tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Diagnosis of non-viral sexually transmitted infections in Lithuania and international recommendations
Authors: A Vagoras, R Butylkina, V Juseviciute, A Hallén, M Unemo, M Domeika
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2006)

The aim of this study is to evaluate the range, quality and availability of diagnostic services for non-viral sexually transmitted infections (STIs), i.e. C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, T. vaginalis and T. pallidum, in Lithuania from September 2002 to December 2003. Surveillance data describing the organisation and performance characteristics of non-viral STI diagnostic services in Lithuania were collected using a questionnaire and subsequent site-visits. International evidence-based recommendations for non-viral STI diagnosis were used to evaluate the quality of the STI diagnostics. There were 171 facilities providing non-viral STI diagnostic services for the 3.5 million inhabitants of Lithuania. However, only 6% (n=9) of the respondents (n=153) could provide a confirmatory diagnosis, in accordance with international recommendations, for the full minimum range of relevant non-viral STIs in Lithuania, i.e. C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, T. pallidum, and T. vaginalis. In addition, accessibility to STI diagnostic services differed significantly among the different counties in Lithuania. Several of the respondents analysed low numbers of samples each year, and overall the sampling size was extremely low, especially for C. trachomatis diagnostics. In Lithuania, optimisation of non-viral STI diagnostics as well as of epidemiological surveillance and management of STIs is crucial. It may be worth considering a decrease in the number of laboratories, with those remaining having the possibility of performing STI diagnostic services that are optimised, in concordance with international recommendations, standardised, and quality assured using systematic internal and external quality controls and systems. In addition, establishment of national inter-laboratory networks and reference centres for non-viral STIs is recommended.
Abstract #5541: Human breast cancer cells titrate challenge doses of ceramide into higher metabolites
Authors: Myles Cabot, Valerie Andersson, Jacqueline Chapman, Armando Giuliano
Journal: Cancer Research (2009)

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 18-22, 2009; Denver, CO

The success of anticancer therapies that target ceramide requires a better understanding of ceramide metabolism. We hypothesized that ceramide-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells depends on the concentration of ceramide and the relative proportions of two metabolites: glucosylceramide (GC) and sphingomyelin (SPM). To investigate this hypothesis, we exposed MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells to increasing concentrations of [14C]C6-ceramide, a short-chain, cell-permeable ceramide analog. Lipid analysis was conducted by thin-layer chromatography and liquid scintillation counting. At a low concentration (0.63 \#956;M; 0.25 \#956;g/ml), ceramide did not affect cell viability; cells converted > 80% of C6-ceramide to C6-SPM and only 4% to C6-GC. As ceramide concentration increased, so did its rate of conversion to GC; at 6.3 \#956;M, > 70% of ceramide was converted GC and only 16% to SPM. At a ceramide concentration of 25 \#956;M, > 75% of ceramide was converted to GC and 14% to SPM, and cell viability dropped to 62% at 24 h. This response was similar in three other human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-435, MCF-7, and T47D). Incubation of MDA-MB-231 cells with 1-phenyl-2-hexadecanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PPMP), a specific GCS inhibitor, blocked conversion of C6-ceramide to GC. As a result, SPM synthesis increased to 75% and GC synthesis fell to 5%. Interestingly, cell viability dropped to zero after a 24-h exposure to C6-ceramide plus PPMP. This finding suggests that generating excess SPM does not block apoptosis. Our results reveal cellular trends in C6-ceramide metabolism, but they might not reflect scavenger pathways utilized to channel endogenous ceramides generated by anticancer agents. We are currently investigating the cyclosporin A analog PSC 833; this P-glycoprotein antagonist generates de novo (dihydro)ceramides (4-fold increase over control; 5.0 \#956;M; 24 h) and is cytotoxic (IC50= 6 \#956;M) in MDA-MB-231 cells. Our goal is to determine the metabolic fate of endogenously generated apoptosis-inducing lipids and thereby identify therapeutic targets on the metabolic pathway [Support: NIH/NIGMS grant no. GM077391].

Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 5541.
SYMPATHETIC PARALYSIS DUE TO METASTASIS AS INITIAL SIGN OF GASTRIC CARCINOMA
Authors: Abraham Wikler, Carl Wiesel, Elmer S. Maxwell
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1948)

Case Reports1 March 1948SYMPATHETIC PARALYSIS DUE TO METASTASIS AS INITIAL SIGN OF GASTRIC CARCINOMAABRAHAM WIKLER, M.D., CARL WIESEL, M.D., ELMER S. MAXWELL, M.D.ABRAHAM WIKLER, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, CARL WIESEL, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, ELMER S. MAXWELL, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-28-3-648 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe following case is of interest because the initial and, for almost two years, the only symptoms were those referable to a lesion involving the prevertebral thoracic sympathetic chain and adjacent intercostal nerves. Evidence of the metastatic nature of the lesion could not be found until a few months before death and autopsy alone showed that the stomach was the site of the primary tumor.CASE REPORTThe patient, a 53 year old white male, was admitted to the U. S. Public Health Service Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, on April 22, 1942, for treatment for drug addiction. The past medical history...Bibliography1. HARRIS KE: Skin reactions in a case of cervical sympathetic paralysis with a note on their practical application to neurology, Brain, 1929, lii, 484-490. CrossrefGoogle Scholar2. BERTIN EJ: Metastasis to bone as the first symptom of cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, Am. Jr. Roentgenol. and Rad. Therapy, 1944, li, 614-622. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: *Received for publication January 5, 1946.From the United States Public Health Service Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky.†Formerly Passed Assistant Surgeon (R), U. S. Public Health Service. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 March 1948Volume 28, Issue 3Page: 648-651KeywordsAutopsyDrug addictionLesionsMedical servicesNervesParalysisStomachSurgeons ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 March 1948 PDF downloadLoading ...
The effect of obesity or overweight on airway hyperresponsiveness and clinical features in patients with asthma
Authors: Jae-Woo Kwon, Tae-Wan Kim, Sae-Hoon Kim, Hae-Ryun Kang, Tae-Bum Kim, Heung-Woo Park, Yoon-Seok Chang, Sang-Heon Cho, Hee-Bom Moon, Kyung-Up Min
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background: Obesity is a risk factor of asthma in general population but the effect of obesity on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) or airway inflammation in asthma is not clear. This study attempted to evaluate the effects of obesity on asthma in the aspects of symptoms, AHR and severity.

Methods: The 852 asthmatics who were diagnosed based on clinical symptoms and AHR confirmed by methacholine bronchial provocation test were enrolled from COREA adult asthma cohort. The intensity of AHR was assessed by provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20). BMI was classified into 4 categories, underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2), and obesity (≥30 kg/m2).

Results: BMI was negatively correlated with FEV1 (L), FVC (L), and FEV1/FVC (%) in lung function test. The prevalence of wheezing was increased with the increase of BMI after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, medication history, and PC20 (P<0.0001). AHR was higher in normal weight group than overweight group (P=0.001). The risk of moderate or severe AHR (PC20≤4 mg/ml) was decreased when BMI increased after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, and medication history (P=0.035).

Conclusion: Obesity is a risk factor of asthma in general population but obesity in patients with asthma is negatively correlated with the intensity of AHR and not related with asthma severity. However obesity increases the prevalence of wheezing in asthmatics although obesity does not increase AHR.
Abstract 19554: Is Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) with Cardiopulmonary Bypass Support (On-pump) Superior to CABG Without Bypass Support (Off-pump) in the High-Risk?: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Authors: Ali Yousif, Daniel Addison, Nasser Lakkis, Todd Rosengart, Yochai Birnbaum, Salim S Virani, Ihab Hamzeh, Mahboob Alam
Journal: Circulation (2014)

Background: Data from RCTs regarding the efficacy of on- vs. off-pump CABG remain inconclusive. This is especially true of high-risk patient populations. Current practice guidelines from the ACC/AHA in collaboration with Thoracic Surgical Societies do not make specific recommendations for the choice of on- vs. off-pump CABG, but leave the decision to the primary operator. This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of on- vs. off-pump CABG in higher surgical risk patients.

Methods: We selected RCTs comparing on- and off-pump CABG, focusing on high-risk patient populations. Studies were included if the patient population was described as “high-risk” or included “high-risk” features: European System of Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroScore) >6, age >70 years, pre-existing renal insufficiency, history of stroke(s), and the presence of left ventricular dysfunction. A PubMed literature search was performed for all publications between 1/1/2000 and 12/31/2013 with search terms: on-pump, off-pump, coronary artery bypass, high-risk, left ventricular dysfunction, elderly, aged, and renal insufficiency. A total of 64 publications were screened, of which 9 articles met the inclusion criteria. We evaluated for the endpoints of cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, need for repeat revascularization, renal failure, and length of hospital stay (LOS).

Results: A total of 11,374 patients with a mean age of 70 years were enrolled. On-pump CABG was not associated with improved CV (RR 0.82; 95% CI 0.38-1.73) and all-cause mortality (RR 1.02; 95% CI 0.80-1.32). No statistically significant reduction seen in development of non-fatal MI (RR 1.17; 95% CI 0.78-1.75) and renal failure (RR 1.48; 95% CI 0.94-2.32), while the need for repeat revascularization by 1-year was reduced (RR 0.69; 95% 0.50-0.97). However, on-pump CABG was associated with an increased risk of stroke (RR 1.34; 95% 1.02-1.76) and LOS (mean difference 2.24 days; 95% CI 0.34-4.14).

Conclusion: In high-risk patients, on-pump CABG is associated with a reduced risk for repeat revascularization by 1-year but at a cost of increased risk of stroke and longer hospitalization. On-pump and off-pump CABG have comparable all-cause and CV mortality.
Prevalence and stability of the DSM-III-R personality disorders in a community-based survey of adolescents
Authors: D P Bernstein, P Cohen, C N Velez, M Schwab-Stone, L J Siever, L Shinsato
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1993)

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence, concurrent validity, and stability of DSM-III-R personality disorders in a large community-based sample of adolescents.A randomly selected community sample of 733 youths ranging in age from 9 to 19 years was followed over a 2-year period. The protocol consisted of structured interviews with the adolescents and their mothers and self-report questionnaires. Algorithms for 10 DSM-III-R axis II disorders were developed to produce diagnoses at two levels of severity; these were validated against multiple indicators of distress and functional impairment.The overall prevalence of personality disorders peaked at age 12 in boys and at age 13 in girls and declined thereafter. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder was the most prevalent moderate axis II disorder, narcissistic personality disorder the most prevalent severe disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder the least prevalent axis II disorder, based on both moderate and severe diagnostic thresholds. All moderate axis II disorders were associated with significantly greater odds for at least five of 12 diagnostic validators. Longitudinal follow-up revealed that although most axis II disorders did not persist over a 2-year period, subjects with disorders identified earlier remained at elevated risk for receiving a diagnosis again at follow-up.These findings suggest that a substantial minority of adolescents who are not in treatment qualify for DSM-III-R personality disorder diagnoses and that these diagnoses are associated with increased risk of psychological distress and functional impairment.
Abstract 12041: Comparison of Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stent With First-Generation Drug-Eluting Stent for the Treatment of Left Main and/or Three-Vessel Disease: Propensity Matched Analysis
Authors: Norihiro Kobayashi, Toshiya Muramatus, Reiko Tsukahara, Yoshiaki Ito, Hiroshi Ishimori, Keisuke Hirano, Masatsugu Nakano
Journal: Circulation (2014)

Background:  The efficacy of second-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) for left main disease (LM) and/or three vessel disease (3VD) remains unclear.   Methods:  Between April 2008 and January 2013, 326 patients with LM and/or 3VD were treated by percutaneous coronary intervention. Among these patients, 154 patients were treated with first-generation DES and 137 patients were treated with second-generation DES. We performed propensity matching to minimize the impact of baseline confounding factors. Target lesion revascularization (TLR) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were compared between the two groups at 3 years.   Results:  After propensity matching, there were 101 patients in each group. The incidence of TLR and MACE at 3 years was higher in first-generation DES compared with second-generation DES (TLR: 23.8% vs. 7.9%; P=0.003, MACE: 31.7% vs. 12.9%; P=0.002). Regarding the analysis stratified by the SYNTAX score, incidence of TLR and MACE in low and intermediate SYNTAX scores tended to be higher in first-generation DES group (low score, TLR: 14.6% vs. 5.9%; P=0.258, MACE: 18.8% vs. 11.8%; P=0.481, intermediate score, TLR: 27.3% vs. 6.5%; P=0.116, MACE: 40.9% vs. 9.7%; P=0.052). On the other hand, in high SYNTAX scores the rates of TLR and MACE were significantly higher in first-generation DES group (TLR: 35.5% vs. 11.1%; P=0.020, MACE: 45.2% vs. 16.7%; P=0.048). Cox’s proportional hazard analysis revealed that first-generation DES usage (HR 3.5, P=0.002), 2 stent for bifurcation (HR 6.8, P=0.003), calcified lesion (HR 3.7, P=0.001), and total stent length (HR 1.1, P=0.001) were predictors of TLR.   Conclusions:  Second-generation DES may improve TLR and MACE in patients with LM and/or 3VD compared with first-generation DES.
More than 4000 out of date vaccines given to children in Ireland
Authors: Doug Payne
Journal: BMJ (2001)

The Department of Health in the Republic of Ireland is looking into how at least 4500 doses of poliomyelitis vaccine were given by GPs in 1998 and 1999 after the vaccine's expiry date had passed.

The cases were discovered in the course of investigations into the administration of a batch of vaccine given to as many as 60 000 children and adults that contained serum from a British donor who was subsequently diagnosed with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). Because this investigation is still under …
Comments on Rees et al.: safety and feasibility of a strategy of early central venous catheter insertion in a deployed UK military Ebola virus disease treatment unit
Authors: Julien Bordes, Nicolas Gagnon, Ludovic Karkowsky, Jean Marie Cournac, Claire Rousseau, Magalie Billhot, Thierry de Greslan, Sophie Moroge, Gilles Cellarier
Journal: Intensive Care Medicine (2015)
The Powerful Placebo: From Ancient Priest to Modern Physician
Authors: V. Oh
Journal: BMJ (1998)

Arthur K Shapiro, Elaine Shapiro The Johns Hopkins University Press, £33, pp 280 ISBN 08018 5569 1

Charles Vincent, Adrian Furnham John Wiley & Sons, £24.95, pp 305 ISBN

Both patients and doctor want to know the effectiveness and risks of complementary treatments. One issue concerning effectiveness is the extent to which placebo operates in different complementary treatments. Although all patients are not interested in mechanisms of action, the inconsistency of the placebo effect even in the same patient will influence the place of complementary treatments in the management of disease.

In The Powerful Placebo , the Shapiros confine the terms “placebo” and “placebo effect” to treatments and treatment effects respectively, to avoid confusion with the phenomenon of “suggestion” in laboratory experiments and hypnosis. “Placebo” formerly encompassed both drug and non-drug treatments of disease, but with the proliferation of controlled treatment trials since the 1950s the term has come to mean an “inert” substance or procedure used as a control in bioscience experiments, in particular clinical drug trials. The psychiatrist authors …
Abstract 17188: Abnormal Local Electrograms in Hibernating Myocardium: a Three-dimensional Electro-anatomic Assessment of Arrhythmogenic Substrate in Patients With Ventricular Tachycardia
Authors: Mohammed S Abdulghani, Ayman Hussien, Ramazan Asoglu, Mark Smith, Wengen Chen, Rama Vunnam, Anastasios Saliaris, Vincent See, Stephen Shorofsky, Vasken Dilsizian, Timm Dickfeld
Journal: Circulation (2014)

Background:  Hibernating myocardium has been traditionally thought to have normal electrical properties. This study aimed to assess the local electrogram (EGM) properties in hibernating myocardium.   Methods and Results:  Endocardial voltage mapping, metabolic  18 FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) scans and perfusion  82 Rb,  201 Tl or  99m Tc scans were performed in 61 ischemic heart disease patients undergoing ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation. Hibernating areas were identified, which was followed by 3D-PET reconstructions and integration with voltage maps to allow hybrid metabolic-electro-anatomic 3D-assessment of the arrhythmogenic substrate. A total of 303 bipolar voltage recordings were obtained within hibernating myocardium. Local EGMs were categorized into: 1.Normal (sharp biphasic or triphasic spikes, voltage≥3mV, duration0.046); 2.Fractionated (voltage≤0.5mV, duration≥133ms, amplitude/duration ratio   Conclusion:  Hibernating myocardium displayed abnormal local EGMs. The findings might underlie the vulnerability to ventricular tachycardia in patients with hypoperfused yet viable hibernating myocardium.
Addition of weekly paclitaxel (P) after dose intensified epirubicin/cyclophosphamide (EC) (NECTA-protocol) as primary systemic chemotherapy (PST) in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) improves pathologic response rate (pCR) in comparison to peoperative dose intensified EC
Authors: B. Lex, M. Popovic, V. Russu, T. Gilster, H. Volkholz, A. H. Tulusan
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2006)

10712 Background: Green M et al. (Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 2002, abstract 135) demonstrated an improvement of pCR up to 28,8% by changing the preoperative application of 3 weekly P 225 mg/m 2 (q21) to weekly P 80 mg or 150mg/m 2 (q7) completed by 4 cycles FAC. Our study-group observed a pCR of 6% after 3 preoperative cycles of dose-intensified EC (120 mg/600 mg/m 2 q14 or q21) in LABC. Dose-density (q14) did not improve pCR (Euler U et al. Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 2002, abstract 126). As a consequence we studied the preoperative effect of 12 cycles P 80 mg/m 2 (q7) after 3 cycles EC (120 mg/600 mg/m 2 q21) . Methods: Between 2002 and 2005 61 patients (pts) with LABC (T2–4/N0–2/M0) were operated after PST with the NECTA-protocol. Irradiation after breast conserving therapy (BCT) was obligate. Immunohistochemical analysis were performed in tumor tissues from core biopsy before PST and from surgery. Results: The medium age was 49,2 yrs, 29,2% had negative ER-status, 48,1% negative PR-status and 22% HER2 overexpression. 76,2% had a cT2-tumor, 18,6% a cT3-tumor and 5,1% a cT4-tumor, 48,3% clinically showed positive lymph nodes. The medium follow up was 27 months (2–41 months). The clinical and pathological response rate was 94,8%. pCR was diagnosed in 8,6%. BCT was feasible in 94,8%. The documented recurrence rate was 14,7% (9 pts: 4 with local relapse, 3 with metastases and 2 with simultaneous local and distant recurrence), 8 pts with recurrence had a cT2-tumor. In the meantime 3 pts died. Conclusions: The additional treatment with weekly paclitaxel after EC induced a high rate of clinical and pathological response. The rate of conservative surgery was very high (94,8%). In the retrospective analysis NECTA-regime improved pCR. In comparison to other taxane-based PST-protocols pCR-rate (8,6%) was low. A phase III study will compare the NECTA-regime with the classical EC-regime in PST. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Abstract 20173: Mechanism Of Low Transvalvular Aortic Stenosis : Geometry, Resistance, and Function
Authors: Shiro Miura, Takeshi Arita, Akihiro Isotani, Kouyu Sakai, Masahiko Goya, Masashi Iwabuchi, Yoshihiro Yokoi, Hideyuki Nosaka, Masakiyo Nobuyoshi
Journal: Circulation (2010)
Impact of Epicardial Anterior Fat Pad Retention on Postcardiothoracic Surgery Atrial Fibrillation Incidence
Authors: C. Michael White, Stephen Sander, Craig I. Coleman, Robert Gallagher, Hiroyoshi Takata, Chester Humphrey, Nickole Henyan, Effie L. Gillespie, Jeffrey Kluger
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2007)
Glycogen Storage Disease in Adults
Authors: Gregg M. Talente
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1994)

Objective: To identify complications amenable to prevention in adults with glycogen storage disease (GSD) types Ia, Ib, and III and to determine the effect of the disease on social factors. Design: Case series and clinical review. Setting: Referral medical centers in the United States and Canada. Patients: All patients with GSD-Ia (37 patients), GSD-Ib (5 patients), and GSD-III (9 patients) who were 18 years of age or older. Measurements: Ultrasound or radiographic studies identified liver adenomas, nephrocalcinosis, or kidney stones. Radiographic studies identified osteopenia. Reports of the clinical examination, serum chemistry results, and social data were obtained. Results: For patients with GSD-Ia, problems included short stature (90%), hepatomegaly (100%), hepatic adenomas (75%), anemia (81%), proteinuria or microalbuminuria (67%), kidney calcifications (65%), osteopenia or fractures or both (27%), increased alkaline phosphatase (61%) and γ-glutamyltransferase (93%) activities, and increased serum cholesterol (76%) and triglyceride (100%) levels. Hyperuricemia was frequent (89%). Patients with GSD-Ib had severe recurrent bacterial infections and gingivitis. In patients with GSD-III, 67% (6 of 9) had increased creatinine kinase activity. Four of these patients had myopathy and cardiomyopathy. Conclusions: For GSD-Ia, hyperuricemia and pyelonephritis should be treated to prevent nephrocalcinosis and additional renal damage. For GSD-Ib, granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor may prevent bacterial infections. For GSD-III, more data are required to determine whether the myopathy and cardiomyopathy can be prevented. Most of the patients with GSD-I and GSD-III had 12 or more years of education and were either currently in school or employed.
Genome-wide association study of acute kidney injury after coronary bypass graft surgery identifies susceptibility loci
Authors: Mark Stafford-Smith, Yi-Ju Li, Joseph P. Mathew, Yen-Wei Li, Yunqi Ji, Barbara G. Phillips-Bute, Carmelo A. Milano, Mark F. Newman, William E. Kraus, Miklos D. Kertai, Svati H. Shah, Mihai V. Podgoreanu
Journal: Kidney International (2015)