tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Chloride conductance is activated by membrane distention of cultured chick heart cells
Authors: J. Zhang, M. Lieberman
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1996)

The aim was to apply various maneuvers to perturb the volume of cultured chick cardiac myocytes and to evaluate the association between the swelling-activated chloride conductance and membrane distention.Swelling of single chick heart cells was induced by (1) reduction of external osmolarity; (2) elevation of intracellular osmolarity; (3) isosmotic urea uptake; and (4) positive pressure injection. Changes in cell volume and whole-cell currents were recorded simultaneously and a comparison among differently activated whole-cell currents was made in terms of time course, reversal potential (Erev), whole-cell conductance, and response to a number of channel blockers.Although the time course of cell swelling varied between the different experimental maneuvers, the resultant whole-cell current displayed nearly identical current-voltage relationships: outward rectification and a reversal potential near the calculated chloride equilibrium potential (ECl). The induced currents were inhibited by Cl- channel blockers, diphenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC) and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate (NPPB), and were almost completely suppressed by gadolinium. In addition, the Cl- conductance activated by hyposmotic swelling was largely reversed when cell volume was reduced by applying negative pressure through the whole-cell patch pipette.The close relationship between the degree of cell volume increase and current activation suggests that membrane distention induced by cell swelling triggers a Cl(-)-selective conductance in cardiac myocytes.
Changes in Mortality after Myocardial Revascularization in the Elderly: The National Medicare Experience
Authors: Eric D. Peterson, James G. Jollis, Judith D. Bebchuk, Elizabeth R. DeLong, Lawrence H. Muhlbaier, Daniel B. Mark, David B. Pryor
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1994)

Objective: To examine secular changes in the use and outcome of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and cardiac bypass graft surgery in the elderly. Design: A retrospective cohort study based on a longitudinal database created from the administrative files of Medicare. Setting: U.S. hospitals that perform myocardial revascularization procedures covered by Medicare. Patients: 225 915 consecutive patients who had angioplasty and 357 885 consecutive patients who had bypass surgery from 1987 to 1990. Measurements: The rates of angioplasty and bypass surgery use; unadjusted 30-day and 1-year mortality rates after revascularization; and adjusted odds ratios for mortality by year of procedure for 1987 to 1990. Results: From 1987 to 1990, the rates of angioplasty and bypass surgery done in the elderly increased by 55% and 18%, respectively. During this period, 30-day unadjusted mortality rates after angioplasty and bypass surgery decreased by 25% (95% CI, 22% to 28%) and 12% (CI, 10% to 14%), and 1-year mortality rates decreased by 10% (CI, 8% to 11%) and 8% (CI, 7% to 10%), respectively. After adjustment for changes in patient characteristics, 30-day mortality rates after these procedures decreased by 37% (CI, 32% to 41%) and 18% (CI, 14% to 21%), and 1-year mortality rates decreased by 22% (CI, 18% to 25%) and 19% (CI, 16% to 21%), respectively. Conclusions: The use of cardiac revascularization procedures in the elderly has steadily increased. Patients who had revascularization are progressively older, have more coded comorbid conditions, and present with more acute diseases. Although elderly patients have apparently higher risk profiles, mortality rates after angioplasty and bypass surgery in the elderly have decreased, suggesting a national improvement in the outcomes of these interventions. Health policy decisions concerning revascularization procedures in the elderly must consider these trends in improved outcome.
Bias in Observational Studies of Treatment
Authors: Marshall J. Glesby
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1996)

Letters1 December 1996Bias in Observational Studies of TreatmentMarshall J. Glesby, MD and Donald R. Hoover, PhDMarshall J. Glesby, MDCommunity Research Initiative on AIDS, New York, NY 10001.Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205.Search for more papers by this author and Donald R. Hoover, PhDCommunity Research Initiative on AIDS, New York, NY 10001.Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-125-11-199612010-00025 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Osmond and colleagues make several points about our use of their paper [1] as an example of survivor treatment selection bias. First, although they express concern about this bias in their paper, such a caveat, in our opinion, should not substitute for the use of appropriate statistical models that can address this bias.Second, the authors state that their conclusions were based on survival comparisons between men with and those without diagnoses of P. carinii pneumonia rather than the (biased) proportional hazards model. In fact, survival in their subgroup with P. carinii pneumonia as an initial AIDS-defining diagnosis ...References1. Osmond D, Charlebois E, Lang W, Shiboski S, Moss A. Changes in AIDS survival time in two San Francisco cohorts of homosexual men. 1983 to 1993. JAMA. 1994; 271:1083-7. Google Scholar2. Saah AJ, Hoover DR, Peng Y, Phair JP, Visscher B, Kingsley LA, et al. Predictors for failure of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis. JAMA. 1995; 273:1197-202. Google Scholar3. Lang W, Osmond D, Page-Bodkin K, Moss A, Winkelstein W. Population-based estimates of antiretroviral therapy and anti-pneumocystis prophylaxis in San Franciseo: 1991. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 1993; 6:191-3. Google Scholar4. Lemp GF, Hirozawa AM, Cohen JB, Derish PA, McKinney KC, Hernandez SR. Survival for women and men with AIDS. J Infect Dis. 1992; 166:74-9. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Marshall J. Glesby, MD; Donald R. Hoover, PhDAffiliations: Community Research Initiative on AIDS, New York, NY 10001.Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 December 1996Volume 125, Issue 11Page: 941KeywordsAntiretroviralsCohort studiesDrugsExtrapolationObservational studiesPatientsPneumoniaProphylaxisStatistical modelsSurvival analysis ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 1 December 1996 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1996 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...
Subarachnoid haemorrhage: lumbar puncture for every negative scan?
Authors: Timothy J Coats
Journal: BMJ (2006)

Editor-Gornall is correct to raise the issue of Roy Meadow's and David Southall's omission from the reference list in the Child Protection Companion. 1 2 Southall, along with others, made contributions to the sections on fabricated and induced illness and imposed airway obstruction in chapter 6 of the Companion.Considerable notice was taken of Southall's views on these topics.The editorial group discussed how to manage the references throughout the book and, for these sections, chose to reference only the two documents on fabricated and induced illness produced by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (2002) and the Department of Health (2002).We think that these documents covered the topic and referenced all the essential authors on this topic.In retrospect, however, the lack of appropriate reference to both Southall and Meadow is unsatisfactory, and their important work should have been acknowledged more fully.Unfortunately, at the time of the preparation of the content of the Companion, the two professors were involved in the disciplinary process of the General Medical Council, which has still not been concluded in relation to Meadow and which reached an unfavourable outcome with regard to Southall.We debated their difficult situation.We were concerned for them as individuals, particularly as they have both worked tirelessly in promoting the welfare and safety of children.We were also concerned about the outcome of the GMC hearings.We recognised the potential impact that an adverse outcome would have on the retention and recruitment of paediatricians into child protection and also considered any implications for the Companion, which we were in the process of producing.It is possible that had we referenced the two professors more fully, this could have provided lawyers and journalists with ammunition to undermine the value of the Companion.We were always mindful of the objectives that we had set ourselves in producing the Companion.It was never intended to be a fully referenced textbook, and many seminal papers are therefore not referenced.
High glucose-induced transforming growth factor beta1 production is mediated by the hexosamine pathway in porcine glomerular mesangial cells.
Authors: V Kolm-Litty, U Sauer, A Nerlich, R Lehmann, E D Schleicher
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1998)

Previous studies revealed that exposure of mesangial cells to high glucose concentration induces the production of matrix proteins mediated by TGF-beta1. We tested if structural analogues of D-glucose may mimic the high glucose effect and found that D-glucosamine was strikingly more potent than D-glucose itself in enhancing the production of TGF-beta protein and subsequent production of the matrix components heparan sulfate proteoglycan and fibronectin in a time- and dose-dependent manner. D-Glucosamine also promoted conversion of latent TGF-beta to the active form. Therefore, we suggested that the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (the key enzyme of which is glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase [GFAT]) contributes to the high glucose-induced TGF-beta1 production. Inhibition of GFAT by the substrate analogue azaserine or by inhibition of GFAT protein synthesis with antisense oligonucleotide prevented the high glucose-induced increase in cellular glucosamine metabolites and TGF-beta1 expression and bioactivity and subsequent effects on mesangial cell proliferation and matrix production. Overall, our study indicates that the flux of glucose metabolism through the GFAT catalyzed hexosamine biosynthetic pathway is involved in the glucose-induced mesangial production of TGF-beta leading to increased matrix production.
Contribution of Gardnerella vaginalis to vaginitis in a general practice.
Authors: T C O'Dowd, R R West, C D Ribeiro, J E Smail, J A Munro
Journal: BMJ (1986)

In a study of 154 adult women who presented to their general practitioner with vaginal symptoms 30 (20%) had Gardnerella vaginalis on its own and 51 (33%) had G vaginalis in combination with anaerobes or known pathogens. Thirty one (20%) patients were culture negative. Those who were culture negative had fewer symptoms and signs of vaginitis than those with G vaginalis alone or G vaginalis plus anaerobes. Those with known pathogens had more symptoms and signs than those with G vaginalis alone or G vaginalis plus anaerobes. Those with known pathogens plus G vaginalis had the most severe signs and symptoms of vaginitis. It is concluded that G vaginalis can cause vaginitis on its own, and it makes vaginitis worse when present with other organisms. G vaginalis was also found in 30 (21%) of the 138 control patients who, although they presented "asymptomatically," had worse signs than control patients without G vaginalis. It seems that G vaginalis can occur in a spectrum ranging from the uncomplaining patient to those with severe vaginitis.
Abstract 5048: mTORC1/mTORC2 signaling in pediatric low grade glioma and pilocytic astrocytoma.
Authors: Smit Shah, Marianne Hutt, Matthias A. Karajannis, Eric Raabe, Charles G. Eberhart, Fausto J. Rodriguez
Journal: Cancer Research (2013)

Abstract Pilocytic astrocytoma is the most frequent low grade glioma in children and young adults. Previous studies support a role for MAPK pathway signaling, and more recently AKT/mTOR, in its biology. mTOR operates as part of two different multiprotein signaling complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2. In the current study we evaluated mTORC1/mTORC2 pathway activity in pediatric low grade astrocytoma. We used formalin-fixed paraffin embedded human pilocytic astrocytomas for immunohistochemical studies in tissue microarrays. Moderate (2+) to strong (3+) immunostaining was observed for pS6 in 66/114(58%), p4EBP1 in 35/116(30%), pElF4G in 66/113 (58%), and mTOR (total) in 52/114 (46%), supporting mTOR pathway activation in a subset of pediatric astrocytomas. Specifically, there was increased immunoreactivity in pilocytic astrocytomas of the optic nerve proper (pS6 39/54(72%), p4EBP1 22/54 (41%), 4IF4G 41/53 (77%), and mTOR 28/54 (52%)), a difference that was statistically significant for pS6, p4E-BP1 and pEIF4G (p&amp;lt;0.05, Chi Square). Next, we studied total levels of Raptor (mTORC1 component) and Rictor (mTORC2 component). We observed moderate to strong Raptor reactivity in 81/142 (57%) and Rictor in 69/141(49%) pilocytic astrocytomas. By contrast, we observed increased Rictor immunostaining in 90/144 (63%) diffuse gliomas grade II-IV and Raptor in 28/147 (19%), a difference that was statistically significant between the two groups (p&amp;lt;0.001, Chi Square). Next we studied in vitro the effect of mTORC1 blockade in pediatric low grade glioma cell lines Res 186 and Res 259 with a TORC1 inhibitor. Using the MTT assay, Res 186 cell growth was inhibited with 1nM and 10nM drug concentrations, compared with DMSO (p&amp;lt;0.005, t-test), but the effect was less pronounced in Res 259. Additionally, pS6 levels were decreased by Western Blot in Res 186 cells, but not in Res 259, consistent with mTORC1 inhibition of Res 186 cells. The findings suggest that the mTOR pathway is active in a subset of pediatric low grade gliomas, that it varies by clinicopathologic subtype, and that it is primarily mediated by mTORC1 compared with other glioma subtypes. Furthermore, mTOR may represent a therapeutic target in pediatric low grade glioma that merits further investigation. Citation Format: Smit Shah, Marianne Hutt, Matthias A. Karajannis, Eric Raabe, Charles G. Eberhart, Fausto J. Rodriguez. mTORC1/mTORC2 signaling in pediatric low grade glioma and pilocytic astrocytoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5048. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5048
Oesophageal ulceration: more than meets the naked eye?
Authors: J W Cash
Journal: Gut (2004)

Background: Hepatic steatosis is associated with obesity and type II diabetes.Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H MRS) is a non-invasive method for measurement of tissue fat content, including intrahepatocellular lipids (IHCL) and intramyocellular lipids (IMCL).Patients and methods: We used 1 H MRS and whole body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the relationship between IHCL accumulation, total body adipose tissue (AT) content/distribution, and IMCL content in 11 subjects with biopsy proven hepatic steatosis and 23 normal volunteers.Results: IHCL signals were detectable in all subjects but were significantly greater in hepatic steatosis (geometric mean (GM) 11.5 (interquartile range (IQR) 7.0-39.0))than in normal volunteers (GM 2.7 (IQR 0.7-9.3);p = 0.02).In the study group as a whole, IHCL levels were significantly greater in overweight compared with lean subjects (body mass index (BMI) .25 kg/m 2 (n = 23): GM 7.7 (IQR 4.0-28.6)v BMI ,25 kg/m 2 (n = 11): GM 1.3 (IQR 0.3-3.6;p = 0.004)).There was a significant association between IHCL content and indices of overall obesity (expressed as a percentage of body weight) for total body fat (p = 0.001), total subcutaneous AT (p = 0.007), and central obesity (subcutaneous abdominal AT (p = 0.001) and intra-abdominal AT (p = 0.001)), after allowing for sex and age.No correlation between IHCL content and IMCL was observed.A significant correlation was observed between serum alanine aminotransferase and liver fat content (r = 0.57, p = 0.006).Conclusions: Our results suggest that hepatic steatosis appears to be closely related to body adiposity, especially central obesity.MRS may be a useful method for monitoring IHCL in future interventional studies.
Recent advances: Fetal medicine
Authors: D. James
Journal: BMJ (1998)

In the 13 years since the first annual symposium of “The Fetus as a Patient,” diagnostic skills with fetal disease have improved enormously, but therapeutic approaches remain limited. Periconceptual folate, maternal steroids, and fetal blood transfusion are the best examples of preventive, transplacental, and invasive treatments, respectively, and all three were developed more than a decade ago. 

Arguably, the most significant advance is that most professionals and parents consider the fetus as a separate individual and a potential patient in his or her own right. Indeed, once the fetus is recognised to be at risk the perinatal outcome is better than in an apparently low risk pregnancy.1 Antepartum “unexplained” fetal death is by far the commonest cause of death between 20 weeks’ gestation and the age of one year, comprising nearly 40% of deaths in this period.2 The main challenge in pregnancy care is to improve fetal surveillance in low risk pregnancies so that potentially compromised fetuses can be identified.
Prevention of Leishmania donovani infection
Authors: P. Desjeux
Journal: BMJ (2010)

Vector control is key to the success of the global elimination strategy

Visceral leishmaniasis, the most severe form of leishmaniasis, is usually fatal in the absence of treatment. Together India, Nepal, and Bangladesh represent the biggest focus of visceral leishmaniasis in the world. Human to human transmission occurs through the bite of an infected sandfly, with no animal reservoir, a phenomenon known as anthroponotic transmission. Deadly epidemics occur periodically. The two main strategies to control the disease are case management and vector control. In the linked randomised controlled trial (doi:10.1136/bmj.c6760), Picado and colleagues assess the effect of the large scale distribution of longlasting insecticide treated nets on the incidence of visceral leishmaniasis in India and Nepal⇓.1



Randomised controlled trials have shown that insecticide treated bed nets and curtains prevent anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria.2 3 4 Observational studies in Bangladesh and Nepal found a significantly reduced risk of visceral leishmaniasis in residents who used untreated nets nightly during the hot season.5 6 However, an observational study in Bangladesh found that bed nets had no effect on asymptomatic leishmanial seroconversion.7

Picado and colleagues report the first large scale randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of a comprehensive distribution programme …
Neurovascular Factors in Wound Healing in the Foot Skin of Type 2 Diabetic Subjects
Authors: Singhan T.M. Krishnan, Gerry Rayman
Journal: Diabetes Care (2008)

We agree with Catrina and Brismar (1) that the main stimulus for hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is hypoxia. Thus, in view of the normal blood vessel density, one would not expect hypoxia, which would be compatible with the normal …
Oxygen Therapy on Medical Wards
Authors: Arturo Longobardi, Ali Eghtedari, Alex. M. Burgess
Journal: JAMA (1964)

THE THERAPEUTIC ADMINISTRATION of oxygen in the air inspired by a patient with hypoxemic hypoxia has been recognized as a valuable procedure for many years. Several methods of providing oxygen therapy are in use and many of them, if carefully applied, are effective. None, however, is without disadvantages. For treatment of hypoxic patients in hospital wards it is generally believed that a concentration of 45% to 60% oxygen in the inspired air is desirable. Higher concentrations can be obtained by the use of masks or other special methods, such as the closed box,<sup>1</sup>but for continuous administration to bed patients such methods are ordinarily neither necessary nor practical. This communication is a brief statement of the actual concentration of oxygen which ordinarily can be obtained in the air inspired by a patient when subjected to the administration of oxygen by the methods commonly applied in American hospitals and a
Abubakar Ibrahim Kiwanuka
Authors: Brian Hancock
Journal: BMJ (2005)

Consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology Tameside General Hospital, Manchester (b Masaka, Uganda, 1948; q Manchester 1974; FRCS Ed, FRCOG), died from colon cancer on 22 May 2005.

Abu Kiwanuka came from a lowly background in rural Uganda, winning a scholarship to study medicine in Manchester in 1969. His plans to return to Uganda on completion of his studies were thwarted by the turmoil of the Amin and second Obote regimes. He became a consultant in 1990 and set up a first class unit with a special interest in urogynaecology. He was appointed as associate medical director weeks before the onset of his fatal illness. He founded a charity supporting mobile clinics in Uganda. An active Rotarian and committed Muslim, he supported many community projects. Predeceased by a daughter, he leaves a wife, Janet, and five children.
The influence of training on endurance and blood lactate concentration during submaximal exercise.
Authors: R Mayes, A E Hardman, C Williams
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (1987)

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of short-term training on maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and two different measures of endurance performance. Endurance was determined for 15 female subjects (7 training, 8 control) as (1) exercise time to exhaustion at 80% VO2 max (T80%) and (2) the highest relative exercise intensity tolerable during a 30-minute test (T30 min), before and after a 6-week training period. In addition, VO2 max and the work rate equivalent to a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol.l-1 (OBLA) were determined. Maximum oxygen uptake increased by 24% (p less than 0.01) for the training group (TG) and 7% (p less than 0.01) for the control group (CG). Cumulative average work rate (CAWR) during T30 min increased by 25% for the TG while there was no change for the CG. No significant difference was found pre- and post-training in the %VO2 max (estimated from CAWR) at which the TG and CG performed T30 min. Exercise time to exhaustion on T80% increased by 347% (p less than 0.01) and 16% (NS) for the TG and the CG respectively. Good correlations were found between VO2 max and CAWR (W) (pre-training r = 0.84; post-training r = 0.83), OBLA (W) and CAWR (W) (pre-training r = 0.89; post-training r = 0.88) and change in endurance time and the change in submaximal blood lactate concentration (r = 0.70, p less than 0.01). The results of this study suggest that the ability to sustain a high relative exercise intensity is not enhanced following short-term training.