tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Effect of tai chi exercise on proprioception of ankle and knee joints in old people
Authors: D Xu, Y Hong, J Li, K Chan
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2004)

Objectives: To assess if tai chi, a traditional Chinese form of exercise, could improve proprioception in old people and if the effects of tai chi on proprioception are more evident than other exercise forms in the elderly. Methods: By detecting the threshold of passive movement, ankle and knee joint kinaesthesis was measured in 21 elderly long term tai chi practitioners (TC group), 20 elderly long term swimmers/runners (S/R group), and 27 elderly sedentary controls (control group). Results: Ankle joint kinaesthesis differed significantly among the three groups (p = 0.001). Subjects in the TC group could detect a significantly smaller amount of motion than those in the S/R group (p = 0.022) and control group (p = 0.001). No significant difference was found between the S/R group and the control group (p = 0.701). The threshold for detection of passive motion was significantly different in knee extension and flexion. For knee flexion, the TC group showed a significantly lower mean threshold for detection of passive motion than the control group (p = 0.026). There were no significant differences between the S/R group and control group (p = 0.312), or between the TC group and S/R group (p = 0.533). For knee extension, no significant difference was noted among the three groups (p = 0.597). Conclusions: The elderly people who regularly practiced tai chi not only showed better proprioception at the ankle and knee joints than sedentary controls, but also better ankle kinaesthesis than swimmers/runners. The large benefits of tai chi exercise on proprioception may result in the maintenance of balance control in older people.
Renal Abnormalities in Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome Are Associated with 11p15.5 Uniparental Disomy
Authors: Michael Goldman, Adam Smith, Cheryl Shuman, Oana Caluseriu, Chihong Wei, Leslie Steele, Peter Ray, Paul Sadowski, Jeremy Squire, Rosanna Weksberg, Norman D. Rosenblum
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2002)

ABSTRACT. Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a somatic overgrowth syndrome characterized by a variable incidence of congenital anomalies, including hemihyperplasia and renal malformations. BWS is associated with disruption of genomic imprinting and/or mutations in one or more genes encoded on 11p15.5, including <i>CDKN1C</i> (<i>p57</i><sup><i>KIP2</i></sup>). It was hypothesized that genotypic and epigenotypic abnormalities of the 11p15.5 region affecting <i>CDKN1C</i> were associated with renal abnormalities. Medical records for 159 individuals with BWS were reviewed. All underwent at least one abdominal ultrasonographic evaluation. Testing for paternal uniparental disomy (UPD) at 11p15.5, <i>CDKN1C</i> mutations, and imprinting defects at <i>KvDMR1</i> was performed for 96, 32, and 47 patients, respectively. Of the 159 patients, 67 (42%) exhibited renal abnormalities, mainly nephromegaly (25%), collecting system abnormalities (11%), and renal cysts (10.5%). The frequency of renal lesions among patients who were tested for genetic abnormalities did not differ from that among patients who were not tested. Paternal UPD was demonstrated in 22 of 96 cases (23%), <i>CDKN1C</i> mutations in eight of 32 cases (25%), and <i>KvDMR1</i> imprinting defects in 21 of 47 cases (45%). The 22 UPD-positive patients exhibited a significantly higher incidence of renal abnormalities (<i>P</i> = 0.0026). Surprisingly, the eight patients with <i>CDKN1C</i> mutations exhibited no significant increase in the incidence of renal lesions (<i>P</i> = 0.29). Imprinting defects at <i>KvDMR1</i>, which might downregulate <i>CDKN1C</i>, were also not associated with a significant difference in the incidence of renal disease. Whereas UPD at 11p15.5 in BWS was associated with a higher incidence of renal abnormalities, mutations at <i>CDKN1C</i> and <i>KvDMR1</i> imprinting defects were not, suggesting that imprinted genes on 11p15.5 other than <i>CDKN1C</i> are critical for renal development.
Wnt3a Regulates the Development of Cardiac Neural Crest Cells by Modulating Expression of Cysteine-Rich Intestinal Protein 2 in Rhombomere 6
Authors: Xiaojing Sun, Ruilin Zhang, Xueying Lin, Xiaolei Xu
Journal: Circulation Research (2008)

The cardiac neural crest is a subpopulation of neural crest cells (NCCs) that originates from the dorsal neural tube and later migrates to the heart and pharyngeal arch (PA), where they contribute to distinct aspects of cardiogenesis and PA patterning. Wnt family members have been implicated in general neural crest induction; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the specification of distinct cell types such as cardiac NCCs remain unclear. Here, we have identified cysteine-rich intestinal protein 2 (crip2), a gene encoding for a LIM domain-containing protein, as a novel marker for cardiac NCCs in zebrafish. We observed a dynamic expression pattern for crip2, with expression being detected in the premigratory NCCs in rhombomere 6 (r6), migrating NCCs, ventricular cardiomyocytes, and aortic vessels in PAs 3 to 6. Interestingly, expression of wnt3a was detected in regions of the dorsal neural tube encompassing r6, and reduction of wnt3a led to disrupted expression of crip2 in r6, abnormal migration of NCCs, and defective cardiac function, as well as PA development. Furthermore, these phenotypes could be recapitulated by reduction of crip2 and rescued by overexpression of crip2. In summary, our data suggest a specific role for Wnt3a in the development of cardiac NCCs. We propose that this function of wnt3a in r6 is partially mediated by crip2 expression in the premigratory cardiac NCCs, which subsequently affects cardiac function and PA patterning.
Pathogenesis of Postprandial Hyperlipemia in Rats Fed Ethanol-Containing Diets
Authors: E. Baraona, R. C. Pirola, C. S. Lieber
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1973)

To study the mechanism of the increase in serum lipoproteins which occurs in rats fed alcohol chronically, and especially to assess the role of the intestine, the effects of acute and chronic ethanol administration on lymph and plasma lipids were compared in rats with and without intestinal lymph fistulae. In rats not previously given alcohol, the administration of one dose of a diet containing ethanol (3 g/kg) produced a significant increase in lymph flow, lipid output, and incorporation of dietary fat into lymph lipids when compared with the effects of a control diet containing isocaloric carbohydrate. However, no hyperlipemia developed after ethanol. By contrast, previous feeding of ethanol for several weeks modified the acute effects of ethanol on both lymph and serum lipids. Compared with control animals pair-fed with isocaloric carbohydrate-containing diets, rats which had been fed a diet with 36% of total calories as ethanol for 3-4 wk developed postprandial hyperlipemia when given a single dose of the ethanol-containing or even the ethanol-free diet. This was associated with an increased incorporation of labeled dietary fat and of intravenously injected [(3)H]lysine into plasma lipoproteins of d < 1.006. However, postprandial lymph flow and lipid output were not higher in rats fed alcohol chronically than in their pair-fed controls. Moreover, when rats with lymph fistulae were given intravenous (i.v.) infusions of lymph lipids (to substitute for the diverted intestinal lymph), the ethanol-fed animals still developed hyperlipemia. Incorporation of i.v. lysine into d < 1.006 plasma lipoproteins also remained significantly increased. Thus, under these conditions, alcoholic hyperlipemia does not result from changes in intestinal lymph lipids. Two main factors appear to be involved; the acute effects of ethanol on hepatic lipid metabolism and the development of an increased capacity for lipoprotein synthesis during chronic ethanol feeding. The latter most likely occurs in the liver and it is postulated that it is linked to the associated changes in the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum.
Association of Pediatric Dental Caries With Passive Smoking
Authors: C. Andrew Aligne, Mark E. Moss, Peggy Auinger, Michael Weitzman
Journal: JAMA (2003)

<h3>Context</h3> Dental decay is the most common chronic disease of children and it disproportionately affects those living in poverty, but the reasons for this are not clear. Passive smoking may be a modifiable risk factor for dental caries. <h3>Objective</h3> To examine the relationship between dental caries and serum cotinine levels. <h3>Design, Setting, and Participants</h3> Cross-sectional data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) of 3531 children aged 4 to 11 years, who had had both dental examinations and a serum cotinine level measurement. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Passive smoking defined as serum cotinine levels of 0.2 to 10 ng/mL and caries defined as decayed (unfilled) or filled tooth surfaces. <h3>Results</h3> Twenty-five percent of the children had at least 1 unfilled decayed tooth surface and 33% had at least 1 filled surface. Fifty-three percent had cotinine levels consistent with passive smoking. Elevated cotinine level was significantly associated with both decayed (odds ratio [OR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-2.9) and filled (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8) tooth surfaces in deciduous but not in permanent teeth. This relationship persisted after adjusting for age, sex, race, family income, geographic region, frequency of dental visits, and blood lead level. For dental caries in deciduous teeth, the adjusted OR was 1.8 (95% CI, 1.2-2.7) for the risk of decayed surfaces and 1.4 (95% CI, 1.1-2.0) for filled surfaces. We estimated the population attributable risk from passive smoking to be 27% for decayed and 14% for filled tooth surfaces. <h3>Conclusions</h3> There is an association between environmental tobacco smoke and risk of caries among children. Reduction of passive smoking is important not only for the prevention of many medical problems, but also for the promotion of children's dental health.
Efficacy of stapler versus hand-sewn closure after distal pancreatectomy (DISPACT): a randomised, controlled multicentre trial
Authors: Markus K Diener, Christoph M Seiler, Inga Rossion, Jörg Kleeff, Matthias Glanemann, Giovanni Butturini, Ales Tomazic, Christiane J Bruns, Olivier RC Busch, Stefan Farkas, Orlin Belyaev, John P Neoptolemos, Christopher Halloran, Tobias Keck, Marco Niedergethmann, Klaus Gellert, Helmut Witzigmann, Otto Kollmar, Peter Langer, Ulrich Steger, Jens Neudecker, Frederik Berrevoet, Silke Ganzera, Markus M Heiss, Steffen P Luntz, Thomas Bruckner, Meinhard Kieser, Markus W Büchler
Journal: The Lancet (2011)
Metabolism of platelet-activating factor in isolated perfused rat lung.
Authors: P E Haroldsen, N F Voelkel, J E Henson, P M Henson, R C Murphy
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1987)

The administration of platelet-activating factor (PAF) into the airway system of the lung is known to cause profound effects, yet little is known about the metabolism of this active lipid mediator. 3H-Labeled PAF administered into the airway of isolated rat lungs was rapidly and extensively metabolized. The tissue retained 96% of the administered radiolabel while the perfusate contained 4%. Characterization of the tissue retained lipid indicated metabolism into lyso-PAF (3.3%), phosphatidylcholine (82.3%), neutral lipid (1.7%) and intact PAF (10.2%). Analysis of tissue phosphatidylcholine by mass spectrometric techniques revealed metabolism of PAF to 1-0-hexadecyl-2-arachidonoyl-GPC, which represented 20-23% of the administered radiolabeled hexadecyl-PAF. These findings support the hypothesis that a relationship between PAF and arachidonate metabolism exists at the intact organ level. Autoradiographic analysis of the cellular distribution of the radiolabeled PAF metabolites in the lung tissue indicated labeling of two cell types, the alveolar type II cell and the nonciliated bronchiolar epithelial cell (Clara cell).
GENETIC DISORDERS OF PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH IN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Authors: Nicolas Bidère, Helen C. Su, Michael J. Lenardo
Journal: Annual Review of Immunology (2005)

Human genetics offers new possibilities for understanding physiological regulatory mechanisms and disorders of the immune system. Genetic abnormalities of lymphocyte cell death programs have provided insights into mechanisms of receptor biology and principles of immune homeostasis and tolerance. Thus far, there are two major diseases of programmed cell death associated with inherited human mutations: the autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome and the caspase-eight deficiency state. We describe the details of their molecular pathogenesis and discuss how these diseases illustrate important concepts in immune regulation and genetics.
Sarcoidosis: old and new treatments
Authors: G J GIBSON
Journal: Thorax (2001)

2001 marks the 50th anniversary of the first reports of the successful treatment of sarcoidosis with cortisone1 2 and ACTH.3 In an early report of treatment with corticosteroids, Siltzbach4 highlighted one of the problems of evaluating the results when he wrote:

“The aetiology of sarcoidosis still eludes us, as does the definitive treatment. Part of the difficulty stems from the unpredictability of spontaneous remissions. This accounts for the many transitory successes reported at one time or another with such agents as calcium salts, gold, arsenicals, potassium iodide, chaulmoogra oil, antileprol and tuberculin.”

 It is somewhat depressing that no better therapeutic agents than steroids have emerged over the subsequent 50 years, and the sceptic might well conclude that little has changed! While the approach to treatment may have become more rational and the choice of effective agents has increased, it is at best suppressive rather than curative. Happily, as Siltzbach pointed out, in most patients the natural tendency of pulmonary sarcoidosis is towards spontaneous resolution. The therapeutic challenges remain the recognition of those patients in whom remission and resolution are less likely, and determination of the optimum treatment to minimise permanent organ damage.

Several uncontrolled and controlled studies, as well as common clinical experience, have amply confirmed the suppressive effect of steroids.5-11 In pulmonary sarcoidosis the most common indication for treatment is symptomatic, usually troublesome breathlessness and sometimes cough. Most commonly, prednisolone is started at a dose of 30–40 mg daily with later reduction titrated against symptoms, respiratory function, and radiographic appearance. Once started, treatment is usually continued for at least 1 year but patients may require more prolonged treatment if dose reduction is accompanied by recrudescence of disease activity. Whether or not steroid treatment reduces long term pulmonary damage due to fibrosis has proved difficult to determine. …
Split-dose docetaxel, cisplatin and leucovorin/fluorouracil as first-line therapy in advanced gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction: results of a phase II trial
Authors: S. Lorenzen, M. Hentrich, C. Haberl, V. Heinemann, T. Schuster, T. Seroneit, N. Roethling, C. Peschel, F. Lordick
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2007)
Spatial and Temporal Variation in PM <sub>2.5</sub> Chemical Composition in the United States for Health Effects Studies
Authors: Michelle L. Bell, Francesca Dominici, Keita Ebisu, Scott L. Zeger, Jonathan M. Samet
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2007)

BackgroundAlthough numerous studies have demonstrated links between particulate matter (PM) and adverse health effects, the chemical components of the PM mixture that cause injury are unknown.ObjectivesThis work characterizes spatial and temporal variability of PM2.5 (PM with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm) components in the United States; our objective is to identify components for assessment in epidemiologic studies.MethodsWe constructed a database of 52 PM2.5 component concentrations for 187 U.S. counties for 2000–2005. First, we describe the challenges inherent to analysis of a national PM2.5 chemical composition database. Second, we identify components that contribute substantially to and/or co-vary with PM2.5 total mass. Third, we characterize the seasonal and regional variability of targeted components.ResultsStrong seasonal and geographic variations in PM2.5 chemical composition are identified. Only seven of the 52 components contributed ≥ 1% to total mass for yearly or seasonal averages [ammonium (NH4+), elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon matter (OCM), nitrate (NO3−), silicon, sodium (Na+), and sulfate (SO42−)]. Strongest correlations with PM2.5 total mass were with NH4+ (yearly), OCM (especially winter), NO3− (winter), and SO42− (yearly, spring, autumn, and summer), with particularly strong correlations for NH4+ and SO42− in summer. Components that co-varied with PM2.5 total mass, based on daily detrended data, were NH4+, SO42−, OCM, NO32−, bromine, and EC.ConclusionsThe subset of identified PM2.5 components should be investigated further to determine whether their daily variation is associated with daily variation of health indicators, and whether their seasonal and regional patterns can explain the seasonal and regional heterogeneity in PM10 (PM with aerodynamic diameter < 10 μm) and PM2.5 health risks.
A Case of Casual Cow-Pox in Man
Authors: C. E. R. Bucknill
Journal: BMJ (1895)

1010 F., but in all there was the markedly putrescent odour common to such cases.Whether there was any true relation between these puerperal cases and the outbreak I have de- scribed, or whether it was only a very curious coincidence, 1 am unable to say; but the fact remains that there was a con- nection in each instance, and, furthermore, the outbreak as a whole had a most unusual character.It is true that scarlet fever had occurred in a neighbouring parish, and probably the child in whose urine I discovered
The human lung: did evolution get it wrong?
Authors: J. B. West, R. R. Watson, Z. Fu
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2006)

Some 300 million yrs ago, the ancestors of modern reptiles emerged from water and were committed to air breathing. They were exothermic and incapable of sustained levels of high physical activity. But from them evolved the two great classes of vertebrates with high levels of maximal oxygen consumption: the mammals and birds. A remarkable feature of these two divergent evolutionary lines is that, although the physiology of many organ systems shows many similarities, the lungs are radically different. A major difference is that the ventilation of the gas-exchanging tissue has a flow-through pattern in the bird but is reciprocating in the mammal. The result is that mammals have a reduced alveolar and arterial oxygen tension, a potential for uneven ventilation, and relatively large terminal air spaces. This in turn means that the pulmonary capillaries are poorly supported compared with the bird. The result is that the pulmonary capillaries in the bird have much thinner and more uniform walls, with more efficient gas exchange. Other advantages of the bird lung are that it utilises a more efficient cross-current pattern of gas-exchange, and the bird has separated the ventilatory and gas exchange functions. From a structure–function standpoint, the bird lung is superior.
MINT and IntAct contribute to the Second BioCreative challenge: serving the text-mining community with high quality molecular interaction data
Authors: Andrew Chatr-aryamontri, Samuel Kerrien, Jyoti Khadake, Sandra Orchard, Arnaud Ceol, Luana Licata, Luisa Castagnoli, Stefano Costa, Cathy Derow, Rachael Huntley, Bruno Aranda, Catherine Leroy, Dave Thorneycroft, Rolf Apweiler, Gianni Cesareni, Henning Hermjakob
Journal: Genome biology (2008)

In the absence of consolidated pipelines to archive biological data electronically, information dispersed in the literature must be captured by manual annotation. Unfortunately, manual annotation is time consuming and the coverage of published interaction data is therefore far from complete. The use of text-mining tools to identify relevant publications and to assist in the initial information extraction could help to improve the efficiency of the curation process and, as a consequence, the database coverage of data available in the literature. The 2006 BioCreative competition was aimed at evaluating text-mining procedures in comparison with manual annotation of protein-protein interactions. To aid the BioCreative protein-protein interaction task, IntAct and MINT (Molecular INTeraction) provided both the training and the test datasets. Data from both databases are comparable because they were curated according to the same standards. During the manual curation process, the major cause of data loss in mining the articles for information was ambiguity in the mapping of the gene names to stable UniProtKB database identifiers. It was also observed that most of the information about interactions was contained only within the full-text of the publication; hence, text mining of protein-protein interaction data will require the analysis of the full-text of the articles and cannot be restricted to the abstract. The development of text-mining tools to extract protein-protein interaction information may increase the literature coverage achieved by manual curation. To support the text-mining community, databases will highlight those sentences within the articles that describe the interactions. These will supply data-miners with a high quality dataset for algorithm development. Furthermore, the dictionary of terms created by the BioCreative competitors could enrich the synonym list of the PSI-MI (Proteomics Standards Initiative-Molecular Interactions) controlled vocabulary, which is used by both databases to annotate their data content.