tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Reducing morbidity from chest drains
Authors: J. Hyde, T. Sykes, T. Graham
Journal: BMJ (1997)

The promise of cloning for human medicineNot a moral threat but an exciting challenge T he production of a sheep clone, Dolly, from an adult somatic cell 1 is a stunning achievement of British science.It also holds great promise for human medicine.Sadly, the media have sensationalised the implications, ignoring the huge potential of this experiment.Accusations that scientists have been working secretively and without the chance for public debate are invalid.Successful cloning was publicised in 1975, 2 and it is over eight years since Prather et al published details of the first piglet clone after nuclear transfer. 3issing from much of the debate about Dolly is recognition that she is not an identical clone.Part of our genetic material comes from the mitochondria in the cytoplasm of the egg.In Dolly's case only the nuclear DNA was transferred.Moreover, we are a product of our nurture as much as our genetic nature.Monovular twins are genetically closer than are artificially produced clones, and no one could deny that such twins have quite separate identities.Dolly's birth provokes fascinating questions.How old is she?Her nuclear DNA gives her potentially adult status, but her mitochondria are those of a newborn.Mitochrondia are important in the aging process because aging is related to acquired mutations in mitochondrial DNA, possibly caused by oxygen damage during an individual's life. 4Experimental nuclear transfer in animals and in human cell lines could help elucidate mechanisms for many of these processes.Equally extraordinary is the question concerning the role of the egg's cytoplasm in mammalian development.Once the quiescent nucleus had been transferred to the recipient egg cell, developmental genes expressed only in very early life were switched on.There are likely to be powerful factors in the cytoplasm of the egg that make this happen.Egg cytoplasm is perhaps the new royal jelly.Studying why and how these genes switch on would give important information about both human development and genetic disease.Research on nuclear transfer into human eggs has immense clinical value.Here is a model for learning more about somatic cell differentiation.If, in due course, we could influence differentiation to give rise to targeted cell types we might generate many tissues of great value in transplantation.These could include skin and blood cells, and possibly neuronal tissue, for the treatment of injury, for bone marrow transplants for leukaemia, and for degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.One problem to be overcome is
Health Insurance Plans: Promise and Performance
Authors: Ronald Andersen
Journal: JAMA (1975)

Hetherington et al examine the differences between provider-sponsored plans, commercial carriers, and prepaid group-practice plans in southern California, basing their work on data collected from six plans in Los Angeles County, from 1965 to 1971. Information was gathered from the health insurance agencies, subscribers to each plan, and physicians who served the subscribers. Performance of the plans was measured according to amounts of medical service used, aspects of quality of those services, consumer expenditures, and consumer satisfaction. There were lower hospitalization rates in the large group-practice plans. Group plans tended to provide more preventive services and do more laboratory and radiology testing, but physicians in the large group plan "do not make note of the results as frequently as their colleagues in private practice." The hospital-sponsored plan had the highest rate of continuity of care. Families in the large group-practice plan had significantly lower out-of-pocket expenses per person while the
Liver Biopsy Interpretation
Authors: D G D Wight
Journal: Gut (1996)

Letters, Book reviews associated with parasympathetic autonomic neuropathy, which is, in turn, associated with accelerated gastric emptying.As the disease becomes chronic, we hypothesise that a sympathetic neuropathy occurs as well, which manifests itself as delayed gastric emptying.The findings of Dumitrascu et al support this notion as their study shows that patients with chronic renal failure may have accelerated, normal, or delayed gastric emptying depending upon whether the parasympathetic or sympathetic nervous systems are involved.While their findings do not exactly parallel the findings of our.study, their results do suggest that the autonomic nervous system has a variable influence on retarding or accelerating the rate of gastric emptying in either disorder.
Relationship between the pattern of hepatic iron deposition and histological severity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: James E. Nelson, Laura Wilson, Elizabeth M. Brunt, Matthew M. Yeh, David E. Kleiner, Aynur Unalp-Arida, Kris V. Kowdley
Journal: Hepatology (2010)

Previous studies examining the relationship between hepatic iron deposition and histological severity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been inconclusive. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between hepatic iron deposition and liver histology in 849 patients enrolled in the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network. Hepatic iron staining was performed in a central laboratory, and the stains were scored for grade and cellular and parenchymal localization by a central pathology committee; the relationship between the grade and pattern of iron deposition and the clinical, laboratory, and histological variables was examined with univariate and multivariate analyses. Stainable hepatic iron was present in 293 of 849 patients (34.5%) in one of three histological patterns: a hepatocellular (HC) pattern [63/849 (7.4%)], a reticuloendothelial system (RES) cell pattern [91/849 (10.7%)], or a mixed RES/HC pattern [139/849 (16.4%)]. Patients with the RES iron-staining pattern were more likely to have advanced fibrosis compared to those with those with HC iron (P = 0.01). Patients with RES iron were also more likely to have advanced histological features such as fibrosis (P = 0.049), portal inflammation (P = 0.002), HC ballooning (P = 0.006), and definite nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (P = 0.007) compared to those with patients with HC or mixed iron patterns. The presence of RES iron (odds ratio = 1.60, 95% confidence interval = 1.10-2.33, P = 0.015) was independently associated with advanced hepatic fibrosis on multiple regression analysis after adjustments for age, gender, diabetes status, and body mass index.The presence and pattern of hepatic iron deposition are associated with distinct histological features in patients with NAFLD and may have implications for pathophysiology and therapy.
Development of anionic bubble lipopolyplexes for efficient and safe gene transfection with ultrasound exposure in mice
Authors: Tomoaki Kurosaki, Shigeru Kawakami, Yuriko Higuchi, Ryo Suzuki, Kazuo Maruyama, Hitoshi Sasaki, Fumiyoshi Yamashita, Mitsuru Hashida
Journal: Journal of Controlled Release (2014)
Associations Between Concentrations of Vitamin D and Concentrations of Insulin, Glucose, and HbA1c Among Adolescents in the United States
Authors: Earl S. Ford, Guixiang Zhao, James Tsai, Chaoyang Li
Journal: Diabetes Care (2011)

Our objective was to examine the associations between concentrations of vitamin D and concentrations of insulin, glucose, and HbA(1c) in a nationally representative sample of adolescents in the U.S.We used data for 1,941 adolescents, aged 12-17 years, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2001 and 2006.Adjusted concentrations of insulin were ~24% lower among male subjects with a concentration of vitamin D ≥ 75 nmol/L than among male subjects with a concentration of vitamin D <50 nmol/L (P = 0.003). Concentrations of vitamin D were inversely associated with concentrations of glucose only among Mexican American male subjects (P = 0.007). No significant associations between concentrations of vitamin D and HbA(1c) were detected.Our results support an inverse association between concentrations of vitamin D and insulin primarily in adolescent male subjects.
Biophysical properties of homomeric and heteromultimeric channels formed by cardiac connexins
Authors: A Moreno
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2004)

Substantial advances have been made in characterizing the biophysical properties of channels formed exclusively by connexin isoforms expressed mainly in the heart, e.g., Cx43, Cx45 or Cx40. These properties include transjunctional and transmembrane voltage gating as well as their perm-selectivity, chemical gating and, at a single channel level, their multiple open states and changes in mode behavior. Nonetheless, these connexins are rarely expressed individually in a cell and the presence of functional channels constituted by distinct connexin isoforms is now suspected to be a norm. In fact, combinations of the connexins that form heteromeric channels have been described in some tissues, increasing the necessity to reinforce the research that leads to understanding the effects of these heteromeric interaction on the gating and conducting characteristics of the channels. Furthermore, protein-protein interaction studies will help to understand which connexin domains are involved in these interactions and how they affect the physiology of channels and their interaction with other biological and structural molecules in the cell. New information on the biophysical properties of heteromultimeric channels suggests that interaction between connexins and connexons is not as simple as once thought. Theoretically, changes in the coupling of homomeric connexons (Cx43) in the myocardium may not be significant enough to change the physiology of the heart or to incite arrhythmias, but when heteromeric channels are present, alteration in conductance, differential gating sensitivity to bio-gating molecules and changes in voltage sensitivity increase substantially the cell resources to modulate intercellular coupling, which may participate in the physiology and/or pathology of the cardiovascular tissues.
Konjac-mannan (glucomannan) improves glycemia and other associated risk factors for coronary heart disease in type 2 diabetes. A randomized controlled metabolic trial.
Authors: V Vuksan, D J Jenkins, P Spadafora, J L Sievenpiper, R Owen, E Vidgen, F Brighenti, R Josse, L A Leiter, C Bruce-Thompson
Journal: Diabetes Care (1999)

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether Konjac-mannan (KJM) fiber improves metabolic control as measured by glycemia, lipidemia, and blood pressure in high-risk type 2 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 11 hyperlipidemic and hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients treated conventionally by a low-fat diet and drug therapy participated. After an 8-week baseline, all were randomly assigned to take either KJM fiber-enriched test biscuits (0.7 g/412 kJ [100 kcal] of glucomannan) or matched placebo wheat bran fiber biscuits during two 3-week treatment phases separated by a 2-week washout period. The diet in either case was metabolically controlled and conformed to National Cholesterol Education Program Step 2 guidelines, while medications were maintained constant. Efficacy measures included serum fructosamine, lipid profiles, apolipoproteins, blood pressure, body weight, and nutritional analysis. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, KJM significantly reduced the metabolic control primary end points: serum fructosamine (5.7%, P = 0.007, adjusted alpha = 0.0167), total:HDL cholesterol ratio (10%, P = 0.03, adjusted alpha = 0.05), and systolic blood pressure (sBP) (6.9%, P = 0.02, adjusted alpha = 0.025). Secondary end points, including body weight, total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A-1, B, and their ratio, glucose, insulin, and diastolic blood pressure, were not significant after adjustment by the Bonferroni-Hochberg procedure. CONCLUSIONS: KJM fiber added to conventional treatment may ameliorate glycemic control, blood lipid profile, and sBP in high-risk diabetic individuals, possibly improving the effectiveness of conventional treatment in type 2 diabetes.
Bisphosphonates inhibit the adhesion of breast cancer cells to bone matrices in vitro.
Authors: G van der Pluijm, H Vloedgraven, E van Beek, L van der Wee-Pals, C Löwik, S Papapoulos
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1996)

Bisphosphonates are used with increasing frequency in the management of skeletal complications in patients with breast cancer. In this paper, we have investigated whether bisphosphonates, besides their known beneficial effects on tumor-associated osteoclastic resorption, are capable of inhibiting breast cancer cell adhesion to bone matrix. For that we used two in vitro models for bone matrix (cortical bone slices and cryostat sections of trabecular bone from neonatal mouse tails). Four bone matrix-bound nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (pamidronate, olpadronate, alendronate, and ibandronate) inhibited adhesion and spreading of breast cancer cells to bone dose-dependently, whereas etidronate and clodronate had little or no effect. Strikingly, the relative order of potency of the bisphosphonates in inhibiting the adhesion of cancer cells to cortical and trabecular bone corresponded to their relative antiresorptive potencies in vivo as well as their ranking in in vitro bone resorption assays with predictive value for their clinical efficacy. It appears that nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates alter selectively the adhesive properties of the extracellular bone matrix preventing the attachment of breast cancer cells to it. Besides the beneficial effects of bisphosphonates on tumor-induced osteoclastic resorption, the previously unrecognized effect presented in this paper makes these agents suitable for earlier pharmacologic intervention in patients with breast cancer at risk of developing bone metastases.
A Clinical Lecture ON THE COMPLICATIONS OF SCARLET FEVER: Delivered at Charing Cross Hospital
Authors: W. Hunter
Journal: BMJ (1906)

GENTLEMEN, The cases to whiichl I lhave to draw your attentioni to-day from tlhe wards of the .London Fever Hospital illustrate the features, and especially the complicationis, of scarlet fever.The disease is one, as you know, of very varying intensity sometimes so mil(d that, but for the slighlit illitial rash and tlle subsequenit desquamation, it wouild almost pass unlnioticed; sometimes among the severest of (liseases in virtue of its own virulen-ce, or still mor e of the complicationis to wlichl it gives rise.lt is usual to recogniize three types of the disease, the mild or scarlatinia beenigna; a more severe type complicated withl anigina anid glanidular cenlargelnent, scarlatilia anginosa ; and a tlhird severe type, scarlatinia maligna.If all cases of scarlet fever could be grouped under these threel headinigs, prognosis would be a comparatively simple matter.But even a brief experience <of scarlet fever soonI brings out the fact that suclh a grouping is at the best biit a rougll one, and affords no help in the stu(dy of the, inidividual case.The chlief problem whlich tile disease presents is to explaini why a case originally of the mildest clharacter may be subject to the severest complicationis, and whvly a severe case may Tun anl uninterrupted course to recovery.In otlher words, the problern that scarlet fever presenits is nlot the inc(idence of complicationis in a certain group of cases, but the incidence of comnplicationis in the individual case Wliy in one case, with everythinlg in its favour apparently we h-ave the severest of complications occurring, endinig -perlhaps, fatally; anid wlhy in anotlher, wlich was verv severe at the outset, the course should be of the most benign clharacter.First of all witlh regard to scarlet fever generally and its features, let me recall to you briefly what they are.Scarlet fever, as you know, is a fever which is characterized by sore throat, more or less adenitis, a specific rash, a specitic desquamationi, and a specific course, lasting usually for six weeks.The mode of onset is usually with sore throat, headache and( vomiting, those occurring in about 85 per cent. of the cases.Sore tlhroat is the commonest of these symptoms, headachle the next.In addition to these specific symptoms, some cases present rigors and diarrhoea, a few have paini in the limbs, and a few presenit epistaxis.
Psychological Coping Mechanisms and Survival Time in Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Leonard R. Derogatis, Martin D. Abeloff, Nick Melisaratos
Journal: JAMA (1979)

Thirty-five women with metastatic breast cancer received a battery of baseline psychological tests; results were correlated with length of survival. Patients who died in less than one year from baseline were categorized as short-term survivors, while patients who lived for one year or longer were assigned to the long-term survivor group. The long-term survivors were more symptomatic overall, with particular elevations on measures of anxiety and alienation, and substantially higher levels of dysphoric mood (eg, depression, guilt) than the short-term survivors. Short-term survivors revealed significantly lower levels of hostility, with higher levels of positive mood. Treating oncologists perceived the long-term survivors to show significantly poorer adjustment to their illnesses than the short-term survivors, and an interviewer's ratings indicated that long-term survivors had significantly poorer attitudes toward their physicians. Measures of clinical status and demographic data revealed few differences between the two groups. (<i>JAMA</i>242:1504-1508, 1979)
A Low Glycemic Diet Significantly Improves the 24-h Blood Glucose Profile in People With Type 2 Diabetes, as Assessed Using the Continuous Glucose MiniMed Monitor
Authors: Audrey E. Brynes, Jennifer L. Lee, Rosanna E. Brighton, Anthony R. Leeds, Anne Dornhorst, Gary S. Frost
Journal: Diabetes Care (2003)

Low glycemic index (LGI) diets have been shown to improve glucose tolerance in clinical studies; however, this does not necessarily ensure similar effectiveness when given to free-living individuals making their own food choices. This concern was reflected in the current position of the American Diabetes Association (1) in that “although LGI foods may reduce postprandial hyperglycemia, there is insufficient evidence of long-term benefits to recommend general use of LGI diets in type 2 diabetic patients.” Despite this, the glycemic index (GI) method for classifying carbohydrates has been endorsed by a number of influential bodies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization …
Postmortem study of the frequency of gallstones in patients with cirrhosis of the liver
Authors: I. A. D. Bouchier
Journal: Gut (1969)

The frequency of gallstones in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients at necropsy has been determined from a retrospective survey of postmortem records over 15 years. The frequency of gallstones was found to be 29·4% in the cirrhotic group and 12·8% in the non-cirrhotic population. Whereas gallstones were twice as frequent in females than males in the general population the sex difference disappeared in cirrhotic patients. Gallstones increased in frequency with age in the general population but this phenomenon was not seen in the cirrhotic group. No one type of cirrhosis was more liable to be associated with gallstones at necropsy. In contrast to the general population bilirubin stones were more frequent in cirrhotics.
Reading Deficits in Schizophrenia and Individuals at High Clinical Risk: Relationship to Sensory Function, Course of Illness, and Psychosocial Outcome
Authors: Nadine Revheim, Cheryl M. Corcoran, Elisa Dias, Esther Hellmann, Antigona Martinez, Pamela D. Butler, Jonathan M. Lehrfeld, Joanna DiCostanzo, Jennifer Albert, Daniel C. Javitt
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2014)

Objective The ability to read passages of information fluently and with comprehension is a basic component of socioeconomic success. Reading ability depends on the integrity of underlying visual and auditory (phonological) systems. This study investigated the integrity of reading ability in schizophrenia relative to the integrity of underlying visual and auditory function. Method The participants were 45 schizophrenia patients, 19 clinical high-risk patients, and 65 comparison subjects. Reading was assessed using tests sensitive to visual or phonological reading dysfunction. Sensory, neuropsychological, and functional outcome measures were also obtained. Results Schizophrenia patients displayed reading deficits that were far more severe (effect size >2.0) than would be predicted based on general neurocognitive impairments (effect size 1.0–1.4). The deficits correlated highly with both visual and auditory sensory measures, including impaired mismatch negativity generation (r=0.62, N=51, p=0.0002). Patients with established schizophrenia displayed both visual and phonological impairments, whereas high-risk patients showed isolated visual impairments. More than 70% of schizophrenia patients met criteria for acquired dyslexia, with 50% reading below eighth grade level despite intact premorbid reading ability. Reading deficits also correlated significantly (rp=0.4, N=30, p=0.03) with failure to match parental socioeconomic achievement, over and above contributions of more general cognitive impairment. Conclusions Patients with schizophrenia display severe deficits in reading ability that represent a potentially remediable cause of impaired socioeconomic function. Such deficits are not presently captured during routine clinical assessment. Deficits most likely develop during the years immediately surrounding illness onset and may contribute to the reduced educational and occupational achievement associated with schizophrenia.
Strongyloidiasis in Veterans
Authors: Nicholas W. J. Oliver
Journal: JAMA (1987)

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> The article by Genta and colleagues<sup>1</sup>on the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis in an atrisk group emphasizes the need for using multiple diagnostic modalities in the search for this elusive parasite. Our experience in Tasmania, however, contrasts with their observation that patients' clinical manifestations may not be helpful in suggesting the diagnosis. <h3>Study.—</h3> For the past eight years, we have been investigating<i>Strongyloides stercoralis</i>infestation in World War II veterans who were prisoners of war in the Far East. As<i>Strongyloides</i>is not endemic in Tasmania, the bulk of the cases in this group of veterans were acquired during their time as prisoners working on the Burma-Thai railway, 40 years previously. Of the 150 veterans so far investigated, 29 have had the typical clinical manifestations of episodic diarrhea, vague abdominal discomfort, eosinophilia, and rapidly advancing linear skin eruptions (larva