tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
A critical appraisal of cryopreservation (slow cooling versus vitrification) of human oocytes and embryos
Authors: David H. Edgar, Debra A. Gook
Journal: Human Reproduction Update (2012)

Vitrification is now a commonly applied technique for cryopreservation in assisted reproductive technology (ART) replacing, in many cases, conventional slow cooling methodology. This review examines evidence relevant to comparison of the two approaches applied to human oocytes and embryos at different developmental stages.Critical review of the published literature using PubMed with particular emphasis on studies which include data on survival and implantation rates, data from fresh control groups and evaluation of the two approaches in a single setting.Slow cooling is associated with lower survival rates and compromised development relative to vitrification when applied to metaphase II (MII) oocytes, although the vitrification results have predominantly been obtained using direct contact with liquid nitrogen and there is some evidence that optimal protocols for slow cooling of MII oocytes are yet to be established. There are no prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which support the use of either technique with pronuclear oocytes although vitrification has become the method of choice. Optimal slow cooling, using modifications of traditional methodology, and vitrification can result in high survival rates of early embryos, which implant at the same rate as equivalent fresh counterparts. Many studies report high survival and implantation rates following vitrification of blastocysts. Although slow cooling of blastocysts has been reported to be inferior in some studies, others comparing the two approaches in the same clinical setting have demonstrated comparable results. The variation in the extent of embryo selection applied in studies can lead to apparent differences in clinical efficiency, which may not be significant if expressed on a 'per oocyte used' basis.Available evidence suggests that vitrification is the current method of choice when cryopreserving MII oocytes. Early cleavage stage embryos can be cryopreserved with equal success using slow cooling and vitrification. Successful blastocyst cryopreservation may be more consistently achieved with vitrification but optimal slow cooling can produce similar results. There are key limitations associated with the available evidence base, including a paucity of RCTs, limited reporting of live birth outcomes and limited reporting of detail which would allow assessment of the impact of differences in female age. While vitrification has a clear role in ART, we support continued research to establish optimal slow cooling methods which may assist in alleviating concerns over safety issues, such as storage, transport and the use of very high cryoprotectant concentrations.
Endotoxin exposure: Predictors and associated respiratory disease prevalence in the U.S. NHANES study
Authors: Peter Thorne, Nervana Metwali, Paivi Salo, Renee Jaramillo, Richard Cohn, Darryl Zeldin
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Inhaled endotoxin induces airway inflammation and is an established risk factor for occupational lung diseases. Prior studies suggested that higher levels of household endotoxin may be associated with asthma, wheeze, and medication use. The 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) included evaluation of exposures to allergens and endotoxin to expand understanding of the relationships between allergic diseases and endotoxin. This represents the largest cohort study of endotoxin exposure ever done.  Subjects recruited on a national level were administered questionnaires in their homes. Reservoir dust was vacuum sampled to generate a composite bedding and bedroom floor sample. We analyzed 7450 NHANES dust and extensive quality assurance (QA) samples for their content of endotoxin using the kinetic chromogenic LAL assay. The entire study was done with extreme QA measures including use of a single lot of  Limulus  lysate. Data were weighted to match national demographics, were normalized by log transformation and were analyzed using backward stepwise regression and logistic regression. All but 3 samples were quantifiable and data for 6963 subjects were available.  Significant predictors of higher endotoxin exposures were lower family income; Hispanic ethnicity; presence of a child, dog, cat, cockroaches or smokers in the home; and carpeted floor. Endotoxin exposure was significantly associated with wheeze in the past 12 months, wheeze during exercise and use of prescription medications for wheeze.  Higher endotoxin exposure was associated with measures of wheeze but not with Dr. diagnosed asthma, asthma attacks in the past 12 months, nor asthma medication use.
A comparison of enprofylline and theophylline in the maintenance therapy of chronic reversible obstructive airway disease
Authors: K.R. Chapman, S. Boucher, R.H. Hyland, A. Day, H. Kreisman, R. Rivington, R.V. Hodder, E.L. York, R.T. Abboud, S. Peters, N. Wolkove, D. Freeman
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (1990)
Flow Cytometric Crossmatching in Primary Renal Transplant Recipients with a Negative Anti-Human Globulin Enhanced Cytotoxicity Crossmatch
Authors: Martin Karpinski, David Rush, John Jeffery, Markus Exner, Heinz Regele, Silvia Dancea, Denise Pochinco, Patricia Birk, Peter Nickerson
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2001)

ABSTRACT. Flow cytometric crossmatching (FCXM) and panel reactive antibody (PRA) screening techniques are more sensitive than anti-human globulin enhanced cytotoxicity (AHG-CDC) techniques at detecting anti-HLA antibodies. The clinical significance of a positive FCXM in primary renal transplant recipients with a negative AHG-CDC crossmatch is unclear. We performed retrospective FCXM and flow cytometric panel reactive antibody (FlowPRA) determinations in primary renal transplant recipients with a negative T cell AHG-CDC crossmatch and a negative B cell CDC crossmatch pretransplant. Eighteen (13%) of 143 patients exhibited a positive retrospective T cell FCXM. Of these patients, six (33%) experienced early graft loss with explant histology, demonstrating antibody-mediated rejection in five of six cases. The 12 patients with positive T cell FCXM who maintained their grafts experienced more adverse events posttransplant, including more early, steroid-resistant, and recurrent rejection. Furthermore, in a subgroup of patients undergoing protocol biopsies, those with a positive T cell FCXM exhibited more subclinical rejection. Anti-HLA antibodies were detected by FlowPRA in all 18 patients with a positive T cell FCXM, whereas AHG-CDC PRA detected antibodies in only 8 of 18 patients. Therefore, flow cytometric techniques identify sensitized primary renal transplant recipients undetected by AHG-CDC techniques. In those patients, a positive T cell FCXM is associated with an increased risk of early graft loss due to antibody-mediated rejection and may represent a relative contraindication to transplantation. Moreover, those patients are also at increased risk of severe and recurrent rejection, which may carry implications for long-term graft outcomes.
Genome Medicine: the future of medicine
Authors: Melissa L Norton
Journal: Genome Medicine (2009)

In the past decade, scientific discovery in medicine has progressed at an increasingly rapid rate, and genomic, post-genomic and bioinformatic approaches have played key roles in this progression. Our growing understanding of the human genome and proteome promises to revolutionize the practice of medicine in the 21st century. The last year has seen the publication of an acute myeloid leukemia genome, the initiation of the 1000 Genomes Project  and the International Human Microbiome Consortium, and the progression of a number of other important collaborations, such as the Copy Number Variation Project and the Cancer Genome Atlas. Furthermore, a plethora of genome-wide association studies have been undertaken, associating specific loci to a variety of diseases. These discoveries, as well as continuing advances in genome sequencing technologies, bring us several steps closer to individualized medicine, a concept that has captured the imaginations of practitioners of medicine, politicians, and the public alike. 

In these exciting and fast-moving times, there is a clear need for the scientific community to keep abreast of the latest groundbreaking genomic and post-genomic research across medical disciplines. To this end, we are proud to launch Genome Medicine. Genome Medicine publishes important results in genomic and post-genomic medicine, discusses the importance of these results for clinical practice, highlights the major issues surrounding genomic medicine, and comments on the progress of scientific discovery.
Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Syndromes: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Endorsement of the Familial Risk–Colorectal Cancer: European Society for Medical Oncology Clinical Practice Guidelines
Authors: Elena M. Stoffel, Pamela B. Mangu, Stephen B. Gruber, Stanley R. Hamilton, Matthew F. Kalady, Michelle Wan Yee Lau, Karen H. Lu, Nancy Roach, Paul J. Limburg
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2014)

To provide recommendations on prevention, screening, genetics, treatment, and management for people at risk for hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) syndromes. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has a policy and set of procedures for endorsing clinical practice guidelines that have been developed by other professional organizations.The Familial Risk-Colorectal Cancer: European Society for Medical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline published in 2013 on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Guidelines Working Group in Annals of Oncology was reviewed for developmental rigor by methodologists, with content and recommendations reviewed by an ASCO endorsement panel.The ASCO endorsement panel determined that the recommendations of the ESMO guidelines are clear, thorough, and based on the most relevant scientific evidence. The ASCO panel endorsed the ESMO guidelines and added a few qualifying statements.Approximately 5% to 6% of patient cases of CRC are associated with germline mutations that confer an inherited predisposition for cancer. The possibility of a hereditary cancer syndrome should be assessed for every patient at the time of CRC diagnosis. A diagnosis of Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, or another genetic syndrome can influence clinical management for patients with CRC and their family members. Screening for hereditary cancer syndromes in patients with CRC should include review of personal and family histories and testing of tumors for DNA mismatch repair deficiency and/or microsatellite instability. Formal genetic evaluation is recommended for individuals who meet defined criteria.
Information processing and dynamical systems approaches are complementary
Authors: David Spurrett
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2002)

Shanker &amp; King (S&amp;K) trumpet the adoption of a “new paradigm” in communication studies, exemplified by ape language research. Though cautiously sympathetic, I maintain that their argument relies on a false dichotomy between “information” and “dynamical systems” theory, and that the resulting confusion prevents them from recognizing the main chance their line of thinking suggests.
ON THE PRESENCE IN SYPHILITIC SERUM OF ANTIBODIES TO SPIROCHETES, THEIR RELATION TO SO CALLED WASSERMANN REAGIN, AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE SERODIAGNOSIS OF SYPHILIS
Authors: Harry Eagle, Ralph B. Hogan
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1940)

1. In confirmation of Gaehtgens, syphilitic human sera give positive complement fixation with cultures of so called T. pallidum (Reiter strain). Syphilitic rabbit sera are equally reactive. Syphilitic human and rabbit sera agglutinate these cultures, often in high titre (Beck). 2. Normal rabbit sera react weakly with the culture to give both agglutination and complement fixation in low titre. Normal human sera, despite the fact that they contain agglutinins in low titre, fail to fix complement with the Reiter strain of cultured spirochetes. Confirming Gaehtgens, the latter reaction is therefore of practical utility for the serum diagnosis of syphilis. 3. When syphilitic serum is heated at 63 degrees C., there is no demonstrable difference in the thermolability of the antibody to spirochetes, and of the reagin which determines the Wassermann and flocculation tests. 4. (a) The absorption of syphilitic serum by spirochetal suspensions removes all reactivity, not only for the spirochetes, but for tissue lipoids (alcoholic beef heart extract) as well; the sera become Wassermann- and flocculation-negative. (b) Absorption of syphilitic serum with tissue lipoids renders the Wassermann and flocculation tests negative, but does not demonstrably change the reactivity of the serum with spirochetes. (c) Rabbits immunized to beef heart lipoid develop spirochetal agglutinins and complement-fixing antibodies (Reiter strain) in high titre. 5. It is concluded that these cultured spirochetes contain antigenic material serologically related to a substance present in mammalian tissue, as well as other antigenic factors not present in such extracts, but equally reactive with syphilitic serum. 6. These findings support the thesis that the primary serologic change in syphilis is the development of antibodies to T. pallidum. The Wassermann and flocculation tests would be explained on the basis that the tissue extracts used as "antigen" in these tests contain one or more substances serologically related to antigenic components of T. pallidum. Similarly, the cultured Reiter strain of spirochete is apparently sufficiently close serologically to T. pallidum to be agglutinated by and to give complement fixation with the antibodies to T. pallidum present in syphilitic serum. 7. Since suspensions of cultured spirochetes contain antigenic factors which react specifically with syphilitic serum, some of which are not present in ordinary Wassermann and flocculation "antigens," they may prove even more valuable than those tissue extracts in the serodiagnosis of syphilis.
Frequent loss of SMAD4/DPC4 protein in colorectal cancers
Authors: R Salovaara, S Roth, A Loukola, V Launonen, P Sistonen, E Avizienyte, P Kristo, H Jarvinen, S Souchelnytskyi, M Sarlomo-Rikala, L A Aaltonen
Journal: Gut (2002)

<b>Background and aims:</b> Loss of DNA sequences from chromosome 18q21 is a major genetic change in colorectal tumorigenesis. Multiple genes have been identified in this area. One of these, <i>DPC4</i> (<i>deleted in pancreatic cancer 4</i>, also known as <i>SMAD4</i>), is mutated in a minor subset of colorectal carcinomas as well as in germlines of humans predisposed to colon tumours. <b>Patients and methods:</b> The involvement of SMAD4 in sporadic colorectal neoplasia was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 53 unselected cases and 27 cases displaying microsatellite instability. <b>Results:</b> SMAD4 expression was absent in 20 of 53 (38%) unselected colorectal carcinomas, and reduced in another 15 (28%) cases. However, 26 of 27 cancers displaying microsatellite instability and <i>TGF-βIIR</i> mutations were positive for SMAD4 immunostaining. <b>Conclusions:</b> Loss of SMAD4 expression may play a more prominent role in colon cancer than anticipated based on genetic evidence, but not in mutator phenotype tumours.
Admission plasma glucose. Independent risk factor for long-term prognosis after myocardial infarction even in nondiabetic patients.
Authors: A M Norhammar, L Rydén, K Malmberg
Journal: Diabetes Care (1999)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a relationship exists between admission plasma glucose level and long-term outcome in nondiabetic patients after an acute myocardial infarction. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study with prospective follow-up of 197 consecutive nondiabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction followed for 1.5-2.5 years at the Department of Cardiology at Karolinska Hospital. RESULTS: The mean admission plasma glucose level was 8.15 +/- 3.0 mmol/l. During follow-up, 60 (30%) patients died, 20 (10%) were rehospitalized for heart failure, 12 (6%) were rehospitalized for nonfatal reinfarction, and 79 (40%) had at least one of these events. In univariate analysis, admission plasma glucose level was significantly higher in patients who had any of the predefined events than in those without these events. In a multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model that allowed for confounding baseline predictors, admission plasma glucose level was an independent predictor of nonfatal reinfarction (P = 0.006), hospitalization for heart failure (P = 0.0034), and a major cardiovascular event (P = 0.0042) and was of borderline significance for death during long-term follow-up (P = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Admission plasma glucose level in nondiabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction seems to be an independent predictor of long-term outcome. This indicates that an elevated admission plasma glucose level not only reflects acute stress, but also may be a marker of disturbed glucose metabolism that worsens the prognosis and requires intervention.
Whole-body MRI in the assessment of disease activity in juvenile dermatomyositis
Authors: Clara Malattia, Maria Beatrice Damasio, Annalisa Madeo, Angela Pistorio, Anna Providenti, Silvia Pederzoli, Stefania Viola, Antonella Buoncompagni, Chiara Mattiuz, Agnese Beltramo, Alessandro Consolaro, Angelo Ravelli, Nicolino Ruperto, Paolo Picco, Gian Michele Magnano, Alberto Martini
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2013)

<h3>Objective</h3> To compare whole-body MRI (WB-MRI) with clinical examination in the assessment of disease activity in juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). <h3>Methods</h3> WB-MR images were obtained from 41 JDM patients and 41 controls using a 1.5 T MRI scanner and short τ inversion recovery sequences. 18 patients had follow-up WB-MRI. Muscle, subcutaneous tissue and myofascial signal abnormalities were scored in 36 muscular groups and on proximal and distal extremities. WB-MRI and clinical assessments were performed concurrently and results compared. Validation procedures included analysis of feasibility, reliability, construct validity, discriminative ability and responsiveness. <h3>Results</h3> WB-MRI revealed distal legs (26/41 patients) and forearm (19/41 patients) muscle inflammation undetected during clinical examination and allowed an accurate assessment of subcutaneous (23/41 patients) and myofascial involvement (13/41 patients). 27 patients showed a patchy distribution of muscle inflammation while in seven the abnormal hyperintense areas tended to be homogeneously distributed. The inter-reader agreement for muscular, subcutaneous and myofascial WB-MRI scores was excellent. Correlations between WB-MRI muscle score and disease activity measures were excellent (Manual Muscle Test: rs=−0.84, Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale: rs=−0.81). WB-MRI score was higher in JDM active patients when compared with the control group (p<sub>B</sub>&lt;0.0001) and the inactive patients (p<sub>B</sub>=0.004), and showed an excellent responsiveness (standardised response mean=1.65). Follow-up WB-MRI showed resolution of inflammation in nine patients whereas clinical criteria for remission were satisfied in five. <h3>Conclusions</h3> WB-MRI provides additional information to clinical evaluation and represents a promising tool to estimate total inflammatory burden, tailor treatment and monitor its efficacy.
Comparison of the effector functions of human immunoglobulins using a matched set of chimeric antibodies.
Authors: M Brüggemann, G T Williams, C I Bindon, M R Clark, M R Walker, R Jefferis, H Waldmann, M S Neuberger
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1987)

Cell lines have been established that secrete a matched set of human chimeric IgM, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgE, and IgA2 antibodies that are directed against the hapten 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenacetyl. These chimeric antibodies secreted from mouse plasmacytoma cells behave exactly like their authentic human counterparts in SDS-PAGE analysis, binding to protein A and in a wide range of serological assays. The antibodies have been compared in their ability to bind human C1q as well as in their efficacy in mediating lysis of human erythrocytes in the presence of human complement. A major conclusion to emerge is that whereas IgG3 bound C1q better than did IgG1, the chimeric IgG1 was much more effective than all the other IgG subclasses in complement-dependent hemolysis. The IgG1 antibody was also the most effective in mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity using both human effector and human target cells. These results suggest that IgG1 might be the favoured IgG subclass for therapeutic applications.
Differing opinions on the role of G proteins in preconditioning
Authors: C. S LAWSON
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1993)

Journal Article Differing opinions on the role of G proteins in preconditioning Get access CLIVE S LAWSON CLIVE S LAWSON Department of Cardiology The London Chest Hospital Bonner Road London E2, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Cardiovascular Research, Volume 27, Issue 4, April 1993, Pages 689–690, https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/27.4.689 Published: 01 April 1993
Randomized, Multicenter, Open-Label Study of Pegfilgrastim Compared With Daily Filgrastim After Chemotherapy for Lymphoma
Authors: J.M. Vose, M. Crump, H. Lazarus, C. Emmanouilides, D. Schenkein, J. Moore, S. Frankel, I. Flinn, W. Lovelace, J. Hackett, B.C. Liang
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2003)

The primary objective was to assess the duration of grade 4 neutropenia (neutrophil count < 0.5 x 10(9)/L) after one cycle of chemotherapy with etoposide, methylprednisolone, cisplatin, and cytarabine in patients randomly assigned to receive one dose of pegfilgrastim or daily filgrastim after chemotherapy. Febrile neutropenia, neutrophil profiles, time to neutrophil recovery, pharmacokinetics, and safety were also assessed.An open-label, randomized, phase II study was designed to compare the effects of a single subcutaneous injection of pegfilgrastim (sustained-duration filgrastim) 100 micro g/kg per chemotherapy cycle (n = 33) with daily subcutaneous injections of filgrastim 5 micro g/kg (n = 33) in patients receiving salvage chemotherapy for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.The incidence of grade 4 neutropenia in the pegfilgrastim and filgrastim groups was 69% and 68%, respectively. In addition, the mean duration of grade 4 neutropenia was similar in both groups (2.8 and 2.4 days, respectively). The results for the two groups were also not significantly different for febrile neutropenia, neutrophil profile, time to neutrophil recovery, or toxicity profile. A single subcutaneous injection of pegfilgrastim 100 micro g/kg produced a sustained serum concentration relative to daily subcutaneous injections of filgrastim. Filgrastim-treated patients received a median of 11 injections per cycle.Pegfilgrastim was safe and well tolerated in this patient population. A single injection of pegfilgrastim per chemotherapy cycle provided neutrophil support with safety and efficacy similar to that provided by daily injections of filgrastim. Once-per-cycle administration of pegfilgrastim simplifies the management of neutropenia and may have important clinical benefits for patients and healthcare providers.