tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Fifteen-to Twenty-Year Study of One Thousand Patients Undergoing Closed Mitral Valvuloplasty
Authors: LAURENCE B. ELLIS, JANG B. SINGH, DANTE D. MORALES, DWIGHT E. HARKEN
Journal: Circulation (1973)

A study is reported of an annual follow-up over a 15- to 20-year period of the survivors of the first 1,000 patients undergoing closed mitral valvuloplasty for mitral stenosis. In addition to a report of the status of the patients at each year of follow-up, a detailed analysis has been made of the factors influencing results of surgery 15 years after operation. The most important factor adversely influencing long-term results is significant mitral valve calcification. This is true regardless of age, sex, preoperative status, concomitant mitral insufficiency or minor degrees of aortic valve disease. A beneficial effect of younger age (below 40 years at surgery) or lack of associated mitral insufficiency is apparent only in Group III patients with noncalcific valves, and in these two subgroups the results were 41 and 37 percent improved, respectively. These figures do not include the large number of patients who have again been improved following a second or even third operation. Late systemic embolization occurs infrequently after such surgery. (1.1% per patient year of follow-up). In patients without significant valvular calcification and without substantial mitral incompetence or significant associated valvular disease, closed mitral valvuloplasty is the operation of choice. The indications for closed versus open operation for mitral stenosis are discussed in detail.
Serum interferon in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: SHI SHOU-NEE, FENG SHU FANG, WEN YUMEI, HE LI FANG, HUANG YAO XING
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1987)

Serum interferon levels were estimated in 67 samples obtained from 47 patients with SLE. Levels were increased in 70% of the samples and 72% of the patients. In the patients with active disease 81% had increased interferon levels, while in the group with clinically quiescent disease 10% had increased levels. In 20 patients retested 3 1/2 months after treatment the changes in interferon levels tended to parallel the changes in clinical disease activity in 80% of cases. Patients with active skin lesions, arthritis, and renal or haematopoietic involvement tended especially to have increased interferon levels. Interferon levels were directly related to ANA titre and inversely related to serum C3 levels, but not related to serum levels of circulating immune complexes or immunoglobulin. The interferon was shown to be of type alpha. The interferon level can be regarded as one of several parameters reflecting disease activity and may also be related to the prognosis. As it is possible that interferon may be a direct mediator of the pathophysiology of auto-immune disease, we do not recommend the use of interferon or its inducers in the therapy of SLE.
The sight test fee: effect on ophthalmology referrals and rate of glaucoma detection
Authors: D A H Laidlaw, P A Bloom, A O Hughes, J M Sparrow, V J Marmion
Journal: BMJ (1994)

To assess changes, if any, in the numbers of referrals and outcome of glaucoma referrals to the hospital eye service since the introduction of the sight test fee on 1 April 1989.Review of referral records and clinical notes.Referrals to the Bristol Eye Hospital.51,919 patients referred to the Bristol Eye Hospital between 1984 and 1992. 9438 case notes of patients referred between 1987 and 1991 were examined in detail.Numbers of referrals; rate of adult true positive glaucoma referrals.Referrals to the Bristol Eye Hospital were between 13.7% and 19.0% fewer than expected after the introduction of the sight test fee. True positive glaucoma referrals were reduced by the same proportion.The numbers of patients being identified as requiring treatment or follow up for potentially blinding glaucoma have declined by nearly one fifth since the introduction of the sight test fee. An increased prevalence of preventable blindness may result.
Metastatic Breast Cancer to the Conjunctiva and Anterior Chamber Angle
Authors: James Benzimra, Fadi Kherdaji, Andrew McNaught
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2007)

An 82-year-old woman was seen in the eye clinic with a 3-week history of a red, painful left eye. She had a past ophthalmic history of primary open angle glaucoma, recurrent anterior uveitis, and was pseudophakic in both eyes. Two years previously she had undergone a left mastectomy and axillary node clearance with postoperative radiotherapy for an invasive ductal carcinoma. Her 2-year mammogram showed no evidence of recurrence. On examination, vision was recorded at 20/20 in both eyes. The conjunctiva of the left eye showed a raised lesion extending onto the superona-
THE EFFECT OF ANTECEDENT INFECTION AND IMMUNIZATION WITH STREPTOCOCCI UPON THE REACTIVITY OF RABBITS TO HORSE SERUM
Authors: Mark P. Schultz, Homer F. Swift
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1934)

1. The cutaneous responses of rabbits to small doses of horse serum intracutaneously is described. After an original injection of 0.1 cc. a secondary reaction often occurs about the 9th day, and tests at 3 day intervals with 0.001 cc. quantities indicate that general skin hypersensitivity is established at this time. Circulating precipitins for horse serum appear later. As the degree of sensitivity increases, lesions resulting from test doses reach a maximum development more quickly. 2. The reactivity of rabbits to horse serum is greatly increased by antecedent sensitization of the animals with repeated small intracutaneous inoculation of indifferent streptococci or immunization with large intravenous injections of either indifferent or hemolytic streptococci. Doses of indifferent streptococci precisely comparable to those producing greatly enhanced reactivity when given intracutaneously, increase reactivity to horse serum irregularly and to slight degree when injected intravenously. 3. Increases in reactivity (allergic irritability) are made evident by the occurrence of larger skin lesions at the site of the primary horse serum injections, the earlier development of more distinct secondary reactions in a higher percentage of animals, and by the more rapid appearance of skin sensitivity to the small test doses which may be first evidenced by delayed reactions at these injection sites. Accompanying these evidences of increased reactivity, there is an early appearance of blood serum precipitins in high titer. 4. There was no evidence of residual inflammation in any of the animals at the time reactivity to horse serum was tested. No attempt was made to determine the duration of this altered reactive capacity. It has been encountered in tests begun from 8 to 14 days after the last preliminary inoculation. 5. It is suggested that the increased reaction described is brought about by a persisting alteration in the functional activity of the reticulo-endothelial system.
Hepatitis C virus infection: A “liaison a trois” amongst the virus, the host, and chronic low-level inflammation for human survival
Authors: Vincenzo Barnaba
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2010)

This review covers the various aspects of the immune system that allows the relationship between the hepatitis-C virus, the host and chronic low-level inflammation, to be highly flexible and able to defend the host from persistent infections. This ambiguity mainly stems from the property of the immune system that can be both protective and harmful. Immunity cannot be fully protective without producing a certain degree of damage (acute hepatitis resulting in resolving HCV infection). In addition, the balance between protection and tissue damage is critical for the development of chronic HCV infection. The establishment of a state of chronic low-level inflammation is instrumental to limit liver immunopathology, to limit viral spread, and ultimately to ensure a long-lasting survival of the host. It is dictated by a fine equilibrium maintained by multiple immunologic mechanisms, including: sensory perception of innate immunity, virus-specific T and B cell functions, control of immune responses, and finally the balance between immunity and immunopathology that has principally evolved to favor the survival of the species.
Rapid suppression of complex ventricular arrhythmias with high-dose oral amiodarone.
Authors: N D Mostow, T R Vrobel, D Noon, L Rakita
Journal: Circulation (1986)

Although amiodarone is effective for the suppression of complex ventricular arrhythmias, a major problem with its use is the long delay between the initiation of therapy and the onset of effective suppression of arrhythmia. To test the hypothesis that rapid loading with oral amiodarone to a target serum concentration can overcome much of this delay, eight patients with refractory, sustained, hemodynamically compromising ventricular arrhythmias and 10 patients with potentially life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias were treated with a flexible, very high dose, oral loading protocol (800 to 2000 mg two to three times a day). Dosage was adjusted on the basis of amiodarone serum concentrations to maintain the trough serum concentrations between 2.0 and 3.0 micrograms/ml. Comparison of 24 hr Holter electrocardiograms obtained before and during therapy revealed statistically significant reductions in premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) and paired PVCs beginning the first day of therapy and a reduction in ventricular tachycardia (VT) beginning the second day. By day 2, four of eight patients with sustained VT and six of 10 patients with nonsustained VT showed no VT. Pulmonary arterial catheterization during the first 24 hr (mean amiodarone dose 3933 mg) revealed no significant hemodynamic alterations. Minor side effects were common (10 patients) but major side effects were rare (one patient). High-dose oral loading with amiodarone utilizing serum concentration guidelines is a safe and effective method of rapidly controlling life-threatening arrhythmias in selected patients.
Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution, Council and Business Meetings, 2012, Dublin, Ireland
Authors: M. Long
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2012)

President Charles Aquadro called the council meeting to order at 10:00 AM, 23 June 2012. In attendance were President Charles Aquadro, Past-President Ken Wolfe, President-Elect Sudhir Kumar, Secretary Manyuan Long, Treasurer Aoife McLysaght, and Councilors Soojin Yi, Laurent Duret, Yoko Satta, and Robin Bush; Molecular Biology and Evolution (MBE) Editor-in-Chief Marcy Uyenoyama; Genome Biology and Evolution (GBE) Editorin-Chief William Martin; MBE editorial Assistant Liz Raffaelle; Oxford University Press (OUP) Representative Cathy Kennedy; Organizers of the 2012 Annual Meeting James McInerney, Mary O’Connell, and Emma Teeling; Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE) 2013 organizing committee member Ben Krinsky; and SMBE 2013 organizing committee Secretariat representative Julie Steffen attended part of the meeting. The council meeting began with Introductions. The business meeting was held 5:30 PM–6:30 PM, 26 June 2012.
What makes a weight loss programme successful?
Authors: H. Truby, M. Bonham
Journal: BMJ (2011)

The NHS can learn a lot from commercial companies in how to deliver what consumers want

One in four adults in the United Kingdom is overweight, so successful weight management programmes are urgently needed. With about 16% of the UK population and 28% of Americans seriously trying to lose weight,1 it is no wonder the commercial slimming industry is booming. Although their combined reach is hard to ascertain—Rosemary Conley alone claims more than 80 000 UK members and Weight Watchers 1.5 million worldwide members—commercial companies have their part to play. To date, evidence of the success of commercial approaches is limited.2 It could be argued that either a lot of people are trying to lose weight unsuccessfully or that without the contribution of the commercial sector the obesity crisis would be worse. Either way, the linked trial (Lighten Up) reported by Jolly and colleagues (doi:10.1136/bmj.d6500) is a welcome addition to the evidence base.3

Lighten Up was designed to test the relative effectiveness of weight management services provided by general practices, pharmacies (NHS), and commercial companies compared with a self directed exercise comparator group.4 The BBC’s Diet Trials is the only other non-commercially funded study conducted in the UK to have examined the relative efficacy of commercial weight loss programmes, …
Phase III Randomized Trial of Induction Chemotherapy in Patients With N2 or N3 Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Ezra E.W. Cohen, Theodore G. Karrison, Masha Kocherginsky, Jeffrey Mueller, Robyn Egan, Chao H. Huang, Bruce E. Brockstein, Mark B. Agulnik, Bharat B. Mittal, Furhan Yunus, Sandeep Samant, Luis E. Raez, Ranee Mehra, Priya Kumar, Frank Ondrey, Patrice Marchand, Bettina Braegas, Tanguy Y. Seiwert, Victoria M. Villaflor, Daniel J. Haraf, Everett E. Vokes
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2014)

Purpose Induction chemotherapy (IC) before radiotherapy lowers distant failure (DF) rates in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The goal of this phase III trial was to determine whether IC before chemoradiotherapy (CRT) further improves survival compared with CRT alone in patients with N2 or N3 disease. Patients and Methods Treatment-naive patients with nonmetastatic N2 or N3 SCCHN were randomly assigned to CRT alone (CRT arm; docetaxel, fluorouracil, and hydroxyurea plus radiotherapy 0.15 Gy twice per day every other week) versus two 21-day cycles of IC (docetaxel 75 mg/m 2 on day 1, cisplatin 75 mg/m 2 on day 1, and fluorouracil 750 mg/m 2 on days 1 to 5) followed by the same CRT regimen (IC + CRT arm). The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Secondary end points included DF-free survival, failure pattern, and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results A total of 285 patients were randomly assigned. The most common grade 3 to 4 toxicities during IC were febrile neutropenia (11%) and mucositis (9%); during CRT (both arms combined), they were mucositis (49%), dermatitis (21%), and leukopenia (18%). Serious adverse events were more common in the IC arm (47% v 28%; P = .002). With a minimum follow-up of 30 months, there were no statistically significant differences in OS (hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.41), RFS, or DF-free survival. Conclusion IC did not translate into improved OS compared with CRT alone. However, the study was underpowered because it did not meet the planned accrual target, and OS was higher than predicted in both arms. IC cannot be recommended routinely in patients with N2 or N3 locally advanced SCCHN.
siRNA Transfection with Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles Stabilized with PEGylated Chelators
Authors: Elisabeth V. Giger, Bastien Castagner, Johanna Räikkönen, Jukka Mönkkönen, Jean‐Christophe Leroux
Journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials (2012)

Abstract Despite the enormous therapeutic potential of siRNAs, their delivery is still problematic due to unfavorable biodistribution profiles and poor intracellular bioavailability. Calcium phosphate co‐precipitate has been used for nearly 40 years for in vitro transfection due to its non‐toxic nature and simplicity of preparation. However, rapid particle growth has largely prevented the translation of this method for in vivo purposes. It has recently been shown that bisphosphonate derivatives can physically stabilize calcium phosphate nanoparticles while still allowing for efficient cell transfection with plasmid DNA. Herein, two novel PEGylated chelating agents (PEG‐alendronate and PEG‐inositolpentakisphosphate) with enhanced stabilizing properties are introduced, and it is demonstrated that the bisphosphonate‐stabilized nanoparticles can efficiently deliver siRNA in vitro. The nanoparticles are mainly taken up by clathrin‐dependent endocytosis, and acidification of the endosomal compartment is required to release the entrapped siRNA into the cytosol. Furthermore, particle uptake enhances the inhibition of the mevalonate pathway by the bisphosphonate in macrophages.
Guidelines for Providing Medical Care to Southeast Asian Refugees
Authors: Giao N. Hoang
Journal: JAMA (1982)

Almost 500,000 Southeast Asian refugees have arrived in the United States since 1975. While these refugees have not presented substantial public health problems, they have important personal health problems frequently requiring medical attention. Medical care providers in this country need to be aware of disease patterns and prevalence among these refugees. As well, they need to be aware of the cultural and religious backgrounds and previous medical practices of this refugee population, particularly as these practice influence the refugees' ability to obtain and maintain medical services provided in this country. Historical, cultural, religious, ethical, and medical information is provided to help US health care facilities develop culturally appropriate medical care services for Southeast Asian refugees.
Book: Doctors on the Edge: General Practitioners, Health and Learning in the Inner-City
Authors: F. Kavalier
Journal: BMJ (2001)

Linden West Free Association Books, £16.95, pp 230 ISBN 1 853435 24 4 Rating: ![Graphic][1]</img> In case you didn't know, there are plenty of problems in inner city general practice these days. Morale is rock bottom, bureaucracy is burgeoning, and patients are baying for doctors' blood. Some people say it's on the verge of collapse, but, in my experience, things that are on “the verge of collapse” are usually still standing when you come back 20 years later. This book, based on four years of interviews with 25 inner city … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
William Terence Kingsborough Cody
Authors: W T K Cody
Journal: BMJ (2002)

Former chief medical officer Rothmans Ltd (b Armagh, Northern Ireland, 1917; q St Bartholomew's Hospital 1939; DIH), died in Torremolinos, Spain, on 13 June 2002.

He joined the Royal Navy in April 1940 and served throughout the second world war. On demobilisation, after a number of locum posts, he joined the Iraq Petroleum Company and served throughout the Middle East until 1956, when he returned to England. After acting as medical adviser to a number of companies he joined Carreras Ltd as group medical officer, later to become chief medical officer of Rothmans Ltd. He retired in 1979 and he and his wife, Diana, moved to southern Spain. He leaves Diana; two children; and a granddaughter.
Heart rate turbulence after atrial premature beats before spontaneous onset of atrial fibrillation
Authors: Saila Vikman, Kai Lindgren, Timo H. Mäkikallio, Sinikka Yli-Mäyry, K.E. Juhani Airaksinen, Heikki V. Huikuri
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2005)
Health-related quality of life in morphoea
Authors: N.K. Klimas, A.D. Shedd, I.H. Bernstein, H. Jacobe
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2014)

Little is known about the health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with morphoea, and previous studies have yielded conflicting results. To determine the impact of morphoea on HRQoL, and clinical and demographic correlates of HRQoL in adults. This was a cross‐sectional survey (n =73) of the Morphea in Adults and Children cohort. Morphoea impairs HRQoL in adults. Patients were most impaired by emotional well‐being and concerns that the disease would progress to internal organs. Patients with morphoea had worse skin‐specific HRQoL than those with nonmelanoma skin cancer, vitiligo and alopecia (lowest P <0·01). Participants had significantly worse global HRQoL scores than the general U.S. population for all subscales (all P <0·01), with the exception of bodily pain. Comorbidity (r =0·35–0·51, all P <0·01), and symptoms of pruritus (r =0·38–0·64, all P <0·01) and pain (r =0·46–0·74, all P <0·01) were associated with impairment in multiple domains of skin‐specific and global HRQoL. Physician‐based measures of disease severity correlated with patient‐reported HRQoL. Patients with morphoea experience a negative impact on HRQoL, particularly if symptoms (pruritus and pain) or concerns regarding internal manifestations are present. Providers should be aware of this when evaluating and treating patients.
Glycophorin C (Gerbich antigen blood group) and band 3 polymorphisms in two malaria holoendemic regions of Papua New Guinea
Authors: Sheral S. Patel, Christopher L. King, Charles S. Mgone, James W. Kazura, Peter A. Zimmerman
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2003)

Abstract The geographic overlap between the prevalence of erythrocyte polymorphisms and malaria endemicity is thought to be an example of natural selection on human populations. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Gerbich‐negative phenotype is caused by an exon 3 deletion in the glycophorin C gene ( GYPCΔex3 ) while heterozygosity for a 27‐base pair deletion in the SLC4A1 gene (anion exchanger 1 or erythrocyte membrane protein, band 3), SLC4A1Δ27 , results in Southeast Asian ovalocytosis. Two geographically and ethnically distinct malaria endemic regions of PNG (the Wosera [East Sepik Province] and Liksul [Madang Province]) were studied to illustrate the distribution of two prominent deletion polymorphisms ( GYPCΔex3 and SLC4A1Δ27 ) and to determine if the genetic load associated with SLC4A1Δ27 would constrain independent assortment of GYPCΔex3 heterozygous and homozygous genotypes. The frequency of the GYPCΔex3 allele was higher in the Wosera (0.463) than Liksul (0.176) (χ 2 ; P &lt; 0.0001). Conversely, the frequency of the SLC4A1Δ27 allele was higher in Liksul (0.0740) than the Wosera (0.0005) (χ 2 ; P &lt; 0.0001). No individuals were homozygous for SLC4A1Δ27 . In 355 Liksul residents, independent assortment of these two deletion polymorphisms resulted in 14 SLC4A1Δ27 carriers heterozygous for GYPCΔex3 and one SLC4A1Δ27 carrier homozygous for GYPCΔex3 (Fisher's exact test; P = 0.8040). While homozygosity for SLC4A1Δ27 appears to be nonviable, the GYPCΔex3 allele is not lethal when combined with SLC4A1Δ27 . Neither mutation was associated with altered susceptibility to asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum or P. vivax infection. While these erythrocyte polymorphisms apparently have no effect on blood‐stage malaria infection, their contribution to susceptibility to clinical malaria morbidity requires further study. Am. J. Hematol. 75:1–5, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Introduction to Clinical Neuroscience
Authors: Jonathan H. Pincus
Journal: JAMA (1989)

<h3>Disorders of Voluntary Muscle,</h3> edited by Sir John Walton, 5th ed, 1166 pp, with illus, $195, New York, NY, Churchill Livingstone, 1988. <i>Introduction to Clinical Neuroscience</i>is a concise, clearly stated, and well-organized book that provides an introduction to neuroanatomy and neurophysiology and the ways in which disturbances of these give rise to disease. The book is organized along anatomic principles with chapters on the disturbances of communication and perception, consciousness, and behavior, as well as the autonomic nervous system, special senses, motor system, sensory system, metabolism, and cerebrospinal fluid. It provides in 280-plus pages an excellent introduction to disorders of nervous system function as they present through clinical signs and symptoms. The brevity of the book is an advantage. Dr Walton's lucid and concise style allows him to cover a great deal of information in few words. The references to other, general texts and to some seminal articles are