tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Screening for intrauterine growth retardation using ratio of mid-arm circumference to occipitofrontal circumference: Author's Reply
Authors: N. Meadows
Journal: BMJ (1986)

Australia supports the concept that lesions in Australia have a better prognosis than those in Oxford because they are diagnosed at an earlier stage owing to greater public and professional awareness.4At Queen's University, Belfast, we have now started a teaching programme to improve the recognition ofmelanomas by medical students.We plan to extend this into the postgraduate educational programme for general practitioners and other doctors.The public should also be made more aware of the possible dangers inherent in certain types of pigmented lesions and the curability of melanoma in its early stages.Un- necessary deaths can be prevented.
Prospective randomized trial of endoscopic sclerotherapy versus variceal band ligation for esophageal varices: influence on gastropathy, gastric varices and variceal recurrence
Authors: Shiv K. Sarin, Anwrag Govil, Ajay K. Jain, Rajkumar C. Guptan, Sanjeev K. Issar, Monika Jain, Nandguri S. Murthy
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (1997)
A CASE OF DIPHTHEROID CHANCRE ON THE POSTERIOR WALL OF THE PHARYNX.
Authors: JAMES HARVEY RAYMOND
Journal: JAMA (1894)

A chancre is the primary lesion of syphilis, which makes its appearance at the seat of inoculation, usually from twenty-one to thirty days after contact with the essential cause of the disease, which at the present time is not definitely known. The physician who has had the opportunity of observing patients suffering with the disease in its various phases, skeptical though he may be, must yield to the preponderance of clinical evidence, which favors the consideration of this being a disease caused by microörganisms or their ptomaines. This theory is strongly supported by the fact that certain phases of the disease or its deleterious effects upon the tissues of the body, produce pathologic conditions analogous in character to other well-known diseases of microbio origin, viz.: yaws, glanders and other granulomata. While the clouds of uncertainty are hanging over us regarding this disease, the search light is still in the hands
Late abortions and the law
Authors: T. Smith
Journal: BMJ (1988)

The Abortion (Amendment) Bill in the British House of Commons would lower the maximum limit for termination of pregnancy from 28 to 18 weeks. Supporters of the bill assert that Britain allows termination of pregnancy later than any other European country, and that in Britain over 90% of all late abortions are of fetuses without phisical abnormality. The 28-week limit is considered anachronoistic by doctors since neonatal care has made possible survival at 24 weeks. A similar bill in the House of Lords would reduce the limit to 24 weeks. Making early abortions more easily available would help reduce late abortions. Statistics indicate that women who have abortions late in their pregnancies tend to be young. In 1986, 172,286 abortions were performed in England and Wales. Of these, 144,857, or 84%, were performed before the 13th week. A total of 8276 (5%) were performed after 18 weeks. Of these, 3688 (45% of late abortions) were on nonresidents who traveled to Britain because of legal restrictions in their own country. This means that 4594 late abortions were performed on residents of England and Wales in 1986. This was 3% of the total, with 14% of this number on grounds of fetal abnormality. About 40% of the rest were in women under the age of 20, with 6% (239) on girls under 16. A 1984 study concluded that more counseling and information should be provided for young women. Education in contraception for young women is less than ideal and likely to become less available as economic restraints reduce the number of family planning clinics. Postcoital contraception should be taught more as an emergency proceedure. Prompt, dispassionate physician counseling, wider provision of National Health Service facilities, and uniform service in all districts would also be beneficial.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Leg Ulcers
Authors: Robert L. Craig
Journal: JAMA (1964)

<h3>To the Editor:—</h3> The Chairman's Address, "Chronic Leg Ulcers" (<i>JAMA</i><b>186</b>:1080 [Dec 21] 1963), emphasizes the many facets and problems coming under this title. However, several procedures in diagnosis and treatment have not been emphasized in this review or in recent symposia and deserve comment because of the decreased hospitalization time and improved results which can be accomplished when they are used. As part of the evaluation of venous incompetency ulcers, injection of 25 to 30 ml of radiopaque dye in a foot vein with the patient in the upright position will allow much more accurate localization of the incompetent perforating veins than will physical examination alone. On completion of the injection an anteroposterior film is taken, after which the dye will remain pooled for about 15 seconds. This is sufficient time for a lateral exposure, thus obviating the need for automatic film-changing equipment, biplane machines, or multiple injections.
Comparison of effects of a self management booklet and audiocassette for patients with asthma.
Authors: D. Jenkinson, J. Davison, S. Jones, P. Hawtin
Journal: BMJ (1988)

The effects on self management of asthma of a specially prepared book and audiocassette tape with similar contents were observed in a controlled study of 177 patients with asthma in general practice. After a run in period of six months patients were randomly given the book, the tape, both the book and tape, or neither. Patients9 knowledge of the use of drugs, perceptions of their disability, skill in using an inhaler, consumption of drugs, consultations with their general practitioners, morbidity (from patients9 entries on diary cards), and use of the educational material were measured. Knowledge about the use of drugs was significantly increased in the groups who received the material after three months and persisted after 12 months. Patients who had been given the tape or the book and tape increased their scores of knowledge of drugs more than patients given the book alone. Patients in all groups given the material considered that their disability was reduced. There were no other significant changes. Patients given both the book and the tape preferred the book. Patients with asthma can obtain useful information from such material. The paradoxical result whereby patients learnt more from the tape but preferred the book suggests that a distinction can be made between information that patients need, which may be acquired better from an audiocassette, and information that they want, which may be acquired better from a book.
Endoscopic submucosal dissection in gastric neoplasia – experience from a European center
Authors: A. Probst, B. Pommer, D. Golger, M. Anthuber, H. Arnholdt, H. Messmann
Journal: Endoscopy (2010)

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a promising technique for the resection of early gastric neoplasia. There are only a few data from the Western world to date.Over a 7-year-period, 104 gastric lesions were treated with ESD in a European referral center, of which 91 were included in this study. A total of 66 lesions were early gastric cancer (EGC) and 25 were adenomas. Of the EGCs, 11 lesions (16.7 %) fulfilled the guideline criteria (EGC-GC) and 55 lesions (83.3 %) fulfilled the expanded resection criteria (EGC-EC) of the Japanese guidelines for the treatment of gastric cancer.ESD was technically possible in 85 lesions (93.4 %). In six lesions ESD was not possible due to non-lifting. En bloc resection rates for all lesions, ECGs-GC, ECGs-EC, and adenomas were 87.1 %, 100 %, 88.2 %, and 79.2 %, respectively. R0 en bloc resection rates were 74.1 %, 90 %, 68.6 %, and 79.2 %, respectively. Complications were: one perforation during piecemeal endoscopic mucosal resection of a lesion in which ESD was judged to be impossible (1.2 %); three clinically relevant bleedings (3.5 %); one gastric ischemia (1.2 %); and four strictures (4.7 %). No mortality was observed. There were five recurrences after piecemeal resection (50 %) compared with only one after en bloc resection (1.5 %; P < 0.05). The rate of recurrence for EGCs was 5.6 %, and this were seen exclusively after piecemeal resection.Our data show that ESD is a feasible technique in Europe even in patients with EGC according to the extended criteria. Resection rates are promising and complication rates are acceptable. Results are worse compared with large studies from Japan but still excellent regarding the learning curve of the method. ESD should be offered as the treatment of choice for early gastric neoplasia especially when en bloc resection cannot be performed with other resection techniques.
Anti-leucocidin and Mastitis Puerperalis
Authors: J. R. J. Banffer
Journal: BMJ (1962)

The local and general lesions in staphylococcal disease are generally ascribed-at least partly-to toxic sub stances and other soluble products produced by the staphylococci (Houser and Berry, 1961). The important role of a-toxin is generally recognized. The occurrence of staphylococcal lesions in people with a high level of anti-a-toxin in their serum proves that immunity against staphylococcal infections is due to more factors. Apart from antibacterial immunity the antitoxic immunity with regard to other toxins has to be considered. The Panton-Valentine leucocidin, which damages human leucocytes but is not haemolytic, could possibly contribute to the development of local lesions. Panton and Valentine (1932) and Proom (1937) reported that staphylococcal strains from serious infections produced more leucocidin. (Cf. also Valentine, 1936; Valentine and Butler, 1939; Butler and Valentine, 1943.) Johanovsky (1958) also found a higher leucocidin production with strains from lesions than with strains from healthy carriers. The work of Gladstone and van Heyningen (1957) and of Woodin (1959, 1960, 1961) on the production and purification of this toxin has opened the possibility of studying the contribution of leucocidin in staphylococcal infection and of anti-leucocidin in immunity against such infections (Schwabacher and Salsbury, 1958; Towers and Gladstone, 1958; Towers, 1961). Following Johanovsky (1958) we studied the influence of anti-leucocidin in the serum of newborn infants and their mothers on the frequency of staphylococcal infections in the period after confinement.
Subcutaneous continuous insulin infusion and control of blood glucose concentration in diabetics in third trimester of pregnancy.
Authors: J M Potter, J P Reckless, D R Cullen
Journal: BMJ (1980)

The effect of subcutaneous continuous insulin infusion on the control of blood glucose concentrations was assessed in eight pregnant diabetics in the third trimester. Twenty-four-hour glucose profiles were obtained after strict inpatient control on conventional insulin regimens and after the start of the continuous infusion, which was maintained for 5-55 days. Mean 24-hour glucose concentrations (6.2 mmol/l on conventional regimen, 5.9 mmol/l on continuous infusion; 111.6 and 106.2 mg/100 ml respectively) and mean fasting concentrations (5.3 v 6.2 mmol/l; 95.4 v 111.6 mg/100 ml) were not significantly changed by continuous infusion. Diurnal variations in glucose concentration tended to be smaller on continuous infusion: standard deviation from mean 24-hour glucose concentration was reduced from 2.5 to 2.0 mmol/l (from 45 to 36 mg/100 ml), maximum excursion from 8.4 to 7.4 mmol/l (151.2 to 133.2 mg/100 ml), and M value from 16 to 14. Subcutaneous continuous insulin infusion may be useful in limiting diurnal variations of blood glucose concentrations and warrants further investigation since such an action may be beneficial in the management of pregnant diabetics, in whom the best possible control of blood glucose concentrations is sought for the good of the fetus.
Intranasal immunization with poly(γ-glutamic acid) nanoparticles entrapping antigenic proteins can induce potent tumor immunity
Authors: Keisuke Matsuo, Hayato Koizumi, Mitsuru Akashi, Shinsaku Nakagawa, Takuya Fujita, Akira Yamamoto, Naoki Okada
Journal: Journal of Controlled Release (2011)
65. Protective Immunity Against Anthrax Lethal Toxin in Mice Immunized with an Ad-Based Vaccine Vector Expressing Lethal Factor
Authors: Julie L. Boyer, Tiffany B. Niven, Neil R. Hackett, Ronald G. Crystal
Journal: Molecular Therapy (2005)

Top of pageAbstract
Dissemination of anthrax spores in a terrorism event could result in inhalational anthrax, an infection that resulted in 45% mortality in the recent US anthrax attacks. The focus of this study is to use adenovirus gene transfer vectors as a rapidly-acting highly-defined anthrax vaccine. Bacillus anthracis, the etiologic agent of anthrax, produces two exotoxins that are associated with the fatal pathophysiology of the disease, the most important of which is lethal toxin, composed of protective antigen (PA) and lethal factor (LF). Although PA has been the focus of prior vaccine development with Ad vectors and a variety of delivery systems, there is evidence suggesting that LF may also be an excellent target for an anti-anthrax vaccine. In this context, we have developed two LF-based anti-anthrax vaccines, one using Ad5 to express wild type LF (AdsechLF) and the second using Ad5 to express a mutant form of LF that is not toxic due to modification of the active site (AdsechLFmut). Both vectors were designed to secrete the LF antigen, and in both, the LF sequence was modified with codons optimized for mammalian expression. The LF-specific immune responses in mice immunized with these vectors were analyzed and compared to the PA-specific immune responses elicited in mice immunized with AdsechPA, an Ad-based anti-anthrax vaccine expressing PA. Groups of 5 BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly with 109 particle units (pu) AdsechLF, AdsechLFmut or AdsechPA. As negative controls, one group of mice was immunized with AdNull, an isogenic vector with no transgene, and one group of mice was naive. Serum IgG titers were measured by ELISA. Maximal anti-LF IgG titers were reached at wk 4 in both groups receiving LF-based vectors (AdsechLF 3400, AdsechLFmut 12,400). No anti-LF IgG titers were detectable in AdsechPA, AdNull-immunized mice or in naive mice. Consistent with the vectors stimulating antigen-specific IgG titers, the immunization also protected mice against a fatal challenge with lethal toxin. In contrast to AdNull-immunized mice and naive mice, which did not survive the challenge, immunization with all Ad-based vaccine vectors resulted in significant protection (AdsechLF 90%, AdsechLFmut, 100%, AdsechPA 100%). These observations demonstrate that lethal factor is an excellent candidate for an adenovirus-based vaccine against anthrax infection. Interestingly, a form of lethal factor that has been rendered non-functional as a toxin functions equally well as an anti-anthrax toxin immunogen as lethal factor, suggesting that the AdsechLFmut may be the best candidate as a safe, effective anthrax vaccine.
11,12-Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acid Stimulates Endogenous Mono-ADP-Ribosylation in Bovine Coronary Arterial Smooth Muscle
Authors: Pin-Lan Li, Cai-Lian Chen, Rita Bortell, William B. Campbell
Journal: Circulation Research (1999)

The role of endogenous ADP-ribosylation in mediating the activation of the Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels was determined in bovine coronary arteries. Endogenous ADP-ribosylation was examined by incubating coronary arterial homogenates or lysates of cultured coronary arterial smooth muscle cells with [adenylate-(32)P]NAD. Four (32)P-labeled proteins were observed at 51, 52, 80, and 124 kDa in the homogenates and lysates. This reaction was enhanced by the addition of 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12-EET), a cytochrome P450-derived eicosanoid, and GTP to the incubation. By Western blot analysis, 42- and 70-kDa proteins were recognized by specific antibodies against ADP-ribosyltransferase in the coronary arterial homogenates and smooth muscle cell lysate but not in the lysate of endothelial cells. The 52-kDa acceptor protein of endogenous ADP-ribosylation comigrated with a protein ADP-ribosylated by cholera toxin and was recognized and immunoprecipitated by an anti-G(S)alpha antibody. These results suggest that G(S)alpha is one of several acceptors of the ADP-ribose moiety. As shown by the patch-clamp technique, 11,12-EET stimulated the activation of the K(+) channels in the smooth muscle cells, and this activation was completely blocked by novobiocin, vitamin K(1), 3-aminobenzamide, and m-iodobenzylguanidine, inhibitors of endogenous mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases. We conclude that endogenous mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases are present in smooth muscle from bovine coronary arteries. These enzymes transfer ADP-ribose to the cellular proteins such as G(S)alpha and may mediate intracellular signal transduction in coronary vascular smooth muscle. In the coronary circulation, the ADP-ribosylation signaling pathway may play an important role in mediating the activation of the K(+) channels induced by 11,12-EET.
Measurement of combined oximetry and cutaneous capnography during flexible bronchoscopy
Authors: P. N. Chhajed
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2006)

The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of measuring combined arterial oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (<i>S</i><sub>p,O<sub>2</sub></sub>) and cutaneous carbon dioxide tension (<i>P</i><sub>c,CO<sub>2</sub></sub>) to monitor ventilation and quantify change in <i>P</i><sub>c,CO<sub>2 </sub></sub>during bronchoscopy. Combined <i>S</i><sub>p,O<sub>2</sub></sub> and <i>P</i><sub>c,CO<sub>2</sub></sub> were measured at the ear lobe in 114 patients. In four patients, the ear-clip slipped and they were excluded. In total, 11 patients had artefacts with <i>S</i><sub>p,O<sub>2</sub></sub> recordings, thus, <i>S</i><sub>p,O<sub>2</sub></sub> was analysed in 99 patients. Spirometry data were available in 77 patients. Multivariate analysis of covariance and logistic regression were used for statistical analyses. Mean baseline <i>P</i><sub>c,CO<sub>2</sub></sub> was 4.78±1.06 kPa (36±8 mmHg) and mean rise in the <i>P</i><sub>c,CO<sub>2</sub></sub> during bronchoscopy was 1.26±0.70 kPa (9.5±5.3 mmHg), while mean <i>P</i><sub>c,CO<sub>2</sub></sub> at the end of bronchoscopy was 5.85±1.19 kPa (44±9 mmHg) . Baseline <i>P</i><sub>c,CO<sub>2</sub></sub> and the lowest <i>S</i><sub>p,O<sub>2</sub></sub> were significantly associated with peak <i>P</i><sub>c,CO<sub>2</sub></sub> and the change in <i>P</i><sub>c,CO<sub>2</sub></sub> during bronchoscopy. Risk of significant hypoxaemia (<i>S</i><sub>p,O<sub>2</sub></sub>≤90%) was lower for a higher baseline <i>S</i><sub>p,O<sub>2</sub></sub>. Peak <i>P</i><sub>c,CO<sub>2</sub></sub> was directly associated with significant hypoxaemia. There was no significant association in the baseline <i>P</i><sub>c,CO<sub>2</sub></sub>, peak <i>P</i><sub>c,CO<sub>2</sub></sub>, baseline <i>S</i><sub>p,O<sub>2</sub></sub> or the lowest <i>S</i><sub>p,O<sub>2</sub></sub> comparing patients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In conclusion, it is feasible to measure combined pulse oximetry and cutaneous carbon dioxide tension effectively to monitor ventilation during flexible bronchoscopy.
Resolution of sclerodermatous myocarditis after autologous stem cell transplantation
Authors: M Al-mashaleh, H Bak, J Moore, N Manolios, H Englert
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2006)

Cardiac involvement in scleroderma is often subclinical1–3 and occurs early in the disease.4,5 The myocardium, pericardium and conduction system may be affected, resulting in heart failure or arrhythmia.6 Symptomatic pericarditis occurs in 7–20% of patients, whereas histological involvement has been reported to be as high as 70–80% at autopsy.6

We believe this is the first report of a man with symptomatic sclerodermatous myocarditis in whom the myocarditis resolved after initial pulse cyclophosphamide treatment followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT).

A 37-year-old mining electrician developed Raynaud’s syndrome, skin thickening and polyarthritis in September 2003. Scleroderma was diagnosed 4 months later. By July 2004, he noted a 22 kg weight loss, night sweats, heartburn, nausea, …
Development and validation of two models for early prediction of response to therapy in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Eva Martínez‐Bauer, Javier Crespo, Manuel Romero‐Gómez, Ricardo Moreno‐Otero, Ricard Solá, Nancy Tesei, Fernando Pons, Xavier Forns, José M. Sánchez‐Tapias
Journal: Hepatology (2005)

Early prediction of response to therapy in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C is difficult. Two predictive models, a pretreatment scoring model (PreT-SM) and a fourth week of therapy scoring model (4w-SM) were constructed in a cohort of 104 patients from a single center (estimation cohort) and validated in a cohort of 141 patients from four independent centers (validation cohort). Individual scores were calculated using variables independently associated with sustained virological response (SVR). Baseline viral load, aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio, serum cholesterol, and a numerical score for noninvasive estimation of liver fibrosis were included in the PreT-SM; HCV RNA clearance and PreT-SM scores were included in the 4w-SM. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed the area under the curve in the estimation cohort and in the validation cohort to be, respectively, 0.856 and 0.847 for the PreT-SM and 0.908 and 0.907 for the 4w-SM. Low scores were associated with SVR, high scores with non-SVR. The best cutoff scores from the PreT-SM (7 and 9.70) identified, respectively, 36% of patients with SVR and 41% of those with non-SVR from the validation cohort, with high accuracy (≥90% positive predictive value [PPV] and specificity). Similarly, cutoff scores of 3.20 and 5.60 from the 4w-SM identified, respectively, 71% of patients with SVR and 53% of those with non-SVR from the same cohort with high accuracy (PPV and specificity >92%). In conclusion, these models predicted response to therapy before or after 4 weeks of treatment in approximately 60% of genotype 1 patients and may be valuable for the management of this condition. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;43:72–80.)
Interactions of dietary estrogens with human estrogen receptors and the effect on estrogen receptor-estrogen response element complex formation.
Authors: G N Nikov, N E Hopkins, S Boue, W L Alworth
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2000)

Epidemiologic and experimental studies support the hypothesis that dietary estrogens from plant sources (phytoestrogens) may play a role in the prevention of breast and prostate cancer. The molecular mechanisms for such chemopreventive effect are still unclear. We investigated the possibility that phytoestrogens may bind differentially to estrogen receptor proteins (ER[alpha] and ERss) and affect the interactions of the ligand-ER complexes with different estrogen response element (ERE) sequences. We used fluorescence polarization to measure the binding affinities of genistein, coumestrol, daidzein, glyceollin, and zearalenone for human ER[alpha] and ERss. Competition binding experiments revealed higher affinity of the phytoestrogens for ERss than for ER[alpha]. Genistein [median inhibitory concentration 12nM] is the most potent and has the same relative binding affinity for ERss as 17ss-estradiol. We also studied the effect of these phytoestrogens on the ability of ER[alpha] and ERss to associate with specific DNA sequences (EREs). The direct binding of human recombinant estrogen receptors to fluorescein-labeled EREs indicates that phytoestrogens can cause conformational changes in both human ERs, which results in altered affinities of the complexes for the ERE from the Xenopus vitellogenin A2 gene and an ERE from the human pS2 gene.
Alteration of platelet aggregation in patients with thyroid disorders
Authors: Rumi Masunaga, Akio Nagasaka, Akira Nakai, Motoko Kotake, Yoshikuni Sawai, Naohisa Oda, Takehiko Mokuno, Keiko Shimazaki, Nobuki Hayakawa, Ritsuko Kato, Erika Hirano, Masatoshi Hagiwara, Hiroyoshi Hidaka
Journal: Metabolism (1997)