tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Cell Surface Antigens Detectable by Cytotoxic Test on Friend Virus-Induced and Friend Virus-Infected Tumors in the Rat
Authors: T Shirai, H Kaji, N Takeichi, F Sendo, H Saito
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1971)

Friend virus-induced rat tumors (RFT) are highly antigenic and not transplantable to adult syngeneic recipients, as are nonviral transplantable rat tumors infected with Friend virus. Adult rats inoculated repeatedly with syngeneic RFT produced cytotoxic antibody against both RFT and virus-infected rat tumors. In both instances, cytotoxic sensitivities of those cells to the antiserum are inversely related to the growth rate of the tumors in syngeneic recipients. WFT-2N, a subline of RFT, that acquired the ability to grow in adult rats, was resistant to the cytotoxicity of the Friend-specific antiserum. Rats immunized with a nonviral rat tumor infected with Friend virus produced cytotoxic antibody to nonviral related tumor antigen. Analysis based on the quantitative absorption test indicates that new cell-surface antigen formed after Friend virus infection did not quantitatively affect other antigenic components, such as major histocompatibility antigen and nonviral-related tumor antigen on the cell surface of Friend virus-infected tumor. However, the cytotoxicity of antiserum collected from rats repeatedly immunized with syngeneic virus-uninfected tumor after ligation and release of primary transplant was greater for Friend virus-infected cells than for uninfected cells. Even in this instance, both cell lines showed the same antibody-absorbing activity. The mechanisms of dissociation between cytotoxic sensitivity and antibody-absorbing activity of both cell lines are not yet clear.
Blind pleural biopsy in the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis
Authors: João Filipe Cruz, Artur Vale, Lourdes Iglesias, Aurora Carvalho, Raquel Duarte
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Introduction: Pleural tuberculosis (TB) is often a non confirmed diagnosis, based on biochemical or histological criteria.

Objectives: Clinical and demographic characteristics associated with a diagnosis of pleural TB. Value of blind pleural biopsy (PB) in the investigation of pleural effusions and its contribution to the TB confirmation or exclusion.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients submitted to blind PB in a 6-year period. Clinical and demographic data, characteristics of pleural fluid and results of PB were reviewed. Biochemical criteria: ADA >70 U/L and lymphocyte/neutrophil ratio >0.75 in pleural fluid.

Results: We performed a total of 272 PB in 240 patients, 65,1% male with a median age of 67 years. 69 cases were excluded because of incomplete study. In multivariate analysis patients who were younger (p<0,001), had fever (p=0,001) and with unilateral pleural effusion (p=0,04) had higher risk of having a pleural TB. Final diagnosis of pleural TB was established in 39/203 cases (19,2%). In the 22 cases with biochemical criteria of pleural TB, one had another diagnosis (lymphoma). In the 181 cases without biochemical criteria, the diagnosis of pleural TB was established in 18 cases (9,9%): PB identified granulomas in 9, contributing yet to another diagnosis in 35 (19,3%). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the biochemical criteria for the diagnosis of pleural TB was, respectively, 52,9%, 97,6%, 81,8% and 91,2%, and the combination of PB with biochemical criteria was, respectively, 79,4%, 97,6%, 87,1% and 95,9%.

Conclusion: In this sample, the performance of blind PB associated with the analysis of pleural fluid obtained a good sensitivity and excellent specificity for the diagnosis of pleural TB.
Mothers work exposure during pregnancy and asthma in their children, a prospective cohort-study
Authors: Berit Hvass Christensen, Ann Dyreborg Larsen, Lars Rauff Skadhauge, Ane Marie Thulstrup, Karin Sørig Hougaard, Kirsten Skamstrup Hansen, Morten Frydenberg, Vivi Schlünssen
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Objectives: Prenatal exposures may add to the worldwide increase in asthma prevalence. We estimated the association between maternal work and the asthma prevalence among 7 year offspring.

Methods: Analysis included 45.658 children from the Danish National Birth Cohort and their mothers. Job title (DISCO codes) was classified by exposure agents: High molecular weight (HMW), low molecular weight/irritant (LMW), mixed exposures, farmers, unclassifiable exposures, students and reference (office workers). Children's asthma was defined as ever asthma and/or wheeze in the last 12 months. Atopy was defined as atopic dermatitis ever.

Results: The overall asthma prevalence was 16.1%. The highest asthma prevalence was among children, whose mothers were exposed to LMW/irritant agents during pregnancy (18.6%). Adj. logistic regression analysis showed an association between mother's occupational exposure to LMW/irritants and asthma in the child (OR 1.11 (95% CI 1.01-1.23)). The same tendency was seen for HMW (OR 1.12 (0.85-1.47)). Adjusted models included: Mothers age, BMI, atopy, smoking, use of medication, pets, SGA and gender. Stratifying for atopic status in the children did not change the results: OR 1.21 (0.75-1.96), OR 1.08 (0.77-1.50) for atopic and non-atopic children respectively in the HMW group, and OR 1.13 (0.94-1.35) and 1.13 (1.00-1.27) in the LMW/irritants group. No significant associations to asthma were seen in the other exposure groups.

Conclusion: The results indicate an association between maternal occupational work exposures and the risk of asthma in the child at age 7 years.
Role of Suprapubic Catheterization in Retention of Urine
Authors: P H Abrams, P J R Shah, C G C Gaches, M H Ashken, N A Green
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1980)

One hundred and nine male patients took part in a randomized trial of elective suprapubic or urethral catheterization in retention of urine. The self-retaining trocar suprapubic catheter proved safe and reliable in trained hands and its use was associated with a low incidence of side effects. The suprapubic catheter when used to allow continuous flow resection appeared to lead to decreased blood loss and reduced resection time. No decrease in urinary infection rate over the period of hospital stay was noted in the suprapubic group. The suprapubic catheter was more comfortable than the urethral and also allowed a trial of voiding prior to removal. Use of the suprapubic catheter was not associated with an increased hospital stay.
FDA issues warnings to duodenoscope makers linked to infection outbreaks
Authors: Michael McCarthy
Journal: BMJ (2015)

The US Food and Drug Administration has sent warning letters1 to three makers of duodenoscopes whose devices have been linked to outbreaks of multidrug resistant strains of carbapenem resistant enterobacteriaceae. The three firms are Olympus Medical Systems, Fujifilm, and the Pentax division of Hoya.

The letters fault two of the manufacturers for failing to alert the FDA promptly after they learnt that patients had developed infections after undergoing endoscopic procedures with their devices, in one case waiting three years to file the required report. Under federal rules …
When antimicrobial peptides hit the wrong target: a novel link between tumour macrophages and cancer stem cells
Authors: Giuseppe R Diaferia, Gioacchino Natoli
Journal: Gut (2015)

Understanding the interplay between tumour microenvironment and cancer cells is an active research area that holds many promises for identifying stroma-derived paracrine drivers of tumour growth or progression that may thus represent possible therapeutic targets.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common and almost invariably deadly pancreatic tumour, is characterised by a dense tumour stroma that contains a heterogeneous population of cells including stellate cells, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and a number of inflammatory and immune cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages.1 Indeed, infiltration by immune cells is a hallmark of most forms of malignancy and tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) represent key regulators of the interplay between immune system and cancer, usually fostering rather than restraining tumour growth.2

TAMs produce a number of potent angiogenic and lymphoangiogenic factors, cytokines, and proteases all of which may potentiate neoplastic progression and tissue invasion, as also indicated by the therapeutic effect of macrophage depletion in specific tumour models.2 Recent evidence suggests that TAM-derived inflammatory components may also act on tissue cells to promote tumourigenesis. For …
A placebo-controlled trial with varenicline for long term nicotine replacement product users
Authors: Philip Tonnesen, Kim Mikkelsen
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

In this placebo, controlled trial we enrolled 139 long-term users of nicotine replacement products (NRT) (>1 year) to either varenicline (N=70) or placebo (N=69) for 3 months combined with 9 visits with counselling by nurses. The primary outcome showed that the varenicline group had a higher quit rate with NRT compared with placebo, statistical significant after 12 and 36 weeks but borderline significant on most other measure points. After 1 year the NRT quit rate was 42.9% vs. 36.2%, respectively. A Mantel-Haenszel test over all visits showed significant superiority for active therapy vs. placebo, odds ratio 1.83 (95%CI; 1.43-2.35), P  This is the first study reporting data for varenicline to be used for long-term NRT users. The study seems to be underpowered but overall the findings showed superiority for varenecline vs. placebo.  In conclusion, this study shows that varenicline seems to be an drug that might be effective in getting long-term NRT users to quit.
Retroinfusion of Embryonic Endothelial Progenitor Cells Attenuates Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Pigs
Authors: Christian Kupatt, Rabea Hinkel, Mathias Lamparter, Marie-Luise von Brühl, Tilman Pohl, Jan Horstkotte, Heike Beck, Susanne Müller, Sebastian Delker, Franz-Josef Gildehaus, Hildegard Büning, Antonis K. Hatzopoulos, Peter Boekstegers
Journal: Circulation (2005)

Background— Adult endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) reduce myocardial infarct size and improve postischemic myocardial function. We have recently shown that clonal embryonic EPCs (eEPCs), derived from 7.5-day-old mice, home specifically to hypoxic areas in tumor metastasis mouse models but spare normal organs and do not form carcinomas. Here, we assessed the potential of eEPCs to limit organ dysfunction after ischemia and reperfusion in a preclinical pig model. Methods and Results— Pigs were subjected to ischemia (60-minute left anterior descending [LAD] artery occlusion) and reperfusion (7 days). At the end of ischemia, we applied medium with or without 5×10 6 eEPCs by either pressure-regulated retroinfusion or intravenous transfusion. One hour after reperfusion, 99 Tc-labeled eEPCs engrafted to a 6-fold higher extent in the ischemic myocardium after retroinfusion than after intravenous application. Regional myocardial function (subendocardial segment shortening [SES] at 150/min, given in percent of nonischemic circumflex region) and infarct size (TTC viability and Methylene-blue exclusion) were determined 24 hours and 7 days later. Compared with medium-treated animals, retroinfusion of eEPCs decreased infarct size (35±4% versus 51±6%) and improved regional myocardial reserve of the apical LAD region (SES 31±4% versus 6±8%), whereas intravenous application displayed a less pronounced effect (infarct size 44±4%; SES 12±3%). Retroinfusion of an equal amount of neonatal coronary endothelial cells (rat) did not affect infarct size (49±5%) nor regional myocardial reserve (16±7%). The eEPC-dependent effect was detected at 24 hours of reperfusion (infarct size 34±7% versus 58±6%) and was sensitive to Wortmannin coapplication (50±5%). Conclusion— Our findings show that eEPCs reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury in a preclinical pig model. The rapid effect (as early as 24 hours) indicates a role for enzyme-mediated cardioprotection, which involves, at least in part, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathway.
Muscarinic Cholinergic Activation of Mouse Spleen Cells Cytotoxic to Tumor Cells In Vitro&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: Mary-Ann Lane
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1978)

Carbamylcholine, acting via a pharmacologically specific receptor, had the ability to activate effector populations of spleen cells from female BALB/cfC3H and BALB/c mice; those cell populations were then significantly reactive in vitro against syngeneic tumor target cells but were only minimally reactive to normal syngeneic target tissues. The induced reactivity was inhibited by the muscarinic cholinergic antagonists atropine, scopolamine, and isopropamide, but not by the nicotinic antagonist d-tubocurare, and it appeared to involve both T-cell and non-T-cell effectors.
The current status of HIV screening laboratories in Korea assessed by a questionnaire survey of participants in the KCDC HIV EQAS (2006)
Authors: J-S. Wang, M.K. Kee, H-S. Kim, B-S. Choi, S-D. Suh, E-J. Kim, C-W. Kim, S.S. Kim
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2009)
The Prospects and Problems of Clinical Trials Planned by Japanese Local Study Group; Setouchi Breast Project(Sbp)
Authors: Tadahiko Shien, Shozo Ohsumi, Fumikata Hara, Masahiko Ikeda, Shoichiro Ohtani, Naruto Taira, Yutaka Ogasawara, Sachiko Kiyoto, Kinya Matsuoka, Hiroyoshi Doihara
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2014)
Rape and Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Patterns of Referral and Incidence in a Department of Genitourinary Medicine
Authors: J D C Ross, G R Scott, A Busuttil
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1991)

A retrospective study was carried out of all women attending a Department of Genitourinary Medicine over a 3-year period. Note was taken of referring source, presenting symptoms, infection detected at STD screening and follow-up attendance. Comparison was also made between the number of women referred by the police surgeon and the number who actually attended. We observed an overall incidence of STD of 35% and noted that many infections had a similar prevalence to that of our normal clinic population over the same time period. Only 13% of the women referred by the police attended although after the initial visit attendance was similar regardless of referral source. A number of asymptomatic women were noted to have infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. Although the risk of significant STD following sexual assault is low greater efforts should be made to encourage women to attend for screening whether or not they are symptomatic.
First-Line Crizotinib Vs Pemetrexed + Cisplatin/Carboplatin in Asian Patients with Advanced Alk+ Nsclc in Profile 1014
Authors: Kazuhiko Nakagawa, Dong-Wan Kim, Yi-Long Wu, Benjamin J. Solomon, Tarek Mekhail, Enriqueta Felip, Frederico Cappuzzo, Fiona Blackhall, Tiziana Usari, Tony Mok
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2014)
Effect of Antibiotics on Mice Treated With Cyclophosphamide 2
Authors: Howard W. Bruckner
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1976)

The toxicity and therapeutic index of cyclophosphamide (CP) In NIH Swiss and (C57BL × DBA)F, mice were affected by the addition of different antibiotics to the drinking water. Penicillin G or Vancomycin increased the rate and number of deaths that followed parenteral treatment with CP; however, penicillin or Vancomycin alone produced no deaths. Both penicillin and Vancomycin changed the normal composition of the gastrointestinal bacteria, thus increasing the antibiotic-resistant coliform bacteria. Neomycin or gentamycin, with or without penicillin or Vancomycin, reduced the number of deaths that followed parenteral treatment with doses of CP lethal to 35% of the animals (LD35). Neomycin and gentamycin reduced the number of coliform bacteria recoverable from the gastrointestinal tract. The antibiotics did not change the therapeutic effect of nonlethal doses of CP against L1210 murine leukemia. The combination of CP (LD35) with the aminoglycosides produced several long-term survivors, apparently because larger doses of CP can be used with few drug-related deaths.
From CTPA-proven pulmonary embolism to patients clinical characteristics
Authors: Natalia Stoeva, Galia Kirova, Diana Lekova, Anna Benova, Anton Penev
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

In the last decade, Computer tomographic pulmoangiography (CTPA) has become established as “a gold standard” for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). It gives us not only a reliable diagnosis, but also information on the amounts and localizations of the thrombotic masses. This gives us reason to look back from CTPA to the patient. The aim is to draw useful information on the PE-related patients characteristics. In 222 patients with CTPA-proven PE we analyze age, underlying diseases, symptoms, D-dimer and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) with respect to CTPA findings.  The mean age of our patients is 59.64 years, 40.5% are over 65 years old, 18% - under 40. The prominent underlying diseases are: heart failure in 30.1%; cancer in 20.3%; 20.7% have had recent surgery. 32.4% of the patients have unprovoked PE. They are younger. The most frequent PE symptom is dyspnea - in 88.2%, chest pain – in 51.3%, swelling of leg(s) - in 46.8%, cough - 40.5%, haemoptysis - 13.5%.  According to the thrombotic burden in CTPA, the patients are graded into 3 groups: small PE (one or two segmental branches involved) (11.8%); submassive - less than 50% of the pulmonary circulation involved (42.3%) and massive - ≥ 50% involved (45.9%). D-dimer does not differ significantly between groups, but if we are looking only at the unprovoked PE, D-dimer is significantly higher in the higher burden levels (p=0.05). PAP differs significantly between groups (p=0.01). 7 patients were haemodynamicaly unstable. 9 stable patients were fibrinolyzed based on CTPA.  Our conclusion is that clinical characteristics of PE are related to CTPA-defined thrombotic burden. CTPA is not only a diagnostic tool, but also guides us in the therapeutic choice.
Trends in the incidence and case fatality of pulmonary embolism in hospitalized patients during 1997-2008 in China: A multicenter registration study
Authors: Yuanhua Yang, Lirong Liang, Xiaoxia Peng, Chen Wang
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background:  In China, the National Cooperation Project of Prevention and Treatment for Venous Thromboembolism provided valuable information about the epidemiology of PE. So, comprehensive assessment on the incidence and case fatality of PE in hospitalized patients can be made firstly.   Methods:  Between January 1997 and December 2008, consecutive patients, admitted to the inpatient ward with a diagnosis of suspected PE, were registered from 60 hospitals. The data was collected prospectively including demographic data, types and results of diagnosis methods and prognosis. All of patients were identified with a discharge diagnosis of PE based on the St. Anthony9s ICD-9 diagnostic codes.   Results:  From January 1997 to December 2008, hospitalization data were collect for 18,206 patients diagnosed with PE while there were 16,972,182 discharged patients. The annual incidence increased sharply from 0.03% in 1997 to 0.13% in 2003, then persisted 0.14%. Conversely, the case fatality was decreasing apparently from 25.11% in 1997 to 8.65% in 2008.   Conclusion:  The actual incidence of PE among the hospitalization patients in China was 0.14%. Evidence suggests that a substantial decline in PE-specific mortality and the annual age-adjusted mortality from PE has been shown as a result of the prevention and treatment of PE.
PROTAGONIST: Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis is a cause of Crohn's disease
Authors: J Hermon-Taylor
Journal: Gut (2001)

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis ( MAP ) belongs to the M avium complex (MAC). MAC occur widely in the environment and inhabit normal animal and human intestine. MAC do not usually cause disease unless the host is debilitated. MAP is a pathogen and causes chronic inflammation of the intestine in many animals, including primates. MAP is closely related genetically to other MAC but possesses additional DNA such as IS 900 , the hsp X region, and the low %GC genetic element “GS”, which are associated with its pathogenic phenotype. Further genetic elements related to pathogenicity may be revealed by the whole genome sequencing of MAP currently underway at the University of Minnesota. A recent review and extensive bibliography is available.1 

MAP can colonise animals for years without causing disease. Chronic inflammation of the intestine (Johne's disease) may emerge after a long latent period, particularly when animals are stressed. Regional lymph nodes, liver, and lung are also involved. Histopathological features vary between animals and between different organs in the same animal.2 MAP disease in animals ranges from pluribacillary to paucimicrobial, like leprosy in humans.3Terminal ileum and adjacent colon are commonly affected but segmental lesions in the small gut as well as colonic and rectal involvement …
One year dynamics of life quality depending on the adherence to therapy in patients with bronchial asthma
Authors: Natalia L. Perelman, Victor P. Kolosov, Juliy M. Perelman
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background:  Active and thoughtful participation of the bronchial asthma (BA)patients in treatment is a necessary condition to achieve and maintain control of asthma. The correlation between the adherence to treatment and quality of life (QL) in asthmatics is not covered enough.   Aim : to study the influence of adherence to treatment on a one-year dynamics of QL in asthmatics.   Methods : 30 patients including 12 with mild and 18 with moderate BA were examined. According to the data of the original questionnaire 15 patients had a high adherence to treatment (1st group) and 15 patients had a low one (2nd group). All patients received basic therapy. General (SF-36) and specific (AQLQ) QL, control of asthma (ACT) were identified.   Results:  The initial general and specific QL were significantly higher in the 1st group in all domains with the exception of MH domain by SF-36. A year after the initial examination in the 2nd group there was no improvement in QL. In the 1st group there were a significant improvement in SF domain (46.20±3.78 and 56.21±5.66) by SF-36 and in the domains “Symptome” (2.84±0.25 and 3.71±0.29 points) and “Activity limitation” by AQLQ (3.11±0.22 and 3.45±0.24 points). Besides, the level of ACT was significantly higher in the patients of this group in a year (10.80±1.42 and 14.20±1.30), whereas in the 2nd group it did not change. The patients with mild BA did not have any difference in a year dynamics. Significant improvement of QL in RE domain (48.88±10.72 and 89.74±23.05 points) was registered in patients with moderate asthma.   Conclusion:  High adherence to treatment in asthmatics has the biggest influence on the improvement of QL during a year.