tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
SMALL MULTIFIDUS MUSCLE SIZE PREDICTS FOOTBALL INJURIES
Authors: J Hides, W Stanton, M Smith, D Mendis, M Sexton
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2014)

Background In Australian Football, hip, groin and thigh (HGT) muscle injuries have had the highest incidence and prevalence. A previous study showed that football players with relatively more severe pre-season ‘HGT’ injuries had a significantly smaller size of the multifidus muscle. Objective This study was designed to examine the robustness of multifidus muscle measurements as a predictor of lower limb injuries incurred by Australian Football League players. Design This was a prospective quasi-experimental research design. Muscle measurements were conducted at the start of the pre-season to predict pre-season injuries, and at the start of the playing season to predict injuries in the playing season. Setting Players from 6 clubs of the Australian National football league were eligible for inclusion (n=275). Players were assessed on club premises. Participants Assessments were conducted on 259 elite football players for the pre-season (94.2% of eligible players), and 261 players at the start the playing season (94.9%). Risk factor assessment Morphology of the multifidus muscle was assessed using ultrasound imaging. Injury data were obtained from records collected by the AFL club staff during the pre-season and the playing season. Main outcome measurements The dependent variable in the binomial logistic regression was occurrence of lower limb injuries in the pre-season and the playing season. Results A lower limb injury was incurred by 38.2% of the players in the pre-season and 69.5% of the players in the playing season. A new model using cross-sectional area of the multifidus muscle reliably and consistently predicted lower limb injury in both the pre-season and playing season. In the season, ‘kicking leg’ was related to injury. Conclusions The results of this study have established the predictive power of multifidus muscle size to predict injury in elite football players. These results provide a strong direction for clinicians who screen and treat athletes.
THE RELATION OF NATURAL HUMORAL ANTIPNEUMOCOCCAL IMMUNITY TO THE INCEPTION OF LOBAR PNEUMONIA
Authors: O. H. Robertson, Edward E. Terrell, James B. Graeser, M. Agnes Cornwell
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1930)

A study of the pneumococcidal-promoting action of the serum of lobar pneumonia patients, secured from 4 to 48 hours after the onset of the disease, has revealed the fact that in the majority of instances the serum possessed the power to promote killing of the homologous pneumococcus, isolated in different instances from the lung, blood, and sputum. While in some instances this action was slight, in others it was present to as great a degree as in normal individuals and persisted as long as 48 hours or more after the beginning of the disease. The variations observed from case to case were not related to the extent of the pneumonic lesion or to the virulence of the several pneumococcus strains but appeared to depend on differences in individual human beings in respect to the natural antipneumococcus properties of their blood and their reaction to the invading microorganism. A constant relationship was found to exist between the concentration of immune properties in the serum and blood invasion. In the presence of a well marked pneumococcidal-promoting power pneumococci were not found in the blood stream, and only when this property was greatly diminished or lost did blood invasion occur. The findings which are supported by certain previous experimental observations, indicate that lobar pneumonia can occur in the presence of a normal circulating antipneumococcus defense mechanism. From this it is inferred that before pneumococcus growth can be initiated there must be present in the lung local changes of such nature as to provide conditions for the multiplication of pneumococci protected from the pneumococcidal action of the blood. Suppositions as to the nature of these changes and the establishment of the pneumonic lesion are discussed.
Launch of a checklist for reporting longitudinal observational drug studies in rheumatology: a EULAR extension of STROBE guidelines based on experience from biologics registries
Authors: Jakub Zavada, William G Dixon, Johan Askling
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2013)

The advent and increased use of targeted therapies in rheumatology have stimulated the establishment of clinical drug registers. Such registers have evaluated a broad spectrum of outcomes in patients exposed to these uniquely designed, potent and expensive drugs.1–8 Although the main focus of most drug registers in rheumatology is drug safety, other important issues include drug usage, real-life effectiveness and economic consequences.

Results from biologics registers have come to play an important role in the evaluation of safety, effectiveness and treatment strategies, contributing significantly to the evidence base that guides clinical practice and shapes policy decisions. It is thus vital that the underlying studies are carefully conducted, analysed and transparently reported. This ensures (a proper appraisal of) the …
Interferon Alfacon-1 Plus Corticosteroids in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Authors: Mona R. Loutfy, Lawrence M. Blatt, Katharine A. Siminovitch, Sarah Ward, Bryan Wolff, Hyoung Lho, Dieu H. Pham, Hassan Deif, Elizabeth A. LaMere, Margaret Chang, Kevin C. Kain, Gabriella A. Farcas, Patti Ferguson, Mary Latchford, Gary Levy, James W. Dennis, Enoch K. Y. Lai, Eleanor N. Fish
Journal: JAMA (2003)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a new clinical entity for which no effective therapeutic strategy has been developed.To provide preliminary results on the potential therapeutic benefit and tolerability of interferon alfacon-1 plus corticosteroids for SARS.Open-label study of 22 patients diagnosed as having probable SARS at North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, between April 11 and May 30, 2003.Thirteen patients were treated with corticosteroids alone and 9 patients were treated with corticosteroids plus subcutaneous interferon alfacon-1.Clinical parameters, including oxygen saturation and requirement, laboratory measures, and serial chest radiography results.Resolution of fever and lymphopenia were similar between the 2 treatment groups. Of the 13 patients treated with corticosteroids alone, 5 (38.5%) were transferred to the intensive care unit, 3 (23.1%) required intubation and mechanical ventilation, and 1 (7.7%) died. Of the 9 patients in the interferon alfacon-1 treatment group, 3 (33.3%) were transferred to the intensive care unit, 1 (11.1%) required intubation and mechanical ventilation, and none died. The interferon alfacon-1 treatment group had a shorter time to 50% resolution of lung radiographic abnormalities (median time, 4 days vs 9 days; P =.001), had better oxygen saturation (P =.02), resolved their need for supplemental oxygen more rapidly (median, 10 days vs 16 days; P =.02), had less of an increase in creatine kinase levels (P =.03), and showed a trend toward more rapid resolution of lactate dehydrogenase levels compared with the group receiving corticosteroids alone.In this preliminary, uncontrolled study of patients with SARS, use of interferon alfacon-1 plus corticosteroids was associated with reduced disease-associated impaired oxygen saturation, more rapid resolution of radiographic lung abnormalities, and lower levels of creatine kinase. These findings suggest that further investigation may be warranted to determine the role of interferon alfacon-1 as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of SARS.
Modelling the Impact of Antiretroviral Use in Resource-Poor Settings
Authors: Rebecca F Baggaley, Geoff P Garnett, Neil M Ferguson
Journal: PLoS Medicine (2006)

Background The anticipated scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in high-prevalence, resource-constrained settings requires operational research to guide policy on the design of treatment programmes. Mathematical models can explore the potential impacts of various treatment strategies, including timing of treatment initiation and provision of laboratory monitoring facilities, to complement evidence from pilot programmes. Methods and Findings A deterministic model of HIV transmission incorporating ART and stratifying infection progression into stages was constructed. The impact of ART was evaluated for various scenarios and treatment strategies, with different levels of coverage, patient eligibility, and other parameter values. These strategies included the provision of laboratory facilities that perform CD4 counts and viral load testing, and the timing of the stage of infection at which treatment is initiated. In our analysis, unlimited ART provision initiated at late-stage infection (AIDS) increased prevalence of HIV infection. The effect of additionally treating pre-AIDS patients depended on the behaviour change of treated patients. Different coverage levels for ART do not affect benefits such as life-years gained per person-year of treatment and have minimal effect on infections averted when treating AIDS patients only. Scaling up treatment of pre-AIDS patients resulted in more infections being averted per person-year of treatment, but the absolute number of infections averted remained small. As coverage increased in the models, the emergence and risk of spread of drug resistance increased. Withdrawal of failing treatment (clinical resurgence of symptoms), immunologic (CD4 count decline), or virologic failure (viral rebound) increased the number of infected individuals who could benefit from ART, but effectiveness per person is compromised. Only withdrawal at a very early stage of treatment failure, soon after viral rebound, would have a substantial impact on emergence of drug resistance. Conclusions Our analysis found that ART cannot be seen as a direct transmission prevention measure, regardless of the degree of coverage. Counselling of patients to promote safe sexual practices is essential and must aim to effect long-term change. The chief aims of an ART programme, such as maximised number of patients treated or optimised treatment per patient, will determine which treatment strategy is most effective.
Syndrome of Celiac Artery Compression
Authors: JEFFREY M. SHAPIRO
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1977)

Letters and Corrections1 July 1977Syndrome of Celiac Artery CompressionJEFFREY M. SHAPIRO, M.D., JAMES L. A. ROTH, M.D., PH.D.JEFFREY M. SHAPIRO, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, JAMES L. A. ROTH, M.D., PH.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-87-1-116_1 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: The celiac artery compression syndrome continues to generate controversy as to its existence. In their recent article, Watson and Sadikali (1) claim unequivocal benefit for their patients through surgical intervention. In his editorial, Sleisenger (2) expresses doubts that the stenosis of the celiac artery is the cause of the symptoms. It is well recognized that greater than 50% occlusion of at least two of the three mesenteric arteries is associated with the symptoms of ischemic bowel disease (3) (postprandial, periumbilical pain appearing ½ to ¾ h after meals). We have recently seen a patient who presented with...References1. WATSON W and SADIKALI F: Celiac axis compression. Experience with 20 patients and a critical appraisal of the syndrome. Ann Intern Med 86:278-284, 1977 LinkGoogle Scholar2. SLEISENGER M: The celiac artery syndrome—again? Ann Intern Med 86:355-356, 1977 LinkGoogle Scholar3. DICK A, GRAFF R, and GREGG D: An arteriographic study of mesenteric arterial disease. Gut 8:206-220, 1967 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: JEFFREY M. SHAPIRO, M.D.; JAMES L. A. ROTH, M.D., PH.D.Affiliations: Institute of Gastroenterology Presbyterian-University of Pennsylvania Medical Center Philadelphia, PA 19104 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 July 1977Volume 87, Issue 1Page: 116-116KeywordsArteriesInflammatory bowel diseaseMesenteric arteriesStenosis ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 July 1977 PDF downloadLoading ...
Ecologic Correlates of Cancer Mortality Patterns in an Industrialized Urban Population&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: H Dayal, C Y Chiu, R Sharrar, J Mangan, I Rosenwaike, S Shapiro, A J Henley, R Goldberg-Alberts, J Kinman
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1984)

Cancer mortality data for the period 1968–80 were analyzed to examine whether the high cancer burden for the city of Philadelphia was “evenly” distributed spatially and, if not, whether this distribution could be associated with socioeconomic variables and air pollution. Areas with significantly higher-than-expected rates tended to cluster; lung cancer and non-lung cancers showed distinctive cluster patterns, which were evident only for males; female rates for any cancer or groups of cancers were almost uniformly distributed over the neighborhoods. Both the high lung cancer and the high non-lung cancer clusters were characterized by low socioeconomic status, but only the high lung cancer clusters exhibited high levels of air pollution. These neighborhood characteristics suggested that socioeconomic variables explain non-lung cancer mortality patterns; socioeconomic variables, together with air pollution, could be responsible for the observed lung cancer patterns. The uniform distribution of female lung cancer rates suggested that air pollution by itself cannot be a prominent factor in lung cancer mortality.
Water channels encoded by mutant aquaporin-2 genes in nephrogenic diabetes insipidus are impaired in their cellular routing.
Authors: P M Deen, H Croes, R A van Aubel, L A Ginsel, C H van Os
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1995)

Congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is a recessive hereditary disorder characterized by the inability of the kidney to concentrate urine in response to vasopressin. Recently, we reported mutations in the gene encoding the water channel of the collecting duct, aquaporin-2 (AQP-2) causing an autosomal recessive form of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI). Expression of these mutant AQP-2 proteins (Gly64Arg, Arg187Cys, Ser216Pro) in Xenopus oocytes revealed nonfunctional water channels. Here we report further studies into the inability of these missense AQP-2 proteins to facilitate water transport in Xenopus oocytes. cRNAs encoding the missense AQPs were translated with equal efficiency as cRNAs encoding wild-type AQP-2 and were equally stable. Arg187Cys AQP2 was more stable and Gly6-4Arg and Ser216Pro AQP2 were less stable when compared to wild-type AQP2 protein. On immunoblots, oocytes expressing missense AQP-2 showed, besides the wild-type 29 kDa band, an endoplasmic reticulum-retarded form of AQP-2 of approximately 32 kD. Immunoblots and immunocytochemistry demonstrated only intense labeling of the plasma membranes of oocytes expressing wild-type AQP-2. Therefore, we conclude that in Xenopus oocytes the inability of Gly64-Arg, Arg187Cys or Ser216Pro substituted AQP-2 proteins to facilitate water transport is caused by an impaired routing to the plasma membrane.
A Role for JAK2 Mutations in Myeloproliferative Diseases
Authors: Kelly J. Morgan, D. Gary Gilliland
Journal: Annual Review of Medicine (2007)

Myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) are characterized by a clonal expansion of myeloid cells. Over the past two years, the identification of the JAK2V617F mutation in most cases of polycythemia vera (PV) as well as ∼50% of patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) has greatly advanced our understanding of MPDs. The JAK2V617F mutation alters the JAK2 tyrosine kinase to confer constitutive activation and affect downstream signaling pathways. Data from mouse models demonstrate that the mutation is sufficient for development of PV, but additional work is needed to better understand how this allele functions in ET and IMF. Regardless of the various pathologies, the JAK2V617F discovery highlights the importance of JAK-STAT signaling in myeloid differentiation and focuses effort on developing a clinically relevant JAK2 inhibitor.
An experimental renal acidification defect in patients with hereditary fructose intolerance
Authors: R. Curtis Morris
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1968)

In three unrelated patients with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), but in none of five normal subjects, the experimental administration of fructose invariably induced a reversible dysfunction of the renal tubule with biochemical and physiological characteristics of renal tubular acidosis. During a state of ammonium chloride-induced acidosis, (a) urinary pH was greater than six and the rate of excretion of net acid (titratable acid plus ammonium minus bicarbonate) was inappropriately low, (b) the glomerular filtration rate remained unchanged or decreased modestly, and (c) urinary excretion of titratable acid increased briskly with diuresis of infused phosphate, although urinary pH changed little. The tubular dysfunction, which also includes impaired tubular reabsorption of alpha amino nitrogen and phosphate, persisted throughout administration of fructose and disappeared afterward. The tubular dysfunction was not causally dependent on hypoglucosemia, ammonium chloride-induced acidosis or osmotic diuresis. Rather, it appeared causally related to the fructose-induced metabolic abnormality of patients with HFI. The causal enzymatic defect, the virtual absence of fructose-1-phosphate aldolase, occurs in the kidney as well as in the liver of patients with HFI.
Intracompartmental pressure testing: results of an international survey of current clinical practice, highlighting the need for standardised protocols
Authors: Matthew Hislop, Paul Tierney
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2011)

Despite more recent non-invasive modalities generating some credence in the literature, intracompartmental pressure testing is still considered the 'gold standard' for investigating chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS). Intracompartmental pressure testing, when used correctly, has been shown to be accurate and reliable. However, it is a user-dependent investigation, and the manner in which the investigation is conducted plays a large role in the outcome of the test. Despite this, a standard, reproducible protocol for intracompartmental pressure testing has not been described. This results in confusion regarding interpretation of results and reduces the tests' reliability. A summary of the current understanding of CECS is presented, along with the results of a survey of specialists in Australia and New Zealand who perform intracompartmental pressure testing, which confirms that a uniform approach is currently not used in clinical practice. This highlights the need for a consensus and standardised approach to intracompartmental pressure testing.
Presence of the ica operon in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis and its role in biofilm production
Authors: V. Cafiso, T. Bertuccio, M. Santagati, F. Campanile, G. Amicosante, M.G. Perilli, L. Selan, M. Artini, G. Nicoletti, S. Stefani
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2004)
Cancer services are suffering in Iraq
Authors: K. Sikora
Journal: BMJ (1999)

The Iraqi health minister, Dr Omeed Mubarak, recently asked the World Health Organisation to review the problem of cancer services in Iraq and suggest how things could be improved.

It was immediately clear that there were staggering deficiencies in cancer treatment facilities because of the United Nations sanctions, which are intended to exclude food and medicines. A cancer centre without a single analgesic; a radiotherapy unit where each patient needs one hour under the machine because the radiation source is so old; and children dying of curable cancers because drugs run out are all accepted as normal.

We as doctors cannot stand idly by and watch this slow, silent tragedy drag on 

Iraq has a population of 20million. The cancer registry is good in some parts of the country and there are an estimated 50 000 new patients …
Randomized Trial Comparing Conventional-Dose With High-Dose Conformal Radiation Therapy in Early-Stage Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate: Long-Term Results From Proton Radiation Oncology Group/American College of Radiology 95-09
Authors: Anthony L. Zietman, Kyounghwa Bae, Jerry D. Slater, William U. Shipley, Jason A. Efstathiou, John J. Coen, David A. Bush, Margie Lunt, Daphna Y. Spiegel, Rafi Skowronski, B. Rodney Jabola, Carl J. Rossi
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2010)

PURPOSE To test the hypothesis that increasing radiation dose delivered to men with early-stage prostate cancer improves clinical outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS Men with T1b-T2b prostate cancer and prostate-specific antigen </= 15 ng/mL were randomly assigned to a total dose of either 70.2 Gray equivalents (GyE; conventional) or 79.2 GyE (high). No patient received androgen suppression therapy with radiation. Local failure (LF), biochemical failure (BF), and overall survival (OS) were outcomes. Results A total of 393 men were randomly assigned, and median follow-up was 8.9 years. Men receiving high-dose radiation therapy were significantly less likely to have LF, with a hazard ratio of 0.57. The 10-year American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology BF rates were 32.4% for conventional-dose and 16.7% for high-dose radiation therapy (P < .0001). This difference held when only those with low-risk disease (n = 227; 58% of total) were examined: 28.2% for conventional and 7.1% for high dose (P < .0001). There was a strong trend in the same direction for the intermediate-risk patients (n = 144; 37% of total; 42.1% v 30.4%, P = .06). Eleven percent of patients subsequently required androgen deprivation for recurrence after conventional dose compared with 6% after high dose (P = .047). There remains no difference in OS rates between the treatment arms (78.4% v 83.4%; P = .41). Two percent of patients in both arms experienced late grade >/= 3 genitourinary toxicity, and 1% of patients in the high-dose arm experienced late grade >/= 3 GI toxicity. CONCLUSION This randomized controlled trial shows superior long-term cancer control for men with localized prostate cancer receiving high-dose versus conventional-dose radiation. This was achieved without an increase in grade >/= 3 late urinary or rectal morbidity.