tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
ABC of transfusion. Infectious complications of blood transfusion: bacteria and parasites.
Authors: J A Barbara, M Contreras
Journal: BMJ (1990)

Bacteria and parasites transmissible by blood transfusionLong before the transmission of HIV became a prominent potential hazard Bacteria of blood transfusion, considerable skill in preventing the transmission of * Treponema pallidum (syphilis) infection by transfusion had already been developed in the Blood * Brucellosis (donors giving a history are Transfusion Service.The first and most important step in maintaining a not accepted in the United Kingdom)safe blood supply will always be a rigorous process of selection of Parasites prospective blood donors (see The blood donor and tests on donor blood).* Plasmodium species (malaria) The second is the use of specific microbiological screening tests.* Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas' disease)Agents transmissible by transfusion can be either cell associated-for Endemic in Latin America.Parasite present example, cytomegalovirus and human T cell leukaemia virus type I in 75% of seropositive subjects, and between (HTLV-I)-or plasma associated-for example, hepatitis B virus-or both 1% and 22% of donors in Latin America are (HIV).If they are plasma associated, pooling large numbers of units of seropositive plasma (for example, 15 000 to 20 000 as in the production of factor VIII) * Toxoplasma gondii greatly increases the chances of disseminating such contaminants.Even Only a risk in granulocytes transfused to without pooling, treatment with blood components may result in up to four immunosuppressed seronegative recipients or five patients being infected by a single contaminated donation.* Babesia microti (Nantucket fever) Potential risk in North America Properties of infections transmissible by transfusionAgents transmitted by blood transfusion often possess a combination of some or all of the following properties: * They are present in the blood for long periods, sometimes in high titres * They have the ability to cause subclinical infections or only mildThe hallmark of transfusion transmitted smtm infections is persistence symptoms * They have long incubation periods (sometimes years) before clinical signs appear * They may exist in a latent or carrier state, or both * They are stable in blood stored at 4°C. Screening tests for blood donationsScreening tests are paradoxically usually directed at antibody to the agent rather than antigens for the agent, except in the case of 0 ;< ._p* hepatitis B virus.Antibody screening tests are markers for certain persistent or chronic infectionsty) teespecall leindichatei a potential for infectvity, especially when the inoculum is as larv, -as a unit of blood or a blood component._ M MM ;r..-. , Screening of blood donations is analysed by computer.Results of each microplate are plotted as histograms.Stopping the reaction -last step in ELISA.
Gallium-67 Citrate Whole Body Scanning for the Localization of Infected Vascular Synthetic Grafts
Authors: PATRICK THIVOLLE, LAURENT VARENNE, YVES HEYDEN, MICHEL BERGER
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1985)

Ga-67 (3 mCi) was used in 11 patients to diagnose and locate an eventual infection of their synthetic vascular prostheses. In seven cases, an area of gallium uptake was found and the infection confirmed by surgery and bacteriology. In the remaining four cases, no uptake of gallium was found and the absence of infection was confirmed.
Hospital at Fort Myer.
Authors: D. H. Lamb
Journal: JAMA (1898)

U. S. General Hospital, Fort Myer, Va. Aug. 30, 1898. <h3>To the Editor:</h3> —We have here a magnificent hospital under the command of Major and Surgeon W. B. Davis, U. S. A., whose earnest work is making this one of the finest hospitals in the country. We have about four hundred patients, and one ward containing 200 beds as yet not entirely filled. This ward I believe to be the largest in the world. Most of our patients are typhoid, and every material is at the hands of the surgeon in charge with which to do his work. The charges and criticism relative to improper food and attendance is, in the case of this hospital, a falsehood, and I believe it to be so in the others, for as rapidly as possible every thing is being accomplished for our sick soldiers.
The idolatry of the surrogate
Authors: J. S. Yudkin, K. J. Lipska, V. M. Montori
Journal: BMJ (2011)

Easier to measure surrogate outcomes are often used instead of patient important outcomes such as death, quality of life, or functional capacity when assessing treatments. <b>John Yudkin</b>,<b> Kasia Lipska</b>,<b> and Victor Montori</b> argue that our obsession with surrogates is damaging patient care
Food allergy and food sensitization in early childhood: results from the DARC cohort
Authors: E. Eller, H. F. Kjaer, A. Høst, K. E. Andersen, C. Bindslev‐Jensen
Journal: Allergy (2009)

The prevalence of food hypersensitivity (FHS) and the relationship with atopic dermatitis (AD) is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the development of FHS and to correlate this with AD in relation to sensitization and symptoms.This study combines new data from birth to 18 months of age with previous published results from 3 and 6 years. The Danish Allergy Research Centre cohort, including 562 children, is a unique, population-based, prospective birth cohort, with clinical examinations at all follow-ups. All children were examined for the development of AD using Hanifin-Rajka criteria and for FHS using interviews, skin prick test (SPT), specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), and food challenge according to EAACI guidelines.Twenty children were confirmed with FHS to milk, egg, and peanut. FHS peaked at 18 months (3.6%) and then decreased to 1.2% at 72 months of age. No new cases were found after 3 years. Self-reporting could only be confirmed in 31% of cases. Among the 122 children with AD, 18 had FHS (14.8%). FHS was IgE-mediated in 95% of the cases but 16 of 20 children were additionally sensitized to other foods which they tolerated. Children with AD were neither more IgE-sensitized nor had higher levels of IgE when compared with healthy children but they were more persistently sensitized.Sensitization to foods in young children without food allergy seems to be a normal phenomenon. The discrepancy between sensitization, self-reported food-related symptoms and confirmed FHS illustrates the need to perform standardized oral challenges in order to confirm the diagnosis of FHS.
Apolipoprotein C-II deficiency syndrome. Clinical features, lipoprotein characterization, lipase activity, and correction of hypertriglyceridemia after apolipoprotein C-II administration in two affected patients.
Authors: G Baggio, E Manzato, C Gabelli, R Fellin, S Martini, G B Enzi, F Verlato, M R Baiocchi, D L Sprecher, M L Kashyap
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1986)

Two patients (brother and sister, 41 and 39 yr of age, respectively) have been shown to have marked elevation of plasma triglycerides and chylomicrons, decreased low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL), a type I lipoprotein phenotype, and a deficiency of plasma apolipoprotein C-II (apo C-II). The male patient had a history of recurrent bouts of abdominal pain often accompanied by eruptive xanthomas. The female subject, identified by family screening, was asymptomatic. Hepatosplenomegaly was present in both subjects. Analytical and zonal ultracentrifugation revealed a marked increase in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins including chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins, a reduction in LDL, and the presence of virtually only the HDL3 subfraction. LDL were heterogeneous with the major subfraction of a higher hydrated density than that observed in plasma lipoproteins of normal subjects. Apo C-II levels, quantitated by radioimmunoassay, were 0.13 mg/dl and 0.12 mg/dl, in the male and female proband, respectively. A variant of apo C-II (apo C-IIPadova) with lower apparent molecular weight and more acidic isoelectric point was identified in both probands by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The marked hypertriglyceridemia and elevation of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins were corrected by the infusion of normal plasma or the injection of a biologically active synthesized 44-79 amino acid residue peptide fragment of apo C-II. The reduction in plasma triglycerides after the injection of the synthetic apo C-II peptide persisted for 13-20 d. These results definitively established that the dyslipoproteinemia in this syndrome is due to a deficiency of normal apo C-II. A possible therapeutic role for replacement therapy of apo C-II by synthetic or recombinant apo C-II in those patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia and recurrent pancreatitis may be possible in the future.
Dog ownership is associated with less wheezing among high-risk infants during the first year of life
Authors: H.K. Kalra, P. Campo, D.I. Bernstein, L. Levin, R. Olds, T. Reponin, Z.L. Lummus, S.H. Cho, M. Villareal, G.M. LeMasters
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2005)
Remembering the Real Questions
Authors: Jordan J. Cohen
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1998)

When people are sick, or think they are, they seek answers to three fundamental questions:“What's happening to me?”, which comes from the need to explain the present; “What's going to happen to me?”, which comes from the need to predict the future; and “What can be done to improve what happens to me?”, which comes from the need to create a better future than would otherwise occur. In modern times, physicians have been the preeminent providers of answers to these questions, but it is important to recognize that the medical profession does not have an uncontested monopoly on satisfying this basic need. Faced with a raging medical marketplace, many physicians believe that medicine's central position is being undermined and that our ethical heritage is being replaced by a mercantile philosophy. Indeed, other health professionals seem eager to position themselves to fill the void created by medicine's perceived shortcomings in addressing this fundamental quest of human nature. To obviate this unacceptable turn of events, physicians must refocus attention on providing the best answers to those basic questions. Internists, by virtue of their strong tradition of scientific rigor and acknowledged role as the gateway to cutting-edge medicine, are uniquely positioned to do so.
The Performance of a Risk Score in Predicting Undiagnosed Hyperglycemia
Authors: P.J. Park, S.J. Griffin, L. Sargeant, N. J. Wareham
Journal: Diabetes Care (2002)

Type 2 diabetes is a serious disease that is commonly undetected and for which screening is sometimes advocated. A number of risk factors are associated with prevalent undiagnosed diabetes. The use of routinely available information on these factors has been proposed as a simple and effective way of identifying individuals at high risk for having the disease. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the Cambridge risk score in a large and representative population.A risk score derived from data in a previous study was tested for its ability to detect prevalent undiagnosed hyperglycemia as measured by a GHb > or = 6.0, 6.5, or 7% in 6,567 subjects aged 39-78 years in the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer-Norfolk cohort.For a specificity of 78%, the risk score predicted a GHb of > or = 7.0% in subjects aged 39-78 years, with a sensitivity of 51% (95% CI 40-62). The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve for GHb > or = 6.0, 6.5, and 7% were 65.7% (63.8-67.6), 71.2% (68.4-75.2), and 74.2% (69.5-79.0), respectively. The area under the ROC curve was not significantly reduced if data on family and smoking history were unavailable for any of the cut-offs for GHb.The risk score performed as well as other previously reported models in all age groups. We concluded that a simple risk score using data routinely available in primary care can identify people with an elevated GHb with reasonable sensitivity and specificity, and it could therefore form part of a strategy for early detection of type 2 diabetes.
Modern Drugs for Laymen Where No Doctors Exist
Authors: Isaac Starr
Journal: JAMA (1973)

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> The publication of my letter (224:250, 1973) was followed by many replies, chiefly to me; one was published (224:1647, 1973). The consensus of views seems worthy of record. A summary of this consensus was sent to responders to the first letter. From their criticisms, this second letter was prepared. Everyone who answered believed that the good done by a layman prescribing modern drugs in undeveloped countries would far exceed the harm. Some who had experience with such a program were enthusiastic about what they had seen. No real data were offered on the therapeutic effectiveness of such a program. All writers believed that the laymen selected to give drugs should first be instructed by a physician, and that the physician should be available for consultation later, because the layman was sure to get beyond his depth at times. The laymen should be trained to use only those
THE USE OF IRON AND OPIUM IN BRIGHT'S DISEASE.
Authors: JAMES TYSON
Journal: JAMA (1898)

For some time I have been rather anxious for an opportunity to relieve myself on the subject of the administration of iron in the treatment of Bright's disease, the more especially as I feel somewhat responsible for the present, as I regard it vicious practice of indiscriminate prescription of this drug in the disease referred to: for I am one of those who in times past have taught that iron is a remedy indi- cated in almost every case of Bright's disease.Thus on page 138 of my book on Bright's Disease published 17 years ago, I say, "It may be laid down as a rule to which there are few exceptions, that the continuous use of some one of the preparations of iron is indi- cated," the word continuous being underscored in the original.Again on page 186, in speaking of the treat- ment of chronic interstitial nephritis, I say of drugs, "Iron is perhaps the most important and indispensable and may be given in the shape of the acetate or the well known Basham's mixture."I have learned since writing the above that there is a good deal of mischief done by iron in Bright's disease, and I am not sure that it would not have been better for many
Simple diagnostic assay for hairy cell leukaemia by immunocytochemical detection of annexin A1 (ANXA1)
Authors: Brunangelo Falini, Enrico Tiacci, Arcangelo Liso, Katia Basso, Elena Sabattini, Roberta Pacini, Robin Foa, Alessandro Pulsoni, Riccardo Dalla Favera, Stefano Pileri
Journal: The Lancet (2004)
The Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT)&lt;subtitle&gt;A Return to a Landmark Trial&lt;/subtitle&gt;
Authors: Antonio M. Gotto
Journal: JAMA (1997)

In 1982 the results of the landmark Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT) were published in<i>JAMA</i>.<sup>1</sup>MRFIT was a randomized primary prevention trial funded by the National Heart and Lung Institute (now the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) to test whether multifactor intervention in 12 866 high-risk, asymptomatic middle-aged men would prevent fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) events compared with usual care. Minimum follow-up was 6 years. MRFIT grew from the Task Force on Arteriosclerosis convened in 1970 by the National Heart and Lung Institute to devise a long-range strategy for preventing, treating, and controlling arteriosclerosis and its complications.<sup>2</sup>The task force thoroughly reviewed data that had come from epidemiologic observations in the United States and abroad—including the findings of the Framingham Heart Study, the Seven Countries Study, and the Chicago Workers Study—and from clinical observations and smaller clinical trials linking risk factor modification
Control of Hypertension-Reply
Authors: MAHENDRA S. Kochar
Journal: JAMA (1977)

In the past, physicians have been too willing to brush off mild to moderate hypertension as not dangerous. This has led to the enormous problem of uncontrolled hypertension. According to the Milwaukee Blood Pressure Program data on 135,000 persons screened for hypertension, for every person under the age of 50 years with adequately controlled hypertension (blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg or less), there are ten with uncontrolled hypertension.  Although obesity causes blood pressure elevation, weight loss alone generally leads to a reduction in blood pressure of only 5 to 10 mm Hg. To date, there is no evidence that only regular exercise, in absence of weight reduction, leads to blood pressure control in a hypertensive patient. Other nonpharmacologic means of blood pressure control such as yoga, transcendental meditation, relaxation response, and biofeedback are also under investigation. The blood pressure reduction is usually no more than 10 mm Hg
ACUTE MONOBLASTIC LEUKÆMIA IN CHILD RECEIVING CHLORAMBUCIL FOR JUVENILE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Authors: Y. Lebranchu, J. Drucker, H. Nivet, J.C. Rolland, B. Grenier, O. Lejars, J.P. Lamagnere, D. Buriot
Journal: The Lancet (1980)
Instruments and techniques Assessment of cadmium telluride detector system for measurement of muscle blood flow during dynamic exercise in man
Authors: R. S SMITH, J. BOJSEN, D. J WARREN
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1981)

We have used a miniature cadmium telluride detector in the assessment of muscle blood flow during dynamic exercise in man following local injection of 133Xenon. The results obtained were compared with those using a conventional sodium iodide detector. There was no significant difference between the results obtained with the two detectors. The reproducibility of results was greater with cadmium telluride than with sodium iodide. The cadmium telluride system has the advantage of being small, lightweight and portable and enables measurements to be made during dynamic exercise.
COLON TARGETED, LOW SYSTEMIC ABSORPTION SOLUBLE CICLOSPORIN IN ULCERATIVE COLITIS
Authors: D P O'Donoghue, S Bloom, I Coulter
Journal: Gut (2013)

<h3>Introduction</h3> Ciclosporin (CsA) is effective as rescue therapy in approximately 70–80% of patients with severe UC in whom surgery is contemplated. A recent study shows CsA to be as effective as infliximab in inducing remission in UC. However its use is limited by concerns re renal and neurological toxicity and difficulty in measuring drug levels. Thus, a form of CsA that is released predominantly in the colon and exhibits low systemic absorption might be of considerable benefit to UC patients. CyCol<sup>®</sup> is a delayed release oral formulation of CsA that targets release into the colon. This compound has been shown both to prevent and heal colitis in the DSS and IL-10 knock out animal models and has no appreciable absorption in human volunteers. <h3>Aims/Background</h3> Thus, the aim of this double blind placebo controlled multicentre Irish and UK study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CyCol in patients with mild or moderate UC, as defined by a score of 4–10 on a modified DAI. <h3>Method</h3> The study period was 4 weeks. Patients on 5ASA compounds, immunomodulatory agents or low dose steroids (&lt;10 mgs prednisolone) were included provided their dosages were stable for &gt;8 weeks. Patients were excluded if they had previously failed CsA or had received biologic agents within the past 8 weeks. The primary objective of this study was remission, defined as a DAI of &lt;2 with no score &gt;1. The secondary objectives of this study were response (defined as a reduction in DAI of &lt;3), safety and efficacy of CyCol on the mucosal and histological healing. <h3>Results</h3> 118 patients were randomised (154 screened) to receive 75 mgs CyCol or placebo daily. More patients on the active ingredient achieved remission (13.6%) than placebo (6.3%) but this was not significant (p=0.22). Likewise, 30.4% of patients on active treatment responded versus 18.8% on placebo (p=0.35). There was no appreciable difference between groups as regards mucosal and histological healing. A post hoc analysis showed a significant response benefit for CyCol in those patients who were not taking immunomodulatory drugs. Adverse events (AE) were common in both arms and almost invariably related to disease activity. No AE was attributable to CyCol and ciclosporin levels in blood were undetectable. <h3>Conclusion</h3> While CyCol<sup>®</sup> at the dose employed in this study over a 4 week period had numerically better results than did placebo, the results were not statistically superior. Further studies in moderate-severe patients are planned, with FDA approval, using larger doses of CyCol in a tighter patient population over a longer duration.
Interaction Between Strong Electrical Stimulation and Reentrant Wavefronts in Canine Ventricular Fibrillation
Authors: Claudio Bonometti, Chun Hwang, Dustan Hough, John J. Lee, Michael C. Fishbein, Hrayr S. Karagueuzian, Peng-Sheng Chen
Journal: Circulation Research (1995)

Abstract This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the effects of a strong electrical stimulus on reentrant wavefronts in ventricular fibrillation (VF) are dependent on the timing of the stimulus. We studied six open-chest dogs by computerized mapping techniques. A plaque electrode array with up to 509 bipolar electrodes was placed on the right ventricular epicardium. The interelectrode distance was 1.6 mm, and the interpolar distance was 0.5 mm. After eight baseline pacing stimuli (S 1 ) with cycle lengths of 300 ms, a strong premature stimulus (S 2 ) (73±10 mA) was given to induce VF. In subsequent episodes, a second strong premature stimulus (S 3 ) was given at progressively longer S 2 -S 3 intervals in 20-ms increments. The results showed that, at baseline, the S 2 consistently induced figure-eight reentry and VF. The VF cycle length immediately after the S 2 averaged 108±17 ms. The S 3 resulted in one of the following responses: (1) termination of reentry and VF; (2) induction of different reentrant wavefronts or a focal pattern of repetitive activation; or (3) persistence of the same figure-eight reentry. The intervals between the S 3 and the immediately preceding activation at the site of the S 3 (the recovery intervals) were 39±12 ms (range, 20 to 60 ms) and 61±20 ms (range, 30 to 90 ms) for response patterns 1 and 2, respectively. The recovery intervals associated with response pattern 3 were either ≤30 ms (22±8 ms) or ≥80 ms (94±15 ms). The differences among these four intervals were significant ( P &lt;.001). We conclude that the effects of strong electrical stimulation on the reentrant wavefronts in VF are dependent on the recovery interval since the previous local activation. A protective zone occurred between 20 and 60 ms, during which time a strong electrical stimulus could terminate reentry and abort VF. This zone was followed by a vulnerable period during which new activation wavefronts could be induced. If a strong electrical stimulus was given shortly after or sufficiently long after the previous local activation, the same figure-eight reentrant pattern continued.
India draws up emergency plan to tackle H1N1 outbreak
Authors: M. Chaudhuri
Journal: BMJ (2013)

The Indian government has been forced to draft an emergency plan to tackle an escalating outbreak of H1N1 influenza, because it does not have a plan in place to deal with recurring outbreaks of the infection.

Between 1 January and mid-February 872 cases of H1N1 flu were officially reported, including 145 deaths. But senior officials at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare who are monitoring the outbreak have said that the actual numbers are much higher, because not …
Right Ventricular Dysfunction and Remodeling in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Without Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Janne Mykland Hilde, Ingunn Skjørten, Ole Jørgen Grøtta, Viggo Hansteen, Morten Nissen Melsom, Jonny Hisdal, Sjur Humerfelt, Kjetil Steine
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2013)