tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Diabetes on Employment and Work Productivity
Authors: Kaan Tunceli, Cathy J. Bradley, David Nerenz, L. Keoki Williams, Manel Pladevall, Jennifer Elston Lafata
Journal: Diabetes Care (2005)

OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this study was to longitudinally examine the effect of diabetes on labor market outcomes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Using secondary data from the first two waves (1992 and 1994) of the Health and Retirement Study, we identified 7,055 employed respondents (51–61 years of age), 490 of whom reported having diabetes in wave 1. We estimated the effect of diabetes in wave 1 on the probability of working in wave 2 using probit regression. For those working in wave 2, we modeled the relationships between diabetic status in wave 1 and the change in hours worked and work-loss days using ordinary least-squares regressions and modeled the presence of health-related work limitations using probit regression. All models control for health status and job characteristics and are estimated separately by sex. RESULTS—Among individuals with diabetes, the absolute probability of working was 4.4 percentage points less for women and 7.1 percentage points less for men relative to that of their counterparts without diabetes. Change in weekly hours worked was not statistically significantly associated with diabetes. Women with diabetes had 2 more work-loss days per year compared with women without diabetes. Compared with individuals without diabetes, men and women with diabetes were 5.4 and 6 percentage points (absolute increase), respectively, more likely to have work limitations. CONCLUSIONS—This article provides evidence that diabetes affects patients, employers, and society not only by reducing employment but also by contributing to work loss and health-related work limitations for those who remain employed.
Role of Expression of Focal Adhesion Kinase in Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Shinji Itoh, Takashi Maeda, Mitsuo Shimada, Shin-ichi Aishima, Ken Shirabe, Shinji Tanaka, Yoshihiko Maehara
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2004)

Although hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cancer of the human liver, the mechanisms that regulate HCC development and progression remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is involved in the progression of human HCC.Western blot analysis for FAK was performed on three HCC cell lines. We reviewed 64 consecutive patients who had undergone initial liver resection for HCC without preoperative treatment. Immunohistochemistry analysis for FAK was performed on paraffin-embedded tissues. FAK expression was confirmed by Western blot analysis in several clinical samples. We investigated the correlation between FAK expression and clinical outcome.FAK proteins were detected in all HCC cell lines. Hepatocytes in the normal liver and chronic hepatitis with or without cirrhosis were negative for immunohistochemical staining for FAK expression. Cytoplasmic FAK expression was observed in 18 of 64 patients (28.1%), and this positive staining was correlated with gender (P < 0.05), a lower level of serum albumin (P < 0.05), and portal venous invasion (P < 0.01). Positive staining for FAK was associated with significantly poorer survival (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, FAK overexpression was an independent factor in determining the prognosis of patients.These data suggest that FAK plays an important role in promoting tumor progression, especially vascular invasion, in HCC. FAK could play an important role in HCC progression and would be a novel target for HCC therapeutics as well as a prognostic marker.
Cough in patients after stroke
Authors: J. G. Widdicombe, W. R. Addington
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2010)

To the Editors:

Ward et al. 1 are to be congratulated on their new and important findings concerning cough in patients after stroke. They measured a large number of ventilatory parameters during voluntary and reflex cough, and compared the values in stroke patients and healthy controls.

Although the relationship of voluntary cough after stroke with the risk of aspiration has been analysed extensively, this seem to be the first detailed study of reflex cough, induced in these experiments by tartaric acid aerosol. This is important because, should material be …
Double blind study of ispaghula in irritable bowel syndrome.
Authors: A Prior, P J Whorwell
Journal: Gut (1987)

A double blind placebo controlled trial of ispaghula husk in 80 patients with irritable bowel syndrome is reported. Global assessment judged treatment to be satisfactory in 82% of patients receiving ispaghula and 53% of the placebo group (p less than 0.02). Bowel habit was unchanged in the placebo group, while constipation significantly improved in patients taking ispaghula (p = 0.026). Transit time decreased significantly in those taking ispaghula compared with placebo (p = 0.001), especially in patients with initially high transit times. Abdominal pain and bloating improved in both groups, with no significant differences between ispaghula and placebo. Four of the eight withdrawals on ispaghula and 10 of the 15 withdrawals on placebo were because of treatment failure. Ispaghula significantly improves overall well being in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, and in those with constipation favourably affects bowel habit and transit time.
Inhibitory Effect of Circulating Insulin on Glucagon Secretion During Hypoglycemia in Type I Diabetic Patients
Authors: Dating Liu, Ule C K Adamson, Per-Eric S Lins, Magnus E Kollind, Erik A R Moberg, Karin Andréasson
Journal: Diabetes Care (1992)

Objective –To clarify whether the circulating insulin level influences hormonal responses, glucagon secretion in particular, during hypoglycemia in patients with insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes. Research Design and Methods –Nine type I diabetic patients were studied. During two separate experiments, hypoglycemia was induced by low-dose (244 pmol.kg−1.h−1) and high-dose (1034 pmol.kg−1.h−1) intravenous insulin infusions for 180 min in each case. The arterial blood glucose level was directly monitored every 1.5 min, and glucose was infused in the high-dose test to clamp the arterial blood glucose level to be identical as in the low-dose test. Results –Despite the fact that the plasma insulin level was four times higher in the high-dose than in the low-dose test (740 ± 50 vs. 180 ± 14 pM), a close to identical arterial hypoglycemia of ∼ 3.3 mM was obtained in the two experiments. During hypoglycemia, a significant rise of the plasma glucagon level was found only in the low-dose test (188 ± 29 vs. 237 ± 37 ng/L, P &amp;lt; 0.05), and the incremental area under the glucagon curve was significantly greater in the low-dose than in the high-dose test (140 ± 19 vs. −22.7 ± 34 ng/L.h−1, P &amp;lt; 0.005). The responses of plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, growth hormone, pancreatic polypeptide, and somatostatin were similar in both tests and, consequently, were not significantly modified by the circulating insulin level. Conclusions –This study demonstrates that, in type I diabetic patients, the glucagon response to hypoglycemia is suppressed by a high level of circulating insulin within the physiological range. Our findings may help to explain the impairment of glucagon secretion during hypoglycemia frequently seen in these patients.
A randomised controlled trial of azithromycin therapy in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) post lung transplantation
Authors: Paul A Corris, Victoria A Ryan, Therese Small, James Lordan, Andrew J Fisher, Gerard Meachery, Gail Johnson, Chris Ward
Journal: Thorax (2015)

<h3>Background</h3> We conducted a placebo-controlled trial of azithromycin therapy in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) post lung transplantation. <h3>Methods</h3> We compared azithromycin (250 mg alternate days, 12 weeks) with placebo. Primary outcome was FEV<sub>1</sub> change at 12 weeks. <h3>Results</h3> 48 patients were randomised; (25 azithromycin, 23 placebo). It was established, post randomisation that two did not have BOS. 46 patients were analysed as intention to treat (ITT) with 33 'Completers'. ITT analysis included placebo patients treated with open-label azithromycin after study withdrawal. <h3>Outcome</h3> The ITT analysis (n=46, 177 observations) estimated mean difference in FEV<sub>1</sub> between treatments (azithromycin minus placebo) was 0.035 L, with a 95% CI of −0.112 L to 0.182 L (p=0.6). Five withdrawals, who were identified at the end of the study as having been randomised to placebo (four with rapid loss in FEV<sub>1</sub>, one withdrawn consent) had received rescue open-label azithromycin, with improvement in subsequent FEV<sub>1</sub> at 12 weeks. Study Completers showed an estimated mean difference in FEV<sub>1</sub> between treatment groups (azithromycin minus placebo) of 0.278 L, with 95% CI for the mean difference: 0.170 L to 0.386 L (p=&lt;0.001). Nine of 23 ITT patients in the azithromycin group had ≥10% gain in FEV<sub>1</sub> from baseline. No patients in the placebo group had ≥10% gain in FEV<sub>1</sub> from baseline while on placebo (p=0.002). Seven serious adverse events, three azithromycin, four in the placebo group, were deemed unrelated to study medication. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Azithromycin therapy improves FEV<sub>1</sub> in patients with BOS and appears superior to placebo. This study strengthens evidence for clinical practice of initiating azithromycin therapy in BOS. <h3>Trial registration number</h3> EU-CTR, 2006-000485-36/GB.
No further tests for PE required in low probability cases with a negative D-dimer test
Authors: N Bari
Journal: Thorax (2006)

▴ Kearon C, Ginsberg JS, Douketis J, et al for the Canadian Pulmonary Embolism Study Group. An evaluation of D-dimer in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Ann Intern Med2006;144:812–21 [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] In patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE), further diagnostic testing is often omitted on the basis of a negative D-dimer test result. This study is the first randomised controlled trial to evaluate this approach. 1126 randomised patients with suspected PE were evaluated and classified into low (group A) and high (group B) clinical probability groups; 456 with … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAnnals%2Bof%2BInternal%2BMedicine%26rft.stitle%253DANN%2BINTERN%2BMED%26rft.issn%253D0003-4819%26rft.aulast%253DKearon%26rft.auinit1%253DC.%26rft.volume%253D144%26rft.issue%253D11%26rft.spage%253D812%26rft.epage%253D821%26rft.atitle%253DAn%2Bevaluation%2Bof%2BD-dimer%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bdiagnosis%2Bof%2Bpulmonary%2Bembolism%253A%2Ba%2Brandomized%2Btrial.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.7326%252F0003-4819-144-11-200606060-00007%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F16754923%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.7326/0003-4819-144-11-200606060-00007&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=16754923&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fthoraxjnl%2F61%2F11%2F961.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000238057000004&link_type=ISI
HIV Self-testing and the Missing Linkage
Authors: Rochelle P. Walensky, Ingrid V. Bassett
Journal: PLoS Medicine (2011)

Rochelle Walensky and Ingrid Bassett discuss new research in <I>PLoS Medicine</I> that assessed the feasibility of home-based oral HIV self-testing in Malawi, and suggest that linkage to care must be demonstrated before the success of oral self-testing can be determined.
High-dose intravenous immune globulin for the treatment of autoimmune blistering diseases: an evaluation of its use in 14 cases
Authors: K E Harman, M M Black
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1999)

High‐dose intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) is used to treat a wide variety of autoimmune diseases. We report our experiences of its use in a retrospective study of 14 patients with autoimmune blistering diseases, namely epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA), two; bullous pemphigoid (BP), two; pemphigoid gestationis (PG), one; nodular pemphigoid, two; and pemphigus vulgaris (PV), seven. Two patients with refractory EBA improved following regular courses of IVIG given as monotherapy. IVIG had a steroid‐sparing effect in 10 patients with PV, BP and PG. However, the clinical effects were transient and of variable intervals, and repeated courses of IVIG were required. The rapid actions of IVIG were of particular benefit in two patients with extensive, rapidly progressive PV and in one patient with BP in whom swift disease control was required. In such cases, when rapid disease control is paramount, we recommend IVIG used in conjunction with conventional treatments as a safer and less invasive alternative to plasmapheresis. IVIG was ineffective in two patients with nodular pemphigoid. Analysis of indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) titres before and after IVIG showed that a fall in titre occurred after 78% of treatments and was observed in all disease groups. However, like the clinical improvements, the falls in IIF titres were transient and of variable interval, and titres rose back to pretreatment levels in all but one patient. IVIG appears to be beneficial under certain circumstances for the treatment of autoimmune blistering diseases but controlled trials are required to define its therapeutic role further.
Electrophysiological Characteristics of the Human Atria After Cardioversion of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Claudio Pandozi, Leopoldo Bianconi, Mauro Villani, Giuseppe Gentilucci, Antonio Castro, Giuliano Altamura, Anna P. Jesi, Filippo Lamberti, Fabrizio Ammirati, Massimo Santini
Journal: Circulation (1998)

In animal models, induced atrial fibrillation shortens the atrial effective refractory period (ERP) and reverses its physiological adaptation to rate. It is not clear whether this process, known as "electrical remodeling," occurs in humans.We determined the ERPs, at 5 pacing cycle lengths (300 to 700 ms) and in 5 right atrial sites, after internal cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation in 25 patients (14 in pharmacological washout and 11 on amiodarone). The ERPs were 195.5+/-18.8 ms in the washout and 206.3+/-17.9 ms in the amiodarone patients (P<0.0001). ERPs were closely correlated with the stimulation rates (r=0.95 in the washout and r=0.94 in the amiodarone group), and slope values indicating a normal (>/=0.07) or nearly normal (0.05 to 0.06) adaptation of ERP to rate were found in 77% of the 84 paced sites. The mean ERP was shorter in the lateral wall (198.1+/-17.9 ms) than in the atrial roof (203.3+/-21.5 ms) and in the septum (210.5+/-20.0 ms) (P<0.03). After 4 weeks of sinus rhythm, the mean ERP, determined again in 8 patients (4 in wash-out and 4 on amiodarone), was significantly increased compared with the basal study (221. 4+/-21.4 versus 197.8+/-18.3 ms, P<0.0001).After cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation, (1) atrial ERP adaptation to rate was normal or nearly normal in the majority of the cases, (2) a significant dispersion of refractoriness between different right atrial sites was present, and (3) ERPs were significantly increased after 4 weeks of sinus rhythm in both washout and amiodarone patients.
Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions: health implications of short-lived greenhouse pollutants
Authors: Kirk R Smith, Michael Jerrett, H Ross Anderson, Richard T Burnett, Vicki Stone, Richard Derwent, Richard W Atkinson, Aaron Cohen, Seth B Shonkoff, Daniel Krewski, C Arden Pope, Michael J Thun, George Thurston
Journal: The Lancet (2009)
Detection of Streptococcus Pneumoniae and Human Rhinovirus Is Associated with Loss of Asthma Control
Authors: Kirsten Kloepfer, Rose Vrtis, Tressa Pappas, Theresa Kang, Lisa Salazar, Elizabeth L. Anderson, Yury Bochkov, Wai-Ming Lee, Michael D. Evans, Ronald E. Gangnon, Robert F. Lemanske, James Gern
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2013)
Reply to Aaron M. Potretzke, Jeffrey A. Larson and Sam B. Bhayani's Letter to the Editor re: R. Houston Thompson, Tom Atwell, Grant Schmit, et al. Comparison of Partial Nephrectomy and Percutaneous Ablation for cT1 Renal Masses. Eur Urol 2015;67:252–9
Authors: R. Houston Thompson, Tom Atwell, Grant Schmit, Christine M. Lohse, A. Nicholas Kurup, Adam Weisbrod, Sarah P. Psutka, Suzanne B. Stewart, Matthew R. Callstrom, John C. Cheville, Stephen A. Boorjian, Bradley C. Leibovich
Journal: European Urology (2014)
Blood Pressure Reduction: An Added Benefit of Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Colleen Majewski, George L. Bakris
Journal: Diabetes Care (2015)

Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a newly approved class of glucose-lowering medications with a novel mechanism of action. These agents increase glycosuria, which leads to improved glucose control. They also produce an osmotic diuresis that, in part, contributes to blood pressure reduction and calorie loss secondary to glycosuria leading to weight loss (1,2).

A recent review of SGLT2 inhibitors focuses on the blood pressure–lowering effects of the two approved glucose-lowering agents, dapagliflozin and canagliflozin (3). While not approved as antihypertensive agents, they may potentially aid in lowering blood pressure in patients with diabetes. A review of studies in both hypertensive and normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes demonstrates a 4–10 mmHg reduction of systolic blood pressure (3).

In this issue of Diabetes Care , Tikkanen et al. (4) investigate the effectiveness and safety of the newest agent in this class, empagliflozin, on blood pressure using 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. This study randomized over 800 subjects with type 2 diabetes, mean age of 60 years, and good kidney function (i.e., a mean estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] of 84 mL/min/1.73 m2). These subjects either were normotensive (<140/90 mmHg) or had stage 1 hypertension (≥140/90 < 160/99 mmHg). They were randomized to either empagliflozin 10 mg daily, empagliflozin 25 mg …
Prolonged work- and computer-related seated immobility and risk of venous thromboembolism
Authors: Bridget Healy, Erik Levin, Kyle Perrin, Mark Weatherall, Richard Beasley
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2010)

Summary Objective To determine the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) associated with prolonged work- and computer-related seated immobility. Design Case-control study in which cases were patients aged 18–65 years attending outpatient VTE clinics, and controls were patients aged 18–65 years admitted to CCU with a condition other than VTE. Interviewer-administered questionnaires obtained detailed information on VTE risk factors and clinical details. Setting VTE Clinics and Coronary Care Unit (CCU), Wellington and Kenepuru Hospitals, Wellington between February 2007 and February 2009. Main outcome measure The relative risk of VTE associated with prolonged work- and computer-related seated immobility, defined as being seated at work and on the computer at home, at least 10 hours in a 24-hour period and at least 2 hours at a time without getting up, during the four weeks prior to the onset of symptoms that led to VTE diagnosis or CCU admission. Results There were 197 cases and 197 controls. Prolonged work- and computer-related seated immobility was present in 33/197 (16.8%) and 19/197 (9.6%) cases and controls, respectively. In multivariate analyses, prolonged work- and computer-related seated immobility was associated with an increased risk of VTE, odds ratio 2.8 (95% CI 1.2–6.1, P=0.013). The maximum and average number of hours seated in a 24-hour period were associated with an increased risk of VTE, with odds ratios of 1.1 (95% CI 1.0–1.2, P=0.008) and 1.1 (95% CI 1.0–1.2, P=0.014) per additional hour seated. Conclusion Prolonged work- and computer-related seated immobility increases the risk of VTE. We suggest that there needs to be both a greater awareness of the role of prolonged work-related seated immobility in the pathogenesis of VTE, and the development of occupational strategies to decrease the risk.
Planning for translational research in genomics
Authors: Naomi Hawkins, Jantina de Vries, Paula Boddington, Jane Kaye, Catherine Heeney
Journal: Genome Medicine (2009)

Abstract Translation of research findings into clinical practice is an important aspect of medical progress. Even for the early stages of genomics, research aiming to deepen understandings of underlying mechanisms of disease, questions about the ways in which such research ultimately can be useful in medical treatment and public health are of key importance. Whilst some research data may not apparently lend themselves to immediate clinical benefit, being aware of the issues surrounding translation at an early stage can enhance the delivery of the research to the clinic if a medical application is later found. When simple steps are taken during initial project planning, the pathways towards the translation of genomic research findings can be managed to optimize long-term benefits to health. This piece discusses the key areas of collaboration agreements, distribution of revenues and recruitment and sample collection that are increasingly important to successful translational research in genomics.
Protein Kinase C θ Is Highly Expressed in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors But Not in Other Mesenchymal Neoplasias
Authors: Pilar Blay, Aurora Astudillo, José M. Buesa, Elías Campo, Mar Abad, Juan García-García, Rosa Miquel, Vicente Marco, Marta Sierra, Raquel Losa, Angel Lacave, Alejandro Braña, Milagros Balbín, José M. P. Freije
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2004)

Abstract Purpose: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are a distinctive group of mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. The oncogene KIT has a central role in the pathogenesis of GIST, with c-kit receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) protein expression being the gold standard in its diagnosis. The identification of GIST patients has become crucial, because the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Imatinib is effective in the treatment of this malignancy. However, a small set of GISTs remain unrecognized, because KIT protein expression is not always evident. The aim of this study was the identification of new markers for the differential diagnosis of GIST. Experimental Design: By analyzing publicly available data from transcriptional profiling of sarcomas, we found that protein kinase C θ (PKC-θ), a novel PKC isotype involved in T-cell activation, is highly and specifically expressed in GIST. PKC-θ expression in GIST was confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot. PKC-θ was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in a panel of 26 GIST, 12 non-GIST soft-tissue sarcomas, and 35 tumors from other histologies. Results: We found that all of the GISTs expressed PKC-θ, whereas this protein was undetectable in other mesenchymal or epithelial tumors, including non-GIST KIT-positive tumors. PKC-θ immunoreactivity was also observed in interstitial cells of Cajal. Conclusions: Our results show that PKC-θ is easily detected by immunohistochemistry in GIST specimens and that it could be a sensitive and specific marker for the diagnosis of this malignancy.