tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Wind Direction and Its Linkage with <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> Dissemination
Authors: Shlomit Paz, Meir Broza
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2006)

The relevance of climatic events as causative factors for cholera epidemics is well known. However, examinations of the involvement of climatic factors in intracontinental disease distribution are still absent.The spreading of cholera epidemics may be related to the dominant wind direction over land.We examined the geographic diffusion of three cholera outbreaks through their linkage with the wind direction: a) the progress of Vibrio cholerae O1 biotype El Tor in Africa during 1970-1971 and b) again in 2005-2006; and c) the rapid spread of Vibrio cholerae O139 over India during 1992-1993. We also discuss the possible influence of the wind direction on windborn dissemination by flying insects, which may serve as vectors.Analysis of air pressure data at sea level and at several altitudes over Africa, India, and Bangladesh show a correspondence between the dominant wind direction and the intracontinental spread of cholera.We explored the hypothesis that winds have assisted the progress of cholera Vibrios throughout continents. The current analysis supports the hypothesis that aeroplankton (the tiny life forms that float in the air and that may be caught and carried upward by the wind, landing far from their origin) carry the cholera bacteria from one body of water to an adjacent one. This finding may improve our understanding of how climatic factors are involved in the rapid distribution of new strains throughout a vast continental area. Awareness of the aerial transfer of Vibrio cholerae may assist health authorities by improving the prediction of the disease's geographic dissemination.
Selection of a Prosthetic Heart Valve
Authors: Albert Starr, Gary L. Grunkemeier
Journal: JAMA (1984)

USEFUL knowledge results from information collected in the past and synthesized, condensed, and organized to provide the best possible clue to future performance. Our purpose here is to arrive at that point by a review of the experience with heartvalve replacement during the last 30 years. Examination of data from current prostheses must be viewed from the perspective of experience, not expectations. <h3>ORIGINS OF VALVE REPLACEMENT: THE 1950s</h3> The earliest valvular substitute was Hufnagel's ball valve inserted into the descending aorta in 1952. With the introduction of cardiopulmonary bypass in 1953 came the possibility of complete replacement of cardiac valves in their anatomic position, and many laboratories and investigators devised replacement prostheses. Among the devices tried were artificial trileaflet valves made of pericardium, Teflon, Dacron, polyurethane, and Silastic; monocusp flap valves made of steel, polyester film (Mylar), or Silastic; and other configurations, including butterfly, sleeve, bicuspid, and quadricuspid made from
Abnormal Chromosome Repair and Risk of Developing Cancer
Authors: William W. Au
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1993)

Several scientists have proposed that DNA repair deficiencies and the induction of a mutator phenotype are responsible for the generation of multiple mutagenic alterations in cancer cells.I propose that exposure to environmental carcinogens can induce DNA lesions, elicit infidelity of DNA repair, and cause the instability phenomenon and the subsequent consequences.Using cell lines derived from mammary glands of irradiated mice, my laboratory conducted sequential studies to document genetic events leading to the development of malignant cells in vitro.We found that aneuploidy and extensive chromosome breaks and rearrangements occurred early.This is followed by inactivation of the retinoblastoma tumor-suppressor gene, amplification of the myc oncogene, and expression ofthe tumorigenic phenotype.Our observation ofchromosome instability at the early phase of transformation is consistent with the mutator phenotype.We suggest that a cause of the instability is infidelity of DNA repair, and we have developed a challenge assay to elucidate this phenomenon.In this assay, cells are challenged to repair radiation-induced DNA lesions.In one of our studies, lymphocytes from cigarette smokers and nonsmokers were exposed to y rays in vitro.Cells from smokers had significantly more rearranged chromosomes than cells from nonsmokers after the challenge.These data suggest that smokers have infidelity ofDNA repair and that this repair problem is a cause of health effects in smokers.In an in vitro study, lymphocytes were exposed to mitomycin C or to nickel acetate and then irradiated with y rays.Significantly increased frequencies of rearranged chromosomes were detected with low doses of mitomycin C and nickel, which do not cause chromosome damage by themselves.Lymphocytes from patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis were found to have infidelity of DNA repair after exposure to UV-light in our challenge assay.This sensitivity is consistent with the predisposition to skin cancer after exposure to sunlight.Our studies suggest that infidelity ofchromosome/DNA repair can generate an unstable genome, which allows genetic alterations relevant to the development of cancer to evolve.Furthermore, infi'delity of chromosome/ DNA repair allows the generation of multiple genetic alterations in the multistep carcinogenic process.
Epidemiology of toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-induced respiratory disease.
Authors: J M Peters, D H Wegman
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1975)

This paper describes our experience with the respiratory effects of TDI. Five respiratory reactions attributable to TDI are described with supporting evidence. The reactions are sensitization, irritation from overexposure, acute loss of ventilatory capacity, accelerated loss of pulmonary function and induction of a general asthmatic state. Evidence is presented that suggests a safe exposure level.
The treatment of decorative tattoos with the carbon dioxide laser
Authors: S.W. LANIGAN, R.A. SHEEHAN-DARE, J.A. COTTERILL
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1989)

The carbon dioxide laser was used in the treatment of 51 patients with decorative tattoos. Sixty-eight treatments were performed under local anaesthesia. Morbidity from treatment was low. Results 6 months after treatment in 44 patients revealed excellent or good results in 24 patients and hypertrophic scarring in three patients. These results confirm the value of this laser in the treatment of tattoos and demonstrate the advantages of this therapy over other treatments currently employed.
Enhanced Arteriogenesis and Wound Repair in Dystrophin-Deficient <i>mdx</i> Mice
Authors: Stefania Straino, Antonia Germani, Anna Di Carlo, Daniele Porcelli, Roberta De Mori, Antonella Mangoni, Monica Napolitano, Fabio Martelli, Paolo Biglioli, Maurizio C. Capogrossi
Journal: Circulation (2004)

The absence of functional dystrophin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients and in mdx mice results in progressive muscle degeneration associated with necrosis, fibrosis, and inflammation. Because vascular supply plays a key role in tissue repair, we examined whether new blood vessel development was altered in mdx mice.In a model of hindlimb ischemia on femoral artery dissection, hindlimb perfusion, measured by laser Doppler imaging, was higher in mdx mice (0.67+/-0.26) than in wild-type (WT) mice (0.33+/-0.18, P<0.03). In keeping with these data, a significant increase in arteriole length density was found in mdx mice (13.6+/-8.4 mm/mm3) compared with WT mice (7.8+/-4.6 mm/mm3, P<0.03). Conversely, no difference was observed in capillary density between mice of the 2 genotypes. The enhanced regenerative response was not limited to ischemic skeletal muscle, because in a wound-healing assay, mdx mice showed an accelerated wound closure rate compared with WT mice. Moreover, a vascularization assay in Matrigel plugs containing basic fibroblast growth factor injected subcutaneously revealed an increased length density of arterioles in mdx (46.9+/-14.7 mm/mm3) versus WT mice (19.5+/-5.8 mm/mm3, P<0.001). Finally, serum derived from mdx mice sustained formation of endothelium-derived tubular structures in vitro more efficiently than WT serum.These results demonstrate that arteriogenesis is enhanced in mdx mice both after ischemia and skin wounding and in response to growth factors.
CHEMICAL, CLINICAL, AND IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE PRODUCTS OF HUMAN PLASMA FRACTIONATION. X. THE CONCENTRATIONS OF CERTAIN ANTIBODIES IN GLOBULIN FRACTIONS DERIVED FROM HUMAN BLOOD PLASMA 12
Authors: John F. Enders
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1944)

Their results are considered in a separate paper in this series.cedures which have been invoked only occa- sionally are not included. METHODSWe present the following description of the methods which have been used in the laboratory of the Depart- ment of Bacteriology and Immunology at the Harvard Medical School in testing for certain of the antibodies.In addition is included reference to the procedure adopted by Doctors A. Wadsworth and M. Kirkbride and Miss J. Hendry, at the State of New York Department of Health Laboratories, for determining the streptococcal antitoxin content of the fractions.
Traditional Chinese acupuncture: a potentially useful antiemetic?
Authors: J W Dundee, W N Chestnutt, R G Ghaly, A G Lynas
Journal: BMJ (1986)

Two consecutive studies were undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture as an antiemetic used in addition to premedication with opioids in patients undergoing minor gynaecological operations. In the first study 25 of the 50 patients underwent acupuncture immediately after premedication with 100 mg meptazinol, the rest receiving the drug alone, and in the second 75 patients were allocated randomly to one of three groups: a group receiving 10 mg nalbuphine and acupuncture, a group receiving premedication and dummy acupuncture, and a group receiving premedication alone. Manual needling for five minutes at the P6 acupuncture point (Neiguan) resulted in a significant reduction in perioperative nausea and vomiting in the 50 patients who underwent acupuncture compared with the 75 patients who received no acupuncture. These findings cannot be explained, but it is recommended that the use of acupuncture as an antiemetic should be explored further.
Chromosomal location of a human alpha interferon gene family.
Authors: D L Slate, P D'Eustachio, D Pravtcheva, A C Cunningham, S Nagata, C Weissmann, F H Ruddle
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1982)

To determine the chromosomal location of the human alpha interferon genes, we scored a series of human/rodent somatic cell hybrids for the presence of DNA sequences hybridizing to an alpha 1 interferon DNA probe. The presence of human chromosome 9 in a hybrid correlated with the presence of a family of alpha interferon genes.
Premature termination of variable gene rearrangement in B lymphocytes from X-linked agammaglobulinemia.
Authors: J Schwaber, R H Chen
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1988)

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) results from failure of B lymphocyte development. Immature B cells from a patient with XLA were found to produce truncated mu and delta immunoglobulin H chains encoded by D-JH-C (mu delta). The 5' terminal sequence of cDNA encoding the H chains is composed of D-JH with the characteristic GGTTTGAAG/CACTGTG consensus sequence utilized for VH gene rearrangement upstream, and a leader sequence that serves for translation of this intermediate stage of rearrangement. Failure of variable region gene rearrangement may underlie the failure of B lymphoid development in XLA.
Relationship of Serum Complement Levels to Events of the Malarial Paroxysm
Authors: F. A. Neva, W. A. Howard, R. H. Glew, W. A. Krotoski, A. A. Gam, W. E. Collins, J. P. Atkinson, M. M. Frank
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1974)

Malarial paroxysms due to Plasmodium vivax were studied for alterations in whole serum complement (C') and certain C' components. The objective was to relate C' values with events of the parasite cycle during schizogony and with the febrile pattern. Substantial decreases in C' were found in 9 of 18 paroxysms studied during relapse. In contrast, only one of 22 paroxysms occuring during the primary attack was associated with a striking depression in C', and this case exhibited certain characteristics of a relapse paroxysm. The mean change in C' levels during paroxysms in relapse (-23%) was significantly different from paroxysms of the primary attack (-2%). Depletion of C' was associated directly with degree of parasitemia and presence of complement-fixing (CF) antibody. Lowest levels of C' were found within a few hours after completion of schizont repture and peak fever. C4 levels reflected changes in whole serum C' and appeared to be a more sensitive indicator of C' alterations during malaria. While the alterations in C4 as well as C1 and C2 indicated that the classical C' pathway was involved, some preliminary results showed little or no depletion of late components, C3 and C6. Overall results are compatible with C' activation and depletion during or soon after schizont repture if parasite density is sufficiently high and if CF antibody is present.
Immunosurveillance and cancer: epidemiological evidence.
Authors: R. Doll, L. Kinlen
Journal: BMJ (1970)

MECJBRITSNALagainst cellular-including tumour-antigens, and probably many cases of supposed tolerance are due to blocking or enhancing antibodies. Leukaemogenic VirusesThe second group of naturally occurring oncogenic viruses in mice is the leukaemogenic viruses.Most mouse strains carry leukaemogenic viruses related to Gross virus, which are transmitted vertically from mothers (and sometimes from fathers) to offspring.For many years it was thought that animals were tolerant to such viruses, producing neither antibody nor cell-mediated immunity.If that were the case, immunosuppression would not be expected to affect tumour development.In fact, it does.Thymectomy cannot be used in this situation, because the production of leukaemia by both the Gross and the Moloney virus requires the presence of a thymus.However, Allison and Law7 found that Moloney lymphoma or leukaemia was greatly potentiated by inoculations of antilymphocytic serum.We have found that the latent period for leukaemia induction in AKR mice, which carry the Gross virus, is shortened by the administration of antilymphocytic serum.Wahren and Metcalfe"2 have found that lymphocytes from AKR mice are cytotoxic to target cells carrying the Gross virus, so that they can no longer be regarded as tolerant.Other evidence that this is so has been presented by Dore et al.13In this case nearly all animals left long enough develop leukaemia (after a latent period of about 300 days).Immunity does not prevent leukaemia but delays its onset, which allows the animals to breed before onset of malignancy.Immunosuppression accelerates the malignancy. Immunological SurveillanceAll these results leave little doubt that the immunological surveillance mechanism operates very efficiently against virus- induced tumours in animals, either preventing or delaying the onset of malignancy.All the tumours so far found in mice receiving long-term immunosuppression have been leukaemias, lymphomas, or mammary tumours, or polyoma- induced tumours of the salivary glands or osteosarcomas.In all these cases there is reason to believe that a virus may be concerned in the aetiology.Though the surveillance mecha- nism may also operate against tumours not induced by viruses, there is no direct evidence that this is the case.Nevertheless, 'it would be premature to conclude that the tumours occurring in human patients treated with immuno- suppressants are virus-induced, though the parallel between animals is striking enough to demand further analysis.
Amenorrhoea, galactorrhoea, and hyperprolactinaemia induced by methyldopa.
Authors: R S Arze, J M Ramos, H U Rashid, D N Kerr
Journal: BMJ (1981)

visual impairment we have seen with this drug, we think that others using it should be aware of this serious, adverse reaction.Meacock SCR, Kitchen EA, Dawson W. Effects of benoxaprofen and some other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on leucocyte migration.
Epidemiology and clinical impact of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis using AP-PCR fingerprinting
Authors: C. Adams, M. Morris-Quinn, F. McConnell, J. West, B. Lucey, C. Shortt, B. Cryan, J.B.G. Watson, F. O'Gara
Journal: Journal of Infection (1998)

Arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) was utilized to genetically fingerprint 252 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from the sputa of 50 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients attending the Cork CF clinic over a period of 3 years. Ten distinct P. aeruginosa strains were identified and the distribution, temporal trends and clinical impact of colonization with these individual P. aeruginosa clones was studied. A number of random isolates from each AP-PCR group were analysed using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in order to confirm the discriminatory power of the AP-PCR technique. The majority of patients were colonized with a single strain over the time period of the study, but it was also possible to harbour two or more strains transiently or simultaneously. Four main strains were relatively evenly distributed throughout the CF population, and it was noted that patients from the same family or attending the same school tended to harbour the same P. aeruginosa clone. Disease severity was significantly associated with the age of the patient (P<0.001), clearly indicating an increase in severity with increase in age. The general clinical status of the CF patients was not significantly associated with the P. aeruginosa variant isolated from their sputa. Lung status was defined by FEV1 measurement and chest X-ray score (CXR). The non parametric Kruskal-Wallis significance test of FEV1, CXR and age by colonizing P. aeruginosa clone indicated that FEV1 (P=0.017), but not CXR (P=0.19) or age (P=0.842), differed significantly across the clones of P. aeruginosa isolated. Patients harbouring P. aeruginosa strains B, F or G clearly had lower FEV1 scores while those harbouring clones A, C, D or H generally had higher FEV1 scores. Thus, the sub-species variant of P. aeruginosa colonizing CF patients may be associated with the severity of progressive lung disease.
The Association of Bone Marrow Lesions with Pain in Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: David T. Felson, Christine E. Chaisson, Catherine L. Hill, Saara M.S. Totterman, M. Elon Gale, Katherine M. Skinner, Lewis Kazis, Daniel R. Gale
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2001)

Background: The cause of pain in osteoarthritis is unknown. Bone has pain fibers, and marrow lesions, which are thought to represent edema, have been noted in osteoarthritis. Objective: To determine whether bone marrow lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are associated with pain in knee osteoarthritis. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Patients: 401 persons (mean age, 66.8 years) with knee osteoarthritis on radiography who were drawn from clinics in the Veterans Administration health care system and from the community. Of these persons, 351 had knee pain and 50 had no knee pain. Measurements: Knee radiography and MRI of one knee were performed in all participants. Those with knee pain quantified the severity of their pain. On MRI, coronal T2-weighted fat-saturated images were used to score the size of bone marrow lesions, and each knee was characterized as having any lesion or any large lesion. The prevalence of lesions and large lesions in persons with and without knee pain was compared; in participants with knee pain, the presence of lesions was correlated with severity of pain. Results: Bone marrow lesions were found in 272 of 351 (77.5%) persons with painful knees compared with 15 of 50 (30%) persons with no knee pain (P < 0.001). Large lesions were present almost exclusively in persons with knee pain (35.9% vs. 2%; P < 0.001). After adjustment for severity of radiographic disease, effusion, age, and sex, lesions and large lesions remained associated with the occurrence of knee pain. Among persons with knee pain, bone marrow lesions were not associated with pain severity. Conclusions: Bone marrow lesions on MRI are strongly associated with the presence of pain in knee osteoarthritis.
Haemodynamic effects on the myocardial blood flow supply/oxygen demand ratio in pacing induced angina pectoris
Authors: D. C. RUSSELL, R. BALCON
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1978)

Angina pectoris results from an imbalance between oxygen supply and demand in the subendocardium. The haemodynamic effects contributing to this imbalance have been studied in 10 patients with coronary artery disease. Myocardial oxygen demand was estimated from the tension time index (TTI), potential subendocardial flow from a diastolic pressure time index (DPTI), and the oxygen supply/demand ratio from (DPTI/TTI. With progressively increasing pacing rates up until induction of angina, no significant change in TTI was found whereas a significant fall in DPTI and DPTI/TTI occurred (P less than 0.001). During pacing runs with induction of angina DPTI/TTI reached a minimum value 5 s before,and at the onset of angina. No such relationship was seen for TTI or DPTI alone. A significant rise in LVEDP (P less than 0.05) and fall in dP/dt min (P less than 0.01) occurred at angina both contributing to a further reduction in DPTI and DPTI/TTI. Changes in DPTI/TTI may then reflect changes in the myocardial blood flow supply/oxygen demand ratio in the presence of coronary artery disease and haemodynamic changes before and at the induction of angina lead to a further reduction of this ratio.