tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Apparent Half-Lives of Dioxins, Furans, and Polychlorinated Biphenyls as a Function of Age, Body Fat, Smoking Status, and Breast-Feeding
Authors: Meghan O’Grady Milbrath, Yvan Wenger, Chiung-Wen Chang, Claude Emond, David Garabrant, Brenda W. Gillespie, Olivier Jolliet
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2008)

In this study we reviewed the half-life data in the literature for the 29 dioxin, furan, and polychlorinated biphenyl congeners named in the World Health Organization toxic equivalency factor scheme, with the aim of providing a reference value for the half-life of each congener in the human body and a method of half-life estimation that accounts for an individual's personal characteristics.We compared data from >30 studies containing congener-specific elimination rates. Half-life data were extracted and compiled into a summary table. We then created a subset of these data based on defined exclusionary criteria.We defined values for each congener that approximate the half-life in an infant and in an adult. A linear interpolation of these values was used to examine the relationship between half-life and age, percent body fat, and absolute body fat. We developed predictive equations based on these relationships and adjustments for individual characteristics.The half-life of dioxins in the body can be predicted using a linear relationship with age adjusted for body fat, smoking, and breast-feeding. Data suggest an alternative method based on a linear relationship between half-life and total body fat, but this approach requires further testing and validation with individual measurements.
Effect of Metformin on Carbohydrate and Lipoprotein Metabolism in NIDDM Patients
Authors: M-S Wu, P Johnston, WH-H Sheu, CB Hollenbeck, C-Y Jeng, ID Goldfine, Y-DI Chen, GM Reaven
Journal: Diabetes Care (1990)

The effect of metformin treatment on various aspects of carbohydrate and lipoprotein metabolism has been defined in 12 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Patients were studied before and after approximately 4 mo of metformin therapy. Treatment was initiated with a single dose of 500 mg/day, increased at weekly intervals, and maintained at a final dose of 2.5 g/day (given at divided intervals) for the last 3 mo of the treatment program. Results demonstrated that both fasting and postprandial glucose concentrations were significantly lower after metformin administration, with the greatest change seen after meals. As a result, the total incremental plasma glucose response above basal measured from 0800 to 1600 after metformin was less than 25% of that seen initially. The improvement in ambient plasma glucose concentration in association with metformin occurred despite a modest but statistically significant decrease in circulating plasma insulin concentration. In addition, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake measured during hyperinsulinemic clamp studies was similar before and after metformin treatment. Furthermore, changes in insulin binding and insulin internalization by isolated monocytes did not correlate with the improvement in glycemic control. Thus, the ability of metformin to lower plasma glucose concentration in NIDDM does not appear to be secondary to an improvement in insulin action. Finally, metformin treatment was associated with a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in plasma triglyceride concentration and an increase in plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. These results indicate that metformin treatment of patients with NIDDM led to an improvement in both glycemic control and lipoprotein metabolism.
Conversion of plasma progesterone to deoxycorticosterone in men, nonpregnant and pregnant women, and adrenalectomized subjects.
Authors: C A Winkel, L Milewich, C R Parker, N F Gant, E R Simpson, P C MacDonald
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1980)

During the third trimester of human pregnancy the concentrations of deoxycorticosterone (DOC) in maternal plasma are 4-50 times those in nonpregnant women and men. It has been suggested that the increased amount of DOC in maternal plasma originates in the fetal compartment. We considered an alternate explanation for the high levels of DOC in plasma or near-term pregnant women, viz., that DOC may be derived in part from 21-hydroxylation of maternal plama progesterone. To test this hyposthesis we measured the fractional conversion of plasma progesterone to DOC from the relationship between the 3H:14C ratio of the infused tracers, [3H]progesterone and [14C]-DOC, and the 3H:14C ratio or urinary 3 alpha,21-dihydroxy-5 beta-pregnan-20-one (tetrahydro-DOC). The fractional conversion of plasma progesterone to DOC ([rho](BU)P-DOC), measured in this manner, was 0.007 +/- 0.001 (mean +/- SEM, n = 26) in the subjects of this study. The values for [rho](BU)P-DOC varied widely among subjects (0.002-0.022) but the range of values for [rho](BU)P-DOC was similar among women pregnant with an anencephalic or dead fetus, nonpregnant and adrenalectomized women, and men. The transfer constant of conversion of progesterone to DOC in plasma, [rho](BB)P-DOC, remained constant in a nonpregnant woman during the infusion of nonradiolabeled progesterone at rates of 0-14 mg/h. Based on the results of these studied, we conclude that DOC is formed by extra-adrenal 21-hydroxylation of plasma progesterone and that the rate of formation of DOC by this pathway is proportional to the concentration of progesterone in plasma.
The PLAN score predicted death and severe disability in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Kate Rowland
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2013)

Source Citation O’Donnell MJ, Fang J, D’Uva C, et al; Investigators of the Registry of the Canadian Stroke Network. The PLAN Score: a bedside prediction rule for death and severe disability following acute ischemic stroke. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172:1548-56. 23147454
Onychomycosis is more than a cosmetic problem
Authors: R.K. SCHER
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1994)

The nails serve several important functions and, when they are infected by fungal organisms, these functions are severely impaired. In addition, the quality of life, in terms of self‐esteem and social interaction, is adversely affected when fungal nail infections are present. Finally, when finger and/or toenails are abnormal this may interfere with patients' occupations.
Abstract 3759: Discordance of the immunohistochemical expression of phospho-Akt and phosphor-ERK between paired biopsy and hepatectomy specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Yu-Yun Shao, Chi-Long Chen, Chien-Chung Huang, Hui-Ching Tu, Zhong-Zhe Lin, Chih-Hung Hsu, Ann-Lii Cheng
Journal: Cancer Research (2010)

Abstract Background: Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining using archival tumor tissues is commonly used to study biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there are no biomarkers proven to be useful for personalized therapy of HCC so far. Since HCC is particularly susceptible to ischemia during and after the operation, the study sought to clarify the consistency of the IHC expression between biopsied and surgically resected HCC tissues. Methods: HCC patients who had both biopsy and hepatectomy tumor tissues were enrolled. IHC staining was done with rabbit antibodies (Cell Signaling, Beverly, MA, US.) against p-Akt (Ser473) and p-ERK1/2 (Thr202/Tyr204). The staining and its evaluation were performed by a pathologist who was blinded to the identification of the slides. The expression levels of both proteins were graded according to the percentage of positively stained cells in every section, as follows: negative: 0%; 1+: 1-10%; 2+: 10-50%, and 3+: &amp;gt; 50%. Staining results of biopsy and hepatectomy tissues were compared. Results: Forty-six tissue pairs were enrolled. The results of IHC staining were shown in the table. The expression was significantly decreased in hepatectomy tissues compared to biopsied tissue for both p-Akt and p-ERK (p &amp;lt; 0.001 and p &amp;lt; 0.001, respectively, by paired t test). The correlation of IHC staining results of paired tissues is poor. Spearman correlation coefficients for p-Akt (r = 0.116) and p-ERK (r = 0.112) were low. If using staining results as a continuous variable in analysis, the correlation between paired tissues remained poor, with Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.418 for p-Akt and 0.219 for p-ERK, respectively. Conclusions: The consistency of p-Akt and p-ERK IHC staining between preoperative biopsy and hepatectomy HCC tissues is poor. This confounding factor should be taken into account in data for biomarkers of HCC. (The study was supported by the grant of NSC 98-3112-B-002-038.)IHC staining results of p-Akt and p-ERKMarkerTissue acquisition01+2+3+p-AktLiver tumor biopsy6.5%6.5%13.0%73.9% Hepatectomy tissue15.2%37.0%32.6%13.0%p-ERKLiver tumor biopsy2.2%10.9%23.9%60.9% Hepatectomy tissue8.7%63.0%17.4%6.5% Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3759.
Spectrin's E2/E3 ubiquitin conjugating/ligating activity is diminished in sickle cells
Authors: Tsui‐Ling Chang, David G. Kakhniashvili, Steven R. Goodman
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2005)

Abstract Erythrocyte spectrin contains E2/E3 ubiquitin conjugating/ligating activity in its α subunit. Ankyrin is a target of spectrin's E2/E3 ubiquitin conjugating/ligating activity in vitro and in vivo. We compare the ubiquitination levels of ankyrin mediated by control and sickle cell spectrin using a biotinylated ubiquitin cell‐free assay. Sickle cell spectrin has diminished ability to transfer ubiquitin from an intermediate spectrin–ubiquitin thioester adduct (α′ spectrin) to ankyrin, which may be due to glutathiolation of spectrin's E2 and/or E3 active site cysteines. There is also a diminished ability of the sickle cell ankyrin to serve as target of spectrin's E2/E3 activity, probably due to oxidative damage to ankyrin. A direct correlation exists between the α′/α spectrin ratio and spectrin's ability to ubiquitinate ankyrin. There is also an inverse correlation between severity of the disease and the α′/α spectrin ratio in SS erythrocytes. These results suggest that reduced spectrin E2/E3 activity is an important determinant of sickle cell severity. Am. J. Hematol. 79:89–96, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preserved Endothelial Function in IDDM Patients, but Not in NIDDM Patients, Compared With Healthy Subjects
Authors: Markus-D Enderle, Norbert Benda, Reinhold-M Schmuelling, Hans U Haering, Martin Pfohl
Journal: Diabetes Care (1998)

OBJECTIVE To examine endothelial function (EF) noninvasively in IDDM and NIDDM patients with long diabetes duration. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We studied EF in 17 IDDM patients without diabetic complications and in 25 NIDDM patients with comparable glycemic control and with diabetic complications and compared both with nondiabetic control subjects matched for age, sex, and lumen diameter. Using high-resolution ultrasound, we measured the endothelialdependent (FAD%) and independent vasodilation (GTN%); the blood flow at rest, postocclusive, and after application of 400 μg glyceroltrinitrate of the brachial artery; and the intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery. RESULTS In the IDDM patients, neither FAD% (8.2 ± 4.6 vs. 7.6 ± 4.2%), GTN% (16.3 ± 4.9 vs. 18.4 ± 6.4%), nor postocclusive blood flow (40.6 ± 19.1 vs. 39.3 ± 23.6 cm/s) differed from the control subjects. IMT (0.59 ± 0.10 vs. 0.55 ± 0.14 mm) was slightly, but not significantly, elevated. In contrast, the NIDDM patients showed an impaired FAD% (3.8 ± 3.3 vs. 6.9 ± 4.4%, P &amp;lt; 0.01), no difference in GTN%, and a decreased postocclusive blood flow (18.5 ± 13.8 vs. 32.7 ± 20.0 cm/s, P &amp;lt; 0.01). IMT was significantly increased in NIDDM patients (0.77 ± 0.14 vs. 0.62 ± 0.10 mm, P &amp;lt; 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In contrast to NIDDM patients with cardiovascular complications, IDDM patients with long diabetes duration and good long-term metabolic control do not have impaired EF compared with control subjects.
Lung cancer and environmental tobacco smoke: occupational risk to nonsmokers.
Authors: K G Brown
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1999)

The principal epidemiologic evidence that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) increases the risk of lung cancer in (lifelong) nonsmokers is from studies of nonsmoking women married to smokers. This article estimates exposure-response curves for 14 studies (1, 249+ cases, 7 countries) with data on lung cancer categorized by the number of cigarettes/day smoked by the husband. The pooled results from the five U.S. studies alone are extrapolated to ETS levels in the workplace using measures of serum cotinine and nicotine samples from personal monitors as markers of exposure to ETS. It is predicted that the increase in lung cancer risk for nonsmoking women from average ETS exposure at work (among those exposed at work) is on the order of 25% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 8, 41) relative to background risk (i.e., with no ETS exposure from any source). This compares to an estimate of 39% (95% CI = 5, 65) for nonsmoking women whose husbands smoke at the adult male smoker's average of 25 cigarettes/day. At the 95th percentiles of exposure, the estimate from spousal smoking is 85% (95% CI = 32, 156), compared to 91% (95% CI = 34, 167) from workplace ETS exposure. Subject to the validity of the assumptions required in this approach, the outcome supports the conclusion that there is a significant excess risk from occupational exposure to ETS. The excess risk from ETS at work is typically lower than that from spousal smoking, but may be higher at the 95th percentiles of exposure.
Traffic-related air pollution and development of allergic sensitization in children during the first 8 years of life
Authors: Olena Gruzieva, Tom Bellander, Kristina Eneroth, Inger Kull, Erik Melén, Emma Nordling, Marianne van Hage, Magnus Wickman, Vitaliy Moskalenko, Olesya Hulchiy, Göran Pershagen
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2011)
Significance of Subcutaneous Nodules in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: M. Lucchesi, O. Lucchesi
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1947)

The presence of subcutaneous nodules in rheumatic fever is of serious prog- nostic significance because, as they are pathologically similar to the Aschoff bodies found in the heart, they generally indicate severe cardiac damage and active infection.As a rule nodules appear after the onset of the rheumatic heart lesion.There is, therefore, practically always cardiac involvement in cases where nodules are found, and they may be regarded as presumptive evidence of carditis.Nodules develop occasionally, however, in cases in which no clinically demon- strable cardiac lesions exist.In 1889 Cheadle affirmed that the appearance of nodules was really the equivalent of a death sentence.While the prognosis is bad, it is not quite so serious as this suggests.Hayes and Gibson (1942), in a study of 167 patients with nodules, found that 163 had cardiac lesions.Fifty- two (31 %) died during the attack, and the later mortality was double that of cases without nodules. The Present InvestigationIn contrast with this knowledge of the importance of subcutaneous nodules in acute rheumatism, little is known of the significance of their development in rheu- matoid arthritis.We have, therefore, studied 55 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had subcutaneous nodules; 38 of these suffered from rheumatoid arthritis only, while the remaining 17 cases had rheumatoid spondylitis as well.These 55 cases were found among a series of 290 cases of rheumatoid arthritis.Thirty-eight patients were female and 17 male.The 55 patients had amongst them a total of 289 nodules, with the following distribution: Head .. .. .. ..
Natural history and prognosis of recurrent breast cancer.
Authors: S Karabali-Dalamaga, R L Souhami, N J O'Higgins, A Soumilas, C G Clark
Journal: BMJ (1978)

Patterns of recurrent disease were analysed in 603 patients with breast cancer. The time of onset, frequency of recurrence, and survival after recurrence were not influenced by age or menopausal state. While survival after local recurrence was longer than survival after distant metastasis, the time to onset of local and distant disease followed an identical pattern, indicating that local recurrence should be regarded as a manifestation of systemic disease. Postoperative radiotherapy did not affect the time of onset of local recurrence. We suggest that patients with local recurrence should receive both systemic and local treatment and that controlled trials of chemotherapeutic agents in these patients might be valuable in finding the most effective drug combinations to be used as adjuvant treatment after mastectomy.
Gamma-interferon inhibits secretin-induced choleresis and cholangiocyte proliferation in a murine model of cirrhosis
Authors: Gianfranco Alpini, Ivan Elias, Shannon S. Glaser, Rebecca E.D. Rodgers, Jo Lynne Phinizy, Willie E. Robertson, Heather Francis, John Lasater, Mark Richards, Gene D. LeSage
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (1997)
123 EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RS4444903 G/G GENOTYPE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C: RELATIONSHIP WITH A WORSE DISEASE AND A MORE RAPID FIBROTIC EVOLUTION
Authors: D. Bitetto, S. Cmet, E. Fornasiere, A. Cussigh, E. Fumolo, S. Bignulin, E. Fontanini, E. Bignulin, E. Falleti, C. Fabris, M. Pirisi, P. Toniutto
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2011)
Prevention of Stroke in Older Persons With Isolated Systolic Hypertension
Authors: Samuel J. Mann
Journal: JAMA (1991)

<h3>To the Editor.</h3> —The study, "Prevention of Stroke by Antihypertensive Drug Treatment in Older Persons With Isolated Systolic Hypertension,"<sup>1</sup>concluded that treatment of isolated systolic hypertension in patients older than 60 years has considerable potential to decrease morbidity and disability. Despite this, I believe it would be a mistake to recommend treating all patients with isolated systolic hypertension rather than to seek to identify and treat only the subgroup at highest risk. Although the benefit was evident regardless of the initial systolic blood pressure, the authors conspicuously failed to mention whether a relationship was seen between the baseline DBP and the observed benefit. A related question is this: among patients with isolated systolic hypertension, did a treatment benefit patients with an elevated mean arterial pressure more than patients with a normal mean arterial pressure? The reduction in heart attack rate was greater than that seen in many other hypertension
Authors' reply to editorial linked to their umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies on type 2 diabetes and cancer
Authors: K. K. Tsilidis, J. P. Ioannidis
Journal: BMJ (2015)

We thank Satija and colleagues for their thoughtful editorial on our umbrella systematic review.1 2 They interpret the evidence linking type 2 diabetes to multiple cancers as being strong overall,1 but we think that more caution is needed. Prediction intervals are increasingly thought to …
US campaigners call for national insurance programme to cover care needs
Authors: B. Roehr
Journal: BMJ (2009)

The health reform debate in the United States has so far failed to consider the important matter of helping people with care needs stay in their own homes. But this is crucial to precluding or deferring use of much more expensive health services, say campaigners for a voluntary national insurance programme that would cover the cost of home assistance.

The Community Living Assistance Services and Support (CLASS) Act legislation, which was first proposed by the late senator Ted Kennedy, is just such a scheme. It would provide cash payments to disabled beneficiaries to buy assistance that would allow them to remain functional, productive, and independent, explained Connie Garner, senior staff member of the Senate health education, labour, and …
Disseminated Herpes Simplex Infection in a Neonate During Prophylaxis With Vidarabine
Authors: Henry M. Feder
Journal: JAMA (1988)

HERPES simplex virus (HSV) can cause overwhelming neonatal infection even when antiviral therapy is initiated at the first sign of illness.<sup>1-3</sup>Thus, antiviral prophylaxis has been recommended for high-risk neonates,<sup>1,3</sup>including those delivered vaginally or by See also pp 1051,1056, and 1067. cesarean section (after membranes have been ruptured for more than four hours) to mothers with primary HSV genital infections.<sup>4</sup>This case report describes a high-risk neonate who developed disseminated HSV infection despite antiviral prophylaxis. <h3>Report of a Case</h3> A 24-year-old woman presented to the hospital 24 hours after rupture of membranes. She was at term and had been followed up for 32 weeks in the obstetrics clinic. She had had intercourse seven days before rupture of membranes. She had no history of HSV infection and no known exposure to HSV. On admission, her only complaint was vaginal pain and burning of two days' duration. Physical
Alprenolol in resuscitation.
Authors: J Pontinen, H Eggert, S Kemila
Journal: BMJ (1971)

Sympathetic beta-blocking agents such as alprenolol are not for routine use in resuscitation, but they may be life saving in certain cases.We report three cases of myocardial infarction in which alprenolol was successfully used with direct-current shock when other measures had failed to terminate recurring ventricular fibrillation. Case 1A 44-year-old man who had two myocardial infarctions and who was taking thyroid 100 mg daily for hypothyroidism after thyroidectomy had a cardiac arrest.Ventricular fibrillation was successfully defibrillated.Thirteen days later, as he was about to leave hospital, he had another attack of ventricular fibrillation.Sinus rhythm was restored but not maintained for longer than 15 to 30 seconds after each defibrillation, despite the fact that acidosis was corrected, the patient well oxygenated, and given adequate doses of lignocaine.After one hour alprenolol 10 mg was given intravenously.The first 200 W/s direct-current shock three minutes later terminated the fibrillation.The patient recovered without any signs of brain damage.Lignocaine and procainamide (500 mg six hourly) were not enough to control tachyarrhythmias, and alprenolol 100 mg daily was added to the treatment.Sinus rhythm was then main- tained.Thyroid had been discontinued in view of the tachyarrhythmias.The patient was discharged after six weeks, but anginal attacks increased and after four days he was readmitted because of intractable chest pain.Five days later he had another cardiac arrest.Once again resuscitation was prolonged and defibrillation had to be repeated eight times.Recovery was uneventful.For the past 18 months the patient has been maintained on thyroid 50 mg and alprenolol 300-400 mg daily.Anginal attacks have been rare and less severe.