tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Einrichtung und Methoden des klinischen Laboratoriums
Authors: I. Davidsohn
Journal: JAMA (1960)

This is a practical manual to be used for the routine performance of what we call clinical microscopy and some qualitative and most quantitative chemical tests. It is meant to meet the increasing demand for quantitative methods and especially for micromethods. It emphasizes economy in materials to be used, including blood, reagents, time, and labor. It describes in detail the equipment of a small but efficient clinical laboratory. The six pages devoted to this subject are worth reading, especially, by those who are planning a new laboratory. Such questions as one large room versus several small rooms, location of work benches, day-light versus artificial light, floor covering, exhausts, prevention of accidents, etc., are discussed. Equally valuable is the section on washing glassware. The balance of the first introductory chapter deals with instrumentation and general methodology. Part 2 is devoted to the clinical microscopy of urine, stomach contents, feces, spinal fluid,
Immunological Studies in Kaposi's Sarcoma in Uganda
Authors: S. P. Master, J. F. Taylor, S. K. Kyalwazi, J. L. Ziegler
Journal: BMJ (1970)

An evaluation of humoral and cellular immune mechanisms was performed on patients with Kaposi's sarcoma in Uganda. Antibody responses and immunoglobulin levels were normal in all patients studied. Nevertheless, a striking impairment in the delayed hypersensitivity response to dinitrochlorobenzene was noted in patients with the "malignant" type of tumour.
Schistosomiasis in Hmong People
Authors: Joseph Westermeyer
Journal: JAMA (1978)

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> In the recent article by Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, MD, "Latent and Chronic Infections Imported From Southeast Asia" (239:1901, 1978), there is a reference to endemic<i>Schistosoma japonicum</i>on Khong Island in South Laos. The same disorder is also frequently encountered among the ethnic Hmong people in northern Laos (where I practiced general medicine during the period 1965 through 1967). Since there are already tens of thousands of Hmong people in the United States, with more soon to come, this disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cough and hemoptysis among Hmong people. Such a case was recently encountered by me in Minnesota. <h3>Report of a Case.—</h3> A 49-year-old married Hmong man had symptoms of depression and fatigue. He had failed to respond to previous medical treatment for a chronic cough. Cough and hemoptysis first developed nine years previously at the age of 40 years. Symptoms were
Ileal Urinary Diversion
Authors: Lowell R. King
Journal: JAMA (1962)

Intravenous pyelograms were obtained before and after operation in 82 patients who underwent conventional ureteroileocutaneous anastomosis and who were followed up for periods ranging from 6 to 66 months. Comparison revealed 2 important findings. Patients with normal or near normal pyelograms generally continued to show normal pyelograms. In contrast, patients with moderate to severe hydroureteronephrosis failed to improve or showed progressive dilatation. In this latter group, mostly children, in 10 instances the authors have excised the abnormal ureter and performed pyeloileocutaneous anastomosis. In every instance this has resulted in arrest or improvement of the hydroureteronephrosis.
Measurement of natural rubber latex allergen levels in medical gloves by allergen‐specific IgE‐ELISA inhibition, RAST inhibition, and skin prick test
Authors: T. Palosuo, S. Mäkinen‐Kiljunen, H. Alenius, T. Reunala, E. Yip, K. Turjanmaa
Journal: Allergy (1998)

Exposure to natural rubber latex (NRL) medical gloves poses risks to patients sensitized to NRL and to users of protective gloves. Previous studies have shown that extractable allergen levels of the gloves vary widely. Since most of the available laboratory methods of NRL allergen measurement lack adequate validation, we wanted to evaluate the performance of a recently developed competitive IgE-ELISA-inhibition method in relation to the skin prick test (SPT) and RAST inhibition, as well as to extractable protein quantification and an immunochemical latex antigen assay (LEAP). Twenty samples of surgical (n = 14) and examination gloves (n = 6), covering > 90% of medical gloves marketed in Finland in 1994-5, were collected by the Finnish National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health, coded, extracted, and analyzed by the five methods. The IgE-ELISA inhibition correlated highly significantly with SPT (r = 0.94) and RAST inhibition (r = 0.96). Likewise, ELISA inhibition and RAST inhibition showed highly significant correlation (P = 0.96, P < 0.0001 in all three instances). Protein quantification by a modified Lowry method also correlated highly significantly with SPT (r = 0.80), RAST inhibition (r = 0.82), and ELISA inhibition (r = 0.81, P < 0.0001 in all three instances). Clearly weaker correlation, though statistically significant (r = 0.48, P = 0.03), was found between SPT and the LEAP assay. An NRL standard preparation was assigned an arbitrary content of 100,000 allergen units (AU) per ml. In relation to this standard, the NRL allergen level was considered low (< 10 AU/ml) in 11, moderate (10-100 AU/ml) in two, and high (> 100 AU/ml) in seven of the 20 glove brands analyzed. In conclusion, the results of a novel IgE-ELISA-inhibition method of measuring NRL allergen levels in medical gloves correlated highly significantly with those of SPT. The ELISA method was found to be sensitive, reproducible, technically easy, inexpensive, and suitable for the analysis of large numbers of NRL products. The results of extensive market surveys in 1994 and 1995, communicated to the medical community in Finland, appear to have had a clear effect in moving glove purchasing policies toward the use of low-allergen gloves.
Vaccine delivery system using safe bacteria invented
Authors: A. Berger
Journal: BMJ (1998)

Scientists in Paris have invented a way of delivering DNA into cells without relying on pathogenic bacteria.

Bacteria have only recently been used for DNA delivery (in gene therapy and DNA vaccines), and up to now only attenuated bacteria (those with diminished pathogenicity) have been used. Now Catherine Grillot-Courvalin and her team at the Pasteur Institute have worked out a way of using bacteria that are unable to grow in conventional media and are thus considered non-pathogenic (Nature Biotechnology …
A Clinical Lecture ON TRAUMATIC HEART DISEASE AND COMPENSATION FOR "ACCIDENTS.": Delivered at Guy's Hospital
Authors: L. E. Shaw
Journal: BMJ (1909)

TUMATIC HEART DISEASE.E uBo B imu 8 from reasons already given, are less liable than the unilateral movements to be paralysed in hemiplegia.The unilateral movements consist in abduction from the midline to the right and left, adduction from the right and left to the mid-line, and rotation of the spine with the face turned to the right and then to the left.All these movements should be tested with and without resistance, which should be applied by the hand of the observer against the patient's shoulder, and also both in the position af lying down and in that of sitting up in bed when this is possible, and particular notice should be taken in the latter position whether the patient is unable to prevent himself fallingto one side.
Electrophysiological effects of a chemical defibrillatory agent, dibenzepin
Authors: G. Amitzur, N. El-Sherif, W. B Gough
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1990)

Study objective – The aim was to study the cellular cardiac electrophysiological effects of the antifib-rillatory drug, dibenzepin. Design – Standard microelectrode techniques were used to measure the effects of dibenzepin (3 μM, 9 μM) on conduction time, Vmax and input resistance in canine papillary muscles, in vitro, at three paced cycle lengths (1000, 400, 200 ms). Results were compared when adrenaline (0.5-5 μM) or propranolol(0.2 μM) were present. Experimental material – Papillary muscles (n = 25) from hearts of adult mongrel dogs, weight 13-18 kg, were used. Measurements and main results – Dibenzepin, at 3 μM, caused significant reduction of Vmax at cycle lengths ≤400 ms. Paradoxically, the conduction time decreased at all three cycle lengths when measured along the longitudinal axis of the fibre between two microelectrodes spaced 2 mm apart. Superfusion of dibenzepin (3 μM) and propranolol(0.2 μM) significantly reduced Vmax and lengthened conduction time at all cycle lengths. Dibenzepin reduced input resistance from 1.45 to 0.76 MΩ, thereby suggesting that improved coupling may occur between cells to account for the shortening of conduction time. Propranolol blocked these results. Conclusion – The defibrillatory action of dibenzepin may be related to a decreased intercellular resistance caused by increased catecholamine availability during fibrillation. This would result in improved conduction and, thereby, a decrease of the critical number of asynchronous re-entrant circuits necessary to maintain fibrillation.
Heterogeneous distribution of the two components of delayed rectifier K+ current: a potential mechanism of the proarrhythmic effects of methanesulfonanilideclass III agents
Authors: J Cheng
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1999)

Objective: To elucidate the regional difference of the K+ current blocking effects of methanesulfonanilide class III agents. Methods: Regional differences in action potential duration (APD) and E-4031-sensitive component (IKr) as well as -insensitive component (IKs) of the delayed rectifier K+ current (IK) were investigated in enzymatically isolated myocytes from apical and basal regions of the rabbit left ventricle using the whole-cell clamp technique. Results: At 1 Hz stimulation, APD was significantly longer in the apex than in the base (223.1±10.6 vs. 182.7±14.5 ms, p<0.05); application of 1 μM E-4031 caused more significant APD prolongation in the apex than in the base (32.5±6.4% vs. 21.0±8.8%, p<0.05), resulting in an augmentation of regional dispersion of APD. In response to a 3-s depolarization pulse to +40 mV from a holding potential of −50 mV, both IK tail and IKs tail densities were significantly smaller in apical than in basal myocytes (IK: 1.56±0.13 vs. 2.09±0.21 pA/pF, p<0.05; IKs: 0.40±0.15 vs. 1.43±0.23, p<0.01), whereas IKr tail density was significantly greater in the apex than in the base (1.15±0.13 vs. 0.66±0.11 pA/pF, p<0.01). The ratio of IKs/IKr for the tail current in the apex was significantly smaller than that in the base (0.51±0.21 vs. 3.09±0.89; p<0.05). No statistical difference was observed in the voltage dependence as well as activation and deactivation kinetics of IKr and IKs between the apex and base. Isoproterenol (1 μM) increased the time-dependent outward current of IKs by 111±8% during the 3-s depolarizing step at +40 mV and its tail current by 120±9% on repolarization to the holding potential of −50 mV, whereas it did not affect IKr. Conclusions: The regional differences in IK, in particular differences in its two components may underlie the regional disparity in APD, and that methanesulfonanilide class III antiarrhythmic agents such as E-4031 may cause a greater spatial inhomogeneity of ventricular repolarization, leading to re-entrant arrhythmias.
Redefining Quality — Implications of Recent Clinical Trials
Authors: Harlan M. Krumholz, Thomas H. Lee
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2008)

Simple approaches to patient care are better — except when they are not. Recent clinical studies are leading to a reexamination of the paradigm whereby efforts to prevent vascular disease focus on the achievement of particular levels of risk factors such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and glycated hemoglobin. Although these factors and their levels are important determinants of the development and progression of vascular disease, it is increasingly apparent that the specific strategies used to modify them make a critical difference in patient outcomes. This insight has implications for clinical practice, performance measurement, and regulatory requirements. . . .
Chemically Modified Synthetic microRNA-205 Inhibits the Growth of Melanoma Cells In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Shunsuke Noguchi, Junya Iwasaki, Minami Kumazaki, Takashi Mori, Kohji Maruo, Hiroki Sakai, Nami Yamada, Kazuyuki Shimada, Tomoki Naoe, Yukio Kitade, Yukihiro Akao
Journal: Molecular Therapy (2013)

microRNA (miR)-205 is downregulated and acts as a tumor suppressor in human melanoma cells. Previously, for clinical application, we added aromatic benzene-pyridine (BP-type) analogs to the 3′-overhang region of the RNA-strand and changed the sequences of the passenger strand in the miR-143 duplex. Here, we demonstrated the antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo of miR-205 that was also chemically modified by BP and had altered passenger sequence. In in vitro experiments, transfection with the synthetic miR-205 (miR-205BP/S3) significantly inhibited the growth of human melanoma cells. Exogenous miR-205BP/S3 suppressed the protein expression levels of E2F1 and VEGF, which are validated targets of miR-205-5p, and BCL2, a transcribed molecule of E2F1, as did Pre-miR-205, used as a miR-205 mimic having the wild-type sequence. On the basis of the results of a luciferase activity assay, miR-205BP/S3 directly targeted E2F1, as did Pre-miR-205. However, miR-205BP/S3 was much more resistant to RNase than Pre-miR-205 in fetal bovine serum and to RNase in mice xenografted with human melanoma tissues. In addition, the intratumoral injection of miR-205BP/S3 exhibited a significant antitumor effect compared with the case of control miRNA or Pre-miR-205 in human melanoma cell-xenografted mice. These findings indicate that miR-205BP/S3 is a possible promising therapeutic modality for melanoma. microRNA (miR)-205 is downregulated and acts as a tumor suppressor in human melanoma cells. Previously, for clinical application, we added aromatic benzene-pyridine (BP-type) analogs to the 3′-overhang region of the RNA-strand and changed the sequences of the passenger strand in the miR-143 duplex. Here, we demonstrated the antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo of miR-205 that was also chemically modified by BP and had altered passenger sequence. In in vitro experiments, transfection with the synthetic miR-205 (miR-205BP/S3) significantly inhibited the growth of human melanoma cells. Exogenous miR-205BP/S3 suppressed the protein expression levels of E2F1 and VEGF, which are validated targets of miR-205-5p, and BCL2, a transcribed molecule of E2F1, as did Pre-miR-205, used as a miR-205 mimic having the wild-type sequence. On the basis of the results of a luciferase activity assay, miR-205BP/S3 directly targeted E2F1, as did Pre-miR-205. However, miR-205BP/S3 was much more resistant to RNase than Pre-miR-205 in fetal bovine serum and to RNase in mice xenografted with human melanoma tissues. In addition, the intratumoral injection of miR-205BP/S3 exhibited a significant antitumor effect compared with the case of control miRNA or Pre-miR-205 in human melanoma cell-xenografted mice. These findings indicate that miR-205BP/S3 is a possible promising therapeutic modality for melanoma.
On the Mechanism of Idioventricular Pacemaker Suppression by Fast Drive
Authors: DANIEL J. KRELLENSTEIN, MICHAEL B. PLIAM, CHANDLER McC. BROOKS, MARIO VASSALLE
Journal: Circulation Research (1974)

The role of vagal activity, potassium concentration, and temperature in overdrive suppression of ventricular pacemakers, was studied in anesthetized dogs with and without surgical atrioventricular block. The results were as follows. (1) Overdrive of an idioventricular pacemaker during vagal stimulation was followed by a second pause. (2) Hypothermia increased the duration of the vagal and overdrive pauses. (3) Coronary sinus plasma potassium concentration ([K] cs ) decreased with the onset of vagal stimulation and increased with overdrive during vagal stimulation. (4) The increase in [K] cs during ventricular overdrive was greater in hypothermia than it was in normothermia when the same absolute rate of overdrive was used and was unchanged when the same relative rate of overdrive was used. (5) Hypothermia increased overdrive suppression more than can be accounted for by the decrease in spontaneous rate, (6) By predriving the ventricles and then overdriving them, the increase in [K] cs was dissociated from the pause duration. It is concluded that during vagal stimulation ventricular arrest is due to the inhibition of idioventricular pacemakers by the sinus node by virtue of its faster rate and that changes in [K] cs are due to rate changes and not to acetylcholine release. Overdrive suppression can be dissociated from an increase in extracellular potassium concentration. Its prolongation in hypothermia provides evidence for a metabolism-dependent mechanism.
Treatment of myocardial ischemia with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing hepatocyte growth factor
Authors: Hai-Feng Duan, Chu-Tse Wu, Dan-Li Wu, Ying Lu, Hong-Jun Liu, Xiao-Qin Ha, Qun-Wei Zhang, Hua Wang, Xiang-Xu Jia, Li-Sheng Wang
Journal: Molecular Therapy (2003)

Mesenchymal stem cells could differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro and have been shown to reconstitute the impaired myocardium in vivo. Hepatocyte growth factor, a recognized angiogenic factor and endothelial cell chemoattractant, has been applied in the treatment of myocardial ischemia. In this study, we used a ligation model of proximal left anterior descending coronary artery of rats to evaluate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing hepatocyte growth factor in the treatment of myocardial ischemia. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were isolated, expanded, characterized, and infected with adenovirus carrying human hepatocyte growth factor cDNA (Ad-HGF). Mesenchymal stem cells infected by Ad-HGF released soluble HGF protein at a high level, which was maintained at least for 2 weeks. Implantation of mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing hepatocyte growth factor into left anterior descending risk areas improved the functions of impaired myocardium, including diminishing the area of ischemia, increasing the number of capillaries, and reducing collagen content. By using the sry gene as a marker, we also demonstrated that the engrafted cells or their progeny incorporated into ischemic cardiac muscle. These results showed that treatment of myocardial ischemia with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing hepatocyte growth factor could be a novel strategy that can both restore local blood flow and regenerate lost cardiomyocytes.
Common Tests of Thyroid Function in Serum
Authors: Herbert A. Selenkow
Journal: JAMA (1967)

Correct diagnosis of most common disorders of thyroid function can usually be achieved by a thorough clinical evaluation and confirmed by a few carefully selected laboratory procedures. There are now available a number of relatively specific and accurate tests for measurement of thyroid hormone synthesis, secretion, transport, and metabolic action. Unfortunately, none alone is fully diagnostic of any single thyroid disorder and all can be misleading as a result of a wide variety of factors which influence their pathophysiologic significance. This presentation will be limited to a brief discussion of a few serum measurements of thyroid function of clinical importance to medical practice. The reader interested in more detailed considerations of this extensive subject is referred to recent reviews.<sup>1,2</sup> The two principal thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T<sub>4</sub>) and triiodothyronine (T<sub>3</sub>) are normally secreted into the circulation under the control of pituitary thyrotropin (TSH). They are transported through the
Heparin administration by constant infusion pump.
Authors: A. J. Handley
Journal: BMJ (1967)

It has been claimed that a raised blood lead level is a common finding among mentally retarded children and that this is of aetiological significance.One hundred and twenty-three men- tally handicapped children of uncertain aetiology, 24 with mongolism, and 73 controls have been examined for lead in- toxication.The results indicate that the three groups do not differ significantly as regards blood lead levels and no definite evidence of either acute or chronic lead poisoning has been obtained.This study does not suggest that these mentally backward children have been particularly at risk from lead poisoning, and emphasizes the limited value of an isolated estimation of the blood lead level.These conclusions do not depend on whether 36 or 50 jkg. of lead per 100 ml. of blood is regarded as the upper limit of normal.However, if a value is found which is above the accepted level for the population in a particular area, this is an indication for further investigation, but not necessarily for treatment.We wish to express our thanks to Mrs. J. H. Kellgren for all the time and effort she gave to collecting the data on the patients in this study.
Increased Cancer Mortality Following a History of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
Authors: Henry S. Kahn
Journal: JAMA (1998)

Context.-Cancer registries have reported an increased incidence of melanoma and certain noncutaneous cancers following nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC).Whether these findings were attributable to intensified surveillance, shared risk factors, or increased cancer susceptibility remains unclear.Objective.-Todetermine whether a history of NMSC predicts cancer mortality.Design.-Prospectivecohort with 12-year mortality follow-up adjusted for multiple risk factors.Setting.-CancerPrevention Study II, United States and Puerto Rico.Participants.-Nearly1.1 million adult volunteers who completed a baseline questionnaire in 1982.Main Outcome Measure.-Deathsdue to all cancers and common cancers.Results.-After adjusting for age, race, education, smoking, obesity, alcohol use, and other conventional risk factors, a baseline history of NMSC was associated with increased total cancer mortality (men's relative risk [RR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-1.36;women's RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.17-1.35).Exclusion of deaths due to melanoma reduced these RRs only slightly.Mortality was increased for the following cancers: melanoma (RR, 3.36 in men, 3.52 in women); pharynx (RR, 2.77 in men, 2.81 in women); lung (RR, 1.37 in men, 1.46 in women); non-Hodgkin lymphoma (RR, 1.32 in men, 1.50 in women); in men only, salivary glands (RR, 2.96), prostate (RR, 1.28), testis (RR, 12.7), urinary bladder (RR, 1.41), and leukemia (RR, 1.37); and in women only, breast (RR, 1.34).All-cause mortality was slightly increased (adjusted men's RR, 1.03 [95% CI, 1.00-1.06];women's RR, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.00-1.09]).Conclusions.-Persons with a history of NMSC are at increased risk of cancer mortality.Although the biological mechanisms are unknown, a history of NMSC should increase the clinician's alertness for certain noncutaneous cancers as well as melanoma.