tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Women sue over epilepsy drug risks
Authors: Clare Dyer
Journal: BMJ (2004)

Families whose children were born with fetal anti-convulsant syndrome are suing the makers of anti-convulsant drugs taken by mothers during pregnancy, in what could become a substantial group action.

Three claims have been lodged at the High Court in London on behalf of four children, and nearly 30 more claims, one involving a mother who works as a general practitioner, are being prepared.

The claims are being brought under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, which creates a strict liability regime under which claimants alleging injury by defective …
Court gives go ahead for 20 states to challenge US health reform
Authors: J. H. Tanne
Journal: BMJ (2010)

A federal judge in Florida has ruled that a lawsuit by 20 states has sufficient legal grounds to proceed in its challenge of the US health reform law passed in March.

Last month a Michigan judge ruled against a similar challenge, but in August a Virginia judge ruled that the state could challenge the health reform act ( BMJ 2010;341:c4330, doi:10.1136/bmj.c4330).

The Florida ruling is important because it consolidates challenges to the health reform act by 20 states, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and two individuals. The various lawsuits are likely to make their slow way to the Supreme Court while provisions of the health reform act take …
Mechanisms for Inefficient Peritoneal Dialysis in Acute Renal Failure Associated with Heat Stress and Exercise
Authors: KARL D. NOLPH
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1969)

The inefficiency of peritoneal dialysis in reducing the serum urea nitrogen concentration in heat stress and exercise-induced acute renal failure is due to an increased rate of urea production rather than to diminished clearances of urea. Although peritoneal urea clearances of urea were normal, a selective reduction in the clearances of larger solutes—namely, urate and creatinine—was a consistent finding. The combination of inferred hypercatabolism and a defect in peritoneal permeability may limit the effectiveness of peritoneal dialysis in the treatment of this form of acute renal failure. These patients with renal failure associated with heat stress and exercise are similar to traumatic cases and may need frequent hemodialysis as an effective means of treatment.
THE LYSIS OF CELL WALLS OF GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI BY STREPTOMYCES ALBUS ENZYME TREATED WITH DIISOPROPYL FLUOROPHOSPHATE
Authors: Willard C. Schmidt
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1965)

Diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) effectively inhibited proteolytic activity in preparations of partially purified Streptomyces albus enzyme used to lyse cell walls of Group A streptococci. Lysis of non-trypsinized Group A cell walls with DFP-treated S. albus enzyme released a soluble protein fraction containing antigenic type-specific M protein, a carbohydrate fraction consisting of Group A and a small amount of A-variant polysaccharides, and a dialyzable fraction. The similarities of the products of DFP-treated S. albus enzyme lysis of streptococcal cell walls to those released by phage muralytic enzyme furnish additional evidence of the close relationship of these wall lysins. In view of small differences in electrophoretic mobility, immunodiffusion, and chemical composition, it is suggested that Group A streptococcal cell wall polysaccharide dissolved by DFP-S. albus enzyme consists of a spectrum of molecules having the same immunological determinants but differing in content of conjugated mucopeptide.
Bone mineral content in Polynesian and white New Zealand women.
Authors: I R Reid, M Mackie, H K Ibbertson
Journal: BMJ (1986)

The forearm bone mineral content of Polynesian and European women in New Zealand was measured to assess whether the inter-racial differences found in other populations also occurred in these two groups. The bone mineral content of the nondominant distal radius and ulna was measured by single photon absorptiometry in 123 European and 80 Polynesian women. The mean values were about 20% higher in Polynesians than in Europeans. The reason for this difference in bone mineral content is unknown but the findings do show that high bone density is not confined to African races and that inter-racial differences in bone mineral content may be more common than has been thought hitherto.
Genetic Analysis of Tp53 from Urine Sediment as a Tool for Diagnosing Recurrence and Residual of Bladder Carcinoma
Authors: Markus D. Sachs, Horst Schlechte, Volker S. Lenk, Sebastian Brenner, Dietmar Schnorr, Barbara Fleige, Gerhard Ditscherlein, Stefan A. Loening
Journal: European Urology (2000)
Pregnant teenagers' knowledge and use of emergency contraception
Authors: V A H Pearson, M R Owen, D R Phillips, D J P. Gray, M N Marshall
Journal: BMJ (1995)

Despite interest in preventing pregnancy among teenagers little is known about the most effective strategies.'An effective way of preventing pregnancy is to use emergency contraception after unprotected intercourse.We report a descriptive study of pregnant teenagers in Devon that examined awareness and use of emergency contraception and its potential for prevent- ing unwanted teenage pregnancy.
James William Bowden
Authors: M. Nisbet
Journal: BMJ (2009)

James William Bowden (“Bill”) graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, in 1925 with distinction in medicine and pathology and obtained the gold medal of the Meath Hospital, Dublin, for clinical medicine and surgery. He became a house surgeon at the Meath Hospital and then spent the next year as a ship’s surgeon in the Blue Funnel Line, sailing to Indonesia, the Far East, and the United States. He then spent two years working in general practice in Navan, Ireland. In 1930 he decided to see more of the world and joined the East African Medical Service. After a short period in Mombasa, Kenya, he was appointed medical …
EXOGENOUS RECONSTITUTED HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN (RHDL) ATTENUATES THE MYOCARDIAL ISCHEMIC-REPERFUSION INJURY
Authors: Eun-Ji Kim, Dong-Ju Choi, Min-Jung Park, In-Ho Chae, Goo Yeong Cho, Tae-Jin Youn, Yung-Seok Cho, Jung-Won Suh, Ki-Yong Kim
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2010)
Insurance status and treatment candidacy of hepatitis C patients: Analysis of population-based data from the United States
Authors: Maria Stepanova, Fasiha Kanwal, Hashem B. El-Serag, Zobair M. Younossi
Journal: Hepatology (2010)

Abstract Successful treatment with antiviral therapy could potentially reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, at the population level, these benefits may be offset by a limited number of patients who have access to antiviral treatment. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2005-2008, we analyzed the health insurance status and treatment candidacy of HCV-positive (HCV+) individuals. A total of 10,582 subjects were examined; of those, 1.16% had detectable HCV RNA and were defined as HCV+. The HCV+ patients were less likely to be insured than HCV-negative individuals (61.2% versus 81.2%; P = 0.004). Among those with health insurance, HCV+ patients were less likely to have private insurance, whereas the coverage by Medicare/Medicaid and other government-sponsored plans was similar to the rest of the population. In multivariate analysis, HCV infection was an independent predictor of being uninsured even after adjustment for demographic disparity of the HCV+ cohort (odds ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.78). Of all HCV+ patients, 66.7% were eligible for anti-HCV treatment. However, only 54.3% of HCV+ treatment candidates had any type of insurance coverage. Finally, only 36.3% of HCV+ patients were potentially eligible for treatment and had health insurance. Conclusion: A high proportion of HCV+ patients are currently uninsured, and many have publicly funded health insurance. Among those who could be candidates for treatment, the rate of insurance coverage is even lower. These findings can have important implications for health insurance coverage of these patients under the new health care reform legislation in the United States. (Hepatology 2011)
Effects of antibiotics on oestrogen metabolism.
Authors: M J Tikkanen, H Adlercreutz, M O Pulkkinen
Journal: BMJ (1973)

Effects of Antibiotics on Oestrogen Metabolism SIR,-Ampicillin,1 phenoxymethylpenicillin,2 and neomycin3 have been shown to decrease urinary oestriol output in normal human pregnancy.We have explored this matter further by employing a new gas chromatographic method4 which enables the four known urinary oestriol conjugates to be measured separately.Six healthy mothers 33-37 weeks pregnant were given 0 5 g of ampicillin orally four tines daily on three successive days.The mean urinary oestriol output decreased to an average of 69% of the pretreatment level on the second, third, and fourth days after starting the ampicillin treatment.The results indicate that the diminished excretion of one conjugate, oestriol-3-glucuronide, accounted for approximately 90% of this decrease.Oestriol-3-glucuronide is formed in the in- testinal mucosal cells5 6 and its formation is dependent on the reabsorption of biliary oestriol in the intestinal tract.Thus ampicillin interferes with the enterohepatic circula- tion of oestrogens, impairing the synthesis of oestriol-3-glucuronide.The antibiotic probably exerts its effect by changing the composition of the intestinal microflora.It is of interest that another antibiotic, rifampicin, causes contraceptive failures when given to women taking oral contraceptives (Breuer, personal communication).Thus administra- tion of antibiotics may cause unexpected complications through their effect on oestro- gen metabolismn.-Weare, etc.,
Recurrent Hepatitis Due to Methoxyflurane Anesthesia
Authors: Alan I. Brenner, Marshall M. Kaplan
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1971)

SENSITIZATION to halothane may cause severe hepatitis in rare persons uniquely sensitive to this anesthetic agent.1 , 2 The following case supports earlier reports3 4 5 6 7 and indicates that methoxyflurane (Penthrane), a halogenated ether structurally related to halothane, may produce a similar type of hepatitis.Case ReportA 49-year-old housewife, with a past history of asthma, hay fever, and dermatitis secondary to ampicillin, was admitted to the New England Medical Center Hospitals in April, 1970, complaining of nausea, vomiting and left-upper-quadrant pain, all present since a cholecystectomy performed 1 month before at another hospital. The patient had had an uncomplicated hysterectomy in 1963 and . . .
Points from Letters: Seat belts
Authors: H B May
Journal: BMJ (1977)

<h3>BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:</h3> The development of new MR imaging scanners with stronger gradients and improvement in coil technology, allied with emerging fast imaging techniques, has allowed a substantial reduction in MR imaging scan times. Our goal was to develop a 10-minute gadolinium-enhanced brain MR imaging protocol with accelerated sequences and to evaluate its diagnostic performance compared with the standard clinical protocol. <h3>MATERIALS AND METHODS:</h3> Fifty-three patients referred for brain MR imaging with contrast were scanned with a 3T scanner. Each MR image consisted of 5 basic fast precontrast sequences plus standard and accelerated versions of the same postcontrast T1WI sequences. Two neuroradiologists assessed the image quality and the final diagnosis for each set of postcontrast sequences and compared their performances. <h3>RESULTS:</h3> The acquisition time of the combined accelerated pre- and postcontrast sequences was 10 minutes and 15 seconds; and of the fast postcontrast sequences, 3 minutes and 36 seconds, 46% of the standard sequences. The 10-minute postcontrast axial T1WI had fewer image artifacts (<i>P</i> &lt; .001) and better overall diagnostic quality (<i>P</i> &lt; .001). Although the 10-minute MPRAGE sequence showed a tendency to have more artifacts than the standard sequence (<i>P</i> = .08), the overall diagnostic quality was similar (<i>P</i> = .66). Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference in the diagnostic performance between the protocols. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values for the 10-minute protocol were 100.0%, 88.9%, and 98.1%. <h3>CONCLUSIONS:</h3> The 10-minute brain MR imaging protocol with contrast is comparable in diagnostic performance with the standard protocol in an inpatient motion-prone population, with the additional benefits of reducing acquisition times and image artifacts.
Radioimmunoassay of human prothrombin—The quantitation of plasma factor II antigen
Authors: Charles D. Lox, G. Henry Strohm, James J. Corrigan
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (1978)

Abstract Human factor II (prothrombin) was isolated by chromatographic techniques and showed a single band on electrophoresis. 125 I‐tagged factor II was prepared by standard chloramine‐T oxidation and sodium metabisulfite reduction. The radioimmunoassay (RIA) method used was a specific double‐antibody radioimmunoassay similar to that described for the pituitary trophic hormones. The method showed high precision and sensitivity. A dose‐response curve was generated by adding known amounts of normal human plasma to human barium sulfate‐absorbed oxalated plasma. A straight‐line relationship existed between 15 to 140% coagulant activity and 7 to 50 μg/ml antigen content. Plasma factor II antigen in 20 normals was 86.1 ± 8.4 μg/ml. Eight patients with induced vitamin K deficiency revealed normal antigen levels and reduced coagulant activity, whereas three patients with severe hepatocellular disease were found to have both antigen and coagulant activity reduced. Although coagulant activity decreased with prolonged storage, it was found that antigen content did not change with up to three months' storage at − 20°C. The use of the RIA for measuring prothrombin protein in conjunction with coagulation factor assays may have clinical application in studying the mechanism of action of vitamin K, the developmental aspects of factor II production and activation, and the understanding of acquired coagulopathies.
Impact of peanut allergy on quality of life, stress and anxiety in the family
Authors: R. M. King, R. C. Knibb, J. O’B. Hourihane
Journal: Allergy (2008)

Peanut allergy (PA) is known to impact on quality of life (QoL) of the sufferer, but little research has focused on all family members. We therefore sought to establish the impact of PA on QoL and reported anxiety of children with clinically confirmed PA, their parents and older siblings.Forty-six families, who had a child with PA, completed QoL (PedsQL or WHOQOL-BREF), anxiety (SCAS or STAI) and perceived stress (PSS) scales. PA children completed a PA specific QoL questionnaire (Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2003;14:378). Parents and sibling also completed QoL proxy questionnaires for the PA child (PedsQL, Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2003;14:378).Mothers rated their own psychological (P < 0.01) and physical (P < 0.05) QoL significantly worse than fathers rated theirs, and had higher scores than fathers for anxiety (P < 0.05) and stress (P < 0.001). Children with PA had significantly poorer physical health-related QoL (P < 0.05), QoL within school (P < 0.01) and general QoL (P < 0.05) than their siblings did, and greater separation anxiety (P < 0.05). The majority of differences were between girls with PA and female siblings. Mothers felt that there was a greater impact on QoL for their PA child, compared with that reported by siblings, fathers or the PA children themselves (P < 0.01).Mothers report that they have significantly poorer QoL and suffer more anxiety and stress than fathers do; this inter-parental difference may be an important feature of family stress caused by PA. Siblings have a similar view of how QoL affects the PA child as the PA child does, while mothers may possibly overestimate this impact.
Sodium Channel Mutations and Susceptibility to Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Timothy M. Olson, Virginia V. Michels, Jeffrey D. Ballew, Sandra P. Reyna, Margaret L. Karst, Kathleen J. Herron, Steven C. Horton, Richard J. Rodeheffer, Jeffrey L. Anderson
Journal: JAMA (2005)

Context Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a genetically heterogeneous disorder, causes heart failure and rhythm disturbances.The majority of identified DCM genes encode structural proteins of the contractile apparatus and cytoskeleton.Recently, genetic defects in calcium and potassium regulation have been discovered in patients with DCM, implicating an alternative disease mechanism.The full spectrum of genetic defects in DCM, however, has not been established.Objectives To identify a novel gene for DCM at a previously mapped locus, define the spectrum of mutations in this gene within a DCM cohort, and determine the frequency of DCM among relatives inheriting a mutation in this gene.Design, Setting, and Participants Refined mapping of a DCM locus on chromosome 3p in a multigenerational family and mutation scanning in 156 unrelated probands with DCM, prospectively identified at the Mayo Clinic between 1987 and 2004.Relatives underwent screening echocardiography and electrocardiography and DNA sample procurement.Main Outcome Measure Correlation of identified mutations with cardiac phenotype. ResultsRefined locus mapping revealed SCN5A, encoding the cardiac sodium channel, as a candidate gene.Mutation scans identified a missense mutation (D1275N) that cosegregated with an age-dependent, variably expressed phenotype of DCM, atrial fibrillation, impaired automaticity, and conduction delay.In the DCM cohort, additional missense (T220I, R814W, D1595H) and truncation (2550-2551insTG) SCN5A mutations, segregating with cardiac disease or arising de novo, were discovered in unrelated probands.Among individuals with an SCN5A mutation 27% had early features of DCM (mean age at diagnosis, 20.3 years), 38% had DCM (mean age at diagnosis, 47.9 years), and 43% had atrial fibrillation (mean age at diagnosis, 27.8 years).Conclusions Heritable SCN5A defects are associated with susceptibility to earlyonset DCM and atrial fibrillation.Similar or even identical mutations may lead to heart failure, arrhythmia, or both.
Vascular ATP-sensitive potassium channels are over-expressed and partially regulated by nitric oxide in experimental septic shock
Authors: Solène Collin, Nacira Sennoun, Anne-Gaëlle Dron, Mathilde de la Bourdonnaye, Chantal Montemont, Pierre Asfar, Patrick Lacolley, Ferhat Meziani, Bruno Levy
Journal: Intensive Care Medicine (2011)
Direct Muscle Delivery of GDNF With Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Motor Neuron Survival and Function in a Rat Model of Familial ALS
Authors: Masatoshi Suzuki, Jacalyn McHugh, Craig Tork, Brandon Shelley, Antonio Hayes, Ilaria Bellantuono, Patrick Aebischer, Clive N Svendsen
Journal: Molecular Therapy (2008)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in which there is a progressive loss of motor neurons and their connections to muscle, leading to paralysis. In order to maintain muscle connections in a rat model of familial ALS (FALS), we performed intramuscular transplantation with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) used as "Trojan horses" to deliver growth factors to the terminals of motor neurons and to the skeletal muscles. hMSCs engineered to secrete glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (hMSC-GDNF) were transplanted bilaterally into three muscle groups. The cells survived within the muscle, released GDNF, and significantly increased the number of neuromuscular connections and motor neuron cell bodies in the spinal cord at mid-stages of the disease. Further, intramuscular transplantation with hMSC-GDNF was found to ameliorate motor neuron loss within the spinal cord where it connects with the limb muscles receiving transplants. While disease onset was similar in all the animals, hMSC-GDNF significantly delayed disease progression, increasing overall lifespan by up to 28 days, which is one of the largest effects on survival noted for this rat model of FALS. This preclinical data provides a novel and practical approach toward ex vivo gene therapy for ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in which there is a progressive loss of motor neurons and their connections to muscle, leading to paralysis. In order to maintain muscle connections in a rat model of familial ALS (FALS), we performed intramuscular transplantation with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) used as "Trojan horses" to deliver growth factors to the terminals of motor neurons and to the skeletal muscles. hMSCs engineered to secrete glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (hMSC-GDNF) were transplanted bilaterally into three muscle groups. The cells survived within the muscle, released GDNF, and significantly increased the number of neuromuscular connections and motor neuron cell bodies in the spinal cord at mid-stages of the disease. Further, intramuscular transplantation with hMSC-GDNF was found to ameliorate motor neuron loss within the spinal cord where it connects with the limb muscles receiving transplants. While disease onset was similar in all the animals, hMSC-GDNF significantly delayed disease progression, increasing overall lifespan by up to 28 days, which is one of the largest effects on survival noted for this rat model of FALS. This preclinical data provides a novel and practical approach toward ex vivo gene therapy for ALS.
Handwashing Practices for the Prevention of Nosocomial Infections
Authors: ALLEN C. STEERE
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1975)

Handwashing is generally considered the most important procedure in preventing nosocomial infections, because many types of these infections may be caused by organisms transmitted on the hands of personnel. Personnel should wash their hands before and after significant contact with any patient. The risk of personnel acquiring transient hand carriage of organisms is usually greatest after contact with excretions, secretions, or blood; patients at greatest risk are those undergoing surgery, those with catheters, and newborn infants. Although handwashing with an antiseptic agent between patient contacts is theoretically desirable, handwashing with soap, water, and mechanical friction are sufficient to remove most transiently acquired organisms. Antiseptic agents may produce excessively dry skin if used frequently, and any regimen of handwashing that leads to dermatitis negates the purpose of handwashing. We favor antiseptics for handwashing before surgery and other high-risk invasive procedures and in the care of newborn infants but prefer soap and water for other handwashing.
Glutamate Enhances Amphiregulin (AREG) Production from Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: K. Orihara, V. Anaparti, P. Sharma, A. Matsuda, K. Matsumoto, H. Saito, A. Halayko, R. Moqbel
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2011)