tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Methyl mercury and inorganic mercury in Swedish pregnant women and in cord blood: influence of fish consumption.
Authors: K Ask Björnberg, M Vahter, K Petersson-Grawé, A Glynn, S Cnattingius, P O Darnerud, S Atuma, M Aune, W Becker, M Berglund
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2003)

We studied exposure to methyl mercury (MeHg) in Swedish pregnant women (total mercury [T-Hg] in hair) and their fetuses (MeHg in cord blood) in relation to fish intake. The women were recruited at antenatal care clinics in late pregnancy to participate in an exposure study of environmental pollutants. Fish consumption was evaluated using food frequency questionnaires including detailed questions on fish consumption. In addition, we determined inorganic mercury (I-Hg) and selenium (Se) in cord blood. On average, the women consumed fish (all types) 6.7 times/month (range 0-25 times/month) during the year they became pregnant. They reported less consumption of freshwater fish--species that might contain high concentrations of MeHg--during than before pregnancy. T-Hg in maternal hair (median 0.35 mg/kg; range 0.07-1.5 mg/kg) was significantly associated (R2 = 0.53; p < 0.001) with MeHg in cord blood (median 1.3 microg/L; range 0.10-5.7 microg/L). Both hair T-Hg and cord blood MeHg increased with increasing consumption of seafood (r = 0.41; p < 0.001 and r = 0.46; p < 0.001, respectively). Segmental hair analysis revealed that T-Hg closer to the scalp was lower and more closely correlated with MeHg in cord blood than T-Hg levels in segments corresponding to earlier in pregnancy. We found a weak association between Se (median 86 microg/L; range 43-233 microg/L) and MeHg in cord blood (r = 0.26; p = 0.003), but no association with fish consumption. I-Hg in cord blood (median 0.15 microg/L; range 0.03-0.53 microg/L) increased significantly with increasing number of maternal dental amalgam fillings.
Hydrogen peroxide induces arachidonic acid release through increasing cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) phosphorylation utilizing an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mediated pathway in human airway epithelial cells
Authors: Rafal Pawliczak, Uday B Nanavaty, Xiulie Huang, Marion G Lawrence, James R Copland, Emily K Eckert, James H Shelhamer
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2002)
Early Recognition of Chronic Airway Disease by the 133Xe Lung Scan
Authors: Frank A. Dittrich
Journal: JAMA (1972)

Early airway disease, when it involves only the small peripheral airways, may not contribute sufficiently to airway resistance to be measured by the standard tests of ventilatory function. The<sup>133</sup>Xe lung scan is a relatively simple method for demonstrating maldistribution of regional ventilation caused by small-airway disease. In the case reported here, regional ventilation abnormalities were demonstrated with the<sup>133</sup>Xe lung scan, when the results of standard tests of pulmonary function were essentially normal.
Implementation of a leg ulcer strategy
Authors: C.J. Moffatt, P.J. Franks
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2004)

The care of patients with leg ulceration has developed over the past 15 years, although there is little information available to determine how these changes have affected clinical and patient defined outcomes.To describe and evaluate the implementation of a leg ulcer strategy.This study used a pre- and postimplementation evaluation within population-based services within the boundaries of community services providing leg ulcer care. Evidence-based leg ulcer services were developed, including standardized assessment using Doppler ultrasound, rationalization of treatment using multilayer elastic high compression, development of referral criteria and acute service support. Complete ulcer healing rates, health-related quality of life and use of health resources were evaluated after 12 weeks in both pre- and postimplementation cycles.A total of 955 patients were evaluated (518 preimplementation, 437 postimplementation). The levels of assessment and treatment were poor prior to the change in practice with just one patient having evidence of correct assessment and 49 (11%) receiving high compression therapy. Postimplementation, this improved to 412 of 437 (94%) having evidence of measurement of the ankle brachial pressure index, and 85% receiving compression. Twelve-week healing rates preimplementation ranged between 9% and 24%, and postimplementation rose from 19% to 39%. Combined overall healing rates improved from 71 of 518 (14%) to 160 of 437 (37%), odds ratio =3.53, P < 0.001. Frequency of treatment visits reduced from a mean (SD) of 24.0 (16.1) over 12 weeks to 13.5 (8.6), P < 0.001. Intervention led to major improvements in health-related quality of life (measured using the Nottingham Health Profile), with significant improvements for energy, pain, sleep and mobility (P < 0.01).Rationalization of leg ulcer services through a total service change results in improvements in professional practice, better patient outcomes, and efficient use of current resources. This study highlights the importance of a multifaceted approach to improve practice focused on the needs of individual organizational settings.
Experiences and Problems in the Disinfection of Fibre Endoscopes
Authors: H. Lindstaedt, L. Krizek, S. Miederer, K. Botzenhart
Journal: Endoscopy (1978)

The problem of the disinfection of fibre endoscopes is to achieve a good efficiency together with easy handling. There is not yet a disinfectant which shows a sufficient germicidal effect after a short time of contact with the fibre endoscope and which is harmless to the patient and medical staff. This paper deals with a two-stage disinfecting procedure in which the instrument undergoes a short intermediate disinfection using polyvidoneiodine (Betaisodona) between two investigations and a main disinfection at the end of a series of investigations using glutardialdehyde (Cidex). The measures lead to a sufficient reduction of the number of germs. The importance of the disinfection of all parts of the endoscopes, especially the channels and the accessories (water bottles etc.) is pointed out.
Anti–IL-5 (mepolizumab) therapy induces bone marrow eosinophil maturational arrest and decreases eosinophil progenitors in the bronchial mucosa of atopic asthmatics
Authors: Andrew Menzies-Gow, Patrick Flood-Page, Roma Sehmi, John Burman, Qutayba Hamid, Douglas S. Robinson, A.Barry Kay, Judah Denburg
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2003)
Metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Ataru Taniguchi, Mitsuo Fukushima, Akira Kuroe, Kenji Sakaguchi, Hiroko Hashimoto, Ikuko Yoshioka, Naomi Kitatani, Tomoko Tsuji, Michihiro Ohya, Minako Ohgushi, Shoichiro Nagasaka, Okihisa Isogai, Yoshikatsu Nakai, Nobuya Inagaki, Yutaka Seino
Journal: Metabolism (2007)
Brain SPECT Imaging of Ictal Smile Seizure
Authors: Sergio Modoni, Nicoletta Urbano, Marina Trivisano, Maria Grazia Pascarella, Giuseppe D’Orsi, Teresa Di Claudio, Luigi M. Specchio
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (2013)

"Ictal smile" is defined as a facial expression during a seizure, which usually translates happiness, clearly distinct from a tonic deviation of the mouth or other abnormal tonic-clonic movements involving the face, not associated to any happiness emotion (Epilepsia. 1998;39:1357-1360). It is a rare condition (6%-10% of patients; Epilepsia. 1998;39:1357-1360) and seems to be related to seizures arising from temporal or frontal regions (Brain. 2003;126:2121-2138).Anecdotal reports of brain perfusion SPECT performed during ictal and interictal phases (Epilepsia. 1998;39:1357-1360) do not supply, unfortunately, imaging documentation. Thus, we report the first evidence of brain perfusion abnormalities induced by ictal smile seizure.
Randomized multicenter phase II trial of navcap (vinorelbine and capecitabine) versus navcap followed by weekly docetaxel as first line treatment in HER-2/neu negative metastatic breast cancer patients: updated results.
Authors: M Ghosn, FS Farhat, JG Kattan, C Hanna, F Younes, N Haddad, P Aftimos, F Nasr, W Moukaddem, G Chahine
Journal: Cancer Research (2009)

Abstract Abstract #6116 Background: Capecitabine (C), vinorelbine (V) and docetaxel (D) are effective in the 1st line treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Based on the efficacy and the tolerability of Navcap (M. Ghosn et al. Antican Res 2006) and Navcap followed by docetaxel in MBC (M. Ghosn et al. Can Chemother Pharmacol 2008), we initiated a randomized phase II study. Primary Objective: To compare the objective response rate (ORR) of 8 cycles of Navcap vs. 4 cycles of Navcap followed by 12 weekly Docetaxel in the 1st line setting of MBC. Methods: Patients (pts) with measurable disease, no prior chemotherapy in MBC and Her-2/neu negative are eligible. All pts will receive Navcap (V 25 mg/m2 on d1 &amp; d8 as IV push and C 825 mg/m2 bid D1-14 q3w) for 4 cycles. Pts progressing under treatment with Navcap are withdrawn and receive Docetaxel as 2nd line treatment. Pts responding or stable after completing 4 cycles of Navcap are randomized to: Arm A (4 Navcap) or Arm B (12 weekly Docetaxel 25 mg/m²/week). Results: From July 2004 to June 2008, a total of 110 pts were enrolled. At the time of this analysis 78 pts had completed the first 4 cycles of Navcap with an ORR of 55% (CR 13%) and a stable disease of 19%. 20 pts (26%) were excluded from randomization due to PD. 58 pts were randomized: Arm A: 30 pts and Arm B: 28 pts. Patient characteristics are summarized in table 1. All pts were evaluable for response with objective response rates of 70% &amp; 78% in Arms A and B respectively. The median TTP &amp; overall survival are 10 &amp; 34 months in Arm A; 11 &amp; 34 months in Arm B. Statistical comparison for efficacy &amp; survival outcomes will be done once all pts are randomized &amp; long term follow-up is available. All pts were evaluable for toxicity. The majority of adverse events were mild. Arm A: Gr 4 neutropenia (3%), Gr 3 anemia (6%). Arm B: Gr 3-4 anemia (9.6%), Gr 3 leukopenia (4.8%) &amp; Gr 2 alopecia (14.3%). Conclusions: These preliminary results show that Navcap confirms its high response rate in 1st line treatment for HER-2/neu negative MBC. By the date of the meeting all pts will be randomized and will have completed their treatment. Mature data will be presented accordingly. (Protocol initiated &amp; coordinated by the Cancer Research Group/Collaborative Group, Beirut–Lebanon).&amp;#x2028; &amp;#x2028; Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 6116.
Beclomethasone Diproprionate for Severe Asthma During Pregnancy
Authors: Paul Allen Greenberger, R. Patterson
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1983)

The safety of using inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate for the treatment of severe asthma during pregnancy was evaluated during 45 pregnancies in 40 women. Despite chronic administration of theophylline and, in some women, ephedrine, the asthma was so severe that corticosteroids were essential to prevent emergency room visits and status asthmaticus. At conception, beclomethasone dipropionate was being used regularly during 38 pregnancies and was initiated during the first trimester in 4 other pregnancies. The range of beclomethasone dipropionate inhalations was 4 to 16/d with a mean of 9.5/d (336 µg). Prednisone administration was necessary during 37 pregnancies. Status asthmaticus occurred in five women but no mothers or fetuses died. Cardiac malformations occurred in an infant born to a woman who was diabetic and schizophrenic whose pregnancy was complicated by diabetic ketoacidosis and status asthmaticus. It is not known whether beclomethasone dipropionate was the cause of these malformations. The prevalence of congenital malformations (1 of 43 live births) is within the normal range and shows that treatment with beclomethasone dipropionate is safe during pregnancy when recommended doses are used.
Subtotal Cholecystectomy for “Difficult Gallbladders”
Authors: Mohamed Elshaer, Gianpiero Gravante, Katie Thomas, Roberto Sorge, Salem Al-Hamali, Hamdi Ebdewi
Journal: JAMA Surgery (2014)

Subtotal cholecystectomy (SC) is a procedure that removes portions of the gallbladder when structures of the Calot triangle cannot be safely identified in "difficult gallbladders."To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate current studies and present an evidence-based assessment of the outcomes for the techniques available for SC.A literature search of the PubMed/MEDLINE (1954 to November 2013) and EMBASE (1974 to November 2013) databases was conducted. Search criteria included the words subtotal, partial, insufficient or incomplete, and cholecystectomy.Inclusion criteria were all randomized, nonrandomized, and retrospective studies with data on SC techniques and outcomes. Exclusion criteria were studies that reported data on SC along with other interventions (eg, cholecystostomy) without the possibility to discriminate results specific to SC.This systematic review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.The primary outcome of the study was the occurrence of common bild duct injury. Secondary outcomes included the occurrence of other SC-related morbidities, such as hemorrhage, subhepatic collection, bile leak, retained stones, postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, wound infection, reoperation, and mortality.Thirty articles were included. Subtotal cholecystectomy was typically performed using the laparoscopic technique (72.9%), followed by the open (19.0%) and laparoscopic converted to open (8.0%) techniques. The most common indications were severe cholecystitis (72.1%), followed by cholelithiasis in liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension (18.2%) and empyema or perforated gallbladder (6.1%). Morbidity rates were relatively low (postoperative hemorrhage, 0.3%; subhepatic collections, 2.9%; bile duct injury, 0.08%; and retained stones, 3.1%); the rate for bile leaks was higher (18.0%). Reoperations were necessary in 1.8% of the cases; the 30-day mortality rate was 0.4%. The laparoscopic approach produced less risk of subhepatic collection (odds ratio [OR], 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.9), retained stones (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9), wound infection (OR, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.04-0.2), reoperation (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9), and mortality (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.05-0.9) but more bile leaks (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 3.9-7.2) compared with the open approach.Subtotal cholecystectomy is an important tool for use in difficult gallbladders and achieves morbidity rates comparable to those reported for total cholecystectomy in simple cases. The various technical differences appear to influence outcomes only for the laparoscopic approach.
Regulator gives green light to research using human-animal embryos
Authors: Zosia Kmietowicz
Journal: BMJ (2007)

Poor communication between primary care trusts and GPs is seriously compromising the safety of patients in England, a group of MPs said this week.In its latest report the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts also warns that 96% of GPs are failing to report dangerous incidents to the National Patient Safety Agency.For its report, which examines the Department of Health's progress in implementing clinical governance in primary care, the committee had taken evidence from the chief executive of the NHS, the deputy chief medical officer, and the NHS's director general of commissioning.Committee chairman Edward Leigh said, "Too many primary care organisations are paying lip service to the principles of the Department of Health's clinical governance agenda.The lines of communication between the primary care trusts, on the one hand, and their GPs and other healthcare contractors, on the other, are defective."He added: "How can we be confident in the NHS's ability to share learning locally and nationally about what can go wrong in health care when only a tiny proportion of GPs-4%-routinely report patient safety events and incidents to the National Patient Safety Agency?"In response to a series of high profile problems in the 1990s, including the Shipman murders and events at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, the health department introduced its 10 year programme to boost patient safety.The centrepiece was the clinical governance system.The new report suggests, however, that clinical governance is not as well established in primary care as in secondary care.The committee says that this is due largely to the complexity of the role of primary care trusts in commissioning and providing care and to the independence of contractors delivering health care, particularly GPs.The Committee of Public Accounts' 47th report of the current session can be found at www. parliament.uk/pac.Primary� care pay�s only� "lip service" to clinical governance, MPs say� UK NEWS Regulator gives green light to research using human-animal embryos, p 531 WoRld NEWS US me�ical authorities are accuse� o�� ��ailing to act over �octors in �uantanamo, p 53� US me�ical authorities are accuse� o�� ��ailing to act over �octors in �uantanamo, p 53� , p 53� bmj.comNumber o�� bipolar �isor�er �iagnoses leaps among US young people Number o�� bipolar �isor�er �iagnoses leaps among US young people
INDUCED SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE BLOOD TO INDOL
Authors: C. P. Rhoads, D. K. Miller
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1938)

1. Indol, orally administered, causes anemia when certain deficient diets are fed. 2. The same amount of indol causes no considerable hematologic disturbance when normal diets are fed. 3. The anemia can be cured by supplementing the diet with liver extract, or by substituting a normal diet for the deficient diet. 4. Neither the diet alone nor the administration of indol alone produces marked anemia under the experimental conditions observed.
Genetic Architecture of Insulin Resistance in the Mouse
Authors: Brian W Parks, Tamer Sallam, Margarete Mehrabian, Nikolas Psychogios, Simon T Hui, Frode Norheim, Lawrence W Castellani, Christoph D Rau, Calvin Pan, Jennifer Phun, Zhenqi Zhou, Wen-Pin Yang, Isaac Neuhaus, Peter S Gargalovic, Todd G Kirchgessner, Mark Graham, Richard Lee, Peter Tontonoz, Robert E Gerszten, Andrea L Hevener, Aldons J Lusis
Journal: Cell Metabolism (2015)
Financial insecurity is associated with poor diabetes control, study finds
Authors: S. Mayor
Journal: BMJ (2014)

Difficulty in paying for food, drugs, housing, and energy is associated with poor diabetes control, a US study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has shown.1 Its findings indicate that covering people’s healthcare costs is not enough to improve health without tackling unmet basic living needs.

Expanding provision of health insurance coverage in the United States will increase access to healthcare for patients with diabetes, but previous clinical trials have indicated …
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and the Complement System
Authors: E. ANTHONY JONES
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1979)

Primary biliary cirrhosis is a disease characterized by slowly progressive intrahepatic cholestasis, destructive lesions of the septal and larger interlobular bile ducts, and granulomas. It is associated with defects of both humoral and cellular immune function. As part of the detailed evaluation of these defects, the status of the complement system has been evaluated. Striking abnormalities of serum complement levels are found but are difficult to interpret. However, the demonstration of marked hypercatabolism of C3, but not albumin, suggests that the complement system may be in a chronically activated state. Furthermore, an unequivocal defect in the clearance of sensitized erythrocytes by receptors for C3b on Kupffer cells has been found. One possible explanation for this finding would be that a large proportion of these receptors are occupied either by immune complexes containing C3b or excess free C3b that is generated by complement activation. Major defects of C3 catabolism and C3b-receptor-mediated clearance are not found in patients with HBsAg-negative chronic active hepatitis. These findings suggest a role for the complement system in the pathophysiology of primary biliary cirrhosis.
Increased Expression of Integrin-Linked Kinase Attenuates Left Ventricular Remodeling and Improves Cardiac Function After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Liang Ding, Li Dong, Xin Chen, Lujie Zhang, Xiaoyu Xu, Albert Ferro, Biao Xu
Journal: Circulation (2009)

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling is associated with the development of heart failure after myocardial infarction. Here we investigated whether integrin-linked kinase (ILK) may regulate LV remodeling and function after myocardial infarction.Adenoviral vector expressing ILK (n=25) or empty adeno-null (n=25) was injected into rat peri-infarct myocardium after left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. ILK expression was confirmed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Echocardiographic and hemodynamic analyses demonstrated relatively preserved cardiac function in adeno-ILK animals. ILK treatment was associated with reduced infarct scar size, increased scar thinning ratio, and preserved LV diameter, wall thickness, cardiomyocyte size, and myofilament density. Enhanced angiogenesis and reduced fibrosis were observed in the adeno-ILK group, along with reduced apoptosis as demonstrated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling analysis. Moreover, increased cardiomyocyte proliferation was found in adeno-ILK animals, as measured by proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Ki-67, and phosphohistone-H3 staining. At long-term follow-up, most indices of cardiac function and hemodynamics showed no difference between adeno-ILK and control animals by 9 weeks, although LV end-systolic diameter and infarct scar size were reduced in the adeno-ILK group at this time point. Additionally, ILK overexpression was found to exert a rescue effect on remodeling when administered in a delayed fashion 1 week after coronary artery ligation.ILK gene therapy improves cardiac remodeling and function in rats after myocardial infarction and is associated with increased angiogenesis, reduced apoptosis, and increased cardiomyocyte proliferation. This may represent a new approach to the treatment of postinfarct remodeling and subsequent heart failure.