tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of asthma and asthma symptoms in a general population sample from northern Italy
Authors: Alessandra Marinoni
Journal: Allergy (1995)

The European Community Respiratory Health Survey is an international survey of the general population which aims to establish whether there are significant variations in the prevalence of asthma among European countries. The present paper reports the prevalence of asthma and asthma‐like symptoms in a sample of subjects living in three areas of northern Italy: Turin, Pavia, and Verona. Samples of residents 20–44 years old (3000 subjects in Turin and Verona and 1000 in Pavia) stratified by sex (M:E= 1/1) were randomly selected from local health authority lists in the three participating areas. To correct the observed prevalence estimate for nonresponse bias, a method proposed by Drane was applied. Of the sampled subjects, 86% (6031) participated in the survey. Two different definitions of asthma were adopted: 1) prevalence of asthma attack in the last 12 months; 2) prevalence of asthma attack or treatment with antiasthmatic drugs, or both wheezing apart from the common cold and wheezing with shortness of breath. This combination of symptoms has been called current asthma. According to these definitions, the prevalence of asthma attack was 3.47% (3.74%, in men and 3.14% in women), and the prevalence of current asthma was 5.01% (5.07% in men and 4.90% in women). The lowest prevalence was found in Pavia; the highest in Turin. Our findings support the hypothesis that the difference in prevalence reflects the difference in mortality.
Osteochondritis Dissecans: Loose Bodies in Joints. Etiology, Pathology, Treatment
Authors: William E. Wilson
Journal: JAMA (1961)

This is an authoritative clinical monograph by the author of<i>Injuries of the Knee Joint</i>. The first part of the book presents the author's views concerning the cause and pathology of osteochondritis dissecans in various joints. A relationship is demonstrated between the classical lesion and various other epiphyseal conditions. The author's opinions are supported by well-correlated clinical, radiological, and operative data. The remainder of the book is devoted to treatment. The author advocates conservative surgery. The loose fragment is nailed to the defect after suitable preparation of the bony surfaces; the nail is extracted at a second arthrotomy. Although longterm end-results are lacking, the method seems well suited for the treatment of large defects and osteochondral fractures in adults. Unfortunately, the author also unreservedly advocates the use of this method in the treatment of knee lesions in children. This is contrary to the wide experience of Green and Banks, whom
Cytology of Skin Exudates in Severe Childhood Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: I. Nomura, M. Yoshida, N. Inoue, A. Aota, A. Saito, M. Futamura, M. Akashi, M. Narita, T. Suda, A. Akasawa, Y. Ohya
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2006)
Prolonged Corticotrophic Action of a Synthetic Substituted 1-18 ACTH
Authors: J. Keenan, J. B. Thompson, M. A. Chamberlain, G. M. Besser
Journal: BMJ (1971)

The adrenocorticotrophic effects of a synthetic corticotrophin analogue, alpha(1-18) ACTH with D-serine(1), lysine(17), and lysine amide(18) substitutions has been studied. It is effective after both intramuscular and subcutaneous administration and compared with tetracosactrin depot (Synacthen depot, Cortrosyn depot) it has a similarly prolonged time course of action-about 24 hours after 0.5 mg and 30 hours after 1 mg. Unlike tetracosactrin depot, however, it is well absorbed when given intranasally and does not produce painful reactions at the site of injection. Its prolonged time course of action does not depend on a formulation designed to delay its release from the injection site but most probably on a decreased rate of degradation in the circulation.
Color Blindness and Bowel Bleeding
Authors: Sydney S. Pearl
Journal: JAMA (1978)

<h3>To the Editor. —</h3> As a proctologist, I would like to publicize the potential danger of red color blindness with failure to recognize bowel bleeding early, before alteration in bowel function and other signs arise. All physicians, not just proctologists, ophthalmologists, and urologists, should alert red color-blind patients to this possibility. This will require inspection by a second party, frequently the spouse, when bleeding from any body orifice is suspected. Many lives will obviously be saved with early intervention.
The CD46-Jagged1 interaction is critical for human TH1 immunity
Authors: Gaëlle Le Friec, Devon Sheppard, Pat Whiteman, Christian M Karsten, Salley Al-Tilib Shamoun, Adam Laing, Laurence Bugeon, Margaret J Dallman, Teresa Melchionna, Chandramouli Chillakuri, Richard A Smith, Christian Drouet, Lionel Couzi, Veronique Fremeaux-Bacchi, Jörg Köhl, Simon N Waddington, James M McDonnell, Alastair Baker, Penny A Handford, Susan M Lea, Claudia Kemper
Journal: Nature Immunology (2012)
Renal and hemodynamic effects of intravenous fenoldopam versus nitroprusside in severe hypertension.
Authors: W J Elliott, R R Weber, K S Nelson, C M Oliner, M T Fumo, D D Gretler, G R McCray, M B Murphy
Journal: Circulation (1990)

The renal and hemodynamic effects of intravenously administered fenoldopam mesylate, a novel dopamine-1 receptor agonist, were compared with those of sodium nitroprusside in 28 patients (18 male; 26 black, two white; average age, 49 +/- 3 years) with an average blood pressure of 219/137 mm Hg, most of whom presented with acute target organ damage. Fenoldopam and nitroprusside lowered blood pressure safely to an average pressure of 176/105 mm Hg; highly significant dose-response relations were found for the 13 patients receiving fenoldopam and the 15 receiving nitroprusside. Volume and sodium, potassium, and creatinine concentrations were measured in freely voided urine specimens both before and during intravenous therapy. In the fenoldopam-treated patients, there were significant increases in urinary flow (92 +/- 21 to 168 +/- 37 ml/hr, p less than 0.003), sodium excretion (227 +/- 73 to 335 +/- 90 mu eq/min, p less than 0.001), and creatinine clearance (70 +/- 11 to 93 +/- 13 ml/hr, p less than 0.003). In the nitroprusside-treated group, however, all these parameters decreased, but not significantly. For direct comparison of the two agents, the increments in urinary flow rate (+76 +/- 20 vs. -16 +/- 15 ml/hr, fenoldopam vs. nitroprusside), sodium excretion (+109 +/- 28 vs. -39 +/- 28 mu eq/min), and creatinine clearance (+23 +/- 6 vs. -11 +/- 7 ml/min) were significantly greater (p less than 0.001 for each) in the fenoldopam-treated group. Significant differences were also obtained when these parameters were calculated as percentage increase over baseline. Fenoldopam and nitroprusside are effective therapies for severe, accelerated, or malignant hypertension, but fenoldopam had additional salutary renal effects in these patients.
TCT-8 6-month versus 12-month dual antiplatelet therapy after implantation of 2nd generation drug-eluting stents with Biolimus-eluting Versus Zotarolimus-eluting stent: Prospective, Randomized, Multicenter Trial
Authors: Byoung Kwon Lee, Hong Bum-Kee, Young Won Yoon, Pil-Ki Min, Hyuck Moon Kwon, Byoung Keuk Kim, Myeong-Ki Hong, Yang soo Jang
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2013)
The effect of nifedipine on arterial pressure and reflex cardiac control.
Authors: R A McLeay, T J Stallard, R D Watson, W A Littler
Journal: Circulation (1983)

Nine patients with untreated essential hypertension (mean casual blood pressure 173/109 +/- 14/7 mm Hg) (+/- SD) were studied in the control state and after 16 weeks of treatment with nifedipine, 10 mg orally every 8 hours. Direct arterial blood pressure monitored continuously over 24 hours showed that nifedipine significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure throughout the day and the night. The variability of blood pressure was not altered by nifedipine therapy. There was no significant change in heart rate after nifedipine therapy. Chronic nifedipine therapy increased forearm blood flow and decreased forearm vascular resistance, consistent with its action as a vasodilator. The absolute blood pressure responses to tilt, handgrip and cold were reduced, but the percent increase in pressure was not altered by therapy. Plasma renin activity was not altered by chronic nifedipine therapy. At each study, the sensitivity and setting of the baroreflex response to i.v. phenylephrine was measured. After chronic nifedipine therapy there was resetting of the sinoaortic baroreflex and an increase in its sensitivity. Successful control of blood pressure with nifedipine led to a significant reduction in the left ventricular mass index.
Repeated Upper Endoscopy in the Medicare Population
Authors: Heiko Pohl, Douglas Robertson, H. Gilbert Welch
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2014)

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is done often for various indications. Little is known about the frequency of repeated EGD and the diagnoses that drive it.To describe the frequency of repeated EGD in the Medicare population and determine diagnoses most often associated with it.Retrospective analysis.Medicare database.Among a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were used to identify patients who had an index EGD between 2004 and 2006. Diagnoses from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, reported for the index endoscopy were divided into 3 diagnostic groups on the basis of whether the index diagnosis suggested that repeated EGD was expected, uncertain, or not expected.Proportion of patients with repeated EGD within 3 years of an index EGD.Approximately 12% of Medicare beneficiaries had an EGD between 2004 and 2006 (n = 108 785). Of these, 33% (n = 36 331) had at least 1 repeated EGD within 3 years. Of all patients with initial EGDs, 10% (n = 11 370) had an associated diagnosis suggesting a need for follow-up examination, whereas 61% (n = 66 307) did not. Of all patients with repeated examinations, 54% (n = 19 687) came from the group in which repeated EGD was not expected. When new clinical events were excluded, 43% of all patients with repeated EGDs (n = 15 706) did not have a diagnosis at index or repeated EGD that justified a repeated examination.Whether individual procedures were clinically indicated cannot be verified.One in 3 Medicare beneficiaries who received an EGD had a repeated EGD within 3 years. Nearly one half of repeated examinations were done in patients with diagnoses at index or repeated EGD that did not suggest the need for a repeated examination.None.
Local Lesion-Related Factors and Restenosis After Coronary Angioplasty
Authors: Pascal de Groote, Christophe Bauters, Eugène P. McFadden, Jean-Marc Lablanche, Fabrice Leroy, Michel E. Bertrand
Journal: Circulation (1995)

Background Restenosis rates are high when coronary angioplasty is performed in patients with unstable angina. The relative contributions of local and systemic factors to this excess risk of restenosis are unclear. To assess these, we compared changes in minimal lumen diameter and the incidence of restenosis, determined by quantitative coronary angiography, after coronary angioplasty at culprit and nonculprit lesions dilated in the course of a single procedure in patients with unstable angina. Methods and Results We identified 67 consecutive patients with unstable angina in whom two lesions, in different vessels, were dilated during the same procedure. Lesions were designated as culprit or nonculprit on the basis of the location of ECG changes during chest pain combined with assessment of the angiographic characteristics of the lesions. With these criteria, 43 patients had identifiable culprit lesions. Stenosis severity before and immediately after angioplasty and at follow-up was assessed with quantitative angiography. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 91% (39 patients) of this subgroup. Culprit lesions were more severe ( P &lt;.02) than nonculprit lesions. The late loss at culprit lesions (0.87±0.75 mm) was significantly ( P &lt;.01) greater than the equivalent value for nonculprit lesions (0.33±0.69 mm). With a categorical definition (&gt;50% stenosis at follow-up), restenosis occurred at 67% of culprit lesions and at 32% of nonculprit lesions ( P &lt;.01). Conclusions The greater loss in minimal lumen diameter and the consequent higher rate of restenosis at culprit compared with nonculprit lesions suggest that local “lesion-related” factors are an important determinant of the high rate of restenosis when coronary angioplasty is performed in patients with unstable angina.
Intramural Hematoma of the Duodenum in a Patient with Chronic Pancreatitis
Authors: J.P. van Spreeuwel, L.H.M. van Gorp, T.J. Bast, J.H.S.M. Nadorp
Journal: Endoscopy (1981)

Intramural hematoma of the duodenum is usually caused by blunt abdominal injury. Sometimes this lesion occurs in patients with coagulation disturbances or pancreatic disease such as chronic pancreatitis. There also appears to be a link with alcohol abuse.
Commentary: Politics and the Health Care System
Authors: U E Reinhardt
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1992)

American youngsters are taught in their civics courses that "smart" American voters stand ready to be confronted with tough choices, to ponder them carefully, and to express their own choices at the ballot box.Real-life politicians rarely meet such voters. More typically, politicians confront apathetic voters whose attention span is taxed even by the minimalist sound bites of the morning television shows, and who expect magic from political candidates. For example, they expect that government will protect Americans from any rationing of health care, will finance acute and long-term care for all the elderly (rich as well as poor), will . . .
The HPV-activating cellular transcription factor Brn-3a is overexpressed in CIN3 cervical lesions.
Authors: D Ndisdang, P J Morris, C Chapman, L Ho, A Singer, D S Latchman
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1998)

The cervical cellular transcription factors Brn-3a and Brn-3b have antagonistic effects on transcription of the human papilloma virus types 16 and 18 E6 and E7 oncogenes, with Brn-3a activating expression and Brn-3b repressing it. We therefore measured expression of Brn-3a and Brn-3b mRNAs in biopsies from 16 women with no detectable cervical abnormality, and in 14 women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3) lesions. Although the mean level of Brn-3b expression was similar in both groups, the mean level of Brn-3a expression was over 300-fold higher in the CIN3 samples when compared with normals. Elevated expression of Brn-3a was also detected in 16 histologically normal regions of the cervix adjacent to the CIN3 lesions, indicating that elevation of Brn-3a levels is not confined to the lesion in women with CIN3, and is thus not a consequence of the oncogenic process. The elevated levels of Brn-3a in the CIN3 patient samples, together with the activating effect of Brn-3a on HPV-16 and -18 oncogene expression, suggest that induction of this factor is involved in activating HPV-16 and -18 oncogene expression in the cervix, and hence in the production of cervical cancers induced by HPV.
Current Concepts in Leukemia: Report of the Thirty-fourth Ross Conference on Pediatric Research
Authors: Howard R. Bierman
Journal: JAMA (1961)

This report is aimed at bringing the clinician abreast of developments in the basic sciences dealing with cell growth and neoplasia, specifically related to the leukemias. The topics range from the morphology, biochemistry, and pathophysiology of the leukemic cell to various modes of leukemogenesis, genetics, environmental factors, and childhood leukemia. The reader may find many points of information concerning cell growth and neoplasia, but rather than carrying each of these ideas through in depth, the booklet presents the interplay of thoughts of many investigators, not necessarily in agreement, concerning their researches. This pamphlet is therefore not a thorough reference source for the future, but rather indicates the current direction of research in this field. Fortunately, there is a bibliography with each section. This book should interest the investigator in the leukemias. It will be of only slight interest to the clinician, because of its failure to translate concisely the relative
Direct measurement of proinsulin in human plasma by the use of an insulin-degrading enzyme
Authors: Abbas E. Kitabchi, William C. Duckworth, James S. Brush, Martha Heinemann
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1971)

A method has been described for the direct measurement of proinsulin in human plasma. The method makes use of an insulin-degrading enzyme designated "insulin-specific protease (ISP)", which is obtained from rat skeletal muscle. Under the conditions used, this enzyme rapidly degrades insulin and insulin-like polypeptides to nonimmunoassayable components, whereas proinsulin and proinsulin cleaved at position B(54,55) are not appreciably affected. The incubation of plasma with ISP results in the disappearance of insulin, but not proinsulin, as demonstrated by column chromatography. Immunoassay of the plasma, therefore, before and after incubation, determines the values for the total immunoreactive substance (TIR) and for immunoreactive proinsulin (IRP), respectively. The values obtained for proinsulin levels are reproducible and compare closely with the more complicated column fractionation methods. Proinsulin responses were studied in four normal subjects and one patient with an insulinoma after a glucose load. Fasting proinsulin levels varied widely in the normal subjects, and the levels rose more slowly than TIR levels after glucose. IRP levels in the patient with an insulinoma were very high and fell to normal after removal of the tumor. The ISP method, therefore, appears to be suitable for the direct, accurate, and rapid determination of proinsulin and proinsulin-like materials in human plasma.
Frequency and clinical associations of anti-chromo antibodies in connective tissue disease.
Authors: E Soriano, J Whyte, N J McHugh
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1994)

OBJECTIVES--To assess the frequency and clinical associations of anti-chromo antibodies in connective tissue disease and to study their relationship to anti-centromere autoreactivity. METHODS--Anti-chromo and anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) were measured by immunoblotting in 50 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and 58 connective tissue disease controls. Common epitopes on centromere and chromo antigens were sought using affinity-purified antibodies from immunoblots. RESULTS--Anti-chromo antibodies were detected in three of 32 sera with ACA and no controls. The three patients with anti-chromo antibodies had limited cutaneous SSc, and two had erosive arthritis. No cross-reactivity between chromo or centromere-related proteins was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS--Anti-chromo antibodies form a rare autoantibody specificity that may identify an overlap group of patients with SSc and arthritis. Chromo and centromere antigens are associated but immunologically distinct autoimmune targets. Whether they localise to the same chromosomal site remains unknown.
New treatments for kidney cancer
Authors: Jonathan Waxman, Laura Kenny, Sarah Ngan
Journal: BMJ (2008)

<h3>OBJECTIVES</h3> To determine whether, in a case-referent study of infertility patients, cases with low motile sperm count were more likely than referents to have had exposure to organic solvents. <h3>METHODS</h3> Occupations of men attending fertility clinics in Canada were assigned codes reflecting probable exposure to organic solvents, at four grades of intensity, using a job exposure matrix previously developed. A case referent design was used, with cases being defined as men with &lt;12×10<sup>6</sup>/ml motile sperm. Information from 656 men in manual work attending a single clinic in Montreal in 1972–91 was used for the main study. A separate analysis was conducted with information for 574 men in manual work attending 10 further clinics across Canada in 1984–7. <h3>RESULTS</h3> In the Montreal series a significant association was found between intensity of exposure to solvents and clinical findings of &lt;12×10<sup>6</sup>/ml motile sperm. Odds ratios (ORs), after allowing for confounding, were 2.07 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.24 to 3.44) for moderate exposure to solvents and 3.83 (95% CI 1.37 to 10.65) for high exposure. In the second series of 568 men, the effect was confirmed at high exposure to solvents (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.01 to 8.34) but not at moderate exposure (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.92). <h3>CONCLUSIONS</h3> Exposure to organic solvents is common both at work and in recreational pursuits. The results of this study suggest that efforts should be made to identify the compounds hazardous to male fertility, and if the risk is confirmed, to regulate their use.
Hypothyroidism in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis
Authors: O M Edwards, R G Dent
Journal: BMJ (1989)

Hypothyroidism in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis SIR,-The paper by Dr B Dasgupta and colleagues showing no association between polymyalgia rheumatica or giant cell arteritis and hypothyroidism in 77 patients' agreed with our experience.After reading of such an association,2 we measured the thyroid function of patients being followed up for these conditions in our rheumatology clinic.
Testing Neomycin Contact Sensitivity
Authors: Wolfgang P. Raab
Journal: JAMA (1968)

<h3>To the Editor:—</h3> In a letter (<b>201</b>: 143, 1967), Dr. Wolfgang P. Raab questioned the diagnostic value of positive results of patch and intradermal tests done with the concentrations now used to prove neomycin allergy. His conclusions were based on an extrapolation of the results of animal experiments; namely, that guinea pigs, rats, and mice show anaphylactoid (ie, toxic, immediate-type) reactions to intracutaneous injections of 0.1 ml of a 1% neomycin solution. I am aware that intradermal injections of neomycin solutions of this concentration also produce a wheal with a flare in both allergic and nonallergic humans. This type of reaction, however, is not diagnostic of neomycin contact sensitivity. Dr. Raab has confused the issue. It is the delayed eczematous response to tests, not the immediate whealing reaction, that is characteristic of contact sensitivity. Some drugs, apparently "histamine releasers," may cause papular delayed reactions. Intradermal injections of 0.1 ml of
Quality‐of‐life issues in survivors to anaphylactic reactions to drugs
Authors: I. Baiardini, F. Gaeta, G. Molinengo, F. Braido, G.W. Canonica, A. Romano
Journal: Allergy (2015)

Abstract The aim of this cross‐sectional observational study was to explore quality of life and well‐being in patients with drug‐induced anaphylaxis. Two validated tools were used: the Drug Hypersensitivity Quality‐of‐Life Questionnaire (DrHy‐Q) and the Psychological General Well‐Being Index ( PGWBI ). Sixty‐five patients (13 males) underwent data analysis. The mean DrHy‐Q score was 62.82 ± 12.1. Mean PGWBI score was 64.03 ± 17.66. DrHy‐Q score was significantly correlated with PGWBI total score ( r = −0.314; P = 0.011) and with the following domains: Anxiety ( r = −0.260; P = 0.036), Depressed mood ( r = −0.406; P = 0.001), Positive well‐being ( r = −0.251; P = 0.004), and General Health ( r = −0.352; P = 0.004). Compared with the Italian reference population, patients had a significantly reduced PGWBI total and domain score. Our results highlight for the first time how impaired HRQoL and distress commonly feature in survivors to anaphylactic reactions to drug.