tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Daily aspirin reduces risk of developing and dying from cancer, researchers find
Authors: I. Torjesen
Journal: BMJ (2014)

Taking a daily dose of aspirin can dramatically reduce the risk of developing and dying from cancer, especially from tumours of the gastrointestinal tract, researchers from Queen Mary University of London have found. 

To reap the benefits, said the study, patients needed to take a 75-100 mg daily dose for at least five years, and preferably for 10 years, between the ages of 50 and 65. No benefit was seen while taking aspirin for the first three years, but an effect was then seen on incidence. Death rates reduced only after five years, and most of the benefits were seen after patients had taken aspirin over a prolonged period and then stopped.

The researchers collated the most recent systematic reviews of the effect of aspirin on the incidence of and mortality from specific cancers and cardiovascular events. This included 51 clinical trials, more than 25 cohort studies, and more than 150 case control studies. They also did searches to quantify the harms to the general population from taking aspirin in terms of the incidence of and mortality from gastrointestinal bleeding, peptic ulcers, and strokes.

The results, published in the Annals of Oncology ,1 showed that aspirin could reduce incidence …
Peritoneal Dialysis for Isopropyl Alcohol Poisoning
Authors: Sohan L. Dua
Journal: JAMA (1974)

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> Isopropyl alcohol poisoning has been successfully treated with hemodialysis.<sup>1</sup>Any substance removed by the artificial kidney can also be removed, although not quite as rapidly, by peritoneal dialysis. As in the case described, acute isopropyl alcohol poisoning can be treated successfully with peritoneal dialysis. <h3>Report of a Case.—</h3> In 1965, after an automobile accident, a 26-year-old man incurred a basal skull fracture and a brainstem contusion. Because of an incomplete recovery, he was mentally retarded and disabled. He had been in otherwise good health until April 17, 1974, when he was admitted to a hospital for the loss of consciousness following a fall in his bathroom. He was semicomatose and responded to deep pain only. He gave off a strong odor of alcohol. A nasogastric lavage yielded coffee-ground material. He was treated with intravenously administered fluids (5% dextrose in water), nasogastric suction, and peritoneal dialysis, which was
The Subversive Science: Essays Toward an Ecology of Man
Authors: Marjorie C. Meehan
Journal: JAMA (1969)

Population explosion, pollution, suburban sprawl, death of the city, the vanishing wilderness—we keep hearing of these threats but usually manage to ignore them. Propagandists, in their efforts to attract our attention, too often try to frighten us and succeed only in making us strengthen our defenses against listening. In this book we find instead a number of clear, calm discussions of environmental problems, providing information and ideas without excessive emotional appeal. Still the title shows that the editors expect readers to find ecology upsetting. The 37 papers, chosen from a wide variety of journals, such as<i>Human Biology, Daedalus, Landscape, American Scientist</i>, are obviously intended for the nonspecialist intelligent reader. They are divided into five groups, of which the first deals with population problems, both human and animal. "The Environmental Encounter" is the title of a group of papers discussing man's reaction to his environment, what he sees, and the
Histological Subtypes of Lung Adenocarcinoma Have Differential 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptakes on the Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Scan
Authors: Chao-Hua Chiu, Yi-Chen Yeh, Ko-Han Lin, Yu-Chun Wu, Yu-Chin Lee, Teh-Ying Chou, Chun-Ming Tsai
Journal: Journal of Thoracic Oncology (2011)
Medicine and Its Technology: An Introduction to the History of Medical Instrumentation
Authors: George F. Smith
Journal: JAMA (1982)

This is an excellent book on the history of medical instrumentation by Audrey B. Davis, who is the curator of medical sciences at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. The book covers mainly the 18th and 19th centuries and is amply illustrated with photographs and drawings of medical instruments of those periods. Such an enormous subject matter precludes totally comprehensive coverage, but the topics that are discussed are dealt with in more than adequate detail. Such instruments as the thermometer and stethoscope, which today are accepted as part of the physician's armamentarium, have a long and exciting history in medicine.  This book is not a dull litany of instruments but an evaluation of the evolution of instrumentation in relationship to the physician, the patient, and the society in which the instruments were developed. As the author correctly points out, with medical instrumentation there also began the evolution of a different
DNA Testing to Identify Rapists in the Former Yugoslavia
Authors: Lisa N. Geller
Journal: JAMA (1994)

To the Editor.  —Drs Swiss and Giller 1 commendably encourage the medical community to take a responsible role in advancing human rights work in the former Yugoslavia. Their suggestion that application of forensic DNA technology to identification of rape perpetrators raises many issues in human rights, technology and the law, and science and society.  The human rights issues of privacy and informed consent must be addressed and considered in cultural context. Guidelines and mechanisms for collection and storage of physical evidence and information about victims, their children, and alleged perpetrators must be established. Likewise, there is no internationally recognized procedure for meeting informed consent requirements under these circumstances. If privacy and informed consent are not adequately safeguarded, the victims may be subject to further ostracization and abuse in their own communities. Alleged perpetrators may also suffer abuse of their human rights if confidentiality is not preserved.  Forensic DNA testing cannot
Improvement in bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with moderate asthma after treatment with a hypnotic technique
Authors: D. R Graham, J. Lewis
Journal: BMJ (1987)

bidity or fetal or neonatal death was lower in the actively managed group, and one cannot help noticing, despite its statistical irrelevance, that one stillbirth occurred among the conservatively managed patients.To say induction oflabour is the less desirable treatment would depend on showing either that this leads to increased fetal damage and death or that any reduction in these end points was so small that women would accept them in preference to the psychological disadvantages and risk of caesarean section with active management.A randomised trial to show any decrease in mortality from say 3 to 1 per 1000 will require 18478 patients in each arm of the trial to have a 90% chance of showing a difference at the p<0 05 significance level.Such a trial would be difficult to organise but is the only way in which a meaningful conclusion to this long discussed problem may be reached.This, of course, is one of the greatest dilemmas of modem obstetrics.The risks which we are called on to balance are so low that only an enormous study will show the safest method of management.Even this evidence, however is not a perfect guide, as many patients might consider a small risk worth while for other perceived advantages.
Inaccuracies in Lincoln Death Documents
Authors: G. Lombard Kelly
Journal: JAMA (1964)

<h3>To the Editor:—</h3> In "The Wound That Killed Lincoln" (<i>JAMA</i><b>187</b>: 480 [Feb 15] 1964) there seem to be two errors in time of day. On page 483, in the left column, 31st line from the top, appears: "About 1 p.m.,..." The only PM time concerned with the tragedy was from the time of the shooting until 12 PM the same night; death occurred at 7:22 AM the following day. In the right column, 16th line from the bottom, occurs. "... I made in your presence at 12 o'clock this morning...." Should that not have been 12 o'clock noon? The President was still living at 12:01 AM.
Antibodies to neurofilament protein in retinitis pigmentosa.
Authors: G M Galbraith, D Emerson, H H Fudenberg, C J Gibbs, D C Gajdusek
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1986)

Antibodies reactive with heterologous neural tissue were detected by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy in the sera of 17 of 34 patients with retinitis pigmentosa, one of 30 normal control sera, and a variable percentage of sera derived from subjects with diverse ocular and neurological diseases. These antibodies were also found both in disease-free first degree relatives and in spouses of patients with retinitis pigmentosa. Analytical sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of human spinal cord components followed by immunoblots with sera under study revealed that the serum antibody was specific for the high molecular weight protein subunit of neurofilaments. No correlation was found between the presence of these antibodies and other immunological and clinical parameters in retinitis pigmentosa. These findings suggest that release of piled-up neurofilaments from damaged neurones in retinitis pigmentosa triggers B lymphocytes autoreactive to neurofilament antigens.
New mutations in keratin 1 that cause bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma and keratin 2e that cause ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens.
Authors: N.V. Whittock, G.H.S. Ashton, W.A.D. Griffiths, R.A.J. Eady, J.A. McGRATH
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2001)

The intermediate filaments of epithelial cells are formed by keratins, a family of structurally related proteins, which are expressed in pairs of acidic (type I) and basic (type II) polypeptides in a tissue- and differentiation-specific manner. Mutations in the genes encoding several keratins have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases of keratinization. We report molecular analysis of two patients with the rare autosomal dominant disorders bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (BCIE) and ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens (IBS). Previous studies have shown that these genodermatoses are due to mutations in the KRT1 and KRT2E genes, respectively. We report a new amino acid substitution mutation in codon 155 of KRT1 (valine to aspartic acid) in the conserved H1 domain of the protein in the patient with BCIE. We also report a novel amino acid substitution mutation in codon 192 of KRT2E (asparagine to lysine) in the conserved 1A helix initiation peptide of the protein in the patient with IBS. Our results demonstrate that these mutations are deleterious to keratin filament network stability and lead to specific clinical inherited disorders of keratinization.
The atopy patch test – reproducibility and comparison of different evaluation methods
Authors: C. Heinemann, S. Schliemann‐Willers, D. Kelterer, U. Metzner, K. Kluge, W. Wigger‐Alberti, P. Elsner
Journal: Allergy (2002)

Background: There is still a lack of standardization of the atopy patch test (APT) in test procedures and evaluation methods. Our aim was to examine the reproducibility of APT results and to compare visual evaluation to chromametry and laser Doppler imaging. Methods: Fifty‐two volunteers with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS) were included. The APT was performed on tape‐stripped and unstripped test fields on their backs using cat dander, house dust mite and grass pollen allergens from two different suppliers. Responders were re‐tested 4–12 weeks later with the same allergens on their forearms. Results: Using Allergopharma allergens, 14 (26.9%) volunteers showed one or more positive reactions. The reproducibility rate was 56.3%. The Erlangen atopy score in APT‐positive and negative volunteers was 19 ± 6 vs 15 ± 6. The test agreement in volunteers tested with both allergens, from Allergopharma and Stallerge`nes, was poor. Correlation of the results between the three evaluation methods was significant ( P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: The low reproducibility rate of APT results and the poor inter‐test‐agreement using allergens from different suppliers show that much work remains to make the APT a reliable tool in identifying relevant aeroallergens that lead to flare ups of AEDS. Compared to chromametry and laser Doppler imaging, visual scoring was superior in differentiation between irritative and allergic reactions.
Clot-dissolving agent undergoes clinical trials
Authors: Phil Gunby
Journal: JAMA (1984)

Investigators hope to complete clinical trials this month in Baltimore, Boston, and St Louis of a genetically engineered human protein for dissolving blood clots in coronary arteries and other vessels. The substance is called tissue-type plasminogen activator, or t-PA (<i>JAMA</i>[MEDICAL NEWS] 1983; 250:2743-2744). Unlike other plasminogen activators such as streptokinase or urokinase, t-PA—which is found in only small amounts in the body—acts specifically on clots and not on other proteins in the blood. The agent is being produced by Genentech Inc of South San Francisco, Calif, which focuses much of its efforts on developing products through recombinant DNA technology. The investigational trials, which are being conducted at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and City Hospitals in Baltimore, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and Barnes Hospital of Washington University in St Louis, will involve up to 45 patients in all. Persons who go to one of the participating hospitals shortly after
Part Played by Calcium in Sympathetic Stimulation
Authors: J. H. Burn, W. R. Gibbons
Journal: BMJ (1964)

BRITJISOLThis supports the view that anergy to tuberculin in sarcoidosis is due to an absence of lymphocytes in the circulation capable of reacting to tuberculin, and also suggests that the Kveim reaction is, unlike the classical delayed hypersensitivity reaction, probably not mediated by lymphocytes.We are grateful to Dr. M. J. Greenberg for referring these patients to us for examination.
Herpes Zoster After Splenectomy
Authors: Dennis M. Manning
Journal: JAMA (1980)

Follow-up information was obtained on 102 unselected patients who had undergone splenectomy for nonmalignant disease (ie, trauma, surgical complications, and hematologic indications). In 422 postsplenectomy years, three cases of herpes zoster were observed, two of which were associated with generalized cutaneous dissemination. This incidence is no greater than that reported elsewhere for age-matched normal population. We conclude that in patients without malignancy, splenectomy does not predispose to herpes zoster, but may play a role in cutaneous dissemination.
Radiolucency in Femoral Head
Authors: James W. Wallace
Journal: JAMA (1971)

Dr. S. Boyd Eaton: This 60-year-old white man was referred to the Massachusetts General Hospital for evaluation of a lesion discovered on roentgenograms. Intermittent left knee and left hip pain had been present for one year. Recently it had been necessary for him to use a crutch. Findings from physical examination and laboratory studies were normal. <h3>Discussion</h3> Dr. Richard C. Pfister: The area of interest is a smoothly marginated, punched-out lucent lesion in the left femoral head (Fig 1). It has an incomplete rim of dense, sclerotic bone. The lesion involves the epiphyseal zone and crosses the closed epiphyseal line into the metaphyseal zone. Giant cell tumor and chondroblastoma are two primary tumors which come to mind only because of the location. It does not look particularly like a giant cell tumor and seems to involve too much of the metaphysis to be a chondroblastoma. It looks more like a
A Cohort Study of Thyroid Disease in Relation to Fallout From Nuclear Weapons Testing
Authors: Richard A. Kerber
Journal: JAMA (1993)

<h3>Objective.</h3> —To estimate individual radiation doses and current thyroid disease status for a previously identified cohort of 4818 schoolchildren potentially exposed to fallout from detonations of nuclear devices at the Nevada Test Site between 1951 and 1958. <h3>Design.</h3> —Cohort analytic study. <h3>Setting.</h3> —Communities in southwestern Utah, southeastern Nevada, and southeastern Arizona. <h3>Participants.</h3> —Individuals who were still residing in the three-state area (n=3122) were reexamined in 1985 and 1986, and information on the subjects' and their mothers' milk and vegetable consumption during the fallout period was obtained by telephone interview (n=3545). After exclusions to eliminate missing data and confounding factors, 2473 subjects were available for analysis. <h3>Main Outcome Measures.</h3> —Individual radiation doses to the thyroid were estimated by combining consumption data with radionuclide deposition rates provided by the US Department of Energy and a survey of milk producers. Relative risk models adjusted for age, sex, and state were fitted using maximum likelihood to period prevalence data for thyroid carcinomas, neoplasms, and nodules. <h3>Results.</h3> —Doses ranged from 0 mGy to 4600 mGy, and averaged 170 mGy in Utah. There was a statistically significant excess of thyroid neoplasms (benign and malignant; n=19), with an increase in excess relative risk of 0.7% per milligray. A relative risk for thyroid neoplasms of 3.4 was observed among 169 subjects exposed to doses greater than 400 mGy. Positive but nonsignificant dose-response slopes were found for carcinomas and nodules. <h3>Conclusions.</h3> —Exposure to Nevada Test Site—generated radioiodines was associated with an excess of thyroid neoplasms. The conclusions are limited by the small number of exposed individuals and the low incidence of thyroid neoplasms. (<i>JAMA</i>. 1993;270:2076-2082)
Let's cut some carbon out of health care
Authors: F. Godlee
Journal: BMJ (2010)

If you haven’t yet joined the worldwide carbon reduction initiative 10:10, there is still time. All you have to do is establish your organisation’s use of electricity, fuel, and road and air travel by the end of this year and commit to cutting it by 10% within 12 months. As Nigel Hawkes describes (doi:10.1136/bmj.c5448), well over 100 healthcare organisations in the UK have signed up, ranging from hospital and primary care trusts to individual general practices. Forty five other countries now have 10:10 organisations.

Health care faces an enormous challenge. At an individual level, high carbon lifestyles are bad for health. At a global level, …
Altered expression of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase and beta 1-adrenergic receptors in the failing human heart.
Authors: M Ungerer, M Böhm, J S Elce, E Erdmann, M J Lohse
Journal: Circulation (1993)

BACKGROUND In chronic heart failure, the positive inotropic effects of beta-adrenergic receptor agonists are greatly reduced, in part as a result of two alterations of the cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors: loss of their function (receptor uncoupling) and reduction of their number (downregulation). In vitro studies have shown that a major mechanism leading to beta-adrenergic receptor uncoupling involves phosphorylation of the receptors by the specific beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (beta ARK). METHODS AND RESULTS We have therefore investigated expression of beta ARK and beta-adrenergic receptors in samples from the left ventricles of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy or ischemic cardiomyopathy and from nonfailing control ventricles. Contractile responses to beta-receptor stimulation were decreased in the failing hearts compared with control hearts, whereas those to forskolin and calcium remained unchanged. The messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of beta ARK, beta 1- and beta 2-receptors, and of glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase and beta-actin as controls were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reactions. In addition, beta ARK enzyme activity assays were performed, and the levels of beta 1- and beta 2-receptors were determined by radioligand binding. beta ARK mRNA levels were increased almost threefold in both forms of heart failure, and beta ARK activity was enhanced. beta 1-Receptor mRNA levels and beta 1-receptor numbers were decreased by approximately 50% in both failing groups, whereas these levels were unaltered for beta 2-receptors. There were no differences between dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathy for any of these parameters. CONCLUSIONS In addition to other alterations found in failing hearts, the diminished response to beta-receptor agonists appears to involve the combined effects of enhanced expression of beta ARK and reduced expression of beta 1-receptors.
Law to broaden access to contraception gets green light in Philippines
Authors: A. Gulland
Journal: BMJ (2014)

The Filipino Supreme Court has ruled that a bill to broaden access to family planning can now pass, after being held up for more than a year by a legal challenge from the Roman Catholic Church and other faith groups.

The Filipino Department of Health called the ruling a “huge victory” and an “amazing day for family planning advocates.”

The controversial Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act was passed by the Filipino parliament in December 2012 after more than 10 years of political wrangling,1 but its implementation was then held up by the legal challenge …
Salt chamber treatment is ineffective in treating eosinophilic inflammation in asthma
Authors: J. Sandell, J. Hedman, K. Saarinen, T. Haahtela
Journal: Allergy (2012)

Abstract Background We have shown that salt chamber treatment reduces airway hyper‐responsiveness as an add‐on therapy in adult asthmatics on inhaled corticosteroids. Methods We assessed whether this effect is due to the suppression of eosinophilic airway inflammation. Thirty‐nine adult asthmatics on inhaled corticosteroids were randomized to receive active salt chamber treatment with low‐salt treatment 6.6 mg/m 3 ( n = 14), high‐salt treatment 10.8 mg/m 3 ( n = 15) or placebo 0.3 mg/m 3 ( n = 10) 10 times in a 2 weeks' period in a double‐blind manner. Results The level of induced sputum eosinophilic cationic protein μg/l, was 3070 before and 4651 after the low‐salt treatment period, on average. In the high‐salt treatment group, it was 12 192 μg/l vs 11 803 and in the placebo group 3942 vs 4144, respectively. Salt chamber treatment had no effect on sputum eosinophil or neutrophil cell numbers. Conclusions The reduction in hyper‐responsiveness observed in the previous study is probably not due to the effect on eosinophilic inflammation.