tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus domination of intestinal microbiota is enabled by antibiotic treatment in mice and precedes bloodstream invasion in humans
Authors: Carles Ubeda, Ying Taur, Robert R. Jenq, Michele J. Equinda, Tammy Son, Miriam Samstein, Agnes Viale, Nicholas D. Socci, Marcel R.M. van den Brink, Mini Kamboj, Eric G. Pamer
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2010)

Bloodstream infection by highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), is a growing clinical problem that increasingly defies medical intervention. Identifying patients at high risk for bacterial sepsis remains an important clinical challenge. Recent studies have shown that antibiotics can alter microbial diversity in the intestine. Here, we characterized these effects using 16s rDNA pyrosequencing and demonstrated that antibiotic treatment of mice enabled exogenously administered VRE to efficiently and nearly completely displace the normal microbiota of the small and large intestine. In the clinical setting, we found that intestinal domination by VRE preceded bloodstream infection in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Our results demonstrate that antibiotics perturb the normal commensal microbiota and set the stage for intestinal domination by bacteria associated with hospital-acquired infections. Thus, high-throughput DNA sequencing of the intestinal microbiota could identify patients at high risk of developing bacterial sepsis.
Enhancement of renal function with ornipressin in a patient with decompensated cirrhosis.
Authors: K Lenz, W Druml, G Kleinberger, H Hortnagl, A Laggner, B Schneeweiss, E Deutsch
Journal: Gut (1985)

An infusion with Ornipressin (8-ornithin vasopressin) in a patient with decompensated alcoholic liver cirrhosis increased urinary volume from 30 ml/h to 500 ml/h, creatinine clearance from 24 to 65 ml/min, and fractional sodium excretion from 0.86% to 11.1%. Free water clearance decreased from -10.2 ml/h to -26.2 ml/h and noradrenaline plasma concentrations dropped from 2.04 to 1.37 ng/ml. After stopping Ornipressin infusion all values returned to initial concentrations. Possible effects are an increase of renal blood flow secondary to an increase in arterial blood pressure, possibly potentiated by the vasodilatory effect of the fall in noradrenaline and/or angiotensin concentration.
James Howard Stiff
Authors: Graham Stiff
Journal: BMJ (2008)

Jim’s mother died from metastatic carcinoma of the breast when he was 9, an event that he rarely alluded to, but which had a profound influence on his life and was seminal in his taking up a medical career. He was born into a family with strong musical connections. One uncle was Charles Gregory, first horn player with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, another was Wilfred Stiff, who helped found the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and was later managing director of the musicians’ agency Ibbs and Tillett.

Jim was educated at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School for Boys, Barnet, and was persuaded by his uncles to audition for the Westminster Abbey choir. He recalled travelling to the auditions on his own and singing without an accompanist—something that he thought had helped him to gain a place in the choir. During the second world war and in the immediate post-war …
Oesophageal carcinoma demonstrated by whole-body nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.
Authors: F W Smith, J M Hutchison, J R Mallard, G Johnson, T W Redpath, R D Selbie, A Reid, C C Smith
Journal: BMJ (1981)

The quality of the images produced by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging has steadily improved over the past five years. Images of the head, thorax, and abdomen have clearly shown the normal anatomy. A clinical trial of NMR imaging has therefore been started in Aberdeen to assess its diagnostic accuracy and compare it with conventional radiography and other imaging technique. The first patient examined by whole-body NMR imaging had carcinoma of the oesophagus diagnosed on barium meal examination. A technetium-99m-sulphur colloid liver scan also showed hepatic metastases. NMR imaging showed a large tumour in the lower third of the oesophagus, and areas of increased proton spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) on a section through the liver corresponded with the metastases shown on the radionuclide scan. Increased areas of T1 were present in some vertebrae, and a technetium-99m bone scan confirmed the presence of bone metastases. The NMR images in this patient compared well with the images from other techniques. The continuing clinical trial may show that NMR is an accurate diagnostic aid which will complement existing techniques for diagnosing intrathoracic and intra-abdominal conditions.
Abnormal Gastric Motor Function in Viral Gastroenteritis
Authors: Jose C. Meeroff, David S. Schreiber, Jerry S. Trier, Neil R. Blacklow
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1980)

Nausea and vomiting occur commonly with gastroenteritis caused by parvovirus-like agents. Infection results in histologic injury to the small bowel mucosa, but the gastric mucosa remains unaffected. We have studied gastric emptying of liquids serially in 10 volunteers before and after ingestion of the parvovirus-like agents, Norwalk and Hawaii viruses. The five subjects who developed illness all showed marked delays in gastric emptying, while the five well subjects had no alteration of emptying. Five additional volunteers who developed Norwalk virus gastroenteritis underwent serial studies of gastric secretion of hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and intrinsic factor. No change was detected in either basal or betazole-stimulated secretion of these three substances during the course of illness. The nausea and vomiting accompanying this type of viral gastroenteritis may result from abnormal gastric motor function.
BALANTIDIUM COLI INFECTION IN OKLAHOMA
Authors: ANTONIO D. YOUNG
Journal: JAMA (1918)

The infrequent occurrence of<i>Balantidium coli</i>infection in man has prompted the careful study and reporting of a case that occurred during the past year in the service of one of us (A. D. Y.). Additional interest in the case was stimulated by the fact that to the best of our knowledge this is the first case to be reported from the state of Oklahoma. Moreover, as amebic and bacillary dysenteries are not uncommon in this semitropical country, we are glad to call attention to this additional member, evidently endemic to this locality. Since the first definite description of the<i>Paramecium coli</i>and the report of a case by Malmsten<sup>1</sup>and Loven in 1857, altogether less than 150 cases of the infection have been recorded in man. From a careful search of the literature by Strong<sup>2</sup>in 1901. infections by the<i>Balantidium coli</i>up to that time numbered
Formation and repair of psoralen-DNA adducts and pyrimidine dimers in human DNA and chromatin.
Authors: J E Cleaver, S Killpack, D C Gruenert
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1985)

DNA damage and repair in human cells exposed to ultraviolet light (254 nm) or to psoralen derivatives plus 360 nm light were compared by means of a variety of analytic techniques. The two kinds of damage show considerable structural similarity; both involve cyclobutyl bonds to 5,6 positions of pyrimidines as major products and have various minor products. In purified DNA, pyrimidine dimers, but not psoralen adducts, cause structural distortions that are substances for digestion with single-strand-specific nucleases. Whereas pyrimidine dimers are randomly produced in chromatin, psoralen adducts, are concentrated approximately 2- to 4-fold in linker regions of chromatin at doses that are not highly lethal. Chromatin shows considerable mobility; assignment of DNA to linker or core regions is not permanent, and psoralen adducts initially concentrated in linker regions become randomized after 10 hr. Pyrimidine dimers and psoralen adducts are excised by normal cells but not by repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum cells. This repair process requires DNA polymerase alpha, but its rate in ultraviolet-damaged cells is twice that in psoralen-damaged cells. Conversion of monoadducts to DNA-DNA crosslinks reduces the rate of repair because of the increased complexity of the damaged site.
Cytotoxic T cell response against the chimeric p210 BCR-ABL protein in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Authors: P Yotnda, H Firat, F Garcia-Pons, Z Garcia, G Gourru, J P Vernant, F A Lemonnier, V Leblond, P Langlade-Demoyen
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1998)

Human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is characterized by a translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 that results in a BCR-ABL fusion gene coding for chimeric proteins. The junctional region of the BCR-ABLb3a2 molecule represents a potential leukemia-specific antigen which could be recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). In fact, we identified a junctional nonapeptide (SSKALQRPV) which binds to HLA-A2.1 molecules. This peptide, as well as those binding to HLA-A3, -A11, and -B8 molecules (previously identified by others), elicits primary CTL responses in vitro from PBLs of both healthy donors and CML patients. Such CTL recognize HLA-matched, BCR-ABL-positive leukemic cells, implying efficient natural processing and presentation of these junctional peptides. Specific CTL were found at high frequency in 5 of 21 CML patients, suggesting that these epitopes are, to some extent, immunogenic in vivo during the course of the disease. These peptides could be useful for the development of specific immunotherapy in CML patients.
Ranitidine Suppression of Gastric Hypersecretion Resistant to Cimetidine
Authors: Mervyn Danilewitz, Leonard Ou Tim, Basil Hirschowitz
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1982)

Although the H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine suppresses gastric secretion induced by all stimuli,1 there are reports of resistance to cimetidine.2 3 4 5 After abdominal surgery in three patients, we observed life-threatening gastric hypersecretion of unknown cause, which was resistant to cimetidine but promptly suppressed by the new H2 antagonist ranitidine.6 In one patient cimetidine-related leukopenia did not recur during treatment with ranitidine. The difference in the effectiveness and side effects of the two drugs may be related to differences in their structure-dependent membrane binding.Case ReportsCase 1An 83-year-old man with a 24-year history of dyspepsia and a three-month . . .
Scotland needs tighter controls on locum doctors, audit shows
Authors: B. Christie
Journal: BMJ (2010)

Robust reporting arrangements are needed in Scotland to ensure that poorly performing locum doctors are identified and action taken to reduce potential risks to the safety of patients, a new report says.

A report from Audit Scotland is critical of the lack of formal arrangements for pre-employment checks, induction, supervision, and performance management of locum doctors, which could allow bogus or poorly performing doctors to continue working.

Spending on locum doctors in Scottish hospitals almost doubled from 1996 to 2008, with the greatest demand occurring in rural areas, where numbers of vacancies are …
Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Ascorbate on the Preventive Effect of Nitrate Tolerance in Patients With Congestive Heart Failure
Authors: Hideki Watanabe, Masaaki Kakihana, Sadanori Ohtsuka, Yasuro Sugishita
Journal: Circulation (1998)

Reduced cGMP production caused by increased superoxide has been proposed as a mechanism of nitrate tolerance during continuous nitrate therapy. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of ascorbate, an antioxidant, on the development of nitrate tolerance during continuous nitrate therapy in patients with congestive heart failure.Twenty patients with congestive heart failure were randomized to receive intravenous infusion of nitroglycerin concomitantly with placebo (placebo group, n=10) or intravenous ascorbate (vitamin C group, n=10). After baseline measurements were obtained, dose titration was started by the infusion of nitroglycerin at a rate of 0.5 microg/kg per minute (titration period). Measurements of hemodynamic parameters and blood sampling were performed serially at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours after the titration period. At baseline, mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP, mm Hg), mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP, mm Hg), plasma vitamin E level (micromol/L), and platelet cGMP level (pmol/10[9] platelets) were comparable in the two groups (placebo group: MPAP, 48+/-6; PCWP, 24+/-4; cGMP, 0.76+/-0.12; vitamin E, 18.2+/-1.2; vitamin C: MPAP, 49+/-7; PCWP, 24+/-4; cGMP, 0.71+/-0.16; vitamin E, 18.6+/-1.3). In both groups, at 6 hours after the titration period, MPAP and PCWP were significantly decreased (placebo group: MPAP, 26+/-5; PCWP, 15+/-4; vitamin C: MPAP, 26+/-4; PCWP, 16+/-4), and platelet cGMP was significantly increased (placebo group: 2.42+/-0.24; vitamin C: 2.26+/-0.26). However, at 18 hours after titration, in the placebo group, MPAP (44+/-5) and PCWP (23+/-4) were increased, and platelet cGMP (0.85+/-0.20) and plasma vitamin E levels (12.4+/-1.4) were significantly decreased. In contrast, in the vitamin C group, MPAP (31+/-6), PCWP (17+/-5), platelet cGMP (2.49+/-0.23), and plasma vitamin E levels (17.6+/-1.4) were maintained for 18 hours after the titration period.These findings indicate that ascorbate, an antioxidant, may prevent the development of nitrate tolerance during continuous nitrate therapy in patients with congestive heart failure.
Reduced Adipose Tissue Inflammation Represents an Intermediate Cardiometabolic Phenotype in Obesity
Authors: Melissa G. Farb, Sherman Bigornia, Melanie Mott, Kahraman Tanriverdi, Kristine M. Morin, Jane E. Freedman, Lija Joseph, Donald T. Hess, Caroline M. Apovian, Joseph A. Vita, Noyan Gokce
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2011)
Neurological complications now characterizing many AIDS victims
Authors: Phyllis Gapen
Journal: JAMA (1982)

As more and more cases of the mysterious acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are being diagnosed (<i>JAMA</i>[MEDICAL NEWS] 1982;248:1423-1431), medical researchers are developing a clearer picture of its clinical course. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, as of Nov 19, 744 AIDS cases had been reported for the United States, with 287 deaths. So far, 54 cases have been reported from foreign countries. Among the latest findings are neurological complications in large numbers of AIDS patients, many of whom are homosexuals and/or intravenous drug abusers. At UCLA School of Medicine, neurological involvement is seen in three of every four AIDS patients, says Sandra L. Horowitz, MD, now of St Vincent's Hospital, Worcester, Mass. According to her, the complications "tend to arrive late and to be quite devastating" in Southern California victims. During the recent American Neurological Association (ANA) meetings in Washington, DC, Carolyn Britton, MD, of Columbia University
Aberrant Methylation of <b> <i>DPYD</i> </b> Promoter, <b> <i>DPYD</i> </b> Expression, and Cellular Sensitivity to 5-Fluorouracil in Cancer Cells
Authors: Takuya Noguchi, Keiji Tanimoto, Tatsushi Shimokuni, Kei Ukon, Hiroaki Tsujimoto, Masakazu Fukushima, Tsuyoshi Noguchi, Katsunobu Kawahara, Keiko Hiyama, Masahiko Nishiyama
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2004)

Abstract Purpose: Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), the initial rate-limiting enzyme in the degradation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), is known to be a principal factor in clinical responses to the anticancer agent 5-FU, and various reports have clearly demonstrated that DPD activity is closely correlated to mRNA levels. However, the regulatory mechanisms of DPD gene (DPYD) expression remain unclear. In this study, the regulatory mechanisms have been intensively studied. Experimental Design and Results: A subcloned 3.0-kb fragment of the 5′ region of DPYD contains a total of 60 CpG sites, suggesting that methylation status may affect the repression of DPYD. The clone showed various promoter activities that were largely correlated with mRNA levels in most cell lines, except HSC3 and HepG2. Bisulfite sequencing analysis revealed that various CpG sites around the transcription start site were abnormally methylated in cells with low DPYD expression: Reversal of hypermethylation by 5-azacytidine treatment significantly increased DPYD expression in HSC3 and HepG2 cells that showed strong promoter activity. In HepG2, in vitro methylation of the DPYD promoter directly decreased promoter activity, and 5-azacytidine treatment restored higher DPYD expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner, along with decreased sensitivity to 5-FU. Conclusions: We found that DPD activity was controlled, at least in part, at the transcription level of DPYD and that aberrant methylation of the DPYD promoter region acted as one of the repressors of DPYD expression and affected sensitivity to 5-FU in cancer cells. Our new results could lead to a more precise understanding of the molecular basis of 5-FU response.
Salvage of myocardial function by coronary artery reperfusion 1, 2, and 3 hours after occlusion in conscious dogs.
Authors: M Lavallee, D Cox, T A Patrick, S F Vatner
Journal: Circulation Research (1983)

The effects of coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion at 1 hour (1-hr group), 2 hours (2-hr group), and 3 hours (3-hr group) were compared with a permanently occluded group (P group) on measurements of overall left ventricular and regional endocardial function over a 4-week period. The studies were conducted in conscious dogs 1-2 weeks after recovery from instrumentation with solid state left ventricular pressure gauges, aortic, and left atrial catheters, hydraulic occluders, and Doppler flow transducers on the left anterior descending or left circumflex coronary arteries, and multiple pairs of ultrasonic transducers implanted in the endocardial third of the left ventricular free wall to measure endocardial segment shortening. During coronary artery occlusion, similar effects were observed in the four groups. At 1 hour after coronary artery occlusion, three classes of ischemia-induced dysfunction were observed; dyskinetic (systolic shortening completely lost and replaced by paradoxical bulging), severely hypokinetic (systolic shortening depressed by 65-95%), and moderately hypokinetic (systolic shortening depressed by 40-65%). Compared with the P group, significant (P less than 0.05) return of systolic shortening and velocity of shortening gradually occurred over the 4-week period following reperfusion in all classes of segments in the 1-hour group. In the 2-hour group, systolic shortening returned in the moderately and severely hypokinetic segments, but was slight and not significant in the dyskinetic segments. In the 3-hour group, significant systolic shortening returned only in the moderately hypokinetic segments. The effects of isoproterenol, 0.04 micrograms/kg per min, and exercise were compared on "salvaged" dyskinetic segments prior to and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion. The responses to isoproterenol were significantly depressed at 1 week after reperfusion and gradually recovered over the 4-week period. At 3-4 weeks after reperfusion, severe exercise also increased shortening and velocity of shortening in "salvaged" segments. Thus, in the conscious dog, coronary artery reperfusion at 1 hour after coronary artery occlusion results in substantial return of endocardial function even in the most severely ischemic myocardium. The "salvaged" myocardium responds adequately to myocardial stress with increases in the extent and velocity of systolic shortening, as long as 3-4 weeks after reperfusion are allowed for recovery. However, after 3 hours of coronary artery occlusion, little salvage of regional myocardial function can be induced by acute reperfusion in this model.
Local Expression of Platelet-Activating Factor-Acetylhydrolase Reduces Accumulation of Oxidized Lipoproteins and Inhibits Inflammation, Shear Stress-Induced Thrombosis, and Neointima Formation in Balloon-Injured Carotid Arteries in Nonhyperlipidemic Rabbits
Authors: Hideki Arakawa, Jian-Yong Qian, Dolgor Baatar, Ken Karasawa, Yujiro Asada, Yasuyuki Sasaguri, Elizabeth R. Miller, Joseph L. Witztum, Hikaru Ueno
Journal: Circulation (2005)

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) and PAF-like phospholipids are inactivated by PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH). Using nonhyperlipidemic animals, we tested whether local expression of PAF-AH into injured arteries might induce antithrombotic and antiinflammatory effects.Method and Results- Balloon-injured rabbit carotid arteries were infected at the time of injury with an adenovirus expressing either human plasma PAF-AH (AdPAF-AH) or bacterial beta-galactosidase (AdLacZ) or infused with saline. Seven days later, shear stress-induced thrombosis was observed in all AdLacZ-infected and saline-infused arteries (controls) but eliminated in AdPAF-AH-treated contralateral arteries, even in the presence of epinephrine or an inhibitor of NO production. Injury-induced expression of tissue factor was also significantly suppressed. In AdPAF-AH-treated arteries compared with controls, the expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and macrophage infiltration were decreased by 66%, 66%, and 71%, respectively (P<0.01), and intimal area and intima/media ratio were decreased on day 21 by 43% and 52%, respectively (P<0.05). Within 1 week after injury, oxidized lipoproteins (OxLDL) had readily accumulated in the arterial wall. However, this was markedly reduced in the AdPAF-AH-treated arteries. No differences in the titers of autoantibodies to OxLDL or total cholesterol in blood were found between controls and AdPAF-AH-treated rabbits.Our results show for the first time that OxLDL accumulates in arteries in nonhyperlipidemic animals within 1 week after injury and that local expression of PAF-AH reduces this accumulation and exerts antiinflammatory, antithrombotic, and antiproliferative effects without changing the plasma levels of PAF-AH activity or titers of autoantibodies to OxLDL.
Hematopathologic and cytogenetic findings in imatinib mesylate–treated chronic myelogenous leukemia patients: 14 months' experience
Authors: Rita M. Braziel, Teresa M. Launder, Brian J. Druker, Susan B. Olson, R. Ellen Magenis, Michael J. Mauro, Charles L. Sawyers, Ronald L. Paquette, Michael E. O'Dwyer
Journal: Blood (2002)
What is the probability of the Bayesian model, given the data?
Authors: Evan Heit
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2001)

The great advantage of Tenenbaum and Griffiths's model is that it incorporates both specific and general prior knowledge into category learning. Two phenomena are presented as supporting the detailed assumptions of this model. However, one phenomenon, effects of diversity, does not seem to require these assumptions, and the other phenomenon, effects of sample size, is not representative of most reported results. [Tenenbaum &amp; Griffiths]
A case of buried bumper syndrome in a patient with a balloon-tipped percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube
Authors: Y. Kim, Y. Oh, Y. Shon, H. Yang, S. Lee, E. Cho, C. Choi, G. Seo, S. Choi, Y.-H. Na
Journal: Endoscopy (2006)

Buried bumper syndrome is a rare complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement in which the internal bumper migrates from the gastric lumen and becomes lodged in the gastric wall or other places along the gastrostomy tract [1]. Most cases of buried bumper syndrome occur in patients with PEG tubes that have a mushroom-like round tip or a four-winged tip, as the relatively hard internal bumper causes pressure necrosis and results in buried bumper syndrome more frequently [2] [3]. So far as we are aware, there have been no previous reports on buried bumper syndrome in patients with a balloon-tipped PEG tube. Since the fluid inside the balloon effectively regulates the pressure, the possibility of developing buried bumper syndrome is lower with a balloon-tipped tube [2] [3].