tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Establishing standard performance measures for adult brain tumor patients: a nationwide inpatient sample database study
Authors: M. Rahman, D. Neal, K. M. Fargen, B. L. Hoh
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2013)

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) patient safety indicators (PSIs) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hospital acquired conditions (HACs) are used to evaluate the safety and quality of health care. We determined the incidence rates of PSIs and HACs among brain tumor patients in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (NIS).We queried the NIS for all hospitalizations involving a brain tumor. We determined the incidence rates of various PSIs and HACs among these patients by searching the hospital records for codes in the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision indicating each PSI or HAC.Among the 501 908 hospitalizations involving a brain tumor in the NIS, there were 102 046 occurrences of an AHRQ PSI, with 16% of patients experiencing one or more AHRQ PSI. Among brain tumor patients treated without surgery, 17.2% experienced ≥ 1 PSI. Among brain tumor patients treated with surgery, 9.8% experienced ≥ 1 PSI. The most common PSIs were postoperative respiratory failure, deep vein thrombosis, and sepsis. The total number of HACs associated with brain tumor patients was 13 778, with 2.63% of patients experiencing ≥1 HAC. Among brain tumor patients treated without surgery, 3.0% experienced ≥ 1 HAC. Among brain tumor patients treated with surgery, 7.4% experienced ≥ 1 HAC. The most common HACs were falls and trauma and pressure ulcers. Increasing comorbidity score was associated with increased likelihood of almost all PSIs and HACs.These data may be used to determine individual institutional improvements or success by comparison.
Placebo‐controlled challenges with perfume in patients with asthma‐like symptoms
Authors: E. Millqvist, O. Löwhagen
Journal: Allergy (1996)

A group of nine patients with respiratory symptoms after nonspecific irritating stimuli, but without any IgE-mediated allergy or demonstrable bronchial obstruction, were referred to the asthma/allergy outpatient department for evaluation of suspected asthma. In order to find a provocation model and objectively assess these patients' symptoms in controlled studies, provocation with perfume or placebo was performed. The same patients were also subjected to perfume provocation with or without a carbon filter mask to ascertain whether breathing through a filter with active carbon could prevent the symptoms. The patients breathed through the mouth during the provocations, as they used a nasal clamp to prevent any smell of perfume. We found that the patients' earlier symptoms could be verified by perfume provocation. Breathing through the carbon filter had no protective effect. The conclusion is that symptoms suggesting hyperreactivity of the respiratory tract and asthma can be provoked by perfume without the presence of bronchial obstruction, and that using a carbon filter mask has no preventive effect. The symptoms are not transmitted via the olfactory nerve, since the patients could not smell the perfume, but they may have been induced by a trigeminal reflex via the respiratory tract or by the eyes.
Mel-18 Acts as a Tumor Suppressor by Repressing Bmi-1 Expression and Down-regulating Akt Activity in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Wei-Jian Guo, Mu-Sheng Zeng, Ajay Yadav, Li-Bing Song, Bao-Hong Guo, Vimla Band, Goberdhan P. Dimri
Journal: Cancer Research (2007)

Abstract The Bmi-1 oncogene is overexpressed in a number of malignancies including breast cancer. In addition to Bmi-1, mammalian cells also express four other polycomb group (PcG) proteins that are closely related to Bmi-1. Virtually nothing is known about the role of these PcG proteins in oncogenesis. We have recently reported that Mel-18, a Bmi-1–related PcG protein, negatively regulates Bmi-1 expression, and that its expression negatively correlates with Bmi-1 in proliferating and senescing human fibroblasts. Here, we report that the expression of Bmi-1 and Mel-18 inversely correlates in a number of breast cancer cell lines and in a significant number of breast tumor samples. Overexpression of Mel-18 results in repression of Bmi-1 and reduction of the transformed phenotype in malignant breast cancer cells. Furthermore, the repression of Bmi-1 by Mel-18 is accompanied by the reduction of Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) activity in breast cancer cells. Similarly, Bmi-1 knockdown using RNA interference approach results in down-regulation of Akt/PKB activity and reduction in transformed phenotype of MCF7 cells. Importantly, we show that overexpression of constitutively active Akt overrides tumor-suppressive effect of Mel-18 overexpression and the knockdown of Bmi-1 expression. Thus, our studies suggest that Mel-18 and Bmi-1 may regulate the Akt pathway in breast cancer cells, and that Mel-18 functions as a tumor suppressor by repressing the expression of Bmi-1 and consequently down-regulating Akt activity. [Cancer Res 2007;67(11):5083–9]
Vitamin C in Home cooked Vegetables
Authors: G. N. Jenkins
Journal: BMJ (1946)

JouJAL 233 Case 22.-Male aged 35.Transverse fracture with separation.Patella removed; sutured with silk.Examined 10 years later says he is working all day and would not know that anything was the matter with his knee.By occupation he is a labourer.On examination there was no deformity, weakness, or limitation of full exten- sion or other movement.Skiagram: No O.A. changes.He demon- strated that he could run upstairs.Case 23.-Male aged 45.Transverse fracture of patella 7 years ago, sutured with thread.He has worked all the time as a labourer.No difference between the two limbs could now be detected.Skiagram: No O.A. changes.Case 24.-Male aged 22. Transverse fracture of patella previously wired, with breaking of wire.Wire and bone removed; sutured with silk 10 years ago.There is no deformity and only slight impairment of function.Flexion limited 20%; extension full; some weak- ness.Skiagram: No O.A. changes.He has been in an Infantry regiment since the beginning of the war.Has served in Egypt and Italy, and his category is Al.Case 25.-Female aged 50.Stellate fracture 5 years ago; removal; suture with thread.Extension full; walks upstairs well.Says that knee is as well as before the operation.No deformity.Does all her own housework.Case 26.-Male aged 38.Transverse fracture left patella, excised 7 years ago.Before the war worked in an office.Was passed Al into Army and has served abroad during whole of war.Has never had a moment's trouble with the knee, and has seen some hard fighting.No difference between the two knees could be detected.Skiagram: No. O.A. changes.Case 27.-Male aged 34.Comminuted fracture right patella 10 years ago.Interval closed with silk.By occupation a carpenter,he resumed work in four weeks and has served through the war-Category Al.He says that he cannot distinguish any difference between the two limbs.He can run upstairs with ease.Extension is full.Skiagram shows a few spicules of bone in the extensor tendon, but no O.A. changes.Case 28.-A labourer aged 51.Sustained a stellate fracture of the left patella 7 years ago.He returned to work six weeks after operation and has worked ever since.The patient notices no differ- ence between the two sides.Power good; no deformity or limita- tion of extension; no symptoms.Can run upstairs.Skiagram: No O.A. changes.Case 29.-Male aged 41, a builder's labourer.Sustained a com- minuted fracture of the patella.Removed 8 years ago; interval closed with fascia.Returned to work 3 weeks after the operation.No difference can now be detected in the two limbs.The patient says that, if anything, he believes that the affected limb is stronger than the other.Thus, when working on a ladder he can stand on the affected side without tiring for a longer time than on the normal side.Skiagram shows no O.A. changes. Cases Examined by Means of Written QuestionaryCase 30.-AnArmy officer aged 37. Transverse fracture of patella; removed 11 years ago.Away from work for 6 weeks.The knee is better than before the operation.No weakness; extension full.Can run upstairs.Knee does not look unsightly.Patient
Decision rules for the use of radiography in acute ankle injuries. Refinement and prospective validation
Authors: I G Stiell, G H Greenberg, R D McKnight, R C Nair, I McDowell, M Reardon, J P Stewart, J Maloney
Journal: JAMA (1993)

<h3>Objective.</h3> —To validate and refine previously derived clinical decision rules that aid the efficient use of radiography in acute ankle injuries. <h3>Design.</h3> —Survey prospectively administered in two stages: validation and refinement of the original rules (first stage) and validation of the refined rules (second stage). <h3>Setting.</h3> —Emergency departments of two university hospitals. <h3>Patients.</h3> —Convenience sample of adults with acute ankle injuries: 1032 of 1130 eligible patients in the first stage and 453 of 530 eligible patients in the second stage. <h3>Main Outcome Measures.</h3> —Attending emergency physicians assessed each patient for standardized clinical variables and classified the need for radiography according to the original (first stage) and the refined (second stage) decision rules. The decision rules were assessed for their ability to correctly identify the criterion standard of fractures on ankle and foot radiographic series. The original decision rules were refined by univariate and recursive partitioning analyses. <h3>Main Results.</h3> —In the first stage, the original decision rules were found to have sensitivities of 1.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97 to 1.0) for detecting 121 malleolar zone fractures, and 0.98 (95% CI, 0.88 to 1.0) for detecting 49 midfoot zone fractures. For interpretation of the rules in 116 patients, κ values were 0.56 for the ankle series rule and 0.69 for the foot series rule. Recursive partitioning of 20 predictor variables yielded refined decision rules for ankle and foot radiographic series. In the second stage, the refined rules proved to have sensitivities of 1.0 (95% CI, 0.93 to 1.0) for 50 malleolar zone fractures, and 1.0 (95% CI, 0.83 to 1.0) for 19 midfoot zone fractures. The potential reduction in radiography is estimated to be 34% for the ankle series and 30% for the foot series. The probability of fracture, if the corresponding decision rule were "negative," is estimated to be 0% (95% CI, 0% to 0.8%) in the ankle series, and 0% (95% CI, 0% to 0.4%) in the foot series. <h3>Conclusion.</h3> —Refinement and validation have shown the Ottawa ankle rules to be 100% sensitive for fractures, to be reliable, and to have the potential to allow physicians to safely reduce the number of radiographs ordered in patients with ankle injuries by one third. Field trials will assess the feasibility of implementing these rules into clinical practice. (<i>JAMA</i>. 1993;269:1127-1132)
Allergy and inflammatory transcriptome is predominantly negatively correlated with CD133 expression in glioblastoma
Authors: J. A. Schwartzbaum, K. Huang, S. Lawler, B. Ding, J. Yu, E. A. Chiocca
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2009)

Allergies and the use of anti-inflammatory medication appear to be associated with reduced glioblastoma risk. However, these observations may merely reflect systemic immunosuppression induced by the tumor. To better understand the effect of this tumor on allergies and inflammation, we used CD133 mRNA expression as an indicator of tumor aggressiveness and systematically examined its relation to mRNA expression levels of 919 allergy- and inflammation-related genes in 142 glioblastoma tissue samples. We found that 69% of these genes are negatively correlated with CD133 expression including allergy-related (eg, interleukin [IL]-4R-α; Pearson correlation coefficient [r] = − 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] = − 0.53, −0.25) and immunoregulatory genes (eg, TGF-β1; r = − 0.35; 95% CI = − 0.49, −0.20). Exceptions to this negative trend include the proinflammatory cytokine IL-17-β (r = 0.22; 95% CI = 0.06, 0.37) and 2 IL-17 receptors. Also positively related to CD133 expression are NCAM-1 (r = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.31, 0.57) and PDGFR-α (r = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.30, 0.57). Previous literature suggests that NCAM-1+ T cells infiltrate glioblastoma and may cause suppression of antitumor immunity, whereas PDGFR-α is involved in neurogenesis and amplified in glioblastoma. Ours is the first study to document down-regulation of the majority of allergy- and inflammation-related genes with glioblastoma progression. However, IL-17 and NCAM-1 may play proinflammatory and immunosuppressive roles, respectively, during the late stage of glioblastoma progression. Our findings suggest that immune function continues to change as the tumor progresses.
Dr. P. J. Burrows
Authors: H. E. Robson
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (1979)

The sudden and tragic death of Dr. Burrows, only a few days before he was due to attend the BASM's annual sports medicine course, has been shattering news to us all, especially as his death occurred after he collapsed while jogging.He was a keen exponent of physical fitness, and of the value of exercise in the prevention and treatment of degenerative disease.Although not in good health at all times, he continued to set an example to his friends and colleagues, and especially to the players of Luton Town Football Club, to whom he was the medical adviser.He was also medical adviser to the Football Association, to whom he gave sound service over many years.He was medical adviser to the Bedfordshire Amateur Boxing Association as well, and his death will leave a big gap in sporting circles in the county.Dr. Burrows obtained his BA and subsequently MA at the University of Cambridge, and did his clinical studies at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where after qualifying in 1955 he served as a house officer in paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, then accident and orthopaedic surgery.He continued his interest in traumatology as a clinical assistant at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital, where he was able to extend his interest in sports medicine
Patient perspective of hand osteoarthritis in relation to concepts covered by instruments measuring functioning: a qualitative European multicentre study
Authors: T Stamm, F van der Giesen, C Thorstensson, E Steen, F Birrell, B Bauernfeind, N Marshall, B Prodinger, K Machold, J Smolen, M Kloppenburg
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2008)

To explore whether the concepts important to patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA) are covered by the most commonly used instruments measuring functioning.A qualitative multicentre study using a focus group technique was performed in five European countries: Austria, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The qualitative data analysis followed a modified form of "meaning condensation" and used the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a theoretical framework. Finally, the concepts from the focus groups were compared with the content of the most commonly used instruments which had been identified in an earlier theoretical analysis.Fifty-six people (51 women, mean (SD) age 62.7 (7.9) years) with hand OA participated in this study in two focus groups per centre. 63 concepts were extracted from the focus groups. Twenty-one (33%) of the 63 concepts were covered by at least one instrument. Psychological consequences, different qualities of pain, aesthetic changes and leisure activities are important concepts from the focus groups which were not covered by the instruments. The qualitative analysis revealed detailed descriptions of pain-concerning sensations, levels and a certain relation to activity, none of which were fully represented in the instruments routinely used.It was possible to combine the concepts of the focus groups from each centre into a common qualitative analysis. The concepts important to people with hand OA are not fully represented in the most commonly used instruments.
Dose-Dependent Contribution of CD34-Positive Cell Transplantation to Concurrent Vasculogenesis and Cardiomyogenesis for Functional Regenerative Recovery After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Hiroto Iwasaki, Atsuhiko Kawamoto, Masakazu Ishikawa, Akira Oyamada, Shuko Nakamori, Hiromi Nishimura, Kazuyo Sadamoto, Miki Horii, Tomoyuki Matsumoto, Satoshi Murasawa, Toshihiko Shibata, Shigefumi Suehiro, Takayuki Asahara
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Multilineage developmental capacity of the CD34+ cells, especially into cardiomyocytes and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), is still controversial. In the present study we performed a series of experiments to prove our hypothesis that vasculogenesis and cardiomyogenesis after myocardial infarction (MI) may be dose-dependently enhanced after CD34+ cell transplantation.Peripheral blood CD34+ cells were isolated from total mononuclear cells of patients with limb ischemia by apheresis after 5-day administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. PBS and 1x10(3) (low), 1x10(5) (mid), or 5x10(5) (high) CD34+ cells were intramyocardially transplanted after ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery of nude rats. Functional assessments with the use of echocardiography and a microtip conductance catheter at day 28 revealed dose-dependent preservation of left ventricular function by CD34+ cell transplantation. Necropsy examination disclosed dose-dependent augmentation of capillary density and dose-dependent inhibition of left ventricular fibrosis. Immunohistochemistry for human-specific brain natriuretic peptide demonstrated that human cardiomyocytes were dose-dependently observed in ischemic myocardium at day 28 (high, 2480+/-149; mid, 1860+/-141; low, 423+/-9; PBS, 0+/-0/mm2; P<0.05 for high versus mid and mid versus low). Immunostaining for smooth muscle actin and human leukocyte antigen or Ulex europaeus lectin type 1 also revealed dose-dependent vasculogenesis by endothelial cell and SMC development after CD34+ cell transplantation. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction indicated that human-specific gene expression of cardiomyocyte (brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin-I, myosin heavy chain, and Nkx 2.5), SMC (smooth muscle actin and sm22alpha), and endothelial cell (CD31 and KDR) markers were dose-dependently augmented in MI tissue.Human CD34+ cell transplantation may have significant and dose-dependent potential for vasculogenesis and cardiomyogenesis with functional recovery from MI.
The minimal important difference for residual volume in patients with severe emphysema
Authors: Jorine E. Hartman, Nick H.T. ten Hacken, Karin Klooster, H. Marike Boezen, Mathieu H.G. de Greef, Dirk-Jan Slebos
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Residual volume (RV) measured by body plethysmography is a routine measurement in clinical pulmonary practice and is often an important outcome variable in clinical trials. However, it is not known what size of improvement can be regarded as being important in severe emphysema patients. Therefore, the aim of the study is to establish the minimal important difference (MID) for RV in severe emphysema patients undergoing bronchoscopic lung volume reduction. 91 severe emphysema patients were included. RV and total lung capacity (TLC) were measured by body plethysmography. MID estimates were calculated by anchor-based and distribution-based methods. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s, 6-min walk distance and St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire total score were used as anchors and Cohen’s effect size was used as distribution-based method. The calculated MID estimates according to the different anchors and methods ranged between -0.31 and -0.43 L for RV, -6.1 and -8.6% for percentage change in RV (RV%) from baseline, and -2.8 and -4.0% for RV/TLC. These MID estimates are useful for sample size determination in new studies on interventions aimed at reducing RV and for interpreting the results from clinical trials in severe emphysema patients.
Direct Interaction of Recombinant Human Surfactant Protein-D (rhSP-D) Modulates Human Eosinophil Activation, Their Rate of Apoptosis and Clearance by Macrophages
Authors: L. Mahajan, S.D. Telang, U. Kishore, V.K. Singh, C.N. Ramchand, P.U. Sarma, T. Madan
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2006)
Genome assembly forensics: finding the elusive mis-assembly
Authors: Adam M Phillippy, Michael C Schatz, Mihai Pop
Journal: Genome biology (2008)

We present the first collection of tools aimed at automated genome assembly validation. This work formalizes several mechanisms for detecting mis-assemblies, and describes their implementation in our automated validation pipeline, called amosvalidate. We demonstrate the application of our pipeline in both bacterial and eukaryotic genome assemblies, and highlight several assembly errors in both draft and finished genomes. The software described is compatible with common assembly formats and is released, open-source, at http://amos.sourceforge.net .
Dual Role of Inactivating Lef1 Mutations in Epidermis: Tumor Promotion and Specification of Tumor Type
Authors: Catherin Niemann, David M. Owens, Peter Schettina, Fiona M. Watt
Journal: Cancer Research (2007)

Abstract The NH2 terminus of LEF1 is frequently mutated in human sebaceous tumors. To investigate how this contributes to cancer, we did two-stage chemical carcinogenesis on K14ΔNLef1 transgenic mice, which express NH2-terminally truncated Lef1 in the epidermal basal layer. Transgenic mice developed more tumors, more rapidly than littermate controls, even without exposure to tumor promoter. They developed sebaceous tumors, whereas controls developed squamous cell carcinomas. K14ΔNLef1 epidermis failed to up-regulate p53 and p21 proteins during tumorigenesis or in response to UV irradiation, and this correlated with impaired p14ARF induction. We propose that LEF1 NH2-terminal mutations play a dual role in skin cancer, specifying tumor type by inhibiting Wnt signaling and acting as a tumor promoter by preventing induction of p53. [Cancer Res 2007;67(7):2916–21]
Holes in the T cell repertoire to myelin basic protein owing to the absence of the D beta 2-J beta 2 gene cluster: implications for T cell receptor recognition and autoimmunity.
Authors: V Kumar, E Sercarz
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1994)

Models of T cell recognition suggest that amino acid residues in the CDR3 region of the T cell receptor (TCR) alpha or beta chain directly contact the major histocompatibility complex-bound peptide, and thus are crucial for providing peptide specificity. T cells derived from B10.PL or PL/J mice of H-2u haplotype, use only D beta 2 and J beta 2 gene segments in the recognition of the dominant determinant, Ac1-9/Au, of myelin basic protein (MBP). New Zealand White (NZW) mice, with identical class II H-2u genes (I-A and I-E), carry an 8.8-kb deletion in their TCR beta chain locus encompassing D beta 2 and J beta 2 gene segments. How does this deletion of the crucial D beta 2-J beta 2 region in NZW mice influence specific responses to Ac1-9/Au as well as to other known Au or Eu determinants of MBP? We found that these mice respond very poorly to the dominant Ac1-9/Au and to the subdominant 31-50/Eu determinant in in vitro proliferation assays as well as in their in vivo capacity to induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. This loss of response is apparently owing to the absence of high avidity TCRs with essential CDR3 residues contributed by D beta 2 or J beta 2 gene segments. These data reveal constraints in the recognition of certain antigenic structures, and further support a TCR-recognition model in which CDR3 residues of the TCR alpha and beta chains constitute the antigenic peptide-binding sites on the TCR molecule. Implications for autoimmune manifestations contributed by NZW genes in (NZB x NZW)F1 disease are also discussed.