tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Fludrocortisone Acetate to Treat Neurally Mediated Hypotension in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Authors: Peter C. Rowe, Hugh Calkins, Karen DeBusk, Robin McKenzie, Ravinder Anand, Geetika Sharma, Brenda A. Cuccherini, Norberto Soto, Patricia Hohman, Sally Snader, Katherine E. Lucas, Mark Wolff, Stephen E. Straus
Journal: JAMA (2001)

Context Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are more likely than healthy persons to develop neurally mediated hypotension (NMH) in response to prolonged orthostatic stress.Objective To examine the efficacy of fludrocortisone acetate as monotherapy for adults with both CFS and NMH.Design Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted between March 1996 and February 1999.Setting Two tertiary referral centers in the United States.Patients One hundred individuals aged 18 to 50 years who satisfied Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for CFS and had NMH provoked during a 2-stage tilt-table test.Eighty-three subjects had adequate outcome data to assess efficacy.Intervention Subjects were randomly assigned to receive fludrocortisone acetate, titrated to 0.1 mg/d (n = 50) or matching placebo (n = 50) for 9 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of observation after discontinuation of therapy.Main Outcome Measure Proportion of subjects in each group with at least a 15point improvement on a 100-point global wellness scale. ResultsBaseline demographic and illness characteristics between the groups were similar; CFS had been present for at least 3 years in 71%.Using an intention-to-treat analysis, 7 subjects (14%) treated with fludrocortisone experienced at least a 15point improvement in their wellness scores compared with 5 (10%) among placebo recipients (P = .76).No differences were observed in several other symptom scores or in the proportion with normal follow-up tilt test results at the end of the treatment period. ConclusionsIn our study of adults with CFS, fludrocortisone as monotherapy for NMH was no more efficacious than placebo for amelioration of symptoms.Failure to identify symptomatic improvement with fludrocortisone does not disprove the hypothesis that NMH could be contributing to some of the symptoms of CFS.Further studies are needed to determine whether other medications or combination therapy are more effective in treating orthostatic intolerance in patients with CFS.
Gain of 1q Is a Potential Univariate Negative Prognostic Marker for Survival in Medulloblastoma
Authors: Ken C. Lo, Changxing Ma, Brian N. Bundy, Scott L. Pomeroy, Charles G. Eberhart, John K. Cowell
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2007)

Abstract Purpose: Tumor risk stratification during diagnosis is paramount for children with medulloblastomas, primarily because very young patients (&amp;lt;3 years) suffer cognitive deficits from radio- and chemotherapy sequelae. Thus, distinguishing tumors that are biologically more aggressive is essential for medulloblastoma management to maximize the delay in radiation treatment without adversely affecting survival outcome. In this context, current strategies for risk assessment, which are based on clinical parameters, remain unsatisfactory. Experimental Design: Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was used to identify chromosomal copy number abnormalities in a cohort of 49 medulloblastoma tumors. Based on the karyotypes generated from aCGH analysis, each tumor was scored for copy number abnormalities, and the log-rank test was used to evaluate whether any cytogenetic events were associated with survival. Results: A single copy gain of 1q was shown to be a negative prognostic marker for survival in medulloblastomas with high statistical significance (P &amp;lt; 0.0001, log-rank test). Conclusion: A gain of 1q provides a potential means of predicting overall survival in medulloblastoma.
Contribution of vagal pathways to the renal responses to head-out immersion in the nonhuman primate.
Authors: J P Gilmore, I H Zucker
Journal: Circulation Research (1978)

Studies were carried out to determine the contribution of cardiopulmonary receptors to the renal responses to head-out water immersion in the nonhuman primate. Immersion to the suprasternal notch was associated with significant increases in central venous pressure, urine flow, and sodium excretion. The increased sodium excretion was due primarily to a significant increase in the percent of the filtered sodium excreted. Deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and antiduretic hormone (ADH) had no substantial effects on these responses. The finding of a vasopressin-resistant hyposthenuria is consistent with the natriuresis of immersion being due, at least in part, to a decrease in sodium reabsorption proximal to the diluting segment, possibly the proximal tubule. Bilateral cervical vagotomy had no substantial influence on the renal responses to immersion, demonstrating that cardiopulmonary receptors whose axons traverse the vagus nerves are not necessary for the homeostatic adjustments to central hypervolemia in the primate. Since the renal and cardiovascular responses of the primate to immersion are essentially the same as those seen in man, it is probable that vagal pathways also are not necessary in man. However, it is possible that sympathetic afferents are involved in the natriuresis observed in the primate during immersion.
Divergent roles of ALS-linked proteins FUS/TLS and TDP-43 intersect in processing long pre-mRNAs
Authors: Clotilde Lagier-Tourenne, Magdalini Polymenidou, Kasey R Hutt, Anthony Q Vu, Michael Baughn, Stephanie C Huelga, Kevin M Clutario, Shuo-Chien Ling, Tiffany Y Liang, Curt Mazur, Edward Wancewicz, Aneeza S Kim, Andy Watt, Sue Freier, Geoffrey G Hicks, John Paul Donohue, Lily Shiue, C Frank Bennett, John Ravits, Don W Cleveland, Gene W Yeo
Journal: Nature Neuroscience (2012)
New treatment approach shows promise for relapsed Hodgkin's lymphoma
Authors: J. Wise
Journal: BMJ (2015)

Sera from patients attending a sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic, a family planning clinic, and an antenatal clinic in Ibadan, Nigeria, as well as from male blood donors from the same area were tested for the presence of type specific antichlamydial antibodies using a modified micro-immunofluorescence test. Among men and women attending the STD clinic the exposure rates to Chlamydia trachomatis serotypes D to K (genital pathogens) were 18.7% and 26.7% respectively. Antibody titres suggesting active disease in these men and women were found in 11.8% and 22.7% respectively. The highest rate of exposure (35%) was among women attending the family planning clinic; of these women 25% had antibody suggesting active disease. Titres of IgG antibody in this study were similar to those found among men and women with chlamydial genital infections in the United Kingdom. Antibodies to serotypes D to K were also detected in 10.3% of women attending an antenatal clinic and in 9.9% of male blood donors. The prevalence of antibodies to C trachomatis serotypes A to C and lymphogranuloma venereum serotypes was low. These results suggest that the prevalence of chlamydial genital infections in Ibadan, both among STD patients and especially among those individuals not seeking treatment (family planning and antenatal clinic patients), is high. Since serious sequelae can follow chlamydial genital infections it is imperative to carry out further investigations in this area.
Occupational and non-occupational attributable risk of asbestos exposure for malignant pleural mesothelioma
Authors: A Lacourt, C Gramond, P Rolland, S Ducamp, S Audignon, P Astoul, S Chamming's, A Gilg Soit Ilg, M Rinaldo, C Raherison, F Galateau-Salle, E Imbernon, J C Pairon, M Goldberg, P Brochard
Journal: Thorax (2014)

To estimate the proportion of pleural mesothelioma cases that can be attributed to asbestos exposure in France including non-occupational exposure. A population-based case-control study including 437 incident cases and 874 controls was conducted from 1998 to 2002. Occupational and non-occupational asbestos exposure was assessed retrospectively by two expert hygienists. ORs of pleural mesothelioma for asbestos-exposed subjects compared to non-exposed subjects, and population-attributable risk (ARp) of asbestos exposure were estimated using a conditional logistic regression. A clear dose-response relationship was observed between occupational asbestos exposure and pleural mesothelioma (OR=4.0 (99% CI 1.9 to 8.3) for men exposed at less than 0.1 f/mL-year vs. 67.0 (99% CI 25.6 to 175.1) for men exposed at more than 10 f/mL-year). The occupational asbestos ARp was 83.1% (99% CI 74.5% to 91.7%) for men and 41.7% (99% CI 25.3% to 58.0%) for women. A higher risk of pleural mesothelioma was observed in subjects non-occupationally exposed to asbestos compared to those never exposed. The non-occupational asbestos ARp for these subjects was 20.0% (99% CI -33.5% to 73.5%) in men and 38.7% (99% CI 8.4% to 69.0%) in women. When considering all kinds of asbestos exposure, ARp was 87.3% (99% CI 78.9% to 95.7%) for men and 64.8% (99% CI 45.4% to 84.3%) for women. Our study suggests that the overall ARp in women is largely driven by non-occupational asbestos exposure arguing for the strong impact of such exposure in pleural mesothelioma occurrence. Considering the difficulty in assessing domestic or environmental asbestos exposure, this could explain the observed difference in ARp between men and women.
A new technique for mounting and testing frame-supported homograft aortic valves
Authors: R. J. Donnelly, F. Dexter, P. B. Deverall, D. A. Watson
Journal: Thorax (1971)

The mounting of homograft aortic valves on rigid frames often produces cusp distortion leading to mechanical dysfunction. This dysfunction can be demonstrated by a simple testing apparatus. A technique of valve mounting has been developed which consistently results in a competent valve with exact and correct cusp apposition. It is clear that the effect of different techniques of sterilization and preservation on valve function cannot be adequately assessed unless valves are mechanically correct at the time of insertion.
<i>Ex Vivo</i> Expansion of Highly Cytotoxic Human NK Cells by Cocultivation with Irradiated Tumor Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy
Authors: Seon Ah Lim, Tae-Jin Kim, Jung Eun Lee, Chung Hee Sonn, Kwanghee Kim, Jiyoung Kim, Jong Gwon Choi, Il-Kyu Choi, Chae-Ok Yun, Jae-Hong Kim, Cassian Yee, Vinay Kumar, Kyung-Mi Lee
Journal: Cancer Research (2013)

Abstract Adoptive natural killer (NK) cell therapy may offer an effective treatment regimen for cancer patients whose disease is refractory to conventional therapy. NK cells can kill a wide range of tumor cells by patterned recognition of target ligands. We hypothesized that tumor targets sensitive to NK lysis would drive vigorous expansion of NK cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Here, we provide the basis for developing a novel ex vivo expansion process. By screening class I–negative or –mismatched tumor cell lines we identified a Jurkat T-lymphoblast subline termed KL-1, which was highly effective in specifically expanding NK cells. KL-1 addition to PBMC cultures achieved approximately 100-fold expansion of NK cells with nearly 90% purity, accompanied by reciprocal inhibition of T-cell growth. Marked elevations in expression of activation receptors, natural cytotoxicity receptors (NKp30, NKp44), and adhesion molecules (CD11a, ICAM-1) were associated with high tumor-lytic capacity, in both in vitro and in vivo models. KL-1–mediated expansion of NK cells was contact dependent and required interactions with CD16, the Fcγ receptor on NK cells, with ligands that are expressed on B cells. Indeed, B-cell depletion during culture abrogated selective NK cell expansion, while addition of EBV-transformed B cells further augmented NK expansion to approximately 740-fold. Together, our studies define a novel method for efficient activation of human NK cells that employs KL-1–lysed tumor cells and cocultured B cells, which drive a robust expansion of potent antitumor effector cells that will be useful for clinical evaluation. Cancer Res; 73(8); 2598–607. ©2012 AACR.
Antidepressant Treatment of Depression in the Finnish General Population
Authors: Tanja Laukkala, Erkki Isometsä, Juha Hämäläinen, Martti Heikkinen, Sari Lindeman, Hillevi Aro
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2001)

OBJECTIVE: Antidepressant use has increased in the last decade, but whether depression continues to be undertreated is unknown. The authors investigated the prevalence of antidepressant treatment and its predictors in a recent general population sample of depressed subjects. METHOD: As part of the Finnish Health Care Survey, in 1996 a representative sample of Finns (N=5,993) aged 15–75 years underwent a standardized face-to-face interview that used the DSM-III-R criteria for major depressive episode. RESULTS: Only 13% of subjects with a major depressive episode during the preceding 12 months (70 of 557) reported current use of an antidepressant. In logistic regression models, use of psychiatric services for depression, regular use of any other medication, more than 1 month of sick leave, and smoking were associated with antidepressant treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Most depressed subjects in 1996 in Finland were not receiving antidepressant treatment despite the several-fold increase in antidepressant use in the 1990s.
CONGKNITAL MACULAR URTICARIA PIGMENTOSA COMPLICATED BY MASSIVE NODULAR MASTOCYTOSIS WITH SYSTMETIC INVOLVEMENT
Authors: LUCIO BAKOS, RONILDO STORCK, ERNESTO SILVEIRA NETTO
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1972)

Summary.— A case of congenital macular urticaria pigmentosa ran a normal course untii puberty, when large cutaneous tumours appeared, associated with episodic flushing, malaise and gastrointestinal symptoms. There were repeated episodes of profuse bleeding after local trauma. Systemic mastocyte infiltrate was found in liver, lymph nodes and bones. Review of the literature on miastocytosis failed to show any similar case. Althoush the patient is now aged 37 and has survived surgical removal of cutaneous tumour masses, it is suggested that her prognosis is poor.
The transcription factor BATF operates as an essential differentiation checkpoint in early effector CD8+ T cells
Authors: Makoto Kurachi, R Anthony Barnitz, Nir Yosef, Pamela M Odorizzi, Michael A DiIorio, Madeleine E Lemieux, Kathleen Yates, Jernej Godec, Martin G Klatt, Aviv Regev, E John Wherry, W Nicholas Haining
Journal: Nature Immunology (2014)
Vascular Tissue Engineering
Authors: Robert M. Nerem, Dror Seliktar
Journal: Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering (2001)

▪ Abstract The development of a tissue-engineered blood vessel substitute has motivated much of the research in the area of cardiovascular tissue engineering over the past 20 years. Several methodologies have emerged for constructing blood vessel replacements with biological functionality. These include cell-seeded collagen gels, cell-seeded biodegradable synthetic polymer scaffolds, cell self-assembly, and acellular techniques. This review details the most recent developments, with a focus on core technologies and construct development. Specific examples are discussed to illustrate both the benefits and shortcomings of each methodology, as well as to underline common themes. Finally, a brief perspective on challenges for the future is presented.
Endotoxin protein is a mitogen and polyclonal activator of human B lymphocytes.
Authors: G W Goodman, B M Sultzer
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1979)

Endotoxin protein (EP) has been shown to be a mitogen and polyclonal activator of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. EP stimulates proliferation of B lymphoyctes in the absence of T cells, and this activation is nonspecific by a number of parameters. Additionally, EP mitogenesis, but not polyclonal activation, is inhibited in the presence of human serum, suggesting that these events are dissociable. In these studies, EP appears to be equivalent to or better than pokeweed mitogen in stimulating nonspecific antibody production in vitro.
Placebo analgesia in patients with functional and organic abdominal pain: a fMRI study in IBS, UC and healthy volunteers
Authors: Julia Schmid, Jost Langhorst, Florian Gaß, Nina Theysohn, Sven Benson, Harald Engler, Elke R Gizewski, Michael Forsting, Sigrid Elsenbruch
Journal: Gut (2014)

<h3>Objective</h3> Understanding the neural circuitry of placebo analgesia in the context of visceral pain is increasingly important given evidence of clinical benefit of placebo treatment in IBS. This functional MRI study addressed placebo analgesia in IBS, UC and healthy control (HC) volunteers. <h3>Design</h3> Painful rectal distensions were delivered in N=17 patients with IBS , N=15 patients with UC in remission, and sex-matched and age-matched HCs in an adaptation phase followed by intravenous application of saline combined with either positive instructions of pain relief (placebo) or neutral instructions (control). Neural activation during cued-pain anticipation and pain was analysed along with ratings of expected and perceived pain and measures of negative affectivity and salivary cortisol concentrations. Correlational analyses between placebo analgesia responses and negative affect were accomplished. <h3>Results</h3> HC and UC revealed significant pain inhibition during placebo analgesia, as evidenced by reduced neural activation in pain-related brain areas. In contrast, patients with IBS failed to effectively engage neural downregulation of pain, as evidenced by the absence of placebo-induced changes in distension-induced brain activation, resulting in a significant group difference in the cingulate cortex compared with HC. Depression scores correlated with weaker placebo analgesia, whereas state and trait anxiety were not associated. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Patients with IBS failed to effectively engage neural downregulation of rectal distension-induced pain during placebo analgesia, indicating a specific deficit in cognitive pain inhibition, which may in part be mediated by depression.
Predictive factors of the long term outcome in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: six year follow up of 107 patients.
Authors: E Kuster, E Ros, V Toledo-Pimentel, A Pujol, J M Bordas, L Grande, C Pera
Journal: Gut (1994)

There is little information concerning the long term outcome of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Thus 109 patients with reflux symptoms (33 with erosive oesophagitis) with a diagnosis of GORD after clinical evaluation and oesophageal testing were studied. All patients were treated with a stepwise approach: (a) lifestyle changes were suggested aimed at reducing reflux and antacids and the prokinetic agent domperidone were prescribed; (b) H2 blockers were added after two months when symptoms persisted; (c) anti-reflux surgery was indicated when there was no response to (b). Treatment was adjusted to maintain clinical remission during follow up. Long term treatment need was defined as minor when conservative measures sufficed for proper control, and as major if daily H2 blockers or surgery were required. The results showed that one third of the patients each had initial therapeutic need (a), (b), and (c). Of 103 patients available for follow up at three years and 89 at six years, respective therapeutic needs were minor in 52% and 55% and major in 48% and 45%. Eighty per cent of patients in (a), 67% in (b), and 17% in (c) required only conservative measures at six years. A decreasing lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (p &lt; 0.001), radiological reflux (p = 0.028), and erosive oesophagitis (p = 0.031), but not initial clinical scores, were independent predictors of major therapeutic need as shown by multivariate analysis. The long term outcome of GORD is better than previously perceived.
CD27 sustains survival of CTLs in virus-infected nonlymphoid tissue in mice by inducing autocrine IL-2 production
Authors: Victor Peperzak, Yanling Xiao, Elise A.M. Veraar, Jannie Borst
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2009)

Immunity to infections relies on clonal expansion of CD8+ T cells, their maintenance as effector CTLs, and their selection into a memory population. These processes rely on delivery of survival signals to activated CD8+ T cells. We here reveal the mechanism by which costimulatory CD27-CD70 interactions sustain survival of CD8+ effector T cells in infected tissue. By unbiased genome-wide gene expression analysis, we identified the Il2 gene as the most prominent CD27 target gene in murine CD8+ T cells. In vitro, CD27 directed IL-2 expression and promoted clonal expansion of primed CD8+ T cells exclusively by IL-2-dependent survival signaling. In mice intranasally infected with influenza virus, Cd27-/- CD8+ effector T cells displayed reduced IL-2 production, accompanied by impaired accumulation in lymphoid organs and in the lungs, which constitute the tissue effector site. Reconstitution of Cd27-/- CD8+ T cells with the IL2 gene restored their accumulation to wild-type levels in the lungs, but it did not rescue their accumulation in lymphoid organs. Competition experiments showed that the IL-2 produced under the control of CD27 supported effector CD8+ T cell survival in the lungs in an autocrine manner. We conclude that CD27 signaling directs the IL-2 production that is reportedly essential to sustain survival of virus-specific CTLs in nonlymphoid tissue.
Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in three geographically and genetically different populations of ankylosing spondylitis and other spondyloarthropathies
Authors: C. Ramos-Remus, A. S Russell, A. Gomez-Vargas, A. Hernandez-Chavez, W. P Maksymowych, J. I Gamez-Nava, L. Gonzalez-Lopez, A. Garcia-Hernandez, E. Meono-Morales, R. Burgos-Vargas, M. E Suarez-Almazor
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1998)

Cross sectional.(a) Is any clinical variable of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) associated with the presence of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL)? and (b) Is OPLL present in patients with AS from different geographical or genetic backgrounds?Three groups were assembled: (1) a prospective group of 103 consecutive AS patients from two community based rheumatology clinics from Guadalajara, who were evaluated using: a questionnaire with disease characteristics variables; clinical assessment by a neurologist; lateral radiographic views of the cervical spine and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP). (2) Fifty one spondyloarthropathies (SpA) patients from Mexico city whose cervical spine films were retrospectively reviewed. (3) Thirty nine AS patients from Edmonton, Canada whose cervical spine films were retrospectively reviewed and compared with 72 controls.Group 1: 74% of the 103 patients were men and 86% were HLA-B27 positive. The mean age was 35 years, and mean (SD) disease duration 10 (8) years. OPLL was reported in 16 patients (15.5%; 95% CI 9, 22). OPLL was statistically associated with older age (p = 0.001), longer disease duration (p = 0.001), clinical myelopathy (p = 0.03), worst functional index (p = 0.042), restricted axial movement measurements (all p < 0.001), radiological sacroilitis (p < 0.001 for linear association), osteitis pubis (p = 0.009), hip involvement (p = 0.006 for linear association), and abnormal SSEP (p = 0.008). Group 2: 92% of 51 patients were men; the mean age was 30 years and the mean (SD) disease duration 11 (7) years. OPLL was reported in 15 (29%, 95% CI 17, 41) patients (nine AS, two psoriatic arthritis, three juvenile AS, and one Reiter's syndrome). Group 3: 95% of the 39 patients were men; the mean of age was 46 years and disease duration of 18 (10) years. OPLL was reported in nine (23%; 95% CI 10, 36) patients, including one with psoriatic arthritis, and two with Crohn's disease. OPLL was observed in two of the control group.The prevalence of OPLL in AS and SpA is higher than previously recognised and seems to be associated with variables identifying more severe axial disease.