tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Abstract 2488: Correlation Between The Severity Of Diastolic Dysfunction And Cardiac Torsion
Authors: Sung-Ji Park, Chinami Miyazaki, Charles J Bruce, Diego Bellavia, Fletcher A Miller, Steve Ommen, Jae K Oh
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Backgrounds: Left ventricular torsion (LVtor) is an integral part of systole and untwisting plays an important role in diastole. The aim of this study was to characterize LVtor and untwisting in different grades of diastolic dysfunction. Methods: We studied 135 patients with normal LV EF with various grades of diastolic dysfunction (40 group1:mild,42 group 2:moderate,and 22 group 3:severe dysfunction) and 31 controls with normal diastolic function. Apical and basal short axis rotations were measured by 2D STE. LVtor was defined as net difference between apical and basal rotation. Results: Age, gender, and EF were similar in 3 groups and control. Mitral annulus early diastolic velocity was reduced in all 3 groups (see table ). Peak LVtor was significantly greater in group 1 compared with control, group 2 and group 3. The time from peak LVtor to Mitral valve opening, and to peak early diastolic velocity were significantly delayed in group 1 compared to control (p=0.0030 and 0.0409, respectively). The twisting rate and untwisting rate were found to be highest in group 1. Conclusions: Systolic torsion and diastolic untwisting are significantly increased in patients with mild diastolic dysfunction. In patients with advanced diastolic dysfunction with increased filling pressure, torsion and untwisting are normalized. Hence, vigorous LV torsion appears to be a compensatory mechanism during an early stage of diastolic dysfunction to maintain normal filling in the setting of reduced longitudinal myocardial motion.
Withdrawing artificial feeding from children with brain damage
Authors: A. J Grant
Journal: BMJ (1995)

Treatment without benefit is irresponsible

EDITOR,--Ronald E Cranford revisits the issues surrounding withdrawal of treatment.1 A multiplicity of published articles and many legal case reports on this subject already exist, particularly in the American literature, yet Cranford calls for further debate on the issues and the development of medical, ethical, legal, and social policies to enable us to deal with the process of withdrawing treatment.

The medical profession does not require …
Abstract 2853: Export Aspiration Catheter Thrombosuction Before Actual Primary PCI in AMI: TSUNAMI study
Authors: Sung Yun Lee, Joon Hyung Doh, June Namgung, Sung Uk Kwon, Seung Hwan Lee, Doo Il Kim, Seong Jin Oh, Tsunami study investigators
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Introduction: Primary PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in lesions with a occlusive thrombus load increases the procedural complication rate and remains a challenge. But distal protection ...
Abstract 3092: Risk Associated with Sports Competition: Is Lacrosse Really a Uniquely Dangerous Sport?
Authors: Barry Maron, Joseph J Doerer, Tammy S Haas, James S Hodges, N. A Estes, Mark S Link
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Background. Sudden deaths in young competitive athletes are tragic events having great personal impact on physicians and lay communities. These deaths occur in a wide variety of sports due largely to unsuspected cardiovascular disease or commotio cordis. Lacrosse is now the most rapidly growing sport in the U.S., presently with 500,000 competitors. The risks specifically associated with participation in lacrosse have been the subject of substantial media attention, implying that this sport may be unsafe relative to other youth sports. However, systematically assembled data in this regard are not available. Methods. The U.S. Sudden Death in Young Athletes Registry, 1980 –2008, was accessed and 22 sudden deaths (including 4 survivors of cardiac arrest) were identified in high school and college competitive lacrosse participants. Results. Ages were 13–22 years (mean 17±2y); all were male. Nineteen athletes died on the athletic field and 3 during sedentary activities. Ten of the 22 athletes died of non-penetrating blunt blows to the chest (i.e., commotio cordis), including 4 goalies who were wearing standard chest protectors. Another 10 athletes collapsed suddenly due to either documented or presumed cardiovascular disease (e.g., most commonly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, long QT syndrome, mitral valve prolapse), and 2 incurred subarachnoid hemorrhage from blows to the head. The overall mortality rate associated with lacrosse was 1.39 deaths/100,000 person-years, and lower than a variety of other sports including baseball, basketball, and football (p=0.07), as well as hockey (p=0.1). Deaths due to commotio cordis were more frequent in lacrosse (0.63 deaths/100,000 person years) than in all other competitive sports (p&lt;0.0001) with the exception of hockey (p=0.7). Conclusions. Sudden deaths in young high school and college lacrosse participants are rare relative to the number of athletes involved, and are caused disproportionately by commotio cordis. These findings underscore the importance of (and represent an impetus to) developing more effective chest protection for young people in this popular and growing competitive sport.
A 12‐week placebo‐controlled study of rupatadine 10 mg once daily compared with cetirizine 10 mg once daily, in the treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis
Authors: S. Fantin, J. Maspero, C. Bisbal, I. Agache, E. Donado, J. Borja, O. Mola, I. Izquierdo
Journal: Allergy (2008)

Background: With the current increasing incidence of allergies worldwide, new treatments showing efficacy and long term safety are needed for chronic conditions such as persistent allergic rhinitis (PER). New generation H1‐antihistamines have demonstrated anti‐allergic properties, which could possibly enhance their effectiveness in long‐term periods of treatment. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of rupatadine, in controlling symptoms of PER over a 12‐week period. Methods: A randomized, double blind, parallel‐group, placebo‐controlled study was carried out in patients aged older than 12 years with PER. Main inclusion criteria were: instantaneous total symptom score (i6TSS) ≥45, nasal obstruction score ≤12, and overall assessment of PER ≥2 as moderate during the first visit. The primary efficacy endpoint was the 12‐week average change from baseline of the patients’ i6TSS. Results: In all, 736 patients were selected. Of them, 543 (73.8%) were randomized in three different groups: placebo ( n = 185), cetirizine ( n = 175) and rupatadine ( n = 183). Rupatadine ( P = 0.008) but not cetirizine ( P = 0.07) statistically reduced the baseline i6TSS vs placebo (47.8%, 44.7% and 38.8%, respectively), after 12 weeks. Onset of action was observed at the first 24 h for both treatments (rupatadine vs placebo, P = 0.013; cetirizine vs placebo, P = 0.015). Furthermore, instantaneous total nasal symptoms score (iTNSS) (including nasal blockage) mean change from baseline showed a significant reduction with rupatadine 10 mg in comparison with placebo, along all treatment duration of 12 weeks. Study treatments were well tolerated. Conclusion: Rupatadine significantly relieves symptoms of PER, providing a rapid onset of action and maintains its effects over a long period of 12‐weeks.
Cervical cancer and hormonal contraceptives: collaborative reanalysis of individual data for 16 573 women with cervical cancer and 35 509 women without cervical cancer from 24 epidemiological studies
Authors: P Appleby, V Beral, A Berrington de González, D Colin, S Franceschi, A Goodhill, J Green, J Peto, M Plummer, S Sweetland
Journal: The Lancet (2007)
Cytokine production profile of T-lymphocytes and frequence of regulatory T-cells in patients with allergic asthma receiving anti-IgE therapy
Authors: Ina Haasler, Johannes Weber, Iris Bellinghausen, Stephanie Korn, Joachim Saloga, Roland Buhl, Christian Taube
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Omalizumab is a recombinant anti-IgE antibody with proven efficacy in severe allergic asthma. Little is known about immunological changes affected by decreasing free IgE during omalizumab therapy. In the present study T-lymphocyte cytokine profiles and frequency of regulatory T-cells before and during omalizumab therapy in patients with severe allergic asthma were examined.  Twenty patients with severe allergic asthma (14 female) who met the criteria for omalizumab therapy were enrolled. Before and after 16 weeks of therapy peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and activated with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies. Cells were processed for intracellular cytokine staining and frequency of CD3+ CD4+ interleukin (IL) 4, 5, 10, 17, interferon γ (IFN-γ) positive cells was assessed. The frequency of CD4+ CD25+FOX-P3+CD127- regulatory T-cells was assessed.  Anti-IgE treatment did not lead to a significant change of intracellular IL 4, 5, 10 and IFN-γ in CD3+ CD4+ T-lymphocytes (mean at baseline: IL-4 5,9±3,8%; IL-5 1,1±1,1%; IL-10 4,5±3,2%; IL-17 2,0±2,0%; IFN-γ 9,2±5,6%, intraindividual difference in week +16: IL-4 1,3±3,8% p=0,164; IL-5 0,2±1,2% p=0,474; IL-10 0,3±5,0% p=0,774; IL-17 -1,4±6,4% p=0,376; IFN-γ 2,0±4,5% p=0,056). Additionally, there was no significant change in frequency of regulatory T-cells (mean at baseline: Treg 11,4±5,7%, intraindividual difference in week +16 Treg 0,4±5,5% p=0,730).  In this study there was no significant difference of the tested intracellular cytokines before and after anti-IgE therapy. Frequency of regulatory T-cells did not change significantly 16 weeks after initiation of anti-IgE therapy.
Academic boycott of Israel
Authors: N. S Hopkinson
Journal: BMJ (2003)

Editor—The BMJ “deplores” the call to boycott Israeli institutions.1 I believe that it is a mistake to reject a legitimate means of exerting influence on that state's racist and unlawful treatment of the Palestinian people. Sanctions—economic, sporting, and academic—were part of the pressure that finally ended the apartheid regime in South Africa. The fragmentation of the West Bank by Israeli settlements is reminiscent of that regime's Bantustan policy and has been condemned as such by veterans of the anti-apartheid struggle, including Desmond Tutu and Ronnie Kasrils.

The BMJ has been diligent in reporting from Palestine; the denial of clean water supplies; the doubling of cases of child malnutrition in Gaza because of the Israeli blockade; the World Medical Association's condemnation of harassment of health workers in West Bank and Gaza.2 The UN has had to call for an end to Israeli “beating and killing” of its staff.3 Israel's policy of collective punishment and targeting of civilians contravenes the fourth protocol to the Geneva Convention.

What price, then, “the universality of science” when the reality of academic life in the occupied territories is of students and professors being shot at, beaten, and humiliated at roadblocks? In addition, the occupiers have closed the universities4 and there is documented involvement of Israeli doctors in torture.5

Those, including Israeli academics and peace campaigners, who support the academic boycott do not do so on the basis of “citizenship, gender, religion, or colour,” as you say; the boycott is specifically focused on official Israeli institutions and those affiliated to them. The arguments used in the BMJ are those used in the 1980s to undermine the anti-apartheid boycott of South Africa. They were wrong then, and they are wrong now.
The relationship of histrionic personality disorder to antisocial personality and somatization disorders
Authors: Lilienfeld So, Van Valkenburg C, Larntz K, Akiskal Hs
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1986)

The authors examined the association of antisocial personality disorder, somatization disorder, and histrionic personality disorder, both within individuals and within families, in 250 patients. All three disorders overlapped considerably within individuals; the strongest relationship was between antisocial personality and histrionic personality. A high prevalence of antisocial personality was reported in the families of patients with somatization disorder but not in the families of patients with histrionic personality. The authors suggest that histrionic individuals develop antisocial personality if they are male and somatization disorder if female; moreover, all three conditions may represent alternative manifestations or different stages of the same underlying diathesis.
Abstract 627: CaMKII Activation is Involved in Angiotensin II-Mediated Cell Death
Authors: Julieta Palomeque, Carlos A Valverde, Margarita A Salas, Alicia Mattiazzi
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is involved in the excitation contraction coupling through its modulation of Ca 2+  i  homeostasis via PKC. Moreover, Ang II-induced myocyte apoptosis has been described in the late 1990s. Furthermore, Ca 2+ -calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), although typically activated by Ca 2+  and calmodulin binding, has been described to be also activated by Ca 2+ -independent pathways that involve oxidative stress and PKC. It is also known that CaMKII initiates an apoptotic pathway in cardiac cells. Interestingly, a link between Ang II and CaMKII has never been examined. Therefore the present study was conducted to establish this nexus. To this purpose we cultivated adult cat cardiac myocytes in control conditions, treated 24 h with 1 μM Ang II and with 1μM Ang II plus 1μM KN-93, a specific CaMKII inhibitor. We evaluated cell viability and CaMKII activation by western blot of P-CaMKII and P-Thr17 of phospholamban, a specific substrate of active CaMKII. Additionally, in situ DNA nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay was used to determine apoptosis. Ang II treatment induced cell death in 64.6±3.6% versus 29.4±3.3% (control). The mortality induced by Ang II was abolished by concomitant treatment of the myocytes with the CaMKII inhibitor. The apoptotic assay followed the same pattern, being the TUNEL positive cells significantly greater in Ang II treated cells than in the group treated with Ang II and KN-93. The Ang II-induced cell death was associated with 32.6±5.6% increase in P-CaMKII and a concomitant increase in P-Thr17 was also detected (Figure). These results indicate a previously unrecognized pathway of cardiac cell death triggered by Ang II mediated by CaMKII.
Predicting carriage with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria at hospital admission: a cross-sectional study
Authors: T.N. Platteel, M.A. Leverstein-van Hall, J.W. Cohen Stuart, S.F.T. Thijsen, E.M. Mascini, B.C. van Hees, J. Scharringa, A.C. Fluit, M.J.M. Bonten
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2014)
Abstract 71: Abdominal Aorta Dilatation and Aneurysm in Kawasaki Disease Vasculitis Mouse Model: Role of IL-1 Signaling
Authors: Daiko Wakita, Youngho Lee, Kenichi Shimada, Shuang Chen, Timothy R Crother, Thomas J Lehman, Michael C Fishbein, Moshe Arditi
Journal: Circulation (2015)

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most common cause of acute systemic vasculitis and acquired cardiac disease among US children. KD causes coronary artery aneurysms in up to 25% of untreated patients, and less frequently aneurysms in other systemic arteries including the abdominal aorta. Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract (LCWE)-induced KD mouse model mimics histopathologically the coronary artery lesions seen in KD patients. Objective: To evaluate the development of abdominal aorta dilatation and aneurysm in KD mouse model and investigate the role of IL-1 signaling. Methods and Results: We investigated the incidence and progression of abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) and dilatation in the KD model at 1, 2, 5 weeks. Over 80% of the mice developed significant dilation of abdominal aorta at 2 wks with progressively greater dilatation at 5 wks, with greater severity in males. KD mice showed fusiform and saccular AAA, which were always below the renal artery. Immunohistochemistry showed significant intimal proliferation, massive myofibroblastic proliferation that breaks the elastin layer, infiltration of large numbers of neutrophils and macrophages into the media and adventitia. IL-1R- or IL-1beta-deficient mice were completely protected from the KD associated abdominal aorta dilatation and AAA. IL-1R antagonist (Anakinra) significantly prevented the abdominal aorta dilatation and AAA (in addition to blocking coronary arteritis) in the KD mice. Conclusions: We report a new model of AAA and aortic dilatation in the LCWE-induced KD mouse model. These studies suggest that in children with KD the incidence of abdominal aortic dilatation and AAA maybe higher than currently appreciated, thus requiring prospective studies to determine the frequency of these vascular complications. Our findings also demonstrate that IL-1 plays an important role in development of LCWE-induced abdominal aortic lesions and blockade of IL-1 signaling may be a promising therapeutic target not only for KD vasculitis and coronary arteritis, but also for abdominal aorta dilatation and AAA associated with the disease.
Abstract P3-05-22: PI3K pathway as a novel target in androgen-driven aromatase inhibitor resistant breast cancer
Authors: Leonie S Young, Azlena Ali, Laura Creevey, Fiona Bane, Wan Afif Marzuki, Arnold DK Hill, Marie McIlroy
Journal: Cancer Research (2015)

Abstract Breast cancer has the highest incidence and second highest mortality rate among all cancers in women worldwide (1). The gold standard treatment for post-menopausal breast cancer is aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy. Unfortunately, resistance is inevitable in about 30-60% of these patients (2). Research from our lab has previously identified a transcription factor, HOXC11, to be associated with breast cancer resistance and metastases (3). Prosaposin (PSAP) was then identified as a putative HOXC11 target gene in the AI resistant setting. PSAP is a secreted protein that also plays a role in metastatic prostate cancer in both a ligand dependent and independent fashion (4,5). We have previously shown PSAP to be an androgen responsive gene that can upregulate androgen receptor (AR) expression in a ligand dependent manner in AI resistance. An AR antagonist was effective at slowing down cell proliferation in AI resistant cells in vitro . However, since PSAP can also potentially act in a ligand independent fashion, this current study is focused on evaluating the role of PSAP in PI3K pathway activation in the development of AI resistance. Treatment of cells with recombinant PSAP protein (rhPSAP) resulted in increasing expression of p-AKT in a dose-dependent manner. To target this pathway of resistance, we used a pan-class PI3K/mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 on our AI resistant cells. Functional studies with BEZ235 treatment showed significant reduction in both cell motility as well as cell proliferation. Treatment of AI resistant cells with BEZ235 resulted in decreased expression of p-AKT, with little or no effect on AR expression. These findings suggest that to prevent resistance to AI therapy, combination treatment regimens including AR antagonists plus a PI3K inhibitor may ensure sustained response to therapy. References: 1. Servick K. Breast Cancer: a World of Differences. Science Magazine. Special Issue. March 2014 2. Kazi AA et al. Breast Nonhypoxic regulation and role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 in aromatase inhibitor resistant breast cancer. Cancer Research. 2014; 16:R15 3. McIlroy M et al. Cancer Res.2010;70(4);1585-94 4. Koochekpour Set al. Prosaposin is an AR-target gene and its neurotrophic domain upregulates AR expression and activity in prostate stromal cells. J Cell Biochem. 2008; 104: 2272–2285. 5. Koochekpour S et al. Prosaposin is a novel androgen-regulated gene in prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. J Cell Biochem. 2007; 10: 631–641. Citation Format: Leonie S Young, Azlena Ali, Laura Creevey, Fiona Bane, Wan Afif Marzuki, Arnold DK Hill, Marie McIlroy. PI3K pathway as a novel target in androgen-driven aromatase inhibitor resistant breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-05-22.
Prescribing antibiotics for sore throats
Authors: A. Sanderson
Journal: BMJ (1999)

Editor—Butler et al did not report a procedure that I use when faced with either a sore throat about which I am unsure or patients asking for antibiotics for their sore throat.1 I tell such patients that I think the cause of their sore throat is viral but that I will take a throat swab, with the promise that if their throat is still sore when the swab result is known I will prescribe an antibiotic on the basis of that result. Most seem happy—at least I don’t see many of these patients again.
Genes and Viruses Able to Transform Hematopoietic Cells Group Report
Authors: P. K. Vogt, K. Bister, A. L. Burny, C. M. Croce, W. A. Haseltine, M. J. Hayman, W. S. Hayward, G. Klein, K. Moelling, R. D. Neth, I. B. Pragnell, J. D. Rowley
Journal: Leukemia (1985)
Germany is set to introduce e-health cards by 2018
Authors: N. Stafford
Journal: BMJ (2015)

Germany’s federal cabinet has approved a new law designed to ensure that the so called electronic health card system is operating by 1 July 2018. The e-health card, known in other nations as medical smartcards and which allow digital storage and retrieval of patient data, has been plagued in Germany by controversy and delay since it was first proposed in 2002.

“Bickering has gone on for far too long,” said the German health minister Hermann Grohe in announcing the new law. “It is now finally time to focus on patients and the concrete benefits of the electronic health card for patients.”

In 2004 the German government officially began working towards introducing the e-health card system,1 despite widespread concern among doctors about the security of patients’ data and the potential harm to patient-doctor confidentiality.2 The initial 2006 deadline was not met,3 and in 2009 the system stalled again when doctors refused to …
Epidemiological and histologic features of lung cancer in Montenegro
Authors: Milic Medenica, Nikola Perosevic
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background:  Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant neoplasms as well as the most common neoplasm stated as a cause of death. Epidemiological characteristics of lung cancer differ among countries and regions.   Aim:  To determine the epidemiological and histologic features of lung cancer in Montenegro.   Methods:  Study group comprised patients in Montenegro in continuous period 1997-2010.   Results:  In reported period number of newly diagnosed lung cancer is 2497. The incidence ranged from 29.8 in 1997 to 35.9 in 2004. Out of the total number of diagnosed lung cancer, epidermoid carcinoma was diagnosed in 1484 cases (59.41%), small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) in 597 cases (23.92%) and adenocarcinoma in 416 cases (16.65%). The men were represented with 83.17% (2078) while the female were 16.83% (419). Ratio of smokers and nonsmokers for each histological type was (epidermoid 8:1, 2,15:1 adenocarcinoma, SCLC 9:1). The most common age group in which there was a cancer for both men and female was 60-69 years (35.88%), followed by 70-79 (27.75%) and 50-59 (24.74%). The most frequent histopathological type in males was epidermoid (63%) followed by adenocarcinoma (14.5%) and then SCLC (22.5%). In women the most common cancer was epidemoid (43.5%). Adenocarcinoma accounts for 26.5% and SCLC with 30%. The percentage of smokers was 88.72%, nonsmokers represented 11.28%.   Conclusion:  During the period 1997-2010 a significant increase in the incidence of diseases such as lung cancer was not observed, but the decrease in the frequency of epidermoid carcinoma was noted - from 75% (1997) to 50% (2010) as well as the increased frequency of SCLC from 17% (1997) to 30% (2010) and adenocarcinoma from 13% (1997) to 28% (2010).
CD30+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma in children : Analysis of 82 patients enrolled in two consecutive studies of the French society of Pediatric Oncology
Authors: L. Brugières, M.C. Le Deley, H. Pacquement, Z. Meguerian-Bedoyan, M.J. Terrier-Lacombe, A. Robert, C. Pondarré, G. Leverger, C. Devalck, C. Rodary, G. Delsol, O. Hartmann
Journal: Blood (1998)