tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
282 A SPECIFIC HAPLOTYPE AT THE ENT1 GENE INFLUENCES THE RATE OF SUSTAINED VIROLOGICAL RESPONSE TO PEGINTERFERON-RIBAVIRIN IN HIV/HCV-COINFECTED PATIENTS
Authors: J. Morello, L. Cuenca, V. Soriano, J. Medrano, G. González-Pardo, E. Álvarez, A. Madejón, J. González-Lahoz, S. Rodríguez-Nóvoa
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2010)
Abstract P213: Marital status and Risk of type 2 Diabetes in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study
Authors: Marilyn C Cornelis, Maria Glymour, Ichiro Kawachi, Stephanie E Chiuve, Shun-Chiao Chang, Karestan C Koenen, Liming Liang, Eric B Rimm, Eric J Tchetgen Tchetgen, Laura Kubzansky
Journal: Circulation (2012)

Married individuals may enjoy better physical and mental health than their unmarried counterparts. Previous work has suggested that never entering marriage or marital termination by death or divorce increases risk of premature mortality and cardiovascular disease, with more pronounced effects among men. Few studies to date have investigated the role of marital status in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We tested the hypothesis that men who are not married have increased risk of incident T2D in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, an on-going cohort of men. A total of 41,379 men ages 40 to 75 without diabetes at baseline in 1986 were followed until 2008. T2D, marital status and covariates were assessed by questionnaires biennially. New cases of T2D were confirmed by a supplementary questionnaire validated by medical record review. Cox proportional hazards models estimated the effect of time-dependent measures of marital status on incident T2D. Potential confounders and components of the causal pathway were included as time-dependent covariates. During 22 years of follow-up (801,850 person-years), we documented 2952 incident cases of T2D. Strongest associations were evident for widowed men, while associations among men who were either never married or divorced/separated were less consistent. Compared to married men, RRs (95% CIs) of developing T2D for divorced/separated, widowed and never married men were 1.09 (0.94–1.27), 1.29 (1.06–1.57), and 1.17 (0.91–1.52), respectively, after adjusting for age, family history of diabetes and ethnicity. The RR of T2D associated with widowhood was attenuated after adjusting for lifestyle and dietary factors [RR: 1.21 (1.00–1.48)] and no longer significant when further adjusting for BMI [RR: 1.16 (0.95–1.41)]. The opposite trend was observed for divorced/separated men: when adjusting for lifestyle and dietary factors [RR: 1.12 (0.96–1.30)] as well as BMI [1.14 (0.98–1.32)] the RR of T2D increased slightly. Among men who were never married, diet and lifestyle did not alter RR of T2D [1.17 (0.91–1.52)], however, after further adjusting for BMI there was a notable enhanced RR of T2D [1.23 (0.95–1.60)]. When allowing for a 2-year lag period between marital status and disease, RRs of T2D for widowers were augmented and when further adjusting for BMI remained borderline significant [RR: 1.24 (1.00–1.55)]. In conclusion, being widowed is associated with an increased risk of T2D in men and this may be mediated, in part, through unfavorable changes in lifestyle, diet and adiposity. Together with prior work, our findings suggest that widowhood has important implications for metabolic functioning and greater attention to the cardiometabolic health of this population is warranted.
Americans Studying Medicine Abroad: We Need a New Policy
Authors: Arnold S. Relman
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1978)

American students unable to gain admission to U.S. medical schools are flocking to foreign schools in record numbers. A report from the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) published in the Journal two weeks ago,1 and an accompanying editorial,2 presented evidence that should worry those interested in the quality of the education received by physicians being licensed to practice in this country. Many students studying abroad, perhaps the majority, are enrolled in institutions that would probably not meet U.S. accrediting standards. Some of the new schools now actively recruiting American students may be little more than proprietary diploma mills, not . . .
257 SELDI PROTEINCHIP SERUM ANALYSIS TO PREDICT VIROLOGICAL RESPONSE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C TREATED WITH PEGYLATED INTERFERON PLUS RIBAVIRIN
Authors: N. Fujita, K. Mihara, J. Mukai, Y. Yanohara, R. Sugimoto, Y. Kobayashi, Y. Naito, T. Ichida, M. Kaito, T. Yoshikawa, Y. Takei
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2010)
OC-073 Risks of Major Congenital Anomalies in Children Born to Women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a United Kingdom Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: L Ban, L J Tata, T Card
Journal: Gut (2013)

<h3>Introduction</h3> Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects women during the most fertile period of life. Previous studies of pregnant women with IBD on the risk of major congenital anomalies have inconsistent results due to diverse study populations and small sample sizes. <h3>Methods</h3> We identified all singleton live births to women aged 15–45 between 1990 and 2010 from a large UK primary care database. We grouped children according to whether their mothers had IBD before childbirth or not and whether if so this was Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). For children born to women with IBD, we also extracted records of prescriptions of 5-aminosalicylic acid, steroids and azathioprine in the first trimester of pregnancy. We calculated absolute risks of any major congenital anomaly and system-specific anomalies, and used logistic regression with a generalised estimating equation to compare risks. In women with IBD, we repeated the analyses to estimate the risks in children exposed or not exposed to medication. We adjusted the results for maternal age, year of childbirth, socioeconomic deprivation and maternal smoking. <h3>Results</h3> Of 1,703 children born to women with IBD and 384,811 children born to women without IBD, 2.7% and 2.8% had records of any major congenital anomaly respectively. The risks of major congenital anomaly for CD and UC were 3.7% and 1.9% respectively. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of IBD with any major congenital anomaly was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.73–1.31). In children of women with IBD, 32.4% were exposed to 5-aminosalicylic acid in the first trimester and 12.3% and 8.7% to steroids and azathioprine respectively. There was no statistically significant increase in the risk of major congenital anomaly in children exposed to 5-aminosalicylic acid (AOR = 0.82, 95%CI 0.42–1.61), steroids (AOR = 0.48, 95%CI 0.15–1.50) or azathioprine (AOR = 1.27, 95%CI 0.48–3.39) in the first trimester compared with those unexposed. For system-specific anomalies, no increased risks in heart, limb or genital system were found. <h3>Conclusion</h3> There are similar risks of major congenital anomalies in children born to women with and without IBD. No evidence of potential teratogenic effects of 5-aminosalicylic acid, steroids or azathioprine was found in this study. Previous guidance that women may be advised to continue these medications remains appropriate. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None Declared
Technetium 99m Compounds for Visualization of Body Organs
Authors: Merle K. Loken
Journal: JAMA (1965)

Technetium 99m is readily available from a<sup>99</sup>Mo-<sup>99m</sup>Tc generator and possesses nearly ideal physical properties for organ visualization when used with either a scanner or scintillation camera. Brain phantom studies indicate that comparable resolution of pseudotumors containing<sup>99m</sup>Tc may be obtained with either unit. Studies of more than 100 patients suspected of having brain lesions indicated that<sup>99m</sup>Tc in the pertechnetate form is satisfactory for cranial scintiphotography. Albumin is tagged radioactively with<sup>99m</sup>Tc in our laboratories and used for placental localization. A colloid of this material is obtained by controlling heating. Small particles (200<sub>μ</sub>) are used for visualization of liver and spleen. Macroaggregates (50<sub>μ</sub>to 100<sub>μ</sub>) obtained by continued heating are used for lung scintiphotograms. Animal and human studies with preparations of albumin labeled with radioactive technetium (<sup>99m</sup>Tc) have yielded good results with no adverse side effects noted.
Savings from switching to bevacizumab for retinal disorders are underestimated
Authors: F. Ahfat
Journal: BMJ (2014)

Lotery and MacEwen report that a switch from ranibizumab to bevacizumab for macular degeneration and other retinal disorders could save the NHS £102m (€129m; $160m) annually.1 In 2012, the IVAN study group suggested annual savings of £84m from such a switch.2 This second …
The use of antipyrine clearance to measure liver damage in psoriatic patients receiving methotrexate
Authors: J. PARAMSOTHY, R. STRANGE, H. SHARIF, M. COLLINS, P. SHAW, C.M. LAWRENCE
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1988)

Salivary antipyrine clearance was measured in 15 patients with psoriasis receiving methotrexate and related to liver biopsy changes and routine liver function tests, to determine whether antipyrine clearance could be used as a non-invasive method for monitoring liver function. Comparison of the salivary antipyrine clearance in the methotrexate group (mean 0.51 ml/min/kg, range 0.26-0.81) with 15 matched psoriatic controls (mean 0.54 ml/min/kg, range 0.34-0.99) showed no significant difference. Liver biopsy changes were scored for fatty change, fibrosis, liver cell necrosis and portal tract infiltrate. Total liver biopsy scores correlated significantly with antipyrine clearance/kg body weight (r=−0.72, P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation of total liver biopsy scores with the other liver function tests. Correlation of the individual liver biopsy changes and antipyrine clearance showed a significant correlation with fatty change (r=−0.75, P < 0.01), but not with fibrosis (r=−0.53), liver cell necrosis (r=−0.54) or infiltrate (r=−0.41).
Vaginal Spermicides and Congenital Disorders
Authors: Richard A. Grossman
Journal: JAMA (1981)

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> The recent article by Hershel Jick, MD, et al, "Vaginal Spermicides and Congenital Disorders" (1981;245:1329), raises a distressing question. I am concerned that I believed for many years that vaginal spermicides were completely innocuous. Perhaps, wishing to continue in that vein, I have thought of the following question. Women who have medical problems such as diabetes, which is associated with an increase in congenital disorders, are also more likely to use vaginal spermicides. I am wondering if Dr Jick's group looked at maternal illnesses in the two groups of patients in his group.
Social play is more than a Pavlovian romp
Authors: Marc Bekoff, Colin Allen
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2000)

Some aspects of play may be explained by Pavlovian learning processes, but others are not so easily handled. Especially when there is a chance that specific actions can be misinterpreted; animals alter their behavior to reduce the likelihood that this will occur. The flexibility and fine-tuning of play make it an ideal candidate for comparative and evolutionary cognitive studies.
Decrease in Serum Hepatitis C Viral RNA during Alpha-Interferon Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C
Authors: Michiko Shindo, Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, Ling Cheung, J. Wai-Kuo Shih, Karen Cristiano, Stephen M. Feinstone, Jay H. Hoofnagle
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1991)

Objective: To assess the effect of alpha-interferon therapy on hepatitis C viral RNA in serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Design: Retrospective testing for hepatitis C viral (HCV) RNA and antibody to the hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) of stored serum samples from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of alphainterferon therapy. Setting: Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health, a tertiary referral center. Patients: Forty-one patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis were entered in this trial. Interventions: Twenty-one patients were treated with alpha-interferon, and 20 patients were treated with placebo for 6 months. Seventeen placebo recipients were then treated with alpha-interferon for up to 1 year. Methods: Samples were tested for anti-HCV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hepatitis C viral RNA was detected in serum using the polymerase chain reaction. Titers of both antibody and RNA were determined by serial end-point dilution. Main Results: At entry into the trial, 37 (90%) of 41 patients had anti-HCV and 39 (95%) had HCV RNA in serum. Anti-HCV titers decreased slightly with treatment. Serum levels of HCV RNA decreased in all patients who responded to alpha-interferon therapy with improvements in serum aminotransferases; in 17 of 21 responders (81%; 95% Cl, 58% to 95%) HCV RNA became undetectable. In contrast, in only 2 of 16 (12%; Cl, 2% to 38%) patients who did not respond to treatment did HCV RNA become undetectable. In 19 patients treated during the preliminary 6-month period with placebo, HCV RNA remained detectable. Finally, in the 11 patients who relapsed when treatment was stopped, HCV RNA reappeared in the serum, but in 4 of 7 patients with a sustained improvement in serum aminotransferases, HCV RNA remained undetectable. Conclusions: These results indicate that the clinical and serum biochemical response to alpha-interferon in chronic hepatitis C is associated with a loss of detectable HCV genome from serum.
More skin cancer detected from nonurgent referrals
Authors: M.A. Thomson, A. Loffeld, J.R. Marsden
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2005)

Conflicts of interest: none declared. Sir, A Quick and Early Diagnosis (QED) clinic for suspected melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been established at the University Hospital Birmingham since 1990. In October 2000, a series of administrative changes were made to help meet the 2‐week target. Patients were booked directly into the QED clinic if the proforma used for suspected skin cancer was highlighted by the GP as urgent via a ‘tick‐box’ system. The remaining proformas (i.e. those without a tick in the urgent box) and all standard referral letters were considered nonurgent referrals. These referrals were graded by a dermatologist and clinic appointments were allocated accordingly. Some ‘nonurgent’ proformas and letters were recategorized as ‘urgent’ and assigned appointments within 2 weeks. We performed a prospective audit to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of this 2‐week referral system at our hospital. Six hundred and ten patients (243 male, 367 female, median age 61 years, range 14–94 years) were referred to the QED clinic over a 4‐month period; 156 of 610 (26%) referrals were marked ‘urgent’. Seven melanomas and four SCCs were confirmed histologically, a detection rate of 7% from urgent referrals. Four hundred and fifty‐four of 610 (74%) nonurgent referrals were made. We recategorized 106 of 454 (23%) ‘nonurgent’ referrals as ‘urgent’. No melanomas and six SCCs were confirmed histologically from this recategorized group, a detection rate of 6%. Five melanomas and nine SCCs were confirmed histologically from nonurgent referrals which were not recategorized, a detection rate of 4%(Fig. 1).
Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality in Children After Long-Term Ventricular Assist Device Insertion
Authors: Ye Fan, Yu-Guo Weng, Micheal Huebler, Jennifer Cowger, David Morales, Norbert Franz, Ying-Bin Xiao, Evgenij Potapov, Roland Hetzer
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2011)
A CLINICAL CHART FOR THE RECORDS OF PATIENTS IN SMALL HOSPITALS.
Authors: GEORGE F. WILSON
Journal: JAMA (1905)

Patient.\p=m-\Ayoung Swede, aged 21, of fair habits, who could not recall having ever before been ill, was admitted to the Marine Hospital, New York, June 14, 1905, with the follow- ing history:History.\p=m-\Having arrived in port after a somewhat pro- longed voyage, he, in company with a number of his ship- mates, visited numerous sailors' brothels in lower New York.The result was that a few days later he developed gonor- rhea.There was a discharge from the meatus, and a short time after the discharge appeared he noticed a soreness in the right groin, on account of which he applied for relief.Examination.\p=m-\Thisshowed, in addition to the discharge, a slight enlargement and tenderness of one or two of the super- ficial inguinal glands on the right side.Temperature and pulse were normal.Treatment.\p=m-\Restinbed, a restricted diet, alkalines admin- istered internally, an ice bag applied over the tender glands and a 1 to 4,000 solution of permanganate of potassium for irrigation of the anterior urethra were prescribed.Result.-His discharge ceased in about a week, and the pain and swelling of the lymphatic glands almost subsided.The patient was able to be about in the ward.The urethral irrigation was continued.Subsequent History.-OnJune 25, following a feeling of chilliness, there was elevation of temperature, and on June 26 the temperature went up to 39.8 c. ; pulse was 84.He complained of chilly sensations at intervals.Irrigations were discontinued, and cold sponges were ordered to reduce tem- perature.The temperature took a downward course for three days, but did not reach normal.On June 29 a tumor mass the size of a small hen's egg was made out above Poupart's ligament almost at the ilium.The tumor was painful on pressure, and it continued to increase in size.The mass could be fairly well palpated on deep pres- sure.There was doubt as to its nature and more doubt as to its exact location, whether it was intraperitoneal or extra- peritoneal.Blood Examination: This showed a leucocytosis of 16,300, and a differential count (500 cells) gave 75.5 per cent, polymorphonuclear cells.The temperature curve indicated also a rather severe infection.
566. Silencing of Plasmid DNA after Hydrodynamics-Based Transfection in Mice
Authors: Hiroshi Ochiai, Hideyoshi Harashima, Hiroyuki Kamiya
Journal: Molecular Therapy (2005)

Top of pageAbstract
Non-viral vectors are promising tools for gene therapy because of their safety profile and are expected to be alternative to viral vectors. However, gene expression efficiency of non-viral vectors is lower than that of viral vectors especially in vivo. This low expression of non-viral vectors is mainly thought to be due to insufficient transgene delivery into the nucleus of target cells, and many efforts have been made to improve the gene delivery. Although establishment of such delivery strategy is one of the most important issues for application of non-viral vectors, delivery of transgenes into the nucleus is not an endpoint of gene therapy. The final goal of non-viral gene therapy is to achieve the persistent and properly regulated expression of transgenes in the target nucleus without disrupting host's nuclear homeostasis. However, it has not been precisely revealed how tansgenes, especially transgenes on episomes, behave in the nucleus.

In order to elucidate the fate of plasmid DNA (pDNA) after delivery into the nucleus in vivo, we investigated the time course of gene expression and the copy number of intranuclear pDNA after pDNA transfer to the liver. Here we report a gene silencing phenomenon of a plasmid DNA after delivery into the nucleus. In this study, a pDNA construct encoding luciferase driven by the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter was transfected into BALB/c mice using hydrodynamics-based injection, and luciferase expression was monitored for a week. The copy number of intranuclear pDNA was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. In agreement with some previous reports, luciferase expression peaked at 8 hours post injection, and then rapidly reduced (half-life was approximately 10 hours). On the other hand, the nuclear pDNA was gradually eliminated with a half-life of approximately 42 hours, about 4 times as long as that of luciferase expression. Next, the ratio of luciferase activity to the copy number of nuclear pDNA was calculated to directly compare the expression ability of one pDNA molecule at various time points. This ratio peaked at 24 hours post injection, and remarkably, decreased more than 100-fold within a few days. These results suggest that the pDNA was qualitatively changed and rapidly inactivated after delivery into the nucleus. Currently, we are examining the mechanism of such pDNA silencing.
TCT-98 The Impact of Effective Aortic Annulus Sizing by 3D Computed Tomography on Paravalvular Leak Development after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Fabian Plank, Thomas Bartel, Silvana Müller, Gudrun Feuchtner, Anneliese Heinz, Guy Friedrich, Nikos Bonaros
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2012)
Antimalarial myopathy: an underdiagnosed complication? Prospective longitudinal study of 119 patients
Authors: E Casado
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2005)

To evaluate the prevalence and incidence of antimalarial myopathy in patients with rheumatic diseases treated with antimalarial drugs.Over a three year period, all patients with rheumatic diseases who were taking antimalarial drugs were studied. Serum muscle enzymes were assessed at the time of inclusion and every six months thereafter. Muscle strength, electromyography (EMG), and muscle biopsy were assessed in patients with a persistent muscle enzyme disturbances.119 patients were included (111 chloroquine, eight hydroxychloroquine). Of these, 22 (18.5%) had a persistent muscle enzyme disturbance: lactate dehydrogenase 19/22 (86%); creatine kinase 7/22 (32%), and aldolase 3/22 (14%). Findings of antimalarial myopathy were detected in 3/15 biopsied patients (20%) by light microscopy and in all 15 by electron microscopy. Eleven patients had myopathy at the time of inclusion (prevalence 9.2%) and four patients developed muscle injury during follow up (annual incidence 1.2%). Muscle weakness was observed in 8 of 15 patients with biopsy proven myopathy, giving a prevalence of clinical antimalarial myopathy of 6.7%. All these patients also had a myopathic pattern on electromyography.The prevalence of antimalarial myopathy is higher than previously recognised when muscle enzyme determination is used as a screening method. When a persistent muscle enzyme disturbance is observed, clinical and electromyographic studies should be undertaken periodically to detect the development of clinical myopathy. In cases of clinical myopathy, an anatomical-pathological tissue study, including an ultrastructural study, is mandatory to confirm the diagnosis.
Brucella Infection and Undulant Fever in Man
Authors: Harold J. Harris
Journal: JAMA (1960)

This compact volume sums up the author's experience with brucellosis in Great Britain over a period of more than 30 years. It is a welcome addition to the monographs on a disease which, especially in its chronic form, has been so poorly understood. The author's faculty for clear expression makes the reading of this work interesting and easy. Because of this and its conciseness, this monograph should reach many physicians who hitherto have failed to appreciate the intricacies or importance of brucellosis. The author has preferred the older designation "undulant fever" to "brucellosis" which has largely supplanted it in the world literature because of the undulating pattern of the fever which he has so often observed. However, as he also points out, the fever may not be undulating. Indeed, in the chronic illness, there may be no fever. Brucella spondylitis and affections of the nucleus pulposus are given deserved prominence,
The "OCD bully"
Authors: D. Veale, S. Caplin
Journal: BMJ (2010)

This installation⇓ is displayed in the entrance to the Anxiety Disorders Residential Unit at the Bethlem Royal Hospital. The unit provides a national service for the treatment of severe obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).



People with OCD often consider their OCD to be like a bully or a demon that has to be obeyed. During cognitive behaviour therapy, they may be encouraged to “externalise” their bully and to act against it by doing the opposite to …