tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Haemoglobin A1c: ethnic differences apply to the UK
Authors: R. Gama, T. Likhari
Journal: BMJ (2009)

<b>OBJECTIVE:</b> To identify factors among patients with acute myelopathy suggesting the diagnosis of spinal AVF prompting investigation with conventional spinal angiography. <b>BACKGROUND:</b> Idiopathic transverse myelitis (ITM) is a monophasic, focal inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord causing motor and sensory loss at and below the level of the lesion. Spinal cord arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are vascular malformations located either on the surface of the spinal cord, within the thecal sac, or in the internal vertebral venous plexus. Spinal AVFs typically become symptomatic through an elevation of the pressure within the perimedullary venous system (venous hypertensive myelopathy). ITM and spinal AVFs present with similar clinical profiles but require very different treatments; their distinction can be challenging on noninvasive neuroimaging studies. <b>DESIGN/METHODS:</b> We performed a retrospective review of cases of inflammatory and/or vascular myelopathy referred for spinal angiography over the past 10 years. We compared demographic, clinical and radiologic data in subjects whose final diagnosis was ITM versus spinal AVFs. <b>RESULTS:</b> The four factors that were associated with an AVF were male sex, chronic course, poor response to intravenous high dose steroids and at least one significant cardiovascular risk factor, such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and/or diabetes. <b>CONCLUSIONS:</b> In patients diagnosed with myelopathy who have these four risk factors associated with an AVF, a spinal angiogram is warranted to rule out spinal AVF. <b>Disclosure:</b> Dr. Dudankar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mealy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gailloud has received personal compensation for activities with Codman Neurovascular as a consultant. Dr. Pardo-Villamizar has nothing to disclose. Acorda Therapeutics; Sanofi; Viropharma, Inc.; NeuralStem, Inc.; Shire/Abvie; TerumoBCT
Activation of caspases occurs downstream from radical oxygen species production, Bcl-xL down-regulation, and early cytochrome C release in apoptosis induced by transforming growth factor β in rat fetal hepatocytes
Authors: Blanca Herrera, Margarita Fernández, Alberto M. Álvarez, César Roncero, Manuel Benito, Joan Gil, Isabel Fabregat
Journal: Hepatology (2001)

Most of the morphologic changes that are observed in apoptotic cells are caused by a set of cysteine proteases (caspases) that are activated during this process. In previous works from our group we found that treatment of rat fetal hepatocytes with transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is followed by apoptotic cell death. TGF-β1 mediates radical oxygen species (ROS) production that precedes bcl-x L down-regulation, loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-3 (Herrera et al., FASEB J 2001;15:741-751). In this work, we have analyzed how TGF-β1 activates the caspase cascade and whether or not caspase activation precedes the oxidative stress induced by this factor. Our results show that TGF-β1 activates at least caspase-3, -8, and -9 in rat fetal hepatocytes, which are not required for ROS production, glutathione depletion, bcl-x L down-regulation, and initial cytochrome c release. However, caspase activation mediates cleavage of Bid and Bcl-x L that could originate an amplification loop on the mitochondrial events. An interesting result is that transmembrane potential disruption occurs later than the initial cytochrome c release and is mostly blocked by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD.fmk, indicating that the decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) may be a consequence of caspase activity rather than the mechanism by which TGF-β induces cytochrome c efflux. Finally, although Z-VAD.fmk completely blocks nucleosomal DNA fragmentation, it only delays cell death, which suggests that activation of the apoptotic program by TGF-β in fetal hepatocytes inevitably leads to death, with or without caspases. (Hepatology 2001;34:548-556.)
P2-16-06: A Systematic Review of Standardised Clinical Outcomes and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMS) in Breast Reconstruction.
Authors: ZE Winters, A Chaudhry, JR Benson
Journal: Cancer Research (2011)

Abstract Introduction: Failure to prospectively define and report surgical complications across a range of study designs is a confounding factor that fundamentally compromises the interpretation of data on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and PROMS. The UK National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction audit on 5000 breast reconstruction patients found higher than expected levels of complications (including rates of reoperation and levels of infection). We aimed to analyze the reporting of complications in a systematic review of all studies evaluating PROMS in breast reconstruction since 19781. Methods: Efficace criteria for HRQL methodology were used to assess the inclusion eligibility for each study1. Two out of 34 eligible studies were excluded due to overlapping patient datasets and small numbers (n&amp;lt;5) of breast reconstruction cases. Two reviewers examined the reporting of complications. The study designs comprised: 2 randomised controlled trials (RCT); 10 prospective longitudinal studies (PLS) and 20 retrospective studies (RS). RCTs and PLS were evaluated for predefined complications, their grading according to Clavien-Dindo2 and their integration into the evaluation of PROMS results. RS were evaluated for the reporting of complications and their statistical methodology. Results: A total of 3213 patients were included in the 32 studies. The type of reconstruction was only recorded in 71% of patients. The majority of patients in these studies underwent abdominal flap reconstruction, compared to implant only techniques (32%), and less than 10% comprising Latissimus dorsi flaps. Only 19% of studies recorded complications with the majority (81%) failing to report any complications. Only 3 studies provided details of the numbers and level of complications amongst a total of 44 patients (1.4% of the total number of patients). Reported complications were graded and classified either as major (requiring surgical intervention) or minor comprising 55% and 45%, respectively. None of the RCT or PLS studies defined either the type or level of complications a priori, nor stratified complications based on risk factors such as age, body mass index, smoking and diabetes. Conclusion: There is a significant under estimation of the contribution of complications to HRQL and PROMS reporting. This fact diminishes the current evidence on the effects of breast reconstruction on PROMS. There should be collective efforts to improve the standards of documentation for clinical outcomes in breast reconstruction. This together with standardized reporting of PROMS will consolidate clinical evidence upon which decision-making and provision of patient information can be confidently based. 1. Winters ZE, Benson JR, Pusic AL. Annals of Surgery 2010;252(6):929–42 2. Dindo D et al. Annals of Surgery 2004;240(2):205–213 Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-16-06.
Street children in Latin America
Authors: T. J Scanlon, A. Tomkins, M. A Lynch, F. Scanlon
Journal: BMJ (1998)

Worldwide, millions of children live on the streets. These children typically have access to neither health care nor education. Sometimes subjected to violence in the home before taking to the street, street children are seen by many as worthless, and many countries have used violent and punitive measures to eliminate them. New approaches have recently been implemented to return these children to society and their families. In the case of South America, children who are on the street are home-based and spend much of the day on the street, but have some family support and usually return home at night. Children of the street are street-based children who spend most days and nights on the street and are functionally without family support. Studies suggest that 80-90% of street children in Latin America have some contact with their families. Surveys also indicate that street children in Latin America are 8-17 years old, with 9 years old being the average age upon entering the street. Girls comprise 10-15% of street children and Black and mixed race children may be over-represented among street children in the region. Both published and unpublished research findings are used to shed light upon the status of street children in South America. The authors consider how many street children there may be, why there are street children, the problems they encounter, and what can be done to help them.
Gene Expression Programs in Response to Hypoxia: Cell Type Specificity and Prognostic Significance in Human Cancers
Authors: Jen-Tsan Chi, Zhen Wang, Dimitry S. A Nuyten, Edwin H Rodriguez, Marci E Schaner, Ali Salim, Yun Wang, Gunnar B Kristensen, Åslaug Helland, Anne-Lise Børresen-Dale, Amato Giaccia, Michael T Longaker, Trevor Hastie, George P Yang, Marc J van de Vijver, Patrick O Brown
Journal: PLoS Medicine (2006)

Background Inadequate oxygen (hypoxia) triggers a multifaceted cellular response that has important roles in normal physiology and in many human diseases. A transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), plays a central role in the hypoxia response; its activity is regulated by the oxygen-dependent degradation of the HIF-1α protein. Despite the ubiquity and importance of hypoxia responses, little is known about the variation in the global transcriptional response to hypoxia among different cell types or how this variation might relate to tissue- and cell-specific diseases. Methods and Findings We analyzed the temporal changes in global transcript levels in response to hypoxia in primary renal proximal tubule epithelial cells, breast epithelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells with DNA microarrays. The extent of the transcriptional response to hypoxia was greatest in the renal tubule cells. This heightened response was associated with a uniquely high level of HIF-1α RNA in renal cells, and it could be diminished by reducing HIF-1α expression via RNA interference. A gene-expression signature of the hypoxia response, derived from our studies of cultured mammary and renal tubular epithelial cells, showed coordinated variation in several human cancers, and was a strong predictor of clinical outcomes in breast and ovarian cancers. In an analysis of a large, published gene-expression dataset from breast cancers, we found that the prognostic information in the hypoxia signature was virtually independent of that provided by the previously reported wound signature and more predictive of outcomes than any of the clinical parameters in current use. Conclusions The transcriptional response to hypoxia varies among human cells. Some of this variation is traceable to variation in expression of the HIF1A gene. A gene-expression signature of the cellular response to hypoxia is associated with a significantly poorer prognosis in breast and ovarian cancer.
Novel role for epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 in metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Fan Wu, Lian-Yue Yang, Yun-Feng Li, Di-Peng Ou, Dong-Ping Chen, Chun Fan
Journal: Hepatology (2009)

Epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (Egfl7) is a recently identified secreted protein that is believed to be primarily expressed in endothelial cells (ECs). Although its expression was reported elevated during tumorigenesis, whether and how Egfl7 contributes to human malignancies remains unknown. In the present study overexpression of Egfl7 was found predominantly in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in HCC tissues and closely correlated with poor prognosis of HCC. The expression of Egfl7 in cancer cells was further verified with HCC cell lines including HepG2, MHCC97-L, and HCCLM3, and the Egfl7 expression levels positively correlated with metastatic potential of HCC cell lines was tested. To functionally characterize Egfl7 in HCC, we depleted its expression in HCCLM3 cells by using small interfering RNA. Interestingly, reduction of Egfl7 expression resulted in significant inhibition of migration but not growth of HCCLM3 cells. Biochemical analysis indicated that Egfl7 could facilitate the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and therefore promote the migration of HCCLM3 cells. In addition, this effect was almost completely blocked by inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), indicating that the activation of FAK by Egfl7 is mediated through EGFR. Finally, we used a mouse model to demonstrate that down-regulation of Egfl7 was associated with suppression of intrahepatic and pulmonary metastases of HCC. Collectively, our study shows for the first time that overexpression of Egfl7 in HCC and Egfl7 promotes metastasis of HCC by enhancing cell motility through EGFR-dependent FAK phosphorylation.Our study suggests Egfl7 as a novel prognostic marker for metastasis of HCC and a potential therapeutic target.
STUDIES ON THE SEROLOGICAL TYPING OF STREPTOCOCCUS HEMOLYTICUS
Authors: Ruth H. Pauli, Alvin F. Coburn
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1937)

The cross-reactions which interfere with satisfactory serological identification of hemolytic streptococcus are due to anticarbohydrate in the sera used for typing. This antibody can be removed easily by absorption with purified streptococcus carbohydrate, and type identification is then readily established. The serological classification of hemolytic streptococcus from throat infections contracted in New York during 1935 and 1936 showed the predominance of types 4, 13 and 22. Type 13 appeared to be the most serious in initiating rheumatic activity during this period of observation.
Human Leukocyte chemotaxis induced by gluten
Authors: A. Langner, E. Christophers
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1977)

Journal Article Human Leukocyte chemotaxis induced by gluten Get access A. Langner, A. Langner Department ofDermatology, University of Kiel (FRG) Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar E. Christophers E. Christophers Department ofDermatology, University of Kiel (FRG) Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 97, Issue 4, 1 October 1977, Pages 460–461, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.1977.tb14261.x Published: 01 October 1977
Industrial Eye Injuries
Authors: A. MacNalty
Journal: BMJ (1942)

The industrial worker depends chiefly upon sight for his livelihood.Blindness or impairment of vision, therefore, is the most serious and most costly of all non-fatal acci- dental risks to the worker, ranking second only to death.In industry, blindness and impairment of vision may be due either to disease or to accident.Apart from miners' nystagmus, disease contributes a small proportion of eye lesions, but the amount of injury to vision caused by acci- dents is considerable, and is accentuated by the danger of sympathetic ophthalmia.Nor should the economic loss to industry resulting from such accidents be ignored.ClassificationAn international classification of the causes of impaired eyesight and of blindness is much needed.Both British and American classifications have been prepared, tind were placed before the International Association for the Prevention of Blindness, which met in connexion with the International Congress of Ophthalmology in Madrid in April, 1933.It is understood that the International Asso- ciation has an international classification under considera- tion, and it is to be hoped that after the war it may be successful in securing a comparable measure of uniformity in this respect Industrial Diseases affecting Eyesight.-Occupationaldiseases which affect eyesight can be classified under (a) the results of exposure to heat rays-e.g., glass-workers' and iron-workers' citaract; (b) miners' nystagmus; (c) the toxic effect of certain substances-e.g., lead, derivatives of benzene, carbon bisulphide, and methyl alcohol.Apart from miners' nystagmus, the Ministry of Health Departmental Committee found that the number of cases of serious impairment of vision caused by these diseases was in all probability very small.The dangers to eyesight involved are, however, serious, and the committee noted that this relative immunity from grave eye injury is depen- dent on the maintenance of the stringent precautions taken. Affections of the Eye in Processes involving IntenseLight and Heat Glass-workers' CataractThis affection, which takes the form of a posterior-cortical cataract, different in character frorn ordinary senile cata- ract, is peculiar to those who are exposed to the heat and glare of a furnace (not necessarily a glass furnace) for many hours each week.It is a disease of slow onset, and its occurrence until after from fifteen.to thirty years of work is said to be rare.It is apt to affect certain classes of glass-workers exposed to incandescent light.The late Sir Thomas Legge examined 513 men engaged in gathering, blowing, H.A. finishing, and flattening glass, and found lens changes in nearly 20%, though not all those affected had defective sight.When mature the cataract can be extracted with probability of success.It is evident that a considerable loss of working capacity may occur.In
Language Barriers to Health Care in the United States
Authors: Glenn Flores
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2006)

Interview with Glenn Flores on the effect of language barriers in health care and the need for medical interpreter services. (07:48)Download A 12-year-old Latino boy arrived at a Boston emergency department with dizziness and a headache. The patient, whom I'll call Raul, had limited proficiency in English; his mother spoke no English, and the attending physician spoke little Spanish. No medical interpreter was available, so Raul acted as his own interpreter. His mother described his symptoms:"La semana pasada a el le dio mucho mareo y no tenía fiebre ni nada, y la familia por parte de papá todos padecen de diabetes." (Last week, he had a lot of dizziness, and he didn't have fever or anything, and his dad's . . .
Priorities for the next Indian government's reform of healthcare
Authors: M. Golechha
Journal: BMJ (2014)

India urgently needs healthcare reform. Unfortunately, however, health does not feature high on the priority list of any political party, even though it is necessary for socioeconomic development and the creation of a healthy workforce. This move by The BMJ seems to be an enlightened step towards guiding the next government in its attempts to set up an appropriate agenda for India’s public health.1

I agree with the expert views on this subject, but I would like to mention a few more priorities for the next government. I believe that the following areas should form the core national health agenda of the next government and should be endorsed by all the parties.

The importance of drugs to healthcare …
Malignant Pleural Effusion
Authors: RICHARD S. STEIN
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1978)

Letters and Corrections1 July 1978Malignant Pleural EffusionRICHARD S. STEIN, M.D.RICHARD S. STEIN, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-89-1-139_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: To the excellent review of malignant pleural effusion by Leff, Hopewell, and Costello (Ann Intern Med 88:532-537, 1978) I wish to add these practical clinical points.1. Although nitrogen mustard is probably the most effective of the antineoplastic agents used to sclerose the pleura, the systemic toxicity of this therapy is unpredictable. Studies using the agent intrapleurally have not reported systematic evaluations of marrow toxicity, but all agree that some of the drug is absorbed. Although myelotoxicity is less with intrapleural therapy than with intravenous use, it is a potential complication (1, 2). In patients with neutropenia...References1. WEISBERGERLEVINESTORAASLI ABJ: Use of nitrogen mustard in the treatment of serous effusions of neoplastic origin. JAMA 159:1704-1707, 1955 MedlineGoogle Scholar2. FRACCHIAKNAPPERCAREYFARROW AWJJ: Intrapleural chemotherapy for effusion from metastatic breast carcinoma. Cancer 26:626-629, 1970 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. JONESDURIESALMON SBS: Combination chemotherapy with adriamycin and cyclophosphamide for advanced breast cancer. Cancer 36:90-97, 1975 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. PALADINECUNNINGHAMSPONZODONAVANOLSONHORTON WTRMKJ: Intracavitary bleomycin in the management of malignant effusions. Cancer 38:1903-1908, 1976 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 37232 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 July 1978Volume 89, Issue 1Page: 139-139KeywordsAdverse reactionsBone marrowNeutropeniaPleural effusionToxicity Issue Published: 1 July 1978 PDF DownloadLoading ...
CMV reactivation drives posttransplant T-cell reconstitution and results in defects in the underlying TCRβ repertoire
Authors: Yvonne Suessmuth, Rithun Mukherjee, Benjamin Watkins, Divya T. Koura, Knut Finstermeier, Cindy Desmarais, Linda Stempora, John T. Horan, Amelia Langston, Muna Qayed, Hanna J. Khoury, Audrey Grizzle, Jennifer A. Cheeseman, Jason A. Conger, Jennifer Robertson, Aneesah Garrett, Allan D. Kirk, Edmund K. Waller, Bruce R. Blazar, Aneesh K. Mehta, Harlan S. Robins, Leslie S. Kean
Journal: Blood (2015)
Metabolic recovery of acidotic rabbit cardiac muscle: effects of low pH and oxygen shortage.
Authors: F Mast, G Elzinga
Journal: Circulation Research (1989)

Heat production during and after contraction of isolated rabbit papillary muscles was measured at 20 degrees C with metal-film thermopiles. Under control conditions (0.2 Hz, pH 7.4) total heat and steady-state force production due to 120 twitches were 1.0 +/- 0.4 J/g and 29.5 +/- 5.1 mN/mm2 (mean +/- SD; n = 5), respectively. Increasing the CO2 of the bicarbonate-buffered superfusate from 5% (pH 7.4) to 24% (pH 6.6) led to a decrease of force and heat production, 54% and 72%, respectively, of the control value. The recovery heat-time constant, reflecting the time course of oxidative phosphorylation, increased from 23.0 +/- 5.1 seconds at pH 7.4 to 69.5 +/- 34.7 seconds at pH 6.6. The ratio of recovery and initial heat equaled 1.06 under both conditions. Enhancing the metabolic rate by increasing the stimulation frequency to 1.0 Hz led, after an initial maximum, to a decline of force and heat presumably as the consequence of shortage of oxygen in the muscle core. The recovery phase in this case was characterized by a double exponential function having time constants of 7.6 and 64.4 seconds. When pH was lowered to 6.6 together with the enhancement of the stimulation frequency to 1 Hz, an additional exothermal process, unrelated to force production, was observed during contraction and for some time thereafter. It was concluded that severe acidosis slows down the rate of oxidative phosphorylation and may reduce the economy of contraction. However, it does not change the nature of recovery and initial heat processes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)