tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Steroidogenesis in the Fetal Testis and Its Susceptibility to Disruption by Exogenous Compounds
Authors: Hayley M. Scott, J. Ian Mason, Richard M. Sharpe
Journal: Endocrine Reviews (2009)

Masculinization depends on adequate production of testosterone by the fetal testis within a specific "masculinization programming window." Disorders resulting from subtle deficiencies in this process are common in humans, and environmental exposures/lifestyle could contribute causally because common therapeutic and environmental compounds can affect steroidogenesis. This evidence derives mainly from rodent studies, but because there are major species differences in regulation of steroidogenesis in the fetal testis, this may not always be a guide to potential effects in the human. In addition to direct study of the effects of compounds on steroidogenesis, information also derives from study of masculinization disorders that result from mutations in genes in pathways regulating steroidogenesis. This review addresses this issue by critically reviewing the comparative timing of production and regulation of steroidogenesis in the fetal testis of humans and of rodents and its susceptibility to disruption; where there is limited information for the fetus, evidence from effects on steroidogenesis in the adult testis is considered. There are a number of fundamental regulatory differences between the human and rodent fetal testis, most notably in the importance of paracrine vs. endocrine drives during masculinization such that inactivating LH receptor mutations block masculinization in humans but not in rodents. Other large differences involve the steroidogenic response to estrogens and GnRH analogs and possibly phthalates, whereas for other compounds there may be differences in sensitivity to disruption (ketoconazole). This comparison identifies steroidogenic targets that are either vulnerable (mitochondrial cholesterol transport, CYP11A, CYP17) or not (cholesterol uptake) to chemical interference.
Human papillomavirus DNA testing for the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 and cancer: 5-year follow-up of a randomised controlled implementation trial
Authors: NWJ Bulkmans, J Berkhof, L Rozendaal, FJ van Kemenade, AJP Boeke, S Bulk, FJ Voorhorst, RHM Verheijen, K van Groningen, ME Boon, W Ruitinga, M van Ballegooijen, PJF Snijders, CJLM Meijer
Journal: The Lancet (2007)
Renal Response to Tissue Injury
Authors: ANUPAM AGARWAL, HARRY S. NICK
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2000)

Abstract. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a microsomal enzyme involved in the degradation of heme, resulting in the generation of biliverdin, iron, and carbon monoxide. Recent attention has focused on the biologic effects of product(s) of this enzymatic reaction that have important antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective functions. Induction of HO-1 occurs as an adaptive and beneficial response to a wide variety of oxidant stimuli, including heme, hydrogen peroxide, cytokines, growth factors, heavy metals, nitric oxide, and oxidized LDL. HO-1 has been implicated in several clinically relevant disease states, including transplant rejection, hypertension, acute renal injury, atherosclerosis, and others. Previous studies indicate a protective role for HO-1 in heme and non-heme-mediated models of acute renal injury using chemical inducers and inhibitors of HO-1. Studies in HO-1 knockout mice further corroborate these observations, highlighting the important role of HO-1 in the pathophysiology of acute renal injury. Expression of HO-1 has been linked to prolonged xenograft survival and is important in transplant rejection as well. More recently, the first known case of human HO-1 deficiency was reported with several phenotypical similarities to the mouse HO-1 knockout. The role of HO-1 has extended far beyond its initial description as an enzyme involved in heme degradation to being an important mediator in modulating adaptive and protective responses not only in renal injury, but in other organ systems as well.
Effect of chronic hypoxia on calcium signalling in airway smooth muscle cells
Authors: N-E. Belouchi, E. Roux, J-P. Savineau, R. Marthan
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1999)

Chronic hypoxia (CH) alters smooth muscle contractility. CH generally produces a sustained attenuation of vasoreactivity. In airways, this effect of CH is poorly understood although CH is frequently observed in patients with pulmonary diseases. This study was designed to examine the effect of CH on both the isometric contraction of isolated rings and the cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) using microspectrofluorimetry in freshly isolated cells from rat tracheal smooth muscle. Tissues were obtained from both chronically hypoxic rats maintained in a hypobaric chamber (50.5 kPa) for 15 days and normoxic animals. CH increased the sensitivity of airway smooth muscle to cholinergic agonists. This increase observed in the mechanical activity (concentration of carbachol producing 50% of the maximal force (EC50) in tissues from normoxic and hypoxic animals: 0.80 microM (0.39-1.21 microM) and 0.34 microM (0.08-0.59 microM), respectively, p&lt;0.05) was related to an increase in the sensitivity of cholinergic-mediated Ca2+ release (acetylcholine EC50 in cells from normoxic and hypoxic animals: 0.14 microM (0.11-0.17 microM) and 0.04 microM (0.026-0.054 microM), respectively, p&lt;0.05). It was concluded that chronic hypoxia alters calcium signalling in airway smooth muscle cells, which was associated with an increase in airway responsiveness in vitro. Whether a similar phenomenon contributes to bronchial hyperresponsiveness in chronically hypoxaemic patients remains to be established.
Prevalence of Diabetes and Hypertension in a Rural Population of Bangladesh
Authors: M Abu Sayeed, Akhtar Banu, Abdur Rahman Khan, M Zafirul Hussain
Journal: Diabetes Care (1995)

OBJECTIVE--To determine the prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and hypertension in a rural community of Bangladesh. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--A cluster sampling of 1,005 subjects > 15 years of age in the rural community of Dohar was investigated. Capillary blood glucose of fasting and 2 h after 75 g oral glucose (2hBG) were estimated. World Health Organization criteria were used for diagnosis of NIDDM and IGT. Blood pressure, height, and weight were also measured. RESULTS--The crude prevalence of NIDDM was 2.1% (men 3.1, women 1.3%) and IGT was 13.3% (men 14.4, women 12.4%). Age-adjusted (30-64 years of age) prevalence was 2.23% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-3.45) for NIDDM and 15.67% (95% CI 12.59-18.75) for IGT. Prevalence of hypertension with systolic blood pressure (sBP) > or = 140 mmHg was 10.5% and with diastolic blood pressure (dBP) > 90 mmHg was 9.0%. Increased age was the risk factor for NIDDM, IGT, and hypertension; whereas increased BMI showed inconsistent association with them. Relative risk for sBP with higher BMI ( < 22.0 vs. > or = 22.1) was 1.94 with CI 1.55-2.43 and for dBP it was 2.2 with CI 1.40-3.46. Correlation of sBP was significant with age, BMI, and 2hBG. Similar correlation was also observed with dBP. CONCLUSIONS--High prevalences of NIDDM, IGT, and hypertension were observed among rural subjects. Increased age was shown to be an important risk factor for all these disorders, whereas BMI-associated risk was significant with NIDDM and hypertension but not with IGT.
Microbiology and treatment of halitosis
Authors: WALTER J. LOESCHE, CHRISTOPHER KAZOR
Journal: Periodontology 2000 (2002)

The prevalence of oral malodor is probably high in the United States, although precise epidemiological data are missing. The many thousands of individuals who experience oral malodor from the overgrowth of proteolytic, anaerobic bacteria on their tongue surfaces can be successfully treated by a regimen that includes tongue brushing, toothbrushing and possibly the usage of mouthrinses containing various agents. Several candidate mouthrinses containing essential oils (Listerine), ZnCl2, or an oil, water and cetylpyridum chloride mouthrinse have reduced the organoleptic scores of individuals with moderate levels of oral malodor in the absence of tongue brushing. Very few long-term data beyond 6 weeks of usage are available. Anecdotal evidence suggests that other agents such as chlorine dioxide may be helpful. These mouthrinses should be marketed as oral deodorants that are analogous in purpose to the usage of deodorant soaps to control and/or eliminate body malodors. In this way the mouthrinse could be considered as a cosmetic by the FDA, provided that there are data on the safety of the various ingredients in the mouthrinse. Mouthrinses containing zinc ions are able to reduce the levels of volatile sulfur compounds by converting these volatile compounds to non-volatile, and therefore, non-malodorous zinc sulfides, and this mode of action would appear to support a cosmetic claim.
Rapid molecular detection of tuberculosis and rifampicin drug resistance: retrospective analysis of a national UK molecular service over the last decade
Authors: N Seoudi, S L Mitchell, T J Brown, F Dashti, A K Amin, F A Drobniewski
Journal: Thorax (2012)

<h3>Background</h3> Fast and reliable detection of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> complex (MTBC) and drug resistance is crucial in establishing effective treatment and enforcing timely public health measures. <h3>Methods</h3> The authors analysed the performance of a national UK molecular diagnostic service over a decade, based on the use of a line probe assay (Innolipa, LiPA) compared with conventional liquid and solid cultures with rapid molecular identification and culture-based drug resistance testing. <h3>Findings</h3> Data were available for 7836 consecutive patient samples using LiPA and the reference microbiological technique (conventional liquid and solid cultures with rapid molecular identification and culture-based drug resistance testing). For all sputum specimens (n=3382) the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy for MTBC detection were 93.4%, 85.6%, 92.7%, 86.9% and 90.7%; the equivalent values for smear-positive sputum specimens (n=2606) were 94.7%, 80.9%, 93.9%, 83.3% and 91.3%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy for detection of rifampicin resistance in all sputum samples (n=1667) were 92.1%, 99.3%, 89.4%, 99.5% and 98.9%, respectively; the equivalent values for smear-positive sputum specimens (n=1477) were 93.3%, 99.3%, 87.5%, 99.6% and 99%. Between January 2006 and December 2008, LiPA saved 25.3 and 32.2 days for TB diagnosis and rifampicin resistance of smear-positive samples, respectively. <h3>Interpretation</h3> A molecular diagnostic service, using a non-automated line probe assay approach, provides a rapid and reliable national service for diagnosing MTBC and rifampicin resistance.
Individualized Predictions of Disease Progression Following Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Jeremy M.G. Taylor, Menggang Yu, Howard M. Sandler
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2005)

Following treatment for localized prostate cancer, men are monitored with serial prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurements. Refining the predictive value of post-treatment PSA determinations may add to clinical management, and we have developed a model that predicts future PSA values and the time to future clinical recurrence for individual patients.Data from 934 patients treated between 1987 and 2000 were used to develop a comprehensive statistical model to fit the clinical recurrence events and patterns of PSA data. A logistic model was used for the probability of cure, mixed models were used for serial PSA measurements, and a proportional hazards model was used for recurrences. Data available through February 2001 were fit to the model, and data collected between February 2001 and September 2003 were used for validation.T-stage, baseline PSA, and radiotherapy dosage are all associated with probability of cure. The risk of clinical recurrence in those not cured is strongly affected by the slope of PSA values. We show how the model can be used for individual monitoring of disease progression. For each patient the model predicts, based on baseline characteristics and all post-treatment PSA values, the probability of future clinical recurrences and future PSA values. The model accurately predicts risk of recurrence and future PSA values in the validation data set.This predictive information on future PSA values and the risk of clinical relapse for each individual patient, which can be updated with each additional PSA value, may prove useful to patients and physicians in determining post-treatment salvage strategies.
Efficacy of Methylprednisolone on Pain, Fatigue, and Appetite Loss in Patients With Advanced Cancer Using Opioids: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial
Authors: Ørnulf Paulsen, Pål Klepstad, Jan Henrik Rosland, Nina Aass, Eva Albert, Peter Fayers, Stein Kaasa
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2014)

Corticosteroids are frequently used in cancer pain management despite limited evidence. This study compares the analgesic efficacy of corticosteroid therapy with placebo.Adult patients with cancer receiving opioids with average pain intensity ≥ 4 (numeric rating scale [NRS], 0 to 10) in the last 24 hours were eligible. Patients were randomly assigned to methylprednisolone (MP) 16 mg twice daily or placebo (PL) for 7 days. Primary outcome was average pain intensity measured at day 7 (NRS, 0 to 10); secondary outcomes were analgesic consumption (oral morphine equivalents), fatigue and appetite loss (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire C30, 0 to 100), and patient satisfaction (NRS, 0 to 10).A total of 592 patients were screened; 50 were randomly assigned, and 47 were analyzed. Baseline opioid level was 269.9 mg in the MP arm and 160.4 mg in the PL arm. At day-7 evaluation, there was no difference between the groups in pain intensity (MP, 3.60 v PL, 3.68; P = .88) or relative analgesic consumption (MP, 1.19 v PL, 1.20; P = .95). Clinically and statistically significant improvements were found in fatigue (-17 v 3 points; P .003), appetite loss (-24 v 2 points; P = .003), and patient satisfaction (5.4 v 2.0 points; P = .001) in favor of the MP compared with the PL group, respectively. There were no differences in adverse effects between the groups.MP 32 mg daily did not provide additional analgesia in patients with cancer receiving opioids, but it improved fatigue, appetite loss, and patient satisfaction. Clinical benefit beyond a short-term effect must be examined in a future study.
Rapid distal small bowel transit associated with sympathetic denervation in type I diabetes mellitus.
Authors: L Rosa-e-Silva, L E Troncon, R B Oliveira, M C Foss, F J Braga, L Gallo Junior
Journal: Gut (1996)

BACKGROUND: The pattern of progression of a meal from the stomach to the caecum in diabetes mellitus is controversial and the differential roles of transit through the jejunum and the ileum have not been investigated in diabetes. AIMS: To determine gastric emptying and transit rates through proximal and distal regions of the small bowel in type I diabetic patients. SUBJECTS: The study included six diabetic patients with evidence of autonomic neuropathy (DM-AN group), 11 diabetics without autonomic dysfunction (DM group), and 15 control volunteers. METHODS: Gastric emptying and small bowel transit of a liquid meal were evaluated scintigraphically in these subjects. Transit through regions of interest corresponding to the proximal and distal small intestine up to the caecum was determined and correlated with gastric emptying rates, cardiovascular measurements of autonomic function, and the occurrence of diarrhoea. RESULTS: Gastric emptying and transit through the proximal small bowel were similar in the three groups. The meal arrived to the caecum significantly earlier in DM-AN patients (median; range: 55 min; 22--&gt;180 min) than in the DM group (100 min; 44--&gt;180 min, p &lt; 0.05) or in controls (120 min; 80--&gt;180 min, p &lt; 0.02). Accumulation of chyme in the distal small bowel was decreased in DM-AN patients, who showed values for peak activity (30%; 10-55%) significantly lower than in the DM group (49%; 25-77%, p = 0.02) and controls (50%; 30-81%, p = 0.02). In DM patients (n = 17), the time of meal arrival to the caecum was significantly correlated with both orthostatic hypotension (coefficient of contingency, C = 0.53, p &lt; 0.01) and diarrhoea (C = 0.47, p &lt; 0.05), but not with gastric emptying rates. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with type I diabetes mellitus and sympathetic denervation have abnormally rapid transit of a liquid meal through the distal small bowel, which may play a part in diarrhoea production.
Functional Disability 5 Years after Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Margaret S. Herridge, Catherine M. Tansey, Andrea Matté, George Tomlinson, Natalia Diaz-Granados, Andrew Cooper, Cameron B. Guest, C. David Mazer, Sangeeta Mehta, Thomas E. Stewart, Paul Kudlow, Deborah Cook, Arthur S. Slutsky, Angela M. Cheung
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2011)

There have been few detailed, in-person interviews and examinations to obtain follow-up data on 5-year outcomes among survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Development of giant cell (temporal) arteritis in a patient 'adequately' treated for polymyalgia rheumatica.
Authors: R I Rynes, P Mika, L E Bartholomew
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1977)

A 70-year-old woman presenting with typical polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and a normal temporal artery biopsy appeared to respond completely to low-dose prednisone therapy. A subsequent biopsy showing temporal arteritis with a normal sedimentation rate and no recurrence of myalgic symptoms emphasizes the unpredictable course of treated PMR and the need for continued clinical as well as laboratory follow-up.
BRAIN TUMOR: A DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGE
Authors: J J THORPE
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1956)

Article1 June 1956BRAIN TUMOR: A DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGEJOHN J. THORPE, M.D.JOHN J. THORPE, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-44-6-1142 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo some observers, the daily life of a physician in industry may seem routine and prosaic. In actual fact he is frequently faced with diagnostic problems of the first magnitude. Though not the most common, one of the most challenging is that of brain tumor. Wechsler called it one of the simplest and at the same time one of the most difficult diagnostic problems in the whole domain of neurology.1A review of the recent medical literature revealed a lack of consideration of the problem as seen by the industrial physician. This prompted a study of cases recorded in the...Bibliography1. Wechsler I: Textbook of clinical neurology, 5th Ed., 1943, W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia. Google Scholar2. Vital Statistics of the United States, 1950, Vol. III, U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Google Scholar3. RedlichDunsmoreBrody FCRHEB: Delays and errors in the diagnosis of brain tumor, New England J. Med. 239: 945-950, 1948. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Grinker R: Neurology, 3d Ed., 1943, Charles Thomas, Springfield, Ill. Google Scholar5. Horrax G: Diagnosis and prognosis of brain tumors, Bull. New York Acad. Med. 19: 125-131, 1943. MedlineGoogle Scholar6. McIntyreMcIntyre HDAP: Problem of brain tumor in psychiatric diagnosis, Am. J. Psychiat. 98: 720-726, 1942. CrossrefGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: New York, N. Y.*Received for publication September 30, 1955. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byCytology of the CervixWhere to be Treated for a Brain Tumour 1 June 1956Volume 44, Issue 6Page: 1142-1162KeywordsBrainSyphilis ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 June 1956 PDF downloadLoading ...
THE RISE AND FALL OF MENOPAUSAL HORMONE THERAPY
Authors: Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, Deborah Grady, Marcia L. Stefanick
Journal: Annual Review of Public Health (2005)

Clinical trials show that hormone therapy (HT) is an effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms and vaginal dryness. HT improves other symptoms including sleep and quality of life in women who have menopause symptoms. In the Women's Health Initiative controlled clinical trials, both estrogen therapy (ET) and estrogen plus progestin therapy (EPT) reduced fracture risk, neither reduced the risk of heart disease, and both increased the risk of stroke, deep vein thrombosis, and dementia. EPT, but not ET, increased breast cancer risk and reduced colon cancer risk. Differences between EPT and ET may reflect chance, baseline differences between the EPT and ET cohorts, or a progestin effect. Studies of younger women and lower HT doses with intermediate endpoints are beginning.
Ligand bridging mediates integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (platelet GPIIB-IIIA) dependent homotypic and heterotypic cell-cell interactions.
Authors: M P Gawaz, J C Loftus, M L Bajt, M M Frojmovic, E F Plow, M H Ginsberg
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1991)

The aggregation of cells bearing recombinant integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (platelet GPIIb-IIIa) has been analyzed by two-color flow cytometry. As in normal platelets, aggregation requires functional alpha IIb beta 3, "activation" of alpha IIb beta 3, and fibrinogen (fg) binding to alpha IIb beta 3. Cellular aggregation required that both interacting cells express functional alpha IIb beta 3, because a binding defective mutant, alpha IIb beta 3 (D119----Y), failed to support interaction with wild type alpha IIb beta 3-bearing cells. In addition, cells bearing resting alpha IIb beta 3 were incorporated into aggregates formed by cells bearing a constitutively active mutant, alpha IIb beta 3 (beta 1-2), indicating that only one of the cells in an interacting pair must be activated. Finally, heterotypic interactions occurred between cells bearing activated alpha IIb beta 3 and cells bearing alpha V beta 3, a fg-binding integrin present on endothelial and tumor cells. Thus, ligand bridging between fg-binding integrins represents a mechanism of cell-cell interaction, cells bearing resting alpha IIb beta 3 (e.g., resting platelets) may be incorporated into aggregates formed by cells bearing activated alpha IIb beta 3, and alpha IIb beta 3 mediates heterotypic interactions with cells bearing other fg receptors.
Diabetes, insulin therapy, and colorectal cancer
Authors: Andrew G Renehan, Stephen M Shalet
Journal: BMJ (2005)

The sources the government prefers are likely to be seriously biased for several reasons.They do not take into account deaths during the first 12 months since the invasion 8 ; only violence related deaths reported through the health system are taken into account (very likely to lead to an underestimate 9 ); and non-violent deaths due to the destruction of war are not taken into account.Furthermore, even these limited figures are no longer being released on request. 10 Apparently the defence ministry has set up an appraisal group, 11 but we urgently await transparency and public accountability.The time elapsed since the announcement is already longer than it took to conduct the field survey last year.Electorates, in Iraq and elsewhere, have a right to know.To procrastinate further for no good reason is to devalue public health processes, not to mention Iraqi lives.As public health professionals we need to know the health costs.