tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis C virus infection in kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Johnson Y. N. Lau, Gary L. Davis, Mathew E. Brunson, Ke-Ping Qian, Hsiang-Ju Lin, Stella Quan, Robert Dinello, Alan J. Polito, Juan C. Scornik
Journal: Hepatology (1993)

To determine the prevalence and significance of hepatitis C virus infection in kidney transplant recipients, paired serum samples collected from 100 renal allograft recipients on admission for kidney transplantation and 1 yr after transplantation were tested for antibody to hepatitis C virus with second-generation enzyme immunoassay and recombinant immunoblot assay and for hepatitis C virus RNA with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Before kidney transplantation, hepatitis C virus antibody was detected with second-generation enzyme immunoassay in 18 patients (12 second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-positive, 6 second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-indeterminate). Nine of 12 second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-positive and 2 of 6 second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-indeterminate samples were hepatitis C virus RNA positive. In addition, 7 of 82 patients who had no detectable antibody on second-generation enzyme immunoassay or second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay were hepatitis C virus RNA positive. After kidney transplantation, hepatitis C virus antibody was detected in 19 patients (12 second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-positive, 7 second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-indeterminate, 14 seropositive for hepatitis C virus antibody). Eleven of 12 patients with second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-positive results and 4 of 7 with second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-indeterminate results were positive for hepatitis C virus RNA. Hepatitis C virus RNA was present in 28 patients 1 yr after kidney transplantation. Six patients appeared to have acquired active hepatitis C virus infection 1 yr after kidney transplantation (seroconverted to hepatitis C virus RNA positivity).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Protocol for the Combined Diagnostic and Therapeutic Use of Recombinant Human Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone
Authors: ALDO N. SERAFINI, RALF P. CLAUSS, SILVINA LEVIS-DUSSEAU
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (2003)

Patients may be prepared for radioiodine diagnostic imaging by withdrawal of all thyroid medication or by the administration of extrinsic thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Although purified human and bovine TSHs were used in the past, they are no longer recommended because of their adverse effects. Recently, a new extrinsic TSH called recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) was developed and is commercially available. It is a highly purified, recombinant form of the naturally occurring human TSH. It was introduced to decrease complications associated with temporary hypothyroid states required at times in the follow-up evaluation of patients with thyroid cancer. Although rhTSH is currently used for patient preparation in diagnosis only, its use in preparations for subsequent radioiodine therapy may be helpful in some clinical circumstances. The authors describe a patient with papillary thyroid cancer in whom a 2-day rhTSH protocol was used for diagnosis and extended for therapeutic purposes. The protocol was useful to obtain the diagnostic information needed to determine whether to treat, and it allowed rapid progress to therapy without further patient preparation. Until rhTSH is fully approved for both diagnostic and therapeutic uses, this modified 2-day protocol would allow patients with special clinical circumstances to be evaluated and treated rapidly.
INSANITY IN COURT.
Authors: L. HARRISON METTLER
Journal: JAMA (1896)

With the rapid growth of knowledge and the steady development of new forms of industrial activity, the employment of expert testimony for the instruction of the courts is becoming more of a necessity every year. This is admitted by all. The present method of securing this testimony is acknowledged to be both defective and inadequate. On account of this faulty method, expert testimony itself is occasionally most unjustly criticised and ignorantly ridiculed. From the method of its engagement to the system of expert testimony in general the blame has been transferred, and some narrow minded jurists have even cast slurs and insults upon the experts themselves, thus completely losing sight of the real cause of their dissatisfaction, namely, the ancient and absurd method in which the expert is brought before the court. Lord Campbell revealed a partial comprehension of the trouble, when he said that "skilled witnesses come with such
Current vital statistics.
Authors: P O Pharoah
Journal: BMJ (1978)

screening for amoebiasis in patients from endemic areas who may require systemic therapy with corticosteroids.The difficulties in screening such patients, especially those who are asymptomatic, have been emphasised recently.'This man's serology was positive for E histolytica just four days after the onset of symptoms of perforation, implying an immune response which antedated the acute event.We therefore suggest that screening of both faeces and blood-for evidence of amoebiasis is desirable in this group of patients.
Clinical management of asthma in 1999: the Asthma Insights and Reality in Europe (AIRE) study
Authors: KF Rabe, PA Vermeire, JB Soriano, WC Maier
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2000)

Asthma management guidelines provide recommendations for the optimum control of asthma. This survey assessed the current levels of asthma control as reported by patients, which partly reflect the extent to which guideline recommendations are implemented. Current asthma patients were identified by telephone by screening 73,880 households in seven European countries. Designated respondents were interviewed on healthcare utilization, symptom severity, activity limitations and asthma control. Current asthma patients were identified in 3,488 households, and 2,803 patients (80.4%) completed the survey. Forty-six per cent of patients reported daytime symptoms and 30% reported asthma-related sleep disturbances, at least once a week. In the past 12 months, 25% of patients reported an unscheduled urgent care visit, 10% reported one or more emergency room visits and 7% reported overnight hospitalization due to asthma. In the past 4 weeks, more patients had used prescription quick-relief medication (63%) than inhaled corticosteroids (23%). Patient perception of asthma control did not match their symptom severity; approximately 50% of patients reporting severe persistent symptoms also considered their asthma to be completely or well controlled. The current level of asthma control in Europe falls far short of the goals for long-term asthma management. Patients' perception of asthma control is different from their actual asthma control.
A Randomized Comparison of Combined Ticlopidine and Aspirin Therapy Versus Aspirin Therapy Alone After Successful Intravascular Ultrasound–Guided Stent Implantation
Authors: Patrick Hall, Shigeru Nakamura, Luigi Maiello, Akira Itoh, Simonetta Blengino, Giovanni Martini, Massimo Ferraro, Antonio Colombo
Journal: Circulation (1996)

Background Previous studies have shown that it is feasible to withhold anticoagulation after a successful intracoronary stent procedure with a low incidence of stent thrombosis. The importance of specific antiplatelet agents when stenting is performed without anticoagulation is unknown. Methods and Results After successful intravascular ultrasound–guided stenting, 226 patients were randomly assigned to receive either aspirin therapy alone (n=103) or a combination of ticlopidine and short-term aspirin therapy (n=123). Primary angiographic and clinical end points were stent thrombosis, death, myocardial infarction, the need for postprocedure coronary artery bypass surgery or repeated angioplasty, and significant medication side effects requiring termination of the medication within the first month of a successful procedure. At 1 month, the rate of stent thrombosis was 2.9% in the aspirin only group and 0.8% in the ticlopidine-aspirin group ( P =.2). Cumulative major clinical events after successful stenting occurred in 3.9% of the patients in the aspirin group and in 0.8% in the ticlopidine-aspirin group ( P =.1). There were no medication side effects in the aspirin group; in the combined ticlopidine-aspirin group, medication side effects occurred in 3 patients ( P =.2). Conclusions At 1 month, there was no difference in the incidence of stent thrombosis or other clinical end points between the two poststent antiplatelet regimens. However, the relatively small size of the study and the low incidence of thrombosis events may have contributed to the failure to detect differences in angiographic and clinical end points between the two groups.
Association between the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene and risk for psoriasis in a Chinese population in Taiwan
Authors: Y-C. Chang, W-M. Wu, C-H. Chen, S-H. Lee, H-S. Hong, L-A. Hsu
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2007)

Genetic factors play an important role in susceptibility for psoriasis. The angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) is expressed by keratinocytes. Administration of ACE inhibitors may induce or exacerbate psoriasis in clinical practice. Thus, ACE gene variants may contribute to the genetic background of psoriasis.To assess the role of the ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in psoriasis among ethnically Chinese Taiwanese subjects.In total, 312 patients with psoriasis and 615 control subjects were analysed for the ACE I/D polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction.A marginally significant difference (P=0 x 035) was found in the distribution of ACE I/D genotype frequencies between patients with psoriasis and controls. The frequency of the II genotype in patients with psoriasis was significantly higher than that in the control group (55 x 1% vs. 46 x 7%, respectively, P=0 x 015). Although the I allele frequency in patients with psoriasis (72 x 4%) was higher than that in the control group (68 x 2%), the difference was not significantly different (P=0 x 062). After adjusting for age and gender, carriers of the II genotype were 1 x 45 (95% confidence interval 1 x 09-1 x 92) times more likely than noncarriers to have psoriasis (P=0 x 010).Our results suggest that the presence of the I allele may confer susceptibility to development of psoriasis among ethnically Chinese Taiwanese individuals.
Abstract 3372: Mouse keratinocyte side-population plays an important role during malignant progression to skin squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Sun Hye Kim, Sung Hyun Lee, Marcelo Rodriguez-Puebla
Journal: Cancer Research (2012)

Abstract A subset of cells, termed side-population (SP), with characteristics of adult stem cells (SC) has been identified in several tissues, cell lines, as well as human and experimental tumors. The main feature of these putative stem cells is the high efflux capability for antimitotic drugs. The role of this SP in tumorigenesis is controversial; though, a role as cancer stem cells has been reported. Here, we have investigated whether a functionally equivalent SP exists in cell lines derived from mouse epidermis and skin tumors in order to define the extent of which the presence of SP is associated with tumor progression. We observed increased percentage of the SP in cell lines derived from skin squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs; cell lines CH72 and JWF2) compared with those arose from skin papillomas (308 and MT1/2) and mouse epidermis (C50). Side populations were isolated by the high capability to efflux Hoechst upon FACS analysis. Interestingly, qRT-PCR analysis of SP and non-SP shows elevated expression of the ABCG2/BCRP1 transporter -which participates in the dye efflux- in SP; while the expression of the hair follicle stem cell markers keratin 15 (K15), CD34 and Lgr6 were similar between SP and non-SP. These results suggest that the SP is not related to the well characterized stem cells from the bulge region of the hair follicle (BuSC). Importantly, the relevant correlation among the SP size and tumor progression suggests that these cells are positively selected during tumor progression. In order to localize the SP in mouse epidermis and tumors, we performed immunofluorescence analysis of skin papillomas and SCCs generated through the two-stage carcinogenesis protocol. We identified the ABCG2 transporter in a region near and above the BuSC area. Notably, this region was also positive for the thymic epithelial progenitor marker MTS24 which defines a keratinocyte population with characteristic of stem cells. Importantly, the ABCG2 transporter and MTS24 were localized in patches of cells on the proliferative basal cell layer of skin papillomas. Furthermore, we observed an elevated number of putative stem cells expressing ABCG2 and MTS24 in tumors from our previously published K5CDK4 mouse which showed increased malignant progression to SCC. Collectivelly, our results suggest that a putative stem cell population –different from the BuSCs–, play an important role during the malignant progression SCC. Supported by NIH grant CA116328. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3372. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3372
alpha2u-Globulin nephropathy and ravens: do ravens of a different feather flock together?
Authors: F A de la Iglesia, A W Gough, R E Sigler
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1997)

differentiate significant and trivial chemical hazards and to assess likely risks to humans.This latter justification can be illustrated by the following statement: if all chemicals that are mutagenic in vitro were mutagenic and
Nature of the force-velocity relation in heart muscle
Authors: D. L. Brutsaert, E. H. Sonnenblick
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1971)

Nature of the force–velocity relation in heart muscle Dirk L. Brutsaert, Dirk L. Brutsaert From the Laboratory of Physiology, University of Antwerp, Belgium, and the Cardiovascular Division, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Edmund H. Sonnenblick Edmund H. Sonnenblick From the Laboratory of Physiology, University of Antwerp, Belgium, and the Cardiovascular Division, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Cardiovascular Research, Volume 5, Issue supp1, July 1971, Pages 18–33, https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/5.supp1.18 Published: 01 July 1971
Relative Role of Tc-99m-Diethyl-IDA and Tc-99m-Sulfur Colloid in the Evaluation of Liver Function
Authors: WILLIAM C. KLINGENSMITH, ALAN R. FRITZBERG, GARY O. ZERBE, LAWRENCE J. KOEP
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1980)

Imaging of diffuse liver disease is traditionally done with Tc-99m-sulfur colloid. The advent of Tc-99m-labeled hepatobiliary agents led the authors to reevaluate the role of Tc-99m-sulfur colloid. A total of 95 paired Tc-99m-diethyl-IDA and Tc-99m-sulfur colloid studies were performed in 61 patients (60 paired studies in liver transplant patients and 35 paired studies patients who had not received liver transplants). The following parameters were visually graded on a five-point scale: Tc-99m-diethyl-IDA clearance and time of appearance of intestinal activity; and Tc-99msulfur colloid liver size, bone marrow activity, splenic size, splenic activity, and lung activity. Total serum bilirubin levels were used as the standard measure of liver function. The Tc-99m-diethyl-IDA parameters correlated more highly with total serum bilirubin than did the Tc-99m-sulfur colloid parameters in both the transplant and nontransplant groups. In conclusion, Tc- 99m-diethyl-IDA appears to be the preferred radiopharmaceutical for evaluation of hepatocellular function, although both agents may be needed in certain clinical situations.
Telomerase Activity in Germ Cell Cancers and Mature Teratomas
Authors: J. Albanell, G. J. Bosl, V. E. Reuter, M. Engelhardt, S. Franco, M. A. S. Moore, E. Dmitrovsky
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1999)

BACKGROUND: An inverse relationship has been reported between the presence of telomerase enzymatic activity and the induction of differentiation in human tumor cell lines. Male germ cell tumors represent an attractive clinical model to assess this relationship further because high telomerase activity is present in normal germ cell progenitors and in embryonal carcinomas that can differentiate into mature teratomas. To investigate how telomerase activity and the differentiation state of germ cell tumors are related, telomerase activities and telomere lengths were measured in benign testicular tissues, germ cell cancers, and mature or immature teratomas. METHODS: By use of a modified telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay, telomerase activity was measured in four specimens of benign testicular tissue, in 27 germ cell cancers, in seven mature teratomas, and in one immature teratoma. Telomere lengths were measured in all specimens by restriction digestion of genomic DNA and Southern blot hybridization analysis. Associations between telomerase activity and tissue histopathology were assessed with two-sided Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was detected in all examined germ cell cancers and in the benign testicular tissue specimens. In marked contrast, telomerase activity was not detected in any mature teratoma ( P <.0001). Very long telomeres were detected in some mature teratomas, consistent with telomerase repression as a late event in teratoma formation. The immature teratoma, with malignant transformation, had high telomerase activity. CONCLUSION: Telomerase is active in germ cell cancers and repressed in mature teratomas. The absence of telomerase activity may contribute to the limited proliferative capacity of mature teratomas. These findings support the existence of an inverse relationship between telomerase activity and the differentiation state of clinical germ cell tumors.
Whither Brain Death?
Authors: James L. Bernat
Journal: The American Journal of Bioethics (2014)

The publicity surrounding the recent McMath and Muñoz cases has rekindled public interest in brain death: the familiar term for human death determination by showing the irreversible cessation of clinical brain functions. The concept of brain death was developed decades ago to permit withdrawal of therapy in hopeless cases and to permit organ donation. It has become widely established medical practice, and laws permit it in all U.S. jurisdictions. Brain death has a biophilosophical justification as a standard for determining human death but remains poorly understood by the public and by health professionals. The current controversies over brain death are largely restricted to the academy, but some practitioners express ambivalence over whether brain death is equivalent to human death. Brain death remains an accepted and sound concept, but more work is necessary to establish its biophilosophical justification and to educate health professionals and the public.
Cell Therapy in Chagas Cardiomyopathy (Chagas Arm of the Multicenter Randomized Trial of Cell Therapy in Cardiopathies Study)
Authors: Ricardo Ribeiro dos Santos, Salvador Rassi, Gilson Feitosa, Oswaldo T. Grecco, Anis Rassi, Ademir B. da Cunha, Valéria B. de Carvalho, Luiz César Guarita-Souza, Wilson de Oliveira, Bernardo R. Tura, Milena B.P. Soares, Antonio C. Campos de Carvalho
Journal: Circulation (2012)

Previous studies suggested that transplantation of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMNCs) improves heart function in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy. We report the results of the first randomized trial of BMNC therapy in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy.Patients 18 to 75 years of age with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy, New York Heart Association class II to IV heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <35, and optimized therapy were randomized to intracoronary injection of autologous BMNCs or placebo. The primary end point was the difference in LVEF from baseline to 6 and 12 months after treatment between groups. Analysis was by intention to treat and powered to detect an absolute between-group difference of 5. Between July 2005 and October 2009, 234 patients were enrolled. Two patients abandoned the study and 49 were excluded because of protocol violation. The remaining 183 patients, 93 in the placebo group and 90 in the BMNC group, had a trimmed mean age of 52.4 years (range, 50.8-54.0 years) and LVEF of 26.1 (range, 25.1-27.1) at baseline. Median number of injected BMNCs was 2.20×10(8) (range, 1.40-3.50×10(8)). Change in LVEF did not differ significantly between treatment groups: trimmed mean change in LVEF at 6 months, 3.0 (1.3-4.8) for BMNCs and 2.5 (0.6-4.5) for placebo (P=0.519); change in LVEF at 12 months, 3.5 (1.5-5.5) for BMNCs and 3.7 (1.5-6.0) for placebo (P=0.850). Left ventricular systolic and diastolic volumes, New York Heart Association functional class, Minnesota quality-of-life questionnaire, brain natriuretic peptide concentrations, and 6-minute walking test did also not differ between groups.Intracoronary injection of autologous BMNCs does not improve left ventricular function or quality of life in patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy.
Methodological problems arising from the choice of an independent variable in linear regression, with application to an air pollution epidemiological study.
Authors: I F Goldstein, J L Fleiss, M Goldstein, L Landovitz
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1979)

In epidemiological studies using linear regression, it is often necessary for reasons of economy or unavailability of data to use as the independent variable not the variable ideally demanded by the hypothesis under study but some convenient practical approximation to it. We show that if the correlation coefficient between the "practical" and "ideal" variables can be obtained, then a range of uncertainty can be obtained within which the desired regression coefficient of dependent on "ideal" variable may lie. This range can be quite wide, even if the practical and ideal variables are fairly well correlated. These points are illustrated with data on observed regression coefficients from an air pollution epidemiological study, in which pollution measured at one station in a large metropolitan area (containing 40 aerometric stations) was used as the practical approximation to the city-wide average pollution. The uncertainties in the regression coefficients were found to exceed the regression coefficients themselves by large factors. The problem is one that may afflict application of linear regression in general, and suggests caution when selecting independent variables for regression analysis on the basis of convenience, rather than relevance to the hypotheses tested.
Medicaid
Authors: Trish Riley
Journal: JAMA (1995)

MEDICAID is a federal program, but because it is administered by the states, it is they who are often held directly accountable by providers and beneficiaries for the program's shortcomings, even when those shortcomings are part of federal law. For states, frustration with the federal program rests largely in three areas: (1) eligibility requirements that are cumbersome to administer and restrict coverage only to certain groups among the poor; (2) reimbursement rate protections for hospitals and nursing facilities that result in disproportionate reductions in fees paid to physicians, home care, and other provider groups when budgets must be constrained; and (3) requirements that the program must provide "cookie cutter" services statewide to any and all persons eligible for Medicaid. States point out that from 1987 through 1992, the federal government imposed no fewer than 30 new mandates on them related to program eligibility, reimbursement, and services.<sup>1</sup>Many of those