tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Tc-99m Labeled RBC Scintigraphy of an Inflammatory Pseudotumor of the Spleen
Authors: Vera M. Artiko, Dragana P. Šobić-Šaranović, Smiljana V. Pavlović, Radoje B. Čolović, Nikica M. Grubor, Milorad N. Petrović, Marjan T. Micev, Mirjana S. Perišić-Savić, Vladimir B. Obradović, Emilija D. Jaksic
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (2009)

Inflammatory pseudotumors are very rare benign lesions of an unknown etiology usually discovered accidentally. We present a 26-year-old woman with a nodal lesion discovered in the spleen during a routine check-up by abdominal ultrasound. Radiocolloid and delayed Tc-99m RBC scintigraphy proved the existence of a delineated hypervascular lesion. Histology and immunohistochemistry of the lesion proved an inflammatory pseudotumor, with very dilated sinusoids with blood congestion. The exact diagnosis of inflammatory pseudotumor can be established only by histology and/or immunohistochemistry of the spleen.
Relapses after Withdrawal of Proguanil Treatment in Tropical Splenomegaly Syndrome
Authors: Aba. S. David-West
Journal: BMJ (1974)

After the remission of symptoms and reduction in spleen size while on proguanil therapy four patients with the tropical splenomegaly syndrome defaulted from treatment. The withdrawal of proguanil caused a recrudescence of original symptoms, splenomegaly, and a return of the initially raised serum IgM. Complete return to normal values was again effected with proguanil therapy.The role of the spleen in the tropical splenomegaly syndrome in the production of the raised serum IgM is discussed. These patients should be educated as to the nature of their disease and the importance of continued medical treatment.
Financial Conflicts of Interest and the NIH
Authors: Robert Steinbrook
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2004)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is widely regarded as the world's premier biomedical research institution. The doubling of the NIH budget over the past decade reflects the trust that the American people place in this federal government agency and its employees, as well as the importance of its work. Recently, however, this confidence has been called into question by a report in the Los Angeles Times about consulting payments from pharmaceutical companies to high-ranking NIH officials.1 According to Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, the director of the NIH, to date there is “no evidence that patients were harmed or that . . .
Nephrotoxin exposure in utero reduces glomerular number in sclerosis-prone but not sclerosis-resistant mice
Authors: Susanne B. Schwedler, Thierry Gilbert, Evelyne Moreau, Liliane J. Striker, Claudie Merlet-Bénichou, Gary E. Striker
Journal: Kidney International (1999)

We have previously found that nephron number was not fixed, that is, there was a direct correlation between low birth weight and decreased nephron number in infants. In sclerosis-prone rats, we found that gentamicin exposure in utero induced a reduction in glomerular number and aggravated glomerulosclerosis in adults. In mice, we found that an inborn 50% reduction in nephron number, caused by the Os mutation, was associated with glomerulosclerosis in sclerosis-prone (ROP+/+) mice, but not in sclerosis-resistant (C57BL/6J) mice. Because the genetic background determined the response to decreased nephron number, we asked whether the susceptibility changes in glomerular number and glomerulosclerosis were linked.Gentamicin was administered before and after the onset of fetal nephrogenesis. (1) Prior to the onset of nephrogenesis, two groups of pregnant mice were treated from embryonic day (E) E8 to E12. In group A, early glomerular development was studied by placing ureteric ridges removed on E12 in vitro for four days, following which the ureteric bud branches and glomeruli were counted using lectin staining. In group B, nephron number was determined in spontaneously delivered 14-day-old (14PN) pups by counting glomeruli. (2) After the onset of nephrogenesis, to determine the direct effects of gentamicin on nephron induction, ureteric ridges were placed in organ culture at E12 of normal gestation, in the presence or absence of gentamicin. The number of glomeruli and ureteric bud branches were counted after six days in culture.A decrease in glomerular number and ureteric bud branches was observed in sclerosis-prone (ROP+/+) mice, irrespective of whether gentamicin was administered prior to or after the onset of nephrogenesis. Glomerular number and ureteric bud branching were not decreased by gentamicin in sclerosis-resistant (C57BL/6) mice.These data provide evidence that there is a positive correlation between the susceptibility to glomerulosclerosis in adulthood and a reduction in nephron number in utero. Thus, exposure to nephrotoxins in utero compounds the risk of renal failure as an adult in sclerosis-prone individuals.
Back to Basics in Diagnosing Diabetic Polyneuropathy With the Tuning Fork!
Authors: Jan-Willem G. Meijer, Andries J. Smit, Joop D. Lefrandt, Johannes H. van der Hoeven, Klaas Hoogenberg, Thera P. Links
Journal: Diabetes Care (2005)

Several national and international scoring systems are used to diagnose diabetic polyneuropathy (PNP). The variety in these scores and the lack of data on validity and predictive value has led to a comparison and validation of the scores with clinical standards for PNP to determine the most powerful measurement for screening.Three matched groups were selected: 24 diabetic patients with neuropathic foot ulcers, 24 diabetic patients without PNP or ulcers, and 21 control subjects without diabetes. In all participants the scores from the International Consensus on the Diabetic Foot (ICDF) and the Dutch Nederlandse Diabetes Federatie-Centraal Beleids Orgaan (NDF/CBO) were tested. The Diabetic Neuropathy Symptom score, the Diabetic Neuropathy Examination score, Heart Rate Variability, the Nerve Conduction Sum score, and a San Antonio Consensus sum score were obtained as clinical standards. Reproducibility was tested in a separate study (13 patients).The construct validity and discriminative power of the ICDF and NDF/CBO scores were comparable, although monofilaments (NDF/CBO) scored lower. The predictive value was good for all scores, with the best results being obtained for the tuning fork (NDF/CBO). Reproducibility of the NDF/CBO scores (monofilaments and tuning fork) was high.The characteristics of the scores of tests recommended by ICDF and NDF/CBO are comparable. The single use of the 128-Hz tuning fork produces results similar to the extended scores of the ICDF and much better than those of monofilaments on validation and for predictive value. For screening we therefore advise the use of the tuning fork alone.
Cigarette smoke mediates epigenetic repression of miR-487b during pulmonary carcinogenesis
Authors: Sichuan Xi, Hong Xu, Jigui Shan, Yongguang Tao, Julie A. Hong, Suzanne Inchauste, Mary Zhang, Tricia F. Kunst, Leandro Mercedes, David S. Schrump
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2013)

MicroRNAs are critical mediators of stem cell pluripotency, differentiation, and malignancy. Limited information exists regarding microRNA alterations that facilitate initiation and progression of human lung cancers. In this study, array techniques were used to evaluate microRNA expression in normal human respiratory epithelia and lung cancer cells cultured in the presence or absence of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC). Under relevant exposure conditions, CSC significantly repressed miR-487b. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that miR-487b directly targeted SUZ12, BMI1, WNT5A, MYC, and KRAS. Repression of miR-487b correlated with overexpression of these targets in primary lung cancers and coincided with DNA methylation, de novo nucleosome occupancy, and decreased H2AZ and TCF1 levels within the miR-487b genomic locus. Deoxy-azacytidine derepressed miR-487b and attenuated CSC-mediated silencing of miR-487b. Constitutive expression of miR-487b abrogated Wnt signaling, inhibited in vitro proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells mediated by CSC or overexpression of miR-487b targets, and decreased growth and metastatic potential of lung cancer cells in vivo. Collectively, these findings indicate that miR-487b is a tumor suppressor microRNA silenced by epigenetic mechanisms during tobacco-induced pulmonary carcinogenesis and suggest that DNA demethylating agents may be useful for activating miR-487b for lung cancer therapy.
Carcinoid Tumor or Hepatoma?-Reply
Authors: David D. Hunt
Journal: JAMA (1963)

While the histological appearance of carcinoid tumors can be somewhat variable, there have been no reported difficulties in distinguishing carcinoid from primary liver-cell carcinoma on a histological basis. Dr. Stanton Eversole, who diagnosed the case reported, states that the diagnosis of primary liver carcinoma can be firmly established on histological grounds when the tissue sample is adequate. "Hepatoma" is a generic term referring to tumors of the liver. Malignant tumors in this category should be further classified as bile-duct-cell tumor, liver-cell tumor, or mixed in type. The case reported by me appeared to have the histological characteristics of a primary liver-cell carcinoma.
Widespread Intron Loss Suggests Retrotransposon Activity in Ancient Apicomplexans
Authors: S. W. Roy, D. Penny
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2007)

Several facets of spliceosomal intron in apicomplexans remain mysterious. First, intron numbers vary across species by 2 orders of magnitude, indicating massive intron loss and/or gain. Second, previous studies have shown very different evolutionary patterns over different timescales, with 100-fold higher rates of intron loss/gain between genera than within genera. Third, the timing and dynamics of nearly complete intron loss in Cryptosporidium species, as well as reasons for retention of the few remaining introns, remain unknown. We compared intron positions in 785 orthologous genes between 3 moderate to intron-rich apicomplexan species. We estimate that the Theileria-Plasmodium ancestor had 4.5 times as many introns as modern Plasmodium species and 38% more than modern Theileria species, and that subsequent intron losses have outnumbered intron gains by 5.8 to 1 in Theileria and by some 56 to 1 in Plasmodium. Several patterns suggest that these intron losses occurred by recombination with reverse-transcribed mRNAs. Intriguingly, this finding suggests significant retrotransposon activity in the lineages leading to both Theileria and Plasmodium, in contrast to the dearth of known retrotransposons and intron loss within modern species from both genera. We also compared genomes from Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis and found no evidence of ongoing intron loss, nor of intron gain. By contrast, Cryptosporidium introns are less evolutionary conserved with Toxoplasma than are introns from other apicomplexans; thus the few remaining introns are not simply indispensable ancestral introns.
The Practicing Physician in the Field of Preventive Medicine
Authors: W. G. Smillie
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1950)

AS YOU have been told, I am a teacher of medical students. Now it is the function of the teacher to prepare these men for their future work. One must be very careful not to prepare the student for the type of medical practice of a past generation or for the practice of medicine as it presents itself at the present time. For these young men are to be the physicians of the next generation, and must be prepared to meet that responsibility.It is necessary, therefore, for their instructors to think, even to live, in the future, and to . . .
Comparison of Diagnostic Value of I-123 MIBG and High-Dose I-131 MIBG Scintigraphy Including Incremental Value of SPECT/CT Over Planar Image in Patients With Malignant Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma and Neuroblastoma
Authors: Makoto Fukuoka, Junichi Taki, Takafumi Mochizuki, Seigo Kinuya
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (2010)

Purpose: To compare lesion detectability of I-123 MIBG scintigraphy with that of high-dose I-131 MIBG and to evaluate incremental benefit of SPECT/CT over planar image for the detection and localization of the lesions in patients with I-131 MIBG therapy for malignant pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma and neuroblastoma. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively investigated 16 patients with malignant pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma and neuroblastoma, who were referred for I-131 MIBG therapy. We investigated the lesion detectability in 10 pairs of I-123 and high-dose I-131 MIBG studies of the same patient, obtained within 2 weeks. In 31 studies of I-123 MIBG scintigraphy in 16 patients and 17 studies of high-dose I-131 MIBG scintigraphy in 12 patients, we compared planar and SPECT/CT images for the lesion detectability and localization. Results: The number of lesions detected by I-123 MIBG planer image and SPECT/CT and high-dose planer I-131 MIBG and SPECT/CT were 3.0 and 3.7, 7.3 and 7.7 per study, respectively. SPECT/CT images provided additional diagnostic information over planar images in 25 studies (81%) of 12 patients (75%) in I-123 MIBG scintigraphy and in 9 studies (53%) of 9 patients (75%) in high-dose I-131 MIBG scintigraphy. Conclusion: Post-therapy high-dose I-131 MIBG scintigraphy is superior to I-123 MIBG scintigraphy in lesion detectability even in comparison with I-123 MIBG SPECT/CT images and high-dose I-131 MIBG planar images in patients with malignant neuroendocrine tumors. SPECT/CT images are helpful for accurate identification of anatomic localization compared with planar images.
Upregulation of TGF-β, FOXP3, and CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells Correlates with More Rapid Parasite Growth in Human Malaria Infection
Authors: Michael Walther, Jon Eric Tongren, Laura Andrews, Daniel Korbel, Elizabeth King, Helen Fletcher, Rikke F. Andersen, Philip Bejon, Fiona Thompson, Susanna J. Dunachie, Fanny Edele, J. Brian de Souza, Robert E. Sinden, Sarah C. Gilbert, Eleanor M. Riley, Adrian V.S. Hill
Journal: Immunity (2005)
Cross-reactivity of C219 Anti-p170mdr-1 Antibody With p185c-erbB2 in Breast Cancer Cells: Cautions on Evaluating p170mdr-1
Authors: B. Liu, D. Sun, D. Yu, W. Xia, M.-C. Hung
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1997)

Background: Increased expression of the multidrug resistance gene (MDR-1)- encoded P-glycoprotein (p170 mdr-1 ) is a major cause of tumor cell multidrug resistance. p170 mdr-1 functions as a drug-efflux pump to reduce the cellular accumulation of specific drugs. MDAMB- 435 human breast cancer cells that have been transfected with oncogene cerbB2 complementary DNA (435.eb cells) express high levels of the transmembrane glycoprotein p185 c-erbB2 and exhibit increased resistance to the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel via p170 mdr-1 -independent mechanisms. We have recently discovered that the widely used monoclonal antibody C219, which is specific for p170 mdr-1 , may cross-react with p185 c-erbB2 in 435.eb cells. In this study, we have investigated the nature of this cross-reactivity. Methods: Immunoprecipitation experiments involving the use of breast cancer cells that express different levels of p185 c-erbB2 were performed, and C219 was used for western blot analysis of immunoprecipitated proteins. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed on acetone-fixed slides of human breast cancer cells. Peptide sequence comparisons and enzymelinked immunosorbent assays were performed to determine the molecular basis of C219 cross-reactivity with p185 c-erbB2 . Results: The crossreactivity of C219 with p185 c-erbB2 was demonstrated by both western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. Peptide sequence comparisons revealed that C219 recognizes an epitope in p170 mdr-1 (C219 epitope) that shares sequence homology with p185 c-erbB2 . Enzyme- linked immunosorbent assays demonstrated that C219 recognizes synthetic peptides derived from both the C219 epitope in p170 mdr-1 and the C219 epitope-homologous region in p185 c-erbB2 . Conclusions: The antip170mdr- 1 monoclonal antibody C219 cross-reacts with p185 c-erbB2 through a peptide sequence in p185 c-erbB2 that is homologous to the C219 epitope in p170 mdr-1 .
Rapid virological response and treatment duration for chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 patients: A randomized trial
Authors: Ming-Lung Yu, Chia-Yen Dai, Jee-Fu Huang, Chang-Fu Chiu, Yi-Hsin C. Yang, Nai-Jen Hou, Li-Po Lee, Ming-Yen Hsieh, Zu-Yau Lin, Shinn-Cherng Chen, Ming-Yuh Hsieh, Liang-Yen Wang, Wen-Yu Chang, Wan-Long Chuang
Journal: Hepatology (2008)

Recommended treatment for hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) patients is peginterferon plus ribavirin for 48 weeks. We assessed whether treatment duration of 24 weeks is as effective as standard treatment in HCV-1 patients with a rapid virological response (RVR; seronegative for hepatitis C virus [HCV] RNA at 4 weeks). Two hundred HCV-1 patients were randomized (1:1) to either 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon-alpha-2a (180 microg/week) and ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day) with a 24-week follow-up. The primary endpoint was a sustained virological response (SVR; seronegative for HCV RNA at 24-week follow-up). Overall, the 48-week arm had a significantly higher SVR rate (79%) than the 24-week arm (59%, P = 0.002). For 87 (43.5%) patients with an RVR, the 24-week arm had a lower SVR rate [88.9%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 80%-98%] than the 48-week arm (100%, P = 0.056). For 52 patients with low baseline viremia (<400,000 IU/mL) and an RVR, the 24-week arm had rates (CI) of relapse and SVR of 3.6% (-3%-11%) and 96.4% (89%-103%), respectively, which were comparable to those of the 48-week arm (0% and 100%) with difference (CI) of 3.6% (-7.2%-6.6%) and -3.6% (-14.3% to -0.6%), respectively. Multivariate analysis in all patients showed that RVR was the strongest independent factor associated with an SVR, followed by treatment duration, mean weight-based exposure of ribavirin, and baseline viral load.HCV-1 patients derive a significantly better SVR from 48 weeks versus 24 weeks of peginterferon/ribavirin even if they attain an RVR. Both 24 and 48 weeks of therapy can achieve high SVR rates (>96%) in HCV-1 patients with low viral loads and an RVR.
Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract. II. Esophagus: treatment--localized and advanced. Surgical principles of resection and reconstruction
Authors: J. T. Goodner
Journal: JAMA (1974)

Cancer of the esophagus usually has a bad prognosis, primarily because the diagnosis is made late, and localized disease is not seen frequently. The esophagus is a muscular tube that dilates in the presence of gradual, partial obstruction, which does not produce symptoms until some time has elapsed. The patient frequently does not see his physician until he has had dysphagia for a long period of time, or until complete obstruction has occurred. It is surprising how long patients will tolerate dysphagia of a mild-to-moderate degree, limiting themselves to a soft or semiliquid diet before they seek help. The actual occurrence of dysphagia is a late symptom in cancer of the esophagus. Pain in the retrosternal region usually results from the attempt to swallow food past a partial or almost complete obstruction. Radiating pain, or pain in the back usually indicates extension of disease outside the limits of the esophagus,
Systemic Amyloidosis in Behçet's Disease
Authors: TALMA ROSENTHAL
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1975)

Clinical features in two patients with Behcet's disease were dominated by "minor" manifestations of the disease--arthritis and central nervous system involvement in one, chronic stasis ulcers complicating thrombosis of the inferior vena cava in the other. In a third patient, the dominant clinical features were coincidental obstructive airway disease and cor pulmonale. Two patients developed a nephrotic syndrome; the third had intermittent trace proteinuria. Amyloidosis was proved by histologic examination in all three. The two patients examined post-mortem had no focus of chronic suppuration. There is a possibility that systemic amyloidosis is an intrinsic feature of Behcet's disease.
Shortage of flu vaccine in US sparks political row
Authors: Owen Dyer
Journal: BMJ (2004)

The US shortage of flu vaccine continues to grab headlines, as Senator John Kerry accused the Bush administration of incompetence in allowing the situation to develop. Republicans retaliated by accusing Democrats of trying to score political points.

The search to make up the shortfall has so far produced an extra nine million doses of vaccine, bringing the total number of doses available to 61 million. Health authorities had anticipated a supply of 100 million doses this season, but 48 million doses were ruled out after the British factory of one of the United States's two suppliers was found to …
Association of Vascular Risk Factors With Cervical Artery Dissection and Ischemic Stroke in Young Adults
Authors: Stéphanie Debette, Tiina Metso, Alessandro Pezzini, Shérine Abboud, Antti Metso, Didier Leys, Anna Bersano, Fabien Louillet, Valeria Caso, Chantal Lamy, Elisabeth Medeiros, Yves Samson, Caspar Grond-Ginsbach, Stefan T. Engelter, Vincent Thijs, Simone Beretta, Yannick Béjot, Maria Sessa, Maria Lorenza Muiesan, Philippe Amouyel, Maurizio Castellano, Dominique Arveiler, Turgut Tatlisumak, Jean Dallongeville
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Little is known about the risk factors for cervical artery dissection (CEAD), a major cause of ischemic stroke (IS) in young adults. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity are important risk factors for IS. However, their specific role in CEAD is poorly investigated. Our aim was to compare the prevalence of vascular risk factors in CEAD patients versus referents and patients who suffered an IS of a cause other than CEAD (non-CEAD IS) in the multicenter Cervical Artery Dissection and Ischemic Stroke Patients (CADISP) study.The study sample comprised 690 CEAD patients (mean age, 44.2 ± 9.9 years; 43.9% women), 556 patients with a non-CEAD IS (44.7 ± 10.5 years; 39.9% women), and 1170 referents (45.9 ± 8.1 years; 44.1% women). We compared the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, and obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m²) or overweightness (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m² and <30 kg/m²) between the 3 groups using a multinomial logistic regression adjusted for country of inclusion, age, and gender. Compared with referents, CEAD patients had a lower prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (odds ratio 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.42 to 0.71; P<0.0001), obesity (odds ratio 0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 0.52; P<0.0001), and overweightness (odds ratio 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.57 to 0.88; P=0.002) but were more frequently hypertensive (odds ratio 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.32 to 2.1; P<0.0001). All vascular risk factors were less frequent in CEAD patients compared with young patients with a non-CEAD IS. The latter were more frequently hypertensive, diabetic, and current smokers compared with referents.These results, from the largest series to date, suggest that hypertension, although less prevalent than in patients with a non-CEAD IS, could be a risk factor of CEAD, whereas hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and overweightness are inversely associated with CEAD.