tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Combining information obtained from magnetic resonance imaging and conventional radiographs to detect sacroiliitis in patients with recent onset inflammatory back pain
Authors: L Heuft-Dorenbosch
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2005)

<b>Objective:</b> To compare the contribution of changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and conventional radiography (CR) in the sacroiliac joints of patients with recent onset inflammatory back pain (IBP) in making an early diagnosis of spondyloarthritides. <b>Methods:</b> The study involved 68 patients with IBP (38% male; mean (SD) age, 34.9 (10.3) years) with symptom duration less than two years. Coronal MRI of the sacroiliac joints was scored for inflammation and structural changes, and pelvic radiographs were scored by the modified New York (mNY) grading. Agreement between MRI and CR was analysed by cross tabulation per sacroiliac joint and per patient. <b>Results:</b> A structural change was detected in 20 sacroiliac joints by MRI and in 37 by CR. Inflammation was detected in 36 sacroiliac joints by MRI, and 22 of these showed radiographic sacroiliitis. Fourteen patients fulfilled the mNY criteria based on CR. Classification according to the modified New York criteria would be justified for eight patients if it was based on MRI for structural changes only, for 14 if it was based on structural changes on CR, for 14 (partly) different patients if it was based on inflammation on MRI only, for 16 if it was based on inflammation and structural changes on MRI, for 19 if it was based on inflammation on CR combined with MRI, and for (the same) 19 if it was based on inflammation and structural damage on CR combined with MRI. <b>Conclusions:</b> CR can detect structural changes in SI joints with higher sensitivity than MRI. However, inflammation on MRI can be found in a substantial proportion of patients with IBP but normal radiographs. Assessment of structural changes by CR followed by assessment of inflammation on MRI in patients with negative findings gives the highest returns for detecting involvement of the SI joints by imaging in patients with recent onset IBP.
An uncommon complication of staphylococcal pneumonia: pneumopericardium with cardiac tamponade
Authors: E. Marchiori, C. Canella, B. Hochhegger, G. Zanetti
Journal: Thorax (2015)

A 1-year-old girl presented with a 3-day history of fever, cough, and dyspnoea.A chest radiograph demonstrated consolidation in the right upper lobe (figure 1A).Laboratory tests showed leucocytosis and blood culture showed oxacillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus.A radiograph performed 12 days later (figure 1B) showed pneumatocoele formation.On the 25th day, the patient's condition worsened abruptly, with hypotension.A chest radiograph (figure 1C,D) showed pneumopericardium.Pericardiocentesis was performed, but the child died 2 days later.Tension pneumopericardium has a very high mortality rate in the absence of early recognition and acute intervention.If there is evidence of tamponade, pericardiocentesis is essential. 1 2
Modulation of Proteasomal Activity Required for the Generation of a Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte–defined Peptide Derived from the Tumor Antigen MAGE-3
Authors: Danila Valmori, Uzi Gileadi, Catherine Servis, P. Rod Dunbar, Jean-Charles Cerottini, Pedro Romero, Vincenzo Cerundolo, Frédéric Lévy
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1999)

We have analyzed the presentation of human histocompatability leukocyte antigen-A*0201–associated tumor peptide antigen MAGE-3271–279 by melanoma cells. We show that specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-recognizing cells transfected with a minigene encoding the preprocessed fragment MAGE-3271–279 failed to recognize cells expressing the full length MAGE-3 protein. Digestion of synthetic peptides extended at the NH2 or COOH terminus of MAGE-3271–279 with purified human proteasome revealed that the generation of the COOH terminus of the antigenic peptide was impaired. Surprisingly, addition of lactacystin to purified proteasome, though partially inhibitory, resulted in the generation of the antigenic peptide. Furthermore, treatment of melanoma cells expressing the MAGE-3 protein with lactacystin resulted in efficient lysis by MAGE-3271–279–specific CTL. We therefore postulate that the generation of antigenic peptides by the proteasome in cells can be modulated by the selective inhibition of certain of its enzymatic activities.
A Prospective Study of Spatial Clusters Gives Valuable Insights into Dengue Transmission
Authors: Steven Riley
Journal: PLoS Medicine (2008)

If a school-age child contracts dengue in rural Thailand, it is difficult to predict whether that child was infected at home, at school, or somewhere else. Therefore it is difficult to know how best to allocate scarce resources towards public health measures to reduce the chance of further infections. However, the potential for transmission at home relative to the potential at school must depend mainly on two features of those settings: (1) the density of effective vectors compared with the human population, and (2) the previous infection history of the human population. Unfortunately, despite the wealth of knowledge that is available on many detailed aspects of the biology of dengue, firm ecological evidence with which to estimate key public health outcomes (such as the relative risk of transmission in different settings) remains surprisingly scarce. A prospective spatial cluster study of dengue transmission in rural Thailand by Mammen P. Mammen and colleagues reported in this issue of PLoS Medicine represents an important step forward in addressing this shortfall [1].

The global impact of dengue grew dramatically over the latter part of the 20th century, with the annual incidence currently estimated to be 50 million cases of dengue fever and 500,000 hospitalizations due to dengue hemorrhagic fever [2]. The pathogen is found throughout the tropics and subtropics (almost everywhere that viable vectors are found), with 2.5 billion people thought to be at risk [3]. No safe effective vaccine is currently available to prevent dengue infections. Therefore, public health strategies to reduce the adverse effects of the virus on human populations are designed (1) to reduce transmission by reducing vector abundance and (2) to mitigate morbidity using active surveillance and rapid supportive therapy [4]. Both strategies require substantial human resources that could be more effectively deployed if the patterns of dengue transmission at the local level were better understood. For example, although it is widely accepted that children are at an excess risk of infection with dengue, it is not clear if these extra infections occur at home, at school, or elsewhere.

Linked Research Article
This Perspective discusses the following new study published in PLoS Medicine:

Mammen MP Jr, Pimgate C, Koenraadt CJM, Rothman AL, Aldstadt J, et al. (2008) Spatial and temporal clustering of dengue virus transmission in Thai villages. PLoS Med 5(11): e205. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050205

Investigating dengue cases identified by testing febrile schoolchildren in rural Thai villages, Mammen P. Mammen and colleagues find a pattern of focal spread to houses neighboring those of case patients.
Expression, Function, and Regulation of E-Type Prostaglandin Receptors (EP <sub>3</sub> ) in the Nonischemic and Ischemic Pig Heart
Authors: Thomas Hohlfeld, Tom-Philipp Zucker, Jutta Meyer, Karsten Schrör
Journal: Circulation Research (1997)

Abstract The action of prostacyclin, prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ), and their mimetics on myocardial function includes changes in contractility, electrophysiological properties, and protection from injury caused by transient myocardial ischemia. This study was undertaken to investigate the basic properties of myocardial E-type prostaglandin (EP) receptors. Ligand binding studies using an enriched preparation of sarcolemmal membranes prepared from pig hearts revealed a single class of binding sites for [ 3 H]PGE 1 , with a K d of 3.7 nmol/L and a B max of 92 fmol/mg protein. Competition experiments indicated highest affinity for EPs, suggesting an EP receptor. In addition, the EP receptor subtype–selective agonists sulprostone (EP 1 and EP 3 ) and M&amp;B 28.767 (EP 3 ) were active, suggesting the presence of an EP 3 receptor subtype. PGE 1 stimulated sarcolemmal GTPase and inhibited sarcolemmal adenylyl cyclase activity, indicating EP 3 receptor coupling to an inhibitory G protein (G i ). Additional in vivo experiments showed that intracoronary infusion of PGE 1 (1 nmol/min) decreased isoprenaline-stimulated left ventricular contractile activity without altering systemic vascular resistance. This inhibition of β-adrenergic effects is compatible with the known myocardial anti-ischemic action of prostaglandins. Further experiments examined EP 3 receptor density and G-protein coupling in sarcolemma from ischemic and reperfused ischemic myocardium. In anesthetized open-chest minipigs, occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 60 minutes increased EP 3 receptor density by 50%, whereas receptor affinity was unchanged. This upregulation was prevented by pretreatment with colchicine (2 mg/kg IV), indicating microtubule-dependent receptor externalization. Northern hybridization showed comparable EP 3 receptor mRNA expression in control and ischemic myocardium. The increase of receptor protein was reversed during 60 minutes of reperfusion. G-protein coupling proved to be intact in ischemic and reperfused ischemic myocardial tissue, as shown by preserved GTP-γ-S–induced decrease of [ 3 H]PGE 1 binding. These data demonstrate for the first time that myocardial receptors for PGE 1 belong to the EP 3 subtype. The properties of this receptor include inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and upregulation during regional myocardial ischemia, suggesting an involvement in the anti-ischemic activity of E- and I-type prostaglandins.
Contact Thermography of Painful Diabetic Neuropathic Foot
Authors: Ah Wah Chan, Ian A MacFarlane, David R Bowsher
Journal: Diabetes Care (1991)

Objective To investigate regional differences in skin blood flow (measured by contact thermography) in the diabetic neuropathic foot and to examine the effect of foot temperature on the severity of neuropathic pain. Research Design and Methods Thirty-five diabetic patients with painful polyneuropathy (PPN) and 33 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects comprised the study. Mean foot temperature (MFT) in PPN (mean ± SE 28.3 ± 0.3 ° C) was significantly higher (P &amp;lt; 0.001) than in the control subjects (25.9 ± 0.5 ° C), with the highest temperatures over the metatarsal areas and heel. Visual analogue scale pain score (mean ± SD 5.3 ± 1.9 cm) did not correlate with MFT (r = −0.14, P = 0.52). In 10 patients with PPN followed for 2–8 mo (mean 4.6), MFT fell by 1.6 ° C (P = 0.05), but pain scores did not alter. Conclusions Neuropathic pain is unaffected by alterations in skin temperature. Elevated skin temperatures at recognized sites of weight bearing (metatarsal heads and heels) are common in the diabetic neuropathic foot and may indicate tissue injury or inflammation induced by pressure trauma or increased arteriovenous shunting. Follow-up studies will determine whether thermographic hot spots are more susceptible to ulceration.
Effect of Memantine on Cue-Induced Alcohol Craving in Recovering Alcohol-Dependent Patients
Authors: Evgeny M Krupitsky, Olga Neznanova, Dimitry Masalov, Andrey M Burakov, Tatyana Didenko, Tatyana Romanova, Marina Tsoy, Anton Bespalov, Tatyana Y Slavina, Alexander A Grinenko, Ismene L Petrakis, Brian Pittman, Ralitza Gueorguieva, Edwin E Zvartau, John H Krystal
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2007)

Objective: Ethanol blocks N -methyl- d -aspartic acid (NMDA) glutamate receptors. Increased NMDA receptor function may contribute to motivational disturbances that contribute to alcoholism. The authors assessed whether the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine reduces cue-induced alcohol craving and produces ethanol-like subjective effects. Method: Thirty-eight alcohol-dependent inpatients participated in three daylong testing sessions in a randomized order under double-blind conditions. On each test day, subjects received 20 mg of memantine, 40 mg of memantine, or placebo, and subjective responses to treatment were assessed. The level of alcohol craving was assessed before and after exposure to an alcohol cue. Results: Memantine did not stimulate alcohol craving before exposure to an alcohol cue, and it attenuated alcohol cue-induced craving in a dose-related fashion. It produced dose-related ethanol-like effects without adverse cognitive or behavioral effects. Conclusions: These data support further exploration of whether well-tolerated NMDA receptor antagonists might have a role in the treatment of alcoholism.
A bioabsorbable everolimus-eluting coronary stent system for patients with single de-novo coronary artery lesions (ABSORB): a prospective open-label trial
Authors: John A Ormiston, Patrick W Serruys, Evelyn Regar, Dariusz Dudek, Leif Thuesen, Mark WI Webster, Yoshinobu Onuma, Hector M Garcia-Garcia, Robert McGreevy, Susan Veldhof
Journal: The Lancet (2008)
Taspase1 Functions as a Non-Oncogene Addiction Protease that Coordinates Cancer Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis
Authors: David Y. Chen, Han Liu, Shugaku Takeda, Ho-Chou Tu, Satoru Sasagawa, Brian A. Van Tine, Dongsi Lu, Emily H-Y. Cheng, James J-D. Hsieh
Journal: Cancer Research (2010)

Taspase1, the mixed lineage leukemia and TFIIAalpha-beta cleaving protease, enables cell proliferation and permits oncogenic initiation. Here, we show its critical role in cancer maintenance and thus offer a new anticancer target. Taspase1 is overexpressed in primary human cancers, and deficiency of Taspase1 in cancer cells not only disrupts proliferation but also enhances apoptosis. Mechanistically, loss of Taspase1 induces the levels of CDK inhibitors (CDKI: p16, p21, and p27) and reduces the level of antiapoptotic MCL-1. Therapeutically, deficiency of Taspase1 synergizes with chemotherapeutic agents and ABT-737, an inhibitor of BCL-2/BCL-X(L), to kill cancer cells. Taspase1 alone or in conjunction with MYC, RAS, or E1A fails to transform NIH/3T3 cells or primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts, respectively, but plays critical roles in cancer initiation and maintenance. Therefore, Taspase1 is better classified as a "non-oncogene addiction" protease, the inhibition of which may offer a novel anticancer therapeutic strategy. The reliance of oncogenes on subordinate non-oncogenes during tumorigenesis underscores the non-oncogene addiction hypothesis in which a large class of non-oncogenes functions to maintain cancer phenotypes and presents attractive anticancer therapeutic targets. The emergence of successful cancer therapeutics targeting non-oncogenes to which cancers are addicted supports the future development and potential application of small-molecule Taspase1 inhibitors for cancer therapy.
Physical Training Alters the Pathogenesis of Pacing-Induced Heart Failure Through Endothelium-Mediated Mechanisms in Awake Dogs
Authors: Jie Wang, Geng-Hua Yi, Mathias Knecht, Bo-lin Cai, Sulli Poposkis, Milton Packer, Daniel Burkhoff
Journal: Circulation (1997)

Background Beneficial effects of exercise training on cardiovascular function in chronic heart failure (CHF) have been suggested previously, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We tested whether daily exercise training improves systemic hemodynamics and preserves endothelium-mediated vasodilator function during development of heart failure. Methods and Results Fifteen dogs were surgically instrumented for hemodynamic measurements. One group of dogs underwent 4 weeks of cardiac pacing (210 bpm for 3 weeks and 240 bpm during week 4), and another group underwent pacing plus daily exercise training (4.4±0.3 km/h, 2 h/d). Pacing-alone dogs developed CHF characterized by typical hemodynamic abnormalities, blunted endothelium-mediated vasodilator function in coronary and femoral circulations, and decreased gene expression of endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ECNOS, normalized to GAPDH expression; normal, 1.15±0.31 versus CHF, 0.29±0.08, P &lt;.05). Exercise training preserved normal hemodynamics at rest, endothelium-mediated vasodilator function, and gene expression of ECNOS (0.72±0.16 versus normal, P =NS). Inhibition of NO synthesis (nitro- l -arginine) in exercise-trained dogs abolished the preserved endothelium-mediated vasodilation of epicardial coronary arteries and elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (7.7±0.3 to 19±3.4 mm Hg, P &lt;.05), suggesting that the preservation of resting hemodynamics was in large part due to preserved endothelial function concealing the underlying CHF state. Conclusions Long-term exercise training altered the natural history of heart failure due to rapid cardiac pacing. One of the underlying mechanisms is through the preservation of endothelial vasodilator function.
Regulation of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition through SUMOylation of Transcription Factors
Authors: Maria V. Bogachek, James P. De Andrade, Ronald J. Weigel
Journal: Cancer Research (2014)

Carcinoma cells can transition from an epithelial-to-mesenchymal differentiation state through a process known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The process of EMT is characterized by alterations in the pattern of gene expression and is associated with a loss of cell polarity, an increase in invasiveness, and an increase in cells expressing cancer stem cell (CSC) markers. The reverse process of mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) can also occur, though the transitions characterizing EMT and MET can be incomplete. A growing number of transcription factors have been identified that influence the EMT/MET processes. Interestingly, SUMOylation regulates the functional activity of many of the transcription factors governing transitions between epithelial and mesenchymal states. In some cases, the transcription factor is a small ubiquitin-like modifier conjugated directly, thus altering its transcriptional activity or cell trafficking. In other cases, SUMOylation alters transcriptional mechanisms through secondary effects. This review explores the role of SUMOylation in controlling transcriptional mechanisms that regulate EMT/MET in cancer. Developing new drugs that specifically target SUMOylation offers a novel therapeutic approach to block tumor growth and metastasis.
Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Adult Asthma
Authors: MARK D. EISNER, EDWARD H. YELIN, JONATHAN HENKE, STEPHEN C. SHIBOSKI, PAUL D. BLANC
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1998)

The effect of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure on adults with asthma has not been well characterized. In a prospective cohort study of 451 nonsmoking adults with asthma, we evaluated the impact of ETS exposure on asthma severity, health status, and health care utilization over 18 mo. There were 129 subjects (29%; 95% CI, 25–33%) who reported regular ETS exposure, falling into three categories: exposure at baseline but none at follow-up (n = 43, 10%), no baseline exposure and new exposure at follow-up (n = 56, 12%), and exposure at both baseline and follow-up (n = 30, 7%). In cross-sectional analyses, subjects with baseline ETS exposure had greater severity-of-asthma scores (score difference, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.2–3.1), worse asthma-specific quality of life scores (score difference, 3.5; 95% CI, 0.03–7.0), and worse scores on the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36 physical component summary (score difference, 3.0; 95% CI, 0–6.0) than unexposed subjects. They also had greater odds of emergency department visits (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2–3.5), urgent physician visits (OR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1–3.3), and hospitalizations (OR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.02–3.6). In longitudinal follow-up, subjects reporting ETS cessation showed improvement in severity-of-asthma scores (score reduction, − 3.2; 95% CI, − 4.4 to − 2.0) and physical component summary scores (score increase, 5.3; 95% CI, 2.6–8.1). Environmental tobacco smoke cessation decreased the odds of emergency department visits (OR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2–0.97) and hospitalizations (OR = 0.2; 95% CI, 0.04–0.97) after adjustment for covariates. Environmental tobacco smoke initiation was associated with greater asthma severity only in subjects with high-level ( ⩾ 3 h/wk) exposure (score increase, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.03–2.7). In conclusion, self-reported ETS exposure is associated with greater asthma severity, worse health status, and increased health care utilization in adults with asthma.
Whole body [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography imaging for the diagnosis of pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator infection: a preliminary prospective study
Authors: L. Bensimhon, T. Lavergne, F. Hugonnet, J.-L. Mainardi, C. Latremouille, C. Maunoury, A. Lepillier, J.-Y. Le Heuzey, M. Faraggi
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2010)
Folate Supplementation Limits the Aggressiveness of Glioma via the Remethylation of DNA Repeats Element and Genes Governing Apoptosis and Proliferation
Authors: Eric Hervouet, Emilie Debien, Loic Campion, Jeremie Charbord, Jean Menanteau, Francois M. Vallette, Pierre-Francois Cartron
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2009)

Abstract Purpose: We have investigated whether the folate supplementation could be used to limit the aggressiveness of glioma through the DNA remethylation because (a) the cancer genome is characterized by a low level of DNA methylation (or 5-methylcytosine, 5 mC); and (b) folate is the main generator of S-adenosyl-methionine, the methyl donor molecule in the DNA methylation reaction catalyzed by the DNA methyltranferases. Experimental Design: The effects of folate supplementations were analyzed on the global DNA methylation status, the methylation status of DNA repeat element, the sensitivity of temozolomide-induced apoptosis, and the proliferation index of glioma cells. Finally, we analyzed whether the DNA methylation level could be used as a prognostic factor and/or a biomarker in an antiglioma therapy using folate supplementation as an adjuvant. Results: Our data show that gliomagenesis is accompanied by a reduction in 5 mC levels and that this low level of 5 mC is a poor prognostic factor in Glioblastoma Multiforme patients. We also show that folate supplementation enhanced the DNA remethylation through the Sp1/Sp3-mediated transcriptional up-regulation of genes coding for Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b proteins, two de novo methyltranferases. Finally, we show that the folate-induced DNA methylation limits proliferation and increases the sensitivity to temozolomide-induced apoptosis in glioma cells through methylation of the genes implicated in these processes (PDGF-B, MGMT, survivin, and bcl-w). Conclusion: This study suggests that folate supplementation could be a promising adjuvant for the future design of antiglioma therapies in preclinical and/or clinical studies.
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for portal vein thrombosis with symptomatic portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis
Authors: Guohong Han, Xingshun Qi, Chuangye He, Zhanxin Yin, Jianhong Wang, Jielai Xia, Zhiping Yang, Ming Bai, Xiangjie Meng, Jing Niu, Kaichun Wu, Daiming Fan
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2010)