tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
<i>F2RL3</i>Methylation as a Biomarker of Current and Lifetime Smoking Exposures
Authors: Yan Zhang, Rongxi Yang, Barbara Burwinkel, Lutz P. Breitling, Hermann Brenner
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (2013)

Background: Recent genome-wide DNA methylation studies have found a pronounced difference in methylation of the F2RL3 gene (also known as PAR-4) in blood DNA according to smoking exposure. Knowledge on the variation of F2RL3 methylation by various degrees of smoking exposure is still very sparse.Objectives: We aimed to assess dose–response relationships of current and lifetime active smoking exposure with F2RL3 methylation.Methods: In a large population-based study, we quantified blood DNA methylation at F2RL3 for 3,588 participants using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Associations of smoking exposure with methylation intensity were examined by multiple linear regression, controlling for potential confounding factors and paying particular attention to dose–response patterns with respect to current and lifetime smoking exposure as well as time since cessation of smoking.Results: F2RL3 methylation intensity showed a strong association with smoking status (p < 0.0001), which persisted after controlling for potential confounding factors. Clear inverse dose–response relationships with F2RL3 methylation intensity were seen for both current intensity and lifetime pack-years of smoking. Among former smokers, F2RL3 methylation intensity increased gradually from levels close to those of current smokers for recent quitters to levels close to never smokers for long-term (> 20 years) quitters.Conclusions: F2RL3 methylation is a promising biomarker for both current and long-term past tobacco exposure, and its predictive value for smoking-related diseases warrants further exploration.Citation: Zhang Y, Yang R, Burwinkel B, Breitling LP, Brenner H. 2014. F2RL3 methylation as a biomarker of current and lifetime smoking exposures. Environ Health Perspect 122:131–137; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1306937
AN OBSTETRIC RING FOR ARTIFICIAL PUNCTURE OF THE MEMBRANES
Authors: Irving F. Stein
Journal: JAMA (1935)

Artificial puncture of the membranes is the simplest of obstetric operations. When one observes the awkwardness with which the operation is performed by inexperienced physicians and the amount of unnecessary trauma sometimes inflicted in attempting to rupture the membranes, the need for a simple, effective and harmless instrument becomes obvious. The ring that I have devised is made of malleable metal so that it can be fitted to the gloved forefinger just behind the first joint. A rigid, notched projection extends along the dorsum of the first phalanx with the point directed to the inner aspect of the fingernail. When the finger is introduced into the vagina, the projection lies flat against the gloved finger, so that no trauma is inflicted on the mucous membrane of the vagina or on the cervix. Examination of the cervix and of the presenting parts may be made
Scott Hammer—integrating research with politics, public policy, and international collaborations
Authors: Marilynn Larkin
Journal: The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2003)

Scott Hammer received his medical training at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City and completed his internal medicine residency at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was chief medical resident, and at Stanford University Hospital in California. He completed his infectious diseases fellowship training at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston before joining the faculty of the Deaconess Hospital (now the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) and Harvard Medical School in 1982.
Acid mine drainage and subsidence: effects of increased coal utilization.
Authors: R D Hill, E R Bates
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1979)

The increases above 1975 levels for acid mine drainage and subsidence for the years 1985 and 2000 based on projections of current mining trends and the National Energy Plan are presented. No increases are projected for acid mine drainage from surface mines or waste since enforcement under present laws should control this problem. The increase in acid mine drainage from underground mines is projected to be 16 percent by 1985 and 10 percent by 2000. The smaller increase in 2000 over 1985 reflects the impact of the PL 95-87 abandoned mine program. Mine subsidence is projected to increase by 34 and 115 percent respectively for 1985 and 2000. This estimate assumes that subsidence will parallel the rate of underground coal production and that no new subsidence control measures are adopted to mitigate subsidence occurrence.
CASE OF RUPTURED TUBAL PREGNANCY, WITH REMARKS.
Authors: J. WESLEY BOVEE
Journal: JAMA (1896)

The history of this case is as follows: Cora M., colored, 22 years of age, was admitted to my service in Columbia Hospital for Women, March 2, 1896. She was married and had one child three years ago after a normal labor. Her menstrual flow began at the age of fifteen, generally lasted three days, was regular, profuse and on the first day was usually very painful. It appeared Dec. 12, 1895 and lasted five days. Up to this time she enjoyed good health. Vague pelvic pains and indigestion ensued and continued to the time of her first severe attack. This occurred Jan. 20, 1896, when the pelvic pain became intense and she passed from the vagina a large blood clot. She had missed a menstrual period and thought this was an abortion. From this she soon recovered and was out of bed in two days. The pain and flow
A181: Evaluating Decision-Making in a Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic
Authors: Jennie G. David, David A. Langer, Gwendolyn Kelso, Mindy S. Lo
Journal: Arthritis & Rheumatology (2014)

Background/Purpose:

Children with rheumatic disease often have chronic needs that require comprehensive, lifelong medical care. Transition of adolescent rheumatology patients from pediatric to adult institutions, in addition to a shift in legal responsibility, calls for the development and activation of medical decision-making skills. Medical decision-making is the umbrella term for the dynamic and evolving process of arriving at a medical decision, and is comprised of multiple factors including adherence, self-management, patient activation, health consciousness, and patient empowerment. This study assessed adolescent and caregiver medical decision-making characteristics in the outpatient Rheumatology clinic of a pediatric tertiary care hospital. We hypothesized that (1) pediatric patients who are more involved in their care have lower decisional conflict (i.e., conflict over making a medical decision), (2) adolescents want to be involved in their care, and (3) higher health consciousness is positively correlated with valuing involvement in medical decision-making, actual involvement in decision making, and lower decisional conflict.



Methods:

This was an anonymous survey study of adolescent patients with chronic rheumatologic illness and their caregivers presenting to the outpatient Rheumatology clinic at Boston Children's Hospital. Both adolescent and caregiver surveys included measures pertaining to health consciousness, medical values, potential barriers to involvement in care, decisional conflict, perceived actual involvement, and desired involvement.



Results:

A total of twenty-eight adolescent'caregiver pairs completed the survey. The mean age of adolescents was 16.14 years old (SD = 2.5). There was a significant positive correlation between adolescent and caregiver health consciousness (r = 0.43, p = 0.027). Valuing involvement in medical decision-making by adolescent patients was positively correlated with their perception of actual involvement (r = 0.39, p = 0.04) and with their level of health consciousness (r = 0.48, p = 0.009). Furthermore, adolescent perception of actual involvement in medical decision-making correlated negatively with their feelings of decisional conflict (r = −0.64, p <0.001).



Conclusion:

Adolescent patients with chronic rheumatic disease have considerable motivation for involvement in care. Given the link between treatment adherence and medical decision-making, the characteristics of medical decision-making in the pediatric rheumatology population are a valuable area for future research.
Meditation as an Adjunct to Psychotherapy
Authors: Han Kutz, Jane Leserman, Claudia Dorrington, Catherine H. Morrison, Joan Z. Borysenko, Herbert Benson
Journal: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (1985)

The effect of a 10-week meditation program on 20 patients who were undergoing long-term individual explorative psychotherapy was studied. Change in the psychological well-being of the patients and the impact of the program on the process of their psychotherapy was evaluated. Results obtained from the patients' self-ratings and the therapists' objective ratings demonstrated a significant and substantial improvement in most measures of psychological well-being.
The Long-QT Syndrome — Bedside to Bench to Bedside
Authors: G. Michael Vincent
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2003)

Thomas Carlyle's statement "Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand" was an integral part of William Osler's philosophy of life, which he discussed in his 1913 address "A Way of Life." In genetic disorders of the heart, such as inherited long-QT syndrome or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, what lies clearly at hand has been clouded by the reduced penetrance and the variable expression of the phenotype. The more obvious and severe cases of these disorders were, of course, the first identified and provided the basis for subsequent diagnoses . . .
Destabilisation of primary care with equitable access
Authors: J. S Ashcroft
Journal: BMJ (2009)

I welcome the critique by Ellins and colleagues of yet another poorly thought out “reform”—the opening up of the primary medical care market with equitable access.1

My practice is one of the lowest funded practices in Derbyshire, and covers an area of high deprivation. Indeed, for the level of deprivation we serve there isn’t …
Structural factors in the in vivo chelate mobilization of aged cadmium deposits.
Authors: P K Singh, S G Jones, M M Jones
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1990)

The role of structural factors in determining the relative efficacy of dithiocarbamates as chelating agents for the in vivo mobilization of aged cadmium deposits is examined for 23 newly synthesized compounds of this type. The critical feature in determining the efficacy of the compounds in mobilizing intracellular cadmium is the balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups. This balance also governs the other properties of these compounds such as the organ specificity of action and the relative propensity to carry cadmium to the brain. The transport of cadmium to the brain by dithiocarbamate can be greatly reduced by the incorporation of appropriate hydrophilic groups that prevent the formation of lipid-soluble cadmium complexes that pass readily into the brain. If the chelating agents carry an additional ionic charge, their ability to pass through cellular membranes and react with intracellular deposits of cadmium is significantly reduced, with other structural factors being equal. The structural features that optimize mobilization of cadmium from the kidney do not appear to be identical with those that optimize its mobilization from the liver. The correlation of cadmiummobilizing properties of these chelating agents with the sum of the Hansch pi constants for the parts of the molecular structures other than the dithiocarbamate grouping (sigma pi) is reasonably good for the removal of renal cadmium by derivatives of D-glucamine and D-xylamine. Another aspect of the molecular structure that appears to play a role is the presence of uncharged polar groups having the ability to form hydrogen bonds. The relevance of these factors in designing chelating agents to enhance the excretion of other toxic metals from their intracellular sites is discussed.
Histone Acetyltransferase Activity of p300 Is Required for the Promotion of Left Ventricular Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction in Adult Mice In Vivo
Authors: Shoichi Miyamoto, Teruhisa Kawamura, Tatsuya Morimoto, Koh Ono, Hiromichi Wada, Yosuke Kawase, Akira Matsumori, Ryosuke Nishio, Toru Kita, Koji Hasegawa
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction is associated with hypertrophy of surviving myocytes and represents a major process that leads to heart failure. One of the intrinsic histone acetyltransferases, p300, serves as a coactivator of hypertrophy-responsive transcriptional factors such as a cardiac zinc finger protein GATA-4 and is involved in its hypertrophic stimulus-induced acetylation and DNA binding. However, the role of p300-histone acetyltransferase activity in LV remodeling after myocardial infarction in vivo is unknown.To solve this problem, we have generated transgenic mice overexpressing intact p300 or mutant p300 in the heart. As the result of its 2-amino acid substitution in the p300-histone acetyltransferase domain, this mutant lost its histone acetyltransferase activity and was unable to activate GATA-4-dependent transcription. The two kinds of transgenic mice and the wild-type mice were subjected to myocardial infarction or sham operation at the age of 12 weeks. Intact p300 transgenic mice showed significantly more progressive LV dilation and diminished systolic function after myocardial infarction than wild-type mice, whereas mutant p300 transgenic mice did not show this.These findings demonstrate that cardiac overexpression of p300 promotes LV remodeling after myocardial infarction in adult mice in vivo and that histone acetyltransferase activity of p300 is required for these processes.
Renal Perfusion with Tc-99m DTPA???Simple Noninvasive Determination of Extraction Fraction and Plasma Flow
Authors: TAMIO ABURANO, NORIYUKI SHUKE, KUNIHIKO YOKOYAMA, HIROSHI MATSUDA, TERUHIKO TAKAYAMA, TAKATOSHI MICHIGISHI, NORIHISA TONAMI, KINICHI HISADA
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1993)

A simple, noninvasive method for the determination of extraction fraction and renal plasma flow in Tc-99m DTPA studies is presented. This method could be performed in conjunction with the measurement of glomerular filtration rate, providing additional information about renal plasma flow. Graphic analysis of the Patlak plot was employed for the determination of the unidirectional influx rate constant (ku) of Tc-99m DTPA from the blood to the kidney and the initial nonspecific distribution volume (Vn) in the kidney. The first pass extraction fraction was estimated from Ku and Vn, assuming a bolus input to the kidney. The glomerular filtration rate was measured by renal counting corrected for depth and dose. Using the estimated extraction fraction (EF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), the renal plasma flow (RPF) was calculated using the formula of RPF = GFR/EF. In a total of 76 kidneys in 38 patients (including 9 patients with normal renal function and without evidence of nephrourologic disease), the value of renal plasma flow showed good correlation with that of effective renal plasma flow measured by renal counting with I-131 orthoiodohippuran. There was a characteristic tendency for the extraction fraction to show a larger value as the renal plasma flow decreased. These results indicate that this method is valid for renal plasma flow estimation and the determinations of extraction fraction and renal plasma flow in Tc-99m DTPA studies is helpful as an adjunct to the measurement of glomerular filtration rate in order to adequately assess the pathophysiologic changes of renal disorders.
<i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> Infective Endocarditis
Authors: Anders Dahl, Rasmus V. Rasmussen, Henning Bundgaard, Christian Hassager, Louise E. Bruun, Trine K. Lauridsen, Claus Moser, Peter Sogaard, Magnus Arpi, Niels E. Bruun
Journal: Circulation (2013)

Because of the nephrotoxic effects of aminoglycosides, the Danish guidelines on infective endocarditis were changed in January 2007, reducing gentamicin treatment in enterococcal infective endocarditis from 4 to 6 weeks to only 2 weeks. In this pilot study, we compare outcomes in patients with Enterococcus faecalis infective endocarditis treated in the years before and after endorsement of these new recommendations.A total of 84 consecutive patients admitted with definite left-sided E faecalis endocarditis in the period of 2002 to 2011 were enrolled. Forty-one patients were treated before and 43 patients were treated after January 1, 2007. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics. At hospitalization, the 2 groups had similar estimated glomerular filtration rates of 66 and 75 mL/min (P=0.22). Patients treated before January 2007 received gentamicin for a significantly longer period (28 versus 14 days; P<0.001). The primary outcome, 1-year event-free survival, did not differ: 66% versus 69%, respectively (P=0.75). At discharge, the patients treated before 2007 had a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (45 versus 66 mL/min; P=0.008) and a significantly greater decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (median, 11 versus 1 mL/min; P=0.009) compared with those treated after 2007.Our present pilot study suggests that the recommended 2-week treatment with gentamicin seems adequate and preferable in treating non-high-level aminoglycoside-resistant E faecalis infective endocarditis. The longer duration of gentamicin treatment is associated with worse renal function. Although the certainty of the clinical outcomes is limited by the sample size, outcomes appear to be no worse with the shorter treatment duration. Randomized, controlled studies are warranted to substantiate these results.
Induction of Antitumor Immunity by Interleukin-2 Gene-Transduced Mouse Mammary Tumor Cells Versus Transduced Mammary Stromal Fibroblasts
Authors: S.C. J. Tsai, B. Gransbacher, L. Tait, F. R. Miller, G. H. Heppner
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1993)

Tumor cell-targeted cytokine gene transfer has been used to generate tumor cell vaccines, but this approach is limited by the need to establish and implant live tumor cells. The purpose of this study was to determine if stromal fibroblasts could be usedas an alternative vehicle for delivery of the cytokine inter-leukin-2 (IL-2) into the tumor microenvironment. We attempted to establish the feasibility of ( a ) genetic immunotherapy ina mammary tumor system and ( b ) engineering stromal fibroblasts as well as tumor cells. We compared the effects of tumor cell-mediated and stromal fibroblast-mediated local IL-2 expression on the generation of antitumor immune responses. Retroviral vectors containing a human IL-2 gene were used to transduce a mouse mammary tumor line, 4TO7, and an immortalized but nontumorigenic fibroblast line established from syngeneic mammary fatpads. Expression of the IL-2 gene in transduced cells was determined by measuring IL-2 secretion, by RNA-polymerase chain reaction, and by immunochemistry. Groups of 5-12 BALB/c mice were injected with either 4TO7 cells or various doses of IL-2-secreting 4TO7 cells (4TO7-IL-2); tumor growth was monitored. To test whether local IL-2 expression by transduced cells could influence the growth of unmodified tumor cells, we determined tumor development in groups of mice treated with 4TO7 cells co-injected with either 4TO7-IL-2 cells or IL-2-secreting fibroblasts. 4TO7-IL-2 cells induced active immunity able to reject the immunizing tumor and to resist challenge with parental 4TO7 cells on the contralateral side. Mice pretreated with 4TO7-IL-2 were significantly protected compared with untreated control animals or mice pretreated with irradiated 4TO7 cells. The immunity induced by 4TO7-IL-2 cells did not protect against challenge with another subline, 4T1, which was derived from the same spontaneously arising mammary tumor as 4TO7. Co-injection of 4TO7 cells with 4TO7-IL-2 cells reduced tumorigenicity, whereas co-injection of 4TO7 cells with IL-2 secreting fibroblasts did not. Our results suggest that induction of anti-tumor immune response by local IL-2 production is most effective when the helper cytokine is secreted by the tumor cell. Our studies caution against the use of IL-2 gene-transduced syngeneic stromal cells as an alternative strategy of gene therapy for cancer. However, they may allow study of the mechanisms of tumor antigen recognition and the possible involvement of co-stimulatory signals for effective tumor vaccination by gene-modified cells.
Adjunctive porous filter protection from distal embolization in primary percutaneous intervention for acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Ugo Limbruno, Andrea Micheli, Anna S. Petronio, Caterina Palagi, Giovanni Amoroso, Marco De Carlo, Roberta Rossini, Daniele Carbocci, Paolo Caravelli, Vitoantonio Di Bello, Mario Mariani
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2003)
Alcohol and the driver.
Authors: J D Havard
Journal: BMJ (1978)

<h3>Introduction</h3> Ethnic variations in coronary heart disease are large with a 50–70% excess consistently observed in South Asians. It is not clear whether this is attributable to increased incidence, poor survival, or both. We compared incidence and outcome of first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by ethnic group in Scotland in relation to cardiac intervention uptake, socioeconomic factors and proximity to hospital. <h3>Methods</h3> We used linkage methods to combine ethnicity data from those aged ≥30 years of age in the 2001 Scottish Census with records of subsequent hospital discharges and deaths between 1 May 2001 and 30 April 2008. We compared incidence (death or discharge) and case fatality following first AMI by ethnic group using the White Scottish as the standard comparison population. <h3>Results</h3> AMI incidence rates were highest among Pakistani and lowest for Chinese, Other White British and Other White ethnic groups. Adjustment for highest educational qualification attenuated differences between White Scottish and other White groups but did not fully explain the excess in the Pakistani group. Pakistani women had lower HRs for death after AMI partly explained by shorter travel time to hospital. We found no evidence for lower uptake of cardiovascular procedures in Indians and Pakistanis. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The known elevated coronary heart disease risk in South Asians principally reflects increased incidence in Pakistanis emphasising the need for aggressive management of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Pakistani women were protected from case fatality in part by their closer proximity to hospital and not increased uptake of interventional procedures.
Bacteria and endotoxin enhance basophil histamine release and potentiation is abolished by carbohydrates
Authors: P. Clementsen, S. Norn, K. S. Kristensen, N. Bach‐Mortensen, C. Koch, H. Permin
Journal: Allergy (1990)

Histamine release caused by anti‐IgE, specific antigens and calcium ionophore A23187 was examined in leukocyte suspensions from healthy individuals and patients allergic to house dust mite and birch pollen. Staphylococcus aureus and LPS from Salmonella typhimurium were found to cause a synergistic enhancement of the release. The potentiation of mediator release by the bacteria and the endotoxin depends on a binding to the basophilocyte, followed by a non‐transient event, since the potentiating effect persists after preincubation of the cells with the LPS followed by washout and leaving the cells for 30 min at 37°C before stimulation with anti‐IgE. The potentiation was abolished or reduced by galactose (10 −7 and 10 −6 M) and N‐acetylglucosamine (10 −6 and 10 −5 M), acting by a binding to the basophil cell membrane, demonstrated by the persistence of effect after preincubation and washout of unbound sugar.