tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Helicobacter pylori eradication in the management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: W. H. Ibrahim
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2007)

To the Editors: 

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a relentlessly progressive disease of unknown aetiology. Current theory regarding the pathogenesis of IPF suggests that recurrent exposure of the lungs to repeated injury and/or antigen of “unknown origin” leads to the release of pro-fibrotic growth factors and fibrosis 1. The nature of the triggering injury and/or antigen remains a mystery. A number of studies have documented high prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with IPF in up to 90% of patients 2, 3. This has led to the assumption that recurrent micro-aspiration of acid droplets causes, or contributes to, the recurrent insults to the lungs and the development of …
Viral Infection
Authors: Eli Gold, David H. Carver, Hannelore Heineberg, Lester Adelson, Frederick C. Robbins
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1961)

THE etiology of the syndrome of sudden, unexpected death has been the subject of much investigation and speculation. It is perhaps not generally realized that it represents a public-health problem of considerable magnitude. Studies have indicated that from 25 to 44 per cent1 , 2 of all infants dying after the neonatal period but before the age of two years do so suddenly and unexpectedly without post-mortem findings adequate to account for death. The peak incidence of this syndrome has been found uniformly to be at about three months of age, and it is relatively infrequent after the second year of life. . . .
Platelet function in fulminant hepatic failure and effect of charcoal haemoperfusion.
Authors: M J Weston, P G Langley, M H Rubin, M A Hanid, P Mellon, R Williams
Journal: Gut (1977)

In 34 patients with fulminant hepatic failure, platelets, in addition to being reduced in numbers, were smaller than those of healthy controls. In keeping with this, capillary bleeding times were significantly longer than could be accounted for by reduction in numbers alone. In a small group of these patients use of charcoal haemoperfusion for temporary liver support produced a doubling of the capillary bleeding time despite only a small drop in arterial platelet counts. This disproportionate prolongation of bleeding time was almost certainly caused by the loss of larger platelets in the charcoal columns during perfusion, as the mean median volume also fell during perfusion. Rises in screen filtration pressure of blood leaving the columns were found during some perfusions and thought to be indicative of platelet aggregates. Release of vasoactive substances from platelets could account for the hypotension often found at this time.
Hydrocortisone for Infection
Authors: Alex J. Steigman
Journal: JAMA (1963)

To the Editor.  —The limitations in the Special Contribution,  Effectiveness of Hydrocortisone in the Management of Severe Infections ( JAMA  183 :462 [Feb 9] 1963) are clearly apparent to the members of the cooperative study group, as is made evident by their remarks.  The purpose of this letter is to draw specific attention to the fact that the analysis of detailed data and the section headed Conclusions deal only with adults. It is stated that a series of   16 was studied, but apart from citing their low rate of mortality in the treated and placebo groups, the report concerns adults. The age grouping of the adults is given; the children are lumped together and simply referred to as being under 16.  It is not the purpose of this letter to comment about the use of hydrocortisone in the treatment of life-threatening infections but rather to call to mind
Spectrum of Pheochromocytoma in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia
Authors: TIMOTHY W. VALK
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1981)

Six patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) types 2a and 2b were investigated to determine the spectrum of pheochromocytoma by scintigraphy. Iodine-131-metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG), a new imaging agent which concentrates in adrenergic neurotransmitter vesicles, was administered at 0.5 mCi/1.7m2 and scintiscans were taken at 24 and 48 hours. Two normotensive patients with normal plasma and urinary catecholamines had no adrenal tracer uptake. One patient with a modest and intermittent increase only in urinary catecholamine metabolites showed faint adrenal images. Two other patients with increased plasma and urinary catecholamines showed bilateral adrenal imaging patterns. The sixth patient who had increased norepinephrine and epinephrine secretion showed bilateral asymmetrical adrenal images, findings that were corroborated at operation. Functional as well as anatomic evidence of adrenal medullary abnormalities in patients with MEN-2 syndromes are demonstrated by 131I-MIBG scintigraphy. Therefore, the procedure can be used to define the extent of abnormalities of the adrenal medulla in these patients.
Differential effects of the absence of interferon-gamma and IL-4 in acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in mice.
Authors: W J Murphy, L A Welniak, D D Taub, R H Wiltrout, P A Taylor, D A Vallera, M Kopf, H Young, D L Longo, B R Blazar
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1998)

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in which immunocompetent donor cells attack the host, remains a major cause of morbidity after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). To understand the role of cytokines in the pathobiology of GVHD, we used cytokine knockout (KO) mice as a source of donor T cells. Two different MHC-disparate strain combinations were examined: BALB/c (H2(d)) donors into lethally irradiated C57BL/6 (H2(b)) recipients or C57BL/6 (H2(b)) donors into B10.BR (H2(k)) recipients. Donor cells were from mice in which either the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or the IL-4 gene was selectively disrupted to understand the role of these cytokines in acute GVHD. In both strain combinations the same pattern was noted with regard to GVHD onset and morbidity. All mice exhibited the classic signs of acute GVHD: weight loss with skin, gut, and liver pathology resulting in morbidity and mortality. Surprisingly, donor cells obtained from mice lacking IFN-gamma gave rise to accelerated morbidity from GVHD when compared with cells from wild-type control donors. Similar results were obtained using normal donors when neutralizing antibodies to IFN-gamma were administered immediately after the BMT. These results suggest that IFN-gamma plays a role in protection from acute GVHD. In marked contrast, cells obtained from IL-4 KO mice resulted in protection from GVHD compared with control donors. Splenocytes from IFN KO mice stimulated with a mitogen proliferated to a significantly greater extent and produced more IL-2 compared with splenocytes obtained from IL-4 KO or control mice. Additionally, there was increased IL-2 production in the spleens of mice undergoing GVHD using IFN-gamma KO donors. These results therefore indicate, with regard to the TH1/ TH2 cytokine paradigm, the absence of a TH1-type cytokine can be deleterious in acute GVHD, whereas absence of a TH2 cytokine can be protective.
Social psychological research isn't negative, and its message fosters compassion, not cynicism
Authors: Dennis T. Regan, Thomas Gilovich
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2004)

Krueger &amp; Funder (K&amp;F) correctly identify work on conformity, obedience, bystander (non)intervention, and social cognition as among social psychology's most memorable contributions, but they incorrectly portray that work as stemming from a “negative research orientation.” Instead, the work they cite stimulates compassion for the human actor by revealing the enormous complexity involved in deciding what to think and do in difficult, uncertain situations.
US website details $3.5bn in industry payments to doctors
Authors: M. McCarthy
Journal: BMJ (2014)

US patients can now find out how much their doctors have received in gifts, fees, and other payments from drug and medical device companies on a new government website launched on 30 September.

Visitors to the “Open Payments” website (www.cms.gov/OpenPayments/index.html) can search its database for details on more than 4.4 million payments totaling $3.5bn (£2.2bn; €2.8bn), made to 546 000 US healthcare providers and over 1300 teaching hospitals. The 4.4 million records cover payments made only in the second half of 2013, from 1 August through …
Poor handwriting remains a significant problem in medicine
Authors: D. K. Sokol, S. Hettige
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2006)

In centuries past, doctors scribbled notes to keep a personal record of the patient's medical history. The notes were generally seen only by the doctor. Today, doctors are no longer one-man bands. With dozens of other professionals, doctors are but one element of a large, multidisciplinary health care team. A consequence of this expansion is that illegible scrawls, hurriedly composed by rushed doctors, are now presented to colleagues with no qualifications in cryptology.

In a BMJ editorial in March 2000, Leape and Berwick called handwritten medical notes a ‘dinosaur long overdue for extinction.’1 Six and a half years on, the dinosaur is alive and well. In 2002, a report in this Journal revealed that 15% of case histories were illegible.2 In 2005, three surgeons audited the legibility of 40 randomly selected operative notes from an orthopaedic ward in a large British hospital.3 Two nurses, two physiotherapists and two medical house officers were asked to rate the legibility of the notes as ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘fair’, or ‘poor’. Only 24% were rated ‘excellent’ or ‘good’, and 37% were deemed ‘poor’.

For members of the health care team, deciphering the notes can be a nuisance, sometimes requiring the assistance of colleagues and, if a signature is present and legible, a direct call to the author. Often, no name is left on the form.4 The considerable time and frustration associated with this detective work far outweighs the extra effort needed to dot an ‘i’ or cross a ‘t’. Trying to save time by writing quickly is thus a false economy.

From the patient's perspective, illegible handwriting can delay treatment and lead to unnecessary tests and inappropriate doses which, in turn, can result in discomfort and death. In 1999, an American cardiologist caused the death of a 42-year-old patient when his prescription of 20 mg Isordil, an antianginal drug, was misread by the pharmacist as 20 mg Plendil, an antihypertensive drug.5 Poor handwriting undoubtedly contributes to another inconvenient truth: the high incidence of medical errors in Britain, which is estimated to cause the deaths of up to 30 000 people each year.6

Illegible handwriting in medical records can have adverse medico-legal implications. Stephens notes that ‘few admissions look more damaging in testimony than physicians admitting they cannot read their own handwriting. Sloppy handwriting can be interpreted by the jury as sloppy care’.7 In the Medical Defence Union's Ten Commandments of record keeping, ‘Thou shalt write legibly’ comes top of the list.8 So, how best to fix this problem? A sophisticated IT system to computerize patient notes? Handwriting tests as part of hospital appointments? Penmanship classes for medical staff, like those conducted in some North American hospitals?9 After careful reflection, we propose a less daunting and more economical solution for the graphologically challenged: a New Year's resolution to write more legibly. This commitment must be made, of course, in writing.
Exposure and sensitization to environmental allergen of predominantly Hispanic children with asthma in San Diego’s inner city
Authors: Sandra C. Christiansen, Stephen B. Martin, Nina C. Schleicher, James A. Koziol, Robert G. Hamilton, Bruce L. Zuraw
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (1996)

Environmental living conditions co-sorting with economic status may influence the disease morbidity rate of childhood asthma in ethnic minority urban poor populations.This study was carried out to assess exposure and sensitization to environmental allergens in southeast San Diego children with current asthma-related symptoms and to determine the utility of environmental control measures.Children, 9 to 12 years old, with current asthma-related symptoms were identified and enrolled at four school sites. Skin prick testing with aeroallergens was performed, and allergen in collected dust (from mattresses, pillows, and bedroom carpets) was quantified by enzyme immunoassay. Environmental control instruction and products were provided.Of 41 subjects who underwent skin testing, 51.2% were reactive to environmental allergens (39% to mite, 22% to cockroach, and 9.8% to cat). Mean allergen levels for sensitized subjects were: Der p 1 (11 subjects), 18,722 ng/gm dust; Der f 1 (8 subjects), 5345 ng/gm dust; Fel d 1 (3 subjects), 214 ng/gm dust; Bla 1 (8 subjects), 7.15 U/gm dust; and Bla 2 (8 subjects) 7.13 U/gm dust. Environmental allergen exposure levels were not significantly different between sensitized and nonsensitized subjects. Environmental control measures for mite exposure were completed in six homes of sensitized subjects. One month after treatment, allergen levels fell 91.2% for Der p 1, 98.9% for Der f 1, and 88.2% for Fel d 1. One year after treatment, mite and cat allergen levels remained low. Environmental control had no consistent impact on cockroach allergen levels.Environmental allergen sensitization and exposure may be cofactors contributing to increased disease severity in urban poor populations.
Birth Weight following Pregnancy during the 2003 Southern California Wildfires
Authors: David M. Holstius, Colleen E. Reid, Bill M. Jesdale, Rachel Morello-Frosch
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2012)

In late October 2003, a series of wildfires exposed urban populations in Southern California to elevated levels of air pollution over several weeks. Previous research suggests that short-term hospital admissions for respiratory outcomes increased specifically as a result of these fires.We assessed the impact of a wildfire event during pregnancy on birth weight among term infants.Using records for singleton term births delivered to mothers residing in California's South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB) during 2001-2005 (n = 886,034), we compared birth weights from pregnancies that took place entirely before or after the wildfire event (n = 747,590) with those where wildfires occurred during the first (n = 60,270), second (n = 39,435), or third (n = 38,739) trimester. The trimester-specific effects of wildfire exposure were estimated using a fixed-effects regression model with several maternal characteristics included as covariates.Compared with pregnancies before and after the wildfires, mean birth weight was estimated to be 7.0 g lower [95% confidence interval (CI): -11.8, -2.2] when the wildfire occurred during the third trimester, 9.7 g lower when it occurred during the second trimester (95% CI: -14.5, -4.8), and 3.3 g lower when it occurred during the first trimester (95% CI: -7.2, 0.6).Pregnancy during the 2003 Southern California wildfires was associated with slightly reduced average birth weight among infants exposed in utero. The extent and increasing frequency of wildfire events may have implications for infant health and development.
The Borderline Syndrome: A Behavioral Study of Ego-Functions
Authors: Paul G. Myerson
Journal: JAMA (1968)

The term "borderline syndrome," although not part of the official American Psychiatric Association nomenclature, has been used extensively in psychiatric circles interested in intensive psychotherapy, to designate a group of basically nonpsychotic individuals whose prognosis with this kind of treatment is problematic at best. The diagnosis is made on the basis of interactions which indicate that the patient will have the same difficulty relating to the therapist as he has had to other people in his past life and that he will not readily accept the therapist's help on his inner problems. The authors' findings are based on observations made by staff personnel, particularly by nurses and aides, on 51 patients who displayed many of the traits that have been attributed to borderline personalities. The patients were generally admitted because of florid attention-provoking histrionic episodes but they manifested good psychological functioning in the hospital. They were accessible, appropriate, and revealed
Possible Effect of Viral Infections on Drug Metabolism
Authors: Arthur I. Jacknowitz
Journal: JAMA (1984)

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> Drs Blumenkopf and Lockhart<sup>1</sup>have documented carefully the relationship of a thoracic level herpes zoster infection and concurrent warfarin sodium therapy with the development of an acute spinal subdural hematoma. In seeking the cause of this rare neurosurgical emergency, the authors indicate that the patient may have suffered a "spontaneous" subarachnoid subdural hemorrhage in the spinal canal as a complication of warfarin therapy. It may be that this "potentially dangerous association of herpes zoster infection and anticoagulant therapy" is due rather to the effect of this infection on the biotransformation of warfarin, which is dependent on the hepatic cytochrome P-450 system for its elimination. It has recently been demonstrated that a variety of structurally dissimilar inducers of interferon, including viral infections, produced a depression of hepatic P-450 systems in laboratory animals, leading to the suggestion that depression of hepatic P-450 systems might be a specific characteristic of
SURVIVAL FOR TWENTY-NINE YEARS IN CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA
Authors: Arthur A. Marlow
Journal: JAMA (1953)

The diagnosis of leukemia is considered a death sentence, and, in older age groups, it produces an unwarranted degree of fear on the part of patients with chronic leukemia as well as in their relatives. The average length of life in 129 patients with chronic lymphocytic and 236 patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia collected from various sources was reported as 3.52 and 3.34 years, respectively, by Wintrobe and Hasenbush.<sup>1</sup>Moffitt and Lawrence<sup>2</sup>selected 16 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and 15 patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia of long duration and calculated the average ratesof survival after diagnosis as 8.16 and 6.33 years. Many individual patients, however, exceed this average survival rate by many years. These patients can often be kept in happy, productive states for long periods of time by careful management. McGavran's<sup>3</sup>report of lymphocytic leukemia of 25 years' duration is of unusual interest. We
THE USE OF GOLD FOIL IN FRACTURES OF THE CRANIUM AND RESULTING HERNIA CEREBRI.
Authors: W. L. ESTES
Journal: JAMA (1896)

The three cases related in this paper are offered as illustrations of a slight advance in hetero-plastic at- tempts, and are unique in that they were done on the contents of the cranium, and not on the cranial walls themselves.The nearest approach I have found to the attempts I have made were by Weir, of New York, and to his pioneer work in usuing gold foil to
GHb Is a Better Predictor of Cardiovascular Disease Than Fasting or Postchallenge Plasma Glucose in Women Without Diabetes: The Rancho Bernardo Study
Authors: Sue Park, Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, Deborah L Wingard, Jun Shan, Sharon Edelstein
Journal: Diabetes Care (1996)

OBJECTIVE To examine the relation between GHb, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postchallenge plasma glucose (PCPG), and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) in older adults. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A community-based study of 1,239 nondiabetic older adults followed for an average of 8 years, from baseline (1984–1987) to 1993. RESULTS GHb, but not FPG or PCPG, was significantly related to CVD and IHD mortality in women but not men. The age-adjusted relative hazard for those in the highest quintile of GHb (≥ 6.7%) compared with women with lower levels was 2.37 for fatal CVD (95% CI = 1.30−4.31, P = 0.005) and 2.43 for IHD (95% CI = 1.12−5.25, P = 0.024). This association persisted after adjustment for all covariates (age, systolic blood pressure, BMI, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, cigarette smoking, antihypertensive medication use, and estrogen use). GHb was significantly associated with LDL and HDL levels in women, but the association between GHb and CVD or IHD persisted after adjustment for these lipoproteins. CONCLUSIONS We concluded that GHb is a better predictor of CVD and IHD mortality than FPG or PCPG in women without diabetes; no single measure of glycemia was predictive in men. The reason for the sex difference is unexplained.
Role of the Autopsy in the Teaching of Gross Anatomy
Authors: Benjamin Castleman, Robert A. Chase, Mahendra Ranchod
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1974)

Most pathologists have been trained for years to immerse surgical specimens and viscera removed at autopsy in formalin, sometimes even before they are examined and dissected, to preserve their cell detail and configuration. The result is a colorless, hard, rigid, often unrecognizable specimen that bears no resemblance to the colorful, soft, pliable original tissue observed by the surgeon or the autopsy prosector. For teaching purposes, especially to undergraduate medical students, it is almost mandatory for the specimens to be fresh, as observed in the patient, and not in the preserved state. Unfortunately, only a few pathologists abide by this principle. . . .
A Case of Myx dema Treated by Taking Extract of Thyroid by the Mouth
Authors: E. L. Fox
Journal: BMJ (1892)

MEMORANDAL.r T a 941 eat.Next day her pulse had increased to 72.On July 28th she was given 2 drachms of a glycerine extract which had been prepared from fresh thyroids by Mr. White, the pharmaceutist to St. Thomas's Hospital.It was given at 11 P.M.At 12 her temperature was 99; at 3 A.M., 99.4 * and at
Alexithymia, Neurovegetative Arousal and Neuroticism
Authors: Roberto Infrasca
Journal: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (1997)

<i>Background:</i> The association between alexithymia and higher sympathetic vegetative reactivity (emotional arousal) is still controversial. <i>Methods:</i> The objective of this study was to examine differences in the electrodermic reactivity (neurovegetative arousal) of alexithymic subjects compared to nonalexithymic subjects. The study was also designed to determine whether alexithymia is linked to neuroticism (negative emotions). The study sample consisted of 56 psychiatric outpatients. The values for the neurovegetative variables (polygraphic computerized registration) were determined under three different experimental conditions: baseline (relaxation) and two conditions of stress (cognitive and visual stimuli). <i>Results:</i> Vegetative reactivity, TAS score (Toronto Alexithymia Scale) and other clinical/test variables showed statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients. Alexithymic subjects demonstrated a high and stable level of autonomic reactivity at baseline and under stress, a greater neuroticism and a tendency to internalize emotional responses. <i>Conclusions:</i> The application of the alexithymic concept to the field of somatization represents a reliable instrument of detection, with important therapeutic implications.
Rectal quinine for malaria: Risk of hypoglycaemia may be higher by rectal route
Authors: Prasanta Padhan
Journal: BMJ (2006)

Editor—The study by Barennes et al shows that quinine given by the rectal route has an acceptable safety profile and could be used in the early management of moderately severe malaria in children.1 But hypoglycaemia is a common side effect of quinine therapy, especially in children. The risk of hypoglycaemia is theoretically higher in patients receiving rectal quinine as the drug concentrations may be higher in the portal circulation, stimulating pancreatic β cell insulin secretion directly.