tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Patients are more satisfied with care from doctors of same race
Authors: J. Hopkins Tanne
Journal: BMJ (2002)

When patients have a choice, they are likely to choose a doctor of the same race or ethnic background and they are more likely to be satisfied with their care, says a study in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior (2002;43:296-306)

The idea that patients prefer a doctor of their own race is common but had never been tested, said lead author Dr Thomas LaVeist, associate professor of health policy and management at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

The study reviewed …
Temporal evaluation of sprint bounding in sprinters and jumpers
Authors: Wazir Singh
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2010)

Sprint running contributes in varying degree to successful performance in many sports. A variety of training regimens are commonly used to improve the sprinting performance. The plyometric exercises have become very popular because of the dynamic nature. The plyometric training represents the bridge between pure strength training and event-specific training for actual event. According to the principle of specificity, anything, which is more similar or identical to the competition demands, has more transfer effect, based on Young's (1992)sprint bounding, as it has relatively short stretch-shortening time, which enhances its specificity as a training exercise for sprinters and jumpers. The purpose of the present study is to determine the relationship of sprint bounding with the sprint ability of sprinters and jumpers. Thirty male national level sprinters and jumpers who were attending the national coaching camp at Patiala were the subjects of the present study. To evaluate the sprint ability time over 20 m (fly start), 30 m (standing start) and 30 m sprint bounds was recorded. In 30 m sprint bounds, the numbers of bounds were also counted. The time was recorded by electronic timer (Speed Light; Australia). The trigger to the timer was event regulated by the optoelectronic light barriers. The sprint bound index (SBI) was computed as the number of bounds completed multiplied by the time taken to cover 30 m distance as proposed by Young (1992). Unpaired ‘t’ test was used to find out the differences between the sprinters and jumpers in different parameters. The mean values of different parameters are presented in part-A of the table. The table shows that there are no statistically significant differences in the mean values of different parameters between sprinters and jumpers. This may be due to the fact that both the sprinters and jumpers are habitual of doing the same nature of bounding exercises in their training programme. The part-B of the table shows that there is statistically significant relationship of SBI with time of 20 m fly, 30 m standing run, 30 m sprint bounds and stride numbers. It is suggested that the coaches in their training programme incorporate sprint bounding exercises due to its specificity and identical movement structure.
Optimizing the frequency of outpatient short-contact dithranol treatment used in combination with broadband ultraviolet B for psoriasis: a randomized, within-patient controlled trial
Authors: S.R. Mcbride, P. Walker, N.J. Reynolds
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2003)

Background Recent concerns over the side‐effects of psoralen plus ultraviolet (UV) A, immunosuppressive and cytotoxic treatments have led to increased interest in dithranol for treatment of psoriasis. Few studies have investigated how frequently dithranol should be applied. Dithranol‐induced inflammation is maximal at 48–72 h, suggesting that daily application of dithranol may not be optimal. Objectives To investigate the effectiveness of five times weekly application of short‐contact dithranol (SCD) compared with three times weekly application in a dedicated hospital outpatient treatment unit. Methods A randomized, within‐patient, controlled study was performed. Patients had SCD applied five times weekly to one half of the body, and three times weekly to the other side. Whole‐body UVB irradiation was given 5 days a week. Patients were assessed weekly for 8 weeks. Principal outcome measures were percentage reduction in modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (mPASI) at the end of study and time to 50% improvement in mPASI score. Results Twenty‐nine patients were recruited; four were excluded from analysis. Mean percentage reduction in mPASI score at the end of study for five times weekly application was 57·3% (95% confidence interval, CI 39·6–75·0%) and for three times weekly application was 55·4% (95% CI 37·8–73·1%; P = 0·34). Mean time to 50% improvement in mPASI for five times weekly treatment was 4·1 weeks and for three times weekly treatment was 4·0 weeks (P = 0·50). There was no difference in the frequency or severity of burning episodes for each side. Conclusions This study suggests that three times weekly application of SCD may be as effective as five times weekly when used in conjunction with UVB administered five times weekly. Large studies of whole‐body comparisons are warranted to assess further the optimal frequency of SCD and UVB therapy for psoriasis.
Gene Transfers of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-B, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D Have No Effects on Atherosclerosis in Hypercholesterolemic Low-Density Lipoprotein-Receptor/Apolipoprotein B48-Deficient Mice
Authors: Pia Leppänen, Suvi Koota, Ivana Kholová, Jonna Koponen, Christina Fieber, Ulf Eriksson, Kari Alitalo, Seppo Ylä-Herttuala
Journal: Circulation (2005)

Background— The role of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) in large arteries has been proposed to be either vasculoprotective or proatherogenic. Because VEGF family members are used for human therapy, it is important to know whether they could enhance atherogenesis. We tested the effects of the members of the VEGF gene family on atherogenesis in LDL-receptor/apolipoprotein (apo) B48 double-knockout (LDLR/apoB48) mice using systemic adenoviral gene transfer. Methods and Results— Six groups of LDLR/apoB48-deficient mice (n=110) were kept 3 months on a Western-type diet. After 6 weeks of diet, mice were injected via tail vein with recombinant adenoviruses expressing VEGF-A, -B, -C, or -D or LacZ (1×10 9 PFU) or rhVEGF-A protein (2 μg/kg) and euthanized 6 weeks later. Also, older mice (n=36) were injected after 4 months on the diet and euthanized 6 weeks later (total time on the diet, 22 weeks) to evaluate the effects of gene transfers on the development of more mature lesions. Aortas were analyzed for the presence of macroscopic lesions, cross-sectional lesion areas, neovascularization, and cellular composition of the lesions. All groups had equivalent plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Gene transfers with recombinant adenoviruses or administration of rhVEGF-A protein had no statistically significant effects on en face atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta, cross-sectional lesion area, neovascularization, or cellular composition of the lesions. Conclusions— This study shows no proatherogenic effects of adenovirus-mediated gene transfers of VEGF-A, -B, -C, or -D in the LDLR/apoB48-deficient hypercholesterolemic mice, in which lipoprotein profile and atherosclerosis closely resemble those in human disease.
Lung-enriched Organisms and Aberrant Bacterial and Fungal Respiratory Microbiota after Lung Transplant
Authors: Emily S. Charlson, Joshua M. Diamond, Kyle Bittinger, Ayannah S. Fitzgerald, Anjana Yadav, Andrew R. Haas, Frederic D. Bushman, Ronald G. Collman
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2012)

Rationale: Long-term survival after lung transplantation is limited by infectious complications and by bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), a form of chronic rejection linked in part to microbial triggers.Objectives: To define microbial populations in the respiratory tract of transplant patients comprehensively using unbiased high-density sequencing.Methods: Lung was sampled by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and upper respiratory tract by oropharyngeal wash (OW). Bacterial 16S rDNA and fungal internal transcribed spacer sequencing was used to profile organisms present. Outlier analysis plots defining taxa enriched in lung relative to OW were used to identify bacteria enriched in lung against a background of oropharyngeal carryover.Measurements and Main Results: Lung transplant recipients had higher bacterial burden in BAL than control subjects, frequent appearance of dominant organisms, greater distance between communities in BAL and OW indicating more distinct populations, and decreased respiratory tract microbial richness and diversity. Fungal populations were typically dominated by Candida in both sites or by Aspergillus in BAL but not OW. 16S outlier analysis identified lung-enriched taxa indicating bacteria replicating in the lower respiratory tract. In some cases this confirmed respiratory cultures but in others revealed enrichment by anaerobic organisms or mixed outgrowth of upper respiratory flora and provided quantitative data on relative abundances of bacteria found by culture.Conclusions: Respiratory tract microbial communities in lung transplant recipients differ in structure and composition from healthy subjects. Outlier analysis can identify specific bacteria replicating in lung. These findings provide novel approaches to address the relationship between microbial communities and transplant outcome and aid in assessing lung infections.
How Do Risk Factors Work Together? Mediators, Moderators, and Independent, Overlapping, and Proxy Risk Factors
Authors: Helena Chmura Kraemer, Eric Stice, Alan Kazdin, David Offord, David Kupfer
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2001)

The authors developed a methodological basis for investigating how risk factors work together. Better methods are needed for understanding the etiology of disorders, such as psychiatric syndromes, that presumably are the result of complex causal chains.Approaches from psychology, epidemiology, clinical trials, and basic sciences were synthesized.The authors define conceptually and operationally five different clinically important ways in which two risk factors may work together to influence an outcome: as proxy, overlapping, and independent risk factors and as mediators and moderators.Classifying putative risk factors into these qualitatively different types can help identify high-risk individuals in need of preventive interventions and can help inform the content of such interventions. These methods may also help bridge the gaps between theory, the basic and clinical sciences, and clinical and policy applications and thus aid the search for early diagnoses and for highly effective preventive and treatment interventions.
Leukemia and Groundwater Contamination
Authors: Carolyn G. Lyman
Journal: JAMA (1986)

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> We would like to respond to the comments of Tracy and Letourneau<sup>1</sup>regarding our study<sup>2</sup>of leukemia and radium groundwater contamination. This study identified substantial contamination of ground-water sources in southwest Florida with radium and demonstrated a strong geographic association between leukemia risk and the level of ground-water contamination. Ingestion of 2 L/d of water at an average radium concentration of 10 pCi/L (0.37 Bq/L) would result in ingestion of 20 pCi/d (0.74 Bq/d), representing perhaps only 20% of the total daily ingestion of radium 226.<sup>3</sup>The lifetime leukemia risk estimated from exposure to 20 to 100 pCi/d (0.74 to 3.7 Bq/d) of radium 226 based on International Commission on Radiological Protection risk estimates would be six to 30 excess cases per 100 000.<sup>4</sup> Based on the International Commission on Radiological Protection model, ingestion of 20 to 100 pCi/d (0.74 to 3.7 Bq/d)
Temporal Trends in Survival to Adulthood Among Patients Born With Congenital Heart Disease From 1970 to 1992 in Belgium
Authors: Philip Moons, Lore Bovijn, Werner Budts, Ann Belmans, Marc Gewillig
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Over the past decades, the life expectancy of individuals with congenital heart disease (CHD) has increased significantly. However, precise estimates for survival to adulthood are scarce for patients with CHD. We investigated the proportion of CHD patients born between 1990 and 1992 who survived into adulthood. We also compared their survival with that of CHD patients born in earlier eras and evaluated survival as a function of the type of heart defect.We reviewed the CHD program administrative and clinical database at the University Hospitals Leuven (Leuven, Belgium) and analyzed the records of 7497 CHD patients born from 1970 to 1992. Survival to 18 years of age in patients born between 1990 and 1992 was 88.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 86.3% to 90.5%), which was significantly greater than that of patients born in previous decades (P<0.0001). For patients born between 1990 and 1992, survival into adulthood for those with mild heart defects was 98.0% (95% CI, 95.8% to 99.1%), whereas survival for those with moderate- and severe-complexity heart defects was 90.0% (95% CI, 86.8% to 92.5%) and 56.4% (95% CI, 47.4% to 64.5%), respectively. Analysis per heart defect confirmed these findings, demonstrating that patients with univentricular heart (49.1% [95% CI, 30.8% to 65.1%]) and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (7.5% [95% CI, 0.6% to 26.6%]) had the poorest survival rate.This study demonstrates that almost 90% of children with CHD have the prospect of surviving into adulthood.
Skeletal Myoblast Transplantation in Ischemic Heart Failure
Authors: Albert A. Hagège, Jean-Pierre Marolleau, Jean-Thomas Vilquin, Armelle Alhéritière, Séverine Peyrard, Denis Duboc, Eric Abergel, Emmanuel Messas, Elie Mousseaux, Ketty Schwartz, Michel Desnos, Philippe Menasché
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Background— Skeletal myoblast (SM) transplantation (Tx) in a post-myocardial infarction (MI) scar experimentally improves left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF). Short-term follow-up (FU) studies have suggested that a similar benefit could clinically occur despite an increased risk of LV arrhythmias. Methods and Results— We report the long-term FU of the first worldwide cohort of grafted patients (n =9, 61.8±11.6 years, previous MI, EF ≤35%) operated on (autologous SM Tx and bypass surgery) in 2000 to 2001 and evaluated before Tx, at 1 month (M1) and at a median FU of 52 (18 to 58) months after Tx (37 patient-years). NYHA class improved from 2.5±0.5 to 1.8±0.4 at M1 ( P =0.004 versus baseline) and 1.7±0.5 at FU ( P =not significant versus M1; P =0.0007 versus baseline). EF increased from 24.3±4% to 31±4.1% at M1 (+28%, P =0.001 versus baseline) and remained stable thereafter (28.7±8.1%, +18% versus baseline). There were 5 hospitalizations for heart failure in 3 patients at 28.6±9.9 months, allowing implant in 2 patients with a resynchronization pacemaker. An automatic cardiac defibrillator (ACD) was implanted in 5 patients for nonsustained (n =1) or sustained (n =4) ventricular tachycardia at 12.2±18.6 (1 to 45) months. Despite a beta-blocker/amiodarone combination therapy, there were 14 appropriate shocks for 3 arrhythmic storms in 3 patients at 6, 7, and 18 months after ACD implantation. Conclusions— In this cohort of severe heart failure patients both clinical status and EF stably improve over time with a strikingly low incidence of hospitalizations for heart failure (0.13/patient-years) and the arrhythmic risk can be controlled by medical therapy and/or on-request ACD implantation.
Bedside Bronchofiberscopy for Atelectasis and Lung Abscess
Authors: Adam Wanner, José F. Landa, Roland E. Nieman, Jamsheed Vevaina, Ignacio Delgado
Journal: JAMA (1973)

Bronchofiberscopy offers a safe, nontraumatic means of tracheobronchial toilet at the bedside. Thirty-seven procedures were performed in 27 patients with atelectasis due to mucus plugs or inspissated bronchial secretions and in three patients with lung abscess. Roentgenologic evidence of reexpansion following bronchofiberscopy was demonstrated in 85% of the patients with atelectasis. Drainage was established in two of the three patients with lung abscess. These results indicate that bronchofiberscopy is effective in aspirating secretions in atelectasis and helpful in initiating drainage of lung abscess.
ON THE USE OF TAXIS FOR HERNIA, AND ON SOME COMPLICATIONS THAT MAY ARISE DURING AND AFTER ITS EMPLOYMENT
Authors: H. B. Robinson
Journal: BMJ (1907)

MEIAORA].,05 one Qf the men has already well exceeded the allotted span ot, buman life, while the, other two have passed 50, and should not fall far behind theip father's record of long and healthy life..r" * The appended table give3 in 1parallel columns for pur- poes, of qomparison some measurenfents taken from one j.Lthesp men, with corresponding.-iguresoh4ainE d from-a j ' 4 I J~~~~~~~~~ñ ormal man, 5fft. 8in. in height, this being generallyr taken as the average for healthy men in England and Wales.Some of the striking features of t'he achondroplasic skeleton are there well seen.Thus with a tiotal deficiency o£,16 in. in height, the shortness of the .legs is responsible {or all.but 2-& in. of this amount.W ;, * X [ ! } .! 0 ~Achlondromanl *ft.in.ft, in.Total lei t . ..5 8 4 4 hXeighlt sitting ... ... ... , ... ...
Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, and Prednisone Followed by Tositumomab and Iodine-131–Tositumomab in Patients With Untreated Low-Grade Follicular Lymphoma: Eight-Year Follow-Up of a Multicenter Phase II Study
Authors: Brian K. Link, Peter Martin, Mark S. Kaminski, Stanley J. Goldsmith, Morton Coleman, John P. Leonard
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2010)

The efficacy and safety of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP) followed by tositumomab and iodine-131 ((131)I) -tositumomab therapy were evaluated in a multicenter phase II study in patients with untreated low-grade follicular lymphoma.Patients received six cycles of CVP followed by one cycle of tositumomab and (131)I-tositumomab (one dosimetric dose and one therapeutic dose). The treatment was evaluated for efficacy and safety.All 30 patients enrolled completed CVP as well as tositumomab and (131)I-tositumomab therapy. The overall response rate after completion of therapy was 100%, with 28 patients (93%) achieving a complete response (CR) and two patients achieving a partial response. Of the 17 patients with bone marrow involvement at enrollment, 15 achieved a confirmed CR. Fourteen of 15 patients with bulky disease (> or = 5 cm) had a CR after treatment completion. After a median follow-up of 8.4 years, the median response duration had not been reached (range, 3 to 111+ months). Five-year progression-free and overall survival rates were 56% and 83%, respectively. The most common grade > or = 3 hematologic adverse events were neutropenia (87%) and thrombocytopenia (37%). Nineteen patients received growth factor support, and three required blood product transfusions. No patients developed human antimurine antibodies. Two patients developed myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia.These mature data demonstrate that sequential therapy with a non-anthracycline-containing regimen comprising CVP followed by one cycle of tositumomab and (131)I-tositumomab produced high response rates with adequate safety and durable remissions and that this regimen represents a highly active treatment for first-line therapy of follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Effects of Blood Perfusion on Electrophysiological Properties of Isolated Canine Purkinje Fibers
Authors: MICHAEL R. ROSEN, HENRY GELBAND, BRIAN F. HOFFMAN
Journal: Circulation Research (1972)

Microelectrode techniques were used to study isolated canine Purkinje fibers perfused alternately with Tyrode's solution and extracorporeally circulated arterial blood from heparinized donor dogs. Action potential amplitude and resting membrane potential were similar in both perfusates and varied with the potassium concentration of the perfusate. Action potential duration also varied with the potassium concentration of the perfusate, being shorter when potassium concentration was higher. Conduction in free-running Purkinje fibers usually was more rapid in blood than in Tyrode's solution; this difference often was not related to changes in potassium concentration, maximal slope of phase 0, and action potential amplitude. Automaticity was comparable in both perfusates. Because conduction time in isolated tissues differs during perfusion with blood and Tyrode's solution, it would seem that experiments on conduction performed during blood perfusion might reflect in vivo events more closely than results obtained using Tyrode's solution.
Functional Interplay Between the Macrophage Scavenger Receptor Class B Type I and Pitavastatin (NK-104)
Authors: Jihong Han, Michael Parsons, Xiaoye Zhou, Andrew C. Nicholson, Antonio M. Gotto, David P. Hajjar
Journal: Circulation (2004)

Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), a receptor for high-density lipoprotein (HDL), plays an important role in the bidirectional cholesterol exchange between cells and HDL particles and the atherosclerotic lesion development. Enhancement of SR-BI expression significantly reduces, whereas lack of SR-BI expression accelerates, the atherosclerotic lesion development in proatherogenic mice. Statins, a class of inhibitors for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, significantly suppress de novo cholesterol synthesis and reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease. Statins also display multiple pleiotropic effects independently of cholesterol synthesis in the vascular cells. Here, we investigated the effects of pitavastatin (NK-104), a newly synthesized statin, on macrophage SR-BI expression.We found that pitavastatin significantly increased SR-BI mRNA and protein expression in a macrophage cell line in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. It also increased SR-BI expression in both mouse peritoneal and human monocyte-derived macrophages. Associated with increased SR-BI expression, pitavastatin enhanced macrophage HDL binding, uptake of [14C]cholesteryl oleate/HDL, and efflux of [3H]cholesterol to HDL. Pitavastatin abolished the inhibition of macrophage SR-BI expression by cholesterol biosynthetic intermediates. It also restored SR-BI expression inhibited by lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha through its inactivation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB.Our data demonstrate that pitavastatin can stimulate macrophage SR-BI expression by reduction of cholesterol biosynthetic intermediates and antiinflammatory action and suggest additional pleiotropic effects of statins by which they may reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease.