tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Bed Bugs (&lt;emph type="ital"&gt;Cimex lectularius&lt;/emph&gt;) and Clinical Consequences of Their Bites
Authors: Jerome Goddard
Journal: JAMA (2009)

Bed bug (Cimex lectularius) infestations are rapidly increasing worldwide. Health consequences include nuisance biting and cutaneous and systemic reactions. The potential for bed bugs to serve as disease vectors and optimal methods for bed bug pest control and eradication are unclear.To present current knowledge of the health and medical effects of bed bugs and to explore key issues in pest control and eradication efforts.A search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases (1960-October 2008) for articles using the keywords bed bugs, Cimex lectularius, humans, parasitology, pathogenicity, and drug effects. For pest control, PubMed and Toxline searches (1960-October 2008) were performed using the keywords bed bugs, Cimex, control, prevention, and eradication. Manual searches of older journals, textbooks, pest control trade journals, and newspapers (1892-October 2008) were also performed.Original accounts or investigations of bed bugs, clinical responses with sufficient detail of cause and effect between the bed bug bite and clinical response, and convincing evidence of substantiated presence of bed bug exposure. For pest control, documentation that an eradication measure quantitatively decreased bed bugs.A trained medical reference librarian assisted with the literature search. Two authors with expertise in the diagnosis, treatment, and eradication of bed bugs reviewed the clinical articles. One author evaluated the pest control articles.Fifty-three articles met inclusion criteria and were summarized. Only 2 clinical trials concerning bed bugs were identified and tested the ability of pest control interventions to eradicate bed bugs. Although transmission of more than 40 human diseases has been attributed to bed bugs, there is little evidence that they are vectors of communicable disease. A variety of clinical reactions to bed bugs have been reported, including cutaneous and rarely systemic reactions. A wide range of empirical treatments, including antibiotics, antihistamines, topical and oral corticosteroids, and epinephrine, have been used for bite reactions with varying results. No evidence-based interventions to eradicate bed bugs or prevent bites were identified.Treatment options for cutaneous and systemic reactions from bed bug bites have not been evaluated in clinical trials and there is no evidence that outcomes differ significantly from those receiving no treatment. Evidence for disease transmission by bed bugs is lacking. Pest control and eradication is challenging due to insecticide resistance, lack of effective products, and health concerns about spraying mattresses with pesticides.
Patient-Physician Concordance: Preferences, Perceptions, and Factors Influencing the Breast Cancer Surgical Decision
Authors: Nancy K. Janz, Patricia A. Wren, Laurel A. Copeland, Julie C. Lowery, Sherry L. Goldfarb, Edwin G. Wilkins
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2004)

This study explored patient preferences for involvement in the breast cancer treatment decision and concordance between patients' and physicians' views on decisional role. The impact of demographic and psychosocial characteristics on patients' decisional role was also examined.Women with stage I or II breast cancer who were candidates for either mastectomy or lumpectomy were recruited from a university breast cancer treatment center. Patient interviews were obtained before meeting the surgical oncologist and again after the treatment decision was made but before surgical intervention. Clinician responses were obtained after the consultation.The 101 participants were generally white (97%), married (80%), and well-educated. They reported moderate levels of depression and anxiety but good social support and self-efficacy in communicating with their physician. Before the consultation, 47% of women reported a preference for shared decision making; afterwards, 61% felt they had primary responsibility for the decision. Only 38% of patients agreed with the physician's assessment of how the treatment decision was made. In regression analyses, higher education was significantly associated with patients' preferred level of control (P = .01). There was a trend toward women with greater self-efficacy desiring more active decisional roles (P = .08). Patient preference for decision making did not impact time in the patient-physician encounter, but more influence did increase satisfaction.Limited concordance between patient preference and patient perception and between patient and physician perception in how the treatment decision was made suggests the need for better communication between patient and clinician during a critical treatment encounter for breast cancer patients.
Transcription Repressor Activity of Spleen Tyrosine Kinase Mediates Breast Tumor Suppression
Authors: Lei Wang, Eswaran Devarajan, Jin He, Sekhar P. Reddy, Jia Le Dai
Journal: Cancer Research (2005)

Abstract Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) is a candidate tumor suppressor gene in breast. Loss of SYK expression in breast tumors as a result of DNA hypermethylation promotes tumor cell proliferation and invasion and predicts shorter survival of breast cancer patients. We previously reported that, in addition to its well-known cytoplasmic localization, the full-length Syk is also present in the nucleus and that Syk nuclear translocation is a rate-limiting step to determine Syk tumor suppressor function. Here, we show that the full-length form of Syk acts as a transcription repressor in the cell nucleus. Ectopic expression of Syk down-regulates the transcription of FRA1 and cyclin D1 oncogenes. This transcription-repressing activity of Syk is associated with its binding to members of the histone deacetylase family. Syk interacts with transcription factor Sp1 at the Sp1 DNA-binding site in the FRA1 promoter to repress Sp1-activated FRA1 transcription. Thus, breast tumorigenesis and progression resulting from the loss of SYK are underscored by the derepression of Sp1-mediated oncogene transcription.
Low dose oral pH modified release budesonide for maintenance of steroid induced remission in Crohn's disease
Authors: V Gross, T Andus, K W Ecker, A Raedler, K Loeschke, M Plauth, J Rasenack, A Weber, M Gierend, K Ewe, J Scholmerich, None Budesonide Study Group
Journal: Gut (1998)

<i>Background</i>—The relapse rate after steroid induced remission in Crohn's disease is high. <i>Aims</i>—To test whether oral pH modified release budesonide (3 × 1 mg/day) reduces the relapse rate and to identify patient subgroups with an increased risk of relapse. <i>Methods</i>—In a multicentre, randomised, double blind study, 179 patients with steroid induced remission of Crohn's disease received either 3 × 1 mg budesonide (n=84) or placebo (n=95) for one year. The primary study aim was the maintenance of remission of Crohn's disease for one year. <i>Results</i>—Patient characteristics at study entry were similar for both groups. The relapse rate was 67% (56/84) in the budesonide group and 65% (62/95) in the placebo group. The relapse curves in both groups were similar. The mean time to relapse was 93.5 days in the budesonide group and 67.0 days in the placebo group. No prognostic factors allowing prediction of an increased risk for relapse or definition of patient subgroups who derived benefit from low dose budesonide were found. Drug related side effects were mild and no different between the budesonide and the placebo group. <i>Conclusion</i>—Oral pH modified release budesonide at a dose of 3 × 1 mg/day is not effective for maintaining steroid induced remission in Crohn's disease.
GAPDH is critical for superior efficacy of female bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Rubin Tan, Jiansha Li, Xiaochun Peng, Liping Zhu, Lei Cai, Tao Wang, Yuan Su, Kaikobad Irani, Qinghua Hu
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2013)

AimsPulmonary arterial hypertension, a chronic lung disease, remains an unacceptable prognosis despite significant advances in conventional therapies. Stem cell therapy represents a novel and effective modality. This study was aimed to add new insight in gender differences of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on therapy against pulmonary arterial hypertension and the underlying mechanism.
Co-targeting of delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) and vascular endothelial growth factor a (VEGF) with programmed death 1 (PD1) blockade inhibits tumor growth and facilitates anti-tumor immune responses
Authors: Minu Srivastava, Christopher Murriel, Rui Yun, Erin Mayes, Hyun-Bae Jie, Fumiko Axelrod, Ming-Hong Xie, Trevor Bentley, Belinda Cancilla, Raymond Tam, Gilbert O'Young, Ann Kapoun, John Lewicki, Tim Hoey, Austin Gurney, Park Angie Inkyung
Journal: Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (2015)

Meeting abstracts Blocking DLL4, a Notch ligand, effectively inhibits tumor growth by increasing non-functional angiogenesis and decreasing the cancer stem cell (CSC) population. Preclinical studies have demonstrated inhibition of tumor growth by anti-DLL4 treatment and have led us to enter
Cardiac 12/15 lipoxygenase–induced inflammation is involved in heart failure
Authors: Yosuke Kayama, Tohru Minamino, Haruhiro Toko, Masaya Sakamoto, Ippei Shimizu, Hidehisa Takahashi, Sho Okada, Kaoru Tateno, Junji Moriya, Masataka Yokoyama, Aika Nojima, Michihiro Yoshimura, Kensuke Egashira, Hiroyuki Aburatani, Issei Komuro
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2009)

To identify a novel target for the treatment of heart failure, we examined gene expression in the failing heart. Among the genes analyzed, Alox15 encoding the protein 12/15 lipoxygenase (LOX) was markedly up-regulated in heart failure. To determine whether increased expression of 12/15-LOX causes heart failure, we established transgenic mice that overexpressed 12/15-LOX in cardiomyocytes. Echocardiography showed that Alox15 transgenic mice developed systolic dysfunction. Cardiac fibrosis increased in Alox15 transgenic mice with advancing age and was associated with the infiltration of macrophages. Consistent with these observations, cardiac expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) was up-regulated in Alox15 transgenic mice compared with wild-type mice. Treatment with 12-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid, a major metabolite of 12/15-LOX, increased MCP-1 expression in cardiac fibroblasts and endothelial cells but not in cardiomyocytes. Inhibition of MCP-1 reduced the infiltration of macrophages into the myocardium and prevented both systolic dysfunction and cardiac fibrosis in Alox15 transgenic mice. Likewise, disruption of 12/15-LOX significantly reduced cardiac MCP-1 expression and macrophage infiltration, thereby improving systolic dysfunction induced by chronic pressure overload. Our results suggest that cardiac 12/15-LOX is involved in the development of heart failure and that inhibition of 12/15-LOX could be a novel treatment for this condition.
An evaluation of Na+,Cl− and pH ion-specific electrodes in the study of the electrolyte contents of epidermal transudate and sweat
Authors: K. GRICE, H. SATTAR, T. CASEY, H. BAKER
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2006)

Ion-specific electrode detectors have been used to measure electrolytes in various biological fluids, including sweat. As part of a study of skin barrier function, we have used such electrodes to detect the presence of sodium, chloride and hydrogen (pH) in the transepidermal water loss. This paper describes the effects of cellophane tape stripping (of human forearm epidermis in vivo) on surface electrolyte concentrations, in parallel with observations on transepidermal water loss and galvanic skin resistance.
Langerin, a Novel C-Type Lectin Specific to Langerhans Cells, Is an Endocytic Receptor that Induces the Formation of Birbeck Granules
Authors: Jenny Valladeau, Odile Ravel, Colette Dezutter-Dambuyant, Kevin Moore, Monique Kleijmeer, Ying Liu, Valérie Duvert-Frances, Claude Vincent, Daniel Schmitt, Jean Davoust, Christophe Caux, Serge Lebecque, Sem Saeland
Journal: Immunity (2000)
Development of a preliminary composite disease activity index in psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Aizad Mumtaz, Phil Gallagher, Brian Kirby, Robin Waxman, Laura C Coates, Douglas Veale J, Philip Helliwell, Oliver FitzGerald
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2010)

<h3>Objectives</h3> To develop a preliminary composite psoriatic disease activity index (CPDAI) for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. <h3>Methods</h3> Five domains were assessed and specific instruments were employed for each domain to determine the extent of domain involvement and the effect of that involvement on quality of life/function. Disease activity for each domain was then graded from 0 to 3 giving a CPDAI range of 0–15. Patient and physician global disease activity measures were also recorded and an independent physician was asked to indicate if treatment change was required. Bivariate correlation analysis was performed. Factor, tree analysis and standardised response means were also calculated. <h3>Results</h3> Significant correlation was seen between CPDAI and both patient (r=0.834) and physician (r=0.825) global disease activity assessments (p=0.01). Tree analysis revealed that 96.3% of patients had their treatment changed when CPDAI values were greater than 6; no patient had their treatment changed when CPDAI values were less than 5. <h3>Conclusion</h3> CPDAI correlates well with patient and physician global disease activity assessments and is an effective tool that clearly distinguishes those who require a treatment change from those who do not.
Neuraminidase-treated macrophages stimulate allogenic CD8+ T cells in the presence of exogenous interleukin 2.
Authors: Y Hirayama, K Inaba, M Inaba, T Kato, M Kitaura, T Hosokawa, S Ikehara, S Muramatsu
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1988)

Prior work has shown that purified, resident, and inflammatory peritoneal macrophages are weak stimulators of the allogeneic MLR. We have identified conditions whereby thioglycollate-elicited macrophages become stimulatory, but primarily for the CD8+ T cell subset. The conditions were to treat the macrophages with neuraminidase and to supplement the MLR with rIL-2. These treatments together led to proliferative and cytotoxic responses by isolated CD8+ but not CD4+ T cells. Likewise when MHC-congenic strains were evaluated, an MLR was observed across isolated class I but not class II MHC barriers. Pretreatment of the macrophages with IFN-gamma further enhanced expression of class I MHC products and stimulatory activity, but did not seem essential. While these treatments did not render macrophages stimulatory for an MLR in purified CD4+ cells, blastogenesis of CD4+ cells was observed when the MLR involved bulk T cells. Small allogeneic B lymphocytes behaved similarly to macrophages, in the pretreatment with neuraminidase and supplementation with rIL-2 rendered B cells stimulatory for allogeneic, enriched, CD8+, but not CD4+, T cells. Spleen adherent cells, which are mixtures of macrophages and dendritic cells, stimulated both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and neither neuraminidase nor exogenous IL-2 was required. We think that these data suggest that most macrophages and small B cells lack three important functions of dendritic cells: a T cell-binding function that can be remedied by neuraminidase treatment, a T cell growth factor-inducing function that can be bypassed with exogenous IL-2, and an IL-2 responsiveness function that is required by CD4+ lymphocytes.
Sustained antibody responses depend on CD28 function in bone marrow–resident plasma cells
Authors: Cheryl H. Rozanski, Ramon Arens, Louise M. Carlson, Jayakumar Nair, Lawrence H. Boise, Asher A. Chanan-Khan, Stephen P. Schoenberger, Kelvin P. Lee
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2011)

Sustained long-term antibody levels are the cornerstone of protective immunity, yet it remains unclear how they are durably maintained. A predominant theory implicates antigen-independent antibody production by a subset of long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) that survive within bone marrow (BM). Central tenets of this model—that BM LLPCs constitute a subset defined by intrinsic biology distinct from PCs in other tissues and contribute to long-term antibody titers—have not been definitively demonstrated. We now report that long-term humoral immunity depends on the PC-intrinsic function of CD28, which selectively supports the survival of BM LLPC but not splenic short-lived PC (SLPC). LLPC and SLPC both express CD28, but CD28-driven enhanced survival occurred only in the LLPC. In vivo, even in the presence of sufficient T cell help, loss of CD28 or its ligands CD80 and CD86 caused significant loss of the LLPC population, reduction of LLPC half-life from 426 to 63 d, and inability to maintain long-term antibody titers, but there was no effect on SLPC populations. These findings establish the existence of the distinct BM LLPC subset necessary to sustain antibody titers and uncover a central role for CD28 function in the longevity of PCs and humoral immunity.
Calcipotriol ointment in nail psoriasis: a controlled double-blind comparison with betamethasone dipropionate and salicylic acid
Authors: None Tosti, None Piraccini, None Cameli, None Kokely, None Plozzer, None Cannata, None Benelli
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1998)

This double-blind randomized study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of calcipotriol ointment (50 microg/g) with betamethasone dipropionate (64 mg/g) and salicylic acid (0.03 g/g) ointment in the treatment of nail bed psoriasis. Fifty-eight patients applied the given drug to the affected nails twice a day for 3-5 months, depending on clinical response. Efficacy was assessed monthly on the basis of nail thickness, measured in millimetres. Photographs of the treated nails were taken at baseline, and after 3 and 5 months. Tolerability was assessed at 3 and 5 months. In patients with fingernail psoriasis, after 3 months of treatment subungual hyperkeratosis was reduced from 2.3 +/- 0.1 mm (mean +/- SEM) to 1.5 +/- 0.1 mm (-26.5%) in the calcipotriol group and from 2.3 +/- 0.1 mm to 1.6 +/- 0.1 mm (-30.4%) in the betamethasone dipropionate and salicylic acid group [not significant (NS) between treatments, analysis of variance (ANOVA)]. After 5 months, responders showed a 49.2% reduction in hyperkeratosis in the calcipotriol group (from 2.8 +/- 0.1 mm to 1.4 +/- 0.2 mm) and 51.7% (from 2.1 +/- 0.1 mm to 1.0 +/- 0.1 mm) in the betamethasone dipropionate and salicylic acid group (P < 0.001 from baseline, NS between treatments, ANOVA). In patients with toenail psoriasis, after 3 months of treatment there was an overall reduction in hyperkeratosis from 2.6 +/- 0.1 mm to 2.1 +/- 0.1 mm (-20.1%) in the calcipotriol group and from 3.0 +/- 0.1 mm to 2.3 +/- 0.1 mm (-22. 9%) in the betamethasone dipropionate and salicylic acid group (P < 0.001 from baseline, NS between treatments, ANOVA). By the end of the fifth month there was a 40.7% reduction in hyperkeratosis in the calcipotriol group (from 2.1 +/- 0.1 mm to 1.2 +/- 0.1 mm) and 51.9% in the betamethasone dipropionate and salicylic acid group (from 2.7 +/- 0.1 mm to 1.3 +/- 0.1 mm; P < 0.0001 from baseline, NS between treatments, ANOVA). The results of the study show that calcipotriol is as effective as a combination of a topical steroid with salicylic acid in the treatment of nail psoriasis and represents a safe alternative in the topical treatment of nail psoriasis.
Low Frequency of ErbB-2 Proto-oncogene Overexpression in Human Leukocyte Antigen-A2-Positive Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: P. Nistico, C. Mammi, D. Del Bello, P. G. Natali, M. Mottolese, M. Benevolo, I. Venturo, C. Botti, F. P. Gentile, O. Rubiu
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1997)
Clinical Outcomes of Palliative Surgery Including a Systemic-to-Pulmonary Artery Shunt in Infants With Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Jennifer S. Li, Eric Yow, Katherine Y. Berezny, John F. Rhodes, Paula M. Bokesch, John R. Charpie, Geoffrey A. Forbus, Lynn Mahony, Lynn Boshkov, Virginie Lambert, Damien Bonnet, Ina Michel-Behnke, Thomas P. Graham, Masato Takahashi, James Jaggers, Robert M. Califf, Amit Rakhit, Sylvie Fontecave, Stephen P. Sanders
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Aspirin (ASA) often is used to prevent thrombosis in infants with congenital heart disease after placement of a systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt, but its effect on outcomes is unknown.The present multicenter study prospectively collected data on 1-year postoperative rates of death, shunt thrombosis, or hospitalization age <4 months for bidirectional Glenn/hemi-Fontan surgery in 1004 infants. The use and dose of ASA were recorded. Kaplan-Meier event rates were calculated for each event and the composite outcome, and a Cox regression model was constructed for time to event. Model terms were ASA use and type of surgery, with adjustment for age at surgery. Diagnoses were hypoplastic left heart syndrome (n=346), tricuspid atresia (n=103), tetralogy of Fallot (n=127), pulmonary atresia (n=177), heterotaxy syndrome (n=38), and other (n=213). There were 344 shunts placed without cardiopulmonary bypass (closed shunt), 287 shunts with bypass (open shunt), 323 Norwood procedures, and 50 Sano procedures. Overall, 80% of patients received ASA. One-year postoperative events rates were high: 38% for the composite end point, 26% for death, and 12% for shunt thrombosis. After the exclusion of patients with early mortality, patients receiving ASA had a lower risk of shunt thrombosis (hazard ratio, 0.13; P=0.008) and death (closed shunt: hazard ratio, 0.41, P=0.057; open shunt: hazard ratio, 0.10, P<0.001; Norwood: hazard ratio, 0.34, P<0.001; Sano: hazard ratio, 0.68, P=NS) compared with those not receiving ASA.The morbidity and mortality for infants after surgical placement of a systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt are high. ASA appears to lower the risk of death and shunt thrombosis in the present observational study.
Improving child survival through vitamin A supplementation
Authors: A. Thorne-Lyman, W. W. Fawzi
Journal: BMJ (2011)

Fine tuning the dose and delivery mechanism could further improve outcomes

Worldwide, nearly 8.8 million children die each year before they reach their 5th birthday.1 More than two thirds die from infectious diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria. Although these are sobering figures, childhood mortality has been substantially reduced over the past decade partly as a result of the expansion of child survival interventions to prevent and treat major causes of childhood mortality.

In the linked systematic review and meta-analysis (doi:10.1136/bmj.d5094), Mayo-Wilson and colleagues assess the effects of vitamin A supplementation on mortality and morbidity in children 6 months to 5 years of age . 2 Routine preventive treatment of all children 6-59 months of age with high dose vitamin A supplements is a core intervention to improve child survival supported by Unicef, the World Health Organization, governments, and donors in areas of high mortality and endemic vitamin A deficiency. Capsules are now distributed biannually in at least 60 countries, with average annual coverage rates nearing 80%.3 Initially launched as an initiative to prevent xerophthalmic blindness, universal vitamin A supplementation was expanded as a life saving intervention mainly on the basis of meta-analyses that showed average reductions in …