tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the myocardial uptake of a technetium-labeled isonitrile analogue and thallium.
Authors: J A Leppo, D J Meerdink
Journal: Circulation Research (1989)

The myocardial transmicrovascular transport of thallium-201 (201Tl) and technetium-99m hexakis(2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile) (MIBI) were compared during variable blood flow levels in nine blood-perfused, isolated rabbit hearts. Seventeen injections of radiolabeled albumin and EDTA as well as 201Tl and MIBI were performed by indicator-dilution techniques. When coronary flow was varied from 0.52 to 3.19 ml/g/min, myocardial extraction for MIBI averaged 0.38 +/- 0.09 (SD) whereas 201Tl myocardial extraction averaged 0.73 +/- 0.10 (p less than 0.001). Net extraction, which was calculated using end points of 1.8-4.9 minutes, averaged 0.41 +/- 0.15 for MIBI and was less than the 201Tl net extraction of 0.57 +/- 0.13 (p less than 0.001). The mean capillary permeability-surface area product for MIBI (0.44 +/- 0.13 ml/g/min) was one third of 201Tl (1.30 +/- 0.45 ml/g/min; p less than 0.001). However, parenchymal cell permeability-surface area product for MIBI (47.58 +/- 25.85 ml/g/min) was much higher than 201Tl (6.52 +/- 6.51 ml/g/min; p less than 0.0001), and apparent cellular volume of distribution for MIBI (15.15 +/- 3.31 ml/g) was also higher than 201Tl (10.19 +/- 4.00 ml/g; p less than 0.01). These data suggest that capillary permeability for 201Tl is greater than MIBI, but the reverse is true at the parenchymal cell wall. In addition, a new blood-perfused preparation is used for indicator-dilution techniques, and previously developed modeling analyses are also extended to these experiments.
Arrhythmogenic consequences of myofibroblast–myocyte coupling
Authors: Thao P. Nguyen, Yuanfang Xie, Alan Garfinkel, Zhilin Qu, James N. Weiss
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2011)

AimsFibrosis is known to promote cardiac arrhythmias by disrupting myocardial structure. Given recent evidence that myofibroblasts form gap junctions with myocytes at least in co-cultures, we investigated whether myofibroblast–myocyte coupling can promote arrhythmia triggers, such as early afterdepolarizations (EADs), by directly influencing myocyte electrophysiology.
A Steady-State Control Analysis of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
Authors: EDWARD H. BLAINE, JAMES O. DAVIS, PATRICK D. HARRIS
Journal: Circulation Research (1972)

This communication develops a steady-state block diagram about the configuration of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in relation to the mineralocorticoid-dependent reabsorption of sodium. Two principal mechanisms appear to be involved in the control of renin secretion. The baroreceptor hypothesis suggests that decreased stretch of the afferent glomerular arteriole produces increased renin secretion. The macula densa theory, on the other hand, suggests that renin secretion responds to alterations either in sodium load or in sodium concentration at the macula densa. These two receptors are presented as parallel feedback pathways which are independently capable of altering renin secretion. This concept of independent receptor function is supported by literature in which one of the receptor pathways was eliminated. The system configuration for the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system suggests the hypothesis that the vascular receptor controls renin secretion in the autoregulatory range of blood pressure and that macula densa control dominates at pressures below the autoregulatory range. The control system diagram also calls attention to certain unique features of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system; it indicates that (1) a chronic low-sodium diet involves changes in both input variables (extracellular fluid volume) and parameters (hepatic blood flow) to maximize sodium reabsorption, (2) thoracic inferior vena cava constriction opens the feedback loop so that the renal receptors do not perceive increases in extracellular fluid volume, (3) congestive heart failure reduces the overall gain of the system, and (4) a small nonhypotensive hemorrhage primarily increases renin secretion through renal sympathetic nerve stimulation.
The interaction in vitro between human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and Neisseria gonorrhoeae cultivated in the chick embryo.
Authors: D L Gibbs, R B Roberts
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1975)

Cultivation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the allantoic cavity of 10-day chick embryos ensured the following necessary properties for subsequent quantitive in vitro phagocytosis studies of viable gonococci: log phase of growth, resistance to the cidal effect of fresh human serum, maintenance of colonial type, and absence of clumping. Employing a modification of the Maaloe technique, phagocytosis of log-phase type 1 and 2 gonococci by human PMN leukocytes did not occur in the presence or absence of serum. These findings indicate that log-phase type 1 and 2 gonococci possess antiphagocytic surface factors Stationary-phase organisms of the same colonial type were ingested and rapidly killed by human PMN leukocytes under similar experimental conditions, thus emphasizing the necessity to employ log-phase gonococci in the study of phagocytosis and antiphagocytic surface factors. Log-phase type 4 gonococci were ingested and rapidly killed by human PMN leukocytes in the presence of fresh human serum but not heat-inactivated serum or in the absence of serum. Morphologic studies demonstrated that log-phase viable gonococci attach to the surface membrane of human PMN leukocytes. Interiorization of avirulent but not virulent organisms was observed in the presence of fresh human serum. Gonococci-human PMN leukocyte interactions thus provide a model for the investigation of the nonimmunologic and immunologic parameters associated with the attachment and ingestion stages of phagocytosis.
Efficacy of Quantified Home-Based Exercise and Supervised Exercise in Patients With Intermittent Claudication
Authors: Andrew W. Gardner, Donald E. Parker, Polly S. Montgomery, Kristy J. Scott, Steve M. Blevins
Journal: Circulation (2011)

This prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial compared changes in exercise performance and daily ambulatory activity in peripheral artery disease patients with intermittent claudication after a home-based exercise program, a supervised exercise program, and usual-care control.Of the 119 patients randomized, 29 completed home-based exercise, 33 completed supervised exercise, and 30 completed usual-care control. Both exercise programs consisted of intermittent walking to nearly maximal claudication pain for 12 weeks. Patients wore a step activity monitor during each exercise session. Primary outcome measures included claudication onset time and peak walking time obtained from a treadmill exercise test; secondary outcome measures included daily ambulatory cadences measured during a 7-day monitoring period. Adherence to home-based and supervised exercise was similar (P=0.712) and exceeded 80%. Both exercise programs increased claudication onset time (P<0.001) and peak walking time (P<0.01), whereas only home-based exercise increased daily average cadence (P<0.01). No changes were seen in the control group (P>0.05). The changes in claudication onset time and peak walking time were similar between the 2 exercise groups (P>0.05), whereas the change in daily average cadence was greater with home-based exercise (P<0.05).A home-based exercise program, quantified with a step activity monitor, has high adherence and is efficacious in improving claudication measures similar to a standard supervised exercise program. Furthermore, home-based exercise appears more efficacious in increasing daily ambulatory activity in the community setting than supervised exercise.
IgACE
Authors: Rosanna Coppo, Licia Peruzzi, Alessandro Amore, Antonio Piccoli, Pierre Cochat, Rosario Stone, Martin Kirschstein, Tommy Linné
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2007)

This European Community Biomedicine and Health Research-supported, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial investigated the effect of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) in children and young people with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), moderate proteinuria (>1 and <3.5 g/d per 1.73 m(2)) and creatinine clearance (CrCl) >50 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). Sixty-six patients who were 20.5 yr of age (range 9 to 35 yr), were randomly assigned to Benazepril 0.2 mg/kg per d (ACE-I) or placebo and were followed for a median of 38 mo. The primary outcome was the progression of kidney disease, defined as >30% decrease of CrCl; secondary outcomes were (1) a composite end point of >30% decrease of CrCl or worsening of proteinuria until > or =3.5 g/d per 1.73 m(2) and (2) proteinuria partial remission (<0.5 g/d per 1.73 m(2)) or total remission (<160 mg/d per 1.73 m(2)) for >6 mo. Analysis was by intention to treat. A single patient (3.1%) in the ACE-I group and five (14.7%) in the placebo group showed a worsening of CrCl >30%. The composite end point of >30% decrease of CrCl or worsening of proteinuria until nephrotic range was reached by one (3.1%) of 32 patients in the ACE-I group, and nine (26.5%) of 34 in the placebo group; the difference was significant (log-rank P = 0.035). A stable, partial remission of proteinuria was observed in 13 (40.6%) of 32 patients in the ACE-I group versus three (8.8%) of 34 in the placebo group (log-rank P = 0.033), with total remission in 12.5% of ACE-I-treated patients and in none in the placebo group (log-rank P = 0.029). The multivariate Cox analysis showed that treatment with ACE-I was the independent predictor of prognosis; no influence on the composite end point was found for gender, age, baseline CrCl, systolic or diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, or proteinuria.
Treatment by human recombinant soluble TNF receptor of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin or silica in mice
Authors: PF Piguet, C Vesin
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1994)

Intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (0.08 U) or silica (2 mg) to mice leads, after 15 days, to a patchy pulmonary fibrosis associated with a significant increase of the lung hydroxyproline. Since tumour necrosis factor (TNF) seems to be an important mediator in pulmonary fibrosis, we wondered whether this fibrosis might be prevented by a new TNF-alpha antagonist. Infusion of a 55 kD human recombinant soluble TNF receptor rsTNFR-beta, at a rate of 20 micrograms.day-1, prevented the bleomycin/silica induced increase of lung hydroxyproline content, as measured 15 days after instillation. Infusion of rsTNFR-beta was also effective in the treatment of an established fibrosis, i.e. administered 25 or more days after instillation of bleomycin or silica, since it reduced lung collagen content. Recombinant soluble TNFR-beta had no significant influence on the number of cells, mostly macrophages, recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage. The examination of histological sections indicated that the rsTNFR-beta reduced the proportion of areas of damaged lung and, in silicosis, the formation of nodules with a rich collagen content. This study suggests that rsTNFR-beta might be useful in the therapy of pulmonary fibrosis.
Cross-reactivity of self-HLA-restricted Epstein-Barr virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes for allo-HLA determinants.
Authors: J S Gaston, A B Rickinson, M A Epstein
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1983)

Epstein-Barr (EB) virus-specific cytotoxic T cells, prepared from virus-immune donors by reactivation in vitro and maintained thereafter as IL-2-dependent T cell lines, have been tested against large panels of EB virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines of known HLA type. Whilst the pattern of lysis of the majority of targets was always consistent with HLA-A and HLA-B antigen restriction of effector function, in several cases it was noticed that certain HLA-mismatched targets were also reproducibly lysed. When this "anomalous" lysis was investigated in detail, it was found to be directed against allodeterminants on class I HLA antigens; thus, mitogen-stimulated as well as EB virus-transformed lymphoblasts from the relevant target cell donors were sensitive to the killing, and in each case the lysis could be specifically blocked by monoclonal antibodies to class I HLA antigens. In one example the target for this alloreactive lysis could be identified as a single serologically defined antigen, HLA-Bw57, while in another example lysis was directed against a "public" epitope common to HLA-Bw35, -Bw62, and a subset of -B12 antigens. Both cold target inhibition experiments and limiting dilution analysis strongly suggested that this alloreactive lysis was being mediated by the same effector T cells that recognize EB viral antigens in the context of self-HLA. This is the first demonstration in man that alloreactive responses can be derived from within the antigen-specific, self MHC-restricted T cell repertoire.
The Consensus Development Process for Medical Technologies: A Cross-cultural Comparison of Sweden and the United States
Authors: Everett M. Rogers
Journal: JAMA (1982)

The consensus development process is a unique means of technology assessment to facilitate the transfer of biomedical research results into practice. It has been developed in recent years and implemented by the Office for Medical Applications of Research (OMAR), National Institutes of Health (NIH).<sup>1,2</sup>During 1982, a consensus development conference on hip joint replacement was held in the United States, and, two months later, a similar conference on this topic was held in Sweden. In this editorial we present our analysis of these two consensus development conferences and draw conclusions about the cross-cultural functioning of the consensus development process in two quite different cultures with sharply contrasting health care systems. It is clear that in spite of these important differences, the consensus development process carried out in contrasting settings produces consensus statements that are remarkably similar. <h3>Cross-cultural Study of Consensus Development Conferences</h3> Early this year, a pair of Consensus
POD Nanoparticles Expressing GDNF Provide Structural and Functional Rescue of Light-induced Retinal Degeneration in an Adult Mouse
Authors: Sarah P Read, Siobhan M Cashman, Rajendra Kumar-Singh
Journal: Molecular Therapy (2010)

Peptide for ocular delivery (POD) is a novel cationic cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) which, when conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG-POD), can deliver plasmid DNA to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of adult murine retina. PEG-POD nanoparticles containing an expression cassette for glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (PEG–POD~GDNF) were investigated for their ability to inhibit light-induced photoreceptor apoptosis. PEG-POD~GDNF, control nanoparticles, or buffer were injected into the subretinal space of adult murine retina and retinal degeneration induced by blue light. Animals injected with PEG-POD~GDNF showed a significant reduction (3.9–7.7 fold) in apoptosis relative to control-injected animals. The thickness of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) of the superior retina of PEG-POD~GDNF-injected eyes was significantly greater (23.6–39.3%) than control-injected retina 14 days post-light treatment. PEG-POD~GDNF-injected eyes showed a 27–39% greater functional response relative to controls, as measured by electroretinogram (ERG) 7 days post-light treatment. This is one of only two studies demonstrating histological and functional rescue of a mouse model of retinal degeneration following nonviral administration of a transgene into adult retina. Although rescue is short lived for clinical application, this study represents an important step in the development of nonviral gene therapy for retinal diseases. Peptide for ocular delivery (POD) is a novel cationic cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) which, when conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG-POD), can deliver plasmid DNA to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of adult murine retina. PEG-POD nanoparticles containing an expression cassette for glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (PEG–POD~GDNF) were investigated for their ability to inhibit light-induced photoreceptor apoptosis. PEG-POD~GDNF, control nanoparticles, or buffer were injected into the subretinal space of adult murine retina and retinal degeneration induced by blue light. Animals injected with PEG-POD~GDNF showed a significant reduction (3.9–7.7 fold) in apoptosis relative to control-injected animals. The thickness of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) of the superior retina of PEG-POD~GDNF-injected eyes was significantly greater (23.6–39.3%) than control-injected retina 14 days post-light treatment. PEG-POD~GDNF-injected eyes showed a 27–39% greater functional response relative to controls, as measured by electroretinogram (ERG) 7 days post-light treatment. This is one of only two studies demonstrating histological and functional rescue of a mouse model of retinal degeneration following nonviral administration of a transgene into adult retina. Although rescue is short lived for clinical application, this study represents an important step in the development of nonviral gene therapy for retinal diseases.
Glycosaminoglycan and versican deposits in taxane-induced sclerosis
Authors: K. Okada, Y. Endo, Y. Miyachi, Y. Koike, Y. Kuwatsuka, A. Utani
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2015)

Docetaxel and paclitaxel are widely used in the treatment of various malignant neoplasms. Taxane‐induced sclerosis is dose‐dependent and usually not generalized. Little information on the pathogenesis of scleroderma is currently available. Here, we report a case of generalized scleroderma and a case of early‐stage oedematous sclerosis, both of which presented with intense versican deposits after administration of taxane for angiosarcoma.
Standard deviations and standard errors
Authors: Douglas G Altman, J Martin Bland
Journal: BMJ (2005)

The terms “standard error” and “standard deviation” are often confused.1 The contrast between these two terms reflects the important distinction between data description and inference, one that all researchers should appreciate.

The standard deviation (often SD) is a measure of variability. When we calculate the standard deviation of a sample, we are using it as an estimate of the variability of the population from which the sample was drawn. For data with a normal distribution,2 about 95% of individuals will have values within 2 standard deviations of the mean, the other 5% being equally scattered above and below these limits. Contrary to popular misconception, the standard deviation is a valid measure of variability regardless of the distribution. About 95% of observations of any distribution usually fall within the 2 standard …
Possible recurrence of desquamative interstitial pneumonitis in a single lung transplant recipient
Authors: GM Verleden, F Sels, D Van Raemdonck, EK Verbeken, T Lerut, M Demedts
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1998)

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis) is a disorder with a very poor prognosis for patients who do not respond to therapy with corticosteroids alone or in combination with immunosuppressive drugs, e.g. cyclophosphamide or azathioprine. For patients with end-stage disease, lung transplantation remains the only possibility for long-term survival. We describe a patient who received a left single lung transplant for end-stage desquamative interstitial pneumonitis. One year later, the patient again began complaining of exertional dyspnoea and a gradual decline in the transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide (TL,CO) was apparent. A recurrence of the primary disease in the transplanted lung was suspected on transbronchial biopsies. During treatment with high doses of steroids, a Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia developed, which was treated with co-trimoxazole. The patient completely recovered and, after a period of over 2 yrs, remained in an excellent condition, after which time he was lost from follow-up.
Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in a Population Associated with High Prevalence of Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Authors: Shunichi Yamamoto, Shoichi Sawaguchi, Aiko Iwase, Tetsuya Yamamoto, Haruki Abe, Goji Tomita, Atsuo Tomidokoro, Makoto Araie
Journal: Ophthalmology (2014)
Art and medicine 1: Health Hazards by Dr Jane Jackson
Authors: R. Stanwell-Smith
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2003)

Paintings with a moral or educational theme were popular in the Victorian era—for example, works by George Frederick Watts and the pre-Raphaelites (notably William Holman Hunt). Art as the road to salvation went out of style in the 20th century, but the power of art to illustrate social wrongs or to promote healthy behaviours may be due for a revival. In the 2003 exhibition by the Medical Art Society, entries for the Brooke Epidemiology Art Prize, awarded by the Section of Epidemiology and Public Health, included Health Hazards by Dr Jane Jackson. Her prize-winning interpretation of the theme ‘inequalities’ was based on the Government review Tackling Health Inequalities (2002). We see a deceptively calm interior, brightly coloured in the original, which ‘becomes tragical if rightly read’, as the Victorian art critic John Ruskin observed of one of Hunt’s moral works. The room is a bizarre combination of cooker, cupboards, easy chair and deep-piled rug, with children and a mirror in the background portraying accidents about to happen, including a fire. Residential fire deaths for children are fifteen times more common in children from social class V than in those from social class I: children in social class V have also a five times greater risk of accidental death than their peers in social class I. All the figures in the picture are obese—a problem increasing more rapidly in lower socio-economic groups. The adults are heedless of the chubby children with their dangerous playthings, while the possibly drunk parent slumps indolently to one side. Granny teeters unsteadily towards us, a reminder that falls cause the largest numbers of fatal injuries in older people (62%), as well as disability. While all may turn out well in this surreal family scene, the statistics predict otherwise. An image of our times, Jane Jackson’s painting echoes past attempts to show links between health, behaviour and the environment.​environment.



Figure 1