tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
A study of the dynamic relations between the mitral valve echogram and phasic mitral flow.
Authors: S Laniado, E Yellin, M Kotler, L Levy, J Stadler, R Terdiman
Journal: Circulation (1975)

Echocardiographically recorded mitral valve motion was compared with phasic transmitral flow in 17 open chest dogs. The normal mitral valve opening started with the onset of mitral flow and reached its full excursion while flow was still accelerating. Complete valve opening occurred .044 sec (plus or minus .002 sem) before peak flow, during which time an average of 17.6 percent of total mitral filling volume had passed through the valve. In contrast to the opening movement, the closing motion of the anterior mitral valve cusp lagged behind the deceleration of mitral flow. The E-F phase of the mitral valve echogram started while mitral flow was still increasing and resulted from a combined posterior motion of the cusp and the ring. The E-F slope of the normal valve was found to decrease with reduced cardiac output. The amplitude of the anterior cusp excursion did not reflect the amount of mitral flow. Prolonged P-R interval may induce a mid-diastolic reversal of mitral flow which, in turn, may be accompanied by partial or complete valve closure, occurring before the onset of ventricular contraction. Such premature closure of the mitral valve may be accompanied by a certain amount of regurgitant flow.
PCSK9 is a critical regulator of the innate immune response and septic shock outcome
Authors: Keith R. Walley, Katherine R. Thain, James A. Russell, Muredach P. Reilly, Nuala J. Meyer, Jane F. Ferguson, Jason D. Christie, Taka-aki Nakada, Chris D. Fjell, Simone A. Thair, Mihai S. Cirstea, John H. Boyd
Journal: Science Translational Medicine (2014)

Inhibition of PCSK9 function is associated with an increase in pathogen lipid clearance, a decrease in the innate immune inflammatory response, and an improvement in septic shock clinical outcome.
Rarer Than a Blue Moon
Authors: Earl S. Ford
Journal: Diabetes Care (2005)

The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of anthropometric, physiologic, and biochemical abnormalities that occur together more frequently than expected by chance and are thought to increase the risk for developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. The syndrome is highly prevalent among U.S. adults (1), and national surveys showed that its prevalence increased between 1988–1994 and 1999–2000 (2). People with hypertension (3) or diabetes (4), two conditions that are likely to result in frequent medical visits, are particularly likely to have the metabolic syndrome.

Although the concept of a metabolic syndrome has existed for some time, the development of an operational definition by the National Cholesterol Education Program in 2001 brought new attention and life to this syndrome (5). But how firmly this syndrome has been embraced by the medical community and is being diagnosed and treated by health care professionals remains unknown. Through the efforts of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, a new ICD-9-CM code (277.7) for the dysmetabolic syndrome X was created and became available for use starting on 1 October 2001 (6). The purpose of this report is to examine the uptake …
People with inherited heart conditions need better services, report says
Authors: S. Mayor
Journal: BMJ (2009)

Every cardiac network in the United Kingdom should ensure that its population has access to specialised services for inherited cardiovascular conditions, recommends an expert report published this week, after a survey showed that capacity is insufficient to meet current or anticipated future needs.

The Foundation for Genomics and Population Health worked with a group of NHS cardiologists, geneticists, service commissioners and managers, and representatives from patients’ groups to conduct a detailed assessment of the needs of people with inherited cardiovascular conditions, such as arrhythmia syndrome and cardiomyopathies. The working group also reviewed services for affected people.

A survey of regional genetics centres showed that the capacity for inherited cardiovascular conditions was inadequate, with huge variations in access to …
Using patient-identifiable data for observational research and audit
Authors: R. Al-Shahi
Journal: BMJ (2000)

Across the world rapid changes in the law, technology, and society are reshaping the way identifiable information about patients is handled. In Britain, doctors' longstanding common law duty of confidentiality to their patients has been supplemented by restrictions on processing electronic and paper based records in the Data Protection Act 1998, which came into force on 1 March 2000. This month the United Kingdom's Medical Research Council (MRC) is the latest of several professional organisations to respond to these developments by updating its guidance on confidentiality and the use of personal information (see table on BMJ 's website).1-4 The MRC has provided invaluable, balanced guidance but there is still a real risk that strict and selective application of the other directives could jeopardise audit, clinical governance, and observational epidemiological research. This would compromise patient care and the public interest.

Britain has long had the opportunity for high quality observational epidemiology and health services research, using unselected samples of routinely collected data from hospital and general practitioner databases. Important advances in our understanding of aetiology, risk factors, and prognosis have been made through the use of population surveillance, disease registries, longitudinal cohorts, and case-control studies. These have inevitably involved using data about large numbers of people, sometimes without their consent. To our …
Removal of nasogastric tubes
Authors: M. Jones
Journal: BMJ (1988)

treatment of postviral fatigue syndrome is the subject of current investigation.Drs B D Calder and P J Warnock (9 April, p 1068) seem to disagree that case definition is important, asserting that the search for a diag- nostic test is a priority.Clinical scientists need definitions of the disorder which will allow them to focus their gaze more efficiently.We regret mis- quoting the incidence of postviral fatigue in their study.3However, their actual figure of 140 cases in a population of 10 000 in six months is even more discrepant when compared with other estimates.4This underlines the urgent need for standardised definitions.We question the value ofdistinguishing between "organic" and "non-organic" in the context of this illness.Organic factors (immune state, infection, neuromuscular and neuropsychiatric abnormalities, etc) and non-organic factors (personality, emotional reactions, social and interpersonal problems, etc) interact in subtle and complex ways, and this must be appreciated before rational research can progress.Research done by sufferers from postviral fatigue syndrome is a delicate issue about which we thought deeply before expressing an opinion.Reviews by Parish' and others are valuable, but clinical research should be carried out by those without the inevitable, albeit unconscious, biases caused by suffering from this condition.Dr Hugh- son's comparison with Percival Pott is misleading.
Allergic Alveolitis Due to Pituitary Snuff
Authors: LARRY O. HARPER
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1970)

A patient had allergic alveolitis due to pituitary snuff. Specific precipitating antibodies to the snuff were demonstrated. The condition is characterized initially by an alveolitis but in many instances progresses to irreversible pulmonary fibrosis. The patient's pulmonary function and chest film became normal. Improvement may have been related to the use of steroids.
A prospective trial of endoscopic sclerotherapy v oesophageal transection and gastric devascularisation in the long term management of bleeding oesophageal varices.
Authors: D R Triger, A G Johnson, J E Brazier, G W Johnston, E F Spencer, R McKee, J R Anderson, D C Carter
Journal: Gut (1992)

In a prospective three centre study oesophageal transection and gastric devascularisation have been compared with endoscopic sclerotherapy in the long term management of bleeding oesophageal varices. Cirrhotic patients (Child9s A or B grade) with documented bleeding oesophageal varices were treated initially with emergency sclerotherapy, and after five days stability, were allocated to one of the two treatment regimes. The endoscopic sclerotherapy group underwent regular sclerotherapy until variceal obliteration while those undergoing surgery were not endoscoped unless bleeding recurred, when they were treated by sclerotherapy if appropriate. Ninety two patients were eligible for analysis (68% alcoholic cirrhosis; mean age 50.1 years) and follow up was achieved for a mean of 52.5 months (range 17-83). Mortality in the first three months was greater in the oesophageal transection and gastric devascularisation group (20% v 1%) but by two years the survival curves were the same and thereafter there was no difference in mortality. Rebleeding occurred in 13/41 (31%) patients, undergoing oesophageal transection and gastric devascularisation. The costs incurred during the first year of oesophageal transection and gastric devascularisation treatment were significantly greater than with endoscopic sclerotherapy (4369 pounds v 1067 pounds, p &lt; 0.0001) and the high rate of rebleeding in the surgical group meant that no cost savings occurred in subsequent years. It is concluded that oesophageal transection and gastric devascularisation confers no benefit over endoscopic sclerotherapy in terms of long term survival and that it is not cost effective as judged by the current health care costs in the United Kingdom.
Cell-cell interaction in graft rejection responses: induction of anti-allo-class I H-2 tolerance is prevented by immune responses against allo-class II H-2 antigens coexpressed on tolerogen.
Authors: S Hori, S Kitagawa, H Iwata, T Ochiai, K Isono, T Hamaoka, H Fujiwara
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1992)

The intravenous sensitization of C57BL/6 (B6) mice with class I H-2-disparate B6-C-H-2bm1 (bm1) spleen cells results in almost complete abrogation of anti-bm1 CD8+ helper (proliferative and interleukin 2-producing) T cell (Th) activities. Although an appreciable portion of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) precursors themselves remained after this regimen, such a residual CTL activity was eliminated after the engrafting of bm1 grafts, and these grafts exhibited prolonged survival. In contrast, the intravenous sensitization with (bm1 x B6-C-H-2bm12 [bm12])F1 cells instead of bm1 cells failed to induce the prolongation of bm1 graft survival as well as bm12 and (bm1 x bm12)F1 graft survival. In the (bm1 x bm12)F1-presensitized B6 mice before as well as after the engrafting of bm1 grafts, anti-bm1 CTL responses that were comparable to or slightly stronger than those observed in unpresensitized mice were induced in the absence of anti-bm1 Th activities. bm1 graft survival was also prolonged by intravenous presensitization with a mixture of bm1 and bm12 cells but not with a mixture of bm1 and (bm1 x bm12)F1 cells. The capacity of CD4+ T cells to reject bm12 grafts was eliminated by intravenous presensitization with antigen-presenting cell (APC)-depleted bm12 spleen cells. However, intravenous presensitization with APC-depleted (bm1 x bm12)F1 cells failed to induce the prolongation of bm1 graft survival under conditions in which appreciably prolonged bm12 graft survival was induced. More surprisingly, bm1 graft survival was not prolonged even when the (bm1 x bm12)F1 cell presensitization was performed in CD4+ T cell-depleted B6 mice. This contrasted with the fact that conventional class I-disparate grafts capable of activating self Ia-restricted CD4+ as well as allo-class I-reactive CD8+ Th exhibited prolonged survival in CD4+ T cell-depleted, class I-disparate cell-presensitized mice. These results indicate that: (a) intravenous presensitization with class I- and II-disparate cells fails to reduce anti-allo-class I rejection responses that would otherwise be eliminated using only class I-disparate cells; (b) such failure is generated according to the coexpression of both classes of alloantigens on a single cell as tolerogen; and (c) allo-class II antigens coexpressed on tolerogen function to activate CD4+ as well as non-CD4+ Th leading to the generation of anti-class I effector T cell responses.
Cytosolic calcium transients differ between porcine coronary arterial and aortic smooth muscle cells in primary culture.
Authors: Y Shogakiuchi, H Kanaide, M Nakamura
Journal: Circulation Research (1991)

Using quin 2 microfluorometry of porcine vascular smooth muscle cells in primary culture at 25 degrees C, we investigated differences in cytosolic calcium transients between epicardial coronary artery and aorta. Both in coronary arterial and aortic smooth muscle cells, histamine induced transient and dose-dependent elevations of cytosolic calcium concentrations, with a similar time course and EC50 (coronary artery, 1.4 x 10(-7) M; aorta, 1.8 x 10(7) M). However, a transient and dose-dependent elevation of cytosolic calcium concentrations was induced by norepinephrine in aortic smooth muscle cells (EC50 = 2.5 x 10(-7) M) but not in coronary arterial smooth muscle cells. Isoproterenol, which produced no change in cytosolic calcium concentrations in aortic vascular smooth muscle cells, significantly and dose dependently decreased concentrations of calcium in coronary arterial smooth muscle cells (EC50 = 1.5 x 10(7) M). Dibutyryl cAMP decreased the concentration of cytosolic calcium both in the coronary arterial and aortic vascular smooth muscle cells with a similar time course and EC50 (coronary artery, 9.8 x 10(-6) M; aorta, 1.1 x 10(-5) M). Intracellular concentration of cAMP was increased in response to isoproterenol, as determined with radioimmunoassay of the coronary arterial smooth muscle cells but not in the aortic cells. Thus, the characteristics of receptors on the sarcolemma may play a key role in the regulation of responsiveness of vascular smooth muscle cells to various vasoactive substances. Aortic smooth muscle cells are alpha-receptor dominant, and activation results in a transient elevation of cytosolic calcium concentrations. The epicardial coronary arterial smooth muscle cells are beta-receptor dominant, and activation results in an increase in cAMP and a reduction of cytosolic calcium concentrations. These results may account for the poor contraction, or relaxation, of epicardial coronary artery induced by sympathetic stimulation and exogenously applied catecholamines.
Bronchial hyperreactivity to histamine in aspirin sensitive asthmatics: relationship to aspirin threshold and effect of aspirin desensitisation.
Authors: M L Kowalski, I Grzelewska-Rzymowska, M Szmidt, J Rozniecki
Journal: Thorax (1985)

Twenty seven aspirin sensitive asthmatic patients were studied to determine the relationship between non-specific bronchial responsiveness to inhaled histamine and the degree of sensitivity to aspirin (aspirin threshold dose). No correlation was found between provocative concentration of histamine (PC20H) and aspirin threshold dose. In 11 patients the influence of aspirin desensitisation on bronchial reactivity to inhaled histamine was examined. Mean PC20H measured the day after the patients were desensitised to 600 mg of aspirin did not change significantly from the values before desensitisation. These observations suggest that sensitivity to aspirin and non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity in asthmatic patients are independent phenomena.
DNA polymorphisms and response to treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C: Results from the HALT-C trial
Authors: Timothy R. Morgan, Richard W. Lambrecht, Herbert L. Bonkovsky, Raymond T. Chung, Deepa Naishadham, Richard K. Sterling, Robert J. Fontana, William M. Lee, Marc G. Ghany, Elizabeth C. Wright, Thomas R. O’Brien
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2008)
Aneurysmal Dilatation of the Aortic Sinuses in Marfan's Syndrome
Authors: ISRAEL STEINBERG, JOSEPH L. MANGIARDI, WILLIAM J. NOBLE
Journal: Circulation (1957)

Aneurysmal dilatation of the aortic sinuses in identical twins, aged 2 years, was disclosed after angiocardiography. Knowledge of the association of aortic sinus aneurysms and Marfan's syndrome led to the discovery of bilateral dislocated lenses; these, plus mildly arched palates, dolichocephaly, and slender fingers established the diagnosis of arachnodactyly. Right heart catheterization proved to be normal. A patent foramen ovale in 1 twin permitted pressure measurements in the left atrium and ventricle. Significant mitral insufficiency and aortic stenosis were excluded by the character of the left atrial and ventricular pressures. Aortic sinus dilatation is due to medial degeneration, a common finding in Marfan's syndrome. Endocardial or subendocardial (myxomatous) involvement of the left ventricle is probably the cause of the left ventricular hypertrophy.
More on Laennec
Authors: Georges Desse
Journal: JAMA (1961)

<h3>To the Editor:—</h3> Will you allow a practitioner of Quimper, Laennec's birthtown, to give his contribution in the current discussion (<i>JAMA</i><b>176</b>:1052 [June 24] 1961) about the pronunciation of the name of his compatriot? In Quimper, the name of Laennec is uncommon, but often we meet Lazennec (the donkey-driver). A great specialist of Celtic language, my friend Pierre Jackes Hélias, gave me his opinion: "The name of the famous doctor is said to come from lenneg (or lennek), a Breton name which means 'savant.'" That is the explanation of the grammarian LeGonidec, but I do not think that it is a very good one. I have never heard the word "lenneg" spoken by any Breton. Several explanations of the origin of Laennec can be made: One is a fall of the intervocal Z in Lazennec, with the pronunciation as 3 syllables. (This explanation seems better to me because it
Frequent consumption of red meat is not risk factor for cancer
Authors: B. D Cox, M. J Whichelow
Journal: BMJ (1997)

Payoff patterns that can be achieved with simple option positions are very attractive to many investors. One may distinguish “convex” strategies, with a payoff resembling a long position in a stock portfolio together with a protective put, and “concave” strategies that look like covered calls. Convex strategies offer upside potential if the stock market rises, combined with a fixed minimum payout if the market should Fall. Concave strategies retain the downside risk, give up a portion of the upside, but pay a fixed return in a stable or rising market that is well above the yield on ordinary bonds. Individual investors like these payoffs, but cannot construct them easily on their own using traded instruments. In the 1990s, banks began offering both convex and concave structured products that have proven to be very popular with investors and profitable for the banks. In this article, Burth, Kraus, and Wohlwend examine 275 concave products sold in the Swiss market in the late 1990s, and compare their prices to an estimate of the cost of creating the payoffs using options traded on EUREX. Not surprisingly, they find that prices of the concave products seem to be quite favorable for the banks. They also find considerable pricing dispersion, with distinct differences across different issuing institutions, between products that pay a coupon versus those that do not, and between instruments issued by a single bank versus those with co-lead managers.
Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head
Authors: Duncan S. Owen
Journal: JAMA (1977)

To the Editor.—  The article by Drs Appell and Weiss (236:2886, 1976) entitled Retroperitoneal Fibrosis and Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head suggests an association between these two diseases.  I am aware of only one other case report of this association, and it is in a recent article. 1 However, the authors of that article state their patient admitted to the heavy use of alcohol. This admission could be highly significant, since another group listed alcoholism as the cause of avascular necrosis of the hip in 17% of their patients. 2   There are many theories as to the cause of avascular necrosis in alcoholics, but none are proved. One theory is that alcoholism produces a fatty liver, which in turn unleashes fatty emboli that eventually occlude the circulation to the femoral head. 3 Systemic adrenocorticosteroids are known to produce avascular necrosis, probably in a similar manner. Possibly, the lipemia arises
549 S-COLLATE: ON-TREATMENT HBSAG LEVEL ANALYSIS IN ‘REAL-LIFE’ CONFIRMS PREDICTION OF RESPONSE OBSERVED IN NEPTUNE AND PHASE III STUDIES OF PEGINTERFERON ALFA-2A IN 412 CHINESE PATIENTS
Authors: Q. Xie, X.Y. Chen, Y.P. Chen, X.P. Chen, Y. Xie, Y.L. Liu, Z. Yang, D. Messinger, L. Regep, G.Q. Lou, W. Lai
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2012)
The effect of intravascular neutrophil chemotactic factors on blood neutrophil and platelet kinetics
Authors: Andrew C. Issekutz, Murray Ripley
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (1986)

Abstract Intravenous infusion of an analogue (f‐met‐leu‐phe [FMLP]) of a bacterial‐derived polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) chemotactic factor, or of the complementderived chemotactic stimulus, zymosan‐activated plasma (ZAP, containing C5a des Arg ) into rabbits induces acute PMNL margination in the pulmonary vasculature. This process also occurs during hemodialysis and the adult respiratory distress syndrome. The pulmonary PMNL sequestration is accompanied by thrombocytopenia. Because of the role platelets and PMNLs play in hemostasis and defense against infection, we studied the fate of these blood elements following sequestration induced by chemotactic factors. By employing 111 In‐labelled platelets and external radioisotope scanning, platelets were found to sequester in the pulmonary vasculature during FMLP infusion. Simultaneous 51 Cr PMNL and 111 In‐platelet studies showed that following sequestration, PMNLs returned to the circulation and disappeared with a normal half‐life (T1/2) whereas the T1/2 of the platelets was markedly shortened (T1/2 of control = 49 ± 3.0 hr; FMLP or ZAP infused T1/2 = 27 ± 2.7 hr). Infusion of platelet‐activating factor (PAF) induced PMN and platelet sequestration with similar abnormalities in platelet kineties. Studies with 51 Cr‐ and 14 C‐serotonin‐labelled platelets showed that platelets did not release serotonin during FMLP, ZAP, or low dose PAF‐induced sequestration. In contrast to platelet survival, platelet size, platelet aggregation responses, and platelet glycoprotcins were not affected by transient sequestration. These results indicate that during PMNL margination induced by relatively „pure”︁ PMNL stimuli such as FMLP, platelets may reversibly marginate and subsequently be cleared at an accelerated rate. The reason for accelerated platelet clearance is not a result of circulating platelet aggregates or detectable proteolytic modification of membrane glycoproteins. Such altered platelet kinetics may contribute to thrombocytopenia during sepsis, the adult respiratory distress syndrome, and other states in which excess PMNL margination occurs.
Pityriasis rubra pilaris and retinol-binding protein
Authors: ALDO F. FINZI, GIANFRANCO ALTOMARE, LUIGI BERGAMASCHINI, ANTONIA TUCCI
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1981)

Serum levels of retinol-binding protein (the specific carrier of vitamin A) were measured in eleven patients with pityriasis rubra pilaris and in some of their close relatives. The level of retinol-binding protein was markedly reduced in every patient, and in some of the relatives. It is postulated that defective synthesis of retinol-binding protein is a biochemical marker for pityriasis rubra pilaris, probably transmitted as a Mendelian dominant.