tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Direct Impairment of Vascular Function by Diesel Exhaust Particulate through Reduced Bioavailability of Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide Induced by Superoxide Free Radicals
Authors: Mark R. Miller, Stephen J. Borthwick, Catherine A. Shaw, Steven G. McLean, Daniel McClure, Nicholas L. Mills, Rodger Duffin, Ken Donaldson, Ian L. Megson, Patrick W.F. Hadoke, David E. Newby
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2008)

Diesel exhaust particulate (DEP) is a key arbiter of the adverse cardiovascular effects of air pollution.We assessed the in vitro effects of DEP on vascular function, nitric oxide (NO) availability, and the generation of oxygen-centered free radicals.We assessed the direct vascular effects of DEP (10-100 microg/mL) in isolated rat aortic rings using myography. We investigated NO scavenging and oxygen-centered free radical generation using an NO electrode and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) with the Tempone-H (1-hydroxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-oxo-piperidine) spin trap, respectively.Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was attenuated by DEP (maximum relaxation reduced from 91 +/- 4% to 49 +/- 6% with 100 microg/mL DEP; p < 0.001) but was restored by superoxide dismutase (SOD; maximum relaxation, 73 +/- 6%; p < 0.001). DEP caused a modest inhibition of relaxation to NO donor drugs, an effect that could be reversed by SOD (p < 0.01). At 10 microg/mL, DEP did not affect verapamil-induced relaxation (p = 0.73), but at 100 microg/mL DEP inhibited relaxation (p < 0.001) by a mechanism independent of SOD. NO concentrations generated by 2-(N,N-diethylamino)-diazenolate-2-oxide (DEA/NO; 10 microM) were reduced by DEP (100 microg/mL; from 5.2 +/- 0.4 to 3.3 +/- 0.4 microM; p = 0.002). Free radical generation was increased by DEP (10 microg/mL; 9-fold increase in EPR spectra; p = 0.004) in a manner that could be attenuated by SOD (p = 0.015).DEP caused oxidative stress through the generation of oxygen-centered free radicals that reduced the bioavailability of endothelium-derived NO without prior interaction with the lung or vascular tissue. These findings provide a mechanism for the adverse cardiovascular effects of particulate air pollution.
CHEYNE-STOKES RESPIRATION PHENOMENA.
Authors: N. S. DAVIS
Journal: JAMA (1897)

Mr. —, merchant, 73 years old, of good habits and good family history, came under my care in September last. His health had not been robust for many months. In midsummer his legs became edematous and he then first consulted a physician. He was found to have dilatation of the heart, a slight aortic murmur, atheroma to a moderate extent of the peripheral arteries and interstitial nephritis. His symptoms underwent no material change up to September, when I first saw him. As time went on he grew feebler, thinner and mentally depressed. He had little appetite for food or drink. He was often sleepless. About the middle of October he was too feeble to walk, and rarely slept more than an hour at a time. At night he was tormented by hallucinations which were very persistent. At this time Cheyne-Stokes respiration first manifested itself. The rhythmically increasing and diminishing respiratory
Regulation of murine MHC class II molecule expression. Identification of A beta residues responsible for allele-specific cell surface expression.
Authors: J M Buerstedde, L R Pease, A E Nilson, M P Bell, C Chase, G Buerstedde, D J McKean
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1988)

A panel of mutant class II genes have been constructed using site-directed mutagenesis and DNA-mediated gene transfer. Using this technique, Ak beta polypeptides have been altered by substituting one or more Ad beta-specific residues at polymorphic positions in the beta 1 domain. Transfection of M12.C3 B lymphoma cells with most mutant Ak beta* genes results in the expression of Ak beta* Ad alpha molecules on the cell surface. However, the substitution of a single d allele residue at position 78 or 86 in the Ak beta polypeptide results in either the complete absence or very low levels, respectively, of cell surface expression of the Ak beta* Ad alpha molecule, but does not alter Ak beta* Ak alpha expression. The T.86 Ak beta* Ad alpha is expressed primarily in an intracellular compartment while the T.78 Ak beta* molecule does not appear to be produced. The core-glycosylated T.78 Ak beta* polypeptide does, however, form a complex intracellularly with the core-glycosylated Ii polypeptide. Substitution of the combination of d allele residues at Ak beta polymorphic positions 9, 12, 13, 14, and 17 results in the absence of Ak beta* Ak alpha cell surface expression but does not alter the expression of this mutant Ak beta* polypeptide with the Ad alpha polypeptide. These allele-specific expression mutants demonstrate that substitution at certain beta 1 domain positions may result in the alteration of Ia cell surface expression and that the transport of Ia molecules from the Golgi apparatus to the cell surface may be regulated by signals that are determined by the interaction of polymorphic residues in both the alpha and beta polypeptides.
Glucose tolerance in eczema
Authors: SAWSAN H. HAMZA, HODA R. EL-MAZNY, M. A. ABDALLAH
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1978)

The glucose tolerance of thirty-nine patients with eczema was studied by the intravenous glucose tolerance test. The glucose disappearance rate for the eczema group was 1.69 +/- 0.13 mg % per min and for that controls was 2.92 +/- 0.12, indicating impairment of glucose tolerance in eczema patients.
Suicides in Japan reach a record high
Authors: J. Lamar
Journal: BMJ (2000)

A record number of people committed suicide in Japan last year, largely as result of the nation's prolonged economic slump, government statistics revealed last month.

The National Police Agency said that 33048 people killed themselves in 1999, an increase of 185 on the record level set the previous year.

As in previous years, the main reason that people killed themselves was ill health, which was cited in 41% of the 9027 cases where the victim left a note.

However, the most notable trend was the sharp increase in suicides …
Medicine, Morals and Money
Authors: John Lister
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1967)

THE moral issues that face the practicing physician are increasing alongside of the advances in medicine and alongside of the changing views of the general public. The reform of the law on abortion that is still being considered in Parliament will inevitably affect the practice of medicine. The public seems to have decided by and large that legal abortion should be more generally available. At present, the legal indication for therapeutic abortion is confined to situations in which the continuation of pregnancy would seriously endanger the health of the mother. The public complains that this has caused abortions to be . . .
Psychopathology and Verbal Expression in Psychosomatic and Psychoneurotic Patients
Authors: Graeme Taylor, Kenneth Doody
Journal: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (1982)

Psychopathology and verbal expression were investigated in 20 psychoneurotic patients and 20 psychosomatic patients (10 patients with ulcerative colitis and 10 patients with Crohn's disease). The Crohn's disease patients showed as much psychopathology as the psychoneurotic patients, but the ulcerative colitis patients showed significantly less psychopathology. However, the Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients showed a similar reduction in verbal-emotional expression (alexithymia), when they were compared separately with the psychoneurotic patients. It was concluded that alexithymic characteristics are independent from other forms of psychopathology and may be more important in the pathogenesis of psychosomatic disorder.
LEFT VENTRICULAR REMODELING FOLLOWING TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT IS MORE FAVORABLE IN PATIENTS WITH NO SIGNIFICANT PARAVALVULAR AORTIC REGURGITATION VERSUS THOSE WITH MILD PARAVALVULAR AORTIC REGURGITATION
Authors: Polydoros Kampaktsis, Amiran Baduashvili, Shing–Chiu Wong, Fay Lin, Richard Devereux, Evelyn Horn, Dolores Reynolds, Tracey Shannon, Karl Krieger, Arash Salemi, Luke Kim, Dmitriy Feldman, Geoffrey Bergman, Robert Minutello
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2013)
Charity calls for help for people of Aral Sea area
Authors: A. Ferriman
Journal: BMJ (2000)

The charity Medecins Sans Frontieres is making a plea this weekend for additional help for the four million people living in the area surrounding the Aral Sea who have poor access to potable water.

The Aral Sea lies within Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The local drinking water has a high salt content and is often contaminated by pesticide residues, phenols, and, occasionally, heavy metals.

At the second world water forum being held in the Hague this weekend, water specialists, politicians, and officials from …
Low‐dose theophylline does not exert its anti‐inflammatory effects in mild asthma through upregulation of interleukin‐10 in alveolar macrophages
Authors: B. Oliver, K. Tomita, A. Keller, G. Caramori, I. Adcock, K. F. Chung, P. J. Barnes, S. Lim
Journal: Allergy (2001)

Background: There is accumulating evidence that theophylline has anti‐inflammatory or immunomodulatory effects. This may be, in part, mediated via an upregulation in the production of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)‐10. We determined whether low‐dose theophylline (LDT) would increase the production of IL‐10, and attenuate the production of proinflammatory cytokines by alveolar macrophages. Methods: In a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover study involving 15 steroid‐free patients with mild asthma, fiberoptic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were performed at the end of the treatment and placebo periods. Alveolar macrophages were cultured in vitro , and we measured their release of IL‐10, GM‐CSF, and TNF‐α. We also measured IL‐10 production in whole blood together with the number of monocytes and T cells expressing intracellular IL‐10 by flow cytometry. Results: LDT did not increase the production of IL‐10, or attenuate the production of GM‐CSF or TNF‐α by alveolar macrophages. However, after theophylline treatment, there was a significant reduction in mean (SD) (95% CI) BAL eosinophil number from 3.4 (1.7)% (95% CI 2.4–4.4) to 1.7 (1.0)% (95% CI 1.1–2.3) compared with placebo ( P &lt;0.05). Similarly, there was no increase in whole‐blood IL‐10 release or in the number of monocytes and T cells expressing intracellular IL‐10 after treatment. Conclusions: LDT has an anti‐inflammatory effect in asthma; however, this effect is not mediated via the production of IL‐10 or the attenuation of GM‐CSF or TNF‐α. The mechanisms of theophylline activity remain to be determined.
CONTROLLED TRIAL OF URGENT ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY AND ENDOSCOPIC SPHINCTEROTOMY VERSUS CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT FOR ACUTE PANCREATITIS DUE TO GALLSTONES
Authors: J.P. Neoptolemos, N.J. London, D. James, D.L. Carr-Locke, I.A. Bailey, D.P. Fossard
Journal: The Lancet (1988)
1108-112 An embolic event to death in more than 50 percent of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in end-stage heart failure
Authors: Antonio C Barretto, Mucio T Oliveira, Mucio T Oliveira, Robinson T Munhoz, Airton R Scipioni, Maria L Higuchi, Jose A.F Ramires
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2004)
QUACKERY IN RURAL DISTRICTS
Authors: C. E. S. Flemming
Journal: BMJ (1911)

by the reports from medical officers of health in several other parts of the country, there is no ground for surprise. Ths law strains at the gnat and swallows the camel. Reviewing the subject as a whole, it may perhaps be difficult to prove from statistics anything as to the growth of quackery, but the ominous fact about it is that quackery is undoubtedly becoming more organized and systematic. The itinerant quacks of the market-place still flourish as much as ever, but the characteristic of the day is the phenomenal growth of the large and well-organized schemes and companies carrying on their business on a scale almost incredible, and in most cases succeeding in defrauding the public into the belief that their treatment is in the hands of qualified medical men. The report issued through the Privy Council Office, incomplete though it is, and bearing on the face of it such obvious signs of imperfect inquiry and hasty replies, nevertheless contains sufficient to warrant the statement that the quackery that is proved to exist is a grave danger to the public health, and that further inquiry by a Royal Commission is urgently necessary in the interests of the community. To general practitioners this may appear supeifluous, but it is not clear that statesmen and the more intelligent part of the public have yet realized the dangers arising from the imperfect state of the law and the failure to apply even the powers that exist. It may possibly be suggested that if the Government scheme for sickoess insurance is carried in anything like its present form, the facilities for obtaining proper medical advice will be so easy that the day of the quacks will be over, as a registered practitioner will be at the beck and call of the working classes without expense. But experience shows that the high fees demanded by quacks are in no way a hindrance to their success, as the speciousness of their advertising seems to be sufficient to overcome all the dictates of common sense and economy. In short, the public needs protecting against itself, and I see no possibility of this without a radical amendment of the Medical Acts. I would therefore strongly urge that a petition should be prepared pressing on the Govern ment the necessity, in the public interest, of appointing a Royal Commission with the reference/first, to. in quire into the whole subject of unqualified medical practice, in cluding the trade in secret remedies; secondly?to ascer tain the extent of existing statutory powers, and to show how best they may be made operative ; and, thirdly, to suggest such amendments of the Medical Acts, or other Acts, as are' necessary to prevent the existing evils of unqualified practice.
Joint study of extracranial arterial occlusion. V. Progress report of prognosis following surgery or nonsurgical treatment for transient cerebral ischemic attacks and cervical carotid artery lesions
Authors: W. S. Fields
Journal: JAMA (1970)

A series of 316 patients with transient cerebral ischemic attacks and no neurological deficit were randomly allocated to surgical or nonsurgical treatment categories in a controlled manner. The total group was divided by anatomical patterns of lesions (carotid stenosis, unilaterally; carotid stenosis, bilaterally; and unilateral occlusion with opposite stenosis). During an average 42-month follow-up, distinct differences in outcome were noted in specific subgroups in the frequency and pattern of transient attacks and in the occurrence and location of cerebral infarction.
Elevated Glutamate in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients With HIV Dementia
Authors: Carlo Ferrarese
Journal: JAMA (1997)

<h3>To the Editor.</h3> —The pathogenesis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) dementia complex is controversial. Since no neuronal localization of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been shown, it has been hypothesized that soluble factors, produced from infected macrophages, glial cells, or directly by the virus, might target the neurons and induce apoptotic cell death, resulting in brain atrophy and dementia. In vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that the viral proteins gp 120 and Tat may cause neuronal apoptosis, which can be blocked by antagonists of<i>N</i>-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptors.<sup>1-3</sup>This evidence suggests that the glutamatergic system and excitotoxicity are involved in the pathogenesis of AIDS dementia complex. However, viral proteins do not bind to glutamate receptors: therefore, overstimulation of glutamate receptors seems to be mediated by interactions with endogenous glutamate or other excitatory amino acid receptor agonists. In fact, the toxic effect of gp 120 was prevented
Intestinal involvement in progressive systemic sclerosis detected by increased unconjugated serum bile acids.
Authors: F Stellaard, T Sauerbruch, C H Luderschmidt, B Leisner, G Paumgartner
Journal: Gut (1987)

In patients with progressive systemic sclerosis, impaired motor function of the small intestine may lead to bacterial overgrowth causing diarrhoea, steatorrhoea and malabsorption. As unconjugated serum bile acids have been proposed as markers for small bowel bacterial overgrowth, we studied individual unconjugated serum bile acids in 36 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis. These patients had significantly higher serum concentrations of unconjugated cholic acid (median 0.18; range 0.05-30.75 v 0.09; 0.01-0.19 mumol/l, p less than 0.001) and chenodeoxycholic acid (0.10; 0.01-6.83 v 0.04; 0.01-0.39 mumol/l, p less than 0.025) than healthy controls (n = 16). This difference was mainly due to patients with diarrhoea (n = 10), who had significantly higher concentrations of unconjugated serum bile acids than patients with normal bowel habit (cholic acid median 0.55 v 0.16 mumol/l, p less than 0.001; chenodeoxycholic acid 0.75 v 0.07 mumol/l; p less than 0.005). All patients with raised unconjugated serum bile acids had oesophageal motility disorders. These results confirm a relationship between motility disorders and bacterial overgrowth in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis.
Quantitative assessment of the response to therapy in achalasia of the cardia.
Authors: C S Robertson, J G Hardy, M Atkinson
Journal: Gut (1989)

Radionuclide oesophageal transit studies and manometry have been carried out in 15 patients with achalasia of the cardia, before treatment, after a course of nifedipine and after pneumatic bag dilatation. Transit studies were also done in 10 patients after cardiomyotomy and in 10 normal subjects. Images were recorded with the subjects seated in front of a gamma camera while swallowing a 10 ml bolus of 99Tcm-tin colloid and then after a further drink of 50 ml water. There was marked retention of tracer in the oesophagus in patients with achalasia compared with rapid clearance in control subjects. Bag dilatation significantly reduced lower oesophageal sphincter pressure but there was no significant difference in the 50% clearance time or percentage dose retained at 100s before and after the treatments. Oesophageal clearance of tracer after the additional drink of water, was improved by bag dilatation. Oesophageal transit in the patients after cardiomyotomy was similar to that in patients who had undergone bag dilatation. There was considerable retention of the tracer in the oesophagus overnight, but this did not result in pulmonary aspiration. Radionuclide oesophageal transit studies provided a quantitative assessment of therapy in achalasia and the proportion of tracer retained after the additional drink proved to be a sensitive measure of response to treatment. Nifedipine proved ineffective as a treatment for achalasia. Bag dilatation and cardiomyotomy were of similar value.
Endothelial protective effects of preconditioning
Authors: Karine Laude, Philippe Beauchamp, Christian Thuillez, Vincent Richard
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2002)

The consequences of cardiac ischemia-reperfusion are not limited to myocytes but also extend to the coronary endothelium, where they are characterized by decreased nitric oxide (NO)-dependent relaxations.Given the essential role of the endothelium and NO in the regulation of vascular tone as well as platelet and leukocyte function, protection of coronary endothelial cells is an important therapeutic target.In this context, several studies have shown that both early and delayed preconditioning may prevent endothelial dysfunction after index ischemia-reperfusion.This endothelial protection most likely results from the inhibitory effects of preconditioning on expression of endothelial adhesion molecules, resulting in reduced neutrophil-endothelial interactions.The mechanisms of early endothelial preconditioning resemble those described at the level of the myocytes, and may involve mediators such as adenosine, bradykinin, NO and free radicals, together with activation of protein kinase C and opening of ATP-sensitive potassium channels.With regard to delayed preconditioning, recent studies have shown that both NO and free radicals are involved as triggers of this second window of endothelial protection.The complex interactions between these two radical species ultimately lead to a delayed increase in NO production, most likely responsible for the decreased adhesion of neutrophils to endothelial cells.Further identification of the triggers and mediators of this endothelial protection will allow the development of new therapeutic agents targeting both the myocardium and the coronary vasculature.
Progranulin Mutations as Risk Factors for Alzheimer Disease
Authors: David C. Perry, Manja Lehmann, Jennifer S. Yokoyama, Anna Karydas, Jason JiYong Lee, Giovanni Coppola, Lea T. Grinberg, Dan Geschwind, William W. Seeley, Bruce L. Miller, Howard Rosen, Gil Rabinovici
Journal: JAMA Neurology (2013)

Mutations in the progranulin gene are known to cause diverse clinical syndromes, all attributed to frontotemporal lobar degeneration. We describe 2 patients with progranulin gene mutations and evidence of Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology. We also conducted a literature review.This study focused on case reports of 2 unrelated patients with progranulin mutations at the University of California, San Francisco, Memory and Aging Center. One patient presented at age 65 years with a clinical syndrome suggestive of AD and showed evidence of amyloid aggregation on positron emission tomography. Another patient presented at age 54 years with logopenic progressive aphasia and, at autopsy, showed both frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 inclusions and AD.In addition to autosomal-dominant frontotemporal lobar degeneration, mutations in the progranulin gene may be a risk factor for AD clinical phenotypes and neuropathology.