tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Moderate alcohol intake and lower risk of coronary heart disease: meta-analysis of effects on lipids and haemostatic factors
Authors: E. B Rimm, P. Williams, K. Fosher, M. Criqui, M. J Stampfer
Journal: BMJ (1999)

<h3>Abstract</h3> <b>Objective:</b> To summarise quantitatively the association between moderate alcohol intake and biological markers of risk of coronary heart disease and to predict how these changes would lower the risk. <b>Design:</b> Meta-analysis of all experimental studies that assessed the effects of moderate alcohol intake on concentrations of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A I, fibrinogen, triglycerides, and other biological markers previously found to be associated with risk of coronary heart disease. <b>Participants:</b> Men and women free of previous chronic disease and who were not dependent on alcohol Studies were included in which biomarkers were assessed before and after participants consumed up to 100 g of alcohol a day. <b>Interventions:</b> Alcohol as ethanol, beer, wine, or spirits. <b>Main outcome measures:</b> Changes in concentrations of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A I, Lp(a) lipoprotein, triglycerides, tissue type plasminogen activator activity, tissue type plasminogen activator antigen, insulin, and glucose after consuming an experimental dose of alcohol for 1 to 9 weeks; a shorter period was accepted for studies of change in concentrations of fibrinogen, factor VII, von Willebrand factor, tissue type plasminogen activator activity, and tissue type plasminogen activator antigen. <b>Results:</b> 61 data records were abstracted from 42 eligible studies with information on change in biological markers of risk of coronary heart disease. An experimental dose of 30 g of ethanol a day increased concentrations of high density lipoprotein cholesterol by 3.99 mg/dl (95% confidence interval 3.25 to 4.73), apolipoprotein A I by 8.82 mg/dl (7.79 to 9.86), and triglyceride by 5.69 mg/dl (2.49 to 8.89). Several haemostatic factors related to a thrombolytic profile were modestly affected by alcohol On the basis of published associations between these biomarkers and risk of coronary heart disease 30 g of alcohol a day would cause an estimated reduction of 24.7% in risk of coronary heart disease. <b>Conclusions:</b> Alcohol intake is causally related to lower risk of coronary heart disease through changes in lipids and haemostatic factors. <h3>Key messages</h3> Results from observational studies provide strong evidence that moderate alcohol intake lowers risk of coronary heart disease Short term trials of alcohol intake show significant changes in concentrations of lipids and clotting factors The changes in concentrations of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, fibrinogen, and triglycerides associated with an intake of 30 g of alcohol a day should reduce risk of coronary disease by 24.7% Alcohol intake may be causally related to lower risk of coronary heart disease through changes in lipids and haemostatic factors
THE FENESTRATED BROAD LIGAMENT CLAMP.WITH SOME REASONS FOR DEVISING IT.
Authors: A. BELCHAM KEYES
Journal: JAMA (1907)

The idea of devising a new clamp occurred to me in consequence of the force necessary and trauma often caused while clamping infiltrated, inextensible and stiffened broad ligaments during salpingectomy or oöphorosalpingectomy, especially in cases where the abdominal walls were markedly thick, even though exposure were made by a longer median incision than usual. To ligate before removing the tube in cases of sactosalpinx purulenta also has the disadvantage of manipulating an infectious pus sac, with the possibility of rupture, as well as occupying more time than clamping, excision and ligation. Observations of cases of pus tubes in various stages has demonstrated that we may almost speak of the mechanism of the formation of the pus tube even if the findings differ widely in different cases. The normally situated tube under conditions of purulent inflammation undergoes increase in size, length and weight, especially at the distal or fimbriated extremity, tending
199. Plasmid DNA Delivery by Nanoparticule Loaded Coronary Stent
Authors: Cunxian Song, Xu Jin, Dunwan Zhu, Chao Zhang, Hongfan Sun, Linhua Zhang, Kangde Yao
Journal: Molecular Therapy (2006)

Top of pageAbstract
Introduction: Cardiovascular gene therapy has been hampered by a lack of effective gene delivery system. Although stent-based percutaneous gene delivery showed great promising, insufficient gene loading on stents remains a big problem. In this paper, we reported a new approach that gene loaded dodecylated chitosan nanoparticles (DCDNPs) were tethered on coronary stent and demonstrated efficient and highly localized plasmid DNA delivery and gene expression.

Materials and Methods: Dodecylated chitosan (50kDa) was a gift from KD Yao. Plasmid EGFP-C1 was obtained from Clontech (Palo Alto, CA). Coronary stents (13mm) were kindly provided by the Microport Medical Co Ltd. (Shanghai, China). The NPs were prepared as Mao's description. The DCDNPs were attached on stents by spraying coating. The morphology of DCDNP-loaded stent (NP-stent) was observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The NP-stents loaded with EGFP-C1 plasmid were evaluated for gene delivery and expression in rat aortic smooth muscle cell (A10 cell) culture and in rabbit common carotid artery (CCA) studies.

Results: When mixed with plasmid DNA in aqueous solution, dodecylated chitosan formed positive-charged nanospheres with mean diameter of around 90nm and zeta potential of +28|[plusmn]|3mV.

Under physiologic condition, the DCDNPs did not show significant change in size and zeta potential for one week of incubation. TEM microphotographs showed spherical shape and homogeneous particle size distribution of the nanosparticles. EMA studies demonstrated that the DCDNPs could effectively protect plasmid DNA from degradation by DNase I digesting. A thin layer of dense DCDNPs was obverted on the metal struts of both unexpanded and expanded stents. SEM confirmed that the DCDNPs were successfully loaded on the endovascular stents. In cell culture, A10 cells grown on the surface and along the adjacent area of the EGFP- C NP-stents showed high level of GFP expression. Chitosan-coated or naked stents (without plasmid DNA) showed no detectable GFP expression. The NP-stents had no harmful effects on A10 cell growth as indicated by cell culture. Rabbit CCA studies with the pEGFPC1-loaded NP-stent demonstrated efficient gene transduction, with about12.3% of neointimal cells expressing GFP positivity, which is much higher than directly injecting the same quantity of EGFP-C1 into the rabbit common carotid artery. Furthermore, the GFP positive cells were only detected in the neointimal layer closely contacted to the NP-stent. Immunohistochemical analyses using anti-GFP antibody confirmed positive expression in the rabbit common carotid artery implanted with NP-stent.

Conclusions: This result demonstrated a great progress in delivering plasmid DNA into intravascular tissue with high efficiency and good hemo- and bio- compatibility and without adverse immune response. The same technique could be used for a wide array of single or multiple therapeutic plasmid DNAs.
Databases in the Next Millennium
Authors: Frank Davidoff
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1997)

Predicting the likelihood that large databases will become an important instrument for medical quality improvement is at least as difficult as most prognostication. This attempt at prediction starts by trying to ask the right questions: Can data serve as the agent for meaningful improvement? Is meaningful improvement possible without data? What elements are necessary and sufficient for improving the quality of medical care? It then looks for answers, starting with an unconventional excursion into the history of database use. This is followed by a recognition that the use of large databases for medical quality improvement is a true innovation, the future of which will probably be determined as much by the social and emotional forces that govern the diffusion of all innovations as by the technical strength of databases themselves. Finally, it examines some of the limitations and pitfalls that are likely to be associated with the increasing use of large databases in medicine.
Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Long-Term Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution in Middle-Aged Residents of Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ta-Chen Su, Juey-Jen Hwang, Yu-Cheng Shen, Chang-Chuan Chan
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2015)

Associations between long-term exposure to air pollution and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) have inconsistent findings.
Quantitative electron microscopical analysis of leukocyte infiltration in oral ulcers of Behcet's syndrome
Authors: W. MÜLLER, T. LEHNER
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1982)

SUMMARY A stereological electron microscopical technique was applied to biopsies of oral ulcers from patients with Behçet's syndrome in order to carry out a quantitative analysis of the cellular infiltrate. The results have confirmed the light microscopical qualitative findings of a large number of lymphocytes (67%) but have established that a relatively large proportion of the leukocytes (14%) belong to the monocytc-macrophage series. The virtual absence of plasma cells during the early stages of ulceration and the presence of a large number of lymphocytes and monocytes argue in favour of a type IV cell-mediated immune reaction. As the lesion progresses a type III reaction develops and this might be associated with immune complexes found in the serum of patients with Behcet's syndrome.
Adrenergic Drugs and Blockade on Coronary Arterioles and Myocardial Contraction
Authors: ADAM B. DENISON, SUTHIP BARDHANABAEDYA, HAROLD D. GREEN
Journal: Circulation Research (1956)

The 3 adrenergic substances, epinephrine, levarterenol and isopropylarterenol, were injected into a coronary artery of anesthetized dogs while recording the coronary artery flow (electromagnetic meter) and pressure. The effects of these substances on the peripheral coronary pressure (PCP) were recorded by occluding the flow proximal to the pressure gage. All 3 substances caused a qualitatively similar increase in myocardial contraction and dilation of the coronary arterioles.
Medical isotopes supply is likely to return to 80% by end of October
Authors: N. Stafford
Journal: BMJ (2008)

European supplies of medical isotopes used as radiotracers in molecular imaging could return to nearly 80% of normal in the last week of October, as the result of a contingency plan worked out by the European Union and national authorities.

European hospitals have been enduring a severe shortage of medical isotopes that has reduced the capacity of nuclear medicine departments by more than half ( BMJ 2008;337:a1575, 5 Sep, doi:10.1136/bmj.a1575).

Wolfram Knapp, president elect of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine, said that authorities had agreed to allow …
Alzheimer's Disease: Unskilled Vulgarity Decays Into Stunning Artistic Genius
Authors: E. S. Wright
Journal: JAMA (1988)

To the Editor.  —The article entitled Probable Alzheimer's Disease in an Artist by Drs Cummings and Zarit 1 in the Nov 20, 1987, issue of JAMA was one of the funniest articles I have ever read. The humor was all the more hilarious because it was unintentional and it entirely escaped the authors. They show a picture painted by the artist before the onset of Alzheimer's disease (Fig 1) that is a nice little picture, quite photographic in content and worth about $75. Figure 2 in the article shows a stunning painting done after the artist acquired Alzheimer's disease! It looks like a Van Gogh and is typical of Impressionism. I would like to buy it.  This would lead one to reason by induction that crazy artists are better than sane ones, and that is often true.
Multiple Jejunoileal Diverticula
Authors: C Matuchansky, Y Lenormand
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1994)

Figure 1. Multiple Jejunoileal Diverticula. An 82-year-old man with a one-year history of diarrhea, steatorrhea (20 g of fat per day), and massive weight loss (20 kg) was suspected of having pancreatic carcinoma. The results of gastroduodenoscopy and an abdominal computed tomographic scan were normal. Multiple jejunoileal diverticula, without duodenal diverticula, were detected on x-ray films of the small bowel (arrows); their presence doubled the size of the bowel wall. The patient responded dramatically to oral antibiotics, which are an effective treatment for the bacterial overgrowth syndrome associated with small-intestine diverticula.
Effects of lidocaine and procainamide on normal and abnormal intraventricular electrograms during sinus rhythm.
Authors: C G Schmitt, A H Kadish, F E Marchlinski, J M Miller, A E Buxton, M E Josephson
Journal: Circulation (1988)

The effect of lidocaine (n = 6) and procainamide (n = 12) on electrogram characteristics from electrically normal right ventricular and electrically abnormal left ventricular endocardial sites was determined in 18 patients with prior myocardial infarction. Bipolar electrograms were recorded during sinus rhythm with No. 6F catheters positioned at a left ventricular abnormal site (electrograms fulfilling two of the following criteria: amplitude less than 3 mV, duration greater than 70 msec, or an amplitude to duration ratio less than .046) and normal sites at the right ventricular apex (RVA) and right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). All electrograms were recorded from the same location before and after intravenous lidocaine or procainamide administered to obtain mean serum concentrations of 4.2 +/- 0.6 and 9.42 +/- 2 micrograms/ml respectively. Lidocaine and procainamide had no significant effect on sinus cycle length or electrogram amplitude. After lidocaine, no significant change in QRS width (112 +/- 23 vs 114 +/- 24 msec), left ventricular electrogram duration (76 +/- 21 vs 78 +/- 15 msec), or right ventricular electrogram duration (RVA 33 +/- 9 vs 33 +/- 10 msec, RVOT 31 +/- 9 vs 33 +/- 11 msec) was noted during sinus rhythm. At a paced cycle length of 600 msec, there was also no change in the paced QRS duration (197 vs 198 msec), the RVA electrogram duration (30 vs 32 msec), the RVOT electrogram duration (49 vs 52 msec), or the left ventricular electrogram duration (102 vs 108 msec).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Quantitation of covalently closed circular hepatitis B virus DNA in chronic hepatitis B patients
Authors: Danny Ka-Ho Wong, Man-Fung Yuen, HeJun Yuan, Simon Siu-Man Sum, Chee-Kin Hui, Jeff Hall, Ching-Lung Lai
Journal: Hepatology (2004)

This study examined a signal amplification assay, the Invader assay, for the quantitation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in liver biopsies and sera. DNA was extracted from liver biopsy and serum samples were collected from 16 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and 36 antibody-to-HBeAg-positive (anti-HBe-positive) chronic hepatitis B patients. The amount of total HBV DNA and cccDNA was measured using the Invader assay. Anti-HBe-positive patients had lower median total intrahepatic HBV DNA ( P &lt; .001) and intrahepatic cccDNA levels ( P = .001) than HBeAg-positive patients. Intrahepatic cccDNA correlated positively with the total intrahepatic HBV DNA ( r = 0.950, P &lt; .001). However, the proportion of intrahepatic HBV DNA in the form of cccDNA was inversely related to the amount of total intrahepatic HBV DNA ( r = −0.822, P &lt; .001). A small amount of cccDNA was detected in 39 of 52 (75%) serum samples. Anti-HBe-positive patients had lower median serum cccDNA levels than HBeAg-positive patients ( P = .002). Serum HBV DNA correlated positively with intrahepatic total HBV DNA ( r = 0.778, P &lt; .001) and intrahepatic cccDNA ( r = 0.481, P = .002). In conclusion , the Invader assay is a reliable assay for the quantitation of cccDNA. Serum and intrahepatic total HBV DNA and cccDNA levels become lower as the disease progresses from HBeAg-positive to anti-HBe-positive phase, with cccDNA becoming the predominant form of intrahepatic HBV DNA. (Hepatology 2004;40:727-737.)
Factors Influencing the Time of Appearance of Premature Systoles (Including a Demonstration of Cases with Ventricular Premature Systoles due to Re-entry but Exhibiting Variable Coupling)
Authors: I. MACK, R. LANGENDORF
Journal: Circulation (1950)

The genesis of the most common cardiac arrhythmia, that due to premature systoles, still remains obscure. Observations made upon two patients with ventricular premature systoles are reported because of some unusual features of their timing which shed some light upon the mechanism behind the appearance of premature systoles, regardless of the extrasystolic impulse. The theories of the extrasystolic irregularities are reviewed with particular attention to the criterion of "fixed coupling" generally used to distinguish between premature systoles explained by a re-entry mechanism and those explained by a parasystolic pacemaker.
(5) Raindrop pigmentary naevus
Authors: S.A. Khan
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1987)

Journal Article (5) Raindrop pigmentary naevus Get access S.A. Khan S.A. Khan Pinderfields General Hospital Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 117, Issue s32, 1 June 1987, Pages 50–51, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.1987.tb12046.x Published: 01 June 1987
Effects of in vitro corticosteroids on B cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation.
Authors: T R Cupps, T L Gerrard, R J Falkoff, G Whalen, A S Fauci
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1985)

The present study demonstrates the graded effect of in vitro corticosteroids (CSs) on the different phases of B cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation. Early events such as activation and proliferation of high-dose anti-mu or Staphylococcus aureus-stimulated B cells are profoundly suppressed by the presence of in vitro CSs. The suppressed proliferative response may be mediated by a direct effect on B cells and/or modulation of accessory cell function. Later events in the B cell cycle such as the proliferative response to B cell growth factor after either in vivo or in vitro activation are less sensitive to the suppressive effects of in vitro CSs. The final events in the B cell cycle; namely, the differentiation to the immunoglobulin-producing state, is not suppressed by in vitro CSs. Indeed, depending on the systems employed, there is either no effect or enhancement of immunoglobulin secretion by the presence of in vitro CSs. The graded effect of in vitro CSs on the discrete phases of the B cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation cycle provide new insights into the complex nature of CS-induced modulation of human B cell responses.
Manufacturer of 'Death Cigarettes' Says He's Working to Bring About the Death of Smoking
Authors: Andrew A. Skolnick
Journal: JAMA (1992)

FINALLY there's a cigarette for people who can accept the addictive, carcinogenic, atherogenic, teratogenic, and other toxic effects of smoking—but who just can't tolerate being lied to. By its very name, the manufacturer of "Death Cigarettes" forthrightly declares what is being sold. No virile cowboys, slim-legged, "liberated" beauties, or supercool camels or penguins endorse this brand. The maker of what appears to be the first antismoking cigarette prefers to fly the Jolly Roger on its packaging and promotional materials. In case the skull and crossbones isn't a clear enough message, the cigarette maker has added a written warning (in addition to the required US Surgeon General's warning): "MANUFACTURER'S ADVICE: Cigarettes Are Addictive And Debilitating. If You Don't Smoke, Don't Start. If You Smoke, Quit." "Business is excellent," says Charles Southwood, the founder and owner of Death Tobacco in Venice, Calif, the fledgling company that produces Death Cigarettes. "We are expanding
Expression and function of the beta-adrenergic receptor coupled-adenylyl cyclase system on human airway epithelial cells.
Authors: S G Kelsen, N C Higgins, S Zhou, I A Mardini, J L Benovic
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1995)

Beta-adrenergic agonist-mediated activation of the beta receptor coupled-adenylyl cyclase (beta AR-AC) system expressed by human airway epithelial cells alters airway function. However, little is known about the magnitude of expression, subtype, and function of the beta receptor-adenylyl cyclase (beta AR-AC) system in human airway epithelial cells from healthy, nonsmoking subjects. Therefore, we characterized beta AR number and subtype and the cAMP response to isoproterenol (iso) in acutely dissociated human tracheocytes harvested from 22 healthy, nonsmoking adults during fibroptic bronchoscopy. Moreover, because the regulation of beta AR-AC system function in response to beta-agonists or inflammatory mediators released into the airway in asthma is poorly understood, we examined the cAMP response to iso after 30 min exposure of cells to iso or the protein kinase C activator, sn-1,2-dioctanoyl glycerol (diC8). The beta AR-AC system was highly expressed and functional in human airway epithelial cells. Group mean beta AR density (i.e., Bmax), equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd), and the percentage of beta 2AR subtypes assessed by radioligand binding were approximately 8,900 receptors/cell, 45 pM, and approximately 80%, respectively. Mean maximum cAMP production was approximately 42 pmol/10(5) cells, and the mean EC50 of the response to iso was 131 nM. However, Bmax and cAMP responses to iso varied considerably across subjects. For example, Bmax varied ninefold, and the EC50 of the cAMP response varied 39-fold interindividually. The EC50 was inversely related to beta AR density (r = -0.81, p < 0.05), suggesting that sensitivity of the cAMP response to iso was in part dependent on beta AR density. In all experiments, cAMP responses to iso stimulation were markedly desensitized in dose-dependent fashion by 30 min pretreatment with iso or diC8. For example, pretreatment with iso 10 microM or diC8 100 microM reduced maximum cAMP production to 22 and 63% of control values, respectively. These data indicate that: (1) the beta AR-AC system is highly expressed on acutely dissociated airway epithelial cells from normal adult, but beta AR expression and its functional coupling to adenylyl cyclase vary considerably interindividually; and (2) the beta AR-AC system of normal human airway epithelial cells is rapidly desensitized by exposure to beta-adrenergic agonists or activators of PKC.