tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Isolation of alpha 1-protease inhibitor from human normal and malignant ovarian tissue.
Authors: A Bagdasarian, J Wheeler, G J Stewart, S S Ahmed, R W Colman
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1981)

Proteolytic enzymes are associated with normal and neoplastic tissues. Therefore protease inhibitors might also be involved in the control of cell function. alpha 1-protease antigen and antitryptic activity have been found in normal and neoplastic human ovarian homogenate. The inhibitor has been localized to ovarian stromal cells or tumor cells by immunoperoxidase staining. The protein was purified to apparent homogeneity as judged by alkaline gel and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis. Immunochemical studies revealed antigenic similarity of plasma alpha 1-protease inhibitor by double immunodiffusion and similar mobility on immunoelectrophoresis and two-dimensional electroimmunodiffusion. The molecular weight was similar to that described for plasma alpha 1-protease inhibitor: 60,000 by gel filtration and 53,500 by SDS electrophoresis. Furthermore, the phenotypic pattern as determined by acid starch gel electrophoresis and immunoprecipitation was PiMM, which is the predominant genetic variant in normal plasma alpha 1-protease inhibitor. An inhibitor ws isolated and purified from an ovarian carcinoma that exhibited functional, immunochemical, and physical similarity to the normal ovarian alpha 1-protease inhibitor. alpha 1-protease inhibitor from normal and malignant ovaries competitively inhibited bovine pancreatic trypsin at incubation times of 5 min at 30 degrees C. Inhibition constant (Ki) values were calculated at 0.67 and 0.51 inhibitory units, respectively. The alpha 1-protease inhibitor in malignant cells may be a factor in the control of proliferation in this tissue. Since ovulation is in part a proteolytic event, the alpha 1-protease inhibitor in ovarian cells may play a role in the control of this specialized tissue. Persistance of this protein in malignant ovarian tissue may be a vestige of its differentiated origin.
Comparison between the expression of basement membrane zone antigens of human interfollicular epidermis and anagen hair follicle using indirect immunofluorescence
Authors: Y.H. Chuang, D. Dean, J. Allen, R. Dawber, F. Wojnarowska
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2003)

The composition of the basement membrane zone (BMZ) or dermal-epidermal junction in the interfollicular skin has been well documented. However, little is known about the BMZ or connective tissue-epithelial junction along the hair follicle.To determine whether the BMZ antigens in the interfollicular epidermis are also present in the BMZ of the anagen hair follicle and to compare whether the expression and distribution of the BMZ components vary between the interfollicular epidermis and the anagen follicle and within different regions of the hair follicle.Longitudinal cryostat sections of scalp margin specimens from four adult patients undergoing cosmetic surgery, and without known pathology were stained with a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to different BMZ constituents using standard indirect immunofluorescence.All the BMZ antigens found in the normal interfollicular epidermis were expressed in the anagen follicle; however, there were regional variations in the intensity and patterns of fluorescence. All the antigens were expressed in a continuous linear pattern along the BMZ of the interfollicular skin, the infundibulum, and the middle part of the hair follicle. Differences were observed in the lower follicle and the hair bulb. There was continuous expression throughout the BMZ of the follicle of laminin-1 and collagen IV, but in contrast, expression of other antigens decreased down the lower follicle. There was weak or even negative staining with antibodies to alpha 6 beta 4 integrin, laminin-5, anchoring filaments, and type VII collagen in the outer aspect of the bulb compared with the hair papilla. In addition, there were special patterns observed along the bilateral middle and lower follicle.Despite the common embryological origin between the interfollicular epidermis and the hair follicle, there is variation in the expression of the BMZ antigens. This may be explained by the histological specialization and functional requirements that reflect the dynamic hair growth cycle.
Interaction between HCV, HBV and HDV infection in HBsAg chronic carriers
Authors: E. Sagnelli, F.M. Felaco, P. Filippini, M. Rapicetta, T. Stroffolini, G. Pasquale, P. Chionne, A. Petruzziello, T. Annelia, F. Piccinino, G. Giusti
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (1991)
UMTS Base Station-like Exposure, Well-Being, and Cognitive Performance
Authors: Sabine J. Regel, Sonja Negovetic, Martin Röösli, Veronica Berdiñas, Jürgen Schuderer, Anke Huss, Urs Lott, Niels Kuster, Peter Achermann
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2006)

Radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) of mobile communication systems are widespread in the living environment, yet their effects on humans are uncertain despite a growing body of literature.We investigated the influence of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) base station-like signal on well-being and cognitive performance in subjects with and without self-reported sensitivity to RF EMF.We performed a controlled exposure experiment (45 min at an electric field strength of 0, 1, or 10 V/m, incident with a polarization of 45 degrees from the left back side of the subject, weekly intervals) in a randomized, double-blind crossover design. A total of 117 healthy subjects (33 self-reported sensitive, 84 nonsensitive subjects) participated in the study. We assessed well-being, perceived field strength, and cognitive performance with questionnaires and cognitive tasks and conducted statistical analyses using linear mixed models. Organ-specific and brain tissue-specific dosimetry including uncertainty and variation analysis was performed.In both groups, well-being and perceived field strength were not associated with actual exposure levels. We observed no consistent condition-induced changes in cognitive performance except for two marginal effects. At 10 V/m we observed a slight effect on speed in one of six tasks in the sensitive subjects and an effect on accuracy in another task in nonsensitive subjects. Both effects disappeared after multiple end point adjustment.In contrast to a recent Dutch study, we could not confirm a short-term effect of UMTS base station-like exposure on well-being. The reported effects on brain functioning were marginal and may have occurred by chance. Peak spatial absorption in brain tissue was considerably smaller than during use of a mobile phone. No conclusions can be drawn regarding short-term effects of cell phone exposure or the effects of long-term base station-like exposure on human health.
Lead-glazed ceramics as major determinants of blood lead levels in Mexican women.
Authors: M Hernandez Avila, I Romieu, C Rios, A Rivero, E Palazuelos
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1991)

The aim of this study was to determine the main contributors to blood lead levels in a population of women from middle to low socioeconomic status in the southwestern part of Mexico City. Within this area, the authors selected a random sample of 200 women. Age ranged from 21 to 57 years, with a mean of 36 years. Among 99 women who agreed to participate in this study, blood lead levels ranged from 1 to 52 micrograms/dL, with a mean of 10.6 micrograms/dL. Five percent of the women had a blood lead level over 25 micrograms/dL and 22% over 15 micrograms/dL. There was no significant trend in blood levels according to age. The main determinants of blood lead levels were higher socioeconomic status (presence of telephone in the house, t-test, p = 0.01) and using lead-glazed ceramics (LGC) to prepare food (t-test, p less than 0.005). There was a significant increasing trend in blood lead levels with increasing frequency of consumption of food prepared in LGC (test for trend, p = 0.0008). Among the dishes prepared in LGC, the main determinant was the consumption of stew. Time spent outdoors and consumption of tap water and of canned food were not important determinants of blood lead levels. The population attributable risk of high blood level (less than 15 micrograms/dL) due to the use of LGC was 58%. These findings demonstrate the major role of traditional pottery as a contributor to blood lead levels in this population and emphasize the need for interventions to produce lead-free pottery.
Is History of Squamous-Cell Skin Cancer a Marker of Poor Prognosis in Patients with Cancer?
Authors: Johan Askling, Per Sørensen, Anders Ekbom, Morten Frisch, Mads Melbye, Bengt Glimelius, Henrik Hjalgrim
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1999)

Background: Nonmelanoma skin cancer is associated with increased occurrence of subsequent cancer and death from cancer, but it is not known whether a history of skin cancer is associated with poor prognosis after a second diagnosis of cancer. Objective: To determine whether history of squamous-cell skin cancer is a marker of poor prognosis in patients with cancer. Design: Population-based cohort study. Setting: Sweden, 1958 to 1996. Patients: All patients in the Swedish Cancer Registry with or without a first diagnosis of squamous-cell skin cancer and a subsequent or first diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (including chronic lymphocytic leukemia) or cancer of the colon, breast, prostate, or lung. Measurements: Relative risk (RR) for death determined by using Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis. Results: Patients with a history of squamous-cell skin cancer had a significantly greater risk for death than those with no such history after receiving a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (RR, 1.33), colon cancer (RR, 1.24), breast cancer (RR, 1.19), or prostate cancer (RR, 1.17). Patients with lung cancer and a history of squamous-cell skin cancer who survived for 1 year after diagnosis of lung cancer also had an increased risk for death (RR, 1.29). Conclusion: Patients with a registered history of squamous-cell skin cancer have a poor prognosis after diagnosis of subsequent cancer and warrant careful medical attention.
Randomised comparison of methyldopa and oxprenolol for treatment of hypertension in pregnancy.
Authors: E D Gallery, D M Saunders, S N Hunyor, A Z Gyory
Journal: BMJ (1979)

Fifty-three pregnant women with moderately severe hypertension were randomly allocated to treatment with methyldopa or oxprenolol. There were no significant differences between the groups in age, height, weight, parity, or stage of gestation at the start of treatment. The outcome of pregnancy was better in the group treated with oxprenolol, with greater maternal plasma volume expansion and placental and fetal growth. No intrauterine deaths occurred in either group, and antepartum fetal distress, detected by oxytocin challenge testing, was evident in only one patient, who received methyldopa. This infant, and one other in the methyldopa group, died in the neonatal period. No neonatal deaths occurred in the oxprenolol-treated group. Even in this small number of patients these results were considerably better than those in untreated women with hypertension of similar severity. Apgar scores in both groups were equivalent at birth, while blood sugar concentrations were higher in the oxprenolol group. Oxprenolol appears to be safe and effective in controlling hypertension during pregnancy. There was no evidence of harmful effects on the fetus, and oxprenolol may offer a selective advantage over methyldopa for fetal growth and wellbeing in utero.
Letter by De Mattia et al Regarding Article, “Digital Clubbing”
Authors: Luca De Mattia, Gian Luigi Rellini, Gian Luigi Nicolosi
Journal: Circulation (2013)

In the first part of his very interesting Clinician Update focused on digital clubbing (DC), 1 Rutherford described the case of a patient presenting with a 3-month history of significant weight loss, occasional night sweats, and fatigue, in whom physical examination revealed a fast resting heart rate and bilateral DC.The author subsequently listed the major causes to consider in a patient with DC and discussed current knowledge of the pathophysiology.The patient's definitive diagnosis was lung adenocarcinoma.Although not mentioned in the article, metabolic conditions such as Graves disease, thyroid acropachy, and, less often, severe hyperparathyroidism have all been described as possible causes of DC. 2 Fatourechi et al 3 reported that in a cohort of 178 patients with autoimmune thyroid disease and thyroid dermopathy, 35 had DC, and in 5 patients, DC occurred ≥3 months before dermopathy developed.The presence of isolated thyroid disease-related DC without dermopathy has also been reported. 4Moreover, loss of weight, high resting heart rate, fatigue, and increased sweating may all be found in patients with hyperthyroidism. 5e therefore respectfully suggest that in a clinical scenario similar to the one described by Rutherford, hyperthyroidism should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis, and assessment of thyroid-stimulating hormone blood levels should be considered part of routine blood tests, before more potentially harmful and expensive tests (eg, computed tomography of the chest) are planned.
Somatotrophic Hormone in Production of Malignant Nephrosclerosis, Periarteritis Nodosa, and Hypertensive Disease
Authors: H. Selye
Journal: BMJ (1951)

<h3>Background</h3> In systemic sclerosis (SSc), chronic and uncontrolled overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) results in chaotic vessels, and intractable fingertip ulcers. Vice versa, VEGF is a potent mediator of angiogenesis if temporally and spatially controlled. We have addressed this therapeutic dilemma in SSc by a novel approach using a VEGF<sub>121</sub> variant that covalently binds to fibrin and gets released on demand by cellular enzymatic activity. Using University of California at Davis (UCD)-206 chickens, we tested the hypothesis that cell-demanded release of fibrin-bound VEGF<sub>121</sub> leads to the formation of stable blood vessels, and clinical improvement of ischaemic lesions. <h3>Methods</h3> Ninety-one early and late ischaemic comb and neck skin lesions of UCD-206 chickens were treated locally with VEGF<sub>121</sub>-fibrin, fibrin alone, or left untreated. After 1 week of treatment the clinical outcome was assessed. Angiogenesis was studied by immunofluorescence staining of vascular markers quantitatively analysed using TissueQuest. <h3>Results</h3> Overall, 79.3% of the lesions treated with VEGF<sub>121</sub>-fibrin showed clinical improvement, whereas 71.0% of fibrin treated controls, and 93.1% of untreated lesions deteriorated. This was accompanied by significantly increased growth of stable microvessels, upregulation of the proangiogenic VEGFR-2 and its regulator TAL-1, and increase of endogenous endothelial VEGF expression. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Our findings in the avian model of SSc suggest that cell-demanded release of VEGF<sub>121</sub> from fibrin matrix induces controlled angiogenesis by differential regulation of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 expression, shifting the balance towards the proangiogenic VEGFR-2. The study shows the potential of covalently conjugated VEGF-fibrin matrices for the therapy of ischaemic lesions such as fingertip ulcers.
The Pill and Breast Cancer: Is There a Connection
Authors: K. Smigel
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1989)

Experts remain unsure if using oral contraceptives increases the chances that a woman will contract breast cancer. Although early studies generally indicated that there was no connection between pill usage and breast cancer, 3 recent longterm reports suggest otherwise. The Fertility and Maternal Health Drugs Advisory Committee of the Food and Drug Administration concluded that the new studies were inconclusive and recommended no changes to labeling of the pill. Known risk factors for breast cancer are a woman's age, menstrual history, reproductive experience, diet, benign breast disease, and family or personal history of breast cancer. In a reexamination of 1 of the studies, the risk of breast cancer was found to increase fourfold before age 54 for a subgroup of women--those who began menstruating before age 13, had no children, and had used the pill for more than 8 years. The 2nd study found that breast cancer risk by age 45 doubled for women using the pill for less than 10 years and quadrupled when used for at least 10 years. However, the overall risk did not increase according to length of pill usage. The 3rd study found a 200% increase in breast cancer among women aged 30-34 years who had previously used the pill, but no correlation in the overall results. Additional research following pill users over as long a period of time as possible should be undertaken. The National Cancer Institute will begin a 3-year study involving 2,000 American women in mid-1989 to examine roles of oral contraceptives, alcohol, and diet in breast cancer risk. It also will look at possible reasons for discrepancies found in the previous studies.
Advances in Drug Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Mark A. Peppercorn
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1990)

Purpose: To identify advances in drug therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the new agents in treating both ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease. Data Identification: Studies published from January 1980 through June 1989 were identified using MEDLINE and through extensive hand searching of bibliographies in identified articles. Study Selection: One hundred and ten articles directly related to the topic were found and analyzed. Another 42 articles were relevant to the material reviewed. Data Extraction: Articles were selected on the basis of study quality and their significance with regard to treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Results of Data Analysis: The aminosalicylates are emerging as effective and safe therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. Corticotropin can be considered the drug of choice for certain patients with severe ulcerative colitis, and new rapidly metabolized topical steroids appear to be as effective as traditional forms and have fewer side effects. Immunosuppressive agents, including 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine, may be useful in treating difficult-to-manage patients with either Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis, whereas cyclosporin appears promising but should be reserved for patients in whom other measures have failed. Patients with refractory perineal Crohn disease and those with Crohn colitis may benefit from metronidazole. Many other drugs including clonidine, cromoglycate, chloroquine, fish oil, methotrexate, antituberculous agents, interferon, and superoxide dismutase have shown enough promise in preliminary studies to warrant controlled clinical trials. Conclusions: Drug therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, limited for many years to sulfasalazine and some corticosteroids, has been extended to include the aminosalicylates, rapidly metabolized topical steroids, immunosuppressive agents, and metronidazole. Potentially useful newer drugs await further study.
Anti-tumor efficacy and biomarker evaluation of agonistic anti-OX40 antibodies in preclinical models
Authors: Mahrukh Huseni, Klara Totpal, Changchun Du, Katie Dalpozzo, Jing Zhu, Deepali Rishipathak, Erin McNamara, Bernadette Jonshtone, Priti S Hegde, Ina Rhee, Lisa Damico-Beyer, Jeong Kim
Journal: Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (2014)

Meeting abstracts OX40, a TNFRSF member, is a co-stimulatory molecule expressed on antigen experienced effector T (Teff) and regulatory T (Treg) cells, including infiltrating cells in mouse and human tumors. Activation of OX40 by agonistic antibodies is hypothesized to promote anti-tumor immunity
Does This Patient Have Sinusitis?
Authors: Robert B. Baker
Journal: JAMA (1994)

To the Editor.  —The Rational Clinical Examination entitled Does This Patient Have Sinusitis? by Williams and Simel1contained an excellent review of the physical signs found in acute sinusitis. However, no mention was made of the characteristic   odor found in many patients with this disorder. While odors may also be attributable to poor local hygiene, foreign bodies in the nares, other infections, or simple mouth breathing, I have found this odor quite sensitive in detecting sinusitis. Barness2makes mention of it as does Green3in his text. Indeed, many patients in my practice who have presented with a chief complaint of bad breath have had other characteristic findings of sinusitis as well as opacified sinuses on roentgenogram.  I feel that we should use all of our senses, including olfaction, as diagnostic aids. Olfaction is certainly cost-effective!
Personality, Disease Severity, and the Risk of Long-term Cardiac Events in Patients With a Decreased Ejection Fraction After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Johan Denollet, Dirk L. Brutsaert
Journal: Circulation (1998)

Patients with myocardial infarction (MI) with a decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have a poor prognosis, but the role of emotional stress in prognosis is not known. We hypothesized that emotional stress in these patients (1) is unrelated to the severity of cardiac disorder, (2) predicts cardiac events, and (3) is a function of basic personality traits.Eighty-seven patients with MI (age, 41 to 69 years) with an LVEF of < or =50% underwent psychological assessment at baseline. Patients and their families were contacted after 6 to 10 years (mean, 7.9 years); cardiac events were defined as cardiac death or nonfatal MI. Emotional distress was unrelated to the severity of cardiac disorder. At follow-up, 21 patients had experienced a cardiac event (13 fatal events). These events were related to LVEF of < or =30%, poor exercise tolerance, previous MI, anxiety, anger, and depression (all P< or =.02). Patients with a distressed personality (type D; ie, the tendency to suppress negative emotions) were more likely to experience an event over time compared with non-type D patients (P=.00005). Cox proportional hazards analysis yielded LVEF of < or =30% (relative risk, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 7.7; P=.02) and type D (relative risk, 4.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.9 to 11.8; P=.001) as independent predictors. Anxiety, anger, and depression did not add to the predictive power of type D; these negative emotions were highly correlated and reflected the personality domain of negative affectivity.Personality influences the clinical course of patients with a decreased LVEF. Emotional distress in these patients is unrelated to disease severity but reflects individual differences in personality. Clinical trials should take a broad view of the target of intervention; assessment of LVEF and personality may identify patients at risk.
Risk factors and pathogenic significance of severe sepsis and septic shock in 2286 patients with gram-negative bacteremia
Authors: Cheol-In Kang, Jae-Hoon Song, Doo Ryeon Chung, Kyong Ran Peck, Kwan Soo Ko, Joon-Sup Yeom, Hyun Kyun Ki, Jun Seong Son, Seung Soon Lee, Yeon-Sook Kim
Journal: Journal of Infection (2010)