tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a novel monoclonal enzyme immunoassay for detection of Helicobacter pylori antigen in stool from children
Authors: S. Koletzko, N. Konstantopoulos, D.K. Bosman, A. Feydt-Schmidt, A. van der Ende, N. Kalach, J. Raymond, H. Russmann
Journal: Gut (2003)

<b>Background:</b> Reliable non-invasive methods for detection of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection are required to investigate the incidence, transmission, and clearance of infection in childhood. <b>Aim:</b> To evaluate a new monoclonal enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (FemtoLab H pylori Cnx) for detection of <i>H pylori</i> antigen in stool in a large cohort of children compared with invasive diagnostic methods and the <sup>13</sup>C urea breath test. <b>Patients and methods:</b> A total of 302 symptomatic previously untreated children (aged 0.5–18.7 years; 148 girls) were recruited at three centres. <i>H pylori</i> status was defined by results of culture, histology, the rapid urease test, and the <sup>13</sup>C urea breath test. Stool samples were investigated locally by the EIA using two different production lots. According to the manufacturer's recommendations, an optical density (OD) of 0.150 was used as a cut off value. <b>Results:</b> OD values clearly differentiated between the 92 <i>H pylori</i> infected and the 210 non-infected children (median (5th–95th percentiles) 2.729 (0.232–&gt;4.000) <i>v</i> 0.021 (0.009–0.075)). Only two false positive and two false negative results occurred, giving a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 98%, 99%, 98%, and 99%, respectively. No significant relation was found between age and OD values in infected or non-infected children. <b>Conclusions:</b> The monoclonal stool antigen EIA was excellent in diagnosing <i>H pylori</i> infection in symptomatic children. Accuracy was independent of the laboratory, production lot used, or the child's age. Because only 18/116 children &lt;6 years of age were infected with <i>H pylori</i>, further validation of the test is needed in young infected children.
Development of Streptomycin Resistant Strains of Tubercle Bacilli in Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Results of Simultaneous Sensitivity Tests in Liquid and on Solid Media
Authors: D. A. Mitchison
Journal: Thorax (1950)

A series of cases of pulmonary tuberculosis has been treated with streptomycin under the auspices of the Medical Research Council.In some of the cases the antibiotic was given intermittently, a period of treatment alternating with a rest period.The results of this investigation will be published elsewhere.Sputa from a group of 18 of these patients treated at the Brompton Hospital, London, were investigated in greater detail in an attempt to obtain further information about the strains of tubercle bacilli excreted during the development of streptomycin resis- tance.The sputa were cultured directly on solid medium containing streptomycin in various concentrations and sensitivity tests in liquid medium were done at the same time. METHOD OF INVESTIGATIONThe patients were aged from 17 to 30 years, and suffered from acute progressive bilateral pulmonary tuberculosis of recent origin.The condition of the disease on admission is comparable to that in an earlier series of patients (Medical Research Council, 1948a).There were 3 men and 15 women.Dosage of Streptomycin.-Patientswere divided into four treatment groups.Group 1.-Every six hours 0.5 g. was given intramuscularly.This was continued for a week and was then followed by a week without treatment.An alternation of a week's treatment and a week's rest period was continued over six months.This group contained four patients, Nos. 1-4.Group 11.-The same dosage was given for 28 days and was followed by 28 days without treatment.These alternating periods were continued for six months.This group contained four patients, Nos. 5-8.Group 111.-Every six hours 0.25 g. was given intramuscularly.This was continued without rest periods for six months.This group contained four patients, Nos. 9-12.Group IV.-A single injection of 1 g. was given every day for six months.This group contained six patients, Nos. 13-18.Sensitivity Tests.-Eachweek a specimen of sputum was collected over 24 hours.Its volume was measured and it was treated in a screw-capped bottle by adding three
The Rho exchange factor Arhgef1 mediates the effects of angiotensin II on vascular tone and blood pressure
Authors: Christophe Guilluy, Jérémy Brégeon, Gilles Toumaniantz, Malvyne Rolli-Derkinderen, Kevin Retailleau, Laurent Loufrani, Daniel Henrion, Elizabeth Scalbert, Antoine Bril, Raul M Torres, Stephan Offermanns, Pierre Pacaud, Gervaise Loirand
Journal: Nature Medicine (2010)
Bronchodilator responsiveness in patients with COPD
Authors: D. P. Tashkin, B. Celli, M. Decramer, D. Liu, D. Burkhart, C. Cassino, S. Kesten
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2008)

The degree of acute improvement in spirometric indices after bronchodilator inhalation varies among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, and depends upon the type and dose of bronchodilator and the timing of administration. Acute bronchodilator responsiveness at baseline was examined in a large cohort of patients with moderate-to-very-severe COPD participating in the Understanding Potential Long-term Impacts on Function with Tiotropium (UPLIFT) trial, a 4-yr randomised double-blind trial evaluating the efficacy of 18 mug tiotropium daily in reducing the rate of decline in lung function. After wash-out of respiratory medications, patients received 80 mug ipratropium followed by 400 mug salbutamol. Spirometry was performed before and 90 min following ipratropium administration. The criteria used for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) responsiveness were: >or=12% increase over baseline and >or=200 mL; >or=15% increase over baseline; and >or=10% absolute increase in the percentage predicted value. Of the patients, 5,756 had data meeting the criteria for analysis (age 64.5 yrs; 75% male; baseline FEV(1) 1.10 L (39.3% predicted) and forced vital capacity (FVC) 2.63 L). Compared with baseline, mean improvements were 229 mL in FEV(1) and 407 mL in FVC. Of these patients, 53.9% had >or=12% and >or=200 mL improvement in FEV(1), 65.6% had >or=15% improvement in FEV(1), and 38.6% had >or=10% absolute increase in FEV(1) % pred. The majority of patients with moderate-to-very-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease demonstrate meaningful increases in lung function following administration of inhaled anticholinergic plus sympathomimetic bronchodilators.
Patterns of Molecular Evolution of an Avian Neo-sex Chromosome
Authors: Irene Pala, Dennis Hasselquist, Staffan Bensch, Bengt Hansson
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2012)

Newer parts of sex chromosomes, neo-sex chromosomes, offer unique possibilities for studying gene degeneration and sequence evolution in response to loss of recombination and population size decrease. We have recently described a neo-sex chromosome system in Sylvioidea passerines that has resulted from a fusion between the first half (10 Mb) of chromosome 4a and the ancestral sex chromosomes. In this study, we report the results of molecular analyses of neo-Z and neo-W gametologs and intronic parts of neo-Z and autosomal genes on the second half of chromosome 4a in three species within different Sylvioidea lineages (Acrocephalidea, Timaliidae, and Alaudidae). In line with hypotheses of neo-sex chromosome evolution, we observe 1) lower genetic diversity of neo-Z genes compared with autosomal genes, 2) moderate synonymous and weak nonsynonymous sequence divergence between neo-Z and neo-W gametologs, and 3) lower GC content on neo-W than neo-Z gametologs. Phylogenetic reconstruction of eight neo-Z and neo-W gametologs suggests that recombination continued after the split of Alaudidae from the rest of the Sylvioidea lineages (i.e., after ∼42.2 Ma) and with some exceptions also after the split of Acrocephalidea and Timaliidae (i.e., after ∼39.4 Ma). The Sylvioidea neo-sex chromosome shares classical evolutionary features with the ancestral sex chromosomes but, as expected from its more recent origin, shows weaker divergence between gametologs.
Faecal free fatty acids in tropical sprue and their possible role in the production of diarrhoea by inhibition of ATPases.
Authors: C Tiruppathi, K A Balasubramanian, P G Hill, V I Mathan
Journal: Gut (1983)

AIMS: To study the incidence and possible cause of abnormalities of the subfoveal choriocapillaris after surgical excision of subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation in age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). METHODS: The postoperative fluorescein angiograms and colour photographs of 29 eyes of 29 patients were reviewed after surgical excision of subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation in exudative ARMD. Preoperative and postoperative fluorescein angiograms were examined for perfusion of the subfoveal choriocapillaris. The excised subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes from eight eyes that demonstrated postoperative abnormalities of the choriocapillaris were embedded in paraffin, serially sectioned and examined for the presence of the choriocapillaris. RESULTS: Postoperative fluorescein angiograms revealed abnormal perfusion of the subfoveal choriocapillaris in 26 of the 29 eyes (90%) and in all eight eyes that had histopathological examination of the surgical specimens. Examination of serial sections demonstrated that none of the excised neovascular membranes contained choriocapillaris. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal perfusion of the subfoveal choriocapillaris was frequently present following removal of the subfoveal neovascular membrane in ARMD. The histopathological study demonstrated that abnormalities of the choriocapillaris were not due to removal of the choriocapillaris at the time of surgery.
Human immunodeficiency virus associated spondyloarthropathy: pathogenic insights based on imaging findings and response to highly active antiretroviral treatment
Authors: D McGonagle
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2001)

The pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated spondyloarthropathy (SpA) is poorly understood. In this case report a patient is described with severe HIV associated reactive arthritis, who on magnetic resonance imaging and sonographic imaging of inflamed knees had extensive polyenthesitis and adjacent osteitis. The arthritis deteriorated despite conventional antirheumatic treatment, but improved dramatically after highly active antiretroviral treatment, which was accompanied by a significant rise in CD4 T lymphocyte counts. The implications of the localisation of pathology and effect of treatment for pathogenic models of SpA and rheumatoid arthritis in the setting of HIV infection are discussed.
Influence of a Diet Very High in Vegetables, Fruit, and Fiber and Low in Fat on Prognosis Following Treatment for Breast Cancer
Authors: John P. Pierce, Loki Natarajan, Bette J. Caan, Barbara A. Parker, E. Robert Greenberg, Shirley W. Flatt, Cheryl L. Rock, Sheila Kealey, Wael K. Al-Delaimy, Wayne A. Bardwell, Robert W. Carlson, Jennifer A. Emond, Susan Faerber, Ellen B. Gold, Richard A. Hajek, Kathryn Hollenbach, Lovell A. Jones, Njeri Karanja, Lisa Madlensky, James Marshall, Vicky A. Newman, Cheryl Ritenbaugh, Cynthia A. Thomson, Linda Wasserman, Marcia L. Stefanick
Journal: JAMA (2007)

Evidence is lacking that a dietary pattern high in vegetables, fruit, and fiber and low in total fat can influence breast cancer recurrence or survival.
Silibinin Inhibits Established Prostate Tumor Growth, Progression, Invasion, and Metastasis and Suppresses Tumor Angiogenesis and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of the Mouse Prostate Model Mice
Authors: Rana P. Singh, Komal Raina, Girish Sharma, Rajesh Agarwal
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2008)

The chronic nature of prostate cancer growth and progression leading to metastasis provides a large window for intervention. Herein, for the first time, we investigated the effect and associated mechanisms of silibinin phosphatidylcholine (silybin-phytosome) on established prostate tumors in transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model.Twenty-week-old TRAMP male mice having palpable prostate tumor were fed with control or 0.5% and 1%, w/w, silybin-phytosome diets for 11 weeks and then sacrificed.Dietary silibinin inhibited the growth of prostate tumors (up to 60%, P < 0.001) and suppressed tumor progression from prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia to differentiated adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, with a complete absence of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma at higher doses. It also inhibited the incidence of tumor invasion of seminal vesicle (up to 81%, P < 0.001) with complete absence of distant metastasis. Silibinin moderately inhibited tumor cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, but strongly suppressed tumor microvessel density (up to 60%, P < 0.001), vascular endothelial growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 expression. Antibody array analysis of plasma showed a decrease in the circulatory levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. Decreased levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), snail-1, and vimentin, and an increased level of E-cadherin were also observed, indicating the anti-epithelial-mesenchymal transition effect of silibinin in tumors.Overall, silibinin treatment of TRAMP mice bearing prostate tumor inhibited tumor growth, progression, local invasion, and distant metastasis involving suppression of tumor angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. These findings would have greater relevance for the ongoing phase II clinical trial with silibinin-phytosome in prostate cancer patients.
A prospective study of injuries in elite soccer referees and assistant referees
Authors: F Wilson, C Gissane, A Byrne
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2011)

Background Injury incidence in soccer players has received wide attention, but there is a lack of information dealing with match officials. Objective To examine the profile and incidence of injury in soccer match officials. Design A 12 month prospective cohort injury surveillance programme. Setting Elite soccer referees and assistant referees who were part of the Football Association of Ireland referee database. Participants 31 participants (27 males and 4 females), mean age 33.2 (6.2) years old (69% of the available cohort). Assessment of risk factors Weekly web based survey, followed up by a telephone interview in those cases who reported injury. Main outcome measurements Details of training and match officiating. New injuries in terms of site of the body, type of injury, where, when and how it took place. Results Most activity time was spent training (61%) with 39% spent officiating. 38 injuries were recorded, (8.8/1000 h training (CI 6.2 to 12.0) and 16.4/1000 h for match officiating (CI 10.9 to 23.8), (RR 4.3, 2.1 to 8.9)). 55% (CI 40 to 70%) were injuries to muscles. 76% (CI 61 to 87) were to the lower leg. Overuse injuries represented 61% (CI 45 to 74%) of all cases. Achilles tendinopathy and hip/groin muscle strain were the most common injuries (18.4% of all injuries each). The proportion of overuse injuries that took place in matches (68%) and training (40%) were not significantly different (difference=28%, 95% CI −6 to 55). Only two injuries (5.3%, 95% CI 1.5 to 17.0) involved contact, both during training. Conclusion Elite match officials complete high volumes of training and officiating. Match officials are at risk of sustaining injury which in training, is similar to the incidence reported in soccer players.
Identification of the Apoptosis Activation Cascade Induced in Mammary Carcinomas by Energy Restriction
Authors: Henry J. Thompson, Zongjian Zhu, Weiqin Jiang
Journal: Cancer Research (2004)

Abstract Energy restriction (ER) inhibits mammary carcinogenesis and results in a marked reduction in tumor size, effects likely to be explained by ER-mediated induction of apoptosis. The goal of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism(s) accounting for apoptosis induction. To do this, chemically induced mammary carcinomas were evaluated from rats that were ad libitum fed (control), 40% ER, or 40% ER but energy repleted for 7 days before study termination (ER-REP); the ER-REP group permitted the determination of the reversibility of ER-mediated effects. Cleaved products of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 were elevated by ER (P &amp;lt; 0.025) providing biochemical evidence of apoptosis induction. cDNA microarray analysis identified the Bcl-2, CARD, and IAP functional gene groupings as being involved in apoptosis induction. Consistent with the microarray data, the activities of caspases 9 and 3 were observed to be ∼2-fold higher in carcinomas from ER rats (P ≤ 0.01), whereas caspase 8 activity was similar in carcinomas from all three of the groups. This evidence that ER-induced apoptosis mediated by the mitochondrial pathway was additionally supported by the finding that levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, and XIAP protein were significantly lower (P &amp;lt; 0.01), and levels of Bax and Apaf-1 were elevated (P &amp;lt; 0.02) in ER carcinomas versus those carcinomas from control or ER-REP rats. Additional studies revealed that Akt phosphorylation (activation) was reduced in mammary carcinomas from ER rats. Thus, it appears that ER induces apoptosis in mammary carcinomas via a cell survival factor-dependent pathway.
Generalised allergic reactions to aminophylline.
Authors: P J Thompson, W R Gibb, P Cole, K M Citron
Journal: Thorax (1984)

Details of three patients who developed allergic responses to aminophylline are presented, together with data on such reactions compiled from reports submitted to the Committee on Safety of Medicines. Two of the patients developed generalised rashes within one day of starting treatment with oral aminophylline. Other symptoms included malaise and confusion. A third patient had severe generalised symptoms and a high fever, which was reproduced on challenge testing. Forty five of 147 reactions to aminophylline reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines referred to dermatological or allergic reactions and in two instances exfoliative dermatitis was described. In contrast, only seven of 61 reported reactions to theophylline described skin or allergic responses and in none of these was dermatitis or a specified rash mentioned. The available evidence suggests that ethylenediamine rather than the xanthine component of aminophylline may be the principal cause of the reactions.
Primary lung adenocarcinoma: characteristics by smoking habit and sex
Authors: H. Nagy-Mignotte, P. Guillem, A. Vesin, A.C. Toffart, M. Colonna, V. Bonneterre, P.Y. Brichon, C. Brambilla, E. Brambilla, S. Lantuejoul, J.F. Timsit, D. Moro-Sibilot
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

The incidence of adenocarcinoma is increasing, particularly among females. We sought to assess the role of tobacco consumption in clinical presentation according to sex. In this retrospective study, 848 patients diagnosed between 1997 and 2006 at Grenoble University Hospital (Grenoble, France) were stratified into four groups according to smoking habits. Differences between sexes and two contrasting female profiles emerged. Female current smokers were younger than female never-smokers (median 51 versus 69 yrs; p < 0.001), more often had surgery (62.7% versus 39%; p = 0.01) and had a median (95% CI) estimated survival of 26.2 (18.1-49.2) versus 15.1 (12.8-22.2) months (p = 0.002). Both groups had similar survival when taking treatment into account. Among males, smoking did not influence presentation. Male current smokers were older than female current smokers (median 59 yrs; p < 0.001) and fewer had surgery (48.8%; p = 0.015), although the percentage of stage IIIb-IV disease was similar (53% and 46%; nonsignificant) and they had a poorer estimated survival of 14.3 (13.0-18.5) months (p = 0.0024). Males smoked more than females (median 41 versus 30 pack-yrs; p < 0.001). Quitting smoking delayed age at diagnosis by 11 yrs for females (p = 0.0035) and 8 yrs for males (p < 0.001). Our results support the hypothesis that carcinogenesis differs between males and females, and between female smokers and never-smokers.
A 3′UTR polymorphism modulates mRNA stability of the oncogene and drug target Polo-like Kinase 1
Authors: Neval Akdeli, Kathrin Riemann, Jana Westphal, Jochen Hess, Winfried Siffert, Hagen S Bachmann
Journal: Molecular Cancer (2014)

The Polo-like Kinase 1 (PLK1) protein regulates cell cycle progression and is overexpressed in many malignant tissues. Overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in several cancer entities, whereby expression of PLK1 shows high inter-individual variability. Although PLK1 is extensively studied, not much is known about the genetic variability of the PLK1 gene. The function of PLK1 and the expression of the corresponding gene could be influenced by genomic variations. Hence, we investigated the gene for functional polymorphisms. Such polymorphisms could be useful to investigate whether PLK1 alters the risk for and the course of cancer and they could have an impact on the response to PLK1 inhibitors.The coding region, the 5' and 3'UTRs and the regulatory regions of PLK1 were systematically sequenced. We determined the allele frequencies and genotype distributions of putatively functional SNPs in 120 Caucasians and analyzed the linkage and haplotype structure using Haploview. The functional analysis included electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) for detected variants of the silencer and promoter regions and reporter assays for a 3'UTR polymorphism.Four putatively functional polymorphisms were detected and further analyzed, one in the silencer region (rs57973275), one in the core promoter region (rs16972787), one in intron 3 (rs40076) and one polymorphism in the 3'untranslated region (3'UTR) of PLK1 (rs27770). Alleles of rs27770 display different secondary mRNA structures and showed a distinct allele-dependent difference in mRNA stability with a significantly higher reporter activity of the A allele (p < 0.01).The present study provides evidence that at least one genomic variant of PLK1 has functional properties and influences expression of PLK1. This suggests polymorphisms of the PLK1 gene as an interesting target for further studies that might affect cancer risk, tumor progression as well as the response to PLK1 inhibitors.