tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Photorefractive keratectomy versus laser in situ keratomileusis for moderate to high myopia
Authors: Peter S Hersh, Stephen F Brint, Robert K Maloney, Daniel S Durrie, Michael Gordon, Marc A Michelson, Vance M Thompson, Ralph B Berkeley, Oliver D Schein, Roger F Steinert
Journal: Ophthalmology (1998)

This report presents the results of a randomized clinical trial of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).A randomized, prospective multicenter clinical trial.A total of 220 eyes of 220 patients entered the study cohort: 105 randomized to PRK and 115 to LASIK. The mean preoperative manifest refraction spherical equivalent was -9.23 diopters (D) in the PRK group and -9.30 D in the LASIK group.All patients received a one-pass, multizone excimer laser ablation as part of either a PRK or LASIK procedure using the Summit Apex excimer laser. Attempted corrections ranged from 6.00 to 15.00 D.Data on uncorrected and spectacle-corrected visual acuity, predictability,and stability of refraction, corneal haze, and flap complications were analyzed. Patients were observed for up to 6 months.One day after surgery, 0 (0.0%) and 3 (4.5%) eyes in the PRK group saw 20/20 and 20/40 or better uncorrected, respectively, while 7 (10%) and 48 (68.6%) eyes in the LASIK group saw 20/20 and 20/40 or better, respectively. At 6 months after PRK, 13 (19.1%) and 45 (66.2%) eyes saw 20/20 and 20/40 or better, respectively, while after LASIK, 16 (26.2%) and 34 (55.7%) eyes saw 20/20 and 20/40 or better, respectively (odds ratio = 0.56 for likelihood of uncorrected visual acuity < 20/40 for PRK vs. LASIK, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.31-1.19). After PRK, 39 eyes (57.4%) were within 1.0 D of attempted correction compared with 24 eyes (40.7%) in the LASIK group (odds ratio = 0.50 for likelihood fo undercorrection 1.0 D for PRK vs. LASIK, 95% CI = 0.24-1.04); however, the standard deviation of the predictability was similar between groups: 1.01 D for PRK and 1.22 D for LASIK. From months 1 to 6, there was an average regression of 0.89 D in the PRK group and 0.55 D in the LASIK group. After PRK, eight eyes (11.8%) had a decrease in spectacle-corrected visual acuity of two Snellen lines or more; after LASIK, two eyes (3.2%) had a decrease of two lines or more (odds ratio = 3.89 for risk of loss of spectacle-corrected visual acuity for PRK vs. LASIK, 95% CI = 0.71-21.30). Only two eyes had postoperative spectacle-corrected visual acuity less than 20/32, however.Although improvement in uncorrected visual acuity is more rapid in LASIK than in PRK, efficacy outcomes in the longer term generally are similar between the two procedures. There is a greater tendency toward undercorrection in LASIK eyes using the specific laser and nomogram in this study, but the scatter in achieved versus attempted correction is similar, suggesting little difference in the accuracy of the two procedures. A suggestion of decreased propensity for loss of spectacle-corrected visual acuity in LASIK eyes requires further investigation.
The Physician's Assistant
Authors: Richard E. Lehr
Journal: JAMA (1974)

To the Editor.—  I am a physician's assistant currently employed in the same rural area of New York State where I served my preceptorship. My hours of work range from about 60 to 90 hours per week, the same as my physician-employer, who is a member of the American Academy of Family Practitioners.  I must take exception to the remarks of Preston R. Miller, MD, in Physical Examinations by Physician's Assistants (228:1522, 1974). Dr. Miller, in his letter, spoke of a pseudofield of medicine providing a shoddy grade of medical care. I believe that Dr. Miller must have very little confidence in his fellow physicians who train and supervise physician's assistants.  The service a physician's assistant (PA) renders, I agree, is only as good as his physician-employer requires. The physicians I have worked under have all required first-rate medical care and have supervised all my work until they were assured
Elevated incidence of childhood leukemia in Woburn, Massachusetts: NIEHS Superfund Basic Research Program searches for causes.
Authors: J L Durant, J Chen, H F Hemond, W G Thilly
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1995)

Between 1966 and 1986, the childhood leukemia rate in Woburn, Massachusetts, was 4-fold higher than the national average. A multidisciplinary research team from MIT, which is being supported by the NIEHS Superfund Basic Research Program, has explored the possible importance of a temporal correlation between the period of elevated leukemia and a previously unrecognized mobilization of toxic metals from a waste disposal site in north Woburn. Residents of Woburn may have been exposed to arsenic (70 micrograms/l) and chromium (240 micrograms/l) at levels in excess of federal drinking water standards (50 micrograms/l for each metal) by consuming municipal groundwater contaminated with these metals. Research is currently underway a) to elucidate the mechanisms and the pathways by which these metals were transported from the waste disposal site to the drinking water supply; b) to determine the identity of the principal human cell mutagens in samples of aquifer materials collected from the site of the municipal supply wells; and c) to measure the extent of exposure and genetic change in residents who consumed the contaminated well water.
ORGANIC INTEGRITY TEST CONFIRMED
Authors: H. C. TIEN, G. D. CLARK
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1964)

1. The Organic Integrity Test (OIT) designed by Tien in 1959, giving validity to the theory of chromaphilia, is now confirmed by Astrom, Engelsmann and Drdkova. 2. The OIT is confirmed independently in Sweden by Astrom, at Linkoping. He showed convincingly that the data obtained from a non-organic, non-psychotic group, and a suspected organic group and a purely organic group, revealed a highly significant difference between them. He further demonstrated that there is no significant difference between the suspected organic group and the definite organic group. He also showed that the OIT gives a good correlation with other more lengthy tests measuring the degree of brain damage, with retesting reliability of (0.775). 3. The test is further confirmed by Engelsmann and Drdkova at Prague Psychiatric Research Institute, Czechoslovakia. Engelsmann and Drdkova confirmed that the OIT showed a high level of significance in differentiating between normals and organics, normals and psychotics, but not between normals and neurotics. 4. A much larger confirmatory study (N = 342, X = 78, S = 15) was made at the Oldsmobile Plant, taking into consideration both age (R = –0.106) and intelligence (R = –0.04). The results showed again a high level of significance in standardizing the normal intact brain functioning by the OIT. And when combined with the previous studies, we showed that a non-organic, nonpsychotic adult with borderline or better intelligence (IQ > 79) scores on the average an OIT of 78 ± 15 (morphophilism), whereas any adult suffering either organic brain syndrome, psychosis, or definite mental deficiency scores on the average an OIT value of only 34 ± 23 (chromaphilia). 5. With the confirmation of the OIT, Tien's theory of chromaphilia has thus succeeded in isolating an important objective psychodiagnostic variable of Rorschach, namely, the color-naming response, which significance has heretofore been elusive. Chromaphilia is now clearly shown on the OIT as a CNS deficit, a lower level of neurophysiological integration due to decreased form perception (morphophilism). 6. The OIT is also confirmed as a highly efficient test (which can be given and scored in 3 to 4 minutes), and may be employed as a mass screening test in psychiatric clinics, in psychological laboratories, in industry, in schools, in armed forces, in hospitals and in everyday psychiatric or neurological practice, and as a routine neuropsychiatric test in the offices of general practitioners.
The use of leukemia inhibitory factor immobilized on virus-derived polyhedra to support the proliferation of mouse embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Naoki Nishishita, Hiroshi Ijiri, Chiemi Takenaka, Kenichiro Kobayashi, Kohei Goto, Eiji Kotani, Tohru Itoh, Hajime Mori, Shin Kawamata
Journal: Biomaterials (2011)
EXPERIMENTS ON ANAPHYLAXIS TO AZOPROTEINS
Authors: K. Landsteiner, Philip Levine
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1930)

Experiments with azoproteins containing stereo-chemical isomeric groups of d- and l-tartaric acid showed well marked specificity of the anaphylactic reaction to these antigens, in conformity with the results of precipitin tests. Shock in these animals could be prevented by injection of azodye containing the specific groups. This phenomenon is ascribed to a desensitization.
Cholinergic intervention on myocardial dynamics and metabolism in the nonworking dog heart.
Authors: V V Glaviano, J M Goldberg, M Pindok, D Wallick, C Aravanis
Journal: Circulation Research (1977)

In electrically paced hearts of dogs subjected to cardiopulmonary bypass, intracoronary infusion of carbamylcholine chloride (carbachol; 1 /*g/kg per min) caused, in the absence of external cardiac work, an increase in coronary blood flow (46%) and a decrease in both myocardial force of contraction (53%) and systemic perfusion pressure (20%).Pretreatment with atropine effectively blocked these responses to carbachol.Previous treatment with reserpine indicated that adrenergic and cholinergic interactions did occur, as observed from the more significant changes in these parameters in the absence of catecholamines.Compared with control, carbachol significantly lowered both myocardial extraction ratio (50-25%) and uptake of oxygen (4.2-3.1 ml/min per 100 g).The decrease in oxygen metabolism accompanied a significant increase in both myocardial extraction (6-18%) and myocardial uptake (1.3-5.2 mg/min per 100 g) of plasma triglycerides.The increase in triglyceride uptake was accompanied by a decline in intracellular triglyceride hydrolysis, as verified by more than a 2-fold increase in percent of M C-tripalmitin incorporation.This change was concurrent with a 3-fold increase in intracellular triglyceride synthesis from 3 H-sodium palmitate substrate.While triglyceride uptake increased partly because of an increase in coronary blood flow, it was postulated that carbachol decreased myocardial cyclic adenosine 3,S'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) by a mechanism similar to that previously reported for acetylcholine and prostaglandin E,.The inhibition of intracellular lipolysis by cholinergic intervention elevates myocardial triglyceride levels, a response that is opposite to that reported for myocardial sympathetic stimulation.THE EFFECTS OF cholinergic substances on myocardial metabolism have been investigated extensively since Szekeres et al. 1 reported that acetylcholine (ACh) prevented a fall in cardiac muscle stores of glycogen in rats exposed to
Some practical and theoretical issues concerning fetal brain tissue grafts as therapy for brain dysfunctions
Authors: Donald G. Stein, Marylou M. Glasier
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (1995)

Abstract Grafts of embryonic neural tissue into the brains of adult patients are currently being used to treat Parkinson's disease and are under serious consideration as therapy for a variety of other degenerative and traumatic disorders. This target article evaluates the use of transplants to promote recovery from brain injury and highlights the kinds of questions and problems that must be addressed before this form of therapy is routinely applied. It has been argued that neural transplantation can promote functional recovery through the replacement of damaged nerve cells, the reestablishment of specific nerve pathways lost as a result of injury, the release of specific neurotransmitters, or the production of factors that promote neuronal growth. The latter two mechanisms, which need not rely on anatomical connections to the host brain, are open to examination for nonsurgical, less intrusive therapeutic use. Certain subjective judgments used to select patients who will receive grafts and in assessment of the outcome of graft therapy make it difficult to evaluate the procedure. In addition, little long-term assessment of transplant efficacy and effect has been done in nonhuman primates. Carefully controlled human studies, with multiple testing paradigms, are also needed to establish the efficacy of transplant therapy.
The Economics of Health and Medical Care
Authors: Bernard S. Bloom
Journal: JAMA (1992)

There is a dearth of good texts dealing with the economics of health and medical care. Not only are there few books available, but those that are generally suffer the same defect, an emphasis on general economic explanations of a complex, multidimensional industry. The ideal textbook on economics of health and medical care would focus on the unique aspects of this industry, taking basic theoretical and practical information from the wider field of general economics. Unfortunately, most publications do it in the opposite manner. Authors draw primarily from neoclassical economics and add examples from health and medical care that either support the broader economic theory or are in contradistinction to it. The problem is that economics is used almost exclusively to explain diverse phenomena and issues without drawing from other fields such as behavioral theory and without integrating unique theories of the economics of health and medical care. The latest
Lead, blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease in men and women.
Authors: J Schwartz
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1991)

Lead has been shown to be associated with elevated blood pressure in males in the NHANES II survey and in numerous other studies. This study confirms the association in males aged 20 to 74 and documents a significant, although weaker, association in females as well. Prospective cardiovascular disease studies such as the Framingham study indicate that increases in blood pressure should be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Using electrocardiogram data from NHANES II, this study confirms the expected association of lead with left ventricular hypertrophy (p less than 0.01). Such an association with permanent cardiovascular changes adds weight to the blood pressure findings. The logistic risk coefficients from the Framingham study can be combined with the study's association between lead and blood pressure to examine its implication for more serious outcomes. The results suggest that a halving of the population mean blood lead level would reduce myocardial infarctions by approximately 24,000 events per year and incidence of all cardiovascular disease by over 100,000. These numbers suggest a small attributable risk compared to the vast incidence of cardiovascular disease in the U.S., but a large attributable risk compared to most environmental toxins. Several biological mechanisms have been identified, with different implications for the use of bone lead as an exposure measure.
Alveolar macrophage-induced suppression of peripheral blood mononuclear cell responsiveness is reversed by in vitro allergen exposure in bronchial asthma
Authors: MA Spiteri, RA Knight, JY Jeremy, PJ Barnes, KF Chung
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1994)

Little information is available on the specific role of alveolar macrophages (AMs) in modulating local cellular reactions to inhaled allergens in atopic asthma. We investigated the influence of alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) on the proliferative responses of lavage and peripheral lymphocytes from 12 patients with atopic asthma, 6 nonasthmatic symptomatic atopic subjects, and 6 nonatopic normal volunteers, in the context of in vitro exposure to relevant and nonrelevant allergens. Fresh nonadherent bronchoalveolar lavage cells from atopic asthmatic patients, depleted of alveolar macrophages, proliferated spontaneously more than nonadherent bronchoalveolar lavage cells from normal subjects. Addition of autologous asthmatic alveolar macrophages reduced this endogenous "activation". Asthmatic and normal alveolar macrophages also inhibited phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated proliferation of both autologous and allogeneic nonadherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In contrast, autologous asthmatic alveolar macrophages induced strong proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells when stimulated with allergen to which the patient was skin test and radio allergosorbent test (RAST) reactive; however, no response was seen with allergens to which the patient was insensitive. No such allergen-specific proliferation was seen with alveolar macrophages from nonasthmatic atopic subjects. These data support the presence of functionally-active alveolar macrophages within the airways of atopic asthmatic patients, that under normal stable conditions suppress the induction of peripheral blood mononuclear cell responses, and which only on contact with specific allergen appear to switch to inducer alveolar macrophages, with consequent peripheral blood mononuclear cell hyperactivation.
HDM2 Regulation by AURKA Promotes Cell Survival in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Vikas Sehdev, Ahmed Katsha, Janet Arras, Dunfa Peng, Mohammed Soutto, Jeffrey Ecsedy, Alexander Zaika, Abbes Belkhiri, Wael El-Rifai
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2013)

Suppression of P53 (tumor protein 53) transcriptional function mediates poor therapeutic response in patients with cancer. Aurora kinase A (AURKA) and human double minute 2 (HDM2) are negative regulators of P53. Herein, we examined the role of AURKA in regulating HDM2 and its subsequent effects on P53 apoptotic function in gastric cancer.Primary tumors and in vitro gastric cancer cell models with overexpression or knockdown of AURKA were used. The role of AURKA in regulating HDM2 and cell survival coupled with P53 expression and activity were investigated.Overexpression of AURKA enhanced the HDM2 protein level; conversely, knockdown of endogenous AURKA decreased expression of HDM2 in AGS and SNU-1 cells. Dual co-immunoprecipitation assay data indicated that AURKA was associated with HDM2 in a protein complex. The in vitro kinase assay using recombinant AURKA and HDM2 proteins followed by co-immunoprecipitation revealed that AURKA directly interacts and phosphorylates HDM2 protein in vitro. The activation of HDM2 by AURKA led to induction of P53 ubiquitination and attenuation of cisplatin-induced activation of P53 in gastric cancer cells. Inhibition of AURKA using an investigational small-molecule specific inhibitor, alisertib, decreased the HDM2 protein level and induced P53 transcriptional activity. These effects markedly decreased cell survival in vitro and xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Notably, analysis of immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays revealed significant overexpression of AURKA and HDM2 in human gastric cancer samples (P < 0.05).Collectively, our novel findings indicate that AURKA promotes tumor growth and cell survival through regulation of HDM2-induced ubiquitination and inhibition of P53. Clin Cancer Res; 20(1); 76-86. ©2013 AACR.
Circulating Plasma Cells in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: DONALD M. GINSBERG
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1962)

Brief Communication1 November 1962Circulating Plasma Cells in Multiple MyelomaA Method for Detection and Review of the ProblemDONALD M. GINSBERG, M.D.DONALD M. GINSBERG, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-57-5-843 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptSince bone marrow aspirations and the use of electrophoretic patterns of the serum and urine have simplified the diagnosis of multiple myeloma, the search for plasma cells in peripheral blood smears is rarely attempted. It is the purpose of the paper to: [1] describe how these cells may be detected in venous blood with a simple method derived from the work of Moore, Sandberg, and Schubarg (1), and [2] to discuss the relevant literature concerning the presence of the plasma cells in peripheral smears.MATERIALEighteen patients with diagnoses of multiple myeloma and no evidence of plasma cell leukemia were...References1. MOORESANDBERGSCHUBARG GEAAJR: Clinical and experimental observations of the occurrence and fate of tumor cells in the blood stream. Ann. Surg. 146: 580, 1957. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. SNAPPERTURNERMOSCOVITZ ILBHL: Multiple Myeloma, Grune & Stratton, Inc., New York, 1953. Google Scholar3. MORISSETTEWATKINS LCH: Multiple myeloma: diagnostic value of the blood smear. Proc. Mayo Clin. 17: 433, 1946. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Brooklyn, New YorkFrom the Departments of Medicine, Beth-El Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, and the Veterans Administration Hospital, Brooklyn, New York.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Donald M. Ginsberg, M.D., Beth-El Hospital, Brooklyn 12, New York. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited bySingle‐cell RNA sequencing reveals chemokine self‐feeding of myeloma cells promotes extramedullary metastasisSerial Studies of Peripheral Blood Myeloma Cells in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: When is the Optimal Time for Stem Cell Harvest?Detection of Malignant Cells in the Peripheral Blood of Patients With Multiple Myeloma: Clinical Implications and Research ApplicationsSignificance of Circulating Plasma Cells in Multiple MyelomaMarked Plasmacytosis and Immunoglobulin Abnormalities Following Infusion of StreptokinaseChromosome studies in monoclonal gammopathiesMultiple myeloma: some recent developmentsLiteraturverzeichnisFrequency and Pathomorphology of Extramedullary Manifestations in Plasma Cell Myeloma of the SkeletonParaproteinämische HämoblastosenLeukemic form of immunocytic dyscrasia (plasma cell leukemia) 1 November 1962Volume 57, Issue 5Page: 843-846KeywordsBlood cellsBlood plasmaBone marrowCellsHospital medicineMedical educationMultiple myelomaMyelomaPlasma cellsUrine Issue Published: 1 November 1962 PDF downloadLoading ...
High prevalence of asthma in cross country skiers.
Authors: K Larsson, P Ohlsen, L Larsson, P Malmberg, P O Rydstrom, H Ulriksen
Journal: BMJ (1993)

OBJECTIVES--To study the prevalence of asthma (asthma symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness) in Swedish cross country skiers compared with non-skiers and monitor changes in symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness during the year. DESIGN--Cross sectional study during the winter ski season and in the summer. SETTING--Six ski clubs for élite skiers (total 47) in two different areas of Sweden. SUBJECTS--42 élite cross country skiers and 29 non-skiing referents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Bronchial responsiveness, asthma symptoms, and lung function. RESULTS--Bronchial responsiveness was significantly greater and asthma symptoms more prevalent in the skiers than in the referents. There was no difference in bronchial responsiveness within either group between winter and summer. 15 of the 42 skiers used antiasthmatic drugs regularly and 23 had a combination of asthma symptoms and hyperresponsive airways or physician diagnosed asthma, or both. Altogether 33 skiers had symptoms of asthma or bronchial hyperresponsiveness. One of the referents had symptoms of asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and none used antiasthmatic drugs regularly. CONCLUSIONS--Asthma, asthma-like symptoms, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness are much more common in cross country skiers than in the general population and non-skiers. Strenuous exercise at low temperatures entailing breathing large volumes of cold air is the most probable explanation of persistent asthma in skiers.