tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Bone and Blood Lead Levels among Minorities Living in the Boston Area
Authors: Charles Lin, Rokho Kim, Shirng-Wern Tsaih, David Sparrow, Howard Hu
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2004)

We measured blood and bone lead levels among minority individuals who live in some of Boston's neighborhoods with high minority representation. Compared with samples of predominantly white subjects we had studied before, the 84 volunteers in this study (33:67 male:female ratio; 31-72 years of age) had similar educational, occupational, and smoking profiles and mean blood, tibia, and patella lead levels (3 microg/dL, 11.9 microg/g, and 14.2 microg/g, respectively) that were also similar. The slopes of the univariate regressions of blood, tibia, and patella lead versus age were 0.10 microg/dL/year (p < 0.001), 0.45 microg/g/year (p < 0.001), and 0.73 microg/g/year (p < 0.001), respectively. Analyses of smoothing curves and regression lines for tibia and patella lead suggested an inflection point at 55 years of age, with slopes for subjects greater than or equal to 55 years of age that were not only steeper than those of younger subjects but also substantially steeper than those observed for individuals > 55 years of age in studies of predominantly white participants. This apparent racial disparity at older ages may be related to differences in historic occupational and/or environmental exposures, or possibly the lower rates of bone turnover that are known to occur in postmenopausal black women. The higher levels of lead accumulation seen in this age group are of concern because such levels have been shown in other studies to predict elevated risks of chronic disease such as hypertension and cognitive dysfunction. Additional research on bone lead levels in minorities and their socioeconomic and racial determinants is needed.
Impact of New Development of Ulcer-Like Projection on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Type B Aortic Dissection With Closed and Thrombosed False Lumen
Authors: Takeshi Kitai, Shuichiro Kaji, Atsushi Yamamuro, Tomoko Tani, Makoto Kinoshita, Natsuhiko Ehara, Atsushi Kobori, Toru Kita, Yutaka Furukawa
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Background— The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical importance of newly developed ulcer-like projection (ULP) in patients with type B aortic dissection with closed and thrombosed false lumen (AD with CTFL), which is better known as aortic intramural hematoma. Methods and Results— A total of 170 patients with acute type B AD with CTFL were admitted to our institution from 1986 to 2008 and treated initially with medical therapy. There were 31 late deaths, including 9 cases of aortic rupture. The actuarial survival rates of all patients were 99%, 89%, 83% at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. A total of 62 (36%) patients showed new ULP development within 30 days from the onset. Patients who had ULP showed significantly poorer survival rates than patients who did not have ULP ( P =0.037). Development of ULP was also associated with a significant increase in adverse aorta-related events ( P &lt;0.001). In addition, patients with ULP in the proximal descending thoracic aorta (PD) showed significantly higher aorta-related event rates than patients without ULP in the PD ( P &lt;0.001). Initial aortic diameter (hazard ratio, 3.55; P &lt;0.001) and development of ULP in PD (hazard ratio, 3.79; P =0.003) were the strongest predictors of adverse aorta-related events. Conclusions— Initial aortic diameter and development of ULP in the PD are both strong predictors of adverse aorta-related events in patients with type B AD with CTFL. Patients with newly developed ULP should be more carefully followed up with close surveillance imaging than those without ULP.
Refocusing the War on Cancer: The Critical Role of Personalized Treatment
Authors: Anil Potti, Richard L. Schilsky, Joseph R. Nevins
Journal: Science Translational Medicine (2010)

Despite very substantial investment and effort over the past 30 years, the overall survival rate of cancer patients has changed little. We propose that without a truly robust mechanism for selecting the right treatment for the right patient at the right time-the central concepts of personalized medicine-we will continue to see only incremental improvements and have little hope for substantial survival gains. We suggest that it is now imperative that future clinical trials be designed with a plan to incorporate biomarker development.
The PAF Complex Synergizes with MLL Fusion Proteins at HOX Loci to Promote Leukemogenesis
Authors: Andrew G. Muntean, Jiaying Tan, Kajal Sitwala, Yongsheng Huang, Joel Bronstein, James A. Connelly, Venkatesha Basrur, Kojo S.J. Elenitoba-Johnson, Jay L. Hess
Journal: Cancer Cell (2010)
Serum antibodies to carbonic anhydrase IV in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis
Authors: I Nishimori
Journal: Gut (2005)

<b>Background and aims:</b> Serum antibodies to carbonic anhydrase (CA) II have been reported in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and Sjögren's syndrome (SjS). However, their significance in the pathogenesis of these diseases is controversial. The aim of this study was to identify serum antibodies to CA isozymes, which are expressed in ductal cells of the pancreas. <b>Methods:</b> Recombinant proteins of human CAs IV, IX, and XII were obtained using a bacterial expression system, and five CA IV peptides with theoretically high antigenicity were synthesised. Western blotting and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect serum antibodies to the CA isozymes. <b>Results:</b> The first screening analysis by western blot showed serum antibodies to CA IV among three CA isozymes in patients with idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, including AIP patients. Further analysis by ELISA showed a significantly increased prevalence of serum antibodies to the truncated CA IV protein and the CA IV synthetic peptide (LGS LTT PTC DEK VVW TVF REP I) in patients with definite AIP (4/15 and 6/20, respectively; p&lt;0.01), probable AIP (6/14 and 3/14; p&lt;0.02), and SjS (9/20 and 8/40; p&lt;0.001) compared with normal controls (0/26). There was no significant difference in the antibody prevalence rates between normal controls and patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (2/15 in each) or pancreatic cancer (2/14 and 1/14, respectively). The presence of serum antibodies to the CA IV peptide showed significant correlations with serum gamma-globulin and IgG levels in AIP patients. <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings suggest that CA IV may be a target antigen that is commonly expressed in epithelial cells of specific tissues involved in AIP and its related diseases.
Colonic mass movements in idiopathic chronic constipation.
Authors: G Bassotti, M Gaburri, B P Imbimbo, L Rossi, F Farroni, M A Pelli, A Morelli
Journal: Gut (1988)

As relatively little is known of human colonic motor activity either in health, or in pathological conditions, we investigated mass movements in 14 chronically constipated patients and 18 healthy volunteers. Mass movements were recorded from proximal and distal colon during 24 h (12 noon-12 noon) by a colonoscopically positioned multilumen manometric probe and low compliance infusion system. Patients and controls differed significantly in the number (mean 2.6 (0.7) v 6.1 (0.9) (SE), p = 0.02) and duration (mean 8.2 (1.6) v 14.1 (0.8) s, p = 0.04) of mass movements. The data suggest that one pathophysiological mechanism of constipation may be decreased propulsive activity. A circadian pattern, with a significant difference between day and night distribution, was documented in both groups. The patients reported decreased defecatory stimulus concomitant with the mass movements.
Abstract 629: Combination hypoxia-specific chemotherapy and immunotherapy of prostate cancer
Authors: Midan Ai, Todd Bartkowiak, Ashvin R. Jaiswal, Krishna Shah, Casey Ager, Beatrisa Lerman, Michael A. Curran
Journal: Cancer Research (2014)

Abstract Tumor hypoxia contributes to chemotherapy and radiotherapy resistance, and helps foster metastasis. Hypoxia likely also supports tumor immune resistance by supporting development of suppressive myeloid and T cell populations by activating immunosuppressive signaling pathways in the tumor and stroma, and by creating a metabolically hostile environment for immune effector cells. TH-302 is a hypoxia-specific chemotherapeutic drug which is activated only in the hypoxic cores of tumors and remains harmless in the periphery. We hypothesized that concurrent combination therapy with TH-302 and T cell checkpoint blockade would promote inside-out tumor destruction with the drug killing at the core, releasing antigen, and diminishing suppression, while the antibodies helped expand and protect the T cells activated as a result. In the TRAMP-C2 prostatic adenocarcinoma model, we found that antibody blockade of CTLA-4 and PD-1, used in conjunction with TH-302 administration, promoted tumor rejection in a significantly larger percentage of mice than either therapy alone. The combination therapy promoted uniquely advantageous ratios of effector T cells to MDSC within the prostate cancer microenvironment. This novel combination of immunotherapy and hypoxia-specific chemotherapy has the potential to offer profound anti-tumor responses to a much greater percentage of patients than either chemotherapy or immunotherapy alone with the same or fewer side effects. Citation Format: Midan Ai, Todd Bartkowiak, Ashvin R. Jaiswal, Krishna Shah, Casey Ager, Beatrisa Lerman, Michael A. Curran. Combination hypoxia-specific chemotherapy and immunotherapy of prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 629. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-629
Intranasal tolerance induction with polypeptides derived from 3 noncross-reactive major aeroallergens prevents allergic polysensitization in mice
Authors: Karin Hufnagl, Birgit Winkler, Margit Focke, Rudolf Valenta, Otto Scheiner, Harald Renz, Ursula Wiedermann
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2005)
Transient Activation of Mitoflashes Modulates Nanog at the Early Phase of Somatic Cell Reprogramming
Authors: Zhongfu Ying, Keshi Chen, Lingjun Zheng, Yi Wu, Linpeng Li, Rui Wang, Qi Long, Liang Yang, Jingyi Guo, Deyang Yao, Yong Li, Feixiang Bao, Ge Xiang, Jinglei Liu, Qiaoying Huang, Zhiming Wu, Andrew Paul Hutchins, Duanqing Pei, Xingguo Liu
Journal: Cell Metabolism (2015)

The mechanisms of somatic cell reprogramming have been revealed at multiple levels. However, the lack of tools to monitor different reactive oxygen species (ROS) has left their distinct signals and roles in reprogramming unknown. We hypothesized that mitochondrial flashes (mitoflashes), recently identified spontaneous bursts of mitochondrial superoxide signaling, play a role in reprogramming. Here we show that the frequency of mitoflashes transiently increases, accompanied by flash amplitude reduction, during the early stages of reprogramming. This transient activation of mitoflashes at the early stage enhances reprogramming, whereas sustained activation impairs reprogramming. The reprogramming-promoting function of mitoflashes occurs via the upregulation of Nanog expression that is associated with decreases in the methylation status of the Nanog promoter through Tet2 occupancy. Together our findings provide a previously unknown role for superoxide signaling mediated epigenetic regulation in cell fate determination.
Georgia to Georgia initiative
Authors: H Kenneth Walker, Bijan Falollahi, Zviad Kirtava, Judith Wold
Journal: BMJ (2005)

EDITOR—A consortium of academic communities in the US city of Atlanta, Georgia (Emory University, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Grady Hospital, and Morehouse School of Medicine) has been working with a similar group and the health ministry for the former Soviet country of Georgia since 1992. This partnership has produced several accomplishments:
Is sports safety policy being translated into practice: what can be learnt from the Australian rugby union Mayday procedure?
Authors: Roslyn G Poulos, Alex Donaldson
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2011)

Aim To investigate the level of translation of the Australian Rugby Union ‘Mayday’ safety procedure into practice among community rugby union coaches in New South Wales (Australia). Methods All registered coaches of senior community rugby union teams in five zones/associations in the north-eastern region of the state were invited to complete a short online questionnaire at the end of the 2010 rugby season. The questionnaire was designed around the five RE-AIMdimensions and assessed: Reach, perceived Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance of the Mayday procedure. Results Seventy (39%) coaches participated. There was a high level of awareness of the Mayday procedure, and most coaches believed it was effective in preventing injuries. The majority reported training their players in the procedure, although training was generally infrequent. Coaches were confident that their own players could implement the procedure appropriately if required to do so, but less confident that other teams or referees could do so. Barriers to providing training included not enough players at training, players not taking training seriously and technical difficulties (eg, verbalisation of instructions for physical tasks). Conclusion The findings suggest that the translation of the Mayday ‘policy’ could be improved by building individual coach, and club or zone organisational capacity by ensuring that coaches have the resources and skills in ‘how’ to train their players to complement their existing knowledge on ‘what’ to train them; setting expectations that encourage coaches to provide regular training for players; and regular monitoring of player competency to perform the procedure appropriately.
Cholesterol crystallisation in bile
Authors: P PORTINCASA, K J VAN ERPECUM, G P VANBERGE-HENEGOUWEN
Journal: Gut (1997)

Cholesterol crystallisation in bileCholesterol gallstones occur when at least three simultaneous defects are present: (i) cholesterol supersaturation of bile with formation of cholesterol-rich unstable vesicles; (ii) accelerated crystallisation of cholesterol in bile owing to a defect of crystallisation inhibiting or an abundance of crystallisation promoting factors; and (iii) prolonged bile stasis due to decreased gall bladder motility. 1recipitation of solid cholesterol crystals from supersaturated bile has an essential role in cholesterol gallstone formation. 2 3The number of days it takes before microscopic plate-like cholesterol monohydrate crystals are observed in human bile has been referred to as the crystal nucleation time. 2 This term, however, indicates early aggregation of cholesterol molecules from supersaturated bile into submicroscopic nuclei. 4This crucial step is followed by precipitation, growth and agglomeration of cholesterol crystals, which then become visible at light microscopy.In this respect, the term crystal detection time seems more appropriate than crystal nucleation time. 5ecent data indicate that solid cholesterol can also precipitate as crystal forms other than plate-like structures, 6-8 suggesting that crystallisation in bile is a rather complex phenomenon.][15][16] Moreover, a better understanding of the physical/chemical events occurring during crystallisation in bile would provide a useful method for the identification of factors delaying or preventing precipitation of cholesterol crystals and, therefore, gallstone formation in humans.This article will discuss current views on the formation of cholesterol crystals in bile.
Regulation of learning and memory by meningeal immunity: a key role for IL-4
Authors: Noël C. Derecki, Amber N. Cardani, Chun Hui Yang, Kayla M. Quinnies, Anastasia Crihfield, Kevin R. Lynch, Jonathan Kipnis
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2010)

Proinflammatory cytokines have been shown to impair cognition; consequently, immune activity in the central nervous system was considered detrimental to cognitive function. Unexpectedly, however, T cells were recently shown to support learning and memory, though the underlying mechanism was unclear. We show that one of the steps in the cascade of T cell-based support of learning and memory takes place in the meningeal spaces. Performance of cognitive tasks led to accumulation of IL-4-producing T cells in the meninges. Depletion of T cells from meningeal spaces skewed meningeal myeloid cells toward a proinflammatory phenotype. T cell-derived IL-4 was critical, as IL-4(-/-) mice exhibited a skewed proinflammatory meningeal myeloid cell phenotype and cognitive deficits. Transplantation of IL-4(-/-) bone marrow into irradiated wild-type recipients also resulted in cognitive impairment and proinflammatory skew. Moreover, adoptive transfer of T cells from wild-type into IL-4(-/-) mice reversed cognitive impairment and attenuated the proinflammatory character of meningeal myeloid cells. Our results point to a critical role for T cell-derived IL-4 in the regulation of cognitive function through meningeal myeloid cell phenotype and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression. These findings might lead to the development of new immune-based therapies for cognitive impairment associated with immune decline.
LRRK2 Gly2019Ser penetrance in Arab–Berber patients from Tunisia: a case-control genetic study
Authors: Mary M Hulihan, Lianna Ishihara-Paul, Jennifer Kachergus, Liling Warren, Rim Amouri, Ramu Elango, Rab K Prinjha, Ruchi Upmanyu, Mounir Kefi, Mourad Zouari, Samia Ben Sassi, Samia Ben Yahmed, Ghada El Euch-Fayeche, Paul M Matthews, Lefkos T Middleton, Rachel A Gibson, Fayçal Hentati, Matthew J Farrer
Journal: The Lancet Neurology (2008)
Possible Child-to-Mother Transmission of HIV by Breastfeeding
Authors: Ubaldo Visco-Comandini, Benedetta Longo, Paola Perinelli, Giuseppina Liuzzi, Valerio Tozzi, Gianfranco Anzidei, Andrea Antinori, Giuseppe Ippolito, Enrico Girardi, Mohammed A. Budabbus, Osama A. Eljhawi, Mahadi Mehabresh
Journal: JAMA (2005)
OBSERVATIONS DURING ACTH AND CORTISONE ADMINISTRATION TO A PATIENT WITH LONGSTANDING PANHYPO-PITUITARISM AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS 1
Authors: Christian E. Schrock, Raymond F. Sheets, William B. Bean
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1951)

The opportunity to observe the effect of adminis- tration of pituitary adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and 11-dehydro-17-hydroxycorticosterone (cortisone) on the moderately active rheuma- toid arthritis of a patient with panhypopituitarism was presented us.The clinical features (1, 2) of hypopituitarism are in essence those of hypo-func- tion of the so-called "target" organs of the pitui- tary; the adrenal cortex, thyroid, and gonads.Sheehan and Summers (1) report "rheumatism of joints particularly of the knees" in 13 of 93 cases of panhypopituitarism, but elucidate no further on this clinical feature.The physiologic effects of ACTH and cortisone are well knonn (3, 4), and the dramatic response of patients with rheumatoid arthritis to these agents has been amply recorded (3,5,6).Forsham, Thorn, Prunty, and Hills (7) noted an absence of normal initial response after administration of ACTH in the majority of cases with severe hypopituitarism, although in one case, full adrenal cortical activity was noted after six days of ACTH administration.Knowlton.Jailer, Hamilton, and West (8) reported minimal metabolic effects after administration of ACTH for 12 days in a patient with longstanding hypo- pituitarism.An increase in excretion of 17-keto- steroids and uric acid and evidence of sodium and chloride retention were the observed effects.This study was undertaken in order to observe the following:1. What direct action, if any, ACTH might have on the clinical and laboratory findings of rheumatoid arthritis, inasmuch as adrenal cortical function was apparently absent.2. Whether return of adrenal cortical activity 1 This study was supported by the Trust Fund of the Department of Internal Medicine which permitted pur- chase of ACTH from
Popcorn Worker's Lung
Authors: E. Neil Schachter
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2002)

Occupational airway diseases are common workplace injuries that include occupational asthma, bronchitis, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome, and byssinosis (an airway disease affecting textile workers). The population prevalence of these syndromes is not known with certainty, but some studies suggest that as many as 15 percent of adult patients with asthma have airway disease attributable to workplace conditions.1 Within different industries, the prevalence of these syndromes varies from sporadic to frequent (10 percent or greater). The mechanisms of these injuries may involve immune sensitization, but often the disease mechanisms are unknown and are presumed to involve nonallergic, irritant-mediated responses to inhaled . . .
P206 Compliance with CPAP: subjective versus objective methods of assessment and regional variations
Authors: A. Lal, L. Dale, T. Lucas, B. Chakraborty, D. Banerjee, D. Brocklebank
Journal: Thorax (2010)

<h3>Background</h3> OSA is a significant public health problem which can be treated effectively with CPAP. Compliance of 4 h/night is required to achieve clinical effectiveness. Sleep clinics regularly monitor CPAP compliance subjectively, for example, patient questionnaires, but such estimates may differ from actual compliance. <h3>Aim</h3> The aim of the study was to measure errors in estimating compliance and to look for regional variations in degrees of error. <h3>Methods</h3> This is a prospective, two-centre study, carried out in 2009–2010. Centre 1 is a Tertiary centre with a local population including large numbers of South Asian people and those with lower socio-economic status. Centre 2 is a District General Hospital with a predominantly Caucasian local population. Both centres have similar sleep clinic setups and routinely download CPAP machine hours. Subjective compliance was assessed by patient questionnaires and objective evidence of compliance was obtained from machine usage data simultaneously. <h3>Results</h3> 107 patients were included from each centre. In centre 1, 80% patients over-estimated their compliance, the mean objective usage of CPAP was 5.0 h/night and the mean error in estimating compliance was +2.2 h/night. In centre 2, 52% of patients over-estimated their compliance, the mean objective usage of CPAP was 5.67 h/night and the mean error in estimating compliance was +1.03 h/night. Patients in Centre 2 had significantly higher CPAP usage (5.67 vs. 5 h/night, p=0.02) and a lower percentage of people over-estimating their compliance (52% vs 80%, p&lt;0.00001). Overall, there was still a significant error in estimating compliance, although this was lower in Centre 2 (1.03 vs 2.2 h/night, p&lt;0.00001). <h3>Discussion</h3> This study highlights the fact that patients tend to be significantly inaccurate about their compliance. Reasons for this are uncertain but may include aiming to please the health professional, poor cognitive insight into their usage and fear of relinquishing their machine. Electronic assessment of CPAP usage data should therefore be routine in all sleep clinics. Furthermore, there seem to be regional variations both in usage and in degrees of error. This may be attributed to differences in education levels and socio-economic status. Ethnicity may also contribute because of different cultural beliefs and lifestyles.