tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Stability of End-of-Life Preferences
Authors: Catherine L. Auriemma, Christina A. Nguyen, Rachel Bronheim, Saida Kent, Shrivatsa Nadiger, Dustin Pardo, Scott D. Halpern
Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine (2014)

Policies and practices that promote advance care planning and advance directive completion implicitly assume that patients' choices for end-of-life (EOL) care are stable over time, even with changes in health status.To systematically evaluate the evidence on the stability of EOL preferences over time and with changes in health status.We searched for longitudinal studies of patients' preferences for EOL care in PubMed, EMBASE, and using citation review. Studies restricted to preferences regarding the place of care at the EOL were excluded.A total of 296 articles were assessed for eligibility, and 59 met inclusion criteria. Twenty-four articles had sufficient data to extract or calculate the percentage of individuals with stable preferences or the percentage of total preferences that were stable over time. In 17 studies (71%) more than 70% of patients' preferences for EOL care were stable over time. Preference stability was generally greater among inpatients and seriously ill outpatients than among older adults without serious illnesses (P < .002). Patients with higher education and who had engaged in advance care planning had greater preference stability, and preferences to forgo therapies were generally more stable than preferences to receive therapies. Among 9 of the 24 studies (38%) assessing changes in health status, no consistent relationship with preference changes was identified.Considerable variability among studies in the methods of preference assessment, the time between assessments, and the definitions of stability preclude meta-analytic estimates of the stability of patients' preferences and the factors influencing these preferences. Although more seriously ill patients and those who engage in advance care planning most commonly have stable preferences for future treatments, further research in real-world settings is needed to confirm the utility of advance care plans for future decision making.
Effects of the imported fire ant (solenopsisinvicta) venom on canine tracheal smooth muscle contraction induced by axonal sodium channel stimulators (ptychodiscusbrevis toxin, veratridine and scorpion toxin)
Authors: Joseph J. Krzanowski, Sadahiro Asai, Dean F. Martin, Richard F. Lockey, Samuel C. Bukantz, Andor Szentivanyi
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (1982)
Eggs in more than one basket: Mediating mechanisms between evolution and phobias
Authors: Arne Öhman
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (1995)

Abstract The evolutionary origin of phobias is strongly supported by behavioral genetics and monkey vicarious conditioning data. Prepared Pavlovian conditioning may be only one of the mechanisms mediating the evolutionarily determined outcome in phobias, avoidance. Davey's alternative biased expectancy hypothesis has merit in accounting for some aspects of laboratory data, but it is insufficient to explain the unconscious origin of phobic fear.
Thy-1 supports adhesion of mouse thymocytes to thymic epithelial cells through a Ca2(+)-independent mechanism.
Authors: H T He, P Naquet, D Caillol, M Pierres
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1991)

The aim of this study was to explore whether Thy-1, like other members of the Ig-like superfamily (e.g., CD2 and neural cell adhesion molecule), participates in cell-cell adhesion. This was investigated by measuring the binding of Thy-1+ probe cells (thymocytes or AKR1 T lymphoma cells) to Thy-1- cloned mouse thymic epithelial (MTE) cells using a quantitative cell adhesion assay. The results were as follows: (a) the thymo-epithelial cell interaction was found to be inhibitable (by 25-40%) by soluble Thy-1 molecules purified from phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-treated mouse thymocytes as well as by Fab' fragments of a Thy-1-specific mAb; (b) the binding of the Thy-1- AKR1 (Thy-1-d) mutant to MTE cells was found to be reduced (by 50%) as compared with that of the wild type T lymphoma; (c) the Thy-1-mediated adhesion pathway did not require Ca2+ and promoted the initial thymo-epithelial binding measured at 4 degrees C. These data provide the first direct evidence of an adhesive function of Thy-1 and suggest that this molecule, in addition to its T cell triggering properties, might play a role during the early T cell maturation by promoting thymocyte adhesion to thymic stroma.
Psychiatric Symptoms and Psychological Profile of Patients with Near Fatal Asthma:Absence of Positive Findings
Authors: Pier Luigi Rocco, Enrico Barboni, Matteo Balestrieri
Journal: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (1998)

We examined the presence of psychiatric symptoms and personality characteristics in patients with asthma and near fatal asthma (NFA). An NFA attack is defined by the presence of one or more of the following symptoms: respiratory arrest, alteration in consciousness, need for mechanical ventilation, Pa CO2 > 50 mm Hg.To assess the relevance of a specific psychiatric profile or the difference in personality characteristics existing in patients that survived an NFA attack and asthmatic patients. The authors interviewed a sample of 17 asthmatic patients who experienced one or more NFA attacks. A control group of 17 control patients with asthma who never experienced NFA attacks was enrolled. After a baseline assessment, the patients underwent an interview concerning their personal and familiar psychiatric history and a psychodiagnostic investigation using Hamilton scales for anxiety and depression, Zung scales for anxiety and depression, and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The study was performed in a 6-month period.No significant differences in the results of psychodiagnostic tests between NFA patients and the control group were reported. Psychiatric history was similar in the two groups.Our results suggest that psychiatric symptoms and personality characteristics are not related to the presence of asthma with or without NFA.
Abortion: Law, Choice and Morality
Authors: Chase Patterson Kimball
Journal: JAMA (1970)

This book reviews the medical, legal, and theological aspects of abortion as they exist in the various parts of the world. In a fourth section, entitled "Implementing a Social Position," Callahan reflects on the way a knowledge of these facts can help both the individual and her counsellor (and society as well) find a more satisfactory solution for unwanted pregnancies than that of abortion. In the medical section, the author reviews the biological and psychological problems leading to requests for abortion, citing the changing frequency and usage of these designations in support of the termination of pregnancy. He then traces the changing attitudes of society as reflected in the legal codes regulating abortion practice. It is of interest to note that several societies (Eastern Europe and Japan) which were the first to develop relatively unrestrictive laws have subsequently moved toward a more restricting position, partly on the basis of a
How to choose a new partner in general practice.
Authors: J King, M Whitfield
Journal: BMJ (1990)

To provide a guide to choosing a new partner in general practice by using psychometric assessments.A descriptive account of the experience of one practice.A general practice in Bristol.The partners found that using a psychologist to assess both themselves and the candidates facilitated the selection process. During the pre-interview stage the partners learnt about the dynamics of the practice and their own personalities. The examination of the candidates by an outside assessor as well as the partners gave a sense of security and a certainty that mistakes were unlikely to be made.More practices should consider adopting a selection process using psychometric assessments when appointing a new partner.
Quality of surgery was not the only problem at Bristol
Authors: C. Dyer
Journal: BMJ (1999)

At least 34 children who had major heart surgery at Bristol Royal Infirmary between 1988 and 1995 could have been saved if the operation had been performed elsewhere, the public inquiry into paediatric cardiac surgery at the hospital has been told.

Of the 12 paediatric cardiac surgery centres, Bristol had the highest number of these “excess” or avoidable deaths. Nearly one in three cases …
Decreased prolactin response to hypoglycaemia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: correlation with disease activity
Authors: A M M Eijsbouts
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2004)

<b>Objective:</b> To compare basal and stimulated prolactin levels between patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls, and to assess the effects of antirheumatic treatment on prolactin concentrations. <b>Methods:</b> Serum prolactin was assessed under basal conditions and during an insulin tolerance test (ITT) in 20 patients with recently diagnosed active rheumatoid arthritis and 20 age and sex matched controls. The patients were reassessed after two weeks' treatment with naproxen and after six months' additional treatment with either sulfasalazine or methotrexate. Disease activity was assessed by the disease activity score (DAS). <b>Results:</b> Basal levels of prolactin were not significantly different between patients with rheumatoid arthritis and controls. Prolactin responses to hypoglycaemia were less in untreated rheumatoid patients than in controls. DAS scores correlated negatively with the area under the curve (AUC) for prolactin concentrations during the ITT. Treatment with naproxen for two weeks did not influence either basal or stimulated prolactin levels. After six months of antirheumatic treatment, prolactin responses to hypoglycaemia increased significantly to levels observed in controls. At the same time point, DAS had improved considerably. The improvement correlated with the increase in AUC of prolactin during the ITT (<i>r</i> = 0.48; p = 0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> Patients with active rheumatoid arthritis have a decreased prolactin response to hypoglycaemia induced stress. The response recovers following treatment with antirheumatic drugs.
National Diabetes Programs: Application of capture-recapture to count diabetes?
Authors: Graziella Bruno, Ronald E Laporte, Franco Merletti, Annibale Biggeri, Daniel McCarty, Gianfranco Pagano
Journal: Diabetes Care (1994)

To evaluate the utility of capture-recapture methods using multiple, routinely collected, computerized data sources to estimate the numbers and prevalence of diabetes. Methods employed for regional and national monitoring of diabetes have been too inaccurate or too expensive.A survey was undertaken that used four sources of ascertainment to identify prevalent cases of known diabetes in community of Northern Italy: diabetic clinic and family physicians, hospital discharges, prescriptions, and reagent strips and insulin syringes. Capture-recapture methods were employed to estimate the number of missing cases and to adjust for undercount to accurately estimate the number of people who had diabetes.We identified 2,069 unique prevalent cases of known diabetes with the intensive case-finding procedure. The diabetic clinic and family physicians data source identified the largest number of cases. The evaluation of the two sample capture-recapture estimates showed that they were all biased downward because of dependencies between sources. Log-linear modeling was employed to take into account the dependence among all data sources and the heterogeneity of diabetic patients. This method estimated that 2,586 cases existed, resulting in an ascertainment-adjusted prevalence of 2.77% (95% confidence interval, 2.44-3.10). Thus, despite the active case identification, approximately 20% could not be identified. However, the number of cases and rates could easily be adjusted using capture-recapture.The study shows that a two-sample capture-recapture estimate could be very biased if the investigator is not assured that the sources are independent. However, if at least three data sources are employed, log-linear models allow estimation of the number and prevalence rate adjusted for the degree of undercount (in spite of both the dependence of data sources and the heterogeneity of the diabetic population). The critical factor, however, is that the application of multiple sources with capture-recapture methods could be applied across broad geographical areas and across time to have cost-effective monitoring of diabetes at local and national level.
Many men are receiving unnecessary testosterone prescriptions
Authors: E. H. Gan, S. Pattman, S. Pearce, R. Quinton
Journal: BMJ (2012)

Male hypogonadism is characterised by sexual dysfunction, loss of muscle bulk, central obesity, fatigue, mood and sleep disturbances, osteoporosis, and anaemia. Although these features are associated with low serum testosterone, not all men with low serum testosterone are definitively hypogonadal, and there is a large symptom overlap with obesity and non-endocrine illness. Importantly, testosterone replacement may not be appropriate for …
Inhibition of Interleukin-1 by Anakinra Improves Vascular and Left Ventricular Function in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Ignatios Ikonomidis, John P. Lekakis, Maria Nikolaou, Ioannis Paraskevaidis, Ioanna Andreadou, Theophania Kaplanoglou, Pelagia Katsimbri, Grigorios Skarantavos, Panayiotis N. Soucacos, Dimitrios T. Kremastinos
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Background— Interleukin-1 increases nitrooxidative stress. We investigated the effects of a human recombinant interleukin-1a receptor antagonist (anakinra) on nitrooxidative stress and vascular and left ventricular function. Methods and Results— In an acute, double-blind trial, 23 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were randomized to receive a single injection of anakinra (150 mg SC) or placebo and, after 48 hours, the alternative treatment. At baseline and 3 hours after the injection, we assessed (1) coronary flow reserve, aortic distensibility, systolic and diastolic (Em) velocity of the mitral annulus, and E to Em ratio (E/Em) using echocardiography; (2) flow-mediated, endothelium-dependent dilation of the brachial artery; and (3) malondialdehyde, nitrotyrosine, interleukin-6, endothelin-1, and C-reactive protein. In a chronic, nonrandomized trial, 23 patients received anakinra and 19 received prednisolone for 30 days, after which all indices were reassessed. Compared with baseline, there was a greater reduction in malondialdehyde, nitrotyrosine, interleukin-6, and endothelin-1 and a greater increase in flow-mediated dilation, coronary flow reserve, aortic distensibility, systolic velocity of mitral annulus, and E/Em after anakinra than after placebo (malondialdehyde −25% versus 9%; nitrotyrosine −38% versus −11%; interleukin-6 −29% versus 0.9%; endothelin-1 −36% versus −11%; flow-mediated dilation 45% versus −9%; coronary flow reserve 29% versus 4%; and aortic distensibility 45% versus 2%; P &lt;0.05 for all comparisons). After 30 days of treatment, the improvement in biomarkers and in vascular and left ventricular function was greater in the anakinra group than in the prednisolone group ( P &lt;0.05). Conclusions— Interleukin-1 inhibition improves vascular and left ventricular function and is associated with reduction of nitrooxidative stress and endothelin.
Determinants and Correlates of Target Lesion Calcium in Coronary Artery Disease: A Clinical, Angiographic and Intravascular Ultrasound Study
Authors: Gary S Mintz, Augusto D Pichard, Jeffrey J Popma, Kenneth M Kent, Lowell F Satler, Theresa A Bucher, Martin B Leon
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (1997)
Impact of massive dose of vitamin A given to preschool children with acute diarrhoea on subsequent respiratory and diarrhoeal morbidity
Authors: N. Bhandari, M. K Bhan, S. Sazawal
Journal: BMJ (1994)

<h3>Abstract</h3> <b>Objective</b>: To assess the impact of vitamin A supplementation on morbidity from acute respiratory tract infections and diarrhoea. <b>Design</b>: Double blind randomised placebo controlled field trial. <b>Setting</b>: An urban slum area in New Delhi, India. Subjects—900 children aged 12-60 months attending a local health facility for acute diarrhoea of less than seven days9 duration randomly allocated to receive vitamin A 200000 IU or placebo. <b>Main outcome measures</b>: Incidence and prevalence of acute lower respiratory tract infections and diarrhoea during the 90 days after termination of the enrolment diarrhoeal episode measured by twice weekly household surveillance. <b>Results</b>: The incidence (relative risk 1.07; 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 1.26) and average number of days spent with acute lower respiratory tract infections were similar in the vitamin A supplementation and placebo groups. Among children aged 23 months or less there was a significant reduction in the incidence of measles (relative risk 0.06; 95% confidence interval 0.01 to 0.48). The incidence of diarrhoea was also similar (relative risk 0.95; 0.86 to 1.05) in the two groups. There was a 36% reduction in the mean daily prevalence of diarrhoea associated with fever in the vitamin A supplemented children older than 23 months. <b>Conclusions</b>: Results were consistent with a lack of impact on acute lower respiratory tract related mortality after vitamin A supplementation noted in other trials and a possible reduction in the severity of diarrhoea.
Makerere University College Medical School and the "Uganda Medical Journal"
Authors: D A Tibbutt, A J Sear, J P. Stanfield, M. S R Hutt
Journal: BMJ (1982)

epidemiological data since the answers being given are worthless for this.One must conclude therefore that this must be a further attempt at restricting abortion by attempting to dissuade doctors from performing abortions for anything other than strict medical con- ditions.This is against the repeated wishes of Parliament, the medical profession, and opinion polls and is an attempt to limit the clinical freedom of a doctor.This new form needs to be abandoned and any new one introduced only after consideration of the existing law and the views of people knowledgeable about the subject and with a clear idea of its intentions.
Association of Hospitalist Care With Medical Utilization After Discharge: Evidence of Cost Shift From a Cohort Study
Authors: Yong-Fang Kuo, James S. Goodwin
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2011)

Hospitalist care has grown rapidly, in part because it is associated with decreased length of stay and hospital costs. No national studies examining the effect of hospitalist care on hospital costs or on medical utilization and costs after discharge have been done.To assess the relationship of hospitalist care with hospital length of stay, hospital charges, and medical utilization and Medicare costs after discharge.Population-based national cohort study.Hospital care of Medicare patients.A 5% national sample of enrollees in Medicare parts A and B with a primary care physician who were cared for by their primary care physician or a hospitalist during medical hospitalizations from 2001 to 2006.Length of stay, hospital charges, discharge location and physician visits, emergency department visits, rehospitalization, and Medicare spending within 30 days after discharge.In propensity score analysis, hospital length of stay was 0.64 day less among patients receiving hospitalist care. Hospital charges were $282 lower, whereas Medicare costs in the 30 days after discharge were $332 higher (P < 0.001 for both). Patients cared for by hospitalists were less likely to be discharged to home (odds ratio, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.78 to 0.86]) and were more likely to have emergency department visits (odds ratio, 1.18 [CI, 1.12 to 1.24]) and readmissions (odds ratio, 1.08 [CI, 1.02 to 1.14]) after discharge. They also had fewer visits with their primary care physician and more nursing facility visits after discharge.Observational studies are subject to selection bias.Decreased length of stay and hospital costs associated with hospitalist care are offset by higher medical utilization and costs after discharge.National Institute on Aging and National Cancer Institute.
Nature journal's plan to fast track paper for a fee prompts resignation from editorial board
Authors: N. Hawkes
Journal: BMJ (2015)

A plan by one of Nature Publishing Group’s journals to expedite peer review if authors paid a fee has sparked a resignation from the journal’s editorial board and support for the stand from other academics.

Mark Maslin, professor of biogeography at University College London, announced his resignation from the editorial board of the open journal Scientific Reports by Twitter on 26 March. He was one of many board members told of the plan by the publisher last week in a letter from Nandita Quaderi, the group’s publishing director for open research.

Quaderi’s letter explained that “a selection of authors” submitting a biology manuscript to the journal would be given the option of fast review, which would be provided by a company called Research Square, based in Durham, North Carolina, …
The development of squamo-columnar junction locator probe and its performance on bench studies
Authors: Y. Y. Lee, J. G. H. Whiting, E. V. Robertson, J. P. Seenan, P. Connolly, K. E. L. McColl
Journal: Gut (2011)

<h3>Introduction</h3> The position of the squamo-columnar (SC) junction is constantly changing and this precludes accurate monitoring of acid exposure of the most distal oesophagus. The authors have developed a novel probe to allow continuous monitoring of the SC junction location. The method involves endoscopically clipping a small magnet (2 mm diameter and 1 mm thick) to the SC junction and monitoring its position relative to the probe comprising 26 Hall Effect sensors mounted at 5 mm spacing on a circuit board contained within a silastic tube (diameter 3.2 mm). The aim of the current study was to assess the accuracy of the system on the bench. <h3>Methods</h3> The accuracy was determined by comparing the recorded position of the magnet along the length of the probe with its actual position along the probe. This was assessed with the magnet in various rotations and orientations both anterior and posterior to the probe and various distances away from the probe. As the conductive property of Hall Effect sensors is dependent on temperature, bench studies were performed to assess effects of rising temperature on the system9s accuracy. The potential electro-magnetic interference of the locator probe with multi-channels pH probe (Synectics, UK) and solid state high resolution manometer (Synmed, UK) was also investigated. <h3>Results</h3> The accuracy was related to the distance between magnet and probe, orientation of the field of the magnet relative to the probe and whether the magnet was positioned anterior, posterior or lateral to the probe. Greatest accuracy was with the magnet anterior to the probe and its magnetic field perpendicular to the length of probe with position errors of ±2.3, ±2.9, ±2.7 mm at 5, 10 and 15 mm distance from the probe respectively. The poorest accuracy was with the magnet lateral to the probe and its magnetic field horizontal to the line of the probe, with position errors of ±2.3, ±7.1, ±7.9 mm at 5, 10 and 15 mm distance from the probe respectively. Over 95% of all studied orientations, an accuracy of less than ±10 mm was achieved up to a distance of 15 mm between the magnet and the probe. Increase in temperature from 20°C to 37°C did not affect accuracy of the system even though it reduces the magnetic field strength. The manometer had a minor impact on the system9s accuracy due to metallic properties of its sensors but no interference was seen with the pH probe. <h3>Conclusion</h3> This technique should allow monitoring of the location of the SC junction to an accuracy greater than that of currently available high resolution manometry or multiple pH sensor devices.