tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Proapoptotic, Antimigratory, Antiproliferative, and Antiangiogenic Effects of Commercial C-Reactive Protein on Various Human Endothelial Cell Types In Vitro
Authors: Chunsheng Liu, Shaohua Wang, Arjun Deb, Karl A. Nath, Zvonimir S. Katusic, Joseph P. McConnell, Noel M. Caplice
Journal: Circulation Research (2005)

Recent experimental studies suggest C-reactive protein (CRP) may be a potential mediator of atherosclerosis and its complications. However, there is growing criticism of in vitro CRP studies that use commercial CRP preparations containing biologically active contaminants. The effects of commercial CRP, dialyzed commercial CRP (dCRP) to remove azide, and sodium azide (NaN 3 ) alone at equivalent concentrations to the undialyzed preparation were tested at varying concentrations on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), circulating endothelial outgrowth cells (EOC), and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in vitro. CRP and NaN 3 alone exhibited equivalent concentration-dependent, proapoptotic effects on HUVEC, EOC, and EPC ( P &lt;0.01 versus control), whereas dCRP had no such effect. Similarly, CRP and NaN 3 alone caused equivalent concentration-dependent decreases in migration, proliferation, and matrigel tube formation ( P &lt;0.01 versus control) in EOC and HUVEC, whereas dCRP had absolutely no effect on these biological functions at any of the concentrations used. We conclude that proapoptotic, antiproliferative, antimigratory, and antiangiogenic effects of this commercial CRP preparation on a number of endothelial cell phenotypes in culture may be explained by the presence of sodium azide in this preparation. This study has implications for interpretation of in vitro studies using CRP preparations containing azide at equivalent or higher concentrations.
Development and Characterization of an Anti-FXIIa Monoclonal Antibody for the Treatment of Hereditary Angioedema
Authors: Zhihui (Helen) Cao, Mark Biondo, Veronika Rayzman, Matthew Hardy, Anne McDonald, Samantha Busfield, Marc W. Nolte, Michael Wilson, Andrew Nash, Con Panousis
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2015)
Hypermethylation of specific microRNA genes in MLL-rearranged infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia: major matters at a micro scale
Authors: D J P M Stumpel, D Schotte, E A M Lange-Turenhout, P Schneider, L Seslija, R X de Menezes, V E Marquez, R Pieters, M L den Boer, R W Stam
Journal: Leukemia (2010)
Pleurodesis for malignant pleural effusion: talc, toxicity and where next?
Authors: H. E Davies, Y C G. Lee, R. J O Davies
Journal: Thorax (2008)

Malignant pleural effusion accounts for 22% of all pleural effusions, and affects about 300 000 patients annually (UK and USA). Approximately 50% of patients with breast cancer, 25% of those with lung cancer and >90% with pleural mesothelioma develop a symptomatic malignant pleural effusion. Thoracentesis provides effective short term symptomatic relief but most large malignant pleural effusions recur,1 and pleurodesis is then the standard treatment. A wide range of compounds have been used as pleurodesing agents, but talc is preferred by the majority of respiratory physicians worldwide.2

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) has recently completed an urgent review of the safety of talc as a pleurodesis agent for malignant effusion, reclassifying it as a medicinal product rather than medical device.3 This review requires that from January 2008, manufacturers must submit regulatory data if they wish their talc preparation to be used for pleurodesis. This is a milestone on the path towards improved care for malignant effusion as it heralds the first time an agent for intrapleural administration will be regulated under the systems used for biologically active drugs.

Talc is a magnesium silicate hydroxide (Mg3(Si2O5)2(OH)2) and is mined, milled and sterilised prior to clinical use, although these processes still sometimes leave behind mineral or organic contaminants. The MHRA review was a response to evidence that some of the preparations produced by these processes, and considered safe for pleurodesis in the UK and USA for over 50 …
Analysis of HLA Antigens in <i>Mycobacterium avium</i>-<i>intracellulare</i> Pulmonary Infection
Authors: KEISHI KUBO, YOSHITAKA YAMAZAKI, MASAYUKI HANAOKA, HIROSHI NOMURA, KEISAKU FUJIMOTO, TAKAYUKI HONDA, MASAO OTA, YOSHIMASA KAMIJOU
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2000)

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) pulmonary infection may occur in subjects with no preexisting lung disease and no known immunodeficiency, showing radiologically nodular bronchiectasis. There have remained some unresolved problems in the pathogenesis of the disorder, including the predominance in elderly women and the presence of not deteriorated or deteriorated disease. In the present study, we examined whether immunogenetic susceptibility is present in the disorder. We evaluated 64 cases of MAI disease and analyzed their short-term natural history by assessing symptoms, sputum bacteriology, and chest computed tomographic findings. The frequencies of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles in patients were compared with those in 100 healthy Japanese control subjects. We assayed the HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR, and -DQ antigens serologically. Among 64 patients, 37 (35 females) did not show deterioration, whereas 27 (24 females) showed deterioration after an interval of 30 ± 15 mo. There was no significant frequency of HLA-B and -C alleles in either group. In 37 not deteriorated patients, DR-6 was positive in 14 (37.8%) patients but in only 16 (16%) control subjects (p = 0.0061, odds ratio [OR] = 3.20). DQ-4 was positive in 10 (27.0%) patients but in only 10 (10%) control subjects (p = 0.0122, OR = 3.33). In 27 deteriorated patients, HLA-A26 was positive in 14 (51.9%) patients but in only 21 (21.0%) control subjects (p = 0.0015, OR = 4.05). MAI pulmonary infection with nodular bronchiectasis shows two types of outcome, deteriorated and not deteriorated. The subjects with A-26 antigen might indicate the deterioration of MAI infection.
Identification and functional importance of plasma kallikrein in the synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid, psoriatic, and osteoarthritis.
Authors: M M Rahman, K D Bhoola, C J Elson, M Lemon, P A Dieppe
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1995)

OBJECTIVES--To determine and identify, unequivocally, if plasma kallikrein (PK) is present in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid (RA), psoriatic (PA) and osteo (OA) arthritis, and to consider its functional importance in the inflamed joint. METHODS--Therapeutically aspirated synovial fluids (pooled and individual samples, n = 66) were obtained from patients with arthritis. In addition, serum (n = 14) was collected from RA patients, and saliva (n = 10) and urine (n = 10) from normal individuals. Enzymic (amidase) and immunoreactive activities of PK and its precursor, prokallikrein (PPK), were determined. The presence of PK was assessed by incubation with soya bean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI), and by adsorption with anti-PK antibody linked to Sepharose. An enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) for PK was developed for quantitative measurement of total PK in biological fluids. Enhancement of the PK dose-response by RA synovial fluid made it necessary to remove RF from synovial fluids before determination of PK by ELISA. RESULTS--Amidase activity was demonstrated in synovial fluid pools and shown to be inhibited completely by SBTI, and removed by prior treatment with anti-PK Sepharose. Total PK activity (PK + PPK) from individual synovial fluid specimens did not differ significantly between patients with RA (median activity 76 mU/g protein), PA (80 mU/g protein) or OA (60 mU/g protein). Similar results were obtained when active PK alone was measured. No correlation was found between active PK or total PK values and the severity score for individual joints. Most of the measured immunoreactivity was removed by adsorption with anti-PK antibody linked to Sepharose. CONCLUSION--The results support the hypothesis that plasma kallikrein is present in synovial fluid. The enzyme may be important in the pathogenesis of inflamed joints.
Little Old New York
Authors: N. C Oswald
Journal: Thorax (1992)

Aeromonas hydrophilafulminant pneumonia in afit young man peratures from 40 to 45°C, and is able to survive in sea water.This seems the most probable environmental source for this case.Laboratories should be altered to the pos- sibility of A hydrophila as a potential patho- genic organism.Treatment with amino- glycosides and vigorous pulmonary and cardiovascular support is required.Clinicians should be aware of the virulence of this rare organism.1 Baddourr LM, Baselski VS.Pneumonia due to Aeromonas hydrophila complex: epidemiologic clinical and microbiologic features.
Pretibial Edema and Sodium Retention During Lithium Carbonate Treatment
Authors: Robert Demers
Journal: JAMA (1970)

Pretibial edema was observed in nine consecutive manic-depressive patients who were ingesting therapeutic amounts of lithium, carbonate. The edema was slight to modest in amount, occurred during periods of high sodium intake, and was associated with sodium retention. In four of the nine cases it spontaneously disappeared, even though the high sodium intake and lithium carbonate treatment continued. The pathogenesis of the edema cannot be specified, since the measurements of renal, cardiovascular, and hepatic functions obtained during the period of edema were not abnormal. Although urinary excretion of aldosterone was not increased by treatment with lithium carbonate, spironolactone, a specific aldosterone inhibitor, temporarily eliminated the edema, indicating that the tubular reabsorption of sodium has some role in the edema formation.
Aerosolised iloprost improves pulmonary haemodynamics in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension receiving continuous epoprostenol treatment
Authors: V Petkov
Journal: Thorax (2001)

Background-Continuous intravenous treatment with epoprostenol significantly improves pulmonary haemodynamics and survival in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH).Its beneficial eVect, however, may be blunted due to adverse eVects such as catheter sepsis and systemic hypotension.Recent investigations have shown that inhaled iloprost is eVective in the treatment of PPH.Based on their diVerent pharmacokinetics, we hypothesised that the combination of intravenous epoprostenol and inhaled iloprost would be more eYcacious than epoprostenol alone during acute testing in patients with PPH.Methods-The eVect of a single dose of inhaled iloprost (30 µg total over 15 minutes) on pulmonary haemodynamics was examined in eight patients with PPH (initial non-responders to nitric oxide) who had considerable adverse eVects during treatment with epoprostenol.Results-The combination of inhaled iloprost and intravenous epoprostenol significantly improved mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP), cardiac index (CI), mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO 2 ), and systemic arterial oxygen pressure (PaO 2 ) compared with epoprostenol treatment alone.Mean systemic arterial pressure (MSAP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) remained unchanged.Conclusions-The pulmonary vasoreactivity shown by additional iloprost inhalation during eVective epoprostenol treatment suggests that an improvement of treatment for pulmonary hypertension may be possible by combining vasoactive substances.
Premotor systems, language-related neurodynamics, and cetacean communication
Authors: Gary Goldberg, Roberta Brooks
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (1998)

The frame/content theory of speech production is restricted to output mechanisms in the target article; we suggest that these ideas might best be viewed in the context of language production proceeding as a coordinated dynamical whole. The role of the medial premotor system in generating frames matches the important role it may play in the internally dependent timing of motor acts. The proposed coevolution of cortical architectonics and language production mechanisms suggests a significant divergence between primate and cetacean species corresponding to major differences in areal differentiation trends in cerebral cortex.
Quality of Reporting of Cancer Prognostic Marker Studies: Association With Reported Prognostic Effect
Authors: Panayiotis A. Kyzas, Despina Denaxa-Kyza, John P. A. Ioannidis
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2007)

Issues of reported study quality have not been addressed empirically with large-scale data in the cancer prognostic literature.Eight quality measures pertaining to study design and assay methods (i.e., blinding, prospective versus retrospective design, power calculations, outcomes' definitions, time of enrollment, reporting of variables, assay description, and assay reference) were evaluated in cancer prognostic marker studies included in meta-analyses identified in Medline and EMBASE. To be eligible, meta-analyses had to include at least six studies and to examine binary outcomes. We estimated the ratios of relative risks, which compared the overall prognostic effects (summary relative risks) between poor-quality and good-quality studies for each quality item. Between-study heterogeneity was tested with the Q statistic (statistically significant at P<.10). All statistical tests were two-sided.We identified 20 meta-analyses that included 331 cancer prognostic marker studies published between 1987 and 2005. Only three (0.9%) of the 331 studies presented power calculations, 129 (39.0%) studies stated that analyses were blinded, and 73 (21.5%) stated that they were prospective. Time of enrollment was defined in 232 (70.0%), 234 (70.7%) gave lists of candidate variables, and 254 (76.7%) defined outcomes. The assay used was described in 317 (95.8%), but only 177 (53.5%) provided the assay reference. Estimates of prognostic effects from poor-quality studies varied considerably and could be larger or smaller than summary estimates derived from meta-analyses. Summary ratios of relative risks of poor- versus good-quality studies for the seven quality measures ranged from 0.95 to but 1.26, but none was statistically significantly. There was statistically significant heterogeneity (P<.10) between the ratios of relative risk estimates across meta-analyses for blinding, defining endpoints, and stating variables and assay references.Among cancer prognostic marker studies, reporting quality of design and assay information often appears suboptimal, indicating that this literature may be largely unreliable. Given the potential clinical importance of prognostic marker information, improved design and reporting of these studies are warranted.
Enrichment of mRNA-like Noncoding RNAs in the Divergence of Drosophila Males
Authors: Z.-F. Jiang, D. A. Croshaw, Y. Wang, J. Hey, C. A. Machado
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2010)

With the advent of transcriptome data, it has become clear that mRNA-like noncoding RNAs (mlncRNAs) are widespread in eukaryotes. Although their functions are poorly understood, these transcripts may play an important role in development and could thus be involved in determining developmental complexity and phenotypic diversification. However, few studies have assessed their potential roles in the divergence of closely related species. Here, we identify and study patterns of sequence and expression divergence in ten novel candidate mlncRNAs from Drosophila pseudoobscura and its close relative D. persimilis. The candidate mlncRNAs were identified by randomly sequencing a group of 734 cDNA clones from a microarray that showed either no difference in expression (187 clones) or differential expression (547 clones) in comparisons between D. pseudoobscura and D. persimilis and between these two species and their F1 hybrids. Candidate mlncRNAs are overrepresented among differentially expressed transcripts between males of D. pseudoobscura and D. persimilis, and although they have high sequence conservation between these two species, seven of them have no putative homologs in any of the other ten Drosophila species whose genomes have been sequenced. Expression of eight of the ten candidate mlncRNAs was detected either in whole bodies (adults) or testes using a custom-designed oligonucleotide microarray. Three of the ten candidate mlncRNAs are highly expressed (in the top 4% of the male transcriptome), differentially expressed between species, and show extreme levels of sex-bias, with one transcript having the highest level of male bias in the whole transcriptome. Proteomic data from testes show no traces of any predicted peptides from the candidate mlncRNAs. Our results suggest that these mlncRNAs may be important in male-specific processes related to sexual dimorphism and species divergence in this species group.
Central Auditory Processing in Patients With Auditory Hallucinations
Authors: Colette M. McKay, Donna M. Headlam, David L. Copolov
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2000)

Data from a full assessment of auditory perception in patients with schizophrenia were used to investigate whether auditory hallucinations are associated with abnormality of central auditory processing.Three groups of subjects participated in auditory assessments: 22 patients with psychosis and a recent history of auditory hallucinations, 16 patients with psychosis but no history of auditory hallucinations, and 22 normal subjects. Nine auditory assessments, including auditory brainstem response, monotic and dichotic speech perception tests, and nonspeech perceptual tests, were performed. Statistical analyses for group differences were performed using analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The results of individual patients with test scores in the severely abnormal range (more than three standard deviations from the mean for the normal subjects) were examined for patterns that suggested sites of dysfunction in the central auditory system.The results showed significant individual variability among the subjects in both patient groups. There were no group differences on tests that are sensitive to low brainstem function. Both patient groups performed poorly in tests that are sensitive to cortical or high brainstem function, and hallucinating patients differed from nonhallucinating patients in scores on tests of filtered speech perception and response bias patterns on dichotic speech tests. Six patients in the hallucinating group had scores in the severely abnormal range on more than one test.Hallucinations may be associated with auditory dysfunction in the right hemisphere or in the interhemispheric pathways. However, comparison of results for the patient groups suggests that the deficits seen in hallucinating patients may represent a greater degree of the same types of deficits seen in nonhallucinating patients.
Eosinophilic fasciitis with multiple myeloma: a new haematological association
Authors: D Khanna
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2002)

Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is characterised by skin induration, hypergammaglobulinaemia, and peripheral eosinophilia. There have been numerous reports of an association of EF with haematological disorders, including monoclonal gammopathy. To our knowledge, we describe the first reported case of an association of EF with multiple myeloma (MM).

A 48 year old white woman presented for evaluation of a 12 month history of progressive increasing skin thickness and tightening and recurrent falls. The patient was in her usual state of health until one year before admission when she noticed increased skin pigmentation with diffuse skin thickening, initially on the thighs but progressing to her abdomen and arms. She denied any Raynaud's phenomenon. On examination, the vital signs were normal. Examination was significant for skin thickening and induration of the thighs and arms. There was minimal sclerodactyly and no digital ulcers, scars or synovitis. No nailfold capillary abnormality was noticed. The oral aperture was mildly decreased with no evidence of telangiectasias. There were bilateral flexion contractures of the knees and the elbows. Results of chest, heart, and abdominal examinations were within …
Effects of near-road and regional air pollution: the challenge of separation
Authors: Nino Künzli
Journal: Thorax (2014)

As people spend most of their lifetime at home, outdoor air pollution levels near the home remain an important determinant of personal exposure to pollution from outdoor sources. With every breath, we inhale a complex mixture of hundreds of such pollutants. A simplified categorisation of these pollutants distinguishes local, freshly emitted (primary) pollutants from regional, aged (secondary) pollutants. To understand people's exposure to the latter—more homogeneously distributed pollutants (eg, fine particles, PM2.5 or ozone)—many studies use data from fixed-site monitoring stations, considered to be representative of exposure in the entire community. For near-road local types—such as diesel soot, ultrafine nanoparticles, NO or CO—this approach is insufficient.1 Freshly emitted pollutants from vehicle exhaust and resuspended particles show strong spatial gradients, with concentrations exponentially decreasing, reaching within 50–500 m of busy roads 10–30% of the levels observed on the street.2 Thus, to understand exposure to these locally emitted pollutants, we need to use small-scale local measurements and models.

The main argument for making this distinction is that regional and near-road traffic-related pollutants may have different health effects. The literature on childhood asthma and air pollution supports this notion and reveals two consistent patterns: (1) comparison of the (multivariate-adjusted) asthma prevalence or incidence across communities with different air quality does not support the hypothesis that regional air pollutants play a relevant aetiological role3; (2) studies estimating exposure to near-road traffic-related pollutants indicate that children growing up close to busy roads have a higher risk of developing asthma than those living a few hundred metres away.4 ,5 The Southern Californian Children's Health Study (CHS) is one of several epidemiological studies that recognises the asthmogenic role of near-road pollutants,6 ,7 confirming biologically plausible models.8

Landmark cohort studies initiated by the CHS team provide both cross-sectional and longitudinal …
Ethnic Differences in Response to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
Authors: Emiliano Calvo, José Baselga
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2006)

The identification of somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and their correlation with response to EGFR inhibitors has become an important event in the fields of cancer genetics and therapeutics. The initial observation of a higher response to gefitinib and erlotinib in patients of Asian origin was followed by the discovery that they harbor more frequent EGFR mutations in NSCLC; this raises the issue of ethnic diversity in the pathogenesis of given tumors. In a similar fashion, amplification of the closely related HER2 gene, which could also have implications for the treatment of NSCLC, is also more frequent in East Asian patients. On the other hand, EGFR gene amplification may be more prevalent in Western populations. The implication of these findings is that ethnicity may indicate different genetic backgrounds in common tumors that may influence clinical outcome and response to therapy. Therefore, in clinical trials with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and other molecular-targeted therapies, the inclusion of a global population appears to be required.