tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Skeletal Muscle Calcium Metabolism and Contractile Force in Vitamin D-deficient Chicks
Authors: D. Pleasure, B. Wyszynski, A. Sumner, D. Schotland, B. Feldmann, N. Nugent, K. Hitz, D. B. P. Goodman
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1979)

The myopathy associated with vitamin D deficiency has not been well characterized, and it is not known if weakness is a result of a specific effect of vitamin D deficiency on skeletal muscle. Chicks were raised from hatching on a vitamin D-deficient diet, and by 3 wk of age were hypocalcemic and appeared weak. Tension generated by triceps surae during repetitive stimulation of posterior tibial nerve was significantly less than that developed by chicks given vitamin D3 supplements (309 g tension/g wet weight of triceps surae, SD 60, for vitamin D-deficient chicks; 470, SD 77, for vitamin D3-treated chicks, P < 0.01). Histochemical and electron microscopic examination of skeletal muscles of these chicks showed no abnormalities, and there were no electrophysiologic evidences of motor nerve or neuromuscular junction dysfunction. The concentration of ATP in skeletal muscle of the vitamin D-deficient chicks (5.75 μmol/g wet weight, SD 0.17) was not significantly different from that in vitamin D-treated chicks (5.60, SD 0.50). There was no correlation between strength and serum calcium, serum inorganic phosphate, or skeletal muscle inorganic phosphate. Relaxation of tension after tetanic stimulation was slowed in the vitamin D-deficient chicks (20.6 ms, SD 1.7, vs. 15.4, SD 1.3, in vitamin D-treated chicks and 15.3, SD 1.0, in normal control chicks), and in vitro 45Ca++ transport by sarcoplasmic reticulum from the vitamin D-deficient chicks was reduced. Calcium content of mitochondria prepared from leg muscles of vitamin D-deficient chicks (24 nmol/mg mitochondrial protein, SD 6) was considerably lower than that of mitochondria from normal control chicks (45, SD 8) or from chicks treated with vitamin D for 2 wk or more (66-100, depending upon level and duration of therapy). Treatment of the vitamin D-deficient chicks from hatching with sufficient dietary calcium to produce hypercalcemia did not significantly raise skeletal muscle mitochondrial calcium content (31 nmol/mg mitochondrial protein, SD 7) and did not prevent weakness. These studies demonstrate objective weakness as a result of myopathy in vitamin D-deficient chicks, and provide evidence that vitamin D deficiency has effects on skeletal muscle calcium metabolism not secondary to altered plasma concentrations of calcium and phosphate.
Placenta, transcortin, and localized immune response.
Authors: S Werthamer, S Govindaraj, L Amaral
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1976)

The syncytiotrophoblastic cells of the human placenta contain a cytoplasmic protein recognized by fluorescein-labeled transcortin-specific antibody. Purification of this protein from human placenta, by those methods employed for the purification of human plasma transcortin, yielded a protein that exhibited antigenic and biochemical similarity to plasma transcortin. Placental transcortin differs from plasma transcortin in that it has a smaller sedimentation coefficient (3S vs 3.75S) and binds cortisol less strongly. This purified protein is able to block the phytohemagglutinin response of maternal lymphocytes even more than serum transcortin. It is postulated that the biological role may be that of inhibiting the maternal cell-mediated immune response to the presence of the antigenic conceptus.
Chronic rhinosinusitis in asthma is a negative predictor of quality of life: results from the <scp>S</scp>wedish <scp>GA</scp><sup>2</sup><scp>LEN</scp> survey
Authors: A. Ek, R. J. M. Middelveld, H. Bertilsson, A. Bjerg, L. Ekerljung, A. Malinovschi, P. Stjärne, K. Larsson, S.‐E. Dahlén, C. Janson
Journal: Allergy (2013)

Asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) both impair quality of life, but the quality-of-life impact of comorbid asthma and CRS is poorly known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of CRS and other relevant factors on quality of life in asthmatic subjects.This Swedish cohort (age 17-76 years) consists of 605 well-characterized asthmatics with and without CRS, 110 individuals with CRS only, and 226 controls and is part of the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA(2) LEN) survey. The Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (mAQLQ), the Euro Quality of Life (EQ-5D) health questionnaire, spirometry, skin prick test (SPT), exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), smell test, and peak nasal inspiratory flow were used.Subjects having both asthma and CRS have lower mAQLQ scores in all domains (P < 0.001) and a lower EQ-5D index value and EQ-5D VAS value (P < 0.001) compared to those with asthma only. Asthmatics with CRS have significantly lower FEV1%pred and FVC%pred (88.4 [85.1-91.7] and 99.9 [96.7-103.0], respectively) compared with asthma only (91.9 [90.3-93.4] and 104.0 [102.5-105.5], respectively P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis shows that low asthma quality of life is associated with having CRS (P < 0.0001), lower lung function (P = 0.008), current smoking (P = 0.01), BMI > 30 kg/m2 (P = 0.04), high age (P = 0.03), and a negative SPT (P = 0.04).Comorbid CRS was a significant and independent negative predictor of quality of life in asthmatics. Other negative factors were lower lung function, current smoking, obesity, advanced age, and having nonatopic asthma.
Principles of Membrane Receptor Physiology and Their Application to Clinical Medicine
Authors: ROBERT J. POLLET
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1980)

The clinical involvement of membrane receptors for hormones, neurotransmitters, and other molecules of interest is reported with increasing frequency. In this review, the terminology of the hormone-receptor field is defined, and the current concepts of the participation of membrane receptors in the mechanism of hormone action are outlined. Several major developing concepts of receptor regulation and function, including spare receptors and down regulation of receptor number, provide a basis for understanding the physiology and pathophysiology of cellular sensitivity to specific hormones. The relation of these concepts to the pathophysiology of various metabolic disorders is discussed. Clinical disorders in which membrane receptors play a central role are reviewed, including Graves' disease and myasthenia gravis, which involve antireceptor antibodies, and familial hypercholesterolemia and various conditions of hormone resistance that often involve a marked decrease in receptor number as the primary pathogenic factor. The significance of receptor physiology in other selected areas of clinical medicine is discussed.
Arthromyodysplasia Congenita: Simulating the Arthritic Manifestation of "Rheumatoid Disease"
Authors: P. Ellman, F. P. Weber
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1953)

Rheumatoid disease" in its acute or chronic form with systemic or local manifestations may simulate many diseases in general medicine.Local manifestations may resemble many specific arth- ritides and bony and muscular lesions with secon- dary joint involvement (Ellman, 1947; Ellman and Ball, 1948), and two cases of a chondro-osseous dystrophy, which had been regarded as an arthritic manifestation of "rheumatoid disease", have already been reported (Ellman, 1949).The purpose of this paper is to give an account of a unique case of so-called "amyoplasia congenita" or "arthrogryposis multiplex congenita", which we, for reasons to which we shall refer in the discussion, prefer to designate "arthromyodysplasia congenita".This condition occurred in a roadsweeper aged 40, who was initially referred as a case of "rheumatoid arthritis".The flexion deformities of fingers, wrists, elbows, and knees, and the fixation of these joints, give the impression of a fibrous ankylosis, hence the terms "multiple articular rigidity" and "arthro- gryposis multiplex".As we shall show, the symmetrical joint immobility and flexion deformity are never associated with any inflammatory change, but depend upon some congenital developmental defect, probably associated with a dysplasia of certain groups of muscles with changes occurring in and around the joints.Case Report Male, aged 40, single, roadsweeper, was admitted to the Rheumatism Unit at St. Stephen's Hospital as a possible case of "rheumatoid arthritis".At the time of admission
Squeezing academic research into a commercial straitjacket
Authors: Susan Mayor
Journal: BMJ (2004)

<h3>Objectives</h3> There have been few studies on the impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on the work of the household. Our study aims to evaluate the impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on women in Moroccan home. <h3>Methods</h3> Demographic data, clinical and biological characteristics of the disease were collected. Depression was assessed by HAD questionnaire (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Working from home has been assessed by a multiple choice questionnaire [1] (no problems, some problems, many difficulties and disabilities) on the following items: the ability to do household chores, cleaning the house, washing floor, washing the dishes, cooking, and caring for children and husband. Women who failed to achieve at least one household activity were considered unable to domestic work and they were compared to those who have no such disability. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with this disability for domestic work. <h3>Results</h3> 90 women (mean age 49.7±11.4 years) with Rheumatoid arthritis were included. The disease9s median duration was 8 years [4,14], the median of DAS28-ESR was 4.27±1.75 and median of HAQ was 0.5 [0, 1, 37]. The inability to domestic work was found in 31 patients (34.5%), this inability related to the following items: do household activities (23.3%), clean the house (26.7%), wash the floor (34.4%), caring for children and husband (14.4%), washing dishes (26.7%) and cook ( 17.8%). In univariate analysis the inability of domestic work was associated with high disease activity (OR =2.23, p&lt;0.0001), a significant pain intensity (OR =1.03, p=0.001), with morning stiffness prolonged (OR =1.015, p=0.005), a significant functional impairment (OR =7.25, p&lt;0.0001) and depression (OR =1.09, p=0.003). After multivariate analysis, factors that remained significantly associated with the inability of domestic work were higher HAQ (OR =6.72, p&lt;0.0001) and DAS28 - ESR increased (OR =2.05, p=0.003). <h3>Conclusions</h3> We conclude that RA is highly predictive of homemaking disability in moroccan women, especially those with active RA and significant functional impairment. <h3>References</h3> Household work disability of Arab houseswives with rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Rheumatol. 2007. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared <h3>DOI</h3> 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.5812
Serum heat-labile opsonins in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Authors: H E Jasin, J H Orozco, M Ziff
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1974)

To study possible mechanisms responsible for the increased susceptibility to infection of patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a study of the serum heat-labile opsonic capacity (HLOC) in such patients was undertaken. With leukocytes from normal donors, the sera of 12 of 30 patients with active SLE demonstrated decreased HLOC for E. coli 075. The phagocytic activity was partially restored by normal serum, suggesting that decreased HLOC was responsible for the defective phagocytosis. While 8 of 10 patients with active SLE and concomitant infections showed deficient opsonic capacity to E. coli 075, only 4 of 20 such patients without infections showed the defect (P = 0.01). None of 12 patients with inactive disease had deficient opsonic capacity. Similar results were obtained with S. aureus 502A as the test bacterium. In the patients surviving infection, recovery of normal serum opsonic capacity was rapid and usually coincided with an increase of serum complement to normal levels. In three patients with active SLE and infection, the causative microorganisms were isolated and opsonic capacity for these organisms tested with the individual patients' sera. In each case, sera obtained at the onset of the infectious episode had low opsonic capacity when compared with normal sera. Serum C3 proactivator levels were low in 9 of 11 sera with deficient opsonic capacity. However, similar low values were found in other SLE sera with normal HLOC, suggesting that other factors of the opsonic system were also depleted. Addition of the classical complement components C1, C4, C2, C3, and C5 to sera with deficient HLOC failed to restore activity. Addition of pure C3 proactivator also failed to restore activity. However, addition of C3 proactivator together with 50 degrees C-heated normal serum restored activity, indicating that factors active at the early steps of opsonic activation via the alternative pathway of complement were necessary to restore opsonic activity. These findings indicate that in active SLE, a decrease of components of the alternate pathway of complement activation results in an acquired defect of serum HLOC and perhaps other related complement-mediated functions. This defect may be an important factor in the increased susceptibility to infections of patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus.
Antiandrogenic activity and metabolism of the organophosphorus pesticide fenthion and related compounds.
Authors: Shigeyuki Kitamura, Tomoharu Suzuki, Shigeru Ohta, Nariaki Fujimoto
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2003)

We investigated the endocrine-disrupting actions of the organophosphorus pesticide fenthion and related compounds and the influence of metabolic transformation on the activities of these compounds. Fenthion acted as an antagonist of the androgenic activity of dihydrotestosterone (10(-7)M) in the concentration range of 10(-6)-10(-4)M in an androgen-responsive element-luciferase reporter-responsive assay using NIH3T3 cells. The antiandrogenic activity of fenthion was similar in magnitude to that of flutamide. Fenthion also tested positive in the Hershberger assay using castrated male rats. Marked estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities of fenthion and related compounds were not observed in MCF-7 cells. When fenthion was incubated with rat liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH, the antiandrogenic activity markedly decreased, and fenthion sulfoxide was detected as a major metabolite. The oxidase activity toward fenthion was exhibited by cytochrome P450 and flavin-containing monooxygenase. Fenthion sulfoxide was negative in the screening test for antiandrogens, as was fenthion sulfone. However, when fenthion sulfoxide was incubated with liver cytosol in the presence of 2-hydroxypyrimidine, an electron donor of aldehyde oxidase, the extract of the incubation mixture exhibited antiandrogenic activity. In this case, fenthion was detected as a major metabolite of the sulfoxide. Metabolic interconversion between fenthion and fenthion sulfoxide in the body seems to maintain the antiandrogenic activity.
Intra-abdominal pressure may be decreased non-invasively by continuous negative extra-abdominal pressure (NEXAP)
Authors: Franco Valenza, Nicola Bottino, Katia Canavesi, Alfredo Lissoni, Salvatore Alongi, Sabina Losappio, Eleonora Carlesso, Luciano Gattinoni
Journal: Intensive Care Medicine (2003)
BRONCHIAL ASTHMA IN PREGNANCY
Authors: Samuel W. Vernick
Journal: JAMA (1934)

<h3>To the Editor:—</h3> I read the paper entitled "Bronchial Asthma as a Complication of Pregnancy" by Dr. Bradford Green (The Journal, February, 3, p. 360) and also the communication in Correspondence (April 14, p. 1248) from Dr. R. H. Kampmeier, and would like to comment on Dr. Kampmeier's letter. His contention that allergic manifestations disappear during pregnancy, in contradiction to Dr. Green's experience that there is aggravation of asthma during pregnancy, is also borne out by my experience of an interesting case. A woman, aged 28, had had severe attacks of bronchial asthma for the past eight years. During pregnancy she was free of all symptoms of asthma and this absence of symptoms continued till three weeks post partum. When she was 30, I delivered her of her eighth child. All lived. The pregnancies occurred about one year apart to relieve her of her asthma. All the customary skin testing
WHO guidelines on detecting pneumonia in children
Authors: S Gove, A Pio, H Campbell, A Cattaneo, StephenC Redd, AnneE Rodman, Gertrude Thinyane, J.F Doherty, M.A Dijkhuizen, F.T Wieringa, N Moule, M.H.N Golden, E.Kim Mulholland, EricA.F Simoes
Journal: The Lancet (1991)
Seroprotection against serogroup C meningococcal disease in adolescents in the United Kingdom: observational study
Authors: M D Snape, D F Kelly, S Lewis, C Banner, L Kibwana, C E Moore, L Diggle, T John, L M Yu, R Borrow, A Borkowski, C Nau, A J Pollard
Journal: BMJ (2008)

<b>Objective</b> To determine the persistence of bactericidal antibody titres following immunisation with serogroup C meningococcal glycoconjugate vaccine at age 6-15 years in order to examine changes in persistence of antibodies with age. <b>Design</b> Observational study. <b>Setting</b> Secondary and tertiary educational institutions in the United Kingdom. <b>Participants</b> Healthy adolescents aged 11-20 years previously immunised between 6 and 15 years of age with one of the three serogroup C meningococcal vaccines. <b>Intervention</b> Serum obtained by venepuncture. <b>Main outcome measures</b> Percentage of participants with (rabbit complement) serum bactericidal antibody titres of at least 1:8; geometric mean titres of serogroup C meningococcal serum bactericidal antibody. <b>Results</b> Five years after immunisation, 84.1% (95% confidence interval 81.6% to 86.3%) of 987 participants had a bactericidal antibody titre of at least 1:8. Geometric mean titres of bactericidal antibody were significantly lower in 11-13 year olds (147, 95% confidence interval 115 to 188) than in 14-16 year olds (300, 237 to 380) and 17-20 year olds (360, 252 to 515) (P&lt;0.0001 for both comparisons). Within these age bands, no significant difference in geometric mean titres of bactericidal antibody between recipients of the different serogroup C meningococcal vaccines was seen. More than 70% of participants had received a vaccine from one manufacturer; in this cohort, geometric mean titres were higher in those immunised at aged 10 years or above than in those immunised before the age of 10. <b>Conclusions</b> Higher concentrations of bactericidal antibody are seen five years after immunisation with serogroup C meningococcal vaccine at age 10 years or above than in younger age groups, possibly owing to immunological maturation. This provides support for adolescent immunisation programmes to generate sustained protection against serogroup C meningococcal disease not only for the vaccine recipients but also, through the maintenance of herd immunity, for younger children.
Intramachine and intermachine variability in transesophageal color Doppler images of pulsatile jets. In vitro studies.
Authors: P H Fan, A Anayiotos, N C Nanda, A P Yoganathan, E G Cape
Journal: Circulation (1994)

BACKGROUND Color Doppler flow mapping is widely used as a marker of severity of valvular regurgitation, and the transesophageal approach has provided high-quality images in patients with poor acoustic windows. However, different instruments produce significantly variable images. Techniques that use jet spatial information to determine the severity of the lesion may need to be derived specifically for the instrument used. Given a lack of standardization of the many commonly used instruments, the goal of this study was to quantify variability between instruments by imaging well-defined jet flow fields created in vitro. METHODS AND RESULTS Pulsatile jets were created in vitro using a blood analogue fluid through physiological orifice diameters and imaged from a distal window using six commonly used color Doppler instruments. Transesophageal transducers (5.0 MHz) were used with all instruments studied. Peak jet areas were planimetered and averaged with systematic variations in Nyquist limit, color filter, and sector angle (which produced variations in frame rate). Changes in instrument settings produced significant variation in jet size for all instruments studied. Comparisons within instruments and among instruments were difficult because of preset and ambiguous setting levels. When comparisons were possible between similar settings, variability was dramatic (eg, 57% variability between instruments with very similar Nyquist limits). CONCLUSIONS A lack of standardized color Doppler instrument settings prohibits translation of jet area techniques from one instrument to another. This should be taken into consideration when using different machines for clinical study.
Potential for Occupational Exposure to Engineered Carbon-Based Nanomaterials in Environmental Laboratory Studies
Authors: David R. Johnson, Mark M. Methner, Alan J. Kennedy, Jeffery A. Steevens
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2009)

The potential exists for laboratory personnel to be exposed to engineered carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs) in studies aimed at producing conditions similar to those found in natural surface waters [e.g., presence of natural organic matter (NOM)].The goal of this preliminary investigation was to assess the release of CNMs into the laboratory atmosphere during handling and sonication into environmentally relevant matrices.We measured fullerenes (C60), underivatized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (raw MWCNT), hydroxylated MWCNT (MWCNT-OH), and carbon black (CB) in air as the nanomaterials were weighed, transferred to beakers filled with reconstituted freshwater, and sonicated in deionized water and reconstituted freshwater with and without NOM. Airborne nanomaterials emitted during processing were quantified using two hand-held particle counters that measure total particle number concentration per volume of air within the nanometer range (10-1,000 nm) and six specific size ranges (300-10,000 nm). Particle size and morphology were determined by transmission electron microscopy of air sample filters.After correcting for background particle number concentrations, it was evident that increases in airborne particle number concentrations occurred for each nanomaterial except CB during weighing, with airborne particle number concentrations inversely related to particle size. Sonicating nanomaterial-spiked water resulted in increased airborne nanomaterials, most notably for MWCNT-OH in water with NOM and for CB.Engineered nanomaterials can become airborne when mixed in solution by sonication, especially when nanomaterials are functionalized or in water containing NOM. This finding indicates that laboratory workers may be at increased risk of exposure to engineered nanomaterials.
Eosinophils, T-lymphocytes, mast cells, neutrophils, and macrophages in bronchial biopsy specimens from atopic subjects with asthma: Comparison with biopsy specimens from atopic subjects without asthma and normal control subjects and relationship to bronchial hyperresponsiveness
Authors: B BRADLEY, M AZZAWI, M JACOBSON, B ASSOUFI, J COLLINS, A IRANI, L SCHWARTZ, S DURHAM, P JEFFERY, A KAY
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (1991)