tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
International guideline development for the determination of death
Authors: Sam D. Shemie, Laura Hornby, Andrew Baker, Jeanne Teitelbaum, Sylvia Torrance, Kimberly Young, Alexander M. Capron, James L. Bernat, Luc Noel
Journal: Intensive Care Medicine (2014)

This report summarizes the results of the first phase in the development of international guidelines for death determination, focusing on the biology of death and the dying process, developed by an invitational forum of international content experts and representatives of a number of professional societies. Precise terminology was developed in order to improve clarity in death discussion and debate. Critical events in the physiological sequences leading to cessation of neurological and/or circulatory function were constructed. It was agreed that death determination is primarily clinical and recommendations for preconditions, confounding factors, minimum clinical standards and additional testing were made. A single operational definition of human death was developed: 'the permanent loss of capacity for consciousness and all brainstem functions, as a consequence of permanent cessation of circulation or catastrophic brain injury'. In order to complete the project, in the next phase, a broader group of international stakeholders will develop clinical practice guidelines, based on comprehensive reviews and grading of the existing evidence.
Advanced glycation end products cause epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation via the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)
Authors: Matthew D. Oldfield, Leon A. Bach, Josephine M. Forbes, David Nikolic-Paterson, Anne McRobert, Vicki Thallas, Robert C. Atkins, Tanya Osicka, George Jerums, Mark E. Cooper
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2001)

Tubulointerstitial disease, a prominent phenomenon in diabetic nephropathy, correlates with decline in renal function. The underlying pathogenic link between chronic hyperglycemia and the development of tubulointerstitial injury has not been fully elucidated, but myofibroblast formation represents a key step in the development of tubulointerstitial fibrosis. RAGE, the receptor for advanced glycation end products (AGEs), induces the expression of TGF-beta and other cytokines that are proposed to mediate the transdifferentiation of epithelial cells to form myofibroblasts. Here we report specific binding of (125)I-AGE-BSA to cell membranes prepared from a rat proximal tubule cell line and show that the binding site was RAGE. AGE exposure induced dose-dependent epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation determined by morphological changes, de novo alpha smooth-muscle actin expression, and loss of epithelial E-cadherin staining. These effects could be blocked with neutralizing Ab's to RAGE or to TGF-beta. Transdifferentiation was also apparent in the proximal tubules of diabetic rats and in a renal biopsy from a patient with type 1 diabetes. The AGE cross-link breaker, phenyl-4,5-dimethylthiazolium bromide (ALT 711) reduced transdifferentiation in diabetic rats in association with reduced tubular AGE and TGF-beta expression. This study provides a novel mechanism to explain the development of tubulointerstitial disease in diabetic nephropathy and provides a new treatment target.
INVOLUTIONAL MELANCHOLIA AND CONVULSIVE THERAPY
Authors: ISADORE LEO FISHBEIN
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1949)

Results of 61 involutional cases discharged from the Institute of Living, 1935-37, prior to convulsive therapy, are compared with those of 347 involutional cases treated with convulsive therapy between 1945 and 1947. The average number of electric treatments for melancholia cases was 10.8; for paranoid cases, 16.2; for mixed cases, 11.8. In both series of preshock and shock eras, the patients benefited from estrogen therapy and the reeducational and vocational programs, the latter with progressively increased facilities. The average duration of hospital stay was 1½ years in the preshock era as compared to 6 months with convulsive therapy. The combined percentage of patients recovered and improved was essentially the same in both series (92% in 1935-37 and 90% in 1945-47). However, in the preshock era, 30% of melancholia cases were considered as recovered as compared to 62.5% of those receiving convulsive therapy; 62% were considered as improved as compared to 27.5% with convulsive therapy. The criteria of recovery not being the same in both series, these latter figures cannot be compared without reservation. However, even allowing for the difference in criteria of what constitutes recovered, there is material evidence to indicate that the shock-treated group left the Institute in better condition than the nonshock group. On the other hand, there is conclusive evidence that the length of stay in the combined recovered and improved group was materially shortened. The non-shock-treated group remained in the Institute on an average of 3 times as long as the shock-treated group. This difference in the length of hospitalization can hardly be accounted for by the improved and increased ancillary therapies which had undergone considerable development with the shock-treated group.
The Role of Organizers in Patterning the Nervous System
Authors: Clemens Kiecker, Andrew Lumsden
Journal: Annual Review of Neuroscience (2012)

The foundation for the anatomical and functional complexity of the vertebrate central nervous system is laid during embryogenesis. After Spemann's organizer and its derivatives have endowed the neural plate with a coarse pattern along its anteroposterior and mediolateral axes, this basis is progressively refined by the activity of secondary organizers within the neuroepithelium that function by releasing diffusible signaling factors. Dorsoventral patterning is mediated by two organizer regions that extend along the dorsal and ventral midlines of the entire neuraxis, whereas anteroposterior patterning is controlled by several discrete organizers. Here we review how these secondary organizers are established and how they exert their signaling functions. Organizer signals come from a surprisingly limited set of signaling factor families, indicating that the competence of target cells to respond to those signals plays an important part in neural patterning.
Confocal Raman Imaging Study Showing Macrophage Mediated Biodegradation of Graphene In Vivo
Authors: Chundayil Madathil Girish, Abhilash Sasidharan, G. Siddaramana Gowd, Shantikumar Nair, Manzoor Koyakutty
Journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials (2013)

Abstract This study is focused on the crucial issue of biodegradability of graphene under in vivo conditions. Characteristic Raman signatures of graphene are used to three dimensionally (3D) image its localization in lung, liver, kidney and spleen of mouse and identified gradual development of structural disorder, happening over a period of 3 months, as indicated by the formation of defect‐related D'band, line broadening of D and G bands, increase in I D /I G ratio and overall intensity reduction. Prior to injection, the carboxyl functionalized graphene of lateral size ∼200 nm is well dispersed in aqueous medium, but 24 hours post injection, larger aggregates of size up to 10 μm are detected in various organs. Using Raman cluster imaging method, temporal development of disorder is detected from day 8 onwards, which begins from the edges and grows inwards over a period of 3 months. The biodegradation is found prominent in graphene phagocytosed by tissue‐bound macrophages and the gene expression studies of pro‐inflammatory cytokines indicated the possibility of phagocytic immune response. In addition, in vitro studies conducted on macrophage cell lines also show development of structural disorder in the engulfed graphene, reiterating the role of macrophages in biodegradation. This is the first report providing clear evidence of in vivo biodegradation of graphene and these results may radically change the perspective on potential biomedical applications of graphene.
A Comparison of the Effects of Rosiglitazone and Glyburide on Cardiovascular Function and Glycemic Control in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Martin St. John Sutton, Marc Rendell, Paresh Dandona, Jo F. Dole, Karen Murphy, Rita Patwardhan, Jai Patel, Martin Freed
Journal: Diabetes Care (2002)

OBJECTIVE—This open-label, active-controlled study investigated the cardiac safety and antihyperglycemic effect of rosiglitazone (RSG) in patients with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Of the 203 patients randomly assigned to RSG (4 mg b.i.d.) or glyburide (GLB) (titrated to achieve optimal glycemic control for the first 8 weeks only to limit the risk of hypoglycemia; mean 10.5 mg/day), 118 had an echocardiogram performed at week 52. Left ventricular (LV) mass index, ejection fraction, and left ventricular end-diastolic volume were assessed by M-mode echocardiography at baseline and weeks 12, 28, and 52; 24-h ambulatory blood pressure was assessed at baseline and at weeks 28 and 52. Glycemic control was assessed by measuring fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1c. RESULTS—Neither treatment produced an increase in LV mass index that exceeded 1 SD. Ejection fraction did not change in either group. Both groups had clinically insignificant increases in LV end-diastolic volume. RSG, but not GLB, caused a statistically significant reduction in ambulatory diastolic blood pressure. Both treatments reduced HbA1c and FPG. CONCLUSIONS—A total of 52 weeks of therapy with RSG (4 mg b.i.d.) did not adversely affect cardiac structure or function in patients with type 2 diabetes and produced significant and sustained reductions in hyperglycemia. Decreases in ambulatory diastolic blood pressure with RSG were superior to those with GLB.
Nirschl tennis elbow release with or without drilling
Authors: A Khashaba
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2001)

Nirschl release appears to be a very successful technique for surgically suitable cases of tennis elbow. However, although the drilling or decortication aspect of the procedure was thought to be of benefit to the immediate outcome, this has not actually been confirmed. This randomised double blind comparative prospective trial shows that drilling confers no benefit and actually causes more pain, stiffness, and wound bleeding than not drilling.
Avascular Necrosis of Femoral and/or Humeral Heads in Multiple Myeloma: Results of a Prospective Study of Patients Treated With Dexamethasone-Based Regimens and High-Dose Chemotherapy
Authors: Giampaolo Talamo, Edgardo Angtuaco, Ronald C. Walker, Li Dong, Marisa H. Miceli, Maurizio Zangari, Guido Tricot, Bart Barlogie, Elias Anaissie
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2005)

Purpose To assess the prevalence, time of onset, risk factors, and outcome of avascular necrosis (AVN) of bone in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing antineoplastic therapy. Patients and Methods A total of 553 consecutive assessable patients were enrolled onto a treatment protocol consisting of dexamethasone-containing induction chemotherapy, autologous stem-cell transplantation, consolidation chemotherapy, and maintenance with interferon alfa. Patients were randomly assigned to receive thalidomide (269 patients) or no thalidomide (284 patients) throughout the study period. Results With a median follow-up of 33 months (range, 5 to 114 months), AVN of the femoral head(s) developed in 49 patients (9%). Median time to onset of AVN was 12 months (range, 2 to 41 months). Three risk factors for AVN were identified by multivariate analysis: cumulative dexamethasone dose (odds ratio [OR], 1.028; 95% CI, 1.012 to 1.044; P = .0006 [per 40 mg dexamethasone]), male sex (OR, 0.390; 95% CI, 0.192 to 0.790; P = .009), and younger age (OR, 0.961; 95% CI, 0.934 to 0.991 per year; P = .0122). Thalidomide-treated patients had a prevalence of AVN similar to that of the control group (8% v 10%, respectively; P = .58). AVN-related pain and limited range of motion of the affected joint were present in only nine and four patients, respectively, and four patients underwent hip replacement because of AVN. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography failed to detect abnormal uptake in the AVN-affected bones. Conclusion AVN is a rare and usually asymptomatic complication during myeloma therapy. Cumulative dexamethasone dose, male sex, and younger age, but not thalidomide, increase the risk of AVN.
Asthma, pulmonary eosinophilia, and eosinophilic pericarditis.
Authors: O M Jolobe, S C Melnick
Journal: Thorax (1983)

Eosinophilic pericardial effusion is a rare condition.The case we report is the second example of its association with asthma and pulmonary eosinophilia. Case reportA 32 year old Punjabi woman with a three year history of asthma (including one episode of status asthmaticus) was found to have radiological pulmonary infiltration and an eosinophil count of 4*65 x 109/l, with a white blood count (WBC) of 15-0 x 109/l during an asthmatic relapse.The infiltrates resolved and the asthma improved after treat- ment with prednisolone 40 mg/day.A month later, while she was taking only beclomethasone dipropionate powder, 200 j.g four times daily by inhalation, she developed chest pain, dyspnoea, and streaky haemoptysis.A chest radio- graph showed an enlarged cardiac silhouette and bilateral basal effusions (fig 1).Echocardiography confirmed the presence of a pericardial effusion but there was no evi- dence of endocardial or myocardial abnormality.The M.
Influence of age and disease severity on high resolution CT lung densitometry in asthma
Authors: F Mitsunobu
Journal: Thorax (2001)

<h3>BACKGROUND</h3> Low attenuation areas (LAA) on computed tomographic (CT) scans have been shown to represent emphysematous changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the significance of LAA is still controversial in patients with asthma. This study was undertaken to assess the usefulness of lung CT densitometry in the detection of airspace enlargement in association with asthma severity. <h3>METHODS</h3> Forty five asthmatic subjects and 15 non-smoking controls were studied to determine the influence of age, pulmonary function, and asthma severity on mean lung density (MLD) and the relative area of the lung showing attenuation values less than –950 HU (RA<sub>950</sub>) on high resolution CT (HRCT) scans. <h3>RESULTS</h3> In asthmatic patients both MLD and RA<sub>950</sub> correlated with parameters of airflow limitation (%FEV<sub>1</sub>, FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC, %FEF<sub>25–75</sub>) and lung volume (%TLC, %FRC, %RV), but not with lung transfer factor (%Tlco, %Tlco/VA). The results of HRCT lung densitometry also correlated with patient age and severity of asthma. <h3>CONCLUSIONS</h3> Decreased CT lung density in non-smoking asthmatics is related to airflow limitation, hyperinflation and aging, but not with lung transfer factor.
Effects of Body Size and Body Composition on Survival in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Srinivasan Beddhu, Lisa M. Pappas, Nirupama Ramkumar, Matthew Samore
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2003)

ABSTRACT. It is unclear whether increased muscle mass or body fat confer the survival advantage in hemodialysis patients with high body-mass index (BMI). Twenty-four-hour urinary creatinine (UCr) excretion was used as a measure of muscle mass. The outcomes of hemodialysis patients with high BMI and normal or high muscle mass (inferred low body fat) and high BMI and low muscle mass (inferred high body fat) were studied to study the effects of body composition on outcomes. In 70,028 patients who initiated hemodialysis in the United States from January 1995 to December 1999 with measured creatinine clearances reported in the Medical Evidence form, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were examined in Cox and parametric survival models. When compared with normal BMI (18.5 to 24.9 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) group, patients with high BMI (≥25 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) had lower hazard of death (hazard ratio [HR], 0.85; <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001). However, when compared with normal BMI patients with UCr &gt;25th percentile (0.55 g/d), high BMI patients with UCr &gt;0.55 g/d had lower hazard of all-cause (HR, 0.85; <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001) and cardiovascular death (HR, 0.89; <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001), and high BMI patients with UCr ≤0.55 g/d had higher hazard of all-cause death (HR, 1.14; <i>P</i>&lt;0.001) and cardiovascular death (HR, 1.19; <i>P</i> &lt;0.001). Both BMI and body composition are strong predictors of death. The protective effect conferred by high BMI is limited to those patients with normal or high muscle mass. High BMI patients with inferred high body fat have increased and not decreased mortality. E-mail: Srinivasan.beddhu@hsc.utah.edu
OUTCOMES OF A PREOPERATIVE &amp;ldquo;BRIDGING&amp;rdquo; STRATEGY WITH GLYCOPROTEIN IIB/IIIA INHIBITORS FOR PREVENTING PERIOPERATIVE STENT THROMBOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH DRUG-ELUTING STENTS WHO UNDERGO SURGERY NECESSITATING INTERRUPTION OF THIENOPYRIDINE ADMINISTRATION
Authors: Laith Alshawabkeh, Amit Prasad, Fima Lenkovsky, Enas Kandil, Rick Weideman, Kevin Kelly, Bavana Rangan, Subhash Banerjee, Emmanouil Brilakis
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2012)
Association of p27Kipl Levels With Recurrence and Survival in Patients With Stage C Prostate Carcinoma
Authors: R. J. Cote, Y. Shi, S. Groshen, A.-C. Feng, D. Skinner, G. Lieskovosky, C. Cordon-Cardo
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1998)

Background. There are few biologic determinants that are prognostic for patients with localized prostate cancer. We examined whether cellular levels of the cyclin-kinase inhibitor p27Kipl (also known as p27) in prostate tumors could be used to predict progression of this disease. Methods: Levels of p27 in tumor cell nuclei were assessed by immunohistochemical analysis of tissue sections from the primary tumors of 96 patients with stage C prostate carcinoma who had been treated by radical prostatectomy. Tumors were classified into one of the following three groups on the basis of the percentage of tumor cells showing nuclear p27 reactivity: low (0%–10%), moderate (11%–50%), and high (>50%). The Mantel-Haenszel test, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and the logrank test were used to calculate the probability that nuclear p27 levels were associated with tumor grade and substage, with a serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence (defined as the finding of a detectable level [0.4 ng/ mL or greater] of serum PSA following radical prostatectomy), with the recurrence of clinically evident disease, and with survival. All reported P values are two-sided. Results: Luminal cells and basal cells of normal prostate glands showed high levels of nuclear p27 immunoreactivity in all tissue sections examined. Fifty-three tumors showed high p27 reactivity, 31 showed moderate reactivity, and 12 showed low or no detectable reactivity. Decreased levels of p27 were associated with tumor grade (P = .004). Tumor levels of p27 were not associated with preoperative prostate-specific antigen levels (P = .360) or with tumor substage (P =.320). However, decreased p27 reactivity was significantly associated with an increased probability of recurrence (P -.004) and decreased survival (P =.010). The median recurrence-free interval for patients with tumors showing high, moderate, or low p27 reactivity was 13.7 years, 8.4 years, and 4.7 years, respectively. Median survival times were more than 14 years, more than 13.5 years, and 8.1 years for patients in the high, moderate, and low p27 reactivity groups, respectively. Conclusion: Levels of nuclear p27 immunoreactivity in the primary tumor can be used to predict recurrence and survival among patients with localized prostate cancer. [J Nall Cancer Inst 1998;90:916-20]
The lymphocyte transformation test and gold hypersensitivity.
Authors: E J Denman, A M Denman
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1968)

TheEmpireRheumatism Council's controlled trial (1960) showedthatgoldsalts benefit patients withrheumatoid arthritis. However, side-effects still occurwiththis treatment despite regular blood counts andurineexaminations and,although the incidence ofsevere reactions hasprobably been reduced bycareful attention tothedoseandnumber ofinjections given, serious haematological complications arestill encountered (Saphir andNey,1966). Itiswidely believed thattoxicity fromgoldtherapy isimmunologically determined, butsofarthere has beenlittle convincing evidence toprovethisassumption. Blast transformation ofperipheral bloodlymphocytes after their exposure invitro toanantigen towhichthedonorhasbecomesensitized hasbeen usedasa testfordrughypersensitivity (Vischer, 1966; Sarkany, 1967). We report hereexperiments inwhichtheperipheral bloodlymphocytes of patients withseveregoldtoxicity responded to invitrochallenge withMyocrisin. Theresults provide direct evidence thatgoldhypersensitivity isimmunologically determined andsuggest apossible methodforpredicting thelikelihood oftoxicity occurring inindividual patients.
KSHV targets multiple leukocyte lineages during long-term productive infection in NOD/SCID mice
Authors: C. H. Parsons
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2006)

To develop an animal model of Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection uniquely suited to evaluate longitudinal patterns of viral gene expression, cell tropism, and immune responses, we injected NOD/SCID mice intravenously with purified virus and measured latent and lytic viral transcripts in distal organs over the subsequent 4 months. We observed sequential escalation of first latent and then lytic KSHV gene expression coupled with electron micrographic evidence of virion production within the murine spleen. Using novel technology that integrates flow cytometry with immunofluorescence microscopy, we found that the virus establishes infection in murine B cells, macrophages, NK cells, and, to a lesser extent, dendritic cells. To investigate the potential for human KSHV–specific immune responses within this immunocompromised host, we implanted NOD/SCID mice with functional human hematopoietic tissue grafts (NOD/SCID-hu mice) and observed that a subset of animals produced human KSHV–specific antibodies. Furthermore, treatment of these chimeric mice with ganciclovir at the time of inoculation led to prolonged but reversible suppression of KSHV DNA and RNA levels, suggesting that KSHV can establish latent infection in vivo despite ongoing suppression of lytic replication.
Injuries in Rugby and Association Football
Authors: Doris Weightman, R. C. Browne
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (1974)

The number, site, severity and rate of accidents and the medical attention received has been measured for association and rugby football in the four northern counties of England during the 1970-1971 season. 696 out of 1601 (43%) association and 117 out of 232 (50%) rugby football clubs replied to the questionnaires. If all the clubs had replied an estimated 14078 injuries would have occurred in association and 3888 in rugby football. For soccer, the accident rate was 36.5 per 10,000 man-hours of play and for rugger 30.5. In soccer 65% of all injuries were to the lower limbs, but only 36% in rugger, which had a higher proportion of injuries to other sites compared with soccer. Fractures and dislocations were twice as common in rugger as in soccer. Concussion was also more common. In rugby football, the players are injured less often than in association football, but more seriously, as is shown by the fact that hospital treatment was needed by 29.8% of the soccer injuries, but 52.8% of those in rugby football. Similarly, a rugger injury needed on average 12 days off play, whereas one in soccer needed only 6 days off play. A bigger proportion of soccer injuries (73.8%) received rapid first aid than did rugger injuries (45.8%). Better first aid cover at matches and simple protective clothing for the legs of soccer players and shoulders of rugby players are suggested.