tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Local coronary supersensitivity to diverse vasoconstrictive stimuli in patients with variant angina.
Authors: J C Kaski, F Crea, D Meran, L Rodriguez, L Araujo, S Chierchia, G Davies, A Maseri
Journal: Circulation (1986)

It has been shown in different groups of patients with variant angina that coronary spasm can be reproduced by physiologic maneuvers and pharmacologic agents. It is not known, however, to what extent different stimuli can induce spasm in the same patient. To investigate whether coronary arterial spasm results from specific abnormal agonist-receptor interactions or from a local nonspecific coronary supersensitivity to different stimuli, 28 patients with vasospastic angina were submitted to a series of diverse vasoconstrictive stimuli known to provoke coronary spasm. Ergonovine, hyperventilation, handgrip, cold pressor, and exercise-tests, were carried out in all 28 patients. In the last 15 patients histamine was also administered. Spasm was provoked by ergonovine in 96% of patients, by hyperventilation in 54%, by histamine in 47%, by exercise in 46%, and by the cold pressor and handgrip tests in 11% and 7%, respectively. No significant differences were found in the responses to provocative tests of patients with normal coronary arteries or nonsignificant stenoses and those with significant lesions. In the same individual, spasm was induced by at least two vasoconstrictive stimuli, although with a different mechanism of action, in 82% of patients and spasm was induced by three or more stimuli in 39%. Tests were repeated in at least 23 patients and short-term reproducibility paralleled sensitivity. These results suggest that in patients with variant angina, a local nonspecific supersensitivity rather than an abnormal specific agonist-receptor interaction plays a major role in the genesis of coronary arterial spasm.
Palmar and plantar keratoderma, visual loss, and alopecia
Authors: Salvador Arias-Santiago, José Luis Callejas-Rubio, Jacinto Orgaz-Molina, Raquel Ríos-Fernández, María Teresa Gutiérrez-Salmerón, Norberto Ortego-Centeno
Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2011)
Abstract 3360: Depressed Left Atrial Function and its Relation to Left Ventricular Filling Pressure in Systolic Heart Failure Patients.
Authors: Erberto Carluccio, Macello Chinali, Paolo Biagioli, Daniela Girfoglio, Marina De Marco, Gianfranco Alunni, Giovanni de Simone, Giuseppe Ambrosio
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Background : In uncomplicated hypertensive patients with preserved left ventricular (LV) function, enhanced left atrial systolic force (LASF) is associated with LV hypertrophy. In contrast, in patients with prevalent cardiovascular disease, reduced LASF has been shown to be associated with incident atrial fibrillation and poor cardiovascular prognosis. To date the relation between LASF and LV filling pressures in patients with systolic heart failure (HF) has not been adequately investigated. Methods : Doppler echocardiographic measurements of LV systolic, diastolic, and Tissue-Doppler longitudinal function, were obtained in 108 patients (66±12 years; 20% women) with systolic HF [NYHA class III; ejection fraction &lt;40% (mean EF%=27.7±7.7%)]. LASF was calculated from mitral orifice area and transmitral peak A velocity. Population study was dichotomized according to the presence or absence of restrictive filling pattern (RF), defined as DT &lt;150 ms. LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was derived combining transmitral peak E velocity and tissue Doppler E’ (E/E’ ratio). Results : In the overall population, LASF averaged 10.7±5.8 kdynes. LASF was significantly reduced in patients showing RF (n = 43; 39.8% of study population) compared to non-RF patients (8.1±4.8 vs 12.5±5.8 kdynes, p&lt;0.0001). Consistent with this finding, LVEDP was significantly higher in RF patients (p&lt;0.001). In RF patients, LASF was correlated positively with EF% (r=0.23, p&lt;0.05) and TD systolic peak velocity (r=0.39, p&lt;0.0001), and negatively with isovolumic relaxation time (r=0.68, p&lt;0.0001). In additional analysis comparing quartiles of LV end-diastolic pressure, LASF decreased with increasing quartiles of LV end-diastolic pressure (13.7±7 kdynes vs 12±7 kdynes vs 10.6±5 kdynes vs 8±4 kdynes; p for trend &lt;0.01). Conclusions : In systolic HF patients in class NYHA III, left atrial systolic force is reduced in the presence of restrictive filling pattern due in part to increased LV end-diastolic pressure, also associated with reduced LV systolic performance. In CHF patients, increased LVEDP partially blunts LA atrial function, and might be considered as an index of atrial afterload.
Longitudinal Pattern of Depressive Symptoms Around Natural Menopause
Authors: Ellen W. Freeman, Mary D. Sammel, David W. Boorman, Rongmei Zhang
Journal: JAMA Psychiatry (2013)

An increased risk of depressive symptoms has been associated with the transition to menopause, but the risk of depressive symptoms in the early postmenopausal years has not been well characterized.To identify within-woman changes in depressive symptoms during a 14-year period around menopause, determine associations of a history of depression with the pattern of depressive symptoms, and evaluate the rate of change in reproductive hormones as predictors of depressive symptoms following menopause.A randomly identified, population-based sample in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, of 203 late-reproductive-age women who were premenopausal at baseline and reached natural menopause.Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.The prevalence of high scores on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale decreased from 10 years before to 8 years after the final menstrual period (FMP), with a decrease of approximately 15% of baseline per year (odds ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.81-0.89; P < .001). Relative to the FMP, the risk of depressive symptoms was higher in the years before and lower in the years after the FMP. Among women with a history of depression, the likelihood of depressive symptoms was more than 13 times greater overall and 8 times greater after menopause compared with women with no depression history. Among women who first experienced depressive symptoms approaching menopause, the risk of depressive symptoms declined after the FMP, with a significantly lower risk the second year after menopause. The risk of depressive symptoms after menopause decreased by 35% for each unit (SD) increase before the FMP in the log rate of change of follicle-stimulating hormone (odds ratio, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.46-0.91; P = .01).The FMP was pivotal in the overall pattern of decreasing depressive symptoms in midlife women, with higher risk before and lower risk after the FMP. A history of depression strongly increased the risk both before and after menopause. Women who had no history of depression before the menopause transition had a low risk of depressive symptoms 2 or more years after the FMP.
Spontaneous Delayed Closure Of Postangiographic Femoral Artery Aneurysms
Authors: Robert F. Jeffery
Journal: JAMA (1973)

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> Recently I have seen two similar cases that are thought to be instructive. The first is in a 51-year-old man with hypertension (blood pressure, 220/150 mm Hg) who had a transfemoral abdominal aortogram with a 7F Teflon catheter. The procedure went smoothly, total catheter time being less than 30 minutes. Small amounts of heparinized saline were used as a flushing solution. A small hematoma was present following the procedure. Two days later, he had sudden recurrence of bleeding and a large hematoma appeared. Two weeks later, a 4-cm aneurysm was palpated and a loud bruit was heard over the puncture site. However, at the time of admission for surgery, six weeks after arterial puncture, aneurysm and bruit had disappeared, leaving only a small lump of scar tissue. The second patient is a 68-year-old male hypertensive (blood pressure, 190/100 mm Hg) who had a transfemoral arch aortogram to
Trends in the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in Older Patients Initiating Dialysis in the United States
Authors: Benjamin A. Goldstein, Cristina M. Arce, Mark A. Hlatky, Mintu Turakhia, Soko Setoguchi, Wolfgang C. Winkelmayer
Journal: Circulation (2012)

One sixth of US dialysis patients 65 years of age have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF). Little is known, however, about the incidence of AF in this population.We identified 258 605 older patients (≥67 years of age) with fee-for-service Medicare initiating dialysis in 1995 to 2007, who had not been diagnosed with AF within the previous 2 years. Patients were followed for newly diagnosed AF. Multivariable proportional hazard regression was used to examine temporal trends and associations of race and ethnicity with incident AF. We also studied temporal trends in the mortality and risk of ischemic stroke after new AF. Over 514 395 person-years of follow-up, 76 252 patients experienced incident AF for a crude AF incidence rate of 148/1000 person-years. Incidence of AF increased by 11% (95% confidence interval, 5-16) from 1995 to 2007. Compared with non-Hispanic whites, blacks (-30%), Asians (-19%), Native Americans (-42%), and Hispanics (-29%) all had lower rates of incident AF. Mortality after incident AF decreased by 22% from 1995 to 2008. Even more pronounced reductions were seen for incident ischemic stroke during these years.The incidence of AF is high in older patients initiating dialysis in the United States and has been increasing over the 13 years of study. Mortality declined during that time but remained >50% during the first year after newly diagnosed AF. Because data on warfarin use were not available, we were unable to study whether trends toward better outcomes could be explained by higher rates of oral anticoagulation.
Mice Deficient in Telomerase Activity Develop Hypertension Because of an Excess of Endothelin Production
Authors: Gema Pérez-Rivero, María P. Ruiz-Torres, Juan V. Rivas-Elena, Mirjana Jerkic, María L. Díez-Marques, José M. Lopez-Novoa, María A. Blasco, Diego Rodríguez-Puyol
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Telomere shortening has been related to vascular dysfunction and hypertension. In the present study, we analyzed the influence of telomerase deficiency and telomere shortening on arterial pressure (AP).AP was evaluated in 6-month-old mice lacking the RNA component of the telomerase (terc-/-) at the first generation and third generation (G3). First generation and G3 mice showed higher AP than wild-type (WT) mice. To analyze the mechanisms involved, mean AP and vascular resistance in response to vasoactive substances were measured in G3 and WT mice. These mice showed similar responses to acetylcholine, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, angiotensin II, and losartan administration. Mean AP did not increase after endothelin-1 (ET-1) administration in G3 mice, but it did in WT animals. Bosentan treatment decreased mean AP only in G3 mice. Serum and urine concentrations of ET-1 were higher in terc-/- than in WT mice. Endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE-1) mRNA expression was higher in terc-/- animals than in the WT group. FR901533, an ECE antagonist, decreased blood pressure in conscious G3 mice. Studies in mouse embryonic fibroblasts from G3 mice suggest that ECE-1 overexpression could be mediated by reactive oxygen species in an AP-1-dependent mechanism, in which some kinases such as PI3-kinase, Akt, erk1/2, and Jun Kinase could be involved. An increased activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase seems to be the main source of reactive oxygen species.Mice lacking telomerase activity show hypertension as a result of an increase in plasma ET-1 levels, which is a consequence of ECE-1 overexpression. A direct link between telomerase activity and hypertension is reported.
Potential for extending survival of peripheral intravenous infusions.
Authors: J. F. Hecker
Journal: BMJ (1992)

Although many intravenous infusions run uneventfully and are stopped electively, others fail prematurely and the needle or cannula needs to be resited.Information is sparse, but the average survival of infusions in the 1950s was shorter than it is now,' probably less than 24 hours.This seems to have increased to one to two days in the early 1970s and is now about two to four days.The increase in survival was initially due to replacing red rubber infusion sets with plastic tubing,2 while subsequent improvement may have been due to better quality control by manufacturers of drugs and solu- tions.In the 1970s references to phlebitis were common but fewer appeared in the 1980s, suggesting that a two to four day average survival of infusions has gained acceptance and further extension is considered unim- portant.Nevertheless, longer survival is feasible.I have analysed studies on survival of intravenous infusions and review here methods that may increase survival.Venoconstriction is an early sign in phlebitis, causing the drip rate to slow.5 Slowing of infusions in the hours immediately before failure is common, but it is rarely recognised as nurses periodically slacken infusion regulators to compensate for increased venous resis- tance.Phlebitis and extravasation associated with venocon- striction are caused by irritation of endothelium.Irritation is usually caused by the infusate, although the cannula or needle tip may irritate the wall.7 Venoconstriction stops blood flow through the vein and will intensify the irritation as the infusate will no longer be diluted with blood.'Because phlebitis and extravasation are often related I have used infusion failure as a collective descriptive term.This definition affected the interpretation of one set of data, that of Sketch et al, in which differences were significant when total complications were used but were not when phlebitis was the end point.
AIDS Commission Making Its Final Report
Authors: Charles Marwick
Journal: JAMA (1988)

THE PRESIDENTIAL Commission on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemic is sending its final report to the White House this week. Earlier, it sent an interim report that dealt with three areas of the epidemic: intravenous drug abuse, patient care, and research and drug development (<i>JAMA</i>1988;259:2195-2199). This week's report deals with the remaining topics of its charge: incidence and prevalence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in the United States; prevention and education; discrimination; ethics; testing; confidentiality; safety of the blood supply and in the workplace; social and legal issues; the financing of patient care; and international concerns. A month from now, under terms of the executive order that created it a year ago, the commission will be terminated. It is possible that some members of the commission might disagree sufficiently with the final recommendations and conclusions of the majority to issue a minority report. Asked about this, a commission staff member
Release of interleukin 1 inhibitory activity (contra-IL-1) by human monocyte-derived macrophages infected with human immunodeficiency virus in vitro and in vivo.
Authors: R M Locksley, S Crowe, M D Sadick, F P Heinzel, K D Gardner, M S McGrath, J Mills
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1988)

Infection of monocyte-macrophages with human immunodeficiency virus may be central to the pathogenesis of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The ability of infected macrophages to prime T cells through IL-1 production was investigated in vitro. Purified human monocytes maintained in suspension culture were infected with strain HIV-DV. Intracellular expression of virus p24 antigen increased from undetectable levels immediately after infection to 13-59% of cells by 10-14 d; infected macrophages remained viable for up to 60 d. Supernatants collected between 14 and 20 d after infection were examined in the murine thymocyte co-mitogenesis assay and demonstrated to contain a potent IL-1 inhibitor, designated contra-IL-1. Contra-IL-1 activity was present in all supernatants examined after 4 d of infection, and peaked coincident with peak p24 antigen expression. Inhibitory activity was not present in uninfected cells. Contra-IL-1 activity eluted after gel filtration with an approximate molecular weight of 9 kD. Inhibitory activity was removed by exposure to heat or acid pH, or by incubation with chymotrypsin or staphylococcal V8 protease. Contra-IL-1 did not inhibit IL-2- or IL-4-dependent proliferation of murine T cell lines. Despite its ability to inhibit IL-1 activity, contra-IL-1 did not interfere with the binding of recombinant IL-1 beta to a fibroblast cell line. Contra-IL-1 inhibited the proliferation of normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells to both concanavalin A and tetanus toxoid; inhibition could be attenuated by the addition of exogenous IL-1. Messenger RNA extracted from infected macrophages was examined by Northern analysis for the presence of message to IL-1 beta. No message was apparent, suggesting that the presence of contra-IL-1 was not obscuring the concomitant release of IL-1. Infected macrophages stimulated with endotoxin generated readily detectable message for IL-1 beta. Spleen macrophages purified from two patients with AIDS complicated by immune thrombocytopenia spontaneously expressed p24 antigen in vitro and released contra-IL-1 activity into the media. Contra-IL-1 may contribute to the immune dysfunction of AIDS.
Collagenase and fibronectin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with sarcoidosis.
Authors: C O'Connor, C Odlum, A Van Breda, C Power, M X Fitzgerald
Journal: Thorax (1988)

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 43 patients with biopsy proved sarcoidosis and 10 control subjects were assayed for fibronectin and collagenase activity. Fibronectin was significantly increased in the group with sarcoidosis and was found to be positively correlated with angiotensin converting enzyme activity, protein concentration, percentage of T cells and helper:suppressor ratios in the lavage fluid. Increased fibronectin in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was not related to functional or radiographic indices of interstitial disease and did not identify patients subsequently requiring treatment. Latent collagenase was present in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 16 patients with sarcoidosis but not in any control sample. There was no association between the collagenase activity and the cell profiles of the lavage fluid. Yet carbon monoxide transfer factor was decreased in patients with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collagenase. Ten of 16 patients with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collagenase had radiographic class III or IV disease and a disease duration of more than two years. On follow up 62% of patients with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collagenase required subsequent treatment, compared with only 23% of patients without collagenase. These results indicate an association between bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collagenase and progressive, prolonged disease in sarcoidosis, whereas increased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid fibronectin is associated with indices of disease activity.
Fluid absorption during transurethral resection
Authors: R J Shearer, N J Standfield
Journal: BMJ (1981)

define the term "benign" paraproteinaemia in a journal addressing itself mainly to internists.This was already dealt with extensively several years ago by Waldenstrom8 and was recently reviewed in detail by Kyle.9It is included in every textbook of haema- tology and is well known to everyone familiar with internal medicine.However, the various parameters useful in differential diagnosis of benign monoclonal gammopathy and malig- nant plasma cell dyscrasias might be of interest and can be found in a recent review by Faranghi and Ossermann.'0It is also a generally accepted fact that patients with benign monoclonal gammopathy should be clinically examined at regular intervals.
Cost of many common treatments varies widely across Europe
Authors: Janice Hopkins Tanne
Journal: BMJ (2008)

The cost of common medical, surgical, and dental procedures varies widely across nine countries of the European Union, according to studies published in a supplement to Health Economics (2008;17:S8-103).

The studies, known as Health BASKET (Health Benefits and Service Costs in Europe), looked at the costs of hip replacement, treatment of stroke, myocardial infarction, delivery of a child, appendecectomy, cataract surgery, and a single dental filling during 2005. The countries participating in the study were Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, …
Role of Platelet-derived Growth Factor in Obliterative Bronchiolitis (Chronic Rejection) in the Rat
Authors: ERKKI A. KALLIO, PETRI K. KOSKINEN, EINARI AAVIK, ELISABETH BUCHDUNGER, KARL B. LEMSTRÖM
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1999)

The role of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in the development of obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) as a manifestation of chronic rejection was investigated in the heterotopic rat tracheal allograft model. An increase in intragraft PDGF-R α and -R β mRNA expression, and in PDGF-AA and -R α immunoreactivity, was demonstrated during the progressive loss of respiratory epithelium and airway occlusion in nontreated allografts compared with syngeneic grafts. Treatment with CGP 53716, a protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor selective for PDGF receptor, alone and in combination with suboptimal doses of cyclosporin A, significantly reduced myofibroproliferation and the degree of OB by more than 50%. CGP 53716 did not affect airway wall inflammatory cell proliferation, the number of graft-infiltrating CD4+ or CD8+ T cells, ED3+ macrophages, or the level of immune activation determined as IL-2R and MHC class II expression. This study suggests a regulatory role for PDGF, especially for PDGF-AA and -R α , in the development of obliterative bronchiolitis in this model, and demonstrates that inhibition of PDGF receptor protein-tyrosine kinase activation prevents these obliterative changes. Thus, receptor protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitors may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for the prevention of chronic rejection.
Sabine Ehrt: Searching for mycobacterial stress points
Authors: Hema Bashyam
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2008)

Text and Interview by Hema Bashyam

By figuring out how mycobacteria survive within the very cells that try to kill them, Ehrt hopes to find a way to combat chronic tuberculosis infections.

For most bacteria, getting scooped up by macrophages means a rapid death at the hands of a lethal cocktail of