tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Current Clinical Features of New Patients With Takayasu Arteritis Observed From Cross-Country Research in Japan
Authors: Yoshiko Watanabe, Tetsuro Miyata, Kazuo Tanemoto
Journal: Circulation (2015)

Background— The clinical features of newly diagnosed Japanese patients with Takayasu arteritis and its age or sex specificities are unknown. Methods and Results— We analyzed information from nationwide registration forms submitted by patients with Takayasu arteritis between April 2001 and March 2011 as part of a research program by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Among the 7779 patients who submitted their forms, 1372 newly registered patients with Takayasu arteritis were enrolled; 83.8% were female. The median age at onset was 35 years, which was significantly higher in male patients (median, 43.5 years) than in female patients (median, 34 years; P &lt;0.001). Local symptoms and findings were most commonly observed in the cervicobrachial area, with more complaints in the head or neck than in the upper limbs. Approximately 85% of the patients had vascular involvements in the aortic arch or its major branches; many young female patients had localized lesions. Although male patients had extensive aortic lesions or aneurysms with more complications, localized abdominal lesions were relatively more frequent in male patients with age at onset &gt;40 years than in other age-sex groups. Disease statuses were severe in patients who registered at ≥1 year after onset. Conclusions— The proportions of male patients and patients with elderly onset increased in newly diagnosed patients with Takayasu arteritis. Their clinical and angiographic features differed according to onset age and sex.
THE SEMANTICS OF "ORGAN LANGUAGE"
Authors: KARL STERN, J. B. BOULANGER, SHEENA CLEGHORN
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1950)

A comparative linguistic study of English, French, and German was made. The purpose was to investigate the mode in which the nouns for organs and the verbs for organ functions are employed in grammatical units with emotional connotation. It was found that these grammatical units can be grouped in the following way: (1) Expressions implying a conscious awareness of the autonomic concomitants of emotional reactions. (2) Expressions in which the noun for an organ is employed as a substitute for an emotional attitude. (3)Idiomatic patterns with implications which have been proved accurate only with recent psychoanalytical methods of investigation. (4)Expressions which indicate a longstanding awareness of psychosomatic relationships, the reality of which has recently been proved. (5) Expressions whose scientific connotations are still uncertain. Different body areas are semantically employed along definite trends. Grammatical units referring to oral and nasal mechanisms are related to the antithesis of love-hatred, numerically much more to hatred. Some words expressing hostility have an etymology associated with oral organs and oral functions. We were unable to find etymological roots which would demonstrate a connection between anal functions and expressions of hostility. Expressions in which anal functions are implied are used intentionally and consciously in "vulgar" slang words to express hostility. There is a striking parallel between the three languages. The meaning of these findings from the point of view of social and genetic psychology is discussed.
DNA mismatch repair and synonymous codon evolution in mammals.
Authors: A Eyre-Walker
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (1994)

It has been suggested that the differences in synonymous codon use between mammalian genes within a genome are due to differences in the efficiency of DNA mismatch repair. This hypothesis was tested by developing a model of mismatch repair, which was used to predict the expected relationship between the rate of substitution and G+C content at silent sites. It was found that the silent-substitution rate should decline with increasing G+C content over most of the G+C-content range, if it is assumed that mismatch repair is G+C biased, an assumption which is supported by data. This prediction was then tested on a set of 58 primate and artiodactyl genes. There was no evidence of a direct decline in substitution rate with increasing G+C content, for either twofold- or fourfold-degenerate sites. It was therefore concluded that variation in the efficiency of mismatch repair is not responsible for the differences in synonymous codon use between mammalian genes. In support of this conclusion, analysis of the model also showed that the parameter range over which mismatch repair can explain the differences in synonymous codon use between genes is very small.
A syndrome combining severe hypotrichosis and macular dystrophy: absence of mutations in TIMP genes
Authors: N. Raison-Peyron, P.A. Duval, G. Barneon, L. Durand, B. Arnaud, J. Meynadier, C. Hamel§
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2000)

Journal Article A syndrome combining severe hypotrichosis and macular dystrophy: absence of mutations in TIMP genes Get access N. Raison‐Peyron, N. Raison‐Peyron Department of Dermatology, Saint‐Eloi Hospital, 2 Avenue Bertin‐Sans, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar P.A. Duval, P.A. Duval Department of Dermatology, Saint‐Eloi Hospital, 2 Avenue Bertin‐Sans, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Department of Histopathology, Saint‐Eloi Hospital, Montpellier Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar G. Barneon, G. Barneon Department of Ophthalmology, Gui de Chauliac Hospital, Montpellier Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar L. Durand, L. Durand Histopathology Center, Grabels Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar B. Arnaud, B. Arnaud Department of Dermatology, Saint‐Eloi Hospital, 2 Avenue Bertin‐Sans, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar J. Meynadier, J. Meynadier Department of Dermatology, Saint‐Eloi Hospital, 2 Avenue Bertin‐Sans, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Department of Histopathology, Saint‐Eloi Hospital, Montpellier Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar C. Hamel§ C. Hamel§ Department of Dermatology, Saint‐Eloi Hospital, 2 Avenue Bertin‐Sans, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 143, Issue 4, 1 October 2000, Pages 902–904, https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2000.03803.x Published: 01 October 2000
Inhibition of Mouse Natural Killer Cell Activity by Zinc&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: R A Stephenson, B J Luft, P W Pedrotti, J S Remington
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1985)

The effect of zinc on mouse natural killer (NK) cell activity was evaluated. The inhibition of NK cell activity with zinc was dependent on the concentration of zinc added (range tested: 0-40 micrograms zinc/ml) and occurred at both effector-to-target ratios tested. Zinc-induced inhibition of NK activity was observed with the use of peritoneal or splenic effector cells on Toxoplasma gondii-augmented NK activity. Maximal inhibition of activity was noted when zinc was present for the entire assay period. Inhibition was present but less marked with pretreatment of effector cells with zinc. Pretreatment of target cells with zinc had no measurable effect on NK cytotoxicity. Effector-to-target cell binding as measured by single-cell assays was not significantly altered by zinc. These results indicate that zinc is a potent inhibitor of NK activity.
Lung function in relation to silicosis and silica exposure in granite workers
Authors: TP Ng, SL Chan
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1992)

Lung function tests (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC %) were related to silica exposure and the extent of radiological opacities in a study of 206 active and 132 previously employed granite workers from two quarries. The investigations included detailed personal interviews, spirometric testing and radiographic examination of the chest. The chest X-ray films were read randomly and independently by three readers, using International Labour Office (ILO) standard films. Cumulative exposure to respirable silica (mg.m-3-yr) and total granite dust (million particles per cubic foot (mppcf-yr)) were estimated for each subject based on his years of employment at various jobs and historical and current measurements of quarry-, period- and job-specific exposures. The results suggest that chronic simple silicosis, especially for profusion category 2 and 3, was associated with significant lung function loss. As expected, mixed dust fibrosis was associated with little or no functional disturbance. Massive fibrosis was associated with significant obstructive and restrictive impairment. No additional effect of exposure to respirable silica on lung function loss was found after allowing for the presence of "silicosis". However, exposure to total dust (mppcf-yr) appeared to be associated with some lung function loss independent of silicosis. Our results indicate that chronic simple silicosis is not a benign disease; silica exposure is the primary cause, but the lung function loss in silicotics is directly attributable to the fibrotic lung disease. However, exposure to total granite dust beyond the respirable size range may separately produce additional lung function loss.
Aquagenic (pseudo) keratoderma: a clinical series with new pathological insights
Authors: F. Rongioletti, C. Tomasini, F. Crovato, L. Marchesi
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2012)

Aquagenic keratoderma is an uncommon condition that occurs after brief water exposure. An association with cystic fibrosis has been suggested. Histopathology is considered to be nonspecific.To describe the microscopic findings in seven of 12 new patients and compare the histopathological results of the lesions which appeared on the palmar skin after immersion into water with normal skin.Nine female and three male patients (mean age 27 years) were collected prospectively and evaluated for common demographic, clinical and histopathological features.Lesions were located on only the palms in seven patients; the soles were involved in two patients; and one patient had involvement of the dorsal aspect of the hands. One patient had a similar family history. None of the patients reported associated conditions. Genetic studies revealed heterozygosis for mutation in the cystic fibrosis gene in two patients. The most specific histopathological findings were: orthohyperkeratosis with increased thickness and abnormal staining of the stratum corneum; dilated acrosyringia and dermal eccrine ducts with hyperplasia of eccrine glands, clear cell change and vacuolation; increased capillaries around and adjacent to the eccrine glands. A skin biopsy taken after restoration of normal skin with drying revealed a normal stratum corneum with a physiological uniform stain and normal thickness without further evidence of dilation of acrosyringia or dermal eccrine ducts. Incipient dilation of the secretory and ductal structures was also observed in a transitional area between the involved and the clinically normal skin of the palms.Aquagenic keratoderma may be associated with a heterozygous mutation in the cystic fibrosis gene. Although the diagnosis is a clinical one, histopathology is useful and may reveal some characteristic diagnostic clues. Aquagenic pseudokeratoderma seems to be a more appropriate term to name it.
Referral to pulmonary rehabilitation amongst patients admitted to hospital with COPD
Authors: Kylie Johnston, Mary Young, Karen Grimmer-Somers, Ral Antic, Peter Frith
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recommended in the management of patients with COPD. However, little information is available about the incidence of referral to PR amongst COPD patients.  Aim: This study prospectively examined consecutive patients admitted to hospital with a primary diagnosis of COPD, to determine the incidence and characteristics of patients referred (versus not) to PR.  Methods: Demographic, disease and admission characteristics were collected using prospective and retrospective medical record review, and patient interview at the end of hospital admission. Information about referral to and attendance at a PR program in the past, and referral to PR from the current admission, were obtained from patient interview and confirmed in medical records.  Results: From 190 patients, 64 were recruited to interview (77 excluded due to insufficient English language, cognition, or missed; 43 were repeat admissions and 6 declined). Included patients were aged 72(12) years [mean(SD)], with FEV 1 %predicted =44(19)%; 61% had a respiratory physician involved in their ongoing care. Of the 64 patients interviewed, 39 (61%) had been referred at some point since diagnosis to PR, but only 15 (24%) had attended. During the current admission, 20% (n=13) had been referred to PR. In 12 cases (19%), PR had been discussed but no referral made, and in 39 cases (61%) PR had not been discussed.  Conclusion: A proportion of COPD patients admitted to hospital had not been referred either in the past, or at the time of the index admission, to PR. Further analysis of this data to determine characteristics associated with referral (or not) will help direct strategies to implement PR in more people with COPD.
High-dose combination alkylating agent therapy with autologous bone marrow rescue for refractory solid tumors.
Authors: R B Slease, J B Benear, G B Selby, C L Reitz, W L Hughes, C L Watkins, R B Epstein
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1988)

Twenty-six adults, ages 27 to 60, with refractory metastatic solid tumors were treated with high-dose cyclophosphamide (Cy) + carmustine (BCNU) at one of three escalating dose schedules followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Toxicity was severe and dose-related, with the maximum tolerated dose for the combination determined to be Cy 160 mg/kg and BCNU 900 mg/m2. Median time to WBC recovery (greater than or equal to 1,000/microL) was 13 days post-ABMT (range, nine to 22 days) and to a platelet count of greater than or equal to 50,000/microL, 22 days (range, 13 to 83 days). Sixteen of 20 evaluable patients (80%) responded to therapy with at least 50% reduction in measurable tumor, and three patients achieved complete remission (CR). Responders included eight of nine evaluable patients with breast carcinoma, two of five with melanoma, two of two with sarcoma, and four of four with colon carcinoma. Response durations were short (median, 4 months), even for complete responders, and relapses generally occurred at sites of previous metastases. In order for this approach to have a more significant impact on overall survival, it may need to be applied earlier in the natural history of the malignancy.
Abstract 2597: A New Algorithm For ECG-based Tube Current Modulation (``MinDose") Reduces Radiation Dose Estimates In Cardiac Dual Source CT Angiography
Authors: Joerg Hausleiter, Franziska Hermann, Tanja Meyer, Martin Hadamitzky, Albrecht Will, Christina Ardelean, Michaela Haschka, Stefan Martinoff
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Background: The new dual source CT (DSCT) technology with two X-ray tubes and corresponding detector arrays provides a further improved temporal resolution. All technical advances of modern generat...
Management of acute-on-chronic liver failure: rotational thromboelastometry may reduce substitution of coagulation factors in liver cirrhosis
Authors: Sotiria Bedreli, Jan-Peter Sowa, Guido Gerken, Fuat Hakan Saner, Ali Canbay
Journal: Gut (2015)

With great interest we have read the manuscript by Angeli et al ,1 demonstrating development of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) as an accurate predictor for mortality in hospitalised patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. The authors show that assessment of the chronic liver failure-sequential organ failure assessment (CLIF-SOFA) score improves prognostic accuracy and is superior to the acute kidney injury (AKI) classification, when taken at 48 h after hospitalisation. Patients with acutely decompensated cirrhosis are in a severe condition and the manuscript shows that mortality is extremely high in patients with ACLF grade 3 (three or more organ failures). In a previous study, Reiberger et al 2 showed that therapy with β-blockers for variceal bleedings can effectively reduce decompensation of liver cirrhosis. Though, not all patients respond to this treatment. We would like to add a small contribution, which may improve management of these difficult to treat patients at high risk.

One major difficulty in clinical management of patients with cirrhosis is impaired coagulation …
Bronchoscopic assessment of airway invasion by esophageal cancer: A retrospective study
Authors: Rui Rolo, Cecilia Pacheco, Daniela Alves, Joao Cruz, Lurdes Ferreira, Joao Cunha
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background:  Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) is frequently used to evaluate possible invasion of the tracheobronchial tree by esophageal cancer.   Objective:  To evaluate the diagnostic utility of FOB for the assessment of airway involvement by esophageal carcinoma and its resectability.   Material and Methods:  Retrospective study of bronchoscopies in patients with potentially operable esophageal carcinoma, correlating its findings with other staging modalities, in the last 6 years.   Results:  We included 40 patients, 87.5% male, mean age 63±13.2 years. Respiratory symptoms appeared in 15% of cases, all of them with endoscopic abnormalities.  In 16 (40%) patients, FOB revealed: extrinsic compression in 12 (30%) and infiltration of the bronchial mucosa in 4 (10%) cases. These features were more frequent at the left main bronchus (n=5) and middle third of the trachea (n=4).  Comparing CT with FOB, we found that observed or suspected invasion of the trachea on CT (21 patients), was only confirmed by FOB in 4 cases (19%). In 3 patients with endoscopic abnormalities, CT revealed no invasion of the bronchial tree.  In cases of suspected airway involvement (n=8) by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), 3 had wall protusion without evidence of mucosa9s infiltration.  The overall accuracy of FOB with multiple brush cytology and bronchial biopsy in confirming or excluding airway invasion was 95%. Normal endoscopic appearance had a negative predictive value of 100%.  In 3 patients FOB was the decisive staging procedure, excluding surgical treatment.   Conclusion:  Bronchoscopy with biopsy and brush cytology is a very accurate procedure in assessing potential airway invasion by esophageal cancer. CT and EUS findings alone are not reliable.
High <i>Chlamydia</i> Burden Promotes Tumor Necrosis Factor–Dependent Reactive Arthritis in SKG Mice
Authors: Athan C. Baillet, Linda M. Rehaume, Helen Benham, Connor P. O'Meara, Charles W. Armitage, Roland Ruscher, Geraldine Brizard, Marina C. G. Harvie, Jared Velasco, Phillip M. Hansbro, John V. Forrester, Mariapia A. Degli‐Esposti, Kenneth W. Beagley, Ranjeny Thomas
Journal: Arthritis & Rheumatology (2015)

Chlamydia trachomatis is a sexually transmitted obligate intracellular pathogen that causes inflammatory reactive arthritis, spondylitis, psoriasiform dermatitis, and conjunctivitis in some individuals after genital infection. The immunologic basis for this inflammatory response in susceptible hosts is poorly understood. As ZAP-70(W163C) -mutant BALB/c (SKG) mice are susceptible to spondylo-arthritis after systemic exposure to microbial β-glucan, we undertook the present study to compare responses to infection with Chlamydia muridarum in SKG mice and BALB/c mice.After genital or respiratory infection with C muridarum, conjunctivitis and arthritis were assessed clinically, and eye, skin, and joint specimens were analyzed histologically. Chlamydial major outer membrane protein antigen-specific responses were assessed in splenocytes. Treg cells were depleted from FoxP3-DTR BALB/c or SKG mice, and chlamydial DNA was quantified by polymerase chain reaction.Five weeks after vaginal infection with live C muridarum, arthritis, spondylitis, and psoriasiform dermatitis developed in female SKG mice, but not in BALB/c mice. Inflammatory bowel disease did not occur in mice of either strain. The severity of inflammatory disease was correlated with C muridarum inoculum size and vaginal burden postinoculation. Treatment with combination antibiotics starting 1 day postinoculation prevented disease. Chlamydial antigen was present in macrophages and spread from the infection site to lymphoid organs and peripheral tissue. In response to chlamydial antigen, production of interferon-γ and interleukin-17 was impaired in T cells from SKG mice but tumor necrosis factor (TNF) responses were exaggerated, compared to findings in T cells from BALB/c mice. Unlike previous observations in arthritis triggered by β-glucan, no autoantibodies developed. Accelerated disease triggered by depletion of Treg cells was TNF dependent.In the susceptible SKG strain, Chlamydia-induced reactive arthritis develops as a result of deficient intracellular pathogen control, with antigen-specific TNF production upon dissemination of antigen, and TNF-dependent inflammatory disease.
Role of The Spleen on Spontaneous Reticulum Cell Sarcoma of (C57BL/Cne × C3H/Cne)F&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt; Mice&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN1"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;3&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: V Covelli, V Di Majo, B Bassani, G Silini, P Metalli
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1980)

(C57BL/Cne x C3H/Cne)F1 mice were splenectomized at 3, 9, or 19 months of age (males) or at 4 months of age (females) and observed until spontaneous death. Their mean lifespans were only slightly increased by splenectomy, but the final incidence of and age-specific death rate from reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) were significantly decreased; the latter effect was associated with prolonged latency times of neoplastic expression. Splenectomized females had a more pronounced decrease in incidence of and rate of death from RCS than did males. Lethally irradiated male mice were inoculated with isogeneic spleen cells from young (3 mo of age) or old (12-18 mo of age) untreated male donors, and the animals surviving acute radiation effects were also observed until spontaneous death. In spite of the fact that the mean life-spans of the spleen-repopulated animals were slightly shortened, age-specific death rate analysis showed that the rate of RCS incidence approached that of untreated controls of comparable ages. The combined results of splenectomy and spleen cell transplantation strongly indicated that some cells in the spleens of these mice have a high probability of being transformed into potentially neoplastic progenitor cells with long latency between cell transformation and overt tumor growth.