tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
P198 Effects of oxygen therapy on central sleep-disordered breathing in infants with Prader-Willi syndrome
Authors: D. S. Urquhart, P. Wales, C. Parsley, S. Suresh
Journal: Thorax (2010)

<h3>Background</h3> Children with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) are known to have sleep-disordered breathing. In addition to hypersomnolence and obstructive sleep apnoea, central respiratory control abnormalities may be present from infancy. The aims of this study were to describe breathing patterns in infants with PWS, and the effects of supplemental oxygen in this group. <h3>Methods</h3> Children with PWS attending a tertiary sleep clinic underwent full polysomnographic studies either to investigate persisting neonatal oxygen requirement, or as screening for sleep-disordered breathing. Continuous oxygen saturations (SpO<sub>2</sub>) and transcutaneous carbon dioxide (tcCO<sub>2</sub>) were recorded. Central and obstructive events were defined in accordance with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) 2007 scoring rules. Children who had significant hypoxia associated with central events were started on supplemental oxygen during sleep and followed at 3-monthly intervals with split-night studies (periods in both air and supplemental oxygen). Paired <i>t</i>-tests were used to compare sleep data in air and oxygen arms for our subject cohort. <h3>Results</h3> 30 split-night studies were undertaken on 10 infants (8 female) aged 0.06–1.79 (mean 0.79, SD 0.44) years. At baseline (ie, air), children with PWS had a mean (SD) central apnoea index (CAI) of 6.9 (6.3) per hour, with accompanying falls in SpO<sub>2</sub>. Oxygen therapy led to statistically significant reductions in CAI, as well as improved SpO<sub>2</sub> (Abstract P198 Table 1). No significant change in the number of obstructive events was noted. <h3>Discussion</h3> Infants with PWS have sleep-disordered breathing problems, which are predominantly central in origin, and cause significant hypoxia in some patients. Improvements in both central event indices and oxygenation were noted on oxygen therapy. Longitudinal work with this patient group would help to establish timing of onset of obstructive symptoms. Whether early recognition of central hypoventilation, and correction with oxygen alter the evolution of respiratory dysfunction and excessive daytime somnolence in later life remains to be seen.
The Determination of Cardiac Output by the Dilution Method without Arterial Sampling
Authors: WALTER H. PRITCHARD, WILLIAM J. MACINTYRE, THOMAS W. MOIR
Journal: Circulation (1958)

Technics for determining the cardiac output by recording the dilution curve of injected iodinated I 131 human serum albumin from precordial sites have been described. By viewing predominantly either the right or left side of the heart and by rapid delivery of the isotope, quantitation of the dilution curves for cardiac output has been possible without critical requirements for placement of the counter. In a series of 26 determinations in normal patients cardiac output values calculated from simultaneously recorded precordial curves and withdrawn arterial blood showed an average agreement within ± 8 per cent. In a smaller series of 8 determinations on patients in heart failure, an average deviation of ± 9 per cent was found.
A Simplified Treatment For Pneumothorax
Authors: Joseph M. Van De Water
Journal: JAMA (1969)

To the Editor:—  Accepted treatment of an uncomplicated pneumothorax with more than 15% to 20% lung collapse is to insert a tube into the pleural cavity. Needle aspiration and so-called conservative observation are unsatisfactory particularly if there may still be an air leak in the lung. Two types of tubes are commonly used, the large catheter and the standard chest tube. A third type of tube, the Clagett S cannula offers advantages of the other two, plus some of its own. This 13-gauge metal cannula is easily inserted (like the catheter), remains patent (like the standard chest tube), can be directed within the chest, and fits the chest wall as a result of its special S shape (Fig 1).  When this cannula is combined with the flutter valve designed by Heimlich 1 (Fig 2) one has the advantage of simplicity and the all important factor of patient mobility. Of practical
Rheumatologic Manifestations of Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Authors: Brian R. Kaye
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1989)

Purpose: To review the various rheumatologic manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and to discuss their potential pathogenic mechanisms. Data Identification: A literature search using MEDLINE (1981 to 88) and Index Medicus (1981 to 88) and review of references from all identified articles. Study Selection: All studies and case reports addressing arthritis, myopathies, vasculitis, the sicca syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, and autoimmune phenomena in HIV-infected patients are cited. Results of Data Synthesis: The Reiter syndrome and other reactive arthritides are the commonest arthritides seen in HIV-infected patients. Psoriatic arthritis and septic arthritis with opportunistic agents, as well as an articular pain that is severe, acute, and intermittent, may also occur with HIV infection. An arthritis that may be specific for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been described. Myopathies, especially of a polymyositic type, vasculitis, and the sicca syndrome are also part of the spectrum of rheumatologic presentation of HIV infection. Several autoimmune phenomena, such as antinuclear and anticardiolipin antibodies, as well as lupus anticoagulant, have been reported in HIV-infected patients. Conclusions: The Reiter syndrome, reactive arthritis, polymyositis, and the sicca syndrome may herald the onset of clinically evident HIV infection. These diseases and others may also occur in patients with full-blown AIDS. Furthermore, HIV infection may mimic systemic lupus erythematosus.
Expansions of interleukin 21-secreting CD4 T helper cells in inflammatory arthritides
Authors: P L Vieira, M C Lebre, S Aarrass, T Newsom-Davis, P P Tak, G R Screaton
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2010)

Background and Objectives Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic infl ammatory disease affecting synovial tissue in multiple joints.The infl ammatory process in RA is regulated by several cytokines, especially tumour necrosis factor (TNF), which is produced not only by macrophages and dendritic cells but also by activated antigen-specifi c CD4 T helper (Th) cells.An increasing number of infl ammatory molecules are being identifi ed that may contribute to RA pathology.Therefore the authors investigated the expression of interleukin 17A (IL17A), IL21 and IL22 in RA, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and undifferentiated arthritis (UA).In addition, the authors dissected the in vitro requirements for the differentiation of human IL21secreting CD4 T helper (Th) cells.Methods Expression of surface markers and cytokine production at the single cell level in peripheral blood (PB) and matched synovial fl uid (SF) from RA, PsA and UA compared to PB of healthy control subjects was evaluated by fl ow cytometry following polyclonal stimulation ex vivo.IL17A and IL21 concentrations were assessed by ELISA in cell-free SF samples of RA, PsA and UA patients.Immunofl uorescence analysis of RA synovial tissue (ST) was performed using specifi c antibodies against CD4, IL21, IL22 and IL17.Results Neither IL17-secreting CD4 Th (Th17) cells nor Th22 cells were expanded in the infl amed joint.In contrast, the authors observed signifi cant expansions of IL21-secreting cells, which represented up to 47% of total CD4 Th cells in SF.IL21, an infl ammatory cytokine that belongs to the common γ-chain receptor binding family, is secreted by several cell types including Th17 and T follicular helper cells (TFh).Synovial IL21-secreting cells did not phenotypically fi t the TFh cell paradigm in that they did not express the chemokine receptor and differed in some respects to in vitro-generated IL21-secreting cells.In humans, differentiation of naive CD4 T cells into IL21-secreting cells in vitro was preferentially driven by IL21 and/or IL6 in the additional presence of transforming growth factor-β.In addition, CD4 IL21 could be detected in RA ST that do not co-localise with either IL17 or IL22.Conclusions IL21 and IL21-blocking therapy is now being tested in a number of diseases.The results of this study enhance the rationale for a trial of IL21 blockade in RA where it may provide a useful adjunct in those patients refractory to or unable to tolerate anti-TNF therapy.
Bcl-2 antagonist apogossypol (NSC736630) displays single-agent activity in Bcl-2–transgenic mice and has superior efficacy with less toxicity compared with gossypol (NSC19048)
Authors: Shinichi Kitada, Christina L. Kress, Maryla Krajewska, Lee Jia, Maurizio Pellecchia, John C. Reed
Journal: Blood (2008)
Modulation of Oncogenic Transcription and Alternative Splicing by β-Catenin and an RNA Aptamer in Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Hee Kyu Lee, Yong Seok Choi, Young Ae Park, Sunjoo Jeong
Journal: Cancer Research (2006)

Activated beta-catenin regulates the transcription of oncogenic target genes and is critical for tumorigenesis. Because nuclear functions are frequently coupled, we investigated whether it also has a role in alternative splicing of oncogenic genes. We showed that stabilized beta-catenin caused alternative splicing of estrogen receptor-beta pre-mRNA in colon cancer cells. To establish a direct role of beta-catenin in regulated splicing, we selected a high-affinity RNA aptamer that associated with beta-catenin in vivo. Nuclear localized aptamer inhibited beta-catenin-dependent transcription of cyclin D1 and c-myc in colon cancer cells; thus, cells stably expressing the aptamer exhibited cell cycle arrest and reduced tumor forming potential. Most significantly, the aptamer prevented the alternative splicing induced by stabilized beta-catenin. Taken together, our results establish that beta-catenin has an important role in both transcription and splicing, and that its action can be modulated by a high-affinity RNA aptamer. The RNA aptamer could be further developed as a specific inhibitor for cancer therapeutics.
Vinyl chloride: inhalation teratology study in mice, rats and rabbits.
Authors: J A John, F A Smith, B A Schwetz
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1981)

These studies evaluated the effects of inhaled vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) on mouse, rat and rabbit embryonal and fetal development. Groups of pregnant CF-1 mice, Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand white rabbits were exposed to 500 ppm VCM for 7 hr daily during the period of major organogenesis. Subsequently, other groups of mice were similarly exposed to 50 ppm VCM, and rats and rabbits were exposed to 2500 ppm. While maternal toxicity was observed, exposure to VCM did not cause significant embryonal or fetal toxicity and was not teratogenic in any of the three species at the concentrations tested. Simultaneous exposure of some of the pregnant animals to VCM by inhalation plus 15% ethanol in the drinking water resulted in toxic effects greater than those associated with exposure to VCM alone in the three species. The fetal effects observed were similar to those reported for these three species following administration of ethanol without VCM exposure.
Enzyme Activity, Acidic Nuclear Proteins, and Prognosis in Human Breast Cancer
Authors: J. A. Smith, R. J. B. King, B. F. Meggitt, L. N. Allen
Journal: BMJ (1970)

The activities of the enzymes lactate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and phosphohexose isomerase in primary human breast cancer biopsies are shown to be related to the time between mastectomy and recurrence of the cancer. These enzymes have higher activity in malignant breast tissues generally than in non-malignant breast tissues. In tumours from patients with long free periods these differences are not apparent.Evidence is presented which suggests that two different types of breast cancer can be distinguished according to the relative amounts of phosphohexose isomerase and acidic nuclear proteins. It is suggested that this difference may be related to hormone responsiveness.
DO CHANGES OF BRAIN NATRIURETIC AND N-TERMINAL PRO-B-TYPE NATRIURETIC PEPTIDES PREDICT CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS IN HEART FAILURE PATIENTS? A META-ANALYSIS OF 27 TRIALS IN 15,820 PATIENTS
Authors: Gianluigi Savarese, Francesca Musella, Carmen D&apos;Amore, Enrico Vassallo, Teresa Losco, Milena Cecere, Francesco Gambardella, Laura Petraglia, Pasquale Perrone-Filardi
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2012)
Increasing Use of Smokeless Tobacco Leads to Fears of Young Lives Being 'Snuffed Out'
Authors: Marsha F. Goldsmith
Journal: JAMA (1988)

SNUFF FIGURED in the first medical report linking tobacco use and cancer. In<i>A Smoking Gun: How the Tobacco Industry Gets Away With Murder</i>(Whalen EM, Philadelphia, George F. Stickley Co, 1984), Elizabeth M. Whelan, ScD, executive director of the American Council on Science and Health, New York City, cites two clinical cases documented by English physician John Hill in 1761. In his paper entitled "Cautions Against the Immoderate Use of Snuff," Hill recounted two cases, one involving a "gentleman" and the other a "lady of a sober and virtuous life." Both had a hopeless prognosis, in his opinion, because "long and immoderate use of snuff' had resulted in each case in an obstructive growth in a nostril "and all the frightful symptoms of cancer." Hill's cautions, like so many warnings issued over the years concerning the dangers of tobacco, mostly went unheeded. In the United States today, oral snuff
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Motor Functions and Decrease Neurodegeneration in Ataxic Mice
Authors: Jonathan Jones, Alicia Estirado, Carolina Redondo, Jesus Pacheco-Torres, Maria-Salomé Sirerol-Piquer, José M Garcia-Verdugo, Salvador Martinez
Journal: Molecular Therapy (2014)

The main objective of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of using bone marrow-derived stem cells in treating a neurodegenerative disorder such as Friedreich's ataxia. In this disease, the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord are the first to degenerate. Two groups of mice were injected intrathecally with mesenchymal stem cells isolated from either wild-type or Fxntm1Mkn/Tg(FXN)YG8Pook (YG8) mice. As a result, both groups presented improved motor skills compared to nontreated mice. Also, frataxin expression was increased in the dorsal root ganglia of the treated groups, along with lower expression of the apoptotic markers analyzed. Furthermore, the injected stem cells expressed the trophic factors NT3, NT4, and BDNF, which bind to sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia and increase their survival. The expression of antioxidant enzymes indicated that the stem cell-treated mice presented higher levels of catalase and GPX-1, which are downregulated in the YG8 mice. There were no significant differences in the use of stem cells isolated from wild-type and YG8 mice. In conclusion, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation, both autologous and allogeneic, is a feasible therapeutic option to consider in delaying the neurodegeneration observed in the dorsal root ganglia of Friedreich's ataxia patients.
Case-Finding Instruments for Depression in Primary Care Settings
Authors: Cynthia D. Mulrow
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1995)

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of case-finding instruments for identifying patients with major depression in primary care settings. Data Sources: A MEDLINE search of the English-language medical literature; bibliographies of selected papers; and experts. Study Selection: Studies that were done in primary care settings with unselected patients and that compared case-finding instruments with accepted diagnostic criterion standards for major depression were selected. Data Synthesis: 9 case-finding instruments were assessed in 18 studies. More than 15 000 patients received screening with a case-finding instrument; approximately 5300 of these received criterion standard assessment. Case-finding instruments ranged in length from 2 to 28 questions. Average administration times ranged from less than 2 minutes to 6 minutes. Sensitivities and specificities for detecting major depression ranged from 67% to 99% and from 40% to 95%, respectively. No significant differences between instruments were found. Overall sensitivity was 84% (95% CI, 79% to 89%); overall specificity was 72% (CI, 67% to 77%). If a case-finding instrument were administered to 100 primary care patients with a 5% prevalence of major depression, the clinician could expect that 31 patients would screen positive, that 4 of the 31 would have major depression, and that 1 patient with major depression would not be identified. Conclusions: Several instruments with reasonable operating characteristics are available to help primary care clinicians identify patients with major depression. Because the operating characteristics of these instruments are similar, selection of a particular instrument should depend on issues such as feasibility, administration and scoring times, and the instruments' ability to serve additional purposes, such as monitoring severity or response to therapy.
Methylprednisolone injections reduced carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms at 10 weeks and surgery at 1 year
Authors: Achilleas Thoma
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2014)

Source Citation Atroshi I, Flondell M, Hofer M, Ranstam J. Methylprednisolone injections for the carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2013;159:309-17. 24026316
RELAPSING FEVER: REPORT OF THREE CASES, ONE IN A SIX DAY OLD INFANT
Authors: Sidney K. Morrison
Journal: JAMA (1941)

That relapsing fever has been rarely observed in the United States, as recently stated by Neilson, 1 is not exactly true, particularly as concerns California and Nevada. Endemic foci at Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains some 60 miles east of Los Angeles and at Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada Mountains about 50 miles from Reno, Nev., have been known for a number of years. About twelve years ago Dr. Charles W. Bonynge demonstrated the spirochetes (Borrelia recurrentis) of relapsing fever in blood smears of a patient from Big Bear Lake at one of the monthly meetings of the Los Angeles Pathological Society, and the members present were impressed by the rarity of cases at that time.  Since 1933 we have seen about half a dozen patients with relapsing fever each summer here in Reno, nearly all the patients acquiring the infection at Lake Tahoe, where the
The anti-arrhythmic effects of myocardial ischaemia. Relation to reperfusion arrhythmias?
Authors: T. PODZUWEIT, K.-H. BINZ, P. NENNSTIEL, W. FLAIG
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1989)

Ventricular tachycardia was induced in the intact non-ischaemic pig heart by intramyocardial or intracoronary infusions of noradrenaline or N6, O2′ -dibutyryl-cAMP. The chemically induced tachycardia was consistently stopped within 10 to 30 s by occluding the coronary artery supplying the infusion area. This ischaemic effect was readily reversed by coronary reperfusion, with ventricular tachycardia resuming within seconds after release of the occlusion. In contrast to the immediate effect of myocardial ischaemia, it took several minutes for the tachycardia to cease after the infusion of arrhythmogenic compounds was stopped. Pacing experiments showed that the effect of myocardial ischaemia on ventricular tachycardia was probably not due to a conduction block. The anti-arrhythmic property of myocardial ischaemia was separate from its known effect of decreasing the ventricular fibrillation threshold for electrical stimulation. The increased vulnerability of the acutely ischaemic myocardium to fibrillation was apparent in experiments in which ectopic activity was induced in the non-ischaemic part of the myocardium. In these experiments ventricular fibrillation consistently ensued within 6 min following distal occlusion of the anterior descending coronary artery. By contrast, ventricular fibrillation was not precipitated by coronary artery occlusion or local infusion of arrhythmogenic compounds alone. Cyclic AMP was shown to accumulate in ischaemic myocardium. An association existed between cAMP accumulation and the intensity of early ischaemic arrhythmias as well as reperfusion arrhythmias. The highest incidence of ventricular fibrillation was found during reperfusion, at peak myocardial cAMP levels. These findings suggest: (1) Noradrenaline and dibutyryl-cAMP exert arrhythmogenic effects preferentially in the intact, non-ischaemic myocardium, the effects being attenuated in ischaemic myocardium by a paradoxical anti-arrhythmic effect of ischaemia. (2) In the acutely ischaemic heart, ventricular fibrillation may be precipitated by the emergence of ectopic activity outside the ischaemic area. (3) Arrhythmias and fibrillation occurring early after reperfusion may be caused by unmasking the effects of excitants (eg, noradrenaline or cAMP) arising during the antecedent period of ischaemia.
Vancomycin, Ticarcillin, and Amikacin Compared with Ticarcillin-Clavulanate and Amikacin in the Empirical Treatment of Febrile, Neutropenic Children with Cancer
Authors: Jerry L. Shenep, Walter T. Hughes, Paula K. Roberson, Kolleen R. Blankenship, Donald K. Baker, William H. Meyer, Francis Gigliotti, John W. Sixbey, Victor M. Santana, Sandor Feldman, Lennie Lott
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1988)

We assessed two antibiotic regimens — vancomycin, ticarcillin, and amikacin, as compared with a vancomycin placebo, ticarcillin–clavulanate, and amikacin — as initial empirical therapy for febrile, neutropenic children with cancer. In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, the planned 10-day treatment was unsuccessful in 15 percent of the vancomycin, ticarcillin, and amikacin group (n = 53), as compared with 38 percent of the group receiving ticarcillin–clavulanate and amikacin (n = 48) (P = 0.010). Of 10 episodes of breakthrough bacteremia, 9 (1 fatal) occurred in patients treated with ticarcillin–clavulanate and amikacin (P = 0.006). Each of the 10 microbial isolates was a gram-positive bacterium with similar susceptibilities to vancomycin and ticarcillin–clavulanate in vitro. Both regimens were well tolerated. None of the patients had detectable renal dysfunction, but those receiving vancomycin, ticarcillin, and amikacin were more likely to have twofold increases in serum hepatic-enzyme activity. Rashes consistent with the "red-man" syndrome occurred in three patients upon the infusion of vancomycin and in three others who received a placebo. We conclude that the combination of vancomycin, ticarcillin, and amikacin is more effective than ticarcillin–clavulanate and amikacin as empirical antibiotic therapy in clinical settings in which gram-positive bacteremias are a serious problem. (N Engl J Med 1988; 319:1053–8.)