tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
NEURAL MECHANISMS INVOLVED IN ITCH, “ITCHY SKIN,” AND TICKLE SENSATIONS
Authors: David T. Graham, Helen Goodell, Harold G. Wolff
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1951)

Available evidence suggests that the sensation of itching is closely related to that of pain (1). Titchener (2) observed that when the skin was explored with a fine hair, well-defined points were found which gave rise to itching when the intensity of stimulation was low, and to pain on stronger stimulation. Bishop (3) found that itching resulted from repetitive low intensity electrical stimulation of pain spots in the skin. Lewis, Grant and Marvin (4) pointed out that noxious stimuli, if their intensity be decreased, can be made to produce itching instead of pain. Forster (5) and Bickford (6) reported that in patients who had
Electrolyte Content of Rat Heart Atria and Ventricles
Authors: J. A. BARCLAY, E. J. HAMLEY, HELGA HOUGHTON
Journal: Circulation Research (1960)

Extracellular tissue spaces are compared using inulin, sucrose, chloride and sodium in hearts perfused with Ringer-Locke solution by Langendorff's method. Also chloride and sodium spaces are given for unperfused, fresh hearts. From the inulin spaces the intracellular chloride, sodium, potassium and water concentrations in both perfused and unperfused heart chambers have been calculated. Data showing the specificity of the atrium and ventricles of the heart are presented.
Magnetic resonance imaging and bone scintigraphy in the differential diagnosis of unclassified arthritis
Authors: A Duer, M Ostergaard, K Horslev-Petersen, J Vallo
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2007)

Objectives: To investigate the value in clinical practice of hand magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and whole body bone scintigraphy in the differential diagnosis of patients with unclassified arthritis. Methods: 41 patients with arthritis (⩾2 swollen joints, >6 months' duration) which remained unclassified despite conventional clinical, biochemical and radiographic (hands and feet) examinations were studied. Patients who fulfilled the ACR criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or had radiographic bone erosions were excluded. Contrast enhanced MRI of the wrist and metacarpophalangeal joints of the most symptomatic hand and whole body bone scintigraphy were performed. Two rheumatologists agreed on the most likely diagnosis and the patients were treated accordingly. A final diagnosis was made by another specialist review 2 years later. Results: Tentative diagnoses after MRI and bone scintigraphy were: RA (n = 13), osteoarthritis (n = 8), other inflammatory diseases (n = 11), arthralgias without inflammatory or degenerative origin (n = 9). Two years later 11 of 13 patients with an original tentative diagnosis of RA had fulfilled the ACR criteria while two were reclassified (one to psoriatic arthritis (RF negative + psoriasis); one to non-specific self-limiting arthritis). No patients classified as non-RA at baseline had fulfilled the ACR criteria after 2 years. The presence of MRI synovitis, MRI erosion and bone scintigraphic pattern compatible with RA showed 100% specificity for a diagnosis of RA at 2 year follow-up. Conclusions: In patients with arthritis unclassified despite conventional clinical, biochemical and radiographic examinations, MRI and scintigraphy allowed correct classification as RA or non-RA in 39 of 41 patients when fulfilment of ACR criteria 2 years later was considered the standard reference.
Salmonella stimulate macrophage macropinocytosis and persist within spacious phagosomes.
Authors: C M Alpuche-Aranda, E L Racoosin, J A Swanson, S I Miller
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1994)

Light microscopic studies of phagocytosis showed that Salmonella typhimurium entered mouse macrophages enclosed in spacious phagosomes (SP). Viewed by time-lapse video microscopy, bone marrow-derived macrophages exposed to S. typhimurium displayed generalized plasma membrane ruffling and macropinocytosis. Phagosomes containing Salmonella were morphologically indistinguishable from macropinosomes. SP formation was observed after several methods of bacterial opsonization, although bacteria opsonized with specific IgG appeared initially in small phagosomes that later enlarged. In contrast to macropinosomes induced by growth factors, which shrink completely within 15 min, SP persisted in the cytoplasm, enlarging often by fusion with macropinosomes or other SP. A Salmonella strain containing a constitutive mutation in the phoP virulence regulatory locus (PhoPc) induced significantly fewer SP. Similar to Yersinia enterocolitica, PhoPc bacteria entered macrophages in close-fitting phagosomes, consistent with that expected for conventional receptor-mediated phagocytosis. These results suggest that formation of SP contributes to Salmonella survival and virulence.
Eosinophil-derived IL-1β, TGF-β and bFGF induce lung fibroblast secretion of the pro-fibrogenic cytokine IL-6: A potential mechanism for subepithelial fibrosis in asthma
Authors: I. Gomes, B.M. Espendshade, S.K. mathur, J. Varga, S.J. Ackerman
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2003)
Correlation of Visco-Elastic Properties with Microscopic Structure of Large Arteries
Authors: JULIA T. APTER
Journal: Circulation Research (1967)

The media of eight regions of the aorta and three of the pulmonary artery of dogs, as well as isolated elastin, collagen, and smooth muscle obtained from vascular and other sources, were subjected to a step-function circumferential stretch at a variety of temperatures between 0° and 70°C. The tension rose to a peak synchronously with the stretch and then fell along an essentially exponential course to a steady tension. Suitable use of the peak tension, the steady-state tension, and the time required to go from peak to steady state, supplied three temperature-dependent parameters (one viscous and two elastic) characteristic of the material. The two crystalline polymers, collagen and smooth muscle, had higher constants at low temperatures, and the amorphous polymer, elastin, had higher constants at high temperatures. Collagen differed from smooth muscle in its inertness to autonomic drugs and in its elastic modulus. Intact arteries stretched slightly (2% to 20%) in the presence of phenylephrine behaved like smooth muscle; arteries stretched more (20% to 70%) behaved like elastin. At both strain levels, the tensions developed were compatible with in vivo pressures. Arteries stretched even more (&gt; 100%), to tensions compatible with pressures of 300 mm Hg, behaved like collagen.
Subchondral avascular necrosis: a common cause of arthritis.
Authors: P.G Bullough, E.F DiCarlo
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1990)

(1) Subchondral avascular necrosis is an important cause of joint pain and disability and accounts for upwards of 20% of total hip replacements done in our hospital. (2) Early diagnosis may be made with the aid of magnetic resonance imaging and radioactive isotope studies. (3) Although the signs and symptoms are similar to those of osteoarthritis, there are significant differences--namely, (a) a history of sudden onset of pain, present in more than half the patients; (b) a younger age group; (c) a shorter duration of symptoms at time of surgery; (d) clinically the limiting factor is pain rather than actual joint deformity to account for restriction of movement; (e) a high incidence of multiple sites of involvement. (4) The disease is commonly associated with steroid treatment or alcohol abuse. Although many other causes are recognised, they are rare in Western urban practice. (5) Patients with stage I-II subchondral avascular necrosis, especially of the knee, are better treated conservatively. (6) Surgical treatment gives less satisfactory results than the treatment of osteoarthritis by similar modalities.
Intracellular targets of RGDS peptide in melanoma cells
Authors: Maria Simona Aguzzi, Paola Fortugno, Claudia Giampietri, Gianluca Ragone, Maurizio C. Capogrossi, Antonio Facchiano
Journal: Molecular Cancer (2010)

Abstract Background RGD-motif acts as a specific integrins-ligand and regulates a variety of cell-functions via extracellular action affecting cell-adhesion properties. However, increasing evidence identifies additional RGDS-functions at intracellular level. Previous reports show RGDS-internalization in endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes and lymphocytes, indicating intracellular targets such as caspase-8 and caspase-9, and suggest RGDS specific activity at cytoplasmic level. Given the role RGDS-peptides play in controlling proliferation and apoptosis in several cell types, investigating intracellular targets of RGDS in melanoma cells may un-reveal novel molecular targets and key pathways, potentially useful for a more effective approach to melanoma treatment. Results In the present study we show for the first time that RGDS-peptide is internalized in melanoma cells in a time-dependent way and exerts strong anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects independently from its extracellular anti-adhesive action. RGES control-peptide did not show biological effects, as expected; nevertheless it is internalized, although with slower kinetics. Survivin, a known cell-cycle and survival-regulator is highly expressed in melanoma cells. Co-immunoprecipitation assays in cell lysates and overlay assays with the purified proteins showed that RGDS interacts with survivin, as well as with procaspase-3, -8 and -9. RGDS-peptide binding to survivin was found to be specific, at high affinity (Kd 27.5 μM) and located at the survivin C-terminus. RGDS-survivin interaction appeared to play a key role, since RGDS lost its anti-mitogenic effect in survivin-deprived cells with a specific siRNA. Conclusions RGDS inhibits melanoma growth with an adhesion-independent mechanism; it is internalized in melanoma cells and specifically interacts with survivin. The present data may indicate a novel role of RGDS-containing peptides physiologically released from the extracellular matrix and may suggest a possible novel anti-proliferation strategy in melanoma.
COMPLETE FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SENSORY NEURONS BY SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION
Authors: Michael C.-K. Wu, Stephen V. David, Jack L. Gallant
Journal: Annual Review of Neuroscience (2006)

System identification is a growing approach to sensory neurophysiology that facilitates the development of quantitative functional models of sensory processing. This approach provides a clear set of guidelines for combining experimental data with other knowledge about sensory function to obtain a description that optimally predicts the way that neurons process sensory information. This prediction paradigm provides an objective method for evaluating and comparing computational models. In this chapter we review many of the system identification algorithms that have been used in sensory neurophysiology, and we show how they can be viewed as variants of a single statistical inference problem. We then review many of the practical issues that arise when applying these methods to neurophysiological experiments: stimulus selection, behavioral control, model visualization, and validation. Finally we discuss several problems to which system identification has been applied recently, including one important long-term goal of sensory neuroscience: developing models of sensory systems that accurately predict neuronal responses under completely natural conditions.
Effect of melatonin on taxane-induced neuropathy in breast cancer patients
Authors: S. Sweany, J. Lafollette, J. Pruemer, M. Swango, M. Clark, A. Wainino, Z. Nahleh
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2007)

19640 Background: Neurotoxicity caused by taxane chemotherapies(CT) can be dose limiting and can cause a decrease in quality of life. Melatonin has been evaluated for its use in decreasing adverse reactions of CT. Preclinical data suggests that melatonin has neuroprotective capability. The objective of this study is to determine if melatonin will decrease the incidence and severity of taxane-related neuropathy. Methods: Fifty patients beginning CT for any stage of breast cancer with paclitaxel, albumin-bound paclitaxel, or docetaxel will be enrolled. Patients should have no underlying neuropathy. Melatonin is given at 21 mg at bedtime on Day 1 and continued for 28 days after the last taxane dose. Every 28 days, neuropathy is assessed using the NCI-CTC 3.0 scale and possible side effects of melatonin are evaluated. Quality of life (QOL) is analyzed using the FACT-Taxane QOL assessment. Outcomes analyzed included the incidence and severity of neuropathy, and changes in QOL. Results: Currently 17 patients have been enrolled with 12 having completed taxaneCT and melatonin. Five have withdrawn due to non-medical reasons and were evaluated for toxicities. The mean age is 49 years (range 36–67 years). The end of study FACT-Taxane score was available for 11 of the 12 patients, with an average score of 135 (range 106–168). The average baseline QOL score was 131 (range 99–148). The average change in QOL score was +4. Eleven have completed paclitaxel with an average dose of 862 mg/m 2 (range 525–1620 mg/m 2 ). One patient received docetaxel t 450 mg/m 2 . Five patients self- reported adverse effects including night-time sedation (2), hot flashes (1), headache (1), constipation (1), nail darkening (1), and fatigue (1). Neuropathy distribution was as follows : 50 % (6) of patients had grade 0, 33% (4) grade 1, and 16% (2) grade 2 neuropathy. The mean change in neuropathy score was +0.67. Conclusion: Melatonin appears promising as a neuroprotective agent in patients receiving taxane-based chemotherapy. No patient developed grade 3 or 4 neuropathy compared to historical controls of 22–33%. Fifty percent of patients treated with melatonin while on taxane CT developed no neuropathy, and those who did, had grade 1 or 2 neuropathy.QOL was maintained. Melatonin's neuroprotective effect should be further evaluated. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Collagen Matrices Enhance Survival of Transplanted Cardiomyoblasts and Contribute to Functional Improvement of Ischemic Rat Hearts
Authors: Ingo Kutschka, Ian Y. Chen, Theo Kofidis, Takayasu Arai, Georges von Degenfeld, Ahmad Y. Sheikh, Stephen L. Hendry, Jeremy Pearl, Grant Hoyt, Ramachadra Sista, Phillip C. Yang, Helen M. Blau, Sanjiv S. Gambhir, Robert C. Robbins
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Background— Cardiac cell transplantation is limited by poor graft viability. We aimed to enhance the survival of transplanted cardiomyoblasts using growth factor-supplemented collagen matrices. Methods and Results— H9c2 cardiomyoblasts were lentivirally transduced to express firefly luciferase and green fluorescent protein (GFP). Lewis rats underwent ligation of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) ligation to induce an anterior wall myocardial infarction. Hearts (n=9/group) were harvested and restored ex vivo with 1×10 6 genetically labeled H9c2 cells either in (1) saline-suspension, or seeded onto (2) collagen-matrix (Gelfoam [GF];), (3) GF/Matrigel (GF/MG), (4) GF/MG/VEGF (10 μg/mL), or (5) GF/MG/FGF (10 μg/mL). Hearts were then abdominally transplanted into syngeneic recipients (working heart model). Controls (n=6/group) underwent infarction followed by GF implantation or saline injection. Cell survival was evaluated using optical bioluminescence on days 1, 5, 8, 14, and 28 postoperatively. At 4 weeks, fractional shortening and ejection fraction were determined using echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. Graft characteristics were assessed by immunohistology. Bioluminescence signals on days 5, 8, and 14 were higher for GF-based grafts compared with plain H9c2 injections ( P &lt;0.03). Signals were higher for GF/MG grafts compared with GF alone ( P &lt;0.02). GFP-positive, spindle-shaped H9c2 cells were found integrated in the infarct border zones at day 28. Left ventricular (LV) function of hearts implanted with collagen-based grafts was better compared with controls ( P &lt;0.05). Vascular endothelial growth factor or fibroblast growth factor did not further improve graft survival or heart function. Conclusions— Collagen matrices enhance early survival of H9c2 cardiomyoblasts after transplantation into ischemic hearts and lead to improved LV function. Further optimization of the graft design should make restoration of large myocardial infarctions by tissue engineering approaches effective.
THE DIAGNOSTIC USE OF AMOBARBITAL SODIUM ("AMYTAL SODIUM") IN BRAIN DISEASE
Authors: EDWIN A. WEINSTEIN, ROBERT L. KAHN, LEROY A. SUGARMAN, LOUIS LINN
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1953)

The use of amobarbital sodium (amytal sodium R) as a diagnostic test for brain disease is described. In 57 of 88 patients with proven brain disease, who on clinical examination showed no disturbances in behavior, the intravenous administration of the drug produced patterns of disorientation for time, place, and person and denial of illness. These changes were not obtained in any of 50 control patients. The applicability of the procedure to the study of alterations in brain function caused by structural, iatrogenic, metabolic, and toxic agents is discussed.
An Imbalance in TAZ and YAP Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Confers Cancer Stem Cell–like Behaviors Contributing to Disease Progression
Authors: Hiromitsu Hayashi, Takaaki Higashi, Naomi Yokoyama, Takayoshi Kaida, Keita Sakamoto, Yukiko Fukushima, Takatsugu Ishimoto, Hideyuki Kuroki, Hidetoshi Nitta, Daisuke Hashimoto, Akira Chikamoto, Eiji Oki, Toru Beppu, Hideo Baba
Journal: Cancer Research (2015)

Transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) and yes-associated protein (YAP) are equivalently placed downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway with oncogenic roles in human cancers. However, the expression profiles of TAZ/YAP differ depending on the cancer cell type, suggesting that these proteins have different roles during cancer progression, yet no studies have examined the biologic significance of the balance between TAZ and YAP expression levels. Here we examined the functional roles of TAZ/YAP in hepatocellular carcinoma progression. We found that TAZ, but not YAP, was predominantly expressed in HCC. TAZ knockdown under normal conditions attenuated cell growth in HCC cells; however, TAZ knockdown combined with 5-fluorouracil treatment significantly increased chemoresistance compared with control cells. Notably, TAZ knockdown induced compensatory YAP expression and was accompanied by upregulation of CD90, a HCC-specific cancer stem cell marker. Continuous treatment with 5-fluorouracil also induced YAP expression and promoted tumor formation in vivo. Conversely, double knockdown of TAZ/YAP reduced chemoresistance and tumorigenicity. Moreover, YAP knockdown aggravated HCC cell growth to a greater degree than TAZ knockdown, and YAP overexpression was strongly associated with poor prognoses in patients with HCC. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that TAZ and YAP exhibit different functional roles in cancer progression, and a shift to predominant YAP expression upon TAZ depletion conferred cancer stem cell-like properties including chemoresistance and tumorigenicity in HCC. Therefore, targeting of both TAZ/YAP will be required for a complete antitumor response in HCC.
TCT-613 Does High Dose Atorvastatin Pre-treatment Prevent Microvascular Dysfunction After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome? : A Randomized Comparison Study Using the Index of Microcirculatory Resistance
Authors: Bong-Ki Lee, Wonho Choi, Chang-Wook Nam, Joon-Hyung Doh, Woo-Young Chung, William F. Fearon, Bon-Kwon Koo
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2013)
Measurement of gastrointestinal transit using radioactive chromium
Authors: J. Hansky, A. M. Connell
Journal: Gut (1962)

Measurements of gastrointestinal transit until recently have used physical and chemical agents such as barium, bismuth, glass beads (Alvarez and Freedlander, 1924), or carmine (Mulinos, 1935).Recently Whitby and Lang (1960) showed that chromic oxide (Cr203) mixes well with the gut contents, is relatively inert, and is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.Using chemical methods for its estimation, they employed it as a marker in
The European Respiratory Society: future directions in medical education
Authors: P. Palange, J-L.C. Noel, A.K. Simonds
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

oday's fast-moving societal, economic and technological changes are reshaping the medical profession.The movement of both patients and doctors within the European Union (EU) has focused even greater attention on the competence of doctors and their fitness to practice.HORSLEY et al. [1] have described the variation between continuing professional development systems across EU countries, arguing for harmonisation of accreditation systems to simplify this process.At the same time, technological changes have introduced new concepts and challenges in how we conduct medical education, both by instruction and assessment, such as e-learning, simulators and simulation scenarios.
Why do patients with ulcerative colitis relapse?
Authors: J W Paulley
Journal: Gut (1990)

The striatum is the main input nucleus of the basal ganglia. Characterizing striatal activity dynamics is crucial to understanding mechanisms underlying action selection, initiation, and execution. Here, we studied the effects of spatial network connectivity on the spatiotemporal structure of striatal activity. We show that a striatal network with nonmonotonically changing distance-dependent connectivity (according to a gamma distribution) can exhibit a wide repertoire of spatiotemporal dynamics, ranging from spatially homogeneous, asynchronous-irregular (AI) activity to a state with stable, spatially localized activity bumps, as in “winner-take-all” (WTA) dynamics. Among these regimes, the unstable activity bumps [transition activity (TA)] regime closely resembles the experimentally observed spatiotemporal activity dynamics and neuronal assemblies in the striatum. In contrast, striatal networks with monotonically decreasing distance-dependent connectivity (in a Gaussian fashion) can exhibit only an AI state. Thus, given the observation of spatially compact neuronal clusters in the striatum, our model suggests that recurrent connectivity among striatal projection neurons should vary nonmonotonically. In brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, increased cortical inputs and high striatal firing rates are associated with a reduction in stimulus sensitivity. Consistent with this, our model suggests that strong cortical inputs drive the striatum to a WTA state, leading to low stimulus sensitivity and high variability. In contrast, the AI and TA states show high stimulus sensitivity and reliability. Thus, based on these results, we propose that in a healthy state the striatum operates in a AI/TA state and that lack of dopamine pushes it into a WTA state.