tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Metabolically normal obese people are protected from adverse effects following weight gain
Authors: Elisa Fabbrini, Jun Yoshino, Mihoko Yoshino, Faidon Magkos, Courtney Tiemann Luecking, Dmitri Samovski, Gemma Fraterrigo, Adewole L. Okunade, Bruce W. Patterson, Samuel Klein
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2015)

BACKGROUND. Obesity is associated with insulin resistance and increased intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) content, both of which are key risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, a subset of obese people does not develop these metabolic complications. Here, we tested the hypothesis that people defined by IHTG content and insulin sensitivity as "metabolically normal obese" (MNO), but not those defined as "metabolically abnormal obese" (MAO), are protected from the adverse metabolic effects of weight gain. METHODS. Body composition, multiorgan insulin sensitivity, VLDL apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) kinetics, and global transcriptional profile in adipose tissue were evaluated before and after moderate (~6%) weight gain in MNO (n = 12) and MAO (n = 8) subjects with a mean BMI of 36 ± 4 kg/m2 who were matched for BMI and fat mass. RESULTS. Although the increase in body weight and fat mass was the same in both groups, hepatic, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue insulin sensitivity deteriorated, and VLDL apoB100 concentrations and secretion rates increased in MAO, but not MNO, subjects. Moreover, biological pathways and genes associated with adipose tissue lipogenesis increased in MNO, but not MAO, subjects. CONCLUSIONS. These data demonstrate that MNO people are resistant, whereas MAO people are predisposed, to the adverse metabolic effects of moderate weight gain and that increased adipose tissue capacity for lipogenesis might help protect MNO people from weight gain-induced metabolic dysfunction. TRIAL REGISTRATION. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01184170. FUNDING. This work was supported by NIH grants UL1 RR024992 (Clinical Translational Science Award), DK 56341 (Nutrition and Obesity Research Center), DK 37948 and DK 20579 (Diabetes Center Grant), and UL1 TR000450 (KL2 Award); a Central Society for Clinical and Translational Research Early Career Development Award; and by grants from the Longer Life Foundation and the Kilo Foundation.
The implantable transvenous cardioverter: long-term efficacy and reproducible induction of ventricular tachycardia.
Authors: W M Miles, E N Prystowsky, J J Heger, D P Zipes
Journal: Circulation (1986)

We followed 11 patients for 5 to 27 months (mean 14.9) after implantation of a permanent transvenous low-energy synchronized cardioverter to evaluate both long-term reproducibility of ventricular tachycardia (VT) induction via noninvasive programmed electrical stimulation with the cardioverter and efficacy of cardioversion. Induction and termination of VT were attempted at implantation and approximately every 3 months thereafter. All patients had coronary artery disease and were receiving antiarrhythmic drug therapy (amiodarone in eight). VT cycle length, morphology, and mode of induction were reproducible on multiple occasions in nine patients; clinical VT was induced inconsistently in two patients. Multiple VT episodes in five patients had one morphology, whereas two morphologies occurred in six patients. Synchronization of the shock within the QRS complex and right ventricular effective refractory periods determined via the cardioverter remained constant over the follow-up period. VT was terminated on every occasion in nine patients and on eight of nine occasions in one patient. Tachycardia was accelerated on three of five occasions in one patient. Consistently effective cardioversion energy (0.2 to 2.0 J) increased modestly in four patients. We conclude that patients with inducible monomorphic VT usually have sustained VT with similar characteristics inducible over a period of time and cardioversion and sensing functions of the cardioverter remain relatively stable over time.
Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 by adenovirus mediated small interfering RNA attenuates hepatic fibrosis in rats
Authors: Wei Zhong, Wei-Feng Shen, Bei-Fang Ning, Ping-Fang Hu, Yong Lin, Hai-Yan Yue, Chuan Yin, Jun-Liang Hou, Yue-Xiang Chen, Jun-Ping Zhang, Xin Zhang, Wei-Fen Xie
Journal: Hepatology (2009)

Abstract Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) is a critical part of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway, which is involved in hepatic fibrosis. However, the effect of down-regulation of ERK1 on hepatic fibrosis has not been reported. Here, we induced hepatic fibrosis in rats with dimethylnitrosamine administration or bile duct ligation. An adenovirus carrying small interfering RNA targeting ERK1 (AdshERK1) was constructed to determine its effect on hepatic fibrosis, as evaluated by histological and immunohistochemical examination. Our results demonstrated that AdshERK1 significantly reduced the expression of ERK1 and suppressed proliferation and levels of fibrosis-related genes in hepatic stellate cells in vitro . More importantly, selective inhibition of ERK1 remarkably attenuated the deposition of the extracellular matrix in fibrotic liver in both fibrosis models. In addition, both hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells were proven to exert the ability to generate the myofibroblasts depending on the insults of the liver, which were remarkably reduced by AdshERK1. Furthermore, up-regulation of ERK1 paralleled the increased expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), vimentin, snail, platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), and small mothers against decapentaplegic-1 (p-Smad1), and was in reverse correlation with E-cadherin in the fibrotic liver. Nevertheless, inhibition of ERK1 resulted in the increased level of E-cadherin in parallel with suppression of TGF-β1, vimentin, snail, PDGF-BB, BMP4, and p-Smad1. Interestingly, AdshERK1 treatment promoted hepatocellular proliferation. Conclusion : Our study provides the first evidence for AdshERK1 suppression of hepatic fibrosis through the reversal of epithelial-mesenchymal transition of both hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells without interference of hepatocellular proliferation. This suggests that ERK1 is implicated in hepatic fibrogenesis and selective inhibition of ERK1 by small interfering RNA may present a novel option for hepatic fibrosis treatment. (Hepatology 2009.)
An aldosterone synthase gene variant is associated with improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction in dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: A. D. Tiago, D. Badenhorst, D. Skudicky, A. J. Woodiwiss, G. P. Candy, R. Brooksbank, K. Sliwa, P. Sareli, G. R. Norton
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2002)

To assess whether renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system gene polymorphisms shown to be associated with alterations in the activity of the system, may predict cardiac function changes subsequent to initiating medical therapy in heart failure.The impact of RAA system genotypes on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) following therapy to patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) and class II-III heart failure was assessed. In 107 patients LVEF and LV dimensions were determined using radionuclide ventriculography and echocardiography prior to and subsequent to receiving furosemide, digoxin and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy. Patients and controls were genotyped for variants of the ACE (insertion-deletion polymorphism), angiotensinogen (AGT; M235T polymorphism) and the aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2, C-344T polymorphism) genes.RAA system genotypes were not significantly associated with LVEF prior to initiating medical therapy. However, the CYP11B2 gene variant (P=0.0064 on covariate analysis [adjusted for multiple genotyping] with a 1-2% chance of false positive data), but neither the ACE, nor the AGT variants, predicted improvement in LV ejection fraction in patients on medical therapy.A CYP11B2 gene variant predicts the variable improvement in LV ejection fraction that occurs subsequent to initiating medical therapy in IDC. These data suggest a role for the aldosterone synthase locus in regulating the progression of heart failure.
Visual attention in cirrhotic patients: A study on covert visual attention orienting
Authors: Piero Amodio, Piergiorgio Marchetti, Franco Del Piccolo, Giovanni Campo, Cristiano Rizzo, Rosa Maria Iemmolo, Giorgio Gerunda, Lorenza Caregaro, Carlo Merkel, Angelo Gatta
Journal: Hepatology (1998)

Attentional dysfunction, which influences overall cognitive productivity, is not well characterized in cirrhotic patients. The aim of this study was to clarify the features of covert visual attention orienting in cirrhotics without overt hepatic encephalopathy. One hundred consecutive cirrhotic patients and 40 controls were enrolled. Visual covert attention orienting was assessed by the Posner test, which evaluates the effect of a cue on visual reaction times. Patients were characterized by the number connection test (NCT) and electroencephalographic (EEG) spectral analysis. The severity of liver disease was graded using standard laboratory parameters and the Child-Pugh’s classification. Fifty-five psychometric and EEG evaluations were performed in the follow-up of 17 patients to assess the relationship between the variations of psychometric and neurophysiological findings. NCT and quantified-EEG parameters (altered in 19% and 40% of cirrhotic patients, respectively) were linked to each other and to the severity of liver disease. The Posner test showed a delay of visual reaction times in class B-C cirrhotic patients. Reaction times were correlated with ammonia and EEG parameters. The effect of the cue was higher in cirrhotic patients than in controls, particularly in the invalid position. This study suggests that cirrhotic patients have a reduced activity rate and reduced capacity to disengage attention previously focused on a cue. Such alterations are linked to NCT and EEG findings.
Communicating the Value of Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Guru Sonpavde
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2003)

Article Tools ART OF ONCOLOGY Article Tools OPTIONS & TOOLS Export Citation Track Citation Add To Favorites Rights & Permissions COMPANION ARTICLES No companion articles ARTICLE CITATION DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2003.09.074 Journal of Clinical Oncology - published online before print September 21, 2016 PMID: 12610199 Communicating the Value of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Guru SonpavdexGuru SonpavdeSearch for articles by this author Show More From the Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maricopa County Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2003.09.074 Full Text PDF Figures and Tables "Communicating the Value of Adjuvant Chemotherapy." Journal of Clinical Oncology, 21(5), pp. 948–949© 2003 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
THE VIABILITY OF THE PNEUMOCOCCUS AFTER DRYING: A STUDY OF ONE OF THE FACTORS IN PNEUMONIC INFECTION
Authors: Francis Carter Wood
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1905)

I. In moist sputum kept in the dark at room temperatures the average life of the pneumococcus is eleven days, though considerable variations may be noted in different specimens of sputum. In the same sputum kept at o degrees C. the average life of the organism is thirty-five days. In sputum kept at room temperature and in a strong light the pneumococcus lives less than five days. II. In dried sputum (a) in the dark the pneumococcus lives on an average thirty-five days; (b) in diffuse light, thirty days; (c) in sunlight, less than four hours. III. In powdered sputum even when kept in the dark the death of the pneumococcus takes place in from one to four hours. When exposed to sunlight death occurs within an hour. IV. No important differences were noted in the life of the pneumococcus when dried on glass, tin, or wood. On cloth the life was usually slightly longer than on non-absorbing surfaces. V. Sprayed sputum particles remain in suspension for twenty-four hours, but all masses of a size sufficient to contain bacteria settle at a rate of about 40 cm. per hour. VI. When sputum containing pneumococci is sprayed the organisms rarely survive for more than an hour, and often die in less time. The substance upon which the particles fall makes but little difference in the life of the organism. On cloth a slight prolongation is occasionally noted, due perhaps to the slow drying. VII. The mucus of the sputum exerts a destructive action on the pneumococcus. VIII. Exposure of bacterial spray to sunlight while in suspension results in the destruction of the pneumococcus within half an hour.
Retention of 90Y in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Authors: N W Ramsey
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1973)

The use of radioactive compounds for the treatment of patients with chronic rheumatoid effusion has been proceeding in the Charing Cross Hospital Group since 1968.Initially, a colloidal suspension of radioactive gold (198Au) stabilized with gelatin and glucose was used, and the results in a group of patients whose knees were treated in this way have been published (Grahame, Ramsey, and Scott, 1970).Subsequently, substances incorporating 90Y in place of 198Au were used because of the greater penetration of the fl-radiation and the absence of a y ray component with its incidental irradiation of the gonads.This paper gives the results of observations that have been made of the retention of 90Y com- pounds used for treating knee effusions.Nine patients were treated, two with a resin colloid preparation, and seven with colloidal yttrium silicate.The patients treated with the resin colloid sus- pension complained of pain in the knee joint.Furthermore, it was discovered that the resin colloid preparation was, to some extent, unstable, and the use of this compound was discontinued.Thereafter, treatments were given with colloidal yttrium silicate, and none of the patients complained of discomfort as a result of the injection.
It is time to change … a better way for representative governance
Authors: Sharon F. Billon, John Kasch, Donald O. Hayden, Michael Franzblau, Lenore Kakita, Victor Newcomer, Ellis Seligman, William Shellow, Terence F. Maloy, Howard Steinman, Thomas E. Hoffman, David Fisher, Robert Melnikoff, Robert R. Carson
Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (1990)
CD95 is a key mediator of invasion and accelerated outgrowth of mouse colorectal liver metastases following radiofrequency ablation
Authors: Maarten W. Nijkamp, Frederik J.H. Hoogwater, Ernst J.A. Steller, B. Florien Westendorp, Taco A. van der Meulen, Martijn W.H. Leenders, Inne H.M. Borel Rinkes, Onno Kranenburg
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2010)
CD14++CD16+ monocytes but not total monocyte numbers predict cardiovascular events in dialysis patients
Authors: G.H. Heine, C. Ulrich, E. Seibert, S. Seiler, J. Marell, B. Reichart, M. Krause, A. Schlitt, H. Köhler, M. Girndt
Journal: Kidney International (2007)
Perioperative Control of Blood Glucose in Diabetic Patients: A Two-Step Protocol
Authors: Elsie F Meyers, Doris Alberts, Mae O Gordon
Journal: Diabetes Care (1986)

Perioperative control of blood glucose in patients with diabetes has been difficult due to frequent occurrence of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. We developed a two-step protocol for management of insulin-treated patients during general anesthesia. Regular insulin was given intravenously before anesthetic induction according to the step I formula (initial): initial blood glucose - 150/10 = U. Regular insulin was then given during surgery according to the step II formula (hourly): blood glucose 150-250 mg/dl = 2 U; blood glucose greater than 250 mg/dl = 4 U. Fluid replacement of 5% dextrose with lactated Ringer's solution, 3 ml/kg estimated ideal body weight, was given hourly and additional lactated Ringer's solution was given as indicated. Thirty patients received preoperative (long- or intermediate-acting) insulin and were managed by the two-step protocol. Ten patients received preoperative (long- or intermediate-acting) insulin and were managed by a standard method used in the same institution. Thirty patients did not receive preoperative insulin and were managed by the two-step protocol. All patients underwent retinal surgery under general anesthesia. In comparing the two groups pretreated with insulin, patients treated by the standard method had significantly higher (mean) blood glucose levels (360.2 +/- 100.4 mg/dl) than those treated with the two-step protocol (181.2 +/- 50.8 mg/dl) (P = 0.0001) at the end of surgery. Of the two-step protocol patients, those pretreated with one-half the usual morning dose of long- or intermediate-acting insulin had lower (mean) blood glucose levels (225 +/- 87 mg/dl) than patients not pretreated (310 +/- 130.8 mg/dl) (P = 0.0069) the morning after surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Transitional blood flow zones between ischemic and nonischemic myocardium in the awake dog. Analysis based on distribution of the intramural vasculature.
Authors: R H Murdock, D M Harlan, J J Morris, W W Pryor, F R Cobb
Journal: Circulation Research (1983)

The present study evaluates the transitional or border zone of intermediate blood flow reduction between nonischemic and ischemic regions after acute coronary artery occlusion in chronically instrumented dogs, using methods that minimize an admixture of ischemic and nonischemic myocardium in the tissue analyzed. The regions perfused by occluded and nonoccluded vessels were identified by tracing the extra and intramural distribution of the coronary vasculature from postmortem angiograms. Regional blood flow was evaluated in serial 3-mm-wide epicardial and endocardial zones from outside and inside the interface between occluded and nonoccluded vessels. The zone of intermediate reduction in blood flow between nonischemic and ischemic regions occurred in the first 3-mm section immediately inside the region supplied by the occluded vasculature. Mean blood flow in this region was reduced to 58 +/- 6% and 61 +/- 5% (+/- SEM) of nonischemic region blood flow at the lateral and medial epicardial margins, respectively, and 47 +/- 5% and 45 +/- 6% at the lateral and medial endocardial margins, respectively. In the remaining ischemic zone, significant differences in blood flow existed between epicardial and endocardial layers; these differences were highly variable between animals. The data indicate that when the analysis of regional blood flow following acute ischemia is based on the anatomic distribution of the coronary vasculature, the transitional or border zone of intermediate reduction in blood flow is limited to a narrow zone immediately inside the occluded vasculature. Studies performed in acutely anesthetized dogs in which the occluded region was perfused via a two-chamber blood reservoir that allowed maintenance of perfusion and exclusion of microspheres from the circumflex region indicate that intermediate reductions in blood flow at the border of the ischemic zone resulted from an admixture of normal myocardium and, thus, do not represent a border zone of intermediate ischemia.
Daniel Lambert, the Great
Authors: Ernest J. Bowmer
Journal: JAMA (1969)

To the Editor:—  Liddle's letter on  Better Things of Life ( 207 : 2440, 1969) about Arthur Armitage, officially recognized as the fattest man in Britain at 525 lb, recalls another Englishman famous for his great weight. Daniel Lambert, born at Stamford near Leicester on March 13, 1770, succeeded his father as jail-keeper in 1791. Although he always led an active athletic life, by 1793 he weighed 448 lb. By 1809 when he died, he weighed 739 lb (52 stones 11 pounds, Fig 1). His vital statistics are recorded on his tombstone (Fig 2). So great were his dimensions that his coffin, built on wheels, required 112 feet of elm wood. His waistcoat measuring 102 inches round the waist is now in the museum at Kings Lynn and his best portrait, a large mezzotint, is preserved by The British Museum. His name has become part of the language: George Meredith describes
Hospital Characteristics and Quality of Care
Authors: Emmett B. Keeler
Journal: JAMA (1992)

<h3>Objective.</h3> —To compare quality of care measured by explicit criteria, implicit review, and sickness-adjusted outcomes at different types of hospitals. <h3>Design.</h3> —Further analysis of data retrospectively abstracted from medical records to evaluate the effects of prospective payment on quality of care for hospitalized Medicare patients. <h3>Setting.</h3> —Hospitals in five states were sampled to represent the national Medicare admissions along many dimensions. <h3>Patients.</h3> —A total of 14008 elderly patients with one of the following five diseases: congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, pneumonia, stroke, or hip fracture. These patients were randomly sampled from those with these diseases in 297 hospitals in two time periods, 1981 to 1982 and 1985 to 1986. <h3>Outcome Measures.</h3> —Explicit criteria, implicit review, and mortality within 30 days of admission adjusted for sickness at admission. <h3>Results.</h3> —Quality of care ratings for hospital types are similar using explicit criteria, implicit review, and outcomes adjusted for sickness at admission. Quality differences between types of hospitals were large, with the lowest group estimated to have four percentage points higher mortality than major teaching hospitals in a cohort of patients with average mortality of 16%. Quality varies from state to state, but teaching, larger, and more urban hospitals have better quality in general than nonteaching, small, and rural hospitals. Hospital quality persists overtime, but small nonteaching hospitals narrowed the gap with better quality hospitals between 1981 and 1986. <h3>Conclusions.</h3> —The different measures led to consistent and plausible relationships between quality and hospital characteristics. Thus, valid information about hospital quality can be obtained. We need to develop ways to use such information to improve care. (<i>JAMA</i>. 1992;268:1709-1714)