tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Hair Mercury Levels in U.S. Children and Women of Childbearing Age: Reference Range Data from NHANES 1999–2000
Authors: Margaret A. McDowell, Charles F. Dillon, John Osterloh, P. Michael Bolger, Edo Pellizzari, Reshan Fernando, Ruben Montes de Oca, Susan E. Schober, Thomas Sinks, Robert L. Jones, Kathryn R. Mahaffey
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2004)

Exposure to methyl mercury, a risk factor for neurodevelopmental toxicity, was assessed in U.S. children 1-5 years of age (n = 838) and women 16-49 years of age (n = 1,726) using hair mercury analysis during the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The data are nationally representative and are based on analysis of cross-sectional data for the noninstitutionalized, U.S. household population. The survey consisted of interviews conducted in participants' homes and standardized health examinations conducted in mobile examination centers. Distributions of total hair mercury levels expressed as micrograms per gram hair Hg and the association of hair Hg levels with sociodemographic characteristics and fish consumption are reported. Geometric mean (standard error of the geometric mean) hair mercury was 0.12 microg/g (0.01 microg/g) in children, and 0.20 microg/g (0.02 microg/g) in women. Among frequent fish consumers, geometric mean hair mercury levels were 3-fold higher for women (0.38 vs. 0.11 micro g/g) and 2-fold higher for children (0.16 vs. 0.08 microg/g) compared with nonconsumers. The NHANES 1999-2000 data provide population-based data on hair mercury concentrations for women and children in the United States. Hair mercury levels were associated with age and fish consumption frequency.
Blood Pressure and Hypertension Are Associated With 7 Loci in the Japanese Population
Authors: Fumihiko Takeuchi, Masato Isono, Tomohiro Katsuya, Ken Yamamoto, Mitsuhiro Yokota, Takao Sugiyama, Toru Nabika, Akihiro Fujioka, Keizo Ohnaka, Hiroyuki Asano, Yukio Yamori, Shuhei Yamaguchi, Shotai Kobayashi, Ryoichi Takayanagi, Toshio Ogihara, Norihiro Kato
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Two consortium-based genome-wide association studies have recently identified robust and significant associations of common variants with systolic and diastolic blood pressures in populations of European descent, warranting further investigation in populations of non-European descent.We examined the associations at 27 loci reported by the genome-wide association studies on Europeans in a screening panel of Japanese subjects (n=1526) and chose 11 loci showing association signals (1-tailed test in the screening, P<0.3) for an extensive replication study with a follow-up panel of 3 Japanese general-population cohorts (n < or =24 300). Significant associations were replicated for 7 loci-CASZ1, MTHFR, ITGA9, FGF5, CYP17A1-CNNM2, ATP2B1, and CSK-ULK3-with any or all of these 3 traits: systolic blood pressure (P=1.4x10(-14) to 0.05), diastolic blood pressure (P=1.9x10(-12) to 0.05), and hypertension (P=2.0x10(-14) to 0.006; odds ratio, 1.10 to 1.29). The strongest association was observed for FGF5. In the whole study panel, the variance (R(2)) for blood pressure explained by the 7 single-nucleotide polymorphism loci was calculated to be R(2)=0.003 for male and 0.006 for female participants. Stratified analysis implied the potential presence of a gene-age-sex interaction, although it did not reach a conclusive level of statistical significance after adjustment for multiple testing.We have confirmed 7 loci associated with blood pressure and/or hypertension in the Japanese. These loci can guide fine-mapping efforts to pinpoint causal variants and causal genes with the integration of multiethnic results.
Differential effect of somatostatinergic signaling on collagen type i production and the proliferation of cytokine primed rat hepatic stellate cells
Authors: S. Klironomos, G. Notas, O. Sfakianaki, I. Drigiannakis, M. Frangaki, E. Kouroumalis
Journal: Gut (2011)

<h3>Introduction</h3> Somatostatin may influence hepatic fibrosis with mediators produced by Kupffer cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of somatostatinergic and cytokine signalling in hepatic stellate cells (HSC), the effector cells of hepatic fibrosis. <h3>Methods</h3> The production of a1-procollagen (a1-PROC) by rat HSCs treated with TNFα (100 ng/ml), TGFβ1 (5 ng/ml) or PDGF (32 ng/ml) and their cellular proliferation with or without octreotide was investigated. a1-PROC and aSMA were analysed by Western blotting and cellular proliferation was assayed by MTT. The role of the phosphotyrosine (PTP) and phosphoserine-phosphothreonine (STP) phosphatases on somatostatin signalling, was investigated by using the PTP inhibitor sodium orthovanadate (0.1 μM) and the STP inhibitor okadaic acid (0.1 μM). <h3>Results</h3> TGFβ1 and PDGF enhanced, whereas TNFα inhibited the expression of a1-PROC. Octreotide dose dependently inhibited the expression of a1-PROC in cells treated with TGFβ1, PDGF and increased the production of a1-PROC in TNF treated cells. Sodium orthovanadate significantly augmented the inhibition of a1-PROC production caused by octreotide only in TGFβ1 or PDGF treated cells. Okadaic acid uniformly inhibited the expression of a1-PROC. The expression of aSMA remained constant in all experiments. HSC proliferation increased by TGFβ1 and PDGF and was inhibited by TNFα Octreotide potentiated the effect of TGFβ1 and PDGF, and reversed TNFα inhibition. Orthovanadate and okadaic acid did not have any effect on the proliferation of cells. However, okadaic acid profoundly inhibited HSC proliferation when combined with octreotide, in TGFβ1 and PDGF treated cells. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Somatostatin differentially influences HSC a1 procollagen production according to cytokine microenvironment and this effect is modulated by tyrosine and threonin phosphatases. Proliferation of HSCs is similarly influenced by Somatostatin by a phosphatase dependent mechanism.
Abnormal Blood Vessels of the Prepyloric Antrum in Cirrhosis of the Liver as a Cause of Chronic Gastro-Intestinal Bleeding
Authors: A. van Vliet, F. ten Kate, J. Dees, M. van Blankenstein
Journal: Endoscopy (1978)

Three elderly females presenting with iron deficiency anaemia and faecal loss of blood were found to have a macronodular cirrhosis of the liver and an unusual red spotty appearence of the prepyloric antral mucosa. One patient underwent antral resection and the surgical specimen revealed abnormalities of the (sub)mucosal blood vessels. Anaemia and occult faecal blood loss disappeared after operation. It is suggested that this type of antral vascular abnormality is aetiologically related to hepatic cirrhosis and may represent a gastric equivalent of cutaneous spider angiomata.
Preformed IgG Antibodies Against Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Antigens Are Major Risk Factors for High-grade Cellular Rejection in Recipients of Heart Transplantation
Authors: Silviu Itescu, Thomas C. Tung, Elizabeth M. Burke, Alan Weinberg, Nader Moazami, John H. Artrip, Nicole Suciu-Foca, Eric A. Rose, Mehmet C. Oz, Robert E. Michler
Journal: Circulation (1998)

Background —Preformed anti-HLA antibodies reacting specifically with donor lymphocytes have been associated with acute vascular rejection and early cardiac allograft failure. However, the effect of preformed anti-HLA antibodies directed against allogeneic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or II antigens of a donor panel on heart transplantation outcome has not been extensively studied. Methods and Results —The study group consisted of 68 patients who received cardiac transplants between 1989 and 1996 and who were at high risk for developing anti-HLA antibodies before transplantation. The effect of preformed antibodies against allogeneic MHC class I or class II antigens on the development of early high-grade cellular rejection and on cumulative annual rejection frequency was determined. Both patients with left ventricular assist devices and retransplantation candidates had a similar increase in the frequency of IgG anti-MHC class II antibodies (IgG anti-II) compared with control subjects ( P &lt;0.0001), whereas the frequency of IgG anti-MHC class I antibodies (IgG anti-I) was elevated only in patients with left ventricular assist devices. Pretransplantation IgG anti-II predicted early development of high-grade cellular rejection ( P =0.006) and higher cumulative annual rejection frequency ( P &lt;0.001) in both of these sensitized patient groups. Among retransplantation recipients, a match between donors 1 and 2 at HLA-A additionally predicted an earlier time to a high-grade cellular rejection. Conclusions —These results emphasize the importance of specifically screening heart transplantation candidates for the presence of IgG antibodies directed against MHC class II molecules and suggest that strategies aimed at their reduction may have an impact on the onset and frequency of high-grade cellular rejections after transplantation.
807CC genotype of the platelet Gp Ia could represent a protective factor for recurrences of acute coronary events in acute coronary syndromes
Authors: Antonio Maria Leone, I. Casorelli, F. Burzotta, K. Paciaroni, A. Sciahbasi, V. De Stefano, G. Leone, F. Andreotti, A. Maseri
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2002)
The spatial reorientation data do <i>not</i> support the thesis that language is the medium of cross-modular thought
Authors: Richard Samuels
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2002)

A central claim of the target article is that language is the medium of domain-general, cross-modular thought; and according to Carruthers, the main, direct evidence for this thesis comes from a series of fascinating studies on spatial reorientation. I argue that the these studies, in fact, provide us with no reason whatsoever to accept this cognitive conception of language.
Divergent effects of inotropic stimulation on the ischemic and severely depressed reperfused myocardium.
Authors: J C Mercier, U Lando, K Kanmatsuse, K Ninomiya, S Meerbaum, M C Fishbein, H J Swan, W Ganz
Journal: Circulation (1982)

Mechanical function remains depressed for hours and days after even brief periods of ischemia. To determine whether the depressed function of the reperfused myocardium could be improved y inotropic stimulation, we studied segmental function during ischemia and after reperfusion using mercury-in-Silastic length gauges in 15 dogs. During coronary artery occlusion, segmental function could not be improved by inotropic stimulation with dopamine. Release of occlusion after 30 minutes of ischemia resulted in only slight improvement in segmental function (systolic shortening at 20% of control). After reperfusion, segmental function could be markedly enhanced by inotropic stimulation. The response to inotropic stimulation was similar after reperfusion after 3 hours of ischemia if the myocardium remained viable (nine dogs). When the myocardium was necrotic (five dogs), there was no improvement after reperfusion, either spontaneously or in response to inotropic stimulation. If applicable to humans, these results suggest that intractable pump failure caused by extensive but reversible ischemia could be effectively treated by reperfusion and inotropic stimulation.
Incidence of diverticulosis.
Authors: L. E. Hughes
Journal: BMJ (1968)

munication and footnote') states that he has successfully treated in the past six years, using 10 ml. of blood plasma obtained from sensitized Rh-negative women (with particular precautions to avoid jaundice), over 500 women and no case of Rh-immunization has occurred.Thirty-eight of his patients have received a second dose of plasma after a subsequent pregnancy and four a third one, and no unfavourable reactions to the treatment have been observed.On the other hand, of the 88 controls 16 showed evidence of immunization in the next observed pregnancy.The experience of giving either plasma or gammaglobulin to volunteers or parturient women now goes back more than seven years, and in none of the trials has rheumatoid arthritis been reported, though it has been looked for, particularly by Hamilton.Any fear of this, therefore, seems likely to be a theoretical rather than an actual problem.In fact there seems no escaping the con- clusion that the data at the present time sug- gest that a considerable number of subjects have been prevented from becoming immun- ized and are none the worse for the treat- ment.This does not mean that there are no problems, and much research is going on.By far the most important practical point concerns dosage, and there is evidence that in some cases not enough gammaglobulin is being given to women who have had a very large (that is, of the order of 50 ml.or more) foeto-maternal haemorrhage.''-I am.etc.,
North-South research in developing countries must respond to community's priorities
Authors: D. Wilson
Journal: BMJ (1999)

EDITOR—Edejer observes that North-South research collaboration is plagued by differing interpretations of ethical standards of doing research in developing countries, an example being the controversy over the Bangkok trial of short course zidovudine for perinatal transmission of HIV-1.1

One aspect of this controversy concerned the standard of care offered to patients participating in the study: should it be the best current treatment in the country of the sponsoring institution or the best local treatment? Medecins sans …
A phase III randomized trial of thalidomide plus zoledronic acid versus zoledronic acid alone in patients with asymptomatic multiple myeloma
Authors: T E Witzig, K M Laumann, M Q Lacy, S R Hayman, A Dispenzieri, S Kumar, C B Reeder, V Roy, J A Lust, M A Gertz, P R Greipp, H Hassoun, S J Mandrekar, S V Rajkumar
Journal: Leukemia (2012)
Optimization of apple allergen preparation for <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i> diagnostics
Authors: O. Rudeschko, B. Fahlbusch, M. Henzgen, G. Schlenvoigt, D. Herrmann, L. Jäger
Journal: Allergy (1995)

The aim of our investigation was to obtain a well‐characterized active apple extract suitable for both in vivo and in vitro diagnostics by a technically simple method. For this purpose, apple extracts were prepared by homogenization in potassium phosphate buffer or by precipitation in organic solvents and resolubilization in potassium phosphate buffer in the presence or in the absence of enzyme inhibitors. These extracts were comparatively investigated by means of SDS‐PAGE, two‐dimensional electrophoresis, immunoblotting, RAST inhibition, and prick test. The in vitro investigations indicated that extracts prepared by precipitation in organic solvents (diacetone alcohol) at ‐20°C have a higher allergen activity than those prepared by extraction in aqueous solutions. From the in vivo tests (prick test), it was concluded that application of inhibitors of cytoplasmic enzymes (phenol oxidases, peroxidases, proteases) already during extraction is an essential precondition for active prick test solutions. Correspondingly, the extract obtained by solvent precipitation in the presence of enzyme inhibitors appeared to be most suitable for clinical application.
The role of paracrine signals during liver regeneration
Authors: Ben Z. Stanger, Linda Greenbaum
Journal: Hepatology (2012)

During chronic injury a population of bipotent hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) become activated to regenerate both cholangiocytes and hepatocytes. Here we show in human diseased liver and mouse models of the ductular reaction that Notch and Wnt signaling direct specification of HPCs via their interactions with activated myofibroblasts or macrophages. In particular, we found that during biliary regeneration, expression of Jagged 1 (a Notch ligand) by myofibroblasts promoted Notch signaling in HPCs and thus their biliary specification to cholangiocytes. Alternatively, during hepatocyte regeneration, macrophage engulfment of hepatocyte debris induced Wnt3a expression. This resulted in canonical Wnt signaling in nearby HPCs, thus maintaining expression of Numb (a cell fate determinant) within these cells and the promotion of their specification to hepatocytes. By these two pathways adult parenchymal regeneration during acute liver injury is promoted.
Cathepsin G Enhances Mammary Tumor–Induced Osteolysis by Generating Soluble Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-κB Ligand
Authors: Thomas J. Wilson, Kalyan C. Nannuru, Mitsuru Futakuchi, Anguraj Sadanandam, Rakesh K. Singh
Journal: Cancer Research (2008)

Abstract Breast cancer commonly causes osteolytic metastases in bone, a process that is dependent on tumor-stromal interaction. Proteases play an important role in modulating tumor-stromal interactions in a manner that favors tumor establishment and progression. Whereas several studies have examined the role of proteases in modulating the bone microenvironment, little is currently known about their role in tumor-bone interaction during osteolytic metastasis. In cancer-induced osteolytic lesions, cleavage of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) to a soluble version (sRANKL) is critical for widespread osteoclast activation. Using a mouse model that mimics osteolytic changes associated with breast cancer–induced bone metastases, we identified cathepsin G, cathepsin K, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and MMP13 to be proteases that are up-regulated at the tumor-bone interface using comparative cDNA microarray analysis and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Moreover, we showed that cathepsin G is capable of shedding the extracellular domain of RANKL, generating active sRANKL that is capable of inducing differentiation and activation of osteoclast precursors. The major source of cathepsin G at the tumor-bone interface seems to be osteoclasts that up-regulate production of cathepsin G via interaction with tumor cells. Furthermore, we showed that in vitro osteoclastogenesis is reduced by inhibition of cathepsin G in a coculture model and that in vivo inhibition of cathepsin G reduces mammary tumor–induced osteolysis. Together, our data indicate that cathepsin G activity at the tumor-bone interface plays an important role in mammary tumor–induced osteolysis and suggest that cathepsin G is a potentially novel therapeutic target in the treatment of breast cancer bone metastasis. [Cancer Res 2008;68(14):5803–11]
The value of dobutamine stress echo in predicting improvement in left ventricular function in patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy after one year of beta-blocker therapy
Authors: Frank F. Seghatol, Dipan Shah, Silvia DiLuzio, David Bello, Maryl R. Johnson, William G. Cotts, Jenny A. O'Donohue, Robert O. Bonow, Mihai Gheorghiade, Vera H. Rigolin
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2003)
Fluorouracil-induced Hepatic Artery Spasm Preventing Yttrium-90 Microsphere Administration
Authors: Amanda Townsend, Timothy J. Price, Kevin Patterson, Ken Pittman
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (2008)

Coronary spasm is a recognized complication of fluorouracil (FU) chemotherapy. Spasm has been documented at other arterial sites with FU. SIR-spheres (radioactive yttrium-90 microspheres) are increasingly being used for hepatic colorectal metastasis. Various FU schedules are reported in the literature, and it is likely there will be coadministration with SIR-spheres. There is, however, little specific information in these reports as to the timing of FU and hepatic arterial spasm associated with infusion FU, which is a potential complication that should be considered.
Evaluation of Breast Cancer Test-Treatment Strategies Using Decision-Analytic Modeling – Preliminary Results for the 21-Gene Assay Recurrence Score
Authors: B. Jahn, U. Rochau, C. Kurzthaler, M. Arvandi, K. Saverno, F. Kuehne, M. Kluibenschaedl, M.D. Krahn, M. Paulden, U. Siebert
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2013)
Percentage of urinary albumin excretion and serum-free light-chain reduction are important determinants of renal response in myeloma patients with moderate to severe renal impairment
Authors: H Sugihara, D Chihara, K Seike, K Fukumoto, M Fujisawaa, Y Suehara, Y Nishida, M Takeuchi, K Matsue
Journal: Blood Cancer Journal (2014)

Reversal of renal dysfunction significantly affects the prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM) with renal impairment (RI). There is no reliable test for predicting reversibility of RI in MM patients. We postulated that MM with high albuminuria may reflect glomerular disease that is difficult to reverse. Here, we examined the impact of urinary albumin excretion. We retrospectively analyzed 279 patients admitted to our hospital from April 2000 to December 2013. Clinical variables and laboratory data that may affect myeloma treatment response were extracted. The results were examined for relationship to renal response by univariate and multivariate analysis. RI (estimated glomerular filtration rate ≦50 ml/min per 1.73 m2) was observed in 116 patients (46%) and renal responses of renal complete response, renal partial response, renal minor response and no response were obtained in 46 (40%), 15 (13%), 13 (11%) and 42 (36%) patients, respectively. Although renal recovery was significantly associated with Durie–Salmon 1 or 2 (P=0.02), myeloma response better than very good partial response (P=0.03), involved free light-chain (iFLC) reduction from baseline 80% at day 12 (P=0.005), ≧95% at day 21 (P<0.001) and urinary albumin ≦25% on admission (P<0.001) on univariate analysis, only reduction of iFLC 95% at day 21 (P=0.015) and urinary albumin ≦25% (P=0.007) remained significant for any renal response. Our observation indicates that increased urinary albumin excretion >25% and reduction of iFLC ≦95% on day 21 were associated with favorable renal recovery in MM patients with RI, and were considered as negative predictors for renal response.
The Journal of a Disappointed Man
Authors: Robert Heys
Journal: BMJ (2008)

W N P Barbellion was the pen name of Bruce Frederick Cummings, who came from a family of journalists but rejected this profession to devote his short life to the study of natural history. Although his achievements in this field were not insignificant, his fame rests on the journal made up of extracts from the diary he kept from boyhood until his death from multiple sclerosis in 1919 at the age of 29.

It was Barbellion’s illness that shaped his diary, and despite his lack of medical training he made many observations of clinical interest. Indeed I first read the journal …
Prisoner wants to donate his second kidney
Authors: D. Josefson
Journal: BMJ (1999)

A convicted felon's offer to donate his remaining kidney to his ailing daughter has raised difficult ethical questions in California. David Patterson, aged 38, first donated a kidney to his estranged daughter, Renada Daniel Patterson, in 1996.

Renada was born with congenital renal anomalies and received a cadaveric renal transplant at age 5. When that kidney was rejected, her father's kidney was found to match and was transplanted. But now, that kidney too is failing. David Patterson, who is serving a 13 year term for burglary and heroin possession, wants to replace Renada's failing kidney …
BMA chairman urges doctors to monitor "unnecessarily ambitious" reforms
Authors: J. Carlowe
Journal: BMJ (2010)

Chairman of the British Medical Association Hamish Meldrum has warned that 2011 is likely to be “an exceptionally testing time” and urged doctors to remain “closely involved” in the government’s programme of “unnecessarily ambitious” reforms.

In his new year message Dr Meldrum said, “Set against a backdrop of an unprecedented financial challenge, with efficiency savings of at least £20bn [€23bn; $31bn] being sought in England alone, the Government is pushing ahead, at breakneck speed, with an unnecessarily ambitious programme of reform in England.

“I believe there is a continuing need for the profession to remain closely involved in how the NHS develops, in putting our evidence for change forward, and …