tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Predictors of mortality in hemodialysis patients.
Authors: P Goldwasser, N Mittman, A Antignani, D Burrell, M A Michel, J Collier, M M Avram
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (1993)

Serum biochemical measures suggestive of undernutrition have been reported to correlate with 1-yr mortality risk in prevalent groups of hemodialysis patients. The predictive power of these variables has not been reported in newly diagnosed patients or in patients whose dialysis prescription is guided by urea kinetics. The relationship of these predictors to mortality over periods of longer than 1 yr is also unreported. Therefore, the survival of 184 hemodialysis patients was examined for up to 44 months (1987 to 1991) with the Cox proportional hazards model. Baseline demographic, clinical, and biochemical parameters were used as independent variables. To adjust for bias in patient selection, the survival of patients with 12 months or less of prior dialysis at the time of enrollment ("new cases") was analyzed separately from that of patients with more than 1 yr of prior treatment ("long-standing cases"). Serum albumin was less than 3.5 g/dL in 31% of new cases and in 12% of long-standing cases. Adjusting for the other variables, low serum albumin was the strongest mortality risk predictor in both new and long-standing cases. Low serum cholesterol was an independent risk predictor in both groups. Diabetes and race were not significant predictors. Mean age at enrollment was nearly a decade higher for nonsurvivors than for survivors, in both new and long-standing groups. Yet, age was not an independent risk predictor in the Cox model for the new group because of an unexpectedly high death rate among young black men. Female gender, which was confounded by increased age, took the place of age in the model for the new group. For each model, there was good agreement between observed and predicted mortality for up to 24 months. To assess the influence of dialysis treatment time and dose (measured as pre-to-post treatment urea ratio) on risk, survival was examined in a subset of 139 patients monitored for up to 22 months, from 1989 to 1991, a period when the urea ratio was used routinely. Adjusting for the other variables, low serum albumin and cholesterol again independently increased risk. The urea ratio was also a significant independent predictor. The pattern of mortality by urea ratio was U shaped, with minimum risk for values between 2.5 and 3.4 Treatment time did not influence risk. It was concluded that baseline serum values of albumin and cholesterol strongly influence survival for up to 2 yr in new and long-standing hemodialysis patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The Use of Psychotropic Medications During Breast-Feeding
Authors: Vivien K. Burt, Rita Suri, Lori Altshuler, Zachary Stowe, Victoria C. Hendrick, Erin Muntean
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2001)

The authors reviewed the risks and benefits regarding the use of psychiatric medications during breast-feeding as they relate to the health and well-being of mothers and their infants. Strategies are discussed to limit infant exposure to a medication while effectively treating the nursing mother.A MEDLINE search of the literature since 1955 was conducted to determine the use of psychotropic medications in breast-feeding women. Search items included each of the categories of psychopharmacologic agents as well as each of the agents in association with nursing, breast-feeding, postpartum, lactation, and breast milk.No controlled studies on the safety of psychotropic medications in nursing mothers were found. Case reports and small case series for each of the different psychotropic medications serve as the basis for suggested treatment guidelines for the management of psychiatric illnesses in breast-feeding women. Thus, each case needs to be considered on an individual basis, with a thoughtful analysis of the risks and benefits of nursing and exposure of the infant to medication. The baseline clinical status of the infant should also be reviewed.Women are vulnerable postpartum to psychiatric disorders and frequently face the need to decide whether to take psychotropic medications while breast-feeding. Should psychiatric medication be indicated, the parents should be provided with the available information regarding the effects of these medications on the neonate. In this way, an informed decision can be made. When psychotropic medication is used during breast-feeding, it is strongly recommended that the infant's pediatrician be involved in monitoring the infant.
Diagnostic quality and scoring of synovitis, tenosynovitis and erosions in low-field MRI of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a comparison with conventional MRI
Authors: C. Schirmer, A. K Scheel, C. E Althoff, T. Schink, I. Eshed, A. Lembcke, G.-R. Burmester, M. Backhaus, B. Hamm, K.-G. A Hermann
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2006)

<b>Objective:</b> To compare dedicated low-field MRI (lfMRI) with conventional MRI (cMRI) in the detection and scoring of synovitis, tenosynovitis and erosions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. <b>Patients and methods:</b> The wrist and finger joints of 17 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (median (range) disease duration 8 years (7–12); Disease Activity Score 3.3 (2.6–4.5)) were examined by 0.2 T lfMRI and 1.5 TcMRI. The protocols comprised coronal spin-echo and three-dimensional gradient-echo sequences before and after contrast medium administration. Synovitis of the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints 2–5 and the wrist joints was scored according to Outcome Measures in Rheumatology recommendations. Tenosynovitis and erosions were scored using 4-point and 6-point scales, respectively. The results were analysed by calculating κ values and performing McNemar's test intra-individually on a joint-by-joint basis. <b>Results:</b> Agreement between the two MRI techniques was good to excellent for synovitis and erosions, and moderate for tenosynovitis. Of the 306 joints evaluated, 245 and 200 joints showed synovitis in lfMRI and cMRI, respectively. Scoring of synovitis of the finger joints yielded κ values from 0.69 to 0.94. Of the 68 flexor tendons evaluated, tenosynovitis was diagnosed by lfMRI in 24 and by cMRI in 33 instances. Of the 391 bones evaluated, 154 and 139 showed erosions in lfMRI and cMRI, respectively. κ values for erosion scores were between 0.65 and 1. <b>Conclusion:</b> Dedicated, lfMRI shows high agreement with cMRI in diagnosing and scoring synovitis, tenosynovitis and erosions in rheumatoid arthritis when using standardised scoring systems.
Relationship Between Tumor Gene Expression and Recurrence in Four Independent Studies of Patients With Stage II/III Colon Cancer Treated With Surgery Alone or Surgery Plus Adjuvant Fluorouracil Plus Leucovorin
Authors: Michael J. O'Connell, Ian Lavery, Greg Yothers, Soonmyung Paik, Kim M. Clark-Langone, Margarita Lopatin, Drew Watson, Frederick L. Baehner, Steven Shak, Joffre Baker, J. Wayne Cowens, Norman Wolmark
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2010)

These studies were conducted to determine the relationship between quantitative tumor gene expression and risk of cancer recurrence in patients with stage II or III colon cancer treated with surgery alone or surgery plus fluorouracil (FU) and leucovorin (LV) to develop multigene algorithms to quantify the risk of recurrence as well as the likelihood of differential treatment benefit of FU/LV adjuvant chemotherapy for individual patients.We performed quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) on RNA extracted from fixed, paraffin-embedded (FPE) tumor blocks from patients with stage II or III colon cancer who were treated with surgery alone (n = 270 from National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project [NSABP] C-01/C-02 and n = 765 from Cleveland Clinic [CC]) or surgery plus FU/LV (n = 308 from NSABP C-04 and n = 508 from NSABP C-06). Overall, 761 candidate genes were studied in C-01/C-02 and C-04, and a subset of 375 genes was studied in CC/C-06.A combined analysis of the four studies identified 48 genes significantly associated with risk of recurrence and 66 genes significantly associated with FU/LV benefit (with four genes in common). Seven recurrence-risk genes, six FU/LV-benefit genes, and five reference genes were selected, and algorithms were developed to identify groups of patients with low, intermediate, and high likelihood of recurrence and benefit from FU/LV.RT-qPCR of FPE colon cancer tissue applied to four large independent populations has been used to develop multigene algorithms for estimating recurrence risk and benefit from FU/LV. These algorithms are being independently validated, and their clinical utility is being evaluated in the Quick and Simple and Reliable (QUASAR) study.
Interleukin 15-Mediated Induction of Cytotoxic Effector Cells Capable of Eliminating Epstein-Barr Virus-Transformed/Immortalized Lymphocytes in Culture
Authors: E. Sharif-Askari, L. M. Fawaz, P. Tran, A. Ahmad, J. Menezes
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2001)

Background: Interleukin 15 (IL-15) activates cytotoxic lymphocytes and drives the expansion of memory T cells. Its role in immune control of virus-transformed cells and other tumor cells remains to be elucidated. We investigated the role of IL-15 in controlling Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed/immortalized lymphocytes in culture. EBV is a highly potent lymphocyte-transforming and opportunistic oncogenic herpesvirus associated with several human tumors. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors were infected with EBV and cultured with either IL-15 or IL-15 plus anti-IL-15 antibodies for 3–4 weeks. We monitored EBV-induced transformation by assessing the clearly visible cell clusters by microscopy and analyzing the expression of EBV-encoded latent membrane oncoprotein-1 (LMP-1) and the EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) complex by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence techniques, respectively. We depleted EBV-infected cultures of PBMCs of specific effector cell populations to investigate the effector cells involved in mediating IL-15 effect. Results: The presence of IL-15 resulted in the complete elimination of EBV-transformed cells in PBMC cultures. Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses performed 3–4 weeks after infection showed no detectable levels of LMP-1 and EBNA in IL-15-treated EBV-infected cultures, whereas IL-15-untreated EBV-infected cultures and IL-15/anti-IL-15-treated cultures expressed both proteins. IL-15 mediated its anti-EBV effect through early and late response mechanisms, i.e., by first activating natural killer (NK) cells and subsequently inducing cytolytic NK-T cells. The presence of anti-IL-15 neutralizing antibodies abrogated IL-15's effect on both mechanisms. Conclusion: In vitro, IL-15 mediated complete elimination of EBV-infected/transformed lymphocytes via successive activation of NK and NK-T cytotoxic effectors. If these in vitro findings reflect in vivo mechanisms, then IL-15 might be considered for cytokine-based immunotherapy in patients with EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders/malignancies.
THE STABILITY OF THE ACID-BASE EQUILIBRIUM OF THE BLOOD IN NATURALLY NEPHROPATHIC ANIMALS AND THE EFFECT ON RENAL FUNCTION OF CHANGES IN THIS EQUILIBRIUM
Authors: William deB. MacNider
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1918)

1. A 0.9 per cent solution of sodium chloride when given intravenously to anesthetized naturally nephropathic animals is not effective in preventing the development of an acid intoxication and the associated kidney injury. 2. A solution of sodium carbonate equimolecular with a 0.9 per cent solution of sodium chloride when given intravenously to anesthetized naturally nephropathic animals confers a variable degree of protection to the kidney. 3. The degree of protection conferred by the alkaline solution is associated with the ability of the solution to maintain a normal acid-base equilibrium of the blood of the anesthetized animal.
Changes of atrial natriuretic peptide and its messenger RNA with development and regression of cardiac hypertrophy in renovascular hypertensive rats.
Authors: H Matsubara, J Yamamoto, Y Hirata, Y Mori, S Oikawa, M Inada
Journal: Circulation Research (1990)

We assessed the changes in atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and its messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in atria and ventricles in relation to hemodynamic factors during antihypertensive treatments in two-kidney, one-clip renovascular hypertensive rats (RHRs). Hypertension of 10-week duration caused a twofold increase in the left ventricular weight/body weight ratio, a significant increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and an eightfold increase in left ventricular ANP mRNA levels in RHRs, as compared with the levels in control rats. Uninephrectomy or 4 weeks of treatment with the converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril reduced the blood pressure to the control level, with the complete reversal of left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and ANP mRNA levels. Four weeks of treatment with the arterial vasodilator hydralazine significantly, but not completely, reduced the high blood pressure, but it did not influence left ventricular hypertrophy, end-diastolic pressure, and ANP mRNA levels. The increased ANP synthesis observed in the right ventricles of RHRs also reverted to the control level by uninephrectomy or enalapril treatment, but not by hydralazine, with a time course similar to that of left ventricular ANP. In addition, uninephrectomy caused the left and right ventricular ANP and ANP mRNA levels of RHRs to fall to the levels of control rats as early as 1 week, despite persistent left ventricular hypertrophy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
<i>C19orf48</i>Encodes a Minor Histocompatibility Antigen Recognized by CD8+ Cytotoxic T Cells from Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Scott S. Tykodi, Nobuharu Fujii, Nathalie Vigneron, Sharon M. Lu, Jeffrey K. Mito, Maureen X. Miranda, Jeffrey Chou, Lilien N. Voong, John A. Thompson, Brenda M. Sandmaier, Peter Cresswell, Benoît Van den Eynde, Stanley R. Riddell, Edus H. Warren
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2008)

Abstract Purpose: Tumor regression has been observed in some patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after nonmyeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Cellular and molecular characterization of antigens recognized by tumor-reactive T cells isolated from responding patients could potentially provide insight into the mechanisms of tumor regression. Experimental Design: CD8+ CTL clones that recognized a novel RCC-associated minor histocompatibility (H) antigen presented by HLA-A*0201 were isolated from two patients with metastatic RCC who experienced tumor regression or stable disease following nonmyeloablative allogeneic HCT. These clones were used to screen a cDNA library and isolate the unique cDNA encoding the antigen. Results: An alternative open reading frame in the C19orf48 gene located on chromosome 19q13 encodes the HLA-A*0201–restricted minor H antigen recognized by the RCC-reactive T cells. The differential T-cell recognition of donor- and recipient-derived target cells is attributable to a nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism within the nucleotide interval that encodes the antigenic peptide. Assays for gene expression and CTL recognition showed that the C19orf48-encoded peptide is widely expressed in renal tumors and solid tumors of other histologies. The antigenic peptide can be processed for CTL recognition via both TAP-dependent and TAP-independent pathways. Conclusions: Donor T-cell responses against the HLA-A*0201–restricted minor H antigen encoded by C19orf48 may contribute to RCC regression after MHC-matched allogeneic HCT.
Independent regulation of H-2K and H-2D gene expression in murine teratocarcinoma somatic cell hybrids.
Authors: R Gmür, D Solter, B B Knowles
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1980)

Cells of two teratocarcinoma stem cell lines (PCC4 azaguanine [aza] 1 and F9 5-bromodeoxyuridine [BrdU]) were fused with normal mouse spleen cells and mouse thymoma-derived cells (BW 5147), respectively. Hybrid clones were tested for the expression of molecules coded by the H-2K and -2D genes both by absorption analysis of conventional H-2 sera and by indirect antibody-binding radioimmunoassay with monoclonal antibodies. Somatic cell hybrids between PCC4 aza 1 and spleen cells morphologically resemble teratocarcinoma stem cells and do not express H-2 antigens. However, after differentiation in vitro, one of these hybrid clones expresses the H-2K and -2D gene products of both parental cell lines, one close expresses H-2-D- but not H-2K-coded antigenic determinants, and one clone remains H-2 negative. Somatic cell hybrids between F9 BrdU and BW 5147 resemble fibroblasts. Analysis of a series of hybrid clones revealed some clones that express both the H-2K- and H-2D-coded antigenic specificities of both parental alleles, some that express H-2D gene products strongly and the H-2K gene products very weakly, and some that express H-2D- but not H-2K-coded molecules. These results imply independent regulation of expression of the H-2K and -2D genes. The H-2D gene products appear to be preferentially expressed if the hybrid cells are capable of expressing H-2. The results suggest complex regulatory mechanisms that are H-2K and H-2D specific.
Sex Differences in Inferior Parietal Lobule Volume in Schizophrenia
Authors: Melissa Frederikse, Angela Lu, Elizabeth Aylward, Patrick Barta, Tonmoy Sharma, Godfrey Pearlson
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2000)

OBJECTIVE: The inferior parietal lobule is a heteromodal association cortical region that has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Inferior parietal lobule gray matter volumes have been shown to differ between healthy male and female subjects, with male subjects having larger left volumes. The authors sought to determine whether these volumetric sex differences also exist in patients with schizophrenia. METHOD: The authors used magnetic resonance imaging to measure inferior parietal lobule volumes of 15 pairs of male and female schizophrenic subjects who were individually matched to each other and to 15 pairs of healthy male and female subjects. RESULTS: Male schizophrenic patients exhibited a reversal of the normal left-greater-than-right male asymmetry in this region and had left inferior parietal lobule gray matter volumes that were significantly smaller than those of healthy male subjects. Female schizophrenic patients did not differ significantly from healthy female subjects in left or right inferior parietal lobule volume or in asymmetry. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence of brain morphology sex differences in schizophrenia that possibly contribute to the differential clinical disease expression in men and women.
BALF TNFα level in relation to inflammatory status and phenotype of sarcoidosis
Authors: Anna Goljan Geremek, Michal Bednarek, Elzbieta Puscinska, Monika Czystowska, Monika Franczuk, Iwona Bestry, Malgorzata Filewska, Marek Kram, Urszula Demkow, Dorota Górecka
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Determining the inflammatory status of the disease may be helpful in predicting the prognosis and responsiveness to treatment.  Aim: To evaluate the relation of BALF TNFα levels to the inflammatory status and phenotype of sarcoidosis.  Material and methods  We have measured: TNFα, TGFβ,IL2, IL2R, IL12, IL10 in BALF and TNFα, TGFβ,IL2, IL12, IL10 levels in serum in 184 sarcoid patients.  We checked for the correlations between BALF TNFalpha and cytokines, selected systemic inflammatory markers and clinical factors (age, duration of the disease, PFT, 6MWT, extrapulmonary involvement).  Results  We have found important positive correlation between concentration of BALF TNFα and:  - BALF: IL2R(r=0,4676, p=0,0001), IL12 (r=0,4545, p=0,0001) and serum: IL12 (r=0,26, p=0,001), IL10 (r=0,2832, p=0,001), TNFα (r=0,1871, p=0,12).  - serum CRP(r=0,2427, p=0,003), γglobulins(r=0,1648, p=0,033), Ddimers(r=0,1685, p=0,035).  - the age of patients (r=0,16, p=0,029),  No relation was found between the BALF TNF alpha and the duration of the disease, PFT (except for FEV1 r=-0,1464, p=0,05), 6MWT, extrapulmonary sarcoidosis (liver and spleen dimensions, hepatic enzymes, protrombine), Ca and P serum nor urine levels. Weak but important negative correlation was observed between BALF TNFα and monocytosis(r=-0,1788, p=0,015).  Conclusion  In our group of patients:  The BALF cytokine inflammatory status reflects the systemic inflammation (measured by the serum cytokine network and non-specific inflammatory biomarkers).  The BALF TNFα status has no relation to the phenotype of sarcoidosis.
Serum Carboxy-Terminal Propeptide of Procollagen Type I Is a Marker of Myocardial Fibrosis in Hypertensive Heart Disease
Authors: Ramón Querejeta, Nerea Varo, Begoña López, Mariano Larman, Edurne Artiñano, Juan C. Etayo, José L. Martínez Ubago, Marian Gutierrez-Stampa, José I. Emparanza, María J. Gil, Ignacio Monreal, Javier Pardo Mindán, Javier Díez
Journal: Circulation (2000)

This study was designed to investigate whether the serum concentration of the carboxy-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I (PIP), a marker of collagen type I synthesis, is related to myocardial fibrosis in hypertensive patients.The study was performed in 26 patients with essential hypertension in which ischemic cardiomyopathy was excluded after a complete medical workup. Right septal endomyocardial biopsies were performed in hypertensive patients to quantify collagen content. Collagen volume fraction (CVF) was determined on picrosirius red-stained sections with an automated image analysis system. The serum concentration of PIP was measured by specific radioimmunoassay. Compared with normotensives, both serum PIP and CVF were increased (P<0.001) in hypertensives. A direct correlation was found between CVF and serum PIP (r=0.471, P<0.02) in all hypertensives. Histological analysis revealed the presence of 2 subgroups of patients: 8 with severe fibrosis and 18 with nonsevere fibrosis. Serum PIP was higher (P<0.05) in patients with severe fibrosis than in patients with nonsevere fibrosis. Using receiver operating characteristic curves, we observed that a cutoff of 127 microg/L for PIP provided 78% specificity and 75% sensitivity for predicting severe fibrosis with a relative risk of 4.80 (95% CI, 1.19 to 19.30).These results show a strong correlation between myocardial collagen content and the serum concentration of PIP in essential hypertension. Although preliminary, these findings suggest that the determination of PIP may be an easy and reliable method for the screening and diagnosis of severe myocardial fibrosis associated with arterial hypertension.