tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Norovirus foodborne outbreaks associated with the consumption of oysters from the Etang de Thau, France, December 2002
Authors: A Doyle, D Barataud, A Gallay, J M Thiolet, S Le Guyaguer, E Kohli, V Vaillant
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2004)

In January 2003, the Institut de Veille Sanitaire received notification of clusters of gastroenteritis (GE) thought to be associated with consumption of oysters harvested from Etang de Thau in the south of France. At the same time Italy reported an outbreak (200+ cases) associated with oysters from the Etang de Thau. An investigation was carried out to determine the source and vehicle of the outbreaks. Descriptive analysis of reported clusters in France, microbiological analysis of stool and oyster samples, genotyping of noroviruses and an environmental investigation of the Etang de Thau were carried out. A retrospective cohort study was also undertaken among those attending a number of family meals in Paris. Thirteen family clusters in four districts of France (69 cases) could be attributed to the consumption of Thau oysters based on descriptive evidence. Oysters distributed at an office in Paris and consumed at fourteen family meals between 19 and 24 December led to a further outbreak. In this outbreak the attack rate was 21/36 (58%) for Thau oyster consumers and 0/22 for non-consumers (p=0.00002). Noroviruses (genogroups I and II) were found in stool samples from four clusters and oysters from three clusters (including Paris). Environmental investigations revealed heavy rainfall, an overflow of a water purification station and faecal contamination of the Etang de Thau in December. Oysters from the Etang de Thau were responsible for a number of clusters of norovirus GE in winter 2002 in France and also in Italy. High Escherichia Coli levels in Thau water and shellfish led to an official request, mid-December, for oyster purification before distribution. This was not possible, due to lack of purification facilities. This investigation has contributed to a change in the way that shellfish harvesting areas are classified in France.
Abstract 13719: Direct Cross-Talk and Reciprocal Regulation Between {beta}-1-Adrenergic Receptor and Sphingosine1-Phosphate Receptor
Authors: Alessandro Cannavo, Daniela Liccardo, Giuseppe Rengo, Elisa Di Pietro, Francesca Esposito, Gennaro Maresca, Maria Carmen De Angelis, Roberto Puglia, Dario Leosco, Antonio Rapacciuolo
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1P1) and s-1-adrenergic receptor (s1AR) are both regulated by the G-protein coupled receptor kinase-2 (GRK2) and are expressed at high levels in the heart. While ...
Abstract 1778: Estrogen Protects Cardiomyocytes from Apoptosis by Suppressing p38alpha-mediated p53 activation and by Downregulating a Negative Feedback from p53 on p38beta
Authors: Han Liu, Ali Pedram, Ellis R Levin, Jin K Kim
Journal: Circulation (2008)

To investigate the molecular mechanisms of estrogen-mediated protection of cardiomyocytes in hypoxic stress. Estrogen is anti-apoptotic and promotes survival of cardiomyocytes under ischemia-related stress. We have previously shown that estrogen protects cardiomyocytes exposed to simulated ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) by differentially regulating pro-apoptotic p38alpha and pro-survival p38beta. However, little is known about how E2 modulation of the kinases alters the apoptotic signaling in cardiomyocytes. An attractive downstream target is p53, a well-known mediator of apoptosis and a substrate of p38alpha. We propose that the cytoprotective actions of estrogen involve regulation of p53 via p38. Cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes underwent hypoxia followed by reoxygenation (H/R) to simulate I/R. The extent of apoptosis was determined by examining annexin V-positive cells under fluorescent microscopy. The whole cell lysate was collected after H/R, and the protein of interest was immunoprecipitated and immunoblotted. The p38 activity was determined by immunoprecipitating the protein and performing in-vitro kinase assays on the substrate, ATF2. In our model, p53 played a significant role in H/R-induced myocyte death: Inhibition of p53 (by pifithrin-alpha or by siRNA) significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells by half. Phosphorylation of p53 (p-p53) at serine 15 increased after H/R, while E2 effectively inhibited this form of p53 activation. Use of a specific agonist for each estrogen receptor isoform (ERalpha or ERbeta) demonstrated that both isoforms participate in inhibition of p-p53. E2 attenuated transcription of apoptosis-specific targets of p53, puma and noxa , as determined by RT PCR. In addition, inhibition of p53 augmented the p38beta activity, suggesting a baseline repression of this pro-survival kinase by p53 that may be reversed by E2. Our results demonstrate that during H/R stress, cardiomyocytes undergo p53-dependent apoptosis following phosphorylation of p53 by p38alpha. E2 protects cardiomyocytes by inhibiting p38alpha-p53 signaling, leading to pro-survival p38beta activation.
Proliferative Potential of Astrocytomas and Glioblastomas
Authors: Takao Hoshino
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (1991)

Bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) labeling studies were performed to estimate the growth potential of 462 neuroectodermal tumors in situ. The BUdR labeling index (LI), or S-phase fraction, reflected the proliferative activity of individual tumors and revealed differences in the proliferative potential of histologically similar tumors. A higher LI correlated with a shorter duration of survival. Statistical analysis with the Cox proportional hazards stepwise model showed that age was the best predictor of survival among glioblastoma patients; adding the BUdR LI did not increase the predictive power. However, the LI correlated with age, as indicated by the lower LIs of younger patients. In patients with highly (HAA) and moderately anaplastic astrocytoma (MoAA), the BUdR LI was the best predictor of survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that age and BUdR LI were the best predictors of survival for glioblastoma and HAA patients; adding a term to distinguish between HAA and glioblastoma did not improve the prediction. From the fit of the proportional hazards model, equations were derived to estimate survival probability based on age, LI, and diagnosis. The prognosis for MoAAs was best defined by the BUdR LI, while the prognoses for glioblastomas and HAAs were a function of age and LI. Entering the same LI into the equations resulted in a different survival probability for MoAA patients than for glioblastoma/HAA patients. Without effective treatments for specific tumor phenotypes, the survival of patients with intracranial gliomas appears to depend on the proliferative potential of individual tumors.
Abstract 1689: Transient and Persistent Postprocedural Renal Dysfunction as Predictors of 8 Year Mortality after Cardiac Catheterization Insights from the Dartmouth Dynamic Registry
Authors: Jeremiah R Brown, David J Malenka, James T DeVries, John F Robb, John E Jayne, Bruce J Friedman, Bruce C Hettleman, Nathaniel W Niles, Aaron V Kaplan, Craig A Thompson
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Introduction: Limited data exist that define the natural history of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) over very long term follow-up. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship of transient post catheterization renal dysfunction on long term mortality and define the natural survival history of patients with temporary and persistent post procedural renal failure. Methods: Data were prospectively collected for 13,110 consecutive patients with baseline, peak < 48 hour, and 2 week creatinine data undergoing catheterization from 1998–2006. CIN was defined as (≥25% increase in creatinine within 48 hours of procedure. Patients were stratified into three categories: no creatinine elevation from baseline (no CIN), transient creatinine elevation (CIN with returning to normal within 2 weeks), and persistent creatinine elevation (CIN without returning to normal within 2 weeks). Mortality was determined by a match to the Social Security Death Master File. Results: 11,657 patients (88.9%) had <...
Hepatobiliary Scintigraphic Findings in Obstructed Intrahepatic Choledochal Cyst Before and After Surgery
Authors: RAKESH KUMAR, SAIKAT CHOUDHURY, BHARATHI DASAN J, SANDEEP AGARWALA, ARUN MALHOTRA
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (2001)

The authors describe a 10-week-old boy who presented with symptoms of progressive obstructive jaundice and abdominal distension. Clinical examination revealed gross hepatomegaly. A preoperative Tc-99m mebrofenin hepatobiliary study showed a large photopenic area involving the entire right lobe of the liver that did not communicate with the biliary system. Ultrasonography revealed a huge cystic mass with a few intracystic septae involving nearly the entire liver parenchyma. Under ultrasound guidance, a pigtail catheter was inserted into the cyst and produced free drainage of bile-stained fluid. Subsequently, an obstructed choledochal cyst was diagnosed clinically, and a right hepatectomy followed by a Roux-en-Y loop implantation on the raw surface of the left lobe were performed. Serial postoperative Tc-99m mebrofenin hepatobiliary studies showed marked improvement in liver function and biliary drainage with significant regeneration of the liver parenchyma.
Survival After Shock Therapy in Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy-Defibrillator Recipients According to Rhythm Shocked
Authors: Brian D. Powell, Leslie A. Saxon, John P. Boehmer, John D. Day, F. Roosevelt Gilliam, Paul A. Heidenreich, Paul W. Jones, Matthew J. Rousseau, David L. Hayes
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2013)
Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide Following Busulfan and Fludarabine Myeloablative Conditioning Prevents Severe Acute and Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease and Minimizes Duration Of Immunosuppression: Results Of a Multi-Institutional Trial In Patients With High-Risk Hematologic Malignancies
Authors: Christopher G. Kanakry, Paul O’Donnell, Terry Furlong, Marcos J de Lima, Wei Wei, Marta Medeot, Marco Mielcarek, Richard E Champlin, Richard J. Jones, Peter F. Thall, Borje S. Andersson, Leo Luznik
Journal: Blood (2013)
What's in a name?
Authors: A. Medrington
Journal: BMJ (2008)

As a patient I have been quite taken aback that whenever I’ve seen doctors recently they have called me by my first name while introducing themselves by their title and surname. I find it distinctly unhelpful in my interaction with another adult to be addressed like a child by their teacher when the experience of illness is already making me feel unsettled, vulnerable, and anxious.1

Whenever I have raised this matter of unequal address during a consultation, it has been met with surprise and the mention of wanting to make me feel at ease. In Germany it would be unthinkable for a doctor to introduce himself as Dr Schmidt while summoning a patient from the waiting room by calling out “Helmut” or “Angela.”

I am curious as to whether there have been any recent guidelines to encourage this practice in Britain, why it seems to be the norm, and why do so few people question, let alone challenge, it? This is occurring at the same time as there is so much talked and written about patients’ dignity, the doctor-patient partnership, respect, and empowerment.
Abstract 3857: Mitochondrial Connexin-43 Shares a Common BH3 Motif With Bcl-2 Family Members to Impart Cytoprotection in Preconditioned Sca-1+ Cells via Regulation of Cytochrome-C Release
Authors: Gang Lu, Husnain K Haider, Aleksey Porollo, Muhammad Ashraf
Journal: Circulation (2009)

Background. We have shown that connexin-43 (Cx43) in preconditioned Sca-1+ cells (PCSca-1+) is cytoprotective and improves their cardiomyogenic differentiation. We investigate the mechanistic parti...
Abstract 15105: Increased Body Mass Index is Associated with Worsening Diastolic Function in Patients with nNormal Systolic Function.
Authors: Wael A Jaber, Venu Menon, Penny Houghtaling, Wael AlJaroudi, James D Thomas, Carmel Halley
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background: Obesity is a major public health epidemic and is associated with increased risk for developing heart failure. The precise mechanisms by which increasing body mass index (BMI) affect car...
Abstract 1336: Chronic Ezetimibe Treatment Reduces Lesion Formation, ED-B Fibronectin Expression and Near Infrared Targeted Imaging in ApoE-Deficient Mice
Authors: Kristof Graf, Thore Dietrich, Michael Tachezy, Michael Gräfe, Philipp Stawowy, Christin Perlitz, Michael Schirner, Schering Ag, Eckart Fleck
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Ezetimibe (EZE), an inhibitor of cholesterol absorption, reduces atherosclerosis in Apo E deficient mice (ApoE(−/−)mice). It has been recently demonstrated that the angiogenic matrix protein ED-B f...
Abstract 4407: Haplotype Sharing Analysis Identifies DPP6 as a Novel Gene for Familial Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation
Authors: Marielle Alders, Tamara T Koopmann, Imke Christiaans, Leander Beekman, Marcel M Mannens, Connie R Bezzina, Arthur A Wilde
Journal: Circulation (2008)
Performance indicators for general practice
Authors: F. Mair
Journal: BMJ (1995)

consisting of non-drinkers, beer drinkers, spirits drinkers, and beer and spirits drinkers.The drinkers, again, could have ranged from those who drank beer or spirits only once a month to those who had more than five drinks a day.This would falsely increase the risk among those who did not drink wine and give a falsely low risk for those who did drink wine.Indeed, it is difficult to believe that a drink of wine only once a month can reduce the risk of cardiovascular death by 31%.If this is true it supports the premise that drinking wine may be associated with other favourable traits that influence cardiovascular risk.
Evidence based patient information
Authors: P V Gardiner, R. Jones, R. Thomas, K. Campbell
Journal: BMJ (1999)

Editor—Coulter’s editorial on evidence based patient information presents a counsel of perfection for those who seek to provide information for their patients.1 Her call for a national public information strategy and for training for clinicians in how to use better materials sounds “maternalistic” and overprotective. She belittles the effort that health professionals have invested in providing such information, and the tenor of her editorial seems to be to discourage these attempts. She deplores the paternalism of “well intentioned” health professionals who provide the public with material of “infantile quality.”

Many patients choose to consult non-scientific sources of information about their conditions, including family members and alternative practitioners. Advice from such sources is likely to be far more dangerous than minor inaccuracies in information literature for patients. What is needed is not another nanny state initiative but one that encourages enthusiastic health professionals to get together and use their experience to deliver information more efficiently to their patients.

Coulter dismisses the benefits of the internet as a vehicle for patient information so cavalierly that I wonder if she has used it recently to obtain information about medical conditions. In my experience, the quality of information that patients have gleaned from the internet has, in general, been superior to that derived from newspaper articles. There is plenty of rubbish on the internet, but patients should be given some credit for being able to sort out the wheat from the chaff. People who use the internet are accustomed to accessing several sources of information on a particular subject and comparing the quality of information provided. As large health charities such as the Arthritis Foundation have come online with comprehensive and trustworthy information resources for patients, the professional design of their sites ensures that they will feature at the top of most search lists.

Rather than discourage enthusiastic health professionals, why not encourage them to work with their specialist societies in developing and maintaining comprehensive, accurate, and readable information and sharing it with the public on the internet. The specialist societies and charities can then concentrate on maintaining a catalogue of the disparate sources of health information on the internet, using a rating system for accuracy, reliability, readability, and level of detail. The information age is upon us, and we will serve our patients best if we seek to provide accessible, up to date, and well presented sources of information and advice rather than to restrict freedom.
Abstract 020: Testosterone, Sex Hormone-binding Globulin and the Metabolic Syndrome: An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis of 20 Observational Studies Involving 12,811 Men
Authors: Judith S Brand, Maroeska M Rovers, Yvonne T van der Schouw
Journal: Circulation (2012)

Background: The role of testosterone in metabolic syndrome (MetS) etiology is receiving increasing attention, given the overlap of testosterone deficiency and MetS in ageing men. We conducted an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis to examine this association in a uniform way and to produce more precise estimates of risk overall and in certain subgroups. Methods: Individual participant data of 20 observational studies including 12,811 men (mean age: 58.6 ± 15.6 years) were pooled and cross-sectional as well as prospective associations between total testosterone (TT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), free testosterone (FT) and MetS were assessed. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) by study-specific quartiles of sex hormones using mixed effects models (with random effects at the study level) and tested for effect modification by age and body mass index (BMI). Results: Cross-sectional analyses revealed that men with low concentrations of TT, SHBG or FT were more likely to have MetS. ORs for the lowest versus highest quartile were 4.56 (95% CI 4.02-5.16) for TT, 5.26 (95% CI 4.49-6.17) for SHBG and 2.18 (95% CI 1.88-2.53) for FT. Associations were attenuated but remained significant after adjustment for BMI and insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)). Prospective analyses yielded similar results, but of smaller magnitude (HRs for the lowest versus highest quartile were 2.00 (95% CI 1.57-2.56) for TT, 2.71 (95% CI 1.99-3.70) for SHBG and 1.41 (95% CI 1.04-1.92) for FT). Stratified analyses revealed significant interactions by age and BMI, such that associations were strongest in young and nonobese men. Sex hormone concentrations decreased gradually with increasing number of MetS components and, for single components, were most strongly associated with abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridemia. Conclusion: This meta-analysis of pooled individual data shows a robust, dose-response relationship of testosterone and SHBG concentrations with prevalent and incident MetS in men. The strong associations with abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridemia provide insight into the underlying biological mechanisms.
Abstract 2499: Intravascular Ultrasound Analysis of Culprit Lesion in Young Population with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Aleksandra Michalek, Gary S Mintz, Salah E Hassani, Jerzy Pregowski, Sang Wook Kim, Esteban Escolar, Ron Waksman, Augusto Pichard, Lowell Satler, Kenneth Kent, Young Joon Hong, Szymon Bieganski, Tomasz Pasierski, Witold Pikto Pietkiewicz, Miedzyleski Szpital Specjalistyczny, Neil J Weissman
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Background: A minority of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) occur in pts younger than 45 or older than 80. We hypothesized that these “outliers” might have age-dependent differences in culprit lesion morphology.  Methods: We used pre-intervention intravascular ultrasound to compare 49 pts younger than 45 yrs (mean 40 ± 3.8yrs) vs 42 pts older than 80 years (mean age 85 ± 3.9). Presence of ST elevation MI was similar in younger and in octogenarian population (28% vs 37%). Standard IVUS qualitative and quantitative measurements were performed at lesion site and references.  Results: As shown in the Table, compared to octogenarians, culprit lesions in younger patients were shorter, lumen area was larger, plaque rupture was more common (35% vs 9%, p=0.004 ), thrombus formation more common (24% vs 2%, p=0.002), and positive remodeling more common. Moreover, younger patients had more soft plaque (47% vs 19%, p=0.005 ) and fibrous plaque (20% vs 5%, p=0.027) while octogenarians more often had calcified plaque (57% vs 8%, p=0.000 ).  Conclusion: Morphology of culprit lesion in AMI depends on pts age with higher incidence of ruptures plaques, thrombus formation, and positive remodeling and shorter lesions in younger population. This suggests that the mechanism of AMI in these two patient groups is also different.
Abstract 19921: Cardiac MRI T1 Mapping Noninvasively Predicts Interstitial Myocardial Fibrosis in the Absence of Late Gadolinium Enhancement
Authors: Christopher T Sibley, Radwa A Noureldin, Neville Gai, Marcelo Souto Nacif, James O Mudd, Marc K Halushka, David A Bluemke
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Introduction: Myocardial fibrosis is associated with arrhythmia, ventricular dysfunction and adverse outcomes. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is the current stan...
Abstract 4404: Lower Incidence of Persistent Imtramural Thrombus in Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Coated With a Novel Bioabsorbable Salicylate-Based Polymer in Comparison With Durable Polymeric Surface Coating: Angioscopic and Histological Evaluations in Porcine Coronary Artery Model
Authors: Daisuke Matsumoto, Toshiro Shinke, Sarah Geva, Keith Robinson, Nicolas Chronos, Refat Jabara
Journal: Circulation (2009)

Background: Chronic inflammation and hypersensitivity reactions induced by permanent polymers used in current drug-eluting stent (DES) may contribute to late thrombosis and restenosis. We evaluated...
Abstract 346: The Notch ligand, Delta-like 1 (Dll1), is Required for Postnatal Arteriogenesis in Response to Ischemia
Authors: Anne Limbourg, Merlin Ploom, Diana Elligsen, Inga Soerensen, Achim Gossler, Helmut Drexler, Florian P Limbourg
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Introduction:  Neovascularization with competent arteries is essential for regeneration of ischemic organs. Notch signaling regulates arterial development downstream of VEGF and upstream of EphrinB2 (Efnb2) ligand, which is essential for arterial remodelling. However, the role of Notch signaling in adult arteriogenesis is unknown. Delta-like 1 (Dll1) is one of four mammalian Notch ligands and is essential for embryonic development. Its function in the vascular system is so far unknown.   Methods and Results:  LacZ staining of adult Dll1 lacZ/+  heterozygous mice, in which one endogenous allele has been replaced by the lacZ reporter gene, demonstrated restricted Dll1 expression in the endothelium of arteries, while capillaries or veins lacked Dll1. After induction of hindlimb ischemia (HLI), Dll1 lacZ/+  mice demonstrated impaired recovery of perfusion by laser doppler flowmetry compared to wildtype (wt) mice (p lacZ/+  mice (61% vs. wt 0%, n>9). Histologically, collateral growth in wt animals resulted in a significant increase in collateral lumen and wall area, which was absent in Dll1 lacZ/+  collaterals (p lacZ/+  collaterals Dll1 was only weakly induced, and induction of N1 and Efnb2 was absent, while VEGF was induced to similar levels. In vitro, VEGF and bFGF synergistically induced Dll1, N1 activation and Efnb2 in human aortic endothelial cells, and enhanced the angiogenic response in tube formation assays. A specific inhibitor of Notch activation, DAPT, blocked VEGF/bFGF-induced N1 activation, Efnb2 induction and tube formation, but not Dll1 upregulation. This demonstrates that Dll1 regulates angiogenesis upstream of endothelial N1 and Efnb2. Furthermore, Dll1 lacZ/+  mouse aortic endothelial cells displayed severly impaired tube formation and migration (p   Conclusion:  Dll1 is expressed in arterial endothelium. Dll1 is upregulated by angiogenic growth factors and regulates postnatal arteriogenesis through activation of endothelial Notch signaling and upregulation of Efnb2.