tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Pilot Studies of Estrogen-Related Physical Findings in Infants
Authors: Judy C. Bernbaum, David M. Umbach, N. Beth Ragan, Jeanne L. Ballard, Janet I. Archer, Holly Schmidt-Davis, Walter J. Rogan
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2007)

BackgroundSoy formula containing estrogenic isoflavones is widely used in the United States. Infants consuming soy formula exclusively have high isoflavone exposures. We wanted to study whether soy formula prolonged the physiologic estrogenization of newborns, but available quantitative descriptions of the natural history of breast and genital development are inadequate for study design.ObjectiveWe piloted techniques for assessing infants' responses to the withdrawal from maternal estrogen and gathered data on breast and genital development in infants at different ages.MethodsWe studied 37 boys and 35 girls, from term pregnancies with normal birth weights, who were < 48 hr to 6 months of age, and residents of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during 2004–2005. One-third of the children of each sex and age interval were exclusively fed breast milk, soy formula, or cow-milk formula. Our cross-sectional study measured breast adipose tissue, breast buds, and testicular volume; observed breast and genital development; and collected vaginal wall cells and information on vaginal discharge. We assessed reliability of the measures.ResultsBreast tissue was maximal at birth and disappeared in older children, consistent with waning maternal estrogen. Genital development did not change by age. Breast-milk secretion and withdrawal bleeding were unusual. Vaginal wall cells showed maximal estrogen effect at birth and then reverted; girls on soy appeared to show reestrogenization at 6 months.ConclusionsExamination of infants for plausible effects of estrogens is valid and repeatable. Measurement of breast tissue and characterization of vaginal wall cells could be used to evaluate exposures with estrogen-like effects.
Peginterferon and Ribavirin for Chronic Hepatitis C
Authors: Jay H. Hoofnagle, Leonard B. Seeff
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2006)

A 44-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C has intermittent fatigue and persistent elevations in serum alanine aminotransferase levels. Treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin is recommended. Combination therapy with these two agents can lead to sustained viral control and improvement in histologic features of the liver. Side effects of therapy and treatment failures are common.
The Relationship Between Psychological Factors and Blood Glucose Regulation in Insulki-dependent Diabetic Adolescents
Authors: J Simonds, D Goldstein, B Walker, S Rawlings
Journal: Diabetes Care (1981)

Fifty-two insulin-dependent diabetic, white, rural, middle-class adolescent subjects who had diabetes 5 or more years participated in a project comparing psychological and personality variables to the degree of altered blood glucose regulation as measured by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. An HbA1c level of 9.5% was arbitrarily chosen as a cutoff score to divide subjects into two groups: those having “adequate” (N = 25) and those having “inadequate” (N = 27) blood glucose regulation. There were no significant differences between high and low HbA1c groups for all psychological variables tested, i.e., anxiety, locus of control, self-concept, and various personality traits measured by the High School Personality Questionnaire (HSPQ). Female subjects scored significantly higher on the anxiety scale and had significantly higher HbA1c values and weight percentiles compared with male subjects. Six self-report diabetes questionnaires dealing with various aspects of diabetes care and adjustment were completed by mothers and five similar questionnaires were completed by the adolescents. There were no significant differences in the mean scores of the 11 diabetes questionnaires between the high and low HbA1c groups. Girls scored significantly higher than boys in “self-care” and on individual items pertaining to dysphoric feelings about diabetes. Our findings may have resulted from the homogeneity of the sample, but underlying metabolic and genetic factors need to be considered in differentiating subjects according to the level of blood glucose regulation.
Posting the Signs on the Road to the 21st Century
Authors: Lonnie R. Bristow
Journal: JAMA (1995)

I can clearly remember my first American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates meeting. It was in St Louis, way back in June 1978. On the night of the new president's inaugural, I was sitting in one of the last rows with Dr George Collins from New York—who went on to become the AMA's secretary-treasurer. The houselights were dimmed; the hall was dark. But the stage was bright with light and the colors from this same wall of flags. A band played with pomp and circumstance, and—just like tonight—the officers and trustees marched onto the stage. George directed my attention to one trustee walking proudly toward his seat. "Do you know his story?" George asked. I did not know, and this is what he told me. That man was Frank Jirka, a trustee, who later became president of the AMA. <h3>Courage, Responsibility, Privilege</h3> Frank won't mind my telling you that
Wisheart begins to give evidence at GMC
Authors: C. Dyer
Journal: BMJ (1998)

Parents of babies who died or were left brain damaged after heart operations at Bristol Royal Infirmary held a candlelight vigil outside the General Medical Council last week, as James Wisheart, one of three doctors charged with serious professional misconduct, arrived to begin his evidence.

They set out 50 shoeboxes painted black, each with a white cross, to represent tiny coffins. A banner proclaimed: “GMC: Great Massacre Cover-up.” The parents are angry that the GMC investigation is focusing on only 53 operations of two types—arterial switch operations and open heart surgery to correct atrioventricular septal defects. Twenty nine of the 53 babies died, and four were left brain damaged.

The Department of Health is to hold an inquiry after the GMC case finishes, but the parents delivered a petition to the prime minister's home in Downing Street demanding a full public inquiry. Mr Wisheart is the first of the three doctors facing charges over the operations to give evidence. He and another consultant surgeon, Janardan Dhasmana, are …
Should the spectacle of surgery be sold to the highest bidder?
Authors: S. Chapman
Journal: BMJ (2011)

Recently my band, the Original Faux Pas, donated its services to a cancer fundraising event. The event was a huge success, raising more than $A50 000 (£30 000; €37 000; $US50 000), with about 260 people digging deep for auctioned items donated by local businesses. Among the items was the opportunity for two to attend an operation being performed by a neurosurgeon.

Bidding was spirited as the auctioneer barked out the virtues of this exclusive opportunity, and the winning bidders paid something like $A1600, presumably to watch someone having brain surgery. I once bid for an opportunity to have dinner with a senior politician so I could get in his ear. For good causes sports stars often offer games of golf or tennis, and musicians give backstage passes. But somehow this seemed rather different. Two medical members of my band pulled perplexed faces as the item appeared between autographed football jumpers.

In the 19th century surgeons performed their tasks in rooms where limited seats were available for …
Pemphigus vulgaris with autoantibodies to desmoplakin.
Authors: S-C. Kim, Y.L. Chung, J. Kim, N.J. Cho, M. Amagai
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2001)

Sir, We report a 63‐year‐old woman who had clinical, histological and immunopathological features of pemphigus vulgaris, and the novel feature of circulating antibodies to desmoplakin (DP) I and DP II. A 63‐year‐old woman was seen in March 1998 with a 2‐month history of flaccid bullae on the scalp and trunk and an oral mucosal erosion. On examination, several slightly erythematous, variably sized flaccid bullae were observed on the scalp, trunk and oral mucosa. Ophthalmological examination showed mild bilateral corneal erosions. Routine laboratory tests showed no abnormalities except for elevated aspartate aminotransferase (118 U L−1) and alanine aminotransferase (122 U L−1). Autoantibody testing showed positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA; 1 : 640, with homogeneous pattern), rheumatoid factor, antimitochondrial and antigastric parietal cell antibodies. Abdominal ultrasound showed diffuse liver disease, but other radiological findings were not significant. Based on the serological and radiological findings, autoimmune hepatitis was diagnosed. A skin biopsy showed a suprabasal acantholytic blister characteristic of pemphigus vulgaris. Direct immunofluorescence of a skin biopsy specimen showed deposition of IgG on keratinocyte cell surfaces. Indirect immunofluorescence performed in March 1998 showed IgG deposition on the keratinocyte cell surfaces at a titre of 1 : 1280.
Fat redistribution and adipocyte transformation in uninephrectomized rats
Authors: Hai-Lu Zhao, Yi Sui, Jing Guan, Lan He, Xun Zhu, Rong-Rong Fan, Gang Xu, Alice P.S. Kong, Chung Shun Ho, Fernand M.M. Lai, Dewi K. Rowlands, Juliana C.N. Chan, Peter C.Y. Tong
Journal: Kidney International (2008)
Technetium-99m Red Blood Cell Labeling in Patients Treated with Doxorubicin
Authors: JAMES R. BALLINGER, BONNY GERSON, KAREN Y. GULENCHYN, TERRENCE D. RUDDY, ROSS A. DAVIS
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1988)

Radionuclide angiography is useful in monitoring cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin, but in vivo RBC labeling in these patients is believed to be poorer than that in general patients. The left ventricle-to-background activity ratio (R) was not significantly lower in patients treated with doxorubicin (3.24 +/- 1.15, N = 13) than in control patients (3.89 +/- 1.60, N = 14). With both modified in vivo and in vitro labeling, R was significantly improved in patients treated with doxorubicin (4.37 +/- 0.91, N = 8, and 4.37 +/- 1.22, N = 13, respectively). However, with the modified in vivo method, labeling efficiency remained a function of hematocrit, whereas the in vitro method removed this dependency. Both modified in vivo and in vitro labeling result in improved image quality over in vivo labeling in patients treated with doxorubicin, and the choice of method can be based on other factors.
Gastroenterologists Overestimate the Appropriateness of Colonoscopies They Perform: An International Observational Study
Authors: J.-P. Vader, V. Wietlisbach†, J. K. Harris, B. Burnand, F. Froehlich, J.-J. Gonvers
Journal: Endoscopy (2005)

Little is known about how gastroenterologists perceive the appropriateness of colonoscopies they perform. The objective of this study was to compare the appropriateness and necessity of colonoscopies as assessed by an expert panel and by the gastroenterologists performing the colonoscopies.This observational study included 21 centers in 11 countries. Patients referred for colonoscopy were consecutively included. Appropriateness and necessity of colonoscopies were independently rated on a 9-point scale by the gastroenterologists performing them and by an expert panel using a validated method (RAND). The differences between the ratings from the two groups were examined.6004 patients were included in the study. Comparisons of ratings were possible for 5381 (89.6 %) patients. The gastroenterologists' mean appropriateness rating was 7.2 +/- 1.7, and the panel's mean appropriateness rating was 5.4 +/- 2.3 ( P < 0.001). The percentages of indications rated inappropriate, uncertain, appropriate, and necessary were 4.1 %, 23.8 %, 14.2 %, and 58.0 % for the gastroenterologists and 27.2 %, 26.7 %, 25.0 %, and 21.1 % for the panel, respectively. Agreement between the two groups' ratings was poor (28.8 %, kappa = 0.11). Differences between the two groups' ratings decreased with increasing patient age, decreasing health status, and decreasing expertise level of the referring physician. However, the gastroenterologists produced consistently higher ratings.Compared with an expert panel, gastroenterologists tend to overestimate the appropriateness of colonoscopies they perform. Except for well-delineated reasons, participating gastroenterologists weighed patient characteristics differently from the panel when judging appropriateness. Ways to increase the prospective use of appropriateness criteria in order to improve appropriateness and reduce overuse of colonoscopies should be examined further.
Quantitative microchromatographic determination of hemoglobin f in patients with hemoglobins s and/or c
Authors: W. A. Schroeder, Leslie Evans, Lana Grussing, E. C. Abraham, T. H. J. Huisman, H. Lam, Joan B. Shelton
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (1976)

Abstract The improved microchromatographic procedure for the detection of Hb‐S and/or Hb‐C in cord blood at birth (Schroeder et al.: J. Lab Clin Med 86:528‐532, 1975) as well as a modification thereof may also be used for the quantitative determination of Hb‐F in the presence of Hb‐S and/or Hb‐C. However, Hb‐A interferes and must be absent. The methods use 0.5 × 6 cm columns of CM‐cellulose with Tris or Bis‐tris developers and require 2‐4 hr to complete. At low percentages of Hb‐F, the sharper zone of the Tris method is more easily visible than that of the Bis‐tris method, but the latter is a somewhat more rapid procedure. About 300 cases with Hb‐S and/or Hb‐C have been examined by the micro‐ chromatographic procedure. Most of these results (F micro ) have been compared with data from the determination of Hb‐F by one or more of the following methods: alkali denaturation (F AD ), conventional DEAE‐Sephadex chromatography (F DES ), or isoleucine analyses of zones from DEAE‐Sephadex chromatography (F Ile ). The accuracy and precision of the microchromatographic method is estimated to be 5‐10%. The microchromatographic methods require much less time than conventional chromatography but more time than alkali denaturation procedures. Compared to the latter, the new methods use whole blood and less blood and permit the physical separation of Hb‐F.
Anti–Endothelial Cell Antibodies in Takayasu Arteritis
Authors: Jens Eichhorn, Dagmar Sima, Bernhard Thiele, Carsten Lindschau, Andreas Turowski, Heiner Schmidt, Wolfgang Schneider, Hermann Haller, Friedrich C. Luft
Journal: Circulation (1996)

Background Although a specific etiology for Takayasu arteritis has not been found, the bulk of evidence favors an autoimmune mechanism. We examined the sera of 19 patients with Takayasu arteritis for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-DNA antibodies, antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENA), anti-Ro antibodies, anticardiolipin antibodies, circulating immune complexes, and anti–endothelial cell antibodies (AECA). Methods and Results We used enzyme-linked immunoassays, immunofluorescence, counterimmunoelectrophoresis, fluorescent-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis, and confocal microscopy. We found that although no patient had positive ANCA, ANA, anti-DNA antibodies, ENA antibodies, anti-Ro antibodies, or anticardiolipin antibodies, 18 of the 19 patients had AECA. The AECA titers of the patients were 2561±1458 compared with 126±15 arbitrary units in a normal group of control subjects ( P &lt;.001). To verify the specificity of AECA, we performed cytofluorimetry on human endothelial cells with the sera from patients and control subjects. Two entirely separate patterns of fluorescence intensity were identified. We next performed immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy with human endothelial cells subjected to patients' sera and to sera from normal subjects. The cells subjected to sera from patients with Takayasu arteritis demonstrated specific immunofluorescent staining of their plasma membrane and cytosol. Conclusions AECA are frequently present in patients with Takayasu arteritis. They may play a role in the pathogenesis. Furthermore, they may be useful as an additional diagnostic tool.
Uninsured Children and National Health Care Reform
Authors: Robert J. Yaes
Journal: JAMA (1993)

<h3>To the Editor.</h3> —In discussing policy options for providing health care access to uninsured children, Marquis and Long<sup>1</sup>ignore one of the most perverse features of the current Medicaid system. A family with children and no working adults could almost always qualify for both Aid to Families With Dependent Children and Medicaid. However, if one parent got a minimum-wage job, family income could exceed the Medicaid eligibility cutoff, and the family would lose its health insurance. In many cases, the value of the health insurance lost could exceed the after-tax income from that minimum-wage job. In such circumstances the decision to go on welfare, rather than work, would be perfectly logical. In order to avoid creating incentives that perpetuate the cycle of poverty and welfare dependence it is necessary to ensure that the advantages offered by welfare dependence never exceed those offered by gainful employment. In the case of
Hydroperitoneum, Traced to Chronic Ovaritis: Oophorectomy: Recovery
Authors: A. Doran
Journal: BMJ (1881)

up on the usual splint, with a gum and chalk bandage.Very little oozing of blood followed.;but much pain was complained of for twelve hours after the operation.June 22d.The boy's foot was in excellent position; the sole resting on the splint, and blocked immovably by an adjusted piece of felt-sheeting.July gth.The boy was convalescent.August 15th.All mechanical appliances were removed, and some thickened tissue was encouraged to diminish on the outer side of his foot, by laying the foot gently on its outer side.The foot was essentially in a flat position, but there still existed about a quarter of an inch of elevation of the heel, due to rigidity of the tendo Achillis.I did not deem it advisable to divide the tendon, because the case was due to a paralytic cause.August 23rd.I-Ie is now practising and learning to walk on his newly adjusted balance.
Development of guided bone regeneration membrane composed of β-tricalcium phosphate and poly (l-lactide-co-glycolide-co-ε-caprolactone) composites
Authors: Masanori Kikuchi, Yoshihisa Koyama, Takeki Yamada, Yukari Imamura, Takao Okada, Noriaki Shirahama, Kazumi Akita, Kazuo Takakuda, Junzo Tanaka
Journal: Biomaterials (2004)
The long QT syndrome: Therapeutic implications of a genetic diagnosis
Authors: W SHIMIZU
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2005)

The congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a hereditary disorder characterized by a prolonged QT interval and a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, known as torsade de pointes (TdP), leading to severe cardiac events such as syncope and/or sudden cardiac death. Molecular genetic studies have revealed a total of eight forms of congenital LQTS caused by mutations in genes of the potassium, sodium and calcium channels or membrane adapter located on chromosomes 3, 4, 7, 11, 12, 17 and 21. Genotype-phenotype correlation in clinical and experimental studies has been investigated in detail in the LQT1, LQT2 and LQT3 syndromes which constitute more than 90% of genotyped patients with LQTS, enabling us to stratify risk and to effectively treat genotyped patients.
SAVE THE PIECES.
Authors: J. R. BARNETT
Journal: JAMA (1898)

It is not long that "conservative medicine" and "conservative surgery" have been familiar terms to our ears; and yet by reason of their repetition it seems long. They would have sounded strangely in the mouth of a Watson or Erichsen, and were tentatively and diffidently spoken by a Flint and a Gross. Every day has its surgical record which reads as if the word conservative had not been incorporated into the language of our art; and as if surgery meant only amputation, mutilation, disfigurement, and as if her chosen colaborer were that carpenter of prothetic art, the wooden-leg maker. If one had the power to glean the facts and give a clinical report of the needless mutilations of yesterday, done under the stress of supposed necessity, of fingers and toes, hands and feet, arms and legs, amputated because their salvation was doubtful or deemed impossible, it would be a ghastly
A robust point-matching algorithm for autoradiograph alignment
Authors: Anand Rangarajan, Haili Chui, Eric Mjolsness, Suguna Pappu, Lila Davachi, Patricia Goldman-Rakic, James Duncan
Journal: Medical Image Analysis (1997)

We present a novel method for the geometric alignment of autoradiographs of the brain. The method is based on finding the spatial mapping and the one-to-one correspondences (or homologies) between point features extracted from the images and rejecting non-homologies as outliers. In this way, we attempt to account for the local, natural and artifactual differences between the autoradiograph slices. We have used the resulting automated algorithm on a set of left prefrontal cortex autoradiograph slices, specifically demonstrated its ability to perform point outlier rejection, validated its robustness property using synthetically generated spatial mappings and provided an anecdotal visual comparison with the well-known iterated closest-point (ICP) algorithm. Visualization of a stack of aligned left prefrontal cortex autoradiograph slices is also provided.
Prevalence of Heavy Smoking in California and the United States, 1965-2007
Authors: John P. Pierce
Journal: JAMA (2011)

<h3>Context</h3>The intensity of smoking, not just prevalence, is associated with future health consequences.<h3>Objective</h3>To estimate smoking intensity patterns over time and by age within birth cohorts for California and the remaining United States.<h3>Design, Setting, and Participants</h3>Two large population-based surveys with state estimates: National Health Interview Surveys, 1965-1994; and Current Population Survey Tobacco Supplements, 1992-2007. There were 139 176 total respondents for California and 1 662 353 for the remaining United States.<h3>Main Outcome Measure</h3>Number of cigarettes smoked per day (CPD), high-intensity smokers (≥20 CPD); moderate-intensity smokers (10-19 CPD); low-intensity smokers (0-9 CPD).<h3>Results</h3>In 1965, 23.2% of adults in California (95% confidence interval [CI], 19.6%-26.8%) and 22.9% of adults in the remaining United States (95% CI, 22.1%-23.6%) were high-intensity smokers, representing 56% of all smokers. By 2007, this prevalence was 2.6% (95% CI, 0.0%-5.6%) or 23% of smokers in California and 7.2% (95% CI, 6.4%-8.0%) or 40% of smokers in the remaining United States. Among individuals (US residents excluding California) born between 1920-1929, the prevalence of moderate/high-intensity smoking (≥10 CPD) was 40.5% (95% CI, 38.3%-42.7%) in 1965. Moderate/high-intensity smoking declined across successive birth cohorts, and for the 1970-1979 birth cohort, the highest rate of moderate/high-intensity smoking was 9.7% (95% CI, 7.7%-11.7%) in California and 18.3% (95% CI, 16.4%-20.2%) in the remaining United States. There was a marked decline in moderate/high-intensity smoking at older ages in all cohorts, but this was greater in California. By age 35 years, the prevalence of moderate/high-intensity smoking in the 1970-1979 birth cohort was 4.6% (95% CI, 3.0%-6.1%) in California and 13.5% (95% CI, 11.8%-15.1%) in the remaining United States.<h3>Conclusions</h3>Between 1965 and 2007, the prevalence of high-intensity smoking decreased greatly in the United States. The greater decline in high-intensity smoking prevalence in California was related to reduced smoking initiation and a probable increase in smoking cessation.
Mammography is no better than physical examination, study shows
Authors: D. Josefson
Journal: BMJ (2000)

Careful physical breast examination is as effective as screening mammography in reducing mortality from breast cancer in women aged over 50, according to a new study (Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2000;92:1490-9).The second Canadian national breast screening study found that mammography detected breast cancers earlier than physical breast examination, but surprisingly, earlier detection did not translate into a survival advantage.The Canadian study, led by