tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Challenges with QuantiFERON-TB Gold Assay for Large-Scale, Routine Screening of U.S. Healthcare Workers
Authors: Madeline L. Slater, Gary Welland, Madhukar Pai, Julie Parsonnet, Niaz Banaei
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2013)

Rationale: North American occupational health programs that switched from the tuberculin skin test (TST) to IFN-γ release assays for latent tuberculosis screening are reporting challenges with interpretation of serial testing results in healthcare workers (HCWs). However, limited data exist on the reproducibility of serial IFN-γ release assay results in low-risk HCWs.Objectives: To evaluate the short-term reproducibility of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) in a large cohort of HCWs and to define a QFT cutoff yielding a conversion rate equivalent to historical TST rates.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the QFT results from HCWs with two or more QFT tests performed between June 2008 and July 2010 at an academic institution. Outcome measures were proportions of reproducibility, quantitative results, and conversion rates with alternate QFT cutoffs.Measurements and Main Results: A total of 9,153 HCWs with two or more QFT tests were included in the analysis. Of 8,227 individuals with a negative result, 4.4% (n = 361) converted their QFT result over 2 years. A total of 261 (72.3%) of the HCWs with conversions underwent repeat short-term testing after the first positive result with 64.8% reverting (n = 169). An IFN-γ cutoff of 5.3 IU/ml or higher (manufacturer's cutoff is ≥0.35 IU/ml) yielded a conversion rate of 0.4%, equal to our institution's historical TST conversion rate.Conclusions: The manufacturer's definition of QFT conversion results in an inflated conversion rate that is incompatible with our low-risk setting. A significantly higher QFT cutoff value is needed to match the historical TST conversion rate. Nonreproducible conversions in most converters suggested false-positive results.
PREDICTION OF BLEEDING IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION: A RISK SCORE USING PRE-PROCEDURAL CLINICAL VARIABLES
Authors: Megan Coylewright, Paul Sorajja, Ryan J. Lennon, Malcolm R. Bell, Henry H. Ting, Charanjit S. Rihal, John F. Bresnahan, Mandeep Singh, David R. Holmes
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2011)
Platelet autoantibodies in patients with chronic liver disease
Authors: Jaime Pereira, Luigi Accatino, Jorge Alfaro, Javier Brahm, Patricia Hidalgo, Diego Mezzano
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (1995)

Abstract The thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease (CLD) has been attributed mainly to hypersplenism, although other factors such as reduced mean life span with increased platelet turnover have also been demonstrated. Immunological abnormalities have been described in the pathogenesis and progression of CLD. In this sense, many studies have reported elevated levels of platelet associated IgG (PAIgG) in patients with CLD, and it has been suggested that PAIgG could represent true antiplatelet antibody. In this study we used a glycoprotein (GP)‐specific immunoassay (MACE) to determine whether PAIgG or circulating antiplatelet antibodies, reacted against the GPIIb/IIIa or GPIb/IX complexes, in patients with CLD. Thirty‐six patients with CLD of diverse etiology were studied (20 female, mean age 53 years, range 38–75 years). 23 out of 36 patients (64%) had anti‐GP antibodies in MACE. Particularly, 12 had anti‐GPIb, 4 anti‐GPIIb/IIIa, and 7 had both types of autoantibodies. The existence of these anti‐GP antibodies was not related with the blood platelet count or etiology of CLD. These data show that in patients with CLD of diverse origin, there is a high prevalence of autoantibodies reacting specifically with platelet membrane GP, which constitutes the first evidence of the specific nature of platelet‐bound IgG in CLD. These findings suggest that in patients with CLD, an immune mechanism may participate in inducing or aggravating the thrombocytopenia.
Evidence for radical species as intermediates in cadmium/zinc-metallothionein-dependent DNA damage in vitro.
Authors: T Müller, R Schuckelt, L Jaenicke
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1994)

Toxicologic data on cadmium (Cd) indicate that intracellular metallothionein (MT) is protective for Cd exposure, whereas extracellular Cd-containing MT might be toxic. Moreover, Cd is suspected to be a carcinogen though the underlying mechanism is not known. Here we report on the genotoxic activity of cadmium/zinc-metallothionein (Cd/Zn-MT) in a cell-free test system: a concentration-dependent increase in DNA strand breaks was detected with increasing doses of Cd/Zn-MT, whereas no DNA strand breaks were observed in the presence of heat-denatured MT or Cd or Zn ions alone. Modifications of native Cd/Zn-MT by the metal ion-chelating agent EDTA or the sulfhydryl group alkylating agents N-ethylmaleimide and iodoacetamide suggest that the various cysteine residues of MT, together with the attached heavy metal ions, may be involved in the DNA cleavage reaction. Furthermore, DNA strand breaks caused by Cd/Zn-MT seem more likely to be random than sequence- or base-specific. Results from experiments with radical scavengers and electron spin resonance spectroscopy point to radical species formed by Cd/Zn-MT as mediators of the DNA damage. Thus, the actual activity of Cd/Zn-MT--whether protective or damaging--appears to depend on various parameters governed by the extra- and intracellular environment.
WHOLE BODY BIODISTRIBUT1ON AND BRAIN SPECT IMAGING OF THE DOPAMINE TRANSPORTER IN HEALTH Y SUBJECTS AND PARKINSON??S PATIENTS WITH (123-I)??-CIT
Authors: J Seibyl, E Wallace, S Zoghbi, E Smith, R Baldwin, R Innis, P Hoffer
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1993)

Seibyl, J.; Wallace, E.; Zoghbi, S.; Smith, E.; Baldwin, R.; Innis, R.; Hoffer, P. Author Information
A de novo paradigm for mental retardation
Authors: Lisenka E L M Vissers, Joep de Ligt, Christian Gilissen, Irene Janssen, Marloes Steehouwer, Petra de Vries, Bart van Lier, Peer Arts, Nienke Wieskamp, Marisol del Rosario, Bregje W M van Bon, Alexander Hoischen, Bert B A de Vries, Han G Brunner, Joris A Veltman
Journal: Nature Genetics (2010)
Time dependent neural network prognostic model for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
Authors: G. Rocca, K.M. Boberg, T. Egeland, A. Bergquist, U. Broomé, L. Caballeria, R. Chapman, R. Hultcrantz, S. Mitchell, A. Parés, F. Rosina, E. Schrumpf
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2000)
Dietary manipulation in childhood atopic dermatitis
Authors: S.A. WEBBER, R.A.C. GRAHAM-BROWN, P.E. HUTCHINSON, D.A. BURNS
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1989)

The dietary habits of 73 children seen consecutively in a dermatology out-patient department were studied to ascertain the nature and frequency of dietary manipulation and to assess any potential hazards. Although most children had only mild flexural dermatitis, 71% had had significant alterations made to their diet before attendance at hospital. Almost all diets were unsupervised and only six children had seen a dietitian. Over half had been started on diets before any professional advice had been sought. Information on diet had come from media, books or magazines (51%), friends (32%), general practitioners (27%) and district nurses or health visitors (18%). The major dietary alterations included the exclusion of eggs, dairy products and food additives, and the use of soya and goat's milk. Under 10% of patients claimed benefit from these largely unsupervised diets. Harmful practices included the frequent use of unboiled, unpasteurized goat's milk, unmodified goat's milk in a baby of 4 months and the use of severely restricted diets. Three children (6%) in the diet group had been on diets which were considered by a hospital dietitian to be particularly dangerous. However, there was no evidence of growth retardation, failure to thrive or specific deficiency syndromes in the group we studied. Uncontrolled, unsupervised and often prolonged dietary alterations are commonplace in children with atopic dermatitis. This is a potentially serious health problem.
IV and oral acyclovir surpass topical use
Authors: Catherine Macek
Journal: JAMA (1982)

Acyclovir can now be used intravenously (IV) to treat herpes simplex virus (HSV) type I and II infections in immunocompromised patients with recurrent disease, as well as in otherwise healthy patients with severe primary HSV infections. And a number of clinical trials with the antiviral agent indicate that IV administration is significantly more effective than topical treatment (<i>JAMA</i>[MEDICAL NEWS] 1982;247:3040-3041, 3045). "Herpes is a systemic disease," says Lawrence Corey, MD, associate professor of laboratory medicine and microbiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle (<i>JAMA</i>1982;248:1041-1049). He adds that for that reason it is helpful to have a systemic agent available. Corey has participated in a number of trials of acyclovir in topical, IV, and oral forms. (The last form has not yet been approved for clinical use by the Food and Drug Administration.) At the recent Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in Miami Beach,
A Peptide Selected by Biopanning Identifies the Integrin αvβ6 as a Prognostic Biomarker for Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Anissa N. Elayadi, Kausar N. Samli, Ludmila Prudkin, Ying-Horng Liu, Aihua Bian, Xian-Jin Xie, Ignacio I. Wistuba, Jack A. Roth, Michael J. McGuire, Kathlynn C. Brown
Journal: Cancer Research (2007)

Abstract The development of new modes of diagnosis and targeted therapy for lung cancer is dependent on the identification of unique cell surface features on cancer cells and isolation of reagents that bind with high affinity and specificity to these biomarkers. We recently isolated a 20-mer peptide which binds to the lung adenocarcinoma cell line, H2009, from a phage-displayed peptide library. We show here that the cellular receptor for this peptide, TP H2009.1, is the uniquely expressed integrin, αvβ6, and the peptide binding to lung cancer cell lines correlates to integrin expression. The peptide is able to mediate cell-specific uptake of a fluorescent nanoparticle via this receptor. Expression of αvβ6 was assessed on 311 human lung cancer samples. The expression of this integrin is widespread in early-stage nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Log-rank test and Cox regression analyses show that expression of this integrin is significantly associated with poor patient outcome. Preferential expression is observed in the tumors compared with the surrounding normal lung tissue. Our data indicate that αvβ6 is a prognostic biomarker for NSCLC and may serve as a receptor for targeted therapies. Thus, cell-specific peptides isolated from phage biopanning can be used for the discovery of cell surface biomarkers, emphasizing the utility of peptide libraries to probe the surface of a cell. [Cancer Res 2007;67(12):5889–95]
Hepatitis B virus mutations associated with fulminant hepatitis induce apoptosis in primary<i>Tupaia</i>hepatocytes
Authors: Thomas F. Baumert, Chun Yang, Peter Schürmann, Josef Köck, Christian Ziegler, Carsten Grüllich, Michael Nassal, T. Jake Liang, Hubert E. Blum, Fritz von Weizsäcker
Journal: Hepatology (2005)

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core promoter mutations have been implicated in the pathogenesis of fulminant hepatitis B. Due to the limited availability of primary human hepatocytes, the functional characterization of HBV mutants has been performed predominantly in transformed cells, which may not represent ideal model systems for studying virus–cell interactions. We and others have shown that primary hepatocytes of the tree shrew Tupaia belangeri support HBV infection and replication. In this study, we used primary Tupaia hepatocytes to analyze the phenotype of two HBV core promoter mutations that have been associated with a clinical outbreak of fatal fulminant hepatitis. Similar to previous findings in human hepatoma cells, the HBV core promoter mutations resulted in enhanced viral replication and core expression. Surprisingly, however, the presence of the mutations had a marked effect on hepatocyte viability not previously observed in hepatoma cells. Reduced cell viability was found to be due to the induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by caspase-3 activation and nuclear fragmentation. In conclusion, HBV mutants exhibit a novel phenotype in primary hepatocytes distinctly different from previous findings in hepatoma cell lines. This phenotype may have important implications for the understanding of the fulminant clinical course associated with HBV mutations. Supplementary material for this article can be found on the HEPATOLOGY website (http://interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0270-9139/suppmat/index.html). (HEPATOLOGY 2005.)41:247–256
Sexual Functioning in Chronically Depressed Patients Treated With SSRI Antidepressants: A Pilot Study
Authors: Lisa A. Piazza, John C. Markowitz, James H. Kocsis, Andrew C. Leon, Laura Portera, Nina L. Miller, Douglas Adler
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1997)

This prospective study assessed changes in depression and sexual functioning in chronically depressed men and women during treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).Twenty-five subjects (14 women, 11 men) with DSM-III-R dysthymia, chronic major depression, or double depression were administered the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale before and after 6 weeks of treatment with sertraline or paroxetine.As measured by scores on the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, desire, psychological arousal, and overall sexual functioning significantly improved in women; orgasm delay, orgasm satisfaction, and overall sexual functioning significantly worsened in men.This study suggests that after SSRI treatment, difficulties with desire and psychological arousal in depressed women tend to remit, whereas in men orgasmic dysfunction appears to be a side effect to medication.
Presentation of the H-Y antigen on Langerhans' cell-negative corneal grafts downregulates the cytotoxic T cell response and converts responder strain mice into phenotypic nonresponders.
Authors: J S Peeler, D G Callanan, M W Luckenbach, J Y Niederkorn
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1988)

We have used the murine cornea is an allograft model to investigate the relative roles of graft-derived IA+ APC (Langerhans' cells) and host-derived APC during the induction of CTL responses to H-Y. The natural exclusion of LC from the immunizing corneal graft led to a specific state of unresponsiveness to H-Y in responder strain mice, while inclusion of LC resulted in responsiveness. Failure to respond to H-Y could not be attributed to the absence of H-Y or IA antigen expression on the surface of LC-deficient grafts but instead, appeared to be due to active suppression of the T helper cell response during in vivo priming. Reprocessing of the H-Y antigen by host APC did not occur after immunization with H-Y presented on H-2-incompatible grafts unless presented initially by graft-derived LC. H-2 as well as some non-H-2 alloantigens were presented to the host without a requirement for donor-derived LC. Thus there appear to be differential requirements for the processing and presentation of alloantigens.
The Health and Functional Status of Veterans With Diabetes
Authors: Jessie H Ahroni, Edward J Boyko, Denise R Davignon, Roger E Pecoraro
Journal: Diabetes Care (1994)

OBJECTIVE To determine the extent of functional impairment among veterans with diabetes and investigate whether such functional impairment is associated with measures of glycemic control, sensory neuropathy, lower extremity macrovascular disease, or other comorbid conditions. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A 20-item general health survey (SF-20) developed by the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Group, was administered to 577 subjects participating in a prospective study of risk factors for diabetic foot ulceration. Measures of glycemic control and neurovascular disease included GHb, sensory lower extremity neuropathy assessed by aesthesiometry, and segmental lower extremity doppler blood pressures. RESULTS Veterans with diabetes have major decreases in all domains of functional status; 87% were in poor health in terms of physical functioning and 86% in terms of health perceptions. Those with advancing age, symptoms of neuropathy and claudication, and a medical history of complications associated with diabetes had significantly more impairment of health status than those without. GHb values did not correlate with functional status measures. Subjects with neuropathy had statistically significant functional impairment. Subjects with vasculopathy had only two significantly low health status measures. CONCLUSIONS In summary, the findings from this survey reveal that veterans with diabetes have low functional status scores. The presence of symptoms and complications accounts for only part of the impairments experienced by this group.
New act regulating human organ transplantation could facilitate organ donation
Authors: T. E Woodcock
Journal: BMJ (2002)

EDITOR—As the rapid responses to Hoffenberg's reminiscences show, the United Kingdom has not been spared misunderstandings and controversy over death and brain function.1 Skegg has chronicled the confusion that followed the report by the conference of Medical Royal Colleges in 1976, when the conference was not asked (nor apparently was it able) to agree whether patients with brain stem …
Polymer-Free Sirolimus- and Probucol-Eluting Versus New Generation Zotarolimus-Eluting Stents in Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Steffen Massberg, Robert A. Byrne, Adnan Kastrati, Stefanie Schulz, Jürgen Pache, Jörg Hausleiter, Tareq Ibrahim, Massimiliano Fusaro, Ilka Ott, Albert Schömig, Karl-Ludwig Laugwitz, Julinda Mehilli
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background— Durable polymer coatings have been implicated in mid- and long-term adverse events after drug-eluting stent implantation. A polymer-free dual-drug sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stent and a new generation permanent polymer zotarolimus-eluting stent are recently developed technologies demonstrating encouraging results. Methods and Results— In a clinical trial with minimal exclusion criteria, we randomly assigned 3002 patients to treatment with sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stents versus zotarolimus-eluting stents. The trial was designed to demonstrate noninferiority of the sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stents. The primary end point was the combined incidence of cardiac death, target-vessel–related myocardial infarction, or target-lesion revascularization at 1-year follow-up. Follow-up angiography was scheduled at 6 to 8 months. The sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stent was noninferior to the zotarolimus-eluting stent in terms of occurrence of the primary end point (13.1% versus 13.5%, respectively, P noninferiority =0.006; hazard ratio=0.97, 95% confidence interval, 0.78 to 1.19; P superiority =0.74). The incidence of definite/probable stent thrombosis was low in both groups (1.1% versus 1.2%, respectively; hazard ratio=0.91 [95% confidence interval, 0.45 to 1.84], P =0.80). With regard to angiographic efficacy, there were no differences between the sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stent and the zotarolimus-eluting stent in terms of either in-segment binary angiographic restenosis (13.3% versus 13.4% respectively; P =0.95) or in-stent late luminal loss (0.31±0.58 mm versus 0.29±0.56 mm, respectively; P =0.46). Conclusion— In this large-scale study powered for clinical end points, a polymer-free sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stent was noninferior to a new generation durable polymer-based zotarolimus-eluting stent out to 12 months. Clinical Trial Registration— http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier NCT 00598533.
Abstract 14877: Biventricular Structural And Functional Responses To Aortic Constriction In A Rabbit Model Of Chronic Right Ventricular Pressure Overload
Authors: Christian Apitz, Osami Honjo, Tilman Humpl, Jing Li, Renato Assad, Mi-young Cho, James Hong, Mark Friedberg, Andrew N Redington
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Introduction: Chronic right ventricular (RV) pressure overload may result in diminished RV function. Aortic constriction may improve RV function in acute right heart failure by harnessing beneficia...
Nitric Oxide Modulates Mitochondrial Respiration in Failing Human Heart
Authors: Kit E. Loke, Sarra K. Laycock, Seema Mital, Michael S. Wolin, Robert Bernstein, Mehmet Oz, Linda Addonizio, Gabor Kaley, Thomas H. Hintze
Journal: Circulation (1999)

Background —Our objective for this study was to investigate whether nitric oxide (NO) modulates tissue respiration in the failing human myocardium. Methods and Results —Left ventricular free wall and right ventricular tissue samples were taken from 14 failing explanted human hearts at the time of transplantation. Tissue oxygen consumption was measured with a Clark-type oxygen electrode in an airtight stirred bath containing Krebs solution buffered with HEPES at 37°C (pH 7.4). Rate of decrease in oxygen concentration was expressed as a percentage of the baseline, and results of the highest dose are indicated. Bradykinin (10 −4 mol/L, −21±5%), amlodipine (10 −5 mol/L, −14±5%), the ACE inhibitor ramiprilat (10 −4 mol/L, −21±2%), and the neutral endopeptidase inhibitor thiorphan (10 −4 mol/L, −16±5%) all caused concentration-dependent decreases in tissue oxygen consumption. Responses to bradykinin (−2±6%), amlodipine (−2±4%), ramiprilat (−5±6%), and thiorphan (−4±7%) were significantly attenuated after NO synthase blockade with N -nitro- l -arginine methyl ester (10 −4 mol/L; all P &lt;0.05). NO-releasing compounds S -nitroso- N -acetyl-penicillamine (10 −4 mol/L, −34±5%) and nitroglycerin (10 −4 mol/L, −21±5%), also decreased tissue oxygen consumption in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the reduction in tissue oxygen consumption in response to S -nitroso- N -acetyl-penicillamine (−35±7%) or nitroglycerin (−16±5%) was not significantly affected by N -nitro- l -arginine methyl ester. Conclusions —These results indicate that the modulation of oxygen consumption by both endogenous and exogenous NO is preserved in the failing human myocardium and that the inhibition of kinin degradation plays an important role in the regulation of mitochondrial respiration.
CDC Nears Close of First Half-Century
Authors: Paul Cotton
Journal: JAMA (1990)

WHAT STARTED AS a small wartime mosquito-eradication effort is now the preeminent epidemiologic agency in the world. CDC activities have swelled to undreamed of proportions, covering everything from a scientific assault on violence to the cloning of the CDC model to other countries. Yet the philosophy and approach remain virtually unchanged with time. "Insofar as [diseases] are preventable, they should not be allowed to develop. The best way to forestall them is to foster training, investigations, and control technology as continuing and permanent elements under federal auspices," said Justin Andrews, MD, deputy chief of the CDC when it was officially established in 1946. The letters then stood for Communicable Disease Center. The CDC evolved out of the Office of Malaria Control in War Areas, which was stationed in Atlanta during World War II to control<i>Anopheles gambiae</i>mosquitoes that posed a threat to soldiers and war-related industrial workers in the