tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Hypocomplementemia of Membranoproliferative Nephritis DEPENDENCE OF THE NEPHRITIC FACTOR REACTION ON PROPERDIN FACTOR B
Authors: Edward J. Ruley, Judith Forristal, Neil C. Davis, Cynthia Andres, Clark D. West
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1973)

Membranoproliferative nephritis in children is frequently associated with a hypocomplementemia produced at least in part by C3 breakdown mediated by a circulating anticomplementary factor known as C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF). C3 breakdown by this factor in vitro requires the presence of a pseudoglobulin cofactor and magnesium. The present study provides evidence that properdin factor B (C3 proactivator) is activated in the nephritic factor reaction and is the direct mediator of C3 breakdown by C3NeF. Depletion of factor B from mixtures of normal human serum (NHS) and plasma from a patient with membranoproliferative nephritis (MPP), either by heating or by immune equivalence absorption, blocks C3 breakdown by C3NeF. Addition of purified factor B to these mixtures restores the anticomplementary effect. When purified factor B is added to mixtures of MPP and purified C3, breakdown also occurs. Associated with the C3 breakdown is a change in the electrophoretic mobility of factor B from the beta to the gamma position, a shift which has been associated with cleavage activation of the molecule. Further, serum factor B levels are often low in patients with membranoproliferative nephritis and bear a rough inverse correlation with C3NeF levels. It thus appears that factor B is the previously described heat-labile C3NeF cofactor. Whether the C3NeF reaction proceeds via a pathway comparable to that activated by the cobra venom factor or via that activated by zymosan or inulin cannot be determined from the present data.
Protocols for Physician Assistants
Authors: Anthony L. Komaroff, W. L. Black, Margaret Flatley, Robert H. Knopp, Barney Reiffen, Herbert Sherman
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1974)

Abstract Physician assistants used problem-oriented protocols in management of patients with diabetes and hypertension. The protocols directed the physician assistant in determining what data to collect, and whether the patients required a physician's care at that visit. Physicians verified the ability of the physician assistants to collect history and physical-examination data accurately, noting false-positive findings on 11 per cent of 381 visits, and false-negative findings on 1 per cent of visits. Subsequently, physicians selected certain patients as "suitable" to be managed by the physician assistants. "Suitable" patients were then randomly assigned to be seen by the physician assistants (experimental visits) or physicians (control visits) on return visits. On 37 per cent of experimental visits over an 11-month period, the patients went home without seeing a physician. Physicians accepted the protocol disposition decision in 94 per cent of the cases. Patients accepted the system, as reflected by their attendance rate at the clinic. (N Engl J Med 290:307–312, 1974)
Studies on an Attenuated Measles-Virus Vaccine
Authors: C. Henry Kempe, Esther W. Ott, Leone St. Vincent, John C. Maisel
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1960)

IN this communication the clinical and antigenic effects of measles vaccine (attenuated) after its administration to several groups of institutionalized children are described and evaluated. The trials were begun in December, 1958, and were continued at intervals until March, 1960.MethodsChildren eighteen years of age or younger, not known to have had measles, were selected for serologic testing to determine susceptibility to this disease. These children were studied in the State Home and Training School, Wheatridge, Colorado, and on the pediatric wards of the National Jewish Hospital at Denver, Colorado. In the State Home about 800 mentally retarded children . . .
Coronary artery bypass surgery: current practice in the United Kingdom.
Authors: G D Angelini, A J Bryan, R R West, A C Newby, I M Breckenridge
Journal: Thorax (1989)

A survey of current clinical practice was carried out among the 84 consultant cardiac surgeons currently performing coronary artery bypass surgery in the United Kingdom. The 80 surgeons who returned the questionnaire performed an estimated total of 17,100 coronary artery bypass graft operations in 1987, a mean case load of 214 operations each. Sixty two of the 80 surgeons regarded the internal mammary artery as the graft conduit of choice, and seven preferred the saphenous vein. The internal mammary artery was used in 73% of bypass grafts to the left anterior descending coronary artery but in only 4% of grafts to the circumflex and right coronary systems. Contraindications to the use of the internal mammary artery included advanced age of the patient (51 surgeons), insufficient flow through the internal mammary artery (49), and endarterectomy (35). Seventy four of the 80 surgeons considered intraoperative damage to the saphenous vein to be a possible cause of vein graft failure, but there was no agreement about how it should be reduced. All surgeons advocated pharmacological measures to enhance graft patency. Dipyridamole and aspirin constituted the most popular regimen (58 surgeons), though only 28 started dipyridamole preoperatively. Warfarin was prescribed postoperatively on occasion by 22 surgeons, but 14 of these used it only after endarterectomy.
Immunity to Influenza as Related to Antibody Levels
Authors: J. A. Morris, J. A. Kasel, M. Saglam, V. Knight, F. A. Loda
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1966)

IN studies of naturally acquired and experimentally induced influenza it has been found that disease occurs in persons with moderate or high serum levels of neutralizing antibody directed against the infecting influenza virus whereas others with low titers of such antibody may escape infection.1 2 3 4 5 6 A search for an explanation for this apparent immunologic paradox has been the principal aim of this investigation. In the present study the circumstances alluded to above were reproduced. Subjects with substantial titers of antibody to 3 different influenza strains, including that used for live-virus challenge, were among those who became ill after challenge, and those . . .
Iron reduction therapy in hepatitis C
Authors: Y LURIE, M B. GABEL, I LAMBORT, T SOUMATZKY, S D H MALNICK, D D BASS
Journal: Gut (1998)

found a median delay of 17 weeks from the onset of symptoms to a definitive histological diagnosis in patients with gastric cancer.Use of an open access endoscopy service reduced this delay.There was no correlation between the delay in diagnosis and tumour stage or the success of potentially curative resection.The prognosis for gastric cancer is poor.To detect early gastric cancer, patients should be examined before the onset of dyspeptic symptoms.Fortunately, gastric cancer is rare in the Western world and epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence of and mortality from gastric cancer have decreased considerably.Screening people for gastric cancer before the onset of symptoms is therefore not feasible.Early detection of gastric cancer is not yet possible, and focusing attention on patients with a history of serious gastrointestinal symptoms may be of little value.
Writing and speaking in medicine
Authors: C A H Watts
Journal: BMJ (1976)

Advice centre for postgraduate medical educationThe three Councils for Postgraduate Medical Education (in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland) are setting up a National Advice Centre to advise doctors on opportunities for postgraduate medical edu- cation and training in the United Kingdom.The centre will bring together several separate agencies at present helping doctors (part- icularly those from overseas).The service will incorporate that provided by the BMA for non-members and that run by the British Postgraduate Medical Federation for overseas doctors.The BMA will continue to advise its own members and those of affiliated organ- isations.The centre,
Polypill debate continues: Similar combination of drugs has worked in natural experiment
Authors: E. Frankel
Journal: BMJ (2004)

EDITOR—Forty five years ago I sustained a whiplash injury to my neck. I appeared before an industrial injuries board, where I was fully examined, and so was fortuitously found to have a blood pressure of 260/140. I treated myself over the following years with increasingly effective antihypertensive drugs and so have …
Risk ratio estimation in case-cohort studies.
Authors: T Sato
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1994)

In traditional (cumulative-incidence) case-control studies, the exposure odds ratio can be used as an estimator of the risk ratio only when the disease under study is rare. The case-cohort study is a recently developed useful modification of the case-control study. This design allows direct estimation of the risk ratio from a fixed cohort, but does not require any rare-disease assumption. This article reviews recent developments in risk ratio estimation procedures for the analysis of case-cohort data. In the crude analysis, it is shown that the empirical risk ratio estimator is not fully efficient, and the maximum likelihood estimation of the crude risk ratio is discussed. In the stratified analysis, several common risk ratio estimation procedures and standardization methods have been proposed for large strata. However, the Mantel-Haenszel risk ratio and its variance estimator are the only available methods for sparse data.
Use of ATP-MgCl2 in the evaluation and treatment of children with pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart defects.
Authors: M M Brook, J R Fineman, A M Bolinger, A F Wong, M A Heymann, S J Soifer
Journal: Circulation (1994)

BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension results in increased morbidity and mortality in children after surgical repair of congenital heart defects. Various vasodilators have been unsuccessful in providing preferential pulmonary vasodilation in these patients. Identification of a more preferential pulmonary vasodilator would improve the assessment, management, and outcome of these children. To determine whether ATP-MgCl2 is a preferential pulmonary vasodilator in children with pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart defects, ATP-MgCl2 was administered during routine cardiac catheterization, and the effects were compared with tolazoline. In addition, ATP-MgCl2 was infused intravenously during episodes of postoperative pulmonary hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS During cardiac catheterization in 28 children, the effect of ATP-MgCl2 on the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance index (Rp) was compared with tolazoline. ATP-MgCl2 (0.1 mg of ATP per kilogram per minute) decreased mean PAP by 24% (P &lt; .05) and Rp by 47% (P &lt; .05) without changing mean systemic arterial pressure or systemic vascular resistance. These effects were comparable to those of tolazoline (1 mg/kg). ATP-MgCl2 produced no significant side effects; tolazoline caused tachycardia, nausea, and vomiting. After cardiac surgery in 7 patients, ATP-MgCl2 decreased PAP by 14% (P &lt; .05) and systemic arterial pressure by 6% (P &lt; .05) and eliminated pulmonary hypertensive crises in 3 of 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS ATP-MgCl2 is a safe, effective, and preferential pulmonary vasodilator in children with pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart defects. It is useful for evaluating pulmonary vasoreactivity during cardiac catheterization and for treating pulmonary hypertension after cardiac surgery.
Abstract 872: Novel potent and orally active STAT3 inhibitors for cancer therapies.
Authors: Zhengduo Yang, Haijun Chen, Lili Chu, Yusong Zhang, Chunyong Ding, Huiling Liu, Jia Zhou, Qiang Shen
Journal: Cancer Research (2013)

Abstract Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) are proteins which have dual roles as cytoplasmic signaling proteins and transcription factors that activate sets of genes including those contribute to tumorigenesis. Among the STATs family members, STAT3 has been shown to play an important role in breast carcinogenesis and is often overexpressed in primary breast tumors. Increased STAT3 transcriptional activity is reported to correlate with ER-negative phenotype in breast cancer cell lines and in primary human invasive ductal breast carcinomas. Therefore, STAT3 is a promising target for breast cancer therapies. Current strategies of inhibiting STAT3 activity did not sufficiently block STAT3 activation in cancer cells due to their limited potency, poor solubility or bioavailability. Despite several STAT3 inhibitors have been advanced into early clinical trials, there is an urgent need to develop orally active, potent STAT3 inhibitors as cancer therapeutics. We have designed, synthesized and screened a series of novel STAT3 inhibitors utilizing fragment-based drug design strategy. A number of small molecules with novel scaffolds have been discovered with low-micromolar to nanomolar potency in inhibiting the proliferation of various human breast cancer and pancreatic cancer cells. The identified compounds HJC0152, HJC0123, HJC0125, and HJC0416 significantly suppress STAT3 promoter activity and STAT3 phosphorylation (pY705), reduce total STAT3 protein expression, induce cell growth arrest, and early apoptosis in ER-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. These novel compounds have demonstrated a better efficacy in suppressing the growth of MDA-MB-231 breast xenograft tumors via intraperitoneal and oral administrative routes, with remarkably improved aqueous solubility and less toxicity than the lead compounds. In conclusion, we have developed a new class of orally active STAT3 inhibitors with superior drug-like properties, for further evaluation in cancer therapeutic and preventive settings. This work was supported by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center DFI Funding Program. Citation Format: Zhengduo Yang, Haijun Chen, Lili Chu, Yusong Zhang, Chunyong Ding, Huiling Liu, Jia Zhou, Qiang Shen. Novel potent and orally active STAT3 inhibitors for cancer therapies. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 872. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-872
Transesophageal Echocardiographic Assessment of Papillary Muscle Rupture
Authors: Mohammed H. Moursi, Sudhir K. Bhatnagar, Isidre Vilacosta, Jose A. San Roman, Miguel A. Espinal, Navin C. Nanda
Journal: Circulation (1996)

Background In some patients with papillary muscle rupture, the ruptured head may not prolapse into the left atrium, which makes diagnosis by transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography difficult. Methods and Results In an attempt to find additional or more definite diagnostic echocardiographic features, we analyzed intraoperative transesophageal echocardiograms of 21 consecutive patients with papillary muscle rupture (20 involved the left ventricle and 1 involved the right ventricle) confirmed at surgery. In 7 (35%) of 20 patients with left ventricular papillary muscle rupture, the ruptured head was not seen to prolapse into the left atrium. In these patients, examination of the left ventricle proved most useful. Abnormal, large-amplitude erratic motion (1 to 5 cm in 17 patients; 0.5 cm in 1 patient) of a large echo density in the left ventricle consistent with the ruptured head was noted in 18 (90%) of these 20 patients. This included all 7 patients with nonprolapse of the ruptured papillary muscle head into the left atrium. Less prominent erratic motion or flutter of the papillary muscle still attached to the left ventricular wall was also noted but was less sensitive in the diagnosis of papillary muscle rupture. The single patient with right ventricular papillary muscle rupture showed erratic motion as well as prolapse of the ruptured head into the right atrium. Conclusions Transesophageal echocardiographic examination of the left ventricle is useful in the diagnosis of papillary muscle rupture, especially in those patients in whom the ruptured head does not prolapse into the left atrium. The left ventricle should be scrutinized thoroughly during transesophageal echocardiographic examination for erratic papillary muscle motion in all patients with suspected rupture.
Tropical Eosinophilia
Authors: Donald L. Donohugh
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1963)

AT the London meeting of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene on December 17, 1915, Dr. George Low described a patient of his who had recently returned from India. Although the signs and symptoms noted resembled those of a chronic upper respiratory infection, the patient also had an eosinophilia, with a count of more than 5000 per milliliter, and there was no clue to the nature or cause of the disease. At the conclusion of the presentation there was a pause before the president of the Society stated: "I am not prepared to give any diagnosis. I notice . . .
THE PROGNOSIS IN POSTERIOR BASIC MENINGITIS
Authors: O. Hildesheim
Journal: BMJ (1906)

urine is excreted.Under such circumstances, pure blood or blood clot may be passed through the mouth of the ureter, or pus may escape in putty-like bands which issue slowly from the ureter.When haemorrhage takes place into the pelvis of the kidney, and the blood is retained there for a considerable time, it becomes so altered that it does not mix freely with the contents of the bladder.When it passes from the ureter it may appear like a ribbon or band of melted red wax, which flows slowly from the mouth, and, after it has attained a certain length, breaks off and floats away.
Closed-Chest Cardiac Resuscitation
Authors: Peter Braun, Norman Reitman, Alvin A. Florin
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1965)

DURING the past four years the development of closed-chest cardiac massage has been a dramatic addition to the treatment of medical emergencies. Since the reintroduction of the closed-chest technic by Kouwenhoven et al.,1 in combination with artificial ventilation, it has been clearly demonstrated to be potentially lifesaving in the hands of a skilled physician. This procedure has virtually eliminated the need for opening the chest to provide artificial circulation in cases in which the heart has stopped. In a series of cases from the Johns Hopkins Hospital 138 episodes of cardiac arrest in 118 patients were treated with external cardiac . . .
Nicorandil-associated perianal ulceration: a case series of 10 patients
Authors: N.S. Cooke, J.P. Tolland, O.M. Dolan
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2005)

Conflicts of interest: none declared. Sir, We were interested to read the articles describing nicorandil‐associated perianal ulceration (NAU) in this Journal.1–3 We would like to report a series of 10 patients with this condition and review the literature on this subject. The details of the cases in our series are summarized in Table 1. Three patients in our series have previously been described.4 There were three women and seven men with a mean age of 72·9 years (range 58–84). Most of the cases were referred from colorectal clinics with a history of painful perianal ulceration refractory to conventional therapy, no history of gastrointestinal disease and with normal investigations. Three of our patients had defunctioning loop colostomies performed in an attempt to heal the ulcers, all of which were unsuccessful. All of the patients were taking nicorandil for symptomatic control of ischaemic heart disease, with a median dose of 60 mg daily (range 40–120). The ulcers were present for a mean of 22·6 months (range 1·5–61) prior to presentation and the mean duration of nicorandil therapy prior to the onset of ulceration was 26·6 months (range 5–66). The clinical appearance was similar in all cases, with well‐circumscribed deep ulcer margins. In cases where biopsies were performed, histology showed nonspecific inflammation. Contrary to Wong et al.,1 elastophagocytosis was not found to be a histological feature in our cases. Once nicorandil was discontinued all the cases showed complete or almost complete healing within 16 weeks (range 2–16; median 12) as exemplified by Figure 1.
P1052 DETERMINANTS OF VARIABILITY IN ISG15 GENE EXPRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS B (CHB) INFECTION DURING TREATMENT WITH ORAL TLR7 AGONIST GS-9620
Authors: E.J. Gane, S. Gordon, S. Kottili, B. Massetto, A. Gaggar, S. Stem, S. Pflanz, Z. Ye, M. Subramanian, J.G. McHutchison, Y.-S. Lim, Y.J. Kim
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2014)
Clinical Significance of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Gene Mutations on Treatment Outcome after First-line Cytotoxic Chemotherapy in Japanese Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Katsuyuki Hotta, Katsuyuki Kiura, Shinichi Toyooka, Nagio Takigawa, Junichi Soh, Yoshiro Fujiwara, Masahiro Tabata, Hiroshi Date, Mitsune Tanimoto
Journal: Journal of Thoracic Oncology (2007)
New Zealand's health reforms run into trouble
Authors: C Essex
Journal: BMJ (1994)

The new organisations set up last year to replace New Zealand's area health boards have lost $NZ47m (pounds sterling 17m) in their first three months of operation. Three of the 23 crown health enterprises made a profit of about $NZ1m (pounds sterling 370 000). About 94% of the enterprises' funding came from the four regional health authorities, while patient charges generated under 1% of their income.

The figures should not come as a surprise, said …
Spectrum of Scintigraphic Appearance of Liver Hemangiomas
Authors: DAVID GROSHAR, SIMONA BEN-HAIM, SARA GIPS, RUTH HARDOFF, JACQUELINE JERUSHALMI, STEVEN PARMETT, ORA ISRAEL, DOV FRONT
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1992)

Two hundred and twenty five liver hemangiomas in 166 patients were studied with Tc-99m labeled RBC and are the basis for this atlas. All hemangiomas showed various presentations of the perfusion blood pool mismatch, which is the basis for diagnosis. The size of the hemangiomas was the factor that determined the mixing of the Tc-99m RBC with the blood and, hence, the sequence of visualization of the lesion. Hemangiomas may appear as multiple lesions on liver scan and imitate metastases. Ninety-five hemangiomas appeared in 36 patients as multiple local abnormalities. Hemangiomas are extremely variable in size. They may be huge (31 hemangiomas) and sometimes occupy most of the abdomen. Or they can be very small and are then detected only by SPECT (two cases). Thrombosed large hemangiomas appear as focal defects on Tc-99m RBC.
The Story of Thoracic Surgery: Milestones and Pioneers
Authors: Alan T. Marty
Journal: JAMA (1991)

About 300 pioneers, mostly from Europe and North America, are primarily responsible for the spectacular growth of heart and lung surgery during the 20th century. Many of these trailblazers, convinced of being on the right track, pushed the frontiers of thoracic surgery ahead by virtue of their audacity, curiosity, intellect, and manual skill. Dr Andreas P. Naef, himself an illustrious, multilingual Swiss cardiothoracic surgeon, has known most of these pathfinders on both sides of the Atlantic and is uniquely qualified to give younger readers a "personal tour" through the history of this period. His Swiss vantage point is advantageous because he can be neutral regarding priority issues. (However, Crafoord repaired the first coarctation, not Gross. A Russian named Vasilii Kolesov first used the internal mammary artery to bypass a coronary artery in 1964. And a Frenchman named Theodore Tuffier did the first successful lung resection in 1891 and the first