tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Coxsackie B Viruses and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Authors: E J Bell, R A McCartney, M H Riding
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1988)

Data collected over the past 6 years suggest that Coxsackie B viruses (CBV) play an important role in myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Since psychological upset is a feature of this illness, 247 patients, recently admitted to a psychiatric hospital, were tested for neutralizing antibodies to CBV. A total of 12.5% had significantly raised CBV titres compared with 4-5% of 'well' control groups; the percentage positive was greatest (21%) in those aged 30-39 years. During 1985 and 1986 sera from 290 adults with ME were tested using the newly developed CBV IgM ELISA test; 37% were CBV IgM positive compared with 9% of 500 'well' adult controls. Forty-seven children, with ME were similarly tested during this period; 38% were positive, implying recent or active CBV infection. The combined use of this ELISA test and the virus probe techniques now available should further help to elucidate the exact role of CBV in this disabling illness.
Outcome of inappropriate empirical antibiotic therapy in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: analytical strategy using propensity scores
Authors: S.-H. Kim, W.-B. Park, C.-S. Lee, C.-I. Kang, J.-W. Bang, H.-B. Kim, N.-J. Kim, E.-C. Kim, M.D. Oh, K.-W. Choe
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2006)
Is the COPD assessment test (CAT) useful in our patients
Authors: Estíbaliz Pérez, Milagros Iriberri, Patricia Sobradillo, Lide Alaña, Lorea Martinez, Amaia Sagarna, Carmen Jaca, Sonia Castro
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

AIM:to determinate the correlation between scores obtained in the quality of life (QL) questionnaires with functional and clinical parameters.  METHODS:Prospective study. 56 moderate-severe COPD patients with exacerbating phenotype admitted from 1/02/11 to 30/10/11. Studied items: symptoms, MRC scale, spirometry, BMI, 6MWT, CAT and St.George. Descriptive analysis.  RESULTS: In Table 1 general characteristics are shown. Functional parametres do not correlate with CAT, and have a poor inverse correlation wiht St.George. BODE, 6 MWT and dyspnoea have a good correlation with both questionnaires. Graphic 1: correlation between BODE and SG, Graphic 2: correlation between CAT and SG, Graphic 3: correlation between scores obtained in CAT and SG about dyspnoea in basal situation.  CONCLUSIONS: CAT is a simple test with a good correlation with SG. CAT does not correlate with spirometric parameters but does with BODE and 6MWT. SG correlates slightly better than CAT with BODE.
Late-breaking abstract: Immediate effects of water-pipe smoking on respiratory mechanics and FENO among young smokers
Authors: Andreas Lappas, Panagiotis Behrakis, Efstathia Konstantinidi, Anna Tzortzi, Charikleia Stathopoulou
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Introduction  The acute response of respiratory system after water-pipe smoking is an area of special interest.  Materials and methods  50 young smokers (average age=23±4, 32 males, mean pack-years=3.6) using cigarettes and occasionally water-pipe voluntarily participated in this study. 25 had mild respiratory symptoms (atopic history, mild cough and exercise induced chest tightness) and mild peripheral airways obstruction (FEF25%-75%=74.15% pred., MRS-subgroup). The other 25 had normal dynamic flows and no respiratory complaints (NRS-subgroup). Multi-frequency respiratory system impedance(Z), resistance(R) and reactance(X) assessed with impulse oscillometry, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide(FENO) were measured before and immediately after 30 minutes of water-pipe smoking, or equal session in the smoking area without smoking (control group). Wilcoxon signed rank and U-Mann-Whitney rank sum tests were performed for the statistical analysis.  Results  Immediately after 30 minutes of water-pipe smoking Z5Hz, R5Hz, R10Hz, R20Hz and meanR5-R20 significantly increased (+10.1% to +12.61%, p≤0.001) both in the whole population(n=50) and the two subgroups. Among the two subgroups, significant difference at the changes of X20Hz was also identified (-7.57% in MRS and +8.49% in NRS respectively, p=0.007). FENO was significantly reduced in the whole population (n=50, -4.78%, p=0.002) and the MRS-subgroup (-2.39%, p=0.003) but not in the NRS-subgroup. In the control group, no significant changes were detected.  Conclusions  Water-pipe smoking has immediate effects on respiratory function. Mild respiratory symptoms and peripheral airways obstruction predispose to a higher reduction of X20Hz and FENO.
Prohibition is an ideologically driven failure
Authors: Stephen A Rolles
Journal: BMJ (2007)

Califano's objections to legal regulation of illicit drugs are based on misrepresentation of the reform position bolstered by irrelevant, cherry picked, or misleading facts.1 A similar piece appeared in the Financial Times 2 and was systematically critiqued in the paper's economists' forum.3 While Califano's rhetoric has since been moderated, and facts fine tuned, the conceptual flaws remain.

The example of Zurich's “needle park” …
Pretreatment serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen: a newly identified prognostic factor in early-stage cervical carcinoma.
Authors: J M Duk, K H Groenier, H W de Bruijn, H Hollema, K A ten Hoor, A G van der Zee, J G Aalders
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1996)

To investigate the prognostic value of pretreatment serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-ag) levels in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma in relation to well-established conventional risk factors.Sera from 653 women treated for squamous cervical cancer between 1978 and 1994 were analyzed for the presence of SCC-ag and related to clinicopathologic characteristics and patient outcome using univariate and multivariate analyses.Increased pretreatment SCC-ag levels correlated strongly with unfavorable clinicopathologic characteristics (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] stages IB to IV [P < or = .00005]; stages IB and IIA: tumor size [P = .0236], deep stromal infiltration [P = .00009], and lymph node metastasis [P = .0001]). After multivariate analysis, elevated pretreatment serum SCC-ag levels (P = .001), lesion size (P = .043), and vascular invasion by tumor cells (P = .001) were independent predictors for the presence of lymph node metastases. In Cox regression analysis, controlling for SCC-ag, lesion size, grade, vascular invasion, depth of stromal infiltration, and lymph node status only the initial SCC-ag level had a significant independent effect on survival (P = .0152). Even in node-negative patients, the risk of recurrence was three times higher if the SCC-ag level was elevated before therapy.The determination of pretreatment serum SCC-ag level provides a new prognostic factor in early-stage disease, particularly in patients with small tumor size. In future trials to assess the value of new treatment strategies, pretreatment serum SCC-ag levels can be used to help identify patients with a poor prognosis.
Catalytic Nucleic Acids: From Lab to Applications
Authors: L.Q. Sun, M.J. Cairns, E.G. Saravolac, A. Baker, W.L. Gerlach
Journal: Pharmacological Reviews (2000)

Since the discovery of self-cleavage and ligation activity of the group I intron, the expansion of research interest in catalytic nucleic acids has provided a valuable nonprotein resource for manipulating biomolecules. Although a multitude of reactions can be enhanced by this class of catalyst, including trans-splicing activity of the group I intron (which could be applied to gene correction), RNA-cleaving RNA enzymes or "ribozymes" hold center stage because of their tremendous potential for mediating gene inactivation. This application has been driven predominantly by the "hammerhead" and "hairpin" ribozymes as they induce specific RNA cleavage from a very small catalytic domain, allowing delivery either as a transgene expression product or directly as a synthetic oligonucleotide. Although advances in the development of RNA modifications have improved the biological half-life of synthetic ribozymes, their use is restricted by the mechanistic dependence on conserved 2'OH-moieties. Recently a new class of catalytic nucleic acid made entirely of DNA has emerged through in vitro selection. DNA enzymes or deoxyribozyme with extraordinary RNA cleavage activity has already demonstrated their capacity for gene suppression both in vitro and in vivo. These new molecules, although rivaling the activity and stability of synthetic ribozymes, are limited equally by inefficient delivery to the intracellular target RNA. The challenge of in vivo delivery is being addressed with the assessment of a variety of approaches in animal models with the aim of bringing these compounds closer to the clinic.
Correlation between excessive daytime sleepiness and the risk for obstructive sleep apnea with academic performance among medical students at UP-PGH
Authors: Mary Jane Sandagon, Ma. Philina Pablo, Manuel Jorge
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Objective:  This study aims to determine if there is any relationship between daytime sleepiness and risks for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with students9 academic performance.   Methods:  A self-administered validated questionnaire (consisting of Profile, Sleeping habits, Berlin Questionnaire, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale) was distributed to duly enrolled medical students from Level 1 to 6 of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine SY 2009-2010. The general weighted average of every student at the end of the 2nd semester school year 2010 was obtained and correlations were determined.   Results:  There were 458 (64.4%) students who participated in the study out of the 711 duly enrolled medical students for academic year 2009-2010. Of the participants, 77.3% had abnormal daytime sleepiness ranging from mild to excessive. There was poor correlation between levels of daytime sleepiness and academic performance (Pearsons correlation coefficient 2.5). There was also poor correlation between risk for obstructive sleep apnea and academic performance gauged by using grades of students (Pearsons correlation coefficient 0.86).   Conclusion:  The present study shows that there is no significant statistical correlation between excessive daytime sleepiness or risk of obstructive sleep apnea and academic performance of medical students as measured by their general weighted average.
Abstract 8974: Standard and off-Label Use of Drug-Eluting Stents and Patient-Reported Angina Three Years After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention - A Report From the NHLBI-sponsored Dynamic Registry
Authors: Lakshmi Venkitachalam, Faith Selzer, Oscar C Marroquin, Suresh R Mulukutla, Warren Laskey, Mikhail N Kosiborod, Kevin E Kip, Sheryl F Kelsey, Philip G Jones, David J Cohen, John A Spertus
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Background: While drug-eluting stent (DES) use expanded rapidly to include unapproved indications, the benefit of reduced restenosis as compared with bare metal stents (BMS) has been shown to be si...
Full time forensic pathology service
Authors: J. Payne-James
Journal: BMJ (2002)

Successful leadership requires range of stylesEditor-Treasure's views and comments after the NHS Confederation's leadership conference make interesting reading. 1 The leadership style of consultants covers a broad spectrum that could be described as ranging from "huggy touchy feely" all the way up to "Attila the Hun meets Genghis Khan."A similar spectrum exists in managers.The British government's own Cabinet Office expert report on public service leadership indicates that successful leaders need to adopt a range of styles depending on the situation. 2That may include having to resort at times to coercive, browbeating styles.Many consultants would perhaps choose to operate in the lower or middle range of the style spectrum.At times when managers do not listen to consultants' reasonable concerns about the delivery of safe, effective, high quality services there may be no option but reluctantly to wheel out Attila and Genghis to protect both patients and consultants.Treasure is very fortunate to be in a specialty that is comparatively rich in resources and having its concerns addressed by major
Combined ultrasound-guided needle aspiration in restaging of the non-small-cell lung cancer - A three years experience
Authors: Artur Szlubowski, Stanislaw Orzechowski, Jerzy Soja, Juliusz Pankowski, Anna Obrochta, Magdalena Jakubiak, Wojciech Czajkowski, Marcin Zielinski
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Objectives:  The aim of the prospective study was to assess the diagnostic yield of the combined approach – endobronchial (EBUS) and endoscopic (EUS) ultrasound-guided needle aspiration (CUS-NA) in restaging of the non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after neo-adjuvant therapy.   Methods:  In a consecutive group of NSCLC patients with pathologically confirmed N2 disease, who underwent neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, CUS-NA was performed. All negative patients underwent subsequently the transcervical extended bilateral mediastinal lymphadenectomy (TEMLA) as a confirmatory test.   Results:  73 patients underwent restaging CUS-NA from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2011. There were 123 mediastinal lymph nodes biopsied (stations: 2R – 4, 4R – 24, 2L – 3, 4L – 27, 7 – 61, 8 – 4). CUS-NA revealed metastatic lymph node involvement in 21/73 patients (28.8%). In 52 (71.2%) patients with negative or uncertain CUS-NA, who underwent subsequent TEMLA metastatic nodes were found in 13 patients (17.8%) and there was “minimal N2” in 8 out of them. In 7 patients CUS-NA occurred to be false-negative in the right paratracheal stations 2R and 4R, only accessible for EBUS. A diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of the restaging CUS-NA was 62% (95% CI – 60–90), 95% (95% CI – 85–97), 80%, 91% (95% CI – 80–100) and 74% (95% CI – 71–91), respectively. No complications of CUS-NA were observed.   Conclusions:  CUS-NA is a reasonable and safe technique for mediastinal restaging in NSCLC patients, and after our data, in patients with negative results of the combined endoscopic technique, a surgical restaging of the mediastinum might not be mandatory.
Abstract 8: What is the Frequency of Inappropriate of Emergency Department Catheterization Laboratory Activation For Patients with Potential ST Elevation MI?
Authors: Michael C Kontos, Michael Kurz, Charlotte S Roberts, Sarah Joyner, Laura Kreisa, Joseph P Ornato, George W Vetrovec
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Background: To decrease door to balloon time (D2B) for STEMI patients (pts), it is recommended that the Emergency Department (ED) activate the cardiac catheterization laboratory (Cath Lab) directly through a simultaneous group STEMI page that includes the Cath Lab staff and interventionalist. Anecdotal evidence suggests that inappropriate activation is infrequent; however quantitative data is lacking. Methods : We assessed the frequency and outcomes of ED STEMI pages to determine the number who had a true STEMI, those who had ECG findings worrisome for but not meeting STEMI criteria, and the frequency of MI. A pt was considered a “false alarm” if emergent cath was not done and MI was excluded. Angiographic findings and outcomes were also evaluated. Results: Over a 1 year period, ED activation of the Cath Lab via the STEMI page occurred 98 times. There were 61 (62%) pts with a true STEMI, of whom only two did not have an emergent cath (2 not done because of sepsis and acute stroke)(Table ). A total of 32 (33%) pts had ECG findings concerning for but not meeting STEMI criteria, of whom 31 (97%) underwent emergent cath, with PCI performed in 10 (32%). In 5 pts (5%), the Cath Lab was de-activated after further assessment, and would have been considered “false alarms”. Conclusions: A significant number of ED STEMI Cath Lab activations are for pts who do not meet standard STEMI criteria. However, most have suggestive ECG findings benefiting from emergent angiography, and have either significant disease, undergo PCI, and/or are diagnosed with non-STEMI. Only a small percentage (5%) are clear “false alarms. This data further support current recommendations for ED Cath Lab activation for potential STEMI pts.
Difficult‐to‐cure populations with chronic hepatitis c: Vanishing in the direct‐acting antiviral era?
Authors: Norah Terrault
Journal: Hepatology (2015)

1Division of GastroenterologyUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCA *Address reprint requests to: Norah Terrault, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology, University of California San Francisco, S357, 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143‐0538. E‐mail: [email protected]; fax: +1‐415‐476‐0659.
Allergen Content in Aqueous and Hydrophobic Extracts from Cow Hair and Dander
Authors: P. Prahl, I. Søndergaard
Journal: Allergy (1982)

Rabbit antibodies were raised separately against an aqueous and a detergent extract of row hair and dander. It is shown by means of quantitative immunoelectrophoresis that the extracts contain the same major allergens and that these are equally potent in RAST‐inhibition experiments. The extraction with a detergent did not lead to the appearance of new allergens.
Chronic cough in childhood: Analysis of 505 cases
Authors: Ahmet Hakan Gedik, Erkan Cakir, Emel Torun, Aysegul Dogan Demir, Mehmet Kucukkoc, Selcuk Uzuner, Ufuk Erenberk, Mustafa Nursoy, Emin Ozkaya
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Introduction and aim:  Chronic cough may occur due to different etiologies in childhood. Demographical, clinical, and etiological characteristics of chronic cough patients analyzed prospectively.  Method:  The patients prolonged cough over 1-months were admitted to pediatrics, pediatric pulmonology, and pediatric allergy clinics between 2012-2013 november were included to the study.  Findings:  Five-hundred-five patients, 50,5% were male, included to the study. The number of patients between 0-2, 2-6, and over 6-years-old were 23%, 40%, 37%, respectively. The most common symptoms were wheezing and sputum. Patients had recurrent episodes, rhinorhea, frequent sinusitis and otitis, chronic runny nose in their history. Sixty-percentage of the patients had asthma history in their family. Roncus, wheezing, prolonged expiration were mostly found in the physical examinations. Last diagnoses: Atopic asthma (37,9%), allergic rhinitis and conjonctivitis (27,7%), early-onset wheezing (4,8%), viral-induced recurrent airway obstruction (17,8%), pneumonia ve bronchopneumonia (13,9%), laryngotracheomalacia (1%), bronchiectasis (6,3%), cystic fibrosis (5,1%), rhinosinusitis (6,3%), gastroesophageal-reflux and aspiration (8,3%), tuberculosis (5,1%), bronchiolitis obliterans (5,3%), chronic persistant pneumoniae (11,6%), psychogenic cough (5,3%), postnasal drip (4,3%), foreign body aspiration (1%), Congenital disease (1%), post-viral cough (1,8%), chronic tonsilitis (1.4%), adenoid vegetation (11,6%).  Conclusion:  The most common etiologies of chronic cough in this study was asthma, alergic rhinitis, and viral-induced recurrent airway obstruction. This study showed that chronic cough may occur due to different etiologies in childhood.
Angiopoietin-2 Is a Site-Specific Factor in Differentiation of Mouse Renal Vasculature
Authors: HAI TAO YUAN, CHITRA SURI, DAVID N. LANDON, GEORGE D. YANCOPOULOS, ADRIAN S. WOOLF
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2000)

Abstract. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) stimulates endothelial and vascular network differentiation through the Tie-2 receptor tyrosine kinase, while Ang-2 modulates this activation in embryo and tumor growth. The nephrogenic pattern of Ang-2 was documented in a mouse strain that expresses the LacZ reporter gene driven by the Ang-2 promoter. Heterozygous animals were healthy with morphologically normal kidneys, and they were examined after X-gal staining. At embryonic days 10.5 (E10.5) and E12.0, transgene expression was absent in the mesonephros and metanephros. At E14.0, expression was noted in the metanephric artery and its major branches. At E19.0 and in neonatal kidneys, expression was maintained in larger renal artery branches, extending to arcuate and smaller cortical vessels. Histologically, transgene expression was located in multiple layers of vessel wall cells, extending further from the endothelium than α-smooth muscle actin. The mesangium of immature glomeruli also expressed LacZ. In the first 3 postnatal weeks, a new pattern became evident, with intense X-gal staining in the inner stripe of the outer medulla, where a subset of thin descending limbs of loops of Henle expressed the transgene. This dynamic and developmentally regulated pattern indicates that Ang-2 is an early marker of the renal pericyte and vascular smooth muscle lineage and is also an epithelial-derived growth factor. Because Tie-2 is widely expressed by differentiating renal endothelia, this study is consistent with the hypothesis that Ang-2 has roles in kidney vascular maturation.
Preclinical and clinical studies of bone marrow uptake of fluorine-1-fluorodeoxyglucose with or without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor during chemotherapy.
Authors: Y Sugawara, S J Fisher, K R Zasadny, P V Kison, L H Baker, R L Wahl
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1998)

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on bone marrow glucose metabolism in rodents and in patients, as assessed by 2-[fluorine-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) uptake measured directly or by positron-emission tomography (PET) scanning. MATERIALS AND METHODS Groups of three rats received either daily saline, G-CSF, or GM-CSF injections for 7 days. After treatment, FDG was injected and F-18 activities in tissues measured 1 hour later. Twenty-two breast cancer patients treated with multiagent chemotherapy were sequentially studied with PET. Eleven patients received G-CSF therapy as an adjunct to chemotherapy, while 11 received chemotherapy only. The standardized uptake value-lean (SUL) of bone marrow FDG uptake was measured and compared. RESULTS In rats, bone marrow F-18 activity was significantly higher in both CSF groups than in the saline group (G-CSF, 0.44 +/- 0.08; GM-CSF, 0.33 +/- 0.02; saline, 0.18 +/- 0.02% injected dose [ID]/g x kg; P &lt; .05), but the other normal tissues had comparable biodistributions to controls. In breast cancer patients, the FDG uptake of bone marrow did not change with chemotherapy alone; however, marrow uptake was increased after treatment with G-CSF. The dose of G-CSF and duration of treatment were correlated with the extent of increase in FDG uptake. The SUL of bone marrow was as follows: baseline, 1.56 +/- 0.23; after one cycle, 3.13 +/- 1.40 (P &lt; .01); after two cycles, 2.22 +/- 0.85 (P &lt; .05); and after three cycles, 2.14 +/- 0.79 (P &lt; .05), respectively. Although the FDG uptake of bone marrow declined after G-CSF treatment was completed, it was higher than the baseline level for up to 4 weeks postcompletion of G-CSF and the elevated marrow FDG uptake was sustained longer than the period of blood neutrophil count elevation. CONCLUSION Substantial increases in bone marrow FDG uptake are rapidly induced by CSF treatments and should not be misinterpreted as diffuse bone marrow metastases.