tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Randomised study of long term outcome after epidural versus non-epidural analgesia during labour
Authors: C. J Howell
Journal: BMJ (2002)

<h3>Abstract</h3> <b>Objective:</b> To determine whether epidural analgesia during labour is associated with long term backache. <b>Design:</b> Follow up after randomised controlled trial. Analysis by intention to treat <b>Setting:</b> Department of obstetrics and gynaecology at one NHS trust <b>Participants:</b> 369 women: 184 randomised to epidural group (treatment as allocated received by 123) and 185 randomised to non-epidural group (treatment as allocated received by 133). In the follow up study 151 women were from the epidural group and 155 from the non-epidural group <b>Main outcome measures:</b> Self reported low back pain, disability, and limitation of movement assessed through one to one interviews with physiotherapist, questionnaire on back pain and disability, physical measurements of spinal mobility <b>Results:</b> There were no significant differences between groups in demographic details or other key characteristics. The mean time interval from delivery to interview was 26 months. There were no significant differences in the onset or duration of low back pain, with nearly a third of women in each group reporting pain in the week before interview. There were no differences in self reported measures of disability in activities of daily living and no significant differences in measurements of spinal mobility <b>Conclusions:</b> After childbirth there are no differences in the incidence of long term low back pain, disability, or movement restriction between women who receive epidural pain relief and women who receive other forms of pain relief
Injuries Associated With Hang Gliding
Authors: William B. Krissoff
Journal: JAMA (1975)

TEN THOUSAND people currently engage in hang gliding or sky-sailing as it is sometimes termed.<sup>1</sup>The main centers for this new sport are the cliffs of Southern California near the sea and the mountains of Colorado. By nature, soaring on a kite launched by running downhill and remaining aloft at the pleasure of the wind is a high-risk operation. This, as far as we know, is the first definition of the injuries that occur in this sport and of reasonable precautions to minimize such injuries. <h3>Fatal Accidents</h3><h3>Case 1.—</h3> On Nov 24, 1973, an instructor and designer for Chandelle Sky Sail of Colorado sustained fatal injuries when his "modern standard sail" went into a stall configuration and then a steep dive while he was gliding off the north aspect of Green Mountain immediately west of Denver. He had apparently understood that this craft had poor dive-recovery characteristics, and had
Dextrostix Method for Determination of Blood Glucose Levels
Authors: James A. Rock
Journal: JAMA (1966)

A chemically treated paper stick (Dextrostix) method of blood glucose estimation was compared to the alkaline potassium ferricyanide method in which an automated system (Auto Analyzer) of blood glucose estimation is used. Six medical technicians in a routine hospital laboratory performed the tests. Their instructions consisted solely of those accompanying the Dextrostix. Analysis of the data by the covariance technique suggests that, under the conditions of this study, the Dextrostix method has serious limitations. There was inconsistency, at least among technicians, in ability to discriminate shades of color, which rendered the Dextrostix method unsatisfactory for use as a mass-screening tool or as an alternate emergency laboratory procedure. It is also doubtful that the results of this method could be relied upon in the differential diagnosis of coma when the presence of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia must be established with certainty.
Intestinal farnesoid X receptor signaling promotes nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Changtao Jiang, Cen Xie, Fei Li, Limin Zhang, Robert G. Nichols, Kristopher W. Krausz, Jingwei Cai, Yunpeng Qi, Zhong-Ze Fang, Shogo Takahashi, Naoki Tanaka, Dhimant Desai, Shantu G. Amin, Istvan Albert, Andrew D. Patterson, Frank J. Gonzalez
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2014)

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major worldwide health problem. Recent studies suggest that the gut microbiota influences NAFLD pathogenesis. Here, a murine model of high-fat diet-induced (HFD-induced) NAFLD was used, and the effects of alterations in the gut microbiota on NAFLD were determined. Mice treated with antibiotics or tempol exhibited altered bile acid composition, with a notable increase in conjugated bile acid metabolites that inhibited intestinal farnesoid X receptor (FXR) signaling. Compared with control mice, animals with intestine-specific Fxr disruption had reduced hepatic triglyceride accumulation in response to a HFD. The decrease in hepatic triglyceride accumulation was mainly due to fewer circulating ceramides, which was in part the result of lower expression of ceramide synthesis genes. The reduction of ceramide levels in the ileum and serum in tempol- or antibiotic-treated mice fed a HFD resulted in downregulation of hepatic SREBP1C and decreased de novo lipogenesis. Administration of C16:0 ceramide to antibiotic-treated mice fed a HFD reversed hepatic steatosis. These studies demonstrate that inhibition of an intestinal FXR/ceramide axis mediates gut microbiota-associated NAFLD development, linking the microbiome, nuclear receptor signaling, and NAFLD. This work suggests that inhibition of intestinal FXR is a potential therapeutic target for NAFLD treatment.
Histological changes produced in skin by equally erythemogenic doses of UV-A, UV-B, UV-C and UV-A with psoralens
Authors: REINALDO ROSARIO, GENE J. MARK, JOHN A. PARRISH, MARTIN C. MIHM
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2006)

The sequential light microscopic histological changes produced in human skin by a single exposure of UV-A, UV-B, UV-C and oral 8-methoxypsoralen plus UV-A (PUVA) causing approximately equal degress of delayed erythema response, have been evaluated. UV-C and UV-B affect the epidermis to a greater degree than UV-A, while UV-A affects the dermis to a greater degree than UV-B and UV-C. PUVA has prominent effects on both epidermis and dermis, differing in degree from those changes induced by UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C and are longer lasting. The sequence of histological changes following UV exposure is completed more rapidly after exposure to shorter UV wavelengths.
A sample of headache incidence in post concussive patients
Authors: Donna Ouchterlony, Patricia Johnson, Amy Wong, Alicja Michalak, Jane Topolovec-Vranic, Cheryl Masanic, Zeesham Waseem
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2013)

Objective Headache is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and may persist months to years after the initial injury. The purpose of this pilot project was to determine the incidence and characteristics of headaches within the TBI population. Design Descriptive study. Setting Data were collected from an out-patient clinic specialising in the management of TBI. Participants 42 patients (24 male, 18 female) with headache symptoms. Intervention Treating physicians collected data on only one appointment for each patient. Of the 160 patients visiting the clinic in May 2012, 30% complained of headaches. Headache symptoms were defined by the International Headache Society Classification ICHD-II criteria. Outcome Measures Measures relating to gender, time since head injury, type of headache, severity of headache, frequency of headaches, location of headache and current medication were recorded. Results Fifty-seven percent of the population was male. Almost 40% of patients had sustained a head injury over a year prior to data collection. Half of the subjects suffered from tension-type headaches, 14% of patients from migraines, and 7% from both migraine and tension-type headaches. One third reported headaches to occur on a daily basis and 81% percent suffered from headaches that were at least moderate in severity. Thirty-six percent of patients were taking either Advil or Tylenol at the time of data collection. Conclusions The pilot data confirmed clinical belief of the necessity to conduct large-scale trials to implement and evaluate interventions for the management of headaches in the TBI population. Competing interests None.
Release of Somatostatin-like Immunoreactivity from Incubated Rat Hypothalamus and Cerebral Cortex
Authors: Michael Berelowitz, Daniel Dudlak, Lawrence A. Frohman
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1982)

Somatostatin (SRIF) is localized in the hypothalamus, extrahypothalamic brain, and throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Release of gastrointestinal SRIF-like immunoreactivity (SRIF-LI) is under nutrient regulation but the effect of nutrients on neural SRIF-LI is unknown. The present studies examined the effects of glucose uptake and metabolism and hormones influencing glucose disposition on SRIF-LI release from medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) and cerebral cortex (Cx) incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate containing bacitracin. After a preincubation to achieve stable secretion, tissues were incubated for 20 min in 14 mM glucose (basal) and then, for 20 min in fresh medium with test materials. MBH SRIF-LI release was inversely related to medium glucose concentration with release in the absence of glucose (235±42 pg/MBH per 20 min) more than five times that in the presence of 25 mM glucose (46±4 pg/20 min). In the presence of 14 mM glucose MBH SRIF-LI release was stimulated above basal by agents interfering with glucose uptake including 3-O-methyl-d-glucose (42 mM; 70±5 vs. 42±3 pg/20 min, P < 0.05), phlorizin (50 mM; 351±63 vs. 29±2 pg/20 min, P < 0.001) or cytochalasin B (20 μM; 110±7 vs. 22±2 pg/20 min, P < 0.001). Inhibition of glucose metabolism by 2-deoxy-d-glucose resulted in dose-related stimulation of MBH SRIF-LI release (maximal at 28 mM; 201±28 pg/20 min vs. 32±4 pg/20 min, P < 0.001). Viability of MBH was unimpaired by incubation in the absence of glucose or following exposure to 2-deoxy-d-glucose as determined by retention of SRIF-LI responsiveness to stimulation by potassium (60 mM) or neurotensin (5 μM). In contrast, Cx SRIF-LI release was slightly inhibited by decreases in medium glucose and unaffected by inhibition of glucose uptake or metabolism. These results provide evidence for nutrient regulation of MBH but not Cx SRIF-LI release and may explain inhibition of growth hormone seen in the rat in response to hypoglycemia. Insulin (10 nM-1 μM) stimulated MBH but not Cx SRIF-LI release while glucagon was without effect. Our previous demonstration that MBH SRIF-LI release was stimulated by somatomedin-C, but not insulin at physiologic concentrations, is consistent with an action of insulin through the somatomedin-C receptor at the doses studied. Our studies indicate a regional specificity for the control of SRIF secretion within the brain and suggests the possibility of a role for hypothalamic SRIF in metabolic regulation.
Opening of Mitochondrial K <sub>ATP</sub> Channels Triggers the Preconditioned State by Generating Free Radicals
Authors: Tilley Pain, Xi-Ming Yang, Stuart D. Critz, Yankun Yue, Atsushi Nakano, Guang S. Liu, Gerd Heusch, Michael V. Cohen, James M. Downey
Journal: Circulation Research (2000)

Abstract —The critical time for opening mitochondrial (mito) K ATP channels, putative end effectors of ischemic preconditioning (PC), was examined. In isolated rabbit hearts 29±3% of risk zone infarcted after 30 minutes of regional ischemia. Ischemic PC or 5-minute exposure to 10 μmol/L diazoxide, a mito K ATP channel opener, reduced infarction to 3±1% and 8±1%, respectively. The mito K ATP channel closer 5-hydroxydecanoate (200 μmol/L), bracketing either 5-minute PC ischemia or diazoxide infusion, blocked protection (24±3 and 28±6% infarction, respectively). However, 5-hydroxydecanoate starting 5 minutes before long ischemia did not affect protection. Glibenclamide (5 μmol/L), another K ATP channel closer, blocked the protection by PC only when administered early. These data suggest that K ATP channel opening triggers protection but is not the final step. Five minutes of diazoxide followed by a 30-minute washout still reduced infarct size (8±3%), implying memory as seen with other PC triggers. The protection by diazoxide was not blocked by 5 μmol/L chelerythrine, a protein kinase C antagonist, given either to bracket diazoxide infusion or just before the index ischemia. Bracketing preischemic exposure to diazoxide with 50 μmol/L genistein, a tyrosine kinase antagonist, did not affect infarction, but genistein blocked the protection by diazoxide when administered shortly before the index ischemia. Thus, although it is not protein kinase C-dependent, the protection by diazoxide involves tyrosine kinase. Bracketing diazoxide perfusion with N -(2-mercaptopropionyl) glycine (300 μmol/L) or Mn(III)tetrakis(4-benzoic acid) porphyrin chloride (7 μmol/L), each of which is a free radical scavenger, blocked protection, indicating that diazoxide triggers protection through free radicals. Therefore, mito K ATP channels are not the end effectors of protection, but rather their opening before ischemia generates free radicals that trigger entrance into a preconditioned state and activation of kinases.
Surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma with right atrial thrombus: Early experience and description of a simplified technique
Authors: T. Modine, S. Haulon, L. Zini, G. Fayad, L. Destrieux-Garnier, R. Azzaoui, J.C. Fantoni, T. Gourlay, A. Villers, M. Koussa
Journal: International Journal of Surgery (2007)
The BCL2A1 gene as a pre–T cell receptor–induced regulator of thymocyte survival
Authors: Malay Mandal, Christine Borowski, Teresa Palomero, Adolfo A. Ferrando, Philipp Oberdoerffer, Fanyong Meng, Antonio Ruiz-Vela, Maria Ciofani, Juan-Carlos Zuniga-Pflucker, Isabella Screpanti, A. Thomas Look, Stanley J. Korsmeyer, Klaus Rajewsky, Harald von Boehmer, Iannis Aifantis
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2005)

The pre–T cell receptor (TCR) is expressed early during T cell development and imposes a tight selection for differentiating T cell progenitors. Pre-TCR–expressing cells are selected to survive and differentiate further, whereas pre-TCR− cells are “negatively” selected to die. The mechanisms of pre-TCR–mediated survival are poorly understood. Here, we describe the induction of the antiapoptotic gene BCL2A1 (A1) as a potential mechanism regulating inhibition of pre–T cell death. We characterize in detail the signaling pathway involved in A1 induction and show that A1 expression can induce pre–T cell survival by inhibiting activation of caspase-3. Moreover, we show that in vitro “knockdown” of A1 expression can compromise survival even in the presence of a functional pre-TCR. Finally, we suggest that pre-TCR–induced A1 overexpression can contribute to T cell leukemia in both mice and humans.
Postoperative lung injury and oxidative damage in patients undergoing pulmonary resection
Authors: EA Williams, GJ Quinlan, P Goldstraw, JW Gothard, TW Evans
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1998)

Postpneumonectomy pulmonary oedema (PPO) complicates a significant number of thoracic surgical procedures involving lung resection and in its extreme form is indistinguishable from the acute respiratory distress syndrome. This study investigated the possibility that ischaemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury contributes to PPO via the production of damaging reactive oxygen species. In a prospective, observational, comparative study, patients undergoing pneumonectomy, lobectomy, or wedge resection or open lung biopsy were investigated for perioperative changes in lung function indicative of lung injury and changes in plasma indices of oxidative damage. Significant percentage perioperative falls in plasma protein thiol levels (-17.9+/-7.0% for pneumonectomy, -24.3+/-5.5% for two-lobe lobectomy and -10.2+/-2.2% for one-lobe lobectomy, p&lt;0.05) and rises in plasma protein carbonyl levels (26.2+/-10.5% for pneumonectomy, p&lt;0.05, 9.8+/-7.0% for two-lobe lobectomy and 5.0+/-2.7% for one-lobe lobectomy) were identified, but not in patients undergoing biopsy or wedge resection. Plasma myeloperoxidase levels rose in all groups, but not significantly. The carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (K(CO)) fell significantly in patients undergoing lobectomy (p&lt;0.05) but not in those undergoing wedge resection, lung biopsy or pneumonectomy. Changes in markers of oxidative protein damage occurred in patients undergoing lung resection, although the gas transfer coefficient fell significantly only following lobectomy. Oxidative damage occurs during pulmonary resection, although associated effects on gas exchange are seen only after lobectomy.
Oral Sodium Bicarbonate for the Treatment of Metabolic Acidosis in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Cheuk-Chun Szeto, Teresa Yuk-Hwa Wong, Kai-Ming Chow, Chi-Bon Leung, Philip Kam-Tao Li
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2003)

ABSTRACT. Acidosis causes malnutrition in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The effect of oral bicarbonate in PD patients with Kt/V <2.1 has not been studied. We randomly assigned 60 PD patients with acidosis and Kt/V <2.1 to oral sodium bicarbonate (0.9 g thrice daily) or placebo. Patients were followed for 12 mo. We compared their nutritional status, including subjective global assessment (SGA) score and normalized protein nitrogen appearance (NPNA), hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Treatment with oral bicarbonate resulted in a higher plasma bicarbonate level at 4 wk (27.8 ± 2.6 versus 24.7 ± 3.9 mmol/L, P = 0.002), and the difference persisted until 52 wk. Bicarbonate treatment had a significant effect on the change in overall SGA score (repeated measures ANOVA, P = 0.0003). The overall SGA score of the treatment group was higher than the placebo group at 24 wk (5.07 ± 0.94 versus 4.40 ± 1.00, P = 0.015), and the difference persisted thereafter. NPNA rose in the treatment group (1.17 ± 0.32 to 1.28 ± 0.26 g/kg per d, P = 0.034), but declined in placebo group (1.13 ± 0.25 to 1.03 ± 0.28 g/kg per d, P = 0.054). The treatment group had a shorter hospitalization than the placebo group (8.4 ± 17.7 versus 16.8 ± 21.7 d/yr; P = 0.02). Mortality was not significantly different. Although our trial has limited statistical power, we find that in PD patients with mild acidosis and Kt/V <2.1, oral sodium bicarbonate probably improve nutritional status and reduce the duration of hospitalization. E-mail: [email protected]
Immature surface Ig+ B cells can continue to rearrange kappa and lambda L chain gene loci.
Authors: A Rolink, U Grawunder, D Haasner, A Strasser, F Melchers
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1993)

Pro and pre B cells possess the long-term capacity to proliferate in vitro on stromal cells and interleukin 7 (IL-7) and can differentiate to surface immunoglobulin (sIg+) cells upon removal of IL-7 from the cultures. A key event in this differentiation is the extensive cell loss due to apoptosis. Because the proto-oncogene bcl-2 can promote cell survival, we established pre-B cell lines from E mu-bcl-2 transgenic mice. These pre-B cells have the same properties as those derived from non-bcl-2 transgenic mice except that they do not die by apoptosis. This allowed us to study the fate of newly formed B cells in vitro for a longer period of time. Here we show that early during the differentiation of pre-B cells, upregulation of RAG-1 and RAG-2 expression go hand in hand with rearrangements of the Ig gene loci. Moreover, the newly formed sIg+ B cells continue to express RAG-1 and RAG-2 and continue to rearrange L chain gene loci, even in the absence of proliferation, in an orderly fashion, so that kappa L+ sIg+ cells can become lambda L+ sIg+ or sIg- cells, whereas lambda L+ sIg+ cells can become sIg-, but not kappa L+ sIg+ cells. Thus, deposition of a complete Ig molecule on the surface of a B cell does not automatically stop the Ig-rearrangement machinery.
Post hoc power calculations and statistical analysis of case control studies: Reply to Riboldi et al.
Authors: Lilly M. Verhagen, Keyla Gómez-Castellano, Eveline Snelders, Ismar Rivera-Olivero, Leonor Pocaterra, Willem J.G. Melchers, Jacobus H. de Waard, Peter W.M. Hermans
Journal: Journal of Infection (2013)
Variants of the Adiponectin and Adiponectin Receptor 1 Genes and Breast Cancer Risk
Authors: Virginia G. Kaklamani, Maureen Sadim, Alex Hsi, Kenneth Offit, Carole Oddoux, Harry Ostrer, Habibul Ahsan, Boris Pasche, Christos Mantzoros
Journal: Cancer Research (2008)

Breast cancer risk is higher among obese women and women with diabetes. Adiponectin is a protein exclusively secreted by adipose tissue, circulating levels of which have been associated with breast cancer risk. Whether genetic variants within the adiponectin pathway are associated with breast cancer risk is unknown. To explore the association of genetic variants of the adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and adiponectin receptor 1 (ADIPOR1) genes with breast cancer risk, we conducted a case control study of female patients with breast cancer and healthy female controls from New York City recruited between 1999 and 2004. We genotyped 733 hospital-based breast cancer cases and 839 controls for 10 haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of ADIPOQ and ADIPOR1. Two ADIPOQ SNPs (rs2241766 and rs1501299), which have been associated with circulating levels of adiponectin, were associated with breast cancer risk [rs1501299*GG: odd ratios (OR), 1.80; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.14-2.85; rs2241766*TG: OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.46-0.80]. One ADIPOR1 SNP (rs7539542), which modulates expression of adiponectin receptor 1 mRNA, was also associated with breast cancer risk (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.28-0.92). Based on the known function of rs2241766 and rs1501299, we categorized individuals by adiponectin signaling status and found that, when compared with high signalers, intermediate signalers had a 4.16-fold increase in breast cancer risk (95% CI, 0.49-35.19), and low signalers had a 6.56-fold increase in breast cancer risk (95% CI, 0.78-54.89; P(trend) = 0.001). This is the first report of an association between functionally relevant variants of the adiponectin pathway and breast cancer risk. The results warrant further studies of the adiponectin pathway in breast cancer.
The Obesity Epidemic: Current and Future Pharmacological Treatments
Authors: Karl G. Hofbauer, Janet R. Nicholson, Olivier Boss
Journal: The Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology (2006)

The unabated rise in the prevalence of obesity is a challenge for global health care systems. Efforts to reverse this trend by dietary or behavioral counseling have not been successful, which has stimulated efforts to find a role for pharmacotherapy. Currently only a small number of antiobesity drugs are approved for long-term use and only a few compounds are in clinical development. Despite recent progress in the understanding of the regulation of energy balance, drug discovery has been less productive than expected. In the present review, the clinically available antiobesity agents are discussed. Examples of drug candidates that are currently in development are given and the possible future range of antiobesity agents is illustrated by the targets being addressed in drug discovery. Finally, the efficacy of antiobesity agents and their value in the treatment of obesity are assessed in comparison with other therapeutic approaches, such as surgery and changes in lifestyle.