tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Divergent Evolutionary Pattern of Starch Biosynthetic Pathway Genes in Grasses and Dicots
Authors: Chun Li, Qi-Gang Li, Jim M. Dunwell, Yuan-Ming Zhang
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2012)

Starch is the most widespread and abundant storage carbohydrate in crops and its production is critical to both crop yield and quality. In regard to the starch content in the seeds of crop plants, there is a distinct difference between grasses (Poaceae) and dicots. However, few studies have described the evolutionary pattern of genes in the starch biosynthetic pathway in these two groups of plants. In this study, therefore, an attempt was made to compare evolutionary rate, gene duplication, and selective pattern of the key genes involved in this pathway between the two groups, using five grasses and five dicots as materials. The results showed 1) distinct differences in patterns of gene duplication and loss between grasses and dicots; duplication in grasses mainly occurred before the divergence of grasses, whereas duplication mostly occurred in individual species within the dicots; there is less gene loss in grasses than in dicots, 2) a considerably higher evolutionary rate in grasses than in dicots in most gene families analyzed, and 3) evidence of a different selective pattern between grasses and dicots; positive selection may have occurred asymmetrically in grasses in some gene families, for example, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase small subunit. Therefore, we deduced that gene duplication contributes to, and a higher evolutionary rate is associated with, the higher starch content in grasses. In addition, two novel aspects of the evolution of the starch biosynthetic pathway were observed.
THU0595 Adaptation and Validation of the Education Needs Assessment Tool into Polish: A Cross Sectional, Tool Validation Study
Authors: M. -.- Sierakowska, J. Sierakowska, S. Sierakowski, M. Ndosi
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2013)

<h3>Background</h3> The Educational Needs Assessment Tool (ENAT) is a self-completed questionnaire developed in the UK to measure educational needs of patients with rheumatic diseases. <h3>Objectives</h3> The aim of this study was to adapt the ENAT for use with people with RA and Ssc in Poland (Pol-ENAT). <h3>Methods</h3> The adaptation into Polish followed the Beaton’s cross-cultural adaptation process: (I) forward translations (T1 and T2) were carried out by two bilingual translators whose mother tongue was Polish (II) synthesis of the translations was carried out by the forward translators and the recording observer producing T12 from which back-translations were carried out (III) back translations (BT1 and BT2) were carried out by two other bilingual translators whose mother tongues were English (IV) the expert committee meeting took place to review the translations (V) the pre-final Pol-ENAT was tested on 30 patients with arthritis. Following the adaptation, 278 patients with RA and SSC completed the Pol-ENATs. The data was then subjected to Rash analysis to assess the construct validity and reliability of the translated tool. <h3>Results</h3> Issues around translation included: multiple meanings of certain concepts, grammatical difficulties and following it inexactness, idiomatic expressions as well as differences in style of questionnaire form used in United Kingdom and Poland. Experts solved all above problems by finding Polish equivalents, which would be understandable but also adequate from a medical point of view. Regarding vocabulary uncertainties, translators tried to grasp the whole scope of meanings of a given word and search for some use in context appeared very useful. The Expert Committee believes that the aim of proposing an exact Polish version of the English questionnaire has been achieved. The dataset for validation comprised 278 patients with RA and SSC (145 and 133 respectively), 237 (85.3%) of which were female. Table 1 summarises patient characteristics and the summary results of Rasch analysis. The 7 domains in the Pol-ENAT formed an unidimensional scale which was found to fit the Rasch model indicating a criterion-related construct validity, X<sup>2</sup>(df) = 9.82(7), p = 0.20 and 4.20(7), p = 0.76 for RA and SSc groups respectively. The reliability (PSI) exceeded .85 which the requirement for individual use. Pol-ENAT was invariant to age, gender, disease duration and education background. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Using Beaton’s process ensured equivalence between the original and the Polish ENAT, maintaining its content validity across the two cultures. Fit to the Rasch model, confirmed that internal consistency, validity and reliability were retained. Pol-ENAT can be used with confidence in assessing the educational needs of patients with RA and SSc. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None Declared
Type IIB von Willebrand's disease associated with a complex thrombocytopenic thrombocytopathy
Authors: M. F. López‐Fernández, C. López‐Berges, J. A. Martin‐Bernal, R. Sánchez, L. G. Villarón, J. Díez‐Jarilla, J. Batlle
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (1988)

Abstract A familial bleeding disorder characterized by an association of Type IIB von Willebrand's disease (vWD) with a complex thrombocytopenic thrombocytopathy is described in two patients from the same generation. Findings typical of type IIB vWD included enhanced ristocetin‐induced binding of patient von Willebrand factor (vWF) to platelets of patients and normal individuals in association with the absence of larger multimers from plasma. Abnormalities in platelet function included deficient platelet aggregation to ADP, collagen, epinephrine, and arachidonic acid; and defective release of 14 C‐serotonin, vWF, and platelet factor 4 (PF4) in response to thrombin, collagen, or ADP. Platelet factor 4 and platelet vWF were decreased when measured per mg of total platelet protein. In addition, the binding of normal vWF to patient platelets stimulated with thrombin was decreased. Platelet size was increased with a very heterogeneous distribution width. Electron microscopic evaluation showed giant platelets with dense and alpha bodies present. The platelet count was borderline or slightly decreased in the resting state and declined to frankly thrombocytopenic levels at the time of acute bleeding episodes; this state was associated with the presence of platelet aggregates in blood smears.
Biochemical "Defect" in the Hypertrophied and Failing Heart
Authors: ARNOLD M. KATZ
Journal: Circulation (1973)

"It is generally established that the normal heart may become incapable of maintaining an adequate cardiac output or preventing venous engorgement whenever it is presented acutely with an overwhelming load beyond its pumping capacity. This state is not failure of a diseased heart, but it has been designated `failure' by many. It is more difficult to define the situation where such an overload sets up a vicious cycle which progressively potentiates the load upon the heart for hours or days. After a lapse of time, this load strains the mechanisms available for compensation to the point where venous congestion or reduced cardiac output becomes evident. Does this turning point mean that the heart has become abnormal, in a functional sense, and, therefore, is it now to be a case of heart failure in the accepted sense? . . . How much of the circulatory change is due to the load and how much to mechanisms called upon to meet the load? When does myocardial deterioration begin, and when does myocardial failure start? . . . How can one determine whether it is cardiac loading or myocardial failure whch is responsible for invoking the compensatory mechanisms?" 1
Response to interferon alpha treatment and disappearance of cryoglobulinaemia in patients infected by hepatitis C virus
Authors: P Cresta, L Musset, P Cacoub, L Frangeul, D Vitour, T Poynard, P Opolon, D-T Nguyen, F Golliot, J-C Piette, J-M Huraux, F Lunel
Journal: Gut (1999)

<h3>BACKGROUND</h3> Mixed cryoglobulinaemia is closely associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. <h3>AIM</h3> To assess in a prospective open study the efficiency of interferon α treatment of cryoglobulinaemia, as reflected by the disappearance of cryoglobulins and clinical manifestations of the disease, and to analyse the factors predictive of a response to interferon. <h3>METHOD</h3> Eighty seven consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C treated for the first time with interferon at a dose of 3 × 10<sup>6</sup> international units three times a week for six months were studied. Forty three patients had cryoglobulins, which were responsible for clinical manifestations in 12. <h3>RESULTS</h3> At the end of interferon treatment, cryoglobulins had disappeared in 39% of the patients. A clinical improvement (except for neuropathies) was observed in all patients. Six months after interferon treatment was stopped, the same rate of response (normal alanine aminotransferase values and undectable HCV RNA) was observed in patients with or without cryoglobulins. Only 14% of patients still had undetectable cryoglobulins, and all of them also had undetectable serum HCV RNA. The disappearance of cryoglobulins was found less frequently in patients with clinical symptoms than in asymptomatic ones, but the difference was not significant. Sustained responders were more often men, infected by genotype 2 or 3, with a lower pretreatment viral load. <h3>CONCLUSION</h3> The presence of cryoglobulins does not seem to affect the response to interferon in HCV infected patients. The improvement in cryoglobulinaemia is strongly associated with a virological response, reinforcing the hypothesis of a direct role for HCV in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Analysis of T‐cell subsets in B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A correlation with the stage of disease
Authors: A. Mittelman, T. Denny, D. Gebhard, C. Cirrincione, E. Kurland, B. Koziner
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (1984)

Abstract T‐cell subsets were determined by the Leu monoclonal antibodies in the peripheral blood and/or bone marrow of 52 patients with B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B‐CLL) not on therapy at the time of study. The diagnosis of B‐CLL required that the leukemic cells expressed surface receptors for “la‐like” antigen, Fc fragment of IgG, mouse red blood cells (MRBC), C 3 ‐coated red cells (EAC), and low density of monoclonal surface immunoglobulin. The Leu‐3a + /2a + ratio was applied to define the balance between the helper/suppressor subsets in the residual T‐lymphocytes. Most patients showed a decrease in the Leu‐3a + /2a + ratios at all stages of disease. The decrease in ratio was mainly related to a decrease in the Leu‐3a + T‐cell subset. The more advanced stages of B‐CLL were associated with lower Leu‐3a + /2a + ratio, higher total white cell and percent lymphocyte counts. There was no correlation between the proportion of EAC or MRBC rosetting cells and stages of B‐CLL. This analysis further suggests that B‐CLL is an immunosuppressed state that becomes more pronounced in the advanced stages and is characterized by a progressive decrease in the Leu‐3a + (helper) T‐cell subset.
The Role of Prolonged Esophageal pH Monitoring in the Diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux
Authors: Steven M. Fink
Journal: JAMA (1984)

To reassess 24-hour esophageal monitoring and determine if shorter time periods might retain its diagnostic benefits, we studied 16 gastroesophageal reflux (GER) patients and eight controls. Esophageal pH monitoring was performed for 24 hours, with patients in an upright position during the day and supine when retiring. During the 24-hour pH monitoring period, the mean percentage time that pH was less than 4.0 in GER patients, 13.2% +/- 2.9% (SEM), was significantly higher than in normal subjects, 0.7% +/- 0.2% (SEM). Analysis of individual data indicated clear separation of GER patients from normal subjects when in the upright posture, but 25% of GER patients were within the range of the normal subjects when supine (overnight). Three-hour time periods after meals were analyzed. Postprandial pH monitoring, when compared with 24-hour pH monitoring, can identify GER with a 77% sensitivity and a 96% specificity. A 12-hour period (four hours after the dinner meal and eight hours supine) can identify GER with a 94% sensitivity and a 100% specificity. We conclude that (1) 24-hour pH monitoring of the esophagus may have a continuing role in research aspects of GER, (2) 12-hour pH monitoring is a highly accurate test that could be adapted to patients' work schedules or to outpatient telemetry, and (3) postprandial pH testing is a practical, less expensive, and accurate method of diagnosing GER that could be utilized by any gastroenterology diagnostic unit.
Differential regulation of adipose tissue glucose transporters in genetic obesity (fatty rat). Selective increase in the adipose cell/muscle glucose transporter (GLUT 4) expression.
Authors: I Hainault, M Guerre-Millo, C Guichard, M Lavau
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1991)

Adipocytes from young obese Zucker rats exhibit a hyperresponsive insulin-mediated glucose transport, together with a marked increase in cytochalasin B binding as compared with lean rat adipocytes. Here, we examined in these cells the expression of two isoforms of glucose transporter, the erythroid (GLUT 1) and the adipose cell/muscle (GLUT 4) types, in rats aged 16 or 30 d, i.e., before and after the emergence of hyperinsulinemia. GLUT 1 protein and mRNA levels were identical in the two genotypes at both ages. In contrast, the levels of GLUT 4 protein in obese rat adipocytes were 2.4- and 4.5-fold those of lean littermates at 16 and 30 d of age, respectively, in perfect agreement with the genotype effect on insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity. The levels of GLUT 4 mRNA per fat pad were increased 2.3- and 6.2-fold in obese vs. lean rats 16- and 30-d-old, indicating a pretranslational level of regulation. The obese phenotype was not associated with overexpression of GLUT 4 mRNA in gastrocnemius muscle. This work indicates that the fa gene exerts a differential control on the expression of GLUT 1 and GLUT 4 in adipose tissue and provides evidence that independent of hyperinsulinemia, genotype is a major regulatory factor of GLUT 4 expression in this tissue.
Facilitated intracellular delivery of peptide-guided nanoparticles in tumor tissues
Authors: Jong-Ho Kim, Sang Mun Bae, Moon-Hee Na, Hyeri Shin, Yu Jin Yang, Kyung Hyun Min, Ki Young Choi, Kwangmeyung Kim, Rang-Woon Park, Ick Chan Kwon, Byung-Heon Lee, Allan S. Hoffman, In-San Kim
Journal: Journal of Controlled Release (2011)
Biopsy of the Prostate with the Silverman Needle
Authors: Edward L. Peirson, Donald A. Nickerson
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1943)

THE frequency with which carcinoma of the prostate occurs in elderly men has been recognized for a long time, yet the diagnosis is seldom made until the symptoms of urinary retention occur. For example, Rich1 reported that in 292 consecutive autopsies in men over fifty 14 per cent showed carcinoma of the prostate, and in 65 per cent of these cases the diagnosis of carcinoma was not made during life. Since these
Differences among black smoke, PM(10), and PM(1.0) levels at Urban Measurement Sites.
Authors: W H Roemer, J H van Wijnen
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2001)

n Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we measured airborne particulate matter (PM) during winter 1998-1999, taking daily average measurements at an urban background site, at a busy street, and at a motorway. Comparison of black smoke, PM(10), and PM(1.0) levels showed that daily averages were highly correlated over time. Median daily concentrations were elevated at sites affected by traffic. The highest increase relative to the background in median daily concentration was noted for black smoke at the motorway (300%), whereas for PM(10) and PM(1.0) the increase was only 37% and 30%. These results indicate that mass measurements of ambient particulate matter underestimate the exposure to particles generated by traffic.
GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID HYDROGEN SUCCINATE (DISODIUM SALT)
Authors: H.M. Brown, B.G.B. Christie, E. Colin-Jones, R.S.H. Finney, W.G. Macgregor, J. Morrison Smith, W.G. Smith, F.M. Sullivan, A.L. Tárnoky, E.E. Turner, G. Watkinson, D.E.M. Wotton
Journal: The Lancet (1959)
Short-Term Psychotherapy
Authors: Samuel Friedman
Journal: JAMA (1965)

This is one of the most satisfying books to appear in psychiatric literature in some time. Wolberg, aided by six distinguished psychiatrists and three other collaborators, has given us a sparkling gem. Perhaps three chapters on nonclinical material could well be omitted, but with this pruning, the other eight chapters—the heart of the book— are meaty, profitable, and often entertaining. There is a degree of informality (the material originally was recorded from lectures), further enhanced by question and answer sections at the end of each clinical chapter. The reviewer heartily approves of this presentation and wishes it were extended to other textbooks. It offers a less formalized, more direct and intimate insight into the author's personal opinions and concepts. It is difficult, and possibly ungracious, to single out individual chapters for specific commendation. But Wolberg's own two contributions on technique and hypnosis in short-term therapy are worthy of the highest
Bilateral removal of carotid bodies for asthma.
Authors: J B Wood, A W Frankland, H H Eastcott
Journal: Thorax (1965)

The removal of carotid bodies (glomectomy) for relief of asthma has been widely practised since Nakayama (1961) reported an improvement in 2,535 of 3,914 Japanese patients.Very variable results have been found.Improvement, for ex- ample, has been reported by Overholt (1963b) in 82/. of cases with asthma treated by unilateral removal, by Sedwitz (1963) in 822%, by Fletcher, Gaikwad, and Bond (1963) in 75o%, by Keim (1964) in 78%, by Kline, Ponce, Philippakis, and Amirata (1964) in 88%, and by Phillips (1964) in 91%.In contrast, in the only controlled studies, O'Rourke and O'Rourke (1964) and Marschke, Beall, Stern, and Murray (1965) found that unilateral glomectomy was no better than a sham operation.Segal and Dulfano (1965) emphasized the difficulty of assessing results by describing the clinical details of 15 patients treated elsewhere.None was considered to have benefited, although seven had been reported to be improved in accounts published elsewhere.The value of glomectomy is not therefore established despite the large number of treated patients.Details of selection and assessment are so sparse that comparisons between reports can- not be made.Only 23 case histories are given by the above authors, 20 of which are recorded by authors (O' Rourke and O'Rourke 1963, 1964; Segal and Dulfano, 1965) who found poor results.Two of the other three histories report benefit after bilateral glomectomy (Keim, 1964).We consider that assessment is impossible with- out adequate documentation of individual cases, and we describe the effects of bilateral removal of carotid bodies in three patients.The results have led us to abandon the operation.Physiological studies in two of these patients will be mentioned.They have been reported in detail by Holton and Wood (1965).OPERATIVE TECHNIQUEUnder general anaesthesia the carotid bifurcation was exposed through a semi-oblique incision 5 cm. in length centred over it, the common facial vein being divided.The superior thyroid artery usually led the dissection back on to the carotid bifurcation region, and, before proceeding further, local infiltration with 1 to 2 ml.20%, lignocaine (without adrenaline) was
Total Arch Repair for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection With 2 Modified Techniques: Open Single-Branched Stent Graft Placement and Reinforcement of the Dissected Arch Vessel Stump With Stent Graft
Authors: Liang-Wan Chen, Xi-Jie Wu, Lin Lu, Gui-Can Zhang, Guo-Feng Yang, Zhao-Wei Yang, Yi Dong, Hua Cao, Qiang Chen
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background— In total arch replacement for patients with acute type A aortic dissection, anastomoses of the graft to the left subclavian artery and descending aorta are often difficult, and the arch vessel anastomosis is frequently performed at the site of dissection. To make this procedure easier and safer, we developed 2 modified techniques: open single-branched stent graft placement into the left subclavian artery and the descending aorta and reinforcement of the dissected arch vessel stump with a stent graft neointima. The feasibility and initial clinical results of these 2 new techniques are reported. Methods and Results— Total arch repair with the 2 new techniques was performed in 26 patients with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection. Most patients had an uneventful postoperative course, and there were no surgical deaths. All implanted stent grafts were fully opened and not kinked, and there was no space or blood flow surrounding any of the stent grafts. The false lumen of the descending thoracic aorta closed with thrombus formation in 22 of 26 patients. Disappearance of the false lumen and recovery of the true lumen was observed in all of the dissected arch vessels. Conclusions— Open single-branched stent graft placement into the left subclavian artery and the descending aorta and reinforcement of the dissected arch vessel stump with a stent graft neointima are 2 simple and effective techniques that should make total arch repair an easier and safer procedure for acute type A aortic dissection.
A PRACTICAL DRAINAGE TUBE FOR CLOSED DRAINAGE IN EMPYEMA
Authors: F. W. McGuire
Journal: JAMA (1926)

Those who are concerned with closed drainage in the treatment of empyema should be interested in this simple, practical and inexpensive drainage tube. Closed drainage is positively indicated in all cases of empyema in which adhesions have not formed between the parietal and visceral pleura. It is also indicated in those conditions in which the patient is extremely toxic, as this class of patients succumb very readily to even minor operating. It has a further advantage in that it eliminates dressings. The use of the instrument is very simple. Local anesthesia is produced between the ribs selected. This point should be sufficiently high so as to prevent the tube from coming in contact with the diaphragm. A skin incision is made to allow the introduction of the point of a trocar. The trocar is plunged through the chest wall. The tube is inserted. If the tube touches the lung it
Evaluation of a knowledge-based system providing ventilatory management and decision for extubation.
Authors: M Dojat, A Harf, D Touchard, M Laforest, F Lemaire, L Brochard
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1996)

We evaluated whether a knowledge-based system (KBS) connected to a ventilator in pressure support mode could correctly predict the ability of patients to tolerate total withdrawal from ventilatory support. The KBS was designed to continuously adapt ventilatory assistance to the needs of the patient, to manage a strategy of gradually decreasing ventilatory assistance, and to indicate when the patient was able to breathe without assistance. Thirty-eight patients for whom weaning was being considered were evaluated using a conventional battery of parameters, including weaning criteria, tolerance of a T-piece trial, and outcome 48h after permanent withdrawal of ventilation. The results of this evaluation were compared with the suggestions made by the KBS at the end of a period of KBS-driven mechanical ventilation inserted in the conventional weaning procedure. The positive predictive value of the KBS was 89%, versus 77% for the conventional procedure and 81% for the rapid shallow breathing index alone. The KBS correctly predicted the course of five patients who tolerated a T-piece trial but required ventilation within 48 h. We conclude that our KBS ensured appropriate patient management during the weaning period and improved our ability to predict responses to weaning.