tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Respiratory health status of Australian veterans of the 1991 Gulf War and the effects of exposure to oil fire smoke and dust storms
Authors: Helen L Kelsall, Malcolm Ross Sim, Andrew Benjamin Forbes, Dean Philip McKenzie, Deborah Catherine Glass, Jillian Frances Ikin, Peter Ittak, Michael John Abramson
Journal: Thorax (2004)

Since the 1991 Gulf War concerns have been raised about the effects on veterans' health of exposures to Kuwaiti oil fire smoke and to dust storms.A cross sectional study compared 1456 Australian Gulf War veterans with a randomly sampled military comparison group (n = 1588). A postal questionnaire asked about respiratory conditions, exposures, medications, tobacco use, demographic characteristics, and military service details. During a medical assessment, spirometric tests and a physical examination were performed and a respiratory questionnaire was administered.The response rate for the Gulf War veteran group was 80.5% and for the comparison group 56.8%. Australian Gulf War veterans had a higher than expected prevalence of respiratory symptoms and respiratory conditions suggesting asthma (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.1 to 1.9) and bronchitis first diagnosed since the Gulf War (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.2 to 3.1) but did not have poorer lung function or more ventilatory abnormalities than the comparison group. Veterans who reported exposure to oil fire smoke had slightly poorer forced vital capacity (difference between means -0.10 l; 95% CI -0.18 to -0.03) and those exposed to dust storms had a slightly better peak expiratory flow rate (difference between means 12.0 l/min; 95% CI 0.6 to 23.4) than veterans who did not report exposure. Veterans who were in the Gulf at or after the start of the oil fires had more respiratory conditions suggesting asthma (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.0 to 2.9) than those who completed their deployment before this time.Increased self-reporting of respiratory symptoms, asthma, and bronchitis by veterans was not reflected in poorer lung function. The findings do not suggest major long term sequelae of exposure to oil fire smoke or dust storms.
DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSES IN YOUNG VS. OLD ANIMALS TO TRAINING, CONFLICT, DRUGS AND BRAIN LESIONS
Authors: CURTIS PECHTEL, JULES H. MASSERMAN, LOUIS AARONS
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1960)

A preliminary study of 6 kittens and 6 rhesus monkeys, approximately two years old, indicated that: 1. The kittens as compared to older cats adapted less well to laboratory routine and learned tasks of lever-pressing and audiovisual discrimination more slowly; 2. The young monkeys adapted to laboratory routine as well as the older ones but took more time to master the lever-pressing; on the other hand, they learned a series of discrimination problems as quickly as did older pre-adolescents though again somewhat more slowly than adults; 3. The young animals readily developed neurotic patterns under the stress of adaptive conflict but these reactions, though resistant to 7 to 17 months of retraining, were much less generalized than those in adult controls; 4. Lesions in the amygdaloid and frontal areas induced heightened sexuality and general activity level respectively, but, despite 16 to 25 months of postoperative retraining, there was no (in cats) or little (in monkeys) amelioration of neurotic patterns in the young as compared with older animals; 5. Reserpine and chlorpromazine also produced only minimal and transient effects on the experimentally induced neurotic behavior.
Nonadrenergic, noncholinergic airway inhibitory nerves
Authors: J W Lammers, P J Barnes, K F Chung
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1992)

Nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) nerves, which cause relaxation of airway smooth muscle, have been described in several species including man. Stimulation of efferent vagus nerves during cholinergic and adrenergic blockade induces a pronounced bronchodilation in the cat. In more recent studies in man, capsaicin inhalation or mechanical irritation of the larynx, under conditions of cholinergic and adrenergic blockade, have been shown to cause a transient bronchodilator response. There is some evidence that neuropeptides such as vasointestinal peptide (VIP) or peptide histidine methionine (PHM) may be the neurotransmitter of NANC nerves, but this is not conclusive. Nitric oxide may be another neurotransmitter. In mild asthma, the NANC bronchodilator response is similar to that observed in normal subjects; on the other hand, a reduction in VIP immunoreactivity has been reported in more severe patients. The contribution of NANC dilator nerves in pathophysiological situations is not known, but their effect may be modulated during allergic responses. Use of antagonists or inhibitors of putative neurotransmitters, and molecular biological techniques will be useful in defining both the physiological and pathophysiological roles of NANC inhibitory nerves in the airways.
Neuronal differentiation distinguishes supratentorial and infratentorial childhood ependymomas
Authors: F. Andreiuolo, S. Puget, M. Peyre, C. Dantas-Barbosa, N. Boddaert, C. Philippe, A. Mauguen, J. Grill, P. Varlet
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2010)

Ependymomas are glial neoplasms occurring in any location throughout the central nervous system and supposedly are derived from radial glia cells. Recent data suggest that these tumors may have different biological and clinical behaviors according to their location. Pediatric supratentorial and infratentorial ependymoma (SE and IE) were compared with respect to clinical and radiological parameters and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Neuronal markers were specifically assessed by IHC and quantitative PCR (qPCR). No single morphological or radiological characteristic was associated with location or any neuronal marker. However, there was a significant overexpression of neuronal markers in SE compared with IE: neurofilament light polypeptide 70 (NEFL)-positive tumor cells were found in 23 of 34 SE and in only 4 of 32 IE (P < .001). Among SE, 10 of 34 exhibited high expression of NEFL, defined as more than 5% positive cells. qPCR confirmed the upregulation of neuronal markers (NEFL, LHX2, FOXG1, TLX1, and NPTXR) in SE compared with IE. In addition, strong NEFL expression in SE was correlated with better progression-free survival (P = .007). Our results support the distinction of SE and IE. SEs are characterized by neuronal differentiation, which seems to be associated with better prognosis.
Hospitalization trends for paediatric asthma in eastern Finland: a 10-yr survey
Authors: K. Korhonen, T.M. Reijonen, K. Malmström, T. Klaukka, K. Remes, M. Korppi
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2002)

The prevalence of childhood asthma has increased during the past 20 yrs in eastern Finland. The use of regular medication for asthma has, consequently, also risen at the same time. The aim of the present study was to assess how these factors have influenced hospitalization for asthma in children. Data concerning the annual number of children aged &lt;16 yrs treated for asthma, their number of hospital periods, and length of hospitalization were collected using patient-specific medical records for the years 1988–1997. Admissions for asthma more than doubled (from 1.2 in 1,000 to 2.7 in 1,000) (p&lt;0.001), whereas re-admissions decreased from 28.1% to 8.7% (p&lt;0.001) during the study period. The greatest increase was seen among children aged &lt;2 yrs, whereas during recent years the admission rate among children aged &gt;2 yrs has declined by one-third. Despite the increased prevalence of asthma, the decline in admissions seen in all but the youngest children may, at least partly, be attributed to the decrease in re-admissions, resulting from the early onset and increased use of inhaled steroids.
Destroyed Sphenoidal Sinus
Authors: A. Everette James
Journal: JAMA (1968)

Dr. Milton A. Weiner: The patient, a 30-year-old Oriental man, came to the Massachusetts General Hospital with a six-week history of headaches on the left side, pressure sensation over the left orbit, and decreasing vision in both eyes. Physical examination revealed bilateral visual field loss and diminished hearing on the left. The remainder of the cranial nerves were intact, and no motor or sensory abnormalities were noted. The patient was afebrile and had a white blood cell count of 5,850/ cu mm, with a normal differential count. Results of all other laboratory studies were normal. Roentgenograms of the skull were obtained. <h3>Discussion</h3> Dr. Laurence L. Robbins: Dr. New, would you interpret these roentgenograms? Dr. Paul F. J. New: The lateral, posteroanterior (Figure,<i>top, center</i>), and basal views show destruction of sphenoid and ethmoid areas. There is undercutting of the anterior clinoid processes with erosion of their inferior aspects and loss
Postoperative Surveillance in Patients With Colorectal Cancer Who Have Undergone Curative Resection: A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial
Authors: Francisco Rodríguez-Moranta, Joan Saló, Àngels Arcusa, Jaume Boadas, Virgínia Piñol, Xavier Bessa, Eduard Batiste-Alentorn, Antonio M. Lacy, Salvadora Delgado, Joan Maurel, Josep M. Piqué, Antoni Castells
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2005)

Purpose Although systematic postoperative surveillance of patients with colorectal cancer has been demonstrated to improve survival, it remains unknown whether a more intensive strategy provides any significant advantage. This prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial was aimed at comparing the efficacy of two different surveillance strategies in terms of both survival and recurrence resectability. Patients and Methods Patients with stage II or III colorectal cancer were allocated randomly to either a simple surveillance strategy including clinical evaluation and serum carcinoembryonic antigen monitoring, or an intensive strategy in which abdominal computed tomography or ultrasonography, chest radiograph, and colonoscopy were added. Results A total of 259 patients were included: 132 were observed according to the simple strategy and 127 were observed according to the intensive strategy. Both groups were similar with respect to baseline characteristics and rate and type of tumor recurrence. After a median follow-up of 48 months, there was no difference in the probability of overall survival in the whole series (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.49 to 1.54; P = .62). However, the intensive strategy was associated with higher overall survival in patients with stage II tumors (HR = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.98; P = .045) and in those with rectal lesions (HR = 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.81; P = .03), mainly due to higher rate of resectability for recurrent tumors. Colonoscopy was responsible for the detection of the highest proportion (44%) of resectable tumor recurrence in the intensive arm. Conclusion A more intensive surveillance strategy improves the prognosis of patients with stage II colorectal cancer or those with rectal tumors. Inclusion of regular performance of colonoscopy seems justified up to the fifth year of follow-up, at least.
Expression of both Estrogen Receptor-beta 1 (ER-β1) and its co-regulator Steroid Receptor RNA Activator Protein (SRAP) are predictive for benefit from tamoxifen therapy in patients with Estrogen Receptor-alpha (ER-α)-Negative Early Breast Cancer (EBC)
Authors: Y. Yan, X. Li, A. Blanchard, V.H.C. Bramwell, K.I. Pritchard, D. Tu, L. Shepherd, Y. Myal, C. Penner, P.H. Watson, E. Leygue, L.C. Murphy
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2013)
Inspiratory resistive loading improves cycling capacity: a placebo controlled trial
Authors: A D Gething, M Williams, B Davies
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2004)

Background: Respiratory muscle training has been shown to improve both its strength and endurance. The effect of these improvements on whole-body exercise performance remains controversial. Objective: To assess the effect of a 10 week inspiratory resistive loading (IRL) intervention on respiratory muscle performance and whole-body exercise endurance. Methods: Fifteen apparently healthy subjects (10 men, 5 women) were randomly allocated to one of three groups. One group underwent IRL set at 80% of maximum inspiratory pressure with ever decreasing work/rest ratios until task failure, for three days a week for 10 weeks (IRL group). A second placebo group performed the same training procedure but with a minimal resistance (PLA group). IRL and placebo training were performed at rest. The remaining five control subjects performed no IRL during the 10 week study period (CON group). Cycling endurance capacity at 75% V˙ o 2 peak was measured before and after the intervention. Results: After the 10 week IRL intervention, respiratory muscle strength (maximum inspiratory pressure) and endurance (sum of sustained maximum inspiratory pressure) had significantly improved (by 34% and 38% respectively). An increase in diaphragm thickness was also observed. These improvements translated into a 36% increase in cycling time to exhaustion at 75% V˙ o 2 peak. During cycling trials, heart rate, ventilation, and rating of perceived exertion were attenuated in the IRL group. No changes were observed for the PLA or CON group either in the time to exhaustion or cardiorespiratory response to the same intensity of exercise. Conclusion: Ten weeks of IRL attenuated the heart rate, ventilatory, and perceptual response to constant workload exercise, and improved the cycling time to exhaustion. Familiarisation was not a factor and the placebo effect was minimal.
One month of lamivuidine plus HBIg followed by lamivudine vs lamivudine + HBIg in the prevention of HBV recurrence after liver transplant
Authors: M. Buti, A. Mas, M. Prieto, F. Casafont, A. González, M. Miras, J.I. Herrero, E.Cruz de Castro
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2001)
Aging of blood can be tracked by DNA methylation changes at just three CpG sites
Authors: Carola Ingrid Weidner, Qiong Lin, Carmen Maike Koch, Lewin Eisele, Fabian Beier, Patrick Ziegler, Dirk Olaf Bauerschlag, Karl-Heinz Jöckel, Raimund Erbel, Thomas Walter Mühleisen, Martin Zenke, Tim Henrik Brümmendorf, Wolfgang Wagner
Journal: Genome biology (2014)

Abstract Background Human aging is associated with DNA methylation changes at specific sites in the genome. These epigenetic modifications may be used to track donor age for forensic analysis or to estimate biological age. Results We perform a comprehensive analysis of methylation profiles to narrow down 102 age-related CpG sites in blood. We demonstrate that most of these age-associated methylation changes are reversed in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Methylation levels at three age-related CpGs - located in the genes ITGA2B , ASPA and PDE4C - were subsequently analyzed by bisulfite pyrosequencing of 151 blood samples. This epigenetic aging signature facilitates age predictions with a mean absolute deviation from chronological age of less than 5 years. This precision is higher than age predictions based on telomere length. Variation of age predictions correlates moderately with clinical and lifestyle parameters supporting the notion that age-associated methylation changes are associated more with biological age than with chronological age. Furthermore, patients with acquired aplastic anemia or dyskeratosis congenita - two diseases associated with progressive bone marrow failure and severe telomere attrition - are predicted to be prematurely aged. Conclusions Our epigenetic aging signature provides a simple biomarker to estimate the state of aging in blood. Age-associated DNA methylation changes are counteracted in iPSCs. On the other hand, over-estimation of chronological age in bone marrow failure syndromes is indicative for exhaustion of the hematopoietic cell pool. Thus, epigenetic changes upon aging seem to reflect biological aging of blood.
Collecting Duct Function and Sodium Balance
Authors: R L Jamison, D A Hall
Journal: Annual Review of Medicine (1982)

Our purpose is to review the role of the collecting tubule in sodium homeo­ stasis.2 Present understanding of collecting duct function is based primarily on work published in the last ten years. Because of its inaccessibility, little was known about the collecting tubule until the introduction of new investi­ gative techniques. Smith inferred from its cytology that the collecting tubule has no specialized function other than to serve as a conduit (43). Informa­ tion obtained by microcatheterization and micropuncture of the exposed renal papilla in vivo, and perfusion of fragments of collecting tubule in vitro, has caused that view to be abandoned.
Eosinophilic granuloma of the gastro-intestinal tract.
Authors: P R Salmon, J W Paulley
Journal: Gut (1967)

COMMENT This paper presents a comprehensive review of eosinophilic granuloma of the alimentary tract.The view is put forward that eosinophilic granulomas mainly represent part of a systemic allergic response to one of a number of non-specific allergens.Steroids may be of real value in treatment.CASE REPORTS CASE 1 J.E., a farmer, in 1949, when aged 26, was referred to one of us (J.W.P.) because of sudden attacks of indigestion and vomiting occurring regularly every two to three weeks.When first seen the attacks were usually preceded by swelling of the hands and arms, but several years previously he had had classical angioneurotic oedema of the face.Past history included a Caldwell-Luc operation for persistent rhinorrhoea, and a barium meal and follow- through in 1943 for similar attacks of vomiting and on July 19, 2023 by guest.
WNT-5A and WNT-11 as novel regulators of the contractile airway smooth muscle phenotype
Authors: Kuldeep Kumawat, Alita Prins, Mark Menzen, Andrew Halayko, Martina Schmidt, Reinoud Gosens
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Increased contractility is an important feature of the remodeled airway smooth muscle (ASM) bundle in asthma. The regulation of contractile phenotype marker expression by TGF-β signaling constitutes a key mechanism; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Non-canonical WNT signaling is a major regulator of cytoskeletal remodeling and regulates cell movements and polarity during development. Here, we investigated the role of non-canonical WNT signaling in contractile phenotype expression in ASM cells.  We used cultured primary and immortalized human ASM cells. Gene expression was analyzed by PCR whereas western blotting and immunocytochemistry were employed for protein expression studies.  Serum deprivation or TGF-β treatment induced a contractile ASM phenotype accompanied by an increase in α-sm-actin and calponin. Interestingly, contractile myocytes were markedly enriched in WNT-5A and -11. Knock-down of WNT-5A or -11 using specific siRNA attenuated the TGF-β-induced increase in α-sm-actin protein abundance by 44% and 51%, respectively. Notably, recombinant WNT-5A and -11 were not sufficient to induce contractile phenotype expression in the absence of TGF-β. Further, whereas Smad3 signaling inhibitor (SIS3; 3 μM) reduced TGF-β induced α-sm-actin protein abundance, it did not attenuate WNT-5A and -11 expression, suggesting the cooperative regulation by Smad and WNT-5A/-11 signaling. In conclusion, our data suggest a novel role of WNT-5A and -11 in the regulation of contractile phenotype expression in ASM and provide insight into the mechanisms of airway remodeling.
Production of auto-anti-idiotypic antibody during the normal immune response to TNP-ficoll. II. Hapten-reversible inhibition of anti-TNP plaque-forming cells by immune serum as an assay for auto-anti-idiotypic antibody
Authors: EA Goidl, AF Shrater, GW Siskind, GJ Thorbecke
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1979)

Sera taken from AKR/J mice 7 d after the intravenous injection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-lys-Ficoll (TNP-F) caused a specific inhibition of anti- trinitrophenol (TNP) plaque-forming cells (PFC) in vitro. This inhibition was reversed by the incorporation of 10(-8)-10(-7) M 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl- ε-amino-n-caproic acid (TNP-EACA) into the agar during the PFC assay. The factor responsible for the hapten-reversible PFC inhibition was removed from serum by passage through an anti-immunoglobulin column or through a 2,4,-dinitrophenyl-human-serum-albumin-bromoacetylcellulose plus anti-TNP- antibody column, but not by DNP-HSA-BAC alone. It was concluded that this immunoglobulin-like substance, lacking anti-TNP activity but reacting with anti-TNP antibody of AKR/J origin, was most likely an auto-anti-idiotypie antibody that had been produced during the normal course of the response of AKR/J mice to TNP-F. Pools of anti-idiotypic-antibody-containing antisera inhibited anti-TNP plaque formation to varying degrees when tested on d-4 PFC from different mice of the same inbred strain, suggesting a variability in idiotype expression. 4 d after transfer of immune (7 d after 10 μg TNP-F, administered intravenously) AKR/J spleen cells plus 10 μg TNP-F into syngeneic mice, the number of PFC detectable in the recipients' spleens could be markedly augmented by the inclusion of TNP-EACA in the agar during the PFC assay. Incubation of spleen cells containing such hapten-augmentable PFC with TNP- EACA yielded a factor in the supernate that caused a specific, in vitro, hapten-reversible inhibition of anti-TNP PFC. Studies with immunoadsorbents indicated that this PFC-inhibiting factor was antigenically immunoglobulin- like, lacked anti-TNP-antibody activity, but reacted with anti-TNP antibody of AKR/J origin. The results are consistent with the view that this PFC inhibitor is auto-anti-idiotypic antibody that is involved in the normal regulation of the immune response. It is proposed that hapten-reversible inhibition of plaque formation can be employed as an assay for anti-idiotypic antibody and the conditions for such an assay are described. It is further proposed that the detection of hapten-augmentable PFC suggests the presence of auto-anti-idiotypic antibody.
Role of Dendritic Cells in the Induction of Tolerant Versus Effector T Lymphocytes-Mediated Responses to Amoxicillin
Authors: R. R-Pena, S. Lopez, C. Mayorga, C. Antunez, M.J. Torres, J.A. Cornejo-Garcia, T.D. Fernandez, M. Blanca
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2006)
Respiratory symptoms in children and exposure to pesticides
Authors: P.R. Salameh, I. Baldi, P. Brochard, C. Raherison, B. Abi Saleh, R. Salamon
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2003)

In Lebanon, childhood asthma is an important disease and pesticides are commonly used. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether exposure to pesticides has chronic effects on the respiratory health of Lebanese children. A cross­sectional study was performed on children from a randomly selected sample of Lebanese public schools. Exposure to pesticides was evaluated by a standardised questionnaire and a residential exposure score, and respiratory symptoms were assessed by using the American Thoracic Society standardised questionnaire. A chronic respiratory disease was reported in 407 (12.4%) out of 3,291 children. The baseline difference in mean age was small but statistically significant. Any exposure to pesticides, including residential, para­occupational and domestic, was associated with respiratory disease and chronic respiratory symptoms (chronic phlegm, chronic wheezing, ever wheezing), except for chronic cough. Exposure to pesticides was associated with chronic respiratory symptoms and disease among Lebanese children.