tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
The immunological basis of endotoxin-induced tumor regression. Requirement for T-cell-mediated immunity.
Authors: M J Berendt, R J North, D P Kirstein
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1978)

It was shown that although intravenous administration of bacterial endotoxin caused extensive hemorrhagic necrosis of four different syngeneic murine tumors, only two of these tumors subsequently underwent complete regression: the two that were shown to be immunogeneic as classically defined. An immunologic basis for endotoxin-induced regression was further indicated by the additional findings that regression, but not hemorrhagic necrosis, of the two immunogenic tumors failed to occur in mice that were immunodepressed by whole-body gamma-irradiation, or that were made T-cell deficient by thymectomy and irradiation. That endotoxin-induced regression is T-cell mediated was suggested by the findings that tumor regression was followed by a state of long-lived immunity to a tumor cell challenge implant, and with the possession by the host of T cells that were capable of passively transferring this state of immunity to normal recipients. It is concluded that although parenteral injection of endotoxin causes hemorrhagic necrosis of most solid murine tumors, it is only those tumors that are immunogenic enough to evoke the generation of T-cell-mediated immunity which subsequently go on to completely regress.
Molecular Evolution of the Paramyxoviridae and Rhabdoviridae Multiple-Protein-Encoding P Gene
Authors: I. King Jordan, Ben A. Sutter IV, Marcella A. McClure
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2000)

Presented here is an analysis of the molecular evolutionary dynamics of the P gene among 76 representative sequences of the Paramyxoviridae and Rhabdoviridae RNA virus families. In a number of Paramyxoviridae taxa, as well as in vesicular stomatitis viruses of the Rhabdoviridae, the P gene encodes multiple proteins from a single genomic RNA sequence. These products include the phosphoprotein (P), as well as the C and V proteins. The complexity of the P gene makes it an intriguing locus to study from an evolutionary perspective. Amino acid sequence alignments of the proteins encoded at the P and N loci were used in independent phylogenetic reconstructions of the Paramyxoviridae and Rhabdoviridae families. P-gene-coding capacities were mapped onto the Paramyxoviridae phylogeny, and the most parsimonious path of multiple-coding-capacity evolution was determined. Levels of amino acid variation for Paramyxoviridae and Rhabdoviridae P-gene-encoded products were also analyzed. Proteins encoded in overlapping reading frames from the same nucleotides have different levels of amino acid variation. The nucleotide architecture that underlies the amino acid variation was determined in order to evaluate the role of selection in the evolution of the P gene overlapping reading frames. In every case, the evolution of one of the proteins encoded in the overlapping reading frames has been constrained by negative selection while the other has evolved more rapidly. The integrity of the overlapping reading frame that represents a derived state is generally maintained at the expense of the ancestral reading frame encoded by the same nucleotides. The evolution of such multicoding sequences is likely a response by RNA viruses to selective pressure to maximize genomic information content while maintaining small genome size. The ability to evolve such a complex genomic strategy is intimately related to the dynamics of the viral quasispecies, which allow enhanced exploration of the adaptive landscape.
Is chronic renal failure a risk factor for the development of erosive osteoarthritis?
Authors: I J Duncan, N P Hurst, A Disney, R Sebben, S C Milazzo
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1989)

Erosive osteoarthritis of the hands of unusually early onset and severity was seen in two patients treated for chronic renal failure by long term haemodialysis and renal homograft respectively. The significance of this observation is discussed in the light of previous studies of erosive arthropathy in patients with chronic renal failure. Factors associated with chronic renal failure may predispose to the development of erosive osteoarthritis.
Tricho-X-Ray Cancer
Authors: Norman Lenson
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1954)

THE property of radioactivity that characteristically enables it to alter normal biologic, biochemical and physical behavior renders its use extremely hazardous. Cellular injury results when a low tissue threshold for radioactivity is exceeded, when tissues are exposed to excess radiation or when lesser exposure is rendered for a prolonged period.Radiation damage is capable of affecting all cells; however, the consideration of its effects is limited, in this paper, to those involving the skin. Acute or chronic radiodermatitis is the most frequent effect of irradiation. The acute phase is characterized by a progression of inflammatory change manifested as erythema, vesiculation, . . .
PREVENTION OF TUBERCULOSIS.
Authors: HOMER M. THOMAS
Journal: JAMA (1900)

Of the seventy-five million people in our land to-day, ten million or more will die of tuberculosis, unless we develop methods for its prevention. The age of those dying from tuberculosis averages from 18 to 40 years. This is the most productive period in the individual life. The best results of education, culture, and labor are then achieved. The climax of one's usefulness in the world is at its zenith. What an appalling fact, then, to appreciate that from 14 to 15 per cent, of all these deaths occur from a disease which is absolutely preventable! Viewed from the standpoint of money loss alone—$5000 being the amount a human life is valued at in Illinois— all the expenses for maintenance of our great government are not to be compared with the financial loss sustained by the nation from tuberculosis. How the people live is one of the most pertinent questions
Virulent strain associated outer membrane proteins of Borrelia burgdorferi.
Authors: J T Skare, E S Shang, D M Foley, D R Blanco, C I Champion, T Mirzabekov, Y Sokolov, B L Kagan, J N Miller, M A Lovett
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1995)

We have isolated and purified outer membrane vesicles (OMV) from Borrelia burgdorferi strain B31 based on methods developed for isolation of Treponema pallidum OMV. Purified OMV exhibited distinct porin activities with conductances of 0.6 and 12.6 nano-Siemen and had no detectable beta-NADH oxidase activity indicating their outer membrane origin and their lack of inner membrane contamination, respectively. Hydrophobic proteins were identified by phase partitioning with Triton X-114. Most of these hydrophobic membrane proteins were not acylated, suggesting that they are outer membrane-spanning proteins. Identification of palmitate-labeled lipoproteins revealed that several were enriched in the OMV, several were enriched in the protoplasmic cylinder inner membrane fraction, and others were found exclusively associated with the inner membrane. The protein composition of OMV changed significantly with successive in vitro cultivation of strain B31. Using antiserum with specificity for virulent strain B31, we identified OMV antigens on the surface of the spirochete and identified proteins whose presence in OMV could be correlated with virulence and protective immunity in the rabbit Lyme disease model. These virulent strain associated outer membrane-spanning proteins may provide new insight into the pathogenesis of Lyme disease.
PEEP Guided by Esophageal Pressure — Any Added Value?
Authors: Gordon R. Bernard
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2008)

Treatment of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was introduced more than 40 years ago.1,2 Few practitioners question the effects of PEEP on hemoglobin saturation, but the optimal dose titration is controversial. Usually PEEP is simply adjusted to a suitable increase in oxygenation efficiency (i.e., the ratio of the partial pressure of arterial oxygen [PaO2] to the fraction of inspired oxygen [FiO2]) or according to an algorithm such as the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Network (ARDSNet) protocol.3 Because PEEP can impair cardiac output, some clinicians advocate titration to maximal oxygen . . .
The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice
Authors: M. Loudon
Journal: BMJ (1996)

Christopher Hitchens Verso, pounds sterling7.95, pp 98 ISBN 1 85984 054 X

“Who would be so base,” asks Christopher Hitchens, “as to pick on a wizened, shrivelled old lady, well stricken in years, who has consecrated her whole life to the needy and destitute?”

The answer is Hitchens himself, in this provocative study of the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. He presents a marvellous case, debunking the myth of Mother Teresa as simply as one might peel layers from an onion, producing some old and quite a lot of new evidence to suggest that Mother Teresa, the global icon of sainthood, needs fresh examination in a light unclouded by sentiment.

Mother Teresa's shining reputation, argues Hitchens, has been foist upon her by the millions who need to feel that someone, somewhere, is doing the things that they are not to help the poor. She feeds on it, has come …
A solid-phase PEGylation strategy for protein therapeutics using a potent FGF21 analog
Authors: Lintao Song, Yanlin Zhu, Huiyan Wang, Artur A. Belov, Jianlou Niu, Lu Shi, Yaoyao Xie, Chaohui Ye, Xiaokun Li, Zhifeng Huang
Journal: Biomaterials (2014)
Outcomes of Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation as Destination Therapy in the Post-REMATCH Era
Authors: Katherine Lietz, James W. Long, Abdallah G. Kfoury, Mark S. Slaughter, Marc A. Silver, Carmelo A. Milano, Joseph G. Rogers, Yoshifumi Naka, Donna Mancini, Leslie W. Miller
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Background— The landmark Randomized Evaluation of Mechanical Assistance for the Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure (REMATCH) trial first demonstrated that implantation of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as destination therapy (DT) can provide survival superior to any known medical treatment in patients with end-stage heart failure who are ineligible for transplantation. In the present study, we describe outcomes of DT in the post-REMATCH era in the United States. Methods and Results— The present study included 280 patients who underwent HeartMate XVE LVAD implantation between November 2001 and December 2005. A preoperative risk score for in-hospital mortality after LVAD implantation was established in 222 patients with complete data. All patients were followed up until death or December 2006. The 1-year survival after LVAD implantation was 56%. The in-hospital mortality after LVAD surgery was 27%. The main causes of death included sepsis, right heart failure, and multiorgan failure. The most important determinants of in-hospital mortality were poor nutrition, hematological abnormalities, markers of end-organ or right ventricular dysfunction, and lack of inotropic support. Stratification of DT candidates into low (n=65), medium (n=111), high (n=28), and very high (n=18) risk on the basis of the risk score calculated from these predictors corresponded with 1-year survival rates of 81%, 62%, 28%, and 11%, respectively. Conclusions— Appropriate selection of candidates and timing of LVAD implantation are critical for improved outcomes of DT. Patients with advanced heart failure who are referred for DT before major complications of heart failure develop have the best chance of achieving an excellent 1-year survival with LVAD therapy.
Management of common bile duct stricture caused by chronic pancreatitis with metal mesh self expandable stents.
Authors: J Deviere, M Cremer, M Baize, J Love, B Sugai, A Vandermeeren
Journal: Gut (1994)

Twenty patients with chronic pancreatitis and signs of biliary obstruction were treated by endoscopic placement of self expandable metal mesh stents, and followed up prospectively. Eleven had been treated previously with plastic endoprostheses. All had persistent cholestasis, seven patients had jaundice, and three overt cholangitis. Endoscopic stent placement was successful in all cases. No early clinical complication was seen and cholestasis, jaundice or cholangitis rapidly resolved in all patients. Mean follow up was 33 months (range 24 to 42) and consisted of clinical evaluation, ultrasonography, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In 18 patients, successive ERCPs and cholangioscopies have shown that the metal mesh initially embeds in the bile duct wall and is rapidly covered by a continuous tissue by three months. The stent lumen remained patent and functional throughout the follow up period except in two patients who developed epithelial hyperplasia within the stent resulting in recurrent biliary obstruction, three and six months after placement. They were treated endoscopically with standard plastic stents with one of these patients ultimately requiring surgical drainage. No patient free of clinical or radiological signs of epithelial hyperplasia after six months developed obstruction later. This new treatment could become an effective alternative to surgical biliary diversion if further controlled follow up studies confirm the initial impression that self expandable metal mesh stents offer a low morbidity alternative for longterm biliary drainage in chronic pancreatitis without the inconvenience associated with plastic stents.
Immigrant Mother and Her Child
Authors: F. N. Bamford
Journal: BMJ (1971)

The health risks of 1,164 immigrant Asian mothers and their babies in Bradford were compared with those of an indigenous group from obstetric data collected between 1965 and 1969. The average number of children for families in each group in 1969 were 3·31 and 2·33, respectively; 43·9% of 2,206 Asian mothers delivered in 1968-9 had less than a one-year interval between pregnancies. In 1965 the perinatal mortality rates for the two groups were 48·6 and 26·6, respectively, whereas in 1969 the corresponding figures were 26·8 and 25·5, respectively. Though the risks to maternal and child health of Asians are greater, Asian families are more stable and their children have a more secure upbringing than non-Asian children. However, Asian children need increased environmental stimulus in early childhood to prevent educational disadvantages at a later age.
CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells Inhibit Experimental Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Glomerulonephritis in Mice
Authors: Dominik Wolf, Kathrin Hochegger, Anna M. Wolf, Holger F. Rumpold, Guenther Gastl, Herbert Tilg, Gert Mayer, Eberhard Gunsilius, Alexander R. Rosenkranz
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2005)

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) are of critical importance for the maintenance of tolerance. The kidney is frequently involved in autoimmune diseases, such as lupus erythematosus or glomerulonephritis (GN). Therefore, the therapeutic efficacy of Treg in a T cell-dependent murine model of experimental anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) GN was tested. Transfer of 1 x 10(6) CD4+CD25+ T cells (day -1) into mice that were previously immunized with rabbit IgG (day -3) and subsequently received an injection of anti-GBM rabbit serum (day 0) significantly attenuated the development of proteinuria when compared with animals that received an injection of 1 x 10(6) CD4+CD25- T cells (control group). Treg injection induced a dramatic decrease of glomerular damage as well as a marked decrease of CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cell, and macrophage infiltration. Of note, deposition of immune complexes was not prevented by Treg, showing that Treg rather inhibited cell-mediated organ damage than priming of the humoral immune response. Accordingly, a significant reduction of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and TGF-beta1 mRNA in kidneys from animals that received Treg injection was observed. Tracking of enhanced green fluorescence protein-transgenic Treg revealed a predominant migration to secondary lymphoid organs with a significant increase of regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+CD69-CD45RB(low)) in the lymph nodes. In contrast, enhanced green fluorescence protein-and FoxP3-positive cells by reverse transcription-PCR and CD4+CD25+CD69-CD45RB(low) T cells by flow cytometry in the kidney of nephritic animals were not detected. This report provides first evidence that Treg are potent suppressors of anti-GBM GN. Treg therefore might be of therapeutic value for the treatment of severe GN in humans.
Lessons of a hip failure
Authors: S. K Muirhead-Allwood
Journal: BMJ (1998)

News p 650 

The hazard warning issued this month by the Medical Devices Agency in Britain on the 3M Capital hip system evoked emotion but no surprise among hip surgeons.1 Previous reports of failures have suggested the need for better surveillance,2 and five years ago a BMJ editorial warned, presciently, “This ‘fashion trade’ in joint replacements is costing the health service many millions of pounds each year and, even more important, is causing patients unnecessary pain and distress through early failure of unproved implants.”3 The 3M Capital hip was introduced in 1991 as a low cost hip replacement. Adverse reviews have already been reported, and its failure rates of 19-21% at five years1 are four times what would normally be expected and suggest an intrinsic problem. Yet over six years 4669 have been implanted in 95 centres throughout Britain. For a new and untested hip to have ben introduced into so many clinical centres in such a short …
Thoracic Cage Uptake in Bone Scintigraphy Secondary to Lung Abscess With Extrapleural Invasion
Authors: Mehrzad Cohenpour, Eynat Dotan, Laurian Kopel, Tifha Horne
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (2006)

Bone scintigraphy has been shown to be a sensitive diagnostic tool for the early detection of skeleton pathology. The uptake of a bone-seeking agent depends on blood flow to the area and bone remodeling activity. Although this modality mainly aids in diagnosing bone disease, pathology in other tissues can also be demonstrated either as independent findings or as a result of their influence on adjacent bones. Further investigation by appropriate modalities can ensue. In the case presented here, mildly increased uptake in the ribs on bone scintigraphy led to the diagnosis of lung abscess by subsequent computed chest tomography.
Clubbing and Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy
Authors: M D Burton, J C Wain
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1993)

Figure 1. Clubbing and Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy. On examination the hands of a 70-year-old woman with worsening cough and pretibial pain show digital clubbing (Panel A). The terminal phalanges are enlarged, and there is loss of the normal nail-to-cuticle angle. A radiograph of the tibia and fibula (Panel B) shows the characteristic periosteal elevation of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. A chest radiograph (Panel C) shows hyperinflation, borderline cardiac enlargement, and a left hilar mass that proved to be a non-small-cell bronchogenic carcinoma.
The Role of Electrostatics and Temperature on Morphological Transitions of Hydrogel Nanostructures Self‐Assembled by Peptide Amphiphiles Via Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Iris W. Fu, Cade B. Markegard, Brian K. Chu, Hung D. Nguyen
Journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials (2013)

Abstract Smart biomaterials that are self‐assembled from peptide amphiphiles (PA) are known to undergo morphological transitions in response to specific physiological stimuli. The design of such customizable hydrogels is of significant interest due to their potential applications in tissue engineering, biomedical imaging, and drug delivery. Using a novel coarse‐grained peptide/polymer model, which has been validated by comparison of equilibrium conformations from atomistic simulations, large‐scale molecular dynamics simulations are performed to examine the spontaneous self‐assembly process. Starting from initial random configurations, these simulations result in the formation of nanostructures of various sizes and shapes as a function of the electrostatics and temperature. At optimal conditions, the self‐assembly mechanism for the formation of cylindrical nanofibers is deciphered involving a series of steps: (1) PA molecules quickly undergo micellization whose driving force is the hydrophobic interactions between alkyl tails; (2) neighboring peptide residues within a micelle engage in a slow ordering process that leads to the formation of β ‐sheets exposing the hydrophobic core; (3) spherical micelles merge together through an end‐to‐end mechanism to form cylindrical nanofibers that exhibit high structural fidelity to the proposed structure based on experimental data. As the temperature and electrostatics vary, PA molecules undergo alternative kinetic mechanisms, resulting in the formation of a wide spectrum of nanostructures. A phase diagram in the electrostatics‐temperature plane is constructed delineating regions of morphological transitions in response to external stimuli.
Comparison of ammoniated and nonammoniated extracts in children with latex allergy
Authors: S. La Grutta, G. Mistrello, E. Varin, G. B. Pajno, G. Passalacqua
Journal: Allergy (2003)

Background: The use of ammoniated or nonammoniated latex extracts for the diagnosis of latex allergy is still a matter of debate. The aim of our study was to compare the characteristics of the two types of extracts by immunoblotting and RAST techniques in children with ascertained latex allergy. Methods: Ammoniated (AL) and nonammoniated latex (NAL) extracts were prepared and blotted on SDS‐PAGE to resolve their components. Also a solid phase for RAST assays was prepared with the two extracts. The sera from 18 children (mean age 11.4 years, range 6–15 years), with ascertained latex allergy (clinical history, skin test, CAP‐RAST and provocation) were used for the experiments. Results: The NAL extract is resolved in many bands (5–100 kDa), whereas AL showed only few components, likely Hev b 4, 6 and 7. IgE reactivity against AL was observed only in 5/18 patients, whereas 12/18 were positive with NAL. The blotting profile against NAL was complex and the IgE recognition pattern involved different bands. Conclusion: The extract obtained from NAL is able to detect specific IgE against a greater number of allergenic determinants, and therefore a greater diagnostic accuracy can be expected.
Evaluation of Technetium-99m DTPA for Localization of Site of Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Authors: H M ABDEL-DAYEM, K K MAHAJAN, S ERICSSON, K NAWAZ, A OWUNWANNE, K KOURIS, E HIGAZY, M AWDEH
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1986)

Intravenous Tc-99m DTPA was evaluated in 34 patients with active upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Active bleeding was detected in 25 patients: nine in the stomach, 12 in the duodenum, and four from esophageal varices. No active bleeding was seen in nine patients (two gastric ulcers and seven duodenal ulcers). Results were correlated with endoscopic and/or surgical findings. All completely correlated except: 1) one case of esophageal varices in which there was disagreement on the site, 2) three cases of duodenal ulcers that were not bleeding on endoscopy but showed mild oozing on delayed images and 3) one case of gastric ulcer, in which no bleeding was detected in the Tc-99m DTPA study, but was found to be bleeding at surgery 24 hours later. The Tc-99m DTPA study is a reliable method for localization of upper gastrointestinal bleeding with an agreement ratio of 85%. This method also can be used safely for follow-up of patients with intermittent bleeding. It is less invasive than endoscopy, is easily repeatable, and has the same accuracy.