tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Complete mattress encasing is not superior to partial encasing in the reduction of mite allergen
Authors: P Vichyanond, S Uthaisangsook, S Ruangruk, N Malainual
Journal: Allergy (1999)

Background: Partial mattress encasing was found to be effective in reducing exposure to mite allergen in our previous investigation. We aimed to compare the short‐term efficacy of partial and complete mattress encasing and to study mite‐allergen levels within these mattresses. Methods: Thirty‐one mattresses with high mite‐allergen content were selected and were randomized into one of three study groups (10 for the control group [CG], 11 for the partial encasing group [PE], and 10 for the complete encasing group [CE]). A special mite‐impermeable membrane was used. In the PE group, mattresses were encased on tops and sides only, whereas complete mattress encasement was undertaken in the CE group. Regular bedsheets were applied to all groups. Dust samples were collected over bedsheets at baseline and at months 3 and 6, and over mattresses at baseline and at the end of the study. Group I mite allergens in these samples were measured and compared. Results: At baseline, mattress mite allergens were similar in all groups ( P =0.84). Mite allergen at the surfaces of bedsheets (over membranes) from both encasing groups were significantly reduced as compared to the CG group ( P =0.003). Such reduction was maintained throughout the 6‐month study. At the end of the study, mite antigens within mattresses in the CG and CE groups were increased as compared to baselines, whereas a decrease was observed in the PE group. Significant difference was observed only between the CG and PE groups ( P =0.006). Conclusions: Mattress encasing with a special membrane in this study was highly efficacious in the reduction of mite allergen (&gt;90%). However, with complete encasing, mite allergens within mattresses were increased at the end of the study. Complete mattress encasing in a tropical environment does not offer any advantage over partial encasing.
Understanding brain circuits and their dynamics
Authors: Antoni Gomila, Paco Calvo
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2010)

Abstract We argue that Anderson's “massive redeployment hypothesis” (MRH) needs further development in several directions. First, a thoroughgoing criticism of the several “embodied cognition” alternatives is required. Second, the course between the Scylla of full holism and the Charybdis of structural-functional modularism must be plotted more distinctly. Third, methodologies better suited to reveal brain circuits must be brought in. Finally, the constraints that naturalistic settings provide should be considered.
Quality of Life Assessment after Patient Education in a Randomized Controlled Study on Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: FRODE GALLEFOSS, PER SIGVALD BAKKE, PÅL KJ→ RSGAARD
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1999)

The effect of patient education in patients with asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is not previously investigated using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). We randomly allocated at our out-patient clinic 78 asthmatics and 62 patients with COPD to either a control or an intervention group. Intervention consisted of two 2-h group sessions and one to two individual sessions each by a nurse and a physiotherapist. A self-management plan was developed. Baseline quality of life assessment showed comparable scores independent of treatment groups among asthmatics and patients with COPD, but statistically significantly better scores (p < 0.05) for the educated asthma group after 12 mo compared with the control group. This aligned with the 12-mo SGRQ assessment, which revealed better symptoms, activity, impact, and total scores by 11 (p < 0.02), 15 (p < 0.01), 19 (p < 0.001), and 16 (p < 0.001) units, respectively. Patient education among asthmatics increased the FEV1 by a mean value of 6.1% (SD, 12) compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Education among patients with COPD did not indicate a significant increase in HRQoL as measured by the SGRQ or increased FEV1. We conclude that patient education increased HRQoL and FEV1 among asthmatics, but not among patients with COPD.
HEAT STROKE AT BOULDER DAM
Authors: J. R. McDaniel
Journal: JAMA (1935)

To the Editor:—  During the last few months I have read several articles referring to heat prostration at Boulder Dam, also the prevention of sunstroke among the men employed by the liberal use of salt and an adequate supply of drinking water. I have been connected with the work at Boulder Dam since the beginning and it seems to me that other factors must be taken into consideration besides merely the prevention as mentioned.  Boulder Dam was begun before any adequate facilities were available to house or feed the men. Many of the men were quartered at bunk houses at the river camp, which was approximately 1,200 feet lower in elevation than Boulder City. The bunkhouses consisted of one large room filled with cots, in which 150 or 200 men were quartered. There was no air conditioning in those days. Water was hauled from Las Vegas and often allowed to
Musical Notes of a Physician
Authors: Peter F. Ostwald
Journal: JAMA (1993)

Affinities between medicine and music can be traced back to antiquity. The Greek god Apollo (cited in the Hippocratic oath) was supposed to have championed music as well as the healing arts. Certain patterns of rhythm, melody, and harmony are felt to be soothing whereas others produce excitement. Practitioners ranging from priests to music therapists have long availed themselves of these acoustical properties to treat various ailments. Much has been written about the specific effects of musical instruments— eroticism induced by violins and flutes, enthusiasm by drums and trumpets, sorrow by trombones and bassoons—and skillful musicians surely know how to control our moods.<sup>1</sup> Although it seems unlikely that any song, march, or minuet will ever have therapeutic efficacy comparable to that achieved by specific pharmacologic or surgical interventions, there can be no doubt that music and the performing arts generally have profound and lasting consequences for human well-being. Today
Shear-Induced Platelet Aggregation Is Inhibited by In Vivo Infusion of an Anti–Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Antibody Fragment, c7E3 Fab, in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angioplasty
Authors: Konstantinos Konstantopoulos, Suraj G. Kamat, Andrew I. Schafer, Eugenio I. Bañez, Robert Jordan, Neal S. Kleiman, J. David Hellums
Journal: Circulation (1995)

Background Elevated levels of shear stress such as those that occur in stenotic arterial vessels can directly activate and aggregate platelets and thus contribute to the pathogenesis of acute arterial thrombosis. This shear-induced platelet aggregation (SIPA) is mediated by von Willebrand factor binding to platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) Ib and GPIIb/IIIa. The chimeric Fab fragment of the monoclonal antibody 7E3 (c7E3 Fab) that binds selectively to GPIIb/IIIa is under clinical evaluation in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). This study was undertaken to investigate the effects on ex vivo SIPA of c7E3 Fab administered to patients undergoing PTCA. Methods and Results Six patients received aspirin (325 mg) and boluses of heparin (12 000 U) followed by c7E3 Fab 0.25 mg/kg. Blood collected from each patient before and after heparin treatment and at various time points after c7E3 Fab administration was subjected to laminar shear stress in a cone-and-plate viscometer. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the extents of platelet aggregation and of antibody binding to GPIIb/IIIa. Results indicate that c7E3 Fab injection resulted in a rapid, extensive blockade of GPIIb/IIIa receptors (98.6±0.2%) and a 50% inhibition of ex vivo platelet aggregation induced by shear stress. c7E3 Fab also completely abolished the formation of large platelet aggregates (“large” refers to particles &gt;10 μm in equivalent sphere diameter), which are presumably the aggregates of greatest clinical significance. Partial reversibility of the inhibition was noted within 2 days after drug administration, but even after 1 week, platelet function had not been fully restored. Conclusions This study demonstrates that c7E3 Fab is a potent inhibitor of SIPA, which may be an important mechanism of its beneficial effect in the treatment of arterial occlusive diseases and in the prevention of thrombotic complications of coronary artery disease after angioplasty.
Immunohistochemical localization of transforming growth factor beta isoforms in asbestos-related diseases.
Authors: J Jagirdar, T C Lee, J Reibman, L I Gold, C Aston, R Bégin, W N Rom
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1997)

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), a multifunctional cytokine and growth factor, plays a key role in scarring and fibrotic processes because of its ability to induce extracellular matrix proteins and modulate the growth and immune function of many cell types. These effects are important in inflammatory disorders with fibrosis and cancer. The asbestos-related diseases are characterized by fibrosis in the lower respiratory tract and pleura and increased occurrence of lung cancer and mesothelioma. We performed immunohistochemistry with isoform-specific antibodies to the three TGF-beta isoforms on 16 autopsy lungs from Quebec, Canada, asbestos miners and millers. There was increased immunolocalization of all three TGF-beta isoforms in the fibrotic lesions of asbestosis and pleural fibrosis. The hyperplastic type II pneumocytes contained all three isoforms. By contrast, there was differential spatial immunostaining for the TGF-beta isoforms in malignant mesothelioma, with TGF-beta 1 in the stroma but TGF-beta 2 in the tumor cells. These data are consistent with an important role for TGF-beta in accumulation of extracellular matrix and cell proliferation in asbestos-related diseases.
BRAIN BLOOD FLOW SPECT EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF INTRA-ARTERIAL PAPAVERINE FOR CEREBRAL VASOSPASM
Authors: DH Lewis, JM Eskridge, DW Newell, HR Winn
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1993)

Divisions of Nuclear Medicine and Neuroradiology of the Department of Radiology, Department of Neurological Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
Abstract 1347: The role of cell-cell contacts in the survival of extracellular matrix detached mammary epithelial cells
Authors: Raju Rayavarapu, Nicholas Pagani, Brendan Heiden, Zachary T. Schafer
Journal: Cancer Research (2014)

Abstract Normal epithelial cells require attachment to the extracellular matrix (ECM) in order to survive. When detached from the ECM, normal cells will undergo apoptosis through a process known as anoikis. The ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase is well known to antagonize anoikis although the precise molecular mechanisms are not entirely known. Interestingly, we have discovered that the overexpression of ErbB2 in non-malignant mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A) results in substantial aggregation of cells that coincides with protection from anoikis. Therefore, we were interested in understanding if these aggregates could be involved in the evasion of anoikis induction. We found that the disruption of cell-cell contacts in ErbB2-overexpressing MCF-10A cells (using methylcellulose or by antagonizing the formation of adherens junctions) induces caspase activation. Furthermore, in cells that form large aggregates, ErbB2 can physically interact with E-cadherin and EGFR in a fashion that prevents the internalization of EGFR and ultimately its lysosome mediated degradation. The disruption of aggregation causes the ErbB2/EGFR/E-Cadherin complex to fall apart and subsequently results in EGFR degradation in the lysosome. This degradation of EGFR diminishes signaling through the MAPK pathway which prevents the induction of anoikis. In summary, these data suggest that oncogenic signaling through ErbB2 promotes the formation of cellular aggregates that function to prevent EGFR from degradation and subsequently to block the induction of anoikis. Citation Format: Raju Rayavarapu, Nicholas Pagani, Brendan Heiden, Zachary T. Schafer. The role of cell-cell contacts in the survival of extracellular matrix detached mammary epithelial cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1347. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1347
Presence and severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a large prospective primary care cohort
Authors: Matthew J. Armstrong, Diarmaid D. Houlihan, Louise Bentham, Jean C. Shaw, Robert Cramb, Simon Olliff, Paramjit S. Gill, James M. Neuberger, Richard J. Lilford, Philip N. Newsome
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2011)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of abnormal LFTs in primary care, but there are no data defining its contribution nor reporting the range of NAFLD severity in this setting. This study seeks to calculate the range of disease severity of NAFLD in a primary care setting.Adult patients with incidental abnormal LFTs, in the absence of a previous history, or current symptoms/signs of liver disease were prospectively recruited from eight primary care practices in Birmingham. NAFLD was diagnosed as fatty liver on ultrasound, negative serological liver aetiology screen, and alcohol consumption ≤30 and ≤20 g/day in males and females, respectively. The NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS) was calculated to determine the presence or absence of advanced liver fibrosis in subjects identified with NAFLD.Data from 1118 adult patients were analysed. The cause of abnormal LFTs was identified in 55% (614/1118) of subjects, with NAFLD (26.4%; 295/1118) and alcohol excess (25.3%; 282/1118) accounting for the majority. A high NFS (>0.676) suggesting the presence of advanced liver fibrosis was found in 7.6% of NAFLD subjects, whereas 57.2% of NAFLD patients had a low NFS (<-1.455) allowing advanced fibrosis to be confidently excluded.NAFLD is the commonest cause of incidental LFT abnormalities in primary care (26.4%), of whom 7.6% have advanced fibrosis as calculated by the NFS. This study is the first of its kind to highlight the burden of NAFLD in primary care and provide data on disease severity in this setting.
Manual of Internal Fixation: Techniques Recommended by the AO Group
Authors: Clinton L. Compere
Journal: JAMA (1980)

The use of metal wire, screws, plates, pins, and rods for skeletal internal fixation in orthopedic surgery has been evolving for several decades with the progressive development of improved techniques, materials, and instruments. This publication presents the techniques of the AO-Group (the Swiss Association for the Study of Internal Fixation). This second revised edition represents their continuing effort to formalize the methodology for internal fixation of fractures in every area of the body. The publication is divided into three sections. The first section presents the basic principles of fixation with diagrammatic illustrations of their operative and postoperative techniques. The second section deals specifically with the application of the techniques to fractures in all areas of the skeleton. The third section presents their fixation principles for other orthopedic problems, such as pseudarthroses, osteotomies, and arthrodeses. The book is definitely not a narrative text and is appropriately titled "Manual." Much important information
Deployment of resources in treatment of end stage renal failure in England and Wales.
Authors: R Dowie
Journal: BMJ (1984)

The restricted availability of resources of the National Health Service for the treatment of patients suffering from end stage renal failure has been the subject of increasing attention from the media. Yorkshire Television (A Lottery for Life, 2 August 1983) attempted to show that patients' chances of receiving haemodialysis are dependent to a considerable extent on the provision of resources in their area of residence as well as on clinicians' criteria for selecting patients for treatment. More recently, in a leading article in the BMJ (22 October, p 1157) Dr A J Wing confirmed that regional services for the treatment of end stage renal failure do vary : there was a twofold variation in the regional crude acceptance rates in 1981. This paper provides a review of the deployment of resources in England and Wales, with particular reference to the regional variations.
Postpartum Rubella Vaccination
Authors: Lawrence V. Cheldelin
Journal: JAMA (1973)

One hundred forty-two private physicians who had submitted prenatal blood specimens on 278 rubella-susceptible pregnant women were contacted to determine whether the women had been vaccinated post partum. Only eight physicians had vaccinated at least one patient in this sample population with the result that only 13 of the 278 susceptible women were vaccinated. "Difficulty of follow-up," "physician reluctance," "referred to another physician," and "negative titer not noticed" were usual reasons given for failure to vaccinate. The easiest way to assure that rubella-susceptible women will be protected against rubella is to include vaccination as part of postpartum care, before the women are discharged from the hospital.
Fish consumption and mortality from coronary heart disease.
Authors: S E Norell, A Ahlbom, M Feychting, N L Pedersen
Journal: BMJ (1986)

indicate damage to the muscle and myoneural junction.Such changes do not occur in primary muscle disorders, denervation atrophy, or drug toxicity.2Similar changes at the myoneural junction have, however, been reported in Becker's type of progressive muscular dystrophy.3In the absence of other factors known to precipitate muscle damageourdata indicate that isotretinoin may induce reversible damage to skeletal muscle.Since there were no symptoms or signs of damage to the myoneural junction we refrained from performing a study of "jitter" or repetitive nerve stimulation.We cannot offer an adequate explanation for our findings, although muscle pain and stiffness are features ofchronic vitamin A toxicity.4A recent experiment showed that retinoic acid given in large doses to pregnant mice modified the phenotype expression of developing muscles in the fetus and increased creatine kinase activity.5
The Recognition of Strictly Posterior Myocardial Infarction by Conventional Scalar Electrocardiography
Authors: JOSEPH K. PERLOFF
Journal: Circulation (1964)

This study was undertaken in order to determine whether the standard scalar electrocardiogram contains sufficient information to permit the recognition of strictly posterior myocardial infarction. Sixteen patients were selected on the basis of vectorcardiographic evidence and four on the basis of autopsy evidence. One hundred normal adult electrocardiograms served as controls. The data indicate that strictly posterior infarction causes (1) R waves of 0.04 second in V 1 and in contiguous right anterior chest leads with upright T waves and, in the acute phase, ST-segment depressions, (2) Q waves of 0.04 second in an area posteriorly between the spine and the left scapula, (3) R/S ratios equal to or greater than one in V 1 and V 2 , (4) slurring of the descending limb of the R wave in lead V 1 due to abrupt change in QRS direction, and (5) no pathologic Q waves in the standard 12 leads unless diaphragmatic or lateral infarction coexists. Extra chest leads derived from the right anterior and left posterior thorax serve principally to corroborate the diagnoses. R waves of 0.04 second or R/S ratios equal to or greater than one in lead V 1 were also found in the normal child, complete right bundle-branch block, the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome with an anteriorly directed delta wave, right ventricular hypertrophy, and an occasional normal adult especially with vertical frontal plane electrical axis. Attention to these differential diagnoses and to the foregoing manifestations of strictly posterior infarction facilitate its recognition by conventional scalar electrocardiography.
Doctors who smoke
Authors: S. Chapman
Journal: BMJ (1995)

Differences in maximum tolerable absorbed dose to normal liver between <sup>90</sup>Y radioembolization and external-beam radiation therapy have been explained by citing differences in absorbed-dose heterogeneity at the microscopic level. We investigated microscopic absorbed-dose heterogeneity in radioembolization as a function of the number of microspheres per unit volume in tumor. The goal was to determine what effect the number of microspheres may have, if any, on tumor control in <sup>90</sup>Y radioembolization. <b>Methods:</b><sup>90</sup>Y PET/CT data were combined with microscopic probability-density functions describing microsphere clustering to provide realistic simulation using Monte Carlo modeling on both a macroscopic and a microscopic level. A complete microdosimetric analysis using 100-μm voxels was performed on the basis of <sup>90</sup>Y PET/CT data from 19 tumors treated using radioembolization. Simulations were performed with average tumor microsphere-number densities from 200 to 70,000 spheres/mL. Monte Carlo simulations of each tumor and number density were repeated 20 times to establish SE. A 2-way balanced ANOVA was used to determine whether differences in microsphere-number density affected common tumor-dose metrics. <b>Results:</b> Decreasing the microsphere-number density resulted in a decrease in D<sub>70</sub>, the minimum dose to 70% of the tumor. The slope of the dose–volume histogram also decreased with decreasing microsphere-number density in all tumors. Compared with a density of 50,000 spheres/mL, decreases in D<sub>70</sub> were statistically significant below 20,000 spheres/mL. However, these differences are unlikely to have clinical significance until the density decreases to below 5,000 spheres/mL. Although D<sub>70</sub> was decreased at a low microsphere-number density, one can compensate for decreases by an increase in the average tumor-absorbed dose, that is, by increasing the radioembolization treatment dose. <b>Conclusion:</b> Differences in microsphere-number density may have an effect on microscopic tumor absorbed-dose inhomogeneity. These results begin to explain differences in treatment planning strategies between glass and resin radioembolization devices.
Sneddon's syndrome (livedo reticularis and cerebral thrombosis) with livedo vasculitis and anticardiolipin antibodies
Authors: C.E.H. GRATTAN, J.L. BURTON, A.P. BOON
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1989)

A patient with widespread livedo reticularis and transient cerebral ischaemia (Sneddon's syndrome) is described. She also had painful scarring ulcers of the lower legs resembling livedo vasculitis and a circulating anticardiolipin antibody. We suggest that Sneddon's syndrome and livedo vasculitis may be pathogenetically related.
Inflammation-induced interstitial migration of effector CD4+ T cells is dependent on integrin αV
Authors: Michael G Overstreet, Alison Gaylo, Bastian R Angermann, Angela Hughson, Young-Min Hyun, Kris Lambert, Mridu Acharya, Alison C Billroth-MacLurg, Alexander F Rosenberg, David J Topham, Hideo Yagita, Minsoo Kim, Adam Lacy-Hulbert, Martin Meier-Schellersheim, Deborah J Fowell
Journal: Nature Immunology (2013)