tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary hypertension: NO therapy?
Authors: S. Adnot, B. Raffestin
Journal: Thorax (1996)

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) is a powerful pulmonary vasodilator which also prevents adhesion and aggregation of platelets, controls growth of smooth muscle, and influences the expression of growth promoting and vasoactive substances. Impaired endothelial NO production contributes to pulmonary vasoconstriction and vascular remodelling in several forms of pulmonary hypertension. Exogenous NO gas delivered via the airspaces is a selective pulmonary vasodilator now used as treatment in various lung disorders.
Immunoblotting profiles in 55 systemic lupus erythematosus sera lacking precipitating antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens.
Authors: O Meyer, P Bourgeois, A Aeschlimann, T Haim, J P Mery, M F Kahn
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1989)

Serum samples from 55 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were selected for the absence of anti-extractable nuclear antigen antibodies after routine immunodiffusion tests. These sera were immunoblotted for anti-Sm and anti-RNP antibodies on a HeLa cell nuclear extract. Ten (18%) were negative and 45 (82%) produced complex patterns: 10 (18%) suggestive of anti-Sm, three (5%) anti-RNP, and 32 (58%) a combination of anti-Sm and anti-RNP antibodies. These data were very similar to those obtained from sera from a control group of 28 SLE sera selected for positivity of anti-Sm and anti-RNP precipitins with the immunodiffusion test. IgM isotype antibodies to the D peptide were significantly more prevalent than IgG isotype antibodies, whereas antibodies to the 68 kD polypeptide were of both IgM and IgG isotypes. Sera with an anti-Sm/RNP immunoblotting pattern stemmed from a group of patients with SLE with a higher titre of anti-dsDNA antibodies. Among clinical symptoms, the incidence of haemolytic anaemia was higher in the group of patients with the anti-Sm immunoblotting profile. Patients with an anti-RNP immunoblotting profile showed a higher incidence of cutaneous symptoms. It is concluded that immunoblotting for anti-Sm or anti-RNP antibody determination is a very sensitive diagnostic tool in patients with SLE.
Relationship Between Healthy Diet and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among Patients on Drug Therapies for Secondary Prevention
Authors: Mahshid Dehghan, Andrew Mente, Koon K. Teo, Peggy Gao, Peter Sleight, Gilles Dagenais, Alvaro Avezum, Jeffrey L. Probstfield, Tony Dans, Salim Yusuf
Journal: Circulation (2012)

Diet quality is strongly related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence, but little is known about its impact on CVD events in older people at high risk of CVD and receiving effective drugs for secondary prevention. This study assessed the association between diet quality and CVD events in a large population of subjects from 40 countries with CVD or diabetes mellitus with end-organ damage receiving proven medications.Overall, 31 546 women and men 66.5±6.2 years of age enrolled in 2 randomized trials, the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination With Ramipril Global End Point Trial (ONTARGET) and the Telmisartan Randomized Assessment Study in ACEI Intolerant Subjects With Cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND), were studied. We used 2 dietary indexes: the modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index and the Diet Risk Score. The association between diet quality and the primary composite outcome of CV death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or congestive heart failure was assessed with Cox proportional hazard regression with adjustment for age, sex, trial enrollment allocation, region, and other known confounders. During the 56-month follow-up, there were 5190 events. Patients in the healthier quintiles of modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index scores had a significantly lower risk of CVD (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.87, top versus lowest quintile of modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index). The reductions in risk for CV death, myocardial infarction, and stroke were 35%, 14%, and 19%, respectively. The protective association was consistent regardless of whether patients were receiving proven drugs.A higher-quality diet was associated with a lower risk of recurrent CVD events among people ≥55 years of age with CVD or diabetes mellitus. Highlighting the importance of healthy eating by health professionals would substantially reduce CVD recurrence and save lives globally.
UK authorities recommend human cloning for therapeutic research
Authors: S. Mayor
Journal: BMJ (1998)

Leading authorities in the United Kingdom have recommended that the government consider changing legislation to allow the cloning of human cells for therapeutic research but have reiterated their support for a ban on cloning for reproductive purposes in a report published this week.

The report from the Human Genetics Advisory Commission and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has suggested that cell nucleus replacement techniques--cloning techniques used to develop tissues--should be permitted. However, it has …
Determination of the optimum operating point for a handheld minimal erythema dose device
Authors: D. Turner, V. Goulden
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2013)

Journal Article Determination of the optimum operating point for a handheld minimal erythema dose device Get access D. Turner, D. Turner Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust Leeds U.K E‐mail: david.turner@leedsth.nhs.uk Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar V. Goulden V. Goulden Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust Leeds U.K Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 170, Issue 4, 1 April 2014, Pages 996–997, https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.12793 Published: 01 April 2014
OT-03 * WHEN TO BIOPSY A PINEAL REGION MASS IN CHILDREN
Authors: C. Erker, S. Subramanian, T. Kelly, S. Jogal
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2015)

Pineal region tumors account for 2.8-9% of all CNS malignancies in children. The differential diagnosis of a pediatric pineal region tumor is broad and diagnostic strategies can vary. Literature combining medical and radiographic data prior to considering surgical biopsy is sparse. At times a biopsy and/or resection may not be necessary and carries associated morbidity. By using specific criteria to direct diagnosis these risks can be minimized. The criteria utilized show how tumor markers and presence of bifocal disease are utilized to diagnose different germ cell tumors without a biopsy. A pineal region tumor with elevation of AFP or B-hCG greater than 100mIU/ml is consistent with a nongerminomatous germ cell tumor. A pineal region tumor with normal AFP and B-hCG elevated but less than <50mUI/ml is consistent with a germinoma. The presence of fat on MRI makes mature teratoma likely and upfront resection should be pursued. Other important imaging features that help narrow differential diagnosis include presence of central calcification engulfed by tumor can be seen in germinoma, presence of peripheral calification in pinealoblastoma. Low ADC values are typical of cellular tumors like papillary tumors of the pineal region, germ cell tumor, and pinealoblastoma. High ADC values are noted in tectal gliomas or mature teratomas. By combining clinical, laboratory and radiographic modalities to derive the most accurate pre-surgical diagnosis a high pretest probability is achieved. Our proposed model facilitates consistent decision making as to whether or not to biopsy pediatric pineal region tumors.
Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer of the Lower Urinary Tract
Authors: Alan S. Morrison, Julie E. Buring
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1980)

We evaluated the relation between cancer of the lower urinary tract and the use of artificial sweeteners in a case-control study of 592 patients with lower-urinary-tract cancer (94 per cent of whom had a bladder tumor) and 536 controls chosen from the general population of the study area. A history of use or artificial sweeteners and exposure to other known or suspected risk factors was determined by interview. In those who had used dietetic beverages and in those who had used sugar substitutes, the relative risk of lower-urinary-tract cancer was estimated as 0.9 (0.7 to 1.2, 95 per cent confidence interval), as compared with 1 in nonusers of artificial sweeteners. Among men, the relative risk was 0.8 (0.6 to 1.1) in those who had used dietetic beverages and 0.8 (0.5 to 1.1) in those who had used sugar substitutes. Among women, the corresponding relative risks were 1.6 (0.9 to 2.7) and 1.5 (0.9 to 2.6). Increasing frequency of duration of use of artificial sweeteners was not consistently associated with increasing relative risk. This study suggests that, as a group, users of artificial sweeteners have little or no excess risks of cancer of the lower urinary tract.
Evaluation of Investigations Conducted to Detect and Prevent Transmission of Tuberculosis
Authors: Mary R. Reichler
Journal: JAMA (2002)

Contact investigations are routinely conducted by health departments throughout the United States for all cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) to identify secondary cases of active TB and latent TB infection and to initiate therapy as needed in these contacts. Little is known about the actual procedures followed, or the results.To evaluate contact investigations conducted by US health departments and the outcomes of these investigations.Review of health department records for all contacts of 349 patients with culture-positive pulmonary TB aged 15 years or older reported from 5 study areas in the United States during 1996.Number of contacts identified, fully screened, and infected per TB patient; rates of TB infection and disease among contacts of TB patients; and type and completeness of data collected during contact investigations.A total of 3824 contacts were identified for 349 patients with active pulmonary TB. Of the TB patients, 45 (13%) had no contacts identified. Of the contacts, 55% completed screening, 27% had an initial but no postexposure tuberculin skin test, 12% were not screened, and 6% had a history of prior TB or prior positive tuberculin skin test. Of 2095 contacts who completed screening, 68% had negative skin test results, 24% had initial positive results with no prior test result available, 7% had documented skin test conversions, and 1% had active TB at the time of investigation. Close contacts younger than 15 years (76% screened vs 65% for older age groups; P<.001) or exposed to a TB patient with a positive smear (74% screened vs 59% for those with a negative smear; P<.001) were more likely to be fully screened. Close contacts exposed to TB patients with both a positive smear and a cavitary chest radiograph were more likely to have TB infection or disease (62% vs 33% for positive smear only vs 44% for cavitary radiograph only vs 37% for neither characteristic; P<.001). A number of factors associated with TB patient infectiousness, contact susceptibility to infection, contact risk of progression to active TB, and amount of contact exposure to the TB patient were not routinely recorded in health department records.Improvement is needed in the complex, multistep process of contact investigations to ensure that contacts of patients with active pulmonary TB are identified and appropriately screened.
The protective effect of a beta 2 agonist against excessive airway narrowing in response to bronchoconstrictor stimuli in asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease.
Authors: E. H. Bel, A. H. Zwinderman, M. C. Timmers, J. H. Dijkman, P. J. Sterk
Journal: Thorax (1991)

Beta 2 agonists reduce airway hypersensitivity to bronchoconstrictor stimuli acutely in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease. To determine whether these drugs also protect against excessive airway narrowing, the effect of inhaled salbutamol on the position and shape of the dose-response curves for histamine or methacholine was investigated in 12 patients with asthma and 11 with chronic obstructive lung disease. After pretreatment with salbutamol (200 or 400 micrograms) or placebo in a double blind manner dose-response curves for inhaled histamine and methacholine were obtained by a standard method on six days in random order. Airway sensitivity was defined as the concentration of histamine or methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20). A maximal response plateau on the log dose-response curve was considered to be present if two or more data points for FEV1 fell within a 5% response range. In the absence of a plateau, the test was continued until a predetermined level of severe bronchoconstriction was reached. Salbutamol caused an acute increase in FEV1 (mean increase 11.5% predicted in asthma, 7.2% in chronic obstructive lung disease), and increase in PC20 (mean 15 fold in asthma, fivefold in chronic obstructive lung disease), and an increase in the slope of the dose-response curves in both groups. In subjects in whom a plateau of FEV1 response could be measured salbutamol did not change the level of the plateau. In subjects without a plateau salbutamol did not lead to the development of a plateau, despite achieving a median FEV1 of 44% predicted in asthma and 39% in chronic obstructive lung disease. These results show that, although beta 2 agonists acutely reduce the airway response to a given strength of bronchoconstrictor stimulus, they do not protect against excessive airflow obstruction if there is exposure to relatively strong stimuli. This, together with the steepening of the dose-response curve, could be a disadvantage of beta 2 agonists in the treatment of moderate and severe asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease.
Addressing Literacy and Numeracy to Improve Diabetes Care
Authors: Kerri Cavanaugh, Kenneth A. Wallston, Tebeb Gebretsadik, Ayumi Shintani, Mary Margaret Huizinga, Dianne Davis, Rebecca Pratt Gregory, Robb Malone, Michael Pignone, Darren DeWalt, Tom A. Elasy, Russell L. Rothman
Journal: Diabetes Care (2009)

OBJECTIVE Diabetic patients with lower literacy or numeracy skills are at greater risk for poor diabetes outcomes. This study evaluated the impact of providing literacy- and numeracy-sensitive diabetes care within an enhanced diabetes care program on A1C and other diabetes outcomes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In two randomized controlled trials, we enrolled 198 adult diabetic patients with most recent A1C ≥7.0%, referred for participation in an enhanced diabetes care program. For 3 months, control patients received care from existing enhanced diabetes care programs, whereas intervention patients received enhanced programs that also addressed literacy and numeracy at each institution. Intervention providers received health communication training and used the interactive Diabetes Literacy and Numeracy Education Toolkit with patients. A1C was measured at 3 and 6 months follow-up. Secondary outcomes included self-efficacy, self-management behaviors, and treatment satisfaction. RESULTS At 3 months, both intervention and control patients had significant improvements in A1C from baseline (intervention −1.50 [95% CI −1.80 to −1.02]; control −0.80 [−1.10 to −0.30]). In adjusted analysis, there was greater improvement in A1C in the intervention group than in the control group (P = 0.03). At 6 months, there were no differences in A1C between intervention and control groups. Self-efficacy improved from baseline for both groups. No significant differences were found for self-management behaviors or satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS A literacy- and numeracy-focused diabetes care program modestly improved self-efficacy and glycemic control compared with standard enhanced diabetes care, but the difference attenuated after conclusion of the intervention.
Study of "discharge communications" from hospital.
Authors: R J Mageean
Journal: BMJ (1986)

All hospital discharge communications concerned with acute admission from one general practice over a three month period were analysed. There was an appreciable delay between the time that the patient was discharged and the information was received by the general practitioner. Just over half of the patients had contacted their general practitioner after discharge before the general practitioner had received any information. The content of the communications was variable, and important subjects were frequently omitted. No communication was received for 11% of the discharged patients. There is a need for more efficient communication between secondary and primary care.
Modeling an Anti-Amyloid Combination Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Vivian W. Chow, Alena V. Savonenko, Tatiana Melnikova, Hyunsu Kim, Donald L. Price, Tong Li, Philip C. Wong
Journal: Science Translational Medicine (2010)

Simultaneous reduction of two of the enzymes that create the plaque-forming peptide β-amyloid in Alzheimer’s disease ameliorates symptoms in aged mice better than elimination of either enzyme alone.
Identification of Patients at Low Risk for Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism by Measuring Thrombin Generation
Authors: Gregor Hron, Marietta Kollars, Bernd R. Binder, Sabine Eichinger, Paul A. Kyrle
Journal: JAMA (2006)

Screening of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) for thrombophilic risk factors is common clinical practice. Because of the large number of risk factors, assessing the risk of recurrence in an individual patient is complex. A method covering multicausal thrombophilia is therefore required.To investigate the relationship between recurrence of VTE and a simple global coagulation assay measuring thrombin generation.Prospective cohort study of 914 patients with first spontaneous VTE who were followed up for an average of 47 months after discontinuation of vitamin K antagonist therapy. The study was conducted at the Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, between July 1992 and July 2005. Thrombin generation was measured by a commercially available assay system. Patients with a previous or secondary VTE; antithrombin, protein C, or protein S deficiencies; presence of lupus anticoagulant; cancer; or pregnancy were excluded.Objectively documented symptomatic recurrent VTE.Venous thromboembolism recurred in 100 patients (11%). Patients without recurrent VTE had lower thrombin generation than patients with recurrence (mean [SD], 349.2 [108.0] nM vs 419.5 [110.5] nM, respectively; P<.001). Compared with patients who had thrombin generation greater than 400 nM, the relative risk (RR) of recurrence was 0.42 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26-0.67; P<.001) in patients with values between 400 nM and 300 nM; for patients with lower values, the RR was 0.37 (95% CI, 0.21-0.66; P = .001). After 4 years, the probability of recurrence was 6.5% (95% CI, 4.0%-8.9%) among patients with thrombin generation less than 400 nM compared with 20.0% (95% CI, 14.9%-25.1%) among patients with higher values (P<.001). Patients with thrombin generation less than 400 nM, representing two thirds of patients, had a 60% lower RR of recurrence than those with greater values (RR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.27-0.60; P<.001).Measurement of thrombin generation identifies patients at low risk for recurrent VTE.
Hepatic sortilin regulates both apolipoprotein B secretion and LDL catabolism
Authors: Alanna Strong, Qiurong Ding, Andrew C. Edmondson, John S. Millar, Katherine V. Sachs, Xiaoyu Li, Arthi Kumaravel, Margaret Ye Wang, Ding Ai, Liang Guo, Eric T. Alexander, David Nguyen, Sissel Lund-Katz, Michael C. Phillips, Carlos R. Morales, Alan R. Tall, Sekar Kathiresan, Edward A. Fisher, Kiran Musunuru, Daniel J. Rader
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2012)

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified a genetic variant at a locus on chromosome 1p13 that is associated with reduced risk of myocardial infarction, reduced plasma levels of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), and markedly increased expression of the gene sortilin-1 (SORT1) in liver. Sortilin is a lysosomal sorting protein that binds ligands both in the Golgi apparatus and at the plasma membrane and traffics them to the lysosome. We previously reported that increased hepatic sortilin expression in mice reduced plasma LDL-C levels. Here we show that increased hepatic sortilin not only reduced hepatic apolipoprotein B (APOB) secretion, but also increased LDL catabolism, and that both effects were dependent on intact lysosomal targeting. Loss-of-function studies demonstrated that sortilin serves as a bona fide receptor for LDL in vivo in mice. Our data are consistent with a model in which increased hepatic sortilin binds intracellular APOB-containing particles in the Golgi apparatus as well as extracellular LDL at the plasma membrane and traffics them to the lysosome for degradation. We thus provide functional evidence that genetically increased hepatic sortilin expression both reduces hepatic APOB secretion and increases LDL catabolism, providing dual mechanisms for the very strong association between increased hepatic sortilin expression and reduced plasma LDL-C levels in humans.
The Transmission of Yellow Fever.
Authors: Aristides Agramonte
Journal: JAMA (1903)

Havana, Cuba, May 30, 1903. <h3>To the Editor:</h3> —Being the only other survivor of the Army yellow fever board which demonstrated beyond further doubt the transmission of that disease by the mosquito<i>Stegomyia fasciata</i>, I may be permitted to record a few facts in connection with said investigation, and in refutation of the openly-made or implied assertions by my learned colleague and late coworker, Dr. James Carroll, Washington, D. C., published inThe Journal, May 23, 1903. The omission of my name in the early part of the article referred to, where mention is made of Drs. Reed and Lazear, loses its importance before my eyes, when, on continuing the reading of the text, I find it directed principally in a fruitless endeavor to assail Dr. Finlay's right to the honor of the discovery of the only known way by which yellow fever is transmitted. Aside from this attack on
EXAMINATION OF THE EYES AND EYESIGHT OF YOUNG CHILDREN
Authors: T. Whittington
Journal: BMJ (1928)

Thomson, who agreed that the growth was too advanced for lar ynigo-fissure, and that the patient was not strong enough for larynigectomy because he had an enlarged liver and had suffered from haematemesis.Radium needles buried under-a local anaes- thetic.The growth rapidly shrank and had entirely disappeared in three months.The cord became freely movable although the edge was slightly swollen by oedematous fringes.He now has a louid, hoarse voice.igtr 1-.-A fairlyextensive growth involving the whole of the Iiglvt Vocal cord with infiltration of the ventricular band.So far the growth has not responded to radium treatment, and a further oper-ationi will probably be necessary.