tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Extreme Attitudes to Body Shape, Social and Psychological Factors and a Reluctance to Breast Feed
Authors: J Barnes, A Stein, T Smith, J I Pollock, Alspac Study
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1997)

Despite widespread advocacy of breast feeding, many babies are breast fed only briefly, if at all. Mothers' decisions on how to feed are often made before the birth; so we have sought demographic, social and psychological factors that might be amenable to intervention during pregnancy. In the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood about 12,000 women completed questionnaires in pregnancy. Univariate analyses were carried out to establish which factors were related to breast feeding intentions. All significant factors in univariate analyses were entered into logistic regression analyses. Demographic characteristics independently related to intentions to breast feed included older maternal age, more maternal education, primiparity and not smoking; in previous work all these had been associated with actual feeding behaviour. Social relationship variables had a small influence. Of the psychological variables, a notable finding was that women who were preoccupied with their body shape and those who expressed controlling, less child-centred, responses to managing an infant in the postnatal months were less likely to express intentions to breast feed. Depression did not predict breast feeding intentions once the other factors had been taken into account. Health care professionals may be able to intervene to increase breast feeding by making routine enquiries during antenatal care and targeting appropriate subgroups.
Abstract 1345: The Effects of a Standard Fat- and Calorie-Restricted Diet vs. a Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian Diet on Adiponectin
Authors: Sushama D Acharya, Maria M Brooks, Rhobert Evans, Faina Linkov, Lora E Burke
Journal: Circulation (2009)

Adiponectin is an adipocytokine with anti-inflammatory properties that might play a role in the development of atherosclerosis. Data from several epidemiological studies suggest that adiponectin le...
Abstract 1924: Longterm Outcome Of Pediatric Patients With Discrete Subaortic Stenosis
Authors: Christian Drolet, Joaquim Miro, Jean-Marc Côté, Letizia Gardin, Charles V Rohlicek
Journal: Circulation (2007)

INTRODUCTION: We previously reported the clinical outcomes of a large pediatric cohort with discrete subaortic stenosis (SubAS) 1 . While patients with more significant left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) at diagnosis progressed rapidly others with mild LVOTO at presentation showed little progression of obstruction or aortic insufficiency (AI). A limitation of our previous study was a relatively short follow-up period. OBJECTIVE: To extend the follow-up of our previously described cohort with SubAS. METHODS: Information was gathered retrospectively on 71 previously identified patients diagnosed with SubAS from 1985–1998. RESULTS: Current data was available on 61/71 patients. At diagnosis the average age was 5.2±0.5 years (mean±SEM), peak LVOT Doppler gradient (Echograd) was 30±3 mmHg, and AI (all mild) was present in 25%. At last assessment the average age was 15.7±0.4 years. Twenty patients were followed only medically and were last reassessed 9.2±1.0 years after diagnosis at 15.8±0.7 years of age. The mean Echograd was unchanged from diagnosis (19±2 vs. 19±3 mmHg). The incidence of AI on echocardiography (all mild) increased from 5% to 55% although none was detectable by auscultation. Forty-one patients underwent surgery 3.0±0.5 years after diagnosis at 7.4±0.6 years of age. The Echograd at diagnosis was 35±3 and increased to 61±6 mmHg pre-operatively. Ten patients were re-operated 5.7±0.7 years after the first surgery and 2 patients had a second re-operation. The last follow up of the operated patients occurred at 15.7±0.6 years of age. At that time the Echograd was 16±3 mmHg and the incidence of AI by echocardiography had increased to 98% (36 mild &amp; 3 moderate) but was evident on auscultation in only 25%. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the largest and longest contemporary follow-up of pediatric patients with discrete SubAS. Our results indicate that some patients with SubAS show significant LVOTO at diagnosis and subsequent progression. Surgery in these patients provides good relief of LVOTO but does not eliminate AI. The one third of patients presenting with mild LVOTO and AI show little progression through childhood and adolescence. We suggest that the latter can be safely followed medically. 1) Rohlicek et al. Heart 82:708;1999
Theatre: Whose Life is it Anyway?
Authors: Sum Yee Chan
Journal: BMJ (2005)

One of the questions that Claire Harrison, the central character of this play, asks of her doctors is “What is the point of giving me back my consciousness if I cannot use it?” Harrison, played by Kim Cattrall, is a sculptor who is left quadriplegic following a road crash. She uses her wit and intelligence to deal with her situation, sometimes engaging in sexual banter with hospital staff, sometimes opting for more emotional soul searching. Her life has been saved through the hard work of one Dr Emerson, but her consciousness is the only part of her that is intact. The medical staff, perhaps made uncomfortable by Harrison's constant questioning or perhaps to ease her emotional suffering, give her sedative drugs. But whose suffering is really being eased? The patient's or the doctors', and whose life is it anyway?

Brian Clark's play, written in 1976 for a male lead, initially in the West End, was a hit with Tom Conti. It has since been performed by female leads on Broadway as well as being made into a film starring Richard Dreyfuss. It raises many difficult issues, the most difficult of all being when Harrison learns that she will not get better, and so decides to find a means of dying.

In the light of Lord Joffe's Assisted Dying for The Terminally Ill Bill and the Mental Capacity Bill, which are both currently before parliament, the play raises especially apt and topical questions. Lord Joffe's bill, if passed, would allow people to help those who are terminally ill to commit suicide, and the Mental Capacity Bill would allow people to give somebody the power of attorney to make decisions on their behalf if they become too ill to decide for themselves, or make “living wills” about withholding treatment.

This play is not afraid to probe deeper into these difficult issues or to show the reality of Harrison's situation. Her death, if she is allowed to die, may be extremely distressing if it occurs through dehydration or “toxin build up.” The script has been updated to make references to two famous recent cases, those of “Miss B” and Diane Pretty.

Most of the action takes place around Harrison's hospital bed, where she engages in witty encounters with Sister Anderson, who is too “professional” to show any emotion, the student nurse who is only just starting out but has already learnt not to talk about anything personal, and the hospital orderly who is the only person free enough to connect with Claire Harrison as a person.​person.




Figure 1



The play raises topical questions




Dr Emerson, the head of the unit, is Harrison's main adversary. He is not shown in a bad light, but only as trying to do the best for his patients. His registrar, however, grows more sympathetic to Harrison's wishes. Finally, she resorts to the legal system with a bedside hearing to try to get her way.

The message for doctors seems to be that we need to listen more to our patients and treat them more as people. The message for everyone is that the debate about euthanasia must be continued.
Abstract 371: Prevalence and Spectrum of Thin Filament Mutations in 1025 Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Melissa L Will, Andrew P Landstrom, J. Martijn Bos, Bernard J Gersh, Steve R Ommen, Michael J Ackerman
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Background Recently, genetic testing for sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) became a commercially available diagnostic test involving analysis of 8 HCM-associated myofilament genes, four of which encode thin filament proteins - TNNT2- encoded cardiac troponin T, TPM1 -encoded alpha tropomyosin, TNNI3- encoded cardiac troponin I, and ACTC- encoded cardiac actin. Compared to the two most common subtypes of sarcomeric HCM, much less is known about the prevalence and spectrum of thin filament HCM. Methods Comprehensive open reading frame/splice site mutational analysis of these 4 thin filament-encoding genes was performed, using polymerase chain reaction, denaturing high performance liquid chromatography, and direct DNA sequencing, on the largest assembled cohort of unrelated patients (N = 1025, 61% male, 49 ± 18 years at diagnosis, maximal left ventricular wall thickness, LVWT, 22.3 ± 7 mm) with clinically diagnosed HCM that were seen at the Mayo Clinic. Results Nineteen distinct missense mutations, involving conserved residues and absent in 600 reference alleles, were identified in 36 of 1025 patients (3.5%) including TNNT2 (16 patients), TNNI3 (12), TPM1 (7) and ACTC (1). Among these 36 patients with thin filament-HCM, their average age at diagnosis was 33.2 ± 16 years and the average LVWT was 21 ± 8 mm. Eighteen patients (50%) had evidence for familial HCM and 13% had a positive history for sudden cardiac death. Only 13 patients (36%) had a reverse septal curvature by echocardiography. Instead, 12 patients (34%) had either sigmoidal or neutral septal contours and 9 patients (25%) had apical variant-HCM. Conclusion Here, we present the largest cohort analysis of thin filament HCM to date and detail the prevalence and spectrum of HCM-associated mutations in these 4 genes. Compared to the strong association between reverse septal curvature and thick filament HCM, the septal morphology associated with thin filament HCM was quite varied. Contrary to published estimates of the frequency of troponin T-HCM (5 – 10%) and the other subtypes of thin filament HCM, the prevalence of thin filament HCM was very low in this cohort. If confirmed in other cohorts, a revised cascade for HCM genetic testing should be considered.
Abstract 774: Decreased Number And Functional Activities Of Endothelial Progenitor Cells In CuZnSOD-deficient Mice.
Authors: Jessika Groleau, Sylvie Dussault, Paola Haddad, Julie Turgeon, Catherine Ménard, Alain Rivard
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Background: Several risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are associated with reduced neovascularization in response to ischemia. A common feature of all cardiovascular risk factors is increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide. We have recently demonstrated that mice that are deficient for CuZnSOD present impaired neovascularization in response to ischemia. Here we tested the hypothesis that endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) dysfunction might be involved in this neovascularization defect. Methods and results: Seven days after surgically induced hindlimb ischemia, EPCs were isolated from CuZnSOD deficient mice (CuZnSOD −/ − , n=8 –10) or control mice (CuZnSOD +/+ , n=8 –10). We found that the number of EPCs was significantly reduced in the bone marrow (40.6±3.0 vs 70.5±5.0, p&lt;0.05) and the spleen (0.29±0.06 vs 0.54±0.11, p&lt;0.001) of CuZnSOD −/ − mice compared to controls. Moreover, EPC functional activities were significantly impaired in CuZnSOD −/ − mice. More specifically, we found that EPC adhesion was reduced by 41%, migration by 88%, proliferation by 46% and integration into tubules by 77% in CuZnSOD −/ − mice. To confirm the role of EPCs in vivo, we isolated CD117+ cells (also acLDL and lectin positive when cultured for 4 days in vitro) from the bone marrow of CuZnSOD +/+ mice and performed an intravenous injection (5X10 5 cells) into CuZnSOD −/ − mice at 24 hours after surgically-induced hindlimb ischemia. Interestingly, EPC supplementation in CuZnSOD −/ − mice led to a complete rescue of ischemia-induced neovascularization, as assessed by blood flow recuperation in the ischemic hindlimb (Laser-Doppler analysis). Moreover, EPC therapy in CuZnSOD −/ − mice was also associated with a significant reduction of oxidative stress in ischemic tissues (nitrotyrosine and DHE staining). Conclusions: CuZnSOD deficiency is associated with a significant reduction in the number and the functional activities of EPCs. Cellular therapy with EPC can rescue the impaired neovascularization in CuZnSOD −/ − mice. Our results suggest that increased oxidative stress could contribute to explain EPC dysfunction and impaired neovascularization associated with different cardiovascular risk factors.
Abstract 12212: A Theory-Based Intervention Improves Medication Adherence and Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure
Authors: Jia-Rong Wu, Donna J Corley, Mona A Abed, Debra K Moser
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Background: Nonadherence to heart failure (HF) medications contributes to worse outcomes, yet there are few successful interventions that enhance adherence in HF. Objective: The purpose was to dete...
Mandatory disease reporting by German laboratories: a survey of attitudes, practices and needs
Authors: A  P Zucs, J Benzler, G Krause
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2005)

In 2000, the new German infectious disease control act replaced aggregate with individual case reporting. The process was facilitated by the simultaneous introduction of electronic data transfer within the public health system. Reporting laboratories have not been electronically connected to this network. A survey by means of a postal questionnaire was conducted in 2003 among 537 German medical microbiology laboratories to explore their reporting habits, preference for electronic reporting formats, and relevant software equipment. Almost 90% of the respondents indicated a reporting delay of no more than 24 hours and 45% were still manually filling in paper forms for reporting purposes. The introduction of electronic reporting formats was favoured by 74% of the laboratories although 33% were not using any microbiology-specific software and the remaining 67% listed 62 different products. Pilot projects with selected software manufacturers might help to pave the way for the implementation of a standardised electronic infectious disease reporting format in Germany.
Abstract 1345: Chronic Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibition Reduces Arrhythmogenic Vulnerability of the Aged Mouse Heart
Authors: Mera Stein, Harold V van Rijen, Mohamed Boulaksil, Eva Herold, Toon A van Veen, Maartje Noorman, Markus A Engelen, Richard N Hauer, Jacques M de Bakker
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Background Aging-induced cardiac fibrosis results in arrhythmia vulnerability of the aged RV of the mouse heart. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) governs myocardial collagen synthesi...
Routine Vitamin Supplementation To Prevent Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease: Recommendations and Rationale
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2003)

This statement summarizes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on routine vitamin supplementation to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease and the supporting scientific evidence. Part of the information on which this statement is based, including evidence tables and references, is available in the accompanying article on vitamins to prevent cardiovascular disease in this issue. More complete information can be found in the summaries of the evidence on vitamins to prevent cancer and vitamins to prevent cardiovascular disease, available on the USPSTF Web site (http://www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov) and through the National Guideline Clearinghouse (http://www.guideline.gov). The summaries of the evidence on these topics and the recommendation statement are also available in print through subscription to the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, Third Edition: Periodic Updates. A subscription costs $60 U.S. and can be ordered through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Publications Clearinghouse (call 800-358-9295 or e-mail mailto:ahrqpubs@ahrq.gov).
A Patient With Type 2N von Willebrand Disease Is Heterozygous for a New Mutation: Gly22Glu. Demonstration of a Defective Expression of the Second Allele by the Use of Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: J. Gu, S. Jorieux, J.M. Lavergne, C. Ruan, C. Mazurier, D. Meyer
Journal: Blood (1997)
Acute Systemic Reaction and Lung Alterations Induced by an Antiplatelet Integrin gpIIb/IIIa Antibody in Mice
Authors: Bernhard Nieswandt, Bernd Echtenacher, Frank-Peter Wachs, Josef Schröder, J. Engelbert Gessner, Reinhold E. Schmidt, Georges E. Grau, Daniela N. Männel
Journal: Blood (1999)
Abstract 2883: Retroinfusion-facilitated Inotropic AAV9-S100A1 Gene Therapy Restores Global Cardiac Function In A Clinically Relevant Pig Heart Failure Model
Authors: Sven T Pleger, Changguang Shan, Jan Kziencek, Oliver Mueller, Raffi Bekeredjian, Andrew B Remppis, Walter J Koch, Hugo A Katus, Patrick Most
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Background: Cardiac expression of the Ca-dependent inotropic protein S100A1 is decreased in human end-stage heart failure (HF) and cardiomyocyte-targeted viral-based S100A1 gene transfer rescued failing myocardium in small animal models in vivo and in vitro via improved systolic and diastolic sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-handling. We therefore hypothesized that cardioselective AAV9-S100A1 gene therapy will improve cardiac performance in a large animal experimental HF model under clinical conditions. Methods and Results: Left ventricular (LV) posterolateral myocardial infarction (MI) was induced in pigs by occlusion of the left coronary circumflex artery and resulted in LV failure (HF) 2 weeks post-MI reflected by a 40% and 27% reduction in LV +dp/dt max. and EF, respectively, as assessed by LV catheterization and echocardiography. Post-MI HF pigs were then randomized for retroinfusion of AAV9-luciferase (luc; n=6, 1.5×10 13 total viral particles, tvp) and AAV9-S100A1 (S100A1; n=6, 1.5×10 13 tvp) driven by a cardioselective promoter via the anterior cardiac vein while the left anterior descending artery was temporarily occluded. 14 weeks after cardiac gene transfer, the S100A1-treated HF group showed significantly enhanced S100A1 protein expression (+46.7±17.9%, P&lt;0.05 vs. control groups) in targeted remote LV myocardium and improved indices of cardiac function and remodeling (luc vs. S100A1: +dp/dtmax: 983±81 vs. 1526±83 mmHg/s, EF: 39±2.1 vs. 61±3.7 %, P&lt;0.05 S100A1 vs. luc, LV endsystolic diameter: luc 4.45±0.1 vs. S100A1 3.43 ±0.1 cm, P&lt;0.05 S100A1 vs. luc, HR: 72±4 vs. 69±2, beats/min, P=n.s. S100A1 vs. luc). Importantly, analyses of renal, hepatic and hematopoetic function showed no alteration as assessed by unchanged transaminases, retention values and white blood cell counts compared to sham pigs. Conclusions: Our translational study provides proof of concept that AAV9-S100A1 based HF gene therapy is feasible and restores cardiac function in a large animal HF model under clinical conditions. Next, certified toxicological analysis and different AAV9-S100A1 dosage protocols will be assessed to eventually advance to first phase I/II clinical studies determining therapeutic efficiency of cardiac S100A1 gene therapy in HF patients.
Abstract 8525: Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Protects Kidneys Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Through Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Reaction
Authors: Yung-Lung Chen, Tzu-Hsien Tsai, Sarah Chua, Hon-Kan Yip
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background: Reactive oxygen species are important mediators exerting toxic effects on various organs during ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. We hypothesized that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) protect the kidney against oxidative stress and inflammatory stimuli in rat during renal IR injury. Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n=24) were equally randomized into group 1 (sham control), group 2 (IR plus culture medium only), and group 3 (IR plus immediate intra-renal administration of 1.0 × 10 6 autologous ADMSCs, followed by intravenous ADMSCs at 6h and 24h after IR). The duration of ischemia was 1h, followed by 72 hours of reperfusion before the animals were sacrificed. Results: Serum creatinine and blood urea-nitrogen levels and the degree of histological abnormalities were markedly lower in group 3 than in group 2 (all p&lt;0.03). The mRNA expressions of inflammatory, oxidative stress, and apoptotic biomarkers were lower, whereas the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-apoptotic biomarkers were higher in group 3 than in group 2 (all p&lt;0.03). Immunofluorescent staining showed a higher number of CD31+, von Willebrand Factor+, and heme oxygenase (HO)-1+ cells in group 3 than in group 2 (all p&lt;0.05). Western blot showed notably higher NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 and HO-1 activities, two indicators of anti-oxidative capacity, in group 3 than those in group 2 (all p&lt;0.04). Immunohistochemical staining showed higher glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities in group 3 than in group 2 (all p&lt;0.02). Conclusion: ADMSC therapy minimized kidney damage after IR injury through suppressing oxidative stress and inflammatory response (The possible mechanisms of ADMSC therapy in protecting kidney from IR injury are schematically presented in the following figure).
Abstract 11264: Impact of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on Acute-Phase Outcome of Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Kohei Wakabayashi, Manuel A Gonzalez, Cedric Delhaye, Itsik Ben-Dor, Michael Mahmoudi, Gabriel Maluenda, Michael A Gaglia, Loic Belle, Rebecca Torguson, Zhenyi Xue, William O. Suddath, Lowell F. Satler, Kenneth M. Kent, Joseph Lindsay, Augusto D. Pichard, Ron Waksman
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Background: Several reports have alluded to the adverse effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on long-term prognosis of patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Little information...
Gonorrhoea treatment failures to cefixime and azithromycin in England, 2010
Authors: C A Ison, J Hussey, K N Sankar, J Evans, S Alexander
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2011)

Successful treatment of gonorrhoea is the mainstay of public health control. Cefixime and ceftriaxone, highly active third generation cephalosporins, are today the recommended first-line agents in most countries and azithromycin is a second-line agent. However, there is increasing evidence of decreasing susceptibility and emergence of therapeutic failures. In this report two cases of clinical failure to cefixime are described, one of which additionally shows failure to azithromycin and selection of a less susceptible strain during treatment.
Clinical and Angiographic Characteristics of Patients Likely to Have Vulnerable Plaques
Authors: Christos V. Bourantas, Hector M. Garcia-Garcia, Vasim Farooq, Akiko Maehara, Ke Xu, Philippe Généreux, Roberto Diletti, Takashi Muramatsu, Martin Fahy, Giora Weisz, Gregg W. Stone, Patrick W. Serruys
Journal: JACC. Cardiovascular imaging (2013)