tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
495 INTERFERON-BETA (IFN) INCREASES METALLOPROTEINASE-13 (MMP-13) GENE EXPRESSION THROUGH A JAK1/PEA3-DEPENDENT PATHWAY
Authors: T. Díaz-Sanjuán, I. García-Ruiz, C. Rodríguez-Juan, I. Fernández-Vázquez, P. Solís-Muñoz, J.A. Solís-Herruzo
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2008)
Guidelines for Meta-analyses Evaluating Diagnostic Tests
Authors: Les Irwig
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1994)

To introduce guidelines for the conduct, reporting, and critical appraisal of meta-analyses evaluating diagnostic tests and to apply these guidelines to recently published meta-analyses of diagnostic tests.Based on current concepts of how to assess diagnostic tests and conduct meta-analyses. They are applied to all meta-analyses evaluating diagnostic tests published in English-language journals from January 1990 through December 1991, identified through MEDLINE searching and by experts in the field.Meta-analyses were included if at least two of three independent readers regarded their main purpose as the evaluation of diagnostic tests against a concurrent reference standard.By three independent readers on the extent to which meta-analyses fulfilled each guideline, with consensus defined as agreement by at least two readers.The guidelines are concerned with determining the objective of the meta-analysis, identifying the relevant literature and extracting the data, estimating diagnostic accuracy, and identifying the extent to which variability is explained by study design characteristics and characteristics of the patients and diagnostic test. In general, the guidelines were only partially fulfilled.Meta-analysis is potentially important in the assessment of diagnostic tests. Those reading meta-analyses evaluating diagnostic tests should critically appraise them; those doing meta-analyses should apply recently developed methods. The conduct and reporting of primary studies on which meta-analyses are based require improvement.
A comparison of the reproductive physiology of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, collected from the Escambia and Blackwater Rivers in Florida.
Authors: E F Orlando, N D Denslow, L C Folmar, L J Guillette
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1999)

Largemouth bass (LMB), Micropterus salmoides, were taken from the Escambia River (contaminated site) and the Blackwater River (reference site) near Pensacola, Florida. The Escambia River collection occurred downstream of the effluent from two identified point sources of pollution. These point sources included a coal-fired electric power plant and a chemical company. Conversely, the Blackwater River's headwaters and most of its length flow within a state park. Although there is some development on the lower part of the Blackwater River, fish were collected in the more pristine upper regions. Fish were captured by electroshocking and were maintained in aerated coolers. Physical measurements were obtained, blood was taken, and liver and gonads were removed. LMB plasma was assayed for the concentration of 17ss-estradiol (E2) and testosterone using validated radioimmunoassays. The presence of vitellogenin was determined by gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting using a monoclonal antibody validated for largemouth bass vitellogenin. No differences in plasma concentrations of E2 or testosterone were observed in females from the two sites. Similarly, males exhibited no difference in plasma E2. However, plasma testosterone was lower in the males from the contaminated site, as compared to the reference site. Vitellogenic males occurred only at the contaminated site. Additionally, liver mass was proportionately higher in males from the contaminated site, as compared to males from the reference site. These data suggest that reproductive steroid levels may have been altered by increased hepatic enzyme activity, and the presence of vitellogenic males indicates that an exogenous source of estrogen was present in the Escambia River.
DeGowin &amp; DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination
Authors: Richard M. Stillman
Journal: JAMA (1994)

<i>DeGowin &amp; DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination</i>, sixth edition (formerly<i>Bedside Diagnostic Examination</i>) is an established, authoritative encyclopedia of physical diagnosis, now in the dawn of its third decade, with a new publisher, and once again an improvement over an already first-class book with an excellent track record. The bulk of the text, part 1, consists of detailed clinical descriptions of basically every symptom or sign that a clinician in any specialty might encounter. Of course, all medical textbooks provide descriptions of symptoms and signs; however, none can rival the pragmatic conciseness of the presentation found here. In other sources, in order to determine the significance of a particular symptom or sign, the reader must first determine the disease to which the finding applies. With<i>Diagnostic Examination</i>, however, the reader looks up the finding and obtains an exhaustive listing of plausible etiologies. (There may be some gaps: reflex sympathetic dystrophy—a problem that
Effects of Interrupting Precordial Compressions on the Calculated Probability of Defibrillation Success During Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Trygve Eftestøl, Kjetil Sunde, Petter Andreas Steen
Journal: Circulation (2002)

Background — Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) creates artifacts on the ECG and, with automated defibrillators, a pause in CPR is mandatory during rhythm analysis. The rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is reduced with increased duration of this hands-off interval in rats. We analyzed whether similar hands-off intervals in humans with ventricular fibrillation causes changes in the ECG predicting a lower probability of ROSC. Methods and Results — The probability of ROSC after a shock was continually determined from ECG signal characteristics for up to 20 seconds of 634 such hands-off intervals in patients with ventricular fibrillation. In hands-off intervals with an initially high (40% to 100%) or median (25% to 40%) probability for ROSC, the probability was gradually reduced with time to a median of 8% to 11% after 20 seconds ( P &lt;0.001). In episodes with a low initial probability (0% to 25%; median, 5%), there was no further reduction with time. Conclusions — The interval between discontinuation of chest compressions and delivery of a shock should be kept as short as possible.
Regional Cerebral Blood Flow and Cerebrovascular Reactivity in IDDM
Authors: Guido Rodriguez, Fiavio Nobili, Maria Assunta Celestino, Stefano Francione, Giovanni Gulli, Khalil Hassan, Stefano Marenco, Guido Rosadini, Renzo Cordera
Journal: Diabetes Care (1993)

OBJECTIVE To investigate both rCBF and cerebrovascular reactivity, evaluated as pre- and post-ACZ rCBF differences in a group of IDDM patients with differences in duration of disease and severity of complications. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS rCBF was measured by the 133Xenon inhalation method in 20 IDDM patients and in 15 healthy control subjects before and after an intravenous injection of ACZ, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor commonly used to assess cerebrovascular reactivity. RESULTS Basal global CBF (the mean of 32 regional values) was within the normal range in all patients but 1, who showed slight hyperperfusion; moreover, in 3 patients with long-lasting disease, some hypoperfused regions were found. ANOVA showed an inverse correlation between basal global CBF (P &amp;lt; 0.01) and duration of diabetes, but no correlation with Hb, MABP, serum glucose concentration, or GHb. Compared with control subjects, the percentage of global CBF increment after ACZ administration was significantly impaired in 4 patients and gave a borderline response in 2 patients; 4 of these poor ACZ responders had retinopathy, and 1 had suffered from a TIA. Duration of diabetes, Hb, MABP, serum glucose concentration, and GHb did not correlate with the percentage of post-ACZ global CBF changes, and did not differ among the 6 poor ACZ responders and the other diabetic patients or control subjects. CONCLUSIONS These results confirm that global CBF is within the normal range in most IDDM patients, although it is significantly influenced by the duration of diabetes; pathophysiological correlates of the altered cerebrovascular reactivity need to be further investigated. rCBF measurements, before and after ACZ administration, seem to represent a safe and reliable tool for assessing cerebrovascular function in IDDM.
Endothelial Dysfunction and the Kidney
Authors: Carmine Zoccali
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2006)

Renal insufficiency in essential hypertension represents the expression of a medium- and small-size arteriolopathy characterized by intimal hyperplasia, hyalinosis, and smooth muscle cell hypertrophy (nephroangiosclerosis). Because in animal models endothelial dysfunction plays a role in this alteration, nephroangiosclerosis and the attendant renal insufficiency may be the expression of a systemic dysfunction of vascular endothelium. Endothelial function in the kidney vasculature of hypertensive individuals has been investigated little because studies on the hemodynamic response of the kidney to nitric oxide activation and blockade are laborious to perform. There is no direct proof that endothelial dysfunction in the forearm or in the coronary circulation is paralleled by a similar hemodynamic dysfunction in the kidney. A recent study in a large population of patients with essential hypertension showed that, independent of other risk factors, the GFR in these patients is strongly related to the forearm blood flow response to acetyl choline (an established test of endothelial function). Furthermore, in this study, C-reactive protein was inversely related to the GFR and with the vasodilatory response to acetyl choline, pointing to inflammation as a likely mechanism to explain the association between endothelial dysfunction and impaired renal function in essential hypertension. A dysfunctional endothelium may represent a critical link accounting for the risk for both renal impairment and cardiovascular complications in essential hypertension.
Lithium-induced psoriasis of the fingernails
Authors: Robert I. Rudolph
Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (1992)

cases. As yet, it has not been reported in any English-language literature. Therefore we provisionally termed it follicular keratosis ofthe chin. It can be misdiagnosed as a nevoid condition! because of its appearance and lack of inflammation. This condition may be related to mechanical comedones in atopic children, as reported by Honda,2 and to keratosis pilaris3, 4 and acne mechanica. 5 Follicular keratosis is of the chin does not respond to treatment with corticosteroid or keratolytic ointments but clears in 1 to 3 months after avoidance of habitual trauma.
Incidence of bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris
Authors: P. Joly
Journal: BMJ (2008)

Is increasing in elderly people in the UK

In the linked study, Langan and colleagues determine the incidence of and mortality from bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris in the United Kingdom.1 Autoimmune bullous diseases of the skin are potentially life threatening disorders. Autoantibodies are directed against adhesion proteins of the keratinocyte membrane (pemphigus) or proteins of the dermal epidermal junction (bullous pemphigoid). Binding of these antibodies to their target antigens disrupts intraepidermal or dermal epidermal junctions—this often results in the formation of cutaneous or mucosal blisters, which evolve into erosions. Extensive erosion can lead to failure of the skin’s main functions, particularly defence against infection. Treatments aim to block production of pathogenic antibodies by plasma …
Efficacy of short term versus long term tube thoracostomy drainage before tetracycline pleurodesis in the treatment of malignant pleural effusions.
Authors: A G Villanueva, A W Gray, D M Shahian, W A Williamson, J F Beamis
Journal: Thorax (1994)

BACKGROUND--A study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of short term tube thoracostomy drainage with standard tube thoracostomy drainage before instillation of tetracycline for sclerotherapy of malignant pleural effusions. METHODS--The study consisted of a randomised clinical trial in a sequential sample of 25 patients with malignant pleural effusions documented cytopathologically. Fifteen patients were randomly assigned to group 1 (standard protocol) and 10 to group 2 (short term protocol). Patients in group 1 had tube thoracostomy suction drainage until radiological evidence of lung re-expansion was obtained and the amount of fluid drained was &lt; 150 ml/day, before tetracycline (1.5 g) was instilled. The chest tube was removed when the amount of fluid drained after instillation was &lt; 150 ml/day. Patients in group 2 also had suction drainage, but the tetracycline (1.5 g) was instilled when the chest radiograph showed the lung to be re-expanded and the effusion drained, which was usually within 24 hours. The chest tube was removed the next day. RESULTS--The response to tetracycline sclerotherapy in the two groups was the same (80%) but the duration of chest tube drainage was significantly shorter for patients in group 2 (median two days) than for those in group 1 (median seven days). CONCLUSIONS--The duration of chest tube drainage before sclerotherapy for malignant pleural effusions need not be influenced by the amount of fluid drained daily but by radiographic evidence of fluid evacuation and lung re-expansion. Shorter duration of drainage will reduce the length of hospital stay without sacrificing the efficacy of pleurodesis.
STUDIES ON THE INDUCTION OF IMMUNOLOGICAL UNRESPONSIVENESS TO PNEUMOCOCCAL POLYSACCHARIDE IN MICE
Authors: Gregory W. Siskind, James G. Howard
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1966)

1. Comparison of dose-response curves indicated that preimmunized animals were slightly more susceptible to the induction of immunological paralysis with pneumococcal polysaccharide than were normal mice. The results also indicated that the paralysis threshold was unaltered by preimmunization. 2. Transient desensitization of immunized mice could be achieved by an amount of polysaccharide far less than that required to induce paralysis. 3. A transient phase of weak immunity was detected prior to the onset of paralysis when induced by relatively low paralyzing doses of polysaccharide. 4. No "low dose" zone of paralysis (analogous to that obtainable with certain protein antigens) could be elicited with pneumococcal polysaccharide. 5. Massive proliferation of lymphoreticular tissues induced by Corynebacterium parvum failed to raise the threshold for paralysis induction, but amplified the immune response over the entire dose-response curve. Similarly, C. parvum failed to abrogate an established state of paralysis. The results suggest that the induction of polysaccharide paralysis is related to the concentration of antigen in the animal and is not modified by the number of immunologically competent cells.
Auditory screening of school children: fact or fallacy?
Authors: O Nietupska, N Harding
Journal: BMJ (1982)

In 1977 we contemplated investigating in local school children a possible correlation between intermittent loss of hearing and their scholastic performance.'We expected to get much essential information from the school health service, which since its establishment in 1967 has worked on the principle that a school doctor should examine every child at some time during his school life to exclude or confirm the presence of handicap that might hamper his education.With progress in medical and educational science and changes in social conditions new priorities have emerged in school child health.During the past decade the importance of normal hearing as a prerequisite for a child's all-round development has been recognised,2 and consequently the school health service has introduced a pro- gramme of audiological screening as a routine procedure.For children whose loss of hearing was identified at screening procedures expert advice was made available in special units and in hospital departments.In local primary schools the auditory screening programme is organised as follows.Pure tone audiometry sweep test (AST) is carried out by a non- medical, appropriately trained member of the school health service staff on all school entrants some time after their first school term and before their first school medical examination.According to a DHSS recommendation3 the ambient noise in the testing room should not exceed 30 dB.Children who do not indicate that they hear sounds in selected frequencies at 25 dB of intensity "fail" the test and should be reported to the school doctor at his next visit to the school or, when necessary, to their general practitioner or to an audiology clinic or unit.It should also
Protective role of hemoglobin and fetal hemoglobin in early kidney disease for children with sickle cell anemia
Authors: Jeffrey Lebensburger, Stephen M. Johnson, David J. Askenazi, Nigel L. Rozario, Thomas H. Howard, Lee M. Hilliard
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2011)

Patients with sickle cell anemia are at risk for organ damage including kidney disease. Microalbuminuria may be an early marker of disease progression. This retrospective review analyzed laboratory and clinical findings in children with sickle cell anemia according to the presence or absence of MA during well clinic sickle cell visits. Results were analyzed in sum as well as by therapeutic intervention (not on therapy,hydroxyurea therapy, or chronic transfusion therapy). Thirty two of 144(22%) children had MA, including 20 of 82 (24%) children not on a therapeutic intervention (chronic transfusion or hydroxyurea). In children not on therapy, low hemoglobin, low fetal hemoglobin and high lactate dehydrogenase were associated with MA. Frequency of positive screens for MA for the different treatment groups were: Hydroxyurea 13%; chronic transfusion 26% and children on no treatment 24%. However,the difference between the hydroxyurea group and the chronic transfusion or no treatment groups did not reach statistical significance.Increased hemoglobin and fetal hemoglobin may provide protection against kidney disease in sickle cell anemia and should be evaluated in a randomized, prospective clinical trial.
Vasopressin Administration in Refractory Cardiac Arrest
Authors: K H Lindner, A W Prengel, A Brinkmann, H U Strohmenger, I M Lindner, K G Lurie
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1996)

Background: Successful outcomes after cardiopulmonary resuscitation remain disappointingly infrequent. In animal studies, administration of exogenous vasopressin during closed- and open-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation has recently been shown to be more effective than optimal doses of epinephrine in improving vital organ blood flow. Objective: To describe the clinical effects and outcomes of administering vasopressin to patients in cardiac arrest refractory to current medical therapies. Design: Case reports. Setting: University hospital. Patients: 8 adults with in-hospital cardiac arrest. Interventions: After intravenous epinephrine (administered according to American Heart Association guidelines) and defibrillation efforts had failed, patients in cardiac arrest who were having cardiopulmonary resuscitation received 40 U of vasopressin intravenously and then defibrillation. Measurements: Return of spontaneous circulation and hospital discharge rates. Results: After administration of vasopressin, spontaneous circulation was promptly restored in all patients. Three patients were discharged from the hospital with intact neurologic function; the other five lived for between 30 minutes and 82 hours. Conclusion: In the presence of ventricular fibrillation with severe hypoxia and acidosis, vasopressin seems to be more potent and effective than adrenergic vasopressors for restoring spontaneous cardiovascular function. These results do not justify the widespread use of vasopressin for refractory cardiac arrest. However, on the basis of these cases, further studies comparing vasopressin with epinephrine are warranted in an effort to improve the currently dismal prognosis of patients after cardiac arrest.
488. Adeno-Associated Viral Serotype 2/1 Is a Highly Efficient Vector for In Utero Gene Transfer to Hair Cell Precursors
Authors: Jeffrey C. Bedrosian, Michael Anne Gratton, John V. Brigande, Waixing Tang, Jean Bennett
Journal: Molecular Therapy (2006)

Gene transfer during gestational development represents a promising gene therapy strategy for correction of congenital developmental anomalies. Congenital hearing deficits may one day be treated in this manner as gene transfer to precursor hair cells may prove to be a highly efficient means of generating transgene expression in a high percentage of mature hair cells. Through exo-utero and transuterine microsurgical approaches, we tested delivery of lentivirus and an array of recombinant adeno-associated viral serotypes (rAAV) expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) to the E11-12.5 developing mouse otocyst. We examined the ability of these viral vectors to successfully infect hair cell precursors and to express eGFP by post-natal day 0 (P0). We noted successful infection of hair cells and eGFP expression from lentivirus, AAV 2/1 and AAV 2/8. We then studied the longer term expression of these viral vectors and found AAV 2/1 to be a highly efficient vector for transduction of both inner and outer hair cells. The hearing thresholds of mice injected with these viral vectors were tested by ABR response and with the exception of the lentivirus injected group, were found to be unchanged from uninjected controls. Thus, in utero microinjection of rAAV, especially AAV 2/1, into the developing mouse otocyst represents an exciting and highly efficient new approach to gene delivery to murine hair cells.
High-Risk Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Skin Treated With Synchronous Carboplatin/Etoposide and Radiation: A Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group Study—TROG 96:07
Authors: Michael Poulsen, Danny Rischin, Euan Walpole, Jennifer Harvey, John Mackintosh, Jill Ainslie, Chris Hamilton, Jacqui Keller, Lee Tripcony
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2003)

The effectiveness of synchronous carboplatin, etoposide, and radiation therapy was prospectively assessed in a group of patients with high-risk Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the skin.Patients were eligible if they had disease localized to the primary site and nodes, and were required to have at least one of the following high risk features: recurrence after initial therapy, involved nodes, primary tumor size greater than 1 cm, gross residual disease after surgery, or occult primary with nodes. Radiation was delivered to the primary site and nodes to a dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks and synchronous carboplatin (area under the curve, 4.5) and intravenous etoposide 80 mg/m2 days 1 to 3 was given in weeks 1, 4, 7, and 10. The median age of the group was 67 (range, 43-86) years, and there were 39 males and 14 females. Involved nodes (stage II) were present in 33 cases (62%). The sites involved were head and neck (22 patients), occult primary (13 patients), upper limb (eight patients), lower limb (eight patients), and trunk (two patients).Fifty-three patients were entered between 1996 and 2001. The median potential follow-up was 48 months. There were no treatment related deaths. The 3-year overall survival, locoregional control, and distant control were 76%, 75%, and 76%, respectively. Tumor site and the presence of nodes were factors that were predictive for local control and survival. Multivariate analysis indicated that the major factor influencing survival was the presence of nodes; however, this was not a significant factor in locoregional control.High levels of locoregional control and survival have been achieved with the addition of chemotherapy to radiation treatment for high-risk MCC of the skin. The role of chemoradiotherapy for high-risk MCC warrants further investigation.