tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Stimulation of Adenylate Cyclase and Active Electrolyte Secretion in Intestinal Mucosa
Authors: Charles J. Schwartz, Daniel V. Kimberg, Harland E. Sheerin, Michael Field, Sami I. Said
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1974)

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), originally isolated from hog small intestinal mucosa, has been shown to cause small intestinal secretion. More recently, this peptide has been identified in the plasma and tumors of patients with the so-called "pancreatic cholera" syndrome. In order to explore the possible role of VIP in the pathogenesis of this syndrome, we examined the effects of this peptide and other hormones on the cyclic AMP levels, adenylate cyclase activity, and ion transport in in vitro preparations of ileal mucosa. In rabbit ileal mucosa, VIP (20 μg/ml) caused a prompt fivefold increase in cyclic AMP level, whereas nine other hormones, which have been postulated to cause intestinal secretion, failed to exert such an effect. Pentagastrin and glucagon also failed to increase cyclic AMP levels in canine ileal mucosa. An increase in mucosal cyclic AMP levels was observed at a VIP concentration of 0.1 μg/ml and appeared to be nearly maximal at 2.0 μg/ml. VIP (100 μg/ml) stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in a membrane preparation from rabbit ileal mucosa. Secretin (6.0 × 10-5 M) failed to do so. When added to the serosal side of isolated rabbit ileal mucosa clamped in an Ussing chamber, VIP (2 μg/ml) increased short-circuit current (SCC) and caused net secretion of both Cl and Na. Net Cl secretion exceeded net Na secretion. These effects of VIP on mucosal cyclic AMP metabolism and ion transport are similar to those observed with cholera enterotoxin and certain prostaglandins. VIP was also tested with normal human ileal mucosa. At a concentration of 2 μg/ml it caused a fivefold increase in cyclic AMP level and an increase in SCC of the same magnitude as that caused by 5 mM theophylline. Addition of a second 2-μg/ml dose of VIP and addition of theophylline after VIP produced no further change in SCC. We conclude the VIP stimulates adenylate cyclase and active ion secretion in both rabbit and human ileal mucosa. This may be related to the pathogenesis of diarrhea in patients with the pancreatic cholera syndrome.
Mechanisms of Preejection and Postejection Velocity Spikes in Left Ventricular Myocardium
Authors: Espen W. Remme, Erik Lyseggen, Thomas Helle-Valle, Anders Opdahl, Eirik Pettersen, Trond Vartdal, Asgrimur Ragnarsson, Morten Ljosland, Halfdan Ihlen, Thor Edvardsen, Otto A. Smiseth
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Normal left ventricular myocardium demonstrates distinct spikes in the velocity trace before and after left ventricular ejection. We tested the hypothesis that the preejection and postejection velocity spikes reflect early systolic shortening and late systolic lengthening that are interrupted by mitral and aortic valve closure, respectively.In 11 anesthetized dogs, timing of valve closure was determined by pressure variables; left ventricular dimensions were determined by sonomicrometry. Myocardial shortening started 20+/-10 ms (mean+/-SD; P<0.001) before mitral valve closure and was interrupted at the time of mitral valve closure (time difference, 4+/-7 ms). Similarly, myocardial lengthening started 31+/-15 ms (P<0.001) before aortic valve closure and was interrupted at the time of aortic valve closure (time difference, 0+/-3 ms). Prevention of mitral (n=4) and aortic (n=4) valve closure by stenting the valves abolished the preejection and postejection velocity spikes, respectively. Echocardiographic measurements of patients (n=15) with severe mitral regurgitation showed that the preejection velocity spike was reduced after prosthetic valve replacement (43+/-25 versus 32+/-15 mm/s; P=0.036), indicating that preejection shortening was larger with a leaking valve. Similarly, late systolic lengthening was reduced in patients (n=15) with severe aortic regurgitation after prosthetic valve replacement; minimum postejection velocity spike was increased from -32+/-11 to -17+/-11 mm/s; P=0.0003). Asynchronous onset of contraction/relaxation and atrioventricular interaction were investigated as alternative mechanisms of the velocity spikes in dogs and patient groups but were found implausible.This study supports the hypothesis that normal left ventricular preejection and postejection velocity spikes are attributed to valve closures that interrupt early systolic shortening and late systolic lengthening, respectively.
Shatter Resistance of Spectacle Lenses
Authors: Paul F. Vinger, Leonard Parver, D. Virgil Alfaro, Thomas Woods, Bernard S. Abrams
Journal: JAMA (1997)

<h3>Objective.</h3> —To evaluate the relative strength and shatter resistance of spectacle lenses currently used in sunglasses and dress, sports, and industrial eyewear. <h3>Design.</h3> —Seven lenses that met the US American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z80 standards for dress glasses (made of high-index plastic, allyl resin plastic, heat tempered glass, chemically tempered glass, and polycarbonate, and with center thickness ranging from 1 mm to 2.2 mm) and 4 lenses that met ANSI Z87 standards for industrial safety eyewear (allyl resin plastic, heat-tempered glass, chemically tempered glass, and polycarbonate, all with 3.0-mm center thickness) were tested for impact resistance to 5 projectiles (air gun pellets, golf balls, tennis balls, lacrosse balls, and baseballs). <h3>Main Outcome Measures.</h3> —Impact energy required to shatter spectacle lenses. <h3>Results.</h3> —Based on 348 lens impacts, dress and industrial lenses made from glass, allyl resin plastic, and high-index plastic shattered at impact energies less than those expected to be encountered from the test projectiles during their routine use. Polycarbonate lenses demonstrated resistance to impact for all tested projectiles exceeding the impact potential expected during routine use. <h3>Conclusions.</h3> —Under the test conditions of this study, polycarbonate lenses demonstrated greater impact resistance than other commonly used spectacle lenses that conform to prevailing eyewear standards. These findings suggest that current ANSI Z80 and ANSI Z87 standards should be reevaluated.
Cost of Medical Care
Authors: Marvin J. Shapiro
Journal: JAMA (1979)

To the Editor.—  The editorial on superselective angiography (240:1271, 1978) cannot be allowed to go without comment. There is a clear implication in the editorial that any concern about the cost of new procedures means that advances will not be used and that research should therefore be stopped.  There is much concern about the cost to the community of such items as intensive care units, respiratory therapy, computerized tomographic scanning, coronary bypass surgery, fetal monitoring, and superselective angiography. Those concerned about costs recognize that all of these, appropriately used for the proper indications, are extremely valuable. But Dr Sugar need only follow the literature to be aware that there are many in medicine who are concerned that all of these technically remarkable, truly priceless modalities are being used in most inappropriate ways at great cost to the community and, in many instances, to the detriment of patients.  There may be
Physician Shortage Reconsidered
Authors: Eli Ginzberg
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1966)

THE December 3, 1959, issue of the Journal 1 commented on my views expressed before a Congressional committee on the requirements for physicians, which were out of step with the conventional belief that the impending shortage of physicians threatened to undermine the strong American system of medical services. My comments were later published as a letter in the February 18, 1960, issue of the Journal. 2 Now, six years later, and with the Bayne-Jones and Bain reports, the National Institutes of Health Report on Manpower for Medical Research, the Recommendations of the Sub-Committee on Manpower of the Commission on Heart Disease, Stroke . . .
Regional Anesthesia with Intravenous Lidocaine
Authors: H. Michael Bell
Journal: JAMA (1963)

The ability to induce regional total anesthesia with a safe intravenous agent would represent an advance in the management of many problems concerning the extremities. Intravenous anesthesia with local agents has been recognized since the original work of Bier1in 1908, but in spite of occasional reports in the literature it has not received general acceptance as a useful form of anesthesia. A recent article by Holmes2has further attested its clinical usefulness. This report describes a method of producing regional total anesthesia by the intravenous use of lidocaine.
P259 Effects of metformin on clinical outcome in patients hospitalised for COPD exacerbations: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: A. W. Hitchings, L. Hayes, G. Picton, L. Turner, R. Cull, S. Aslam, J. R. H. Archer, S. A. Srivastava, E. H. Baker
Journal: Thorax (2011)

<h3>Background</h3> Approximately 10% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have co-existing diabetes mellitus, conferring an adverse prognosis. Metformin is a valuable first-line treatment for diabetes. However, its rare association with lactic acidosis limits its use among patients at risk of hypoxia. This may deter some practitioners from prescribing it to patients with significant co-existing COPD. It is unknown whether the benefits of metformin outweigh its risks in this context. We therefore sought to determine the effects of metformin on survival and length of stay in a high-risk cohort of diabetic patients hospitalised for COPD exacerbations. <h3>Methods</h3> The medical records of diabetic patients hospitalised for COPD were reviewed retrospectively. Length of hospital stay and all-cause mortality were compared according to the presence or absence of metformin therapy. <h3>Results</h3> 130 patients were included, of whom 51 (39%) were prescribed metformin. Patients on metformin had a shorter hospital stay (median 7 vs 9 days respectively; p=0.004). Survival at 90 days was significantly better in the metformin group than in the non-metformin group (94% vs 78% respectively; p=0.015; Abstract P259 figure 1 inset). This persisted over the longer term, with overall median (95% CI) survival of 5.2 years (4.3 to 6.1) in the metformin group and 2.2 years (1.0 to 3.3) in the non-metformin group (HR 0.57; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.94; Abstract P259 figure 1). This difference remained significant in a multivariate model, adjusting for potential confounding effects of age, weight, acute illness severity (APACHE-II score) and comorbidity burden. Among patients prescribed metformin, vs those not, the median (IQR) plasma lactate concentration was 1.45 mmol/l (1.10–2.05) vs 1.10 mmol/l (0.80–1.50), respectively (p=0.012). <h3>Conclusion</h3> Diabetic patients hospitalised for COPD exacerbations who were prescribed metformin were discharged earlier and survived longer than those not prescribed metformin. Lactate concentration was higher among patients on metformin, although the difference was small. Our results suggest that the drug9s benefits may outweigh its rare association with lactic acidosis. Whether this reflects beneficial effects on diabetes- or COPD-related endpoints; other associated conditions; or the effect of unmeasured confounders, is unknown. We are now investigating this within the context of a randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN66148745).
The inducible kinase IKKi is required for IL-17-dependent signaling associated with neutrophilia and pulmonary inflammation
Authors: Katarzyna Bulek, Caini Liu, Shadi Swaidani, Liwen Wang, Richard C Page, Muhammet F Gulen, Tomasz Herjan, Amina Abbadi, Wen Qian, Dongxu Sun, Mark Lauer, Vincent Hascall, Saurav Misra, Mark R Chance, Mark Aronica, Thomas Hamilton, Xiaoxia Li
Journal: Nature Immunology (2011)
Dependence of fibrinolytic activity on the concentration of free rather than total tissue-type plasminogen activator in plasma after pharmacologic administration.
Authors: C L Lucore, S Fujii, B E Sobel
Journal: Circulation (1989)

To identify factors responsible for the decline of plasma tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA)-specific activity that we have observed after infusions of the activator and to define the potential usefulness of selected variants of t-PA in obviating them in patients with infarction, serial plasma samples from patients (n = 4) and rabbits (n = 15) given t-PA were assayed for total t-PA antigen, t-PA activity, and free as opposed to type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1)--complexed t-PA. In patients, attenuation of t-PA specific activity after infusions was evident with concentrations of total t-PA antigen that were as much as sevenfold greater than pretreatment values (62 compared with 9 ng/ml). Attenuation of t-PA activity corresponded with the disappearance of free t-PA from plasma and was associated with persistence of complexes of t-PA with PAI-1. In normal rabbits (n = 4) given wild-type t-PA by bolus injection, PAI-1 activity was 4 +/- 1 arbitrary units/ml. Attenuation of t-PA activity was not evident until 60 minutes after injection at a time when total plasma t-PA antigen concentration was as low as 13 +/- 8 ng/ml. Under these conditions, plasma t-PA was composed predominantly of free t-PA. In rabbits (n = 5) given lipopolysaccharide to increase plasma PAI-1 activity to 193 +/- 84 arbitrary units/ml, the specific activity of t-PA was attenuated as early as 15 minutes after injection at a time when total t-PA antigen concentration was as high as 164 +/- 79 ng/ml. As was the case with samples from patients, attenuation was associated with the disappearance of free t-PA and the persistence of complexes of t-PA with PAI-1. A genetically engineered variant of t-PA with comparable specific activity and a comparable rate constant of association with PAI-1 but designed to persist in the circulation manifested prolonged clearance from plasma of normal rabbits (n = 3) (t1/2 = 24.6 +/- 1.6 minutes compared with an alpha phase t1/2 of 1.9 minutes for wild-type t-PA). The variant lacked the epidermal growth factor and kringle one domains and contained a duplicated kringle two domain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma in children: effects on bronchodilation test
Authors: M. Capasso, A. Varricchio, G. Ciprandi
Journal: Allergy (2009)

To cite this article: Capasso M, Varricchio A, Ciprandi G. Impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma in children: effects on bronchodilation test. Allergy 2010; 65 : 264–268 DOI: 10.1111/j.1398‐9995.2009.02168.x. Abstract Background: Relevant relationship exists between upper and lower airways. Bronchial obstruction is a paramount feature of asthma and its reversibility is considered a diagnostic step for asthma diagnosis. Objective: This study aimed at evaluating a large group of children with allergic rhinitis alone for investigating the degree of brochodilation and possible factors related to it. Methods: Two hundred patients with allergic rhinitis and 150 normal subjects were consecutively evaluated. Clinical examination, skin prick test, spirometry, and bronchodilation test were performed in all patients. Results: Rhinitics showed a significant FEV 1 increase after bronchodilation test ( P &lt; 0.0001) in comparison both to basal values and to controls’ levels. More than 20% of rhinitics had reversibility (≥12% basal levels). Patients with reversibility had lower FEV 1 levels, longer rhinitis duration, and perennial allergy. Conclusion: This study highlights the close link between upper and lower airways and the relevance of performing bronchodilation test in patients with allergic rhinitis and these characteristics.
Rapid progression from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to heart failure in a patient with Becker's muscular dystrophy
Authors: Ok Young Park, Youngkeun Ahn, Woo Seok Park, Ji Hyun Lim, Hyung Wook Park, Ju Han Kim, Young Joon Hong, Weon Kim, Myung Ho Jeong, Jeong Gwan Cho, Jong Chun Park, Min Cheol Lee, Jung Chaee Kang
Journal: European Journal of Heart Failure (2004)
Counteraction of Platelet Activity at Sites of Laser-induced Endothelial Trauma
Authors: K-E. Arfors, H. C. Hint, D. P. Dhall, N. A. Matheson
Journal: BMJ (1968)

The effects of dextran 70 (Mw 70,000; Macrodex), heparin, dipyridamole (Persantin), and prostaglandin E(1) on the behaviour of platelets were investigated at sites of endothelial trauma induced with a ruby biolaser in arterioles in the rabbit ear chamber. This technique has several advantages over previous methods of studying platelet activity.Dextran 70 (2 g./kg. body weight) caused a profound reduction in platelet activity four to six hours after its administration. Heparin (12 mg./kg. body weight) had no effect. The effect of dipyridamole (2.5 mg./kg. body weight) was profound immediately after its administration, but was transient. In preliminary experiments single intravenous injections of prostaglandin E(1) (25 and 125 mug./kg. body weight) had no detectable effect.
Induction of Angiogenesis by Airway Smooth Muscle From Patients with Asthma
Authors: David E. Simcock, Varsha Kanabar, Graham W. Clarke, Katharina Mahn, Charlotta Karner, Brian J. O'Connor, Tak H. Lee, Stuart J. Hirst
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2008)

Rationale: Airway remodeling in asthma involves accumulation of airway smooth muscle (ASM) and increased vascularity due to angiogenesis. Bronchial blood vessels and ASM are found in close proximity, and ASM releases multiple proinflammatory mediators, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).Objectives: We examined whether release of proangiogenic mediators is increased in ASM from subjects with asthma and whether this is translated to induction of angiogenesis.Methods: Biopsy-derived ASM cells were cultured from 12 subjects with mild asthma, 8 with moderate asthma, and 9 healthy control subjects. Angiogenesis induced by cell-conditioned medium (CM) from ASM was evaluated in a tubule formation assay. Anti-CD31–labeled tubules were quantified by image analysis. Angiogenic factors in CM were quantified by antibody arrays and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Measurements and Main Results: Induction of angiogenesis by CM from unstimulated ASM was increased in subjects with mild asthma (twofold) and moderate asthma (threefold), compared with healthy CM (P < 0.001). Levels of angiogenic factors (VEGF, angiopoietin [Ang]-1, angiogenin) were similarly elevated in CM from subjects with asthma compared with that from healthy subjects (P < 0.05), whereas antiangiogenic factors (endostatin, Ang-2) were unchanged. VEGF, Ang-1, and angiogenin in combination increased vascularity (twofold, P < 0.01) in cultured intact biopsies. Selective VEGF immunodepletion abolished enhanced tubule formation by CM from asthmatic ASM (P < 0.01), but CM depletion of Ang-1 or angiogenin had no effect.Conclusions: ASM cultured from subjects with mild or moderate asthma, but not from healthy control subjects, promotes angiogenesis in vitro. This proangiogenic capacity resides in elevated VEGF release and suggests that ASM regulates airway neovascularization in asthma.
Quantitative left ventricular wall motion analysis: a comparison of area, chord and radial methods.
Authors: H J Gelberg, B H Brundage, S Glantz, W W Parmley
Journal: Circulation (1979)

We were interested in divising a relatively simple quantitative technique that could be used on a routine clinical basis for wall motion analysis. Three quantitative methods of left ventricular (LV) regional analysis were compared in the 30 degrees right anterior oblique and 60 degrees left anterior oblique projection. The control group consisted of 17 patients with qualitatively normal LV wall motion; the abnormal group comprised 17 patients with at least one region of severe, qualitative wall motion abnormality. Normal regional values were determined for area, chord and radial methods by applying the techniques to the ventriculograms of the control group. Each technique was then applied to the abnormal group's ventriculograms to determine the percentage of qualitatively abnormal regions not detected by each method. The area method had the lowest failure rate (p less than 0.001) and the best separation of measured normal and abnormal regions' ejection changes (p less than 0.001), and best reflected symmetric uniform motion of the ventricular silhouette. We conclude that the area method, of the techniques examined, was best for the quantitative analysis of LV wall motion abnormalities.
LOCAL ANESTHESIABY INJECTIONS OF STERILE WATER.
Authors: FRANK W. STEVENS
Journal: JAMA (1905)

The subcutaneous injection of water for the relief of non-operative pain was suggested as early as 1868, and since then local anesthesia has been successfully produced by injecting solutions of various drugs into the skin and subcutaneous tissues. In 1901, Dr. Samuel G. Gant of New York began his experiments with sterile water and has demonstrated that local anesthesia can be obtained quickly by injecting into the skin, mucosa and deeper structures sufficient water to produce a glassy appearance of these tissues; the anesthesia being due, apparently, to the pressure on the terminal nerve filaments. His results were so satisfactory that he now employs it to the exclusion of general and medicinal local anesthesias in most of his rectal operations. Using Dr. Gant's technic, as given below, I have successfully employed sterile water for the production of local anesthesia in the following operations: One exploratory laparotomy, thirty-nine operations for hemorrhoids
Electrocardiographic Findings in Cardiac Transplantation
Authors: JAMES SCHEUER, JAMES A. SHAVER, BARRY C. HARRIS, JAMES J. LEONARD, HENRY T. BAHNSON
Journal: Circulation (1969)

This paper outlines the electrocardiographic course of a 46-year-old recipient of a cardiac transplant in whom direct myocardial leads were implanted. There was one episode of decreased QRS voltage with an intraventricular conduction delay, suggestive of an acute immunologic rejection. On one occasion bradycardia occurred, and this was treated by ventricular pacing. There was also an episode of supraventricular tachycardia. Vagotonic maneuvers or agents would not have been appropriate treatment for this arrhythmia. In the presence of both donor and recipient P waves, the interpretation of some of the arrhythmias was difficult. Since the QRS voltage is important in diagnosing early rejection, great care was taken in accurately standardizing the electrocardiogram and in reproducibly placing electrocardiographic leads. The myocardial leads were found to reflect voltage changes more clearly than surface leads. The presence of myocardial wires also proved convenient for pacing. The use of a right atrial recording electrode is recommended for the diagnosis of complex arrhythmias. This will permit more accurate identification of donor and recipient P waves.
Molecular and metabolic changes in human liver clear cell foci resemble the alterations occurring in rat hepatocarcinogenesis
Authors: Silvia Ribback, Diego F. Calvisi, Antonio Cigliano, Verena Sailer, Michele Peters, Jenny Rausch, Claus-Dieter Heidecke, Matthias Birth, Frank Dombrowski
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2013)