tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
The Physiology of Human Penile Erection
Authors: HOWARD D. WEISS
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1972)

Human penile erection depends on integration of afferent signals in the thoracolumbar or sacral erection centers, intact autonomic nerves to the penis, normal erectile tissues, and an adequate blood supply to the penis. Cerebral influence is apparently not always necessary to facilitate erection and may even inhibit penile erection. Considering the tremendous importance of penile erection to nearly all of our patients, it is surprising to find how incomplete our knowledge is on many aspects of this fascinating neurophysiologic and hemodynamic process.
L-Arginine restores normal endothelium-mediated relaxation in hypercholesterolemic rabbits exposed to tobacco smoke
Authors: Stuart J. Hutchison, Michael Ibarra, Tony M. Chou, Richard E. Sievers, Kanu Chatterjee, Stanton A. Giantz, Prakash C. Deedwania, William W. Parmley
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (1996)
Tuberculosis programme changes and treatment outcomes in patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Blantyre, Malawi
Authors: A.D. Harries, L. Nyong'Onya Mbewe, F.M.L. Salaniponi, D.S. Nyangulu, J. Veen, T. Ringdal, P. Nunn
Journal: The Lancet (1996)
Diagnostic Accuracy of Quantitative PCR (Xpert MTB/RIF) for Tuberculous Meningitis in a High Burden Setting: A Prospective Study
Authors: Vinod B. Patel, Grant Theron, Laura Lenders, Brian Matinyena, Cathy Connolly, Ravesh Singh, Yacoob Coovadia, Thumbi Ndung'u, Keertan Dheda
Journal: PLoS Medicine (2013)

Vinod Patel and colleagues evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of quantitative PCR using Xpert MTB/RIF for diagnosis of TB meningitis in the high-burden setting of South Africa. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary
Fecal Flora in Recurrent Urinary-Tract Infection
Authors: Stuart B. Levy
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1977)

Successful treatment of urinary-tract infections in certain female patients is hindered by frequent recurrences caused by fecal bacteria. Nitrofurantoin alone and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole together are two recognized antimicrobial modes of therapy effective as prophylaxis for this problem. Stamey et al., in this week's issue of the Journal, present evidence that recurrent urinary-tract infection can be prevented by doses of trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole lower than those customarily used. Furthermore, they show that the biologic mechanism of prophylaxis with the two-drug regimen is different. No one can speak of cure, but in this series, about half the treated patients remained free of recurrences six . . .
Soluble CD14 in synovial fluid from patients with OA and meniscal injury modulates the response of synovial fibroblasts to LPS
Authors: C. R. Scanzello, A. Nair, V. Kanda, C. Bush-Joseph, N. Verma, M. K. Crow, K. Mikecz, T. Glant, G. T. Spear, A. Finnegan
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2011)

<h3>Background and objectives</h3> It has been hypothesised that inflammation is triggered in the osteoarthritic (OA) joint via stimulation of pattern-recognition receptors such as the toll-like receptors (TLRs) by products of tissue degradation. We tested whether a TLR-4 stimulating factor was present in synovial fluid (SF) from patients with meniscal injury with or without OA. <h3>Materials and methods</h3> SF was obtained from patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery for meniscal tears, with or without concomitant OA, and tested for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contamination using the LAL assay (Pierce Chemicals). HEK293 cells transfected with either TLR-4, or TLR-4 + MD2, were used to screen SF for the ability to induce IL-8 production. Synoviocyte cell lines were established from patients and post-mortem tissue donors, and used between passages 4 and 8. Synoviocytes were stimulated with a TLR-4 stimulus (ultrapure LPS 100 ng/ml, Invivogen Inc.), SF alone, or SF + LPS for 6 or 18 h. IL-8 in stimulated culture supernatants was measured by ELISA. In blocking experiments, SF was pre-incubated with anti-CD14 (clone MEM-18), or immunoadsorbed with anti-CD14 bound to protein-G coupled beads, prior to using as stimuli. sCD14 levels in SFs were measured by ELISA. <h3>Results</h3> Only 2 of 17 SFs stimulated IL-8 production from HEK transfectants. Moreover, SF inhibited the LAL assay. Therefore, we tested whether SF would inhibit IL-8 production by synoviocytes in response to a TLR-4 ligand (LPS). Instead, the addition of SF (0.09–25%) to LPS prior to stimulation resulted in significant augmentation (&gt; 100 fold) of IL-8 production by synoviocytes. CD14, a cofactor for TLR-4 responses to LPS, is expressed on the cell-surface or as a soluble mediator (sCD14). As synoviocytes did not express surface CD14 by flow cytometry, levels of sCD14 in SFs were measured and found at 1- 6 microgram/ml. Removal of sCD14 from SF with anti-CD14 coupled protein G beads, or preincubation of SF with anti-CD14, abolished the ability of SF to augment IL-8 in response to LPS. <h3>Conclusions</h3> In vitro, SF augments the response of synoviocytes to LPS. This effect appeared to be largely due to sCD14. As synoviocytes are expected to be in contact with SF in vivo, these results suggests that SF sCD14 in the setting of OA and meniscal injury can sensitise synoviocytes to respond to inflammatory stimuli such as TLR-4 ligands. sCD14 levels in various arthritic states, and the effect of SF on other TLRs, is currently being explored.
Fractalkine: a novel cardiac chemokine?
Authors: S. E. Altin, P. C. Schulze
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2011)

This editorial refers to ‘Detrimental effect of fractalkine on myocardial ischemia and heart failure’ by W. Xuan et al ., pp. 385–393, this issue. 

The endothelium plays a central role in maintaining cardiovascular integrity, function, and the response to injury. A multitude of bioactive molecules is known to be expressed in and secreted from the endothelium under both physiological and pathophysiological circumstances. Xuan et al. 1 uncover a unique role for fractalkine (FKN), a novel membrane-bound chemokine that is mainly expressed in endothelial cells in myocardial ischaemia and heart failure (HF). FKN, also known as CX3CL1, is an atypical chemokine that exists in either a membrane-bound form or as a cleaved soluble chemokine.1 The membrane-bound form acts as an adhesion molecule and can enable leucocyte adhesion via binding to CX3CR1, expressed on monocytes, NK cells, and a small subset of T cells.2,3 Under inflammatory conditions, the membrane-bound form can be cleaved to release a soluble chemokine that functions as a chemoattractant for monocytes and T cells.4 FKN has been implicated in a number of disease states, including atherosclerosis,5 glomerulonephritis,6 and cerebral ischaemia.7 Although also expressed in cardiomyocytes, very little is known about …
The Use of Isometric Exercise As a Diagnostic Maneuver in Patients with Heart Disease.
Authors: Wayne Siegel
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1971)

Meeting Abstracts1 May 1971The Use of Isometric Exercise As a Diagnostic Maneuver in Patients with Heart Disease.Wayne Siegel, M.D., D. O. Nutter, M.D., R. C. Schlant, M.D., F.A.C.P., J. W. Hurst, M.D., F.A.C.P.Wayne Siegel, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, D. O. Nutter, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, R. C. Schlant, M.D., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this author, J. W. Hurst, M.D., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-74-5-822_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptIsometric handgrip exercise has been employed to induce acute elevation of blood pressure and heart rate in 81 patients with valvular or coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. Pressor responses occurred in all patients and normals. Handgrip exercise altered murmur intensity in 19 patients with documented valvular lesions. The murmurs of aortic stenosis (six patients) and subaortic stenosis (one patient) decreased in intensity during exercise. The murmurs of aortic regurgitation (six patients), mitral regurgitation (four patients), mitral stenosis (three patients), and pulmonic regurgitation (two patients) increased during handgrip exercise. In 27 patients with atherosclerotic heart disease the responses to maximal handgrip exercise... This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Wayne Siegel, M.D.; D. O. Nutter, M.D.; R. C. Schlant, M.D., F.A.C.P.; J. W. Hurst, M.D., F.A.C.P.Affiliations: Atlanta, Ga. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 May 1971Volume 74, Issue 5Page: 822-822KeywordsBlood pressureCardiovascular therapyCoronary heart diseaseExerciseHeart rateLesionsMitral insufficiencyMitral stenosisStable coronary artery diseaseStenosis ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 May 1971 PDF downloadLoading ...
Self-Mixed/Split Insulin Regimen: A Serious Omission in the ADA/EASD Position Statement
Authors: Mayer B. Davidson
Journal: Diabetes Care (2013)

It has been over a year since the recommendations by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) for the management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes were published (1). Since then, there have been a significant number of articles published about newer insulins and insulin formulations in development. But the recommendations on insulin therapy put forth in the report, in my opinion, have a serious omission. The section on insulin treatment discusses only three regimens: basal insulin alone when patients fail a combination of other agents, a basal/bolus regimen when patients fail basal insulin, and premixed insulins (in which there is a fixed amount of intermediate-acting and short- or rapid-acting insulin—usually in a 70–75% to 25–30% ratio, respectively). In the interest of full disclosure, I was a reviewer of these recommendations. The original rendition failed to mention the self-mixed/split regimen (in which the amounts of intermediate and short- or rapid-acting insulins can be adjusted independently of each other). I had questioned this approach, but the response was that the self-mixed/split regimen was too difficult for patients and physicians. After some persistence on my part, the following statement was added to the discussion of premixed insulins: “An older and less commonly used variation of this two-injection strategy is known as ‘split-mixed,’ involving a fixed amount of intermediate insulin mixed by the patient with a variable amount of regular insulin or a rapid analog. This allows for greater flexibility in dosing” (1). I feel this statement is in error …
Relation Between Red Blood Cell Distribution Width and Cardiovascular Event Rate in People With Coronary Disease
Authors: Marcello Tonelli, Frank Sacks, Malcolm Arnold, Lemuel Moye, Barry Davis, Marc Pfeffer
Journal: Circulation (2008)

BACKGROUND: Higher levels of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) may be associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure. We examined the association between RDW and the risk of all-cause mortality and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in a population of people with coronary disease who were free of heart failure at baseline. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a post hoc analysis of data from the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events study. Baseline RDW was measured in 4111 participants who were randomized to receive pravastatin 40 mg daily or placebo and followed for a median of 59.7 months. We used Cox proportional hazards models to examine the association between RDW and adverse clinical outcomes. During nearly 60 months of follow-up, 376 participants died. A significant association was noted between baseline RDW level and the adjusted risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio per percent increase in RDW, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 1.24). After categorization based on quartile of baseline RDW and further adjustment for hematocrit and other cardiovascular risk factors, a graded independent relation between RDW and death was observed (P for trend=0.001). For instance, participants with RDW in the highest quartile had an adjusted hazard ratio for death of 1.78 (95% confidence interval, 1.28 to 2.47) compared with those in the lowest quartile. Higher levels of RDW were also associated with increased risk of coronary death/nonfatal myocardial infarction, new symptomatic heart failure, and stroke. CONCLUSIONS: We found a graded independent relation between higher levels of RDW and the risk of death and cardiovascular events in people with prior myocardial infarction but no symptomatic heart failure at baseline.
SEROLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE BLOOD OF THE PRIMATES
Authors: K. Landsteiner, C. Philip Miller
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1925)

Serological studies on the bloods of thirty-six species of lower monkeys have shown that there exists a correspondence between the distribution of a certain hemagglutinogen and the place of the species in the zoological system. In twelve species of seven genera of Platyrrhina (New World monkeys) and six species of the genus Lemur a factor similar to the human isoagglutinogen B was present; in eighteen species of four genera of Cercopithecidæ (Old World monkeys) it was absent, although the latter are more closely related to man than the former. It would seem from our findings that a genus, perhaps even a family, of animals may be characterized by a special serological factor. The factor found in the lower monkeys is not identical with the one existing in the erythrocytes of the anthropoid apes and man.
Graphene Oxide Triggers Toll‐Like Receptors/Autophagy Responses In Vitro and Inhibits Tumor Growth In Vivo
Authors: Guan‐Yu Chen, Chiu‐Ling Chen, Hsing‐Yu Tuan, Pei‐Xiang Yuan, Kuei‐Chang Li, Hong‐Jie Yang, Yu‐Chen Hu
Journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials (2014)

Graphene oxide (GO) is a nanomaterial with burgeoning bioapplications, while autophagy is implicated in cancer therapy. Although induction of autophagy by nanomaterials is reported, the underlying signaling mechanism in cancer cells and how this implicates the potential of GO in cancer therapy remain obscure. Here, it is shown that GO itself can induce the toll‐like receptors (TLRs) responses and autophagy in cancer cells and confer antitumor effects in mice. GO can be phagocytosed by CT26 colon cancer cells, simultaneously triggering autophagy as well as TLR‐4 and TLR‐9 signaling cascades. By dissecting the crosstalk between the TLRs and autophagy pathways, it is uncovered that the GO‐activated autophagy is regulated through the myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88)‐ and TNF receptor‐associated factor 6 (TRAF6)‐associated TLR‐4/9 signaling pathways. Injection of GO alone into immunocompetent mice bearing the CT26 colon tumors not only suppresses the tumor progression but also enhances cell death, autophagy, and immune responses within the tumor bed. These data altogether implicate the potential of GO as an effective nanomaterial for autophagy induction and cancer therapy.
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for eye diseases
Authors: N. Cheung, D. S. C. Lam, T. Y. Wong
Journal: BMJ (2012)

Decades of research into angiogenesis have led to a triumph in medical intervention with the development of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment for eye diseases.2][3] The increased use of these agents in ophthalmology has enabled patients with these eye diseases to preserve or regain useful vision.Emerging evidence indicates that such treatment may account for much of the falling incidence of blindness in some developed countries over the past few years.
Variability in Different Strains of Cladosporium herbarum with Special Attention to Carbohydrates and Contents of Two Important Allergens (Ag-32 and Ag-54)
Authors: M. Swärd‐Nordmo, T.‐L. Almeland, L. Aukrust
Journal: Allergy (1984)

Ten different strains of Cladosporium herbarum cultivated and extracted under identical experimental conditions were compared with respect to: 1) carbohydrates quantified by methanolysis and gas‐liquid chromatography, 2) contents of two important Cladosporium allergens Ag‐32 and Ag‐54 estimated by rocket radioimmunoelectrophoresis, 3) protein content determined by the Lowry and Bradford methods, respectively, and 4) allergenic activity as measured by RAST. The allergen extracts contained 45–73% carbohydrate material which mainly consisted of mannose, galactose and glucose. The Ag‐54 content increased with increasing mannose and decreasing glucose concentration. No linear correlation between carbohydrate content and allergenic activity was found. The strains differed extensively in immunological composition. One of the strains totally lacked Ag‐32 and Ag‐54. To be clinically relevant, allergen preparations of C. herbarum should be based on a representative pool of several C. herbarum strains.
Tracheobronchomegaly Causing Recurrent Pneumonia
Authors: George Reisz
Journal: JAMA (1981)

TRACHEOBRONCHOMEGALY (TBM), or Mounier-Kuhn syndrome, is the syndrome of enlarged, collapsible trachea and main bronchi associated with recurrent and chronic respiratory tract infections. Although the pathogenesis is uncertain, TBM is thought to be caused by a congenital weakness of the connective tissue in the large airways.<sup>1-4</sup>We describe a 68-year-old man with TBM and suggest that it be considered in the differential diagnosis of recurrent respiratory tract infection even in an older patient. <h3>Report of a Case</h3> A 68-year-old man with a 20-year history of recurrent pneumonia required three hospitalizations for pneumonia in the year preceding his death. He smoked 30 cigarettes per day for 36 years and had positive results on PPD test, VDRL test for syphilis, and FTA-ABS test. Family history was largely unknown, but his four children were reported to be in good health. Chest roentgenograms on admission showed consolidation in the right lower, middle, and
Antiremodeling Effect of Long-Term Exercise Training in Patients With Stable Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Pantaleo Giannuzzi, Pier Luigi Temporelli, Ugo Corrà, Luigi Tavazzi
Journal: Circulation (2003)

The effects of exercise training (ET) on left ventricular (LV) remodeling in chronic heart failure are not definitively established, and the safety of ET in these patients is still debated.This multicenter study investigated the long-term effect of moderate ET on LV remodeling, work capacity, and quality of life (QoL) in 90 patients with stable chronic heart failure caused by LV systolic dysfunction, randomized to a 6-month ET program (T, n=45) or a control group (C, n=45). All patients underwent resting echocardiography, a cardiopulmonary exercise test, 6-minute walking test, and QoL assessment at entry and after 6 months. At entry, end-diastolic (EDV) and end-systolic (ESV) volume, ejection fraction, work capacity, peak o2, and walking distance were similar in the 2 groups. After 6 months, LV volumes diminished in T (EDV, from 142+/-26 to 135+/-26 mL/m2, P<0.006; ESV, from 107+/-24 to 97+/-24 mL/m2, P<0.05) but increased in C (EDV, from 147+/-41 to 156+/-42 mL/m2, P<0.01; ESV, from 110+/-34 to 118+/-34 mL/m2, P<0.01). Ejection fraction improved in T (P<0.001) but was unchanged in C (P=NS). Significant improvement in work capacity (P<0.001), peak VO2 (P<0.006), walking distance (P<0.001), and QoL (P<0.01) was observed in T but not in C (P=NS). T showed a trend toward fewer (P=0.05) hospital readmissions for worsening dyspnea in the absence of other adverse cardiac events.In stable chronic heart failure, long-term moderate ET has no detrimental effect on LV volumes and function; rather, it attenuates abnormal remodeling. Furthermore, ET is safe and effective in improving exercise tolerance and QoL.
High Prevalence of Viral Genomes and Multiple Viral Infections in the Myocardium of Adults With “Idiopathic” Left Ventricular Dysfunction
Authors: Uwe Kühl, Matthias Pauschinger, Michel Noutsias, Bettina Seeberg, Thomas Bock, Dirk Lassner, Wolfgang Poller, Reinhard Kandolf, Heinz-Peter Schultheiss
Journal: Circulation (2005)

For a long time, enteroviruses have been considered to be the most common cause of acute viral myocarditis (MC), with possible transition from MC to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Recent investigations have shown, however, that other viruses are also frequently encountered in MC patients, suggesting that persistence of various virus species may play a pathogenic role in the transition from MC to DCM. The purpose of this study was to screen endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) from patients with "idiopathic" DCM for the presence of viral genomes by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to assess the frequency of cardiac viral infections that may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.EMBs were obtained for PCR analysis from 245 consecutive patients (median left ventricular ejection fraction, 35.0%; range, 9% to 59%). PCR and reverse transcription-PCR were performed to detect the genomic sequences of enterovirus (EV), adenovirus (ADV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), parvovirus B19 (PVB19), and influenza A and B viruses. Myocardial inflammation was assessed by histological and immunohistological analyses. Viral genomes could be amplified from EMBs of 165 (67.4%) of the 245 DCM patients: EV=23 (9.4%), ADV=4 (1.6%), PVB19=126 (51.4%), HHV-6=53 (21.6%), EBV=5 (2.0%), HCMV=2 (0.8%), including n=45 cases (27.3%) with multiple infections. Active or borderline myocarditis according to the Dallas classification did not exist in any case. Lymphocyte and macrophage infiltrates were not significantly different in virus-positive versus virus-negative patients.Viral genomes were frequently detected in EMBs of patients with systolic left ventricular dysfunction. Our data suggest that myocardial persistence of various viruses, often presenting as multiple infections, may play a role in the pathogenesis of DCM far more frequently than suspected so far.
Length of Medical Education
Authors: Jack R. Harnes
Journal: JAMA (1976)

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> I suggest that the editor require all future correspondence about three- and four-year medical studies to refer to "academic years" or "calendar years" or both. It is obvious that reducing the medical curriculum to three academic years will increase the number of graduates only once. On the other hand, if, as in the accelerated program during World War II, four academic years are completed in three calendar years, there will be a 33% increase in medical graduates in future years. Dr Garfunkel (235:1701, 1976) is to be commended for taking our medical educators to task for providing much speculation and a dearth of facts in their discussion of the necessary length of medical school studies. It would seem that a comparison of the professional outcome of accelerated program graduates with graduates of programs immediately prior and subsequent to the accelerated program should promptly provide an answer to