Two cases required conversion to a traditional open laparotomy due to abdominal pathology diagnosed after placement of the WRD (abdominal adhesions and need for a splenectomy). Postoperative complications occurred in 4 of 39 cats (10.3%), leading to 2 deaths after discharge from the hospital.Conclusions and clinical relevanceMISIETB with a WRD alone or combined with laparoscopy is a safe technique for small intestinal exploration and targeted abdominal organ biopsy in cats. Single‐port laparoscopy can effectively be performed through the WRD for complete abdominal exploration and biopsy of abdominal organs.
Outbreak of tularaemia connected to a contaminated well in the Västra Götaland region in Sweden
Authors: Lindhusen Lindhé E. , Hjertqvist M. , Wahab T. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryTularaemia, is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. This disease has been reported in Sweden since 1931 and its wide distribution in the country poses a challenge for understanding the transmission, ecology and epidemiology of the disease. In Sweden, the disease is usually transmitted by mosquitoes, but in this study we could show that consumption of well water was epidemiologically linked to the outbreak, by isolating F. tularensis from the water. In this article, we describe an outbreak of tularaemia in the region of Västra Götaland in the southwest of Sweden in spring of 2013.
Breast cystic lesions: Not so simple after all? An ultrasonographic tactical approach
Authors: Ciurea Anca Ileana , Iacoban Cătălin George , Herţa Hanelore Argentina , Ciortea Cristiana Augusta 
Published: September 2017

A wide spectrum of breast diseases breast diseases have or exhibit at some point in their natural history a complex cystic aspect. Through the lens of B-mode and Doppler ultrasound with sonoelastographic augmentation, conditions ranging from the utterly benign fibrocystic change to the most intricate encysted or cystically degenerated cancerous lesions, are covered in detail in this review. The aim of this paper is to familiarize the practitioner with the ultrasonographic aspects of complex breast cystic masses and to implement a gradual, strategic approach in the diagnostic algorithm.
Dose of Retroviral Infection Determines Induction of Antiviral NK Cell Responses
Authors: Littwitz-Salomon Elisabeth , Schimmer Simone , Dittmer Ulf 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTNatural killer (NK) cells are part of the innate immune system and recognize virus-infected cells as well as tumor cells. Conflicting data about the beneficial or even detrimental role of NK cells in different infectious diseases have been described previously. While the type of pathogen strongly influences NK cell functionality, less is known about how the infection dose influences the quality of a NK cell response against retroviruses. In this study, we used the well-established Friend retrovirus (FV) mouse model to investigate the impact of virus dose on the induction of antiviral NK cell functions. High-dose virus inoculation increased initial virus replication compared to that with medium- or low-dose viral challenge and significantly improved NK cell activation. Antiviral NK cell activity, includingin vivocytotoxicity toward infected target cells, was also enhanced by high-dose virus infection. NK cell activation following high-dose viral challenge was likely mediated by activated dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages and the NK cell-stimulating cytokines interleukin 15 (IL-15) and IL-18. Neutralization of these cytokines decreased NK cell functions and increased viral loads, whereas IL-15 and IL-18 therapy improved NK cell activity. Here we demonstrate that virus dose positively correlates with antiviral NK cell activity and function, which are at least partly driven by IL-15 and IL-18. Our results suggest that NK cell activity may be therapeutically enhanced by administering IL-15 and IL-18 in virus infections that inadequately activate NK cells.IMPORTANCEIn infections with retroviruses, like HIV and FV infection of mice, NK cells clearly mediate antiviral activities, but they are usually not sufficient to prevent severe pathology. Here we show that the initial infection dose impacts the induction of an antiviral NK cell response during an acute retroviral infection, which had not investigated before. High-dose infection resulted in a strong NK cell functionality, whereas no antiviral activities were detected after low- or medium-dose infection. Interestingly, DCs and macrophages were highly activated after high-dose FV challenge, which corresponded with increased levels of NK cell-stimulating cytokines IL-15 and IL-18. IL-15 and IL-18 neutralization decreased NK cell functions, whereas IL-15 and IL-18 therapy improved NK cell activity. Here we show the importance of cytokines for NK cell activation in retroviral infections; our findings suggest that immunotherapy combining the well-tolerated cytokines IL-15 and IL-18 might be an interesting approach for antiretroviral treatment.
Exploring the Human-Nipah Virus Protein-Protein Interactome
Authors: Martinez-Gil Luis , Vera-Velasco Natalia M. , Mingarro Ismael 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACT

Nipah virus is an emerging, highly pathogenic, zoonotic virus of the
Paramyxoviridae
family. Human transmission occurs by close contact with infected animals, the consumption of contaminated food, or, occasionally, via other infected individuals. Currently, we lack therapeutic or prophylactic treatments for Nipah virus. To develop these agents we must now improve our understanding of the host-virus interactions that underpin a productive infection. This aim led us to perform the present work, in which we identified 101 human-Nipah virus protein-protein interactions (PPIs), most of which (88) are novel. This data set provides a comprehensive view of the host complexes that are manipulated by viral proteins. Host targets include the PRP19 complex and the microRNA (miRNA) processing machinery. Furthermore, we explored the biologic consequences of the interaction with the PRP19 complex and found that the Nipah virus W protein is capable of altering p53 control and gene expression. We anticipate that these data will help in guiding the development of novel interventional strategies to counter this emerging viral threat.

IMPORTANCE
Nipah virus is a recently discovered virus that infects a wide range of mammals, including humans. Since its discovery there have been yearly outbreaks, and in some of them the mortality rate has reached 100% of the confirmed cases. However, the study of Nipah virus has been largely neglected, and currently we lack treatments for this infection. To develop these agents we must now improve our understanding of the host-virus interactions that underpin a productive infection. In the present work, we identified 101 human-Nipah virus protein-protein interactions using an affinity purification approach coupled with mass spectrometry. Additionally, we explored the cellular consequences of some of these interactions. Globally, this data set offers a comprehensive and detailed view of the host machinery's contribution to the Nipah virus's life cycle. Furthermore, our data present a large number of putative drug targets that could be exploited for the treatment of this infection.
Predictors of radio-induced visual impairment after radiosurgery for uveal melanoma
Authors: Gigliotti Carmen Rosaria , Modorati Giulio , Di Nicola Maura , Fiorino Claudio , Perna Lucia Alessia , Miserocchi Elisabetta , Franzin Alberto , Picozzi Piero , Bolognesi Angelo , Mortini Pietro , del Vecchio Antonella , Calandrino Riccardo 
Published: September 2017

AimsThe aim of the present work is to assess the main predictors of the most clinically relevant radio-induced effects after Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GKRS) for uveal melanoma (UM).Materials and methodsMedical records and three-dimensional dosimetry data of critical structures of 66 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Cox’s proportional hazard model was used to identify clinical and dosimetric variables as independent risk factor for GKRS-related complications.ResultsThe fraction of the posterior segment receiving more than 20Gy (V20), Bruch’s membrane rupture and tumour thickness were significant prognostic factors for neovascular glaucoma. A clear relationship with the dose received by 1% of the optic nerve (D1%) was found for radiation retinopathy and papillopathy. Multivariables models resulted for visual acuity (VA) reduction >20% of the basal value and for complete VA loss, both including largest tumour diameter and D1% to the optic nerve. The predictive model for complete VA loss includes also Bruch’s membrane rupture. An alternative model for complete visual acuity loss, including the optic nerve-prescription isodose minimum distance, was also suggested.ConclusionsWe found clinical and dosimetric variables to clearly predict the risk of the main side effects after GKRS for UM. These results may provide dose constraints to critical structures, potentially able to reduce side effects. Constraining D1% to the optic nerve below 12-13Gy may result in a dramatic reduction of blindness risk, while reducing V20 of the posterior segment of the bulb could limit the neovascular glaucoma onset.