tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Greater New York-New Jersey
Authors: Peter C. Dowling
Journal: JAMA (1977)

Epidemiologic data on 176 patients with acute Guillain-Barré syndrome observed over a nine-year period in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area are presented. A striking predilection for patients aged 16 to 25 years, with a second lesser peak between ages 45 to 60, was found. Seasonal clustering of patients occurred, with nearly half the patients afflicted during the four-month period of late summer and fall. The distribution between men and women was equal. In this series 23% of the patients required tracheostomy, and 5% had a fatal course.
Security Council votes to name and shame people who abuse children in conflict
Authors: P. Moszynski
Journal: BMJ (2009)

The United Nations Security Council last week unanimously adopted a resolution on children and armed conflict that calls on the UN secretary general to publicly name people responsible for physical or sexual violence against children in war.

People who use or recruit children to participate in conflict are already listed in the annexes to the annual secretary-general’s report on children and armed conflict. This “list of shame” will now also include the names of people who kill and maim children contrary to international law, as well as those who perpetrate sexual violence against children in wartime. …
SPECT-CT Improves Detection of Small Peritoneal Fistula
Authors: Karim Farid, Martine Guyot, Roseline Jeandot, Murielle Durieux, Michèle Allard, Philippe Fernandez
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (2009)

A 51-year-old woman on peritoneal dialysis for chronic renal failure underwent laparotomy for kidney transplant. One month later, painful subcutaneous edema was observed within the abdominal wall especially apparent in the standing position. A peritoneal fistula was suspected. Peritoneal scintigraphy was performed after infusion of Tc-99m sulfur colloid into the peritoneal cavity followed by SPECT/CT. Tracer uptake was observed between the peritoneal cavity and the subcutaneous space suggesting a postsurgical peritoneal fistula. On static images, the origin of the slight uptake was difficult to determine and could be due to the presence of Tc-99m in the peritoneal catheter that projects into this area. SPECT/CT improved detection of a small peritoneal fistulas.
Organ-derived dendritic cells have differential effects on alloreactive T cells
Authors: Theo D. Kim, Theis H. Terwey, Johannes L. Zakrzewski, David Suh, Adam A. Kochman, Megan E. Chen, Chris G. King, Chiara Borsotti, Jeremy Grubin, Odette M. Smith, Glenn Heller, Chen Liu, George F. Murphy, Onder Alpdogan, Marcel R. M. van den Brink
Journal: Blood (2008)
800-1 Total Coronary Calcified Volume is Highly Correlated with Total Plaque Volume: A Histologic Study of 723 Segments
Authors: Giuseppe Sangiorgi, Sanjay S. Srivatsa, Michael Staab, John A. Rumberger, Rachel Kaufman, Patricia Peyser, Lorraine A. Fitzpatrick, Robert S. Schwartz
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (1995)
Abstract 169: Inhibition of focal adhesion kinase suppresses gastrin-releasing peptide receptor-mediated liver metastasis in neuroblastoma
Authors: Sora Lee, Jingbo Qiao, Pritha Paul, Dai H. Chung
Journal: Cancer Research (2012)

Abstract We have previously reported that high expression of gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRP-R), a member of the G-protein coupled receptor family, is observed in more undifferentiated human neuroblastoma. We have also found that GRP-R-mediated cell signaling plays a critical role in neuroblastoma cell transformation; however, its molecular mechanisms are unknown. Here, we sought to determine the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase, in GRP-R-mediated neuroblastoma cellular transformation. METHODS. Using human neuroblastoma tissue sections, the correlation of GRP-R and FAK expression was examined. Human neuroblastoma cell line, BE(2)-C and SK-N-SH were used for our experiments. Using transfection with Lipofectamine 2000, the level of knockdown and overexpression of GRP-R and FAK were modulated. MTT assay was carried out to measure the cell viability of neuroblastoma cells, and soft agar colony formation assay was performed to determine the capacity of cell transformation. Transwell migration and wound healing assay were employed to study cell motility. Rescue experiments by overexpression of FAK in GRP-R silencing cells were conducted to further validate the role of FAK in neuroblastoma cell transformation. Using FAK inhibitor and GRP-R agonist, animal experiment was performed. RESULTS. FAK expression correlated with GRP-R expression in BE(2)-C and SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells. GRP treatment induced phosphorylation of FAK at Y397 in both cell lines. Overexpression of GRP-R in SK-N-SH cells, which are known to express low endogenous levels of GRP-R, increased the levels of phosphorylated and total FAK. Moreover, overexpression of FAK increased cell viability and colony formation of SK-N-SH cells. These effects were reversed when cells were co-transfected with FAK siRNA in BE(2)-C cells, which endogenously express higher levels of GRP-R. Conversely, silencing of GRP-R decreased the levels of phosphorylated and total FAK in BE(2)-C cells. Interestingly, in cells with GRP-R silencing, FAK overexpression significantly enhanced cell viability and colony formation. GRP-R-mediated liver metastasis suppressed by FAK inhibitor in vivo. CONCLUSIONS. Our results suggest that FAK is a critical downstream regulator of GRP-R-mediated tumorigenesis. Furthermore, GRP-R and FAK expression correlate with morphological changes implicated in the malignant transformation of human neuroblastoma cells. Importantly, inhibition of FAK can suppress GRP-R-induced tumor progression in neuroblastoma in vivo. 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 169. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-169
Abstract 1931: Development of a functional assay for the determination of BRCA1 carrier status.
Authors: Lauren Bathurst, Paolo Uy, Harriet Feilotter, Scott Davey
Journal: Cancer Research (2013)

Abstract Germline mutations in the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 confer an overall lifetime risk of developing breast cancer of up to 80%. Given the high risk of cancer development associated with BRCA1 mutation carriers, it is important that they be identified early and accurately. However, identification is impeded by the number of Variants of Unknown Significance (VUS), therefore there is compelling rationale for a functional assay that will identify pathogenic mutations. Previous work in our lab developed a novel functional assay to predict BRCA1 status based on gene expression profiles. That study analyzed EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) of BRCA1 mutation carriers (BRCA1+/−) and controls (BRCA1+/+) and found that lymphocytes from BRCA1 carriers could be distinguished with high fidelity (∼90% accuracy) from individuals with two wild type copies of the gene. Interestingly, carriers were recognized through their basal gene expression profiles. Global gene expression level changes following ionizing radiation (IR) to induce the DNA damage response (DDR) did not support the development of an accurate class predictor. The final predictor included a set of 43 genes. Many of these genes were also markers of differentiation in blood cells. A subset of these genes have now been validated in LCLs using qRT-PCR and protein-based methods including single reaction monitoring mass spec (SRM-MS) and flow cytometry. These assays were able to distinguish BRCA1 mutation carriers from controls based on the expression levels of specific markers, including genes with known roles in lymphocyte differentiation. Using these techniques, ongoing work is being done to test the ability of these markers to discriminate BRCA1 mutation carriers from controls using lymphocytes isolated from fresh blood samples. Citation Format: Lauren Bathurst, Paolo Uy, Harriet Feilotter, Scott Davey. Development of a functional assay for the determination of BRCA1 carrier status. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1931. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1931
Increased Cardiac Adrenergic Drive Precedes Generalized Sympathetic Activation in Human Heart Failure
Authors: Bengt Rundqvist, Mikael Elam, Yrsa Bergmann-Sverrisdottir, Graeme Eisenhofer, Peter Friberg
Journal: Circulation (1997)

Background Previous studies with radiotracer methods have indicated increases in cardiac norepinephrine (NE) and renal NE spillover in patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF). However, data on the regional sympathetic profile in early stages of CHF are limited. In this study, sympathetic function in the heart, kidneys, and skeletal muscle was evaluated in patients with mild-to-moderate CHF and compared with that in patients with severe CHF and healthy subjects. Methods and Results Total body and regional NE spillover from the heart and kidney was assessed with isotope dilution with steady state infusions of [ 3 H]NE. Sympathetic nerve traffic to the skeletal muscle vascular bed (MSA) was recorded intraneurally. Cardiac NE spillover in patients with mild-to-moderate CHF (n=21) was increased threefold versus that in healthy subjects (n=12, P &lt;.05), whereas total body and renal NE spillover and MSA did not differ from those in healthy subjects. In the severe CHF group (n=12), cardiac NE spillover was increased fourfold ( P &lt;.05), and total body and renal NE spillover and MSA were high compared with both mild-to-moderate CHF subjects and healthy subjects ( P &lt;.05 for both). Fractional extraction of [ 3 H]NE across the heart was reduced by ≈40% in both CHF groups versus control subjects ( P &lt;.05). Conclusions These results indicate a selective increase in cardiac adrenergic drive (increased amounts of transmitter available at neuroeffector junctions) in patients with mild-to-moderate CHF. This increase appears to precede the augmented sympathetic outflow to the kidneys and skeletal muscle found in advanced CHF.
Diseases of the Skin: Drug Therapy of Urticaria
Authors: R. H. Champion
Journal: BMJ (1973)

Most patients with urticaria can be assessed by taking a relatively simple history with few or no investigations and controlled by a suitable antihistamine given at appropriate times until spontaneous resolution occurs without a complete diagnosis ever being made. Those that do not respond in this way require sometimes quite elaborate investigations, the institution of which would be an imposition in a mild case. Even after full investigation and ringing the changes of all available drugs, too many cases persist to the frustration of all concerned.
Activating Mutations in the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Underlying Responsiveness of Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer to Gefitinib
Authors: Thomas J. Lynch, Daphne W. Bell, Raffaella Sordella, Sarada Gurubhagavatula, Ross A. Okimoto, Brian W. Brannigan, Patricia L. Harris, Sara M. Haserlat, Jeffrey G. Supko, Frank G. Haluska, David N. Louis, David C. Christiani, Jeff Settleman, Daniel A. Haber
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2004)

Most patients with non–small-cell lung cancer have no response to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib, which targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, about 10 percent of patients have a rapid and often dramatic clinical response. The molecular mechanisms underlying sensitivity to gefitinib are unknown.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS ON ANTIBODY-PRODUCING CELLS IN LYMPH AND BLOOD
Authors: Klaus Hummeler, T. N. Harris, Natale Tomassini, Maureen Hechtel, Miriam B. Farber
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1966)

Antibody-producing cells have been identified among cells obtained from efferent lymphatic vessels, the thoracic duct, and peripheral blood. These cells, which produced plaques of hemolysis and which were quite rare (20 to 50 per million), due in most instances to 19S antibody, were located and studied by electron microscopy. Of the antibody-producing cells found in these three sites there were several features common to all: small size (5 to 8 micro), generally spherical shape, approximately central position of the nucleus, and retention in the nucleus of the condensations of chromatin characteristic of the lymphocyte. The differences among the cells of these sources were largely in the relative amount and state of organization of the organelles of the cytoplasm. In cells of the efferent lymphatic vessel and the thoracic duct, the endoplasmic reticulum showed a range from relative scarcity to considerable numbers of well organized channels. Between these extremes were cells with a considerable amount of endoplasmic reticulum, the channels disorganized and sectioned at various angles. The cytoplasmic matrix of all of these contained a profusion of polyribosomes. Antibody-producing cells obtained from peripheral blood showed, around the roughly spherical nucleus, a ring of cytoplasm which was narrow, but wholly organized into parallel lamellae of endoplasmic reticulum, with many polyribosomes between these, and a large Golgi body. Some similarities and some differences of these cells, in comparison with antibody-producing cells obtained from lymph nodes, have been indicated.
Arteries Too Good to Kill
Authors: Henry C. McGill
Journal: JAMA (1994)

Debate over the role of hyperlipidemia in causing coronary heart disease has dominated discussion of this disease since it emerged on an epidemic scale in industrialized countries after World War II. Although many questions remain about how, the question about whether hyperlipidemia causes atherosclerosis and its sequelae (the so-called lipid hypothesis) has been settled: it does. Nearly two decades of clinical trials have confirmed predictions derived from observational epidemiology and animal experimentation that control of hyperlipidemia reduces the frequency of coronary heart disease and causes regression of coronary atherosclerosis. This knowledge is now modifying public health and clinical medical practice.<sup>1</sup> See also p 289. However, continued investigation discloses new aspects of this disease. A few years ago, lipoprotein (a) was a laboratory curiosity of uncertain significance; now, its similarity to plasminogen suggests that it may predispose to coronary heart disease by augmenting thrombosis.<sup>2</sup>The discovery of oxidized low-density
Hypergastrinaemia in cirrhosis of liver.
Authors: S K Lam
Journal: Gut (1976)

The basal acid output (BAO), post-pentagastrin acid output (MAO), fasting and post-prandial gastrin levels in 40 patients with proven cirrhosis of the liver were compared with those in 20 normal controls. The mean BAO and MAO were significantly lower than normal, the mean fasting gastrin level was significantly higher than normal, and the postprandial gastrin response was significantly increased and prolonged. These differences were still significant even when the patients were divided into cryptogenic and alcoholic subgroups. A significant inverse relationship between MAO and the integrated gastrin response to meal was observed both in the normal controls and in the cirrhotic patients. The MAO and integrated gastrin response of the cirrhotic patients did not correlate with the degree of liver function impairment. In five cirrhotic patients fasting and postprandial gastrin levels were unchanged after splenorenal shunt operation. A more consistent abnormality of the gastric mucosa as assessed by endoscopy and biopsies appeared to be mucosal congestion with occasional atrophic gastritis. the severity of mucosal abnormality, however, was unrelated to the degree of hypoacidity. these results indicate, firstly, that the hypergastrinaemia in cirrhotic patients is a reflection of gastric hypoacidity and bears no direct relationship to hepatic dysfunction. Secondly, the gastric hypoacidity does not accrue solely from mucosal abnormality. It is suggested that this hypoacidity may result from the presence of excessive amounts of circulating acid-inhibiting intestinal peptides, which the diseased liver fails to metabolise.
Can mandibular advancement devices be a satisfactory substitute for short term use in patients on nasal continuous positive airway pressure?
Authors: D M Smith
Journal: Thorax (2002)

Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) can successfully control both snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Many patients on nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) for OSA would like a more portable alternative, even if only temporarily. This study assesses what proportion of patients with OSA already on NCPAP can successfully use a MAD for short periods (up to 1 month) as a temporary alternative to NCPAP.Fifty patients with OSA, already on NCPAP for at least 3 months, were recruited by invitation. They were provided with a simple fixed MAD estimated to provide 75% of maximum mandibular protrusion. Sleep studies using a portable home recorder were performed on and after three nights without NCPAP to provide control data. Following acclimatisation to the MAD, sleep studies were also planned after 3, 7, and 28 days while using the MAD. If their overnight >4% SaO(2) dips per hour deteriorated to >20 or the Epworth sleepiness score (ESS) rose to >9 (or increased by >4 over baseline) on nights 3 or 7, they were then deemed to have failed the trial and were withdrawn.Of the 50 patients entered, one had inadequate teeth for a MAD and 31 gave up trying to use the device during the acclimatisation period because of side effects. Of the 18 prepared to use the device, two patients failed at night 3, five at night 7, and two at night 28. Thus, nine patients remained controlled by our criteria at night 28. On average, sleep study indices while using the MAD were poor compared with the night on NCPAP.Simple MADs are poorly tolerated by patients with OSA already on NCPAP. OSA was adequately controlled by our criteria in 32% of those recruited for the equivalent of a weekend, in 22% for 1 week, and in 18% for up to 1 month. Better tolerated devices would be likely to improve on these figures.
Abstract P6-07-11: Health economic impact of breast cancer index (BCI) for late disease management in patients with estrogen receptor-positive, node-negative breast cancer
Authors: G Gustavsen, BE Schroeder, P Kennedy, K Pothier, MG Erlander, CA Schnabel
Journal: Cancer Research (2013)

Abstract Background Several recent randomized, prospective clinical trials (MA.17, ATLAS, aTTom) have demonstrated the clinical benefit of extending endocrine therapy beyond 5 years to address the persistent risk of recurrence in patients with ER+ breast cancer. Breast Cancer Index (BCI) is a gene expression-based test that predicts overall (10y) risk of recurrence in patients with ER+, LN- breast cancer, and also informs late (post-5 year) disease management by providing information on risk of late (≥5y) recurrence, and likelihood of benefit from extended (≥5y) endocrine therapy. Previously, BCI was shown to be cost saving across a 10-year disease horizon. The current study specifically assessed the health economic benefit of BCI for late disease management, evaluating the impact of identifying patients at risk of late recurrence and those that may benefit from extended endocrine therapy. Methods A fact-based economic model was developed which projected the cost and effectiveness of BCI from a US third-party payer perspective in a hypothetical population of patients with ER+, LN- breast cancer who are disease free at 5 years post-diagnosis compared to standard clinical practice. Patients flowed through the model based on patterns of care and BCI data. Costs associated with endocrine therapy, toxicity, follow-up, and recurrence were modeled over 5 yrs. Model inputs were based primarily on published literature, and supplemented by interviews with disease experts and payers. Sensitivity analyses were performed around key inputs to estimate effects on the model. Results Use of BCI is projected to be cost saving in this population of patients that are disease-free at 5 years post-diagnosis, with a net cost savings of $691 per patient tested after accounting for BCI cost. Gross cost savings were projected to be achieved through reduced recurrence in patients receiving extended endocrine therapy based on BCI ($4,102), and reduced recurrence in previously non-compliant patients ($39). BCI was cost saving for both pre- and post-menopausal women. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that results were most sensitive to current use of extended endocrine therapy in postmenopausal patients, future use of extended endocrine therapy in BCI (H/I) high patients, and the percentage of patients characterized as BCI (H/I) high. Conclusions BCI is projected to be cost saving in a population of ER+, LN-, breast cancer patients who are recurrence free at 5 years post-diagnosis. Cost savings are achieved through projected impact on extended endocrine therapy use and endocrine therapy compliance, and provide additional cost savings beyond impact on chemotherapy utilization. These findings require validation in additional cohorts, including studies of real-world clinical practice. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P6-07-11.
A Secondary Structural Model of the 28S rRNA Expansion Segments D2 and D3 for Chalcidoid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)
Authors: Joseph J. Gillespie, James B. Munro, John M. Heraty, Matthew J. Yoder, Albert K. Owen, Andrew E. Carmichael
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2005)

We analyze the secondary structure of two expansion segments (D2, D3) of the 28S ribosomal (rRNA)-encoding gene region from 527 chalcidoid wasp taxa (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) representing 18 of the 19 extant families. The sequences are compared in a multiple sequence alignment, with secondary structure inferred primarily from the evidence of compensatory base changes in conserved helices of the rRNA molecules. This covariation analysis yielded 36 helices that are composed of base pairs exhibiting positional covariation. Several additional regions are also involved in hydrogen bonding, and they form highly variable base-pairing patterns across the alignment. These are identified as regions of expansion and contraction or regions of slipped-strand compensation. Additionally, 31 single-stranded locales are characterized as regions of ambiguous alignment based on the difficulty in assigning positional homology in the presence of multiple adjacent indels. Based on comparative analysis of these sequences, the largest genetic study on any hymenopteran group to date, we report an annotated secondary structural model for the D2, D3 expansion segments that will prove useful in assigning positional nucleotide homology for phylogeny reconstruction in these and closely related apocritan taxa.