tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Hypoxic Conversion of SMAD7 Function from an Inhibitor into a Promoter of Cell Invasion
Authors: Pekka T. Heikkinen, Marika Nummela, Terhi Jokilehto, Reidar Grenman, Veli-Matti Kähäri, Panu M. Jaakkola
Journal: Cancer Research (2010)

Smad7 is an inhibitor of the transforming growth factor-beta-activated signaling pathway. Under well-oxygenated conditions, Smad7 is a potent inhibitor of carcinoma cell invasion. Paradoxically, however, the expression of Smad7 is upregulated across several cancers and may promote cancer progression. Hypoxia, which is frequently met in solid tumors, is an enhancer of carcinoma cell invasion and cancer progression. Here, we report that hypoxia activates the expression of Smad7 in a hypoxia-inducible factor- and von Hippel-Lindau protein-dependent manner. As expected, in normoxia, the forced expression of Smad7 inhibited carcinoma cell invasion. In contrast with the normoxic condition, the inhibitory effect of Smad7 was lost under hypoxia. The block in carcinoma cell invasion by forced expression of Smad7 was released by hypoxia in two invasive carcinoma cell lines. Moreover, the noninvasive HaCaT keratinocytes become invasive upon simultaneous hypoxia and transforming growth factor-beta stimulus. The hypoxia-activated invasion was attenuated by inhibiting Smad7 expression by short interfering RNA. Finally, the increased Smad7 expression in human carcinomas correlated with hypoxic gene expression. The data provide evidence that hypoxia could convert Smad7 function from an invasion inhibitor into an activator of invasion. Furthermore, they might shed light as to why increased Smad7 expression is detected in cancers.
Extracorporeal Shock-Wave Lithotripsy of Pancreatic Duct Stones: Immediate and Long-Term Results
Authors: R. van der Hul, P. Plaisier, J. Jeekel, O. Terpstra, R. den Toom, H. Bruining
Journal: Endoscopy (1994)

To study the efficacy of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) of pancreatic duct stones, seventeen patients (mean age: 42 years) with recurrent attacks of abdominal pain as a result of chronic calcifying pancreatitis were treated with this method. In all cases, endoscopic removal of the stones proved impossible. When there was fragmentation, the remaining calculi and fragments either evacuated spontaneously, or attempts were made to extract them endoscopically, followed by flushing. In 13 patients (76%), fragmentation of stones was achieved, and 11 of these patients had dramatic pain relief directly after ESWL (65%). However, complete ductal clearance of stones was achieved in only seven patients (41%); at the last follow-up (12-59 months after ESWL, mean: 30 months), all seven were free of symptoms. Of the six patients with stone fragmentation without ductal clearance, three were operated on because of recurrent complaints. The only complication due to the procedure was an exacerbation of pancreatitis in one patient, which was treated conservatively. If pancreatic stones cannot be removed endoscopically, ESWL seems to be preferable to surgery, which may still be performed in case of failure. It seems important to achieve ductal clearance and not merely stone disintegration in order to obtain the desired long-term clinical effects.
An Unusual Cause of Unilateral Pulmonary Edema
Authors: Christopher Kanner, Seth M. Hardy
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2013)

Letters16 April 2013An Unusual Cause of Unilateral Pulmonary EdemaChristopher Kanner, MA and Seth M. Hardy, MDChristopher Kanner, MAFrom University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, and MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta, Maine. and Seth M. Hardy, MDFrom University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, and MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta, Maine.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-158-8-201304160-00020 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: The physiology of unilateral pulmonary edema in adults is the same as that of bilateral pulmonary edema. The former is classified as "ipsilateral" or "contralateral," depending on its relationship to the primary lesion. Causes of ipsilateral pulmonary edema include aspiration, reexpansion, contusion, misplaced central line, veno-occlusive disease, prolonged decubitus positioning, and mitral regurgitation, whereas causes of contralateral pulmonary edema include pulmonary embolism, lobectomy, and denervation (1, 2). The prevalence of unilateral pulmonary edema is not well-studied but may be as high as 2.1% in patients with pulmonary edema. Unilateral pulmonary edema is associated with a higher in-hospital mortality rate ...References1. Calenoff L, Kruglik GD, Woodruff A. Unilateral pulmonary edema. Radiology. 1978;126:19-24. [PMID: 619405] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Neerukonda SK, Petty TL. Unilateral pulmonary edema. Hospital Practice. 15 February 1992:85-97. Google Scholar3. Attias D, Mansencal N, Auvert B, Vieillard-Baron A, Delos A, Lacombe P, et al. Prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of patients presenting with cardiogenic unilateral pulmonary edema. Circulation. 2010;122:1109-15. [PMID: 20805429] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Latson LA, Prieto LR. Congenital and acquired pulmonary vein stenosis. Circulation. 2007;115:103-8. [PMID: 17200453] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, and MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta, Maine.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byFebrile unilateral pulmonary edema: A potential misdiagnosis 16 April 2013Volume 158, Issue 8Page: 639-640KeywordsComputed axial tomographyEdemaLungsPulmonary arteriesPulmonary diseasesPulmonary embolismRespiratory physiologyThoraxVeins ePublished: 16 April 2013 Issue Published: 16 April 2013 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2013 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...
Parenteral 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol in hepatic osteomalacia.
Authors: R G Long, Z Varghese, E A Meinhard, R K Skinner, M R Wills, S Sherlock
Journal: BMJ (1978)

Despite regular long-term parenteral vitamin D2 treatment, four patients with biliary cirrhosis had multiple symptoms of bone disease and bone biopsy specimens showed osteomalacia without osteoporosis. Three patients also had a proximal myopathy. Plasma calcium values (after correction for albumin), phosphorus, magnesium, and serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D were within normal limits. Treatment with 1,25-dihydroxy-cholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2D3) relieved symptoms in three of the four patients and improved those in the fourth. Histological examination of bone showed improvement in all four patients, but serum and urinary biochemical changes were not pronounced. We conclude that 1,25-(0H)2D3 treatment has a beneficial effect on bone and muscle in hepatic osteomalacia, either because vitamin D 1-hydroxylation fails in biliary cirrhosis or because hepatic osteomalacia is resistant to vitamin D2 metabolites.
Book: The Deadly Truth: A History of Disease in America
Authors: B. L Lichterman
Journal: BMJ (2003)

Gerald N Grob Harvard University Press, $35/£23.50, pp 349 ISBN 0 674 00881 2 Rating: ![Graphic][1]</img>![Graphic][2]</img>![Graphic][3]</img> At a recent bioethical meeting, Beat Sitter-Liver from the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences said that the concept of finitude (a term borrowed from the philosopher Martin Heidegger, meaning the limits of human existence) was virtually non-existent in the United States. For example, Americans seem to think that the possibilities of medicine are unlimited. Gerald Grob's history of disease in the United States echoes this assumption. He writes, “In our modern Western culture we have grown accustomed to the belief that all things are possible and that humans can completely control their destiny.” But such faith “is at best harmless and at worst a dangerous utopian illusion,” he adds. Grob, who teaches medical history at Rutgers University in New Jersey, calls his book “a product … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [3]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif
Comparison of a Good Orthogonal Lead System and One Additional Chest Lead with the Conventional 12-Lead Electrocardiogram
Authors: OSCAR TANNENBAUM, HARRY VESELL, JEROME A. SCHACK
Journal: Circulation (1967)

In a study of the McFee-Parungao system of orthogonal lead electrocardiography 452 electrocardiograms were recorded on 111 normal subjects and 201 patients with cardiovascular disease and abnormalities in the conventional 12-lead electrocardiogram. Comparison of the two lead systems and evaluation of criteria for the electrocardiographic diagnosis of normal, right ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular hypertrophy, right and left bundle-branch block, and several types of myocardial infarction revealed good correspondence between the two systems. Because of deficient representation of the precordial midzone potential, a preferential unipolar lead resembling lead V 4 was introduced. This ancillary lead contributed important information to the electrocardiographic diagnosis of localized apical myocardial infarction and also indicated ventricular hypertrophy in cases in which it was not evident in the three orthogonal leads.
Remission of Leukemia Associated With Polycythemia Vera
Authors: E. Perlin
Journal: JAMA (1973)

To the Editor.—  Acute myelocytic leukemia is a terminal event for 15% to 20% of patients with polycythemia vera, usually occurring ten or more years following treatment with sodium phosphate P 32 therapy. 1-4 To our knowledge, there have been no reports describing remission of the leukemia occurring in this situation, although several such patients have come to our attention through personal communication.  Report of a Case.—  We have followed-up a 38-year-old man whose condition was diagnosed as polycythemia vera in October 1960, based on a hemoglobin concentration of 17.5 mg/100 ml, an absolute increase in red blood cell (RBC) mass, 18,000 leukocytes/cu mm, bone marrow hyperplasia. and a spleen enlarged to the level of the umbilicus. He received six doses of sodium phosphate P 32 from November 1960 to March 1964, for a total dosage of 16.45 millicuries. Between March 1965 and January 1968 busulfan was given in a
Molecular Analysis of Nondisjunction in Down Syndrome Patients With and Without Atrioventricular Septal Defects
Authors: Mark M. Zittergruen, Jeffrey C. Murray, Ronald M. Lauer, Trudy L. Burns, Val C. Sheffield
Journal: Circulation (1995)

Background Congenital heart disease is common in Down syndrome patients, with atrioventricular septal defects accounting for a majority of the abnormalities. The molecular mechanisms of meiotic nondisjunction resulting in Down syndrome were studied for associations with the presence of atrioventricular septal defects. Methods and Results Twenty highly polymorphic chromosome 21 microsatellite markers were used to genotype two groups of patients (group 1: Down syndrome with atrioventricular septal defects, n=43; and group 2: Down syndrome without cardiac defects, n=51) to determine (1) the parental origin of the extra chromosome, (2) the stage of meiotic nondisjunction resulting in the trisomy, (3) the presence or absence of disomic homozygosity or heterozygosity, and (4) the degree of recombination in the nondisjoined chromosomes. The parental origin of the nondisjoined chromosome was maternal in 86.2% of the families, with no significant differences between groups. The most centromeric marker was nonreduced, indicating a meiosis I nondisjunction in 76.5% of maternally derived trisomies, and reduced, indicating a meiosis II nondisjunction in 76.9% of paternally derived trisomies, with no significant differences between groups. There were no significant differences in the proportion of reduced markers at any locus between groups. The distribution of the number of crossovers was significantly different between groups (χ 2 =14.12, P &lt;.001), with less recombination observed in group 1. Conclusions In Down syndrome patients, no association was found between the presence of an atrioventricular septal defect and the parent of origin, stage of meiotic nondisjunction, or disomic homozygosity or heterozygosity. A significant association was found between the presence of an atrioventricular septal defect and reduced frequency of recombination.
WHO approves combination pills for HIV/AIDS
Authors: F. Fleck
Journal: BMJ (2003)

The World Health Organization will soon formally approve three new combinations of three antiretroviral drugs in fixed doses for use in patients with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. The approval could have a major impact on antiretroviral treatment for patients all over the world.

The fixed dose combinations, whose endorsement WHO hopes to announce on 1 December, world AIDS day, is part of a drive by the organisation to get antiretroviral drugs to three million people with HIV or AIDS in the world's poorest countries by 2005.

Fixed dose drugs have proved successful in treating malaria and tuberculosis. Whether in the form of a single pill or …
Adam17-dependent shedding limits early neutrophil influx but does not alter early monocyte recruitment to inflammatory sites
Authors: Jingjing Tang, Alexander Zarbock, Ivan Gomez, Carole L. Wilson, Craig T. Lefort, Anika Stadtmann, Bridgit Bell, Li-Chuan Huang, Klaus Ley, Elaine W. Raines
Journal: Blood (2011)
THE RELATION OF VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY TO INTESTINAL TUBERCULOSIS IN THE GUINEA PIG
Authors: Mack McConkey, David T. Smith
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1933)

1. Seventy-two adult guinea pigs were fed tuberculous sputum daily for periods ranging from 6 weeks to 4 months. 2. Thirty-seven of these were maintained on a diet partially deficient in vitamin C; twenty-six developed ulcerative intestinal tuberculosis. 3. In the remaining thirty-five animals whose diet was supplemented by an adequate amount of vitamin C only two developed tuberculous ulcers in the intestines. 4. From these studies we conclude that the ingestion of tubercle bacilli by the guinea pig is not the sole factor in the production of intestinal tuberculosis. 5. In our opinion, an adequate supply of vitamin C usually protects the guinea pig against ulcerative intestinal tuberculosis.
HIV, Stigma, and Rates of Infection: A Rumour without Evidence
Authors: Daniel D Reidpath, Kit Yee Chan
Journal: PLoS Medicine (2006)

The modern concept of a social stigma comes from the work of American sociologist Erving Goffman, who described it as a response to a deeply discrediting attribute that devalues the person [1]. In the medical literature, stigma is almost inevitably written about in terms of adverse social sequelae of a disease—such as leprosy, tuberculosis, epilepsy, schizophrenia, or filariasis [2–6]—or a physical characteristic or functional loss, such as obesity, deafness, or paraplegia [7–9]. The consequences of stigma range from moderate opprobrium at one end of the spectrum to death [10].
Bronchopulmonary arterial shunting without anatomic anastomosis in the dog.
Authors: A L Hyman, D S Knight, P D Joiner, P J Kadowitz
Journal: Circulation Research (1975)

The effects of bronchial arterial administration of vasoactive substances on the pulmonary circulation were studied by a new technique for selective catheterization of a bronchial artery in intact dogs. In most experiments, this technique permitted pressor agents to be distributed mainly to one lung with smaller amounts to the other lung. The intercostal arteries were avoided, and in all but 2 of 23 experiments only microscopic quantities of injected India ink could be identified in the distribution of the esophageal and mediastinal branches. These studies indicate that serotonin, angiotensin, histamine, and norepinephrine injected selectively into a bronchial artery increase lobar arterial pressure. Since blood flow was constant and left atrial pressure did not change, the increase in pressure suggests active pulmonary vasoconstriction. Additionally, the responses to bronchial and lobar arterial injections of pressor agents were similar. The contribution of bronchopulmonary shunt flow to pulmonary flow was small, since, under conditions of controlled lobar blood flow, changes in bronchial flow elicited by 65-75-mm Hg changes in bronchial arterial pressure produced little if any change in pressure in the perfused lobar artery or small vein. Bronchoconstriction contributed little to the response to bronchial administration of pressor agents, since responses were similar in the ventilated and the collapsed lobe. Injection of vasoflavine dyes into the bronchial artery showed the close proximity of bronchial and pulmonary arteries and confirmed the bronchial arterial origin of the vasa vasorum of pulmonary arteries. No vasa venorum were identified. Although no direct anatomic bronchial artery-pulmonary artery shunt was identified, ascorbic acid and 5-hydroxydopamine diffused rapidly into intrapulmonary arteries from the bronchial artery. These data suggest that the pulmonary pressor response results from passage of the vasoactive agents from the bronchial artery to the lobar artery through the vasa vasorum and by diffusion. Since no vasa venorum were found, pulmonary venoconstriction probably resulted from pressor agents reaching the veins by way of bronchopulmonary shunt flow. These results suggest a mechanism by which pressor substances present or liberated in the bronchial vascular bed can affect tone in the pulmonary vascular bed.
New ABPI code provides more information for patients
Authors: Richard Barker
Journal: BMJ (2005)

Methodological concerns about animal facilitated therapy with dolphinsEditor-We have the following concerns with Antonioli and Reveley's study of animal facilitated depression with dolphins in the treatment of depression. 1 The study was small (30 patients), only 13 people from the animal care programme and 12 from the outdoor nature programme completing the study.The authors used a conservative measure to estimate the number of patients required for this study, and even then fell short by 17%.Single women predominated in both arms.It is difficult to fathom how clinical raters can be blinded to the treatment hypothesis.The authors did not mention the ethnic group of the participants.Only people who could go to Honduras were able to take part in this study.Most people with mild depression will not be able to take a three week holiday.The findings are not generalisable as most people would not be able to afford to go to such a location and swimming and snorkeling are not necessarily favourite pastimes.There may be a vacation bias.If the study group sponsored the three week trip to Honduras we suspect that a free three week trip to a seaside location in Latin America would in itself be a powerful antidepressant.There may be a disappointment bias.If the control group were aware of the potential to be in a group where they could interact with dolphins for two weeks before they reached Honduras, they could be disappointed in missing out.People with depression perceive disappointment more intensely.The study could have been done in a more natural and plausible setting with common pets such as dogs or cats for a fraction of the cost.
Complete Resolution of Inflammatory Activity Following Corticosteroid Treatment of HBsAg-Negative Chronic Active Hepatitis†
Authors: Albert J. Czaja, Gary L. Davis, Jurgen Ludwig, Howard F. Taswell
Journal: Hepatology (1984)

To assess the frequency and significance of complete resolution of inflammatory activity following corticosteroid therapy, 115 patients with severe HBsAg-negative chronic active hepatitis were followed regularly for 84 +/- 5 months. Of 83 patients eligible to revert to normal liver tissue, 18 did so after 56 +/- 8 months. Five of the 18 relapsed after treatment withdrawal. Only patients who improved spontaneously after cessation of treatment from histologic features of chronic persistent hepatitis to normal invariably sustained the improvement. Of 32 patients with cirrhosis at presentation, 17 reverted to inactive cirrhosis after 48 +/- 10 months, but only 3 remained inactive after discontinuation of treatment. Mortality was similar in patients with and without reversion to normal tissue (0 vs. 14%, p greater than 0.2), but the frequency of relapse was less after complete resolution (28 vs. 76%, p less than 0.001). Reversion to inactive cirrhosis did not improve survival or reduce relapse frequency after remission and treatment withdrawal. Findings prior to therapy did not predict outcome. We conclude that complete resolution of inflammatory activity is possible, but that it occurs slowly, infrequently and unpredictably after therapy. In patients without cirrhosis, reversion to normal liver tissue decreases the likelihood of relapse and the requirement for retreatment. In patients with cirrhosis at presentation, elimination of inflammatory activity is rarely sustained and does not improve prognosis after remission and treatment withdrawal.
Avian influenza A (H5N1) infection: targets and strategies for chemotherapeutic intervention
Authors: E DECLERCQ, J NEYTS
Journal: Trends in Pharmacological Sciences (2007)

In an avian flu pandemic, which drugs could be used to treat or prevent infection with influenza A (H5N1) virus? Foremost are the viral neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir, which have already been used to treat human influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and B virus infections. The use of the M2 ion channel blockers amantadine and rimantadine is compounded by the rapid development of drug resistance. Although formally approved for other indications (i.e. treatment of hepatitis C), ribavirin and pegylated interferon might also be useful for controlling avian flu. Combined use of the currently available drugs should be taken into account and attempts should be made to develop new strategies directed at unexplored targets such as the viral proteins hemagglutinin, the viral polymerase (and endonuclease) and the non-structural protein NS1. As has been shown for other viral infections, RNA interference could be a powerful means with which to suppress the replication of avian H5N1. In an avian flu pandemic, which drugs could be used to treat or prevent infection with influenza A (H5N1) virus? Foremost are the viral neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir, which have already been used to treat human influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and B virus infections. The use of the M2 ion channel blockers amantadine and rimantadine is compounded by the rapid development of drug resistance. Although formally approved for other indications (i.e. treatment of hepatitis C), ribavirin and pegylated interferon might also be useful for controlling avian flu. Combined use of the currently available drugs should be taken into account and attempts should be made to develop new strategies directed at unexplored targets such as the viral proteins hemagglutinin, the viral polymerase (and endonuclease) and the non-structural protein NS1. As has been shown for other viral infections, RNA interference could be a powerful means with which to suppress the replication of avian H5N1.
Sources of Disseminated Mycobacterium avium Infection in AIDS
Authors: C.F. von Reyn, R.D. Arbeit, C.R. Horsburgh, M.A. Ristola, R.D. Waddell, S.M. Tvaroha, M. Samore, L.R. Hirschhorn, J. Lumio, A.D. Lein, M.R. Grove
Journal: Journal of Infection (2002)
Prevalence of Dry Eye Disease among Japanese Visual Display Terminal Users
Authors: Miki Uchino, Debra A. Schaumberg, Murat Dogru, Yuichi Uchino, Kazumi Fukagawa, Shigeto Shimmura, Toshihiko Satoh, Toru Takebayashi, Kazuo Tsubota
Journal: Ophthalmology (2008)