tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Sulphasalazine and Prednisone Compared with Sulphasalazine for Treating Active Crohn Disease
Authors: M C Rijk, R A van Hogezand, H J van Lier, J H van Tongeren
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1991)

Objective: To determine whether sulphasalazine plus prednisone is more effective than sulphasalazine alone in treating active Crohn disease. Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Setting: Multicenter trial in one university hospital and nine general hospitals. Patients: Patients with active Crohn disease and a Van Hees Activity Index of 140 or more. Of 71 patients who were randomly assigned, 60 completed treatment and were analyzed. Interventions: For 16 weeks, 30 patients received sulphasalazine, 6 g/d (or 4 g/d if adverse effects occurred) and prednisone, 30 mg/d initially. Prednisone therapy was tapered in increments of 5 mg/2 wk to 10 mg/d after 8 weeks. Thirty other patients received sulphasalazine and a placebo. Measurements and Main Results: In the first 6 weeks of treatment, the Van Hees Activity Index decreased to a median of 70% (interquartile range, 57% to 81%) of the initial value in patients treated with sulphasalazine and prednisone and to a median of 87% (interquartile range, 70% to 94%) in patients treated with sulphasalazine alone (P = 0.001). In the last 4 weeks of treatment, the corresponding figures were 63% (interquartile range, 40% to 75%) and 70% (interquartile range, 54% to 90%) (P = 0.10). The Crohn's Disease Activity Index decreased in the first 6 weeks to a median of 65% (interquartile range, 57% to 86%) in patients receiving sulphasalazine and prednisone and to a median of 75% (interquartile range, 58% to 101%) in patients receiving sulphasalazine alone (P = 0.13). In the last 4 weeks of treatment, the corresponding figures were 65% (interquartile range, 42% to 90%) and 76% (interquartile range, 49% to 110%) (P = 0.19). Conclusions: The use of prednisone in addition to sulphasalazine in patients with active Crohn disease results in a significantly faster initial improvement, but not in a significantly better result after 16 weeks of treatment, when disease activity is measured by the Van Hees Activity Index.
Abstract 228: Cucurbitacin-I (JSI-124) induces apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells through inhibiting STAT3 activation and XIAP expression
Authors: Ganchimeg Ishdorj
Journal: Cancer Research (2010)

Abstract Abstract AACR April-2010 Cucurbitacin-I (JSI-124) induces apoptosis in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) cells through inhibiting STAT3 activation and XIAP expression. Ganchimeg Ishdorj, James B Johnston and Spencer B Gibson Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia in North America. Current therapies control the disease but eventually the disease recurs and becomes drug resistant. Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays a pivotal role in cell survival and induces proliferation, whereas deletion of STAT3 results in cell death. Constitutive phosphorylation of STAT3 on tyrosine 705 residues has been found in a number of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Unlike other tumors, STAT3 is constitutively phosphorylated (p) on serine 727 but not on tyrosine residues in CLL. These observations lead to investigation of the effect of STAT3/JAK2 inhibitor Cucurbitacin-I (JSI-124) in CLL cells. We proposed that the targeting STAT3 phosphorylation may induce apoptosis in CLL cells. We studied B-cell lines (BJAB, I-83, NALM-6) and primary B-cells from patients with CLL using immunoprecipitation and found that JSI-124 suppressed serine pSTAT3 and induced apoptosis of these cells as determined by FACS analysis and membrane permeability assay. Using western blotting analysis, caspase-8 activation was observed in these cells after JSI-124 treatment. Since the activation of caspases are inhibited by members of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) and Bcl-2 protein families and STAT3 has been shown to regulate their expression, we investigated anti-apoptotic members of these families. JSI-124 treatment led to downregulation of IAP protein XIAP, while Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 levels remained unchanged. In addition, JSI-124 selectively induced activation of JNK signaling pathways in CLL cells. Taken together, our results indicate that JSI-124 causes apoptosis through alterations in signal transduction pathways and could be a useful treatment in CLL. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 228.
Financial incentives help people change health behaviours, review shows
Authors: S. Mayor
Journal: BMJ (2015)

Personal financial incentives help people to change health behaviours, but these effects are lost within three months of the payments stopping, says a study of the overall effect of payments across various health related behaviours.1

Researchers analysed 34 studies including 10 585 adults that assessed the effect of financial incentives on a range of health behaviours, including smoking cessation and healthier eating, measured for at least six months from baseline. Around half of the studies offered incentives of less than $400 (£271; €374), and the rest were higher. …
Pulmonary changes induced by amphophilic drugs.
Authors: Z Hruban
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1976)

Administration of amphophilic drugs to experimental animals causes formation of myeloid bodies in many cell types, accumulation of foamy macrophages in pulmonary alveoli, and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. These changes are the result of an interaction between the drugs and phospholipids which leads to an alteration in physicochemical properties of the phospholipids. Impairment of the digestion of altered pulmonary secretions in phagosomes of macrophages results in accumulation of foam cells in pulmonary alveoli. Impairment of the metabolism of altered phospholipids removed by autophagy induces an accumulation of myeloid bodies. In summary, administration of amphophilic compounds causes a drug-induced lysosomal disease or generalized phospholipidosis.
Myocardial Uptake of Tc-99m MDP Following Cardioversion
Authors: CHRISTOPHER J. PALESTRO, MAUREEN KANE STEELE, CHUN K. KIM, STANLEY J. GOLDSMITH
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1991)

Myocardial scintigraphy with Tc-99m labeled bone imaging agents, principally Tc-99m pyrophosphate, is a sensitive technique for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction. The presumed mechanism is uptake of the imaging agent by calcium deposited in and around zones of myocardial necrosis. The intensity of uptake is flow-limited when coronary blood flow is less than normal. Positive scintigrams, in the absence of infarction, have been described in angina pectoris (stable and unstable), congestive cardiomyopathy, myocardial contusion, and following cardioversion. We recently observed intense myocardial uptake of Tc-99m MDP in a patient undergoing bone scintigraphy following direct current cardioversion for atrial flutter.
Concurrent Mononucleosis and Acute Leukemia
Authors: D. A. Stevens
Journal: JAMA (1971)

To the Editor.—  With regard to the report on concurrent infectious mononucleosis and acute leukemia by Freedman et al ( 214 :1677, 1970), my associates, Drs. Levine, Lee, Sonley, and Waggoner, of the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md, Children's Hospital, Montreal, and Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, and I have been studying this phenomenon for the past two years. Our studies have been reported in preliminary form and will appear shortly in full. 1,2 We have tried to reach beyond the case report phase, and see if this concurrence will help us understand the lymphoproliferative potential of the Epstein-Barr (EB) virus, and what effect the concurrence might have on the survival of patients with acute lymphatic leukemia. To this end we have been gathering such cases from several centers, and we were interested in the experience of the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, with their large leukemia service.  Two comments appear
GMC wants a tougher restoration procedure
Authors: L. Beecham
Journal: BMJ (1999)

The United Kingdom's General Medical Council is to consult widely on options that would make the arrangements for restoring doctors to the medical register tougher and more easily understood by the public.

Although for most doctors whose names are erased, the erasure is permanent—between 1988 and 1998, 153 doctors' names were erased and 39 were restored—the …
Abstract 3051: The vitamin D2 analog 19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2: antitumor activity against gastric cancer cells
Authors: Woo Kyun Bae, Myung Suk Park, Ji Hee Lee, Jun Eul Hwang, Joo Young Yoon, Hyun Jeong Shim, Sang Hee Cho, Jae Hyuk Lee, Ik Joo Chung
Journal: Cancer Research (2011)

Abstract Background: The active metabolite of vitamin D, 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol), inhibits the growth of several types of human cancer cells in vitro, but its therapeutic use is limited because it causes hypercalcemia. Among its analogs, 19-nor-1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 (paricalcitol) induces fewer calcemic effects and exhibits an activity that is equipotential to that of calcitriol in several in vivo and in vitro systems. We investigated the antitumor activity and mechanism of action of paricalcitol in gastric cancer cells. Methods: We examined the effects of paricalcitol on cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and inflammation/immunity in the human gastric cancer cell lines AGS, SNU719, and MKN45. Results: In vitro treatment with paricalcitol was associated with the following: (1) a dose-dependent increase in vitamin D receptor (VDR) protein expression; (2) inhibited gastric cell growth and induced apoptosis in AGS, SNU719, and MKN45 cell lines; (3) increased expression of p21 and p27 and decreased expression of CDK2; (4) increased expression of the caspase-3 cleaved protein and decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bax proteins; (5) promotion of early and late apoptosis; and (6) decreased expression of STAT-3, JAK2, COX2, and NF-κB. Conclusion: The low-calcemic vitamin D analog, paricalcitol, exhibits anticancer activity against gastric cancer cells, and its mechanism of action may be mediated through the VDR. Paricalcitol is a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3051. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3051
Hepatitis Prophylaxis Abroad
Authors: Robert D. Woodson
Journal: JAMA (1969)

The yearly incidence of viral hepatitis among Peace Corps volunteers who were given semiannual injections of 0.05 ml of immune serum globulin (ISG) per pound of body weight was found to average 0.97 cases per 100 person-years of residence abroad. This rate is considerably lower than those rates reported for volunteers when less extensive ISG programs were in use and for missionaries receiving no ISG. Of 93 icteric cases evaluated in detail, 16 occurred within two weeks after ISG injection; 31 occurred from 16 to 26 weeks; 29 occurred after 26 weeks; and only 17 occurred from 3 to 16 weeks after ISG injection. Cases of hepatitis occurred throughout the two-year period abroad. The data suggest that administration of ISG in this dosage every four months for the entire period abroad would further reduce the incidence of hepatitis.
RADIOIMMUNOSCINTIGRAPHY (RIS) WITH TC99M LABELED IMMU-LL2 (LYMPHO-SCAN™) IN THE ASSESSMENT OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED AND RECURRENT NON-HODGKINʼS LYMPHOMA
Authors: D. Lamonica, L. Steinbrenner, M. Spaulding, R Doerr, E Farrell, D Erb, L Derby, H. Abdel-Nabi
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1995)

Lamonica, D.; Steinbrenner, L.; Spaulding, M.; Doerr, R; Farrell, E; Erb, D; Derby, L; Abdel-Nabi, H. Author Information
Acute poisoning with Potter's Asthma Remedy.
Authors: A E Barnett, F W Jones, E R Williams
Journal: BMJ (1977)

determine the erythrocyte transketolase (ETK) activity or thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) effect on admission, or thiamine excretion.Tanphaichitr et a13 state that thiamine excretion alone is not a good index of the state of thiamine nutrition in an individual subject.The absence of cardiac and central nervous system manifestations may be explained partially by the fact that the patient restricted drinking and did not increase the amount of physical exercise that she took.The potential threat of dry and wet beriberi should be kept in mind if a patient begins a strict slimming diet.Multivitamin preparations are indicated in treating the condition, but a reasonably composed diet is of primary importance.
Reversible Neurologic Toxicity in Patients Treated with Standard-Dose Fludarabine Phosphate for Mycosis Fungoides and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Roger B. Cohen
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1993)

Fludarabine phosphate is approved for the treatment of advanced B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia refractory to alkylating agents. We report two cases of disabling but reversible neurotoxicity in a patient with mycosis fungoides and a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who received standard doses of fludarabine (20 to 25 mg/m2 per day for 5 days) every 28 days for 6 to 8 cycles. Serial brain magnetic resonance imaging scans in the patient with mycosis fungoides showed rapid evolution of white-matter changes with subsequent complete resolution.
SPECT Brain Perfusion Abnormalities in Mild or Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: HUSSEIN M. ABDEL-DAYEM, HANI ABU-JUDEH, MITHILESH KUMAR, SAADET ATAY, SLEIMAN NADDAF, HOSSAM EL-ZEFTAWY, JIAN-QIAO LUO
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1998)

The purpose of this atlas is to present a review of the literature showing the advantages of SPECT brain perfusion imaging (BPI) in mild or moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) over other morphologic imaging modalities such as x-ray CT or MRI. The authors also present the technical recommendations for SPECT brain perfusion currently practiced at their center. For the radiopharmaceutical of choice, a comparison between early and delayed images using Tc-99m HMPAO and Tc-99m ECD showed that Tc-99m HMPAO is more stable in the brain with no washout over time. Therefore, the authors feel that Tc-99m HMPAO is preferable to Tc-99m ECD. Recommendations regarding standardizing intravenous injection, the acquisition, processing parameters, and interpretation of scans using a ten grade color scale, and use of the cerebellum as the reference organ are presented. SPECT images of 228 patients (age range, 11 to 88; mean, 40.8 years) with mild or moderate TBI and no significant medical history that interfered with the results of the SPECT BP were reviewed. The etiology of the trauma was in the following order of frequency: motor vehicle accidents (45%) followed by blow to the head (36%) and a fall (19%). Frequency of the symptoms was headache (60.9%), memory problems (27.6%), dizziness (26.7%), and sleep disorders (8.7%). Comparison between patients imaged early (<3 months) versus those imaged delayed (>3 months) from the time of the accident, showed that early imaging detected more lesions (4.2 abnormal lesions per study compared to 2.7 in those imaged more than 3 months after the accident). Of 41 patients who had mild traumatic injury without loss of consciousness and had normal CT, 28 studies were abnormal. Focal areas of hypoperfusion were seen in 77% (176 patients, 612 lesions) of the group of 228 patients. The sites of abnormalities were in the following order: basal ganglia and thalami, 55.2%, frontal lobes, 23.8%, temporal lobes, 13%, parietal, 3.7%, insular and occipital lobes together, 4.6%.
Medical Credibility Gap
Authors: Arthur D. Silk
Journal: JAMA (1971)

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> Any reader of this publication is of course aware that the AMA is an organizational grouping of doctors rather than a scientific forum. Yet the public and even the press (who should know better) use the prestige of the AMA as an arbiter of the worth of the scores of medical theories, discoveries, and pure hocum with which the media daily bombard us. This may not be what the AMA was founded to do; it is certainly not what we physicians intend it to do, but it is the position that the AMA has assumed and the public now expects us "to tell it like it is." Whether by fault or default we have not functioned well in this area. The mercury flap is perhaps the best example of panic over a nondisease in recent medical history. Who in the United States has ever seen a case
Abstract P4-10-06: 10-Years Results of Intraoperative Electron Radiotherapy (IOERT) in Boost Modality in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Breast Conserving Surgery
Authors: R Reitsamer, M Kopp, G Fastner, C Menzel, S Glueck, F Merz, P Kopp, H Deutschmann, F. Sedlmayer
Journal: Cancer Research (2010)

Abstract Introduction: The aim of this nonrandomized study was to compare the ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence rates in patients with invasive breast cancer, who had been treated with breast conserving surgery and whole breast irradiation and conventional boost or intraoperative electron radiotherapy boost (IOERT). Patients and Methods: 378 patients were included in the study, 188 patients in group 1 (conventional boost) and 190 patients in group 2 (IOERT boost). Patients were comparable with regard to age, menopausal status, tumor size, histological type, grading and axillary lymph node status. Included were patients with invasive breast cancer pT1 and pT2, N0, N1, N2, M0, and breast conserving surgery with clear margins &amp;gt;3mm. Excluded were patients with DCIS only, patients with invasive breast cancers larger than pT2, patients after primary systemic therapy and patients with multicentric disease. All patients (group 1 and group 2) received postoperative whole breast irradiation of 51-56.1 Gy. Group 1 received postoperative electron boost irradiation of 12 Gy after whole breast irradiation and group 2 received one intraoperative electron boost of 9 Gy in a single fraction during surgery before whole breast irradiation. Results: The 10-years actuarial rates of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR), true local recurrence (TLR), distant recurrence (DR) and disease free survival (DFS) were 7.1% (95%CI, 3.2-11.0%), 4.8% (95%CI, 1.5-8.0%), 14,2% (95%CI, 9.1-19.4%) and 82.4% respectively in group1 and 2.7% (95%CI, 0.0-5.9%, P=0.062), 0.7% (95%CI, 0.0-2.0%, P=0.016), 13.6% (95%CI, 5.0-22.2%, P=0.90) and 84.0% (P= 0.76) respectively in group 2. Conclusion: Patients treated with IOERT boost and whole breast irradiation achieve excellent local control rates at 10 years and exhibit statistically significant decreased true local recurrence rates compared to patients treated with whole breast irradiation and conventional electron boost. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-10-06.
A new direction for gene therapy: intrathymic T cell-specific lentiviral gene transfer
Authors: R. Seggewiss
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2005)

Reports of neoplasia related to insertional activation of protooncogenes by retroviral vectors have raised serious safety concerns in the field of gene therapy. Modification of current approaches is urgently required to minimize the deleterious consequences of insertional mutagenesis. In this issue of the JCI, Adjali and colleagues report on their treatment of SCID mice lacking the 70-kDa protein tyrosine kinase, ZAP-70, with direct intrathymic injection of a ZAP-70-expressing T cell-specific lentiviral vector, which resulted in T cell reconstitution. Using lentiviral vectors and in situ gene transfer may represent a safer approach than using retroviral vectors for ex vivo gene transfer into HSCs, avoiding 3 factors potentially linked to leukemogenesis, namely HSC targets, ex vivo transduction and expansion, and standard Moloney leukemia virus-based retroviral vectors.
Oral Vitamin K Lowers the International Normalized Ratio More Rapidly Than Subcutaneous Vitamin K in the Treatment of Warfarin-Associated Coagulopathy
Authors: Mark A. Crowther, James D. Douketis, Terri Schnurr, Luigi Steidl, Valentina Mera, Carolina Ultori, Achille Venco, Walter Ageno
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Background: Excessive anticoagulation due to warfarin use is associated with hemorrhage. Subcutaneously administered vitamin K has not been evaluated for the treatment of warfarin-associated coagulopathy, yet it is widely used. Objective: To show that oral vitamin K is more effective than subcutaneous vitamin K in the treatment of warfarin-associated coagulopathy. Design: Randomized, controlled trial. Setting: Two teaching hospitals. Patients: Patients with an international normalized ratio (INR) between 4.5 and 10.0. Intervention: Warfarin therapy was withheld, and 1 mg of vitamin K was given orally or subcutaneously. Measurements: The primary outcome measure was the INR on the day after administration of vitamin K. Secondary outcome measures were hemorrhage and thrombosis during a 1-month follow-up period. Results: 15 of 26 patients receiving oral vitamin K and 6 of 25 patients receiving subcutaneous vitamin K had therapeutic INRs on the day after study drug administration (P = 0.015; odds ratio, 4.32 [95% CI, 1.13 to 17.44]). Conclusion: Oral vitamin K lowers INR more rapidly than subcutaneous vitamin K in asymptomatic patients who have supratherapeutic INR values while receiving warfarin.
Stroke volume measurement in animals with pacemaker control of heart rate
Authors: M. H. CALVERT, A. G. HEATON
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1973)

A reliable method of measuring stroke volume from an electromagnetic flowmeter recording of aortic root flow in a conscious paced animal is described. An electronic integrator is used which is triggered directly from the pacemaker. This prevents ECG instability from disturbing the process. A method of eliminating the effect of the pacemaker artefact in the diastolic period is also described.
Failure to Improve Left Ventricular Function After Coronary Revascularization for Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Is Not Associated With Worse Outcome
Authors: Habib Samady, John A. Elefteriades, Brian G. Abbott, Jennifer A. Mattera, Craig A. McPherson, Frans J. Th. Wackers
Journal: Circulation (1999)

Background-Preoperative identification of viable myocardium in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy is considered important because CABG can result in recovery of left ventricular (LV) function. However, the hypothesis that lack of improvement of LV function after CABG is associated with poorer patient outcome is untested. Methods and Results-Outcome was compared in patients with ischemic LV dysfunction (LVEF </=0.30) with and without improvement in LVEF after CABG. Of 135 consecutive patients, 128 (95%) survived CABG and 104 (77%) had pre- and post-CABG LVEF assessment. Of these 104 patients, 68 (65%) had >0.05 increase in LVEF (group A) and 36 (35%) had no significant change, or </=0.05 decrease in LVEF (group B) compared with pre-CABG LVEF. No significant differences existed in age, gender, comorbidities, baseline symptoms, baseline LVEF, or intraoperative variables between groups A and B. Group A increased LVEF from 0.24+/-0.05 to 0.39+/-0.1 (P<0.005). In Group B, LVEF did not change significantly postoperatively, 0.24+/-0.05 to 0.23+/-0.06 (P=NS). Postoperative improvement in angina and heart failure scores were similar between the 2 groups. Survival free of cardiac death was similar for both groups (93% in group A and 94% in group B, P=NS) at a mean follow-up of 32+/-23 months. Conclusions-Lack of improvement of global LVEF after CABG is not associated with poorer outcome compared with that of patients with improved LVEF, presumably because effective revascularization of ischemic myocardium, even without improvement in ventricular function, protects against future infarction and death.