tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Abstract 17744: Impact of Hypertensive Crisis on Left Ventricular Systolic and Diastolic Function: Comprehensive Speckle Tracking Strain Analysis vs. Conventional Echocardiography
Authors: Mahboob Alam, Mark R Stampehl, Saima A Shahzad, Sahar Siddiqui, Lily Zhang, Nasser M Lakkis, Hisham Dokainish
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Introduction: Echocardiographic strain analysis using speckle tracking is more sensitive than traditional 2-D &amp; Doppler evaluation. The acute impact of hypertensive crisis on LV systolic and diastolic function using echocardiography is not described. Hypothesis: Hypertensive crisis induces acute impairment of LV systolic &amp; diastolic function that may be detected using strain analysis. Methods: Thirty consecutive patients with hypertensive crisis underwent serial echocardiograms including 2D, Doppler &amp; Speckle Tracking strain analyses at baseline &amp; after blood pressure optimization. Results: Mean age of the patients was 53.9 ± 12.8 yrs. Most common presenting symptoms were shortness of breath (70%), chest pain (43.3%), &amp; altered mental status (13.3%). Mean systolic &amp; diastolic blood pressures at baseline were 193.5 ± 25.1mmHg and 106.8 ± 19.8mmHg that reduced to 142.8 ± 20.5mmHg (p&lt;0.001) and 76.7 ± 18.4mmHg (p&lt;0.001) respectively after therapy.Baseline and follow-up echocardiograms showed reduction in left and right atrial volumes at follow-up. There was no change in LV ejection fraction &amp; fractional shortening at follow-up (48.5 ± 18.2 % vs. 46.7 ± 18.3 %; p=0.50 and 28.0 ± 15.2 % vs. 30.8 ± 14.4 %; p=0.22 respectively). Doppler trans-mitral E-wave and A-wave velocities &amp; mitral E/A ratio were similar at baseline and follow-up.There was an increase in mean global longitudinal LV systolic strain (-10.4 ± 4.4 % to -12.1 ± 4.2 %; p=0.011). Peak systolic circumferential strain increased on follow-up from -6.0 ± 3.2 to -11.3 ± 5.4, p=0.03.Mean global early diastolic strain increased from -4.9 ± 2.7 to -9.4 ± 5.0, p=0.05 at follow-up. Conclusions: Our study describes the impact of hypertensive crisis on echocardipgrahic parameters of LV systolic and diastolic function using strain analysis that has never been described before. Global longitudinal &amp; circumferential systolic strain are more sensitive at detecting subtle changes in LV systolic function in the setting of hypertensive crisis when compared to ejection fraction and fractional shortening. Echocardiographic indices of LV diastolic function (E/e', Left atrial volume and mitral DT) as well as early diastolic strain also significantly improve after therapy.
Increased expression of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in the lesional skin of melasma
Authors: S Im, J Kim, W Y On, W H Kang
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2002)

British Journal of DermatologyVolume 146, Issue 1 p. 165-167 Increased expression of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in the lesional skin of melasma First published: 12 February 2003 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2002.4513_3.xCitations: 61Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume146, Issue1January 2002Pages 165-167 RelatedInformation
Prevalence of depression in the terminally ill: effects of diagnostic criteria and symptom threshold judgments
Authors: H M Chochinov, K G Wilson, M Enns, S Lander
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1994)

Two issues that may influence the diagnosis of depression in the medically ill are 1) the severity with which symptoms must be expressed before they are considered clinically significant and 2) how to deal with somatic symptoms that may be caused by medical illness. This study used different approaches to case identification to examine prevalence rates for major and minor depression in a group of terminally ill cancer patients.Semistructured diagnostic interviews were conducted with 130 patients receiving palliative care. Diagnoses according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) were compared with diagnoses according to Endicott's revised criteria (which involve replacing somatic symptoms with non-somatic alternatives) when either a low-severity or a high-severity threshold for classifying RDC criterion A symptoms was used.A low-threshold (less stringent) diagnostic approach greatly increased the overall prevalence of major and minor depressive episodes with both the RDC and the Endicott criteria. With high thresholds, the RDC and the Endicott criteria were equivalent, whereas with low thresholds the Endicott substitutions identified fewer cases of major (but not minor) depression.Small differences between investigators in the applications of symptom-severity thresholds can result in large differences in prevalence rates for depression. However, the inclusions of somatic symptoms in the diagnostic criteria inflates the rates of diagnosis only when these symptoms are used in conjunction with a low-threshold approach.
Abstract 3284: Limited Accuracy of a New Point-Of-Service Assay for Assessing Inhibition of Platelet Aggregation in Response to Clopidogrel and Aspirin
Authors: Paul Vaitkus, Ellie Hershberger, Radhi Abdulnabi, Thomas J Girard, Kay Criswell
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Suboptimal response (“resistance”) to the platelet inhibitory effects of clopidogrel has been implicated in increased risk of coronary thrombotic events in various clinical settings. Traditional measurement of platelet inhibition involves cumbersome procedures and thus a new point-of-service (POS) assay specific to P2Y12 receptor antagonists was recently made available (Accumetrics VerifyNow). The purpose of this study was to compare this assay to traditional platelet inhibition measures.   Methods  50 healthy subjects (20 M, 30 F) aged 40 – 65 taking no medications and with no history of CV or other disease provided blood samples at drug-free baseline and at 2, 6, 24 and 30 hours after dosing with clopidogrel (loading dose 300 mg; 75 mg at 24 hrs) and ASA 325 mg. Platelet inhibition was assessed with 5 and 20 uM ADP as the agonist using platelet rich plasma (PRP) and using whole blood with Ultegra. Data were analyzed as continuous variables as well as classifying subjects according to degree of inhibition: “resistant”  50% inhibition. Percent inhibition was calculated as baseline minus post-drug inhibition.   Results  Though the population mean inhibition assessment was very similar between POS and PRP methods were very similar (e.g. Hour-30 POS = 50.8 ± 27.7% vs 5 uM ADP in PRP = 47.8 ± 13.3%), at all points in time, the correlations, while statistically significant, were rather modest (Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients ranged from 0.33 to 0.69). Examined categorically 37 of 49 (75.6%) were misclassified by VerfiyNow including 7 of 49 (14.2%) who were misclassified by ≥ 2 categories.   Conclusions  Though the new assay yields population means comparable to the conventional method of measuring platelet aggregation with PRP, the results in individual subjects with the POS device differ substantially from PRP. The results of the POS measurements may therefore not be applicable to data derived from prior clinical studies demonstrating variable response to clopidogrel as predictive of clinical events. The utility of the POS device in predicting clinical outcomes needs to be verified independently and measurements using PRP remain the gold standard.
Neither Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) nor HIV-2 Infects Most-Primitive Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells as Assessed in Long-Term Bone Marrow Cultures
Authors: Frank F. Weichold, Davide Zella, Oxana Barabitskaja, Jaroslaw P. Maciejewski, Daniel E. Dunn, Elaine M. Sloand, Neal S. Young
Journal: Blood (1998)
Abstract 274: Filter Out the Chest Compression Signal Interference During Ventricular Fibrillation by Signal Processing
Authors: Chien-Hua Huang, Lian-Yu Lin, Chiung-Yuan Hsu, Min-Shan Tsai, Mattew Huei-Min Ma, Wen-Jone Chen
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background: Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is the major cause of sudden cardiac death. The most effective way to stop VF is to defibrillate. However, current automated external defibrillator does not allow chest compression when doing electrogram analysis. Many studies have shown that the mortality rate of VF increased rapidly when the “hands-off” intervals lengthen. The goal of the present project is to develop a new method to filter the chest compression signals in ECG and to reduce the “hands-off” time. Methods: We induced VF in rat and the precordial compression was performed with a pneumatically driven mechanical chest compressor at different frequency (150cpm, 200cpm, 300cpm) for 30 seconds after 30 seconds of VF. The ECG signals were processed with empirical mode decomposition and comb filter to filter out the chest compression signals. We then calculated the spectrogram to prove the effect of the filter and the amplitude spectrum analysis (AMSA) to demonstrate the time evolution of VF during and after chest compression. Results: A total of 6 rats in each group were studied. From the spectrogram, we found that the chest compression signals were effectively removed after signal processing. Moreover, the AMSA significantly increased in VF group with chest compression at rate 150cpm. When stopping chest compression, the AMSA rapidly decreased in all groups. Conclusions: The chest compressions signals in ECG can be effectively filtered out from VF by the combination of EMD and comb filter.
Blood Glucose Fluctuation During Ramadan Fasting in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: Findings of Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Authors: Walid Kaplan, Bachar Afandi
Journal: Diabetes Care (2015)

Because of the scant data about the effect of fasting on the blood glucose (BG) profile in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D), health care providers have been giving conflicting advice about the feasibility of fasting during the month of Ramadan for this group of patients. This study was done in adolescents with T1D to assess the ability and safety of fasting during Ramadan and to monitor the BG profile with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

Adolescents with T1D who intended to fast during the month of Ramadan in 2013 were asked to wear a CGM while fasting and to report any episode of severe hypoglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis or emergency room visit. Pump basal rate was modified according to the eating pattern during Ramadan. The averages of all daily readings were calculated to express the BG values …
Sequence and expression analyses of μ and δ transcripts in patients with waldenström's macroglobulinemia
Authors: Satoshi Shiokawa, Youko Suehiro, Naokuni Uike, Koichiro Muta, Junji Nishimura
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2001)

Abstract Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a malignant lymphoplasmo‐proliferative disorder with monoclonal pentameric immunoglobulin (Ig)M production. The most consistent feature of clonal B cells in the bone marrow (BM) and/or lymph nodes of patients with WM is the presence of pleomorphic B‐lineage cells at different stages of maturation, such as small lymphocytes, lymphoplasmacytoid cells, and plasma cells. Monoclonal lymphocytes express μ chains with or without δ chains. A recent DNA analysis of WM tumor clones showed WM to be derived from B cells that have been selected by antigen at a relatively late stage of differentiation. To further clarify the origin of WM tumor cells, we analyzed the variable (V) domain sequences of tumor derived μ and δ transcripts. The expression of δ transcripts was also examined in peripheral blood (PB) and BM using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) combined with a single‐strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. The sequences were identical among the μ and δ transcripts in each patient and the level of somatic mutation in the VH regions expressed by tumor cells was in the same range as that of IgM‐only B cells and IgM + IgD + memory B cells. In our previous RT‐PCR‐SSCP analysis, a single dominant band of the μ isotype was observed in BM and PB in all patients. However, common dominant bands in BM and PB were detected in only one patient in a δ transcript analysis. In the rest of the patients, monoclonal δ transcripts were only detected in BM. Our results suggest that a normal counterpart of WM cells is somatically mutated IgM + IgD + and/or IgM‐only B cells and the expression patterns of monoclonal μ and δ transcripts differ between BM and PB in some cases of WM. Am. J. Hematol. 68:139–143, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The antimicrobial peptide human cationic antimicrobial protein-18/cathelicidin LL-37 as a putative growth factor for malignant melanoma
Authors: J.E. Kim, H.J. Kim, J.M. Choi, K.H. Lee, T.Y. Kim, B.K. Cho, J.Y. Jung, K.Y. Chung, D. Cho, H.J. Park
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2010)

Recent evidence suggests cathelicidin LL-37 to be a growth factor for various human cancers such as lung cancer, ovarian cancer and breast cancer. However, the effect of LL-37 against malignant skin cancer has not been reported.To investigate whether the human cathelicidin LL-37 is involved in the carcinogenesis of various skin tumours.Human cationic antimicrobial protein-18 (hCAP-18)/LL-37 production in several cell lines including HaCaT, a chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) cell line and various melanoma cell lines was examined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistochemical analysis of melanoma, nonmelanoma skin cancer and precancerous and benign skin lesions was performed. After adding LL-37 to a melanoma cell line, tumour cell proliferation, migration and invasion were investigated.Human malignant melanoma cell lines overexpressed hCAP-18/LL-37 mRNA and peptide compared with HaCaT and CML cell lines. Immunohistochemistry showed that the peptide was strongly expressed in malignant melanoma and moderately expressed in squamous cell carcinoma, whereas basal cell carcinoma, precancerous lesions and seborrhoeic keratosis showed no or weak expression. LL-37 also stimulated melanoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro.Cathelicidin LL-37 was primarily expressed in human malignant skin cancer. LL-37 promoted melanoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. We report that an increase in the level of LL-37 is associated with malignant skin tumours such as malignant melanoma. These results highlight the importance of LL-37 in the malignant tendency of skin tumours.
Spontaneous rib fractures
Authors: Yucel Akkas, Ozgul Katrançioglu, Sulhattin Arslan, Ekber Sahin
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

INTRODUCTION:  Other than trauma, rib fracture can occur in patients spontaneously due to a severe cough or sneeze. In this study, patients with spontaneous rib fracture were analyzed according to age, sex, underlying pathology, treatment and complications.   MATERIALS AND METHODS:  12 patients who presented between February 2009 and February 2011 with spontaneous rib fracture were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were evaluated according to anamnesis, physical examination and chest X-rays.   RESULTS:  7 patients (58.4%) were male. The age of the patients ranged from 34 to 77 years (mean ± SD, 55.91 ± 12.20). All patients had severe cough and chest pain. Multiple rib fractures were detected in five patients (41.7%). The fracture were detected most frequently between 4th and 9th ribs. 8 (66.66%) patients had COPD, 2 (16.66%) patients had bronchial asthma and 2(16.66%) patients had osteoporosis as well. The patients with COPD and bronchial asthma were treated with high dose steroids for over a year. Bone densitometry revealed high risk of bone fracture in all patients.   CONCLUSION:  Spontaneous rib fracture due to severe cough may occur in patients with osteoporosis or with COPD and bronchial asthma receiving long-term steroid therapy. If these patients have severe chest pain, chest radiography should be evaluated for bone lesions particularly.
Abstract 3654: Inflammation Factors, Coronary Calcium and Risk of Cardiovascular Events: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
Authors: Mary Cushman, Robyn McClelland, Aaron Folsom, Ouyang Pamela, Roger Blumenthal, Robert Detrano, Wendy Post, David Goff, Graham Barr, Kiang Liu, Russell Tracy
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Background . Inflammation factors and coronary calcium score are associated with risk of CVD events. There are few studies including large numbers of participants from minority ethnic groups. Methods. From 2000 –2002, 6,814 men and women without CVD were enrolled; white, black, Hispanic and Chinese; aged 45– 84, free of CVD. We measured C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), fibrinogen and computed tomography for coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring. Over 3.5 years follow up there were 238 first CVD events in 227 participants (64 myocardial infarction, 85 angina, 8 cardiac arrest, 58 stroke, 23 CVD death). Proportional hazards models were used to calculate HRs of overall CVD, adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, standard risk factors and statin use. Results. Age and sex-adjusted HRs (95% CI) of CVD for CRP &gt;3 mg/L (vs &lt;1 mg/L) and IL-6 or fibrinogen in the 3 rd vs 1 st tertile were 1.71 (1.21–2.42), 1.61 (1.13–2.32) and 1.59 (1.28 –2.28), respectively. Fully adjusted HRs were 1.41 (0.98 –2.04), 1.30 (0.89 –1.91) and 1.17 (0.80 –1.70). Exclusion of angina as an endpoint increased the adjusted HR for CRP (1.63; 1.01–2.63) but not IL-6 or fibrinogen. There were no significant differences of these associations by sex or ethnicity. Within categories of baseline CAC, associations of CRP and IL-6 with CVD events were only present among those with CAC 1–100 Agatston units (table ). Discussion. Associations of inflammation factors with future CVD in this study were weaker than in other studies of primarily white participants. Stronger associations among those with low levels of detectable CAC suggest detection of plaque vulnerability with biomarkers in these individuals with modest atherosclerotic burden. Adjusted HR of CVD for Baseline Inflammation Markers by CAC Category (Agatston Units)
The effect of positive and negative message framing on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy adherence in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea
Authors: Marc Berry, Marcin Czaban, Martino Pengo, Prajeshan Nirmalan, Joerg Steier
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background   Achieving good CPAP adherence in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is vital for effective treatment. However, CPAP is often not tolerated long term. Behavioural interventions may improve long term adherence. We aimed to investigate whether positive or negative message framing improved CPAP compliance in patients with OSA, when compared to standard care.   Methods   Patients with OSA attending a UK CPAP service were enrolled. Patients were randomly allocated to either receive positively or negatively framed messages through telephone and leaflets about CPAP benefits (P os , N eg ) or standard care (C on ). Patients were reviewed 2 and 6 weeks after therapy initiation.   Results   112 patients were enrolled and were matched between the three groups. No significant difference between groups in 9% Days Used9 (%DU) at 2 (p=0.29) and 6 weeks (p=0.93) were found. The %DU at 2 and 6 weeks were significantly correlated in P os  (r=0.59, p=0.0007), N eg  (r=0.90, pl0.0001), and C on  (r=0.59; p=0.0013). Week 2 and 6 of 9Average Daily Usage9 (ADU) were correlated in P os  (r=0.69; p=l0.0001), N eg  (r=0.86; p=l0.0001), and C on  (r=0.70; p=l0.0001).   Conclusion   CPAP adherence in patients with OSA may be enhanced short term with P os . However, carry over was not observed at 6 weeks. Both ADU and %DU data were correlated between 2 and 6 weeks indicating that long term adherence may become apparent shortly after CPAP initiation.
Original article: Predictors of response to bronchial allergen challenge in 5‐ to 6‐year‐old atopic children
Authors: T. A. Douglas, M. Kusel, E. M. Pascoe, R. K. S. Loh, P. G. Holt, P. D. Sly
Journal: Allergy (2007)

The relationship between atopy and bronchial allergy in young children is not completely understood.To examine the association between response to bronchial allergen challenge, immune markers of atopy and other clinical characteristics in 5- to 6-year-old children.Children with positive skin test (SPT) to aeroallergen, together with a proportion of SPT negative children (as controls), were recruited from a birth cohort of 198 children at high risk of developing atopic disease and underwent allergen challenge.Thirty-seven children (26 atopic and 11 SPT negative), median age 74.5 months, were challenged: 31 with house dust mite and six with grass allergen. Only atopic children responded to challenge: n = 12/26 (46%). Wheal size [odds ratio (OR) 2.5 (1.2-5.3), P = 0.01], allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) [OR 3.4 (1.23-9.61), P = 0.02], total IgE [OR 8.6 (1.1-68.7), P = 0.04], current wheeze [OR 12 (1.7-81.7), P = 0.006] and persistent eczema [OR 11.0 (1.7-68.3), P = 0.006] emerged as the strongest independent predictors of response to allergen challenge. Prediction of response to allergen challenge was significantly improved when immune markers of atopy, and in particular wheal size, were combined with clinical characteristics.The relationship between atopy and bronchial allergy is quantitative at this age. There may be potential to create more powerful indicators of the presence of respiratory allergy in young children when immunological markers of atopy are considered quantitatively and when combined with clinical history of coexistent allergic disease.
CEACAM: A potential novel predictor of breast cancer recurrence
Authors: Loaie Maraqa, M. B. Peter, A. M. Hanby, A. M. Shaaban, D. J. Scott, M. Cummings, K. Horgan, V. Speirs
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2006)

PR-8   Introduction:Members of the CEACAM family have been previously described as aggressive markers in colorectal, gastric and pancreatic tumors. The aim of this study was to examine expression of this molecule in endocrine sensitive and relapsed breast tumors using microarray technology and validation on tissue microarrays (TMA).Methods:An  in vitro  model of tamoxifen resistance was established by continuous culture in 4-hydroxytamoxifen. These cells were subjected to gene expression analysis using the Affymetrix U133A gene chip. Subsequently, a TMA was constructed using 119 tamoxifen-relapsed human breast cancers and 281 tamoxifen sensitive controls. After accounting for core loss and cores lacking invasive disease, there were 105 and 247 cases respectively. From the 105 cases available for analysis, 68 represented pathology on initial presentation, whereas the remainder represented episodes of recurrence. Calculations for the probability of recurrence were based on these 68 cases only. The remainder was used for intra-group examination. TMA sections were stained with CEACAM 5&6 antibody (Abcam) and scored according to cytoplasmic and membrane staining with a maximum score of 3 indicating strong staining in >10% of cells.Results:Affymetrix gene expression analysis revealed differential regulation of 287 genes in tamoxifen resistant cells compared to controls. Of interest was an observed 19 fold up-regulation in CEACAM6. This observation was confirmed by RT-PCR.Immunohistochemical results revealed that 37/68 (54%) of tamoxifen-relapsed tumors demonstrated moderate to strong expression of CEACAM compared with 56/247 of controls, OR = 4.07 (95% CI 2.32 to 7.15). This was highly significant, with an absolute difference = 31%, (p