tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Ignorance about HIV is still high in many parts of Europe
Authors: Rory Watson
Journal: BMJ (2006)

Almost all Europeans are aware that HIV can be contracted by receiving blood or having unprotected sex with someone who is HIV positive or by using an infected needle. However, many misconceptions remain.

In a survey released this month covering 29 countries in Europe, 94% of those questioned accurately identified these potential sources. But four in 10 people incorrectly believed that the disease can be caught by kissing someone on the mouth. Awareness is highest in France, where 69% realised that this is not a form of transmission, Denmark (59%), the Netherlands (58%), and Belgium (53%).

At …
Stevens–Johnson Syndrome
Authors: Jordan D Fein, Kendal L Hamann
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2005)

A 22-year-old woman with a history of a seizure disorder presented to the emergency department after having a rash for three days and a fever for one day. The rash began as a maculopapular distribution on the neck and chest and rapidly progressed to target lesions and bullae (Panels A and B) that involved all surfaces of the integument and spared only the scalp. The patient had fevers as high as 40.5°C and painful erosions of the mucosa of the conjunctiva, mouth, and vagina. Since approximately 10 percent of her body surface was involved, a diagnosis of Stevens–Johnson syndrome was . . .
Renal fibrosis is the common feature of autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney diseases caused by mutations in mucin 1 or uromodulin
Authors: Arif B. Ekici, Thomas Hackenbeck, Vincent Morinière, Andrea Pannes, Maike Buettner, Steffen Uebe, Rolf Janka, Antje Wiesener, Ingo Hermann, Sina Grupp, Martin Hornberger, Tobias B. Huber, Nikky Isbel, George Mangos, Stella McGinn, Daniela Soreth-Rieke, Bodo B. Beck, Michael Uder, Kerstin Amann, Corinne Antignac, André Reis, Kai-Uwe Eckardt, Michael S. Wiesener
Journal: Kidney International (2014)
Arginine vasotocin in ovine fetal blood, urine, and amniotic fluid.
Authors: M G Ervin, R D Leake, M G Ross, G C Calvario, D A Fisher
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1985)

Arginine vasotocin ([8-arginine]-oxytocin) (AVT), the primary antidiuretic principle in submammalian vertebrates, has been reported to be present in mammalian pituitary and pineal glands. Although the most phyletically ubiquitous of the known neurohypophysial peptides, AVT is still not recognized as a mammalian hormone. We examined plasma, urine, and amniotic fluid from fetal lambs by radioimmunoassay (RIA) for evidence of AVT to assess the possibility of its being such a hormone. Measureable quantities of AVT-like immunoreactivity (irAVT) were observed in fetal plasma (2.4 +/- 0.2 pg/ml), urine (1.4 +/- 0.2 pg/ml), and amniotic fluid (1.9 +/- 0.2 pg/ml). Since the AVT antiserum shows minimal cross-reactivity with arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT), measurements of AVP and OT concentrations in the same biological fluids also were conducted with specific antisera. The results suggest that the irAVT was not accountable on the basis of cross-reaction. To further verify the identity of the irAVT, a high pressure liquid chromatography system using RIA as a means of detection was developed. This system is sufficiently sensitive to allow the separation and quantitation of picogram quantities of the synthetic peptides AVT, AVP, and OT. In this system, the irAVT in fetal plasma, urine, and amniotic fluid appeared as a single peak coeluting with synthetic AVT. These results indicate that AVT is present in ovine fetal plasma and support the view that the fetus secretes this peptide. The physiological significance of circulating AVT remains to be defined.
Vessel Wall Properties of Large Arteries in Uncomplicated IDDM
Authors: Mirian J Kool, Jan Lambert, Coen D Stehouwer, Arnold P Hoeks, Harry A Struijker Boudier, Luc M Van Bortel
Journal: Diabetes Care (1995)

OBJECTIVE Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) are at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Arterial distensibility and compliance are vessel wall properties of large arteries. Altered large artery wall properties can be an early feature of vascular dysfunction. This study investigates vessel wall properties in 30 patients with uncomplicated IDDM and 30 matched healthy control subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Vessel wall properties of the elastic common carotid (CCA) and the muscular femoral (FA) and brachial arteries (BA) were measured with a vessel wall movement detector system. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded simultaneously with a semiautomated device. Aortic pulse wave velocity was estimated from the carotido-femoral transit time. RESULTS Blood pressure (IDDM patients: 118 ± 10/69 ± 5 mmHg), pulse pressure (IDDM patients: 49 ± 8 mmHg), and heart rate (IDDM patients: 65 ± 9 beats/min) were similar in IDDM patients and control subjects. No statistically significant changes between IDDM patients and control subjects were found for diameter, distensibility, and compliance of the elastic CCA and the muscular BA. Distensibility (IDDM patients: 16.9 ± 6.4 10-3/ kPa; control subjects: 22.4 ± 11.8 10-3/kPa) of the muscular FA was decreased in IDDM (P &amp;lt; 0.05). However, FA compliance (IDDM patients: 0.80 ± 0.23 mm-2/kPa; control subjects: 0.94 ± 0.41 mm2/kPa) and FA diameter (IDDM patients: 7.87 ±1.10 mm; control subjects: 7.57 ±1.11 mm) did not differ statistically between IDDM patients and control subjects. Aortic pulse wave velocity was the same in IDDM patients and control subjects (IDDM patients: 5.1 ± 0.6 m/s). No relation was found between vessel wall properties and duration of disease, actual glucose level, and HbA1c for all three arteries (CCA, BA, and FA). But the groups might have been too small to draw conclusions. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study show that in this group of patients with uncomplicated IDDM, vessel wall properties of elastic and muscular large arteries were not obviously reduced when compared with healthy control subjects. However, distensibility of the FA was lower in IDDM patients. Early atherosclerotic changes in IDDM frequently occur at this site. A difference related to the duration of diabetes could not be excluded.
Prevention of recurrent acute cystitis by methenamine hippurate: double blind controlled crossover long term study.
Authors: S Cronberg, C O Welin, L Henriksson, S Hellsten, K M Persson, P Stenberg
Journal: BMJ (1987)

In a randomised, double blind, long term, crossover study 1 g twice daily of methenamine hippurate was compared with placebo for its preventive effect on recurrent attacks of acute cystitis. Methenamine hippurate and placebo were interchanged every six months for two years. During one of the years patients took 250 ml extra fluid every morning and evening. Out of 21 enrolled patients, 14 completed the first year and 13 both years of treatment, which permitted the evaluation of 27 patient years. There were 52 episodes of acute cystitis caused by reinfection: 41 occurred during placebo treatment and only 11 during the methenamine hippurate regimen (p less than 0.01). Extra fluid intake did not reduce the incidence of acute cystitis, nor did it reduce the effect of methenamine hippurate. Methenamine hippurate is an effective prophylactic agent against recurrent acute cystitis and has the advantage of not inducing cross resistance to conventional antibiotics.
Nigel John Paul Lehmann
Authors: A. Edwards, M. Harris, D. Lane
Journal: BMJ (2011)

It has been known for more than a century that even slight hypoxemia reduces dark adaptation. We studied dark adaptation in symptomatic carotid artery disease. Twenty-one consecutive patients scheduled for first-time carotid endarterectomy and 31 age-matched control subjects with normal carotid arteries were examined by dark adaptometry monocularly and were tested repeatedly on consecutive days. The average degree of internal carotid stenosis on the symptomatic side was much greater than that on the contralateral side. Dark adaptation was markedly impaired in the patients as compared with the control subjects. In the patients there was no difference in dark adaptation between the symptomatic and nonsymptomatic sides. The existence of carotid stenosis correlated to the level of dark adaptation. Pupillary size and age correlated to the dark adaptational level but did not affect the effect of carotid stenosis on dark adaptation. The decreased dark adaptation may be due to insufficient blood supply or repeated subclinical microembolization to the retinae, the brain, or both.
The effect of the microstructure of β-tricalcium phosphate on the metabolism of subsequently formed bone tissue
Authors: Takatoshi Okuda, Koji Ioku, Ikuho Yonezawa, Hideyuki Minagi, Giichiro Kawachi, Yoshinori Gonda, Hisashi Murayama, Yasuaki Shibata, Soichiro Minami, Shimeru Kamihira, Hisashi Kurosawa, Tohru Ikeda
Journal: Biomaterials (2007)
Training the Doctor
Authors: B. G. Maegraith
Journal: BMJ (1965)

<h3>Objectives.</h3> To assess the association of shoulder pain and/or stiffness and diabetes mellitus in a population based cohort. <h3>Methods.</h3> Participants were randomly recruited from the North West Adelaide Health Study, a longitudinal, population based study. In the second stage, 3128 participants were assessed for diabetes mellitus and shoulder complaints via questionnaires, the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), physical assessment, blood sampling for fasting plasma glucose, and HbA1c levels. <h3>Results.</h3> Overall, 682 (21.8%) participants experienced shoulder pain and/or stiffness and 221 participants (7.1%) fulfilled criteria for diabetes mellitus. Those with diabetes had a higher prevalence of shoulder pain and/or stiffness (27.9% vs 21.3%; p = 0.025), and poorer SPADI disability subscore (p = 0.01) and total SPADI score (p = 0.02). After controlling for age, sex, obesity, and current smoking, the prevalence of shoulder pain and/or stiffness did not differ significantly between those with diabetes and those without (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.76–1.45), nor were there significant differences in the SPADI disability subscore (p = 0.39) or total SPADI score (p = 0.32) between the 2 groups. After adjustment for covariates, there was no association between higher levels of HbA1c and shoulder pain and/or stiffness (p &gt; 0.8). Range of shoulder movement was significantly reduced in those with diabetes (p &lt; 0.05). <h3>Conclusions.</h3> There is a higher prevalence of shoulder pain and/or stiffness in people with diabetes mellitus. The differences observed between those with diabetes and those without can largely be explained by the confounding factors of age, sex, obesity, and current smoking.
Tacrine inhibits ventricular fibrillation induced by ischaemia and reperfusion and widens QT interval in rat
Authors: S. A Rees, M. J Curtis
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1993)

Objective: Tacrine was used as a tool to examine whether block of inward rectifying potassium current (IK1) represents a mechanism for suppression of arrhythmias induced by ischaemia and reperfusion. Methods: Isolated rat hearts (n=10-l2 per group) were subjected to 30 min left regional ischaemia followed by reperfusion with and without tacrine. Rat heart was used to permit delayed rectifier (IK) block to be disregarded in interpretation of results (rat ventricle is deficient in functional IK). Results: The incidence of ischaemia-induced ventricular fibrillation was reduced from 70% to 42%, 17% (p<0.05), and 0% (p<0.05) in hearts perfused with 0, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 μM tacrine. Likewise, the incidence of reperfusion induced ventricular fibrillation was reduced from 100% to 90%, 75%, and 50% (p<0.05), respectively. Indirect evidence of repolarisation delay by tacrine was provided by QT widening; for example, 15 min after the onset of ischaemia, QT (at 100% repolarisation) was increased from 194(SEM 6) to 231(17), 235(13) (p<0.05), and 341(24) ms (p<0.05) by increasing concentrations of drug. QT interval measured in individual hearts during ischaemia correlated inversely with arrhythmia score (r2=0.392; p<0.001). Tacrine had no effect on RR interval, coronary flow, recovery of flow during reperfusion, or occluded zone size. Tacrine caused bradycardia (significant at the 1.0 and 10.0 μM concentrations). In additional hearts (n=12 per group), reversal of 10.0 μM tacrine-induced sinus bradycardia by left atrial pacing (5 Hz) significantly reduced tacrine induced QT widening (p<0.05), and increased the incidence of ventricular fibrillation from 0% to 42% (although significant antiarrhythmic and QT widening effects were still present); 10.0 (μM tacrine failed to reduce the incidence of reperfusion induced ventricular fibrillation in paced hearts (92% incidence v 100% in controls). Conclusions: The novel antiarrhythmic effects of tacrine, a drug with established blocking action on IK, IK1, and slow inward current, appear to result from QT widening in the rat (dependent partly on IK1 blockade in the ventricles and partly on drug induced sinus bradycardia). Cardiovascular Research 1993;27:453-458
Changes in Plasma -Glutamyl Transpeptidase Activity Associated with Alterations in Drug Metabolism in Man
Authors: J. B. Whitfield, D. W. Moss, G. Neale, M. Orme, A. Breckenridge
Journal: BMJ (1973)

A significant rise in plasma gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity (GGT) was observed on 13 out of 14 occasions on which patients on long-term treatment with the oral anticoagulant warfarin were given amylobarbitone, quinalbarbitone, or phenazone (antipyrine) for 30 days. In 13 of these 14 studies there was evidence that drug administration had stimulated the rate of warfarin metabolism. One patient showed no increase in plasma GGT activity, yet a significantly increased rate of warfarin metabolism, and another patient showed an increase in plasma GGT activity without a change in warfarin metabolism. When alterations in both plasma GGT activity and plasma warfarin concentration occurred together in response to drug administration the changes followed a similar time course, occurring after about one week of drug administration with maximal changes at about 10 or 15 days. Administration of chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, nitrazepam, and methaqualone did not stimulate the rate of warfarin metabolism in four patients studied, but plasma GGT activity increased significantly in two of these four instances. The implications of these observations in the interpretation of plasma GGT activities are discussed.
THE CHEMOTHERAPY OF GONORRHEAL URETHRITIS IN THE MALE
Authors: WILLIAM BROMME
Journal: JAMA (1941)

No group of therapeutic substances has gained such rapid and universal utilization as have the sulfonamides. It is undoubted that their advent has been the important therapeutic accession of the decade and that the control of many diseases caused by infectious agents now has been brought within the physician's grasp. It is equally true that there has developed a degree of uncertainty relative to the specific indications for the use of the sulfonamides, and in no part of the literature is this more evident than in the discussions of the treatment of gonococcic infection in the male. Before the advent of the sulfonamides, how was gonorrhea cured? A host of chemicals and dyestuffs was given orally, first one and then another when the first seemed not to accomplish the desired result. A veritable flood of colored solutions was instilled onto the urethral mucosa or washed over its surface. Various vaccines
IL-32 is expressed by human primary keratinocytes and modulates keratinocyte apoptosis in atopic dermatitis
Authors: Norbert Meyer, Maya Zimmermann, Simone Bürgler, Claudio Bassin, Stefan Woehrl, Katharina Moritz, Claudio Rhyner, Philippe Indermitte, Peter Schmid-Grendelmeier, Mübeccel Akdis, Günter Menz, Cezmi A. Akdis
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2010)
Vaccination promotes TH1-like inflammation and survival in chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in rats.
Authors: H K Johansen, H P Hougen, S J Cryz, J Rygaard, N Høiby
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1995)

In a rat model of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection mimicking cystic fibrosis (CF) we studied whether the inflammatory response could be altered by vaccination. Rats were immunized with either a depolymerized alginate toxin A conjugate (D-ALG toxin A), purified alginate, an O-polysaccharide toxin A conjugate, or sterile saline. After challenge none of the rats immunized with D-ALG toxin A died, in contrast to the other two vaccine groups combined (p = 0.03). A significant reduction in the severity of the macroscopic lung inflammation was seen in rats immunized with D-ALG toxin A, compared with the other three groups (p = 0.009). The histopathologic response in the control rats was dominated by numerous polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) surrounding the alginate beads. In contrast, the histopathologic response in rats immunized with D-ALG toxin A changed within the first week after challenge from predominantly PMNs (TH2-like) to a chronic-type inflammation dominated by mononuclear leukocytes (TH1-like). In accordance, the antibody titers induced by the D-ALG toxin A vaccine were not different from those of the control rats after challenge. This study identifies a possible new way of modifying the inflammation and thereby preventing the PMN-mediated lung tissue damage during chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection in CF.
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TRACHELORRAPHY, WITH CASES AND REMARKS.
Authors: JOSEPH TABER JOHNSON
Journal: JAMA (1884)

I should not be bold enough to present a paper upon so hackneyed a subject as the treatment of laceration of the cervix uteri, were I less impressed with the importance of this lesion, and the necessity, in aggravated cases, of its cure by Emmet's operation.From some quarters we hear distant murmurs of disapproval and opposition, and nearer home we learn that from the lack of evidence to the contrary, it is concluded that this operation, which has been heralded as one of the greatest improvements of the age, does positive harm, by making the last state of the patient worse than her first.I trust I shall be able to impress the society with the truth and justice of the claims which have been put forth for the surgical treatment of cervical laceration, and of the error of those who oppose it.Of the importance of trachelorraphy, we have the testimony of Marion Sims, given in the discussion which followed the reading of Emmet's second pa¬ per on this subject to the Medical Society of the city of New York, in Sept., 1874.Sims said : " I have performed this operation often enough to speak in positive terms of its value.The discussion must, of necessity, be one-sided.There can be no objection, no opposition to the operation ; we must accept it as Dr. Emmet has given it to us, for it is perfect-per¬ fect in its methods, and perfect in its results.Like all new operations, it is likely to be abused ; but the .timewill soon arrive when it will assume its place in the foremost rank of useful improvements."Dr. Fordyce Barker, when a paper of Dr. Walter B. Chase was being discussed, in June, 1878, said: ' ' I think there can be no doubt that the first paper of Dr. Emmet upon laceration of the cervix, asso¬ ciated with the puerperal state, is one of the most
Modulation of Angiotensin II–Mediated Cardiac Remodeling by the MEF2A Target Gene Xirp2
Authors: Sarah A. McCalmon, Danielle M. Desjardins, Saad Ahmad, Katharine S. Davidoff, Christine M. Snyder, Kaori Sato, Koji Ohashi, Ondra M. Kielbasa, Matthen Mathew, Elizabeth P. Ewen, Kenneth Walsh, Haralambos Gavras, Francisco J. Naya
Journal: Circulation Research (2010)

Rationale: The vasoactive peptide angiotensin II (Ang II) is a potent cardiotoxic hormone whose actions have been well studied, yet questions remain pertaining to the downstream factors that mediate its effects in cardiomyocytes. Objective: The in vivo role of the myocyte enhancer factor (MEF)2A target gene Xirp2 in Ang II–mediated cardiac remodeling was investigated. Methods and Results: Here we demonstrate that the MEF2A target gene Xirp2 (also known as cardiomyopathy associated gene 3 [ CMYA3 ]) is an important effector of the Ang II signaling pathway in the heart. Xirp2 belongs to the evolutionarily conserved, muscle-specific, actin-binding Xin gene family and is significantly induced in the heart in response to systemic administration of Ang II. Initially, we characterized the Xirp2 promoter and demonstrate that Ang II activates Xirp2 expression by stimulating MEF2A transcriptional activity. To further characterize the role of Xirp2 downstream of Ang II signaling we generated mice harboring a hypomorphic allele of the Xirp2 gene that resulted in a marked reduction in its expression in the heart. In the absence of Ang II, adult Xirp2 hypomorphic mice displayed cardiac hypertrophy and increased β myosin heavy chain expression. Strikingly, Xirp2 hypomorphic mice chronically infused with Ang II exhibited altered pathological cardiac remodeling including an attenuated hypertrophic response, as well as diminished fibrosis and apoptosis. Conclusions: These findings reveal a novel MEF2A-Xirp2 pathway that functions downstream of Ang II signaling to modulate its pathological effects in the heart.
US judge rules Merck won't face "punitive damages" in first Fosamax case
Authors: R. Moynihan
Journal: BMJ (2009)

A district court judge in the United States has ruled that the drug maker Merck will not face the risk of “punitive damages” in the first case to be tried involving its widely prescribed osteoporosis drug, Fosamax (alendronate or alendronic acid).

The trial was scheduled to open on Tuesday in New York before Judge John Keenan, and the first case involves Shirley Boles, a woman from Florida who first took the drug in 1997.

Ms Boles is part …
Altered Cardiovascular Variability in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Krzysztof Narkiewicz, Nicola Montano, Chiara Cogliati, Philippe J. H. van de Borne, Mark E. Dyken, Virend K. Somers
Journal: Circulation (1998)

Altered cardiovascular variability is a prognostic indicator for cardiovascular events. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. We tested the hypothesis that OSA is accompanied by alterations in cardiovascular variability, even in the absence of overt cardiovascular disease.Spectral analysis of variability of muscle sympathetic nerve activity, RR interval, and blood pressure were obtained during undisturbed supine rest in 15 patients with moderate-to-severe OSA, 18 patients with mild OSA, and 16 healthy control subjects in whom sleep disordered breathing was excluded by complete overnight polysomnography. Patients with OSA were newly diagnosed, never treated for OSA, and free of any other known diseases. Patients with moderate-to-severe OSA had shorter RR intervals (793+/-27 ms) and increased sympathetic burst frequency (49+/-4 bursts/min) compared with control subjects (947+/-42 ms; 24+/-3 bursts/min; P=0.008 and P<0.001, respectively). In these patients, total variance of RR was reduced (P=0.01) and spectral analysis of RR variability showed an increase in low frequency normalized units, a decrease in high frequency normalized units, and an increase in the ratio of low to high frequency (all P<0.05). Even though blood pressure was similar to that of the control subjects, blood pressure variance in patients with moderate-to-severe OSA was more than double the variance in control subjects (P=0.01). Patients with mild OSA also had a reduction in RR variance (P=0.02) in the absence of any significant difference in absolute RR interval. For all patients with OSA, linear regression showed a positive correlation (r=0.40; P=0.02) between sleep apnea severity and blood pressure variance.Cardiovascular variability is altered in patients with OSA. This alteration is evident even in the absence of hypertension, heart failure, or other disease states and may be linked to the severity of OSA. Abnormalities in cardiovascular variability may be implicated in the subsequent development of overt cardiovascular disease in patients with OSA.