tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Flowers and other trigger factors in asthma and rhinitis ‐ an inquiry study
Authors: N. E. Eriksson, O. Löwhagen, J.‐E. Nilsson, K. Norrlind, J.‐Å. Wihl
Journal: Allergy (1987)

Six hundred and eighty adult patients with asthma and/or rhinitis were questioned about symptoms elicited by 46 different flowers and 10 common non‐specific environmental trigger factors listed in a questionnaire. Flowers or birch twigs were reported to elicit symptoms in 79% of the patients, somewhat more often in rhinitis than in asthma patients, and caused symptoms as often in non‐atopics as in atopics. Birch twig and marguerite most frequently induced symptoms, followed by strongly smelling flowers such as hyacinth, lilac, and lily of the valley. Un specific irritants caused symptoms in 98% of the asthmatics and in 67% of patients with rhinitis. Tobacco smoke and perfumes were the most important troublemakers. A significant positive correlation was found for elicitation of symptoms from flowers and from certain non‐specific irritants. It is concluded that non‐specific hyperreactivity as well as reaginic hypersensitivity are the mechanisms involved when birch twigs and flowers elicit symptoms.
Peroral Cholangioscopy in Choledocho-Duodenostomy – Patients Using the Pediatric Fiberscope
Authors: W. Rösch, H. Koch
Journal: Endoscopy (1978)

In patients with wide-open bilio-digestive anastomoses peroral cholangioscopy using the pediatric endoscope GIF-P2 is easily performed. The common bile duct is visualised down to the papilla and up to the distributaries of the hepatic ducts. The instrumentation channel allows mobilisation of incarcerated concretions, extraction of food particles (cholangiophytiasis) and guided biopsy of pathological findings. The experience in 12 patients with this method is promising.
Sustained Hemodynamic Efficacy of Therapy Tailored to Reduce Filling Pressures in Survivors With Advanced Heart Failure
Authors: Anthony E. Steimle, Lynne Warner Stevenson, Catherine Chelimsky-Fallick, Gregg C. Fonarow, Michele A. Hamilton, Jaime D. Moriguchi, Alex Kartashov, Jan H. Tillisch
Journal: Circulation (1997)

Background During therapy to relieve congestion in advanced heart failure, cardiac filling pressures can frequently be reduced to near-normal levels with improved cardiac output. It is not known whether the early hemodynamic improvement and drug response can be maintained long term. Methods and Results After referral for cardiac transplantation with initially severe hemodynamic decompensation, 25 patients survived without transplantation to undergo hemodynamic reassessment after 8±6 months of treatment tailored to early hemodynamic response. Initial changes included net diuresis, increased ACE inhibitor doses, and frequent addition of nitrates. After 8 months of therapy, early reductions were sustained for pulmonary wedge pressure (24±9 to 15±5 mm Hg early; 12±6 mm Hg late) and systemic vascular resistance (1651±369 to 1207±281 dynes·s −1 ·cm −5 early; 1003±193 dynes·s −1 ·cm −5 late). Acute response to doses persisted at reevaluation. Sustained reduction in filling pressures was accompanied by a progressive increase in stroke volume (42±10 to 56±13 mL early; 79±20 mL late), improved functional class, and freedom from resting symptoms. Study design did not control for amiodarone, which was initiated for arrhythmias in 12 patients and associated with greater improvement in cardiac index (1.8 to 3.2 L·min −1 ·m −2 late on amiodarone versus 2.0 to 2.6 L·min −1 ·m −2 , P &lt;.05). Conclusions During chronic therapy tailored to early hemodynamic response in advanced heart failure, acute vasodilator response persists, and near-normal filling pressures can be maintained in patients who survive without transplantation. Stroke volumes at low filling pressures increase further over time. Chronic hemodynamic improvement was accompanied by symptomatic improvement, but the contributions of the monitored hemodynamic approach, increased vasodilator doses, and comprehensive outpatient management have not yet been established.
Myocardial Fibrosis Predicts Appropriate Device Therapy in Patients With Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators for Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death
Authors: Leah Iles, Heinz Pfluger, Lisa Lefkovits, Michelle J. Butler, Peter M. Kistler, David M. Kaye, Andrew J. Taylor
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2011)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between regional myocardial fibrosis and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with cardiomyopathy. Patients with heart failure are at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Current guidelines recommend implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) devices for a subgroup based on impaired left ventricular function. A significant proportion of devices never discharge, hence a more accurate method for targeting those at risk is desirable. We prospectively enrolled 103 patients meeting criteria for ICD implantation for primary prevention of SCD. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed before device implantation. Regional fibrosis was identified with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Median follow-up was 573 days (interquartile range: 379 to 863 days). The LGE identified regional fibrosis in 31 of 61 (51%) patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) and in all 42 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). There was a 29% (9 of 31) discharge rate in the NICM group with LGE compared with a 14% (6 of 42) discharge rate in the ICM group (p = NS). There were no ICD discharges in the NICM group without LGE, which was significantly lower than the rate observed in both the ICM patients (p = 0.04) and the NICM patients with LGE (p < 0.01). Left ventricular ejection fraction was similar in patients with and without device therapy (24 ± 12% vs. 26 ± 8%, p = NS) and those with or without LGE (25 ± 9% vs. 26 ± 9%, p = NS). Patients with advanced cardiomyopathy and myocardial fibrosis demonstrated by LGE on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging have a high likelihood of appropriate ICD therapy. Correspondingly, absence of LGE may indicate a lower risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias.
Abnormal serum liver chemistry related to pneumoperitoneum after endoscopic submucosal dissection
Authors: N. Kobayashi, T. Ishikawa, K.-I. Fu, T. Yamamoto, Y. Hirahara, R. Sekiguchi
Journal: Endoscopy (2007)

A 61-year-old man had been followed after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer. In his youth, the patient had undergone total colectomy because of Crohn’s disease. Surveillance esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed metachronous early gastric cancer, so a second ESD was performed. Although gastric perforation occurred during the procedure, it was closed completely using endoclips ([Fig. 1] and [2]). Antibiotic therapy was started with fasting. The following day, 12 h after the second ESD, laboratory data included aspartate aminotransferase 225 U/L (normal range 12 - 32 U/L), alanine aminotransferase 201 U/L (2-38 U/L), lactate dehydrogenase 526 U/L (119 - 229 U/L), creatine phosphokinase 512 U/L (40 - 218 U/L), C-reactive protein 3.47 mg/dl (< 0.3 mg/dl), and white blood cell count 27.75 × 103/L (3.4 - 9.4 × 103/L). As electrocardiography and troponin test ruled out ischemic heart disease, an effect of pneumoperitoneum was strongly suspected. An abdominal CT scan showed severe pneumoperitoneum with compression of the inferior vena cava ([Fig. 3]), and therefore abdominal decompression with a 14-gauge puncture needle was performed. Immediately after the puncture, the abdominal fullness and back pain improved. Four days later, almost all of the laboratory parameters recovered to within the normal ranges, and the patient made an uneventful recovery during the 14 months of follow-up after the procedure.
Novel spectrum of perforin gene mutations in familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in ethnic omani patients
Authors: Shanmugakonar Muralitharan, Yasser A. Wali, David Dennison, Zakia A. Lamki, Mathew Zachariah, El Banna Nagwa, Anil Pathare, Rajagopal Krishnamoorthy
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2007)

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is an autosomal recessive immune disorder, characterized by fever, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypofibrinogenemia, markedly elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, and impaired cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes. FHL is often fatal in early infancy. Histologic features include organ infiltration by activated macrophages and lymphocytes. Four genetic loci (FHL1, 2, 3, and 4) have been identified, of which FHL2 involves mutations in the perforin gene and is present in 20-50% of patients with FHL. We herein report the first comprehensive molecular analysis of 16 unrelated cases of FHL in ethnic Omanis. Using direct DNA sequencing analysis in 11 families, seven different mutations were identified in the coding region of the perforin gene, of which five were novel. Perforin gene defects do not seem to be involved in one-third of the cases of FHL in ethnic Omanis.
Implausibility versus misinterpretation of the FLMP
Authors: Gregg C. Oden
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2000)

The case for the independence of featural processing supports Merge and FLMP alike. The target article's criticisms of the latter model are founded on misunderstanding its application to natural language processing. In fact, the main difference in the functional properties of the models is the FLMP's ability to account for graded perceptual experience. @T3:It is startling to be informed that beliefs you have held for a quarter of a century are indefensible and implausible. So it comes as a relief to discover that it was all just a big misunderstanding.
Hypokalaemia due to salbutamol overdosage.
Authors: I A O'Brien, J Fitzgerald-Fraser, I G Lewin, R J Corrall
Journal: BMJ (1981)

Case reportA 35-year-old woman was admitted for relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (FAB grade L 2).Full remission had been achieved after 28 months' treatment with OPAL (vincristine, prednisone, doxorubicin, and L-asparaginase (colaspase)).The relapse proved resistant to OPAL, and high-dose combination chemotherapy with TACC (cyclophosphamide 45 mg/kg/day intravenously, cytosine arabinoside (cytarabine) 100 mg/m2/day intravenously in divided dosage 12-hourly, and 6-thioguanine 100 mg/M2 by mouth 12-hourly for four days, with lomustine 200 mg/M2 by mouth on the second day)3 resulted in bone marrow aplasia.Autologous bone marrow transplantation was therefore performed.The period of total aplasia was complicated by septicaemia (Klebsiella aerogenes), which was treated with intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics (gentamicin 240 mg and cefuroxime 6 g daily for three weeks and (because of poor response) carbenicillin 30 g/day for two weeks).Intercurrent gastrointestinal candidiasis was treated with antimycotic drugs (miconazole 1-5 g/day by mouth and 1-5 g/day intravenously for four days, and 5-fluorocytosine (flucytosine) 10-0 g/day as continuous intravenous therapy).About three weeks after onset of the septicaemia nausea, vomiting, and right upper abdominal pain appeared.Serum alkaline phosphatase and aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities remained normal.
SQ-standardized sublingual grass immunotherapy: Confirmation of disease modification 2 years after 3 years of treatment in a randomized trial
Authors: Stephen R. Durham, Waltraud Emminger, Alexander Kapp, Jan G.R. de Monchy, Sabina Rak, Glenis K. Scadding, Peter A. Wurtzen, Jens S. Andersen, Bente Tholstrup, Bente Riis, Ronald Dahl
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2012)
Novel mutations and their functional and clinical relevance in myeloproliferative neoplasms: JAK2, MPL, TET2, ASXL1, CBL, IDH and IKZF1
Authors: A Tefferi
Journal: Leukemia (2010)

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) originate from genetically transformed hematopoietic stem cells that retain the capacity for multilineage differentiation and effective myelopoiesis. Beginning in early 2005, a number of novel mutations involving Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), Myeloproliferative Leukemia Virus (MPL), TET oncogene family member 2 (TET2), Additional Sex Combs-Like 1 (ASXL1), Casitas B-lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene (CBL), Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and IKAROS family zinc finger 1 (IKZF1) have been described in BCR-ABL1-negative MPNs. However, none of these mutations were MPN specific, displayed mutual exclusivity or could be traced back to a common ancestral clone. JAK2 and MPL mutations appear to exert a phenotype-modifying effect and are distinctly associated with polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis; the corresponding mutational frequencies are ∼99, 55 and 65% for JAK2 and 0, 3 and 10% for MPL mutations. The incidence of TET2, ASXL1, CBL, IDH or IKZF1 mutations in these disorders ranges from 0 to 17%; these latter mutations are more common in chronic (TET2, ASXL1, CBL) or juvenile (CBL) myelomonocytic leukemias, mastocytosis (TET2), myelodysplastic syndromes (TET2, ASXL1) and secondary acute myeloid leukemia, including blast-phase MPN (IDH, ASXL1, IKZF1). The functional consequences of MPN-associated mutations include unregulated JAK-STAT (Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription) signaling, epigenetic modulation of transcription and abnormal accumulation of oncoproteins. However, it is not clear as to whether and how these abnormalities contribute to disease initiation, clonal evolution or blastic transformation.
Responses of thoracic spinothalamic neurons to intracardiac injection of bradykinin in the monkey.
Authors: R W Blair, R N Weber, R D Foreman
Journal: Circulation Research (1982)

Bradykinin stimulates afferent fibers arising in the heart and may be involved in the mediation of anginal pain and the pain associated with myocardial infarction. The sensation of pain requires that noxious information reach the brain. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the spinothalamic tract is involved in transmitting noxious information from the heart to the brain. Bradykinin was injected (0.3-3.5 micrograms/kg) into the heart via a catheter in the left atrium while we recorded from single spinothalamic cells in the C8 to T5 spinal segments. Thirty-one of 41 cells responded to bradykinin. The responses of 12 cells were characterized by both an increase in discharge rate and entrainment of cell activity with the cardiac cycle. Eighteen cells responded with only an increased rate, and one cell exhibited only entrainment of cell activity with the cardiac cycle. The mean onset of increased cell activity occurred 15 seconds following drug injection, and the average duration of the response was 54 seconds. Thirty cells increased their mean discharge rate from 11 +/- 2.5 to 29 +/- 4.4 spikes/second. Thus, some spinothalamic cells probably received input from both mechanosensitive and chemosensitive afferents. Tachyphylaxis to repeated doses of bradykinin was observed in 41% of cells. Cells responding to bradykinin had a spontaneous discharge rate that was significantly greater than that of nonresponding cells. Cells did not require input from C-fiber afferents to respond to bradykinin. No statistically significant relationships were found among anatomical locations (laminae and segments) and responses to bradykinin, although cells in lamina I seemed to be less responsive than more ventrally located cells. We conclude that the spinothalamic tract may be involved in the sensation of cardiac pain.
The patient's journey: travelling through life with a chronic illness
Authors: Peter Lapsley, Trish Groves
Journal: BMJ (2004)

consistent with results from unselected observational studies of mortality in Parkinson's disease. 10o should clinicians use MAOBIs for newly diagnosed patients?These drugs clearly provide symptomatic benefit and probably entail no risk of increased mortality if they are used as monotherapy and in younger and otherwise healthy patients.However, as Ives et al conclude, data on comparative efficacy with other first line drugs, particularly dopamine agonists, is lacking. 2 In general, drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease show a seesaw effect-those that are better at improving motor disability tend to have greater risks of complications and vice versa.The best choice of treatment for an individual patient will be determined by the patient's own preferences in balancing motor benefits against the onset and degree of motor complications.
IgA Deficiency and AIDS
Authors: Michael Hepner, Jeffrey Jundt, Evelyn Fisher, Dennis R. Ownby
Journal: JAMA (1985)

To the Editor.—  We have documented 25 cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at our institution since 1982, and two of these patients have had absent serum IgA. Both patients were adult male homosexuals with lymphadenopathy and had reversal of their T-helper/suppressor ratios (0.1 and 0.2, respectively, with a norm for this institution of 2.0). Both developed skin lesions diagnosed as Kaposi's sarcoma on biopsy. Both had medical histories of chronic sinusitis, and one had recurrent cutaneous infections as well. Although serum immunoglobulin levels were not determined prior to their manifestations of AIDS or pre-AIDS, IgA deficiency has not been shown to be a component of the AIDS syndrome itself. In fact, levels of serum immunoglobulins including IgA are usually elevated in AIDS.1  The prevalence of selective IgA deficiency in a large general population study in this area was found to be approximately one in 1,000.2This is
High-Dose Epirubicin in the Prophylactic Treatment of T1G2 Superficial Bladder Tumors
Authors: F. Torelli, F. Catanzaro, G. Conti, C.G. Comeri, O. Risi, R. Pino, G. Lissoni, R. Borin, D. Minocci, G. Monesi, A. Baresi, S. Perego, G.M. Caruso, G. Scardino
Journal: European Urology (2001)
Abstract 4863: Quantification of cell fusion events between breast cancer cells and breast epithelial cells
Authors: Marieke Mohr, Kurt Zänker, Thomas Dittmar, Frank Edenhofer
Journal: Cancer Research (2014)

Abstract Recent data suggest that cell-cell fusion contributes to the development of hybrid cell clones showing genetic and behavioural alterations. But less is known about forces triggering cell fusion processes between breast cancer cells and tumor surrounding cells. The influence of chronic inflammation and tumor microenvironment is increasingly being recognized as an etiology for cancer progression and cell fusion. However, information on how and which components particularly affect cell-cell fusion and thereby disease outcome remains elusive. Available facilities to quantitate these cell-cell fusion processes in vitro could provide a novel method to identify cancer promoting components of the stroma. In the present study cell-cell fusion was measured by using a cre/ loxP reporter system. Therefore, two breast cancer cell lines stable transfected with a double fluorescence reporter vector and a breast epithelial cell line containing cre recombinase were generated and cell fusion was promoted by co-culturing cells under appropriate conditions. Regarding the complex nature of tumor milieu the potential influence of several inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were tested and revealed alterations in fusogenic behaviour of cell lines. Increased fusion activity was observed while adding the proinflammatory cytokine TNFα or epithelial growth factor (EGF). It could also be assumed that hypoxia is a stimulus for cell-cell fusion. In contrast the chemoattractant SDF-1α which is involved in many cancer metastatic mechanisms hadn't any influence. Interestingly, both breast cancer cell lines showed markedly different fusion activity after activation of the transcription factor NfκB. The present study establishes an efficient tool for quantification of cell-cell fusion processes in vitro by cre mediated recombination of a loxP reporter system. This highlights a new opportunity to identify a potential link between components priming and triggering cell-cell fusion and therefore carcinogenesis. Citation Format: Marieke Mohr, Kurt Zänker, Thomas Dittmar, Frank Edenhofer. Quantification of cell fusion events between breast cancer cells and breast epithelial cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4863. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4863
Using lessons from the past to plan for pandemic flu
Authors: Hilary Pickles
Journal: BMJ (2006)

Avian influenza Preparing for the pandemicNo one can predict whether influenza A (H5N1) will cause the next human flu pandemic and there is a wide range of opinion about how we should prepare.Hilary Pickles argues that the UK government's contingency plans don't go far enough and we need to learn from experience with other zoonotic diseases.David Salisbury from the UK government responds on p 784.However, Bonneux and Van Damme question whether the focus on one virus is right.We also asked a microbiologist, a general practitioner, and an intensive care specialist for their perspectives Using lessons from the past to plan for pandemic flu Hilary PicklesPlans for pandemic flu in the United Kingdom are said to be among the best in the developed world. 1 2 Could they be even better if we learnt all the important lessons from the past?The Canadians have said of their handling of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), "There was much to learn-in part because too many earlier lessons were ignored." 3 The responses to AIDS, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), foot and mouth disease, and SARS provide examples of mistakes to be avoided and good practice to follow.This paper outlines some lessons that are yet to be incorporated into current UK planning for pandemic flu, as judged by what has been made public to date, but many more examples exist. Preparing for the worstHowever severe the epidemic, most people who are affected will manage with self help at home.A minority Dancing with death?
Sleep disordered breathing awoken
Authors: J Fleetham
Journal: Thorax (2003)

Introducing a new series on obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome in Thorax 

In 1997 Dr Wright and colleagues published a systematic review on the health effects of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) and the effectiveness of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).1 They concluded that there was limited evidence of increased mortality or morbidity in patients with OSAHS, and that the evidence linking the condition to cardiac arrhythmias, ischaemic heart disease, left and right ventricular dysfunction, systemic and pulmonary hypertension, stroke, and automobile crashes was conflicting and inconclusive. They also concluded that, although CPAP had been shown to improve daytime sleepiness, there were insufficient data to determine its effect on quality of life, morbidity, or mortality. This review generated much controversy but was a wake up call2 to investigators in this field that all were not convinced that OSAHS was an important condition that always warranted treatment. At that time our understanding of the natural history of OSAHS and the impact of treatment was at a similar stage to where we were with systemic hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia several decades ago. Considerable progress has been made in the past six years since the publication of this review, and many of the issues which it raised have started to be addressed. Long term population based prospective cohort studies have been initiated to examine the association of OSAHS with morbidity and mortality. Additional studies have been performed to determine the link between OSAHS and automobile crashes. A variety of large, well designed, randomised controlled trials have been completed or are in progress to determine …