tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
TGF-β-dependent induction of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells
Authors: Antonella Carambia, Barbara Freund, Dorothee Schwinge, Markus Heine, Alena Laschtowitz, Samuel Huber, David C. Wraith, Thomas Korn, Christoph Schramm, Ansgar W. Lohse, Joerg Heeren, Johannes Herkel
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2014)
Foege resigns CDC directorship for 'first love'
Authors: Bruce B. Dan
Journal: JAMA (1983)

Although William H. Foege, MD, MPH, has announced his intention to resign as director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) when a successor is found, he plans to stay on at the agency to return to his first love: solving international health problems. Scotching rumors that "politics" played a role in his resignation, Foege told<i>JAMA</i>MEDICAL NEWS that he accepted the post fully intending to serve only five or six years. His resignation came exactly six years after his appointment. Finding a replacement with Foege's acknowledged expertise and consummate political skill will not be an easy task for Edward N. Brandt, Jr, MD, assistant secretary for health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Foege has survived the policy shifts of three administrations, serving under three secretaries of health, and has earned respect on Capitol Hill. Brandt accepted Foege's resignation with "regret" but said he was delighted
Commission withdraws legal aid for parents suing over MMR vaccine
Authors: C. Dyer
Journal: BMJ (2003)

Hundreds of parents who claim that their children were damaged by the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine have been told that the legal aid funding they were counting on to take their compensation claims to court will be withdrawn from 29 September.

Lawyers estimate that the long running group action on behalf of more than 1000 claimants against three vaccine manufacturers has consumed between £5m ($8m; €7m) and £10m in legal aid so far and could rack up another £4m in costs if it went to trial in the High Court.

A …
Government suffers its first defeat over Mental Health Bill
Authors: Clare Dyer
Journal: BMJ (2007)

Doctors from more than a third of accident and emergency departments in hospitals in England said they were not reaching the government's target of dealing with patients within four hours.The main reason for this finding, from a survey published this week, was a shortage of available hospital beds, making it difficult for patients to be admitted.Only 49% of the nearly 500 members of the British Association for Emergency Medicine-all consultants and middle grade doctors-responding to the survey reported that their departments met the emergency access target for 98% of all patients to be seen, treated, admitted, or discharged within four hours.Although only 49% considered that their department actually met the emergency access target, 67% said that the figures reported by their department indicated that the target had been met.Respondents' comments on what had happened in their departments included, "Middle managers revising figures before being submitted," "Minor injury unit figures used to help achieve department's 96.9% target," and "Patients often 'moved' on the computer tracking but still kept in department to meet targets."Forty one per cent said that their depart- Lack of beds leads to missed government targetsment did not reach this target."Not enough available in-patient beds" was the main reason given for departments not meeting the emergency access target, and 88% of respondents reported it as a major contributory factor.Don MacKechnie, chairman of the BMA's emergency subcommittee and a consultant in emergency medicine at Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said that financial problems in the NHS had meant that the availability of hospital beds for patients needing admission from accident and emergency departments was an important problem.He said, "In certain trusts, financial recovery measures have included closing beds previously used as 'safety valves' before, such as beds in rehabilitation wards.This has a knock-on effect to A&E [accident and emergency departments], with recovering patients that might have previously been moved remaining in acute beds."Mr MacKechnie said it was important that emergency access targets were seen as having broader application than simply affecting accident and emergency departments."Sometimes, other specialties forget that this is not just an A&E target.It is an emergency access target, with a responsibility from all specialties in an acute trust to ensure that the four hour target can be met."He said this meant ensuring that sufficient beds were available to admit patients from emergency departments and ensuring that doctors on call in each specialty are free to see patients in accident and emergency departments within the target of one hour after being referred.
Plasma Angiotensin II, Predisposition to Hypertension, and Left Ventricular Size in Healthy Young Adults
Authors: Stephen B. Harrap, Anna F. Dominiczak, Robert Fraser, Anthony F. Lever, James J. Morton, Christopher J. Foy, Graham C.M. Watt
Journal: Circulation (1996)

We studied the correlates of left ventricular mass (LVM) in 84 healthy young adults aged 16 to 24 years from the general population. Subjects were selected according to predisposition to hypertension into four groups with either high or low personal blood pressures and either high or low parental blood pressures.LVM was measured by echocardiography, and measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, body dimensions, and plasma concentrations of components of the renin-angiotensin system were made under resting conditions. LVM was similar in individuals predisposed to hypertension (high personal and parental blood pressures) and those with contrasting predisposition (low personal and parental pressures). Regression analysis of the combined groups showed that LVM correlated closely with body size, particularly lean body mass (r=.69, P<.0001) and systolic (r=.35, P<.0001) but not diastolic blood pressure. Plasma angiotensin II (r=.39, P<.0001), renin (r=.302, P<.01), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (r=.22, P<.05) showed significant correlation with LVM. Multiple regression analysis revealed that plasma angiotensin II was the most important component of the renin-angiotensin system and that its effect was independent of systolic blood pressure and body size.These findings provide evidence in humans that angiotensin II exerts a direct on myocardial size. This association may have important implications for the complications and treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy.
Myocardial localization and isoforms of neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) in the developing and transplanted human heart.
Authors: L Gordon, J Wharton, S E Moore, F S Walsh, J G Moscoso, R Penketh, J Wallwork, K M Taylor, M H Yacoub, J M Polak
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1990)

Neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) has been implicated in cellular interactions involved in cardiac morphogenesis and innervation. Immunohistochemical techniques and Western blot analysis were used to determine the localization and isoforms of N-CAM in the developing and extrinsically denervated human heart. Myocardial and conducting cells in the fetal heart (7-24 wk gestation) exhibited sarcolemmal immunoreactivity, the major desialo N-CAM isoforms being 150, 145, 120, 115, and 110 kD. N-CAM expression appeared to be downregulated in the myocardium during adult life, with relatively little sarcolemmal immunoreactivity being detected in normal donor tissues. In contrast to the temporal changes observed in the myocardium, both the developing and mature cardiac innervation displayed N-CAM immunofluorescence staining, localized to neuronal cell bodies, nerve fascicles and fibres. Extrinsically denervated cardiac allografts, obtained 2 d to 91 mo after transplantation, showed extensive sarcolemmal and intercalated disc immunostaining and expression of 125-, 120-, and 115-kD isoforms. Tissues from explanted recipient hearts and atrial appendage samples obtained during coronary bypass graft operations were also examined and displayed varying amounts of N-CAM immunoreactivity. We conclude that the expression of N-CAM immunoreactivity and isoforms in the human heart is developmentally regulated and may be modulated by factors such as cardiac innervation and myocardial hypertrophy.
Rational Choices for Allocating Antiretrovirals in Africa: Treatment Equity, Epidemiological Efficiency, and Feasibility
Authors: David P Wilson, Sally M Blower
Journal: PLoS Medicine (2006)

We agree with the thesis of Rosen et al. that despite initiatives such as the World Health Organizations 3 by 5 program rationing of HIV/AIDS antiretroviral therapy (ART) will be necessary in the majority of African countries. Difficult choices will need to be made and choices will be constrained due to the limited health infrastructure and lack of qualified health personnel in many African countries. Rosen et al. outlined a number of useful rationing systems and selection criteria. However some of the strategies they suggest are unfortunately not feasible in practice. For example targeting behavioral core groups (high-risk groups e.g. female sex workers) may well be impossible as it is not always possible to identify behavioral core groups. Furthermore once the prevalence of HIV becomes extremely high in the general population (as it already is in many African countries) the concept of a behavioral core group will be relatively meaningless.   (excerpt)
Cardiomyocyte Troponin T Immunoreactivity Is Modified by Cross-linking Resulting From Intracellular Calcium Overload
Authors: Luisa Gorza, Roberta Menabò, Maurizio Vitadello, Carlo M. Bergamini, Fabio Di Lisa
Journal: Circulation (1996)

During myocardial ischemia, the increase in cytosolic Ca2+ promotes the activation of neutral proteases such as calpains. Since the troponin T subunit is a substrate for calpains, we investigated the effects of irreversible myocyte damage on troponin T immunoreactivity.Hearts from adult guinea pigs (n=32) were perfused under conditions of normoxia, ischemia, postischemic reperfusion, or Ca2+ paradox. Hearts were frozen and processed for immunohistochemistry and Western blot with three anti-troponin T monoclonal antibodies. Two of these antibodies are unreactive on cryosections of freshly isolated and normoxic hearts and of hearts exposed to 30 minutes of no-flow ischemia. In contrast, reactivity is detected in rare myocytes after 60 minutes of ischemia, in a large population of myocytes after 60 minutes of ischemia followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion, and in every myocyte exposed to Ca2+ paradox. In Western blots, samples from ischemia-reperfusion and Ca2+ overloaded hearts show reactive polypeptides of about 240 to 260 kD and 65 to 66 kD in addition to troponin T. A similar pattern of immunoreactivity is observed with an anti-troponin I antibody. Histochemical troponin T immunoreactivity and reactivity on high-molecular-weight polypeptides are detectable in normal heart samples after preincubation with 10 mmol/L Ca2+ or with transglutaminase, whereas they are not if either transglutaminase or calpain is inhibited.The evolution of the ischemic injury is accompanied by changes in troponin T immunoreactivity as a consequence of the calcium-dependent activation of both calpain proteolysis and transglutaminase cross-linking.
Non-elite marathon runners: health, training and injuries.
Authors: P Hølmich, S W Christensen, E Darre, F Jahnsen, T Hartvig
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (1989)

A questionnaire was given to all participants of the Wonderful Copenhagen Marathon 1986 regarding demographic information, health, training, previous injuries and methods used to prevent these. A total load of 2158 Danish runners participated and 1426 (68 per cent) replied. Fifty per cent of the runners were training 30-60 km per week and 25 per cent more than 60 km per week. Forty-one per cent were members of running clubs. The runners were equally distributed between all social groups. Most runners were slim (mean BMI 22.3 +/- 1.87 (SD)), healthy, non-smokers who rarely suffered from serious injuries, but 31 per cent had had injuries that prevented them from training during the last year. Nearly all performed stretching exercises and methods to avoid injuries. Fifty per cent of the runners tried to optimize their performance by changing their diet in the days before the run. Seventeen per cent used the classical high carbohydrate diet and 33 per cent other special diets.
Neuropathy Among the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Cohort 8 Years After Trial Completion
Authors: Catherine L. Martin, James Albers, William H. Herman, Patricia Cleary, Barbara Waberski, Douglas A. Greene, Martin J. Stevens, Eva L. Feldman
Journal: Diabetes Care (2006)

OBJECTIVE—To evaluate the impact of prior intensive diabetes therapy on neuropathy among former Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) participants. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—At the conclusion of the DCCT, subjects in the intensive group were encouraged to maintain intensive therapy, and subjects in the conventional group were encouraged to begin intensive therapy. Thereafter, we annually assessed neuropathy as part of the Epidemiology of Diabetes Intervention and Complications (EDIC) study. Neuropathy was defined using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI). We recorded potential adverse consequences of neuropathy. RESULTS—At the first EDIC examination, 1,257 subjects participated in the neuropathy assessment. Consistent with DCCT results, the former intensive group showed a lower prevalence of neuropathy than the conventional group based on positive questionnaire (1.8 vs. 4.7%; P = 0.003) or examination (17.8 vs. 28.0%; P &amp;lt; 0.0001) results. Despite similar levels of glycemic control, symptoms and signs of neuropathy remained less prevalent among the former intensive group compared with the conventional group. At the beginning of the EDIC study, prior intensive therapy reduced the odds of having symptoms and signs of neuropathy using MNSI criteria by 64% (P = 0.0044) and 45% (P &amp;lt; 0.0001), respectively, with similar odds reductions observed for both neuropathic symptoms (51%, P &amp;lt; 0.0001) and neuropathic signs (43%, P &amp;lt; 0.0001) across 8 years of EDIC follow-up. CONCLUSIONS—The benefits of 6.5 years of intensive therapy on neuropathy status extended for at least 8 years beyond the end of the DCCT, similar to the findings described for diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy.
Prostaglandin E1 inhibits effector T cell induction and tissue damage in experimental murine interstitial nephritis.
Authors: C J Kelly, R B Zurier, K A Krakauer, N Blanchard, E G Neilson
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1987)

Immunosuppressive effects of E-series prostaglandins have been demonstrated in many in vitro assays of immune responsiveness as well as in autoimmune diseases. To explore the mechanisms underlying prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-associated immunosuppression in autoimmunity, we treated SJL mice immunized to produce immune-mediated interstitial nephritis with PGE1, PGF2 alpha, or vehicle alone. Mice receiving PGE1 treatment do not develop interstitial nephritis, nor do they display delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to the immunizing renal tubular antigen preparation. The observed immunosuppression is critically dependent on PGE1 administration during the period of effector T cell induction. We therefore investigated the effect of PGE1 on the in vitro induction of DTH effector T cells reactive to renal tubular antigens (SRTA). PGE1 inhibits effector T cell induction in a dose-dependent, reversible manner, but has no inhibitory effect on fully differentiated DTH effector cells or SRTA-reactive cell lines. The PGE1 effect is indirect and mediated via nonspecific suppressor lymphokines. This suppression can be overcome by recombinant interleukin 1 (IL-1), which suggests a mechanism related to either diminished IL-1 secretion or target cell sensitivity to IL-1.
Effect of Portal Venous Blood Flow Diversion on Portal Pressure
Authors: David S. Zimmon, Richard E. Kessler
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1980)

To anticipate the hepatic vascular response to portacaval anastomosis, we studied portal pressure during diversion of portal blood through a temporary extracorporeal umbilical vein to saphenous vein shunt. The relationship of portal pressure to shunted flow was approximately linear. In five schistosomiasis patients (controls) portal diversion to 1,250 ml/min gave portal pressure-shunted flow curve slopes ranging from 0.13 to 0.57 cm water/100 ml per min (0.31±0.18, mean±SD). In 17 cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension a continuum of slopes was observed from within mean±2 SD of control (type A) to larger slopes (type B) indicating failure of portal pressure regulation. When portal flow was augmented by shunting from saphenous vein to portal vein, cirrhotic patients who had slopes less than mean±2 SD of controls during diversion (type A) exhibited a compliant system with small increases in portal pressure, whereas type B patients had significantly greater pressure increases. Selective investigations suggested that changes in portal pressure provoked compensatory changes in hepatic arterial blood flow that tended to maintain portal pressure at a set point. Type B patients demonstrated failure of this mechanism to varying degrees.
Anesthetic Management in Electroconvulsive Therapy
Authors: Franklin L. Scamman
Journal: JAMA (1983)

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> I read the answers that Drs Bamforth and Callan gave to the question on the anesthetic management of patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (1983;249:292). I agree with the management that they outlined except that they forgot to mention a drug that is most important to both patient and anesthetist— oxygen. To anesthetize and then paralyze a patient without extra amounts of this vitally important agent is risking disaster.
Glucagon release from rat pancreatic islets. A combined morphological and functional approach.
Authors: J L Carpentier, F Malaisse-Lagae, W A Müller
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1977)

The release of glucagon induced in isolated rat islets by arginine or by calcium deprivation has been subjected to combined functional and morphological quantifications. Arginine-stimulated glucagon release was associated with a significant increase of morphological events linked to exocytosis. By contrast, the paradoxical events linked to exocytosis. By contrast, the paradoxical release of glucagon provoked by calcium deprivation, although accompanied by a significant loss of granule stores, was not associated with an increase of morphologically detectable exocytosis.
Psychoneurotic symptomatology in the irritable bowel syndrome: a study of reporters and non-reporters.
Authors: G W Welch, L C Hillman, E W Pomare
Journal: BMJ (1985)

An appreciable proportion of the general population have the irritable bowel syndrome but do not report it. Results of psychological assessments showed that outpatients with the syndrome and non-reporters of it were psychologically similar, but both groups showed more somatic distress than normal controls. Anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsion, and interpersonal sensitivity were similar in both groups with the syndrome and the normal controls. The preponderance of women referred to outpatient clinics may reflect sociological factors rather than the severity of the irritable bowel syndrome.
Old docs rock
Authors: Des Spence
Journal: BMJ (2007)

The sound of the hairdryer blasted above the tape machine. I gagged on hairspray, and my hands were tacky with hair gel—having “big hair” was high maintenance. Rain was an ever present danger. These were the days when the hardest boys in school wore make up and tucked pink Pringle jumpers into their stretch jeans, and no one sniggered. This was the briefest period of our lives and yet the most vivid: youth. But the idiotic dreams of youth are soon …
Angiotensin II and Aldosterone Regulate Gene Transcription Via Functional Mineralocortocoid Receptors in Human Coronary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Iris Z. Jaffe, Michael E. Mendelsohn
Journal: Circulation Research (2005)

Inhibition or blockade of the angiotensin-aldosterone system consistently decreases ischemic cardiovascular events in clinical trials. The steroid hormone aldosterone acts by binding to the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), a ligand activated transcription factor that is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. MR binds and is activated by aldosterone and cortisol with equal affinity, but MR activation by cortisol is diminished in tissues that express the cortisol-inactivating enzyme 11-β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase-2 (11βHSD2). Although previous studies support that the vasculature is a target tissue of aldosterone, MR-mediated gene expression in vascular cells has not been demonstrated or systematically explored. We investigated whether functional MR and 11βHSD2 are expressed in human blood vessels. Human coronary and aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) express mRNA and protein for both MR and 11βHSD2. The endogenous VSMC MR mediates aldosterone-dependent gene expression, which is blocked by the competitive MR antagonist spironolactone. Inhibition of 11βHSD2 in coronary artery VSMCs enhances gene transactivation by cortisol, supporting that the VSMC 11βHSD2 is functional. Angiotensin II also activates MR-mediated gene transcription in coronary artery VSMCs. Angiotensin II activation of MR-mediated gene expression is inhibited by both the AT1 receptor blocker losartan and by spironolactone, but not by aldosterone synthase inhibition. Microarray and quantitative RT-PCR experiments show that aldosterone activates expression of endogenous human coronary VSMC genes, including several involved in vascular fibrosis, inflammation, and calcification. These data support a new MR-dependent mechanism by which aldosterone and angiotensin II influence ischemic cardiovascular events, and suggest that ACE inhibitors and MR antagonists may decrease clinical ischemic events by inhibiting MR-dependent gene expression in vascular cells.
DINITROCHLOROBENZENE SKIN TESTING PREDICTS RESPONSE TO HEPATITIS B VACCINE IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS
Authors: StephenP. Bramwell, J. Douglas Briggs, John Stewart, MaryA. Watson, DimitriosJ. Tsakiris, EdwardA.C. Follett, DouglasL. Mcwhinnie, DavidN.H. Hamilton, BrianJ.R. Junor
Journal: The Lancet (1985)
Reflections on hexavalent chromium: health hazards of an industrial heavyweight.
Authors: C Pellerin, S M Booker
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2000)

Chromium has been used commercially in the United States for more than 100 years in metal alloys and other compounds, as a pigment, and in the tanning and metal plating industries, and many studies have looked at its effects in terms of occupational health. But, although scientists know that Cr(VI) is a human carcinogen and that it can cause other deleterious health effects including kidney and liver damage, certain questions remain about the metal's effects, such as which routes of exposures are dangerous for humans.
SCARLET FEVER WITH NEPHRITIS IN PREGNANCY.
Authors: F. A. COGSWELL
Journal: JAMA (1892)

Scarlet fever occurring in the pregnant woman seems to be a pathological rarity which is accorded but scant space in every treatise which the writer of this paper has had opportunity to examine. While the parturient woman is said to be very susceptible to infection during epidemics of scarlet fever, but very few cases of this disease occurring during the period of gestation are recorded. The belief of the older obstetricians that pregnant women possessed immunity in a certain degree from acute infectious diseases having been abandoned by most writers of the present day, and thus establishing the rule that women during gestation are as liable to attacks of scarlet fever as at any other period of adult life, we are somewhat at a loss to account for the exceedingly small number of recorded cases. Cazeaux never saw a case. The American System of Obstetrics tells us that Olshausen collected