tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Low-frequency damped electroretinographic wavelets in young asymptomatic patients with dominant retinitis pigmentosa
Authors: Byron L Lam, Mu Liu, Duco I Hamasaki
Journal: Ophthalmology (1999)

ObjectiveTo describe a previously unreported electroretinographic (ERG) pattern in early retinitis pigmentosa (RP).DesignTwo case reports.ParticipantsTwo unrelated young asymptomatic patients with autosomal-dominant retinitis pigmentosa were studied.Main outcome measuresClinical findings and ERG responses were assessed.ResultsNo ERG responses were detected scotopically with low-luminance stimuli. With increasingly brighter stimuli, a series of three to five low-frequency damped wavelets developed under both scotopic and photopic conditions. The period of the wavelets was 25 to 37 msec.ConclusionsLow-frequency damped ERG wavelets occur in some young asymptomatic patients with autosomal-dominant RP. The ERG pattern suggests that these wavelets are predominantly cone-generated.
The subendocardial border zone during acute ischemia of the rabbit heart: an electrophysiologic, metabolic, and morphologic correlative study.
Authors: R L Wilensky, J Tranum-Jensen, R Coronel, A A Wilde, J W Fiolet, M J Janse
Journal: Circulation (1986)

Isolated preparations of rabbit interventricular septum were perfused through the coronary arteries with oxygenated Tyrode's solution and placed in a tissue bath where they were superfused as well. Transmembrane potentials were simultaneously recorded from the subendocardium with two flexibly mounted microelectrodes, one from a superficial cell, and the other from a deep cell. Ischemia was produced by stopping coronary flow while superfusion with oxygenated Tyrode's solution was maintained. After a 7 to 12 min ischemic period, the preparation was fixed by coronary perfusion with fixative while the microelectrodes remained in place. After fixation, the microelectrodes were withdrawn. Appropriate tissue blocks were cut in 4 micron serial sections and the microelectrode track was followed until the tip position was identified. Transmembrane potentials during ischemia were divided into two categories: "border zone" potentials (resting membrane potential [RMP] 73 +/- 3 mVe, action potential amplitude [APA] 81 +/- 13 mV, action potential duration [APD] 116 +/- 48 msec, n = 12) and "ischemic" potentials (RMP 53 +/- 4 mV, APA 44 +/- 11 mV, APD 102 +/- 42 msec, n = 8). Ischemic potentials were recorded from cells at depths greater than 560 micron below the endocardial surface and border zone potentials were recorded in a layer at between 130 and 650 micron below the surface. In a separate series of experiments, extracellular concentrations of K+ and pH were measured with ion-sensitive electrodes at different depths and, after a 10 min period of ischemia, part of the septum was placed in liquid nitrogen to allow determination of phosphocreatine (PC) levels in successive 50 to 100 micron layers. After 10 min of ischemia, extracellular K+ gradually increased from 4 to 9 mM in endocardium to a depth of 600 micron, pH fell from 7.4 to 6.6 over the same distance, and PC decreased to very low, stable levels at only 800 micron. It is concluded that in the first 10 min of acute ischemia, an endocardial border zone exists of 40 to 60 cell layers in which transmembrane potentials are affected relatively little by ischemia. Within this electrophysiologic border zone extracellular K+ was lower than 9 mM, pH was higher than 6.6, and tissue content of PC was not lower than 40% of normal. In layers deeper than 600 micron, with further development of a metabolic gradient, action potentials became markedly depressed. This electrophysiologic inhomogeneity within the ischemic subendocardium could be a factor in arrhythmogenesis during the first minutes of ischemia.
Death Is Not the Enemy
Authors: Richard L. Landau
Journal: JAMA (1984)

KARL Barth, a 20th-century Protestant theologian, wrote, "Life is no second God, and therefore the respect due it cannot rival the reverence owed to God." On the other hand, for secularized persons in a secular society, there is no "first God" and thus nothing due more respect or reverence than life itself. Life and its preservation become more than the necessary conditions for the realization of a measure of self-fulfillment and for capacities to contribute to other persons and to society. They become virtually ends in themselves. The pursuit of health and the preservation of physical life seem to have replaced "salvation," the glorification of God, or the beatific vision as the chief end of man. To the secular person, what theologians call "the conditions of finitude," those inexorable restraints and limitations on human life of which the final one is death, seem repressive since there is nothing real or
Thalidomide for the Treatment of Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Noah Lechtzin, Maureen R. Horton
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2013)

Letters19 March 2013Thalidomide for the Treatment of Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisNoah Lechtzin, MD, MHS and Maureen R. Horton, MDNoah Lechtzin, MD, MHSFrom Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. and Maureen R. Horton, MDFrom Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-158-6-201303190-00016 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:We appreciate Dr. Swigris and colleagues' interest in our article and would like to respond to their questions regarding the CQLQ (1), the VAS of cough, and the SGRQ (2).The CQLQ is a 28-item instrument developed and validated in a cohort of patients with idiopathic cough and as such contains some questions that are not relevant to patients with IPF. However, the CQLQ contains many questions that are applicable to virtually anyone with a severe cough. There are 6 subscales of the CQLQ: physical complaints, psychosocial issues, functional abilities, emotional well-being, extreme physical complaints, and personal safety ...References1. French CT, Irwin RS, Fletcher KE, Adams TM. Evaluation of a cough-specific quality-of-life questionnaire. Chest. 2002;121:1123-31. [PMID: 11948042] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Jones PW, Quirk FH, Baveystock CM. The St George's Respiratory Questionnaire. Respir Med. 1991;85 Suppl B 25-31. [PMID: 1759018] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M12-0255. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoThalidomide for the Treatment of Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Maureen R. Horton , Victoria Santopietro , Leena Mathew , Karen M. Horton , Albert J. Polito , Mark C. Liu , Sonye K. Danoff , and Noah Lechtzin Thalidomide for the Treatment of Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Jeffrey J. Swigris , Kevin K. Brown , and Amanda Belkin Metrics 19 March 2013Volume 158, Issue 6Page: 498-499KeywordsChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseDisclosureDyspneaEmotionsFearInterstitial lung diseasesLungsQuality of lifeSafety ePublished: 19 March 2013 Issue Published: 19 March 2013 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2013 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...
Hepatitis B surface antigen serum level is associated with fibrosis severity in treatment-naïve, e antigen-positive patients
Authors: Michelle Martinot-Peignoux, Roberto Carvalho-Filho, Martine Lapalus, Ana Carolina Ferreira Netto-Cardoso, Olivier Lada, Richard Batrla, Friedemann Krause, Tarik Asselah, Patrick Marcellin
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2013)
Macula densa neuronal nitric oxide synthase
Authors: A OLLERSTAM, A PERSSON
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2002)

In the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidney the distal tubule returns to its own glomerulus where specialised cells, the macula densa (MD) cells, are located so that they come in contact with the tubular fluid. It is well documented that MD cells sense the distal tubular flow-rate and that when the flow is too high they are activated, which leads to vasoconstriction of the afferent arteriolar, the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF). Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is largely expressed in the MD cells. Acute inhibition of MD nNOS leads to an enhanced TGF response, indicating that nitric oxide (NO) is an important short-term modulator for volume regulation in the body. By contrast, the NO from the nNOS of the MD cells does not seem to play a role in the long-term adaptations of renin release in low- or high-salt diets.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of sublingual versus oral immunotherapy for the treatment of peanut allergy
Authors: Satya D. Narisety, Pamela A. Frischmeyer-Guerrerio, Corinne A. Keet, Mark Gorelik, John Schroeder, Robert G. Hamilton, Robert A. Wood
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2014)
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Iatrogenic Giant Osborn Waves”
Authors: Antonios N. Pavlidis, Antreas Giannakopoulos, Athanasios J. Manolis
Journal: Circulation (2011)

We appreciate Drs Joynt and Edelman's thoughtful comments on our recent publication. 1 They suggested that the presence of Osborn waves on ECGs of patients undergoing therapeutic hypothermia depends not only on core body temperature, but also on abnormalities of blood pH.After resuscitation, our patient was initially acidotic, and this was driven mainly by increased lactic acid levels.However, once therapeutic hypothermia was introduced, pH had already normalized (7.37) and remained within normal limits (7.35) even when profound hypothermia (80.6°F) was noted.In a study published in 1959 by Emslie-Smith et al, 2 no correlation was found between blood pH and the development of Osborn J waves in hypothermic dogs.Moreover, the deflection was also recorded in dogs that became alkalotic after hyperventilation.More recently, Brunson et al 3 found that J waves appeared on the ECG of hypothermic dogs even when pH was within the physiological range.Although low blood pH levels are a common finding in postresuscitated patients undergoing therapeutic hypothermia, it remains unclear whether they affect the appearance of Osborn waves.
Sporadic Cretinism Treated by Administration of the Thyroid Gland
Authors: T. C. Railton
Journal: BMJ (1894)

Temperature cbart, case of D. B. at the commencement of treatmnent, showing the rise of temperatuire wlichl followed( the admiiiinistration of a.quarter of a lbe of fresh sheep's tlhyroid on March 27tll, the maintenanzc of a rclatively hiiglh temiiperatuire (as compared with the teniipera- ture of v50 to 9P I)efore treatmuent) for 11 days, a decline, and a secondl rise of temperature after the admiiinistration of one-eiglhtht of a lobe on April 13tlh.curves.Also the open fontanelles, barrel-shaped chest, and protuberant abdomen, delayed dentition, and lateness in walking and talking.In the boy, D. B., there is decided thickening of the cranial bones along their edges, some of the sutures feeling like ridges.The absence of perspiration in sporadic cretinism is very constant.However, the boy D. B., since thyroid treatment was commenced, sweats remarkably copiously wlhen asleep, especially about the hlead and neck.
Induction Of Innate Immune And Stress Responses By Chemicals: Role Of Toll-like Receptors, Inflammasome And Oxidative Stress In Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Authors: P.R. Esser, F.C. Weber, T. Müller, M. Idzko, T. Jakob, S.F. Martin
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2010)
Comparison of treatments of bleeding varices: Effects of differences between treatment intended and treatment received
Authors: Linda Rabeneck
Journal: Hepatology (1989)

Ninety-seven patients with recent or active var-iceal bleeding were randomly assigned to oral pro-pranolol, endoscopic sclerotherapy plus oral pro-pranolol, or transhepatic sclerotherapy plus oral propranolol. The effects of treatment on the number of units transfused, rebleeding of any magnitude, major rebleeding, and death were assessed in these patients, 82% of whom were alcoholic and 81% Child’s Class C. After a minimum follow-up interval of 2 yr (range, 27-65 mo), major rebleeding rates were 65% for propranolol alone, 45% for endoscopic sclerotherapy plus propranolol, and 60% for transhepatic sclerotherapy plus propranolol. The corresponding death rates were 81% for propranolol alone, 55% for endoscopic sclerotherapy plus propranolol, and 66% for transhepatic sclerotherapy plus propranolol (p = 0.03). Thirty-three patients (34%) never received propranolol; 8 due to medical contraindications and 25 because they died or bled enough to meet the definition of treatment failure within 3 or 4 days of randomi- zations (no significant differences among treatment groups). Patients assigned to propranolol alone bled sooner, bled more units, and had a higher mortality rate than patients treated by endoscopic sclerotherapy plus propranolol. Patients treated with transhepatic sclerotherapy plus propranolol had intermediate results. Propranolol alone is inadequate treatment for esophageal var-iceal bleeding in patients with advanced liver disease.
Oestrogen replacement after oophorectomy.
Authors: B. A. Reid, K. F. Ganger
Journal: BMJ (1992)

of people damaged as a result of taking medically prescribed drugs, there has not been one docu- mented case of death due to nutrients and only a relatively small handful of cases reporting serious side effects.The cost to human health of excess salt consumption must be far greater.The most reactionary aspect of the proposed legislation is that American and British journals are publishing a large and growing number of refereed articles reporting the value for human health of vitamin and mineral intake, not only in food form but also in nutrient form.Will the NHS of the future be happy to have nutrients given only through prescribed and costly "drugs"?
Downregulation of Cyclin G1 Expression by Retrovirus-Mediated Antisense Gene Transfer Inhibits Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Neointima Formation
Authors: Nian Ling Zhu, Lingtao Wu, Peng Xuan Liu, Erlinda M. Gordon, W. French Anderson, Vaughn A. Starnes, Frederick L. Hall
Journal: Circulation (1997)

Background The contemporary treatment of coronary athero-occlusive disease by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is hampered by maladaptive wound healing, resulting in significant failure rates. Morbid sequelae include smooth muscle cell (SMC) hyperplasia and restenosis due to vascular neointima formation. Methods and Results In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of a concentrated retroviral vector bearing an antisense cyclin G1 gene on aortic SMC proliferation in vitro and on neointima formation in vivo in a rat carotid injury model of restenosis. Retroviral vectors bearing an antisense cyclin G1 construct inhibited the proliferation of transduced aortic SMCs in 2- to 6-day cultures, concomitant with downregulation of cyclin G1 protein expression and decreased [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. Morphological examination showed evidence of cytolysis, giant syncytia formation, and apoptotic changes evidenced by overt cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, and specific immunostaining of nascent 3′-OH DNA ends generated by endonuclease-mediated DNA fragmentation. Pronounced “bystander effects” including neighboring cells were noted in aortic SMCs transduced with the antisense cyclin G1 vector, as determined by quantitative assays and fluorescent labeling of nontransduced cells. In an in vitro tissue injury model, the proliferation and migration of antisense cyclin G1 vector–transduced aortic SMCs were inhibited. Moreover, in vivo delivery of high-titer antisense cyclin G1 vector supernatant to the balloon-injured rat carotid artery in vivo resulted in a significant reduction in neointima formation. Conclusions These findings represent the first demonstration of the inhibitory effects of an antisense cyclin G1 retroviral vector on nonneoplastic cell proliferation. Taken together, these data affirm the potential utility of antisense cyclin G1 constructs in the development of novel gene therapy approaches to vascular restenosis.
Reply to A. Vazquez-Martin et al
Authors: Pamela J. Goodwin, Jennifer A. Ligibel, Vuk Stambolic
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2009)

Vazquez-Martin et al 1 have raised important issues relating to the potential activity of metformin in cancer clinical trials.However, we note that the metformin concentrations used in their study far exceeded the therapeutic concentrations for this drug.The therapeutic plasma levels of metformin in clinical medicine are 0.465 to 2.5 mg/L, whereas Vazquez-Martin et al 1 evaluated cells selected for 4 months in 1,650 mg/mL (10 mmol/L) metformin, a minimum 660-fold excess over the recommended therapeutic levels.Use of metformin at such high doses likely affects a number of molecular targets not affected at the therapeutic dose, raising the possibility that the reported insulinlike growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) hyperphosphorylation may not relate to the primary therapeutic effect of the drug.Considering that amplification or overexpression of IGF-1R elicits a robust antiapoptotic response against a broad range of cell death-inducing stimuli, its activation after selection with 10 mmol/L metformin may reflect adaptation to general metformin toxicity.To probe whether or not prolonged metformin exposure at therapeutic levels can lead to IGF-1R activation, we suggest systematic evaluation in various cell types obtained from diabetics taking this drug.Until studies of this type are conducted, we are concerned that suggestions that anti-IGF-1R modalities may be synergistic with the antitumor activity of metformin are premature.Nonetheless, we agree that it is important to investigate the mechanism of potential metformin resistance in human cancer.We, and others, have ongoing neoadjuvant studies of metformin in which the potential mechanism of resistance highlighted by Vazquez-Martin et al 1 will be explored.This mechanism relates exclusively to the direct (insulin-independent) effects of metformin on cancer growth.Clinical and epidemiologic evidence, as outlined in our editorial, 2 provides strong support for an indirect, insulin-mediated mode of action that may represent an equally important mechanism by which metformin influences clinical breast cancer.The report by Jiralerspong et al 3 provides evidence that the use of metformin in standard clinical doses may be associated with clinical benefit irrespective of the resistance pathway that has been highlighted by Vazquez-Martin et al 1 Because of this clinical and epidemiologic evidence, we believe that planned adjuvant trials of metformin in breast cancer should proceed.The results of ongoing neoadjuvant studies will provide additional information on the relative importance of direct and indirect effects of metformin, and on potential mechanisms of resistance at clinically relevant exposure levels.
Induction therapy with a combination of DMARDs is better than methotrexate monotherapy: first results of the tREACH trial
Authors: P H de Jong, J M Hazes, P J Barendregt, M Huisman, D van Zeben, P A van der Lubbe, A H Gerards, M H de Jager, P B de Sonnaville, B A Grillet, J J Luime, A E Weel
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2012)

<h3>Objective</h3> To determine the most effective induction disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) strategy in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), second to compare one single dose of intramuscular glucocorticoids (GCs) with daily oral GCs during the induction phase. <h3>Methods</h3> The 3-month data of a single-blinded clinical trial in patients with recent-onset arthritis (tREACH) were used. Patients were included who had a high probability (&gt;70%) of progressing to persistent arthritis, based on the prediction model of Visser. Patients were randomised into three induction therapy strategies: (A) combination therapy (methotrexate (MTX) + sulfasalazine + hydroxychloroquine) with GCs intramuscularly; (B) combination therapy with an oral GC tapering scheme and (C) MTX with oral GCs similar to B. A total of 281 patients were randomly assigned to strategy (A) (n=91), (B) (n=93) or (C) (n=97). <h3>Results</h3> The Disease Activity Score (DAS) after 3 months was lower in patients receiving initial combination therapy than in those receiving MTX monotherapy (0.39 (0.67 to 0.11, 95% CI)). DAS did not differ between the different GC bridging treatments. After 3 months 50% fewer biological agents were prescribed in the combination therapy groups. Although the proportion of patients with medication adjustments differed significantly between the treatment arms, no differences were seen in these adjustments due to adverse events after stratification for drug. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Triple DMARD induction therapy is better than MTX monotherapy in early RA. Furthermore, no differences were seen in medication adjustments due to adverse events after stratification for drug. Intramuscular and oral GCs are equally effective as bridging treatments and both can be used.
Clinical and Anatomic Implications of Intraventricular Conduction Blocks in Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: M. SCHEINMAN, B. BRENMAN
Journal: Circulation (1972)

The electrocardiogram in 480 patients with acute myocardial infarction showed right bundle-branch block (RBBB) with normal QRS axis in 18 patients (3.7%), left bundle-branch block (LBBB) in 31 (8%), RBBB and left anterior hemiblock (LAH) in 23 (4.8%), RBBB and left posterior hemiblock (LPH) in four (1%), LAH alone in 20 (4%), LPH in one (0.2%), and no evidence of intraventricular conduction (I-V) disturbance in 383 (80%). Eighteen of the 97 patients with I-V block showed 1° A-V block, and seven of the 18 (39%) showed abrupt progression to high-grade A-V block, while only six of 79 (8%) without 1° A-V block showed similar progression. Cause of death in patients with I-V block was cardiac failure and/or shock in 92%; only three instances of primary asystole occurred. The incidence of complete heart block was higher in the I-V disease group (15%) than in the group without block (5%), but not significantly. Patients with LAH or RBBB and LAH usually had occlusion of the left anterior descending artery with extensive septal infarction, while patients with RBBB or LBBB had a more variable pattern of vessel involvement. Presence of I-V block in patients with acute myocardial infarction implies a hectic clinical course with poor prognosis, but does not justify prophylactic temporary transvenous intracardiac pacing except perhaps in the subgroup with associated 1° A-V block.
THE HEALTH OF THE WORKER IN CHROMIUM PLATING
Authors: H. B. Trumper
Journal: BMJ (1931)

COMMENTARYThis type of bone tumour starts as an enchondroma,1 which ossifies later, near the extremities of the long bones of the limbs.According to Thompson and Miles,2 it occurs neither in membrane bones nor in bones entirely formed from cartilage; this is borne out in this -case.These authors mention involvement of the iliac crest, and Chaumet' also refers to a case in which a mass had formed on the anterior superior iliac spine, but no mention is made by them of the os pubis as a site.Roughly, as has been observed in other cases, there was a tendency to symmetry of the outgrowths in this particular patient.Heredity' is stated to play a part in the production of the con- dition.This patient's parents died " many years ago," and no cause of death is known.She has two brothers and a married sister, who is childless, but it was im- possible to get them to come for examination; however, as far as can be ascertained, they have no deformity.The child was examined in November, 1930, and showe(d no signs of juxta-articular tumours.My thanks are due to Dr. Coureas of Nicosia for taking the radiograms which are published as illustratioils of this case.