tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
THE ANTIGENIC AND MOLECULAR ALTERATIONS OF C3 IN THE FLUID PHASE DURING AN IMMUNE REACTION IN NORMAL HUMAN SERUM
Authors: R. E. Spitzer, A. E. Stitzel, V. L. Pauling, N. C. Davis, C. D. West
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1971)

During the reaction of an immune precipitate with fresh human serum, C3 undergoes a number of molecular alterations with the formation of conversion products differing from those obtained when purified components react. Those products which remain in the fluid phase, the subject of the present paper, have been identified by their reaction with monospecific antisera to the three antigenic determinants of C3, A, B, and D, after electrophoresis in agar or polyacrylamide gel. When purified C3 reacts with EAC1,4,2, C3i is found in the fluid phase. C3i, a loose complex of C3a and C3b, is in a conformational state whereby only the A and D antigens, present on its C3b portion, will consume antibody. The B antigen, present on the C3a portion of C3i, is unavailable for combination with antibody until C3i dissociates. In the fluid phase of the reaction of an immune precipitate with whole serum, C3i, C3a, and C3b, formed when purified components react, cannot be found. Instead the end products of the reaction appear to be C3c, which contains the A antigen, and C3d, which contains the D antigen. C3c and C3d are similar to the beta1A and alpha2D produced by the aging of serum but differ in their mobilities in acrylamide gel and in agar. The C3c and C3d generated by an immune precipitate also differ slightly from the C3c and C3d produced by the reaction of trypsin with C3 in whole human serum. As human serum reacts with an immune complex, native C3 appears to undergo a primary alteration before conversion. This alteration results in a molecular species of C3 which is labile at 56 degrees C for 30 min, fails to expose additional A and D antigenic sites upon aging, and which forms beta1A and C3d rather than beta1A and alpha2D during aging. In addition to this altered form of native C3, a new conversion product, C3x, is formed as whole serum reacts with an immune complex. C3x is not found in systems utilizing pure complement components. C3x is like C3 in that it bears all three antigenic determinants but differs in that it has a slightly faster mobility in polyacrylamide gel than does native C3. C3x is not only found in the fluid phase but is also bound to the immune precipitate. Finally, the fluid-phase kinetics of each of the antigens of C3 have been determined as normal human serum reacts with an immune precipitate. These illustrate that nearly the entire population of native C3 molecules undergoes conversion rapidly as manifested by the disappearance of the B antigen from the fluid phase. Moreover, the kinetics of the fluid-phase A and D antigens reflect that the conversion of C3 in serum is quantitatively not the same as when purified C3 reacts with C4,2.
Elevated Serum Pesticide Levels and Risk for Alzheimer Disease
Authors: Jason R. Richardson, Ananya Roy, Stuart L. Shalat, Richard T. von Stein, Muhammad M. Hossain, Brian Buckley, Marla Gearing, Allan I. Levey, Dwight C. German
Journal: JAMA Neurology (2014)

<h3>Importance</h3> The causes of late-onset Alzheimer disease (AD) are not yet understood but likely include a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Limited epidemiological studies suggest that occupational pesticide exposures are associated with AD. Previously, we reported that serum levels of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), the metabolite of the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), were elevated in a small number of patients with AD (n=20). <h3>Objective</h3> To evaluate the association between serum levels of DDE and AD and whether the apolipoprotein E (<i>APOE</i>) genotype modifies the association. <h3>Design, Setting, and Participants</h3> A case-control study consisting of existing samples from patients with AD and control participants from the Emory University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School's Alzheimer's Disease Center. Serum levels of DDE were measured in 79 control and 86 AD cases. <h3>Main Outcomes and Measures</h3> Serum DDE levels, AD diagnosis, severity of AD measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination score, and interaction with<i>APOE4</i>status. <h3>Results</h3> Levels of DDE were 3.8-fold higher in the serum of those with AD (mean [SEM], 2.64 [0.35] ng/mg cholesterol) when compared with control participants (mean [SEM], 0.69 [0.1] ng/mg cholesterol;<i>P</i> &lt; .001). The highest tertile of DDE levels was associated with an odds ratio of 4.18 for increased risk for AD (95% CI, 2.54-5.82;<i>P</i> &lt; .001) and lower Mini-Mental State Examination scores (−1.605; range, −3.095 to −0.114;<i>P</i> &lt; .0001). The Mini-Mental State Examination scores in the highest tertile of DDE were −1.753 points lower in the subpopulation carrying an<i>APOE</i>ε4 allele compared with those carrying an<i>APOE</i>ε3 allele (<i>P</i>interaction = .04). Serum levels of DDE were highly correlated with brain levels of DDE (ρ = 0.95). Exposure of human neuroblastoma cells to DDT or DDE increased levels of amyloid precursor protein. <h3>Conclusions and Relevance</h3> Elevated serum DDE levels are associated with an increased risk for AD and carriers of an<i>APOE4</i>ε4 allele may be more susceptible to the effects of DDE. Both DDT and DDE increase amyloid precursor protein levels, providing mechanistic plausibility for the association of DDE exposure with AD. Identifying people who have elevated levels of DDE and carry an<i>APOE</i>ε4 allele may lead to early identification of some cases of AD.
Influence of T-cell depletion on chronic graft-versus-host disease: results of a multicenter randomized trial in unrelated marrow donor transplantation
Authors: Steven Z. Pavletic, Shelly L. Carter, Nancy A. Kernan, Jean Henslee-Downey, Adam M. Mendizabal, Esperanza Papadopoulos, Roger Gingrich, James Casper, Saul Yanovich, Daniel Weisdorf
Journal: Blood (2005)
SOURCE OF THE X IN XO FEMALES: THE EVIDENCE OF Xg
Authors: J. Lindsten, P. Bowen, CatherineS.N. Lee, V.A. Mckusick, P.E. Polani, M. Wingate, J.H. Edwards, Jean Hamper, Patricia Tippett, Ruth Sanger, R.R. Race
Journal: The Lancet (1963)
Preventing the spread of MRSA: …and the role of practices such as phlebotomy is worth considering
Authors: Frank J Conroy
Journal: BMJ (2004)

EDITOR—The spread of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been wholly apportioned by the mass media to poor handwashing techniques by doctors and nurses.1 Although handwashing techniques must be improved, other quite blatant modes of transmission are swept aside.

Every healthcare professional will be aware of the prevalence of MRSA in …
Temporary endobronchial embolization with silicone spigots for moderate hemoptysis: A retrospective study
Authors: Olivier Bylicki, Sophie Laroumagne, Thomas Vandemoortele, Jean Michel Peloni, Philippe Astoul, Herve Dutau
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background: Management of airway bleeding is generally performed in emergency in order to prevent hypoxemia and lung flooding .When the bleeding arises from peripheral lesions, bronchoscopic options have limited curative intents. They generally precede radiological or surgical managements. Endobronchial embolization using silicone spigots (EESS) is a novel approach.  Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts of patients referred to our center for moderate hemoptysis (MH) who underwent EESS since 2008. Successful management is defined as immediate bleeding cessation.  Results: From December 2008 to January 2012, 9 patients (pts) have been treated with EESS in our endoscopy unit. The etiology of MH was known for 6 cases (4 lung cancers, 1 bronchiectasis, and 1 anticoagulant overdose) and 3 were unknown. The MH originated from the left upper lobe in 4 cases, the right upper lobe in 3 cases, the right middle lobe and the left lower lobe in one case each. 13 spigots were inserted. Success rate was 78%. Of the 9 pts, 6 were then referred to interventional radiology for bronchial artery embolization, with a success rate of 83% and two were referred for thoracic surgery. One patient had EESS as definitive treatment. For the remaining 8, the silicone spigots were bronchoscopically removed after a median of 4 days. Only 2 pts had hemoptysis recurrence after a median follow-up of 107 days [13-1017]. None of the patients died from hemoptysis. There were no complications from EESS.  Conclusion: EESS is an original, temporary technique that only requires a flexible bronchoscope and biopsy forceps for placement and removal. EESS allows airway protection while waiting for definitive management.
Closing volume during normal pregnancy.
Authors: G S Garrard, W A Littler, C W Redman
Journal: Thorax (1978)

Serial lung function studies were performed in ten healthy, primiparous women aged 21--28. Measurements were made at two-monthly intervals during pregnancy and included functional residual capacity (FRC), total lung capacity (TLC), vital capacity (VC), specific conductance (SGaw) and closing volume (CV) on each occasion. Closing volume expressed as formular: (see text), showed a progressive rise during pregnancy in all subjects with a linear relationship to time (P less than 0.001, P greater than 0.01, respectively). No consistent changes in lung volume could be shown during pregnancy over the study period. It is suggested that the increase in closing volume during pregnancy might result in abnormalities of distribution of ventilation sufficient to explain the maternal blood gas disturbances of pregnancy.
Early Exposure to Dogs and Farm Animals and the Risk of Childhood Asthma
Authors: Tove Fall, Cecilia Lundholm, Anne K Örtqvist, Katja Fall, Fang Fang, Åke Hedhammar, Olle Kämpe, Erik Ingelsson, Catarina Almqvist
Journal: JAMA Pediatrics (2015)

<h3>Importance</h3> The association between early exposure to animals and childhood asthma is not clear, and previous studies have yielded contradictory results. <h3>Objective</h3> To determine whether exposure to dogs and farm animals confers a risk of asthma. <h3>Design, Setting and Participants</h3> In a nationwide cohort study, the association between early exposure to dogs and farm animals and the risk of asthma was evaluated and included all children born in Sweden from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2010 (N = 1 011 051), using registry data on dog and farm registration, asthma medication, diagnosis, and confounders for parents and their children. The association was assessed as the odds ratio (OR) for a current diagnosis of asthma at age 6 years for school-aged children and as the hazard ratio (HR) for incident asthma at ages 1 to 5 years for preschool-aged children. Data were analyzed from January 1, 2007, to September 30, 2012. <h3>Exposures</h3> Living with a dog or farm animal. <h3>Main Outcomes and Measures</h3> Childhood asthma diagnosis and medication used. <h3>Results</h3> Of the 1 011 051 children born during the study period, 376 638 preschool-aged (53 460 [14.2%] exposed to dogs and 1729 [0.5%] exposed to farm animals) and 276 298 school-aged children (22 629 [8.2%] exposed to dogs and 958 [0.3%] exposed to farm animals) were included in the analyses. Of these, 18 799 children (5.0%) in the preschool-aged children’s cohort experienced an asthmatic event before baseline, and 28 511 cases of asthma and 906 071 years at risk were recorded during follow-up (incidence rate, 3.1 cases per 1000 years at risk). In the school-aged children’s cohort, 11 585 children (4.2%) experienced an asthmatic event during the seventh year of life. Dog exposure during the first year of life was associated with a decreased risk of asthma in school-aged children (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.81-0.93) and in preschool-aged children 3 years or older (HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.83-0.99) but not in children younger than 3 years (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00-1.07). Results were comparable when analyzing only first-born children. Farm animal exposure was associated with a reduced risk of asthma in both school-aged children and preschool-aged children (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.31-0.76, and HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.56-0.84), respectively. <h3>Conclusions and Relevance</h3> In this study, the data support the hypothesis that exposure to dogs and farm animals during the first year of life reduces the risk of asthma in children at age 6 years. This information might be helpful in decision making for families and physicians on the appropriateness and timing of early animal exposure.
Risk of Relapse of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Is Predicted By Flow Cytometric Measurement of Residual Disease on Day 15 Bone Marrow
Authors: Giuseppe Basso, Marinella Veltroni, Maria Grazia Valsecchi, Michael N. Dworzak, Richard Ratei, Daniela Silvestri, Alessandra Benetello, Barbara Buldini, Oscar Maglia, Giuseppe Masera, Valentino Conter, Maurizio Arico, Andrea Biondi, Giuseppe Gaipa
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2009)

Speed of blast clearance is an indicator of outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Availability of measurement of minimal residual disease (MRD) at an early time point with a reduced-cost method is of clinical relevance. In the AIEOP-BFM-ALL (Associazione Italiana Ematologia Oncologia Pediatrica and Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster Study Group) 2000 trial, patients were stratified by levels of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) MRD at day +33 and +78. AIEOP studied the prognostic impact of MRD measured by flow cytometry (FCM) at day 15 of induction therapy.Bone marrow samples from 830 Italian patients were collected on day 15, after 14 days of steroids, and one dose of intrathecal methotrexate, vincristine, daunorubicine, and asparaginase. Cells were analyzed by four-color FCM for detection of leukemia-associated immunophenotypes.Three patient risk groups were identified by FCM: standard (< 0.1% blast cells; 42% of the total), intermediate (0.1 to < 10%; 47%), and high (> or = 10%; 11%). Their 5-year cumulative incidences of relapse were 7.5% (SE, 1.5), 17.5% (SE, 2.1), and 47.2% (SE, 5.9), respectively. In multivariate analysis, FCM was the most important prognostic factor among those available by day 15, with two-fold and five-fold increase in the risk of relapse compared with patients with less than 0.1%. PCR MRD, when added to the model, had significant prognostic impact; yet high levels of FCM MRD retained an independent ability to detect a significantly higher risk of relapse.Measurement of FCM MRD in day 15 bone marrow was the most powerful early predictor of relapse, applicable to virtually all patients; it may complement PCR MRD-based stratification including later time points, thus allowing additional treatment tailoring.
A3.3 Inflammasome is activated in healthy salivary gland epithelial cell lines by necrotic cell debris, whereas it is constitutively active in the epithelial cells of Sjögren’s syndrome patients
Authors: A G Vakrakou, M N Manoussakis
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2014)

<h3>Background and Objectives</h3> In our laboratory, recent transcriptome expression analysis of unstimulated cultured non-neoplastic salivary gland epithelial cell lines (SGEC) from Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients and non-SS controls had indicated the aberrant expression of various inflammatory genes in the SS-SGEC supporting their intrinsic activation status. Additionally, we have recently presented evidence of impaired removal of apoptotic cells and necrotic cell debris (SNEC) in SS patients. Here, we sought to investigate the effect of SNEC in cultured SGEC, as well as the expression of various inflammasome-related genes and proteins in salivary gland tissues and SGEC from SS patients and non-SS controls. <h3>Materials and Methods</h3> non-SS SGEC treated with SNEC or apoptotic cells were evaluated for the mRNA and protein expression of various activation markers. In addition, salivary gland (SG) tissues and SGEC from SS patients and non-SS controls were comparatively evaluated for the expression of various inflammasome-related genes and proteins. <h3>Results</h3> SGEC treatment (n = 3) with SNEC led to the induction of surface expression of inflammatory molecules, such as ICAM-1, MHC-I, CD86, Fas, TLR-2 (p&lt;0.05). In contrast to SNEC, apoptotic cells did not exhibit such an inflammatory effect, but rather suppressed the inflammatory responsiveness to TLR-3 triggering. SGEC treatment (n = 4) with apoptotic cells ameliorated polyI:C-induced MHC-I expression (35% reduction). SNEC stimulation also upregulated the mRNA levels of IFN-β and PYCARD/ASC in SGEC (6-fold and 4-fold induction at 24-hrs, respectively). Exposure of SGEC to SNEC led to inflammasome activation, as it was indicated by the analysis of SNEC stimulation of LPS-primed SGEC showing the induction of caspase-1 activation (intracellular p20 expression) and IL-1β secretion in the culture supernatant (4.8-fold and 2.5-fold increase, respectively), as well as by speckled ASC formation in immunofluorescence microscopy. Microarray gene profiling and validation analysis in SGEC revealed the aberrant expression of genes involved in the inflammasome signalling in SS-SGEC. Moreover, increased protein expression of IL-1β and ASC was observed in SG tissues of SS patients (5 SS, 5 non-SS). SS-SGEC (n = 9) were also found to secrete constitutively more IL-1β in their culture supernatant, compared to non-SS SGEC (n = 5) (mean ± SE; SS-SGEC: 2.3 pg/ml ± 0.4, non-SS SGEC: 0.8 pg/ml ± 0.3, p = 0.02) likely suggesting the constitutive activation of inflammasome in SS-SGEC cells. <h3>Conclusions</h3> These findings indicate that the aberrant exposure of the epithelial cells to necrotic debris may be a major cause of inflammatory reactions via the activation of inflammasome and may hold a key role in the pathogenesis of disorders associated with epithelial activation such as SS.
An obscure mass in the head of the pancreas of an adolescent
Authors: X. Li, C.-w. Tang
Journal: Gut (2010)

An 18-year-old male student presented with epigastric pain of 10 days duration. The symptoms were moderate and continuous but without radiation. The pain was aggravated by food and lying on his back. The patient denied a history of exposure to tuberculosis and any other medical or surgical history. There had been no weight loss or fever prior to the presentation. Physical examination was normal. Chest and abdominal x-ray showed no evidence of abnormality. Both abdominal CT and MRI confirmed a 3.5 cm round mass with enhancement in the pancreatic uncinate process, compressing the inferior vena cava medially …
Effect of secretin, pancreozymin OP-CCK, and glucagon on bile flow and bile lipid secretion in rats.
Authors: K W Romanski, W J Bochenek
Journal: Gut (1983)

Rats equipped with biliary, duodenal, and vena cava cannulae and supplemented with Na taurocholate received 4 hour infusions of gastrointestinal hormones. Boots secretin increased bile flow by 63% and bile acid, cholesterol, and phospholipid output by 75, 96, and 73% respectively. This stimulatory effect on bile flow and bile acid secretion was observed also in the four hour postinfusion period. Kabi secretin had practically no effect on bile secretion. Boots pancreozymin stimulated bile flow by 45% and to some extent also stimulated bile acid output. OP-CCK and glucagon stimulated mainly bile flow rate.
Examining Sport Concussion Assessment Tool ratings for male and female youth hockey players with and without a history of concussion
Authors: Kathryn J Schneider, Carolyn A Emery, Jian Kang, Geoff M Schneider, Willem H Meeuwisse
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2010)

Background Concussion is one of the most commonly occurring injuries in sport today. The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) is a commonly used paper neurocognitive tool. To date, little is known about SCAT baseline normative values in youth athletes. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine normative values on the SCAT for male and female youth hockey players. Methods This is a secondary data analysis of pooled data from three prospective cohort studies examining the risk of injury in paediatric ice hockey players aged 9–17 years. A preseason baseline demographic and injury history questionnaire was completed by each player. Results A total of 4193 players completed SCATs at baseline and were included in the analysis. 781 players (18.6%) reported a previous history of concussion. Fatigue and low energy followed by headache were the most commonly reported symptoms in all players. The majority of youth players could recite all five words immediately but only three words when delayed. A smaller proportion of the males were able to report the months of the year in reverse order compared with females of a similar age. The median number of digits recited in reverse order was 4. Conclusions Youth ratings varied between age groups, gender and from previously reported ratings of varsity athletes, possibly reflecting developmental and gender differences. An understanding of these differences in youth athletes is important to ensure appropriate performance expectations on the SCAT and when making clinical decisions following a concussion.
Accuracy of home blood glucose meters during hypoglycemia
Authors: Z Trajanoski, GA Brunner, RJ Gfrerer, P Wach, TR Pieber
Journal: Diabetes Care (1996)

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the accuracy of home blood glucose meters during hypoglycemia. METHODS Six blood glucose meters—One Touch II (LifeScan, Milpitas, CA), Companion II (Medisense, Cambridge, U.K.), Reflolux (Boehringer Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany), Accutrend (Boehringer Mannheim), Elite (Bayer, Munich, Germany), and HemoCue (HemoCue, Ängelholm, Sweden)—were compared with a reference method (Beckman Glucose Analyzer 2). Glucose concentrations from arterialized venous blood samples were measured using all glucose meters (whole blood) and the reference method (plasma) during hypoglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps in 15 subjects. RESULTS In total, 663 blood glucose monitor readings and 119 reference values ranging from 2.28 to 3.89 mmol/l were analyzed. The correlation coefficients and the percentage of measurements within 20% and outside 40% of the reference values for each glucose meter were as follows: One Touch II: 0.91, 99.2% and 0%; Companion II: 0.81, 88.2% and 2.5%; Reflolux: 0.78, 85.0% and 0.9%; Accutrend: 0.88, 46.0% and 6.6%; Elite: 0.78, 75.6% and 4.2%; and HemoCue: 0.93, 96.6% and 0% (P &amp;lt; 0.001). CONCLUSIONS There were substantial differences between the blood glucose meters during hypoglycemia, and none of the devices met the latest criteria recommended by the American Diabetes Association.