tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
A cluster of Listeria monocytogenes infections in hospitalised adults, Midlands, England, February 2011
Authors: N Coetzee, V Laza-Stanca, J M Orendi, S Harvey, N C Elviss, K A Grant
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2011)

Hospital-acquired listeriosis cases are not commonly reported but remain a significant public health problem. We report on three cases in patients with underlying conditions occurring during one week in February 2011. The cases had common exposure to pre-packed sandwiches and salads manufactured in compliance with regulations. Breaches in cold chain and shelf life controls at hospital level were identified as key contributing factors. Rigorous hospital food management systems remain important for patient safety.
Abstract 14741: Asian Dust Has an Impact on the Incidence of Acute Myocardial Infarction ~a Time-stratified Case-crossover Study
Authors: Sunao Kojima, Kunihiko Matsui, Kayo Ueda, Hiroshi Nitta, Hisao Ogawa
Journal: Circulation (2014)

Introduction:  Air pollution, a mixture of gases and particles that come from manmade and natural sources, has been shown to increase hospi¬tal admission and mortality attributable to cardiovascular diseases. Asian dust (AD), a windblown sand dust originating from mineral soil in the desert, and PM2.5, which comes from cars and trucks, power plants, industrial boilers, other industrial sources and wildfires, are the standard for particulate matter representing air pollution.   Hypothesis:  We assessed the hypothesis that AD and PM2.5 were associated with the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Kumamoto prefecture.   Methods:  Kumamoto prefecture is located in southwestern Japan and has a stable population of 1.8 million. A total of 3,670 AMI patients in 2009-2012 in Kumamoto prefecture were entirely registered and 199 AMI patients whose onset date was not definite were excluded in the present study. A time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted to assess the association between particulate matters and AMI incidence. Within-subject comparisons were made between a case and control periods in this design. The study estimated the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals associated with AMI incidence during the case day to a few previous days using conditional logistic regression.   Results:  The case-crossover analysis showed that PM2.5 was not significantly associated with the incidence of AMI (Figure upper). However, the results after adjustment for temperature and relative humidity revealed a close association between AD and the incidence of AMI (Figure lower). The strong association was observed on day 1. Adding co-pollutants including oxidants, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide in the basic model did not substantially alter the results.   Conclusions:  AD increases the incidence of AMI compared with PM2.5. Attention should be called to patients already at high risk for cardiovascular disease in case of an official announcement of AD warning.
Letter From Le May and Cariou Regarding Article, “Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin Type 9 Promotes Intestinal Overproduction of Triglyceride-Rich Apolipoprotein B Lipoproteins Through Both Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor–Dependent and –Independent Mechanisms”
Authors: Cedric Le May, Bertrand Cariou
Journal: Circulation (2015)
Radio-sensitization of lung cancer cells harboring over-expressed EGFR by EGF stimulation
Authors: Seema Gupta, Chandra Childress, Mansoor Ahmed, Wannian Yang
Journal: Cancer Research (2007)

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA

3762 

Many types of cancers that over-express epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exhibit resistance to radiotherapy. In the present study, two lung cancer cell lines harboring wild type EGFR but differing in the extent of expression were analyzed for their radiation sensitivity. Interestingly, A549 cells which are relatively more resistant to radiation and have at least 3 times more copy number of EGFR than H460 cells, showed reduction in cell survival (colony forming assay) following stimulation with EGF. The cell survival further decreased when stimulation was followed by 2 Gy irradiation. In H460 cells, however, EGF stimulation plus 2 Gy radiation resulted in a slight increase in survival when compared to radiation alone. In A549 cells, these effects were reversible when cells were treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, AG1478 for EGF alone and EGF with 2 Gy treatments. As expected, there was a slight decrease in survival in H460 cells with AG1478. Cell growth kinetics and cell cycle distribution analysis showed significant growth delay and a transient G2/M block in A549 cells in the groups either irradiated or treated with AG1478 with or without EGF stimulation. In H460 cells, a profound cytostatic effect was observed in the irradiated groups. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the differences in response, the effects of EGF signaling and ionizing radiation (IR) on expression of early growth response-1 (EGR-1), a transcription factor that sensitizes cells to radiation were also investigated. In A549 cells, Western blot analysis showed that both EGF and IR induced expression of EGR-1. IR enhanced the expression of EGF induced forms of EGR-1. In H460 cells, radiation alone did not induce expression of EGR-1, however, EGF stimulation induced expression of EGR-1. Furthermore, 5 Gy IR markedly enhanced EGF-induced expression of EGR-1 while 10 Gy radiation did not significantly affect the EGF-induced expression. A physical interaction of EGFR with high molecular weight EGR-1 was observed by co-immuno-precipitation assays in both A549 and H460 cells treated with EGF plus 5 Gy IR. Interestingly, in H460 cells, EGR-1 also co-immuno-precipitated with EGFR. While, significant changes in transactivation function of EGR-1 were not observed in H460 cells by CAT reporter assay, a slight increase in EBS-CAT reporter activity was observed in A549 cells with IR alone and in combination with EGF stimulation. These results suggest that either abrogation of radiation-induced cell cycle checkpoints or other factors such as EGR-1 may modulate EGFR-mediated effects through yet unidentified pathways leading to modulation of radiation sensitivity in lung cancer cells.
Recent Advances: Cardiology - I: Treatment of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and angina pectoris
Authors: J McMurray, A Rankin
Journal: BMJ (1994)

In the past 12 months there have been many advances in our understanding of how to treat heart disease.In the first part of this two part review we summarise the most important of these advances in the treatment of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and angina pectoris.
ATM attenuates Myc-driven lymphomagenesis by sensing oncogene-induced DNA damage in vivo
Authors: Maurice Reimann, Ines Schildhauer, Christoph Loddenkemper, Harald Stein, Bernd Dörken, Clemens A. Schmitt
Journal: Cancer Research (2005)

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005

2599 

Activation of oncogenic Myc is known to provoke massive apoptosis via the ARF/p53 pathway as a cellular safeguard mechanism to counteract malignant transformation. Accordingly, disruption of apoptosis by Bcl2 overexpression, as well as genetic ablation of ARF or p53 results in dramatically accelerated Myc-driven tumor formation in the Eμ-myc transgenic mouse lymphoma model. Mutations in the ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated) gene, encoding a DNA damage sensing and transducing kinase, are frequently found in lymphomas and are associated with chemoresistance in patients, but the underlying mechanism of a potential cooperation between oncogenic signaling and ATM loss has not been elucidated in vivo. Eμ-myc transgenic mice were intercrossed to ATM knockout mice to generate ATM+/+, ATM+/−, and ATM−/− mice that constitutively express Myc in the B cell compartment. B cell lymphoma formed significantly faster in ATM−/− compared to ATM+/+ mice. Interestingly, ATM+/− mice produced tumors with an intermediate latency, hereby implying haploinsufficiency for ATM action, since these tumors retained a functional wild-type allele. Moreover, around 40% of the ATM+/+ and ATM+/−, but none of the ATM−/− lymphomas expressed surface IgM, indicating that loss of ATM may result in less mature pro or pre B cell lymphomas. However, similar lymphoma chromosome counts between genotypes ruled out chromosomal instability as a driving force. No overt differences were found for proliferation indices as assessed by ki67 staining. By contrast, TUNEL in situ staining unveiled a significant reduction of spontaneous apoptosis in Myc-driven ATM−/− lymphomas. Importantly, activation of Myc in primary non-neoplastic B cells produced a massive, at least partially p53-dependent apoptotic response that was largely abolished in the absence of ATM. Hence, activation of the p53 pathway is a Myc provoked failsafe mechanism that requires ATM, although genetic analyses revealed that ATM-dependent defects in the p53 response may not fully compensate for the strong selection against p53 during lymphomagenesis. Moreover, reactive oxygen species (ROS), known ATM activators, were detectable at much higher levels in Myc-driven lymphomas as compared to normal B lymphocytes, and generated DNA damage that could be prevented by the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine. Based on these findings, we propose a novel role for ATM in converting oncogene-induced DNA damage into a p53-activating signal that counteracts malignant transformation in vivo.
A Novel Model of Acute Lysosomal Thesaurismosis of Proximal Tubular Cells Associated With Marked Proliferation of Peritubular Interstitial-cells Induced By Poly-d-glutamic Acid in Rat-kidney
Authors: Bk. Kishore, Paul M. Tulkens, Pierre Maldague, Pierre J. Courtoy
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (1994)
Inspiring the next generation of physician-scientists
Authors: Robert J. Lefkowitz
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2015)

As academic physician-scientists, one of the most important things we do is mentor young trainee-scientists. There obviously is no one right way to mentor or a set of rules one can follow; it's a very personal matter, and very much depends on one's personality. For much of my career, I gave very little thought as to how I mentored my trainees or to whether I was any good at it. Like many investigators, perhaps, I was just too busy with the daily activities of research to consider how I was guiding my students. Here, I take a look back and reflect on my experiences as a mentor and the factors that I believe contribute to the success of trainees as independent scientists.
Australian immunisation registers: established foundations and opportunities for improvement
Authors: L K Chin, N W Crawford, G Rowles, J P Buttery
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2012)

The National Immunisation Program Schedule in Australia is formulated and funded nationally under the population-wide Medicare system. The policy is implemented by the eight state and territory jurisdictions. The national immunisation registers consist of the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR), and, more recently, the National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Program Register. Moreover, a variety of jurisdiction-based registers and primary care practice software systems exist, which interact with the national registers. General practitioners can obtain reports listing patients under seven years attending their practice and recorded as 'not fully immunised', and immunisation coverage rates for their practice linked to government incentives through Medicare. A 2011 report documents national coverage of 91.8% fully immunised at 12 months, and 92.6% at 24 months. The HPV register provides information on vaccination coverage with the potential to link with a register of cervical cancer screening results. Limitations of current national register include inability to easily access immunisation histories beyond seven years of age, and issues of underreporting and timeliness, which impact significantly the immunisation coverage estimates. The linkage of these registers with healthcare outcome data will further enhance public health outcomes by enabling rapid, population-level vaccine safety and effectiveness investigations in a nation with a track record as an 'early adopter' of new childhood vaccines.
Abstract 2248: Expression of TF and Alternative Spliced TF mRNA Isoforms in Linfomonocytes and Platelets of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes
Authors: Marina Camera, Marta Brambilla, Deborah Colnago, Karl Gertow, Monica Demetrio, GianCarlo Marenzi, Paolo Biglioli, Elena Tremoli
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Tissue Factor (TF), the key initiator of the coagulation cascade, is responsible for the thrombogenicity of the atherosclerotic plaque. Studies on patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) showed...
The effect of dose on the safety and immunogenicity of the VSV Ebola candidate vaccine: a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1/2 trial
Authors: Angela Huttner, Julie-Anne Dayer, Sabine Yerly, Christophe Combescure, Floriane Auderset, Jules Desmeules, Markus Eickmann, Axel Finckh, Ana Rita Goncalves, Jay W Hooper, Gürkan Kaya, Verena Krähling, Steve Kwilas, Barbara Lemaître, Alain Matthey, Peter Silvera, Stephan Becker, Patricia E Fast, Vasee Moorthy, Marie Paule Kieny, Laurent Kaiser, Claire-Anne Siegrist
Journal: The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2015)
Physiological and sensorial effects of surgical treatment for bronchiectasis
Authors: Camilla Carlini Vallilo, Andre Luis Pereira de Albuquerque, Ricardo Mingarini Terra, João Marcos Salge, Milena Mako Suesada, Marcia Cistina Augusto, Fabiane Polisel, Edilene de Morais, Paulo Manuel Pêgo-Fernendes
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background: Bronchiectasis is a significant cause of morbidity and surgical treatment is commonly indicated. Objective: To evaluate the physiological and sensorial effects of surgery in patients with bronchiectasis who failed to medical treatment.

Methods: All patients with non-cystic fibrosis were submitted to thoracotomy. The main measurements pre and post 3 and 9 months lung resection were: QOL using SF-36v2, Lung Function Tests and Maximal Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test on cycle ergometer.

Results. Out of 61 patients, 53 (50.9% male; 41.3 ±12.9 yrs) underwent surgical resection, but only 44 complete the nine months of follow-up. Two patients died and minor complications occurred in 24.5%. Lobectomy was performed in 83%. Functionally, they were characterized of mild obstruction and diminished exercise capacity. Their QOL were worse than expected for healthy individuals. Surgery resulted in mildly reduction of lung volume and the exercise capacity was not decreased at 3 and 9 months

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, but in fact 52% improved their exercise performance. QOL improved significantly achieving values considered normal for general population. The results are similar for lobectomy and pneumonectomy.

Conclusion. Lung resection resulted in non-clinical significant drop of lung function and the patients maintained exercise capacity with important benefits in QOL at 3 and 9 months after surgery.
Mutations in NEUROD1 are associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Maciej T. Malecki, Ulupi S. Jhala, Anthony Antonellis, Liz Fields, Alessandro Doria, Tihamer Orban, Mohammed Saad, James H. Warram, Marc Montminy, Andrzej S. Krolewski
Journal: Nature Genetics (1999)
Establishing the onset of psychotic illness
Authors: M Beiser, D Erickson, J A Fleming, W G Iacono
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1993)

To date, the literature has provided no standardized, replicable method for establishing illness onset. The authors describe a method for dating the first appearance of prodromal signs of psychotic illness, the emergence of an acute episode, and the initiation of treatment seeking.Using reports by family and friends about a sample of 141 subjects with first-episode psychosis, the investigators derived a checklist of behaviors describing the evolution of various phases of illness. Supplied with the checklist, clinician pairs independently rated the critical phases in the evolution of illness: first appearance of noticeable symptoms, first appearance of prominent psychotic symptoms, and initiation of treatment seeking.The judges achieved good reliability in assigning age at the first appearance of psychotic symptoms and at initiation of treatment seeking. Judging the beginning of the prodrome proved more difficult. Insidious onset proved as characteristic of affective psychosis as of schizophrenia, while treatment lag--the interval between emergence of acute psychotic symptoms and initiation of treatment seeking--was longer for schizophrenia than for affective psychosis. Onset of schizophrenia occurred earlier in women than in men. Depression with psychotic features appeared earlier in men than women.Although dating the onset of illness phases is probably feasible, efforts to improve reliability must continue. The study results challenge beliefs about gender differences in age at onset.
Abstract 11863: Enhanced Adventitial Vasa Vasorum Formation in Patients With Vasospastic Angina -Assessment With Optical Frequency Domain Imaging-
Authors: Kensuke Nishimiya, Yasuharu Matsumoto, Jun Takahashi, Takeshi Kato, Kazuma Oyama, Uzuka Hironori, Yuji Odaka, Taro Nihei, Kiyotaka Hao, Ryuji Tsuburaya, Kenta Ito, Hiroaki Shimokawa
Journal: Circulation (2014)

Background: We have previously demonstrated that adventitial inflammation, including enhanced formation of adventitial vasa vasorum (VV), is involved in the pathogenesis of coronary spasm in porcine models and that optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) allows us to visualize adventitial VV in humans in vivo. However, it remains to be elucidated whether adventitial VV is also involved in the coronary hyperconstriction in patients with vasospastic angina (VSA). In this study, we thus examined the extent of VV formation in VSA patients and control subjects by using OFDI. Methods: OFDI image acquisition of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was performed along the LAD at every 10 mm length after intracoronary administration of isosorbide dinitrate in 21 patients with acetylcholine-induced spasm and 10 control subjects without the spasm. Results: Patient characteristics were comparable between VSA patients and control subjects, including sex, age, cardiovascular risks and medications. OFDI and reconstructed 3D-OFDI images clearly visualized enhanced VV formation in VSA patients as compared with control subjects (Figure). Quantitative analysis showed that VV area was significantly larger in VSA patients than in control subjects (VSA, 0.093±0.006 vs. control, 0.040±0.006 mm 2 , P&lt;0.0001), whereas vessel diameter, wall thickness and coronary lesion types were all comparable between the 2 groups. Conclusions: These results demonstrate for the first time that adventitial VV formation is enhanced at the spastic coronary segment in VSA patients, suggesting the important role of adventitial VV in the pathogenesis of coronary spasm.
Abstract P168: High Incidence of Delay in Emergency Call and Analysis of the Causes in Japan: Need of public relations that emphasize “Call 119 when someone becomes unresponsive”
Authors: Keisuke Ohta, Miki Enami, Yutaka Takei, Hideo Inaba
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Incidence and causes of delay in Emergency call were analyzed in 3267 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that were witnessed by bystanders or not witnessed but found by citizens from April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2007 in Ishikawa Prefecture. Emergency calls were considered to be significantly delayed when interval of collapse or event recognition to call exceeded 2 min. The incidence of delay was 32.9% (1076/3267) in the all arrests and significantly higher in urban (Non-Central) areas than in rural (the Central) area (691/1539 vs. 385/1728, p&lt;0.001). Telephone-assisted CPR was performed in 501 out of 1076 delayed cases and CPR was initiated in 331 cases. The proportions of ROSC and successful resuscitation were significantly lower when the call was delayed (178/1076 vs. 490/2191 p&lt;0.001, 153/1076 vs. 415/2191 p&lt;0.001, respectively). As shown in Table, the major causes of delay were identified in 906 out of 1076 cases. The delay was considered to be correctable in 607 cases if the bystanders or citizens had understood when they should call 119. These results indicate that significance of early call should be more emphasized in basic life support courses. The public relations that emphasize “Call 119 when someone becomes unresponsive” may be necessary for all citizens to be aware of the significance of early call.
Loperamide in acute diarrhoea in childhood: results of a double blind placebo controlled multicentre clinical trial.
Authors: Evans Na, Hendrickse Rg, Macfarlane Sb, Meiring He, Milla Pj, Moody Jb, Sandhu Bk, Smith Ml, Taylor Cj, Walker-Smith Ja
Journal: BMJ (1984)

A total of 315 young children with acute diarrhea were included in a double blind hospital based multicenter study of loperamide at 2 dose levels (0.8 mg and 0.4 mg/kg/24 hours) given with standard oral rehydration therapy vs. placebo plus oral rehydration therapy.  The overall recovery rate was slowest in the placebo group and fastest in the group given loperamide 0.8 mg.  Comparisons between weights on admission and weights by day 3 showed a larger proportion of children in the loperamide groups gained weight than in the placebo group.  No serious side effects of loperamide were observed but the drug was withdrawn in 1 infant because of mild abdominal distention.  Results indicate that loperamide in the doses used is safe and may in selected cases be a useful adjunct to oral rehydration therapy in the management of acute diarrhea in well-nourished children.  (authors modified)