tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Placebo controlled treatment trials in hepatic encephalopathy are feasible and ethical
Authors: Ravi K. Ghanta, Kevin D. Mullen, Hartmut Jaeschke, Kevin Mullen, Darius Moradpour
Journal: Hepatology (2005)

Abstract Gentile S, Guarino G, Romano M, Alagia IA, Fierro M, Annunziata S, Magliano PL, Gravina AG, Torella R. A randomized controlled trial of acarbose in hepatic encephalopathy. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2005;3:184–191. (Reprinted with permission from Elsevier.) Background &amp; aims Hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis is contributed to by toxic products deriving from the proteolytic bacterial flora–related degradation of dietary nitrogen substances. Acarbose is a novel hypoglycemic agent acting through the inhibition of glucose absorption in the gut and the promotion of intestinal saccharolytic bacterial flora at the expense of proteolytic flora. We assessed whether acarbose exerts a beneficial effect on hepatic encephalopathy and on postprandial hyperglycemia in cirrhotic patients with low-grade hepatic encephalopathy and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods One hundred seven cirrhotic patients with grade 1–2 hepatic encephalopathy and type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomized to acarbose 100 mg 3 times daily or placebo for 8 weeks; after a 2-week washout period, treatments were switched, and patients were followed for 8 more weeks. Ammonia blood levels, Reitan's number connection test, intellectual function, fasting and postprandial glucose levels, glycated hemoglobin values, and C peptide values were determined 2 weeks before and 4, 8, 11, 14, and 18 weeks after treatment. Results (1) Acarbose significantly decreased ammonia blood levels and improved Reitan's test score and intellectual function score compared with placebo (P&lt; .01). (2) Acarbose caused a 33% decrease in fasting glucose level and an approximately 50% decrease in postprandial glucose level compared with placebo (P&lt; .01). (3) Acarbose significantly lowered glycated hemoglobin values and postprandial C peptide compared with baseline values, whereas placebo did not. (4) No change in biochemical parameters of liver function was observed after acarbose treatment. Conclusions Acarbose is a safe and effective drug in cirrhotic patients with low-grade hepatic encephalopathy and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
THE EFFECT OF A DEEP HELD INSPIRATION ON THE MURMUR OF SLIGHT AORTIC REGURGITATION IN YOUNG SUBJECTS
Authors: W. Gordon
Journal: BMJ (1918)

CONSERVAIVE SLJRGERY OFT TIIE HAND.!JWTCL NAL *) 257 o)r vard, an(d, wlhen sup'plemientited, can be cmnpl1oyp(l for tiurgical operations..Note.
Human normal-resting epidermal Langerhans cells do express the type 3 complement receptor
Authors: G. PANFILIS, D. SOLIGO, G.C. MANARA, C. FERRARI, C. TORRESANI, A. ZUCCHI
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1990)

The expression of CR3 by murine-resting epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) is well established, but CR3 expression by human normal-resting epidermal LC has not yet been demonstrated. In this study, highly sensitive immunostaining techniques, such as immunogold labelling in transmission- and scanning-electron microscopy, were used on freshly isolated, LC-enriched, normal human epidermal cells. Human normal resting epidermal LC were found to be CR3+, since a low but significant number of gold granules labelled the plasma membrane of all the LC observed under transmission-electron microscopy, and all the epidermal cells showing LC morphology as observed by scanning-electron microscopy.
European experts call for greater use of clinical research in daily medical practice
Authors: R. Watson
Journal: BMJ (2011)

A new report produced by the umbrella group for Europe’s medical research councils examines the quality of clinical research and argues that greater use of such research in clinical practice will improve doctors’ daily decisions. It presents 10 key ways in which this can be achieved.

It notes that much clinical decision making is still not informed by evidence and much research is insufficiently methodologically robust. The way ahead is to apply systematic clinical practice guidelines to ensure that the right research results are used and that evidence based …
Formation of S-adenosylhomocysteine in the heart. I: An index of free intracellular adenosine.
Authors: A Deussen, M Borst, J Schrader
Journal: Circulation Research (1988)

To assess the concentration of free intracellular adenosine in the heart the kinetic properties of cytosolic S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) hydrolase were utilized at elevated levels of L-homocysteine (adenosine + L-homocysteine in equilibrium with SAH + H2O). Global hypoxia was induced in the isolated perfused guinea pig heart by graded reduction of perfusion medium PO2 in the presence of saturating concentrations of homocysteine (0.2-1.0 mM). Reduction of PO2 from 660 to 165 mm Hg increased the steady-state concentration of total tissue adenosine from 2.0 +/- 0.2 to 2.8 +/- 0.2 nmoles/g, while the rate of SAH formation increased linearly from 0.22 +/- 0.03 to 2.50 +/- 0.13 nmoles/min/g. When adenosine was exogenously applied at a concentration of 100 microM together with homocysteine (1 mM), SAH accumulation rates were much greater: 23.34 +/- 3.31 and 42.11 +/- 1.73 nmoles/min/g with normoxic (95% O2) and hypoxic (30% O2) perfusion, respectively. The apparent Km and Vmax values for SAH-hydrolase in vivo were estimated to be 20 microM and 59 nmoles/min/g wet wt, respectively. Since the relation between SAH formation and adenosine in the physiological concentration range is linear, the measured rate of SAH accumulation during normoxia and hypoxia permitted the calculation of the free intracellular adenosine level, which was 0.061 nmoles/g (0.08 microM) in the normoxic heart. With hypoxia (PO2 165 mm Hg), this value increased to 1.57 nmoles/g (2.0 microM). Free intracellular adenosine closely correlated with the hypoxia-induced changes in coronary flow. The data reveal that measurement of the rate of SAH accumulation during homocysteine infusion can be used for sensitive assessment of free intracellular adenosine levels. Assuming that the intracellular adenosine concentration equals that in the interstitial space, the results furthermore indicate that the degree of intracellular adenosine formation during hypoxic perfusion is quantitatively sufficient to account for most of the observed increases in coronary flow.
Serum Hepatitis Hazard in Biochemical Control Sera
Authors: A. D. Evans, K. Davies
Journal: BMJ (1972)

increased serum F.D.P. levels in women with clinically significant menorrhagia, as compared with those in women without abnormal menstrual symptoms.Further studies being undertaken indicate that raised serum F.D.P. levels found in women with menorrhagia are often associated with in- creased levels of fibrin monomer complexes in the blood.Thus raised serum F.D.P. levels in women complaining of menorrhagia may be a manifestation of exaggerated intravascular microcoagulation associated with secondary fibrinolytic activity.-Iam, etc.,
Osteolytic and Osteoblastic Metastases due to Carcinoid Tumors
Authors: RAJASHRI S. MANOLI, CARL R. BARTHELEMY
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1980)

Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors arising from the foregut and hindgut may metastasize within the abdomen. Bone metastases are rare, but their occurrence is well established. Both osteoblastic and osteolytic metastases can occur in the same patient without any bone symptoms. Three patients with malignant carcinoid tumors had no bone symptoms but demonstrated extensive bone metastases on radionuclide bone scans. Some of these lesions were abnormal on corresponding roentgenograms and some areas were negative on roentgenograms. The use of radionuclide bone scanning in the evaluation of patients with malignant carcinoid tumor is emphasized.
Albright Syndrome And Leukemia
Authors: Ira Shoulson
Journal: JAMA (1973)

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> Isolated reports of Albright syndrome have appeared in the literature since his initial description of a disease characterized by fibrous dysplasia of bone, skin pigmentation, and precocious puberty in females.<sup>1</sup>This report describes a patient who demonstrated the features of both Albright syndrome and erythroleukemia, a coexistence not previously reported. <h3>Report of a Case.—</h3> A 65-year-old mother of five had fragile bones since childhood with multiple fractures of the right femur, pigmentation over the buttocks, onset of menarche, and secondary sexual characteristics at the age of 7 years. In March 1971, the patient noted fatigue and was found to have the following peripheral blood values: hemoglobin, 9.4 gm/100 ml; white blood cell (WBC) count, 93,600/cu mm; and a differential count of 97% blast cells. Bone marrow aspiration suggested acute leukemia, type unspecified. Over the ensuing six weeks, the patient was treated with a variety of agents
Infection, Tissue Temperatures, and Dressings
Authors: Robert E. Burdick
Journal: JAMA (1968)

<h3>To the Editor:—</h3> Your editorial (<b>201</b>:876, 1967) questioning the propriety of hot wet dressings for inflammatory lesions is to be commended. As an intern I became disenchanted with the traditional hot, wet, occlusive-dressing treatment of thrombophlebitis with its attendant skin chafing and nursing-staff burden. One theory held that such treatment increased surface temperature and stimulated blood flow which resulted in more rapid resolution of thrombophlebitis and reduced venous stasis. When a thermocouple was placed on the skin surface, under the dressings, and water at 120 F applied, it was found that skin temperature dropped to 96 F in three minutes, the cooling due to the energy requirements of evaporation. Closer scrutiny of other anachronistic treatments would undoubtedly reveal other such instances of sophism.
Carcinoma at the Site of Herpes Simplex Infection
Authors: Martin L. Gecht
Journal: JAMA (1980)

To the Editor.—  The Journalrecently published a letter entitled Carcinoma at the Site of Herpes Simplex Infection (243:2396, 1980). My letter is to note further the occurrence of such a situation. I personally had basosquamous carcinoma develop on two occasions. The first occurrence was approximately five or six years ago at the site of a vaccination for small pox that I had received for traveling. After the vaccination site did not heal for one year, I became suspicious and had it excised at the local university hospital. I was approximately 55 years old at that time.  During the past year, a similar situation developed at the site of a localized herpes simplex infection that had occurred on my upper lip and had not healed for approximately one year. It was removed by a Mohs' surgical procedure at a local university center, and a diagnosis of basosquamous cell carcinoma was
Transcultural Medicine: Dealing With Patients From Different Cultures
Authors: Jeffrey H. Hsu, Winston W. Shen
Journal: JAMA (1995)

This second edition of<i>Transcultural Medicine</i>is again largely a collection of articles, 35 in all, published from 1981 to 1989 in the British medical press. The few more recently added references are to several<i>Xenophobe's Guides</i>for tourists. The book again has three parts: general aspects, special considerations, and selected points. Part I deals with general communication problems; history taking and physical examination; diagnostic difficulties secondary to physical, genetic, and cultural factors; psychiatric disorders; diet-related diseases; and alternative therapies. Part II focuses on ethnic customs, obstetrics and family planning, pediatrics, nutritional and skin problems, and pharmaceuticals. Part III contains two chapters. The first deals with various ethnic customs and repeats much information from previous chapters. The second chapter offers various amusing anecdotes and a book review. The second edition also includes an update on disease patterns in different ethnic groups in the United Kingdom and a chapter describing multicultural
Late complications after a Yersinia enterocolitica epidemic: a follow up study.
Authors: H Lindholm, R Visakorpi
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1991)

Ninety four Finnish conscripts were affected by a Yersinia enterocolitica epidemic in 1973. Thirteen years later 75 men completed a questionnaire about their present health. One half had no health problems, and the most common complaints in the other subjects were musculoskeletal disorders. Sixteen men wanted to be re-examined. In three cases a chronic connective tissue disease was diagnosed. Two men had ankylosing spondylitis. The most notable results of this study were (a) the fairly low number of late complications, (b) the close correlation between complications and the HLA-B27 antigen, and (c) the correlation between raised yersinia antibody titres and the late complications. The nature of the primary causative agent may affect the development of late complications.
Abstract P3-13-05: Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer in Japanese Women: Trends in Incidence, Characteristics and Prognosis
Authors: H Yamashita, H Iwase, T Toyama, S Takahashi, H Sugiura, N Yoshimoto, Y Endo, S. Kobayashi
Journal: Cancer Research (2010)

Abstract Background: The incidence of breast cancer in Japanese women has doubled in all age groups over the past two decades. Patients and Methods: We examined the characteristics of patients and tumors treated in three time periods between 1982 and 2010. Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and HER2 status were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Correlation of hormone receptor levels with clinicopathological factors and prognosis was analyzed in ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer in two age groups (≥50 years vs. &amp;gt;50 years). Results: A total of 1903 women with breast cancer, who were treated at Nagoya City University Hospital, were included in this study. The frequency of ER-positive breast cancer in women aged 50 years or younger increased greatly over the interval studied (1982-1991: 52.5%, 1992-2001: 72.6%, 2002-2010: 87.1%, P &amp;lt; 0.0001). The frequency of ER-positive tumors was also significantly increased in women over 50 years of age (1982-1991: 69.4%, 1992-2001: 73.3%, 2002-2010: 78.6%, P = 0.029). In ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, tumor grade was negatively correlated with expression levels of ER (P = 0.0029) and PgR (P &amp;lt; 0.0001). Interestingly, PgR levels were significantly higher in women aged 50 years or younger than in women over 50 years old (P &amp;lt; 0.0001). In both age groups, the prognosis for patients with ER-positive, HER2- negative breast cancer significantly improved over time, due to advances in adjuvant therapies. ER and PgR expression levels were not associated with disease-free survival. Lymph node status and tumor size were strong prognostic factors regardless of the biological characteristics of the tumors in ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer in both age groups. Conclusions: It is necessary to establish risk factors, both genetic and environmental, capable of predicting the risk of ER-positive breast cancer and thus enable the efficient selection of candidates for hormone receptor-targeted chemoprevention. Furthermore, new approach should be considered to improve survival for node-positive, ER-positive breast cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-13-05.
Acute regional circulatory and renal hemodynamic effects of converting-enzyme inhibition in patients with congestive heart failure.
Authors: M A Creager, J L Halperin, D B Bernard, D P Faxon, C D Melidossian, H Gavras, T J Ryan
Journal: Circulation (1981)

The acute effects of the angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitor captopril on regional blood flow, renal hemodynamics and sodium excretion were studied in 12 patients with severe congestive heart failure. Converting-enzyme inhibition decreased systemic vascular resistance by 27% and increased cardiac index by 16%. Estimated hepatic blood flow decreased 17%, but renal blood flow increased 60%. The ratio of renal-systemic blood flow increased from 0.10 +/- 0.01 to 0.14 +/- 0.02 (p = 0.031). Although renal plasma flow increased from 202.8 +/- 28.8 to 323.7 +/- 42.7 ml/min (p less than 0.008), the glomerular filtration rate did not change significantly from the mean pretreatment value of 82.1 +/- 12.3 ml/min. The filtration fraction decreased from 41.3 +/- 3.8% to 33.4 +/- 4.5% (p = 0.050), while urinary sodium excretion doubled, from 34.5 +/- 9.6 to 68.2 +/- 19.6 muEq/min. The plasma renin activity increased from 12.6 +/- 5.0 to 29.9 +/- 8.4 ng/ml/hr (p = 0.030) as plasma aldosterone concentration decreased from 30.5 +/- 6.5 to 11.3 4/- 1.2 ng/dl (p = 0.010) and norepinephrine concentrations decreased from 774 +/- 105 to 618 +/- 85 pg/ml (p = 0.020). We conclude that converting-enzyme inhibition reverses renal vasoconstriction in congestive heart failure and redistributes regional blood flow. The natriuresis may be mediated by one or more of the following: improved renal plasma flow, reduction in filtration fraction, suppression of hyperaldosteronism, and lowering of circulatory catecholamine concentrations.
Baked Milk Oral Immunotherapy For Severe IgE-Mediated Cow's Milk Protein (CMP) Allergic Patients: Interim Results
Authors: Michael Goldberg, Liat Nachshon, Arnon Elizur, Moshe Appel, Michael B. Levy, Yitzhak Katz
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2014)
Assessment of epidermal subpopulations and proliferation in healthy skin, symptomless and lesional skin of spreading psoriasis
Authors: J.E.M. Körver, M.W.F.M. Van Duijnhoven, M.C. Pasch, P.E.J. Van Erp, P.C.M. Van De Kerkhof
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2006)

The margin zone in spreading psoriatic lesions has frequently been used as a model to study the changes in epidermal proliferation, keratinization and inflammation during the transition from symptomless to lesional skin. However, the dynamics of the changes in the epidermal subpopulations-basal cells, transit amplifying cells and differentiated cells-have not been studied in the transition between symptomless and lesional skin.To quantify in a dynamic model of the margin zone in psoriasis the characteristics of these subpopulations with respect to epidermal proliferation and differentiation.From seven patients with active psoriasis, biopsies were taken from the distant uninvolved skin, outer margin, inner margin and centre of a spreading psoriatic plaque. Frozen sections were labelled immunofluorescently using direct immunofluorescence for Ki-67 and beta1 integrin and the Zenon labelling technique for keratin 6, 10 and 15. Digital photographs of the stained sections were quantitatively analysed.In the distant uninvolved skin the expression of beta1 integrin was decreased and keratin 15 expression was lost. In this area suprabasal cells expressed beta1 integrin and in the outer margin suprabasal cells expressed Ki-67. From the outer to the inner margin of the psoriasis plaque, which coincided with the appearance of the clinical lesion, there was a significant change in the various markers. The patchy expression of keratin 6 in the inner margin became homogeneous in the centre of the psoriasis plaque and here was also coexpression of keratin 6 and keratin 10 in a single cell.The present study provides additional evidence that the distant uninvolved skin has a prepsoriatic phenotype, which is the first step in a psoriatic cascade. The cascade between symptomless and lesional skin comprises first an abnormality in inflammation with involvement of beta1 integrin-dim cells (transit amplifying cells) subsequently eliciting an enlarged germinative compartment with increased recruitment of cycling epidermal cells and focal expression of proliferation-associated keratins, ultimately culminating in a more-or-less homogeneous epidermis with massive recruitment of cycling epidermal cells and proliferation-associated keratinization.
Abstract 2880: Role of Akt isoforms in chemoresistance of endometrial carcinoma cells
Authors: Marie-Judith Lafleur, Julie Girouard, Eric Asselin
Journal: Cancer Research (2011)

Abstract Akt (PKB) is a crucial survival kinase that is normally activated by a variety of growth factors. In tumours, its upstream regulation is affected by oncogenic events, which leads to the constitutive activation of the protein. Since studies have demonstrated that the three Akt isoforms exhibit different physiological functions, our hypothesis is that Akt isoforms may contribute differently in chemoresistance of endometrial carcinoma cells. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of a loss of function of each of Akt isoform in chemoresistant KLE endometrial carcinoma cells. In order to determine the specific role of each Akt isoform in cell survival/resistance to apoptosis and proliferation, we stably transfected KLE cells, which normally express Akt1, Akt2 and Akt3, with specific shRNA for each Akt isoform. We treated Akt isoform-specific transfectants for a period of 48 hour with different chemotherapeutics drugs and we performed western blot analysis for pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors. In this study, we have demonstrated that Akt1 and Akt2 downregulation sensitize KLE cells to cisplatin, doxorubicin and taxol. After treatment of KLE transfectants with all three drugs, we were able to see that activation pro-apoptotic factors such as cleaved caspase-3, -6 and -9 as well as cleaved PARP were induced. Moreover, the expression of anti-apoptotic factor XIAP was downregulated after drug treatment in these cells. Finally, Bcl-2 expression was inhibited after cisplatin treatment in Akt2 negative cells. We also performed MTT proliferation assay after a 72 hours treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs. Results gained from this study show that each Akt isoform is specifically implicated in cell survival. Akt1 and Akt2 shRNA clones were more sensitive to cisplatin, doxorubicin and taxol treatment. Akt3 shRNA clones were also more sensitive to cisplatin and doxorubicin but were less affected by taxol treatment. Our findings highlight the contribution of Akt isoforms in the molecular mechanisms that confer KLE cells resistance to chemotherapeutics drugs-induced apoptosis. According to our hypothesis, results show the differential implication of each Akt isoform in cell resistance to different chemotherapeutics drugs. We also showed that each isoform have a distinct impact on resistance to apoptosis induced by a given drug. Thus, the results confirm that Akt isoforms could be putative targets for therapy of endometrial cancers. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2880. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2880