tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Calcium sensitisers: mechanisms of action and potential usefulness as inotropes
Authors: J.A Lee, D.G Allen
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1997)

Time for primary review 28 days.

Heart failure remains a common and lethal condition, with treatment options which are less than satisfactory. Epidemiological studies [1–5]indicate an overall prevalence in the population of 1–3%, while mortality for all grades of heart failure is approximately 25% at 2 years and 50% at 4 years. Severe heart failure has a 2 year mortality as high as 75%. Although some cases are caused by correctable problems such as hypertension or valve lesions, the majority result either from loss of functioning myocardium due to ischaemic damage or from ineffective contraction of partially ischaemic or otherwise functionally disabled myocardium.

Therapy for heart failure thus has two main objectives [6–12]. Firstly, treatment of the failing pump and its main physiological consequences, fluid retention and vasoconstriction. Secondly treatment of the common associated problems which may be either primarily involved in causing heart failure (e.g. ischaemia) or which may be secondary complications (e.g. arrhythmias). Therapies which are currently available can reduce morbidity and have also achieved some reductions in mortality [13–18]. However, most of these treatments, including diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, vasodilators and beta-blockers, are aimed at alleviating the fluid retention and vasoconstriction associated with heart failure, rather than the primary cause.

In principle therapy aimed at supporting the pump function of the heart might also be expected to have a major role in the treatment of heart failure. In practice the benefits of positive inotropic agents have been hard to demonstrate. This therapeutic approach has a long history, beginning with Withering's introduction of digitalis in 1785 [19]. But cardiac glycosides have multiple actions and there has been protracted controversy over whether these drugs are beneficial to patients with heart failure in sinus rhythm. Recent results do point to a benefit [20], … 

* Corresponding author.
The Impact of Reverse Isolation on Early Childhood Development
Authors: C. Simons, K. Köhle, U. Genscher, M. Dietrich
Journal: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (1973)

Nonidentical male twins suffering from a combined immune deficiency syndrome, a lymphopenic hypogammaglobulinemia, were raised in separate plastic isolation systems for more than 2.5 years. Long-term isolation led to a learning disorder and impairment of intellectual capacity as demonstrated by the Bühler-Hetzer Development Scale. Symptoms involving motor activity such as rhythmic rocking were isolation-specific and disappeared after release from isolation.
Transfer of Allergic Airway Responses with Serum and Lymphocytes from Rats Sensitized to Dust Mite
Authors: AMY L. LAMBERT, DARRELL W. WINSETT, DANIEL L. COSTA, MARYJANE K. SELGRADE, M. IAN GILMOUR
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1998)

House dust mite (HDM) antigen is one of the most common allergens associated with extrinsic asthma. In a model of allergic lung disease, Brown Norway (BN) rats sensitized to HDM with alum and Bordetella pertussis adjuvants produce high levels of IgE antibody and experience bronchoconstriction, increased airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to acetylcholine (ACh), and pulmonary inflammation after antigen challenge. The purpose of this study was to determine whether these asthmatic symptoms could be transferred from sensitized animals to naive recipients via humoral or cellular factors. Syngeneic recipient rats were injected (intraperitoneally with 4 × 107 cells (precultured overnight with either HDM or bovine serum albumin [BSA]) from lymph nodes of sensitized or control rats, respectively. Other groups received a tail-vein injection of serum from either HDM-sensitized or control rats. Antigen challenge in rats injected with sensitized cells caused increases in pulmonary inflammation and in AHR, but no changes in immediate bronchoconstriction as compared with control recipients. Antigen challenge in serum recipients resulted in immediate bronchoconstriction but had no effect on AHR or on pulmonary inflammation. These data show that immune-mediated lung inflammation and AHR are promoted by antigen-specific lymphocytes, whereas immediate allergic responses are caused by serum factors.
Non-secretion of ABO blood group antigens as a host susceptibility factor in the spondyloarthropathies.
Authors: R Shinebaum, C C Blackwell, P J Forster, N P Hurst, D M Weir, G Nuki
Journal: BMJ (1987)

Gram negative bacteria precipitate reactive arthritis and may be concerned in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis and other spondyloarthropathies. Susceptibility to many infectious agents is associated with ABO blood group or secretor state, or both. The distribution of the ABO blood group or secretor state, or both, was therefore determined in 87 patients with ankylosing spondylitis and 32 with other forms of spondyloarthropathy. The prevalence of non-secretors was significantly increased in the total patient group (54/114; 47%) and in the subgroup with ankylosing spondylitis (41/84; 49%) compared with local controls (89/334; 27%) (p less than 0.001). Other subgroups of patients showed a similarly increased prevalence of non-secretion (33-47%). The distribution of ABO blood groups did not differ between patients and controls. The association between non-secretor state and ankylosing spondylitis strengthens the hypothesis that ankylosing spondylitis is a form of reactive arthritis. It also suggests several pathogenic mechanisms which may be relevant to the initial hostparasite interaction in ankylosing spondylitis.
Evidence that the Ciliary Inhibitor of Cystic Fibrosis is not an Antibody
Authors: Victoria Herzberg, Lynette Calvert, Barbara H. Bowman
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1973)

An inhibitor of ciliary activity is present in the serum of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and heterozygotes. Fractionation of CF serum has indicated that the inhibitor is associated with the serum IgG fraction. This study compared the activity of the CF inhibitor to that of rabbit antibody preparations directed against oyster cilia. The aim of this investigation was to determine whether the ciliary inhibitory mechanism in cystic fibrosis is related to a typical immunological reaction. Results from experiments utilizing fluorescent antibody techniques demonstrated that an antiserum directed against oyster ciliated epithelium binds immunologically with both human bronchial and oyster epithelial tissue. Results from experiments utilizing immunofluorescent tracing, passive hemagglutination, double immunodiffusion, and papain digestion, however, indicated that the interaction between the oyster cilia and the CF serum inhibitor was not a typical antigen-antibody reaction.
Abdominal Periarteritis Nodosa
Authors: A. G. Norman, P. S. Wilkins
Journal: BMJ (1957)

TABLE I Men Women Total No. of patients . .71 107 178 intolerant to aspirin .. .. 19 26 45Table II shows results obtained in the aspirin-intolerant cases.Of 23 given disprin first, 5 preferred it, 10 preferred paynocil, and 8 were indifferent; all the men who made a choice preferred paynocil.Among 22 given paynocil first, opinion was more evenly divided-8 for paynocil, 9 for disprin, and 6 abstaining.
Labial capillary microscopy in systemic sclerosis.
Authors: W Grassi, P Core, G Carlino, P Blasetti, M Cervini
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1993)

OBJECTIVES--To investigate whether in vivo capillary microscopy of the lower lip mucosa can be used to assess microvascular disease in systemic sclerosis. METHODS--Thirteen patients with systemic sclerosis and 11 healthy control subjects were studied by conventional nailfold capillary microscopy and labial capillaroscopy. The following parameters were analysed: loop length; loop width (maximum distance between the arteriolar and venular limbs); loop density (number of capillaries/mm2); venular plexus visibility; megacapillaries; and the architectural arrangement of the capillary network. RESULTS--A typical 9scleroderma pattern9 at the nailfold was observed in 12 of 13 (92%) patients with systemic sclerosis. Labial capillaroscopy showed a different morphological pattern of microangiopathy. A diffuse architectural derangement of the capillary network was the most striking abnormality in 12 (92%) patients. Labial capillaries in the patients with systemic sclerosis were shorter (mean (SD) loop length 133 (32.2) microns) than in healthy controls (211 (48.4) microns) and showed an increased loop width (41.7 (13.1) v 27.6 (5.5) microns in controls. The loop density was 10.5 (4.6) capillaries/mm2 in patients with systemic sclerosis and 9 (1.7) capillaries/mm2 in controls. Labial capillaroscopy in patients with systemic sclerosis did not provide definite evidence of enlarged capillaries or avascular areas, or both, even where such abnormalities were clearly evident at the nailfold. CONCLUSIONS--This study shows that labial capillary microscopy is a simple, non-invasive technique which allows a careful morphological assessment of the mucosal microcirculation. Labial capillaroscopy in patients with systemic sclerosis showed significant microvascular changes with respect to the controls. The results of labial and nailfold capillaroscopy are not superimposable, even if some common findings, such as architectural derangement, are present.
Contrasting pulmonary blood flow profiles in children with atrial and ventricular septal defects
Authors: C. L. LUCAS, B. R. WILCOX, N. A. COULTER
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1976)

Instantaneous pulmonary blood flow profiles and other measures of haemodynamic functioning were studied in children with atrial septal defects (ASD) and children with ventricular septal defects (VSD) and normal pulmonary pressures and resistance at the time of defect closure. Though most parameters measured were comparable in the patient populations, several significant differences were found in the shape of the flow profile.
Andrew Douglas Scott
Authors: Martin Schuster-Bruce, Colin Berry
Journal: BMJ (2005)

Psychiatrist who reinterpreted the Royal Free fatigue epidemic and wrote historical atlases Colin McEvedy was interested in mass movements of people, whether as a psychiatrist, historian, or demographer, but it was his analysis of a mystery illness at the Royal Free Hospital in London that made his name in psychiatry.In 1955 an epidemic swept through the nursing staff at the Royal Free, closing the hospital for three months.In all, 300 people were affected, 200 of whom were admitted.No one died and not one single hospital patient was affected, and no causative organism was ever found, though not for want of looking.The disease was described as a benign, myalgic form of encephalomyelitis.Fifteen years later, Colin McEvedy, then a senior registrar at the Middlesex Hospital, co-wrote two papers (with his boss, Professor Bill Beard), arguing, firstly, that the epidemic was one of conversion hysteria triggered by fear, probably of polio (BMJ 1970;1(687):7-11), which was still a serious problem at the time; and, secondly, that it was one of several reported similar epidemics, others of which were among hospital nurses (BMJ 1970;1(687):11-15).McEvedy was meanwhile writing a thesis on two epidemics of mass hysteria in girls' schools.His doctoral thesis was accepted without difficulty, but the papers on the Royal Free outbreak were greeted with howls of rage.Although he and Beard emphasised that the diagnosis of hysteria was "not a slur on the individuals or the institution involved" and that "the hysterical reaction is part of everyone's potential," many people, it seemed, felt that while hysteria was an acceptable diagnosis in the case of schoolgirls, it was not in the case of nurses.McEvedy and Beard's argument was that, in addition to the absence of an identifiable causative organism, most people recovered unremarkably, and most biochemical tests were normal.Most sufferers had depression, fatigue, and vague neurological signs.Many had paralysis or sensory disturbances, but their reflexes were normal.Taking the institution as a wholestaff, students, and patients-the epidemic affected 10.4% of women and only 2.8% of men.Two sufferers who died from other causes (ovarian cancer, disseminated
Bone-Marrow in the Treatment of Pernicious Anaemia
Authors: T. R. Fraser
Journal: BMJ (1894)

JUNE 2' 18k.Germany, and among our American kinsmen; we slhall, 1 lhope, be a strong support to the Dermatological Journal, whliiel is already so admirably edited; and we shlall, I trust, forin a committee of reference, for the Uniited Kingdom at least, wliecl may lhelp in some degree to fix the nomueniclature of this department.Our credit and usefulness depend upon ourselves; and since we include all, or almost all, the derma- tologists of this country, the result is scarcely doubtful.AWe meet in the lhome of otlher societies, to wlichl most of us be- long, and hiope to rival thlemi in the hiighi standard of pro- fessional conduct we maintain, the liberal and scientific spirit we foster, and the value, tlhec tlhoroughness, and the interest of our Proceedings.May we become as numerous, wealthy, and dignified as the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society; as accurate and objective as the Pathological; as brief and practical as the Clinical.It depends upon us, gentlemiien, to maintain and increase the reputation of thle British School of Dermatology, and with, the support of those whio meet to-day, I cannot doubt that we shall abundantly succeed.
Pioglitazone-Induced Reductions in Atherosclerosis Occur via Smooth Muscle Cell–Specific Interaction With PPARγ
Authors: Venkateswaran Subramanian, Jonathan Golledge, Talha Ijaz, Dennis Bruemmer, Alan Daugherty
Journal: Circulation Research (2010)

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ agonists attenuate atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). PPARγ, a nuclear receptor, is expressed on many cell types including smooth muscle cells (SMCs).To determine whether a PPARγ agonist reduces angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced atherosclerosis and AAAs via interaction with SMC-specific PPARγ.Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)(-/-) mice with SMC-specific PPARγ deficiency were developed using PPARγ floxed (PPARγ(f/f)) and SM22 Cre(+) mice. PPARγ(f/f) littermates were generated that did not express Cre (Cre(0/0)) or were hemizygous for Cre (Cre(+/0)). To assess the contribution of SMC-specific PPARγ in ligand-mediated attenuation of Ang II-induced atherosclerosis and AAAs, both male and female Cre(0/0) and Cre(+/0) mice were fed a fat-enriched diet with or without the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone (Pio) (20 mg/kg per day) for 5 weeks. After 1 week of feeding modified diets, mice were infused with Ang II (1000 ng/kg per minute) for 4 weeks. SMC-specific PPARγ deficiency or Pio administration had no effect on plasma cholesterol concentrations. Pio administration attenuated Ang II-increased systolic blood pressure equivalently in both Cre(0/0) and Cre(+/0) groups. SMC-specific PPARγ deficiency increased atherosclerosis in male mice. Pio administration reduced atherosclerosis in only the Cre(0/0) mice, but not in mice with SMC-specific PPARγ deficiency. SMC-specific PPARγ deficiency or Pio administration had no effect on Ang II-induced AAA development. Pio also did not attenuate Ang II-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 production in PPARγ-deficient SMCs.Pio attenuates Ang II-induced atherosclerosis via the interaction with SMC-specific PPARγ, but has no effect on the development of AAAs.
Asthma and poverty
Authors: R. J Rona
Journal: Thorax (2000)

<h3>Abstract</h3> Extensive evaluation of RNA-seq methods have demonstrated that no single algorithm consistently outperforms all others. Removal of unwanted variation (RUV) has also been proposed as a method for stabilizing differential expression (DE) results. Despite this, it remains a challenge to run multiple RNA-seq algorithms to identify significant differences common to multiple algorithms, whilst also integrating and assessing the impact of RUV into all algorithms. consensusDE was developed to automate the process of identifying significant DE by combining the results from multiple algorithms with minimal user input and with the option to automatically integrate RUV. consensusDE only requires a table describing the sample groups, a directory containing BAM files or preprocessed count tables and an optional transcript database for annotation. It supports merging of technical replicates, paired analyses and outputs a compendium of plots to guide the user in subsequent analyses. Herein, we also assess the ability of RUV to improve DE stability when combined with multiple algorithms through application to real and simulated data. We find that, although RUV demonstrated improved FDR in a setting of low replication, the effect was algorithm specific and diminished with increased replication, reinforcing increased replication for recovery of true DE genes. We finish by offering some rules and considerations for the application of RUV in a consensus-based setting. consensusDE is freely available, implemented in R and available as a Bioconductor package, under the GPL-3 license, along with a comprehensive vignette describing functionality: http://bioconductor.org/packages/consensusDE/
Prospects and strategies for sports marketing in India: an overview
Authors: N Kumutha, S Glady Kirubakar, Glory D Margaret
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2010)

Sport like cricket is a religion in India and others like tennis, football and hockey are also fast catching up. The Indian Marketing Scenario (IMS) is one of the biggest consumer markets which is precisely the reason why India has attracted several MNCs. These large MNCs have realised that to succeed in the Indian market-place they need to hire Indian representative who are much more aware of the Indian economic, political, legal and social realities. The two major reasons for these changes in the IMS are changes in globalisation and technology. Essential skills required for a Sports Marketing Director are the skills of organisational, written/oral communication, computer, creative thinking, resistance to stress, and highly motivated leadership. This paper also discusses about some of the specific duties of sports marketing executives working in any of the above areas such as negotiating, preparing contracts for athletes, planning and coordinating sports events, etc. The Commonwealth Games (CWG) are only a few months away, but clients of sports marketing agencies do not appear to be queuing to get a slice of the advertising pie. There are multiple opportunities in terms of sponsorship sales, sponsorship activation, ticketing, corporate hospitality, ceremonies, athlete management, advertising and communications, and new media. The CWG have been surrounded by many controversies, including political interference and being over-budget. This has kept companies sitting on the fence. Though CWG faces lots of hurdles with a great zeal at heart Indians believe that India will host a colourful CWG 2010 at New Delhi!!!!
Genotypic analysis of YMDD locus of HBV in patients responding to lamivudine monotherapy
Authors: P. Lampertico, C. Seletti, M. Vigano, A. Marzano, P. Andreone, T. Santantonio, V. Di Marco, M. Iavarone, G. Lunghi, E. Del Ninno, M. Colombo
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2003)
Systemic venous and pulmonary arterial flow patterns after Fontan's procedure for tricuspid atresia or single ventricle.
Authors: T G DiSessa, J S Child, J K Perloff, L Wu, R G Williams, H Laks, W F Friedman
Journal: Circulation (1984)

Despite increasing use of Fontan or modified Fontan repairs, the comparative hemodynamic efficacy of different types of connections are unresolved. Accordingly, we undertook a prospective study designed to determine postoperative flow patterns after Fontan's operation. Seven subjects had tricuspid atresia and eight had single ventricle. Ages ranged from 5 to 38 years (mean 16.4). Ten subjects had nonvalved right atrial-to-pulmonary arterial connection, and four had nonvalved right atrial-to-right ventricular communication. A valved conduit established continuity between the right atrium and right ventricle in one subject. Doppler flow profiles were recorded in the pulmonary artery and in the superior and inferior venae cavae of each. A reference electrocardiogram was used for timing purposes. In 14 patients, forward flow in the pulmonary artery was biphasic. Flow began at the end of the T wave (early ventricular diastole), peaked at or before the P wave (atrial systole), and returned to baseline by the peak of the R wave. Forward flow recommenced at the peak of the R wave (ventricular systole) and returned to baseline at the end of the T wave. Flow in the superior vena cava varied, and could not be recorded in three subjects. Between the end of the P wave and peak of the R wave (atrial systole) flow was reversed in eight, absent in three, and forward in one patient. Forward flow occurred between the peak of the R wave and the end of the T wave and was either continuous or biphasic. Fourteen patients had adequate studies of inferior vena cava flow; reversed flow during atrial systole occurred in 10 subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
PREVENTION OF ANOREXIA IN CHILDREN
Authors: C. A. ALDRICH
Journal: JAMA (1927)

Before outlining the method of preventing poor appetites, to be presented here, I should like to mention the thoughts that suggested its use. In the first place, lack of appetite was so common a condition and its results so disastrous to the physical and mental welfare of many children that I became interested in its treatment and prevention. In treating other abnormalities, it has been customary to begin with a study of normal function, but in the matter of hunger and appetite our textbooks, until recently, have afforded little information. One gathers from this lack of attention to the subject that eating has been assumed to be instinctive. Perhaps some of our difficulties in the management of anorexia have been due to this vague conception of the eating mechanism.  Since hunger and appetite are the main stimuli to eating, it is worth while to investigate their nature. According to Webster's