tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of a Field Trial to Improve Children's Dietary Patterns and Physical Activity
Authors: R V Luepker, C L Perry, S M McKinlay, P R Nader, G S Parcel, E J Stone, L S Webber, J P Elder, H A Feldman, C C Johnson
Journal: JAMA (1996)

<h3>Objective.</h3> —To assess the outcomes of health behavior interventions, focusing on the elementary school environment, classroom curricula, and home programs, for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. <h3>Design.</h3> —A randomized, controlled field trial at four sites with 56 intervention and 40 control elementary schools. Outcomes were assessed using prerandomization measures (fall 1991) and follow-up measures (spring 1994). <h3>Participants.</h3> —A total of 5106 initially third-grade students from ethnically diverse backgrounds in public schools located in California, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Texas. <h3>Intervention.</h3> —Twenty-eight schools participated in a third-grade through fifth-grade intervention including school food service modifications, enhanced physical education (PE), and classroom health curricula. Twenty-eight additional schools received these components plus family education. <h3>Main Outcome Measures.</h3> —At the school level, the two primary end points were changes in the fat content of food service lunch offerings and the amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the PE programs. At the level of the individual student, serum cholesterol change was the primary end point and was used for power calculations for the study. Individual level secondary end points included psychosocial factors, recall measures of eating and physical activity patterns, and other physiologic measures. <h3>Results.</h3> —In intervention school lunches, the percentage of energy intake from fat fell significantly more (from 38.7% to 31.9%) than in control lunches (from 38.9% to 36.2%)(<i>P</i>&lt;.001 ). The intensity of physical activity in PE classes during the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) intervention increased significantly in the intervention schools compared with the control schools (<i>P</i>&lt;.02). Self-reported daily energy intake from fat among students in the intervention schools was significantly reduced (from 32.7% to 30.3%) compared with that among students in the control schools (from 32.6% to 32.2%) (<i>P</i>&lt;.001). Intervention students reported significantly more daily vigorous activity than controls (58.6 minutes vs 46.5 minutes;<i>P</i>&lt;.003). Blood pressure, body size, and cholesterol measures did not differ significantly between treatment groups. No evidence of deleterious effects of this intervention on growth or development was observed. <h3>Conclusion.</h3> —The CATCH intervention was able to modify the fat content of school lunches, increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in PE, and improve eating and physical activity behaviors in children during 3 school years. (<i>JAMA</i>. 1996;275:768-776)
Two-Year Outcome of Preschool Children With Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome
Authors: Peter Szatmari, Susan E. Bryson, David L. Streiner, Freda Wilson, Lynda Archer, Cynthia Ryerse
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2000)

OBJECTIVE: DSM-IV specifies that Asperger's disorder is a type of pervasive developmental disorder without clinically significant cognitive or language delay. There are no data, however, on the outcome of children with Asperger's disorder or on whether their outcome differs from that of children with autism. The objectives of this study were to compare the outcome of groups of children with these disorders over a period of 2 years on variables independent of the defining criteria and to identify variables that might account for these differences. METHOD: All children 4–6 years of age who came for assessment or were currently in treatment at a pervasive developmental disorder service of one of several centers in a large geographic region were identified. Children who received a diagnosis of autism (N=46) or Asperger's syndrome (N=20) on the basis of a diagnostic interview and had an IQ in the nonretarded range were given a battery of cognitive, language, and behavioral tests. Families were contacted roughly 2 years after the date of their enrollment in the study, and many of the tests were readministered. RESULTS: Children with Asperger's syndrome had better social skills and fewer autistic symptoms 2 years after study enrollment than the children with autism. The differences in outcome could not be explained by initial differences in IQ and language abilities. Children with autism who had developed verbal fluency at follow-up were very similar to the children with Asperger's syndrome at study enrollment. CONCLUSIONS: Although the exact mechanism for the differences in outcome remain to be determined, it appears that Asperger's disorder and autism represent parallel but potentially overlapping developmental trajectories.
Hydroxyapatite phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear leucocytes.
Authors: K H Maurer, H R Schumacher
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1979)

Hydroxyapatite crystals were incubated with human polymorphonuclear leucocytes and samples examined by light and electron microscopy after 3, 8, 30, and 120 minutes' incubation. Phagocytosis of crystals occurred at 3 minutes and increased with incubation. Degranulation of neutrophils, loss of cytoplasmic density, and cell necrosis were greatest in cells mixed with apatite and increased with time. Avid in vitro phagocytosis of hydroxyapatite crystals lends further support to the potential of these crystals as causes of human arthritis.
Prediction of new-onset asthma and nasal allergy by skin prick test and RAST in a cohort of adults
Authors: Kerstin Gallmeier, Eva Becker, Anne Kirsten, Gabriele Wölke, Olaf Manuwald, Heike Meyer, Helgo Magnussen, Dennis Nowak, Joachim Heinrich
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Limited information exists regarding the incidence and predictors of asthma and nasal allergy in adulthood. We determined the incidence rate of asthma and nasal allergy in adults and assessed the predictive value of skin prick tests (SPTs) and radioallergosorbent tests (RASTs) for these two outcomes. Two German centres involved in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey conducted a follow-up assessment in 2012 of the baseline participants (1185 adults aged 21–47 years assessed in 1990). The predictive value of SPTs and RASTs on new-onset asthma and nasal allergy was assessed by Cox regression and by calculating the positive or negative predictive value. During the 20 years between baseline and follow-up, 3.1 and 4.4 per 1000 person-years of new-onset asthma and nasal allergy cases were recorded, respectively. The hazard ratios for SPTs of any specific and of all aeroallergens combined were slightly higher than those of RASTs for asthma and nasal allergy. The negative predictive values of both the SPT and RAST were very high and similar (0.94–0.96), whereas the postive predictive values were low (0.09–0.20). Positive SPT results showed a better association with new onset asthma and nasal allergy than positive RAST either to any specific aeroallergens or to all combined.
Overexpression of Interleukin-13 Induces Minimal-Change–Like Nephropathy in Rats
Authors: Kin-Wai Lai, Chang-Li Wei, Li-Kiang Tan, Puay-Hoon Tan, Gilbert S.C. Chiang, Caroline G.L. Lee, Stanley C. Jordan, Hui-Kim Yap
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2007)

IL-13 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of minimal-change nephrotic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the role of IL-13 on the development of proteinuria and expression of podocyte-related genes that are associated with nephrotic syndrome. IL-13 was overexpressed in Wistar rats through transfection of a mammalian expression vector cloned with the rat IL-13 gene, into the quadriceps by in vivo electroporation. Serum IL-13, albumin, cholesterol, and creatinine and urine albumin were measured serially. Kidneys were harvested after day 70 for histology and electron microscopy. Glomerular gene expression of nephrin, podocin, dystroglycan, B7-1, and IL-13 receptor subunits were examined using real-time PCR with hybridization probes and expressed as an index against beta-actin. Protein expression of these molecules was determined by immunofluorescence staining. The IL-13-transfected rats (n = 41) showed significant albuminuria, hypoalbuminemia, and hypercholesterolemia when compared with control rats (n = 17). No significant histologic changes were seen in glomeruli of IL-13-transfected rats. However, electron microscopy showed up to 80% of podocyte foot process fusion. Glomerular gene expression was significantly upregulated for B7-1, IL-4Ralpha, and IL-13Ralpha2 but downregulated for nephrin, podocin, and dystroglycan. Immunofluorescence staining intensity was reduced for nephrin, podocin, and dystroglycan but increased for B7-1 and IL-4Ralpha in IL-13-transfected rats compared with controls. In conclusion, these results suggest that IL-13 overexpression in the rat could lead to podocyte injury with downregulation of nephrin, podocin, and dystroglycan and a concurrent upregulation of B7-1 in the glomeruli, inducing a minimal change-like nephropathy that is characterized by increased proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hypercholesterolemia, and fusion of podocyte foot processes.
Infected atopic dermatitis lesions contain pharmacologic amounts of lipoteichoic acid
Authors: Jeffrey B. Travers, Amal Kozman, Nico Mousdicas, Chandan Saha, Megan Landis, Mohammed Al-Hassani, Weiguo Yao, Yongxue Yao, Ann-Marie Hyatt, Michael P. Sheehan, Anita N. Haggstrom, Mark H. Kaplan
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2009)
Erythrocyte ferritin content in idiopathic haemochromatosis and alcoholic liver disease with iron overload.
Authors: M B Van Der Weyden, H Fong, H H Salem, R G Batey, F J Dudley
Journal: BMJ (1983)

The erythrocyte ferritin content was measured in patients with either idiopathic haemochromatosis or alcoholic liver disease and iron overload to define its value as a marker for an excess of tissue iron. The mean erythrocyte ferritin content in patients with untreated idiopathic haemochromatosis was increased 60-fold and fell with phlebotomy. After phlebotomy many patients had an increased red cell ferritin content despite normal serum ferritin concentrations. That this reflected persistent iron overload with inadequate phlebotomy was suggested by the higher serum iron concentrations, percentage transferrin saturation, and urinary excretion of iron after administration of desferrioxamine, together with a lower annual iron loss by phlebotomy in this group compared with patients with treated disease and normal red cell ferritin content. The mean erythrocyte ferritin content in patients with alcoholic liver disease and iron overload was increased only sevenfold, and the ratio of erythrocyte to serum ferritin clearly discriminated these patients from those with idiopathic haemochromatosis. The determination of erythrocyte ferritin content is a useful non-invasive test for diagnosing idiopathic haemochromatosis, monitoring the effect of phlebotomy in this disorder, and distinguishing patients with this disorder from those with alcoholic liver disease with iron overload.
Molecular basis of lactase levels in adult humans.
Authors: J C Escher, N D de Koning, C G van Engen, S Arora, H A Büller, R K Montgomery, R J Grand
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1992)

The molecular basis of adult human "lactase deficiency" has long been a subject of controversy. To address this issue, small intestinal biopsies from orienta, black, and white patients were analyzed. Adjacent samples were assayed for lactase and sucrase specific activities and the sucrase/lactase ratio (high ratio signifies lactase deficiency), and the results were compared to lactase steady-state mRNA levels detected in Northern blots probed with a human lactase mDNA. All oriental patients had high ratios and no detectable lactase mRNA. Four black patients had a similar pattern; two with low ratios had detectable mRNA. The group of white patients displayed a range of findings, from high ratio/no mRNA to low ratio/considerable mRNA. Elevated levels of lactase mRNA always correlated with the presence of elevated levels of lactase enzyme activity, suggesting that the difference in levels of adult human intestinal lactase activity among racial groups may be regulated at the level of gene transcription.
Management of pain in sickle-cell disease
Authors: I. Okpala, A. Tawil
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2002)

The acutely painful episodes that characterize sickle-cell disease were described in 1872 by Africanus Horton1, though the mechanism remained uncertain until, nearly thirty years later, James Herrick observed the sickling deformity of red cells that causes vaso-occlusion and tissue infarction.

Sickle-cell disease (SCD) is the commonest globin gene disorder: across the world, about 300 000 children are born with it each year3. The pain of sickle-cell crisis is excruciating and, in global terms, a major health problem.
A link between irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia may be related to findings on lactulose breath testing
Authors: M Pimentel
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2004)

<b>Background:</b> An association between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has been found. <b>Objective:</b> To compare the prevalence and test results for bacterial overgrowth between IBS and fibromyalgia. <b>Methods:</b> Subjects with independent fibromyalgia and IBS were compared with controls in a double blind study. Participants completed a questionnaire, and a lactulose hydrogen breath test was used to determine the presence of SIBO. The prevalence of an abnormal breath test was compared between study participants. Hydrogen production on the breath test was compared between subjects with IBS and fibromyalgia. The somatic pain visual analogue score of subjects with fibromyalgia was compared with their degree of hydrogen production. <b>Results:</b> 3/15 (20%) controls had an abnormal breath test compared with 93/111 (84%) subjects with IBS (p&lt;0.01) and 42/42 (100%) with fibromyalgia (p&lt;0.0001 <i>v</i> controls, p&lt;0.05 <i>v</i> IBS). Subjects with fibromyalgia had higher hydrogen profiles (p&lt;0.01), peak hydrogen (p&lt;0.0001), and area under the curve (p&lt;0.01) than subjects with IBS. This was not dependent on the higher prevalence of an abnormal breath test. The degree of somatic pain in fibromyalgia correlated significantly with the hydrogen level seen on the breath test (<i>r</i> = 0.42, p&lt;0.01). <b>Conclusions:</b> An abnormal lactulose breath test is more common in fibromyalgia than IBS. In contrast with IBS, the degree of abnormality on breath test is greater in subjects with fibromyalgia and correlates with somatic pain.
Drug development is at risk from proposed takeover of AstraZeneca, MPs are told
Authors: A. O'Dowd
Journal: BMJ (2014)

Development of important and potentially lifesaving drugs could be disrupted and delayed if a proposed takeover of AstraZeneca by the giant US drug company Pfizer goes ahead, MPs have been told.

The impact of such a takeover was discussed at an evidence session on 13 May of the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee as part of its inquiry into the future of the UK drug company AstraZeneca.1

Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer of AstraZeneca, appearing before the committee, said that AstraZeneca was a “science led” organisation. He acknowledged that Pfizer was a strong and “effective commercial” company, but added, “We think we are successful and can continue …
Prostate Cancer–Specific Survival Following Salvage Radiotherapy vs Observation in Men With Biochemical Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Bruce J. Trock, Misop Han, Stephen J. Freedland, Elizabeth B. Humphreys, Theodore L. DeWeese, Alan W. Partin, Patrick C. Walsh
Journal: JAMA (2008)

Biochemical disease recurrence after radical prostatectomy often prompts salvage radiotherapy, but no studies to date have had sufficient numbers of patients or follow-up to determine whether radiotherapy improves survival, and if so, the subgroup of men most likely to benefit.To quantify the relative improvement in prostate cancer-specific survival of salvage radiotherapy vs no therapy after biochemical recurrence following prostatectomy, and to identify subgroups for whom salvage treatment is most beneficial.Retrospective analysis of a cohort of 635 US men undergoing prostatectomy from 1982-2004, followed up through December 28, 2007, who experienced biochemical and/or local recurrence and received no salvage treatment (n = 397), salvage radiotherapy alone (n = 160), or salvage radiotherapy combined with hormonal therapy (n = 78).Prostate cancer-specific survival defined from time of recurrence until death from disease.With a median follow-up of 6 years after recurrence and 9 years after prostatectomy, 116 men (18%) died from prostate cancer, including 89 (22%) who received no salvage treatment, 18 (11%) who received salvage radiotherapy alone, and 9 (12%) who received salvage radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. Salvage radiotherapy alone was associated with a significant 3-fold increase in prostate cancer-specific survival relative to those who received no salvage treatment (hazard ratio [HR], 0.32 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.19-0.54]; P<.001). Addition of hormonal therapy to salvage radiotherapy was not associated with any additional increase in prostate cancer-specific survival (HR, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.17-0.69]; P = .003). The increase in prostate cancer-specific survival associated with salvage radiotherapy was limited to men with a prostate-specific antigen doubling time of less than 6 months and remained after adjustment for pathological stage and other established prognostic factors. Salvage radiotherapy initiated more than 2 years after recurrence provided no significant increase in prostate cancer-specific survival. Men whose prostate-specific antigen level never became undetectable after salvage radiotherapy did not experience a significant increase in prostate cancer-specific survival. Salvage radiotherapy also was associated with a significant increase in overall survival.Salvage radiotherapy administered within 2 years of biochemical recurrence was associated with a significant increase in prostate cancer-specific survival among men with a prostate-specific antigen doubling time of less than 6 months, independent of other prognostic features such as pathological stage or Gleason score. These preliminary findings should be validated in other settings, and ultimately, in a randomized controlled trial.
Re: Human Papillomavirus Infection and Incidence of Squamous Cell and Basal Cell Carcinomas of the Skin
Authors: Lisa Hall, Linda Struijk, Rachel E. Neale, Mariet C. W. Feltkamp
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2006)

*This article is free to read on the publisher's website* Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause cervical cancer and some other types of epithelial cancers. HPV types from the phylogenic beta genus (beta-PVs), formerly known as epidermodysplasia verruciformis–associated HPV types, are frequently detected in nonmelanoma skin cancers, especially in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). An etiologic relationship with beta-PV infection is suspected.
Legionnaires' Disease in Kingsport, Tennessee
Authors: TIMOTHY J. DONDERO
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1979)

In August and September 1977 a discrete cluster of 27 serologically or pathologically confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease, plus six highly presumptive cases were identified in the area of Kingsport, Tennessee. Three patients died. Most patients manifested severe pneumonia and fever; no mild or asymptomatic disease forms were recognized despite intensive case-finding efforts. Illness was epidemiologically associated with residing, visiting, or working in one geographic area of Kingsport, residence there being the factor most strongly associated. Although the attack rate for area residents was 0.64%, the randomly determined prevalence of serologic reactors was 5.2%, which is not significantly different from that in a nonimplicated control neighborhood. The epidemic did not correlate temporally with any identified environmental or demographic event. No source of the bacterium was found either by a detailed case-control study of area associations or by bacterial isolation from sentinel guinea pigs or environmental specimens. There was no evidence of person-to-person spread.
Bronchial thermoplasty may improve asthma control up to 12 months after treatment
Authors: Neil Ward
Journal: Thorax (2007)

▴ Cox G, Thomson NC, Rubin AS. Asthma control during the year after bronchial thermoplasty. N Engl J Med2007;356:1327–37

[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3]



This randomised controlled study was designed to assess the efficacy of bronchial thermoplasty up to 12 months after treatment. Participants had moderate to severe persistent asthma and were receiving treatment with inhaled corticosteroid and long acting β agonist (LABA) inhalers. Only patients with worsening asthma control after temporary withdrawal of the LABA inhaler were eligible for entry. One hundred …

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