tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Influence of propranolol on acidosis and high energy phosphates in ischaemic myocardium of the rabbit
Authors: C. R MALLOY, P. M MATTHEWS, M. B SMITH, G. K RADDA
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1986)

Catecholamines stimulate adenosine triphosphate consumption and glycogenolysis in isolated hearts. In ischaemic myocardium a protective effect of beta adrenergic blockade may therefore arise from reduced adenosine triphosphate consumption or attenuation of acidosis. To characterise the biochemical mechanism of this protective effect phosphorus metabolite concentrations and intracellular pH were measured in an ischaemic region of the rabbit heart in vivo using 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. After occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery there was a rapid decrease in intracellular phosphocreatine concentrations, and intracellular adenosine triphosphate concentrations decreased at a rate of approximately 0.5 μmol·g−1 dry weight-min−1. Intracellular pH decreased approximately linearly to a final pH of about 5.8. In the ischaemic myocardium of the animals treated with propranolol the intracellular concentrations of adenosine triphosphate were higher and those of phosphocreatine lower and the pH was the same compared with control after 30 minutes of ischaemia. Thus any protective effect of propranolol in vivo is not associated with attenuation of intracellular acidosis in this preparation.
STUDY OF ISO-AGGLUTININS BEFORE AND AFTER ETHER ANESTHESIA
Authors: JOHN G. HUCK
Journal: JAMA (1923)

According to Levine and Segall,<sup>1</sup>prolonged etherization may cause a temporary change in the iso-agglutinative phenomena. The authors report three cases in which the serum before anesthesia was compatible, by direct tests with the blood of prospective donors, but after a period of ether anesthesia of the patient, agglutinated the corpuscles when tested against the same blood. The change in agglutination was only temporary, but the observation, which should be extended, suggests that ether, being a lipoid solvent, may change the state of the blood in such a way as to modify the action of the iso-agglutinins present. The observations of these investigators interested us greatly, as we had never observed untoward results from transfusions following ether anesthesia, when the bloods were matched before the operation. The studies reported in this paper were begun in an attempt to determine whether there was a change in the iso-agglutinative phenomena, and,
Magnetic Resonance Fluoroscopy Allows Targeted Delivery of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Infarct Borders in Swine
Authors: Alexander J. Dick, Michael A. Guttman, Venkatesh K. Raman, Dana C. Peters, Breno S.S. Pessanha, Jonathan M. Hill, Scott Smith, Greig Scott, Elliot R. McVeigh, Robert J. Lederman
Journal: Circulation (2003)

The local environment of delivered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may affect their ultimate phenotype. MR fluoroscopy has the potential to guide intramyocardial MSC injection to desirable targets, such as the border between infarcted and normal tissue. We tested the ability to (1) identify infarcts, (2) navigate injection catheters to preselected targets, (3) inject safely even into fresh infarcts, and (4) confirm injection success immediately.A 1.5-T MRI scanner was customized for interventional use, with rapid imaging, independent color highlighting of catheter channels, multiple-slice 3D rendering, catheter-only viewing mode, and infarct-enhanced imaging. MRI receiver coils were incorporated into guiding catheters and injection needles. These devices were tested for heating and used for targeted MSC delivery. In infarcted pigs, myocardium was targeted by MR fluoroscopy. Infarct-enhanced imaging included both saturation preparation MRI after intravenous gadolinium and wall motion. Porcine MSCs were MRI-labeled with iron-fluorescent particles. Catheter navigation and multiple cell injections were performed entirely with MR fluoroscopy at 8 frames/s with 1.7x3.3x8-mm voxels. Infarct-enhanced MR fluoroscopy permitted excellent delineation of infarct borders. All injections were safely and successfully delivered to their preselected targets, including infarct borders. Iron-fluorescent particle-labeled MSCs were readily visible on delivery in vivo and post mortem.Precise targeted delivery of potentially regenerative cellular treatments to recent myocardial infarction borders is feasible with an MR catheter delivery system. MR fluoroscopy permits visualization of catheter navigation, myocardial function, infarct borders, and labeled cells after injection.
What do hospices do? A survey of hospices in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.
Authors: I S Johnson, C Rogers, B Biswas, S Ahmedzai
Journal: BMJ (1990)

OBJECTIVE--To obtain baseline information about hospice clinical activity. DESIGN--Survey of hospices by postal questionnaire and telephone interview. SETTING--98 Hospices in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland of 111 that had a named matron or senior nurse, including 17 funded by NHS and 81 independent units. PARTICIPANTS--Hospice matrons or nursing sisters in charge, to whom the questionnaire was addressed. RESULTS--Median age of hospices was 7 years, and those built during the past seven years had a median of 12 inpatient beds. All NHS hospices had some input from a medical consultant whereas 12 (15%) of independent units did not. 72 Hospices had home care teams and 12 of 20 of these randomly contacted by telephone provided 24 hour cover. The median number of whole time equivalent nurses was four, but 6 (30%) of teams did not include a doctor. Wide variations were found in discharge rates (range 1-76%) and throughput (1.7-31.8 patients/bed/year). In units with a full time consultant or medical director throughput was greater and more patients had palliative surgery and became organ donors than in units without (45/48 v 38/50 and 45/48 v 25/50, respectively). With the exception of pulmonary function tests and insertion of nasogastric tubes and indwelling epidural catheters, tests and procedures were used by over 90% of hospices, although sometimes the patient had to be transferred elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS--Respondents from units with a full time consultant or medical director were more likely to choose a "technical" description of their unit, such as "a pain relief centre" than those without, who favoured non-technical descriptions. These differences are likely to increase with the appointment of more fully trained consultants in palliative medicine.
Milestones on the long road to knowledge
Authors: F. Godlee
Journal: BMJ (2007)

Seeking a way to mark the launch of the new BMJ , we hit on the idea of looking back at the most important medical milestones since the forerunner of the BMJ was first published in 1840. We asked readers to nominate milestones, which you did in good numbers. A panel of editors and advisers narrowed the field down from more than 70 to 15. We invited champions to write on each one; their contributions make up the commemorative supplement we are publishing on 20 January. And we are now inviting readers to vote for which you think is the most important of these medical milestones (see bmj.com). The result will be announced on 18 January. 

Medicine is about stories—the patient's account, the doctor's interpretation, the detective work of diagnosis, the research journey—and these 15 accounts are all good stories. They combine all the elements of good fiction: serendipity in the discovery of penicillin (doi: 10.1136/bmj.39021.640255.94) and x rays (doi: 10.1136/bmj.39052.527396.94); sheer determination in the development of tissue culture (doi: 10.1136/bmj.39034.719942.94); raw personal ambition—the emergence of ether as an …
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRICUSPID ANNULAR SYSTOLIC EXCURSION AND PULMONARY ARTERIAL SYSTOLIC PRESSURE IN HEART FAILURE: AN INDICATOR OF CARDIAC LENGHH VERSUS FORCE RELATIONSHIP THAT DISCLOSES DISEASE SEVERITY AND PROGNOSIS
Authors: Francesco Bandera, Ross Arena, Serenella Castelvecchio, Lorenzo Menicanti, Valentina Labate, Greta Generati, Eleonora Alfonzetti, Stefano Ghio, Pier Temporelli, Marco Guazzi
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2013)
Subdural Haematoma in Infancy
Authors: P. A. Russell
Journal: BMJ (1965)

The unsuspected subdural haematoma of infancy remains a numerically small but significant cause of mental retardation and physical handicap.Ingraham and Matson (1944), in their now classical paper, stressed that this condition must be actively sought if cases are not to be missed.Statten (1948) commented that their paper had stimulated interest at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, and, as a result, in the next 16 months an average of one case a month was diagnosed, whereas previously the average had been one case a year.The condition has received scant attention in the British literature apart from a report of 18 cases by Guthkelch (1953).During four years of study he found that of all surgical conditions of the central nervous system seen in the first two years of life only spina bifida and hydrocephalus were more common than subdural haematoma.The purpose of this paper is to review 25 cases seen in the Children's Department of King's College Hospital and in the Guy's-Maudsley Neurosurgical Unit during the years 1953-63, with particular reference to the presenting features, and to assess the prognosis.Sixteen of these cases were seen initially at King's College Hospital in the ordinary run of a paediatric service.The 25 cases came from widely different sources, and although some of the cases referred to the Guy's-Maudsley Neurosurgical Unit had had previous subdural taps it did not seem likely that the taps were the cause of the bleeding. Case MaterialAge and Sex.-The 25 patients were all under the age of 2 years.Sixteen (64%) presented in the first six months of life, six of these in the neonatal period (Table I).There were 15 males and 10 females.
Use of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Isoforms for the Detection of Prostate Cancer in Men with a PSA Level of 2–10 ng/ml: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Andrew W. Roddam, Michael J. Duffy, Freddie C. Hamdy, Anthony Milford Ward, Julietta Patnick, Christopher P. Price, Janet Rimmer, Cathie Sturgeon, Peter White, Naomi E. Allen
Journal: European Urology (2005)
Involvement of nitric oxide in farnesyltransferase inhibitor–mediated apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia cells
Authors: Carmine Selleri, Jaroslaw P. Maciejewski, Nunzia Montuori, Patrizia Ricci, Valeria Visconte, Bianca Serio, Luigiana Luciano, Bruno Rotoli
Journal: Blood (2003)
Xerophthalmia and vitamin a status
Authors: Alfred Sommer
Journal: Progress in Retinal and Eye Research (1998)

The existence of 'fat-soluble A' has been known for over 80 years. But until recently clinicians were almost wholly absorbed by the ocular changes accompanying deficiency (xerophthalmia), and scientists with the vitamin's metabolic role in the rhodopsin cycle. The past two decades have witnessed a revolution in clinical and scientific concerns. Xerophthalmia is now recognized as a late manifestation of severe deficiency rather than of early, mild deficiency; as the mechanism responsible for half or more of all measles-associated blindness; and as the cause of half a million or more cases of pediatric blindness worldwide. Milder deficiency increases the severity of infectious morbidity, exacerbates iron deficiency anemia, retards growth, and is responsible for one to three million childhood deaths each year. Scientists are now busy unraveling vitamin A-dependent gene regulation to explain the myriad manifestations accompanying deficiency, while clinicians are designing and supervising programs to improve vitamin A status in over 60 countries, up from only three countries two decades ago. Control of vitamin A deficiency is now a major health challenge and goal of both UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). Reaching that goal requires better parameters for assessing vitamin A status, increased understanding of metabolic pathways responsible for corneal dissolution (keratomalacia) and the molecular and cellular basis by which vitamin A status mediates resistance to infection. These issues are detailed elsewhere (Sommer and West, 1996).
Characteristics of Women With and Without Breast Implants
Authors: Mary White Stewart
Journal: JAMA (1997)

<h3>To the Editor.</h3> —The article "Characteristics of Women With and Without Breast Augmentation"<sup>1</sup>suggests that characteristics of women with breast augmentation may confound the relationship between silicone gel breast implants and connective tissue disease. Because research on breast implants is of immediate interest to the media and is potentially powerful in controversial litigation, researchers should be exceptionally careful in their analysis and presentation of data. Reliance on scientific findings published in peer-reviewed journals has become increasingly important since the 1993<i>Daubert</i><sup>2</sup>decision, which changed the evidentiary standard from "principles and methods generally accepted in the scientific community" to "evidentiary reliability... based on scientific validity." A careful reading of the study by Dr Cook and colleagues<sup>1</sup>reveals several weaknesses that challenge the implications of the study for understanding the relationship between silicone gel implants and disease. First, the analysis draws on existing data from 2 samples designed to study
Adrenal Steroids and the Pattern of Metastases of Breast Cancer
Authors: Paul Sherlock
Journal: JAMA (1962)

The patterns of metastases in breast carcinoma in 204 patients are analyzed retrospectively. Patients receiving additive steroids for disseminated breast carcinoma had a significant increase in metastases to the lungs, liver, heart, opposite breast, brain, and spleen and to the mucosa and submucosa of the gastroduodenum when compared to control patients with disseminated breast carcinoma not receiving adrenal steroids. Patients who had undergone hypophysectomy or adrenalectomy, or both, for breast carcinoma and who were receiving replacement adrenal steroids had a significant increase only in splenic metastases when compared to controls. The possible mechanisms for the increase in metastases in patients receiving adrenal steroids are discussed.
Fatal acute pancreatitis.
Authors: C Wilson, C W Imrie, D C Carter
Journal: Gut (1988)

Review of all deaths from acute pancreatitis recorded at Glasgow Royal Infirmary between 1974 and 1984 identified 126 patients, 53 (42%) of whom had pancreatitis first diagnosed at necropsy. Aetiologies of the fatal attacks of pancreatitis included gall stones (30%), alcohol (15%), other identified aetiological factors (17%), and was unknown (38%). Overall mortality fell from 14.9% in the early half of the study to 10.8% in the latter half although in the 73 patients in whom the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was made during life, the mortality rate was unchanged throughout. Within the group of 73 patients diagnosed during life deaths from gall stone pancreatitis have fallen by almost 50% suggesting that improved treatment of this subgroup may have occurred. The findings of this study lend support to the concept of early, complete clearance of calculi from the biliary tree, either by an endoscopic or surgical approach.
I don't need my own office
Authors: N. Moghal
Journal: BMJ (2012)

I recently returned from an 18 month secondment from my institution to a fantastic facility rebuilt through the private finance initiative. A separate office block for consultants and other clinical staff is still being built. My existing office is in a Victorian building due for demolition. It has a desk, a computer, two filing cabinets, a shelf of dusty books untouched for years, and even a window. I have been in my office twice in the past three months: once to get some whiteboard markers and once to get the charger for my pager.

When we were consulted over the building’s replacement, one contentious matter was whether we should have open plan or private, individual offices. All of us were exercised about the potential loss of private professional and personal space. I thought I needed my private place. I had collected there all the paraphernalia that meant something to me and signalled something to those who came into my space. …
What the human annals tell us
Authors: Gwen J. Broude
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (1999)

Evidence reveals numerous cross-cultural universals regarding human mental processes and behavior. Similarly, cross-cultural data are consistent with predictions from theories of kin selection, reciprocal altruism, and sexual selection inspired by Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. Thus, the “annals of human behaviour” do provide “example[s] fitting the sociobiological bill,” ( Lifelines, p. 202) thereby, supporting sociobiological accounts of human behavior.
Liquorice and Addison's disease.
Authors: E J Ross
Journal: BMJ (1970)

and child psychiatrist are also needed for the regular assessment of the child's devel- opmental progress and to help with the emotional problems which arise commonly in children requiring a special and rather unpalatable diet for many years.The greatest danger in treatment arises from brain damage, and even death, result- ing from too severe restriction of dietary phenylalanine, and we have had children referred to us in whom it seemed likely that severe mental retardation was thle result of such dietary mismanagement.A regular prompt laboratory service for phenylalanine estimations is thus essential.We, therefore, suggest that centralization of the processing of the screening procedure, confirmation of the diagnosis,
Characterization of purine nucleoside phosphorylase in leukemia
Authors: Takayuki Morisaki, Naomi Horiuchi, Hisaichi Fujii, Shiro Miwa
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (1986)

Abstract Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) activity was determined in mononuclear cells from 49 patients with various types of leukemia. A low level of PNP activity was found in mononuclear cells from patients with acute myeloid and lymphoblastic leukemia and with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Enzymatic and immunological studies on PNP from leukemic cells of these patients revealed no differences in Michaelis constant for inosine, thermostability, electrophoretic mobility, immunological reactivity, or specific activity between the PNP of leukemic cells and that of normal mononuclear cells. These results suggest that the decrease in PNP activity of leukemic cells is due to a decreased rate of enzyme synthesis. Thus, the abnormality of PNP activity might be due to an alteration in the regulatory mechanism of enzyme synthesis in the purine metabolism in the leukemic clone.
Blood velocity distribution in the human ascending aorta.
Authors: L Segadal, K Matre
Journal: Circulation (1987)

Mapping of blood velocities across the lumen of the ascending aorta was performed in eight patients during open-heart surgery. A Doppler ultrasound probe was constructed to measure velocities in 2 mm steps from the maximum convexity to the maximum concavity of aorta, 6 to 7 cm above the aortic valve. In five patients with angina and normal aortic valves, velocity profiles were very similar and showed the following main features: a skewed peak systolic velocity profile with the highest velocity along the left posterior wall, a bidirectional velocity profile in late systole and early diastole with retrograde velocities along the left posterior wall, and a sustained antegrade flow along the convexity well into diastole. The resultant mean velocity profile had the highest velocity at the convex side and a central minimum velocity. In patients with Medtronic-Hall tilting disc prostheses, where the larger opening was oriented backwards and to the right, mean flow velocity profile was skewed in the opposite direction of normal. Moreover, instant systolic velocity profiles were much more irregular and dependent on the exact orientation of the prosthesis. In one patient with aortic valvular disease, very irregular and different velocity profiles were found. Based on a symmetry assumption, overall mean velocity for the total cross section was computed, and the magnitude of error in estimation of total flow from measurement of velocities at different depths was calculated. To measure total flow in the aorta, i.e., cardiac output, by single-gated Doppler technique, the most representative sampling site was about one-third of the diameter from the convex wall.
The "Oscars of medicine" are coming to New Delhi: who will you nominate as a hero of Indian healthcare?
Authors: R. Hurley
Journal: BMJ (2014)

We’ll be celebrating all the best in Indian healthcare at our inaugural awards ceremony on 20 September 2014, writes <b>Richard Hurley</b>. So submit your nominations now at http://awards.bmjindia.com—and good luck!
Efficacy of adequate early antibiotic therapy in ventilator-associated pneumonia: influence of disease severity
Authors: Christophe Clec’h, Jean-François Timsit, Arnaud De Lassence, Elie Azoulay, Corinne Alberti, Maite Garrouste-Orgeas, Bruno Mourvilier, Gilles Troche, Muriel Tafflet, Olivier Tuil, Yves Cohen
Journal: Intensive Care Medicine (2004)
Development of a Purified Poliomyelitis Virus Vaccine
Authors: Jesse Charney
Journal: JAMA (1961)

Improvements to be desired in commercial Salk poliomyelitis vaccine are the elimination of lot-to-lot variations in potency, increase in mean vaccine potency, and elimination of foreign antigens, particularly host (monkey kidney) antigen. These objectives have been achieved by the inactivation of purified, concentrated poliomyelitis virus to give a vaccine containing standard optimal quantities of poliomyelitis antigen which are essentially free from nonviral antigens. The relatively avirulent Parker type I poliovirus was substituted for the highly neurovirulent type I Mahoney strain. Removal of the monkey kidney antigen minimized the hazard of inducing allergic or auto-immune reactions. The preparation and testing of this vaccine are described.
Violence on TV: An Unchecked Environmental Hazard
Authors: F.J. Ingelfinger
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1976)

Diseases caused by the environment — for some reason called environmental rather than envirogenic — are prime public concerns. Hardly a day passes without some pesticide, industrial agent, drug or apparatus being indicted as responsible for some human disorder. These indictments, however, are not without their dilemmas, for the suspect agent is often beneficial as well as purportedly harmful. Without pesticides, nutritional crops are at risk, without drugs, illness may go unchecked and without nuclear power plants, the economy may falter. Thus, society is forced to arrive at difficult risk/benefit decisions. Ironically enough, however, while chlordane is banned and aspirin . . .
Clinical factors and ABCB1 polymorphisms in prediction of antiepileptic drug response: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Guy Leschziner, Andrea L Jorgensen, Munir Pirmohamed, Paula R Williamson, Anthony G Marson, Alison J Coffey, Claire Middleditch, Jane Rogers, David R Bentley, David W Chadwick, David J Balding, Michael R Johnson, Toby Andrew
Journal: The Lancet Neurology (2006)