tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Stem Cell Research: A Target Article Collection Part III - Determining Moral Status
Authors: Ronald M. Green
Journal: The American Journal of Bioethics (2002)

In this chapter, I review some of the background thinking concerning matters of moral status that I had developed in previous years and that I would now bring to the work of the Human Embryo Research Panel. Two ideas were at the forefront of my thinking. First, that biology usually offers not decisive "events" but only continuous processes of development. Second, in making status determinations we do not so much "identify" a point on a developmental continuum where moral respect should be accorded as "choose" that point. These choices are "balancing decisions" in which the community of moral agents weighs its interests in protecting an entity against the burdens of doing so. After illustrating these two contentions, I consider some of the reasons why thinkers on the "right" and "left" of our bioethics debates have resisted or missed this basic insight.
Will the real fundamental difference underlying ideology please stand up?
Authors: Matt Motyl, Ravi Iyer
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2014)

Abstract Negativity bias explains many ideological differences, yet does not explain research such as conservatives' greater life satisfaction. Conservatives live in safer communities, perhaps to escape negative emotions, yet display numerous other community preferences unrelated to negativity. This tendency toward cognitive consistency can explain both these phenomena and many of the phenomena described in the target article.
Drug points: Amiodarone: a new treatment for psoriasis
Authors: A Hollman
Journal: BMJ (1986)

<h3>BACKGROUND:</h3> Spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) are used to assess the readiness for discontinuation of mechanical ventilation. When airway resistance (R<sub>aw</sub>) is elevated, the imposed work of breathing can lead to prolongation of mechanical ventilation. Biofilm and mucus build-up within the endotracheal tube (ETT) can increase R<sub>aw</sub>. Scraping the ETT can remove the biofilm build-up and decrease mechanical R<sub>aw</sub>. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of ETT scraping on R<sub>aw</sub>. The secondary aim was to determine whether decreasing R<sub>aw</sub> would impact subsequent SBT success. <h3>METHODS:</h3> Intubated, mechanically ventilated subjects were enrolled if they failed an SBT and had an R<sub>aw</sub> of &gt; 10 cm H<sub>2</sub>O/L/s. SBT failure was based on institutional guidelines, and R<sub>aw</sub> was calculated by subtracting the difference between the measured peak and plateau pressures using a square flow waveform with an inspiratory flow set at 60 L/min. The endOclear device was inserted into the ETT and withdrawn per manufacturer9s guidelines. Scraping was repeated until the ETT was cleared. Change in R<sub>aw</sub> was compared pre- and post-ETT scraping using a paired <i>t</i> test. A Mann-Whitney U test evaluated the difference in percentage change in R<sub>aw</sub> between SBT groups. <h3>RESULTS:</h3> Twenty-nine subjects completed the study. The mean pre- and post-ETT scraping R<sub>aw</sub> values were 15.17 ± 3.83 and 12.05 ± 3.19 cm H<sub>2</sub>O/L/s, respectively (<i>P</i> &lt; .001). Subsequent SBT success was 48%; however, there was no difference in percentage change in R<sub>aw</sub> between subsequent passed SBT (18.61% [interquartile range 8.90–33.93%]) and failed SBT (23.88% [interquartile range 0.00–34.80%]), U = 78.5, z = −0.284, <i>P</i> = .78. No adverse events were noted with ETT scraping. <h3>CONCLUSIONS:</h3> This study demonstrated that ETT scraping can reduce R<sub>aw</sub>. The decrease in R<sub>aw</sub> post-ETT scraping did not affect subsequent SBT success.
Elevated chemokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with eosinophilic pneumonia
Authors: Shigeki Katoh, Nobuhiro Matsumoto, Kiyoyasu Fukushima, Hiroshi Mukae, Jun-ichi Kadota, Shigeru Kohno, Shigeru Matsukura
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2000)
Vibrio vulnificus
Authors: Jeffrey M. Johnston
Journal: JAMA (1983)

<i>VIBRIO vulnificus</i>, one of the many halophilic<i>Vibrio</i>species that inhabit littoral waters worldwide,<sup>1,2</sup>causes primary septicemia and wound infections,<sup>3</sup>with cases reported from Japan, Belgium, and the United States.<sup>4,5</sup>The mortality rate among recognized cases of<i>V vulnificus</i>septicemia is almost 50%, and many of the survivors have permanent sequelae.<sup>3</sup>The source of infection is presumed to be the marine environment<sup>6</sup>; however, the route of acquisition has been debated.<sup>4,7,8</sup>In this report, we describe a case of<i>V vulnificus</i>septicemia in a leukemic patient who consumed raw oysters. The organism was also isolated from a sample of leftover oysters in the patient's refrigerator. <h3>Report of a Case</h3> A 73-year-old man with acute myeloblastic leukemia in relapse was admitted to the hospital on Oct 14, 1981, with the sudden onset of fever, chills, and sweats 18 hours after eating 2½ dozen raw oysters. He
Effect of Estrogen plus Progestin on Risk for Biliary Tract Surgery in Postmenopausal Women with Coronary Artery Disease: The Heart and Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study
Authors: Joel A. Simon, Donald B. Hunninghake, Sanjay K. Agarwal, Feng Lin, Jane A. Cauley, Christine C. Ireland, James H. Pickar
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2001)

Background: Animal and observational epidemiologic studies have reported that estrogens may increase the risk for gallstones. No major clinical trials have examined the effect of estrogen plus progestin therapy in postmenopausal women on the risk for biliary tract surgery. Objective: To determine the effect of estrogen plus progestin on the risk for biliary tract surgery in postmenopausal women with known coronary artery disease. Design: Randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of postmenopausal hormone therapy for coronary heart disease. Setting: 20 U.S. clinical centers. Participants: 2253 postmenopausal women with a gallbladder, 44 to 79 years of age at baseline, in the Heart and Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study (HERS). Intervention: Conjugated equine estrogens, 0.625 mg, plus medroxyprogesterone acetate, 2.5 mg, daily in one tablet or identical placebo. Measurements: Documented biliary tract surgery. Results: A total of 147 women (7%) were hospitalized for biliary tract surgery in HERS. Treatment with estrogen plus progestin resulted in a marginally significant 38% increase in the relative risk for biliary tract surgery (P = 0.05). A small absolute difference in risk suggested that for every 185 women treated with estrogen plus progestin, one additional woman had biliary tract surgery per year. After adjustment for baseline and in-study statin use, the association was attenuated further (P = 0.09). After adjustment for treatment assignment and other variables, increased body mass index, fibric acid use, and a history of nonsurgical gallbladder disease were associated with an increased risk for biliary tract surgery, whereas statin use was associated with a decreased risk (for each comparison, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Estrogen plus progestin therapy among postmenopausal women with known coronary disease resulted in a marginally significant increase in the risk for biliary tract surgery.
HIV infection in inner city A department
Authors: S E Barton, S J Booth, M Poznansky, J Torkingon, J Fothergill, R Touquet, J Weber
Journal: BMJ (1994)

EDITOR, - M C Poznansky and colleagues' study of the prevalance of HIV infection among patients attending accident and emergency department highlights the use of accident and emergency services by HIV positive people.1 This has implications for the training of staff as well as the planning of services.

The authors' data raise important questions that require further explanation and debate. In particular, the authors found that three quarters of the patients who were HIV positive were “foreign visitors.” Their table suggests that at least five of these people (and possibly as many as eight) were registered with a general practitioner. This finding that up to 85% of the foreign visitors who were HIV positive but only 28% of those who were HIV negative were registered with a general practioner is surprising. In our experience, foreign visitors attending an accident and emergency department are unlikely to …
Non-ulcer dyspepsia and peptic ulcer: the distribution in a population and their relation to risk factors.
Authors: B Bernersen, R Johnsen, B Straume
Journal: Gut (1996)

BACKGROUND: The aetiology of non-ulcer dyspepsia and a possible connection to peptic ulcer disease is debated. This paper discusses this problem in a population based study. AIMS: The relation between non-ulcer dyspepsia and peptic ulcer disease was explored by the distribution in the general population and their associations to demographic, lifestyle, and psychological factors. METHODS: All inhabitants of a community aged 20-69 years received a questionnaire concerning abdominal complaints, health, lifestyle, diet, and social conditions. Reports on peptic ulcer were verified with medical records. Dyspeptic subjects and matched healthy, non-dyspeptic controls were endoscoped in a blinded procedure. SUBJECTS: Of 2027 persons invited, 1802 (88.9%) returned the questionnaire from which dyspeptic subjects and controls were identified. Of 782 subjects invited to endoscopy, 309 dyspeptic and 310 control subjects (79.2%), participated. RESULTS: Men reported dyspepsia (30.4%) and peptic ulcer (8.7%) more often than women (24.1% and 5.2%, respectively). Non-ulcer dyspepsia was frequent (between 10.6% and 17.2%) in both sexes and age groups up to 60 years, with a lower frequency in both men and women above this age (3.0% and 6.8%). Non-ulcer dyspepsia was associated with having a family history of dyspepsia and of peptic ulcer and the use of tranquillisers. Nearly one third of dyspeptic persons above the age of 40 years had peptic ulcer, but peptic ulcer prevalence was low under this age. Peptic ulcer was associated with a family history of peptic ulcer, smoking, and daily life stress, and also with poor living conditions during childhood, frequent recurrence of herpes labialis, conditions that were associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. CONCLUSIONS: Non-ulcer dyspepsia and peptic ulcer have different patterns of relations to lifestyle, social, and psychological factors. The results perhaps support the hypothesis of peptic ulcer being an infectious disease in contrast with non-ulcer dyspepsia.
The relative safety and efficacy of clopidogrel in women and men: Meta-analysis of 79,613 patients enrolled in CREDO, CURE, CLARITY-TIMI 28, COMMIT, and CHARISMA
Authors: Jeffrey S Berger, Deepak L Bhatt, Christopher P Cannon, Zhengming Chen, J B Jones, Shamir R Mehta, Marc S Sabatine, Steven R Steinhubl, Eric J Topol, Peter B Berger
Journal: Circulation (2007)
Should the Patient Know?
Authors: Paul J. Rosch
Journal: JAMA (1979)

To the Editor.—  Neither the article by Novack et al (241:897, 1979) nor the accompanying editorial by Emil J Freireich, MD (241:928, 1979), refers to important considerations as to why the patient should be informed of the diagnosis of malignant neoplasms and, more important, the manner in which this information should be imparted. There is increasing evidence attesting to the importance of the patient's active participation in any therapeutic protocol, particularly with respect to carcinoma, and there is a great need for education in this area. The attitude of the public—and to a large extent, the medical profession—toward cancer has been shaped by societal and cultural factors. The diagnosis of cancer is still held in some circles to be a death sentence, from no doubt many factors, including the fear of disfigurement, constant pain, and social ostracism.  There is abundant evidence for this in such euphemisms as moon children, which
Grades of Hypothyroidism
Authors: D. C. Evered, B. J. Ormston, P. A. Smith, R. Hall, T. Bird
Journal: BMJ (1973)

Seventy-nine patients with hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroid disease were studied, and allotted to one of four categories on the basis of clinical and biochemical features. Firstly, patients with overt hypothyroidism had obvious clinical features of hypothyroidism and abnormal results from routine tests of thyroid function. Secondly, those with mild hypothyroidism, however, had minor and non-specific symptoms, but the routine measurements of circulating thyroid hormone concentration generally lay within the normal range, although they were significantly lower than those seen in subclinical hypothyroidism or in normal subjects. The serum concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was raised in this group and their symptoms resolve with treatment. Thirdly, patients with subclinical hypothyroidism were asymptomatic, had a raised serum TSH concentration, but all other measurements of thyroid function are indistinguishable from those recorded in people with autoimmune thyroid disease without disturbance of thyroid function and in normal subjects. Lastly, subjects with circulating thyroid antibodies, normal indices of thyroid function, and a normal serum TSH concentration were indistinguishable biochemically from normal subjects. Thus hypothyroidism is a graded phenomenon, the most valuable features for defining the individual grade being the clinical manifestations, the serum TSH concentration, and the presence of circulating antibodies to thyroid tissue.
Risk factors for local recurrence of superficial esophageal cancer after treatment by endoscopic mucosal resection
Authors: M. Esaki, T. Matsumoto, K. Hirakawa, S. Nakamura, J. Umeno, H. Koga, T. Yao, M. Iida
Journal: Endoscopy (2007)

See also: Commentaire de travail de M. Esaki et al., pp. 41Endoscopy 2007; 39(01): 191-191DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1306910
Translational Success Stories
Authors: Michiel Coppens, John W. Eikelboom, David Gustafsson, Jeffrey I. Weitz, Jack Hirsh
Journal: Circulation Research (2012)

Anticoagulants are the cornerstone of therapy for conditions associated with arterial and venous thrombosis. Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) are anticoagulants that bind to thrombin and block its enzymatic activity. The bivalent parenteral DTIs hirudin and bivalirudin were based on the observation that the salivary extracts of medicinal leeches prevented blood from clotting. Key events that facilitated the subsequent development of small molecule active site inhibitors, such as argatroban, were the observation that fibrinopeptide A had antithrombotic properties and determination of the crystal structure of thrombin. Hirudin and argatroban have found their niche for the treatment of patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, whereas bivalirudin is approved as an alternative to heparin for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. The development of orally active direct thrombin inhibitors was challenging because of the need to convert water-soluble, poorly absorbable, active site inhibitors into fat-soluble prodrugs that were then transformed back to the active drug after intestinal absorption. Dabigatran etexilate was the first new oral anticoagulant to be approved for long-term anticoagulant treatment in 6 decades. This Review highlights the development of DTIs as a translational success story; an example in which the combination of scientific ingenuity, structure-based design, and rigorous clinical trials has created a new class of anticoagulants that has improved patient care.
Prevention and regression of atopic dermatitis by ointment containing NFkB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides in NC/Nga atopic mice model
Authors: Hiroshige Nakamura, Motokuni Aoki, Katsuto Tamai, Masako Oishi, Toshio Ogihara, Yasufumi Kaneda, Ryuichi Morishita
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2002)
396 Hepatitis C virus NS3 serine protease-neutralizing single-chain antibodies; isolation and characterization
Authors: M. Gal-Tanamy, E. Ben-Zeev, R. Zemel, L. Bachmatov, Y. Berdichevsky, M. Eisestein, I. Benhar, R. Tur-Kaspa
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2004)
Developmental progress after cardiac surgery in infancy using hypothermia and circulatory arrest.
Authors: P M Clarkson, B A MacArthur, B G Barratt-Boyes, R M Whitlock, J M Neutze
Journal: Circulation (1980)

Seventy-two of 76 long-term survivors who had surgical repair of congenital heart lesions at 11 days to 26 months of age using profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest underwent psychometric testing (Stanford-Binet) late postoperatively. The mean IQ of the 72 patients was 92.9 +r16.5 (SD). Stanford-Binet scores bore no relationship to the duration of circulatory arrest or other aspects of surgical technique. Scores were significantly lower in those who had a low birth weight for gestational age, important neurologic problems preoperatively or were in the lower socioeconomic classes. An "ideal" control group of 69 children randomly selected from patients satisfying certain criteria based on birth and neonatal characteristics had a mean IQ of 106.2 +r11.6. Twenty-five patients who had surgical treatment of cogenital heart disease met the criteria for the control group except for their heart lesions. Their mean IQ was 101.4 +r15.0(NS). We could not demonstrate any significant deleterious effect that could be attributed to the surgical methods. Rather, the postoperative IQ scores reflected characteristics related to individual patients.
Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Henry S. Patton
Journal: JAMA (1974)

To the Editor.—  A friend of mine, Gilbert G. Eade, MD, of Seattle does not defend the very excellent comment inThe Journal(228:463, 1974) of Drs. Brodkin, Bleiberg, and Abbey.  I confirm their article and voice disagreement with Dr. Eade. In our practice, we see over and over again severe facial destruction because the simple basal cell carcinomas are overlooked by the general practitioner, or are considered innocuous.  There are many areas of the body where these lesions are slow-growing for a long time, but we consider those on the edge of the nose, the ear, particularly the concha, the eyelid and inner canthus, and the lips as specific areas where a small lesion can be eradicated without any effort. Nevertheless, they will cause terrific expense and prolongation of therapy if they become so involved that total reconstruction is in order or if in the shorter course of simple
Drug Use and Somatic Illnesses with Psychological Component: A Nation-Wide Survey among Adolescents and Adults in Greece
Authors: M.G. Madianos, D. Madianou-Gefou, C.N. Stefanis
Journal: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (1993)

A cross-sectional home survey on drug use, mental health, somatic illnesses and psychosocial issues was carried out with a nation-wide multi-stage probability sample of 4,292 persons aged 12–17, 18–24 and 25–64. This article aims at investigating the relationship of specific categories of somatic illnesses with a psychological component to the use of licit and illicit drugs. For the purpose of analysis the total sample was divided into three mutually exclusive groups: group A included respondents who have reported illicit drug use 1–3 or more times in their lives; group B comprised respondents who have reported the use of licit psychotropic drugs 3 or more times in their lives; group C included non-user respondents. A higher proportion of respondents of groups A and B of both sexes in all three age strata reported the presence of a specific somatic illness such as bronchial asthma, essential hypertension, peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis or eczema, in comparison to group C (non-user) respondents. This difference was greater in the adolescent group 12–17 years of age. Possible explanations of the association between somatic illness with a psychological component and drug use are discussed.
Stereoselective renal clearance of pindolol in humans.
Authors: P H Hsyu, K M Giacomini
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1985)

In this study, pindolol, a beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent marketed as a racemic mixture, was used as a model compound to investigate stereoselective renal clearance of organic cations in human beings. Six normal subjects received an oral dose of 20 mg racemic pindolol. Heart rate and blood pressure were measured throughout the study. A stereospecific high performance liquid chromatographic procedure was used to quantitate the concentrations of d- and l-pindolol in plasma and urine. Renal clearance and other pharmacokinetic parameters of both enantiomers were calculated and compared. The renal clearance of l-pindolol was greater than that of d-pindolol in all subjects. The renal clearance (mean +/- SD) was 240 +/- 55 ml/min for l-pindolol and 200 +/- 51 ml/min for d-pindolol (P less than 0.01). Since stereoselective binding to plasma proteins was not observed, differences in renal clearance between d- and l-pindolol were caused by either stereoselective renal transport, or stereoselective renal metabolism. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve, the amount of drug excreted, and the half-life of l-pindolol were greater than those of d-pindolol, which suggests that pindolol was also eliminated stereoselectively by nonrenal routes. The slopes of the resting heart rate vs. the plasma concentration of l-pindolol were significantly less than zero and were significantly correlated to the pretreatment heart rate, which supports the hypothesis that intrinsic sympathetic tone largely determines the effect of pindolol on the resting heart rate. The observation that pindolol is eliminated stereoselectively by the kidney may have clinical implications for other racemic drugs that are renally eliminated.
Prevalence of hepatitis A and B infections in multiply transfused thalassaemic patients.
Authors: G Papaevangelou, G Frosner, J Economidou, S Parcha, A Roumeliotou
Journal: BMJ (1978)

Evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections was south in 148 multiply transfused patients with thalassaemia and in healthy controls (2040 for HBV and 217 for HAV). The prevalence of the HBV surface antigen or antibody to it was significantly higher in patients than in controls and increased with the number of blood transfusions. In contrast, the prevalence of antibody to HAV was significantly lower in patients than in controls and decreased with the number of blood transfusions. These results support the view that blood transfusion does not play any appreciable part in transmitting HAV. Indeed, regular blood transfusion, where donors almost all have HAV antibody, seems to give protection against infection.