tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Immune Complexes and Visceral Deposits of Measles Antigens in Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis
Authors: A. D. Dayan, M. I. Stokes
Journal: BMJ (1972)

Immunofluorescence has been used to study visceral organs from a case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Immune complexes were shown as granular deposits of IgG, complement, and measles antigens in renal glomeruli. Measles antigens were detected in the spleen, liver, and lymph nodes from many parts of the body.Immune-complex formation may be important in the aetiology of this disease and perhaps in causing some of its tissue damage. The rarity of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis may be due to an unusual pattern of immunological reactivity required in a patient before a measles infection can produce a subacute encephalitis.
A comparison of the performance of two penicillin reagent kits in the diagnosis of<i>β</i>‐lactam hypersensitivity
Authors: A. Romano, M. Viola, P. J. Bousquet, F. Gaeta, R. Valluzzi, C. Caruso, P. Demoly
Journal: Allergy (2006)

Background: Skin testing with penicilloyl polylysine (PPL) and minor determinant mixture (MDM) represents the first‐line method for diagnosing β ‐lactam hypersensitivity. However, in 2004, Allergopharma and Hollister‐Stier announced their decision to stop the production of penicillin reagents (Allergopen ® and PrePen ® , respectively) within 1 year. Therefore, we decided to compare PPL and MDM from Allergopharma (Allergopen) with those from Diater (DAP ® ). Methods: We skin‐tested 195 subjects with both Allergopen and DAP reagents, as well as with other β ‐lactams; 74 (group A) had had immediate reactions to β ‐lactams and 74 (group B) nonimmediate reactions, while 47 (group C) underwent prophylactic tests. Results: One hundred two patients (52.3%) had positive skin tests; 29 (14.9%) were positive to PPL and/or MDM. Of the 102 skin‐test‐positive patients, 44 belonged to group A, 57 to B and 1 to C; the last was positive only to Allergopen PPL (PPL‐A) and tolerated the benzylpenicillin challenge. Minor determinant mixture reagents produced identical results in the 148 patients of groups A and B, 22 (14.9%) of which were positive. Both PPL reagents produced negative results in 139 of these 148 patients and positive ones in 5; one subject was positive to DAP PPL (PPL‐D) and negative to PPL‐A, while three patients were positive to PPL‐A and negative to PPL‐D; two of the latter tolerated benzylpenicillin challenges. Conclusions: Minor determinant mixture reagents produced identical results in all 195 patients. Results of skin testing with PPL reagents were concordant in 190 (97.4%) of them. Therefore, DAP reagents are a reliable alternative to Allergopen ones.
A cell-based assay for evaluation of anti-viral agents against HCV
Authors: S. Aviel, O. Nussbaum, G. Kitzis-Livneh, K. Shochat, D. Landstein, R. Eren, A. Zauberman, T. Miyamura, S. Nagamori, S. Dagan
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2003)
In vitro cyclic AMP induced phosphorylation of phospholamban: an early marker of long-term recovery of function following reperfusion of ischaemic myocardium?
Authors: W. J v. d. GIESSEN, P. D VERDOUW, F. J t. CATE, C. E ESSED, H. RIJSTERBORGH, J. M J LAMERS
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1988)

Changes in myocardial membrane biochemistry and ultrastructure, determined shortly (2 h) after reperfusion of ischaemic myocardium, were compared with the long term (4 wk) recovery of regional myocardial function. Anaesthetised pigs were subjected to 30 min (n= 14, group I) or 60 min (n=14, group II) of left circumflex coronary artery occlusion. Seven animals of each group were studied 2 h and the others 4 weeks after flow was reinstated. After 2 h of reperfusion, regional myocardial function was absent in both groups. At 4 weeks regional function had returned to normal in group I, but was still significantly depressed in group II. Biochemical studies after 2 h of reperfusion showed that a functional index of the cardiac membrane, the in vitro cyclic AMP dependent 32P incorporation into phospholamban, was 71 (SEM 9)% compared to non-ischaemic myocardium in group I and 31 (6)% in group II (p<0.05). After 4 weeks this index had completely recovered in group I, 114 (13)%, but a significant decrease to 79 (2)% could still be observed in group II (p<0.05). After 2 h of reperfusion as well as after 4 weeks of recovery the myocytes in group II were more severely damaged than in group I. This study suggests that determination of in vitrophosphorylation of phospholamban shortly after reperfusion of ischaemic myocardium may be of value in the prediction of long term recovery of regional myocardial function.
Endonuclease-induced DNA damage and cell death in oxidant injury to renal tubular epithelial cells.
Authors: N Ueda, S V Shah
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1992)

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced DNA damage and cell death have been attributed to the direct cytotoxicity of H2O2 and other oxidant species generated from H2O2. We examined the possibility that oxidants activate endonucleases leading to DNA damage and cell death in renal tubular epithelial cells, similar to that described for apoptosis. Within minutes, H2O2 caused DNA strand breaks in a dose-dependent manner, followed by cell death. DNA fragmentation was demonstrated both by the release of [3H]thymidine in 27,000-g supernatant as well as the occurrence of low molecular weight DNA fragments on agarose gel electrophoresis, characteristic of endonuclease cleavage. Endonuclease inhibitors, aurintricarboxylic acid, Evans blue, and zinc ion prevented H2O2-induced DNA strand breaks, fragmentation, and cell death. Inhibitors of protein or mRNA synthesis had only minor protection against H2O2-induced DNA damage in contrast to complete protection reported in apoptotic thymocytes. Micrococcal endonuclease induced similar DNA strand breaks in LLC-PK1 cells, and the endonuclease inhibitors prevented the events confirming the ability of endonucleases to induce DNA damage. The protective effect of aurintricarboxylic acid was not due to the prevention of the rise in intracellular free calcium. We conclude that endonuclease activation occurs as an early event leading to DNA damage and cell death in renal tubular epithelial cells exposed to oxidant stress and, in contrast to apoptotic thymocytes, does not require macromolecular synthesis.
Regulation of transforming growth factor-beta, basic fibroblast growth factor, and vascular endothelial cell growth factor mRNA in peripheral blood leukocytes in patients with diabetic retinopathy
Authors: R.M. Knott, M.M. Pascal, C. Ferguson, J. Leiper, J. Olson, E. Muckersie, M. Robertson, J.V. Forrester
Journal: Metabolism (1999)
Disruption of heparan sulfate proteoglycan conformation perturbs B-cell maturation and APRIL-mediated plasma cell survival
Authors: Rogier M. Reijmers, Richard W. J. Groen, Annemieke Kuil, Kees Weijer, Fiona C. Kimberley, Jan Paul Medema, Toin H. van Kuppevelt, Jin-Ping Li, Marcel Spaargaren, Steven T. Pals
Journal: Blood (2011)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Central Nervous System
Authors: George M. Bohigian
Journal: JAMA (1988)

This report reviews the current applications of magnetic resonance imaging of the central nervous system. Since its introduction into the clinical environment in the early 1980s, this technology has had a major impact on the practice of neurology. It has proved to be superior to computed tomography for imaging many diseases of the brain and spine. In some instances it has clearly replaced computed tomography. It is likely that it will replace myelography for the assessment of cervicomedullary junction and spinal regions. The magnetic field strengths currently used appear to be entirely safe for clinical application in neurology, except in patients with cardiac pacemakers or vascular metallic clips. Some shortcomings of magnetic resonance imaging include its expense, the time required for scanning, and poor visualization of cortical bone.<i>JAMA</i>1988;259:1211-1222)
Biological Effects of ω-3 Fatty Acids in Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Toree H Malasanos, Peter W Stacpoole
Journal: Diabetes Care (1991)

Fish oils exert important biological effects on several pathways predisposing to atherosclerosis. Epidemiological studies provided the initial evidence that omega-3 fatty acids may be the principal factor in fish oils responsible for these effects and have led to several short-term clinical trials in which fish-oil concentrates have been administered to various populations at risk for coronary heart disease, including patients with diabetes mellitus. omega-3 Fatty acids reduce serum lipids and lipoproteins, impair platelet aggregation, increase cell membrane fluidity, and lower blood pressure in humans. In this review, we highlight these and other potentially antiatherogenic properties of marine lipids in diabetic subjects.
Mental Illness in Pregnancy and the Puerperium
Authors: John P. Callan
Journal: JAMA (1979)

In the foreword to<i>Mental Illness in Pregnancy and the Puerperium</i>, Professor Sir John Dewhurst writes: "The disorders of the mind during pregnancy have received far less attention than the disorders of the body." The implication is that this brief collection of papers from different British authors will rectify this lack of attention and fill a void. Unfortunately, this book falls short of that goal, and it will likely satisfy neither psychiatrists, obstetricians, nor physicians interested in bridging the gap between the two. The book, short as it is, would have benefited from tighter editing and less anecdotal material. Its one virtue, however, is its discussion of the biologic basis of postpartum emotional illness. That alone may make it worth reading.
Modifying Dendritic Cells via Protein Transfer for Antitumor Therapeutics
Authors: Shanrong Liu, Barbara A. Foster, Tie Chen, Guoxing Zheng, Aoshuang Chen
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2007)

Abstract Purpose: The modification of therapeutic dendritic cells (DC) with various immunostimulatory molecules represents a useful means for improving the antitumor efficacy of DC transfer–based immunotherapy. We have evaluated the feasibility of modifying therapeutic DCs with multiple immunostimulatory molecules using a time-efficient, protein transfer (or protein “painting”)–based method. Experimental Design: Bone marrow–derived DCs were painted with either control protein human IgG (hIgG) or three immunostimulatory molecules, SLC, 4-1BBL, and TRANCE (the triad protein). Painted DCs were injected intratumorally into mice bearing established tumors. Subsequently, the capacities of painted DCs to migrate to the draining lymph nodes, recruit the host T cells, promote Th1 cytokine responses, and elicit therapeutic antitumor responses were evaluated. Results: The triad protein transfer yields a uniform population of DCs that coexpress all three of the proteins. Compared with the hIgG-painted DCs, the triad protein–painted DCs migrate more efficiently to the draining lymph nodes and show enhanced capabilities to induce T cell infiltration of tumors and to promote Th1 cytokine responses in vivo. Furthermore, in both the EG.7 and TRAMP-C2 tumor models, compared with the DCs painted with hIgG or only one of the three proteins, the triad protein–painted DCs, upon adoptive transfer, elicit stronger therapeutic responses against established tumors. Importantly, the antitumor responses of the triad protein–painted DCs are mediated by systemic antitumor immunity. Conclusions: This study establishes, for the first time, the feasibility of optimizing DC transfer–based immunotherapy via combinatorial protein transfer of therapeutic DCs with an array of immunostimulatory molecules.
Website of the week: Headlice
Authors: A. Vass
Journal: BMJ (2001)

Headlice may not always make headlines, but there is no doubting their importance—ask any parent, teacher, general practitioner, or practice nurse. For an essentially harmless condition there is the potentially toxic effect of the treatments and the possibility of local resistance (p 1084). You wouldn't think that there are many head lice pundits in the world—that is, until you search the net.

For straightforward, no nonsense facts on cause, transmission, and current suggested treatments, you won't need to go much further than the sites of the Department of Health (www.doh.gov.uk/headlice) and Harvard School of Public Health (www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html). For a balanced approach to all methods of eradication—chemical and combing—the best site I found was www.chc.org/bugbusting/

Plain, reassuring advice for frustrated parents whose children continually cycle from one attack to another is available from www.liceinfo.com, and www.headlice.org offers a good FAQ (frequently asked question) area and tells you what to say to the nursery when your child is turned away. “Children should not be sent home or isolated in any way,” it says authoritatively.

Complementary or natural remedies are well represented on the net. www.headlicecure.com and www.naturalmom.com both offer “to cure head lice without pesticides.” Tea tree oil seems the most popular choice. For lice detection equipment look no further than www.head-lice.com/ The Model 580 magnifying eye specs lice detector, complete with mounted halogen headlight, is a snip at $150.

For kids at prestigious schools in America, www.licenders.com offers a “premier service for the identification and treatment of head lice.” The company's technicians can inspect 200 kids an hour and use “equipment that is state of the art.” American combs—just bound to have more teeth.
Symposium on Posterior Uveitis
Authors: C. M. H. Pedler, N. A. Locket
Journal: BMJ (1967)

Reviewsof the chemistry, pharmacology, and chemical uses -of the Vinca alkaloids was discussed in very great detail.It is striking that more than half of the papers are from French and Swiss workers and this volume is almost equally in the French and English languages.The papers dealing with the chemistry and pharmacology of the Vinca Alkaloids are extremely detailed and in fact not particularly valuable to any of the clinicians who use these drugs.Their attention will more naturally turn to the later part, where experi- ence from the Continental schools of the use of these drugs in the management of reticu- loses is described.
Thyroid Failure in the Elderly
Authors: Daniela Zauli
Journal: JAMA (1988)

<h3>To the Editor.</h3> —The article by Rosenthal et al<sup>1</sup>and the subsequent correspondence<sup>2</sup>prompted us to contribute to the discussion about the significance of thyroid antibodies in the evaluation of subclinical hypothyroidism in the elderly. We have determined the following factors in the serum of 115 consecutive subjects (59 women and 56 men) with a mean age of 76 years (range, 60 to 94 years) and no clinical evidence of thyroid disease or any acute illness: thyroid microsomal antibody (by both radioimmunometric and immunofluorescence techniques), baseline serum thyrotropin level, and thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine, thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, and free thyroxine). We found high titers (≥1:10 by immunofluorescence and &gt;50 U/mL by the radioimmunometric method) of thyroid antibodies in seven of the subjects (in six women and one man). Thyroid hormone levels of antibody-positive and antibody-negative subjects were similar. Serum thyrotropin level was abnormal (&gt;5 mU/L [&gt;5 μU/mL]) in one
Points from Letters: Long-term Senior Hospital Locum
Authors: B. Evans
Journal: BMJ (1967)

<h3>Background:</h3> An overview is provided of the progress made in a Department of Health (DH) initiative to implement an engineered solution to the maladministration of spinal injections. In an effort to eliminate the possibility of misconnection errors at the spinal route, the DH is investigating the potential for dedicated spinal equipment that will be incompatible with standard Luer syringes, needles and associated devices. <h3>Method:</h3> Background information on the problem of misconnection errors is provided and a systematic approach to their eradication is detailed. Research to date has entailed extensive bench-testing of prototype non-Luer connectors, a prospective hazard analysis of spinal procedures in haematology and anaesthesia and usability evaluation of prototype non-Luer devices in simulated environments. <h3>Results:</h3> The prospective hazard analysis identified two potential risks which will need to be managed as part of a successful implementation programme. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> Usability testing of two prototype connection systems concluded that one design was inadequate, as the non-Luer element was provided as a separable adapter. The second connection system was modified following the first round of testing, and achieved improved satisfaction ratings from clinicians in round two. This system was selected to proceed to a pre-implementation evaluation and the research team are currently evaluating its acceptability in clinical use.
Volvulus of Caecum Complicating Non-rotation of Midgut
Authors: M. F. Butler
Journal: BMJ (1958)

GUSTATORY SWEATING AND PILOMOTION BIUMH 689 (1957).They have shown in cats that section of pre-or post-ganglionic sympathetic fibres is followed by the growth of sprouts from neighbouring axons.The stimulus leading to sprout formation is probably a humoral agent released by adjacent degenerating nerve fibres (Edds, 1953).These sprouts may reinnervate the denervated structures, provided that they are of the same type (cholinergic or adrenergic) as the axon they are replacing.It was found, for example, that sprouts originating from the vagus can reinnervate ganglion cells in the cervical sympathetic that have lost their afferent (pre-ganglionic) fibres.Murray and Thompson (1957) suggest that a similar ingrowth of sprouts from the vagus could explain the gustatory sweating that may follow cervical sympathectomy in man.The pilomotion observed in this patient is an important piece of evidence, because it is mediated by adrenergic fibres, while sweating is mediated by cholinergic fibres.It is highly unlikely that the cholinergic vagus fibres could make a functional connexion with structures innervated by adrenergic fibres.It is probable, therefore, that reinnervation has occurred proximal to the ganglion, since all pre-ganglionic fibres are cholinergic.Reinnervation at this level, by sprouts from the vagus, would explain the simultaneous occurrence of sweating and pilomotion in response to gustatory stimuli.No change in the post-ganglionic fibres need then be postulated.No satisfactory explanation has so far been found for the gustatory sweating and flushing that often follows disease or injury in the parotid or submandibular region (Gqatcher, 1954; Young, 1956).The work of Murray and Thompson (1957) now suggests that in these cases denervated sweat glands and perhaps vasodilator receptors have been reinner- vated by sprouts from neighbouring cholinergic fibres.Gustatory pilomotion has not been described before, presumably because goose-skin is very difficult to detect on the face.It seems possible that the tingling which in many patients accompanies gustatory sweating results from pilo- motor activity that fails to produce visible goose-skin. SummaryA case is reported of gustatory sweating and pilo- motion following operative damage to the sympathetic.It is suggested that sprouts have grown out from the vagus and made connexions with sympathetic ganglion cells whose normal pre-ganglionic afferent fibres have been divided.I am grateful to Dr. A. C. Dornhorst for his help with the investigations and to Dr.
The demise of cultured doctors is bad for everyone
Authors: T. Dalrymple
Journal: BMJ (2011)

ROB WHITE

Many doctors have been famous writers, many famous writers had a medical parent, and many doctors appear as characters in novels and plays: but this is not enough to establish a special connection between medicine and literature, at least for those pedants who will not countenance a statement without the strongest possible evidence in its favour. Before a connection can be honestly asserted, our pedant will say, we need to know that there have been more doctors who were writers, more writers with a medical parent, and more doctors as characters in literature than could be expected by chance.

There are obviously problems here with both numerator and denominator. Who is to count as a writer? Any doctor who has published a book in any literary form or on any literary subject? Even more difficult is the question of who doctors are properly to be compared with. The whole of humanity? Bricklayers? Fishmongers? Lawyers? These difficulties notwithstanding, I am convinced that the connection between medicine and literature is and has been a real one. But will it survive?

In the past, the connection between medicine and literature was …
Carcinoma of the Cervix Among Women in Their Twenties
Authors: Denis Cavanagh
Journal: JAMA (1966)

The purpose of this study was to estimate the value of routine vaginal cytology in women under 30 years of age. Over a five-year period, 18,160 vaginal cytological examinations were made on women aged 20 through 29 years, and 424 women (2.3%) were found to have Papanicolaou smears class III, IV, or V. Of these 424 patients, 122 (28.8%) were found to have carcinoma of the cervix. A tissue diagnosis of intraepithelial carcinoma was obtained in 103 women. The remaining 19 patients proved to have invasive carcinoma of the cervix. Approximately one third of this group of women with positive cytology failed to return for tissue diagnosis so the true prevalence of cancer was probably in the region of 40%. The findings suggest that women deserve routine vaginal cytological examinations irrespective of age.
Treatment of systemic sclerosis with D-penicillamine. A new method of observing the effects of treatment.
Authors: R Bluestone, R Grahame, V Holloway, P J Holt
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1970)

The pathogenisis of scleroderma is unknown.Histologically it is initially characterized by a gross excess of collagen arranged in irregular bundles, these being later replaced by fibrous tissue and calcification.Harris and Sjoerdsma (1966) have shown the proportion of soluble collagen in this skin to be less than in normal skin.The report by Nimni (1965), showing that the sulphur-containing amino acid penicillamine increases the conversion of insoluble to soluble collagen by disrupting and inhibiting the formation of intermolecular bonds, suggested the possible therapeutic application of this drug in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).This has been confirmed by Harris and Sjoerdsma (1966), who found a decrease in insoluble and an increase in the poorly cross-linked soluble collagen after short-term administration of penicillamine to patients with scleroderma.By more prolonged dosage there is therefore a possibility of arresting or reversing the widespread tissue sclerosis of this usually slowly progressive disease.We report here the results of a trial of D-penicillamine in eleven patients with systemic sclerosis using subjective and objective criteria of response.