tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Weak association between HLA-DR4 and rheumatoid arthritis in Chilean patients.
Authors: L Massardo, S Jacobelli, L Rodriguez, S Rivero, A Gonzalez, R Marchetti
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1990)

Evidence has suggested a genetic link between the HLA-DR4 phenotype and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly in its seropositive form. Such an association varies among different ethnic groups and remains controversial for seronegative patients. Data obtained for a group of 64 Chilean patients with RA (46 seropositive, 18 seronegative), as defined by the 1987 criteria of the American Rheumatism Association, and for 76 controls are reported here. The prevalence of HLA-DR4 and DR9 was significantly increased in the group of patients considered as a whole. The prevalence of HLA-DR4 was not significantly higher, however, when seronegative and seropositive patients were separately compared with controls. Also, it did not correlate with the severity of the disease within each subgroup of patients. On the other hand, HLA-DR9 showed a highly significant difference, not previously described, only for the seropositive patients in comparison with controls. The prevalence of DQ specificities showed no relevant differences among the groups. The HLA-DR4 serotype, therefore, is a weak marker for RA and does not differentiate any subgroup of patients in the Chilean group studied. This new finding, indicating an association between RA and the DR9 antigen, may be explained by the suggestion that susceptibility epitopes are shared among different DR molecules. This hypothesis might also account for the variation in the association of DR4 with RA.
Severe late failure of a porcine xenograft mitral valve: clinical, echocardiographic, and pathological findings.
Authors: G Crupi, D Gibson, B Heard, C Lincoln
Journal: Thorax (1980)

A case of dysfunction of a Carpentier-Edwards porcine xenograft mitral prosthesis is presented. Valve failure was diagnosed by echocardiography and confirmed at operation. Histology showed valve tissue degeneration without evidence of prosthetic endocarditis.
Tubuloglomerular Feedback NONLINEAR RELATION BETWEEN GLOMERULAR HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE AND LOOP OF HENLE PERFUSION RATE
Authors: Jürgen Schnermann, A. Erik G. Persson, Bengt υgerup
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1973)

The present experiments were performed to quantify the effect of changes in distal tubular sodium delivery on glomerular flow dynamics both below and above the normal physiologic range. Glomerular capillary pressure as derived from the tubular stop flow pressure was assessed while the loop of Henle of the same nephron was perfused with varying flow rates. During Ringer perfusion no change of glomerular capillary pressure was observed when flow was increased from 0 to 13 nl/min. Further increasing flow to 27 nl/min was associated with a reduction of glomerular hydrostatic pressure by an average of 7.0+/-4.4 cm H(2)O (+/-SD). During perfusion at a rate of 43 nl/min glomerular pressure was decreased by a mean of 10.5+/-4.0 cm H(2)O. Changing the flow rate in small steps revealed that a significant reduction of capillary pressure was found when increasing the flow rate from 13 to 21 nl/min and that the maximum response was reached at 32 nl/min. No effect of perfusion rate changes on glomerular capillary pressure was observed when 300 mM mannitol was used as perfusion fluid. These results imply that a nonlinear relationship exists between end-proximal flow rate and glomerular capillary pressure. It is suggested that during deviations of distal sodium delivery into a positive direction filtration rate is intrarenally regulated probably by prevalence of afferent arteriolar constriction. During reductions of distal sodium load intrarenal regulation is either abolished or it involves proportionate resistance changes of both afferent and efferent arterioles.
Quebec doctors stage protest over contract changes
Authors: D. Spurgeon
Journal: BMJ (2002)

Doctors wearing laboratory coats protested outside the Quebec National Assembly as parliamentarians passed a law forcing the province's 17000 general practitioners to staff hospital emergency rooms 24 hours a day when called upon by regional health boards.

The law will expire by the end of the year, but the doctors say that other new legislation proposed for the autumn is worse: it will change their status from independent, self employed professionals to contractual employees of the government. The doctors say that by laying down where they can work and under what conditions the autumn …
Responsibility of Manufacturers and Consumers
Authors: Louis R. Orkin
Journal: JAMA (1968)

Man's functions are probed, monitored, altered, and substituted for by machines. The most vital activities of life are sustained by artificial respiration and circulation; death is diagnosed by absent waves on the electroencephalogram. The authority to construct these devices and the privilege of using them places an awesome responsibility on the manufacturer and consumer if the subject is to be safeguarded against misfunction or misdirection. However, the failure of manufacturers and physicians to accept this burden of responsibility has aroused governmental interest. In these days of social conscience, governmental agencies have assumed a role as guardian angels over the welfare of the governed as groups or individuals. The delivery of appropriate medical care is a small but obvious segment of the programs influencing life from birth to death in the conflict between the individual and his world. The interplay between manufacturer, physician, and government with the public as the ball
Quinidine-induced Syncope
Authors: P. Davies, D. Leak, S. Oram
Journal: BMJ (1965)

FIG..--Cases 1, 2, and 3 (A, B, and C).Lead II of the electrocardio- -gram recorded after quinidine..induced syncojpe.In all three, both the P-R and Q-To intervals are prolonged, with depression of the ST segment incorporating the T wave.The QRS complex is not widened.
Smoking and Risk of Graves' Disease
Authors: Mark F. Prummel
Journal: JAMA (1993)

<h3>Objective.</h3> —To assess if smoking is associated with Graves' disease and, if so, to ascertain whether this association persists when controlling for confounding factors. <h3>Design.</h3> —Consecutive entry case-control study with two age- and sex-matched control subjects from two different populations per case patient. <h3>Setting.</h3> —University hospital. <h3>Patients.</h3> —Five groups were studied: (1) Graves' ophthalmopathy and Graves' hyperthyroidism (n=100; divided in four subgroups according to the severity of the eye disease); (2) Graves' hyperthyroidism without clinical eye involvement (n=100); (3) sporadic nontoxic goiter (n=100); (4) autoimmune hypothyroidism (n=75); and (5) toxic nodular goiter (n=75). The study comprised 200 subjects from a hospitalbased population, and 200 from a population-based group served as control subjects. <h3>Main Outcome Measure.</h3> —Smoking status was determined from a questionnaire at the time of onset of the disease to exclude any effect of the disease itself on smoking. <h3>Results.</h3> —Smoking greatly increased the risk for Graves' ophthalmopathy (odds ratio, 7.7; 95% confidence interval, 4.3 to 13.7), but patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism alone were also more often smokers than control subjects (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 3.2). Smoking was not associated with the other thyroid diseases studied. Essentially similar results were obtained after adjustment for differences in education between case patients and control subjects. Among the patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy, smokers had more severe eye disease than nonsmokers, but no association was found between the number of cigarettes smoked per day or the duration of smoking and the severity of the ophthalmopathy. However, there was a significant increase in the odds ratios in patients with more severe eye disease. <h3>Conclusions.</h3> —Smoking is associated with Graves' disease, and it especially increases the risk for the development of more severe ophthalmopathy. Thus, smoking appears to be one of the multiple factors inducing Graves' disease in genetically predisposed individuals. (<i>JAMA</i>. 1993;269:479-482)
Right-left discrimination among medical students: questionnaire and psychometric study
Authors: G. J Gormley, M. Dempster, R. Best
Journal: BMJ (2008)

<b>Objective</b> To determine medical students' self awareness and ability to discriminate right from left; to identify characteristics associated with this ability; and to identify any techniques used to aid discrimination. <b>Design</b> Questionnaire and psychometric study. <b>Setting</b> Undergraduate medical school, Northern Ireland. <b>Participants</b> 290 first year undergraduate students. <b>Main outcome measure</b> Medical students' ability to discriminate right from left using the Bergen right-left discrimination test. <b>Results</b> Test scores ranged from 31 to 143 on a scale of 0-144 (mean 112 (standard deviation 22.2)). Male students significantly outperformed female students (117.18 (26.96) <i>v</i> 110.80 (28.94)). Students who wanted to be surgeons performed significantly better than those who wanted to be general practitioners or medical doctors (119.87 (25.15) <i>v</i> 110.55 (27.36) <i>v</i> 112.50 (26.88)). The interaction effect for sex and career wishes was not significant (P=0.370). Students who used learnt techniques to help them discriminate scored significantly less than those who did not (P&lt;0.001). Students had greater difficulty in discriminating right from left when looking at the forward view rather than the back view (P&lt;0.001). <b>Conclusions</b> Male students were better than female students at distinguishing right from left, and aspiring surgeons were better than aspiring general practitioners or medical doctors. Students had more difficulty with the forward view than the back view.
The English Hospital, 1070-1570
Authors: John Muendel
Journal: JAMA (1996)

The purpose of this study is to present a general survey of the history of the English hospital from its medieval origins through the Reformation so that historians and archaeologists will have a convenient synopsis upon which to depend when they attempt to introduce evidence based on new techniques of investigation. A synthesis of the development of the medieval English hospital was written in 1909 by Rotha Mary Clay. It is out-of-date, however, because of the emphasis that is now being placed on such methods as demographic and prosopographical analysis arising from the excavation of cemeteries or the close study of biographical sources relating to lists found of hospital masters, staff, and inmates. By analyzing in particular the medieval hospitals of the counties of Cornwall and Devon in southwestern England, the authors show how the institutions of a specific region can reflect national characteristics despite distinctions created by geographical peculiarities.
Successful long-term immunologic reconstitution by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation cures patients with autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome
Authors: Evgenios Goussetis, Ioulia Peristeri, Vasiliki Kitra, Joanne Traeger-Synodinos, Maria Theodosaki, Katerina Psarra, Maria Kanariou, Fotini Tzortzatou-Stathopoulou, Eftichia Petrakou, Irene Fylaktou, Emmanuel Kanavakis, Stelios Graphakos
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2010)
A Primer of Cardiac Diagnosis: The Physical and Technical Study of the Cardiac Patient
Authors: Sanford A. Franzblau
Journal: JAMA (1969)

This book is truly a primer. The authors have touched lightly on all the currently used methods of cardiac examination, including such less-common ones as echocardiography, kinetocardiography, ballistocardiography, roentgenkymography, and electrokymography. There are chapters on cine-angiography, cardiac catheterization, and dyedilution curves, to say nothing of the more conventional approaches of auscultation, history-taking, inspection, electrocardiography, and conventional roentgenography—all this and more in some 200 pages. The book whets the appetite as a primer should. But it is regrettable that there are no references given at the end of each chapter for those who, having been stimulated, are eager to go on and learn more. The few references given at the end of the book, under the heading of "Recommended Reading," are far too general for those who are interested in finding out more about a particular technique.
THE EFFECT OF X-RAYS ON THE RICKETTSIOSTATIC ACTIVITY OF STREPTOMYCIN, AUREOMYCIN, AND PENICILLIN
Authors: Donald Greiff, E. L. Powers, Henry Pinkerton
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1957)

The effect of x-rays on the rickettsiostatic activity of streptomycin, penicillin and aureomycin in the embryonate egg was investigated. Only a slight reversal of the rickettsiostatic action of 5 mg. of streptomycin occurred in embryonate eggs given 100 r of x-rays at 4 days of incubation, whereas complete reversal occurred in those given 1000 r. Groups of eggs irradiated with intermediate doses of x-rays showed a graded response. The rickettsiostatic activity of 5 mg. (1660 Oxford units/mg.) of penicillin or of 5 mg. of aureomycin was not reversed by doses of x-rays ranging from 100 to 1000 r. 500 r of x-rays reversed the rickettsiostatic activity of 2 mg., 4 mg., 8 mg., or 16 mg. of streptomycin per egg in proportion to the amount of streptomycin injected. The rickettsiostatic activity of 2 mg. of streptomycin was completely reversed and the activity of 16 mg. only partially reversed. Reversal of the rickettsiostatic activity of streptomycin by x-rays was observed when radiation was given up to 6 days after the injection of the antibiotic into 7-day-old embryos. Reversal of the rickettsiostatic activity of 4 mg. of streptomycin could be detected when the antibiotic was injected 3 days after 500 r of x-radiation. Explanations of the observed phenomena are discussed in terms of biochemical and biophysical alterations of the cells of the host.
A Margin-of-Exposure Approach to Assessment of Noncancer Risks of Dioxins Based on Human Exposure and Response Data
Authors: Lesa L. Aylward, Julie E. Goodman, Gail Charnley, Lorenz R. Rhomberg
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2008)

Risk assessment of human environmental exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDFs) and other dioxin-like compounds is complicated by several factors, including limitations in measuring intakes because of the low concentrations of these compounds in foods and the environment and interspecies differences in pharmacokinetics and responses.We examined the feasibility of relying directly on human studies of exposure and potential responses to PCDD/PCDFs and related compounds in terms of measured lipid-adjusted concentrations to assess margin of exposure (MOE) in a quantitative, benchmark dose (BMD)-based framework using representative exposure and selected response data sets.We characterize estimated central tendency and upper-bound general U.S. population lipid-adjusted concentrations of PCDD/PCDFs from the 1970s and early 2000s based on available data sets. Estimates of benchmark concentrations for three example responses of interest (induction of cytochrome P4501A2 activity, dental anomalies, and neonatal thyroid hormone alterations) were derived based on selected human studies.The exposure data sets indicate that current serum lipid concentrations in young adults are approximately 6- to 7-fold lower than 1970s-era concentrations. Estimated MOEs for each end point based on current serum lipid concentrations range from < 10 for neonatal thyroid hormone concentrations to > 100 for dental anomalies-approximately 6-fold greater than would have existed during the 1970s.Human studies of dioxin exposure and outcomes can be used in a BMD framework for quantitative assessments of MOE. Incomplete exposure characterization can complicate the use of such studies in a BMD framework.
Electrophysiologic testing in assessment of therapy with sotalol for sustained ventricular tachycardia.
Authors: J Senges, W Lengfelder, R Jauernig, E Czygan, J Brachmann, I Rizos, S Cobbe, W Kübler
Journal: Circulation (1984)

Eighteen patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia underwent electrophysiologic studies to establish the therapeutic efficacy of sotalol. In each patient ventricular tachycardia could be reproducibly initiated by programmed stimulation during control studies. Sotalol prevented induction of sustained ventricular tachycardia in 12 of the 18 patients (67%). Prolongation of the QTC interval and of ventricular refractoriness was regularly observed after sotalol but did not reliably predict prophylactic efficacy. Severe adverse effects, including congestive heart failure and sinus node dysfunction, were noted early during sotalol therapy in three patients. Nine patients were placed on long-term oral treatment with sotalol and four patients on another effective agent. In these 13 patients, complete (12 patients) or partial (one patient) long-term prophylaxis against ventricular tachycardia was documented over a mean follow-up period of 16 months (range 8 to 24). The study suggests that sotalol can provide effective prophylaxis against sustained ventricular tachycardia; this prophylactic efficacy is not typical for pure beta-adrenergic antagonism but may at least partly result from experimentally observed prolongation of the ventricular action potential duration.
Cultural and individual differences in the generalization of theories regarding human thinking
Authors: Kyungil Kim, Youngjun Park
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2011)

Abstract Tests of a universal theory often find significant variability and individual differences between cultures. We propose that descriptivism research should focus more on cultural and individual differences, especially those based on motivational factors. Explaining human thinking by focusing on individual difference factors across cultures could provide a parsimonious paradigm, by uncovering the true causal mechanisms of psychological processes.
Majority of patients receiving initial therapy with lenalidomide-based regimens can be successfully mobilized with appropriate mobilization strategies
Authors: S Sinha, M A Gertz, M Q Lacy, A Dispenzieri, S R Hayman, F K Buadi, D Dingli, I N Micallef, W J Hogan, D A Gastineau, S V Rajkumar, S K Kumar
Journal: Leukemia (2011)
Low-dose oral interferon possibly retards the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and alleviates associated cough in some patients
Authors: L. O. Lutherer, K. M. Nugent, B. W. Schoettle, M. J. Cummins, R. Raj, S. S. Birring, C. A. Jumper
Journal: Thorax (2010)

Low-dose oral interferon a possibly retards the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and alleviates associated cough
Observations on Heart Block During Continuous Electrocardiographic Monitoring in Myocardial Infarction
Authors: RICHARD J. STOCK, DANIEL L. MACKEN
Journal: Circulation (1968)

Complete heart block (CHB) was observed in 24 of 350 patients with myocardial infarction who were studied under conditions of continuous electrocardiographic monitoring. CHB occurred predominantly in posterior and anteroseptal infarctions. In posterior infarction CHB was observed in patients who also developed first degree (1°) and types I and II second degree (2°-I and 2°-II) atrioventricular (A-V) block but not bundle-branch block (BBB). In anteroseptal infarction CHB was found in patients with BBB, occasionally in patients with 2°-II A-V block, but not in patients with 1° and 2°-I A-V block. Right BBB with a Q wave in lead V 1 was the usual form of BBB observed in patients with CHB and anteroseptal infarction. One mechanism for sudden death in anteroseptal infarction is the abrupt development of CHB following the onset of BBB. Evidence is presented attributing CHB to a lesion in the A-V node in posterior infarction and to bilateral BBB in anteroseptal infarction.
Assessment of left-to-right atrial shunting after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty by transesophageal color Doppler flow-mapping.
Authors: K Yoshida, J Yoshikawa, T Akasaka, Y Yamaura, M Shakudo, T Hozumi, T Fukaya
Journal: Circulation (1989)

To evaluate left-to-right shunts after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty, we studied 15 consecutive patients by using transesophageal color Doppler flow-imaging system. Transesophageal color Doppler examinations were performed five times in each patient (before valvuloplasty and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months after valvuloplasty). No shunt flow was observed before valvuloplasty. On 1 day after mitral valvuloplasty, transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography demonstrated left-to-right shunts in 13 (87%) of 15 patients. However, a significant oxygen step-up was present in the right heart in only one patient. The mean diameter of the interatrial septal defect detected by transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography was 1.8 +/- 1.0 mm. The mean velocity of left-to-right shunting flow measured by high-pulse repetition frequency Doppler technique was 0.83 +/- 0.38 m/sec. One week after the procedure, left-to-right shunt flow was detected in 11 (73%) patients. One month after valvuloplasty, left-to-right shunting flow was detected in seven (47%) of 15 patients. There was a significant decrease in the diameter of an interatrial septal defect between 1 day and 1 week (p less than 0.01), between 1 week and 1 month (p less than 0.01), and between 1 month and 6 months (p less than 0.05). Six months after valvuloplasty, left-to-right shunting flow remained in three (20%) patients. By using transthoracic color Doppler echocardiography, we detected left-to-right shunting flow in two patients on 1 day after the procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Government strategy on dementia will emphasise early diagnosis
Authors: L. Eaton
Journal: BMJ (2009)

Early diagnosis of dementia will be a key plank in the government’s forthcoming strategy for the condition, a conference heard this week.

Sube Banerjee, an adviser to the Department of Health on older people’s mental health and professor of mental health and ageing at the Institute of Psychiatry, said that GPs should play an important part in helping to identify the onset of dementia, which currently affects 700 000 people in the United Kingdom. He was speaking at a conference on dementia and care of elderly people in London on Tuesday 27 January organised by the Westminster Health Forum, a commercial group that aims to encourage debate on government policy.

The long awaited government policy on dementia, which Professor Banerjee has been working on for the past year and which is due to be published soon, will emphasise the …