tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Health risk for athletes at moderate altitude and normobaric hypoxia
Authors: Kai Schommer, Elmar Menold, Andrew W Subudhi, Peter Bärtsch
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2012)

Altitudes at which athletes compete or train do usually not exceed 2000-2500 m. At these moderate altitudes acute mountain sickness (AMS) is mild, transient and affects at the most 25% of a tourist population at risk. Unpublished data included in this review paper demonstrate that more intense physical activity associated with high-altitude training or mountaineering does not increase prevalence or severity of AMS at these altitudes. These conclusions can also be extended to the use of normobaric hypoxia, as data in this paper suggest that the severity of AMS is not significantly different between hypobaric and normobaric hypoxia at the same ambient pO(2). Furthermore, high-altitude cerebral or pulmonary oedema do not occur at these altitudes and intermittent exposure to considerably higher altitudes (4000-6000 m) used by athletes for hypoxic training are too short to cause acute high-altitude illnesses. Even moderate altitude between 2000 and 3000 m can, however, exacerbate cardiovascular or pulmonary disease or lead to a first manifestation of undiagnosed illness in older people that may belong to the accompanying staff of athletes. Moderate altitudes may also lead to splenic infarctions in healthy athletes with sickle cell trait.
A comparison between the gastric and salivary concentration of iodide, pertechnetate, and bromide in man
Authors: R. McG. Harden, W. D. Alexander, J. Shimmins, D. Chisholm
Journal: Gut (1969)

The concentration of iodide (I(-)) and pertechnetate (TcO(4) (-)) and bromide (Br(-)) has been measured simultaneously in gastric juice and parotid saliva. The combined gastric and salivary clearance for iodide and pertechnetate is more than twice the clearance of these ions by the thyroid gland. The concentration of the ions was in the order I(-)>TcO(4) (-)>Br(-) in both gastric juice and saliva. Differences exist between the secretion of iodide, pertechnetate, and bromide. Bromide, in contrast to iodide and pertechnetate, was found to be more concentrated in gastric juice than in saliva. The ratio of the iodide to pertechnetate clearance was greater in gastric juice than in saliva.
CONTAMINANTS OF PERMISSIVENESS IN HOSPITAL CARE
Authors: RICHARD V. FREEMAN
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1954)

Permissiveness is one of the basic therapeutic attitudes in mental hospital treatment and administration. It is essential especially for the sickest patients, who need the experience of truly permissive relationships in order to feel some degree of safety in allowing contact with other human beings. The regressed, hyperactive, or destructive patient may be permitted very little latitude of activity in order to protect him, others, and property, but a basically permissive attitude will help the patient in feeling that he is respected as a sick adult and that we would like to give him more freedom of activity if we could within the limitations of his illness. There are many criticisms of permissiveness which most often result from misunderstanding; that is, the errors in therapy are not due to permissiveness but to contaminants of the permissive attitude. This paper lists the 4 major contaminants: sanction, seduction, submissiveness, and indifference. No doubt there are many others. Perhaps the considerations above will stimulate some thought on this important and controversial subject and more complete analyses will result.
S100A8/A9 in bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis
Authors: K. Andreasson, R. Gustafsson, F. Ivars, J. Roth, T. Vogl, R. Hesselstrand, D. Heinegard, T. Saxne
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2011)

<h3>Background and objectives</h3> Systemic sclerosis is a heterogeneous disease characterised both by inflammation and fibrosis. TLR4-dependent signalling has been proposed to play a significant role in the connection between inflammation and fibrosis in SSc. We have previously found increased levels of the TLR4-agonist S100A8/A9 in both serum and faeces of patients with SSc. In this study, we examined the role of S100A8/A9 in the pathogenesis of inflammation induced skin fibrosis in the bleomycin mouse model. <h3>Materials and methods</h3> S100A9<sup>-/-</sup> mice were kept on a C57 Bl/6 background. These mice lack biologically active S100A8/A9 protein complex. Wild type (WT) littermates were used as controls. In total, 40 age matched female mice were used. Skin fibrosis was induced by 12 subcutaneous injections of bleomycin over a 4 week period. Dermal skin thickness was evaluated by light microscopy and skin collagen content by measurement of hydroxyproline. Skin concentration of water and fat was evaluated after freeze-drying and fat extraction of skin biopsies with acetone respectively. Punch biopsies were taken for later mRNA quantification by rtPCR and for electron microscopy. <h3>Results</h3> Skin thickness increased to a similar extent in WT and S100A9<sup>-/-</sup> mice compared to saline injected animals after bleomycin treatment (262 ± 11 μm vs 263 ± 12 μm). The amount of collagen also increased to the same level in WT and S100A9<sup>-/-</sup> mice (53 ± 1.6 vs 53 ± 0.9 μg/mm<sup>2</sup>). Compared to saline injected control mice, bleomycin treatment resulted in an increase in skin water content in WT (70 ± 0.6 vs 65 ± 1.3 %; p &lt; 0.001) but not in the S100A9<sup>-/-</sup> mice (68 ± 1.3 vs 68 ± 0.5 %). Bleomycin treatment caused a more pronounced reduction of dry skin fat content in WT (41 ± 2.6 in saline vs 17 ± 1.6 % in bleomycin treated mice; p &lt; 0.001) than in S100A9<sup>-/-</sup> mice (36 ± 1.4 vs 23 ± 2.2 %; p = 0.002). <h3>Conclusion</h3> S100A9 deficiency does not protect mice from bleomycin induced skin fibrosis. S100A9 deficiency seems to attenuate inflammatory changes of skin composition in the bleomycin mouse model of skin fibrosis.
Prospective Study of the Immune Effects of Normalizing the Hemoglobin Concentration in Hemodialysis Patients Who Receive Recombinant Human Erythropoietin
Authors: Renato M.B. Roman, Peter I. Lobo, Ronald P. Taylor, David A. Goodkin, John LaBrecque, Kathy L. Powers, W. Kline Bolton
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2004)

ABSTRACT. Partial correction of anemia by erythropoietin improves hemodialysis (HD)-associated immunosuppression. It is not known whether hemoglobin normalization improves immune status further. The authors prospectively compared the immune function of HD patients with congestive heart failure or ischemic heart disease on erythropoietin therapy randomized to normal <i>versus</i> anemic blood hemoglobin concentration. HD patients were randomized into a normal hemoglobin group (<i>n</i> = 17, target hemoglobin of 14 ± 1 g/dl) or an anemic hemoglobin group (<i>n</i> = 18, target hemoglobin 10 ± 1 g/dl). Delayed-type hypersensitivity, CD4 and CD8 counts, anti–tetanus toxoid antibody levels, erythrocyte complement receptor 1 expression, and lymphocyte proliferative responsiveness were measured. The observation period was 1 yr, and the trial was open label. Target hemoglobin was achieved and maintained in both groups. Significantly improved cutaneous reactivity was seen in the normal hemoglobin group (<i>P</i> = 0.003). The prevalence of anergy decreased in the normal hemoglobin group (from 60 to 20%) but increased in the anemic hemoglobin group (from 57 to 86%). The anemic hemoglobin group had higher CD8 counts compared with baseline (<i>P</i> = 0.0001) and compared with the normal hemoglobin group (<i>P</i> = 0.038). Both groups had significant increases in tetanus toxoid antibody levels after vaccination but without significant differences between groups. The anemic hemoglobin group had a progressive increase in erythrocyte complement receptor 1 levels compared with baseline (<i>P</i> = 0.002) and relative to the normal hemoglobin group (<i>P</i> = 0.023). There was no consistent pattern of altered proliferative responsiveness of lymphocytes. The data suggest that certain aspects of immune function, particularly delayed-type hypersensitivity, may be improved in HD patients by normalization of hemoglobin through the administration of increased doses of erythropoietin.
Characterization of T Cell Differentiation in the Murine Gut
Authors: Florence Lambolez, Orly Azogui, Anne-Marie Joret, Corinne Garcia, Harald von Boehmer, James Di Santo, Sophie Ezine, Benedita Rocha
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2002)

Gut intraepithelial CD8 T lymphocytes (T-IEL) are distinct from thymus-derived cells and are thought to derive locally from cryptopatch (CP) precursors. The intermediate stages of differentiation between CP and mature T-IEL were not identified, and the local differentiation process was not characterized. We identified and characterized six phenotypically distinct lineage-negative populations in the CP and the gut epithelium: (a) we determined the kinetics of their generation from bone marrow precursors; (b) we quantified CD3-ϵ, recombination activating gene (Rag)-1, and pre-Tα mRNAs expression at single cell level; (c) we characterized TCR-β, -γ, and -α locus rearrangements; and (d) we studied the impact of different mutations on the local differentiation. These data allowed us to establish a sequence of T cell precursor differentiation in the gut. We also observed that the gut differentiation varied from that of the thymus by a very low frequency of pre-Tα chain mRNA expression, a different kinetics of Rag-1 mRNA expression, and a much higher impact of CD3 ϵ/δ and pre-Tα deficiencies. Finally, only 3% of CP cells were clearly involved in T cell differentiation, suggesting that these structures may have additional physiological roles in the gut.
Effect of decreasing afferent vagal activity with ondansetron on symptoms of bulimia nervosa: a randomised, double-blind trial
Authors: Patricia L Faris, Suck Won Kim, William H Meller, Robert L Goodale, Scott A Oakman, Randall D Hofbauer, Anne M Marshall, Randall S Daughters, Devjani Banerjee-Stevens, Elke D Eckert, Boyd K Hartman
Journal: The Lancet (2000)
Randomized, Controlled Trial of Long-Term Moderate Exercise Training in Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Romualdo Belardinelli, Demetrios Georgiou, Giovanni Cianci, Augusto Purcaro
Journal: Circulation (1999)

Background —It is still a matter of debate whether exercise training (ET) is a beneficial treatment in chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods and Results —To determine whether long-term moderate ET improves functional capacity and quality of life in patients with CHF and whether these effects translate into a favorable outcome, 110 patients with stable CHF were initially recruited, and 99 (59±14 years of age; 88 men and 11 women) were randomized into 2 groups. One group (group T, n=50) underwent ET at 60% of peak V̇ o 2 , initially 3 times a week for 8 weeks, then twice a week for 1 year. Another group (group NT, n=49) did not exercise. At baseline and at months 2 and 14, all patients underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test, while 74 patients (37 in group T and 37 in group NT) with ischemic heart disease underwent myocardial scintigraphy. Quality of life was assessed by questionnaire. Ninety-four patients completed the protocol (48 in group T and 46 in group NT). Changes were observed only in patients in group T. Both peak V̇ o 2 and thallium activity score improved at 2 months (18% and 24%, respectively; P &lt;0.001 for both) and did not change further after 1 year. Quality of life also improved and paralleled peak V̇ o 2 . Exercise training was associated both with lower mortality (n=9 versus n=20 for those with training versus those without; relative risk (RR)=0.37; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.84; P =0.01) and hospital readmission for heart failure (5 versus 14; RR=0.29; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.88; P =0.02). Independent predictors of events were ventilatory threshold at baseline (β-coefficient=0.378) and posttraining thallium activity score (β-coefficient −0.165). Conclusions —Long-term moderate ET determines a sustained improvement in functional capacity and quality of life in patients with CHF. This benefit seems to translate into a favorable outcome.
PWE-001 Field Cancerisation Theory In Colorectal Cancer (crc): What Role Do Fibroblast Growth Factors Have?
Authors: A Patel, N Williams, C Nwokolo, G Tripathi, R Arasaradnam
Journal: Gut (2014)

<h3>Introduction</h3> Characterisation of the molecular field defect around colorectal cancer (CRC) could enable identification of novel biomarkers that could be used for early detection of CRC. Previous studies have suggested fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) may play a role in CRC formation through interaction with the B-catenin/wnt signalling cascade. The role of fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) however remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine if there are differences in FGF19 and FGF7 gene expression in cancer tissue and the adjacent ‘normal tissue’ compared with normal colonic tissue. <h3>Methods</h3> Mucosal pinch biopsies were taken from the rectum and caecum at time of colonoscopy for healthy controls. For CRC patients, tissue samples were taken from the tumour, adjacent to the tumour and at the resection margin of the colectomy specimen. Healthy controls were age and sex matched to CRC patients. Quantitative real time PCR was used to determine gene expression of FGF19, its receptor FGFR4, FGF7 and its receptor, FGFR2. Results were further validated using immunohistochemistry. Serum levels of FGF19 were measured using the Quantikine ELISA kit (RandD systems, UK). <h3>Results</h3> 49 patients were recruited (28 M: 21 F, median age 71 years (range 48–86 years)); 18 patients with CRC and 32 healthy controls. There was no overall difference in gene expression of FGF19/FGFR4 or FGF7/FGFR2 between cancer patients and healthy controls. There was upregulation of FGFR4 in mucosa adjacent to the tumour (mean fold change 1.23 vs. 0.93, p = 0.38) and the tumour itself (mean fold change 1.49 vs. 1.04, p = 0.700) in patients whose tumour expressed FGF19 compared to those that did not. Patients with upregulation of FGF19/FGFR4 had a significantly lower fasting serum FGF19 level (119 pg/ml versus 208 pg/ml, p = 0.05). FGF7 was upregulated in 6/19 cancers; this was associated with a significant upregulation in FGF7 in adjacent mucosa compared with cancers where FGF7 was downregulated (mean fold change 3.62 vs. 0.95, p = 0.018). There was a non-significant trend towards upregulation of the receptor (FGFR2) in mucosa adjacent to the cancer and the tumour tissue itself. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Upregulation of FGFR4 in patients whose tumours expressed FGF19 corresponded inversely with serum FGF19 suggesting its potential as a putative biomarker. Significant upregulation of FGF7 in ‘normal’ mucosa adjacent to only tumours that express FGF7 lends support to the field theory of colorectal carcinogenesis. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None Declared.
Correction of metabolic abnormalities in a rodent model of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus by inhibitors of hepatic protein kinase C–ι
Authors: Mini P. Sajan, Sonali Nimal, Stephen Mastorides, Mildred Acevedo-Duncan, C. Ronald Kahn, Alan P. Fields, Ursula Braun, Michael Leitges, Robert V. Farese
Journal: Metabolism (2012)
Progress towards an OMERACT-ILAR guideline for economic evaluations in rheumatology
Authors: S E Gabriel, P Tugwell, M Drummond
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2002)

A working report from the OMERACT Health Economics Group. The group is working towards creating common standards for economic evaluation in rheumatology and also towards improving the scientific underpinning of economic evaluation, particularly pertaining to the rheumatic diseases. Preliminary recommendations for "reference cases" in osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis are proposed.
Comparison of Dobutamine Stress Magnetic Resonance, Adenosine Stress Magnetic Resonance, and Adenosine Stress Magnetic Resonance Perfusion
Authors: I. Paetsch, C. Jahnke, A. Wahl, R. Gebker, M. Neuss, E. Fleck, E. Nagel
Journal: Circulation (2004)

Dobutamine stress MR (DSMR) is highly accurate for the detection of inducible wall motion abnormalities (IWMAs). Adenosine has a more favorable safety profile and is well established for the assessment of myocardial perfusion. We evaluated the diagnostic value of IWMAs during dobutamine and adenosine stress MR and adenosine MR perfusion compared with invasive coronary angiography.Seventy-nine consecutive patients (suspected or known coronary disease, no history of prior myocardial infarction) scheduled for cardiac catheterization underwent cardiac MR (1.5 T). After 4 minutes of adenosine infusion (140 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) for 6 minutes), wall motion was assessed (steady-state free precession), and subsequently perfusion scans (3-slice turbo field echo-echo planar imaging; 0.05 mmol/kg Gd-BOPTA) were performed. After a 15-minute break, rest perfusion was imaged, followed by standard DSMR/atropine stress MR. Wall motion was classified as pathological if > or =1 segment showed IWMAs. The transmural extent of inducible perfusion deficits (<25%, 25% to 50%, 51% to 75%, and >75%) was used to grade segmental perfusion. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed with significant stenosis defined as >50% diameter stenosis. Fifty-three patients (67%) had coronary artery stenoses >50%; sensitivity and specificity for detection by dobutamine and adenosine stress and adenosine perfusion were 89% and 80%, 40% and 96%, and 91% and 62%, respectively. Adenosine IWMAs were seen only in segments with >75% transmural perfusion deficit.DSMR is superior to adenosine stress for the induction of IWMAs in patients with significant coronary artery disease. Visual assessment of adenosine stress perfusion is sensitive with a low specificity, whereas adenosine stress MR wall motion is highly specific because it identifies only patients with high-grade perfusion deficits. Thus, DSMR is the method of choice for current state-of-the-art treatment regimens to detect ischemia in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease but no history of prior myocardial infarction.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy as a screening modality for colorectal adenomas in older age groups? Findings in a cohort of the normal population aged 63-72 years
Authors: E Thiis-Evensen, G S Hoff, J Sauar, B M Majak, M H Vatn
Journal: Gut (1999)

<h3>BACKGROUND</h3> Most cases of colorectal cancer originate from adenomas. Removing adenomas has been shown to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer. The design of cost effective endoscopic screening programmes requires a knowledge of the distribution of adenomas in different age groups. <h3>AIM</h3> To investigate the distribution of colorectal adenomas in older age groups in the normal population. <h3>METHOD</h3> A total of 356 men and women selected randomly from the population register were offered a colonoscopic screening examination to detect and remove polyps. <h3>RESULTS</h3> In all, 241(68%) subjects, mean age 67.4 years (range 62–73), attended. The caecum was intubated in 193 (80%), and in this group 32 (38%) women and 51 (47%) men had adenomas. One hundred and ten (54%) of the adenomas and 11 (39%) of the “high risk adenomas” (adenomas larger than 10 mm in diameter, adenomas containing villous components, and adenomas with severe dysplasia) were found proximal to the sigmoid colon. In 36 (43%) of the subjects with adenomas, the adenomas were only found proximal to the sigmoid colon. Twenty two (11%) subjects had more than two adenomas. Of 203 adenomas discovered, 189 (93%) were less than 10 mm in diameter. <h3>CONCLUSION</h3> More than half of the adenomas were localised proximal to the sigmoid colon, and, in nearly half of the adenoma bearing subjects examined, the adenoma was proximal to the descending colon. This indicates that a sigmoidoscopic screening examination in this age group would miss a substantial number of adenomas, but this may be acceptable as the vast majority of proximal adenomas do not progress to clinical cancer within the life expectancy of this age group.
T-Cell Lymphokines, Interleukin-4 and Gamma Interferon, Modulate the Induction of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Migration by Serum and Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
Authors: Weizheng Wang, Hong Jun Chen, Kenneth N. Giedd, Allan Schwartz, Paul J. Cannon, LeRoy E. Rabbani
Journal: Circulation Research (1995)

Abstract Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)–induced smooth muscle cell (SMC) fibrinolysis is necessary for SMC migration. In order to determine whether the T-cell lymphokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and gamma interferon (γ-IFN) affect SMC fibrinolysis and migration, we examined the effects of human recombinant IL-4 and γ-IFN on human aortic SMC tissue-type plasminogen activator (TPA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (UPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) antigen production, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Although IL-4 had no direct effect on SMC TPA antigen, IL-4 potentiated SMC TPA antigen levels and activity in conditioned media and cellular lysates in media containing 2% fetal bovine serum but did not change UPA or PAI-1 production. γ-IFN attenuated IL-4 augmentation of SMC TPA antigen production in conditioned media, although γ-IFN itself had no direct effects on SMC TPA and PAI-1 antigen production. IL-4 augmented PDGF induction of SMC TPA antigen. γ-IFN inhibited PDGF induction of SMC TPA antigen and IL-4 potentiation of this process. γ-IFN diminished the promigratory effects of both IL-4 and PDGF on in vitro SMC migration. Tranexamic acid, a plasmin inhibitor, abrogated the stimulation of SMC migration by IL-4. Therefore, IL-4 and γ-IFN modulate the induction of SMC TPA and SMC migration by 2% fetal bovine serum and PDGF.
Immunopotentiation with BCG. III. Modulation of the Response to a Tumor-Specific Antigen 2
Authors: Eugenia Hawrylko, G. B. Mackaness
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1973)

A mouse model was developed for study of the effect of BCG on the induction of systemic immunity to the DBA/2 mastocytoma, P815 (MA), in (C57BL/6 × DBA/2)F1 female mice. Two conventional tests, implantation and subsequent excision of living tumor cells and immunization with irradiated tumor cells, showed the MA had no detectable immunogenicity. However, a small inoculum grew in the footpad for only a limited period and then regressed. This incipient immunogenicity was more apparent when a varying number of BCG was added to the tumor inoculum; the survivors, however, were not uniformly immune to challenge. When irradiated MA cells were injected into sites prepared by a prior injection of BCG, a varying degree of immunity developed against a large tumor challenge (106 MA) at a distant site in the footpad. Resistance was not discernibly increased by BCG or irradiated MA alone, but the combined stimulus suppressed a tumor challenge in all mice for 10 days. Tumors subsequently “escaped” over a period of 50 days in 5 of 6 mice; but 5 of 6 tumor-free survivors from other experiments were resistant to 106 MA when challenged after 100 days.