tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Mortality due to coronary heart disease and kidney disease among middle-aged and elderly men and women with gout in the Singapore Chinese Health Study
Authors: Gim Gee Teng, Li-Wei Ang, Kenneth G Saag, Mimi C Yu, Jian-Min Yuan, Woon-Puay Koh
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2011)

<h3>Objectives</h3> Whether the link between gout and mortality is causal or confounded by lifestyle factors or comorbidities remains unclear. Studies in Asia are warranted due to the rapid modernisation of the locale and ageing of the population. <h3>Methods</h3> The association between gout and mortality was examined in a prospective cohort, the Singapore Chinese Health Study, comprising 63 257 Singapore Chinese individuals, aged 45–74 years during the enrolment period of 1993–8. All enrollees were interviewed in person on lifestyle factors, current diet and medical histories. All surviving cohort members were contacted by telephone during 1999–2004 to update selected exposure and medical histories (follow-up I interview), including the history of physician-diagnosed gout. Cause-specific mortality in the cohort was identified via record linkage with the nationwide death registry, up to 31 December 2009. <h3>Results</h3> Out of 52 322 participants in the follow-up I interview, 2117 (4.1%) self-reported a history of physician-diagnosed gout, with a mean age at diagnosis of 54.7 years. After a mean follow-up period of 8.1 years, there were 6660 deaths. Relative to non-gout subjects, subjects with gout had a higher risk of death (HR 1.18; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.32), and specifically from death due to coronary heart disease (CHD) (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.73) and kidney disease (HR 5.81, 95% CI 3.61 to 9.37). All gout–mortality risk associations were present in both genders but the risk estimates appeared higher for women. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Gout is an independent risk factor for mortality, and specifically for death due to CHD and kidney disease.
Vaccination of Metastatic Renal Cancer Patients with MVA-5T4: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Study
Authors: Robert J. Amato, Robert E. Hawkins, Howard L. Kaufman, John A. Thompson, Piotr Tomczak, Cezary Szczylik, Mike McDonald, Sarah Eastty, William H. Shingler, Jackie de Belin, Madusha Goonewardena, Stuart Naylor, Richard Harrop
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2010)

Abstract Purpose: The TroVax Renal Immunotherapy Survival Trial was a randomized, placebo-controlled phase III study that investigated whether modified vaccinia Ankara encoding the tumor antigen 5T4 (MVA-5T4) prolonged survival of patients receiving first-line standard-of-care (SOC) treatment for metastatic renal cell cancer. Experimental Design: Patients with metastatic clear cell renal cancer, prior nephrectomy, and good or intermediate prognosis were randomized 1:1 to receive up to 13 immunizations of MVA-5T4/placebo in combination with either sunitinib, interleukin-2 or interferon-α. The primary end point was overall survival. Secondary end points included progression-free survival, overall response rate, and safety. Results: Seven hundred thirty-three patients were recruited (365 MVA-5T4 and 368 placebo). Treatment arms were well balanced for SOC and prognosis. No significant difference in the incidence of adverse events or serious adverse events was observed. No significant difference in overall survival was evident in the two treatment arms (median 20.1 months MVA-5T4 versus 19.2 months placebo; P = 0.55). The magnitude of the 5T4-specific antibody response induced by vaccination with MVA-5T4 was associated with enhanced patient survival. Furthermore, exploratory analyses suggested a number of pretreatment hematologic factors that could identify patients who derive significant benefit from this vaccine. Conclusion: MVA-5T4 in combination with SOC was well tolerated, but no difference in survival was observed in the overall study population. Exploratory analyses indicate that there may be subsets of patients who could gain significant benefit from MVA-5T4, but such results would need to be confirmed in future randomized clinical studies. Clin Cancer Res; 16(22); 5539–47. ©2010 AACR.
P188 Prevalence of Serum Eosinophilia at time of admission with an Exacerbation of COPD
Authors: DMG Halpin
Journal: Thorax (2013)

<h3></h3> COPD is generally viewed as a disease driven by neutrophillic inflammation but up to 40% of COPD patients have an inflammatory pattern that includes elevated eosinophils (Saha, 2006) and there has been recent interest in the role of eosinophils in the aetiology and pathophysiology of exacerbations of COPD. Increased eosinophilic airway inflammation has been reported during exacerbations of COPD and peripheral eosinophils levels have been used as a surrogate to predict response to corticosteroid therapy. Treatment strategies with oral and inhaled steroids to reduce sputum eosinophils in COPD reduce exacerbation rates compared to a conventional care and there has been interest in using anti-eosinophil therapy to modify the clinical course of exacerbations. Data were collected on 66 patients admitted with an acute exacerbation of COPD between Nov 2011 and Feb 2012 as part of an assessment of a discharge bundle. The mean age of the patients was 72 (range 49–91) and mean FEV1 33% predicted. Serum eosinophils were measured routinely in full blood counts performed at the time of admission. 20 patients (30%) had no detectable eosinophils, and 6 (9%) had raised eosinophil counts (normal range 0.04–0.40 x 10^9/l). The median eosinophil count was 0.07. One patient had an eosinophil count of 15.24 on admission, having previously had intermittently mildly elevated counts (up to 1.57) since at least 2000. Excluding this patient, the mean (SE) eosinophil count was 0.37 (0.23). The distribution of serum eosinophil counts is shown in fig 1. In this group of patients, serum eosinophilia (&gt;0.4) was seen in only 9% of patients at the time of admission. This may have been affected by prior self management with oral steroids. <h3>References</h3> Saha S, Brightling CE. <i>Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis</i>. 2006;1(1):39–47.
Corticosteroid treatment in pulmonary sarcoidosis: do serial lavage lymphocyte counts, serum angiotensin converting enzyme measurements, and gallium-67 scans help management?
Authors: M Turner-Warwick, W McAllister, R Lawrence, A Britten, P L Haslam
Journal: Thorax (1986)

Thirty two patients with persisting pulmonary sarcoidosis fulfilling defined criteria for treatment were managed according to a standard clinical protocol. In this an attempt was made to achieve and maintain maximal radiographic and physiological improvement with individually titrated doses of corticosteroids. Lavage cell counts, serum angiotensin converting enzyme (SACE) determinations, and gallium-67 scans were planned at standard intervals but were not used in management decisions. The study analysed serial measurements in relation to changes in the clinical measurements. Twelve patients9 radiographs showed complete clearing, seven cleared partially, and 13 had partial clearing with evidence of fibrosis. There was no predictive value in the initial lavage lymphocyte counts or the SACE or gallium measurements. Notably, in seven patients, substantial radiographic improvement was observed when the initial lavage lymphocyte counts were normal. Higher initial lavage neutrophil counts (p less than 0.02), higher initial radiographic profusion scores (p less than 0.02), and lower vital capacity (p less than 0.01) and carbon monoxide transfer factor (p less than 0.05) were related to incomplete clearing. A repeat study of the patients when their radiograph had cleared maximally showed that the levels of lavage lymphocytes, SACE, and gallium tended to fall, but frequently remained raised even in the presence of a normal radiograph or vital capacity or both. On the other hand, however, most of the patients with a normal lavage lymphocyte count showed persisting abnormality of the radiograph, lung function measurements, SACE, and gallium scan (or of at least one of these indices). The interrelationships between changes in clinical indices (radiograph, vital capacity, and transfer factor) and in lavage lymphocyte counts, SACE, and gallium scans showed that concordance was fairly poor in each comparison; lavage lymphocytes showed a greater major discordance than did the other pairs of measurements. Symptom free patients with normal or stable radiographic appearances have been followed for many months and have shown no clinical deterioration despite abnormal lavage lymphocyte counts, SACE, and gallium scans. Radiographic relapse, within the criteria defined, was seen in only four patients during the study; this was reflected in the gallium counts in three and in SACE and lavage lymphocyte counts measurements in two. It is concluded that serial lavage lymphocyte counts, serum angiotensin converting enzyme measurements, and gallium-67 scans are not consistently more sensitive methods by which to monitor patients with sarcoidosis during treatment than are serial measurements of high quality radiographs and results of standard lung function tests.
Influence of germination and fermentation on chemical composition, protein quality and physical properties of wheat flour (Triticum aestivum)
Authors: Ijarotimi Oluwole Steve
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2011)

The present study investigated effects of germination and fermentation on protein quality of the wheat flour. The wheat seeds were obtained locally and were divided into three portions and processed as raw wheat flour (RWF), germinated wheat flour (GWF) and fermented wheat flour (FWF) respectively. The samples were analysed for chemical and protein qualities using standard methods. Protein content (g/100g) varied between 10.77±0.66 (RWF) and 13.70±0.30 (FWF). Mineral composition of RWF, GWF and FWF had potassium as the highest while zinc (RWF and FWF) and nickel (GWF) were the least. For amino acid, glutamic acid was the most abundant; while cysteine (RWF and FWF) and methionine (GWF) were the least. Total essential amino acid plus histidine and arginine range between 26.4% (FWF) and 37.9% (GWF). For protein efficiency ratio (PER), RWF had the highest value (1.99), while GWF had the least (0.86), while for  the essential amino acid index (EAAIs), RWF was higher than that of GWF and FWF. Similarly, the biological value of RWF (31.8%) was higher than those of GWF (29.4%) and FWF (29.1%) sample respectively. The anti-nutrient compositions of the wheat flour samples were low, while phytate:zinc, phytate:calcium, (Ca)(phytate):zinc and phytate:iron molar ratios  were lower than the critical values. Bulk density (BD) ranged between 0.80±0.04 and 0.86±0.02, swelling capacity (SC) 0.0±0.03 and 1.23±0.21, water absorption capacity (WAC) 315 and 415% and least gellation 3.33±1.10 and 14.6±1.16%. The finding concluded that the employed processing methods, particularly fermentation, influenced the chemical composition of the wheat flour in terms of protein content and reduction of anti-nutrient composition. 

	 

	Key words: Germinated wheat flour, fermented wheat flour, nutritional quality.
Quantification and visualization of cellular NAD(P)H in young and aged female facial skin with<i>in vivo</i>two-photon tomography
Authors: K. Miyamoto, H. Kudoh
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2013)

Journal Article Quantification and visualization of cellular NAD(P)H in young and aged female facial skin with in vivo two‐photon tomography Get access K. Miyamoto, K. Miyamoto R&D Prestige P&G Innovation GK 1‐17, Koyo‐cho Naka, Higashinada‐ku Kobe 658‐0035 Japan Correspondence Kukizo Miyamoto. E‐mail: miyamoto.ku@pg.com Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar H. Kudoh H. Kudoh R&D Prestige P&G Innovation GK 1‐17, Koyo‐cho Naka, Higashinada‐ku Kobe 658‐0035 Japan Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 169, Issue s2, 1 July 2013, Pages 25–31, https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.12370 Published: 01 July 2013
Nonstructural 5A protein activates β-catenin signaling cascades: Implication of hepatitis C virus-induced liver pathogenesis
Authors: Chul-Yong Park, Soo-Ho Choi, Sang-Min Kang, Ju-Il Kang, Byung-Yoon Ahn, Hoguen Kim, Guhung Jung, Kang-Yell Choi, Soon B. Hwang
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2009)
Roles of virD4 and cagG genes in the cag pathogenicity island of Helicobacter pylori using a Mongolian gerbil model
Authors: H Saito
Journal: Gut (2005)

The roles of the virD4 and the cagG genes in the cag pathogenicity island of Helicobacter pylori for gastroduodenal pathogenesis are unclear and their roles in vivo have not been examined.Seven week old male Mongolian gerbils were inoculated with the wild type H pylori TN2GF4, its isogenic virD4, or cagG mutants. Animals were sacrificed at 4, 12, and 24 weeks after inoculation. Gastric inflammation and H pylori density were evaluated by histology, inflammatory response (as measured by interleukin (IL)-1beta mRNA levels), proliferative activity (as assessed by 5'-bromo-2'deoxyuridine labelling indices), and host systemic reaction (as measured by anti-H pylori IgG antibody).Degree of gastric inflammation, proliferative activity, and mucosal IL-1beta mRNA levels remained low throughout the first 12 weeks in gerbils infected with the virD4 mutants. Degree of gastric inflammation and proliferative activity increased at 24 weeks with the virD4 mutants reaching levels comparative with those seen at four weeks with the wild-type strains. Mucosal IL-1beta mRNA levels were also increased at 24 weeks with the virD4 mutants and levels at 24 weeks were similar between the wild-type and virD4 mutants. In contrast, gerbils infected with the cagG mutants had reduced ability to colonise gerbils, and no or little gastric inflammation or proliferative activity was observed.Loss of the virD4 gene temporally retarded but did not abrogate gastric inflammation. Loss of the cagG gene abolished gastric inflammation partially via reduced ability to colonise gerbils. Unknown factors related to the type IV secretion system other than CagA may influence gastric inflammation.
Mediation of the Relationship Between Callous-Unemotional Traits and Proactive Aggression by Amygdala Response to Fear Among Children With Conduct Problems
Authors: Leah M. Lozier, Elise M. Cardinale, John W. VanMeter, Abigail A. Marsh
Journal: JAMA Psychiatry (2014)

Among youths with conduct problems, callous-unemotional (CU) traits are known to be an important determinant of symptom severity, prognosis, and treatment responsiveness. But positive correlations between conduct problems and CU traits result in suppressor effects that may mask important neurobiological distinctions among subgroups of children with conduct problems.To assess the unique neurobiological covariates of CU traits and externalizing behaviors in youths with conduct problems and determine whether neural dysfunction linked to CU traits mediates the link between callousness and proactive aggression.This cross-sectional case-control study involved behavioral testing and neuroimaging that were conducted at a university research institution. Neuroimaging was conducted using a 3-T Siemens magnetic resonance imaging scanner. It included 46 community-recruited male and female juveniles aged 10 to 17 years, including 16 healthy control participants and 30 youths with conduct problems with both low and high levels of CU traits.Blood oxygenation level-dependent signal as measured via functional magnetic resonance imaging during an implicit face-emotion processing task and analyzed using whole-brain and region of interest-based analysis of variance and multiple-regression analyses.Analysis of variance revealed no group differences in the amygdala. By contrast, consistent with the existence of suppressor effects, multiple-regression analysis found amygdala responses to fearful expressions to be negatively associated with CU traits (x = 26, y = 0, z = -12; k = 1) and positively associated with externalizing behavior (x = 24, y = 0, z = -14; k = 8) when both variables were modeled simultaneously. Reduced amygdala responses mediated the relationship between CU traits and proactive aggression.The results linked proactive aggression in youths with CU traits to hypoactive amygdala responses to emotional distress cues, consistent with theories that externalizing behaviors, particularly proactive aggression, in youths with these traits stem from deficient empathic responses to distress. Amygdala hypoactivity may represent an intermediate phenotype, offering new insights into effective treatment strategies for conduct problems.
PREPARATION OF COLLODION SACS FOR USE IN BACTERIOLOGY
Authors: Frederick L. Gates
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1921)

A standardized method is described in detail by which collodion sacs suitable for intraperitoneal incubation and for other bacteriological experiments may be produced in large numbers, sterilized, and handled with convenience and the minimum danger of contamination. Various factors influencing permeability have been subjected to experiment. Like Brown, we found that immersion in alcohol is the most important factor, but the high permeability conferred by alcohol treatment is lost during heat sterilization if the membrane was previously allowed to dry. Quantitative experiments on the dialysis of sodium chloride, and simple tests with other substances indicate the general character of the membranes and their probable field of usefulness in bacteriology.
B Cells and Plasma Cells Populations Suffer Changes Along The Time After Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus Specific Immunotherapy
Authors: Enrique Gómez, Tahía Fernández, Inmaculada Doña, Francisca Gómez, Luisa Galindo, Lidia Melendez, Miguel Blanca, Cristobalina Mayorga, Maria José Jose Torres
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2014)
BM mesenchymal stromal cell–derived exosomes facilitate multiple myeloma progression
Authors: Aldo M. Roccaro, Antonio Sacco, Patricia Maiso, Abdel Kareem Azab, Yu-Tzu Tai, Michaela Reagan, Feda Azab, Ludmila M. Flores, Federico Campigotto, Edie Weller, Kenneth C. Anderson, David T. Scadden, Irene M. Ghobrial
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2013)

BM mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) support multiple myeloma (MM) cell growth, but little is known about the putative mechanisms by which the BM microenvironment plays an oncogenic role in this disease. Cell-cell communication is mediated by exosomes. In this study, we showed that MM BM-MSCs release exosomes that are transferred to MM cells, thereby resulting in modulation of tumor growth in vivo. Exosomal microRNA (miR) content differed between MM and normal BM-MSCs, with a lower content of the tumor suppressor miR-15a. In addition, MM BM-MSC–derived exosomes had higher levels of oncogenic proteins, cytokines, and adhesion molecules compared with exosomes from the cells of origin. Importantly, whereas MM BM-MSC–derived exosomes promoted MM tumor growth, normal BM-MSC exosomes inhibited the growth of MM cells. In summary, these in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that exosome transfer from BM-MSCs to clonal plasma cells represents a previously undescribed and unique mechanism that highlights the contribution of BM-MSCs to MM disease progression.
Hereditary Breast Cancer
Authors: Leif W. Ellisen, Daniel A. Haber
Journal: Annual Review of Medicine (1998)

Genetic predisposition is responsible for 5–10% of all breast cancer, and a much larger percent of early-onset disease. Within the past few years, a number of genes associated with a high risk of breast cancer have been identified, including BRCA1, BRCA2, p53, and the Cowden disease gene PTEN/MMAC1. These genes appear to function as tumor suppressors, and although their mutation frequency in the general population is low, certain populations have a carrier frequency of up to 1% for particular BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. The isolation of these genes is likely to provide important insight into the pathogenesis of human cancer. The clinical application of these molecular discoveries raises controversial issues regarding presymptomatic testing for patients suspected of harboring cancer predisposing mutations.
Dose-Response Trial of Megestrol Acetate in Advanced Breast Cancer: Cancer and Leukemia Group B Phase III Study 8741
Authors: Jeffrey Abrams, Joseph Aisner, Constance Cirrincione, Donald A. Berry, Hyman B. Muss, M. Robert Cooper, I. Craig Henderson, Lawrence Panasci, Jeffrey Kirshner, John Ellerton, Larry Norton
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1999)

PURPOSE: To investigate whether dose escalation of megestrol acetate (MA) improves response rate and survival in comparison with standard doses of MA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred sixty-eight patients with metastatic breast cancer, positive and/or unknown estrogen and progesterone receptors, zero or one prior trial of hormonal therapy, and no prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease were prospectively randomized into three groups. The groups of patients received either MA 160 mg/d (one tablet per day), MA 800 mg/d (five tablets per day), or MA 1,600 mg/d (10 tablets per day). RESULTS: Patient characteristics were well balanced in the three treatment groups. Three hundred sixty-six patients received treatment and were included in the analyses. The response rates were 23%, 27%, and 27% for the 160-mg, 800-mg, and 1,600-mg arms, respectively. Response duration correlated inversely with dose. Median durations of response were 17 months, 14 months, and 8 months for the 160-mg, 800-mg, and 1,600-mg arms, respectively. No significant differences in the treatment arms were noted for time to disease progression or for survival; survival medians were 28 months (low dose), 24 months (mid dose) and 29 months (high dose). The most frequent and troublesome toxicity, weight gain, was dose-related, with approximately 20% of patients on the two higher-dose arms reporting weight gain of more than 20% of their prestudy weight, compared with only 2% in the 160-mg dose arm. CONCLUSION: With a median follow-up of 8 years, these results demonstrate no advantage for dose escalation of MA in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
Models for Respiratory Cancer in Nickel Refinery Workers
Authors: J Kaldor, J Peto, D Easton, R Doll, C Hermon, L Morgan
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1986)

Lung and nasal sinus cancer death rates among employees of a nickel refinery in South Wales were examined from the standpoint of quantifying the relationship between exposure and the risk of these two cancers. Areas in the refinery associated with high risk were identified by using a matched case-control approach, and a simple index of exposure for each man was constructed accordingly based on the duration of time spent in these areas. The dependence of relative risk and absolute excess risk for lung and nasal sinus cancers on age at first employment, calendar period of first employment, time since first employment, and duration of exposure in high-risk areas was then analyzed. The relative risk for nasal sinus cancer increased sharply with increasing age at first exposure but remained roughly constant throughout the period of follow-up, while that for lung cancer was independent of age at first exposure and dropped sharply with increasing time since first employment. The implications and limitations of these analyses are discussed in relation to the multistage theory of carcinogenesis and occupational risk assessment.