tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Community-acquired pneumonia due to S. aureus
Authors: Sinem Ozsari, Pinar Sarac, Mehmet Sezai Tasbakan, Abdullah Sayiner
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Introduction and aim:  Methicillin resistant  S. aureus  (MRSA) is an important cause of hospital-acquired pneumonia. There is little data regarding its association with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors and clinical course of CAP caused by MRSA and methicillin-susceptible  S.aureus  (MSSA).   Material and method:  Forty-eight pneumonia cases that were followed up in a tertiary care center between September 2008 - September 2010 and in whom MRSA or MSSA was isolated from initial respiratory specimens were analyzed.   Findings:  MRSA was isolated in 19 and MSSA in 29 of 48 cases (38 male, mean age 61.5±17.9). Risk factors for health-care-associated pneumonia (HCAP) (33 vs 16%, p  Three MRSA pneumonia cases without risk factors for healthcare-associated pneumonia were diagnosed as community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) pneumonia. The latter cases were found to be older, this difference not reaching statistical significance (76.3±7.2, p=0.093). There was no difference in the other clinical and biochemical parameters.   Conclusion:  HCAP and CAP caused by  S. aureus  is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. There are too few cases to better define CA-MRSA pneumonia.
Immunoglobulin Analysis of C57BL Mice Infected With a Radiation-Induced Leukemia Virus 2
Authors: A. Sassen, F. Vander Plaetse, M. Janowski, J. R. Maisin
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1974)

C57BL mice infected with a radiation leukemia virus [RadLV(D)] that was inoculated either as a cellfree extract or as a cell suspension displayed serologic modifications. Total immunoglobulin concentration increased considerably, reached a plateau, and thereafter decreased. These changes were not directly related to the evolution of the spleen weight. The IgG2a and IgM immunoglobulins were changed the most markedly. Monoclonal paraprotein was not observed. Despite a high immunoglobulin level, the humoral immune response of these mice was depressed. Independent of the immunoglobulin concentration, spleen cell suspensions prepared from leukemic mice had, in vitro, a higher uptake of labeled amino acids than the controls. On the contrary, the excretion of proteins by these cells decreased with time. By immunofluorescence, murine leukemia virus antigens were detected in the same cells also positive for immunoglobulin synthesis.
Insulin, the Insulin-Like Growth Factor Axis, and Mortality in Patients With Nonmetastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Brian M. Wolpin, Jeffrey A. Meyerhardt, Andrew T. Chan, Kimmie Ng, Jennifer A. Chan, Kana Wu, Michael N. Pollak, Edward L. Giovannucci, Charles S. Fuchs
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2008)

Obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and Western dietary pattern have been linked to increased risk of cancer recurrence and mortality among patients with surgically resected colorectal cancer. Excess energy balance leads to increased circulating insulin and depressed levels of circulating insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) -1, which promote cancer cell growth in preclinical models.Among 373 patients diagnosed with nonmetastatic colorectal cancer between 1991 and 2004, we performed a prospective observational study nested within two large US cohorts to evaluate the association between mortality and prediagnosis circulating C-peptide (a marker of insulin secretion), IGFBP-1, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and IGFBP-3.Compared with patients in the bottom quartile, patients in the top quartile of plasma C-peptide had an age-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for death of 1.87 (95% CI, 1.04 to 3.36; P = .03 for trend), whereas those in the top quartile of circulating IGFBP-1 had a significant reduction in mortality (HR = 0.48; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.84; P = .02 for trend). Little change in these estimates was noted after adjusting for other covariates known or suspected to influence survival. No associations were noted between mortality and IGF-I or IGFBP-3, which are two components of the IGF axis not closely correlated with lifestyle factors.Among patients with surgically resected colorectal cancer, higher levels of prediagnosis plasma C-peptide and lower levels of prediagnosis plasma IGFBP-1 were associated with increased mortality. Circulating insulin and IGFBP-1 are potential mediators of the association between lifestyle factors and mortality after colorectal cancer resection.
T cells produce an antigen-binding factor with in vivo activity analogous to IgE antibody.
Authors: P W Askenase, R W Rosenstein, W Ptak
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1983)

T cell-dependent activation of resident tissue mast cells is required for the elicitation of delayed-type hypersensitivity skin reactions in mice. A T cell-derived antigen-binding factor that transfers the ability to elicit an immediate hypersensitivity-like skin reaction is described and compared with a hybridoma IgE antibody. Both the T cell factor and IgE mediate reactions with increased vascular permeability and both are mast cell dependent, as they are inactive in two different types of mast cell deficient mice (W/Wv and Sl/Sld). The T cell factor was distinguished from IgE by affinity chromatography using specific anti-IgE and anti-factor antibodies and by a shorter duration of passive sensitization. The T cell factor is a suitable candidate for participation in the mechanism by which T cells activate mast cells in delayed-type hypersensitivity.
Gene Therapy for Prostate Cancer by Controlling Adenovirus <i>E1a</i> and <i>E4</i> Gene Expression with PSES Enhancer
Authors: Xiong Li, Yan-Ping Zhang, Hong-Sup Kim, Kyung-Hee Bae, Keith M. Stantz, Sang-Jin Lee, Chaeyong Jung, Juan A. Jiménez, Thomas A. Gardner, Meei-Huey Jeng, Chinghai Kao
Journal: Cancer Research (2005)

Abstract PSES is a chimeric enhancer containing enhancer elements from prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) genes that are prevalently expressed in androgen-independent prostate cancers. PSES shows strong activity equivalent to cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, specifically in PSA/PSMA-positive prostate cancer cells, the major cell types in prostate cancer in the absence of androgen. We developed a recombinant adenovirus (AdE4PSESE1a) by placing adenoviral E1a and E4 genes under the control of the bidirectional enhancer PSES and enhanced green fluorescent protein gene for the purpose of intratumoral virus tracking under the control of CMV promoter. Because of PSES being very weak in nonprostatic cells, including HEK293 and HER911 that are frequently used to produce recombinant adenovirus, AdE4PSESE1a can only be produced in the HER911E4 cell line which expresses both E1 and E4 genes. AdE4PSESE1a showed similar viral replication and tumor cell killing activities to wild-type adenovirus in PSA/PSMA-positive prostate cancer cells. The viral replication and tumor cell killing activities were dramatically attenuated in PSA/PSMA-negative cells. To test whether AdE4PSESE1a could be used to target prostate tumors in vivo, CWR22rv s.c. tumors were induced in nude mice and treated with AdE4PSESE1a via intratumoral and tail vein injection. Compared to tumors treated with control virus, the growth of CWR22rv tumors was dramatically inhibited by AdE4PSESE1a via tail vein injection or intratumoral injection. These data show that adenoviral replication can be tightly controlled in a novel fashion by controlling adenoviral E1a and E4 genes simultaneously with a single enhancer.
Down-Regulation and Growth Inhibitory Role of C/EBPα in Breast Cancer
Authors: Sigal Gery, Sakae Tanosaki, Shikha Bose, Namrata Bose, Jay Vadgama, H. Phillip Koeffler
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2005)

Abstract Purpose: CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBP) are a family of transcription factors that regulate proliferation and differentiation in a variety of tissues. The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility that C/EBPα is involved in breast cancer. Experimental Design: We quantified C/EBPα mRNA expression levels in 24 primary breast tumors, 16 normal breast samples, and 8 breast cancer cell lines using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR assay. C/EBPα protein levels were further determined by immunohistochemical analysis. To examine the consequence of C/EPBα expression in breast cancer, we stably transfected an inducible C/EPBα expression vector into three breast cancer cell lines. Results: Low expression of C/EBPα mRNA was found in 83% of primary breast cancer samples. Immunohistochemical study further showed either a markedly reduced or undetectable expression of C/EBPα protein in 30% of breast cancer specimens. The other 70% of breast cancers had C/EBPα expression in both the cytoplasm and nucleus; in control, C/EBPα was localized to the nucleus in the normal ductal cells. C/EBPα expression was associated with estrogen- and progesterone receptor–negative status. Induction of C/EBPα expression in these cell lines resulted in growth inhibition accompanied by G0-G1 cell cycle arrest and reduced anchorage-independent cell growth. C/EBPα expression was associated with down-regulation of c-myc and up-regulation of p21, PPARγ, and the breast epithelial differentiation marker, maspin. Conclusions: These results suggest that reduced expression of C/EBPα may play a role in the development and/or progression of breast cancer.
Myocardial Contraction Frequency and Onset of Cardiac Glycoside Action
Authors: JAN KOCH-WESER
Journal: Circulation Research (1971)

Left atrial strips and right ventricular papillary muscles of kittens and left atrial strips of guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, and chickens were exposed to ouabain, acetylstrophanthidin, or digoxin at 37°C during rest or while contracting at frequencies from 0.06 to 60/min. Both the positive inotropic effect and increases in resting tension developed fully in all preparations exposed to the three drugs during complete quiescence. Contraction frequency had some influence on the rate of development of these effects, but this influence was not the result of the number of beats during exposure. In ventricular myocardium, exposure times required for the attainment of the maximum positive inotropic effect and for the induction of contracture at different contraction frequencies were proportional to the increase in tension development. It is concluded that the development of the myocardial effects of digitalis-like compounds does not require cardiac activity. The limited influence of contraction frequency on the rate of development of these effects may be partly due to frequency-dependent changes in the functional state of the myocardium which affect the magnitude of the positive inotropic action of cardiac glycosides.
Nephrogenic Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuresis in Adults
Authors: Guy Decaux, Frédéric Vandergheynst, Yasmina Bouko, Jasmine Parma, Gilbert Vassart, Catheline Vilain
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2007)

Nephrogenic syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (NSIAD) is a recently described genetic cause of hyponatremia in male infants. Whether this X-linked condition could be detected in the adult or also could affect women is unknown. A large five-generation family was identified in which the recently described arginine-vasopressin receptor type 2 (AVPR2) mutation that is responsible for NSIAD was segregated. The proband was a 74-yr-old patient who had a syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis and whose hyponatremia resisted administration of two AVPR2 antagonists. The phenotype of family members who carry the mutation was investigated. Patients with normal serum sodium were subjected to a water-load test. The previously reported activating missense R137C mutation in the AVPR2 gene in three hemizygous male and four heterozygous female individuals was identified. Except in one woman, spontaneous episodes of hyponatremia or abnormal water-load test were identified in all patients with the mutation, whether male or female. Skewed X inactivation was evidenced in the blood of the asymptomatic woman, which is compatible with preferential inactivation of her mutated allele. NSIAD is not limited to male infants. The diagnosis also should be considered in both male and female adults.
Let-7d suppresses growth, metastasis, and tumor macrophage infiltration in renal cell carcinoma by targeting COL3A1 and CCL7
Authors: Boxing Su, Wei Zhao, Bentao Shi, Zhongyuan Zhang, Xi Yu, Feng Xie, Zhongqiang Guo, Xiaoyu Zhang, Jin Liu, Qi Shen, Jinghua Wang, Xuesong Li, Zhiqian Zhang, Liqun Zhou
Journal: Molecular Cancer (2014)

MicroRNAs are endogenous small noncoding RNAs that are functionally involved in numerous critical cellular processes including tumorigenesis. Data mining using a microRNA array database suggested that let-7d microRNA may be associated with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) malignant progression. Here, we performed further analyses to determine whether let-7d is functionally linked to RCC malignancy. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the level of mature let-7d in RCC clinical specimens and its correlation with clinicopathological data. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to characterize the stroma of RCC. Let-7d overexpressing RCC cell lines combined with mouse models bearing cell-derived xenografts and patient-derived xenografts were used to assess the functional role of let-7d in vitro and in vivo. Downregulation of let-7d in clinical RCC samples was associated with advanced tumor grade and T stage and increased vascular invasion. An inverse relationship between let-7d expression and macrophage infiltration was found in clinical RCC samples. Functional studies indicated that ectopic expression of let-7d significantly inhibited RCC cell proliferation, migration, and peripheral blood monocyte (PBMC) recruitment in vitro, as well as tumor growth, metastasis, and tumor macrophage infiltration in vivo. In silico analysis and subsequent experimental validation confirmed collagen, type III, alpha 1 (COL3A1) and C-C subfamily chemokine member CCL7 as direct let-7d target genes. The addition of COL3A1 and CCL7 counteracted the inhibitory effects of let-7d on RCC cell proliferation, migration, and PBMC recruitment. The inhibition of let-7d increased cell proliferation, migration, and PBMC recruitment by the enhanced expression of COL3A1 and CCL7 genes in vitro. The mRNA levels of COL3A1 and CCL7 were inversely correlated with let-7d level in RCC clinical specimens. These results suggest that let-7d may suppress RCC growth, metastasis, and tumor macrophage infiltration at least partially through targeting COL3A1 and CCL7.
The Great Imitator: Systemic Nocardiosis Mimicking Richter's Transformation in Relapsed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Sameer A. Parikh, Yogesh Bhusal, Stefan H. Faderl, William G. Wierda, Susan O'Brien, Hagop Kantarjian, Javier A. Adachi, Jan A. Burger
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2010)
My Memory of Walter Fitch (1929-2011) and Starting Molecular Biology and Evolution
Authors: M. Nei
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2014)

More than 3 years have passed after Walter Fitch died on March 10, 2011. However, my memory of Walter is still fresh and vivid. From the time when he and I started this journal Molecular Biology and Evolution (MBE) in 1983, we had a close contact for about 15 years. He and I also started the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE) in 1992. We had a common interest in the theoretical study of molecular evolution and phylogenetics, and we often met in scientific meetings. In this article, I would like to discuss his contributions to the development of MBE and SMBE as well as a few of his research accomplishments concerning molecular evolution. A more general story of his life and science is written by Atchley (2011), Ayala (2011), Hall (2011), and McClure (2011).
Presence of Older Thrombus Is an Independent Predictor of Long-Term Mortality in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated With Thrombus Aspiration During Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Miranda C.A. Kramer, Allard C. van der Wal, Karel T. Koch, Johanna P.H.M. Ploegmakers, René J. van der Schaaf, José P.S. Henriques, Jan Baan, Saskia Z.H. Rittersma, Marije M. Vis, Jan J. Piek, Jan G.P. Tijssen, Robbert J. de Winter
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Routine thrombus aspiration is frequently used during primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction to prevent distal embolization. Recently, evidence of clinical benefit was published. In 50% of the ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients with an onset of symptoms <12 hours before, thrombi were shown to be >1 day old. This observation illustrates that plaque rupture and coronary occlusion are significantly separated in time. In the present study, we correlate the presence of fresh versus older thrombus with long-term mortality.Thrombus aspiration was performed in 1315 patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention with 3 devices (Rescue, Export, and Proxis). Aspirated material was fixed in formalin and processed for histopathology. If possible, thrombus age was classified as either fresh only (<1 day) or older (>1 day). We identified fresh thrombus in 552 patients and older thrombus in 372 patients. The cumulative Kaplan-Meier estimate of all-cause mortality at 4 years was significantly higher in patients with older thrombus (16.0%) compared with patients with fresh thrombus (7.4%), with a hazard ratio of 1.82 (95% confidence interval, 1.17 to 2.85; P=0.008). Multivariate analysis identified the presence of older thrombus, in addition to other established predictors, as an independent predictor (hazard ratio, 1.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.14 to 2.93; P=0.01) of long-term mortality.Our study demonstrates that the presence of older thrombus, in addition to other established predictors, is an independent predictor of long-term mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with thrombus aspiration during primary percutaneous coronary intervention.
PSITTACOSIS
Authors: T. M. Rivers, G. P. Berry
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1931)

The work presented in this communication concerning psittacosis in mice confirms Krumwiede's observations that mice inoculated intraperitoneally with emulsified livers and spleens containing the virus develop the disease and that the malady can in this way be passed serially through a number of mice. Furthermore, it has been shown that mice are susceptible to the virus administered intracerebrally and that the active agent can be propagated indefinitely by means of brain to brain inoculations. Moreover, by the use of mice, the presence of the virus of psittacosis in the sputum of a patient with the disease has for the first time been demonstrated. It follows that the mouse is available for diagnostic purposes. The pathological findings in infected mice consist of enlarged fatty livers that frequently show areas of necrosis infiltrated with polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells; enlarged spleens with areas of necrosis and cellular infiltrations involving the pulp and lymphoid follicles; and, finally, in intracerebrally infected animals, a meningoencephalitis. The "minute bodies" described by other observers were not found in all animals, but they were seen with sufficient frequency in smears of peritoneal and meningeal exudates and in smears and sections of livers and spleens to demand serious consideration as the possible etiological agent of the disease. Neutralizing and protective antibodies were not found in convalescent human sera when the mouse was used as the test animal.
IL-12– and IL-23–induced T helper cell subsets
Authors: Estelle Bettelli, Vijay K. Kuchroo
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2005)

Traditionally, CD4(+) T cells have been separated into two different subsets named T helper (Th)1 and Th2. A new IL-23-driven subset of Th cells called Th(IL-17) has now been described. The data suggest that IL-23 plays an important role in the differentiation of autoreactive pathogenic T cells. Whether these IL-23-induced Th(IL-17) cells are a unique subset or are related to other Th subsets is discussed.
Higher shoe-surface interaction is associated with doubling of lower extremity injury risk in football codes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Athol Thomson, Rod Whiteley, Chris Bleakley
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2015)

Background Turning or cutting on a planted foot may be an important inciting event for lower limb injury, particularly when shoe-surface traction is high. We systematically reviewed the relationship between shoe-surface interaction and lower-extremity injury in football sports. Methods A systematic literature search of four databases was conducted up to November 2014. Prospective studies investigating the relationship between rotational traction and injury rate were included. Two researchers independently extracted outcome data and assessed the quality of included studies using a modified Downs and Black index. Effect sizes (OR+95% CIs) were calculated using RevMan software. Where possible, data were pooled using the fixed effect model. Results Three prospective studies were included (4972 male athletes). The methodological quality was generally good with studies meeting 68–89% of the assessment criteria. All studies categorised athletes into low (lowest mean value 15 nm) or high traction groups (highest mean value 74 nm) based on standardised preseason testing. In all cases, injury reporting was undertaken prospectively over approximately three seasons, with verification from a medical practitioner. Injury data focused on: all lower limb injuries, ankle/knee injuries or ACL injury only. There was a clear relationship between rotational traction and injury and the direction and magnitude of effect sizes were consistent across studies. The pooled data from the three studies (OR=2.73, 95% CI 2.13 to 3.15; χ 2 =3.19, df=2, p=0.21; I 2 =36.5%) suggest that the odds of injury are approximately 2.5 times higher when higher levels of rotational traction are present at the shoe-surface interface. Summary and conclusions Higher levels of rotational traction influence lower limb injury risk in American Football athletes. We conclude that this warrants considerable attention from clinicians and others interested in injury prevention across all football codes.
Endocytosis and binding of asialoorosomucoid by hepatocytes from rats with jejunoileal bypass
Authors: Nathalie Serbource-Goguel/Seta, Béatrice Borel, Michèle Dodeur, Pierre Scarmato, Benoit Bourel, Jeanne Feger, Geneviève Durand
Journal: Hepatology (1985)

Rats with Jejunoileal bypass were used to study the biological activity of the hepatic binding protein. Hepatocytes were prepared 11 weeks after surgical procedure, and presence of asialoo-rosomucoid in serum has been determined. Compared to control rat hepatocytes, endocytosis of [3H]asialoorosomucoid by bypassed rat hepatocytes was decreased by about 60%. This was due to a decreased number of total and surface receptors. In most sera, an accumulation of asialoorosomucoid was found. A reduction of protein synthesis or turnover could be considered.