tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Raised human cartilage glycoprotein-39 plasma levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions
Authors: K Vos, P Steenbakkers, Amm Miltenburg, E Bos, MW van den Heuvel, RA van Hogezand, de Rivka Vries, FC Breedveld, Annemieke Boots
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2000)

To evaluate plasma human cartilage glycoprotein (HC gp-39) as a possible marker for the presence and/or activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory conditions.HC gp-39 is a secretory product of chondrocytes, synovial cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. HC gp-39, also described as YKL-40, was found to be a marker of joint disease and tissue injury in RA and various other diseases.Levels of HC gp-39 were determined by a sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 47 patients with RA, 47 with osteoarthritis (OA), 24 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 24 with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and in 47 healthy controls. A disease activity score was assessed in the patients with RA, SLE, and IBD.The plasma level of HC gp-39 in the RA patient group was significantly higher than in the other patient groups and healthy controls. The level in patients with OA, SLE, and IBD was also significantly higher than the HC gp-39 level found in the healthy control group. HC gp-39 levels in patients with RA correlated positively with the ESR and IgM rheumatoid factor level but not with other variables of disease activity. In the patients with SLE and IBD no correlation was found with the disease activity score.The plasma level of HC gp-39 is increased in inflammatory conditions with and without joint disease (SLE, IBD, OA, and RA). Thus increased levels of HC gp-39 do not only reflect joint disease but also reflect inflammation or tissue degradation in various conditions. Notably, the highest level of HC gp-39 was found in patients with RA. Only in the RA patient group was a correlation between HC gp-39 plasma levels and some laboratory variables of disease activity found.
Comparison of 14C-labelled polyethylene glycol (PEG) with carrier PEG and 14C-PEG alone as a volume indicator in the human jejunum.
Authors: C A Helman, G O Barbezat
Journal: Gut (1978)

14C-labelled polyethylene glycol (PEG) (5 muCi/l) was used as a non-absorbable marker in human jejunum both with and without carrier PEG (5 g/l). Calculation of net water flux was virtually identical whether or not the carrier PEG was included in the perfusion solution. 14C-PEG alone is a satisfactory non-absorbable marker for perfusion studies in the human jejunum.
Evidence of Selection at Melanin Synthesis Pathway Loci during Silkworm Domestication
Authors: H.-S. Yu, Y.-H. Shen, G.-X. Yuan, Y.-G. Hu, H.-E. Xu, Z.-H. Xiang, Z. Zhang
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2011)

The domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori) was domesticated from wild silkworm (Bombyx mandarina) more than 5,000 years ago. During domestication, body color between B. mandarina and B. mori changed dramatically. However, the molecular mechanism of the silkworm body color transition is not known. In the present study, we examined within- and between-species nucleotide diversity for eight silkworm melanin synthesis pathway genes, which play a key role in cuticular pigmentation of insects. Our results showed that the genetic diversity of B. mori was significantly lower than that of B. mandarina and 40.7% of the genetic diversity of wild silkworm was lost in domesticated silkworm. We also examined whether position effect exists among melanin synthesis pathway genes in B. mandarina and B. mori. We found that the upstream genes have significantly lower levels of genetic diversity than the downstream genes, supporting a functional constraint hypothesis (FCH) of metabolic pathway, that is, upstream enzymes are under greater selective constraint than downstream enzymes because upstream enzymes participate in biosynthesis of a number of metabolites. We also investigated whether some of the melanin synthesis pathway genes experienced selection during domestication. Neutrality test, coalescent simulation, as well as network and phylogenetic analyses showed that tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene was a domestication locus. Sequence analysis further suggested that a putative expression enhancer (Abd-B-binding site) in the intron of TH gene might be disrupted during domestication. TH is the rate-limiting enzyme of melanin synthesis pathway in insects. Real-time polymerase chain reaction assay did show that the relative expression levels of TH gene in B. mori were significantly lower than that in B. mandarina at three different developmental stages, which is consistent with light body color of domesticated silkworm relative to wild silkworm. Therefore, we speculated that expression change of TH gene may contribute to the body color transition from B. mandarina to B. mori. Our results emphasize the exceptional role of gene expression regulation in morphological transition of domesticated animals.
Transforming Growth Factor β–SMAD2 Signaling Regulates Aortic Arch Innervation and Development
Authors: Daniel G.M. Molin, Robert E. Poelmann, Marco C. DeRuiter, Mohamad Azhar, Thomas Doetschman, Adriana C. Gittenberger-de Groot
Journal: Circulation Research (2004)

Aortic arch interruptions in humans and animal models are mainly caused by aberrant development of the fourth pharyngeal arch artery. Little is known about the maturation of this vessel during normal and abnormal development, which is the subject of this study. Tgfbeta2 knockout mice that present with fourth artery defects have been associated with defective neural crest cell migration. In this study, we concentrated on pharyngeal arch artery development during developmental days 12.5 to 18.5, focusing on neural crest cell migration using a Wnt1-Cre by R26R neural crest cell reporter mouse. Fourth arch artery maturation was studied with antibodies directed against smooth muscle alpha-actin and neural NCAM-1 and RMO-270. For diminished transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signaling, SMAD2 and fibronectin have been analyzed. Neural crest migration and differentiation into smooth muscle cells is unaltered in mutants, regardless of the cardiovascular defect found; however, innervation of the fourth arch artery is affected. Absent staining for nuclear SMAD2, NCAM-1, and RMO-270 in the fourth artery in mutant coincides with severe defects of this segment. Likewise, fibronectin expression is diminished in these cases. From these data we conclude the following: (1) neural crest cell migration is not a common denominator in cardiovascular defects of Tgfbeta2-/- mice; (2) fourth arch artery maturation is a complex process involving innervation; and (3) TGF-beta2 depletion diminishes SMAD2-signaling in the fourth arch artery and coincides with reduced vascular NCAM-1 expression and neural innervation of this artery. We hypothesize that disturbed maturation of the fourth pharyngeal arch artery, and especially abrogated vascular innervation, will result in fourth arch interruptions.
Cardiac and Respiratory Effects of Aortic Arch Baroreceptor Stimulation
Authors: MATTHEW N. LEVY, MANUEL L. NG, HARRISON ZIESKE
Journal: Circulation Research (1966)

The reflex cardiac and respiratory effects of stepwise pressure variations in the isolated aortic arch were determined in anesthetized dogs. Elevation of pressure in the aortic arch depressed respiratory movements, decreased heart rate in the unpaced heart, and diminished peak pressure in the paced, isovolumetric left ventricle preparation. The threshold for these reflex effects was an aortic arch pressure of approximately 100 mm Hg. The maximum rate of change of these variables as a function of aortic arch pressure occurred at a pressure of about 175 mm Hg. Aortic arch pressures of 300 mm Hg or more were necessary to achieve maximal reflex effects. Heart rate changes were mediated by parasympathetic pathways predominantly, although reciprocal sympathetic influences were also involved. Both divisions of the autonomic nervous system mediated the effects upon ventricular performance.
Rapid Inhibition of Vasoconstriction in Renal Afferent Arterioles by Aldosterone
Authors: T.R. Uhrenholt, J. Schjerning, P.B. Hansen, R. Nørregaard, B.L. Jensen, G.L. Sorensen, O. Skøtt
Journal: Circulation Research (2003)

Aldosterone has been suggested to elicit vessel contraction via a nongenomic mechanism. We tested this proposal in microdissected, perfused rabbit renal afferent arterioles. Aldosterone had no effect on internal diameter in concentrations from 10(-10) to 10(-5) mol/L, but aldosterone abolished the ability of 100 mmol/L KCl to induce vascular contraction. The inhibitory effect of aldosterone was observed from 1 pmol/L. The inhibitory effect was significant after 5 minutes and maximal after 20 minutes and was fully reversible. Actinomycin D (10(-6) mol/L) prolonged the effect of aldosterone. The effect was abolished by the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone (10(-7) mol/L) but not by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone (10(-6) mol/L). The K+-mediated increase of intracellular calcium concentration in afferent arterioles was not affected by aldosterone. Mineralocorticoid receptor was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry in rat renal vasculature and rabbit endothelial cells. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3 kinase with LY 294002 (3x10(-6) mol/L) restored sensitivity to K+ in the presence of aldosterone, and afferent arterioles were immunopositive for PI-3 kinase subunit p110alpha. Inhibition of NO formation by L-NAME (10(-4) mol/L) or inhibition of soluble guanylyl cyclase with 1H-(1,2,4)Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-one restored K+-induced vasoreactivity in the presence of aldosterone. Similar to aldosterone, the NO donor sodium nitroprusside inhibited K+-induced vascular contraction. Geldanamycin (10(-6) mol/L), an inhibitor of heat shock protein 90, abolished aldosterone-induced vasorelaxation. We conclude that aldosterone inhibits depolarization-induced vasoconstriction in renal afferent arterioles by a rapid nongenomic mechanism that is initiated by mineralocorticoid receptor activation and involves PI-3 kinase, protein kinase B, and heat shock protein 90-mediated stimulation of NO generation.
Two-Year Outcome in First-Episode Schizophrenia: Predictive Value of Symptoms for Quality of Life
Authors: Beng-Choon Ho, Peg Nopoulos, Michael Flaum, Stephan Arndt, Nancy C. Andreasen
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1998)

Objective: Many studies have validated the grouping of schizophrenic symptoms into three independent dimensions: negative, psychotic, and disorganized. Negative symptoms are considered to be an important prognostic indicator, but this clinical observation requires further empirical study, especially with respect to psychosocial functioning. When present at the onset of the first episode, negative symptoms suggest that the patient will develop significant psychosocial impairment. The predictive values of the psychotic and disorganized symptom dimensions, on the other hand, have been less certain. Method: In this study of 50 first-episode schizophrenic patients, who were mostly neuroleptic-naive at intake, the authors examined the relationship between the severity of these three symptom dimensions (measured by using the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms) at index hospitalization and quality of life at 2-year follow-up. Results: Negative symptom severity was positively and significantly correlated with later occupational impairment, financial dependence on others, impaired relationships with friends, impaired ability to enjoy recreational activities, and global assessment of functioning. The magnitudes of correlation between the levels of psychotic symptoms or disorganized symptoms and 2-year quality of life measures were comparatively lower. Analyses using multivariate regression statistics also revealed similar findings.Conclusions: Severity of negative symptoms at index hospitalization may be a portent of poor outcome. In general, severity of psychotic or disorganized symptoms at intake does not appear to predict subsequent quality of life. Am J Psychiatry 1998; 155: 1196-1201
(11) Dyskeratosis. For diagnosis.
Authors: R.P. Warin
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1973)

Journal Article (11) Dyskeratosis. For diagnosis. Get access R.P. Warin R.P. Warin Bristol Children's Hospital, Bristol Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 89, Issue s9, 1 July 1973, Pages 53–54, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.1973.tb03444.x Published: 01 July 1973
Effect of bisphosphonate use in patients with symptomatic and radiographic knee osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative
Authors: Laura L Laslett, Sarah R Kingsbury, Elizabeth M A Hensor, Michael A Bowes, Philip G Conaghan
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2013)

<h3>Objectives</h3> Bisphosphonates have some reported beneficial effects in treating osteoarthritis (OA). This study examined the effects of bisphosphonate use on symptoms and structural progression of knee OA in participants from the NIH Osteoarthritis Initiative cohort. <h3>Methods</h3> People with typical OA trial entry criteria (KL2/3, minimum joint space width 2.5–5.0 mm and pain ≥4 on a numeric rating scale) were classified as bisphosphonate users (≥3 of the 5 years; n=55) or non-users (no use in the preceding 5 years or during follow-up; n=268). Annual data over 4 years were analysed using linear mixed modelling and generalised estimating equations. <h3>Results</h3> Bisphosphonate compliance was 85% at year 1, reducing to 76% by year 4. Numeric rating scale pain scores were significantly reduced among bisphosphonate users at years 2 and 3 (year 3, −0.9 vs −2.2, p=0.004), though not year 4, after adjustment for baseline pain and analgesic use. Differences in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and disability scores did not reach statistical significance at any time point. There was a trend to less joint space narrowing in bisphosphonate users over time (year 4, 0.51 vs 0.29 mm; p=0.06). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Significant reduction in numeric rating scale pain was observed in the first 3 years with bisphosphonate use; diminution of effects by year 4 may reflect reduced compliance. Differences in results obtained using numeric rating scale and WOMAC may reflect different constructs measured by these tools. The beneficial trend on structural progression should be considered in terms of the sample size.
Clinical and Pharmacokinetic Study of Clofarabine in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Strategy for Treatment
Authors: Varsha Gandhi, William Plunkett, Peter L. Bonate, Min Du, Billie Nowak, Susan Lerner, Michael J. Keating
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2006)

Abstract Purpose: Based on its mechanistic similarity to fludarabine and cladribine and the success of these analogues for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), we hypothesized that clofarabine would be effective for indolent leukemias. The present study was conducted to determine the efficacy and cellular pharmacology during clinical trials of single-agent clofarabine in CLL. Experimental Design: Previously treated patients with relapsed/refractory CLL were eligible for this study. Clofarabine was infused over 1 hour daily for 5 days. Most patients received 3 or 4 mg/m2/d × 5 days, whereas the other two were treated with 15 mg/m2/d × 5 days. Clinical outcome and associated pharmacologic end points were assessed. Results: Myelosuppression limited the maximum tolerated dose of clofarabine to 3 mg/m2/d on this schedule. Cellular pharmacokinetic studies showed a median clofarabine triphosphate concentration in CLL lymphocytes of 1.5 μmol/L (range, 0.2-2.3 μmol/L; n = 9). In the majority of cases, &amp;gt;50% of the analogue triphosphate was present 24 hours after infusion, indicating prolonged retention of the triphosphate in CLL cells. Although cytoreduction was observed, no patients achieved a response. In vitro clofarabine incubation of leukemic lymphocytes from 29 CLL patients showed that clofarabine monophosphate accumulated to a higher concentration compared with the triphosphate. Nonetheless, the triphosphate increased in a dose-dependent fashion and upon successive clofarabine infusions, suggesting benefit from greater doses given at less frequent intervals. Conclusion: Levels of clofarabine triphosphate at higher doses and prolonged maintenance of clofarabine triphosphate in leukemic lymphocytes provide a rationale to treat CLL in a weekly clofarabine schedule.
Long term follow up of von Willebrand factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica
Authors: A. UDDHAMMAR, S. RANTAPAA-DAHLQVIST, T. K NILSSON
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1997)

In polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) subclinical vasculitis is suggested in the pathogenesis of the disease.1 2 Von Willebrand factor (vWF), produced by endothelium and megakaryocytes, is an important haemostatic factor.3In healthy people with ABO blood group O, vWF values are lower than in people with a blood group other than O.4 Increased plasma concentrations of vWF indicate endothelial damage5 and are found in diseases that involve blood vessels5 6 including vasculitis.7 In PMR and giant cell arteritis high vWF concentrations persist after acute phase proteins are normalised,8 9 but a gradual decline over time is also reported.10 11 Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is an inhibitor of tissue plasminogen activator and is released from endothelial cells.12 Decreased fibrinolysis because of increased plasma concentrations of PAI-1 is associated with vasculitis in rheumatoid arthritis.7 Glucocorticoids induce PAI-1 synthesis13 and genetic …
Prevalence of interferon type I signature in CD14 monocytes of patients with Sjögren's syndrome and association with disease activity and BAFF gene expression
Authors: Zana Brkic, Naomi I Maria, Cornelia G van Helden-Meeuwsen, Joop P van de Merwe, Paul L van Daele, Virgil A Dalm, Manon E Wildenberg, Wouter Beumer, Hemmo A Drexhage, Marjan A Versnel
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2012)

<h3>Objective</h3> To determine the prevalence of upregulation of interferon (IFN) type I inducible genes, the so called 'IFN type I signature', in CD14 monocytes in 69 patients with primary Sjögren9s syndrome (pSS) and 44 healthy controls (HC) and correlate it with disease manifestations and expression of B cell activating factor (BAFF). <h3>Methods</h3> Expression of IFI44L, IFI44, IFIT3, LY6E and MX1 was measured using real time quantitative PCR in monocytes. Expression values were used to calculate IFN type I scores for each subject. pSS patients positive for the IFN type I signature (IFN score≥10) and patients negative for the signature (IFN score&lt;10) were then compared for clinical disease manifestations and BAFF expression. A bioassay using a monocytic cell line was performed to study whether BAFF mRNA expression was inducible by IFN type I activity in serum of patients with pSS. <h3>Results</h3> An IFN type I signature was present in 55% of patients with pSS compared with 4.5% of HC. Patients with the IFN type I signature showed: (a) higher EULAR Sjögren9s Syndrome Disease Activity Index scores; higher anti-Ro52, anti-Ro60 and anti-La autoantibodies; higher rheumatoid factor; higher serum IgG; lower C3, lower absolute lymphocyte and neutrophil counts; (b)higher BAFF gene expression in monocytes. In addition, serum of signature-positive patients induced BAFF gene expression in monocytes. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The monocyte IFN type I signature identifies a subgroup of patients with pSS with a higher clinical disease activity together with higher BAFF mRNA expression. Such patients might benefit from treatment blocking IFN type I production or activity.
Weight-Loss Practices and Weight-Related Issues Among Youth With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Jean M. Lawrence, Angela D. Liese, Lenna Liu, Dana Dabelea, Andrea Anderson, Giuseppina Imperatore, Ronny Bell
Journal: Diabetes Care (2008)

The purpose of this study was to describe the weight-loss practices and weight-related issues reported by youth with diabetes, according to sex and diabetes type.A total of 1,742 female and 1,615 male youth aged 10-21 years with type 1 or type 2 diabetes completed a SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study visit during which height, weight, and A1C were measured. A survey assessed weight-related issues and weight-loss practices.Although more common in youth with type 2 diabetes, youth with type 1 diabetes also reported weight-related concerns and had elevated BMI. Among youth who had ever tried to lose weight (n = 1,646), healthy weight-loss practices (diet [76.5%] and exercise [94.8%]) were the most common, whereas unhealthy practices (fasting [8.6%], using diet aids [7.5%], vomiting or laxative use [2.3%], and skipping insulin doses [4.2%]) were less common. In sex-specific multivariable models including age, race/ethnicity, diabetes type, BMI category, and glycemic control, obese females and overweight/obese males were more likely to report ever practicing any unhealthy weight-loss practice than normal-weight youth. These practices were associated with poor glycemic control for female but not male subjects. All unhealthy weight-loss practices except fasting were more common in female than in male subjects. Dieting, fasting, and using diet aids were all more common in youth with type 2 diabetes than in those with type 1 diabetes.Given the prevalence of overweight and obesity among youth with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, health care professionals caring for youth with diabetes need to pay particular attention to identifying youth, particularly females, with unhealthy weight-loss practices.
A novel tool to assess systolic asynchrony and identify responders of cardiac resynchronization therapy by tissue synchronization imaging
Authors: Cheuk-Man Yu, Qing Zhang, Jeffrey Wing-Hong Fung, Hamish Chi-Kin Chan, Yat-Sun Chan, Gabriel Wai-Kwok Yip, Shun-Ling Kong, Hong Lin, Yan Zhang, John E. Sanderson
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2005)