tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Dirofilaria immitis Lung Nodules
Authors: Charles J. Przyjemski
Journal: JAMA (1981)

To the Editor.—  The BRIEF REPORT (1980;243:1066) on lung nodules caused by the dog heartworm Dirofilaria immitis emphasizes the disproportionately large, globular area of necrosis with a distribution inconsistent with simple embolic infarction. The authors suggest that centrifugal diffusion of worm antigen is instrumental in defining the extent of the zone of coagulative necrosis. A similar phenomenon occurs in pulmonary aspergillomata—especially those that arise from a preexisting Aspergillus pneumonia. In a case to be described in detail in a future publication, 1 I have observed the abrupt conversion of diffuse Aspergillus infiltrate to fungus ball. This change occurred within several days and coincided with recovery from prolonged chemotherapy-induced agranulocytosis in a young woman with leukemia. The fungus balls were surgically removed and found to be composed of hyphal elements in a framework of necrotic lung tissue. Similar ghost-like preservation of alveolar and vascular structures was described by the authors in
Assessment of a New Blood Glucose Strip: Comparison of Visidex, Visidex II, and Chemstrip bG with Glucose Analyzer Determination of Blood Glucose
Authors: Michael E Canfield, Stephen F Kemp, Charles Hoff
Journal: Diabetes Care (1985)

Chemical test strips for estimating blood glucose are reliable, rapid, and convenient when properly used. Ames (Miles Laboratories, Elkhart, Indiana) has recently introduced a new product, Visidex II, which does not require water for development. This study compares the Visidex II with its predecessor Visidex, an established test strip, the Bio-Dynamics Chemstrip bG (Boehringer-Mannheim, Indianapolis, Indiana), and plasma glucose as measured by standard laboratory methods. Determination of blood glucose by visual inspection by all chemical test strips gave an estimation of true plasma glucose, and was reliable in predicting those values that were hypo- and hyperglycemic, although Chemstrip bG tended to underestimate in the hypo- and euglycemic ranges. Visidex II is more convenient to use than Visidex and is equally reliable in estimating true plasma glucose. In addition, strips from 20 patient samples were read daily for 7 days. Reacted Chemstrip bG test strips began to deteriorate within 24 h, and showed a 27% decline in estimations by day 3. Reacted Visidex II strips were stable for 1 day, but then rapidly declined to 50% of the original estimation by day 4.
Abstract 1946: Silencing of EVI1 with siRNA inhibits the growth of ovarian tumor cells
Authors: Bey-Dih Chang, Jeremy D. Heidel, Thomas Primiano
Journal: Cancer Research (2012)

Abstract There is currently no effective treatment for ovarian cancer. EVI1 (ecotropic viral integration site 1) is an oncogenic transcription factor that enables proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of ovarian tumor cells. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs provide ideal means for perturbing intracellular oncogenic targets. Five (5) siRNA (21+21 nt) sequences were identified by in silico analysis that target the coding region of human EVI1 (siEVI1 A-E). Each of these siEVI1 species were transfected with Dharmafect4 at 25nM into SKOV3, ES-2, OVCAR3, OV-90, TOV-112D, PA-1, UWB1.289, and Coav-3 ovarian tumor cells. The non-tumorigenic cell line Hs832.Tc was used as a control. Four species (siEVI1 B-E) decreased the viability of each tumor cell line by at least 70% with none of the five siEVI1 species altered the viability of control cells, demonstrating the anti-proliferative effect of targeting EVI1 with siRNA. Both siEVI1-B and -D potently decreased the viability of ovarian tumor cells, having IC50 values of 0.8 and 0.2 nM, respectively, which compare favorably to an IC50 of 15 nM for paclitaxel. RT-PCR and immunoblot results showing dose-dependent decreases in EVI1 mRNA and protein using either siEVI1-B or-D are consistent with the mechanism of the anti-proliferative effect occurring via RNA interference. Further, dose-dependent increases in annexin staining upon siRNA treatment indicate that induction of apoptosis contributes to the decrease in cell viability, a result consistent with inhibition of EVI1 activity. These results suggest that EVI1 is a good target for ovarian cancer therapy and silencing by siRNAs is an effective means of triggering the death of ovarian tumor cells. These findings also suggest that anti-EVI1 siRNAs have the potential to be effective therapeutics for the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1946. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1946
Disparate Enzyme Activity in Erythrocytes and Leukocytes. A VARIANT OF HYPOXANTHINE PHOSPHORIBOSYL-TRANSFERASE DEFICIENCY WITH AN UNSTABLE ENZYME
Authors: Joseph Dancis, Lily C. Yip, Rody P. Cox, Sergio Piomelli, M. Earl Balis
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1973)

A family is reported in which each of two sisters has a son with no detectable hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) (EC 2. 4. 2. 8) in his erythrocytes, a finding considered pathognomonic of Lesch-Nyhan disease. However, neither has the stigmata of the disease. One boy is neurologically normal, and the other is moderately retarded. There was only a slight increase in urinary uric acid, but the amounts of hypoxanthine and xanthine, and their ratios, were similar to those found in Lesch-Nyhan disease, strongly indicating that excesses of these last two oxypurines are not responsible for the symptomatology in that disease. In contrast to the nondetectable HPRT activity in the red blood cells, leukocyte lysates from the two boys have 10-15% of normal activity, possibly reflecting continuing synthesis of an unstable enzyme. This hypothesis is supported by the demonstration that at 4 degrees C HPRT activity was rapidly lost in the propositus while the activity increased in control subjects. The mother's cells were intermediate between the two. The intact and disrupted leukocytes of the hemizygote, in the absence of added phosphoribosyl converted as much hypoxanthine to inosinate as the normal cell, and appropriate tests indicated that under these circumstances enzyme concentration is not rate limiting whereas the concentration of the cosubstrate, phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate, is. The capacity for normal function in the intact mutant cell is more representative of in vivo conditions than the lysate, which may explain the important modification of clinical symptomatology, the relatively mild hyperuricosuria, and the presence of mosaicism in the circulating blood cells of the heterozygotes. A similar explanation may apply to other genetic diseases in which incomplete but severe enzyme deficiencies are found in clinically normal individuals. An associated deficiency in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in this family permitted confirmation of previous observations on linkage with hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase.
Diagnosis of Cholelithiasis-Reply
Authors: Thomas McKenzie
Journal: JAMA (1985)

<h3>In Reply.—</h3> Venu et al have made a solid contribution. I do not dispute their thesis. Indeed, so persuasive is the argument that it runs the risk of being enshrined as dogma. Therefore, it seemed appropriate to enter an early caveat for the unwary. Their report dealt mainly with gallbladder stones, it is conceded, but in several instances common bile duct stones were also involved. Clearly, I do not advocate "blind" laparotomy as a routine procedure. It should not be necessary to state that the patient's interests are best served by adequate preoperative investigations and diagnosis, and all our efforts should be directed to this end. The newer technologies push us increasingly nearer to this ideal. The admonition is by now common-place that the techniques and interpretation of ultrasound and ERCP should be in the hands of well-trained and experienced practitioners. Dr Venu reiterated this point in his reply. Less
Williams Textbook of Endocrinology; Williams Textbook of Endocrinology CD-ROM
Authors: S. G. Korenman
Journal: JAMA (2003)

I welcomed the arrival of the 10th edition of Williams Textbook of Endocrinology as an old friend now more handsome and engaging than ever, with illustrious new editors and a number of new chapters. But is the textbook a little formal and old-fashioned considering the times?
SOCS-1 regulates IL-15–driven homeostatic proliferation of antigen-naive CD8 T cells, limiting their autoimmune potential
Authors: Gayle M. Davey, Robyn Starr, Ann L. Cornish, J. Theodore Burghardt, Warren S. Alexander, Francis R. Carbone, Charles D. Surh, William R. Heath
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2005)

Mice that are deficient in suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1) succumb to neonatal mortality that is associated with extensive cellular infiltration of many tissues. T cells seem to be necessary for disease, which can be alleviated largely by neutralizing interferon-gamma. Examining T cell receptor (TCR) specificity shows that even monospecific T cells can mediate disease in SOCS-1-deficient mice, although disease onset is substantially faster with a polyclonal T cell repertoire. A major phenotype of SOCS-1-/- mice is the accumulation of CD44(high)CD8+ peripheral T cells. We show that SOCS-1-deficient CD8, but not CD4, T cells proliferate when transferred into normal (T cell-sufficient) mice, and that this is dependent on two signals: interleukin (IL)-15 and self-ligands that are usually only capable of stimulating homeostatic expansion in T cell-deficient mice. Our findings reveal that SOCS-1 normally down-regulates the capacity of IL-15 to drive activation and proliferation of naive CD8 T cells receiving TCR survival signals from self-ligands. We show that such dysregulated proliferation impairs the deletion of a highly autoreactive subset of CD8 T cells, and increases their potential for autoimmunity. Therefore, impaired deletion of highly autoreactive CD8 T cells, together with uncontrolled activation of naive CD8 T cells by homeostatic survival ligands, may provide a basis for the T cell-mediated disease of SOCS-1-/- mice.
HISTOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF HEPATITIS-B-VIRUS INFECTION WITH NEGATIVE SEROLOGY IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE LEUKAEMIA WHO DEVELOP CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE
Authors: D Vergani, G Masera, G Moroni, B Portmann, A Locasciulli, A Alberti, D.E.H Tee, G Mieli Vergani, A.L.W.F Eddleston
Journal: The Lancet (1982)
What is meant by intention to treat analysis? Survey of published randomised controlled trials
Authors: S. Hollis, F. Campbell
Journal: BMJ (1999)

<h3>Abstract</h3> <b>Objectives:</b> To assess the methodological quality of intention to treat analysis as reported in randomised controlled trials in four large medical journals. <b>Design:</b> Survey of all reports of randomised controlled trials published in 1997 in the <i>BMJ, Lancet, JAMA</i>, and <i>New England Journal of Medicine</i>. <b>Main outcome measures:</b> Methods of dealing with deviations from random allocation and missing data. <b>Results:</b> 119 (48%) of the reports mentioned intention to treat analysis. Of these, 12 excluded any patients who did not start the allocated intervention and three did not analyse all randomised subjects as allocated. Five reports explicitly stated that there were no deviations from random allocation. The remaining 99 reports seemed to analyse according to random allocation, but only 34 of these explicitly stated this. 89 (75%) trials had some missing data on the primary outcome variable. The methods used to deal with this were generally inadequate, potentially leading to a biased treatment effect. 29 (24%) trials had more than 10% of responses missing for the primary outcome, the methodsof handling the missing responses were similar in this subset. <b>Conclusions:</b> The intention to treat approach is often inadequately described and inadequately applied. Authors should explicitly describe the handling of deviations from randomised allocation and missing responses and discuss the potential effect of any missing response. Readers should critically assess the validity of reported intention to treat analyses. <h3>Key messages</h3> Intention to treat gives a pragmatic estimate of the benefit of a change in treatment policy rather than of potential benefit in patients who receive treatment exactly as planned Full application of intention to treat is possible only when complete outcome data are available for all randomised subjects About half of all published reports of randomised controlled trials stated that intention to treat was used, but handling of deviations from randomised allocation varied widely Many trials had some missing data on the primary outcome variable, and methods used to deal with this were generally inadequate, potentially leading to bias Intention to treat analyses are often inadequately described and inadequately applied
High Glucose Levels Induce an Increase in Membrane Antioxidants, in Terms of Vitamin E and Coenzyme Q10, in Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Silvana Salardi, Stefano Zucchini, Daniela Elleri, Gabriele Grossi, Alberto M. Bargossi, Stefano Gualandi, Roberta Santoni, Alessandro Cicognani, Emanuele Cacciari
Journal: Diabetes Care (2004)

Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between prooxidants and antioxidants in favor of the former (1), and diabetic patients are considered a risk group for increased oxidative stress (2,3). Studies regarding oxidant/antioxidant balance in type 1 diabetic children and adolescents have given conflicting results (4–7). The aim of this study was to determine whether serum hydroperoxides (reactive oxygen metabolites [ROMs]) as oxidative markers and plasma α-tocopherol (vitamin E) and coenzyme Q10 as indexes of antioxidant capacity could be related to metabolic control in 75 unselected children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes. ROMs are the first markers of oxidation and one of the most reliable indicators of oxidative stress. Vitamin E is an important chain-breaking …
A function for the QKRAA amino acid motif: mediating binding of DnaJ to DnaK. Implications for the association of rheumatoid arthritis with HLA-DR4.
Authors: I Auger, J Roudier
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1997)

The amino acid motif QKRAA, when expressed on HLA-DRB1, carries susceptibility to develop rheumatoid arthritis. This motif is the basis of strong B and T cell epitopes. Furthermore, it is highly overrepresented in protein databases, suggesting that it carries a function of its own. To identify this function, we used QKRAA peptide affinity columns to screen total protein extracts from Escherichia coli. We found that DnaK, the E. coli 70-kD heat shock protein, binds QKRAA. Of interest, DnaK has a natural ligand, DnaJ, that contains a QKRAA motif. We found that QKRAA-containing peptides inhibit the binding of DnaK to DnaJ. Furthermore, rabbit antibody to the QKRAA motif can inhibit binding of DnaJ to DnaK. These data suggest that QKRAA mediates the binding of E. coli chaperone DnaJ to its partner chaperone DnaK.
Mini-microabscess syndrome in liver transplant recipients
Authors: G A MacDonald, J K Greenson, E A DelBuono, W M Grady, R M Merion, T S Frank, M R Lucey, H D Appelman
Journal: Hepatology (1997)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a significant cause of morbidity in immunosuppressed patients. It is characterized in the liver by parenchymal microabscesses, usually containing CMV-infected cells. However, not all hepatic microabscesses are due to CMV infection. In 1992, we described "mini" microabscess (MMA) syndrome, a distinct clinical syndrome that occurs in transplanted livers. This report analyzes the clinical and laboratory features of 57 cases of MMA syndrome occurring in 52 patients and compares these with 19 biopsy-proven cases of CMV infection. The diagnosis of MMA syndrome can only be made histologically. The microabscesses are smaller and more numerous than in CMV infection, and there are no viral inclusions present. CMV DNA could not be detected in liver biopsy specimens with MMAs by using "nested" polymerase chain reaction (PCR), indicating that MMA syndrome is not caused by CMV infection. The pattern of liver enzyme and bilirubin elevation is predominantly hepatocellular, with transaminase levels elevated, on average, six to eight times the upper limit of normal. The clinical features of MMA syndrome are that it predominantly affects female (40 of 52 patients) orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients of all ages (range, 11 months to 66.9 years). MMA syndrome is unrelated to the indication for initial OLT and tends to occur later after transplantation than CMV infection (median, 91 days post-OLT vs. 32 days for CMV hepatitis). Although the etiology of MMA syndrome is not clear, it does not appear to adversely affect graft or patient survival.
Motor Vehicle Fatalities and the Minimum Drinking Age-Reply
Authors: Michael D. Decker
Journal: JAMA (1989)

<h3>In Reply.—</h3> Mr Males suggests that the reported decline in alcohol-related fatalities among young drivers was due more to persistent benefits of the penalty law (and the temporally associated peak in publicity and education) than to the law that raised the drinking age. For a number of reasons, this is not an easy hypothesis to test. The same young drivers who were in high school in 1982 (when the penalty law took effect) composed the age group affected by the drinking age law 2 years later; it might not be possible to separate the effects. In addition, any analysis based on counts of fatal accidents can be highly misleading, especially in a cohort analysis of young drivers. For example, in 1985, the number of licensed drivers in Tennessee by age was 340 (15 years), 9265(16 years), 36 333 (17 years), and 51 756 (18 years). Thus, a 10-fold increase in
Antiviral Agents and Viral Diseases of Man
Authors: W. Lee Fanning
Journal: JAMA (1985)

The editors of this book state that their purpose in updating it was to produce a book that would present knowledge of antiviral agents and viral diseases helpful to laboratory researchers, students of medicine, and primary practitioners. I think in general that the book accomplishes this goal. Of the three groups, the internistinfectious disease practitioner, I think, would benefit most, followed by the medical student. There is also some benefit to the medical researcher in reading certain chapters. A medical student would particularly profit from the first four chapters, which discuss the fundamentals of viruses, the pathogenesis of viral infections, and the mechanisms of action and pharmacology of antiviral agents. The well-written fourth chapter deals with the immune and interferon systems, which are the basis of future antiviral therapy. The clinical physician would benefit from not only the first four chapters but also the middle chapters, which include the clinical
Nobel prize in medicine awarded to MRI pioneers
Authors: S. Mayor
Journal: BMJ (2003)

The 2003 Nobel prize in medicine has been awarded jointly to two scientists who played key parts in the development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it was announced this week.

The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, awarded the prize in physiology or medicine jointly to Paul Lauterbur, professor of chemistry, biophysics, and computational biology at the University of Illinois, and Peter Mansfield, emeritus professor of physics, at the University of Nottingham, for their discoveries in MRI.

The announcement stated: “This …
Ethnic origin and lung function of infants born prematurely.
Authors: B Yuksel, A Greenough
Journal: Thorax (1995)

BACKGROUND--Ethnic origin has an important influence on the lung function of adults and young children but its effect during infancy, particularly following premature delivery, is unclear. METHODS--The results from infants of pure Afro-Caribbean (subjects) and pure Caucasian (controls) descent, all of whom were born prematurely (median gestational age 28 weeks), were compared. Fifty subjects were each retrospectively matched with a control for gestational age, sex, and requirement for neonatal ventilation. Lung function measurements were performed at similar postnatal ages in each pair. The median postnatal ages of the two groups at the time of study was seven and eight months, respectively. Lung function was assessed by measurement of functional residual capacity (FRC) by a helium gas dilution technique and plethysmographic measurement of thoracic gas volume (TGV) and airways resistance (Raw), from which specific conductance (sGaw) was calculated. RESULTS--No differences were found between the subjects and controls regarding FRC or TGV, but Raw was higher and sGaw lower in the subjects. The mean Raw of the subjects was 50.3 cm H2O/1/s and of the controls was 44.1 cm H2O/1/s (95% confidence intervals of the difference 1.5 to 10.9). CONCLUSIONS--Prematurely born infants of Afro-Caribbean origin have more severe lung function abnormalities at approximately 7-8 months of age than those of Caucasian origin. This merits further investigation.
Distal Embolization and Local Vessel Wall Ulceration after Gastric Variceal Obliteration with <i>N</i>-Butyl-2-Cyanoacrylate: a Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: K. Kok, R. Bond, I. Duncan, P. Fourie, C. Ziady, J. van den Bogaerde, S. van der Merwe
Journal: Endoscopy (2004)

Repeated endoscopic injections of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate mixtures into large gastric varices in a single patient led to two complications: initially, pulmonary embolism, and later local ulceration of the wall of a varix. The latter resulted in massive uncontrollable hemorrhage that ultimately led to a fatal outcome. This case report also analyzes complications reported in the literature during similar endoscopic procedures for gastric varices.
Automated analysis of digital oximetry in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea
Authors: J.-C. Vazquez
Journal: Thorax (2000)

<h3>BACKGROUND</h3> The gold standard diagnostic test for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is overnight polysomnography (PSG) which is costly in terms of time and money. Consequently, a number of alternatives to PSG have been proposed. Oximetry is appealing because of its widespread availability and ease of application. The diagnostic performance of an automated analysis algorithm based on falls and recovery of digitally recorded oxygen saturation was compared with PSG. <h3>METHODS</h3> Two hundred and forty six patients with suspected OSA were randomly selected for PSG and automated off line analysis of the digitally recorded oximeter signal. <h3>RESULTS</h3> The PSG derived apnoea hypopnoea index (AHI) and oximeter derived respiratory disturbance index (RDI) were highly correlated (<i>R</i> = 0.97). The mean (2SD) of the differences between AHI and RDI was 2.18 (12.34)/h. The sensitivity and specificity of the algorithm depended on the AHI and RDI criteria selected for OSA case designation. Using case designation criteria of 15/h for AHI and RDI, the sensitivity and specificity were 98% and 88%, respectively. If the PSG derived AHI included EEG based arousals as part of the hypopnoea definition, the mean (2SD) of the differences between RDI and AHI was –0.12 (15.62)/h and the sensitivity and specificity profile did not change significantly. <h3>CONCLUSIONS</h3> In a population of patients suspected of having OSA, off line automated analysis of the oximetry signal provides a close estimate of AHI as well as excellent diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for OSA.