tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
An Outbreak of Fusarium Keratitis Associated With Contact Lens Wear in Singapore
Authors: Wei-Boon Khor, Tin Aung, Seang-Mei Saw, Tien-Yin Wong, Paul A. Tambyah, Ai-Ling Tan, Roger Beuerman, Li Lim, Wing-Kwong Chan, Wee-Jin Heng, Jimmy Lim, Raymond S. K. Loh, Sao-Bing Lee, Donald T. H. Tan
Journal: JAMA (2006)

ContextFungal keratitis is a potentially blinding condition that is rarely seen with contact lens wear.ObjectiveTo describe a nationwide outbreak of fungal keratitis caused by Fusarium species among contact lens wearers in Singapore.Design, Setting, and PatientsNationwide, hospital-based case series. All cases of fungal keratitis among contact lens wearers in all ophthalmology departments in Singapore were reviewed along with the charts of all contact lens wearers with culture-proven fungal keratitis from March 2005 through May 2006. A standardized telephone interview was conducted to obtain additional clinical information.Main Outcome MeasureDiagnosis of Fusarium keratitis associated with contact lens wear.ResultsDuring the study period, 66 patients (68 affected eyes) were diagnosed with Fusarium keratitis associated with contact lens wear; the estimated annual national incidence is 2.35 cases per 10 000 contact lens wearers (95% confidence interval, 0.62-7.22). Patients ranged in age from 13 to 44 years (mean [SD], 27.1 [8.4] years), of which 32 (48.5%) were men. The vast majority (65 patients; 98.5%) wore soft, disposable contact lenses; 62 patients (93.9%) reported using 1 brand of contact lens cleaning solution (ReNu, Bausch &amp; Lomb, Rochester, NY), including 42 patients (63.6%) who recalled using ReNu with MoistureLoc. Most patients (81.8%) reported poor contact lens hygiene practices, including overnight use of daily wear contact lenses (19.7%), and use of contact lenses past the replacement date (43.9%). The final best-corrected visual acuity ranged from 20/20 to 20/80. Five patients (5 eyes; 7.4%) required emergency therapeutic or tectonic corneal transplantation.ConclusionsA new and evolving epidemic of Fusarium keratitis associated with contact lens wear was found in Singapore. Physicians and eye care practitioners worldwide need to be aware of the likelihood of similar outbreaks emerging among contact lens wearers.
Pulmonary malakoplakia: a rare presentation mimicking extensive stage IV lung cancer
Authors: P. Mandal, W.A. Wallace, K.M. Skwarski
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

To the Editors:

Herein, we report a 74-yr-old female who presented with several weeks history of persistent cough productive of mucoid phlegm with specks of haemoptysis. This was associated with fatigue and poor appetite. She also reported a minor episode of nosebleed. She denied any shortness of breath, chest pain, weight loss or any alteration of bowel habit. She complained of some intermittent left-sided pleuritic-type chest pain, which prompted a chest radiograph and urgent referral to the chest clinic thereafter.

Her past medical history included left breast surgery 11 yrs ago for ductal carcinoma in situ , atrial fibrillation, essential hypertension, sciatica and psoriasis. She was an ex-smoker with a 37-pack-yr history.

Initial blood tests showed a haemoglobin level of 107 g·L−1, a white cell count of 18.6×109 cells·L−1 (lymphocyte count 1.89×109 cells·L−1) and a platelet count of 128×109 cells·L−1. Liver function tests were normal and she was HIV negative.

A chest radiograph revealed the presence of a posteriorly located left lower lobe mass. A computed tomography (CT) scan (fig. 1) confirmed the presence of a pleural-based mass posteriorly in the left lower lobe measuring 3.7×3.2 cm with spiculated margin in contiguity with the dome of the left hemidiaphragm and extending into the abdomen. The mass appeared to be infiltrating the …
The true culprit within the SPINK1 p.N34S-containing haplotype is still at large
Authors: J.-M. Chen, C. Ferec
Journal: Gut (2009)

Trypsinogen and other digestive zymogens are synthesised in the acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas. The serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 1 (SPINK1), more commonly known as pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI), is also synthesised in these cells. Because of its ability to inhibit approximately 20% of the potential trypsin activity within the pancreas, PSTI has long been thought to be one of the defensive mechanisms against a prematurely activated trypsin-driven digestive zymogen activation cascade leading to pancreatic autodigestion.1 Given that gain-of-function missense mutations in the cationic trypsinogen gene ( PRSS1 ) have been found to cause hereditary pancreatitis,2 3 SPINK1 was analysed by a candidate gene approach in 2000,4 5 and, since then, some 40 variants have been reported. In particular, 14 variants, all of which were exclusively found in chronic pancreatitis patients but not in controls, are clear or experimentally demonstrated loss-of-function mutations (table 1).5–17 These findings support the hypothesis that PSTI is a key negative regulator of prematurely activated trypsin within the pancreatic acinar cells.

View this table:

Table 1 Clear or experimentally demonstrated loss-of-function mutations in the SPINK1 gene

Two key questions, among others, have arisen from the association of SPINK1 variations with chronic pancreatitis. The first concerns the role of PSTI (ie, disease causing vs disease modifying) in the aetiology of the disease. We suggested that this question be discussed in the context of specific variations.6 Thus, mutations resulting in a complete functional loss of the involved alleles and that are found in cases with familial or hereditary pancreatitis—exemplified by the c.27delC mutation …
Type I Pleuropulmonary Blastoma: A Report From the International Pleuropulmonary Blastoma Registry
Authors: John R. Priest, D. Ashley Hill, Gretchen M. Williams, Christopher L. Moertel, Yoav Messinger, Marsha J. Finkelstein, Louis P. Dehner
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2006)

Purpose Type I pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare, cystic lung neoplasm in infants characterized by subtle malignant changes and a good prognosis. Recurrences after type I PPB are usually advanced type II or type III neoplasms with a poor prognosis. This article describes the first collection of type I PPB cases, analyzes outcome based on treatments of surgery or surgery plus chemotherapy, and presents type I PPB management recommendations. Patients and Methods Type I PPB cases from the International PPB Registry and literature were evaluated using standard statistical methods for outcomes based on age at diagnosis, sex, thoracic side, surgical extent, length of follow-up, constitutional/familial disease, pre-existing lung cysts, intrathoracic findings, and treatments (surgery or surgery and chemotherapy). Results Thirty-eight type I PPB cases were identified: Registry (n = 30) and literature (n = 8). Twenty children had surgery alone; eight (40%) experienced recurrence; and four died. Eighteen children had surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy; one experienced recurrence and died. All recurrences were type II or III PPB. Recurrence-free survival was higher in the surgery + chemotherapy group (P = .01); overall survival did not differ (P = .18). The improved recurrence-free survival was found only in males. Four of nine children with recurrence survived. Conclusion Adjuvant chemotherapy appears to benefit type I PPB patients. Benefit limited to males requires broader substantiation. Salvage after types II and III recurrence is poor (four of nine; 44%). A rigorous surveillance schedule after type I PPB diagnosis might detect early recurrence and be an acceptable alternative to adjuvant chemotherapy.
Assessment of risk for non-hepatic surgery in cirrhotic patients
Authors: Prashant Bhangui, Alexis Laurent, Roland Amathieu, Daniel Azoulay
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2012)

Patients with poorly compensated chronic liver disease (CLD), requiring surgical intervention form a unique group of surgical candidates. Though liver resection for hepatic tumours and liver transplantation (LT) are the most common surgical procedures performed in cirrhotic patients; these patients may frequently require other non-hepatic surgical procedures including surgery for abdominal wall hernia's, abdominal surgery for peptic ulcer disease, biliary, small bowel, colon, and pancreatic disease, and in addition cardiac, vascular, and orthopaedic surgery.
Impact of iodination on thyroid pathology in Africa
Authors: O E Okosieme
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2006)

Thyroid disorders are common worldwide.1 In Africa, dietary iodine deficiency is the major determinant of thyroid pathology, resulting in a spectrum of iodine deficiency disorders, including goitres, hypothyroidism and mental retardation.2 Of these, mental retardation poses the most severe threat to socioeconomic wellbeing; thus, its prevention has been the focus of current global efforts towards sustainable iodine sufficiency.3 At least 350 million Africans are at risk of iodine deficiency.4 According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, goitres are present in 28.3% of the African population,4 and approximately 25% of the global burden of iodine deficiency as measured by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) occurs in Africa.5 The demands of communicable diseases, coupled with the challenges of poverty, civil conflicts and fragile political structures, have in the past frustrated efforts at eliminating iodine deficiency in Africa.6 However, recent decades have seen remarkable improvements in iodine nutrition through salt iodination in the continent.7 The effect of these developments on the pattern of thyroid gland disease are beginning to unravel and will be relevant to the strategies for extending the present gains. In this article, I examine the impact of recent progress in iodine nutrition on the epidemiology of thyroid gland pathology in Africa.
The Octamer Binding Transcription Factor Oct-1 Is a Stress Sensor
Authors: Dean Tantin, Caroline Schild-Poulter, Victoria Wang, Robert J.G. Haché, Phillip A. Sharp
Journal: Cancer Research (2005)

Abstract The POU-domain transcription factor Oct-1 is widely expressed in adult tissues and has been proposed to regulate a large group of target genes. Microarray expression profiling was used to evaluate gene expression changes in Oct-1-deficient mouse fibroblasts. A number of genes associated with cellular stress exhibited altered expression. Consistent with this finding, Oct-1-deficient fibroblasts were hypersensitive to γ radiation, doxorubicin, and hydrogen peroxide and harbored elevated reactive oxygen species. Expression profiling identified a second group of genes dysregulated in Oct-1-deficient fibroblasts following irradiation, including many associated with oxidative and metabolic stress. A number of these genes contain octamer sequences in their immediate 5′ regulatory regions, some of which are conserved in human. These results indicate that Oct-1 modulates the activity of genes important for the cellular response to stress.
microRNAs and HDL life cycle
Authors: A. Canfran-Duque, C. M. Ramirez, L. Goedeke, C.-S. Lin, C. Fernandez-Hernando
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2014)

miRNAs have emerged as important regulators of lipoprotein metabolism. Work over the past few years has demonstrated that miRNAs control the expression of most of the genes associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism, including the ATP transporters, ABCA1 and ABCG1, and the scavenger receptor SRB1. These findings strongly suggest that miRNAs regulate HDL biogenesis, cellular cholesterol efflux, and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) uptake in the liver, thereby controlling all of the steps of reverse cholesterol transport. Recent work in animal models has demonstrated that manipulating miRNA levels including miR-33 can increase circulating HDL-C. Importantly, antagonizing miR-33 in vivo enhances the regression and reduces the progression of atherosclerosis. These findings support the idea of developing miRNA inhibitors for the treatment of dyslipidaemia and related cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis. This review article focuses on how HDL metabolism is regulated by miRNAs and how antagonizing miRNA expression could be a potential therapy for treating cardiometabolic diseases.
Effectiveness of Vasopressin V2 Receptor Antagonists OPC-31260 and OPC-41061 on Polycystic Kidney Disease Development in the PCK Rat
Authors: Xiaofang Wang, Vincent Gattone, Peter C. Harris, Vicente E. Torres
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2005)

cAMP plays a major role in cystogenesis. Recent <i>in vitro</i> studies suggested that cAMP stimulates B-Raf/ERK activation and proliferation of cyst-derived cells in a Ca<sup>2+</sup> inhibitable, Ras-dependent manner. OPC-31260, a vasopressin V2 receptor (VPV2) antagonist, was shown to lower renal cAMP and inhibit renal disease development and progression in models orthologous to human cystic diseases. Here it is shown that OPC-41061, an antagonist chosen for its potency and selectivity for human VPV2, is effective in PCK rats. PCK kidneys have increased Ras-GTP and phosphorylated ERK levels and 95-kD/68-kD B-Raf ratios, changes that are corrected by the administration of OPC-31260 or OPC-41061. These results support the importance of cAMP in the pathogenesis of polycystic kidney disease, confirm the effectiveness of a VPV2 antagonist to be used in clinical trials for this disease, and suggest that OPC-31260 and OPC-41061 inhibit Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in polycystic kidneys.
α-Synuclein–Induced Down-Regulation of Nurr1 Disrupts GDNF Signaling in Nigral Dopamine Neurons
Authors: Mickael Decressac, Banafsheh Kadkhodaei, Bengt Mattsson, Ariadna Laguna, Thomas Perlmann, Anders Björklund
Journal: Science Translational Medicine (2012)

The trophic response of dopamine neurons to GDNF, mediated by the transcription factor Nurr1, protects them from α-synuclein–mediated toxicity.
The injury progression of T lymphocytes in a mouse model with subcutaneous injection of a high dose of sulfur mustard
Authors: Yi-Zhou Mei, Xiao-Rui Zhang, Ning Jiang, Jun-Ping Cheng, Feng Liu, Pan Zheng, Wen-Xia Zhou, Yong-Xiang Zhang
Journal: Military Medical Research (2014)

In clinical studies, the findings on sulfur mustard (SM) toxicity for CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets are contradictory. In animal experiments, the effect of SM on the T cell number and proliferation is incompatible and is even the opposite of the results in human studies. In this study, we observed the dynamic changes of T lymphocytes in the first week in a high-dose SM-induced model. Mice were exposed to SM by subcutaneous injection (20 mg/kg) and were sacrificed 4 h, 24 h, 72 h and 168 h later. Spleen T lymphocyte proliferation was evaluated by 3H-TdR. Flow cytometric analysis was used to observe the percentage of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets. The IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α levels in plasma were assayed using the Luminex method. DNA damage in bone marrow cells was observed with the single cell gel electrophoresis technique (SCGE). SM continuously inhibited the proliferation of lymphocytes for 7 days, and there was a significant rebound of Con A-induced T lymphocyte proliferation only at 24 h. The percentage of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ lymphocytes was upregulated, which was accompanied by increased IL-1β and TNF-α and decreased IL-10. The IL-6 level was gradually decreased in the PG group at 4 h. The peak of lymphocytic apoptosis and DNA damage occurred at 24 h and 72 h, respectively. Our results show that SM significantly inhibited T lymphocyte proliferation as well as induced CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ upregulation. SM intoxication also significantly increased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and inhibited the level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Our results may partly be due to the significant SM induced significant apoptosis and necrosis of lymphocytes as well as DNA damage of bone marrow cells. The results provided a favorable evaluation of SM immune toxicity in an animal model.
Association Between Sleep Duration and Diabetes in Black and White Adults
Authors: Chandra L. Jackson, Susan Redline, Ichiro Kawachi, Frank B. Hu
Journal: Diabetes Care (2013)

To examine racial differences in sleep duration and its relationship with diabetes.We used data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults (n = 130,943) participating in the National Health Interview Survey from 2004 to 2011. Usual sleep duration was self-reported and categorized as <7 h (short), 7 h (optimal), and >7 h (long). Diabetes status was based on self-reported diagnosis from a health professional.Participants' mean age was 50.6 years, 49% were men, and 13% were black. Compared with whites, blacks were more likely to report short sleep (37 vs. 28%) and less likely to get 7 h of sleep (24 vs. 33%). Diabetes (9,643 cases [9%] in whites and 3,612 cases [15%] in blacks) had a U-shaped distribution with sleep in whites (10, 7, and 9%, for short, optimal, and long sleep, respectively) and blacks (16, 13, and 15%). Suboptimal sleep duration was more strongly associated with diabetes in whites than in blacks among short (prevalence ratio 1.49 [95% CI 1.40-1.58] vs. 1.21 [1.09-1.34]) and long (1.32 [1.25-1.40] vs. 1.11 [1.00-1.23]) sleepers on the relative scale. Adjustment for socioeconomic status (SES) attenuated the short sleep-diabetes association in blacks (1.15 [1.02-1.29]), and the racial/ethnic difference in the short sleep-diabetes association became nonsignificant after SES adjustments.Suboptimal sleep duration was positively associated with diabetes in blacks and whites, although diabetes prevalence was higher at any level of sleep in blacks. Socioeconomic factors appear to partly explain the association for short sleep in blacks as well as disparity between racial groups.
Fertility regulating and immunotherapeutic vaccines reaching human trials stage
Authors: T. Talwar
Journal: Human Reproduction Update (1997)

The progress and current status of vaccines which induce antibodies against human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) are reviewed. Three vaccines devised against HCG have undergone phase I clinical trials documenting their safety, and reversibility. One of these, the heterospecies dimer (HSD)-HCG vaccine has also completed phase II efficacy trials in sexually active women of proven fertility. Immunization with the vaccine prevents pregnancy, as long as the antibody titres remain ≥50 ng/ml HCG bioneutralization capacity. There is no disturbance of menstrual regularity and women continue to ovulate normally. The antibody response is predominantly against an epitope in the core part of β-HCG. Fertility is regained at titres <35 ng. These observations have laid the scientific foundations of a birth control vaccine. Research suggests the feasibility of making a cost-effective recombinant vaccine. The carriers tetanus toxoid (TT) and diptheria toxoid (DT) can be advantageously replaced by peptide determinants recognizing T, not B cells. In addition to optional fertility control, HCG vaccines may have tumour growth inhibition potential in lung cancers which produce HCG. The vaccine against LHRH can be used in both males and females. As it is a structurally conserved molecule, the same vaccine is applicable to both animals and humans. Antibodies against LHRH block the generation of gametes and sex steroids, with the result that the vaccine can be used for fertility control (domestic pets, prolongation of lactation amenorrhoea); as well as for sex hormone-dependent cancers. Phase I/phase II clinical trials have been conducted with the LHRH vaccine in advanced metastazing carcinoma of prostate patients with encouraging results. Bioeffective monoclonal antibodies have been developed against both LHRH and HCG. These can be `humanized' and produced cost-effectively in bacteria and plants, thus paving the way for passive use of such antibodies for immunotherapy of cancers and fertility control.
It Is Time to Include Cancer and Other Noncommunicable Diseases in the Millennium Development Goals
Authors: J. R. Seffrin, D. Hill, W. Burkart, I. Magrath, R. A Badwe, T. Ngoma, A. Mohar, N. Grey
Journal: CA A Cancer Journal for Clinicians (2009)

John R. Seffrin, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA; David Hill, PhD, President, International Union Against Cancer (UICC), Geneva, Switzerland; Werner Burkart, PhD, Deputy Director General, International Atomic Energy Authority, Vienna, Austria; Ian Magrath, MB, BS, FRCP, FRCPath, President, International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research (INCTR), Brussels, Belgium; Rajendra A Badwe, MD, MBBS, Director, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India; Twalib Ngoma, MD, President, African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania; Alejandro Mohar, MD, Director General, Mexican National Cancer Institute, Mexico City, Mexico; Nathan Grey, MPH, National Vice President, International Affairs, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA
Nodular Lymphangitis: A Distinctive but Often Unrecognized Syndrome
Authors: Jay R. Kostman
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1993)

Purpose: To describe nodular lymphangitis by reviewing the clinical and epidemiologic features of this disease with an emphasis on distinguishing specific etiologic agents. Data Sources: English-language articles were identified through a MEDLINE search (1966 to September 1992) using sporotrichosis, lymphangitis, and sporotrichoid as key words; additional references were selected from the bibliographies of identified articles. In addition, three new patients with nodular lymphangitis are described. Study Selection: One hundred fifty articles were reviewed to determine details of the etiologic agents and clinical signs and symptoms of patients with nodular lymphangitis. Data Synthesis: Nodular lymphangitis develops most commonly after cutaneous inoculation with Sporothrix schenckii, Nocardia brasiliensis, Mycobacterium marinum, Leishmania braziliensis, and Francisella tularensis. The setting in which infection is acquired is useful in differentiating among the various organisms causing infection. Sporotrichosis and leishmaniasis can have longer incubation periods than do the other common causes of nodular lymphangitis. A painful ulcer at the site of the initial lesion suggests tularemia; frankly purulent drainage often accompanies infections with Francisella and Nocardia species. Ulcerated or suppurating lymphangitic nodules occur commonly with Nocardia infections. Patients with nodular lymphangitis who fail to respond to empiric treatment for sporotrichosis should be evaluated for other organisms with appropriate biopsies and cultures. Conclusions: Nodular lymphangitis has distinctive clinical signs and symptoms, most commonly due to infection with a limited number of organisms. A detailed history, accompanied by information obtained from skin biopsy specimens using appropriate stains and cultures, should allow specific, effective therapy for most of these infections.