tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Lung volume-related changes in the pharyngeal area of obese females with and without obstructive sleep apnoea
Authors: I Rubinstein, V Hoffstein, TD Bradley
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1989)

The majority of male patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) have an abnormal pharyngeal structure and function, with episodic complete airway occlusion during sleep. Since OSA is less common in females than in males, it is possible that other abnormalities are active in female patients with OSA. Consequently, we measured pharyngeal area and its lung volume-related changes (LVRC) from functional residual capacity (FRC) to residual volume (RV) in overweight females, 14 with OSA and 14 without OSA. Pharyngeal areas were measured using the acoustic reflection technique. While there were no significant differences in pharyngeal area between the OSA and control groups at either FRC (mean +/- SD, 3.49 +/- 0.46 cm2 vs 3.08 +/- 0.63 cm2) or RV (2.86 +/- 0.47 cm2 vs 2.67 +/- 0.49 cm2), the reduction in pharyngeal area between FRC and RV was significantly greater in the OSA group (0.63 +/- 0.23 cm2 vs 0.33 +/- 0.32 cm2, p less than 0.05). Furthermore, although the expiratory reserve volume (ERV) was not significantly different between the two groups (0.4 +/- 0.2 l vs 0.4 +/- 0.3 l), LVRC, defined as the reduction in pharyngeal area normalized by ERV, was significantly higher in the females with OSA than in the non-apnoeic controls (2.68 +/- 2.24 cm2.l-1 vs 1.17 +/- 1.23 cm2.l-1, p less than 0.02). We conclude that females with OSA have abnormal pharyngeal mechanics similar to males with OSA.
EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC GLOMERULONEPHRITIS INDUCED IN THE RABBIT WITH HETEROLOGOUS RENAL ANTIGENS
Authors: Emil R. Unanue, Frank J. Dixon
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1967)

Rabbits immunized to different heterologous renal antigens developed antibodies some of which are fixed to their own glomeruli (autoantibodies). These autoantibodies, reacting with the host's kidneys, were directed to those antigenic determinants which were present in identical or cross-reactive form in both the immunizing antigen and the kidneys of the host. Glomerulonephritis developed in some of the rabbits immunized to heterologous mammalian kidneys, but in none of those immunized to nonmammalian kidneys. The development of glomerulonephritis in the immunized rabbits appears to depend upon two factors: (a) the amount of autoantikidney antibody made to the common renal antigens; and (b) the quantity of the common antigens available in the host's kidneys. An amount of common antigen sufficient to fix a nephritogenic amount of antibody is essential for the development of disease.
Randomized trial on adjuvant treatment with FOLFIRI followed by docetaxel and cisplatin versus 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid for radically resected gastric cancer
Authors: E. Bajetta, I. Floriani, M. Di Bartolomeo, R. Labianca, A. Falcone, F. Di Costanzo, G. Comella, D. Amadori, C. Pinto, C. Carlomagno, D. Nitti, B. Daniele, E. Mini, D. Poli, A. Santoro, S. Mosconi, R. Casaretti, C. Boni, G. Pinotti, P. Bidoli, L. Landi, G. Rosati, A. Ravaioli, M. Cantore, F. Di Fabio, E. Aitini, A. Marchet, I. Floriani, E. Rulli, M. Cropalato Di Tullio, D. Poli, F. Galli, E. Biagioli, I. De Simone, D. Poli, S. Mangano, M. Tonato, E. Zucca, M.G. Valsecchi, I. Floriani, E. Bajetta, M. Di Bartolomeo, R. Labianca, D. Amadori, A. Falcone, F. Di Costanzo, B. Daniele, C. Pinto, G. Comella, D. Nitti, E. Mini, S. De Placido, A. Marchet, E. Bajetta, M. Di Bartolomeo, L. Catena, M. Schiavo, G. Pinotti, I. Proserpio, G. Rosati, R. Bordonaro, S. Cordio, G. Burrafato, A.M. Bochicchio, M. Aieta, N. Fazio, F. Spada, V. Amoroso, G. Marini, H. Soto Parra, G. Novello, B. Massidda, M.T. Ionta, M. Comandè, R. Venezia, A. Bertolini, E. Menatti, L. Zanlorenzi, A. Colombo, A. Iop, S. Bonura, E. Mazza, M. Viganò, A. Ardizzoia, S. Dell'Oro, G. Lo Re, D. Santeufemia, A. Buonadonna, D. Luisi, G. Ucci, G. Di Lucca, A. Bonetti, F. Bergamo, M. Alù, F. Vastola, P. Marchetti, D.C. Corsi, E. Massa, G. Di Pinto, M. Duro, C. Oliani, M. Franchini, A. Inzoli, N. Gebbia, L. Repetto, S. Rota, L. Frontini, R. Labianca, S. Mosconi, A. Quadri, S. De Grossi, P. Bidoli, M.E. Cazzaniga, F. Villa, P. Foa, D. Ferrari, E. Aitini, C. Rabbi, S. Barni, F. Petrelli, M. Giordano, G. Luchena, M. Pirovano, A. Nasisi, V. Catalano, P. Giordani, A. Zaniboni, F. Leone, S. Ferrario, G.D. Beretta, E.T. Menichetti, D. Conte, D. Mari, R. Giannicola, C. Pierantoni, A.G. Luporini, A. Ravaioli, D. Tassinari, M. Nicolini, D. Amadori, G.L. Frassineti, D. Turci, F. Zumaglini, S. Tamberi, A. Piancastelli, G. Cruciani, A. Falcone, L. Landi, G. Minuti, M. Cantore, M. Orlandi, A. Mambrini, A. Ciarlo, D. Cavaciocchi, F. Del Monte, S. Ricci, M.I. Brunetti, M. Lencioni, M. Sisani, P. Sozzi, C. Granetto, S. Chiara, A.S. Galetto, A.S. Ribecco, A. DeCensi, L. Ciuffreda, E.E. Baldini, R. Camisa, R. Todeschini, A. Santoro, L. Rimassa, C. Carnaghi, T. Pressiani, C. Boni, E. Rondini, R. Gnoni, F. Di Costanzo, S. Gasperoni, L. Cavanna, M.A. Palladino, R. Mattioli, G. Laici, F. Pucci, M.D. Alessio, I. Bernardini, G. Tomasello, G. Baldino, R. Rossetti, S. Giaquinta, C. Pinto, F. Di Fabio, F.L. Rijas Llimpe, A.A. Brandes, M. Marzola, V. Montesarchio, A. Rea, B. Daniele, G. Genua, R. Casaretti, L. Silvestro, M. Montano, M.G. Sarobba, G. Sanna, G. Filippelli, G. Dima, E. Greco, M. Roselli, D. Natale, G. Condemi, G. Fumi, S. Tafuto, P. Masullo, D. Nitti, A. Marchet, G. Tiberio, G. de Manzoni, G. Fiorentini, R. Mazzanti, C. Carlomagno, A. De Stefano, G. Cartenì, M. Otero
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2014)
Epidemiology of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Terry Young, Paul E. Peppard, Daniel J. Gottlieb
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2002)

Population-based epidemiologic studies have uncovered the high prevalence and wide severity spectrum of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, and have consistently found that even mild obstructive sleep apnea is associated with significant morbidity. Evidence from methodologically strong cohort studies indicates that undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, with or without symptoms, is independently associated with increased likelihood of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, daytime sleepiness, motor vehicle accidents, and diminished quality of life. Strategies to decrease the high prevalence and associated morbidity of obstructive sleep apnea are critically needed. The reduction or elimination of risk factors through public health initiatives with clinical support holds promise. Potentially modifiable risk factors considered in this review include overweight and obesity, alcohol, smoking, nasal congestion, and estrogen depletion in menopause. Data suggest that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with all these factors, but at present the only intervention strategy supported with adequate evidence is weight loss. A focus on weight control is especially important given the expanding epidemic of overweight and obesity in the United States. Primary care providers will be central to clinical approaches for addressing the burden and the development of cost-effective case-finding strategies and feasible treatment for mild obstructive sleep apnea warrants high priority.
Cyr61 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor metastasis of osteosarcoma by Raf-1/MEK/ERK/Elk-1/TWIST-1 signaling pathway
Authors: Chun-Han Hou, Feng-Ling Lin, Sheng-Mon Hou, Ju-Fang Liu
Journal: Molecular Cancer (2014)

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor in children and young adults, and its treatment requires effective therapeutic approaches because of a high mortality rate for lung metastasis. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) has received considerable attention as a conceptual paradigm for explaining the invasive and metastatic behavior during cancer progression. The cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (Cyr61) gene, a member of the CCN gene family, is responsible for the secretion of Cyr61, a matrix-associated protein that is involved in several cellular functions. A previous study showed that Cyr61 expression is related to osteosarcoma progression. In addition, Cyr61 could promote cell migration and metastasis in osteosarcoma. However, discussions on the molecular mechanism involved in Cyr61-regulated metastasis in osteosarcoma is poorly discussed. We determined that the expression level of Cyr61 induced cell migration ability in osteosarcoma cells. The Cyr61 protein promoted the mesenchymal transition of osteosarcoma cells by upregulating mesenchymal markers (TWIST-1 and N-cadherin) and inhibiting the epithelial marker (E-cadherin). Moreover, the Cyr61-induced cell migration was mediated by EMT. The Cyr61 protein elicited a signaling cascade that included αvβ5 integrin, Raf-1, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and Elk-1. The reagent or gene knockdown of these signaling proteins could inhibit Cyr61-promoted EMT in osteosarcoma. Finally, the knockdown of Cyr61 expression obviously inhibited cell migration and repressed mesenchymal phenotypes, reducing lung metastasis. Our results indicate that Cyr61 promotes the EMT of osteosarcoma cells by regulating EMT markers via a signal transduction pathway that involves αvβ5 integrin, Raf-1, MEK, ERK, and Elk-1.
Switch recombination breakpoints are strictly correlated with DNA recognition motifs for immunoglobulin S gamma 3 DNA-binding proteins.
Authors: R Wuerffel, C E Jamieson, L Morgan, G V Merkulov, R Sen, A L Kenter
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1992)

The deletion looping out model of switch (S) recombination predicts that the intervening DNA between switch regions will be excised as a circle. Circular excision products of immunoglobulin switch recombination have been recently isolated from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated spleen cells. The recombination breakpoints in these large circles were found to fall within switch regions. Since switch recombination is clearly focused on switch regions, we hypothesized that some DNA-binding protein factor might be involved in specifically recognizing and facilitating the alignment of switch regions before recombination. Two DNA-binding proteins that specifically interact with two discrete regions of the S gamma 3 tandem repeat have been identified in crude and partially purified nuclear extracts derived from LPS- and dextran sulfate (DxS)-activated splenic B cells. The first factor has been found indistinguishable from NF-kappa B by mobility shift assays, methylation interference, competition binding studies, and supershift analysis using an antiserum specific for the p50 component. The second appears to be composed of two closely traveling mobilities that do not separate upon partial purification. This second complex is unique and specific for S gamma 3 by methylation interference assays and competition-binding analysis. The sites at which recombination occurs in the S gamma 3 switch region have been analyzed and found to strictly correlate with the binding sites of the S gamma 3 switch binding proteins.
Comparison of Total Cortisol, Free Cortisol, and Surrogate Markers of Free Cortisol in Diagnosis of Adrenal Insufficiency in Patients With Stable Cirrhosis
Authors: Giuseppe Fede, Luisa Spadaro, Tania Tomaselli, Graziella Privitera, Roberto Scicali, Panayota Vasianopoulou, Evangelos Thalassinos, Nicholas Martin, Michael Thomas, Francesco Purrello, Andrew Kenneth Burroughs
Journal: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2013)
Partition of Unesterified Fatty Acids in Normal and Nephrotic Syndrome Serum and Its Effect on Serum Electrophoretic Pattern1
Authors: Eleazar Shafrir
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1958)

The electrophoretic pattern of  serum in  nephrotic syndrome is marked by decreased concentrations of albumin and elevated concentrations of alpha2- and beta-globulins. A large portion of  excess lipid in nephrotic serum migrates at pH 8.6 in  alpha2 region, whereas normally  major part of  lipid is found in  beta position. This abnormal finding has never been adequately explained. Thus, Swahn remarks that the electrophoretic separation of alpha2- from beta-globulin in nephrotic sera is often poor and it is difficult to decide whether there is a pathological  fraction migrating quicker than normal beta lipoprotein (1). Unesterified fatty acids (UFA) have been recently demonstrated to be of considerable importance in lipid transport and metabolism (2). In normal serum these acids are generally considered to be predominantly carried by albumin. However, Gordon (3) and others (4-6) have shown that UFA can increase  electrophoretic mobility of serum lipoproteins when liberated in vivo by heparin-released  lipase or when added directly to  serum in vitro. It was inferred by  above investigators that at these high levels, a significant fraction of  UFA became associated with  lipoproteins, thereby increasing their negative electrostatic surface charge. The present paper reports on direct measurements of  partition of UFA resulting from  competitive binding of UFA by  albumin and  components of  serum. The distribution of UFA in normal sera was compared
Reply to E.C. Smyth et al and E. Elimova et al
Authors: Rosine Guimbaud, Christophe Louvet, Marc Ychou, Olivier Bouché, Philippe Rougier
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2015)

Comment on

    Prospective, randomized, multicenter, phase III study of fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan versus epirubicin, cisplatin, and capecitabine in advanced gastric adenocarcinoma: a French intergroup (Federation Francophone de Cancerologie Digestive, Federation Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer, and Groupe Cooperateur Multidisciplinaire en Oncologie) study. [J Clin Oncol. 2014]
    Time-to-Treatment Failure As the Primary End Point of a First-Line Advanced Gastric Cancer Randomized Trial: How Confused Would You Want Us to Be? [J Clin Oncol. 2015]
    Epirubicin, Cisplatin, and Capecitabine Versus Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Irinotecan for Esophagogastric Cancer: The Original and the Rest. [J Clin Oncol. 2015]
Use of fibrinolytic agents in the management of complicated parapneumonic effusions and empyemas
Authors: S. A. Sahn
Journal: Thorax (1998)

BACKGROUND: Standard treatment for pleural infection includes catheter drainage and antibiotics. Tube drainage often fails if the fluid is loculated by fibrinous adhesions when surgical drainage is needed. Streptokinase may aid the process of pleural drainage, but there have been no controlled trials to assess its efficacy. METHODS: Twenty four patients with infected community acquired parapneumonic effusions were studied. All had either frankly purulent/culture or Gram stain positive pleural fluid (13 cases; 54%) or fluid which fulfilled the biochemical criteria for pleural infection. Fluid was drained with a 14F catheter. The antibiotics used were cefuroxime and metronidazole or were guided by culture. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive intrapleural streptokinase, 250,000 IU daily, or control saline flushes for three days. The primary end points related to the efficacy of pleural drainage--namely, the volume of pleural fluid drained and the chest radiographic response to treatment. Other end points were the number of pleural procedures needed and blood indices of inflammation. RESULTS: The streptokinase group drained more pleural fluid both during the days of streptokinase/control treatment (mean (SD) 391 (200) ml versus 124 (44) ml; difference 267 ml, 95% confidence interval (CI) 144 to 390; p &lt; 0.001) and overall (2564 (1663) ml versus 1059 (502) ml; difference 1505 ml, 95% CI 465 to 2545; p &lt; 0.01). They showed greater improvement on the chest radiograph at discharge, measured as the fall in the maximum dimension of the pleural collection (6.0 (2.7) cm versus 3.4 (2.7) cm; difference 2.9 cm, 95% CI 0.3 to 4.4; p &lt; 0.05) and the overall reduction in pleural fluid collection size (p &lt; 0.05, two tailed Fisher9s exact test). Systemic fibrinolysis and bleeding complications did not occur. Surgery was required by three control patients but none in the streptokinase group. CONCLUSIONS: Intrapleural streptokinase probably aids the treatment of pleural infections by improving pleural drainage without causing systemic fibrinolysis or local haemorrhage.
Epidermal growth factor receptor overexpression correlates with a poor prognosis in completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer
Authors: G. Selvaggi, S. Novello, V. Torri, E. Leonardo, P. De Giuli, P. Borasio, C. Mossetti, F. Ardissone, P. Lausi, G.V. Scagliotti
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2003)
Persistent cough: an unusual cause
Authors: B. Barker, H. Moudgil, G. Slocombe, K. Srinivasan
Journal: Thorax (2010)

A 55-year-old Caucasian man who worked in the recycling industry presented with a 7-month history of non-productive cough and no other symptoms. He had no significant previous medical history and took no medications. He had never smoked and had no history of travel outside the UK. He described symptoms of a lower respiratory tract infection 5 months previously which had been treated with antibiotics and steroids. A chest x-ray at the time had shown consolidation consistent with infection which had subsequently resolved. Physical examination was normal.

Spirometry and transfer factor were normal. Full blood count showed isolated eosinophilia of 12.7×10−9/l. The blood film revealed an unremarkable cell morphology. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was elevated at 92 mm/h. Urea and electrolytes, …
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reduce Inflammation while Enhancing Bacterial Clearance and Improving Survival in Sepsis
Authors: Shirley H. J. Mei, Jack J. Haitsma, Claudia C. Dos Santos, Yupu Deng, Patrick F. H. Lai, Arthur S. Slutsky, W. Conrad Liles, Duncan J. Stewart
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2010)

Sepsis refers to the clinical syndrome of severe systemic inflammation precipitated by infection. Despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy, sepsis-related morbidity and mortality remain intractable problems in critically ill patients. Moreover, there is no specific treatment strategy for the syndrome of sepsis-induced multiple organ dysfunction.We hypothesized that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which have been shown to have immunomodulatory properties, would reduce sepsis-induced inflammation and improve survival in a polymicrobial model of sepsis.Sepsis was induced in C57Bl/6J mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), followed 6 hours later by an intravenous injection of MSCs or saline. Twenty-eight hours after CLP, plasma, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and tissues were collected for analyses. Longer-term studies were performed with antibiotic coadministration to assess the effect of MSCs on survival.MSC treatment significantly reduced mortality in septic mice receiving appropriate antimicrobial therapy. MSCs alone reduced systemic and pulmonary cytokine levels in mice with CLP-induced sepsis, preventing acute lung injury and organ dysfunction, despite the low levels of cell persistence. Microarray data highlighted an overall down-regulation of inflammation and inflammation-related genes (such as IL-10, IL-6) and a shift toward up-regulation of genes involved in promoting phagocytosis and bacterial killing. Finally, bacterial clearance was significantly greater in MSC-treated mice, in part due to enhanced phagocytotic activity of the host immune cells.These data demonstrate that MSCs have beneficial effects on experimental sepsis, possibly by paracrine mechanisms, and suggest that immunomodulatory cell therapy may be an effective adjunctive treatment to reduce sepsis-related morbidity and mortality.
IL-7-activated T cells and monocytes drive B cell activation in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome
Authors: A. Bikker, K. van der Wurff-Jacobs, A. Kruize, R. Peters, J. Bijlsma, F. Lafeber, J. van Roon
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2011)

In primary Sjögren9s syndrome (pSS) patients local T and B cell-driven inflammation can contribute to destruction of exocrine glands associated with clinical symptoms of dryness. Recently we documented increased interleukin 7 (IL-7) and IL7R expression in labial salivary glands of pSS patients. We have shown that IL-7 causes T cell-dependent monocyte activation. Although there are indications that IL-7 affects the activity of developing human B cells, the effect of IL-7 on mature B cell activation in human autoimmune diseases has not been reported. Because B cell activation plays a pivotal role in pSS pathology we investigated the capacity of IL-7 to induce T cell-dependent B cell activation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from pSS patients (n=6) were cultured with and without IL-7. Furthermore, isolated CD4 T and CD19 B cells were co-cultured with and without IL-7 as well, and in the presence or absence of CD14 monocytes/macrophages (n=6). Proliferation was measured using 3H-thymidine incorporation and by Ki67 expression (FACS analysis). Ex vivo IL-7R expression and activation marker expression (HLA-DR, CD25) on CD4 T and B cells were measured by FACS analysis. Nearly all CD4 T cells express the IL-7R (93.6 ±1.4%), while B 3cells and monocytes do not. IL-7 increased proliferation of PBMC pSS (from 2000 to 13000 cpm, p≤0.001), which was associated with significant increases in Ki67+CD4 T cells (from 2.7 ±0.4% to 13.8 ±4.0%) and Ki67+B cells (from 1.5 ±0.2% to 3.4 ±0.5%). Additionally, IL-7 up regulated markers of activation on CD4 T cells (CD25+ CD4 T cells from 28.8 ±4.0% to 79.8 ±2.4%, p≤0.001; HLA-DR+ T cells from 7.1 ±0.4% to 8.9 ±0.7%, p≤0.05), and on B cells (HLA-DR MFI from 317 ±109 to 421 ±129, p&lt;0.01; mean increase 33%). In CD4 T and B cell co-cultures, IL-7 activated T cells, but caused minimal B cell activation (MFI HLA-DR from 214 ±32 to 233 ±30, p≤0.05; mean increase 8.8%). As it has been shown that monocytes are able to support B cell activation and can be stimulated by IL7-activated CD4 T cells, the capacity of monocytes to facilitate IL-7-induced B cell activation was examined. We report that indeed IL-7-induced T cell activation of B cells is significantly enhanced by monocytes (MFI HLA-DR on B cells from 210 ±32 to 284 ±53, p≤0.05; mean increase 35%). Our results show that IL-7 activates B cells in a T cell-dependent manner which is facilitated by monocytes. Since increased IL-7 levels and monocyte/macrophage numbers are associated with increased immunopathology in pSS this suggests that IL-7-driven B cell activation might contribute to inflammation and tissue-destruction in pSS.
Kenyan team care at the Special Olympics--1991.
Authors: M Wekesa, J Onsongo
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (1992)

The Kenyan team that competed at the International Summer Special Olympics comprised 38 athletes (both men and women) selected from all competitors at the national championships. The team was examined and a physiological fitness test carried out. The results enabled the organizers to arrange for treatment of prevailing illnesses, and the training programme was adjusted to the athletes' level. This team was voted the best team of the month of July, having won 33 gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Sound medical care of athletes should be taken before and during competition. Such management should aim at minimizing injuries and enabling athletes to perform at their best.