tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Multimedia: Matters of Life and Death
Authors: André-Pascal Sappino
Journal: BMJ (1999)

John Cairns


Princeton University Press, £12.95, pp 260 




ISBN 0 691 00250 9

———————

Rating: ★★

The biomedical community has only recently recognised the importance of its educational duties towards the lay public: biologists and clinicians know that didactic information provided to the general population impacts directly on research activities and helps implement their clinical applications. Therefore, attempts to promote wider understanding of science should be regarded as public spirited acts. However, popularisation of scientific knowledge requires a subtle combination of skills more familiar to media professionals than to scientists.

At a time when rock stars, sport idols, and financial tycoons decorate bookstores with their intimate considerations about life and death, John Cairns’ invitation to take us on a magical mystery tour of the biological actors of life and death seems commendable—a formidable scientist promising a remarkable journey through the ups and downs of living systems, relating the history of mortality by revisiting censuses, deciphering molecular machineries governing the life and death of cells, drawing correlations between the social (dis)organisations of tissues and of human beings, balancing nature and nurture as contributors to our good fortune and our miseries, and forecasting the global warming that will freeze us stiff. This timely account from a lifelong scholar of life would seem destined to bring within everyone’s reach the heart of living matter.

Unfortunately, the matter is embedded in a harsh form—scholastic recitatives illustrated by outdated graphic representations, the genetic code revised by Gutenberg, biological information concealed in alphabetical exercises, and life expectancies delivered in deadly cold profusion. Like living tissue transformed into unpalatable mineral, John Cairns’ petrified essay contrasts with the liveliness of the proposed menu on the cover page, and with his own scientific communications, which have enchanted people in the know for decades. Notwithstanding, the obstinate lay reader endowed with a fully functional synaptic network will find moments of delight unwinding Cairns’ personal insights into diseases. Ironically, he or she will realise that cancer may also be seen as a failure of communication.

Altogether, I fear that rival writers—such as the biographers of Monica Lewinsky, Princess Diana, and their ilk—will remain better alchemists in transmuting deadly boring lives into lively fairy tales.
Noninvasive cutaneous blood flow as a response predictor for visible light therapy on segmental vitiligo: a prospective pilot study
Authors: W-T. Yu, H.S. Yu, C-S. Wu, C-H. Lee, Y-C. Cheng, W-T. Lin, G-S. Chen, C-C.E. Lan
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2010)

Journal Article Noninvasive cutaneous blood flow as a response predictor for visible light therapy on segmental vitiligo: a prospective pilot study Get access W‐T. Yu, W‐T. Yu Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar H.S. Yu, H.S. Yu Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar C‐S. Wu, C‐S. Wu Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar C‐H. Lee, C‐H. Lee Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Y‐C. Cheng, Y‐C. Cheng Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar W‐T. Lin, W‐T. Lin Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar G‐S. Chen, G‐S. Chen Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar C‐C.E. Lan C‐C.E. Lan Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, TaiwanDepartment of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta‐Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung, TaiwanCenter of Excellence for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Cheng‐Che E. Lan. E‐mail: laneric@gmail.com Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 164, Issue 4, 1 April 2011, Pages 759–764, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.10148.x Published: 01 April 2011
Medication and psychotherapy in the treatment of bulimia nervosa
Authors: B T Walsh, G T Wilson, K L Loeb, M J Devlin, K M Pike, S P Roose, J Fleiss, C Waternaux
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1997)

Two treatments for bulimia nervosa have emerged as having established efficacy: cognitive-behavioral therapy and antidepressant medication. This study sought to address 1) how the efficacy of a psychodynamically oriented supportive psychotherapy compared to that of cognitive-behavioral therapy; 2) whether a two-stage medication intervention, in which a second antidepressant (fluoxetine) was employed if the first (desipramine) was either ineffective or poorly tolerated, added to the benefit of psychological treatment; and 3) if the combination of medication and psychological treatment was superior to a course of medication alone.A total of 120 women with bulimia nervosa participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.Cognitive-behavioral therapy was superior to supportive psychotherapy in reducing behavioral symptoms of bulimia nervosa (binge eating and vomiting). Patients receiving medication in combination with psychological treatment experienced greater improvement in binge eating and depression than did patients receiving placebo and psychological treatment. In addition, cognitive-behavioral therapy plus medication was superior to medication alone, but supportive psychotherapy plus medication was not.At present, cognitive-behavioral therapy is the psychological treatment of choice for bulimia nervosa. A two-stage medication intervention using fluoxetine adds modestly to the benefit of psychological treatment.
Medication prescribing for COPD in primary care databases
Authors: Simon Brill, Ethaar El-Emir, James Allinson, Alexander Mackay, Richa Singh, Anant Patel, Gavin Donaldson, Irwin Nazareth, Jadwiga Wedzicha
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

UK primary care COPD databases are heterogenous with many patients failing to fulfil diagnostic criteria upon spirometric retesting (Jones, 2008). This may suggest that patients without COPD are exposed to unnecessary medication.  Using our experience of recruiting to COPD trials from primary care we examined the treatment administered to these patients.  35 local primary care practices contacted patients aged >45 on their COPD database. Interested patients were screened including spirometry and medication history. A diagnosis of COPD was present if the FEV1/FVC ratio was   Only 124/172 (72%) patients screened met diagnostic criteria for COPD. 14 patients (8%) had normal spirometry; of these 6 (43%) were prescribed at least one of a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) or inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). 34 (20%) further patients did not meet spirometric criteria for COPD; 21 (62%) were prescribed at least one of the above medications. Medication use is summarised in Table 1.  Patients on primary care COPD databases often receive treatment for COPD without fulfilling diagnostic criteria. Further investigation is needed into the validity of the original diagnoses, requirement for retesting and the accuracy of these databases. This may avoid unnecessary treatment, excess risk and cost.
Abstract 2770: Neointimal Hyperplasia Patterns Among 3 Drug-Eluting Stents: A Comparative Intravascular Ultrasound Analysis of Everolimus-, Sirolimus-, and Paclitaxel-Eluting Stents
Authors: Ryota Sakurai, Brian K Courtney, Masao Yamasaki, Ichizo Tsujino, Katsuhisa Waseda, Takao Hasegawa, Takao Shimohama, Junya Ako, Yoichiro Hongo, Yoshihiro Morino, Akiyoshi Miyazawa, Seung-Ho Hur, Tomomi Koizumi, Yasuhiro Honda, Paul G Yock, Alexandra J Lansky, Krishnankutty Sudhir, Gregg W Stone, Peter J Fitzgerald
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Background The amount of neointimal hyperplasia as well as the percentage of neointimal stent surface coverage may be different among various types of drug-eluting stents (DES). Methods From the Stanford University Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) Core Laboratory database, this study consisted of the patients enrolled in prospective, multicenter clinical trials with DES deployment for de novo coronary lesions and 3-D IVUS at 8- to 9-month follow-up as part of their study protocol. In these cases, 155 single DES: (1) an 18-mm everolimus-eluting (EES, 52 stents in 50 patients); (2) an 18-mm sirolimus-eluting (SES, 51 stents); or (3) a 16-mm paclitaxel-eluting (PES, 52 stents) stent in 153 patients were investigated. Using Simpson’s rule, %neointimal volume was defined as neointimal volume / stent volume × 100. Circumferential stent length covered with neointima (L N ) and stent perimeter (L S ) were also measured at every 1-mm cross section throughout the stent. Then, %neointimal coverage was defined as total L N / total L S × 100. Results EES had comparable %neointimal volume to SES, but less %neointimal volume than PES (5.2±5.3 vs 2.6±4.0 vs 9.2±8.7%, P&lt; 0.0001), whereas EES had greater %neointimal coverage than SES, but comparable %neointimal coverage to PES (25.7±19.9 vs 9.1±14.6 vs 29.3±23.5%, P&lt; 0.0001). Conclusions Compared to SES, EES had comparable neointimal hyperplasia, but greater neointimal stent coverage by IVUS. Compared to PES, EES had less neointimal hyperplasia, but comparable neointimal stent coverage by IVUS. This unique pattern of neointimal hyperplasia with these platforms may be important to the balance of the short-term efficacy and the long-term safety.
Nonsurgical Weight Loss Device
Authors: Rebecca Voelker
Journal: JAMA (2015)

Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy | Continue JAMA HomeNew OnlineCurrent IssueFor Authors Podcasts Clinical Reviews Editors' Summary Medical News Author Interviews More Publications JAMA JAMA Network Open JAMA Cardiology JAMA Dermatology JAMA Health Forum JAMA Internal Medicine JAMA Neurology JAMA Oncology JAMA Ophthalmology JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery JAMA Pediatrics JAMA Psychiatry JAMA Surgery Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry (1919-1959) JN Learning / CMESubscribeJobsInstitutions / LibrariansReprints & Permissions Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement 2023 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved Search All JAMA JAMA Network Open JAMA Cardiology JAMA Dermatology JAMA Forum Archive JAMA Health Forum JAMA Internal Medicine JAMA Neurology JAMA Oncology JAMA Ophthalmology JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery JAMA Pediatrics JAMA Psychiatry JAMA Surgery Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry Input Search Term Sign In Individual Sign In Sign inCreate an Account Access through your institution Sign In Purchase Options: Buy this article Rent this article Subscribe to the JAMA journal
Childhood sexual and physical abuse in adult patients with borderline personality disorder
Authors: S N Ogata, K R Silk, S Goodrich, N E Lohr, D Westen, E M Hill
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1990)

Experiences of abuse and neglect were assessed in 24 adults diagnosed as having borderline personality disorder according to the Diagnostic Interview for Borderline Patients and in 18 depressed control subjects without borderline disorder. Significantly more of the borderline patients than depressed patients reported childhood sexual abuse, abuse by more than one person, and both sexual and physical abuse. There were no between-group differences for rates of neglect or physical abuse without sexual abuse. A stepwise logistic regression revealed that derealization, diagnostic group, and chronic dysphoria were the best predictors of childhood sexual abuse in this group of patients.
Lesson of the Week: Septic arthritis in osteoarthritic hips
Authors: D J Knight, F J Gilbert, J D Hutchison
Journal: BMJ (1996)

Osteoarthritis of the hip is extremely common and often runs an episodic and deteriorating course. Increased pain in affected patients is usually attributed to an exacerbation of this degenerative process, but this may miss the important development of sepsis in that joint. We have seen four such patients recently. Because of the low index of suspicion, the diagnosis was delayed in all cases.

Case 1–A 67 year old woman was admitted to hospital with acute cholecystitis. Her erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 80 mm in the first hour, and her C reactive protein concentration was 19 mg/l. On the ward she complained of pain in her left hip, which was known to be osteoarthritic. This improved and she was discharged home to await cholecystectomy. She presented to the orthopaedic department three months later as an emergency with severe left hip pain; radiographs showed almost complete destruction of the femoral head. Her erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 70 mm in the first hour. An isotope bone scan was consistent with infection. The joint was aspirated under x ray screening, and culture of the fluid grew Staphylococcus aureus. She was treated with high dose intravenous flucloxacillin, but her hip remained painful, preventing mobilisation. Because of the extent of the destruction of the femoral head and the severity of the infection, she …
Abstract 139: Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition Causes Alterations in Nonlinear Hemodynamic Parameters in a Murine Model of Sepsis
Authors: Michael E Kwiatt, Joe LaChant, Sergio Zanotti, Steven M Hollenberg
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background Nitric oxide may play a role in the altered hemodynamics seen in sepsis, but the mechanisms involved have not been fully understood. To better understand this mechanism, we compared stan...
DEATH COMPLICATING THE WITHDRAWAL OF NARCOTICS, WITH RESPIRATORY DIFFICULTIES PREDOMINANT: REPORT OF THREE CASES
Authors: Philip Piker, Jules Gelperin
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1937)

Article1 March 1937DEATH COMPLICATING THE WITHDRAWAL OF NARCOTICS, WITH RESPIRATORY DIFFICULTIES PREDOMINANT: REPORT OF THREE CASESPHILIP PIKER, M.D., JULES GELPERIN, B.M.PHILIP PIKER, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, JULES GELPERIN, B.M.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-10-9-1279 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptDuring the past three years we have seen three dramatic deaths in narcotic addicts who had been suddenly deprived of the drugs to which they had become habituated.A search through the literature for descriptions of and explanations for such occurrences has been singularly unproductive.‡In writing on the subject of morphine withdrawal, many authors have commented on the possibility of collapse, particularly as a complication of sudden withdrawal. Their comments, however, have been uniformly casual and incidental; and in no instance have we been able to discover a specific case report. Several general descriptions of the symptoms likely to... This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Cincinnati, Ohio*Received for publication November 30, 1936.From the Psychiatric Division of the Cincinnati General Hospital.†Alfred M. Stern Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.‡Personal communications from Hans Schwarz of Berlin, Germany, and Manfred Sakel of Vienna, Austria, inform us that those investigators, despite much contact with the subject of morphinism, know of no pertinent information regarding sudden death in this connection, either from their own clinical observation or their acquaintanceship with the literature. We would also like to acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Fritz Moellenhoff, whose knowledge of the foreign literature on the subject was of much help in surveying the field of available information. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byDrug AddictionSOME RECENT WORK ON THE ADDICTION PROBLEMLiteraturübersicht 1 March 1937Volume 10, Issue 9Page: 1279-1282KeywordsAddictsMorphineRisk management Issue Published: 1 March 1937 PDF downloadLoading ...
Main presentations of sexually transmitted infections in men
Authors: John Richens
Journal: BMJ (2004)

Some sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhoea and chlamydial infection, have different presentations in the two sexes because of differences in genital anatomy. This chapter focuses on infections of the male urethra, epididymis, testis, and prostate. Anal and oral symptoms are also covered because these are encountered more often among men, especially men who have sex with men.

### Urethral discharge and dysuria

Spontaneous discharge of fluid from the urethral meatus, usually most noticeable after holding urine overnight and often accompanied by burning discomfort during urination (dysuria), strongly indicates a sexually acquired urethral infection.

View this table:

Management of urethritis



Symptomatic gonorrhoea usually develops within a few days of exposure. Chlamydial infections take slightly longer. Mild infections may cause urethral discomfort and dysuria without discharge and may be confused with cystitis.

View this table:

Causes of urethritis in men



In clinics with laboratory facilities, the usual approach is to test for gonorrhoea and chlamydial infection. The first step is microscopy of a urethral smear. Optimal results for this are obtained from patients who have held their urine for four hours or more.

   ![][1] 

Gonococcal urethral discharge

Urethritis is confirmed if the urethral smear shows five or more polymorphs per high power field. If the smear shows Gram negative intracellular diplococci, the patient is treated for gonorrhoea and chlamydia to cover the possibility of a mixed infection. Meanwhile, confirmatory tests for gonorrhoea and chlamydia are carried out (see bmj.com).



World Health Organization flow chart for managing urethral discharge 



Patients without evidence of gonorrhoea receive doxycycline (100 mg twice daily for one week), erythromycin (500 mg twice daily for two weeks), or azithromycin (1 g single dose), which are active against chlamydial infection and most other pathogens associated with non-gonococcal urethritis. Doxycycline …

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Rosuvastatin for primary prevention in older individuals with high C-reactive protein and low LDL levels: exploratory analysis of a randomized trial
Authors: Robert J Glynn, Wolfgang Koenig, Børge G. Nordestgaard, James Shepherd, Paul M Ridker
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2010)

Background
There are limited randomized data on statins for primary prevention in older people, and the relative hazard of cardiovascular disease associated with elevated cholesterol weakens with advancing age.
Mouth care and skin care in palliative medicine
Authors: V. S Lucas, G. J Roberts, J M. Dixon, J Hockley, M. Pemberton, M H Thornhill, A. Davies
Journal: BMJ (1998)

Editor—Regnard et al did not mention the use of 2% chlorhexidine mouth rinses in the section on mouth care and the risk factors for oral problems in their article in the ABC of Palliative Care.1 We have regular contact with groups of children with chronic disorders— for example, epidermolysis bullosa—and others who are treated with high dose chemotherapy and irradiation. One of the problems from which they suffer is severely blistered oral mucosa (children with epidermolysis bullosa) and mucositis related to chemotherapy or radiation. 

The most widely investigated and used mouth care regimen is 2% chlorhexidine mouth rinse daily. Many workers have reported decreases in dental bacterial plaque and gingivitis.2,3 This leads to decreased oral bacterial loading, which is important, particularly in patients who are undergoing a period of immunosuppression as part of their treatment.4 Chlorhexidine does not greatly affect the progress of mucositis, and although the 7% ethanol base does cause a burning sensation, the antibacterial and local cleaning action are of great benefit to these patients. Although tooth brushing is the ideal oral hygiene method, most patients who are debilitated are unable to do this effectively and the mouth is not cleaned effectively. Mouth rinsing may also be difficult, and this difficulty can be easily overcome by soaking pink dressing sponges in chlorhexidine. When the teeth are closed on the sponges, the chlorhexidine is carried to the oral mucosa, gingivae, and teeth. 

We believe that this logical approach to mouth care is more effective than the anecdotal remedies suggested by Regnard et al. Was the recommendation to use gin a misprint?
Clinical features and histological findings are potential indicators of activity in lesions of common vitiligo
Authors: L. Benzekri, Y. Gauthier, S. Hamada, B. Hassam
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2012)

Background Unstable vitiligo lesions are usually considered to be contraindications for surgical treatment. Unfortunately, in the majority of common vitiligo cases, neither accurate clinical signs nor routine blood tests are available to determine whether or not the disease is active. Objectives To establish a direct correlation between the clinical aspect of vitiligo lesions and their activity. Methods This was a prospective observational study that took place over 1 year. For each patient, a standardized evaluation included both a careful daylight and Wood's lamp examination, pictures, biopsies performed at the marginal area and histological and immunohistological studies. A second examination to assess the activity of the lesions correctly was performed 1 year after inclusion in the study. Both the clinical changes and the histological features of the lesions in actively spreading vitiligo were compared with those in stable vitiligo. Results This study included 50 patients. The lesions were classified as hypomelanotic with poorly defined borders (HPDB, 29 cases) or amelanotic with sharply demarcated borders (ASDB, 21 cases). One year after the biopsy, of the 48 patients still in the study, 20 had lesions that were considered to be stable and 28 had active lesions. Correlations were successfully obtained between clinical aspects, histological findings and vitiligo activity. The HPDB and ASDB lesions were correlated respectively with active and stable status (P < 0·001). Conclusions A simple clinical examination including a Wood's lamp examination may allow reliable and efficient evaluation of the stability of vitiligo lesions.