tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Induction of specific tissue transplantation tolerance using fractionated total lymphoid irradiation in adult mice: long-term survival of allogeneic bone marrow and skin grafts.
Authors: S Slavin, S Strober, Z Fuks, H S Kaplan
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1977)

BALB/c mice were treated with fractionated high dose (3,400 rads) total lymphoid irradiation (TLI), and given semiallogeneic (BALB/c x C57BL/Ka) or allogeneic (C57BL/Ka) bone marrow and/or skin allografts. TLI alone prolonged the mean survival time (m.s.t.) of C57BL/Ka skin grafts to 49.1 days (control, 10.7 days). Shielding of the thymus during TLI produced only a slight increase in graft survival (m.s.t., 19 days). TLI combined with splenectomy was no more effective than TLI alone. Infusion of 10(7) semiallogeneic or allogeneic bone marrow cells after TLI produced stable chimeras in 7/8 and 8/15 recipients, respectively. Chimeras were specifically tolerant to donor tissues, since C57BL/Ka skin grafts were accepted for more than 250 days, but third-party (C3H/He) skin grafts were rejected rapidly. In addition, chimeric lymphocytes responded to C3H/He and C3H. Q but not to C57BL/Ka cells in the one-way mixed leukocyte reactions. BALB/c C57BL/Ka chimeras showed no clinical evidence of graft vs. host disease. These findings may have application of clinical organ transplantation, since (a) the recipient treatment (TLI) has already been shown to be safe in humans, (b) donors and recipients can be completely allogeneic, and (c) bone marrow and skin graft survival was permanent (greater than 250 days).
Sequential high-dose chemotherapy protocol for relapsed poor prognosis germ cell tumors combining two mobilization and cytoreductive treatments followed by three high-dose chemotherapy regimens supported by autologous stem cell transplantation. Results of the phase II multicentric TAXIF trial
Authors: J.-P. Lotz, B. Bui, F. Gomez, C. Théodore, A. Caty, K. Fizazi, G. Gravis, R. Delva, J. Peny, P. Viens, B. Duclos, T. De Revel, H. Curé, J. Gligorov, S. Guillemaut, C. Ségura, S. Provent, J.-P. Droz, S. Culine, P. Biron
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2005)

High-dose chemotherapy (HD-CT) is able to circumvent platinum resistance of resistant/refractory germ-cell tumors (GCTs), but expectancy of cure remains low. New strategies are needed with new drugs and a sequential approach.Patients with relapsed poor-prognosis GCTs were scheduled to receive two cycles combining epirubicin and paclitaxel (Taxol) followed by three consecutive HD-CT supported by stem cell transplantation [one course combining cyclophosphamide, 3 g/m(2) + thiotepa, 400 mg/m(2), followed by two ICE regimens (ifosfamide, 10 g/m(2), carboplatin, AUC 20, etoposide, 1500 mg/m(2))].From March 1998 to September 2001 (median follow-up, 31.8 months), 45 patients (median age, 28 years) were enrolled in this phase II study. Twenty-two patients received the complete course. Twenty-five patients died from progression and five from toxicity. The overall response rate was 37.7%, including an 8.9% complete response rate. The median overall survival was 11.8 months. The 3-year survival and progression-free survival rate was 23.5%. The 'Beyer' prognostic score predicted the outcome after HD-CT.Although our results warrant further studies on HD-CT in relapsed poor prognosis GCTs, patients with a Beyer score >2 did not benefit from this approach and should not be enrolled in HD-CT trials. Better selection criteria have to be fulfilled in forthcoming studies.
Chronic Kidney Disease and Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly
Authors: Manjula Kurella, Glenn M Chertow, Linda F Fried, Steven R Cummings, Tamara Harris, Eleanor Simonsick, Suzanne Satterfield, Hilsa Ayonayon, Kristine Yaffe
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2005)

Previous studies suggest a link between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cognitive impairment. Whether the longitudinal course of cognitive impairment differs among people with or without CKD is unknown. Data collected in 3034 elderly individuals who participated in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study were analyzed. Cognitive function was assessed with the Modified Mini-Mental State Exam (3MS) at baseline and then 2 and 4 yr after baseline. Cognitive impairment was defined as a 3MS score &lt;80 or a decline in 3MS &gt;5 points after 2 or 4 yr of follow-up among participants with baseline 3MS scores ≥80. Participants with CKD, defined as an estimated GFR (eGFR) &lt;60 ml/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, were further divided into two eGFR strata. Unadjusted mean baseline 3MS scores and mean declines in 3MS scores over 4 yr were significantly more pronounced for participants with lower baseline eGFR. More advanced stages of CKD were associated with an increased risk for cognitive impairment: Odds ratio (OR) 1.32 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03 to 1.69) and OR 2.43 (95% CI, 1.38 to 4.29) for eGFR 45 to 59 ml/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup> and &lt;45 ml/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup>, respectively, adjusted for case mix, baseline 3MS scores, and other potential confounders. CKD is associated with an increased risk for cognitive impairment in the elderly that cannot be fully explained by other well-established risk factors. Studies aimed at understanding the mechanism(s) responsible for cognitive impairment in CKD and efforts to interrupt this decline are warranted.
Managing Patients on Endocrine Therapy: Focus on Quality-of-Life Issues
Authors: Timothy J. Whelan, Kathleen I. Pritchard
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2006)

To review the health-related quality of life (QOL) of women treated with adjuvant hormonal therapy.To review the limited QOL data from randomized trials of tamoxifen versus placebo and ovarian ablation versus none. To discuss QOL results from randomized trials of aromatase inhibitors compared with tamoxifen or placebo for adjuvant therapy of postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive and/or progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer.QOL is generally good in up to 3 years of follow-up with either tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors. Vasomotor and sexual complaints remain problematic, however, in only a small proportion of women. There are fewer data regarding the QOL effects of ovarian ablation, which may nonetheless be more substantial.Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors cause specific vasomotor or gynecologic symptoms, which may affect sexual function. However, clinical benefits of these agents are generally achieved without major detrimental effect on overall QOL.
Aldosteronism and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Activation
Authors: Robert A. Ahokas, Kenneth J. Warrington, Ivan C. Gerling, Yao Sun, Linus A. Wodi, Paula A. Herring, Li Lu, Syamal K. Bhattacharya, Arnold E. Postlethwaite, Karl T. Weber
Journal: Circulation Research (2003)

Aldosteronism eventuates in a proinflammatory/fibrogenic vascular phenotype of the heart and systemic organs. It remains uncertain whether peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are activated before tissue invasion by monocytes/macrophages and lymphocytes, as is the case for responsible pathogenic mechanisms. Uninephrectomized rats treated for 4 weeks with dietary 1% NaCl and aldosterone (ALDOST, 0.75 microg/h) with or without spironolactone (Spi, 100 mg/kg per daily gavage) were compared with unoperated/untreated and uninephrectomized/salt-treated controls. Before intramural coronary vascular lesions appeared at week 4 of ALDOST, we found (1) a reduction of PBMC cytosolic free [Mg2+]i, together with intracellular Mg2+ and Ca2+ loading, whereas plasma and cardiac tissue Mg2+ were no different from controls; (2) increased H2O2 production by monocytes and lymphocytes together with upregulated PBMC gene expression of oxidative stress-inducible tyrosine phosphatase and Mn2+-superoxide dismutase and the presence of 3-nitrotyrosine in CD4+ and ED-1-positive inflammatory cells that had invaded intramural coronary arteries; (3) B-cell activation, including transcription of immunoglobulins, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, and CC and CXC chemokines and their receptors; (4) expansion of B lymphocyte subset and myosin heavy chain class II-expressing lymphocytes; and (5) autoreactivity with gene expression for antibodies to acetylcholine receptors and a downregulation of RT-6.2, which is in keeping with cell activation and associated with autoimmunity. Spi cotreatment attenuated the rise in intracellular Ca2+, the appearance of oxidative/nitrosative stress in PBMCs and invading inflammatory cells, and alterations in PBMC transcriptome. Thus, aldosteronism is associated with an activation of circulating immune cells induced by iterations in PBMC divalent cations and transduced by oxidative/nitrosative stress. ALDO receptor antagonism modulates this neuroendocrine-immune interface. The full text of this article is available online at http://www.circresaha.org.
Depression and violence: a Swedish population study
Authors: Seena Fazel, Achim Wolf, Zheng Chang, Henrik Larsson, Guy M Goodwin, Paul Lichtenstein
Journal: The Lancet Psychiatry (2015)

BackgroundDepression increases the risk of a range of adverse outcomes including suicide, premature mortality, and self-harm, but associations with violent crime remain uncertain. We aimed to determine the risks of violent crime in patients with depression and to investigate the association between depressive symptoms and violent crime in a cohort of twins.MethodsWe conducted two studies. The first was a total population study in Sweden of patients with outpatient diagnoses of depressive disorders (n=47 158) between 2001 and 2009 and no lifetime inpatient episodes. Patients were age and sex matched to general population controls (n=898 454) and risk of violent crime was calculated. Additionally, we compared the odds of violent crime in unaffected half-siblings (n=15 534) and full siblings (n=33 516) of patients with the general population controls. In sensitivity analyses, we examined the contribution of substance abuse, sociodemographic factors, and previous criminality. In the second study, we studied a general population sample of twins (n=23 020) with continuous measures of depressive symptoms for risk of violent crime.FindingsDuring a mean follow-up period of 3·2 years, 641 (3·7%) of the depressed men and 152 (0·5%) of the depressed women violently offended after diagnosis. After adjustment for sociodemographic confounders, the odds ratio of violent crime was 3·0 (95% CI 2·8–3·3) compared with the general population controls. The odds of violent crime in half-siblings (adjusted odds ratio 1·2 [95% CI 1·1–1·4]) and full siblings (1·5, 95% CI 1·3–1·6) were significantly increased, showing some familial confounding of the association between depression and violence. However, the odds increase remained significant in individuals with depression after adjustment for familial confounding, and in those without substance abuse comorbidity or a previous violent conviction (all p<0·0001). In the twin study, during the mean follow-up time of 5·4 years, 88 violent crimes were recorded. Depressive symptoms were associated with increased risk of violent crime and a sensitivity analysis identified little difference in risk estimate when all crimes (violent and non-violent) was the outcome.InterpretationRisk of violent crime was increased in individuals with depression after adjustment for familial, sociodemographic and individual factors in two longitudinal studies. Clinical guidelines should consider recommending violence risk assessment in certain subgroups with depression.FundingWellcome Trust and the Swedish Research Council.
Almitrine in low dose potentiates vasoconstrictor responses of isolated rat lungs to moderate hypoxia
Authors: F Falus, J Herget, V Hampl
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1991)

To test whether the effect of almitrine on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction was dose-dependent, two series of experiments were performed on isolated rat lungs perfused with constant flow of blood. In the first series, the effects of different doses of almitrine on perfusion pressure were measured. Baseline perfusion pressure was not changed by solvent or by 0.25 micrograms.ml-1 almitrine, but it was increased by 0.5 and 2.0 micrograms.ml-1 almitrine. The increase in perfusion pressure in response to 10 min ventilation with hypoxic gas mixture (5% O2) was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher after 0.25 micrograms.ml-1 almitrine (12.0 +/- 0.8 torr) than before addition of the drug (5.43 +/- 1.8 torr). Responses to hypoxia were insignificant after higher doses (0.5 and 2.0 micrograms.ml-1) of almitrine. In the second series of experiments the responses to varying degrees of hypoxia were measured after administration of one dose of almitrine (0.25 micrograms.ml-1). Almitrine, compared to solvent alone, significantly altered the shape of the dose-response curve to hypoxia. Increases in perfusion pressure in response to moderate degrees of hypoxia were potentiated (10% O2: 8.7 +/- 1.8 torr after almitrine, 2.1 +/- 0.6 torr after solvent, p less than 0.05), whereas responses to severe hypoxia (3% O2) were not changed by almitrine. Reactivity to angiotensin II was decreased by 0.25 micrograms.ml-1 almitrine. We conclude that almitrine in low but not in high dose augments pulmonary vasoconstriction induced by mild degrees of hypoxia.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Polymorphisms in Relation to Breast Cancer Development and Prognosis
Authors: Qianren Jin, Kari Hemminki, Kerstin Enquist, Per Lenner, Ewa Grzybowska, Rüdiger Klaes, Roger Henriksson, Bowang Chen, Jolanta Pamula, Wioletta Pekala, Helena Zientek, Jadwiga Rogozinska-Szczepka, Beata Utracka-Hutka, Göran Hallmans, Asta Försti
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2005)

Abstract Purpose: Angiogenesis is a necessary step in tumor growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major mediator of breast cancer angiogenesis. Therefore, we investigated the association of polymorphisms in the VEGF gene with breast cancer risk and prognostic characteristics of the tumors in a large case-control study. Experimental Design: We examined three polymorphisms in the VEGF gene (−2578C/A, −1154G/A, and +936C/T) in 571 familial breast cancer cases from Poland and Germany and −2578C/A, −634G/C, and +936C/T polymorphisms in 974 unselected breast cancer cases from Sweden together with ethnically and geographically selected controls. Results: None of the polymorphisms or any haplotype was significantly associated with either familial or unselected breast cancers. Our study suggests that the +936C/T polymorphism is unlikely to be associated with breast cancer. We also analyzed the unselected cases for genotypes or haplotypes that associated with tumor characteristics. The −634CC genotype and the −2578/−634 CC haplotype were significantly associated with high tumor aggressiveness (large tumor size and high histologic grade, P &amp;lt; 0.01) and the −2578AA genotype and the −2578/−634 AG haplotype with low histologic grade tumors (P = 0.04). The genotypes and haplotypes were not related with other tumor characteristics such as regional or distant metastasis, stage at diagnosis, or estrogen or progesterone receptor status. Conclusions: Although none of the polymorphisms studied in the VEGF gene was found to influence susceptibility to breast cancer significantly, some of the VEGF genotypes and haplotypes may influence tumor growth through an altered expression of VEGF and tumor angiogenesis.
Perioral dermatitis in renal transplant recipients maintained on corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy
Authors: S.J. ADAMS, A.M. DAVISON, W.J. CUNLIFFE, G.R. GILES
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1982)

SUMMARY Five patients with perioral dermatitis are described. They were all renal transplant recipients maintained on long-term oral corticosteroids and azathioprine (13 months to 7 years). They all responded satisfactorily to oral doxycycline.
A NOTE ON MONILIA INFECTION OF THE RESPIRATORY TRACT
Authors: P. J. Marett
Journal: BMJ (1933)

Apart from the feeling of intense heat in the skin, which comes on during or immediately after the injection, and persists only a few moments, the intravenous injection of calcium thiosulphate has been uneventful.Where it was possible 0.6 gram was administered daily for three days, then bi-weekly injections were given.Where sodium thiosulphate was given the first injection was 0.6 gram, and subsequent injections 1 gram. CONCLUSIONSThe results of the calcium thiosulphate treatment of six cases of intolerance to " 914 " or bismuth are reported; in these cases calcium thiosulphate appeared to exert a definite curative influence.The total number of cases treated is, however, small, and more widely extended observations are necessary before any final conclusions can be reached as to the place of this drug in the control of the sequelae of arsenicals and bismuth.
Higher Prevalence of Antibodies to<i>Borrelia Burgdorferi</i>in Psychiatric Patients Than in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Tomás Hájek, Beáta Pasková, Daniela Janovská, Radvan Bahbouh, Peter Hájek, Jan Libiger, Cyril Höschl
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2002)

Borrelia burgdorferi infection can affect the CNS and mimic psychiatric disorders. It is not known whether Borrelia burgdorferi contributes to overall psychiatric morbidity. The authors compared the prevalence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in groups of psychiatric patients and healthy subjects to find out whether there is an association between this infection and psychiatric morbidity.Between 1995 and 1999 the authors screened for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in 926 psychiatric patients consecutively admitted to Prague Psychiatric Center. They compared the results of this screening with findings from 884 consecutive healthy subjects who took part in an epidemiological survey of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in the general population of the Czech Republic. Sera were tested by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Circulating immune complexes were isolated by polyethylene glycol precipitation. To control for potential confounders, the two groups of patients and healthy subjects were matched according to gender and age. Results were obtained in a sample of 499 matched pairs.Among the matched pairs, 166 (33%) of the psychiatric patients and 94 (19%) of the healthy comparison subjects were seropositive in at least one of the four assays.These findings support the hypothesis that there is an association between Borrelia burgdorferi infection and psychiatric morbidity. In countries where this infection is endemic, a proportion of psychiatric inpatients may be suffering from neuropathogenic effects of Borrelia burgdorferi.
Cavernous Haemangioma of the Head and Neck in the Adult
Authors: R Sealy, L Barry, E Buret, C Stannard, B Binnewald, B Price, J Hill
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1989)

This paper reviews a personal experience of 51 cases seen over a 30 year period. Patients were treated in either a combined Head and Neck clinic or a Combined Ophthalmology clinic and a balanced view is thus represented. A method of grading the severity of the disease is described as well as a method of assessing response. This approach has not been proposed hitherto. It is generally concluded that the preferred treatment for small lesions is excisional surgery and for larger lesions carefully planned and highly localized radiation.
Black Mornings, Yellow Sunsets — A Day with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
Authors: Robert S. Schwartz
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2004)

The first known description of hemoglobinuria — urine the color of a cola beverage — appears in a 13th-century text, the De Urinis of Johannes Zacharias (Actuarius), physician to the court of Byzantium. Zacharias, the first person to use a graduated cylinder for urinalysis, had probably recorded a rare complication of falciparum malaria, one known as blackwater fever. In the centuries after the conquest of Constantinople, other causes of black urine were uncovered, but none were more fascinating than paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).PNH has a particular resonance in Boston for two reasons. One is that the first diagnostic test . . .
Merging information in speech recognition: Feedback is never necessary
Authors: Dennis Norris, James M. McQueen, Anne Cutler
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2000)

Top-down feedback does not benefit speech recognition; on the contrary, it can hinder it. No experimental data imply that feedback loops are required for speech recognition. Feedback is accordingly unnecessary and spoken word recognition is modular. To defend this thesis, we analyse lexical involvement in phonemic decision making. TRACE (McClelland & Elman 1986), a model with feedback from the lexicon to prelexical processes, is unable to account for all the available data on phonemic decision making. The modular Race model (Cutler & Norris 1979) is likewise challenged by some recent results, however. We therefore present a new modular model of phonemic decision making, the Merge model. In Merge, information flows from prelexical processes to the lexicon without feedback. Because phonemic decisions are based on the merging of prelexical and lexical information, Merge correctly predicts lexical involvement in phonemic decisions in both words and nonwords. Computer simulations show how Merge is able to account for the data through a process of competition between lexical hypotheses. We discuss the issue of feedback in other areas of language processing and conclude that modular models are particularly well suited to the problems and constraints of speech recognition.
Variations in criteria regulating treatment with reimbursed biologic DMARDs across European countries. Are differences related to country's wealth?
Authors: Polina Putrik, Sofia Ramiro, Tore K Kvien, Tuulikki Sokka, Till Uhlig, Annelies Boonen
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2013)

<h3>Objectives</h3> To explore criteria regulating treatment with reimbursed biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) across Europe and to relate criteria to indicators of national socioeconomic welfare. <h3>Methods</h3> A cross-sectional study among 46 European countries. One expert from each country completed a questionnaire on criteria regulating the start, maintenance/stop and switch of reimbursed bDMARDs. A composite score was developed to evaluate the level of restrictions in prescription of a first bDMARD (0=highly restricted, 5=most liberal). The level of restrictiveness was correlated with national socioeconomic welfare indicators. <h3>Results</h3> In 10 countries (22%), no bDMARD was reimbursed. Among 36 countries with at least one biologic reimbursed, 23(64%) had no requirement for disease duration to initiate a biologic. Half of the countries required a failure of two synthetic DMARDs to qualify for therapy. 31 countries specified a minimum level of disease activity to be fulfilled and in 20 (56%) countries cut-off for disease activity score with 28-joint assessment was higher than 3.2. Four countries (11%) had the maximum composite score (most liberal) and 20 (56%) scored between 0 and 2 (more restrictive). Criteria for initiation of a bDMARD were negatively associated with countries' socioeconomic welfare (−0.34 to −0.64), and a moderate positive correlation was found between the composite score and welfare indicators (0.59–0.72). Only some countries had regulations for stopping (n=14(39%)) or switching (n=19(53%)). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Clinical criteria regulating prescription of bDMARDs in RA differ significantly across Europe. Countries with lower socioeconomic welfare tend to have stricter eligibility criteria, pointing to inequities in access to treatment.