tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Kidney Donors — The Myth of Informed Consent
Authors: CARL H. FELLNER, JOHN R. MARSHALL
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1970)

Three systems are operative in the selection of a living, genetically related, kidney donor: the self-selection of the volunteers, the medical team selection for the best match, and a family system that operates chiefly by excluding certain members from participation. Only the medical team pays attention to the ethical guidelines for organ transplantation adopted by the American Medical Association. The decision making of the volunteers follows other identifiable principles.
Grading of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
Authors: A J Robertson, J S. Beck, J M Anderson, R A Burnett, S R Howatson, F D Lee, A M Lessells, K M Mclaren, S M Moss, J G Simpson, G D Smith, H B Tavadia, F Walker
Journal: BMJ (1989)

questions whether most should be biopsied in the first place other than for research purposes; the reproducibility and accuracy of their cytological management are probably much more important.The difficulty in establishing a diagnosis of low grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is not the
Social deprivation and bacterial meningitis in north east thames region: three year study using small area statistics
Authors: I. R. Jones, G. Urwin, R. A Feldman, N. Banatvala
Journal: BMJ (1997)

Objective: To study trends in multiple pregnancies not explained by changes in maternal age and parity patterns.Design: Trends in population based figures for multiple pregnancies in Denmark studied from complete national records on parity history and vital status.Population: 497 979 Danish women and 803 019 pregnancies, 1980-94.Main outcome measures: National rates of multiple pregnancies, infant mortality, and stillbirths controlled for maternal age and parity.Special emphasis on primiparous women >30 years of age, who are most likely to undergo fertility treatment. Results:The national incidence of multiple pregnancies increased 1.7-fold during 1980-94, the increase primarily in 1989-94 and almost exclusively in primiparous women aged >30 years, for whom the adjusted population based twinning rate increased 2.7-fold and the triplet rate 9.1-fold.During 1989-94, the adjusted yearly increase in multiple pregnancies for these women was 19% (95% confidence interval 16% to 21%) and in dizygotic twin pregnancies 25% (21% to 28%).The proportion of multiple births among infant deaths in primiparous women >30 years increased from 11.5% to 26.9% during the study period.The total infant mortality, however, did not increase for these women because of a simultaneous significant decrease in infant mortality among singletons.Conclusions: A relatively small group of women has drastically changed the overall national rates of multiple pregnancies.The introduction of new treatments to enhance fertility has probably caused these changes and has also affected the otherwise decreasing trend in infant mortality.Consequently, the resources, both economical and otherwise, associated with these treatments go well beyond those invested in specific fertility enhancing treatments.
Targeted tumor theranostics using folate-conjugated and camptothecin-loaded acoustic nanodroplets in a mouse xenograft model
Authors: Wei-Tsung Chen, Shih-Tsung Kang, Jian-Liang Lin, Chung-Hsin Wang, Ran-Chou Chen, Chih-Kuang Yeh
Journal: Biomaterials (2015)
Water-soluble CO-releasing molecules reduce the development of postoperative ileus via modulation of MAPK/HO-1 signalling and reduction of oxidative stress
Authors: O De Backer, E Elinck, B Blanckaert, L Leybaert, R Motterlini, R A Lefebvre
Journal: Gut (2008)

<h3>Background and aims:</h3> Treatment with carbon monoxide (CO) inhalation has been shown to ameliorate postoperative ileus (POI) in rodents and swine. The aim of this study was to investigate whether CO liberated from water-soluble CO-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) can protect against POI in mice and to elucidate the mechanisms involved. <h3>Methods:</h3> Ileus was induced by surgical manipulation of the small intestine (IM). Intestinal contractility–transit was evaluated by video-fluorescence imaging. Leucocyte infiltration (myeloperoxidase), inflammatory parameters (ELISA), oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation), and haem oxygenase (HO)/inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) enzyme activity were measured in the intestinal mucosa and muscularis propria. <h3>Results:</h3> Intestinal contractility and transit were markedly restored when manipulated mice were pre-treated with CO-RMs. Intestinal leucocyte infiltration, expression levels of interleukin 6 (IL6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1, as well as iNOS activity were reduced by treatment with CORM-3 (a transition metal carbonyl that releases CO very rapidly); whereas expression of IL10/HO-1 was further increased when compared to nontreated manipulated mice. Moreover, treatment with CORM-3 markedly reduced oxidative stress and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK)1/2 activation in both mucosa (early response) and muscularis (biphasic response). The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor SB203580 abolished CORM-3-mediated HO-1 induction. The HO inhibitor chromium mesoporphyrin only partially reversed the protective effects of CORM-3 on inflammation/oxidative stress in the muscularis, but completely abrogated CORM-3-mediated inhibition of the early "oxidative burst" in the mucosa. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Pre-treatment with CO-RMs markedly reduced IM-induced intestinal muscularis inflammation. These protective effects are, at least in part, mediated through induction of HO-1, in a p38-dependent manner, as well as reduction of ERK1/2 activation. In addition, CORM-induced HO-1 induction reduces the early "oxidative burst" in the mucosa following IM.
Increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in psoriatic skin and cytokine-stimulated cultured keratinocytes
Authors: A. SIRSJö, M. KARLSSON, A. GIDöF, O. ROLLMAN, H. TÖRMÄ
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1996)

Since nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various hyperproliferative and inflammatory diseases, the mRNA expression of constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were investigated in psoriatic skin by reverse transcriptase coupled to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The study showed that the mRNA expression of brain nitric oxide synthase (bNOS), one of two isoforms of cNOS, was weak in both psoriatic plaques lesions and uninvolved skin, while mRNA transcripts for the second isoform, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), were not detectable using the present method. In contrast, the mRNA expression of iNOS was markedly increased in lesional skin as compared to uninvolved skin. Cultured human keratinocytes exposed to a combination of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) for 4 h, showed strong gene expression of iNOS, while in 24 h, the expression had returned to baseline expression. In summary, the study demonstrates that mRNA for the inducible form of NOS is over-expressed in psoriatic lesions. The cause of this may be the local presence of inflammatory cytokines. These findings imply that iNOS may play an important part in local regulation of NO synthesis in psoriasis and other inflammatory dermatoses.
False-Positive HIV-1 Test Results in a Low-Risk Screening Setting of Voluntary Blood Donation
Authors: Steven Kleinman
Journal: JAMA (1998)

Context.—Persons at risk of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection have been classified incorrectly as HIV infected because of Western blot results, but the frequency of false-positive Western blot results is unknown.Objectives.—To determine the frequency of false-positive HIV-1 Western blot results in US blood donors and to make projections to other screened populations. Secondarily, to validate an algorithm for evaluating possible false-positive cases.Design.—A retrospective cohort study of HIV-1 enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and Western blot results from large blood donor screening programs in which donors with suspected false-positive Western blot results underwent HIV-1 RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and follow-up HIV-1 serology.Setting.—Five US blood centers participating in the Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study.Participants.—More than 5 million allogeneic and autologous blood donors who successfully donated blood at 1 of the 5 participating centers from 1991 through 1995.Main Outcome Measures.—Rate of false positivity by Western blot and true HIV-1 infection status as determined by HIV-1 RNA PCR and by serologic follow-up of blood donors more than 5 weeks after donation.Results.—Of 421 donors who were positive for HIV-1 by Western blot, 39 (9.3%) met the criteria of possible false positivity because they lacked reactivity to p31. Of these, 20 (51.3%) were proven by PCR not to be infected with HIV-1. The false-positive prevalence was 4.8% of Western blot–positive donors and 0.0004% (1 in 251000) of all donors (95% confidence interval, 1 in 173000 to 1 in 379000 donors).Conclusions.—A false diagnosis of HIV-1 infection can result from the combination of EIA and Western blot testing in blood donor and other HIV-1 screening programs. Individuals with a positive Western blot result lacking the p31 band should be counseled that, although they may be HIV infected, there is uncertainty about this conclusion. These individuals should be further evaluated by RNA PCR testing (if feasible) and HIV serologic analysis on a follow-up sample.
Azithromycin Reduces Airway Neutrophilia and Interleukin-8 in Patients with Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome
Authors: Geert M. Verleden, Bart M. Vanaudenaerde, Lieven J. Dupont, Dirk E. Van Raemdonck
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2006)

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) remains the leading cause of death after lung transplantation. Treatment is difficult, although azithromycin has recently been shown to improve FEV(1). The exact mechanism of action is unclear.(1) Azithromycin reduces airway neutrophilia and interleukin (IL)-8 and (2) airway neutrophilia predicts the improvement in FEV(1).Fourteen lung transplant patients with BOS (between BOS 0-p and BOS 3) were treated with azithromycin, in addition to their current immunosuppressive treatment. Before and 3 mo after azithromycin was introduced, bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed for cell differentiation and to measure IL-8 and IL-17 mRNA ratios.The FEV(1) increased from 2.36 (+/- 0.82 L) to 2.67 L (+/- 0.85 L; p = 0.007), whereas the percentage of BAL neutrophilia decreased from 35.1 (+/- 35.7%) to 5.7% (+/- 6.5%; p = 0.0024). There were six responders to azithromycin (with an FEV(1) increase of > 10%) and eight nonresponders. Using categorical univariate linear regression analysis, the main significant differences in characteristics between responders and nonresponders were the initial BAL neutrophilia (p < 0.0001), IL-8 mRNA ratio (p = 0.0009), and the postoperative day at which azithromycin was started (p = 0.036). There was a significant correlation between the initial percentage of BAL neutrophilia and the changes in FEV(1) after 3 mo (r = 0.79, p = 0.0019).Azithromycin significantly reduces airway neutrophilia and IL-8 mRNA in patients with BOS. Responders have a significantly higher BAL neutrophilia and IL-8 compared with nonresponders and had commenced treatment earlier after transplantation. BAL neutrophilia can be used as a predictor for the FEV(1) response to azithromycin.
Clinical Haematology in Medical Practice
Authors: Paul G. Hattersley
Journal: JAMA (1965)

In this thoroughly revised second edition, the author succeeds moderately well in his attempt at reasonable completeness without excessive length. He describes the diagnosis and treatment of hematological disorders crisply and with adequate detail. Particularly gratifying is his emphasis on the diagnostic value of careful examination of the blood smear.  The author at times omits important material, however. For instance, he excludes hemolytic disease of the newborn as  within the scope of this book, and his discussion of blood transfusion and its complications appears inadequately detailed for a text of this scope. Further, the many convenient tables tend to oversimplify.  Occasional statements, reflecting the personal opinion of the author, appear not to represent the best hematological thinking. This reviewer considers it dangerous, for instance, to assume that megaloblastic anemia among white persons does not warrant extensive investigation since it is usually pernicious anemia.  Dr. de Gruchy's lucid and inter
Dementia experts are optimistic despite decline in hope for effective drugs
Authors: N. Hawkes
Journal: BMJ (2013)

Patients with dementia and their families still face hurdles in getting support and care, a conference in London on 27 June heard. But despite the problems—and against a backdrop of recent disappointments in drug development—the mood was not downcast. 

Advocates of people with dementia believe that at last they have the ear of government and that change is possible.

David Blunkett, MP, set the tone by welcoming what he called David Cameron’s “continuing commitment” on dementia. “It matters that the prime minister is interested,” said Blunkett, a former Labour cabinet minister whose speech gained force by its avoidance of political point scoring. Almost the only political point he made was against his own side, an acknowledgment that the £150m (€175m; $230m) the Labour government put into dementia care when Alan Johnson was health secretary ought to have been ringfenced to ensure that it was spent as intended.

Blunkett also disclosed …
Macrovascular Complications in Mexican Americans With Type II Diabetes
Authors: Steven M Haffner, Braxton D Mitchell, Michael P Stern, Helen P Hazuda
Journal: Diabetes Care (1991)

Mexican Americans have a threefold greater prevalence of non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetes mellitus than non-Hispanic whites in the San Antonio Heart Study, a population-based study of diabetes. In addition, Mexican-American diabetic subjects (n = 365) have greater fasting glycemia than non-Hispanic white diabetic subjects (P &amp;lt; 0.001). Despite these findings, and despite a higher prevalence of microvascular complications among Mexican Americans, there does not appear to be a marked difference in prevalence of macrovascular complications between Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white diabetic subjects. Mexican-American diabetic subjects have only a moderate excess of peripheral vascular disease (as judged by ankle-arm blood pressure ratios) relative to non-Hispanic white diabetic subjects (sex-adjusted Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio 1.84, 95% confidence interval 0.75–4.49). Mexican-American diabetic subjects actually reported fewer myocardial infarctions than non-Hispanic white diabetic subjects (sex-adjusted Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.31–1.71). Duration was not associated with either peripheral vascular disease or myocardial infarction. Severity of glycemia was only mildly associated with presence of peripheral vascular disease and negatively associated with self-reported myocardial infarction. This latter finding may represent a survival bias in that more severe diabetic subjects have already died and are not ascertained in a prevalence study. The absence of an ethnic difference in the prevalence of macrovascular disease contrasts with our previous reports from the San Antonio Heart Study, in which the prevalence of both retinopathy and proteinuria was observed to be higher in Mexican-American diabetic subjects. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
PMO-061 An evaluation of the impact of a multidisciplinary nutrition support team on the provision of parenteral nutrition (PN) in an NHS Foundation Trust Hospital
Authors: L El-Alem, C J May, C Ali, C Livingstone, G J Sadler
Journal: Gut (2012)

<h3>Introduction</h3> In June 2010 NCEPOD released its report: A Mixed Bag.<sup>1</sup> This instructed hospitals providing PN to encourage active input from a multidisciplinary NST. The process involved in providing PN to patients involves complex decision-making, and it is life-saving for some. However, when given inappropriately or without careful monitoring, there can be serious metabolic and physiological consequences. This audit examined the impact a NST has on the appropriate prescribing of PN. <h3>Methods</h3> The study included patients who received PN at the Royal Surrey County Hospital over the period 1 June 2010 to 1 June 2011. Data were collected in line with the NCEPOD report, including when and by whom PN was started, indication for use and number of days fed. <h3>Results</h3> During the study period, 171 patients were referred for PN. In 61% of cases the opinion of the NST was requested prior to the commencement of PN (Group A). In the remaining 39% of cases (Group B), PN was initiated without NST involvement, with the NST review occurring subsequently. On review, the NST considered PN to be an inappropriate means of nutritional support in 25.7% of the patients in Group A, and it was therefore not provided. Of these patients, 81% were successfully established onto either oral or enteral feeding, and a further 8% died shortly after referral. The remaining 11% later received PN due to loss of enteral access or further post-operative complications. There was no survival disadvantage in this group. Of the patients in Group B, 33% were commenced on PN over a weekend. Of these 38% received PN for &lt;5 days and 19% for &lt;3 days. Following assessment, the NST, believed that 14% of the patients in group B were started on PN when an alternative means of providing nutritional support would have been more suitable at the time of initiation. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Prescribing of PN continues to occur both out of hours and without consultation with a dedicated NST. Our data demonstrates that timely involvement of the NST in feeding decisions can avert inappropriate initiation of PN in a significant proportion of cases, which has clinical and cost-saving implications. We therefore strongly recommend that clinicians should utilise the expertise of a multidisciplinary NST at the earliest opportunity in complex feeding scenarios. <h3>Competing interests</h3> None declared. <h3>Reference</h3> 1. <b>NCEPOD</b>. <i>A Mixed Bag: An Enquiry Into The Care Of Hospital Patients Requiring Parenteral Nutrition</i>, 2010.
Response of human natural killer (NK) cells to NK cell stimulatory factor (NKSF): cytolytic activity and proliferation of NK cells are differentially regulated by NKSF.
Authors: M J Robertson, R J Soiffer, S F Wolf, T J Manley, C Donahue, D Young, S H Herrmann, J Ritz
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1992)

Natural killer cell stimulatory factor (NKSF) is a 70-kD heterodimeric cytokine that was initially isolated from conditioned medium of human B lymphoblastoid cell lines. The effects of recombinant NKSF on the function of human peripheral blood NK cells were examined. NKSF directly augmented the cytolytic activity of freshly isolated NK cells. Both CD56dim and CD56bright NK cells demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity after brief exposure to NKSF. In contrast, highly purified T lymphocytes did not exhibit major histocompatibility complex-unrestricted cytotoxicity after short-term culture with NKSF. Like interleukin 2 (IL-2), NKSF augmented the lysis of NK-sensitive, NK-resistant, and antibody-coated targets. Both NKSF and IL-2 induced marked upregulation of several NK cell adhesion molecules known to participate in cytolysis, including CD2, CD11a, and CD54. However, NKSF activates NK cells through a pathway distinct from that of IL-2, since the presence of anti-IL-2 receptor (anti-IL-2R) antibodies or IL-4 did not inhibit the effects of NKSF. NKSF by itself induced very little proliferation of resting NK cells. NK cells preactivated in vitro with IL-2 demonstrated enhanced proliferation to NKSF, but the degree of proliferation was always inferior to that induced by IL-2 alone. Moreover, NKSF strongly inhibited IL-2-induced proliferation of either resting or preactivated NK cells. This inhibition was not the result of decreased IL-2R expression, because NKSF-activated NK cells expressed higher levels of both IL-2Rs p75 and p55. Furthermore, NKSF did not inhibit the proliferation of mitogen-activated T cells, indicating a selective effect on NK cell proliferation. Human NK cells expanded in vivo by prolonged continuous infusions of IL-2 remained fully responsive to NKSF. Picomolar concentrations of NKSF were as effective as nanomolar concentrations of IL-2 in augmenting the cytolytic activity of NK cells expanded in vivo by IL-2. NKSF may play an important role in the regulation of human NK cell function, and its possible use as a therapeutic cytokine deserves further investigation.
Chelation of intracellular iron with the antifungal agent ciclopirox olamine induces cell death in leukemia and myeloma cells
Authors: Yanina Eberhard, Sean P. McDermott, Xiaoming Wang, Marcela Gronda, Amudha Venugopal, Tabitha E. Wood, Rose Hurren, Alessandro Datti, Robert A. Batey, Jeffrey Wrana, William E. Antholine, John E. Dick, Aaron D. Schimmer
Journal: Blood (2009)
Impact of the Human Papilloma Vaccine on Cervical Cancer
Authors: John K. Chan, Jonathan S. Berek
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2007)

During the last decade, research progress on cervical cancer has elucidated the role of human papilloma virus (HPV) in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. Clinical trials on the viral-like particle HPV vaccines have good safety profiles and promising efficacy in preventing genital warts, cervical neoplasia, and cervical cancer. The implementation of the HPV vaccine is a tremendous milestone in our effort toward preventing cervical cancers. However, screening programs will continue to serve as a critical component in prevention due to the limitations of the current vaccines. The greatest impact in cervical cancer incidence worldwide requires improved health care access to underserved areas. Advances are needed to develop single-dose, heat-stable, needle-free, and affordable formulations of the HPV vaccine to overcome the socioeconomic barriers associated with this disease.
Impact of ligating gonadal or adrenal collateral veins with the left renal vein on renal function and histology in right-nephrectomized rats
Authors: Tayfun Yucel, Feza Ekiz, Sibel Ozkan Gurdal, Hasan Yavuz, Dogan Gonullu, Ferda Nihat Koksoy, Mustafa Sit, Aysenur Akyildiz Igdem, Elife Sahan
Journal: International Journal of Surgery (2009)
Hypertriglyceridemia: A relative contraindication to the use of bile acid-binding resins?
Authors: Margo A. Denke, Scott M. Grundy
Journal: Hepatology (1988)

Bile acid binding resins are indicated for treatment of elevated plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. In normoglyceridemic patients, plasma concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol are closely linked, and for this reason resin treatment of elevated total cholesterol levels in these patients is rational and warranted. Hypertriglyceridemic patients may also have elevated total cholesterol concentrations, and several such patients have been treated with resin. However, resin therapy in these patients is hazardous, since the elevated cholesterol level mainly results from increased plasma concentrations of very-low-density lipoproteins or chylomicrons rather than low-density lipoproteins. In these patients, resin treatment has either no effect or an adverse effect on plasma triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations. The data presented show that fewer than 5 percent of patients whose total plasma triglyceride concentration exceeded 500 mg/dl had elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, irrespective of total plasma cholesterol concentrations, and no patient whose plasma triglyceride concentration exceeded 1,000 mg/dl had elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Treatment with bile acid binding resins in hypercholesterolemic patients is contraindicated in the presence of hypertriglyceridemia.