tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Acetylcholine-secreting cells improve age-induced memory deficits
Authors: Heather Dickinson-Anson, Jürgen Winkler, Lisa J Fisher, Hong-Jun Song, Mu-ming Poo, Fred H Gage
Journal: Molecular Therapy (2003)

The present study examined whether aged rats with naturally occurring cognitive deficits in spatial learning and memory would benefit from local chronic supplementation of acetylcholine. Aged impaired and aged unimpaired rats were pretested in the water maze to characterize the extent of age-induced cognitive impairment. Groups were matched for extent of deficits. The animals subsequently received implants of either acetylcholine-releasing cells or control cells into the cortical and hippocampal target regions of the basal forebrain. One week postgrafting, spatial learning and memory were retested using the same behavioral procedure. All aged groups acquired the platform position more slowly than young controls. However, aged impaired rats grafted with acetylcholine-releasing cells performed significantly better than aged impaired rats with control grafts, and they did not differ from aged unimpaired groups. A spatial memory probe test revealed that memory for the escape platform location of the acetylcholine-grafted rats was significantly better than that of rats with control grafts and matched the performance of young controls. In vitro, biochemical and electrophysiological analyses of the engineered cells confirmed choline acetyltransferase activity and showed quantal release of acetylcholine from the transduced cells. In vivo, RT-PCR of microdissected grafts indicated that the engineered cells expressed the choline acetyltransferase transgene for up to 40 days postgrafting. These results indicate that locally restricted supplementation of acetylcholine into the two major target regions of the cholinergic basal forebrain of aged impaired rats ameliorates some age-related cognitive deficits.
Expansion of the Consultant Grade
Authors: R. Hole
Journal: BMJ (1973)

Strikes by Hospital Ancillaries SIR,-In your leading article (10 March, p. 568) you write that "nobody should con- done the present selective sLrikes of hospital ancillary workers," note that "the take-home pay of a hospital porter may be the same as the price of a good meal for four in a London restaurant," and go on to suggest that "once the freeze is over, doctors should lend their support" to the "greater medical profession" of hospital ancillaries.When was the last B.M.Y. leading
B-cell depletion attenuates serological biomarkers of fibrosis and myofibroblast activation in IgG4-related disease
Authors: Emanuel Della-Torre, Eoin Feeney, Vikram Deshpande, Hamid Mattoo, Vinay Mahajan, Maria Kulikova, Zachary S Wallace, Mollie Carruthers, Raymond T Chung, Shiv Pillai, John H Stone
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2014)

Fibrosis is a predominant feature of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). B-cell depletion induces a prompt clinical and immunological response in patients with IgG4-RD, but the effects of this intervention on fibrosis in IgG4-RD are unknown. We used the enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) score to address the impact of rituximab on fibroblast activation. The ELF score is an algorithm based on serum concentrations of procollagen-III aminoterminal propeptide, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and hyaluronic acid.Ten patients with active, untreated IgG4-RD were enrolled. ELF scores were measured and correlated with the IgG4-RD Responder Index, serum IgG4, circulating plasmablasts and imaging studies. Through immunohistochemical stains for CD3, CD20, IgG4 and α-smooth muscle actin, we assessed the extent of the lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and the degree of fibroblast activation in one patient with tissue biopsies before and after rituximab.The ELF score was increased in patients with IgG4-RD compared with healthy controls (8.3±1.4 vs 6.2±0.9; p=0.002) and correlated with the number of organs involved (R(2)=0.41; p=0.04). Rituximab induced significant reductions in the ELF score, the number of circulating plasmablasts and the IgG4-RD Responder Index (p<0.05 for all three parameters). Rituximab reduced both the lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and myofibroblast activation. IgG4-RD relapse coincided with recurrent increases in the ELF score, indicating reactivation of collagen deposition.The ELF score may be a clinically useful indicator of active fibrosis and the extent of disease in IgG4-RD. B-cell depletion has the potential to halt continued collagen deposition by attenuating the secretory phenotype of myofibroblasts in IgG4-RD lesions.
Reduction of endothelial NOS and bradykinin-induced extravasation of macromolecules in skeletal muscle of the fructose-fed rat model
Authors: G Plante
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2003)

Reduced capillary permeability of the skeletal muscle vascular bed has been suggested to play a role in fructose-fed rats, corroborating a long held view that insulin resistance might partially be explained by the lack of access of insulin and glucose to its target organs, mainly skeletal muscles. The goal of this study was to explore mechanisms underlying this vascular abnormality, and more specifically the role of bradykinin and nitric oxide (NO) on skeletal muscle microcirculation and the extravasation of macromolecules.For that purpose, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with either a fructose-enriched (F) or a normal chow (N) diet and extravasation of macromolecules was assessed at 4 weeks by measuring in vivo the extravasation of Evans Blue (EB) dye in the quadriceps muscles of both groups after the intravenous injection of the potent vasodilator bradykinin (150 microg/kg).As expected, fructose-fed rats had less extravasation of EB in skeletal muscle in the basal state as compared to controls (F 17.6 +/- 4.4 vs. N 43.6 +/- 6.9 microg/g dry tissue; P<0.01). In response to bradykinin, the EB dye extravasation in skeletal muscle was 89.4% higher in rats fed the normal chow diet compared to the basal state (P<0.03). In contrast, no significant increase in vasopermeability was observed in fructose-fed animals acutely injected with BK (17.6 +/- 4.4 microg/g in the basal state versus 24.6 +/- 3.1 microg/g after the injection of BK; P=NS). To distinguish a functional from an anatomical/structural defect, hematoxylin-eosin sections as well as electron micrographs of skeletal muscle microvessels were examined in both groups of animals: no obvious abnormalities were found. However, in homogenates of skeletal muscles (quadriceps) of fructose-fed rats, there was a marked reduction of NO synthase (NOS) activity (-33.8%; P<0.001) as well as endothelial NOS immunoreactive mass (-23.4%; P<0.04) as compared to control animals.There is unresponsiveness of the skeletal muscle capillary bed to bradykinin in insulin-resistant animals most probably due to a reduction in endothelial NOS (activity and mass). Our results indicate a functional defect possibly involving responsiveness of the precapillary resistance and/or the endothelial barrier to bradykinin in skeletal muscles. Since insulin must cross the endothelial monolayer to reach its target cells on the abluminal side, it is suggested that reduced endothelial NOS and consequent reduced extravasation of macromolecules could exacerbate insulin resistance in skeletal muscles and hypertension in the fructose-fed rat.
Postneonatal mortality in children from abusing families.
Authors: J Roberts, M A Lynch, J Golding
Journal: BMJ (1980)

The postneonatal death rate was studied for 332 infants from 160 families, ascertained through an abused proband. There were nine deaths compared with 2.9 expected from the legitimacy, social class, age, and parity distribution (p = 0.003). All but one of the babies died at home, and all were referred to a coroner or procurator fiscal. No adequate explanation of death could be found in four cases. Bonding problems probably existed in most of the nine families before death occurred.
Southall denies accusing a mother of murdering her son
Authors: Owen Dyer
Journal: BMJ (2006)

The paediatrician David Southall, who is facing charges of serious professional misconduct at the General Medical Council, last week denied that he had accused a mother of murdering her 10 year old son. 

Professor Southall is accused of abusing his position and adding to the distress of a bereaved patient during a 1998 interview with the child's mother, referred to as Mrs M. Her son, named only as M1, was found hanged in his bedroom in 1996. A police investigation led to no charges, and an inquest returned an open …
Evaluation of left atrial appendage flow in patients with atrial fibrillation: A transesophageal echocardiography study with intravenous albumin-contrast agent
Authors: Hiroshi Kato, Kazunori Watanabe, Kunio Hashimoto, Masakiyo Nakanishi, Naomi Maekawa, Teiji Ohnishi, Makoto Yamamoto
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (1996)
NORMATIVE DATA FOR THE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREEN™ IN MALE GAELIC FIELD SPORTS
Authors: D Fox, E O'Malley, C Blake
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2014)

Background Hurling and Gaelic Football are amateur team field sports which are native to Ireland. Due to the speed, player to player contact and multidirectional nature of the sports, injury to players is inevitable. Objective Determine normative values for the Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS) in Elite and Sub-Elite male Gaelic Football and Hurling players. Design A cross sectional study of functional movement in Gaelic games. Players were video recorded completing the FMS™ and scored post-test. Setting Testing of Elite and Sub-Elite Gaelic players in a gym and university biomechanics laboratory. Participants A total of 62 players (injury-free) were included. This consisted of 41 Hurling, and 21 Gaelic Football players. 30 of these participants were deemed Elite and 32 were deemed Sub-Elite. The mean age of the sample was 22.15±3.02 years. Risk factor assessment The FMS™ is a screening method which is proposed to identify potential injury causing deficits in the human body. There are 7 specific components to the test (Deep Squat, Hurdle Step, In-line Lunge, Shoulder Mobility, Active Straight Leg Raise, Trunk Stability Push Up, Rotary Stability), accompanied by 3 clearing tests (Spinal flexion, Spinal extension, Shoulder internal rotation with flexion). Each is scored out of 3 for a maximum of 21. The clearing tests are not scored. Main outcome measurement Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS). Results The FMS mean score for the sample was 15.56±1.456. The Elite group (15.8±1.58) scored higher than the Sub-Elite group (15.34±1.31), but there was no significant difference between groups. Conclusions This study provides normative reference values for Gaelic Players. Elite Gaelic Players perform no better than a young, active population in the FMS indicating a potential problem with the FMS as a measure. The ability of the FMS to detect injury risk is not well supported and clinicians should be cautious using it as such.
Intellect and Somatic Health: Associations with Hypochondriacal Concerns, Perceived Threat and Fainting
Authors: Eamonn Ferguson
Journal: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (2001)

: Compared to the other domains of the Big 5, intellect has been relatively underresearched with regard to somatic health outcomes. It is argued that this, in part, is because specific hypotheses concerning intellect and somatic health have not been formulated. It is argued that intellect is related to both alexithymia and hypnotic ability. As such the High Risk Model of Threat Perception forms one useful theoretical framework for generating hypotheses about intellect and somatic health. On this basis it is hypothesised that intellect should show a U-shaped relationship to hypochondriacal concerns, a positive association with appraisals of threat and loss, and a negative association with levels of self-reported vasovagal syncope (feelings of faintness).Two cross-sectional studies, using student samples (n = 205, 179), examined the relationships between intellect and hypochondriacal concerns as well as intellect and appraisals of threat and loss. A third prospective study, using a sample of blood donors (n = 373), examined the relationship between levels of self-reported vasovagal syncope and intellect.Compared to the other domains of the Big 5, intellect demonstrated a U-shaped association with hypochondriacal concerns, a positive association with perceived threat and loss and a negative association with fainting. The negative association with fainting remained once incidence of previous fainting, the number of previous blood donations and emotional stability were held as covariates.Intellect is associated in a number of important ways with a variety of psychosomatic variables.
Atrial and C-type natriuretic peptides amplify growth factor activity in primary aortic smooth muscle cells
Authors: G. S. Dhaunsi, A. Hassid
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1996)

The objective of the current study was to determine whether atrial natriuretic peptides enhance the mitogenic effect of FGF-2, based on a previous study showing that NO enhances the mitogenic effect of FGF-2.Primary rat aortic smooth muscle cells were used for all experiments. Mitogenic activity was determined by (3H)thymidine incorporation and cell counting. Cyclic GMP was measured by radioimmunoassay. Messenger RNA was measured by Northern blotting. FGFR-1 receptor protein was measured by Western blotting.ANP and CNP had no consistent mitogenic effect of their own but they both enhanced FGF-2-induced DNA synthesis and/or cell proliferation by 2-3 fold. ANP enhanced the increase of c-fos mRNA induced by FGF-2. ANP, alone or in combination with FGF-2, had no effect on FGF receptor protein levels. HS-142-1, a specific antagonist of guanylyl cyclase-linked A- or B-type ANP receptors, inhibited the co-mitogenic effect of ANP. Exogenous cGMP was also co-mitogenic, whereas two peptides that bind selectively to the ANF C-receptor, cANF and des[Cys105, Cys121]rANF104-126, had no mitogenic or co-mitogenic effect. The co-mitogenic effect of ANP gradually disappeared as the subculture number of the cells was increased, indicating that it was selective for primary cells. ANP enhanced the mitogenic response of primary aortic smooth muscle cells to EGF whereas that to IGF-1 and PDGF was either not increased, or increased modestly.ANP enhances the mitogenic effect of FGF-2, via a mechanism that may involve elevation of immediate early gene expression but not enhancement of FGF receptor protein levels. We speculate that ANP and CNP released from macrophages and endothelial cells could enhance the mitogenic effect of FGF-2 or EGF in vivo.
Effect of immunosuppressive and antiviral agents on hepatitis B virus replicationin vitro
Authors: Janine S. McMillan, Tim Shaw, Peter W. Angus, Stephen A. Locarnini
Journal: Hepatology (1995)

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA-transfected hepatoma cells were incubated with the immunosuppressive agents prednisolone, azathioprine, and cyclosporin A (CsA) and the antiviral agents ganciclovir and foscarnet to investigate the effects of these compounds on HBV replication. Prednisolone and azathioprine increased intracellular viral DNA and RNA levels approximately twofold and fourfold, respectively. Treatment with CsA did not alter the levels of viral RNA or DNA. A combination of all three immunosuppressive agents increased the level of intracellular viral DNA eightfold, indicating an additive effect. Incubation of the cells in the presence of foscarnet decreased levels of both single-stranded and relaxed circular viral DNA, and in the presence of ganciclovir decreased the levels of relaxed circular viral DNA, predictable effects from their known mechanism of action. The stimulatory effect on viral replication induced by the combination of immunosuppressive agents was substantially inhibited by ganciclovir-foscarnet treatment. These observations could have implications for the management of recurrent HBV infection after liver transplantation.
Cellular hypersensitivity to a synthetic dodecapeptide derived from human adenovirus 12 which resembles a sequence of A-gliadin in patients with coeliac disease.
Authors: G J Mantzaris, J A Karagiannis, J D Priddle, D P Jewell
Journal: Gut (1990)

The human intestinal adenovirus serotype 12 (Ad12) may be implicated in the pathogenesis of coeliac disease by virtue of immunological cross reactivity between epitopes shared by its early region E1b protein and A-gliadin. In the present study a synthetic dodecapeptide from the corresponding viral epitope (Ad12E1b, residues 384-395) was tested for its effect on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 22 treated and eight untreated patients with coeliac disease, 22 healthy subjects, 11 patients with ulcerative colitis, and 11 patients with Crohn9s disease by an indirect leucocyte migration inhibition assay. In addition, the effect of both the viral and the gliadin synthetic peptides was studied by proliferation and migration assays simultaneously performed in an unselected subgroup of 12 treated coeliac patients and 12 healthy subjects of the study. Coeliac patients with untreated disease showed no response to the viral peptide compared with treated patients (p greater than 0.1). Treated coeliac patients showed a significantly different response from healthy control subjects and control patients with disease (p less than 0.001) which was dependent on the concentration of the viral peptide. In the subgroup of the treated coeliac patients (n = 12) there was a significant correlation between the responses in the migration and the proliferation assay using either the viral (p less than 0.02) or the gliadin (p less than 0.005) peptide at the highest concentration (33.3 micrograms/ml). Furthermore, the responses obtained using viral peptide correlated significantly with the responses obtained with gliadin peptide in both the migration (p less than 0.001) and the proliferation (p less than 0.001) assays. These results show that in coeliac patients there is pronounced cross reactivity at the level of T cell recognition between synthetic peptides derived from the Ad12 and A-gliadin. This antigenic cross reactivity may be involved in the pathogenesis of coeliac disease.
O23 DECREASED DEVELOPMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS WITH IMPROVEMENT OF NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE: A 10-YEAR JAPANESE COHORT STUDY
Authors: H. Yamazaki, T. Tsuboya, J.H. Kang, N. Shindo, M. Doke, K. Nagai, T. Matsui, K. Tsuji, Y. Kodama, Y. Sakurai, H. Maguchi
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2014)
Human Leukocyte Antigen Class II Polymorphisms and Genetic Susceptibility of IDDM in Egyptian Children
Authors: Samir A Gaber, Gina Mazzola, Monica Berrino, Lorena Canale, Maura Cornaglia, Isis Ghali, Emilio Sergio Curtoni, Antonio Amoroso
Journal: Diabetes Care (1994)

OBJECTIVE To analyze the association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in the Egyptian population for the first time and, thus, to determine the frequency of risk-associated alleles identified by a genomic HLA class II typing. Egyptians are genetically classified as North Africans and considered to be between Caucasoids and Africans (closer to Caucasoids). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS HLA class II typing was performed for 50 IDDM patients and 50 healthy control subjects by a restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) technique. The analysis of position 57 of the DQB1 molecules was conducted by polymerase chain reaction and specific sequence oligonucleotide hybridization. RESULTS The frequency of DRB1*0301-DRB3*0201-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 haplotype was 43.9% in the IDDM patients and 7.1% in the control subjects (P &amp;lt; 0.00001), reflecting the increased prevalence of DQA1*0501 susceptibility allele coding for arginine (Arg) in position 52 and DQB1*0201 susceptibility allele non-coding aspartic acid (Asp) at position 57. Alleles DQB1*0601 and 0603, both carrying Asp at position 57 of the β-chain, and DQA1*0103, encoding a non-Arg 52 alpha-chain, were significantly decreased among the IDDM patients. The presence of four susceptibility residues (two DQA1 Arg 52+ and two DQB1 Asp 57−) conferred the highest relative risk at 20.2. On the other hand, homozygous genotypes for DQA1 non-Arg 52 and DQB1 Asp 57 were found only in the control group. CONCLUSIONS IDDM susceptibility and resistance in the Egyptian population is strongly associated with the expressed DQ α- and β-heterodimers in a dose-effective manner, as already defined in many different ethnic groups.
SURGERY VS. INJECTION TREATMENT OF VARICOSE VEINS
Authors: J. M. Hayes
Journal: JAMA (1941)

To the Editor:—  A communication to the editor ofThe Journal, May 25, 1940, page 2139, by Isaak Ludwig discussing the paper of Dean and Dulin suggests the many inconsistencies in the present discussion and treatment of varicose veins. In their paper, Dean and Dulin state that there are more fatalities than are reported with the injection treatment of varicose veins. They state that they use the high ligation plus the injection treatment in these cases. In the same paper they cite Westerborn's statistics on the comparative mortality rates with the various types of treatment, which show a mortality of 0.26 per cent with surgical treatment alone, 0.33 per cent with high ligation plus the injection treatment and only 0.036 per cent with the injection treatment alone.  These statistics, which I am convinced will check favorably with the average reliable statistics, show a ten times greater mortality rate with high
Fall in the incidence of Crohn's disease.
Authors: J Kyle, G Stark
Journal: Gut (1980)

Chronic transmural inflammatory bowel disease was first described in Scotland by Dalziel in 1913. A study has been made of new cases arising in the Aberdeen area during the 21 years, 1955--75, and is continuing. The number of new cases developing each year rose from 1.2 per 100 000 population at the beginning of the study to a peak of 4.5 in 1969. Thereafter it gradually declined, the mean incidence during the three year period 1973--75 being only 2.6 per 100 000. The decline has affected both males and females. It has been more marked in city dwellers than in the rural population. The former preponderance of city cases has almost disappeared. Disease apparently confined to the small intestine is less common than in 1955, when it constituted 77% of the cases recorded. Today the large intestine or combined forms make up 75% of the new cases which are seen. There is no obvious explanation for the fall in incidence or change in site.
"CURRENT CRITICISMS OF MEDICAL EDUCATION"
Authors: Theodore Diller
Journal: JAMA (1924)

<h3>To the Editor:</h3> —Dr. Pusey's point in his comment (The Journal, August 9) on the editorial "Current Criticisms of Medical Education" is well made. In your editorial you take no account whatever of the specific recommendations in the way of medical education and supply of physicians for places in need of them which Dr. Pusey made in his notable address as President-Elect of the Association. These suggestions were definite and specific, and evidently made as the result of much thought. Personally I subscribe to them as being most promising in the way of amending our present difficulties, and indeed our dangers. If Dr. Pusey is wrong, this ought to be shown. Surely the suggestions of the President of the American Medical Association when definite, specific and somewhat radical ought to be supported and tried out, or they ought to be rejected. It is not fair to Dr. Pusey nor to